Indiana (22-12) at Phoenix (23-11)

Game info: 9:00 pm EDT Tue Sep 29, 2009
* TV: ESPN2

PHOENIX - The Phoenix Mercury are all about offense, with All-Stars Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter leading a talented cast of scorers in search of the team’s second WNBA title in three years.

The Indiana Fever built their identity on defense, a team that finally ended Detroit’s dominance in the East and has the league’s defensive player of the year, Tamika Catchings, geared up for a one-on-one showdown with Taurasi.

“Those are two amazing players,” said Indiana rookie and ex-Arizona State standout Briann January. “Olympians going head-to-head, going hard. They are two of the hardest-working women in this game. They go at it. Their passion for the game is clear when you watch them play.”

The teams open their best-of-5 series Tuesday night at US Airways Center, where Indiana beat the Mercury earlier this season.

To help make certain Phoenix has a loud homecourt advantage, Suns general manager Steve Kerr bought all 7,000 upper-level tickets and planned to give them away. Kerr said he took a cue from Larry Bird, who bought 9,000 upper level seats for Indiana’s deciding game of the Eastern Conference finals against defending WNBA champion Detroit.

“Both of us were part of championship teams and understand the importance of a packed house,” Kerr said. “For anyone who doubts the WNBA level of play, this is an opportunity to see for yourself. I challenge any doubters to come see the talent, skill and intensity on the court.”

While the Mercury have been here before, this is all new for Catchings, who has spent all eight of her pro seasons with Indiana.

“Oh my gosh, it seems like forever,” Catchings said before the Fever worked out on Monday. “… We’ve worked so hard and it’s finally paying off.”

The Fever defensive standout says she always looks forward to facing Taurasi, who led the WNBA in scoring for the third time and is averaging 23.8 points per game in the playoffs.

“I love playing against the best offensive players,” Catchings said. “Being a defensive player and priding myself in defense, I definitely love the challenge. We and ‘D’ go way back. Even when she makes a good move or gets a shot in my face, it’s all in love.”

Mercury coach Corey Gaines uses the same ultra up-tempo style that his predecessor, Paul Westhead, installed in guiding Phoenix to the league championship two years ago. Five players remain from the squad that beat Detroit in five games two years ago.

“We take into this our experience from 2007, which is such a positive for us and knowing that we can get it done,” Pondexter said, “and knowing what it took to get it done in 2007 is so important and gives me a lot of confidence in this team.”

Catchings calls Phoenix “a great running team.”

“They’re very quick, move the ball, with 3-point shooters in Penny (Taylor), DT (Taurasi) and Cappie, and Tangela (Smith) has been shooting the ball very well,” Catchings said. “We’re going to have to step up our defensive intensity and try to knock more baskets down.”

Taurasi calls the Mercury’s preferred style “chaos.”

Phoenix led the WNBA in scoring at 92.8 points per game. The Mercury allowed a league-high 89.1 points per contest. That’s for a 40-minute game.

“We’re not getting enough shots up, really,” Gaines said. “We’re getting around 85. I want to get like 90 or 95. Really 100, that’s my goal. I need 48 minutes. You give me 48 minutes, I’ll get 100 shots.”

Indiana allowed 73.6 points per game, third-fewest in the league, but Fever coach Lin Dunn believes that it’s more than her team’s defense against the Mercury offense.

“I don’t know that it’s a clash in styles,” she said. “They may emphasize offense a little bit more than we do, and we may emphasize defense a little bit more. But we both want to push the ball. The night we beat them here was a very up-tempo game.”

That 90-83 victory on Aug. 9 gives Indiana confidence it can win a playoff game in Phoenix, something the Fever has to do to claim the championship.

“You’ve got to steal one. When you get one on somebody’s home court, you’ve stolen it,” she said, “because you’re supposed to protect serve. That’s the way it is.”

Phoenix won at Indiana 106-90 on Sept. 2, one of only three Fever home losses. Indiana’s No. 2 scorer, Katie Douglas, missed that game with an ankle injury.

Fever top Shock, reach first WNBA finals

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Fever advanced to the WNBA finals for the first time, beating the defending champion Detroit Shock 72-67 on Saturday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Fever, who were eliminated by the Shock the last three seasons, open the finals on Tuesday against Phoenix.

Tammy Sutton-Brown led the Fever with 17 points. Katie Douglas scored 14, and Ebony Hoffman and Tamika Catchings added 10 apiece. Catchings also had eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Deanna Nolan had 16 points for Detroit. Alexis Hornbuckle scored 15 before fouling out with 18 seconds to play. Cheryl Ford finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Team Harper Competes at 4Kay Golf Classic

ATLANTA - The second annual 4Kay™ Golf Classic presented by Nike, was a huge success as 153 women’s basketball coaches, administrators and supporters of the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund®, in partnership with The V Foundation for Cancer Research, gathered in Greensboro, raising over $175,000 for women’s cancers research.

Team Harper, made up of NC State head basketball coach Kellie Harper, assistant coaches Jon Harper and Richard Barron, and the Wolfpack Club’s Chris Combs, finished third on the Grandover West Course with a total team score of –11.

In addition, Jon Harper won the men’s longest drive on hole #6.

“The Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund is very grateful to the ACC and the City of Greensboro for hosting the 2009 Classic,” said Marsha Sharp, Executive Director of the Fund. “The positive response from our sponsors and coaches resulted in a record $175,000 being raised for the Fund, an increase over last year’s $142,000.”

The celebration began with a charity auction and gala on Sunday night. Silent auction items donated from organizations around the nation raised nearly $10,000, but the real fireworks flew during the live auction.

The first item was a pair of tickets to the 2010 Orange Bowl, subject of a bidding battle between the Virginia Tech and Auburn coaching staffs. As the bid grew, the lot was sweetened by Miami head coach Katie Meier offering a dinner for four at Shula’s.

