The Libertine

Lynx Strike Back - Libs lose

2008-06-24T21:06:00.001-07:00

Can't seem to get too far above .500, can we?

LYNX 91, LIBERTY 69

Just in case anybody got too excited after that 100-point showing on Sunday came this little surprise and a half, with Minnesota thoroughly dominating the visiting Liberty in every quarter save the 2nd. And even then, the Libs came up short.

Had to do it.
It started off rotten with the Lynx going big 28-14 in the first 10. Seimone Augustus (who would finish 8-14, 21 pts, 9 asst.) led the Lynx in a big way, coming up with nine points and three assists in that span, with Nicole Ohlde (7-8, 14 pt) scoring 6 of her own. The Libs, meanwhile, finished off the last four minutes and a half minutes of the third without any points in the field, while turning the ball over with bad passes and poor shooting throughout.

Ashley Battle wouldn't go down without a fight, however. She scored eight points in the 2nd quarter, finishing off with a jump shot to push the Libs to within 8, 45-37. Had it not been for her, however, things would have been a LOT worse. Sure, Shameka Christon had another great night (20 points, 6-10, 5-7 from the line), but she also fouled out. To be fair, the game was over at that point, but still.

COME ON!
Essence Carson also has a lot to answer for. 0-6 from the field. 3 turnovers. 5 fouls. I expect better, especially with 18 minutes of playing time. Would Coyle play her other guards, though? Nope, not even with Leilani Mitchell scoring 5 in 8 minutes of play (albeit with two horrendously bad passes), or with Lisa Willis coming off of a hot game. True, this wasn't like the depths of Coyle's tunnel vision from last season, but neither would she remove a floundering starter, like McCarville (4 points, but 7 rebounds), until it was too late.

The third quarter showed more of the same, with Battle and Moore playing the "Which One of Us is the Only Lib on the Court" Game, mixed in with the sounds of airballs sailing through the Minnesota night. Even still, with 10 minutes left to play, the Libs were only down 65-56, being tough but not overwhelmingly insurmountable.

Of course, I would like to say that the Libs never let up. I would like to say that the starters hoisted the team on their shoulders after a horrific first thirty minutes. And I would like to say that Martina Weber called me up the other night and told me that her absence from the WNBA is due to her being unable to think about anything but me.

But that would all be a lie.
And so, the Liberty stumbled out and found themselves lacking. The Lynx put 26 points on the board and nailed the coffin shut, the Liberty whistling dixie all the way. They turned the ball over five more times while Battle clawed her way to 17 points amidst a sea of crap. Props to the few Libs who showed up and kept playing until the final whistle. A big hunk of poop to those who decided that this Tuesday should have been a national holiday.

GAME NOTES

50% from beyond the arc for the Libs. But only 37.3 from the field overall.
19 turnovers for the Libs. That considerably helped put the Lynx set the table.
Of course, the Lynx also passed the ball around a lot, too (24 assists), finding the chinks in the Liberty's armor like they had a metal detector.
Three starters for the Lynx scored over 12 points. Only one Lib starter scored more than 7.

Ugh, that game puts a sour taste in my mouth. Next tilt?

Indiana Fever @ New York Liberty
8 P.M.
Special Food Item for the night: $2 Beans
Musical Review to Follow
I have a comedy show the next night, so I will probably be rehearsing, but the rest of you should be out there. We need to shore up those numbers something bad. I guess cutting off all those $10 seats didn't really help much, huh?

Assholes.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

...to come later in the day. I'm tired.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Bam! - Libs Win Big

2008-06-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

Kick it up a notch!
LIBERTY 105, MERCURY 72

I wonder what was going through the minds of the Libs as they downed the Mercury in the most lopsided win in their history? After the 1st quarter, when they were leading 28-15, did Coach Coyle think her ladies were just on a roll? Did, after the first half (when they held the Mercs to just 30 points), anybody think that the other shoe was going to drop? And what about when the 4th quarter started and the ladies were within 100 points; did anybody realize what was about to happen?

For that matter, what was going on the minds of the Mercury? Did Taurasi, who scored 21 points (FG 7-14, 3pt 3-7, FT 4-5), get pissed that her team seemed to give up? Did Pondexter, who managed 16 points despite brick after brick, feel like she could have done more? Did Coach Corey Gaines think that perhaps the defenseless game plan that the Mercs have been pushing for so many years has finally fallen to pieces? Did anybody on Phoenix’s side of the court worry that perhaps this was a signal for what the rest of the season was going to be like, that the heady days after their championship seemed like a distant memory as a then -.500 team scored over a hundred points against the once-proud masters of the West?

Made humble by the throngs of Liberty?
I don’t know. What matters most, in the end, is that the Timeless Torches kicked ass once again. I think we can all agree on that.

In all seriousness, the Libs had a great game. That, coupled with a complete absence of any defense after the 1st quarter on the part of the Mercs, led to a dominance not seen by any Liberty team. Ever. The 105 points are a team record, and the shooting percentages (54.3 from the field, 50% from the 3) show why.

Also of note: the Libs never lost the lead after gaining it halfway through the 1st following a 11-3 run. Coyle played all of the ladies and everybody contributed, starting from the 2nd quarter out. By the end of the game, the entire starting corps remained on the bench, leaving the back six to complete the triple-digit score. It was cool to see, especially with the young girls showing their stuff. Compliments for everyone? Why not? I'm in a good mood.

Christon: Strong game on defense, though still a bit too prickly.
Carson: Growing well in the starters position.
Kraayeveld: Strong first half, though her defense improved significantly in the 3rd quarter.
McCarville: All around good game.
Moore: Playing without a missed beat.
Willis: Solid shots when we needed 'em.
Jackson: 21 points led the team? 8-8 from the field? Seems to will the ball where she wants it to go.
Battle: Another complete game, with every aspect of her stat sheet showing strength.
Larkins: An airball foul shot couldn't keep her spirits down and she finished off the game quite well.
Mitchell: The firestarter was held to only three points, but her passing and play-calling is getting better and better.
Thorn: 1 3-pointer, but one that came at a good time.

I could rail and rail against the Mercs, but I think the humiliation of their loss is enough. One last thing...

Haw haw!

Very well. I am satisfied.

GAME NOTES

No Lib who made it on the court scored less than 3 points.
Kraayeveld, McCarville, Jackson, Willis, Moore, and Battle all had more than 10 points.
The Liberty outrebounded (56-47) the Mercs by a strong margin.
Phoenix shot only 32% from the field and 21% from beyond the arc (although they did make over 90% of their foul shots).
Lisa Willis had the best all around game, going perfect (4-4) from the line, sinking 2 3-pointers, making 4 rebounds (2-2), and playing a generally strong defensive game in her 15 minutes of court time.
Kraayeveld came out strong with 3 straight 3's, but faded down the stretch. Her defense was better by the end of the game, however.

Sorry about the lack of posts last week. Internet was shoddy. Even now, I'm not running on a full tank of gas. I'll be more regular with my updates. Promise.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...
Detroit 97, Atlanta 76
Sacramento 82, Chicago 70
Los Angeles 77, Indiana 63

Atlanta is still winless, with 13 marks in the L column, tying a record. Anybody still think its a good idea to expand to 16 teams? No? I thought so.

Chicago is also having its fair-share of problems, with a 3-8 record and another loss to the up-and-down Monarchs. The Sky still can't seem to get it together, stringing together long periods of competence followed by minutes of pure ineptitude. Sacramento needed the win more, however, and are now tied with the formerly invincible Lynx.

Los Angeles, having discovered their team game doesn't need to rely on Parker, has jumped to number 1 in the conference with their win over Indiana. The Fever have lost two straight and aren't looking particularly cohesive at the moment. Still, they're in 4th place. As long as Washington doesn't string together any wins... what? The Mystics have won 3 straight?

I have been gone a long time.
No games today.

Monday Blues...
George Carlin died. That doesn't have anything to do with the WNBA, but I felt that I needed to share it.

Parker got the WNBA's second dunk. Frankly, I'm not a huge proponent of the whole "get women to dunk" thing. First, it's an act of machismo that doesn't do much except show off one's own talent. Secondly, unless all the players start dunking, its just going to give neanderthals more reason to point and laugh at the league.

Only two women dunk? Bah ha! What joke!

Especially when a person's first experience isn't exactly a GOOD one, the league needs to prove that it can survive on its own merits rather than those of another league.

But that's enough for me today. Until next time?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Liberty Win - Barely

2008-06-12T07:35:00.000-07:00

Ugly Win. Still, a Win. Still... Ugly.

NEW YORK LIBERTY 81, ATLANTA DREAM 77
Wow. What a horrible, horrible win. I can't remember the last time I felt this bad about a "W". Maybe it was the time I forgot which letter came after "V" in Kindergarten and was forced to write "Whale" and "Watch" and such over and over again. But that is beside the point. The point is, the Liberty should NOT be happy with themselves regarding this game.

Yes, four of the Liberty's starters had 12+ point games (led by Janel McCarville's 25). Yes, the Libs managed to score 32 points in the 4th quarter, while overcoming a deficit that they put themselves into in the first half (and third quarter). Yes, we managed to shoot well (over 47% in the field) and pass the ball and all that.

But the Libs did let the now 0-8 Atlanta Dream into the game in the first quarter, going down 19-16. To be fair, it WAS back and forth ball through those first ten, with two clutch free throws by Lennox at the end of the quarter to put the Dream firmly ahead. Still, the Libs didn't control the lanes, didn't control the outside, and didn't control the ball (except for the very beginning of the game, with three straight shots and three rebounds).

The 2nd and 3rd quarter proved to be little better, with the Libs pulling to within 1 point at the half and then falling back by six at the end of the 3rd. It didn't look bad at first, with Christon making 4 points (all free throws) and an assist on a Kraayeveld layup. Of course, immediately after that, both Thor and Dutch made fouls, starting the march of mediocrity. 4 Libs turnovers in one minute (8:23-7:23 of the 2nd)? 3 minutes without a quality shot? A whole quarter DOMINATED by the Dream? Things didn't look good for the MSG Faithful.

\
Then, somehow, the Libs realized what was going on. They saw that with 10 minutes left to play, they were down to the worst team in the league. Maybe Coyle put some fire in their gut. Maybe McCarville, Kraayeveld, Carson, and Christon decided enough was enough. Maybe Thorn finally realized that she had the ability to do more than get water for the other girls on the bench. Who knows?

In any case, the Libs came back with 32 points in the 4th. The Libs missed only 6 non-free throw shots the entire quarter, with McCarville owning the lane like she put a down-payment on it. The other ladies stepped it up as well, with clutch defense coming from Carson and Christon. The Dream didn't slack off, either: they scored 22 points (the most of any quarter that game). But it seemed like all of the sudden, Atlanta just gave up. And the Liberyt were smart enough to take advantage.

It should have been Atlanta's game. The Dream edged the Libs in free throws, shot percentage, and work outside the arc. Their defense was superior. They passed strongly, as well. But in the end, it wasn't enough. Basketball is a 4 quarter game. If you'll permit me a golf metaphor, you can make three ugly shots and one beautiful shot and still make par. That's the game in a nutshell; the Libs got it done and are now a half game above Chicago for 4th place in the East.

Don't get too cozy, now.

GAME NOTES

Thorn. For the first time in what seems like forever, Thorn made 10 points. Still, she shot only 2-11 from the 3. She has a lot of work to do.
Rebounds. New York, led by 8 from Christon, dominated under the basket play. This was the major contribution that allowed New York to win... aside from removing the kryptonite from around their necks in the 4th.
Refereeing. Suspect. That's all that needs to be said.
Starters. All except Mitchell played well. Christon had the most complete game, with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and going 9-10 from the line, but McCarville's numbers can't be ignored either.
Kraayeveld. Tolerably decent on D for the first time this season. Maybe this is a sign of things to come.

Next Game?

Minnesota Lynx
Saturday, 7:30
The World's Most Famous Arena (besides the Coliseum)
The Lynx aren't going to put up with the Liberty's bullshit. They're more cougars than lynces. Be prepared.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...
Sacramento 79, Washington 76
San Antonio 64, Indiana 53
Seattle 83, Phoenix 77
Los Angeles 80, Detroit 73

I'm surprised that Washington was able to keep the game so close. Props to the Mystics, but more so to the Monarchs for not capitulating when the game wasn't going their way. Strong work from the usually quiet Monarch Offense made up for their increasingly-gaping holes on defense. Boucek better work quick on getting something going.

The Stars-Fever tilt proved to be a low-scoring game, of which type San Antonio is growing in its mastery. The Fever at times seemed to be playing a completely different game than the Stars, what with the infrequent but ill-timed fouls that prevented any momentum from occuring. Meanwhile, Sophia Young made up for the seemingly-absent Becky Hammon (2 pts, 1-7) by scoring 17 and leading the Stars to a decent, if not overwhelming victory. Limiting your opponent to 20 points in 20 minutes is a good way to win a game, huh?

Despite what the official site says, the Storm held on to their 2nd place standing in the West with their victory over Phoenix. Diana Taurasi did her best - 37 points and a hell of a defensive game - but the Storm pulled a 2007 Liberty game by playing essentially no one but their starters, while the leading four scored more than 11 each. Lauren Jackson led her teammates with 20 points, but the really astonishing reason for the victory was the rebounds; the Storm had 64(!) of them to the Mercs' 36.

Los Angeles is proving me right and wrong. Sure, Parker is playing good but not god-like basketball (I called it). But the other Sparks are picking up where their supposed deity of a teammate is leaving off (something I didn't think would happen). All five starters went into double-digits while pushing Detroit just a little further back in the standings. Good for us, bad for the Shock, especially when Katie Smith (16 pts., 7 rebounds, 6-14) is pulling out all the stops to try and lift her teammates out of their slumber.

Keep snoozin', Shock. Please.
Sacramento @ Minnesota
Sacramento is traveling out to the depths of Minneapolis to face off against the 6-2 Lynx, and it's not going to be a good show for them. Sure, just last night the Monarchs were able to take down the Mystics in a game not to their suiting. But that was a close game against a team that is now hovering on the edge of forever. This is the Lynx, who are eager to improve their record and resecure their spot atop the Western Conference. If I were Coach Boucek, I'd hand out helmets before her lassies went out onto the court. Lynx by 9.

A writer in Minnesota laments the poor attendance of the WNBA. Can't say that I blame him, although I don't agree with some of his conclusions. Interesting read, at least.

Bill Laimbeer and Michael Cooper are still rivals, apparently. I don't really care. Maybe YOU do.

Until tomorrow?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Gameday - New York and Atlanta

2008-06-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

No, I won't make the expected "Nightmare" joke... but only because I have willpower.
New York Liberty @ Atlanta Dream
Okay, let's get the obvious out of the way. The Atlanta Dream are 0-7. They are at or near the bottom of the league in points, opponent points, point differential, field goal percentage, opponent's field goal percentage, free throw percentage, assists, opponent's assists, and assist differential. This doesn't even get into their defense, which is equally abysmal. Everybody knew that the Dream were going to be facing a lot of growing pains this season (as every expansion team not in the NFL does).

There are some bright spots for the team, however. They control steals by their opponents well (MUCH better than Sun or Monarchs), which is one of the Lib's keys to winning. Also, since their first game, the Dream have not failed to produce seventy points an all save one occasion. So, they can score, no matter who the opponent, and have made for tough opponents for the Lynx (85-81) and Mystics (80-74). That might be damning with faint praise, but it's the best I could muster.

Really, our gals shouldn't have a problem with the Dream. But these are the Libs, after all, and if any team (besides the Mystics) can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, its the Belles.

We'll need help from this fella.
So, what are the Libs to do? Rebounds. The Liberty have failed to make a great impression all year, but they are positively Herculean when compared to the Dream. If the gals can control the ball, put it in the air, and be there if it drops, then we can cycle endlessly until whoever has decided to show up tonight awakens. Or we could rest some of the usual starters and see how the younger crowd takes it into the second half. They'll be desperate for action and Atlanta is really the only opponent at this point where they might see some extended playtime.

I'm not going to go into the usual offense-defense-pass-the-ball garbage, because everybody knows it. What I will say is that the Liberty absolutely CANNOT allow themselves to get behind in this game. The Dream need a win, and they are at home. I'm sure the front office is pushing them to do SOMETHING for the crowd. If Atlanta jumps ahead and grabs the lead, they'll hold onto it like a bulldog in a pit. If there's one thing that a rock-bottom team knows, its desperation. With nowhere to go but up, they'll throw everything they have at the Libs and hope it'll stick. Don't be afraid. Just be cautious.

Keys to the Game

Betty Lennox. She leads the Dream with 18.6 ppg (the next highest total is Ericka DeSouza with 11), but those mostly come from beyond the arc. She's only .390 in the field overall. Control the outside, Libs. Control it. CONTROL IT! That goes double for you, Dutch.
Pass the ball. The Dream aren't good at rebounds and they aren't good blocking shots, but they are... decent at one-on-one battles. Force them to move and they'll crumble.
Middlegame. It seems like every 2nd and 3rd quarter, the Libs shut off the "Win" gear in their brains. That'll be the point when the Dream jump into the game. If Atlanta can ratchet up their game before the Libs realize what has happened, the Libs will have to battle back before their usual wakeup time in the 4th.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Connecticut 75, Minnesota 66
All Connecticut needed was four players. And when your ladies - Jones (20), Turner (18), Whitmore (14), and Whalen (14) - manage that kind of output, that's all you need. To be fair, their bench came in and did a bang-up job controlling the hitherto unflinching Lynx offense (though Candice Wiggins did manage 22 points for Minnesota). The Sun also outrebounded the Lynx by a large margin, while shooting pver 40% from the field and 90% from the line (compared to Minnesota's 33% and 65%, respectively).

Sacramento @ Washington
Indiana @ San Antonio
Phoenix @ Seattle
Detroit @ Los Angeles
Washington, after starting the season 2-2, has dropped to sixth in the conference with four straight losses. They are playing tonight at home against the Monarchs, and they're going to need the win. The Monarchs, despite winning two of their last three (loss to Detroit, wins against Houston and the Libs), are paper tigers. They're fourth in the conference, but have to establish some kind of momentum. Their defense is a hodge-podge, their offense is limited, and no one is stepping up to lead the team. I'd hesitate to pick them, but Washington hasn't scored more than 70 points 5 times this season (3 at 60 or less). If you can't put points on the board, you can't win games. Monarchs by 6.

Both Indiana and San Antonio are flailing a bit. Sure, the Stars are in much deeper trouble; despite the play of Young and Hammon, they are routinely outhustled on a regular basis. But Indiana, despite its wins, still feels incohesive. It'll be a test for them tonight to see if they can beat the currently undefeated-at-home Silver Stars. San Antonio needs this win a lot more - they travel to Indiana on Sunday and could wind up 3-6 if they can't manage a split. I'll back the Stars by 4 for now, but this is anyone's game.

So, Phoenix has won two games and now suddenly everybody thinks that they can take on the Storm? Yeah, the Storm slipped a bit recently, but they are still killer at the Key (5-0) and you know the Mercs aren't going to try to contain Cash, Bird, or Swoops, let alone Jackson. The Storm are the more disciplined team by far, and that goes a long way. Storm by 6.

Tonight will be only the second time that the Sparks have played at home this season (the first being a loss to the Phoenix last Friday). Being such, there isn't a big enough of a sample to understand the home court advantage. Detroit is no slouch, but is considerably more vulnerable while on the road. The course of the game will be determined, once again, by how well Parker plays. If she manhandles the Shock's defense, expect a win for the Sparks. I think that Detroit is too disciplined to let that happen, however. Shock by 7.

I added a couple links to the site, as you might be able to tell. First up is Pleasant Dreams, an Atlanta Dreams blog. The blogger is still in the wild-eyed days of youthful blogging - multiple posts a day, in-depth analysis, happiness with life.

That will change.
The second is DC BasketCases, a Mystics blog that's been around for a while. They've got good coverage and a regular posting schedule, so (unlike me) you can trust them to have your team's fix on a scheduled basis.

You're all like junkies. LIBERTY JUNKIES!!!
Essay to come sometime tomorrow or Friday. Still working on locating the ex-Libs (Weber, Bowen, etc.). If anybody has any leads, please let me know.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

One Step Sideways - A Win and a Loss

2008-06-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

New York 81, Houston 73
Sacramento 70, New York 63
Let's get something straight here. New York didn't win the game against Houston. The Comets LOST it. Despite scoring more than 80 points and holding the Comets to long stretches of nothing, they could never completely shut Houston down. Even in the waning minutes, the Comets were still trying to get something done.

That's not to say that the Libs didn't do SOME things right. The Libs shot over 50% from the field (huzzah!) and opened the game up 23-6 before the 4 minute mark. Leilani Mitchell, in her first WNBA start, scored 18 points and poked for seven assists. Shameka Christon continued on her roll with 19 points. Overall, four starters broke the double-digit point barrier, while also limiting everyone on Houston NOT named Tina Thompson to 45 points.

However, Double T DID play, and play she did. Throughout the game, it was as if the Libs couldn't contain her. She was like some sort of animal, breaking loose, busting through, and eating her own feces.

Well, no, not that last part...

In any case, Thompson posted 28 points and 11 rebounds. Michelle Snow also had a decent game (13 pts), but was largely absent on the D. The Comets also did manage to wake up for the traditional "New York Liberty Naptime" Period that extends through the 2nd and 3rd quarters. This included an eleven-point run to end the 1st quarter. But ultimately, they looked disjointed. Spirited, yes, but very, very, very disjointed.

GAME NOTES

New York still looks very inconsistent. Sharp as a whip in the first, flat in the second, decent in the 4th.
I'm not sure how to take Coyle's coaching style. She seems to be taking the whole "less is more" approach seriously.
I TOLD you Leilani Mitchell is good.

All of that showed in the next game when the Libs barely registered against the flailing Monarchs. Sacramento shut down the Libs so successfully that the top scorer, Lisa Willis, only managed to put 11 points on the board. Tiffany Jackson added another 10, but no one else even bothered to show up for the Belles.

It didn't look that way at first, however. Despite going into a 9-1 hole to start off the game, the Libs battle back, thanks in large part to 6 points by Essence Carson. By the end of the first ten, the Libs had the lead, 19-14.

Everything went downhill after that, however. Carson only managed 2 more points that night, while the Monarchs went ahead at the 4:35 mark 22-21, only to railroad the Liberty the rest of the way. All of this despite giving the Libs five freebie fouls (equaling 10 strong points) at the end of the half to give the Libs a three-point lead.

The third quarter was much more open than it seemed, with the Monarchs seeming to pick up every loose ball and rebound. In one 45-second stretch, Sacramento managed 4 shots - all missed - before McCarville finally managed to get the ball out of their half. This says as much about the Monarch's offense as it does about the Liberty's defense. And this was a team that New York played neck and neck with through the third.

Finally, Sacramento had enough. They rampaged to win the game with 20 points in the 4th. New York hit the showers early, barely showing up with ten despite a home crowd desperate for a third straight win that would put the team up over .500 for the first time in almost a year. The Libs were held without a point between 8:17 and 3:45 of the final quarter, and while the crowds filed out, the Liberty slipped ot 3-4. Oh well.

