"WE ARE WOMEN TOO"

Hello everybody!

Today's post is a new project that I have never done before. I created a podcast about women's sports and media coverage. This is a story of a lifetime battle for women in sports to reach the same treatment than men. In addition, this story is interesting because is an example of hope, dedication and fight for women's rights throughout the years. Even though female athletes are having a very unfair situation compared to men in sports, they are still doing what they love and trying to overcome those situations. I hope you enjoy it and give me some feedback. Here is the link, please listen and share!

It is worth your time!!

https://soundcloud.com/elena-de-alfredo/we-are-women-too-final


THANK YOU! 

Cassidy, the girl that never lost her smile

Cassidy with her old school Hartford University

Cassidy, a sophomore basketball player at the University of Tampa, transferred from Hartford University, a DI program in the American East Conference (AEC). 

Cassidy's childhood was not easy, but her positivism and her smile never disappeared. This 19-year-old girl is an example of behaviour, and example of what means to be a true friend, and an example maturity. You cannot miss her Q&A interview!

ATHLETES ARE US: How were your childhood and the relation with your family?

CASSIDY BUNDY: Some people would consider my childhood to be really hard – My mother was a drug addict and my father was a drug dealer. But, my family loved it so it made seem okay. We always loved each other. I’m the youngest of five and all of my brothers and sisters made it their duty to make sure I was taken care off even if my parents couldn’t take care of us. And when my parents weren’t around my grandmother who battled breast cancer my whole did what she had to do to make sure we were all okay.

A: What are the best moments that you remember from it? What about the worst moments?

C: My best moments would be with my dad. I love him so much. When I was 5 he and my mom got divorced but for a while we all still lived with him and it seems like every time I saw his face my heart would go calm. He was always so comforting. The worst moment was when my dad was on the verge of getting arrested again so we had to move in with our mom. I’m a big daddies girl and didn’t him to have to leave. And I knew living with my mom would be so different because she was the bad cop and my dad was the good cop. And when we moved in with her at times it was awful – I wouldn’t see her for a few days because she would be high in her room. It wasn’t always bad with my mom because she did take care of us and love us whole-heartedly, but some of my worst times came when I was living under her roof.

A: Who was your mentor/hero/example that helped you grow as a person?

C: My sister Symone, she’s 4 years older than me, we’re the closest in age. She taught me how to be light, happy, positive. She worked hard with everything. She was such a hard worker from such a young agae, I remember her bringing me with her while she walked 5 neighborhood dogs by herself and the age of ten or going door to door collecting canned goods for charity around the city in sixth grade. She should me how to be a genuine good person. She still,  to this day, is my hero. I appreciate everything she does.

A: How did you overcome the difficulties and how did you learn from them?

C: I overcame my difficulties by remaining positive. It wasn’t by myself; my family helped me a lot. They always kept my head up above water when I was about to drown. I learned that I could do that too; I can help those who are drowning with the strength I’ve acquired through my experience.

A: What is the best compliment that someone gave you? And the worse one?

B: The best compliment I’ve received actually came in the form of a question – “Why are you so nice? Like genuinely nice?” I like that people see that I’m a good person because that’s what I am at the core, and not for any other reason. The worst compliment I’ve gotten is “You’re pretty for a tall girl” My height has nothing to do with my beauty, I think its such a shallow thing to say. Which is why I started a website, www.talllgirlworld.com, with my sister to bring tall women around the world together for empowerment!

A: When did you start to play basketball?

C: I started playing when I was about eleven years old. It’s funny the first time I tried out for a team, it was my uncle’s team and I didn’t even make it!!

A: Did you play any other sports until you decide to dedicate your life to basketball?   

C: No.

A: What are the difficulties you have to overcome?

C: The biggest difficulty I face right now is the guilt I live with knowing I moved away from home and left my family in Connecticut and my father is in prison in New York. It’s hard for me to think about not being able to get on the train and visit my father. I hate it. I feel an internal conflict because I know I need to be in school right now, but I have to sacrifice my family.

A: What is your best memory playing basketball? What about the worst memory?

C: It’s hard to name just one good memory. Collectively though, I would say that spending time with my teammates creates the greatest memories. I spend a lot of time with these girls everyday; we left our family’s to play ball and we formed a new family with each other. We hang a lot and just joke laugh and cry but I love those simply things – I appreciate those times.

A: What is the best part about being a college athlete? And the worst?

C: The best part is being able to play ball and get paid for it through tuition. I probably wouldn’t have made it to college if I weren’t an athlete. The worst part is missing out in class. We travel a lot and sometimes that sets me back in the classroom.

        

A: Where would you like to be in the future?

C: I often times have a hard time looking into the future. So many things have shifted in the past few years and my life has taken a whole new direction and I’m sure it will continue to do that. However, I do know that I will be happy. And I will make other people happy. Learning from my past I’ve realized that, too me, negative energy is obsolete, unnecessary.  I want to generate positivity, love and happiness in myself so I can project it out to those who need it. That’s all I know about the future.

Jenny Horvatinovic, a true basketball lover

Jenny's roster picture via tampaspartans.com

Jenny Horvatinovic is a junior basketball player at the University of Tampa, majoring in Management Information Systems. Transferring from Monmouth University, a Division I program in the MAAC Conference, Jenny decided to come to Tampa in order to have two more years of eligibility to play basketball. I had the pleasure to interview her, and I would like to share it with you. 

ATHLETES R US: How were your childhood and the relation with your family?

JENNY: My childhood was great. I was the baby of the family; my sister is 3 years older than me, and my brother is 5 years older. My cousins live right down the street, so we ended up playing with them a lot when we were younger. We also had a lot of family dinners and holidays at my grandma’s house. For the holidays we had different things like Easter egg hunts and recently started doing a Secret Santa within our family. My brother and sister played a lot outside, and I probably tried to constantly tag along with them even though I was a few years younger. We always went and still go on a family vacation to Connecticut to visit my mom’s side of the family. My grandparents live on the Long Island Sound, so we always got to enjoy the beach when we went there. We usually spent the Fourth of July there and watched the fireworks along the water.

A: What are the best moments that you remember from it? What about the worst moments?

J: Now that I’m older I realize that all the times that my family and I got to be together are the best times of my childhood. When you get older it’s harder to get everybody together at the same time, so I really appreciate all the times that happens now. Christmas time and Thanksgiving are probably my best memories. My parents always made it the best they possibly could and my siblings and I were very fortunate for that.

A: Who was your mentor/hero/example that helped you grow as a person?

J: When I was younger I didn’t really understand how intelligent and influential my parents were on me and my brother and sister. I think a lot of people shape who you are and help you grow personally, but my mom and dad are the two most influential people. I can’t even begin to explain the things they have done for me. Both of them went above and beyond their maternal and paternal responsibilities for my siblings and myself. My brother was probably the closest thing I had to a ‘hero’ because he played basketball and as much as I hated him for always beating me, he had a big influence on me. My sister had much more of an impact on me than I usually admit or realize. I think it takes time to truly understand the sacrifices your family makes for you.

A: What are some experiences that helped you to be the person you are now?

J: Switching high schools as a sophomore and transferring from Monmouth after my sophomore year are probably some of the biggest experiences that helped me become who I am today. In high school I was so scared to change schools, but it did something for me that I will cherish forever. Moving in with my grandma was one of the best things that I could’ve done. The time I got to spend with her and the bond we have is something I’m forever grateful for. Transferring in college was a big experience for me because I had to learn to do something that was best for me personally and find happiness in my own decisions and actions. 

A: How did you overcome the difficulties and how did you learn from them?

J: My teammates and family have helped me immensely in overcoming just about every obstacle I’ve encountered. I am very close to my parents and really value their opinion and advice in any situation. My teammates are the same way. I’ve met people that truly care about what’s best for me, and that’s one of the hardest things to find in this world.

A: What is the best compliment that someone gave you?

J: My dad said the best compliment someone can give you is to say that they hope their children grow up to be like you.

A: Where would you like to be on the future?

J: I’d like to be with people that make me happy, doing what I love (playing basketball) and living just outside of a big city.

A: When did you start to play basketball? 

J: I started playing basketball when I was in second grade. I think I was seven.

A: Did you play any other sports until you decide to dedicate your life to basketball?

J: I played co-ed soccer when I was very young, but hated it.

A: What are the difficulties you have to overcome?

J: Injuries are probably the biggest obstacle. I was out for about 7 months as a freshman in high school with a fracture in my foot that ended up in removing the bone in a surgery about 6 months in. I still wear orthotics from that injury and am reminded of it just about every day, but I’ve gotten used to the pain and it’s just normal now. I also had a stress fracture in that same foot this past season, and that was very mentally taxing. Outside of injuries, staying confident and positive is the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with in basketball. Not being too hard on myself has always been something I’ve had to over come.

A: What is your best memory playing basketball? What about the worst memory?

J: My best memory is winning the County Championship as a junior in high school. We tied the largest win margin in County history. Our student section dressed up in prom attire and they were amazing. It was also my coach’s 400^th win. That was a really special night. My worst memory playing is the last game of my junior year in states. By far the saddest I’ve been about a game or season ending.

A: What is the best part about being a college athlete? What about the worst part?

J: The best part is the feeling of being a part of any success your team has. College is great when you’re not an athlete, but I really think it’s even better when you are on a team. The worst part is constantly having to study for tests as opposed to feeling like you’re actually learning for life/the future. I have some great professors, but I don’t like the feeling of just studying for test material instead of what is going to be the most helpful in the future.

A: How do you manage your time in order to be on top of your basketball career and your student life?
J: I don’t even realize how I manage it because it’s so second nature to me. I have been playing my whole life and always had to juggle different priorities and schoolwork. I try not to procrastinate, but I still do sometimes. I just always try to think about when I’m realistically going to be motivated to get my work done and plan a few days to a week in advance.   

MOST COMMON BASKETBALL INJURIES

Injuries in basketball are definitely the worst nightmare for athletes. I am very concerned of what it should be done to prevent injuries because that could change your entire career and your future. I found a study by Borowski in 2008 in the American Journal of Sports Medicine on high school basketball players, which looked at 100 high schools in the seasons 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. This study shows injury statistics of basketball players in high school.  

                     MOST COMMON INJURIES:

COMMON GAME INJURIES:

COMMON PRACTICE INJURIES: 

(via http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sportsdoc/Statistics-on-common-basketball-injuries.html) 

The reason why I chose to search about this topic is because more than one time, athletes do not focus on the resting period or they are not aware of the importance of injuries. Resting when you should, eating habits and stretching are just some of the keys athletes have to follow to not have to worry about this issue. 

I hope this information helps for the awareness of basketball players in order to be healthy. Remember, better be safe than sorry! 

DIAMOND DOUGLAS, A TRUE WARRIOR THAT NEVER GAVE UP ON HER DREAMS

March 19, 1997, a little girl named Diamond Douglas was born in Washington DC. Looking at me, Diamond narrates her own story, a story of a girl that had to become an adult when she still was a child. A story of a strong female college athlete that learnt how to face heartless situations in her life, but made her become the person she is today.

“Few months after I was born, my mom and dad moved to Fort Washington, but once they split up, my mom moved to Forestville and I lived with her until I was in seventh grade”, Diamond explains. She looked down and rubbed her hands, like navigating back in time and remembering those moments.

Not long after moving in with her mom, Diamond left her house because they did not get along. That is why, she decided to live with her dad, and since then, they became inseparables. “I love him,” she said with a big smile on her face. “He is my hero and he makes me want to be a better person, he makes me want to be like him.” This true love between a father and a daughter helped Diamond to overcome life adversities. “I have always felt unconditional love for my dad, when I did not get it from my mom, he gave me two times as much as I needed.” Also, Diamond's stepmother has been one of the main supporters through all her hard times. "She is a role model for me and I love her so much," Diamond said. "She helped to make me into the person I am today."
However, her dad and stepmother are not the only ones that she unconditionally loves. Her mother also played an important roll in her life. "I really love my mom," she said. "In order for our relationship to be as great as it is now, I had to leave her house, we have grown closer now that I am an adult."

