Basketball baby

I don't have much to say. Just thought I'd post something since I haven't in a few days. First, I've actually started thinking a little about high school basketball in the past week for the first time since last season.
I didn't mean to. After covering El Dorado's football 38-21 loss at Lake Hamilton on Friday, I was the last person to leave the stadium and found myself locked inside. I couldn't get through the gate and was almost in panic mode. Lake Hamilton's track coach, who was also the announcer for the football game, is the brother of Strong girls coach Gerrald Koonce. I called Coach Koonce to get his brother to unlock the gate to let me out.
Anywho, on my way home, Coach Koonce called to see if I escaped and we had a short chat about his basketball team. That was my first basketball conversation in awhile.
The next day, Norphlet coach Justin Welch emailed me to put an announcement in the paper. After that, someone alerted us to a girl from Parkers Chapel who was running cross country. I called basketball coach Mark Young to find out about the girl and, jokingly, asked when he wanted us to take his team picture.
When he said he was ready for us to take it, I was taken aback. PC's Blue-White game is on Monday. I had no idea the season was about to tip off.
I guess I've to step off the El Dorado football bandwagon briefly to see what's going on in basketball.

Basketball season

It's about that time as the college basketball season is set to tip off. Strong's Marandalynn Parker says she's ready for her sophomore year at Ouachita Baptist University. I'm pretty sure James Anderson will have a stellar sophomore campaign at Oklahoma State.
I'm not sure where El Dorado's Shenelda Levingston and Ashley Harrell are but I'll try to find out. I need to check on Norphlet's Ellana White at SAU.
If there are other Union County graduates playing college basketball, let me know.
Here's the release I received from OBU:
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Ouachita Baptist University will hold Monday Night Madness – Basketball Night at Ouachita -- for the men’s and women’s basketball teams as the festivities will begin at 7:15 p.m., Monday, Oct. 20 at Bill Vining Arena.
There will be a social club-obstacle course at 8:00 and then the Ouachita Baptist women’s basketball team will be introduced at 8:15, with a scrimmage to follow.
The Tiger men’s team will be introduced at 8:35 with a scrimmage to follow.
The Ouachita women’s basketball team opens exhibition play Wednesday, Nov. 5 in Natchitoches , La. , against Northwestern State . The Lady Tigers begin the regular season Nov. 18.
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Lee Scroggins had hoped daughter Emilee would be back at home on Sunday but she didn't have a good night and stayed in the hospital. Hopefully, she'll be back in her own bed soon.

I'm honored

I was honored Saturday night by the South Arkansas African American Historical Society for my impact in the community over the past 17 or so years. It was a nice honor that, I'm not sure I deserved. But, I am very proud and thankful for the society's recognition.
Actually, when I saw the other people honored I really did feel out of place. The other 12 honorees included a judge, a lawyer, a doctor and a professor, not to mention leaders in business and other government officials.
They read a short bio of all the honorees and mine clearly was one of the least impressive. At least it seemed that way to me. Still, it was nice to be included in that group of outstanding South Arkansas citizens.
I'm not sure what exactly I'm doing right, but I'll try to keep on doing it.
Speaking of doing something right, Coach Lee Scroggins said daughter Emilee could be going home in the next day or so. Her tests have looked good and, as an athlete, she probably healed up better than the average person, anyway.
I didn't ask Lee about basketball as it's not that important right now. But, I'm sure as soon as the doctors say she can start bouncing a ball again, she'll be back on the court.

No ring for VJ

Thank God the WNBA Finals are over. Detroit's three-game sweep was three games too long. That was the worst arse whuppin' since Rodney King.
San Antonio's players have to be embarrassed.
That was just a straight-up beat down.
Detroit was simply better, much better. They were bigger, stronger and more experienced. Like the country song goes, "sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug."
The Silver Stars got mashed against the glass.
I felt especially bad for Vickie Johnson. The former Lady Techster has played more WNBA games than anyone else. She was on the court for the league's first-ever opening tip. For those of you Techster fans, Johnson was also on the court when North Carolina's Charlotte Smith hit the infamous buzzer-beater, denying Louisiana Tech a national championship.
Johnson has hung around trying to get a championship. She said if San Antonio won, there was a 90 percent chance she'd retire. They didn't win. Only she knows if she'll come back to chase that elusive ring one more time?
I talked to Vickie when she was in college. She's a classy lady and probably the most under-rated player in the history of the WNBA. I really wanted to see her get that ring.
It's easy to say there's always next year. But, realistically, this was probably her last chance.

