Swoopes Speaks Out about Auction

June 29, 2006 Sheryl Swoopes has finally spoken up. KLBK-13 first reported last Friday that a local storage company is expecting to auction merchandise owned by the former Lady Raider. "I`m not blowing it off like it`s nothing," said Swoopes. "It`s not something I`m really concerned with." KLBK-13 has learned Swoopes holds most of her old Lady Raider material at a storage facility in Lubbock. It`s been learned that Swoopes has stopped making payments for use of the storage space. One source close to the Lady Raiders tells KLBK-13 that Swoopes has missed storage rent payments for, "quite some time." Today in the legal classifieds section of the Lubbock A-J, KLBK-13 found a "Notice of Public Sale." A portion of the article stated: "Property to be sold as follows: SHERYL SWOOPES-JACKSON, Sports Memorabilia..." The sale will be July 21 at 1pm at B&W Self Storage on 66th Street in West Lubbock. Sources close to Texas Tech have given KLBK-13 a list of items that are expected to be auctioned: - 1993 Naismith Trophy - Olympic Gold Medals - Lady Raider Uniforms - Side-Line Chairs from 1993 Final Four "There is stuff in there that I want that will be taken care of," Swoopes said. "There is (other) stuff that I don`t care what happens to it." The next question is, will Texas Tech now become a player at any level in this situation. "I`ve talked with different people at Texas Tech and Marsha Sharp," said Swoopes. "It`s really not an issue, not for me." Tech Athletic Director Gerald Myers was contacted for comment after we received Swoopes` thoughts. The Tech A.D. said he had no idea that Marsha Sharp was involved in this situation, and has no comment on the overall issue. A spokesman for Marsha Sharp at Texas Tech told KLBK-13 that the Former Lady Raider Coach had no comment. It is still unclear if Texas Tech will get involved in the matter. B&W Self Storage owner Don Boteler had no comment on whether or not Texas Tech will get involved. If Texas Tech decides to get involved and pay the money Swoopes owes, the University can not legally obtain Swoopes` property unless Swoopes herself gives the storage company permission to release her memorabilia.