man on women's sports

Several young Americans survived the first round at Wimbledon on Days 2 and 3 (June 27th and28th):

Mashona Washington defeated Germany's Julia Schruff 6-3 6-4.

Meilen Tu defeated Vassilissa Bardina 6-3 6-0.

Jamea Jackson, left, defeated Kirsten Flipkens 4-6 6-4 6-1.

Other US first round survivors were Shenay Perry, Meghann Shaughnessy, Laura Granville, Vania King, Amy Frazier, Lisa Raymond, Ashley Harkleroad, and Venus. All but Venus would fall in the second round Day 4 Scores , Lisa Raymond at Venus' hands in a headliner 7-6(7-4) 5-7 2-6.

Photo sources: Yaoo! news/AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth;Yahoo! news/REUTERS/Darren Staples(6/17/6); Yahoo! news/REUTERS/Darren Staples (6/18/6)

San Antonio at New York: NY!

Detroit at Connecticut: Connecticut; not though Detroit won here already this season, but because.

Phoenix at Los Angeles: LA.

Tues June 27th

Houston at Connecticut: indications on: no local, national or webcast TV of this crucial matchup. Box Score

Indiana at Washington: indications off (it was Indiana, excuse me.) (Indiana, ha!) Box Score

Sacramento at Seattle: indications on: the Juggernaut pulled this one out even more convincingly than I anticipated. Box Score

Charlotte at New York: indications off, as Charlotte kicked this one out. Box Score

Detroit at San Antonio: indications on: SA does not have a long time to decide what game their going to commit to this season. Box Score

Wed June 28th

Minnesota at Phoenix: indications on, as Minnesota came within 7 seconds. Still, the win is to Phoenix. Box Score

Seattle at Los Angeles: indications off. Box Score

Thurs June 29th

Washington at Houston: indications on, though Richie Adubato is developing a strong team at Washington. Box Score

Detroit at Indiana: indications off: excuse me, mr. prognostication man, Indiana is not a full game out of first place in the East. (Indiana, ha.) Box Score

Charlotte at Chicago: indications off, as Charlotte again failed to kick it into gear. The webcast is archived: I'm going to have to check it out. Box Score

Minnesota at Sacramento: indications on: "What does it take . . .", the question begins to take form here, ". . . potential . . . actual results . . .." Box Score

Photo sources (in order): sportsline.com/Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images; sportsline.com/AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

I'm not saying the mainstream media is in anyway correct that interest wanes when the names Henin-Hardenne and Clijsters dominate the news for an event (I was keeping up with the WNBA and US track nationals (ahem)), but Russia's Anastasia Myskina was in the finals against Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne at the Eastbourne, England, tournament. Henin-Hardenne won, but by a tight 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5). This has to impact play at Wimbledon as players are encouraged that Myskina made the finals of anything again and in what Henin-Hardenne is displaying since not on clay anymore.

Pictured above and immediately below, Anastasia Myskina during the Eastbourne finals, Saturday, June 24, 2006. Second below, Kim Clijsters of Belgium shortly before rain interrupted her match at Wimbledon yesterday.

Photo sources: (in order) sportsline.com/(sorry photo disappeared);sportsline.com/(sorry photo disappeared); sportsline.com/AP Photo/Alastair Grant

The title is bestowed on the winner of the 100 meter competition, so Marion Jones, winner of the 100 m at this weekend's AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, has regained her national crown. Jones win 100 titles at AT&T USA Outdoor Champs To the right of Marion Jones, pictured, is Torri Edwards (who is?).

As I walked to my seat at the Comets v Juggernaut game Sunday, one widescreen tuned to the Nationals on ESPN2 seemed to show Allyson Felix (who is?) taking a victory lap holding an American flag behind her, but news sources indicate she withdrew from her finals with injury and illness.

Photo source: Yahoo! news/ REUTERS/John Gress

Tues June 27th

Houston at Connecticut: Connecticut, in the game of the week!

