What a Great Ride!

I am back from Tampa for a couple of weeks now and it has taken all of this time to have the wonderful experience soak in all the way. What a great ride this team took us all on! As I noted in an earlier blog, my plans meant that we were flying during the Maryland game. My frantic fingers on the iPhone got us all excited upon landing and we had the whole United crew whooping it up with us as we disembarked. Tampa was already in a Final Four mood--even at 1 am on a Tuesday morning.




We spent the week in Orlando, doing the Disney thing. Don't let anyone fool you--the most thrilling ride anywhere is the Parking Lot tram during a lightning storm!



We also made sure to eat the new official team sandwich.


Arriving in Tampa, we headed straight to the Arena to get a peek at what was going on. Along the way we encountered what we considered to be a great omen--Whiting Street!



The Arena looked lovely--especially the Big S!



We did some shopping at a merchandise tent across the street from the Arena. We were surrounded by Orange people and UConn fans. We also noticed the Stanford stuff was scarce. As I was checking out, the lady doing the selling whispered, "You Stanford people are the nicest. We hope you win!"

At the same time, all of the Orange people were on our side, hoping that we would beat UConn. The UConn folks looked at us sideways. The LSU gang commiserated with us and hoped we would meet in the final game.

Hoop City was a great way to pass the time before the first game. It is put on each year at the Final Four to showcase various elements of the Women's game and provide some fun activities--like pictures with the Championship trophy.





I caught up with a familiar face there, not knowing she would be there in person, too!


We ran into the Appels while we were there and it made us especially happy to hear that the team was relaxed and ready. We couldn't say the same for ourselves--we were nervous and excited! Finally it was time to get together with like-minded people for the team sendoff.

The team hotel was a beautiful spot and there was a great sand sculpture in the lobby to greet us.



Let the party begin!








We ran into an old friend, Evon Asforis. For those of you who don't know Evon, she was a great Stanford center in the late 80's. She was over the moon that Tara invited her to speak to the team before they left and was thrilled that anyone remembered her!



Then the team started to trickle towards the bus--in a driving rain storm. The crowd whipped into a frenzy!



I hung back in the lobby area so got to see the team closely as they came downstairs-and even slapped hands with Mel and Candice as they headed out. OK, now I was STOKED!

The rain continued and was monumental--7 inches was measured in parts of Tampa. We had planned a nice walk to the Arena, but managed to hitch a ride on a small bus and stayed dry. As we moved to our seats, we saw the whole team gathered in a circle on their bench--I was struck at how cool it was that they were taking in the moment all together. I later read that Vanessa had reminded them to do that.



The next couple of hours are a blur. One of the most amazing things was that the Stanford Band was selected to play the National Anthem! I didn't know it at the time, but they had won the Battle of the Bands at Hoop City--so they earned the right and did a great job. Then the team intros--



And the game was on! We all know the happy conclusion--the energy in the stands was electric and I hope anyone not there could feel it through the tube. Everytime the lead was threatened, Stanford stepped up. It was great and I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else.

Now, what to do until the final game? Well, Tampa had done a great thing of designating Channelside Bay Plaza as a meeting place for all of the fans.



Each team was assigned a restaurant and we got the very best one--Tinitapa's. They even renamed the place for the week--TARATAPA's--and put out a great T-shirt in honor of the team. This was THE HARD TO GET item of the tournament--the best I could do was get a picture of the back.



I had to settle for my own Tshirt--note the colors on the one being bitten. Yes, Stanford was once again a Big Dog!



Tinitapa's had great food and margaritas, not that I would know. They also went out of their way to be extra nice to us.






A marquee at the UConn restaurant hyped the big battle--



One thing we noticed as we enjoyed our afternoon--the Orange people were no longer our friends! And let me tell you, there are millions of them and who knew there were so many Orange clothing and accessory options? They all sort of looked at us askance. The UConners, on the other hand, were now our best friends. "Please win tonight, ok?" LSU stayed true to us, wishing us nothing but good luck.

You can imagine how we felt when we saw the Orange people talking to the band that was playing in the square and moments later, they played "Rocky Top". We left.

Another sendoff was in order--this time in glorious sunshine.





We met Vern, our favorite cheerleader--



--and the Tree!



The next few hours were a blur just like the Semi-final night. There was a bunch of stuff going on outside the Arena before the game, including a band that played *gulp* "Rocky Top". I was beginning to see a trend. I had on my Tree hat so was the official explainer of why is the Tree the Stanford mascot. It was wearing me out so we headed to our seats.

Kara and Stacy were in the house--



and Tara got her props--



But the energy was different. The team seemed sluggish and so did we. Just as we started to get going, something bad would happen. Like they played "Rocky Top" again. I swear, if I never hear that song again, it will be too soon! When I saw this fellow at the top of our section, I knew we were doomed.



We know the final outcome--a great opportunity lost, perhaps? It is easy to think that any time a team is so close to a championship. But I cannot look back without remembering all of the pure joy (sorry, Tara) that came out of this season. The great wins (Rutgers, Tennessee, Baylor, Utah, Cal, ASU), the terrific individual performances, the winning team chemistry, two disappointing losses in LA that propelled the team to running the table all the way to the championship game--it was all good. Only one team is happy at the end of the year, so we can be a little sad, but also realize we are happier than everyone else. I don't know about you but I CAN'T WAIT for next year!

Holy cow!

Greetings from Florida! I am officially banned from United Airlines for whooping it up immediately upon arrival--thank goodness for my iPhone! When I saw 98 points come up, I thought it was a triple OT game! The weather is hot and humid, so bring your shorts, sunscreen and Stanford gear and get on down to Tampa!

Fear of Flying

Am I scared to fly? Nope. Am I scared to be flying to Florida while Stanford is playing in the Regional Final on Monday night? Absolutely! WHAT WAS I THINKING when I made reservations many months ago? *sigh* We're off to Orlando tomorrow and, later in the week, to Tampa. Planning to meet up with our team there! The plane ride will be pretty squirmy, wondering what is going on in Spokane. I'm sure we will be the first ones off the plane upon arrival and straight to a TV set to get the GOOD NEWS!

Hope to see a whole bunch of you there!

Mascot Mania and More

OK, I admit it. Nobody loves a good mascot more than I do. I bow at the alter of the Phillie Phanatic. I lament the demise of the San Diego Chicken. I squeal at the sight of the Oregon Duck.

So the NCAAs at Maples was a treat, not just because of the great basketball, but because of the appearance of Big Red, the Hilltopper from Western Kentucky. I have been captivated by that thing since the 1992 Final Four, but have never been in the same Arena since.

It got me to thinking--what is it? Google failed to give much of an answer--just this: Big Red was born in 1979 and was the brainchild of a WKU student named Ralph Carey. Rather than have a Hilltopper costume (anyone associated with WKU is a Hilltopper because the campus sits on a hill), it plays off of the primary WKU color. Legendary basketball coach E.A. Diddle was famous for waving a red towel on the bench during games.

Other sites are not so generous on the origin, suggesting that Big Red is the love child of the Kool Aid Kid and Oscar the Grouch, but that did not deter my excitement when the little blob hit the floor. I spent a lot more time watching BR's antics than I did the game.

At which point, Judy says to me "we're going to get our picture taken with it." A shudder went up my back. This always happens and I hate it. I feel like a real goober trying to get access to the mascot involved and then trying to get someone to take the picture. I crab, I complain, I say my phone's battery is running out--nothing works, though, once Judy has her mind set.

So we waited until halftime and struck when BR came back after what I presume was a potty break. "Oh, Mr. Hilltopper, Mr. Hilltopper. Can we have a picture?" Can you believe two grown women acting in such a manner? The little thing turned and acted delighted, well, I think it was delighted--how can you tell? One of the cheerleaders was more than happy to take the photo and we managed to get done before a security guard could scurry us away.

I know I said I hate it, I hate it, but now that I have it, I love it!




Emboldened by our success, Judy set her sights on Monday night. I put my foot down firmly--NO OSKI!--but was pursuaded to pose with the Father of our Country--it seemed like the patriotic thing to do.



George was happy to pose (I think)and our Eileen was passing by and took the photo. There were no signs of wooden teeth and GW smelled good--a real oddity in Mascotville. When I asked him about the upcoming election, he just smiled--oh, wait, he always looks like that.

