SPARKS PHENOMENON HAS YET TO CATCH ON.Byline: Pamela Lewis Staff Writer The Sparks celebrated the biggest accomplishment in franchise history Monday when they eliminated the four-time 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 champion Houston Comets The Houston Comets are a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas. Formed in 1997, the team is one of the original WNBA teams and after winning four championships in the first four years of the league's existence, the Comets are also the first dynasty of 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. in 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. . Yet, in the second-largest city in the country and in a county of nearly 10 million, only 8,730 saw fit to join in the celebration. No matter what the Sparks do - earn the best record in the league, win all their home games, produce All-Stars - they can't seem to draw the large crowds when it counts the most and that is baffling baf·fle tr.v. baf·fled, baf·fling, baf·fles 1. To frustrate or check (a person) as by confusing or perplexing; stymie. 2. To impede the force or movement of. n. 1. to the top-seeded team in the playoffs. ``When we ran out for warmups, I was a little bit disappointed, I was like 'Man, where are the people?,' '' forward DeLisha Milton said. ``I know if this was the Lakers See Lake poets playing, this place would have been packed from the floor to the ceiling and standing outside wanting to get in.'' The top-seeded Sparks open the Western Conference finals in Sacramento against the No. 2 Monarchs on Friday, then come home for Game 2 Sunday and, if necessary, Game 3 Monday. Those in attendance gave the Sparks a loud and rousing reception. But several sections of Staples stands were completely empty. Part of the problem is that corporations buy blocks of the tickets to give as charitable donations. However, the recipients don't always show up, which was the case Monday. So while the Sparks were hoping to draw at least 10,000, they got a lot less. Their sellout capacity is 13,141, considerably less than the Lakers maximum of 18,997. ``I 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. what it would take to get them here to enjoy the game,'' guard Tamecka Dixon said. ``But I think we have to do our job and that is to continue to win.'' Added Milton: ``We've given them everything that they can ask for, except a title. We came in here, never lost at home. We've given them a winning atmosphere here and they still don't want to come out and support and that just baffles me. So I guess it is up to us winning the title to see if maybe that was the missing link.'' Assistant coach Glenn McDonald Glenn McDonald (born March 21, 1952 in Kewanne, Illinois) is a retired American professional basketball player. He played three seasons for the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks before going overseas most notably with the U-Tex Wranglers in the early-80's. He averaged 4. held practice Tuesday at Staples Center while head coach Michael Cooper ``I think Sacramento wants to play us,'' McDonald said. ``They really believe that they can beat us. That's why we have to get ourselves really focused and prepared for a battle when we go up there to Sacramento. They play extremely well. They have a great crowd up there. They feel like they have been overlooked a little bit. They feel like they are the dark horse and no one talks about them and they have a chance to prove something. Our focus is not letting them prove a thing.'' WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS SERIES SCHEDULE --Friday: Sparks at Sacramento, 6 p.m. --Sunday: Sacramento at Sparks, 2 p.m. --Monday: Sacramento at Sparks, 7 p.m., if necessary CAPTION(S): box |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion