
Jessica Lantz
Feb 26, 2010 May 30, 2012 537 4795
I was raised in Big 8/Big 12 country and taught very aptly to be an avid sports fan.
My uncle, Jon Lantz, was a former high school and college football coach in Oklahoma and Missouri who added to my love of the game. On a personal note, I have included a story link regarding his life, both on and off the field, that I feel shows him as a man of character and integrity, who possessed a love for God, family and sport- and I feel that by seeing this side of my family, you can garner knowledge regarding the characters and values of all of the Lantz’s-myself included. (http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_065012014.html)
My father’s infinite wisdom of Stratomatic baseball, Intellevision football, and recreational softball, volleyball and golf also helped mold me into the fanatic I claim to be today. I grew up in Oklahoma City, OK and went to college at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater during the days of Desmond Mason, Doug Gottlieb, Josh and Matt Holiday and the 12-0 win over OU.
I moved to Boston post-college, where I was immediately taken by the allure of attending professional sports events, not just Friday Night Lights and Cowboys games or watching the Denver Broncos on Sundays. I was introduced to Fenway Park the month I moved and I have been in love with Wally ever since, even feeling like I played a small part in breaking ‘the curse’. My Beantown love also includes the C’s, the B’s, the Pats, the Revs, the PawSox and any other New England schools and organizations that I was lucky enough to cheer for in the neighborhood bar.
I recently moved back to Oklahoma City and am enjoying rooting for the recently acquired OKC Thunder and watching my beloved Cowboys on a more frequent basis. My sports addiction is not limited to the ‘Big 3′ of professional sports, as I follow all things college and almost anything that ESPN sees fit to cover-even the spelling bee. Other than watching sports, I enjoy my working on my amateur-almost remedial-golf status, reading murder books and playing the part of songbird.
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Tennessee Athletic Department Restructuring Not Without Controversy
It's not every day that college media relations folks make the news, particularly not when they are departing from their post. But when that media relations person was the associate athletics director and a main mouthpiece for the Tennessee Lady Vols athletics department, you've got news.
Debby Jennings, who worked at Tennessee for the last 35 years, was forced out of her position last week and is now considering legal action. In recently released statements and interdepartmental communications, it was revealed that she was asked to resign near the end of 2011 and later was unceremoniously relieved of her duties due to "insubordination" last week. The claim put forth is that this personnel change could be in part due to Jennings' stance that UT was practicing gender and age discrimination of late.
Roll Call: A Quest To Smash The 90-9-1 Lurker Rule To Smithereens At Swish Appeal
It's been said that there is a "90-9-1" rule that is loosely followed on the internet. In that scenario, 1% of the people online are actually creating content. 9% are editing said content, and 90% (yes, 90%!!) are lurking. That must mean our community here at Swish Appeal is in the gazillions and I personally would like to hear from all gazillion of you!
Lurker = "someone waiting in concealment"
Why the heck would you have the desire to stay concealed? That's no fun for us and it makes it awfully difficult to build an active, intelligent and inspired by basketball community without ... well ... community members. So, to the 90% - it's time. Stop playing hide and seek and let us know you're here!
Tulsa Shock Roster Down To 11 After Veteran Cuts - Amber Holt And Shanna Zolman Released
The Tulsa Shock have released a pair of five-year league veterans in Amber Holt and Shanna Zolman, announced today.
Last season Holt was a staple in the starting lineup, starting in 24 of the 26 games in which she played. She averaged 6.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in Tulsa's trying season. Holt's came to Tulsa in a 2010 Draft Day trade with the Connecticut Sun.
Shanna Zolman (formerly Crossley) was a face on many a Shock broadcast last year as she took her position behind the mic after sustaining a season-ending knee injury. Zolman's contribution to the offense ranked her third on the team in points per game (9.7) in 2010. She sunk an easy 42.2 percent of her 3-point attempts as she put her nickname "Layup" on display.
London 2012: Preliminary Draws Announced; United States Paired With Angola, China
FIBA announced the preliminary group pairings for the London 2012 Olympics earlier this week. The reigning champions headline Group A and have been paired up with first-time Olympians, Angola, and soon-to-be foes, China.
The United States will face off with an exhibition with China on May 12 in Seattle in a preview of one preliminary matchup. The U.S. enters riding a 33-game winning streak in Olympic competition, and the preliminary games will take place July 28-Aug. 5. While seven of the 12-team field is set, there are still five spots yet to be determined in a tournament later this summer.
Tulsa Shock's Tiffany Jackson Sidelined For The Season By Pregnancy
2012 training camp for the Tulsa Shock started on Sunday with a bang. A few noticeable players were missing, primarily due to overseas obligations. But one was absent for the more vague 'personal reasons', until that reason was brought forward on Monday.
Tiffany Jackson Jones is pregnant with her first child, to be born this winter. Nevermind the fact that I hadn't even heard of her nuptials until the baby news broke, but Jones is sure to be missed when the 2012 season fires up.
WNIT-Champion Oklahoma State Loses Trio To Transfer
There will be some changes on the roster in Stillwater come fall. Three members of the WNIT-champion Oklahoma State Cowgirls women's basketball squad have announced their intention to transfer to other institutions. OSU media relations has confirmed their release, but there will be no further statement from the school.
The 2011-12 Cowgirls was a senior-less squad, so it was thought that there might be a transfer at the conclusion of the season to make way for incoming freshman, Brittney Martin. A 6-0 wing from Syracuse, Utah, Martin signed with OSU in November. She was ranked 18th in the nation and was considered to be the third best wing in her class. But instead of one transfer, there has been three - so far.
LA Sparks Announce Exhibitions With Olympic Hopefuls China, Japan
Two Asian women's basketball teams will be making appearances in the United States in the month of May, facing off against the United States National Team and touring around the WNBA Western Conference.
The Chinese National Team will start their tour on the Western Seaboard on May 5th as they face off with the Los Angeles Sparks at Pasadena City College, announced yesterday. After that contest, China will head up to Seattle to play the US National Team on May 12th at Key Arena. [Tickets]
China is one of seven teams that have already earned a place in the field at the London 2012 Olympic Games after winning the FIBA Asia gold medal. The US holds a 25-1 overall record against China in various major tournaments, since 1977. The sole blemish to the Americans' record in major tournaments was at the 1993 World University Games.
Candace Parker Re-Signs Multi-Year Deal With Los Angeles Sparks
Superstar do-everything forward Candace Parker has inked a multi-year deal to remain with the Sparks, announced today.
"Candace is one of those players in the league that you want to build your team with," GM Penny Toler said in a release. "Candace is healthy and will be a critical piece for our Championship run this season. We have a loaded team and we expect to win now."
London 2012: USA Women's Basketball Roster Set With Addition Of Asjha Jones
The 12th and final roster spot for the four-time defending Olympic champions has been set with the announcement of Asjha Jones nabbing the last spot on the United States' squad.
Jones joins 11 other previously selected candidates and the 10-year WNBA veteran will be competing on her first Olympic squad.
"It was kind of like I was in disbelief and shock," Jones said about hearing the news (in USA Basketball's release). "I kind of put the Olympics out of my head because I didn't think I was going to be on the team. First I was surprised that Carol (Callan) was even calling me. Then when I answered and she told me the news, I was very surprised, very shocked. I was really, really honored to be picked up."
Jones, who played her college career at Connecticut, will be reunited on the sidelines with a bevy of former Huskies. In fact, six of the 12 women played basketball at UConn and will be playing under head coach Geno Auriemma again, only this time with USA emblazoned on their chest.
London 2012: Brittney Griner's Olympic Decision Should Be Respected, Not Rejected
Brittney Griner removed herself from consideration to be included in the 2012 London Olympics on Thursday. In a very brief statement, she cited two things -
- School - and as a soon-to-be senior in college who opted out of the 2012 WNBA Draft to come back to Baylor, school must actually rank higher on her list than some believe. Whether it is forced by NCAA or WNBA criteria, Griner must continue to make grades and progress with her collegiate coursework.
- Family - her family's health, and her mother, in particular.
This seemed to cause an uproar on the interwebs.
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BREAKING: Pat Summitt Steps Down As Head Coach, Holly Warlick Taking Over For Tennessee Lady Vols
After 1,098 career victories and eight national titles, Pat Summitt has stepped down as head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols.
Summitt, who began her career at the helm of the Lady Vols program in 1974 turns over the reigns to her long-time assistant Holly Warlick. A former Tennessee point guard under Summitt, Warlick has been on the coaching staff for the past 27 seasons. She saw her coaching role grow exponentially last year after the news broke that Summitt had been diagnosed with early onset dementia. This move comes less than eight months after the initial diagnosis was revealed.
"I feel like Holly's been doing the bulk of it,'' Summitt said to Go Vols Xtra. "She deserves to be the head coach. I'm going to support her. No doubt, I'll be there for her."
Chicago Sky Re-Signs Center Sylvia Fowles on Draft Day
The Chicago Sky acquired Shey Peddy and Sydney Carter in the 2012 WNBA Draft on Monday. Both Peddy are Carter are known for their defensive prowess on the court. Peddy was named the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year and Carter was selected for the Big 12's All-Defensive squad for the second straight season.
But that was just the icing on the proverbial cake for the Sky. Chicago's real coup came earlier in the day, when they re-signed the best defensive player in the league, center Sylvia Fowles, to a multi-year deal.
2012 WNBA Draft: A Team-By-Team Look At Who Went Where
Now that the 2012 WNBA Draft is in the books, here is a look at the picks by team (you can check out Nate's quick "WWW" analysis about each pick on today's thread):
Open Thread: 2012 WNBA Draft, 2 p.m. ET - ESPN2
The 2012 WNBA Draft is live from the ESPN Studios in Bristol, Connecticut. We will work to bring you up-to-date coverage of the picks and instant analysis throughout the day to keep you informed of who your favorite team just added to their arsenal.
The first round of the draft will be broadcast on ESPN 2, with the subsequent 2nd and 3rd rounds televised on ESPN U/NBA TV. The entirety of both broadcasts will be simulcast online at ESPN3 as well.
2012 WNBA Draft Prospect: The Curious Case Of Riquna Williams
As mock draft selections ebb and flow into the actual draft to be held today in Bristol, the fate of many women will become more transparent as each pick is sent to the league for confirmation.
But for one, no matter where her name falls on the draft board, her path just might be a little murkier.
Riquna 'Bay Bay' Williams was a standout in high school in Pahokee, Florida. She went on to become part of a dynamic duo at Miami, teaming up with fellow 2012 draft standout Shenise Johnson to lead the Hurricane over the past four seasons. Well, until the 2012 NCAA tournament began. Williams was left at home as her team traveled to Spokane, Wash., for the first two rounds of the competition. When they traveled back to the beach, their season was finished.
The official word was 'conduct detrimental to the team'. It was accepted by many and has some experts doubting that it will do much to Williams' draft stock. But for me, there is something more. Something serious. And something potentially disruptive to a locker room going on.
2012 WNBA Draft Prospects: International Intrigue From Damiris Dantas To Drexel's Kamile Nacickaite
We've focused primarily on stateside collegians in our recent 2012 WNBA Draft musings. But there might be a few international names to be on the lookout for come draft day in Bristol.
The top-talked about foreign player seems to be one with the most wild-card potential, Damiris Dantas. The 19-year old Brazilian has apparantly made it known that she is unwilling to play in the WNBA until after the 2016 Olympics, so if Dantas' name is called it will be for investment purposes.
The 6-4 center had a busy 2011-2012 on the hardwood, earning bronze medals for Brazil at both the PanAmerican Games and U-19 World Championships. She was also named MVP at the U-19 Worlds after averaging 20.9 points while shooting 45.9% from 2-point range, pulling down 12.6 rebounds and adding 2.0 steals and 1.4 assists a game during the competition. Dantas earned her MVP award after pacing the entire tournament field in both points and rebounds.
As I think about the terrible tragedy that hit our Oklahoma family and certainly our OSU family, it reminds me of a profile in courage. These Cowgirls, coaches and support staff reached deep inside their hearts and displayed the courage and resiliency during a trying time that has made Oklahoma so famous. It's been a very difficult time with the loss of coaches Serna, Budke and the Branstetters, but this team has made the university and our entire state so proud by winning the WNIT and they continue to be an inspiration for all of Oklahoma and the nation.
The Oklahoma State Cowgirls were honored by the state senate today. The quote above is from Gov. Mary Fallin, an OSU alumnus.
Quick Takes: WNBA Pre-Draft Conference Call
I literally just hung up the phone after listening to player, coaches and analysts talk about Monday's WNBA draft (2 p.m. ET, ESPN2) for an hour and a half. Here are some of my first impressions from the call:
Nneka and then who?
The analysts, coaches and even the reporters asking the questions almost glossed by the Nneka talk as it is nearly a foregone conclusion that Ms. Ogwumike's name will be the first one called. The talk then turned to the next three possibilities, and others down the line almost exclusively for the first part of the call.
"I think specifically for this draft, everybody assumes that Nneka is going 1 to Los Angeles, that would be a big surprise if she didn't," said Rebecca Lobo. "But then it gets interesting because we don't know yet what Coach Agler from Seattle is going to do with No. 2 pick and after he chooses the other pieces obviously will fall into place a little bit. But I think you're looking at a group of three players that have an opportunity - or have the best chance - to go to that No. 2 pick ... and I think that's Glory Johnson, Shekinna Stricklen and Shenise Johnson. But then the rest of the draft is going to be interesting."
UCLA's Darxia Morris Lands A Training Camp Contract In Los Angeles
Darxia Morris, a 2011 Tulsa Shock training camp participant, will be playing in her college town of Los Angeles when 2012 camp opens. A UCLA aluma and native of Pasadena, Calif., Morris has been invited to L.A. Sparks training camp, as announced by the organization yesterday.
Morris was the team leader for the Bruins her senior season, putting up 12.2 points per game. She also added 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals a night for UCLA as a senior to close out her decorated collegiate career. Then-Tulsa head coach Nolan Richardson was looking for help at the point guard position when he invited Morris to training camp last year, and that is certainly a need for the Sparks as the 2012 season rolls closer.
"Dirty Dancing"? Baylor Men's And Women's Basketball To Face Possible Sanctions
The Baylor basketball teams, fresh off a women's national championship and a men's Elite Eight appearance, might be dancing to a different tune soon.
A probe of the program started in 2008 after the recruitment of Brittney Griner and has been ongoing for the past 29 months. In that 2-plus year span, the Bears placed approximately 1,200 impermissible calls and texts to recruits combined for both programs. ESPN obtained 66 pages of documentation on these infractions, both major and secondary in nature.
Nearly all of the women's infractions rest on the recruitment of Griner, and began with reporting to the now-defunct NCAA Top Prospect Program. There were interviews between the NCAA, Griner and her father that detailed extra phone calls and contact that might be impermissible prior to her signing with the Lady Bears that started the investigative ball rolling.
A few quick scenes from Denver encompassing the 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four festivities. The action ranges from the (unexpected) snow to the WBCA All-American game, from practices to press conferences. And of course to the champions from Baylor.
Brittney Griner Will Be Back At Baylor For Senior Season
Just days after the Kentucky men's basketball team won their title, the talk has turned to head coach John Calipari bolting to the NBA. Calipari has spurned the talk and said he has the best job in the country and he's not leaving. But that doesn't keep people from bringing this subject up.
Just minutes after the Baylor Lady Bears women's basketball team cut down some nets of their own, the talk was already swirling - yet again - about the potential of Baylor's phenomenal center Brittney Griner leaving college early and heading for the professional ranks herself.
Actually, the discussion on Griner opting out of her senior year has been fast and furious for the last few weeks and months, despite head coach Kim Mulkey and Griner herself making firm statements that all but sign her name in blood that she will be returning to college.
Kim Mulkey, 2012 National Champions: "Well, you know at Baylor, they used to not let the Baptists dance. I bet they're dancing now!"
Have you ever seen Footloose? Yes, the movie.
Based on true stories from a little town in Oklahoma called Elmore City. In 1980 the Elmore Citians decided dancing wasn't all so bad after all. But the Waco, Texans who were running the very conservative Baptist school of Baylor University didn't decide to 'get with the times' until 1996. 151 years after the school was founded. 151. And now some 16 years later, the Bears just might be dancing in the streets after Baylor picked up its second women's basketball national title in the 2000s.
"Well, you know at Baylor, they used to not let the Baptists dance," Baylor Lady Bears coach Kim Mulkey said after the win. "I bet they're dancing now!"
2012 NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship Final Score: Baylor Lady Bears 80, Notre Dame 61
The Baylor Lady Bears raced through the regular season in the Big 12 with an undefeated record. They cruised through the Big 12 tournament unscathed and picked up the No. 1 seed in the 2012 NCAA women's basketball tournament. And now, after a dominating 80-61 win over Notre Dame in the national championship game, Baylor has completed the season with a national title to go with their 40-0 record. The Bears are the first team, men or women, with 40 victories in a season and stand as the seventh undefeated women's national champion.
