EMPTY FEELING SPARKS ARE WINNING, BUT FEW SEEM TO CARE.Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer The Sparks were on some kind of a roll that night. They came into the Forum having won 12 consecutive games. They were emerging as the story of the WNBA WNBA Women's National Basketball Association WNBA World Ninepin Bowling Association WNBA Wannabe Nasty Boys Association WNBA Women's National Book Association, Inc. WNBA Warszawski Nurt Basketu Amatorskiego . They drew 4,416. In their fourth season of existence, the Sparks are winning like never before but watching home attendance slide. They have one of the best-known players in the world in Lisa Leslie abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= champions. They play in the second-largest market in the country. And Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, has largely responded with indifference. Only two of the WNBA's 16 teams are averaging less than the 6,570 the Sparks have averaged heading into tonight's final regular-season home game against Seattle. Four years later and the Sparks can't seem to find their niche in the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. market. ``Of course it's frustrating,'' said team president Johnny Buss. ``As a promoter, you want to sell out every night. But as I've maintained since we first started the Sparks, if you said we would be able to average over 4,500 a game, I would think (we) were doing a great job. That's what we're doing. I think we're doing a great job.'' Still, attendance is down for the fourth consecutive year. Sparks home attendance has dropped 26 percent since they averaged almost 9,000 per game in their inaugural season. The Forum holds 17,505 for basketball but has been reconfigured to hold 9,540 for the Sparks. Black drapes drape v. draped, drap·ing, drapes v.tr. 1. To cover, dress, or hang with or as if with cloth in loose folds: draped the coffin with a flag; a robe that draped her figure. conceal all but the first seven rows above the concourse, and tarps and giant basketballs cover all concourse seats behind the baskets. Yet even with all the would-be facade, the Forum can seem an odd place when a basketball game is played before just over 4,000. ``It's an awesome place to play,'' Leslie said. ``I love the atmosphere. I just think it's unfortunate we don't have 10,000-plus at every game. At certain times in here, it doesn't feel like there are many people.'' Ann Meyers-Drysdale, the former UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX and Olympic star, is a network and Sparks color commentator “Special comments” redirects here. For Keith Olbermann's political commentaries, see Countdown with Keith Olbermann#Special comments. A color commentator sometimes known as a color analyst . A veteran of women's basketball Women's basketball is one of the few games which developed in tandem with men's. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast, in large part via women's colleges. and the Los Angeles sports scene, she labors to put the Sparks' struggles into perspective. ``I don't have an answer,'' Meyers-Drysdale said. ``Believe me, I would love to see more fans at the games. I don't think it's a knock at the Sparks. The team is doing their job, they're going out and winning. Who knows, if they're to win the championship, are people going to jump on the bandwagon?'' Buss, the eldest of Lakers owner Jerry Buss' four children, said that is exactly what it might take for the team to finally make its mark in Los Angeles. It's often repeated that if you want to draw in Los Angeles, you have to win, but Buss said it's more than that. ``I don't think it's just winning, it's winning a championship,'' he said. ``It's solidifying that you are winners. We've been close, but we've never really cracked that barrier. ``If we win a championship this year, then I would love to talk to you about this next year when we're averaging a more substantial number. I'm sure of it. If not, I would be extremely frustrated to the point where I would have to throw up my arms and wonder, `Why?' '' Many, of course, do already. The WNBA very much wants the Sparks to succeed in Los Angeles. It made them one of the original eight teams. All WNBA teams are owned by the NBA's 29 teams, which for the most part, share equally in costs and revenues. Individual WNBA teams actually have operating agreements. The WNBA is loath to criticize one of its operators. Val Ackerman Valerie B. "Val" Ackerman was born on November 7, 1959 in New York City[1] but grew up in nearby Pennington, New Jersey, United States. She is an attorney, sports executive, and former basketball player. , WNBA president, would not comment for this story, relaying through a spokesman that she had nothing to add to comments made earlier this month while at the Forum, when she told the San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. Sun: ``I think L.A. has the potential to be a great market for women's pro basketball. I still believe that. ``There are challenges in big cities like L.A. There are other distractions competing for people's dollars. We're not a necessity. Pro sports are a luxury and we're competing for people's discretionary income Discretionary Income The amount of an individual's income available for spending after the essentials have been taken care of. Notes: Essentials are things like food, clothing, and shelter. and time. ``I would like to see the fans of L.A. be more supportive. I think they have a team that they should be proud of and should be embracing.'' Buss said the Sparks recently signed a new 10-year agreement with the WNBA and are in it for the long haul Long distance. Long haul implies traversing a state or a country. Contrast with short haul. . The agreement, however, can be revoked at any time by the WNBA if a team fails to meet required quotas in attendance and promotional efforts. Buss would not reveal the