Swin Cash answers your questions

Dear Swin... June 16, 2006

On the road of life, everyone gets a little lost sometimes. But the key is to have a good guide to get you back on track.

Swin is here to answer all of your pressing questions.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images

The Expert's Resume

Full Name: Swintayla Marie Cash Accreditations:

  • 2005 All-Star
  • 2004 Olympic gold medalist
  • 2003 WNBA Champion
  • 2003 All-Star
  • Finished third in 2002 WNBA Rookie-of-the-Year voting
  • 2000 and 2002 NCAA National Champion at UConn
    Certifications:
  • President of McKeesport (PA) High School Student Council
  • Member of Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA/YWCA and AAU.
  • Majored in Communication Science at UCONN

    For more about Swin, go to
    swincash.com

  • We asked you to send your most pressing questions to one of the WNBA's most talented and versatile players. We opened a mailbox so you could open your heart, and Shock forward Swin Cash responds. Ranging from how to make a good impression to what color shoes are in this season, we received over a thousand e-mails asking the Olympic gold medalist for advice. And Swin came through. Here's are this week's questions and answers.

    I'M 27, SINGLE, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY KIDS. WHEN I MEET A GUY I CAN'T REALLY TELL IF HE IS SINCERE. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ME?
    - Nika, Opelousas, LA

    "Hi Nika, I hope you are doing well out in beautiful Opelousas. Well, what I can say is�my birthday is coming up on September 22nd, and I'll be 27 just like you. My advice for you is to use, what my mama always told me we have, which is women's intuition. A lot of times, at first, when you meet someone, you are getting a representative. And what I mean by representative is what they want you to initially see about them. And as time goes on, use your intuition, and take baby steps in trying to build a relationship, just pay attention to the communication things that people do. Like the way he talks to you, and treats you. Look at the way he treats his mother and other people that are around him. If you see signs that he doesn't treat them well, well then most likely at the end of the day, he is not going to treat you well too. So my advice would be to take baby steps, keep your antennas up, and pay attention because a lot of times, people just tell you what they want you to know about themselves, and not the real them. So pay attention to the signs."

    Hi Swin! One of my dreams is to play in the WNBA after I graduate from college. I am from Mexico and that makes a little bit difficult for other coaches in the US to watch me play. What should I do in order for coaches (especially from the WNBA) to watch me play? Thank you!!
    - Ali, Monterrey, Mexico

    Hey Ali! My advice to you is: if you have a goal, be persistent. You always want to shoot for the stars, because when you land you'll be among the clouds. So, first things first, get your best game footage on tape. Make a lot of copies and send one to every WNBA coach. Also, write letters and follow up. Let them know how interested you are to come in and try out. Hopefully you can get into someone's training camp. The main thing is about being persistent. Everyone has a different path in life, but if you are persistent, you can go after what ever you want in life.

    Hey Swin, I'm a high school junior that plays basketball. I go to a small high school that no one really knows about. I want to know how do I convince my teammates to believe in themselves? Whenever we go up against a team that is taller then us, my teammates always say we are about to lose. I also want to know how can I take my team to the next level?
    - Brittany, Detroit, MI

    Hey Brittany! Thanks for writing in with your question. You kind of remind me of myself back when I was in high school. We never really had the best players on my team, but the one thing we did have was heart. My coach made me a captain my sophomore year in high school and he believed in me as a leader. And he was a leader as well. The one thing that I have learned from being a leader and captain in high school, in college at the University of Connecticut, and being a leader and captain here with the Detroit Shock, is that you have to lead by example. Don't be fearless, be relentless when you get on the court and show your teammates how hard they have to work every time they step on the court to win games. Also, my mom used to tell me that it is not how big the dog is, it's the fight in the dog. You have to go out there and work really hard, and let your teammates know that is doesn't matter how small, how tall or how big the player is. As long as you guys work hard together you can achieve your common goal of winning a championship. So good luck, and let me know how everything works out!

    What do you do to get mentally ready for a basketball game?
    - Baby AI, Columbus, OH

    Baby AI, hey that's a good question! Now I am going to let you in on a little secret about Swin Cash's pre-game routine. Mental toughness is something that you should work on just as hard as you work on your game. I try to visualize what I am going to do for that game, who I am going up against, who is their toughest player, what I have to do defensively and offensively. I listen to my music in sequence. To start to pre-game, I always listen to my Gospel music while I'm showering, getting myself focused and mentally ready. I pick it up a little to pop or hip-hop as I am about to go out the door. And on my drive on the way to the gym it's all up beat/tempo music getting me crunk and getting me ready to perform. So if you can follow these steps maybe you can have as much mental toughness as I have had over the years.

    Hello Swin! I love you and your game! I need advice on my relationship! I'm 21 and I have a boyfriend who my parents hate. They dislike him because he doesn't have long enough conversations with them. They feel as if he should want to sit down and chat with them every time he comes over. So I broke up with him because they didn't like him even though I didn't want to however, we have still continued to see each other on the low. I really love him however my parents want me to choose and I don't think that's fair. They say he's not good for me, however I feel as if I have to learn that myself if that is the case and I should have control over my relationships. What do you think and suggest?
    - E, Boston, MA

    Hi E. Sounds to me like you have a soap opera on your hands! Well here is my advice for the little bit of drama that you have going on: First of all, why don't you sit down and have a conversation with your parents. Express yourself to them in a way that they will understand. Not yelling and screaming, but with your indoor voice, if you know what I mean. Basically, what you want to do is show your parents how you are feeling about this guy. One thing we don't recognize as young people sometimes, is that our parents have been through some of the things that we are going through, and sometimes they try and save us from our own mistakes. But one thing that my mom let me do, and that's why I love her, is that she said, "Hey, your going to have to learn from your own mistakes, and you're going to be like a baby. I am going to have to let you crawl before you can walk." So let your parents know that you understand that they are concerned about you, but maybe this is a choice that you need to make, and figure out whether you're going to stand or you're going to fall. If this guy is really worth the fight, then you need to make a choice if love is worth staying in this relationship. But I would not recommend keeping your relationship on the down low. Being on the down low isn't right for anyone. You want to have an open relationship and conversation because you love them and I am sure you love this guy too. And at some point, I think your parents will definitely choose you over the negativity about your boyfriend. Let me know how it works out, and if you can send a picture in so we can show everyone how you are doing on the web.