The next three items up for bid were Kay Yow signature items, designated by Coach Yow to benefit the Fund. First, a pink N.C. State jersey autographed by Coach Yow went to Debbie Leonard (former Duke coach), then a pink hat worn by Coach Yow at the inaugural Classic went to Kristina Johnson, United States Under Secretary for Energy and longtime women’s basketball supporter. Finally, Coach Yow’s director’s chair led to a bidding war between Fund board members Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma and board President Stephanie Glance. Auriemma prevailed with a generous $5,000 bid, then doubled his generosity by giving the chair back to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt stepped up to volunteer her pink sparkly cowboy hat for an impromptu live auction item, complete with an autograph to the winning bidder. After the bidding exceeded $1,000, Summitt stepped in and offered $2,000, on the condition that Texas assistant Mickie DeMoss wear the hat during a 2009-10 regular season game. Virginia Tech head coach Beth Dunkenberger volunteered to increase the bid if Texas head coach Gail Goestenkors would wear the hat to coach a televised game. Further negotiations and generosity from the assembled coaches led to a total $10,000 contribution, and Goestenkors and Summitt agreeing to each wear a similar hat to coach their December 6 ESPN2 televised match-up in Knoxville, Tenn., in continued public support of the Fund.

Monday morning dawned into a glorious Greensboro day as 39 foursomes kicked off an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start on the Grandover East and West courses. The format was a four-player captain’s choice, with separate tournaments on the East and West courses. Awards and Nike prize merchandise, including golf bags, putters, sunglasses, and apparel were presented to each of the top three teams as well as to winners of longest drive, closest to the pin, and longest putt.

Team ACC, led by ACC Commissioner John Swofford, won the East Course tournament, while Team Robuck, captained by Frank Robuck, took top West Course honors. Full results are included below.

The day ended with an awards luncheon and speeches from ACC Associate Commissioner for Women’s Basketball and Senior Woman Administrators Nora Lynn Finch and Sharp. “It’s apparent that today’s weather was ordered especially for the coaches by Kay Yow,” Finch said to those assembled.

This year’s event was hosted at the Grandover Resort and Conference Center - thanks to support from the Atlantic Coast Conference, the City of Greensboro, the Greensboro Coliseum, the ACC Tournament Host Committee, and the Greensboro Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). All proceeds benefited the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

Local Greensboro women’s basketball coaches and administrators, led by UNC Greensboro head coach Lynne Agee and Associate AD Kathy Roberts, also gave of their time and resources by serving as the Classic’s welcoming committee. The Fund’s founding partners, including The Hartford, Nike and GlaxoSmithKline were also in attendance in support of the cause.

Special thanks go to the following sponsors of this year’s Classic: Nike (presenting sponsor), Harrison Turner and the Bryan Foundation (breakfast sponsor), Guilford Sports Hall of Fame (hole sponsor), Touchstone Energy (hole sponsor and beverage cart sponsor), Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (hole sponsor) and the Big XII Conference (beverage cart sponsor).

East Course Results 
1st place – Team ACC (-11) – ACC Commissioner John Swofford, Chad Swofford, Jeff Elliott, Amber Elliott.
2nd place – Team Conradt (-8) – Jody Conradt (former Texas head coach), Billie Moore, Mimi Griffin, Chris Plonsky.
3rd place – Team Pepsi (-7) – Brad Corbin, Jimmy Burns, Bob Rusher, Joey Rusher.

Individual Awards: B.J. Chockley (closest to the pin #3), Debbie Leonard (former Duke coach)(closest to the pin #7), Tom Newcome, Sr. (closest to the pin #12), Lynn Davidson (closest to the pin #16), Amber Elliott (women’s longest drive #1), Krista Kilburn (women’s longest drive #10), Jimmy Burns (men’s longest drive #6), Brian Ewald (men’s longest drive #15), Debbie Ryan (Virginia head coach)(longest putt #5), Lulu Eure (longest putt #18).

West Course Results 
1st place – Team Robuck (-14) – Frank Robuck, Billy Daniel, Gerry Herakovich, Bruce Ballard.
2nd place – Team Blair (-12) – Gary Blair (Texas A&M head coach), Steve Stevens, Vic Schaeffer, Charlie Milstead.
3rd place team – Team Harper (-11) – Kellie Harper (N.C. State head coach), Jon Harper, Richard Barron, Chris Combs.

Individual Awards: Charlie Hughes (closest to the pin #3), Jackie Ansley (closest to the pin #5), Dan Delmatro (closest to the pin #11), Kathleen Kunkler (closest to the pin #15 & longest drive #12), Nikki Caldwell (UCLA head coach)(women’s longest drive #2), Jon Harper (men’s longest drive #6), Rob Rayl (men’s longest drive #16), Charlie Milstead (longest putt #7), Marc Bush (longest putt #18).

Candace Parker saves her biggest show for off the court

While Sparks forward Candace Parker recounted her ongoing balancing act of being a working mom, she declared her everyday life would be entertaining enough to become a reality show.

It would be called "Three Dogs, a Husband and a Baby" -- "the reality show I live every day," Parker says, a title that sounds like a throwback to "Three Men and a Baby." Parker's night mostly involves her 3-and-a-half month daughter, Lailaa, sleeping on her chest while she watches reruns of "Roseanne," "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Sister Sister." And with all that television viewing, Parker has an idea for a pilot.

Parker and her husband, Boston Celtics forward Shelden Williams, often walk their daughter and their three dogs, Fendi (4-year-old St. Bernard mix), Neno (16-year-old black pub) and Prada (1-year-old black roddy). And while it's typical for the dogs to run away during the walks, Parker didn't exactly expect the following to happen: "One time we were driving in the car and Prada just jumps out through the window," Parker recalled, laughing. "Meanwhile, Lailaa's socks fall off and my husband is asking me to do something. That's my life."

Not bad. Two other anecdotes reveal some other potential episodes.

Acting presidential

During the Sparks' East Coast road trip from July 9-11, Williams called his former Duke teammate, Reggie Love, who currently serves as a personal aide to President Barack Obama. Williams and Parker wanted to see the president.

This wasn't a first-time visit. Parker, who played for Naperville (Ill.) Central High, had already met Obama at that time. But she obviously still wanted to give him full attention, even if it meant interrupting her feeding with Lailaa.