What could have been better than all this?

Oh, just a little thing called Stanford Basketball! Speaking of legendary characters, I am ready to add Candice Wiggins to Mount Rushmore right now! How often do we hope for a storybook game, wanting everything to be glorious because it is some sort of last time? And how often does it ever happen? Hardly ever, but Monday night was a rare night where the stars aligned and Candice delivered. As terrific as Jayne's performance was on Saturday (heck, she might have gone for
50 had she been in longer), Candice's night was one for the permanent memory bank. I always thought that the fact that Ted Williams hit a home run in his last major league at bat was just the perfect way for him to exit Fenway Park, but I think, for me, CW surpassed that with her last game at Maples.

And kudos to Tara for leaving her in a little longer than she might normally, just so that we could have a few more gasp-worthy moments. I suspect that Coach was reveling in the moment herself.

There is a great quote--"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we
take, but by the moments that take our breath away." Anyone who was there will remember those breathless moments for a very long time.

Shootathon Results

Just wanted to recap the Shootathon that was held last Sunday. A great time was had by all! First up was the team shooting for pledges and the good news was that both Mel and Michelle were able to participate! Here are the results-

Ashley 240
Candice 255
Cissy 238
Hannah 257
Jayne 261
Jeannette 255
Jillian 263
JJ 276
Kayla 258
Mel 227
Michelle 273
Morgan 264
Ros 232

If you sent in a pledge form, you will receive a recap of the $$ that you need to send in. If you didn't pledge, there is still time! Just send in this form along with your donation.

Next up was the 3 point shooting contest. Each player went through preliminary rounds until the final 2 were determined--Candice and Morgan. The winner was--
MORGAN!

All of the players then took half court shots until one was made. Many close calls took place including an Appel rim out, but finally HANNAH drained one.

The fans were able to participate in these events by buying raffle tickets and selecting who they thought would win the contests. Two lucky fans got a great prize--a picture with the entire team!

We wrapped up the day with a silent auction that raised over $500 and a tour of the locker room. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Special thanks to Lynne Klaevemann and Nancy Sabbag for pulling the event together and to the scorers and helpers that made the event run smoothly. When we get a recap of the total amount raised, I will pass it along.

I hope everyone is planning on heating up Maples this weekend. Time to clear out some old bad kharma and we can help make it happen. Wear your Cardinal and scream real loud!

Shootathon!

I'm sure you are all reved up for the PAC 10 tournament--I know I am. This will be our last rodeo in San Jose so we need to go out with a BANG! Remember that we need to make the Arena into Maples South, so let's get rowdy!

For the fundraising committee, our next event is coming up on Sunday, March 16--The Shootathon! This is our 2nd biggest fundraiser of the year, so we hope you will join in by pledging and attending. Lynne Klaeveman and Nancy Sabbag are doing a terrific job in putting this event together.

How does it work? You select the player(s) that you want to support with your pledge amount. Each player will take 200 shots with a maximum total of 300 points awarded. Players receive 2 points for a made outside shot (200 possible points) and 1 point for a lay-up (100 possible points). So as an example, if you pledge $1.00 per point and your player scores 245, your donation will be $245. Easy stuff! You will be notified after the event of the amount due for your pledges.

The event will begin at 1 pm with the players shooting for their pledges. While that is going on, we will be selling raffle tickets for the 3 point shooting contest. You pick the winning class and you will have a chance to win a picture of you with the entire team! A once in a lifetime opportunity with this terrific group that we have this year. In addition, the Locker Room will be open for tours, so you can see some of the results of our past fundraising. As Tara notes in her letter to the FBC--

Many of our recent fund raising efforts have been focused on our state of the art locker room. With your generous support in the past, we have been able to make our facility more comfortable and more tech-savvy - a place where our players are happy to be on a daily basis. I cannot underestimate how much great facilities enhance the entire college experience while helping Stanford recruit at a very high level.

I am happy to announce that along with the regular shooting and 3 point contest that we hold on Shootathon Day, we will also be opening the locker room for tours so that you can all see the benefits of your generous support. We have recently added a mural celebrating our rich history, which I think you will all enjoy.

