It's been just over a year since I posted an entry on Candace Parker. It was after her two dunks, and I insinuated they weren't really dunks. I should have followed up on that before now.
In the Sunday Drive this past Sunday, I wondered if Parker is the best female basketball player ever. One person said it was a crazy question. Is it?
Pat Summitt said she's the best player she's ever coached, and that carries some weight.
I don't watch women's basketball, so I'm not sure. But from what I've seen, she looks pretty good.
I watch women's basketball. The bottom line is: Pat Summit says she is the best, so that means she is. There is no smoke and mirrors in Women's college hoops. Believe it.
I can't speak on the "ever" part...but she is the best I have ever seen. Her game has no holes, so if someone is qualified to make a best ever judgement they must include her in the conversation. Sheryl Swoopes pre-children was similarly dominating. Candace has a little more length to her that really separates her from the rest of the greats. I am not old enough to remember Cheryl Miller, but the stories of her game are legendary. I am excited to see how she holds up in the WNBA, if it is still solvent in two years!!!
K.Brown
If, as you admit, "don't watch women's basketball", you should keep your dirty piehole shut.
Roman responds: Clever.
all i gots to say is stop hating. jus' cuz candace can dunk and u can't. she the best....dunkin over other people is hard and she can do that. can play any position on the court. thats awesome.
Let's face it...since the days of Cheryl Miller (I still contend Reggie's dance after he beat the Bulls a few years back, that he looked exactly like her), ESPN has jammed this sport down our throat.
Having said that, she is an unbelievable talent - however to my knowledge, she has never "dunked over people". The odd thing is ESPN treats each dunk (3 ?) a little like a freak show...maybe it's just me.
Women play basketball? Hmmmm...
Here's a free one for some aspiring entrepreneur. I say create a "Candace Parker VS Cheryl Miller" video game. Then add some other well known Women Basketball players such as Ms. Cooper, Ms. Swoopes, Ms. Baird, Ms. Holdsclaw, Ms. Lesley etc.... There is an abundance of talented women basketball players. The problem afflicting the women's game in this country is a lack of endorsements and media support. I'm an avid sports fan and the women play an entertaining and intense game of basketball. There version reminds me of the days before the highfliers took over.
I saw her first two dunks, and she wasn't "dunkin" over someone. Maybe her other dunk - which I admittedly haven't seen - was ala Scottie Pippin-over-Patrick Ewing, but I seriously doubt it. All I've gots to say is I'm still trying to figure out what Roman said that equates to "hating". Having seen a couple of her dunks, I can honestly say that I've seen 5'10" guys do the same, and I didn't find them "awsome".
Gotta agree with not-a-cub fan--women's basketball is far more interesting than men's--fast-paced, generally fundamentally-sound.
As for Parker being the best? I don't know--there's so much more parity in the women's game. Swoopes, Leslie and Miller were dominant--my favorite of all time would have to be Jennifer Azzi, though.
Roman responds: Far more interesting? Are you nuts? A colleague of mine has a pretty good line that the leader in blocked shots in women's basketball always is: The Bottom of the Backboard.
Do women realy play basketball??? Why would you want to see a bunch of over grown females play anything unless in a short skirt. Women golfers and tennis players I can tolerate because some of them are actually fun to look at but women basketball players are not very nice to look at(my opinion, so don't go nuts). For the person who brought up a arcade game featuring women b ball players. HAHA.. that was a joke, right?
I have seen women basketball players from all over the country but believe me some of the people that are not included was Diondra Toney from Notre Dame before she got injured, several DePaul Players and even some from Chicago State that played very well. On The national level, I still believe that Cheryl Miller is a better player than Reggie Miller. Women basketball is more fundamentally sound than men, but men compensate with their athleticism. I would rather watch women play than men as teaching technique.
Far more interesting? Are you nuts? A colleague of mine has a pretty good line that the leader in blocked shots in women's basketball always is: The Bottom of the Backboard.
Okay--that's funny, but spoken like a man who lives in the Town That Jordan Built (or nearby). Men's basketball is significantly more unidimensional; we all know Iverson and Bryant are gonna get away with traveling, we all know most of the teams are gonna play some kind of boring isolation offense, and we all know that nobody's going to cut off the damn baseline anymore. The men's game caters to the kind of showboating that makes all-star weekend fun, but absolutely nothing else. There are some exceptions (Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade), but that's the size of it. The women's game features some strange thing called "passing the ball" that you rarely see in the men's.
Roman: Darryl, I'm glad you enjoy it. Really. I wish more people did. Those athletes deserve to be supported. I am just an old unenlightened male.
Women's basketball is more fundamentally sound and it has improved over the years. Parker is one of the best maybe next to Duke's Harding(except she choked in the Final Four). Parker's game is dominant and she plays effortless.
Roman: Bottom of thr backboard? I bet 80% of those young ladies could run cirlces around you..
Roman responds: Perhaps, but I'm not expecting anyone to watch me play.
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The women's game features some strange thing called "passing the ball" that you rarely see in the men's.
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Kobe Bryant, I think you just been called out man! But you are not by yourself, just more known for it.
Reasons why I like women's sports. Women are cute, nice to look at, and sexy as hell. (yes ladies, these are sexist remarks) What the heck, if nothing else when losing you ladies don't start fights like the Neanderthal testosterone gender....*LOL*
Come on guys, when the last time have you seen an all out brawl by a women's sports team? The ladies play the game correctly albeit at a slower pace. (But that depends on what sport it is, also) I ain't taking on Serena and Venus in a tennis match. Oh no, they will not hand me my testicles in a cup, and smile pretty while during it. *LOL*
I have to admit Candace Parker is the best I have ever seen. The girl has some serious game. It's like watching a woman and little girls out there on the court. She can do whatever she wants, when she wants, to whoever she wants. If that's not great, what is? I don't accept that women's basketball is so watered down that they can't stop her because of it. They just can't stop her!
With that said, unfortunately women's basketball will never be as widely accepted as men's because we live in the day of the casual fan. Casual fans wan't the fast breaking, money making, hip shaking rim rattling razzle dazzle dunks that only men can provide. Without that, women's basketball will always look like an inferior product.
Sorry,late to the show. I think it's great the one woman can do what not too many women have done. Her dunking is the equal to a man slamming the ball with the rim under his waist. I think that woman should have fans in any sport and should play any sport because everyone should have something they're crazy about. I don't knock skiing,hockey,golf or the X games because I'd be knocking their fans.
I think that Candace Parketr is really really hot. She is the best basketball player rite now. I enjoy watchin' her play. I nver seen anything like it before. She is going 2 b 1 of the greatest in the game.
I think that Candace has it goin' on u digg.
Im new to the womens basketball thing but everyone out dere has 2 admit candace parker is the best out dere rite now. her game is ridiculous no one can stop her she can play almost every position..when she gets 2 da WNBA teams is gonna be figthin ova her..as 4 her dunks u dont see a women dunk all the tyme so its big deal and i personally love it
cadace parker is one of my idol, i thought that i was good at basketball but i found out that its gone always be someone out there better than you, so that gave me nothig to do but to work harder at what i love to do best, i plan on playing college ball and become just like candace parker, even better, i might not be able to dunk like her but i got a lil jumper but my main dream is to play college ball and go on from there
Neva #21
I NO CP IS GOING TO THE WNBA SHE IS GOOD CAN'T NO BODY HOLD HER MAN I'M TELLING YALL.
Candace Parker is a grest basketball player and I can't wiat for her to go to the WNBA.I'm just waiting for that day when I get to meet her.She is an idol to all those girls out there that want to be a basketball player