Friend Encounters: Kevin Smith and Glen Rylko

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Today I am again featuring Glen Rylko, a dear friend of mine. Glen one-upped me with this one.
I met Glen years ago at some wrestling show. Glen is more of an old school wrestling guy, but he does venture out to indy shows on occasion. I love seeing his FB posts featuring old wrestling memorabilia.
Glen and his wife Alicia support and do great volunteer work for Alicia's House, a food pantry in a south suburb of Chicago. Glen and Alicia also participate in walks for other causes. It always warms my heart seeing them doing these events together.
I also enjoy seeing them at various comic cons. We generally meet a lot of the same celebrities.
One celeb Glen met who I haven't is Kevin Smith. Glen met Smith at his show at the Chicago Theater several years ago. In his social media post, Glen mentioned that "combined, we've lost about 140 pounds since then."
An actor, writer, producer and more, Smith is probably best known for Jay and Silent Bob. Smith has also done a few horror films, which make him a double threat at comic cons. Crossing genres successfully certainly increases his drawing power at any event.
That's an amazing accomplishment for both men. Both men look great now, but ultimately it is about feeling and being healthier. I'm happy that Glen looks good and is doing well.
I look forward to seeing Glen and Alicia once conventions or other events start happening. I always say I love meeting celebrities, but sharing these experiences with friends is really the best part.

Kevin Smith and Glen Rylko in Chicago, IL-June 2012.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #496 Aubrey Hester & Tori Huster

This is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. Once again, we are working our way alphabetically through all of the Major League Baseball teams.

Cincinnati native Aubrey Bledsoe was a star soccer goalie at Wake Forest University. Currently, she plays for the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League and for Sydney FC in the Australian W-League. In 2019, she received her first senior call-up to the United States national team. Bledsoe earned her Celebrity Jersey Card when she threw out a first pitch for her hometown Cincinnati Reds.

 Fellow Cincinnati native Tori Huster was a soccer midfielder at Florida State University. Huster was the Washington Spirit’s second pick in the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft and has played for the Spirit ever since. She has also played for other teams over the years. Huster earned her Celebrity Jersey Card with Bledsoe by throwing out a ceremonial pitch for the Cincinnat Reds.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #495 Taylor Lautner & Chi Chi Rodriguez

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. We interrupt our trek through the Major League Baseball teams to bring another Special Request edition of Celebrity jersey Cards.
Faithful reader Brian recently suggested Celebrity Jersey Cards for Judge Reinhold and Patrick Mahomes, a suggestion that resulted in Celebrity Jersey Cards #489. Brian returned with a suggestion for actor Taylor Lautner. Also, Nick Hamilton, a friend I met through the Motor City Comic Con suggested golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez. I'm always up for the challenge and I appreciate their support and requests.

Born in Michigan, Lautner is probably best known for his role in The Twilight Saga film series. In 2010, he was ranked second on Glamour's "The 50 Sexiest Men of 2010" list and fourth on People's "Most Amazing Bodies" list. I'm not too familiar with Lautner's work, but I'm not above using a bit of beefcake on Celebrity Jersey Cards. I have created plenty of CJCs for beautiful women and turnabout is fair play.

Puerto Rico native Juan Antonio Rodriguez carved out a Hall of Fame golf career, while being one of the most colorful golfers. Chi Chi developed his trademark "toreador dance" after receiving complaints about his previous act of putting his hat over the hole whenever he made a birdie or an eagle. Rodriguez has eight PGA tournament wins and numerous awards and accolades. Rodriguez's image appeared on Devo's single "Be Stiff," before they were signed to Warner Bros. Records. It gets a bit complicated, but eventually a modified version of the picture appeared on the cover of Devo's Q: Are We Not Men A: We Are Devo! album.

Amanda Chidester Athletes Unlimited #1 Pick

Athletes Unlimited held their first ever draft on Wednesday. Team Captains pitcher Haylie Wagner (Gold), corner infielder Jessica Warren (Orange), outfielder Nicole Pendley (Blue) and middle infielder Sami Fagan (Purple) took turns selecting Olympians, National team members and present and former pro teammates. In a draft of 56 elite softball players, every pick was a winner.

With the first overall pick, Wagner (Team Gold) selected catcher Amanda Chidester, her teammate on the Chicago Bandits and a fellow Michigan alum. The other first rounders were pitcher Cat Osterman (Team Orange), pitcher Taylor McQuillin (Team Blue) and pitcher Danielle O'Toole (Team Purple). Three pitchers were selected by the three offensive players, while the pitcher selected a catcher.

Captains had two minutes to make each pick. Rosters required three pitchers, two catchers, four infielders (two corner infielders and two middle infielders), three outfielders and two “unlimited” players, which can be any position. In actual game play, players are eligible at any position.

A native of Allen Park, MI, Chidester was the 2019 National Pro Fastpitch Player of the Year, NPF Offensive Player of the Year, and Home Run Award winner, while playing for my beloved Chicago Bandits. Of course, Chiddy will forever hold a special place in my heart for her nice grab of my "somewhat" wild first pitch last season.

Prior to the draft, Athletes Unlimited held scrimmages. Wagner led all players with 356 points, based on individual and team performance.

The Athletes Unlimited season opener is Saturday at 1 p.m. ET at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois. A second game follows at 4 p.m. ET, with doubleheaders Sunday and Monday.

The next draft will be on Tuesday. Four new captains will be named based on performance. Those captains will draft the teams for the next round of play.

You can check for coverage here an also on GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com, where you can see full team rosters. Also, be sure to go to AUProSports.com for all of the league info and check out Athletes Unlimited on twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Amanda Chidester and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2019.

Cards That Never Were: Mike Buskey Topps 1978

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series featuring virtual cards I make for players missed in various sets over the years. It is a concept I have borrowed from far too many folks to list, but I appreciate all of their efforts.

Thousands of card creations (and not just baseball) can be found in the Custom Baseball Cards Facebook group. One talented creator has a website with his creations featured daily. When Topps Had Balls is the creative effort of Gio and it has about 2,500 cards dating back to 2013. I can get lost in looking at the cards that never were on his site.