We hope that you can join us for a fun day, but, if you can't, remember that you can pledge anyway--and we hope that you will. We will have pledge forms available at the PAC 10 tournament reception and be glad to take them from you any time during the tournament--find Lynne, Nancy or me anytime!

You can find the pledge form here. We hope that you'll participate in any way that you can and that the nets are on FIRE so we maximize the pledges!

Watching from Home

I had planned to go to Cal to see the game live, but a series of mishaps and conflicts kept me from getting up there in time. Thank goodness for television!

Watching a game from home sure is a whole different experience. In many ways, the game does not translate as well on the tube and surely the crowd noise is at a whole different level. There were many times when Haas sounded dead quiet--but I can't believe that was true!

Now, as far as personal behavior is concerned, that is a whole different story. Being in the home setting sets free all of those inhibitions that might cause one to hold ones tongue in public. For example, I yelled incessantly at the screen when Coach Boyle's mother (who has become quite the FSN darling) was on air for a full time out. "Where's Tara's mom? We never see her!", I bellowed. (of course, she probably wasn't there, but I didn't say I was logical)

Of course, having TiVO is a whole different issue. Sometimes plays are watched over and over to PROVE that the refs are wrong--so much so that the game is way over before I have finished watching. This gives me the urge to skip to the end, but I never do!

Then there was that steal by Candice towards the end of the game. I jumped up so fast that I got light headed and had to sit quietly for a minute or two. TiVO allowed me to pause so I missed nothing! Much better than in person when you're watching something else and miss something good!

And my poor dogs. Moos (named for Carolyn) the poodle looks at me in his haute couture way with eyes that say "You have lost your mind!" Bodie (named for Clare) the miniature schnauzer takes the direct approach and runs upstairs to hide.

So I think the best thing is for me to just make sure to get to games. It's better for my health, my dogs' health and the safety of my TV set!

Think Pink!

The game Saturday with ASU is a big one indeed--and not just for the obvious PAC-10 standings implications and Senior Day celebration. It is Think Pink Day at Maples.

The "Think Pink" initiative is a global, unified effort for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The movement is to honor the inspiration of NC State head coach Kay Yow, who has battled the disease with grace and courage since 1987.

I have never met Coach Yow, but had a great close encounter with her in Cleveland last year at the Final Four. We had just parked our car in a garage and were looking over at the Arena, when we looked down and who was there but Coach Yow! She happened to look up at the same time and we gave her the thumbs up and snapped this picture--



Her story is inspiring as are those of many others. Many of us have lost loved ones to various forms of cancer and the fight must go on. Think about throwing on a pink thing or two when you come to the game on Saturday to honor all that are fighting on a daily basis!

Great Auction Results!!

Just in case you missed the great postgame event after the UCLA game, I wanted to fill you in on how we did at the Auction! We have collected to date $40,886--a new record high for us! We are still taking care of a few loose ends and are confident that the total will finish just slightly above $42,000! How spectacular is that?

Many, many thanks to EVERYONE involved--from volunteers to donors to bidders to buyers--each is a contributor to an event like this one! We hope we can count on you all again next year!

Coming up next is the Shootathon--pledge sheets will be available soon. Plan now to join us on Sunday, March 16.

On a personal note, I just want to congratulate Dave and Marian Cortesi for receiving the Margie Santillan Fan Spirit award. Having worked with both of them over the years, I can attest to their true commitment to SWBB! Marian and I have worked very closely this year on the Website and her work is impeccible! KUDOS!

Some Auction Leftovers!

I know, I know--it has been almost a whole month since the Auction and we haven't reported back on how we did. With the Holidays and all, we just haven't been able to put it all together to give a final amount. But be rest assured that the event was successful!

One thing that is holding us up is that we still have some leftover items that we are hoping that you will be interested in. If you are interested in any of the items below, please email me at dstewart@LGCWireless.com.
Please let me know what your bid is, starting with the minimum noted. If you are the high bidder, I will get back in touch with you and we can make arrangements for payment and pickup. This auction will end Sunday, January 20 at midnight.

