RIP pat summitt

the absolute G.O.A.T.

d'y'all watch the game last night?

kylie's in hawaii, so i guess this is on me?



the USWNT won the world cup last night, and if you didn't watch it, i feel bad for you.  it was the most watched soccer game EVER in the u.s.a.  even more than the gentlemen's team, so you really are alone.  and if you didn't watch it on telemundo, well... watch these highlights.

how about carli lloyd for the $10 bill?  for 16 minutes last night, she was the greatest player of all time.  but don't take my word for, i'm just plagiarizing deadspin.

this is fascinating.

the university of tennessee will be making the licensing switch from adidas to nike this year. nike has proposed to unite all programs, both athletic and academic, under one brand. this includes making the power-T the official logo and doing away with the "lady vols" brand for women's teams. all in the name of "one tennessee".

the lady vols, however, object. and it's mixing up my feelings about feminism and gender-quality and brand strategy and pat summitt. 

On Nov. 10, 2014 the university announced plans to transition all men’s and women’s athletic teams under the “Power T.” The decision coincided with a dual-rebrand between academics and athletics that would make the “Power T” the universal logo for the University of Tennessee, not just its athletic department. Under the new plan, which coincides with a shift from Adidas to Nike in athletic apparel, all sports programs except women’s basketball will be known as “Volunteers,” the nickname that’s defined the men’s side for decades. The change will be official on July 1.

UT first formed its women’s athletic department prior to the 1976-77 academic year, and the school had separate athletic departments until 2009. During that span the Lady Vols grew into one of the most impactful women’s brands in college sports. Lady Vols teams have won 11 national championships, including eight in women’s basketball, and 68 conference titles. The basketball team is the only program to play in all 33 NCAA tournaments since the NCAA began sanctioning women’s sports in 1981-82. An average of 11,038 fans attended Lady Vols home basketball games during the 2013-14 season, the highest average in the country.

But that success hasn’t been relegated to basketball. The Lady Vols softball team has reached six Women’s College World Series in the last 10 years. The women’s swim team has finished in the top 15 at the NCAA Championships in a school-record nine consecutive seasons. Tennessee won two women’s indoor track and field national championships (2005, 2009) within the last decade. That’s why many former student-athletes view the Lady Vols decision as a blow to a historic brand.

“Former Lady Vols always look after current Lady Vols,” Mansson said. “I got really upset because it felt like they took away my, and others’, identity.” (via)

in the end, the university has decided to let only the women's basketball program retain the lady vols logo, out of respect for the program's storied success under pat summitt, which seems like the worst possible solution.

meanwhile, deadspin's trying try to find a tennessee resident to request emails between nike and the university, if anyone feels like helping...

2Pz Summer Reading List

there is only one book that everyone will be buzzing about this summer. don't be surprised if you see it sticking out of beach bags, tucked into picnic baskets, or in the hands of straphangers on the subway or bus.

Sum It Up, by Pat Head Summitt with Patty Jenkins is a must read. go get your copy today and let us know when you finish!

obama gets it right.

coach summit received the medal of freedom from the potus.
"The Medal of Freedom is presented to people who have made meritorious contributions to the national interests of the United States, to world peace or to other significant endeavors."
this year's other honorees included:
• Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the first woman to hold the job.
• Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts, who died in 1927.
• John Doar, who handled civil rights cases as assistant attorney general in the 1960s.
• William Foege, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who helped lead the effort to eradicate smallpox.
• Jan Karski, a resistance fighter against the Nazi occupation of Poland during World War II. He died in 2000.
good company. go vols. more

Go Lady Vols!

really nailed it

SOB.

not the best quality.



UPDATE: PAT GETS THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM


WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced Patricia “Pat” Summitt, former head coach and current head coach emeritus of the University of Tennessee’s women’s basketball team, as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  The Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. 

President Obama said, “Coach Summitt is an inspiration – both as the all-time winningest NCAA coach, and as someone who is willing to speak so openly and courageously about her battle with Alzheimer’s.   Pat’s gift has always been her ability to push those around her to new heights, and over the last 38 years, her unique approach has resulted in both unparalleled success on the court and unrivaled loyalty from those who know her and those whose lives she has touched.  Pat’s coaching career may be over, but I’m confident that her work is far from finished.  I look forward to awarding her this honor.”

miss you already.

love ya, pat.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Well, sure, it had to end this way Sunday. The same way the SEC women's basketball tournament had ended 15 times previously: with Tennessee coach Pat Summitt holding the trophy.

The second-seeded Lady Vols -- who lost four games during SEC regular-season play -- were not to be denied here in middle Tennessee, not that far from where Summitt grew up. They beat No. 4 seed LSU 70-58 at Bridgestone Arena, to the delight of the orange-clad among the 12,441 fans in attendance. Which was the bulk of the crowd.

They cheered Summitt at every opportunity -- when she walked in, when she got up to chastise the referees, when her picture was flashed on the giant video screen. And when the game ended, a spontaneous chant of "We love Pat!" swept through the arena.

Of course they love her. Summitt has spent her entire life in Tennessee, and no one has better symbolized consistent excellence for any university than she has. Sunday's victory meant Tennessee now has a "Sweet 16" collection of SEC championship trophies. (via)

see you in the final four, ladies!

GO LADYVOLS!

SEC regular season champs!

we back pat week announced by SEC

"KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The 12 members of the Southeastern Conference are planning a "We Back Pat" week to show support for Tennessee coach Pat Summitt and the foundation she created to support efforts to fight Alzheimer's.

