COMING TO VEGAS

Hello everyone,

wow. It's been a looooong time... and there's so much catching up to do... unfortunately today I don't have the time to even start... but I am going to try my best to get things up and going again by the beginning of next week... that's a promise *gulp* and I hate breaking promises!

This is what's going on this weekend. There's a Rebel Reunion in town, and I am going to be there... finally! After nine long years of playing overseas during this time of the year, I finally have a chance to come back and support my UNLV Lady Rebels.

Below you can find the information for the schedule of events on Saturday.

I would like to encourage as many of you to bring your children to the free clinic... it will be a lot of fun!!!

And of course to all those you haven't been to a Rebel game yet... COME ON OUT and say hi!!!

I've missed my Vegas family and am looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Hope to see you there!! Go Rebels.

Schedule of Events for Saturday, November 19th

1-2:30pm      Lady Rebel Tune-up Clinic (All boys and girls in grades 2-8 are encouraged to attend this free clinic.)

2-2:45pm      Alumnae Pre-game Reception

3:00pm         Lady Rebel Tipoff vs. San Jose State

Halftime       Lady Rebel Alumnae Introductions

Post-game    Lady Rebel Alumnae & Current Lady Rebels Autograph Session

IF YOU ARE FROM THE SEATTLE AREA....

...please go out and support my friend Melissa Erickson and her fight against ALS.
Unfortunately I wont' be able to  make it, but IF YOU CAN please go... it's for a great cause, and for a great woman!!!!!!

It's the RING AROUND THE NEEDLE PUB CRAWL EVENT

Date: Saturday, August 27 at 1 - 5pm. Check-in begins at 11:30am.

Check-in location: Jabu's parking lot in Lower Queen Anne on Roy between 2nd & Warren (map).
Check-in time: Check-in and day-of registration begins at 11:30 a.m. on August 27th. The pub crawl is from 1 to 5 pm.

For mo' information CLICK HERE

SUMMER TIME... AND THE LIVIN' IS EEEEEASY

Hello to everyone.
I just wanted to check in and tell everyone that I am doing well... just enjoying the summer. I haven't been back on my blog for a while, but I am planning to be back more frequently soon, so please keep checking back in and thanks in the first place for even reading this.

At the moment I am coaching some kids in the Fytt League of Corona, and what initially started as a volunteer job has now turned into an all out commitment. The boys (6-7 years old) have conquered my heart with their joy for life and their excitement about basketball.

My team, the LAVA EAGLES are practicing once a week and on Saturday we usually have a game... today we had our third game of the season and so far we can show for 3 "W"s :) Go Lava Eagles.

One of my next blogs will be about the Fenerbahce Fans. Somebody requested it on my facebook page and I am going to make sure to write about it soon. If you want me to blog about something, just let me know :)

being silly

time out.... what is Coach Linda yapping about now? ;)

I think I've always underestimated the emotional side of a coach... it's tough being on the sideline.

Freethrows for the Lava Eagles.... it's a contact sport ;)

PLEASE SUPPORT!

...

R.I.P. MARGO DYDEK

I've been trying for some days now to find a picture that I took over a decade ago when I first met Margo, but without success... I took it at the European Championship in Poland 1999 when I was allowed to travel with the women's nationalteam on injured reserve. It was the year when Margo won the gold medal with Poland.

At tournaments like these, it's usually on the last day that all players mingle to catch up or meet for the first time... and that's when I "met" Margo for the first time.

As a youngster (18 years old) I was in a constant state of awe during the whole tournament.

And needless to say when I got a chance to take a picture with the lady that led Poland to the Championship, I was super excited. I remember feeling a little bad too, though, because I thought that maybe many people asked her to take a picture due to her height. But if you know me, at the end of the day that didn't keep me from taking a snapshot for the memories book... and now hearing and reading all the stories about Margo, I know she didn't mind either :)

The next time I met Margo was in the WNBA, about 4 years later... on my way from the gym to the hotel room, I had gotten lost in the kitchen/washing-machine area of the Mohegan Sun Hotel... when all of a sudden, Margo came around the corner. She immediately talked to me... (did she remember me from the picture years back?). She was absolutely sweet and I remember thinking, when I grow up, I wanna be like that.

So that was almost 10 years ago now... after that we'd meet again in Europe playing against each other, but never together. I guess with those two encounters that we've had I received enough of the Margo-spirit. Reading all the facebook comments and articles, I see that that woman had a lot to give, and that now a lot was taken from her family and friends.

So I am going to close now by sending my heart and prayer out to Margo's husband, her young kids and family, and all those who are mourning her loss.

With Margo closing her eyes forever now, it should be a wake-up call for all of us.
A wake-up call to remember what's important in life. LOVE. Love those who are around you. Appreciate them. And in the spirit of Margo: Just be nice to people.

Rest in peace.

In Russia: Margo suited up for Ekaterinburg and me for Spartak Moscow

Here she played for Ros Casares while I represented Fenerbahce

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Yesterday after our friendly game against China (which we won 84-45), I was pleasantly surprised by two "old" supporters from college. Tina and her dad used to live in Vegas and cheer the Ladyrebels on whenever they could, and now after relocating to the Midwest, they came out to surprise me..... and believe me when I say: IT WORKED.

LET'S GO MAVS!!!!

The Mavericks are tied with Oklahoma 1-1.... let's keep moving tonight Mavs!!!! AUF GEHT'S DIRK!!!!!!!!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Hello again...
I MADE IT... I made it into the first Rooke Video Blog by Angie Bjorklund... you got to be a little patient to get a glimpse of me, but how does the American saying go? "Save the best for last"... hahahaha, just kidding.

Good job, Ange with capturing these moments behind the curtains of the media day... for the future, let's work on that "steady hand" a little bit though... I am fighting nausea right now after watching you change frames 10 times per second ;)

Here you go everyone: THE FIRST OF MANY MORE TO COME:

WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN

Alright everybody,
so today we got the day off from practice for Media Day, and of course that was "good news" for the tired training camp body.... but little did I know... this media thing wears you out!!! We started at 9.30am and got done around 8pm.

It's been fun though... getting to know most of the Sky staff and putting faces to the people "behind the scenes"... I liked that. It was also nice to spend some "off-the-court" time with the ladies ;)

Besides that, I also got an opportunity to finally use some of the things I've seen on Heidi Klum's show "Germany's Next Top Model".... lol.

Below are the pictures I took with my camera, but I am sure that within the next couple of days, you'll be able to catch some more on the Chicago Sky Website. ENJOY!!!!

checking out Sky Guy's muscles... this dude got guns!!!!

Look who I found on the way to our lockerroom.... too cute!!

... and of course, we HAD TO GET one silly picture in :)

Get it, Catty Cat!!!

"proof-stretching" the game uniform!!!!

The new WNBA uniforms presented by.... CAROLYN SWORDS

I love the baby blue and pink shoes... love it, love it, love it!!! The SKY colors are the best!

Piph is soooooooooo long!!!

our PR boss Michelle and T.

Go ROOKIE!!!

feel free to print this out and add your own personalized message from Erin :)

our guys "behind the scene"... in their self-made "water office" for today;)

taking pictures of others getting photographed

Meka taping the Jumbotron chants!!! I CAAAAAAAN'T HEAR YOU!!! Are you game?

now THIS is BEHIND THE SCENES stuff!!!!

Jo chit chatting with our cool PR staff :)

filling out questionnaires.... fuuuuuuuuuun!

MADE IT TO CHICAGO

After a couple of days of, as I like to call it "TWILIGHT ZONE"....  I can finally say, I am here.
I arrived in Chicago- and what you see on the pictures above is not necessarily how it looked today... at the moment the Windy City reminds me more of my old days in good old Germany: it's rainy and cold... so I felt right at home!!! This is perfect weather for practicing... NOT! It inspires you to bring out the heavy blankets, brew up some tea and cuddle up on the couch for some Christmas movies ;)

But that's OF COURSE NOT what has happened... Since my arrival last night, I have already completed two successful team functions: first was the physical this morning and then secondly, this evening we had a little welcoming dinner. BOTH WERE SUCCESSFUL!

The most important/exciting part is still ahead though: the first practice. Tomorrow at 9.30am we are going to be on the court, laced up, ready to go at the Sachs Rec Center (the former Bulls practice facility).
Depending on my state of wellbeing, I will report to you afterwards ;)

I ask you all for your patience, as I am getting to know my new teammates these next couple of days and I need a little while to get comfortable with them so I can open up to them about my addiction: all the girls seems very nice, so it shouldn't take long until they hear this sentence: "Hello ladies, my name is Linda... and I am a PHOTO-holic... yes, I am!"

At ATHENS INT'L AIRPORT ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS again

Hello everyone... At the moment there's so much to say, I don't know where to start... Let's begin with this video :)

HEADING TO THESSALONIKI

We are getting ready to board the plane... First game of the play outs start tomorrow... At 4pm at the PAOK gym.

Good wishes are welcome :)

PROTEAS "DRAFT" PARTY- Πάρτυ Έναρξης Τουρνουά 2011.

Dear Proteas Family....
... yesterday the ladies of Proteas stopped by after practice when the tournament season was rang in for the young ballers of the club. On this day all the kids, their parents and siblings came together to wait for the teamrosters, to hear who their coaches is going to be, and to ultimately have fun, eat, drink and shoot some hoops together.

I tried to take a couple of pictures.... CAN YOU FIND YOURSELF???

Our coach Dimitris Mini-Me... and no, he's NOT his son!!!

Who's our coach going to be?

I wanted to take a picture with this young man, because he was rocking the Proteas gear....poly kalo!!!!

big decisions needed to be made before the snack table

... and decisions WERE MADE!!!

Big Chicago Bulls Fans!

yep, this lady baller is only 14.... BRING IT ON!!!!

FOOD FOOD FOOD FOOD

A Greek A-lister as the DJ of the event... had to take a little picture: Alexandros Parthenis

Look at this cutie.... representing PROTEAS... little Vouligan in training!!!

My #1 and #2

Our team captain Aspa with her boyfriend ;) well, soon-to-be boyfriend... I think I got
something rolling when I "forced" her to take this picture... yep, you can call me
"CUPID"

some of my Chicago bulls boys again... with a big Messi fan (in yellow)... were Soccer players invited.... hahahaha.
JUST KIDDING

Myrsini... one great young player... with a bright future and a sweeeet three point shot!!!!