In the Tank for the Terps
Raiders Star Jordan Is No. 1 Fan of U-Md. Women's Basketball

By Kathy Orton
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, January 28, 2007

Oakland Raiders running back LaMont Jordan remembers the moment he first fell in love with women's basketball. It was 1994. He was watching television, flipping channels, when he came across the NCAA tournament championship game between Louisiana Tech and North Carolina.

"I watched [the Tar Heels'] Charlotte Smith hit the game-winner," Jordan said. "Just sitting there, watching that game and how good it was, I said, 'Wow.' "

From then on, he was hooked, and his passion for the game is channeled most directly in support of his alma mater. The New York Knicks have Spike Lee. The Los Angeles Lakers have Jack Nicholson. And the Maryland women's basketball team has LaMont Jordan.

Once the NFL season ends, Jordan, who played football at Maryland from 1997 to 2000, attends all the Terrapins' home games -- and several on the road -- cheering from his courtside seat. Such a physically imposing man leaping to his feet with unabashed glee is quite conspicuous amid the typical Comcast Center women's basketball crowd of what Athletics Director Debbie Yow calls "dads and daughters."

"Just to know that guys care about our sport and respect our sport, it means a lot to us," Maryland guard Shay Doron said. "He's like the biggest cheerleader. You always see him cheering, and that really helps us in games. I mean, he's a great person. Forget all he does for us. He's a great person, and we love having him around."

Jordan is not related to anyone associated with the team, nor is he romantically involved with any players. He became a full-fledged women's hoops junkie long before he arrived at Maryland. When he was a student at Suitland High School, the girls' basketball team needed a clock operator for a game, and Jordan volunteered.

"We won on a last-second shot, which could or could not be credited to me," he said slyly.

Jordan went from slow-fingered clock operator to team manager, beginning a long association with women's basketball that didn't end when he became a standout college running back. His junior year at Maryland, he drove to Greensboro, N.C., for the first of many ACC women's tournaments he would attend. When he is at the event, Jordan watches all the ACC teams, not just the Terrapins.

"I used to like watching [former North Carolina standout] Nikki Teasley. Oh man, she was awesome to watch," Jordan said. "Then as you come to the games, you start to see other teams. All of a sudden, you start saying, 'Hey, this player can play, that player can play.' Even though my team wasn't going to the NCAA tournament, I was still cheering for the ACC schools. Now, I wasn't rooting for them the way I was for my girls, but still."

His support for the Maryland program goes beyond clapping his hands and shouting encouragement from the sideline every time Doron takes a charge or Crystal Langhorne makes a layup.

Jordan gave the Terrapins a shout-out during player introductions on "Monday Night Football," an unprecedented and enormous publicity boost for a women's basketball team. His speeches at the ACC tournament have motivated and inspired the players, helping them end their losing streak to Duke last year. And his generosity has provided financial assistance for the program. Jordan donated $25,000 to the Maryland women's basketball program last year, and he plans to give more money in the future.

Some may wonder why an NFL player would spend his free time watching women's basketball. Most people assume it is because he is involved romantically with one of the players.

"A lot of people say, 'Oh, he does this because he's dating somebody on the team,' " Jordan said. "I tell people, 'Whatever.' A lot of people allow what other people are saying to discourage them from coming to watch the girls. It doesn't bother me. I'm like, 'Hey, this is my team.' This is what I like to do, and I'm not going to stop what I like to do just because other people say it's not the norm."

So why does Jordan watch women's basketball?

"You know what it is? The girls go out and they play, and they play hard," he said. "A lot of people say that it's boring to watch. I'm like: 'You know what? That's because it's not on ESPN. There's not a lot of money involved. You're not going to have dunks.' I told people, 'Find a team that you like.' With women's basketball, you have to have a team that you like and that you follow."

Jordan clearly has found a team that he likes, and they like him right back. He has become a big brother to the players, who view him with a mix of awe and admiration. The relationship the players have with Jordan is perhaps a window on where women's basketball fits on the sports landscape. They seem truly amazed that an NFL player can be their fan.

"It means so much because he's famous," Langhorne said. "To pay attention to us and to be such a dedicated fan, it really means a lot. He could be doing so many other things with his time. For him to always come and support us is really great. My freshman year, he had so much confidence in us. He just always believed in us. He's really our number one fan."

For all the time, effort and money he has put into Maryland women's basketball, Jordan gets as much out of it as he gives.

"It's the only time I'm allowed to be a fan," he said. "I take full advantage of it. I like sitting down there, screaming and yelling at the refs. I like to do things like that. This is my outlet. This is my time to get away from what I do, get away from professional sports and just be a fan. It helps me as an athlete. It helps me understand things from a fan's point of view. I love it."

At the team's holiday party recently, Maryland's players and coaches gave Jordan several gifts. The one he treasured most was a championship ring.

"He was really emotional, in tears," Coach Brenda Frese said. "He said that was the first ring he's ever received. It was special to receive it from his girls."

Jordan wears the ring everywhere these days. He is especially looking forward to showing it off when a certain ACC team comes to town today.

"I can't wait for Carolina to come here so I can ask [guard Ivory] Latta how her ACC championship ring feels," Jordan said. "And let her know that this national championship ring feels a lot better."