Well, we're movin' on up....

Hey everyone,
      I've moved! That's right, my new blog will be over at FullCourt.com (click here). I'll be posting regularly throughout the season, so drop on by and subscribe!
    Here's the full link just in case...

   http://www.fullcourt.com/blog/wguy

  - Alex

Yep.

By the numbers. That is what was expected today.

However, when the Phoenix Mercury walked away with the #1 pick, some fans were elated, others were in dismay, and some…well, were just downright pissed off.

The term, “tanked” was the most common word heard when referring to the Phoenix Mercury this season, many believing that they purposely threw in the towel to increase their lottery chances. That just doesn’t make sense, as the worst record has never been a guarantee to get a #1 pick – just ask the Tulsa Shock. Besides, with many of the starters on the bench from injuries this year, it is not like Phoenix had its talent purposely not trying to win. Plus, a new rookie point guard (which is a tough position to start in as a rookie, especially with a team like Phoenix) the Mercury had quite a challenge this year. When they were eliminated from the playoffs, even COO Amber Cox admitted to giving Taurasi a rest.

And let’s face it, if Taurasi wanted to play – she would play. So in my eyes, the decision was mutual. A less-than-stellar season was behind them, so they gambled and it paid off. After being eliminated from the playoffs, what exactly would they be trying to prove? 

Ok, ok, ok, you can stop with the “You’re a Mercury fan, so you’re biased” talk. Say what you want, but if Phoenix did purposely tank, they had just as much chance to end up like the Mystics did. Ok, example - 2008 in the NBA, the Chicago Bulls with a .017% chance (ninth on the list) nab the #1 pick. As a matter of fact, in the last five years in the NBA, the worst-record team has never gotten the #1 pick. It is also a rarity in the WNBA. All the teams with abysmal records this year were well aware that the balls may not bounce in their favor, no matter how badly they needed a #1 pick. 

Let the conspiracy theories begin!! 

Oh, and speaking of the Mystics, I personally think this is karma for that wonderful decision that the Mystics management made to get rid of Plank and Taylor. With that GM/Coach combo, they had a phenomenal two seasons – then they handed over the reins to Lacey, and traded or lost their Maryland and Duke players that appeal to local fans. This move left many long time Mystics fans wondering about the future of their team as they proceeded to follow this with two of the worst seasons in Mystics history. If the attendance this year is any indication, many of those fans have lost hope. Now with a 4^th pick in the draft, the Mystics not only have to pick the right player, they have to find the right coach. *cough cough* Meadors *cough*

I know. Subtle.

Let’s not forget that the Mercury may not pick Griner. I know, the chances are slim, but the club has made some, shall we say, non-traditional choices with the #1 pick. Hello…Tangela Smith anyone? And yes, Tangela helped Phoenix get two rings, namely the two big 3’s in the 4^th quarter in game 5 of the 2009 series. This kind of decision making is evident that Meyers Drysdale knows how to fill a need on the team as opposed to going for the popular choice, and she leans toward getting one particular blue hen by the name of Delle Donne. It is possible that Phoenix could make a deal with Chicago to send Griner to the windy city for Delle Donne, plus a future draft pick, or whomever they can snag. Crazy I know, but if it happens, I would not be the least bit surprised. Plus, AMD has shown to have a knack for wheeling and dealing; just look how the Mercury landed Dupree in a three team deal.

We’ll have to wait till April to find out, but if all the pieces fit right, and a majority of the players are healthy, the 2013 season is going to be quite amazing.

Hey everyone, especially Temeka Johnson and Phoenix Mercury fans!

Temeka has published her second children's book, Temeka's Choice, which is available now at Amazon.com. (Click here to buy her book!) She is going to be at the Hard Rock Cafe (downtown, across from the US Airways Arena) immediately following the game on 9/14 in Phoenix for a book signing! You can buy your book in advance, or buy your book there! Books will be selling for 10$, and cash/visa/mc will be accepted. Afterword, stay for a bite to eat and check out the "Chicks with Picks" performance as well! It will be a great time, so join us and bring a friend!

For a review of the book - (written by yours truly) check it out over at Fullcourt.com 

Check out the video with Temeka talking about her book.