Diamond used and still uses her faith in God to overcome tough situations in her life. “I am very religious, most of people do not know that about me”, she explained. “I talk to God all the time, having that relationship with him is very important, because when I am going through things and I talk to him, I feel so much better.” Also, she used her communication with her family in order to go solve rough situations during her childhood until now. For her and her family,  talking about their problems is imperative to find the right solutions.  

Learn more about her life experiences outside basketball and check this video out!!

Diamond is a freshman basketball player at the University of Tampa in Florida, majoring in cyber security. Basketball has been for her, another way to scape from reality. As she explained, her father encouraged her to pursue her dreams which included, being a college athlete.  Diamond explains that being a college athlete is great, but it has also its bad things. She mentioned how being a college athlete is tough: “we not only have to excel in our sport; we also have to be success in the classroom because the ultimate goal is to get a degree.”

As a freshman, Diamond had her first experience as a student and athlete at the University of Tampa this year. Diamond's experience taught her that the most important things are to keep in mind are adapting and learning your surroundings. “You are in a totally different place, you do not know anyone at all,” she said. In her case, Diamond came by herself to a new state, Florida, and by socializing with her teammates and people in campus, she built her own family in Tampa. One of the most important advices that Diamond emphasised is that , “you have to learn your study habits, use the first semester to learn hoe are you going to be in your own, because your parents are not going to be there.”

Learn more about her student-athlete experience and check this video out!

I hope you guys enjoyed this amazing story! Stay connected because more incredible stories are coming!! 

THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING

One of the most important situations for an athlete is when the High School period ends and it comes the moment to pick the University they want to play for. This is a crucial moment for an athlete's career because that choice will dictate the student-athlete's present and future for the following four or five years.

This is the reason why is imperative that when the period of visiting schools and then choosing which one relates to you the most, athletes must have clearly in mind what are they looking for. However, here it comes the controversy. How do we know as athletes what do we want? What are the things we should ask? How do we have to look for and how do we have to act?

In order to respond to those questions, these are the things that those future college athletes must have in mind when it comes to choose the school they want play for:

5. Get the feel from the coaches: 

Coches are crucial for your development as a player and as a person. It is very important to get to know them and try to see beyond the surface when talking to them. Asking direct questions like: what do they expect from you? What position am I going to play? How are the practices? What are your standards as a coach with the players? If there is insurance covered by the scholarship they are offering you, etc. Those questions are important. However, you never know what is the truth. That is why, it is important to ask for film as well as asking for the style of playing and how is the dynamic in practices. Those questions are strongly related to the next idea that I am going to explain in the following point.

4. Get the feel from the players:

This step is very important because the players are going to be the ones that you are going to share experiences with. They are also the ones that are going to spend the majority of time with you, so they are probably one of the most important that you have to pay attention too. By the time you are on the visit, ask the players questions about the coaches and the dynamics of the team to see if they are the same as what the coach said. They are usually the most honest when it comes to controversial questions.

3. Pay attention to the campus and the surroundings: 

Being a college student-athlete is more than what the title entails. There are times where an athlete needs time for himself/herself. One of the premises in order to be a great athlete is the work ethic and the hours that you are willing to put to get better. Nevertheless, it is also important to understand that there are times that you need to disconnect from that life and rest. That is why is important to see how big is the campus, if you prefer a big one or a small one. Also, where the University is located, the weather, if it is placed in a dangerous zone or a safe one, if going from building to build is walking distance or not, etc...

2. Student comes first:

Playing a sport is a blessing and it is something that not everybody can do. Athletes are already special for doing what they do and for being capable of committing to a team and also committing to be a great student. That is why, is important to ask for the academic side of the school. It does not matter if you do not really know what your major is going to be, but getting to know what is the school known for and searching for information for the academic side will help you to make the decision.

1. Set a goal and stick to it:

In my opinion, this is the most important point from the 5 that I explained. If you have a goal in life, no matter what it is, you will always know what you have to do. You have to love what you do, and also know what are you willing to do to accomplish it. This is the philosophy that successful people always carry wherever they go. Finding out what really drives you and what you really like is the key to know where you belong. If for some reason you make a mistake in your choice, do not stress about it because there are always second chances in life. Everything happens for a reason, and when a door closes is because there is another one waiting for you.

I hope y'all enjoyed this week's post! Can't wait to get in touch with you next week! :)