The Third Eye - Charles Hallman

Save Black radio

2009-05-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

If U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) have his way, Black radio will go the dinosaur route.

His current bill, H.R. 848, intended to help artists get what they deserve, but instead, unless changes are made, will in effect, kill Black radio as we know it.

Currently, any time a song is played on the radio, its author and publisher gets a cut. However, Conyers wants the singer to get paid as well -- hence, The Performance Rights Act.

However, the way it is written, all radio stations will have to pay double: to ASCAP, which collect royalties fees for writers and publishers, and a second fee to the record companies, who supposedly will pay the artists.

With only four percent of the nation's radio stations owned by Blacks, and with the media business struggling mightily at this time, this will kill Black radio. Especially those who have talk shows and Gospel music, two formats that historically don't make a lot of money, and is typically supported by music stations.

According to Cathy Hughes, Radio One owner, Conyers apparently aren't listening to her and her fellow colleagues about this. He is not looking at the bigger picture.

I am all about helping artists get their due, but not at the expense of Black radio, which barely exist today.

Go to judiciary.house.gov/news and read Conyers' bill. If you agree with it, then do nothing.

But if you don't, and considering Hughes, Warren Ballentine and others' reactions to it, then don't stop until you contact your Congressman or woman, or Conyers himself, to voice your opposition.

Don't wait until the plug is pulled, which sometimes we as Black people do -- protest when it is too late, to react to this.

Save Black radio -- it is the only true medium of information and not blowhards that we got.

Activist questions U.S. prison system

2009-03-11T13:00:00.000-07:00

Legendary prison activist Angela Davis wants an overhaul of the current U.S. prison system.

According to Davis, it continues to be nothing more than a place to put good and bad people away, serving neither group much good. In a March 4 speech at St. Cloud State University, the University of California-Santa Cruz professor made it clear that she didn't advocate letting all prisoners free but current rehabilitation methods aren't working.

"We put people in prison and forget about the problem," Davis told a student crowd, many of whom wasn't even alive when she reached national prominence in the late 1960s.

Davis believes that if the U.S. would work harder to improve the educational system, eventually the need for prisons will be less and less.

It was my first time hearing Davis in person -- she is currently featured in HBO's "The Black List, No. 2." She admits she is a feminist, but not a bleeding-heart one.

"I think some people get stuck on the word 'feminism," she notes. "The 'F" word is not that important to me. I like to see men refer themselves as feminists, too."

George Bush "was a major obstacle in so many ways" but President Barack Obama has done much more in his little over two months in office, said Davis. "We can see the possibility of (him) overturning most of the damage Bush and (former Vice-President Dick) Cheney done."

However, Davis warns that President Obama is not"a Messiah." She added that change will not come from one individual, but "community collectively can bring about change."

Several on-campus organizations sponsored Davis' appearance, which occurred a week after Black History Month concluded and on the opening week of Women's History Month, which is observed during March.

"As we celebrate Black History Month and Women's History Month, we tend to focus only on individuals," Davis surmised. "We have names here and there, like Rosa Parks, but we don't know how to acknowledge all those women who (also) refused to ride the bus. We tend to know how to recognize individuals but not (entire) communities."

You can read more about Davis' St. Cloud visit and speech on www.spokesman-recorder.com

Have we lost Detroit?

2008-12-12T07:05:00.000-08:00

Gil Scott-Heron once penned a song, "We Almost Lost Detroit," which spotlighted a dangerous accident at a nuclear power plant in Monroe, Michigan. It didn't get as much publicity as the Three Mile Island incident, maybe the Motor City after all is nothing more than an once-powerful major U.S. city, now just a desolate piece of land mostly occupied by Black folk.

If Scott-Heron wanted to do a remake, he easily could sing, "GOP did lose Detroit."

A proposed $14 billion plan to rescue the U.S. auto industry failed to get through the U.S. Senate Thursday. Ever since it was proposed, lawmakers decried it.

The Big Three didn't deserve a bailout. Not unlike the Wall Street robber barons, who got their federal "come and get it" handout without any condition imposed.

But not Detroit --- they had to make deep concessions in order to get not a bailout, but a "bridge" loan.

No such demands placed on greedy Wall Street financiers who make outrageous loans that came back to bite them squarely in the butt. But instead auto workers, who already made big concessions both in 2005 and 2007 to help keep the auto industry alive, including no pay raises in their current contract, to again dig deep in their pockets and lose some more.

While they sit in their corner offices and take three-hour martini lunches, real workers are risking their lives to make cars.

I know. I once worked in a Chrysler plant. Eight to ten hours a day, during tedious work. Dirty. Grimly. Dangerous.

Yet we workers had pride in our work, on our line. There was a sense of accomplishment, albeit weary and tired, at the end of our shift.

But yet the Senate want these workers to again sacrifice their wages in order to save their jobs.

Clearly, Wall Street is more important than Jefferson Avenue. White collars are more important than blue collars.

"We cannot let a cornerstone of the American economy got into bankruptcy," said U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison (D-Minneapolis) on Wednesday. The House approved the same measure that the Senate voted down.

Ellison quoted estimates from the Economic Policy Institute that if even one of the three automakers go bankrupt, at least three million jobs could be lost in 2009. "We can assist the auto industry in their recovery and help to reshape it in a way that makes sense economically, or we can watch the devastating impact bankruptcy would have on hard-working American families," the congressman added.

Furthermore, it will put Detroit in a further depressed state: it leads the nation in foreclosures. Downtown has been a ghost town for years. The existing tax base has been eroding ever since the auto industry first came into peril back in the 1970s.

I agree that the Big Three should have made changes at least two decades ago. Their stubbornness not to retool and produce more fuel efficient cars, which in result, would produce more affordable automobiles.

But it isn't the workers' fault. Nor is it President-elect Barack Obama's.

Instead, the current responsibility to help the automakers fail clearly on the current President: George Bush's lackadaisical approach to this, unlike his coming forward to help the AIGs of the world, is just another sad notch on his sad legacy.

Meanwhile, the White House stands on the sidelines, keeping their white collars clean of this current financial mess: "We believe that the economy is in such a weakened state right now that -- another possible loss of 1 million jobs is just something our economy cannot sustain," spokeswoman Dana Perino said Thursday.

Such tough talk from a lame duck administration.

We almost lost Detroit three decades ago. Unless something is done quick, a search party soon will be needed to find the Motor City because it will be gone.

A dangerous person in tow

2008-11-11T05:58:00.000-08:00

It has been only a week since the election, and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin already acting like she's the 2012 GOP presidential nominee.

We found that Palin played Daffy Duck to John McCain's Bugs Bunny in her role in helping him lose the election. Yet she boldly wants to blame others, including the media and George Bush for the defeat. She accomplished nothing but dealt America's looking at a woman for national office a serious setback because Palin was far and away not qualified.

Instead of heading back and be the governor of Alaska, Palin is dealing with election day hangover with veiled declarations that she will be the Republicans' new standard bearer, allowing her intoxication with fame and flirtation with power that she was exposed to for the last three months totally consume her.

The last time I read, we have a new president. The 2012 campaign haven't commence as yet. But Palin foolishly has thrown her hat in the ring.

Palin is a dangerous person. Don't let the "aw, shucks" shtick fool you, like she is some 21st Century Jed Campett, when instead she acts more like Mrs. Drysdale.

As a conservative, Palin preaches separatism as she blindly defines who's "a real American" and using Mr. Magoo directions, point out to us where the "real America" is when she can't tell us what Africa is, what countries make up the North American free trade agreement or the titles of the magazines she reads.

Her idea of diversity, as she proudly claim, is her family, which is all White. This explains why Palin is the first Alaskan governor to not have a single person of color in her administration.

As an evangelical Christian, Palin during the campaign props up Joe Six Pack, which I believe refers to someone who drinks beer, like they were Jesus Christ.

She claims to be a soccer mom, but used a GOP-issued credit card to go on a shopping spree like she hit the lottery, then play it off like she's entitled.

She was supposed to be No. 2 on the Republican ticket, but Palin self-appointed herself queen, and played Marie Antoinette, virtually stabbing McCain in the back at every opportunity. The O'Jays' "Back Stabbers" should be her theme song.

If she can do this to friends, what'd you think Palin will do to her enemies besides name calling and false accusations.

And don't rule out Palin, either appointing herself as U.S. senator if and when current Sen. Stevens is booted out, or running in a special election, using this to get back in the national spotlight.

Memo to the spotlight operators: please pack up your equipment and run away from her as fast as possible. Stop giving her any air play -- Palin is a non-factor. We have turned the corner.

Honestly, moose isn't the only ones who should worry about this Manchurian candidate, who is acting like she's the shoo-in for the next election, which is over four years away. Palin rather should stick to running her state.

If twice you succeed, why not try again

2008-09-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

Where else but Florida, home of the 2000 stolen presidential election, that once again GOP shadiness is afoot.

NPR reported Friday that registered Democrats have received mailings from the Republican National Committee, informing them that records show that they are registered Republicans. Of course, this isn't the case, and of course, RNC officials deny everything but that the other party registered folk received the wrong mailing.

Warning to Floridians, and everyone else -- don't open any mailing from either party. If you applied for an absentee ballot, make sure that it is official. If you are not sure, then go to your local secretary of state office for verification.

Remember, the GOP have done this twice before, and they are not beyond thinking along these cheating lines again in order to suppress voter turnout.

Stay forewarned and former vigilant.

In other related news . . . The McCain-Palin "traveling salvation show" swept through Minnesota Friday, speaking to 10,000 at a Blaine airport hanger. A 16-vehicle motorcade carried the two to the same folk they are used to speaking to.

McCain has yet to swing through the Black community here, as opposed to his opponent Barack Obama, who has. Instead the GOP running mates, who seemed now joined at the hip, speaks to suburban and rural crowds, steering way clear of urban areas.

It's keeping with McCain's "Country First" theme.

Again, be forewarned and forever vigilant.

Save Troy Davis

2008-09-19T05:34:00.001-07:00

Following is my interview with Troy Davis, who is scheduled for execution on Sept. 23 unless the Georgia Parole Board changes its mind, from May, 2007, and later published in the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (www.spokesman-recorder.com)

Troy Anthony Davis was all set to join the U.S. military. Instead, he has been locked up in a Georgia prison for almost two decades.
Davis was convicted and condemned to die in 1991 for killing a Savannah, Ga. police officer. After having exhausted his appeals, Davis was scheduled to die by lethal injection July 17th until the Georgia parole board granted him a 90-day stay of execution for “evaluating and analyzing the evidence provided during the board appointment.”
After he was sentenced, seven of nine witnesses who testified in his trial that he shot Mark Allen MacPhail in 1989 have recanted their testimonies and now say Davis did not shoot the police officer. Davis all along has contended that he is innocent of the crime.
Davis and a group of friends were outside a Greyhound bus station in Savannah, where a man was getting beat up on by Sylvester Coles. After being told by Coles to get away while trying to break it up, Davis and a friend then left the scene.
McPhail, who was off-duty at the time, then came over to offer assistance, and was shot twice. He was White.
A few days later, Davis was out of town preparing to join the Marines, when family members called and told him that he was wanted for the shooting. Davis then turned himself in. Two years later, he was convicted and has been on Georgia death row ever since.
In an exclusive interview in May, MSR asked Davis several questions. The following are his unedited responses:

MSR: Troy, explain how have you kept your composure, patience, sanity, etc. during almost two decades of maintaining your innocence?
TD: I have been able to remain positive and keep my composure due to having a strong family and truly believing that my innocence has to come to light somehow. My mother raised us to believe in God so I asked God to keep me safe and help me prove my innocence. It hasn’t been an easy road trying to be patient, but I am a strong minded person. I see so many traumas, sadness, fear and many other emotions in the other death row inmates, and hatred from some of the people that work here.

MSR: Throughout the entire ordeal, why hasn’t the authorities heard your side of the story?
TD: The authorities wanted to find a cop killer. Once Sylvester Coles (who testified against him) and his lawyer pointed the finger at me, they made a secret deal agreeing not to charge him if Sylvester (Red) gave them what they wanted. They took his word at face value and thought it was an open and shut case. In order for the authorities to even entertain my side of the story, they would have to admit to lies, coercion, unethical conduct and threats they made to me.

Soon after the McPhail shooting, Coles and his lawyer went to the police and made a statement exonerating him and implicating Davis as the gunman. During the trial, Coles admitted that he carried a .38 caliber handgun, the same type of gun used in the shooting. However, investigators never found the murder weapon.

MSR: Did you do anything to Sylvester Coles that you would think spur him to falsely accuse you?
TD: I have never done anything to Sylvester Coles (Red). Red always has been a very mean spirited person, who felt as if guns were his power. I am assuming he thought I might snitch on him because he had the gun, and he was attacking that man, so he ran to the police station a few hours after the shooting with a lawyer and pointed the finger at me. I did not even know anyone was shot, especially a policeman until my family told me I was on the news.

MSR: Anything that I didn’t ask that you wish to talk about?
TD: The incident started for me when I tried to stop Red from pistol whipping and attacking a homeless man over a can of beer. The man was struck by a left-handed attacker, as he testified. I am right handed.
I want people to know, I voluntarily turned myself in, once I knew I was suspected of the murder. I had nothing to hide and I thought by telling the truth I would be released. Once at the police station, the only question was, “Tell us where the gun is and make it easy on yourself.” In their minds, I was already guilty and convicted. They never asked me what happened that night, and from then on my life and the life of my family was forever changed.
My prayers go out sincerely to Mr. McPhail’s family. They hate me because of lies but until a court agrees to view all the new real evidence of what happened, they’ll never know the truth. They deserve justice. Just like I do.
I refuse to hate those who stole my life from me because that is not who I am. I am angry that I have missed so much of my life and my family’s life. I have missed my father’s funeral.
I just want my freedom back. I want justice once and for all.

Vikings coach bailed out

2008-09-18T04:55:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress caved in worse than a house of cards by benching starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. This bail out is nothing compared to what the federal government recently did with ING and the Mae's, but the head coach's action tells you something about the man.

His word is about as good as a three-dollar bill.

All off season long, Childress told the world that Jackson was his QB. Then two games into the 2008 season, the coach pulled the starting rug right from under the young man's feet. Instead, Childress names journeyman Gus Freotte as starter for the remainder of the season, much to the delight of Vikings fans, and more importantly, the Twin Cities media.

Jackson's vote of confidence from Childress lasted all but two games and barely 48 hours.

Childress cowardly bowed to media pressure, many of whom never was high on Jackson in the first place. Now they can go around with dislocated shoulders from all the back patting they're doing.

These media second-guessers or every morning quarterbacks essentially forced Childress to switch quarterbacks, and the coach responded in kind. He sent a clear message that whenever the Twin Cities scribes say jump, Childress doesn't ask how high, but instead just bends over and start kissing their feet. It's easy for him to do that because based on his latest decision, Childress has no backbone.

It's common knowledge that pro quarterbacks usually take longer to develop, learning to correctly read the myriad of defensive schemes thrown at them, which are not seen during their college days. There has been few QBs who have come into the NFL that prepared.

The brothers Manning struggled before they got the right offensive line, backfield and the right coaching and tutorage to properly mold them into their now great selves.

Should we attribute Jackson's struggles to the same? I would, but most of the local scribes would beg to differ. Did Jackson play all 22 positions in the two Minnesota losses? No.

Is he solely the blame for the defeats? Depending on who is asked, will determine the answer to this question.

If you ask the local scribes, they'd say yes. If you ask Vikings fans, they'd say yes.

If you ask a head coach who months previous said that Jackson was his man through think and thin, that he'd back him all the way, Childress' recent actions also would say yes.

I feel for Jackson, not that he lost his starting job, but how again can he trust the head coach, now knowing that when the heat is on, Childress is outta there looking for cover.

Stay away from anti-Obama book site

2008-09-17T05:56:00.000-07:00

The Republican National Committee on Tuesday launched new "friend updates" on its slam Barack web sit (actually called BarackBook).

It links Obama with Alaska state senator Hollis French, who according to the RNC is connected with special council Steve Branchflower, who is investigating Gov. Sarah Palin.

Give it to the RNC to spin it in their own way, making you think that Obama has something to do with Palin being investigated on allegations that she tried to have someone fired because that someone wouldn't fire her former brother-in-law.

Of course, this isn't the truth, but when have the Republicans allowed truth to get in the way.

If Palin is innocent, or not guilty, then let it be shown. If she is guilty, then let that be shown as well -- between now and Election Day.

This is more important than than propaganda tactics that the GOP love using.

Stay away from their book on Obama -- it isn't friendly and more likely, isn't true. You want the truth, check out FactCheck.org., a non-partisan web site dedicated to examine what each candidate is saying. Thus far, it has been finding out that John McCain's nose has been growing just as long as the RNC's list of mistruths in this campaign.

That's what it is even more important to vote. If you're not registered, get registered.

If you need an absentee ballot, call your local secretary of state office and get one. Get one now, fill it out and send it in.

Don't take anything that is not official -- if you are not sure, take it to the officials (not the GOPers) and have it checked out.

These sneaky Republicans will try anything to steal this election.

Remember 2000 and 2004!

50 days and counting down

2008-09-16T06:16:00.000-07:00

There are 50 days left in the presidential campaign and if Sen. Barack Obama is to win, he quickly needs to change strategy.

Obama must get 90 percent or more of the Black vote, 70 or more percent of females, and at least 20 percent of those who claim to be independent if he wants to win in less than two months from today.

Sen. John McCain is avoiding urban America like the plague -- he and his running mate is focusing on the suburbs and rural American instead.

If I was advising him, following is my plan to get the three aforementioned groups -- none of which are locks in the Obama camp.

One, there are 14 million Black registered voters, and 9 million of them did not vote for Obama during the primaries. Therefore, he should do weekly teleconference calls with the Black press: mainstream media isn't going to get his message out to urban America -- the Black press is better at doing that.

Two, send Sen. Hilary Clinton out to address the women. If she is committed to helping Obama win as she claimed during the convention, then action and words are better than a glorified speech. She can rally the females, which would truly negate McCain's Sarah Palin, who really is speaking to the White male gun-toters.

Then have her husband, former President Bill Clinton, follow up right after his wife, to charm the masses. No one can give an impromtu speech better than Clinton, who also could follow after Obama to help seal the deal.

Third, Obama must go on radio talk shows (this is what Warren Ballentine has been saying for the longest). But in addition to Black radio program, which Ballentine suggest, I would add that Obama also hit those middle of the road outlet, and take only listeners' questions.

There will be some crazies who will call in, but that can be easily negated with the good ones. This way, the senator is speaking directly to the people, listening to them and answering them. It would be his own town hall meeting, and every city has a talk station or something close to it.
Don't go to those right-wing stations because Obama isn't going to win over those folk.

Fourth, Obama must stay on message every time he speaks. Get your points on every pertinent issue every time the camera and microphone is on. This gives him a free 30-second TV and radio spot because the media are covering him. This would go further than those political ads, and would hit those independents.

Finally, if the Democrats are to win the White House for the first time in this century, then every one of them must get out on the campaign trail. Send Joe Biden to the small towns. As mentioned earlier, send out the Clintons. And where is the Congressional Black Causus -- they should be speaking out more for Obama, talking to the Black press as well, doing the attacking on McCain and Palin, exposing the lies and deceitfulness of the GOP campaign.

The 50-day hourglass sand is running.

Can we get back on track

2008-09-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

Is this presidential campaign about makeup or issues?

Sen. Barack Obama's so-called "lipstick" remark wasn't about Gov. Sarah Palin. We all have something like this, including Sen. John McCain, to talk about saying something crazy or bad and trying to dress it up as something fresh and new.

But the McCain campaign's outrage over this smells like Karl Rove. It's stinks!

Using CBS' Katie Coric's earlier remark about sexism during Sen. Hillary Clinton's primary campaign in their latest ad attacking Obama, is another Rove tactic that McCain is using.

But didn't Palin started all this mess with her asinine comments about the difference between herself, a so-called hockey mom, and a pitbull.

"Lipstick," she gladly told the GOP convention folk last week.

However, I am not looking for the next president's Max Factor knowledge; rather I am looking for an extreme makeover.

Am I hearing this so far? Not from McCain. Not from Palin, who's getting more celebrity treatment from the media than anything Obama supposedly received.

What happened to the high road campaign McCain earilier promised that he would conduct? It went out the window as soon as he chose Palin as running mate. She has been on the attack ever since her selection.

Like a pit bull . . . oops!

And just like Obama shouldn't, I won't apologize for this.

Isn't it time to get back to the pertinent issues: economy, health care, education and post-working security? Isn't it time to stop playing up to the crowds, the folk that is going to vote for you anyhow, and tell me something about how as president, you are going to make things radically different than the last eight years of lies and deceit, or

The last night was a bang

2008-09-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

While Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain spoke inside on peace and prosperity Thursday night, outside the few blocks away from the 2008 GOP convention, it was a return to the past.

Police from near and far, came loaded for bear, as over 200 protesters were arrested during demonstrations.

As I left the Xcel Energy Center for the final time this week, walking down the narrow passageway created to keep those not wearing convention badges from entering, I watched scores of police dressed in war-like garb from head to toe. Helicopters constantly surrounded us from above.

After finally being allowed to leave the 'compound,' I got to see first-hand what was happening.

A group, estimated at over 700, had a permit to rally and march, but according to police, it had expired at 5 p.m. Thursday. The demonstrators wasn't taking no for an answer, and neither was the police, who lined up across the John Ireland Boulevard bridge over Interstate 94.

One officer dressed for war, complete with gas mask, told me that they stopped the demonstrators in their tracks.

"You can check CNN's web site," said one officer when asked for some details. He and two fellow officers -- all from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were diverting traffic elsewhere: "We don't know," chimed the other two as they walked away from me.

Since I parked in the Sears store's parking lot, I had to choice but to get in the midst of the mess.

It was nothing short of a scene from those 60s protest marches:

"The whole world is watching," one of the repeated sayings bellowed among the crow

A 30-year-old man, originally from Kenya, who now lives in St. Paul, stood and watched what was going on. He and others wanted to join the protesters but were blocked by police.

"We are just shocked to see what's going on here," he notes. "This is the same as Zimbabwe."

What happened to free speech, asked another 30-year-old, who migrated here from Cameroon.

"We think this is just a method of . . . not allowing the GOP to see people protesting," he adds. "That is so wrong."

Apparently the police earlier decided that they were not going to allow another incident that took place on Monday, where windows were broken and tires slashed in downtown St. Paul.

"They didn't marched when they supposed to, so this is what is happening now," says Marvin, who was among the citizen "Peace Team" that St. Paul police often employ to help with marches and large gatherings. "They (the police) got (the crowd) in an holding area. This is a big night for McCain."

When asked, were all these folk the troublemakers the media has spoke about all week, Marvin responded, "You ain't ducking are you? We are (standing) talking. I would think it is pretty safe. You always have a few folk who does the alternative, but I think most people want to stand up for their rights."

Later, as the protesters retreated off the bridge, being told by police to move, they headed east to another bridge, cutting through the ground around the Veterans Affairs building. It was like following golfers around, I and others followed closely behind, while the police did a John Wayne and headed them off at the pass, stopping at them at the next checkpoint.

"Let us march," said the protesters before they plopped down and sat en masse in the intersection -- police instead stood in a Black Adder array: the first line with officers on horses, who used the street as their convenient restroom, with two more lines with clubs and pepper spray. As most of the crowd members sat unarmed, the police were strapped down like they were about to be dispatched to Iraq or Afghanistan, not downtown St. Paul.

And the crowd chanted: "Whose street? Our street. Whose war? Their war?"

"I think that when the sun goes down, it is going to get crazy," predicted a photographer.

He was right. It did. On this night, it was war in these streets.

Almost 90 people later were arrested, including two reporters. About a dozen more media members were also issued citations but later released.

"I'm seeing police acting like we are in another country," observed a 28-year-old male onlooker. "They are arresting people for nothing. They are using horses to knock people over. This is really weird."

I constantly took pictures (which my newspaper plan to run in our next edition) and recorded sound. At one point, I watched police intensely searched a man for dangerous weapons or something. He didn't have any, and they pushed him along. The police, however, allowed me to keep taking pictures uninhibited.

I spoke to two local reporters were roughed up by the peace officers.

"We were in the circle, and they asked us to leave," explained Jeff Shaw, a City Pages web editor. "I showed them my press pass, and they told me that I had to leave the circle. I told them that this is a public street. I got shoved, and I fell down. The next thing I had three to four cops were shoving (me), and one cop was shoving me with his billy club. Then I got throw out of the circle."

"I kept saying that I was a member of the media and not a protester, but they kept shoving me around," continued Shaw.

Andy Mannix, an intern at City Pages, got maced. "One guy told me to get down (on the ground), and I put my hands behind my head. They started macing me from behind and at the side of my head and face, and told me to get the f*** up. He helped me get up by grabbing my body and hoisted me."

"We didn't nothing to provoke them," says Shaw. "We repeatedly said that we are not resisting and just doing our job."

While McCain spoke of change, and balloons and streamers dropped from the ceiling, was he and the GOP convention goers aware of what was happening outside? Did they really cared during the coronation of their king?

"It is not fair to me," said a 27-year-old mother of two, who only wanted to get to her night job at the "CNN Grill," a restaurant that the cable news company temporary took over for the convention. The police would not allow her to cross their human barrier to continue to work, despite holding a special pass, given out to employees who work at businesses near the convention site.

"The rude-ass police told me that he didn't give a damn what pass I got," she said. "I am not going to be able to cross over until the protesting is down. They (are) missing with my money. I got food and bills to fu**ing pay. They can protest all they want - I just want to get to work."

She soon turned around and walked to the bus line to go back home.

"I've been trying to get to my car for over three hours," adds a 44-year-old man, who works in the area, but unfortunately parked in a garage across the bridge, which was blocked by police. "I was supposed to pick up my son from day care but I had to call my sister to go pick him up.

"There are a lot of people down here who don't have nothing to do with this," he says of the protesting. "It is a mess." As he pointed across the street, "There are people on that side that needs to get over to this side. I have been looking for an escape route but there isn't any. They got all the bridges closed off."

There was good news from all of this -- the GOP convention is now history, and perhaps things around downtown St. Paul and the capitol area will soon return to some sort of normalcy.

"Thank God," the man and the woman both said in unison.

Outside the GOP convention, Part 1

2008-09-02T15:30:00.001-07:00

As a prelude to today's scheduled Poor People's March from Mears Park to the arena site of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, the 2008 National Truth Commission took testimony on economic human rights violations in the U.S.

Hosted by the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, the Sept. 1 event held at Christ Lutheran Church, just a few blocks from the RNC, was a multi-ethnic gathering of people not wearing outlandish convention-style costumes, or holding state placards.

There were cheers Monday night but not for a presidential nominee, but for the many speakers who came forward and testify not about the virtue of a political party using Madison Avenue slogans, but about the injustices they have faced in the greatest country on Earth.

"I can not afford health care," Annette Toney of Cleveland, Ohio told the audience. "I do not want to depend on others."

Ann Patterson, who has worked as a nurse for 17 years in Minneapolis, says she has seen her monthly health insurance premiums leaped from zero to now $500. "My husband recently lost his job," explains Patterson. "We've used our credit cards, savings and our children's savings. We are not able to make it. It is stressful."

Also a mother of five children, two of which are dealing with regular health concerns, Patterson adds that despite almost two-decades experience on her job, she has seen her job lay off others with even more seniority than hers. "I have no comfort that I will have a job tomorrow," she notes.

Rev. Gregory Lockett of Tampa, Florida is dealing with high blood pressure but publicly admitted Monday night that he had on many occasions become "dishonest" in getting his medications "because if I told the truth, they (officials) would told me to go someplace else," he points out.

"The (federal) government can spend millions on a war but can't take care of its people," says Carol Sawall-Smith of Chicago. "We need to do something about the health care in our country."

Not only health care, but housing concerns also was testified about.

Donte Davis of Louisville, Kentucky and his two children live in a crowded one-bedroom apartment. "They don't understand any of this," says the single father of his children's constant bewilderment of their current living conditions.

William "J.R." Flemming of Chicago says, "(It) is a fact" that the U.S. is in violation of human rights. "I am human. I deserve human rights. If you won't do it for me, do it for my (ten) children."

These violations have been ongoing and "is being largely ignored," says Peter Brown, a Minneapolis attorney who specializes on human rights complaints. "The right to housing, health care and education is the right of everybody, everywhere," he surmises, adding that not only the U.S. is responsible but "we also bear some responsibility, especially in holding (elected) officials accountable."

After its first day, in which activities either were curtailed or postponed because of Hurricane Gustav, the GOP convention is back on track today.

But Monday's night "truth" hearing went on as scheduled. Too bad the GOP faithful, the ones with the funny hats, couldn't had boarded their bus and rolled down a few blocks and heard these folk talk.

Then again, hearing the truth is not what most conventioneers want to hear.

One down, seven to go

2008-08-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

After Minnesota's 92-78 victory Saturday over Washington, Lynx Coach Don Zierden was quick to give credit:

"I want to give our practice team a lot of credit," Zierden starts off. "We go against some athletic guys."

These eight guys: Greg Chassen, Kacey Keys, Eli Jermanous, George Dennis, Marcus Williams, along with Romone, Hans, and Joe, often are called in to provide live competition for the Lynx during practices. Using males as live scrimmage bodies is a common practice for women's college teams.

"Of our 15 practices (during the month-long Olympic break), we went against them nine times," continues the coach. "I want to credit them for how hard they pushed us, and credit our players for going against them. I think that made them better in helping them prepare for tonight."

"They really pushed us," Lynx guard Candice Wiggins says of the practice guys. "We were playing defense against them all the time."

Center Nicky Anosike adds, "The guys are bigger, stronger and faster. It really helps us as far as being able to play up to that level. Playing against them, then come into the game, it enables us to match (Washington's) physicality."

Definitely it showed throughout Saturday's contest that the guys toughened the Lynx up.

"Washington is a physical team, and I want to give my players a lot of credit," says Zierden.

Minnesota (14-13) got out in front 15-4 in the game's first five minutes, then hung on to a three-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

Then later, after a 28-28 tie, the Lynx again inched out front, mainly on the play of Vanessa Hayden-Johnson (three points), Wiggins (two points) and Charde Houston (four points) off the bench to give Minnesota a 46-38 halftime lead.

