The OU ladies lost a heartbreaker in their national semifinal game against Louisville. They were emotional and undoubtedly embarassed after playing so well in the first half then going cold in the second. A last second potential game winning shot went in and out to end their season one game shy of their stated goal. They played their hearts out but came up inches short.
Standing just feet away from a jubilant Louisville team, an ESPN reporter (I didn't get her name) interviewed Courtney Paris. It was typical post game questions for the losing team until the last question. The interviewer asked Courtney would she pay up on her promise to pay back the university the value of her scholarship if they didn't win the championship. I couldn't believe that the interviewer was so heartless as to bring that up just seconds after the game when emotions were so fresh and hearts were so recently broken. That Courtney answered the inexcusable question politely came as no surprise to me. It just ran all over me. I would like to see the reporter reprimanded or fired, but then my emotions are also fresh.
Championships in basketball are almost impossible to win. Of the 64 teams in the tournament, 63 end their season with a loss. It was not many years ago that women's basketball was a non-topic at OU. The only ones who owe anyone anything are the fans; we owe a debt of gratitude to Sherri Coale and the players and staff of OU women's basketball for providing us with a team that we could think so highly of that we were disappointed when they didn't win it all. Keep your scholarship money, Courtney. You earned every bit of it.
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