Quick Update...

Post to come late today. Off-Season posts to come around 4 from henceforth. Sorry to make you guys wait, but without a pressing need, there's just too much that I have to do to put off for a post about the Mercury-Stars game.

A Weekend without the Liberty is like... now

Sniff sniff...

Yeah, so now's the first weekend of the year without Liberty coverage, and I'm a bit sad. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end. And the playoffs are still going on, so for all women's hoops and WNBA fans out there, keep watching those games.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

PHOENIX 102, SAN ANTONIO 100

A game marked by extremes of athleticism, where the protection of one's own end was at a paramount. Every quarter seemed to be a struggle between giants, with neither giving any ground. Truly, if one can use one word to describe this game, it would be "Defense".

Not.

Yeah, so, San Antonio ALMOST pulled off beating Phoenix at their own game, but thanks to a pair of Pondexter free throws at 2.1 seconds left in the 4th, Phoenix goes up a game and is a victory away from the finals. Becky Hammon (34 points) and Sophia Young (24 points, 18 rebounds) did their best, but it looks like it will take a herculean effort of mythic proportion to lift the Stars into the Finals.

Tully Bevilaqua has been named Kim Perrot Sportsman of the Year. Good for her. Always nice to see an Aussie other than Paul Hogan do well.

Yeah, so I'm probably going to get season tickets next year. Anybody got some suggestions in either the 10 or 20 dollar price range?

On another note, in relation to my essay "Geocentrism and the End of Ration," I have had to make an edit. In the original essay, I stated that Berman, in his book, Dark Ages America, cites a study that found that 46% of its respondents believed in Geocentrism (that is, the belief that the Sun - and perhaps the universe - revolves around the Earth).

However, a reader (Debra Hershkowitz, props) wrote in to tell me that she looked for the study in Berman's book and could not find the quote. I went to find the original website from which I quoted, but could not find it either. Berman's quote can be found on couple of websites (one of which being Wikipedia, hardly a reputable source), but without direct citation.

Hershkowitz DID find something on page 36 of another one of Berman's books, The Twilight of American Culture...

"A random telephone survey of more than two thousand adults, conducted by Northern Illinois University, revealed that 21 percent believed that the sun revolved around the earth, with an additional 7 percent saying that they did not know which revolved around which."

Not quite as mind-numbing as my original source, but still astounding (perhaps 63 million Americans ignore the last 400 years of science...). Berman does not give any more information for the study, so there is still room for error. While the mistake is regretable, my essay (and my point) remains largely unchanged. If anyone can find the original source, I would appreciate it. Until Tuesday, then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Conference Finals Coverage

So, the second round is here. Two wins, and the finals await. And who are the Final Four?

DETROIT SHOCK VS. INDIANA FEVER

The team that everybody in New York is beginning to hate versus the Tamika Catchings-Show. These two teams have been at it since the beginning of the season, trading the number one spot back and forth until Indiana collapsed at the disappearance of Catchings and the Shock exploded with the absence of Ford (whaaaaa?!?). It's going to be a brawl for it all, and fortunately for the Shock, their close-scare with the Libs probably put the fear of God in them. If they can barely handle a rag-tag group of scrappy underdogs, how are they doing to fend off Tamika Catching's divine-like powers?

Indiana, meanwhile, scraped a win off of the bottom of the Sun's shoes. One win in triple overtime? Another squeaker in extra minutes? True, they did beat Connecticut at home in a fashion that should reassure Indiana's five fans. The series was even during the regular season, each winning and losing one at home (but never by more than 10), and both faced tough opponents in the first round. I still think that Detroit is a much more well-rounded team and that if they can contain Catchings, half of their work is done.

PREDICTION: DETROIT IN 3.

PHOENIX MERCURY VS. SAN ANTONIO SILVER STARS

Mercury breezed through the first-round, defeating the Seattle "Why Are We Even Here?" Storm in two games by a combined 23 points. They never really struggled, and no one got hurt. Getting out early rested them and they should be ready to take on San Antonio, whom Phoenix beat three times out of four in the regular season.

The Silver Stars could take the series, however, if they manage to make Phoenix pay for their lax defense. San Antonio plays its best when they work as a team and spread the ball, slowing teams down and gobbling up rebounds. Phoenix is a group of individuals - strong, super, and mammoth individuals, to be sure - but San Antonio, if they can come together, could prove to be too much to handle. Will Becky Hammon's leadership take the Stars to the finals?

I would like to say yes, but honestly, I don't think so. Taurasi, Pondexter, Taylor, and Smith are not only fast, strong, powerful shots, good passers, solid on defense, brawlers, scrappers, and also rather attractive, but... wait, where was I... oh, yeah, they're awesome.

PREDICTION: PHOENIX IN 2.

IN OTHER NEWS...

It's impossible to pull a line on a best-of-three series, because even a Drama Queen finds Mr. Right eventually. Still, I stand by my predictions.

Quick post about Shay Doron from the Jerusalem Post. It's just a blurb, but still, always good to see the Hebrew Hammer in the papers.

Ten years ago today, the New York Liberty fell to the Houston Comets in the first ever WNBA Finals. A single game it was - a single game full of thunder, rage, joy, and despair - and unfortunately, it would set the tone. Balls!

This LiveJournal-er has a blurb about the Libs, and makes a good point. I'm not that hard on the gals; they're young and can definitely only go up. Patty, on the other hand, needs an oil change. Eight is not enough for the Libs. Let's see some more bench movement.

That's it for now. Until tomorrow?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

And that's the way it was... Liberty Lose

"When beggars die there are no comets seen;The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes."

Detroit 71, New York 70

A heart-breaker in overtime ended the Liberty's season last night, as the Detroit Shock squeaked past New York and into the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Fever. It was a good game, marked by strong defense on both ends and a never-say-die attitude that could be felt by all in attendance and at home, but in the end, there could be only one, and the Liberty just weren't it.

The first quarter was marked by a sense of passion mixed with desperation by the Liberty. In the two and a half minutes alone, they had taken five shots (making two threes) and even though the Detroit defense forced the Libs to the outside for awkward shots, Kraayeveld was there under the basket to pick up three rebounds. However, after Christon made a turning jump shot at 7:16 in the quarter (making it 8-2 in favor of New York), the Libs wouldn't make another basket for six minutes, as Detroit rallied their troops. The Libs missed eight in that time frame, while the Shock spread the ball to Braxton (2), Ford (4), and Smith (4), until Tiffany Jackson went to the line and sank two. Erin Thorn grabbed a rebound off of Swin Cash's jump shot and passed to Loree Moore, who threw the ball in for two to tie it at 12 with 35 seconds to play. Both teams tried twice more to grab the lead before the end of the quarter, but the time ran down, and the second quarter was on.

Detroit continued with their poor outside shooting in the second ten, missing two 3's and several long balls while allowing the Libs to creep ahead. Tiffany Jackson scored four quick points, with Battle, McCarville, and Farris each adding a jump shot to make the score 22-16 with half the quarter finished. The Liberty defense held strong, and although the offense couldn't keep pace for a few minutes as Detroit threatened to overtake them before the half (22-20 Libs after a Deana Nolan jumper), New York wasn't down for the count. Jackson grabbed four more points, as did Thorn, while McCarville started it off with a driving layup. The Liberty had opened it up in the final minutes to go lead by ten going into the locker room.

"O, how this spring of love resembleth/The uncertain glory of an April day"

The first half had been dominated at different corners by both teams. The Libs had shifted from shooting from the outside at the beginning of the game to moving to a more flow-and-go game by the end of the first twenty. Tiffany Jackson led the team with ten points of her own, while also grabbing seven rebounds. Detroit, on the other hand, couldn't seem to build any momentum in their game. They had several sparks of glory, led by Cheryl Ford's 10 points, but their shooting beyond the arc was atrocious (a single 3 made in the half, at 11 seconds left) and their defensive, while strong, had collapsed near the end under strong play by the Libs.

But as any follower of the Liberty knows, a ten point lead isn't enough. The Shock weren't out, and they proved it by going shot for shot, piece for piece, woman for woman down the stretch of the third quarter. It was mostly equal throughout (mostly), save for a couple breakdowns on the Libs end (Kraayeveld in the lane for 3 seconds leading to a Shock basket, Farris forcing a pass that leads to a jumper, etc.). When the smoke cleared, the Libs were still in the lead, but the score had been cleaved a bit, to the tune of 49-43. The Shock weren't going out without a fight.

"So wise so young, they say do never live long."

They come out on an 8-2 run, scoring jump shot after jump shot and making it seem like the Libs were a practice squad. Three missed shots and a Kraayeveld foul put the Libs behind, playing catch-up, but thankfully, the Shock once again can't find the throttle and stall. The Liberty drive again, and though they can't come through on all of the shots, they go ahead 55-53. It's back and forth, miss and foul, each team coming up big at clutch situations. Detroit goes ahead, but McCarville won't have any of it. With 18 seconds left, she scores a sick layup to tie the game at 62. Detroit takes a timeout, then goes on the warpath, but the Libs hold down the fort. Nolan goes for a shot, but it's ugly. The Shock come up with a rebound, but the buzzer has sounded and the light has gone off. And you know what happens next...

Overtime.

Season on the line. Five minutes. Is there anything more exciting in sports, save for the occasional streaker? Five minutes will decide who moves forward, and who goes home.

Could it be anything less than a brawl? Kraayeveld comes up big, grabbing the jump ball and throwing it in for two. Detroit gets the ball and misses, then rebounds. Then misses, then rebounds. Then misses. And finally, the Libs come up with the ball, leading to Christon swishing it home on a jumper to put the Libs up by 4 with 3:48 left in the game. But Detroit gets the ball backs and plays their game again, shooting and rebounding, and this time, there is no savior. Kraayeveld fouls, and Ford goes to the line, sinking two and shifting the tide.

Detroit seemed to get their second wind after that. Kraayeveld would get another basket, but the Shock controlled the game, rebounding and passing and keeping the ball out of their end. They scored seven points in a minute and a half, and thanks to a shot clock violation by the Libs with 45 seconds left, managed to keep the ball almost the entire time. Score? 71-69.

With eight seconds left, Coyle calls a timeout. The Libs are down by two. One basket, no chances. Get it deep, drive it hard, take the shot as you should, take a foul if you must, and keep the game (and the season) going on life-support for another five minutes. The ball goes in, and the Libs try to find an empty gal, but Pierson fouls, and McCarville goes to the line with three seconds left. The season is on the line for the former 1st overall draft pick, awoken and playing like the everybody thought she could down the stretch, with the weight of her fans desires and passion on her shoulders.

Maybe history could repeat itself. As when the Davenport drilled home that layup to boost the Liberty over the Mercury, 83-82. Or when, so recently, Erin Thorn had taken an awkward end-over-end wobble soaring on little but hope to take down this same Shock team and keep the Libs in the playoff hope. McCarville scored one basket, and all of the fans of the Liberty held their breath as her last shot sailed through the air. It had happened before.

"But not here, not now, nor never hence,"

McCarville's second shot bounced off and into the hands of the awaiting Shock. A timeout and a pass in led to a foul, and though Nolan missed both, there was no time left. Literally, the clock had run out, both on the game and the New York Liberty's season. No more last minute gasps for this team, for as the buzzer sounded and the confetti rained down, the Liberty were out of rabbits to pull out of their hats. Detroit rushed the floor, and all of the hope and love that New York had for it's Belles burst, washing away the adrenaline and sweat from the game and the August heat. All the wins and losses and cheers and heartbreak added up to this moment, a moment of realization that once again, the curtain has been closed on the Liberty's summer. No championship, no finals. Just the door, and our memories.

Both sides had heroes. Detroit only featured three players that scored double-digit points - Nolan with 22, Ford with 17, and Smith with 12 - while only two other players scored more than two (showing just how strong the Libs were playing in their own end). New York had four players with 10 points or more (Kraayeveld - 16, Jackson - 14, Moore - 11, McCarville - 10), with Christon adding a further 9. Defensive player of the game? Tiffany Jackson, with 10 total rebounds (Dutch had more defensive rebs, but also had a couple more lapses). All in all, New York started stronger, but Detroit found their groove and were able to substitute players as needed, while New York stalled a bit in the later half (either through exhaustion or inability to adapt to Detroit's shifting game-plan).

Had this been at any other point in the season, I would have chalked it up as a good learning experience. Yes, the Libs let a ten-point lead fade away into nothingness, but they also were neck-and-neck with the best team in the league and almost scammed their way into the second round, despite finishing 16-18. It was the season finish, however, and that always leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Oh well. As the Cubs said, and the Red Sox before them, and the Brooklyn Dodgers before them, and back to the time when the first fan watched his or her team get defeated and awaited for the turning of the seasons that would mark the coming of the new season, like a harbinger of spring...

"...maybe next year..."

GAME NOTES...

• Patty played only eight players. :::shakes head:::
• Crowd in Detroit? Electric.
• Overall Play by the Libs? Superior, with a couple moments of breakdown.
• Sad ending, but the Libs played well. They just couldn't pull it off.
• All photos from this post from the WNBA's official site.

It was good to see the Belles one more time. Next year, there will be different faces and different times, but this will be the season that I remember. I'll be doing a full recap of the season next week, as well as posting the various odds and ends that I have to do (Belles, Nicknames, etc.). I will be updating everday; however, if there isn't a lot of news, I won't be doing big updates. We'll talk more about the off-season after the Finals. Until next time, oh faithful few?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

The Boy's Back in Town - Gameday

It's good to be back...

So, finally, I am back with a full update. It's taken a while, and I'm sorry for that, but I had a great time. But you guys don't care about my personal life. You care about the Libs. And what a run...

First, the Libs do everything in their power to try and take themselves out of playoff consideration. They lose to Chicago in a game that they should have had, and they were on the brink of playoff elimination. But, thanks to the plucky play of Erin "Muffin" Thorn, the awakened Shameka Christon, and the one known only as Dutch, the Libs came back to defeat the Mystics (a 73-72 squeaker in their must-win game) and Sun (a more comfortable 74-66). The last game was it, and the Libs came out and played... pretty terribly.

That puts it mildly.

Still, they hold of the Sky and come out on top, 58-52. They're in the playoffs and MSG goes nuts. I can't say that I was thrilled with the Libs by the end of the season, but they did finish 6-4 in their last ten games and never gave up. Their lack of passion in the middle of those 10, however, is something to worry about for our final game coming up. But first, some context...

FIRST GAME...

Liberty 73, Shock 51

This game started off like a fight between an old married couple, with back and forth jabs, insults that would sting later, and eventually make-up sex (okay, so that last part was more like make-up free throws). At the end of twenty, the score was 25-25, but that doesn't really do it justice. The tide of the game had definitely swung to the favor of the Shock, and though the New York faithful were doing their best, a bit of wind had been taken out of their sails. This is almost the definition of a spanking.

And who doesn't like a spanking?

Thor opened up Mjolnir on the asses of the Shock, shooting 16 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Marvel and Dutch scored 13 each, although both suffered from some defensive lapses (although the Shock were never able to capitalize on either).

The Libs went on an 18-0 run, and if that wasn't enough, then went on a 16-0 run. They kicked the Shock six ways from Sunday and didn't let up until the final minutes. It was a strong game for them, and while the Shock's shock at the Liberty's liberty probably had something to do with it, it was good to see that the Libs were able to pick up the slack when able and not play down to their level.

