Just Like Jimmer

Why does this fascination with Caitlin Clark look familiar? We saw it all before from Jimmer.

First Things First» Everywhere he went he was packing arenas, drawing tens of thousands of fans who held up “Jimmer Will You Marry Me” posters even at away games. When Jimmer Fredette was playing at BYU in mountainous Provo, Utah, fans and students would form a line in the snow, all the way around the 22,000-seat Marriott Center days in advance for tickets—a tradition that continues to this day, though maybe not as maniacal in scope. 

» Although things seem to be back to what they were back in 2011 when Krispy Kreme wasn't just a donut but a popular YouTube rapper, Caitlinsanity is looking a lot like Jimmermania. 

Only one college basketball player was so generational and wholesome that kids wanted to be like Jimmer back in the early 2010s. Enter Caitlin Clark, the Iowa guard who has taken this country by storm with her no-look passes and range like, well, Jimmer, frankly. [This lookalike will give you an idea as to the sheer magnitude of Caitlinsanity we’re witnessing.]

Side note» Yes, we in Utah have seen this movie before, thanks. [And listened to the “Teach Me How To Jimmer” song.] That doesn't mean this is any less special for Caitlin Clark to be captivating and uniting these states of America from sea to shining sea, from the purple mountain majesties above some fruited gated communities on the plains where kids be hoopin’, as they drop 30-foot jumpers from the logo in their suburban driveways. 

There are subtle differences between the two though. Clark probably won’t have her own reality show that follows her around before the WNBA Draft.

Times have changed enough P.J. [post-Jimmer] over the past 12 years that Jimmer, who’s been there, done that with his entourage following him around for years, is now competing for Team USA in the Summer Olympics in 3v3 basketball [I’m not sure why they call it 3x3 but it is what it is].

Although Clark is not necessarily a shoo-in to make the women's team in Paris in 5-on-5, she is listed on the training camp roster of American hopefuls for the Summer Olympics. 

In this article, I offer five reasons you can compare Jimmermania to Caitlinsanity: