The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Jill Hutchison about 1976 Olympic silver medalist Charlotte Lewis

Posted on July 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 Hall of Famer Jill Hutchison about Charlotte Lewis winning a silver medal in 1976. Today marks the 44th anniversary of team USA beating Czechoslovakia 83-67 to clinch a silver medal, while the Soviet Union beat Japan 98-75 to clinch the gold.

  (photo credit: usab.com)

Charlotte attended Woodruff High School but since Peoria public schools did not offer varsity basketball for girls back then she just played against boys on local playgrounds: how did you learn about her, and how did you recruit her to Illinois State? I had never heard of Charlotte until she showed up on campus. She had never played organized basketball but some of our players saw her in the gym and convinced her to try out. It was not a tough decision to take her!

She was a 6’2” center who set school records for REB in a game (27) and season (345): what was her secret for being a great rebounder? Charlotte was the best female rebounder that I have ever seen: she could literally sky! She had a high center of gravity and very strong upper body that made her a natural rebounder. She learned to track the ball off the glass and was intimidating in the paint.

She also played volleyball at Illinois State and finished 4th in the nation in the javelin in 1975: which sport was she best at, and which sport did she enjoy the most? Although Charlotte enjoyed both volleyball and track her favorite/best sport was basketball.

She won a gold medal with team USA at the 1975 Pan Am Games (the 1st gold medal for the US since 1963) and won a silver medal at the 1976 Olympics: what did it mean to her to win a gold medal, and what did it mean to her to win a silver medal? Charlotte was beaming when she returned from both the Pan Am Games and the Olympics. Both were definite highlights of her career for which she was extremely proud.

In February of 1977 she scored a career-high 37 PTS in a game vs. Wisconsin-La Crosse: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot she put up seemed to go in because she was “in the zone”? She was “in the zone” and played with an unbelievable energy that day. She got most of her points in the paint but could also hit the 12-15 footer.

In 1977 she was named a Kodak All-American and was a finalist for the Wade Trophy (as the nation’s top female athlete): what did it mean to her to receive such outstanding honors? Being named an All-American was huge for Charlotte and going to New York to accept the award was the thrill of a lifetime. She was also proud to be among those named a finalist for the Wade Trophy since she knew many of the other great players.

She won 4 AIAW state titles from 1974-1978 but left school before graduating and played pro basketball for 15 years both abroad and in the US: why did she leave school early, and how was she able to play pro for such a long time? She left before finishing student teaching because she was not confident in front of a class…although she left with better than a 3.0 GPA. She played with some great players, especially in Brazil. She was an elite player with other elite teammates and enjoyed her time overseas.

After retiring at age 40 she returned to Illinois State to get her degree: why did she come back to campus, and how on earth did she balance 3 jobs while simultaneously taking classes?! Charlotte returned to her hometown of Peoria and was determined to finish her degree. She attended Illinois Central College and Illinois State simultaneously while working those 3 jobs. She was focused and totally determined to finish in 2 years…and she made it!

She was inducted into the Illinois State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1983 and her jersey was retired in 2002: where do those rank among the highlights of her career? Charlotte received a lot of recognition following her Olympic experience and was very appreciative of her Hall of Fame recognition. Retiring her jersey was especially “sweet” since the only other retired jersey at Illinois State was Doug Collins: they both played in the Olympics.

She passed away in 2007 at age 52 and was posthumously inducted into the MVC Hall of Fame in 2016: when people look back on her career, how do you think that she should be remembered the most? Opponents and teammates alike would consider Charlotte a very intimidating player. Her ability to dominate the lane, dunk the ball, snatch a rebound off the rim and run the floor with the guards made her special. To her teammates she was also a gentle giant: she had a beautiful singing voice, a caring for others, and a huge heart. She was a special person who came out of the projects and became successful not only as a player but a person.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Jill Hutchison about 1976 Olympic silver medalist Charlotte Lewis

The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 1996 Olympic gold medalist Katy Steding

Posted on July 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 Katy Steding about winning an NCAA title in 1990 and a gold medal in 1996. Today marks the 24th anniversary of Katy getting 4 STL vs. Zaire in Olympic round-robin pool play.

