Lauren Jackson walks away from the Capitals for the upcoming season

I read this yesterday in the CT. My reading was that Basketball ACT missed the deadline after they were given all the support possible to make it happen.

This doesn’t surprise me given that Basketball ACT probably couldn’t organise a beer in a pub.

End rant.

Madam Cholet said :

If I was a hard working Canberra Cap, I would find it pretty galling that one member of the team is welcomed with open arms whenever they want and walks away whenever they want. Most if not all of the remaining players hold down jobs to play their chosen sport and this giant prima Donna just strolls around the globe picking and choosing based on who will pay the most. Phooey to you LJ. Canberra does not need your expense.

Yes, I too would hate to be a developing player in a local competition who has the chance to work with the best player in the world and greatest women’s basketballer in Australian history. I would totally resent the fact that she was being paid big bucks for some reason and I was not…..

Oh wait, no I wouldn’t, I’d be encouraging the club to do all it could to get her across so that not only is my team better, but I get the chance to train with, learn from and play with the best and possibly improve my game to the level where I can play the sport entirely professionally myself….

Do we resent the Australian soccer player who goes over seas to both improve his game and earn bigger dollars while furthering his career, but then chooses to come back to Australia late in his career for significantly less dollars?

The fact of the matter is Jackson could earn significantly more in the WNBA off-season by playing in Russia while also being treated far better by the owner than she ever could by playing for the Caps. So the fact that she even entertains the idea of playing here is rather sentimental of her, especially when she doesn’t shop herself round to the other WNBL teams for the best offer. I’m sure her management imposed the deadline because if they waited longer then they would also miss out on the chance to sign elsewhere (such as Russia) if the Caps couldn’t finalise the contract here.

She’s a professional athlete with a history of injury, her career is limited and her earning potential, especially in Australia, after her career is over is not guaranteed. Why begrudge her the opportunity to set herself up financially for the long-term. I’d be pretty chuffed that she’d sacrifice some of that for the Caps at all.

Madam Cholet said :

If I was a hard working Canberra Cap, I would find it pretty galling that one member of the team is welcomed with open arms whenever they want and walks away whenever they want. Most if not all of the remaining players hold down jobs to play their chosen sport and this giant prima Donna just strolls around the globe picking and choosing based on who will pay the most. Phooey to you LJ. Canberra does not need your expense.

Did you read the article?

If I was a hard working Canberra Cap, I would find it pretty galling that one member of the team is welcomed with open arms whenever they want and walks away whenever they want. Most if not all of the remaining players hold down jobs to play their chosen sport and this giant prima Donna just strolls around the globe picking and choosing based on who will pay the most. Phooey to you LJ. Canberra does not need your expense.

I’m with Jackson on this one. She is nearing the end of her career and needs certainty, which they failed to provide.

PS I now see from the CT link that she is still on for the next two seasons – at this stage…

Umm -what happened to the three years out of five Caps deal she signed a couple of years ago?

Lauren Jackson walks away from the capitals ay…so she can walk again can she?

Surely after last year she can give them one for nothing. Hell, action can probably wheel out a bus they prepared earlier.

Speaking of Lauren and deals, I would be interested to know whether any ACTEW related folk were involved in that hideous development in Woden that Lauren Jackson was promoting a few years ago …

dungfungus said :

It appears the two parties were unable to transact an acceptable deal.

They had their wires crossed..