Candace Parker at Knicks game in November 2008
Here's a thing Kobe Bryant will never be asked to address: why did the birth of your child have to coincide with the commencement of the NBA season?
The announcement that Candace Parker, the Associated Press female athlete of 2008 and the marketing face of the WNBA will give birth this spring required statements from both the LA Sparks ownership and the WNBA league office.
They won't admit it is of some concern. The closest anyone came to making it sound as if this was an inconvenience or a blow to the league's growth plans was a statement from Kathy Goodman, an owner of the Sparks. as reported in the Los Angeles Times of this date.
My first reaction was to just shake my head. We're inured to this by now so I guess I thought. 'Oh, yeah, she's having a baby. Yeah, of course.'"
Her reference to being "inured to it by now" arises from the pregnancy of the former face of the Sparks, Lisa Leslie whose good news was announced on the same day that Goodman and her partner Carla Christofferson bought the team in 2006. Leslie missed the entire 2007 season.
She had to withstand questions regarding her loyalty to the team but understood why others raised those issues.
Your job is second...I have planned accordingly as best I could. I took everyone into consideration."
How sad is that? She was 35 years old and married. She had given the previous decade to helping keep the WNBA alive and being a glowing ambassador for women's professional sports. But she had to account for the most personal of decisions and be concerned that she was somehow letting down her fellow athletes.
WNBA Commissioner Donna Orender was more positive in her approach to the subject of Parker's pregnancy than Ms. Goodman:
She's a phenomenal athlete who should rejoice in this next stage of her life. "
Of course the fact that Parker's baby is rumored to be due in May gives the league hope that she will zoom back into shape and hop onto the court, assuming of course there are no complications. That will be the next hot question up for debate. Will she take two months or six weeks? The Sparks first game at home is June 6th.
I understand that she has a job to do and in a team sport, this kind of thing can have implications for more than just her. But as I said up top, no male athlete has to account for his child birth decisions other than whether he'll miss a game or two to be at his partner's side.
Women who play team sports have to be resigned to the fact that their real lives are always seen through the prism of how their choices will affect their job responsibilities and the livelihood of their team. In Parker's case the financial health of an entire league is affected. That's got to be tough.
Photo credit: David Dow/NBAE/Getty Images
Comments
Great article, and an even tougher subject. I don't have the perspective to make an educated contention, however, I want to bring up two points concerning both parties involved(Paker/Athletes and the WNBA/owners)
1. Owners and WNBA come off as a little insensative. Women have children--it's a fact. They knew this when the WNBA was created. What's next, "no baby" clauses in contracts? Maybe there already are. I'm not sure.
2. Then again, should Female professional athletes have to make certain "life" sacrifices in order to compete on that market level? It doesn't seem fair since men don't have to make the same sacrifices. Even though Men and women are equal, we are obviously biologically different. This presents a tricky situation for all parties involved.
Aaron: congrats to you for putting your neck out on that issue #2. But consider this. What if she put off having a child and then had problems that only got worse as she aged? Lisa Leslie was lucky that in her mid-30s she didn't have miscarriages and fertility issues. We are uniquely blessed with these dilemmas
I agree with the article, this is something the legue has to think about. In response to Aaron Calfato Women & Men are not biologically the same and yes a woman that plays a team sport should be held to accountable for a decison to have a baby. The femals chooses to be a female athlete and knows the sacrifces she will have to make to be one. I am not sure why people don't just say that. Paula yes Lisa was lucky to have a baby in her mid 30s but your statment sounds so old school. With the way careers are today and people waiting to get married or start families mid 30s is not all that old. I love CP the player but its obvious this was not thought out and the long term implications for not only her team but her could affect her career for years to come. Any time a player has to sit out an entire season due to injury or pregnancy it hurts the team. I also know that this may not be the case with CP she might be back for a good part of the season.
what if it was someone who is not a great contributor to the league will we be going through this, NO! Because she has such an impact on the game it's a big deal so what shes pregnant she a female and we get pregnant. If it was Shannon Bobbit will there be a fuss about NO!!!!!!!! So let her enjoy her pregnancy and move on.
No we would not be making such a fuss, but the truth of the matter in this society the amount we care depends on who the person is. Example a random person adopts a child no one cares, Angelina Jolie adopts and it's sets off a fire storm. Helps with fundrasing and more people start adopting. It does matter who the person is and she should have a sense of who she is and what she means to the sucess of the WNBA, her Team, and Teamates.
No we would not be making such a fuss, but the truth of the matter in this society the amount we care depends on who the person is. Example a random person adopts a child no one cares, Angelina Jolie adopts and it's sets off a fire storm. Helps with fundrasing and more people start adopting. It does matter who the person is and she should have a sense of who she is and what she means to the sucess of the WNBA, her Team, and Teamates.
Stef: thanks for your thoughtful comments.
Tez: Great point about her stature in the league making it a big deal when it shouldn't be
Candace's responsibility is to herself and her family FIRST, not to the Sparks or the WNBA. Lisa waited until her mid 30s and people still complained. F(orget) them. Candace did eactly what she should have done which was to do what she and Sheldon wanted to do. She should not put anyone's happiness in front of her own, because in the end the only person looking out for Candace is Candace.
Susan: Very true. Thanks for reading and sharing your comments
Susan I am not going to argue the point with you, but what I will say is, it's obvious that this was not planned, because everyone including CP knows this is not the best time for her to have a child. Everyone wants to be PC about this and with the WNBA in general, but sometimes the best way to prove equlity is when people judge you the same way. Its ok to be critical of CP's decsion and the league and still be a fan of both I am also a Vols fan. I don't think it's the best time for her to start her family.
