Coop Discusses Joining the Basketball Hall of Fame
Cynthia Cooper, new head coach at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, appeared on KCOH 1430 AM's Sports Rap show Monday evening with host Ralph Cooper to discuss her induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball of Fame.
During the interview, in addition to discussing the honor of joining a distinguished group of people, Coop also discusses her time as part of the WNBA's first dynasty -- the Houston Comets. Coop said the fans (the 'Sea of Red' was "fire that pushed the team".
"I'm excited. I'm overjoyed. I'm honored. It's been amazing," said the Hall-of-Famer.
Coop added, "And, I know Tina Thompson just broke the WNBA's all-time scoring record held by Lisa Leslie; so, us old Comets, we're still in there hanging around and; we're doing big things."
Next, Coop talked about the winning experiences she enjoyed starting in high school.
"Ever since I started playing basketball, and really since I started participating in sports, I've always been about winning. It's always been important to me to be the best possible athlete that I can be so my team can be successful.
"From my high school championship with Locke High School. Shout out to the Locke High School Saints. I won two National Championships with USC. Shout out to the Trojans; and, of course, overseas with various teams. I spent 10 years in Italy. Eight years with the same team."
Listen to the remainder of the interview.
One of my favorite comments from Coop during the interview was about her time with the Comets:
"I enjoyed myself so much I can't stand it. It was such a pleasure. It was my pleasure to play for the Houston Comets because when you went into the Compaq Center and you saw the 'Sea of Red'. The 16-17,000 fans on their feet yelling 'MVP! MVP!' It still brings tears to my eyes. It still gives me chills because it was an amazing moment. It was a moment that I'll never forget because the fans in Houston came out in droves to support us. It's special. It's a special moment that will remain with me forever."
During the interview, in addition to discussing the honor of joining a distinguished group of people, Coop also discusses her time as part of the WNBA's first dynasty -- the Houston Comets. Coop said the fans (the 'Sea of Red' was "fire that pushed the team".
"I'm excited. I'm overjoyed. I'm honored. It's been amazing," said the Hall-of-Famer.
Coop added, "And, I know Tina Thompson just broke the WNBA's all-time scoring record held by Lisa Leslie; so, us old Comets, we're still in there hanging around and; we're doing big things."
Next, Coop talked about the winning experiences she enjoyed starting in high school.
"Ever since I started playing basketball, and really since I started participating in sports, I've always been about winning. It's always been important to me to be the best possible athlete that I can be so my team can be successful.
"From my high school championship with Locke High School. Shout out to the Locke High School Saints. I won two National Championships with USC. Shout out to the Trojans; and, of course, overseas with various teams. I spent 10 years in Italy. Eight years with the same team."
Listen to the remainder of the interview.
One of my favorite comments from Coop during the interview was about her time with the Comets:
"I enjoyed myself so much I can't stand it. It was such a pleasure. It was my pleasure to play for the Houston Comets because when you went into the Compaq Center and you saw the 'Sea of Red'. The 16-17,000 fans on their feet yelling 'MVP! MVP!' It still brings tears to my eyes. It still gives me chills because it was an amazing moment. It was a moment that I'll never forget because the fans in Houston came out in droves to support us. It's special. It's a special moment that will remain with me forever."
posted by Kris Gardner @ 9:11 PM
6 Comments:
At Tue Aug 10, 01:03:00 PM CDT,
Anonymous said…
thank you
At Wed Aug 11, 09:18:00 PM CDT,
SORF said…
As I look back on the tenure of the Houston Comets, the best times were at the Compaq Center. That special "spirit" never transferred to the Toyota Center. And the move to the Astro Arena was like being kicked to the street...never the same.
To Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson, Janeth Arcain, Van Chancellor and the coaching staff, and the Comets teams of 1997 to 2002, thanks for the great memories at Compaq Center. And a special thank you to Kris too for giving us a place where we could talk about "our Comets".
And, congratulations to Cynthia Cooper-Dyke for being the first WNBA player to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame...another Comets' first for the WNBA.
Coop, keep "raising that roof"!
At Wed Aug 11, 09:30:00 PM CDT,
Kris Gardner said…
Coop isn't the first WNBA player to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Lynette Woodard is the first. Lynette played with the Cleveland Rockers; and, her basketball career was outstanding in college at Kansas as well as with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Mel Greenberg, "The Guru", pointed out this clarification a few days ago.
SORF, you're very welcome for the opportunity to share your thoughts on the Comets. The HRR's message board USED to be a very popular hangout.
At Wed Aug 11, 09:30:00 PM CDT,
SORF said…
Oh, one more thing, I loved the interview that you and Ralph did with CC-D. And, I think it was a shame that local media did not include the Houston Comets as the one of the top 10 sport moments in Houston. How can you not consider losing a team mate to cancer a few days before the playoffs and then winning the 3rd championship (in a row) in her honor as one of the top 10 Houston great sport moments? And Coop running into the crowd with Kim's jersey...hmmmm?
At Wed Aug 11, 09:33:00 PM CDT,
SORF said…
I thought Woodard played in the WNBA after she was already in the Basketball Hall of Fame?
At Wed Aug 11, 09:55:00 PM CDT,
Kris Gardner said…
Woodard was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004. She played with the Rockers in 1997.
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