It’s Birthday Week with the Shock

June 5, 2007

by Laura Panozzo

Three Shock players turn a year older this week as they celebrate birthdays three days in a row. I talked to Katie Smith (33 years old on June 4th), Amy Sanders (24 on June 5th and pictured to the right) and forward Cheryl Ford (26 on June 6th) to get the low down on their favorite birthday experiences.

Being summer birthdays, Cheryl and Amy never really had the opportunity to play a basketball game on their birthday, only practice. Katie did have the chance but says, “it’s nothing special, they just make an announcement during the game and say happy birthday.”

Getting lots of workout clothes and gear is something Amy always enjoys. “For my 16th birthday I got one of those parachutes you connect to and run with,” she said. “ I usually get something related to working out.”

Cheryl always gets good presents from her teammates and this year she got just what she hoped for. “They got me a Gucci backpack and Bose headphones,” she said.

During the season it’s hard to get home to visit family, so instead the players decided to celebrate it together. “We had a party on Sunday and we exchanged gifts,” Cheryl said.

“We had a good weekend,” Kaite said. “I have had my birthday celebration with a lot of people, so it’s been good. So it’s done for me.

Though Katie’s birthday might be over, Amy’s celebration continued. She went to dinner with Ivory Latta and Katie Feenstra at Applebee’s then to the movies to see “Knocked Up.” The birthday girl didn’t have to pay for a thing as Latta and Feenstra footed the bill.

I did get a little curious however, wondering if the coaching staff did anything special for the three players. Laughing, Cheryl said, “I doubt it, they never do.”

Amy and Katie agreed when Katie said, “They wish us happy birthday but that’s about it. My teammates took care of me. Kara bought me some chocolate cheesecake and they bought me great gifts. We’ve had a lot of fun, it’s been a pretty good birthday.”

So what’s their favorite meal and dessert? “I love any kind of cheesecake. I like the Cheesecake Factory, we have it at home in Hawaii which is cool, so we usually go there,” Amy said. She will have a long journey to make if she is craving an authentic Cheesecake Factory treat, since the nearest is in Westlake, OH about 100 miles from the Detroit metro area.

Cheryl is taking matters into her own hands. She will be driving herself to the local store. “I’m going to get my own birthday cake today. I like the white cake from Sam’s Club.”

Katie prefers a home cooked meal but is quick to say that any dessert will work. “I like chocolate cake, but really anything will work. If I was at home a nice home cooked meal with the family would be great, but obviously I’m not home a lot for my birthday.”