Howdy,

Seattle Times reporter Jayda Evans wrote on her Seattle Storm blog last week that "…a source back East said "fan/media meddling led to the trade of PG Lindsay Whalen."

Jayda is one of the longest tenured and best reporters covering the WNBA. I consider her a friend.

Her information was wrong, however. Jayda and I have corresponded about this, so she isn't being blindsided here. I have too much respect for her to do that. I also pointed out the many logic holes in what she was told. She agreed that what she was told didn't make sense and has since amended her post to, "meddling led to."

The original post, has, however, been taking laps around the Innerwebs. After someone who knows the league well e-mailed me to asking about the post, I figured it was time to deconstruct the myths:

- To have "media meddling" in this trade, one must have media that actively covers either the Connecticut Sun or the Minnesota Lynx.

The Minnesota media hasn't intensely covered the Lynx. That's understandable given the number of teams in the Twin Cities: Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Wild and Golden Gophers sports.

In order for someone to care enough to start a "bring Lindsay home" campaign, someone in the media would have to passionately care about the Lynx. The Lynx have been covered as sixth (maybe seventh) class citizens in their town, which tells you all you need to know about how the media has embraced the team.

As for Connecticut, there are several papers that cover the Sun, but only the Hartford Courant, Norwich Bulletin and Day staff every home game.

Neither the Courant, Bulletin or Day has written anything along the lines of "OMG – trade Lindsay and get Renee Montgomery".

Second, those of us that do cover the team are sort of busy covering winter sports (or, in the case of Hartford's John Altavilla, being a husband and father).

Finally, Lindsay had been one of the best Sun players towards the media.

Lindsay was also a friend to some of us. Mike DiMauro was upset that she was leaving. It's not talking out of school when I write that Matt Stout, who has primarily covered the team for Norwich the last few years, was sad to see her go.

Shoot, when Connecticut GM Chris Sienko stood at the podium last Tuesday and said, "…we have traded Lindsay Whalen," I felt as if someone had punched me in the chest. And that's after I knew in advance the likelihood of the deal getting done, and having made peace with knowing that the walking, talking riot from Hutchinson wouldn't be around to talk football after practice this summer.

The Sun's media didn't write to trade Lindsay and were saddened to see her go.

Where, then, was the media meddling?

Answer: there wasn't any.

- I can't speak about Lynx fans as I've never been to the Target Center.

Whalen was the Sun's most popular player. The feedback we received here was against trading her.

How could Sun fans be party to the deal when they loved Lindsay?

Answer: They weren't.

There wasn't a conspiracy, or meddling, involved in the deal. Just business.

- An addendum to "media meddling." Chances are there was meddling going on in the deal, but not from where you would think.

Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune was the first to report that Lindsay Whalen might be traded.

A reporter is going to get that kind of information from one of three places: a player, an agent, or someone in the front office.

Mr. Hartman hasn't been what you'd call a fixture at Lynx games, so it's highly unlikely that he's cultivated enough player relationships to get that tipped off. And if he doesn't know the players, then it's unlikely he knows their agents.

Who, then, likely told Hartman in order to get the news out there and, as such, gauge reaction from Minnesota sport fans?

Think about it.

What, I can't throw theories out there like everyone else?

Vaya con dios …