The NBA in Oklahoma City

I don't really follow the NBA, so I very rarely, if ever, comment on it. However, I would be remiss if I did not mention the new Oklahoma City team--for the simple reason that it sort of relates to the Storm. As most sports fans know, the Seattle SuperSonics are moving to Oklahoma City, beginning with the upcoming 2008-2009 season. The Storm are staying in Seattle.

The NBA has filed for trademark rights to 6 names. About a year ago, when there was a very real possibility that the Storm would also move to Oklahoma, I created a list of team names. I have no idea what I did with that list, but I have to believe that it was much better than the one the NBA has released. The list is as follows:

1. Barons
2. Bison
3. Energy
4. Marshalls
5. Thunder
6. Wind

Don't get me wrong. Bison are amazing, beautiful animals. However, they don't exactly bring to mind images of power and dominance, unless you think about the way in which they were brutally and systematically killed by blood thirsty white hunters in the 19th century. Do we really need to be reminded, once again, that we almost killed off an entire species of animal, simply because we wanted to piss of Native Americans? Also, New York sort of already has an entire city named Buffalo. Sure, American Bison aren't even really related to buffalo, but I'm not even going to go into that. Moving on....

Marshalls/Marshals is ok, since it actually relates to the city's history. Barons, Energy, Thunder, and Wind are all really lame. Oklahoma City Energy sounds like the name of an electric company. "If your power goes out, please call Oklahoma City Energy's customer service number."

To be honest, I think the real problem lies in the fact that the team will be called the Oklahoma City Whatevers, instead of just being called the Oklahoma Whatevers. The Liberty/Knicks/Rangers/Yankees/Mets/etc. don't have the word "city" before their name. If they eliminate "city," they may be able to come up with some other options.

Either way, I highly doubt that moving to a different city will help a team that has played well below expectations for the past several seasons.

Suspensions Are In

Suspensions were just handed out by WNBA President Donna Orender, and I have to say that most of the players got off pretty easy. Elaine Powell got 5 games for hitting Coco Miller a few years ago, and Diana Taurasi got 2 games for talking back to officials.

Here is the complete list:

Plenette Pierson (4 games)
Rick Mahorn (2 games)
Kara Braxton (1 game)
Tasha Humphrey (1 game)
Elaine Powell (1 game)
Sheri Sam (1 game)
Shannon Bobbitt (2 games)
Murriel Page (2 games)
Lisa Leslie (1 game)
DeLisha Milton-Jones (1 game)
Candace Parker (1 game)

Because so many people are suspended, the suspensions will be staggered. Leslie, Milton-Jones, Parker, and Bobbitt will not be playing in tonight's game against Connecticut.

Breaking News from Detroit

The Detroit Shock just signed Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, 50, to a seven-day contract.

Watch as Lieberman suits up and takes on the Houston Comets, tonight at 9:30 on ESPN 2.

I can't believe I just typed that last sentence.

Breaking News from the W

With less than 5 seconds left in the game, the Los Angeles Sparks and Detroit Shock got into a huge brawl in the middle of the Palace Court. With about 5 seconds left, Marie Ferdinand-Harris made two foul shots for the Sparks. Immediately following the second foul shot, Candace Parker (Sparks) and Plenette Pierson (Shock) got tangled up near the three-point line. By the time the cameras focused in on the center of the court, both teams--coaches included--were in the middle of the court. Based on the many replays I saw, here is what happened:

--Parker and Pierson got tangled up. Parker ended up on the floor, and Pierson went after her. Parker attempted to get up. She got about halfway before pulling Pierson down with her.

--Some kind of contact occurred between Lisa Leslie and Rick Mahorn, the Shock's assistant coach. According to Leslie, he shoved her. Despite my intense hatred for all things Sparks, I'm actually inclined to believe her. Either way, she went down.

--After the contact with Leslie and Mahorn, Delisha-Milton Jones shoved Mahorn and hit him.

--Words were exchanged between several players, but Leslie seemed to be playing peacemaker throughout the whole thing. I didn't see much action from Katie Smith, but Deanna Nolan was exchanging words with someone.

--Cheryl Ford fell to the floor in the beginning of the fight and was eventually taken off the court in a wheelchair. Ford, whose temper is usually just a notch below her coach's, was actually trying to break up the fight before she got hurt.

--After much deliberation and tape watching, the officials decided to eject Parker, Milton-Jones, Pierson, and Mahorn.

I have no idea what the Powers That Be will do, but I think Parker, Milton-Jones, Pierson, and Mahorn should be suspended for at least three games. I'm sure Mahorn will get more if it's determined that he deliberately shoved Leslie. I could also see another game or two added to Pierson's suspension, considering she initiated the contact between herself and Parker.

Breaking News from U.S. Women's Soccer

Yesterday, in a friendly match against Brazil, Abby Wambach, the U.S. team's top scorer, broke her leg. She will be sidelined for three months. This, of course, means that she will not be able to play in the Olympics, which begin on August 8th.

The match, played in San Diego, was the U.S. team's last game before heading to Beijing. Natasha Kai, who went into the game after Wambach was carried off the field, ended up scoring a goal to give her team the win.

Wambach's absence is a huge blow to the U.S. players, who were hoping to redeem themselves after last fall's less than stellar performance at the Women's World Cup. Germany ended up winning that title, and it's easy to see that they could also win Olympic gold.

This whole situation raises the question of whether or not star players should play in friendly matches right before a huge tournament. Yes, yesterday's game gave them practice against a team that they will likely face in Beijing. However, it also cost them their top scorer and woman who is basically the face of their entire program.

If the U.S. is going to win gold, they need to find a player--or a combination of players--who can step up and score on a consistent basis. Stay tuned to see if they can accomplish that feat in the next three weeks.