GAME NOTES

Liberty starters only posted 30 points combined. Tiffany Jackson and Lisa Willis outscored them all while playing with significantly less time.
First game all season that the Liberty didn't turnover the ball more than their opponent (12 to 16).
Megan Duffy finally played. 5 points in 10 minutes, with a rebound and a 3-pointer. Still, she did foul and turnover the ball twice.
Smallest crowd yet, just a hair over 7K. Groan.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...
No games today.
Connecticut 87, Washington 79
Minnesota 90, San Antonio 78
The league (and women's game in general) is abuzz with the news that Becky Hammon is going to play for Russia in the Olympics. Were I to care about the Summer Olympics beyond track and field, I might have something original to say. Unfortunately, this blogger stole the words out of my mouth. If the States can pillage players at will, so can other countries. And - let's face it - most of the competitions are a joke now that professionals can play. The Olympics are horribly broken, and just because one basketballer...

...one basketballer with (figurative) stones like granite...
...decides that she's been overlooked long enough DOESN'T mean that the world will now come crashing down around us. Voepel over at ESPN has her own opinion on the matter.

All that being said, it takes a lot of chutzpah for Anne Donovan to call Becky Hammon a "traitor". Donovan's got some cred for being the first woman to win a WNBA Championship as coach, but that's a little over the line, especially when Donovan didn't even extend an olive branch to Hammon after spurning the Silver Star's cance to play for her home country.

Okay. Done.
For those who still want more, see here and here.

Until tomorrow?

Anne Donovan's an asshole...

Er. Sorry.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Two Game Day Posts - Bring on Houston

2008-06-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

HOUSTON @ NEW YORK
The Libs are coming off of a good win against the Storm, but let's not break our hands while patting each other on the back. That game was then. Houston is now, and despite the Comets 1-5 record, they're not a horrible team.

Where Houston gets it wrong is defense and teamplay. The Comets are near the bottom in points given up, point differential, field goal percentage differential, and assists. Tina Thompson leads the team with 16 ppg and 9 rpg, but after Matee Ajavon (10.8, 3.5), it drops off pretty fast. Where go Thompson and Ajavon, there go the Comets. Whenever the bench has a good game, its a bonus, not expected. So, to contain the Comets, the Libs are going to have to start with Double T.

Where Houston gets it right is rebounds and energy. Surprisingly, they are often the first to the ball in the offensive zone and play stronger-than-expected D around their own post. That's not to say that it's stellar, just better-than-average. A cynic might say that their exuberance to rebound is off-set by the amount of shots their opponents get off (perhaps), and that their excitement tends to lead to excessive fouling (undoubtedly true), but it also means that the Comets are not a team to let up. They'll be on the Libs from the opening tip-off to the last second, even if the Libs are up by over 20.

This kind of split denotes a sub .500 team that has more breaks go against it than for it, but just remember, a hidden python is deadlier than seen one. These are the kinds of teams that ruin a hot streak, or deny entrance into the playoffs. Last year's Comets started off by losing their first ten games, then played above-average ball the rest of the way. Had they picked up a couple games in those opening ten, they would have actually pushed for a playoff spot. Not won it, mind you, but been more in contention.

With the energy and whiff of the post-season that the Comets got, they've come out this year without a chain around their neck. They're going at it at all corners, and some of the less timid Liberty (Christon, McCarville) might find such hacking to be... uncouth. To put it mildly. If the Comets drag the Libs out of their game, we all know what will happen then. Desperation. Every woman for herself. Piss-poor passing. Random shots. In otherwords, chaos.

The Libs can get away with a lot against a team like Houston, but the Comets aren't pushovers. The best strategy is to play solid ball in the first and then try and open it up in the second, no matter what the score. If we're down, we're going to need the extra push. If we're up, we're going to need to extend the difference. If we're tied, we're going to need to jump over the hump. Panic cannot ensue. Houston thrives on it, and they don't back down.

My forecast for the game is good. Everybody who goes, enjoy yourself. I'll be on the road to Perdition... aka, Pittsburgh.

SACRAMENTO @ NEW YORK (Sunday)
Sacramento is a whole different can of worms. Currently 2-3 (just like the Libs), the Monarchs have become a shadow of their defensive-trap selves that sported them to the playoffs last year. They've stopped passing as frequently, stopped working inside, and continue to hold onto hope that their D will carry them over their league-worst 69 ppg.

Of course, they CAN shoot it when they want to and get it back if they miss it. Led by Brunson, Lawson, and Powell (attorneys-at-law) - who average over 10 points a night, shoot on average over 44%, and control rebounds like a skee-ball machine - the Monarchs have a tight bench that works for the team and produces regularly.

See my comments above for what I think of the Libs. They're beginning to coalesce, but once again, they need consistency if they want to stay above water. A loss to Houston may put them into a scramble, while a win may make them cocky. Who knows? I can't give much of a game preview until we see how the game turns out tonight.

What I do know is that Sacramento, unlike the Mystics and the Storm, don't mess around with their system. Break it, and their toast. Play into it, and nobody can save you. The Liberty are going to have dig deep and find what took them over Seattle just a few days ago. It'll be rough, but they can handle it.

AROUND THE LEAGUE…
Minnesota @ Connecticut
Chicago @ Atlanta
Washington @ San Antonio
Detroit @ Sacramento
Phoenix @ Los Angeles
Minnesota is still rolling, but beginning to slow down a bit. Their game against the dream left much to be desired, and if a ramshackle expansion team can rattle the cage of the best team in the West, it doesn't look good for the Lynx when they go into the Mohegan Sun. Connecticut, meanwhile, has leap-frogged Indiana into the number two spot after winning back-to-back games after their only loss so far this season. They look good, and though the Lynx seem to have the right sensibilities to take Connecticut down, I'm going to with my gut and take the Sun by 6.

If Atlanta can beat one team, it's the Sky. Both match up fairly well against each other for their numbers, and the Dream are at home and desperate. The Sky aren't doing well themselves, but at least they have a win. The Dream NEED something, especially to prove to their fanbase that they have at least some talent. I predict desperation, and while the Sky aren't fantastic, they know how to play against desperate teams (see their play against us late last year). Sky by 4.

The Mistakes against the Stars? Sorry, but San Antonio rules their home court while Washington has yet to win a game on the road. If Washington can put themselves on track here, they'll set themselves up well for the coming weeks. But the Stars also need to correct their current positioning, and with Becky Hammon and Sophia Young playing strongly, I don't see why they can't take this game. Stars by 7.

Sacramento is going up against Detroit, and it's going to be a bloodbath. Sacramento can't get points on the board, even though they shoot very well. Detroit, meanwhile, looks almost as strong as they did last year, even if they're missing a few of last year's squad. The Monarchs don't look like a team that can beat the Shock at home. Sorry, ladies, but it's Shock by 8.

Phoenix finally took a game and they're coming up against the Los Angeles (s)Parkers. Unfortunately for the Mercs, Los Angeles has a much stouter defense than Phoenix is thinking, while the Sparks also can play all angles of the court (that is, as long as their starters decide to show up). The Sparks aren't as hot as they were when they started the season, but the Mercs didn't impress me with their only win this year. Sparks by 5.

Only tangentially tied to the WNBA is this link, about a pair of lesbians who were kicked out of a Mariners game because they were making out. The front office argued that they were kicked out NOT because of their sexual orientation, but because they were making out. That seems a bit odd, considering there was a straight couple making out just a few rows in front. Why am I linking this? The article references the Lesbian "Kiss-Out" that happened in 2002 at MSG. I could write an essay on this. In fact... I might. See it next week.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Thursday without Thur

2008-06-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

The Penguins went down. Nothing on the Liberty front. Quiet. Real quiet. TOO quiet.

SPECIAL COMMENT
A few readers have sent me emails about my comments on the attractiveness of women. I get about one a month, but there were a handful in the last week, so I thought I’d address them en masse. For the record, I have never disparaged a woman because of her looks on this blog. Rather, people are getting upset about my sexual interest in certain women (i.e. Martina Weber and Lauren Jackson).

I won’t refrain from commenting on MY blog about whom I find attractive. I find nothing wrong with my desires. There’s nothing wrong with sex, a healthy sexual attitude, or sexualizing (to a degree) certain aspects of sports. I would agree with those who emailed me if all I talked about was hotness and body-type. But I don’t. So please stop emailing me about this topic.

AROUND THE LEAGUE
Detroit 77, Seattle 67
Like I said, a jet-lagged team on the road against the Beast of the East? Despite their strong effort in the 1st quarter (going up 21-13), the Storm started to stumble. Detroit grabbed the lead and never looked back. Both teams struggled at the 3, but it was Detroit's willingness to push the ball late in the game that kept Seattle on their heels. Lauren Jackson (27 pts, 7 rbnds, 50% from the field) led the Storm, while the homecoming of Swin Cash found her limited to 10 points and 3 defensive rebounds. Katie Smith, however, pushed the game out of reach with her 33 points. For more, check out the official site.

Apparently, a lot more went on in the Lynx-Dream game a few days ago than I had imagined. 70 points in one quarter? That's a league record. Check the link for the whole story.

More heart-warming tales of girls making it in the big league. The focus of this story? Former Badger Jolene Anderson and ex-Lady Vol Shannon Bobbit.

Tomorrow will see two gameday updates (I won't be able to post on the weekend), so be prepared.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Huzzahs All Around - Libs Win

2008-06-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

Seattle brought the Storm, Thor brought the lightning...
LIBERTY 77, STORM 63
How to describe this game in a way that can even possibly do it justice? I can't. I'm a humor blogger, not 70 year-old baseball beat writer. But if you can deal without pictures today (damn you, Blogger) and are ready for some back-and-forth ball, sit back and be amazed at the tale of two giants. One Australian. The other, Asgardian.

And by the time I looked up at the end of the first ten, the score sat 22-6 in favor of the Libs.

Of course, the Belles couldn't hold onto this lead. They are the Belles, remember? And so the Storm came back out onto the court and scored 30 points in the 2nd quarter to the Liberty's 16. Credit? Cash (5 points, 2 rbs in the second 10), Jackson (10 in 10), and Swoops. Sheryl wound up with 15 points and 9 rebounds in the game. The dame's still got it. And the Storm had brought it to within 2, 38-36.

But the Liberty wouldn't be denied. They smelled blood in the water. They knew they could take the Storm. Seattle was looking sloppy - they missed a whole mess load of Free Throws in the opening half - and Coyle knew that if the Belles let up even just a little, Lauren Jackson would lead her Merry Wives of Windsor to another victory in front of the MSG Faithful. And Patty wouldn't allow that.

So, when the 3rd quarter came out, the Liberty (and no one else) knew it to be the beginning of the end. Kraayeveld's lax defense stepped up, making up for mistakes with hustle and heart. Loree Moore played like a woman possessed. And the D, led by a shot-missing but block-making (okay, that doesn't make sense) Essence Carson, limited the Storm to 12 points. The refs weren't making the calls, but the Libs started landing the shots, with Willis and Larkins landing clutch baskets at just the right moments to push the Libs into the 4th, up by six (54-48).

If Seattle thought they were in it, Shameka Christon closed the door. Dominating much of the game with her superb shots and devil-may-care attitude, she started off the quarter with a sick 3 pointer and never looked back. The Libs went on a 14-6 run (during which the Storm only made two baskets and no rebounds) before Coach Agler threw in the towel with the scrubs. The dust had settled. The game was won. The seconds ticked off the board and the Liberty had launched themselves to a game under .500, 77-63. Word.

How did this happen? How could we win with only two players (Christon and McCarville) scoring more than ten points? Against one the West's premier teams? With Patty playing against form and putting everybody out on the court?

Team mentality, that's how.

No one showboated. No one hogged. Everybody worked. Everybody hustled. I didn't notice a single straggler out on the court, and while there were bad plays here and there, they were the exception to the rule. After the Storm reached their zenith in the 2nd quarter, the Libs lowered the gate and never let them back into the game. It was New York's time, and the Belles knew it. Props.

GAME NOTES

Despite the tiny crowd (less than 7K sold and looked like half that in the seats), the crowd was very into it from beginning to end.
Leilani Mitchell, despite not putting any points on the board, was a little wrecking ball out there during her 11 minutes of action.
Props to Sue Bird for not letting her first half-fiasco from getting her down. She wound up with a decent 10 points and 4 assists.
Refereeing? Suspect at times. Not that it was horrendous, but Shameka Christon DEFINITELY had a few choice words with the on-court officials.

Houston is just around the corner. It would not do to win this game and then serve the Comets their first win. Enjoy the day. Back to work tomorrow.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...
Minnesota 85, Atlanta 81
Los Angeles 81, Chicago 77 (OT)
Houston 75, San Antonio 72
Phoenix 98, Washington 93

Atlanta, much to my (pleasant) surprise, actually managed to make a game out of this one. Both teams started out playing cautious defense, with the Dream going up in the 1st but the Lynx denying them all but 6 in the 2nd. After that point, the flood gates opened up. Atlanta was desperate for a win; you can see it in the play-by-play. EVERYBODY was taking shots; the Dream shot 50% from the field, 42% from the 3, and 90% from the line. The Lynx look pitiful in comparison. But Minnesota got the W because they wouldn't allow themselves to be boxed out. They looked bad at points, but they always stayed one step ahead of the Dream. Like the old joke about two friends beind chased by a grizzly, the Lynx didn't need to be great. They just needed to be better than the other guy.

Los Angeles, with Parker playing an average (for her) game, almost lost it, but managed to pull a win out of their ass with help from Lisa Leslie (18 points, 12 rebounds) and Delisha Milton-Jones (24 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists). The Sky threw everything and the kitchen sink and manged to tie up the game in the 4th with 26 points in the final 10, but it was not to be. Even with a (nearly) sellout crowd in their barn, the Sky just couldn't pull it off. The Sparks made the Sky pay for their fouls by shooting 92% from the line, and that proved to be the clincher, because the Sky ran the court in every other stat... besides points. Parker fans? She scored 12 points. Dupree fans? 22.

Houston finally got the monkey off of its back. They managed to outplay the Stars at home with a near-sellout crowd. That's how you play ball; win at home, make the shots, and steal one from a cross-state rival. 4 Comets scored more than 11 points. Sophia Young and Becky Hammon made it interesting, but they couldn't get the support. The Comets go to 1-5, the Stars fall to 2-3.

Phoenix got a win, too, thanks to Diana Taurasi's 29 points and a completely inept Washington defense. Not that the Mercs' was that much better, mind you, but it managed to contain all but the explosive Alana Beard (33 points) from reaching the net with any regularity. For DC, it was another "almost" game, with their problems outside and inside the lane adding up to another loss. Odd, considering that they owned the Mercs from the 2nd through the 4th. They just couldn't get out of the 28-16 hole they dug themselves in during the 1st. Sigh...

Seattle @ Detroit
I can't believe that after the drubbing that the Storm received last night that they are going to somehow get on a plane, pick up the pieces, and come back to win against the current Eastern leader. Swin Cash's return to Detroit is going to be a mute one, and I guarentee with Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals tonight (Detroit clinches it with a win) that the crowd either won't be there or won't be into it. Shock by 6.

I've got some writing to work on, so no links today. Until tomorrow?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Gameday - The Emerald City in Flames

2008-06-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

Bring it.
SEATTLE STORM vs. NEW YORK LIBERTY
Our New York Liberty find themselves in a sad, sad state. Fifth in the conference? Behind the Mystics? Ahead of only the Sky (technically) and the Dream (thank GOD!)? This isn't the 5-0 start that we saw last year, and hope is ebbing fast for the once proud franchise. Ticket sales are down, the team looks discom... discombob... out of sorts, and no one seems to know what to do.

Enter the Storm.
And now Seattle has come to town to push their lucky start. Well, not lucky at all. The Storm are a formidable opponent. Lauren Jackson is averaging over 18 points a game, while her cohort, Sue Bird, is pushing 13. Swin Cash was a fantastic pick-up in the off-season; she is posting her best numbers since her sophomore season while leading the team in shooting (.535) and, behind only Jackson, rebounds (6.5).

Did someone say RPG?
Sheryl Swoops, while no longer the offensive juggernaut that she once was, adds a nice dose of stability and experience to a sometimes-meandering club. Combined with strong coaching from Brian Agler and sense of revival, and its no wonder that Seattle's gals have started off the season 5-1, behind only the undefeated Minnesota Lynx in the West. It's amazing to think that only a little while ago, people were thinking that this team was going to move to Oklahoma City or simply disband.

Top on the list for the priorities of the Libs tonight? Settle down. It's been a few days since our last game (not Sunday, like the Storm) and we need to refocus. It sucks to be playing the hole, but nobody is going to give us wins like last year. We're going to need everybody to step up their game. And that starts with the... starters.

McCarville is injured... or is she? In any case, she continues to play and post numbers, but its obvious SOMETHING is up. Kraayeveld, meanwhile, is second on the team with points, but is shooting less than 36%. Shameka Christon is posting strong numbers, but her defensive lapses are beginning to shame even Dutch. Loree Moore plays when she wants to and at no other point, while Erin Thorn... well, the less said about Muffin, the better.

To get better, the whole team needs to start playing. Numbers are secondary at this point. Those will come with cohesion. Forcing the ball, passing into coverage, and other bald spots on both the O and the D need to be addressed. Patty should have taken the last few days to instill some fundamentals in the girls. If the Libs come out flat like they have in every game (except the W against Washington), no amount of good ball will break them out again.

One weakness that the Belles have to exploit is Seattle's failure beyond the arc. Despite all of their impressive numbers, the Storm shoot a paltry .261 from the 3. Why? Because they don't need to, as four of their players break 6-3 (compared to just 2 for the Libs... er, 1, as Davenport is still out). That height comes in handy for defense and rebounds, but if the Libs can handle the inside (a tall order) and move the ball swiftly (not as much), then they'll force the Storm to come to them, rather than the other way around.

This isn't going to be an easy game, but it won't be impossible. There's a lot to like about the matchup... IF the Liberty play to their potential. Much like last season, the best comes when the Belles play for it. The potential is there; Christon, Kraayeveld, Thorn, Jackson, Moore, Carson, and Willis all have the ability to produce double-digit points. The excuses need to stop. The time is now.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Defense. The Liberty rank dead last in the league for rebounds and are third from the bottom in Blocks per game. The Storm rank much, much, much higher in each stat.
Turnovers. The Libs are getting better, and continue to lead the league in steals (over 10 a game). They still spot their opponents too many chances, and that's what's costing them.
Control. The Storm aren't some offensive powerhouse. They win by controling the lanes, their opponents shots, and the flow of the game. If the Libs don't show more discipline, the Storm will mop the floor.

Look for me and the lady in the stands tonight. Don't know where we will be sitting. Somewhere. Look for the guy whose eyes glaze over whenever Lauren Jackson steps onto the court... mmmmm...

AROUND THE LEAGUE...
Minnesota @ Atlanta
Los Angeles @ Chicago
San Antonio @ Houston
Washington @ Phoenix

Atlanta is rebounding 31 balls a game... but losing another 43 to their opponents. Is that the key to their miserable season? Hell no. They also suck at point differential (over -17, ten points more than the next worst team), shooting from the field (worst, but closer), and all around defense. Minnesota is leading the league in those first two categories, and a grocery list more. I feel bad for Atlanta. I really do. Especially because this is going to happen at home. But Minnesota couldn't be in better shape. Lynx by 12. And I feel I'm being generous.

Los Angeles relies on Candace Parker, and that dame of a gal is carrying her team to a strong start (3-1 right now). The Sparks need to gel a bit more before I go around shouting their praises like everybody else in this league, but against a team like the Sky - home crowds are a joke, can't catch a break, major defensive lapses - the Sparks shouldn't have to worry. Chicago needs to start playing downtown (both on the court and in the city(. Until they do, they'll always be the bastard love-child of the WNBA. Sparks by 7.

Houston was a point away from breaking their losing streak on Sunday, losing to the Storm in the waning minutes by the tune of 64-63. Much like last year, they're shooting themselves in the foot by losing these close games that'll mean the difference come August. San Antonio hasn't found its footing yet, and Houston MUST like this matchup at home. The key is FG%; the Silver Stars give up the second-worst in the league, while the Comets both defend decently and shoot moderately. If Houston can control the flow around the outside, they'll run the Stars out of town. If they wind up playing San Antonio's game, then it'll be a long night. Houston gets the ups for being at home and needing a win. Comets by 3.

Washington, despite all odds, is now 2-3. I'll give credit where credit is due; they are in 4th place. They are now facing off against the Mercs, who have so far given up the most PPG in the league this year. I have trouble picking DC to win ANYTHING (they even lost their baseball team... twice!), and though my gut is telling me too, my brain is holding me back. The Mystics have the worst point total in the league. The Mercs have the second-highest. If Phoenix can't control DC's anemic offense, then they should start drinking Everclear while looking forward to next year's draft. Mercs by 6.

The W sported 14 sellouts to start off the season, seeing record attendance. This is a bit misleading, as several teams are playing smaller venues than before, or are cutting off sections of their current barns. Of course, the league is still suffering from scheduling problems. Duh.

Quotes from USA Coach Anne Donovan and others about the upcoming prep for the Olympics. Lisa Leslie is still a powerhouse for the team, however, and Donovan is going to need to rely a lot on her, especially with most of the other teams in competition training for months and months ahead of time. Go Shay!

Katie Douglas is once again the East's Player of the Week. Her old time, the Sun, is still atop the Conference, however.

If even Candace Parker, in her return to Chicago, can't get a sellout at the Pavilion, it may be time to shoot the dog that is WNBA in the Windy City.

The Pittsburgh Penguins won last night's game in triple overtime to force Game 6 back in the Burgh. I know that none of you care. Screw it. This is my blog and I'm as happy as a priest at a Cub Scout meeting.

One fun story that has absolutely nothing to do with anything; George Takei (aka Mr. Sulu) is marrying his longtime partner now that California is legalizing gay marriage (or not). His best man? None other than Mister Checkhov... er, Walter Koenig.

Until next time?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Saturn is not Happy - Libs Lose

2008-05-31T14:34:00.000-07:00

Yes. My thoughts exactly.

Quick update about the game. I usually don't post on Saturdays, but then again, I've been missing most of my updates, so I figured I should make up for them. With that out of the way, let me be the bearer of bad news...

CONNECTICUT 89, LIBERTY 85

It all started out as planned. The Libs went up 9-5 in the first three minutes, their defense was forcing Connecticut to make sloppy plays, and the Belles snapped up loose balls. Then, it happened... or rather, it DIDN'T.

That is, the Libs began sitting pretty, and the Sun took advantage. Wave after wave of New York's possesions turned fruitless, while Connecticut slowed the game down, took their time, and pounded our lassies into submission.

Mmmm... submission...

When your team is down 27-15, it takes a herculean effort to dig out of the hole. But with the exception of Essence Carson, who finally showed the stuff that made her our first round draft pick, players STILL couldn't keep themselves grounded.

