Still in Connecticut

So, today is Tuesday... I am here in Uncasville for a few more days... then it is a trip to Valdivia, Chile to help the USA Women's Team on their quest to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In this tournament, there are eight (8) teams from North, South and Central America (teams, meaning countries) who will be battling for ONE INVITATION to the Olympics. So, if Team USA does NOT win, they will have to play in a "pre-Olympics" tournament where three spots will be open for the Olympics.

Our team is slowly being put together, as a handful of our Women's players were still playing basketball in the WNBA (congrats to Paul Westhead and the Phoenix Mercury!!). Now that the season is over, some of those players will head over to Connecticut to catch up with our team. In fact, we already had Swin Cash (from the Detroit Shock) practice with us! Amazing!

Mohegan Sun is an amazing casino... there are several slots and places to play all the various card games, etc. In the hotel, there are about six channels dedicated to HORSE RACING... kinda ridiculous! However, I think many people like to come here to throw down some moola on a horse or two or three or four! In fact, I saw a chance to bet on a horserace in Australia!

Our USA Team will play Australia for the last of the "pre-Tournament" games in the USA. We will head to Chile on Thursday then play a few "friendlies" in Chile.

Best wishes to the ladies and staff.... wish us luck!

E.

Aunt and Uncasville...

Greetings from Uncasville!!

I am here in Uncasville, CT, with the USA Women's Senior National Team. I am the "official" host of the Australian Women's Basketball Team, and it has been a wonderful experience.

After working with the USA Men's Senior National Team (and winning the Gold Medal and qualifying for the 2008 Summer Olympics), I immediately headed out to New York City to start assisting with the Women's Team. We were in New York City for about six days (including September 11 - an eerily rainy and blustery day ALL DAY)...

After working with the US Team, I went to meet up with the Australian Women's Team. They were invited to come play in a few "friendlies" (scrimmages) in the USA team's preparation for their Olympic Qualifier. My responsibilities have included to meet up with Australia, arrange their hotel needs, set up meals and assist at their practices. It has been really fun, and the entire team has been awesome!

Jan, the head coach, is really friendly and quite smart! Their assistant coaches do a wonderful job with the team, and the medical staff really keep the team strong, healthy and flexible.

The "glue" to the team is Marian Stewart... she is Australia's team leader, and she does everything our Women's Director (Carol Callan) does. There is no stone unturned with her in charge. I feel like I can do a much better job doing the "fine toothed comb" detail when traveling, now that I got to meet Marian. She is wonderful.

Anyway, we got to practice at Princeton University, where I saw, PETE CARRILL (former Princeton Men's Coach, and assistant with the Sacramento Kings)! He is one of basketball's best coaches - he taught the backdoor cut offense that Princeton used forever and that Sacramento and other teams have been able to adopt. Unbelievable I would just see him at the campus.

Princeton's campus is really cool -- very "remote" and quiet... I still cannot believe that NYC is only less than two hours away from this place!

We played one "friendly" against the USA Team yesterday in Trenton, NJ. The USA team overpowered the Aussies, but the Aussies are still pretty good.

On Wednesday night, there will be Game #2 between Australia and the USA. This game will be in Uncasville... home of the Mohegan Sun! It is a pretty HUGE casino/hotel! I cannot believe how awesome the place is! Maybe I will go hit the Star Wars Penny Slots... Go Darth!

Anyway, I will write more before my trip to Chile... yes, I said.... Chile!!

Adios!

Ellis

FAMOUS PERSON SIGHTINGS (NYC/NJ/Connecticut) - Al Sharpton (in an elevator with me and Anne Donovan; isn't it odd I met Al Sharpton AND Michael Vick in ELEVATORS?!?!), Pat Summitt (rode with her in a taxi to and from the airport... wonderful woman), Pete Carrill....