Vendors Russ Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat about the world of sports with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.
SPORTSWISE
The Chicago Sky &
Don: As always, welcome, folks, to this week’s edition of SportsWise! Today, we’re discussing something that’s near and dear to my heart: the WNBA. Well, we’ll touch on both the WNBA and the NBA. If you guys don’t mind, I would love to kick this off. John: Go 'head! Russ: Speak. Patrick: I’m with the fellas, Don. Don: Well, I'm going to focus on my favorite team: Our very own Chicago Sky. This year, we’ll have two new faces: The first is Ruthy Hebard. Ruthy is a forward in her second year. In her first year with the Sky, she didn’t have outrageous stats, but folks noticed her. And she can be good, so I can’t wait to see her perform in this upcoming season. Her numbers were solid for a parttime starter: nearly 6 points a game, 4 rebounds per, 75% free throw shooting. Definitely anticipating this year. Russ: Who’s the second? Don: The second is Stefanie Dolson, a center. Now, Stefanie and Ruthy had similar numbers: 6.4 points per game, a little over 3 rebounds per, 2
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assists, and also a very good free throw shooter. Both of these players will be good and will perform well with effort and focus—I see this. Patrick: Don, I’m liking what I’m hearing. I didn’t quite follow them as in years past, but I always root for them. Maybe those two and Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Diamond DeShields, Jantel Lavender, Azurá Stevens, can combine with Stefanie and Ruthy to comprise a Monster 7. Don: That’s what I’m saying. Russ: Y’all know I’m on this bandwagon. Been feeling a certain kind of way for this team. Went from the women of DePaul’s basketball team to the professionals—love 'em both. John: Y’all know I’m not a WNBA fan; however, looking over the team’s individual stats—especially the starters—these players up and down the roster are very, very
WNBA, NBA
good…and I can only see the other pieces becoming better. To progress into an all-star, players need this element of progress. Vandersloot – even though immensely talented from the beginning – has improved in her time…and, without a doubt, will get better. Maybe I can muster up a little excitement for the upcoming season. We’ll see. Russ: Right! Patrick: Hey, so what do you guys think about the upcoming NBA season? The debate of when to begin the season? I’ve heard December 22 and mid-January. John: Near Christmas Day is far and above the best of the two. The reason? If you open it up in January, the NBA is going up against the NFL playoffs—probably not good, because we all know the NFL playoffs will win every time. Don: You know what? One thing I worry about with a December start is that it gives
those teams that did pretty well in the playoffs—the Lakers, Nuggets, Heat, etc.—a huge disadvantage: They will have had nowhere close to the time to recuperate as those who were dropped from the playoffs quick and in a hurry. Patrick: Good point, Don. Hadn’t thought about that part of things. So, I don’t know…I’m a huge—I mean, huge—fan of Christmas Day basketball games, so for that reason I would love to have the Lakers play that day, regardless of rested or not; however, as a fan of the game, I’d prefer as close to fairness as we can get. But I’m gonna go with Christmastime—final answer. Russ: Listen, I love my sports; shoot, that’s why I do SportsWise. So just give me whatever sports, whenever, wherever, and I’m happy. Any comments or suggestions? Email pedwards@streetwise.org
