Diana Taurasi announces her retirement! | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Diana Taurasi announces her retirement!

Blakeon18 said:
Great post from the past, Meyers7.

This post is a repeat but for the life of me I can not remember
the reporter's name. Hope someone does.

Dee played in the high school all-star game in her senior high school year.
All the greats in that class were in the game. It was played in the Hartford
Civic Center. Dee played with obvious ability and flair...more than a bit
showy and flamboyant...loosy-goosy...it WAS an all-star game after all.

Post game one of the sports reporters for the Manchester Journal Inquirer was sitting somewhere down in the basement.
Diana walked by...I doubt they had ever met. The reporter simply said to Dee: You can't play like that at UConn.
Taurasi's answer was just as simple. I know that, Sir....then walked on.

From that moment on Diana had that [olde school] reporter wrapped around her finger. I think it was simply
the use of the word "Sir". Every article the reporter wrote about Dee the next 4 years contained much
evidence that he really.....REALLY...admired not just her game but her character. His affection for her
jumped off the pages.

Dang...who was that reporter? I think he was the sports editor for the JI at that time. Researching
didn't help. Anyone remember?

Oddity: I think it was at that particular game that Chubby Checker's daughter played...very talented...went to
Duke I believe. I sat about 2 rows behind Chubby. Whenever the camera was on him the crowd would all chant
his name and TWIST. He would wave and grin...only once did he stand up and do The Twist...crowd went wild.
Expand ...
Randy Smith
 
Congratulations Di!! As one of my favorite women basketball players...I will always love you!! You are the best to ever do it!! Setting milestones that may never be broken, while giving other females hope. I am sad to see you leave, but you gave us 20 years of the finest basketball playing we could ask for!! #UCONNNATIONANDPHOENIXMERCURYNATIONISRISINGUP
 
DT is the reason i became a fan of UConn and WBB. I saw by chance a UConn game on TV in 2002 and fell in love with DT's basketball abilities. Few tidbits: a game in the elite 8 where after the game (win) DT refusing to celebrate as the job (winning a championship) was not done yet. Her playing with a bad back during her senior season and still leading the team to a championship, A game in the WNBA where the Mercury played in Chicago against the Sky where after the game i went to see the bus and while no one bothered any of the other Mercury players, a large group of people was there for DT and she took pictures and signed autographs right outside of the bus to make sure everyone was happy, to a game in the WNBA that i saw live where it became clear that she just sees the game few steps ahead then everyone else (kind of like Paige), etc.
I truly hope she becomes an analyst for WBB as she is an amazing basketball mind and real fun to listen to (in a way like Charles Barkley).
 
For me ,
The best season of Dee in UConn was the 2002- 2003 when she carry the team to a National Championship with most of her teammates were underclass .During the championship game the analysts expected Tennessee to win the game for they were taller and more experienced players than the young UConn players . There was no senior on UConn at that time … Guess what “We have Diana and they don’t.”
 
dtbtbtb said:
DT is the reason i became a fan of UConn and WBB. I saw by chance a UConn game on TV in 2002 and fell in love with DT's basketball abilities. Few tidbits: a game in the elite 8 where after the game (win) DT refusing to celebrate as the job (winning a championship) was not done yet. Her playing with a bad back during her senior season and still leading the team to a championship, A game in the WNBA where the Mercury played in Chicago against the Sky where after the game i went to see the bus and while no one bothered any of the other Mercury players, a large group of people was there for DT and she took pictures and signed autographs right outside of the bus to make sure everyone was happy, to a game in the WNBA that i saw live where it became clear that she just sees the game few steps ahead then everyone else (kind of like Paige), etc.
I truly hope she becomes an analyst for WBB as she is an amazing basketball mind and real fun to listen to (in a way like Charles Barkley).
Expand ...
Yeah, I think that's were she would be best.
 
.-.
Blakeon18 said:
Great post from the past, Meyers7.

This post is a repeat but for the life of me I can not remember
the reporter's name. Hope someone does.

Dee played in the high school all-star game in her senior high school year.
All the greats in that class were in the game. It was played in the Hartford
Civic Center. Dee played with obvious ability and flair...more than a bit
showy and flamboyant...loosy-goosy...it WAS an all-star game after all.