Father. Fan. Writer. Friend.

  When describing friendships, sometimes I can be at a loss for words. So, I decided that I would try to describe a particular friendship that I have by describing how I see this person – and this person is Stephen Litel.

  Stephen and I first “met” via twitter in 2009, when I had just announced my now infamous journey, reminding me to make sure to stop by press row and say hi when I was in Minny.  I assured him that I would.

  During that voyage in 2009, upon my arrival to the Target center I was then greeted by one Mr. Stephen Litel. We instantly bonded over WNBA chat and how my trip had gone thus far. Post-game, we continued our chat a local eatery with other Lynx fans. It was a quick visit, but still a memorable one.

Me, "reflecting" on meeting Stephen at the Target center in Minneapolis.

  It would be later on facebook that I would get to know more about Stephen, particularly the two things he is most fond of – his son and daughter. Obviously a very proud papa, he often posted pictures of his kids whenever he could get the chance, and brag about them as well. If you follow Stephen on facebook, you know exactly what I am talking about. It is the kind of pride that speaks to his character as a father – something I wish more fathers in this world would aspire to.

A playful "photo-shopped" rendition of Stephen after a twitter banter about  mustaches. 

  When the idea came to write a book about my journey, I called upon Stephen to contribute. He was more than willing and after a read of the rough draft (quite rough as a matter of fact) he sent me the review that I used for the back cover. The one thing I really loved about it was that it was quite objective and honest – and a few kind words didn't hurt either.

Stephen pointing to one of his finer works that adorns the back cover of my book. 

 This past July I was planning a journey on a smaller scale, one that would conclude in Minnesota. However, the day before I was to head out to the twin cities, I got a call from Stephen, and it wasn't good news. For reasons I cannot get into in this blog, he told me that he would not be able to make the game that I was attending.  I was somewhat consoled when we agreed to meet for lunch the next day. It was that afternoon over a very tasty bloody mary, that Stephen not only shared with me the situation he was facing, but that he was also considering hanging up his media credential…for good.

  It was after the reasons he gave, two of them to be exact, that it became perfectly clear what his priorities were.  He expressed how he was realizing that his children were only going to be young once, and it was time to do some reporting of a different kind, by taking the time to witness his children grow up. Just can’t argue with that.

  I assured Stephen that whatever he chose, I would be behind him, 100%. A few weeks later, I read the blog post that I knew was inevitable, but I was happy that he found peace.

Stephen is one of our own – a tireless supporter of the WNBA, a hard working dad, and a friend to all those alike.  His words will be missed by fans, and no doubt, the athletes in this league will miss his support. 

  This is not a goodbye, but a hello to a new chapter of life for Stephen. You can read up on Stephen at: http://stephenlitel.wordpress.com/.  Best wishes to you man; your words will be missed, but not forgotten.

Stephen and I, 7/7/2012

Hey All,
 Normally I wouldn't use my blog for trying to hock anything... (except for my book of course, lol! ) however, this is for a good cause. Friend, baller and fellow WNBA fan Caitlin is in need of financial support to attend a collegiate summer academic program for high school students. I am all for helping out a fellow W fan, especially if it is in the name of education!


  In order to help her raise money, she is auctioning off a pair of shoes - not just any shoes mind you - a pair of Nike Air Jordans - Maya Moore edition. Oh, and did I mention that they were autographed by the one and only 2011 WNBA Champ and Rookie of the year Maya Moore? Check out the pic below.


You can CLICK HERE to go to the Ebay page and bid on them. It's for a great cause and they are an awesome pair of shoes! 

Here we are, after much waiting, the "All I Really Need to Know About Basketball" T-shirts featuring several quotes & "Diana-Isms" are ready to order.

Click here to go to the t-shirt store.

Just wanted to note a few things:

1. You can choose which style of shirt you would like & color. The shirt I am wearing is an American Apparel basic T. They run small, so if you like your shirts baggy, I would order a few sizes up. There is also a sizing chart on the order page. There are men's, women's & kids styles available.

2. There is a dark shirt, a light shirt (white), a hoodie & a mug.

3. These products were not designed by or are they endorsed by Diana Taurasi. I am just a fan sharing my image for others who want to purchase it.