Emilee getting better

Lee Scroggins texted me on Friday night to say daughter Emilee is resting comfortably. The coach wanted to thank everyone for all their thoughts and prayers.
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I was in Texarkana for football on Friday and missed the WNBA Finals Game 2. It's on my TIVO but I probably won't watch it. A look at the boxscore and a quick recap told me the whole story in San Antonio's 69-61 loss to Detroit.
Detroit jumped out to a 16-point lead in the first quarter of a game in San Antonio that the Silver Stars desperately needed to win. Becky Hammon, the focal point of Detroit's defense, still led San Antonio with 24 points and seven assists.
The expert analysts said Hammon still has to do more if San Antonio hopes to win.
Perhaps it's time some of her teammates stepped up. Hammon led the team in scoring and rebounding despite being double teamed on the perimeter and triple-teamed when she drove. What more can one slow-footed, short white girl do?
In the postgame press conference, Hammon was quoted as saying she hasn't seen her team, yet. Some thought she was throwing her teammates under the bus with that comment. I don't think she was but, if professional players don't show up when the entire season is on the line, no one should have to throw them under the bus. They should jump in front of it themselves.
Friggin' quitters!
The Shock can close out the series Sunday in Detroit. I'll watch my girl Becky go one against five again. This is ridiculous. I'm pissed.

Rookie of the Year - 3 guesses

The WNBA Finals didn't get off to a good start for my Silver Stars. But, it's a best-of-5 series so they still have a chance to get going. They'd better win Friday in San Antonio, however.
The league is expected to reveal the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player award winners on Friday, too.
Rookie of the Year is a no-brainer. Candace Parker won that before she scored her first professional point. There's no way the Golden Child was not going to win that award. Truthfully, though, she deserves it. Not because of all the hype but her play on the court has been as good or better than advertised.
Parker was the Sparks' best player. On a team that includes Lisa Leslie, that's saying something.
As for Most Valuable Player, Parker is up for that honor, too, although I'll be disappointed if she wins it. The Sparks were supposed to dominate the WNBA this season and, despite all THAT talent, they finished third in the West and didn't make the finals.
Obviously, if I had a vote it would be for Becky Hammon. Detroit is showing everybody what she means to that team by the way it has focused its defense on stopping her.
I could live with Lindsey Whalen winning it or even Sophia Young. Deanna Nolan might deserve it even more than Hammon but she won't get it.
If Sue Bird wins it, I'll never take the league or its awards seriously again.
Don't you know that overrated heifer is going to get it, too?
By the way WNBA.com released its most popular jerseys. Surprise, surprise - look who sits at the top of the list. With all those commercials, I'm shocked anybody has ever heard of this player.
Can you smell that? It's sarcasm.

TOP 10 MOST POPULAR PLAYER JERSEYS: 1. Candace Parker – Los Angeles Sparks 2. Lisa Leslie – Los Angeles Sparks 3. Becky Hammon – San Antonio Silver Stars 4. Janel McCarville – New York Liberty 5. Essence Carson – New York Liberty 6. Diana Taurasi – Phoenix Mercury7. Shameka Christon – New York Liberty8. Tamika Catchings – Indiana Fever9. Candice Wiggins – Minnesota Lynx10. Tina Thompson – Houston Comets
TOP 5 MOST POPULAR TEAM MERCHANDISE:
1. Los Angeles Sparks
2. New York Liberty
3. San Antonio Silver Stars
4. Phoenix Mercury
5. Seattle Storm

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Lee Scroggins texted me today and said daughter Emilee is resting comfortably but still has at least another night in intensive care.
Basketball is probably out for at least a year for the sophomore. But, it's far too early for anybody to be concerned with anything as trivial as that.

Prayers needed

I'm sure every one who reads this blog will send their thoughts and prayers to the family of Lee Scroggins. Lee's daughter Emilee is in surgery at Children's Hospital after being diagnosed with a serious illness.
Hopefully, everything will turn out fine.
Join me in sending all warm thoughts to the Scroggins' family.