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1carol · Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 1048 Location: Phoenix AZ

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/101003
Quote: excerpt
BACK ON THE JOB
Less than a week after leading the Mercury to their first WNBA title in August, Paul Westhead was on his way to Seattle to join longtime friend P.J. Carlesimo and help rebuild the Sonics.

“It was a quick turnaround. I was home (in California) for about four days,” he said. “I might be like some of our rookies this year. After about 35 games, I’ll look up and say ‘Hey, the season should be over, right?’”

It wasn’t easy for Westhead to leave Phoenix. “It was the best — a great experience coaching a group of skilled, competitive women. They liked playing and I like coaching them.

“What turned it for me is I’ve been friends with P.J. for 30 years and worked with him in the past (at Golden State) and that was really the deciding factor. It’s not like I had 15 other teams knocking my door down, but I can say that I wouldn’t have just jumped for any NBA job so easily.”

Westhead hopes top assistant Corey Gaines gets his old job and if his schedule allows, he’d love to come back to see the Mercury raise their banner. “I’ll be following them. You don’t win many championships,” he said.

1carol · Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 1048 Location: Phoenix AZ

http://www.wdkx.com/show_article/2007/11/05/Dennis+Rodman+Wants+In+The+WNBA.html
Quote: Dennis Rodman Wants In The WNBA
Dennis Rodman has made it officially known that he wants to serve as coach of a WNBA team, following in the footsteps of his former Detroit Pistons teammate Bill Laimbeer who currently coaches the Detroit Shock.

"Any of my teammates can tell you that my knowledge of the game is second to none," Rodman says in a statement released by his agent, Darren Prince. "My team would learn the skills that made me the player that will send me to the Hall of Fame. Our players would be in top physical condition. We would lead the league in rebounding, have a defensive-minded identity, and we'd run the triangle offense."

Rodman was known as a defensive demon during his tenure in the NBA. He led the league in rebounds per game for a record seven consecutive years and earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors seven times, along with five NBA Championships (1989, 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998).

Prince says of Rodman's WNBA aspirations: "Dennis has been talking about doing this for a while but there was never a convenient time. He is ready to put everything on hold in pursuit of this ambition."

Prince and Rodman's manager, Steven Simon, are scheduled to discuss open positions with each WNBA team over the next several weeks.

methinks the man is serious :roll:
It could be great fun - as long as it is NOT us :lol: :lol:

mb · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:16 pm Post subject:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/mercury/articles/1106mercury1106.html

Quote: Gaines, who has played and worked for Westhead, said he had a formal interview weeks ago.

But he said Monday from Los Angeles that he had yet to get an offer.

"Hopefully, my name will be announced," Gaines said.

Gaines said he has been told that the Mercury job has attracted a lot of interest.

.

mandih23 · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:05 pm Post subject:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/wnba/mercury/2007-11-06-gaines-coach_N.htm

Quote: Corey Gaines will be introduced Wednesday as the new coach of the defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury.

Quote: "This is the progression of coach Westhead leaving and keeping the same system and kind of the same philosophy," said Mercury All-Star Diana Taurasi. "He played for him at LMU and at Denver, so he is very familiar with what coach did the last two years. His greatest strength is we relate well to him, we already know him and he knows the personnel that we have and that we need to be successful.

"I definitely think it was a great choice by (general manager) Ann (Myers Drysdale) and all the Phoenix organization."

mb · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:13 pm Post subject:

YES! :D

DT3fan · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 6 Location: gilbert, az

yay!!! the players know corey, and he knows the players, so next season won't be something completely new for them, and hopefully they'll be able to keep up with the same 'paul-ball' scheme!!

by the way, anyone going to the asu-usa game this thursday?? can't wait for it--although i wish cappie was there too, but it'll be nice seeing dee play again!!

mandih23 · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:37 pm Post subject:

Yes, many of us will be at the USA -ASU game.

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:30 am Post subject:

They really should get the Opals over there and have an ASU-USA-AUS series

PAkid103 · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:34 am Post subject:

Good for the Mercury. Next season will be awesome.

As for Rodman, I thought he didn't approve of the WNBA...

Admiral_Needa · Joined: 21 Jul 2004 Posts: 63 Location: Tiburon, CA

Quote: As of Tuesday, Gaines said he had not been offered the job.

"Maybe I'm coming to the news conference to meet the new coach," said Gaines, adding that he hopes he gets the job.

