ShareThisCourtney Paris looked horrified as the television commentator set up the famous footage.
"Oh, my gosh," she said, eyes wide.
Her national-title promise?
Her money-back guarantee?
Nope.
What put the Oklahoma superstar on edge during the NCAA Tournament selection show Monday was the statement made by another Paris. Turns out, she isn't the only one in the family making bold statements.
Her father, Bubba, was interviewed recently by ESPN for its celebration of Women's History Month. He talked about his twin daughters, about how Courtney and Ashley inspire him.
But the former NFL lineman was asked, too, about this Sooner squad.
"This is their year," Bubba Paris said. "And let me be clear about this again - my daughters have contributed. They've helped them recruit great players. They've brought in good people."
But wait, there's more.
Bubba moved to the edge of his seat and looked right into the camera.
"If they don't win this year," he said, his volume rising, "it's your fault, Sherri Coale."
His voice boomed, and his eyes danced.
"Take those great players and win with them. I said it, yes I did."
Like father, like daughter, huh?
Daddy Paris is a motivational speaker and an ordained minister, so he knows what it takes to get someone's attention. But in this case, it looked like he was joking around a bit.
"Sure, and if you know my dad's personality, you know that," Courtney Paris said. "He's a joker. He does that kind of stuff."
I'm not sure Sherri Coale took it as a joke.
Asked about it after the Sooners' practice Thursday, she paused uncharacteristically for nearly five seconds before answering.
"I don't think it matters," she said finally. "I don't think it matters at all. I think what we have to focus on is, what do we believe and what can we get done.
"I think the only appropriate thing for us to do is move forward."
But didn't it sound like Bubba was just having some fun?
"I don't think it matters," Coale said again.
Thing is, I believed it didn't matter before Coale started saying it.
Now, not so much.
Oh, the truth is, what Bubba Paris said really doesn't matter in the grand scheme. The Sooners aren't going to win or lose in the NCAA Tournament because of something that was said in an interview or even a Senior Night speech. Their fate lies in how well they take care of the ball, how well they shoot it and how well their superstar plays.
But after Coale's reaction, I got the feeling what Daddy Paris said did matter to her.
Perhaps it touched a nerve.
Coale, after all, has had the Paris twins at her disposal for three years, and still, the Sooners have failed to make it past the Sweet 16. That's right - the Sooners have never even made it to the Elite Eight in the Paris era, much less the Final Four.
That would be hard for any competitor to stomach, and rest assured, Coale is as fierce and feisty a competitor as they come.
She wants to win badly.
And by her reaction to Bubba Paris, it looks as though Coale feels some pressure. It's not coming from her bosses or her boosters. It's coming from herself. Even though her standing as the most popular woman in the state is secure regardless of what happens, she knows that if the Sooners fall short of their lofty goals this March, part of the blame will be hers.
That's a harsh but true reality.
What's more, Bubba Paris didn't have to say it for Sherri Coale to know it.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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