Tina Clarifies
Updated: August 8, 2007, 6:30pm: I spoke with Mark Berman to get his side of this story. His quotes in response to Tina Thompson's comments are toward the bottom of this post. I thank Mark for taking time to speak with me.
Before tonight's game between the Houston Comets and the New York Liberty, Tina Thompson spoke with the media and clarified a story released earlier today stating she was contemplating retiring from the WNBA to play professional basketball overseas.
Here are Tina's comments:
"You honestly can’t believe anything that Mark Berman says because he always chops things up and makes the story to fit, you know, whatever he is trying to figure out. What I told him today, after he told me that he heard from a very reliable source, that this would be my final season with the Comets. And I said, that that is a possibility, but that I have been pondering that for the last two or three years, and that at this point, percentage-wise, that I was maybe 70 to 30-percent sure. I am 32 years old and I have been playing in the WNBA 11 years and I am toward the end of my career. So at this point, I have a two-year old son and I am making decisions that are feasible for my future. And that is physically, emotionally and economically. It has a lot of factors.
"It's not even something I have thought about enough to talk about that with them (my teammates) at all. It’s not even an issue at this moment. Mark Berman said he heard it from someone. I don’t even know who he heard it from or whatever or whether he made it up or not. I haven’t said that (that I am pondering retirement) to anyone."
For those of who outside of Houston, Mark Berman works for Houston's Fox 26 Sports. He's the reporter who broke this story earlier today; and, in my opinion, as long as I've known "Scoop", Mark Berman's credibility has never in a doubt.
From Mark Berman:
"Tina's reaction to my story on her is unfortunate. When I approached her about the story, I did it without my photographer. I told her what I had heard that she was going to quit the WNBA when the season is over and play fulltime overseas. She responded by saying that she had not made a final decision. I asked her if we could discuss where she is at on this situation and she said "yes" and thanked me for not blindsiding her. I turned the camera on; and, we did the story which included Tina saying she was 70 percent sure she was not returning to the WNBA.
"In the 11 years I've covered the Comets, the players have always wanted the respect from the media that the men receive. And, that's exactly what they get from Fox 26. If Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, or Warren Moon had given me the same kind of quotes in the same situation they would have all been big stories. Tina Thompson is no less an athlete in her sport. Why is this situation any different? Tina is DEAD WRONG in her assessment of the situation; and, in her heart, she knows that. Regardless of what she thinks or says, I will continue to cover Tina Thompson and the Comets' franchise with respect and integrity."
Signed Mark Berman,
Sports Director Fox 26.
Before tonight's game between the Houston Comets and the New York Liberty, Tina Thompson spoke with the media and clarified a story released earlier today stating she was contemplating retiring from the WNBA to play professional basketball overseas.
Here are Tina's comments:
"You honestly can’t believe anything that Mark Berman says because he always chops things up and makes the story to fit, you know, whatever he is trying to figure out. What I told him today, after he told me that he heard from a very reliable source, that this would be my final season with the Comets. And I said, that that is a possibility, but that I have been pondering that for the last two or three years, and that at this point, percentage-wise, that I was maybe 70 to 30-percent sure. I am 32 years old and I have been playing in the WNBA 11 years and I am toward the end of my career. So at this point, I have a two-year old son and I am making decisions that are feasible for my future. And that is physically, emotionally and economically. It has a lot of factors.
"It's not even something I have thought about enough to talk about that with them (my teammates) at all. It’s not even an issue at this moment. Mark Berman said he heard it from someone. I don’t even know who he heard it from or whatever or whether he made it up or not. I haven’t said that (that I am pondering retirement) to anyone."
For those of who outside of Houston, Mark Berman works for Houston's Fox 26 Sports. He's the reporter who broke this story earlier today; and, in my opinion, as long as I've known "Scoop", Mark Berman's credibility has never in a doubt.
From Mark Berman:
"Tina's reaction to my story on her is unfortunate. When I approached her about the story, I did it without my photographer. I told her what I had heard that she was going to quit the WNBA when the season is over and play fulltime overseas. She responded by saying that she had not made a final decision. I asked her if we could discuss where she is at on this situation and she said "yes" and thanked me for not blindsiding her. I turned the camera on; and, we did the story which included Tina saying she was 70 percent sure she was not returning to the WNBA.
"In the 11 years I've covered the Comets, the players have always wanted the respect from the media that the men receive. And, that's exactly what they get from Fox 26. If Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, or Warren Moon had given me the same kind of quotes in the same situation they would have all been big stories. Tina Thompson is no less an athlete in her sport. Why is this situation any different? Tina is DEAD WRONG in her assessment of the situation; and, in her heart, she knows that. Regardless of what she thinks or says, I will continue to cover Tina Thompson and the Comets' franchise with respect and integrity."
Signed Mark Berman,
Sports Director Fox 26.
posted by Kris G @ 6:34 PM
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