Aug. 10, 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. Mostly because of what you'll read about below. Instead, you will experience The World According To Me. Each week, I'll be posting another entry, so stay tuned ...

The Liberty public relations person, Maureen Coyle, told me that my last "World" was not very funny. I took that as a personal challenge when deciding what to write this week. So if I somehow make you laugh, feel free to write to Maureen and tell her (c/o the New York Liberty).

Some very funny things happen when the Liberty team leaves the confines of the big city. I feel it is my civic duty to share these things with you, the typing (and mouse-clicking) public.

My team is back on the road for a week-long trip after beating Houston in Madison Square Garden and I am in New York City doing my rehab and trying to keep tabs on them via television and WNBA.com. Because I am on the injured list, the team does not pay for me to go on the road . However, I did make one trip with them last week ... to Phoenix for three days.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoy hanging with my teammates on the road. Some very funny things happen when the Liberty team leaves the confines of the big city. I feel it is my civic duty to share these things with you, the typing (and mouse-clicking) public. (You can thank me later).

First of all, Phoenix is the favorite city for most of us to visit. The main reason ... we stay at a fantastic hotel. If we are fortunate and get a day off, it is spent pool side. After arriving and watching video, the team and I pitched camp by the pool (with tubs of sun screen of course). Sue Wicks spent her time in the water challenging two 12-year-old boys to see who could hold their breath the longest under water (Sue cheated and still lost).

Rebecca and the crew, enjoying a cool, refreshing dip in Phoenix.

Crystal Robinson tried to teach Tamika Whitmore and Vickie Johnson how to swim (the venture was not a success -- except that Tamika looked absolutely hilarious flopping around because she was scared of drowning ... in three feet of water). Spoon spent time working on her tan to get, in her words, "honey brown". Kym Hampton and Mini-Me (Coquese Washington) stayed sheltered and went to the spa for manicures and pedicures.

Becky Hammon took advantage of the pool-side bar to order Pina Coladas (virgin, of course) and show off her belly button ring. Actually, everyone took advantage of the pool-side service. I took advantage of the fact that the room was under Sue's name. After buying my teammates food and drinks, I gladly signed Sue's name to the $100 tab.

Coach Richie even joined us at the pool after his workout. He was the only person out there wearing shorts, tank top, knee brace and back support brace. However, he didn't look quite as odd as our assistant Jeff House who was wearing floaties on his arms to keep him afloat (he stole them from a five-year-old vacationer).

Wicks

One evening after taking a quick trip into town, Sue, Crystal and I found ourselves sharing a taxi home. Sue engaged our 50-year-old driver in odd but interesting conversation. He claimed to be the world's "oldest" taxi driver since he had been driving for 30 years (?!?) The man lamented about being stood up by a woman he was supposed to have a date with (she didn't show up for their 2:30 a.m. mid-shift breakfast rendezvous). Of course, he must not be TOO serious about the woman because he felt free to tell Sue that he thought she was a "hottie". He said that she could make his "false teeth shake and his eyebrows hard". At one point right before dropping us off, he even opened the door of the car and yelled, "God, help me". At this point, I was asking God for help, too. Fortunately, we made it back to the hotel safe and sound.

We ended up losing the game against Phoenix. It had nothing to do with spending too much time by the pool or odd cab drivers. I honestly think it was because Coach House refused to remove the floaties from his arms during the game.

Need to Know Basis

You need to know that just recently, dancing became legal in Pound, Virginia. Pound is a town of 1,000 people nestled in the southwest Virginia mountains. Until June 29th, there was an 18-year ban on dancing in Pound. As Danny Stanley (a member of the five-person town council) said, "There's bound to be trouble when you mix drinking, country music, and dancing." I wouldn't be surprised to find out that our cab driver in Phoenix was from Pound.

You need to know that Coach Richie told us that Seinfeld is his favorite TV show of all time. The reason ... watching Seinfeld is "the only time" he doesn't think about basketball (sorry, Mrs. Adubato).

You need to know that to celebrate Ernest Hemingway's 100th birthday, Sue is spending the summer reading only his books. Surprisingly, she prefers his books on drinking with his buddies in Europe to those dealing with war and Africa.

You need to know that after her basketball career is over, Sue wants to either open a petting zoo ("an evil petting zoo"), or start a mutual fund. I think it would be a better investment if she developed a scratch-and-sniff internet site.

You need to know that Michele Van Gorp invented a drink when she was a bartender during college. She claims the drink is famous in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C. area. If you see Michele, ask her about it.

You need to know that Becky Hammon is a music aficionado. She loves CDs. Go ahead and ask her about them.

You need to know that whenever Sue misses a layup, it is because she has "jumped too high".

Hampton

Quote of the Week
(courtesy of Kym Hampton)

"Did you ever notice that homeless people go to sleep early?"

Time to Give a Shout Out to:

  to the crew from CT who came down for the Houston game
  to Lauren and the folks at Lava
  to Liberty trainer Lisa White, who keeps me smiling during timeouts and on the sideline during practice
  to the Hammers basketball team in Holland and their newest star
  to Simone who does some creative stuff with my teammates and my hair
  to all the fans who DON'T grab me when they talk to me
  to all the other fans at the August 1st Bruce Springsteen show ... including Spider