Pandas Take the Prize. Sports writer Jayda Evans, who covers the WNBA and the Storm for the Seattle Times, has given out her end-of-season awards. Jayda goes beyond such mundane and overdone categories as MVP and Rookie of the Year to include the things that are really important to fans like the BasketCases, such as "best fan giveway." And yes, Jayda has given that critical award to "Washington's 9,000 pandas." She even asks, "Can I get one?" Now, the BasketCases are not about to give up any of our precious pandas, particularly with the playoffs approaching, but if anyone from the Mystics' front office is reading this, we hope you will fulfill Jayda's request and put a panda on a plane to Seattle post haste. [Note to Jayda: If the Mystics don't come through for you, the one on the left is available on ebay.]

Alana Beard's new short hairdo was Jayda's runner-up in the "best changed hairstyle" category. Jayda had this to say about Alana's 'do: "if she gets rid of the gel, she wins." Well, Jayda, the BasketCases happen to think that Alana's hair looks just fine, gel and all. (And as for Jayda's prize winner in this category --- Tamicha Jackson's "messy mohawk" --- well . . . TJ sported that "look" two seasons ago when she played in D.C., so it's hardly "changed." The BasketCases think a disqualification is in order . . . and demand a recount!)