4. I do not set the prices on zazzle.com - that is up to the website. I am also selling them for no profit (which means I am not making any money off of them) - like I said I am just sharing my image if others want to buy it.

5. If you have any problems with your order, contact zazzle.com. They have pretty good customer service, and will make sure to correct any errors on the product, if needed.

Enjoy your t-shirt!! (or mug)

Click here to go to the t-shirt store.

Recently, the French women's basketball site LadyHoop posted an interview about Diana and her battle with the FIBA over the shorter-shorts. To get caught up with this, feel free to check out my previous blog post. Since it is in French, I decided to give it the run through on Google translate and post excerpts of it here. (For the original post in French, click here)
 
Headline:

The American player is mounted to the plate and denounces held "Slim" imposed by FIBA.

(Google translation - I think they might be insinuate that the new shorts are "slimming" and somehow, Diana is standing firm on her choice to play in long shorts. Either that, or they have permanently mounted her to a plate. I hope it's the former.)

 "If you want things sexy, read Playboy," she let loose in an interview with Spanish daily Ara.

I think this is kind of her way of telling the FIBA where they can stick their new uniforms. Not only that, she chose one of the more classier mens magazines as an example of sexy. Personally, I read it for the articles.

"It's been 20 years since I played with long shorts and I can not do otherwise. I know in tennis or volleyball, it's different [...] They want to show the sexiest basketball but basketball is not sexy, it's a sport. It is a physical sport that is played with speed. Our outfits are cultural and it's been years that we play like that, without tight jerseys. "
 
Nuff Said! Hopefully, the FIBA will stop trying to make it into a fashion show, and let them do what Diana and the other athletes do best...play basketball!

As February begins, trades and signings have been slowly trickling out across the league. From the Coleman/Quinn swap to Phoenix’s acquisition of Hornbuckle, these are the first, and by far will not be the last transactions we see happen before May.

So before I start commenting on said transactions, I’ll wait to see what shakes out over the next few weeks. It’s always a fun ride.

Earlier this week, in case you didn’t know (and if you are a regular reader of this blog and didn’t know, then shame on you!) National Girls and Women in Sports Day was celebrated. It was the 26th annual celebration of recognizing the significance of women in sports – not to mention on the heels of the 40th anniversary of title IX. It is a day when young girls can (and should) experience the joy of being an athlete and knowing they have the opportunity to live their lives as one, if they so choose.

As a guy who is a big fan of women’s basketball and many women’s sports (except probably lingerie football) I think it is important that all men should recognize this day. In every man’s life, women, on some level, have made an impact. Weather it is from a mother, wife, sister, girlfriend, niece, grandmother, aunt, or fiancée, men would not be here without them. (...and for the obvious reason). Men need to set the example that supporting women’s sports is an honor and something that should be encouraged. More men need to “come out” of the testosterone guys only sports closet and not be afraid to show some admiration for how hard female athletes work at their craft.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not insinuating that men should be forced to watch or be fans of the women’s game – far from it. Showing support doesn’t mean that you have to be front and center at every single women’s sporting event. (Although, I am not discouraging it) It just means that when you speak of women’s sports, it comes from a place of respect. When you are flipping though the channels and come across a women’s game, don’t spend time mocking it, but give it a shot, and if it’s not your preference, then move on. Supporting women’s sports is not making the moronic argument of “Well…they don’t have a MEN in sports day, do they?”

Actually they do, it’s called the Super Bowl.

I can really only speak from my experience with women’s basketball, but when it comes to support, it’s good to see guys out there at the games. It really shows that things are changing. Not to mention when more young women see men in support of women’s sports, (like their dad’s, brothers, and boyfriends) it shows them that not all men have a narrow view when it comes to women’s being viewed as the magnificently talented people that they are.

But alas, there is always those who persist to express the thoughts of their ignorant perspectives.

If you do a Google search of the words “WNBA” and “joke” – you’ll get back 433,000 results.

That’s more than Mitt Romney made in speaker’s fees last year. Scary.

As I try to often ignore the ranting, mainly because it is the same, tired, recycled, invalid argument, and I just get tired of hearing it. I did see a bit of a new slant, where one blogger, who wrote that, “I consider this post to be my first attempt at suicide” followed by referring to the WNBA as,”a financial drain on our society.” Yes, hard earned money buying WNBA jerseys and tickets are simply killing this economy.

