The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 2004 Olympic gold medalist Van Chancellor

Posted on August 30, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Van Chancellor about winning 4 straight WNBA titles from 1997-2000 and a gold medal in 2004. Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Van’s Houston Comets beating New York 65-51 to clinch the very 1st title in WNBA history.

(photo credit: Tyler Wooten/Ole Miss)

You graduated from Mississippi State in 1965 and later became the winningest coach in Ole Miss history with 439 victories: how did you get the head coaching job with the Rebels, and how big is the rivalry between the 2 schools? The rivalry is as big as it could humanly be. You cannot have a good Saturday if your team does not beat the other school. I was the 1st coach to ever graduate from Mississippi State and get a job with Mississippi but the shift in my loyalty was based on the receipt of my 1st paycheck.

In 1992 during your 1st practice after an OT win over defending national champ Tennessee you ran your team hard so hard that your daughter Renee injured her ankle: what did Renee say to you, and what did your wife say to you? My wife thought that I was a blooming idiot and my daughter thought that I was the worst coach in the SEC: I had 2 very unhappy women at home!

In Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals you had a 2-PT lead with 2.4 seconds left: how were you able to bounce back to win the series after Teresa Weatherspoon made a 50-footer off the glass to clinch a 1-PT win by New York? I told Teresa for years that she gave me 2 sleepless nights. I did not know what to tell my team but was so happy when we won that series. I remember Cynthia Cooper coming up to me in the locker room and telling me not to worry because there was no WAY that we were going to lose Game 3.

You won 3 straight WNBA COY awards from 1997-1999 and your 1998 team set a record for highest winning percentage in NBA/WNBA (27-3): what made you such a great coach, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record? I did not think my coaching had 1 bit to do with winning those awards. My 3 best players helped me win it: Janeth Arcain/Cynthia Cooper/Tina Thompson. I think that every record will be broken, even Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak. I do not care about the record: getting the rings is what excited me.

Despite having to store the team’s equipment in your apartment after 1st getting hired, you won 4 straight WNBA titles in your 1st 4 years as coach of the Houston Comets from 1997-2000: how were you able to be so dominant for such a long period of time? We struggled during certain parts of the season when egos got in the way but we would always get it worked out during the playoffs and come together for the good of the team to win another title.

You were 38-0 in international competition as head coach of the US Olympic team from 2002-2004 and won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? For a country boy from Mississippi to be named coach of the Olympic team: I just cried. We went all over the world and I never had 1 problem with anyone. It was the greatest experience of my life and nothing could mean any more to me.

In 2001 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and in 2007 you were inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame: where do those rank among the highlights of your career? I was so honored to go into both of those Halls of Fame. Someone said that I was 1 of the 1st modern men to go into the Women’s Hall of Fame…but someone else corrected them and said there is nothing modern about me! I have to pinch myself every time I go to Springfield: it is hard to believe I am actually in it.

You made the 2008 Final 4 in your 1st year as coach at LSU and had a 1-PT loss to Tennessee in the lowest-scoring game in Final 4 history after Alexis Hornbuckle made a REB/put-back with 0.7 seconds left: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? That ranks #1. It happened 12 years ago but I still think about it today. I thought that we had the game won and I had just told the team to not give up an offensive REB. Every player did everything that we wanted, but as time as passed it has gotten harder for me to get over.

What have you been up to since getting out of coaching? I try to play golf 5 days/week. I have got doing nothing down pat and spend a lot of my time following my grandkids in their own sports.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? I really cared about my players and loved them as individuals. The wins/awards do not matter as much as whether I as able to make a difference in 1 player’s life.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews David Sweet and Tim Peeler about 1972 Olympic silver medalist Tommy Burleson

Posted on August 29, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with David Sweet, author of “Three Seconds in Munich: The Controversial 1972 Olympic Basketball Final”, and Tim Peeler, NC State Communication Strategist, about Tommy Burleson winning a silver medal in 1972. Today marks the 48th anniversary of Tommy scoring 5 PTS in a 67-48 win over Cuba in Olympic round-robin pool play.

