SPARKS NOTEBOOK: PHOENIX FANS NOT X FACTOR.Byline: Pamela Lewis Staff Writer PHOENIX - You can usually count on Phoenix Mercury The Phoenix Mercury is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Phoenix, Arizona and the current WNBA champions. The Mercury began in 1997 as one of the league's original eight teams. The Mercury are named because Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. fans to show up when needed. But Friday there were more empty seats than anytime in the franchise's four-year history. A record-low 6,167 showed up to watch their beloved Mercury get burned by the Sparks. Never an easy place to play, Phoenix ranks second behind Houston and in front of New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of as the toughest place to play, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Sparks forward DeLisha Milton. ``Just how energetic the atmosphere is,'' Milton said in explaining why Phoenix is tough. ``The fans are knowledgeable. They really do pride themselves on being the sixth man or the X factor.'' But through all the chants - ``Beat L.A.'' - the yelling yell v. yelled, yell·ing, yells v.intr. To cry out loudly, as in pain, fright, surprise, or enthusiasm. v.tr. To utter or express with a loud cry. See Synonyms at shout. n. and screaming and taunts, the Sparks have been amazingly focused to block out the X factor this season. ``The court is the same, it's the fans,'' Sparks center Lisa Leslie --Matter of conditioning: The Sparks weren't just blowing hot air when they said they were the best-conditioned team in the league. When you consider only one starter has missed one game during the 32-game regular season it's easy to come to that conclusion. Guard Tamecka Dixon suffered a sprained ankle A sprained ankle, also known as a ankle sprain, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. and missed the Indiana game June 28 but was back in the lineup for the next game July 1 against Cleveland. Leslie said it was a major factor in the Sparks' three regular-season wins against the Mercury. ``When it gets down to the stretch, whether it's seven minutes left or five minutes, they're bent over or they seem like they're fatigued and we're standing up straight like, `Let's go Let's Go may refer to: Television
``That's one thing that stands out in my mind, us being in such great shape from training camp. It looks like it's really paying off now.'' On the opposite end of the spectrum is Phoenix, which has missed 86 games due to injuries or illness by eight players. |
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