Oh, why do these guys spend time writing this stuff if they dislike it so much? That is the eternal mystery. I think I will make this guy’s blog post the focus of one of my own…even though I would rather re-arrange my sock drawer.

But then I came across a tweet – one that caught my attention – and for all the wrong reasons. See for yourself.

@(name withheld) - If you watch #WNBA kill yourself!

Now, I am not sharing this guy’s twitter handle for one reason – anyone with an opinion like this is rarely convinced of otherwise. It would be a waste of time to even try to talk to him about the hundreds of ways this is wrong.

I am all for freedom of speech – but with it does come with responsibility. We live in a world of human beings, and words, as harmless as they may seem, make an impact. With this tweet, a message is being sent not only to WNBA fans, but to young women, all young women who read it. Since the guy who sent this only could do so within the confines of the 140 characters of a tweet – I’ll do him the favor of elaborating on the message his tweet conveys in an open letter: (which FYI is satire for those of you who don’t get the joke)

To: All Girls and Women –

In recognition of national girls and women in sports day, I decided to tweet a completely insensitive, ignorant message shrouded in the guise of honesty. This message is to serve as a notice that women’s sports, particularly the WNBA, have no right to exist - and that those who support this league should stop doing so, or end their lives. The WNBA actually serves to degrade the life of its fans and thus, should not serve to endanger anyone ever again. Let young women be inspired by anorexic super models, alcohol inflamed reality t.v. stars and other descent human beings.

Signed, I AM THE ONE!**

**actually taken from this guys twitter bio

The letter might have been satire, but it is a very clear message that is sent out every time a guy wants to express their "opinion" about the WNBA or women's sports.

Yes, the intent of the blogger and tweeter I mentioned meant to make a joke. These in themselves are not what concern me.

What concerns me more is – who was laughing?

For most parts of the world (except Australia and a few other places in the southern hemisphere) the temperatures are a bit “brisk” and weather ranges from chilly to downright cold, and freezing in some cases. Thus, many of us are wearing winter wear, which can include layers of clothing in an effort to stay warm. No one would even think about donning skimpy summer wear just yet.

Well, except the FIBA.

As reported by lovewomensbasketball.com: “The FIBA Europe prior to this season accepted new regulations regarding uniforms in EuroLeague Women that state that shorts have to be at least 10 cm above the knee and there can be only two centimeters between the shorts and the skin.”

I guess the FIBA assumes that because the weather doesn’t affect the environment on the court, that short-shorts are perfectly acceptable. Now, those measurements for shorts are not exactly “hot pants” short, but they are noticeably shorter than previous uniforms. For most of the women playing in the EuroLeage, there was a little speculation, but for the most part it was business as usual after the change was implemented.



Except for Diana Taurasi.

Diana, not one for shorter shorts, opted for the more full length style she is used to. However, the FIBA disagrees, and has assessed Diana a “2000 Euro fine for every EuroLeague Women game she has played with Galatasaray due to not obeying the new uniform rules.”

It doesn’t end there.

“Diana Taurasi doesn’t care about that and is willing to pay the fines to wear the shorts she likes. For Galatasaray this season there are guaranteed 14 group stage games in ELW and 4 Final Eight games. That totals 18 games or 36 thousand Euro (~46k USD) income for FIBA Europe from Taurasi alone by the end of the season.”

That is quite a chunk of change.

One, it is ridiculous for the FIBA to fine Diana for improper use of shorts, and two, I like the fact that Diana is standing up for what she believes in. Keep in mind, it was not long ago that the FIBA was talking about other changes, such as lowering the rim. One wonders what the FIBA has in mind with these changes, if they are focusing more on visual entertainment values, or athleticism and sportsmanship.

Either way, by the end of the season, they’ll have some extra income thanks to Ms. Taurasi. Hopefully, they’ll spend it wisely.

In the meantime, I’m going to start wearing my full length basketball shorts to the gym, in honor of Diana…and because no one needs to see my pasty white legs in short-shorts.

Trust me, you don’t.

