Parker off Olympic team?

[UcMiami]

Hoophuskee - nice passionate explanation.
I honestly think the answer is Catchings. Stewart and EDD were going to be in the team, Charles Fowles, and Griner are in the team because of Australia; Bird, Taurasi, Whalen, Augustus, and McCoughtry are there because no one stepped up to take away their places; Moore is Moore, and so that left Catchings and Parker. We just saw Kobe's farewell tour, and this summer we get the farewell tour including an Olympic bow from Tamika. For all your passion about the beautiful game which I agree with, there will also be a lot of passion involved with Catchings farewell stint - not unlike what we as Uconn fans just witnessed over the last few months with the big three taking their final bows in the college game.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Who cares if people think it came down to Stewie or Parker? Stewie won 4 national championships and 4 most outstanding player awards. How many did Parker win?

 

[Jmpenn]

Welcome back. 105th percentile? Still not good enough for UCONN.
Very logical post I agree with all of your points.

My daughter's crying and lack of communication might be a problem also. Lol

One other problem I have with the entire thing is USA basketball had Candace, EDD, and Bird doing a lot of promo for the Olympics recently. I think that is just wrong if she wasn't going to make the team. Seems like they were just using her. I also know how excited Candace's daughter was. Candace was actually pregnant during the 2008 Olympics (can't remember if she knew yet) so Candace tweeted a few weeks ago that she was excited that this time her daughter would be able to understand and enjoy more of it than in 2012.

Welcome back. 105th percentile? Still not good enough for UCONN.
Very logical post I agree with all of your points.

 

[HuskyNan]

Who cares if people think it came down to Stewie or Parker? Stewie won 4 national championships and 4 most outstanding player awards. How many did Parker win?

Two championships, two MOP awards plus the WNBA Rookie of the Year award and 2 WNBA MVP awards.

 

[UConnCat]

She can't have a little fun with it by posting some highlights for a #tbt? She didn't make a particular comment with them. You can have an idea of what her intent *might* be but that's your projection onto an innocuous video.

Oh come one. She's having fun but the intent is pretty clear. No explanation necessary.

She's directing her anger and disappointment in the wrong direction, however. LOL

 

[EricSD]

Interesting that you bring up Charles and Parker. Tina Charles played for Team USA in the 2010 World Championships, the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 World Championships. Not only did Tina play for Team USA, she excelled for Team USA in each of those competitions. I recall watching an international broadcast of the 2010 World Championships and hearing the announcers say that Tina Charles was the best young post player in the tournament. In the 2012 Olympics, it was Tina Charles who stood up to the Australian post players and turned around a game the US was losing. Candace Parker wanted no part of the physical Aussies in that game and was eventually replaced with Ashja Jones. Two years ago in Istanbul Tina Charles was again outstanding and, in my opinion, should have been on the all-tournament team.

I know no one is suggesting that Tina Charles shouldn't be on the Olympic team or that Charles made the team at the expense of Parker. I mention Charles as a way of asking why so many people care that Candace Parker isn't on the Olympic team. Tina Charles has contributed more towards Team USA winning gold medals than Candace Parker has yet I doubt anyone other than UConn fans would care if Tina Charles were left off the team. Why are so many so overwrought by Parker's absence? It's not like Team USA hasn't done just fine without her.

So far, Parker has played for Team USA in a total of 2 major international tournaments: the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. She did not play for the gold-medal winning Team USA at the 2010 World Championships, nor did she play for the gold-medal winning Team USA at the 2014 World Championships.

I really wanted to address the first part of your post which I find the most interesting. People need to remember that this is TEAM USA. Anyone remember Cappie Pondexter opting to go to Fashion Week in New York instead of joining Team USA for practice and tryouts the first couple of days? She was left off the 2010 USA team that went to Prague.

Compare that to Parker. Yes she had surgeries, but she made sure to have them done so that she'd have time to play overseas, and earn lots of $$... but it was at the expense of Team USA and the World Championships in Prague and Istanbul. In fact, she was playing through the injury in 2010 in the WNBA until her team tanked and decided to take the rest of the season off to have the surgery and recuperate.

