For those of you who didn't know - Maya Moore watched this right before committing to UCONN.



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Sweet. Maybe now Precious will get on the Ticker?

You know, between avoiding Kujo in the front yard (the wolf-bear-lion mix of a dog with .5 ears that prowls our property and belongs to Babushka) and winning Euroleague titles - I have found some time to browse the offerings of youtube. Not that this should come as a surprise to anybody who has spend time on my blog....

Anyways - I was directed at this video by several people...and I figure a lot of initial reaction was that I would fly into some sort of defensive bra burning feminist fury. Nah. This junk is funny. I think actually - I think I'm flattered? Yes. Name recognition is pretty sick when it comes from some scrubs with broke jumpers and man boobs. And who said the WNBA isn't marketable. We're reaching all sorts of demographics. I must give credit where its due though - clever stuff.

So I will mark my un-ceremonious return to the Yard by posing a question:

Which generated more buzz, Brittney Griner (who, btw, I have had featured on my MySpace page for a year...ehm) the "High School Girl Dunker" or Candace Parker "declaring" for the WNBA by participating in Tennessee's Senior Night? Hmmmmm....I get the whole "team" thing for CP (and knowing her, she wouldn't have wanted it any other way), but really? I would have been feeling some build up over the "will she or won't she." Can we get a press conference? A Kara Lawson Vol Love exclusive? One more day on PTI is worth something, right? All I know is, I got dozens of text messages about lil' Griner as soon as her video made it to Yahoo Sports...

Now granted, there wasn't ever much chance of CP staying for another year - and I'm guessing Griner doesn't already have a master PR plan grindin', but I gotta give it to her! Griner may have just be on her way to benefiting Tila Tequila style if she (or Baylor!) responds right....





Holler from the Yard!???? What do you guys think????

PS UCONN @ LSU : Monday, Feb. 25 - 7:00 p.m. ET - ESPN2!!!!!!!! UCONNN...HUSKIESSSSS

Seriously. I don't just post videos....I do other stuff too - like cook eggs and make tea. there is also this new cappuccino mix I like. One packet per mug of water = creamy goodness. we'll have to see if there is a comparable product in the US. Possibly this is that little rectangular tin thing I remember being so fancy when I was a kid? I didn't appreciate the whole coffee after dinner thing until I started spending time in Europe. Sipping cappuccino after dinner makes me refined, no? Don't answer that.

Do get the Lupe Fiasco new one...

And DO check out this video. Its fantastic.

what else can i say - DollHouse25 is hereby nominated for "best short set to music" for this one. i'm hoping that maybe Baron can integrate it as a preview to his gang documentary premiering at Sundace (ooooh weeeee BoomDizzle! i remember you talking about that flick at the White House! I love a man with follow through.)

Even here is Russia, people are paying attention to our election - or rather, this primary sprint that will have the final candidates duking it out for so long that we'll undoubtedly grow tired of both of them. Regardless, it has me making sure I'm registered and whatnot - and I found an easy tool to do it:

www.votepoke.com

Check it out and make sure you're good to go.

I was a champion procrastinator? But I'm back! Been a bit and there is much to catch up on. Better late than never, my favorites for 2007 are on their way.

In the meantime, check out the NIKE iD shoe I hooked up...Inspired by the sunset - a central theme during my vacation in Hawaii, at night (this is when I love) in Phoenix and of course...around 5pm in Russia LOL

You can cop my design at NIKEiD.STUDIO in Niketown New York.

In honor of the Oprah-effect (and all the coverage its getting) and caucus buzz and most importantly the NBA All Star vote, I have my own campaign running: the WNBA Photo of the Year! LOL

My favorites? The Fist Pump and Hug it Out. The Game 3 Screamer isn't bad either - and Barry Gossage, Photog Master is my maaaaaaan!

So its not as deep as Obama, I know, but its amazing the stuff you can find when you've got some extra time on your hands...Have to give credit to the Yard for directing me to this one. Crystal? I could give you shouts out for this:



But instead, I'd like to feature...this:



Holler Crystal. I have beats. And did you know you look just like Lindsey Yamasaki?

This ad is nothing short of inspiring. Lets elect this guy. We need him.

True: I have not received my bags yet. They said...Monday?

False: My bags will come Monday

True: Steve Nash is so damn cool...and this docu-ad of sorts is awesome. I am officially accepting submissions for a producer and director of my own personal virus. viral ad. mini-film. whatever. any filmmakers out there? youtube is calling my naaaaaame. sue's too. sue can be in the movie. we're here in Russia, bring the cameras!

Is it possible that posts to Yardbarker are like...magic wishes? I just got a call. Apparently, my bags have been found at the Brussels airport. Suspect? Just a tad. Yesterday, the AA baggage rep said my bags had been found, then a supervisor came on and told me they were actually still lost...then hung up on me because I said "bullshit." Then, upon redial, I was again informed that my bags were in fact, still lost. Then, right NOW, approximately 24 hours from my last update I get a call from Brussels and low and behold, they have my bags and need an address to send them to. When I ask when they were found, the woman replies, "oh, two days ago."

(crickets)

Good communication system they have going over there. Seems to be nicely synced, no?

Hmmmmm....will I get my bags?????

" 'We never hit 100 percent — 90 percent is acceptable,' she said."

Yep. Thats right. That's a quote straight from the NY Times: Travelers' Odds Decline on Airline By JEFF BAILEY Published: November 21, 2007 about success with baggage at American Airlines.

Isn't that fantastic? 90 percent is actually acceptable. 90 PERCENT OF CHECKED BAGS REACHING THEIR LOCATION IS ACCEPTABLE? Its almost commendable - you know, just the sheer honesty of it all. Or maybe its the "under promise/over delivery" strategy. Those airlines are such comedians!

In fact, I am still laughing! Three huge, overweight suitcases - my lifeblood of American product for the next six months. ALL LOST. By American. I checked my bags in Monday..delay. More delay. Finally get to Chicago, make the connection...Arrive in Brussels and SURPRISE! No Bags. So that was Tuesday. Wednesday? No Bags. Thursday? No Bags. Friday...Saturday...Sunday. No bags. They are officially lost. Sad state of affairs over there at American Airlines.

It did leave me with a rather easy trip from Brussels to Moscow though. No bags. I mean, can I get some vouchers or something? Some flight credits...automatic upgrades for the Merc? We have some back to backs that may call for some first class travel. Let this be the reminder to back an extra outfit, contraband size favorite lotion (just in case they let you through) and some spare underwear in your carry-on...always.

Anyways, I'm here now in Moscow. I'll be home again for a short break at Christmas, but for now - its all Spartak, all the time. We won the Euroleague game we played in Belgium though so, at least the trip was worth something. More updates to come, but for now I'm here without American underwear. Or the right lotion (Aveeno Purple label) or hairspray (Rave). I do have Sue Bird, Tina Thompson and Lauren Jackson though so, I will survive on W's in the meantime...but not easily. Did everybody lose a bag this holiday? Ugh. I think this calls for a conversation with our Spartak owner, Shabtai. We need a charter.

BTW, high fives to my Huskies for putting a smashing on Stanford (no offense Dr. Lambert - you have healed me).

Hit up the link here for More on the tour from Seimone...she gets into each team more in case you want more specifics...she also has some photos up from our dinner in TN with the young buck CP and the both of us with hair and makeup crew from the Nike shoot in LA. I hear Mone will be joining us in the Yard anyday now..

Plus, bonus feature - a photo of me, Kara Braxton, Mone and Sue at the ATHLETE event. Nothing like the Sidekick candid. I look like the devil for real...as you can see, we got really dressed up.

Taj also has some good stuff to share. Check out her blog on the College Tour, complete with Tour "Tajie" Awards:

http://my.wnba.com/forum.jspa?forumID=1700001505&start=0

Best Game of the Tour for Our Team

Toughest Opponent"

Toughest Opposing Player

Most Fun Teammate to Spend 2½ Weeks With

Most Pleasant Surprise on the Court

Toughest Thing About the College Tour

There are some good surprises...

I can hardly believe its over. From one season to the next...from Europe, straight to the WNBA, right into USAB training - Chile, Russia...8 cities across the US. Whew. Toss a lil Hawaii in there and there you have it - my "offseason." Clearly we need to come up with another term for this period between the WNBA and Europe, because there is not much "off" about it. Its more like the Amazing Race.

To what have I missed covering in the last few entries. We left off at Alicia Keys. Did you hear her stage name was going to be Alicia Wild instead of Alicia Keys? Yeah. Good call on whoever told her to swap in Keys for the stripper surname. She's killing it right now isnt' she? Did you see the American Music Awards last night? If given the choice I would have passed on that mess they had Beyonce up there doing, but coincidence that Alicia had the reggae performance? I think not. She must have seen the massive response my blog got and decided to that direction. And who knew a unitard could be so fly...I suppose if you add Beanie Man to most anything and its dope. If he performed at a Mercury game I think I might dunk. Just for good measure I might hand on the rim so I can get a T.

So on the hoop tip yes - we went to Phoenix. We played ASU. I got a T...you remember all that. I opened my Reading and Learning room...we did a nike shoot...and then, we headed to LA! In LA we did another NIKE event - at the Point. See the link here for more on the event. It was in celebration of the ATHLETE campaign. Donna Orender, our WNBA President brought her game...Nancy Lieberman was throwin' no looks and catching everybody off guard (don't trip Nance, I saw you workin') and RUTHIE BOLTON. Get OUT. Ruthie was REEEEAAAADDDDDDDDYYYY. I think she went like 9-11 or something. Mone kept track...then Ruthie showed up to our Stanford game in the USA uniform. I know she was taped below those warmup pants too. Guns BLAZIN....if we slipped at Stanford, Ruthie was ready to come off the sidelines.

We hit USC up the day after the ATHLETE event. I saw my family and got some rest - had an early call the next day. Car picked me and Sue up at the hotel for an NBC pre-Olympic photoshoot. We did green screen work, hair and makeup (I need a HAIRCUT), photos for getty and AMP. It was ALL day, but we got some good stuff. Hopefully I'll be able to share the official joints soon - or you can catch some on TV? Women's hoop on the promotional come upppppppp!

So with Stanford, we concluded our College Tour. Most of the teams gave us a good run - it was mostly a matter of being able to keep up the pace for the entire time. The kids were tough though. There is good talent coming up. This is going to be an exciting college season to watch...

BUT, let me not leave out the most exciting piece of information about our Stanford stop. Outside of a glorious campus tour where Lindsay pointed out all the libraries, fountains (and yes, there are a lot at Stanford) and the Palm Drive Church shot (ok ok, its nice. It is. I admit it. Tara, take ALL your recruits down that road at night), the most memorable experience about being at Stanford was my session with Dr. Lambert.

The video will follow - but the summary goes like this: Dr Lambert drained this incredibly painful infected hair follicle in my back. I have video and I plan to share it. Before doing so though, I must think of a name for the beast. Maybe a soundtrack for the process? I could feel this creature in every nook and cranny of my back. When I moved my arm, it hurt. When I turned my head, it hurt - and it definitely hurt when Dr. Lambert sliced into my back. Anyways, its feeling better now. I felt like some episode of House. I got some antibiotics and over the weekend, my mom went to work on it...and now, I'm off to Brussels to meet up with my Russian team, Spartak for a Euroleague game.

Nothing like a little Tylenol PM, an ipod and some books (the Atheists Bible and Julius Ceasar lol...you know, Huskies get their nerd on too) to get you through a long flight!

Ciao!