Game Thread: NCAA Women's National Championship, Notre Dame Vs. Baylor, 6:32 p.m. MT
DENVER, Colo. - It's time to crown a new national championship. For Notre Dame, this is familiar territory of sorts. Only, this time instead of being considered the team to beat, the Irish enter with the underdog mentality.
"Last season everyone was saying how we were the team to beat and that Texas A&M was an easy win - they were a good team," Skylar Diggins told the media yesterday. "Now most people are putting us as the underdogs. They say things like, 'If anyone can beat them, it's Notre Dame', but they aren't calling us the favorites."
Those favorites are in the form of 39-0 and top-ranked Baylor.
Notre Dame's Brittany Mallory: "My whole team was telling me to keep shooting, they're going to fall."
DENVER, Colo. - Brittany Mallory started off the 2012 NCAA women's basketball tournament with a bang. 53 seconds into the contest with Liberty on March 18, Mallory sunk a three to put the Fighting Irish up 6-0 before the team went on to win 74-43.
She went on to miss her next 14 attempts from beyond the arc spanning 201 minutes and 30 seconds of game time.
But on Sunday in Denver, with the game tied at 70 apiece in overtime of the national semifinals with Connecticut, Mallory pulled down a defensive rebound. As Notre Dame set up their offense, Devereaux Peters passed her the ball and Mallory's 15th attempt found its mark to untie the game for the last time of the night.
Stanford's Nneka Ogwumike: "I would have rather gone down with my team than up with any other team."
DENVER, Colo. - When you walk into the Brown Palace Hotel in Downtown Denver you're met with a violinist serenading guests enjoying high tea. But when you continue up to the ballroom immediately before the 2012 Women's Final Four is set to begin, you're met with posters, rally towels, pom pons and "S" hats with the signature Tree.
And a tape station.
What? Oh, yes. The Stanford Cardinal send off party had Nerd City Kid glasses that were snapped up quickly and almost like a badge of honor. But if you missed out, you could tape up your own pair of glasses to represent the team. Kate Starbird, the 1997 Naismith player of the year and woman who held the Stanford scoring record for a decade, sported two pieces of tape wrapped around her spectacles. Nerd City had legitimately descended on Denver.
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Game Thread: NCAA Women's Final Four - Notre Dame Vs. UConn & Stanford Vs. Baylor, 4:30 p.m. MT
AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR.
The pinnacle awaits.
It's everywhere here in Denver. On the Pepsi Center. Downtown. On the media guide cover and in-game graphics.
"The Four" as it were will meet up today beginning with the battle of the Big East as Notre Dame and Connecticut tip off for the fourth time this season. Can Kelly Faris show up and show up big? Will Skylar Diggins get the Irish back to the championship game for the second year in a row?
The nightcap here in Denver features No. 1 and No. 2 in all the polls as the Baylor Lady Bears continue to keep their undefeated record intact on the quest for a 40-win season. Can Brittney Griner and Odyssey Sims be neutralized? Can the Ogwumike tandem continue the Cardinal's season?
Who gets to the elusive pinnacle of the 2012 NCAA women's basketball season?
Game notes: Connecticut | Notre Dame | Stanford | Baylor
Oklahoma State Cowgirls Claim WNIT Championship Title: A Rewarding End to A Trying Season
I really don't know if such a terrible story when it started in November could have had much better of an ending than what happened in Stillwater on Saturday afternoon. The wife of late head coach Kurt Budke, Shelley, provided the final snip of the WNIT nets and the Cowgirls reigned victorious.
WBCA Blue Team MVP Nicole Kornet's Winning Color Palette Is Red; OU Commit Chooses Stanford To Take The NCAA Title
"Who's your pick to win the national championship?" I heard a fellow journalist ask Nicole Kornet after the 2012 WBCA High School All-American game. Her response, "Stanford!"
Kornet, a 5-11 guard from Liberty Christian in Lantana, Texas, isn't a Stanford signee, but that was indeed one of the last two standing when she made her college choice.
"It went down to OU and Stanford for me," Kornet said of her selection process. "Stanford - their coaches are great, they're a good team, so I guess I'll pull for them."
And while she might be pulling for Tara VanDerveer's Cardinal tomorrow, Kornet will be playing her college basketball for Sherri Coale's Oklahoma Sooners. There were a few factors that sealed the deal for the Texan to cross the Red River border and head north.
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