http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/19422.html
What a Shock: Laimbeer gets what he wants
By Joe Davidson and Melody Gutierrez - Bee Staff Writers
Last Updated 9:04 am PDT Thursday, September 7, 2006
The man sauntered into the media room just as sweat-soaked, just as spent.
But this time Bill Laimbeer was armed with a steady, satisfying grin of triumph.
The Detroit Shock coach lambasted the officials after his last visit to Arco Arena -- and was promptly fined for it -- but Laimbeer got what he really pleaded for Wednesday night in Game 4. Effort. And a chance to dethrone the Monarchs on Saturday in Detroit.
"Intensity and effort, desire and will ... " Laimbeer said in sizing up the Shock's 72-52 rout. "There was nothing magical that the coaching staff did."
Laimbeer also couldn't resist delivering a sharp-elbowed jab at ESPN, the network that has carried the series and has stirred the ire of the man. He pulled all the stops in motivating his players, even convincing it that ESPN was out to get the Shock.
"We have watched us be maligned by ESPN's Doris Burke and Nancy Lieberman, calling us nasty, ugly things," said Laimbeer, who booted ESPN staffers from his practice on Tuesday and refused to be wired for Wednesday's game. "It actually helped us, brought us together. We joke a lot with our ballclub, and one of the things that we were laughing about was we would like nothing better than to go downtown and play in Joe Louis Arena and have Doris Burke actually have to go and stay in downtown Detroit. She'll probably stay in her hotel room the whole time. That was one of our driving forces today."
Big on Riley -- Ruth Riley can play at this level, with her WNBA Finals MVP trophy with Detroit in 2003 as ideal proof. The Shock center has struggled in this series, however, with Laimbeer saying before Game 4 that she's been "overmatched."
Riley didn't score in Game 4, and she managed only four rebounds in 27 minutes, but she was an interior presence with two blocked shots and plenty of other altered attempts.
"Ruth Riley was big," Laimbeer said. "She had a doughnut (in scoring, but) she was physical. (The Monarchs) missed shots because they had to shoot over a 6-5 player with a reach."
Coaching future? -- Jerry Reynolds, the former Monarchs general manager, traded for Kara Lawson of Detroit in 2003. He likes the Monarchs' mainstay and said he sees leadership greatness.
"She's the best young potential coaching prospect I've ever been around," Reynolds said. "I'd almost be disappointed if she didn't coach. She could coach anywhere, any level. The women's college game, the WNBA, anywhere. She might even become the first woman to coach men's basketball. She has that special ability."
U.S. hoops -- Cheryl Ford of the Shock was among those added to the U.S. roster Wednesday to reinforce the frontcourt after WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks and Sacramento's Yolanda Griffith withdrew because of family reasons.
The Women's World Championships will be held in Brazil Sept. 12-23.
Ford then toasted her good news by scoring her team's first points and finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Laimbeer said he went inside immediately because "she's our horse" and because assistant coach Rick Mahorn threatens bodily harm otherwise.
Big hits -- Hamchétou Maïga-Ba of the Monarchs required six stitches after being hit below her right eye with 7:04 remaining in the second quarter. She did not play the rest of the half and finished with four points.
Good luck -- Monarchs coach John Whisenant isn't particularly superstitious, but he wore his purple tie just in case -- and he heeded assistant coach Tom Abatemarco's advice not to get a haircut before the game. It's time for refreshed superstitions after Whisenant lost his first home playoff game.
"I got a haircut before a (playoff) game in Houston and we lost," Whisenant said.
Et cetera -- Monarchs co-owner Gavin Maloof addressed the crowd before Wednesday's game, pleading for a yes vote on Measures Q and R for a new arena.
• Kings players Mike Bibby, Francisco García and Ronnie Price attended the game.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com. The Bee's Melody Gutierrez can be reached at (916) 326-5521 or mgutierrez@sacbee.com.
What a Shock: Laimbeer gets what he wants
By Joe Davidson and Melody Gutierrez - Bee Staff Writers
Last Updated 9:04 am PDT Thursday, September 7, 2006
The man sauntered into the media room just as sweat-soaked, just as spent.
But this time Bill Laimbeer was armed with a steady, satisfying grin of triumph.
The Detroit Shock coach lambasted the officials after his last visit to Arco Arena -- and was promptly fined for it -- but Laimbeer got what he really pleaded for Wednesday night in Game 4. Effort. And a chance to dethrone the Monarchs on Saturday in Detroit.
"Intensity and effort, desire and will ... " Laimbeer said in sizing up the Shock's 72-52 rout. "There was nothing magical that the coaching staff did."
Laimbeer also couldn't resist delivering a sharp-elbowed jab at ESPN, the network that has carried the series and has stirred the ire of the man. He pulled all the stops in motivating his players, even convincing it that ESPN was out to get the Shock.
"We have watched us be maligned by ESPN's Doris Burke and Nancy Lieberman, calling us nasty, ugly things," said Laimbeer, who booted ESPN staffers from his practice on Tuesday and refused to be wired for Wednesday's game. "It actually helped us, brought us together. We joke a lot with our ballclub, and one of the things that we were laughing about was we would like nothing better than to go downtown and play in Joe Louis Arena and have Doris Burke actually have to go and stay in downtown Detroit. She'll probably stay in her hotel room the whole time. That was one of our driving forces today."
Big on Riley -- Ruth Riley can play at this level, with her WNBA Finals MVP trophy with Detroit in 2003 as ideal proof. The Shock center has struggled in this series, however, with Laimbeer saying before Game 4 that she's been "overmatched."
Riley didn't score in Game 4, and she managed only four rebounds in 27 minutes, but she was an interior presence with two blocked shots and plenty of other altered attempts.
"Ruth Riley was big," Laimbeer said. "She had a doughnut (in scoring, but) she was physical. (The Monarchs) missed shots because they had to shoot over a 6-5 player with a reach."
Coaching future? -- Jerry Reynolds, the former Monarchs general manager, traded for Kara Lawson of Detroit in 2003. He likes the Monarchs' mainstay and said he sees leadership greatness.
"She's the best young potential coaching prospect I've ever been around," Reynolds said. "I'd almost be disappointed if she didn't coach. She could coach anywhere, any level. The women's college game, the WNBA, anywhere. She might even become the first woman to coach men's basketball. She has that special ability."
U.S. hoops -- Cheryl Ford of the Shock was among those added to the U.S. roster Wednesday to reinforce the frontcourt after WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks and Sacramento's Yolanda Griffith withdrew because of family reasons.
The Women's World Championships will be held in Brazil Sept. 12-23.
Ford then toasted her good news by scoring her team's first points and finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Laimbeer said he went inside immediately because "she's our horse" and because assistant coach Rick Mahorn threatens bodily harm otherwise.
Big hits -- Hamchétou Maïga-Ba of the Monarchs required six stitches after being hit below her right eye with 7:04 remaining in the second quarter. She did not play the rest of the half and finished with four points.
Good luck -- Monarchs coach John Whisenant isn't particularly superstitious, but he wore his purple tie just in case -- and he heeded assistant coach Tom Abatemarco's advice not to get a haircut before the game. It's time for refreshed superstitions after Whisenant lost his first home playoff game.
"I got a haircut before a (playoff) game in Houston and we lost," Whisenant said.
Et cetera -- Monarchs co-owner Gavin Maloof addressed the crowd before Wednesday's game, pleading for a yes vote on Measures Q and R for a new arena.
• Kings players Mike Bibby, Francisco García and Ronnie Price attended the game.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com. The Bee's Melody Gutierrez can be reached at (916) 326-5521 or mgutierrez@sacbee.com.
