Jersey Girl... er, Guy

Okay, so here’s the deal. Everyone is partial to their own team’s jersey (unless you’re the Buffalo Banana-Slugs… I mean, the Sabres).

Logo inspired by UCSC

To give you a sense of what I like, compare the above design with a (in my mind superior) discarded design...

That thump you heard is a million Sabres fans who just hung themselves.

This is a subjective process. This is a small blog. No one really cares. It’s all in good fun. However, that said, there are a few things I look for in a Jersey.

1. Simplicity...

And Lo! God saw that it was good!

2. Overall Package...

Black and Gold are royal colors in the ‘Burgh

3. Classiness...

No one hates the Yankees more than me, but the Pinstripes? Faggedabahdit!

Thus, I will be judging on four criteria: Color Scheme (how the colors work together), Clarity (How it looks as one piece), Unique Qualities (something that makes the jersey stand out), and Intangibles (It could be awful, but a GOOD awful). All points are out of five. The Overall Score is out of 20, with all the scores combined.

0-3: An Abomination. Born of Demon’s minds and inked in human blood.
4-7: Pretty Bad. It brings shame on those who wear it.
8-11: Eh. Has some merit to it, but mainly for the hometown fans. Mediocre.
12-15: Solid Jersey. Strong visuals, good impressions. It speaks for itself.
16+ : Cream of the Crop. A Classic. Even I would wear one of these.

And here is the run-down…

CHICAGO SKY

Color Scheme: 1 – Puke Yellow and Powder Blue. UCLA manages it because of the decades of dominance and drug use by their supporters, but Chicago? Like my mom said about my clothes, I guess they'll just have to grow into it.

Clarity: 4 – Not a powerful jersey, but it’s definitely simple and to-the-point. Bravo.

Unique Qualities: 3 – See those buildings down the side? A nice touch, although it muddies up the clarity a bit.

Intangibles: 3 – Out of pity. Sorry the team is so bad. At least their uniforms are okay.

OVERALL: 11. It’s not as bad as the team that wears it, but then again, it pretty much couldn’t be.

CONNECTICUT SUN

Color Scheme: 5 – Hell yeah. A little white would have been nice, but the blue-gold-red look just looks GOOD.

Clarity: 4 – Despite the suns on the side of the jersey, this jersey looks fluid and strong.

Unique Qualities: 4 – Check out that sun at the side. Not only does it rock the whole Mohegan angle, but it’s as close to a logo as one can get without looking fugly.

Intangibles: 4 – Good jersey, but the Sun had an easier time creating something new, fun, and interesting as they were not basing it off of an NBA team.

OVERALL: 17. Very good stuff.

DETROIT SHOCK

Color Scheme: 2.5 - Yawn. It looks okay, but the red and blue could have been mixed better.

Clarity: 5 - Straight to the point. We wear this ‘cuz we have to. You want us to take it off? We’ll beat the snot outta anyway.

Unique Qualities: 3 - Nice lightning strike down the sides. It adds to the whole “Shock” thing, and looks good doing it. Some white would have been nice to accentuate it, though.

Intangibles: 3 - Solid jersey, but some white/red highlights would have gone a long way.

OVERALL: 13.5. Another solid jersey for the folks from the Mitten.

HOUSTON COMETS

Color Scheme: 4 - Red and White with blue trim. THAT is how it is done, Detroit.

Clarity: 4 – This would have been a 5 if it weren’t for those zillions of stars on the sides. Is this 3rd grade art class? Then why all the glitter?

Unique Qualities: 1 – The Stars. Ugh. Did someone sneeze while designing this?

Intangibles: 5 – I don’t know. This jersey just has a great look. It would’ve been so much better without the stars, though.

OVERALL: 14. Runs red like the blood in the veins of their eyes.

INDIANA FEVER

Color Scheme: 2 - Blue. And Red. And White. And Yellow. And Black. And all over the place. Pick something and STICK WITH IT!

Clarity: 2 – Lines all over the place, that also shift at the back. Maybe they’re trying to confuse their opponents. Like WWII Transport Ships.

Unique Qualities: 2 – Classy lettering and numbers ruined by the colors and blahness.

Intangibles: 0 – Really, this could’ve been great. Instead, it comes across as a mish-mash of different ideas.

OVERALL: 6. This could’ve been a lot worse, but the shotgun effect did work in ONE instance: there are enough decent things within the rubbish to bring this up from awful.

LOS ANGELES SPARKS

Color Scheme: 3.5 - Purple and yellow aren’t the greatest color scheme, but like the Lakers, they pull it off. It looks… not half-bad.

Clarity: 3.5 – Fairly clear. I’m not the biggest fan of those “sparks” on the side of the jerseys, but… they’re okay.

Unique Qualities: 4 - An almost-all-purple jersey? That’s gotta be given some props.

Intangibles: 1 – It can’t quite decide between simplicity and gawdiness, and thus, it’s stuck in between.

OVERALL: 12. Overall, a very okay jersey. At least it tried.

MINNESOTA LYNX

Color Scheme: 4 - Strong choices (courtesy of the Timberwolves). Blue and seagreen can clash, but the white adds the space to keep them apart.

Clarity: 2 - Except for the sides, strong, strong, strong. Those sides are hideous, though.

Unique Qualities: 2 – Nice try on the whole “Lynx Trax,” but really, this isn’t the NLL.

Intangibles: 2 – Stands out in the mind

OVERALL: 10. Is failure going to far? Or not going far enough? Whatever. This one fails.

NEW YORK LIBERTY

Color Scheme: 3.5 – It’s not the best color scheme in the world, but at least it’s consistent and bright.

Clarity: 4 – Relatively clear. The orange trim comes and goes, and the slice on the side, while not adding anything particularly strong, doesn’t really detract.

Unique Qualities: 3 - True, there are lots of other blue-favored teams in the WNBA, but the Libs get points for not going hog-wild on the colors, side-designs, and numbers.

Intangibles: 3.5 - Like the city, it grows on you.

OVERALL: 14. A nice, good jersey. Not a classic, by any means, but with a lot to like about it. Some more white could’ve taken this up a notch.

PHOENIX MERCURY

Color Scheme: 3 – It’s cool, but that’s a bit neon. Kinda like a stoner’s room.

Clarity: 4 - Save for the cuts on the side, very neat and tight.

Unique Qualities: 2 - Um… see Los Angeles and Sacramento. Done? Now look back here. Eh.

Intangibles: 3 I like the logo. And the red. I think the purple could’ve been a nice maroon, though.

OVERALL: 12. Decent all-around, but not enough to stand out in a crowd.

SACRAMENTO MONARCHS

Color Scheme: 2.5 - I… well… uh… hmmm.

Clarity: 2.5 – Ditto.

Unique Qualities: 3 – It’s unique. I’ll give it that.

Intangibles: 3 – It’s so bad, it’s good.

OVERALL: 10.5. I just can’t find much to like or dislike here.

SAN ANTONIO SILVER STARS

Color Scheme: 1 - Black, white, and grey. There’s a reason the L.A. Kings dropped this in the late 90s. Snoooooze.

Clarity: 1 – Nice stars all over the place. This isn’t a college football helmet. And the way they abruptly end on the front? Ugh.

Unique Qualities: 0 – Does being the worst count? I don’t think so.

Intangibles: 2 – Tip of the hat for wearing black, but wag of the finger for not sticking by it.

OVERALL: 4. UNCLEAN!!!! UNCLEAN!!!

SEATTLE STORM

Color Scheme: 4 – Strong, and indeed (in my opinion), stronger than their brothers, the Sonics. Notice how the red accentuates but does not overpower, nor disappear.

Clarity: 5 – The red swooshes on the side only add to the overall effect, while the yellow shows off the green in contrast.

Unique Qualities: 3 – Nothing incredibly unique, although the restraint shown could be an example for the rest of the league.

Intangibles: 5 – A really nice look, with good trim, lettering, and form.

OVERALL: 17. Really, really good. The more I look at it, the more I like it.

