Who’s Fat?

I’ve been watching a lot of women’s basketball over the past few weeks. It’ is Final Four time, after all. Normally I love the games, love to listen to the commentators tell how players spend six hours every day in the gym practicing free throws or hearing how someone’s brother or dad played in the NFL. But watching the games on Sunday, I was tempted to hit the “mute” button because I was so sick of hearing how two players in particular lost 20 pounds each.

Jayne Appel, the Stanford Cardinal star center almost set a record the other day by scoring 46 points in a game. Yet, more times than the announcers talked about that, they brought up the fact that Jayne went on Weight Watchers and lost 20 pounds in the off-season.

Courtney and Ashley Paris (twins) both play for Oklahoma. Both are big girls at 6-3 and 6-4. I don’t know what they weigh because the NCAA, who lists heights and weights of male players, doesn’t do the same for female athletes. But one thing I do know, because the announcers went on about it ad nauseam, is that Ashley lost 20 pounds over the summer.

Courtney Paris is the only player to be voted an All-American all four years of college. She set records for most consecutive double doubles (112) and is the only player, male or female, in N.C.A.A. history to have 700 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocked shots in a season. The girl is an Amazon.

And although no one flat out said she should also lose weight, the girls that did sure were given props. 

So what if Courtney weighs 20 more pounds than her sister? Would she be a better athlete if she were thin? I highly doubt it! On the contrary, it’s her size that helps her get position in under the basket, muscle her way into 22 points per game and create space to grab 15 rebounds per game.

All this while sporting a belly! Instead of going on and on about how other players have lost weight, why don’t we hold Courtney Paris up as a role model for heavy girls out there? You CAN be an athlete even if you’re not stick thin. As a matter of fact, you can be one of the best athletes in the world. If you asked me, I'd say that extra few pound is probably WHY she's the best center in the nation.

Dipstick Can't Come to the Blog Right Now, She's Busy Watching Basketball

You won't be hearing from Dipstick for a while. We're heading into the NCAA Women's Final Four basketball tournament. Even though my beloved Lady Vols have been knocked out in the first round, there are still plenty of teams to root for. Namely, anyone who can beat UConn. So right now, that means Cal.

I'm also a huge Rutgers fan. And even though I doubt she even knows it, Lipstick's alma mater Arizona State is kicking some major ass in the tournament.

Gotta get bak to the game. Unless you want to talk basketball, I'll talk to you when March is over.

Inspired

The other day a columnist for our local paper told the story of a high school girls basketball team that not only lost every game, often by more than 30 points, but hardly had any support from fans or family. The school is in a low income neighborhood and there were many obstacles parents had to overcome to be able to make it to a game. Some of the girls even had to quit the team to get jobs. 

When I heard about the story, I wanted to go and watch the Roosevelt Girls final game and support them. I was bummed when I learned it was taking place at the same time as a family birthday celebration that I couldn't get out of.  

I wasn't able to be there, but 1600 other people crowded into the high school gym to cheer for the Roosevelt Roughriders. 

I was inspired this morning  to learn not just that people came to support a disadvantaged girl's athletic team, but that the words of one writer could move them to do so.

Check it out:

Roosevelt girls triumph

A Lucky Day in the Air

Flying can pretty much suck these days.  That's why it's easy to be grateful about little things. Like an empty seat next to you. Or an extra cookie in your snack box.  

Well, my sister hit the jackpot yesterday on her flight home from visiting me. She had former UConn All American, WNBA all-star and Olympic Gold Medalist Diana Taursi on her flight. 

Mary texted me to tell me. "Go say hi," I said. Mary said she was too shy. "How do you feel when people come up to you?" she asked.  Actually, I love it.

While they were waiting for their bags, I convinced Mary to go up and tell Diane Taursi that her sister was a big fan and to ask to take a picture for me. When the request is not for yourself, it's a lot easier to ask.

Mary went up to Diana and was glad she did. She said she was super nice and they talked basketball for a few minutes.  

