Comets Defeat Storm, The 4-11... and Rumors

Last night's game against the Storm was fun to watch, because everyone played hard... to win. The Houston Comets are now 4-11, winning two consecutive and four of our last five.

Thompson, Maiga-Ba, Hodges and Lyttle were all in double figures, and we kept our turnovers to 14. On court, at least, it was a pretty darn good night for a Comets' fan!

Off the court, however, the rumors are flying. I won't repeat them, because they are worse than ever... and I'm just hoping that they're false. It would help to know the truth, though, so we could perhaps affect change.

The 3-11

The Houston Comets banked another one in the win column by defeating our I-10 Rivals, the SASS (San Antonio Silver Stars), 75-67.

Sadly (and VERY unhappily), I didn't get to attend the game tonight, due to an enormous black, gloomy, stormy cloud over my head. I WAS, however, able to the webcast... though I was largely distracted by sweltering conditions and other discomforts.

Most of what I recollect from the webcast is Becky Hammond, Becky Hammond, Becky Hammond! Yeah, I got it... Becky Hammond. My God, she scored 32 points(!)... thank the Good Lord the rest of her team didn't show up to play.

And the most remarkable thing I see, in glancing at the stats is this: TURNOVERS.

SASS... 29
Houston Comets... 18

While still too many for my liking... it's better. It's better!

I promise you a better post tomorrow, once I cool off.

Comets Collide with Mercury, Planet Wins

We got third, alright... third quarter, that is.

Up by 8 at the end of the third, the Comets lose by 5.

Something is clearly wrong with Tina, with tepid performance and uber-taped leg. Michelle Snow was all but MIA, but our new gals really stepped up their performances.

Smith... 18
Maiga-Ba... 16
Shields... 16
Thompson... 10
Hodges... 8
Lyttle... 7
Byears... 4
Snow... 4
Moore... 2
Williams... 0

I thought, at times, they looked great and together... and at others, tired, flat footed and inexperienced.

Could It Be Three?

It's going to be a tough game in Phoenix tonight, but hopefully we've got the confidence and skill to make it three in a row against the 7-7 Mercury.

They're on a 2 game losing streak, and Diana Taurasi won't be in the building. Of course, Sheryl Swoopes won't be there either!

Officiating & Taurasi's Two Game Suspension

The Mercury's Diana Taurasi was suspended for two games for what the league called "inappropriate conduct toward game officials", in response to a late call in their game Friday night against Detroit.

Taurasi was whistled for an offensive foul while trying to get open for an inbounds pass. She immediately began screaming and headed toward referee Michael Price after the buzzer.

"He’s terrible,” Taurasi said of Price after the game. “We played so hard for 40 minutes and not even to get a chance at the end to make a play. They just took it away from us. That’s complete (bull).”

While grateful that she's serving her suspension in two games against my Houston Comets, and though I didn't witness the "foul" or her behavior, I will say this:

This season's officiating has been horrendous. Between bad calls, late calls and petty calls, the game has grown to be almost excrutiating to watch. Our home games have been played so slow due to all the stops and starts, that it's nearly impossible, as a fan, to get emotionally connected.

So, having witnessed what I have, I'm inclined to side with Taurasi. As a stretch, I could understand a 'T' called on her, as they called on Tina Thompson last week when she protested a call... but a two game suspension from mere words and no contact??? That's over the line.

Dear Hilton: Thanks!

I've expressed my share of doubts and concerns, but I also want to express my gratitude.

Seeing you jump from your seat in excitement Tuesday and Friday nights, cheering loudly and urging the crowd to stand... did my heart a tremendous amount of good! And I know the team must have felt it, too.

Our former owner rarely even attended our games and, at the end, made it clear just how little he cared about "the product".

Your enthusiasm is contagious. Keep up the good work in the media... and the stands!

Photo: June 20 Game against LA Sparks: Hilton with his daughter, Paris Jade. Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

Comets Defie the Mystics with 95 Point Game

Now this is what I'm talking about! Comets make it two in a row! After a somewhat shakey first half, Karleen's crew came out and played for keeps in the second half.

Tamara Moore, Alana Beard, Hamchetou Maiga-Ba, right, scramble for the ball.
(AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Steve Ueckert)

Box Score Highlights: Tina led with 23 points. But the big story is that our li'l rookie, Ashley Shields came off the bench to score 20 points in 21:19 of play! Maiga-Ba was also on fire, with 18 points. Tamara (8), Roneeka (7) and Sancho (&) had pretty good games as well, and their points don't totally reflect the full extent of, nor the timeliness of their contributions.

Note to all: We need to continue to work on those turnovers!!! Yikes, 23! Hang on to the ball, ya'all!

Side Note to Tonight's Game

Tina Thompson received a technical foul for protesting that a foul called was a shooting foul.

And Dexter McCleon, NFL cornerback for the Houston Texans (who I am certain was both comped the floor seats, paid to attend, and received a humongous house full of new furniture), was ejected from the game for verbal assault of a (blind) referee. Fortunately, my friends and I were 30 yards away.

So much for our flailing community support.

Comets Fire Up First Win Against Sparks

We did it! We really did it!

Not only did the Comets log their first W, but they soundly defeated l.a. in the process!

The final score was 74-64 and while Michelle Snow (21, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turn overs) and Tina Thompson (20, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover) led by far in points, almost everyone who played, scored:

Hodges (9, 4 assists, 1 turn over)
Smith (8, 1 rebound, 4 assists)
Byears (5, 2 rebounds, 1 assist)
Maiga-Ba (5, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 6 turnovers)
Moore (5, 3 rebounds, 3 assists)
Shields (1)

The exceptioins: Sancho Lyttle started, played 13:40, snatched 6 rebounds, caused 3 turnovers and didn't score. Tari Phillips played 3:09 and didn't score but didn't cause any turnovers.

In a game that was equal parts lackluster and brilliance (because we never fell behind), our girls came out and played four complete quarters. They actually got the crowd in the game, for the first time all season. And when the final horn sounded, you would have thought we had won the Championship!

Congratulations Karleen and Hilton... on your first win. (I heard on the radio that Hilton got the game ball. I'm thinking he deserves it because the checks must have cleared!).

2005 Flashback with Dawn Staley

Sometimes we need uplifting conversation. Sometimes we need our memories. From the 2005 season, this article
provides both:

WNBA.com: This is Our Game: Dawn Staley

Awesome Photo by J. Pottheiser/NBAE/Getty Images

As one of the faces of women's basketball for more than a decade, new Houston Comets guard Dawn Staley has carried the flag, both literally and figuratively, for a sport and helped to make it as popular as it is today. She had an extraordinarily successful college career at the University of Virginia where she was named the Player of the Year more than once, she played professionally overseas in Europe before returning to the United States and six and a half seasons with the Charlotte Sting. Now, as she enters the twilight of her playing career and is just coming into her own as the head coach of the Temple University program, she has been given a new chance to win her first WNBA championship with the Houston Comets.

Q. What is your motivation when don't feel like working out, running that extra mile, or waking up early? "Any challenge. From playing to coaching, when someone tells me that I can't do it, I'm doing it. I'm doing it. Any challenge that I'm faced with is really what drives me. This season was challenging for me, but I stayed optimistic. (With Charlotte), the ball wasn't necessarily falling in our favor, but I think you have to stay positive. You have to have like minds in that area. It's easy to dwell on the negatives, but I was a part of a WNBA team that started 1-10 and went to the Finals. I'm still a firm believer as well as living proof that anything can happen in our short season."

Q. Was there a time in your life when you thought about giving up the game? "My first year overseas, I lost my love for basketball. I don't know. It was different than what I was used to. I wasn't given the information I needed. I want to thrive, I want you to teach me. I want you to break basketball down for me, and my first year over there, we were imitating the NBA. We had to score the points, and I don't see basketball that way. I see basketball as a cohesion that a team must have. Everyone must do their part. So if you are a scorer, you score the basketball. I wasn't known as a scorer. I'm someone that does what they need to do to win. When it's not presented to me that way, I didn't see it as a challenge, but it was a challenge. Maybe they needed me to show them a different way. And ultimately I did, but I didn't like being in that position, being so young."

Q. How did you re-discover the love of the game? "But I wanted to be an Olympian, so playing overseas was the way to get that experience. This was between 1992 and 1994.I sacrificed that part of it because that was what they said I didn't have in 1992 that I needed to be an Olympian. You go through periods like that as a player. you lose the love somewhat. But that can help you gain it back stronger. And that's what happened to me. I was determined to be an Olympian. I just wanted to be a one-time Olympian, but I look at it now as a three-time Olympian, and it's very sweet. It is incredible to think that a piece of nylon going around your neck is so meaningful, but it's not the medal that you can touch and feel that makes it what it is. It is the entire experience of representing your country. It's what it stands for more than the tangible gold medal."

Q. What are some other goals you've set for yourselves off the court that you are interested in or pursuing? "I love coaching. As long as it is fulfilling for me to help young people to see the game in a way that will help them have longevity in this sport, I'm going to do it. They are accepting to the challenges that I pose. I'll probably do it for a very long time. Would I coach men? Sure. I don't really see gender in basketball. It's simply basketball. They bounce it like we bounce it. They have attitudes like we have attitudes. Basketball is not all about the X's and O's. It's about instilling confidence in individuals. If you can get them to believe in what you are doing on a daily basis, you can draw up any play off the top of your head and it will be successful."

Q. Would you ever consider coaching in the WNBA at any point? "I haven't thought about coaching in the WNBA because I don't know if that is my passion. My passion is with the younger people, people that you can make a true impression on in the college game. And I'll want people to know that if someone graduated from Temple University and plays in the WNBA, they know what kind of player they are getting. They are going to get a dedicated player, a player that doesn't cut corners, a player that respects and understands the game in a way that you can fall in love with as a coach."

I hope, should she ever consider it... that she still has our number in her wallet!

O... Hilton

As I was sitting here, stewing over a commercial I saw on television this weekend, featuring Hilton and Baby Paris half selling furniture and half cheering for the Houston Comets...

I ran across this letter to Hilton, on The Houston Roundball Review, which begins by saying,

"Please do something. Anything. Pronto."

I hope Hilton reads it. Something needs to happen, and soon.

I just have this bad feeling, though, that Hilton is in over his head. The lack of continuity in management and, frankly, coaching... has predictably sunk our ship. I know people had their problems with Van, but I always thought he was handcuffed by the League (conspiracy theory, I know and firmly believe). But if Van and his coaching and training staff had seen us through a couple of years in transition, I believe we would be writing about a different story.

Then There Was Nine. Then There Was Ten.

Nine: Storm 84, Comets 71.

Ten: Monarchs 75, Comets 63.

Writing this blog has lost its thrill... for the last couple of days, anyway. We'll see what developments next week brings.

Lestlie's Baby

(If only she shared the name of an herb... the title of this post would pack a lot more satire).

Lisa Leslie (and husband Michael Lockwood) had a baby girl. Laruen Jolie Lockwood came into the world, weighing 8 pounds 11 ounces, at 4:05 am this morning.

There's nothing more important or self defining... than motherhood. A close second might be the respect you pay those that pass this life, into death, before you.

I have more than a little difficulty celebrating with, let alone, respecting a woman who could fling military salutes and reap such pompous joy over the defeat of an emotionally vacant Houston Comets team, on the night of Kim Perrot's death... yet I pray each day for those that might be touched and transformed by this day's events.

In so doing, I also extend my very best and hearty well wishes to Lisa, her husband and her baby daughter.

Photo by Soul Brother / Filmmagic.

It's One Thing... And Another

It's one thing to be rebuilding... and another thing to be flailing.

It's one thing to be the worst in the Conference... and another thing to be the worst in the League.

But it's now official.

With Washington's win over Phoenix last night... we now own The Worst record in the WNBA.

I'm not a fair weather fan, ya'all. I plan to stick by my team for as long as they play in a Toyota Center. And that issue, alone, is what has me worried. Do I need to divest my emotions in a team that is teetering on the verge of being relocated to another city... or shifted to a second rate venue in an unsafe neighborhood?

I don't want to worry. And I don't want to abandon. I have invested more than money and reaped more than joy from my 11 year commitment to the Houston Comets. But I am tortured by the thought of giving it all up to another city or to another (financially feasible and otherwise completely undesirable) venue.

For me, it's less about losing games... and WAY more about losing my Comets!

Enough is Enough, and Eight is Enough

Of all the games for us NOT to break the streak, it was last night's game... Sparks 74, Comets 71.

We trailed by 13 at the half but rebounded to take a 62-60 lead with 8:33 left. LA then sparked up a 10-0 run to take the lead 70-62, with 4:55 left. We narrowed that lead with a 9-2 run, and were down by 1 with 16.3 seconds remaining.

But we fouled and they made both free throws. Roneeka Hodges had the opportunity to tie the game with a 3-pointer, but we all know that story...

Only Tina and Michelle were in double digits, compared to four of the Sparks (3 starters and a bench). Sigh.

Crystal Smith Joins the U.S.S. Houston Comets

Plucked directly from the Comets' press release:

(HOUSTON – June 13, 2007) – The Houston Comets today announced the signing of
guard Crystal Smith.

During her rookie season with the Phoenix Mercury,
Smith played in 23 games, averaging 2.6 points per game, 1.0 assist per game and
earning a .917 free throw percentage.

In the 2006 WNBA Draft, Smith was
picked 32nd overall by Phoenix. She spent her college career as point guard for
the University of Iowa and during her senior year (2006) earned a spot on the
All-Big Ten First Team and the Big Ten All Defensive Team.

Wow... 2.6 ppg, really?!

What does U.S.S. stand for? I'm not sure you want to know.

(Wo)man The Lifeboats!

I heard a disturbing rumor that a key member of the "organization" gave notice a couple of weeks ago.

I recently saw this person ascending the steps, toward the end of a game, with head hanging low. It seemed odd to me at the time, because I recall so many games, win or lose, this person making the same exit, shaking hands and acknowledging fans.

Odder still, when it was the same night that an arena employee told me of rumors that, next year, there would either be no team... or they would be playing at UH.

That person's name is still on the Staff Directory, along with TBD... who is quadrupling roles as Chief Operating Officer, Vice President of Corporate Development, Coordinator of Corporate Development Service and Coordinator of Website and Database Management.

Wow. This TBD must be really busy... and maybe that's why the directory doesn't reflect the rumored departure.

Make That O(MG) and 7

The Monarchs beheaded us tonight, 82-67.

If we learned anything from tonight's game, perhaps it is that Tina Thompson cannot win the game by herself, in spite of her outstanding performance (33 points, just one short of half of our total).

Observations of others:

• The Chronicle points out that this was the first game in which the Comets never held the lead. Well, we're all about firsts!
• A friend of mine who listened to the WNBA webcast told me that one of the hosts said, "If I was Tina Thompson, I would ask to be traded". Isn't that a lovely thing to say?. Am I just naive... or do you think the League's webcast should provide neutral commentary? I'm assuming, for the purpose of economy, that they broadcast Sacramento's radio programming, but still...

Number 1 Meets Number 7, In Game 7

While Houston has struggled to find their first win (not to mention a rebound and a basket in the second half), Sacramento (5-3) has ridden the strong play of Rebekkah Brunson (coming off the bench to start for the injured forward DeMya Walker) to set the best record in the West.

Sacramento coach Jenny Boucek remembers, though, that the Monarchs have lost three straight in Houston and are 3-15 all-time here. (...Of course, the Monarchs swept the Comets from the playoffs in the last two consecutive seasons, and the two teams have yet to play this year). Still, Boucek had this to say:

"That is the West in the WNBA. There is no easy game. Now we go down to a
winless Houston who is very hungry with nothing to lose. We've got a big
dogfight on our hands down there."

...Again with the "dog" talk!

"Every game is tough, every game matters, and every game you've got to come collectively ready to play and to work. You cannot have lulls in this league or you'll lose."

I think we could probably write a book on "lulls"!

Karleen's Comments on Game 6

Quote from the Houston Chronicle report, after last night's disappointing game:

"We don't have that killer instinct," Comets coach Karleen Thompso said. "We don't have that dog in us that comes out to win the games.

"Without that, we don't deserve a win."

Now that I know we need a dog to come out and win the game for us, I'll be taking Miss C to all the games. She's definitely up for a full four quarters worth of play!

O(UCH) and 6!

Up by 16 at the half, and we blew it.

The Chronicle calls us "consistent". After all, for the fourth time this season, we have held a double digit lead... and allowed it to slip away.

Michelle (with 22) and Tina (with 19) showed up to play. Byears even showed pretty well with 14. As for the rest, not so much so.

Photo by Melissa Phillips, Chronicle/AP , showing Nykesha Sales driving to the basket and sending Ashley Shields flying.

Game 6, Stop the Bleeding!

"We need to stop the bleeding,'' Houston coach Karleen Thompson said. "We're not going to give up until we get a win.''

That's good to know.

Meanwhile, the 3-and-2 Sun will try for their fifth straight win over the Comets (third in a row in Houston).

New Sparks Owners Are Fans First

Season ticket-holders, Kathy Goodman (left) and Carla Christofferson are the new owners of the L.S. (Photo Courtesy of Robert Durell , LA Times, Article by jerome.crowe@latimes.com ).

This is an awesome story of fan(s) and fantasy! And I think it's just terrific that these women have, among their assets, the STH perspective!

In fact, they apparently entered the arena for their June 2nd game and walked right past the floor seats set aside for them and cheered for their team from the upper reaches of the lower bowl, among the throngs of Sparks fans!

Highlights from the article:

When asked what's the best thing about owning the Sparks, Goodman replied, "If I'm going to be a geeky fan about it, I would say, the players saying hi to me," she said. "And hanging out with Michael Cooper. It's very cool."

And their top priority seems to be the fans. Goodman said, "I feel like I'm responsible for them. Like, 'OK, they need to have a good time and it needs to be a good game.' I sort of feel like I'm throwing a party and if people don't have a good time, I'm not a good host."

OH and 5!

Just when you thought it couldn't get worse... it does.

The Fever soundly... make that SOUNDLY defeated the Comets, 84-59.

Michelle Snow snagged 15, Barbara Turner got 13, Tina got 6 as did Hamchetou Maiga-Ba and Dee Davis, Tamara Moore got 5 and Ashley Shields and Latasha Byears got 4 each. Does that add up to a whopping 59? Dunno... and it doesn't really matter.

Sad, really.

Dear Hilton: Just Things I'm Thinking

1. Everyone who's thought about it knows that the two preseason venue changes were cost cutting moves. Season ticket holder paid up front and feel slighted at losing two games.
2. Moving the pre-season game to Delmar was a total embarassment. I don't care how much money you saved. Moves like that will cost you in the end.
3. I hear rumors that the Houston Comets will either... "be no more"... or play at UH next year. You've noted diminishing numbers of season ticket holders. How many do you suppose we'll lose with that move? I suspect a move to UH will cost somewhere close to 100% of the last 2000 season ticketholders.
4. If this is the last season of The Houston Comets, I'm truly saddened... but our professional athletes deserve better.

Thanks for your continuing efforts to sell more tickets. It's a tough sell with weak stats and scores, but particularly since both the arena and the concessions feel half stocked...

Dear Hilton: Just Things I'm Thinking

Please don't mistake my observations for lack of gratitude for your support and rescue of the Houston Comets organization. I just think a little honest feedback might serve us all well.

1. Why must you sit on the "bench"? From a fan's perspective that's way uncool.
2. And if you're going to sit on the "bench", must you talk on your cell phone?
3. Can you tell your friend to... "Keep your shirt on, Dude!"?
4. It might not be such a good idea to communicate with the referees, either... I don't know, maybe they've changed the rules and I haven't heard... but can you spell "T"?
5. Many of us are waiting to hear what season ticket holders (of the last 10 years) will receive as a souvenir... Did that tradition go the way of our previous owner?

Just a few things you might ponder...

OH and 4!

We set a record tonight... but not in a good way.

For the first time in franchise history, the Houston Comets have lost their first four games... by an average of 14 points.

Comets led 68-59 with just less than 4 minutes to play... and then the fat lady sang.

On the bright side: Michelle Snow and Tina Thompson each scored 20 points, Tamara Moore had 10, Latasha Byears had 8, Ashley Shields (exciting to watch) had 7, and Barbara Turner... 4 and Hamchetou Maiga-Ba finished with 2.

That Explains It...Swoopes Sidelined by Bulging Disc

5 O'Clock (Bad) News:

Sheryl Swoopes has been diagnosed with a bulging disc in her lower back and is expected to be out for two to four weeks.

We all knew something was wrong... for the first three games, she's averaged 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game (not to mention the fact that she's been grabbing her back!).

We'll just have to see how it affects our bottom line. I mean, she's been in the game without producing... she'll be out now, and let's see if others step up to play.