The Lynx never lost its advantage the rest of the game, but it finally took a 14-2 run midway through the final quarter to finally put to rest any notion that Washington (10-18) might had in getting back in the contest.

It was pretty, especially in the fourth quarter, when it seemed like a whistle was being blown every 10 seconds, but Minnesota notched a much-needed win to keep them in the playoff hunt.

"I knew there would be lapses tonight because we haven't played a game in over a month," continues Coach Z. "But I thought our energy and effort was pretty consistent."

"We kept our composure in the fourth quarter," says Lynx forward Seimone Augustus, whose two of her 12 points helped kick-start Minnesota's final scoring spurt.

Zierden was especially pleased with the performance of Hayden-Johnson, who finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. "She was really big tonight," says Zierden. "When she plays like that, she gives us a huge lift."

Says Hayden-Johnson, "I just wanted to help in any way that I could."

She and Wiggins (22 points) led the Lynx bench, which outscored Washington's 43-15. The team also held the Mystics to 41 percent shooting and under 80 points, along with finishing even on the boards (38 rebounds apiece). Every Minnesota player scored as well.

"There were some positives tonight," the coach surmises.

Now it's off on a road trip that either will make or break the Lynx's season, beginning Monday at Los Angeles, followed by stops at Phoenix (Sept. 3), Seattle (Sept. 6), and Sacramento (Sept. 7)

"This is where people are writing us off," believes Zierden. "These young players have fought (all season) and I am so proud of them. We are down to our last seven games -- last year at this time, we were looking at the draft -- and now we are in the playoff mix. We know it is going to be difficult going on the road, but I know one thing -- these young kids are going to compete."

Says Hayden-Johnson, one of only two Lynx players who have seen post-season play in a Minnesota uniform, "We can't depend on L.A. or (another) team to lose. We got to win and help ourselves out.

"We just got to get the job done," concludes Augustus matter-of-fact.

W.W.J.D.?

2008-08-12T06:28:00.001-07:00

This presidential campaign has gone on so long that we now must rely on airhead thoughts from movie stars and celebrities.

While watching the Olympic coverage on MSNBC, one of NBC's multiple channels covering the event, I saw a report on Angeline Jolie's voting preferences. That she hasn't decided which candidate she'll support -- Barack Obama or John McCann, because she is an independent.

In such a historical election, news media instead of speaking to common folk, gathering their opinion, or better yet, doing better coverage on issues rather than nonsense, we get to hear what political leanings an overexposed movie star (?) has.

Is America waiting breathlessly for which way Jolie is going to go? Has she suddenly becomes the swing vote this November?

Is this W.W.J.D. -- who will Jolie decides upon?

All summer long, we were needlessly treated to hourly updates on Jolie's pregnancy, who is just another single mother. But this same media that fawns over her, has no qualms jumping on a young woman who have multiple children out of wedlock.

While Russia continues to invade Georgia -- while the current U.S. president has the nerve to tell Putin to pull out, especially this coming from a man who invaded not one, but two countries, Keith Obermann spends last night talking about Jolie's potential presidential choice.

Fortunately, I had my mute button on, so I just got the visuals -- the usual red carpet scenes of Jolie and Brad Pitt, and didn't hear what Obermann had to say about it. It didn't matter because it was such a waste of time, I quickly switched to the mother channel (NBC) and continued watching something much more important -- men's gymnastics.

Is this D.A.C. -- does most Americans care what Jolie thinks who she wants for president?

I certainly don't.

A weekend of sadness

2008-08-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

It has been a shocking weekend to say the least: Bernie Mac died Saturday morning at age 50, then Issac Hayes died Sunday at age 65.

Bernie Mac was not an overnight success, at least in the eyes of mainstream America. They knew him either from his television show or appearing in the two "Oceans" movies.

Issac Hayes reached mainstream America's consciousness after he won the 1971 Academy Award for best soundtrack. But he was more than the singer of "Shaft" or the voice of Chef in the obnoxious "South Park."

Black America knew both men, and knew them well.

Mac (1957-2008) accurately brought a slice of Black life to stage, screen and television. He closed "The Original Kings of Comedy" (2000), where he hilariously explained the difference between a noun and a verb. Another bit he did was the prelude to "The Bernie Mac Show," which aired from 2001 to 2006 on Fox, that featured him as an uncle raising his sister's three children. It won a Peabody Award in 2002. He was the rougher side of the Black father figure that Bill Cosby earlier protrayed on television, again showing that Blacks can be more than warm and fuzzy, yet caring.

Hayes (1942-2008) co-wrote "Soul Man" then embarked on a successful solo career, beginning with his 12-minute cover of "Walk On By," part of his four-song debut album, "Hot Buttered Soul" in which only one cut was shorter than five minutes. I discovered him back in the early 1970s on a now-defunct Detroit jazz station -- Hayes' songs were too long for the local AM Black stations at the time.

Hayes followed this classic with "The Issac Hayes Movement," another four-cut masterpiece, which featured a cover of the Beatles' "Something," and ". . . To Be Continued" before he released the "Shaft" soundtrack, when the rest of America finally discovered this man.

As great as these two men were, will they get the type of tributes they deserved.

Will Mac get the lengthy tributes that usually afforded White comedians when they leave for their eternal reward? Will Hayes be honored for his musical contributions as White musicians and singers do when they go?

The Clarence Thomas hearings sadly overshadowed Redd Foxx's passing.

More was said about Richard Pryor's use of profanity than his comedic genius -- it was just the opposite for George Carlin when he died earlier this summer.

Little was said about the late Robin Harris, who like Mac, also died suddenly and way too young. His "BeBe's Kids" told how unruly children can be without proper guidance and supervision.

Topper Carew's excellent documentary, "We Don't Die: We Multiply -- The Robin Harris Story" features Mac and other Black comics. It is a must-have DVD, and can be ordered on TopperCarew.com.

Hayes, who was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, was more than Shaft -- one of his best songs was "Part-Time Love" on his "Black Moses" double album. He also appeared in several movies, starring in "Truck Turner" and was a popular recurring character on "The Rockford Files," calling James Garner "Rockfish."

"Isaac Hayes is Memphis," Memphis TV reporter Kontji Anthony told CNN Sunday. He leaves to mourn and cherish his memories a wife and 12 children.

"My heart really goes out to his wife and (their child)," comic and friend Steve Harvey said on CNN. Mac married his high school sweetheart -- she, their daughter and their granddaughter are his survivors.

Mac and Hayes will be truly missed by White America, but Black America will miss them more because we knew them longer and best.

Angry is good

2008-07-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in sports, a team has to get good and angry. The Minnesota Lynx played Saturday night like they were very good and angry.

According to Lynx center Vanessa Hayden-Johnson, they have been like this way for the last few days since the team's 73-67 loss to Atlanta July 9th.

"We've been beating the hell out of each other in practice," she admits. "We were hungry for a win."

Their hungriness paid off as Minnesota defeated Houston 85-71 Saturday at home. The victory snapped both an overall two-game losing streak, and a two-game slide at home as well, and brought the Lynx back to .500 (10-10).

"We needed to get back to .500," says Hayden-Johnson. "I think we all were under that pressure and were feeling it."

Seimone Augustus played hungry against Houston.

"I know that I haven't been aggressive since the Los Angeles game (a 88-70 road win on July 3)," she admitted. "I think my teammates feed off me being aggressive. I am going to try to do this more often on a consistent basis."

Augustus scored only six first-quarter points but they came off aggressive moves to the basket, which set the tone for her teammates to follow the rest of the night.

"Seimone was aggressive from the start," notes Coach Don Zierden, "and that what your best player and leader needs to do."

"She was focused," marveled Hayden-Johnson on the Lynx's top scorer. "She said, 'Let's play for us,' and that what we did."

Also, Augustus played mad all night as well. She led all scorers with 27 points. Perhaps she needs to get angry more often.

"My teammates says that when I get angry at practice, it's over with," she says proudly. "There were some calls that were made (Saturday), and some things happened in the game that really teed me off. It was a good thing that it happened."

Minnesota also got solid play from guard Anna DeForge, who finally looked like the player everyone previously hoped that she is -- a flat out outside scorer, scoring 17 points in the win.

"You tell shooters to keep shooting the basketball," Zierden says. This is what he has been telling DeForge to do all season -- when she shoots it, the team succeeds.

"We were executing both outside and inside tonight," says DeForge.

More importantly, the Lynx played with urgency. They took control midway through the opening quarter, after trailing early, and kept it up the rest of the way.

"We're (the coaching staff) serious about this, and they should be serious about this as well," says Minnesota Assistant Coach Jennifer Gillom. "We blew one of our chances against Atlanta -- home court advantage is very important at this point if we are going to make the playoffs. I think they understood that tonight."

The players were beginning to play like robots, says Augustus.

"We just wanted to play basketball (tonight)," claims Coach Z. "There wasn't any game plan."

Hayden-Johnson concurs, "We didn't have a set game plan, but he (Zierden) just told us to go out there and do our best.

"We played streetball," she continues, noting that the team successfully carried their practice intensity to the main court Saturday night.

"We were physically and mentally prepared," notes Lynx forward LaToya Thomas.

The Lynx showed this Saturday as they battled Houston, one of the WNBA's tallest teams, all night. They didn't win the rebounding battle (the Comets out rebounded the hosts 36-33) but Minnesota forced the visitors into 17 turnovers, and ultimately won where it counts -- the final score.

Rookie Nicky Anosike showed her might Saturday as she posted her fourth double-double of the season (12 points, 10 rebounds). Next to Augustus, Anosike perhaps was the Lynx's second aggressive player against the Comets.

"She is a fierce competitor," says Zierden of the 6-3 Anosike. "She's not 6-4, 6-5 but she works hard. It doesn't matter about how many points (she scores) but how (well) she defends and rebounds."

It was more Uptown Saturday Night against Houston than it was a few nights before, when it was "Down and Out in (Lynxland)" in the Atlanta loss.

"When teams make shots, they have energy on the other end of the floor as well," concludes the Lynx coach. "Tonight we made some shots that we haven't been able to make in other games."

Dream hand Lynx nighmarish loss

2008-07-09T20:33:00.000-07:00

What bring a team crashing to a defeat faster than anything is missed free throws and missed layups.

These two things were exactly what happened to the Minnesota Lynx Wednesday in their 73-67 loss to Atlanta.

Allowing the first-year expansion team leave town with only its second win of their inugaral season wasn't embassing, but Minnesota's inablity to knock down free throws, especially in the game's deciding minutes was a shame.

The hosts missed eight free throws in the final quarter, including three of four in the final 1:37 of the contest, and the score tied at 66 apiece.

When a StarTribune summer intern asked Minnesota Coach Don Zierden was confidence the culpuit, "If I knew the answer to that, I wouldn't be coaching. I bottled it up and sell it to everybody," the coach deadpanned.

Then seriously speaking, Zierden responded, "You got to knock down (free throws) at crunch time, and tonight we didn't."

You also have to hit more than three shots, which the Lynx couldn't do in the final 10 minutes, going

All quiet . . . for now

2008-07-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

It has been over a week and the Minnesota Twins clubhouse has been eerily quiet.

After the June 20th Minnesota-Arizona game, a rap song with endlessly rhyming "n***er" with bigger, blasted through the team's sound system. The room was full of reporters, mostly White, and two Black reporters. Only I got upset about it and argued against it with the team's only two Black players: Delmon Young and Craig Monroe.

You can read my entire column on this later today on www.spokesman-recorder.com.

Ever since the incident, Twins officials has been worried about what I would write. I don't know if I was more disturbed about hearing the N-word (I was), the causal attitude by the two players, especially Young, who played me off, or the team's vain attempt to squash my column by someone who barely speak to me.

The day after the incident, I get an E-mail from Molly Gallatin, Twins publications and media services. She was not in the clubhouse that night, but Monroe obviously went to her, complaining:

"Charles, I just spoke to Craig Monroe about his concerns over an interview you tried (for the record, I did more than try -- we talked for almost 20 minutes) with him the other night in the clubhouse regarding the music selection of the team. I would like to speak with you . . . and was wondering if you can stop by the office next time you're here or call me at work. Thanks. Molly."

I chose the latter, but I took my sweet loving time getting back to the same person whom I left a voice mail message last summer to request a one-on-one player interview, and have yet to get a phone call back from her. I later had to sent a formal complaint to Gallatin, and copied it to others in the organization, including Twins president Dave St. Peter, upon which I got a weak explanation for the obvious snub.

When I finally called Gallatin, whom I addressed as "Ms. Gallatin" -- I don't think someone who don't speak to me, suddenly think we are on first name basis -- she expressed Monroe's concerns about being "embarrassed" and when I was going to run the story.

I gave her no commitment, upon which Gallatin asked if I could give her a preview copy of my column. I quickly referred her to my editor and ended the conversation.

If Monroe had any concerns, he easily could have talked to me, instead of running to some White woman. If the veteran player was worried about being embarrassed, especially since he was trying to convince me that there is a difference on how the N-word is used:

"If you are saying "nigger," that's the word that is very offensive toward African-Americans. But if you're saying, 'What's up, my nigga' (it's OK)," Monroe argued. "I don't let it bother me with music because it is the expression of my people. I feel that we own that (word) and if we use it, I really don't see it as offensive."

It's funny that people like Gallatin can get to me right away on something like this, but can't speak to me when I am in the Twins press box. That entire media relations staff treat me like I am invisible. They'll speak to total strangers and talk around, over, and if they could, through me.

The only Twins employees, besides the players, who regularly speak to me are Peggy, the woman who fixes the press box hot dogs and Polish sausages; Art, the press box attendant, and Ray Cook, who guards the team clubhouse.

The Twins' press box is old-school, country club: I can only recall one time when there were maybe five Black media there. Most of the time, it is just me -- maybe another person of color.

I don't fit in the club. Oh, a couple of local Blacks are in the club because they laugh at the corny jokes, and easily engage in idle chat-chat. But they are only honorary members (these two don't realize it, perhaps) because the baseball media only hand out White privileges to full-time members, not wannabees.

I don't, and don't want to, qualify for membership because if I did, then Gallatin's failed mission to get me to not write something that might be negative toward her employers would have succeeded.

I don't want to be in a club that looks up and down at a fully credential press individual like they are intruding on some party. Or be a member of a club who thinks they know everything about sports.

Or, further yet, be in a club who didn't express the same outrage that I did about hearing the N-word that night. Remember that I said there was one other Black in the room besides me, and the two players -- he was standing in the group with me, when I was asking Monroe about it -- the honorary club member never uttered a word.

But WCCO Radio's Eric Nelson was upset.

"I knew I couldn't put this stuff on the air," he told me. Later on his show, he criticized the double standard some Blacks apply when the N-word is involved.

"I might be one of three or four White guys playing (pickup basketball)," Nelson says. "The African-American players -- not all of them but some of them would use the N-bomb toward each other and it was part of the dialogue of the game. But we (Whites) knew that we better not drop it.

"If you are going to be consistent, it shouldn't matter what color you are, should it?"

Ever since it's been quiet in the Twins clubhouse, musically speaking. Nelson praised me for my stand against offensive music played during open media access periods. It shouldn't be played at any time, I might add. He believes that the music was cut out after my concerns were expressed.

If this is the reason, then I am pleased.

For the record, it was Justin Morneau, a White Canadian who finally turned the music off. He switched it to a country song.

We don't know who put the N-word song on that night, but it's sad that the Twins' only two Black players couldn't see that it was wrong and acted like Spike Lee.

And did the right thing --- turned it off.

Twins tops interleague play

2008-06-29T20:59:00.000-07:00

Minnesota's 6-0 win Sunday over the Milwaukee Brewers completes interleague play for the 2008 season.

The Twins finished with a 14-4 mark over National League opponents this season and improved to 120-90 overall. They joined the Oakland A's and the New York Yankees as the only three AL clubs with at least 120 interleague victories.

Manager Ron Gardenhire says his Twins don't have the big boppers that the Yankees or Boston have so his team aren't that overly affected when Minnesota plays in National League parks, where the designated hitter rule isn't used.

After Sunday's win, the manager offered the following explanation: "I don't have any theories on it. We don't have a team with a huge DH, so when we go into a National League park, we are not losing a player like (Boston's) David Ortiz.

"When we come home, (NL opponents) aren't really National League teams when they come in here because they have to use the DH," notes Gardenhire.

Later, "I don't know if you can put your finger on it," he says of the Twins' annual interleague success. "We actually have grind it out for runs -- we don't have big 3-4-5 (hitters), so it bodes well (against NL teams)."

Now with interleague play over, it's back to the AL Central -- Detroit will be in town for a three-game series.

"They are playing well again," Gardenhire says of the Tigers. "It will be a big series and a lot of fun," he concludes.

TWINS TIDBITS --

As some players, such as the Twins' Craig Monroe, have trouble adjusting from being an everyday player to the DH role, Jason Kubel seemingly has settled in it quite well:

"I think for Kubel, it is not that so much he prefers DH (but that) it just doesn't bother him," explains Gardenhire. "His mindset can handle it."

However, Kubel, who's hitting over .600 during this home stand, is not unlike any other player -- he wants to play everyday. But more importantly, "He loves to hit and loves to swing (the bat)," adds the manager. And the DH gets at least four times at bat -- every day.

First barometer

2008-06-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

Don Zierden told his young Minnesota Lynx team prior to Thursday's game against Sacramento that the contest was a barometer game.

"Charles, what we challenge our players before the game (is that) if you want eventually to be a team that people are going to take seriously, you have to go toe-to-toe with the best," the coach admits.

Throw out Sacramento's sub-.500 record: the Monarchs, who won the 2005 WNBA title, will be in the Western Conference playoff hunt all season. They are tough-minded, tough on the board and tough shooters. In a word, just plain tough.

In their last meeting on June 12, Sacramento threw around both their experience and muscle and dropped the Lynx 82-78 at the downtown Minneapolis basketball arena. It's been over a year since Minnesota saw a win against them.

That drought ended Thursday.

In the shadow of the NBA Draft, where boo-hoo of reporters were all over the place -- and where Star-Tribune stone age columnist Sid Hartman, who once said he wouldn't be caught dead at a women's basketball game, was sitting corpse-like in the stands during the final minutes of the Lynx's 80-76 win.

It's too early to be the playoffs but the air surrounding Thursday's game, sure did smell like one.

Hard fouls given indiscriminately to anyone brave enough to drive to the hoop. Shots emphatically batted out of bounds -- both teams combined for six blocked shots.

Every basket was a premium: Minnesota shot just under 45 percent; Sacramento finished exactly at 40 percent. Every defensive stop was crucial.

The difference was that no Lynx player didn't waste a moment in doing something positive.

"We dug ourselves a hole last game," Minnesota guard Noelle Quinn says, pointing to her team's 19-point deficit, only to get back to within a point, before running out of gas.

This time, both teams were physically spent, but the host Lynx (8-6) had just enough to withstand the Monarchs (now 6-8) at every turn.

Without resulting to tired-old boxing references, I would say it was Minnesota's best game played so far because of its significance. But this didn't stop Zierden from doing so.

"I though we fought tonight all the way through," he notes. "Two or three times, they (Sacramento) made runs and tonight we found a way to keep fighting back."

"It was like a playoff game," remarked first-year center Nicky Anosike.

"Sacramento is in our conference," adds Quinn. "These games always are important."

Seimone Augustus, who battled an upset stomach all night, had 23 points to lead all scorers, including icing four big free throws in the final eight seconds to keep her team's distance to the never-quit visitors.

But according to her coach, it was Augustus' defense that was the game's star, as she held Sacramento's Nicole Powell, who finished with 20 points, to 5-of-13 shooting.

"We are not putting Seimone on a weak offensive player," explains Coach Z. He praised Augustus' "great (defensive) job on Powell. "We are challenging her."

But it was more than Seimone this night.

Candice Wiggins added 17 points, including shooting 50 percent (3-for-6) from the three-point line. The Stanford rookie chipped in a couple of hard fouls to boot.

Charde Houston hit only one shot out of six, but it came off a great Wiggins assists to give Minnesota a four-point cushion early in the fourth quarter, after Sacramento ran off five points to cut Minnesota's lead to just a basket. "Charde played with energy," says Zierden on the Connecticut first-year player, who got credited for only one steal but created several more deflections.

Anosike"played 35 minutes of hard defense," notes Zierden. "We've been on Nicky to step it up," he points out. Says the Tennessee rookie, "I definitely go through struggles every day, but it's getting more and more easier every time I step on the floor."

Kristen Rasmussen, the only Minnesota player who didn't score, "was big" with two rebounds and a steal, praised Zierden.

LaToya Thomas, newly acquired from Detroit last weekend, made her only shot attempt on an offensive tip-in.

Even Lindsay Harding, who still trying to get her legs under her, didn't register an assist, but the second-year point guard scored eight points and had two rebounds.

Despite picking up four questionable fouls, Vanessa Hayden-Johnson went 2-for-3 for four points in five limited minutes.

"Everybody who came off the bench did something positive," says Zierden.

It was Minnesota's first "barometer" game this season. Zierden's Lynx Thursday withstood the inside heat, stood their ground, and left victorious.

"There are many barometers to come," he predicts, starting with Saturday's game at San Antonio.

LYNX LINES --

Quinn has only 10 assists in her last six games, including two in Thursday's win against Sacramento. The second-year starting point guard admits that she must improve as a floor leader. "It's important for me to stay aggressive," she adds.

Guard Sharnee Zoll was waived after the game Thursday. The guard, who Minnesota picked up on waivers after being cut by Los Angeles just before the season started, only saw action in six games, averaging barely two points. The 5-7 Zoll, who was placed on the inactive list four of the last five games, last played against the Monarchs June 12 and hit one of two free throws.

Welcome back, D

2008-06-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

In the late 1970s, it was "Welcome Back, Kotter." On Tuesday night at the downtown Minneapolis basketball arena, for the Minnesota Lynx, it was welcome back, defense.

The hosts held New York to 37 percent shooting, out-rebounded them by three, 33 to 30, and allowed only 14 and 13 points in the first and final quarters, respectively, to defeat the Liberty 91-69. Tuesday's victory snapped a five-game losing streak and Minnesota improved to 7-6.

"The first five wins, we were outscoring people, but when we lost, we had trouble scoring," notes Lynx guard Navonda Moore. Minnesota is scoring almost 82 points a game, but allowing opponents almost 80 points. "I don't know how we got away from it but tonight we got back to that base of what we have been stressing since training camp -- defense, defense, defense."

As a result, the Lynx tied a season-low in points allowed -- Chicago only scored 69 against them in a May 29 game earlier this season.

Guard Seimone Augustus offered another reason: "We trusted each other on the defensive end. In our past games, (there) wasn't (any) help side (defense). We get penetrated on up the middle and nobody was there to help.

"Tonight, you would see three or four people in the lane, swarming the ball whenever a player get inside. We contested the shots tonight."

In addition to crediting the players for the win Tuesday, Lynx Coach Don Zierden also gave kudos to Assistant Coach Jennifer Gillom. "Jen did a great job challenging our post players to play better defense, and they responded to that," he points out.

This, along with perhaps locker room quotes attributed to New York's Janel McCarville. In a published story in Tuesday's StarTribune on McCarville's thoughts about the Lynx not selecting her when she was in the 2007 dispersal draft. "I don't know if I have anything else to prove as to how they should have taken me. They (Minnesota) just didn't have faith in me after two years," McCarville was quoted.

"The motivation for the post players was (from) the comment (McCarville) made in the papers," believes Augustus.

McCarville didn't do much Tuesday to helped prove that Minnesota was wrong: she shot 2-for-7, and finished with four points in 27 minutes. While on the other hand, Nicole Ohlde went 7-for-8 for 14 points; Kristen Rasmussen added 8, and Vanessa Hayden-Johnson chipped in six points.

"Our post players had a lot of energy," says Augustus, who led all scorers with 21 points and nine assists. "Thank you, Janel."

When asked what he said to his team before Tuesday's contest, Zierden disclosed, "My pregame talk was if it means that much to get this (losing) streak over with, then you will get it done."

Minnesota outscored New York 2-to-1 in the first quarter, but allowed the Liberty to twice try climb back into the contest with a couple of runs, which ironically took place when Augustus went to the bench.

Says Zierden,"I was upset at when we took (Augustus) out early, and (New York) went on a four-point run, then I took her out the last two minutes (before halftime) and they went on a 10-4 run."

"We cut it to eight twice," says Liberty Coach Pat Coyle. "We didn't execute the way we needed to execute. They (the Lynx) took us out of our stuff."

"My message at halftime," continues Coach Z, "when we take Seimone out of the game, we can't go down 6-8 points every time. You guys got to step it up."

Zierden was especially pleased with Rasmussen's play Tuesday -- she and Nicky Anosike tied with a team-high six rebounds in her 21 minutes of action.

"She (Rasmussen) is a coach's dream," notes Zierden. "She is that one player that you can count on for (either) four minutes or 20 minutes. She gives you energy, defense and rebounding."

Now that the five-game skid, can Minnesota resume its upward climb into WNBA respectability?

"Nobody thought we've be 7 and 6 right now," says Zierden, adding that his young Lynx aren't quite world beaters yet.

"They got it done today -- now we'll see what they will do on Thursday (against Sacramento, their next opponent," the coach concludes.

Lynx Lines --

Early rookie wall hitting? A sportswriter asked me during Tuesday's game what is wrong with rookie forward Charde Houston. She was scoreless in Saturday's 72-65 loss to Houston, and made only one of three shots against New York.

Zierden said afterwards that the first-year player is going through the normal ups-and-downs most rookies go through.

"I think when she knows our game plan, and follows it -- sometimes she gets out of it, and she reaches, makes a careless turnover or a careless foul," explains the coach. "When she does that, we want to bring her back in, sit her on the bench, and teach her what is going on."

Houston is not alone -- Nicky Anosike, and even Candice Wiggins, sometimes exhibit their down times as well, says Zierden. "Nicky is a little bit ahead of where Charde is, but as a rookie, you are going to go through 3, 4, 5-minute stretches when you are not playing well. You have to do something positive.

"She played well in Detroit," he says on Houston's 16-point effort last Friday, "and she had a couple of rough ones. Hopefully she will come out (better) Thursday night."

Minnesota also broke a six-game losing streak against New York with Tuesday's win -- the Lynx last defeated the Liberty 64-60 on July 15, 2005 at Madison Square Gardens. It was the home team's first win over New York since a two-point victory on July 17, 1999.

The bandwagon has left the building

2008-06-24T08:35:00.000-07:00

It didn't take long but the Minnesota Lynx bandwagon might have left the building.

After the best start in franchise history, the Lynx (6-6) is now reeling coming into tonight's game against the New York Liberty.

The reason is simple: Minnesota's defense has been horrific, which is defying Head Coach Don Zierden's basic belief. "We're a roll-up-our-sleeves kind of club," he says.

However, his players in many areas aren't playing like this.

"We haven't been shooting the ball as well as we like," guard Anna DeForge points out. Defensive breakdowns have been too numerous, something that DeForge's coach totally agree.

Also, the Lynx's point guard play has been lacking: Noelle Quinn, particularly, has been up and down all season. She has to play better -- two assists and three turnovers in 19 minutes simply won't do.

But Minnesota also needs more from Lindsay Harding, who has struggled in the two games she has played in since returning from an injury.

"We definitely need our point guards to step up," Zierden notes.

Other than Candice Wiggins, who is getting to the line on a double-figure clip, the Lynx has struggled at the free throw line. "The past couple of games we haven't been hitting our free throws," says DeForge, who missed both her chances in Saturday's loss to Houston. Minnesota shot only 66 percent from the line in the seven-point defeat that put the team at .500 for the first time this season.

Finally, the whispers are starting to grow -- the Lynx's fast start was only a mirage.

"We can't listen to outside voices," concludes DeForge. "We have to stay focused on each other and this team, playing better every game and finding ways to win."

LYNX LINES --

Can we move on? -- Another one of those "We should have taken Janel McCarville" stories was written today. A summer intern penned the latest one for the Star Tribune, again revisiting history.

The Lynx passed over McCarville, the former Gopher, in the league's dispersal draft two years ago in favor of Tangela Smith.

I said it then, and I say it now -- Minnesota made the right call. McCarville, who I covered in college, had not lived up at the time to her 2005 top overall selection, and Smith was a better pro. Furthermore, if the Lynx had taken her, they would not have gotten Lindsay Harding from Phoenix, which they did by dealing Smith in a one-on-one deal.

All Tuesday's non-story only does is again stir up the locals, who steadfastly believe that if Minnesota had both McCarville, Lindsay Whalen or any other former Gopher they like, that the team would be better off, especially in drawing folks. If the team did have these two, you would only see a slight bump in attendance, nothing more.

Winning, not former college stars, bring people to the seats. Everyone around the country knows this, but sadly this knowledge eludes too many Minnesotans.

My final say on this -- I would not have given up two proven starters (at the time were Katie Smith and Tamika Williams) and two No. 1's for an unproven rookie in Whalen, nor was Charlotte was going to give up their top spot and the opportunity to select McCarville to Minnesota, who had nothing to offer in that regard.

Minnesota is the only place that is so provincial in its thinking that local athletes make the difference. If that was the case, why did Los Angeles chose Candice Parker out of Tennessee, rather than a California product.

It's sad that this summer intern couldn't found another subject to write on.

Welcome aboard -- Tuesday's game will be LaToya Thomas' first in a Lynx uniform. The former top draft choice -- Thomas was the first overall pick by Cleveland in 2003, was acquired Sunday from Detroit in exchange for guard Eshaya Murphy.

Hopefully, the trade will be a plus for both teams: Thomas wasn't playing much in Detroit, and the same for Murphy, who was often placed on the inactive list and only played in two games this season.

Minnesota becomes the first WNBA team with three No. 1 overall draft selections on one roster, as Thomas joins previous top picks Seimone Augustus and Harding.

An unclassy way of firing a classy guy

2008-06-17T21:13:00.000-07:00

It took years for Willie Randolph to finally get his first big league managerial job. However, after winning his last game as New York Mets skipper Monday night, Randolph was fired in the middle of the night.

Mets GM Omar Minaya must have read Kevin McHale's book on bad firings. The Minnesota Timberwolves vice-president, instead of getting his behind on a plane and flying out to do his hatchet job, called then coach Dwane Casey in his hotel room on the road and fired him long distance a couple of years ago.

