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....
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