Maya Moore

For all this Meghan Cunningham talk I often fail to talk about Maya Moore.

Maya Moore is one of my all-time favorite athletes. I mean like Michael Jordan, Emmitt Smith level. I am completely biased because I had the privilege of being able to speak with her.

What everyone notices when they get the chance to speak with Maya Moore is that she is a better person than basketball player. That's why she's one of my favorite all-time athletes.

It goes without saying how good she is at basketball.

My family (entire family...which doesn't usually watch sports) has begun to enjoy watching the UConn Women's Basketball team because I go to UConn and because of Maya Moore. They may not always be able to remember her name (part of that has to do with their age...just kidding) but they know her face and achievements. They always remember seeing how great she is on the court...and they enjoy listening to her speak in interviews because she sounds really nice and really intelligent. Both of which are true.

Whenever someone brings up Maya Moore I can't help but mention that her GPA is much higher than mine...around a 3.7 at last check...and that she is extremely humble, down to earth and nice. What's funny is that in my family, that's all they seem to really care about hearing. The stats don't really matter as much. It's the fact that she is a great person.

Realistically, that's what should matter.

I'm amazed that my family can talk...and actually bring up...the women's basketball team to me. I have such a big mouth. Usually I'm the one who brings up sports, but not when it comes to UConn women's basketball. It's always them. My grandpa in Florida, My aunts and uncles...they all know about Maya Moore and the teams success...even though they don't live in Connecticut. They called me to tell me how much they enjoyed watching the women play, and how amazing it was for them to go undefeated and win all their games by 10 or more points. They often repeat that to me as if they want me to say that it's just a dream...but it's not...even my grandma, who could care less about sports, is impressed by the team when they are on the news. She may even watch a game or two but not admit it to me.

My family will walk up to my game room and see some sports posters from all of UConn's teams...Michael Jordan posters...Emmitt Smith posters etc...But they see the UConn Women's Basketball posters and they point to them and go "that's my team" and "Those girls were so good this year."

It's a relief to me that, sometimes, occasionally, I don't always have to shoulder the burden of starting a conversation about sports.