Author: mouthofthemidwest.com

A great coach who guided a mystical group of women to incredible heights! Best of luck Coach Bluder! -Marty

Dear Hawkeye Nation:

It is with a range of emotions that I share with you today that I have decided to step down from leading the Iowa women’s basketball team after 24 memorable years. I informed President Wilson and Director of Athletics Beth Goetz of my decision and I am grateful for their unwavering support and offered them my assistance in any manner in the future.

It has been the honor of my career to be a part of the Iowa Hawkeye family, and to lead a women’s basketball program filled with so many talented and remarkable young women, who have gone on to do great things in their careers and, more importantly, in their lives. There is no denying that this past season was incredible for so many reasons, and we could not have accomplished our achievements without all of you. After the season ended, I spent time with our student-athletes and coaches reviewing the season and preparing those moving on for what comes next. With that also came personal contemplation about what this journey has meant to me, how to best champion this program, and what the future looks like for my family and me. After then taking some time away with my husband, David, it became clear to me that I am ready to step aside.

There is never an ideal time to retire and I am sure this fall that I will miss the games, the practices, the road trips, the atmosphere, the tremendous fans and, most importantly, the players. But my belief in the foundation of this program, knowing that success is now an unrelenting component of women’s basketball at the University of Iowa gives me comfort as I transition to become the program’s biggest champion.

I want to thank each and every young woman who believed in our program and in our values for nearly a quarter of a century, and who proudly wore the Black & Gold.

I want to thank Presidents Coleman, Skorton, Mason, Harreld and Wilson for their unequivocal support of our program and Directors of Athletics Dr. Christine Grant, Bob Bowlsby, Gary Barta and Beth Goetz for their unrelenting partnership.

I want to thank my assistant coaches and operations and support staff who each played an integral role in our journey. I specifically want to acknowledge the work of Jan Jensen and Jenni Fitzgerald whom I have had the pleasure of working alongside for the past 32 years. 

I want to thank the incredible fans for believing in what we were doing and how we were doing it, creating the greatest home court advantage in all of women’s basketball.

And finally, I want to thank David and our children, Hannah, Emma and David, Jr., for supporting me while I pursued my dreams and for their own sacrifices along the way.

It is my hope that now with more time and energy, I can be an asset to our basketball program and this athletics department in any way that I am able. 

With Love and Gratitude, Lisa Bluder, P. Sue Beckwith, MD, Head Women’s Basketball Coach

May 7, 1995. Madison Square Garden in New York. Reggie Miller torches the NY Knicks with 8 points in 9 seconds. The Indiana Pacers defeat the Knicks 107-105. Ah, playoff basketball right?

Last night, the defending Champions Denver Nuggets erupt for 8 points in 20 seconds right before halftime to stretch a 7 point lead to 15 and the Minnesota Timberwolves never recovered losing Game 4 and the series is now tied 2-2. I think the series might be Denver’s too!

When the smoke clears, we’ll probably realize Anthony Edwards is a legit superstar, but the T- Wolves are not Ready-for-Primetime just yet!

Tomorrow night on an Indian Reservation in Connecticut Caitlin Clark will officially begin her WNBA career. Clark and the Indiana Fever face the Connecticut Sun at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

In terms of context, the University of Connecticut is close by in Storrs; there are more cows than people.

But UConn is, and has been been, a sheer Basketball hotbed for a quarter century. The UConn men have won back-to-back National Championships.
And the Caitlin Clark debut has the locals scratching their heads.
If it’s big and it’s Basketball it has to be UConn…. But it’s not!

The Media List is dotted with National and International outlets — there is a Media “Waiting List”- and ESPN is airing the game as the World-wide Leader, right? Right!

The arena seats a little over 10,000 and they are creating a “ Standing Room Only “ and tickets you can actually sit in are off-the-charts.

Nike has its top executives in town (see Tiger Woods 1997 Masters for comparison.) In a word. Caitlin Clark in Gold.

Caitlin Clark’s publicity tour (her life) has got to be exhausting. Well, it’s about to ramp up a few more decibels as the Indiana Fever hit the East Coast for a couple of wildly anticipated games: Tuesday at the Connecticut Sun and a week from Saturday against the NY Liberty.

Why play her 32 minutes in a preseason game you ask? Because nearly 14,000 fans showed up for the game in Indianapolis.
NBA stars would NOT do it.

NY Rangers look unstoppable … appears like a sweep on the docket against a very solid Carolina Hurricane club.

Weekend Watch:
Golf: Wells Fargo leaderboard shaping up for a potential awesome Sunday final round. Taylor Moore could steal it after an interesting opening round on Thursday. Two bogey’s after the turn soiled what otherwise a solid round.

Our own Randy Bern fired an 82 at Bellerive in Saint Louis recently. Mind-numbing difficult is the staid old course in toney Town & Country, MO.

Bellerive opened 127 years ago in 1897; it’s one of the “Big 4” in Saint Louis.