Sure, Kraayeveld grabbed 9 rebounds and scored 12 points. Sure, Shameka Christon, Janel McCarville, and Erlana Larkins had strong games. Sure, the Libs increased their steals, rebounds, and proficiency at all parts of the court (including a whopping 40 of their points from the paint). But that doesn't matter if you can't hold on when the going gets tough.

Give credit where credit is due. Carson scored 15 points and played a strong game (although she's still adjusting to the professional ranks). Coyle is playing from the bench, to great effect. The team is beginning to click.

And also, the Sun didn't back down. They're a quality team, and when Tamika Whitmore wants to score (as she did last night, for 18 points), they're a force to be reckoned with. Asjha Jones held the line (8 rebounds, 6-12 in the field, 16 points), while Lindsay Whalen, Jamie Carey, and Jolene Anderson all had strong games. Despite the restructuring of Connecticut's pro-ballers, they seem to be clicking more and mroe. They didn't seem as sloppy as the home opener, but then again, neither did the Libs.

:::grudging golf clap:::
So what's the deal, then? How can the Liberty be improving and still falling behind? What is the missing link? Where is the connection? No single answer exists, but might I suggest something...

The ladies still seem to be missing the basics. Blocking long shots? Playing tough? Solid passes? The Liberty seem wishy-washy at this point, uncommitted to the team effort that needs to be essential to their game. Coyle can only coach so much, and frankly, she's looking less and less like the culprit here. If the ladies don't want to play together, then something needs to be done. I don't know what, but then again, I'm not a basketball guru. I just write a blog. Badly.

No more needs to be said on this game. If you want the full recap or play-by-play, you know where to find them. I just want to forget this and focus on Seattle next week. I'll be in the stands, worrying my ass off.

Nobody press this JUST yet, however.

No game notes. Sorry. No time. And I don't want to think about this game anymore than I already have.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Monarchs 73, Comets 66
Storm 78, Silver Stars 57
Sparks 70, Mystics 59

Sacramento looked a bit out of sorts from the git-go on this one, but the Comets looked even worse, with strings of bad plays that kept them off the board for minutes at a time. Houston needs to address these problems. Now. Sacramento, meanwhile,

The Mystics can't catch a break. They kept it close for most of the contest, but the Sparks finally put them down like the dogs that they are. And who can blame them? When you gotta put down Ol' Yeller, you got to put down Ol' Yeller. This puts the skids on the Silver Stars streak. They'll have to find some way to get things on again.

Detroit @ Indiana
Phoenix @ Minnesota

Another matchup, this time in Indiana. Last time I picked this series I lost. I'll take the Shock by 6 this time and know I'm wrong before the ball even skips into the air.

Phoenix is reeling. Minnesota is on a roll. The Mercs need this more. The Lynx are at home. The Mercs are going to have to win sometime, and with their firepower, it will be soon. But I won't pick against the Lynx just yet. Especially not with their engines firing on all cylinders.Lynx by 7.

All right. Sorry this is so quick. Pens are coming on soon. Let's rock 'em, Penguins. Until Monday, ladies and gents?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Gameday - Libs on Sun

2008-05-30T07:13:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK @ CONNECTICUT

We all know what happened the LAST time the Liberty played the Sun. Hellfire. Brimstone. Thousands of wailing children. Spilled beer. That awful-ass "Clap and Stand up 'til we Score" bullshit. But that was then. This is now. A new game. A new day. A new town. A New... New York. Let's get it on.

Now 1-2, the Liberty's season is shaping up to be one of mediocrity. Inconsistency has plagued the ladies from the start, with fantastic play showing at certain points in the game (usually the 2nd or 3rd quarters), mitigated by awful showings in the first and last ten minutes of a game. But that's not what's keeping the Libs down entirely. Other factors have come into play as well.

Word is that McCarville's hand injury is doing more than just hampering her play. If that's the case, then we're going to need a lot more from the rest of the gals. There is no single leader on the Libs; they play a tough team game that, when working properly, allows various lassies to come in and play their best when others falter. Dutch, Thor, Moore, Muffin, Jackson... they can all play the game. Patty has to keep that in mind when matching up against the Sun.

Turnovers have become a MAJOR problem for New York, as well. Chaos reigns when the opposing team goes on a run, with every gal trying to do everything they can to win. Coyle should use her timeouts liberally should New York go into some sort of slide. The Liberty won't win a game of flip-flops, as shown in their home opener. Now is the time to concentrate and capitalize on Connecticut's shortcomings.

The Sun are coming off of the worse loss in team history, a 75-46 atom-smasher of a game in front of their hometown fans. Some of the players are reeling from the event, and Coach Mike Thibault is looking for leaders to take the charge and bring the team back from the brink.

Still, despite that awful outing, the Sun are still fifth in the league in PPG (77.5), while the Libs are second-to-last, ahead of only the pitiful Mystics. They are in the middle of the pack of almost every other offensive category, except one; assists, which they lead the entire WNBA in, with over 20 per game.

What's that mean? They like to pass and are more patient than a lot of other teams, waiting for the right moment to strike. They're not particularly dangerous on the outside, but then again, just leaving them there won't limit their game either.

If the Libs are to win this game, they are going to need more than a solid effort from their defense. Connecticut is a tall team, but not overly so; they don't intimidate down low, but they manage to grab choice rebounds and set things back in motion immediately. So, New York is going to have to come up big underneath the net, while also not making stupid, wasteful shots that go directly into the Sun's hands.

Other than that, the usual keys apply. Starters. Bench. Team play. Leadership. You know the drill. This is going to be a tough game, but the Libs can take the Sun, especially now, if they open up first and keep Connecticut reeling. Courage and confidence will push the Belles out ahead for good, while a lack of discipline and sloppy play will reawaken the sleeping giants.

Keys to the Game

Rebounds. The Sun lead the East. The Liberty are at the bottom of the league. Rectification is in order.
Steals. The Sun don't play that aggressively. The Liberty might play that kind of game TOO much. If the Libs are to win, they're going to have to balance out their desperation with their judgment.
The Mohegan Sun. Connecticut's barn has not been kind to the Libs recently. The Belles, ala Hoosiers, should measure the court and recognize that it's the same size as the one at MSG.

Essence Carson has some words to say about her first WNBA road trip. Find it here.

AROUND THE LEAGUE
Fever 82, Sparks 78 (2 OT)
Lynx 75, Sky 69
The Fever managed to overcome some sloppy second-half play to come back and take it from the Los Angeles Parkers in double overtime. Katie Douglas led the way, scoring 25 points (albeit with a few bad passes thrown in as well), while the Fever D held Candace Parker to 16. Both teams shot horribly from beyond the arc, but give credit where credit is due; they did actually TRY to shoot the ball.

The Sky managed to shoot well from the 3, steal balls, and limited their own fouls while taking advantage of Minnesota's roughshod play. Still, it wasn't enough, as the 2nd quarter stood as the only time when Chicago significantly outplayed their opponents. Seimone Augustus led the Lynx with 19 points, while the bench of the Lynx contributed solid shots and good rebound control (Of note: Charde Houston, with 15 pts. and 6 rbs.). Sylvia Fowles (16 pts) and Candice Dupree (12 pts) each scored in the double-digits for the Sky, but beyond that? A whole lot of small numbers.

Houston @ Sacramento
San Antonio @ Seattle

Houston is off to another horrendous start, losing their first 3 games by fairly close margins. Their defensive stats aren't awful, but they can't seem to get over the hump to win a game If they are going to stop this streak quickly, Sacramento might be the sacrificial lamb. The Monarchs are also off to a poor opening (1-3), while their touted defense has seen more holes shot through it than a redneck's barn wall. Sacramento is at home, however, and they have shown way more promise than the Comets at this point. Monarchs by 5.

The Silver Stars (got the name right this time) have put together two strong wins after dropping their opener. But that mini-streak might end as they travel to the Emerald City to face off against the surging Storm. Seattle dropped their first game of the season a week ago (in San Antonio), but bad officiating and a weak showing from the bench can be blamed for that. It's going to be a close game, but Seattle has more to lose; they need to establish that they can win at home and win consistently so that they don't wind up like last year's roller coaster of mystique and ineptitude. Storm by 6.

All right. I'm off to Brighton Beach. Screw Coney Island: no fat men in their underwear for me today. Keep it real, folks.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Sorry for the delay...

2008-05-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

(Regular update up in a bit. For some reason, Blogger didn't post this yesterday.)

Sorry it's been a week. It's tough getting back into the swing of things. Especially when a Chinatown bus strands you in the Pennsylvania countryside for over six hours. As a word of advice, NEVER take the Dragon Deluxe buses. Never. Ever ever.

Images continue to be a problem. Until I can find out why, this is going to be an image-less blog, so sorry for all you lovers of my inane jokes. But enough with that. On with the news!

LIBERTY 79, MYSTICS 60
The Libs took their first win of the season from the Washington Mystics by finally realizing that passing, shooting, and taking advantage of turnovers are all a part of the game, not apart of it.

Big props in this game to limiting Monique Curry to six shots and 2 points (both from the line), while playing nine Belles for more than 10 minutes each. McCarville started out strong, posting 9 points in her 14 minutes of play, but when she faltered due to her hand injury, Patty was quick to sit her.

Dutch and Thor each had 17 points to lead the Libs, while Loree Moore picked up 7 assists in a solid game. Turnovers are still a problem (Kraayeveld herself had 5!), but the Libery managed to hold onto their defensive game to keep the Mystics off of the board.

One note; the Libs definitely began to slack off in the second half. After the Belles went up 46-25, DC outscored New York in both the 3rd and 4th quarters. This is mostly due to the bench playing most of the second half, but still... when you have a team on the run, keep pushing.

With that, the Liberty were even for the season. Sure, they had dropped the home opener in a piss-poor manner, but things were going much better. All the ladies got in on the action, and everything looked yippy-skippy...

SHOCK 72, LIBERTY 62
...but then the Liberty forgot everything and dropped a toughie to Detroit.

With the Red Wings beating my Penguins 2-1 in the Stanley Cup Finals, and GM continuing to create crappy cars that cost too much and break down too often, I'm not high on the Motor City at the moment. But they do field a terribly strong WNBA team that has managed to catapult themselves to the top of the East (yet again), and taking advantage of the glut of mediocre teams in the East - and let's be frank, considering the Libs mediocre at this point is generous - has put them where they are.

The Belles managed to score only 6 points in the first quarter, while going on to play up-and-down ball the entire game. How so? They held the Shock to 10 in the 2nd, then let up 25 in the 3rd, then abandoned defense to pour on the O in the last ten minutes, scoring 33 points in the 4th. But when you only manage 19 points in the first half, the game can't be decided by last-minute heroics.

Props for never saying die, but let's face facts. Dutch shot 18 times and missed all but 4. Tiffany Jackson and Lisa Willis led the team with a respectable 12 points each, but they didn't even start the game. Everybody continues to take bad shots and give up the ball at inopportune times. Patty is now playing more from the bench (thank God), but her hand has been forced by the inconsistent play from the first five. Something needs to settle the gals down. The Libs are now 1-2, and while I won't hit the panic button yet, things aren't looking so hot.

Next game is tomorrow. Everybody up for it? I'll have info posted sometime in the afternoon. Unless I go to the beach, in which case it'll be the morning. Don't push me. Jackals.

Big shout out to Aaron for providing links for tickets to the Outdoor Classic. If anybody missed it, here it is again. Pray for a good day, but with the WNBA's luck, it'll pour.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Los Angeles @ Indiana
Minnesota @ Chicago

Candace Parker Can't Lose. At least, not yet. Her Sparks are abysmal without her; absent her points leading the way, the Sparks are dead-last in the league in PPG and FG%. True, Lisa Leslie is back in action, and Milton-Jones and Spencer can score (when they choose to shoot), but their isn't a lot of protection in the back. But until the some team finds the Kryptonite that'll ground Parker, I won't pick against them. Especially when they're playing an inconsistent Fever team. Sparks by 6.

Minnesota took care of business first in Detroit, and then eked out a win over the Comets in overtime. This is definitely a different team than the one that looked like a New York Nationals-impersonators last year. Chicago is also showing signs of a much improved squad, although truthfully, that isn't saying much. Still, they lost to the now 3-1 Seattle Storm on the road by only 6 points, while handily beating the Monarchs (something I did NOT predict...). I would give the edge to the Sky playing at home, but 3,000 quiet fans barely constitutes a home court advantage. And that 12.5% from beyond the arc is almost a war-crime. So, I'll take the Lynx by 4 instead.

Candice Dupree is blogging for ESPN now, and this post showcases some of her travails as she went from Poland to Chicago, playing ball the whole way.

Yes, yes... Candace Parker is on fire. Her jerseys are outselling everbody else's in the league... combined. And she's a decent human being. Let the idol worship begin.

It ain't easy going home. Just ask Katie Douglas. After the obligatory cheer when she was announced at her homecoming in Connecticut (after being traded to Indiana), the Sun fans immediately started giving her the ol' Hartford Wail whenever she touched the ball.

Suck it up.
Speaking of the Sun, Lindsay Whalen was named the East's player of the week. She averaged over 16 points, while shooting over 56% from the field. Sophia Young was the West's pick for that period. Here's the complete stats and announcement.

The Atlanta Dream sold-out their very first game. Huzzah! And their second game! Hurray! And the Dream are now 0-4! Damn. Still, optimism runs high, especially when you have people traveling over several hundred miles to see you play ball.

And finally, some video of everyone's favorite ex-Lib, Becky Hammon, being her cutest and badass-est (sp?). Click, double-click, and then save the link. If you're into her. Which you should be.

You're not a commie, are you?

Gameday tomorrow. Get on your war gear!

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Gameday - Libs versus the Mistakes

2008-05-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

I mean the Mystics. No, wait. I was right the first time.

(Rest of photos to come later. Internet is being a Drama Queen.)

Pat Coyle had this to say about Sunday's game against the Sun: "It was the home opener, I don't know how you can come out flat. We need to regroup in a hurry, that's what I expect from this group and that's what is going to happen." Unfortunately, Patty, it's YOUR job to motivate the gals. And if they won't play high-tempo ball in front of a hometown audience, then you need to sit them or make them do suicides at practice until they know who's boss.

The Libs' problems start with coaching, but I'm not letting the players off the hook at all. Let's admit it: the Libs looked sloppy on Sunday. Poor shots, no talking, and major lapses in basic defense combined with some ill-timed turnovers to create a horrible, horrible way to start out the 2008 season. But there's 33 games still left. We can all laugh about this game when we reach the post-season... IF the team wakes up. And that needs to start today, in our game against an opponent that is still reeling from their opening-night drubbing.

Bring it, soul-suckers.

The Mystics and the Libs look very similar on paper. Both teams had 16-18 seasons last year, both had piss-poor openings, and both don't have a large enough data sample this season to make statistics worth using. Last year, Erin Thorn, Loree Moore, and Shameka Christon were the heroes of the D.C.-NY series, but these are new teams, with new mindsets. Each team is hellbent on not dropping to 0-2.

But there the similarities end. While McCarville might be the top player for New York (Shameka Christon is banging when she's hot), the Libs rely on strong teamwork from a half-dozen players to take the game. The Mystics, on the other hand, definitely rely on their big names to put them up, with the bench cleaning up the scraps and allowing the starters to rest. Coach Tree Rollins, since taking over coaching duties halfway through last year, has long preached a traditional basketball game, with role-players and superstars each fulfilling their duties. It's a good strategy, unless something goes wrong.

Out with a broken crystal ball.

The good news for the Libs is that Alana Beard (2007 ppg: BLANK) is doubtful for the game. That takes a major weapon out of the Mystics arsenal. Washington isn't completely declawed, with Nakia Sanford, Monique Currie, and Taj McWilliams-Franklin all able to move the ball with strength and precision. Washington also has a decent bench that they can extend to, should Beard remain out. They are prone to hasty shots, but when they want to, the Mystics can steal and rebound like no other, pulling victory from the jaws of defeat.

Of course, that's all if they want to show up at all. Washington's Lassies are much different from the team that suited up last year, and it showed in their first game, with miscommunications galore in a beatdown at the hands of the Fever. The Mystics, though holding the Fever to 64 points, only managed 53 themselves. True, the Fever are good, but that is the lowest output from Washington since May 22nd of last year (52 against the then-defensive powerhouse Sacramento Monarchs). Desperation could set in if the Mystics start out slow, or they could get complacent should they move ahead. I really don't know with this team, but my guess is that they aren't going to be pushovers, even without Beard.

Last year, the Mystics started out the season 0-8 before going 16-10 over the course of the rest of the season. They didn't make the playoffs due to a technicality (which allowed our Belles to squeak past). Washington CAN'T start out poorly again this year, especially to a team that beat them by a nose to the post-season. Expect fire to rain from the heavens tonight.

Gotta admit: the Mystics go all-out with this "Worshipping Satan" thing.

History is on the Libs' side in this matchup. Washington is 14-23 overall against the Libs, including lossing seven straight in New York (stretching back to 2004). All of our ladies are capable of big numbers, and if there's a team that can pull us out of the despair of our season opener, its the Mystics. We have Detroit, Seattle, and the Sun again in the next three games. We could easily be 0-5 after all that.

Time to take out the garbage, ladies.

Keys to the Game

Defense. I like that the Libs are more agressively-defensive this year, but they have to pick and choose their battles. Watch out for the open woman, fight for loose balls, and - if things aren't going smoothly - shut down and regroup.
Dutch. Cathrine Kraayeveld needs to rebound after last game. If she doesn't, Coach Coyle needs to sit her.
Turnovers. Sunday's game was atrocious. The Mystics didn't have a great opener in that regard, either. The team that manages to cutdown and pick-up first is going to have a nigh-insurmountable advantage over the other.

AROUND THE LEAGUE…

Detroit 76, Indiana 71

Yeah, so my prediction went bust. Still, it was a tight game that started out as a blow-out for the Shock (22-10 after the 1st). Indiana held on and went up 63-58 with eight minutes left in the game, but couldn't maintain composure. Two stupid fouls let the Shock right back into the game, and then Nolan, Braxton, and Ford shut the door.

Sacramento @ Chicago
Seattle @ Phoenix

Sacramento is still reeling, trying to figure out its gameplan for the season, but Chicago doesn't have that problem. Much like last year, they look uncentered; they went up early in their first game, but an anemic second half prevented them from picking up the Dubya. Both teams played and lost to Seattle already, and that's about as much similarity as the two have; the Monarchs are beginning to break out of their defensive shell, while the Sky are pushing a shotgun attack that they lack the pieces to fully implement. If Chicago can last the whole 4 quarters, they might be able to pull a win out of their hats. But Sacramento's got the edge here. Monarchs by 6.

Phoenix is 0-2 after winning their championship last season, thanks to the stellar play of the Candace Parker-led Sparks and late-blooming Storm. They were in both games up until the end, however, and Seattle might be due for an upset. Their two victories both came against opponents that are still finding their wind. New Storm coach Brian Agler (no stranger to the women's game, having coached in the ABL, for the Lynx, and assisted on the Mercs and Silver Stars) has instituted a never-say-die attitude, however. Even if the Mercury go up, I wouldn't call this game until the final second has ticked off the clock. This is a toss-up... I'll say Mercs by 4.

Speaking of Parker, it’s the first week of the season and already people are talking about her as the MVP? Come on, lads and lassies. Not to take away from ehr 34 point performance (damn!), but it's only one game. If early success was all that mattered, Krispy Kreme would remain the best-selling fastfood joint on the planet.

…instead of the recipient of the “Disappearing Franchise” award.

On the same note of early season "highs and lows", attendance for the openers has been (so far) fantastic, while attendance for second games (so far) has been pitiful. True, this happens every season, but it blows to come off a season in which attendance increased for the first time in a number of years and then see this kind of drop-off.

The sad part about this article is that for a second, I almost believed it was real. Which shows three things. A.) I am not adverse to seeing some of these ladies in their undergarments. B.) I have become so numbed by the league's stupid decisions that this kind of stuff doesn't even set off my bullshit alarm anymore. C.) My departure from the blogging world has left me vulnerable to such tactics.

Vulnerable like a Boy Scout at a Priest's Convention.

Apparently, the Sky can't afford to miss the playoffs. Well, they'd better stop playing like a group of D-League castoffs in the second half of games, then.

That's about it for me today. I'll try to update late-night tonight, but it may have to wait for tomorrow. Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

What I've been up to...

2008-05-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

The last four months in a nutshell.

As most of you have probably noticed, before Monday, I hadn't updated this blog since January. A lot of stuff happened in that time - both for the Libs and for me - and I can't go over all of it. Still, I need to catch up a bit, and will be doing so in the upcoming weeks.

TO DO LIST...

Go over the Libs' draft picks. Yeah, it would've been better to have done this the day-of, but then again, I got nothing better to do.
Take off all hot-linked pages. I just don't have time to redo them and I can't continue to keep them up. So, if you think they're funny, better look now before they're gone.
Do an "In Memory" piece on Shay and Martina. They deserve it.
Update what my "special" features are going to be this year.
Begin the Liberty Belle and Nickname selections for the new Libs.

As you can see, it's a lot to do, and I'll be doing my best to stay up on it. I've got two books coming out (part of the reason why I didn't have a lot of time to update), and the search for the job has been long and fruitless. Thank God for freelancing...

Or as I like to call it, "Barely-Paid Boredom."

But you don't care about me. You all care about the Liberty. And why shouldn't you, now that the season has FINALLY started.

It started feeling like an eternity after a while.

Power Rankings are up at the WNBA's site and at ESPN. Yeah, the Libs are low, but consider that this is also only the second week. Let's wait a bit before the Chicken-Little talk, okay?

Here's a BIT more on the Outdoor Classic. Frankly, I think it's a fantastic idea (so long as it doesn't rain). The only thing cooler would be to have the Libs play at the W. 4th Street Courts, but the crowds might be a bit of a problem.

Though judging by the way the Libs handle ticket sales, maybe not...

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Silver Spurs 81, Mercury 76
Storm 74, Monarchs 62

The Mercs are struggling with their new coach while Penny Taylor is out, dropping their first two. Taurasi and Pondexter are still averaging over 22 points a game each, but Phoenix is going to need a lot more if they want to keep riding off their first WNBA championship. Meanwhile, the Silver Spurs also look a bit unwieldy, though this could have to do with the long off-season. They managed to beat the Mercs by playing their usual brand of decent defense coupled with a strong dose of timely achievement. Becky Hammon's got to wake up, but as long as Sophia Young can produce, that team will play at least .500 ball.

The Storm have the look of last year's Libs - starting out strong and winning games in which they shoot themselves in the foot. Sacramento had their number in the first half and was on their way to putting up a 2-0 record. But then their defense collapsed and the Australian Goddess known as Lauren Jackson suddenly remembered how to play ball.

Must have been the jet-lag from her "Reason's the Writer is Glad He's Straight" Contest.

The Monarchs don't look like the team that dominated the first half of the WNBA West last year. They need a bit more discipline, and if anybody can do it, it's Coach Boucek.

Indiana @ Detroit

Last year's Eastern Conference Finals match-up is getting revisited, and Katie Douglas is going to be the key. She scored 24 points in her Fever debut and is looking to keep her team on a roll. The Shock, meanwhile, are looking to erase some of the bad taste left in their mouths from the Lynx. Was that abomination and aberration? Or a sign of things to come? Fever by 6.