(photo credit: johnsoncitypress.com)

(photo credit: lakeforestbookstore.com)

Tommy was born/raised in North Carolina and was a Parade High School All-American: what made him choose NC State? David Sweet: His uncle Ben Ware was an alumnus of NC State. When Tommy was 6’8” (at age 14!) he visited the campus with his uncle. A bigger role was Tommy’s lack of self-confidence: he did not think that he was good enough to play at North Carolina or Duke so NC State became his best choice. Tim Peeler: When he was a kid he would come to campus every year for “Ag Week”. His uncle played football here and he would come down with his 4-H Club. In the 9th grade he stood 6’9” and told the coaching staff that he wanted to play there. They asked him to come back when he was a senior and when he said that he was just a freshman they became MUCH more interested. He was also recruited very hard to go to UNC but he wanted to go into an agricultural field so he always wanted to go to NC State. He had also become close friends with David Thompson, who was 1 year younger, and they made a pact to go to the same college. Tommy will still tell you that he is the reason David went there!

He was 7’2” but Norm Sloan and the rest of his coaching staff decided to list him as 7’4”: how much of his success was based on height vs. agility vs. talent? DS: I would say his talent along with the fact that he was disciplined and had tremendous desire. In the Olympic trials he competed against Ohio State’s Luke Witte, who was 18 months older and a dominant 7’ player…and Burleson outscored Witte 18-3! TP: 1 of the things that always bothered Tommy is that they listed him at 7’4” for publicity purposes to make him the tallest player in the country. He worked hard his entire life to make sure that people did not only know him for being tall: he does not get credit for being the athlete that he was. They also had the shortest player in 5’7” Monte Towe. Tommy led the ACC in PPG/RPG as a sophomore but when David came along Coach Sloan told him that he would not get as many PTS: it turned out okay for everyone.

He played for team USA at the 1972 Olympics and accidentally walked into a parking lot where Israeli hostages were brought before they were removed by helicopter from the Olympic Village: how terrified was he to be held at gunpoint by 1 of the terrorists, and how did he feel about losing the controversial gold medal game to the Soviet Union? DS: 40 years after he was held at gunpoint by a West German guard he broke down when recounting the experience of hearing the hostages sobbing as they walked to their deaths behind him. He was completely terrified during that moment in 1972. He did not play in the gold medal game because Coach Hank Iba had benched him for bringing his fiancée into the Olympic Village. That upset him greatly, as did the loss, but at least he felt better after winning an NCAA Championship in 1974. TP: He was sneaking back into the Village and was stopped and pushed up against the wall with a machine gun at the back of his neck. He was within sight of the helicopter and heard it fly off, then heard the explosion when it blew up. To this day he cannot tell the story without breaking down. Bill Walton did not play on the team but Tommy beat out Walton’s UCLA backup Swen Nater for the spot and relished the opportunity to play for his country. I joined him for the 40th anniversary of the 1972 team several years ago and had a great time.

He scored 10.1 PPG for Seattle in 1975 and was named to the All-Rookie team: how was he able to make such a smooth transition from college to the pros, and how frustrated was he to only play 7 seasons before having to retire due to knee injuries? DS: I believe that he was able to make such a smooth transition because he had good coaching at the college level, plus he had championship game experience in the Olympics/NCAA tourney. He was a fighter thanks in large part to the training he received from his dad, who was an Army Green Beret that entered Normandy on D-Day. He had to be frustrated to play only 7 seasons given his great talent. TP: He had worked so hard to get to where he was and could not have been coming off of a greater set of accomplishments then his performance in the 1974 ACC tourney title game win over Maryland (38 PTS/13 REB), then beating UCLA/Marquette in the Final 4. Once the knee injuries became prevalent he was not able to continue at that high level, which was harsh. His career was always defined by the unbelievable expectations placed on him due to his height: every time someone challenged him he far exceeded what they wanted him to be.

His career 1.3 BPG remains top-100 in NBA history: what was his secret for being a great shot-blocker? DS: I do not know if Tommy had a secret but his height/wingspan certainly played a large role! TP: There were taller players in the NBA who are on that list but shot-blocking is about timing/athleticism to be able to do it consistently. Walton learned in 1974 that it was hard to shoot over him but it was more than just height: it was will/ability.

In 2002 he was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men’s basketball team and in 2013 he was inducted into the NC State Hall of Fame: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? DS: I do not think that his NBA career stands out in any way and he did not do much in the Olympics. Therefore, I believe that beating the vaunted 7-time-defending-champion UCLA Bruins in the Final 4 on the way to an NCAA title in 1974 is what he will be remembered for. He played tough against Bill Walton, the country’s best college basketball player, through 2 halves and 2 overtimes. NC State became the only team to deny UCLA a title during the era of John Wooden winning 10 titles during a 12-year period from 1964-1975 (the Bruins did not make the NCAA tourney in 1966 while Lew Alcindor was playing on the freshman team). TP: Tommy will always be remembered because he came from the mountains to become a part of what I think is the best ACC team ever assembled. They went 57-1 over 2 seasons and after he left they lost several more games. He comes down all the time to show his love for the university where both he and his uncle went to school. He won an NCAA title and did everything he dreamed of, and they love him as much for that as for his performance against Len Elmore in the ACC tourney.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 2004 Olympic gold medalist Ruth Riley Hunter

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Ruth Riley Hunter about winning an NCAA title in 2001, a WNBA title in 2003, and a gold medal in 2004. Today marks the 16th anniversary of Ruth getting a rebound in team USA’s 74-63 win over Australia to clinch a gold medal. It is also a double-medal day as the men’s team beat Lithuania 104-96 to clinch a bronze medal in 2004.

(photo credit: usab.com)

You played for Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw at Notre Dame: what makes her such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from her? This 1 will be a long answer! She is 1 of the most influential figures in my life. Her knowledge of the game and ability to communicate it while empowering her players is great. She thinks through the Xs and Os so well: it is really remarkable. She is ultra-competitive, which has sustained her success over time. It is difficult to pick just 1 thing but she taught me to be confident in who I am both on and off the court.

In the 2001 NCAA tourney title game you had 28 PTS/13 REB/7 BLK and made the game-winning FTs with 5.8 seconds left in a 2-PT win over your in-state rival Purdue en route to being named tourney MOP: did you think that you were going to make both FTs, and what did it mean to you to win a title? In the moment you are not contemplating whether you will make them: I was just trying to be locked in and present in the moment while following my established routine. There is something really magical about finishing your career on top and walking off the court after winning it all. We spent 4 years trying to reach that point and to finish it that way was a storybook ending.

You were the 2001 national POY, a 2-time 1st-team All-American, and a 3-time Big East DPOY: how did you balance your offense with your defense? We played a lot of 2-3 zone! I have always been a defensive-minded player: there is something within me that always drives me to make a stand and keep my opponent from their goal of scoring. My offense came along much later in my career: I spent a tremendous amount of time working on those skills so that I could become multidimensional.

You were also a 2-time 1st-team Academic All-American, the 2001 D-1 Academic All-American of the Year, and in 2012 you were inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-American Hall of Fame: how did you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? That is just how my mom raised me: it was always academics 1st for me and my siblings. As competitive as I am on the court, I took that into the classroom as well and wanted to be the best that I could be. The school offered me a lot of great resources and I love to learn, which is why I later returned to get my MBA.  

You graduated with several school career records including 1007 REB/370 BLK/63.2 FG%: what is the secret to being a successful center? I was fortunate to play a lot of games starting as a freshman, which the career stats play into. It also gave me the experience to become better. Post play has started to become extinct but back then everyone had a shot-blocker anchoring their defense.

In the decisive Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals with Detroit you scored a career-high 27 PTS/11-19 FG in a 5-PT win over Los Angeles en route to being named 2003 Finals MVP: how did you overcome an 11-PT 2nd half deficit against the 2-time-defending champions to become the 1st team in American pro sports to go from having the worst record in the league to a title the following season? Just belief. I give our coach a lot of credit. We were a young team who had a lot of talent and were very selfless. We really exceeded expectations the entire year: it was truly remarkable to add so many good pieces to an existing team. We executed down the stretch in the 2nd half.

In the 2004 Olympic gold medal game you had 1 REB for team USA in a win over Australia: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to win a gold medal? It was the greatest honor that I have ever had: it was my dream as a young girl because the WNBA did not exist. To compete on behalf of your country is so meaningful and to be the best in the world was 1 of the best moments of my career.

In 2019 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It was such a tremendous honor and a reflection upon all the steps of my career. To see all of the history and the fight for women to be allowed to compete is something that I did not expect.

Your husband Benjamin played football at Notre Dame: who is the best athlete in the family? I will go with me because I have fewer injuries! He also played baseball growing up so it is fun to have sports in common.

