I admit it, I love Women's Athletics. I watch softball, basketball, pool, tennis and more. I guess my first heroine was Martina. Just one name was all she needed, just like Michael. I think that is the pinnacle, when you are recognized by one name. Martina had some memorable matches in her career, to me, she was the epitome of a "professional," I have a great deal of admiration for her.
My first softball hero was Lisa Fernandez, she was a "master, a pitcher, a coach, and a mother. During USA Softball’s “Central Park to Sydney Tour,” Fernandez pitched five straight perfect games, and in one of those games she struck out all 21 batters. At the 2000 Games, she posted a 0.47 ERA with 52 strikeouts. And then came Cat Osterman, and .......... Jennie Finch, arguably the most famous softball player of all time. She is probably the idol of any young lady playing softball, or any sport for that matter. Jennie Finch defeated Anna Kournikova in an Espn online poll as the most attractive female athlete. Married and the mother of two.
Now watching basketball. One of the great stories in all sports, male of female, one woman that I have a great deal of respect for, Pat Summit. She is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history of either a men's or women's team in any division. She coached from 1974 to 2012, all with the Lady Vols, winning eight NCAA national championships, second only to the record 10 titles won by UCLA men's coach John Wooden. She is the only coach in NCAA history, and one of three college coaches overall, with at least 1,000 victories. Pat was named the Naismith Basketball Coach of the Century in April 2000. In 2009, the Sporting News placed her number 11 on its list of the 50 Greatest Coaches of All Time in all sports; she was the only woman on the list. In 38 years as a coach, she never had a losing season. On April 20, 2012, the White House announced that Pat Summitt would be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. Summitt received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2012 ESPY Awards. She had to step down, she was diagnosed and living with Alzheimer's disease. She is longer the coach, but she never misses a practice or a game. Do I respect her, I am "tearing up" just writing this. Many of her players are in touch with her every day, she impacted so many.
Geno Auriemma is he head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team. He has led UConn to seven NCAA Division I national championships, and has won six national Naismith College Coach of the Year awards. He was also the head coach of the United States women's national basketball team from 2009 to 2012, winning the 2010 World Championship, and the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. They are still advancing in the tournament this year. Auburn may stand in his way of another one.
Basketball on now, softball coming up, great stuff to watch.