Donna Orender is already talking about adding two more teams to the league within the next five years. Let's see how this little experiment in Atlanta turns out, shall we? After all, the expansion team got downed 100-67, and unless they turn it around, Orender's idea that there's too much talent in the league rings a bit hollow.

As Hollow as Kevin Bacon in that one movie. I think it was called "The Guy Who Was Invisible, But Not Really All the Time".

As an aside to that, creating an expansion team and then having them take the next week off isn't the best way to keep people's interest high. At least they have two home games in three days... which should REALLY keep that expansion team on their toes. I know I say it all the time, but somebody's gotta kill the WNBA Scheduler.

Muppet-Style. Like Always.

The WNBA is hyping their new affiliation with McDonald's... or is it the other way around? In any case, its a coup for the league, as McD's is a huge sponsor, but at the same time, that Scottish corporation is still a festering boil on the face of humanity. Now Five Guys... THERE'S a burger chain. Check out the one on Bleecker and 7th. Or on Laguardia and Houston. You won't be disappointed. DAMN IS IT GOOD!

Definitely worth selling my soul and this blog's credibility for.

The Libs are gearing up for tomorrow's match-up against the Mystics tomorrow. I'll be previewing the game and (hopefully) posting a wrap-up near midnight. If I can. I'm going to be in State College, PA, and for all I know, I'll be loaded. Is there any other way to experience State College?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

We're Back - Libs Lose

2008-05-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

Let's Rock n' Roll!

After what seems like forever, the WNBA season has started. It's been almost nine months, with tons of info and goings-on happening in between. Trades, an expansion team, the draft, the announcement of an Outdoor Classic (for inspiration, see Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins), and a whole lot more.

As for me, I've been out of commission since January. If any of you are still around, thanks. It was quite crazy there for a while. I'll update everybody about my various to-do's that happened in that time span, but I know why you're all here...

CONNECTICUT 77, NEW YORK 63

The 2008 WNBA Season tipped off today for New York, with the Libs trying to best tha already 1-0 Connecticut Sun for that all-important first win. No one wants to be like the 2007 Minnesota Lynx or Houston Comets, you know?

A graphic depiction of those teams' seasons.

Unfortunately, the Liberty started off on the wrong foot. Sure, we won the toss, but that was followed by three missed shots before the first non-free throw basket was made some three-plus minutes into the quarter. Whoever thought that the "Clap/Stomp Until We Score" thing was a good idea should be executed, Muppet-style.

It's the only way.

Tamike Whitmore continued to prove Carol Blazejowski wrong (read, "moronic") for the trade that sent her out of town, while the remnants of Connecticut's "Big Four" (Whalen and Jones) showed why Connecticut finished a strong third in the conference last year. Janel McCarville managed to keep things interesting, however, netting the first four points of the Libs and making a few nice rebounds and plays. Unfortunately, the Libs couldn't get much out of anybody else and by the end of the first 10, the score read 20-16.

The Sun just kept pounding going into the 2nd, despite missing shot after shot. Raymond kept the Sun ahead with 6 rebounds, 4 points, and 2 clutch assists while the Sun seemed to be dazed at the lack of offensive-awareness shown by the Libs. Even McCarville slowed down. Rutgers alum (and the Liberty's 1st round draft pick this year) Essencse Carson saw most of her action in this quarter, but was limited to just one basket.

The Liberty Faithful at the half.

Now, if you were Pat Coyle, and two of your starters (Kraayeveld and Moore) combined for six points in twenty minutes of play, what would you do? If you answered "Keep Playing Them and Bench McCarville", you're damn right. Unfortunately, you also just blew it.

Thanks a lot, chump.

And so it went, with the 2nd half starting out just as poorly, with the sole saving grace being the Timeless Torches and their bad-ass routines.

The Belles began to show some life through the end of the 3rd and into the 4th, going on a 18-4 run that put them within 4 points of the Sun. McCarville, finally seeing some action, put together a nice few plays (and two solid shots), while Tiffany Jackson, and Shameka Christon continued their decent games...

Thor will not be denied her points!

... but just like that, the Libs lost their mojo again. Rebound after rebound was being picked up by the Sun, while the missed shots were finally beginning to add up. Kraayeveld awoke - briefly - from her slumber to score a basket and then turn over the ball on some bad shots before finally, the Sun pulled an Old Yeller and did what they had to do.

Muppet-Style. Once again.

The final? 77-63. Most telling stat? 46-29 rebound total, in favor of the Sun. Best game? Connecticut's Ashja Jones, with 16 points (5-10, 6-6 for FTs), with another 4 assists and 5 rebounds. All of this despite the Connecticut Sun turning over the ball 20 times to the Libs. Of course, the Libs turned it back another 20 times, so... yeah... ugh...

Good things I noticed? The new, up-tempo defense worked really well (at points). Tiffany Jackson, when not seemingly lost on the court, had a strong game. Pat Coyle seems more willing to play from the bench than last year.

Bad things I noticed? Newcomers to the team still need to find their stride. Coyle has GOT to take out players that aren't cutting it. Turnovers are killer, but bad shots are WAY worse. And for GOD'S SAKE, LADIES! GET YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR WHEN ITS OBVIOUS THERE'S A SHOT ON THE WAY!

Overall, this looks like its going to be a decent season, but the Libs have to work on a few things. Everybody just needs to calm down. Sure, we're 0-1, but we have Washington up next, and the Satan-Worshippers... I mean, the Mystics... are going to have to deal with an angry group of Belles.

Still not satisfied? Listen to this. It'll calm you down.

Good? Can we continue? Very well.

Essencse Carson got a good write-up from the Daily News. She wasn't overwhelming in her opener, but hey, the crowd was into her and she still has some room to grow. I'll hold my tongue for now.

Lastly, I just want to call someone out.

Dutch? Will you please stand up?

You know that I like you, Kraayeveld. I think you're the bees knees, in fact. Unfortunately, your play today was worse than awful. It was atrocious. Your pappy taught you better than that. It seemed like you were a net-minus every time you were on the court. Sure, you made a couple decent plays, but every time I looked, you were making a bad shot, or in some other way destroying whatever rhythm the Libs had going. Your numbers weren't horrid (2-7, 6 rebounds, 6 points), but that's not the whole story. For a starter (over 33 minutes played), you need to produce more. I know you have it in you to be great. Just promise me that today you were suffering from SARS or something, and all will be forgiven.

Okay. I'm spent.

GAME NOTES

A little over 10,000 people at the game today. Strong crowd, but the lowest turnout for an opener in Lib's history. Looks like that decision to cut down on the size of the arena paid of dividends.
Connecticut wasn't exactly overwhelming. Still, they got the job done, and in the end, they're 2-0.
Tamika Whitmore = strong first half, dull second half.
Lindsay Whalen is a beast.
Officiating was all over the place. As in, I had no idea what they were gonna call next. Roping, perhaps? (Bonus points if any of you got the D2 reference).
Newcomers Leilani Mitchell and Megan Duffy will have to pull double-duty to replace the gaping hole left in my heart by the departure of Martina Weber. But if anybody can do it, it's those two.

And just like that, the first game is in the books. It wasn't pretty, but it reminded me of why I got into this team in the first place. Hopefully, the team will get better. But I still plan on going to most games this year, even if the Libs insist on keeping that ridiculous seating chart.

You, sir, are the bane of my existence!

A more "professional" recap can be found here.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

LYNX 84, SHOCK 70

Thanks to the ineptitude of the updaters at WNBA.com, I am unable to give a decent recap of this game. Not that I should be talking about updaters...

...but in anycase, It looks like the Lynx were able to hold off the big guns of the Shock and post a strong win to open up their season. A lot better than last year, huh? And Detroit? Come on. Whatza mattah wit' you? Huh? Yous otta be ashamed o' ya-selves!

No games tomorrow. Monday's are bad for the WNBA. Just like Garfield.

Candace Parker's debut went off swimingly. More than swimmingly, in fact. Her 34 points in the Sparks victory over the BLANK marks an NBA record for a newcomer. A writer for the LA Times thinks that Parker is exactly what the WNBA needs. I would argue that better management would be first on the list, but a healthy dose of star-power in a strong market wouldn't hurt, either.

The Atlanta Dream lost their first game 100-67. Ouch. Owner Ron Terwilliger is trying to do damage control. If this is how the Dream are going to play all season, he's going to need a lot more than band-aids, however.

A LOT more.

A decent WNBA Preview is available here. Just a low-down on what happened in the off-season and what might happen during the 34 game schedule. Solid.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin is not happy about how she's been dealt with by the Sparks. I certainly wouldn't be happy winding up playing in D.C. But then again, I've had it in for that city since it swindled the Expos out of Montreal (with the aid of the MLB).

Baseball just isn't the same without a city that prefers its hamburgers with mayo.

The Storm are settling in to a happier future, one without the threat of destruction or relocation. The same can't be said about the Sonics, but we must take one victory at a time. In case any of you want to help OUT Seattle's NBA team, however, might I suggest THIS for owner/scumbag Clay Bennett.

One note; I will not open any email without the word "Libertine" somewhere in the title. Any email without that word will be trashed. I've been getting a crapload of spam and junk, and unfortunately, if you've mailed me something and I haven't responded, it got lost in the pile. So if you want to get my attention, you know what to do.

There's a lot of stuff that I missed in the off-season, including the absence of two favorite players of mine. But enough of that now. More will come soon. I promise. And this time, I mean it. Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

No Today like Tuesday

2008-01-22T13:20:00.000-08:00

See that guy near the front? That's me!"

So, I want to say that I got laid off of my job. In a nutshell, what this means (besides lots and lots of ramen noodles in my near-future) is that I won't be able to update this blog as regularly (or irregularly) as I have in the past. I'll still do updates, so don't get your panties in a bunch, but I can't make promises as to their frequency and update until I have secured another job.

Okay, now that the depressing part is out of the way, let's get onto the regular update...

The Liberty have their "Theme Night" Schedule up. Nothing too spectacular there. Just the usual.

There's this full article on Shay Doron up on the Jerusalem Post. I know there's more than a few Doron fans who read this site, so go there and get off my back. I like her, too, but come on. There's only so much news I can bring you about her without learning Hebrew.

I only speak two languages: English and Bad English!

For personal appreciation, this goes to the top of my list. Janel McCarville? On ice skates? That just put her bad-assness off the charts.

An aftershock could be felt as far away as Virginia.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

CBA turmoil. For those without index fingers or who are too impatient to click the link: teams can't sign players until the new deal is reached.

Storm fans are getting back into the swing of things. It always puts a pep in my step when I read stuff like this. Until I remember that the dollar is crashing and the economy is in the toilet. Then I just down some valium and I'm fine.

The new Atlanta franchise is doing well for itself... so far. 1,500 season tickets have been sold so far, which is good, especially considering the time frame. It's not all peaches and cream, however, as sooner or later, their going to have to make due with the scraps of the rest of the league and, you know, actually play a game.

All right. Until the next time I am able to post...

See ya, Space Cowboy...

What makes a Bad Tuesday Good?

2008-01-15T11:45:00.000-08:00

Beer. Not just for children anymore.

Saint Patty was seen scouting the Maryland-Duke game. Two ACC powers? The Draft coming up? At least Coyle is doing her homework. The draft class is looking much better than some initial estimates (that is, Parker and a bunch of good, but not great, stuff), so with a seventh-choice, it will be interesting to see what is left. Keep on rockin' the free world, Patty.

Shay scored 14 points for her Israeli team, helping push Ramla over Ramat Hen, 71-67. There's a whole slew of WNBAers down there in the stats. Snow, McWilliams-Franklin, Baker, Price... yeah, check it for yourself.

Jessica Davenport is ripping up the court as well for Challes-les-Eaux in France. She's averaging 13.8 points per game, second on her team and 15th in the league, right ahead of Tiffany Jackson (13.6), might I add.

Shameka Christon isn't doing that badly, either, averaging 17.75 points a game. It's in Spanish, just so you know.

I could keep going on like this. However, thanks to the wonders of...

...THE INTERNET...

...you can look up your favorites, too. Like keeping track of your gals while they're overseas? I found this website that helps out. There's a lot... a LOT... of missing info, but it's good for basic overviews and such. I'm gonna put it up on the link list overhead.

On non-basketball related news, American Gladiators kicks ass. Yeah, some of the events are lame, and the camera angles (as well as the editing) doesn't give the illusion of speed like the previous incarnation did, but damn. It's bad-ass without even trying. Also, Hellga (a.k.a. Robin Coleman) kicks ass. Like some kind of Valkyric Warrior. I could go on and on about what makes her so kick ass, but I don't want to bore you. Besides, this is a basketball blog. Still...

Every guy with Nordic blood or is into spanking just went half-mast.

Some more love for Candace Parker, future LA Spark. Sparks? Sparkser? Sparkette? What is the singular?

A sweet (as in sugar) story about a father and daughter. One has Lou Gehrig's Disease and can barely communicate. The other is a WNBA hopeful. I could make a joke, but the story is just too touching.

Also, the joke would be insanely easy to make.

And with that questionably tasteless joke, I leave you for the day.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

It's Quiet... a bit TOO Quiet...

2008-01-14T13:36:00.000-08:00

Zzzz...zzzz...zzzz...

Yeah, not much is happening on the front today. I just don't want to get into the habit of not updating anymore. So... here it is. All of it.

Here's an article about the woman who runs the Li'l Torches shows at the Garden. It's mostly about her work in the NBA, but it's an interesting read nonetheless.

In case I haven't pimped it yet, check out Game Notes of Dooooooom (pronounced Doooooom, as the last 'o' is silent). From frequent commentor "Rebecca", it's a nose-dive back into Liberty History, with game recaps and more from back in the day. Some things have changed (posting a winning record consistently), while some haven't (attendance woes). In any case, if you call yourself a Lib fan, then there's no excuse not to check it out. Unless, of course, you're Indiana Jones. The man has GOT to stay away from places with "Doom" in the title.

Pull your heart out once, shame on you. Pull it out twice, shame on me.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Candace Parker talks about playing in Los Angeles, as she most likely will with the Sparks number 1 draft pick. The article touches on a bunch of things, really, including WNBA attendance vs. College Ball attendance, the tumultuous place that the Sky are in at the moment, and more.

I told you that the list was short. Sorry.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Storm to Stay - Who Has Two Thumbs and Called It?

2008-01-09T13:10:00.001-08:00

THIS guy!

The Seattle Storm have been sold to a local ownership group. Terms of the sale were finalized in the last couple of days for around $10 million dollars. It's still pending league approval, but that's really a formality, as all four majority owners seem to have deep enough pockets to fund the WNBA franchise. Plus, one (Anne Levinson, former Seattle Deputy Mayor) has experience in owning a women's team, in the Seattle Reign of the now-defunct ABL.

And really, there was no reason for Clay Bennett to keep the Storm. Oklahoma may or may not be a city worthy of an NBA team (I have my doubts, but then again, Salt Lake City does well enough), but why would Donna Orender let a team with a passionate fan-base just slip away? Why would Bennett keep a team that was little more than an albatross around his neck?

Will this have any affect on the Sonics? Probably not. There's WAY too much money to be had. Even if the Sonics tank in Oklahoma, there's still the honeymoon period, and at the end of that time frame (around 4-5 years), Bennett can sell out, make an obscene amount of money, and then ride his deathmobile back down to Hell. Now that Professor Heartbreak has sold off the one piece of baggage that would have dragged his purchase down, the only thing keeping him in Seattle is the Key's lease... which he's trying to get around.

At least THIS set of fans won't commit suicide.

So, rest easy, Storm fans. Your precious franchise is safe... for now. There's no telling what the new CBA deal will do to the WNBA, or whether or not players will continue to play in the US for less money than in Europe, or a million of different things. But for now, raise thy mugs of mead and giveth thanks to the Gods of War.

I couldn't help posting this picture. My Y Chromosome will be the death of me.

How does this affect the New York Liberty, you might ask? It's a decent question, as this IS a Lib blog. Beside being about the WNBA, it also has to deal with the health of the league in general. Look, four women aren't going to pony up 10 million (with the potential to lose over six figures a year) just to say that they own a basketball team. There is room for growth here, and that should send a good feeling gut-punch to every WNBA fan out there.

All right. That's all I got. I just wanted to let you guys know.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

EDIT:

I completely missed it. Loree Moore has signed with Vologda-Chevakata, a Russian club that is heading to the 2008 EuroCup. Her first playoff game with the team is tonight against Hemofarm Vrsac. Did I spell either of those teams' names right? It sounds like I need to cough up some phlegm whenever I pronounce some of those Russian team names.

Oh yeah, and Pat Coyle has a post up on Hoopla. I give her a hard time, but she's a decent coach and has some interesting stuff to say.

For real this time, peace...

Happy New Year '08... Kind of...

2008-01-02T07:46:00.000-08:00

Back again. This time, in style!

Yeah, I've been gone for a while. I was busy with work and writing, and then family time and the holidays came, meaning that it was a hell of a time getting things together enough for an update, but I'm here now, and hopefully the ten of you that have stuck around will keep it real enough for me as we ramp up for the season.

I'm thinking of doing a 2007 Year in Review, but then again, I kinda covered that territory already. Thoughts? If I do it, it won't happen until next week. I'm just trying to get back on the saddle with this whole blogging thing again.

It's like I've regressed to some earlier, more primitive state.

Rebecca was kind enough to comment on the whole "cutting out 300-400 sections for season ticket holders" thing, and like I thought, people are getting boned. Hard. If anybody has a different point of view, or has some evidence to back up this hypothesis, please post here.

Essentially, this post is to remind all of you that I am, in fact, alive and still updating this blog. Readership has dropped precipitously and while I don't do this blog to be popular or anything (A WNBA blog focusing on a single team that is currently screwing over their fan base? What's more popular than THAT?), I just wanted to say that I'm here and will be updating more in the future.

Where we're going we won't need roads...

In terms of the news front (that is, the reason you are all here), I have a couple pieces to share...

A while back, the Libs launched their own blog. More publicity? Great. Not linking to your own blog in the article? Not so much.

Blazejowski has some damage control going on over on the main site. I'm actually surprised that she called out Shameka Christon and Tiffany Jackson for being inconsistent. Not that she's exactly WRONG, but there's a lot of blame to go around for a sub-.500 season, and trading away a popular player that won the MVP in the west only to draft a player that was never played... well...

That's pretty thick-headed.

For all of you Shay Doron fans out there, she updated on Liberty Hoopla about her various goings on. There was no mention of her wanting to strangle Pat Coyle, but if you read between the lines, you can see the rage.

Hell hath no fury like a player benched.

There's more, but right now, I need to split. I'll update soon, coo'?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

And on the Eighth Day, there was a Schedule...

2007-12-14T11:01:00.000-08:00

And lo, God said, "Let there be light!"

The Lib's schedule is out.

You know I'm lazy because I just copied it off of the site. I have no regrets, nor any shame.

There's a lot to talk about, and frankly, there are a lot better people to do it. However, since this is the first BIG thing to happen to the Libs since the end of the season, I feel that it is my duty to do as well as I can for you folks. In-depth analysis isn't this blog's thing, and I'm apt to put in a completely random photo, but I'll do my best.

Thinking Caps on!

First, the opener is against Connecticut at home. Connecticut finished strong last year, but faded quickly against the onslaught of the Tamika Catchings-led Fever. They will be a strong test for our first game: no Chicago Sky cakewalks this year.

We face several good teams in the first month of play, with the only two non-playoff teams in that span being Washington (who almost knocked us out of the post-season) and Houston, who, despite injuries, did much better than their record suggests. Thankfully, however, there are an average of two to three days between our biggest games, allowing for rest and rehab if needed. See

The longest road trip of the season is, of course, the West Coast long-haul that's going to put a mighty big strain on the Libs. It's directly in the middle of the season, too, starting off June 28th (a Saturday) against the Monarchs, and going through July 8th (a Tuesday) against Becky Hammon and the Silver Stars. The middle three games - Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix - will not be pretty, and are one-day-on, one-day-off. The Sparks won't be TOO much trouble (although games in the Staples Center are always tough), but Seattle won't go down without a fight. And of course, there's Phoenix...

THESE ladies...

This trip could work out one of two ways; it could break our backs or kick us into high gear. I really don't see us coming out of that road trip 3-2 or 2-3, and with a home game against Detroit and a road game in Connecticut immediately following, that stretch will definitely define the Libs as a team. Remember last year, when we played six out of seven on the road? We lost the games we should have won and let teams get back into it every time. That led to the season-worst seven-game skid and almost knocked us out of contention for good.

However, if we are able to get out of that road trip 4-1, we'll be in good shape for the rest of the season. The Shock and Sun games won't mean as much, and after that, we have only one solid team to face (the Fever) - with two against Washington, one against Atlanta, and a game at home against the hapless LA Sparks - before the Big Gap(tm).

See that Gap? If you listen closely, you'll hear "USA! USA! USA!"

That's the Olympics. From July 27th to August 28th, the Libs are out of commission. Doron played for Israel while Weber played for the Germans back in October...

There's a tasteless joke there somewhere...

...while McCarville and Moore put on the stars and stripes. Depending on who makes it to Beijing, the Libs might not have to worry so much about playing together as a team. Still, a long break is always a big unknown.

I won't guarentee anything here, but I see a good set and record for the Libs this season. While we won't know how well ANY team will be until the season gets underway, Atlanta will definitely make for three easy games. Los Angeles needs a major overhaul and without a trade at the draft, that's not going to happen this year. Minnesota should also be similarly distressed this season, but will be tougher on us with one game on the road between a Mercury and Fever game at home for us.

Even those prognostications make me uncomfortable, however, and the rest of the schedule is just too up in the air. If Washington starts to gel like they did at the end of the season, they could make a big push for the playoffs. As long as Catchings stays healthy, the Fever figure to be in it, and the Shock still seem to be the team to beat. The Sun could be first or last, depending on where their streaks fall this year, and the Sky are a big unknown that could flirt with the fourth playoff spot or languish for one more season in the cellar.

The West, meanwhile, is even more open. Phoenix is coming off of a championship season, but they lost their head coach to the Sonics, and without a singular force directing them past their absolute lack of defense, they could collapse. The Storm also lost their head coach, but from the sounds of the politics going on behind the scenes in Seattle, that might be a GOOD thing. Minnesota and L.A. are pretty much out, but Sacramento still stands a strong chance, and there's no reason to think that Becky Hammon won't rally her troops around her again in San Antonio. Houston, like Chicago, figures to be the variable, with either a strong performance that will still probably conclude without a trip to the Finals OR another season of frustrating potential.

None of this will matter, however, if we can't protect our goods in the Expansion Draft, pick well in the regular draft, and have several of our key components back in top knotch shape. If we hit a rough spot and Patty refuses to move to the back of the bench, we could end up with Atlanta at the bottom of the heap.

However, a good season will be likely IF the following things fall into place...

