Draft Day Suit

The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team has won an NCAA women’s record of wins with 71 games in a row. 71.

I haven’t won 71 anything in a row, ever, excluding managing to get out of bed 71 days in a row which I have to admit is sometimes a little iffy. Have you?

The Huskies have won every game – every game – since March 11, 2003, by double-digits – specifically an average of 32.5 points. Melanie Jackson at ESPN listed some of the most memorable games in the streak.

Coach Geno Auriemma says it’s good for their sport.

“You know, there’s people talking about women’s basketball now that wouldn’t be talking about it this time of year because of what we’re doing,’’ he said. “We have a way here at Connecticut of making everybody around the country talk about women’s basketball. We’ve been known to do that for a long time.’’

Auriemma keeps the Huskies, including star players Tina Charles and Maya Moore, focused on the championship, downplaying the milestone celebrations. I guess this is understandable, because what happens when you finally lose, if you ever do? Who wants to think about that?

They certainly don’t, but I’m sure the team that hopes to beat them does. Congratulate these players in the meantime. They may not be allowed to celebrate, but even this Maryland fan will give them a round of applause today.

[Source]

[Photo]

Ron Artest has lost a bet, his mind or both.

[photos via The Big Lead]

Ok, so I’m a little behind. On Thursday my wife and I brought home a brand new baby!

Our baby doesn’t play any sports right now, unless you consider peeing for distance a sport. I haven’t seen any sports all week other than the eight-dollar Cavaliers game I watched while we were in the hospital. (Yes, “non-basic” TV was eight dollars a day in the hospital room.) And I only kind of watched it whilst in the haze of new parenthood.

Oh, I did hear that Zydrunas Ilgauskas will rejoin the Cavs after having been traded last month at the deadline. “Z” was/is the longest-tenured Cavalier. And I never noticed it before but he kind of looks like a baby – a giant, Lithuanian baby. Amazing.

Please don’t mention that to my wife for at least another three months.

I haven’t read any news stories, seen any blogs or heard any sports talk radio. As a matter of fact, I haven’t really thought about sports at all, other than to contemplate which professional sport our sure-to-be super baby will pursue. And whether Brett Favre will retire! I can’t take the suspense! When will we know?

So, I fear I don’t have much to add to the conversation this week.  Hopefully once we’ve adjusted a little more to our new bundle of joy I will be able to sit down and, you know, watch a sporting event. Until then I’ll have to be content with long-distance peeing, infant division.

Ashton Gibbs

I thought last night’s game against Providence was over. Brad Wanamaker was unable to secure the tie-breaking shot and then fouled. After they were able to pull ahead by 1 with 3.5 seconds to go, I left the room in disgust. I was in the kitchen when I heard my husband yelp, “HUH HO! OH MY GOD!” I ran back in asking what happened and he could only answer, “GIBBS!”

I watched the replay in disbelief. Gibbs took the ball, made several inhumanly long strides to just past mid-court, and just milliseconds before time ran out, drained a 3-pointer that seemed to come directly from heaven.

The win secured them a double-bye in the Big East tournament and maintained their chance to be seeded #2. They also vindicated themselves against Providence, who beat Pitt last season. Awesome game and incredible fodder for the highlight reel. Video of the amazing moment is here.