By Mel Greenberg
Crossing Paths – I: The selection of Maryland senior Crystal Langhorne of Willingboro, N.J., by the WNBA Washington Mystics in last week’s draft reunites for the moment two former prominent Philadelphia Belles AAU stars.
Gillian Goring was drafted a year ago out of North Carolina State after a sort of gypsy career caused in part by academics.
She was originally headed for Connecticut but didn’t meet NCAA eligibility standards and gravitated to a junior college from which she ultimately moved on to be productive for Kay Yow with the Wolfpack.
Langhorne, who has been cited for her academic success besides her work on the court that made her the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, had also been recruited by Connecticut but joined Belles teammate Laura Harper of Cheltenham High in signing with the Terrapins. The duo, of course, gave Maryland an NCAA title in 2006.
Crossing Paths – II: During the Villanova golden season of 2003 that featured the Wildcats reaching the NCAA Elite Eight and ending Connecticut’s record 70-game win streak in the Big East championship, Harry Perretta’s group recorded two upset wins of Colorado, including one in the Sweet 16 by a score of 53-51.
The Buffs, as the sixth seed, upset No. 3 North Carolina to advance to the Sweet 16.
The Guru covered that ‘Nova-Colorado contest in Knoxville and one of the Colorado stars was a three-point shooting guard out Warwick, R.I. who had nine points and six rebounds in the NCAA contest.
Kate Fagan went on to play a season with the winter pro-league Colorado Chill but then moved on to journalism.
Most recently, she has been at Glens Falls, N.Y. and also reviewed Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer’s new memoir for the Inquirer Book Section.
On Wednesday, Kate became a Sports Department hire primarily covering South Jersey high schools, making her, unlike the Guru, someone who actually played the sport.
It also means that this is the last we’ll comment on her career to avoid conflict of interest issues now that she is a colleague. But we will add she was also an academic star in the Big 12 and with that we’ll leave it up to the Guru's colleagues in the Big 12 to write any further reference as needed.
Remembering Randy: The Guru was shocked by the news Monday of the sudden death of Manchester (Conn.) Journal Inquirer sports editor and columnist Randy Smith.
Our paths first crossed in 1995 as the Connecticut women rose to prominence and won their first NCAA title. Although he covered all sports in the Nutmeg State, he was a women’s hoops fan and was a delight to be around – especially when he had differences of opinions with UConn coach Geno Auriemma.
Just recently he asked the Guru if he thought that Renee Montgomery was better than Sue Bird when she played for the Huskies.
The Guru asked where did that observation come from.
Randy simply nodded in Auriemma’s direction and smiled without further comment.
Other Notes: Temple’s Lady Comfort did not get drafted but on Wednesday she signed a free-agent rookie contract with the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks.
That’s the same team that made Tennessee junior Candace Parker the overall No. 1 draft pick last week.
Last winter after the Phoenix Mercury won the WNBA title, general manager Ann Meyers Drysdale , anticipating grabbing a post player in the draft, had quietly hoped Tennessee’s Nicky Anosike would be around since she didn’t think she would have a chance at the bottom of the first round to grab North Carolina’s Erlana Larkins.
As it evolved, both were still up for pickings, but Phoenix went instead for another Tar Heel – LaToya Pringle, whose stock began to rise substantially soon after that conversation had occurred.
The Guru will cut it short by noting for those who inquirered that he will celebrate his decades-ago arrival on the planet Wednesday by going to the St. Joseph’s postseason dinner.
-- Mel
Philly.com discussions are intended to be civil, friendly conversations. Please treat other participants with respect and in a way that you would want to be treated. You are responsible for what you say. And please, stay on topic.
These boards are monitored by Philly.com staff. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. Personal attacks, especially on other board participants, are not permitted. We reserve the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions.