In Which Kristiana Tells You Why Candace Parker Sucks
I would like you to think back to a simpler time last spring when our nation became captivated by the NCAA Women's Final Four and the leader of the winning Tennessee, Candace Parker. She was hailed as the player who would advance the WNBA tenfold. In the NCAA finals, she looked amazing and even dare I say, Duncanesque. (I mean Tim Duncan.)
In June, I went to see my San Antonio Silver Stars play the Los Angeles Sparks and there was great anticipation, not just for my team, but to see what Candace Parker could do. It seemed as if many had come to the game just to see her and lined up to high five her as she left the court. I learned two things that game:
1. Lisa Leslie is a damn flopper.
2. Candace Parker is no female Tim Duncan.
You may recall in July a scuffle on a basketball court in Detroit. Sparks versus Shock. Candace Parker versus Plenette Pearson. Those two were the instigators. Pearson got a four game suspension and Candace Parker got a one game suspension, because, well, she's Candace Parker.
So, at tonight's game, I saw Candace Parker again. It also happened to be Breast Health Awareness Night and a portion of half time was used to recignize women who had fought Breast Cancer as they stood on center court to be applauded.
And then here come the L.A. Sparks while the women are still being introduced, their stories are being told and... the Sparks start halftime shootaround.
What?! I mean, a little respect? I know they were down and all, but they couldn't wait sixty seconds? They're professional players, a minute of shooting is going to make that big a difference over the time they've been practicing their whole lives?
I would also add that Candace Parker had argued with every call made against her tonight, ad nauseum, even as the other team shot its free throws. Every call. Even the ones when people fell over. Okay? There's no point in arguing this long. It results in nothing except pissing off the refs. She gets a call against her, San Antonio ball, the crowd goes wild and she... sticks her tongue out at them?
What the hell? This is the new face of the WNBA. Candace Parker: she acts just like Kobe Bryant does except with more smugness. Even I have got to say that I haven't seen Kobe Bryant start shooting basketballs while Cancer survivors are two feet away. And I have very little to say about Kobe Bryant that is positive. That was the only semi-positive thing I've ever said. But, let me just reinforce that Candace Parker is no Tim Duncan, no Becky Hammon, no Helen Darling, no Erin Buescher, no Sophia Young and in short, no San Antonio basketball player and certainly no savior of the WNBA.
By the way, Sparks lost, 76-58.
In June, I went to see my San Antonio Silver Stars play the Los Angeles Sparks and there was great anticipation, not just for my team, but to see what Candace Parker could do. It seemed as if many had come to the game just to see her and lined up to high five her as she left the court. I learned two things that game:
1. Lisa Leslie is a damn flopper.
2. Candace Parker is no female Tim Duncan.
You may recall in July a scuffle on a basketball court in Detroit. Sparks versus Shock. Candace Parker versus Plenette Pearson. Those two were the instigators. Pearson got a four game suspension and Candace Parker got a one game suspension, because, well, she's Candace Parker.
So, at tonight's game, I saw Candace Parker again. It also happened to be Breast Health Awareness Night and a portion of half time was used to recignize women who had fought Breast Cancer as they stood on center court to be applauded.
And then here come the L.A. Sparks while the women are still being introduced, their stories are being told and... the Sparks start halftime shootaround.
What?! I mean, a little respect? I know they were down and all, but they couldn't wait sixty seconds? They're professional players, a minute of shooting is going to make that big a difference over the time they've been practicing their whole lives?
I would also add that Candace Parker had argued with every call made against her tonight, ad nauseum, even as the other team shot its free throws. Every call. Even the ones when people fell over. Okay? There's no point in arguing this long. It results in nothing except pissing off the refs. She gets a call against her, San Antonio ball, the crowd goes wild and she... sticks her tongue out at them?
What the hell? This is the new face of the WNBA. Candace Parker: she acts just like Kobe Bryant does except with more smugness. Even I have got to say that I haven't seen Kobe Bryant start shooting basketballs while Cancer survivors are two feet away. And I have very little to say about Kobe Bryant that is positive. That was the only semi-positive thing I've ever said. But, let me just reinforce that Candace Parker is no Tim Duncan, no Becky Hammon, no Helen Darling, no Erin Buescher, no Sophia Young and in short, no San Antonio basketball player and certainly no savior of the WNBA.
By the way, Sparks lost, 76-58.