You currently work for the Miami Heat as a studio and radio analyst: how do you like the job? I love the fact that I get to remain around the sport in a different capacity. I was drafted by Miami and have tremendous respect for the Heat culture/organization. I love covering the team and being able to stay connected.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 1972 Olympic silver medalist Kenny Davis

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Kenny Davis about playing in 1 of the most controversial games in the history of the sport. Today marks the 48th anniversary of Kenny scoring 2 PTS for team USA in a 66-35 win over Czechoslovakia in Olympic round-robin pool play.

(photo credit: kentuckysportsradio.com)

You were a 5’11” PG: did you view your size as an advantage or disadvantage on the court? I never looked at it that way. Height is more of a factor now but in high school I actually played forward! Back then we had a 2-guard system rather than a PG and separate SG. It only changed about 30 years ago.

How did you end up at Georgetown College? They were 1 of the 1st camps in the state of Kentucky. I went there after my junior year and enjoyed being there. The system used by the head coach featured guards because he felt there were not enough big men that he could get to come to Georgetown. It ended up being a perfect system for me.

You were a 3-time NAIA All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It was very special: I never expected that to happen but I was very pleased that it happened. I was proudest of being 2nd-team as a sophomore.

In the summer of 1971 you were drafted by the Knicks but never played pro basketball: did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? That was an honor as well. I had played on a couple of national teams and thought that I had a chance to make the Olympic team in 1972. After I got back from Munich I got an offer from Converse while playing AAU ball so I chose that route. Looking back I wish that I had pursued the opportunity to play in the NBA after they implemented the 3-PT shot.

You were named captain of the US basketball team at the 1972 Olympics: what is the secret to being a good leader? The captain was elected by the rest of the team, which made it even more special. I had already graduated and had played other international games, which were 2 big factors.

Terrorists murdered 11 Israeli athletes/coaches just a few days before the gold medal game: how was your team able to stay focused in light of the tragedy that took place in the Olympic Village? They turned it into a military barracks and placed a guard outside our room, but we could not use that as an excuse. It affected everyone and was not much fun to play after it took place. If we had taken a vote I think that everyone would have said they wanted to go home, but I do not know if that would have been the right thing to do.

The US suffered its 1st-ever Olympic loss at the hands of the USSR in the gold medal game by a score of 51-50, followed by you announcing that the team refused to accept the silver medal, and you even have a provision in your will (Article IX) that none of your descendants may ever accept the medal: who do you blame the most for the controversial loss (Bill Walton for not playing, Coach Iba for using a slow tempo, the Secretary General, the timekeeper, the refs, other), and why is no medal better than a silver medal? The medal is the symbol of the achievement rather than the achievement itself. To take a symbol of something we did not accomplish is not something that anyone wanted. If I had to blame 1 person it would be William Jones for coming out of the stands and requesting that they put 3 seconds back on the clock, which is illegal. If Walton was on our team then I think we would have won, but that was a personal choice for him.

You later spent 4 decades as a sales representative for Converse as well as a motivational speaker: how did you like working for Converse, and what is the key to motivating others? Converse was the king of basketball footwear back in 1972, but my assignment changed over time. At 1st I tried to get players to wear our product, and by the end I was trying to get rock stars to wear them! They let me live wherever I wanted and paid me very well. The key to motivating people is to be a good person and not be a phony. My parents gave me 2 great gifts: roots and wings. The wings inspired me to put a piece of cloth with “USA” stitched on it and walk into a cheering stadium, which is a memory that will stay with me the rest of my life.

You got to carry the Olympic torch on its way to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta: what did it mean to you to carry the torch, and what was your reaction to the news that the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo were postponed due to the coronavirus? I do not think they had any choice but to postpone the Games once the pandemic started. Hopefully the same people from this year will get the opportunity to compete next year. The way we react to the situation will make all the difference. When they called me in 1996 I was ecstatic. They gave me an opportunity to purchase the torch and I still have it in my office. I have gone online to try to buy other torches from different Olympics: I think it would be a cool collectible!

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? That I gave it my all. We are endowed by our creator with certain talents and we have the responsibility to develop them as best we can. I did as much as I could with the talent that was given to me.

