Submitted by | TDAO

They can't hear either? As Dydek was checking out of the game following her third foul, she muttered something to one of the referees (Lisa Jones). She didn't hear it and asked Jack Rodgers (a member of the ownership group who sits courtside) if he had . . . but he hadn't. So I guess that's the way to insult the refs without fear of retribution. . .

Not really sure what on earth Candi Harvey was thinking with her starting lineup (three forwards, no Dydek). The Starzz were forced to play 6-0 small forward Adrienne Goodson on 6-5 forward/center LJ. Predictably, Goodson got abused as part of the early run before Dydek entered the game.

Living up to his promise, Jim Moore was at the game tonight. The other two prominent columnists in attendence were Steve Kelley and Laura Vecsey.

LJ's defense has been mentioned elsewhere, but tracking defense as closely as I have to, it really stood out to me. Somehow I short-changed Jackson into just five blocks instead of the official eight. I still had her with 10.5 forced misses (in the second half, I was running out of room on my tally sheet for her). Add it up and she was responsible for 15.5 Utah misses and only 4.5 Utah makes. (!)

Nice to see Howard Schultz back at center court tonight. According to the Sonics articles I've read, he wasn't ignoring the team -- just on vacation.

Submitted by | Sass

Interesting to see what everyone's reactions were after the game was over. The Administrators got verklempt. Stormfan7, Leighway, BirdJack, lilpost, hoopgrle, myself and maybe stormrocks just kind of stood there in a daze for a while. It's just so incredible to be here right now after three long seasons that it's going to take a while for it to sink in. But I'm going to enjoy its sinkage every single minute.

Chicken wangs 'n thangs:

From the first home game, I was impressed with Starbird's sense of humor. Now I'm impressed with her class, too. Semeka was being interviewed next to the score table by Jayda Evans of the Times during pre-game warm ups. Starbird heads toward the Storm basket and suddenly sees Randall. Turns toward her and says something with a smile. Semeka replies with one or two words and Starbird says something else, still smiling. Then Semeka breaks into a smile and Starbird nods and walks off. Way cool.

Funny as hell moment #1: a sudden foul and a quick spin around to a Utah in-bounds pass leads Storm players to simply turn around and guard whoever they happen to be next to. For Marciniak, this meant Mount Dydek. Bless her heart but she put her right arm across Dydek while the left one was up. Problem was, Marciniak's head only came up to Dydek's chest. Margo got the pass and made the quick basket, but you couldn't say our Marciniak didn't put her usual 110 percent into it.

Funny as hell moment #2: in the second half the Starzz' 5'8" Elisa Alguilar briefly stepped to defending our 6'5" Lauren as the ball was headed down the court. Lauren was kind of trotting up the court and as Alguilar was coming after her, it was kind of a Debbie Black effect of being too short. Lauren just kind of waved her away as one would a fly, and Alguilar hurried to defend someone else.

Lauren's mom was there. Stormrocks talked to her a bit after the game so would be the expert on this one, but she was indeed pleased to be there for this one. And when her daughter got pegged really hard in the second half she was very concerned until Lauren just shrugged. Everyone seemed to just pop back up from the floor like jack-in-the-boxes tonight.

There was no acknowledgement between Randall and Dunn. Surprise, surprise. Not.

Loren ("Larry Who?") and Ian had on shirts tonight that said, "We win, We're In." Where do they get these shirts made? I want to know.

So sweet that many of the players said words to the crowd immediately after the game.

Submitted by | Shed

Ok, after talking with the one and only Sass (you can be my pimp anyday lol) I am going to post these comments that you people being at the game didn't hear. So taking the lead from GR here are my

Sheddimites or Shed's Tim-Tams:

After-game interviews (I've been told it was very loud at the Key. I know it was! It was hard enough hearing the interviews over the radio you guys were so loud). The comments aren't word for word but are the gyst of what they said.

MM talked about her part in the team, how thrilled she was and something about the LA game to come. Locke said something to the effect of 'yeah Byears will be there waiting for you' or 'go and get Byears again'. She just laughed.

Simone was funny. When asked about the LA game she said they were all looking forward to it and then she whispered into the mike 'especially Michelle' like the team had something planned. Simone also sounded very emotional over the win being there from day 1 and all.

Locke introduced Adia as something like 'the most unrated or best garbage collector around' in reference to the hard, tough work she does for the team. He then proceeded to start interviewing her, remembered he hadn't actually said who it was, corrected himself and kept going. I had already told the chat it was Adia - can't mistake that voice. Locke also gave an example of the difference between the WNBA and NBA. He said he left the Key with Adia after the Fire game the other night and there were some workers leaving at the same time that were going to a bar I think. Adia asked where they were going. When she found out she asked them if they wanted a lift and dropped them off. What a girl! Would never happen it the NBA.

Sue was giggling about something like normal. Answered the first question and then Locke asked how she did or the team did something and she said....... wait for it 'I don't know'. Yaaaayyyy! Locke also asked her how she felt about the situation and she said 'I come from a winning background so I know what it feels like to win. But where I came from we were expected to win. Here we weren't expected to, so it makes this much sweeter.'

When LJ got clobbered at one point in the game, Locke said LJs mother gasped and looked shocked. I said 'I hope she doesn't run onto the court and kiss it better.'

This is on another post but if you haven't seen it. With about 3 mins left in the game, Dunn turned to Elise and Locke and said laughing 'I guess I'll be dying my hair red'.

With 5 mins to go someone came up to the comms desk and gave Locke a red wig.

Meek said she was shocked to be traded but she is blessed to have another chance to play ball elsewhere.

The chatroom had its own version of the wave going. Beats the Keys version. Ours went all around the world. Also the chat had in excess of 20 people there today.

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