One of those cards is for Mike Buskey. The shortstop was signed as an amateur free agent by the Chicago White Sox in 1971, After playing in the Sox system for a few years, Buskey was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in late 1975. Buskey made it to the majors with the Phillies in 1977, appearing in six games. He got two hits in seven ABs, scoring one run and getting one RBI. He played in the minors in '78 and was purchased by the Houston Aatros late in the season. He would never make the majors again. Topps did not gie him a card for his six games, but Gio did.

I usually feature my creations here, but I made the exception because Gio beat me to it. When I was looking for a good pic of Buskey, I came across Gio's work. There was little sense in me duplicating his effort. This way, I can also promote the great work of a virtual card master!

On the Beat With Sara Richard

Monday evening, I had the pleasure of doing a Skype interview with Sara Richard, one of my absolute favorite artists. Sara recently announced she did the artwork for Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook, to be released in March 2021, but available for pre-order now.

I have interviewed Sara several times, starting in 2012 at C2E2. Over the years, I've gone back to Sara for updates and she always has something cool in the works. For one of our interviews, my teenage cousin handled the questions and Sara was great with him. 

I love Sara's artwork, but I also think she is just a very cool, very sweet person. She always seems to be doing interesting things, like cosplaying as the WWE's Becky Lynch and cleaning gravestones with her mom (both of which we discuss in the interview below).

A few years back, Sara was kind enough to do her take on The Johngy character, which now hangs on my "Wall of Johngy," which is partially visible behind me. I never give the artist any direction, because I want to see their creativity and Sara delivered big time.

My wall features Sara's art and my bookshelf features her books. I'm ordering it now, but in March, I will add Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook to my shelves. I am very excited about seeing Sara's artwork tied into Greek Mythology. Her style will beautifully match and complement the Greek heroes. I'm sure my many Greek friends will be ordering the book, too.

In the interview below, Sara talked about Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook, her creative process, Becky Lynch, grave sites, travel and more. It was a lot of fun. The cancellation of conventions has limited my interviews, but in this case, it allowed me to do a longer, more-in depth interview with Sara. Hopefully, I will see Sara in person in 2021, but if not, I will be asking for an update Skype interview.

I really appreciate Sara's time, consideration and friendship, as much as I appreciate her wonderful creations. I encourage everyone to check out her work.

For more info on Sara, go to SaraRichard.com, The Art of Sara Richard on Facebook, Sara Richard on Patreon and Sara Richard on Instragram.

On the Beat With the Seattle Storm 08/21/20

The last of the WNBA undefeated teams fell when the Indiana Fever upset the Seattle Storm 90-84 Thursday night. Seattle was 10-0 in 1st place in the Western Conference, while Indiana was 3-6 in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference. On Friday morning, Coach Gary Kloppenburg, forward Breanna Stewart and center Ezi Magbegor fielded questions from “the Wubble” at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
After a stellar career at UConn, Stewart was selected by the Storm with the 1st overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft. In three seasons, she has averaged 20 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. While the two time All-Star is having another excellent season, she is also branching out into the entertainment industry with Stewie's World, her recently debuted talk and interview show.
In her first episode, Stewart was joined by the Chicago Sky's Diamond DeShields and Gabby Williams. The trio discusses life in “the Wubble” and how the WNBA is working for social justice. I asked Stewart about the video series and her possible future in media or entertainment.
Born in New Zealand, Magbegor made her international debut in 2015 as a 16 year old. In her rookie season, Magbegor is averaging 6.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1 block and .4 assists and steals per game. I asked Magbegor about the rugged pace of this season and how her body is responding.
Coach Kloppenburg was pretty calm a day after the team's first loss. The Storm still has a two game lead on the 2nd place Las Vegas Aces. I asked Coach Kloppenburg about how the loss might possibly positively affect the Storm.
Tonight the Storm face the Aces in a big game for both teams. While the Aces and the Storm both will make the playoffs, their games against each other could very well determine the overall champ. With a three game advantage over the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Sky, the Western Conference champ also figures to have the best overall record in the WNBA. Thursday's loss was just one game, but it puts even more importance on tonight's game.
Go to WNBA.com for more info. Also check my coverage here, on GlobalTravelerUSA.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com.

Friend Encounters: Billy Jack Haynes and Josh Watko

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities. Today, we revisit an old pal who I have never met.

Josh Watko is the creator of JW's Wrestling Memorabilia, a great website featuring pictures, stories, product reviews and more from the world of wrestling. Among the other fun stuff on Josh's site is The Joshie, an award he gives out in various categories. I very proudly am the 2018 "Thanks for the Memories" Joshie award winner. Josh covers a lot of ground in wrestling, but he also meets celebrities from other areas.

Today, I am featuring Josh with Billy Jack Haynes from a convention last year. Haynes wrestled from 1982-'86, attaining his biggest success in the WWF in the mid-80s. He was the master of the full-nelson and had a memorable feud with Hercules Hernandez.

Haynes is one of those guys who had a memorable, but relatively short run in the WWF. While there were bigger names, men like Haynes should not be forgotten. I love meeting these types who formed the solid midcard for the WWF, but unfortunately, I have never met Haynes.

Someday I hope to meet Haynes. I also hope to meet Josh. Maybe we could even team up for some sort of coverage.

Josh Watko and Billy Jack Haynes in Princeton, NJ-September 2019.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #494 Gina Schock & Charolotte Caffey

This is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. Once again, we are working our way alphabetically through all of the Major League Baseball teams by "Go-Go"-ing to the Tampa Rays.

Gina Schock started her career as a drummer for Eddie and the Eggs, before joining the Go-Go's in the late 70s. She has remained with the Go-Go's through the years. She earned her Celebrity Jersey Card when she joined her Go-Go's bandmates to throw out several first pitched for the Tampa Rays. Pictured with her is outfielder Sam Fuld. On a trivia note, Schock was seen as the drummer for a-ha promo on television, although she never really performed wit the band.

