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Message: [QUOTE="Pinhead, post: 3651582, member: 9002"] While I have no personal experience with BB, I grew up as a fan of the Knicks championship teams, and my men's HS team was very good. We had a 7-footer, rather rare at the time, but the "Lew Alcindor Rule" was in effect and dunking was illegal in school BB. One of my vivid memories is in a packed gym, late, in a big, tight, emotional game, 7FT gets the ball all alone on a fast break and absolutely thunder-slams a 2-handed dunk. Only thing that erupted louder than the gym was the chorus of ref whistles that lit-up 7FT and sent him to the showers. I loved and hated at the same time the outrageousness of the act and the penalty for it. MBB's above-the-rim action was not a big part of the Knicks game, and unavailable in HS, but was relatively fresh in general and I was hooked. Dominique; Dawkins shattering backboards; all the J's: Dr. J, MJ, etc. Over time though, MBB and I changed. While early-on I was mesmerized by the sky game, I became bored as it seemed to be at the expense of the ball-movement the Knicks were renowned for and successful school teams were forced into. I came to realize this ball-movement was the game's attraction for me, and as MBB morphed to it's current state, I lost interest, (you might see where this is headed). At present, IMO the athletes in MBB have completely outgrown the playing venue, not only the height of the basket, but the court size as well. As a relatively diminutive player can cover the length of the court in a handful of strides and show-dunk, never mind an agile 7FTer doing the same, MBB has become a snoozefest for me. I'm also no fan of all the showboating, but that's another thread in it's own right. Then I had daughters only and everything changed! While previously I hadn't given women's sports much attention in any capacity, my daughters became competitive athletes and I became a fan and coach. No BB, but lacrosse, track, and XC formally in HS and college, and lifelong skiers, cyclists, and runners recreationally. As I grew into a women's sports fan in general I learned to value the athletes vs. their peers, and completely dropped what I came to realize was the ridiculous notion of making gender comparisons. At present the only major men's sport that I watch with any regularity is hockey. Naturally, if one is a fan, one seeks and recognizes the pinnacle in any sport. As I began to watch WBB it quickly became apparent that UCONN was that program, and it didn't hurt that I enjoyed Geno's wisecracking, and that we shared the love for those Knicks teams as well as our favorite player: Clyde! As I became more immersed I came to enjoy the ball-movement and assists that I missed in MBB and I'm a fan. I don't miss the above-the-rim aspect of BB at all and I vehemently oppose any proposal to lower the WBB rim. At present I always look for women's sports first! [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

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