Indiana at Washington: Washington: Indiana, ha.

Sacramento at Seattle: Seattle, hands down.

Charlotte at New York: NY has the momentum, and Charlotte just won't get motivated (kicking.) Webcast scheduled

Detroit at San Antonio: Detroit: SA is clueless as to the game.

Wed June 28th

Minnesota at Phoenix: Phoenix, they are convinced that Minn doesn't want to make the playoffs while the Mercury do.

Seattle at Los Angeles: LA, the Juggernaut is too inconsistent now.

Thurs June 29th

Washington at Houston: [Noon time game, Houston fans!] Houston, they know Washington's past vulnerabilities, and how these have been addressed to the present time. Webcast scheduled

Detroit at Indiana: Detroit, putting their money where their mouthes are. Webcast scheduled


Charlotte at Chicago: Charlotte. Webcast scheduled


Minnesota at Sacramento: Sacramento.

Daniela Hantuchova is pictured above during her first round match at Wimbledon today, and Martina Hingis is shown below also during her first round match. Both matches were postponed due to rain. Rain Holds up Play on Day 1 At this posting, play has resumed in a couple of other matches.

Photo sources: (in order): Yahoo! News/AFP/Paul Ellis; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico

Seen this weekend: Barbara Farris Could she be coming into her own as a player in New York. I was hoping they would hang up the Saturday night webcast of the NY-Minn game in the archive. Alas, that appears as not to be had. When I look at the stats to explain Minnesota's loss, nothing jumps out. Minnesota had only 8 turnovers (NY had 9.) I thought near the end of the game NY's defensive rebounding was outstanding, and the stats say NY had 28 defensive rebounds in the game to Minnesota's only 11 offensive rebounds. On the flip side of that, however, Minnesota had 21 defensive rebounds to NY's only 8 offensive rebounds. But one needn't do an official tape review to see Barb Farris' 20 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists for NY. Man! Might I venture to say, a clear difference maker (player) could be emerging.

Seen this weekend: Chasity Melvin 25 points for the Mystics against Connecticut Sunday night. Outstanding. Could this be the start of a beautiful new level of performance for the league vet?

I don't know about you, but I am finding the experience with the new "team stats" graphics in the box scores very frustrating, so let me facilitate discussion with some simple graphics myself:

My pick in Italics, winner in Red

June 23rd

Los Angeles at Sacramento: my bad, I thought Sacramento would defend. Box Score

Connecticut at Chicago: man, I'm going to go out on a limb here: Connecticut is the real deal this year. Box Score

Charlotte at Houston: I'd like to have seen Helen Darling at the point in this game. With only 4 minutes remaining in the game, it was Houston by only two points, but, as has been Charlotte's problem for years, they didn't close out the win. Box Score

San Antonio at Seattle: my indication: "Seattle: Anties meet the Juggernaut in the 'funnest' game of the weekend." There was nothing funny in this 30-point loss. Box Score

Indiana at Phoenix: Phoenix is going to have to do better against the league's mediocrity. Box Score

June 24th

Washington at Detroit: Detroit. Box Score

New York at Minnesota: I indicated "home team, might Minnesota pull this one out?" They should'a, but didn't. There's a positive here I address as I blog 'the weekend seen' in a separate post. Box Score

June 25th

Seattle at Houston: Box Score

Connecticut at Washington: any win over Connecticut right now is significant (more as I blog the 'weekend seen'.) Box Score

Charlotte at Detroit: It was all Deanna Nolan. Box Score

Chicago at Phoenix: Phoenix, sorry. Box Score

San Antonio at Los Angeles: the broadcast announcer said that it was just San Antonio's (bad) luck to be part of Lisa Leslie's record setting night (first person to reach 5000 points, new career high points.) And Chamique Holdsclaw has not been asleep since here return from personal leave. Box Score

Indiana at Sacramento: Indiana, ha. Box Score

June 23rd

Los Angeles at Sacramento: Sacramento, as they begin their run to defend.

