Submitted by | JRod

First, let me begin by saying that I am so damn proud of this team.  I've been a season ticket holder for 3 professional sports teams, including the Storm.  As a Portland Fire fan, I had one moment that comes to mind, where I can say I was really proud.  That was their first game ever with the team that beat us, last night.  
I was a season ticket holder with the Los Angeles Raiders, including the year they won the Super Bowl.  But, I never felt the pride for them that I feel for the Storm.
 
For anybody, out there, worried about this team or this season - STOP IT NOW.  As we left our apartment yesterday, for the drive to Seattle, I told my mom that this game worried me.  Not because I didn't feel confident in our team, but because of our recent schedule.  Let's think about that for a minute.  We played a game in New York, on June 15.  We blew them out, winning in a building that we had never won in, before.  In a span of 7 days, we accomplished that; traveled to Houston and won there.  Again, in their house where we had never beaten them; traveled to San Antonio and won there.  And, not to sound like a broken record (but who the hell cares, if I do), beating them, in their house - never done that before either.  Then, we come home and have to play another game.  Any way you slice it, folks, that is a tall and grueling order.  Lauren's shins are a problem, obviously some of the players picked up a summer cold and they have faced nothing but crappy (and, I'm being much to kind - but, I'll keep it clean for tender eyes that may read this) officiating.
 
As for last night's game, I am still proud.  We were quite obviously very tired.  Some may tell you that's no excuse, but they would be wrong.  Just think about how many shots came up short, last night.  That comes from tired legs, period.  There is almost always an inevitable let down, when any sports team accomplishes something for the first time.  Well, we did some things, on our road trip, that we had never done before.  The let down was not surprising.
 
Walking out to the car, last night, I heard someone say that Houston just wanted it more.  I've got one thing to say to that little quip, b*llsh*t!  You will never convince me of that.
 
Last night, we were tired and it showed.  Oh yeah, and did I or anybody else mention - the refs sunk to new lows of just plain bad officiating!  As I said in an earlier game report, Val Ackerman and the league need to do something about the refs and NOW!  Otherwise, all of the gains that the league has made will be overshadowed.
 
Props to Sheila Lambert, I was very impressed with her.  Glad to see Fee, last night.  Swoopes is, well Swoopes.  Although she is not as consistent a player, as she once was.  Michelle Snow, GET OVER YOURSELF!  From what I have seen, you're not even as good as you were in college.  Wanna be a diva, Michelle, you're on the right track.  Wanna be a good bball player, find another path, cuz the one you're on ain't it.  
 
LJ is hurting and obviously suffering with a cold.  Betty may have a broken nose.  Kamila has a shiner.  And, Tully has also joined the walking wounded.  
But, I'm still not worried.  This team is the real deal, folks.  They don't like losing and haven't done much of it, this year.  Last night's game will leave a bad taste, in their mouths and I really wouldn't want to be NY in Spokane, on Sat.

Submitted by | Wingardium

Like Gymmie, I had a bad feeling coming into the game... but I think mine was exacerbated by the display of youthful exuberance outside the Key. The same group that did the Anthem that freaky way were outside singing their little guts out in a strangely surreal manner. Combine that with getting inside and seeing the melding of Riverdance and Footloose... well, it gave a whole new meaning to strange for me.
 
Van Chancellor... nice guy, great coach... lousy shot. No form. No followthrough. Got lucky, though, then played to the crowd. You're OK, Van.
 
They should do a Love Shack singalong. I can just see Doppler now. "I can't HEAR you!"
 
The X-Wing was in attendance. We traditionally gauge the badness of the refs by seeing when he gets PO'd at the bad calls and stalks out of the game. This time, it was with 8 minutes left. They truly redefined "sucked" this game.
 
At one point, Kamila was the point guard for the Storm, directing the plays and making passes. She really seems to have snapped out of whatever was up with her. Loved seeing her get the ball at the top of the key and make the choice to drive to the basket. She dominated the boards in the first half.
 
For you out-of-towners, the pollen here this year is truly horrid. Hot dry weather has created a bumper crop of dust, and I'm not surprised some of the Stormies are suffering. I am too. Hard to play well when you can't breathe.
 
