Hooped Up

Former sprinter Marion Jones signed with the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock on Wednesday, hoping to launch a new career after losing five Olympic medals for using steroids and doing jail time for lying to federal prosecutors.

Jones was a star at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney but admitted two years ago that she had taken a designer steroid known as the “clear” and was stripped of her medals, including three golds. She also spent about six months in a Texas federal prison for lying about doping and her role in a check-fraud scam.

Jones said playing for the Shock is not about her past but instead fulfills her dream of playing basketball against some of the best players in the world.

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Another reason why the NBA is the most progressive league in the world. Basketball legend Nancy Lieberman aka “Lady Magic” will get a shot to coach in the D-League in 2010 and will become the first women to ever achieve that feat in the process. Currently an ESPN television analyst, Lieberman will coach the Dallas’ D-League co-owed by Mavericks Donnie Nelson.

According to ESPN, Nelson’s ownership group has secured approval from the NBA to hire Lieberman to coach the yet-to-be-named team based in Frisco, Texas, which will serve as the Mavericks’ D-League affiliate next season. In 1998, Lieberman served as General Manager and Head Coach of the WNBA’s Detroit Shock.

Like it our not, the WNBA is in full effect and not even Moses could stop it.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the WNBA. I actually have a lot of respect for the league and its players because some of these ladies are sick ballers! It’s just that I’d rather watch an NBA game instead, okay Alice. Speaking of sick lady ballers, Sylvia Fowles is 6′5″ has better hops than Yao Ming and she put them to good use becoming the third WNBA player to dunk in an all star game, following Michelle Snow in 2006 and Lisa Leslie in 2005.That’s pretty frickin’ cool!

WNBA haters, you have been served!

Since I’m on a WNBA tip today, check out this great article by Ben York about why you shouldn’t hate on the WNBA, see who from the WNBA is on Twitter here and watch the 2008 WNBA Champion Detroit Shock’s visit the White House and President Obama after the jump.

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When I first heard about Britteny Griner last year, she was a 6′5″ high school junior dunking on people. Now, shes a 6′8″ senior still dunking on people. Watch as some girl with more heart than hops tries, to get in Miss. Griner’s way on the break a few days ago.

Two words, epic fail!

I’m not a huge fan of the WNBA but, I’m a Candace Parker fan and when she gets knocked up, (which should be recognized as a medical term) its huge news! Why, you ask little Johnny? Well it’s as simple as this. Candace Parker being with child for 9 months is on par with LeBron James being with child for 9 months (eww!). In her brief time in the WNBA, after being seleceted No. 1 overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Candace Parker has dominated, winning both the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player award followed by winning an Olympic Gold Medal at the Summer Games in Beijing.

Yeah, she’s kinda good!

“Shelden and I are very excited to be expanding our family,” said Parker. “We feel blessed and look forward to becoming parents.”

Candace Parker will be due in Spring of 2009, and this will be the first child for Parker and husband Shelden Williams of the Sacramento Kings. She will continue working out with the team and is expected to return to the court during the 2008-2009.

Congratulations, to the young couple and to future Uncle Anthony Parker of the Raptors!

Via LA Sparks

Bill Laimbeer has been on two NBA championship squads, coached the Detroit Sock to a championship and has Bill Laimbeer’s Combat Basketball under his belt.  So why doesn’t he have the NBA coaching job that he wants so bad?   Well Chuck Daly has a theory regarding the former original bad boy .

“I think it must be because Billy made a lot of enemies when he was a player. But I tell you what. He is as smart as a whip. Someone is going to get darn lucky in this league,” 

Detroit Free Press

Another Malice at the palace, WNBA style.  A late-game brawl Tuesday in the Los Angeles Sparks’ 84-81 Women’s National Basketball Association win over the Detroit Shock saw three players an assistant coach ejected.  Drama!

The girls game isn’t all below the rim.  Candace Parker has been dunking since back in her college days at Tennessee as a Lady Vol.  Last night, Parker threw down only the second dunk ever in a WNBA game.  

In a few years a Brittany Griner, Candace Parker rivalry can begin!  Good lookin’ out ladies.

Congratulations to Colorado freshman forward Brittany Spears on being named the Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week. Spears helped Colorado win its 10th straight game with a 16-point, seven-rebound effort against Pepperdine.

As for her name, yes, she really is named Brittany Spears, and yes, if you have a joke she’s already heard it. And it gets better. Her roommate is a teammate named Whitney Houston.

“People say, ‘Is that really your name?’ And I say, ‘Yeah, that’s really my name,’” Spears said.
“It’s funny,” Houston said. “My name is going to be Whitney Houston long after they get through the jokes and stuff.”

You can see a picture of Brittany Spears by clicking either of the links above, and the official Colorado basketball roster is here.