By Staff
I can remember sitting courtside last year and watching the University of Tennessee and its legendary coach Pat Summitt against Notre Dame.
I had been a huge Summitt fan for years. I loved the passion the woman has for the game.
But what was most interesting was listening to her talk in the post game press conference.
It was easy to see why so many great players travel south to play for this woman.
She has the same passion for her players that she has for the game.
There is no doubt that Summitt is one of the toughest coaches, man or woman, who has ever strolled the sidelines.
She demands greatness from her players and she gets it.
It was hard to believe as I watched the national title game Tuesday night that it had been eight years since Tennessee had won a national title.
But that's all history now as the Lady Vols laid waste to upstart Rutgers in Cleveland.
The game was close for a little more than a half before Tennessee pulled away.
The Lady Vols owned a 16-point lead, which the Scarlett Knights cut in half before the sport's top player, Candace Parker took charge.
Parker, who was named the tournament's top player, stroked free throw after free throw to seal the victory.
She is by far the best college player right now. She may be the best college player to ever step on the floor.
It's hard to tell at this point because she is so young. Should she stay all four years at Tennessee, she would win multiple national championships, which would cement her place in history.
But there is a lot of money to be made by Parker and it is reportedly on the table already in several foreign countries.
She hinted after the game that she was staying, but had until 10 a.m. today to declare herself eligible for the WNBA draft.
I have selfish reasons as to why I want Parker to continue to wear the orange of Tennessee.
I want a chance to see South Bend (Ind.) St. Joseph's Sydney Smallbone, whose parents were both standouts at Dowagiac Union High School, to get a chance to play along side of her.
Smallbone will be a freshman at Tennessee next fall.
I cannot wait to see Sydney playing with Parker and the rest of those great players as they try to defend their national title.
When I interviewed Smallbone for our 2006 Horizons edition, you could hear the passion in her voice as she talked about playing for the best program in the history of women's basketball.
She will get a chance to share that passion with her new coach next year.
Summitt has 974 career victories and could reach 1,000 wins before she loses 200 games.
Without a doubt, this Hall of Fame coach is the best there ever has been.