Feb. 29, 2008

The end. Could this really be the end? No, not quite, but traveling to Massachusetts to play UMass would be our last regular season road trip. That being said, it would only seem fitting that it be one of the most exciting!

While true journalists are meant to stay impartial to any particular side or team, I have no fear in saying that I am a Cleveland Cavaliers fan. On the eve of our departure to UMass, I was excited to read the Cavs had made a blockbuster trade brining Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Delonte West, and Wally Szczerbiak to the team.

The joy quickly fled my body as we had 6 a.m. practice the next morning (I find it difficult to show any emotion at six in the morning). When we approached our connecting flight gate in Chicago O'Hara Airport, my excitement suddenly rushed through my body once again: right in front of me was Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak! At a loss for words, all I could muster out was "Hey Wally," as Ashley Brown frantically searched for a pen to gather autographs. I'd like to note here that Mr. Szczerbiak answered with a "hey" of his own. That's right, Wally Szczerbiak acknowledge my existence!

There was one other story in particular that made this trip especially exciting for me, but I think I will let my newest interviewee, Assistant Coach Susan Blauser, tell you more.

Susan Blauser
Because I had been so excited about seeing the newest members of the Cleveland Cavaliers, I had to ask Coach Blauser what she thought of it all.
"You know who I did see, Coach Dennis Green, the former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings. I saw him and had to turn to Jim Jabir and he was like `yea, that's Dennis Green!' And I got really excited."

While in Massachusetts we had a little spare time, so we decided to play a team game. The game we chose was called Two Truths and a Lie. Needless to say, we all learned A LOT about each other.
Coach Dickinson saying that she was a yellow belt in karate was the truth that was least believable. I still don't know if I believe that. I can't ever see her getting fired up or mean. She's not very aggressive!"

Coach Blauser and I were lucky enough to get to spend a little extra time together.
"On the way back I had barely made it to the gate and I heard an announcement about a flight being overbooked. I was like `man, I would totally give up my seat' and you (that'd be me) were like `yea, I would too!' When I said it though, I had no idea it was our flight. But, we ended up doing it, which really worked out nicely. We got a free dinner, free hotel, free breakfast, and a flight back to Dayton instead of Columbus like we were supposed to. It was awesome!

Join the us on Saturday, March 1 at UD Arena as we wish our seven seniors adieu in their final home game on Tom Blackburn Court.