Attendance for the Sparks is down from last year, but
Earl Gustkey of the L.A. TIMES wrote "that's almost across
the board [in the WNBA]." Gustkey noted that the WNBA
announced it had 83 crowds of more than 10,000 this year,
compared to 73 last season. But called that "a bit
misleading, however. First, there are 12 teams this year,
compared to 10 last summer" (L.A. TIMES, 8/17). In
Minneapolis, Pam Schmid notes that the Lynx are drawing more
than 10,000 per game and "can expect to turn a modest profit
in its inaugural year" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/18).
BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS HIM? Gustkey reported that
Lakers Owner Jerry Buss "must inform" the NBA by September
30 if he "wishes to extend" his three-year agreement "to
run" the Sparks. Gustkey: "Indications abound that he does
not, that stewardship of the Sparks may pass to Laker
minority owner Phil Anschutz, who would put them in his new
Staples Center. Sparks President Johnny Buss "badly wants
the Sparks to succeed under his stewardship," and said,
"What really disappoints me is the lack of cooperation on
the part of the Laker organization. ... I'm talking about
why we're not packaged with the Lakers when it comes to
sponsorships. There's no trickle-down for us, and it's
disappointing because it makes my bottom line look so
terrible. ... The most frustrating part of this for me is
that I need a much bigger staff to connect us with specific
Southern California groups, like high school girls'
basketball teams, and with the budget I have, I can't do
it." The Sparks are "the only" team with "no road game radio
package." Gustkey: "Why? Because it would cost $15,000 a
game, deemed too much by Jerry Buss" (L.A. TIMES, 8/17).
$$ MATTERS: Lynx C Andrea Lloyd-Curry, on the salary
disparity between the defunct ABL and the WNBA: "The ABL
made a conscious choice to pay the players more and skimp in
other areas. We didn't complain very much. It was OK.
It's nice to be pampered in some ways, but in others I
really miss the salary that we had there, and a lot of the
things that we had in the ABL." Lynx G Tonya Edwards, on
WNBA salaries: "I'm not satisfied. You look at the arenas
and there's great showings on every night. I think the
players should benefit from that. I know it's in the
grassroots stages of the league, but I don't feel the
players should have to suffer" (STAR TRIBUNE, 8/18).