Said Parker: "When he walked into the office, I took the bottle out of her mouth and then stood up because it's the president."

Then Williams said, "she starts screaming. You don't scream at the president. But he laughed and said, 'I know how it is with two girls."

"I gave the bottle to her and she goes back to being happy," Parker said. "She's a funny little girl."

Blue Chips

After Parker told Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt last winter she was pregnant, she congratulated her and then cut to the chase.

"Where can I send the papers?"

Those haven't arrived yet. But that doesn't mean Summitt hasn't taken the early steps to recruit Lailaa.

"I shipped her out every Lady Vol thing I could get my hands on," Summitt said. "Shelden is pulling hard for Duke, but no way. She's going to be a Lady Vol," she said referring to the Volunteers.

Somewhere the NCAA is digging up its rule book to see if any rules have been broken. Lailaa apparently has other prospects, too.

UCLA Coach Nikki Caldwell, who recruited Parker at Tennessee, thinks the gear alone won't be enough.

"We have the edge because she and I bond really well," Caldwell said. "Pat would have to fly out. I always talk to her and say, 'Hey, little Bruin.' "

The next step entails winning over the parents, with Williams deferring to Parker about Lailaa's college choice.

"She's going to Tennessee," Parker said. "I already determined that. The only thing we have from Duke is a blanket, and we use that for the floor."

So Lailaa will play basketball at Tennessee?

"I think she’d be a good tennis player," Parker said. "We’ll push that sport. My parents pushed basketball on me, not on me but I wanted to play soccer and then they were like, 'You'd be a better basketball player.' I fought it and fought it and then I fell in love with basketball. She’ll probably fall in love with basketball. She'll have more of a Venus Williams body type. Slender, long and athletic hopefully -- 6 [foot] 4, 6 [foot] 5. That would be a dominant tennis player."

Just imagine what the birthday gifts from Summitt and Caldwell will be.

Sparks' Candace Parker keeps the balls in the air

The reigning WNBA most valuable player juggles being a new mom with trying to get her team into the playoffs and winning a title. She's got help and a good sense of what it takes to make it all work.

Sparks star Candace Parker, with her daughter Lailaa, now has to balance basketball, volunteer work and motherhood.

She is on the clock and needs to move.

"What's the quickest way to get to UCLA from here?" Candace Parker asked a van full of fellow volunteers. "I don't want to get stuck in traffic."

The WNBA superstar and reigning most valuable player has to watch the clock these days as she does the impossible: balance her career with being a new mom.

At this moment, she has finished redecorating apartments in Inglewood for domestic violence victims. Before that, she scrambled home to feed her baby, Lailaa. Before that, she practiced with the Sparks for the first time this season -- and none too soon in her view, having missed the first eight games in the 34-game season.

Her day was not over, though. She still had to pick up her godbrother Kenny, who was in town to visit her and her husband, Boston Celtics forward Shelden Williams.

Parker, 23, calls this juggling act a "process."

"It's difficult in any situation, when something new happens, to balance it," Parker said. "Sometimes when you're juggling something, you lose sight of other things."

She hasn't lost sight of the one thing that eluded her and the Sparks last season: a title.

With only three games left in the regular season, she enters tonight's contest against the San Antonio Silver Stars averaging 12.7 points, a WNBA-best 9.2 rebounds and a league-leading 1.96 blocks per game.

Being MVP and rookie of the year, having the league's top-selling jersey and signing lucrative endorsements indicate a popularity WNBA Commissioner Donna Orender says "continues to grow."

Parker knows all eyes are on her. But she is not alone in this balancing act. There are 13 mothers playing in the WNBA, a list that includes four other Sparks, Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson among them.

Williams, who is a hands-on dad, said it has worked out fine.

"I haven't seen her overwhelmed," he said. "It's hard for her, but she hasn't pulled her hair out."

She has had plenty of people to keep her calm. Last winter, when an anxious Parker told her brother, Marcus, she was pregnant, he laughed and told her, "You try to write an amazing comeback story every year."

She knew he was right. In high school, she came back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee to lead Naperville (Ill.) Central High to its second consecutive state title. As a junior at Tennessee, Parker won her second national championship while wearing a sling to support her dislocated left shoulder.

Then there was the advice of Thompson and Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt to write her own script. She did, though Parker's expectations were occasionally beyond her doctor's.

She shot 150 jumpers and rode the elliptical machine 30 minutes every day until three days before the May 13 delivery, and resumed two weeks later. When she asked to play in a June 21 game, her doctor said no. Her family thought she was pushing herself too hard.

"Candace is always a very goal-oriented person and wants to set dates," her mom, Sara Parker, said. "I wanted to let her make sure if that day comes and she doesn't feel physically prepared and ready, that it's OK to take extra time."

She finally got the OK to return to the court. Parker's dad, Larry, wanted her to wait but Coach Michael Cooper thought she looked fine at practice, and Parker said she felt ready. It was July 5 and her rust showed.

In her first four games, she averaged 4.75 points on 34.7% shooting and four rebounds -- far below her clip of 18.5 points on 52.3% shooting and 9.5 rebounds per contest last season.

"Some of the things she couldn't do made her frustrated," Cooper said.

She struggled with her timing, stamina and staying low to the ground to protect the ball.

"I got ahead of myself a little bit and didn't realize that it's not just your body performing one time," Parker said. "It's your body performing over and over again with the strain and rigor of a Cooper practice, and the strain and rigor of travel."

But coming back so quickly was "the right decision," she added. A league-leading 12 double-doubles support that. If the Sparks (15-16) make the playoffs, which begin Sept. 16, she expects to be in full form.

"Where I am now is hundreds of percents better than where I started," she said.

The balancing act got a bit easier Aug. 3. Parker arrived at a 9 a.m. practice with a jump in her step. The reason? Lailaa had slept through the night.

Yet even if Parker no longer needs to wake up at odd hours, she still does. She calls the habit part of her "motherly instinct" that also includes singing to Lailaa when she's crying, her favorite song being Will Smith's "Just the Two of Us."

