NCAA Women’s Basketball : Something Is Lacking at Lexington

This city known for its basketball fans is not agog over the presence of the women’s NCAA Final Four.

Forget the tournament fever that gripped the city last year during the men’s Final Four. This year’s basketball players might just as well be here for the Big and Tall convention, for all the attention they are getting.

The apparent lack of spectator interest in this tournament is reflected in ticket sales, or the lack thereof.

At midweek, tournament officials were predicting advance ticket sales of only 9,000--a number that would barely warm the 23,000-seat Rupp Arena, where the semifinal games will be played Friday.

If the figures aren’t heartening, organizers are finding some solace in the fact that only one week ago fewer than 3,000 tickets had been sold. The boost came after Western Kentucky and Tennessee qualified for the Final Four.

Both schools are expected to bring large contingents. The Volunteers are planning for 3,000 boosters and the Lady Hilltoppers will bring about 4,000 fans, officials said.

“If Tennessee and Western Kentucky win, you could see a pretty packed Rupp Arena on Sunday (for the final),” tournament director Sue Feamster said.

In contrast, tickets for last year’s men’s Final Four were sold out months in advance and, on the first day of ticket sales, tournament officials received 150,000 requests.

“We need to show people that Lexington is as good as its promise,” a tournament publicist said. “We know how to do it right.”

One thing that went wrong was scheduling--the final is on Easter Sunday and the Kentucky girls’ state basketball tournament is being played in Bowling Green this weekend. Bowling Green is the home of Western Kentucky.

Officials are not just fretting about the lack of fans and its reflection on the prestige of the tournament. A turnout of at least 8,000 will mean as much as $2.5 million to the city in increased revenues.

The irrepressible Cynthia Cooper may be under USC Coach Linda Sharp’s control on the court, but Cooper calls her own shots off the floor. That’s what has Sharp worried.

When Cooper helped herself to the microphone at a press conference Monday in Los Angeles, USC officials braced themselves for more of Cooper’s verbal free-lancing.

“Did I hear you say you wanted me to sing the national anthem?” Cooper asked the gathering of media, players, coaches, alumni and administrators.

While USC players groaned and plugged their ears, Cooper grabbed the mike and launched into a basso profundo, Bessie Smith-style salute to the flag.

Done with that, Cooper waved to Barbara Hedges, USC associate athletic director, in the back of the room and asked, “Mrs. Hedges, do you want to hear my Final Four Rap?”

Sharp covered her eyes and sunk lower into her seat.

“One of the nice things about coming to the end of this season is that we don’t have to listen to Coop sing everywhere we go,” Sharp said.

Just a few more days.

Cooper, asked to characterize her preparation for the Final Four, said she has made some personal adjustments.

“Well, right now, I’m just trying to take care of myself,” said Cooper, a notorious consumer of junk food. “I’m trying to stay healthy. I’m eating right. I’m taking my medicine. I don’t play street ball anymore. I’m praying before every game and I’m going to church. I guess I’m covering all the bases.”

USC Notes Seniors JaMaiia Bond and Melissa Ward are coming to the end of their basketball careers, on paths that have been the same since high school. Ever since the then 6-foot 2-inch Bond ducked through the door and into Ward’s biology class at Chicago’s Whitney Young High School, the pair have played on the same team. Bond, now grown to 6-5, had resisted playing basketball until her freshman year in high school--Ward’s hard-sell won her over. Ward was already an established star, and, as is Bond, was active in student government at the magnet school for the academically gifted. It was Bond, however, who attracted the college recruiters. She had heard from USC but wasn’t sure she even wanted to play basketball in college until Ward again talked her into something. Ward had planned to attend USC because of its highly respected Air Force ROTC program. “I didn’t visit the campus, I had never even been on a plane,” Bond said. Nevertheless, Bond and Ward arrived--Bond to a scholarship, Ward to the arduous role of walk-on. “I never dreamed I would be a part of the No. 1 team in the nation,” Ward said. The two have been reserves for most of their four years at USC, but each has a role. Ward is the cheerleader from the bench, and Bond is the team’s most popular player. Trojan players love to tease Bond about her last name and often introduce JaMaiia in “007” fashion--”Bond, JaMaiia Bond.” Their sadness of playing in their last games together is tempered by their future plans. Ward will attend pilot training school next year, and Bond is considering law school. “Maybe Melissa can fly me to important trials,” Bond said. . . . USC is the only West Coast team remaining in post-season play, including the men’s and women’s final fours and National Invitation Tournament.