Let's Blog! Going for 20 in April

27 days left in April, 20 weekdays should be good for 20 blogs. Might be brief, might be pointless but time for a little discipline (then can go all lazy again in May). At the end of the month, I'll review and pick out my lamest entry. Feel free to choose your own nominee.

So lets' begin. We're all dragging here on the most beautiful of days; sunny weather has returned but not as hot to make it difficult to sleep and yet, our team- the Stanford Cardinal Women's Basketball team has just lost to Texas A&M. No complaints with referees or Texas A&M; they did what they needed to do to overcome a 10 point deficit with six minutes to go, to pull out a one point victory. Heart breaker. Trading of baskets- three in the last 15 seconds.

College sports are more accessible than pro sports, and more fan friendly. The players are humble, and play a team oriented game. They are free from agents and sponsors (at least the women are) and play for themselves and their teammates. There is a finality that can be crushing but not accepted until it happens. That being, you play four possibly five years and your last game will be for most, a loss and in a close game not realized until the final buzzer. To that point, all the hard work and dedication will lead you to believe that your team will persevere and you will win. Doubt can not enter your mind. However when the final game ends as a loss,
seniors often drop to the floor and the tears flow.

"the hardest part isn't losing the game. It's leaving my team"- Kayla Pederson

The greatness that sports offers is having measurable goals and the shared experience of building of a team. It involves us for we know that at days end, a game is just a game; tomorrow can bring a better day. The next day can rescue the memory of the last game's bitterness and finality with the perspective of all the good that has happened and the promise of all of life's possibilities. To feel, even the feeling of agony is safe within the boundaries of a game. The games ends. Life does not. This, unlike a tsunami or personal tragedy which is not eased by tomorrow. Tomorrow only sweeps you farther away from the days when you had someone or knew joy.

So although we are saddened by the day's events, it comes with the recognition that all the participants will find a warm bed tonight, a good meal tomorrow and the possibility of fulfilling other dreams in the days to come.

Especially to Tara Vanderveer and the coaching staff, seniors Kayla Pederson, Jeanette Pohlen, Melanie Murphy, injured Ashley Cimono and Heather Donaghe, and impact players Nmeka and Chiney Ogwumike (Oh-Boom-ih-Kay!!), and the rest of the Cardinal- Goodbye and Thank you. It's been fun.