Women Now Brawling Also

This seems to be the face (at least today) of the WNBA: the tusslin' ladies of the pro basketball circuit.

In an incident somewhat eerily reminiscent of the Ron Artest dustup in 2004, pleasantries were exchanged last night at The Palace in Auburn Hills during what was supposed to be a basketball game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock...well, the shock part was certainly in evidence. True, it did not escalate into involving the paying spectators, but coaches got involved (much like managers do in WWE), though probably just as peacemakers. Imagine former Piston "bad boy" Rick Mahorn taking on 36-year-old Lisa Leslie in "Celebrity Death Match." If you have not yet seen the replay for the thousandth time as I have, it's all over YouTube. Check it out. I have only a couple of observations:

1. Why is it that these things just seem to happen in Motown? The Piston Bad Boys and Ron Artest leap to mind, of course. Oh, there have been other physical confrontations in the NBA, but this is the first in the WNBA...an event SURE to increase the television audience and number of paying customers. I mean, how many people watch hockey and NASCAR in anticipation of such confrontations? Most of them, I would suspect. Next, some team will sign Danica Patrick as their "enforcer" for just such an occasion, particularly after she took on that other woman driver last week. Biff!!! Pow!!! Zowie!!!

2. Candace Parker was a major player. She took umbrage at a hard foul, was subsequently run over by another opponent, then proceeded to drag Plenette Pierson to the court and give her a series of noogies. A) she's a rookie...she's got to expect a little rough play. After all, she's not the hallowed Volunteer anymore, and other women want a paycheck as well! B) Parker was ejected and anticipates a suspension. Would this league suspend a major drawing card...especially if fighting will result? The league is treading on new ground here, but expect to see variations of this all over the internet.

3. Lisa Leslie got blindsided (accidentally, they say) by assistant coach Rick Mahorn and dumped to her seat during the fracas. Afterward, she was interviewed and said something like "As a mom, I'm disappointed that this happened. It is not what I want my daughter to see me involved in. This is not what the WNBA is about." Can you imagine Ron Artest, Rick Mahorn, Bill Lambeer or Dennis Rodman sounding apologetic after some testosterone-fueled explosion? Uh...not so much. In fairness, it appeared to me that Leslie was trying to help teammates up when she walked into the haymaker from Mahorn. After all, at 36, she would be at something of a disadvantage in a brawl even though I get the impression she's tough. Her daughter can be proud of her, in my mind.

All in all, it certainly has renewed some interest in the Women's National Basketball Association. The next thing you know, Spike Lee and Jack Nicholson will show up courtside with Ashley Judd and the Hogan family. Game on!