To learn more about Kenny’s career and the 1972 Olympics you can check out “Better Than Gold: Olympian Kenny Davis and the Most Controversial Basketball Game in History” by Gary West: www.amazon.in/Better-Than-Gold-Controversial-Basketball/dp/1938905687

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 2-time Olympic gold medalist Burdie Haldorson

Posted on August 26, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Burdie Haldorson about winning a pair of gold medals in 1956/1960. Today marks the 60th anniversary of Burdie scoring 2 PTS in team USA’s 88-54 win over Italy in Olympic round-robin pool play.

You were born/raised in Minnesota: what made you choose Colorado? I had never been out of the state but after visiting Colorado and seeing the mountains I thought it would be a great idea.

You led the Big 8 in scoring during each of your last 2 years and you still hold the school record for most REB in a game with 31 vs. Oklahoma in 1952: what is the secret to being a great scorer and what is the secret to being a great rebounder? Jumping ability is important but you also need to be able to box out to have an advantage. As far as scoring, back then everything went through the center on offense.

In the 1955 Final 4 you scored 9 PTS in a loss to eventual champion San Francisco: where does Bill Russell (24 PTS/10-14 FG in the win before becoming your Olympic teammate the following year) rank among the greatest players that you have ever seen? Back then he was a difference maker: you could put any 4 guys around him and that team would probably win. He was the best I ever played with/against.

In the spring of 1955 you were drafted 23rd overall by St. Louis but chose to play for the AAU Phillips 66ers: why did you choose AAU over the NBA, and did you have any regrets? I did not have any regrets. The NBA was just a fledging league back then and you never knew if your paycheck would be there every Friday. I had a good career and learned about business: I ended up having a small group of convenience stores.

You were named an AAU All-American 4 times from 1955-1959: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It was really great! The AAU was running the show back then so it was a great thrill.

You won a pair of gold medals at the 1956/1960 Summer Olympics: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a pair of gold medals? Obviously it was the best part of my entire career. I can still remember marching into the stadium under the American flag…and it was just as nice the 2nd time! Melbourne and Rome are 2 different places but you always remember your 1st time the most.

You also won a gold medal at the 1959 Pan Am Games: what was the biggest difference between international basketball and college or AAU basketball? That was in Chicago and was basically a lead-up to the Olympics because a lot of those guys joined me in Rome. We went on a tour of Russia 1 year and whenever we got in trouble during a game we would just put a press on and the international teams could not handle it. Their coaching techniques just had not caught up with American techniques.

After retiring from basketball you became an executive with Phillips and later formed a gas and oil distribution business: how were you able to follow your on-court success by becoming so successful off the court? The 1st thing you need is luck! If you have that then most things will turn out positively. Playing sports taught me to be determined and in business you need to be ready to come to work every day.

In 2010 your 1960 Olympic team was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and in 2012 you were inducted into the Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor: where do these rank among the highlights of your career? The Hall of Fame has to be right up there at the top. It was a great deal to see all of my teammates like Jerry West/Oscar Robertson. I would hate to have to pick just 1 thing.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? As a good teammate. Basketball was even more of a team game in my day.

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The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Mechelle Voepel about 4-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with ESPN women’s basketball writer Mechelle Voepel about Sue Bird winning 3 WNBA titles and 4 gold medals. Today marks the 16th anniversary of Sue scoring 3 PTS in team USA’s 102-72 win over Greece in Athens at the 2004 Olympic quarterfinals.

Sue was a WBCA High School All-American and won a national championship at Christ the King High School: what made her choose UConn? She has talked a lot about how it was just the right fit for her. It was relatively close to home and the Huskies had already won a title so she saw herself as part of building something. She felt that Coach Geno Auriemma challenged her during the recruiting process and said that she could become 1 of his greatest players: it was down to earth and matched her personality.

In the 2001 Big East tourney title game she made a half-court shot at the end of the 1st half and a coast-to-coast drive for the game-winning jumper at the buzzer in a 2-PT win over Notre Dame: why was this game more than just another fantastic finish? There were a lot of things that all came together. They were considered the top-2 teams in the nation and had a conference rivalry throughout the season. There was a lot of attention/drama and the extra drama of her teammate Shea Ralph tearing her ACL for the 2nd time after being named Final 4 MOP the previous spring. 1 thing that has been consistent throughout Sue’s career is her ability to rise to the occasion at the biggest moments. People think of 2 games that stand out: this game (due to her 2 big shots at crucial times) and the 2018 WNBA semifinal Game 5 that she basically won by herself after putting the team on her back and scoring some huge baskets.