quotas but said they are to fend off drops, not demand increases. When a report emerged that the Sparks were in danger of losing their operating agreement if attendance didn't rebound, Buss said he was stunned. ``There has been some extreme irresponsible reporting and rumors,'' he said. ``I highly doubt that somebody in the echelon of my father, that anyone would try to yank Yank steamship stoker vainly tries to climb the social ladder, then fails in attempt to avenge himself on society. [Am. Drama: O’Neill The Hairy Ape in Sobel, 339] See : Failure (jargon) yank a franchise away from Jerry Buss Dr. Gerald Hatten “Jerry” Buss (born in 1934) is an American professional basketball team owner, former real estate developer, and poker player. Early life Raised near Kemmerer, Wyoming, Buss earned a B.S. in a league he helped established. It is so ridiculous to even think about. ``So when the reports came out, of course, I laughed. He laughed. Anything's possible, but it sure is funny to us.'' Jerry Buss' success with the Lakers, however, might well be one of the reasons the Sparks have languished. The Lakers were an instant success from the time he purchased them in 1979, and he has never had to promote. ``It's not a secret that Dr. Buss doesn't spend any money marketing or promoting the Lakers,'' Meyers-Drysdale said. ``He never has. It's not a knock, it's just the way it is. ``Until that changes, it makes it very difficult for management. They don't have the funds to promote and market the team.'' In terms of number of promotions, Johnny Buss said the Sparks are actually one of the best-promoted teams in the league. But other WNBA teams share much of the staff with their NBA brothers. The Lakers have always had one of the thinnest front offices in the league and there is less to share. ``Certainly, we've had their support,'' Buss said. ``But the Lakers are one of the smallest NBA staffs in the league. So to be able to pull resources from the Laker organization, the people just aren't there. It's been very frustrating as compared to other cities in the league.'' If all the ingredients would appear there for the Sparks to develop a larger following - the Washington Mystics The Washington Mystics is a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. They started play in 1998, the second year of the WNBA and are one of the WNBA's first expansion franchises. are averaging 15,049 this season - many suggest the biggest obstacle facing the Sparks in L.A. is L.A. Buss said if you look at the struggles with the Raiders, Rams and Clippers, the Sparks are doing fine. Yet new teams can find their place quickly in Los Angeles. Witness the L.A. Avengers of the Arena Football League. Twice previously the AFL AFL: see American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. had failed in Southern California. But in their first season this year - despite a late start over a collective-bargaining agreement and a dismal 3-11 record that saw them lose their first seven games - the Avengers were a success at the gate. The Avengers averaged 11,032 in their inaugural season at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. , higher than the league average of 9,618. Casey Wasserman Casey Wasserman (b. 1974) is an entertainment executive and owner of the Los Angeles Avengers Arena League football team. Born Casey Meyer, he is the son of the Los Angeles socialite and philanthropist Lynne Wasserman. , the Avengers owner and president, promoted the team with what he called the biggest billboard campaign in Los Angeles history. ``We certainly know how hard it is find your place in L.A.,'' Wasserman said. ``In L.A., you have to get the people interested and create a buzz. If you don't do that, it's hard to get people excited. ``It's a shame more people don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. about the Sparks. The crowd awareness is not what it should be for what they're doing.'' Buss is hopeful the Sparks will move into Staples Center next year and get an immediate attendance boost. He is also wishful that the league will do away with the 6 p.m. starts for national cable broadcasts. ``I don't care
"Don't Care" is a 1994 (see 1994 in music) single by American death metal band Obituary. if you're P.T. Barnum or (WWF's Vince) McMahon or any great promoter in the world,'' Buss said. ``They would all say the league is chopping your head off. Six o'clock on a Friday night in L.A. is death.'' Sparks coach Michael Cooper ``You have to win in L.A. to get the crowd to come out,'' Cooper said. ``It's early still. People are still trying to grasp the Sparks as a professional team in L.A., even though it's been in existence for four years. ``What's the expression? If you build it, they will come. Well, if you win, they'll come.'' HALF-FULL FORUM The following compares the Sparks' attendance to the rest of the WNBA over the last four years. Year Avg. WNBA Avg. League Rank 1997 8,931 9,669 4th of 8 1998 7,653 10,869 9th of 10 1999 7,625 10,207 10th of 12 2000 6,570 8,825 14th of 16 SPARKS vs. SEATTLE Time: 7:30 p.m. at the Forum. TV/Radio: No TV. KPLS-AM (830). Matchup: Although the Sparks (22-3) have the best record in the WNBA, one of their three losses is to expansion Seattle (4-20). In fact, two of the three Sparks losses have come to expansion teams this season - the other was to the Portland Fire. The Storm have the worst record in the league and are led by guards Sonja Henning and Edna Campbell. - Daily News CAPTION(S): 2 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1 -- color) The Sparks own the best record in the WNBA, but good seats are always available at the Forum. (2) Even the presence of former USC star Lisa Leslie, right, hasn't helped the Sparks fill up the empty seats at the Forum. John Lazar/Staff Photographer Box: (1) Half-full Forum (see text) (2) Sparks vs. Seattle (see text) |
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