Be positive ladies

As you know, I'm a fan of women's basketball. That is what I watch on television this time of the year. Once the tournament tips off, however, I really enjoy watching the men play as well.
Watching both sports, I noticed something recently.
I believe part of the reason women's basketball has a bit of a negative perception from the casual fan is the broadcasters' attitudes.
Women, in particular, who analyze women's basketball are incredibly negative. The men's game, meanwhile, is broadcast with a positive spin on everything.
For instance, in the women's game, you'll often hear phrases like, "Smith got her pocket picked." "Jones got her shot blocked." "Miller commits the turnover."
In the men's game, the same action would be described, "Griffin uses his quick hands and picked his pocket." "Ray skies high to block his shot." "Aggressive defensive by Taylor forced a turnover."
See the difference?
Female commentators almost always take the negative view. Fact is, for every missed shot or turnover, there was a defender trying to force the missed shot or turnover. Every negative for one team was a positive for the opposing team.
The men's game is exciting because the commentators are genuinely excited about every positive play. The women's game is less exciting because the commentators consistently harp on the mistakes. They use their gift of hindsight to point out what should've been done, instead of crediting a positive play.
A women's team that gets outscored 10-0 has a cold shooting spell. A men's team that gets outscored 10-0 was shut down by a swarming defense.
Obviously, I'm a fan and I'll watch women's basketball as long as it's played. But, maybe a few more fans would appreciate the quality of play if the "expert" analysts would highlight some of the positives instead of being critical.
Email me at http://www.tonybrns1@gmail.com if you have an opinion.

I hate UConn

I hate UConn women's basketball. I'm hoping, no praying for someone, anyone to wipe that smug smirk off Geno Auriemma's mug.
Sadly, I don't see it happening until the final four when my big Stanford ladies get a hold of his punk arse. Fear the tree.
The women's tournament has been a lot more interesting than the men so far. Everyone knew Tennessee was down but no one realized how down until they lost to Ball State in the first round. I didn't see that coming. I actually thought Pat Summitt's troops would step it up and advance to the elite eight.
I never liked Auburn but couldn't ignore what they'd done all season. I had them in my elite eight, also. But, I wasn't shocked when they lost.
I told folks if Michigan State won its first round game it could beat Duke on its homecourt. I got that one right. I don't know what to say about Baylor - two wins - one in overtime, one at the buzzer.
I got on the ESPN message board and folks were angry at Kim Mulkey, calling her classless for her timeout substitution late in the game.
It's funny how dumb some "fans" are.
If you didn't see the game, Baylor's Rachel Allison injured her knee late. She left the game then came back in with her knee wrapped. Allison got a defensive rebound and was fouled. The less than 60 percent free throw shooter limped, hobbled and practically crawled to her coach.
Up by one, it was obvious Allison wanted no part of that 1-and-1 with just seconds remaining.
Mulkey, as is her right, substituted her injured player, inserting former CAC star Whitney Zachariason to shoot the free throw.
What was unfair was putting a player in cold off the bench in that situation. The look on Zachariason's face was sheer terror.
But, she made the crucial front end of the 1-and-1.
My question is, what was classless about this move? Allison was injured. Plus, she's a 55 percent free throw shooter. If you want to win, this was a no brainer.
Tell me how Gorgeous Geno Auriemma can get into it with players on opposing teams and get away with it while anyone else makes a simple strategic coaching move and gets called classless.
I hate UConn so much.
Please, please, please Stanford, that's right I'm begging, please Stanford - the home of Tiger Woods, John Elway and Chelsea Clinton - please send Geno packing like you did last year.
Thank you, good night.

