Houston's Taylor has sore shoulder
HOUSTON, TX -- Courtney Taylor, senior forward, for the University of Houston, and the reigning Player of the Year in Conference USA, has been bothered by pain in her right shoulder since June. Last week, Taylor had an MRI on the shoulder in order to determine the cause of the pain. The results came back yesterday; and, the news is not bad.
Taylor has strained ligaments around her rotator cuff. She will rehab the shoulder over the next two to three weeks before returning to the doctor to see if the shoulder has improved. Taylor will not be able to lift weights nor shoot a basketball during the rehabilitation period.
The first official start of practice for the 2010 - 2011 season is slated for Friday, October 15.
Rest in Peace, Kim Perrot
Eleven years ago today, Kim Perrot (1/18/67 - 8/19/99) passed away. If you followed the Houston Comets at all, you remember Kim and everything she did for the team. Though Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes were the stars and Tina Thompson and Janeth Arcain were solid scorers, as the team's starting point guard, Kim was the glue that held the Comets together.
Earlier this month, for some unknown reason, for the first time in quite a while, Kim ran across my mind and I remembered the anniversary of her death was approaching. I marked my calendar to make sure I reminded myself to remember the date of her death so I would remember to honor her life.
"Number 3 for No. 10"
I wrote a commentary titled "God Bless You, Kim" in August 1999. Here's the article:
As a man, I’m proud to say I’m a Comets fan regardless of the chauvinistic and snide remarks tossed about by other men toward the women who play in the WNBA. As a Comets’ fan, I watched Kim Perrot become a huge fan favorite in the city of Houston over the last two years as she touched the hearts of Comets’ fans everywhere and helped guide the team to two WNBA Championships. On August 19th, Kim died as she lost her battle to cancer. People who were touched by Kim’s spirit and heart will miss her tremendously.
I first saw Kim on June 10th, 1997, at Autry Court on the campus of Rice University. The Comets were playing the Charlotte Sting in the WNBA’s first pre - season game. As a fan of basketball, I already knew of Cynthia Cooper from her playing days at USC as well as a handful of other Comets’ players.
According to Comets’ Head Coach Van Chancellor, the team’s biggest need was point guard. The other positions on the team were solid; but, a big question mark still remained at the point. Well, as the game progressed, I said to my best friend, “Number 10 should be the starting point guard.” ‘Number 10’ was Kim Perrot.
Kim started the 1997 season as a “developmental player” on the roster which meant she did not have a spot guaranteed on the club. Coach Chancellor was set in his ways and didn’t turn the reins of the team over to Kim until it became blatantly obvious the Comets performed best with Kim running the show.
Despite being a great scorer at Southwestern Louisiana in College, Kim’s role with the Comets was to get the ball into Coop and Janeth Arcain’s hands. Kim fulfilled her role and then some. She was a pest on defense and helped generate Houston’s offense by pressuring the ball full court. As it became apparent that opponents were going to force Kim to shoot the ball in order to beat them, Kim began knocking down clutch shot after clutch shot. With her help, the Comets’ won title number one.
In 1998, Kim played a bigger role in the club’s success. She improved her outside shooting and became one of the best on the ball defenders in the league. Kim truly got under the skin of opposing point guards. As her role on the team increased, so did the love she received from the fans. The crowds loved “Kim Bim” for her all out effort from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
Despite the tremendous on court success of the team (27 - 3) in the regular season, problems between Coop and Sheryl Swoopes threatened to tear the team apart. Kim was the glue that held the club together. She was the spark to uplift her teammates, coach, and fans. Her importance to the club was clearly shown as the Comets stared death in the face against the Phoenix Mercury in game 2 of the WNBA Finals. A loss would mean the stellar regular season record would be all for naught. Down 12 with 7 minutes to go, Kim’s inner fire (on very sore ankles) and leadership helped motivate her teammates to an emotional come from behind overtime victory which led to title number 2 in game 3.
Kim did not play this third season due to the cancer; however, there is no doubt her spirit is with the team every game they play. Title number 3 is not guaranteed; but, Kim’s love for everyone is. As Kim’s best friend Coop has said, “Kim’s in God’s hands.” Amen. May the Lord bless you and keep you, Kim.
Baylor at Connecticut part of ESPN's tip-off Marathon
The match-up between the two-time defending champions, the Connecticut Huskies, and the Brittney Griner-led Baylor Lady Bears will be shown on ESPN2 (and ESPN3.com) as part of ESPN's (the mothership) 3rd annual College Hoops Tip-off Marathon. The marathon will feature a total of 20 games (19 men's games).
The game will tip-off at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
Connecticut, which enters the season with a 78-game winning streak, defeated Baylor 70-50 in the National Semifinals of the NCAA Tournament last season. Baylor returns four starters including the 6'8" Griner. Both teams are expected to open the season ranked in the top 5.
The marathon will start Tuesday, November 16, at midnight ET with Miami at Memphis.
Women's sports deserve more attention on TV
I saw a link to this Washington Post article "The Score: Women's sports deserve more attention on TV" posted on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Facebook page.
