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By Pieter Uni
The CCAA women’s basketball national championship hosted by UBC-O this weekend may be over, but it left a lasting impression on those who made their way out to watch even one game.
Over the three-day event spectators were treated to quality basketball that featured close games, upsets of epic proportion and individual efforts that inspired awe and admiration.
UBC-O kept pace with eventual tournament winners Sainte-Foy before losing late in the game, Dawson College upended top-ranked Sherdian College to win bronze and Kimberly Lee’s incredible performances for SAIT Polytechnice only added to a season that saw her capture player of the year accolades.
And though Lee was clearly the top player at the tournament, each and every player that touched the floor during the tournament impressed.
Playing only for pride and a chance to call themselves the best in Canada, the women who launched three-pointers, fought underneath the hoop for rebounds and dove into the hard court for loose balls proved sports are about more than just money.
These student athletes from across the nation showed poise under pressure, tremendous sportsmanship and a passion for the game rarely seen in professional sports.
Each athlete left everything on the court, including blood, sweat and mostly tears. But not once did they abuse a referee, not once did they taunt the opposition, not once did refuse to shake their foes hand following the conclusion of a game.
The tournament might be over, but these athletes left a lasting impression.
And that impression is one of class and dignity.
Snap shots
Today marks the birthday of the first man in history to run the mile in less that four minutes. Sir Roger Bannister was born March 23, 1929 and along with his incredible athletic and intellectual accomplishments, he coined one of the mot memorable quotes in sports.
“The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win.”
Bannister shares his birthday with another sports hero, Craig Breedlove, who joined Bannister by adding another quote into sports history. The five-time world land speed record holder and the first to reach 400, 500 and 600 miles per hour, had this to say:
“There’s only one thing that can guarantee our failure, and that’s if we quit.”
Obviously Moses Malone didn’t have the same eloquence shared by both Bannister and Breedlove. Malone, a NBA great who shares the same birthday as the aforementioned sports legends, is best remembered for this quote:
“I’ll always be No. 1 to myself.”
Tags: athletes, CCAA women's basketball national championship, heat, Pieter Uni