I don't know which is worst -- both chicken-hearted ways to dismiss someone is a wash, any way you look at. Both men were classy in their jobs, and both Casey and Randolph were let go while their teams were away from home.

I don't know if Casey got a first class plane ticket back home, but I certainly hope Randolph did.

Either way, it's the last hired, first fired routine.

Although it was not entirely a total shock -- Randolph have been hanging on a single thread for about a month now. Still his firing, or the classless way the Mets handled it, sent shockwaves around the baseball world Tuesday.

"He is a very classy and good baseball man," says Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire after his team's 2-1 win over visiting Washington in interleague play.

"As far as his job, I thought it might have been a short leash on him,"Twins first-base coach Jerry White told me. His facial expression quickly told me that he was a bit disturbed with the news of Randolph's firing., especially on how it all went down. He felt the Mets management could've treated their now former manager a little better than that.

"There's an obligation there," adds White. "The season still is young and it looks like (New York) is giving up."

New York is a tough place, and you got to win or else, notes Twins DH Craig Monroe. "They put a lot of money into one team, and when you aren't getting it done, you got to find a scapegoat."

Exit Randolph, the 2008 baseball season's first scapegoat.

"Sometimes you can't control the things that goes on (but) you know that he cared every day at that ball park, trying to figure out what he could do to help that ball club," says Gardenhire of Randolph.

Will Randolph get another chance at managing?

"He should (get another job)," says White. "It is who is willing to give him another shot."

"He deserves another opportunity," concurs Gardenhire. "He is a very classy and good baseball man. He's very well respected among all the managers. "

But given reality, and the last hired, first fired set of rules that usually is unfairly applied to Blacks, the question isn't will he, but rather when will he get another shot?

"Don't put me on the spot because I can talk a lot of crap about that," says White, the Twins' only Black on its coaching staff.

Adds Monroe, one of only two Black players on the Twins' 2008 roster, "You don't want to get me talking about that." Instead, he went another route and offered this brief bit of common sense: "I think the players got to take some cupability (for Randolph's firing). They got to go out and win games. I don't think it's the manager's fault -- it's a collective group of the team you put together."

It's a shame Minaya didn't see this as well. Let's hope that when the day comes, Minaya won't get the ax as coldly as he swung it on Randolph.

Back to Earth

2008-06-12T20:33:00.001-07:00

Sacramento came in Thursday night on a second half of a back-to-back and knocked off Minnesota 82-78, a score that isn't indicative of how the hosts played.

The Lynx bust out to a 13-3 lead at the start of the game, but by the end of one quarter, Sacramento had a one-point lead, and eventually stretched it to a 15-point halftime advantage.

"We dug ourselves in a hole," says center Vanessa Hayden-Johnson.

Minnesota came to within 69-68 with six and a half minutes left to play but never came any closer. Three straight possessions later and the Lynx couldn't capitalize, and the visitors never let them get any closer.

"We probably were getting rubbery legs by then," recalls Minnesota Coach Don Zierden, who added that he didn't want to use one of his few remaining timeouts at this point.

Anna DeForge was fouled, attempting a three-pointer with eight seconds left, with a last chance to pull Minnesota to within one. DeForge hit her first two free throws but missed the third, and Sacramento correled the rebound. Ticha Penicheiro got fouled and swished her final two attempts from the line -- she earlier went one of two, and iced the game.

Perhaps for the first time this season, especially in front of the home crowd, the Lynx's youthful and inexperience was clearly evident.

"Things were easy the first few minutes, then (Sacramento) turned up the defensive pressure and the physical game," Minnesota Coach Don Zierden pointed out afterwards. "They know that Minnesota is not supposed to be ahead of them in the standings."

In this season's first weeks, it looked like things were easy for Minnesota, winning their first three home games, and six of their first seven contests.

Now the Lynx (6-3) is back to Earth, losers of their last two games.

"People already are saying, 'Oh, see, told you --they are not that good (because) they lost two in a row," notes Hayden-Johnson afterwards.

Coach Z was asked during his post-game comments by one beat reporter has Minnesota reached hoops reality.

"With this young team, this is a work in progress," he notes. "Just because they came out and got a couple of wins early, and people got excited. As a coaching staff, we understand our weaknesses and what we need to work on."

"It's nothing to hang our heads about," adds forward Charde Houston. "We have to come out from the start of the game with a lot of energy, and be the more aggressive team from start to finish."

"Luckily we got a lot of young girls who are upset about (losing)," says Hayden-Johnson.

More importantly, the Lynx must realized that the 2008 season is after all, only nine games old, with 25 games and over two months remaining. At times like these, this is where locker room leadership is crucial. I don't think it's coming from the veterans such as DeForge and Kristen Rasmussen, who have a combined 14 years experience between them.

Maybe the players should listen to Hayden-Johnson, who after missing a season due to the birth of her first child, has been around since 2004.

"This is the WNBA, an up-and-down league and season," Hayden-Johnson reminds us.

"We played hard in the second half, and we played hard to start the game, but you got to play hard for 40 minutes," says Zierden. "You learn from this."

Improving shooting (the Lynx have shot 33 and 44 percent the last two games), and better ball protection (21 turnovers against Sacramento) also are must's as Minnesota takes to the road for their next two contests, at New York, whom have beaten Minnesota five straight times since 2005, and at Detroit.

"All three of our losses have come down to the last three minutes of the basketball game, and that's when you have to be at your best," explains Coach Z.

Simply put, it's the little things that must be improved, he says. "Making free throws, defensive assignments -- we would keep cutting the lead down, then we lose somebody for a layup. We have to tighten those things up."

Both games, as was Sacramento (5-4) on Thursday, are early challenges to this year's Lynx.

"We got to go out there and kick butt," concludes Hayden-Johnson.

LYNX BITS --

Candice Wiggins recorded her second DQ (fouled out) of the season Thursday. She leads the Lynx in this category. She finished with 17 points, and despite haven't started a game this season, the rookie guard is second on the team in scoring (16 points a game), and got to the free throw line over 10 times (9-for-11) for the third time this summer.

Nicky Anosike leads Minnesota in rebounds -- she pulled down 11 against the Monarchs, her second double-digit effort of the season.

That look

2008-06-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

Besides bouncing back from a loss, a good telling sign of a good team is how they look after that loss.

"If you can see the looks on these ladies' faces when you came into the locker room after the game," notes Minnesota Lynx guard Navonda Moore, "you look in their eyes and see that (we) don't want that to happen again."

In years past, after a defeat, most of the women didn't have that look. Oh, they did not like losing, but they weren't that brokenhearted over it either.

Not anymore.

It was the look after again losing again to Connecticut Tuesday night, 75-66, at home, the Lynx's second loss of the season -- both defeats at the hands of the Sun.

This time, it was Connecticut's Barbara Turner, who scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half, who helped produce that look in the hosts' faces, as the veteran guard-forward helped her Sun outscore the hosts 47-29, and overcame a nine-point halftime deficit.

"Barbara Turner got hot for them," explained Lynx Coach Don Zierden afterwards. "She picked them up and carry them."

Minnesota's evening-long cold shooting (25-for-75, 33 percent), including a 28-percent second half performance, also greatly contributed to that look as well.

"We couldn't throw it in the ocean," says Zierden.

Tuesday's defeat overshadowed perhaps Moore's best performance of the year: 7 points, 4 rebounds and a blocked shot.

"She was aggressive and got to the free throw line (5-of-7), and did some nice things for us," notes her coach. "That was an encouraging sign for us."

However, afterwards Moore couldn't accept this reporter's praise for her on-court work.

"I'm not thinking about that now," she admits. "I wanted that 'W' really bad. We all wanted that 'W' so bad. I am just thinking about focusing on tomorrow, and focusing on Sacramento (Minnesota's next opponent)."

She had that look, which lend credence to what Zierden has been saying since last season -- a change of culture is being created in Lynxland.

"It's hurt to have a decent game," continues Moore, "and you still look at that 'L.' What good feeling you can have out of that?"

Instead, the Lynx players left with that empty feeling, coming up short in their first home loss of the 2008 season.

Instead, they are kicking themselves because they didn't bring their usual energy, especially in the deciding second half.

"We didn't match their intensity in the second half," admits Lynx forward Nicole Ohlde.

Says Moore, "We had some spurts where we had a lot of energy, then we had three to five minutes where we were searching for it. That's not the way that we are."

Despite going up against a veteran, seasoned Connecticut squad, Moore refuses to blame their hit-and-miss energy on being young.

"We are a lot of second-year players and rookies," says Moore, "but when it comes down to it, it is really just playing basketball. This is the game we have been doing all of our lives.

"Intensity is something you can't teach," she adds.

Afterwards, reporters asked Zierden can the Lynx bounce back from Tuesday's defeat to play Sacramento on Thursday.

"They did a nice job responding after the first Connecticut loss (June 6)," he pointed out. "Now we'll see how we will come out Thursday night."

Bouncing back is something Moore and her teammates don't want to do too much more this season.

"Seimone (Augustus) told us that she is getting tired of hearing "bounce back," discloses the second-year guard. "We don't want to keep bouncing back."

Instead, the Lynx players had no choice but to leave the arena, to go into that good, good night Tuesday:

With that look.

Lynx Bits - - -

Augustus's 10 assists Tuesday was both a career and season high: she also kept alive her current double-figure scoring streak alive, now at 66 games, when the third-year guard hit a 22-footer trey with 29 seconds left in the game, to give her 11 points for the game . . .

Nicky Anosike went 2-for-11 against the Sun, her worst shooting game in her young rookie career. She perhaps is dwelling too much on her misses, Zierden believes. "She gets down on herself and is harder on herself as anybody," he says. His advice: "If you focus on what's happened in the past, it will affect your next shot."

Anytime Connecticut comes to town, which is only once a season, it brings people who usually don't want to be seen at any women's hoops game: the Twin Cities' "Mount Rockhead" -- columnists Patrick Reusse (Star Tribune), Tom Powers and Charley Walters (both of the St. Paul Pioneer Press) made their usual annual appearance Tuesday. All of them made a beehive to the Sun's locker room afterwards to again fawn over former U-M player Lindsay Whalen.

This reporter usually avoids such nonsense -- I covered Whalen all four years in college, meanwhile the Rockheads didn't know she existed until her junior year when the Gophers began winning, and broke the bandwagon in covering her.

Former Lynx Tamika (Williams) Raymond did not score in her five minutes of action, going 0-for-2, with one rebound, in her first trip back to Minnesota after being traded to the Sun this spring for Kristen Rasmussen. "We appreciate what she gave us last year in leadership," says Coach Z of Raymond, Minnesota's 2002 first round draft pick. "We had to make the trade, and she was very gracious about it."

"They could've traded me off to boo-boo land, but they put me in a situation (in Connecticut)where I can be successful," Raymond told me prior to Tuesday's game. "I loved every moment at Minnesota. The fans were great and very loyal, and the (Lynx) franchise was loyal to me. I just think it was time for me to move on."

No repeats here

2008-06-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

Tuesday's nationally televised contest (ESPN2, 7:00 pm EDT) between the host Minnesota Lynx (6-1)and the visiting Connecticut Sun (7-1) is being billed locally as a clash between conference leaders -- the Sun is atop the East, and the surprising, youthful Lynx is in front in the West.

Also, the local papers as a rematch of the two teams that just played four days previously, a 78-77 Connecticut win.

However, for Minnesota Coach Don Zierden, he doesn't want to see a repeat of that last meeting.

It was the first time in this young season that Zierden was totally disappointed in his club's effort. "I thought they (the Sun) were quicker to the ball than we were," he recalls. "I thought we were slow in our (defensive) rotations. Offensively, I thought the stopped moving."

The Lynx finished with only 17 assists -- six from Seimone Augustus, who led her team with 22 points. "We can't have that with the makeup of our ball club," notes Zierden, who rather see his players get those set-up passes in the 20s.

Ashja Jones had a game-high 25 points for Connecticut, including the winning basket with 19 seconds left, which erased a five-point deficit in the last minute and a half.

Instead of seeing tonight's game as a clash of the so-called titans, "I'm worried about can we beat a team that beat us the other night, and beat us pretty handedly until we made a late run," says Coach Z.

No repeats here, thank you.

Lynx Bits --

Tuesday's night contest wraps up the season series between the two clubs: Connecticut holds a one-game edge (9-8) in the all-time series . . .

Minnesota leads the WNBA in shooting (46 percent), second in free throw attempts (around 25 a game) and third in free throw shooting (nearly 78 percent) . . .

The Lynx, however, is near the bottom in scoring defense (78.8 ppg, currently 12th in WNBA) -- last season, they were last in this category . . .

Coming of age moment

2008-06-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

It was early Sunday evening in the fourth quarter -- "winning time," the pros call it, and the San Antonio Silver Stars had cut a deficit that reached as high as 13 points in the third quarter to just one on Becky Hammon's three-pointer.

But Minnesota, the WNBA's perennial youngest team, the 10th anniversity Lynx, immediately came back down and scored: rookie Charde Houston's driving lay-up from an Anna DeForge assist, to give her team a three-point cushion. Then Nicole Ohlde blocked a shot sparked a DeForge fast break layup from a feed by Seimone Augustus.

The home team now up by five points, and the visiting Silver Stars never got any closer.

That was a coming of age moment for Minnesota, who defeated San Antonio 90-78, to remain unbeaten at home this young season.

"Charles, you being an astute basketball guy -- you have been here through the process, when you got a lot of young players, there are two ways you could've done it," Lynx Head Coach Don Zierden disclosed afterwards. "You could've taken a time out and try to diagram a play, or you could've let them learn how to play basketball. I decided to let them learn how to play basketball."

Simply, this is called trust. This is called confidence. This is called a growing sign of maturity.

Minnesota is now 6-1. Each win brings about a little additional dose of confidence. Each time the players respond positively, as they did Sunday in that coming of age moment, returns the confidence and the trust the coach has in them.

"In previous years," explains Lynx center Vanessa Hayden-Johnson, a four-year veteran, "this team had lost and lost. Just like a fight, we get hit in the mouth and fall down. They (San Antonio) gave us their best shot, and we came back with it. I think now we have that."

"I think when we go through tough stretches," Coach Z continues, "sometimes the players need to figure it out. We have a bunch of young players, so now that is what we are going to do sometimes.

"We knew they (San Antonio) was in a zone, and we made the extra pass that time and got a layup, a good shot."

Minnesota's willingness to make those extra passes, to set up teammates for better shot opportunities, also is showing. The Lynx recorded 23 assists Sunday.

Unfortunately, stats aren't kept on 'extra passes' or 'passes that lead to passes that lead to assists.' "We need to get better, but we are making the extra pass," says Zierden. "You can hear the players on the bench, yelling it out. When one player finds success, it just breeds success on down the road. People want to make the extra pass."

Hayden-Johnson credits the youngsters for this. They arrived with the hungriness not seen in Lynxland for . . . frankly, I can't recall ever seeing it. They arrived not Mary Tyler Moore-type spunk, but with not-backing-down-from-anyone type spunk.

"We go at each other's throats at practice," she admits. "We are fighting. We are cussing each other out. But it is making us better."

That spunk carries over into games.

"Nicky Anosike, Charde (Houston) and the girls come in here so excited and they brought that," claims Hayden-Johnson. "That's addictive."

Zierden has been concerned about his team's play at late. They won a shootout last week at Atlanta, but struggled badly two days later at Connecticut, who handed the Lynx the only blemish on their season record.

"When you have such a young team," continues the coach, "you want to see where we are. I wanted to see how we would respond to a loss. When you have such a young team, you want to see where we are. I wanted to see how we would respond to a loss."

Coach Z liked what he saw. "I thought we came out and played hard. It was a good telling sign. Now we'll see what happens when we lose another game and come back and fight as hard as we did tonight."

A popular litmus test of a good team is how they bounced back from a crushing defeat. They did, but Coach Z won't take credit for this.

"It's about the players," he concludes. "It's always about the players."

FURTHERMORE --

Q-Tip: Second-year guard Noelle Quinn has been shooting 50 percent or better in her last four games, including a 4-for-6 performance, including hitting 3 of 4 three pointers Sunday. Quinn previously had gone 0-for4 from outside the arc. in her last five games. "Q was not playing as well as she thought she could in the first few games," says Zierden. "Instead of sulking about it, she got in the gym and worked extra hard. You see the dividends."

X-Files: A reporter Sunday asked Zierden about Charde Houston's X-factor role. "We have to have more than one X-factor for us to be successful," the coach quickly corrected the young man. "Charde has been great some games for us energy-wise. But Ras (forward Kristen Rasmussen) has stepped up some games. Vanessa had a great game against Phoenix (on May 31). There's a bunch of players who have been X-factors. You need that with a young ball club we have." Houston had 15 points (6-for-9 from the field) in 23 minutes in Sunday's win -- she's ranks 10th in the league in shooting (51 percent).

Still sitting: Shay Murphy spent her fifth game on the inactive list. She played a minute and a half against Atlanta June 3, misfiring on her only shot attempt but grabbed a rebound. It should be noted that the second-year player is not in any trouble -- she's using this time to improve her game under the coaches' tutelage.

Learning in progress: Top pick Candice Wiggins led Minnesota with 17 points. She only made two of eight shots from the field, but converted 13-of-14 from the line. "Candice is a very smart basketball player," notes her coach. "She's learning at this level that good teams like San Antonio will take away certain things. They were not going to let her shoot the three (Wiggins missed all four of her attempts). So she was able to turn the corner and get to the rim. She's learning how to play the game as the game is going on."

Proud parents: Charles and Alice Taylor came in from their home in Idaho to spend this week, visiting their daughter Angela Taylor, the Lynx business development vice-president. They watched and cheered their daughter's team to victory Sunday.

Congrats: Don and Anne Zierden celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversity Sunday.

Unfamiliar territory

2008-06-03T07:36:00.000-07:00

Not in any time of its 10-year history the Minnesota Lynx have been in this position:

First place.

The team that finished tied last season with the league's worst record. The same team that only won a combined 20 games over the course of two summers, is the same team that is currently the WNBA's only unbeaten squad in less than a month of play.

"We are just here to win," says Lynx center Nicky Anosike.

One can excuse Anosike for her not dwelling on the past --- she wasn't around the last few years because she was winning consecutive championships at Tennessee.

The same for Candice Wiggins, who have spent the last four years compiling points on her way to becoming the Pac-10 and Stanford's all-time leading scorer. Ditto for Charde Houston, who spent her collegiate years at Connecticut.

Nonetheless, all three first-year players have played a huge role in the Lynx's early-season success: Anosike as a starter, and Wiggins and Houston providing strong bench support.

"It's fun to watch these players compete," Minnesota Coach Don Zierden marvels. "We knew (prior to drafting the three) that they were going to be high energy players. They have done everything we've asked of them, and exceeded expectations."

More importantly, Zierden is getting production from almost every Lynx player on this year's roster. "Every night a different player stepped up," he points out. "We are getting production from everybody in different ways."

Because of this, two-time All-Star Seimone Augustus' role has changed. She still is the team's marquee player, but she is no longer have to be its savior as well.

"I'm feeling great about the Lynx and what we are doing here," says Augustus. "I just hope that it continues throughout the season."

Zierden believes that it can: "Everybody has accepted their roles," he notes. "That's big right now."

And since the rookies have no knowledge of the past, they are putting it on.

"We know our roles," admits Anosike.

"I'm still learning," continues Wiggins, an early Rookie of the Year candidate, who has played some solid point guard since her arrival. The 5-11 rookie, who mostly played forward at Stanford, led all players with 12 assists in Minnesota's win over visiting Phoenix on the last day of May.

"I don't think people see me as a point guard," says Wiggins, "but I played a lot of point guard in college. I can do a lot better."

Houston, who was originally pegged as a defensive addition, has posted two double-double games thus far. "I have the ability to score," she remarked of her 18 point-13-rebound performance vs. Phoenix -- all in a reserve role.

While I am not calling for early downtown parade tickets, I do like Minnesota's start, and believe it eventually will lead the Lynx to its first playoff berth since 2004.

FURTHERMORE -- The U.S. Olympic women's basketball team is three-fourths set. Nine players, including Augustus and Phoenix's Cappie Pondexter, were selected May 31. The others include: Lisa Leslie, Katie Smith, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tina Thompson, Sylvia Fowles and Candace Parker. The roster mixes internationally experienced youth and veteran leadership.

"I love the combination of players that we have," says U.S. Olympic head coach Anne Donovan. "We've really covered the gamut in terms of experience and we have a tremendous balance of perimeter and post play."

USA Basketball Vice-President Renee Brown, who also chaired the selection committee, adds, "We know it will not be an easy road to the gold medal in Beijing -- the rest of the world has gotten much better over the last four years. However, we feel that this group will continue to represent their country with pride and honor and compete at the highest level that is expected when representing USA Basketball."

For Augustus, Fowles, Parker and Pondexter, this will be their first Olympic Games.

"It is definitely one of my goals I had growing up (was) to be part of the Olympic team," admits Pondexter, who plays for Phoenix in the WNBA. "I'm excited and looking forward to it."

"I wanted to win a national championship in college, but I think the Olympics is (at) the top of the women's game," believes Augustus. "It is going to be a very competitive field, but hopefully we can pull out with the gold."

Three more players are expected to be added to the USA squad by July 1.

Just another long week

2008-05-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

You got to hand it to the WNBA's scheduling gurus. Play a game one week. Play every other day the next.

This is the case for this year's Minnesota Lynx, who played their first game Sunday (a 84-70 home triumph over Detroit). Their next game isn't until May 27 at Houston, then two nights later at Chicago before returning home May 31 to host Phoenix, then off again to play the expansion Dream at Atlanta June 3, then to Connecticut to face the Sun June 6.

This isn't unusual, just Earth, Wind and Fire-type regular scheduling -- that's the way of the (WNBA) world.

But on the other hand, it gives Don Zierden and his staff is using this week basically as another week of training camp -- much-needed time to incorporate more stuff, improve on others, and continue to build player chemistry.

After Sunday's game, "We haven't put in half of our offense," says the coach. "We ran three plays the whole game."

After Tuesday's evening practice, Coach Z further told me about his plans for the week, "We get to work on a lot of concepts right now."

The Lynx picked up Sharnee' Zoll, a 5-7 rookie guard from Virginia, on Sunday. She cleared waivers after Minnesota claimed her last Friday after she was cut by Los Angeles, who drafted her as the 29th overall pick this spring, but couldn't be added until after the game.

As a result, to make room, Crystal Smith was waived -- she played only 19 seconds in Sunday's win. I wasn't that impressed with her, however.

Zierden says that Zoll has been on his talent radar for a while. "I personally has liked Sharnee' ever since I first saw her a year ago," he admits. "I think she (can) run the ball club and make everyone around her better.

"When we got to the third round, we were hoping tht she would slide through the draft," continues Zierden.

Zoll hit her only shot attempt, a three-pointer, against Minnesota in the final preseason game, a Los Angeles double-overtime win, at Grand Forks, N.D. on Mother's Day.

With Lindsay Harding still out indefinitely with an injury, Zierden believes Zoll may be a better backup point guard than Smith, who played two WNBA seasons, originally drafted by Phoenix in the third round of the 2006 Draft, then picked up by Houston last summer after the Mercury waived her.

Finally - - -

Shay Murphy, who was named inactive for Sunday's game, seems fine with Z's decision, according to the coach. The second-year guard "has taken the challenge of being inactive . . . She is really working hard in getting better."

Zierden isn't overly concerned about starting two-guard Anna DeForge, who made only one of four shots, and misfired on both her two trey attempts, in 24 minutes Sunday. "She (DeForge) never had 34 great games in Indiana (where the seven-year veteran played last summer)," notes the Minnesota coach. "Seimone (Augustus) don't have 34 great games."

DeForge only reported on May 10 after playing overseas, helping her club to a third straight title. "She is trying to get her legs underneath her after getting back from overseas," Zierden adds. Nonetheless, the 5-10 guard poses a constant outside scoring threat on the court, which opponents won't ignore.

No first game jitters on opening night

2008-05-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

How fitting was the Minnesota Lynx's first victory in their first game of the 2008 season. They defeated Detroit, the same team the 10-year-old WNBA franchise defeated in their first-ever game.

Tonya Edwards, the Lynx's first All-Star, scored the franchise's first basket en route to a 20 point game in a 17-point win in June, 1999, was present to witness Sunday's 84-70 triumph over the visiting Shock, last season's WNBA runners-up. She, Charmin Smith and Sonja Tate, along with Katie Smith, now with Detroit, were recognized as members of that 1999 expansion squad before the game.

As for the game itself, the hosts stayed with Detroit all throughout the first half, despite at one point, trailing the Shock early by six points. But rookie forward Charde Houston came off the bench and hit her first four shots in the first quarter. The six-foot Houston, a third round pick from Connecticut, had an eventful week: she graduated from UConn on May 11, then leads all scorers a week later in her first professional game with 21 points.

"It's one thing to be able to graduate, wear a cap and gown and walk across the stage, and then come back and beat a team no one thought we could beat," says a surprising Houston. "It was a great week for me."

It was a game in which two-time All-Star Seimone Augustus shot only 6-of-14 for 14 points. "A year ago, it was Seimone in double figures, and no one else," noted Coach Don Zierden afterwards. Fast forward a year later, Minnesota gets four players scoring in double figures, with two rookies off the bench: Houston and Candice Wiggins leading the way.

"If we play hard, we can stay in ball games," adds Coach Z.

This was most evident in the third quarter when Minnesota squandered a seven-point lead early in the third quarter, and saw Detroit tie and take a one-point lead near the three-minute mark (56-55). That would be the Shock's last lead of the night, as Wiggins got fouled by Alexis Hornbuckle, who seconds earlier hit two free throws to give her club the advantage. The Lynx's top draft choice returned the favor by hitting her two free chances, and both rookies provided the team scoring for the rest of the quarter: seven points by Houston, and Wiggins adding four points, including a huge 18-footer buzzer beater that sucked any remaining life left in the visitors, to give Minnesota a 68-60 lead.

The final quarter was all Minnesota, as the hosts' lead once swelled to 15 points midway through the quarter on Augustus' 15-foot pull-up jumper -- she had six points in a three-minute span -- the shortest shot distance was her patented eight-foot runner.

Afterwards, as reporters tried to make a big deal of the win, Zierden kept his perspective. "We got 33 more (games) to go, but today we are encouraged," he advised the press corps. He still has one of the league's youngest club, even though they grew up a little Sunday -- "baby steps," Zierden called it. "There are a lot of R's (rookies) and a lot of one's (players just in their second year as pros)," he points out.

But clearly, at first glance, the Lynx have more to work with than last season:

--Rookie Nicky Anosike started at center and scored 11 points, with four boards and three steals: "I don't think she backs down," observes Zierden on the first-year player from Tennessee holding her hold against Detroit's Cheryl Ford and Kara Braxton.

--Wiggins' opening night pro performance (15 points, four steals, two assists) confirmed why Minnesota chose her with the third overall pick: "We expected that out of her," says Coach Z matter-of-fact

--Houston showing an offensive part of her game, which wasn't often seen at UConn: "She can get better, but she's learning," notes the Lynx second-year head coach. "I did a great job, thanks to my teammates," adds the rookie.

--Noelle Quinn (four assists, zero turnovers) continues to prove that she is the team's best point guard -- her leadership is slowly emerging

--More importantly, Minnesota won without big scoring from either Augustus or Nicole Ohlde (eight points), but both players hit big shots when needed. And virtually nothing from top free-agent signee Anna DeForge (1-for-4, two points in 24 minutes).

Because of a quirk in the scheduling, Minnesota doesn't play again until May 27, a two-game road trip (at Houston and at Chicago), before returning home to face Phoenix May 31.

The extra time will be put to good use, says Zierden. "We haven't put in half of our offense," he explains. Adds Quinn, "We have time to prepare for our next opponents. We (also) can work on a lot of things."

Finally, even though the Lynx played a Detroit club playing the back end of a back-to-back, if Minnesota can play nearly half as well the rest of the way, this 10th anniversary season can be the team's best.

"On paper," Zierden concludes, "we are not as experienced as other teams but we do have energy. We need to keep playing (with) intense energy."

Enough already!

2008-04-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

Rev. Jeremiah Wright has become Sen. Barack Obama's Willie Horton. Sadly, it shouldn't be this way.

America claims to be the land of free speech, but when someone say something we don't like, we are quick to condemn and criticize. I heard the entire speech that Wright gave Monday at the National Press Club in Washington. Some of it I may had some problems, but for the most part, I had no problem with he said because he got the chance to say his peace entirely, not in 30-second sound bytes. I also heard the entire question-and-answer period, in which many of the questions were asinine at worst, and sophomoric at best. The journalists there generally weren' t interested in hearing his side, but were mainly disappointed that Wright didn't fall on his sword, or came in on his hands and knees, begging for mainstream forgiveness.

All they wanted was some quick quips to use, to create more distractions from the campaign. To make news, when there wasn't any to make.

It proves two things: One, America isn't ready for a Black man or woman in the White House. And two, that all Black people aren't joined by the hip.

Why should Obama be held responsible for what his former pastor says? Should the Illinois senator run, tackle and mussel Wright?

Was Ronald Reagan held responsible for what the late Rev. Jerry Farwell said during his campaign? Did the press take Reagan to task for kicking off his presidential campaign at a Confederate landmark?

Of course not. We all know that all Whites do not think or speak alike. However, this right never has been extended to Blacks in this country.

The mainstream press, which too often serves as America's information gatekeepers -- a role too many Americans have allowed them to assume, doesn't want to present the entire picture, the entire speech, along with stupid questions, to put Wright's words in its entire context, and allow the public to decide what he said is controversial or not.

And even if it, report it and move on. When it is someone White, they do.

This has become a live version of "The Defiant Ones," a movie that had Sidney Politer and Tony Curtis shackled to each other, with Obama playing Poitier and Wright assuming the Curtis role.

During Monday's speech, Wright pointed out that journalists don't read. I agree. They certainly haven't read Voltaire, which I did in college.

I paraphrase: I may not agree with what you say, but I defend your right to say it.

Enough, already.

Short tails from training camp

2008-04-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota Lynx lost Wednesday 79-78 in overtime in a scrimmage against a men's team in its third day of training camp.

"Good job, ladies," a player told Charde Houston, Nicky Anosike and Shay Murphy while they were shooting free throws afterwards. The young man told me playing against the women was tough, and they played hard.

Lynx Coach Don Zierden afterwards seemed pleased, although he was concerned about some on-court decision-making down the stretch, such as recognizing time and score, and avoiding possible foul situations. This occurred with the second unit, which mainly composed of training camp players who probably will not be around once the season begins in mid-May, made some poor decisions, which allowed the men to hit the winning basket with one second remaining, erasing a one-point Lynx lead.

The first unit, which included Murphy, Anosike, Houston and Noelle Quinn actually defeated the men by three points, but the eventually winners asked for an extra session.

The team is having two-a-day practices every other day this week.

The show must go on

2008-04-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

WNBA training camps are now open. If you don't recognize the majority of the players, it's all right.

Many players are still overseas, playing for their respective teams, either finishing up regular-season play, or beginning their post-season run. Several others, such as Swin Cash, Lisa Leslie and Katie Smith, are with the USA National Team.

This is the way of the WNBA at this time of year.

Eight players are missing the Minnesota Lynx training camp, including projected starters Seimone Augustus, Anna DeForge, and Nicole Ohlde. Lindsay Harding and this year's top pick Candice Wiggins, who had seven points and five assists in a win over Cuba, both are competing with the USA club. Harding added two points and four assists to help USA improve its record to 1-1.

Nonetheless, Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Don Zierden and his staff are preparing for the upcoming 2008 season with the 15 players who are in camp, including 2008 draftees Nkolika (Nicky) Anosike and Charde Houston, along with last year's draftees Eshaya (Shay) Murphy and Noelle Quinn.

If anything, it gives the rookies and such players as Murphy and Quinn, who started at point guard in place of Harding after she got injured last June, a good leg up on the veterans.

"As much as we miss the players that aren't here, you have to go with what you have," Zierden points out. "You got to play with what you have every day."

Zierden's plans haven't changed, he admits.

"Just like any other training camp, by the first exhibition game (against Connecticut on May 1), we want a certain number of things in," he continues. This also includes the Lynx's defensive philosophies and some parts of the offense. Defense, especially defending the post defense "was a big concern last year," adds Zierden. "These are two things that we really need to focus on for that first exhibition game.

"By that last (exhibition game on May 11) with Los Angeles, we just fine tune for the Detroit opener (on May 18)," he surmises.

When the other players, who most likely will be on the final roster, show up later, "It will be a game of catch-up for the veterans when they get here," says Zierden. "We're moving straight forward, whether all of our players are here or half of them are here."

As we say, that's the way in the WNBA.

Globetrotters as magical as ever

2008-04-10T07:01:00.000-07:00

Growing up as a youngster, I always looked forward to whenever the Harlem Globetrotters would appear on ABC's Wide World of Sports -- boy, am I dating myself!

However, the longtime basketball team fell on hard times. The Globetrotters became irrelevant to many, who saw the players as nothing more than hoopin' clowns.

The basketball was overshadowed by the antics, says Fred "Curly" Neal, a key member of the Globetrotters for 22 seasons, appearing in over 6,000 games in 97 countries from 1963 to 1985.

A 23-point scorer at Johnson C. Smith (North Carolina) University, he was asked to assume the key ball handing duties, a role made famous by Marques Haynes. "One of the dribblers got hurt during the time we were getting ready to go overseas," he recalls. "I scarred up my kneecaps three or four times but I kept working on it, and I got better and better. I didn't want to be the same as Marques, so I got me a new routine."

He did -- Neal became legendary for his magical shooting and dribbling skills, along with his on-court antics that wowed the crowd.

"We always believed in our basketball, and comedy came second," Neal points out.

When Mannie Jackson took over ownership of the team several years ago, he put the Globetrotters on a new course of action. Jackson dusted off its seemingly tarnished image and restored its greatness.

The Globetrotters are better than ever.

"When I first joined the team, one of the first things I did was learn about the history of the organization," says Eugene "Wildkat" Edgerson, a five-year member. "The average person will say (that) the Harlem Globetrotters are from Harlem, New York, which is not the case. It started in 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, and played its first game in Harlem. That little tidbit really opens up your eyes."

The only player to appear in two Final Fours (1997 and 2001) for the University of Arizona, Edgerson, who holds both a bachelor and master's degrees in education, is called the team's gentle giant. The 6-foot-7 player is a favorite among both teammates and fans with his retro Afro style, work ethic, personality and energy.

"I am proud to be with something so positive," continues Edgerson.

The Globetrotters' current "Magic As Ever" world tour stops in Minneapolis for three shows this weekend. Minnesota Viking Pro Bowl defensive tackle Pat Williams will don the Globetrotters' red, white and blue colors and join the team during its widely popular football portion of the show. Williams also donated 100 tickets to Friday night's show at Target Center to the African American Adoption Agency, Minnesota's first full-service, non-profit adoption agency designed to move children of color from foster care to permanent families.

Also, Paul Allen, who does play-by-play on Viking radio broadcasts, will suit up and play for the Washington Generals, hoping to help the Globetrotters' main opponent snap their 37-plus year losing streak.

Neal, who now travels as the Globetrotters' "Ambassador of Goodwill," also will be there. "I hope to be around for a few more years," he proclaims.

(I wrote a feature on both Neal and Edgerson for this week's edition of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Check it out at www.spokesman-recorder.com)

Imbalance coverage

2008-04-08T06:59:00.000-07:00

Kansas won this year's men's college basketball national championship, defeating Memphis in overtime Monday in San Antonio.

I watched the exciting contest with the TV sound off and listened to Westwood One's radio broadcast. Kevin Kugler did the play-by-play, and analysts John Thompson, who was the first Black coach to win a national title in the 1980s at Georgetown, and Bill Rafferty expertly played off each other. They analyzed instead of second guessing, as CBS' insufferable duo of Jim Nantz and Billy Packer often do.

The only down point was the always annoying Jim Gray, who smooches his interview subject with expert precision.

Now one champion is crown -- I can't wait to watch the second one.

Yes, Virginia, there is another championship game. Tennessee and Stanford play Tuesday for the women's national title in St. Petersburg, Florida.

It's a shame that the Women's Final Four doesn't get as much fanfare as the men's. But this is to expected.

Sports Illustrated, for example, will devote reams of pages to the men's field in its annual March Madness issue, but barely a half-page for the women. USA Today and others will devote Texas-size space for the tournament brackets and team breakdowns, while scant mention is given to the women teams.

A couple of years ago, I wrote a story on imbalanced coverage of men's and women's sports. Penn State University assistant professor Marie Hardin conducted a study for the American Society of Newspaper Editors, and concluded that most editors, which are majority male, have a jaded view of women's sports. Many don't see the value of covering them, the study said.

In a June 2007 study, Hardin again reported that most newspapers carry little coverage of women's sports.

Endless babbling was done over this year's Final Four teams. The title game was analyzed to senseless proportions. Meanwhile, on Tuesday's women match-up, barely a peep is said.

Unlike the men's, there is no Dick Vitale for the women.

Tonight's telecast on ESPN, which could do a lot better as the home for the women's title game, will have Mike Patrick and Doris Burke as announcers. They are far better than Nantz and Packer. I rather listen to them than Westwood One's radio duo of Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli -- these two are horrible announcers. They treat the audience like kindergarten students as they explain every piece of the action.

Unlike the men's, there is no Greg Gumbel as studio host for the women. He always is rock solid, but Clark Kellogg too often overstates the obvious. Meanwhile, Rece Davis is basically a suck-up while Stacey Dales has her moments, but Kara Lawson must get over herself.

Unlike the men's, there won't be the late Luther Vandross serenading the women's champs afterwards. And don't expect ESPN Radio and Sporting News Radio spend the remainder of the night and the next day, talking about it, as they do for the men.

Another second-class attention given. This is an annual disappointment that women's hoops fans, which I proudly count myself as part of this group, that we have come to expect.

No shining moment here.

The real score, part II

2008-03-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

Dr. Richard Lapchick released his graduation rates study for NCAA-bound men's teams on Monday. A similar report also was done for the women's NCAA teams, and was released Tuesday, the day after the selections were announced.

"Women have regularly been the best news academically in college sport," says Lapchick, who heads the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at the University of Central Florida. "Women basketball student-athletes do much better academically than men," he continues.

There are clear differences between this year's women teams and men's teams:

*61 women's teams (out of 65) graduate at least 60 percent of its players; the men only 31
*51 women's teams graduate at least 70 percent; 22 men teams have done the same
*Only one women's team (up from zero teams in 2007) graduated less than 40 percent of its players (Jackson State); there are 14 men's teams this year with a similar percentage of graduates

This shows a couple of things: female basketball players take their education more seriously than their male counterparts, and second, unlike the men, who too many bolt to the pros after one or two years, the women stay in school longer because there's no money out there for them to leave early for the WNBA.

However, as with the men, a gap does exist between Black and White female basketball players when it comes to graduating, albeit smaller.

White female basketball student-athletes graduate at 88 percent, only 72 percent of Black female basketball student-athletes graduate, Lapchick's report found. It's slightly better than a a year: a 16 percent disparity as opposed to 17 percent in 2007. For men, the disparity between Black and White players is 24 percent -- 25 percent a year ago.

Lapchick says this problem extends far beyond the colleges. "Too many urban schools are underfunded and cannot deliver the resources that would level the academic playing field," he explains. "Schools are recruiting many of our African-American basketball players from urban areas. This makes it far more difficult for student-athletes and students in general to be successful. In the meantime, admissions officers need to admit only students who can succeed academically."

But based on the two respective reports, too many schools care only about on-court wins and losses, and too little about classroom success. The age-old question always has been: Who's ultimately responsible -- the institution or the student-athlete, be he or she, for their education? A chicken or egg dilemma in too many cases, I'm afraid.

Using the available Graduation Success Rates (GSR) data, Lapchick discovered more distressing results:

-- 15 women's tournament teams (24 percent) and 22 men's tourney teams (34 percent) have graduation for Black basketball players that were at least 30 percent lower than their rates for White players. For the women, this is up two percent from last year; for the men, this is down from 49 percent in 2007
--22 women's teams (35 percent, down from 39 percent in 2007) and 28 men's teams (44 percent, down from 61 percent in 2007) have graduation rates for Black hoopsters that were at least 20 percent lower than their rates for their White counterparts

As we did for the men, let's briefly honor the best and the worst in women's teams.

Among this year's worst:

Arizona State: 33 percent Blacks/100 percent Whites
Iowa State: 0 percent Blacks/83 percent Whites
Xavier: 0 percent Blacks/86 percent Whites
UC-Santa Barbara: 0 percent Blacks/91 percent Whites
Minnesota: 56 percent Blacks/75 percent Whites

And this year's best:

Bucknell, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Robert Morris, Syracuse, Tennessee, Marist, Notre Dame, Texas, and Vanderbilt all graduate 100 percent of its players, both Black and White. San Diego also graduate 100 percent of its players, but they do not have any Blacks. It also should be noted that Jackson State, a Historically Black College, had no White players, but still only graduated 26 percent of its Black female players, and Montana, Utah and Wyoming had no Black basketball players for GSR purposes.

Finally, I love college hoops as much as anyone. But I also love Lapchick's annual reports because it put everything in its proper perspective. Success should be two-fold: in the classroom and on the court. Many schools have proven that it can be done, while too many have shown that there is an imbalance in their overall perspective.

The graduation gap between Blacks and Whites must get smaller, if not someday disappear. Then we can have June Jubilation along with March Madness.

The real score

2008-03-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

Now the selections have been made. The brackets are now set. The annual moaning has subsided somewhat. This year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Teams are ready for its win and keep going -- lose and go home, post-season.

I wonder if the so-called bracket experts, the babbling heads on ESPN, the multitude of college hoops followers who are frantically filling out tournament sheets for its annual tournament pools, ever think about the little known fact:

These players are student-athletes.

This fact is never overlooked by Dr. Richard Lapchick, who annually releases his "Keeping Score When It Counts" study on the NCAA men's basketball teams. Lapchick, the primary author of the study and director of the The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) and chairman of the DeVos Sport Business Management Graduate Program at the University of Central Florida, looks at the invited schools' Graduation Success Rates (GSR). He compares the classroom performance for Black and White basketball student-athletes.

There still exist a significant disparity between the academic success between Black and White men's basketball players in major colleges: Lapchick calls this "deeply troubling." However, he reports, "The gaps are narrowing slightly."

This year's report, released on Moaning Monday, the day after Selection Sunday, showed that 41 teams (64 percent) graduated at least half of its basketball players, which is the same total in 2007. Additionally, 31 teams (48 percent) graduated at least 60 percent, a four-percent drop from a year ago, and 22 teams (34 percent) graduated at least 70 percent, down from 37 percent in 2007. Only 14 teams graduated less than 40 percent (22 percent, up from 19 percent a year ago).

"The GSR, developed in late 2005, provides a more accurate picture of the success student-athletes have in the classroom at NCAA member institutions," says Lapchick.

But the Black-White disparity still exists, Lapchick reminds us:

--61 percent of the teams (33 schools) graduated 70 percent or more of their White players, while only 30 percent (19 schools) graduated 70 percent or more of their Black players. This is a 31 percent gap -- it was 38 percent last year.

--70 percent (38 schools) graduated 60 percent or more of their White players, while only 37 percent of the schools (23) graduated a likewise percentage of Blacks -- a 33 percent gap, down three percent from last year's study

--83 percent (45 schools) graduated 50 percent or more of their White student-athletes, but only 57 percent (36 schools) did the same for their Black student-athletes -- a 26 percent gap. It was 41 percent last year.

"Race remains a continuing academic issue, reflected in the remaining substantial gaps between graduation rates for White and African-American student-athletes shown above," notes Lapchick

While people go ga-ga over who going where, what high seed a school got, and what RPI or win-lost record a team has, let's look at some of this year's teams' standings in regards to graduating its players.

Among the worst:
Arizona, 10th seed in the West -- graduated 100 percent of its White players; 0 percent of its Black players
Drake, 5th seed in the West -- 67 percent of its White players graduated; 0 percent for the Black players
Kentucky, 11th seed--East: All its White players graduated; only 9 percent of its Black players did

The following schools: Connecticut, Coppin State, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Mississippi Valley State, Temple, UMBC, Villanova and Winthrop had a zero percent White graduation rate because they had no White players. Gonzaga's zero percent Black graduation rate is due to the fact that it had no Black players.

Among the best:
Davidson, 10th seed, Midwest: 100 percent Blacks graduated; 50 percent Whites graduated
Notre Dame, 5th seed, East: 100 percent Blacks and Whites graduated
Western Kentucky, 12th seed, West: The only school who graduated all of its players, regardless of race

"If we were to choose a Top Ten for Graduation Success Rates," claims Lapchick, "these schools would be there: Butler, Davidson, Marquette, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Purdue, San Diego, Villanova, Western Kentucky and Xavier. The Final Four would include Butler, Notre Dame, Purdue and Western Kentucky."

Unfortunately, the knuckleheads at CBS and ESPN don't care about this. They won't spend endless hours debating this, as they did about why so-and-so team didn't get in, and why someone else was sent out west or east or wherever. Lapchick's information won't see the light of day among those making out their brackets, or any breath used in their discussions on who will win this year's national championship.

This is the real score, the real world.

Let the games begin.

If you want to see the entire report, go to www.bus.ucf.edu/sport

One more to go

2008-02-29T07:13:00.000-08:00

It seems only fitting that the final regular season week of the Big Ten women's basketball campaign would get to this -- six teams still in contention for the title, a conference race closer than ever before this late in the year.

Ohio State was sitting atop at the start of the week, then lost a later-learned controversial overtime game to Indiana. The Buckeyes, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana and Michigan all have two games this week -- Purdue only has one, when they play Illinois on Sunday.

The Gophers, now 10-7 after defeating visiting Indiana 69-54 Thursday, had to win both their games because they isn't in the best standing as far as Big Ten tournament tie-breakers are concerned.

"We sat down with the team (earlier this week and told them), this is where we are and what we have to do," notes Minnesota Coach Pam Borton. "Our destiny is in our hands."

Borton's players took her advice to heart. Emily Fox's jumper with 12:15 remaining in the first half, broke a 12-12 tie and began a 6-0 run to take the lead for good. A later 11-0 run, which featured six points from reserve center Zoe Harper, gave the Gophers some breathing room heading into halftime. Their 39-23 halftime lead was U-M's largest advantage over an opponent this season.

"Zoey stepped up and played a big role tonight," Minnesota senior forward Leslie Knight says of the sophomore Harper's first half performance.

"That was key for us," Borton says. "(It) gave everyone a lot of confidence."

After their big win Monday, the Hoosiers (16-13, 9-8) couldn't buy a vowel, let alone a basket. Indiana went dry from the field for the last seven minutes of the first half, and almost five minutes after intermission, scoring only four points from the free throw line. The Gophers held Indiana to 15 of 51 shooting (just over 29 percent), a season-low for an opponent this season.

"They had a great defense," admits Indiana Coach Felisha Legette-Jack, "but our kids didn't shoot the ball well either."

Minnesota wanted to stop IU from getting into the paint, Borton points out. At the beginning of the contest, the Hoosiers were doing just that. But then the Gophers switched defenses and those same shots soon dried up.

"Their guards are very tough off the dribble," explains the Gopher coach. "Our plan was to give them one shot and shut down the lane. We did a great job in our 2-3 zone."

The junior Fox led Minnesota with 20 points, her 26th double figure effort this season -- she also done this in all U-M's 15 home games. Knight added 19. Jamie Braun paced Indiana with 16 points, and Kim Roberson had 10. These were the only players on either team that reached double figures.

The win Thursday was Borton's 200th career victory. More importantly, it puts the Gophers in sole possession of fourth place, breaking out of a three-way tie with Indiana and Michigan, who also lost that night -- a 69-67 defeat at Wisconsin. If they stay in their current position, Minnesota is assured a first-round bye.

Minnesota (19-10, 10-7) travels to Michigan Sunday in its final regular season game before the tournament next week in Indianapolis.

"It definitely will be a tough game," says Fox on the Gophers-Wolverines match-up.

But it's only one more to go.

The lady can talk, and coach

2008-02-28T07:12:00.001-08:00

Reaching 800 wins in any sport, at any level is worth noting. Rutgers University Head Women's Basketball Coach C. Vivian Stringer reached this historic milestone Wednesday, when her team defeated DePaul.

Only seven others, male or female, have posted as many career victories: Stringer, who coached at three different schools -- Cheyney (Pa.), Iowa and Rutgers, is the first Black coach to do so. Only the late Clarence "Big House" Gaines have more wins -- he earned his 828 wins, however, at one school (Winston-Salem).

I first met Stringer back in the mid-1980's when she was coaching at Iowa. I was on her campus, covering the Hawkeyes-Minnesota contest as a radio reporter. It was just after the passage of Proposition 86, which many coaches felt was discriminatory toward future Black student-athletes coming into college. Both John Thompson and John Chaney were the most outspoken against it.

At the end of her post-game conference, I asked Stringer's opinion on the subject. About twenty minutes later, she still was talking about the injustice of the new rule. I got enough sound bytes to last a week's worth of sportscasts.

It was then I learned about her passion, not only about basketball, but life in general.

From then on, I always made a point to speak with her, even if it was general chit-chatting, and Stringer always was gracious, whether her team won or lost. During her Iowa days, her teams rarely lost to the Gophers.

I missed her when she left Iowa, but I truly understood: her longtime husband and father of their three children suddenly died during the 1992-93 season. Stringer left for the East Coast, and have been at Rutgers ever since.

A few years ago, our paths again crossed: I was in New York for the WNBA All-Star Game, and I was working on a future story on the lack of Black female head coaches.

While in the hallways of the Garden after the game, I just happened to run into the coach, who was there to see Cappie Pondexter, a former player, and one of only two rookies selected as an All-Star. I took the opportunity to again ask her thoughts on a subject not often asked, and can be somewhat controversial.

Save for a few minutes, when Stringer asked me for time as she wanted to introduce a couple of her present players to Pondexter, the coach gave me more than enough information to write a series of articles on the subject.

The lady can talk.

Congratulations to Stringer. I am rooting for her Rutgers to get back to the Final Four this season, hopefully go one step further, and win it all -- the Scarlet Knights finished runners-up to Tennessee, a day before Don Imus' racially and sexually derisive comments went over the nation's airwaves.

Stringer and her players handled the incident and its aftermath, with class.

The lady has class.

She also can coach.

You haven't seen nothing yet

2008-02-27T07:27:00.000-08:00

Sen. Hillary Clinton is fighting for her political life.

She never thought she would be in this position, I suspect. Certainly many in the mainstream press didn't see it coming. That Sen. Clinton would be trailing Sen. Barack Obama at this stage of the long and winding presidential campaign, which I feel last far too long.

"They (mainstream reporters and political pundits) all are scrambling right now to try to understand why they were wrong," says Professor Catherine Squires. She is doing a study of Obama's campaign from the standpoint of media coverage. She is looking at the three national newspapers: the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune, as well as national publications as U.S. News and World Report, Time and Newsweek. Squires, the first professor of journalism, equality and gender at the University of Minnesota, has been on the case ever since the Illinois junior senator declared his intention to run for president over two years ago.

"I will continue this analysis as long as he is in the race," says Squires, "because there is going to be talk about the meaning of his candidacy for some time to come. There is so much to look at, particularly since the primaries actually began.

"Since Super Tuesday, I am collecting much more data than I thought," the professor continues.

With Obama now ahead, Sen. Clinton is coming out with all kinds of mess, trying to get back in the race. Everyone uses everyone else's words, so that accusation don't fly.

Now her campaign is showing Obama wearing African garb. So what!

Unless he's buck naked, I really don't care what he wears. We aren't looking for a new president to head up the Ebony Fashion Fair.

Now, Sen. Clinton is dredging up that experience issue again. The last I saw, being the First Lady, even one as involved as she was in her husband's eight years in office, doesn't give you any experience brownie points.

Furthermore, no one who's running for high office: Obama, Clinton, or Sen. John McCann -- none are experience. Certainly current President Bush didn't have any, yet he's in his lame duck year.

"Portraying (Obama) as being too young . . . That could be the code word for (Obama) is not ready yet," adds Squires.

And if Obama does indeed wins his party's nomination, expect things to get even hotter. "We have seen the Republicans do some pretty nasty dirty tricks in the last few elections, from Willie Horton on up," the Minnesota journalism professor surmises. She speaks from personal experience: Squires' father once worked on the late Chicago mayor Harold Washington's campaign, "and I remember some of the ugly things that was going on," she recalls.

The kid gloves are slowly coming off in this campaign. Clinton is taking hers off, and McCann will later this summer.

Certainly stay tuned.

"I really don't know where this will go next," concludes Squires. "There's no Plan B, and that why (the campaign) is so great. I am having quite a bit of fun."

Moving and dealing, WNBA style

2008-02-20T06:53:00.000-08:00

While the hoop world watched the silliness of the Jason Kidd trade, the WNBA quietly began its offseason player movement with a bang.

Swin Cash and Bill Laimbeer reportedly heading to Splitsville at season's end last fall. The two reached their destination Tuesday as the All-Star was traded from Detroit to Seattle for a No. 1 pick. It also signals the beginning of "Trader Brian" Agler's reign in Seattle. When he was in Minnesota, Agler would change his roster like daily clothing.

Katie Douglas traded from Connecticut to Indiana for Tamika Whitmore, a first round pick, and signing rights to Jessica Foley, who hasn't yet decided she is willing to leave her native Australia, signals Mike Thibault's off-season pledge that changes were in the offering. He also re-signed Lindsay Whalen.

Tammy Sutton-Brown also re-signed with Indiana.

Finally, while the Minnesota Timberwolves have no wiggle room to make any moves, their sister counterpart does. The Lynx signed Anna DeForge, an unrestricted free agent. The veteran guard gives the team both scoring and experience, two attributes the league's youngest club badly needs.

Minnesota also offered a contract to free agent center Nakia Sanford. However, she is a restricted free agent and Washington has five days to match the Lynx's offer. If she comes, Sanford becomes the team's starting center, which enables Coach Don Zierdan to move Nicole Ohlde to her natural power forward position.

The Lynx's two moves are impressive. As are the others mentioned on the WNBA's first day of moving and dealing.

Too bad the Kidd nonsense overshadowed it.

Crossing the line

2008-02-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

Last night I received a disturbing e-mail,

An engineer from Northern Ireland, on loan to a company based in Edina, Minnesota recently attended a Edina-Hopkins high school girls basketball game. While in attendance, the visitor got to witness a continuing trend in sports at any level -- fans crossing the line.

"There were a dozen or so young males . . . who had exclusive jeers for the two African-American players on the Hopkins team," the engineer recalls. All throughout the game, the two young ladies had to hear "racislist slurs like primate and jungle noises when they were shooting free throws," the letter continued. The person said they kept informal stats and noticed that the two players combined for eight missed free throws out of 13 attempts. "You could see that this hatred, visited upon these girls, had a measurable effect on these two players."

At full count, "this group of sport hooligans" numbered about a dozen, "clad in green Edina kit, and sat in the first two rows opposite the teams, on the other end of the court from the (school band). I was on that same side. I inquired with another spectator more familiar with Edina and he said these boys were on the hockey team and come to all the girls basketball games. He said these hockey players are treated with kid gloves at his school, (and) the normal rules of behavior do not apply to them."

What should be asked here -- where are the adults in charge? The letterwriter, who I might suspect, have seen such boorish behavior at football (soccer) games in their home land, or might have seen worse, asked the same:

Booing the opposition is within reason at home games. Calling out someone's ethnicity, or making mockery of their person, is crossing the line.

I don't care if the person is Black or White. It doesn't matter. It's simple.

It's wrong.

Like the Irish visitor, I, too, have seen such behavior at games. Once at a Minnesota Timberwolves game, I heard such hateness spew out of regular season ticket holders that would make a salty sea captain blush. And these were adults, supposedly persons who are mature enough to know better.

Even though they are kids, these young men shouldn't be given carte blanche to say anything they want, all under the guise of supporting the home team.

I don't know if the constant hassling really did affect the two Hopkins players, but it can have a lingering and long-lasting damanging effect.

As for Edina High School officials, which I am sure someone with authority was present at this game -- they must've heard this. If they did, why didn't they step in and ask the boys to not tone down their act, but cease it altogether.

If these officials did nothing, which according to the letter, certainly seems the case, their non-action co-signed the boys' taunts.

Making jungle sounds only when two Black players are on the court is racist. It's hooliganism American style.

It's crossing the line in Edina, Minnesota U.S.A., an afflunt Minneapolis suburb.

It would be crossing the line no matter if it took place in Hopkins, another suburb, or in the middle of Minneapolis or St. Paul. Or Chicago and Detroit; New York City and Los Angeles.

Or in the Northern Ireland engineer's own backyard.

"I know first-hand what sectarian hatred can accomplish when institutions turn a blind eye . . . or worse, tacitly support it," the person wrote.

Such behavior has no place in sport, period.

"A censure of the adults in charge of this event that night," the visiting engineer suggested -- this e-mail was also sent to Edina High officials and the Minnesota State High School League, the prep governing body which spells out sportsmanship rules for every school member, including Edina.

The letter also suggested that the Edina team managers personnally apology to the two Black players from Hopkins, and find out who were the boys yelling the racial remarks and penalized them.

"The most important thing for Edina to do is to reach out to the players from the other team and let them know that this is not what your school is about," the letter concluded. "The adults in charge of Edina should step up and let these African-American players know that the institution will not condone this behavior by sweeping it under the rug."

Not only let these players know this, but Edina High officials must clearly draw the line between sportsman (or sportswoman) ship and outlandish, sectarian hooliganism.

Not only in high school, but also in college and pros. It's not just creating a hostle environment for the on-court participants, but those attending as well.

What a great first impression the Irish visitor left with that night in Edina.

They were giants this night

2008-02-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

It's a long way from those colossal big man battles, such as the ones Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell once had. But what made them great, was how they brought out the best in each other when they played.

This is what occurred Thursday night at Williams Arena. Overall, it was Illinois visiting Minnesota, but the game's subplot was the two sophomore big women: Ashley Ellis-Milan for the Gophers, and Jenna Smith of Illinois, and how they went at each other.

Both are close friends, once summer AAU teammates in high school. They still are friends: the two second-year centers hugged at center court when they meet during pre-game intros.

I have known Smith since she was a youngster, and watched her grow into a fine player. She always had the drive and the determination to get better. I only known Ellis-Milan since she arrived at Minnesota a couple of years ago.

Both have pleasant personalities off the court. But on the court . . . watch out.

"Before the game, we chit-chatted," says Ellis-Milan, a St. Paul Central graduate of Smith, the Bloomington Kennedy grad and former Ms. Minnesota. "But when it's time (to play), and gets down to those four lines (that encloses the basketball court), it's game time and we don't talk much. We just play."

And after the 6-2 Ellis-Milan outjumped the 6-3 Smith for the jump ball, the two young female hoopsters did just that.

"She is a challenge for me," continues the Gopher center on Smith, "and tonight it was a challenge for her, too."

Both Smith and Ellis-Milan fills a specific role for their respective squads:

"J.J. is our All-American, our go-to player on the inside," explains Illini Coach Jolette Law.

While Smith is doubled and triple-teamed, which Minnesota did throughout Thursday's contest, Ellis-Milan rarely demands such attention. "Ashley gets her points (when) we go into our secondary offense," notes Gopher Coach Pam Borton. "We don't call a play for her."

However, on this night, Ellis-Milan won the statisical battle: In the first half, she shot 4-for-7 for 10 points in 17 minutes; Smith shot 3-for-4 for 6 points. She had two more rebounds than Ellis-Milan (4 to 2), and one more assist (one, as opposed to zero for Ellis-Milan). But the Gopher was one-up on Smith in steals (1 to 0).

"Our kids did a pretty good job on (Smith) in the first half, and limited her touches a little bit," Borton points out. "But we knew in the second half, they were going to throw it in (to her)."

After halftime, the two's real show began -- these two giants that night stood tall.

Early in the second half, Smith got called for fouling Ellis-Milan -- she thought she had all ball as she attempted to block Ellis-Milan's short jumper at the rim.

On the next possession, Smith immediately went at her friend, and connected on a back-her-down, semi-hook.

Later, the two again was woman-to-woman, post-to-post, as Ellis-Milan fouled Smith while shooting. Her two free throws gave Illinois a two-point lead with almost eight minutes left in the game.

Ellis-Milan came back down court, and hit a jumper to tie the score.

Then, Smith stepped back behind the arc, and calmly swished a three-pointer, to put the Illini up by three. "She was way back there," says Ellis-Milan.

After a miss, Ellis-Milan then took over: She got three rebounds, two of them off the offensive glass. Then she really got busy.

A free throw. A layup. Another tough rebound off a missed Illini three-pointer try. Two free throws. A jump shot.

This seven-point personal run, in three-and-a-half minutes, gave Minnesota its final lead of the night.

"I didn't even know that I made seven in a row," says a surprised Ellis-Milan afterwards. "I was just out there playing. After I made a shot, I now had to get back on the defensive end and try to stop Jenna because I know they are going to throw it back inside to her."

"We were looking for her," admits teammate Emily Fox. "That is part of being a good point guard, knowing who had the hot hand, and Ashley had the hot hand tonight."

Says Law: "She was determined out there to get position, get a foul, or a basket. She put Minnesota on her back."

"Ashley took the shots that were given to her," adds Borton. "That's what makes Ashley good -- she just opens up within our offense."

Final score: Minnesota 61, Illinois 56. Both teams are even at one win apiece for the season.

Second score: Ellis-Milan 20, Smith 16.

In their first meeting this season, Smith had 20 points to lead her squad to victory over the visiting Gophers. Ellis-Milan finished with nine points.

Now the two friends are even at one game apiece.

"I really like going up against Jenna," says Ellis-Milan. "We know each other's game a lot. I am so proud of her that she had developed so quickly. She has gotten so much better."

But what about her game? Ellis-Milan says she still is working on polishing up her post moves.

When asked has Ellis-Milan joined the team's list of go-to players, Borton quickly told a reporter, "She's got 20 points and we don't call a play for her. Why start now?"

Ellis-Milan and Smith now has met four times in their two college seasons. Predictably, they have four more before their collegiate time is done.

"The next two years," says Law, "it is going to be that duel, those two going up against each other."

Says Borton: "I think they really enjoy each other's company, and playing against each other."

But both coaches quickly warn -- it isn't Chamberlain vs. Russell, or George Miken vs. anyone else.

"They will be the first one to tell you that it's not Ashley against Jenna," says Borton on the two young women. "It's Illinois against Minnesota. Those players are going to be as successful as the people who are around them. Ashley has got great players around her, and Jenna got very good players around her."

"We are not going to focus on it being Jenna and Ellis-Milan," says Law, adding, "They are two great players."

"It's going to be fun the next two years (watching the two play)," concludes Borton.

It sure was fun Thursday night.

FINALLY -- As I wrote a couple of days ago, the Minnesota Lynx hired Jennifer Gillom as assistant coach. She replaces Teresa Edwards, who is now writing a book.

"I have been looking to coach at a higher level and to come back to coach in the WNBA," says the two-time All-WNBA, who played seven seasons in the league -- six with Phoenix. She also played many seasons overseas. Gillom currently is coaching at a high school in Phoenix, and will remain there during the league off-season.

Goings and comings

2008-02-07T08:43:00.000-08:00

As the world Wednesday watched Shaquille O'Neal travel coast to coast via a one-for-two trade between Miami and Phoenix in the NBA, here in Minnesota, we saw our own goings and comings.

First, the going: Third-year forward Kristen Mann was selected by the expansion Atlanta Dream Wednesday. She was left unprotected by the Minnesota Lynx.

A 2005 first round pick by Minnesota, Mann's gradual improvement began to show near the end of her rookie year, and continued last summer. Then she posted a career-best 7.6 points and 3.6 rebounds as she played in all 34 regular season contests. For her career, her numbers are 6.3 points, 3 boards and 1.6 assists in 91 WNBA games.

This is what Coach Don Zierden feared: losing a player that was beginning to fit into his long-range plans. Because each team could only protect six, it was bound to happen.

"It is a very disappointing day for us," he said yesterday. "We lost a player."

Although he supports expansion, and knows that yesterday's draft was necessary to give Atlanta a start on forming its first roster, losing Mann is little consolation. "We appreciate everything Kristen has done for us," continues Zierden. "We wish her the best in Atlanta."

The newest WNBA franchise, the league's 14th team, also took advantage of one of the new provisions in the recently-signed collective bargaining agreement. Each team can now designate an unrestricted free agent as a "core" player, giving them exclusive negotitating rights to her in exchange for an offer of a one-year, fully guaranteed contract at the maximum salary.

That player for Atlanta is Betty Lennox, left off Seattle's protection list.

Given the history between Lennox and new Storm coach Brian Agler, who drafted, coached and uncermously traded her when the two were in Minnesota, it was expected that her days in Seattle were numbered. Also, the fact that she was a free agent, meaning that the Storm did not have to protect her.

If she stays, the Dream has a star to build around.

Atlanta also traded its fourth pick in this spring's draft, and guard Roneeka Hodges (formerly of Houston) to the Storm for Seattle's eighth pick and veteran guard Iziane Castro Marques.

If she stays, Atlanta's starting backcourt consist of Marques and Lennox.

They also traded the 18th overall pick, and forward LaToya Thomas, who Atlanta picked from Los Angeles, to Detroit for second-year guard Ivory Latta.

If she stays, Latta may get the minutes she couldn' t in a veteran-loaded backcourt in Detroit last season. Also, concerns about her small frame emerged too much last season, which is one reason why she fell so low in the 2007 WNBA Draft.

Atlanta completed its trading day by getting the 24th overall pick from Indiana in exchange for agreeing not to select specific unprotected Fever players.

Overall, the Dream didn't do too bad in their expansion draft. They also picked up a center (Katie Feenstra from Detroit), up-and-coming forwards in Mann and Carla Thomas (from Chicago), and a starting backcourt in Lennox and Castro Marques. Guard Kristen Haynie (Sacramento) and centers Ann Wauters (New York) and Chantelle Anderson (San Antonio) could be suitable reserves.

Earlier yesterday, all major and minor colleges announced their 2008 football recruiting class. Wednesday was the first day high school seniors officially can submit their letters of intent.

Five players earlier signed letters in December, and joined 26 others to Minnesota.

We still don't know how good a coach he is, but Gophers Head Coach Tim Brewster showed us on the onset that he can out and get some players.

"I love to recruit," says Brewster. "I got a staff that loves to recruit. Every day we are going to recruit."

The team's meeting room in Bierman Building like an overflowing bathtub, as Brewster said such adjectives as "tough," "very physical," "passionate," and "very special" over and over during the afternoon gathering with local reporters. Mel Kiper has nothing on him.

"We got a number of athletic kids," gushed Brewster. "We are looking for (defensive) guys who are tough and loves to play the game."

"He could have went anywhere in America," the coach says of linebacker Sam Maresh of Champlin Park (Minn.) High School, one of four in-state recruits that signed with Minnesota.

Brewster gave all the credit to Assistant Coach Tim Cross for the school landing four kids from the same Skyline High School in Dallas, Texas: Keanon Cooper, Da'Jon McKnight, Spencer Reeves and Troy Stoudermire, Jr. "Tim was solely responsible in getting these four kids, particularly Cooper."

I'm not a draft nut, nor do I get goose bumps over national signing day in any sport. I am under the belief that you can't judge how good a recruiting class is until a couple of seasons down the road.

"All the answers are not in this recruiting class," concurs Brewster, "but the next three to four (classes)."

Nonetheless, it was impressive, and gave the fledling Gopher football program some much-needed positive news. Especially coming off the program's worst season ever.

"I want to create an envirnoment conducive to winning," he concludes. "All these freshmen have a chance. If they can help us win ball games, they are going to play. I don't rule out any of the 31 kids from playing the first game next season."

This will be the first sign if these signees were indeed steals for Minnesota, that the supposedly other schools lost out on, or those schools thanking their lucky stars that they didn't get fooled as the school in the state of 10,000 whiners.

Double celebration

2008-02-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

Last night, on the eve of National Girls and Women in Sport Day, the Minnesota Lynx held its first "Slam Bash," celebrating both this annual event and the upcoming 10th year of the team's existence.

The Lynx brought in such legends as Nancy Liberman, Anne Donovan and Cheryl Miller, along with WNBA President Donna Orender, former Lynx Katie Smith, now with Detroit, and Lindsay Harding, who starts her second year with Minnesota.

"There never has been a better time for girls in sports," gushed Orender.

Girls today "can follow your dream," notes Angela Taylor, who grew up in Iowa, played college ball at Stanford, coached for a time, then was among the founding front office personnel when the WNBA began over a dozen years ago. Taylor is now the Lynx's vice-president of business development, and the first female person of color in either the Lynx or the Minnesota Timberwolves front office. "I had no idea on what impact sports would have on my life," she points out.

It's been proven that athletics isn't just for males, adds Smith. "We bring that effort -- we put in as much work (as the men)."

"I'm living a dream come true," says Harding, the WNBA's top pick of 2007.

Liberman came along just as Title IX was born. "I'm fortunate to be a Title IX baby," she says.

Miller, who Liberman calls "the greatest player, bar none," admits by watching players like Liberman and Donovan as a youngster growing up in Calfornia, "gave me the idea that (basketball) transcended gender." Growing up in the middle of a family of brothers, she used sports as "survival," she adds.

University of Minnesota Head Women's Basketball Coach Pam Borton began her basketball playing on a fifth grade boys' team. "I wanted to be just like them," she says.

In a taped statement, Lynx owner Glen Taylor told the gala attendees one of his reasons for buying the Lynx: "It's important to my daughters and granddaughters to have role models," he says. Timberwolves Vice-President Chris Wright reminded the crowd that Taylor's still-standing commitment to the WNBA is as firm as ever. "Without him, this franchise would not be in this market. He is committed to gender equity," says Wright.

On a Super Tuesday night, these women took center stage this night.

Other WNBA news:

--the Lynx will soon announce that Jennifer Gillom will join the coaching staff this season, replacing Teresa Edwards.

--the Atlanta expansion draft will be held today at 3:00 pm CST: each WNBA team submited a protected list of six players to the league last week. The new Atlanta team can select at least one player from each club. Lynx President Roger Griffith says it would might have been better if each team could have protected seven players, instead of six, because this would have assured them of keeping most of its key players.

--on the new six-year CBA, Orender says it came together because all sides wanted what was best for the league.

--Harding is now cleared to play by team doctors, she says: She plans to try out for the USA team this spring.

--after today's expansion draft, Minnesota can better hone in its scouting efforts for the college draft, says Coach Don Zierdan.

In case you want to know

2008-01-30T07:55:00.000-08:00

ESPN vainly calls itself, "The Worldwide Leader in Sports." Actually, it is the world's leader in male dominated sports.

Their nightly "Bottom Line" is so sexist, it's disgusting.

For example, during the January 28th Tennessee-Duke women's basketball telecast, no mention of the WNBA's new collective bargaining agreement, the third such pact in women's pro sports history. No mention whatsoever.

The following day, USA Today ran a 41-word piece -- yes, I counted each word, on the agreement, which replaces the old one that expired at the end of the 2007 season, in their sports section's back pages. While back at ESPN, still no mention.

In case you want to know, here is the highlights of the new agreement, which will commence with the 2008 season and continue through 2013:

--Player salaries, which still dwarfs their NBA counterparts, are guaranteed to increase each year, along with individual minimum and maximum player salaries

--a revenue sharing component will kick in, should league revenues hit agreed-upon benchmarks: The WNBA has a new eight-year TV pact with guess who --- ESPN

--adjusting free agency to increase more player movement, which include reducing the number of core players each team may designate from two to one, beginning in 2009: a core player gets exclusive negotiating rights to the particular team in exchange for an offer of a fully guaranteed, one-year contract at the maximum salary

"This is a landmark agreement for our players," says WNBA Players Association Director of Operations Pam Wheeler in a released statement on Monday.

I have covered the league since its inception, and the Minnesota Lynx since they joined the WNBA two years later. I actually love covering it, unlike the other so-called local beat reporters, who seem like they would rather paint fences than be caught at a women's game.

I want the WNBA, which starts its 12th season this summer, to succeed, which gives me the right to be critical as well.

The new CBA, as impressive as it is, still doesn't hide the fact that the league still struggles for acceptance in America's sporting landscape. It is still viewed by many as an afterthought, rarely taken seriously by the sports media.

Media coverage is spotty at best, ignored at worst.

WNBA President Donna Orender, who I feel still doesn't quite get it, or if she does, doesn't let on that she does, acts more like a cheerleader than her league's top spokeswoman. She avoids tough questions like warm weather at this time in Minnesota. She continues to give us the same old cheers that the league is the longest running and most successful women's pro league in the country.

I agree with the longest running part, but when teams such as Minnesota, rarely sell out games. When several teams had folded, the most recent was Charlotte. When you can't even convince ESPN, supposedly one of your partners, to even run game scores or decent highlights, then the 'most successful' part must be questioned. The all-sports network acts more like a silent partner.

And with Turner Sports now in charge of NBA TV, the league's former 24-hour television network -- which by the way, its bottom line did announce the WNBA's new deal, it remains to be seen if they will be as committed to showing women's hoops. Currently, the channel is slated to show 70 regular season contests in 2008.

My second by the way: we still don't know all the intricate details of their TV deal. Do you think NBA Commish David Stern would keep similar deals with his league so secret -- I think not. Stern would climb Mt. Everest to tell the world.

And, yet another by the way -- as long as Stern likes the WNBA, the league will continue to exist. The day he turns his back on the women's league, it's curtains, I'm afraid.

Finally, with the CBA finally ratified, the league can conduct its expansion draft. In case you didn't know, the Atlanta Dream will come on board this summer, making the league's two conferences even with seven teams each. The expansion draft is expected to be held on February 6 -- each team can protect six players.

This means the Lynx is sure to lose one of its youngsters, perhaps Shay Murphy, to the Dream.

An interesting name for the new Atlanta team, an area for years can't sell out Atlanta Hawks games during the normal basketball season, or the baseball team in their normal season. Team officials, and the league, must be dreaming to think, a women's team will do better in Peachtree City.

After this draft, teams can focus on the college draft, which takes place the day after the national championship game.

In case you want to know.

Women's basketball need better officials

2008-01-28T08:20:00.000-08:00

You won't get either Pam Borton or Suzy Merchant making comments about it because they would get censured by the league.

But I can -- the Big Ten have the worst officiating in women's basketball.

The three-person crew who worked Sunday's Michigan State-Minnesota contest: Barb, John and Tim (we won't use their last names to protect the guilty or incompetent), acted like Moe, Larry and Curly in their inconsistent whistling. Forty fouls were called between the two teams.

The Gophers' Emily Fox gets called for charging, after she stole the ball at mid court, when the Spartan player gave her little room to make adjustments. Later in the game, a similar play again occurred and the referees called it right -- blocking.

Touch fouls were regularly called. Meanwhile, muggings on both sides were left virtually uncalled.

"It was a very physical basketball game," admits Borton afterwards. On the record, Merchant offered a 'no-comment' response during her post-game remarks.

I have covered women's basketball for 20 years, and rarely can I say that the officiating has been, at best, average. It's even worse in the WNBA, where many of the bad officials also work during the summer.

The women deserve better. A lot better.

If it was the other side, and bad officiating was this long being present in men's basketball, all hell would been made. The sports media would endlessly decry this.

ESPN would do around the clock "Outside the Lines," getting to the bottom of this.

Congressional hearings would be called, and the bigwigs in charged subpoenaed.

But because it's only women, no one seems to care. No one seems to care that these female athletes deserves the best, as does their male counterparts.

And it doesn't matter -- the female officials are no better than their male partners.

In a word, they all stink with incompetency. They all lack consistency.

The women's game deserves better. Good officials will make the games better to watch. They will have a better flow to it.

Rather than a Sunday contest, such as the Gophers-Spartans one, that slugged along because three officials thought that the almost 10,000 spectators in Williams Arena, and the few that were watching it on television (on the Big Ten Network, which still is blacked out in Minnesota, unless you have a dish), were there to watch them perform.

We did --- Their awful performance sadly out shined the players.

A good Knight

2008-01-25T07:20:00.000-08:00

Last season was Leslie Knight's breakout year.

She rarely played her first two seasons, a total of 19 games; barely registering a point on the scoreboard in the process.

As others left the program, Knight instead stuck it out through hard work, repetition and perseverance.

"She developed herself into a complete player," notes Minnesota Coach Pam Borton.

The 6-1 Knight became a starter last season, not missing an assignment. Her average quadrupled to eight points a game.

Proving that it was no fluke, Knight has quietly continue up the charts. She's second in the Big Ten in scoring (16.4 ppg), and easily has become the Gophers' go-to player.

Knight's career-high 33 points helped defeat his Buckeyes 79-70 Thursday night at Williams Arena.

"I thought the Knight kid played terrific," says Ohio State Coach Jim Foster. "She obviously was the difference in the game."

"Plays get called for me, and I try to execute," Knight modestly points out.

This is how Knight has "tried" thus far -- 16 points at Michigan State, 20 against Purdue; 18 points vs. Iowa; another 20-point effort at Wisconsin; two 12-point games against Illinois and Penn State, respectively; and 17 points in a double-overtime loss at Indiana.

She's also hitting at a 60 percent clip.

"She is very difficult to defend," says Borton of Knight.

The Gophers snapped a six-game Ohio State winning streak with the win, as well as breaking its own three-game slid against the Buckeyes.

It was a good Knight for all wearing Maroon and Gold.

Other tidbits from Thursday's win, which Minnesota improves to 14-6, 5-3 in the Big Ten:

--Borton changed her lineup, inserting a three-guard lineup with Katie Ohm instead of forward Korinne Campbell. Ohm went 3-4, and 2-of-2 from behind the arc, and finished with 8 points. In her first non-start of the season, Campbell played 17 minutes and had a basket and a rebound.

--The Gopher coach told me that changing starters will keep everyone hungry and ward off complacency: "It's a game-to-game, practice-to-practice basis," says Borton

--a Ohio State beat writer asked Foster did the always noisy crowd at Williams Arena (it was only 5,838, but at times it sounded like 20,000) may had affected his squad, the coach responded: "I've never lost to a building in 30 years of coaching. If you want the building to be quiet, (then) make shots."

Comcast got caught (temporarily), trying to be slick

2008-01-24T12:09:00.000-08:00

To be able to win a cable franchise, the company must provide public, educational and governmental (PEG) access. Such access bring us programs, ranging from exotic cooking, to school board meetings, to one-man and one-woman shows.

But leave it to cold, calculating Comcast, that behemoth cable company, to find a way to wiggle out of their public and contractual obligation and find yet another way to make a few more bucks.

A federal judge in Michigan issued a court order January 14, temporarily halting Comcast's plans to move community access channels from basic cable to digital cable. The order came after a lawsuit was filed January 11 by two townships outside Lansing, Mich., arguing that the company made their plans without consulting with the communities, and violated both state and federal laws. At least 40,000 customers statewide would be affected by the move, the suit claims, because they couldn't afford the converter box needed to receive digital cable.

Comcast said that the lawsuits had not basis. The company needed to free up bandwidth so it can offer more services, which ultimately mean higher prices (always read the fine print in their ads).

Supposedly, Comcast offered the non-digital customers a free cable box for one year. (Warning, warning! -- These boxes cost $4 a month --- that's an additional $48 dollars the company can put on these customers' monthly tab. Again, always read the fine print with anything Comcast offers that is "free.")

All U.S. television broadcasting must convert from analog to digital signals in February 2009. If you have already have a digital box, or digital TV, you're good to go. If not, you can purchase a converter box (go to www.dtv.gov for more details).

Thank goodness, there's a judge out there who can smell a rat. There is a judge on the federal court circuit who isn't a big business lackey, and still looks out for the little guy, who must content with the Comcasts of the world.

Especially this Comcast, who tried an unethical maneuver to collect more dough, by forcing non-digital customers who religiously watch public access programming to eventually pay more to get it. This is nothing more than slick corporate tactics.

Yet again, what you'd expect when municipalities don't represent the public interest as they should. What you expect when cable franchises, which are awarded to someone else, are allowed to be bought by out-of-town city slickers such as Comcast, without any checks and balances.

The only checks and balances is when Comcast get our checks, while keeping their greedy fingers greased, and keeping us customers (for full disclosure purposes, sadly I have a Comcast customer -- my cable owners have changed hands four times since I first had it installed almost 20 years ago) out of balance.

Cable franchises should be subjected to better scrutiny, by better watchdogs. They should be given only one-year, non-renewable licenses, not a perpetual license to print money, which is the case when typical bureaucratic rubber stamping is involved.

Especially someone as scrupulous as Comcast sometimes appeaer. They call it "Comcast - ic," Comcast's silly slogan -- to me, it's being slick.

No word yet if a permanent motion was granted. Personally, I'm cheering for the little guys.

To play or not to play on Mondays

2008-01-23T08:06:00.000-08:00

The Big Ten this season has scheduled a series of Monday night women basketball contests.

With having the Big Ten Network, which unless you are a satellite dish owner or a non-Comcast customer, you can see these games. If you have Comcast, which most of us who lives in the Twin Cities and most of Minnesota, it's never on Monday, or any day for that matter, in seeing women, men or any other conference scheduled event.

Nonetheless, "Monday Night Women's Hoops," can be destination television for many, and present scheduling headaches for others, especially coaches.

But you can't have it both ways. say some coaches.

Coaches long begged for more exposure for women's basketball, recalls Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder. So it's too late to cry about it now.

"If we want TV exposure, is it something we need to do?," she asks. "Is it something we need to do? If we want the Big Ten Network, then we have to do it.

"It is a trade off that we have to make," continues Bluder, "and we have to buy into it."

"TV can be an asset," says Ohio State's Jim Foster, adding that it is also necessary to educate and convince your home fans to come out to Monday games. What good is it if the folks see loads of empty seats on the telecast, he notes. "We have to tell our fans it is an advantage to come out."

"Anytime we can get on TV is very important," believes Suzy Merchant of MSU. "We have to play on any night we have to, to get our league more recognition."

With a Monday game added to its usual Thursday-Sunday schedule, Big Ten teams now must play three games in a week.

"You have to sacrifice sometimes to get your product out there," says Felisha Legette-Jack of Indiana. "There are not a lot of (women's) games played (on TV) on Mondays. It is getting our product out there."

"I tell my kids not to make excuses," notes Jolette Law of Illinois, whose team has such a schedule this week. They lost to Iowa on Monday. "We have to deal with it."

Penn State's Coquese Washington says the BTN is getting watched, especially by future recruits.

"The BTN is helping us stay relevant right now," she says. "The kids are watching our games."

Except in Minnesota, we might add.

Even though the coaches are split on playing on Mondays, the players are loving it, claims Legette-Jack. "The kids would rather play games than practice," she joked.

Finally, like it or not, Monday nights for Big Ten women's basketball is here to stay. And it's on BTN.

The Big Ten this week in men's hoops

2008-01-22T08:07:00.000-08:00

How is Minnesota playing so well, with essentially the same cast of characters that managed only nine wins a year ago?

"It was a tough situation last year for those kids," notes Indiana's Kelvin Sampson on Monday's weekly coaches teleconference, referring to former coach Dan Monson's departure early last season.

"They always could put the ball in the basket," adds Northwestern's Bill Carmody, speaking on players such as seniors Lawrence McKenzie and Dan Coleman, "but they are older now."

However, the most obvious difference is Tubby Smith, who after two losses last week to Indiana and Michigan State, is still looking for his 400th career victory. The Gophers play at Ohio State this Saturday.

"He commands respect," says Sampson. "Those seniors play hard for him, and they love him."

The second obvious difference is that the Gophers this season is playing defense, bringing back the days of old when Clem Haskins-coached teams made it awfully hard to score on them. Minnesota (33rd) is allowing just under 61 points a game, one of five Big Ten teams ranked among the nation's toughest defenses. Wisconsin (2nd/52.1 ppg), Iowa (14th/58 ppg), Illinois (42nd/61.7 ppg) and Purdue (61.9/49th) are the others.

"Coach Smith always has been known as a defensive coach," Carmody points out. "They (the Gophers) are a little more disruptive (on defense) than they were before."

In other teleconference tidbits:

--Iowa's Justin Johnson hit eight treys against Indiana, which is the 13th best performance in the country thus far this season. "He is a terrific shooter," notes his coach, Todd Lickliter, adding that he is no longer a secret. "More defenses are really keying on him, but it opens up (shots) for others."

--Geary Claxton is lost for the season for Penn State. He suffered a season-ending knee injury, a torn ACL ligament in his left knee, during the first half of last Tuesday's game at home versus Wisconsin. The senior forward, who was second in the Big Ten in both scoring and rebounding, was attempting to rebound his own shot and landed awkwardly on the knee.

"He gave us 16-18 points a game, and 11 rebounds," says Penn State Coach Ed De Chellis of Claxton, who scored 1,542 career points. "He is one of our best defensive players on the perimeter. He's a tough and competitive kid. You will miss a lot of different things (from him)."

--Indiana and Wisconsin are the only Big Ten teams still without a blemish in conference play, both with 5-0 records. The Badgers' Bo Ryan dismissed the annual talk on how tough it is to win on the road. "It doesn't matter whether you are (at) home or away, you got to win," he says, "but it is tough to win away from home."

--Michigan State and Purdue aren't far behind, each with 4-1 league marks. "There is still a lot of basketball left to play," warns MSU's Tom Izzo.

--Michigan Coach John Beilein, when asked to compare the Big Ten to the Big East, where he coached last season at West Virginia, "The Big East maybe is more diverse in the way they play (defense)." Big Ten teams mostly play "in your face" defenses, he adds. As for the coaching, "I don't think there is any difference with the great coaches in the Big East and this league," he says. As for his Wolverines, "We are doing more defensive stuff in practice than I had in a long time. Our defense, as well as our intensity, must improve. We are giving up too many baskets in Big Ten play."

The first year U-M coach also isn't pleased with his team's shooting and overall execution on offense. In other words, Beilein is not happy, period.

--Despite being 0-3 in their last three games, all on the road, Ohio State Coach Thad Matta points out, "In all the games, in certain situations, we played good basketball." He loves coaching frosh Evan Turner: "He has been very coachable and accepting what we want him to do." Matta wants Turner to continue taking care of the ball "and reading situation a little bit better."

--Ohio State's Jamar Butler recently cracked the 1,000-point plateau; he now has 1,024 career points. "He really has been through a lot in this program," says Matta. "He is not a very vocal person but the leadership comes from how he plays." Butler leads the Big Ten in assists (7.60 apg).

--Northwestern's Carmody says no team can be successful in college if you can't hit the three. "An open 3-point shot is better than a closer 2-point shot," he believes. "You have to be able to shoot the ball from that distance. I don't think you can be a very good team if you don't have a (3-point) shot."

This time, parity is for real

2008-01-09T06:59:00.001-08:00

The Big Ten women basketball coaches in past years would boast of parity but their teams' results belied them.

However, in the midst of their first full week of 2007-08 conference play, the coaches' balance claims can't be disputed.

Each club has at least one loss, with winless Northwestern leading the way with three defeats. There are six teams all bunched up at the top, each with only a blemish on their conference ledger thus far, with Minnesota currently atop with a 3-1 mark; the other five: Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Indiana and Purdue, all having 2-1 records.

"There are no dominant teams (in the Big Ten)," Minnesota's Pam Borton points out. Speaking during its first weekly teleconference of the season January 8th, the Gophers' head coach continued, "Anybody can beat anybody, whether home or on the road."

"It is a balanced conference," concurs Purdue's Sharon Versyp. "You have to be extremely competitive."

"The strength of our league is outstanding," adds Lisa Stone, the Wisconsin head coach, whose Badgers suffered its third league defeat at home Monday against Minnesota.

"It is an interesting race thus far," says Michigan State's first-year coach Suzy Merchant, whose Spartans have been battling injuries to key players.

Along with balance, almost each Big Ten coach also cries out about their respective club's struggling to be consistent for 40 minutes.

"It has been a hard part for us," confirms Merchant.

"I am pleased in some areas, but there still is some things need to be done (better)," admits Jolette Law of her Illinois squad (10-5, 2-2). Although the Illini is 38th in the nation in scoring defense. allowing 56.5 ppg a contest this season, Law wants more on-ball pressure.

"We are more talented than we were last year," says Indiana's Felisha Legette-Jack, now in her second year with the Hoosiers, "but they still don't know the system that well."

"We are a Jekyll and Hyde team," Lisa Bluder points out of her Iowa club (9-2, 2-2). "We (coaches) don't know which one will show up. One day we are good at one thing, and (another) day we are good at another thing. It is a mystery to me."

Ohio State's Jim Foster also attribute to the fact that many teams this season are young, including his own Buckeyes. "Not too many seniors," he says.

But the young are doing it so far.

Such as Ohio State freshman Jantel Lavender, who has scored in double digits in each of her 14 contests this season. It is the longest for a Big Ten freshman since Iowa's Megan Skouby strung together a 16-game streak to finish the 2005-06 season. Her play is making Ohio State one tough squad, says Legette-Jack.

MSU sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan had two 8-blocks games this season, which ties her fifth in this category among top 50 NCAA leaders. She leads the Big Ten, and is second in the nation, in blocked shots (4.8 a game).

"Her length and height is most obvious," Merchant says of the 6-7 DeHaan, who adds that she still is getting pushed around down low, which means DeHaan must get stronger. "I think the time for her to gain weight is in the off-season," the Spartan coach notes. "It is hard to do that during the season."

Finally, if there is a sophomore jink or slump, don't tell Illinois second-year center Jenna Smith. Her 18.3 points per game, 10 rebounds a game and .574 field goal percentage has Smith among the nation's leaders.

"I challenged her a lot early on," admits Law, Smith's second college coach in as many seasons, "and she responded." Especially in hitting the glass, the coach concludes. "(Smith) puts herself in good position to get the ball."

Who's telling the truth now

2008-01-07T08:16:00.000-08:00

Nothing new was learned from Sunday's CBS' "60 Minutes" over-hyped interview with Roger Clemens.

He said he never was injected with steroids by a trainer. He said he is telling the truth.

Clemens said the trainer is lying.

The only thing I got after watching it, is that Clemens can beg and whine with the best of them.

Clemens told us that he is very upset, that after 25 years of being in the public limelight as a major league pitcher, that he is not given the benefit of the doubt after his name was mentioned in the Mitchell Report. That he realizes now that in America, you are considered guilty before innocent.

Well, Mr. Clemens, welcome to the real world! Welcome to the world where most Americans, especially if they are persons of color, aren't given benefits of doubt. Welcome to the world where you can't hide behind lawyers, and written statements, and simply hope that your problem will magically go away.

Barry Bonds said the same thing, that he was innocent, when he was immediately given poster person status over the steroids controversy. He never received the benefit of the doubt either, and he also played over 20 years in the big leagues.

The big difference was that Bonds was universally hated, while Clemens was the All-American boy.

Well he is -- if you're White, well it's all right.

We also learn from Sunday's interview that Mike Wallace needs to retire. No longer the bulldog interviewer he was known for, for years. He was nothing but an overage pitcher, tossing big, juicy softball questions at Clemens, who waffled, wined and showed his so-called disgust at what has happened to him, the entire time. If Clemens was back in the National League, where pitchers bat, he could be the all-time home run king with the soft questions Wallace asked him.

No follow-up. No second questioning Clemens on why he didn't come public with his so-called innocence immediately, instead of hiding behind written statements of denial.

If the trainer lied, then why did Clemens wait almost a month after the report came out to file a suit against him. Why didn't he meet with former Sen. Mitchell and give his side of the story during the investigative stage?

Why didn't Wallace grill Clemens, asking him for dates and times on what he supposedly was injected with? Why didn't he ask the pitcher for examples, some proof that would give me reason to offer the doubt benefit he feels he deserves?

What did we learn from the Wallace-Clemens interview Sunday? Both men needs to retire.

Iowa wasn't the only place where losing took place

2008-01-04T07:04:00.001-08:00

In keeping in spirit what was transpiring in the state just south of Minnesota, Goldy Gopher, the University of Minnesota's nonsensical mascot held up a homemade sign during a timeout, "Will causus for Gophers."
As did every presidential candidate, save for Barack Obama and Mike Hucklebee, the home team lost Thursday night.
"It was a fun game to watch," Iowa Hawkeyes Coach Lisa Bluder said afterwards. "It's a lot more fun when you are on the winning side."
Both squads traded misfired back and forth at their respective baskets for the first four minutes of the extra five minutes of Thursday's Minnesota-Iowa contest. Iowa and Minnesota combined for 10 shots, and each team made only one.
Only two made free throws by Kristi Smith, who didn't connect on her only field goal attempt but got fouled by the Gophers' Emily Fox, finally broke a 64-64 tie, which was the score at the end of regulation.
Seconds later, Leslie Knight hit a layup to knot the score at 66 apiece. However, it would be Minnesota's final basket. With 13 ticks left, Smith found Krista VandeVenter, who swished a jumper to give her team the winning margin -- 68-66.
Brittany McCoy could've tied the game but badly missed on her drive to the basket with a second left, and Minnesota (11-4, 2-1) suffered its first Big Ten loss of the season.
As painful as it was for Sen. Joseph Biden and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, along with Fred Thompson, Sen. John McCain and Rep. Ron Paul to watch the final tallies in Iowa, it was equally painful to watch the home team's performance Thursday in Williams Arena. Unlike Bluder, Minnesota Coach Pam Borton didn't especially find the game enjoyable.
"We were lucky to go into overtime with the performance we had tonight," she admitted.
The Gopher starting backcourt were Casper-like, it was that frightful: McCoy shot 1-for-7, and although Fox shot 6-for-17 and finished with 15 points, she missed a jumper with 10 seconds left that could have gave her team the win.
Their frontcourt wasn't that much better: Korinne Campbell (2-for-6) and Zoe Harper (1-for-6) missed easy layup chances. Only Ashley Ellis-Milan (13 points on 6-for-9 shooting) and Leslie Knight, who led all scorers with 18 points (8-for-12) displayed any semblance of markswomanship all night.
Minnesota led 64-62 with 1:50 left in regulation, but didn't capitalize on it. Of three lead changes in the second half, it would be the hosts' final advantage: VandeVenter, Iowa's 6-2 senior forward who had 10 points, later banked in a shot to tie up the game.
It was one of many defensive opportunities that the Gophers squandered all night. Overall, the defense, which could only please Pepe LePew because it basically stunk.
"We couldn't get stops," noted Borton. "We didn't get the stops we needed down the stretch. Not all of us were on the same page defensively."
Added Fox, "Some people were playing hard defense, and some weren't. We were all over the place. We got to fix that."
Perhaps their first conference home loss of the season will scare the bejeevees out of Minnesota, and scare them into playing better. The Gophers came into the game, sharing first place with Illinois, after one week of Big Ten play. Knight was named player of the week, her first for the U-M senior. The players have had nearly a month off of classes, and knocked off Michigan State and Purdue.
However, two wins don't make a season, unless you are in the Final Four in March or April.
Minnesota swaggered in Thursday, and slinked out afterwards. They aren't that good to start pumping out their chests.
The Gophers must be on one accord, with everyone knowing what is going on, to be successful. They are still a relatively young team, and it showed that night, especially when bad shots were taken, and defensive lapses ruled.
"It is a long Big Ten season," said Borton, reminding us that 14 games remains on the schedule. Their next two games are on the road: Wisconsin (Jan. 7) and Illinois (Jan. 10). "But our whole team needs to show up for us to win," she added. "When only 2-3 people are carrying the load, we are not very good."
This fact was crystal clear Thursday night.

Stumbling toward history

2007-12-19T06:48:00.001-08:00

Remember the 9-73 Philadelphia 76ers? Fred Carter, the original "Mad Dog," led them in scoring, just under 22 points a game: Freddie Boyd, Manny Leaks, Leroy Ellis, and Kevin Loughery, who later became player-coach after Roy Rubin was canned at 4-47, were the other starters.

The 76ers reached such lows because star Billy Cunningham left for the ABA, along with bad trades and bad draft picks. This squad became the league's modern-day standard on how bad NBA clubs are judged.

However four years later, Philadelphia would reached the NBA Finals before losing to Portland in 1977. In 1983, with Cunningham as coach, the team would win it all.

Could this happen to this season's Minnesota Timberwolves? Their once superstar is no longer with them. Bad trades. Bad draft picks. The Wolves currently are 3-20, the worst start in franchise history.

Unless there is a Dr. J, Moses Malone, Anthony Toney, Maurice Cheeks out there, the chances of Minnesota picking itself up off the scrap heap and reaching the league's highest heights are slim and none, with slim on permanent hiatus.

Out there somewhere, Sixers fans are rooting for Minnesota, hoping that they will replace their club as the poster child for futurity.

One's options

2007-12-13T07:07:00.000-08:00

Bobby Petrino is living proof of what comedian Chris Rock once said:

A man is as loyal as his options.

Petrino left the Atlanta Falcons earlier this week, where he was 3-10 in his first season as head coach, to accept the University of Arkansas head coaching position. His abrupt departure came hours after his team lost by 20 points to New Orleans on Monday night.

What should we make of this? Petrino said his heart is in college football. "I knew I wanted to come back and coach in college football," the Associated Press reported him saying. Rather I say that being offered over two million dollars a year shows that his heart is where the money is.

Last January, Petrino left Louisville, agreeing to a five-year, $24 million contract to coach Atlanta. He was hailed as the coach finally to make Michael Vick a complete quarterback. However, Vick never showed because of a little dogfighting problem he had to deal with.

Two years ago, Petrino's heart was in the Bluegrass State -- Louisville offered him big bucks and he signed a contract extension. His heart was satisfied until Peachtree Street came a-calling.

But it's not just coaches such as Petrino, whose loyalty must be questioned, but what about Arkansas? When did they contact him? Did they first contact Atlanta for permission to speak with him?

Apparently not since the Falcons front office was as shocked by Petrino's departure as was the players. Or were they?

Who wants to play for a coach, who has one eye looking at the want ads? Who wants to play for someone whose heart isn't there?

Perhaps the Falcons' 3-10 record is more reflective on the sense the the players knew that Petrino wasn't the guy for them, as opposed to not having Vick, or deficient talent across the board.

The public often whine when players bolt from one team to another for the money, but little is said when coaches do the same.

Like Rock says: Loyalty goes only as far as one's option.

"I'm very excited to get back and work with the student-athlete," claims Petrino.

Until a better offer comes around.

On the fast track

2007-12-06T06:36:00.000-08:00

In just three short years after graduating from Boston University in 2004, University of Minnesota assistant women basketball coach Marisa Moseley has worked at ESPN, where she won a Sports Emmy Award for excellence in sports programming, and is part of her second Division I coaching staff.

To call Moseley a fast tracker, might be overstating the obvious.

"Even though (her coaching career) hasn't been long," says Moseley, "I feel so fortunate and blessed on each step of my career. I have worked hard but I also have been very blessed."

Before being hired at Minnesota this past summer, Moseley served as an assistant coach last season at Denver University, where she also assisted in recruiting, travel and monitoring the players' academic progress.

Despite her youthful appearance, Moseley is wise beyond her early twentysomething years. This helped her greatly at the worldwide leader, where she worked for only a year, getting hired shortly after graduating from Boston University in 2004.

She got the job through the sports network's talent promotion series. "There definitely was a competitive nature (at ESPN)," Moseley notes. Her main job at ESPN was to watch countless games, and draw the right snippets to later show on SportsCenter, the network's crown jewel. She also worked on ESPNews and ABC NewsOne.

"It was all about what you saw in (those) two to three hours of the game," Moseley explains. "A lot of people were counting on me to get that video."

She recalled one embarrassing incident which occurred while doing her nightly duties. Moseley needed to get a tape to the studio room in 20 seconds. "I snatched the tape from (the editor), and I took one step and . . .

"BOOM! I fell right on the ground."

Despite the spill, Moseley still was on the clock. "I had to pop right back up," she continues, "and I ran down the hallway. I took a sharp left, and tossed the tape into the film room. The guy catches it and shoves it in, and it hit right at the second (the tape supposed to air).

"Everyone is dying (in laughter) around me," she surmises. "That was one of my humorous (moments)."

I once saw ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. I was there a few summers ago covering the WNBA All-Star Game, and I drove past it heading to my hotel, which was just down the street. On the evening I arrived, I thought I was passing some military base because there were these huge wall to wall satellite dishes that look like something out of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

I later learned from the hotel clerk that it was ESPN, who virtually owns the town of Bristol. Outside of the hotel, and a sub sandwich place, there is nothing else but them.

The next morning, I drove around it, hoping to get a closer look -- no such luck. IT is like a military base -- you need Homeland Security to even drive past it, let alone get in.

"It is absolutely huge," confirms Moseley of the ESPN 'campus.'

Although she is a former employee, Moseley says even she needs advance clearance to just stop by and say hi. "Whenever I go back, I have to call in advance and have them call down to the (security) booth to say that I am OK and put me on the guest pass list."

Albeit brief, Moseley believes that her ESPN experience has served her well. "How many people are touched by ESPN worldwide," she asks rhetorically, "and I had a chance to be part of it."

And she got an Emmy to boot. "It was a period of my life that I feel extremely proud about," says Moseley.

As much as she loved TV, she loves basketball, and coaching, even more.

"For me being a coach," says Moseley, "I love that I have an impact on players every day. It's not just making them a better player, but I love getting the chance of them coming by my office and sit down. That is my favorite time because of the conversations, whether you are joking or if there is something serious going on with family or their personal life. This is why I became a coach."

"She got great people skills," Minnesota Head Coach Pam Borton says of Moseley. "I think she is a diamond in the rough . . . we got a steal. She is a great hire."

Moseley's principal responsibilities is working with the Gophers' post players. She teaches more than just the basic drop step. "I think it is more the mentality of demanding the ball, (that) you are unstoppable there. It is a mental game."

Being a recent college player: Moseley finished as Boston University's third-leading shot blocker with 114 blocks in her four-year career (2000-04), she not only can teach her players but also can get down and dirty with them in emphasizing her points, says Borton. "She just did it four or five years ago, and it is still fresh in her mind. She can go out there and show the kids," the head coach notes.

She says she wants to be a head coach someday. Her personality, drive and determination certainly will keep Moseley on that fast track to her goal.

Moseley's interview kicked off my four-part series on Big Ten women basketball coaches of color (to read more, go to www.spokesman-recorder.com).

Keeping the right score

2007-12-04T08:32:00.000-08:00

While those college football pundits fumble and bumble about the latest BCS ratings, that put Ohio State and Louisiana State in the national championship game, none of these experts ever talk about graduation rates as Richard Lapchick routinely does.

Lapchick, the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES), writes each year, "Keeping Score When It Counts," which assesses the 64 bowl bound college football teams. In his report, released December 3, he says that the gap between Black and White football student-athletes increased slightly.

"Twenty-seven teams or 42 percent of the bowl-bound schools graduated less than half of their African-American football student-athletes," says Dr. Lapchick in this year's report. "Only Florida Atlantic graduated less than half of their White football student-athletes."

Other findings include:
--Seven schools had their Black players graduate at a less than 40 percent pace
--No school graduated less than 40 percent of their White players
--14 schools had graduation rates for Black players that were at least 30 percent lower than their White players
--24 schools had graduation rates for Black players at least 20 percent lower than Whites
--Only four schools had Black graduation rates better than their White players: Florida Atlantic (15 percent higher), Florida State (10 percent higher), Connecticut (four percent higher) and Rutgers (two percent higher). Only one school did this last year

"Each year the most disturbing information in the graduation rate study is the disparity between the graduation rates of African-American and White football student-athletes," continues the good doctor. "While the graduation rates for African-American student-athletes have improved, the disparity has persisted for years. A wide gap remains . . . in spite of all this progress with graduation rates."

In the 2006 report, Lapchick reported 86 percent of the bowl teams had a 50 percent graduation rate for their players; this year it's 88 percent. Of teams receiving a score of more than 925 on the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate (APR), 73 percent made the cut as opposed to 63 percent in 2006.

The NCAA created the APR in 2004 as part of an academic reform package introduced by President Myles Brand, which more accurately measure student-athletes' academic success as as improve graduation rates at member institutions.

Two percent progress over a season should be noted, but not a standing ovation's worth. It also should be noted that among the 120 Division I-A (the Football Bowl Subdivision) schools, "the 14 percent gap is actually larger than the 13 percent (62 vs. 49 percent) gap reported in the 2006 study," admits Lapchick.

Ohio State and LSU has graduation rates of 53 and 51 percent, respectively. However, the Buckeyes do a slightly better job in graduating its Black players (43 percent) than their opponent (42).

Maybe through such a cockeyed system that the BCS is, these two teams qualify for the national championship on the gridiron, but if the schools that not only play winning football but also put academics in its proper perspective, namely graduating all its players, "Navy and Boston College would have played for the National Championship," notes Lapchick. "Both teams graduate at least 93 percent of all football student-athletes and at least 89 percent of African-American football student-athletes."

Navy (982) and Boston College (976) have the the top APR scores, adds Lapchick.

But talking about books would make for good television for the blowhards on ESPN, ABC and all the other sports talkers. No, they rather talk about how one school got screwed, or that because their schedule played out earlier than the others, how another school (Ohio State)shouldn't qualify for a championship game.

Then of course, there's the annual call for a college football playoff system, but these are just cries in the money-hungry wilderness, only to be heard by a few interested folk.

Only someone like me, and a few others, see Lapchick's carefully researched studies as something that should be on the front page, not some two-paragraph mention, buried inside.

Nonetheless, as the shepherds in old Bethlehem, this reporter will continue to keep up my watch, both day and night. Not for a messiah, but for some day, that all colleges, and not just the Navys and Boston Colleges will put as much effort in making sure its players -- all its players, graduate at an equal pace.

It surely would be the day to see APR scores endlessly rolling on ESPN's Bottom Line, and football pundits gushing about football players walking down the aisle with sheepskins, rather than running down the field with pigskins.

Lawlessness running amuck

2007-11-28T06:57:00.000-08:00

A man sees a suspected robbery taking place at a neighbor's house. He calls 9-1-1, who warns him not to get further involved and wait for the proper authorities. But despite the warnings, the man tells the emergency operator that he's taking his shotgun, and the law, into his hands. Moments later, two men are dead.

Three men break into a home, supposedly to buy drugs. The supposedly drug dealer didn't meet their expectations, and in turn, they seriously beat the man's son. Moments later, two men are shot dead by the alleged dealer, and because of a crazy California law, the one survivor is being charged with the murder of his partners.

A pro football player gets shot in the leg during a supposedly robbery of his home. Nothing was taken, but the player's life, who died a couple of days later due to lost of blood. The late player's girlfriend nor their infant child was injured, and nothing was taken.

In the season of giving, people are instead taking lives.

Do we need Robocop?

In the first instance, rather than throw the man a ticker tape parade for supposedly being a good neighbor, which he was in the first place by calling in the robbery, should he be charged with something. Perhaps, premeditated murder, since the man was told by the 9-1-1 operator not to do anything, and the man responded that he's ready for hunting, and did just that -- he shot two persons in the back as they fled. Taking the law in his own hands, when it is not his home in the first place, smells more like Dirty Harry than good neighbor.

In the second instance, how can a person who pull the trigger be charged with murdering two others? Maybe there's some justification if indeed the father was protecting his son, but shouldn't the third survivor be charged with breaking and entering and assaulting the man's son. But murder?

And the third, and most bizarre instance, reportedly Sean Taylor's home was previously broken in, and a knife was left on the bed. Then a few weeks later, Taylor is shot. Also, it has been learned that Taylor's girlfriend tried to call for help, but the phone lines were cut. Doesn't this seem Soprano-like in how this is all playing out? Will the Miami police really investigate this or try to play this off as something that Taylor put himself in?

This was suggested earlier this year when Howard Porter, a former college and pro basketball player, now a probation officer, was found this summer in a Minneapolis alley so badly beaten that it took a hospital worker to identify him. Porter, who was reported missing from his St. Paul home a few days earlier, and his car was found a mile from his home, with blood stains in the trunk and interior, later died without ever gaining consciousness.

The investigation dragged for a while, with speculation that Porter was out buying drugs or sex, giving the suggestion that he put this onto himself. Two persons eventually was arrested and charged with Porter's murder, but those earlier suggestions didn't go away.

It was like, because Porter might have been doing wrong -- something we have yet to determined it was true, that his death was justified.

I am getting the same sense about what has happened to Taylor. We don't know if he was involved in anything bad, but that shouldn't matter now. And even if Taylor was up to no good, is this any consolation to the mother of his child, and Taylor's family, friends and loved ones, not to mention the child as they grow older.

Someone took Taylor's life, and the police must put this first and foremost.

If a person was warned not to get involved, and they still any way, does that person escape some sort of punishment? The man went far and beyond his neighboring obligation by playing Dog and hunting down the suspects himself. Is this the return to Wild West justice?

Robocop was created in that movie because America had become the land of rampant lawlessness. Have fiction become reality in 21st Century America.

High crime

2007-11-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

"They stole that game," a male fan grumbled as he left Williams Arena after he witnessed host Minnesota outscored Louisville 26-9 over the last eight minutes, which erased a 12-point Cardinal lead, for a 74-69 victory.

He was right in some respects: Gopher forward Korienne Campbell's steal with 31 seconds left helped seal the win, Minnesota's fourth of the young season. She finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, including one on Louisville star Angel McCoughtry (more on her later), and her late-game steal.

"Korienne played amazing," added guard Emily Fox, who led Minnesota with 23 points -- three of them came at the three-minute mark, which tied the game at 66 apiece. "She (Campbell) is a beast down there (on the low block)."

"I was prepared to do my role," admits Campbell, whose nine rebounds included three offensive caroms -- the sophomore averages four offensive rebounds a game -- eight total.

If U-M are to be successful this season, Campbell must be in the mix. Although her shooting is a lot to desire (she shot 6-of-13 on Sunday), the young woman hustles her behind off.

"She is a presence on the floor, on offense (and) defense," notes Gopher Coach Pam Borton on Campbell.

The almost 6,000 who attended the Minnesota-Louisville game, including Minnesota Lynx players Seimone Augustus and Noelle Quinn, saw a monster performance from the 6-1 McCoughtry, a junior who was Big East preseason player of the year, and also is listed on two national award watch lists. She led all scorers with 39 points and 12 rebounds.

"Everybody can see how quick she is with the basketball," says first-year Louisville Coach Jeff Walz. On several occasions, McCoughtry left Gopher defenders looking like their feet were stuck in quick-drying cement, as she blew past them to the basket.

However, despite her heroics, including hitting a big three to pull her Cardinals to within a basket with 12 seconds left, Walz warns that his players must step up and help their star, who's now a marked woman.

"She will not sneak up on anybody," Walz says of McCoughtry. "The thing that is a challenge for her is that she is a marquee player now."

Louisville, despite out-rebounded (43-32), out-shot (43 percent to 42 percent) and often got to the basket with their speed, couldn't closed the deal. "We get to the basket but we don't finish," bemoaned Walz of his team's missed layups down the stretch.

Despite her game heroics, Fox again found herself in foul trouble for the second straight game. She drew two offensive fouls because the junior guard's inability to pull up on a dime in the lane. Thus far this season, Minnesota has been called for at least 20 offensive fouls -- eight alone in their win at Northern Iowa November 13.

Borton says her team's over-aggressiveness does not concern her much right now. The coach loves an aggressive, physical style, which according to Borton, you can't teach it. I agree, but offensive fouls are turnovers, something that should be a concern (Minnesota committed 17 on Sunday).

The Gophers won their round-robin tournament, defeating Western Carolina on Friday by three points, and Sunday's five-point win over Louisville, who also lost to Western Carolina on Saturday -- the Cardinals dropped to 1-2. The hosts trailed their much quicker opponent in both games but eventually their brawn emerged. Unlike last year, Minnesota is putting their heads down and getting busy, rather than getting down on themselves and ultimately leave the floor in defeat.

"We came together as a team and everybody did what they are supposed to do," says U-M center Ashley Ellis-Milan, who scored 10 of her 15 points in the second half.

"They are a hard working, blue collar kids," Walz says of Minnesota.

They also know how to steal a win from almost certain defeat.

Trent talks

2007-11-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

I have known Trent Tucker for many years. I always was curious to ask him about the shot he made against the Chicago Bulls, the infamous tenth-of-a-second game winner, that later prompted the NBA to change its rule about last-second shots -- the 'Trent Tucker rule.' During a recent one-on-one interview, Tucker proudly talked about it.

Then Knicks coach Stu Jackson drew a play that made him a decoy to draw Michael Jordan away and open up a lane for Patrick Ewing to receive a lob pass, recalls Tucker. "But Michael read the play, which took away our No. 1 option. We really didn't have a No. 2 option because we were (only) one-tenth of a second, and we didn't have a lot of time."

When Ewing couldn't get open, Tucker then broke up to help get the inbounds pass from guard Mark Jackson. "Mark gave me a flip, and I shot the ball as quickly as I could," explains Tucker. "Scottie Pippen's hand met my hand as the ball left."

Tucker, his teammates, the Bulls and the entire Madison Square Garden crowd on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; January 15, 1991, held a collective breath as all watched the ball's flight, which seemingly took hours to reach its destination.

"When it went in, the Garden went crazy and we took off of the court," remembers Tucker. "Phil Jackson (the Bulls' coach) was waving, 'No way, no basket.' We ran to the locker room, undressed as quickly as we could and got into the shower to make sure that they (the officials) wouldn't call us back on the floor. In our minds, the game is over."

Despite Chicago's protestations, and a later meeting with NBA Commissioner David Stern, Tucker's shot counted.

"Throughout any career that lasts a long time, you are going to have some special moments," says Tucker, who played 11 NBA seasons and retired in 1993, "You are going to have some special moments."

Tucker's shot is one of the league's greatest moments.

Tucker, the Knicks' top pick in 1982, also talked about his first NBA game. "My first regular season game, we are playing the Philadelphia 76ers," he notes. "I got into the jump ball circle, and I look over my right shoulder and there was Dr. J. (Julius Erving). I knew right there that I had made it. I didn't know whether to act like I belonged or ask for his autograph. Then you look around and there is Moses Malone, Anthony Toney, Maurice Cheeks and Bobby Jones -- guys you have seen years before while you are in high school and in college. Now here I was, in the mecca of basketball, against the Doctor."

He also played on a championship team: Tucker joined the Bulls in his final pro season, 1992-93. Chicago was defending champs and knocked off his former club, the Knicks, to reach that year's finals.

"When we beat the Knicks in 1993, I was elated because we were going to the NBA Finals," Tucker says of his first and only title appearance. "But there also was a sense of sadness because Patrick Ewing was not going to go."

Ewing and Tucker were longtime New York teammates. "He was a guy who had done so much, and played so hard," says Tucker. "He called me at four in the morning and says, "I'm upset but I am happy for you. Congratulations.' I said, 'Thank you. If the shoe was on the other foot, I would have made the same phone call. I knew right then that he and I were boys.

"To know that I have friends such as Patrick Ewing means a lot to me," says Tucker, who also count Jordan, Pippen, B.J. Armstrong, Bill Cartwright, John Paxton -- his Bulls teammates, as friends as well. "We are still great friends today," he adds.

I have known Tucker for years, but I think the hour-long interview on his new job at the University of Minnesota, where he played his college ball, was the longest time I ever spent with him. He was introspected and personal, a side I hadn't seen before.

It was great.

(The entire interview can be read in this week's Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. www.spokesman-recorder.com)

It's now for real

2007-11-10T16:25:00.000-08:00

After both teams finishing up their two-game exhibition schedule, the Minnesota Golden Gopher basketball teams opened their respective regular seasons with victories.

The Gopher women overcame a six-point halftime deficit and wore down visiting UC-Riverside to win 57-49.

"We got tired, " UCR coach John Margaritis admitted afterwards, "and Minnesota had something to do with it."

Four Gophers finished in double figures, led by Emily Fox's 13 points. Leslie Knight added 12, Brittany McCoy had 11, and Zoe Harper posted 10 in a reserve role.

Even though the winners held a 27-rebound edge, including 28 offensive rebounds, Minnesota (1-0) didn't dominate the Highlanders (0-1) -- they just wore them down. UC-Riverside came out shooting and at one point led by 10 points.

"They hit big shots," says Fox. McCoy added that the team's confidence was deflated as a result.

However, after halftime, UCR's shots fell short and Minnesota's overall strength finally took over. "Minnesota did a great job on what they do well," says Margaritis.

Korienne Campbell grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, with Ashley Ellis-Milan and Leslie Knight added nine rebounds each. Zoe Harper snatched down six caroms.

"We were very aggressive going to the boards," adds U-M coach Pam Borton.

Defense and rebounding are the two most important keys for her team's winning games this season, Borton points out.

The following day, the Army-Minnesota men's basketball contest posted similar results but in a different way. The Gophers (1-0) were the quicker of the two in their 84-52 win, a contest that had both teams scoring exactly half their points in each half (Minnesota scored 42 points in each half, and Army, now 0-1, scored exactly 26 points in their respective halves).

U-M coach Tubby Smith was pleased with his first official win at the Barn. He especially liked his defense: "We are doing a good job on on-ball pressure," he says. However, Smith still want his players do better in defending away from the ball, and rotating better in switching and fighting off picks.

Although Minnesota held a seven-rebound edge over Army (43-36), the Gophers' glass work must get better, according to Smith. "We still need to improve in some areas," he simply says.

Senior forward Dan Coleman led U-M with 16 points. "My teammates did a good job in putting me in a position to get a good shot," he says. Damian Johnson came off the bench and added 12 points. Deflecting a reporter's praise for his performance, Johnson says, "There's not much to say -- we came out and played hard."

Some suspected senior guard Lawrence McKenzie's 0-for-5 performance, including misfiring on his three three-point attempts, to possibly still hampered by a sore groin, which kept him out of the team's final exhibition game and most of the week's practices.

"The groin is fine," McKenzie admits. Only scoring two free throws didn't faze him at the least. "It takes a team to win," he points out.

Neither victory by the two Minnesota clubs answer any lingering questions.

Despite their overwhelming rebounding advantage, the Gopher women didn't dominate their season-opening opponent: UC-Riverside early on went after Minnesota with their quickness, the Gophers' oft-questioned and long-standing weakness. On the other side, does the Minnesota men hoopsters have the type of backcourt that can match up with their opponents' -- dribble by dribble, shot by shot.

"Playmakers or not," says Coleman, who has confidence in his guards, "we have to focus on us."
The Gophers can't worry about others, adds McKenzie: "We need to worry about doing what we do."

Still, a win is a win: when basketball's dog days (February) rolls around, these wins for each U-M team will be one less they'll need to get.

A long, winding losing road

2007-11-07T06:43:00.000-08:00

Barely winning one game this season undoubtedly isn't what Tim Brewster envisioned in his wildest dreams upon taking the Minnesota Gophers football job earlier this year.

"It hurts. It really hurts," the first-year coach recently bemoaned.

I like the guy. He is a personable as the late Jim Wacker. Unfortunately, he is traveling that same long, winding losing road as Glen Mason's predecessor.

The media openly ridiculed Wacker because he would say some outlandish things, which overshadowed the fact that he was a decent coach who was over his head. He consistently made halftime adjustments, especially on offense. But too often than not, the Gophers were too far down on the scoreboard to mount any form of meaningful comeback.

It is way too soon to judge whether Brewster can coach or not. A 1-and-9 overall mark doesn't positively stand up to the unrealistic expectations of most observers-slash-coaching critics.

After all, this is Minnesota, who have been among the Big Ten's overrans for decades now.

His defense is totally over matched. After having felt that they had to score each time on the field, Brewster's offense has peaked to non-existent status.

A fellow columnist asked me last evening would Mason have done any better. Certainly -- these are his players. Maybe a couple more wins here and there. The road would not be as long but it still would be a losing one.

Perhaps Brewster should have not came on so strong, boldly proclaiming "Gopher Nation" like Columbus supposedly discovered America, in the months leading up to this season. Given the fact that I was just coming out of kindergarten the last time Minnesota played in the Rose Bowl, might have given the new coach pause before he went out and planted Pasadena sod on the practice field as motivation fodder.