Muffin and Thor MUST bring their A game everyday, or at least trading off when one is fantastic and the other nightmare-inspiring.
Davenport and Jackson MUST prove that they can play in the WNBA for long stretches. This will also depend on Patty's willingness to play them.
Dutch MUST make strides on improving her defense. She had a good enough shot last year to make up for some of her lapses, but that won't be enough.
Patty MUST play the bench if the front seven aren't up to snuff. Really, what's the difference if we lose with Christon, Moore, and Kraayeveld on the floor instead of Doron, Jackson, and Weber? Remember when she wasn't playing McCarville? Remember what happened when she put her IN?

Most likely, it will come down to the wire just like last year. We play nine games in eighteen days to end the season, and a sub .-500 finish won't cut it in this year's post-season, not with all the teams in the East better than last year and with Atlanta as the fall-guy inflating records. The last three games will be easy; the fever in Indiana, the Sky in Chicago, and finally, the Shock at home. At least we finish in New York, but there will be a big difference if we come into that game at 16-17 or 17-16.

It will be a good season, but until we get closer, that's about all the analysis I have in me. And now for something completely different.

I held out as long as I could.

Around the League...

Anybody looking for an internship? The Libs are offering one. It's basic office work, but that's what ALL internships are about. Go out there and make me proud. And if you meet Martina Weber, put in a good word for me.

Apparently, Loree Moore is going to be a guest ringmaster at the Circus this weekend. I don't care much for Circuses... circi? circes?... but then again, if you are, by all means, now you have an extra incentive; flat-out pandering!

The League has it's own coverage of the new season, including these top 10 games to watch. Our September 7th game against the Sky is on there, for good reason. It's going to be national on ABC and will almost assuredly have playoff implications. Well-played, WNBA. Well-played.

Lin Dunn, an assistant under Brian Winters, is now the new head coach for the Tamika Catchings Show. Much like the Neutronians, I have no opinion one way or the other.

The Comets are moving to a new arena next year. Specifically, the Reliant Arena, which holds about 5,800 people. Last year, the Comets averaged about 8,000 people at their games. Admittedly, that might be inflated, but even if that the real number is lower by about 20%, the Comets will be losing out on AT LEAST 600 extra paying customers a night. And what happens if the WNBA (or the Comets) get a boost in popularity in the years to come? I can understand that you want to keep it cozy and intimidating, but this might be TOO intimate. I hope the lower cost will be worth it...

That's all I got in me. Until next week?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Special Report: Detective Dumbass on the Scene

2007-12-06T07:49:00.000-08:00

In place of your scheduled update, here is a mystery...

So, here's something. It's the Season Ticket pricing plan for the 2008 Libs. Notice anything different?

The 300-400 level seats are gone.

Now, the 400 Level seats, I can dig. I went to about ten games last season, and I saw exactly two people up in those seats (I thought they were having sex, but that just might be my overactive imagination). So, losing the 400 level seats is not a big deal. I still think the Libs should sell those seats for $1-5 dollars, but I didn't get a business degree, so what the hell do I know?

But the 300 seats?

Maybe I'm wrong. I've only followed the Libs for a season, and that was just from the first game one. Faithful Lib season ticket holders, let me ask you this; do the Libs open up the 300 level seats later in the season? Or is this a new thing?

Because if this IS a new thing, then I'm not too keen. Sure, it's essentially a re-organization of the ticket prices, with some going up and some going down... but what about people like me who don't want to sit in the endzones? Hey, I make a decent salary (especially now that I sold a book), but I was expecting to buy $10 season tickets. And now, unless I want to sit behind the baskets, I have to pony up more? At a time when attendance is going down, and down, and down.

That dog don't hunt, mon-seen-yoor.

I can understand why the Libs are trying to consolidate the crowds into the lower bowl. The WHA did that back in the 70's to make it seem like more people were at games. What I don't understand is that if they are still going to sell gameday tickets in the 300 section, why not sell season tickets? Is this being grand-fathered in or what? Any help?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

2007-12-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

Everything's been kinda out of whack...

Here's a kinda catchup for all those Lib fans out there that forgot that the season is over.

You know who you are.

Kym Hampton - all a y'uns remember her? - is throwing a girl's basketball clinic in February. While I doubt many of my faithful are readers below the age of 18, I wanted to make the shout out anyway. If it turned out that, say, the Moose was throwing a goaltending clinic in Newark, I'd want to know about it. And I'd want YOU to tell me.

Mythic Warrior or Nordic Ice God? YOU decide.

Holdsclaw has resurfaced... in Europe. While Holdsclaw has always played by no one's rules save her own, this is a bit troubling. A solid WNBA player quits the league to play in Europe... for "family reasons"? Remember how people were saying that the W could fold if too many stars realize they can make WAY more money in Europe and skip the hassle of the Stateside grind? Remember? Well, this could be sign of things to come...

Anne Donovan, coach of the Seattle Storm, got canned... er, resigned. It's sad, as she was the first female WNBA coach to win a title, but come on. With the lineup that she had, she should have done MUCH better, especially beating up on the Lynx, Comets, and Sparks several times a year.

For any of you who thought that the vacancy in the Storm's head coaching position could possibly be filled by Paul Westhead, think again.

That's about it for me. Until next time?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

It's Firday if you're Dyslexic

2007-11-30T13:12:00.000-08:00

I'm only doing this 'cuz I promised.

Yeah, I promised two updates this week, and so I fulfill that promise with this update, but I gotta be honest, not much is going on. Sure, there is a bit of news...

...like Atlanta naming their new head coach...

...but for the most part, it's deader than Dumbledore.

Sorry if you didn't know, but there's a statute of limitations on stuff like that.

Instead, I have created a Liberty Quiz. This will keep you Lib Heads satiated through the weekend, right? Right? I hope so, cuz I got nothin'. Don't worry; if you've been paying attention to my blog or to the Libs at all, you'll be fine.

Hehe.

The Best Liberty Quiz Ever

1.)On average, how many players did Coach Coyle play a game in the 2007 season?

a.) Ten
b.) Eight
c.) Six
d.) As few as she could get away with.

2.) What team did The Writer mercilessly taunt throughout the season?

a.) Indiana Fever. Or, should I say, the Tamika Catchings Show.
b.) Chicago Sky. But Claire Coggins... be still, my loins.
c.) Minnesota Lynx. The worst team in basketball since the Washington Generals.
d.) Washington Mystics. They sold their soul to the devil, and all they got was a mediocre team.

3.) According to the Libertine, who is the source of all the Writer's woes?

a.) Bill Simmons.
b.) Chicago Sports Fans.
c.) Coaches who refuse to play certain members of the team.
d.) The New York Yankees.

4.) Of what nationality is Shay Doron?

a.) Marlyand. That's a nation, right?
b.) American. Red-blooded, three-point-throwin' American.
c.) Israel. She's the Hebrew Hammer, remember?
d.) Trick question: she's from outer space.

5.)True or false: Shameka Christon could kill the Grimace.

a.) True. Her badassness knows no bounds.
b.) False. While Christon is the basketball equivalent of finding a twenty in your jeans after a wash, nothing can kill the Grimace.

6.) A little word association: Becky Hammon for Jessica Davenport.

a.) MOTHER@#$%ing GODDAMNED SONUVABITCH I'M GONNA MURDER THAT... (trails off into unintelligable rambling)
b.) Slump.
c.) Wait. Davenport's still on the team? How come I didn't see her for the last part of the season?
d.) Who?

7.) On the first game of the season, what song did the Timeless Torches dance to?

a.) "SexyBack"
b.) "Bad"
c.) "Milkshake"
d.) They weren't there that night. They were too busy saving orphans from a fire.

8.) When I think Erin Thorn, I think of...

a.) ...up in the air, and for the win... YES!
b.) ...Brigham Young... and his five hundred wives.
c.) ...a song by Poison.
d.) ...three-points.

9.) How could the Liberty increase attendance?

a.) Lower ticket prices.
b.) Increase advertising.
c.) More innovative marketing.
d.) By doing anything, goddammit.

10.) Who is the hottest player on the Liberty?

a.) Martina Weber.
b.) Martina Weber.
c.) Martina Weber.
d.) Martina Weber.

ANSWER KEY
(No peaking)

1. d, 2. b, 3. a, 4. d, 5. b, 6. c, 7. a, 8. c, 9. d, 10. Come on.

SCORING

0-1
You're the Minnesota Lynx! How's the the lighting down there in the cellar?

2-3
You're the Chicago Sky! Average Attendance: 184.

4-5
You're the Seattle Storm. Sorry, the Oklahoma City Storm.

6-7
You're the San Antonio Silver Stars. Home-wreckers.

8-9
You're the Phoenix Mercury. I think the "D" section is missing from your dictionary.

10
You're the New York Liberty. Hey, it's my quiz! I can do what I want!

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Back in Black

2007-11-26T09:46:00.000-08:00

Thankfully, I fought my gut to a draw.

Yeah, I'm back. Sorry for the long delay, but there has been a lot of craziness going on thanks to Thanksgiving and various other developments. I can heartily say that turkey day was good and that much, much tasty bird was eaten.

This mofo didn't stand a chance.

In anycase, I am back on the scene, and despite not that much happening (or at least, not much which I can find links to), I am going to keep up with the updates. Those who thought that I was down for the count, beware.

Gird thy loins for battle.

A bit about Shay Doron’s former college team, the Terps, and the recruits of the future. Seems like Maryland can't quite find the mojo that the Hebrew Hammer brought to the team. My suggestion? Raid Israeli basketball camps.

Kraayeveld is keeping busy. Here are some articles on her games, all in french. Mr. Jenkins (my Junior High French teacher) would throw chalk at me should I even TRY to butcher these pieces of journalism, so you're on your own.

Good teacher, killer arm.

Here’s a list, courtesy of the Libs’ site, with all of your favorite lasses who’ve been in the top ten of any category during the WNBA’s existence. Stunning, and looooooong.

Andy Awieda, CEO of the Comets, has resigned. This isn’t necessarily a bad turn – for all we know, he could have just gotten bored and wanted out – but it doesn’t exactly ring bells of endorsement for the team either. The Comets are one of the most successful (both financial and on the court) teams in the WNBA, and having a CEO just resign, almost out of the clear blue, should not fill anyone with any sense of hope.

Unless you take pleasure in the demise of the WNBA.

Vote for your favorite WNBA photos of the 2007 season. Some are nice, some are corny, some are hot... I don't know where I'm going with this.

Some words of self-gratitude from the Ministry of Information. Okay, that may be a bit harsh. Donna loves her the turkey, and I can't fault anyone who loves that bird. So, in recognition of that, there will be no jokes at Donna's expense until... the new year. Think of it as an early Christmas gift.

Seattle should buy the Storm (and the Sonics), or so says the Seattle P-I. It's a heady idea, and not exactly unique, but unless there is some significant action on part of the populace, coupled by a favorable court ruling that would force Bennett to sell, I doubt much can happen on this front. I guarentee, however, that Bennett doesn't give a shit about the WNBA. An effort by a grass roots organization and/or the city to buy the Storm is not that far-fetched. I'll keep you posted.

That's all I got, folks. There will be at LEAST one update this week, probably more like two. If anybody's got some Lib news out there, let me know. I'm faltering over here.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Nickname - Barbara Farris

2007-11-14T13:21:00.000-08:00

Barbara Farris (formerly Barbara Ann)

You know Barbara Farris. That low-post, knock-down, drag-'em-out brawler played in 28 games for us this year and posted decent stuff in the post-season, too (albeit with several lapses in defense here and there). Well, someone mentioned that for someone such as Farris, her former nickname just isn't going to cut it.

Barbara Ann is no more.

No more indeed. We needed something fresh, something new, something... something.

Barbara Farris = Barb Wire.

Oh, hell yeah. Sure, the movie sucked HARD. I mean, really hard. It was one of the worst movies I have ever seen, and I've seen all the odd-numbered Star Trek films. Pamela Anderson was bad, the editing was horrendous, the screenplay was laughable...

I'm sorry. My mind was somewhere else.

In anycase, the comic and the character are both the epitome of bad-assness, in my humble opinion, and so, without further adieu, I give you the new Barbara Farris, Barb Wire. Henceforth, let it be know that no defense shalt be free of her sharp guard and trapping ways. Thou shalt mess with her razor-wire exterior at thine own risk.

Hey! Moses, I ain't!

Gomez, Morticia, Lurch, and...

2007-11-14T12:50:00.000-08:00

Now only if there were a day named Pugsley...

According to AAEmotion, Shay Doron's most recent game has been cancelled due to violence between two men's teams. I found a bit more info here. Damn. Sucks to be an Israeli basketball fan, let alone a Doron fan. Just pray that SOMEONE doesn't dump Doron next season to make some questionable draft picks, cuz then we won't be getting ANY Doron.

And that's a fate worse than death.

Yeah, yeah... the national team is kicking ass. I understand it's all about ambassadorship and the like. Still, I hope they are not just running up the scores on a bunch of impressionable... what? Really? 75-24?

Is there no shame?

You remember that cool-ass coach from Heart of the Game? You know, that movie where that crazy coach instills life-values in his gals while taking them to states? Well, he got canned. And nobody is saying why.

I learned about this from Women's Hoops Blog. I run a pretty strict New York Liberty/WNBA thing here, but if you're interested into the college game as a whole, check out WHB. They update everyday with tons of stories and news from across the gamut of the women's game.

Barbara Farris updated-Nickname to come soon. Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Thanksgiving Approacheth... Turkey Beckons...

2007-11-12T13:28:00.000-08:00

A Monday can only be cured by Weber's smile.

Doron is facing the club she grew up with down in Israel. Adventure! Intrigue! Mystique!

Janel's bloggin' away... gradually. Not that I should be talking about regular updates. But she's got Martina Weber news in there, and that sends my heart a-twitter. She calls her "my girl, Martina Weber".

I called her first!

Someone in the comments section suggested that Barbara Farris be re-nicknamed "Barb Wire". And frankly, I can't dispute that. Look for a new Barbara Farris nickname page on Wednesday (or tomorrow, if I can get around to it).

Dennis Rodman is NOT going to coach in Atlanta after all. Owner Ron Terwilliger has put the brakes on THAT freight train of woe. Teresa Edwards, a two-time All-American at Georgia and now an assistant with the Lynx, appears to be the front runner for the job.

Begone, vultures. Have you not yet had your feast of my flesh? (Name the reference, win... something. In any case...)

See ya, Space Cowboy...

F-R-I-D-A-Y Spells Today

2007-11-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

This Friday made possible by a Week with Prozac!

If you haven't been following, the Liberty site is doing a moderate job keeping up with the info on the gals overseas. Still, I'd like to see some pics and better coverage. Or, really, just Martina Weber's phone number, her likes and dislikes, and her favorite kind of flowers.

Some stuff about Tiffany Jackson and her former team, the Longhorns. We got our mitts on her now, and we're not giving her back!

The Times is covering coverage of the WNBA. How meta is that? You know, for all their hem-and-haw about the coverage, the Times itself doesn't do much reporting on women's sports (let alone MEN'S sports).

Coquese Washington, who spent seven seasons in the WNBA and ABL including a stint with the Libs, is coaching the Lady Lions and has a nice piece written up here. Personally, I despise Penn State with the heat of a thousand suns (in spite of - or perhaps in part because - my brother goes to school there), but it has thousands of devotees.

I told Clay Bennett doesn't give a shit about Seattle. Of course, it's always been a stupid idea to move a team from SEATTLE to OKLAHOMA CITY. It's also kind of a raw deal for David Stern to come down so hard against the Emerald City, promising never to return if the team leaves. Not only does that sour support in the city anyway (probably their point), but if the Sonics (and by association, the Storm) stays, there's going to be a lot of residual anger.

Nice job, dumbass.

The National Team beat ASU. Whoopee.

Speaking of Arizona, Phoenix is going to be hosting the 2008 All-Star game. I gotta give props to the WNBA for holding back the location of their all-star game until the year before, because it allows them to showcase stars in cities that are building up some kind of heat (the Mercs recent championship) and push it to a boil. You could say they raise the Mercury!

That barely makes any sense. I'm sorry.

The GM of the Fever discusses how Indiana won so many games last year. I can tell you in two words: Tamika Catchings.

Remember how I said Rodman coaching in the WNBA is a bad idea? Apparently, I'm not the only one.

That's it for me. I'll see you on Monday.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Odin's Day just doesn't sound right...

2007-11-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

This is me right now. Think about it.

More Terps/Shay Doron news, courtesy of the Diamondback. It's not much, but then again, it's the only Lib news I've got.

The US team is at it again, beating up on poor Baylor 82-56. Is this news, or am I just grasping at slippery, shitty straws, here?

New Phoenix coach? Yeah, it's Corey Gaines. Best part about the article? The side-bar, which states that Dennis Rodman wants to coach a WNBA team. Somehow, I don't think that's a good idea. "Coaching", "Strong, female role-models", and "Calmly expressing one's ideas in the face of adversity" don't spring to mind when I think of Rodman in the WNBA.

But then again... no, I was right the first time.

That's it. Short post, no news. Until next time?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Monday, Monday

2007-11-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

Winter's great if you're a child or his magical tiger. For a Lib fan, however, it blows.

Just going through the motions here, people. Nothing doin' over the weekend, and this off-season is going by REALLY slow. In any case, I have some (small) tid-bits of info to keep you from going out of your mind with Liberty-less mayhem.

Here's a piece about the Terps and their upcoming season. Why is this relevant, you ask? I say "Screw You", because it deals with Shay. More stuff from her Israeli team, Ramle, that also catches up with Doron. Shay is doing well offensively, scoring 13.3 points per game, though she still needs to work a bit on the back end of the court.

Go Hebrew Hammer! Go Hebrew Hammer! Go Hebrew Hammer Go!

The Libs' site has their own 2007 Season in Review up. Eh. Mine's longer and intentionally funny, with more jokes and Shakespeare references.

Here's a nice little wrap-up on McCarville's jaunt with the National Team. Oh, Miss Marvel; stop hogging all of the awesome and let some of the other girls be cool. Just in the off-season, mind you. When summertime rolls around, keep it real.

Loree Moore has left the National Team, meanwhile, to go into rehabilitation for her knee. She was on the side the whole time, but it was still nice to see a couple Libs representin'.

Speaking of our national lasses, they took down Tennessee on their college tour, 83-72. I have to admit, while I think the college's should be competitive against the best of the league, I would hope that the US Team could do a little better than an 11 point victory over the Lady Vols. Or maybe I'm just asking for too much.

Probably that.

Lisa Leslie's got a Q&A up on the league's site coming off of her 18 point, 9 rebound performance in her first game back from her pregnancy. It's as decent as such an interview can be when it's produced by the league, but still little more than fluff.

That's all, folks. I've got nothing left to squeeze out today (unless you count my afternoon constitutional), so I'm leaving you with all of that and a hug. Cuz frankly, we could all use a hug on a Monday.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

2007-11-02T06:52:00.000-07:00

Or, How the Libertine Got Its Groove back.

So, I haven't updated since monday. Reasons include...

Not enough news. It's the November Doldrums.
Sickness. I was all kinds of messed up. Technicolor yawns abounded.
Too much work. Writing and working on bugs and... and... ugh.
Laziness. Duh.

But I think I have enough to make this a half-way decent post to set you guys up through the weekend. So, in the words of Samuel L., hold onto your butts.

Dutch's Q&A is up on the official site. She's playing in Belgium right now, and while not dealing with mounting tensions between the Walloons and the Flemish, she is answering such questions as "Which part of Manhattan do you live in during the season" and "Which stores do you shop in". Yeah, it's fluff, but if you dig the Dutchness of Dutch like I do, go Dutch and dutch it out. Dutch.

That doesn't make any sense. I'm sorry.

The US National team began their tour of colleges by beating up the Terps on Wednesday, 90-73. Moore was out due to a sore knee, but should play soon. Keep on praying, children!

The Libs have baby photos up. Aw, dey ar soooo cuuuuuute! Wook at der widdle cheeks! Snoogy-woogy babadoodoo!

Saturday's Janel McCarville's birthday. Give three cheers or send her an email through the Libs' site.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

The WNBA Site has this up on their site. It's about the back-door pass. Now, that isn't all that interesting, but I included it because, when I saw it, my mind construed that statement in several different ways. None of them turned out to be correct.

Carolyn Jenkins is the new Director of Player Personal for the league. In a nutshell, she runs all the camps, try-outs, inter-player communications, and makes sure things are purring on the low end of player business. So, if you have a dream of strutting onto the court at MSG and suiting up for the Libs, Jenkins is the woman to talk to.

The Storm are staying put... for now. A court ruled that the new owners of the Storm (and Sonics) cannot go to arbitration to release them from their lease early. That doesn't mean that Clay and his band of weasels won't somehow ferret their way out of the Key and into Oklahoma, but it cools the engines of their moving vans a bit. Stay sharp, lads and lasses. Stay sharp.

That's all I got for now. Keep it real, those few who stuck through my most recent absence. I'll see y'all on Monday.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

The Soviets have risen once more...

2007-10-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

Goddamned Commies...

McCarville did her best, but shooting 18 and rebounding 9 just wasn't enough to carry the rest of the US team. You've probably heard, but good ol' USA lost to CSKA Moscow 75-65 in the FIBA's. It was the finals, to be sure, so we landed in second place. But you know what a good friend of mine always said about "second place"?

"That's a fancy word for LOSER!"

Quotes and the boxscore are here. Now the team is headed back for a tour of colleges. If you're in the area, check it out.

Watch out, Hammon fans. Your gal has an article up on WNBA.com. Click on the link and then stop hounding me for more Hammon shout-outs.

That's about it today. Sorry it's not a lot. Leave me be, jackals.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Friday and it's Cold

2007-10-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Global Warming can suck it!

Yes, Autumn has finally arrived, and with it, a dearth of Liberty news. Yes, there's not much going on in the league today, but I'll do my best to keep you fat and happy through the weekend with my witicisms and fart-humor.

Hee-hee! Hilarious!

James Dolan is having a time of it, idn't he? A sexual harrassment lawsuit, dropping Knicks attendance/ratings, and now? A scathing article from Muckety! Oh, cruel Muckety! When will you leave poor Mister Dolan alone? Does he really deserve all of this?

Yes.

Cablevision is NOT going private... for now. The Dolan's attempt to get the cable station back into their control has failed for the moment, which is both a good and bad thing. The good; the Dolans, who essentially run everything (save for the Rangers) that they touch into ground, will not be allowed to mess up the Libs' TV Network. The bad; who knows what kind of benefits the Libs might have gotten with this change of hands? I guess we'll never know...

The Fever have parted ways with Brian Winters after four seasons. He was 78-58 in that time, with three 21-13 finishes. Personally, I feel like he got the shaft. He did a hell of a job coaching that team, and while he could have done a better job rallying the troops without Catchings there at the end of the season, he did take the Fever to the Eastern Conference finals. Oh well... there are several teams who are interested in a new coach.

For the girly among you, here are Lindsay Whalen's wedding pictures. No, seriously.

All right, that's all I got. Keep it real, folks.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Woden's Day Update

2007-10-24T13:32:00.000-07:00

Wedne is pissed that his day pronounced "WENDS-day". That's what happens when your religion dies out.