Lazy so-and-so

It's been a couple of weeks since all my area basketball teams were eliminated. I must admit to being extremely lazy when it comes to getting my postseason stuff done. I usually have all my stories written and have figured out all my all-area teams by now.
I'm having a difficult time getting into it this season. I actually had a few girls step up toward the end of the year so my All-Area Team actually has me a little excited. It's bad when you don't feel like you have enough girls worthy of the honor. That's not the case this season. I had five or six solid choices.
It's not like the end of the year didn't have some excitement, either. Four teams advancing in the state tournament has never happened before in Union County on the girls side. The bummer for me was I only got to watch one - Parkers Chapel.
PC was probably the best choice since they hadn't been to state in awhile and their first round game was so exciting. But, I wish I could've watched El Dorado, Strong and Smackover, too. There's always more to the story and I would've loved to have seen how these players reacted in the state tournament atmosphere.
Maybe one day we can get all of our smaller schools in the same classification again so we don't have to pick and choose who we're covering in the postseason. I didn't realize how fortunate I was when they were all in the same conference. Now, I do.
I don't know if that's why I've been procrastinating on this thing or not. But, I have to knuckle down and get this thing done.
I'd better get back to calling coaches for comments on players. So far today, I'm one-out-of-five on reaching coaches.
By the way, former El Dorado coach Brad Slatton got the principal's job at Fort Elliot Consolidated in Texas. His future plans don't include coaching unless he can't find a suitable replacement.
Congratulations to the old goat, who leaves coaching with his most successful season ever.

You go, girls

I got calls and texts from Strong coach Gerrald Koonce and El Dorado coach Corey Smith Wednesday night after the conclusion of the day's state tournament games. Both coaches had the same message - "Ha Ha, you were wrong."
I shouldn't have used quote marks because that's not exactly what they said but it was the general message. I'm very happy to be slightly inaccurate in my assessment of Union County girls basketball, by the way.
After calling it a down year for our area girls basketball teams - every single team from Union County that made it to state won its first round game.
El Dorado beat Jonesboro in 6A, Parkers Chapel beat Elkins in 3A and Strong and Smackover both advanced in 2A. My girls won after every single area boys team lost in the first round.
All of these teams will have difficult matchups in the quarterfinals. El Dorado meets West Memphis. Parkers Chapel takes on Valley Springs and Strong has a date with Danville. Smackover looks to have the best chance of advancing further after knocking off two-time defending champion Carlisle in the first round. The Lady Bucks play top-seeded Cedar Ridge, a team I know nothing about.
Whatever happens today and tomorrow, it has already been a surprisingly successful season for our area girls basketball teams. I have no problem with the coaches calling me up and gloating a little bit. I think it's great if they're rooting for each other.
No matter what my predictions are, I'm rooting for 'em, too.
***
The thing about the state tournaments, a little luck is involved. I'm in Searcy covering the 3A State Tournament. I've already seen Lady Luck smile a little on the Lady Trojans, who won a thrilling 37-35 heart-stopper over Elkins on Wednesday.
When I say lucky, I don't mean PC was lucky to win. They earned that victory and deserved that victory.
Tayvia Brownmiller's game-winning layup was a tad fortunate. The senior took off for the layup way too soon, had an awkward angle and managed to get the shot off the glass and in with the whole pressure of the season on her shoulders.
Elkins missed two shots, including one from point blank at the buzzer. I'm not saying that was lucky. The Lady Trojans were scrapping on defense. Savanna Langston had blocked three shots down the stretch and the Lady Elk was probably looking for her as well as the clock as she rushed to get the short bank shot up before time expired.
But, I believe PC's biggest break came on another buzzer beater. Langston misfired on a shot at the buzzer in the regional final against Prescott. That might've been the Lady Trojans' most fortunate miss.
Prescott lost in the first round to fourth-seeded Mansfield. I watched half of that game and left very impressed with Mansfield - a team blessed with size and strength in the paint and athletic slashers on the perimeter.
Mansfield's point guard elected to participate in the indoor state track meet last week instead of the regional semifinals. Mansfield lost that game and sat the girl on the bench in the third place game, losing that as well.
Mansfield shouldn't be a four seed. It would have been a horrible matchup for PC, had the Lady Trojans won the regional title.
This time of the year it's all about matchups. As tough as Elkins was, and the Lady Elks were downright feisty, I think Mansfield would've been a tougher matchup for PC.
Luckily, that matchup didn't happen in the first round.