Parker slept 15 hours a day during her pregnancy, and 12 hours a day in college.

"If I get five hours now, I'm good," she said, laughing.

There was another reason she felt awake on this particular day, though. She had eaten breakfast.

"That's a major sign of maturity," Leslie said. "I was spoon-feeding her oatmeal last year and was like, 'You have to have breakfast.' "

Parker has the help of a nanny, Lailaa's grandparents, UCLA Coach Nikki Caldwell (who recruited her to Tennessee) and teammates, but she and Williams are the primary care-givers.

She even takes Lailaa on the road and packs "everything," she said. Yeah, agreed Thompson, she "remembers Lailaa's stuff, but still forgets her stuff."

Sara recalled a recent trip in which Candace, with Lailaa in tow, insisted on carrying the luggage herself.

"I'm stubborn," Parker said. "I do things my way."

Her coaches may sense that, because Summitt and Caldwell sent Lailaa some Lady Vol and Lady Bruin gear, respectively. Parker laughs and says her daughter will be going to Tennessee to play tennis.

On a recent afternoon, she is eager to talk about being a mom: teaching Lailaa sign language, reading books to her, giving her baths, playing peek-a-boo, watching "Nick at Nite" while Lailaa sleeps on her chest. "You're making me miss her now," Parker said.

Yet Parker is loathe to take Lailaa to public events, fretting that people might think she is "showing her off." One exception was when she returned to Naperville this summer for a court dedication in her name.

"I wanted my husband and my daughter by my side when something special like that happens," she said.

She knows this juggling act will face new obstacles when the NBA season begins for Williams. But she still wouldn't change a thing.

"I made the decision to have my child and she's healthy and happy," Parker said. "And I'm back playing the game I love."

Warlick, Caldwell to host fund-raiser

Champions for a Cause co-founders Holly Warlick and Nikki Caldwell will host their fundraiser: b3 – bikes, basketball, & breast cancer – on Friday, Sept. 11, at 6:00 p.m. at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

b3 is a special fall event featuring food, live and silent auctions and a musical performance by country recording artist Matt Stillwell. Special honorees will be Pat Summitt – the head coach of Tennessee women’s basketball will receive the 2009 Inspirational Award – and Bobby Denton, longtime country music radio mogul at WIVK and public address announcer for Tennessee football, who will receive the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Admission to the breast cancer fundraising event at the WBHOF in Knoxville, Tenn., is $100.

“We are excited to bring the b3 event to Knoxville,” said Holly Warlick, the associate head coach at Tennessee. “Nikki and I have received such great community support for our Cruisin’ rides – it will be fun to share this event at home.”

For Nikki Caldwell, who is from nearby Oak Ridge, Tenn., it is also a chance for some of the UCLA fans and supporters in town to stop by and attend the event. Caldwell, a former Lady Vol player and assistant for Summitt before taking the UCLA helm, will be in town with the Bruin football team.

“It worked out perfectly to host our event the same weekend that the Bruins were in Knoxville to play the Vols,” said Caldwell, who will begin her second season as the UCLA head coach. “Holly and I have ridden our motorcycles coast-to-coast, and from Knoxville to Key West and New Orleans. It will be great to have a fundraiser at the Hall of Fame.”

Additionally, there will be special guest appearances at the event by UT and UCLA coaching staff members, as the Vols and Bruins meet at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, in collegiate football action.

Since its inception, Champions has raised and donated tens of thousands of dollars to help support the fight against breast cancer through a number of signature events: Cruisin’ for a Cause – a long haul motorcycle ride; Links Fore the Cure – a women’s golf tournament; and b3 – bikes, basketball & breast cancer – a dinner and auction. The money raised through these events supports efforts such as the University of Tennessee Breast Health Outreach Program, Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund and The Wellness Community of East Tennessee.

Warlick and Caldwell, a pair of Lady Vol basketball alums, got together and started Champions for a Cause in 2007. It is a non-profit (501(c)-3) fundraising organization with a mission to advance and support the cause of charitable organizations who advocate and act to better the quality of life and health for individuals at risk or in need.

Space for the b3 evening is limited. To register for the event go online to: Champions for a Cause.

Coach Summitt tips off United Way drive

Lady Vols coach says smiles can help reach $2,250,000 goal

Tennessee Lady Vols Coach Pat Summitt encouraged volunteers and supporters to meet their community goal and “win a championship for United Way” at the organization’s Annual Campaign Kickoff Tuesday afternoon.

The event, which traditionally begins the United Way of Bradley County campaign, was held at the Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy. Over 470 people in attendance heard early pledge reports from Pacesetter and Challenger firms that put United Way donations for this year’s campaign at $904,279.

The 2009 United Way campaign goal is $2,250,000.

Coach Summitt said United Way of Bradley County can reach that goal if everyone thinks about what an impact they can make on a person’s life by making a donation.

“Put a smile on your face, and give a little bit more and you can make a huge difference here,” she said.

This was the second time Coach Summitt has spoken at the United Way of Bradley County kickoff luncheon. Three years ago, she addressed a group of United Way supporters, starting off with a rendition of “Rocky Top.” On Tuesday, she officially struck the gavel beginning the campaign to a sea of streamers and confetti launched from different corners of the church gymnasium.

She spoke of the love she has for United Way and told supporters at Tuesday’s luncheon that United Way is her No. 1 charity. In fact, she and then Vols’ coach Kevin O’Neill co-chaired the United Way of Greater Knoxville campaign in the mid 1990s.

“I remember going to the agencies, and returning with a tear in my eye every time. These visits were life changing for me,” she said.

Coach Summitt, who is the winningest coach in college basketball history, said while she will be remembered for her coaching prowess, she also wants to be remembered as someone who cared for others, and United Way is a great means of showing that compassion.

“That’s how you should want to be remembered … how you invest in others,” she said. “I am asking all of you to invest in Cleveland in a positive way by helping United Way.”

United Way of Bradley County Board Chairman Stephen Crass thanked Coach Summitt for “encouraging all of us to make a difference with this campaign. We know that the results will be impressive, in spite of our challenges this year.”

Several of the early campaigns reported partial totals, as their campaigns are still in progress. Others reported totals that exceeded their 2008 pledges. Each of these companies will be recognized at the United Way of Bradley County’s first report luncheon on Sept. 16.

Companies servings as Pacesetter and Challenger firms include Whirlpool Cooking, Whirlpool eXperience Center, Cormetech, Manufacturers Chemicals, Brenda Lawson & Associates, Athens Federal Community Bank, Bank of Cleveland, BB&T Bank, First Tennessee Bank, Regions Bank, Southern Heritage Bank, SunTrust Bank, United Community Bank, Easy Auto/Sunrise Acceptance, SkyRidge Medical Center, Peyton’s Southeastern, Procter & Gamble/Duracell, Cleveland Utilities, Cleveland City Schools, Bradley County Schools, Lee University and Life Care Centers of America.

“Most of these companies are still in the process of holding their meetings so they do not have the final results today; they will help us set the pace, however, and we encourage all of our companies and individuals to get their own campaigns started and make a difference in the lives of thousands of service recipients in our community,” Crass said.

He added that he hoped supporters would “thoughtfully give to help our neighbors. This will be a very difficult campaign with the troubles in our economy and that is even more reason why we all need to help a little bit more.”

This year’s campaign is chaired by Darlia Conn, Janey Cooke, Dan Cooke and Dr. Paul Conn. Rather than the married couples working as team leaders, campaign divisions are divided between the women and the men.

Their campaign division chairs will be announced soon, and will give division results at the Sept. 16 report luncheon.

Tuesday’s kickoff luncheon was hosted by the Cleveland Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club of Cleveland.

Thompson, Yow, Curran selected for Lapchick Awards

Former Georgetown coach John Thompson, the late Kay Yow and high school coaching legend Jack Curran were selected Wednesday to receive the second annual Lapchick Character Awards.

The three will be honored at a luncheon at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 19, it was announced Wednesday.

The award, started by a group including Joe Lapchick biographer and former player Gus Alfieri, recognizes coaches who have shown the character traits and coaching skills of the Hall of Famer who coached St. John's and the New York Knicks.

Thompson led Georgetown to three Final Four appearances, including the 1984 national championship, the first won by a black head coach. All but two of the 78 players who stayed four years with him at Georgetown received a diploma (97 percent). His son, John III, is the current coach at Georgetown.

Yow had a successful coaching career at North Carolina State, leading the Wolfpack to the Final Four in 1998. But it was her 22-year fight with breast cancer that became her legacy and she helped to raise funds for The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

Yow and Thompson, both members of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, were the U.S. Olympic coaches in 1988, the women winning the gold medal, the men the bronze.

Curran will begin his 52nd season at New York City's Archbishop Molloy High School where he has won more than 900 games, the New York State record, five city championships. He helped almost 500 players receive athletic scholarships, including Kevin Joyce, Kenny Smith and Kenny Anderson. He has won more than 1,600 games and 17 city titles as Molloy's baseball coach.

St. John's Athletic Director Emeritus Jack Kaiser will be honored for his support of the Lapchick Award committee. Kaiser, one of the founders of the Big East Conference, is the only man to play for and coach under Lapchick.

The inaugural group of Lapchick honorees was Hall of Famers Pat Summitt, Lou Carnesecca and Dean Smith.

The award is sponsored by Nike, D'Agostino Supermarkets and HHI Hotels.

Lady Vols release hoops schedule

Baylor, Texas Tech, Texas, UCLA and Stanford are among the team's 2009-10 foes.

The University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers released the basketball schedule for the 2009-10 season today.

In addition to the expanded Southeastern Conference slate of 16 games, the Lady Vols will also run the gauntlet of powerhouses tangling with Baylor, Texas Tech, Virginia, Middle Tennessee, UCLA, George Washington, Texas, Rutgers, Louisville, Stanford, San Francisco, Old Dominion and Oklahoma on the non-conference side.

"Another competitive schedule for the coming year," said Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt, who is beginning her 36th season at Tennessee and is the NCAA's all-time winningest coach starting the campaign with a 1,005-193 overall record. "This schedule is exciting and challenging and will help to prepare us for post-season play."

In the first month of the season, Tennessee will appear in three "Classics." The Lady Vols will play host to Baylor in the regular season opener in the State Farm Classic on Nov. 15 in Knoxville; travels to San Antonio, Texas, site of the 2010 NCAA Final Four on Nov. 17 to face Texas Tech in the ESPN Classic, and concludes the cavalcade of "Classics" at the Maggie Dixon Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec. 13 facing rival Rutgers.

"Those are three great tests for our team," said Summitt. "I'm excited to be opening at home against Baylor and look forward to taking our team to San Antonio to face Texas Tech and to the Garden to play Rutgers - great teams and exciting venues."

In all, UT will be facing competition from nine different conferences including the Atlantic 10, ACC, Big 12, BIG EAST, Colonial, Pac 10, Southeastern, Sunbelt and West Coast Conferences.

"Once again, I'm thrilled that we'll be playing 17 home dates (including the exhibition games) in our arena. Our young team will certainly benefit from playing in front of our great fans -- they will be treated to a tremendous home schedule," said Summitt.

The season gets underway with a pair of exhibition tune-ups in Knoxville as Carson-Newman comes to town on Nov. 5 and an old foe from the AIAW national scene of the 1970's, Delta State University makes its first appearance at UT in 30 years in a game on Nov. 9. The Lady Vols officially open the season at home on Nov. 15 facing Baylor.

The remainder of the November slate includes a trip to San Antonio to face Texas Tech at the AT&T Center on Nov. 17 and back-to-back road games at Virginia on Nov. 22 and a trip mid-state to face Middle Tennessee on Nov. 25. Former Lady Vol player and assistant coach Nikki Caldwell, now head coach at UCLA, will bring her Bruins to Knoxville on Nov. 28 to round out the month.

