A Day in the Life

Miles, from Southfield, and his relatives were three of the nearly 50 kids who shadowed various employees before the Shock’s game against the Phoenix Mercury. Alyssa, 7, appeared as guard Elaine Powell while Austin, 10, stepped in as a mini-version of assistant coach Rick Mahorn for the pre-game introductions by sitting on the Shock bench.

Miles, however, didn’t get one of the glamour jobs. That’s how he ended up with me on press row, writing for detroitshock.com. Kids Day participants worked from an hour before the game right through to the end of the first quarter. So instead of a full-game story, Miles got to write his own first-quarter summary.

Not only was it Miles’ first game as a journalist, it was his first Shock game ever. During warm-ups we sat courtside and talked about the Shock players and the opposing team, the Phoenix Mercury. After giving him a few pointers, our conversation drifted to his favorite subject, science, and his dream of growing up to be a lawyer. We talked about his love for football, fighting with siblings (we both fight with our sisters, no surprise there), and one of the most important decisions a nine-year-old sports fan in Michigan can make: Spartans or Wolverines? (“Go Green” Miles said).

Miles got started with a few sentences about warm-ups, then we moved to our seats on press row about 10 minutes before the game. They were right at center court. Not many adults get a seat at this table, much less kids, so Miles had a little bounce in his step as he made his way around the court. His eyes lit up when Zap welcomed him to press row by jumping on the table to pump up the Shock faithful.

Sitting on his knees (for a better view as well as comfort, I suppose), Miles wrote furiously on his white notepad from the moment the game tipped off. He read the stat monitor in front of him like a pro, but still acted like a kid sometimes. He was so captivated by the Shockwave dancers he started cheering and waving his hands in the air for a free t-shirt.

He kept writing and kept asking questions so he knew exactly what happened. Not the most impartial observer, Miles couldn’t help himself from a few “wows” as the Shock battled back from an early 11-point deficit. As the game action picked up, Miles’ hand never stopped moving across the paper. At one point he turned to me saying, “This is hard work.” Then I reminded him he didn’t have to write everything down.

As the first-quarter clock expired and his job shadowing came to an end, Miles looked like he had hardly worked, with a big smile stretched across his face. He picked up his new WNBA backpack filled with free goodies and threw it over his shoulder. “It was really fun,” he said as he met up with his family. If Miles’ dream of being a lawyer doesn’t work out, he could always fall back on sports writing.

Shock vs. Mercury - First Quarter

By Miles Meadow
Shock Kids Day Correspondent

Wow! Shock vs. Phoenix, who will win? Right now the Shock look pretty exciting warming up. Phoenix is warming up just as good as the Shock. The Shock dancers come out while the look-a-like contest is going on. The Shock has the ball from the tip-off. Phoenix wins a basket by #2 Kelly Miller. The whistle blows. The first Shock basket was a three pointer by #14 Deanna Nolan. Phoenix makes two points by #2 Kelly Miller, Phoenix eight, and Shock three. The whistle blows. The Shock made a lay up by #23 Plenette Pierson. Time out. Shock dancers, WOW! The crowd likes their dance. To my surprise, the dancers throw out t-shirts. The Shock is down by nine. #7 Shannon Johnson just made two free throws. #30 Katie Smith made a three-pointer which made the Shock excited. The end of the first half the Shock is down by five points, 24-19.