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Not a perfect exit
Geno Auriemma admitted after Tuesday's second-round win over Purdue that he would have loved to have pulled out seniors Lorin Dixon and Maya Moore at the ideal time to give the crowd a chance to salute them in their final home game. However, the way the game played out, Auriemma found himself subbiing out Moore, Dixon and freshman Stefanie Dolson together with 2:19 to play.
"She (Moore) didn’t play great, so in those instances you like for it to be, she makes a couple of big plays and comes out on a high, but it just didn’t seem like it was going that way," Auriemma said. "I was hoping to get Lorin (Dixon) out or at the worst at the same time. There just wasn’t that flow going and something I tried to orchestrate."
The fans got their chance to salute Moore after the game. While Auriemma was being interviewed by ESPN's Doris Burke, Moore patiently waited her turn when the fans started to chant her name. She raised her hand into the air several times to acknowledge the crowd but admitted in the post-game press conference that she was a little uncomfortable during that time before turning the question into an opportunity to throw some love Lorin Dixon's way.
"I felt a little awkward," Moore said. "I usually don’t like that sort of individual attention because I play a team sport. I would say I appreciate it the fans have been awesome and they’re just to show how much they appreciate Lorin and I (accomplished). It capped off I think both of our careers perfectly when Lorin ended it with a great play on the defensive end blocking the shot and then hitting it off the point guard and making it our ball, that was just perfect. I wouldn’t have wanted to go out any other way then Lorin Dixon making a great play."
MY TAKE ON ANONYMOUS COMMENTS
I've refrained from taking this step (or at least publicizing it) but in recent weeks the number of anonymous comments have been sent into my blog ripping on UConn players have been increasing. They haven't been posted nor will they in the future. Under no circumstances do I have an issue posting comments critical of UConn or anything I write but when they come in anonymously, it just is not happening. I find that to be incredibly cowardly to hide behind your computer screen and rip on college kids so if you have the urge to do so, save your fingers because they aren't going to make it onto this blog.
"She (Moore) didn’t play great, so in those instances you like for it to be, she makes a couple of big plays and comes out on a high, but it just didn’t seem like it was going that way," Auriemma said. "I was hoping to get Lorin (Dixon) out or at the worst at the same time. There just wasn’t that flow going and something I tried to orchestrate."
The fans got their chance to salute Moore after the game. While Auriemma was being interviewed by ESPN's Doris Burke, Moore patiently waited her turn when the fans started to chant her name. She raised her hand into the air several times to acknowledge the crowd but admitted in the post-game press conference that she was a little uncomfortable during that time before turning the question into an opportunity to throw some love Lorin Dixon's way.
"I felt a little awkward," Moore said. "I usually don’t like that sort of individual attention because I play a team sport. I would say I appreciate it the fans have been awesome and they’re just to show how much they appreciate Lorin and I (accomplished). It capped off I think both of our careers perfectly when Lorin ended it with a great play on the defensive end blocking the shot and then hitting it off the point guard and making it our ball, that was just perfect. I wouldn’t have wanted to go out any other way then Lorin Dixon making a great play."
MY TAKE ON ANONYMOUS COMMENTS
I've refrained from taking this step (or at least publicizing it) but in recent weeks the number of anonymous comments have been sent into my blog ripping on UConn players have been increasing. They haven't been posted nor will they in the future. Under no circumstances do I have an issue posting comments critical of UConn or anything I write but when they come in anonymously, it just is not happening. I find that to be incredibly cowardly to hide behind your computer screen and rip on college kids so if you have the urge to do so, save your fingers because they aren't going to make it onto this blog.
Labels: Lorin Dixon, Maya Moore
posted by Jim Fuller at
10:34 AM
8 Comments:
Good for you Mr. Fuller. I don't understand why some people have to be so harsh to the student athletes.
what is their point or purpose?
Jim Fuller is so perfect that he never ever paid to attend a concert, play, musical, movie, or game, and had a negative comment about the performance. A paying customer has the right to their opinions about the performance they paid to watch.
Jim Fuller, you do realize your web page for comments has a radio button labeled Anonymous, right?
It's your Blog Jim, so ignore those comments which you deem to be offensive. I also follow John Altavilla's Blog in the Courant and there are a few idiots [my opinion] who comment regularly and never have a good word to say about Geno or the UCONN women...yet they bother to comment most every day. Who needs them and what's their point?
Jim,
I agree with your stand on anonymous posters. To respond to Sahul Najib; no one is complaining about thoughtful reasoned criticism; the problem lies with mindless spiteful mean anonymous comments.
For example, one might say that perhaps Geno over-reacted at the 11 minute mark in the second half, when he inserted Johnson, she was out of position twice on two plays (you could see Kelly telling her where to go), then he yanked her and kept her on the bench the rest of the way. One could wish that after Johnson sat with Chris Dailey for several minutes receiving instruction, she would get a chance to go back into the game again, rather than keeping the starters in with a 25-point lead until nearly the end of the game.
That is reasonable criticism; it is not the flaming "all women are useless" type of nonsense that you find here from time to time.
Agree that Auriemma pointed his Index Finger in the Wrong direction. Three of Auriemma's Fingers were also Pointing at Himself.
Instead of spending his Free Time making Visigoth Commercials for ESPN, Auriemma should have made sure there was Propering Advertising for the Tickets and made sure the Tickets were readily Available both Online and at Gampel. After all, UConn Fans are Auriemma's Customers. Ever hear of Customer Service?
And here is another Important Point which I believe No One has mentioned. If indeed Auriemma really wanted to have a Sold Out Gampel Pavilion for Maya Moore, why did Auriemma do Nothing in advance to Ensure a Sell Out? Seriously, if Auriemma deeply cared about Maya, he would have Gone Out of his Way to Make Sure the Seats were Filled. And if that meant Buying All the Available Tickets and Handing Out the Tickets to Students, then Auriemma should have done that.
Blame Yourself, Geno!
Good work, Jim! Frankly, given what this team has & continues to accomplish, what is there to criticize anyway?! Sure, they have off days but who doesn't? Regarding, Geno's comments about the "small" turnout, while I love & respect Geno & most of the time agree with him, I think he was off base on this one. There are so many factors that make attending games at Gampel difficult, if not impossible for some of us: distance, traffic, parking, benches without backs (very painful for some us to sit 2hrs.), economy. I think the attendance would have been higher if the games were at the XL Center. It also would have been helpful if ticket availability had been announced & advertised.
Will your UConnCountry buy the tickets, pay for gas, and pay for parking, for unemployed fans or employed fans who cannot afford to attend? Will your UConnCountry call the bosses of fans who have to work during the UConn games and get the bosses to let the UConn fans off from work?
If Auriemma and Dailey wanted a full house for Maya, they would have made a phone call on Monday night to check on the tickets still available. Auriemma and Dailey would then have purchased all the available tickets and advertised the free tickets on UConnCountry. Auriemma and Dailey would then have pre-paid for the parking lots associated with the UConn-Purdue game.
Instead the rich and famous called out the best fan base in women's college sports.
When was the last time you ever heard Auriemma or Dailey use their post game press conference on TV and Radio to publicly thank all the UConn fans for attending a game? Did either Auriemma or Dailey publicly thank the UConn fans on TV and Radio for attending Senior Night or any other game at Gampel Pavilion, XL Center, or an away game?
Will either Auriemma or Dailey use the post game press conference on TV and Radio to publicly thank the UConn fans who spent their hard earned money to attend the UConn-Georgetown game in Philadelphia? Will either Auriemma or Dailey use the UConn-Georgetown post game press conference on TV and Radio to apologize for wrongfully calling out the entire UConn fan base?
If the UConn coaches are going to publicly complain about the entire UConn fan base on TV and Radio, then they should publicly thank the entire UConn fan base for supporting the high salaries for 25+ years.
WHEN YOU PURCHASE ANYTHING AT A STORE, DOES THE EMPLOYEE SAY THANK YOU OR DOES THE EMPLOYEE COMPLAIN THAT YOU DID NOT BUY ENOUGH?
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