Bird at the Buzzer
Encyclopedia
Bird At The Buzzer is a 2011 sports book written by Jeff Goldberg (foreword by Doris Burke
) about the 2001 Big East Championship women's basketball game between the University of Connecticut
and Notre Dame
.
have seven national championships, while the Notre Dame team has three Final Four
appearances, with a National Championship in 2001. Both teams play in the Big East Conference
, and have appeared in the title game of the Conference tournament
multiple times, with UConn appearing 21 times between 1989 and 2011, and Notre Dame appearing five times in the same time period.
The game featured in the book was neither the first nor the last meeting of the two teams in the season. In January, UConn played Notre Dame at Notre Dame. The UConn team was undefeated, and ranked number one in the country at the start of the game. Notre Dame won the game 92–76, remained undefeated, and moved from third to the number one ranking at the next poll. Both teams would also meet in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, with Notre Dame prevailing and then going on to win the national championship. All of the meetings between the two teams that year were important games for each team, but the game in March had multiple story lines—a tournament championship at stake, a close game in which neither team lead by more than eight points at any time, a devastating injury to one of the games best players, and finally, a game that was decided by a single basket scored in the final moments, by one of the best players in the sport, Sue Bird
.
. The foreword, is by Doris Burke
, an ESPN reporter.
Sue Bird
, Asjha Jones
, Swin Cash
, Diana Taurasi
, Shea Ralph
, Maria Conlon, Kelly Schumacher
, Kennitra Johnson, and Tamika Williams
played for the UConn team, under the coaching of Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma
.
Ericka Haney, Kelley Siemon, Ruth Riley
, Alicia Ratay, Niele Ivey
, Le'Tania Severe, Jeneka Joyce, and Amanda Barksdale played for the Notre Dame team, under the coaching of the 2001 National Coach of the year, Muffet McGraw
.
Svetlana Abrosimova
did not play in the featured game, as she sustained a college career ending injury on 1 February 2001 in a win over Tennessee
, but she was the leading scorer in the prior match-up of the season, in which third ranked Notre Dame defeated top ranked Connecticut for the first UConn loss of the season.
Jacobs notes the dual nature of the game—the positive, a well-played game important to both teams at the time, and the negative, the career-ending injury to Shea Ralph
. He also notes Goldberg's regret—that the book is viewed as a book about UConn, although he wanted it viewed as "just as much a Notre Dame book".
Stephanie Summers, at Mansfield-Storrs Patch, refers to it as "The Game That Stands the Test of Time.
Kenneth Best, writing for UConn Today, noted the Notre Dame coverage, quoting Goldberg talking about Niele Ivey
—"For Niele Ivey to look back and see a slice of that season, even though they lost the game, she thanked me for allowing her to relive that year. It was a special year for her."
Mel Greenberg
, former veteran writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, was initially skeptical of Goldberg's claim. Greenberg had planned to attend the game, but was unable to due to the winter weather in the area. However, he read a copy of the book and concluded, "before even getting to the halfway point [I] decided that Goldberg’s point is well taken". Greenberg also emphasizes the point that the book is about two programs, not just one. He quotes Notre Dame point guard Skylar Diggins
who remembers the game, but didn't want to read the book, and urges her to read it, pointing out that Goldberg goes on to to cover the first national title for Notre Dame less than a month later.
Mechelle Voepel, columnist for ESPN, urges fans to take the time to read the book, even if you "know how the book ends". Voepel recounts her own watching of the game when it occurred, standing in a drafty hallway, covering the Big 12 Tournament, but more interested in the UConn-Notre Dame game. Voepel followed up with Sue Bird, who found the book intriguing herself, as it reminded her of things that she hadn't remembered, such as helping Shea Ralph up when she was injured. It also gave her a chance to see the game through he eyes of the Notre Dame team.
Doris Burke
Doris Burke is a sideline reporter and color analyst for ESPN college basketball, as well as NBA on ESPN and NBA on ABC games. Burke handles both men's and women's basketball at the college and pro level. She is primarily an analyst on Big East games for men's college basketball, often teaming...
