Candace Parker did it seven times. West Virginia’s Georgeann Wells was the first. Now another joins the pantheon.  Tuesday night, Baylor’s Brittney Griner became only the seventh woman in the history of college basketball to dunk. Video, if you haven’t noticed, is above.

Griner is a star 6-foot-8 freshman center at Baylor, averaging 15.0 points per game, a team high for the No. 8-ranked Bears. Dunking is nothing new for Griner, who threw down 52 times in high school, making her possibly the most entertaining female high school basketball player ever.

Yahoo! Sports blog Ball Don’t Lie even debated whether or not she could play in the NBA. Regardless, with four years of college eligibility ahead of her, there’s plenty more where this came from… Read full article

C. 27  11/25/09

Yesterday, on Tuesday, November 24th, a great Jewish figure in Washington, D.C.’s recent history, passed away. Abe Pollin, who was 85 years old, was best known for bringing professional basketball and hockey to D.C. Pollin was the owner of the Washington Wizards (formerly the Bullets), the Mystics, and the Capitals.

Washington’s professional basketball and hockey teams used to play in Landover, MD at the USAir Arena, formerly the Capital Centre. Pollin was responsible for the building of the Verizon Center, formerly the MCI Center (the new home to these teams) in 1997 and the transformation of Chinatown and its surrounding neighborhoods. According to Wikipedia, “the Arena is not only a popular venue for sports and concerts, but helped to turned “Gallery Place/Chinatown” neighborhood into one of the prime sites for commercial development in Washington.”

In addition to Pollin’s involvement in DC’s sports, he also had a history of involvement in the real estate market, building his first major project, The Robert Towers near the Pentagon and named for his first son. His final project, “a 500-unit luxury [apartment] complex in Chevy Chase, was the Irene, named for his wife” (Express).

Abe Pollin will be greatly missed by his family and the Washington Jewish and sports communities. May he rest in peace.

A few years ago I recall  there was a WNBA game at Madison Square Garden during which lesbians staged a “kiss in” for whatever reason they thought they had to. My guess is  the motivation was pure attention seeking and  a need to be seen but who knows. I remember feeling very strongly  that not only was it inappropriate because most obviously  people brought their children to the games, but also because we as adults should have the right to enjoy ourselves on our free time  without having some sexual political agenda being forced down our throats while we are there. If I want to support gay rights I will go to a meeting where it is presented  not to Disney World ,professional sporting events or anything else that falls under the umbrella of leisurely activity for me and my family. The awful behavior by  Adam Lambert,some American Idol singer on ABC’s AMA award show last night, struck me in exactly the same way. It was grossly  self indulgent and highly inappropriate . Those of us with cynical minds may sneer and say  thats what made it great , that it said screw all convention and was a charged performance. (I  have mistakenly always assumed performances required talent.)Once again I will answer .. Why should my leisure family time be infested with  some person’s  obssesive need to be seen in a vulgar way or by some hidden agenda by a pseudo political group? Why are the needs of some perverted ,greedy individual or  the agenda of a  gay rights group  and the money it can possibly generate more important than the rights of our children and the decency  and respect we as adults should be offered on our free time?  Adults have the right to choose if they want to be involved in  some political cause or go to  a racy sex show . That is what makes our country great. However ,it becomes distinctly  wrong when an adults  choose to do something like go to  a sporting event and it is shoved down their throats. Or possibly their 10 year old daughter has a passion for music and  a parent chooses to put on the AMA awards ( network tv: ABC)  so she can see professionals perform and is  victimized by the  egocentric ,money motivated, self indulgent antics of some  gay singer. Will this all end when we finally have  achieved full dissolution of the family in this country? Furthermore if you are someone who still believes in family and has certain values where do you turn?? I can tell you this with certainty…What we are allowing and choosing as a society is tremedously compromising to the fabric and integrity of the family in America. Our children are learning that that the expression of an individual  even if it is sexual ,violent and evil  and the need to make money are more important than their own self worth.

When you’ll do just about anything to catch the game, any way, any how…

…yeah, it’s love.

