neither KiAnte Hardin nor Ray Buford, whove been su

Renee Brown recalls getting her job with the new WNBA in 1996 and almost immediately hopping on a plane for Europe to sign up players for the leagues 1997 launch. She has some funny stories of tracking down people in those olden days before everyone was constantly accessible by cell phone.Brown, the leagues chief of basketball operations and player relations, knows the history of the WNBA because she lived at the epicenter of it. Now, after 20 years, Brown is leaving the league, and its important to both applaud her contributions and also think about what qualities the WNBA should look for in her replacement.The timing is perfect for me, Brown said Tuesday in regard to ending her tenure after the WNBAs 20th anniversary season. She started as director of player personnel, and then her duties expanded. In 2005, the title of chief of basketball operations was added. Brown also has had a longtime association with USA Basketball, including as a coach with the 1996 Olympic team.As congenial as she is, Brown doesnt often share much in-depth with the media. When asked Tuesday some of the bigger challenges she has faced in her time with the WNBA, Brown didnt offer any insight.Nothing, really, she said. Its all been so enjoyable for me to go to games, watch players get drafted, be a part of USA Basketball. Running camps and clinics for young people. Ive been very, very blessed.Brown also didnt give specifics on what she planned to do next. She said she wanted to stay involved in womens sports and womens empowerment, and would leave her options open. For now, though, she said her entire focus is on the on-going WNBA playoffs.This is all understandable; Brown doesnt want to talk about anything that might detract from whats happening on court. But this year has been one of transition for the WNBAs leadership: Lisa Borders became president in February, and former Phoenix Suns/Mercury executive Jay Parry was named senior vice president/chief operating officer in April. Now a new person will be taking over Browns high-ranking spot.Brown said she will help in the search for her replacement. As for what qualities are most needed, Brown said it depends on how the job will be defined going forward.Ill have to take Lisas lead in regard to what does she want in this role, Brown said. But I think the main part of it is theyve got to be passionate about wanting to help improve and continue the success of our league.Again, this is vague. But to some degree the WNBAs upper management always has had an element of vague to it. If you ask around the WNBA teams, youll find that communication between the league office and each franchise isnt always clear, or even frequent enough. Brown has worked many years at trying to fill in those gaps, but she also has had to wear multiple hats.The areas that Brown oversaw are things that, in the NBA, might be split among a few different people. Of course, the NBA is a much bigger industry, with 30 teams as opposed to 12. Its doubtful that the WNBA front office will be expanding soon, so knowing how much there is to do in Browns job impacts the kind of candidates the WNBA should interview.It has to be someone who works very well and is trusted by Borders, but who also develops a strong relationship with each of the 12 franchises. And be someone whom the players, their union, and their agents feel they can talk to as well.Yeah, thats a lot to do. Which means a multitasker with great people skills who is also not afraid of confrontation and mediation. It also should be someone who is already familiar with the WNBA and can take the handoff from Brown and hit the ground running. As opposed to spending a year or two just figuring out stuff that everybody whos in or around the WNBA already knows.Brown didnt talk about the challenges, but theyre not a mystery. They include scheduling/travel, balancing the demands of players overseas careers, and dealing with how the franchises are run differently.The latter is true in any professional league; there are always teams that have better ownership and management than others. But there is also a standard that leagues try to enforce with all their teams.The WNBA has some teams that are affiliated with NBA teams, and some that arent. There can be pluses and negatives to both. Teams have different housing/practice facility situations. Some teams have longtime pros in media, community relations and ticket sales, while others have more of a revolving door in those roles.Thats not to suggest theres any magic wand or mandate from above that will easily equalize everything. But Brown surely has had to deal with the specific concerns that each franchise has, and thats a crucial ongoing task for her replacement.Due diligence in hiring for this job would include talking to retired players, including recent retirees such as Tamika Catchings. Also to people like Dan Hughes and Lin Dunn, who had experience in both coaching and in the front office in pro basketball. Get insight from people still in the league and those who have stepped away.Brown was asked about the changes in the WNBA that have happened in her tenure in regard to the product put on the court, which I think is now consistently very good.She pointed to things such as the 8-second back-court violation, the 24-second shot clock, and the reset to 14 seconds after an offensive rebound as all contributing to more possessions, which