INSIDE SCOOP™… Surprises: Swoopes and Portland, College Hoops & Your Call – Best Athlete, Most Important Moments
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e-Zine November 2005 by Mel Greenberg INSIDE SCOOP™… Surprises: Swoopes and Portland, College Hoops & Your Call – Best Athlete, Most Important Moments. In the last several years in In recent times, activity involving presenting our monthly look at the the WNBA, not always entirely by world of women’s basketball; there the league’s control, has become have been times when breaking an October surprise of a different news has occurred either within a sort soon after the playoffs have few days or right at the moment of ended. our visit to the computer keyboard to offer observations and In 2002, the word filtered out that commentary. the league was going to change its business plan and in the process, Such has been the situation in the two teams closed shop and two last week. others moved to new cities under different ownership. Seven days ago or so, we were thinking of an opening paragraph In 2003, the Cleveland Rockers on the scale of “What will the began the quick road to extinction women’s collegiate game do for an when the NBA parent Cavaliers encore this season after the determined assumed increased competitive parity that existed the revenues from the addition of a last time around?” certain Mr. James need not be spent on the WNBA sister squad. That said, hold the thought and let’s move on to the news. A year ago, Val Ackerman decided it was time to step down from the “October Surprise” is a phrase that WNBA presidency after guiding the was once coined in a presidential league through its first eight election year about the ability of seasons. the administration in power in the White House to spring some sort of For once, following the Sacramento action that would bring favor to its Monarchs’ rise to the incumbency against the challenger championship, it seemed the scene from the opposition political party. would be quite and peaceful this fall. e-Zine Page 2 But forces were already at work to high school sweetheart Eric belie that assumption. Jackson divorced. By now, the news has already It was during the fallout from the roared across the sports pages and divorce that Swoopes looked to internet sites of America with the Scott for emotional support and the public revelation by Houston relationship grew from there. Comets superstar Sheryl Swoopes, the reigning and three-time MVP of Chancellor, one of the most the league, that she was gay and entertaining individuals with a high that she was in a relationship with degree of integrity that one could Alisa Scott, a former Mississippi ever meet, was not informed of the star who had been an assistant to relationship, according to coach Van Chancellor with the Swoopes. Comets for seven seasons until her departure last winter. Since the announcement, reaction has been either favorable or muted As we write this, it is interesting to about Swoopes, a future Hall of note how life evolves. When the Famer who helped grow the league launched, three persons collegiate game when she set a were chosen and given extra Women’s Final Four scoring record endorsements as marquee players: in 1993 as part of Texas Tech’s Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie of the national championship. The native Los Angeles Sparks, and Rebecca of West Texas is relieved to “stop Lobo. living a secret life.” Leslie is about to marry sometime The only aspect of her in the next week or so. Lobo, who announcement that hasn’t been retired two winters ago, married touched on in most places that Sports Illustrated columnist Steve published interviews was the Rushin and has since given birth to financial implications surrounding a child. the announcement, one exception being an interview in the New York Swoopes, the former Texas Tech Times. star, was pregnant and missed most of the first season in 1997 It has been reported everywhere and two years later she and her that Swoopes is getting a six-figure Sheryl Swoopes signs a reported e-Zine six-figure deal with Olivia and is already fulfilling appearances by Page 3 joining the company on their Mexican Riviera Cruise. deal from Olivia, a vacation to figure out the best way to go company, headquartered in San public without regard to the Olivia Francisco that serves the lesbian offer to Swoopes. market. Fouling the waters on the topic, What hasn’t been said is that somewhat, was another news item Swoopes is deeply in debt, having that reared out of nowhere two filed for bankruptcy because of weeks earlier when it was revealed mishandling of money by both an that former Penn State player accountant and herself, which she Jennifer Harris was dismissed from attributed to a change in lifestyle the program by veteran coach Rene from modest surroundings in her Portland for being perceived as a formative years. lesbian, which Harris says is false. Furthermore, the announcement Penn State is currently was well-orchestrated by a West investigating the charges. Thus, Coast public relations firm. When commentary at this end will be the firm contacted me to make withheld until a finding and, if Swoopes available, I was told it necessary, an action occurs wasn’t for exclusivity because regarding the charges. many prominent media organizations were being College Hoops contacted. So now back to our original However, ESPN The Magazine premise prior to all this, can things already had an interview in-hand be much better than the free-for-all set to hit the newsstand within that existed a year ago for the days after the crush of interview national title won for the first time availabilities were presented on by Baylor over Michigan State after Oct. 26. both pulled tremendous rallies against favored Louisiana State I mention all this inside basketball and Tennessee in the semifinals. to say that the Times interview did broach the financial implication, Well, if Tennessee’s youthful talent but Swoopes forthrightly said the that was sidelined by injuries does deal was not a motivating force, return the Vols to dominance, yes, that she and Scott had been trying it will be exciting. e-Zine Page 4 Right off the opening tap, we’re Selection Monday – a nighttime looking at a slew of national announcement of the Women’s 64- contenders. Seimone Augustus is team NCAA bracket one day later still around at LSU and Cappie than has been the situation when Pondexter has returned for a fifth the hoopla was shared with the season at Rutgers, although the men on the same Sunday. Scarlet Knights are currently suffering with nagging injuries. This is also the 25th anniversary of Many believe that this could be the the NCAA competition for women year Duke overcomes past so look for special celebrations in frustrations with the return of such that regard. stars as Monique Currie. For you data freaks out there, the Stanford and Ohio State are other Associated Press preseason poll teams that are still formidable, which will be released on Nov. 10 th while Baylor and Michigan State will be the 500 poll and begin the th have enough veterans to chase 30 year of weekly voting. after glory for a second consecutive year. North Carolina is If the news warrants, we’ll catch another contender, but the team you between now and after that might be the real darkhorse Thanksgiving. *************************************** and maybe not even worthy of that Who Should We Select as the 2005 description is Maryland, which has Athlete of the Year? a sensational freshman class, and has three stellar veterans in senior What Were the Most Important Shay Doron and sophomores Moments in Sports in 2005? Crystal Langhorne and Laura Harper. One new wrinkle at the end You Tell Us. Write to us at: of the season will be the move to [email protected] Get Your Own Gear at REALSPORTSMAG.COM/MARKETPLACE.