Today the Tulsa Shock announced their new head coach for the 2012 season - Gary Kloppenburg.

While he may not exactly be a household name, Gary "Klopp" Kloppenburg is not a stranger to the WNBA, the NBA or just about any area of basketball.

According to usabasket.com, "He (Gary) coached at virtually every level of both college and professional basketball, ranging from his beginnings at a California Community College and intertwined with jobs in the NBA, WNBA, Continental Basketball Association and internationally. Coach Kloppenburg has also conducted basketball clinics in Greece, Belgium, Iceland and Japan."

Gary has had quite the career in hoops, here is just a snapshot:

Head Coach:
1988-1993: Lassen Junior College (NJCAA) women's team
1993-1999: Lassen Junior College (NJCAA)
2007-2008: Reno Sharpshooters (ABA)

Assistant Coach:
2000-2001: Quad City Thunder (CBA)
2001-2004: Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury (WNBA)
2004-2007: Charlotte Bobcats (NBA)
2008-2011: Indiana Fever (WNBA)

(For the full resume - click here)

Gary looks like, if anything, quite a logical choice for the Tulsa Shock, who are looking to make an impression after two struggling seasons.

Yet, just hours after the announcement, I was surprised to see Gary feeling the wrath of WNBA fans. On the WNBA's facebook page, comments like, "who's this Gary dude?", "It's not fair to Edwards." (referring to interm head coach, Teresa Edwards) and "They need to let a woman coach a women's team."

Seriously? The guy hasn't even gotten to use his parking spot, and already there is the casting of doubt. First of all, if you want to know about someone, read up (I did), second, Edwards stated several times that she wasn't sure if the position was something she was interested in. Third, it's a tricky argument when you talk about gender and coaching, but all I will say is that Gary can't help that he's a guy, and that the Shock picked him. Gender and sports is a debate that is for a whole other blog post.

C'mon people, the guy hasn't even been given a chance to coach a game, make a trade, or do anything that coaches do. I recommend two things. One - do your homework - here's a few places to start:

USAbasket.com
Hoopedia.com
Fanbase.com
wnba.com

Check out a video when Gary was assistant coach during the Fever's 2009 trip to the finals:



Two - give the guy a fair shot. He's got the resume, and the experience. Not to mention the monumental task of reconstructing a team that has been de-constructed and is just now being rebuilt, and without center Liz Cambage for the first half of the season. That is quite a hefty undertaking if you ask me.

Let's see what he can do. Then if the Shock start losing, then rip into him. For now, at least just let the man get comfy at his desk, or as I would prefer, behind the whistle.

So, here we are yet again, the end of another year. Even though the WNBA season ended several months ago, the NCAA season has kicked off with a bang. Overall, 2011 was a great year for women’s hoops, for many reasons – let’s take a look at just a few things that stood out to me:

Fifteen – That’s right all you haters! The WNBA celebrated a milestone as it hit the fifteen year mark, and put all the “it will never last” arguments to rest. 2011 also saw two WNBA teams pull in a profit, and several come awful close – along with all those, “The NBA should fold the WNBA because of the lockout” arguments being shut down. At this point, it looks like we could expect fifteen more glorious years. Let’s hope for some expansion teams in the coming years, but for now, I’m quite happy with where the league is.





Lynx Capture the Crown – After many years of a talented (and some might say stacked) roster, struggling with injuries and not even making a playoff appearance, the Minnesota Lynx were on a roll in 2011 and literally steamrolled over most teams to breeze through the playoffs, and sweep the two-time Eastern conference champion Atlanta Dream to capture their first championship. The reason? There’s not just one – Rookie of the year (who will only get better) Maya Moore, a healthy and hungry Seimone Augustus, hometown hero Lindsay Whalen, Coach Cheryl “I learned a thing or two in Detroit” Reeve, board crasher Rebekkah Brunson, – and a bench deeper than the Grand Canyon – Wiggins, McWilliams-Franklin, Wright, Houston, Adair, Harris and Hornbuckle. If they keep their roster in tact and healthy, the future could be very bright in the Twin Cities.



