Gotnext Women's Basketball Boards

gia · Guest

New Poll time! These two seem to be the front runners......at least with the fans ;)

If you had to choose one, who do you want?

mb · Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2002 8:37 am Post subject:

Either would be great! Carrrie should have gotten the job two years ago, when we made the Cynthia Cooper mistake. She is very knowledgable.

John Shumate also has great credentials. Perhaps a fresh face and a male coach would be nice. It would do wonders for the team, IMHO.

Mat H, beleive it or not, sounds like both are getting consideration.

Looking forward anxiously to the announcement.

mb · Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2002 2:13 pm Post subject:

Fellow fans:

When casting a vote offer some reasons, please.

Go Mercury!

gia · Guest

I vote for Shumate because.......

He'll be a completely fresh face with no past Merc or WNBA history following him around. New blood, new start, new vision.

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

I too feel the newness of Shumate would really help the team and the whole franchise/organization.
Shu is versed in the fundamentals, has watched these women play, and I feel, will instill a better attitude then we've seen in the past two seasons.

But Carrie is a smart, savvy coaching mind, I just am not certain of her motivational skills. If she's "the man" I'll stand behind her (or sit in the stands behind her :wink:

Mercurymaniac · Guest Joined: 04 Aug 2002 Posts: 1197 Location: Scottsdale

John Shumate :!: :!:

The Merc needs fresh blood. If Carrie wasn't good enough before, why is she more appealing now?

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

I voted for Shu because the Mercury need to move forward. I also believe he would take us farther than Graf. He has the type of personality that can handle Brandy Reed type attitudes (which the Mercury need badly). Teams such as LA, NY, and Houston used to hate playing the Mercury because of our hard-nosed defense. They also knew that if they played in America West Arena, it was hell. :twisted: Shu would bring back that aggressiveness. I'll be the first to say if he gets the job, the Mercury will have a winning record.

Plus, the man commands respect. He wouldn't be attempting to prove himself. He will apply what he knows and lead the team to victory. End of story. Hopefully he will get the chance but my hunch is Graf already has the job.

Keegan · Guest Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

Mercurymaniac wrote: John Shumate :!: :!:

The Merc needs fresh blood. If Carrie wasn't good enough before, why is she more appealing now?

I don't think she wasn't "good enough", just that certain un-named people wanted names over substance.

spotterdog · Guest Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 1

I voted for Shu because I too believe we need a fresh start with no past history with the fans or the players. However, I have had more than a few Mercury fans tell me that they would not renew their season tickets if we got a male coach. :?:

gia · Guest

Probably balances out with the amount of people who don't want a coach from overseas.....not to mention the people who just don't like Graf (for whatever reason)

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

Or the people who don't want Nancy (scandalous;) or don't want Agler (creepy!) or will run screaming if we hire another name without a clue;)
It will all balance out in the end. I think hiring Shu sends a message to people who appreciate the game, not the gamesmanship, that this organization is serious about winning!

Winning is the ONLY thing that will really jump start attendance, so a winning Coach, returning players, and a good draft will go along way towards selling tickets. :lol: rant over

Gaucho81 · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 147 Location: Ventura, CA

Uh Oh, I was voter number 13 :!: Anyone superstitous :o

I voted for Shumate because I think the fresh start is very important, as well, and I feel that Graf will not have that freshness that the team so dearly needs. I think the Mercury would do fine under Graf, but a new look will help get the focus back to the game at hand; the challenge we all want to see.

I think that Graf would have a better chance at getting Fallon to return, as well as some of the other rocky oversea committments, but that is only short term. We need to be looking at the long haul, now. I would prefer we are in a "rebuild" rather than a "quick-fix" mode of thought.

Graf will be a good-to-great coach in the near future, so as long as Seth and company stick with one of these two, I think the Mercury will be in for some good times sooner than later.

LoveTheMerc · Guest Joined: 16 Jul 2002 Posts: 18 Location: Chandler, AZ

OK Gaucho, I came in at 14! Plus 13 is a lucky number? Perspective I guess.

Anyway, I voted for Graf. She already has a good relationship and commands a good deal of respect from the current players as well as the 3 overseas players that "took last year off" (Maria, Trish, & Korstine.) I'm betting on Graf being able to bring at least 2 of them back. I think Maria is a slam dunk at coming back. (pardon the pun, folks!)

Plus, many people who want Shumate say it's because they want new blood - a new impact on our team. However, some of those same people are inferring that Shumate can bring back that old drive we had a few years ago. "bring back" is not new folks. If we want to bring back... then shouldn't we "bring back" Graf?

That's my 2 cents.

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

Looks like Shu may get the job after all according to... http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/sports/sports3.shtml.
I let out a loud outburst of joy when I read this. Though he hasn't received the job as of yet, it made my day. This would be the best decision this organization has made in a while.
:!: :D :P

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

Mat how does it feel to be one of .....
a "small groundswell" of support that has grown around Shumate's candidacy among Mercury fans?
[/u]

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

caune wrote:
a "small groundswell" of support that has grown around Shumate's candidacy among Mercury fans?

All 10 of us appreciate the mention in the paper;)

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

It feels good, really good. Give credit to Seth for making a good and important decision. I wonder if he's going to take us up on that ice cream? :wink:

skew11 · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 372

:D :shock: well I'm #18 the groundswell is growing ! either would be fine with me..... I just want W's !!!!!!!!!

Marg · Guest Joined: 21 Oct 2002 Posts: 1 Location: Melbourne, Oz

Vote #20 I give to Graf because...of reasons given previously such as her 83% win rate and she has taken her WNBL team to the last 3 championship games and won 2 out of 3. She's a career coach, a winner and in it for a WNBA championship. That's her motivation and I think there's none better.

Go Graffy Go! :)