Gotnext Women's Basketball Boards

minercon · Joined: 19 Jul 2002 Posts: 8

First of all why are my lines so short and cut off while everyone else seems to have margins at least an inch longer than myself????

Now for my topic: After the game they interviewed Timmsy. She said one of the hardest adjustments being a coach was dealing with all THE EGOs on this team. She didn't realize this factor as a player. To me I translated this to mean many of the players are rather catty about their playing time. Is our Princess causing trouble underneath and sulky if she does not play. Are they all sulky for playing time and grumbling under their breath. They claim they are team players, but I get a stomach rumble that they say one thing and mean another if they are affected in a negative manner. Maybe there were some real negative sparks flying when Harrison had to sit while Cooper played the rest of the girls. Harrison has improved this year to the point that she is throwing up more shots. She use to be content on playing just defense in the past. We lost last night because the girls ran out of gas as they played way too many minutes in the second half. Injuries will be our next discussion on the boards as they will be occurring with regularity if the girls can't catch their breath and Sharp begins substituting better.

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2002 7:56 am Post subject:

Mate, it's all about the size of your avatar
:wink:

Mat H · Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 168 Location: Glendale AZ

I have heard from an inside source that 2 players in particuar were very disrespectful in connection to Cooper.

caune · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1562 Location: Phoenix

Well, in the case of Cooper, who had zero experience, it really was up to her to earn respect...and none of us would really know if she had or had not done that.

An interesting note, Lisa and Adrian are very good friends, could Adrians bad play and subsequent benching have effected Lisa and her play? or her attitude? Or have trade rumors effected them both and they will snap out of it at 5 et when the trading deadline passes :P :wink:

bballprincess31 · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 40

Yes, they are good friends, but I don't think Adrian's playing time has effected Lisa's attitude and performance.

bballprincess31 · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 40

Isn't it already 5 Eastern time...did you just say until 5 Eastern time. Is the deadline over???

capsman · Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 31

Disrespectful of Cooper!!! Don't make me laugh. Where I come from, respect is something that you earn, not something you demand. It doesn't matter how amazing you were as a player. Jumping up and down & screaming and throwing your jacket on the ground followed by some more screaming = ZERO respect!!

Mat H · Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 168 Location: Glendale AZ

Just because Cooper disrespected them doesn't mean they weren't disrespectful also. I heard from 2 sources that a couple of players were not angels. In my opinion, which I am entitled to, Timmsy is referring to their attitudes as "ego's." Attitudes cause problems for the teams chemistry as well as coaches. Personally, I would have rather dealt with a coaches attitude and be in the playoff's than a coaches that says nothing and smiles. I didn't love Cooper, but she got it done. I would love to hear, " Coach Shumate" next year. I KNOW he would give the team a new identity, take no prisoners attitude, and a freshly needed new start. ( Instead of going back into the past for Graff.) :roll:

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

What about a coach's attitude and no playoffs?

My new theory is that this losing streak is a part of a plan to boost our lottery status ;) Especially with next year's draft being quite shallow.

Gaucho_Don · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 223

I'd by that theory... If we tank the rest of the games, we could end up one of the few good picks! (as long as it we don't spend it on a tootie!

minercon · Joined: 19 Jul 2002 Posts: 8

Okay Mat....who are the two non-angelic egos you are referring to?

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2002 8:01 am Post subject:

The more I read about all this, the more I think that this team needs a male coach!!

OK that's only a semi-serious comment ;)
What I mean of course is a coach who won't buy into any catty/bitchy/egotistical b.s.
Someone who is above all that stuff & just wants to get the job done. Probably someone who is NOT a recent player would be a good thing too. I'm sure the last thing the players need to hear is "well back when I was playing..." or other such eye-roll-inducing statements llike that.

Timmsy's recent comments spoke volumes to me about the situation. She obviously never used to buy into any of that. (She might just make a good coach in a few years)

It sounds to me like this team needs to re-gain its focus & get some chemistry happening again. There's a million & one reasons why it would be shot to pieces right now, but it needs to be put completely in the past before next season.

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1137

I think that way too much is being made of Timmsy's comments. All professional athletes have some "ego" or they wouldn't be at that level. What I mean by "ego" is the attitude that they not only have the ability to be on the playing field but they belong and want to be on the field as well. In addition, they are people who are competitive, know how to succeed, and don't back down when times get tough. This makes for strong personalities but I wouldn't want anyone on my team with any less attitude or "ego". Having that attitude is not catty or bitchy or egotistical. And having "egos" is not unique to the Mercury. Every sports team has the same "problem". (I also think it is ironic that those terms (catty and bitchy) are used with women, but rarely or never with men - even when the situation is the same for both genders.)

This is the first time that Timms has been in the position to experience the difficult decision a coach has to make on whom to play and for how long. Given the choice, I would bet good money, that each player on the Mercury team would choose to be on the court all the time and would feel that they could contribute. Obviously, they all can't be out there at the same time. And not everyone is going to agree with the decisions being made, but that doesn't mean there is a problem that it is causing us to lose 8 out of our last 10.

There was nothing in Timms statements to support the assumption that certain players are or were causing problems. I don't think anyone likes the situation we are in or what our record has been for the last few weeks. We would all like to find a reason for what is happening. I don't have the answers any more than anyone else, but I don't think anything a player did or said during Cooper's tyrantcy has anything to do with our recent demise. I heard the situation with Cooper from a different perspective in that certain players (Lisa and Jennifer in particular) stood up for themselves and wouldn't let Cooper treat them like crap - which may have been considered disrespectful on their part. And in my observations, they had a every right to stand up for themselves and their team. They are the team leaders. They have earned the right for some respect on their level as well.

I don't think we would be doing any different with Cooper at the helm. In fact, I think things would be worse because she would have been badmouthing her players in public with each loss. And I think it is a cheap shot to try and lay blame with Lisa.