Monday was a special day a day of celebration for the WNBA Champion Minnesota Lynx. Since 1978, I have covered sports with great distinction in this town, and days like Monday are rare indeed, the community coming together to celebrate being number one. It does not happen often; winning is easier said than done.
The Twins, led by the late Kirby Puckett, brought home championships in 1987 and 1991, and the Lynx in 2011 won it all the first time. As they say, that’s all folks. The Vikings since 1960, the NFL North Stars, now the Wild in the NHL and the NBA Timberwolves have all failed to be number one.
How hard is it? It’s not easy. It may look easy, but winning — I mean really winning like what this team achieved — is rare indeed.
That’s what makes the accomplishment, the journey, and of course the celebration so sweet. What this team has achieved is remarkable: 99 wins in three years and three straight trips to the WNBA Finals. And two
WNBA titles in three years are matched only by the San Francisco Giants of MLB and the NBA Miami Heat.
It’s inspiring to see the many thousands of young and old, Black and White, during a Tea Party-Republican-induced shutdown of government line the streets and revel in the moment to honor what being a champion is all about. Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson, Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore, Janel McCarville, Monica Wright, Devereaux Peters — they are the heart and soul of Head Coach Cheryl Reeve’s team.
Going 7-0 in the playoffs has been achieved only once before in the WNBA playoffs by the 2010 Seattle Storm. This team has made its mark on the record books. To see the genuine love and respect they have for one another is satisfying. Because that’s what winning is about.
Thanks, Minnesota Lynx. When you win, you allow us all as a community to glow in your spotlight. Truly a job well done.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday-Friday at 12:17 pm and 4:17 pm, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.
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