Rebecca Lobo recently had reconstructive knee surgery for the second time on the same knee. Tennessee's Kyra Elzy has had two knee surgeries. Connecticut basketball star Shea Ralph has had two knee surgeries. Katie Smrcka-Duffy of Georgetown has had two knee surgeries, two ankle surgeries, and back problems. I don't want us to get that inured to female pain and injury.
Basketball is almost too much fun.
Lobo declined my request to discuss it. Three of Lobo's teammates also had knee surgery in 1999. Kym Hampton, for example, was plagued by knee trouble during the season, and it hindered her minutes, so after the season, she's having surgery to address the situation. Right before our adoring eyes, as we sit there in the stands or at home on our couches, cheering them on, these women are falling down and sometimes breaking in ways that can't necessarily be fixed. Tammi Blackstone, a senior at Drake, has congenitally misaligned kneecaps.