Epiphanny Prince

What started at Rutgers the last three years, had a couple month stop in Russia is now headed for Botas Spor, a team in Adana, Turkey – an American-friendly city near a United States military base about 90 minutes by airplane from Istanbul.

Epiphanny Prince began her professional playing career for Spartak Moscow and Head Coach Pokey Chatman.

I heard she had yet to play because owner Shabtai von Kalmanovic was working on her Russian pass port when tragedy struck.  Piph is fortunate to land in Turkey.  This could be a blessing in disguise for Prince.  More playing time is on the horizon and that will give WNBA General Managers a more valuable body of work to assess her draft status.

The story does not elaborate on how the progress is going towards moving her family from their Brooklyn home.  The focus of Piph’s journey has been reported as two-fold: 1.) Provide for her family and 2.)  Prepare better for WNBA.

Let’s update this in a month and see how her progress is going.

From GREG BISHOP, New York Times

It will be interesting to see where this goes.

Alex Rodriguez and others played after admitting to steroid use.  She was held accountable and paid her price.  She should be allowed, if her skill level and abilities (at 34) can get it done.  Dan Hughes is a good man, good coach.  He is respectful of the game and wouldn’t consider this to generate PR.  He’s about winning games and doing it the right way.

ESPN Article

Thoughts?…

Resource.

BASKETBALL OVERSEAS “HOW TO” GUIDE

Watching San Antonio vs. Washington.

Saw a nice inverted High Split used as a pressure release for PTG:  Used with good passing center (Duncan), with Back Door action into inverted High Split.

CLICK for DOWNLOADABLE / PRINTABLE Play

Lyndra is among the Top Ten scorer’s in the Euroleague

The Minnesota Lynx will have the top pick in next year’s WNBA draft.  Congratulations to Roger Griffin, Jen Gillom and the staff – I always liked them – nice people. ROGER’S AUDIO FROM LOTTERY

Minnesota Lynx receive #1 overall pick from New York Liberty

The Sacramento Monarchs, who finished with a league-low 12 wins this year, received the second pick in the draft lottery Thursday, followed by the Connecticut Sun, the Lynx again with the fourth pick and the Chicago Sky fifth.  The complete first found is listed below.

Minnesota has two lottery picks because it received New York’s first-round selection in a three-team trade on May 5 that brought Sydney Spencer to New York.

The No. 1 pick ended up being the one the Lynx got from the Liberty.

Tina Charles

That has to be unbelievably painful for the New York people.  Especially considering that the number one overall pick will be Tina Charles, a New York City kid, a low-block force and what the Liberty desperately need.

The remaining draft order is San Antonio, Washington, Tulsa, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Seattle, Indiana and the Sparks round out the final first-round picks in the 13-team draft.

The draft date has not been announced.

From WNBA.com

Coach Wooden’s teachings are always profound.  This week…. for me, 8 practices in 4 days so far… have convinced me of that even more.  So many different styles, personalities and ways to teach with all the same goal:  Teach the game, play hard and try to be in a position to win.  Coach Wooden’s words and philosophy are always good to go back to , to ground us, to remind us of what is important.

Most have probably already seen this, but watch it again.  Especially now as we all start games.  Good luck!

Below are some notes from the video:

Victory with Honor

- there is too much emphasis on winning today

- the coach is first and foremost a teacher

- before Coach Wooden was a coach, he taught English for many years

- the 4 laws of learning in English, are the same applied to coaching

- the teacher has to be more concerned about the entire learning process, than just in the content. Same goes for sports

- its easy to get carried away with win loss record

- Coach Wooden was more disappointed in parents who were concerned with their children getting an A or B than in whether they really learned anything

- Our society is too concerned about athlete first, and not student before athlete

- high school coaches, are really teachers.  Teachers first, in the classroom and on the court.

- it made Coach Wooden a better coach, the fact that he taught English before. It helped in organization skills, and helped in dealing with athletes as individuals

- the job of the coach is therefore to analyze each individual and help them achieve their maximum potential

- each player is different, therefore they must be treated differently

- Please always ask, “what is your most successful team??” Coach Wooden’s response, “I won’t know in 25 years.”

- most treasured medal or prize according to Coach Wooden was the academic medal, it holds the most value for individual achievement

I have heard players say, this is too “Old-School.”  I don’t know, academic goals, humility, hard work, selflessness, team first…. if that is “Old-School”, count me in – I’m guilty.

I have been exploring Leadership a great deal recently.  We’ve looked at how important it is to get your player’s view of their own leadership, who they are and how it all fits together.

I have ben fortunate to coach many players with tremendous leadership ability.  We are all fortunate to have the opportunity to coach against other players and witness their ability to lead.  One of the premier young point guards in the World currently is Renee Montgomery.  I was on the receiving end of two of her masterpieces while she was developing her leadership skills that enabled

Renee Montgomery

UConn to eventually complete a perfect 39-0 season and win a National Championship during her senior year.  It was in her sophomore and junior years, two “not so close” wins were over us while I was at Virginia.  (12/5/07: 75-45 and 12/18/06: 96-60)  She was tremendous on the court, but she also showed great leadership when she went to the sideline as well.  Even though the game was never in question she continued to lead.  That stuck in my mind, impressed me.