You were born/raised in Portland: what made you choose Stanford? I chose Stanford because of the education. My freshman year was the first year of the Women’s Pac-10. I wanted the best education I could get in exchange for playing basketball!

You played for Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer (who later led you to a gold medal at the 1991 World University Game/1996 Atlanta Olympics): what makes her such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from her? I think that the essence of Tara is a relentless pursuit of excellence, knowing what motivates an athlete to push themselves further each day, and no one outworks her or her program. The biggest thing I learned from her is to always perform at your best both for yourself and the people around you.

You set a school record with 8.7 RPG as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I got an opportunity to play due to an unfortunate injury to a player ahead of me in the rotation. I credit the juniors/seniors in the program for their support of Jennifer Azzi and myself from the start. I never got the sense from them that there was any resentment to having us start as freshmen: in fact, they were the most supportive and encouraging teammates that I have ever experienced.

In December of 1988 you set a school record with 10 STL in a game against Northwestern: what is the secret to playing great defense? Being in the right place at the right time and taking advantage of every opportunity: very few people ever accused me of playing great defense!

As a senior you led the conference with 46.4 3P%: how were you able to balance your rebounding with your defense with your 3-PT shooting? Tara moved me to the perimeter when I was a sophomore and I knew that I was a good shooter. She continued to emphasize rebounding for me even from the guard/wing spot. I always had a knack for finding the ball so I just kept doing that! We had such a complete team that I got great opportunities even though I had changed positions.

In the 1990 NCAA tourney title game you were named CBS/Chevrolet Player of the Game after scoring 18 PTS in 7-PT win over Auburn: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most, and what did it mean to you to win a title? We were nervous but focused in the Final 4 and were on a mission. I was fortunate to hit my first shot on a transition 3, which helped settle my nerves. Winning a title is the ultimate feeling of accomplishment and to do that with my group of friends was the best reward for all of the hard work that we had put in over the years.

After earning a spot on the US National Team in 1995 you went 60-0 including a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics: what did it mean to you to win a gold medal, and where do you think that team ranks among the greatest in women’s basketball history? Playing in/winning the Olympics was one of the biggest accomplishments of my athletic career. It was hugely rewarding not only to win but to be a part of one of the greatest and most accomplished teams in US Olympic history. The collection of players we had that year was a great bridge from the beginnings of USA Women’s Basketball to the excellence that we have experienced during the past 20+ years. It was such an exciting time to be a part of the history of USA Basketball.

You played overseas for a few years and then spent a few years playing in the ABL/WNBA: what was the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in foreign countries? It was a wonderful time to be playing overseas when I was in Japan/Spain: I had the time of my life! There were so many differences between US basketball and overseas basketball such as styles/rules but I think that the biggest difference was the fan engagement/experience.

You were inducted into the Stanford Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2004: where do those rank among the highlights of your career? I am very proud to be included in both the Oregon/Stanford Halls of Fame. It is rewarding to be recognized for all of the hard work that I put in over the years. I am grateful to be included/recognized and am so happy that I was able to be a part of such incredible programs and contribute to the success that we all experienced!

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 1996 Olympic gold medalist Katy Steding

The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Jim Washington about 1960 Olympic gold medalist Walt Bellamy

Posted on July 24, 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 today 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 Jim Washington about his former teammate Walt Bellamy winning a gold medal in 1960 and being named NBA ROY in 1962. Today would have been Walt’s 81st birthday so we are proud to honor his memory.

Walt chose to attend Indiana, which at the time was the closest school to the South that would accept African-Americans: what effect did race have on his decision? Walt certainly would have been sensitive to what was going on at the time. He was an introspective person so I am sure that race played a significant role. He was a tremendous talent and I am sure that a lot of schools would have liked to have him.

