"All I wanted to do was play ball"

Growing up, all I wanted to do was play ball. (wow...sidenote...I'm writing this in pieces--watching the video, collecting my thoughts...about 3/4 of the way through the video, Pat made that quote, "All I wanted to do was play ball" and I thought, PERFECT title for the article I was going to write. I did a few things and came back to start writing...without thinking, not realizing that's what she had said during the interview, I wrote the same thing...total coincidence) I started playing when I was in the first grade on the yearly "bitty basketball tournament"--was a tournament where the different classes of each grade level played each other. I played on that team until I was old enough to join the real basketball team--I tried out in the fourth grade (the first year you could try out) and I made the team. I was the only girl on the team. I was in heaven!

As soon as I would get home from school, I'd fly through my homework so I could go out and play. I played basketball for hours upon hours every night, often being yelled at to come in because it was dark. Fond memories of my neighbor, Mr. Ed, coming over, cigar in mouth, challenging me to a game. For as long as I can remember, he let me win.

I finished elementary school and went on to junior high. I tried out for the girls team and made it. I was well on my track of continuing to start games. If I wasn't playing, I was thinking about the game. I distinctly remember classes where I paid absolutely no attention to what was going on--I would sit there, silently, drawing up play after play after play. When class was over, I'd run to my coach's classroom and sit with him and review the plays.

The summer going into my freshman year I wanted nothing more than to go to the UT Lady Vols basketball camp. Mom and dad got everything set up and I went to a week-long camp at the university. Probably the greatest week I've had in my almost 28 years (even beating out going to Hawaii for three weeks). We stayed in the actual dorms and the members of the team were assigned floors--they were there to watch over us, hang out with us--give us a great experience. I remember sitting in the hallway, laughing and joking with the girls on my floor.

The camp was intense--very rare to have time to relax. You pay nearly $500 for a week's camp (a Pat Summitt camp) and you can expect to not have any down time--every moment was planned and precise. We walked everywhere--it was at least a quarter mile from our dorm to the main gym. By the end of that week, my legs were like rocks--solid and firm. Anyway, after one evening session, we were allowed to stay behind at one of the rec gyms. Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, in walked Kristen "Ace" Clement--one of the biggest crushes I think I've ever had. She was getting ready to play in a friendly pick-up game. Was such an incredible moment. After the game, I went up to her and asked her to autograph my shirt and my hat. Shortly after getting the autograph, I left the gym and was headed back to my dorm when I saw her. Pat Summitt had randomly shown up to the gym! I got her to autograph the hat and the shirt as well. (actually have a few other autographs on the shirt). I couldn't wait to get back to the room to call mom and tell her what had just happened to me!

A couple of days later, Pat took all of the girls to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. It was here that I actually got to meet her--more than just impromptu--I got my picture taken and had her autograph a card for my aunt.

The point of this is, this woman has been a great inspiration in my life as well as thousands of others. It's really tough to see such an informidable woman to be hit with such a nasty disease. She has touched the lives of so many with her words of wisdom, harsh-but-fair coaching style and a love for her athletes that can't be measured. I wish her the best and I hope that she never loses that fighting spirit that got her as far as it has.


Pat Summitt

**I went on to start varisty in high school--all four years and was even offered a scholarship to play at the collegiate level (although, my dream was to play for her, sadly, she didn't offer, LOL)