Lots of Q-and-A-ing on Wednesday as the WNBA had a conference call in the afternoon, and I chatted with Lauren Jackson during the evening in Australia. Yeah, she was in Oz, not me, and it was Thursday afternoon there.
LJ is in the wedding of Seattle teammate Suzy Batkovic on May 30, then she flies to the United States on Sunday. Remember the poll here after she re-signed with Seattle in early May, where I asked if fans considered her to be one of the 10 best players ever? Eighty-seven percent of the respondents said yes.
Naturally, Jackson is not the sort to say, “Oh, yeah, of course they did,” when this was mentioned to her.
“That’s a flattering, definitely,” she said. “But I don’t really see it like that. I’ve been around so many great players, and I feel like I’m lucky to just be a part of it. I had good timing.”
It’s nice to see someone Jackson’s age – she turned 28 on May 11 – acknowledge the good fortune of being a player in her prime now, as opposed to 20 years ago. But it works both ways. It was very, very lucky for the WNBA that Jackson came around when she did. And that she’s stayed committed to playing in the WNBA.
As for the conference call, its opening part was four coaches: Connecticut’s Mike Thibault, LA’s Michael Cooper, San Antonio’s Dan Hughes and Detroit’s Bill Laimbeer. Rick Mahorn actually filled in for the the start of it, then Laimbeer came on later and apologized, saying he had been sleeping.
Uh-huh. I don’t buy it. I think he was probably delayed getting on the call because he was trying to figure out whom he could fleece in his next trade.
My favorite moment of the coaches’ part of the call was when someone asked Laimbeer and Cooper about the rivalry between their two squads (you may remember a little fracas last year). And they were talking about how the past was the past but still … of course the two teams don’t like each other, and there is that extra energy that surrounds their matchups, and the players always get up for these games and they really go at it …
Then Thibault interrupted with, “Ah, I hope you kill each other.”
It probably doesn’t read as funny as it sounded, but it was hilarious.
Then the players came on the call: Indiana’s Tamika Catchings, Detroit’s Katie Smith, Minnesota’s Candice Wiggins and San Antonio’s Becky Hammon. There’s a lot of buzz about Hammon having a conflict because the Russian National team, for whom she competed in the Beijing Olympics, wants her for the upcoming European championships in June.
The latest update is that Hammon will play in San Antonio’s first two games, but might miss the next two in order to go play for Russia. I don’t want to really get deeply into the whole Becky-and-Russia saga again now, but this situation will inevitably add more fuel for those who opposed her decision to play for Russia. The bottom line, though, is that San Antonio will just need to deal with whatever she does. Maybe the Silver Stars will come up with some kind of fine for her if she misses any of their games, although I don’t quite see what purpose that would serve.
While I don’t believe in Olympic “free-agency” – which is what this Hammon situation with Russia was – what’s done is done: She is an important part of their national team. And the WNBA’s teams always have had to make allowances for players’ various obligations overseas.
Besides, it always spices up the WNBA season to have some kind of Becky intrigue going on.
And, frankly, even if you were adamantly against her Olympic decision, I don’t see how anyone could possibly question Hammon’s commitment to the WNBA and the Silver Stars.
While it was interesting hearing the coaches on the teleconference, the players were really a joy to talk with. It perks me up just to hear the familiar voices of these four, who are all so well-spoken, educated and passionate about basketball and their hopes for their teams and the league. It really reminds you of how the total-person aspect of the players is one of the WNBA’s biggest strengths.
*-Note: I’ll have more WNBA stories on ESPN.com – including a look at how LJ’s decision to stay in Seattle impacts not just the Storm but every team – in the next week-plus as we approach the start of the season.
Russia has long wielded the national team commitment club over the head of its players (Stepanova, Baranova, et al.), so I’m not really surprised that Becky is being called to duty. Hey, you buys your ticket, you ride your rides.
I don’t mind the occasional absence of players for NT obligations. With the WPS (and previously WUSA), it is the standard of play that has to be worked around. ‘course, they don’t have short rosters, but that’s a whole ‘nother kettle of fish.
Frankly, I’m just glad it isn’t a WC or Olympic year that prompts so many NTs to pull their stars from the WNBA. Based on results, it doesn’t seem to help. In those years, only the top 1-2 stars from a nation can even hope to buck the system, as LJ has done for several cycles, now.
What I find interesting is how most of the GMs are putting off cutting their rosters until it’s too late for another team to make adjustments to acquire their cuts. I guess the hope is that if they are needed, teams are more likely to re-sign someone who has gone through preseason than try to work someone else into a new system. If the W does something like this again, they might have to have mandatory cut dates so that players who happened to be on the wrong team have a fair chance of making it with a better fit.
By choosing to play in the summer (when NBA arenas are empty), the WNBA set itself up for conflicts like Becky’s.
Becky Hammon is the heart and soul of the SA Silver Stars. Believe me, we’d rather her be here all season…but if missing a couple of games to go play with the Russians is in the mix, we’ll welcome her back with open arms when she returns.
Russia-Whatever. These women take time away from games for various and sundry reasons (mental health, family crises, etc.), and that’s okay by me. Why should a *previously contracted work obligation* be viewed differently, especially if it’s only a couple of games? I figure the cause-effect elements are best left up to the parties directly involved.
Here’s a question for anybody….what’s a good source of (reliable) info on players who AREN’T on current rosters?? I’m befuddled by the absence of names like Dydek, Sales, and Abrosimova on any W rosters at this point…and the WNBA site offers no info. Help?
So many male coaches in the WNBA and certainly on that call. I’ve always wondered if men can coach women, why can’t women coach men? I want female head coaches in the NBA. Male coaches have twice the number of opportunities to coach then women do. Doesn’t seem equal to me.
Howard, I asked Mike Thibault about Svet, and his information was that she decided to stay in Russia to play. Margo is a new mom, and Kesha retired.
Phil
Thanks Phil…I knew Dydek had a baby, but was with The Sparks for the tail end of last season, so I thought she was “back in commission again”. I didn’t know Sales retired…I thought it was just a sabbatical of sorts.