He played for team USA at the 1960 Olympics: was that the best team he ever played on, and what did it mean to him to win a gold medal? He did not talk about it a whole lot but he did have an opinion on the “Dream Team” of the Michael Jordan era. Walt said that he was on the 1st real “Dream Team” back in 1960 with all of the great future Hall of Famers they had at the time!

In 1961 he scored 28 PTS and had a Big 10-record 33 REB in his final collegiate game vs. Michigan: what was his secret for being a great rebounder? He was the prototype for taller players today. He was not a traditional center: he could face the basket and was much more agile than the big guys of that day. Centers were supposed to rebound back then: just look at the stats of guys like Wilt Chamberlain/Bill Russell. He knew what his role was: to get rebounds.

In the summer of 1961 he was drafted 1st overall by the Chicago Packers: did he see that as a validation of his college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? I was the #1 draft choice of St. Louis in 1965, and while it was nice it did not have as much hoopla as it does now: we would just get a phone call. It did not really matter whether we were drafted in the 1st round or a later round. I remember getting a call from St. Louis, which surprised me because since I played at Villanova I thought that Philly was going to take me with a territorial pick, but the 76ers took Billy Cunningham instead. I am sure Walt was expected to go #1 but the most important thing was just to make the NBA.

In 1962 he was named ROY, scored a career-high 31.6 PPG, averaged 19 RPG, and led the league in shooting with a mark of 51.9 FG%: how was he able to come in and dominate right from the start? His stats were rather impressive for anyone coming into the league at the time, especially compared to today. Most athletes aspire to be as good as they can be but in the early-1960s there were still limitations on how many Black players an NBA team could have. The NBA had the best players in the world and he had the talent to play at that level. Unfortunately the Packers were an obscure franchise that did not get a lot of support so they moved to Baltimore.

He was later a member of 1 of the 1st NBA teams to start 5 African-American players: do you remember this being a big deal at the time, and how proud was he of making history? I am sure that he was aware of the significance of that. When Texas Western won the 1966 NCAA title with an all-Black starting 5 we definitely know how important that was. Those kind of things happened without a lot of fanfare because it was a different time.

During the 1968-69 season he was traded from New York to Detroit, and a scheduling quirk allowed him to play in an NBA-record 88 regular season games: do you recall him being especially exhausted at the end of that year, and do you think that anyone will ever break his record? It was not unusual for starters back then to play 40 MPG: you just stayed out there and did not want to come out. He was a big/strong guy and stamina was never his issue. I think that New York and Detroit both had good teams back then and when you are winning you do not get tired…even though it is a long season.

He only missed 12 games during his 14-year NBA career: how did he manage to avoid any serious injuries and was he just able to play through all of the bumps and bruises that came his way? It was amazing that guys did not get injured more because we did not have the benefits or amenities that the guys have today. Everyone today has specially-made shoes that they only wear a couple of times before getting new ones: we played in canvas shoes with no support! We grew up playing on concrete/dirt courts so we were pretty tough. I remember him missing 1 game against San Francisco after his elbow blew up like a balloon.

In 1993 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame after an 18-year wait: why do you think that it took so long for him to get inducted? I am not a big fan of the process: there does not seem to be a system in place for guys who deserve to get in once they become eligible. Walt should have gone in directly but his eligibility almost ran out. I am still trying to fight to get Lou Hudson (who made 6 straight All-Star games from 1969-1974) inducted.

When people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? I am biased but I think his legacy is as 1 of the greatest centers to ever play the game. The fact that his teams did not win titles is why he does not get the accolades he should get, but he was able to be so productive for so many teams due to his talent.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews Jim Washington about 1960 Olympic gold medalist Walt Bellamy

The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 2-time Olympic gold medalist Gary Payton

Posted on July 23, 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 Gary Payton about winning a pair of gold medals in 1996/2000. Today is his 52nd birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!

In 1990 you were named All-American/conference POY at Oregon State, and you were later named to the Pac-10 All-Decade Team: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? They were great accomplishments and I truly felt honored.