Connecticut at Chicago: Connecticut (simple win/loss.)

Charlotte at Houston: Houston. I've stood solidly in Charlotte's corner all season, but I know I'm going to see a 'lie down'.

San Antonio at Seattle: Seattle: Anties meet the Juggernaut in the 'funnest' game of the weekend.

Indiana at Phoenix: Phoenix. Just . . . Phoenix.

June 24th

Washington at Detroit: Detroit.

New York at Minnesota: home team, might Minnesota pull this one out?

June 25th

Seattle at Houston: Seattle, finally a no 'lie down' in Houston.

Connecticut at Washington: Connecticut.

Charlotte at Detroit: Charlotte, will surprise.

Chicago at Phoenix: Phoenix, sorry.

San Antonio at Los Angeles: LA.

Indiana at Sacramento: Sacramento (will insist that there be a 'lie down' here, too.)

June 20th

Connecticut at Charlotte: indications off: and people need to understand this as no reflection on Charlotte but as a positive reflection on Connecticut's game. I would still say Charlotte, because Connecticut played above normal. Box Score, will open in a new window with left single click

June 21st

Chicago at Indiana: indications off: okay, Indiana won one. Box Score

Phoenix at Seattle: indications on: Phoenix dialed in. (Secret: Phoenix knows from recent history what it feels like to come within a game or two of the playoffs.) Box Score

Washington at New York: indications on: but, may I say, there were some really dumb (and unnecessary) Washington fouls (that could not possibly have changed the outcome of being out-played.) Box Score

San Antonio at Sacramento: indications on: now Sacramento makes its run to defend (I'm not saying this.) Box Score

Houston at Los Angeles: indications on: Houston has experience, but we saw how that avails against just plain fire - blazing fire, drive. You've got to not know any better to have that! Box Score

June 22nd

Detroit at Charlotte: indications off: okay, Detroit won one. Box Score

Minnesota at Connecticut: indications off: again, no negative reflection on Connecticut's opponent today. Box Score

June 20th

Connecticut at Charlotte: home team, as Connecticut is not playing its best ball now.

June 21st

Chicago at Indiana: Chicago has something: it'll be Chicago.

Phoenix at Seattle: Phoenix has shown its capacity to dial Seattle's number, as it will do here.

Washington at New York: the home team.

San Antonio at Sacramento: not this time SA.

Houston at Los Angeles: LA, with a something Houston sorely lacks because of all its "experience".

June 22nd

Detroit at Charlotte: Charlotte should be able to exploit some of Detroit's clear vulnerabilities.

Minnesota at Connecticut: Minnesota, if any part of its game against Phoenix remains.

Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia at the Eastbourne Tennis Championships, Eastbourne, England, today, where she and other WTA members warm up for Wimbledon.

Photo sources: sportsline.com/AP Photo/Tom Hevezi

Let me qualify my use of the word "statement" below as more 'boast', which must be defended and proved. Pictured, Christi Thomas (32) and Hamchetou Maiga-Ba (9) during the Northern/Southern California slugfest Sunday night.

June 16th

Houston at New York: indications off. I really wish I could have watched this NY loss. box score

Minnesota at San Antonio: indications on: the home team "won" "dramatically". Finally. Gee! box score

Indiana at Detroit: indications on. This was a no-brainer: who was the opponent: Indiana. box score

Connecticut at Phoenix: indications on. Connecticut 2, West 1. box score

June 17th

Seattle at Sacramento: indications off: Sacramento is saying that they are still a force to be reckoned with this season. Okay . . .. box score

New York at Washington: indications off. If someone suspects my bent toward NY, I resolutely . . . seems that way, huh? box score

Houston at Detroit: indications on. Statement: Detroit: "We will contend for the title." box score

San Antonio at Chicago: indications on: but you can't place much stock in any game with San Antonio at this point. I watched the webcast, and I'm still not sure what happened here. box score

Connecticut at Los Angeles: indications on: Connecticut 2, West 2. (If Connecticut forces me to have to construct another HTML table (home, away), hommie's are really going to be in trouble.) box score

June 18th

Phoenix at Minnesota: indications on. My interest here is scientific, and as a scientist I sure would like to know what Coach Suzy said to her team. Box Score (d gold star box score (talk to the webdings font, okay))

Charlotte at Indiana: indications off: I was so engrossed in the Seimone-Diana Taurasi/Cappie Pondexter webcast I forgot to keep up with this one. An overtime win for Indiana? Interesting. Box Score

Sacramento at Los Angeles: indications off. Sacramento came to the fight, but found instead of the obnoxious, totally uncouth LA of last year, . . . players. LA took every broken nose, every elbow, every push and shove, and played the game of basketball. And won, (statement) defeating both '05 title contenders on consecutive nights (back-to-back), with a team that earlier in the season had 114 points scored against it. Just playing, no squabble. (Yet by no means, Sacramento, suggesting that there was a team other than LA on the floor.) (Kinder, gentler.) Box Score Below, in order, Chamique, Erin Buescher, Nicole Powell, Jessica Moore, Tamara Moore (background and knee high socks), and Hamchetou Maiga-Ba.

Photo source (both): sportsline.com

Marion Jones, pictured above winning the 100 meters at the Reebok Grand Prix in the Big Apple June 3, 2006, and because of that win and her perseverance in general, was named on June 7th as athlete of the Week by USAToday.com. Marion Jones turns back time, wins Athlete of the Week honors The field above included reigning 100 m world gold medalist Lauryn Williams of the US, reigning silver medalist Veronica Campbell of Jamaica, and 2003 world gold medalist Torri Edwards also of the US. These three all also won gold medals in various distances in Athens.

Marion Jones often walked the aisles at Comets games at the Compaq Center as part of the broadcast staffs, and it's kind of hard not to have developed some level of empathy with a person passing so often in physical proximity to you. And until a better standard is proffered, the American one of being innocent until proven otherwise should be insisted on.

A nice article to bring you up to date on Marion is this: Marion Jones seeks return to glory

Below Marion celebrates wins, respectively, at the FBK Games in Hengelo, the Netherlands, May 28, 2006, and during the Galatletica competition in Xalapa City, Mexico on May 13, 2006, her two prior wins this year.

Photo sources (in order): Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Brendan McDermid; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Toussaint Kluiters; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Henry Romero.

June 16th

Houston at New York NY is preparing payback.

Minnesota at San Antonio: Minnesota is going to bounce back from the Seattle loss, but home court advantage, we pray, will prevail.

Indiana at Detroit: home court advantage should prove insurmountable for inconsistent Indiana.

Connecticut at Phoenix: This is the game of the night: To defeat the West in the finals, Connecticut must gain the mindset of actually defeating the West. So far during this regular season, it's Connecticut 2, West 0. Home court tonight, however, should prevail.

June 17th

Seattle at Sacramento: Sacramento will get into the season, but not tonight.

New York at Washington: Washington is undefeated at home this season, but NY will defeat them.

Houston at Detroit: Detroit should be awake enough, alert enough, to maintain against Houston.

San Antonio at Chicago: San Antonio, simply because Chicago is going to underestimate them. Chicago should see the challenge before them as no less than that they just encountered with the Juggernaut, but they are going to be just too lazy to make a fair assessment.

Connecticut at Los Angeles: not here for Connecticut, this is a Western team.

June 18th

Phoenix at Minnesota: not here for Phoenix.

Sacramento at Los Angeles: Now Sacramento will wake up: Even in the last game of their postseason matchup last year, LA's abominable behavior totally dis'ed Sacramento. Sacramento has earned respect finally, and they are not giving that up without one heck'uf a fight.

Charlotte at Indiana: Is Indiana tough? Not tough enough.

Seattle at Chicago: indications off. It's improbable that Lauren Jackson is familiar with the culture ushered in by Mohammed Ali of floating like a butterfly stinging like a bee, but she did plenty of that last night. Box Score

Washington at Charlotte: indications off. The home team couldn't pull it off. Box Score

For any ancient or newbie to the WNBA who wants to sit back and start filling in the playoff brackets this early in the season (as may or may not have been apropos in the previous nine years of the league), no conduct could be more absurd.

In fact, you could pencil in Connecticut and Houston right now, only to guarantee that neither would win the final.

Chicago has not resigned this season.

San Antonio has made it clear it has not warmed up yet!

Right now, Charlotte more than any other team is showing the very heart of the WNBA, and it is fine!

Seattle at Chicago: Chicago.

Washington at Charlotte: Charlotte.

June 13

I abstained from prognosticating regarding this day's games, because the character of the WNBA season is being determined now: who is game, who's got game, who are players, who will play. These factors are more important now than final scores. Fans are seeing it, believing it and enjoying it. (Am I beginning to take those old English comp lessons seriously, or is it just the moment that indicates this as a subject for another post.) (Reader's Digest The World's Most Beautiful Melodies: Moonlight Classics: Romantic Piano & Orchestra, searched for decades for a 10 album set we had when growing up, and most of the songs are on a set of 8 cds I found on eBay recently.)

Charlotte at Washington: no indications stated. The final score is deceptive of Charlotte's game here! box scores

Indiana at New York: no indications stated. Played to the last second of overtime at MSG. box scores

Phoenix at Los Angeles: no indications stated. I wonder how many WNBA games have there been where the total of both teams' scores exceeded 180 points? As against Phoenix' determination to get into this season is LA's really intelligent determination to take every advantage of this period's stretch of home games. box scores

June 14

Seattle at Minnesota: indications off: I said: "Minnesota, this is the game everyone else in the West wants them to lose." They lost, to a Seattle team playing simply out of body: Seimone scored 32 points, but no other Lynx player was in double digits. Question: Is Minnesota going to redouble its efforts now to match what was encountered here, seeing what the level of play is this time around, or resign? The Minnesota mindset is its biggest hindrance. box scores (again, try 'right click'/'open in a new window')

Sacramento at Houston: indications on: Sacramento is (albeit momentarily, but nonetheless) in the 5th spot in the West. box scores

June 13

I can only acknowledge these games:

Charlotte at Washington

Indiana at New York

Phoenix at Los Angeles

June 14

Seattle at Minnesota: Minnesota, this is the game everyone else in the West wants them to lose.

Sacramento at Houston: Houston, Sacramento is absent without being present in this season.

During halftime sports update during one of the WNBA radiocast over the weekend, someone said that Justine had won the womens final.

I was much not grateful. Didn't he know that it might be weeks or months before I might have an opportunity to prop me legs up and watch my tennis taping? The nerve of some people.

Much as I anticipated, in all the WNBA games scheduled over weekend, the hometown fans were treated to wins except in San Antonio.

June 9th

Seattle at Connecticut: indications on. if you don't already, try right clicking the link and select 'open in a new window' for box scores

Indiana at Charlotte: indications on (Charlotte has a good team.) box scores

Minnesota at San Antonio: indications off. box scores

New York at Houston: indications on. box scores

Chicago at Los Angeles: indications on. box scores

Detroit at Phoenix: indications on: Phoenix did what I could not in the indications express: kick buck. Expect more WNBA. box scores


June 10th

New York at San Antonio: indications off. Only because I saw it with my own eyes in person could you have made me believe that New York played the night before (wait Nancy Wilson is interfering in this past particle principle past verbal sentence I'm trying to do here.) This is definitely time for a rewrite: I was at the Comets game Friday night, but, watching the webcast Saturday, it did not appear that the Liberty were also at that game. Better? Now my music back . . .. Box Score