The day is short, and so is Liberty news. Up first, if you haven't seen it already, is the collection of clips that the Libs' site has. Staying on the site, you can find a game recap of the USA's victory ove CSKA Moscow. Notice anyone familiar in the photo? With Marvel leading the way, the US is going to the FIBA semi-finals. Huzzah!

Something involving Shameka Christon scoring 25 points... look, my spanish is about as good as my Klingon. I can kinda read it (thanks, Latin!) but... I don't want to make a fool out of myself. She had a good game. If anybody wants to help me out, get back to me.

Forgot to put this up back when... oh well. Here it is now. It's a recap on the Liberty's all-time draft choices. Can't say that I'm all that impressed with the picks, but then again, there are some high tent-poles keeping the team afloat.

Yeah, that was a mixed-metaphor from hell.

Want some coverage and philosophy on this year's lottery? Here ya go. 'Course, the guy writing is saying that Tim Duncan is the best player in the NBA, so take what you want with that.

There are some good players in the draft this year, but it's not nearly as good as some of the recent drafts. There's this coverage on Essence Carson, however. Depending on whether GMs will take her stats at face value or will instead look at her contributions to a team remains to be seen. She could go top 3 or last until near the end of the first round. Don't trust my analysis, however; I don't get hockey drafts right, and that's a sport I know something about.

That's all I got. Peaceful in October, ain't it. Speaking of which, where the hell did the month go? Damn...

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Back in the Saddle with Ella

2007-10-23T13:55:00.002-07:00

Janel McCarville, grabbing 15 points and 10 rebounds, led the US Team in their 79-76 loss to TEO Vilnius. Miss Marvel spurred the US's late surge, but it wasn't enough. Loree Moore played for three minutes, but only in tiny chunks and didn't log a point. Oh well. Good to see her in action once again.

Other Libs are once again MIA. Instead, take this rendition of "Summertime" by George Gershwin as played by Fitzgerald, Armstrong, et al.

If this were, indeed, in the summer, I would have more news... instead, I'm listening to this as I sit boiling in my office. Will fall arrive yet? Anybody out there got any information on our lassies? Anybody in Israel picking up on Doron? Anybody in Europe know the score? Give me an email. Otherwise, look at this ancient clip of the Beatle socking it hard, courtesy of the Lib's official site.

LA got the top pick in the draft, and frankly, their organization can use it. After Holdsclaw's abrupt departure, their season went down the tubes faster than a Guam tree snake. Chicago got the second, then Minnesota, Atlanta (due to its expansion-status), Houston, and Washington. It's all on the site. Talk about it here, or read what the league thinks are the problem spots in each team (that's gotta smart, don't ya think).

Speaking of expansion, the owner of the new Atlanta team sounds off on why he's picking up the tab for a new team. In a nutshell; community service, promotion of women. I'm glad he's not in it for the money, because... well, there isn't going to be in that market.

On the topic of basketball markets, more rumblings in Seattle, though it's heavy on the Sonics. A few people are beginning to wise up to the fact that the Storm wouldn't make a good fit in Oklahoma. My suggestion? Sell to a local interest group and keep the team in the Emerald City. Just don't allow them to fold...

That's it for today, so instead of just handing you guys some boring tid-bits from around the league, take this to remind you of the depths of summertime ball...

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Silence greeted Zarathustra...

2007-10-19T13:45:00.000-07:00

Honestly, nothing going on. More stuff about the Atlanta franchise can be found at one of my favorite women's hoops' sites, Women's Hoops Blog. Other than that, I'm going to take a breather and meet up with you guys on Monday.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Thursday is the new Thursday

2007-10-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

What happened to Fall?

Got a question for Cathrine Kraayeveld? Send it in before the 26th and she may just answer them. My question is a two-parter: "Have you always kicked this much ass, and if so, how do you hope to improve your ass-kicking abilities in the future?" Yeah, I'm classy like that.

The draft lottery is in five days. The Libs are picking seventh no matter what... unless, of course, they trade up or down. Trading down wouldn't be a bad option if we can get something good in the deal. It's not the strongest draft year (in my "knows next to zilch" opinion about WNBA draft classes) and if we throw a quality player that isn't getting a lot of time (Willis) or either Thorn or Moore into the mix, we could pull a bigger player from a team like Phoenix or Detroit who would be able to lose someone of a high, though not all-star, caliber while remaining under the cap, picking up a player for the future, and keeping the level of quality on their team relatively high. Add onto that the Libs already have too many players that we don't play and that we have the 14th pick (from San Antonio in the Davenport/Hammon trade), and I would almost say it'd be foolish NOT to trade back.

But that's just my opinion.

Thought of a nickname for the Atlanta expansion team? Contribute. My favorites? Flames (I'm a sucker for history and the shout-out) and Firebirds (keeping with the theme of the city's teams). The worst? Force and Freedom. Ugh. Colors can be suggested, too, but PLEASE don't make blue one of them. We already have too many teams with blue. Also, people are talking about them playing in Gwinett. The Phil is almost essentially a done-deal, but a smaller stadium (like what the Sky and Sun play in) might not be a bad idea.

The Maggie Dixon Classic is going to be at the Garden on a semi-permanent basis. The games are on December 8th and will feature Rutgers, Duke, Army, and Pitt. I'll be there (love me the Pitt ladies), and so should you. Buy tickets now, you jackals.

That's it. I'm outta here for the day. Gonna get my drink on at Fiddlesticks (on Greenwich Ave). Happy Hours are the best time of the week. Until tomorrow?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Welcome to Wednesday

2007-10-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

Brought to you by the Atlanta Surge!

It's official: Atlanta is the newest franchise in the WNBA. Logos, name, etc. to be named later. Expansion draft to come. I hope you all like getting your hearts broken. Want to hear from the owner? Want to buy tickets? If so, you're one of the few, if the reactions on the interweb's tubes are to be believed.

Liberty news? Nada. Really, I got nothin' here. Add that to all of the work I have to do and Blogger being pissy and not letting me upload my funny pictures and I am really just scraping the bottom of the barrel. This is just to keep my promise to update. My readership dropped by about six hundred people in the week that I took off. Admittedly, I'm doing this for me, but hey, I kinda liked all the people reading. Oh well. If you're one of the few who stuck around, I do appreciate it. Until next time?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Yeah, yeah

2007-10-16T11:36:00.001-07:00

Blame this man for my absence.

Yeah, so it's been almost a week since I updated. I have three things to blame: the lack of news from the New York Liberty; my laziness; and Civilization 4, which has become the bane of my existance. However, you're not here to read about my excuses.

Let's get down to business.

Big news up front: Janel McCarville and Loree Moore have been named to the US National Team that'll be playing in the FIBA's next week in Russia. Nice work, gals. Show those non-American persons what it means to play basketball!

Erin Thorn is answering questions for the Official Site. So is Loree Moore. Not too interesting, but then again, it's news.

Rebecca Lobo is answering some of her own questions at the WNBA site. I know there are some fans out there. This is mostly just a shout-out to them.

Something about Lindsay Bowen, Lisa Willis, and Martina Weber, among others. What is it about? I have no idea. Why? I don't speak Greek. Give me some French or Dutch and I can get by okay, but my knowledge of Greek began and ended with my tour in Psi U.

Teresa Weatherspoon, one-time Liberty and all-time legend, will be coaching the ABA Phantoms when they move to Westchester county for next season. This might be higher of note, especially considering that she will be coaching her brother, but with the way the ABA is set up, I wouldn't be surprised if the team played two games, folded, re-emerged for another two games, then moved to Hawaii to become the Hilo Rainbow Humpers. As an aside, here are all of the ABA teams that have been announced since the ABA's new inception in 2000 (according to Wikipedia)...

The Alexandria United , Anaheim Roadrunners , Anderson Champions , Arizona Rhinos , Arkansas Aeros , Arkansas RimRockers , Arkansas Rivercatz , Arkansas Scorpions , Atlanta Mustangs , Atlanta Vison , Baltimore Pearls , Beijing Aoshen Olympian , Bellevue Blackhawks , Bellingham Slam , Big Valley Shockwave , Birmingham Magicians , Boston Frenzy , Brooklyn Comets , Brooklyn Heat , Brooklyn Wonders , Buffalo Rapids , Buffalo Silverbacks , Calgary Drillers , California Buzz , California Eagles , California Terminators , Cape Cod Frenzy , Carolina Thunder , Carson Buzz , Centinelas de Mexicali , Central Valley Dawgs , Charlotte Krunk , Chattanooga Steamers , Chicago Rockets , Chicago Rockstars , Chicago Skyliners , Chicago Soldiers , Cincinnati Blaze , Cincinnati Monarchs , Cleveland Rockers , Colorado Springs Storm , Colorado Storm , Columbia Rottweilers , Detroit Dogs , Detroit Panthers , Detroit Wheels , Edmonton Cheetahs , Florida Pit Bulls , Gallup Outlaws , Gallup Talons , Georgia Reigning Knights , Gwinnett Gwizzlies , Hammond Rollers , Harlem Revs , Harlem Strong Dogs , Hawaii Mega Force , Hermosilio Seris , Hollywood Fame , Houston (Under)Takers , Houston Havoc , Indiana Alley Cats , Indiana Legends , Inglewood Cobras , Jacksonville Jackals , Jacksonville Jam , Jacksonville Wave , Jersey Squires , Juarez Gallos , Kansas City Knights , Kentucky Colonels , Kentucky Pro Cats , Kentucky Retros , King County Royals , Knoxville Noise , Lake Charles Hurricanes , Lake Erie Rockers , Las Vegas Rattlers , Las Vegas Slam , Lincoln Thunder , Long Beach Jam , Long Beach Laguneros , Los Angeles Aftershock , Los Angeles Stars , Louisiana Cajun Pelicans , Maryland Nighthawks , Maywood Buzz , Maywood Laguneros , Memphis Houn’ Dogs , Mexicali Sentinels , Miami Pit Bulls , Minneapolis Ripknees , Minneapolis Slamma Jammas , Minot City Freeze , Mississippi Miracles , Mississippi Stingers , Monterrey Veneno , Montreal Matrix , Montreal Royal , Motown Jammers , Nashville Rhythm , Native America , New Jersey Jaguars , New Jersey SkyCats , New Mexico Style , New Orleans Blues , Newark Express , Niagara Daredevils , Norfolk Ballers , Norfolk Navigators , North Carolina Renegades , Northeast Pennsylvania Breakers , Ohio Aviators , Oklahoma City Ballhawgs , Oklahoma City Cavalry , Ontario Warriors , Orange County Crush , Orlando Aces , Orlando Orange Men , Palm Beach Imperials , Pennsylvania Pitbulls , Pensacola Aviators , Peoria Kings , Philadelphia Colonials , Philadelphia Fusion , Philadelphia Squires , Phoenix Eclipse , Pittsburgh Hardhats , Pittsburgh Patriots , Pittsburgh Xplosion , Portland Reign , Quad City River Hawks , Quebec City Kebekwa , Queens Kings , Raleigh Renegades , Reading Railers , Reigning Knights of Georgia , Reno Rockers , Richmond Generals , Rio Grande Valley Sliverados , River City Ballers , Rochester Razorsharks , Round Rock Fury , Sacramento Heatwave , Salt Lake Dream , San Antonio Stallions , San Diego Wildcats , San Diego Wildfire , San Francisco Pilots , San Jose SkyRockets , SoCal Legends , Southern Alabama Bounce , Southern California Surf , St. Louis Flight , St. Louis Rotweilers , St. Louis Stunners , Strong Island Sound , Tacoma Navigators , Tampa Bay Thunder Dawgs , Tampa Bay Tornados , Tennessee Mud Frogs , Texas Tycoons , Tijuana Diablos , Tijuana Dragons , Toledo Ice , Toledo Royal Knights , Trenton Squires , Twin Cities Slamma Jammas , Twin City Ballers , Utah Snowbears , Valley Legends , Vancouver Dragons , Vermont Frost Heaves , Visalia Dawgs , Waco Wranglers , and the Wilmington Sea Dawgs.

My God... it's full of stars... I mean, black holes...

It's not a very selective organization, and while I would like to think that the hiring of Weatherspoon was because of her breadth of basketball knowledge, the cynic in me believes that it's only a publicity stunt.

Speaking of expansion, as most of you probably know, Atlanta is looking like it's going to grab a WNBA Expansion franchise for next season. Some are reporting that an annoucement could come as early as tomorrow at 1 p.m., though the press conference that the WNBA is holding could just as likely be about the CBA. Houston is staying put (for now), and this will bring the total number of teams up to 14, evening the conferences out.

While I think that Atlanta is CAPABLE of supporting a franchise (large base, basketball-loving area, etc.), it remains to be seen whether the owners are going to make the right moves to win over the populace. The Braves can't sell out in the playoffs. The Falcons sometimes struggle to remain relevant in the face of college football. The Hawks have fallen a long way. And the Thrashers? Well, the less said, the better...

Personally, I feel that there are several cities up north and out west that could keep costs of traveling down and maintain rivalries. A team out west would allow Minnesota to play teams closer while developing natural rivalries. A team in Philly, Boston, or another stab at Cleveland would keep things centered. This is all just my opinion, however. Atlanta's not the best choice, but it's not a bad one, and it's a hell of a lot better than Bentonville, Arkansas.

There's been a spate of problems for some ballers in the league recently, although beside Brunson's DUI, I can't really think of any. People don't need any new reason to hate the league. Let's not feed the fire.

That's it. Sorry for not logging on and doing my appointed duty. I shall be more vigilant in the future. Until tomorrow, then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Wednesdays Is Wednesdayish.

2007-10-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when there's no Liberty news to keep me sane.

Nothin' doin' on the Liberty front. Shameka Christon is graded over at the Lib's site, but other than that, nada. This is what I was afraid was going to happen in the off-season, with very little to keep this blog going. However, it's good to keep the grease on the wheels, so better to update with just a bit than nothing at all.

Don't make me keep that promise.

In other news, the Mercs are going to be on a Wheaties box. Which is nice, in a kinda "well, that's cool" way, but really, who the hell eats Wheaties? I had a box once, and it was like eating freeze-dried cardboard. Still, good going.

Linda Froelich waxes poetic on the way that the WNBA affects European ball. That pretty much sums it up. She was on the German national team with... guess who... Martina Weber. See? It's six degrees all the way, baby!

Other than that, nothin'. Bleh. If there's something good, I'll update tomorrow. If not, you'll have to wait until Friday. Until next time?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Check Below "Busy" for Today's Post...

2007-10-09T13:45:00.001-07:00

Blogger can be annoying sometimes, and I can't figure out how to shift positions on the posts. Which is especially annoying because I wrote one sentence yesterday, saved it to work, and then finished it today and posted it but it's NOT coming up. Anyway, check two posts down for today's post.

Busy

2007-10-08T15:18:00.001-07:00

Sorry everybody. TOOOOOOOO much work. I will update tomorrow. Today's supposed to be my day off so I can celebrate the advent of European influence and the massacre of millions of people. Instead, I am at work and working waaaaaay too hard. I'll update tomorrow. Peace.

I Want You (She's So Heavy)...

2007-10-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

That sound you hear is Lennon and Harrison rolling over in their graves.

Before I get started, I want to warn you all against an insidious film that left me feeling hollow on the inside and sugar-coated on the outside. I am talking, of course, about Across the Universe.

Now, I'm sure a few of you out there like Julie Taymor's work or liked Moulin Rouge or enjoy Beatles songs reduced to their very basic meanings without any context, underlying meaning, or reimagining done to them. I am not one of those people. The film was not a whole loss (The Draft/"I Want You" sequence was astonishingly good), but I went it wanting to like it, pleading to like it, and have proof that Julie Taymor actually knows how to construct a film that doesn't a.) lag in the middle, b.) lack a coherent structure, c.) have cutesyness or MTV-style shots for the hell of it, or d.) just skim the surface of the ideas that she's dealing with. Unfortunately, she went 0-4, and is now 0-3 in the films that I've seen of hers. Let me be blunt. Taymor knows how to fill a shot. She just doesn't know how to fill two and a half hours with meaning.

Still, I prefer Batman Returns to Batman Begins, so take my assesment with a grain of salt.

Onto the topic at hand...

A nice little piece about the Chicago Sky and working together. The "cooperation" and "family" the author discusses in the article didn't help the Sky into the playoffs, but hey, the WNBA can't just be the Liberty.

I'm sure most of you know that Margo Dydek (CON) is pregnant. What some of you may not know is that it might spell the end of her WNBA career. THAT would suck, although I can't say that I blame her.

The U.S. House of Representatives, when not taking bribes, evading taxes, taking endless breaks (while only "working" three days a week), and generally being major fuck-ups, can do some good. Hey, they just congratulated the Mercs on their WNBA Championship win. Now if they can fix that Iraq thing...

In Liberty news, nada. Loree Moore's up on the Lib's "report card" segment. Also, I've found more Weber shots, but that really only excites me.

Don't hate me; hate my y chromosome.

That's it for me. I've got too much work (though not so much that I can't see Blade Runner: Final Cut tonight at the Ziegfeld). The NHL is gearing up, I'm grinding down. It's like living in a yellow submarine...

Now THERE is a Beatles film!

See ya, Space Cowboy...

The Friday Man Hath Cometh

2007-10-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

Sorzy abott teh speljing. Weber maeks mw drool.

LIBERTY NEWS

Well, what little there is...

Love Shay Doron (who doesn't?), but she's gotta update her site once in a while. Last news post? In August. Come on, Hammer! If I can update my blog every other day during the week in the off-season, you can throw a bone or two to your beloved fans!

A couple days old, but Janel's blog has been updated. Huzzah!

More Martina Weber pictures up on her comparison site, linked from the Lib's homepage. I will refrain from such comments that would be unsuitable for my mother to read, but let it be known that Weber is a hell of a woman. She's averaging 12 points a game and she looks like a hand-crafted form of Venus. All I can say is... Damn.

Not really Liberty news, but apparently, there's this seamstress/artist named Martina Weber (ALSO from Germany) who pops up all the time when I'm searching for Weber's name on the intra-web. It makes my searching of the tubes that makes up the information superhighway that much more difficult.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Gotta love the spin. As reported on the WNBA's site...

"Delisha Milton-Jones and other top WNBA players are going overseas to stay
in shape this off-season."
Something tells me that it's not really staying in shape that's getting all of the lasses across the pond.

If you're into MORE propoganda, take a look at Orender's latest speech from the 2007 WNBA Sales and Marketing Meetings. To be fair, Orender presents a couple negatives, too, and really, it's her job to tout the league wherever she can. Still, a little bit of depression sets in everytime I read about the over-hyping that is done by the league's front office.

Speaking of Orender, she made ESPN and Business Week's Top 100 Influential People in the World of Sports... at number 100.

Former WNBA and NCAA star Fran Harris is launching an magazine this fall for college-aged entrepeneurs. Just a shout out, really, since I figure most of my readership is beyond college.

In age if not maturity.

That's all I got, lads and ladies. The Pens open up their season tonight, but this is a Liberty blog, so I won't comment further (except during moments of extreme passion). Until Monday, then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

If you will allow me a brief interlude...

2007-10-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

I am excited to the point of arousal.

NHL Season "begins" tonight. Sure, this is a Liberty Blog, and yeah, two games have been played already. But a.) this is my blog, so I can talk about anything I damn well feel like, and b.) not only were Anaheim and Los Angeles playing, but their match was in London, as far away from the real NHL as possible. Why not play in Prague? Or Stockholm? Or any city in any number of countries that supply NHL hockey players? Ask this man.

Interestingly (and unexpectedly to me), this has a link to the WNBA. You see, you have a great sport (hockey and women's basketball), run by a questionable commissioner (Bettman and Orender) that say that they are doing as much as possible to save the league, when, in fact, their actions are the antithesis of their statements.

All right. I'll come down off my soap box.

In any case, if you like good sports, check out the NHL tonight. HUZZAH!

In women's hoops news, some people are claiming that the Houston Comets are close to moving to Atlanta, which was considered a front-runner for a 2008 WNBA Expansion Team. Most of this information comes from message boards (home to many a sweaty recluse interested more in Lara Croft's cup size than actual conversation about the social ramifications of video games), so I'm willing to take it with a grain of salt, but if you like the-sky-is-falling scenarios, then eat your heart out.

Personally, I feel like this could never happen. A storied franchise like the Comets? With top-tier (for the WNBA) attendance? Moving to a notoriously lax sports town? I know I advocated for a team in Atlanta in one of my early essays, but that was a case of lesser-of-two evils: if expansion MUST happen, place a team in a huge city with an NBA team (in a basketball hungry market) rather than putting it in Northern Arkansas. Relocating a key team in a huge market to a fickle city with a smaller fan-base? Et tu, Orender?

Thus falls Caesar... er, the WNBA.

Meanwhile, in real news, the Liberty's site has a (mini) update about Libs playing overseas. Sure, its really just about Martina Weber and Shay Doron, but hey! Those are my two favorite-players-who-should-be-playing-more-often! Or something. Particularly Martina.

But then, you know all about my feelings re:Weber.

Tamika Catchings has a blog up now on the league's site. I would like to slam it in favor of Janel McCarville's blog, but I can't. Compared to Marvel's, it's longer, more in depth, and more personal. Not taking McCarville to task or anything, but can Catchings PLEASE stop showing up other stars?

I haven't been covering the Isiah Thomas scandal, mostly because it only indirectly deals with the Liberty (or does it?), but I found this piece with a quote from former-Lib, Sue Wicks. My thoughts: sexual harrasment, bad/stupid/pointless/immoral/detrimental/etc. However, I am not familiar with the trial enough to make more of a comment (read: my focus is on more important things happening in the world right now, which may be glib and not-seeing-the-picture of me, but true).

I hadn't even considered this possibility, but, hell, I guess the US's trouncing in the FIBA's WAS good for more than self-aggrandizing.

Peaceful out on the lake, gents and lasses. I'll post more, should more arise. Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

They Did It

2007-10-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

Yup. They did it. Surprised?

The Americans won the FIBA Championship, as if the way they have been playing ever left us in any doubt. 101-71 over Cuba? Is that a game, or an extended warm-up?

I found a Livejournal site out there from a Maryland fan. Major Shout-outs to the writer for propping the Libertine and letting me link to her LiveJournal site (some people don't like to make their LJ's PUBLIC-public, and hey, I like ego-stroking as much as the next gent). She calls it "weirdly written".

I take that as a compliment.

She also makes note of a Shay Doron quote from the beginning of the season. From her site...

...Maryland star Shay Doron, in Cleveland for the WNBA's pre-draft camp, said she's troubled that worries about sexual orientation take away from what players are doing on the court.

"I feel like you should accept anyone for the people they are, and hopefully as time goes, and the new generations start filling in, we can get over that hump," Doron said....

Too true, Doron. Too true. However, I don't think it's "worries" so much about sexual orientation as curiosity, morbid fascination, and some people looking for any way to denegrate players, whether for legitimate reasons or not. Put simply, if most of American society feels that sports are inherently masculine and that lesbians are inherently abnormal, it only takes a...

..."small"...

...logical leap to believe that the WNBA is itself inferior (I would link to sites, but really, you can find them on your own, and I don't want to give them anymore traffic than they already get). It's not me. It's not you. It's not the WNBA. It's not the fans. It's not lesbians. It's not anything else like this. It's some people...