Phoenix Over the Hump in Seattle - In 2011, Phoenix could not seem to get a break when playing Western conference rival the Seattle Storm. Dark cloud memories hung overhead ever since 2010, when Sue Bird delivered a dagger 3-point shot that eliminated the Mercury from the Western conference finals in 2010, but 2011 looked like the year Phoenix could get retribution. Unfortunately, the Mercury would only snag one win at home against the Storm, and Seattle remained undefeated (with regards to Phoenix) at Key Arena.

Enter Candice Dupree.

Game three of the Western conference playoffs was all tied up with mere seconds left to play. After a drive from Penny Taylor was slightly off, a scrum-like battle for the rebound somehow put the ball in Dupree’s hands. With the final shot, she put the Mercury up by two, and ended Seattle's chances at defending their 2010 title. It may not have delivered a championship to the Mercury this year, but it most definitely felt like payback.



Swoopes Back in Action - Still struggling Tulsa Shock attempted to add some talent and experience to the roster by adding rookie standout Liz Cambage and veteran WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes. After a two year hiatus, it was great to see Swoopes back in action, even if Tulsa struggled and were left in the dust, winding up at the bottom of the standings for the second year in a row. In all fairness, with the internal changeovers of players and coaches, one can see why Tulsa seemed to brave bad weather most of the season. Let’s hope 2012 brings them some well needed stability.

...and Swoopes can deliver more shots like this...



Change of the Guard - New WNBA president Laurel Richie, the first African American woman named president of a U.S. professional sports league took the helm after Donna Orender departed to start her own sports consulting firm. It was a welcomed and promising move by the WNBA to bring Richie on board after she spent a successful three years as chief marketing officer of the Girl Scouts of America. Let’s hope her goal is for another successful fifteen years of WNBA basketball.



A Legend Retires – On a personal note, assistant coach, Phoenix Mercury legend, and good friend Bridget Pettis retired from the WNBA after a lengthy career with on and off the court with the league. Her leadership, sense of humor, dance moves, and most importantly her spirit and love for the game will be surely missed.

All-Star Game, Texas Style! – San Antonio hosted the 2011 All-Star game that saw a “usual suspects” line up for the starters, but many rookie and first timers in the reserves. A fun game all around, and San Antonio provided a great venue for the event. It was also one for the books as the East finally took a victory from the West after the Western conference claimed seven All-Star wins in the past. No Fowles dunk at the end, but there was plenty of entertainment on the court.



Texas Style Intros - West



Texas Style Intros - East



Yes, there we so many more, (from Taurasi's overseas debacle & vindication to Catchings taking the 2011 MVP honors) but these were the ones that stand out in my mind. Feel free to comment and share your best WNBA memories of 2011!

So, WNBA fans, best wishes to you all in 2012!! The Los Angeles Sparks have the #1 pick, Minnesota Lynx have their first title to defend, and the USA Women’s basketball team is looking to keep their hands on the gold in London.

Looking forward to it!

So, being a WNBA fan, at one time or another, we've all probably had an argument with someone hating on the league we all know and love. After a recent article from a writer in Mulwaukee, Wisconsin, I decided to make an "interpretive" video of what it would (allegedly) be like to interview guys like him, and those who follow his train of thought. It's about time W fans got the last laugh.

Enjoy.

Attention WNBA fans!!!

So, not sure what to get for that special women's hoops fan in your life? Limited budget due to overzealous spending on Black Friday? Worried that the literature options for sports fans is just too limited?

Well, have I got a deal for you!!

From now until Dec 31st, my book, "13 Teams, One Man's Journey with the WNBA" is on sale for just $10.00!! (3.99 off the retail price!!)

But I already have a copy...

Not a problem, the book makes a great gift for just about anyone. Give it to relatives or friends so that they know why you are such a women's hoops fanatic! Bring it to the office Christmas party as a conversation starter. There's never a bad time to talk about the WNBA.

So, the book is on sale for 10 bucks. Is that all?

No, that's NOT all! (as said in most infomercials) For every TWO copies of the paperback you purchase, I'll send you a FREE, that's right Diana, a FREE copy of the Kindle version of my book!!


But I don't have a Kindle...

No Kindle? No problem! There is an app for reading a Kindle version for just about any device...iPhone, iPad, Android tablet, PC, Mac, Blackberry, Windows phone...if it has a screen, you can read a kindle version!! Plus, it's not DRM protected, so you can easily pass it along to your friends!

Ok, how does this work??

First, Click here to order the book from my createspace site. Enter discount code S8S4R5TY at checkout for 3.99 off. Then, email me (13teams1journey@gmail.com) with the electronic receipt of your purchase - feel free to delete personal/payment info, just make sure the quantity and order info is still there - and I'll send over your free Kindle version!!

Is it that easy?

Yes, it's that easy! What are you waiting for? Give the gift that will share the joy and wonder that is the WNBA!!

Hey All,
When I was at the WNBA All-Star game this past summer, I had a chance to sit down with Silver Stars #33, Sophia Young for a few questions. We had a chance to talk chicken outfits, being an on camera personality, and her thoughts on the new additions to the Silver Stars roster. Enjoy!

This interview is a series of three - next up, Silver Stars assistant coach, Vickie Johnson.

Yup, it's the playoffs. Tempers are flaring, play is getting intense, and fans are going crazy (myself included.) It is that time of the season; it happens.

Last night (Sept 19th, 2011) the Phoenix Mercury pulled out a huge win, coming back from an 18 point defect to top the Seattle Storm 77 - 75. It was a good game all around.

But something is troubling me as I read comments on Twitter and Facebook. Mainly about two things - Diana Taurasi and why the Storm lost.

Let's start with Diana. Oh, and I am going to put it on the table - yes I'm a fan of hers, and if that makes me biased, so be it.

One comment on Facebook went a little something like this -

"DT is just a no good white trash thug who thinks just because she played for UConn, her poo don't stink.....Bird has more class in her pinky finger than DT will ever have, as well as the rest of the Storm..hope SA or Minn sends DT home with a whoopin'! I am a SASS fan & hope they win, but if not,would much rather have Minn in the West to represent...any team but DT's....She is a disgrace to society with her roid rage behavior.....LOSER!"

Harsh.

"White trash thug" and "disgrace to society" are usually comments reserved for those who truly reflect qualities that are quite unbecoming - but I don't think they're justifiable in Diana's case.

Yes, she got called for the technical-and when ESPN has to blur your mouth because the F bomb(s)you're dropping is/are more than apparent, I'd say the technical was deserved. However, I don't think her outburst justifies such comments, especially those serving to reflect her overall as a person. Comments like these are usually filled by anger; people who make them would never give Diana a chance. Her behavior was poor, but is surely does not define her as a person.

The true ignorance in this comment was in the final part -

"...with her roid-rage behavior"

Oh, we're going there? Really?

Medically speaking, there is NO definitive or conclusive evidence that steroids cause aggressive behavior, only theories about isolated cases. As a matter of fact, most studies have shown that those who take anabolic steroids already had a disposition for aggressive behavior BEFORE they took them.

Oh, and the fact that Diana has NEVER BEEN ACCUSED OF TAKING STEROIDS!

This is a obvious dig at Taurasi for the doping allegations she was cleared of, and quite a while ago. Oh, and she was accused of taking a stimulant, not a steroid. Hey, while you're at it, why not add "her drunken " behavior to the "roid rage" comment? Yeah, dig up the DUI incident again - because it has about as much relevance as the "riod rage" comment does.

Bottom line, venting toward Diana really just shows how ignorant people can be. I don't support her behavior, but there is so much more about her that truly defines who she is. Put down the haterate and educate yourself before you comment. You might actually surprise yourself.

Now, on to the Seattle Storm.

Last nights game had sub-par officiating; yes, on both ends, there were questionable calls. Hey, it wouldn't be the WNBA without them, now would it? Even Rebeca Lobo commnented how there were far too many calls and that she was "...ready for some basketball." Excessive foul calls to suck the excitement out of a game. No doubt.

As I followed my time line on Twitter, tweet after tweet comments kept saying the same thing - how the Storm lost because of poor officiating.

I will not disagree that was a factor, but I wanted to point out a few other factors -

1. Seattle had home court. That advantage was huge.
2. Seattle had an 18 point lead at one point in the game.
3. Seattle was 11 of 20 from the stripe - missing out on 9 points.
4. Katie Smith (who's averaging 7.5 points per game this season) was 0 for 9.
5. The top scorer in the WNBA, Diana Taurasi fouled out and sat on the bench for the final 6 minutes.

