Fever Fan Stuffs Ballot Box 2,500 Times!
July 27, 2006
Fever season ticket holder Lauren Wolske is as big a fan of Becky Hammon as she is of Tamika Catchings. She wanted to be sure, though, that both were selected to the 2006 WNBA All-Star Game, and literally took it into her own hands to assure the stars their spot in the starting lineup!
FeverBasketball.com: Lauren, what are you doing during your summer?
Lauren Wolske: “I am looking at different colleges right now.”
FB: Do, or did you play basketball, or are you just a fan of the game?
LW: “I used to play in middle school, but now I play hockey.”
FB: What was the best part of the game when you played?
LW: “I would have to say seeing my teammates happy after the game.”
FB: So, how long have you been a Fever fan?
LW: “I have been a fan from the start, but I became a season ticket holder when the Fever had Stephanie White and Niele Ivey, and Nell Fortner was the coach.”
FB: How did you become such a big fan?
LW: “I became a big WNBA fan after traveling to see Becky Hammon play in Chicago (NWBL in 2004).”
FB: Who is most responsible for introducing you to basketball?
LW: “That would be Jennifer Azzi. I became a really big fan when I saw her playing at Stanford, and also Becky Hammon and Katie Cronin when they played with Colorado State.”
FB: Do you attend every Fever game?
LW: “I go to see the game and see the players I want to see. I’ve been to almost every game.”
FB: What do you think of the Fever season so far?
LW: “Oh man, the season this year is crazy good! If we can stop Connecticut, then we’ve got it!”
FB: Who are your other favorite WNBA teams or players?
LW: “Oh gosh, I love Becky Hammon of the New York Liberty, and Amber Jacobs of the Minnesota Lynx. I also like Ann Strothers of the Phoenix Mercury and Katie Cronin of the Chicago Sky. And of course, Anna DeForge, Tully Belivaqua and Tamika Catchings.”
FB: What motivated you to vote online every day?
LW: “Well, I had to vote for Becky even though I live in Indiana, but that’s just because I am a huge fan of Becky. I had to vote for Anna and the Tamikas, too. Filling out the 2,508 ballots I did was just not enough. I had to make sure Becky and Anna were going to New York, so that is why I voted online everyday.”
FB: Was a trip to the All-Star Game your ultimate goal?
LW: “No, I voted so I could see Becky on TV since New York only played at Indiana once this year. That, and I saw that Jennifer Azzi was doing something for the All-Star Game. Yeah, Becky Hammon and Jennifer Azzi – oh man!!!”
FB: Were you surprised when you won the trip to New York for the All-Star game?
LW: “Yes!! I was at Conseco Fieldhouse at the Fever vs. Sun game. I had just gotten Lindsay Whalen to sign my ball and my cell phone went off. After they told me I won, all I could think about was Becky Hammon, and New York, and Becky Hammon, and me, and New York and then I blacked out.”
FB: What was the best part of your trip?
LW: “I would have to say the best part of the trip was when Tamika Catchings tried to get Becky to sign something for me, even though I never got anything signed. I got a picture with Margo Dydek, though, and that made it all worth it.”
FB: Do you plan to do it all again next year if they offer the same prize?
LW: “Yes!! For next year's All-Star Game in Washington, I will fill out 5,000 ballots for Becky and Anna. It was the best prize I had ever won! I just wish Becky could have played, and maybe I could have met her and Tamika. Hopefully, Indiana will get the 2008 All-Star Game!!”
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Wolske, 22, completed an unfathomable 2,508 online all-star ballots. Her two favorite players both earned their spots as All-Star Game starters, but unfortunately both were unable to participate due to injuries. Wolske, though, due to her diligence, received a free trip to the All-Star Game and had the opportunity to watch her favorite stars up close.
FeverBasketball.com’s Rachel Turner conducted a short interview with Wolske to talk about her experience and some of her favorite players.
FeverBasketball.com: Lauren, what are you doing during your summer?
Lauren Wolske: “I am looking at different colleges right now.”
FB: Do, or did you play basketball, or are you just a fan of the game?
LW: “I used to play in middle school, but now I play hockey.”
FB: What was the best part of the game when you played?
LW: “I would have to say seeing my teammates happy after the game.”
FB: So, how long have you been a Fever fan?
LW: “I have been a fan from the start, but I became a season ticket holder when the Fever had Stephanie White and Niele Ivey, and Nell Fortner was the coach.”
FB: How did you become such a big fan?
LW: “I became a big WNBA fan after traveling to see Becky Hammon play in Chicago (NWBL in 2004).”
FB: Who is most responsible for introducing you to basketball?
LW: “That would be Jennifer Azzi. I became a really big fan when I saw her playing at Stanford, and also Becky Hammon and Katie Cronin when they played with Colorado State.”
FB: Do you attend every Fever game?
LW: “I go to see the game and see the players I want to see. I’ve been to almost every game.”
FB: What do you think of the Fever season so far?
LW: “Oh man, the season this year is crazy good! If we can stop Connecticut, then we’ve got it!”
FB: Who are your other favorite WNBA teams or players?
LW: “Oh gosh, I love Becky Hammon of the New York Liberty, and Amber Jacobs of the Minnesota Lynx. I also like Ann Strothers of the Phoenix Mercury and Katie Cronin of the Chicago Sky. And of course, Anna DeForge, Tully Belivaqua and Tamika Catchings.”
FB: What motivated you to vote online every day?
LW: “Well, I had to vote for Becky even though I live in Indiana, but that’s just because I am a huge fan of Becky. I had to vote for Anna and the Tamikas, too. Filling out the 2,508 ballots I did was just not enough. I had to make sure Becky and Anna were going to New York, so that is why I voted online everyday.”
FB: Was a trip to the All-Star Game your ultimate goal?
LW: “No, I voted so I could see Becky on TV since New York only played at Indiana once this year. That, and I saw that Jennifer Azzi was doing something for the All-Star Game. Yeah, Becky Hammon and Jennifer Azzi – oh man!!!”
FB: Were you surprised when you won the trip to New York for the All-Star game?
LW: “Yes!! I was at Conseco Fieldhouse at the Fever vs. Sun game. I had just gotten Lindsay Whalen to sign my ball and my cell phone went off. After they told me I won, all I could think about was Becky Hammon, and New York, and Becky Hammon, and me, and New York and then I blacked out.”
FB: What was the best part of your trip?
LW: “I would have to say the best part of the trip was when Tamika Catchings tried to get Becky to sign something for me, even though I never got anything signed. I got a picture with Margo Dydek, though, and that made it all worth it.”
FB: Do you plan to do it all again next year if they offer the same prize?
LW: “Yes!! For next year's All-Star Game in Washington, I will fill out 5,000 ballots for Becky and Anna. It was the best prize I had ever won! I just wish Becky could have played, and maybe I could have met her and Tamika. Hopefully, Indiana will get the 2008 All-Star Game!!”
