Houston Roundball Review Archive: August 2007 Women's Hoops MP3s

Thursday, August 16, 2007
Karleen Thompson: "I can't complain"

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Comets closed out the home portion of their 2007 WNBA season with an 81 to 70 loss to the Chicago Sky.

The game was a microcosm of the Comets' season: Tina Thompson did her part; but, she didn't receive enough help from her teammates.

Thompson scored 33 points; Tamecka Dixon added 14; and, that's it. No other Comets' player scored in double figures.

Five players scored in double-figures for the Sky (14 - 19) led by 17 points from forward Stacey Dales.

Dominique Canty, former Houston Comets player, added 10 points; seven assists and three rebounds.

Candice Dupree scored 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds; while Jia Perkins scored 13 points off the bench; and Brooke Wyckoff stopped a few runs by the Comets with her 12 points.

The Comets (12 - 21) also turned the ball over 16 times.

After the game, Karleen Thompson spoke with the media: "...I can't complain..."

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Monday, August 13, 2007
Will Hilton Koch Remain the Owner of the Comets?

HOUSTON, TX -- Darryl Linden is not certain if Hilton Koch will be the owner of the Comets in 2008.

While some people may question Darryl Linden's background; basketball know how; role with the Comets' organization; etc., I do know -- for a fact -- he worked in Toyota Center earlier this year.

How do I know?

I attended one of the meetings (held at the Toyota Center) Linden conducted with members of the Comets' tickets office. Ms. Paige Mann also attended the meeting.

As part of an exclusive interview with The Houston Roundball Review, Linden gave The HRR his personal opinion regarding Hilton Koch's chances of "...remaining the owner of the team..."

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Sunday, August 12, 2007
Houston Comets have a "dysfunctional organizational culture"

HOUSTON, TX -- According to Darryl Linden, his last day as an employee of the Houston Comets was May 1, 2007.

On January 31, 2007, Hilton Koch, Houston Comets owner, referred to Linden as, and thanked him, too, for being his mentor.

What changed in those few months?

As Linden explained to the HRR, in his opinion, the Comets became a "...dysfunctional organizational culture..."

In this segment, Linden discusses a few aspects he believes led to his departure from the Comets' organization.

Linden said he noticed changes in the office.

In addition, he discusses the team's failure to reach an organizational goal to sell 2,000 season tickets during the press conference to announce Hilton Koch was the new owner of the Houston Comets.

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Darryl Linden: In the Spirit of the WNBA

HOUSTON, TX -- Karleen Thompson was announced the head coach and the general manager of the Houston Comets on February 14, 2007.

Thompson's surprising hire contradicted some Houston media outlets which, a few weeks earlier, reported Reggie Dixon would be named the next head coach of the Comets.

Hilton Koch's, owner of the Comets, decision to name Karleen Thompson the coach and the team's general manager was also surprising -- especially to Mr. Darryl Linden.

According to Mr. Linden, he was under the impression his role within the organization would be as general manager.

As part of an exclusive HRR interview, please listen to this segment of Darryl Linden's comments: "...in the spirit of the WNBA..."

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Saturday, August 11, 2007
"Sea of Red"

HOUSTON, TX -- Long-time Houston Comets' fans remember the "Sea of Red" which used to fill Compaq Center during the Comets' glory days.

One of Darryl Linden's goals was to return the Comets' organization to those glory days and turn Toyota Center into the new location for the "Sea of Red".

Listen to Darryl's plans for the Comets in 2007 and the near future: "...Sea of Red in Compaq Center..."

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Darryl Linden: "I was Appointed"

HOUSTON, TX -- This segment of my interview with Darryl Linden answers questions some Comets' fans have wondered about for months.

Darryl talks about personnel decisions regarding Tamecka Dixon, Renae Camino, and Anastasia Kostaki.

This segment also provides some information regarding Ms. Paige Mann.

This segment is lengthy: "...I was appointed..."

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Darryl Linden: "A Formidable Team"

HOUSTON, TX -- More of my interview with Darryl Linden and his time with the Houston Comets' organization to being removed from the Comets.

This segment is very brief; but, it touches on Darryl's role with the Comets which, according to Darryl, Hilton Koch agreed to during their initial meeting in October 2006.

"...a formidable team..."

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Friday, August 10, 2007
Jenny Boucek: "Our goal is to win a championship"

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Despite numerous injuries to her team and losing 83 to 75 Friday night to the Houston Comets, Sacramento Monarchs head coach Jenny Boucek told the media after the game, "...our goal is to win a championship."

The Monarchs shot an icy 34.8% (24 for 69) from the field and were out rebounded by the Comets 38 to 20.

Yolanda Griffith was the only Monarchs' starter to shoot above 50% (4 for 6) from the field for the game; and, unfortunately for her and the team, Griffith injured her right knee with about 8:50 left in the fourth quarter. She did not return to the ball game.

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Karleen Thompson: "doing your job"

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Comets kept their playoff hopes alive for another day with an eight point (83 - 75) win over the Sacramento Monarchs.

The Comets (11 - 19) shot 47.5% (28 for 59) from the field and limited the Monarchs (17 - 13) to just 34.8% (24 for 69) shooting.

The Comets owned the glass 38 to 20.

After the game, Comets head coach Karleen Thompson told the media she is encouraging the players to continue "...doing your job...">

Houston heads to San Antonio to face the Silver Stars Saturday night at 7 o'clock.

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Darryl Linden, From Mentor to Out

HOUSTON, TX -- On January 31, 2007, During the press conference to announce Hilton Koch's purchase of the Houston Comets, Hilton Koch thanked numerous people who helped him throughout the process to purchase the Comets.

One of those people was Darryl Linden. During his speech, Mr. Koch referred to Darryl Linden as his "mentor".

On May 1, 2007, Darryl Linden and Hilton Koch went their separate ways.

Recently, I interviewed Mr. Linden to get his side of the story. I hope to interview Mr. Koch as well.

Please listen to these segments of my interview with Darryl Linden:

"...4 hours talking..."

"...Who is Darryl Linden?"

"...met with the Rockets..."

"...a formidable team..."

"...I was appointed..."

"Sea of Red"

"...in the spirit of the WNBA..."

"...dysfunctional organizational culture..."

"...the league meetings..."

"...remaining owner of the team..."

This interview lasted approximately 90 minutes.

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007
No sense of urgency

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Despite knowing the desperate need to win their remaining six regular season games in order to have a good chance to qualify for the 2007 WNBA Playoffs, the Houston Comets played a lifeless first half and were unable to defeat the New York Liberty Tuesday night at Toyota Center.

New York defeated Houston 77 to 71 before an announced crowd of 7,209.

After the game, Comets head coach Karleen Thompson spoke with the media: "...no sense of urgency..."

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HRR chat w/ Tiffany Jackson

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Before tonight, the last time I spoke with Tiffany Jackson (University of Texas, 2007) was April 4, in Cleveland, at the WNBA Draft.

Jackson is a rookie for the New York Liberty this season; and, the Liberty are in Houston to play the Houston Comets Tuesday night at Toyota Center.

Jackson's rookie numbers are solid but not impressive.

She's playing about 13 minutes per game; and, scoring 4.9 points per game; and pulling down 2.7 rebounds per game.

However, during her last four games, Jackson has averaged slightly under 10 points per game.

During the Liberty's pre-game warm-up, Tiffany took some time out and spoke with me.

Listen to the chat: "...a real learning experience..."

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Friday, August 3, 2007
Karleen Thompson: "Crazier things have happened"

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Despite making just 4 of her 12 shots from the field, Tamecka Dixon played a solid ball game contributing 12 points; seven rebounds; and six assists in the Houston Comets' 66-56 win over the Los Angeles Sparks.

Dixon scored eight points in the fourth quarter including a pull-up jumper to cool a run by the LA Sparks and increase the Comets' lead to 50 to 46 with 7:32 in the ball game.

After the game, Dixon admitted the Comets' chances of making the playoffs are slim; but, she told The HRR: "...crazier things have happened..."

With tonight's win, the Comets' record improves to 9 and 18 on the season.

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Karleen Thompson: "control the tempo"

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Comets defeated the Los Angeles Spars Friday night in a basketball game that will not be shown as a "how to play basketball pretty and efficiently" DVD; but, the bottom line is the Comets won 66 to 56.

Neither team shot above 33 percent from the field for the game.

Comets head coach Karleen Thompson told the media the key to the win was the Comets were able to "...control the tempo..."

Though the game was tied three times, the Comets never trailed the Sparks in the game.

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