Fifty years ago, Paul Harvey was on the radio five days a week with a program called, “The Rest of the Story.”
He would tell a simple story, take a pause, and then explain how this little tale contributed to remarkable events. He would finish each broadcast with the line, “And now you know the rest of the story.”
Here is my version.
On Sunday I watched Jaden Ivey, my new favorite Purdue basketball player, take apart a very good Villanova team after doing the exact same thing to North Carolina the day before. Both of those historically great teams were undefeated until they were “Jaden-ized” with a few minutes of Michael Jordan-type basketball.
Three hours later, I watched Jaden’s mom, head coach Niele Ivey, lead her Notre Dame women’s basketball team to an easy blowout win. The score was not important, but the quality of the passing and teamwork defense was. The Irish may have struggled in her first season as coach, the Covid year, but it looks like Notre Dame will ascend to the top, again.
Niele was an all-American and Naismith Award winner two decades ago at Notre Dame and played five years in the WNBA. Both she and Jaden could be considered heroes.
But, as they say, they are simply “chips off the old block.” The real heroes were, in this case, Tom and Theresa Ivey.
Who? Well, here is the rest of the story:
After Notre Dame won its first national women’s basketball championship on April 1, 2001, I had the opportunity to write a book about it. As part of the research for “Nice Girls Finish First,” I talked with all the players and coaches. In addition, I decided to talk to Ivey’s parents. In person.
So, here I was, a middle-aged white guy, in East St. Louis, Illinois. At the time, East St. Louis had a population that was more than 95 percent Black with a reputation similar to the south side of Chicago – gangs, poverty and despair.
It did not feel like a great day to be in that place.
Sucking up my guts and hoping I was at the right house, I knocked on the door and was met by Niele’s mom, Theresa, and her older brother, Cedric. Both had smiles as wide as the freeway I had just crossed.
In my sports writing career, I had hundreds of highs. This interview was among the top five.
I learned Niele’s success was the result of the efforts of two very determined parents to give their daughter, and her four brothers, the best they had. Five kids, three bedrooms, bad part of town. I was, and still am, amazed at that stat line.
As we talked, I found her mom and brother to be articulate, funny, proud, kind, trusting and more. Just like my own, white parents. Lesson learned.
In the book I talk about how Theresa and husband Tom double-teamed (emphasis on team) their family and tried to keep them from going “the other way.” Tom worked hard to keep the family afloat and Theresa had “fierce pride in her family.” Together, that kept the family on track in an area where tracks are not easy to find.
I can tell you that Niele has become an inspiration to thousands of young women and at least one young Purdue basketball player.
At the time of the interview, I did not know that Niele was pregnant. I’m not sure they did, either. And I am sure that no one knew that just 20 years later, her son Jaden and Michael Jordan would be used in the same sentence.
But I just did.
So, here is the bottom line. Niele and Jaden, while heroes in their own right, owe a lot to Tom, Theresa and Niele’s brothers. As I watch this basketball season unfold, I recognize I am watching the success of at least THREE generations of heroes.
Heroes don’t always win games and rarely earn national championships. They’re often the ones who put winners on the right path. They help the next generation see, feel, and taste success.
The real heroes sometimes live in small houses and fill them with love and hope.
Who could ask for more?
As a former sportswriter, I rarely cheer for any team. I’ve seen the insides of programs and watched how we make athletes into heroes one week and tear them down the next.
However, I might just let out a peep or two when Jaden Ivey turns it on against Michigan. Or when his mom’s team beats dreaded UConn.
I’ll be applauding their work but just as much for Theresa and Tom. Their heroics were long-term, not depending on the bounce of a ball.
And now you know the rest of the story.