More coaching and less gardening certainly is in order here. Brewster's field of dreams has become a Freddy Krueger special.

He and his staff has its work cut out for them. With Iowa and Wisconsin still remaining on the schedule, any improvement in the win column is extremely doubtful at best, and downright impossible at its worst. He can ill afford another listless effort as displayed by his team during last Saturday's homecoming loss to Illinois. When you allow 34 points and 597 total yards in the first half alone, the Gophers gave a new meaning for the word 'sorry.'

Is Brewster getting through to his players? Have they tuned his evangelistic-like pre-game talks to another channel in their minds? Do the players need less fire-and-brimstone and more Tackling 101? No, yes and yes.

"It is a painful process," says Brewster, speaking on rebuilding, not offering a coherent answer to the aforementioned questions.

Minnesota may have 10,000 lakes but the state don't have speed, something the Gophers must find and bring on board. Such states as Texas, Louisiana and Florida does, and U-M must get a strong recruiting foothold in those speed hot spots.

Although I believe he needs at least three years, with the school building a new stadium, set to open in a couple of years, Brewster's "Gopher Nation" might be short lived.

"We are very confident in our ability to recruit and get the players we need to have," the U-M head coach says confidently. "We will see our better day. The U of M will be great again."

If not, I'm afraid Brewster soon will find himself exiled from his nation to a land far, far away: 'Fired Coaches Island.'

Support Troy Davis

2007-11-05T07:52:00.000-08:00

Troy Davis came within 24 hours of execution by the state of Georgia last July. He was granted a 90-day stay. The Georgia Supreme Court this month will decide if Davis gets a new trial.

I interviewed Davis last May (you can read the interview on www. spokesman-recorder.com). He was found guilty in 1991 of murdering two persons, including a police officer, and sentenced to death. There was no physical evidence or a weapon found -- the prosecution's case entirely depended on witness testimony.

After his conviction, seven of the nine witnesses later recanted or contradicted their testimony. Many of them said they were pressured or coerced by the police. One of the witnesses, however, who has not recanted, is an individual many believe, including several witnesses who heard him admitted to the crime. Furthermore, nine individuals have signed affidavits, implicating this suspect as the actual shooter.

All along, Davis has maintained his position: He was not the shooter. In my interview, the young man reiterated this over and over again.

All his appeals have been exhausted, mainly because a federal death penalty appeal law that President Bill Clinton signed, which states that an appeal must be based on procedural issues that took place during the trial, not afterwards.

Amnesty International USA are among many organizations who have championed Davis' case. They have a petition on their web site, urging the Georgia's high court to seriously consider the case and rule in favor of a new trial for Davis.

That state's supreme court recently ruled that the young man who was sentenced to prison for having oral sex with a fellow high school student -- both individuals were underage at the time, be released. If they saw a miscarriage of justice in that case, surely the justices will see the same in Davis' verdict.

Troy Davis' life was temporary spared but if he isn't granted a new hearing or trial, his life again will be at the executioner's door.

Amnesty International urges all to sign the petition today. "Together we'll send a strong message to the Georgia authorities that when it comes to the death penalty, fairness matters," concludes executive director Larry Cox.

First impresions, part 2

2007-11-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

It was Orlando "Tubby" Smith's first game on the sidelines of Williams Arena Thursday.

His thoughts on the Barn's raised floor, a true relic from college hoops' formative days: "It is a good environment. I can see why the Barn is so feared (by opponents)."

At times during Thursday's contest, Smith seemed uncomfortable, not knowing exactly how to handle himself. Should he stand, which he began the game? Should he sit on the bench, which is at least a foot below the floor, which he also did? Or should he find a seat and plant himself on the sidelines in front of the Gophers' bench, which Smith eventually settled upon. This revived a tradition first started with Clem Haskins, who used a maroon stool during games.

"I didn't know what to do," Smith admitted afterwards.

Prior to the game, in an unheard of move, Smith went over to the other side of the court, where the handicapped section is located, and personally greeted the fans. He also shook hands with Dave, a longtime event worker, and waved at his wife sitting some rows away.

I have known Dave for several years -- he is one of the few event workers who go out of their way to speak to me. He was thoroughly impressed with Smith.

"It was a wonderful way to start," says Dave, who long after the game started and ended, still was in awe. "It was marvelous."

Yes, Minnesota defeated M State by 26 points in a game that won't count in their season results. It was good that Smith began his first Gopher season on a positive note. But more importantly, he did so much more.

He won over folks like Dave, which can bode him well during the rough times, which there will be some in Gopherland.

"That was class," says Dave. I agree.

First impressions

2007-11-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

I spent part of the first of two nights Wednesday in the Barn, otherwise known as Williams Arena -- the other part was next door at the Sports Pavilion where I watched Minnesota ended its seven-match losing skid, knocking off Iowa in three games.

Before the skid, Minnesota was in second place in the Big Ten, and among the top ten in the weekly volleyball rankings. Seven matches later, the Gophers are out of the Top 25 for the first time in a year and trying to get back to .500.

It didn't matter that the Gopher volleyballers defeated an Iowa squad with only one conference win this fall. At this point of the season, with NCAA tournament hopes hanging in the balance, you take any victory any way, and against anyone, any way you can.

As some of the hideous Halloween costumes some fans wore, Wednesday's win wasn't pretty. The Hawkeyes uses an offspeed game, which Minnesota Head Coach Mike Hebert explained, "caught us napping. It took us a while to get used to."

The keys to victory came down to three B's: better passing, better trust among teammates and better communications. It was the lack of these keys which occurred during the seven-match skid, the Minnesota coach pointed out.

"The team seemed to trust each other more," adds Hebert. "The communication was better as we got into the match."

There also was a fourth B -- better talent: Other than a momentary letdown in Game 2, and a slow start in the third game, Minnesota never was in trouble against the spunky Hawks. The winners' better talent eventually wore the visitors down in the first Wednesday home match on the season.

After the win, the Gophers players huddled and jumped around for extended minutes in jubilation. It's been seven long matches since U-M have been able to leave the court victorious.

"It is great to win a match," admits Hebert. "We were confident coming into this match."

"We finally came out and proved ourselves," Brook Dieter concurred.

Meanwhile next door, the U-M women hoopsters had no problems getting past Minnesota State-Mankato in their exhibition game opener. I don't report scores and stats because they are all for nought -- they do not carry over into the regular season, which will begin next week.

For 18 minutes or so, Head Coach Pam Borton was pleased with her squad, especially defensively. After that, the team's ball pressure was so-so, as well as the Gophers' post play.

Sophomore centers Ashley Ellis-Milan and Zoe Harper are the primary post players, and neither player imposed their will on the smaller Mavericks on a consistent basis during the game.

"We are going to get better," pledges Ellis-Milan, who should start because her offensive game is a tad better than Harper. Supposedly the two are engaged in a battle for the starting center job. "We need to be more aggressive and tough, and learn how to work inside."

Although it was only an exhibition, Gopher fans saw what most teams plan to do to Emily Fox -- go at her hard. Which is what the Mavericks did early on. Put pressure on her full court. Make her work. Take her out of the game.

The junior point guard, who people -- including her coach -- wants to make into the second coming of Lindsay Whalen, will have to deal with pressure "and have to get used to that," notes Borton.

Korriene Campbell also debuted as a starter at small forward. "I feel really comfortable shooting and passing," the sophomore says. Maybe but I didn't see it in her shot, which is often painful to watch. Still her rebounding and aggressiveness still is in top form, which Minnesota will need more from her than a lot of scoring.

My first impression -- too early to judge. Even the players agree.

"We are getting ready for the season," concludes Campbell.

Sneaking around the rules

2007-10-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

Baseball's hot stove league is at full blast, and again Blacks are the ones getting burned.

Major League Baseball supposedly has a rule that requires clubs to interview persons of color whenever managerial openings occur. Cincinnati hired Dusty Baker as its new manager last month.

What about the New York Yankees? By now you should know Joe Torre received a win-or-out-the-door ultimatum during the playoffs. His team won one of two games after that. Then we witnessed the longtime manager's status dangled like yesterday's wash while the Yankees brain (?) trust met. Torre was offered a one-year contract full of silly incentives that they knew he wouldn't agree to, and the manager walked away.

Supposedly Torre's replacement is Joe Girardi, which at last glance, isn't Black.

Now it's reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers, who openly made their intentions known that they didn't want Grady Little back as skipper, now are talking with Torre for the yet-to-be-opened job. If Little doesn't soon resign, he certainly is a fool, especially knowing that your employer don't want you around any more.

Whether the Dodgers hire Torre or not is not the question. Rather what happened to the person of color rule ? It seems like the "out-of-sight, out-of-mind" clause has been invoked.

It seems that Commissioner Bud Selig, a classic waffler when it comes to sticking to rules, is going to give Los Angeles a pass because of their history of diversity.

What? Just because they once had Jackie Robinson? That was over five decades ago, and the team was stationed in Brooklyn.

I can count the number of Dodgers managers on either hand -- let me see . . .

Zero.

What's good is a rule when it can be easily ignored, get around, or be winked at while doing business as usual.

The problem with such rules is that it forces teams to put on a diversity dog-and-pony show. The NFL's Rooney Rule is a classic example. Even though the league can boast about the few Black head coaches it has; that there were two coaching in last year's Super Bowl, look at how many other Blacks get the perfuctionary interview, complete with lunch or dinner, and a go-back-home card at the end. Meanwhile, White owners continue down the Great White Way as they hire a new coach, who usually is the same skin color as they.

Unless some teeth is added rules regarding interviewing and hiring persons of color, then persons such as Selig is nothing but all bark. Name an individual who wants to be a party to such charades. Hardly anyone with any semblance of pride will go into an interview, knowing that they are only a notch on the affirmative action belt.

Years ago, I applied for a position at a Midwestern college (the name is being withheld not to protect the guilty but because it happened so long ago). I got a return response, saying thanks for the interest but no thanks.

Then several weeks later, this same school called my home, wanting me to call them back collect. At the time I was home visiting my terminally ill father. I did call the school, who told me they wanted me to spend two days interviewing for the position.

After my father's funeral, I went to the interview. Almost immediately, it was crystal clear why I was there -- they were hoping that I was impressed enough with the campus to want to work there.

Only one interviewer came clean and told me that I was needed for affirmative action purposes only. I might add, that official was the only one who genuinely wanted me to come there because he felt I was the right person for the job.

Of course, I didn't take the job. I told them at the end of the two-day ordeal that I would not be interested, even if they offered it. But I truly appreciated the free hotel room and the meals.

In sports or whatever field, full diversity will only be truly achieved in this country when it becomes more than a token act. This is the case in hiring baseball managers of color.

Diversity will be nothing but a three or four-letter word. Few or none.

Support the November 2 National Blackout

2007-10-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

Historically, the word 'black' always meant something bad. Black cat. Black magic.

Black people.

According to Webster's Dictionary, among one of its meanings, 'blackout' means "to impose." Which is what Chicago-based attorney and national radio host Warren Ballentine has called for.

Beginning October 29 through November 2, Ballentine is calling for all Black Americans to take part in a National Blackout.

Look at the things that are happening in this country: unequal justice rapidly increasing. Black women popping up dead without a peep of media attention. President Bush commutes Scooter Libby's sentence but does not life a finger about six young Blacks -- the Jena 6.

Hate crimes, such as hanging nooses where Blacks can easily see them, are simply played of as pranks. Bush vetoes legislation to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, claiming that it costs too much, "but we can fund billions of dollars for a war," says Ballentine, who hosts a morning talk show on XM Radio (Channel 169) and on several Radio One stations around the country.

When I first learned of Ballentine's plan, it clearly reminded me of James Baldwin's Blues for Mister Charlie. It was about the Black citizens of a Southern town who chose not to work for one day, and how it affected Whites.

Blacks spend an estimated $715 billion a year in the U.S., at least two billion a day. If we stop spending our money for one day, what impact that would make. "I want to scare the bejeeves out of the boys on Wall Street, Capitol Hill, and the lobbyists, and let them know that enough is enough," explains Ballentine. "As taxpaying citizens, we are tired of being taken advantage of and being lied to."

November 2 is National Blackout day. I am participating, and I urge you as well. I am keeping my hard-earned bucks in my pocket all week. No grocery shopping. I've filled up my gas tank so that I won't have to go there as well.

Why stop buying a few days before November 2, Ballentine was asked. "I don't want to come out and call it a one-week blackout," he says. "But if everybody gets everything by October 29 -- get your gas, toilet tissue, food, everything you need -- that means Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that you are not spending money. Now, essentially a one-day blackout has turned into a four-day blackout. That's eight billion dollars that will not be in this economy."

Almost every caller to Ballentine's show claims they will support the Blackout. But of course, there are some who don't, such as a White caller. "Do the Blackout," the person urged, "but why don't you do something else. Just stay at home so we (Whites) don't have to see you."

"I have had a death threat, but I don't worry about things like that because I am a child of God," Ballentine points out.

Yes, we know that Denzel Washington's new movie also premieres November 2. "If you go see that movie (that day), you are paying Universal (the movie's distributors) not Denzel. He already has been paid," says Ballentine.

Furthermore, if this National Blackout is to be successful, Blacks must not make a mad dash to stores in the days prior to and on the days immediately following it. If stores and other businesses, most of which are corporate owned, have a major increase in sales as a result, then the Blackout will not create the impact that those of us who are participating wants to see.

The producers of the American economy, along with elected officials in Washington, need to feel the pain, if only for a few days.

We as Blacks in this country must also realize that our money is just as good as others. That our concerns are as real as others. That we are just as relevant as other groups. We need to make Mister Charlie Economy sit up and take notice of persons of color as serious economic players -- thus far we have just been getting economically played in this country.

The National Blackout is just the beginning. "We are calling for a national march on Washington after the National Blackout," notes Ballentine. Check out his truthfighters.org Web site for more details.

"I am trying to awaken the social conscience of the American people," concludes Ballentine. "If we don't wake up and see what is going on in this country, one day we are going to wake up and say, 'What went wrong in this country?'

"I am not just talking about Black folk, but (all) the American people," he says.

Still want BTN

2007-10-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

I never met Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press, but I think I have found an ally.

Rosenberg recently wrote about the ongoing Big Ten Network (BTN) and Comcast on carrying it. BTN wants to be placed on the same basic cable tier as ESPN, while Comcast wants to stash it on a sports tier, where customers must pay extra. "We don't want to burden our customers with something they don't want," Comcast Midwest region communications director Patrick Paterno told Rosenberg.

This is the same crap that Minnesotans are hearing from the Comcast folks: they control both cable franchises in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They even put a channel on, which only shows a stupid message that the BTN will be there, if only they do what Big Brother Cable wants.

"This is a big money hungry company that plays to win," writes Rosenberg.

Amen.

Last month I wrote that we as fans always are caught in the middle, getting squeezed (or something else, but I will keep this clean) by feuding sides. No one is willing to give, and those who want to watch the Gophers (well, maybe not football this fall) are left in the dark unless they buy a satellite dish or head to some sports bar.

Comcast isn't local, whether here in Minnesota or Michigan, or anywhere else in the Midwest. They are East Coast folk, Wall Street types -- they wouldn't know a Gopher, Wolverine or a Spartan from a hole in a wall. Or in their heads.

They only know one thing, as backup singers for the O'Jays -- For The Love of Money.

Comcast won't back down. They are propagandists that would make a former Soviet Union government official proud and envious.

They are as much looking out for me as a runaway train at night. If they did, Comcast wouldn't burden me with programming I don't want. Such as a zillion shopping channels, fifty MTV's and endless informerical garbage that currently crowds our local cable lineup.

But as Big Brother Cable claims, they are looking out for me, deciding for me what I want or don't want. The only way Comcast will change, if ever, is by flooding their phone lines, demanding that BTN be added. I do, every chance I get, as well as in person when I pay my monthly cable bill, which has increased 800 percent over my 20-plus years as a cable customer. It has gone up under previous regimes as Rogers, Paragon and Time Warner, before Comcast assumed their present money gouging position a couple of years ago.

For full disclosure, I have not added a single movie channel, or buy pay-per-view movies and such. In fact, several channels I loved watching, such as BET Jazz, was dropped last year in favor of more MTV channels. Oh, yeah -- my bill also went up.

Hear me Comcast -- I want BTN. Like Helen Reddy, hear us Big Ten fans roar.

You can read my "Cable Wars" column on www.spokesman-recorder.com. Rosenberg's take is on the Free Press' web site.

A sneak preview

2007-10-24T04:49:00.000-07:00

Annually I can only stand to watch one NBA preseason game. Actually one preseason game of any sport typically is my limit. I want to see the players in game situations; any subtle changes in their reactions, whatever. I chose not to get overly optimistic or downcast at this time.

After all, these games don't count. I am an advocate of a couple of preseason contests, one home and one away, and not charge fans. After all, there are nothing more than glorified practice games.

With this said, I attended Tuesday's Minnesota Timberwolves-Indiana Pacers preseason game. It was the team's first home practice game of the 2007 preseason. The team has been world weary, beginning training camp for the first time overseas, then playing a couple of contests on foreign soil. Then a few more practice contests back in the States.

Like watching those movie trailers, which often times you are really seeing the best scenes because the rest of the flick is junk, this is what Tuesday's Minnesota Timberwolves - Indiana Pacers preseason game was like for me. I got a glimpse of what the upcoming 2007-08 regular season will be like in the post-Kevin Garnett era. (For full disclosure, I am one of two reporters -- Jerry Zgoda is the other, who witnessed the team's first ever practice, long before KG started playing high school ball.)

Like watching an over hyped film, the 2007-08 Wolves' slogan: See What They Can Do, fails to live up to its silly billing.

"We're not a very good team," says Wolves Coach Randy Wittman during his post-game comments, stating the obvious. "We still quite not knowing what to do."

This is sad but true. Wittman has a squad with so many new faces -- he still hasn't made his final cuts yet. He still hasn't settled on a starting lineup or rotation.

Oh, he has some pieces to work with:

Al Jefferson showed the home fans what he is capable of, grabbing a mess of rebounds (I don't get into preseason stats because they don't carry over into the regular season). "Al have to continue to do the other things," says Wittman, which includes being able to effectively play interchangeably at the '4' and '5.'

Corey Brewer has some hops along with his defense, but he has only six practice games on his yet-to-begin rookie season. He got schooled a couple of times by Indiana. Goodbye Florida, hello prime time. "They call it the NBA for a reason," notes Brewer's first NBA coach. "You better respect your opponent, whether you know him or not."

Brewer's college teammate, Chris Richard, is a legitimate beast inside, something Minnesota has lacked for years.

I also like Ryan Gomes, who in my opinion, is the steal of the multi-player, one-sided deal that sent Garnett to Boston this summer. He has some athletic ability and if he can show more consistency, he can be a keeper.

But no point guard: Randy Foye and Sebastian Telfair both are out with injuries, which doesn't help Wittman getting his offensive schemes fine tuned. "We still need a little bit more direction," admits the coach. "We need those guys back but they must get healthy first."

Theo Ratliff, supposedly a deal throw-in for salary cap reasons, will be the Wolves' starting center. "Some people are surprised about Theo but I'm not," Wittman concurs. The veteran center reminds me of Ervin Johnson, a big man who will do his job underneath and won't get in the way. Johnson was the last good pivot the Wolves has had.

"He can rebound, score and block shots," says Wittman on Ratliff. After missing the entire 2006-07 campaign, save for a couple of games, because of his back, Ratliff "is healthy -- he's a great weapon for us," proclaim the coach. "He covers up a lot of (defensive) sins" with his shot blocking.

Regarding the game itself -- the Wolves got down early, came back and got close a couple of times, only to see Indiana, who never trailed, maintain their distance en route to a practice win.

Afterwards, I was asked my opinion: Much of what I saw was like watching a sneak preview of a B-movie.

Mostly bad.

"We've got 10 days left," concludes Wittman on the amount of time the Wolves has before its Nov. 2 regular season opener. That is not nearly enough time to right a multitude of wrongs with this team.

She didn't have to do it

2007-10-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

Once a world-class sprinter -- some considered her the world's best, Marion Jones had the track world at her feet. However, poor choices eventually threw all of that away.

Jones recently admitted that she took steroids during the time she was winning medals at the 2000 Olympics. When asked by a federal grand jury, she testified under oath that she did not take anything illegal.

Her admission came in a letter to family and friends: one of her friends supposedly leaked information from the letter to a newspaper. I don't think this is what Dionne Warwick meant when she sang "That's What Friends Are For."

And the Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends" certainly wasn't Jones' theme song, either: she took steroids from a former track coach, who is now on trial. A husband and her baby's daddy, both of whom also got popped for being juiced, most likely were bad influences in Jones' life as well.

Jones' admission, which also included her returning her Olympic medals, just was the iceberg tip of her problems. The International Olympic Committee most likely will take out their eraser and permanently remove her name from their record books, take away her world championships, pursue her for prize money and appearance fees, and a possible ban from future Olympics in any shape or form.

Can't you hear the "I don't you so" chorus humming in the background?

She didn't have to do it. Jones was a NCAA champion in both basketball and track at North Carolina before she took on the world. She could run like the wind. She also did some broadcasting work on the side, and wasn't bad at it -- Jones had a future career in the works after her running days was over.

Well, they are -- but now Jones' future is very uncertain.

She's a cheater. She's been stripped of everything but her shattered pride.

She didn't have to do it.

Jones is like countless star athletes, who despite their God-given ability along with work ethic, often operates out of fear. Fear of losing. Fear of one day no longer in the spotlight. Fear of no longer world class but just an Average Joe or Josephine.

As a result, they listen to the wrong people. Too often they take the wrong advice. Bad decisions ultimately becomes a house of cards.

In Jones' case, her wrongdoing isn't individually isolated. Her fellow members of the U.S.'s 4 x 100 relay team also will lose their medals as well. Even if they didn't do anything wrong, their names, their accomplishments are forever tarnished.

Bad decisions often affect more than the individual but others as well.

It's all well and good that Jones fessed up to loved ones -- even to us, the public. Even those who are now singing in high pitch, "I told you so.'

But the ones Jones should be on her knees, now that she is in the contrite mood, is not the track world or the IOC. It's her track team members who she should be writing to every day for the rest of her life, begging their forgiveness.

Because she didn't have to do it.

What would M & M do

2007-10-08T04:53:00.000-07:00

Rev. Al Sharpton is at again.

He plans to protest outside Madison Square Garden in New York City, demanding that New York Knicks coach and president Isiah Thomas apologize for remarks he supposedly said to a former female employee, who last week won a sexual harassment case against Thomas and the team.

During testimony, it was learned that Thomas once explained to Amacha Browne Sanders the difference of when a Black man and a White man calls a Black woman a female dog. The jury later couldn't 't decide if Thomas should pay Sanders, which led to a mistrial on that issue. But if he indeed had said this, if anything, Thomas is guilty of stupidity.

But does this warrant Sharpton parading in front of MSG in a sandwich board, leading "Thomas must go!" chants? What would Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X -- M & M, do in this case?

I'd suspect these two 'real leaders' probably would have release a written statement, decrying Thomas' actions, and move on to more pressing issues. Such as President Bush's veto of a child insurance bill. The war in Iraq. Congress continuing throwing billions to it.

Funding private security hit men with federal dollars in Iraq. Unequal justice in Jena, La.

Troy Davis, whose death penalty case will be heard in Georgia Supreme Court, in November. Any number of important things.

This shows leadership, not show-off leadership.

Sharpton and his like again will draw mainstream media's spotlight for his protest, diverting attention away from more important issues. Again, he will pat himself on the back, just like he did over the firing of Don Imus, which the good reverend took credit for, when actually it was the adverse effect on the bottom line that ultimately did Imus in, rather than Sharpton's mouth.

Calling for Thomas' head over a civil suit is nonsense. It only fuels the daily yakety-yakers on sports talk radio. Should he be fired? That's for his bosses to decide -- Thomas has done much worse as a basketball executive in his Knicks tenure that he has earned a pink slip several times over.

Do I condone what he supposedly said to Browne? Absolutely not. She had her day in court and proved her case that the Knicks, and Thomas, were wrong. Collect your millions at the door and go home, I say.

Did I condoned what Imus and his gang said about the Rutgers' women basketball team last spring? Absolutely not, but I didn't call for his firing either. His bosses eventually decided it was best to part company with the longtime loudmouth, who reportedly soon will return to the airwaves -- just as I predicted.

Sharpton is just being Al -- a manufactured Black leader. His protest in front of MSG will be topic number one on his national radio show. Some chowder head sports junkie will use it as verification that Thomas should be axed.

What would M & M do? Like me, absolutely nothing.

Walking while Black

2007-10-04T04:54:00.000-07:00

Next week will be my fifth trip to St. Cloud, Minnesota in six months. The Council on Black Minnesotans (CBM) will hold hearings October 9 on a variety of issues, racial profiling notwithstanding.

Racial profiling of Blacks and other persons of color is nothing new in St. Cloud. The problem is that too many city police officers won't stop. Despite cries from the Black community; despite a state legislative report that showed St. Cloud as having the highest number of racial stops in Minnesota; and despite a police chief that told me last year that he is weeding out the longtime practice, it still occurs.

It's demoralizing when you pulled over by some cop, fully knowing that you did not nothing wrong. Especially when you are with friends and family -- you have to go through the humiliating drill of a police officer giving you the fifth degree, delaying you from reaching your destination.

Simply because you are Black.

Driving while Black isn't new -- it occurs nationwide. It has been around as long as Blacks began driving cars in this country. Black comedians often joke about it: D.L. Hughley last week on his HBO special talks about how Whites can get away with talking to police any way they want but not Blacks. If persons of color did, they will resemble Swiss cheese or worse as a result, Hughley surmised.

"They (police officers) stop you and laugh," notes St. Cloud State professor Michael Davis, "but I don't find anything funny about it all."

But 'walking while Black,' which occurred to St. Cloud State University professor and department head Dr. Luke Tripp is a relatively new occurrence.

We first learned about the incident shortly after it occurred in early July by retired SCSU instructor Mytle Cooper, a frequent critic of both the school and the city in regard to its treatment of Blacks. We also received the copy of Tripp's letter to St. Cloud Police Chief Dennis Ballantine, detailing the ordeal and formally complaining about the two officers who stopped him, supposedly on the pretense that he stole a purse.

The 18-year city resident who walks to work daily was stopped by St. Cloud police officer Sue Proshek, who told Tripp that she mistakenly took his book bag as a purse. If the professor had the nerve to commit such a crime in broad daylight, and continue walking with it in his hand, he is a dumb purse snatcher. The false charge alone is insulting enough -- being falsely stopped in itself is embarrassing.

According to Tripp, it took almost two weeks for Chief Ballantine to respond to his letter, and even after a month later in a meeting with him, the police chief still was turtle-like in his response to the professor's concerns.

In this meeting, which also included SCSU professor Semya Hakim, Nancy Jessee, who represented new school president Earl Potter, and other school and city folk, Ballantine told Tripp that he can't act on complaints against his officers unless a formal complaint is filed. Apparently the July 10 letter that Tripp sent to him didn't constitute as a formality. After the meeting, the professor said he did file a formal complaint, but as of now, no action has been taken.

We finally went to press with the story ("Council on Black Minnesotans takes on St. Cloud racial profiling") this week after Tripp decided to talk publicly about it (see www.spokesman-recorder.com).

"The city is much more backwards than the campus," Tripp says of St. Cloud, whose too many of its police officers believe that they live not in the heart of central Minnesota but in Dixie.

He says that the October 9 CBM hearing, which he plans to attend, should finally bring the racial profiling issue to the forefront as important enough to be dealt with. "Once we educate more people about this," he adds, "then hopefully we will be better able to mobilize (Blacks) and bring more pressure on the city council and the mayor."

However, Davis, a St. Cloud State education professor currently on sabbatical, isn't as optimistic. The CBM have been in the city before, "They come and listen, and that's it," notes Davis. "We have been talking abut this (racial profiling) for years," notes Davis. "You have all these meetings, and they are like 'feel-good' sessions. You go there, and they say this and that, and nothing happens."

When Blacks are silent, afraid to rock the boat or both, then city officials easily can dismiss a charge such as Tripp's, Davis continues. Despite Ballantine's pledge that he will clean up things in his department, "no real change" have been seen by Davis and others.

"It is alarming," CBM executive director Lester Collins says on the continuing problems in St. Cloud. He disagrees with Davis -- next week's hearing will be productive, he promises. "We are planning to forward our findings, concerns and (the St. Cloud's Black community) voice to (the Minnesota legislature) and back to the city officials themselves."

As I head back to St. Cloud or as it is better known to many Blacks, "White Cloud," it will be interesting to see what kind of hearing indeed will take place: the productive and educational one that Tripp and Collins foresee, or another Dr. Phil session as Davis fears. As the Black citizenry of St. Cloud will not act like the guy in "Network" -- "Mad as hell and won't take it anymore." Or go back quietly into the night, allowing St. Cloud police officers to continue acting like Deputy Dawgs in their views about Blacks driving , and now walking around their fair White city.

Either way, I will file a report for our October 17 edition.

A living history book in the heart of central Minnesota

2007-10-02T05:10:00.000-07:00

I spent a lovely Monday evening with St. Cloud State University's associate multi-cultural dean Dr. Carolyn Ruth Williams. A simple interview turned into a thoroughly history lesson which I was a very attentive student.

Her office inside the school's College of Education building is windowless. Stepping inside, you step into history that no book could rightfully tell. Pictures and letters of gratitude from former students. Memories from her travels overseas. Overflowing bookshelves. Awards that somehow got lost in fully recognizing her numerous accomplishments.

Look up multi-cultural in the dictionary and you'll see Williams, a proud woman whose family roots intertwined through Cherokee, Greek and African. Her uncle is a Tuskegee Airman. Her grandfather started a church down south.

I never met someone who worked at NASA, which Williams once ran a special program.

I never met anyone whose father once studied under Dr. W.E.B. DuBois, which Williams proudly allowed to slip out during our discussions.

I never met a granddaughter of a woman who once served meals to President Abraham Lincoln.

I never met a Black person whose family got their repartition, their "40 acres and a mule" rightly promised to Blacks after slavery -- Williams' family got several acres of land in northern Alabama, which still today belongs to her family.

