Throw Dem Bows

By Adrienne Goodson

Crazy dayz are ahead of some players in the league. The WNBA has definitely picked up some new fans after the “Girlfight” on Tuesday night. The record-breaking (for a female-related story) 100+ comments on this site is proof enough.

Gotta give the people what they want so here it is…

The press release of all the fines are as follows as well as a little of my thoughts.

“NEW YORK, July 24, 2008 – In response to the events at Tuesday’s game between the Detroit Shock and the Los Angeles Sparks, WNBA President Donna Orender issued the following statement:

‘The WNBA and its players represent all that is good about sports: passion, hard work and sacrifice. On a nightly basis our players display extraordinary skill, athleticism and competitive fire. The events Tuesday, however, were inexcusable and in no way indicative of what the league stands for. We hold our players to a very high standard and these suspensions should serve notice that the behavior exhibited at the end of Tuesday’s game will not be tolerated.’

The suspensions follow:

• Shock forward Plenette Pierson has been suspended for four games for her actions that initiated and escalated the altercation.
• Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn has been suspended for two games for escalating the altercation.
• Shock center Kara Braxton has been suspended for one game for leaving the area of the bench during an on-court altercation.
• Shock forward Tasha Humphrey has been suspended for one game for leaving the area of the bench during an on-court altercation.
• Shock guard Elaine Powell has been suspended for one game for leaving the area of the bench during an on-court altercation.
• Shock forward Sheri Sam has been suspended for one game for leaving the area of the bench during an on-court altercation.
• Sparks guard Shannon Bobbitt has been suspended for two games for leaving the area of the bench and becoming physically involved in an on-court altercation.
• Sparks guard Murriel Page has been suspended for two games for leaving the area of the bench and becoming physically involved in an on-court altercation.
• Sparks center Lisa Leslie has been suspended for one game for throwing a punch.
• Sparks forward DeLisha Milton-Jones has been suspended for one game for throwing a punch.
• Sparks forward Candace Parker has been suspended for one game for throwing a punch.

As is league policy, in order to enable the Shock and Sparks to dress the minimum number of players (eight) for games affected by the penalties, the dates on which players will begin serving their suspensions will be staggered and follow alphabetical order.

Pierson and Mahorn will begin serving their respective suspensions with tonight’s game at Houston. Braxton and Humphrey will serve their suspensions tonight as well. Sam will serve her suspension on July 27, when the Shock hosts San Antonio. Powell is injured and will serve her suspension at a later date after being medically cleared to play.

Bobbitt will begin serving her suspension with tonight’s game at Connecticut. Leslie, Milton-Jones and Parker will serve their suspensions tonight as well. Page will begin serving her suspension on July 25 when the Sparks visit New York.”

My main thought is that I wish my girl Cheryl Ford (who I wrote about in the current issue) didn’t get hurt and sidelined for the rest of the season. And to be honest, Detroit lost twice: once on the court and then again in the league office when these suspensions came down, but I’ll let y’all form your own opinion.

Honestly speaking, Rick is a pretty cool dude but in the heat of the moment emotions took over and the rest is history.