 A bassist in The Eyes, Charlotte Caffey switched to guitar when she joined The Go-Gos in 1978. She has remained with the Go-Go's ever since, although she also has written for others and performed in The Graces, her own band. Like her bandmate Schock, Caffey earned her Celebrity Jersey Card throwing out a first pitch for the Tampa Rays, although Caffey's card picture was taken in the lockerroom.

Athletes Unlimited Debuts

Next Saturday, softball is back as the Athletes Unlimited Softball League debuts! Although there will be no fans or press in attendance, it will be great to see all of the great players doing what they love.

AU will feature 56 players comprising four teams (yellow, orange, blue and purple). All teams will play 30 games at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, IL concluding September 29.

There will be some new twists on the game, without affecting the beauty of the sport. A scoring system similar to fantasy sports is the main unique feature. Individual players earn points based on both team wins and individual performance, with the top four players named as captains and drafting the next week's teams. The leader board will constantly change and the teams will change weekly. The player with the most points in the end will be crowned the individual champion.

I admit I am a bit concerned this could be gimmicky, but the players are excited about it and I'm curious to see how it plays out. It could be quite interesting. I applaud AU for thinking outside the box and trying something innovative.

The 56 players include 20 Olympians and other world class softball players. Players include two NCAA Players of The Year, two Rawlings Gold Glove winners, nine NCAA National Champions, one Women’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player and players from six National teams. Several former and current Chicago Bandits will be among the players, including Danielle O'Toole, who will play for Team Mexico in the 2021 Olympics.

AU is all about the players. There are no coaches nor managers. The players essentially run the league. Players are excited about the long term ownership possibilities and benefits. These first year AU players will not be forgotten as league grows.

Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, no fans will be in attendance this season, but AU is bringing the games to fans via ESPN and the CBS Sports Network. Additionally, WAVE.tv will air game highlights, behind-the-scenes videos and other content.

Fan interaction will include the opportunity to predict every play for the chance to win prizes. There will also be virtual autograph sessions. More fan interactive experiences can be had through a paid membership in the Unlimited Club, offering exclusive content, limited edition merchandise and other special offers.

AU will be involved in many social initiatives. These include a partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA, a "Rally the Vote" voter engagement program and an Athletes Causes program that will benefit charities of the players’ choosing equal to 50% of their season bonus.

Growing the game and interacting with the community is big part of the plan. As role models and leaders, players will engage the next generation of athletes and fans 

As with any event these days, the health of all involved is a concern. Every precaution is being taken to keep the players and personnel healthy and safe.

Of course, I would rather be at the ballpark watching the action, but for now, I am just grateful for any softball. While I won't be at the ballpark next Saturday, I will be watching comfortably from my couch, enjoying Coke, pizza and softball! 

I will be covering AU all season. Look for coverage here. GlobalTravelerUSA.com, GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com and Patch.com. Also, go to AUProSports.com for more info including schedules and the leader boards. Also follow Athletes Unlimited on twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Danielle O'Toole and me in Rosemont, IL-July 2019

On the Beat With Kerry Feirman

When Henry from Global Women's Sports Radio messaged me about interviewing Kerry Feirman, I jumped at the chance. Already familiar with her work, I would not pass the chance to do a full length interview with this director, producer, emcee, tennis whiz and more.
As you can tell by the string of titles, Kerry is multi-talented and versatile. A top notch tennis player, Kerry wasn't content with just conquering the courts. She has excelled in every field she has entered.
I'll let Kerry tell her story in te interview below, but I must comment on things I took away from the interview.
Kerry gives off a very cool vibe. She's fun and refreshing, but make no mistake, she has worked very hard to get where she is and she continues to work hard. She just doesn't announce all of her effort, choosing to let her impressive resume speak for itself.
Throughout Kerry's career, she has stayed true to herself. The tennis world can be a bit more reserved than most sports, but Kerry never allowed herself to be plugged into a mold. It's that unique style that makes her a favorite in interview rooms and to her huge fanbase. On Talk Tennis With Kerry, she presents a great balance of entertainment and information.
Prior to the interview, I knew Kerry from what I had seen in videos and from my limited exposure to tennis. As I admitted to her, I am not a huge fan of tennis, but I always enjoyed her work. I am proof that you don't have to be a tennis nut to enjoy Talk Tennis With Kerry.
In the interview, or chat as she would say, she talked about carving out her own niche in the tennis world, her triumphs and challenges, her favorite interviews and her bucket list of interviews, travel, television, music and more. We talked for 30 minutes and I could have gone on for several hours. It was that much fun and she was so interesting. She made it very easy.
It was a pleasure talking to her and learning more about her. I encourage everyone to watch our interview and then check out her site and her YouTube videos. I hope to do an update interview with Kerry in the future. By then, she'll probably have several new ventures and I look forward to watching her career continue to develop.
Go to TalkTennisWithKerry.com for more info and updates. Also, check GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for all sorts of coverage of women's sports.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #493 McKenna Grace & David Harbour

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebs wearing sports jerseys.

Born in Grapevine, TX, McKenna Grace started acting at the tender age of six. Many of Grace's roles are her paying younger versions of older characters. A vegetarian, Grace has done work for Animal Sanctuary and PETA. Grace threw out a pitch for her homestate Texas Rangers to earn her Celebrity Jersey Card.

 New York native David Harbour started acting on Broadway, before moving to television and movies. His role in Stranger Things earned him a Critics' Choice Television Award in 2018. Horror fans will recognize him from his title role in the 2019 reboot of Hellboy. Harbour tossed a ceremonial pitch for the Rangers and earned his Celebrity Jersey Card.

