Adubato Resigns, Mystics Fall to 0-5
Latest Shakeup Doesn't Alter Team's Course: Sky 75, Mystics 70
Chicago's Chasity Melvin, playing in her first game since being acquired from Washington for Monique Currie last week, blocks a shot by the Mystics' Tamara James on Friday.
(Linda Spillers - AP)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Just before tip-off at all Washington Mystics home games, a member of the team typically takes the microphone, marches onto the floor and delivers a welcoming message to fans over the public address system.
"We just want you to bear with us through the changes," Mystics forward DeLisha Milton-Jones told a crowd of 6,391 last night. "It's a metamorphosis right now."
Milton-Jones's timely plea to the fans came just a few hours after coach Richie Adubato abruptly resigned with his team in the midst of the worst start in franchise history. Her words still seemed appropriate after the Mystics fell, 75-70, to the Chicago Sky, dropping the team's record to 0-5.
Adubato's resignation was the latest twist during a tumultuous week for a franchise that started the season celebrating a newfound stability.
Adubato, 69, said he was discouraged the team did not offer him a contract extension, a move he found particularly disturbing after leading Washington to a franchise-best 18-16 record and a playoff appearance last season.
"Being a lame duck isn't what typically happens after a banner year," said Adubato, who stepped down in the final season of a two-year contract.
Adubato said he was also disappointed by the recent changes made to the roster.
Washington traded veteran center Chasity Melvin to the Sky for second-year small forward Monique Currie. General Manager Linda Hargrove hailed the move as one that would solidify the future, but Adubato regarded Melvin, the team's leading rebounder last season, as a key element toward making Washington a championship contender.
"I felt like I needed that front line to be able to compete against Detroit, Connecticut and Indiana," said Adubato, who amassed a 33-39 mark with the team and leaves the franchise as its longest-tenured head coach. "When we made that trade, it may be good for the future. Certainly, Monique Currie will be a good player. But that's still down the road a little bit."
The second major change came on Thursday, when veteran small forward Crystal Robinson announced her retirement. Robinson remains with the team as an assistant coach.
Within days, the team's complexion had changed.
"I was a little bit disappointed," said Adubato, who joined the Mystics in 2005 after a five-year stint in New York, where he led the Liberty to Eastern Conference championships in 1999, 2000 and 2002. "I went from a veteran team at every position to having to play a lot of inexperienced rookies."
