John Smoltz vs. The Dream

Picture above from Vino Wong at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz has been keeping himself busy in retirement. According to an article by Pierce W. Huff in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

The unofficial “John Smoltz Life After Baseball Tour” found Smoltz in an unfamiliar spot Friday, practicing with the Dream at Georgia Tech.

The practice was Smoltz’s way of promoting the Dream and drawing attention to women’s professional sports, and when it was over he realized that he chose the right professional sport to pursue when he was younger.

“I don’t know if I made [Michigan State men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo] proud as much as I enjoyed the experience today with some of the greatest female basketball players in the world,” Smoltz said. “You look from afar, and you don’t realize how quick, how strong and how talented they are. So, it was a great experience.”

...

“I think [Smoltz] is a great athlete,” Dream general manager/coach Marynell Meadors said. “Our players absolutely fell in love with him.”


Hey, athletes are the first ones to respect what other athletes do. They know how difficult it is. I hope Smoltz had a great time and that he'll come to a few games.

The Dream and its Increasing (?) Attendance

Pierce W. Huff writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the Dream's...increasing attendance?

It's all in a marketing day's work. As they have season, the Dream last Thursday continued with their all-out promotional blitz, using team appearances, community functions and ticket giveaways to make themselves better known to the local community. The goal: increase ticket sales, even if it means personally meeting every Atlantan to do so.

The hard work is already paying dividends.

With average attendance up to 5,784, the Dream are drawing 1,300 more fans per game than last year. Attendance has increased in each of its past three home dates. The Dream plays Tulsa at noon Wednesday, the unusual start time due to the WNBA's annual Kids Day.

“There had been a very low awareness of this brand and this organization,” said Toby Wyman, the Dream’s president and chief operating officer.

Really? I thought attendance was down. Of course, it could be that the 4,284 number from last year - 5,784 minus the 1,300 more we're supposed to be drawing this year - is the real, secret number of fannies in seats from last year. (The number that only the DFO and Donna Orender knows about.) In which case, stand back for Wednesday because they're going to blow right past 5,784 in actual attendance during Kids Day.

New AJC Article: Dream Glad to be Home

Pierce W. Huff is on top of things in Atlanta. He asks the rhetorical question "Will the real Atlanta Dream stand up?" in this article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (Pierce W. Huff is definitely one of the good guys.)

One thing is certain, based on the way the league has approached playing the Dream, opponents believe they are closer to being the 6-0 team than the one that struggled in its next four games.

Lehning said teams no longer overlook the Dream.

“I think everybody knows about the Atlanta Dream,” Lehning said.

Alison Bales Makes the AJC

Pierce W. Huff writes an article about Alison Bales and the turnaround of her career at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

From the article:

Bales re-joined the Dream this season and has made an instant impact. She had five rebounds and gave the team some needed energy off the bench in Saturday’s season opener at the San Antonio Silver Stars. She scored eight points and had four rebounds in Sunday’s home opener against the Indiana Fever.

Dream coach/general manager Marynell Meadors said this Alison Bales is completely different than the Alison Bales who played on the team during its inaugural season three years ago.

“I think two years ago she wasn’t real sure if basketball was in her future, and some things happen for a reason,” Meadors said. “I think when she got cut in Phoenix and didn’t have basketball, probably for the first time in her life, she decided she really missed it.”

Definitely give it a read.

De Souza Also Ready for Opener

Pierce W. Huff of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports on Erika de Souza's arrival in training camp. She literally arrived in camp on Media Day:

Meadors said the only change she will make to help de Souza early in the season is to limit her practice time instead of her game time. Her goal is to conserve the wear and tear on de Souza's legs.

De Souza talked about Brazil a little bit....

“Rio is like having a country inside a city,” she said. “You can find everything there, nice people, wonderful nature, beach, friends, and this is my eternal home. People in Brazil poke fun on cariocas [citizens of Rio], telling them that we are ‘players,’ and this happens because in Sao Paulo and south Brazil, as it is colder, they have a different way of having fun, to see life.”

But to me, this was the most important part of the article. De Souza plays basketball for something beyond the love of the game - there are a lot of people depending on her....

De Souza uses some of the money earned from playing in the Euroleague and the WNBA to provide for her younger brothers, grandmother and father back in Rio.

“It is important that they have the opportunity to have a better chance in life,” she said. “In Brazil, the private schools are expensive, and it is important to invest in it in order to have the best scholarship as possible. Talking about my grandmother, I must confess I spoil her, everything she wants and I need I buy for her. She is my mom right now.”

What's the rule? IF YOU DON'T CLICK ON THE ARTICLE, THEY DON'T THINK YOU'RE INTERESTED. So show the lugnuts at the AJC something and click like a mad person. (End of rant.)

AJC Article About Chanel Mokango

Pierce W. Huff over at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution speaks with #1 Draft Pick Chanel Mokango:

Mokango led Mississippi State with an average of 7.2 rebounds per game and was third in scoring at 10.8 points per game. She had 174 blocks in 31 games.

The key word to describe Mokango’s game now is “potential.” She thinks she will improve in her shot-blocking and shot-making abilities.

“My basketball is only going to get better,” she said.

Meadors also loved Mokango’s potential.

“I think we filled a tremendous need at that post position,” Meadors said. “I think her upside is just out of sight.”

In addition, we learn about Brigitte Ardossi of Georgia Tech's Draft Day activities:

Ardossi, a 6-2 post player who was selected all-ACC this season, averaged 15.8 points and shot 48.6 percent from the field for the Yellow Jackets.

“She has so much fire and passion for playing the game, and that’s what the Atlanta Dream is all about,” Meadors said. “Not only that, but she’s very talented. She’s got great footwork. She’s got a face-up jump shot, and she does a lot of really good things.”

Ardossi said she was eating cheeseburgers and watching the draft with her teammates when her name was called.

“The whole table got up and started cheering,” she said.

Wow. I guess the WNBA doesn't call you when they're drafting you.