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Women's Athletics Gets a Jump in Slam Dunk Contest
By Eric Prisbell
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 30, 2004; 10:59 AM
MIDWEST CITY, Okla., March 29 -- Those searching for the next LeBron James might have been watching the wrong gender.
In what could prove a significant step in the evolution of women's athletics, a high school girls basketball player did more than just compete in a slam dunk contest Monday against five of the nation's best high school boys players.
Candace Parker, a 6-3 17-year-old from Naperville, Ill., won the event, beating a field of male competitors that included at least two who could be playing in the NBA next season.
"I was saying earlier that I hope 10 years from now this isn't a big deal," said Parker, who will play at Tennessee next season. "That would be my dream. That 10 years from now three or four girls enter the dunk contest and it's not a big deal. It's not like, 'Wow, she won.' I hope that happens."
The event was held at Carl Albert High as a prelude to Wednesday's McDonald's All-American Game. Both the slam dunk contest and the boys' game will be shown Wednesday on ESPN.
The packed gymnasium crowd rooted for Parker throughout the competition.
After being introduced as one of the best high school players ever, Parker was greeted with a standing ovation before her first dunk attempt.
Later, the crowd cheered wildly after her last attempt, a right-handed slam that was spiced up because she covered her eyes with her left arm during the final few steps toward the basket.
Parker's final dunk earned 79 out of a possible 80 points from the eight judges. The only holdout was Barry Sanders, the former NFL star running back, who gave her a nine.
The unlikely winner upstaged, at least for the moment, a highly-anticipated McDonald's All-American boys' game that will include as many as 12 players who could skip college and enter the NBA draft. Some players have likened the game to an NBA tryout that will determine draft positioning and salaries.
For Parker, there will be no professional payday in June. She will attend college even though she outdunked Josh Smith, a potential lottery pick, and Rudy Gay, a Spalding High senior who has committed to play for Connecticut next season.
Longtime basketball observer Howard Garfinkel, one of the competition's judges and a member of the game selection committee, said he never thought he would see a woman win a slam dunk contest.
"It means the women are getting better," said Garfinkel, one of the most respected talent evaluators over the past three decades.
In 2002, Lisa Leslie became the first WNBA player ever to dunk in a game.
The first women's dunk in the college game was made by West Virginia's Georgeann Wells in 1984. North Carolina's Charlotte Smith dunked in 1994 and Tennessee's Michelle Snow dunked three times during her college career.
"By the nature of our bodies, women are behind," said Jennifer Azzi, one of the judges and a five-year WNBA veteran. "But we're catching up to where the men were, say, 30 years ago."
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Eric Prisbell
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 30, 2004; 10:59 AM
MIDWEST CITY, Okla., March 29 -- Those searching for the next LeBron James might have been watching the wrong gender.
In what could prove a significant step in the evolution of women's athletics, a high school girls basketball player did more than just compete in a slam dunk contest Monday against five of the nation's best high school boys players.
Candace Parker, a 6-3 17-year-old from Naperville, Ill., won the event, beating a field of male competitors that included at least two who could be playing in the NBA next season.
"I was saying earlier that I hope 10 years from now this isn't a big deal," said Parker, who will play at Tennessee next season. "That would be my dream. That 10 years from now three or four girls enter the dunk contest and it's not a big deal. It's not like, 'Wow, she won.' I hope that happens."
The event was held at Carl Albert High as a prelude to Wednesday's McDonald's All-American Game. Both the slam dunk contest and the boys' game will be shown Wednesday on ESPN.
The packed gymnasium crowd rooted for Parker throughout the competition.
After being introduced as one of the best high school players ever, Parker was greeted with a standing ovation before her first dunk attempt.
Later, the crowd cheered wildly after her last attempt, a right-handed slam that was spiced up because she covered her eyes with her left arm during the final few steps toward the basket.
Parker's final dunk earned 79 out of a possible 80 points from the eight judges. The only holdout was Barry Sanders, the former NFL star running back, who gave her a nine.
The unlikely winner upstaged, at least for the moment, a highly-anticipated McDonald's All-American boys' game that will include as many as 12 players who could skip college and enter the NBA draft. Some players have likened the game to an NBA tryout that will determine draft positioning and salaries.
For Parker, there will be no professional payday in June. She will attend college even though she outdunked Josh Smith, a potential lottery pick, and Rudy Gay, a Spalding High senior who has committed to play for Connecticut next season.
Longtime basketball observer Howard Garfinkel, one of the competition's judges and a member of the game selection committee, said he never thought he would see a woman win a slam dunk contest.
"It means the women are getting better," said Garfinkel, one of the most respected talent evaluators over the past three decades.
In 2002, Lisa Leslie became the first WNBA player ever to dunk in a game.
The first women's dunk in the college game was made by West Virginia's Georgeann Wells in 1984. North Carolina's Charlotte Smith dunked in 1994 and Tennessee's Michelle Snow dunked three times during her college career.
"By the nature of our bodies, women are behind," said Jennifer Azzi, one of the judges and a five-year WNBA veteran. "But we're catching up to where the men were, say, 30 years ago."
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
