Can “Candace vs. Candice” Become Magic vs. Bird for WNBA?
In 1979 the NBA Finals were still being aired on tape delay. Now think about that while we congratulate Candace Parker, Pat Summitt, and the entire Tennessee Volunteer squad on their 64-48 victory over the Stanford Cardinals on a night where the biggest winner may have been the future of women’s basketball. The build-up to the game had all of the necessary ingredients for the game’s growth. It had "history" as women’s college basketball’s marquee school and legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt was going for an 8th national title. It had "star quality" in the silky smooth Candace Parker who can shoot, rebound, pass, steal, block, D-up and dunk. It had "pride and guts" as two games earlier Parker dislocated her shoulder in ugly fashion, shook it off, and came back a few minutes later in the same game. It also had a superstar nemisis in Candace Wiggins who has been lighting up the tournament with sublime shooting performances that had her topping 40 on multiple occasions. Candace vs. Candice didn’t just offer high skill, but high passion and enthusiasm for the game that could make Dick Vitale cry and Tim Duncan smile. The game itself did not live up to its promise as Wiggins and Stanford did not look like the same team that they were during the tournament. Tennessee’s quick hands on defense had a little something to do with that.
But the games slide into the WNBA draft today where Parker, LSU’s inside force Sylvia Fowles, and Wiggins are projected to be the drafts first three picks. They continue a trend of rising skill level in professional women’s basketball that has seen the likes of Diana Taurasi and Simone Augustus dominate. Today’s top draftees and the women’s game will also capitalize on the 2008 Summer Olympics which will blend young stars with established vets.
About the WNBA’s future, former Laker great Michael Cooper had this to say: "This draft has a lot of the future of the WNBA in it. They’re going to be the torch-bearers of where this league goes in the next 10 years." Cooper is also the coach of the Los Angeles Sparks who have that first pick in the draft. Can "Candace vs. Candice", the Olympics, and a new young talent pool propel the WNBA to new heights? Can men with old notions about women’s basketball realize that the quality of the game has steadily improved while they weren’t looking. Can the 2008 NCAA Women’s Finals have a similar impact (relatively speaking!) as Magic over Bird in 1979? While it all remains to be seen, there is no doubting that the future of women’s basketball is right now.
I’m glad you posted this Modi. Although it will not generate as many comments as your Knicks posts, it’s important to take note of the fact that the women’s hoop game has taken great strides within the past few years.
Candace Parker is highly skilled and - just as important - marketable. I think she gives the WNBA perhaps its first real shot at success and genuine star power, as she could be an athlete with crossover appeal.
Ay any rate, even if the league continues to struggle for fans and recognition, it’s about time that the neanderthals among us fully understand that just because you can light up the townies at the park during the weekend pick up games, it doesn’t mean that Parker, Tamika Catchings, Simone Augustus, Cappy Pondexter, and so many others couldn’t rain buckets on yo head like a summer storm.
Chauvinism, man, you got ta let it go…
April 9th, 2008 at 8:23 pmLP, well said… the women’s game has improved leaps and bounds… plus doesn’t Parker have a sweet handle at 6′5…
April 10th, 2008 at 1:32 amSweet as candy. Can’t hurt having an older sibling with an NBA pedigree helping to improve your skills.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:19 amNo one gives a damn about his weak ass women b-ball MODI.
Why aren’t you hyping up or releasing an article about this huge weekend for boxing, leading up to next week’s B-Hop vs. Calzaghe showdown.
I mean (Getting of topic, but for a reason) damn you have:
Cotto vs. (a very game and much bigger) Gomez
Cintron vs. Margarito 2
Battle of the Number 1 Contender WW spot, winner of fight will match each other. This is on HBO.
Then on Showtime you have
Chad Dawson vs. Glenn Johnson
Tarver vs. Woods
In a battle over the most dominant LHW.
You got to but an article on this man, I mean it is actually high level competition.
April 10th, 2008 at 10:43 amThis could be sweet, too:
http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/news/story?id=3337599
And even though that title game was lopsided, the Final Four games were really good — better in a close-call way than the men’s, for a change!
April 10th, 2008 at 3:03 pmDMac, did you watch any of the women’s Final Four or are you just assuming it was “weak ass”? As someone who originally tried put couldn’t get into it years ago, I can tell you that the skill level of the women’s game has drastically increased… keep your eyes open… and after watching the Knicks all year run nothing but isolation plays for Jamal and Zach, the women’s game is also more fundamentally sound than it is given credit for…
Of course that discussion has no relationship to any boxing discussion. I’m very excited about this weekend, but I’d prefer to see Tarver vs. Dawson… which might be the next fight… also can’t wait for Hopkins-Calzaghe the following week.
Jess, thanks for the link. Hell, maybe I will try and attend and blog about it… especially since it is for charity… and yes, the Final Four games were good… with great teams… Fowles might become as dominant as Parker is skilled… I’m more skeptical on Wiggins more than others because of her size… but she cab ball…
April 11th, 2008 at 1:04 amMODI, the women’s came will never match the men’s on any level of physicallity or sheer athleticism. It is not the supreme and elite representative of the game. I hate basketball, I can tolerate men’s college basketball, I slightly like the NBA (which is the most elite representation of the game in the world). With that sad, women’s basketball is inferior on all levels to men’s ball and will always be, and I barely like the sport as it is so there is no way I will ever get into it.
Back on boxing, I hear that Tarver vs. Woods winner will fight Diacanou next, then they might have a Dawson fight after that, assuming he wins those fights.
Who are you picks for the fights tommorrow.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:55 amDid you catch this Modi?
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3341578&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos2
I thought about writing about it, but I’m going to leave that you and Dwil.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:30 pm@Big Man
I think the article you posted is funny. I know Coach Cole, that guy did nothing for Tarvaris, his brother did. His brother is L.C. Cole the actual HC at ASU. I hope Reid doesn’t pick up the wrong kind of habits from J Cole, that man is a pedophile. He messes with underage girls habitually.
Reid still is going to get his ass beatup by the Hornets though.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:56 pmOf course women’s basket ball is inferior to mens. But isn’t college inferior to the NBA? But that doesn’t stop fans from watching the final four. For fans there are other aspects to the game that are attractive. And so it is with women’s basketball more than before. But SOME areas are superior to mens as it is often a more fundamentally sound brand of basketball. …but if you are not into basketball in general than there is no reason you should be into women’s basketball
as for the fights, I expect Cotto to destroy Gomez and Tarver to win. …The most intriguing fights to me are Dawson/Glen Johnson and Cintron/Margarito… I like Dwason to win, but will never count a guy like Johnson out no matter how many losses on the record… and i can’t assume the Margarito wins the rematch… all around it is a great fight night…
– Big Man, interesting story on Gundy/Reid… definitely more context… I’ll defer to dwil to run with it since he has been all over this subject from many angles…
April 11th, 2008 at 6:32 pm