June 9, 1999

The following is not a typical athlete's journal entry. You will not read about how many points were scored, who won, or who was difficult to guard--especially because now it's the offseason. So, you will not find a box score or read about the officiating, either. Instead, you will experience The World According To Me. Each week, I'll be posting another entry, so stay tuned...

It is 98 degrees in NYC and summer hasn't even officially started yet. Since We Got Game, the action on the court should be hot this year, as well. (I know that is a corny opening line, but I couldn't resist).

Practice has been going really well and the team can't wait for the games to begin. Basketball fever is sky high here in the city since the Knicks are surprising everyone with their playoff run. We all feel bad for Patrick Ewing but the other fellas are stepping it up. Especially Chris Dudley, who I watched play at Yale (when I was a six-foot-tall sixth grader).

I went to Game Three between the Knicks and the Pacers, (I won the tickets in a limbo contest). After the game I had a chance to speak with NBA Commissioner David Stern. He asked me how I thought our team was going to do this year. I told him to read My World from two weeks ago (where I addressed my annoyance with this very question). Mr. Stern responded by tearing up my WNBA contract and reinstating "Join In" as our official slogan.

SORRY!

Since we are practicing on Long Island this year, we take a 45-minute bus ride to and from the facility every day. This gives me an opportunity to catch up on my current events by reading the New York Times. An item struck my funny bone this past week. The headline read, " Boy with Blue Hair May Return to School."

Apparently, a 16-year-old high schooler in Richmond was suspended from school for "unusual or unique hair colors." A judge decided that the boy could finish the school year as long as he agreed to a daily weapons search. Of course, the kid didn't just have blue hair. He also wore a tattoo that said "Kill 'em all" following the Colorado shooting, wore makeup and women's clothing, and rigged a booby trap intended to drop a brick on a teacher's head. I'm just wondering why the school didn't suspend him for any of those things. Their smallest concern should have been whether or not his hair color matched the flowers on his skirts and dresses.

We practice so much that it really doesn't leave a lot of time to do other things. I did have a chance to see the movie Notting Hill, though. I recommend it to anyone who needs a good laugh. I can't wait until Austin Powers, The Spy Who Shagged Me comes out. The first Austin Powers has me rolling each time I see it. (Of course, this R-rated movie is intended only for mature audiences. No one under the age of 18 should be admitted without an adult. This includes my friend Kristen.)

I also teamed up with Nikki McCray and Jennifer Gillom to film a breast cancer public service announcement. We were supposed to meet Whitney Houston at the end of the shoot but she had to cancel on us. I must have been too much of a "diva" for her!

All that is left to say is, let the games begin. Enjoy what promises to be an incredibly exciting season. Oh , and GO LIBERTY!

Can't forget to give a "Shout Out" to:

 The folks in the 200 and 300 sections in MSG who cheered LJ's four point play
 The fans who watch the games at Park Avenue Country Club
 The TNT announcers who made every NBA playoff game a joy to watch
 The employees who must worry about corporate snoops reading their email
 The Burlington, VT train-riding Liberty fans
 Couples who recently became engaged in New Orleans, LA
 Coquese Washington and her book club readers
 Fans of the Junior Mint episode of Seinfeld