SEC schools will make various efforts to show support for and raise awareness of Summitt's foundation during 29 home SEC men's and women's basketball games during the week of Jan. 15-22."

Keeks and I have our shirts you should get yours too.

we back pat

the lady vols graced new york with their presence this weekend, and they won by like a million, like always. today's times features pat summitt and what might be her final season.

Orange-clad loyalists still follow Summitt and company out of Knoxville wherever they go. Clusters made up a large portion of the crowd at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, when the Lady Vols posted a routine 84-61 victory over DePaul in the second game of the annual Maggie Dixon Classic doubleheader.
...
In the second half of the Baylor game, Summitt walked out to center court to receive the Dixon award, named for the former Army coach who died of heart failure just short of her 29th birthday in 2006. When Summitt passed the Baylor bench on the way back to the locker room, Mulkey broke her timeout huddle and gave her old friend a hug.

“I just told her I loved her,” she said. (via)

morning tearjerker

an outpouring of support for coach summitt has begun. she really is just the best, and its touching to see her recognized on a national level.

Pat Summitt has won eight national championships at Tennessee, but that is not her legacy. She has won more than 1,000 games and counting, but that is not her legacy. In the coming days, you will undoubtedly hear dozens of former and current players tell stories about how much Summitt meant to their lives, about the lessons she taught them and the things she made them learn about themselves. You hear that about the very best coaches.

But I don't think even that is her legacy.

Summitt has coached her women like they were men. She has done it for so long, and so well, that it now sounds politically incorrect even to say that. We now assume that women should be coached and pushed, not coddled. We assume they should be taught and critiqued and made to run gassers and hit the weight room. We assume they should play not just to play, but to achieve. We assume all of this largely because of Pat Summitt. (via)

bonus links:
new york times
sports illustrated
the tennessean

a letter from coach pat

August 23, 2011

Dear All–

Throughout my career, I have always made it a point that my life and my basketball program were an open book.

With that in mind, I have something I’d like to share with my Tennessee families—the university, boosters and fans of Lady Vol basketball.

Once last season concluded, I addressed some ongoing concerns regarding my health. After consulting with my local physicians, I decided to visit the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Earlier this summer, the doctors at the Mayo Clinic diagnosed me with early onset dementia ("Alzheimer's Type") at the age of 59.

I plan to continue to be your coach. Obviously, I realize I may have some limitations with this condition since there will be some good days and some bad days.

For that reason I will be relying on my outstanding coaching staff like never before. We have always collaborated on every facet of Lady Vol Basketball; and now you will see Holly Warlick, Dean Lockwood and Mickie DeMoss taking on more responsibility as their duties will change significantly.

I love being your coach, and the privilege to go to work every day with our outstanding Lady Vol basketball student-athletes. I appreciate the complete support of UT Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Cheek and UT Athletics Director Joan Cronan to continue coaching at the University of Tennessee as long as the good Lord is willing.

I've been honest and shared my health concerns with you and now we’ll move forward to the business at hand…coaching a great group of Lady Vols. For the time being, I hope you will respect my privacy regarding this matter.

Thank you.

Go Lady Vols!

Pat Summitt

pat head, no!

For such a strong figure, Pat Summitt was feeling almost helpless.

Months of erratic behavior had left Tennessee women’s basketball coach bewildered, scared and asking herself “What’s wrong with me?”

Summitt went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., in May. She underwent a series of tests and received a stunning answer. The diagnosis was early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type. (via)

thx erin.

jicyww.

congrats to the lady vols for winning the SEC tournament, beating the lady mildcats by 25 points! they are currently ranked #4 in the nation heading into the NCAA tournament, and have a really good chance at winning their 9th national championshiph this year! go lady vols!!

however, the gentlevols embearassed themselves once again, this time in knoxville. after leading the boy mildcats by 9 points at halftime, who were 1-6 in conference games on the road, they managed to lose, landing them 5th out of six places in the SEC east. the SEC tournament (aka our only hope of redemption) starts thursday. this is the first round schedule:

Auburn at Georgia 1:00 PM
South Carolina at Ole Miss 3:30 PM
Tennessee at Arkansas 7:30 PM
at Vanderbilt 10:00 PM

if we can manage to get past arkansas, which is a big if, we play top-ranked florida, whom we will need a miracle to beat. go vols. ;(

pat head

the university of tennessee's own pat head summitt, the winningest (and best dressed) coach in all of college sports, is profiled in the times today. its pretty good.

Such searing intensity and unyielding expectation have brought her 8 national titles and 1,067 career victories. That is more wins than any other college coach, man or woman.

A ninth title now appears in reach for the fourth-ranked Lady Vols (30-2), a tall, deep and skilled perimeter-shooting team built on the admonishment that Summitt’s father gave her when she lost her inaugural game at Tennessee, in 1974: “Don’t take donkeys to the Kentucky Derby.” (via)

sports news no one cares about

there is nothing on tv today, so i found myself watching a bit of the ncaa women's softball world series semifinals. my interest was piqued when i caught a glimpse of georgia losing to UCLA. ill pause on any channel where that's happening.

then, i learned that the next game would feature the beloved university of tennessee lady vols. georgia went on to lose, of course. and now tennessee is playing the arizona poopcats. if they win they will be in the finals against UCLA on monday night.

right now it's 0-0 in the second inning. it's on espn if you want to watch. you're welcome! and go vols!!!