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SEE WHAT THE MONARCHS GUARD HAD TO SAY IN HER LIVE CHAT One-on-One with Ruthie Bolton-Holifield
With this sort of pedigree, it would have been understandable for Bolton-Holifield to balk at being benched after another injury slowed her start to this season. But instead, she responded amiably and productively to give the Monarchs some of the strongest bench support in the league. The fans also responded in kind, voting Bolton-Holifield a starter in the WNBA All-Star 2001. The Monarchs are hard at work preparing to face the Sparks in the Western Conference Finals, but Bolton-Holifield took a break to tell you all about it when she chatted live Thursday, Aug. 23. Here's what she had to say:
KC at 4:30pm ET What key areas are the Monarchs going to focus in on against L.A.?  Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:31pm ET Key areas are definitely defensively boxing out and rebounding. That has to be one of our focal points. Two is the hustle plays -- we need to hustle. Rebounding and playing with a lot of intensity. Lena at 4:31pm ET What do you think of the fans in Sacramento? Any "fan moments" that stand out? Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:32pm ET The fans here are so awesome and even the first couple of years when we struggled, they were so faithful. They have always been so supportive. The whole time I've been here I've always been so impressed with the fans. Sometimes I would play bad and they would say, "Don't worry, you're still a hero in my eyes." They've just been wonderful. Melissa from proxy.aol.com at 4:32pm ET Hey Ruthie. How does it feel to be in the playoffs and go on to the next round? Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:33pm ET It feels great. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. We have to go through L.A., but I feel good being in this position. To be the best, you have to beat the best and we're ready. We've had great practices and we're ready to play. Starbucks Melissa Sac from proxy.aol.com at 4:34pm ET How has your attention to fitness carried over to the team? You guys all look like your putting in time at your new training facility -- thank you, Maloofs! Keep up that "Positive Mental Attitude"! Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:35pm ET Definitely, playing in this league, the most important time is during the season. Fitness plays a big role. The four games where I didn't play 20 minutes, I would still lift weights and do cardio to stay in great shape. It's very important. Rafael Huerta from proxy.aol.com at 4:35pm ET Hello Ruthie, I have seen both the Monarchs and Sparks play since the WNBA started. I live in Central California and I enjoy watching both teams greatly. Know that both of you meeting in the finals it is going to be tough to root for either of you. Do you think you fear the Sparks? Do you respect them? Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:36pm ET I respect them -- you have to respect a team that has beaten you three times straight. I give us a lot of credit. We have a lot of confidence. I don't fear them, I accept this challenge, we're going to go to war and I'm ready for the battle. It's a clean slate in the playoffs. Brenda from proxy.aol.com at 4:36pm ET How do you prepare yourselve for a big game? Good luck! Stop L.A.! Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:37pm ET I mentally focus on things that I need to do. I play the game in my head and make mistakes in my head so that I can correct them. I mentally visualize the game and play it in my mind before it happens. Of course, in my mind, we always win! Karen#21 from flex.com at 4:37pm ET How does it feel to play with many All-Stars on your team such as yourself, Yolanda Griffith and Ticha Penicheiro? Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:38pm ET It feels great. That goes to show you the depth of our team and how good we can be. We have three Olympians on our team and three All-Stars. That's why it shouldn't be a surpise that we made the playoffs and it shouldn't be a surprise when we win the championship. Christina from proxy.aol.com at 4:38pm ET Ruthie - I think you are one of the greatest players in the WNBA, on and off the court. You are a great role model. Being the veteran of the Olympics and other situations, how do you help your teammates deal with these high pressure situations? How do you deal with them? Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:40pm ET I've been in this situation quite a bit. The most important thing in being at this level, I tell people to go out with confidence and know that you have a better team and you have to claim the game. The only thing between you and the win is 40 minutes of basketball. Go in with confidence and pride and leave everything you have on the floor. In order for L.A. to win this game, they have to brind their A game becaues we know we're ready. will m. carpinteria,ca. age 11 from santab1.ca.home.com at 4:40pm ET How do you make all those 3-pointers? Where are you looking -- backboard or net? Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:41pm ET I look at the back of the rim. You're not supposed to look at the ball, but sometimes I do. When I'm in a zone, I don't know what I'm looking at. When I have confidence, I can shoot from anywhere on the floor. Tara Vanderveer taught me if the hands are down the ball goes up. You just let it fly. You're supposed to look at the back of the rim, though. Dayatra Robinson from r5.scabvl.infoave.net at 4:41pm ET How do the Monarchs stop Lisa Leslie? I wish you all the best of luck. You all have had a great season! Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:42pm ET We can't completely stop her -- she's a two-time Olympian. We have to play her hard. We have to go out there with the attitude that she's not going to outplay us, this is our time. Dawn from houston.rr.com at 4:43pm ET Do you believe the Monarchs can make it to the championship? I believe you can and will beat L.A.! Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:44pm ET Oh yeah, definitely. I've been around a lot of teams and some teams that haven't been as successful. We have a team that has a potential to be champions. We have all the pieces -- an inside game, an outside game. We just have to put the pieces together and make it work. We can, this can be ours. Mone'e from proxy.aol.com at 4:44pm ET Who is your rolemodel? And how do you warm up before a game? Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:45pm ET My role model was my father, he was my mentor and my role model. I warm up by making sure that I'm loose and stretch. When you're out there shooting, you're just out there getting loose and getting ready -- getting your legs and arms warm. I'm already ready when I get to the arena, I just need to loosen up a bit. Tony at 4:45pm ET How is the spirit of the team? No matter what, you will have the Sacramento fans behind you all the way. Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:46pm ET The spirit is great. We've been practicing extremely hard, the attitude is there. We're confident and the coaching staff has done a great job. We just need to go out there and apply our knowledge. Mike from santa-clara6.ca.pub-ip.psi.net at 4:46pm ET Hey Ruthie! Good luck to you and the Monarchs against LA! Do you have any superstitions or good luck charms? Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:47pm ET I have some verses that I write on my shoes. I don't see that as superstition. One thing I do is I touch my left had with my right hand. That's the last thing I did before my mom passed, and when I touch my hand I imagine I'm touching her's. Rita from deltacom.net at 4:47pm ET What do you consider the most important lesson(s) learned from your days of playing at Auburn University that have helped you in the WNBA? War Eagle Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:48pm ET War Eagle back. The coach at Auburn laid the foundation for my work ethic. I leave everything on the court because you can never get that day back. Discipline is something I've learned, too. Doing one thing one way all of the time is a valuable lesson I learned. Discipline is something I learned through Coach Henry and it worked. He's a great coach. Dawn from houston.rr.com at 4:49pm ET You play with some much intensity. How do you keep it up every game? Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:50pm ET I love what I do. I love giving all that I got. I like for someone to watch me and say that they'd love to play like that. I want to be contagious and for people to want to play like me. I like to give 100% every time I hit the court. College laid the foundation for my work ethic to give my all all the time. Molly from nycap.rr.com at 4:50pm ET Which of your teammates would you use as the phone a friend on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:50pm ET I'd pick Kara Wolters. She's just good for stuff like that. I think she's going to be a talk show host one day. She has a lot of imagination and can answer a lot of questions. She knows a little about a lot! Mone'e from proxy.aol.com at 4:51pm ET What does basketball mean to you? And does basketball affect your personal life by being on the road all the time? Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:52pm ET Basketball means a lot to me. It puts me on the road traveling a lot. But it's the opportunity of a lifetime. I'll never be 25 again. I want to take advantage of the moment and see the results of my hard work, whether it be an Olympic medal or a WNBA Championship. If you're going to do it, you might as well make the best of it. I answer my fan mail on the road and take time to do that ... I answer the letters myself. Ruthie Bolton-Holifield at 4:54pm ET To all the fans that participated on the chat, thanks for your time and your support. It's been a great year, but it's not over. Continue to support the WNBA and the Monarchs. Everybody remember that your attitude will determine your altitide and God bless!! Don't forget to support us tomorrow night in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals! Come down to ARCO Arena or catch us on ESPN (game starts at 6 p.m. PT, 9 p.m. ET).
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