Comes the news the last few weeks that Los Angeles is probably going to lose its WNBA franchise, the mighty LA Sparks. This is an emotional time for me and a lot of people I (kind of) know. I covered the Sparks as both a photographer and as a reporter for many years. For four years (at least) the franchise gave me the privilege of being a media voter on the league’s end-of-season awards like Most Value Player, Coach of the Year, etc. I’ve followed the league from day one. Anyway. It’s a big blow. I devoted a ton of my time to WNBA basketball and the Sparks.
The WNBA is active in the community and especially focuses its efforts on the very young and impressionable. One special afternoon that took us to the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica and with no digital camera to use I had to settle for my Leica M7 and M6 TTL, with the 50mm Summilux 1.4 ASPH and the 35mm Summicron 2.0 ASPH. I used Kodak 800 speed color (obviously) film and here were my keepers.
Attended an event at the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica co-sponsered by the WNBA and Jamba Juice.
Talked to Los Angeles Sparks guard Alana Beard about what they hoped to accomplish in their combined efforts to impact the national epidemic of childhood obesity.
Grabbed a lot of shots with my Leica M7 and M6, the Leica 50mm Summilux 1.4 ASPH and incredibly useful Leica 35mm Summicron 2.0 ASPH. All shot with Kodak 800.
And the kids. I broke a record for sweating I’m sure. There was a guy following me around with a mop. Hope the pictures are okay.
50'Lux 
Wow, so sorry. What a bummer. I don’t follow many sports, so forgive me for my ignorance. What was the reason for the folding up the WNBA franchise? No sponsors? ?? The “W” likely doesn’t garner the big dollars and attention from promoters like the Men’s sport teams and interests. THAT’S definitely a disparity between the way the sexes are viewed…in the sports world.
All those things. Still a flicker of hope left that the Sparks will stay in LA… these next ten days should provide the answer. It is certainly a bummer.