HELLO, IT'S ME, AGAIN
Hello, it's me again. (Apologies to Cheap Trick for using the tag line from their great song "Voices" (1979)
(Link to song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo71pQxvAvc )
Daryl, who would normally bring you her "Fridays With Daryl" CARDINAL COUPLE article, is covered up with work and putting in more hours than an ice cream vendor on a 100 degree day at a festival, so, we go to the bullpen again and bring in the veteran righty -- Paulie. I heard the "voices in my head" to do the write up, so pull up a seat and grab a coffee.
I was bopping back and forth between the NCAA Softball College World Series, WNBA action and the other mysteries of life that can confront a senior citizen yesterday. Since we're all "basketball crazy" here at the Couple, and we had three Cardinals WBB greats toiling last night, that's where we'll go today.
SKY FALLS TO MERCURY IN OVERTIME
Dana Evans made the quick transition from a Wings jersey to Chicago Sky gear yesterday and joined the squad in Phoenix last night for the late game on the WNBA slate for Thursday. Shaking off jet lag, moving duties and the newness of a different group of teammates, Evans saw nine minutes of play for Chicago and contributed two points in a 77-74 overtime loss to (5-3) home-standing Phoenix. She probably saw Jared's article yesterday indicating she probably wouldn't be able to join the Sky so quick and made a solemn vow to prove "camera boy" wrong. That's my thinking, anyway...
A new number (#13) for Evans in the Sky jersey and a role which primarily is intended to use her as a back up to Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot. Evans got her two points off free throws in the third quarter last night in a game that featured a high scoring third quarter by Chicago to get them back in the game. The 25 third-quarter points by the Sky gave them a 51-43 lead, after trailing 34-26 at the half.
The contest went to overtime, a rally by Phoenix was aided by a technical foul late in the game called on Vandersloot.. The Sky kept it close but couldn't pull off the win, though, in the extra session and they drop to 2-6 on the season. The Sky are a squad that could use some accurate three-point shooting, let's hope their coach, James Wade recognizes that and give Dana the minutes to show what she can do.
Chicago continues their westward trip with a visit to the LA Sparks on Saturday at 3 p.m.
ACES DOWN LIBERTY
Two more of our Cardinals were on the court as well last night when the New York Liv=berty brought the Las Vegas Aces to Brooklyn. On the court, yes, for Jazmine Jones and Kylee Shook, but not for a lengthy period of time in the Liberty's 94-82 loss to the Aces.
The Las Vegas squad put this one out of reach early with a 30-16 first quarter output and contained the Liberty the rest of the way to improve to 6-3 on the season. For New York, the loss dropped them to 5-3.
Kylee drew the start for NYL but saw just five minutes in the contest. Guarding Liz Cambage is a tough-enough assignment for most, but when Las Vegas's A'ja Wilson goes off for 30 against you and adds 13 rebounds, it turns into a long night.
Jaz, for her part, did see some first quarter action, but picking up two quick fouls sent her back to the bench after just four minutes and she did not score in the game.
This NY Liberty team is getting a huge effort out of Rutgers former star Betnijah Laney (23 points, but the guard play suffered last night for the Libs. Sabrina Ionescu managed just five points last night, but did add nine assists. A couple of WNBL Australians in Sami Whitcomb (14 points) and Rebecca Allen (16 points) did what they could for the Libs but Vegas is showing no ill effects from having Angel McCoughtry out for the season.
Myisha Hines-Allen's Washington Mystics wlll get their chance at knocking off Las Vegas tomorrow when they bring the travelling Aces squad to our nation's capital Saturday. Myisha has had a solid start to her season, after returning from EuroBall in Russia, with a 11 point, 10 rebound effort against the Connecticut Sun and 15 points and 10 rebounds against Indiana, Let's not forget, though, that the Mystics are a squad that looks to Tina Charles first and foremost, Charles has had an eye-popping 59 points in those last two games.
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THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR PODCAST
We'll join you tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. for another exciting edition of the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast. I can confidently point to Jeff, Jared and myself as starters for this one, I'm pretty sure Daryl is swamped with Bats duties. As for Case?
Honestly, I've lost track of his week-end commitments, but we'd love to have him available to add a challenge in the resurfaced Cardinal Couple Worldwide Quiz that I'll spring on the crew in the second half of the show. Check his article tomorrow for hints on his status.
No hints on the topic of the aforementioned quiz, but I hope you'll join us. You can find out more about listening at the Cardinal Couple You Tube site or... just find Jared out taking pictures somewhere and ask him!
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cardinal+couple
Have a fun Friday!
paulie
Wow, that's a blast from the past with Robin Sander and the guys from Cheap Trick. As an aside, my niece "discovered" them recently and loves them.
ReplyDeleteThe Liberty need a power center, like Phoenix, or Washington or Vegas has. It seems to me that's the calling call for WNBA success.
I wish Kylee could be that.
Nick O.
At least you didn’t tell us that you want us to love you ;)
ReplyDeleteNick O was right yesterday where the Liberty rely on Ionesco too much.
Maybe the Storm is the exception. Maybe I'm biased since they are my favorite team. When you got Stewie. Bird. Clark and Jewel Loyd, you don't need power at center, but Mercedes Russell is no slouch.
ReplyDeleteFunny story, I used to work security at concerts years ago part time. I wasn't yet full time at the store and needed the extra money. It was late eighties or early nineties at Louisville Gardens when Cheap Trick came to town with Joan Jett. I remember because two GORGEOUS blondes were down front screaming for Cheap Tricks lead singer all the Cheap Trick part of the show. I was standing right in front of them, with my back to the band.
And, about an hour later, I saw both, under escort, go into the Cheap Trick dressing room.
They probably didn't play Monopoly.
Curtis "Be Kind" Franklin