RebKell's Junkie Boards

[bigbri131014]

[Daddychoc]

I attacked you, I dont think so. We just disagreed on a topic.

Reading these message boards makes it very hard to understand a person's opinion. Thats the BIGGEST problem.

Its hard to go back and forth with 3-5 hours in between the last comment.

Its nice to hear that a movie is coming out and my wife Janet will be starring in it.

[giraffespots]

[Daddychoc]

ok we're sorry for not including her in this discussion but Diana, Candace, & WNBA players

[bballjunkee212]

I am ever amused that I can raise hackles with the least suggestion that she may not be the “Best Player in America.” I am further amused that, even though I have stated often, and clearly, that my knock is not with Candace, but with ESPN’s foregone conclusion that she is BPIA, the inevitable response is that I “hate” Candace.

I am intrigued that so many folks are so conditioned to accept marketing hype that they respond in anger to statement that calls it such, or suggests that the hype isn’t supported by the facts. I’m afraid you’d lynch me if I said some blonde white chick with big titties wasn’t the Sexiest Woman Alive.

For the record, I believe that ESPN has engaged in a subtle, year-long campaign to annoint Parker as BPIA. I believe ESPN has done so because Parker’s talent makes her a top prospect for the WNBA. But more so, Parker has a lean, athletic build which fits the WNBA model. More so, Parker has lighter skin tone and features that are more “Caucasian” than many other African American athletes. And yes, I believe ESPN is capable of that form of racism.

For the record, the numbers set forth below do not support a conclusion that Parker is the *best* player in America. She is not in the top ten in any statistical category. For those who would argue that UT’s schedule prevents her from being the top in any category, I am presenting for comparison other athletes who play in top conferences, or against top competition.

For those who would argue that Parker “can play every position,” compare her to other forwards. Note that Whittington, Larkins and Brown are better rebounders; Wisdom-Hylton, Pringle and Wilson are better rebounders; Larkins, Brown and Houston shoot better.

As you can see, many players outdo Parker in every category. Many players outdo Parker in multiple categories.

One player in particular, Courtney Paris, outshines Parker significantly in every category in which they both appear. While Parker is not top five in any category, Paris is top five in every category (in which she appears) except FG%, where she is 11th.

Courtney Paris was also the fastest woman in history to reach the 1000/700 mark. And she has registered double-doubles in all but three of her college games. But ESPN rarely mentions Courtney Paris, even though she and Parker are in the same class. I believe this is because Paris does not fit ESPN’s “profile” for marketing. She is big, her skin is darker than Parker’s and her features are not as “white.”

In plain, blunt terms, ESPN isn’t telling you who the BPIA is, it is marketing an illusion of BPIA, just like when the media tells your Scarlet Johanson is the “sexiest woman alive.” And some of you believe it so thoroughly that you react with the bulletin board equivalent of a punch in the nose when someone tells you otherwise.

Finally, for the record, I have no problem with Parker’s mouth, because that stuff has a way of evening itself out. If UT finds itself down eight to Duke in a national semifinal, with under a minute to play, I guarantee you, Parker won’t be woofing.


Scoring: Parker ranks 12th. Paris ranks 3d, others in top 12 are from mid-majors.

Rebounding: Parker ranks 30th. Paris ranks 2d behind Lachelle Lyles of SWMS; other notables ranking above Parker: Sylvia Fowles, LSU; Angel McCoughtry, Louisville (she is also 5th in scoring, ahead of Parker); Kadijah Whittington, NCST; Laura Ervin, Ark.; Jennifer Humphrey, Ky.; Erlana Larkins, UNC; Amanda Brown, PSU.

Assists: No one named above appears in the top 50.

Blocked Shots: Parker ranks 19th. Allison Bales leads this category, with Paris 4th. Other notables ahead of Parker: Alyssa DeHaan, MIST; Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton, Purdue; LaToya Pringle, UNC; Jessica Davenport, OHST; Kia Vaughn, RU; Danielle Wilson, Baylor.

Steals: None of the aforementioned in the top 50. Category is led by Armintie Price of Ole Miss. Alexis Hornbuckle ranks 8th.

FG percentage: Parker ranks 50th. Paris ranks 11th. Crystal Langhorne leads the category. Other notables ahead of Parker: Jackie McFarland, CU; Jessica Davenport, OHST; Amanda Brown, PSU; Sylvia Fowles, LSU; Tina Charles, Charde Houston, Uconn; Kia Vaughn, RU; Erlana Larkins, UNC.

FT percentage: None of the aforementioned in the top 50.

3PT percentage: Parker, who “can play every position,” not in the top 50. Neither is Paris.

3FGA per game: A lot of guards.

http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings (last visited: Feb. 27, 2007)

_________________
~Bill

[luvDhoops]

[mercfan3]

There is always going to be disagreement over who the best player is.

After seeing her in Connecticut, I don't know if there is any player in the country more talanted than Parker..Statistics don't tell the whole story. If they did, Taurasi would not be mentioned in any elite category. But then you are forgetting what she did in her career, 3 championships (and Uconn was not even close to a top ten team without her..) Consistently saving the day for the huskies, the fact that she was extremely unselfish, and rarely took more than 14 shots a game..the fact that, in all honesty, she played her last two years at Uconn out of position, and excelled. Her scoring doesn't look great, but she's the third highest scorer in Uconn history, and she's the assist leader, playing the point, which was not her postition..Stats wouldn't tell you she's anywhere close...except for those rings on her and her teammates finger..And Geno Auriemma and Pat Summit would probably laugh at you if you suggested she wasn't.

As I think Geno and Pat would laugh at anyone who suggested Parker wasn't the most talanted player in the country. But then again, it's laughable to say that Parker is the best ever, or even that she's definitely POY. That is hype, that is what pisses people off. She hasn't truly earned POY, and she most certainly hasn't even earned consideration for Best ever.

My point, if you've watched her..she most certainly is extrordinary. Paris' stats are incredible, but you do have to take into account who she plays against, and how the offenses are run. (Although, admitedly, both offenses seem to be the same, but Parker is a better passer, and her teammates get more involved.)

Anyway, that wasn't what this thread was about. I agree with Bri, which is Parker does not have the personality to overshadow her arrogance like Taurasi did. Her talent, ability to dunk, and looks (and I don't believe that's because she has caucasion attributes...the girl looks like Beyonce, she's beautiful.) make her marketable. But she isn't a "personality" like Taurasi was/is. And to behonest, for me, she doesn't have that Tiger, Michelle Wie, Taurasi, on court persona. She's an Annika Sorenstam, a VJ...and I agree with you about hype...if she couldn't dunk, and if she wasn't stunning, she would not get nearly the amount of attention she recieves.

_________________
“Anyone point out that a Donald Trump anagram is ‘Lord Dampnut’�- Colin Mochrie

[pilight]

[luvDhoops]

[Slovydal]

[Bobblehead4ya]

[bballjunkee212]

I see Parker has been nominated for an Espy as "Best Female Athlete," when she is not even the best player in her own game. I predict the award will go to her, because ESPN has invested heavily in the marketing of Parker. However, the award should go to Taryne Mowatt, who did more to get her team to the NC than Parker would probably have been capable of doing. IMHO.

_________________
~Bill

[aurabass]

[CamrnCrz1974]

[mmcornelius23]

Since facts are an issue, the Six Pack as a whole has never played Duke and never will.

[CamrnCrz1974]

[bballjunkee212]

I fully concede that UT's SOS was #1. But OU's was #12. It's not like they were playing a completely different caliber of competition.

My point was, and remains, that Parker is the "Best Player in America" because ESPN wants her to be.

_________________
~Bill

[CamrnCrz1974]

Aurabass keeps saying the titles do not matter and focuses so much on the regular season, the strength of schedule, etc. But when Duke comes up (on this board and others), it is always about not winning the title, regular season be damned.

Pick a theme, and stick with it.

[Bobblehead4ya]

[CamrnCrz1974]

[Bobblehead4ya]

[CamrnCrz1974]

Now try sentence structure.

[mandih23]

[mercfan3]

[aurabass]