Plenette Pierson: 11 Practices in Five Days

From New York City, Pierson gives some hints as to what Tulsa ball is all about in her latest blog entry:

Well lets take it back for a moment, Tulsa training camp was the hardest preseason workout that I've ever been thru in my career. I mean at one point in 5 and a half days we had 11 practices. Talk about being prepared! 40 Minutes of Hell is no joke, Im sad that I didn't get the opportunity to fully understand the system and enjoy wrecking havoc on other teams. While trying to figure out Coach Richardson's system, we had a disagreement that was hard for both parties to recover from. Both sides tried to reconcile our differences but ultimately it was my decision to make a move and start over new somewhere. I felt as if I wasn't able to contribute to the success of the team and that I was holding them back. Everyone knows that when you are unhappy with circumstances that are presented to you, it can make something you love to do something that you dread doing. That was the point that I was at and I expressed that to Coach Richardson and he made the trade. Im officially a New York Liberty!

So it wasn't Richardson's decision, it was Pierson's. I thank Pierson for clearing that up.

Plenette Pierson Is Simply Misunderstood

Tulsa Shock player Plenette Pierson wants the world to know that she's simply misunderstood in her blog. Hey, it's even in her header:

"I'm known as a WNBA player, WNBA two-time champion, WNBA's inaugural Sixth Woman of the Year, but I'm perceived to be a thug and the Queen of the Detroit's 'Bad Girl' persona. Most people have no idea; simply stated: I'm misunderstood."

In her latest blog entry, Pierson writes about the troubles in getting from America from Israel:

On Thursday, March 18th I was given permission to leave Israel and go home (jumps up and down excited)! Here's where all the problems start, I call US Airways to change my flight they inform me that if I want to leave on Friday, March 19th the change fee would be $800(difference in the price of the ticket) plus $250(change fee), I had to sit back and think how bad did I really want to leave Israel! I decided that I would check out my other options, well my other options were slim pickings because the next time that I could fly on that airlines was on March 27th and I had to pay $400(difference in the price of the ticket) plus $250(change fee), decisions decisions! I opted out out of both those options and just decided to purchase a whole new ticket and leave when I wanted. So when all my plans were finalized, my roommates threw me a going away party at our apartment and quite a few people showed up! It was the nicest thing that has happened to me by my teammates overseas. I had a blast and was sad to leave those guys! We will meet again soon!!

I hope that Pierson blogs as frequently as she's able. If there's any doubt that Pierson would go to Tulsa, it seems to be dispelled in her blog.

Laimbeer Implies Shock is Targeted by WNBA

Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times writes about how the Shock is coping with the incident where Plenette Pierson was reinjured.

Laimbeer never holds back an opinion. As far as he's concerned, Tina did it on purpose. Furthermore, with players like Ford and Pierson injured and Braxton suspended, Laimbeer claims that the league isn't allowing him to replace any injured players with temp contracts.

From the article:

Laimbeer shared similar skepticism about the league. Consider the following exchange:

Laimbeer: "We asked the league if we could replace players and they said not the Shock. You have to be down to six or seven."

Reporter: "They said eight."

Laimbeer: "They won’t let us. That’s the way they are."

Reporter: "Why do you think that?"

Laimbeer: "We’re the Shock."

UPDATE: The Shock got to sign Britany Miller to a replacement contract. The squeaky wheel....