Chicago at Sacramento: indications on, but Chicago plays. Box Score



June 11th

Washington at Connecticut: indications on. For the life of me I could not "see" Nikki Teasley in her Mystics uniform during the game; I had to rely on the announcers' saying "that was Nikki Teasley." But at the end of the webcast, she said that she was from DC, so maybe next time it won't be so hard. Box Score

Seattle at Indiana: indications on. Box Score

Houston at Minnesota: indications on. Houston, with all of its "experience", did look like they were coming off a back-to-back (three times I checked that they didn't have a game between this and the NY game Friday night): you could see as they walked toward the locker room at half time that they were spent. Svetlana looked good out there, but not as good as she's got. Box Score

She's in town tonight, too, though not with Ruth Riley and the Shock.

all photos copyright the author 2004, 2006

Actually, Becky Hammon (No. 25) and Marie Ferdinand (No. 33) played for the something Fury in the NWBL (not today!) in 2003. (Another story for another day.) (Believe me I am going to have some words with that Mr. Fuji Film man as soon as I get there: I mean 'What do you mean! What are you trying to say here!") Is that Shemeka Randall No. 21? (I'm asking you!)

all photos copyright the author 2003, 2006

Okay, this game will not break the current growth momentum of the tour, and just think about the Steffi Graf days, and the Martina Hinges reign. But dare we watch this final at Roland Garros?

Nicole Vaidisova, the 17 year old who defeated Mauresmo and Venus, was one set up, serving for the match at 5-4 (it's game, set, match: Nicole won the first set, and led Svetlana Kuznetsova 5 games to 4 in the second set, needing to win only one more game, which she was serving, to win the second set and thus the match.) Svetlana Kuznetsova recovered, won that set in a tie breaker (not this time), and then took the third set 6-2 (and thus the match.) Full Story

Still, "defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne whipped Kim Clijsters 6-3 6-2 to move into her third Roland Garros final", says the RolandGarros.com news summary. Full Story

Yes, but that is not the story here: the story is what Henin-Hardenne did to Frenchwoman Mary Pierce in the finals last year: 6-1 6-1. Henin-Hardenne queen of France

Dare we watch this time: "French Open, Women's Final" NBC, Sat Jun 10 08:00am CDT 120 min.

Above: Nicole Vaidisova

Below: Svetlana Kuznetsova

photos source: rolandgarros.com

In all the WNBA games scheduled this weekend, I see the home team prevailing.

June 9th

Seattle at Connecticut: the Juggernaut is floundering

Indiana at Charlotte: Charlotte is a good team, and it's a good time in the season for them to begin to move.

Minnesota at San Antonio: the Stars finally bring their hot streak before the people of SA, with an entertaining Seimone to boot. (I don't consider attending SA games on days the Comets are also at home, of course, I'm a season ticket holder; however, this would be a opportune time to make an exception.)

New York at Houston: actually, I'm looking forward to the Becky Hammon photo op!

Chicago at Los Angeles

Detroit at Phoenix: Phoenix is going to do what I am unable to express at the moment.


June 10th

New York at San Antonio: I'll decide in the next couple of hours if I'll be able to make this one (thus the weekend indications forecast- it is the hardest thing to leave.)

Chicago at Sacramento: (ahem) this is the expansion team and the reigning champs (somebody nudge those people).


June 11th

Washington at Connecticut: ho, hum; good, but not that good.

Seattle at Indiana: the Juggernaut is floundering.

Houston at Minnesota

Connecticut at New York: indications on. NY had previously won their one game for the season. Box Score

Washington at Indiana: indications off. Indiana: okay, I'll take your word for it. Box Score

Chicago at Seattle: indications on: coach's determination to hold off the charge by the expansion team. Box Score

Detroit at Los Angeles: indications off. I would normally correlate 19 points by Ruth Riley with a Detroit win. Didn't happen. Box Score And about Chamique: Holdsclaw rejoins Sparks after tending to ill relatives

Connecticut at New York: Connecticut; they would sleep through their season were it not for Detroit.