Celtics bounce back… Florida Panthers are just better than the Boston Bruins. It just that simple.
It’ll be a make or break weekend for the Denver Nuggets. I say Minnesota in 6.

The Denver Nuggets pretty, little postseason picnic is being spoiled by one ant. The “Ant Man” Anthony Edwards.

Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves have yet to lose a playoff game so far this season. 6-0 and showing no signs of letting up.

The T-Wolves swept the Phoenix Suns in Round 1
and Edwards barely broke a sweat in two of the games with 15 and 13 points; so far vs. Denver he has hung 43 and 27 points on the bewildered Nuggets.

Along with teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, “The Big KAT,”the Wolves have served strong notice they are legit.

Things change, playoff fortunes can easily be dashed in a moment, yet
it’s not just how Minnesota is winning, but their collective drive and focus. Fade them at your own peril.

The Bruins and Panthers are 1-1 in their Eastern Conference playoff series… the B’s look beaten and expect a quick dismissal as in 4 games to 1. Florida is just simply better, tougher and poised to set up a potentially incredible matchup with the NY Rangers when the Broadway Blueshirts finish off the Carolina Hurricanes.

Caitlin Clark’s home state of Iowa will be treated to amazing television coverage this season. Affiliates in Iowa are grabbing an Indiana-based feed, essentially ensuring Iowans won’t miss an Indiana Fever game this year. Smart move and very profitable no doubt.

We’ll be in Connecticut next Tuesday, May 14th, as the Fever meet the Connecticut Sun in Clark’s WNBA debut.
Mike Gminski will co-host with me as the former NBAer and Duke All-American is a Monroe, CT native. “G-Man” has been a longtime college basketball analyst on CBS.

Tonight:
Garden Party Redux. Celtics comfortably.

Our “Daily” is Presented by Innovative Wellness in Clive, Iowa

Celtics! Off night for Jayson Tatum – by his/our standards …. However, Jaylen Brown was his “effective-self with a pro-functionary”
32 points.
C’s in a 120-95 waltz…

The Dallas Stars blew, squandered, relinquished or “anything you wanna”. call 3-0 lead last night and lost 4-3 to Colorado.
Our Hockey analyst Brock Hines was the first to weigh in with a nudge to his earlier reference of the Stars being “frauds.”
Hard to argue with that disaster ….

Hines appears tonight at 6:12p East on Sports Byline…

Tonight:
Pacers even things up with a nice bounce back performance.

Former Duke All-American Mike Gminski – decent NBA career as well- joins me live next Tuesday as Caitlin Clark debuts in Connecticut with the Indiana Fever meeting the Connecticut Sun….WNBA season-opener ….

One more tuneup for WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark before she makes her professional debut a week from tonight in Connecticut.
Clark and the Indiana Fever will open the 2024 season at the Mohegan Sun Arena against- appropriately enough- the Connecticut Sun.

Our WNBA guru at Sports Byline sees a “period of adjustment”
for Clark. Dominic Jimenez sees Clark adjusting to not only the “pro game” but the quick turnaround from her magical ride with the Iowa Hawkeyes and consecutive trips to the NCAA Championship game.

We go “Fever Pitch” with Clark and our coverage of her throughout the week on “Sports Overnight America” on Sports Byline.
Iowa affiliate KFJB in Marshalltown, Iowa.

The Boston Bruins know all about the rigors of quick turnarounds. The Bruins tamed the Florida Panthers 5-1 last night in Sunrise, Florida.
The B’s survived the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night to win that series 4-3.
5 different goal scorers land amazing goaltending by Jeremy Swayman propelled the Back & Gold.
This series has a long way to go. Leaning Florida still.

The Minnesota Timberwolves look stoppable – 106-80 last night; up 2-0 against defending champs Denver. Anthony Edwards and the “Big KAT” with 27 each!
Still dicey, but we picked em’.

The NY Knicks deserved to lose …. And Won!
On a roll and staying locked in to a game-by-game attack mode.

Tonight:
Celtics poised for a “Garden Party”… Tatum and Brown hosting. Cleveland will find themselves reeling….

Wow! What a weekend!
1- Kentucky Derby riveting! There should have been an inquiry just to dispel any doubt there was no infraction in the final strides of an epic finish. Mystik Dan guided to victory by jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. with a masterful ride along the rail.
Yet again, a Louisiana jockey steals the show In Louisville on the first Saturday in May.
And there will be those who will suspect some “pushing of the envelope.” Another words: Cheating!
Just sayin’

2- Kyle Larson wins the AdventHealth 400 at the Kansas Motor Speedway in a scintillating photo finish.

3-Donovan Mitchell said “not today” with his performance in the Cleveland Cavaliers Game 7 win over the Orlando Magic. He threw the Cavs on his back and showed what it means to “take over an NBA game.”

4- Dallas Stars & NY Rangers. They might just meet in the Stanley Cup Finals. Sunday they gave us, perhaps, a preview in separate games.

