Dabblin' With the Cockspur: Coming Outta' the Closet.
posted by Roger Olivieri, 1/15/2009 07:13:00 PM
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Roger: Hello, my name is Roger and I am a Women’s Basketball fan.
Room: Hi, Roger.
A random member of the media once said, “I love chicks and I love basketball, but I hate chicks playing basketball!”
I wasn’t there when the words were spoken, but within the Columbia media clique, it’s a famous quote sure to evoke laughter in even the most sullen “green room.”
Truer words had never been spoken, at least I thought.
Then, like an unsuspecting victim, I was hijacked by the sport, its participants and the pure enthusiasm surrounding Women’s Basketball.
I’m not sure where it happened. Maybe it was Samone Kennedy not being much taller than my six year old daughter or the innocent smile of Miranda Tate. There was the interview with Brionna Dickerson that made me realize there are a slew of athletes who appreciate media more than they detest their presence.
The first time I met Demetress Adams, it was evident that women athletes were not like the stereotype describes. They aren’t all beefy women who enjoy sweat more than showers. After all, Adams could be a beauty queen – who can shoot the lights out.
If it isn’t obvious by now, I fell in love with these girls after watching them play one game. Talking to their coach, an American icon in Women’s Basketball who happens to have one hell of a sense of humor, was simply icing on the cake.
After a loss, you want to hug them. After a victory, you want to hug them. After an injury? Right, hug them.
Now that I’m sold on Lady Gamecock basketball, I feel it’s my duty to pass the addiction on to you. When you see a sparsely filled arena unable to drown out the screaming coaches and players who represent their university with pride, it makes you want to spread the word.
It makes you want to grab any sports fan, force them into the arena and tell them about the girls busting their butts on the floor. It’s more than just basketball – they are all good girls chock full of interesting stats.
Did you know Adams is not only on the All-SEC team and the All-Defensive team, but also on the academic Honor Roll? The 6’4” Senior also owns the school record for rebounds in a game – 26! She pulled down 26 rebounds against Arkansas last season.
Did you know Brionna Dickerson, the teams leading scorer, is also in the Honor Roll? She is also the cousin of former Lady Gamecock Shaunzinski Gortman.
Did you know Lauren “Cocoa” Falohun had two triple doubles her senior year of high school and chose South Carolina over Alabama, Georgia Tech, Tulane and Charlotte.
Did you know Samone Kennedy was tenth in the SEC (as a freshman) with 106 assists while only starting six games? Kennedy posted her first collegiate double-double (10 pts, 10 assists) as a freshman last season against Florida.
Did you know sophomore Jewel May averaged a double-double (15 pts, 10 reb) her senior year of high school? She also won the state high jump title her sophomore year of high school and finished eighth in the shot-put.
Did you know Courtney Newton made Street & Smith’s honorable mention All-America team her senior year of high school? Newton had a 3.5 GPA all four years of high school while playing AAU ball with the Georgia Metros – the #1 team in the nation who won the USA Junior Nationals and the Nike Nationals.
Did you know freshman LaKeisha Sutton was the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year and was a four time all-county first-team selection? She was also the MVP of the 2008 New Jersey State Championship after leading her team to its second-straight title.
Did you know Coach Dawn Staley has three gold medals from the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic team? She was the 1991 Sports Illustrated Player of the Year. She was also a seven-time All Star in the WNBA.
Did you know all the women come to the men’s games if they are in town, sit front and center and are some of the loudest fans in the arena?
Did you know I could count the fans in attendance for tonight’s conference game against a nationally ranked opponent quicker than you could read this little BLOG?
Come see a game – just one. You’ll love these girls. I promise. Tickets cost $7 for adults and only $4 for children.
Room: Hi, Roger.
A random member of the media once said, “I love chicks and I love basketball, but I hate chicks playing basketball!”
I wasn’t there when the words were spoken, but within the Columbia media clique, it’s a famous quote sure to evoke laughter in even the most sullen “green room.”
Truer words had never been spoken, at least I thought.
Then, like an unsuspecting victim, I was hijacked by the sport, its participants and the pure enthusiasm surrounding Women’s Basketball.
I’m not sure where it happened. Maybe it was Samone Kennedy not being much taller than my six year old daughter or the innocent smile of Miranda Tate. There was the interview with Brionna Dickerson that made me realize there are a slew of athletes who appreciate media more than they detest their presence.
The first time I met Demetress Adams, it was evident that women athletes were not like the stereotype describes. They aren’t all beefy women who enjoy sweat more than showers. After all, Adams could be a beauty queen – who can shoot the lights out.
If it isn’t obvious by now, I fell in love with these girls after watching them play one game. Talking to their coach, an American icon in Women’s Basketball who happens to have one hell of a sense of humor, was simply icing on the cake.
After a loss, you want to hug them. After a victory, you want to hug them. After an injury? Right, hug them.
Now that I’m sold on Lady Gamecock basketball, I feel it’s my duty to pass the addiction on to you. When you see a sparsely filled arena unable to drown out the screaming coaches and players who represent their university with pride, it makes you want to spread the word.
It makes you want to grab any sports fan, force them into the arena and tell them about the girls busting their butts on the floor. It’s more than just basketball – they are all good girls chock full of interesting stats.
Did you know Adams is not only on the All-SEC team and the All-Defensive team, but also on the academic Honor Roll? The 6’4” Senior also owns the school record for rebounds in a game – 26! She pulled down 26 rebounds against Arkansas last season.
Did you know Brionna Dickerson, the teams leading scorer, is also in the Honor Roll? She is also the cousin of former Lady Gamecock Shaunzinski Gortman.
Did you know Lauren “Cocoa” Falohun had two triple doubles her senior year of high school and chose South Carolina over Alabama, Georgia Tech, Tulane and Charlotte.
Did you know Samone Kennedy was tenth in the SEC (as a freshman) with 106 assists while only starting six games? Kennedy posted her first collegiate double-double (10 pts, 10 assists) as a freshman last season against Florida.
Did you know sophomore Jewel May averaged a double-double (15 pts, 10 reb) her senior year of high school? She also won the state high jump title her sophomore year of high school and finished eighth in the shot-put.
Did you know Courtney Newton made Street & Smith’s honorable mention All-America team her senior year of high school? Newton had a 3.5 GPA all four years of high school while playing AAU ball with the Georgia Metros – the #1 team in the nation who won the USA Junior Nationals and the Nike Nationals.
Did you know freshman LaKeisha Sutton was the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year and was a four time all-county first-team selection? She was also the MVP of the 2008 New Jersey State Championship after leading her team to its second-straight title.
Did you know Coach Dawn Staley has three gold medals from the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic team? She was the 1991 Sports Illustrated Player of the Year. She was also a seven-time All Star in the WNBA.
Did you know all the women come to the men’s games if they are in town, sit front and center and are some of the loudest fans in the arena?
Did you know I could count the fans in attendance for tonight’s conference game against a nationally ranked opponent quicker than you could read this little BLOG?
Come see a game – just one. You’ll love these girls. I promise. Tickets cost $7 for adults and only $4 for children.
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Roger Olivieri. Roger began working with GamecockCentral in December of 2007. He currently serves as the site's chief videographer. He may be reached by email at roger(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.