I get that players have injuries and need surgery. Can't blame them for that. BUT if she chose to schedule the surgery so that she'd miss the World Championships in 2010 and 2014, BUT would would be healed in time for the lucrative overseas seasons, I can see why USA basketball might be miffed. Cappie was left off the team seemingly for her transgression at NY Fashion Week. Choosing to pass on Team USA twice so she could make more $$ overseas seems like a valid reason for Team USA to pass on her now in 2016.

People are overwrought about Parker's absence from the team because they believe her to be one of the best individual players in the world. She may very well be, but Team USA is all about the TEAM. It's about sacrificing individual goals, etc, for the betterment of the team and our country. If the committee felt that she had consistently put her personal career over Team USA, I can see why they would have done what they did.

Instead of blaming the US National committee and Geno, maybe people should take a harder look at what Candace did for Team and Country and see if her absence has more to do with her past actions.

 

[Icebear]

She can't have a little fun with it by posting some highlights for a #tbt? She didn't make a particular comment with them. You can have an idea of what her intent *might* be but that's your projection onto an innocuous video.

If indeed she posted the video it likely expresses the very attitude or behavior that led to her not being selected.

 

[Orangutan]

Oh come one. She's having fun but the intent is pretty clear. No explanation necessary.

She's directing her anger and disappointment in the wrong direction, however. LOL

Sure she's throwing a little shade. I just don't think it's a big deal.

 

[Uhuru]

If indeed she posted the video it likely expresses the very attitude or behavior that led to her not being selected.

As Julius said to Bertier in Remember the Titans, "Attitude reflects leadership". Parker has never exhibited leadership qualities.

 

[Jmpenn]

So now Candace is judged on when she had surgery? She has been very dedicated to USA basketball and I don't think it would have been good for her to take a spot on the team when she needed surgery anyway.

I really wanted to address the first part of your post which I find the most interesting. People need to remember that this is TEAM USA. Anyone remember Cappie Pondexter opting to go to Fashion Week in New York instead of joining Team USA for practice and tryouts the first couple of days? She was left off the 2010 USA team that went to Prague.

Compare that to Parker. Yes she had surgeries, but she made sure to have them done so that she'd have time to play overseas, and earn lots of $$... but it was at the expense of Team USA and the World Championships in Prague and Istanbul. In fact, she was playing through the injury in 2010 in the WNBA until her team tanked and decided to take the rest of the season off to have the surgery and recuperate.

I get that players have injuries and need surgery. Can't blame them for that. BUT if she chose to schedule the surgery so that she'd miss the World Championships in 2010 and 2014, BUT would would be healed in time for the lucrative overseas seasons, I can see why USA basketball might be miffed. Cappie was left off the team seemingly for her transgression at NY Fashion Week. Choosing to pass on Team USA twice so she could make more $$ overseas seems like a valid reason for Team USA to pass on her now in 2016.

People are overwrought about Parker's absence from the team because they believe her to be one of the best individual players in the world. She may very well be, but Team USA is all about the TEAM. It's about sacrificing individual goals, etc, for the betterment of the team and our country. If the committee felt that she had consistently put her personal career over Team USA, I can see why they would have done what they did.

Instead of blaming the US National committee and Geno, maybe people should take a harder look at what Candace did for Team and Country and see if her absence has more to do with her past actions.

 

[hoophuskee]

Hoophuskee - nice passionate explanation.
I honestly think the answer is Catchings. Stewart and EDD were going to be in the team, Charles Fowles, and Griner are in the team because of Australia; Bird, Taurasi, Whalen, Augustus, and McCoughtry are there because no one stepped up to take away their places; Moore is Moore, and so that left Catchings and Parker. We just saw Kobe's farewell tour, and this summer we get the farewell tour including an Olympic bow from Tamika. For all your passion about the beautiful game which I agree with, there will also be a lot of passion involved with Catchings farewell stint - not unlike what we as Uconn fans just witnessed over the last few months with the big three taking their final bows in the college game.

For me yes I agree Catchings is one -- but I think there are also two others as well. What might stink is once the games start - we may have to hear this over-and-over. Hope not.

 

[EricSD]

So now Candace is judged on when she had surgery? She has been very dedicated to USA basketball and I don't think it would have been good for her to take a spot on the team when she needed surgery anyway.

Has she been very dedicated to US Basketball? How so? Did she arrange her surgeries around US Basketball, or did she arrange them so she could play overseas and earn lots of $$? She was healthy and participated in the 2012 Olympics, but what exactly has she "done" for USA basketball? If you "don't think it would have been good for her to take a spot on the team when she needed surgery anyway", why did she play thru the first part of the WNBA that year, and then elect to have the surgery after it was clear her team would not make the playoffs? Why not have the surgery earlier so she could have been recuperated in time for Team USA?

Frankly I'm done with people blaming Geno for her exclusion from the team (not accusing you of doing that), but instead of playing the "poor Candace Parker" card over and over, I'm asking people to expand their minds and look at reasons she might not be on the team other than Geno not wanting her there. How much has she really given and sacrificed for Team USA?

If people continue to want to perpetuate the "blame Geno" and "blame the committee", that's their prerogative, but I'm suggesting they look at where Parker might have brought this on herself. There's a reason this happened and it has zero to do with Geno being the bad guy.

 

[UConnCat]

So now Candace is judged on when she had surgery? She has been very dedicated to USA basketball and I don't think it would have been good for her to take a spot on the team when she needed surgery anyway.
​

The 2010 shoulder surgery was legit, though there is a story out there that she had originally intended to have it after the season and thus have to miss the world championships. She injured her shoulder, had the surgery early and that was that.

In 2014 she played in 32 games for the Sparks, including 2 playoff games and then decided a few days later to have what ESPN said was "minor surgery" which apparently couldn't wait a couple of months. She skipped the world championships again. Many of her veteran USA teammates probably needed some rest and minor procedures too but instead headed over to Istanbul to play for Team USA.

I just read a blog posting on another site that apparently some of her teammates were none to pleased.

May be getting closer to what happened here.

 

[EricSD]

The 2010 shoulder surgery was legit, though there is a story out there that she had originally intended to have it after the season and thus have to miss the world championships. She injured her shoulder, had the surgery early and that was that.

In 2014 she played in 32 games for the Sparks, including 2 playoff games and then decided a few days later to have what ESPN said was "minor surgery" which apparently couldn't wait a couple of months. She skipped the world championships again. Many of her veteran USA teammates probably needed some rest and minor procedures too but instead headed over to Istanbul to play for Team USA.

I just read a blog posting on another site that apparently some of her teammates were none to pleased.

May be getting closer to what happened here.

Thanks for the more specific dates, etc to expand on my post, Cat. I think I had 2010 and 2014 reversed. Either way, I agree about getting closer to the reasons she was left off the team. Combine her skipping the USA World Championship games with displeasure from other USA National teammates - again, it's all about the TEAM. I'll be very curious as more of this comes to light.

 

[Jmpenn]

It seems pretty obvious that you are not going to agree with me. She has put in many hours with USA basketball. I'm not saying others haven't but you can not say she has not been dedicated. She didn't play much oversees last season because she wanted to spend time with family and to get ready for the Olympics.

Parker Balances Basketball, Family

Has she been very dedicated to US Basketball? How so? Did she arrange her surgeries around US Basketball, or did she arrange them so she could play overseas and earn lots of $$? She was healthy and participated in the 2012 Olympics, but what exactly has she "done" for USA basketball? If you "don't think it would have been good for her to take a spot on the team when she needed surgery anyway", why did she play thru the first part of the WNBA that year, and then elect to have the surgery after it was clear her team would not make the playoffs? Why not have the surgery earlier so she could have been recuperated in time for Team USA?

Frankly I'm done with people blaming Geno for her exclusion from the team (not accusing you of doing that), but instead of playing the "poor Candace Parker" card over and over, I'm asking people to expand their minds and look at reasons she might not be on the team other than Geno not wanting her there. How much has she really given and sacrificed for Team USA?

If people continue to want to perpetuate the "blame Geno" and "blame the committee", that's their prerogative, but I'm suggesting they look at where Parker might have brought this on herself. There's a reason this happened and it has zero to do with Geno being the bad guy.

 

[EricSD]

It seems pretty obvious that you are not going to agree with me. She has put in many hours with USA basketball. I'm not saying others haven't but you can not say she has not been dedicated. She didn't play much oversees last season because she wanted to spend time with family and to get ready for the Olympics.

Parker Balances Basketball, Family

Fair enough. I was going to say the same thing depending on how you replied - not looking for a fight at all. I realize Tenn fans love Parker the same way we love Dee, Maya, Stewie, etc etc...

 

[Justavisitor]

If indeed she posted the video it likely expresses the very attitude or behavior that led to her not being selected.

This is the attitude that will keep the game from growing. So what if Candace has an attitude? So what if DT has an attitude? So what if Angel has an attitude? And the list goes on. Set it aside and put the best talent on the floor. There's a reason the men's game flourishes. Use their attitudes to advance the game by growing the audience. The audience loves the flare and swag that these players bring to the court. They love their edginess. Do you think everyone loved Michael Jordan? Some couldn't stand the guy. Or Kobe? Or Lebron?

 

[Justavisitor]

Has she been very dedicated to US Basketball? How so? Did she arrange her surgeries around US Basketball, or did she arrange them so she could play overseas and earn lots of $$? She was healthy and participated in the 2012 Olympics, but what exactly has she "done" for USA basketball? If you "don't think it would have been good for her to take a spot on the team when she needed surgery anyway", why did she play thru the first part of the WNBA that year, and then elect to have the surgery after it was clear her team would not make the playoffs? Why not have the surgery earlier so she could have been recuperated in time for Team USA?

Frankly I'm done with people blaming Geno for her exclusion from the team (not accusing you of doing that), but instead of playing the "poor Candace Parker" card over and over, I'm asking people to expand their minds and look at reasons she might not be on the team other than Geno not wanting her there. How much has she really given and sacrificed for Team USA?

If people continue to want to perpetuate the "blame Geno" and "blame the committee", that's their prerogative, but I'm suggesting they look at where Parker might have brought this on herself. There's a reason this happened and it has zero to do with Geno being the bad guy.

She's not timing surgeries with USA play. She has an agreement with her overseas team to not start there until January each year. She also has her WNBA commitment. These are both contractual agreements. Her only off time is the few months leading up to January and after the WNBA season. She certainly isn't making plans to be injured and have these knee clean ups required.

Last, she devoted this past year to USA, including choosing to forego her overseas money in order to be available for USA commitments. She played in October. She's also been doing USA promos and speaking engagements.

 

[hoophuskee]

Compare that to Parker. Yes she had surgeries, but she made sure to have them done so that she'd have time to play overseas, and earn lots of $$... but it was at the expense of Team USA and the World Championships in Prague and Istanbul. In fact, she was playing through the injury in 2010 in the WNBA until her team tanked and decided to take the rest of the season off to have the surgery and recuperate.

I get that players have injuries and need surgery. Can't blame them for that. BUT if she chose to schedule the surgery so that she'd miss the World Championships in 2010 and 2014, BUT would would be healed in time for the lucrative overseas seasons, I can see why USA basketball might be miffed. Cappie was left off the team seemingly for her transgression at NY Fashion Week. Choosing to pass on Team USA twice so she could make more $$ overseas seems like a valid reason for Team USA to pass on her now in 2016.

People are overwrought about Parker's absence from the team because they believe her to be one of the best individual players in the world. She may very well be, but Team USA is all about the TEAM. It's about sacrificing individual goals, etc, for the betterment of the team and our country. If the committee felt that she had consistently put her personal career over Team USA, I can see why they would have done what they did.

