Aug. 16, 2000

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 ...

I just want you to know that I was not intentionally misleading you in any way -- I really thought I'd be back in time for the playoffs. I guess it wasn't meant to be.

Well, I must admit I was both way off and right on the money in some of the things I wrote in the last journal. I told you that I'd be "back in a few weeks" from my knee injury. I just want you to know that I was not intentionally misleading you in any way -- I really thought I'd be back in time for the playoffs. I guess it wasn't meant to be. However, I was quite the prognosticator when I said the Liberty were about to string a bunch of wins together. We won our last 10 home games ... yeah, baby!! I will do my best to keep this entry completely factual and infallible -- or I might risk getting voted off the island. Here goes ...

We've made it to the Eastern Conference Finals and I am so proud of this team. We had a very rocky start while the team developed a chemistry and found its identity. Since then we've really come together to represent the city of New York with pride. OK, enough about basketball ...

I think I know my teammates pretty well, but once in a while, even I get surprised. I am now able to travel with the team during the playoffs due to the New York Liberty's incredible generosity, and I have learned an interesting fact or two along the way ...

The pony-tailed person in the light blue outfit is me. I am shaking Justin Timberlake's hand while meeting the members of *NSYNC. (Yeah, we need to get a new photographer to take pictures that prove it really is me!!!)

Big Surprise #1: True to her young teeny-bopper appearance, Becky Hammon is a big *NSYNC fan. I knew she listened to the groups' CDs, but I was more than a little surprised when she pulled out her "boy band" lunch box on the road (she uses it to store her Colorado State highlight tapes).

Becky also travels with a poster of the band, which she hangs in her hotel room on the road (on the inside closet door). Finally, she places a laminated postage-stamp-size photo of the band in her sock right before warmups. She claims that it gives her a "groovy feeling" when she goes to the hoop on her incredible drives. Hey, whatever works for the third place vote-getter in the WNBA Most Improved Player category.

[*Disclaimer added Aug. 21 -- FYI to the fans of The World According To Me:

In the interest of factual journalism (and because Becky threatened my life), I must clarify something ...

I was KIDDING when I wrote about Becky Hammon and her *NSYNC fetish. She does NOT have a poster of them on the road, a picture she puts in her sock or a boy-band lunchbox filled with Colorado State highlight tapes (although she does have a stash of these tapes she keeps at her Aunt Bunny's house).

Becky has received numerous phone calls about an obsession with *NSYNC that does not exist. I hope that the fans of my World will understand that I am kidding if I write about Sue's love of Neil Diamond albums and how she repeats the mantra "Forever in Blue Jeans" before all free throws. Futhermore, it shouldn't be tough to discern if I'm exaggerating if I write that Coach Richie and GM Blaze often debate the lyrical merits of East Coast and West Coast rappers (they prefer the East Coast flavor).

Anyway, hope this clears things up and Becky agrees to pass me the ball next year.]

Becky (far left) presented each member of the band with a Liberty jersey with his name on the back (ironed, not stitched ...). I expect to see the guys sporting these jerseys in their next hit video!!

You can imagine how hard it was for Ms. Hammon to contain her excitement when she, Vickie Johnson, and I got to meet the band when they were playing at MSG. Even though I don't regularly listen to "boy bands," I must admit that it was pretty cool when Justin Timberlake walked past and said that he was a fan of ours and that he actually watched my UConn team play back in the day (when he was around 14 years old!!!).

Big (Country) Surprise #2: Tamika Whitmore can be a little bit gullible. I told you in the last "World" how Sue convinced Miko that she was once an accomplished ballerina. Well, Sue also has "Big Country" believing that the male dancers read my column and were upset because they didn't want people believing they couldn't lift Sue because it would make them look like wimps. Miko is still scouring the lockerroom for Sue's famed tutu!

Robinson

Whitmore

Big (Country) Surprise #3 : Tamika earned petty cash in college by cutting hair at $5 a pop (I hope this wasn't an NCAA violation). She offered to work her clipper-magic on Crystal Robinson and trim her up. C-Rob felt pretty confident until she saw something on the way out of the room ... A "How to Cut Hair" videotape resting on the floor (at least it was out of the box).

Big Surprise #3: Coach Richie does sometimes stop thinking about basketball. I think I overheard him telling someone that he ... SLEEPS! (Then again, he probably dreams up offensive sets and defensive schemes.)

Off-Base Predictions/Suggestions
Nancy Lieberman-Cline said we were going to get swept in the first round by Washington. Wow, Nancy showed us no love and even less respect.
A fan e-mailed and criticized my "World" because it wasn't about basketball. They said they "now know why I need therapists." I guess I should clarify -- my "therapists" are physical therapists, not psychotherapists. Even though I live in New York during the season, I haven't gone to that extreme yet.
Another fan e-mailed and asked me when I was going to add a swimsuit section to my photo gallery. Note to self: If I ever add a swimsuit section, it's time to see a therapist!

Just Wondering
If Sue is serious when she talks of retiring? If so, there will be a lot less laughter in the locker room next season.
If Crystal will continue her shy ways? We really struggle to get her to talk and break out of her shell.

Spoon

Bibby

If Jessica Bibby knows that there is a speed other than 100 miles per hour? Our soon-to-be 21-year-old has more energy than anyone I've ever met.
If Spoon could be more intense?
If VJ will ever get the respect she deserves? The girl has crazy game!
If Tari could throw more "freeze fakes" that leave our opponents dumbstruck?
If Fruit Roll-Ups really need to have "peel fruit from cellophane before eating" written on the package?

Shout out time to:
Kim Wayans: She came and worked out for about a week to help improve her game before going to Charlotte to film a movie comedy about a basketball team.
My July 4th crew: The fireworks were cracklin' and the company was da bomb. (Could that have been cornier?)
Natalia: Thanks for offering to be my bodyguard.
Ian at Prohibition : Thanks for taking care of us.
Shoe-daddy: I'm sure you're killin' em over in Holland. Keep shooting the three and earning that starting spot.
The cast of Tony and Tina's Wedding: This Off-Broadway show was a lot of fun and gave me the chance to dance with a 5-foot-tall man in his 60s. It doesn't get better than that!
Steve and the folks at Park Avenue Country Club: They always put Liberty games on the big screen TV when the team was on the road, so I had a place to go and watch. The new menu is also quite friendly to this connoisseur's palate.
My Survivor-watching buddies: Welcome to the tribe.
Erin S.: Get well soon.
Tyson Beckford: You are the cutie, my friend.
The team of incredible (physical, not psycho-) therapists who worked nights, weekends and every other conceivable time to help me do everything possible to get back on the court. It didn't happen this season, but all of our work will pay big dividends next year. I love you guys and couldn't be more grateful to you!