) about the 2001 Big East Championship women's basketball game between the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
and Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
.
Background
The University of Connecticut and Notre Dame women's basketball teams are two of the more successful teams in women's collegiate basketball. The UConn HuskiesConnecticut Huskies women's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team represents the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut in NCAA women's basketball competition. Under head coach Geno Auriemma, the Huskies have won 7 NCAA Division I national championships, advanced to 12 Final Fours, and won over 30 Big...
have seven national championships, while the Notre Dame team has three Final Four
NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...
appearances, with a National Championship in 2001. Both teams play in the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
, and have appeared in the title game of the Conference tournament
Big East Women's Basketball Tournament
The Big East Women's Basketball Tournament determines the Big East Conference champion and the winner of the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Since 2004 the tournament has been held in the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the XL Center .Starting in 2009, the tournament expanded to...
multiple times, with UConn appearing 21 times between 1989 and 2011, and Notre Dame appearing five times in the same time period.
Synopsis
The main subject of the book is the Big East Tournament championship game of 2001, although the book intersperses play by play coverage of the game with background information on the entire season, as well as commentary on the players, coaches and other aspects of the two programs.The game featured in the book was neither the first nor the last meeting of the two teams in the season. In January, UConn played Notre Dame at Notre Dame. The UConn team was undefeated, and ranked number one in the country at the start of the game. Notre Dame won the game 92–76, remained undefeated, and moved from third to the number one ranking at the next poll. Both teams would also meet in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, with Notre Dame prevailing and then going on to win the national championship. All of the meetings between the two teams that year were important games for each team, but the game in March had multiple story lines—a tournament championship at stake, a close game in which neither team lead by more than eight points at any time, a devastating injury to one of the games best players, and finally, a game that was decided by a single basket scored in the final moments, by one of the best players in the sport, Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
.
Authors
The author of the book is Jeff Goldberg, a sportswriter for the Hartford Courant covering the UConn women's team from 2001 to 2006, although on the night of the game featured in the book, he was acting as a freelance reporter for The Chicago Tribune. Goldberg covered the UConn basketball team as well as the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. The foreword, is by Doris Burke
Doris Burke
Doris Burke is a sideline reporter and color analyst for ESPN college basketball, as well as NBA on ESPN and NBA on ABC games. Burke handles both men's and women's basketball at the college and pro level. She is primarily an analyst on Big East games for men's college basketball, often teaming...
, an ESPN reporter.
Players and Coaches
Many of the participants in the featured game, or in games leading up to the featured game had notable careers at the time, or went on to notable college and pro careers.Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
, Asjha Jones
Asjha Jones
Asjha Takera Jones is a professional basketball player. She plays the power forward position for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.-Early years:...
, Swin Cash
Swin Cash
Swintayla Marie Cash , better known as Swin Cash, is an American WNBA player who plays for the Seattle Storm. A prolific scorer and rebounder, as well as a capable ball handler and defender, she helped lead the University of Connecticut women's basketball team to national titles in 2000 and 2002...
, Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
, Shea Ralph
Shea Ralph
Shea Sydney Ralph is a former collegiate basketball player and current assistant coach for the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team. Ralph was proficient in multiple sports, set state high school records in basketball, and earned multiple national player of the year awards in...
, Maria Conlon, Kelly Schumacher
Kelly Schumacher
Kelly Schumacher is an American born Canadian professional basketball player and professional volleyball player...
, Kennitra Johnson, and Tamika Williams
Tamika Williams
Tamika Maria Raymond is an Assistant Coach at Kansas University. She was a professional basketball player for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA...
played for the UConn team, under the coaching of Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma
Geno Auriemma
Luigi "Geno" Auriemma is the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team, which he has led to seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I national championships...
.
Ericka Haney, Kelley Siemon, Ruth Riley
Ruth Riley
Ruth Ellen Riley is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the Women's National Basketball Association . Her Notre Dame team won the NCAA women's championship in 2001, and her Detroit Shock team won the WNBA championship in 2003 and 2006...
