Euro-League Basketball

Archive for Euro-League Basketball

USA Women’s Full Court Pressure Slows Down Brazil

D.T. Diana Taurasi Da Truth is baccccccccck!

Brazil Women’s National Team usually known for its running game had to put the brakes on last night against USA’s full-court pressure. The USA National Team’s dominance on the defensive end forced Brazil into 25 turnovers. Team USA was also dominant in their half-court offense and defense, frustrating two of Brazil’s star players and WNBA players, Erika Desouza & Izze Iziane Castro, into early foul-trouble.

Head coach, Geno Auriemma had the team focused and from their first lead of the game they never looked back. As I stated in an earlier blog this team is destined to arrive in London and make those London bridges come falling down. They are just to tough, too athletic, too deep, too smart, too tall, too quick, too explosive and too well coached not to win the Gold.

Diana Taurasi Da Truth is BACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCK! Being side-lined for most of the WNBA season it was great to see her back on the court. She was 4 out of 7 from the 3pt line scoring from way beyond the arc and as always making it look easy. At one point it was unclear whether she would be healthy enough for the Olympics but she erased all doubt last night coming of the bench tallying 16 points and seven assist.

Last but not least, missed shots rarely make highlights or re-plays but the two dunk attempts by Chicago’s Sky, Sylvia Fowles and Atlanta’s Dream, Angel McCoughtry AMac bought much excitement to a game that was over in the 1st quarter. Sylvia or “Big Syl” as I like to call her, at 6’6 stole the ball at half-court and went in for a one-handed slam. She missed with the ball rimming out but the aggressiveness was great to see.

Angel missed the dunk but it looked good; A for Effort

The 6’1′ Angel McCoughtry after a steal of her own tried to show Big Syl how it was done by attempting a one-handed dunk of her own. Since her days at Louisville this young woman has shown no fear. She missed the dunk but she gets an A for effort. I have nothing but love for someone with that type of passion, guts and fearlessness to go after it. I also have nothing but love for this game!

Team bus crashes in China……

January 18, 2011 Euro-League Basketball No comments

I have lived in China now almost 3 months and I’ve found the Chinese drivers are very bad. They are the most uneducated drivers that I’ve ever seen. I’ve lived in other countries and the drivers here in China are the worse that I have encountered. According to recent post in the Shanghai Star over 300 people die daily in car accidents in China. They are number 1 in the world in the deaths from car accidents.

An unexpected night like a bad dream that became real.

Just two nights ago I was in an accident here in China on my team bus. The bus was side swiped by another truck and I heard brakes screeching and then a loud bang. It was dark and I couldn’t really see where we would stop or in any case if we would stop. The bus crashed through the guard rails on the side of the road and then came to a final stop in the gutter. My teammates were screaming and the windows were shattering. I was astonished at how calm I was in spite of what was happening.

I just sat there and braced myself against the chair in front of me and I prayed. I prayed to God a simple prayer. I asked God calmly in this order first God don’t let this be so bad. Then I said God save me I need to get home so I can see my mom. In that moment I felt a peace that surpasses all understanding.

I truly felt like I had two angels on the bus with me. One on each side of me holding me and cradling me until the crash was over. In one of the most scariest moments of my life I experienced some of the best feelings ever. I felt untouchable, calm, free, high, happy, peaceful. At that moment many miles away from home in a foreign country I felt safe. My angels carried me through safely and I’m blessed to be here alive and unharmed today.

Celebrating with my teammates after a win.

Some of the others weren’t as fortunate as I but atleast we are all alive. My trainer and two of my teammates seriously injured their legs and are still in the hospital.I pray for them and their families and ask all of you that are reading this to do the same. One day I’m celebrating on the court with my teammates the next night we are sad and distraught and comforting one another. You just never know what the day will bring.

I’m thankful to God for answering my prayer. I’m thankful to be here today. I’m also grateful that I can continue to play the game I love. More than anything I’m just grateful. All day everyday I don’t know what else to say God is Good! If you don’t know now you know people…..

SN Big Thanks to my family and friends back home who continually pray for me as I travel overseas. Special thanks to my parents who taught me early about the power of prayer. Love you all.

Chas in China.

November 27, 2010 Euro-League Basketball, My Travels No comments

Me on the tractor being a country girl.

Hey Ya’ll I’m here in Harbin China playing the game that I love to play.

So there I was at my home in North Carolina being the country girl that I am. Blogging about the NBA Season and beginning to work on some other do it yourself home projects when I got a call from my agent about coming here to China.

To be honest I was very hesitant about coming – but working out with my trainer and playing pick up basketball was getting pretty boring, and with the “W” season still six months away it was looking like a long off season . . so here I am in Harbin China the coldest city in China and home of the International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival.

I’ve been here 1 week but I haven’t really gotten situated yet or had a chance to explore and get to know my city, only thing I do know is that internet here is slow, and Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are all blocked by the government.

I’ll find out whats that all about later. (I’d like to see the the American government try that back home, oh how some folks would be mad).

As soon as I got here I was homesick and sad I had to miss another Thanksgiving. Instead of Turkey for dinner I ate Tofu, instead of stuffing I ate fried rice, and instead of sweet potato pie I ate sesame cakes, but yet the true meaning of Thanksgiving was still with me here in China.

my thanksgiving desert

I’m so thankful to still be playing the game I love! My feelings of wanting to go home left as soon as i had my first practice. Oh The sheer joy of playing. I love this game!

I am so grateful to have a job, to be healthy, to experience yet again another culture all while having loving family and friends back home praying for me and still supporting my dream/reality of playing professional basketball.

I know this career as a professorial basketball player will be ending soon so I appreciate these times even more as well as all the many people that support and have supported me along the way. But my blogs may be few and far between because I’m having technical difficulties with my internet right now.

As soon as I get adjusted and get the internet an optimal speed I will have share more info about my team and will update you with other random topics running through my mind. Until then you can follow me on twitter. I’m able to use that through my blackberry . So I will tweet as much as I can.

I’ve learned over the years that life is a journey and I’ll only enjoy it more when I stop trying to control it.

Everyone Happy Holidays, Be Thankful, Be Safe, and Be Blessed.