mb
Joined: 12 Jun 2002
Posts: 2324
Location: Mesa,AZ (work) Scottsdale,AZ(home)
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2003 6:05 pm Post subject: Cooper focuses on being a team player |
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Being put on the hot spot by media who were suspicious of her reasons for retirement -- which didn't include the rumored escalating spat between her and Sheryl Swoopes -- was followed in short order by a sojourn in the Phoenix desert. There, Cooper, with no previous head-coaching experience, was put in charge of a Mercury team that was starting to sink toward WNBA oblivion.
Problems with Brandi Reed, one of the more talented but troubled athletes in the league, smacked Cooper in the face prior to the first game of the 2001 regular season. And mushrooming problems involving how Cooper handled others on the team spilled off the court into the stands, where fans reportedly became increasingly disenchanted.
On at least one occasion, according to a source close to the team, Cooper was booed as she entered America West Arena.
Before the 2002 season was a month old, Cooper had bolted the job, beating a hasty retreat back to her home in Houston.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkw/1914403 |
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