Ao que parece, as Sacramento Monarchs chegaram aos seus últimos dias, e já nem irão competir na próxima temporada. Segundo consta, os proprietários da equipa, os irmãos Maloof, preferem apostar somente na equipa masculina de Sac-Town: os Sacramento Kings.

Ticha Penicheiro poderá continuar a formar equipa com as suas colegas, mas noutra cidade que não Sacramento. A base da Figueira da Foz também poderá dar outro rumo à sua carreira, procurando uma nova equipa para jogar.

Sac Bee has just reported the possible demise of the Sacramento Monarchs, WNBA pioneers. Apparently this is another example of when the tough get going, the women get gone. Maloof Sports has decided to concentrate it’s energies on the Kings, the men’s basketball team.

I understand there are economics involved and attendance and all that. However, I think this reiterates how choices tend to be made when profit is the first motive, especially in hard times. The Monarchs deserve a new owner, if one can be found, that sees women’s basketball as the first priority.

Sacramento’s Maloof brothers — among the biggest backers of the WNBA since its inception — cited growing financial issues with the Kings for folding the Monarchs. The league quickly began speaking to interested parties in Oakland for possibly relocating the franchise.

Armintie’s Wedding Photo Gallery

Hey Dream fans!

 It’s been a busy offseason for me.  As some of you might know, I got married last month.  Well the wedding was great!  I didn’t think the rain was going to hold up but it did.  About 500 people showed up and everything was perfect.  We had the reception in a tent outside and it was beautiful. 

 After the wedding, we headed to the West Indies island of St. Maarten for our honeymoon.  It was wonderful!  Then I was back to work at Ole Miss, moving into my office.  If you don’t know already, this is my first season as an assistant coach on the staff.  I have been working out with the girls every day and I lift weights with them as well.  Recently I scouted my first exhibition game and we won!  So I was excited about that.  I was very nervous but I think I am getting the hang of things.

We had our first game on Friday and we won, so the season is off to a good start.  I am looking forward to meeting with the “Shot Doctor,” as they call him, next month to get my shooting skills where they need to be.

I am still waiting for our professional pictures from the wedding, but I’m sharing some that my sister took with her camera. 

Enjoy!

The podcast is up and here’s some of what you’ll hear:

Reflections: Shootaround Live at last year’s Final Four. Plans are in the works for San Antonio.

Season-Long Contest: Who is the Greatest Female Athlete (any sport) of All Time Bracket?

Announcing our first award: The Shootaround Shooter of the Year. Who’s the best shooter in the country? No bricks allowed!

The Starting Five – Beth tosses 5 questions at Debbie

1. Can UConn Repeat? Undefeated?
2. Are you buying the “comebacks” of the PAC-10 and Big Ten Conferences?
3. What are some of the biggest question marks as you look at teams?
4. What?!? We agree on our pre-season All-American team?

1 Maya Moore, UConn
2 Monica Wright, Virginia
3 Tina Charles, UConn
4 Jayne Appel. Stanford
5 Danielle McCray, Kansas

5. Can we talk through our Top 10?

1 UConn
2 Stanford
3 Ohio State
4 North Carolina
5 Notre Dame
6 Baylor
7 Xavier
8 Duke
9 LSU
10 Tennessee

Mountain West Preview
Most on the Coast
Mountain Peaks
All-MWC Team

Big 10 Preview
Buckeyes Back for More
Sparty Steps Up
All-Big Ten Team

SEC Preview
A Rocky Top Resurrection?
Mississippi March Madness
All-SEC Team

PAC 10
Cab Stanford Win it All?
Cal’s Baby Bears
All Pac-10 Team

Atlantic 10
“X” Factors
Charlotte Ready to Go
All-A10 Team

ACC
The Wright Stuff
Tobacco Road Two-some
All-ACC Team

Big East
Can the Huskies go Back-2-Back?
Irish Eyes are Smiling
All-Big East  Team

Big 12 Preview
Big Buzz at Baylor
Jayhawks Walk the Walk
All-Big 12 Team

What’s Written on our Cocktail Napkin?

