Silver Stars Central

Silver Stars Central Episode 1 (podcast)

By Michael De Leon | April 2, 2008 | Comments Off

This is the first of hopefully many podcasts that will be coming to Silver Stars Central this season. In this episode, I talk to long-time Silver Stars season ticket-holder Stephanie Garcia about the latest during the WNBA offseason including Becky Hammon possibly playing for the Russian National Team, the Hammonites from Silver Stars Nation giving a donation to the Battered Women’s and Children’s Shelter in Becky’s name for her birthday, the latest offseason changes and we end by talking about why we are WNBA fans.

Besides being updated regularly with blog posts once the WNBA season kicks off, you should also expect to see podcasts regularly (my goal is bi-weekly) and coverage from Silver Stars games from time-to-time. So keep Silver Stars Central and Silver Stars Nation in your bookmarks and check back often as the season approaches. And if you have anything you’d like to contribute, drop me a line at michael@projectspurs.com.

Direct Download | Subscribe in iTunes (soon)

Show Notes
Becky’s defecting
Hammonites celbrate Hammon’s birthday with charitable donation
Hammon signed to extension
Other signings: Ruth Riley | Helen Darling | Vickie Johnson | Ferdinand-Harris to LA
Crossley speaks at Northwest Vista
Why I’m a WNBA Fan (original post from Project Spurs Blog)

Silver Stars Lose Anderson in Expansion Draft

By Michael De Leon | February 6, 2008 | 1 Comment

Silver Stars center Chantelle Anderson was drafted by the Atlanta Dream in today’s expansion draft. Anderson was left unprotected since The Silver Stars were only allowed to protect 6 players on the roster.

The 6-6 Anderson is a five-year veteran and was looking to enter her third season as a member of the Silver Stars. She played sparingly last season averaging 2.5 points and just under two rebounds in eight minutes pre game.

“We really felt like we couldn’t have enough size (and we’re still not done!). She’s 6-6, she has great post moves, she played for Jim Foster at Vanderbilt and improved a lot thanks to the tough SEC competition,” said Dream coach Marynell Meaders. “She’s had a couple of injuries over the last two or three years, but I think she’s finally getting well and is playing better every day. She’s gonna add size and veteranism to this team.”

Anderson was a fan favorite in San Antonio and was also very active in the community, serving as spokesman for Choose Respect.

“Chantelle has been a real success story here in San Antonio and we want to wish for the best in her future,” said Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes. “Her ability to deal with adversity in the form of two major injuries and return to form has been inspirational.”

So I’ve become a WNBA fan

By Michael De Leon | August 28, 2007 | 3 Comments

Cross posted from the Project Spurs Blog

Yup, I’ll admit it. I haven’t given the WNBA much of a chance until now. Any time there was a WNBA game on NBA TV, I always found something else to watch.

My hometown Silver Stars also have been a lottery team since they came to San Antonio from Utah.

I heard at the beginning of the WNBA season that the Silver Stars traded for Becky Hammon and made some other changes and figured they’d be much improved, but still never paid any attention to their games until about 3 weeks ago.

I ended up looking for something to watch on NBA TV and saw the Silver Stars were playing so I decided to watch and try to get some basketball in my system. I ended up watching for the next 20 minutes. Then the next time I saw them on I watched the entire game. Then I stared setting my DVR for the Silver Stars games.

I came to the realization that:

• If you are a fan of the sport of Basketball, it shouldn’t matter whether it is men or women playing.

• The Silver Stars are fun to watch. No dunks or high-flying SportsCenter-making plays are needed to enjoy watching a WNBA game. They’re out there playing their asses off as much as any men and make a hell of a lot less than their NBA counterparts.

• Dan Hughes, the Silver Stars coach and GM runs his team similar to the way Pop runs his.

• It’s about damn time the WNBA get some respect, starting with me.

The Silver Stars are in their first franchise playoffs and are fresh off a routing of the Sacramento Monarchs in game 2 after they got pounded in game 1. Tonight, they have a chance to close the series out at home in the AT&T Center and advance to the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Mercury.

I’ll be there rooting them on and I convinced three of my brothers to go with me and if you’re reading this and live in the San Antonio area (I live in San Marcos) you should be there to get your dose of basketball while the Spurs aren’t playing. Plus there is this coupon, where you can get your ticket, a hot dog, chips and a drink for $15 bucks.