And let's face it; a team that barely made the playoffs beat the best team in the league. It feels good. But no one can (or should) rest on their laurels, because two days later, it was time for another match-up, this time in the far away fairy-tale land of Detroit.

SECOND GAME...

Shock 76, Liberty 73

Gotta give credit to the Libs for never backing down. The Shock were up by 17 points in the middle of the second half and watched it drain away as the Libs kept pushing and pushing and pushing and please stop pushing I'll give you my lunch money just stop pushing I want my mommy and...

Anyway, so, yes, but the Libs did well (especially in the first and last), but like so many close games that they've played, seemed to lack the passion needed to cap off a victory when they most desperately needed it. With less than 15 seconds to go, the Libs manage to steal the ball on a play that is VERY close to foul territory, and what do they do?

Use your imagination.

Dutch, with a bit more time than she thinks she has, shoves it down low and can't push it in. She should have pushed the extra mile to force a Detroit foul, or stopped and set up the play again, but instead, she half-asses it and the Shock come up. Nolan makes two free throws and that's that.

But, as Shakespeare said...

"What's past is prologue, assholes."

Let's get it together. Will this be our last game of the year? Or will it be the catapult to the Eastern Conference Finals and Beyond... beyond... beyond... beyond...beyond...)

TODAY'S GAME...

You know how it's gonna roll tonight. Detroit. The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Detroit Shock Treatment versus the New York "Man Who Shot" Liberty Valance. Detroit isn't exactly beating steel into sword, but they can definitely take care of the Libs. They're entire starting lineup is capable of scoring over 15 points a game, and no one on the bench can be counted out, either. Plus, they're at home, and in front of their zealots, they are like a runaway freight train. They're well-coached, well-disciplined, and well-trained. They can play it hard, play it soft, push, pull, and work around the arc. They have no problems with any team in the league.

Well, except for the Libs, of course. The Shock can't seem to get around the Libs, splitting the season series and losing the first, big game of this post-season. This is not without reason; the Libs are capable of levels of play only spoken of in Myth. Christon, Thorn, McCarville, Kraayeveld, Moore, Battle, Davenport, Willis... all have had double-digit points this season, and all are capable two-way players. On paper, the Libs seem like a complete team.

Unfortunately, paper isn't practice. The Libs are hounded by inconsistency, with only two or three players playing up to their full potential per night. In a year or two, when some of the younger players start to mature, this won't be so much of a problem, but now? It could be the toll of midnight. The Libs are going to have to step it up if they are going to escape Motor City and meet up with the Fever in the Conference Finals.

KEYS TO A NEW YORK VICTORY

• Contain Nolan, Ford, and Cash. Even containing one will do. In essence, limiting one of these players to less than double-digit points takes at least five points away from the Shock, and as seen in Sunday's game, sometimes that's all it takes.
• Play more than 8. Lisa Willis, despite only playing in 8 minutes, scored five points. Erin Thorn, in twenty, scored 2. Let's find the pieces that aren't working and switch 'em around.
• Thor and Marvel. Both Christon and McCarville have got to keep up their stellar play.
• Defense. It's hard to pick up a team that has as much firepower as the Shock, but if the Libs play hard and fast, those couple of rebounds and open balls that would be anyone's would instead become a New York fast break.

Get 'r done, ladies.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Indiana beats Connecticut, 2 games to 1

This was a balls-to-the-walls set, with two games going to overtime (including the last and deciding game). Indiana's indifferent fans were apparently the deciding factor as Connecticut continued their inexplicable ineptitude at home, losing in front of a huge hometown crowd, and then barely keeping the Fever in check in the last game before succumbing to a huge comeback (the largest in WNBA history). Catchings? You truly are a Goddess. Douglas? Don't trash talk until the game is over. And Connecticut?

Have fun on the golf course.

San Antonio beats Sacramento, 2 games to 1

Sacramento took the first game of this series in deciding fashion (86-65), cleaning the floor with the Silver Stars in San Antonio's first ever WNBA post-season appearance. But the Stars steeled themselves against the Monarchs in game two, coming up big in the first half and securing the game in the final twenty, and then brawled it out in the last game to beat the Monarchs by 2 (80-78). Star of the series? Do you even need to ask?

Ass-kicking, clutch-basket-shooting, and... dare I say it... bone-inspiring?

Phoenix beats Storm, 2 games to 0

Phoenix soundly thumped the Storm, and is it any surprise? Out of all the teams that made the playoffs, the Storm played like they least deserved the honor. They played horribly down the stretch and were handed their post-season based on the awful opening of the Comets. Phoenix played well, but not as strong in the past. In the end, however, it was enough, as the Storm (despite stong play from Bird, Lennox, Jackson, and Marques) relied too heavily on their starters and found their reserves... lacking.

They played... poorly...

Janel McCarville won the leagues' "Most Improved Player" Award. Which is nice, but really, she didn't have much of an opportunity until now to show off her skills before this.

That's it for me, ladies and gents. I'm not doing Belles or Nicknames on a regular basis anymore (I only have a couple to do, and they will go up when I get the chance). My comedy troupe's show is coming up this weekend and I will need every available moment during the day to work, memorize lines, and get things done for it. (If any of you are interested in showing up, give me an email).

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Short Update - Brief Internet Connection - Libs in the Playoffs - Spontaneous Cheering Mandatory

Sorry about the lack of updates, but unfortunately, I've had zero internet access until this point. I'm paying five bucks for fifteen minutes, and I won't be able to get back on for another few days, so I have to be brief and to the point.

We all know what happened. The win over Connecticut. The win over Chicago. The post-season slot. It's all here, it all happened, thanks to the Libs coalescing at the right time.

Now we're going up against Detroit, the top team in the league, but also a team that we have beaten twice (both in squeakers). It's going to be a rough series, but if we can manage to play like we have in the past two games, we'll be fine. Detroit is the 800-pound gorilla, but confidence can wreck a team. Sports History is full of big teams going in, confident in their success, and losing to the underdog. Yankees-Pirates, 1960. Tyson-Douglas, 1990. I can go on and on. The Libs can allow themselves to be longshots, or they can grip the bull by the balls and rip 'em a new one.

I won't be able to cover most of these games, but fear not. I will return next week at the latest. orry this isn't more full. Once I get back to New York, I will be doing full recaps on the games that I miss. I'm having a fantastic time down here, and since it was my birthday today, I thought I'd update since I had the opportunity. My only regret is that I wasn't able to see the Libs secure their spot. But I was cheering from here.

Keep it up, you classy Libs fans. I'll get back to you soon.

ERROR NOTES

A helpful reader, Kevin Hyslop, pointed out that I made two errors and I would like to remedy that situation. I had said that the Mystics magic number was 1, but it was in actuality 2, as proven by the games that we played. Secondly, they did start 0-8, as he says, although I had reported 0-7 (based on another article, even though I had been following all season).

Until I can get more time?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Satan and the Mystics - Gameday Preview

One more chance to dance...

New York vs. Washington
7 P.M.
Verizon Center
The Ladies of Liberty versus the Strumpets of Satan

Quick game preview. I got things to do and people to see. Besides, everyone knows what needs to be done. Play the whole bench, take out players if they're not doing well, keep the ball moving, make quality shots, etc...

My throat's sore from all of the yelling.

The Mystics, who started off the season 0-7, are now in sole possession of 4th place and the final playoff spot. They're magic number is 1, which means that if either they win or the Libs lose, the Mystics are in the post-season (due to them having the tie-breaker). It makes this game simple, then: if the Liberty lose, the Mystics are in.

Strong play in the second half (aided by a timely trade of Chasity Melvin to the Sky for Monique Currie) has propelled Washington to the ridge of respectability. Their defense, once the worst in the league (behind even the Lynx) stands strong now, as the guards have taken charge and anchor a swinging zone. Their offense has perked up, as well

The Liberty can't take any chances with these guys. They're rebounding has turned super-solid, and any errant shots or passes will almost inevitably lead to an odd-woman rush. The Mystics suffer no fools, and the Libs are going to need to bring their A-game if they don't want to suffer another humiliating defeat like their last bout with Washington (80-68... ugh).

So, here's how it's done; we play up to our level. As evidenced by our win over the Shock (albeit a day after they had played a tough game against Indiana), we can hang with any team in the league as long as everybody plays up to their ability and when players aren't doing well, they're pulled. McCarville is going to have to keep producing at the level she's been doing, while Kraayeveld will need to pick up on defense. Moore, Christon, and Thorn need to be more consistent, and Davenport and Jackson should see playing time if they're doing well (as they have been doing in the last few games). Keep it simple and play strong ball; the Mystics are good, but they aren't fantastic. We can beat them, especially if we keep our defense strong. Focus on the positive and deal with the negatives as they arise.

That's the New York Way.

KEYS TO A NEW YORK VICTORY

• Rebounds. We've routinely been outrebounded. We need to pick it up, because Washington will shove any open ball down our throat.
• Less bad passing. Turnovers lead to points against, and we've pushed a lot of bad passes to set up mediocre shots. Let the play unfold naturally and one will find an open shot or player.
• Three-Pointers. Washington is still weak from outside the arc. We haven't been hot, either, but we're definitely over-due for a long-ball game update.
• Forget the past. The past is prologue. Right now, we need to win three games to even consider getting in the playoffs. Ignore eveything that happened before and focus on winning.

That's it. Take it to 'em, ladies.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Connecticut 77, Fever 74
Sacramento 81, Silver Stars 74

The Fever and the Sun will play each other in the first round no matter what, and this game was a good forecast of what could happen. The 1st and 4th quarters were relatively evenly matched, and if Catchings were playing, that could shift the balance of power. The 2nd and 3rd, however, were something else, as first the Sun smashed through the formally impenetrable Fever Defense, and then the Fever returned the favor. Props to Indiana for managing to almost come back, but the Sun were able to right their ship late in the game, which is a good indication of post-season success. Indiana better have had their notebooks open; they'll have to watch out for Connecticut in the playoffs.

Sacramento took advantage of an exhausted San Antonio like the Stars were a drunken prom queen. True, their much-touted defense once again worked only SO well, but they managed to get together and score the points needed and keep Becky Hammon rather isolated. Three starters for the Silver Stars scored most of the points, and the rest of the team chipped in a bit, but Sacramento knew what they were doing. This is another probable first-round match-up. It's going to be an interesting postseason, that's for sure.

Detroit @ Minnesota
Chicago @ Houston

Boy, is this easy. The Shock (THE best team in the league) versus the Lynx (the WORST team in the league). The Shock could spot the Lynx ten points and still come out on top. If you need any reasoning for this choice, you haven't been following the WNBA for that long. Shock by 11.

Both the Sky and Comets are out of the playoffs, but both managed to do a lot with very little this season. Both started off weak, managed to put together a decent middle of the season, and then faded near the finish line. On paper, the Sky are a better team, but Houston plays better as a cohesive unit, and their home record isn't so bad, considering their overall record. If Melvin is still out with her eye, then it will make things a whole lot simpler for Houston. Comets by 5.

I'm heading out of the city in the afternoon and will be gone for a while, but I will probably have internet access at various points. Posts will be smaller than normal, however, and I might not get around to doing the special posts (essay for today is probably cancelled as well). I might not be posting tomorrow, as I will be travelling for most of the day, but if I get a chance, I might throw something together in the late evening. Keep your fingers crossed for me, and while you're at the games, make sure to give the Libs a big cheer for The Writer. Until my next post, then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Performance Piece - The Wreck of the Liberty's Season

The Wreck of the Liberty's Season
(Sung to the tune of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot)

The legend lives on from Hudson on down
Of the big place they call MSG
The teams that play there have been called unfair
To the fans who love them, like me
With a team full of rooks, the court's wood had shook
With the preseason basketball there.
The Liberty weren't dreamed to be much of a team
But the ladies, the thought they would dare.

Erin Thorn could shoot, as none could refute
And Christon and Battle could play
Davenport had game, and she couldn't be blamed
For Hammon's walk gone astray.
"McCarville and Moore," Kraayeveld roared,
"Could rid the last season from minds."
The haters assured that New York was not cured
But the Libs, they thought it was time.

It started out well, as anyone could tell,
With five wins and no losses to mention
Then came the game against the Detroit dames
And with a beating, the fans felt the tension
Again, shock found the team against Indiana's cream
The Fever did sour their feelin'
And later that week when Washington was beat
It was found the win brought no healin'

There were two losing games before another win came,
And the Liberty's hearts had turned sour
Saint Patty knew well, that the season'd turned to hell
But she knew of her ladies' power.
They struggled mightily, and of course, vitally
As the losses kept mounting each night.
They lost ten more rounds, the playoffs came down
And the Libs were out of the fight.

There was a game against the Sky, for one more try
As Washington beat on the Sun.
Like the season - it's a crime - they played well at times
But with no passion, it couldn't be done
What could anyone do, save the Liberty few,
As they realized they must pay the toll?
They wept on their play as they all rued the day
When they'd started diggin' their own hole
The game was on the line, but no one played fine
Could no Lib be brought to reason?
The buzzer rang then, and of course, that's when
Came the wreck of the Liberty's season.

BDSM Fans Rejoice - Liberty get Spanked

Balls.

Chicago 77, New York 65

Quick question: what happens when the eighth woman into the game is your point leader, and yet only plays for 16 minutes? Answers along the lines of "You Lose," "You Blow," and "You slit your wrists" are acceptable, as anyone watching last night's game in Chi-town could tell you. This was one of the worst performances of the Libs all year, and this beating came from a team that was eliminated from the playoffs before the final minutes of the game were played.

It didn't start off that badly. It was mostly back-and-forth during the 1st quarter, with the Libs going down by 1 (18-17) at the end of ten minutes. Sure, there were some bad turnovers by the Libs, but that could be attributed to any number of reasons (1st quarter jitters, worries about the US Economy, voodoo). McCarville was playing well (4 pts, 3-4 on all shots), and the entire team was helping out.

The 2nd quarter then starts, and the Libs bring themselves back from a shakey start. Davenport starts it off with 2 solid free throws, and by the time she's taken out five and a half minutes later, she has six points and a defensive rebound. There's a three minute stretch near the end of the quarter that spells a bit of worry, as the Libs can't seem to mount any offense, but the Sky barely manage to capitalize on the opportunity, scoring a six points, but also fouling and turning the ball over just as often. Jackson and Christon score a basket each, however, and things settle back down. Heading out after twenty, the Libs are ahead 38-34.

Now, one could think that, based on the play of the first half, that the Liberty can handle the Sky, and one would be right. The Libs were shakey at points, but they didn't commit too many stupid fouls and they were keeping the ball under control. Patty isn't playing the bench, and while no one is lighting up the board, so to speak, no one is sucking balls too much.

Pardon the layman's terms.

And then the third quarter happened. When the dust settles, the Sky have scored 20 points and are ahead 54-45.

What is it about coming out of the locker room for the Libs that is so detrimental to their playing ability? It happens game after game after game. Last night, they only managed 7 points in ten minutes, and couldn't get the ball out of their zone, let alone shoot it. The last three and a half minutes saw seven missed shots (three of them free throws), and the rest of the quarter wasn't pretty either. The Sky had pulled ahead, and that's the way they stayed.

Sure, another ten minutes were played, but the Liberty didn't play like it. It seemed that after a half an hour of gametime, they were ready to call it quits and give the Mystics the chance to scoot ahead a bit. Davenport does her best to bring the Liberty back (8 points in that quarter), but she's only one woman (one woman who Patty only played for 16 minutes). The rest of the team plays grab-ass with the Sky, back and forth, and then the game ends, 77-65.

