1973 Streaks & Molly Smith- “Spending Our Whole Lives Watching Boys Get To Play”

This past week I read an article with some of the numbers associated with the WNBA and Caitlin Clark…

** Golden State Valkyries averaging 18,000 for home games.

*** Indiana Fever averaging 16,000 for home games.

*** Teams flying on charter jets

*** TV viewership matching NBA viewership

*** Caitlin Clark has $28 million contract with Nike. 

The interest in women’s sports is booming. It made me reflect on some of the “pioneers” who got women’s sports started in the 1970’s. 

In the Fall of 2022, we were planning a celebration for the Galesburg High School girls basketball program. Interscholastic girls basketball at GHS started in 1972-1973, right after Title IX was introduced. In the Fall of 2022, we anticipated that the Streaks were going to reach a total of 1,000 wins in program history. 

As part of the celebration, we tried to reach out to former player and fans to purchase 1,000 win t-shirts. I received a letter ordering a t-shirt from Molly Smith, who graduated from GHS in 1975. Molly attached a note to her order, which read in part,”Making the team back in 1972 changed my life- finally getting to officially play.” Her letter and my curiousity about that first season, led me to ask her to answer question for Massey Basketball Blog.

Galesburg- SMU Connection Led To 1972 SW Conf Championship

This photo of Galesburg HS grads- John Tuszinski, Zack Thiel, and Ruben Triplett on the SMU Mustangs’ 1972 basketball team is from the Tom Wilson Collection. 

Triplett 18.2ppg, 10.8rpg

Thiel 10.0ppg, 3.4 apg

Tuszinski 5.5ppg, 3.9 rpg

Can You Spot It? Galesburg Picture Quiz #1

I have 25 questions designed to see if you can recognize some places in Galesburg. (Answers at the end- keep your score!)

Fever’s Floundering: Critical Examination of Loss To Valkyries

It has been an up and down season for the Fever and for Caitlin Clark. A combination of factors have led to making it seem there have been more downs than ups. The Fever have dealt with Clark injuries, adding new players, dropping new players, big wins (vs Lynx, Storm, Liberty), and brutal losses (vs Sun, Valkyries). 

At the beginning of the year, there were high hopes that the Fever might be up challenging New York and Minnesota. As the Fever are only 3 games from the mid-point of the season (right now have played 19 of 44 games), they are not close to being a top two team in the league. Right now, depending if you are a glass half-full or half-empty person- the Fever are either tied for 7th or 9th with Washington and Las Vegas. 9th place would mean the Fever would not make the playoffs. Some may say it is still early and Clark just got back- BUT THE CLOCK IS TICKING. 

After The Timeout Podcast: Jamon Copeland- Offensive Nuggets

If you have not listened to After The Timeout Podcast with Jon Palicki and Todd Zasadil, you are missing so much. Jon and Todd are both coaches in Illinois, and they interview coaches from all over America. Often their podcasts are not with the famous names but coaches who are making a name on D3, D2, and lower D1 levels. 

I have gotten so After The Timeout is one of my go-to podcasts on our dog walks. Some podcasts I listen to for pleasure and some I take a small index card and pen to stop and write some key points down. Their podcast with Jamon Copeland was one where I filled up my index card— great stuff!!

Jamon Copeland is the head men’s coach at Ave Maria University. I want to share just a few of the highlights from the podcast. 

Please realize when I post about a podcast or clinic, I am not speaking for that presenter, rather giving my reaction and interpretation. 

Time Capsule- 1929 Reg-Mail & Reflector

GHS & Churchill

Recruitment 101- 6 Questions College Coaches Ask About HS Players

College coaches talk to HS coaches about players. For the best college coaches, the HS coach is a resource the college coach wants to tap into. 

HS coaches have watched a player practice and compete as part of a team- just like they will be doing in college. 

Here are the 6 most common questions college coaches asked me about my players:

Is Illinois Missing Out? Year-Round Coaching in Arkansas

As high school coaches and high school administrators, it is very easy to assume that the way we do things in our State is either the best or the only way of doing things. 

As an Illinois basketball coach, we sometimes played Iowa or Wisconsin schools. When we played the Iowa and Wisconsin schools, it became apparent that different States actually had different rules- such things about whether a players could play in the pre-lim and the varsity game, whether coaches could stand or not, and even whether you had a jump ball to start the game. 

Now in retirement, on my visits this winter to Oklahoma I became aware that they organized their state tourney to allow double-elimination in the early tourneys of the series. And in a smaller State, Oklahoma had at least 6 classes. 