1. 4Kay Golf Tournament – $175,000 Raised – and February Frenzy
2. WBCA National Defensive Player of the Year ongoing updates
3. Shootaround “Shooter of the Year Award” – Listeners send in your candidates!
4. Wade Trophy Award Discussion – Shouldn’t former winners vote?
5. Special Guest Alert: Archie Griffin will be visiting
6. Greatest Female Athlete Competition with a Panel of Experts
7. With a great WNBA season/Finals, Debbie asks, “Why don’t more teams play like Phoenix?”

Check out the podcast.

Comments? Questions? Send them in! shootaround@wbca.org

In collaboration with FANM AYISYEN NAN MIYAMI, Inc., Marie Ferdinand Harris of WNBA fame will be visiting several schools in Miami this mid -November. The shining star will be motivating the students of Toussaint Louverture Elementary(120 NE 59th St, Miami, FL, 33158) Nov 16th at 9:00 AM.On the 18th the basketball star will also visit Edison Sr. High, her Alma Mater (6161 NW 5th Court , Miami, Fl. 33127) at 9:00 AM and in the afternoon 3:00 PM will visit the kids of the afterschool program at FANM AYISYEN NAN MIYAMI (181 N.E 82nd St, Miami, Fl. 33138)and receiving a proclamation from North Miami Mayor Andre Pierre on the occasion . Her message is one of High Achievement , Success and Hope for the future for all inner city students.

Marie Ferdinand-Harris was signed by the Los Angeles Sparks as a free agent in early2008. Marie is a versatile shooting guard who can slash to the basket and break down any opponent. Ferdinand-Harris averaged 8.2 points and 1.5 assists during the 2008 season, with a season-best 19 points against the Connecticut Sun.

Before joining the Sparks, Ferdinand-Harris was a 3-time WNBA All-Star with the San Antonio Silver Stars (formerly the Utah Starzz) and still holds the Silver Stars record for career steals with 246.

Selected as the 8th pick of the 2001 WNBA Draft, Ferdinand-Harris was a superstar at Louisiana State. She was a 2001 Kodak All-American, an Associated Press Second Team All American and a First Team All-SEC selection.

She’s on of only three LSU players to record at least 1,500 points, 500 rebounds,300 assists and 200 steals in her career. In 2007, her college success was awarded as she was honored as one of the Southeastern Conference “Greats,” and inducted into the LSU Sports Hall of Fame.

For more information please contact FANM at 305-756-8050 x 107.

Hard to believe, but college basketball is about to tip off again. Both the Nittany and Lady Lions open their seasons Friday, and both received good news this week about the future of their programs.

On Wednesday, the first day of the national early signing period for high school basketball players, Penn State recruits were able to make their verbal promises official. The Nittany Lions got their guy when Taran Buie (right), younger brother of current Penn State guard Talor Battle, signed his letter of intent; he’s arguably the most highly touted recruit in Nittany Lion history. I’ve had a chance to see him play the past couple of summers in Akron, Ohio at the LeBron James Skills Academy, an all-star camp for some of the nation’s best prep players. Buie, a 6-2 guard, recently relocated with his family to Centre County, and I imagine I won’t be the only one showing up at State High games this winter specifically to see him play.

The Lady Lions’ strong recruiting class is led by Maggie Lucas, a 5-8 guard from Narbeth, Pa., ranked as the 14th best senior in the nation by one prominent recruiting service. And, in a rare crossover of my old and new jobs that I’m happy to share here, a Lady Lion legend is getting some ink this week, too.

Before coming back to Penn State, I spent a little more than seven years at Slam, the basketball magazine. Though I had nothing to do with it, there’s a very cool Q&A on the Slam site this week with Kelly Mazzante ’04, who’s fresh off helping the Phoenix Mercury to their second WNBA title in the past three years. The interviewer describes Mazzante as “one of the most underrated players in the WNBA,” as well as “one of the nicest, funniest, and most supportive” — a description that should sound just right to longtime Lady Lion fans.

Ryan Jones, senior editor

Kathy Betty, a prominent Atlanta businesswoman and sports advocate, will become the new managing partner of the Atlanta Dream pending WNBA Board of Governors approval, league President Donna Orender announced today. The team will be owned by Dream Too, LLC, an investment group led by Betty.

