OK, here we go. This is my first attempt at ANY blog, much less anything related to the world of womens hoops so you'll have to bear with me here as I'm somewhat technologically "challenged" (although I'm slowly getting better).
So why did I decide to start this blog? I think the main reason I'm doing it is because womens hoops deserves much more attention than it's currently getting from tradmed/MSM. Quite simply, I've loved womens hoops ever since I was a young kid growing up in Iowa watching 6-on-6. Don't get me wrong; I like mens hoops as well but I think the women play it "better" somehow; they play as a true team better than the guys do because there's usually less room for individual stars to steal the spotlight. The game has come a long way in the past 15-20 years or so and it's getting better all the time. Moreover, the players are seemingly getting better and better each year. And I think it's worth mentioning that the passion and emotion the women and high school girls show on court during a game is incredibly captivating.
So what can you expect from this blog? First, from having followed the MIAC womens hoops scene for over the last 10-11 years and, being close to both the Gustavus and St. Kate's programs, this blog will focus PRIMARILY on the MIAC womens hoops scene. However, I'm planning to get on every angle of womens college and girls high school hoops whenever and wherever I can. And I might even throw in some WNBA tidbits here and there. So you'll get some stuff once in a while from the WIAC or UMAC and possibly the IIAC from my home state. And you'll certainly get some coverage of MCCC Community College action as well; particularly of one of the best programs in the country in Anoka-Ramsey. And I'll also be getting in a smattering of DII action as well with programs like Concordia St. Paul, St. Cloud State, and Minnesota State plus whatever else the NSIC can cook up for me. Also hope to get some notes from time to time on both the Minnesota and Iowa programs on the DI level. And yes, I'll be getting in on some high school action as well as there's plenty of angles to explore on both metro and outstate teams. Finally, I'll be reporting on action from Summer Leagues when the regular season has long since concluded.
One thing I want you to keep in mind about this blog: This is NOT going to be a "rah rah" type of board or a forum that tries to convey the message that all within the wonderful world of womens hoops is great and we should all just stick our heads in the sand at the first sign of trouble and pretend that everything is okay. Uh uh. Far from it. I don't make it a practice to pile on some college or H.S. kid but if something needs to be said I'll say it. I guess from having been a loyal reader (and participant) of the Bruins Nation blog (I am, after all, a DIE-HARD UCLA fan) and I have a great respect for the lead commentator/moderator (Nestor), I want to try and emulate the way he runs that great forum with class (kind of typical for UCLA). So yes, while I am close to both the Gustavus and St. Kate's programs, don't think I'm not going to say something if something needs to be said. As far as that goes, that goes for all programs, regardless of level, when I'm covering them. And if something good needs saying, I'll certainly be tooting that horn as well.
Also, I want all readers to know that I WELCOME comments to my coverage and the angles I have PROVIDED that they're in good taste and they're not harmful or degrading. I don't want that and I don't think you do either. So if you've got something constructive and a good argument to back your case, I WANT to hear about it.
OK, that out of the way now, I think it's a little ironic that my good friend, Tony Geer (who has done so much to promote womens and girls H.S. hoops here in the Twin Cities and the state) got me started with everything just as we're on the verge of another season about to get underway with most college teams starting up practice on or around October 15. Some programs (like Anoka-Ramsey) have already been practicing together as a team for at least a week or so. I hope I can get some glimpses of some of the early practices to try and piece together what a team may (or may not) have. I know that, at this time of year, there's a lot of anticipation and hope among players and coaches alike. If nothing else, getting to catch some early tidbits will at least temporarily take my mind off of how my poor Bruins are really struggling right now with a big road trip up to Eugene to take on the #2 Duckies lurking a little more than a week away.
