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: