‘Starting for the Jazz…Lucy Harris’

The New Orleans Hornets are next in line to play the Jazz on Friday night. A continuation of the rivalry Williams shares with Paul is somewhat in doubt though, as CP3 sprained his ankle last week. This is the same ankle that kept him out of the line-up last year for 17 games. Paul has already missed the Hornets last two games, and is listed as questionable for their game tonight. Maybe he is just giving it extra rest to be ready to go against Deron.

Besides the well-known point guard rivalry which ESPN recently covered again, I suppose most Jazzbots readers are already aware that New Orleans was the initial home of our team. The Jazz franchise began there in 1974, but moved to Utah in 1979. The nickname really didn’t fit for a Utah team, but they kept it anyway as nobody really thought the team would be around long enough for a name change to matter-at least that is what Frank Layden is supposed to have joked.

A less well-known piece of shared history between these franchises involves an NBA first. Did you know that the New Orleans Jazz were the first NBA team to draft a woman? In 1977, the Jazz picked Lucy Harris of Delta State in the seventh round. Mostly a public relations move, Lucy never actually played a game with the team or even attended a try-out. It might have been interesting though, as Harris, a three-time All-American, averaged 25.9 points and 14.5 rebounds in her college career. In 1976, she scored the first points in the first ever Olympic Women’s basketball game as well.

A kind of funny connection to that bit of trivia involves the Indiana Pacers(whom the Hornets play tonight), another NBA first, and another woman. In 1980, the Pacers were the first NBA team to actually sign a woman to play. Ann Meyers signed a $50,000 contract with Indiana and participated in try-outs with the team, though she didn’t make the final cut. Meyers and Harris were teammates on that same 1976 Olympic basketball team, though unfortunately they lost the gold medal to the USSR team that year.

While neither woman made it in the NBA, both women continued to stay involved in the game teaching, coaching and playing for many years. Both women also had their jerseys added to their alma mater’s Hall of Fame. Meyers entry was perhaps the more memorable however. In 1990, Ann Meyers #15 basketball jersey was one of the first four ever retired by UCLA. Who were the other honorees that day you ask? A couple guys you may have heard of, namely Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton. Pretty good company, huh?

So while you are waiting for Friday night’s game against the Hornets, feel free to fill any lulls around the turkey table tomorrow with some of these trivia tidbits, and have a happy holiday!