Meyers Drysdale said there was interest in the job from about "a dozen" coaches.

"The style that Paul created and the returning roster make it very attractive," she said. "I mean, who wouldn't want to coach a team with Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter and Tangela Smith?"

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/mercury/articles/1107mercury1107.html

Taurasi, Pondexter and Tangela. Anyone missing?
Penny for your thoughts...

mb · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:03 pm Post subject:

Gaines Hired to be Mercury Head Coach
http://www.wnba.com/mercury/news/gaines_071107.html

Q&A With the New Man in Charge
http://www.wnba.com/features/gaines_qa_071107.html

Bridget and Julie stay for now.

StevenKoek · Joined: 21 Aug 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Phoenix

mms://phxsuns.wmod.llnwd.net/a205/o2/merc_presser_071107.wmv

mb · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:27 pm Post subject:

Congrats Coach!

Thanks Steven.

See ya tomorrow, Dee.

.

gillomfan · Joined: 16 Jun 2002 Posts: 261

I am excited with our new coach. Of course I had hoped we would finally get Jen but Correy is a great choice. He knows the players and the running game.

Thanks Steve for the press conference video. Correy, Dee, and AMD all seemed really excited. Did anybody from the message board get to go to the press conference? I will never forget going to the press conference announcing John Shumate as coach. That was a great honor. With Seth gone I am not included in anything like that anymore.

At any rate this was another special day in the history of the Phoenix Mercury. I can't wait until next season. WE ARE NUMBER 1!!!!!!!!!!!! GO MERCURY!!!!!

1carol · Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 1048 Location: Phoenix AZ

PAkid103 wrote: Good for the Mercury. Next season will be awesome.

As for Rodman, I thought he didn't approve of the WNBA...

"If" I remember correctly?? Dee was on an interview show that he also was on & she gave him an education (in very certain terms) on the WNBA. She must have made quite an impression on him

mb · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:28 am Post subject:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/mercury/articles/1107mercury-ON.html

Quote: "I have an advantage, because I played point guard in that system," said Gaines, 42, who signed a two-year contract with an option for a third.

Quote: There also is uncertainty about a third Mercury starter, All-Star forward Penny Taylor, an Australian who might spend next spring and early summer with her national team. As the defending world champions, the Aussies are gold-medal favorites.

Taylor, a key component to the Mercury offense, currently is playing for a team in Russia. Soon, Gaines said, he will travel to Russia to meet with her.

He's already on the go.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/101445

Quote: Gaines, who played and coached under Westhead for parts of the past 20 years, signed a two-year contract and takes command of a team coming off a franchise-best 23-win season and its first WNBA championship.

Quote: Gaines said he is retaining assistants Bridget Pettis and Julie Hairgrove. There are no plans as of now to add a third assistant.

Quote: BONUS SHOTS: Gaines said he is going to Russia in late December to try to convince forward Penny Taylor to return to the Mercury next season. With the Olympics next year, there is a strong possibility Taylor will stay in her native Australia to practice with the national team for the Summer Games.

With the Storm staying/playing in Seattle for 2008, Lauren Jackson is likely to play in the WNBA next season. If so, that bodes well for Mercury fans seeing Penny in Phoenix.

.

PAkid103 · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:05 am Post subject:

Quote: "If" I remember correctly?? Dee was on an interview show that he also was on & she gave him an education (in very certain terms) on the WNBA. She must have made quite an impression on him

I remember that. They were on Quite Frankly with Steven A. Smith. She did very well.

CamrnCrz1974 · Joined: 16 Jun 2003 Posts: 1689 Location: Central Phoenix

Thrilled for the continuity of the system and the promotion of an assistant coach. Coach Gaines has certainly paid his dues an assistant coach (not just in the WNBA). He also is a former NBA player, so he has an understanding of professional basketball (and the distinctions from the college game). And the rapport with the players is, by all accounts, excellent.

Really a no-brainer, but still great to see.

kitkat310 · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 303

1carol wrote: PAkid103 wrote: Good for the Mercury. Next season will be awesome.

As for Rodman, I thought he didn't approve of the WNBA...

"If" I remember correctly?? Dee was on an interview show that he also was on & she gave him an education (in very certain terms) on the WNBA. She must have made quite an impression on him

I think you mean she verbally bitch slapped him.. :wink: .....Until he admitted she was right..