“I am confident Kathy’s passion for the game and the Atlanta community, as well as her vision for the Dream, will ensure that the team continues to build on its strong start,” said Orender. “Atlanta has been a great market, and Lisa Borders has been a constant ambassador. We look forward to building upon the success the team enjoyed both on and off the court this past season. At the same time, on behalf of the league, I want to extend our thanks to Ron Terwilliger for helping bring the WNBA to Atlanta in 2007.”

In addition to serving as the CEO of the Garry Betty Foundation, established by her late husband Garry Betty, former Earthlink CEO, to fund cancer research, Betty is a former partner with Ernst & Young and previously served as the Executive Vice President of Scott Madden, Inc., an Atlanta-based management consulting firm. Betty has compiled a lengthy track record of business success and community involvement. She also is a major contributor to Georgia Tech’s men’s and women’s basketball programs.

“The opportunity to own the Dream, which is all about providing accessible and affordable world-class entertainment for the families of Atlanta, is what excites me,” said Betty. “In addition, the fact that these women serve as role models for youth, and especially young girls, is something I feel strongly about.

“I want to personally thank Lisa Borders for her diligent work in saving the Dream. The Dream belongs in Atlanta. Lisa understands that and so do I. In the midst of a tough political campaign, she carved out time to bring sponsorships to the table and find investors who will make the Dream a continued reality for the staff, players and, of course, our fans.”

In 2009, the Dream recorded the second-largest one-year turnaround in WNBA history, finishing with an 18-16 record after going 4-30 in its inaugural campaign in 2008 to earn the second seed in the Eastern Conference and their first-ever WNBA Playoff berth. Forward Angel McCoughtry, the top pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft quickly emerged as a star and earned adidas Rookie of the Year honors, while Marynell Meadors was named WNBA Coach of the Year this past season.

So, the Sky will have the #5 pick in the 2010 draft. We didn’t really move up or down, although, statistically the odds of us getting the #4 or the #5 were the same (…I think ). Personally, I’m happy with #5. The best draft pick in the history of the Sky came at #6 (Candice Dupree), so we can definitely do big things with this pick. Either way, this definitely makes the college season more interesting for me because I really have no idea about the top prospects outside of Tina Charles, Jayne Appel and possibly Epiphany Prince. Now I gotta keep an eye out for young collegiate ballers that would look good in sky blue and yellow…

*FYI* – The Sky will also have the 18th pick in the second round and the 31st pick in the 3rd round in the 2010 draft.

Anyway, congrats to Minny on landing the #1 pick (and #4). But seriously, this draft stuff really is getting kinda ridiculous with the Lynx though. I mean, how many young studs can one team conceivably have? They already have Augustus, Wiggins, Houston, Anosike and Montgomery. Not to mention McCants, Humphrey and Hollingworth. All have 3 years or less of pro experience. That’s insane…

Sacramento got the #2.

Connecticut moved up a couple spots to #3.

I feel really, really bad for Liberty fans. Things definitely did not work out very well for them at all.

*Last thought* – THE EAST IS WEAK! With the defection of the Shock to the west, the east is looking borderline pathetic. Now, even the top picks will be going west next year! I really, really hope that this chatter about Minnesota possibly moving to the east is based in some kind of reality…

(FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED/CNN)

There is no easy way to get to Ashland, Kans. It’s a little town of some 800 people, about an hour’s drive southeast of Dodge City. And, really, there’s no easy way to get to Dodge City either.

So, yes, it’s easy to feel lost in small towns like Ashland. When Joe LaBelle, a dishwasher at Ashland Health Center, recently lost his grandmother to cancer, he wanted to do something to give women in the area access to cancer-screening services. (The closest digital mammogram machine is 2½ hours away.)

His idea was to raise money by staging a girls’ high school basketball game. Ashland Health Center CEO Benjamin Anderson loved the idea, but he soon realized that the Kansas High School Association’s rules for such events are hopelessly stifling.

So, against all odds, Anderson tried to go bigger. He contacted the father of Jackie Stiles, the NCAA’s alltime leading scorer who’s from the small Kansas town of Claflin. She agreed to take part, and the day of the game she flew in on a four-seat plane that bounced around in the famous Kansas wind. When Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper heard about the game, she offered to coach a team. Ruth Riley of the San Antonio Silver Stars made her way to Ashland as well, and Shalee Lehning of the Atlanta Dream showed up even though she had a separated shoulder and couldn’t play. (Both coached.)

More people kept showing up to help. Former college and high school stars volunteered to play. Cheerleaders from Kansas made the six-hour drive. The Kansas State cheerleaders and pep band came. Pink and white uniforms were donated. Members of Sing for Hope arrived to perform God Bless America. The game got so big that it was broadcast by Fox Sports Net Midwest. “It has been a shocker,” Anderson said. “One long shocker. We don’t have a hotel in town. All these people are staying at our houses.”

The game was played last Friday night before a sellout crowd of 1,000 at the Ashland High gym—with an overflow crowd watching on a big screen at the high school stadium. Anderson’s original goal was to raise $100,000. (Donations are still being accepted at wepacthehouse.org.) Now, though, he wants to spark big ideas about health care in small towns all over the country. “We hope people will see what we’re doing and copy it,” he said. “It’s so important for the caregivers in our communities to take care of themselves. And the game is so powerful.”

——————————————————————————-

KANSANS LOVE OUR BASKETBALL, AND OUR GRANDMAS.  Let’s all pray for affordable, accesible healthcare for all. Your Gramndma’s life may depend on it. ~sekanblogger

October has ended.  Now it’s time to get gorge on the leftover candy we purposely bought too much of and vote for Tulsan of the Month.  It’s a choice among the TU Mascot, Occasionally Funny Blogger, Troubled Coach or the WNBA Team.

A month full of sports winners … and then there’s me.  What’s wrong with you people?

Vote after the jump. Voting has ended.  Click here for the winner.

1.  Captain Cane, TU Mascot

For TU’s Jay Leno-inspired remodeled mascot.

2. Irritated Tulsan, Occasionally Funny Blogger

Seriously, someone nomitated me.

3. Allan Trimble, Troubled Coach

For getting caught doing what so many other high school coaches already do.

4.  Tulsa Shock, Tulsa’s WNBA Team

For ditching Detroit to move to Tulsa.

NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2009 – Phoenix Mercury guard/forward Diana Taurasi has been named the 2009 WNBA Most Valuable Player presented by Kia Motors, the league announced today. Taurasi received 323 total points and 27 first place votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, earning her first career MVP award. Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings ranked second with 163 points (three first place votes) while her teammate Katie Douglas finished third with 128 points (five). Taurasi’s teammate, Cappie Pondexter, finished fourth with 99 points (one).

Rounding out the top eight vote getters were San Antonio Silver Stars guard Becky Hammon with 77 points (three), Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson with 73 points, Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker with 39 points and Detroit Shock guard Deanna Nolan with 27 points. In all, five different players received first place votes this year. Jackson is a two-time WNBA MVP (2003, 2007) and Parker won the award last year as a rookie (2008).

Alonso Arts

Taurasi caps a season in which she led the WNBA with 20.4 points per game and captured her third-career Peak Performer Award for scoring (2006, 2008, 2009). She shot a career-best 46.1 percent from the field and tallied 20 or more points in 20 games this season, including a season-high 34 at New York on July 26. She boosted her league-record for 30 point games to 23 with two 30-point performances. On Sept. 5, Taurasi became the fastest player to 4,000 career points doing so in 197 games to break Lauren Jackson’s record (209). She led the league in three pointers made with 79 and ranked seventh in the league in three-point shooting percentage (40.7). Taurasi ranks 13th in league history for points scored (4,029) and third in all-time points per game (20.3).

In 2009, Taurasi ranked among the WNBA’s top ten leaders in nearly every category, including points per game (first), three point field goals made (first), three-point field goals attempted (fourth), three-point field goal percentage (seventh), free throws made (third), free throws attempted (fifth), free throw percentage (sixth), field goals made (fifth), field goals attempted (10th), blocks per game (eighth) and defensive rebounds per game (sixth).

Taurasi was also named an All-Star, her fourth such appearance, and earned the Player of the Week Award on one occasion (Aug. 17). Her efforts helped propel the Mercury to the best record in the WNBA at 23-11, which also tied a franchise record, and the top overall seed in the 2009 WNBA Playoffs.

If I said these things, I’d be a liar:

1. It hurts when I eat. So I don’t.

2. My inability to cook brings all the boys to the yard. And they’re like, it’s better than yours. I can teach you, but i’d have to charge.

3. My cat and I; we have the best conversations.

4. After 7 years and you  still don’t know what you want?  That’s totally cool. Take your time. I’ll just be waiting here listening to my ovaries cry.

5. Vegans are good people.

6. My skinny jeans just aren’t skinny enough.

7. I wish everyone would stop being so jealous of my tan.

8. Thank you Mr. David Sedaris. It is a pleasure to be your favorite writer.

9. No, my co-worker’s breath does NOT smell like regurgitated Easy Mac.

10. I love duck hunting. There is nothing better.

11. Your dreadlocks smell delicious Mr. white hippie man.

12. Why yes, I would love to sit here and listen as you explain to me why the WNBA sucks and why women just shouldn’t play sports or show their faces in public.

13. NO, I have never told a woman that she has a face like she was born in a bar.

MIDWEST SIDE! Can’t get enough of this gangsta sh$#.

Following the  Tucker Center lecture and new blog about the impact of social media and women’s sport, it didn’t take too long for me to be in the middle of a real life example. Life works in ironic ways sometimes, doesn’t it? This example is meant to continue the conversation about this emerging and important topic.

On Tuesday I was at my computer and looked over the TweetDeck and saw that WNBA player Janel McCarville was live on her UStream channel JMACTV. I’d heard about Candace Parker using UStream but hadn’t checked it out yet, so clicked on the link and….ta dah!…there was Janel. As a Minnesotan, two-time Gopher Alum and now Gopher faculty, huge fan of women’s basketball, and advocate/scholar of women’s sport, I’ve been a long time fan of Janel McCarville (no hate Janel, only love!). Who can forget the Whalen/McCarville dynasty in The Barn!

I thought, “This is really cool… instant access to an elite female athlete“, as I watched her looking at and responding to the comments and questions from the 60+ fans watching her. I shouted through my office door to my two graduate students to “check this out”. Then I took a harder look and wrinkled my brow, “Is she in the bathroom?” I asked them, “and is she really cutting her own hair?” (see screen shot)  Somehow I was a bit disturbed by this. I immediately wasn’t so sure this was cool anymore—or good for women’s sports. So given this subject has been top of mind, I tweeted about it—twice (see screen shot below).

I continued to watch for about 10mns, and then shut down for the day. I continued to think about it over the next day or so.  In the course of “doing my warm up activities” for the day (aka surfing), I looked at my @ replies on Twitter and saw that my tweets had incited quite a bit of outrage, and a direct response from Janel herself! (see screen shot right, it will enlarge if you click on it). The tone of the responses was “lighten up, this is just silly and fun and everyone but YOU thinks this is great”. Fair enough. I responded to Janel via Twitter:  “@JanelMcCarville No anger, just continuing conversation re: women’s sport & social media, both pro/con. See http://bit.ly/352s8T“. But I felt badly for criticizing her and it bothered me.

I learned a few valuable lessons which may be instructive as we all move forward and think about how to use social media effectively to positively promote women’s sports.

First, if social media is truly a two-way conversation, then I should of phrased my tweet “What is your opinion about @JanelMcCarville’s UStream videocast?”

Second, attacking people on Twitter is just in poor taste and not classy. My apologies Janel. This has played out for KC Chiefs NFL player Larry Johnson this week, as he is paying the price literally and in the media and  for using a homophobic slur. It will continue to occur with increased frequency as social media becomes part of the way we communicate.

Third, shortly thereafter I read a great piece by Q McCall of www.swishappeal.com on Feministing.com titled,  Is there a “feminist responsibility” to support women’s sports? It put into context some of the guilt I felt. Why was I attacking a female athlete?  I’m supposed to support women’s sport. But on the other hand, as a feminist, scholar, and advocate of women’s sport  I often feel I have the responsibility to wave the red flag and point out when I see something that may not be a “good thing”.  Perhaps my role is to raise the issue, provide an alternative viewpoint, and promote respectful discussion.