Post game one of the sports reporters for the Manchester Journal Inquirer was sitting somewhere down in the basement.
Diana walked by...I doubt they had ever met. The reporter simply said to Dee: You can't play like that at UConn.
Taurasi's answer was just as simple. I know that, Sir....then walked on.

From that moment on Diana had that [olde school] reporter wrapped around her finger. I think it was simply
the use of the word "Sir". Every article the reporter wrote about Dee the next 4 years contained much
evidence that he really.....REALLY...admired not just her game but her character. His affection for her
jumped off the pages.

Dang...who was that reporter? I think he was the sports editor for the JI at that time. Researching
didn't help. Anyone remember?

Oddity: I think it was at that particular game that Chubby Checker's daughter played...very talented...went to
Duke I believe. I sat about 2 rows behind Chubby. Whenever the camera was on him the crowd would all chant
his name and TWIST. He would wave and grin...only once did he stand up and do The Twist...crowd went wild.
Expand ...
Carl Adamec?
 
LesMis89: Wasn't Carl. I was/am a big fan of Carl's articles but it was another
JI sports reporter...very much a contemporary of Carl during the Dee years.
 
.-.
So many great memories of DT during her UConn years. Here is a write-up of the “ I wanted to hit something orange” moment which was in her sophomore year:
IMG_1828.jpeg
 
Blakeon18 said:
LesMis89: Wasn't Carl. I was/am a big fan of Carl's articles but it was another
JI sports reporter...very much a contemporary of Carl during the Dee years.
Expand ...
I bet it was the late, great Randy Smith
 
HuskyNan said:
Expand ...

Lol! Is that from the playoff series that Seattle played against the Mercury? That was some of the best basketball I've ever seen at any level with two of the best ever to play the game going at each other one great play after another. I was calling up friends who don't follow women's basketball and telling them to put the game on and watch it. It was incredible.
 
.-.
I'm not sure words can adequately express how I feel about DT. From the minute I saw her play she became my favorite player. The banter with Geno, the shared hatred of TN, and the mouth on her LOL. She was polarizing on and off the court. But whether you loved her or hated her you couldn't deny the greatness, a greatness that came from obviously born-with talent, but one that also came with hard work. You have to respect a player that puts in that kind of time in and out of the gym. That's what leads to awards and recognition. And she was the quintessential teammate, a leader when she had to be. She's a private person, rare social media posts, and I think that's lost on players today. Elements of her personal life did hit the news, but she was able to rise above it. She wouldn't have made 11 All Star games if it followed her. I don't think I'll ever see another player with the full bag of tricks for the rest of my time here on earth. I will miss her lacing up and balling out.
 
Hey! I finally remember who the sportswriter was at the JI...the one who was addressed by Dee as "Sir".
Randy Smith...passed away in 2008...at least he got to see all of Dee's UConn exploits.
The research said he had many offers to work elsewhere but always turned them down...reason given...'who would play shortstop on my slow-pitch softball team?
 
Blakeon18 said:
Hey! I finally remember who the sportswriter was at the JI...the one who was addressed by Dee as "Sir".
Randy Smith...passed away in 2008...at least he got to see all of Dee's UConn exploits.
The research said he had many offers to work elsewhere but always turned them down...reason given...'who would play shortstop on my slow-pitch softball team?
Expand ...
lol post 61 28 hours later toot toot
 
HuskyNan said:
Expand ...

I've seen other players put their heads on the table from what Diana would say at a press conference. Most vividly recall Dwanna Bonner. She did a great "mortified", but secretly loved it I think.
 
Next 12 said:
She should take up coaching, high school. college or the WNBA. She would not disappoint Diane would be a natural as a coach as she would be so respected by her players as knowing how to play and coach the game. I think when Geno finally retires that Diane would be Uconn's next coach with Sue as assistant coach. Could not go wrong. My take. GO HUSKIES!!!!!
Expand ...
Her lack of filter would make her the most-watched color commentator! ❤️
 
.-.
The first time I saw DT play it was apparent that she would change the women's game forever and I think she did that. She has had a remarkable career and had a big hand in keeping the WNBA afloat the past decade and will be missed. In a lot of ways I think what CC did last year for the WNBA signaled to DT that the league was in good hands and she could finally rest. I wish her the best in her life after pro basketball and will forever remember the incredible memories she created in my sports life.
 
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