Life in the WNBA Bubble

During my time in WNBA media sessions from "the Wubble," I have asked players and coaches about travel food and life at the IMG Academy. My article with the interview snippets for Global Traveler is at Life in the WNBA Bubble.
It all started with Jackie Gemelos of the Connecticut Sun. I asked about her favorite Greek food and it started a whole conversation about Greek food, Portillo's and other food choices. I think it tested the patience of the Sun PR person Annette Hogan, but she was very cool in letting it go.
In addition to Gemelos, for the GT article, I used bits of interviews with Las Vegas Aces Coach Bill Laimbeer, Aces players Carolyn Swords and Kayla McBride, Dallas Wings Assistant Coach Bryce Agler and players Bella Alarie and Tyasha Harris, Chicago Sky players Courtney Vandersloot, Kahleah Copper and Diamond DeShields, and Seattle Storm players Jewell Loyd, Connecticut Sun player Natisha Hiedeman.
I got some funny answers and stories, including the Sun's Hiedeman telling her story of "escaping danger" at the beach. Laimbeer got a laugh out of it, while also expressing his disappointment at the WNBA buffet selection.
The shoot-around media sessions are generally looser than pre- and post-game sessions. I always asked these and other non-basketball focused questions for these sessions, saving my more serious stuff for the actual game sessions. Every player or coach has been great with answering questions. All seem to be happy to occasionally discuss things other than basketball. It really is a matter of picking my spots.

Go to WNBA.com for more on the players, teams and league. Check GlobalTravelerUSA.com for my recurring coverage of the WNBA.

On the Beat With Natisha Hiedeman 08/12/20

After wanting to interview Natisha Hiedeman for a long time, I have now interviewed her twice in a couple weeks.

When I last interviewed the WNBA Connecticut Sun's Natisha Hiedeman, the team was 0-3,. Hiedeman averaged 5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and .6 assists in 17 minutes per game. Recently arrived at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, Hiedeman was still trying to find her legs, as she recovered from a late start caused by a positive Covid-19 test, although she was asymptomatic. 

Things have improved for Hiedeman and the Sun since then. In the next seven games, the Sun went 4-3, while Hiedeman saw her minutes increase to 18.5 per game and starting three of those games. Her season averages are now 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and .7 steals per game. She also recently released Rocket, her latest song available on all platforms.

Yesterday morning, I caught up with Hiedeman after a Sun practice. Hiedeman talked about her physical state, her recent song release and another song coming soon, playing with DeWanna Bonner and more. The highlight was probably Hiedeman talking about the Sun's day at the beach.

Being isolated in “the Wubble” can get monotonous. In an effort to break the routine and give the team some fun bonding time away from basketball, the Sun ventured to a nearby beach. Although the beach remained unnamed, it was a private beach and all safety precautions were taken.

Hiedeman became animated as she talked about her time at the beach, including being chased by some sea creature. Utilizing her speed, Hiedeman was able to escape any potential issues. She ran the sea like she runs the court, deftly avoiding and outmaneuvering opponents. Whether they are other WNBA teams or critters in the water, Hiedeman stays one step ahead.

The Sun next play Friday night against the Chicago Sky. The Sun trail the 1st place Sky by three games in the Eastern Conference. With the season nearing the halfway point, the Sun need to start making their move and Hiedeman looks to play a big role in their drive to the playoffs.

Check WNBA.com for more info on the league and teams. Go to GlobalTravelerUSA.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for my coverage of the WNBA and other fun stuff.

Friend Encounters: Sigourney Weaver and Bobby Easley

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

I met Bpbby Easley at Days of the Dead several years ago. I learned a bit about him in my interview at On the Beat With Bobby Easley.

Bobby is an actor, director, producer and more. Multi-talented and versatile, I think Bobby's most complete and best work is The Devil Dogs of Kilo Company. Utilizing the familiar green "army men" plastic toys and the voices of such stars as Kane Hodder and Bill Moseley, this movie is original, unique and highly entertaining.

Not one to rest on his successes, Bobby is constantly in motion, working on new projects. I always look forward to seeing what he is doing.

It always interests me to see which celebrities other celebrities like meeting. Bobby described meeting Sigourney Weaver as "one of the greatest days of my life." That is indeed a strong statement and shows how much he wanted to see the legendary actress.

Judging by Bobby's appearances at conventions, it is obvious he is already gaining a large fan base. I think some day in the future, someone will describe meeting him in the same manner as when he met Weaver.

I can't say meeting Bobby is one of the greatest days of my life, but I always enjoy seeing him and doing an update interview. I don't know how  it started, but somehow I always end the interviews by "punching" Bobby. Last time, I accidentally knocked over his beer. Sorry, Bobby, I owe you one.

Sigourney Weaver and Bobby Easley in Houston, TX-June 2016.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #492 Matthew Modine & Hal Sparks

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys.

California native Matthew Modine rose to prominence in Full Metal Jacket. A noted activist, he heads a pro-bike organization called "Bicycle for a Day" and uses a bicycle for much of his transportation. Modine starred as Hall of Famer Honus Wagner in The Winning Season, a role which found him on a Celebrity Jersey Card.

Born in Cincinnati, OH and transplanted to the Chicago area as a teenager, Hal Sparks has carved a career in entertainment as a actor, comedian, voice actor, musician, host and more. At 17, he won the title of "Chicago's Funniest Teenager" from the Chicago Sun-Times. While at Los Angeles International Airport in 2010, Sparks and another passenger used CPR on an unconscious, elderly man who had collapsed in the airport terminal. The backstory on Hal Sparks appearing on a Celebrity Jersey Card is one of the best. In 2012, the Pirates began using the iconic "Zoltan" hand gesture from Dude, Where's My Car? as a good luck symbol to end a 19-season losing streak. After a Twitter campaign to encourage the "real Zoltan" to appear at a game, Sparks flew to Pittsburgh on July 25, 2012, to throw out the first pitch. The Pirates won that day, beating his hometown Cubs, but the Pirates finished the season 79-83 to extend their streak to 20 seasons.

Squared Circle Expo Update

A lot has changed since my last update on the Squared Circle Expo 2020. Unfortunately, the end result is the postponement of SCE 2020 until 2021.

The SCE was set to debut in Indianapolis, IN in August. Due to the health pandemic, it had already been postponed from the original May date. Becaus ethe health situation is about the same, the organizers of the SCE decided to postpone the debut until 2021.

While I hated to see the event pushed back, it really was the right decision. Whether you believe in the severity of the virus or not, the restrictions imposed would make the convention a lot less fun for everyone. Meeting and taking pictures with wrestlers while everyone is wearing a mask is not quite the experience anyone wants. A wrestler in a wrestling mask as part of the gimmick is a different story. Nobody would mind Glenn Jacobs wearing his Kane mask.