It also got me thinking about where female athletes and women’s sport might be headed in terms of social media. If everyone  “loves it” (all 66 viewers)—is this our new model of promoting women’s sport? Is that what fans really want to see? Is this how fans want to interact with athletes? Where is the line between “good access” and access that, to borrow from C + C Music Factory,  “Makes You go Hmmmm”? As was pointed out to me,  Ron Artest of the LA Lakers, got his hair cut that same day…which garnered media attention. But if the men do it, should the women follow? Should we always be trying to emulate our male counterparts? (I’m not suggesting that is why Janel chose to UStream, she’d have to tell us the inspiration). Is it possible male athletes use social media differently because of disparate patterns of traditional media coverage? What are the similar and different ways elite male and female athletes use social media? How can female athletes take control and use social media in positive ways to combat sexism, inequalities, and disparities that are well documented in sport contexts? Is this a responsibility they should bear? In conclusion, I highlight Janel not to criticize or judge, but to provide an exemplar real-life issue to promote discussion about social media and women’s sports.

I don’t have the answer, only a lot of questions. What do you think?

The WNBA’s most improved team isn’t going anywhere with Thursday’s announcement that Kathy Betty will become managing partner of the Atlanta Dream.

She takes over from Ron Terwilliger, who had put his majority investment stake up for sale, spurring concern that the team might bolt after only two seasons, and after reaching the WNBA playoffs.

Betty is the widow of former Earthlink CEO Gary Betty and has been involved in Georgia Tech basketball and the V Foundation.

More on Betty’s involvement against the usual sociofeminist backdrop here; and doubts about the viability of the Atlanta market here.

Once again, as Bill Cosby is wont to say, I told you that story to tell you this one.

I made mention of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and how it might apply to the WNBA. The previous article planted the seed. This is the resulting fruit.

As the original Hierarchy is linked above, I am going to re-interpret the progression in WNBA terms. The terms move from lowest (most critical for survival) to highest (WNBA nirvana).

1. Physiological Needs: Cash (in all its forms), players, teams, owners, venues, referees, officials, league management. Remove these, and the league ultimately fails.
2. Security Needs: This can be summed up as WNBA teams having high confidence that if a game is scheduled on a certain day and time at a certain place, the game will in fact be played.
3. Needs of Love, Affection and Belongingness: Fans. Also the “affection and belongingness” can come from within at the team level, as the players gel and develop team chemistry. This is also the level where fans may identify with the team and/or fan club as “family”.

   I suppose it can be argued that if the fans don’t show up, we’re back down a rung to Security Needs, as one wonders if not enough fans will come out, how soon until it’s down to the first rung (and out)? (See Shock, Detroit, 2009.)

4. Needs for Esteem: Respect. I’m prepared to argue that this is right about where the 2009 WNBA is hovering. Having risen to the third rung, the WNBA as a league, and by extension its supporters, are now looking for respect. Respect from the sports media, respect from other sports leagues, respect from men, respect from the “haters”.

   I don’t know that the WNBA as a league, or its players feel “weak and helpless” because Bill Simmons won’t post Twitter updates about them, but empathetically I would imagine that no WNBA player wants to hear that the championship trophy she fought all season for “doesn’t count”. The WNBA isn’t the only place where “unimportant” champions are crowned; one need only look to Women’s Tennis, any Olympic medal earned by women, the LPGA, NCAAW, the FIFA Women’s World Cup. To name a few.

5. Needs for Self-Actualization: “Maslow describes self-actualization as a person’s need to be and do that which the person was ‘born to do.’”

   What does a self-actualized WNBA look like?

   Well, I don’t know.

What is the WNBA “born to do”?

Provide the highest caliber of professional women’s basketball? I’d say “check.”

Provide a viable career option for collegiate athletes? I’m going with “check” here too, although “Europe” is arguably more lucrative and one need not play in the WNBA to play overseas.

Provide role models, support, inspiration, and encouragement to young women? I’m going with “check” here as well.

