Kim does stick her foot in her mouth on several occasions, but she is definitely not an evil person. I understand how people can make quick judgements about her based solely what they see on the court. Most elite and successful coaches (Summitt, Geno, and Stringer) are not liked but well respected. If you knew Kim off the court, then you would have a change of heart.
I approve of your posts, but I think you are way off on your attempt to support Kim.
Are most successful coaches hated? We had Ceal Berry, Marsha Sharp, Jodie Conradt, and Pat Summit build programs for year. It seems that each of them is remembered primarily as someone who was good for the game of women's basketball. They built a foundation for the rest of us. I didn't appreciate some of their antics apparent resentment at the end (Conradt and Summit), but they worked in the wilderness to build the sport, and they are entitled to a little leeway after their years of tribulations. Some don't like Geno. I must admit that I am fascinated by his team's play. I love watching Geno Auriemma and Muffet McGraw. I don't remember anyone complaining about their national titles. I only wish that every time OU went to the Final Four they didn't find an undefeated UConn team there.
I even respected the job that Kim did with that 2005 team. I liked watching Sophia and Niemann. That WAS a good coaching job, but it was also a perfect fit. I don't even disapprove of her attire as many do.
It isn't that Kim opens her mouth too much as others have said. You can get away with that, although she may make a few enemies as she does it. It is what she does that defines Kim. Let's just deal with a few things.
First, let's deal with fouling Courtney while she was out of bounds. Kim did it while knowing that the officials, timid as they are, would never do what they are required to do and call a flagrant and intentional foul. Courtney would not get two shots and the ball back. She might miss a one-and-one. She took advantage of officials' reluctance to call what they must call, knowing that they almost never call it. Legal? Yes. Fair? No.
Secondly, let's deal with all the elbows that Wabara liked to throw. We know that Kim taught her to do that to get some room, especially with Courtney to deal with on the boards. We also know that they rarely call all of those elbows. Kim just has to get away with as much as the officials will let her.
Then, there is the most egregious thing I have ever seen a player do on a basketball court, male or female. McFarland and Griner are running down the court after a made basket. Suddenly, at about midcourt, Griner blindsides Joanna with an elbow. Joanna goes down like she has been hit by Ali, not able to get up all that quickly. There was no immediate provocation. It was just Griner showing Joanna who was boss. The TV monitors missed this. Everyone seemed to miss this. The officials did call a foul, on a delayed basis, I think. A foul?
That was the single most disgusting act that I have ever seen a player commit in basketball at the college level. It was an act of cowardice, and it was deliberate, as well as unprovoked. At that point, Griner should have been suspended by the conference for at least six or seven games. Frankly, she should have been banned from competition for a year, at least a semester. Kim didn't even consider it much of a foul. She took no action. That IS Kim. That defines Kim.
Had Kim sanctioned Griner appropriately, there would probably have been no Barncastle incident. That was somewhat, although barely provoked. Usually, that type of thing leads to shoving at most. But, fists?!! How often have you seen male or female college players resort to fists? Oh, yes. There was Andrea Riley, and she should have been banned as well. Her coach was, in my mind, just as derelict as Kim.
More recently, there have been constant shoving matches involving the Baylor team. I don't know whether to call Sims a point guard or a fighting rooster. She seems to be around all of it any more. Last year, we had a hair-pulling incident. A hair-pulling incident? Really? A hair-pulling incident. Once again, it involved Sims getting into a fight and someone coming to her "defense." Was Sims suspended. About four players were suspended for the rest of that game for leaving the bench. Really? They were already on the bench because the game was out of reach. Is that a punishment?
This kind of stuff keeps happening around Kim and with her players. I'm sorry, but Pat Summit won a number of titles without having players who threw fists. The greatest teams I've ever seen were those UConn teams, and they didn't throw fists or pull hair.
Make a list of all the teams that you have seen in your life that do the following:
1. Foul people out of bounds
2. Hit people with their fists
3. Blindside people with elbows
4. Pull hair
I can only think of one other team that has done any of those things, and I had absolutely no respect for that player or coach. None.
Then, there is the recruiting stuff. How many other coaches have had Michelle Voepel and Sally Jenkins say they were bad for women's basketball?
If you leave Kim's name off of all these lists, the lists become very short. Why is that?
I make no secret of my contempt for what she has become. I was a fan after 2005. Now, I think she should be banned from women's amateur basketball at any level. If the pros want her, that's fine. I don't want her around developing young women, men, or even dogs.
