Dear Editor,
Your editorial “More women’s IM basketball leagues” (February 20, 2008) reminded me of two mysterious instances of missing basketball teams in our area. First, there is no club basketball on our campus. Second, there has never been an NBA team in St. Louis, despite enormous support for other professional sports.
I agree that it could be beneficial to divide women’s IM basketball into A and B leagues, but I think we should take things one step further and start a club team. It’s puzzling that we don’t have one. Basketball is awesome. If there’s enough interest to keep a women’s rugby team alive (barely) there must be enough to support a popular, indoor, much less bloody sport. IM basketball is currently the only outlet for non-varsity ballers. If a club team were created, the skill level of IM players might even out a little, making for fewer blowouts.
I grew up as (and still am) a diehard Lakers fan. My devotion to Kobe and Co. doesn’t keep me from lamenting the lack of an NBA team in St. Louis. Each time I see an ad for Will Ferrell’s new movie I’m reminded of our city’s sorry basketball history. There was once an ABA team here, the Spirits of St. Louis. The Spirits were one of only two ABA teams that didn’t make the cut in the merger with the NBA. Sadly, when the ABA disappeared in 1976, so did pro basketball in St. Louis. It’s time this city got another chance. I hear that the Supersonics will be looking for a new home after this season. It’s likely that they’ll settle for the newly-Hornetless Oklahoma City, especially considering that owner Clay Bennett is an Oklahoman himself. But really, what does Oklahoma City have that St. Louis doesn’t? We’ve got the Arch and the 1904 World’s Fair on our side. Besides, Mr. Bennett surely can’t deny the thing of alliterative beauty that would be the St. Louis Supersonics.
Megan Terle
Class of 2009