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Genero36
Joined: 24 Apr 2005 Posts: 11188
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Posted: 08/11/12 7:39 pm ::: The Heart And Soul of Women's Hoops |
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Taurasi is six-feet, 165 pounds of raw energy, her face an ever-changing Rorschach, her game a combination of Showtime and Slowtime, for she can play either way, though she vastly prefers the former. Her game against France was typical Taurasi: 9 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, three gorgeous pick-and-roll passes to Parker, skin-tight defense on Frances star, point guard Celine Dumerc, who was held to eight points and, most tellingly, one assist.
And all the while, Taurasi never stopped chattering. She is a right-hander who can go left, but she is definitely a right-brainer, a player of instinct and imagination.
Moreover, Taurasi represents the paradigm for what the womens game has become at its highest level, which is to say the Team USA level. Her childhood heroes were Jordan and Magic. (For the record she is much more like Magic, controlling the game without necessarily scoring.) She starred at UConn, venturing east from her native California because thats where the big-time game was. She has now been a mainstay on three straight gold-medal winning teams. She won two championships with the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. She is the driving force for a pro team in Russia where she has been adopted like a native.
The worst thing about it? Only in Russia is her true basketball genius recognized.
Taurasi and her teammates have written themselves into American sports history as one of our greatest teams ever. If you havent noticed, thats on you. The victory over France was Team USAs 41st straight without a loss dating back to a bronze-medal win in the 1992 Games, and this gold is its fifth in a row.
This is the usually the point when you write, And we will not see their likes again. Except we might.
There is a chance that all of them will be returning and one of them is coming back for sure.
Hell, yes, Im going to be in Rio, said Taurasi, her arms draped around veteran teammates Sue Bird and Tamika Catchings. |
http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/basketball/taurasi-is-heart-soul-of-worlds-best-team.html
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Randy
Joined: 08 Oct 2011 Posts: 10911
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Posted: 08/12/12 6:53 am ::: |
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I've never been a Taurais fan, but I really did like her comment about feeling sorry for the Aussies. There is no room for sympathy in basketball......
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Youth Coach
Joined: 23 Mar 2008 Posts: 4762
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Posted: 08/12/12 8:40 am ::: |
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Randy wrote: |
I've never been a Taurais fan, but I really did like her comment about feeling sorry for the Aussies. There is no room for sympathy in basketball...... |
I loved her comment. "I don't feel sorry for anyone, we came here to win gold".
Then the comment about going to Rio.
Then Taurasi visibly moved to tears during the medal ceremony. |
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norwester
Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 6375 Location: Seattle
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suemar
Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 3729 Location: Norfolk Va
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Posted: 08/12/12 12:39 pm ::: |
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Is there actually writing on the flag she is holding? Not cool.
_________________ The Beat Goes On...
LifeTour 1952 -
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luvDhoops
Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 8229
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Posted: 08/12/12 12:41 pm ::: |
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I'm still trying to figure out how she's the "heart & soul" of the team?
_________________ "He was no dragon. Fire cannot kill a dragon. " Daenarys Targaryen, "Game of Thrones"
Last edited by luvDhoops on 08/12/12 1:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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mercfan3
Joined: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 19849
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CourtsideTix
Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 4565 Location: Washington, DC
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mercfan3
Joined: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 19849
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norwester
Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 6375 Location: Seattle
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Shades
Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 63979
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mercfan3
Joined: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 19849
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caune
Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 17919 Location: Valley of the Bun
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Posted: 08/12/12 5:28 pm ::: |
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luvDhoops wrote: |
I'm still trying to figure out how she's the "heart & soul" of the team? |
Not for you to figure out.
Her teammates think so and her Coaches think so which pretty much means, she is.
seriously, we aren't at practice, or on the team bus, or at team dinners or in the huddle, so how can we judge?
_________________ Because there is only one Diana Taurasi.
@Phoenix Mercury
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luvDhoops
Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 8229
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Posted: 08/12/12 7:37 pm ::: |
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caune wrote: |
luvDhoops wrote: |
I'm still trying to figure out how she's the "heart & soul" of the team? |
Not for you to figure out.