...like this guy...

...looking for a way to make their penises seem bigger. And if they feel that the only way to do that is to insult someone else and take focus away from the larger picture, either by implying that women's sports are inferior or that lesbians dominate the sport, well then, we're going to be dealing with these morons for a loooooooong time.

Enough depressing talk. Let's get some Liberty news!

Janel McCarville's "report card" is up on the Libs' site. She also updated her blog. Is there anything she can't do?

More stuff on everybody's... well, just my... favorite German basketball star, Martina Weber. Once again, it's in German, but there's some nice shots of her there. Keep on workin' it, Weber.

Really, that's about it. I'm sure there's more info out there, but I'm working (ostensibly) and writing up a storm. So, I gotta cut you guys off somewhere. Until next time?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Why even bother playing a second half?

2007-09-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

Seimone Augustus scores two of her 2,376 points against Jamaica in front of a crowd of five.

Your favorite mid-season surprise and mine is hosting a blog throughout the off-season. Ms. Marvel is a half-way decent writer (unlike SOME athlete bloggers I could mention) and there's some interesting (and heart-felt) stuff written there. Check it out.

Top passes and such from the season are up on the WNBA's official site. I'm having some problems with links, but if you go to the homepage, it's the fourth story down at the scroll. You know you like it.

The US Women's team dominated Jamaica, 115-47. Considering that this is the United States, home to 300 million people, facing off against an island nation of 2.65 million, this isn't a feat so much as a slaughter. Really, did we have to play Diana Taurasi against this team? Did we really have to show them up SO much? No wonder so many other countries hate us. This is almost as embarassing as the time that the US Junior Hockey team played Trinidad and Tobago.

Paul Westhead, coach of the Phoenix Mercury, is skipping town to join on as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City... er, Seattle Sonics.

That's it. If someone's got something better, PLEASE let me know.

Sleep Now in the Fire, Bennett

2007-09-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

First post using the Opera Browser.

So, for starters, the Libs are doing full recaps of everybody's season. That is, every PLAYER'S season. Here is Erin Thorn's, the latest. There are also ones for Jessica Davenport, Lisa Willis, Tiffany Jackson, Ashley Battle, and Cathrine Kraayeveld. They're only about four to six paragraphs each, and they don't really tell much beyond the obvious, but it IS the company line, and there are a couple interesting facts in there, even if they gloss over some of the other elements of the season.

According to Clay Bennett (owner of the Sonics and Storm), the Seattle Storm will be staying put... for the 2008 season. Not to ruin the party, but this man ALSO said that he would keep the Sonics in town until 2010, and is currently trying to get out of their lease. He also says that he doesn't want to split the teams up, yet to keep the teams together, he would need to begin the proceedings for a move by October 31st, the NBA deadline for the 2008-2009 season, and really, would there be any sense in keeping the Storm in Seattle for another full year when he's already printing out "Oklahoma City" stationary? He might say that he's the King of Thule, but until you see the crown jewels, don't start paying him taxes. Bottom line: I don't trust him, and neither should you.

Other that, quiet. Until tomorrow, then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

What's New in Liberty-ville

2007-09-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

Posted Shay Doron's nickname and Liberty Belle page, so both sections are now finished. Browse at your leisure. As for the Libs, well, things are kinda like dead at the moment.

As in "Dead like a Kennedy" dead.

Sure, Martina is back in the news, but it's in GERMAN, for God's Sake! I can't make heads nor tails of it! The WNBA is at it again, although I'm not sure if I linked this page before or not. More CBA rumblings, but really, is there going to be a strike?

Somehow I doubt the American Public would sympathize.

Oh, and apparently the WNBA isn't Brittany Hunter's dream. Which is fine. It's not my dream either. But saying that if she's drafted, she'll play, but that she doesn't want to be playing at 27 or 25 would definitely dissuage a team from choosing her in any round.

Unless that team is, say, the Liberty or the Sparks.

Anyway, that's about it. Hopefully, I'll have some more news for you tomorrow. I've started cleaning up the site, so that's going to be taking most of my blog-time, but I won't shirk my responsibility of informing the public with my own unfunny-brand of comedy. Until tomorrow?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Shay Doron - Nickname Day

2007-09-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

Shay Doron

Um...

...

...well...

...

...huh...

...

...er...

...

...

Shay Doron = The Hebrew Hammer.

It really couldn't be any other way.

Liberty Belle - Shay Doron

2007-09-25T09:12:00.001-07:00

Shay Doron

Height: 5'9''
Weight: 145 lbs.
Position: Guard
School: Maryland '07
Can she kick it:...

Yes, she can!

Shay Doron. The Hebrew Hammer. You know her. You love her. Well, unless your name is Pat Coyle, in which you sit her on the bench for long stretches of time before giving her a token start, when she really couldn't do worse than some of the lasses on some of the nights and wouldn't have been cool if she could have played in that Washington game, since she's from Maryland, and alot of her friends and family were there and, SHIT, that's a HUGE reason why the WNBA can't catch on, because it's constantly angering and alienating its fanbase with stupid decisions like these...

I'm done. I promise.

In actuality, Shay is pretty bad-ass without all of my pandering and such, so I'll play it straight. Starting in Rotenberg High School in Tel Aviv, Doron commenced lighting courts on fire with her strong play and strong shooting. She led her team to several state championships, and also excelled at track & field, for which she won some 60 odd medals.

When she was done messing up enough Israeli's, she moved to New York at Christ the King High School in hopes of one day making it to the NCAA and WNBA. You know how THAT story goes, but I'm getting ahead of myself...

She couldn't be contained in High School - 17.1 points per game, took her team to a Brooklyn-Queens Championship, led her team to the New York Federation Finals, named All-American, took MVP and Player of the Tournament honors from the Nike Tournament of Champions - and thus was quickly scooped up by Maryland. Could the Terps handle her?

Not a chance.

Under the coaching of Brenda Frese, Doron led Maryland to four straight NCAA Tournament Appearances, winning it all over Duke in 2006 for the first time in Maryland history. Along the way, she broke several school records and posted top ten finishes in a handful of others (three-pointers, assists, steals, et cetera, et cetera) while majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Sam Waterston better watch his back.

You know the rest of the story. She was drafted 16th overall in the 2007 draft and promptly buried on the bench by Patty. She saw game time only seven times in the regular season, totaling 10 points and 3 rebounds in 35 minutes of play. But if her amateur career is any indication, Doron won't be able to be contained for long. Currently, she's playing for the Israeli National team, as well as Elitzer Ramle in the Israeli league. If you hear about some kind of revolution involving female sports in Israel, don't be surprised if you find Doron leading the pack.

She's like Godzilla, except metal... so more like Mecha-Godzilla.

From national to international, from college to the pros, from on-court action to off-court heroism, Doron is an all-around bad ass. If you can't get enough of Shay (is it really possible to get too much of her), then head on over to her website. Check it out. Shoot her an email. Just don't fall into her shadow. Her temple guards may have to cut out your heart for such a heretical action.

I found that out the hard way.

Quick Post

2007-09-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

Quick Post to tide you guys over through the weekend.

First off, my favorite German-born, Iona-bred b-baller is back on the court. Way to go, Weber! My German is about as good as my Klingon, but I THINK the website says that she got 15 points. She's been popping up all over the place. Is she playing for the national team? Someone with some German skills? Help me out? Maybe Pat will actually play her next season. No, no. That's too much excitement in one day for me.

Next, ESPN screwed the pooch on the WNBA championship. Are any of you surprised?

Really, other than that, it's pretty quiet on the home front. Until Monday, then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Thoughts on a First Season

2007-09-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

Summation for the impatient: It was a blast.

So, my first WNBA season has come to a close, and what can I say? I enjoyed it thoroughly. The games were exciting, the tickets were cheap, and good times were had by all. I scored major brownie points with my girlfriend, watched a high level of sport, and got a blog out of the deal. Not bad. But largely, it was mostly fun connecting with a team in the New York area that didn't make me feel like I'd sold my soul to Lucifer.

Rooting for these guys is like cheering on the Russians in “Miracle”.

While I’ve lived in New York for the past five years, nothing before the Liberty that I have encountered made me want to root for any other major sports team in the immediate Tri-State area. It wasn’t fun, and while I met tons of nice fans, they were greatly outweighed by the dicks who called my girlfriend a cunt for wearing a Phillies cap and generally hyper-machismo that pervades much of the New York sporting scene.

“Real men are assholes! Now go make me a sandwich!”

I love reveling in my masculinity as much as the next guy, but I don’t feel the desire that so many men do to reaffirm their choices by degrading other people’s. Why is it that rooting for the Boston Red Sox makes one less of a man? What does it say about a person who calls a person a “fag” for rooting for the Braves, even when that person doesn’t claim to be homophobic? What does it say about the current sexual hierarchy when degrading the feminine and pumping the masculine full of steroids is de rigueur?

Answer = Not Good.

The Liberty were a pleasant surprise, then. For all of the talk of sports radio Neanderthals and late-night comedians, the quality of play was high and a good time was had by all in attendance. Maybe it was just that I had never really watched basketball avidly before, or maybe it was that without all of the chest-thumping bullshit that goes on in the higher echelons of the male sport, I actually found something that I could enjoy. In any case, there was something that brought me there and kept me in my seat for the whole 34-game season and through to the playoffs.

Did someone say “women’s” basketball?

I’m not afraid to admit that there was a part of me that is sexually attracted to female athleticism, nor am I ashamed that it was a bit evident in my early excursions into the sport. Some men are afraid of women in traditionally male roles; I am not. Some women believe that any sexual attraction by a man to a female in a position renders that relationship tainted; I do not. If a man is secure with who he is, than any person (male or female) shouldn’t be able to shift that alignment unless there is truly something wrong with that man’s world-view. And, like it or not, men are attracted to women, and women are attracted to men. Simply saying that we shouldn’t view women in a sexually objectifying way isn’t going to stop it; however, that doesn’t mean that men need to go around exploiting themselves and women for a dollar or a bit of titillating pleasure. That being said, I find certain women in this league attractive. This was not the main reason why I liked the league, but I would be lying if there wasn’t something there.

Once I got there, though, the basketball and camaraderie is what kept me there. It was like joining an exclusive club, and the benefits were almost tangible. I was in on the secret; everybody else was demeaning this sport, but we lucky ones got to see it for cheap and cheer on people without qualms of guilt. We were enjoying ourselves, sure, but there was something else to it; we were a part of something bigger and better than most other sports. We weren’t bashing our heads against a break will or drowning our sorrows in cheap swill. It was fun, but it wasn’t degrading, and it was something that actually mattered.

And, of course, there was the basketball. I love sports of all kinds and levels. I am equally comfortable discussing minor-league hockey as I am Canadian football, and everything else (box lacrosse, curling, even a little bit of golf) in between. Basketball, however, was never near the top of my list. Growing up in Pittsburgh in the 80s and 90s meant that there wasn’t a lot of action (pro or college hoops) for me to dig. It took me a long time to get interested, and to an extent, I still don’t care too much about the NBA. But the WNBA proved to be intriguing. It featured all of the intrigue and passion of other sports, and there was something that I could get behind.

In the process, I discovered what I liked about basketball. It was fast. It was structured. It had the flow of hockey with the strategy of football, with individual contests of skill married to an overarching sense of teamwork. It was what originally attracted me to hockey and baseball in my youth, and I found it anew once again in the games that I say at the Garden.

The season itself was thrilling and heart-breaking, with the ups and downs of a roller coaster. I’m not sure that I could follow the team every year if they featured a five game win, followed by a 2-7 skid, followed by a 3-1 run, followed by a 7 game losing streak, followed by another 3-1 mark to close the season, but it was certainly exciting at the time. When I discovered that I was upset that I was going to be out of town when the Libs played their most important games of the year, I realized that I was hooked.

Landed, more like.

I am upset that the WNBA and the Liberty didn’t try to court me earlier. I literally had to go out of my way to find out information. Mostly, it was for my girlfriend and for a bit . But my interest grew, and so did I as a person. I’m not by any means perfect or free from hypocrisy, but I would like to think that the Liberty, at least in directly, made me think about sexual paradigms and societal hierarchies in an entirely different light. Along the way, I decided against going to Law School, performed in a comedy troupe, and started really writing again. The blog both kept me focused on the team and writing on a regular basis. Without it (and the league) I am not sure where I would be right now.

This is all becoming highly over-dramatic, but I did find something great this summer. It was a lot of fun, and for you who have read from the beginning, or joined late, or left comments, or sent me emails, or anything else, I truly appreciate it. I started this off hoping to maybe find a small niche of fans and keep writing. Instead, by the end of the season, I was attracting two thousand unique visitors a day for game reviews and at least fourteen-hundred during the off-peak areas. That has fallen somewhat now that the season is over, but it is still high.

So, lastly, I would like to thank you, the faithful few, those who have read my blog and kept me going. Every time I decided not to write that day, I thought of all the people who actually liked reading what I wrote and brought myself back from the brink. Really, it’s all about you at the end of the day. The Liberty and this blog wouldn’t exist without that, and I’m a better person for it. Thank you, and I hope to meet up with you all again next season.

See ya, Space Cowboy…

2007 Season in Review

2007-09-20T14:49:00.000-07:00

We all know how things got under way for the New York Liberty in 2007. At the draft, Becky Hammon was traded to the San Antonio Silver Spurs for the 2nd overall choice, with which the Liberty chose Jessica Davenport. Hammon was (and still is) a crowd favorite, who later led the Silver Stars to their first post-season appearance in San Antonio, and the transaction bred a lot of anger and resentment against the New York front office. The Liberty, coming off their worst season in their existence and missing the playoffs for just the third time ever, were facing declining attendance and a rebuilding roster, and while the move made sense from a team standpoint, it did nothing to alleviate fears for one of the WNBA’s premier franchises.

New York could have been viewed as emblematic of the WNBA at that point; forced into an uncomfortable situation by decreasing attendance and viewership, and the subject of a lot of out-of-city ribbing and fan-based griping. Some choices seemed impossibly short-sighted (Orender’s coverage debacle, the Liberty’s cutting back on advertisement), while others seemed confusing (at best) or . There was little coverage heading into the WNBA 2007 Season in the mainstream press, and what little there was did not bode as good news for the Liberty. Few gave them a chance, especially against the increased quality of play in the East (thanks to the dispersal draft from the folding of Charlotte).

The first five games came as a great surprise to many, then, as the Liberty played with strength and speed not seen in the 2006 Campaign. Starting off with an unsteady, come-from behind victory over the Chicago Sky, the Libs managed to knock of their first five opponents, including a hotly-contested match against Phoenix (won in the waning seconds by a spectacular driving lay-up by Davenport) and a come-from-behind win against the then-conference leaders, Indiana Fever. The combined score of the first four contests was 395-357, hardly dominating, but impressive for a team that had finished 11-23 the previous season.

Major reasons for this opening went to the head coach, Pat Coyle. A fan of a modified zone-system of play, Coyle began the season as the maestro of a flailing orchestra, replacing the pieces of the Liberty’s ensemble when they were sputtering with players from the bench. Erin Thorn started out the season red-hot, seemingly unable to miss from beyond the three-point line, while Shameka Christon and Cathrine Kraayeveld also put up strong numbers to assuage fans’ fears. All five games featured the Liberty losing in the early parts of the game, only to have the ladies find their confidence and Coyle find her team, leading to a strong victory pulled from the jaws of defeat, sometimes in the final minutes of the game. It was nerve-wracking, to be certain, but exhilarating, also; it was the kind of play that the Liberty hadn’t seen since their seemingly perennial Finals appearances, and all of this coming from a group of youthful overachievers that most had written off before the first whistle was blown. The picture was bright, and many New York fans were hoping that it is was just the beginning.

Unfortunately, it was the peak.

The next nine games saw setbacks in nearly every category in which New York had developed. Three-point shooting was down as Thorn went into a major slump (and eventually was injured). Team defense, once key to New York’s game, became slack as points from turnovers increased and lazy fouls were taken. Coyle, at the beginning of the season seen as a beacon of wisdom, became the target of some fans’ anger. Coyle, who preached a more open game (and movable lineup) at the beginning of the season, began playing her “favorite eight,” relegating certain key figures in the first five wins (particularly Davenport) to bench roles while only at times reaching to the deep bench, despite lackluster play from some of her starters. Through this all, the Liberty lost seven of nine, including humiliating losses to Washington, Indiana, and Chicago.

The worst of it (and one of the low points of the season) was the June 26th game against Sacramento. The Monarchs were a defense-first team (and at the time, the conference leader in the West) and coming off of a Finals lost; they were the favorite to go back to the finals, but even that couldn’t excuse New York’s lackluster played. The Liberty scored single-digit points in each of the first two quarters, not scoring non-free throw until 7 minutes into the game and managing only 15 points in the first half. Despite horrible showings by Christon (1 point), Loree Moore (1 point), and Tiffany Jackson (4 points), only seven players were given significant playing time (Davenport and Lindsay Bowen both played four minutes, most of that time coming during the end of the game) in New York’s worst loss of the season. The final score? 59-46.

This overture of woe was broken by a brief interlude of hope. The Liberty took three of four, losing in resounding fashion to the Seattle Storm (84-53), but taking games from the Los Angeles Sparks, a rematch against the Monarchs, and an overtime nail-biter against the streaking (and conference leading) Detroit Shock. Janel McCarville, picked up by New York in the dispersal draft from the Charlotte Sting, began showing the promise that had made the Sting choose her first overall two years earlier. Thorn, out for nearly a month, made a comeback as well, while Christon and Moore both showed flashes of brilliance that helped the Liberty take games that shouldn’t have rightly been theirs. It seemed that the Liberty’s nightmare was over.

This was not the end of the Liberty’s pain, however, as New York went on a seven game losing streak and almost took themselves out of the playoff race. Their conference rivals, the Washington Mystics, whom the Liberty had battered in previous outings, helped their chances out by beating the Liberty during that span. The Mystics, hounded by a 0-8 start, made a surge after picking up Monique Currie in a trade to Chicago Sky (for Chasity Melvin) to aid Alana Beard, placing them at times in the fourth spot in the East. The Sky, meanwhile, after going 5-29 in their inaugural season just ten months before, was still in the playoff hunt as well, thanks to New York’s play and Connecticut’s limping start out of the gate.

The Liberty faced a tumultuous season off the court as well. Rabid fans and strong early play couldn’t hide the many empty seats at the Garden. Viewership, while slightly increasing across the league, was down for New York on MSG and during its national TV contests. Without a star player to focus around, the faithful had to settle for a 7-17 product (before the Liberty awoke to win three of four and secure a post-season appearance) that, at times, seemed lethargic, boring, and committed to a system that wasn’t working. Consistency woes plagued the team the entire season, and it could be felt in any game in the waning moments as all but a faithful few remained in their seats to see a team that at points seemed poised to overtake their opponents, and at others maddeningly dispassionate. Advertisement was down, as was corporate sponsorship, and there were times that it seemed like 2007 would go down as the dark-mark on the Liberty’s otherwise strong record.

The season was not a complete loss, however, regardless of appearances. Despite going 16-18 (just the third sub -.500 season in their history), the Liberty managed to pull their talent together and take three of their last games and secure a playoff spot on the last game of the season. In the first round, they took the opening game from the Shock (the regular season and eventual Eastern Conference Playoff champs), while leading them on a wild ride for the rest of the series, ultimately losing in the decisive Game 3 by a single point in overtime. By the end of the season, Coyle’s strategy seemed to finally click with the girls, who managed to finally move past their consistency problems and work together as a team. . In a rebuilding cycle, without a single All-Star, the Liberty managed to play a team game and found budding superstars in McCarville, while Kraayeveld, Thorn, Christon, and Moore all had career years. From an on-paper standpoint, this team is a star or two away from playing powerball and winning back the crowds.

Through it all and despite the various setbacks that had hindered the franchise through the season, passion among fans at the games remained high, and several high attendance crowds were seen at the Garden. Strong promotions kept people in the stands happy, while attendance rebounded a bit towards the end of the season. The Garden was often noisy, never silent, and rarely bored. Even during the doldrums, the Liberty faithful could be seen cheering on their gals. It was a heartening sight for the team, and for the franchise itself, as the season came to a close and 2008 marched closer.

That is not to say that there isn’t much to do for the Liberty in the upcoming months; there will have to be some hard choices made if this team is to become the darling of the league once more. The draft is right around the corner, and the Front Office needs to decide who is necessary for next season and who is expendable. Trade rumors are circling over Kraayeveld, a native North-Westerner who would compliment the Seattle Storm well (should they remain in Washington), but at what price? Things are going to get... interesting, and there will almost certainly be heart-break for the fans who have newfound favorites among those who may not wear the orange and blue next season.

Overall, however, it has been a fantastic ride. The Liberty made the playoffs and proved their nay-sayers wrong. The crowds still came without a star to lead them. There was reason to hope and cheer, and new heroes were made on a nightly basis. Looking back, it wasn’t the best year that the New York Liberty had ever seen, but there was reason enough for optimism even during the darkest moments. Will the 2008 season be brighter? We can only wait and see.

EDIT: I incorrectly labelled San Antonio's team the Spurs (NBA) and not the Silver Stars (WNBA). I can only say; wow. This has been changed, and I have been chastised. I apologize for the error.

Computer Trouble

2007-09-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

I am having computer trouble. Lame, I know. I'll try to update tomorrow. Sorry, guys.

To Do List

2007-09-18T14:17:00.001-07:00

So here are the things that are going to be done in the off-season.

Finish the final Liberty Belles and Nicknames (I know, I know... I promised this a while back, but since the Libs have been ousted, I just haven't found the energy and time.)
Post a Season in Review.
Post a "Thoughts on a First Season Essay"
Update random comings and goings in the league, including (hopefully) information on what our gals are doing over-seas.
Take down all hot-links and replace with pictures (this is going to go slowly, probably about two or three a day, at max)
Clean up the site; repair broken links, update sidebars, etc.

As you can see, this is not a very extensive list. I have about maybe a dozen or so hard posts that I must do, and the rest is up to the hands of fate. If there is a lot of news, then I will post often. If not... well, we'll see how it goes.

I will be posting at least once a week, probably more like two or three times. However, I won't be posting everyday. There just isn't a need for it, and there's only sometimes I would be able to say "Ho Hum. Nothing much going on today, is there? Who likes Women's Basketball?"

In an ideal scenario, I will be posting Monday, Wednesday, Friday, with maybe an occasional post in between those days. Depending on the amount of news, however, this might be a bit optimistic. I'll be posting essays every once in a while, and in a best-case scenario, I'll do an in-depth preview and follow-up on the draft. Any major comings and goings will be reported here, but if you're looking for major news, you're probably better off scanning the league's official site.

It's been a great ride. I'll go into more of that on Thursday, in my main essay.

AROUND THE LEAGUE...

Paul Westhead, fresh off coaching the Mercs to their first championship, has been offered an assistant coaching position for the Seattle (Super)Sonics. I gotta say, it must be a tempting offer. Who knows?

