This is the first installment of one player's weekly journal. We've also added a link so you can submit your own questions for players to respond in their next entry. Being a collegiate basketball player creates an interesting journal, but being a collegiate basketball player at perhaps the most beautiful school in the country that is flocked with celebrities is a whole other story. Enjoy...
Shandrika Lee
Pepperdine women's basketball senior
Diary Entry No. 1
October 18, 2003
Dear Diary,
As I sit here in my room at 8:30 pm Saturday night, all I can think to myself is I am exhausted! But, I still have to do some economics with my teammates and some kinesology studying. Big night, huh? My book and myself on a Saturday night... fun times!
Even though it might not sound fun, it's also the choice we make when we dedicate ourselves to being a student athlete. Today was extra hard because it was our first official practice. Actually, to be more exact, today was my last first practice on the college level!
I went to bed at a decent hour last night because I knew that practice wasn't going to be an easy cakewalk. I woke up around 9:00 a.m. or so and laid in bed for a little while, until I decided to make some breakfast burritos-they were delicious! But anyways... it felt so good to be back into things!
Besides preseason stuff... this is my first time BACK since I tore my ACL on December 29, 2002, so today was exciting, intense, but in a way intimidating all in the same breath! Alongside the suicides we had to run while dribbling the ball, big step after big step, and the new triangle offense came this feeling of thanks deep down inside; thankful that I am able to play the game that I love once again. So practice was a good one. I guess one can say that it was more of a conditioning practice than learning though... at least I think! Anyways... my teammates are going to be here soon... so sorry that I am so brief today! Looking forward to another good workout tomorrow afternoon ... and of course some more homework!
October 19,2003
This morning I didn't get much sleep. It was about 5:00 a.m. and I was suddenly awakened from my sleep. No, it wasn't an earthquake, but instead a Charlie horse cramp that was more than likely from the previous days workout! It was painful but after a while it subsided and I got a little more rest.
But anyways... my teammate Kelli Spencer is wonderful. We woke up this Sunday morning and she made us some malt-o-meal and toast before our 1:00 p.m. practice. It's only 9:30 a.m. on a Sunday and while most college kids are sleeping, we actually got up early to study. Kelli is deep into her physiology and I'm looking over my kinseology. But wait a minute! It was only 9:30 a.m. Again... fun times huh?! We'll study for a couple hours and then off to practice at noon...
October 28 2003
On fire... something that our state is on, but my game is definitely NOT!
Today began by me waking up at 6:00 a.m. and reviewing for a kinesiology test that was at 8:00 a.m. I had been studying for this particular test for about a week, so one would think that I would be really confident about it. However, I was really nervous before the test, and I think it was because I didn't do so well on the first one.
But once I began the test, that nervousness withered away. It's sort of like that nervousness right before tip off that immediately disappears as soon as that ball hits the floor. So everything went pretty smoothly once I got into the flow of things, which was a lot smoother than our scrimmage went on Saturday.
Yesterday, the fire's smoke filled our gym so our practice was cancelled. Instead of practicing, we watched film from our practice game versus the guys. I'm lucky to have only witnessed ½ of the game because it was a complete disaster, and I don't think that I could have taken something that too much longer!
However, I have complete faith in my team-as in myself-and I know that we have been here before and somehow got out. I always know that things will be better than ok once that ball bounces this coming up Saturday. All the nervousness will be put aside we will play like we know how!
Well, I guess I'll get going now because I have a full schedule of class, practice, and everything else! Until next time, I'm out of here... good night!