I'm disappointed I won't meet all of the wrestlers scheduled to appear, but I am also sad I won't see so many of my convention friends. "Zubaz" Ed Gonzales is one of those friends, who I'm pretty sure would have been at the event.

Ed is a wrestling fan, semi-retired wrestler and convention regular. I have seen Ed many times at other conventions. It's always fun around Ed and his wife "Hardcore" Heather Owens.

As indicated by his nickname, Ed is the king of Zubaz. I believe Ed would live entirely in Zubaz if he could, although he comes close it seems. I support Ed's goals. I love Zubaz or any such casual pants.

Ed and Heather are also busy hosting the Pop Drunk podcast. The pair discuss everything about Pop Drunk figures, along with occasional (or frequent) drinking. It's an entertaining podcast from two very fun people.

I am already looking forward to SCE 2021. I am sure the organizers will make it even bigger and better than originally planned. It will be even better to see friends like Ed, Heather and so many others!

Check out Ed and Heather on Pop Drunk podcast on YouTube. Also, go to SquaredCircleX for news and updates.

Ed Gonzales and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2017.

Tammy Williams and Missing Chicago Bandits

If I haven't written it enough, I miss softball. One of the players I miss the most is former National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits shortstop Tammy Williams.

A Missouri native, Tammy was a left-handed hitting star shortstop for Northwestern University. A four time All-American, she currently owns the Northwestern Wildcats career records for average, home runs, runs, hits, total bases and slugging. She was selected by the Bandits in the second round of the 2009 NPF draft.

In 2009, with the Bandits, she was named the NPF Rookie of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year. She played for Team USA in 2010 and returned to the Bandits in 2011. All told, she his .314 in 802 career at bats. She had 28 HRs, 119 RBIs and 145 runs scored. 

When I started covering the Bandits in 2014, Tammy was the first player who caught my eye. Together with 3rd baseman Amber Patton, the Bandits left infield was as strong as could be. Tammy was just a smooth fielder. She was just as much fun off the field. I loved our interviews, the first of which can be found at On the Beat With Tammy Williams.

Last season, the Bandits retired her #2 along with Amber Patton's number #12. It was a fitting honor for both women and I was happy to see them again at the Ballpark in Rosemont.

Tammy retired after the 2015 season. She has since relocated to the Indianapolis area where she has embarked on a business career. I am sure she brings the same energy and focus to her new career as she did to the softball diamond.

I have a bunch of great memories with Tammy. The 2915 championship day at the Bandits office was one of the coolest days ever. Tammy brought her dog Ozzie, named after Ozzie Smith, her idol. Notice, she wore #2, not Ozzie's #1, but she explained that in one of our interviews.

I wish Tammy a lot of success in her future. I thank her for so many awesome memories and for her time, consideration and friendship over the years.

Go to ChicagoBandits.com for more info on the team. Also, check the Chicago Bandits on Facebook for more frequent updates.

Tammy Williams and me in Rosemont, IL-Summer 2014.

On the Beat With the Chicago Sky 08/11/20

I was back virtually "On the Beat" with the Chicago Sky from "the Wubble" in Bradenton, FL. Coach James Wade and players Kahleah Copper and Courtney Vandersloot took questions this session. I have already had the pleasure of talking to Coach Wade and Copper, but Vandersloot was new to me this season.

Coach Wade started by talking about the recent announcement of Kamala Harris as the Vice-Presidential candidate. Coach Wade then talked a bit about his haircut, keeping his barber's identity a secret, but assuring all that he is Covid-19 free. Coach Wade was in a much better mood than the last media session I attended, but the sting of questionable ref calls was not forgotten.

Copper talked about the quick turnarounds between games, how it affects her body and whather adjustments have been. A real athlete, Copper takes it in stride for the love of the game.

Vandersloot starred at Gonzaga before being selected by the Sky in the 1st round (3rd overall) in the 2011 WNBA draft. The 2x WNBA All-Star has played her entire career with the Sky. In nine seasons, she has played 271 games, averaging 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals and .4 blocks per game.

Vandersloot talked about the Sky programs within the communities. Like other WNBA teams, the Sky is very involve in social programs and social justice. She also answered my question about things she misses while in the bubble and also the best parts of being in the bubble.

Go to WNBA.com for more info on the league and the players. Also, check Johngy's Beat, GlobalTravelerUSA.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for my recurring coverage.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #491 Carrot Top & Chris Kattan

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys.

Florida born Scott Thompson rose to fame as comedian Carrot Top, a nickname given to him by a local swimming coach. Carrot Top's comedy routine usually involve a trunkload of props. He has also appeared in a few movies. Carrot Top apparently is a fan of Philadelphia teams, as he previously appeared on a Celebrity Jersey card with the Eagles. This Celebrity Jersey Card shows Carrot Top throwing out a pitch for the Phillies.

California native actor and comedian Chris Kattan is a second generation member (following his father)  of The Groundlings, a sketch comedy group in Los Angeles. Kattan was on television's Saturday Night Live from 1996-2003. For his Celebrity Jersey Card, Kattan went all out, wearing a full uniform of the Phillies.

On the Beat With the Chicago Sky 08/06-08/20

Last week, I attended media sessions featuring players Gabby Williams, Azura Stevens, Stella Johnson, Cheyenne Parker and Diamond DeShields. It was a bit of a mixed bag of fun, frustration and regular talk.

This was my second time with Stevens and Parker. You can check previous posts to get more info on their careers.

Stevens talked about recovering from her injury and how she is handling the quick pace of the schedule. Then she told a funny story about a tennis competition with her Sky teammates. Parker continued the fun by sharing a funny story about a surprise birthday for Johnson.

Johnson starred at Rider, before being selected by the Phoenix Mercury in the 3rd round (59th overall) of the 2020 WNBA draft. She did not make the team, but signed with the Sky prior to this season.

Johnson talked about the challenges in transitioning from college to the pro league. She talked about learning from the team veterans and looking forward to getting playing time.

DeShields played her college ball at North Carolina and Tennessee before being selected by the Sky in the 1st round (3rd overall) in the 2018 WNBA draft. In two seasons with the Sky, she has played in 68 games, averaging 15.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

A second generation pro athlete, DeShields is the daughter of former Major League Baseball star Delino and the brother of current star Delino Jr. Diamond joins a handful of WNBA players with relatives in other pro sports.

DeShields talked about coming from a sports family. Then she got a bit reflective discussing missing her sister as she prepares to enter college.

Williams starred at UConn, leading the team to a stunning record of 148-3 record. She was selected by the Sky in the 1st round (4th overall) in the 2018 WNBA draft. In her two seasons with the Sky, she has played 67 games, averaging 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

Williams talked about missing Halle Berry, her cat, not the actress. It was very obvious how much she loves her cat and how much she misses her.

Coach James Ward was also part of one of the sessions, but he was not a happy camper. He was very frustrated with the Sky being on the receiving end of bad calls in Thursday night's game. He said he sent video to the league office and expressed his displeasure. Although a day later, he was still visibly angry and his answers were very short.

After Monday's 89-71 loss to the Seattle Storm, the Sky now stand at 5-3. Still in 1st place, the Sky next face the Phoenix Mercury, who are also 5-3, on Wednesday.
For more info on the league, go to WNBA.com. Check here and GlobalTravelerUSA.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for more coverage.

Friend Encounters: Sting and Kyle Wegner

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Kyle Wegner is a buddy I met on the independent wrestling scene. A huge wrestling fan, he might have met more wrestlers than I have.

He met Sting at Heroes and Legends Wrestling Fan Fest, a great event run by Jayson Maples in Indiana.As you can see, Sting wasn't too happy with Kyle. I know that feeling. We all would like to choke out Kyle.

Actually, Kyle is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Aside from his love of the Packers and Brewers, he s a great guy. I'm sure he got along great with Sting, who gave him the extra fun in their picture.

Had I not already met Sting, I would be really envious of this one. Sting is one of the legends of wrestling and rarely does appearances (although he is doing more lately).

Kyle posts a lot of pictures with wrestlers and other celebrities on social media. He also is known for working the other side of the camera. He offers his photographic services through KJW Photography.

Check the KJW Photography Facebook page to contact Kyle about your photography needs. Go to HeroesandLegendsWrestling.com for all the info on these great events.

Sting and Kyle Wegner in Fort Wayne, IN-November 2019.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #490 Robert Guillaume & Gary Collins

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, we continue our trek alphabetically through Major League Baseball.

A native of Missouri, Robert Guillaume rose to fame on tv's Soap and later Benson, his own sitcom. Later, while appearing on Sports Night, Guillaume suffered a mini-stroke, but recovered and had it written into his part.Guillaume appeared in The Kid From Left Field, as manager Larry Cooper, father of Gary Coleman's character. His role as the Manager of the Padres earned Guillaume his Celebrity Jersey Card.

Born in Mississippi, Gary Collins appeared on dozens of television shows. Eventually, Collins became a host of several shows. He co-starred with the aforementioned Guillaume in The Kid From Left Field. As Pete Sloane, Collins got a big hit in the movie and also earned his Celebrity Jersey Card.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #489 Pat Mahomes & Judge Reinhold

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, we take a short break from our baseball teams, to address a special request.
Faithful reader Brian recently left a comment suggesting I do a Celebrity Jersey Card for Patrick Mahomes and Judge Reinhold. I contacted him asking for the specific pictures and he quickly sent some. I did the cards, but somehow couldn't find them on my pc. Brian was kind enough to resend them and I recreated them.

Patrick Mahomes is the son of former MLB pitcher Pat Mahomes, who had a solid 11 year career pitching for six teams. Patrick is quickly proving to be one of the best QBs in the NFL. Way back in 1995, the Mahomes family gathered on the Minnesota Twins field, presumably on Family Day. At less than a year old, Patrick became one of the youngest (maybe the youngest) to appear on a Celebrity Jersey Card. I wonder if mom Mahomes will want her own Celebrity Jersey Card now.

 Delaware native Judge Reinhold has had a Hall of Fame acting career. Born Edward Ernest Reinhold Jr., he earned his nickname as a baby because he looked "judge-like" and stern. One of his earliest roles was in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. His role expanded his growing fanbase and his Cleveland Indians jersey earned him a Celebrity Jersey Card.

Thanks again to Brian for his support and suggestion. I invite anyone else to send in requests for Celebrity Jersey Cards. I will do my best to get any requests done.

On the Beat With the Seattle Storm 08/03-04/29

In my continuing effort to spread the Johngy's Beat vibe all over the WNBA, I have added the Seattle Storm to my coverage. This week, I sat in on media sessions featuring coach Gary Kloppenburg and players Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Morgan Tuck and Jordin Canada.

Coach Kloppenburg played college ball at UC San Diego and started his coaching career as an assistant with the Seattle Storm in 2000. He had stints with a few WNBA teams, as well as the NBA Charlotte Bobcats, before rejoining the Storm as an assistant in 2017. He was 5-3 as an interim head coach for the Storm in 2017 and was named Head Coach for this season.

A guard at UConn, Sue Bird was selected #1 overall by the Storm in the 2002 WNBA draft. She retired after the 2018 season, but rejoined the Storm this year. In her 16 seasons, she has won three championships, while winning many awards. She has averaged 12.1 points, 5.6 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Bird also had a stint in the front office of the Denver Nuggets, a pioneering role which was my focus in my time with her in the interview.

Guard Loyd went to Niles West High School, about a mile from me. After starring at Notre Dame,, she was selected 1st overall by the Storm in the 2015 WNBA draft. She has played 165 games in five seasons, averaging 14.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Forward Tuck played at UConn, before being selected by the Connecticut Sun in the 1st round (3rd overall) in the 2016 WNBA draft. She joined the Storm this season. In four seasons, she has played 115 games, averaging 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. A special thanks goes to Lorraine of the UConn Huskies Bleed Blue Facebook page for the question suggestion.