WASHINGTON MYSTICS

Color Scheme: 3 – Predominantly Blue, with some black on the sides, plus gold and white accents. The black could’ve been dropped, frankly, and the gold and white put to a little more use.

Clarity: 3 – What’s up with those Black stripes on the side? Really, some more thought could have gone into this.

Unique Qualities: 3 – Nice letters and numbers, even if they are straight from the Wiz.

Intangibles: 1 – Solid design, but those black stripes REALLY hurt the overall look.

OVERALL: 10. It could’ve been early “Raging Bull” Robert De Niro. Instead, it’s later “Raging Bull” Robert De Niro.

So, overall, I guess my faves would be the Sun and the Storm. The worst? Definitely the Silver Stars.

On the whole, let's get some new color schemes out there! There are seven teams with blues of varying degrees as their primary color, while another three have purple (or purplish) colors. One green, one red, and one black... let's get something else out there.

Thursday Update - Snoresville

So, not a lot to talk about today. Big game tomorrow for the Liberty, taking on their first road game against the hapless Lynx.

I would call them pussies, but that might be sexist…

Other than that, not much. The Libs have their new jerseys for sale online. Whether one can customize the name/numbers on the back is left to the imagination.

Thanks, Official Website, for helping keep me confused!

Also marketed as "The Doom-Bringers"

Overall, I like the jerseys. But look at the description. “Tribal Designs”? What is THAT supposed to mean? It’s a slanted turquoise triangle! And tribal? Isn’t that a political no-no word?

Still not as bad as this, though. It literally makes me shake my head in shame.

Still, on the whole, strong look. That gives me an idea…

I was Rodin's model

Rating all of the league’s new jerseys! Killer! Check back at 5 when I rate all of the teams on their looks. Jersey-wise, that is. Martina Weber is still Queen.

That I a chisel and stone, I wouldst create a statue in thine likeness.

AROUND THE LEAGUE…

Shock 94, Mystics 79

(My Pick: Shock by 8)

Swin Cash had 21 points, while the rest of the Shock shot 70 percent of their 3-pointers (as compared to 30 percent by Washington). The Mystics continue on their descent, limping back to the District to play the Sky tomorrow.

The Sky are always good to help break a slide.

Mercury vs. Silver Stars

Sun vs. Sky

I’m picking the Mercury in this one. I learned my lesson: never bet against Taurasi. Phoenix by 7.

Sun versus Sky. That sounds like a song by Kansas.

Badassnus in Extremus

Anyway, it’s in Chicago, but the Sun are looking to right their course, and Chicago… well, I don’t think much of them.

Like this game, total Joke...

Sun by 9.

Until Five...

See ya, Space Cowboy...

The Now and Future

A meaningful discussion of WNBA’s future needs to be honest, so let’s not delude ourselves here. Attendance has dropped, TV ratings are anemic, and sponsorships are not what the owners want them to be. With the exception of the Liberty, Shock, (probably) Sparks, and (possibly) Monarchs, teams post losses year after year while the league itself has never shown a profit. Players make more money playing in Europe and are also treated better, while the WNBA, once the butt-end of jokes and sexuality-threatened rants, has dwindled in the public eye (I don’t know which is better?). Things, in the end, are not going all that well.

This is not to say that all hope is lost. The Sun have increased attendance every year since they’ve been in Connecticut, while several teams show strong ties to local communities and have indeed posted mild profits. If one discounts Chicago’s horrid attendance from last year (admittedly creating an unfair look at the league), the average attendance for 2006 was about 7,994 people league-wide, still a drop from the year before but not quite as catastrophic as some would claim. The Sting, while missed, were losing fans and sponsors faster than a Chicago sports team after a losing season, and the NBA seems determined (resigned?) to keep the WNBA steady. What can be done, however, to change this league from (at best) a joke to something achieving respectability? Hope and a great product cannot substitute for reality and an uninterested populace. The WNBA cannot continue on its current path of hoping that a horse, without being lead, will find water and then drink it. I submit that creative business plans are the answer.

First off, really expand the ticket base; I know, easier said than done, but don’t think of it in the rigid terms of the MLB or NBA. TV Ratings will increase if fans come to see the game, not the other way around. As the AFL has shown, simply having a TV contract doesn’t guarantee returns (that league began to succeed after it focused on home attendance). How can this be achieved? In the immediate future, decrease ticket prices, especially in the rafters. Most money is made from food and rink anyway, and offering ridiculously cheap prices could at least tempt the curious part of the public who are interested but do not want to pay ten or twenty dollars. Don’t do it across the board; a certain amount of worth and mystique is good when it comes to floor and close seats. Remember, however, that these drops are not to appeal for the base fans. The league can only exist on the faithful's shoulder's for so long. These are for the curious few who are looking for any reason NOT to go to a game. Remove that disincentive. Decrease ticket prices.

Secondly, to increase season ticket sales, provide good reasons to buy them. I considered buying season tickets to the Liberty for myself and my girlfriend, but what’s the point? I can only afford the ten-dollar seats, and there isn’t a discount available. What if I can’t go to a game? I lose those tickets. Instead, we’re going to go to all the games we can make, and in the end, save the same amount of money. Looking at this, then, ALWAYS have a discount for season tickets. Allow for lay-away plans, in which (like Baseball, the NFL, and really, every other league) fans can pay for their tickets in installments with an initial deposit. Make it so that season-ticket holders can turn in unused tickets for later games (availability-dependant). These seem like reasonable things to do, and with the exception of discounts, don’t actually cost any money. In fact, the law-away plan can raise MORE money.

None of this matters if the WNBA can’t reach its core base, though. This includes college sports fans, women’s hoops fans, and female athletes of all ages. The WNBA should be actively recruiting and doing things with women’s high school basketball, and college hoops, for that matter. Get some stars to show up to a practice, give out free tickets, get them into the games. These are the people who not only want/need role models, but they are the natural fans of the WNBA. Things like this are already in place with many teams, but they should be done by all teams, all the time. Make it so that it is easy for them to come to a game, and, in time, these will be the people who will grow and support the WNBA in their adulthood. But how to get them in the stands on a regular basis?

That’s where marketing comes in. Guerilla marketing has worked well for numerous underground and lower-end companies. Think American Apparel and, before that, Sprite. “We Got Next” was a great campaign because it increased visibility and showed off stars. Something like that needs to happen now. Or increase the need for rivalries. Pump up the L.A.-New York game, or the Detroit-Sacramento rematch of the finals (that game was the season opener, and drew barely above eleven thousand people; someone’s PR firm needs to be fired). Above all, get seen. Fliers, sponsorships of events, players at parties, autograph sessions before and after games. Diana Taurasi, when she came into the league, should have been on numerous talk shows and on as many magazine covers as possible. The WNBA champions should try and meet the President. Don’t seem desperate, because that could have the opposite effect. The game itself is great: it is the audience that needs to get expanded. Try some unorthodox moves and it will pay off.

Above all, they should keep at it. Once people have a good experience at a game, they are more likely to come back or become regulars. One idea that has worked for minor league hockey teams (an example being the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) is to allow amateur teams access to the court for a match before/after scheduled games in exchange for tickets. Here’s how it works: two teams get to play a game on the big-stage with their friends – and parents, if they’re in school – looking on (imagine being a kid growing up in the Bronx and getting to play in Madison Square Garden), but must sell a certain amount of tickets to the tied game in the process (let’s say five). Two teams, fifteen people each, plus coaches, times five tickets per person, could mean up to one hundred tickets sold based on this. Not that much, but still, a draw, and it’s a great community connection.

