NFL
By Jeffrey Newholm
Can a basketball collect dust? In the hands of WNBA legend Candace Parker, the orange globe’s motion shakes off any dastardly mites. However, when the LA Sparks’ coach, Derek Fisher, can’t recognize a legend’s talent, it may be time to hoop somewhere else. The Chicago Sky, a surging franchise, swooped and signed the 13-year pro. While fans previously laughed at the Sky for losing talent, 2021 continues the yearning franchise’s new Chicago era. With dreadful Rosemount finally in history’s trashcan, Parker and the Sky shoot for the Finals in a year of increased normalcy.
Long Climb
Candace played there years for Pat Summitt at Tennessee, winning two national championships. The Sparks selected her with the first 2008 pick, and she won the MVP her rookie season. (Oh, and she won a gold medal, too. Get your act together, Tokyo!) The Sparks came up one win short of the Finals in 2008 and 2009. Surely, though, more opportunities would arise. However, despite winning another medal in 2012, LA kept disappointing.
Sometimes, it seems a pinch of pixie dust turns a near-miss into a champion. With wise strategist Brian Alger calling the plays, LA barely lost to eventual champion Minnesota in 2015. Candace decided: enough waiting, life’s too short. From the opening tip in 2016, her Sparks dominated. The franchise earned the second seed and a double-bye to the semifinals. However, life dimmed the franchise’s lights.
Pat Summitt’s passing devastated Parker, but she took the loss with class, maintaining composure on that day’s game. (Oh, and LA won, of course.)
Life took another cruel blow when the Olympic committee inexplicably left Parker off the Rio roster. Did team coach Geno Auriemma, leader of Vol rival Uconn, bear an unfair grudge? There was only one action to take: cold revenge on the court.
Pinnacle And Descent
After dispatching then-lost Chicago, the Sparks faced Minnesota in the Finals. Uconn alum Maya Moore seemingly won deciding game five with a jumper in the last seconds. Parker could have been the hero, but the ball bounced into MVP Nneka Ogwumike’s hands instead. So, unfortunately, Parker settled for the consolation prize of Finals MVP.
Note: emotional postgame interviews sometimes threaten to tarnish profound moments. When Holly Rowe, usually a fantastic reporter, stuck a mike into Candace’s face, the Vol had just six words. “This is for Pat; this is for Pat.”
Life’s journey never ends. Even through death, the wheel of Ka brings ballers to ever-new challenges. The Sparks heartbreakingly lost the last game in 2017, and Candace’s fortunes declined further. The team shockingly lost early in 2018, and Agler left for the Dallas Wings. Partial Sparks owner Magic Johnson helped convince LA to hire Fisher, also a Lakers legend. Oops!
Breeze of Destiny in Windy City
In 2019, LA reached the semifinal, but Connecticut swept the Sparks. Disgustingly, Parker sat on the bench in the deciding game as the Sun raced away. (Come on now, the sideline is for fanboy reporters, not the best Spark ever!) After falling short in the 2020 Florida Wubble, Parker realized others wanted her more. Sky coach and GM James Wade, far from a token affirmative-action hire, recognized the champion heart that Fisher couldn’t. True, 2021 will be the most competitive year yet for the W. Seattle, Las Vegas, and Washington (with Elena Delle Donne returning) will also battle for the ‘ship. The future, especially in hyper-contested basketball, is entirely unknowable. Except for one fact, that is. Candace will bring her inexhaustible reservoir of talent and basketball dedication as the Sky continues climbing to glory too-long delayed.
