Vols’ Foes Find Nothing Meek About Her Play Holdsclaw May Be A Little Quiet, But She’s Devastating On The Court

The great philosopher, Yogi Berra, once noted that a New York restaurant had become so popular that “nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” Tennessee forward Chamique Holdsclaw might find herself wishing for that soon enough.

Holdsclaw is making a name for herself, even beyond the cozy confines of women’s basketball. Her resplendent play in leading the two-time defending champion Vols on an unbeaten course heading into this weekend’s Final Four in Kansas City, Mo., is drawing comparisons to some of the greatest to play the women’s game.

And the fact that Holdsclaw wears the number 23 and seems to have the ability to take over a game at her own whim, makes some wonder if she is, in fact, the women’s answer to Michael Jordan.

That’s all well and good, except that Holdsclaw, whose nickname “Meek” reflects the last syllable of her name as well as her off-court demeanor, is a little uncomfortable with the adulation.

All of a sudden, Holdsclaw’s all over the place, from magazines to documentaries. For goodness sake, comedienne Sandra Bernhard is wearing her jersey in those ESPN promos.

And Knoxville, where fans have been known to be blase about anything that isn’t Tennessee football, has become “Chamique Nation.” Holdsclaw signed autographs for 2-1/2 hours after a game one night and was criticized for not signing more.

Holdsclaw needed a police escort to get out of Thompson-Boling Arena to her car after the Vols defeated Connecticut in January. And then there was the male fan who asked her to sign his back.

“It’s kind of like being in a rock group,” said Holdsclaw earlier this week. “Everyone’s kind of stalking me. I can honestly say what the last few years have been like for (Tennessee quarterback) Peyton Manning.

“Whenever I go to the mall, there’s a line for me to sign autographs. Ace (guard Kristin Clement) and I go to the mall, and she just kind of leaves me to go shopping, and I go to the Gap and watch the line come. It’s just weird.”

It’s Holdsclaw’s play that has generated this attention. A 6-foot-2 junior from Astoria, N.Y., she has the height and strength to play in the low post, but can also handle the ball and shoot like a guard. She has led the Vols in scoring and rebounding her first three years and is poised, barring injury, to join Cheryl Miller, Ann Meyers and Lynnette Woodard as the only four-time Kodak All-Americans.

“If there was one player over the last 10 years that I could honestly say, ‘Now that kid reminds me of me,’ it’s Holdsclaw,” said Miller. “She’s the whole package. She’s got handles, she can shoot, she can pass and she’s a great defender. Plus, she has a little bit of a flair to her, and you know me. I love flair. I think she’s sensational.”

Said Illinois coach Theresa Grentz: “You look at the great ones - Ann Meyers, Carol Blazejowski, Cheryl Miller, Lynnette Woodard - and Chamique’s really in that group. She and Miller, they have style.”

If anything, Holdsclaw has made herself better this season. Last year, she excelled at scoring in the half-court set. This year, her coach, Pat Summitt, challenged her to expand her game.

“I think she’s the best. I’ve said that all along this year,” said Summitt. “Before this year, no. I don’t think she was committed to running the floor, her defense was average and her running was below average. She’s improved, according to that.”

This summer, Holdsclaw will be the only college player on the United States World Championship team, playing in Frankfurt, Germany. She could be the first women’s player to earn $1 million a year and the first to leave college early for a professional career - she has received a number of entreaties from agents, which she has refused.

The ABL and WNBA have policies against taking underclassmen, but that could change if Holdsclaw makes herself available.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Today on TV ESPN: Louisiana Tech (30-3) vs. N.C. State (25-6), 4 p.m.; Arkansas (22-10) vs. Tennessee (37-0), 30 minutes later