Women's Hoops Blog

Inane commentary on a game that deserves far better


Thursday, July 07, 2005

While Connecticut papers tout Connecticut's wins, USA Today looks at the business side of the Sun's success.

Sun CEO Mitchell Etess: "We're doing well at the gate, and we're doing well in the standings.... If I were a person out there wondering whether I should [operate a WNBA franchise], we're a good reason why they should."

This year's All-Star is (supposedly) a genuine sellout, (almost) unaided by ticket giveaways. Taj McWilliams-Franklin remembers the Orlando All-Star Game: "We had some die-hard fans that really loved us, but for the majority it was, 'I'm just here, somebody gave me some tickets.' In Connecticut, people know you, and they come here because they like basketball and they know the game."

Mohegan Tribal Council chair Mike Brown: ""We're the first Native American tribe to own a professional sports franchise — but not only that, a good team. So all the eyes of the Indian country are looking at us as the first. We're paving new ground."

Also paving new ground, the New London Day profiles Sun assistant coaches Mattox and Hawk. Thibault and Hawk met in Omaha, when Thibault was coaching the CBA Omaha Racers, and Hawk was coaching girls' high school ball.

The CT ASG even has its own blog.