Temple fans will find interesting stuff here. Those who aren't (which is 99.9999967% of you)... well, it's vaguely interesting otherwise.

Wrap-up of the season courtesy of Donna Orender and the Ministry of Information. It touches on a lot of topics: attendance/ratings increases, the new CBA, the potential for disruption next year due to the Olympics, and more. In maddening fashion, however, nothing is "really" discussed but only mentioned. Thanks for clearing the air, Donna.

Until tomorrow, then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

And thus, it Ends...

2007-09-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

And that's the way it was.

GAME FIVE
PHOENIX 108, DETROIT 92

The Phoenix Mercury upset the Detroit Shock last night and became the first WNBA team to clinch the title on the road as they rolled past Mo-Town's finest for their first championship. It was a hard-won series for the gals from Arizona - featuring chippy play, hard-nose offense, and a decided lack of defense on part of both teams - but the Mercs held it together, and led by Taurasi, Pondexter, Taylor, and Smith, brought the trophy home for the 2007 season.

The game was more similar to the defensively-absent games of the first two contests in the series than the grittier play of games 3 and 4. The Mercury jumped out to an early lead and led the Shock 30-17 at the end of the first ten minutes. They never looked back, taking the Championship in deciding fashion by never allowing the Shock to even come close to touching their point total again. Penny Taylor led both teams with 30 points, while also hitting all 18 (yes, as in a one and then an eight) of her free-throws. The rest of the Mercs also did well, going a gargantuan 52.3% from the field and a strong 39.3% from beyond the arc. Six of the eight players seeing court-time made double-digit points, while still falling behind Detroit in most statistical comparisons (rebounds, steals, assists, etc.).

Detroit couldn't pull it together in the face of such an onslaught. Powell came out of the game early, and despite being MUCH stronger than Phoenix in the passing game, gave up too many turnovers (17 to Phoenix's 9) while never playing with a decent sense of urgency. Deanna Nolan did her best, scoring 27 points, but the reserves, so strong in earlier games, couldn't pull it together in this contest. By the end, the Shock were going through the motions, down by 18 in the beginning of the 4th, they shadowed the Mercs, but never put any kind of pressure on them. The game, as they say, was decided before it was decided, and Detroit, for all their gains in the season, for all the come-from-behind wins and marvelous play, for all the time spent at the top of their conference, could not pull a rabbit out of their hat. Their team played their system well, but it was not enough.

I would make a comment, but then again, our team was 16-18 and got ousted in the first round.

This game - and series - is going to have a major effect on the WNBA of 2008. Truthfully, there are few teams that have the kind of talent that Phoenix has, but the defense-first game of Sacramento and Detroit took a huge hit as Paul Westhead's offense-only system obliterated everything in its path. It took a while to implement, sure, but by the end of the season, Phoenix could not be stopped. They swept through both Seattle and San Antonio, before taking apart the best of the East despite losing two games and playing on the road for three matches. Everything - history, intuition, statistics, and more - were against them, and yet, they got through. What a series. Damn.

Be Proud, Phoenix. Be Proud.

GAME NOTES

Turnovers were huge. Phoenix had 9. Detroit? 17.
History. Just to reiterate, Phoenix is the first WNBA Champion to clinch on the road.
108 Points. The same number that Phoenix took in the first game.
Detroit's defense. We can hem and haw all we want, but really, it should have been better than that.
Strong crowd, especially seeing their lassies go down like that. I was surprised to see how many stuck around until the end.

Cappie Pondexter took home Finals MVP. Hardly could've picked someone else. While a case could be made for Diana Taurasi (her points total was only a little bit lower than Cappie, while being more consistent in her shots and topping in rebounds), Cappie brought an element of scrappiness and (dare I say it?) defense to a team that desperately needed it. Not only that, but she came through when it counted, scoring the game winner in Game 4 and posting 26 points and 10 assists in the deciding match. Taurasi may have pushed the ball more, but Cappie kept the team together for the long haul.

And so the playoffs end, not with a whimper, but a bang. The Mercs are the new WNBA Champions. They got over a middling opening to come back and, through a brand of offense unique to the league this season, smashed through supposedly wall-like opponents with poise, grit, and an engine like a freight train. It didn't hurt that they had four players that all could have started for the All-Star team, either, but that's neither here nor there. They rocked on, and I salute them for it.

And with that, the 2007 season comes to a close.

So here's how it's gonna roll. Today is my last official entry of the season. Tomorrow, I'm gonna outline my plans for the off-season. Expect hilarity, off-color jokes, and a general lack of any real reporting. On Wednesday, I'm going to wrap-up the season. Until then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

(All Photos from this entry are from the WNBA's Official Site).

Once more...

2007-09-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

It's down to it.

WNBA FINALS

GAME FOUR
PHOENIX 77, DETROIT 76

If you wanted exciting playoff basketball, you got it. Detroit lashed out after a languid first quarter to go ahead strong for much of the game, but unlike Game 3, the Mercs managed to come through in the clutch and punched through the ceiling to even-up the series at 2-apiece, with a single game left to go in Detroit.

That is going to be a tall order for Phoenix, but not impossible. Detroit played like Titans of old at home during the regular season, going 12-5 (two of which were within 3 points), and have lost only once at home during the playoffs... to the Mercs. Phoenix isn't shabby on the road, either, going 11-6, but only losing 1 game in the regular season on the road after June 22nd. Their only loss on the road in the playoffs? To Detroit, of course.

If Phoenix and Detroit play like they did in Game 4, it will be a heart-stopping finish to the season. Pondexter played solidly, particularly in the 4th, going for a total of 8 points in those ten minutes (with two clutch rebounds) to bring her point total to a game-high 26 points. Also solid? Plenette Pierson, with 23 points, but still prone to making stupid fouls.

Was there something lacking for both teams in the game? Definitely. Phoenix only got great games out of three of their starters, while Smith and Taylor both had off-nights. Detroit played well, spreading the ball around, but MUST pick up loose balls and open rebounds; three times last night the Shock allowed the Mercs to essentially control the ball for minutes at a time, and by the law of averages, the Mercs are going to have to start hitting those shots SOMETIME.

Both teams cut down on their fouls, however, and made it clear that they weren't going to go easily. Detroit shot 50% from beyond the arc and nearly that much from the field (48.3%). Phoenix didn't have nearly as impressive a shooting game, but they kept throwing it until their shots FINALLY started hitting.

It's going to be some good basketball. Stay tuned...

GAME NOTES

Sloppy play in the first half by Phoenix. The Mercs shot less than 30% from the field in the first twenty. For shaaaaaame...
Ford. Word on the street is that she might be out for the last game. If so, then that make's Phoenix's job a HELL of a lot easier.
...that's about all I got, really.

Next game?

Sunday
The Palace of Auburn Hills
430 ET, ESPN2
Two teams enter, one team leaves... then a little while later, the other team leaves.

The WNBA will NOT take action following the Pierson-Taylor scuffle of Game Three. Surprised? You shouldn't be.

Attendance problems plague the Finals. I was able to find 10 dollar tickets within a dozen rows of the floor. Ugh.

Attendance increased across the league this year, up to 7,739 from 7,476, an increase of 3.5%. Not exactly earth-shattering, but still, the first increase in years. (Source: Women's Basketball Online. The numbers aren't crunched correctly, but if you put them in yourself, you can see the change.)

Liberty news? Nada. Sorry, but it's the off-season. Until Monday, then?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Bleh... and WNBA Finals...

2007-09-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

Nothing really on the Liberty front. You know how it is. And so, onward and upward...

WNBA FINALS

GAME 3
DETROIT 88, PHOENIX 83

Detroit leads series, 2-1

The Shock got off to a hell of a start, scoring 30 points in the first quarter to the Mercury's 23, allowing them to coast the rest of the way to victory. To be sure, they weren't exactly resting on their haunches, but neither did they attack the ball all the times that they could have. This was purely a "Get-ahead, stay-ahead" approach, and the Shock pulled it off masterfully.

The Mercury did not have a bad game, but nor did they look like a team in contention for the WNBA crown. They shot an anemic 16.7% from beyond the arc, while going 34.7% from the field; both are hardly the numbers that an offense-only team needs to put up. They DID manage to out-rebound the Shock for the first time in the series, but rarely turned these moments into baskets, instead taking dumb chances and awkward shots and forcing the ball. By the end, with Detroit still nicely (though not firmly) ahead, a sense of desperation began to ooze out, with 18 missed shots in the 4th quarter alone. This was not judicious-haste; this was panic.

The game moved slowly, both due to the Mercs inability to move the ball and also Detroit's holding-pattern. Chippy play dominated throughout, leading to plenty of fouls on both sides, and while I can't say that the game was fun to watch, I can say that it was... interesting. The Mercs couldn't reach back over the never-beyond-nine-points lead of the Shock, however...

COME ON! GIMME SOMETHIN' HERE!!!

...And so, Detroit managed to hold on and put themselves in a nice place to secure their second-straight WNBA title. A win tomorrow by Phoenix would only mean a stay of execution, as the series would then move to the Den of Lions that is the Shock's home court (the Palace, for all you unitiated). Winning two games in a row seems like a daunting task for a Phoenix team that hasn't seemed all that put together since their first game. Don't measure ring sizes just yet, Detroit, but measuring the shelf space you have to hold the Finals Trophy wouldn't exactly be out of the question.

GAME NOTES

The Mercs played seven players total. No starter played less than 33 minutes. Nice way to get things moving on your end, Phoenix.
The Shock, meanwhile, played 10, 9 of which got significant playing time. Coincidence? I would not posit so.
Desperation personified. In a 40-second span near the end of the 4th, the Mercs missed and rebounded the ball six times. A simple lay-up was even beyond their grasp, as they also dropped several of these (three in the 4th).
28 of the Mercs 83 points came from Free Throws. Detroit still hasn't gotten the hang of the whole "not-fouling-your-opponent-when-you're-kicking-their-ass" thing.
7 of the 19 points scored by the Shock in the 4th quarter were also from Free Throws. Phoenix, meanwhile, needs to work on the "don't-take-stupid-fouls-when-you're-down" way of thinking.
Questionable action by Plenette Pierson at the end of the game. With the game essentially decided, Pierson gets tangled up with Penny Taylor and then takes a swing at Taylor. Should action be taken? Yes. Will action be taken? Hell, no.

Next game?

Thursday, 8:30
Phoenix, AZ
If the heat doesn't kill you, Plenette Pierson just might.

At least ONE ESPN blogger found last night's game fun to watch. If he thinks THAT'S indicative of WNBA-quality play, well... shit. Maybe he should've watched the Shock in the REGULAR season.

Like THAT would've ever happened.

There won't be a Colorado team in the WNBA next season after all. Colorado, which in The Writer's opinion had the best shot of landing a franchise next season due to the market and surprise success of the Colorado Crush, will now have to wait until next season, at least. This means, barring a hideously bad decision or something similarly catastrophic, it'll be a 13-team league next summer.

Anyway, that's about it. Until tomorrow?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Dreary Day... Thank God for Beer!

2007-09-11T13:50:00.000-07:00

No photos today. Just down to basic basics. That and I'm lazy and have WAY too much to do. I know, I know; that's my usual battle-cry. But for now, just forget about it. It's been TOO long of a stormy late-summer workday.

The Libs have a couple of nice things up on their page. Check out their by-the-numbers feature. It's a cool bit of news that, while little more than an appetizer, can at least put down your Liberty-driven hunger for a few moments. Or can it? Can you handle a few days without the Liberty in your life? I know I can't. I have daydreams of Erin Thorn hitting a long three and then Davenport making some Mystic player look foolish, or maybe even shame the Sky for ever coming into existence. That, and then Martina Weber gets into the game, and...

But I digress. Also take a look at what the Libs will be up to during the off-season. English news is hard to get (let alone actual coverage), so my coverings will be a bit hit-or-miss, but hopefully, I'll be able to catch up with some of these ladies.

The Official Site is also doing player-by-player reports. Dutch is up first. It's little more than propoganda, but it's nice to have some coverage and to see some actual coverage of the Belles.

Trenton is going to be the home of a game between the U.S. Women's Senior National Team and Australia. Tickets start at 10 bucks and are going to feature a whole slew of WNBA stars. Check it out. I won't be going, because 1.) I don't have a car, 2.) Paying to go to Trenton on the train is not my idea of a good time, and 3.) I'm busy that day. But, check with your Liberty friends and see if they want to go.

What's your favorite moment from the season? Tell the Libs. If it involved The Libertine in any way, shape, or form, make sure to ask if I can get a press pass for next season.

That's it, oh faithful few. You know what tonight is. Watch Game 3 on TV tonight, or better yet, get a bunch of friends together, bring some quality brew, and watch it together. My suggestions for a cold, rainy night?

Anything by Magic Hat. Number 9 is a strong, slightly hoppy, apricot-tinged pale ale. Circus Boy is a nice Wheat Beer that is a little more tame than Hoegaarden, but also infinitely more quaffable. Speaking of which...
Hoegaarden. A Belgian Witbier. Whenever someone tells me that they "don't like beer", I give them this and they love it. Sweet, but not overly so, with strong coriander and orange flavorings, as well as a couple light seasonings that I can't quite put my finger on.
Heineken. If you're going to go the commercial route, go with this brand.
Anything by St. Peter's. If you can find it, tremendous brew.
Dogfish 60-Minute IPA. A great brewery with a spectacular India Pale Ale. Hoppy, strong, and intensely flavorful. Go for the 90-Minute IPA if you're more adventurous.

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Monday, Monday...

2007-09-10T06:07:00.000-07:00

Kick-ass comic, apt description of today...

First, a few points of old news...

Shay Doron's doing well for the Israeli National team. On the 5th, she scored 7 points and helped her team to a 76-64 win over Bulgaria. Go, Hebrew Hammer, Go!

This is from a while ago, but it features Ashley Battle. As a Pittsburgh native, I gotta give it up to Battle. Black-and-Gold gotta stick together.

And now that that's out of the way, on to...

WNBA FINALS

Saturday's Game
PHOENIX 98, DETROIT 70

Beyond the 3 minute mark, Detroit never held a lead and watched as Diana Taurasi slammed home 30 points to lead the Mercs to one of the most uneven victories of this post-season. Only two players from the Shock scored double-digit points(Nolan with 12 and Cash with 10), while shooting only 32% from the field and 15% from beyond the arc. Truly, it was a beat-down of a savagery not seen since the days of Rowdy Roddy Piper.

Look it up.

Everything about this game was uneven. The Shock never won a quarter, turned over the ball 16 times (leading to 21 points), and couldn't handle any part of the Mercury's offense. By the half, they were scrambling, looking for a way to somehow staunch the flow from Phoenix's offense, but even then, they couldn't break a Mercury defense that had suddenly, inexplicably decided to show up and DO something (admittedly, letting in 78 points, but still a 30-point difference in the last game).

Phoenix, meanwhile, evened up the series as the Finals moves to Arizona for the next two games. Coming off a game like this, and having two full days of rest, definitely won't hurt the Mercs, and should they win the next game, it will be mighty hard for Detroit to come back and take two, even with the final game in Detroit. Let's not count our chickens, however. First, Phoenix has to win another game which, despite last-night's game, isn't anywhere near a certainty. It will be VERY interesting to see how this plays out.

Other news?

Dan Hughes of the San Antonio Silver Stars was named Coach of the Year. Not exactly my first choice on the matter, but it's hard to argue with what he did in Texas. Well played.

Armintie Price was named Rookie of the Year.

:::golf clap:::

And, unsurprisingly, Lauren Jackson won league MVP. Which would be boring, except for the gargantuan numbers that she put up in the season. The Writer's Analysis: Had Jackson not been so huge, the Storm would've been 10-24 for the season and Houston would've been the team getting swept by Phoenix in the opening round. You go, you Down-Under Goddess, you.

By the way, I could make a crude joke about "Down-Under", but I'm really, really trying to be a good boy.

Just do a Google Image Search for "Lauren Jackson" and you will get an approximation for my feelings for Lauren Jackson.

As for that, that's about it. Take what ya can in the off-season, as they say. Until tomorrow?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

2007-09-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

Typical off-season news day...

Guess who's going to be on the US Women's Basketball team? Loree Moore, that's who! Boo yah!

Other than that, not much news to talk of. If you like propoganda pieces, or are just interested in the company line, head on over to the WNBA's official site. Okay, okay, so it's not all that bad, but still, nothing that would push too many buttons.

We give it to ya straight, here.

Instead, I'll give you what you all came to see, and it's something that even the most mind-numbed among us can appreciate... hardcore nudity!

Hubba-hubba!

Until Monday?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

More Finals, but it's never Final

2007-09-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

Croquet, anyone?

No Liberty news, but if you like Beer and live in New York, your holiday extravaganza of the year is coming up next week when the New York Brew Fest kicks off. No, this isn't related to the Liberty in the slightest, but hey, it's kinda cool, and what has more to do with Liberty (the concept) and New York (the city) than a Beer Festival? As Benjamin Franklin said, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

Truer words have never been said. Sniff sniff... Cheers!

Onto basketball news...

WNBA FINALS

DETROIT 108, PHOENIX 100

SERIES: Detroit leads, 1-0

I could make a joke about defense, but that has been done enough. Yeah, yeah. The offensive capabilities of both teams were on show, and Detroit's team-first attitude won out. It was a mildly exciting game for someone (me) who doesn't have a vested interest in either team (Go Libs) and who didn't watch the sport that much until this season (too much Hockey, didn't live in New York full time, yadda yadda yadda).

The game DID have a few surprises, however. The Mercs managed to finally start hitting some three's, Diana Taurasi was limited to ten points (due to foul trouble), and Phoenix only played eight players... no wait... that last one was surprising at all.

Detroit essentially dominated after going on a 17-6 run to close the first half 41-35. Sure, Phoenix scored more the next quarter and threatened the Shock at several points, but Detroit put them away with a 39-point 4th and that, as they say, was that. Penny Taylor scored 32 to lead both teams in points, while also going 11-19 from the field. Plenette Pierson led the Shock with 26 points (and 10 rebounds).

Speaking of point totals, the boxscore is rather ridiculous, if you want a laugh. Pondexter and Taylor combined for 47 shots; no other Merc had more than 8. Elaine Powell (DET), in her thirteen minutes of gametime, didn't register a single shot from the field. Defensive rebounds compared side-by-side: Phoenix 17, Detroit 33 (more than Phoenix's TOTAL rebounds). Ayana Walker and Tyresa Smith (both DET) registered exactly five seconds of game-time each.

I could go on, but won't.

Next Game?

Game Two

Saturday, 3:30 P.M., ESPN

Fear is the Mind-Killer. It is the little death that... ah, screw it...

Until tomorrow?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

Slooooooooooooow...

2007-09-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of those who helped me out with info on Season Tickets (special props to Rebecca and Ken). I'm at a bit of a bottleneck in terms of cash right now, but once that gets cleared up, things'll be back on schedule for the tix.

You all know what today is...

WNBA FINALS GAME ONE

...and if you didn't, well, now you do.

On the Liberty front, no news. Expect much of the same until the gals head to Europe. I'll try to keep up with news on that front as it comes in, but unless they play in the Netherlands and I can use my Dutch contacts to go to games, it's going to be hit or miss.

Watch the game and be wowed. I, unfortunately, will be watching the Fashionista Diaries because The Writer's Girlfriend knows two women on that show. If anyone knows where Pepto is sold in bulk quantities, please let me know.

Until tomorrow?

See ya, Space Cowboy...

The Beginning of the End...

2007-09-04T13:57:00.000-07:00

Yup, that's what it's like at the end of summer...

Liberty news is slow, but that’s the way it is.

Deposits are being taken for Liberty Season Tickets. Not that they’re going to sell out of them, but it’s always nice to get a jump.

A nice article on Becky Hammon (everybody’s favorite former Belle) from ESPN. It’s a little fawning, but then again, Hammon’s making a serious case for MVP and may lose out simply because Lauren Jackson is the major reason that Seattle was in the playoffs as opposed to 7-27. Or is the MVP the same thing as the Peak Performer of the year? Someone get back to me…

A former Lib intern is now an assistant Coach at Longwood. Props, and try to make sure the head coach plays more than eight players on a regular basis.

But the WNBA marches on, with or without the Liberty in the Finals…

AROUND THE LEAGUE…

Phoenix scammed San Antonio in a close sweep (oxymoronic, I know), while Detroit had problems with Indiana, but ultimately resolved it in three. Am I killer, or what?

PHOENIX MERCURY vs. DETROIT SHOCK

So, it’s come down to this… the best in the West and the beast in the East, or, that would be how I phrased it if the WNBA hadn’t already put it up on their website. Instead, I will refer to them as the Adroit from Detroit and the Mean Chicks from Phoenix.

All right. That was bad. I’ll stop.

Each couldn’t play a more different game. Detroit focuses on a team-first approach, playing a long bench while also focusing on some superb (if not super-star) starters, passing the ball, playing good defense, and relying on their small game to overcome their lack of strength from beyond the arc. Phoenix, meanwhile, plays a balls-to-the-wall offense with little attitude towards their own end, and now that their whole team has awoken and begun to play together, their points up front definitely make up for their defensive ineptitude. Who will win?

Detroit took the season series, defeating the Mercs in a close 87-84 match in June and a month later by the more dominating tune of 111-82. Both came before Phoenix’s rise from the ashes of defenseless mediocrity.

You like that reference? Huh? HUH?!?

Phoenix has since exploded, going 16-3 and sweeping both the Storm and Silver Stars in the playoffs. Will the Shock be the next S team that they dominate in the playoff?

For my money, the leaders on the Phoenix are definitely the better basketball players. Taurasi? Money in the bank. Pondexter? Already constructing a statue of her. Taylor? The mere mention of her name brings ecstasy to the minds of many. Smith? Like a ball of raging flame and fire, burning deeply across the night sky. They’re top five players combine for a total of almost 90 points a game. That’s twenty more than the entire Shock team combined.

But the team game is decidedly Detroit’s. Look beyond the Merc’s top five and you’ll see one player averaging 6 points a game and little else. They’re as top-heavy as a San Fernando Valley Porn Star, and Detroit is adept at taking apart those kind of offenses. More balanced teams like New York (admittedly, still needing another star-quality player) can give them problems, as the Shock’s focus becomes defused, but Detroit can play a full 40 on their first half tank alone, not to mention their ladies-in-waiting.

Like Maid Marian and shit.

It’s a 5-game series, but the games are scheduled loosely, with all but one match-up including two-days’ rest. That will have to work in Phoenix’s favor. It’s going to be hard for them to play their top five as hard as they have without running out of gas. Detroit is built for the long-haul, however, as evidenced by their success even without Cheryl Ford. Even if Phoenix gives them trouble in the first game, the Shock are adaptable enough to pick up their nuances and give them a run later in the series (see their series victories over Indiana and our own Belles). Gotta be honest: I would not want to be in the Mercs shoes right now.

No waaaaaay…

My Pick: The Shock in Four.

The first game is on Wednesday. Make sure to buy extra Depends. You’ll need it.

See ya, Space Cowboy…

Quick Update...

2007-08-31T09:36:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-31T07:20:00.001-07:00

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

2007-08-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

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...