Washington at Indiana: Washington, with their current momentum they are game for anybody in the WNBA.

Chicago at Seattle: the Juggernaut, coach's determination.

Detroit at Los Angeles: Detroit; Chamique is back, but Detroit is ready.

By no means do I exclude track and field, golf and figure skating from women's sports.

Not being mainstream, I'm gaining tremendously in being able to write expressively over technically- even given language as a social convention. Still, there is a little something a second person, another person, is due in the reading. Blogging on no, I am still about that "something".

In the years I have followed women's sports, I have found that there is underlying reason and rhyme.

I just don't know what it is.

More. (Plus I have to get your heads ready for this.)

Pictured: Alina Kabaeva

Photo source: sport.gazeta.ru

It is now officially June 7, 2006, 6/7/6, whew, what a . . ..

Houston at Washington: indications on. There is hardly any enmity between Washington and Houston, but there is much enmity between Delisha Milton-Jones, Nikki Teasley, Latasha Byears and, especially, Chasity Melvin and the Comets. Much don't like each other. Much. And don't believe that Washington coach Richie Adubato was in anyway displeased. I thought you might like to watch the game to count how many times Tina Thompson landed flat on her buck. (Many believe Delisha got her 'tude from Lisa Leslie. No way! Nobody can cop 'tude like Delisha; when I heard she was getting married, I was startled: married, you mean there is manufactured something that can withstand . . ..) Box Score

Sacramento at Phoenix: indications off. More data is needed here. I do not understand Phoenix' four loses to this point. I do not understand this win. Box Score Right on time! Let me crank this up: Natalie Cole "Stay with me (baby)".

Now when you go to the WNBA's broadband site (http://www.wnba.com/broadband/wnba_league_pass.jsp), here's what it says:

1. Sign Up--It's Free!
2. Check the Schedule

Okay, not good at following instructions. No webcast tonight the site says (but with all the games scheduled for June webcasting . . . what I get for thinking.)

But check out the archive of tapings of games previously played. When they started this several years ago (free last year), only summaries and some post season games where archived, but these seem to be the full deal!

6-7 6-1 6-3. So maybe Mauresmo was right: Nicole Vaidisova did not defeat her mentally.

Martina Hingis also exited with the help of Kim Clijsters 7-6 6-1.

Phot source: Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer (FRANCE)

Houston at Washington: Washington, but do not miss this webcast! And this is the beginning of this season!

Sacramento at Phoenix: Sacramento (mind sets: "we're supposed to beat them" meeting "we're supposed to be beaten by them".) On ESPN2.

June 3rd

Los Angeles at New York: indications not stated (but I would have been wrong). My taping of the ABC broadcast ran out with about 1:30 left in overtime. Lisa and Murriel Page (that is her first name) had fouled out. I had to exit to work. I was still expecting to find that when I got to see the scores Christi Thomas, Temeka Johnson, Jessica Moore and Tamara Moore would hove chalked up an LA win. That's coach Bryant's confidence. Becky Hammond and company insisted that harsh reality be faced, and that wasn't real! Box Scores

Charlotte at Connecticut: indications not stated (no brainer). Charlotte played the Sun within a point or less in the first, second and fourth quarters, but three quarters do not a full game make. Box Scores

Detroit at Washington: Indications not stated (I would have seen Washington, though Cheryl Ford is easily a match for Latasha Byers; right now it's the tandem that's making the WNBA a pro league to wake up in.) Interestingly, Detroit held Latasha Byears to 3 points, then lost the game to the other part of the Ex-LA gone East tandem, Delisha Milton-Jones and Nikki Teasley, who combined for 32 points. Box Scores


June 4th

Minnesota at Houston: indications off. Seeing Minnesota's performance in the LA game as anything but a statistical outlier was much misplaced: Minnesota's shooting was horrible in comparison to expectations. Much fine tuning is needed if Minnesota is to do anything more than make the playoffs. Box Score

Detroit at Chicago: indications on. Told'cha: coach's determination. Box Score

San Antonio at Seattle: indications off. San Antonio bested the Juggernaut in its lair. Period. No additional comment. Box Score

Rejection . . .

