News & Game Results

Goodbye for Good Fire Team Folds

On Monday, the Portland Fire annouced that it was ceasing operations after three years. The WNBA gave owners of NBA teams until January 1st to either assume ownership of their WNBA teams or find local ownership. Blazers owner Paul Allen was not interested in owning the Fire, and no local owners came forward. This is why the Fire will no longer exist.      The Fire players will be part of a pool of players from defuct franchises made available to the 13 remaining teams in a draft for next season. This, unfortunately, means a lot of players will lose their jobs in the WNBA.      Personally, I am upset with Paul Allen for not stepping forward, and very sad that Portland will be losing the only fun, felony-free players from the Fire that I enjoyed so much, along with thousands of other fans. To share your feelings about the passing of the Fire with the Oregonian, to be feautured on Sunday, email them at sports@news.oregonian.com. You can also sign my guestbook with your sentiments, and participate in a forum at www.hoop.org, where some very loyal fans frequent. Thanks for a few fun seasons, Fire!

Fire Management Lets Coaching Staff Go

The Portland Fire annouced Tuesday that it would not be renewing the contract of head coach and general manager Linda Hargrove, who has been with the team from the very beginning. Hargrove's decisions led to aquiring players such as Kristin Folkl, and Jackie Stiles. The end-of-season "collaspe" in 2001 was stated as one reason for letting Hargrove go.      The Portland Fire also did not renew the contracts of Jessie Kenlaw, who was a part of the original 2000 coaching staff, and Tom Newell, who joined the Fire coaching staff in 2002.      It is reported that Hargrove will be looking for jobs in the WNBA.