She described the amazing events of this year as being "like a Disney movie."
As far as I'm concerned, she's definitely an Oscar-caliber star.
One day after her Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team became co-champs of the Big Ten Conference, Lisa Bluder was named the conference's Coach of the Year.
Adding to the warm-and-fuzzy Cinderella story is the fact that it's the first Big Ten title the team has clinched in 10 years. Another milestone, Bluder marked her 500th career victory in February. The feel-good comeback edge to the tale -- last season was Bluder's worst with the Hawkeyes, the only time during her tenure that the team didn't play in the postseason.
And here's the nail-biter that makes this all the more sweet -- there was chatter among restless Hawkeye fans (or as much chatter as is generated by women's basketball, which, sadly to say, isn't much) that Bluder's job was on the line. She hadn't netted her team any NCAA Tourney wins in five years and had a rather mediocre 40-40 conference record during that time.
The current Hawkeye women's shining example of athletic glory comes in the same year to the same university where more than a dozen football players have been arrested, for a laundry list of violations from drugs and drinking to theft and unlawful use of credit cards.
This is the same university where a couple years ago, basketball star Pierre Pierce reportedly raped a member of the women's basketball team. And basically got away with it. He went on to attack another woman elsewhere in Iowa and did some time behind bars instead of the free-pass-er-throw line.
And let us not forget the ongoing criminal investigation on campus into allegations of sexual assault involving members of the Hawkeye football team.
Unfortunately, not a lot of people seem to be praising the female student-athletes for their achievements and positive influence on and off the court. As I read in the local paper, "Despite being one win away from a Big Ten title, the Hawkeyes (women's team) will finish with their lowest average attendance in more than 20 years."
They averaged fewer than 3,000 fans per game. Compared with 10,000-15,000 at men's basketball games. Compared with 70,000 or so for each football game in Kinnick Stadium.
I'm as guilty as anyone. I haven't been to a women's game. I haven't been to any games, for that matter. Coach Bluder, ever diplomatic, rested some blame on our lousy weather. It's still inexcusable.
This may be the first year I fill out an NCAA bracket for the women's tournament. As for watching it on TV, I won't hold my breath that it'll be available anywhere. Maybe tape-delayed at 3 a.m. on Oxygen?
Anyway, congrats Coach Bluder. You make us proud.
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