What are your memories of the 1987 NIT (you scored 18 PTS and Eric Knox banked in a double-pump 3-PT shot with 1 second left in a 3-PT win over New Mexico)? We played at “The Pit” and it was a hard-fought game. It was a great game because we were able to hold on, get the win, and move onto the next round.

What are your memories of the 1989 NCAA tourney (you had a tourney-school-record 31 PTS/10 AST but Reed Crafton made a 24-foot step-back 3-PT shot with 8 seconds left in a 4-PT OT win by Evansville in the final game of Ralph Miller’s 38-year coaching career)? We played this game in Arizona and it was a huge loss for our team. We just did not come through and did not make the right plays at the right times.

In the 1990 NCAA tourney you scored 11 PTS before fouling out, and Paris McCurdy made a 5-footer and then the game-winning FT after and being fouled at the buzzer in a 1-PT win by Ball State: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? This loss ranks #1: no doubt. I fouled out with 10 minutes to go in the game and had to sit on the bench and watch my teammates: I could not help them. It was my senior year and it was devastating to me.

In Game 5 of the 1994 Western Conference 1st round as a player for Seattle you had 14 PTS despite playing with a foot injury in a 4-PT loss to Denver at home (the 1st time that a #8 seed ever beat a #1 seed in the playoffs): do you think that the outcome would have been different if you had been healthy? Yes. I think the outcome could have been different if I was healthy but I cannot take anything away from Denver. They played well and we gave up. However, I do think that if I was not injured then I could have given my team some more offense.

Since your Laker teammates Shaquille O’Neal/Kobe Bryant were covered at the end of Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals, you inbounded the ball to Derek Fisher with 0.4 seconds left and he made an 18-foot jumper in a 1-PT win over San Antonio to end their 17-game winning streak at home: how did Lakers Coach Phil Jackson design the play, and where does Fisher’s shot rank among the most clutch shots you have ever seen? This particular play was designed for Kobe but he was double-teamed so I went to D-Fish and he knocked the shot down. I say this shot ranks in my top-15 most clutch shots.

Take me through the magical 2006 Finals as a player for Miami:
In Game 3 you made a 20-foot jumper with 9.3 seconds left in a 2-PT win over Dallas: where does that rank among the biggest shots of your career? This shot probably ranks in my top-3 all time. If I did not make the shot then Dallas would have had the momentum and we would not have had the opportunity to win the championship.

After losing the 1st 2 games in Dallas you won the next 4 to clinch the title: what did it mean to you to win the title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? I was overjoyed when we won the NBA title. I finally felt like I had completed everything in my 17-year career so I was happy/satisfied. The locker room was a place of huge celebration/vindication. We were predicted to lose and Coach Pat Riley was criticized for going with “older” guys but we proved everyone wrong.

You were selected to the NBA All-Defensive 1st-team 9 years in a row from 1994-2002, you remain #4 all-time with 2445 career STL, and in 1996 you became the 1st PG ever named NBA DPOY: what is your secret to being a great defender, and do you think that we will ever see another PG win the award? My college coach Ralph Miller taught me how to play defense. He told me that I had great hands and if I focused on moving my feet I could become a great defensive player so that is what I worked on continuously: moving my feet/hands. I do not think that we will see another PG win the DPOY award because defense is not played the same way today.

You are 1 of a handful of basketball players to win multiple Olympic gold medals for team USA: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? The Olympics rank #1 for me. There is no better feeling than winning the gold medal for your country. To bow your head as they place the medal around your neck and watch the USA flag raised is an incredible experience and 1 of the greatest moments of my basketball career.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 2-time Olympic gold medalist Gary Payton

The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 1984 Olympic gold medalist Carol Menken-Schaudt

Posted on July 22, 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 Carol Menken-Schaudt about winning a gold medal in 1984.