Tennessee starts the December portion of its schedule with consecutive home games facing George Washington on Dec. 1 and Texas on Dec. 6 before taking a break for final exams. The Lady Vols will resume playing hoops on Dec. 13 facing Rutgers in Madison Square Garden on Dec. 13. A new first-time opponent for Tennessee will be Louisville, the 2009 NCAA Championship runner-up, when it visits Thompson-Boling on Dec. 16. The Lady Vols will then hit the road for a pair of games traveling to Stanford on Dec. 19 and then swinging up to San Francisco to play former Lady Vol Tanya Haave's Dons on Dec. 22. Following a break for the Christmas holidays, Tennessee concludes the 2009 portion of the schedule with a game against Old Dominion in Knoxville on Dec. 30.

In January, the Lady Vols open the 2010 side of the schedule facing its fourth Big 12 team of the season as Oklahoma comes to Knoxville on Jan. 3 for the final regular season non-conference match-up. Following that game, the SEC portion of the schedule cranks up as South Carolina comes to town on Jan. 7. This season marks the first time since the 2004-05 campaign that the Lady Vols won't play a non-conference foe in the middle of SEC league play.

January continues with road games at Mississippi State (Jan. 10), Florida (Jan. 14), Georgia (Jan. 21), LSU (Jan. 24), and South Carolina (Jan. 31). Other first month home games include Vanderbilt on Jan. 17 and Auburn on Jan. 28. To open the month of February, Arkansas visits Knoxville on the 4th. UT then travels for an ESPN2 "Big Monday" meeting at Vanderbilt (Feb. 8) and to Mississippi (Feb. 11). Other February home dates include Florida (Feb. 14), an ESPN2 "Big Monday" meeting with LSU (Feb. 22), Kentucky on Feb. 25 and Mississippi (Feb. 28). The other February road trip is a jaunt to Alabama (Feb. 18).

In the new expanded 16-game SEC schedule, the Lady Vols play home-and-home games with Florida, LSU, Mississippi and South Carolina this season, to go along with its annual home-and-home traditional rival contests versus Vanderbilt.

"The SEC - from top to bottom -- will be as strong and unpredictable as it has ever been," professed Summitt. "Great coaches and some incredible young talent is going to make a tough league, even tougher. To be sure, the SEC schedule will be extremely challenging."

In the postseason, the 2010 SEC Tournament will venture back to popular Duluth, Ga., Mar. 4-7. When the height of March Madness begins and the NCAA Tournament is announced on Mar. 15, four teams will be heading to Thompson-Boling Arena as women's basketball fans will be treated to NCAA First/Second Round action in Knoxville, Tenn., Mar. 20 & 22.

Other NCAA First/Second Round games will be played at 15 additional sites from Mar. 20-23. The NCAA Regional Championships will be contested, Mar. 27-30 and the season will culminate with the 2010 NCAA Final Four at the Alamodome, in San Antonio, Texas, April 4 & 6.

View/download schedule by clicking here.

Coaching Legend Pat Summitt to Speak at Dream Game

Pat Summitt, the legendary Head Coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team, will address fans following the Dream's game on August 23 against the Los Angeles Sparks. Four of Summitt's former players will be competing in the game-Chamique Holdsclaw and Michelle Snow of the Dream and Candace Parker and Shannon Bobbitt of the Sparks.

Tip-off is scheduled for 3 pm on Sunday, August 23 at Philips Arena as the Dream square off against the Los Angeles Sparks. Summitt will be honored by the Dream during halftime for her numerous accomplishments and contributions to the game. The Lady Vols head coach since 1974, Summitt has won eight NCAA championships and recently became the first NCAA Division I coach (men or women) to reach 1,000 victories in her career. During her tenure, her Lady Vols teams have produced 12 Olympians, 19 Kodak All-Americans on 33 teams, 10 first-round WNBA Draft selections, and 30 WNBA players.

A limited number of tickets are still available for the game. Sunday's game is the only time the Sparks will travel to Atlanta during the regular season and will mark Lisa Leslie's final game in Atlanta. Leslie, the three-time WNBA MVP, announced earlier this year that this will be her final season in the league.

The Dream are currently in second place in the Eastern Conference (includes games through August 17). The top four teams from each conference go to the playoffs. Atlanta's next game is Thursday, August 20 against Becky Hammon and the San Antonio Silver Stars. Tickets for all Atlanta Dream home games are still available, starting as low as $10. For more information and to purchase season tickets, fans can call 404.604.2626 or visit www.AtlantaDream.net. Single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 1-877-WNBA-TIX, at AtlantaDream.net, at the Philips Arena box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets.

Summitt Featured in Women in Business Magazine

University of Tennessee coach Pat Summitt is featured in the August/September issue of Women in Business®, a magazine devoted to topics relevant to working women, including articles about leading women in this country. It is beneficial to learn from women who have succeeded in their careers, and what insights they offer which may inspire other women to reach for their goals.

Click the image below to view the article.

Lady Vols basketball player going home from Drake Center

Amber Gray, 19-year-old forward for the University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team, is going home from Drake Center Tuesday, August 11.

Gray underwent elective surgery on July 2 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Knoxville to repair her rotator cuff. Post-surgery complications led to the discovery of an unrelated brain aneurysm that began to hemorrhage, causing a stroke. She was flown to University Hospital in Cincinnati where renowned neurosurgeon Mario Zuccarello, M.D., of the Mayfield Clinic and the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute performed a 12 ½ hour surgical procedure to clip the aneurysm.

Gray was admitted to Drake Center on July 23 for rehabilitation to help build her strength, and improve walking and swallowing. She is being discharged 2 ½ weeks sooner than expected, and will begin a sports rehab program.

Gray’s mother, Tonya Carter, believes the miracle of this experience is that having the rotator cuff surgery may have saved her life since it led to the discovery of the aneurysm in the best possible surroundings. “Some people are born with aneurysms, and they don’t find out until it’s too late,” she said.

Clinicians at Drake are attributing Gray’s early discharge to her strong spirit and positive attitude, and her coach and teammates say her illness has brought them closer together. “Amber is family,” said Lady Vols Coach, Pat Summitt.

Others attending the news conference are: Amber’s mother, Tonya Carter and Drake physician, Mark Goddard, M.D., Medical Director for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Gray is a high school All-American (Lakota West High School) from Mason, Ohio.

She played in 27 games as a freshman for the Lady Vols last season.

Pat Summitt to kick off United Way campaign

Coach Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in college basketball history, will be helping United Way of Bradley County kickoff its annual campaign on Aug. 25 at the organization's Campaign Kickoff Luncheon.

This luncheon will be held for the first time at Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy and is the traditional beginning of the United Way of Bradley County campaign.

Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy is located at the intersection of Peerless Road and Raider Drive.

Coach Summitt enters her 36th season as coach this year, having recorded more than 1,000 collegiate wins. Her Lady Vols have been crowned National Champion eight times, including most recently back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008.

During her tenure at UT, Summitt's teams have also produced 27 Southern Conference tournament and regular season championships, have made an unprecedented 28 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament and produced 12 Olympians, 19 Kodak All-Americans named to 33 teams, 72 All-SEC performers, 45 international participants and 43 professional players representing the ABL, WNBA or overseas teams.

Along with success on the court, Coach Summit has a 100 percent graduation rate for all Lady Vols who have completed their eligibility at Tennessee.

This will be Coach Summitt's second appearance at a United Way of Bradley County kickoff luncheon.

"We were honored to have Coach Summitt help us kick off our campaign back in 2006 and are pleased that she has agreed to return and get us off to a great start for the 2009 United Way campaign," said United Way of Bradley County Board Chairman Stephen Crass.

Crass was a campaign co-chair the year Summitt first spoke at a United Way kickoff.

"This is so special because Coach Summitt makes very few appearances away from the Knoxville area for such events, but has such a commitment to United Way that she agreed to help us again get our campaign off to a great start," he noted.

Coach Summitt cochaired the United Way campaign in Knoxville in 1996 and continues to be an active spokesman for United Way. When she served as co-chair for the United Way of Greater Knoxville campaign, she gave hundreds of speeches and logged incredible amounts of time visiting the various United Way agencies, while also involved in recruiting, running camps and continuing to direct the most successful program in the nation.

She also has worked with The Race for the Cure, Juvenile Diabetes, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Easter Seals, and American Heart Association and American Lung Association. In 1996, she was named "Distinguished Citizen of the Year" by the Great Smoky Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America, a United Way agency.

"Coach Summitt has such a busy schedule as coach of the Lady Vols, that it is amazing to see how much she gives back to the community," Crass added. "Her dedication to helping those in the community who receive help through United Way agencies is an inspiration to all of us that we too can take time out of our busy schedules and help others."

Along with the visit from Coach Summitt, the kickoff luncheon will also feature presentations from Pacesetter and Challenger firms, both of which conduct early campaigns and report their totals at that time. Challenger firms also pledge to attempt to raise 10 percent more in contributions than the previous year's campaign.

The meeting will begin at noon, but food lines for the luncheon will open at 11:15 a.m., and with a large crowd expected, organizers suggest arriving early. Tickets are $15 each.

Reservations are required for the luncheon, and may be made, by mail, by writing the United Way of Bradley County at P.O. Box 193, Cleveland, TN 37364-0193, by fax at 339-1110, by e-mail at unitedwaybc@yahoo.com or by calling the United Way office at 479-2020 or 472-9876.

Deadline for reservations is Aug. 18.

The kickoff will be co-hosted by the Rotary Club of Cleveland and the Kiwanis Club of Cleveland and will be considered a regular meeting for those organizations.

Coach Summitt named 11th greatest Coach of all time by the Sports News

University of Tennessee Lady Vol basketball head coach Pat Summitt has been named the 11th greatest coach of all-time in a ranking compiled by the Sporting News.

The list of the 50 greatest coaches, appearing in this week’s issue, was voted on by 118 Hall of Famers, championship coaches and other experts and includes coaches from every sport.

“I am honored to be named the 11th greatest coach by the Sporting News,” said Summitt. “This is truly a reflection of the hard work put in by all the great assistant coaches and players who have been a part of our program. The fact that I was selected to such a prestigious list by my peers makes the recognition that much more special. The accomplishments of the coaches on this list are awe-inspiring.”

Summitt, who owns a 1,005-193 career record and eight national championships, is the third college basketball coach, the highest ranking women’s coach and the only female coach to make the list.

The voting panel included seven World Series-winning managers, four Super Bowl champion coaches, and the winningest coaches in the NBA, NHL and college basketball.

Lady Vol Amber Gray undergoes successful brain surgery

University of Tennessee Lady Vol basketball player Amber Gray is now recovering from brain surgery.

Gray, 19 had undergone successful shoulder surgery on July 2nd after injuring her shoulder during a postseason practice session. Shortly after surgery, Volunteer TV Sports Overtime broke the story that she would be kept in the hospital after doctors detected what was called an “undisclosed complication.”

Gray’s mother told GoVolsXtra.com on Monday night that during postoperative tests that they had discovered an aneurysm that was beginning to hemorrhage.

An aneurysm occurs when there is a weakness in the wall of the cerebral artery which is located in the brain. To correct the problem, Gray underwent a 12 ½ hour surgical procedure last week at the University of Cincinnati’s Neuroscience institute.

The rising sophomore has already been moved to a rehabilitation center according to GoVolsXtra.com.

Lady Vols' Gray to be taken to Cincinnati hospital

Jenny Moshak, University of Tennessee Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine, announced an update regarding Lady Vol basketball rising sophomore Amber Gray.

One week ago, on July 2, 2009, Drs. Greg Mathien and Russell Betcher, UT team orthopedists, performed arthroscopic surgery on Gray’s left shoulder to repair her posterior capsule and labrum.

“Amber had a successful shoulder surgery,” said Moshak. “However, she experienced some post-operative complications unrelated to her shoulder. At this time, she is still undergoing diagnostic testing and will require further rehabilitation.

