Shut Up and Play
March 19th 2008 10:31 pm
by LeAnne Harrington, SECWB.com
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:
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.
18 Responses to “Shut Up and Play”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Brilliant article, the lady vols have no class.
fdexde on 20 Mar 2008 at 3:36 am #
I agree with all you have written - thank you! The Tennessee fans also booed Diana Taurasi when the USA team played UT in November. How rude to boo the team representing the USA!
Cath27 on 20 Mar 2008 at 6:14 am #
This is one of the best written blogs I have read in quite some time. Thank you for “calling out” the antics of some players. I feel this behavior may have spread across the country as well.
bonkers14 on 20 Mar 2008 at 9:01 am #
I am a fan of the UConn Huskies, and therefore biased. And, I readily admit that the fabulous Diania Taurasi was guilty of chest beating every now and then.
I am posting because of 3 incidents in the past year that show, to me, the deterioration of fan berhavior at Tennessee:
1 Last summer I attended a game between the US National Team and the Australian National Team played to a full house (10,000) at the Mohican Sun Casino/Arena. Both teams were cheered enthusistically when introduced, a real tribute to their talent. Very loud cheering welcomed both Kara Lawson and Candace Parker when they were introduced. Parker was the player of the game.
2 In November I attended the exhibition game at Gampel Pavilion when the UConn Huskies played the US National Team. Kara Lawson was cheered when intoroduced.
3 Later in November I read about the exhibition game at Thompson Boling Arena between the Lady Vols and the US National Team. Diana Taurasi was booed. I do not know how Sue Bird was greeted. Taurasi was so angry over her introduction, she played a very high scoring, and aggressive game.
Why boo such talent? Why not welcome Diana because of her extraordinary talent and cheer that she is now on the same side as the Tennessee fans?
I have attended 3 games between my Huskies and the Lady Vols at Thompson Boling Arena, and made sure to wear obnoxious UConn apparel. Before and after the games I was always treated warmly and with respect. During the games it was a different story, but I can take it.
I really do not understand the hatred and vitriol shown by Tennessee fans. In the case of Big Syl, I can understand the disappointment that Candace was no so honored, but really, Fowles is an incredibly talented representative of the SEC and an extraordinary player. She could play for me any time.
Codger1 on 20 Mar 2008 at 10:07 am #
First off, DT gets booed not matter what team she played for because she flipped the bird at Tennessee fans in TBA.
Secondly, I too was at the SEC tourney and while Sylvia did get booed, she was also cheered for. Every team has bad apples within their fan base. I too was disappointed but I also was happy to hear that there was a large amount of orange fans who applauded her achievements.
Also, since the media can only focus of negatives these days, I am going to metion how the positives of Lady Vol nation. The SEC tournament had the all time attendance record broken this year, thanks in the large part to Tennessee fans. Not only did the Tennessee fans come to watch Lady Vol basketball, they also came to watch women’s basketball. Whenever Kentucky played, us orange clad fans would cheer them on because they were underdogs, same with Auburn. This is how it was last year in Duluth, GA. Tennessee didn’t even make it to the championship game yet the Lady Vol fans managed to make up close to half of the crowd. I love how the support we show other teams tends to be forgotten.
And on the subject of poor sportsmanship… Candace Parker shows a lot emotion, talks some, reacts to bad calls, etc…. but not anymore often than many other players I’ve seen. Lets see, Erica White for example and her clapping in the face of opponents or after any call that goes her way is no different than Candace screaming after an and-1. Maya Moores glare at Quianna Chaney this year following a block is no different than Candace glaring down an opposing player after her blocks (or maybe it is because Draino runs a clean, glistening program, right?). What I’m trying to get at is it seems that Tennesee’s popularity and far superior amount of media coverage is the only thing that is different from them and other teams. It just seems like it always Tennessee with these “issues” because they are the only ones that are TV throughout their entire season.
tennparker on 20 Mar 2008 at 12:18 pm #
Tennparker, you point out all the reasons that this behavior is all the more offensive to THE GAME. Because the Lady Vol Nation is SO visible they have a responsibility to lead by example.
It would be great to have Coach Summit instill in her players that respect is earned by giving it. To have her put the same emphasis on developing her still young and very impressionable players to be quality human beings after they leave UT and not just that they can get a job.
Life is about cooperation and in the end we are ALL in this together.
tammy on 20 Mar 2008 at 2:00 pm #
Whee, doggies you’ve upset the folks on the Summitt. (Lady Vols message board).
And while I think that’s hilarious, let the truth be told. It’s not just the Lady Vols who have descended into poor sportsmanship. All these ladies on all these teams watch the men’s side and watch the arrogance and “look at me” play of the guys, and have decided to emulate it. Plain and simple.
Does it bring more fans to the game? Perhaps. At least it gets play on ESPN and CBS - apparently- which is about the only coverage women’s sports get.