She was a 2-time All-American/2-time NCAA champ/2002 national POY: what did it mean to her to receive such outstanding honors? It always feels good to be individually recognized but as a PG she really measures herself by how well the team does. As great as that 2001 Big East title game was, what she remembers is that Notre Dame ended up winning the NCAA title. It remains her mindset today and I have never heard her talk about winning awards out loud because she only cares about what she did for her team.

She remains the Huskies’ all-time leader with 45.9 3P%/89.2 FT%: what is her secret for being a great shooter, and do you think that anyone will ever break her records? The key is that she is such a fundamentally sound player and does not take bad shots. She is not looking to score a certain amount of PTS: she is looking for who has the best percentage shot. Every record will be broken at some point but it would have to be someone with the same level of preparation/discipline. FT shooting is the same: get in your routine and stay mentally focused with your execution.

In the 2010 playoffs for Seattle she scored 16 PTS including the game-winning 3-PT shot with 2.8 seconds left in the decisive Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals to beat defending-champ Phoenix after erasing a 19-PT deficit, and in Game 1 of the Finals she scored 14 PTS including the game-winning jumper with 2.6 seconds left to beat Atlanta: what makes her such a clutch player? She has the ability to understand what the moment is: not everyone does and many people get overwhelmed by it. She wants to be the person to come through and is hard on herself when she does not. That 2010 Phoenix game is another “Sue Bird Game” where she beat her good friend Diana Taurasi by digging deep.

She is a 3-time WNBA champion (2004/2010/2018) and 1 of 4 players to win multiple NCAA titles/WNBA titles/Olympic gold medals (along with Swin Cash/Maya Moore/Diana Taurasi): what is her secret for winning championships? The ability to help everyone on the team do what is best for the team. She tells a story that dates back to her sophomore year at UConn. Geno pulled her aside and said that everything that goes wrong is her fault because she is the PG. You cannot say that to a lot of players but Sue understood that she was responsible for everyone and she was okay with that. All of her teammates can depend on her, which is really freeing for other players to know that she is their safety net and will bring the team together. Some teams win titles without great chemistry but Sue makes that chemistry happen.

Her 2831 career AST is the most in WNBA history and in 2011 she was named 1 of the 15 greatest players in WNBA history: where do you think that she ranks among the greatest PGs in women’s basketball history? I think that she is the great PG in women’s basketball for a few reasons. Her longevity is amazing, as is her ability to win championships at every single level both in the US and overseas. She is a great athlete and can put herself in the position where she needs to be all of the time. I have never covered anyone who is better.

She sat out the entire 2013/2019 seasons while recovering from surgery: how has she been able to accomplish so much despite having 6 left knee surgeries? She was very quick as a young player, which some people do not realize, but as you get older your mind has to do more of the work as your body ages. She has used the mental edge to her advantage but 2013 was a real crossroads in her career. She realized that she had to get into the best shape of her life in terms of diet/exercise…and she did. As your car gets older you need to take care of it to squeeze every last mile out of it, which is similar to what great athletes do.

She is a 4-time Olympic gold medalist for team USA (2004/2008/2012/2016): what does it mean to her to represent her country, and do you think that we will see her win gold medal #5 next summer in Tokyo? The US national team has been able to maintain a fierce loyalty among its players for decades. Teresa Edwards was a great PG who passed the torch down to Dawn Staley, who then passed it along to Sue. They all believe that representing their country is so important. What is hard to predict about 2021 is that she will turn 40 this October and it is hard to say if she will feel okay physically…but if there is anyone who can do it then she is the 1. When you are THIS close to #5, she would cherish it as a crowning achievement.

Her girlfriend is Olympic/World Cup gold medalist Megan Rapinoe: what kind of stature do they hold within the LGBTQ community, and who is the best athlete in the relationship?! They are rock stars: there is no doubt about that! Sue has been out to her friends/family for a long time but did not come out publicly until 2017. Megan and Sue have had positive impacts on each other. I think they have a friendly competition but they are both great athletes in their own respects. I might lean toward Sue since I cover basketball but they are both super-high-level athletes. They are inspirational to the community as 2 well-loved athletes who seem so happy together.

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