All right, I'll admit it:
I didn't watch the WNBA until Candace Parker cracked the league earlier this year. Not only did I not watch it, I didn't even follow it.
Heck, I can't believe it's been around for a decade already. Eh, I guess most people can say the same about Major League Soccer, too. I digress.
After taking in my first WNBA game on Tuesday -- a Los Angeles Sparks win over the Chicago Sky at the Pavilion -- I have a newfound appreciation for the league, the game and even for Parker.
I mean, don't get me wrong. I've always thought Parker had game. What I didn't realize is that the WNBA has game, too.
What a treat it was too watch Lisa Leslie play basketball. I mean it. She's unbelievable. She's silky -- the way she moves. If Parker adds one thing to her game from Leslie's, it should be the way she moves her arms while defending.
Don't know what I mean? Watch the Sparks once. Better said, watch the Sparks once and focus only on Leslie and her arms on defense. Slick, smooth, fast. She mirrors the opponent with her body, too, and it's tight, tight defense.
Having seen and covered Parker play live a gazillion times since high school, it was also a treat to see her play live as a pro. Boy, does she fit in, but everybody knew that she would. Back to the league.
It's still much better live -- like the NHL. Neither excites me on television, not that I've given either a fair chance. Nonetheless, the WNBA (and the NHL for that matter) may be the only two sports better viewed in person than on television.
Try the WNBA -- at least once.
Brad,
We've known about this little secret for years. And it's not just Lisa Leslie. Go watch Lauren Jackson of Seattle at 6'4" knocking down 3's and then defending the post. Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter light up teams for 20+ apiece for Phoenix.
It's a great game. We love it!
There are some veteran fans around for the game played (mostly) below the rim. This former Chicago Hustle season ticket holder is glad to welcome you to the club, Brad.
It was for all of us, the first chance to see the Sky with a full (cough cough) house (if you don't count sec. 103.) I think management has some adjustments to make.
1) With 6,000 in the house, please turn down the music volume, and consider launching the drummers. It makes the Pavilion's already harsh sound quality almost unbearable. It was too loud for my 12-yr-old last night-- didn't know that was possible.
2) Tell the kids to stop throwing tchotchkies in the crowd in the last two minutes of a tight game, and holding up signs telling me to make some noise. This isn't the Kane County Cougars-- the game's result actually matters. In crunch time, shut down the carnival.
3) The location of the no-shows suggests the middle tier of ticket prices-- the $46 & $87 seats-- are too high. The $23 balcony seats sold great.
4) This year's SkyGuy is a big improvement. Frequently hilarious, very acrobatic.
5) This year's coach is not. Someone tell Steven Key that when down two with 32 seconds left in a league with a 24-second clock, and timeouts remaining, you don't foul. Particularly when it will take two fouls to get an opponent to the line (see Thu's loss to Minn).