#32 Lunch with Kate at Jimmy V's
Maximum group size is 10
Value: priceless
Min Bid: $200


#36 Breakfast with Amy at Jimmy V's
Maximum group size is 10
Value: priceless
Min Bid: $250


#59 Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Four Family Gallery Passes
Info Here
Value: $112
Min Bid: $40

#65 Sheldon of Los Altos
Studio Photography sessions plus one 8x10 exp 7/1/08
Info Here
Value $250
Min Bid: $90

#82 Katie Smith Detroit Shock Jersey Blue signed w/ Letter of Authenticity
Value: priceless
Min Bid: $40

#85 Ms Fit Boot Camp --one month (12 sessions) Jan thru May 2008
Info Here
Value: $240
Min Bid: $90

#100 Week at Northstar! 2br, 1 bath newly remodeled Condo good May-Oct 2008
Enjoy this Northern California resort in this pristine 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo. With a queen bed in the master, two twins in the second bedroom and a fold out couch, this condo can easily sleep 6. Centrally located close to the village and rec center, everything is here for you. Golf, mountain biking, tennis, hiking and fly fishing could all be in your future! A Jacuzzi is in the unit and the property includes a lap pool, hot tub and sauna. This is a pet friendly place, so Fido can be included! Donated by June Thompson. More info here
Value: $1,269
Min Bid: $550

#169 Olive Harvest Getaway
Experience a very special Wine Country getaway by bidding high on this item. Drive up Saturday and enjoy a one-night stay at Kingfisher Lakefront cottage at the Bell Haven Resort on Clear Lake in Kelseyville. This 1940's inspired cottage sleeps 6, has a beach, a dock for your boat, full rec room and kitchen as well as free wireless. On Sunday, you will be the guest of Lou Ann and Nancy for the 2008 olive harvest at the 16-acre Hill Creek Ranch, helping in the hand picking of 48 Tuscan-variety, 8-foot trees. The Ranch is 8 miles from the Kingfisher Cottage. After your hard work, you will be treated to a Harvest lunch with wine at the ranch. Ask Lily Wong how much fun it is - she did it in 2007 and said, "It was fun, clean and a nice social event and yummy food! The olive trees are short and line the driveway so very easy to pick and it is only picked on one day out of the year!" Bidders will have to be flexible as the Olive harvesting will be Sunday of either the last weekend of October or 1st weekend of November, depending on the weather conditions for the olive maturity. Weekend will be determined by donor. Olives can only go to press Mon - Fri, so they have to be picked on Sunday. An additional night's stay is available for $100, and a refundable security deposit of $150 is required. Donated by Lou Ann Bauer & Nancy Yost. Good for 2008 only. More info here and here.
Value: $600
Min Bid: $300

#195 Spokane Doubletree Traditional Guest Room 2 night stay 2/29 through 3/2, 2008
for Pac 10 trip to Pullman
Info Here
Value: $318
Min Bid: $100

#210 Drue Kataoka Print of Jennifer Azzi, autographed
Info Here
Value: Priceless
Min Bid: $40

#220 Custom Fitness--Consultation, evaluation, 2 personal training sessions
Custom Fitness, located on Castro Street in Mountain View, is a unique training studio designed for everyone from the young business professional to the active older adult. This is the perfect package to get your New Year regime under way! Included are a fitness consultation and evaluation, 2 personal training sessions Donated by Dale Dunlap of Custom Fitness. Good for new customers only and must be used in 2008.
Info Here
Value: $200
Min Bid: $80

#240 Stanford Boys Basketball Day Camp for 2008
You choose from one of two available sessions-June 16-19 or July 5-8. Sessions are held at Maples Pavilion. For ages 7-15. More info Here
Value: $390
Min Bid: $200

#242 Nate Clements Laser Autographed Football
Info Here
Value: $50
Min Bid: $20

#251 Barnett Accounting Services 2 available
$250 towards a single tax prep and filing for 2008
Info Here
Value: $250
Min Bid: $75

#266 Riviera Comedy Club Mardi Gras Show, tix for two exp 12/30/08
Info Here
Value: $50
Min Bid: $20

Remember, this auction will end Sunday, January 20 at midnight.

Please help us out if you can by purchasing these last few items. Then we can close the books and give the final reporting!