Raiders play second fiddle to Becky Hammon and Sparks

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I’ll admit it, I’m a testosterone-driven, fantasy-football playin’, California Angels-lovin’, mixed martial arts watchin’ typical male sports fan, and it was an easy choice to watch the WNBA over the Raiders on Sunday afternoon.

And those words were typed by someone who sat in the top rows of the Coliseum many afternoons and enthusiastically watched Bo Jackson steamroll defenders. But that was back when the Raiders were exciting. If you were among those who wasted yesterday afternoon watching the latest Raider collapse, you missed out on some good water cooler conversation over on ESPN2, my friend.

I can still describe every last possession of the Western Conference final between the Sparks and San Antonio Silver Stars, which was won by San Antonio, 76-72, but can’t tell you how many wobbly passes were thrown by JaMarcus Russell or missed tackles by Nnamdi Asomugha.

Yeah, it’s too bad the Sparks’ game was decided by two personal fouls away from the ball in the final seconds, but that doesn’t take away the heroics by San Antonio point guard Becky Hammon, who put down 35 points, the second-highest playoff scoring total in league history, or the grit and determination by Sparks point guard Temeka Johnson.

Considering the win-or-go-home nature of the game, I’d say Hammon’s performance was the greatest, most clutch I’ve seen from a basketball player since, well, Bo Kimble. The Sparks had more talent, Hammon had more desire. How many NBA stars have made six -of-eight three-point shots in such a crucial game?

Not only did the top WNBA players seem to elevate their game in the postseason, but the league has definitely found a way to integrate parity. Every playoff series of the current postseason has gone to a deciding third game.

High-grade talent, close games, clutch performances? You won’t find that watching the silver and black this season.

-- Dan Arritt