08 June 2011
Quote of the Day: Jayda Evans
From Game On, Evans relates the first meeting of Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson:
Great franchises are built through the draft, and every team needs a formidable post and point guard to solidify its foundation. [Then-head coach Lin] Dunn knew she'd be able to secure both in back-to-back drafts.
Bird, whose draft-day studio appearance was part of whirlwind postseason of collecting national awards -- from the Wade trophy to Naismith Player of the Year -- signed a three-year rookie contract worth $57,000 for the first season. The pivotal change was immediate, even if Jackson didn't recognize Bird when they first met.
Back in Australia playing in her WNBL, Jackson didn't hear much about the American college game. She arrived about a week into the 2002 training camp with blurry eyes from the 18-hour flight. She thought the 5-foot-11 Adia Barnes, a free agent with long curly hair and a mixed heritage of black and white, was the notorious Bird, a 5-foot-9 native New Yorker with dimpled cheeks and fair skin accented by dark brown hair. Then the ponytailed sensation whisked the ball inside the paint at a pancake breakfast practice set up for fans at Lake Washington High School, located in the area's affluent Eastside across the 520 bridge.
"Oh. That's Bird," Jackson mumbled to herself, perking up at the idea of playing with someone who could get her the ball.
Great franchises are built through the draft, and every team needs a formidable post and point guard to solidify its foundation. [Then-head coach Lin] Dunn knew she'd be able to secure both in back-to-back drafts.
Bird, whose draft-day studio appearance was part of whirlwind postseason of collecting national awards -- from the Wade trophy to Naismith Player of the Year -- signed a three-year rookie contract worth $57,000 for the first season. The pivotal change was immediate, even if Jackson didn't recognize Bird when they first met.
Back in Australia playing in her WNBL, Jackson didn't hear much about the American college game. She arrived about a week into the 2002 training camp with blurry eyes from the 18-hour flight. She thought the 5-foot-11 Adia Barnes, a free agent with long curly hair and a mixed heritage of black and white, was the notorious Bird, a 5-foot-9 native New Yorker with dimpled cheeks and fair skin accented by dark brown hair. Then the ponytailed sensation whisked the ball inside the paint at a pancake breakfast practice set up for fans at Lake Washington High School, located in the area's affluent Eastside across the 520 bridge.
"Oh. That's Bird," Jackson mumbled to herself, perking up at the idea of playing with someone who could get her the ball.
Labels: Seattle Storm
# posted by mamurd @ 11:49 PM 