Guard Canada starred at UCLA, before she was selected by the Storm with the 5th pick in the 1st round of the 2018 WNBA draft. In her two seasons, she has played 63 games, averaging 7.9 points, 2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

As usual, I covered a few topics. Some of them were even basketball-related.

Check WNBA.com for more info on the league. Also, check Johngy's Beat, GlobalTravelerUSA.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for my recurring coverage.

On the Beat With Coach Bill Laimbeer and the Las Vegas Aces

The Las Vegas Aces beat the Dallas Wings 79-70 on Sunday to improve their record to 2-2. Tonight, the Aces play the Washington Mystics, who are 2-2.

The Aces are coached by former NBA star Bill Laimbeer. A star at Notre Dame, he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 3rd round of the 1979 NBA draft. Laimbeer opted to play in Italy, but returned to play with the Cavs for the 1980-'81 season. After two seasons with the Cavs, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons, with whom he would play 11 seasons, winning two NBA titles and making four All Star teams along the way.

In 2003 he was named coach of the Detroit Shock.He coached eight seasons with the Shock, followed by a return to the NBA as an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 2013, he returned to the WNBA as coach of the New York Liberty. After five seasons, he became head coach of the Las Vegas Aces.

For his WNBA coaching career, his teams have a record of 264-203. His Detroit Shock won three WNBA titles during his reign.

Laimbeer is as blunt as ever, but he also shows his humor at times. I have enjoyed my exchanges with him, despite having reservations going into this experience. With a reputation preceding him, I thought he would be much more gruff, and maybe he is with his team, but I can only judge him by how he has treated me as part of the press.

I asked Laimbeer about the the balance of pushing his team hard in practice with giving them time to recover, his bluntness with the team and his thoughts on the food in the bubble. He gave thoughtful, insightful answers and had a chuckle or two along the way.

Next up was Carolyn Swords, who came out of a brief retirement to return to the Aces this season. After starring at Boston College, Swords was selected by the Chicago Sky in the 2nd round of the 2011 WNBA draft. She played three seasons with the Sky, missed the 2014 season, but returned to play two seasons with the Liberty, followed by one season with the Seattle Storm. In 2018, she joined the Aces. She planned to retire to the front office after last season, but changed her mind and is playing again.

For her career, she has played 232 games over her nine seasons, averaging 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Although a small sample size, she is posting career high numbers so far this season.

I stumped Swordas a bit by asking her about the food situation. Then Burdick jumped in and asked her about playing for Coach Laimbeer. It was a fun exchange.

Burdick played at the University of Tennessee before being selected by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2nd round of the 2015 WNBA draft, but was cut prior to the season. She signed with the Atlanta Dream and played two seasons with the team. She split 2017 between the Liberty and the Aces, also playing 2018 with the Aces. She was just signed by the Aces, reuniting her with Laimbeer, with whom she has a love-hate relationship. For her WNBA career, she has played 29 games, averaging 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.

Burdick's grandfather played tackle three seasons in the NFL with with the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Reds 1931-33. He was killed in a train crash in 1945.

I asked Burdick about her decision to return to play in the bubble. She gave a very reflective answer.

Go to WNBA.com for more info on the league. Also check back here, as well as GlobalTravelerUSA.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for recurring coverage.

On the Beat With the Chicago Sky 08/03-04/20

After beating the Dallas Wings 82-79 last night, the Chicago Sky stand at 4-1. That's good for 1st place in the Eastern Conference of the WNBA. On Thursday, the Sky play the Phoenix Mercury, who are 3-2.
I sat in on two recent Sky Zoom media sessions this week. Coach James Wade and players Azura Stevens, Kahleah Copper, Sydney Colson and Cheyenne Parker took turns meeting the press.
Coach "Coco" Wade played college ball at Middle Tennessee, Chattanooga State C.C.and Kennesaw State, but went undrafted by the NBA. He played 13 years professionally overseas and started coaching as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs in 2012. He became an assistant with the WNBA Minnesota Lynx in 2017 and was named head coach of the Sky in 2019, leading them to a record of 20-14..
Forward Stevens played at UConn, before being selected by the Dallas Wings in the 1st round (6th overall) in the 2018 WNBA draft. After two seasons with the Wings, the second of which was shortened by foot surgery,, she was traded to the Sky. For her career, she has played 43 games, averaging 8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Forward Parker played college ball at High Point and Middle Tennessee, before being selected in the 1st round (5th overall) of the 2015 WNBA draft. In five seasons with the Sky, she has played 146 games, averaging 6.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Guard Colson played for Texas A&M before being selected by the Connecticut Sun in the 2nd round of the 2011 WNBA draft. She was traded to the New York Liberty before the season. After one season with the Liberty, she did not play in the WNBA until 2015, when she signed with the San Antonio Stars. She played three seasons with the Stars, followed by a season with the Las Vegas Aces and one with the Lynx, before joining the Sky this season. For her career, she has played 148 games, averaging 3.5 points, 2.1 assists and 1 rebound per game.
Guard-forward Copper played for Rutgers, before being selected by the Washington Mystics in the 1st round (7th overall) in the 2016 WNBA draft. She played one season with the Mystics before being traded to the Sky as part of the Elena Delle Donne trade. For her career, in four seasons, she has played 131 games, averaging 6.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
Go to WNBA.com for more info n the league. Also, go to GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for more coverage of the WNBA and all women's sports.

On the Beat With the Dallas Wings 08/01/20

The WNBA Dallas Wings stand at 2-2 after losing to the Las Vegas Aces 79-70.Sunday. They face the Chicago Sky tonight.
After Saturday's practice, the Wings held a media session featuring Assistant Coach Bryce Agler and players Tyasha Harris and Bella Alarie. 

My food question to the Connecticut Sun's Jacki Gemelos went so well, I decided to make continue it for a full story online for Global Traveler. The answers were not quite as entertaining as Gemelos gave me, but they were still interesting and I think they enjoyed the change of pace from the usual basketball questions.

Go to WNBA.com for more info on the league and all teams. Check Johngy's Beat, GlobalTravelerUSA.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for my recurring WNBA coverage.