Instead of blaming the US National committee and Geno, maybe people should take a harder look at what Candace did for Team and Country and see if her absence has more to do with her past actions.

Regarding your 1st two paragraphs I agree. Then he committee should point that out. You're hearing rumblings from current and former players. Whose to say it won't pick-up once the games begin? All it takes is one game that is "pretty close" and the questions could come up, "Couldn't Parker have helped them here?"

OUR COACH is being BLAMED. It's nice we say "This doesn't mean anything . . ." But when the committee lays bullcrap about there were too many other 3/4's -- and yet it had more to do with her unwilling to play as you say- then Geno is taking a hit (minor as it may be) somewhat for that. I think the committee is more interested in 2010 and 2014 WC availability IF that were the issue and then it would have VERY LITTLE to do with Geno. So, as a fan of UCONN I don't want to have to hear that crap if I think the player's criticizing are dead wrong and the committee doesn't say a word about the WC's. Or did they? Anyhow, I'm a FAN. Abbreviation for FANATIC. I don't want my UCONN team taking hits - even if minor - when it is uncalled for for doing so. The committee should have the guts to say something about the WC's if that wa a big reason why Parker got cut.

As far as Parker the player- this is the very reason why I want to hear from committee or Geno (just because I'm a fan like you and anyone else - and I believe Parker is a beast). So tell me why committee. I will continue to believe they are talking BS if they say there were TOO MANY 3/4's because I don't believe there were nor do I believe that Parker's game couldn't make this team better than other player's. As a basketball fan, tell me why committee.

And I don't agree with your comments about Parker is more about "individual" or similar to that if you didn't mean it totally. So if I don't agree with that. And I think the committee didn't give me a satisfactory answer and I think they are hanging Geno out to dry a little- as a fan it bugs me a little I'm not getting answers. So I'll continue to "blame the committee" in my own way.

 

[UConnCat]

She's not timing surgeries with USA play. She has an agreement with her overseas team to not start there until January each year. She also has her WNBA commitment. These are both contractual agreements. Her only off time is the few months leading up to January and after the WNBA season. She certainly isn't making plans to be injured and have these knee clean ups required.

Last, she devoted this past year to USA, including choosing to forego her overseas money in order to be available for USA commitments. She played in October. She's also been doing USA promos and speaking engagements.

Other players have contractual arrangements with the WNBA and overseas teams as well and probably have been in need of clean up surgeries, but they figured out a way to be ready for the world championships. I'm sure most of the players would prefer to play only in the Olympics but Team USA can't operate a system in which players get to play in only the more significant event. Skipping the 2014 worlds seems to have been a sticking point for some and it's beginning to sound like there might have been some chemistry issues around that.

As for the other stuff, well then perhaps it behooves her to sit down with Carol Callan and the USA BB committee and talk about why she was asked to do USA promotional events and then not make the team. Those would be fair questions in my view. Whatever, this was a USA Basketball decision, not a Geno Auriemma decision.

 

[Plebe]

And Mechelle continues to pour fuel on the fire:

Still trying to make sense of a Rio roster without Parker

 

[Jmpenn]

so now the committee wanted her to lie and say she didn't want to go. Wow!

And Mechelle continues to pour fuel on the fire:

Still trying to make sense of a Rio roster without Parker

 

[Justavisitor]

UConncat, the reality is, we don't know who's issue it was. We weren't in the room. One thing I don't do is question any players choice and timing for surgery. The grind they all endure takes a tremendous toll, both physically and mentally.

 

[Jmpenn]

It seems like you are hearing about chemistry issues from another board. I'm not sure which on and this is the first I have heard of it. I know she and Catch are close and she seems friendly with DT and Bird from overseas. I wasn't aware of any problems with any other players. Also she was one of the few vets that made the last training camp in Spain when most of the team was playing overseas. She did great, had tons of assists, and if I am remembering correctly there was quote about her mentoring Stewart.