Her teammates think so and her Coaches think so which pretty much means, she is.
seriously, we aren't at practice, or on the team bus, or at team dinners or in the huddle, so how can we judge? |
I asked a simple question. There was no judgement. Thanks.
_________________ "He was no dragon. Fire cannot kill a dragon. " Daenarys Targaryen, "Game of Thrones"
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Tally24
Joined: 14 Feb 2012 Posts: 2709 Location: Baton Rouge
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Posted: 08/12/12 8:25 pm ::: |
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[quote="norwester
Also there are no equivalents to US-Aus rivalry/interpersonal entanglements in the men's game. .[/quote]
Kobe and Pau??? |
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sbjules
Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Posts: 3476
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mercfan3
Joined: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 19849
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Ottie
Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 305 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: 08/12/12 11:49 pm ::: |
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Randy wrote: |
I've never been a Taurais fan, but I really did like her comment about feeling sorry for the Aussies. There is no room for sympathy in basketball...... |
I'm sure the Australian players don't need her or anyone else feeling sorry for them either, that would feel patronising to me.
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Ottie
Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 305 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Posted: 08/12/12 11:55 pm ::: |
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CourtsideTix wrote: |
Dee didn't volunteer a "no sympathy" comment. She was ASKED by the idiot interviewer if she felt sympathy for the Australians because they came up short of a gold medal again. Her answer to this absurd question was honest. |
x________________
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suemar
Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 3729 Location: Norfolk Va
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Posted: 08/13/12 7:11 am ::: |
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The disrepect of the flag was totally amazing and I cant recall seeing a team writing on one during the Olympics. It shouldnt have happened. period.
_________________ The Beat Goes On...
LifeTour 1952 -
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CourtsideTix
Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 4565 Location: Washington, DC
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Posted: 08/13/12 8:37 am ::: |
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suemar wrote: |
The disrepect of the flag was totally amazing and I cant recall seeing a team writing on one during the Olympics. It shouldnt have happened. period. |
X__________
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dtsnms
Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 18815
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Posted: 08/13/12 8:47 am ::: |
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CourtsideTix wrote: |
suemar wrote: |
The disrepect of the flag was totally amazing and I cant recall seeing a team writing on one during the Olympics. It shouldnt have happened. period. |
X__________ |
Several other countries had it done too; you could see it in the crowds.
Just saying, doesn't make it right, and I don't agree with it either.
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Michelle89
Joined: 17 Nov 2010 Posts: 16467 Location: Holland
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grrlagent
Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Posts: 240 Location: Non-Bubbaville, Louisiana
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Posted: 08/13/12 9:37 am ::: |
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dtsnms wrote: |
CourtsideTix wrote: |
suemar wrote: |
The disrepect of the flag was totally amazing and I cant recall seeing a team writing on one during the Olympics. It shouldnt have happened. period. |
X__________ |
Several other countries had it done too; you could see it in the crowds.
Just saying, doesn't make it right, and I don't agree with it either. |
Not defending anyone, but it MAY be possible that they aren't aware of the complexities of flag etiquette. I know many people who don't know you aren't supposed to let a flag touch the ground, etc. Seriously, I doubt if anybody on that team or affiliated with the program knew it was disrespectful in the least they would not have allowed it to happen. Flag etiquette is not taught in elementary school. I think people should give them the benefit of the doubt, especially Taurasi. I'm pretty sure she bleeds red, white, and blue. [/i]
_________________ Never mistake activity for achievement.
John Wooden
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Luuuc #NATC
Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 22001
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Posted: 08/13/12 9:44 am ::: |
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The only way I knew there was such a thing as flag etiquette was from reading it on this message board.
I would expect Taurasi to know about it, as clearly keeping up with the hot topics at Rebkell is something she should be doing. But for the average schmo running around London I can easily understand why they might make a flag faux pas.
_________________ Thanks for calling. I wait all night for calls like these.
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