Ah, if only it could have been me. 

2008 WNBA Draft: Dipstick’s analysis

1. Candace Parker. Ace is going to Los Angeles. A perfect fit. Not only is the girl going to bring championships to LA, Hollywood is going to make her a star. I see so much potential for Candace Parker. She’s beautiful. She’s athletic. She’s heterosexual. She’s going to be a big star. More power to her.

2. Sylvia Fowles to Chicago. Sylvia has been one of my favorite players to watch all season. Not only can the girl dunk, it’s her shot-blocking that has me in awe. And did you see what she wore to the draft selection show? That was one hot suit and pin striped fedora. She was quoted on ESPN.com as saying, “My best friend told me I should pull it out, because it makes me look fly." Sylvia Fowles is one hot stud. Who was that woman she kissed on the lips on her way to the podium? Do tell!

3. Candice Wiggins. Candice famously cried when her Stanford team made it to the final four. The tears were in my eyes when she was picked number 3 in the WNBA draft. The girl moves me that much. I haven’t been as excited about a player coming out of college since Jackie Stiles in 2001. Can you say “Rookie of the Year?”

Here's a video I shot of Candice Wiggins when I was in San Jose for the Pac 10 Tournament.

What I'm Doing Today

It's a windy, rainy nasty day here in Oregon. Which is just fine with me. It's a perfect day to stay inside and watch Women's College Basketball.

I'm especially excited to watch the Duke/Penn State game. Penn State has a new coach: Coquese Washington. Washington is replacing long-time Penn State coach Rene Portland who for years has been accused of discriminating against lesbian players. She resigned last year after 27 years as head coach. I practically threw a party when I head she was leaving the game.

I don't know Coquese personally, but she did play in Portland for the Portland Power of the ABL. I met her once with a gaggle of lesbians and she didn't give off a homophobic vibe.

There is just no more room for homophobia is sports. Especially women's sports. I hope the whole Rutgers/Don Imus debacle last year has elevated the respect for the women's game. That's a picture of Rutger's amazing coach C. Vivian Stringer on my TV. I've always been impressed with her, one of the few women of color head coaches. She's one of my role models.

I'm sure this will be one of many basketball posts as the season goes on. I could go on and on, but I've got to turn on the game.

Phoenix Wins WNBA Title: Does Anyone care but Me?

I had a routine this summer. Every time a WNBA game was on, I’d record it and watch while I worked out on my Nordic Track. I watched a lot of basketball and got some great workouts in. (Hint: a great way to do interval training is to sprint every time your team has the ball.) It’s no secret that I’m a huge women’s basketball fan. Going to the Women’s Final Four in Boston in 2006 was one of the high points of my life, even if my beloved Lady Vols didn’t make it.

But lately, I’m wondering, am I the only one who cares? I did see that 22,000 fans crowded into Detroit Palace to watch game five of the championship series. But no one I know even knew there was a playoff.

Portland used to have a great ABL team: The Portland Power, with great players like Michelle Marciniak, Natalie Williams and Katy Steding. Then the ABL folded and we were granted a WNBA team, the Portland Fire. I can’t remember being happier than the day we took Jackie Stiles as the fourth pick in the 2001 draft. To this day, Jackie Stiles was one of my favorite plays to watch.

But sadly, the Portland Fire folded in 2002, leaving us with no professional women’s basketball team. And one by one, all of my friends lost interest in the game. Adjoa moved to Buffalo. Chama went off to college in Corvallis. Dionne got too busy with her business. My girlfriend, trying to be supportive, would sit and read her book in the living room while the games were on. When someone made a great play and I would cheer, she would sit up and say, “What happened?” And I’d feebly try to explain the incredible feed Kelly Miller just dished to Penny Taylor or Cappie Pondexter’s amazing cut to the basket. Tiger would smile, nod and go back to her book.

It's lonely out here for a ball fan. How about you out there? Does anyone watch the WNBA or is it just me?