My Kim Mulkey Rant

I watched the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters when women's basketball wasn't a prime-time sport. I saw the likes of Kim Mulkey lead her team from the point guard position to a National Championship, back when Sondra Hogg and Leon Barmore were calling the plays from the bench.

I watched as Barmore's retirement opened the door for then-assistant at Tech, Mulkey to ascend to her rightful place — but it didn't happen. For reasons that baffle me to this day, Louisiana Tech did not seem to make it a priority to hire Mulkey. She would eventually go to Baylor.

I loosely followed Baylor as Mulkey led her team to its first national championship — the first for the school in any sport. And now she's hoisted the trophy for a second time, with arguably the best women's team to play the college game.

I'm sure there are those in Ruston who kick themselves with every Baylor win. They had their chance, and right now, it looks like Mulkey is comfortable with the Lady Bears.

She helped a mediocre team ascend to greatness, as her Alma Mater faded into mediocrity. Now Louisiana's “flagship “school has stolen the mantle of women's basketball from Tech, although still never quite reaching the heights of those early Lady Techster teams.

Mulkey showed a tremendous amount of class as her Lady Bears defeated the Matriarch of women's basketball, Pat Summit and the Lady Volunteers. The moment was the passing of the torch in many ways.

Unfortunately for those of us in northwest Louisiana, that torch will reside in Waco, Texas, not Ruston.

May the Blog Be With You.