As the fourth overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft  she helped lead the Minnesota Lynx to within one game of a playoff spot, providing leadership as a rookie for a team really hampered greatly by injuries.

Renee agreed to review and reflect on one of my recent posts Leadership:  Seven Leadership Essentials and how it pertains to her and her career.

I expected a few sentences… What came about was easily better than the original.  Download it and read it.  Share it with your team.  It’s a tremendous look at Renee’s leadership ability, who she is and where she is headed.

Reading it lead me to her website and to investigate more about this person.  I came away with a tremendous amount of new-found respect for just who this person is.  Not only the athlete and the player, but the person.

Take time to look over her site, you’ll come away very impressed.

PRINTABLE VERSION OF:  Leadership: Seven reasons why I am who I am By: Renee Montgomery

Thank You Renee!

Continue below to read Renee’s: Leadership: Seven reasons why I am who I am…

Leadership: Seven reasons why I am who I am

By: Renee Montgomery

Its been said “everyone wishes we had the essentials of great leadership early in our lives, careers,” but I have been one of the few that had this trait at an early age. Many people that have come in contact me were surprised to know that I was the youngest in my family because of how assertive I am, and how I have taken control of situations. I do think that leadership qualities can be developed, but true leaders are born with a special something. What is that special something? I really don’t know, but I’m going to try to help you understand what its like, “being a leader from birth.”

Seven Leadership Essentials:

Who am I?

I am a 22-year-old woman that was born and in raised in St. Albans, WV. I would like to be able to say that growing up I faced a lot of adversity in school or at home but I didn’t. I grew up making straight A’s, which was the only acceptable thing when my Mom was a college Professor. My home life was enjoyable to say the least. People have compared my family to the “Brady Bunch,” but I wouldn’t go that far. My parents have been married for thirty-five years and counting, so my home life is an area of strength for me. I am just a girl raised in the country, so how could I lead a girl raised in the Bronx? How can I relate to someone born and raised in California?

What is authentic leadership?

I was never given a template for “how to lead” or “what it takes to be a leader.” The everyday leaders to me were my parents. I aspired to give my all in everything such as they did with my sisters and I. For example: My mother and I stayed up all night perfecting my science fair project. Now, did the extra six hours that we put in making sure everything was right matter? To some, no, but to us it was the difference in getting 1st and 2nd place, so it meant everything. I want my leadership legacy to be I always strived for first place, and rarely received second place. But how can I, being a perfectionist, inspire someone that is lazy?

How does leadership exist in teams?

There are many types of teams in life. It can be a group project in class, a volleyball team, organizations fighting for the same cause, etc. So how does leadership exist in teams is a very broad question, but there is also a very broad answer. To be a leader you need people to follow you, your passion, and your ideas. I also think that at times, a leader has to know when to take the back seat and follow. My strength may be English, while my co-workers/teammates strength is math. By allowing my partner to take the lead on math related issues shows that I trust and have confidence in him/her. But how can a leader allow someone to lead them? How can I allow someone give me an answer to a question that I already had figured out?

How do I communicate?

I have always been blessed to be able to communicate with people from different cultures and different backgrounds. I’ve done this, by not trying to be anything other than who I am. I’m not going to try to seem more street savvy because I am talking to someone from Detroit nor would I try to change my country accent because I am talking someone from Beverly Hills. When a person knows that you are being real with them, they are more likely to listen to what you have to say. But now that I have their attention what do I say to them? How do I know which words to use, and when to stop and listen?

What do I do with conflict?

Conflict is not something that I have had to deal with a lot while growing up; yet dealing with it is one of my strongest leadership traits. I know when things are right, I know when they are wrong, and I know ways to fix them. This may sound simple, and you may be thinking that we all know when things are right and wrong. Sometimes someone may say all the right things to you, but you still need to realize that something is wrong. It may be from my “Brady Bunch” upbringing, but I just want everyone to be happy, or as happy as possible. Being a leader means that I may have to temporarily jeopardize my happiness to bring other people together and make them happy. But why would I do something that makes me unhappy? Why does it matter to me if they are unhappy?

How do my values affect my actions?

Values are everything when it comes to being a leader. I put value in hard work, honesty, and trustworthiness. I have to lead by example as well as through words. I cannot tell someone to run harder while I’m the last person finishing the sprints. I cannot inspire someone to be truthful at all times when I have previously lied to them. And I definitely cannot ask someone to follow me if they don’t trust my leadership skills. But how did I gain their trust? And why will my teammates trust me far after our college years spent together?

What’s my vision?

My vision was to try to explain to you how I think, and how being a leader was something that has always dwelled within me. I know that everyone has the ability to have leadership traits but I also think that some people should aspire to be followers. Not followers that do what others say whether it is good or bad. The followers I’m referring to are also known as hard-workers, go-getters, or employees of the month. I am an athlete, and I lead my teammates, yet my Coaches lead me. Let’s face it, most of us are going to have a boss, or someone that tells us what we should do, but this doesn’t mean that you cant lead within your smaller groups. The answer to all of the questions that I asked in this article is simple. Its that “special something” I have. My something is different than yours, but everyone has a special something. So start today and find out…. what’s yours?

Could the Shock’s run in Detroit be coming to an end after 12 seasons and three WNBA titles? A group of investors in Tulsa, Okla., said Thursday it will formally apply to the WNBA to purchase a franchise. Lead investor Bill Cameron said his group, called Tulsa Pro Hoops LLC, expects a decision from the league by the end of October. The goal is to have a team in Tulsa for the 2010 season.

Will Tulsa’s new team be the Shock?

Forrest Cameron (no relation to Bill Cameron), publisher of the Greater Tulsa Reporter newspapers, told the Free Press that Nolan Richardson, the former coach at Arkansas and Tulsa, was involved with a group that is trying to bring the Shock or another team to Tulsa. Bill Cameron and fellow investor David Box have said Richardson would serve as the team’s coach and general manager should Tulsa land a franchise.

Shock coach Rick Mahorn had no comment about the matter Thursday. Shock owner Karen Davidson, general manager Cheryl Reeve and Tom Wilson, president of Palace Sports and Entertainment, did not return calls to the Free Press.

If not the Shock, Tulsa’s new potential team could be the Indiana Fever or Atlanta Dream — franchises that have struggled financially and had been reportedly looking for an ownership change.  Indiana did announce recently that the Fever would stay in Indiana.

The Associated Press reported there was speculation Fever ownership would not keep the team after losing money each season. Then earlier this week, a letter to fans on the Fever’s Web site said the team is looking forward to another great season in 2010 and beyond.

Dream owner Ron Terwilliger told the WNBA in August that he wanted to give up his position of primary owner of the 2-year-old franchise, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. So there is uncertainly whether that team will remain in Atlanta.

The league had set a Sept. 1 deadline for Tulsa to get a franchise by next season, but WNBA president Donna Orender later softened that deadline. Bill Cameron said the investor group didn’t want to make the application “until we felt we were at the point where we could make a credible presentation.” Forrest Cameron said the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce also is supporting Tulsa’s WNBA effort.

One of the most successful franchise’s in league history, the Shock won three WNBA titles under Bill Laimbeer, now an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and lost in the Eastern Conference finals to the Fever this past season. Detroit won titles in 2003, 2006 and 2008.

Free Press sports writer Perry A. Farrell contributed to this report.

Tulsa group to formally apply for WNBA team

With new supporters on board, a group of investors in Tulsa said Thursday they will formally apply to the WNBA to purchase a franchise.

Lead investor Bill Cameron said his group, called Tulsa Pro Hoops LLC, will exercise its option to buy a WNBA team and expected a decision from the league by the end of October. The goal is to have a team in Tulsa for the 2010 season, Cameron told The Associated Press.

“Obviously we are waiting on pins and needles until they tell us,” Cameron said.

Cameron said Scott and Katie Schofield are the latest investors to join the group, which announced in July that it hoped to gain enough financial support to bring a team to Tulsa in 2010.

The league had set a Sept. 1 deadline for Tulsa to get a franchise by next season, but WNBA president Donna Orender later softened that deadline. Cameron said the investor group didn’t want to make the application “until we felt we were at the point where we could make a credible presentation.”

“We’ve been working hard to get there,” Cameron said. “It’s kind of like you just finished your exams and turned in your mid-term paper. We’ve still got plenty of stuff to do but there is a sense of accomplishment. We feel good about where we are.”

Phone messages left with WNBA spokesman Ron Howard late Thursday weren’t immediately returned.

The Schofields have roots in Oklahoma, with Katie having played basketball at Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa. She later attended what is now St. Gregory’s University and Oklahoma State University in the 1980s. The couple lives in the Washington, D.C., area.

“I never imagined when I was growing up playing 6-on-6 basketball that something even remotely close to a WNBA team would ever be reality in Oklahoma and that I would be involved in it,” Katie Schofield said.

Last month, Cameron and fellow investor David Box – both Oklahoma City businessmen – announced that former Tulsa and Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson would serve as the WNBA team’s coach and general manager should the city of Tulsa land a franchise.

That announcement “generated a lot of interest in the team” and allowed the investor group “to put a face on the team so that people understand that we are committed to winning with Nolan and we are serious about this,” Cameron said. “It has helped make this more tangible.”

The Tulsa team would play at the downtown BOK Center.

Besides Box, Cameron and the Schofields, the group of investors includes Don and Pat Hardin, Sam and Rita Combs, Pat Chernicky, Stuart and Linda Price and Paula Marshall, all from the Tulsa area.