When first confronted to these difference in other States, my knee jerk reaction was, “That’s stupid” or “Our way is better.” But the more I thought about the differences, the more I began to ask, “Is the way that Illinois runs things the best way?”  I began to realize that Illinois could benefit by re-examining historical methods and realize that there maybe better ideas out there. 

Justin Shiltz was one of the most successful coaches in girls basketball in the WB6 Conference during his tenure at UTHS. His matchup zone still causes me to wake up in a cold sweat even in retirement. Justin is now coaching in Arkansas and I have maintained contact with him- picking his brain on a variety of topics for my blog posts. 

Slappin’ Glass Podcast: Mike DeGeorge- Analytics and Offense

Slappin’ Glass Podcast always comes thru with great interviews. I really enjoyed their interview with Coach Mike DeGeorge of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Coach DeGeorge discusses how he developed his offense and how he has used analytics to break down the offense. 

Please realize when I post about a podcast or clinic that I listen to that I am not speaking for that presenter, rather giving my reaction and interpretation. 

Beyond the Gold- Streaks Champs Share Their Stories (Part 2)

I reached out to 8 GHS athletes who won individual State Championships, and 2 GHS athletes who won a doubles State Championship. My purpose has been to celebrate and honor their achievements, and to use their stories as an inspiration for athletes today. 

I certainly appreciate this athletes taking the time to share their memories and to share their insights into what is needed to be a champion. 

This is Part 2 “talking” with Caricia Andrews, Greg Whittle, Travon Diggins, Josh Eiker, and Gauge Shipp. 

Beyond the Gold- Streaks Champs Share Their Stories (Part 1)

 

I reached out to 8 GHS athletes who won individual State Championships, and 2 GHS athletes who won a doubles State Championship. My purpose has been to celebrate and honor their achievements, and to use their stories as an inspiration for athletes today. 

I certainly appreciate this athletes taking the time to share their memories and to share their insights into what is needed to be a champion. 

This is Part 1 “talking” with Gene Denisar, Mike “Charlie” Doyle, Dean McKillip, Nate Bobofchak, and Jason Gunther. 

4th of July with The Massey Brothers

Glenn, Oswald, Grandma, Ford, Wendell, Dwayne

(This was originally written on July 4, 2012)

Growing up in the 1950's & 1960's, the 4th of July meant one thing- the Massey's getting together. Today it is the "Massey Reunion", back then it was just the Massey brother's getting together with their children and grandchildren.

My grandfather (Cornelius) and my grandmother (Roberta) had five sons. The sons in order of birth were Glenn, Wendell, Wright, Oswald, and Dwayne. Two times a year, the brothers always got together- the Fourth of July and Christmas Eve. As long as they were alive, I don't remember any of them ever missing. It did not matter if the Fourth was on the middle of the week or a weekend, at noon the Massey brothers & families got together.

Caitlin Clark’s All-Star Ranking: Reality Check for Clark or Embarrassment for Players?

It is a great time in the WNBA. TV viewership, game attendance, and merchandise are all exploding. 

In 2024, WNBA games on CBS were up 170%, ION went up 133%, and ABC’s All-Star game was up 305%. That means lots of money in the next TV contract, which means better salaries, better practice facilities, and continued charter flights.

In 2024 attendance went up 48%. The highest average attendance for a team was 9,207 back in 2012. This year 9 of the 13 teams average over 10,000 fans, with Indiana 16k, Golden State 15k, and New York 13k. That means lots of money in the next TV contract, which means better salaries, better practice facilities, and continued charter flights. 

Hailey VanLith- Building Toughness

In the Sweet Sixteen win over Notre Dame, Texas Christian University trailed at half-time 35-32 and star Hailey Van Lith had scored only 8 points. And Notre Dame still led after three quarters, 52-51.

Hailey Van Lith scored the last 6 points of the third quarter, and then scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to lead TCU to a 71-62 win. She outscored ND 12-11 in the fourth quarter, and had 18 of her teams 39 points in the fourth quarter. 

Jay Bilas- Essay on Toughness

 

Toughness” – Jay Bilas – ESPN .com

I have heard the word "toughness" thrown around a lot lately. Reporters on television, radio and in print have opined about a team or player's "toughness" or quoted a coach talking about his team having to be "tougher" to win.

Then, in almost coordinated fashion, I would watch games and see player upon player thumping his chest after a routine play, angrily taunting an opponent after a blocked shot, getting into a shouting match with an opposing player, or squaring up nose-to-nose as if a fight might ensue. I see players jawing at each other, trying to "intimidate" other players. What a waste of time. That is nothing more than fake toughness, and it has no real value.