Blog Spot: Happy 4th of July From Moscow

July 5, 2007

USA Rolls into Quarterfinals | Paris & Coale Blog Archive

MOSCOW, Russia -- This summer alone I've read enough books to minor in literature. I'm hardly sarcastic in arguing that USA basketball should be considered an upper division elective at all universities. It definitely could count as a semester abroad.

Right now the book of choice is Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. I find myself reading it with my feet kicked up on the seat next to me, heading to the Kremlin for a tour of the Russian government's headquarters. We walked around the Red Square when we first got here but the group hosting the U21 World Championship has arranged a tour around Moscow for all of the teams.

My book is getting interesting. It's extremely well written and captivating: a mystery/ thriller by the creator of the Di Vinci Code. The setting is the Vacitan City throughout most of the book.

I've been there. I was at the Vatican this past Easter and attended the holiday worship led by the Pope.

And just a week ago I was looking at some of the world's finest art at the Village in France. Not to mention the places USA Basketball has taken me prior to the last four months. And then it hits me that I am possibly one of the world's luckiest people.

I cannot over express how grateful I am to have been apart of USA Basketball these last four years. In a way this is like my senior season. Sure I will do my best to put myself in a position to compete at the senior national team level and I even get a chance to train with the them this September and be apart of a group trying out for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. But this trip, in particular, means more to me than any before.

It is the last time I will play with this specific age group... the last time we will all be a part of a junior national team and I have to say I'm going to miss this.

There are so many memories.

The West dominating everyone at the Youth Development Festival when I was a junior in high school. The tears shed in the first tryout for the U19 qualifying tournament. Getting a passport (and now laughing about how crazy our pictures look). Being a resident in "Candace Parker's room" in Puerto Rico. Tina Wirth taking pictures and actually sending everyone copies. "Dancing Paco" in Mexico.

Hit songs written.
To name a few:
"Everybody get your hands off your knee"'
"We still don't have our bags"
"Don't drink the water"

And the remix:
"Don't eat the ice... cause it's made from the water."

Then there is 2009 dominating Pictionary. The inside jokes. The friends. The places I've seen. The books I've read. And all the amazing opportunities!

It's the Fourth of July and the small talk before the game was how much hearing the National Anthem will mean today. Celebrations have been limited because of our game, but the coaches did organize a team trip to McDonalds (sorry to the strength and conditioning coaches back at all our schools) in honor of our country's birthday.

Tomorrow will be a little more eventful with practice and a BBQ at the American Ambassadors house. I'm still a little uncertain of this barbeque thing, I'm not sure what exactly they will be grilling, but hopefully it hits close to home.

Oh and we actually play games on these trips too. We had our last pool play game today against Japan, and my God do those girls get up the court. Yesterday we were watching them play Australia. I swear there was one possession where the Aussies scored and within two seconds, Japan had the ball inbounds and was shooting a lay-up on the other end. No worries, we came up with a great plan to slow them down... it worked and we won handily after a rough first half.

We have qualified for the gold medal round, which will continue up on the 6th. The championship game is on the 8th and then it will be on our way home on the 9th.

I'm having a great time as always. Working on my game, making friends and seeing the world. I have almost enough frequent flier miles to get a free round trip ticket overseas. I was talking yesterday with one of the girls about all the exciting places I could possibly go. Then again there so many places USA basketball has already taken me.

Happy Fourth of July!
Courtney

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Blog Spot: Happy 4th of July From Moscow

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