The ABL promoted league VP/Team Operations Jim
Weyermann to COO, where he will oversee the league's day-to-
day business operations. In making the announcement, ABL
CEO Gary Cavalli said that Steve Hams, a league co-Founder
who served as its COO, will remain with the ABL as VP/Human
Resources. Hams will be responsible for the league's
employee benefit plans, stock options, insurance and other
personnel matters, while also overseeing the league's
schedule and officiating (ABL).
WNBA IS "WORKING": In Cleveland, Liz Robbins writes
that in its second year, the WNBA is "working." While it
has "much room for improvement," gate revenue, merchandise
sales and corporate sponsorships "should translate to a
small profit this season" (PLAIN DEALER, 8/11). Liberty G
Teresa Weatherspoon was on the "Late Show" with David
Letterman last night. Weatherspoon, on the WNBA: "The best
thing about it is you have a family atmosphere. You have
kids that are there, you have grandparents that are there,
mom and dad. Everyone's there, it's a family atmosphere
where kids can actually eat popcorn. You know, at NBA
games, it's kind of hard to get a little popcorn once you've
paid for the tickets. It's pretty steep" (CBS, 8/10).
MORE WOMEN COACHES? In Hartford, Lori Riley wrote that
the Starzz' Frank Layden and the Sparks' Orlando Woolridge
are "the new breed of coaches in the WNBA." Riley: "As far
as hiring women's professional basketball coaches, teams
have had to lower their sights. Early on, top college
coaches such as Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt and Tara
VanDerveer were wooed. All declined." Starzz GM Tim
Howells: "The field (of coaches) was not as big as many of
us would have liked" (HARTFORD COURANT, 8/10). Shock coach/
GM Nancy Lieberman-Cline wrote in her DETROIT NEWS column:
"I don't have a discriminatory bone in my body. Not one.
But it would have been a positive step to see women who are
familiar with our game get those jobs" (DETROIT NEWS, 8/9).
UNION BUSTING: In Salt Lake, Lya Wodraska wrote that
WNBA players said the formation of their union "was not
about dollars," but "for security, with issues ranging from
salaries to health insurance." But Wodraska wrote, "[O]f
course, there is a money issue. WNBA players, agents and
the league are already disagreeing about the average
salary." Agent Bruce Levy told the Cleveland Plain Dealer
that he wants the base salary to be a "conservative"
$125,000. But players "are expressing more caution and
would like an average salary of between $50,000 and $65,000"
(SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 8/8). Rockers G Michelle Edwards, on
the formation of a union: "I want to see it take a lot of
the positive things taken from the men's union, but I don't
want to see it turn into only a money thing. Some issues,
like the salaries, have gotten out of hand in the NBA. For
Kevin Garnett to be paid $126 million is just not right.
It's not his fault" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/9).
