Women's Sports Talk Show Blog

I just want to say a few words about Lauren Jackson. I find myself chuckling every time I hear someone go off about how she is “hi-jacking”, or ‘holding the league hostage.” That just cracks me up. Is the league only as big as ONE PLAYER?

Granted, we are talking about Lauren Elizabeth Jackson, Albury, NSW, Austrailia’s own. But, in spite of the fact that she is regarded as arguably the best player in the women’s game at this time, can one player really hold an entire league, and its fans, “hostage”?

Those of you who know me, know that I am an LJ fan. If you came to my house, you would find further evidence of that fact. I could watch her play basketball for hours, and thankfully have a few recorded games from over the years to watch so I can get my fix. But, if she never graced the basketball shores of the USofA, I would hope we would all get along just fine. In spite of her “excellence”, (there’s that word again), one would hope the rest of the players in the pro league would be able to carry the banner, and bring us entertaining, and fundamentally sound basketball to enjoy.

As a fan, I want her to first be healthy. Lauren has been playing a lot of basketball over the last two years…more than any other stretch in her career, I believe. And, while we have been blessed to watch her play since she was 19 years of age, her body has toiled well beyond her 28 chronological years. I also have to think she misses her family and home-town friends, who have been very difficult to keep up with over the last couple of years.

One impression I have of Miss Jackson is that she is very loyal. And that character trait has to make her a bit home sick, even though she is now a much more savvy world traveler than she was first gracing our American shores. I would think she can pretty much make herself at home whatever continent she lands on…and put a basketball in her hands, and she is home…her turf any where on the face of this globe.

This issue of loyalty is one that makes the discussion of her leaving Seattle to play in any other city in the U.S. a bit puzzling to me. Call me crazy, but I just can’t wrap my mind around her leaving Sue in Seattle right now…just can’t fathom it. But, we will see, won’t we?

I am just grateful she has decided to play in the States this summer. I really don’t care if it is one month, two months, or the entire season. She is, after all, L to the J, and we may as well enjoy her talent for as long as she can run the floor, and shoot that fade-away jumper.

Cheers…

Tammy