5-Listener Bill Kearbey roped me into a Sunday bike ride in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Our sojourn called for a lunch break at the amazing “Truman’s” on the fringe of the East Village of Iowa’s capitol city.
The place is incredible, clean and a virtual museum of the KC Chiefs.
The picture of QB Len Dawson sitting on the bench smoking a cigarette during a game is priceless and conjures up a question: Is it a Coke or a beer in the bottom on the ground before him?
Text answers to : 515-418-4423

Friday question about Mystical sports events?

Tim Tebow’s 3:16 game as the Denver Broncos beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 8, 2012.
If this game doesn’t define “Mystical” I don’t know what does??

Quote of the Day:
12- Step meeting Portland, Maine a woman who says she has beaten herself up for years. She had trouble forgiving herself.
Job after job, self-hatred and self-sabotage was her way of life until
…
“I put away the bat and picked up a feather.”

Perfect timing. Snapped on headset, ready to roll Saturday night 7p East, the 150th Kentucky Derby in a breath-taking finish as the radio show unfurled …
Mystik Dan by a …”half a nose!”
Sierra Leone and Forever Young in a blanket finish sorted out by a black & white photo.
Producer Daniel Ogden had to have put a few bucks down on his “Dan” namesake?!
Nope.

Trivia: There is one other great “Mystik or Mystical” sports correlation in history. Without Google — ask friends for sure —and see if you can come up with it.

Answer: Right here tomorrow.

Winners:
Bruins as “Pasta” delivers! David Pasternak responds to call out by coach Jim Montgomery.

T-Wolves. Anthony Edwards is a beast. 43 points last night, road win grabbing home court advantage away from the Nuggets. Our choice in West.

Today: Cavaliers. But they’ll work for it.
NY Rangers. They’ll let one in this series get away. Not today, however.
DALLAS STARS in the clincher.

Fast forward just shy of a fortnight, Boston vs. New York in a dream NBA Eastern Conference
Championship Series!
Well, we’ve got to tap the brakes as the Indiana Pacers will have a say in the proceedings.

The Pacers will relish their underdog role; in fact, they will thrive in it.
Tyrese Halliburton is an immense talent, very capable of throwing this team on his back. Remember, it’s a series – not a one game scenario.
Coach Rick Carlisle flys under the radar, his preparation and in-game coaching is prolific. Yet, it’s about the players, the execution and a some luck.
Halliburton v. Brunson and let the show begin.
Knicks in 7.

The Boston Bruins are gripping – again! Back-to-Back 2-1 losses and the Toronto Maple Leafs
are poised to make it a repeat of last year when the Bruins blew a 3-1 series lead to the Florida Panthers. Ugh. But we all saw this coming, right?
That said, the B’s have home ice and could easily grab an early lead in Game 7 and get the job done. I know… wishful thinking!

“Resilience” is the pick in tomorrow’s 150th Kentucky Derby. Owner Martin Wygod passed away last month and daughter Rebecca has taken over the reins. Just feels like something
special is in the air for an impressive syndicate.

Next. The Boston Celtics rudely dispatched the Miami Heat 4 games to 1 with a never-in-doubt thumping 118-84. After a head scratching loss in Game 2, the C’s snapped out of their collective malaise to send the Heat into vacation.

Derrick White had a masterful series and Coach Joe Mazzulla did his best coaching by just rolling out the ball. Essentially, he stayed out of the way. That won’t be the case moving forward. Cleveland presents some challenges: size, speed and streaks of hot shooting that could very well be problematic.
The C’s will need to mute the NY/Boston chatter; sure, it could and likely, will happen….but until then?
Work. Next.

Caitlin Clark has to be annoyed with this Olympic Basketball team nonsense. Her being left off the Women’s team is ridiculous. I’ll say this: she’ll be the most exciting player during the whole Paris tournament. Didn’t say the ‘best’ – most exciting!
You think Jennifer Rizzotti could shield her pro- UConn bias just a bit. Look, there is massive amounts of jealousy when it comes to CC. Some of the comments are laughable as Clark is an ATM with a heartbeat — and a helluva’ jump shot.
They should be rejoicing her stardom and her single-handily raising the awareness and pay scale of women’s sports.
Instead, snipping, back-biting and stupid comments about wether she deserves to be on the US Squad.

Today on the Show:
Derby talk with Dick Jerardi. Longtime Sportswriter and Horse Racing analyst.
6:40p Eastern

Mass (achusetts) Appeal: Sad to hear of the passing of retired New England sportswriter Bob York.
Concord, N.H. native cut his teeth in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida. He wrote a memorable piece on the death of Roberto Clemente while he covered the spring training of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
His coverage of the New England Prep School scene – Deerfield Academy & Northfield Mount Hermon- was unrivaled.
Class guy. Truly a “Knight of the Keyboard.”

Bruins going to make you sweat some more. Leafs tonight.

Nick at Night. Nurse and 76ers force a Game 7.