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.

Bad News for Mistie... AND Her Fans!

I just read that Mistie Williams broke her right middle finger in practice yesterday. Heal quickly!

Silver Stars "Shoot" Past Comets

OH and 3!

Nice first quarter, Girls... but then, OH.

Exciting to watch, and the new talent is great... but 18 unforced turnovers???

Coach Karleen Thompson was frustrated after the game and said that the team just could not put together 40 minutes of solid play. She compared the streakiness to a roller-coaster ride.

Thompson is doing the right things as coach; the plays are there, the talent is there, the team is well conditioned. They are just struggling with chemistry. The Comets cannot seem to play together for more than two or three minutes at a time. Communication on the court isn't there.

I'm not sure I agree that Coach is doing ALL the right things. Substitutions seemed to me to be all or none. It seemed that she substituted all five at once, leaving no consistency on the floor.

And something is wrong with Swoopes. She either isn't feeling well, or she isn't "feeling" well. Mention was made (0n 610am, I didn't notice, personally) that she was grabbing her back. Maybe that's it?