I am in the sports psychology business and tonight was one of those special nights.
Championships were decided in two sports within seconds of each other.
In Oklahoma City, the University of Arizona Wildcats won their eighth national championship, behind the gritty pitching of the symbol of championship mind, a Corona lady by the name of Taryne Mowatt. Today, Taryne is the talk of women's softball.
In Anaheim, California, the Anaheim Ducks, once the Mighty Ducks, won the very first Stanley Cup ever in the state of California.
But I am a sucker for the ladies and have been following the women's game passionately, since helping a player on the ASU team in the 1994 season.
Coming into this World Series, I had no interest in any particular team.
Actually, that's not true.
I was inclined to root against the Arizona Wildcats.
After all, they had won seven national championships and had won the year before.
Tennessee, one of my basketball favorites, hadn't won a single championship and had a senior pitcher, Monica Abbott, who was the college player of the year in 2007.
I was determined to remain objective, but I had sneaked a peek the week before when I saw Mowatt pitch for the first time in the qualifier to the Series.
In the very first inning, the Lady Wildcats went down 5-0 and lost their All American CF who slammed into the fence chasing a fly ball, broke her nose and would be lost for the team for the rest of the weekend.
Yet, Arizona came back to win.
Witnessing that championship heart, I wondered if Arizona had enough to go all the way or would they leave their energy in Tuscon.
You had to like Tennessee's chances when they beat Arizona and bounced the Wilscats into the loser's bracket.
And still the Arizona ladies wouldn't qyuit.
They came out of the loser's bracket and miraculously, joined Tennessee in the championship final (best two out of 3).
And what did the Cats do in game one?
Of course, they lost again.
This team knew how to paint themselves into a corner.
What's more important, the champions that they were and would become again, they knew how to get out of that corner.
Going into game 2 of the championship round, Arizona hadn't scored a single run against prized Tennessee lefty Monica Abbott.
She had shut them out 1-0 and 3-0.
In fact, Abbott hadn't given up a run in winning four straight games.
So what chance did Arizona have.
They scored one run against Abbott in the second championship game.
It came in the 10th inning.
It was the only run of the game.
The Wildcats won 1-0.
Mowatt escaped trouble all night long.
But she wouldn't cave in.
The heart of a champion.
So, now it was one game for the national championship.
Arizona had won seven previously.
Tennessee had won several in basketball, but zero in softball.
But I was hooked on Taryne and like a fool, could not get free.
Finally, Arizona exploded and solved Abbott.
It took them four games to get to the superstar.
When the dust had lifted, they led 5-0.
It was more than Taryne needed and the Wildcats had their 8th national title.
Once again, Mowatt had pitched herself out of countless jams.
Bases loaded. Two on, none out. Two on, one out.
You name it, Taryne pitched out of it.
She pitched 8 games in seven days.
And when it was all over, she was the last pitcher standing.
I teach others how to radiate in the spotlight and show the championship heart they have within them to take over games and reach their true potential.
Watching Taryne Mowatt for a week in Oklahoma City, I realized I couldn't teach her a thing.
Not a single thing.
Taryne has it all.
Enjoy your national championship and MVP title, Taryne.
Probably more than any player in the history of college softball, you earned it.
Wow, did you earn it.
Hockey?
Did somebody win a hockey game tonight?
I guess so, but my eyes were fixed on a young woman and her team who would never give in.
In the end, their persistence earned them a championship and it is one I will never forget.
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