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Message: [QUOTE="Cuango, post: 3812066, member: 3834"] Lobo was a huge ambassador for women’s basketball both in college (especially 1995) and in the WNBA! She raised the profile of women’s basketball tremendously, far beyond what her actual basketball skills could because she was likable and articulate and smart and perhaps most importantly, in the right place at the right time. I believe that she had to face quite a lot of jealousy and backbiting because her popularity was not based on being the most dominant athlete but rather on other, more subjective things and the fact that she was seen by many fans as being the best player when of course, she was not. This, understandably led to some murmured resentment on the part of players who were clearly better basketball players who felt (rightly or wrongly) that she was receiving too much credit. I personally believe this was (at least partially) the seed of the Tara VanDerveer controversy. I believe Tara was annoyed that Lobo, a player who was not one of the best players on that team, nevertheless sucked a disproportionate amount of oxygen from the room and Tara felt it was unfair. Having said that, I don’t think Tara handled that well and although I am obviously not privy to any inside information about that, I like to think Tara regrets her handling of that whole situation. Lobo was basically the cornerstone for the greatest dynasty in the history of women’s basketball and much of her status as a historic figure in the game stems from that. I think there is an argument to be made about where she stands strictly as a player but in terms of raising the profile and popularity of the game and her status as a classy ambassador for women’s basketball, I would put her among the very best ever! There have been many players and coaches, whose impact on the game went far beyond their ability. Rebecca Lobo (in my opinion) is definitely one of those! Finally, I must emphasize that I am in no way trying to minimize her deserved status as a great player, only that her impact on the game went far beyond that. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

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