April 27, 2001

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. Instead, you will get a fresh look into the bizarre happenings that make up The World According To Me. I'll be posting new entries regularly, so stay tuned ...

First things first ... my heart goes out to Sheryl. I hope she has a quick and successful recovery.

It'll feel like the first season all over again when I walk into the locker room and put on my black Liberty uni. I get pumped just thinking about it!

Now back to the World of healthy ACLs ... training camp starts May 2 and I am juiced. It's been two years since I was healthy and able to compete in the WNBA and I can't wait to get back on the court with my teammates in NYC. We only have 10 days of practice before our first exhibition game in L.A. on May 12, but that game can't come soon enough for me. It'll feel like the first season (1997) all over again when I walk into the locker room and put on my black Liberty uni. I get pumped just thinking about it!

May 24 will also be a really special day for me because the Liberty play a preseason game in Hartford, Conn. I live in Connecticut during my offseason and I'll have my entire family and a lot of friends at the game. It will be nice to play back in the state where so many wonderful basketball memories were made.

But before we get too deep into the May flowers, we must revisit some of the April showers (how corny was that!?!).

On April 10 I participated in Career Day at Granby Memorial Middle School (my mother runs career day at this school and she ran out of people to invite ... so after much begging on my part ... I was allowed to join the fun). I told the 7th grade students about the wonders of playing in the WNBA and the hard work that goes into being a professional athlete. I also explained the importance of education since our league doesn't allow early entrants in the draft.

Wicks

After my 10-minute presentation (done six times for six classes), the only thing the kids wanted to know was a.) if I'd ever met Sue Wicks (YES) and b.) why I didn't wear a headband (can't find one big enough for my noggin'). Overall, it was a wonderful learning experience (for me ... not them).

The entirety of April 12 was spent with Spoon and Becky Hammon doing TV, radio and print interviews promoting our game here in Connecticut . We pretty much covered every music genre (isn't "genre" a great word?). In a two-hour span we were on top 40, country music, easy listening, hip hop/R&B and AM oldies stations.

Spoon

Hammon

I, of course, felt most comfortable at the hip hop station and was just bummed that they didn't let me get into my own freesyle rapping flow on air. Becky couldn't take her eyes off the poster of the boy band O-Town and Spoon had to be forcibly removed from the country station. She said she felt like she'd "died and gone to cowboy heaven." Overall, it was a fun day that made us all feel very much appreciated.

New Way to Personalize
While at the hip hop radio station I noticed an autographed picture of the musical artist Musiq hanging on the wall. He signed it to the female DJ at the station. I tend to write things like Best Wishes, All My Best, God Bless, etc. when signing autographs. Musiq takes a slightly different approach. He personalized his picture " To ____, Your one hot ho." I was shocked ... I mean, he misspelled YOUR (should've been you're)!!!

The Pressure of a Name
Seems like everyone is going with the nickname. Not only has Jennifer Lopez become J Lo but now Sean Combs has changed from "Puffy" to "P.Diddy."

Speaking of monikers ... ever wonder exactly what you might be eating when you buy food from a concession stand at a ballgame? Well, if you are at a Colorado Rockies game you might want to ask what goes into making the Rocky Mountain Oyster that's sold there. That's just the lingo for the testicles of cattle. Umm, umm good. (If you happen to get thirsty after a Rockies game ... make sure you go to Breckinridge Brewery and order a mc2 from Greg Rizzotti. Tell em' a Tall Drink of Water sent ya!!)

The Return of the Ever-Popular JUST WONDERING
If the milk mustache makes you want a glass of skim or 2%?
Why everything these days is called "world famous?" I mean, the barbecue in Maryland can't possibly be world famous if most folks have never heard of it.
If you can go to a "bad day matinee" on a good day? Will it cost the same?
Why people can give their two cents worth and still have money left? I think you should only be allowed two cents. After you offer it ... you must keep your opinion to yourself. Especially if it has to do with horses and helmets.
How many people have arguments with themselves as part of their inner dialogue? Just FYI ... if you have such arguments ... don't share them with a complete stranger.

The Nose Knows
1.) I have been invited to attend the Fi Fi awards in New York in June. This ceremony awards people in the fragrance business. I'd never heard of the awards but couldn't pass up the opportunity to attend. Can't wait to see (smell) what goes on there.

2.) From New York to London: A bit of news ... The London Underground hopes to replace commuters' sweaty odor with perfume. Officials will introduce an air freshener into the world's oldest subway ... a perfume called Madeleine, imported from the Paris Metro. It's named after one of the smelliest stations in the French capital's system. The platforms will be splashed with Madeleine each night. The scent will be activated by foot traffic the next morning.

I have a much cheaper remedy ... SOAP.

Movie Time
Blow: I'd give it a thumbs UP.
Along Came a Spider: I'm a little ambivalent on this one (and I've been dying to use the word ambivalent). A bit far-fetched in some spots.
What Women Want: Thumbs DOWN. The "my hero" line ties You've Got Mail's "Don't cry, shopgirl, don't cry" as the worst last line of a movie ever.

Word to the Wise
Know how many murders have been committed in a neighborhood BEFORE running through it.
Don't jump so high that your head gets caught in the net.
If you're going to "mark the occasion" ... make sure you clean up immediately afterwards.
Folding and counting are simple skills to learn.
It's usually last name first ...
Short couches can cause neck and back problems.
A day at the beach isn't always a day at the beach.

Must give a Shout Out to the Peeps:
Green Turtles: you are now extinct in my world.
Video playing boys with birthdays on April 25.
Andrew and the rest of the kids at the World Famous Head First Show.
Shoe: here's to hanging on the porch, videos and $4.
Candia: way to hook up the braids.
Natalia: you're next.
Joe Pasatti, Shannon, Kelly, Blaire, Andy, Sam and the rest of the crazy crew.
Buckner: thanks for the Blues tickets. I really wanted to go to the game but was grounded by my chaperone.
The friendly folks at the Gold's Gym in Ocean City.
Navigators on the Billy Goat Trail.