You were born/raised in Oregon but could not play basketball every year at Jefferson High School because it was such a small school that a coach was not always available: what made you choose a school like Linn-Benton CC (that did not even have a basketball team!) to start your college career, and why did you transfer to Oregon State? Linn-Benton had a good graphic arts program and I wanted to be a graphic artist, but after I realized that I was not very good at it they ended up starting a team. The coach asked me if I would like to try out and it sounded like fun: there were only 7 of us at tryouts so we all made the team! I was not very skilled but being 6’4” in 1977 was unusual at the women’s basketball community college level. My coach was active in finding a 4-year school for me to attend and Oregon State was only 20 minutes away. I talked to the coach there and she sent me a partial scholarship offer…as well as a letter saying that she was resigning due to the school’s lack of support of the team. Aki Hill came in as the new coach and we spent a lot of time together: she basically turned me into a basketball player who led the nation in scoring as a senior. That led me to getting some attention from the national team and I made the 1981 World University Games team under Coach Kay Yow. I also got a call from an agent that Italy was opening up its women’s league to foreigners, which extended my basketball career and helped me make the 1984 Olympic team.

You are 6’4”: how much of an advantage was your size on the court? It was a big advantage: there were only a handful of players back then who were 6’4” so it was quite rare.

In February of 1980 you set a school record by scoring 51 PTS in a game against Alaska-Anchorage: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Yes. They were not the strongest competition. I tried to get position close to the basket and my team fed me the ball and it was just basket after basket.

In 1981 you led the nation with 75 FG% and became the 1st women’s basketball All-American in school history: what is the secret to being a great shooter, and what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? I had great coaching and was able to learn all the fundamentals. I developed my shot/positioning and was strong enough to take contact and still make baskets. 1 of the biggest advantages was my mental approach: I never took a shot that I did not think was going in. I was always surprised if my shot did not go in, even when I was fouled. If you expect it to go in and are playing with that confidence then it just helps your efficiency.

You still holds school records with 27.7 career PPG/11.1 career RPG: did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were, and do you think that anyone will ever break your records? Some of my other records like career PTS have already been broken but I do not know if anyone will ever score more PPG. We did not have a 3-PT line back then so there was a premium on getting easy inside shots. Now it changes the dynamic: the current OSU team has several good 3-PT shooters so the priority of the offense is different. There is a higher level/broader base of talent in the sport now even though there are still standouts.

You tried out for the Olympic team in 1980 but did not make it: what was your reaction after learning that the team would not play due to a boycott, and how did it feel to finally make the team in 1984? I just felt bad for the American athletes in 1980 who had been training for so long. When a sporting event only comes along every 4 years it might be your only shot. I never anticipated that I would make the team in 1984 because I was graduating in 1981 and there was no opportunity like the WNBA where I could compete after college. The chance to play in Italy was the only way that I was able to still be playing.

What did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? It is 1 of those pivot points in your life: there is my life before the Olympics and my life after the Olympics. It has impacted the entire direction of my life: I get invited to a bunch of classrooms/lunches every 4 years to go out and share my story/medal with people in my community.

You played pro basketball in Italy/Japan for 8 years: what was the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? 1 of the big differences for me was the slight rule changes. The key is shaped differently: it is wider at the bottom so I had to adjust to that. Basketball is faster-paced and more physical in Italy, whereas Japan was more about quickness/finesse. The level of play was very skilled so I enjoyed both experiences very much.

Your son Brian is a track coach, your daughter Laura played volleyball at OSU, and your husband Ken was team manager for the #1 ranked Beavers men’s team in 1981: who is the best athlete in the family? I am not going to comment on that 1…but I am the only 1 with an Olympic gold medal! They are all very athletic: Brian is now getting a degree in physical therapy and Laura finished her volleyball career overseas. They have done well in their lives in general.

In 1993 you were inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and in 2018 you became the 1st OSU female student-athlete to be inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor: when people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? 1 of the things I am proudest of was my role on the Olympic team. My usual role was to be the focus of the offense but that was not the case in 1984. We had a plethora of talent so I recognized my roster spot as a role player and accepted that. I tried to push Anne Donovan/Janice Lawrence as hard as possible in practice so that they could play their best during the competition. I feel like I was a part of that gold-medal-winning effort and was proud to be a role player with excellence.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 1984 Olympic gold medalist Carol Menken-Schaudt

The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 1996 Olympic gold medalist Jennifer Azzi

Posted on July 21, 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 Jennifer Azzi about winning an NCAA title in 1990 and a gold medal in 1996. Today marks the 24th anniversary of her scoring 3 PTS in her 1996 Olympic debut in a win over Cuba in round-robin pool play.

You grew up in Tennessee: what made you choose Stanford? It is obviously a great academic school but I really did not know much about Stanford at all. Back then it was not known as a basketball school by any means, and when I started getting letters from Stanford my mom (a teacher) and dad were both very excited and really encouraged me to take a leap of faith. It was Coach Tara VanDerveer’s 1st year so we were her 1st recruiting class. They really believed in her vision and kind of helped me see that as well. I was looking at Stanford like, “Well, they are terrible, but I love basketball”. I also saw it as an opportunity to play right away, be part of something special, and build a program.

In the 1989 NCAA tourney you set a record with 9-11 3PM, and your 45.2 career 3P% remains among the best in NCAA history: what is the key to making shots from behind the arc? Shooting a lot, no kidding. It is about getting up a lot of reps and practice, practice, practice.

Take me through the magical 1990 NCAA tourney title game in Knoxville: It was interesting because Tennessee was supposed to be there but they got beat by Virginia. We played Virginia in the semifinals, which was a really good thing for us. It was sold out with 20,000 fans and thank God that Tennessee was not there: not that we could not have beaten them but it set a very different vibe. For 4 years, but certainly during my senior year, our mission was to win a championship: period. Everything we did, talked about, and ate: all of it was going towards winning a championship. When you get into that final game you do not really know how you are going to feel. I remember being very nervous talking to assistant coach Julie Plank but she said, “Hey, if you are nervous then just look at your teammates because they really need you”. That kind of snapped me out of it: once we all got out on the court it was like everything that we had worked for finally started to come true. We were knocking down shots, making stops, playing together, and ended up with a fantastic game against Auburn in the finals. I do not want to say that it was meant to be, but it was almost like we knew that we were going to win…and the winning started long before that moment.

What was it like to play 20 miles from your hometown of Oak Ridge in front of 20,000+ people (which at the time was the largest crowd to ever watch a women’s basketball game)? It was surreal. I kind of became the “Tennessee player” because the Volunteers were out of the tournament. We probably had more fans in the building than Auburn did just because I was from Oak Ridge, which is just down the street. A lot of the town came to the game so it was an exciting environment.

You scored 16 PTS in a 7-PT win over Auburn to clinch the title, win tourney MOP, and finish 32-1: how close did you come to going undefeated, and what did it mean to you to win a title? We were so close. When we played Washington at home we beat them by around 40 PTS, then went up to Washington a week or 2 later and we lost by 3 PTS. However, it was the best thing that ended up happening to us. It was better to lose that game and realize, “Hey, we are not above being beaten if we are not doing things correctly”, so I think that we learned a lot from that loss. You hate it when it is actually happening but then it ends up being the best thing for you in hindsight.

You were a 2-time All-American and 1990 national POY: what did it mean to you to win such outstanding honors? It never meant anything: not to be rude to the people that give out awards but basketball is all about the team. I think that the greatest joy in the sport is when you are a great teammate and when you make each other better and then build a team and are successful together. Even as a coach, 1 of the hardest things for me to get players to understand is that it is not about them but rather about our team’s success. We all had that during my senior year: we were all 100% about the team.

You graduated as the Cardinal’s all-time leader in both AST (751) and STL (271): what is the key to being a great PG? You have to be a giver and understand how everyone else on the court is thinking/feeling. You certainly have to know the game and have the skill set to do it, but I think to be really good at it you have to understand people. I think that was a strength of mine that I did not fully understand until I started coaching. There were some things that I did naturally that I had to sometimes teach people after becoming a coach. When I see the natural people skills in someone, I think they have a chance to become a really good PG.