    I have known this girl for 3 years now and we are both really good friends, but I kind of like her more than a friend too. I want her to be happy, but this being our senior year of high school, I don't want to lose her friendship. Should I tell her the truth about me liking her, or just continue to be friends? Good luck this season.
    - Michael, Camarillo, CA

    Hey Michael, that's a tough call. The one thing you have to understand, is that keeping something in, is just going to stress you out even more. You want to have a great friendship and not lose that friendship. Then if you guys are true friends, you should be able to tell her how you really feel, and that you want to be more than friends. And since you have that great friendship you should be able to talk about those feelings. You never know, she might be feeling the same way that you are feeling, and you both don't want to ruin the friendship. But in any relationship, you have to be friends first before you can be lovers. So I would talk to her because next year you'll both be off to college, we all know what happens in college. A whole new rack of friends will be coming in. So let me know how things go, take care, and have a blast your senior year!

    Hey Swin! I talked to you and Ruth at the pistons game the other day and had a question? I tore both my ACLS last year and am rehabbing as much as I can. My question is how much of rehab is basketball compared to running and strengthening and what are some tricks to keep it healthy and strong? Also what are good healthy snacks to eat throughout the day that are good for u??
    - Karen, Livonia, MI

    Hey Karen, I remember you at the Piston's game, and I believe they won that game, Go Pistons! Well the one thing I can tell you is that my rehab was a long process, and everyone's body is different. You have to go in knowing that. Some people come back fast, and some people take longer. The one thing you always want to focus on is getting back to 100% before you start to play again. I did weight training and running. But the one thing that I really enjoyed doing was exercise outside just basketball. My rehab also consisted of doing Pilates, yoga, and then I got to a point were I started doing more Tae-Bo. So I didn't do the conventional rehab, but it worked for me. So I would say get with your doctors and trainers to see what the best route for you would be. As far as eating healthy, I like to eat all types of food. But I try to eat a lot of fruits throughout the day. I always throw a banana, orange or apple in my bag. And I love Nutri-grain bars, they're a great snack and pick me up. I also recommend taking vitamins. I take them everyday and they really help me. Good luck with rehab, hopefully you'll be back on the court sooner than later.

    Hi Swin I am a freshman and I play basketball and I can play but it's that I can't get respect from the boys on the boys basketball team and I would like to know how to gain respect and how to keep it?
    - Tiara, Cleveland, OH

    Hey Tiara, this is Swin. I can't believe you are worried about getting respect from the guys; they should be trying to get respect from you, if you know what I mean girl! The one thing I can tell you is that the best way to get respect from any ball player, boy or girl, is to work really hard. Because when you are out there showing them what you can do, instead of talking about what you can do, then they will have to give you respect. So work really hard, be relentless on the court, and show them what you can do. And guess what? If they say you play like a girl, so what?

    Hi Swin, So I am friends with many of the popular kids in our school, who stay up on the latest styles and fashions. Unfortunately, my family cannot buy me new clothes as often, not that I'm totally wearing ripped clothes or anything. They are not at all judgmental, but I feel like I don't always fit in. Do you think I should talk to my friends about this? I don't want things to get weird. Thanks,
    -Samantha, Laconia, N.H.


    Hey Samantha. Well honey I'm going to give you a bit of advice and this may sound funny to you but it is totally true. When I was growing up my family didn't have a lot of money either. And a lot of my friends came from families that had a lot of money. And my mom told me that it was O.K. to be different. So I started dressing with my own style. And eventually my friends started wondering where I got my clothes. Well, you know what, my mom and I would go to the flea market and I would pick up a few pretty bracelets and bangles and pair that with an O.K. outfit, but people started noticing my style. So don't worry about how much your clothes cost, it's how they look on you. Because I can have on a $2 Hanes tank top and a skirt, and I think it looks fly, and people might think it's from a department store. So it's never how much it costs, its how it looks on you, and how you feel in it. Don't' worry about the price of your clothes. I am sure your friends don't care how much you spent on it, and if they do, maybe you should step back and re-evaluate your friendship with them. Because clothes don't make a friendship, people do.


    What's up, Swin! So this is kind of embarrassing, but I have to go to summer school to get my grades up so I can play softball again in school next year. My teammates are all going to this camp this summer, but I cannot go because of school. Yet, if I don't go, I feel like they are all going to bond without me. How do go about telling them that I'm not going with them so I can be a part of the team? Help! Thanks,
    -Lizzy, St. Paul, MN.

    Hey Lizzy. Seems that you have what we call an adult decision to make. A: You go off to camp with your friends and bond with them, and then come back and tell them you can't play on the team that season because of your grades. Or B: Don't go to the camp, stay home and take the classes and have your teammates support your decision so you can play in the next season. I think B will work out much better! School should always come first. Your friends are always going to be there for you, and they will probably respect you more for making that tough decision, and making the team better. And once you win that championship, no one will remember all of this anyways. Good luck!

    That's Swin, always there to help. Check back in a few weeks for more wise words from Ms. Cash.

    And keep sending in your questions and see if Swin answers your queries.