Congradulations! Candace
Stef wheter it was planned or not there is no good time no matter what she still will miss some parts of the season so this is not a situation were she needs surgery you bounce right back she's young and will recover very well please keep Candance and her husband in your prayer believe me i know Candance love this game and she will be back real soon trust and believe she will bounce right back not skipping a beat. I have a friend that played BBall and after her birth of the baby she was back at it in 3 weeks. She'll be fine.
Tez, your right and I have not said that she will not get right back but everyone has to admit this puts the league, her team and teamates in a difficult situation. Bottom line this is not the best time
when is a good time
Stef, all i'm saying is WNBA can survive without Candance for awhile we need somebodyelse to step up to the forefront. I would love to see the other ladies stepup to the plate. Theres other ladies in the league just as good as Candance but don't get the recognition. I want to see Candance this year as well lets see how the league roll without her should be interesting.
Everyone tends to foreget that she is only 22 and recently married with both her and her husband on differnt schedules. In case everyone missed it he plays in the winter and she plays in the summer and the winter overseas. So again I will say this is not the best time for her to start a family. I will also say that I don't know her personally but how hard would it have been to wait even a year to get thier schedules down even.
I think it's great. And pretty good timing. She'll still probably get to play in 2009. And the benefit for her and Sheldon is that he'll be off when she has the baby and is playing in the W. They can spent the first months together and he can take care of the baby when she's working. Congrats, Candace. I've been a fan of the league since inception. There are so many awesome players (Catch, Tina T, Leslie, Taurasi, LJ, etc.) The W won't miss a beat.
Stef, you keep saying that this is not the best time to start her family, when you have no idea.The schedules don't matter considering they play at opposite times during the year, meaning both Candace and Shelden are always together when the other is not playing. And Candace HAS YET to play overseas. Unlike some of the other players, she really doesn't need to as they're both more than well off. And now, she may not.
Both Tina Thompson and Sheryl Swoopes had children and were back to playing the same season. Parker is young and fit, so she'll more than likely will return. It's not like she tore her ACL or something, she's having a baby. And despite all else, Candace Parker is a human being and a wife before she is a basketball player. Having a baby is a personal decision that should not include anyone BUT her family.
Also, did anybody consider the fact that this is an UNPLANNED pregnancy? Maybe they didn't plan on having a baby this soon, but this is the time they were blessed with one.
I've heard many times how much Candace loves kids and how she couldn't wait to have a family. It must be tough to know that there are some people who look at her greatest blessing as a potential mistake or setback...
Congrats! Candace and Sheldon, I think the WNBA IS REALLY TRIPPIN!!! I guess she should put her life on hold to make the league better. I think that owner of the LA Sparks should be more understanding because she is a woman, how difficult the decision must be for her. As I understand it Parker was on her way overseas to play basketball. I think it was a unplanned pregnancy. Anyway, it's her business. I guess they wanted her to have an abortion. If WNBA can't survive for a couple of months without her Candace then they have bigger issues to worry about.
OK, it wasn't planned. Was she supposed to abort it to satisfy her commitment to sports? I knew she had to think about the implications. Why do you think it took her so long to tell it. Bless her heart, I know she was afraid of the backlash. But, Candace, if you are reading this...you did the right thing. People like to "ogle" talent and beauty. If you sit on the sidelines with your baby, people will pay to see it. It is always a good time to have a baby if it is going to be loved and well cared for. Candace's mother is practically at every game. She will be holding her grandbaby. Candace will be back and sell more tickets because we'll be curious about the post-pregnant Candace. She has the "thing". If the WNBA marketing department had any creativity, they had better get some diaper and baby food commercials and put her on them. Heck, Nike should sell shoes on her baby's feet. For that matter, get some femine hygiene commercials, make-up, clothing (most of the players are built like models). Put the players in the commercials. Besides for Candace, Lisa, Diana, Sue, Lauren, Sheryl, Tina. Tamika C. and a few others, no one knows who they are. You need to advertise the rest of the players, so no one woman has the burden of carrying a league. The WNBA players...they're women. The WNBA needs to act like it. Congrats Candace. Do your "thang". You're still you.
Sharon: If Candace read your comment I think she'd hire you as her marketing guru.
unfortunate for her team and the league...but congrats to her and her man. it won't change his life but it will change hers.
She needs her head examined,when is safe sex practised by these high profile people?
Okay I'm wrong your right. A 22 year old who just got married and just started her career (less than a year for both). You guys are right best time ever to have a baby. That being said I am not here to tell CP what choices she should make I merly pointed out that I did not agree with her choice which is my right. Just like it was her right to make her choice.
Yeah she is pregnant but it is not the end of women's basketball. I am a senior at Dougherty Comprehensive High School and i look up to her. I play basketball too. But what people have to realize is she as her own personal life also. I feel that after the birth of her child she will be back in no time.
Yea even though she's pregnent that doesn't change the fact that she's still the best player in the league. I am a sophmore at West Craven High School and she's still my idol. I play basketball too. She has a personal decision and all the people in the world can't tell her how to live her personal life she's gonna do her. After the birth she is still gonna be the #1 pick, Rookie and Mvp of '08. Expect her 150% full force when she return's.
Well to my point of view...I'm really happy for her..which is good than having people say it's a mistake..being a fan and wacthing her ever since playing with the lady vols she's become an idol due to her playing basketball but what everyone else is saying..it's up to her what she plans to do..but to overcome this is for her to keep her head up..and CONGRATS! Biggest Fan
Everyone doesn't wait until "40" to have kids. The Sparks have Tina Thompson, Lisa Leslie, and Delisha Milton-Jones... The Sparks will be ok... As Far as I see it, they will still have a winning season without her while she's on maturity leave and will be even better when she returns. So Congrats to them ok their first child- She's a woman 1st then a player 2nd... So she was gonna have kids eventually- Get Over it.
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