After going 52-0 in the lead-up to the 1996 Olympics you went 8-0 with team USA in Atlanta: what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? It is not unlike winning a national championship because you work for a long period of time to get there. The 1992 Olympic team won a bronze medal so USA Basketball paid us all to stay home and train together for 18 months leading up to the 1996 Olympics. They could cut any of us at any point so when you have an Olympic gold medal hanging over someone’s head you know that everybody is going to be doing all the right things (including workouts) while they are away! There was great accountability to work hard during that 18 months. We certainly had the best athletes and the best overall basketball players but I do not think that we had the best team chemistry at the 1992 Games (or even at the 1994 World Championship game) so it was a big deal that everybody really, really was 100% committed.

You played pro basketball for several years both in the US and abroad: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? International basketball takes place during a different season so you can play the regular basketball season there and then join the WNBA during the summer. Obviously playing over here you get a chance to play with both Americans as well as players from other countries, but when you play overseas a lot of times you are limited to just 2 Americans per team so you do not always know what you are getting. It has to be a really good organization. Both were great experiences but for different reasons: to be able to play in the US was a dream come true for all of us who did not grow up with that.

In 2000 as a member of the Utah Starzz you led the WNBA with 93 FT%: what is your secret for making FTs? I stayed after practice throughout my professional career: I shot all the time. I do not think there is any other key: if you shoot a lot then you can become a good shooter. However, I broke my hand at the beginning of that season and was out for 6 weeks, which was bad because the season is not that long. I remember the very 1st game that I played: I was just praying at the free throw line that the ball would get to the basket because I was coming back from a broken hand. I also learned the importance of the power of your mind, but only in combination with the work behind it. I had been shooting forever so I did not necessarily need all of the reps that I had taken in the past. If you have done it enough then your body will remember how to do it even if you step away from it. I know it is a cliché but it really is like riding a bike: you could go 10 years without riding a bike and then get on a bike and be able to ride it. However, if you want to always be good at it then you always have to do it. Steph Curry is always in the gym and the guy is an amazing shooter. I think that being in the gym a lot and shooting a lot keeps your mind right. The day before a game I would take around 1000 shots, which keeps it fresh. You do have to go get a lot of reps up. I tell players that they have to get bored to get better: you really have to shoot a lot if you want to become a good shooter.

In 2009 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? I am glad that we have a Women’s Hall of Fame: it puts the game in a really good place and is a great way to honor the game and all of the wonderful people who were part of it. However, it is kind of an individual award. I am appreciative of it and I think it is great, but at the same time I feel like it is also a product of all the great players/coaches/experiences that I had in the game.

You spent 6 years as head coach of the women’s basketball team at San Francisco: how did you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? Being able to teach all of the things that I have learned gives me great satisfaction. I think that coaches are teachers so to be able to help our team get better brought me a lot of joy. Just the same as when I was playing, I think what drives me is improvement. It is a constant: I told our team all the time that until you stop playing you never arrive. There is always something else to get better at. The better you get, the more you want to try something different and continue to push yourself and grow. I think that players have to be receptive too: I can tell them that if they want to play professionally then here is the road map…but it is still up to them to physically do it. I think sometimes that is a challenge in coaching: you know what it takes but you are not the 1 doing it. You are trying to get someone to do things that you did or try something different, but fundamentally your success comes through other people’s motivation. That can be really challenging at times, especially for someone who is highly motivated, but when you have players who want to be really good it is exciting. It has been interesting to have this career path because basketball has provided me with so many opportunities. I would love to stay involved in the game no matter what because it is such a great game. I have had great experiences working with the NBA and some other things before coming to USF so who knows what the future holds, but basketball will always be somewhere in there.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Olympians: HoopsHD interviews 1996 Olympic gold medalist Jennifer Azzi