COLUMN: Caitlin Clark

This is a great American success story playing out in real time.

The subject of the story is a young lady taking her profession-to-be by storm.

Open the dictionary to dedication and there ought to be a picture of Caitlin Clark, the University of Iowa basketball player who has scored more points in her already legendary college career than anyone...male or female….who has ever played the game.

In a recent game toward the end of the regular season, this three-point shot machine sank a lonely free throw that crowned her queen of the basketball world.

The shot moved her past former University of Washington star Kelsey Plum, who led the nation in scoring her senior year for the Lady Huskies and is now one of the top players in the WNBA.

Clark is a living inspiration to young ladies everywhere. She mostly quietly goes about the job at hand, becoming the best player possible. She does so with a gracious, humble approach.

She’s good, and she knows it. She doesn’t need to self-promote. Her efforts and dedication have led the Iowa team to a number overall seed in the now underway Women’s NCAA National Championship tournament.

Clark is a threat from anywhere on the court when it comes to scoring. She has averaged more than 28 points per game over her four seasons of college ball, good for more than 3,780 points.

The former all-time scoring leader, Pistol Pete Maravich is now technically second on the list. Maravich scored 3,667 points during his three seasons with Louisiana State from 1967-70, playing in 83 games during that span. He averaged 44.2 points per game during the time before there was a three-point shot and when freshmen could not play varsity sports.

But Clark, who is still adding to her record during the post-season tournament, scored more points in her career than Maravich.

It’s in many ways an apple and oranges comparison. While both categories are indeed basketball, there are many well-debated differences in the two levels of sports such as basketball.

None-the-less, Clark, who has become a fan favorite not just in Iowa but throughout the country, reached a scoring total only she has achieved.

Every girl in Sanders, Mineral and the rest of the counties in Big Sky Country, has a true role model in their corner.

You can hear the pickup game chants of “I’m Caitlin Clark” ringing from the sideline choosing rituals. Clark jerseys are sprouting up everywhere.

And the energy she brings to a game is something every girl who plays the game no doubt wishes she possessed.

That is the point behind having a hero to root for. All too often those heroes are loud-mouthed, self-absorbed egos in tennis shoes.

Clark is none of that. She is gracious in rare defeats, always complimenting the opposition.

And at the same time, she has what one basketball guru once said about men’s Hall of Famer Larry Bird...the eyes of an assassin when the ball is in her hands.

Bird used to walk into the all-star game locker room prior to the three-point shooting competition and ask the other entrants, “which one of you is playing for second”.

Barring unforeseen injuries, Clark will enjoy an amazing career at the next level. She will likely retire years from now with a few Olympic Gold medals hanging around her neck.

And on basketball courts across the land, little girls will be watching and cheering.