UConn’s Coach Needs To Shut Up

Last night, the UConn women’s basketball team won their 88^th consecutive game in a row, tying the record held by John Wooden’s UCLA teams from 1971-74.  That being said, it was UConn’s coach, Geno Auriemma who stole the headlines at the post-game press conference.

Following UConn’s 81-50 dismantling of No. 11 Ohio State, Geno said:

''I just know there wouldn't be this many people in the room if we were chasing a woman's record.  The reason everybody is having a heart attack the last four or five days is a bunch of women are threatening to break a men's record, and everybody is all up in arms about it”

Who is it, exactly, that is having a heart attack?  I, for one, haven’t heard anyone who is “up in arms” about the fact that these women have achieved a remarkable, note-worthy, accomplishment.  Intelligent sports fans have regarded the UConn women as exactly what they are: impressive, but impressive against blatantly inferior competition.  It has nothing to do with a men’s record vs. a women’s record.  It has everything to do with the fact that the UConn women have destroyed any parody in their sport, which has made it mundane and predictable.

Auriemma went on to add:

“If we were breaking a women's record, everybody would go, 'Aren't those girls nice, let's give them two paragraphs in USA Today, you know, give them one line on the bottom of ESPN and then let's send them back where they belong, in the kitchen.’''

If ever a coach was put in an opportunity to praise a group of student athletes, and to put their grandiose accomplishment into a larger context, this was that time; and Geno blew it.  Instead of singing the praises of the young women who have managed to do something that most assumed could never be done, Geno slammed the media, and came across as bitter and paranoid.  To all the student athletes who have contributed to this accomplishment over the last 2+ seasons, congratulations.  To Geno Auriemma, just shut up.