With all of these affirmations, it would seem that the WNBA somehow skipped the “respect” rung and went right up to self-actualization. Not quite. This just demonstrates my ignorance of what a fully self-actualized WNBA looks like.

Oh, I have it!

“A league that is a partner with, but completely financially and organizationally independent of the NBA.”

Right?

If that’s the goal, chart the course.

Thanks to the magic of my Regular Reading Rotation (RRR), I got tipped off to an article by Ben York called “The WNBA Doesn’t Need Fixing“. Excerpt:

I’ve now come to the unfortunate realization that there is a consistent and conscious effort by some individuals to bring “down” the WNBA whenever there is any remote sign of positive momentum or success. For some reason, in spite of an undeniably progressive season, there are those that still choose (don’t kid yourself, it is a choice) to focus on how far behind the WNBA is in related to other professional leagues rather than highlight any inkling of advancement.

I have been bouncing this article (and related tangents) around in my head all day, and will do my best to remain focused and direct.

First, my ego wants me to reprint this, from here:

There has been talk about the WNBA changing the rules/basket height/whatever else to make the league more fan-friendly. Nyet! Winning is fan-friendly. Actually being fan-friendly helps too.

And this, from here:

There are women who have proven that they can dunk, but I will dare say that they don’t seem to have that shot called up as a “go-to” play. Not dunking by choice versus not being physically able to dunk under the current court configuration is a distinction that disinclines me to alter the rule book. I’d like to hear more about the reasons for not dunking from the players, not the armchair critics (like me).

Ego: Stroked.

Next, the article that I linked to at the top is a retort to another article, that claims in part that a “fix” for the WNBA is to ignore men altogether and focus on female, gays (sic) and lesbians. Because, uh, gays aren’t men. Apparently.

The retort sayeth:

If fact, here’s a shocker for you — the WNBA doesn’t need male fans to survive! Rather, it simply needs true basketball fans. I’m not sure where the belief came from that the WNBA is so desperate and starving over attaining traditional male followers, but it’s simply not true. They’ve never had a marketing strategy that is focused on that. It’s always been focused on the quality of play, the competition being ferocious, and that these ladies are damn good.

I once pissed my Dad off by quoting some some lyrics of mine that state, in part, “believe in me/’cause without belief/even God/ain’t worth nothing.” He turned red and growled, “God doesn’t need your belief to exist.”

Not to equate the WNBA with dieties, but what my Dad missed was the nuance: If people lose all hope in everything, real or imagined, then what is it worth to them? Nothing.

Now: I say all of this because the WNBA may not need male fans to exist so long as it needs any fans. And those fans need to show their support with cash, pure and simple. I could talk circles about being “so happy” for Tulsa and the WNBA, but if I don’t actually infuse any of my cash into the league, the talk, while well-intentioned, ain’t worth nothing.

Next, while you were waiting for the NBA regular season to begin, NBA TV showed some FIBA games this weekend, that I happened to catch. What is often lost in translation in the US sports market is that the WNBA by and large conforms to FIBA rules, with the notable exception that the “paint” is rectangular rather than trapezoidal.

Now here’s what you missed by not watching FIBA games this past weekend: Men play it almost identically to the WNBA. Yes, they dunk. But unlike the NBA the FIBA players I saw were more into designed plays like the alley-oop, which YES, I wish a WNBA team would execute. Like Phoenix. C’mon, Taurasi to [whoever] on the alley-oop jam? You’d watch that.

I disagree with Ben York’s irrational exuberance about the WNBA’s marketing efforts, but I’ll let that pass for now.

Finally, the punchline.

This is an undeveloped thought, but as I was typing this, I had a flash about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. As it applies to regular folk, Maslow postulates that certain conditions must be met before the pyramid can reach its apex: Self-actualization.

The WNBA cannot self-actualize until its basic needs are met as well. (And ohhhh baby, is that going to be a future article, like, soon.)

One of the big ones is “financial support”.

While the WNBA may need to find its voice even if only in purely marketing terms, we, the fans, help provide it.

Will that voice be spent in the pursuit of rebutting every last critical or apathetic voice?

Or will that voice encourage, inspire, and invite a new generation of WNBA supporters?

Choose.