The author of the article, Fred Bowen, cites a recent study by the University of Southern California which did a study and found that during three weeks of ESPN's "SportsCenter" and six weeks of three TV stations in Los Angeles only 1.6 percent of the shows were about women's sports.
That 1.6% is a decline from recent years; and, Bowen details the numbers.
As Bowen writes, "If you love women's sports, what can you do?"
Read the article to see the suggestions.
PV names asst. coach; adds Houston high school Standout
PRAIRIE VIEW, TX -- New Prairie View A&M head coach, Toyelle Wilson, made two announcements Wednesday.
Coach Wilson announced Siarra Soliz, from Houston Chavez HS, will be heading to PV. Soliz, 5'9", averaged 23.5 points per game during her senior season at Chavez.
According to HoopGurlz on ESPN.com, Soliz has a grade of "81" and was ranked the 102nd guard in the United States.
Coach Wilson said, “I’m very excited for Siarra. She’s a versatile guard that can shoot the ball, create her own shot, and get to the basket. She’s the total package and exactly what we needed. She is one of the hardest working kids I’ve seen.”
In addition to that announcement, Coach Wilson also announced a new assistant coach has joined her staff as former Tougaloo College assistant coach Dawn Brown will join the Prairie View A&M University women’s basketball coaching staff for the 2010-11 season.
Brown spent the previous four years as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Miss.
TSU's Brougton to Discuss Back to School Camp August 11 on KCOH
updated -- 8/11/10,10:44 a.m.
HOUSTON, TX -- Texas Southern's Yolanda Broughton, head coach of the women's basketball team, will appear on "Sports Rap" KCOH 1430 AM (http://www.kcohradio.com/) this evening at 5pm to discuss her 3rd annual "Back to School" camp which takes place August 14 on TSU's campus inside the H&PE Arena from 9a to 12p.
I believe registration closed for the camp on August 7; however, please contact Coach Jones at jonesd@tsu.edu or 713-313-1951 for more information.
Coop Discusses Joining the Basketball Hall of Fame
Cynthia Cooper, new head coach at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, appeared on KCOH 1430 AM's Sports Rap show Monday evening with host Ralph Cooper to discuss her induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball of Fame.
During the interview, in addition to discussing the honor of joining a distinguished group of people, Coop also discusses her time as part of the WNBA's first dynasty -- the Houston Comets. Coop said the fans (the 'Sea of Red' was "fire that pushed the team".
"I'm excited. I'm overjoyed. I'm honored. It's been amazing," said the Hall-of-Famer.
Coop added, "And, I know Tina Thompson just broke the WNBA's all-time scoring record held by Lisa Leslie; so, us old Comets, we're still in there hanging around and; we're doing big things."
Next, Coop talked about the winning experiences she enjoyed starting in high school.
"Ever since I started playing basketball, and really since I started participating in sports, I've always been about winning. It's always been important to me to be the best possible athlete that I can be so my team can be successful.
"From my high school championship with Locke High School. Shout out to the Locke High School Saints. I won two National Championships with USC. Shout out to the Trojans; and, of course, overseas with various teams. I spent 10 years in Italy. Eight years with the same team."
Listen to the remainder of the interview.
One of my favorite comments from Coop during the interview was about her time with the Comets:
"I enjoyed myself so much I can't stand it. It was such a pleasure. It was my pleasure to play for the Houston Comets because when you went into the Compaq Center and you saw the 'Sea of Red'. The 16-17,000 fans on their feet yelling 'MVP! MVP!' It still brings tears to my eyes. It still gives me chills because it was an amazing moment. It was a moment that I'll never forget because the fans in Houston came out in droves to support us. It's special. It's a special moment that will remain with me forever."
VIDEO -- Tina Thompson becomes WNBA's all-time scoring leader
Congratulations to former Houston Comets' star forward Tina Thompson!
Sunday night, Tina scored 23 points (in a 92-83 loss by the LA Sparks to the San Antonio Silver Stars) to become the WNBA's all-time scoring leader. Thompson surpassed Lisa Leslie's 6,263 career points to claim the top spot.
Here's some video from her appearance on NBATV's "Game Time":
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke to appear on KCOH, August 9
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Friday, August 13, in Springfield, MA.
Coop, the new head coach at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, is scheduled to appear on KCOH 1430 AM's Sports Rap show Monday evening, August 9, with host Ralph Cooper, at 5:15 p.m. Houston time.
Tune into 1430 AM or www.kcohradio.com to listen to the Hall-of-Famer.
VIDEO -- UH's Todd Buchanan at FREE Basketball Camp
HOUSTON, TX -- Saturday, August 7, the University of Houston's women's coaching staff held a "FREE Fundamental Camp" for grades Kindergarten through ninth.
Todd Buchanan, Houston's head coach, was interviewed by Jerry L. Woodley, Jr., of The College Sports Report. During the interview Coach Buchanan discusses the number of kids who attended the camp; his 2010-'11 team and the upcoming schedule (first game is an exhibition game versus the Houston Jaguars on November 8); and UH athletics overall.