I knew that Maria Sharapova had lost early yesterday morning at the French Open, but saw only while flipping through sites doing some quick research earlier today that Amelie Mauresmo had been ousted yesterday as well. I'm sure the French were sorely disappointed; however, when I turned a few moments ago to rolandgarros.com and sonyericssonwtatour.com, the official WTA site, Amelie Mauresmo news had long since been archived. How fickle public adoration. And look at the WTA's slant (or, better, bent): Nicole Notches No.1 Victory, referring to the 17 teen year old Czech Nicole Vaidisova who bested Mauresmo. Mauresmo's chances of ever being that French women to win the French Open? There are now doubters: Paris jinx downs Mauresmo once again.

elation . . .

consternation: the 17 year old next faces Venus

photo sources: (in order) Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Benoit Tessier (FRANCE) ; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Regis Duvignau (FRANCE); Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Regis Duvignau (FRANCE)

# posted by wonderbot @ 4:20 PM 0 comments

I'm going to be missing a significant piece of data, but I'm forecasting without yesterday's scores: I still haven't watched my video taping of the game on ABC yesterday. What would be a particularly significant datum here was Detroit's response to the ex-LA-gone-East tandem in Washington. But the taping is still just as exciting days later if I haven't peeped the scores. (This WNBA season is so fast paced, I missed the forecast for yesterday altogether. I lost a day somewhere.)

Minnesota at Houston: good game here in a few, but it's going to be Minn.

Detroit at Chicago: Chicago would kick but for coach's determination. It's going to be Detroit.

San Antonio at Seattle: home team; prove "hot!" to me!

As far as I can determine, no lower seed or unseeded player has defeated a higher seed in women's singles. This is a dream come true for the French Open organizers, of course: there will be probably two big crowd drawing names for all of the remaining matches of the tournament. The round of 8 and the semis promise to be exciting, and telling of what's forthcoming on the tour for the remainder of the year. "And it all started here in Paree'", though, for sure, Roland Garros is a clay court venue.

Maria Sharapova in her third round match versus Australia's Alicia Molik, which Maria won 6-0 7-5. Photo source: Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Michel Spingler.

June 1st

Connecticut at Charlotte: indications off. Clearly, it's time to exploit the team, the women, of Charlotte for their greatest strength: thinking - give them a thinking game to run against brute instinct. Box Score

New York at Detroit: indications on. Box Score

June 2nd

Indiana at Minnesota: indications on. Box Score

Phoenix at Seattle: indications on. Box Score

Chicago at Houston: indications off. Chicago represented well at the beginning of the season; I think we see that being developed further. Box Score

San Antonio at Sacramento: indications off. Still not ready to pencil San Antonio in for anything other than the occasional adrenalin spurt. When was the last time the people of San Antonio saw a win? July 26, 2005. Box Score

Phoenix at Seattle: the home team.

Chicago at Houston: Chicago is going to match Houston's intensity with some over.

Indiana at Minnesota: the home team.

San Antonio at Sacramento: the home team.

Connecticut at Charlotte: the home team.

New York at Detroit: this is not going to be the one game this season New York will win.

Los Angeles at Minnesota: indications on. Box Score

Seattle at Sacramento: indications on. Box Score

Indiana at Houston: no indications. Here's what I said: "[T]he whole idea of a league that garners public support is in this game: Indiana should walk away from this game with a 4-0 record." The Fever's website is noting this tonight in response to the game: "Indiana has never won at Houston, going 0-6 since 2000." And here's what I've got to say to that: I know! I've endured all six games! Box Score

San Antonio at Phoenix: indications off. Box Score