Guru's note: Contrary to rumor, the Guru has not been at every major WBB historical event and was not on the scene for Saturday's racket at Arthur Ashe Stadium involving the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever.
But given the cool, air-conditioned setting in the home office where he was working the sports desk allows the Guru to give you a quick posting on the scene-setter from our AP friend Melissa Murphy. The Guru will be back later for some commentary on the event, the Mystics, and a few shoutouts.
Fans try to stay cool at Liberty Outdoor Classic
By MELISSA MURPHY
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK — Indiana All-Star Tamika Catchings called playing in 90-degree
heat at Arthur Ashe Stadium “street ball in a professional realm.”
New York’s Lisa Willis didn’t seem bothered by the summer sun after
coming off the practice court before the first regular-season outdoor game
in professional basketball history, featuring the host Liberty and the
Fever.
Kids and adults were handed free fans as they entered the USTA Billie
Jean National Tennis Center for the fan festival at the Liberty Outdoor
Classic on Saturday night.
Former Knicks Allan Houston and John Starks along with former Liberty
stars Kym Hampton and Sue Wicks participated in the fan festival.
“It kind of reminds me of the first days of the WNBA,” Hampton said of
the fans flowing into the stadium.
Billie Jean King was enthusiastic about trading tennis balls for
basketballs at her namesake venue. Nearly 35 years ago, she played at the
Houston Astrodome against Bobby Riggs in the famous “Battle of the Sexes”
match.
“It’s the perfect arena, it’s almost the same (dimensions),” King said
recently. “Basketball was my first love, so for me, it’s very appropriate
that the WNBA is playing the game at the center.
“Anytime we can use the venue, I think it’s great for the community.”
Players passed by photos of King, John McEnroe, Serena Williams, and
other tennis stars en route to the court. The Liberty players were told to
drink more fluids days before the game, and big buckets of ice, along with
wet towels, were available to both teams.
Huge industrial fans on the corners of the court helped cool the players
and coaches. Swirling wind in the bowl of Arthur Ashe Stadium seemed to be
more of an issue.
“It’s not as hot as I thought it would be,” Willis said. “I didn’t think
about the wind factor on my jump shot, it just means I’ll have to be more
aggressive and drive to the basket.”
Catchings was impressed by the transformation of the Liberty court, all
226 pieces of hardwood, moved from Madison Square Garden.
“This is probably the coolest venue I’ve ever played in,” she said. “We
did the outdoor game for Tennessee against Arizona State at the Diamondback
stadium in Arizona, but this is awesome.
“Playing street ball, you play on concrete, and sometimes the baskets
were nice, but sometimes raggedy from all the guys dunking on them. Here,
you’ve got the official wooden court.”
Catchings said the extravaganza, complete with fireworks and confetti,
represented more than a basketball game.
“It’s about how far we’ve come,” she said of the league, now in its 12th
season. “It not only hits the basketball fans, it hits the tennis fans and
now it hits people who just want to be a part of the first anything in
sports.”
Indiana coach Lin Dunn, who has coached at the college and professional
level for nearly 30 years, remembers a much hotter basketball game.
“I coached a college team in Puerto Rico one time,” she said. “We had a
cover overhead, but without any sides, like a pavilion. That was serious
heat, a lot hotter than here.”
Liberty coach Patty Coyle helped select Indiana as the opponent for the
historic game. She was an assistant to Dunn at Miami from 1982-84 during her
first years out of Rutgers.
“I’m thrilled that Indiana is here,” Coyle said. “She’s my mentor.”
There were 19,393 in attendance for the first non-tennis sporting event
at the center. Knicks forward David Lee pitched in, buying $15,000 in
tickets to help kids attend.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation will receive a portion of the
proceeds from ticket sales.
Samantha Koebele tossed a miniature basketball up to a clown on stilts
during the fan festival.
The Liberty Outdoor Classic was a family affair for 8-year old Samantha,
who came with her mom to watch 13-year-old brother Justin perform at
halftime as part of the Liberty “Little Torches” dance troupe.
“It’s a lot of fun to watch the kids perform, and the basketball, of
course,” said Cindy Koebele, of Islip, N.Y.
Latin pop group Menudo performed before the game, and entertained the
fans after the Liberty lost 71-55.
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