Nov. 23, 2006
Alabama Game Notes in PDF Format
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As the Tigers prepare to play their opening round game in the Hilton Concord Thanksgiving Tournament against Alabama on Friday night, senior Blair Hardiek gave her thoughts on the first half of Missouri's eight-day road trip to Stanford and Moraga, Calif.
An entire week on the road with the Mizzou Women's Basketball team means lots of basketball, food and laughs. Allow me to give you the behind the scene action on exactly what we have been up to. Our voyage to California began a little early for our liking, 5:45 am to be exact. As we drove to the Kansas City airport, the bus was filled with silence as almost each and every one of the players took advantage of the time to catch up on a little sleep.
Energy and excitement surged as we stepped out of the airport in the warmth of California. Everyone was thrilled to be out of the bus and off the plane. It was time to focus on the games ahead, enjoy the weather, and spend some quality time with those around us. Palo Alto was destination number one - talk about a five star hotel! We stayed at the Sheraton, which was a sight in itself. Focused and determined we suited up for practice and re-loaded the bus. We then proceeded to Maples Pavilion where we would spend the next few hours running drills, reviewing plays and preparing for our opponent, 11th-ranked Stanford.
A highlight for all was the trip we took the next day to downtown San Francisco. Our bus driver was quite educated on the history and monuments in the towns throughout the Bay Area, so whether we liked it our not we received a personal tour from the man behind the wheel. As we traveled the busy streets our heads were turned out the window to take in the beautiful scenery and to observe the history of the city. Some of the views to be seen amidst the fog were the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, George Lucas' Studio, and miles of significant cemeteries. Pier 39 (a.k.a. Fisherman's Warf) was our stopping point and let me tell you, it was an interesting experience. As the team stepped off the bus the players and coaches were wide-eyed at the view of the crowded city. There was plenty of food to be eaten, shopping to be done and entertainment to engage in. Some of the spectacles of Pier 39 included: crazy street acts, yelping sea lions, AT&T Park (where the SF Giants play baseball), and plenty of funny pictures taken by the players. We posed with some of the aforementioned street performers, wax figures, wild sunglasses, hats and much more! For all of you a little more interested in finding out more about the trip do not hesitate to ask Tracy about her encounter with the homeless man and Coach T about her magic carpet ride. Overall, the trek down the streets of Pier 39, known as Fisherman's Warf, was loads of fun and definitely a day worth remembering.
The following day was unquestionably more serious as the team and coaches prepared for the game against Stanford. We had practiced hard, reviewed the plays, and mentally prepared ourselves for the battle ahead. Although the outcome of the game was not as planned, the team had all intentions of bouncing back, learning from our mistakes and going into the St. Mary's tournament with vengeance.
Next stop, Concord! The drive was a tad longer than expected, but no one was complaining as the bus made a left hand turn into the Hilton. The day was filled with practice, weight lifting, and a meal fit for a king at a nearby restaurant called Claim Jumpers. As you can see, the first few days of the trip to California have been filled with loads of basketball, entertainment, and shared laughs. Having the opportunity to travel on the road with great people, who share the mutual desire of the game of basketball, is truly a dream come true.
We might be away from our families on Thanksgiving, but one thing I am definitely thankful for is the chance to play Division I basketball and share the holiday with my second family, "Team Mizzou."
Happy Thanksgiving Tiger Fans,
Blair Hardiek