I never met anyone who loves school as much as she -- Williams has three Masters degrees, a Ph.D., studied in England and China. "I always loved going to school," she unabashedly admits. Her parents fully supported her, as did her husband James, who allowed his wife to take sabbaticals from their marriage as she pursued her educational and professional aspirations, living in separate quarters, several states apart at times.

I never met anyone who after our official interview officially ended, wanted to continue to talk. She wouldn't allow me to leave without giving me something; as hard as I tried, she wouldn't take no as my answer. Dr. Williams gave me a new book on Black politics.

We continued our discussion at a local eatery, which one of Williams' students once took her, and the dean fell in love with it. We talked and talked even after it closed its doors for the business day, sharing family stories and personal recollections. The couple of hours seemed like a few minutes.

Williams later e-mailed me, thanking me for the interview, saying I was a God-send. This again is a first for me -- typically I believe that most interviewees rather have root canal work than having to endure my sometimes rambling questions. I am one of those rare reporters, who act like I don't know anything and that the person or persons I am talking with is the expert.

Something that I did not do during our first encounter, I totally disagree with the longtime educator. Instead, Williams was the God-send, a refreshing cap to a day, that up to that point, was rather long and tedious. I sincerely hope that St. Cloud State University students, faculty and staff soon realize this as well, and give Williams her proper respect, which has been long overdue and her work long underappreciated.

(Williams' interview is in the September 27 print and on-line edition of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder -- www.spokesman-recorder.com)

National security or personal insecurity

2007-09-28T04:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was in the check-out line at a local KMart. Just ahead of me was a man with his purchase ready to be rung up. He requested also a pack of cigarettes.

"Can I see your ID?," the female clerk asked the customer.

His face expressed utter disbelief. "That's the law," she quickly fired back.

The customer looked at me. I looked at him. He looked at her. She went over to the locked cabinet to fill the customer's request.

To me, the man didn't look like he was trying to pull something past the vigilant clerk. He was trying to sneak a thrill like some underage teenager, hoping that a couple of isolated peach fuzz would get him noticed that he has reached the age of maturity, that he could make an adult purchase and sneak out the store without detection.

As the man reached in his back pocket and pulled out his wallet to heed her request, still surprised that he was being carded, softly said, "I'm 72 years old."

Seventy-two years old?

A member of Our Greatest Generation: He lived through the Great Depression. He survived World War II, perhaps even served in it. He endured years of Jim Crowism and other such indignities a Black man of his age surely faced.

He have earned the right to live the rest of his days without such hassles. This man should be able to buy whatever he wants without having to prove his age. And he can't even buy a pack of smokes without showing some form of ID!

Has this country's national security craze reached such a low that a senior citizen can't be trusted to buy cigarettes without being questioned. Does he pose some sort of national threat?

This heightened my fear big time. Could this be a prelude to what I and every citizen, regardless of age, must deal with if Congress do pass a national ID law. You won't be able to vote, travel -- even buy a pack of smokes, without showing two forms of identification. It will give law enforcement types more power to stop us at any time, claiming national security, to check for not one, but two IDs.

A drivers license currently is an acceptable form of ID. But what if you don't drive? If a second photo ID is needed, what will be the cost?

I'm afraid it will cost us a whole lot more than money. It will tax our personal freedom in ways George Orwell never dreamed of. Big Brother will become King Kong. It will be 21st Century Checkpoint Charlie. Another personal infringement opportunity sadly added.

Personally I don't care to smoke, never had. But this 72-year-old has earned his right to do whatever he wish. It's still legal to buy cigarettes, but when did the law changed that seniors must be carded as teenagers and others born after 1982, the year the man moved into his late middle age years.

The senior didn't argue with the clerk, who brought him his smokes of choice. He quietly put away his drivers license and paid for his purchase. He left away without anything else to say.

I had hoped to catch him but when I got outside, but the 72-year-old man was gone, perhaps to get that drink: I earlier joked with him, suggesting that he may want to keep his ID out when he hit the bars later. He briefly smiled, but I could sense the disbelief on his well-worn face was still there, a face that had seen it all until now.

I wouldn't blame him one bit if the man did go and drown away the memory of this nonsense.

For the record, the clerk didn't ask me for any identification on my purchase of candy for a second-grade class, and a four-pack of orange cream soda for myself. I had prepared myself for such request -- after all, I am at least 20 years younger than the previous customer she carded.

It didn't happened, but I'm afraid soon it will.

I don't know what color it is this week on the national security alert meter, but my personal insecurity is at high.

The O.J. I remember

2007-09-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

When it was reported that O.J. Simpson was arrested on suspicion of robbery, it suddenly occurred to me what I have been missing ever since he first got in trouble back in the mid-1990s.

His films.

Never a Lawrence Olivier or Denzel Washington, Simpson did carve out a non-descript acting career, essentially cashing in on his celebrity status. He appeared in a few TV movies, including a series of one where he played a washed-up boxer with a little girl named Goldie by his side.

Simpson played a detective in the Police Squad movie, in which he was very funny. Perhaps his best role on screen. He also played a detective in a drama along with the late Elizabeth Montogomery, a mismatched salt-and-pepper police team. A pretty good movie I recall, but like the others I mentioned, haven't seen it on television lately.

And who can forget his non-award-winning role in The Towering Inferno, with Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. I think O.J. died in it -- in fact, I know he did because back then, and even now, the chances of a Black actor surviving through a disaster movie solely depends on their star status.

Certainly you remember Simpson in those Hertz commercials, hurling over suitcases in airports? Riveting stuff.

Why haven't ESPN Classic shown Simpson's greatest games as a collegian or NFL star? It was, after all, his athleticism, his winning the Heisman Trophy; his two-initial name that gave him fame in the first place. The game in which Simpson surpassed the 2,000-yard rushing mark as a Buffalo Bills runner, the first time in NFL history, is a better classic than some of the junk ESPN Classic purports as such.

Wouldn't it be great to see a O.J. Simpson film festival on TV Land or TV One's "Throwback Theater"! I would love to rent that Police Squad movie.

Instead, Simpson is only remembered as the one who got away with two murders. Having found not guilty began people to think that the American justice system is out of whack. Such thinking never surfaced when Whites were getting off for killing Blacks once upon a time, but as soon as O.J.'s verdict came down, the firestorm for change swept this country.

I always felt that after he was cleared that it was best for Simpson to leave the country and start anew. However, he is addicted to attention, the limelight -- an addiction that has caused him problems ever since. Simpson keep putting himself in crazy situations, such as this latest one.

O.J. keeps hoping that one day the American public will forgive him and allow him back into their good graces. Others who have done considerably less, have -- Martha Stewart got caught for insiders trading, serve jail time and now she's hawking her goods for Macy's. Richard Nixon left office in disgrace, but after a few years, he was considered a great statesman and tot a fond farewell at his funeral.

But Simpson's scarlet letter is much larger. It is a permanent marker that won't ever wash off.

Whether he broke into a Las Vegas hotel room, as Simpson is charged with along with carrying guns and kidnapping (?), is still debatable. If he indeed was invited to the room to get back his own stuff, then how can this be breaking and entering. If he was indeed secretly taped, as O.J. claims, what happened to former Washington D.C. mayor Marion (The B**** set me up) Barry seems childlike in comparison.

Simpson lost his benefit of the doubt card long ago. As a result, these charges might be just enough to land him in prison, which many thought he should be in the first place.

I rather see Simpson's past film work, his on-field exploits, again grace the small screen.

That's the O.J. Simpson I want to remember.

Open Season on Black Women

2007-09-25T07:46:00.000-07:00

A Black woman from West Virginia was raped and beaten during a week of captivity at the hands of some White folk. Two Black females, within a week of each other, were found dead after being reported missing. A young Black woman went on vacation last spring and has not yet returned.

Where is the coverage?

Instead we hear the exploits of spoiled brats Paris Hilton and Britany Spears. When Laci Peterson popped up missing and later found dead, non-stop reports were the norm.

If she's White, it is breaking news. If she's blond and blue eyed, she automatically given superstar treatment in the media.

However, if the woman is Black, has short cropped, natural black hair -- even if she don't, her disappearance is barely mentioned. If she's beaten or abuse, the media, with blinders in place, shrugs its shoulders.

Media fairness seemingly goes only to the fairest of skin.

Black women are disappearing these days at an alarming rate. Does anyone care? Is it open season on Black women?

A Black woman disappears from her home in Milwaukee and barely gets a milk carton notice. Her case still is unsolved.

Twenty-four-year old Tamika Huston's body was found August 12, over a year after she first was reported missing from her Spartanburg, S.C. home. A man Huston supposedly was dating was arrested and charged with her murder.

Almost immediately after local police began investigating, Huston's loved ones distributed filers, held news conferences and established a Web site. Other than Greta Van Susteran briefly mentioning her on Fox News Channel, a story last March on America's Most Wanted, and a report on National Public Radio, her case rarely saw national attention.

Not unlike Natalee Holloway, the 18-year-old from Alabama, who went to Aruba last spring and haven't been heard from since. But the entire island almost has been blamed for Holloway's disappearance.

Not unlike Jennifer Wilbanks, who we later learned just walked away from her impending marriage because of cold feet. How the nation was outraged over her brief disappearance, and the 24-hour coverage she got before she eventually resurfaced.

These women, along with Peterson, whose husband later was later convicted of murdering her, are White.

Did you hear about 24-year-old Latoyia Figueroa of Philadelphia? Figueroa was five months pregnant and a mother of a 7-year-old daughter. After being missing for over a month, Figueroa's dead body was found 10 miles west of her city. Her ex-boyfriend has been charged with two murders.

Not only were Figueroa and Huston didn't deserve to die, their disappearance didn't even earned the respect they deserve. Their cases never got the media's light of day. But if they had been White . . .

No woman, regardless of race, deserves to be abducted, senselessly beaten -- sometimes to death, or sexually violated. It doesn't matter whether she's Black or White, light or dark, model thin or queen size. But when reporting, either by law enforcement or media, is so obviously lopsided and unbalanced, mainly because of race, it should matter and must be called out as such.

In too many eyes, it must be hunting season for Black females in this country. Their safety and well being is seemingly of little concern.

In my eyes, however, this is dead wrong.

You don't say

2007-09-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

Like Jack Nicholson, when Tom Cruise ask for the truth, most people can't handle it.

Appearing on HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said that Black quarterbacks face greater scrutiny than their White counterparts. "It's just reality," he says. "It's something that I've been a part of and other (Black) quarterbacks before and after me have been a part of."

You don't say, Donovan. For further proof of what McNabb is talking about, please check out New York Times columnist William C. Rhoden's book, "The Field Generals," where he chronicles the history of the Black quarterback. Read about what Marlon Briscoe had to do, just to get a one-time tryout at quarterback. Read about other Black quarterbacks, including Doug Williams, the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl with Washington, and how they endured the endless questioning of their abilities, smarts, whatever.

All because of the color of their skin.

The quarterback position is the most scrutinized in all of sports. They love you only when you're winning. But throw a bad pass or miss an open receiver, or don' t get that crucial first down in the game's critical moments, and your name becomes mud. You're only loved if you are the backup QB -- people always think they can do the job better. But once the backup takes over as starter, then the role reversal begins.

A vicious circle that triples if you're Black. That's what McNabb is saying. The criticism is twinged more if you are a person of color.
And only a Black man knows this.

Yet Whites immediately dismiss what he says. A Philadelphia Daily News columnist wrote that McNabb must get rid of a chip on his shoulder.

It's not a chip, but a mountain that he and other Black QB's must shoulder. The critical spotlight is always hotter for them than it is for Whites.

But only a Black man knows this.

Ever since Tarvaris Jackson was named the starter by the Minnesota Vikings, 'white flags' immediately were hoisted. He's too young, critics say. Then after throwing four interceptions in a 20-17 overtime loss at Detroit, cries for his replacement intensified.

A St. Paul Pioneer Press columnist urges the coaching staff to place Jackson on the injury list because he "tweak" his groin. Coach Brad Childress should keep Jackson on the sideline "with honor," wrote Tom Powers. "Just say the quarterback is too hurt to play," Powers suggests.

Other Twin Cities columnists also wrote similarly. Powers' paper now are running polls, asking readers on who should start as Vikings QB: Jackson, Brooks Bollinger, or Kelly Holcomb. It doesn't matter that both Bollinger and Holcomb are just as inexperienced as the second-year Jackson. After three weeks, it's time for change.

These same scribes years ago expressed the same lack of confidence when former Minnesota coach Dennis Green named Daunte Culpepper as starter.

The fact that both Culpepper and Jackson are Black only heightens the criticism. Only if you aren't Black that you can't read between the lines. Only if you aren't Black that you can't clearly see just how much their criticism play a part in planting doubting seeds in fans, most of whom already are Monday morning quarterbacks and coaches in their own right.

Only if you aren't Black that you can't fully understand what McNabb is saying. You won't see White sports columnists ever walking a block, let alone a mile in his shoes.

All quarterbacks start out young and inexperienced. Then when are they going to get the necessary reps to be good, or be fairly evaluated, if they are not allowed the chance to fail, in order to eventually succeed.

Peyton Manning started out young, as did Joe Montana and Steve Young. Even Roger Staubach and John Elway suffered through growing pains before they eventually found their winning groove.

Why is it that White QBs are allowed that luxury, while Black QBs must play with a burned neck because the white heat from columnists, fans and others breathing down their necks. Why is it that Black QBs must be grizzled and well worn in order to prove themselves worthy to stand behind center?

"Black or White quarterbacks, we all go through something because that's the life of a quarterback," says Tennessee's Vince Young, one of sic Black starting NFL quarterbacks, along with McNabb, Jackson, Steve McNair of Baltimore, Jason Campbell of Washington and Jacksonville's David Garrard.

You don't say Vince. He somehow forgot how many questioned his abilities last year because he flunked some fancy pre-draft test. He forgot how many thought someone else and not him was suited to be drafted No. 1 overall.

Young must think that he somehow will escape a well-known fact but rarely admitted. That he won't be roundly criticize, much of which will be racially inspired. He won't, so long as he exceeds on the field.

Because when he don't, and you better believe Young will have bad days -- all QBs do, his hue will play a part in the unbalanced criticism and unnecessary analysis from columnists, most of them are White.

Unless his hue changed, Young will experience it, if he hasn't already. He and other Black quarterbacks do. And always will.

What Donovan McNabb said is right. However, Whites can't handle the truth.

And they never will.

Have you seen them?

2007-09-17T05:17:00.000-07:00

This year's WNBA catchphrase is "Have You Seen Her?" How appropriate that was, especially during the playoffs.

I am not ashamed to say it but I love watching women hoops. Whether it's college or pro, women basketball is the closest thing to seeing the game played the way it should.

Below the rim. Precise offensive patterns. Proper screens. Mid-range outside shooting. Passionate play.

But I often had to play Sherlock Holmes to find the games. It might be on NBA TV, or might not. It might be on ESPN or ESPN2, or maybe not.

It might be on 7:00 pm Eastern time, or may be later. You had to catch it if you can.

Even Sunday's game five of the championship finals, the deciding game in which either Phoenix or Detroit would walk away with the trophy, the start time or channel was not listed in my local newspaper's daily TV guide. I lucked up and found it anyway:

By the way, the Mercury brought Phoenix its first pro basketball title by leading Detroit from tip to buzzer.

The WNBA has completed its 11th season. The primary reason why it is still around is two words: David Stern. As long as the NBA commish loves having it around, and co-signs his league's annual subsidies, the WNBA will continue to exist.

"The WNBA is the best league," boasts Ann Meyers-Drysdale, who in her first year as Phoenix general manager, brings home a crown.

However, she forgets to mention -- It's the women's only major league pro sport in America. The only hoops game in town during the summer.

Nonetheless, the WNBA continues to be seen through minor league eyes., and treated even less.

The 2007 post season was perhaps the WNBA's most exciting in history. Several first-round games were decided in overtime. For the second consecutive season, the defending champion played in the finals, and the championship series went the distance.

However, did you see them? ESPN, supposedly the WNBA's broadcast partner, preempted a couple of playoff match ups, including a triple-overtime thriller, in favor of the Little League World Series. I haven't seen such disrespect since the final game of the 1980 NBA Finals were tape-delayed and show as part of the late, late show.

But you won't hear that from WNBA President Donna Orender, who acts more like cheerleader than league top dog. When the league and ESPN announced a eight-year television package during the All-Star Game in July, both she and network exec refused to reveal the financial details. Quite a contrast to when the NBA's new TV package was released this summer.

Here are the details: Under the new ESPN/WNBA deal, each team will get approximately $2 million annually -- $26 million over the life of the contract. The NBA television deal with TNT, ABC and ESPN will net each team between $25-30 million.

No wonder Orender didn't want to talk about it. She got fleeced, but her cheery self won't publicly admit it.

"It still has a long way to go," USA Today's Oscar Dixon, who covers both the NBA and the WNBA, told me during All-Star weekend. When asked about the WNBA's long term survival, "I don't think it has reached its full potential."

Now that the season is over, many players are off to parts far and wide. The league stars head overseas, where the money is exceedingly better. At least, three times better.

The average salary for a WNBA player ranges from $32,500 for rookies, $50,000 for veterans, and a maximum $93,000 for superstars.
The average salary for a NBA player: $2 million

"We are on our hustle right now," says Washington Mystics forward DeLisha Milton-Jones. "I have not experienced a vacation since I started playing professional basketball."

"They got to make the money when they can make (it)," adds Detroit Shock coach Bill Laimbeer.

Is the WNBA concerned about their star players virtually all year round? The wear and tear? Players not fully recovering from nicks and pains incurred during the season? Shortening a female's career? All of the above? You don't see NBA stars hoopin' it up 12 months a year.

"I definitely think that is a concern for the WNBA, the team owners, GMs, etc.," says Indiana Fever star Tamika Catchings. "As a coach and a GM, I'm sure you are concerned with how much your players are playing." Not to think of, that many of them barely get back to their domestic club in time for the start of training camp -- many others make during it, and while still others, just get back in time for the season opening tip-off.

But according to Renee Brown, the WNBA second-in-command as basketball operations chief, the league aren't overly concerned about their players logging too much court time. "Not at all," she says. Playing overseas "is very competitive . . . the layout of their games are a lot different."

"The league was designed to allow players to play overseas," adds Dixon on the WNBA's summer schedule.

With the Olympics next summer, players such as Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor may opt out and stay in their native Australia, to train for their national teams. Ditto for Russian Svetlana Abrosimova of Minnesota.

Another problem now facing the league: its collective bargaining agreement now expires.

Among the pressing issues include better health benefits and of course, better salaries. However, the two sides are apart is on the salary cap: the players want it higher along with a soft cap to allow teams to exceed it but not be penalized if they do not spend more than the salary cap. Also, the players want a better free agency system: currently, the teams have the right of first refusal, and there's no bidding for players. The clubs basically can re-sign the player, keeping them out of the free agent market.

Also, the WNBA players union wants shorter contracts that will allow veterans to seek free agency sooner. Their shelf life is exceedingly shorter than their male counterparts, especially with playing all year round.

Of course, the players know that they can't push too hard -- no matter that Commish Stern loves them, if he feels that the WNBA hoopsters are getting too big for their Nikes, he will pull the plug. He threaten years ago to do so, and the players gave in -- just like the NBAers did.

"Our every expectation is that we will reach an agreement that will be in the best interest of the league and its ongoing success and our players," predicts Orender.

Let's hope so -- but then again, will we know?

Have you seen them WNBA players?

Six candles

2007-09-11T04:47:00.000-07:00

Why this country loves celebrating tragic events is beyond me.

This year's September 11 observance is the fifth since it happened in 2001. The 'Where were you on Sept. 11' stories and anecdotes is as certain as January cold in Minnesota.

Why? This day sadly should only be remembered by those families who lost loved ones, friends, acquaintances either on the ground in New York or in the air. For the rest of us, it should only be a painful reminder that our freedoms are now passe.

I feel no more secure now than I did on Sept. 10, 2001. Not because I fear terrorism, which I never did. Until I see the tanks coming down my street, then will I become more concerned than I presently am.

Rather I feel less secure and more invaded by a government, who have used the Sept. 11 attacks to pull the rug out of my security.

I no longer can fly without being searched like some common criminal. My carefully packed luggage now is ravaged through by insensitive and underpaid security checkers. I can't even bring with me a tube of toothpaste or a can of air freshener on board any more.

Individuals who speak in foreign tongues now are constantly viewed suspiciously, even sometimes forced off their scheduled flights, and questioned under hot lights -- all because people are now fearful and suffering from Islam-phobia.

The Patriot Act is more than Kate Smith singing God Bless America. It has given this government a la carte to check into yours and mine's personal business. The FBI no longer have to go to court to seek a search warrant, but instead can simply type a letter on official stationary, which gives them power to break in your house at any time, under the guise of national security.

I'm more fearful of this than a computer virus.

I'm more afraid of a lame duck president than Osama bin Laden. With all the resources supposedly at this country's disposal, we yet can't find him. When you needed him most, where is James Bond? He can find anyone and get the girl as well.

I'm more afraid of a lame duck vice-president who is more diabolical than the man one seat up from him. He and his cronies helped cooked up the plans to invade Iraq long before Sept. 11 took place.

We poured billions there ever since unnecessarily invading that country, while our own infrastructure crumbles right before our eyes. Instead of remembering Sept. 11, let's remember the Lower Ninth Ward.

We didn't prevent Sept. 11 before, even as there's evidence that we could have, what makes us believe that if something again happened, God forbid, we can prevent it. Our armed forces are stretched so thin, again we will be powerless to stop it. The U.S. has become the world's largest paper tiger, planting seeds of doubt and fear instead of Democracy around the globe.

Instead, we put six candles on the cake. Excuse me as I prefer saving my breath blowing them out.

I have no reason to celebrate.

First game now history

2007-09-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

Your first game comes only once. There never will be another one.

The first day of September was Tim Brewster's. He was on the sidelines for the first time as a college football head coach at the University of Minnesota.

In less than three minutes of his first game, Brewster was down 14 points. "They jumped on us early," he later says during his first post-game press conference.

Another score in the second quarter, and Brewster's Gophers left the Metrodome field at the half down 21-0. Most of the 49,253 who didn't go to the annual State Fair or left town for Labor Day weekend, sent them off with boos.

Was it first game jitters? Perhaps. But to the point, it was more Bowling Green.

"They caught us in some blitzes," Brewster points out. "We missed some tackles in the first two possessions of the game."

The Gopher coach is being awfully kind. His defense missed a lot of tackles, including one that allowed the Bee Gees to score in overtime.

"We didn't make a play when we needed to," adds the first-year Gopher coach. "Bowling Green did a heck of a job. We didn't cover the quarterback."

You can use all types of blitzes, as Minnesota did. You can use a three-man rush, as they did as well. But if you can't tackle, it's all for nought.

"We needed to make one play on defense, and we would win the game," notes Brewster.

Especially in the final minutes of regulation. A Jason Giannini 33-yard field goal with a little over two minutes left gave his team their first lead of the night, 24-21. Seventeen Minnesota points in the fourth quarter had erased a 21-point deficit.

However, there was just too much time left for BG, who converted on fourth down as quarterback Tyler Sheehan hit Fred Barnes for 10 yards to get to their own 43 yard line, then hit him again, a 21-yarder, at the Minnesota 36. Two incomplete passes later, Sheehan again found Barnes for a first down, and put the ball on the Gophers 18. This was good enough for a tying field goal by Sinisa Vrvilo for 35 yards with three ticks left to lock the score at 24.

Just to show you it was all Bowling Green, they won the coin flip and elected to defend. Some reporters in the press box questioned this decision but I thought it was a good move. If the Gophers don't score, your team has the ball and the game. If they do, which the Gophers did, then your offense, which proved all night long to be better, could find a way to win.

The Gophers' Amir Pennix ran twice for 25 yards and scored his second TD to give Minnesota a 31-24 lead. Then Bowling Green and Sheehan took over: the sophomore quarterback completed his last three passes (Sheehan finished 34-for-51, 388 yards and two TDs), including the winning two-point conversion, to leave the home crowd stunned.

I later ask Brewster about what BG did. He would've have done the very same thing if his team had won the coin flip. "I would put our defense on the field and get a stop, then see what we got on offense," the coach surmises.

What did we learn from Minnesota's first game of the 2007 season:

One: Instead of three-man fronts, and fancy cover-2 packages, the Gophers must go back to defensive basics. See the man, tackle the man. "We're committed to play great defense, and we will," pledges Brewster. "We got to help these kids. That's what real coaching is."

Two: The Gophers' young secondary is awfully young, and against BG, were just awful. If they can't cover BG's athletes, what will happen to them when they go up against better athletes that play at the other school in Ohio, the Buckeyes, later this fall. They also must learn not to reach at the receiver but go for the strip. Make the simple play. "We didn't make a play when we needed to," adds the coach.

Three: In his first start, redshirt freshman QB Adam Weber has some moxie. True, he started slowly but soon picked it up. He didn't pile up big yards as Sheehan because of U-M's short passing game, but Weber can tuck and run (80 yards on 18 carries). "I feel really good at how Adam finished the game," notes Brewster.

Four: Minnesota found two return guys in Jay Thomas (64 kickoff yards, including a 36 yarder) and Harold Howell, who returned one of his eight punt returns for 22 yards -- the true freshman finished with 36 yards. "Harold is going to do some things that are exciting," says Brewster.

Five: Pinnix picked up where he left off last season: the senior workhorse had 28 carries and 168 yards, his seventh 100-plus game of his career. U-M is wiser to get away from the dink-and-dunk offense and just give Pinnix the ball.

Brewster is one of 24 new head coaches this season. He wasn't alone in losing his first game this Saturday. He did fared better than Mario Cristobal, whose Florida International went scoreless and gave 59 points to Penn State.

"Overall it was great -- I was competing along with these kids," says Brewster of his first head coaching game. "There are a lot of things to build on."

It is, after all, one game in a long season. "Each week we are going to work and get better," the coach points out. "We are going to make big improvements."

All-time, Minnesota's coaches are now 17-8-1 in debut games. John Gutekunst is the last Gopher coach to win his first game, ironically a 31-7 victory over Bowling Green in 1986.

It took 21 years for the Falcons to file a payback. But Brewster can't pay BG back any time in the future.

You only get one chance to have your first game.

Vick's Longest Yard

2007-08-27T06:40:00.001-07:00

I love listening to talk radio, especially when controversial things occur.

On Joe Madison's morning show on XM Radio's "The Power," callers were split on Michael Vick, the embattled and indefinitely suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback, the day after it was announced that he will plea guilty of dogfighting. Some felt that Vick, who is expected to stand in front of a federal judge August 27, must pay for his misdeeds; others saw him as a victim.

I belong in the former camp, but not for the same reasons as others. Vick should pay a price, but how much is debatable. He lied to his bosses, including the NFL commissioner, and his fans when he earlier this year, stood tall and said he will prove his innocence of all charges.

Now he's standing tall in court, copping a plea, throwing himself at the court's mercy.
Instead of outrunning oncoming lineman and linebackers, Vick now is running not for a first down or the end zone, but for his personal and professional life.

Vick is going for his longest yard ever.

I don't understand the fascination over watching dogs fight. I also not bothered by Vick getting himself in the federal doghouse. Rather I am more bothered by those who want nothing more than see him tarred and feathered. Or even worst.

Did he kill someone? Perhaps beat up a female acquintance. Maybe got this country into war.

Dogfighting? Vick is Al Capone to this 21st Century Elliot Ness and the Untouchables! Surely there must be more important crime problems these feds could focus on.

If dogfighting, or being connected to it, is punishable by five years in prison, what is the appropriate sentence for a president and vice-president lying to the U.S. citizenry for invading a Middle Eastern country four years ago, under the guise of nuclear weapons?

However, the animal rights people are protesting Vick's alleged actions like the worst thing that happened in modern history. As barbaric as dogfighting is, the dogs aren't poodles. These unfortunate animals are bred to fight. Shooting or drowning them afterwards, even as sick as it appears, is cruel. But what could these dogs do if they can't fight? Could they be intergated into normalcy?

Hardly.

A young boy recently was killed by a pit bull in his own house in Minneapolis. The dog, who was tied up in the basement, got loose and attached his killer fangs on the boy's throat. It took someone to shoot the dog dead before it let go.

Should that dog's life been spared? According to many animal rights folk, probably because they seem to put an animal's wellbeing ahead of humans. They rather picket the Falcons than the White House. They rather posterize Vick than George Bush.

They rather rally around some dogs than get all worked up over child and spousal abuse, teachers having sex with their minor students, or illegal drugs being brought into this country.

As for Blacks coming to Vick's defense, why? If he did wrong, he should be held accountable. Why don't these folk come out strongly for the Jena Six? Or for Kenneth Foster, Jr., who unless his sentence is communted, is scheduled to die August 30 in Texas? The six young people from Mississippi and Foster are more victims than Vick.

Did Vick get due process, especially from the NFL, who dismissed him before he was formally charged? Perhaps he didn't, but the league is all about image. And this one is bad -- worse than players getting DWI's, or slapping their wives or girlfriends, using drugs or getting caught driving around with a loaded gun.

If there is a lesson learned here, there are several:

One, choose your friends carefully: Three of Vick's squaled like pigs, giving him up like punks.

Two, even if it's a longtime tradition, as many keep saying dogfighting is in some parts of the South, don't get hooked on it, especially if it's illegal. If you need a competative off-the-field activity, get into stamp collecting or trade baseball cards.

Three, when the federal government can get a big dog, like Vick, they will do whatever they can to get him. Like Canadian Mounties, they always get their man.

Finally, for all those who think this is some sort of conspiracy, please stop. Is race involved? Certainly, but Vick didn't get set up because of his skin color. He put that collar on his neck all by himself.

The fact that Vick is Black is happenstance. Because he is a big time football star, or used to be, was the big news. If he had been just ol' Joe Blow, Vick wouldn't have been fined and set on his way.

What is more notable here is that Vick proved that stupidity comes in all races.

I feel sorry for Vick only that he must live with this the rest of his life. That being the poster child for dogfighting, certainly couldn't have been in his pro football career plans. Instead, depending on the length of jail time, he will put both Adam Sandler and Burt Reynolds to shame as the greatest prison team quarterback. The star of a real-life movie.

Vick's longest yard.

Charles Hallman is a staff writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. He loves
debating and welcome your opposing or concurring views.
Challman@spokesman-recorder.com