equals more offense.What shes most proud of from a cultural standpoint is that young female players now have so many women role models to follow.When you ask a player who she wants to be like, Brown said, its great to hear them say someone like Diana Taurasi or Lisa Leslie or Maya Moore. It warms my heart and is very meaningful to me.Brown is from Henderson, Nevada. She played at UNLV, then got into officiating, and then became a coach, starting at the junior high level. When she looks back on how her path led to the WNBA, she feels like it was serendipitous. She recalls getting involved in USA Basketball just by going to a practice in Colorado Springs run by current Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer, and waiting to talk with her.Ive been fortunate that every step along the way has been a step of growth and opportunity, Brown said. So much of my career came from people recognizing my love of the game.That love has been a guiding force in the WNBA. As the league starts its next chapter, it needs someone with the same commitment to keep building on what Brown has done. Nike Free Canada Sale . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Cheap Nike Free Canada .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. http://www.nikefreecanada.com/ .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Nike Free Canada Online . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. Nike Free Cheap Online . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. The Big Tens 2016 revival could be threatened by injuries.The injury bug bit the Big Ten hard during the first month of the season. No team is hurting more than Penn State, where four linebackers -- three of them starters -- could be missing when the Nittany Lions host Minnesota on Saturday.Coach James Franklin cant explain why his team has been decimated at one position. But he said it might be connected to the sanctions imposed on the program in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.Franklin expects linebackers Brandon Bell (leg) and Jason Cabinda (hand) to return at some point, but Nyeem Warman-White (knee) sustained a season-ending injury for the second straight year. A knee injury also has ended backup Jan Johnsons season.It could go into our set of circumstances over the last three to four years having a reduced roster and guys taking a lot more reps than they would in a traditional situation, Franklin said. Does that factor into it? Is it nutrition? Is it sleep? Is it sport science? A lot of factors. Is it just a streak of bad luck?A lot of Big Ten teams are asking those same types of questions.No. 8 Wisconsin will enter Saturdays showdown at No. 4 Michigan with concerns about some of its top players. The Badgers, already without linebacker Chris Orr for the rest of 2016 with a knee injury, arent entirely sure what theyll get from star running back Corey Clement (ankle), who had just 54 yards on 23 carries in last weeks win at Michigan State.Rafael Gaglianone (back) missed the game against the Spartans and is out for the season after surgery.Michigan State will head to Indiana without linebacker Jon Reschke (ankle sprain). But fellow Riley Bullough could return this week after missing the loss to Wisconsin with what coach Mark DAntonio said was an undisclosed but ongoing issue. Andrew Dowell, who started for Reschke in the opening-game win over LSU, will step into the starting lineup on a more permanent basis.Hes a guy that can go play after play after play 100 miles ann hour.ddddddddddddOne of those types of guys. Tremendous conditioned athlete, DAntonio said.Iowas hopes for a second straight West division title took a blow on Monday when senior receiver Matt VandeBerg injured his right foot.VandeBerg, by far quarterback C.J. Beathards favorite target, is out indefinitely.When those things happen, I dont want to call it a crisis situation, but thats a time when youve got a little work to do. This is just weve got to close ranks here and keep pushing forward, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.No. 15 Nebraska will likely open its home league schedule without receiver Alonzo Moore, who is nursing a shoulder injury.Minnesota will be without cornerback Coney Durr because of an undisclosed injury, and neither KiAnte Hardin nor Ray Buford, whove been suspended for violating team rules, are listed on this weeks depth chart.In the secondary, were about as thin as we can be without getting into problems, Gophers coach Tracy Claeys said.No. 2 Ohio State will be well rested after a bye last week, although its unclear if linebacker Dante Booker will play Saturday because of an MCL sprain.But the Buckeyes opponent, Rutgers, will head to Columbus without star running back Janarion Grant. He injured his right ankle at the end of a 76-yard catch and run in last weeks 14-7 loss to Iowa and is done for the season.Quanzell Lambert, a senior defensive lineman, is also out for the season after injuring his right knee against the Hawkeyes.Both starters meant a lot to the team and there wasnt any one more important than another. They are both really important, Rutgers coach Chris Ash said. Well move on, the next guy will step up and well go out and play productive football for us and were excited to see who that is.---AP College Football Writer Eric Olson contributed to this report from Lincoln, Nebraska.---Online: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '