Monday, May 30, 2011

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

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

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.


Sunday, May 22, 2011

LET'S GO MAVS!!!!

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

Saturday, May 21, 2011

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:


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

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!