It really was a T party.
And this reporter was looking at more than the final score...

by Lori Lobenstine

Recently I was lucky enough to get to attend the Temple Owls vs. Tennessee Lady Vols basketball game. Not only did I get to check out the game, but I got to go as part of the press, since I was there to interview Temple coach /basketball phenom/sneaker fiend Dawn Staley. Now, as a ball player myself, I've been a Staley fan since she was a standout at Virginia in the early 90s. So needless to say, I was very excited. I'd gotten a lead from my boy AG at Sole Collector, since they go way back (rumor has it she taught him a few things about playing ball…).

Not every sneaker fiend might drive to Philly from Boston for a bball game, but bear with me—this was not your average game. This was a chance to watch two great coaches in action: Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in Division 1 history (approaching 900 wins), and Staley, a relative newcomer to coaching who’s already coached her team to three Atlantic 10 championships. Plus they’re both former Olympians themselves!

Now in sneaker terms, they carry some weight also. Dawn has been sponsored by Nike for years as a player and has even had her own shoe, the Air Zoom S5 (Staley’s number was always 5). The fact that you’ve probably never heard of it is another reflection of the sneaker companies’ unwillingness to promote women’s bball sneakers, AT ALL.

Now Pat was a player before all the sneaker hype, but she’s no slouch either. She has pioneered the fight for women’s college programs to get respect (ie—nice kicks and uni’s) from the big sneaker companies, just as the men’s programs do. So how did their teams’ sneakers compare?

Temple had some nice Lebrons, as you can see, but a few different models of Nikes on the court. This might add individuality or comfort, but not quite the same effect as the Tennessee kicks, complete with their logo! (You gotta look close.)

But the folks you gotta really feel bad for are the Temple cheerleaders. Their kicks were rocked.

In the end, Temple got a bit rocked themselves, losing 75-50. They have the squad to give anybody a run on any given night, but this was not their night. As Staley said, “There were too many instances in the game we weren't ourselves. We didn't have enough fight.”

Unfortunately, Dawn didn’t say that to me, in our exclusive FSF interview, because she was too busy to meet. But hopefully that will happen at another time, and just getting to hear insights from two of the most intelligent and competitive coaches in college basketball was worth the trip. I added my own questions, but never did get up my nerve to ask, “Do you think the Tennessee win was on account of their having better kicks?” Ah well…

Pat Summit, Shanna Zolman and Candace Parker giggle after Parker admits "I got beat" by Temple star Candace Dupree, resulting in a minor ankle injury 3 minutes into the game.

Dawn and Candace Dupree share a smile (perhaps reflecting on her nasty "ankle-breaking" move!)