The Shock closed out the series today, sweeping San Antonio in three games. I was really happy for Alexis Hornbuckle – the first woman to win an NCAA title and a WNBA championship in the same year. You make the University of Tennessee and all your fans proud, girl. Seeing the pictures of her with the championship hat on was such a deja vu……
I was also happy for Taj McWilliams-Franklin. I’ve always appreciated her class, authenticity and warmth, and seeing her emotion in the closing moments today was a warm fuzzy.
The best moment of the game for me was after Becky Hammon fouled Lex hard in the closing minutes. Lex went to the floor and landed face down. I was talking to the TV but then got quiet when Lex kept laying there. Her teammates went to her and bent down. Suddenly Lex raised her left hand, her index finger extended in the universal “one minute, please” sign. Her teammates must have busted up, because when Lex finally raised her head, she was laughing too. (That’s one thing I’ve always loved about her is her sense of humor).
I’ve never been happy to see a WNBA season end before today. This has been an emotionally tiring few months, and I need a break.
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This interesting interview with Candace Parker was posted yesterday on wnba.com:
http://www.wnba.com/features/parker_081004.html
She is particularly frank in this piece, which I enjoyed. Ms. Parker keeps a lot in, and I do too so I understand. But it’s nice to know that even Superwoman is human.
She admitted she’s exhausted, and says she’ll be sleeping. (Good!!)
I liked the quote about how her dad won’t even be satisfied until “her excellent is her excellent.” But this was particulary revealing:
“He knows how much I hurt after we lost and how upset I was that we aren’t in the Finals.”
Yeah. And I had wondered Friday after the MVP ceremony, when they showed her in the crowd at the game, if it was hard for her to be there. I’m sure it was.
Honestly, I still feel wistful about last weekend too. I’m pretty much OK now, but ESPN ran the video of that stupid last-second shot a few times, and I turned away. I don’t want to see it again.
It was a good year, but there’s so much to look forward to next year.
College season four weeks away………………………..
😀