Former #1 WNBA pick Margo Dydek passes away

Margo Dydek/Courtesy: babble.com

The 37-year old was the tallest woman's basketball player ever at 7-foot 2-inches tall. Margo Dydek was the 1st pick of the 1998 WNBA draft by the then Utah team.

While not a top-tier WNBA player, she still is the leagues all-time shot block leader with 877 rejections. Her career spanned 323 games with 4 different teams. Her size and amiable manner made her a fan favorite wherever she played.

Dydek passed away Friday a week after suffering a heart attack at home in Australia. She had been placed in a medically induced coma shortly thereafter. She, according to several reports, was pregnant at the time of her passing.

She had been the coach of the Northside Wizards of the Queensland Basketball League.

Maya Moore Makes Minnesota...?

((HT: ESPN/WNBA))

To no one's shock and/or surprise, Maya Moore has now been given the task of saving the Minnesota Lynx- who were two games under .500 last season...

She was first overall in this year's WNBA Draft...
Wink, wink... nudge, nudge...

Maya, Geno, and David Lloyd discuss...

"Pokey" Chatman returns to coaching

Dana "Pokey Chatman/Courtesy: Al Podgorski/Sun-times

((ht: chicago sun-times))

For those who are unfamiliar with Dana "Pokey" Chatman, perhaps we can give you some back story. Chatman was the former women's basketball coach at LSU almost 4 years ago. She lost her job after an assistant coach charged her with being "Intimate" with some of her players.

She resigned shortly afterwards. The original story is RIGHT HERE

Mind you, Chatman was incredibly successful at LSU, they had reached 3 straight Final Four's under her watch. And no, despite her dismissal, she was never proven guilty of any charges. LSU, for their part, hasn't done nearly as much since then.

Fast forward to now. Chatman is back. This time as the coach of the WNBA's Chicago Sky. She reached the Sky after 3 years of coaching in Russia.

Read a very interesting story from Lacy Banks of the Chicago Sun-Times RIGHT HERE

There was a lot of discussion about Chatman's story when it was developing back in early 2007. Again, nothing was ever proven. But yet she was essentially black-balled from the coaching ranks in the U.S. Maybe the question is "How do you prove something like this?" or is it just something that was out of bitterness and innuendo.

Either way, Chatman deserves a chance. She's proven that she can coach. And be successful at it. At a professional level there shouldn't be anything to hold her back. Time, as always we suspect, will tell.

Here's an interview with her back in 2007, before all the trouble went down:

DEVELOPING: Taurasi B-Sample Also Positive

A Turkish television station is saying Diana Taurasi's backup doping sample has also tested positive for a banned substance.

NTV did not attribute their report to any one particular source for their story, and Turkey's basketball federation did not immediately confirm NTV's report.

Taurasi tested positive last month for the stimulant modafinil while playing in Turkey during the WNBA offseason. She had been suspended by her Turkish club Fenerbahce pending the outcome of her B sample testing.

More when we know more...

BREAKING: Taurasi Tests Positive

WNBA and Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi has tested positive for a banned substance...

More when we know more...

Literally, this is all the HQ knows at present...

Until then, here's the Taurasi-Cappie Pondexter fight from the last WNBA season...
((HT: WNBA/Youtube))


2230 UPDATE: According to ESPN, Taurasi's lawyer, Howard Jacobs, maintains her "A" sample has come back positive for a mild stimulant while playing in a pro basketball league overseas.

A Turkish lab released the info and she was provisionally suspended by the Turkish league she's playing in. Taurasi has requested that her "B" sample be tested.

Jacobs said the substance "was not a steroid or recreational drug." He is not identifying the substance in question.

"We're taking it one step at a time," Jacobs said. "I'd rather not say what it is at this stage, they've only tested the 'A' sample. Somehow it leaked over in Turkey. We're waiting for the 'B' sample to be tested. We've had some difficulty with getting a date so far, mostly because of the holidays. We're hoping to get it as soon as we can."

The Return of Marion Jones...This time in the WNBA

Disgraced Olympic sprinter Marion Jones is getting a second chance. No, not in Track and Field, but rather the WNBA.

Jones, who was an all-star point guard at the University of North Carolina before deciding on Track as a career has signed a deal to play for the Tulsa Shock of the WNBA. In fact there is a Press Conference scheduled to announce it Wednesday morning.

The story from the Tulsa World is RIGHT HERE

((Jones shooting free throws//Courtesy: Michael Wyke/Tulsa World))

Jones, at 34, hasn't played basketball professionally, though she was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury back in 2003. She didn't exactly take the job for the money, she apparently will be making the rookie minimum...roughly $35,000 for the 1st season.

The coach of the Shock is Nolan Richardson. Yes, that Nolan Richardson who believes that Jones will be a good player once she gets in basketball shape.

Check out this story from the Associated Press back in December that speaks of Jones working out with another WNBA team to prepare for her new career.

Not A Shock: Detroit WNBA Franchise Heading To Tulsa

And Nolan Richardson will be the coach and the GM...

Those of us at OSG HQ figured he'd resurface somewhere, but not necessarily there...

An official with the Detroit Shock, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Monday its WNBA team is moving to Tulsa.

The Shock has been in Detroit since 1998 and has won three WNBA titles -- in 2003, 2006 and 2008. Last month, the team lost in the Eastern Conference Finals after rallying to earn a playoff spot.

A group of investors has been seeking to bring a WNBA team to Tulsa and just last week filed the official paperwork seeking a team.

A press conference is scheduled for Tuesday morning local time...

We'd just like to know if anyone has told current Shock coach Rick Mahorn about the sale and move...???

Just axin'...
((HT: KTUL-TV/Tulsa))

WNBA's Dream May Have Buyer

((HT: AJC/Swartz))

Kathy Betty, widow of former EarthLink CEO Garry Betty and a major contributor to Georgia Tech's basketball teams, has emerged as the top prospect to buy all or part of the Atlanta Dream, Central Atlanta Progress President A.J. Robinson said.

"Talks have involved into her taking that role or taking a bigger role in the team," Robinson said late Friday morning.

Current Dream owner Ron Terwilliger told the WNBA in August that he wanted to relinquish his position of primary owner of the two-year old professional women's basketball team. Terwilliger, chairman and chief executive officer of Atlanta-based Trammell Crow Residential, said he intended to remain an investor in the team.

Trammell Crow is one of the nation's largest developers of apartments and condominiums. As with the rest of the real estate industry, his business has suffered because of the recession.

On top of that, Terwilliger has moved to New York and has had unspecified changes that prevent him from being actively involved with the team and in the Atlanta community, said Bob Hope, president of the Hope-Beckham public relations firm.

The Dream made substantial gains in the win-loss column under second-year Head Coach Marynell Meadors. Chamique Holdsclaw will do that, right...? It included a playoff berth, but the team is more known for having to move their games since "Sesame Street Live" had Philips Arena first.

WNBA Story Brought To By The Letter "V"

As in "vacate..."
This, really, was a story that wrote itself and has multiple punch lines...
Feel free to write your own...

The Atlanta Dream will be forced out of their home arena for the first round of the WNBA playoffs because of "Sesame Street."

The Dream is set to play their first home playoff game Friday night against Detroit at Philips Arena. But "Sesame Street Live" already had booked shows for next weekend at the downtown arena, so the Dream will play at Gwinnett Arena, about 25 miles northeast of Atlanta.

If a decisive third game is needed, it also would be held at the Gwinnett Arena on Sunday. The series opens Wednesday at Detroit.

The Dream bounced back from a 4-30 inaugural season to claim the second seed in the Eastern Conference this season.

Elmo like dreams...

Terwilliger's WNBA Dream Over...???

((HT: AJC/Vivlamore))

Atlanta Dream owner Ron Terwilliger ((pictured, thanks Ben Gray/AJC)) has informed the WNBA that he no longer wants to be sole owner of the franchise.

Terwilliger intends to remain an investor in the franchise, according to Bob Hope, who is part of an informal group from Atlanta charged with finding a new lead owner.

“His heart was in the right place, but life changed on him,” Hope said.

A.J. Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress, a downtown business group, also is part of the group searching for a new owner. Hope and Robinson were part of the original 12-person group that aggressively pursued a WNBA team for the city. Last season the Dream made their debut and finished a league-worst 4-30, but they currently are 10-10 this season.

Since 1986, Terwilliger has been chairman and CEO of Atlanta-based Trammell Crow Residential, one of the nation’s largest developers of apartments and condominiums. Commercial real estate has been hard hit by the economic recession.

Calls to Bill Bolen, president and CEO of the Dream, and to the WNBA were not immediately returned.

Taurisi to sit for 2

Late word out of Phoenix today that star Guard Diana Taurisi will be suspended without pay for the next 2 games. Taurisi was pulled over and arrested for DUI July 2nd after a home game in Phoenix.

The story from The East Valley Tribune here .

The WNBA apparently feels that the team suspension is enough punishment saying "The WNBA supports the actions taken today by the Mercury and we don't believe further action by the league will be necessary". The judge hearing the case on July 22nd however, may say a little more due to the fact that Miss Taurisi had a nearly lethal level of alcohol in her bloodstream.

Taurasi Faces "Extreme DUI" Charge

((HT: Arizona Republic/Ferraresi))

Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi ((pictured, thanks Arizona Republic/Michael Chow)) faces three drunk-driving related charges, including extreme DUI, for a July 2 incident in which she was pulled over on Camelback Road.

Results of a blood draw showed Taurasi was driving her 2006 Land Rover with a blood-alcohol level of 0.17 percent, or more than twice the Arizona legal limit of 0.08 percent, according to a Phoenix police report released today.

Taurasi, 27, pleaded not-guilty to the charges filed recently in Phoenix Municipal Court. Her next scheduled court date is set for July 22.

According to the police report, Taurasi told her arresting officer she had "a few" drinks at an unnamed club and was on her way to the Phoenician hotel. She was trailed by friends in other vehicles.

A Phoenix officer stopped Taurasi around 2:30 a.m. near Camelback Road and Seventh Street after the officer observed the Land Rover drift outside of a traffic lane. The officer claimed Taurasi was speeding nearly 20 mph over the 35 mph limit as she drove eastbound on Camelback.

In addition to the DUI charges, Taurasi was also cited for speeding, which she pleaded not responsible to, according to court records.

Taurasi's citation came on the heels of her 22-point effort on July 1 in the Mercury's 93-81 victory over the Seattle Storm.

The point guard leads all WNBA players in fan voting for the July 25 all-star game.

A Mercury spokesman and Taurasi's personal representative did not immediately return requests for comment.

Buying The Shirt On Your Back

The next step of corporate domination of professional sports has occurred thanks to the WNBA. The Phoenix Mercury have sold advertising space on the teams uniforms to the identity theft protection company LifeLock. This means the team's primary logo on their home and road jerseys and shooting shirts will be replaced by the LifeLock logo.

How ironic, the Phoenix Mercury loses their identity to a company who protects you from identity theft.

It's a 3-year deal worth at least a $1 million annually, enough to pay the bills.

Rick Welts, chief executive officer of the Phoenix Suns, which owns the Mercury told Sports Business Weekly, “The league has been working for months to revise our business model and to be prepared to look outside the boundaries on both the revenue and expense side. There is no secret that every league is facing its own challenges and the WNBA is no different. This is a big step for an American sports league to be taking.”

WNBA President Donna Orender expect other WNBA franchies to follow.

“It is a groundbreaking deal, and companies are looking for brand-new space that allows them to create new sales and to connect with a consumer base. This relationship will likely spark others, but in terms of when, it remains to be seen. ”

Those of us at the OSG HQ are wondering how this will effect team jersey sales?

Photo Courtesy: Phoenix Mercury

WNBA Brawl

OK, I know you've seen this everywhere by now, but I couldn't resist posting this. Candace Parker and Plenette Pierson going at it...

Also, Rick Mahorn was involved in the nasty 2004 fight between the NBA's Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers.

Connection? Coincidence?