Other players have contractual arrangements with the WNBA and overseas teams as well and probably have been in need of clean up surgeries, but they figured out a way to be ready for the world championships. I'm sure most of the players would prefer to play only in the Olympics but Team USA can't operate a system in which players get to play in only the more significant event. Skipping the 2014 worlds seems to have been a sticking point for some and it's beginning to sound like there might have been some chemistry issues around that.

As for the other stuff, well then perhaps it behooves her to sit down with Carol Callan and the USA BB committee and talk about why she was asked to do USA promotional events and then not make the team. Those would be fair questions in my view. Whatever, this was a USA Basketball decision, not a Geno Auriemma decision.

 

[msf22b]

Mechelle is 100"% correct to continue reporting on this scandal
And a scandal it is...a screwup of monumental proportions.
They must have known what was coming if they asked her to lie for them.
Wait...this thing is just getting warmed up.

 

[Plebe]

so now the committee wanted her to lie and say she didn't want to go. Wow!

That was the paragraph I found the most astounding: "In what is a further insult, USA Basketball seemed to hope she would then opt to say this was all her choice. That she needed more rest or wanted to stay home to attend one of her daughter's recitals or that she didn't care for samba music or whatever could have kept USA Basketball from being asked why she's not on the team."

Huh?! Where is the evidence that USA Basketball wanted her to lie?

 

[hoophuskee]

It seems like you are hearing about chemistry issues from another board. I'm not sure which on and this is the first I have heard of it. I know she and Catch are close and she seems friendly with DT and Bird from overseas. I wasn't aware of any problems with any other problems. Also she was one of the few vets that made the last training camp in Spain when most of the team was playing overseas. She did great, had tons of assists, and if I am remembering correctly there was quote about her mentoring Stewart.

Tell me- you seem like a Tenn fan, am I right? And you don't seem like a "hating UCONN fan" either, am I right? The link you provided and the comment from the link - do you really think Geno - a guy who usually speaks his mind a ton maybe to a fault is behind something like this? With his mouth he would be shy in this case?

Still trying to make sense of a Rio roster without Parker

"In what is a further insult, USA Basketball seemed to hope she would then opt to say this was all her choice. That she needed more rest or wanted to stay home to attend one of her daughter's recitals or that she didn't care for samba music or whatever could have kept USA Basketball from being asked why she's not on the team."

 

[msf22b]

That was the paragraph I found the most astounding: "In what is a further insult, USA Basketball seemed to hope she would then opt to say this was all her choice. That she needed more rest or wanted to stay home to attend one of her daughter's recitals or that she didn't care for samba music or whatever could have kept USA Basketball from being asked why she's not on the team."

Huh?! Where is the evidence that USA Basketball wanted her to lie?

You don't really think Mechelle is making that up...do you?

 

[UcMiami]

This is the attitude that will keep the game from growing. So what if Candace has an attitude? So what if DT has an attitude? So what if Angel has an attitude? And the list goes on. Set it aside and put the best talent on the floor. There's a reason the men's game flourishes. Use their attitudes to advance the game by growing the audience. The audience loves the flare and swag that these players bring to the court. They love their edginess. Do you think everyone loved Michael Jordan? Some couldn't stand the guy. Or Kobe? Or Lebron?

Sorry but all you have to do is look at the men's history pre coach K to see what 'attitude' can do to a team, or look at a number of professional teams from multiple sports to see what can happen when teammates care more about themselves than the team.
That USA men's team had lots of swag in 1998 and 2002, and 2004, and 2006, and the fans ate it up, until unfortunately it turned out it was bronze swag except for 2002 when is was just an also ran kind of swag. If that is 'The reason the men's game flourishes' I think I'll stick with the women's game or at least go for a coach and committee that ignores the swag and selects the team for chemistry like coach K.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I think the point is, why should we care about their opinion.

same reason you want us to care about your opinion... and if you didn't want us to care why post it, keep it to yourself