(column) On Monday night, I had one of the most fun nights I have had in a long time watching sports on TV when I got to witness the incredible Caitlin Clark lead her Iowa Hawkeyes to victory over the LSU Tigers in the Elite Eight. Caitlin and her teammates will battle Coach Geno Auriemma and the talented Paige Buekers in the Final Four on Friday.
As most of us sports fans already know, Caitlin’s basketball talent is a sight to behold. She is known for her amazing range as a three-point shooter. She is fearless when she lets it fly and she is willing to shoot from anywhere inside of half-court. Caitlin is also an incredible passer. She is a wizard with the basketball and can find her teammates through the smallest of windows.
Monday night was a true celebration not just of Caitlin but of women’s sports. The television ratings for the game are expected to be off the charts.
After the game, I went on the Twittersphere and started reading all the wonderful praises of that fans have the new star.
Then, the inevitable happened.
Twitter folks started to argue about whether Caitlin could compete with the men.
Sigh!
Why do we always have to do that?
Why can’t we just enjoy her for what she is — one of the most talented basketball players we have ever seen.
Do I believe Caitlin could play in the NBA? I highly doubt it. She just couldn’t handle the sheer size and athleticism of those players.
But, the truth is there is no reason to even argue about it. Sports fans these days seem to be so consumed by what’s next that they don’t stop to take in the moments that are supposed to make sports so fun. After the college basketball season is over in the next few days, the sports websites immediately start talking about who should be ranked in next year’s Top 25.
Like Caitlin, a similar theme is happening on the men’s side of the college game.
Instead of being entertained and impressed by the 7-foot-4 Zach Edey of Purdue, a lot of sports fans are instead arguing if Edey will become a solid NBA player. The argument against Edey is that the NBA game is now more about quickness and outside shooting, meaning the lumbering Edey will get torn apart because of his lack of speed.
The truth is no one really knows how good Edey will be as a professional. Perhaps, his skeptics are right and he will never make it. However, if I was an NBA executive, I would probably give him a chance. You can’t teach height and his domination of college basketball has to mean something, right?
But, again, and just like we do with Caitlin, many are so busy worried about the future that they don’t stop to enjoy the present.
I have enjoyed watching Edey play, although Tennessee fans may be right in saying he got too many calls on Sunday. Edey is a throwback to when college basketball was dominated by the big men like Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton. Those were some great times in the sport.
The men’s Final Four is Saturday and Zach Edey will have a chance to go down as a true titan of the game. Even if he never plays a second in the NBA.
David W. Healy is sports editor of the Delta Democrat-Times. He can be reached at dhealy@ddtonline.com
