An inspiring story...and other news

I was very shocked and saddened to read about University of Tennessee Sophomore Amber Gray having a stroke. She went in for arthroscopic surgery on her left shoulder to repair her posterior capsule and labrum (basically she tore her rotator cuff and needed it fixed). After her July 2nd surgery, while still in the hospital, she had some complications. An unrelated brain aneurysm occurred which began to hemorrhage thus causing a stroke. Amber was then flown to a hospital near her home in Ohio. A 12.5 hour surgery snipped the aneurysm and saved her life.

On August 11, 2009, Ms. Gray walked out of the rehabilitation center. When asked by a reporter if she thinks she will play basketball again, she said "Of course I do". I have no doubt in my mind that this 19 year old woman will play basketball again for the Tennessee Lady Vols. I wish her well and her story is very inspiring as she continues to grow stronger and stronger each day. To read the story, click here.

This isn't the first bit of illness effecting teams this summer. University of North Carolina forward, Jessica Breland, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in late May. She is still undergoing chemotherapy treatments and it is still unclear if she will be able to play this season.

Best of luck to both women as they continue to recover.



Shout out to Teresa Edwards!


August 12, 2009, Teresa Edwards was inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame. Wow, it took this long to recognize her feats? Are you serious? She is the most decorated Olympic basketball player in the WORLD, not the U.S.A. but the WORLD. She has four gold medals and one bronze medal (1984, 1988, 1996, 2000-Gold, 1992-Bronze). She is the only 5-time Olympic hoops player in the U.S.A., and there are only two others that have played in 5 Olympic Basketball competitions in the world (and the only female I might add). And get this; she is also one of only three U.S. Olympians to win gold in four different Olympic Games, former teammate Lisa Leslie and sprinter Carl Lewis. Only five other non-U.S. athletes have accomplished that feat. Oh, and on top of that she is a super nice woman that loves the game. Currently she is passing her knowledge onto WNBA players as she is an Assistant with the Minnesota Lynx.


Some more info:


--Youngest (1984, 20 years old) and oldest (2000, 36 years old) U.S. women’s basketball player to win an Olympic gold medal


--Member of the historic 1996 U.S. Olympic Team and 1995-96 USA Basketball Women’s National Team that compiled a combined 60-0 record and was named the 1996 U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Basketball Team of the Year
--USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year a record four times (1987, 1990, 1996, 2000)
--Took Olympic Oath on behalf of all Olympic competitors at 1996 Opening Ceremony

Congratulations to Teresa Edwards. LONG, LONG overdue. (And in my humble opinion, that entire 1996 Women's Basketball team belongs in the Hall of Fame. Look at what they did to the face of women's basketball!)

(thanks to teamusa.org for those amazing numbers)

WNBA News
Atlanta Dream and Chicago Sky traded some players. The Dream sent 2008 first round draft pick Tamera Young to the Sky for fellow 2007 first round pick Armintie Price. Who wins? The Dream, man! Price was the 2007 Rookie of the Year and has been on the bench for the Sky. She'll start playing right away. Oh man, the Dream are really coming together.

Indiana Fever lost another starter, Ebony Hoffman. She has some tendinitis in her left ankle. Not sure how long she'll be out, probably day-to-day. Hopefully Tammy Sutton-Brown will recover quickly and get back into the lineup.

Other News
Leon Barmore WILL return to his Assistant Coaching position at Baylor. He really contemplated staying retired but has decided his heart is still in the game. I mean, seriously, would anyone turn down the opportunity to coach Brittney Griner? Article here.

And an interesting bit of trivia:
What two teams played the first intercollegiate women's basketball game?

Give up??? How about Stanford and Cal...who would've thought? April 4, 1896 at the Page Street Armory in San Francisco, CA. Final score: 2-1 Stanford. Nice article on the game.