Basketball Briefs

July 24, 2008 – With so much happening in the WNBA this week, here’s a quick wrap-up.

Shock signs 50-year-old Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman – The Detroit Shock came up with a way to distract some attention away from their skirmish earlier this week. For one game at least. The team signed 50-year-old former coach Nancy Lieberman to a seven-day contract and she’s expected to play against Houston tonight.  

WNBA hands down suspensions – in response to the events at Tuesday’s game between the Detroit Shock and the Los Angeles Sparks, the WNBA announced penalties including Shock forward Plenette Pierson who has been suspended for four games for her actions that initiated and escalated the altercation.

Cheryl Ford to miss remainder of 2008 WNBA season with knee injury - Shock forward Cheryl Ford, who appeared to be injured while trying to restrain teammate Plenette Pierson during a confrontation Tuesday, is out for the season because of an anterior cruciate ligament tear in her right knee. The Shock made the announcement following an MRI exam Wednesday morning.

WNBA to take mid-season break for Olympics - With so many players involved in the upcoming Olympics, the WNBA will take a mid-season break to prepare for the Summer Games. The break begins Monday, July 28th and the league will resume play a month later.

Basketbrawl: Malice in the Palace Part II

July 23, 2008 – A melee at The Palace of Auburn Hills — also the site of the infamous brawl between the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and fans in 2004 — broke out Tuesday night with 4.6 seconds left in a WNBA game between the Detroit Shock the Los Angeles Sparks.

The game turned heated after a collision between LA’s Candace Parker and Detroit’s Plenette Pierson turned into a shoving match that saw players and coaches from both teams leave the bench. In the waning moments of the game, Parker got tangled up with Pierson and to many it was clear that Pierson intentionally baited Parker and took her to the ground “Piston style”.

Rookie sensation Candace Parker, the league’s poster child, scored 21 points and DeLisha Milton-Jones added 19 before both were ejected after the scuffle. The Sparks held on to beat the Shock 84-81 in WNBA.

Pierson and Detroit assistant coach Rick Mahorn (a former Pistons Bad Boy) were also ejected. The latter came off the bench as a peacekeeper but allegedly shoved Lisa Leslie to the ground during the incident. Pushing the star center may not have been the best idea to “protect the game” especially when Mahorn is twice her size. Suspensions and fines will surely follow for all involved.

The Shock’s Cheryl Ford, who also went down during the incident, will miss the remainder of 2008 WNBA Season with a knee injury sustained earlier in the game.

The brawl, which was televised (see below),  may have provided the WNBA with a much needed a shot in the arm to boost attention – albeit not the most positive kind. Now this may not have been on the same level as what happens in European Football (soccer) matches or between the Yanks and the Red Sox but it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that a bunch of women lost their temper during an intense game. It’s exactly the kind of emotional stupidity that’s been known to afflict their male counterparts in a host of similar situations.

Anway, the rivalry between the Sparks and the Shock is firmly established and as a fan, a game between these two teams in the championship could definitely pique my interest.

What do you think?

WNBA tells skeptics to “Expect Great”

May 8, 2008, From TV Guide today:

The WNBA’s 12th season gets underway next weekend, and the league is eager to attract new fans and change perceptions of women’s hoops.

A new marketing campaign, “Expect Great,” launches during tonight’s Celtics/Cavaliers NBA playoff game (7 pm/ET, ESPN). In a series of ads that are clearly aimed at men, three top players — the Detroit Shock’s Cheryl Ford, the Indiana Fever’s Tamika Catchings and celebrated rookie Candace Parker of the L.A. Sparks — repeat the criticisms they’ve heard. The complaints are clearly contradicted by simultaneous game clips.In Ford’s spot, the four-time WNBA All-Star says: “Let’s be honest, your rec league team would smoke us chicks without working up a sweat. I’m afraid of contact, so you can post me up all day long. Plus, the lane will be open, because no girl is gonna take a charge. We want no part of your rec league team. Believe that.” Then the screen goes dark and the words “She wouldn’t say that. Would You?” appear.

Ford and Parker’s spots premiere tonight, while Catchings’ debuts on Sunday during ABC’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs.

Vote your fave female athlete for Kids’ Choice Award

March 24, 2008 – Detroit Shock forward Cheryl Ford already has two WNBA Championship rings, a WNBA Rookie of the Year Award and a WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award resting on her mantelpiece.

Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams and race car driver Danica Patrick each have their own cases filled with championship paraphenalia.

On Saturday, March 29, one of them will add a Favorite Female Athlete trophy and a healthy doss of green slime to her collection as part of the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.

Actor and musician Jack Black is hosting the star-studded telecast live from UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion. Jessica Alba,  Beyonce, Miley Cyrus,  Cameron Diaz, Fergie, and Keira Knightley also received nominations in Nickelodeon’s 18 major awards categories.

Cast your vote online at www.nick.com/kca.