, Alicia Ratay, Niele Ivey
Niele Ivey
Niele Ivey is a former Women's National Basketball Association player for the Indiana Fever, Detroit Shock, and Phoenix Mercury basketball teams. She is now an assistant coach for the University of Notre Dame Women's basketball team, where she also played her college ball at...
, Le'Tania Severe, Jeneka Joyce, and Amanda Barksdale played for the Notre Dame team, under the coaching of the 2001 National Coach of the year, Muffet McGraw
Muffet McGraw
-External links:...
.
Svetlana Abrosimova
Svetlana Abrosimova
Svetlana Olegovna Abrosimova is a Russian basketball player who has played in college, the Olympics, and in professional leagues. She currently plays for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA. She is usually called by her nickname, "Svet" or "Sveta".Abrosimova was born in Leningrad, Russian SFSR,...
did not play in the featured game, as she sustained a college career ending injury on 1 February 2001 in a win over Tennessee
Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team represents the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA women's basketball competition...
, but she was the leading scorer in the prior match-up of the season, in which third ranked Notre Dame defeated top ranked Connecticut for the first UConn loss of the season.
Reception
Jeff Jacobs notes that the book is "well-written" with great metaphors, but the real core of the book is narrative. He writes "Women's basketball hasn't left enough permanent footprints in sports literature. From the moment he walked outside Gampel Pavilion, turned to former Courant sports writer Matt Eagan, the beat guy at the time, and said, ' I think we just saw the best women's basketball game ever played,' this was in the back of Goldberg's mind."Jacobs notes the dual nature of the game—the positive, a well-played game important to both teams at the time, and the negative, the career-ending injury to Shea Ralph
Shea Ralph
Shea Sydney Ralph is a former collegiate basketball player and current assistant coach for the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team. Ralph was proficient in multiple sports, set state high school records in basketball, and earned multiple national player of the year awards in...
. He also notes Goldberg's regret—that the book is viewed as a book about UConn, although he wanted it viewed as "just as much a Notre Dame book".
Stephanie Summers, at Mansfield-Storrs Patch, refers to it as "The Game That Stands the Test of Time.
Kenneth Best, writing for UConn Today, noted the Notre Dame coverage, quoting Goldberg talking about Niele Ivey
Niele Ivey
Niele Ivey is a former Women's National Basketball Association player for the Indiana Fever, Detroit Shock, and Phoenix Mercury basketball teams. She is now an assistant coach for the University of Notre Dame Women's basketball team, where she also played her college ball at...
—"For Niele Ivey to look back and see a slice of that season, even though they lost the game, she thanked me for allowing her to relive that year. It was a special year for her."
Mel Greenberg
Mel Greenberg
Mel Greenberg is a respected American sports journalist focusing on women's basketball.Since 1970, Greenberg has written for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he predominantly covers college and professional women's basketball. He has helped pioneer national coverage of the sport, most notably as a...
, former veteran writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, was initially skeptical of Goldberg's claim. Greenberg had planned to attend the game, but was unable to due to the winter weather in the area. However, he read a copy of the book and concluded, "before even getting to the halfway point [I] decided that Goldberg’s point is well taken". Greenberg also emphasizes the point that the book is about two programs, not just one. He quotes Notre Dame point guard Skylar Diggins
Skylar Diggins
Skylar Diggins is currently a women's basketball player for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. She was a McDonald's All-American coming out of high school...
who remembers the game, but didn't want to read the book, and urges her to read it, pointing out that Goldberg goes on to to cover the first national title for Notre Dame less than a month later.
Mechelle Voepel, columnist for ESPN, urges fans to take the time to read the book, even if you "know how the book ends". Voepel recounts her own watching of the game when it occurred, standing in a drafty hallway, covering the Big 12 Tournament, but more interested in the UConn-Notre Dame game. Voepel followed up with Sue Bird, who found the book intriguing herself, as it reminded her of things that she hadn't remembered, such as helping Shea Ralph up when she was injured. It also gave her a chance to see the game through he eyes of the Notre Dame team.