Point of reference - SI’s covers for the NCAA tournament. There’s three women players in the background collage - Parker, Moore and another one… and the star for a man’s team featured. Why not have a star for both the man and woman’s team, equal size on the cover?
Well, we all know the reason for that…
Giant Gastropod on 20 Mar 2008 at 2:25 pm #
Your comment, “Frost’s play back in the day…” says it all. This is 2008, not 1987.
vvegas on 20 Mar 2008 at 2:50 pm #
>>> (or maybe it is because Draino runs a clean, glistening program, right?).
Note how a Tennesse fan refers to the coach of UConn. Of course this is nothing compared to the names they call a lot of coaches, and programs, and fans, on the Summitt boards.
Giant Gastropod on 20 Mar 2008 at 3:29 pm #
Puleez! I’m an LSU fan. When TN fans were seated in our section at the Summett Center, we were repeatedly asked to shush and sit down when cheering for our OWN TEAM! For crying out loud, the Big Orange is not the only team in the house.
As for media coverage, fans back home complained vociferously that ESPN showed repeated shots of nothing but orange and very, very few crowd shots of purple & gold. That’s the director’s call. But after a 30+year career in the Television Industry, I know a biased show when I see one.
Shame on rude fans everywhere and shame on ESPN for maintaining an elitist status for one opponent over another.
mimibr on 20 Mar 2008 at 5:20 pm #
I appreciate all the comments — both positive and negative. It shows people care, and that’s a good thing. I want to clarify a few things and reiterate a few others. Yes, I called the Lady Vols to task because it is my opinion they have become some of the worst offenders, but notice my last paragraph: it addresses ANY TEAMS WHO ARE EXHIBITING THIS SAME BEHAVIOR.
Posters here and on other boards have compared these actions to what goes on in the men’s game, and I think that is a very telling comparison. I do not watch the NBA and have almost completely drawn away from the men’s collegiate game due to the “hot-dogging” and poor sportsmanship exhibited there with much frequency. Several posters have commented that the maladies I have addressed have infected all across the game - both men’s and women’s - and I’m afraid this may well be the case. I watch as many games as I can, given the nature of what I do and also because of my love for the sport, so I have seen these actions mimicked in many programs.
I called the LV to task for two reasons: they are in the conference I write about — a conference I am admittedly biased about. Because of that, I want to see the SEC put their best face forward to the rest of the basketball world. UT has the widest exposure of any team in the country (except maybe UCONN) and as such, they have the opportunity (some may even say responsibility) to be positive role models to the untold number of people who look up to them.
I do not want to see the game regress to one that lacks any emotion: with superior athleticism naturally comes a sense of exuberance. What I do not want to witness is celebration that is directed at an opponent or that devolves into taunting.
Thanks again for all the comments.
LeAnne on 21 Mar 2008 at 12:31 am #
Love it or hate it, one positive of this commentary is that many women’s basketball fans who hadn’t heard of this site 24 hours ago are now aware that it exists. I’m glad to know that it exists — it’s a great idea! Good luck with it!
VandyWhit on 21 Mar 2008 at 1:55 am #
Pat Summit has been quoted as saying she’s had to adapt and change as the players have changed over the past 30+ years. I wonder if one of the ways she’s “changed” is by tolerating (or even encouraging?) the ‘tude that her players exhibit on the court? It certainly isn’t only Tennessee, but you’re right, when the program that others measure themselves by is leading the way, you’d like them to lead with respect for their opponent. I like your mantra — shut up and play.
moxiedore on 21 Mar 2008 at 9:42 am #
Thanks, LeAnne.
I have thought about this issue for years. I have been a fan of wbb since I moved to Nashville 18 years ago and found that my then-toddler son loved the games at Vandy more than just about anything else. My daughter loved the game too and we enjoyed the family atmosphere at Memorial Gym. There were moments of unsportsmanlike conduct, of course, but they were few. (I never got used to the Maniacs yelling “you suck” during the intros of the Big Games, for instance.)
I remember, years ago, Sheri Sam (a family favorite) beating her chest or some such nonsense and counting the seconds until Coach Foster sat her down. (that would be three seconds and she sat for a full half) We talked about that for the rest of the game. My son was confused and horrified that the best player was sitting for so long, but we got to talk about what was more important: winning or character?
I also remember attending a particularly horrid game at TB where we got spanked. Okay, beaten into the ground and pounded. Pat kept her starters in until nearly the end, even when UT was winning by more than thirty points in a low-scoring game. That stuck with me too.