I'd say those also came into play as to why the Storm could not nab the victory.

You can't blame just officiating. Oh, trust me, there are sometimes I would like to (and admittedly, have a few times this season.) It was a hard fought battle, and Seattle had several opportunities to run away with this game. It just didn't happen like that. Seattle did make it quite an exciting run, and I think everyone should respect that.

I can empathize though. I felt just as angry when Sue made that buzzer beater to defeat Phoenix in the Western Conf. finals last year. I was more angry about the fact that we left Sue Bird wide open at the arc - if you want to beat Seattle, you just don't do that. We did, and the rest was history.

Officials will be officials - arguing with them does little, and hating them does less. Yes, I will still be voicing my opinions about them at games in the form of several creative derogatory responses.

In the end though, it is teams that win - so may the best team do so.

Thank you.

It is a simple thing to say, but all too necessary. It was just two months ago that I released my book, “13 Teams: One Man’s Journey with the WNBA” and was not quite sure how it would be received.

However, before I get into that, there were several events that preceded; events I want to make everyone aware of.

Almost a year to the day of my journey in 2009, I was diagnosed with a ruptured disc in my spine, between my L4 and L5 (lower back, near the tailbone). Because of this, I had to have surgery, which for the next 8 months, put a halt on many things in my life - namely finishing my book.

Challenges would not stop there however. After my back had healed, I had to leave my job in public education, put my home up for sale (which it still is) and took a huge financial hit. At this time, this was not an uncommon story for most Americans, as the struggling economy has impacted us all in many ways. None of them good.

I was at a very low point in my life. When you experience having everything taken from you, it leaves little to believe in. Yet, I pressed on. My father always taught me that perseverance is the only thing that will lead you to success in life. Talent, skill, and intelligence are all worthless - unless you put forth the effort to use it. Plus, I made a commitment to share my story with the best sports fans ever. I could not let anyone down.

So, I continued on with my book. For six months (January till May) I wrote every day, 7 days a week, morning, noon and night. I was focused and determined on bringing the book out to the fans of the WNBA for the 15th anniversary of the league.

A few weeks later, after much editing and several proofs ordered, the book was complete. I’ll never forget what it felt like – emotionally yes – but I’m speaking about what the actual physical book felt like when I held it in my hand for the first time. This was my gold medal, my championship trophy.

The only thing left at this point was to share it with you, the fans. Once I did, Facebook messages, tweets and emails poured in from around the country and around the world, all positive, uplifting and bringing me much happiness. You – the fans of this league we have all loved for the past 15 years – you are the ones who have allowed me to see the good in so many. You have exemplified how the word support should be defined, and have shown everyone who follows in your social media circles what being part of a family of fans truly means.

I know that I will always be able to count on you – the fans. I am so glad to be a part of this family, this movement, this group that is the reason why my journey was one of the most memorable parts of my life. With numerous words and thoughts flying through my head to express my gratitude, only two seem fitting. So, from the caverns at the bottom of my heart, to the top of Diana Taurasi’s bun...

Thank you.

(…You didn’t think I’d make a post without mentioning my girl, did you? *smile*)

First of all, thanks to all those who overseas who ordered the book and waited between 4 - 6 weeks to get it. I appreciate your patience.

The book is now available in paperback from Amazon.com partners in the UK and in Germany.

Dispatching from the UK from £8.48 + £2.80 delivery: Click here.

Dispatching from Germany from EUR 18.88 + EUR 3.00 shipping. Click here.

Thanks for all of your support!!!!

I'll be posting a blog soon, but until then, enjoy the highlights. My fave? Angel McCoughtry's alley-oop to herself. Simply awesome. Hope you all enjoyed the game!

Hey Y'all! So, I'm here at Sky Harbor Airport waiting for my plane to leave. Headed to the 2011 WNBA All Star game, and it should be a good one. Luckily, it looks like my plane is going to put me in San Antonio just in time to make it to the open practice. (I hope so, at least) Check out a vlog of my All Star preview I did yesterday. Go West!