truebluefan

It isn't often that we turn to the creators of South Park for solace, but the above quote definitely applies to the buzz that made the rounds at The Palace late Friday afternoon - Barbara Farris, the longest tenured member of the Detroit Shock, had signed a free agent contract with the New York Liberty.

The news didn't come as a total surprise. Barb is a veteran post player whom a number of general managers would love to have on their team, and New York has gone through an unprecedented roster turnover this off-season necessitating an aggressive approach to the free agent market.

It also came as no surprise that the person delivering the news to Palace employees last Friday was none other than Barbara Farris, calling via cell phone from overseas.

You see, Barb has been much more than a line on a stat sheet over the years. She was a member of the family, and not just a member of the Shock family. Barb embraced the greater Detroit area as her adopted home, and understood both her responsibility as a role model and the long-term impact that professional athletes can have on the lives of those less fortunate.

If we at The Palace ever needed somebody for a speaking engagement, or a community appearance, Barb was one of our go-to players. Actually, that's not right. We rarely had to "go-to" Barb, as she would oftentimes come to us. For instance, this past winter Barb took it upon herself to contact the Shock CR Department to ask about how she could adopt a family for the holidays. And when Hurricane Katrina devastated her home state of Louisiana, she was one of the first to sign up for The Palace's "Rescue 4 Hurricaid: Flight of Champions" project.

It may sound cliché, but Barbara Farris embodies everything that is right about professional sports and everything that is right about the WNBA. The New York Liberty are getting a fine post player, and an even better person.

Thanks for all you've meant to the Shock and The Palace, Barb. We're going to miss you.