Tribute to Betty Jaynes, Part 3: Rockin' The Boat

(Guru note: The regular game report is below this blog.

By Mel Greenberg

At the suggestion of Beth Bass, the top executive of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association assisting with the Guru's tribute package to WBCA founder Betty Jaynes, who died Monday, the Guru on Wednesday caught up with WNBA Indiana Fever assistant coach Mickie DeMoss, who is credited with giving Jaynes the fabled "Jump Shot" nickname the Guru wrote about in Part 1, which is not far below this latest addition.

As for the nickname, DeMoss pretty much reported what the Guru had posted from Beth.

But she had another story as part of the deal involving the boat.

It is ironic in a quote you will soon see in that Jaynes was a life vest for the future careers of many coaches and their salaries besides the survival of Title IX.

But as DeMoss tells it:

"If that boat was new one time, I never saw it that way," DeMoss laughed. "That thing had so many dents and dings in it.

"She loved it but if you were going on that thing with Betty, rule one was bring a life vest.

"She had nickname for me. At some point she started calling me 'Mick-a-roo.'

"And when she would call me that I knew what was following was she wanted somehing -- little things, big things.

"On the boat, 'Mick-a-roo' fix the back of my chair. 'Mick-a-roo.' I need this.' It would get tiresome at times but it was all in good fun. We loved her and I'm really going to miss her."

Meanwhile, a few more tributes have come in.

Grentz tribute Former Immaculata star Theresa Grentz, who later became a successful coach at St. Joe's, Rutgers and Illinois, and now runs her own coaching academy, went way back to the early days with Betty and had this to offer:

The passing of a dear friend is never easy.

However, it is at those moments when we pause for a second from our busy lives and recall the memories of a lifetime with those who remain behind. We laugh as we recall the funny times, we admire and salute our sister for her efforts to advance the game of women's basketball, and we feel the warm tears form at the corner of our eyes as we remember this wonderful lady and what her friendship meant to each of us.

Betty Jaynes was a friend with a smile and a heart for all. Her journey on this earth is now complete and she has certainly earned her reward with her Lord and Savior.

Betty "Jump Shot" Jaynes will be missed.

God bless you friend, you are so loved.

Rest in Peace,

Theresa Grentz

And from Rick Nixon of the NCAA:

“One of the true pioneers in women’s basketball, Betty was a true friend to all she met and will be deeply missed.

" Amongst all of her other career accomplishments, she was also the first women’s bracketologist as well.

" She participated in almost everyone one of our “mock” selection exercises we had at the NCAA national office, whether it was for the media, coaches, or both and could have run the selection, seeding and bracketing process if we had asked her. She knew the sport inside and out.”

Rick Nixon
Associate Director, Championships and Alliances

As the Guru has said in the first two parts:

More to come.

-- Mel








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