Jan Stirling and Basketball Australia are a joke
Friday 12 December 2003
Click here to read this disturbing (yet amusing) article.
Let's analyse some of Jan's quotes:
"Some candidates for the team, especially those who are playing in both Europe and America, may see it as one rule for Jackson and another for the rest"
Well yes... BECAUSE IT IS.
"But that's not the case. We have in Lauren a quality player outside the square and in a league of her own. Unlike others, she does pay homage to the WNBL."
Heaven forfend players try to make some money in Europe. I know Jan, it's just so EVIL that players try to make a living. Hey if you want to keep them here, why don't you PAY them a good salary to stay here?
"My only concern for Lauren after meeting with her in Canberra this week is that she will be a marked woman when she returns to the WNBA next season. You don't win their league's MVP and come away with the tag of the game's best from the world club championship and not expect to be a target."
Duh. LJ's been a target since she was 15-16. However I am aware Jan doesn't follow those "superfluous" international leagues.
The above quotes just reinforce what an idiot Stirling is.
Despite this edict from Ms Stirling and Basketball Australia, I think Penny Taylor and Kristi Harrower should defy it. It would be a travesty if either of them was left off the team and Jan and BA would be shooting themselves in the foot if they did. There really is no point to staying and "training" with the team - Jan doesn't have an offensive playbook and she's a crap coach. Just look at her steady decline in the last couple of seasons. Her assistants (Karen Dalton and Phil Brown) can EASILY outcoach her. Also a majority of the team does not like Ms Stirling and this is not a rumour - it is a fact.
The WNBA is a good warmup to the Olympics - you get regular competition against the best in the world. In fact, BA should seriously consider having pre-Olympic Opals training camp there. Therefore the WNBAers can go and you could organise warmup matches against strong teams in the US. I doubt BA would do that though - it's outside their narrow way of thinking.