Friend Encounters: Stan Lee and Sara Richard

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

There aren't many people who are more famous in comics and art than my friend Sara Richard, but I found a pic of her with perhaps the most famous. This is sort of like Babe Ruth meeting Ted Williams (I picked Williams for his skills and his Massachusetts ties, much like Sara).

Several years ago at Heroes Convention, both Lee and Sara were celebrity guests. At some point during the weekend, this historic event occurred. The best of the old school and all time meets one of the best of the modern era.

Lee hugged Sara, making her day. For an artist like Sara, meeting a comic legend has to be  amazing. Lee wasn't the first comics creator, but he certainly made tremendous breakthroughs in the comic field. He is thought of as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT).

I especially love this pic, because it obviously wasn't posed and it definitely shows the pure joy in Sara's face. I know how much this meant to Sara and how excited she was. I also know she deserves any recognition she gets.

Sara is a veteran of the comics and art scene, but she is still young. As he career develops, I have no doubt her legacy will grow. Plus, she is just super cool.

Go to SaraRichard.com for more info and art. Also, follow The Art of Sara Richard on Facebook for updates, art and other fun stuff.

Stan Lee and Sara Richard in Charlotte, NC-June 2012.

On the Beat With the Dallas Wings 07/30/20

The Dallas Wings stand at 2-1 after beating the Indiana Fever 76-73 on Friday night. Next up for the Wings are the Las Vegas Aces, who are 1-2.
The media session from 07/30/20 featured Assistant Coach Crystal Robinson and players Megan Gustafson and Bella Alarie. Coach Robinson discussed practices in the bubble versus regular practices. Gustafson talked about having her jersey number retired by the University of Iowa. Alarie talked about scoring her first WNBA points.

Coach Robinson played college ball at Southeastern Oklahoma State, before being selected by the New York Liberty in the first round (6th overall) in the 1999 WNBA draft. She played seven seasons with the Liberty and two more with the Washington Mystics before retiring after the 2007 season. All told, she played 245 games and averaged 10.2 points, 2 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.7 rebound per game.

She began her coaching career as an assistant with the Mystics in 2007. After a few coaching stops in high school and college, Robinson returned to the WNBA as an assistant with the Seattle Storm in 2018. She joined the Wings last season as an assistant to coach Brian Agler.

Gustafson had a stellar career with the Iowa Hawkeyes, including winning the Nasmith Player fo the Year and the AP Player of the Year in 2019. Her #10 jersey was retired by Iowa earlier this year.

She was selected by the Wings in the second round of the 2019 WNBA draft. Although she was released prior to the season, she resigned with the team in June 2019. She saw action in 25 games and averaged 2.9 points per game. 

This was my second media session with Alarie. We're old friends now, but I resisted the urge to ask her more questions about her father Mark, a former NBA player. My friends know I am fascinated by family connections, especially generational family connections, but I kept that in check and focused on her.

Go to WNBA.com for more info on the league and all teams. Check Johngy's Beat, GlobalTravelerUSA.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for my recurring WNBA coverage.

On the Beat With Natisha Hiedeman

I have followed Natisha Hiedeman's career from her time with Marquette. Based in Chicago, I covered the DePaul women's basketball team, but also occasionally made the trek north to watch the Golden Gophers. Now, I get to cover Hiedeman in the WNBA.

Nicknamed Tee as long as she can remember, Hiedeman said the “Spoon” was added when her family saw that she was going to be a baller. The “Spoon” is a nod to the legendary Teresa Weatherspoon, who played 10 seasons in the WNBA during her Hall of Fame career.

Hiedeman was a star basketball player at Green Bay Southwest High School. She was the Green Bay metro area's leading scorer with 1,773 points, averaging 25.6 points per game as a senior.

Hiedeman's athletic prowess was not limited to the basketball court, though. She was a multi-sport athlete who was a nine-time WIAA state qualifier in track and field, won the state triple jump title in 2014, and qualified for the state tournament in tennis during her senior season. Basketball was her passion however, and she chose to continue her court career at Marquette.

At Marquette, Hiedeman started 125 games and played in 130 over her four season, averaging 32.1 minutes per game. She shot 41.3% from the field, 35.8% from three point territory and 70.2% from the free throw line. She had 110 offensive rebounds and 511 defensive boards, averaging 4.8 total per game. She also averaged 3.5 assists per game, while having 52 total blocks and 245 steals in her career. Hiedeman scored 1913 points for a 14.3 points per game average. Her career highs were 34 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, three blocks and seven steals.

The Minnesota Lynx selected Hiedeman with the eighteenth overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft. Hiedeman was the highest draft pick of any Marquette basketball player in school history and the highest for the Big East Conference since conference re-alignment. This started a bit of a whirlwind for Hiedeman. The Lynx immediately traded her to the Connecticut Sun, who eventually waived her prior to the start of the season. The Atlanta Dream signed her in June, but she did not appear in any games before being waived. The Sun resigned Hiedeman and she stayed with the team for the rest of the season. 

For the Sun, Hiedeman played 20 games, averaging 10.3 minutes per game. She also averaged 1.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .4 steals and 3.7 points per game. This season in her first two games, her numbers are up across the board. While it is still early, it's a good sign of things to come.

I have been a fan of Hiedeman since her Marquette days. While I covered the DePaul Blue Demons regularly, I occasionally ventured north to see the Golden Eagles. Hiedeman is such an exciting player. I once saw her hit about 15 straight shots from the corner in pre-game warmups. It was quite a display, but not a rare occurrence. Hiedeman always could shoot.

In the pro league, she admits, she is a bit undersized, but smaller players have succeeded. In the interview below, she talks about the transition to the pro leagues, as well as her focus in training to be ready for the WNBA's bigger, stronger players. I also asked her about meeting her namesake Weatherspoon. Lastly, Hiedeman mentioned her newest music to be released tomorrow (August 2) on all platforms.

I thank Hiedeman for her time and consideration. I thank the WNBA and the Sun organization for this opportunity.

Check WNBA.com for news on the league. Also go to GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for my recurring coverage of the WNBA and other great news about women in sports.