“We have determined that the best course of action would be to transfer her to a local hospital near her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio.”

Gray, a 6-1 forward from West Chester, Ohio, injured her shoulder during a Lady Vols’ post-NCAA practice session. During her freshman season, Gray played in 27 games. She averaged 2.7 ppg and 1.9 rpg in 7.6 minutes per contest.

Maggie Dixon Classic lineup released

NEW YORK -- Pat Summitt, C. Vivian Stringer, and a 6-foot-7 freshman phenom highlight the fourth annual Maggie Dixon Classic.

The women's doubleheader will be played Dec. 13 at Madison Square Garden.

The two Hall of Fame coaches will meet for the seventh straight year when Tennessee and Rutgers will play in one game. Baylor and freshman star Brittney Griner will face Boston College in the other contest.

The last two meetings between the Lady Vols and Scarlet Knights were thrillers. Tennessee beat Rutgers on a controversial finish two years ago in Knoxville and last season, the Scarlet Knights built a 20-point halftime lead only to see it evaporate as the Lady Vols completed the biggest comeback in school history to win 55-51.

The two teams played once before at Madison Square Garden. Tennessee won 68-54 in 1999.

Baylor will be making its first appearance at MSG. The Lady Bears finished fifth in the final Top 25 poll before losing in the regional semifinals to Louisville. Griner made a name for herself in high school with her highlight-reel dunks and blocked shots.

Boston College is in its second year under coach Sylvia Crawley. She led them to the semifinals of the WNIT last season.

It's the third straight season that the Scarlet Knights will play in the Classic named for the former Army women's coach. Last season Rutgers routed Army and Connecticut beat Penn State in front of nearly 9,500 fans.

Maggie Dixon died April 6, 2006, of arrhythmia, probably caused by an enlarged heart. Her death came three weeks after her first season as a head coach, a performance that won the admiration of the academy and all of college basketball.

The inaugural Maggie Dixon Classic was held at Army in 2006 -- a men's and women's doubleheader. Pitt's men's team -- coached by Maggie's brother Jamie, beat Western Michigan and Ohio State routed Army.

Lady Vol Amber Gray remains in hospital after surgery

Jenny Moshak, University of Tennessee Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine, announced this afternoon that Lady Vol basketball rising sophomore Amber Gray had undergone successful shoulder surgery today.

However, sources tell Volunteer TV that Gray remains in the hospital after the surgery because of an undisclosed medical issue.

Gray injured her shoulder during a postseason practice session. Her rehabilitation was expected to take six months. The Sports Overtime team was unable to ascertain the seriousness of the post-surgery medical issue.

Gray, a 6-1 forward from West Chester, Ohio, injured her shoulder during a Lady Vols' post-NCAA practice session. During her freshman season, Gray played in 27 games. She averaged 2.7 ppg and 1.9 rpg in 7.6 minutes per contest.

Parker Practices

Candace Parker returned to practice today.

10 Questions for Candace Parker

1. Do you think women's basketball is catching on with the masses? James Fields SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.

I think it is catching on. It's the fastest-growing sport in America. I think a lot of guys are learning to respect our game as well. Our women's Olympic team is going for its fifth gold medal in 2012.

2. When do you think the salaries of female basketball players will begin to approach the salaries of male players? Anne Kenefic JAMESTOWN, N.Y.

I look at it this way: the WNBA is 13 years young. I think eventually women will get to that point, maybe in my daughter's generation, where their salaries will be similar to men's. But we're still starting off, like, where the NBA was back in the 1950s. (See pictures of Parker's career.)

3. Do you think they should create coed-league sports on a professional level? Luke Denker, BELTON, MO.

I don't think it's necessary. I think it's neat that women play our game. Obviously, the strength of men--I really don't feel like we could play in a professional league with them. I think it's great that young girls have the WNBA to look up to now.

4. How are you doing with your new daughter? Has your coach at Tennessee, Pat Summitt, started recruiting her yet? Brenda Goodman JOHNSON CITY, TENN.

When I first told Coach Summitt that I was pregnant, she was like, Where can we send the papers? I had to remind her that my husband [Minnesota Timberwolves forward Shelden Williams] went to Duke, so he's pushing for her to go there. But I'm doing great. My baby is the joy in my life. Obviously, I'm suffering from lack of sleep, but it truly is a blessing to be a mother.

5. How hard is it coming back to the WNBA after a pregnancy? Emily Johnston MARYVILLE, TENN.

My teammates have done it. Tina Thompson came back the same season she delivered her son. Lisa Leslie waited a year. They're still at the top of their game. I don't think it's going to be easy, by any means, but I think it's possible to come back better than I was. I understand my body a lot more. I focus a lot more on stretching and taking care of myself.

6. How do you feel you have impacted women's sports, and what do you believe is your responsibility to young women coming up in sports? Hernan Gonzalez ORLANDO, FLA.

I don't know if I've necessarily done it, but my goal is to allow girls the same opportunities that I had. I was literally in the first generation that could look up to female athletes as role models. I was a humongous Mia Hamm fan. I wanted to be a soccer player until I was in the eighth grade. She was my role model. That's what I hope to be.

7. My 10-year-old daughter Hannah has aspirations of playing college ball. What is your advice for her? Rob Swiger, GALAX, VA.

Go out there and play against guys. That's what I did growing up. I have two older brothers who beat me up and made me tough, and I love them for it. I would always play against them because they were bigger and faster and stronger, and it makes you tougher.

8. Would you ever sign to play in the NBA? Warren Spencer MANTECA, CALIF.

Sure.

9. Growing up playing basketball, did you ever have to deal with negative or sexist comments? Minnesa Khan, JAMAICA, N.Y.

I never really had to. When I would go to the park, maybe initially they would be like, She's a girl, she can't play. But then the next time, they were picking me first for their team. Let your actions speak for themselves. Don't worry about what everybody else is saying. Just concentrate on playing basketball and embrace being a woman and being in sports.

10. Do you ever play your husband one on one? Dan Sutin, TORONTO

Shelden and I don't play because we are so competitive, we would probably hurt each other.