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Home > SECWB News & More! > Our Staff & Contributors > LeAnne Harrington > Featured Columns > Shut Up and Play
Shut Up and Play
by LeAnne Harrington, SECWB.com
Posted: March 19th, 2008 @ 12:16am
Let me begin by stating this article is an opinion piece, and as such, does not necessarily reflect the opinions or feelings of my fellow writers, nor any of the staff, management or owners of SECWB.com. I hesitate to write this article, knowing I will be inundated with hate mail and blogger beatdowns, but so be it. I cannot go any further without addressing a situation I feel has become a discouraging trend at one of the most well-known institutions in women's college basketball. The issue at hand is the attitude shown on the court by some of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols players and which has been reflected in the stands by a number of their fans. Anyone who has been following my writing here at SECWB.com is well aware that I called out Candace Parker and several other high-profile players ( UNC's Ivory Latta and Ohio State's Jessica Davenport to name a few) during last year's NCAA Tournament for the poor sportsmanship they showed on the court. (See "Where Has The Sportsmanship Gone?") I had hopes that the trend I have witnessed the past several years in the women's game would correct and reverse itself, but so far I haven't seen much improvement, if any.
One of the worst offenders, I am sad to say, is from the very conference I write about, and that makes me both angry and sad. Tennessee, long known as the premiere women's basketball program in the country, is quickly growing synonymous with poor sportsmanship, griping about being "disrespected" and complaining to the officials. Candace Parker has been shown ad infinitum on ESPN, Fox SportsNet, and any other number of media outlet "highlight" reels, screaming and strutting around after a good play, to the delight of Big Orange fans everywhere. Just because this year's version of the scream has Parker with fists clenched and arms straight down at her sides while she struts and bounces about, instead of thrust jubilantly over her head, does not make it any less distasteful. The scream, many times directed at the opponent, is still there. And it is just as deplorable. This has gone on for three long years, unpunished and very rarely even commented on. I can't do anything about the first part, but I'm changing that last part, because I will be silent no longer.
In the past 21 years, I have attended 16 SEC Women's Basketball Tournaments, and was present for every minute of every game - all 11 of them - over a four-day period just two weeks ago. Instead of sitting at the press table, I sat at mid-court up in the stands, and was able to get a feel for the fans and their reactions throughout the tournament. Although Nashville’s Sommet Center was drowning in a sea of orange, fans were present representing and supporting each of the 12 schools in the SEC. (Notice I said "representing." This is one aspect of the game that few people take into account when they don their school’s colors, wave their signs and shakers, and scream for all to hear.) I knew in advance that many UT fans felt Parker had been "disrespected" by not receiving the SEC Player of the Year award, voted on by the league's coaches. But I had no idea they would show their displeasure so vociferously by booing the Player of the Year award winner, LSU's Sylvia Fowles. When it happened the first time, Fowles' name was called during player introductions at the beginning of their quarterfinal matchup against Ole Miss, and a chorus of boos rained down from an orange-clad section of the stands. I was both surprised and shocked, although in retrospect I should have been neither. When it happened again the next day, decidedly louder from a decidedly larger crowd, my heart sunk. I couldn't help but wonder if Sylvia's family were in the stands, and if so, what were they thinking? It happened again before LSU and UT met in the finals, but by this time I was neither surprised nor hurt. I was just angry.
Trying to decide which action has led to the other is like trying to decide the old "chicken or the egg" question. Did the unsportsmanlike actions of some Lady Vols fans give the team carte blanc to act accordingly, or did the actions of some of the players precipitate fan boorishness? Everyone is so enamored of Parker and her play, but I found it quite telling that Fowles was voted Player of the Year. By the league's coaches. And again, by the media. Is it possible that opposing coaches and the sportswriters who cover the game have grown tired of Parker's on-the-court antics? Other Lady Vols to get in on the act are most notably Nicky Anosike and Shannon Bobbitt. Anosike feels it necessary to whine to the officials almost every single time she is whistled for a foul; pretty amazing from one of the more physical centers in the country. But she is no different from her coach. Summitt disagrees strongly with almost every call that goes against the Vols, warranted or not. I am keenly aware that all coaches plead their cases with the officials, but Summitt's name and demeanor have allowed her free reign in her protests, and her tirades, if committed by almost any other coach in the game, would have garnered numerous technicals. Instead, Summitt is allowed to rant at, and some would say, unduly influence, the officials. Bobbitt plays with a tremendous amount of heart and athleticism, but she has crossed the line on numerous occasions, most notably when she was assessed a technical foul in the Rutgers game. Bobbitt was fouled on a drive to the basket, and when a foul was whistled, felt it necessary to jump back towards the Rutgers player, pointing her finger and shouting, "You! You! You!" I was at once surprised and pleased that the game official assessed a technical for the taunting by Bobbitt, and when explaining the call to the UT bench, Summitt called Bobbitt over and yelled, "It’s not about you." But my query is this: why the double standard? I have watched Parker do much worse in any number of situations and Summitt has stood idly by, allowing it to happen. Is Parker so special, so above the rules, that she gets preferential treatment from her own coaches? What is that teaching the players coming up? If you are athletic enough, talented enough -- then the rules don't apply to you?
What amazes me is that Lady Vol coach Pat Head Summitt has allowed such actions to take place with increasing regularity over the past three years. Lest anyone think I hate and abhor all things orange and that this must be the motivation behind my posting, let me assure you that I have a great admiration for the Lady Vol programs of the past. Players like Dena Head, Daedra Charles and Sheila Frost were some of my favorite players of all-time. I had the joy and privilege of watching them play in person and on television and I admired their athletic ability and -- yes, their sportsmanship. Summitt would never have dreamed of tolerating todays antics back then. So what has changed? The Lady Vols I see take the court today barely resemble those players of old; the game has gotten quicker, more athletic, but it has also lost some of what made it great back then. Sheila Frost, a big country girl from nearby Pulaski could jam a shot back in a player's face with such force they would be knocked to the court, but she would be the first player to offer a hand, help them up, give them a pat, and ram their lunch back down their throat on the next play. Frost's play back in the day bears little resemblance to what I have witnessed time and again by Parker, most recently at the 2008 SEC tourney. After a particularly physical block against an undersized opponent - who, by the way, crashed to the court with such force she remained down for several long moments and was feared to be injured - Parker towered over the player, glared down at her and then turned and walked away. UT freshman Angie Bjorklund was the only UT player with enough class and concern to go to the player, make sure she was ok and help her up.
The Lady Vols have been quoted in the media about playing with a chip on their shoulder, and feeling "disrespected." Last year, they received a tough draw in their region, and were therefore "disrespected." This year, they received a great draw, but weren't picked by Stacey Dales and Kara Lawson (a former Lady Vol) to repeat as champions, and were therefore "disrespected." Notice how this feeling of being "disrespected" is a recurring theme in the orange-tinted diatribe? Has this become a motivational tool, a button to push, in order to get them to perform and achieve at an optimum level? No team should feel the rest of the basketball world should bow down to them just because they walk out on the floor in a jersey of a particular hue. That's why the ball is still tipped up and the game is still played.
In closing, allow me to make a couple of observations about this game I love:
In order to gain respect one must be willing to give it.
A truly great player doesn't need to tell you how great they are: they show it on the court with their play.
So my advice to the Lady Vol Nation, and any other teams whose actions might resemble my remarks: when you feel the need to scream and strut about after every decent play you make on the court, and oftentimes you direct it at your opponent - shut up and play. When you feel the need to protest every single call that goes against you - shut up and play. And when you feel "disrespected" because not every sports scribe has picked you to win it all - shut up and play.
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