Nothing like this will work if the WNBA front office can’t get its act together. Each team should be required to regularly update its own website (I’m looking at you, New York Liberty. Why bother having a website if one doesn’t regularly do things to reach out to fans. Hire a hip web-design company to create a new look and ADVERTISE on local websites. Related to that is the TV Contract: the ABC contract is great, but the league should also push local affiliates to carry games. Those are the people who are going to watch the game anyway, so why not hype that up? That’s how the NHL has survived low ratings: high local ratings. Hire interns from the ranks of girl’s basketball players: it creates loyalty and its cheap, not to mention the passion involved. Above all, just clean up the front office. Why is it that the Sun can sell-out games (admittedly in a smaller arena and in a women’s hoops hotbed) in Uncasville, Connecticut while the Liberty struggle to pull in more than eleven-thousand in a metropolitan area of twenty million people? It’s not necessarily laziness, but it is connected to really striving to get the word out. They shouldn’t be afraid to spend money; they’re losing it anyway. Overlook short-term losses in favor of long-term gains.

Above all, the WNBA needs to be wary of the pitfalls of expansion. While a 14th team in the Eastern conference should be added to balance schedules and travel, it would be folly to over-extend the market. The lure, of course, is the hope of finding an untapped market that is dying for women’s basketball. This is not as crazy as it sounds; in the NHL, the Tampa Bay region (hardly a hockey hot-bed) has turned the Lightning into one of the premier teams in the league. However, much like the rest of the NHL (and to an extent, the MLB), over-expansion could dilute an already-thin demand for the WNBA, while also increasing travel-time and diminishing the talent pool available. The cemetery of dead sports is littered with the headstones of over-extended leagues: the WHA, ABA, USFL, MILL, NBL, dozens of minor baseball leagues, and many, many more. The NHL almost expanded beyond its reach (Helloooo, Nashville), and even baseball struggles in a few of its markets. The money from the expansion fee is not enough. The league needs stability, not an ever-changing cast of characters.

The league seems hell-bent on expanding, however, and I hope that the WNBA will not expand significantly. If it does, it should look to markets that are ready-made for teams. Small markets, while attractive for having the WNBA being the only game in town, ultimately may fail to produce winners. Why would someone in the middle of New Mexico care about women’s basketball? At least with large populations (though Chicago has shown that this is not always the case), there is a shotgun-effect chance that if even one percent of the population goes to games that it will lead to monumental ticket sales.

Where do we find these mythic places of money and hoops fans? Right under our noses. Philadelphia, for one, has rabid sports fans (their AFL, NLL, and NHL teams all sell-out, for crying out loud), a perfect site (the Spectrum), an NBA fan-base built-in, and is situated two hours from both New York and Washington. Denver, which had an NBL team and an owner desperate to bring it back to the WNBA, seems like a decent choice as well. The population is good, and as shown by the Chill (NBL), the market is there. The Bay Area, with a good public transportation system and a strong sporting market, is another idea, as is Las Vegas (proximity to several teams), Dallas (largest market without a WNBA team), and possibly Atlanta (good market, but who knows). An argument could even be made (though I won’t do so) that adding a total of three teams could do wonders for the league (expansion fees are dispersed – partially – to all teams) in the short term, and increase visibility without cutting too much into talent or interest. This is a way to go, and I won’t deny that it has some appeal.

This model for expansion, however, does not seem to be the case, however. Current sites that the WNBA is looking into include Albuquerque (whoa, now…), Kansas City (wha?), and Northern Arkansas (no, really). The Sun succeed in a non-NBA market primarily due to the success of UConn’s women’s team. Why would a middle-market city like Kansas City, filled with the same nuclear families that have been noted to be turned off by the large number of lesbians in attendance at games, be any different from, say, Charlotte, a team with strong basketball roots that just couldn’t get it up for the Sting? Why Northern Arkansas? Is the WNBA really THAT desperate?

In a sense, yes. The media likes to play the WNBA as a third-tier sports league, and to be fair, it is. We shouldn’t let the league be treated as if its some bottom-tier Kenyan Soccer league, but let’s face the facts. The MLS is bigger right now in every category than the WNBA. So is AA-Level Baseball, for that matter. When the Altoona Curve outdraw three WNBA teams, that’s not a good sign, and people don’t hear enough about it. What’s out of sight is out of mind.

So, above all, talk to various media outlets. Demand WNBA coverage. Tell them that you like their sports section, but that you’re a WNBA fan, and even a half-page of women’s hoops news would be great. Call in to sports talk shows and withstand the laughs and derisions of the morons there and get the word of the WNBA out there. Don’t let up. Support the Storm as their fans try to keep the team in Seattle (one of the most successful teams in the league should NOT be moving to Oklahoma City). Don’t let the rest of the country (or your friends) forget that demeaning women’s hoops just because it is played by women is unacceptable. This is the 21st century. Let’s stop acting like Neanderthals.

And, of course, the little things help. Go to games. Bring friends. Buy food there. Watch coverage, if possible. Write a blog, if you can. Tell your team your ideas, and keep the league informed as well. Just keep doing things, and eventually, things will change. If they don’t, then maybe the WNBA wasn’t meant to exist. But don’t worry. If it folds, I guarantee that a different, better, more adaptable women’s league will pop in its place. With strong support in several markets, it proves that there is a need. Maybe the WNBA isn’t the right purveyor of this entertainment, but someone is. Who knows who, but she or he is out there, waiting for a chance to bring a great sport to the masses. It’s not the game, remember; just the packaging. The packaging can change. Don’t give up hope.


(Day post to come before noon)

This is not to say that the WNBA and its teams do NOT do any of the things listed above, merely that they do not get enough recognition, nor do all teams do all of these things all the time. There needs to be an effort by everyone involved - from the commissioner of the league to the teams to the fans - to get the Good News out there.

SCRIBBLIN’ AND DRIBBLIN’

Guess who’s the Eastern Player of the Week...

Hellz yeah. Tight like her alma mater, BYU.

I learned about this via the Daily News, by the way, NOT the Liberty’s official website. Way to be on the ball guys.

He’s a bad webmaster, but he gets paid in bananas.

From WNBA.com, “A first-year starter for the Liberty, Thorn is currently ranked second in the league in three-point field goals made (11) behind Taurasi (12), and is ranked fourth in points per game (22.5).” This coming from a woman who was fetching towels for Teresa Weatherspoon only a few short years ago.

A similar event occurred with a certain Yale cheerleader…

Next stop for Erin Thorn? Winning the championship.

Erin Thorn later colonized Mars after being named Best WNBA Player of all Time.

Now that Erin Thorn has been officially recognized as “Off-The-Hook” (in the parlance of our times), I am going to start a new project…

There’s pine on her shorts, but fire in her eyes.

Get Martina Weber in the game. Strong player, and, though The Writer’s Girlfriend may kill me, Weber is rather (read: incredibly) hot. Contact the Liberty, you faithful few, and… well, first get on them to get a better site manager…

Insert another Banana reference…

…but THEN talk to them about getting this future Mast… er, Mistress of the Universe in the game.

AROUND THE LEAGUE…

Indiana 89, Minnesota 75
San Antonio 82, Houston 71
Phoenix 76, Sacramento 75

So, I would have been 2-1 had I picked officially last night (Stars and Fever, but not Mercury). I seriously thought the Monarchs would’ve kept on gettin’ on, but hey! They Mercury ain’t bad, and the win was close. So, I guess that means that I’m back on the hook for official picks.

vs.

Mystics @ Shock

I am tempted to pick the Mystics here, because the Shock are due for an upset… but I can’t. I’d take the Mystics with points, however. Shock by 8.

Strong(er) attendance at games last night. The Mercury drew over 7K, the Lynx pulled in 6.3K (not great, but better than before), and the Comets brought home over 10K. I feel that as the summer starts to get into swing and people start coming out to games, this will only go up. Hey, if the Lynx can draw over six-thou in May, imagine how the Mercury will pull in August?

MORE Power Rankings from the WNBA (not to be confused with those from the ESPN). Um… well… uh… huh? The Liberty are ninth with a perfect record and a game coming up against Minnesota. That most likely (see below) means that they are going to be 3-0 before coming home to play Taurasi and the Mercury.

Taurasi and the Mercury… that sounds like an 80’s Hair-Band…

Admittedly, that makes them perfect against teams with a combined (at this point) 1-10 record, but hey, look on the bright side. They’re warming UP! They have the confidence that they CAN win. Think of them as the Spartans and the rest of the league as the Persians…

Garbage movie, apt metaphor.

Pessimists who point out that they could be ill-prepared for a contender will be shot.

Just remember Buster Douglas… after defeating Mike Tyson, but before losing to crack

About the only thing that they agree on is that the Lynx are at the bottom. I haven’t seen Minnesota play yet, so I can’t qualify, but they HAVE lost their first five games. That’s a ticket to the cellar if you’ve ever seen it.

Minnesota’s 2007 destiny…

"We knew coming in that when you have five rookies, there are going to be ups and there are going to be downs. At the same time, we're competitive by nature. We want to win all 34 games. Realistically, we know that isn't going to happen." - Minnesota first-year coach Don Zierden after the Lynx's 74-64 loss to Sacramento, dropping the team to 0-4 for the first time in franchise history, to the Associated Press.

Guess that fifth game didn’t help right the ship, huh?

I’m not trying to be cruel. I wish the Lynx the best (especially over Chicago) but this doesn’t look like their year.

In ambivalent news, check out SonicsCentral.com. Good site, not a huge amount on the Storm (It’s Sonic-heavy. Duh.), but anyone who brings the plight of a team moving is solid. Support them and any other Save the Storm campaign.

Donna Oreander: Let’s allow an owner to move one of our strongest teams to an untested market!

Pass the Malox.

Until tomorrow…

See ya, Space Cowboy…

PERFORMANCE DAY - Mamet

In the tradition of David Mamet, I give you this short sketch. Sorry if you don’t get the joke, and for Mamet fans out there wishing for a more Glengarry Glen Ross-style sketch, just include “fuck” wherever possible. Regular post to follow in an hour or so...

A LIFE IN THE WNBA

SETTING: The New York Liberty Locker-room.

(The rest of the team is filing out. SHAMEKA CHRISTON, in uniform, sits while TERESA WEATHERSPOON, in a suit, stands.)

WEATHERSPOON: Another year…

CHRISTON: Yup. Another one.

WEATHERSPOON: You think it’ll last?

CHRISTON: I hope so.

WEATHERSPOON: You hope so?

CHRISTON: I know so.

WEATHERSPOON: You know so?

CHRISTON: “What?”

WEATHERSPOON: I’m just trying-

CHRISTON: You’re just trying to “what”?

WEATHERSPOON: Look, you know me.

CHRISTON: Yes.

WEATHERSPOON: And so-

CHRISTON: I might be the only one.

WEATHERSPOON: Excuse me?

CHRISTON: Come on.

WEATHERSPOON: Ten thousand fans-

CHRISTON: Fans?

WEATHERSPOON: You know what I’m saying.

CHRISTON: Then say it.

WEATHERSPOON: I will.

CHRISTON: Good.

Pause.

CHRISTON: You don’t got it anymore.

WEATHERSPOON: I got it.

CHRISTON: It, huh?

WEATHERSPOON: I’ve forgot more about it than you ever learned.

CHRISTON: You don’t learn it.

WEATHERSPOON: Then…

CHRISTON: It just comes.

WEATHERSPOON: You’ll see.

CHRISTON: I’ll see?

WEATHERSPOON: You’ll see.

GAME BUZZER.

WEATHERSPOON: That’s the game.

CHRISTON: It’s just started.

She Exits.

Mad Libs

So, no Liberty games over the weekend… or until late this week.

The WNBA Scheduler, if The Writer ran the world

However, lots of other stuff happened…

AROUND THE LEAGUE…

San Antonio 82, Seattle 71
(My Pick: Silver Stars by 7)

Chicago 82, Minnesota 77
(My Pick: Lynx by 8)

Phoenix 111, Houston 85
(My Pick: Comets by 6 ½)

Los Angeles 88, Connecticut 68
(My Pick: The Sun. Dammit.)

Cue Tom Petty music…

So, I’m 5-5 on the year in terms of pics. Considering that this is my first season really following the league, that’s not half-bad. It’s better than the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Under .500 since 1993!

I should have known not to bet against Diana Taurasi at home. The Writer’s Girlfriend is considering leaving the The Writer for Taurasi, who scored 37 points against the Comets. Wow.

Dumb Ass

As for the Chicago-Minnesota game, that was a close one. The Sky were up 64-47 late in the third, but the Lynx went on a tear, outscoring the Sky 30-18 in the last twelve minutes. Honestly, these teams are both bad, and like I said before, this was a crapshoot. Some numbers for my case? Chicago was last in the league in FGP, scoring 35.8% from the field before their last game. As for Minnesota? Four straight losses. Ouch.

Actual shot from Target Center in Minneapolis

I picked up the Silver Stars win, though, and they had a decent game, while I can’t say anything about my pick on the Suns. Ugh. I was completely wrong on that one, and have no excuse for it.

Tastes like Crow

Attendance on the weekend? Average of about 6,600. Not good. Not good at all. To be fair, both the Phoenix game and Connecticut game saw crowds over 8,000 (although that was the Sun’s home opener) and who can blame Minnesota fans for not wanting to see the Lynx lose their fourth straight game?

The Minnesota Women’s High School State Championship Game

That brings me to another point… while I know that the Lynx have their fans and don’t deny them the pleasure of a team, is Minnesota (or Washington or San Antonio) really a big enough city to support a team in a niche-sport at the moment? Their closest rivals are in Chicago (NOT in the same division, by the way). Couldn’t some other city have been a better choice for a WNBA team?

The Writer was found dead after a mob of Silver Stars’, Mystics’, and Lynx’s (Lynxs’?) fans rioted and beat the struggling Blogger to death with their thunder sticks.

Read this upcoming Thursday’s essays for more trials and tribulations in the WNBA’s future and expansion…

I’m going to hold off the usual picks for today’s games and keep ‘em private to see if I am truly cut out for this Bookie gig. If you guys have calls, post ‘em. Props and name recognition to those who do the best/funniest.

Just for the record…

Indiana @ Minnesota
San Antonio @ Houston
Sacramento @ Phoenix

THE LIBERTY

You know… the reason this blog exists?

Sunday is Dads and Daughters Day. To all five of you who read this blog, if you have a Dad and are a Daughter (or were one at one time, or are one now thanks to surgery), or if you are a Dad and have a Daughter, go and see a game. It’s fun bonding time and it’s better than having a certain princess reading celebrity blogs and looking up to miscreants.

The Decay and Decadence of Western Civilization

This Friday are taking on the Lynx, who su-

…er, are a really decent team, actually, in beautiful, balmy Minneapolis. The Lynx could be coming in 0-5 if they lose to Indiana (a strong possibility), and that would mean BAD news for the Libs. The Lynx are bad, but they’re not 0-6 bad. That’s gut-check time, and the Liberty could be waltzing towards a minefield.

Sign in front of Minnesota’s Target Center

Nice article from the AP/APP about the Liberty. This week’s Liberty Belle features prominently in it.

Uplifting story from Haaretz (unless you happen to think that Israel should be wiped off the face of the Earth)

Power Rankings are up on ESPN. As stated before, I am not too inclined to trust these power rankings. However, the Libs ARE number 3 on the list. I guess someone has been paying attention.


All right, I’m outta here. I’m dead tired from my 6 A.M. flight. Until tomorrow…

See ya, Space Cowboy…

Tuesday is Nickname Day - Christon

Shameka Christon

No… that’s too easy…

Too obscure and grim…

Perfect…

Shameka Christon’s new nickname…

By Mjolnir's grip!

Why Thor? Thor was the God of Thunder and Lightning, wielding Mjolnir against his foes. Christon brings down the lightning, too, and her hammer being her killer jump-shot.

Hammer and Nailed.

Actual update to come before 1 P.M. Talk to ya then.

Liberty Belle - Jessica Davenport

Player Spotlight
Jessica Davenport

Height: 6’5”
Position: Center
Status: Rookie
College: Ohio State
Michael Keaton or Christian Bale: Bale.

If anyone has photos of Davenport in a Liberty uni, please send them to me!

Turned to stone after witnessing one of Davenport’s moves.

Davenport was all kinds of wicked during her college years in Ohio. She’s the only three-time Big Ten Player of the Year, while also being a three-time first-team All-Big Ten and named three times to the Big Ten All-Defensive team.

FUN FACT: While at Ohio State, Davenport cured cancer from a compound found in her opponents’ tears.

Her college numbers read like something out of a Herculean legend. 2,303 total points in four years (fifth all-time Big-Ten, second in Ohio State) while tying for first in the Buckeyes history with a career .604 mark for Field Goals (875/1448). Her 384 total blocks rank first in Big-Ten history and seventh in the NCAA.

Don’t try to stop her. She’s a force of nature.

She also found time to play for Team USA in their championship over lesser countries at the 2006 Opals World Challenge in Australia.

Any mention of Australia = Kangaroo/Koala picture

Drafted 2nd overall in the WNBA draft, Davenport is now ripping up the court at MSG, where spontaneous moments of worship have broken out among fans through-out the arena.

The Church of Davenport is recognized by the United States and 56 other countries as a non-profit religious organization.

She’s posting good numbers already. She’s going to have a long, strong career in the league (hopefully with the Liberty). Raise a glass to Jessica Davenport, all ye land-lubbin’ libs, and give a hearty “HELL YEAH!”

I know the feeling, Ms. Liberty.

Week in Review

Niiiiiiiiiiiice.

It's been a good week. Sorry about the late update. I’m in Pittsburgh and didn’t have access to a computer until now.

Liberty Games

Liberty 83, Chicago 71
Liberty 81, Mystics 76

The Liberty showed some rough spots in both games, having to battle back to win. A win is a win, though.

2-0, Baby

Don’t forget that these were against teams that are (as of this writing) a combined 0-5 (including a win against a team that I think my high school’s JV women’s team could’ve beaten). But, it’s hard to argue with two 80-point wins. As long as they can keep putting numbers like that up on the board, they’ll do fine.

Photo courtesy of the Chicago Sky’s Media Guide.

On the downside, defense. The team has got to start covering lanes and stop letting worse teams control their end of the court.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Erin Thorn. Bad-assness not shown to actual size.

Duh.

No question here. Big numbers in both games and a strong defensive outlook, though she could share the ball a bit more. Thorn has 45 points in two games and that swagger that’s going to carry her team far.

Consider the Wall. Now, BE the Wall.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Indiana 83, Sparks 70
(My Pick: Sparks by 4)

I told you. I’m 4-2 in the season. If I finish at .500, I’ll frankly think that I’m a God, so the fact that I’m 2 games over is big news.

My Picks for this weekend…
(Sorry about no Logos)

FRIDAY
Seattle @ San Antonio
Chicago @ Minnesota
Houston @ Phoenix

SATURDAY
LA @ Connecticut

NO GAMES ON SUNDAY/MONDAY

Let’s see… Seattle is on a roll, but San Antonio may want to prove something… I’m picking San Antonio by 7.

Oooh! The two worst teams in the league! Minnesota versus Chicago! But who is worse?!? I am going to trust my gut and pick the home team, although either team is really bad enough to hand the game to another team. Minnesota by 8.

The brawl of the cosmics… hmmm… I’m going to say that Houston picks up a game on the road. Houston by 6 ½

I like Connecticut, and L.A. just got rolled for a loss. It’s the home opener for the Sun, too. I’m picking the Sun by 7 ½.

I'm new to this, but I like my choices.

Smart money is on the 'Roo, though…

If I come out with a SINGULAR win on this, I will be happy.

Obligatory Kevin Smith Pic. Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

I may not update on Monday, cuz it’s Memorial Day. I might, but if I don’t, there will be a double on Tuesday. Until Monday (maybe…)

See ya, Space Cowboy…

Liberty Win; Rack 'em

Liberty 81, Mystics 76

THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about!

Shameka Christon got 17 and Cathrine Kraayeveld got 16 as the Liberty fought off their semi-rivals, the Washington Mystics, in a no-holds-barred cage rumble in Manilla.

No Duel is complete without a reference to Thunderdome.

Check this out. The Mystics were up 76-75 with 1:43 left. A normal team would have given up. Not the Libs.

Gut check, ladies.

The Liberty held them scoreless, going 2-0 for the season and assuring themselves of at least a 2-32 season!

If I could make emotions physical, this is what this feeling would look like.

The star, once again, was Erin Thorn. Killer on offense, maniacal on defense, she led the team with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and one hell of a nice amphetamine-driven super-charge to bring back her team from a 13-2 run and seven leads by the Mystics.

Athena-tested, Hera-approved

Some Mystics scored too, but who cares?

…



...




…




Fine…

Washington Mystics...

Alana Beard: 23 pts, (FG) 9-19, (3P) 2-6, (FT) 3-6
Delisha Milton-Jones: 14 pts, (FG) 6-11, 8 rebounds
Crystal Robinson: 22 minutes on the floor, 2 points

What Robinson was shooting all game.

I’ll admit. I was wrong. Attendance was over 10K today. Good going, Liberty. You obviously know more about this than I.

I must save my family’s honor!

New York is now tied for first! Washington’s now 0-3, losing to New York, Connecticut, and Sacramento.

Washington: “When’re we playing Chicago, again?”

Here’s how you win a game. Don’t give up? Check. Share the time on the court? Check. And capitalize on the other team’s mistakes? Check (New York hit 21 for 23 free throws).

Hell yeah. Did anyone ever sing a song about the District? Hell no.

Next game…

Minnesota, June 1st, 8 P.M.

That's eight days. Fire the WNBA Scheduler. Please.

In a week from tomorrow, prepare for Doom.

The Rock ain’t got NOTHIN’ on the O.G.

Good article about the Liberty. Forget the Chicago stuff: the guy was too high on cough syrup when he was writing that part of the article. Until tomorrow...

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Once More, into the Breach

Get those Game Faces On

It’s Game Time

Pre-Game Coverage…

Chicago wasn't an aberration. The Liberty have to step it up to prove to all the haters out there that they can get the job done.

If you’re into vapid Young Adult Chick-Lit, this book is Valhalla

Expect another super-human effort from Erin Thorn and Loree Moore, with Davenport, Kraayeveld, and Christon rackin’ it up too.

She couldn’t handle it. Can you?

The Mystics have got a good cast of characters. Delisha Milton-Johns is money in the bank, and they’ve got a solid group of young (but not rookie) players. They’re down 0-2 on the season, too. They’re looking to prove themselves.

Killer Album, but who would have thought the Lips were Prescient?

AROUND THE LEAGUE…

Sun 71, Silver Stars 74

(My Pick: Sun by 6 ½)

Mercury 87, Storm 100

(My Pick: Storm by 5)

1-1 yesterday, 4-1 on the season. Whoda thought that the defense of both the Mercury and Storm would collapse in such spectacular fashion?

Decent crowd in San Antonio. Not so much in Seattle. I guess when you’re team is going to become the Kansas City/Oklahoma City Storm, it kinda dampens the spirit.

Off-topic, but those KCers on that site are awfully sore about not getting the Penguins.

Sour Grapes, Friends

You guys had your shot with the Scouts and Kings. Stop stealing other people’s beloveds and grow a pair.

As for today’s games…

vs.

Sparks vs. Fever

I’m picking Sparks by 4. I got a feeling about this game. I just know it. (Tomorrow, I’ll be 4-2)

I'll try to post game results in the afternoon, but I'm going back to Pittsburgh for Memorial Day tonight. Tomorrow, almost definitely a post, though...

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Why Here? Why Now?

Thursday is Essay Day.

(Update to follow...)

Why would a heterosexual man create a Liberty blog? It’s not like I’m the only one. Hell, some have written books about the WNBA. If you are asking yourself that question, however, maybe you should rethink your viewpoint on the world. Is there something inherently anti-masculine about watching women play basketball? Are all the stereotypes correct, in that only Lesbians like the league (incorrect, first of all, and even if true, who cares)? Or is it that the WNBA is a second-tier sport, below even the Arena Football League or both Lacrosse leagues? Is it not cool to root for something that isn't established? Or is that I am writing a blog about it?

Well, okay, that last point has some merit. I am not the biggest basketball fan out there, nor am a WNBA stalwart. I have only been to four games in my life, and my knowledge of basketball is limited. I grew up in Pittsburgh, and until the Pitt Panthers began to get good, hoops was a non-entity in the city outside of a few high school teams. Being such, I didn’t watch a full basketball game until halfway through my sophomore year. So, why would I write a blog about the New York Liberty?

I guess most of it has to do with the timing. I have been to a few Libs games before, and I enjoyed my experience, but I hadn't really given it much thought. I liked the time I spent at MSG, and the games were good, but I didn't find myself compelled to keep coming back for more. This has to do with scheduling, as well; I used to live in Pittsburgh during the summer, going to New York for school from fall to spring, meaning that the time that I could have spent watching Liberty games was instead used to watch the Pirates reach new levels of pathetic sportitude. Summer, when most of the league’s games are played, was out of reach.

Now that I'm living in New York full-time, however, a lot of things just kind of fell together at the right moment. I had a little bit of extra money to spend one weekend and happened to look online. What should I find but that my free-day (Sunday) of that weekend also happened to be the season opener. The Writer's Girlfriend loves basketball and likes the WNBA, so we made a date and went and saw the game. Not only was it awesome, but I found a lot to like about the experience itself. I felt myself beginning to enjoy basketball, which, aside from some college hoops that I watch from time-to-time, is nearly alien to me. This deserved some panning out, especially since I had no other team to root for in the immediate future.

Following sports as someone who lives - but was not born - in New York is a daunting experience. Rooting for the Yankees is out; I might as well root for the Empire in Star Wars. Ditto on the Mets, as they have steadily grown to become Yankees Lite (or Diet Yankees, if one's a teetotaler). I love hockey, so I tolerate the Rangers, but I grew up in Pittsburgh as a Pens fan, and thus the Rangers were only a step above Serial Killers on a list of criminals. Devils = Snore. The Islanders play in Nassau. The Knicks and Nets... eh. I don't like the NBA enough to make an effort. And the Giants and Jets, while mildly entertaining enough to watch, have some of the most annoying and abrasive fans out there (to be fair, their fans almost definitely think the same thing about Steeler Nation). I am without cable, and thus am left with few options. The Liberty stepped up to fill that void.

They appealed to me at first for a variety of reasons. Number one, I score major points with my girlfriend when we go to games (she played varsity ball in high school). Number two, it feels like I'm supporting an underdog, even though they're a New York-based team. Number three, the quality of play is very high; these are the best female players in the world. And finally, number four (a biggee), the seats and snacks are ridiculously cheap. They're easy on the checkbook and fun to watch: the Libs are tailor-made for a penny-pinching (read: cheap) sports-fan like me.

There's also something else to it, though. The Liberty, and the WNBA as a whole, seem like they have their act together. Maybe not completely, and certainly not financially, but at least they don't worship greed in the way that the MLB and NFL do. This is a league that says it’s okay for a woman to play sports, and to play it on a major level. Players don’t beat their partners (see: Patrick Roy), dope (see: Barry Bonds), kill people (see: Pac-Man Jones), or antagonize the very people who give them the attention they crave (see: Allen Iverson). It is fun, family-friendly, good entertainment, and as long as one isn’t expecting a completely wonder-bread, no-homos-allowed experience, then it is the perfect place to bring young daughters and enjoy sports.

I certainly wouldn’t want to raise a young woman in this environment if something like the WNBA wasn’t around. I love sex as much as the next guy, but testosterone oozes through the very air we breath at the moment, making role models like Paris Hilton seem acceptable while advertisements/magazines/TV/films/music/etc. encourage girls to act like sluts and whores for the edification of men. I’m all for women making their own choices; I just think that there should be options for young girls to look up. Lindsay Lohan should not be the end-all-be-all. Not only that, but even if a young woman LIKES sports, hyper-sexuality pervades sports events as well. Witness cheerleaders at almost all NFL games, insane Budweiser commercials (I guess they have to have something to draw attention away from the horse-piss they call beer), and wet tee-shirt contests. I go to sports to AVOID having to think about sex. If I wanted all of that wrapped into an activity, I wouldn’t go to a baseball game and hop into a strip club. While I guess most men can’t control their sexual desires for thirty-seconds at a time, it is nice to have an arena where that isn’t the major draw.

This raises the hackles of certain people, however. Not only the knuckle-draggers who have been dissatisfied since women left the kitchen, but also men who feel threatened by the success of the opposite sex. Why this occurs, I don’t understand. It is not like a woman playing basketball in a league somehow makes a man playing hoops with some friends after work mean less. In any case, however, men (and some women) find it necessary to bash the WNBA whenever they can. There are too many lesbians, they can’t even play, they don’t even dunk, etc. All of these arguments come back to a certain basic principle that all have laying at their foundation: the WNBA is inferior. And because it’s inferior, we shouldn’t support it.

We live in a society that preaches success amongst all other things, and woe unto that which does not reach for (and achieve) those lofty heights. Companies are expected to report massive earnings to the stockholders, and if they don’t, it’s not the management’s fault. They need to cut more workers or expedite assembly lines. Oscar-nominated films routinely draw significantly higher crowds the week after the nominations are announced. They weren’t good enough before, or is it that there needs to be some sort of outside benchmark to success before it is okay to go and see that little underground something. People are afraid of failure and change, and being linked to failure and change is somehow uncool. Iconoclasts are only looked up to in our country if they begin to become successful (the paradox being that when they become TOO successful, the backlash begins and suddenly, it’s not so cool to like that something anymore).

This is so much more true in sports (the exception being football teams, which are supported no matter what). The Golden State Warriors, for so long, the welcome mat of the NBA, are now doing well, and suddenly, all of the fans come out of the woodwork. Ditto on the White Sox and Tigers. In the early nineties, the Twins routinely outdrew the Yankees, but when their fortunes were reversed, guess what? The Twins drew less and the Yankees drew more. People claim to love an underdog, but if that’s so, why aren’t there more fans at Royals’ games? Or Islanders’ games? Or Bobcats’ games? Why aren’t hockey ratings higher on TV? It feels good to win, but no one will admit it openly because the only thing worse than being a loser is being a bandwagon jumper. Jump on at the right time, and one can coast all the way to a championship, and when things begin a downward swing, no worries! There wasn’t a huge investment anyway. Enjoy the high, but don’t bother with the legacy. If the WNBA ever begins to succeed, we might begin to see people jump up and claim to have always supported it. It hasn’t reached that critical mass yet, and as such, they are the true underdogs and remain (at best) ignored or (at worst) publicly scorned.

However, for me, it is this underdog quality that so many seem to despise that makes it so much easier to find things to love in the Liberty. The Timeless Torches are a perfect example. What other sporting league would promote 40 and over women and men to dance around and have fun. It's funny, their quite good, and... well, why not? It's just at least as entertaining as watching scantily-clad 20-somethings dance around, while not raising qualms about sexism in those intelligent enough to understand why cheerleaders might cause problems. There is a lot there that can be written about, and as a writer, I felt the need to spread some of the goodness about the team and the times to people who might not otherwise get information on the team (the Libs are BARELY covered in the Post, and except for some pity shots in ESPN, hardly visible in this over-saturated sports market). I’m sure I achieve no more than 30 unique hits per day on this website, but for people who are looking for humor and Liberty coverage, I at least give something beyond the WNBA-sponsored propaganda (and I write that with respect).

The Liberty are a marked contrast to the Yankees, as well as New York Sporting Teams (and all pro sports) as a whole. Those who go to see Liberty really are there for the whole package. It's not just the wins, the team, the league, the sport, or any other single cog, but rather the underlying theme through it all. There is a connection, from woman to girl, mother to daughter, player to fan. The rules that the rest of sports "must" follow don't necessarily apply here. Sports aren't exclusively masculine, nor are women second-tier. Ideas like these mingle with the athleticism inherent in the competition to create something meaningful and lasting at the Garden. This isn't a one-way street, either: Fans matter at Liberty games, and it’s nice to feel that one is being appreciated by the Liberty as much as one is appreciating the team on the court. When the Liberty play, it is as if all the things that are wrong about pro sports in the States can be fixed. This is not to say that the WNBA or the Liberty are perfect. Far from it (check out Women’s Hoops Blog for more details…) Still, it is a breath of fresh air.

So, in answer to the above question, there are lots of reasons why a straight white male would create a Liberty blog. Maybe he likes cheering on the underdog. Maybe he likes being an iconoclast. Maybe he likes having a good time. Maybe he likes learning something new. Maybe it's this, and a lot more. There is a lot to the Liberty that isn’t readily apparent, and the Writer enjoys being there to watch the times a-changing. And maybe, in some small part, it's also that he finds athletic women sexy.

I mean, come on. I like to think of myself as more progressive than sexist, but I'm a guy first and foremost, and women playing basketball? That's hot.

Most of the topics skimmed over in this essay (homosexuality in the WNBA, sexism in sports, the survival of the league, why over-masculinated men feel the need to insult women’s basketball, etc.) will be addressed in more detail in later essays. Keep your pants on.

Liberty for All

WEDNESDAY UPDATE

The Store at the official Liberty site is kinda paltry, if I may say so. One jersey that isn’t even customizable, and it’s only one player (a kick-ass player, but still). Come on. This isn’t like it’s the Yankees, but... COME ON!

The Writer’s Perspective Shifts

Maybe this is a sign. I searched for WNBA Playoffs 2006 on Google yesterday, and I was prompted to look under "NBA Playoffs". Wow. Understandable, but think of the symbolism…

WEDNESDAY IS PERFORMANCE DAY

Kill da Wabbit!

TWO HAIKU FOR THE LIBERTY

A Journey...

Orange, Blue, and White
A new season, a new fan
A journey's first step...

That's deep.


Temporary Still
Erin Thorn shoots up
The ball, twirling, finds the net
Two points on the board!

Swish...

AROUND THE LEAGUE…

(Italics are at home)

Monarchs 70, Mystics 52

(My pick: Monarchs by 6 1/2)

Shock 85, Lynx 75

(My pick: Shock by 10)

Sparks 72, Sky 56

(My pick: Sparks by 12)

That's what we in Hockey call a Hat Trick.

I am astonished. I honestly thought I'd have to scourge myself a bit. Wow. Look at that Detroit score? Pink Floyd sang "Money" about me! Admittedly, my points were a bit off (I thought the Mystics would be closer, especially), but I am still learning. 3-0 in my picks for the season, though. I guess I'll have to keep doing this...

vs.
Sun vs. Silver Stars

vs.
Mercury vs. Storm

Silver Stars are good. Sun is better. Sun by 6 ½.

Good game to come between Mercury and Storm. Two decent teams that were at each others throats last year. I'm going with the Storm, by 5.

Speaking of which... man, it SUCKS that the Storm are probably going to move. They have really rockin’ fans. Learn more here…

Not cool. If you’re a fan, go here…

They’re not the only WNBA team that got shafted…

R.I.P. (1997-2006). Off topic, but that hornet is kinda hot...

More on that later. Just to show that everything wasn’t on the up and up…

GAME TOMORROW

Up in Smoke

They better get ready to be rocked. 11 A.M. The Most Famous Arena in the World.

My pick? Liberty by 102 (the Mystics won't bother to show up in the fourth quarter, and instead, the Liberty will play "shirts" and "skins").

Attendance is MANDATORY!

It’s “School Day”. Or something like that. The Liberty are bringing it. I hope the couple hundred school kids in attendance tomorrow morning have a good time.

Leave room for the Holy Spirit, children.

Happy trails…

Finally, an Answer

Okay, so, The Writer was wondering about this: Why is it that the WNBA changed uniforms this season so that the player names are below the numbers? TWG made the suggestion that it was so that the player's hair wouldn't obscure the name. TW admits defeat; TWG nailed it on the first try, apparently. Now, it has been confirmed thanks to an article in the Chicago Tribune.

That's TW on the left, and TWG on the right.

"In addition to its racer-back jersey and shorter, tuck-in shorts, players' names are now below the number so as not to be obscured by hair, the better to know who you're cheering for."

Word up to TWG. Not like I was surprised that she would know, just that I couldn't figure it out sooner.

I will wrack my brains henceforth.

There were also some interesting comments made by the emailer in said Tribune article. Specifically, about how the WNBA should showcase the bodies of the players to appeal to men. While I will not specifically disagree with this, I have some reservations and comments about such statements, most of which will come in an essay next week.

Props to Melissa Isaacson on a great article.

Well played.

More posts tomorrow. Peace.

Give me Liberty, or Give me Death

Tuesday is Nickname Day!

Pat Coyle

Nickname: Saint Patty

Coaches tend to be hard. I'm going with something easy, as there are so many other titles that I can give her (Skipper, Skippy, Coyle, Coach, Yes Ma'am)

What I learned today about Basketball...

That's just two points, man.

Three Pointers are way more exciting than dunking for me, at least. Heck, they’re the reason the Libs won on Sunday.

Interesting to note, but the Liberty’s official site didn’t have the full box-score up until late Monday Night. Way to be on the ball, guys. Not that I can talk. I don’t even include the box. Or get the players right. Or the right next game...

Yet.

Around the League…

Understatement of the Century Finalist...
"I thought we played very well in the first (half) and not so well in the second."

Chicago Sky coach Bo Overton after his team jumped out to a 42-33 lead at halftime before faltering in the second half and losing by 12, to the Associated Press.

A master of rhetoric and hyperbole, that Overton.

The WNBA site has a solid section of pictures from this weekend’s games…

Solid women’s basketball blog. Will include in Links section…

Great Research Blog, with lots of information about all aspects of the game, include the WNBA. Ditto on inclusion in links…

Minnesota @ Detroit

Sacramento @ Washington

Los Angeles @ Chicago

Picks…

1. The Shock at home against one of the worst teams with one of the worst away records. Shock by 10.
2. The Monarchs show their strength and are back on track. Monarchs by 6 ½.
3. Is Chicago all that bad? I posit that it is so. Sparks by 12.
   

Tune in tomorrow to see some crow-eating.

Finally, we have the "Power Rankings" at the WNBA's site. I'll spare you the trouble. Look below for the Liberty's ranking...

Ranked 11 (out of 13)
New York (Last week at 12)
1-0
Much like the Storm, the Liberty looked awful in the first half Sunday against Chicago. But they put it together in the second half behind seven 3's and 28 points from Erin Thorn to post a very solid season opening win. The playoffs are still a ways off for the Liberty, but as Loree Moore and Shameka Christon learn to take charge on the court and young posts Jessica Davenport and Tiffany Jackson get up to speed, there's plenty of room for improvement in the Big Apple.

Upcoming: vs. Washington

(Speaking of Washington, THAT is the next game, not Minnesota. My bad. This blogging is harder than I thought...)

I would question the validity of Power Rankings when all but two teams only have one game under their belt, but that's just me. In any case, I find it odd that, despite the quality of play in the first half on Sunday, the Liberty is ranked below San Antonio (0-1, ranked 9), which, with games coming up against the Sun and Storm, could very easily be 0-3 next week.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Liberty Win; Chalk It

1-0, Baby.

NY Liberty 83, Chicago Sky 71

The Liberty opened their 2007 season with a solid win. True, it was against Chicago, whose record last season was an appalling five wins to twenty-nine losses (5-29). Don't put deposits down for the WNBA Finals just yet, especially considering the Libs defensive breakdown in the second quarter. A win is a win, however, and there was a lot of awesome to go around.

"Less than a God, but more than a man." Or woman.

Erin Thorn was on fire tonight. 28 points (personal record), 7 (out of 10) three-pointers, 4 rebounds, and a hell of a defensive game, too. There were a couple of rough spots for her, but her missed shots were still strong and, like a psychotic lover, she was always turning up when least expected.

SWF: The Erin Thorn Story

She's had good performances before, but she's been building steadily in the four years she's been in the league. If she keeps this up for the rest of the season, the Libs will go far.

The Rookie and the Rocket. Anybody know if Kraayeveld is of Dutch heritage? That name screams Nederlander, and if she is, that makes her even more awesome.

Also turning in strong performances were Jessica Davenport and Cathrine Kraayeveld. Davenport gave off a good rookie performance (8 points, 4 for 4 from the free throw line), but had a couple of bad moments on defense. She's a rookie, and she wasn't alone in defensive failings. Kraayeveld was 4 for 8 from the field, with ten points (two for two on 3-Pointers), leading the team with 8 rebounds. She also had a good game on D, though a few errant passes made their way into Chicago's baskets. Whatever. She was second on the team behind Thorn.

EDIT: Kraayeveld was fourth in points, behind Thorn, and also Shameka Christon and Loree Moore, who also had very nice games (probably better than Kraayeveld's), although I felt they stepped it up considerably in the second half. I felt honor-bound to include them here after I found my slight. Now, to commit seppuku...

The Liberty forgot to set their alarm. The Season Opener was delayed by two quarters.

The Bad: the first half. While decent in the first quarter, the second quarter featured numerous breakdowns, turnovers, and a halftime lead for Chicago by the tune of 35-29. Sloppy play was pretty much evident all around. There really wasn't a single player who played the worst, although, notably, Thorn was at her weakest during that stretch. She's a great player, but she can't carry the team. Everybody else needs to step up, because that second quarter... whoa. I can't even properly describe it.

Because when I think of Chicago, I think of the stratosphere.

On Chicago: wow, are they bad. The only reason the first half wasn't worse was the Sky's ineptitude. Currie had a decent game, but she was hit or miss. She only made 5 shots from the field (out of 19), while missing seven out of nine 3 pointers. She WAS 8 for 8 from the line, though, and had 11 rebounds. On the whole, though, not a strong performance. If Chicago can't put up more than 24 against a team that were playing like practice dummies for ten minutes, they're in for a LONG season.

The Locker Room at 14:50 of Halftime.

Coach Pattie must have said something to fire up the lasses during halftime, because they came out to a completely different tune. 50 points in the second half, with MUCH tighter control on their end of the court (only twelve points allowed in the fourth). Strong all around. Shot after shot just kept going in. Good job getting back into the game.

People in the court outnumber people in the stands.

The worst part of the afternoon was definitely the attendance. The official number was 11,341, but there couldn't have been more than seven thousand in the seats. I'm surprised; (actual) attendance is usually over 10K for the opener. Most of this can be blamed on the PR for the Liberty; advertisements were lacking around the area. I only knew about the game because I checked on their website last week. I had assumed that the season was underway. Glad it wasn't, as evidenced by the game and this blog. Still, those who were there were awesome. Lots of noise and good support, even during the bad stretches.

Sidenote: I went to the game yesterday. The Timeless Torches? Wicked. Solid from start to finish. Their dance of Justin Timberlake's "Sexy Back"? Priceless.

Look into those eyes. That's fear.

Next game: Minnesota. 11 A.M. On a Thursday. It's a "school" game, apparently, but still. Somebody better fire the WNBA scheduler. Attendance bets? I'm putting even odds on less than 7K.

Around the League..

vs.

No Love Lost.

Detroit, 75
Sacramento, 68

Pure grudge match as last year's two finalists duke it out once more, with the same results. Detroit had a solid game. Sacramento capitalizes on opportunities. Both have a lot of heart, but Detroit showed why they won the championship last year. The Shock and Monarchs are going to be sick this year. Highlights...

Plenette Pierson (DET) scores 14 points in 14 minutes. Finished with 20, 8 rebounds, and three steals.

Chelsea Newtown and Kara Lawton (SAC) each had 14 points, while playing good D.

Detroit: 17 for 18 from the free throw line. Outrebounded Sacramento 36-22.
Sacramento: Trimmed an 18-point deficit down to 4 by the final two minutes.


Our first game against Detroit? June 8th. Mark your calendars.

Until tomorrow... Peace.

Liberty Belles - Cathrine Kraayeveld

Money in the Bank.

Player Spotlight
Cathrine Kraayeveld

Position: Forward
Height: 6'4''
College: Oregon '05
Ethnicity: Hopefully Dutch...

Clutch.

Kraayeveld is a two-year vet in the WNBA, having played for the Liberty for the last two seasons (total of 51 games). While only playing in fifteen games in her rookie year, she came on solidly in her sophomore showing, posting a 8.8 point average during the regular season, with 161 rebounds and a solid 3-Pointer avg. She's had 10+ points in nine games, with three 20+ during that stretch. This all seems very solid, but to be fair, I'm still new.

Even this kid knows Kraayeveld rocks.

STATS (Not including this season)

• Games: 51
• Points: 367
• Avg. 7.2
• Rebounds (Off./Def.): 59/126
• Kick-Assness Level (K.A.L.): 33 on a 10-point scale.
  
  

Looking back on that day, #31 realized she shoulda stayed in bed.

Kraayeveld played for Dexia Numur in Belgium during the off-season, finishing with 10.5 ppg. Thankfully, she didn't succumb to the copious amounts of tight flemish beer that are readily and inexpensively available in that stoic nation. She thus proved that, even in Europe, Kraayeveld knows where it's at.

She's an All-Pac 10 First Team in college, while also being named to the Kodak All-American All-Region team. She tore her ACL in college (blows), but fought back to a strong medical red-shirt year. Drafted by San Antonio in the 2005 Draft (3rd round, 27th pick overall), the Silver Stars waived her before she ever played a single game. New York picked up her contract halfway through 2005 and she's been cleaning up ever since.

San Antonio Silver Stars General Manager, Professor Moron Q. Dumbass

Kraayeveld is also The Writer's Girlfriend's (TWG) Honorary favorite Liberty player, as TWG also tore her ACL and feels a kinship with those who have suffered the same misfortune. The fact that Kraayeveld is Awesometm doesn't hurt, either.

So, here's to you, Cathrine Kraayeveld. You're the first Liberty Belle, and you're quite spiffy otherwise. Rock on!

Important Info...

So, this is my New York Liberty site. I'm a sports fan, and I've recently gotten into the Liberty. Here, you can find more of an in depth analysis (hopefully) than just the score, plus other fun stuff to tide you over between games. I'll try to keep this clean, but I won't refrain from posting blue elements if they go with the game. As well as updating news from the Liberty and around the WNBA, there are also a number of other things that I will be adding...

Schedule:

Monday - Player Spotlight (Liberty Belles)
A little "Who's Who" section. A different Liberty Belle every week.

Tuesday - Nickname Day!
I create fun nicknames for our favorite Liberty players.

Wednesday - Performance
Poems, Sketches, Songs, or ditties based around the Libs.

Thursday - Essays
Every week, I (or someone else) will be posting an essay about the Liberty, WNBA, Sports (relating to the Libs in some capacity), Women's Issues, and Women's Sports. If you have an essay on these topics that you would like to include, please email me, and if it is coherent and between 200 and 1,500 words, I'll post it. Please allow time for posting. Just because you send something in on Tuesday at midnight, don't expect it to be posted by Wednesday morning!

Friday - Week in Review
Recapping the Liberty games of the week, as well as WNBA news on the whole.

Saturday, Sunday: Off, unless game-day.

In short, fun sports stuff. I like Basketball, but it isn't my favorite sport (Hockey is Life). I've also never followed the Liberty for a full season. As such, in the parlance of our times, I could be called a "noob." This blog is a learning tool as much as a newsfeed. Help me out, but cut me some slack. I'm learning.