The Mystics rejoice as their pact with the Devil is fulfilled.

The end of the game could be best summed up as empty. Basketball was indeed played, but nothing really HAPPENED. Davenport was the only one playing with anything close to passion, and the rest of the team seemed to forget that at one point, they could burn Chicago like Mrs. O'Leary's cow. That quarter totally mystified me; the Libs gave up and stopped caring, and almost, in effect, created a blackhole of playing equal to the size of the UIC Pavillion's court.

Scientists have no answers as to what caused it.

But that's the way it is. The Mystics are now a single win away from the playoffs, despite opening the season 0-8. That means they've gone 15-9 since then. That's a playoff team: that's a team that never gives up. The Liberty? They can't even play a full forty against the Sky. We might make the playoffs yet, but would we deserve it? Based on this game, I have one answer.

Fuck no.

GAME NOTES

• Chicago Sky turnovers: 9. New York Liberty Turnovers: 20. Ouch.
• Chasity Melvin got her eye poked out of its socket at the beginning of the game by Christon (she's fine now). THAT. Is crazy. Thor? A little much.
• The Libs made fifteen fewer shots than the Sky.
• Patty's quote: "You have to forget (the loss)," New York head coach Pat Coyle said. "We have to win out right now. That's what it comes down to." It's kinda hard to forget about losing 10 out of 13, however, especially when no one is getting any time.
• Second largest crowd of the year for the Sky: 5.5K. They're gettin' there...

So, the Libs have three games left and are 1.5 games out. We're officially going to end the season with a sub-.500 record and our players are playing without passion on the floor. Patty refuses to play more than eight players a game and attendance is falling. Fighting for a playoff spot, we've gone 3-7 in our last ten games and can't get any momentum going. Anything else?

For an encore, how about the Libs club a baby seal?

Next game?

Washington Mystics
Tomorrow, 7 P.M.
Bring Holy Water

THE biggest game of the year. A loss, and we're out. That's the way it is, ladies.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Washington 65, Connecticut 64
Houston 83, Detroit 71
Seattle 81, Minnesota 67
San Antonio 84, Los Angeles 77

No time. You know which game is a surprise (hint: It's not the Storm-Lynx).

Connecticut @ Indiana
San Antonio @ Sacramento

Connecticut must win this game if they want second place. Indiana can still lose and retain its position. Connecticut, despite their loss to the Mystics, are still playing really well. Indiana is doing their best impression of Lindsay Lohan's career. Despite all of that, Connecticut is on the road and coming off a game last night. I don't like the Fever's chances, but Connecticut is running against statistics. Fever by 4.

Once again, a team (San Antonio) comes off of a victory to play on the road the next day against a contender (Sacramento). The difference being that I don't mind picking against a stronger team here. Sacramento isn't as good as the Stars, but they play their system well (especially at home), and despite San Antonio's astounding away record (11-4), the Silver Stars are going to be tired. San Antonio's gonna get romped like a cow in the middle of a cattle drive.

That Hee-Haw moment brought to you by "Old Goathumper Whiskey".

Sacramento by 6.

That's it. Performance Piece up in the afternoon. Take care, y'all, and take the guns out of your mouths. Save that for when the market crashes due to the overspeculation in real estate and our obscene debt finally crashing down.

Sorry. It's not been a good day.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Nickname Tuesdays - Tiffany Jackson

Tiffany Jackson

Having to share a last name with Michael Jackson, as I've discussed before sucks major donkey balls. Thus, I feel that it's my duty to bequeath to Ms. Jackson a name that will conform to her skills on the court.

That is, NOT "Skippy".

The problem is, that every time I come back to it, I keep thinking "Michael", making it very hard to concentrate. Add to this that I'm as tired as a bartender on payday, and I can barely think straight, let alone think up a nickname that will do Ms. Jackson any kind of justice.

Andrew Jackson? No, Tiffany hasn't started any genocide lately...

So, with that in mind, I'm going to have to force this one out - pull it out of my ass, if you will - as unless I get this post done in ten minutes, I may never finish it. So, thus, I am left with only one option. It's not my best, but well... go to hell.

Tiffany Jackson = "Action" Jackson

Sure, it's not the most "original" nickname in the world. But hey, it's catchy, it rhymes, and it's something easy that I can remember.

My mind tain't what it used to be.

Burn, Chicago, Burn - Gameday Preview

Let's get this party started with a bang...

New York Liberty vs Chicago Sky
8 P.M.

We're going to Chicago, and it's clear to both teams that a victory is needed. The Libs are in a much better spot for post-season action than Chicago, with destiny in their own hands: if they win their next four games, they're in no matter what. Chicago, meanwhile MUST win this game if they are to reach the post-season (not to mention their season finale in New York), while also hoping that the Mystics lose two of their next three games. New York has breathing room, but not much. The Mystics are playing today, and the Libs are half a game out (with a game in hand). A win today will put them into fourth and give them a chance (with their extra game) to put a full match between them and the 5th spot.

We've split the season series so far with Chicago, winning our home opener against them 83-71, but losing a month later, 73-66. Both games came at completely different moments than where both teams are at the present. The Liberty are coming off a win against the Shock and winning three of their last five after dropping seven in a row. The Sky, meanwhile, have lost five straight after winning four of five (against Detroit, Indiana, and San Antonio!). Clearly, things are up in the air tonight for both teams.

Chicago isn't without talent. Candice Dupree, who is averaging a hair under 17 points per season, leads the team in points, but other notables include Jia Perkins, a stalwart guard who can throw a mean dish, and Chasity Perkins, a strong forward who can rebound and throw a body. They're top five players are averaging double-digit points a game, and they have been known to upset any opponent that doesn't take them seriously.

Their problems, however, stem from a weak bench and inconsistent play. Dominique Canty and Armintie Price are both strong regs (averaging 8.8 and 8.3 points, respectively), but the rest of the bench is weak, has been hurt, has not played enough, or can't perform up to their talent-level on a nightly basis. Dupree, meanwhile, has scored beneath her average in eight of her last fourteen games. The Sky are a team of streaks, winning a bunch of games, then losing a bunch of games, and like a city on a fault line, can be dangerous after lying dormant for a period of time.

It's not like the Libs are some powerhouse, however, as despite our recent nail-biter victory over the Shock, we've played pretty poorly. Our last three losses (Phoenix, Washington, Los Angeles) were all fairly decisive, with the Los Angeles game particularly distressing. Patty, while getting better about spreading the bench, still likes to play her favorites into the ground, and most of the team has been fairly inconsistent.

New York HAS woken up recently, though, taking three games out of five and beginning to show what we are capable of. McCarville's emergence has been a big factor, but as other players on our team have begun to step up and fill the void left by Becky Hammon, more and more confidence has been seen on the court. Whereas about a month ago we couldn't close down a team after going ahead late in the game, now it is the Liberty who are the ones banging down doors, taking down Detroit and Houston despite being down at several late points in the game.

Sunday's game proves that New York can hang with any team in the league. Six Libs scored 10 points or more, including four of our starters. All that being said, it was essentially an seven-person show, with Davenport playing 6 minutes and Willis and Farris combining for just a little over 3 minutes total. Kraayeveld, despite waking up late in the game, continued to play despite missing key shots and turning over the ball late in the game. For today to turn out well, we are going to need at least three of our starters to have good games and several regulars step up to fill the void of those that flail, much like what happened against Detroit. Chicago can pick a team apart if they want to, and while New York's zone can shut them down, if we start to scramble, it's all over. Kraayeveld is going to need to be strong on D, Moore is going to need to keep coming up big, and the entire team can't force a pass that isn't there. Turnover points have killed us in our last ten games and we need to cut them down.

Look for Patty to play a more conservative game tonight. Chicago is going to push as hard as they can - they are indeed desperate to make the playoffs after finishing 5-29 last year - and Coyle will probably try to us their momentum against them. Hopefully. Step it up, ladies, and we can play it well.

KEYS TO A NEW YORK VICTORY

• Take your time finding shots. The Sky's defense against Field Goals is second worst in the league (.430, right behind the Lynx), but they rebound well. If the Libs pass enough, they'll find an opening in the defense.
• Shoot from the arc. The Sky aren't great defending against the 3, either. Set up outside, and if they collapse in, go for it.
• Cut off passing lanes and hold your ground. Force them to shoot from the outside, and if they decide to run in, and for God's sake, plant your feet.
• Keep their heads in the game. Chicago is really not that good of a team. Sure, they have Candice Dupree, and yes, Claire Coggins gets my blood boiling, but they aren't any better than us. Just remember that.

I would like a little Liberty-Sky rivalry to build up, and if the Sky can survive their horrible attendance numbers and one of us eliminates the other from the post-season, that could add some fuel to the fire. Let's just make sure that it's US on the inside, and THEM on the outside.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Connecticut @ Mystics
Houston @ Detroit
Minnesota @ Seattle
San Antonio @ Los Angeles

Connecticut is in the playoffs and will secure at least the third spot if they win tonight. Washington has been playing very well overall, although they've struggled mightily in their last few games. They haven't lost at home since Detroit in late July, and before that, San Antonio at the beginning of that month. While Connecticut is the better team (by far) of the two and could bump up to the number 2 spot in the Conference if they take two more games than Indiana, they have much less at stake here than the Mystics. Look for the Mystics to try and prove to a hometown crowd that they deserve to be in the playoffs. Mystics by 4.

Detroit is now rested and looking to enter the post-season on a strong note. Houston, while playing much stronger than a few playoff-bound teams at the moment, is now eliminated. Both have little to play for except pride, but I think that Detroit is going to look to get the bad taste out of their mouths after their loss to New York. Ford is out until at least the playoffs, but Cash could come back if Detroit feels she's up to playing. That could spell doom for the Comets. Shock by 7.

Will Minnesota even both to wake up? Which Seattle team will show at the Key tonight: the one that has several super-stars, or the one that looks like a female-version of the Washington Generals? Will Seimone Augustus be able to lift the incompetence around her, or will the stellar play of Jackson cancel her out and make it an easy pick-up for the Storm? All these questions will be answered tonight in a game between the worst team in the league and the worst team heading into the playoffs, as well as another question; will anyone care? Storm by 6.

San Antonio is a game behind Phoenix in the Western Standings, but has two games in hand. They're going in against a Los Angeles team that has upset several opponents in the past but is still far from being competitive. Becky Hammon will be in (supposedly) as this will be the last time that the Silver Stars can gain ground on Phoenix. Expect quick work. Silver Stars by 8.

Erin Thorn's got a chat going on today. If you're into that kinda thing, it starts at 2.

Penny Taylor and Deana Nolan were named WNBA Players of the Week. Hard to argue with either choice, especially Nolan, who has been carrying her team (absent Ford and Cash).

Nickname up in the afternoon. Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Liberty Belle - Lindsay Bowen

Lindsay Bowen

Position: Guard
Height: 5'6'' (5'7'' in some sources)
College: Michigan State
Years Pro: Rookie
Former Star of: Cheers.

See?

Hailing from Dansville, Michigan (named, one presumes, after someone named Dan), this Liberty Guard is fast, killer outside the arc, and currently owns the Great Lakes Record for most number of dreams broken in a single game. By day, she plays for the New York Liberty, but by night, she fights crime as the Necromancer!

All blatant lies, just so you know.

It all started back in Michigan State, where Bowser holds the record for most three-pointers made in a season and was named Co-Big Ten Freshman of the year. There, she averaged over 13 points a game, going big on the free throw line (309 out of 352) and three-point arc (.405 average), while also becoming the Spartans second all-time leading scorer.

Sources are scarce for Lindsay Bowen's information online. I would make stuff up, but really, I'm too lazy. Lindsay Bowen's acts can speak for herself. Sure, she's only played in six games for the Libs this season (1 started), but in that time period (37 minutes), she's scored nine points and gone 3-6 from the three-point line. Clearly, she has the skills to pay the bills, but can the coaches stop acting like roaches and give her a chance to get in the dance?

That was horrible. I apologize.

An interesting article about Lindsay from her alma mater can be found here. It's a pretty touching story, filled with the kind of sad, sad stuff that makes for a great Disney movie. Cut from the Liberty practice squad, practices in Europe for a year, friend gives up, Lindsay goes to Switzerland to hone her skills (no, really), and then comes back and makes the squad to the joy of her family. It would warm my heart if I wasn't actually a robot, hell-bent on destroying humanity.

Bowen's just going to get better and better, as evidenced by the time that she has been able to get on the court. For more information, use your imagination, write to the Liberty, or start your own fansite. Just, whatever you do, don't stalk Lindsay outside her apartment. It can lead to bad, bad results.

I speak from experience.

Coronary Embolism? No... - Liberty Win

My heart can start beating again...

New York 85, Detroit 84

Talk about thrilling. Talk about excitement. Talk about... about... about a last second shot at the buzzer that, based upon all prior knowledge of physics and the universe, I thought had no conceivable chance of hitting the rim, let alone bouncing up, up, and in. But we'll get to that in a second...

Anyway, you guys want actual reporting? I can't give it to you straight as, while I was at the game, the box score STILL isn't up. However, I can definitely give highlights.

Goofus and Gallant go the MSG.

This game proves that the Liberty can hang with the big boys, if they so choose. Sure, Detroit was tired from a knock-down-drag-'em-out fight with Indiana the night before, but they were playing a full bench and were swtiching up players four at a time to start off the game. They might have been tired, but that's just an excuse. The Liberty found a way to win, and everybody in uniform contributed.

The 1st quarter was a doozy. The Libs grabbed 32 points and, despite some defensive lapses (Detroit scored 28 themselves), made the Shock look tired and beat. McCarville came up with a huge eight points, while several other Libs (particularly Moore and Christon) made big shows and huge moves. It looked like this game was going to be a strong, strong show.

Of course, this is New York. Nothing is so easy. The Shock stormed back and tied it up, went down, then tied it up. Going into the half, the Libs and Shock were tied (if I remember correctly), but momemtum had definitely swung to favor Detroit. They were gaining big, and with Katie Feenstra filling the void left by Cheryl Ford and Swin Cash (both out due to injuries), it seemed that Patty would have to give a major pep-talk to keep the girls on top of the ball.

That didn't happen as well as she had hoped, however. The second half started, and it was all Detroit, all the time. The 3rd quarter was, save for the last few minutes, a travesty on par with the Teapot Dome Scandal.

Your Grandmother gets that reference.

The Shock start whipping the Liberty like they were a redheaded step-child. Again an again, the Liberty can't seem the bury the ball, and the Shock come up huge and score big. At one point, halfway through the third, the Shock, once down by six, are now up by 13 points. Slowly, the Liberty begin to come back into the game, but can't manage more than an extra point per drive. We're down by 10, down by 8, down by 9, down by 6... you get the idea. Frankly, with the way the Libs were playing, I was happy to get out of the 3rd quarter only down by 4. It was a shit-show, pure and simple, and I thought that, despite the Libs surge at the end of the 3rd quarter, that they were losing steam.

Nothing could prepare anyone for the 4th, however. Deanna Nolan proves why she's an All-Star by scoring 12 of her 19 points in these ten minutes alone. I wish I could go into the details of all of what went on in those ten minutes, but like some Russian epic about the Napoleanic Wars, I would only begin to scratch the surface while leaving you, dear readers, with the impression that I had beswamped you in details.

Some key points stand out, however. Battle making three free-throws on technicals (starting with one at the beginning of the quarter on Shock Coach Bill Laimbeer). Tiffany Jackson making a diving lay-up to keep the game close. Nolan coming up big from the key, then Moore making a three of her own, then Nolan making ANOTHER three-pointer. Dutch scoring a huge two points with 44 seconds left. Barbara Farris, put in for the first time all game, coming up with a huge rebound with less than half a minute to play. The Liberty's time-out, leading to two shots - both missed but both rebounded - and the Libs retaining possession on three OB's. Then, with about seven seconds left, the Libs get one more shot. Around and around they go, before it goes out of bounds, but thankfully, mercifully, the Libs come up with it again.

3.3 seconds left. Time for ONE shot. Dutch (I think it was Dutch; my memory grows hazy with time and alcohol) looks, left, looks right, squeezes the ball through to Thorn with a planck-length of room to spare. The seconds tick down. Thorn is cut off, pushed back. She has one shot. In a weird, twisting, jumping motion, she throws herself into the air and WILLS the ball in the general direction of the net.

The buzzer goes. Time literally slows down to a heart beat as the nine thousand people in attendance hold their breath. It is astoundingly quiet; so quiet that when Thorn lands (before her shot), one can hear the squeak of her shoes echo. The shot arcs, almost wobbling, in a strange trajectory that everyone KNOWS can't be good, but PRAYS will hit the rim.

Up.



Up.



Down.



Bounces on the rim. Off of the backboard. STRAIGHT UP.






And up.







And up.







And while I'm sure that it never was more than two feet above the rim, in my mind's eye, the ball travels like some homemade rocket before making its descent back to the court.







And then it goes in.

Madison Square Garden erupts. You would have thought that it was a sell-out from the noise. People are dancing in the aisles as Thorn jumps into a throng of her teammates and is lifted onto shoulders. The Shock, upset and dismayed, nonetheless pull it together to shake hands. And, for one second, before anyone knows what the Mystics did, it feels like the Libs managed to beat the odds and take something that no one gave them any credit for. A group of ladies that no one gave any shot at doing anything this year took down the big dog of the league and were winners.

And then, of course, reality set in. There are still four games left until the end of the season, and the playoffs after that. The battle is won, the war continues.

GAME NOTES

• The Shock outrebounded the Liberty by at least a margin of ten. I wish I could be more exact, but the WNBA's site STILL doesn't have the boxscore up.
• By the way, WNBA's site = horrible.
• The Referees? I wish I could say that the Libs won on their own, but they had some HUGE help from the refs, who made several home-town calls late in the game to keep the Libs in contention.
• Everyone had a hand in this. Thorn? Obviously. McCarville? HUGE first and last quarter. Tiffany Jackson? Her second half was magical. Barbara Farris? Massively clutch rebound with less than a minute left. I could go on and on...
• The crowd? Electric. For the final minute, on those who literally couldn't stand up were sitting in their seats (and even a few of these defied medical science and stood up anyway).
• Martina Weber was on the sidelines. That sucked, but she WAS wearing a nice blue dress number that, allowing me a moment of sexist lust, was smokin'.

So what's that all spell out in terms of standings? Well, to put it mildly, this was probably our most important win all year. We're now a half game behind Washington for the final playoff spot, with a game in hand (we have four games left, they have three). We play each other IN Washington on Thursday (talk about ramifications), while each playing Connecticut once (Washington plays them twice). We play Chicago twice, meanwhile.

Revel in the victory for now, ladies. I still am, frankly. But let's not lose sight of our ultimate goal. This beating of Detroit will only ring soundly if we can manage to overtake the Mystics and hold off the Sky.

Speaking of which... Next Game?

Chicago Sky
Tomorrow, 8 P.M.
The UIC Pavilion
There's an "ICUP" joke in there somewhere. I know it.

Get 'er done, ladies. Every game's gotta be a win now.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

FRIDAY'S GAME

Houston 83, Sacramento 75

The Comets still had life at this point, despite a razor-thin margin for error. They took a team that prides itself on their defense and scored 83 points against them, putting their backs to the wall and coming out swinging like Barry Bonds on steroids (a redundant phrase, I know). Tina Thompson scored 24 points, while Michelle Snow grabbed 11 rebounds, as the Comets, while allowing six Monarchs to score more than eight points, did not allow the Monarchs to score more than 20 points in any quarter. I'm glad that Houston could do this and prove to themselves that they had a bit of something left to give. Great stuff.

SATURDAY'S GAME

Detroit 74, Indiana 69
San Antonio 63, Houston 60
Connecticut 88, Chicago 66
Phoenix 100, Los Angeles 83
Seattle 91, Washington 68

Indiana finally played like they had some life, outplaying the Shock in the first quarter (in particular) and the first half (in general), but it wasn't enough as the Shock pulled another game out of their ass and made it six straight wins. Deanna Nolan scored 26 points and almost a dozen rebounds as the Shock held the Fever to just 9 points in the third and 28 points in the second half to win their game and removed the "almost-assured" from the phrase "almost-assured home-court advantage throughout the playoffs".

Yes, Becky Hammon rocks. She led her team to victory, despite some close calls (the game was tied at the end of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarter). Houston stuck with it, though, and played like a team desperate for a playoff spot. They couldn't pull it together, however, with only one of their starters scoring double-digit points and no player scoring more than Snow's 11. San Antonio is now a full game back of Phoenix, but have four games left to play, to the Mercury's two. It's going to be a photo finish.

Chicago is still technically in the playoff hunt at this point, being two games out with three games to play. However, with their decisive loss to Connecticut on Saturday, they must win their last three games (including their season's finish IN New York) and hope that both the Liberty AND the Mystics forget the game of basketball and instead take up Professional Bull-Riding. Or the Mystics and Liberty could COMPLETELY implode and hand Chicago the playoff spot. Considering that Jamie Carey of the Sun (a second reserve) scored more five more points than three of the Sky's starters COMBINED, that's a tall order.

The Mercury beat up on a bad team (Taylor- 28, Pondexter- 21, Smith- 16, Taurasi- 12). They scored 100 points in forty minutes. The Sparks (the SPARKS, mind you) managed 83 points against THE team of the Western Conference. This shows one of two things: 1, that Phoenix has come to grips with the fact that their defense is non-existant and 2, the Sparks' death has been GREATLY exaggerated.

Washington played Marv Albert and Betty Lennox (34 points) dressed up as a high-priced Manhattan call-girl as the Storm beat the Washington like they begged for it. Seriously, this game couldn't have gone worse for the Mystics had they just not shown up and forfeited the game. At least then they would have been well-rested. After this, they were shown up, humiliated, and left gasping for air as they took a plane-ride to take on Sacramento the next day. Huge victory for the Storm, who FINALLY secured their spot in the playoffs.

SUNDAY'S GAMES

Sacramento 86, Washington 82 OT
Los Angeles 89, Minnesota 80

Washington had to step it up. They needed this win, took Sacramento into overtime, and blew it with several turnovers. They could be a game and a half ahead right now, but instead, they squandered their chances and let Nikki Powell lead the Monarchs to a victory that both teams desperately wanted. I guess a Sacramento team wanting home-court advantage plays better than a Washington team fighting for it's life.

Minnesota's season ended about a month ago. They haven't won a game in so long that they'd throw stones at it if they saw it. Is anyone besides Augustus even bothering to show up to practice anymore, let alone games? Sure, they scored 80 points, but against the Sparks? They were basically spotted twenty at the beginning of the game. At least the Sparks have spirit. They were down and out about two weeks ago, and they're still trying, despite failing. This team, with a superstar and a stauncher defense, could definitely compete for a 3rd or 4th playoff spot. The Lynx? They just depress me.

Shay Doron is helping out with breast cancer. As a man, I can't possibly comprehend the terror of breast cancer for women, but I know prostate cancer, and it scares the shit out of me. Check out the site and bid on some of the things she's putting up for auction, if you're so inclined. It's a good cause.

There's an article up about the Australians in playoff contention. They're missing a few (like Tully Bevilac... Bevel... that one from Indiana), but it's a solid read that doesn't digress into the usual "love letter to Lauren Jackson" kinda stuff.

Sorry about not getting the game preview for Detroit up, but it was hell in the office and I couldn't do it at home.No games today. Which is nice for me, considering that I would have to research them all and I have NO TIME. But that's that for today. Liberty Belle up in the late afternoon. Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Making our own Rope - Liberty Lose

(A picture-less post. Just to see what it's like...)

Phoenix 97, New York 86

It started off not all that bad for the Liberty. Sure, at the end of the first ten minutes, we were down by 3 (26-23) and our defense was looking a little shabby, but the game was still close, Phoenix is known to make the BEST defense's look bad, and there was still a lot of ball to be played. The game was really back and forth, and while Christon didn't come alive until the later parts of the quarter, the entire team was chipping in at the beginning. Unfortunately, it all slid downhill from there.

Davenport fouls Schumacher twelve seconds into the 2nd, setting up an easy point out of two for Phoenix (Schumacher's free-throw skills... eh). The Mercury score twice more to go up by 10, before finally, almost three minutes in, McCarville lands a lay-up and the game resumes. Phoenix controls the ball for almost the entire quarter, with the Libs shooting bad shot after bad shot (10 misses, 6-16 overall, including multiple missed foul shots), while turning the ball over at several horrible moments (seven points from turnovers, not to mention the rebounds).

At halftime, the score is 44-35. There is still hope for a comeback, but the Liberty aren't exuding any kind of confidence. Desperation has settled in, as evidenced by them trying to force plays into situations that just resulted in Phoenix grabbing the ball and shoving it back down our throats. Thorn just isn't coming up in big situations, and while McCarville and Christon are doing their part, very few others are stepping up.

The 3rd quarter starts off in the same old fashion, as Tangela smith makes three straight baskets, interrupted by a McCarville lay-up, to make it 51-37. The Mercs don't back down, and while the Liberty begin to surge late in the quarter, it's too little too late. Kraayeveld, who has been quietly racking up points, scores her 11th, but Thorn continues her struggles. Ten minutes pass and its 71-58 Mercury.

Thor, Marvel, and the Beatle take the game into their own hands for the Libs. The 4th sees only one other Lib score a basket (a lone free-throw from Moore), while Phoenix continues their onslaught. The closest that New York gets is six points with a minute left in the quarter, but then Pondexter, pissed from her performance in the last New York-Phoenix game, shuts the door with six straight points. The game ends, the Mercs high-five, and that's that.

Overall, the officiating wasn't awful on the court, but it wasn't spectacular either. The Mercs played hard and got away with a lot, while the Libs backed down and allowed themselves to be dominated for large stretches at a time. Add to this that they couldn't make key free throws at desperate points and it just allowed Phoenix to play the game their way without much interference.

As for the players, inconsistency once again proved deadly. Battle, McCarville, and Christon had the best games out on the court, while Kraayeveld also had a decent game, although she still was wobbily on defense. Thorn? On the court for over thirty minutes, but with only four points, while going 1-10 from the field with only 2 assists and rebounds. Patty played her regulars again, with only six players averaging over nine minutes of game time, and only one other player (Tiffany Jackson) receiving anything other than pity time.

Let's not just gang up on Patty... or Thorn, or anyone else for that matter. There's a lot of blame to go around this time. We can hem and haw until we're blue in the face, then argue about who's fault this is, and find a little bit of shit-pie to put on everyone's place, but there is only one, true conclusion. The Mercs outplayed us, and that pretty much sums it up.

GAME NOTES

• With Washington's win and our loss, that drops their magic number from 5 to 3. There is not much wiggle-room left for us.
• The Libs shot 30-70 from the field (almost 43%). Take out Marvel, Thor, and the Beatle and we were 9-36.
• Martina and Bowen weren't dressed, while Doron didn't get any playing time.
• Almost all stats are comparable to each team. Assists, turnovers, steals, blocks, etc. Except for Shots. And points from turnovers. Which were both WAY in Phoenix's favor.

Next game?

Sunday, August 12th
Detroit Shock
4 P.M., MSG
Be There, At the Square

WEEK IN REVIEW

Washington 80, New York 68
New York 77, Houston 71
Phoenix 97, New York 86

This has been an interesting week, to say the least. Loss to Washington, beat Houston, then a beating from Phoenix. We're down by two games against the Mystics and a half a game above last place. It's not a good time to be a Lib fan.

Janel McCarville led the Libs with 57 points in three games, while Christon finally began to awake from her long slumber. Patty finally played Davenport a bit after someone moved the Gatorade cooler and revealed the Middle-Man still on the bench. Loree Moore had a couple of strong games (and a couple of big mistakes) and the rest of the Libs were all over the map. We're still searching for consistency, and we may not find it until the end of the season.

The Washington game was particularly bad. Bad coaching, bad playing, inconsistent offense... it was a true terror to behold. Had we taken that game (or at least shown up), we would be in a much better position than we are right now. We did manage to take the game from Houston, and while we lost to Phoenix, I was sadly expecting to lose to one of the hottest teams in the WNBA. However, this team is not playing like a team hungry for the post-season. While I have not give up all hope (not by a longshot), I am beginning to despair.

Sunday marks the last week in the regular season, and minus our 5-0 start for the year, we are 7-17, which is truly abysmal. Our team is definitely young. VERY young. A few players (Thorn, Willis, Farris) have been around for several years, but the majority of our team are players that have played in three campaigns or less. We're still gaining experience, and in a year or two (with good drafts, trading, and maybe ONE more solid player) we'll be a monster. Just you wait. I would be willing to chalk up this year as a learning experience if we can somehow come out on top for a long time to come.

In terms of this blog, I have radically shifted the site from something that was definitely humor and picture heavy to something drier and more sports-centric. I like the look of it now, and I still post some pictures, but this may change coming up, although how much change there will be is questionable. With five games left in the regular season, there isn't a huge amount that I would want to shift before the end of regular play.

Of course, two days after I discontinue hotlinking (today), I get an email from someone pissed off about one of my older posts (about a month or so old) that isn't on the front page anymore. I removed the picture, but it's definitely some bad karma that as soon as I decide to change, someone tries to bite me in the ass for sins of the past.

Anyway, this week has been all over the place. This weekend is going to be crazy, too, what with all of the games and all of the importance placed on Washington's next two outings. I will be in the South (Virginia, first, then North Carolina) starting Thursday night, so my posts will be a bit smaller than usual, depending on if I can get time and an internet connection at all. If I can't, I will try to have a friend fill in for me. No promises as to the caliber of their stuff. Not everyone can have stellar writing skills, a knack for seeing between the lines, and razor-sharp wit like me.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Detroit 97, Seattle 70
San Antonio 72, Sacramento 61
Washington 80, Los Angeles 75

I was pretty much of on these games for everything except Washington. I'm not going to go into too much detail because I haven't had the time to look over them, but it's quite obvious that Seattle is content to lose their way into the post-season (27 point loss to the Shock? They're good, but not THAT good). San Antonio obviously still has a lot of spunk left in 'em, and the Sparks are garbage. That's about it, really. Check the WNBA's official site for more info.

TODAY'S GAMES

Sacramento @ Houston

This will be the second game in two days for Sacramento, not to mention the flight. Houston, meanwhile, has had several days rest and still has a glimmer of a playoff hope. Sacramento is still the obvious choice to pull this off; they are a much more well-rounded team. I would like Houston to pull it off, but I don't think that they are going to have the gas in the tank to push them over the edge. Monarchs by 7.

SATURDAY'S GAMES

Indiana @ Detroit
Houston @ San Antonio
Connecticut @ Chicago
Los Angeles @ Phoenix
Washington @ Seattle

This would have been a much more interesting game had Tamika Catchings not left the Fever in a tailspin and Detroit, despite losing Cheryl Ford, begun to look like a team made up of Hero-Gods from the days of yore. A win for Detroit will secure them the top spot (and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs). An Indiana win? It still means that they'll have to win three more games and pray that Detroit loses their last FIVE. Detroit is so much hotter right now, and Indiana so much colder, that the choice is easy. Shock by 7.

Houston, once rising and breathing down Seattle's neck, has begun to fall back into their early season form. Rookies are taking stupid chances, Tina Thompsons's drama is dragging down the fans, and the schedule? Well, it's not the kindest one in the league. The Silver Stars have surprised many people this year, and with Hammon back, there is no reason to think that they shouldn't be able to take care of their cross-state rivals. I like Houston, but I don't think they can take this game. Bye-bye, playoffs. Silver Stars by 9.

The Sun and Sky? One last joke before the end of the season? No? Fine then. Connecticut is tearing up the court and Chicago has faded from semi-decent to semi-awful. They've lost four straight and are two and a half back from Washington, a game out of pocket, and thus all but statistically eliminated from the post season. If Chicago loses this game and Washington wins one more, they're out of the playoffs. Period. Connecticut, meanwhile, still has a shot at 2nd place, with a game in hand against the Fever and down by 2.5 with five games left to play. That would be a MAJOR benefit to them, and with the way they are playing behind Douglas, I don't see any reason why they shouldn't take this game. Sun by 9.

Los Angeles? The losers of 14 of their last 16 games? Against Phoenix? The highest scoring team in the league? Mercury by 10.

Seattle is trying their hardest to keep Houston in the playoff race, and with their game against the surging Mystics, I think they're going to instill even more false hope while backing into the playoffs. I don't like how Seattle's playing - on a team as talented as they are, they continue to lose close games and squander chances while giving up WAY too many turnovers - while Washington has finally coalesced. Look for Alana Beard to have a good night and for Bird, Lennox, and Jackson to try and lift the rest of the dead-weight around them. Mystics by 5.

SUNDAY'S GAMES

Washington @ Sacramento
Minnesota @ Los Angeles

With Sunday's game in Sacramento, Washington will have played three games in four days, all on the road, and all on the West Coast. Sacramento, meanwhile, will be coming off a day's rest and looking to try and either gain on Phoenix or solidify their second-place spot. Washington will have a great deal on the line (if they win on Saturday, there magic number will be 2) and with a win (and a New York loss), they will have clinched a play-off spot. Sacramento is damn-near impossible to beat at home, however, and Washington's energy has been awful at the end of road trips, bunched together or otherwise. Monarchs by 8.

The Battle of the Cellar Dwellars will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday. Minnesota seems to have given up on this season; they're still playing, but their starters just seem to be going through the motion. Honestly, a high draft pick would be a much better option than one or two more wins, especially on the road. Los Angeles is also done, and has been for almost half a month now. They can't get anything going and the stench from the Staples Center can be smelled from as far away as Berdoo. With Augustus, I feel that the Lynx are a better team than the Sparks at this point, but overall, and at home, I think Los Angeles can still throw a bit around. Sparks by 4.

ABC is going to have an insider's view for the upcoming Indiana-Detroit game, via half-time locker room views. Voyeurs, eat your hearts out.

Katie Douglas's husband was apparently ejected from the Suns' game against the Monarchs. Read up for the details (which are few and sketchy). Douglas was happy that her man stepped it up, apparently. Too bad the Sun couldn't get anything from it (they lost by 2).

That's it for me. I'm going to try to put up a Detroit game preview later in the afternoon. My home computer is fried, you see, so I'm not going to be able to update this weekend. I'll see you guys on Monday, when I post my game review. Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

No Press Credentials

Yeah, so Casey Sherman (Communications Coordinator for the Libs) got back to me. Yeah, only the licensed press are allowed credentials, which is what I expected, but hey! I tried. Casey was very nice about it, and maybe that policy will change in the future. It's not like I'm not going to the game. I'll still cover it, and maybe I can snag a two-question interview with a player going down the hall.

ME: "Yo! Martina! Will you marry me?"
MARTINA: "(Unintelligable German)"
ME: "Can I quote you on that?"
MARTINA: "Ja!"

Word. Essay below.

Three over Two

One of the big digs against the WNBA that pundits occasionally trot out is the lack of dunking. Dunking has become such a part of the NBA (and men’s hoops in general) that it is hard to imagine the male game without it. Thus, when one sees a women’s game, with its near-lack of dunking, one could argue that because women can’t (or won’t or don’t)dunk, that the female version of basketball is naturally inferior to the men’s game. Dunking is a part of the sport; the women don’t dunk; thus, women aren’t playing the full sport. That’s, of course, picking and choosing what one wants to see. For me, dunking, while cool, has never had that much effect. What turned me onto the WNBA were the skills and precision used by the players, particularly when shooting from the arc, rather than the intimidation and pure-testosterone exhibited in the NBA. The three-point shot will always be more beautiful, to me at least, than the dunk.

Obviously, the point total sets the biggest difference. Three-points as opposed to two? Three skilled shots can close a nine-point gap when thrown from beyond the arc, as opposed to five dunks. Sure, it looks nice to hammer an opponent home after they failed to take you into account, but at the end of the day, it’s still just two points. Dunking and making a big deal out of it when one’s team is down by double-digits literally makes me laugh out loud; much like when I was a goalie for hockey and some guy would celebrate scoring a goal when we were up something like 7-2, it seems hollow. Great. You’re a real man. You just jumped really high in the air. Now get back and play defense.

The skill required for the three, however, is much more intense and precise. A dunk requires height and power. Shaq makes a dunk look like a child playing with a toy hoop. A soaring three-point, up in an arc that can be immediately judged on whether it will hit the basket or not, requires timing, patience, arm strength, precision, and a strong eye. Height can actually hinder a three-pointer; the angle at which the ball must be thrown is more precise. Thus, taller players can be at a disadvantage when throwing those in the air, and with the ever-increasing height average in the NBA, that means more emphasis on overpowering in the lane and less outside work.

Besides, Dunking is “manly.” Combatants jockey for position, sweating and grabbing and elbowing until one man throws himself into the air – much higher than anyone else can dare to go – and stuffs the ball down his enemy’s throats. Intimidate your man, make him pay, simplify the game and turn it into a one-on-one contest. THAT’S the way to win it the manly way. Shooting from the outside? It’s for pussies and women. See how the conversation shifts once again to being about strength (inherently manly) and grace (inherently feminine)? How can it be any other way?

The dunk is about power; the three-point shot is about skill, and that’s the difference between the NBA and the WNBA in today’s market. Many men want teams ripping each other’s throats out, bleeding rivalries, fights in the stands, and anything else that gets their blood pumping. The WNBA is happy to produce a game that has less single-match up battles and more team action, which can appeal to segment of the population that doesn’t like all-gung-ho-all-the-time or prefers something varied. As long as the WNBA caters to a more family-friendly environment – all-ages cheerleading, players from rival teams helping each other off of the floor, not pushing dunking or showboating – and as long as most sports fans desire something that is as close to gladiatorial combat as possible, the league will never reach the heights of the NBA.

Which is fine by me, because I don’t like what the NBA’s selling at the moment. If being a jackass and insulting another game to make myself feel better is what it means to be a man (or at least make myself safe within my sexuality), than I all too happy to buy into another paradigm, thank you. Obliterating one’s opponents and losing the finesse that can turn a game into a masterpiece is what can be lost if too much emphasis is placed on over-saturation of testosterone. I know where I stand, at least. Every time one of my friends would try to get to go to a game or watch on TV, it always turned out to be a disappointment. I am all for blood-lust, rivalry, and testosterone (I played hockey, after all). But for Basketball, I prefer the three to the dunk, and if that makes me or anyone else a “fag” then at least I’ll have a lot of good company at the Garden.

Gameday Preview - Thursday's Rock

The First Post of the New Age...

GAMEDAY PREVIEW - PHOENIX MERCURY

10 O'Clock
Phoenix, Arizona
It's over 100 degrees, but don't forget to bring the Heat.

The Phoenix Mercury are sitting pretty atop the Western Conference, having secured their entrance into the playoffs (following a win against BLANK) and a full game ahead of both the Monarchs and the Silver Stars. They're run-and-gun style gaming has finally begun to kick into a higher gear, as their absolute indifference to any form of defense has been tempered somewhat in recent weeks, lowering their average points per game (from 89.2 to 88.0) but INCREASING the difference between their points and their opponents (by almost three points).

What this all means is that the Mercs are the hottest team in the league right now, winners of 8 of their last 10, and by substantial point margins (their only losses coming against Seattle and Los Angeles... wait, wha?!?). Diana Taurasi, who in the middle of the season was a bit cool (by her own standards), has rallied her troops behind her, and with the help of Cappie Pondexter and Penny Taylor (not to mention Tangela Smith), the Mercury have become THE offensive threat of the WNBA.

How much so? The Mercs top five players (Taurasi, Taylor, Pondexter, Smith, and Kelly Miller) average, together, more points than all the Liberty (minus Doron, Bowen, and Weber) combined. But as their loss against Los Angeles proves, the Mercury are not some lumbering behemoth that cannot be circumvented.

The Mongol Hordes, they ain't.

The Liberty aren't in the best shape right now, but they could definitely take this game from Phoenix if the Mercs come in with the wrong mind-frame. The Libs took a close from the Mercury back at the beginning of the season, winning 82-81 off a last-minute basket (then foul shot) from Davenport (thank you, Middle-Man), in a game that was probably the most exciting of the season while also solidifying my interest in the team and the league. Their OT-win over the Shock was fantastic, but for my money, the Mercury game showed what this team can do when they put their minds to it.

It also doesn't hurt that, despite their increases on D, the Mercury are still not a solid defensive team. They give up the most points in the league (85.7), the highest 3-point percentage (38.6%), and the most rebounds (by far, almost five more than the next highest). If the Libs are looking for a team to awaken their offense, this the team to do it against.

In essence, the Liberty can adapt to any sort of team that comes their way, if they allow themselves to do so. With a strong system set up by Patty, the Liberty play like some kind of weird, pre-historical mammal, staying in the shadows at first and finding out weaknesses, and when a gigantic meteor smashes into earth (or their opponents begin to slow down), they race in to snap up what is rightfully theirs.

Like ninjas. Basketball-playing ninjas. Basketball-playing, Santa-Claus-stealing ninjas.

At the best of times, this works when different bits and pieces (a.k.a. the players) that aren't working are substituted for players that work better in that situation. Thorn would come out for Baker (later Willis), or Barbara Farris would play and allow McCarville to let the weight of the Libs off of her shoulders. Defense-first teams (Sacramento, Indiana) would find strong shooters attacking from the outside, while offense-first teams (Phoenix, Detroit) would find taller and faster players blocking lanes and getting key rebounds.

This has fallen by the wayside in recent games as desperation has set in. Patty has stuck to her regulars, despite any evidence that it just wasn't their day, in hopes that circling the wagons and instilling confidence would bring the team back to life. It has worked in some situations, but in others, certain Belles (all of them took their turn at some point) have played for over half the game and registered a net-minus to their worth.

There's a lot riding on this game. The playoffs, the season, dignity, and a chance to break .500 for the season. With a loss, we guarantee we can't finish any better than 17-17. With a loss (and a Mystics win), we drop a game behind in the race. With a loss, we continue our haplessness on the road (5-9 for the season, no back-to-back road wins since half-way through last season). We can't hope to possibly compete with Phoenix on an offensive-basis. Even if all of our starters somehow turn in quality games at the same time (which they have been unable to do up until this point...), the Phoenix offense is just too potent. Stick to the defense, take strong shots, and remember that we beat the same team back in the early season.

Time to show the Mercury how we do things downtown.

KEYS TO A NEW YORK VICTORY

• Play strong D. No offense in the world could possibly compare to Phoenix's. But a solid defense has been known to stifle their game.
• Take 3's. The Mercs have the worst long-ball defense in the league.
• Play clean, but play hard. Both Pondexter and Taurasi can let their game go to crap when someone gets under their skin. Fouls on their (and other Mercs') part will lead to easy free-throw points. Uh...
• Hit free-throws. Yeah, these are the easiest points in the game, and Libs can't make 'em (they're second-to-last in the league). Let's change that, ok?
• Listen to each other. Depending on if Patty only plays the regulars or goes deeper to the bench, this will shift or focus. I can't tell you how many times I've seen Thorn open at the top of the arc, waiting to set up a play or shoot, only to have a bad pass or shot lead to an odd-woman rush.

Take it to 'em, ladies. And don't give up.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Storm @ Shock

The Storm are essentially in the playoffs now (and stuck in fourth place), unless there something akin to a house-sized asteroid blows up Seattle but leaves the United States - and the Houston Comets along with it - intact. The Shock (up four games and with two games in hand against the Fever) are essentially going into the post-season as the number one seed, unless the bubonic plague rears its ugly head and takes out three-quarters of the team, thus forcing management to use Detroit Lions cheerleaders in their stead, which would be aesthetically pleasing while also giving those cheerleaders SOMETHING to cheer about, but would also mean significantly less quality basketball.

So, while this game will almost certainly feature all of both teams regulars playing it out, there isn't much on the line for both. The Storm have SLIGHTLY more to prove in this game, as their season is TECHNICALLY in trouble, especially with Lauren Jackson possibly still out and Houston still within screaming distance. But the Detroit are at home, or as it is known in the league, "The Place Where Streaks Go to Die". Just ask the then 5-0 New York Liberty.

I'd almost forgotten about that. Then some asshole at Recall uncapped my memory implant. MAN, that hurt. The memory, that is, although the cap itself was a... but I digress...

Shock by 8.

Monarchs @ Silver Stars

This is going to be one of the biggest games of late summer (unless the final playoff spot must be decided in the New York/Chicago game at the very end of the season). Sacramento, after stumbling a bit with their defense, has rallied around Brunson, Lawson, and Powell (combined average 35 points, leading the team) and begun to stretch their offensive legs (almost atrophied to the point of uselessness after months of defense-only basketball).

The Silver Stars, after surgig to first in the latter-half of the season, have gone 5-5 in their last ten and lost 3 in their last four, despite securing their first post-season appearance in franchise history. This is helped by the fact that, according to the poster "Rebecca," "Hammon has a sprained foot. Vickie Johnson has a balky Achilles. Sophia Young is playing on a sprained ankle." Really, it's a miracle that the Silver Stars haven't imploded into a dense black-hole of losses, from which nothing, not even light, can escape. San Antonio still have a decent team with all of that going against them, but with the Monarchs finally beginning to fulfill a bit of their promise, I can't pick the Hammon-less Stars without my gut clenching up in a fit of anger and dyspeptic acid. Monarchs by 6.

Mystics @ Sparks

No one needs to be told that this is a huge game for the Libs to watch. Obviously, we need to take care of our own game first, but it would help if the L.A. Sparks (who, despite all evidence to the contrary, still apparently exist) could take themselves off all of those milk cartons and show up at the Staples Center for the game.

The Mystics are decidely hot, winning 7 of 10 (with wins against San Antonio and twice against Chicago in that span, putting themselves in good late-season position). It's true that most of those games have come against sub-.500 teams (Minnesota, Houston, :::cough:::New York:::cough:::) and those losses have come against the usual suspects (Detroit twice, and Indiana), so it could be argued that they haven't had such a great streak so much as really convenient scheduling. Alana Beard and Monique Currie are still sick, so let's not count them out of this game just yet...

...especially when they're dealing with the Sparks, who have DOA or MIA, depending upon which acronym you prefer. Taj MacWilliams-Franklin is the only Spark to average over 10 points a game (11.5), which shouldn't come as a surprise if anybody realizes that the team has two wins in their last fifteen games, one of which was against the Liberty.

Permit me a moment to scream...

This is almost a sure-bet, the only thing being if the Sparks are going to rally a bit at the end of the season in front of a hometown crowd. With that ace in hole, as well as their propensity to astonish (they have lost by less than three points in five of their losses, while also beating Phoenix), there is no telling what they can do. I'm sticking with my guns, however, and picking Washington to win. I hope that they don't, but the Sparks? How to be polite... um, not so good. Very, very, very not so good. Mystics and their Satan-Worshipping ways by 8.

An article is up on the WNBA's official site about the Lynx. It's pretty much about how there is lot's of young talent on the team (duh) and that there's lots of room to grow (double-duh). It kinda smells like desperation, as in "Please don't abandon this team, Minnesota!" I can understand that. But a better switch would be to put a team in a Western market and shift the Lynx into the East, allowing them to play closer (and more traditional) rivals while cutting down on costs.

Also, these informal rankings are up on the MVP race on the league's site. At this point, I don't see how any player can make a strong case over Lauren Jackson for MVP (except for maybe Becky Hammon), even Nolan or Taurasi. Both are having monster seasons, but if they were to have disappeared before the season started, their respective teams would have made the playoffs. Without Jackson, the Storm would have NOT done so.

This article about Janel McCarville was up a few days ago on Newsday. Enjoy McCarville while you can. She's going to get great for a few years, then be traded for a first round draft pick who will then be benched halfway through the season. McCarville will then spark an MVP-caliber run with the Minnesota Lynx while the Libs struggle to make the... you know, I'm just going to stop there.

A USA Today piece about the season-ends awards, with a little piece about McCarville and Moore, including a quote from Patty. Interesting stuff, with side-by-side comparisons. Honestly, if we don't make the post-season, the awards aren't going to mean much to me.

As a side-note, I requested press credentials for Sunday's game against the Shock. I am almost certainly NOT going to get them, especially if the team thinks that my oaths of love are a bit... (creepy... illegal... stalker-ish...) ...er, much, but as I am going to be out of town for the last two games and would like to finish this season with a bang (both for myself and this blog) I figured "What the hell?" and emailed Casey Sherman (PR for the Libs). I promise to get an interview with a baller should I get them and report it in its entirety here on the site. Wish me luck!

So, how do you guys like the new format? Too wordy? Not funny enough? Not serious enough? Should I go to a meta-format, in which I talk about talking about the WNBA? Should I drop the "Around the League..." section? Should I stop trying to woo Martina Weber by setting traps baited basketballs and spaetzel?

Really, any help in that last question would be a plus.

The poster "m3" suggested a few places that I could go to "transload" images so as to side-step hotlinking (major props for the help, by the way), but if you guys like this more content-heavy site, I could stick with it.

Thanks to m3 and Rebecca for their thoughts and suggestions, and a giant tip o' the hat to the anonymous guy who emailed me to tell me that I was a "fag" and that I should take my site down because "thoes (sic) dikes (sic, although maybe he WAS refering to water canals) should get off the cort (sic) and suck myt (sic) cock." His words - though poorly spelled and absent of grammar, punctuation, purpose, intelligence, or, really, any glimmer of humanity - reminded me of why I do this blog in the first place.

Essay up in the afternoon. Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Liberty Quiz! - Performance Piece

Which New York Liberty Player Are You?

Have fun!

Discontinuing Hotlinking

Performance Piece to come later. This is something on a different note.

As a new blogger, I am unaware of a lot of protocol (both literal and figurative) for what goes and what doesn't go on the web. Due to this, I have stepped on a few toes here and there, but most of the people who I have crossed were gracious enough to point out what I was doing as a mistake of a newb and let it go at that. I've removed a few images, edited a few things here and there, and things are at a good point.

However, I only recently became aware of the term "hot-linking." For those not in the know, hot-linking refers to directly linking a piece of media (in my case, images) from another site while bypassing the original site. I did not know that what I was doing was specifically called "hot-linking" nor that it pisses so many people off. However, I now am, and must consider the ramifications.

The reasons for the anger on the part of many are two-fold. One, it steals bandwith from another site. It's not that big a deal on Blogger, where it's all free as long as one doesn't exceed a certain limit, but on other sites that people pay for (usually in terms of monthly usage), it can place an unasked burden upon the webmasters. Two, it bypasses what a person may be saying about a certain image as well as possibly infringing on their copyright.

This was purposely designed by the creators of HTML. They wanted the internet to be a forum for knowledge, where one can give and receive information for the purposes of advancement, amusement, and betterment, without specific ideas of profit forced upon it (the internet has evolved to a different point, but that's an argument for later). Because of this, I am not sure that I entirely oppose hot-linking, in that the internet is supposed to be about the free exchange of ideas and that what is posted is free game. Few amateur websites "own" the photos they place on their website (in terms of copyright), but copy and paste them for their own purposes. This certainly (to me) makes calls of intellectual property theft (problem number two, above) ring hollow.

However, I do not like the idea of making people spend more for their hobby (in bandwith usage) so that I can be funny and lazy. It takes a lot longer (and is more involved) to post one's own uploaded images on Blogger, which is why my early posts (before I learned about hot-linking) tended to be more concise. I simply didn't (and don't now) have the time to find, save, crop, and upload a huge amount of images. I found out how to directly link to images, I discovered that my productivity could increase several fold while actually cutting down on time posting. As a Christian (a Friend, specifically), however, I am uncomfortable with the idea of stealing and making people angry when I am perfectly capable of an alternative means. I am not worried about being sued, but I don't want to cost people money without compensation, both monetarily and intellectually.

Henceforth, then, I will discontinue hot-linking. Images I post will now come directly from my own bandwith allowance from Blogger. My posts will thus be more wordy, shorter, and without pictures, but I cannot, in good conscience, continue my practice of this term until something a little more permanent (legally and ethically) comes about. I will not take down older posts with hot-linked images in them at this moment, but I will allow them to scroll off my front page until one can only view them via the Archive. This will decrease bandwith usage for others without making a scar on the site. When the season is over (only a few weeks away), I will decide between taking down all of the images (when I have the time to do so) and either replacing them with jpegs of my own or leaving them off the site permanently. If this site continues in the next season (and with the amount of people viewing, there's a strong possibility of that occuring), I might chalk this season up as a learning experience, wipe it all from the site, and start over again.

I will continue posting, so don't worry about that. My site will evolve, however, to meet this new format. Based on what I am now allowed to do, it could become more serious (something the Liberty desperately need, as mainstream coverage is slim), or it could stay funny, but in a more text-based (and thus, dry) way. It could be something completely different, but that's neither here nor there. As the season is almost over, it doesn't matter much in the short term, but in the long term, it means (at least, to me) a great deal.

Once again, Performance Piece up in a bit. Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Light a Candle - Liberty Win

Outer Space can suck it!

New York Liberty 77, Houston Comets 71

First of all, before anything else, let me say that the MTA and half the people who use are complete horseshit. A little water, and suddenly, 50% of New York turn into crazy assholes that HAVE to get onto one train and will kick, push, and claw their way in, not waiting for people to get out or even for the next train. The MTA, meanwhile, can't even get something as simple as a rain schedule up. Newsflash: we live in a city on the ocean. It's going to rain. Make some contingency plans.

Actual photo of the MTA's chief, Elliot G. Sander.

Now, onto the game; the Libs beat back the Houston Comets to hold onto playoff hopes. The Sky lost and the Mystics won, so we're still one game out of the playoffs, but the we're out of last and into fifth, with a game left against Washington, whom we have done well against in the past.

Liberty beats Dark Lord, although Fox News beats Liberty, even if the Dark Lord beats Fox News.

Patty continued to play her favorites, although Kraayeveld came out after 15 minutes due to her lack of defense and only 5 points. Janel McCarville and Loree Moore led the Libs with 17 points each (and 8 and 6 rebounds, respectively), while Erin Thorn (10 points, 4 assists) had a strong showing as well. The big surprise was Jessica Davenport, who came off the bench to play over 20 minutes and contribute 13 points and 6 rebounds.

Only Gamera can save us from Mecha-Davenport! (Translated from Japanese)

It's good to have her back. And it was nice to see the Usual Gang step up and deal with Comets when they started to take back the game in the 2nd Quarter. The Libs were dealing with them handily before then, but the Comets, led by Tina Thompson (a game-high 24 points and 9 rebounds), stormed back and took the lead away.

Tina Thompson reported back pain at the end of the game. That's what she gets for carrying the Comets on her shoulders.

The Liberty, unable to mount a comeback in most of their last ten games, suddenly found the fire in their bellies. Battle and Moore each shot a three in the last two and a half minutes to go ahead by four and then finish the first half 39-37.

I sense a great disturbance in the force...

Indeed, for McCarville came back out after the break and scored a driving layup, stole the ball from Smith, and then went back again.

Scientists are divided on whether they think it hurts to be that awesome.

Nothing happened for the next two minutes, although the Libs thoroughly dominated it. The Comets had one shot (missed), a turnover, and a foul, but nothing else. Admittedly, missing six shots in that span isn't great, but the fact that they were able to keep cool, grab the rebounds, and work it back out to start again shows that they've finally been able to mature as a team.

Let's just hope that it is enough...

McCarville makes another jump shot and the game continues, as if nothing had happened... well, because nothing DID happen during that stretch.

There is more atomic activity at absolute zero than there was in that time frame.

It was pretty much in control after that. The Comets never led after that brief spurt in the 2nd, while McCarville, Davenport, and Moore thrust the rest of their teams into the limelight and took the Liberty back to four games under .500 and one game out of playoff contention.

McCarville, Davenport, and Moore. Attorneys at Law. This Fall on ABC.

Anything else? No? Then to Game Notes we go...

GAME NOTES

• Get under the basket? Check. More from Moore? Check. Back to Basics? Double-check. Who called it? You're damn right.
• Hamchétou Maïga-Ba (HOU) had a fantastic game. She turned over the ball several times, but she did score 16 points and had five rebounds while only missing four shots out of 15.
• The Liberty are still falling short at the free-throw line. They shot less than 65%. Again.
• Good to see that the Libs aren't allowing themselves to fall back into their old tricks.
• Strong crowd. Almost 8K, which is a little bit less than normal for Houston but still above league average.

Next game?

Tomorrow
Phoenix
10:30
Phoenix is a boring-ass city, but they can kick the crap out of anyone in the league.

We beat them before, we can do it again. We have to take the game. The Mystics magic number is five. Let's not help them out. Any questions?

Then cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Washington 77, San Antonio 73
Sacramento 81, Connecticut 79
Minnesota 95, Seattle 74
Indiana 74, Chicago 70 (2 OT)
Phoenix 96, Los Angeles 93

Obviously I underestimated the desire of the Mystics to stay in contention. If they can handle the Silver Stars, it's going to be a rough road getting into the playoffs.

As in "certain-sexual-acts-without-lube" rough.

Becky Hammon was out (for reasons unknown to the Writer), which definitely would have affected my position on this game had I known, but the Silver Stars should have been able to handle it. Sophia Young (26), Helen Young (18), and Shanna Crossley (16) all handled it, but when a starter scores zero points in over 20 minutes, it's not going to be a swell time.

See above comment on certain-sexual-acts... well, you know...

Sacramento had their hands full with the Sun, but managed to fend them off to come out on top by 2. Kara Lawson scored 21 points, while the Monarchs' D managed to contain Katie Douglas (ONLY 9 points), although Sales, Jones, and Whalen combined for 47 points. Sacramento secured their spot in the playoffs (all but a formality), while Connecticut has a magic number of 2.

Everything's beginning to settle into place.

What happened in Minnesota? Seriously, what happened?

Just the facts, sir.

Five Lynx score over 10 points. Minnesota scores 37 points in one quarter, while holding the Storm to 12 in another. Sue Bird is held to 6. Lauren Jackson doesn't play. The Storm shoot 36% from the field, while the Lynx score 47%. There are just over 5K in paid attendance.

All right. That's enough. Stop talking before the world stops making sense.

Ooo! Indiana drags the Sky along kicking and screaming into overtime, where they slug it out in one of the most boring games of the season. THIS is why Chicago doesn't have a fan base, because once people start coming to games (yesterday was their second-highest attendance of the season), they lose in pitiful fashion. They only scored six points in the 4th quarter, while Indiana only scored 11. Chicago outplayed Indiana in the first and third quarters, but threw enough scraps away to feed the cockroaches... er, Fever. And this is the team we're duking it out with for a playoff spot?

Says alot about our situation, eh?

Leave it to Phoenix to allow a team like the Sparks to compete. Hell, the Sparks spotted the Mercs 23 points to 12 in the first quarter, and STILL managed to almost pull it off. How can Phoenix give up 28 points in a quarter to the Sparks. THE SPARKS?!?

It puts my belief in a just and orderly universe to the test.

THEN they come back and score over 30 points the next half. Inconsistent play isn't even the beginning. What the hell is going on with Phoenix? I can't make any kind of prediction when they play ball games like this. I'll just have to make it up as I go.

Ok, ok. I kinda do that anyway.

Speaking of which, the Mercs have an article up about their coach, Paul Westhead, heading into the playoffs with his style of game. It's going to be interesting, not only because Westhead is a goofy name.

The taunts in middle-school must have been merciless.

The WNBA has the current playoff picture up. It's kinda worthless, not only because the East hasn't been worked out yet, but because they don't even have the standings right. The Liberty (12-16) are AHEAD of the Sky (12-18), morons. There is no justification for putting Chicago ahead.Except everybody in the WNBA is hating on New York but is bed with Chicago.

What's Chicago ever done for YOU?!?

Tina Thompson, she of the sore-back, is considering leaving the WNBA at the end of the season due to financial considerations. NOT good. How is the League supposed to survive if the best players make MORE money overseas?

It's like soccer, except people CARE!

Solid article about Shay Doron and her WNBA growing pains, as well as playing Israel. Apparently, when the Libs played Washington, Patty was booed because she didn't put in Doron near the end of that rout. Doron, as some may know, was a solid starter for the Terps, and there was a contingent of her fans in the stands. Thanks for taking the high road, Patty, and not putting out a fan favorite at the end of a game in which nothing mattered.

It's decisions like this that seriously mess with the WNBA's bottom-line.

ESPN has their Power Rankings up. The Libs are at 12 (before last night's game), which is kind of hard to argue with. It is a fair look at the rankings. I hate ESPN, but I can live with this.

That's it for me. I was late to work, which is why this is up late. I'm still running behind schedule from Monday. Performance Piece up in the late afternoon. Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Nickname - Martina Weber

Martina Weber

I was kinda looking forward to this, and kinda not. I put it off for a while in case I could think of any solid name, but nothing came to me. Really, Martina doesn't need any nickname.

Except perhaps "Ms. Awesome".

But, I don't want her to feel left out from the rest of the team. I mean, Thor, Dutch, Bruce, Marvel, Marlowe, Bowser, Muffin, Princess Peach, Saint Patty, the Beatle, and Barbara Ann all got nicknames, so why shouldn't Weber?

I'll keep it PG-13. I swear.

Martina's beginning to play, however, and not a moment too soon. The season is about to go down the tube we need a strong, German-bred, Iona-raised fire Goddess to jump-start the Libs for our final seven games.

Martina Weber = The Playmaker

She's gonna rock, just you wait. She'll hit like a ton of bricks and suddenly, everybody will be wondering where The Playmaker was all year.

She was running through my mind, that's where!

Take it to 'em, Ms. Weber... er, Playmaker. Make some plays and rock your enemies until they beg for mercy.

Sweet, sweet mercy.

Tuesday is Pooh's Day - Gameday Preview

Once more, from the top...

New York Liberty vs. Houston Comets

The Liberty's season will be decided in the next week, and we will find out whether they are a good team in the midst of a horrible spell, or just a bad team that had a good run at the beginning of the season.

Please not the latter... please not the latter...

Houston is playing host to us as we zoom into Texas for a match-up that will have ramifications in the East and West.

Of course it would happen in Texas.

Houston is 3.5 games out of fourth place, but Seattle (in 4th) isn't anywhere near consistent and Houston could potentially pull a massive upset if they go strong in their last six games.

It'll still take a miracle, however.

It says a lot for the Comets' character and talent that they are still in the playoff hunt despite starting off the season 0-10. Tina Thompson, still a master of the craft after all these years, leads a team that is much stronger on offense than defense, but attempts to keep both in check.

A fine balancing act.

Tamecka Dixon and Michelle Snow are strong components of that machine as well, creating a trio of strength that is carrying much of the rest of the Comets. Not to say that Houston is weak...

... but they sure ain't strong.

Our last meeting with Houston did not go over so well. The Liberty seemed poised to bury the Comets at several moments, but the Comets fought back and put the team away in the final minutes, 80-74. Kraayeveld had 31 points that night, but the Houston D kept all other Libs below the double-digit point line.

Bound and gagged, more like it.

Patty has been playing the bench a bit more since then, and it's helped. We took a game from Minnesota and looked strong in several of our losses, but we're still not closing the door. The Liberty have led in the 4th quarter in five of our last six games. Good teams win those games, while bad teams...

...well, you know...

McCarville has exploded on the scene (since starting in mid-June, she has only scored less than ten points in four games) and will need to continue to roll. Kraayeveld, capable of feats that I once thought impossible for humankind...

Think Hercules, but Dutch...

...is now on-again/off-again. Christon has been faltering a bit as well, not consistently scoring around her average since mid-July. We just need More.

Or Moore, rather.

The Liberty need to win this game. A victory here and a loss by the Mystics puts us in a tie for 4th. Losing a game and dropping back would be disastrous...

...on the level of a new Ben Stiller film...

There are only seven games left in the regular season. I keep saying that this game is a "must win" but in truth, they are. Had we won just two games (quite possible) in our seven game slump, we would be 13-14 right now, which isn't great, but would be a full game ahead of the Mystics and in sole possession of 4th place.

Oh well. Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

This is it, ladies. We can't hope to compete in the pressure of the off-season if we can't win here. Take it strong, take it fast, and rip the Comets a new one.

KEYS TO A NEW YORK VICTORY

• Contain Thompson. Easily the best player on the Comets, Thompson is both a leader and a killer shot. While the Comets have grown into a team that doesn't rely on her, Thompson is still a major part of the puzzle.
• Use the body. Houston is hideously outrebounded by their opponents. The ladies need to get underneath and go for it.
• More from Moore. Not just Moore, but from every player.
• Remember the basics. Ball, basket, line. The court is the same size everywhere, and just because the ladies aren't at MSG doesn't mean that their 20% worse.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Washington @ San Antonio
Sacramento @ Connecticut
Seattle @ Minnesota
Indiana @ Chicago (ESPN2)
Phoenix @ Los Angeles

The Mystics have finally found themselves in a position that they need to hold, and tonight is going to show whether they are able to do so or not. Beard is a monster on the court, but Hammon has been keeping her Silver Stars strong, racking up strong wins and keeping them at the top of the West (with two games in hand against Phoenix, in the number two spot). They have locked up a playoff spot now (their first since playing in Utah), but don't let that fool you; they still want home-court advantage.

And they're willing to fight for it.

So, which will it be? The team determined to stay at the top? Or the team fighting for it's life? I think there's just too much talent on the Silver Stars for them to drop this game. Silver Stars by 7.

The Monarchs will lock up a playoff spot with a win tonight against the surging Sun. Connecticut is not going to make it easy for them, as they have gone 10-1 in their last 11 games and can also secure post-season play with a win (and with Liberty and Sky losses).

Don't count your chickens JUST yet....

The numbers say a lot about both of these teams; the Sun have four players averaging 12 points or more, while Sacramento has only one. The Monarchs, meanwhile, have nine players averaging over five points a night. Connecticut? Only six. How will these two teams systems mesh?

It won't be pretty.

Sun by 6.

Minnesota is almost comically hapless, with their team near punchline-levels of ineptitude without Seimone Augustus (averaging over 22 points a game). The Storm, on the other hand, are laughably inconsistent, and despite having one of the most potent starting lineups of the WNBA, can't seem to keep a streak going for longer than a couple of games. While Minnesota is damn near unsightly at home (4-10), the Storm are just as bad on the road (5-10). There have been two meetings thusfar this season (each team won on their own court), but even if Seattle implodes, this game will not mean much in the great scheme of things. I'm tempted to go with the Lynx because of that, but gut instinct is pushing me away. Storm by 5.

ESPN2's game will be a highlight between the Sky, a sub-mediocre team with lofty aspirations and playoff desires, and the free-falling Fever, who have lost seven of nine...

No. I'm not THAT big of a geek.

...but backed into the playoffs, thanks to the breadth of distance between them and the bottom of the conference. I can't like them now, not with how they've played since losing Catchings, and with the Sky at home (at 5-9, barely praise). The Sky are itching to get into the post-season, as their owner must be, too. Expect the Sky to fight for it tonight. Sky by 4.

It's the end of the world, all right.

So, apparently Phoenix has not won in Los Angeles since 2005 and only won once in their last five meetings. However, these are completely different teams than those from which these numbers come. Phoenix has exploded, as its offense finally overcame the shackles imposed by their defense, while the then-"eh" Sparks have transformed into a pile of Donkey Poop.

Michael Bay left that one out of his Transformers.

The Sparks have lost 12 of their last 14 games and spiralled out of playoff contention. It is almost assured that they will finish with their worst record in franchise history and will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1998 (and this, the year after they finished atop the West). Despite history, I don't see any reason to think that the Sparks will somehow reignite tonight. Mercury by 9.

Nickname up in the afternoon. Sorry for the lateness. Insanely busy. Insanely insanely busy. Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Weekend Pacifists - Liberty Lose

Yeah, this blows...

Mystics 80, Liberty 68

Not a whole lot to like about this game. The Liberty fell off pace and the Mystics are now in 4th. Janel McCarville scored 15, a few other Libs (Thorn, Moore, Battle) broke double digits, but everybody suffered on defense. On the plus side... it was a Friday game, so everybody had the weekend to look forward to!

I'm reaching here...

The 2nd quarter was the only good quarter that the Libs had, and it wasn't even that good. They went into the locker room down by 4 and came out flat, losing by 12 and suffering the indignity of falling to the bottom of the East.

It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock n' roll... er, make the playoffs...

This is going to be a short update, as I am overloaded with work right now. I do this on my own, ya see, with no backup. This is a 1500-2400 word a day commitment, and when shit hits the fan, I gotta let this go for a day. It's either this or not get paid.

And getting paid is second only to getting la...er, reading.

It's an excuse, I know, but I really can't update until later today, if at all. Tomorrow should be okay. Hopefully. I'll see y'all then. Sorry.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Hallelujah - Liberty Win

So it is written, and so it was done...

Liberty 71, Lynx 66

And thus, the Liberty awoke from their seven game slumber and smote the not-so-mighty Lynx with a strong defensive game and a spreading of the ball not seen since the early days of yore.

Plus, Martina played. Huzzah!

Janel McCarville had 14 points, Loree Moore had seven rebounds, and Tiffany Jackson kicked her sleeping pills to the curb and scored nine points in twenty minutes. The killer of the night was Kraayeveld, who led the Libs with 16 points and had a MUCH stronger defensive night.

The Netherlands have been liberated! Dutch has returned!

Major props to the Libs defense. The Lynx aren't exactly the early 90's Chicago Bulls, but the Liberty DID contain Seimone Augustus to 17 points...

A career low. Augustus vowed never to score less than 20 again...

...while keeping three reservists off the board entirely. Props to Patty for bringing Davenport in. While the Middle-Man didn't have a good offensive night (only 1 point), she did do good work on defense, posting three rebounds and controlling the lane nicely.

We were with ya all the way...

The Libs also shot over 40% in the field (although their 3-pointers continue to careen haphazardly), while letting the Lynx ALMOST come back into the game, but for the first time in a long time, they held off their advance and closed the door.

And don't come back now, y'hear?!

GAME NOTES

• First game with over 9K in a while...
• McCarville is a monster of mythic proportions. If she were playing on Detroit, she'd be a Goddess.
• Martina in the game for a little over a minute. Dammit.
• The Lynx never gave up. Kudos.

11-15. Not the best record in the world, but better than 10-16. We're also only half a game behind Chicago. If we win tonight, and Chicago loses, we'll be ahead and back in fourth.

Speaking of tonight...

GAMEDAY PREVIEW

The Liberty try to exorcise the Mystics and make sure that they don't fall back into last place.

It ain't that far away, ladies.

Truthfully, the Mystics aren't that bad, but they don't make the most of their opportunities, and that sinks them in most games. Since they're horrendous start, they've actually been mediocre (on par with the Sky)...

That's damning by faint praise...

Alana Beard is leading the team, averaging 18 points a game, with four other players posting double-digit point averages. Three players take over 6 rebounds per game, and their shooting percentage ain't bad either. Put that all together with a sub-.500 record, and what does that spell? Sing along, class...

BAD DEFENSE AND INEPTITUDE!

It's not like the Liberty are terribly better, but they can shine like a diamond when everything is clicking.

That's rarer than a Hockey Player's front teeth.

The Liberty will have to step up again. Not everyone is going to be a push-over like the Lynx. They're going to need to get an early lead, squeeze the Mystics tight, and hold the line near the end of the game. No more of this letting them get back in the game bullshit.

Cuz that's what it is; bullshit.

Patty, contain the ladies and make 'em play smart. Ladies? You all have jobs and you know that, despite playing last night, you are way more than capable of handling the Mystics. Keep it real, and keep it coming down hard.

Hard. Not Soft. Hard.

KEYS TO A NEW YORK VICTORY

• Play a strong defense. If the Mystics are stymied getting on the board, there defense won't be able to prop them up.
• Let players take outside shots. The Mystics play big around the basket, and it'll be up to our tallest to take that advantage away from them. Guards are going to have to put the ball in the air with quality shots.
• Move fast. The Mystics can't handle a lot of pressure. Break their back and keep them down.
  

It's showtime.

New York vs. Washington
730
MSG on MSG
Bring along your Bibles and help the Libs out.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Mercury 84, Silver Stars 79

San Antonio held control through the first half (they were up by 7 at the break), but Phoenix came out with a fire lit under them and stole the game away. Diana Taurasi had 24 points, while Pondexter (18) and Taylor (9 points, 8 rebounds) showed that the triumverate never sleeps.

Much like a Mountain-Dew drinking geek at a LAN Party.

FRIDAY

LA @ Houston
Detroit @ Chicago
Seattle @ Sacramento

Los Angeles managed to best New York, but Houston is definitely playing better than the Liberty right now. Add to this that the Comets are a decent home team and that the Sparks are horrendous on the road and you have a recipe for disaster.

Add two parts TNT, three parts terrorists, one part Bruce Willis, and allow to simmer for 90-minutes. DO NOT ADD LOGIC AT ANY POINT!

Comets by 7.

Chicago is all over the map. They win one against Sacramento, then lose to Houston, then blah ba blah ba blah. Detroit, on the other hand, has been rampaging across all fronts and is making it hard to discount them as favorites for the title. Expect them to whallop a fragmented Chicago. Detroit by 8.

Didn't we just play this game? Oh, that's right. We did. And Sacramento won that game. On the road. Meaning that Seattle will win here.

It's complicated. Don't ask.

I still think that Seattle can pull it off and that Sacramento hasn't had the goods since they started dropping the standings. They could still prove me wrong, however.
Storm by 5.

SATURDAY

Indiana @ Connecticut
LA @ San Antonio
Houston @ Minnesota
Phoenix @ Seattle

No jokes. Tired. Gotta get through this.

Connecticut by 7. San Antonio by 8. Houston by 4. Phoenix by 9. And that's the way it was.

Indiana's a mess and Connecticut's hot. LA is still horrible, and San Antonio had a blip but is ready for a comeback. Minnesota is the worst team in the league and Houston full of youth and vigor. Seattle is good, but they don't match up well against Phoenix. Any questions?

Moving on, class.

SUNDAY

Chicago @ Washington
Sacramento @ Indiana

This is Washington's huge chance to catch up with Chicago. If they want to have any semblence of hope over the next few weeks, they are going to have to hold off a sub-par Chicago team at home. Chicago is wiley, though, and are looking to solidify their lead. I will say that if Chicago loses to Detroit, they are going to come back and win this game. But if they beat Detroit, they are going to come in overconfident against the Mystics. Of course, if the Mystics win... or lose... or...

My head hurts...

For the sake of ease, I will pick Washington, but mark my words...

This is gonna be rough...

Mystics by 5.

Sacramento is a solid team that is chipping a bit, while Indiana has completely fallen apart. Sure, they have won a game, but it was against Washington and they only managed 66 points. If that's the best they can do against the worst team in the East, what do they expect to accomplish against a defense-first team that is jockeying for playoff position? Catchings better hurry back, because there might not be a post-season run for them if she doesn't. Monarchs by 6.

I'll try to update tomorrow to cover the game, but I can't make any promises. Have a good weekend, all!

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Basketball and the Universe - Essay

Basketball can prove that there is meaning in this universe. How, do you ask?

One has to look at the sport as a whole. There’s the game itself, the players, and the audience. All three are essential to each other, and essential to my point. Without the game, there would be no players. Without players, there would be no audience. Without an audience, there would be no game. One could easily argue in reverse (no audience, no players, no game), or in a completely different order (no players, no audience, no game). It is enough to know that they are all interconnected, and while some components are more important than others, they all rely on each other for the continued existence of the sport, and thus, a league.

Abstraction; the game itself proves that there’s a capacity for complex and abstract thought in human beings. Attack, defend, pass, change, run, walk, guard, shift. Quick, split second decisions that are based on both muscle-memory and the mind. Decisions require comprehension, comprehension requires true choice, and true choice, based upon thousands of ideas and experiences, requires a complex understanding of the world. This will all become important later, but keep it in mind for now.

Cooperation; the players themselves show that human beings can put aside competition and cooperate. A single unit cannot hope to compete against a collective. Look at our cells, each one worthless without a host. Five players on a court, each with their own capacity for thought, relinquish a little bit of control and self for a greater service. Why? Because at one point in the past, two organisms found it much more agreeable to live working with each other, rather than just competing. Competition is good and breeds a better tomorrow, but cooperation helps one get there. But what bridges the cooperation and the abstract?

Connection; the audience shows that the species called homo sapiens requires connection. We work, we breath, we sleep, we die, and in between, we remind ourselves that there are other people out there besides ourselves. Watching this unfold before our eyes in a game reveals a simple complexity in the world; the duplicity of cooperation and competition, the need for both the concrete and the abstract. We watch, and either subconsciously or consciously, we understand that there is something MORE going on that just a random occurrences of events. We see these people on the floor, and know that there is Something, something that makes them do what they do.

All of these together form the foundation of our society and humanity as a whole. When one is focused on one’s own priorities, then everything can become distant. For a human being to survive, this gulf between people must be shortened, to remind a person that not only they have value, but that the things they are doing have value too. Actions are rendered meaningless without human interaction, judgment, and appraisal. But to have a connection, there must be cooperation – both people reaching out to each other – and to have cooperation, there must be the abstraction (and thus, realization) of achievement. This would all be worthless, however, if there wasn’t some reason behind existence.

Sure, we COULD be doing this as cogs in some giant machine, unaware of how our sports, and ultimately lives, are just some great facade. In that case, however, then ALL of existence is pointless. One must make a logical leap somewhere, and in the end, for me, it is the ULTIMATE jump.

Cognite, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. Existence is based upon my cognizance of its existence. It all comes down to this basic assumption. Either one believes one TRULY exists, or one doesn’t, and to completely deny existence is render all decisions moot. Simply by choosing to accept that the world is meaningless and that there is no purpose (personal or grand) makes any further discussion illogical, since any decision that one makes in this world will ultimately mean nothing. This first, wary step is the most important, as it will dominate all future branchings on the road.

There are many forks, jetties, and dead-ends, let me assure you, because from this tiny opening move, an infinite number of paths open up, building into a crescendo of being that we call Life. But we are still limited by our senses; our body could be pulling off a gigantic trick on our soul. So thus, we must make yet ANOTHER choice; either what is presented to us is real, or it is not. And beyond that, another choice. And another. And yet ANOTHER.

The progression, then? Do I exist? Yes. Is what I am presented with real? Yes. Is this “reality” complex? Infinitely so. Can I comprehend all of this? No. Is it important that I do not? No. Why? Because I have the capacity to understand this argument in the first place and thus realize that there are things beyond my grasp, thus rendering things that I can control more important. What can I control? My thoughts and actions, even if they can be affected by the environment. Proof? Basketball.

See how it works? One goes down to the foundation, then build one’s way back up again. Basketball equals meaning equals existence equals self equals existence equals meaning equals basketball. There are holes, here and there, because the universe is not something that can be explained by a simple thousand word essay typed in an hour and then posted, sans too much proof-reading, on a sports blog, but these are ultimately what make life worth living. Create idea, find something new that challenges this idea, rebuild idea or toss it out. Repeat. The world is vast, the mind vaster still, and existence infinitely more so, but that which we control ultimately does have meaning, simply through our actions involving it.

This is all some food for thought. Keep it in mind the next time you’re at Madison Square Garden, and remember that it’s not just a game in front of you, but the universe unfolding infinitely into the future.

Gameday - Minnesota Beatdown

Ignore that logo in the bottom righthand corner...

New York vs. Minnesota
MSG
730
Lynx Hunting Licenses to be handed out to the first thousand guests.

Look at that dumb animal. No, BEHIND the Lynx.

So, while our playoff hopes are rapidly diminishing, that doesn't mean that they are lost completely. We have a home game tonight, against the Lynx, and thank God for that, as Minnesota is hands-down the worst team in the league.

And this comes from a Liberty fan.

Minnesota is in the bottom half of the league in almost every category you can mention: FG%, Opp. FG%, Rebounds, Opp. Points, Difference btw Points For and Against...

Yup, about this easy...

Actually, no. Not that easy. Because one of the few categories that they do well in is total points.

Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Hold on. Repeat that?

While Seimone Augustus is having a tremendous year (averaging 22.9 ppg), Lindsay Harding and Nicole Ohlde are each scoring more than eleven points per game. The Lynx have solid starters, can definitely rebound when they need to, and don't mind spreading their bench. Their problems seem to stem from their absolute lack of defense and the lack of offense found in the reserves.

Can I blow up the fish yet? Pleeeeeease?

No reserve averages more than 4.7 points a game, their defensive system is a shambles, and really, when it comes down to it, three players average over three-fifths of their points (with one player averaging almost a third). Without Seimone this team could EASILY be 2-25. But they are coming off a win against Sacramento and their confidence could be at a high. They have nothing to lose, now that they are all but statistically eliminated from the playoffs. That can be a dangerous combination.

Like Mentos and Diet Coke.

We all know about the Liberty's woes, so we won't go into that.

It's just more depression in this cold world.

Let it be known that, however, that at one point, the Liberty were 5-0, and then later 10-8. We have the ability to beat and hang with some really good teams, but through a number of errors and parting of paths, been unable to convert close games into wins. Lynx fans are looking out our seven game losing streak as a pot of gold at the end of a shit rainbow.

"Damn straight."

The Liberty need to play up to their level and make sure that the Lynx know that they mean business. There is no room for error from here on out. We may creep into the playoffs thanks to the ineptitude of Washington and Chicago, but we'll have to win games to do that. We can't back into the post-season...

...our asses are just too big, for one thing...

...and if we want respect from teams, the league, and its fans, there needs to be hell to pay tonight. Dutch? You're on deck. Marvel? Keep playing hard. Muffin? You gotta be the anchor. Thor? Bring the thunder. Marlowe and Beatle? BE the Defense. Bruce? Time to yippee-ki-yay it to a victory. And Saint Patty? Don't just play someone because they had twenty points ten games ago.

BATTLE STATIONS! BATTLE STATIONS!

KEYS TO A NEW YORK VICTORY

• Contain Augustus. While it would be wrong to say that she is the only talent on the Lynx, she is by far the BEST player they have. Take her out of the game and the Lynx lose almost a third of their points.
• Hit the three. Minnesota is atrocious defending beyond the arc. Take a few long shots and get McCarville underneath for those rebounds.
• Pass. The Lynx have a nasty tendancy to scramble when their opponents begin to open up passing lanes. Force them to move, and a path will open up.
• Rest a starter or two. Don't bench them, but Minnesota is the one team that we play for the rest of the year where we can afford to let our regular corps play for twenty and leave the rest to the high reserves.
• Don't get overconfident. Minnesota has only won two of their last ten, but they have also beaten Phoenix, San Antonio, and Sacramento. They can surprise an opponent who doesn't take them seriously.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Phoenix @ San Antonio

Phoenix is, far and away, the best offensive team in the league (87 ppg, 7 points higher than the next team) while also being the worst defensive team in the league (84 ppg allowed, 2 points higher than the next team). San Antonio, despite being on top in the West, is thoroughly average throughout most of their point spreads. There is a key difference, however. San Antonio doesn't dazzle, but they DO outplay their opponents in almost every category, whereas Phoenix has no choice but to play hard, offensive ball.

I find it offensive.

Phoenix has won five straight and has three players in the top twelve of scorers for the league. San Antonio has one (although Sophia Young is number 13), but has won seven of their last ten games. Honestly, I feel that San Antonio is the better team, but Phoenix can break any opponent in the league with their bad-ass style. I would definitely TiVO this game if you get the chance. Silver Stars by 4.

Propoganda from League HQ. It's ostensibly about Tan White and how the Indiana Fever doesn't rely on Tamika Catchings... except they've gone into a nosedive since she's left (before beating the Mystics, they hadn't won a game without her since 2002, according to Women's Hoops Blog) and the article is really more about Cheryl Ford and others.

Is today opposite day or something? Has the world gone nuts?

Michelle Voepel has a new article up on ESPN. A little (deserved) jab in the middle about the Libs. "In a slightly related note, how 'bout that quick start out of the gate for the Liberty? Oh, never mind."

Haven't we suffered enough?

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that there are more and more male head coaches in the WNBA, and that's a good thing. While it would be hypocritical of me to say that only women should be head coaches of the WNBA, I would also note that this barely qualifies as news. Men aren't the half of the species that are fighting for recognition. If the NBA ever hires a FEMALE head coach, then I will be surprised.

That is, if NBA survives the tornado of wrath that is Tim Donaghy.

Essay to come in the late afternoon. I'm out of town from tonight until Monday morning, but I will definitely have a game review up either late night tonight or tomorrow morning. Other than that, I can't make any promises. Have a good un', all o' y'uns.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Performance Piece - 3 Haiku

Just some short Haiku today...

Martina Weber

I missed her first game last night

Damn it. I need Beer...

So many losses

August is here, but Playoffs?

They're so far away

Doron, Davenport

Pat Coyle refuses to play them

Take a chance! Come on!

Around the League Update...

Awwww... I feel MUCH better now...

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Connecticut 74, Chicago 56
Indiana 65, Washington 52
Detroit 81, San Antonio 78
Phoenix 75, Houston 71
Sacramento 78, Seattle 74

The Sun manhandled the Sky with surprising ease. It's so true that everytime I put a little faith in Chicago, they come around and bite me on the ass. Hey? Desperation? You're only a game ahead of Washington and New York? You're going to want to cut yourselves in penance if you miss the playoffs by one game. Are you even listening to me?

They can't hear me over the deafening silence from their hometown crowd.

I guess I shouldn't count Indiana out until they're out. They held the "door close" button on the Mystics and escaped with a 13-point victory that keeps them on pace with Detroit.

Detroit, despite a few surprises from San Antonio, proved why they are the team to beat in the league right now.

Bribes... er, heart.

The Silver Stars had a great game, but numerous lapses on defense cost them some key three-pointers, and late in the game, they just couldn't get it going when they needed to. The usual gang of idiots presided over the win. No need to dwell on specific players who could or could not be on the Liberty right now and helping them through this awful, awful slump.

I'll stop crying any day now.

Houston Defense = Decent. Phoenix Offense = Better. Phoenix didn't have their strongest game of the year, but it was good enough for a win. Houston sinks back to the bottom again, despite their mid-season surge (mid-life crisis?) that they had for a few weeks. Unfortunately, the realization that it just doesn't matter whether they win or lose from this point on has probably zapped any initiative that they have. Thank God there fans are still so forgiving.

Houston; it's not just a street on Manhattan anymore.

Sacramento, despite not playing their traditional game, managed to fend off the Storm and catch up a game on the Silver Stars in the Western Standings. If the Monarchs can do this throughout the rest of the season - forget their usual defense-first mindset when it isn't working - then there is no reason why they shouldn't be back in a strong way.

Performance Piece up late. Have a good 'un, lads and lasses...

Stay of Execution - Liberty Lose

Yup. No one executed tonight...

Los Angeles 73, New York 63

It took me a while to start this post. I simply don't have any words for this game. There is only one thing that I can say for the game...

MARTINA PLAYED AND I FUCKING MISSED IT!

Last night sucked so badly, it sucked out loud. My comedy troupe started an hour late, I was barely needed, and could have gone to the game and seen that German Goddess play on the court and rock it for two minutes. Instead? I sit around, waiting for people to show up, mutter under my breath, and later learn that the Libs got their asses kicked and that the first game of the season with Weber on the floor was being played only thirty blocks north of me.

And you thought the starving children in Africa had it bad...

Now, here's a picture (an official picture that I am not paying for so if the WNBA emails you, please don't turn me in...) that pretty much says it all about last night's game.

BOOM!

Let's take this apart bit by bit. McCarville is there, playing the game hard, but shying away a bit, shoved out of the way by LaToya Thomas. Thomas is willing the ball to her, using some until-now-unknown powers (akin to the force), while Battle is knocked out of the way. The best part? Moore's face in the background. One more time, for the road??

That sound you hear is a dove crying.

The Libs come out flying and show the Sparks just who's boss here at MSG. When the dust settles after the first ten minutes, the Liberty lead 23-14. The defense is solid, the offense is hitting, everything seems to be going well. Hopefully, the 2nd quarter would be a sequel to this, along the lines of "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me." You know; song and dance, a little bit of drama, but at the end, everything's okay.

Instead, it's like Empire. Everybody's pissed, Christon loses her hand in a fight with Darth Vader, and Erin Thorn is frozen in carbonite.

2 missed shots and the 2 turnovers by the Libs lead to a nine-point roll by LA in a little over two minutes. The Libs won't score a basket until four minutes into the quarter, and will miss a total of twelve shots. The Sparks, led by Mwadi Mabika, go on a tear, scoring 27 points in ten minutes and limiting the Libs to a paltry 8 to end the half at 41-31, Los Angeles.

That's like winning the lottery and then dying of a heart attack at the news.

Maybe Patty will take the ladies into the locker room and explain that the season is on the line, that there are only nine games left in the regular season and that if there is any hope of trying to make a run, it has to start here. Maybe she'll leave Weber in? Or play someone else to punish the starters for that awful, awful quarter (possibly the worst ten minutes they've played all year)? Or maybe she'll light a fire under the ass?

MWAHAHAHAHAH!!! :::vomits from laughing so hard::: Oh, that's a GOOD one!

Oh, to be sure, the Liberty came out MUCH better than they were playing in the last quarter, though to be fair, they couldn't play much worse.

Not even if they played the game in wheelchairs.

I'll skip all the intervening moments of the third quarter and skip to the important parts. The stuff you need to know? Davenport comes in, comes out, and the rest of the eight regulars are played with regularity. But who's going to show up and play their hearts out?

But Janel? You're great EVERY night. Leave some awesome for the other girls.

Okay, now the Liberty are doing a bit better. They're outscoring the Sparks and have a little spring in their step. It came a little late, but at least it shows that they can still do stuff when they choose to. Then, it happens. Tied 62-all with a little under four minutes left in the game, the Libs start sucking and the Sparks score a basket. Patty calls time to discuss their gameplan.

Thorn? Score. McCarville? Score. Doron? Get me some water.

What happens next? The usual. The Sparks grab the lead and the Libs are forced to foul. Again and again, and the Libs can't make a shot. 11 points for the Sparks, 1 for the Libs. The Buzzer sounds, and we're put out of this misery.

Its cruel, but it has to be done.

The Liberty lose the game, go 7 straight in the hole and ten games out. Is there any kind of silver lining to this?

Thank GOD the Sky still suck...

GAME NOTES

• Can't get nine thousand people for a game against LA? For shame...
• Playing Davenport and Weber for a combined four minutes doesn't get Patty off the hook. She still didn't play anybody other than her regulars.
• Kraayeveld? Nine points in twenty-four minutes. A significant improvement, but still not up to her usual level.
• Only two Libs with more than ten points. Four such players for the Sparks.
• Liberty shock only 30% from the field. Ouch.

WEBER-UPDATE...

Martina played for 2 minutes and 2 seconds, missing her only shot and making one rebound. I can't make too many claims for her skill on the floor, as I didn't witness it first-hand, but I can assume that she blazed a path of glory that forced Patty to bench her again, in fear that the other Belles might look upon her triumph and weep.

Or something like that.

Around the League to come later, before the performance piece. I don't have time and I'm too pissed with the Libs right now. Instead, take this picture of two kittens playing.

Awwww... this warms my cold, cynical heart...

Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...