But what stuck with me too was how nice the fans at TBA were. It astounded me. And here is why–whenever UT played at Memorial, the fans were HORRID. They were loud, obnoxious and rude. They reflected the players’ ridiculous behavior. Same thing at the SEC tournaments. Unless UT was winning by a ton, they were loud, disrespectful and bossy. Every call was unfair, every foul undeserved. I wondered if the TBA fans were the regular fans, day in and day out fans and the ones in Memorial or Sommett were the ones who only got to see their team play once in a while and felt the RIGHT to act ugly. I don’t know. Granted, Vandy was getting sent to school so maybe the fans were better because there was no reason to fear a loss.
Here are just a few memories I have of UT:
Michelle Snow dunking and mugging for the camera at the end of a game that was already won. We still wonder if that was just a ploy to help attract Candace.
Kara Lawson running around the floor, holding her ear to the crowd and screaming. Did she forget she was not at home? (how nice to have Kara turn out to be such a great TV announcer–she has learned to keep her emotions at the acceptable level)
Kristen Clement’s over the top celebrations on too many occasions to count.
Bobbitt’s ridiculous technical and Pat’s equally absurd response. Of course you play like that, Pat; all your players do and that is why they forget to behave when the cameras are there to catch it. It’s part of the deal–go to UT and you can act as silly as you want…as long as we win.
It goes on and on.
I think one of the reasons this continues is that Pat lets it. Pure and simple. She lets it happen and she encourages it to happen. She knows that, no matter who is playing a televised game, the announcers are talking about her. Extolling her. Lifting her up as the Greatest Coach Of All Time. It doesn’t matter that the game is between LSU and Georgia, the announcers (not you, Kara) only talk about one thing: Pat. Pat’s fried chicken and biscuits, Pat’s son Tyler, Pat’s childhood, Pat’s mother, Pat’s problems with Geno. Pat is wholly unaccountable and she knows it. Pat screeches at the ref and Pat gets ACTION, not a technical. So her players do the same.
I was in the gym for the final game in the girls state tourney for Div II in Tennessee. Ensworth, a new high school, had just beaten Webb School, a pretty big upset. Playing for Webb was the tremendously talented UT signee, Glory Johnson. She was all that and a bag of chips, I thought, dreading having to play against her next year. Then I noticed the teams lining up to shake hands. Hmmmm. Guess who would not shake hands? Yup. Maybe she was upset, maybe she was shocked. But, guess what, YOU SHAKE HANDS AT THE END OF A HIGH SCHOOL GAME.
I remember hoping Pat would take care of that when she came to UT.
I doubt it.
hoopslynn on 21 Mar 2008 at 12:19 pm #
I am amazed at all of the thoughtful responses (plus a few ridiculous ones) and I wonder what the response would be if the LV had not been the team singled out–or had it just been a general article on the subject. I expect there are a few LV fans who actually feel the same way about some of their opponents, on those few occasions that they’ve come up short. They don’t have to take much taunting, because they rarely lose, but it must hurt that much more when someone slaps “tradition” across the face (or flips a bird at it).
Normally, that would be an opportunity to empathize…
Are there any LV fans that are not taking this so personally that they can comment on same?
Just wondering.
cluckhead on 21 Mar 2008 at 4:27 pm #
I didn’t appreciate Bobbitt’s attitude during the Rutgers’ game either. I do not, however, think that this type of attitude is unique to the Lady Vols. Erica White (LSU) demonstrates one of the most in-your-face attitudes in the SEC. Keke Carrier was also excessively demonstrative before she was deemed academically ineligible. The Florida Gators had a young lady on last year’s team who acted like a bully (her name escapes me). Furthermore, the SEC isn’t the only conference full of attitude. North Carolina’s Erlana Larkins challenges every foul and every traveling violation called against her. She was awarded a technical in one of UNC’s regular-season games this year due to her profanity directed toward the referees. North Carolina players have been displaying bad attitudes for a few years now. Why doesn’t Coach Sylvia Hatchell discipline her players for their attitudes? Abby Waner displays such an arrogant attitude that I’m surprised that she’s held in the favorable light that she is. She was particularly annoying last year, and the only reason she isn’t as visibly haughty this year is because Duke doesn’t have the powerhouse team it was thought to have last year. What about Plumley of Oklahoma? Hardeman and Cordero of Oklahoma State?
neurohoodlum on 21 Mar 2008 at 4:50 pm #
vvegas, you pointed out my quote “back in the day” and said that summed it up. I disagree with you wholeheartedly. Just because the game is faster-paced and the players overall more athletic than “back in the day” does not mean these attributes rise exponentially to the detriment of the finer points of the game, like decency and sportsmanship. Repeat after me: Good sportsmanship does not go out of style.
LeAnne on 25 Mar 2008 at 2:05 pm #
[…] has been made of my recent opinion piece “Shut Up and Play”. I have been labeled everything from a hack to things that cannot be reprinted here, and the […]
BB-BLOG » Cheap Shots and Classy Moves on 30 Mar 2008 at 3:21 pm #