I thought AD was gonna charge that blonde ref. After one really bad call, AD surged up out of her seat, stalked down the sideline to halfcourt, and just waited there for Blondie to come back. At one point, Blondie looked behind her as if to check whether AD was still there. She was. Once Blondie got back over the halfcourt line, AD was all over her like fur on Doppler.

Submitted by | Shobe

Eclair was right again, when we ran into each other at the Food Court before the game, she said she had a bad feeling about the game.  We both agreed the Storm might be looking past Houston without Tina Thompson, or that the high of three straight road wins had to crash sometime.
 
What killed us?  After Kamilla tied the score at 53, with a little less than five minutes remaining, the Storm did not score the rest of the way.  On top of that, Chief Sealth High School's own Shiela Lambert and Shery Swoops combined for four field goals during our drought.
 
Was the team tired from the road trip?  It sure look like it in the last minute when Sue had a breakaway and missed the layup, and Lauren had two chances at rebounding it in, but could not finish the job.  I gotta belive that if LJ were not hampered with the flu, she makes that layup.

You could tell the team was pissed they let this one get away.  At the end of the game, only half of the team grabed t-shirts to throw into the crowd.  I think all the starters headed straight to the locker room after the final buzzer.    
Damn, I really wanted this win.  With a large crowd, and the game on local television, I really wanted the team do do well in front of the local fans, to validate with the public, what we here at the board know, that this team is legit.  
 
Paul Silvi, KING 5's slimey sports anchor made a rare appearance at the game tonight.  If he was there, you know it was because of the Lauren naked story.  What? you think he could be bothered with the fact that the team was 8-2? No way.  
 
Well, lets start with a positive.  Sue Bird turned 1,000 at last night's game.  That is she scored her 1,000 point in the WNBA in a three year career; however, Sue only scored four points in the game.  Birdy can't be averaging less than double figures in scoring this year, can she?
 
Also on the subject of Sue, she is averaging four assists per game, which is considerably lower career average of 6.1.  Yea, I know with Betty on the team, there is someone else to dish out the assists, but that does seem like a significant drop in average.  Maybe I'm just being picky, especially since Sue still does a great job running the offense, and we are 8-3, but still, should I be nervous about this?  
 
Tully was in some severe pain after bruising her pelvis in the first half.  She was really squiming on the bench before she left for the locker room.  She spent the second half riding the stationary bike and did not get back into the game.  You knew that was killing her worse than the injury.  I saw Tully singing along with the PA system to the lyrics of Van Halen's "Jump" while she was riding the bike.  God, how cool was that?  Although I must admit, I prefer the Sammy Hagar version  of Van Halen better than the David Lee Moth verson.
 
Betty got clocked under the basket, and it is belived she broke her nose.  Whatever it was, she just was not herself for the remainder of the game.
 
Where was Sass?  This was one of the worst refed games I have seen, and we did not have our #1 ref baiter there to heckle the zebras?  Apparantley without the Sassmaster there, the refs felt they could get away with anything.
 
Those new Stormfan.org shirts are totally cool.  We all should definatley get one by the next real, Key Arena home game.  Did not Scott and Angie look like the typical adorable, cutsey couple wearing their new matching outfits?  OK, everyone say it together, "Aaaaaaawwwwwwhhhhhhh!" (admin note - you will pay for calling us adorable and cutsey).
 
Sonic/Storm owner Howard Shultz was at the game last night.  I yelled at him to use the Sonics twelfth pick in the draft to take Oregon's Luke Jackson.  I told him if he did not, I was going to cancel my Sonics mini-season ticket package.  He told me not to do that because he was sure I would like who they took.  Yeah, we'll see.
 
I was in the presence of Jrod who had season tickets for the Raiders during their Super Bowl season in '83?  God if I knew this, I would have gotten down on my knees and bowed saying, "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy, to be in your presence."
 
Before you guys adapt Love Shack as the Storm theme song, just to let you know, that is the song they play for Shaquille O'Neal at the Staples Center.  It's kinda  regarded as his song, along with the theme from Superman.  Just wanted to be sure you guys were cool with this, before you took possesion of this tune.

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