Thoughts from the Dog…….
“There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone.”
How else can you explain a team that shoots over 50% from the field for the season shooting 5-29 in the first half? How else can you explain that a team that scores an average of 80+ points a game only scoring 12 points in the first half? How else can you explain that a team that has kept it’s composure night after night with the pressure of keeping a winning streak alive look so discombobulated in the first half?
I know that I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Initially, I thought it was just unlucky shooting. Shots that usually go in were banging around the rims and out. But eventually, you could see it in the looks on their faces. The players were as shocked as their fans.
Thankfully, the part of the team that never rests, never changes and was the true makeup of the team, DEFENSE, never let up. If you had told me that UConn held Stanford to 20 first half points on 25% shooting, I’d think they were up by their usual 20+ points at the half.
So, when you see Geno leaving the court shaking his head after telling Rebecca Lobo that he’s never seen anything like this in his entire career at UConn, you have to think that we had all entered “The Twilight Zone”.
Thank goodness, this version of The Twilight Zone was only an hour episode. The greatness of this team was about to shine through the insane beginning of the game. It reminded me of another great show from the 50′s. And yes, I’m dating myself.
“There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat: there is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to… The Outer Limits.”
Only this time, the control in the second half was owned by one of the greatest women’s basketball team we have been privileged to watch. They controlled the boards. They controlled Stanford. And in the end, they controlled the game and final outcome. They stretched themselves to the Outer Limits of performance.
They controlled the volume, causing UConn fans to scream in delight. They controlled the image, making our hearts flutter. For the hour of the second half, we did not sit quietly. We loudly proclaimed their victory.
Yes, there was nothing wrong with out television set. They changed the focus from blurry to a sharp performance of crystal clarity. And we participated in a great adventure where we experienced awe and even wonder of a team that was like no other.
Two undefeated seasons ending with championships. I’m sure that the fans of all the other teams are the ones feeling like they are in “The Twilight Zone”
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
good insight Mr. Wolfberg, im sure proud of those huskies!
Twilight Zone is right, I thought the pressure was getting to them, but then they came to the wire like thoroughbreds…78 in a row, back to back undefeated National Champion seasons…an unreal accomplishment….