When I Grow Up...

After graduating from college I was faced with the scary reality that it was time to get a job. Unsure of which direction or even which country I wanted to work in, I decided to put my career goals on hold and follow my heart – which has obviously led me to Europe. I don’t plan on playing basketball professionally for the rest of my life, but believe I will play 1-2 more years after this season is complete. With my season winding down I’ve been thinking about employment. Where do I want to work? What do I want to do? What kind of position am I looking for?

Entering university as a freshman I knew right away I wanted to major in Communications and Media. I’ve always had a passion for sports and loved the idea of reporting results while sharing my opinions, feeling and thoughts on competitions. I felt a Communication degree would lead me in the right direction to become a sports reporter/personality. I had always looked up to people like Michelle TaFoya, Doris Burke and most recently, Elise Woodward. I loved listening to these educated women on major television/radio networks discussing and analyzing basketball and football – not just women’s but men’s (NBA, NFL, NCAA and Olympics, etc.) Meeting Ann Meyers in Nashville put me over the top and I knew this was the career path I wanted to follow.

My degree helped, but it was more about the people and contacts I had made as a basketball player at the UW that helped land me jobs in this field. I always made time to chat with Steve Sandmeyer and Elise (UW women’s basketball radio broadcasters). They are great people who have become friends of mine. I’ve learned a lot from these two and respect them greatly. Elise Woodward is someone I truly admire. In my opinion, she has one of the best jobs in Seattle sports and deserves it. This is one hard working woman who knows her stuff.

In the spring 2007 I worked as a talent intern at Fox Sports Northwest where I interviewed pro athletes and coaches, worked on my on camera persona and learned how to speak to the audience rather than the camera. After finishing up at Fox, I accepted a summer job as a paid intern at Sports Radio 950 KJR. I thought my future was in TV, however after working at KJR I found that my passion lies in radio. I realized being behind a microphone instead of in front of a camera was more appealing. The radio atmosphere is fun, laid back and real. With radio you’re able to have a conversation with someone and don’t really have to deal with interviewees who are concerned about the way they look or what they sound like on television.

As my season comes to a close (2 more weeks!), I’m starting the job hunt. Ideally, I’d love to land back in Seattle working in something to do with sports/radio/marketing/PR, but being Canadian makes that very difficult. Not only will I have to apply for special visas, but a company has to be willing to take me on and sponsor me in a certain sector – it’s all very tedious and stupid. I live only 2 hours from Seattle!!! Hopefully something will work out. I love Seattle and the people I’ve developed relationships with there. Many of my close friends reside in the great state of Washington. If I am unsuccessful in receiving a visa and employment, it will back to Vancouver. This is not a bad thing, but being at home doesn’t provide me with many of the resources I need to train for next season. Plus I’ll be missing my wonderful friends. Any Seattleites out there want to hire an outgoing, hard-working, determined, UW alum? I’m open for suggestions and won’t disappoint!

-BW

Kokkola

With 1.5 days off last week and not having enough time to make a trip to another country, my Finnish teammate Piia invited Liz and I to spend Sunday and Monday in her hometown of Kokkola. The idea of getting out of Jyväskylä for a couple of days sounded appetizing, so we took her up on the offer and headed to Kokkola. This small town (36,000+ people) sits on the Gulf of Bothnia, 3 hours northwest of Jyväskylä.

After enjoying the sunny scenic view from the back of Piia’s car, we finally arrived at her sister’s house where we would be staying the night. Piia’s sister, her husband and adorable nephew welcomed us with open arms. Even though they spoke very little English, they made us feel at home and insisted upon cooking a traditional Finnish lunch. Hungry and tired from the drive we didn’t argue and plopped on the couch to watch Ratatouille with Piia’s 5-year-old nephew Veeti. He is so cute! Watching TV with the wood fire burning and the smell of food in the air, I realized how much I missed being in a house. I’ve been living in an apartment ever since arriving here at the end of October. This isn't a bad thing, but I was starting to go stir-crazy! I hadn’t spent time in a house since being home for Christmas and it was definitely a nice change.

Lunch was fantastic – Finnish meatballs, mashed potatoes, fresh bread, meats and cheeses. I was definitely refueled and ready to explore the small town of Kokkola. Thanking her sister for a delicious lunch, we jumped into Piia’s car ready for our adventure. She drove us around the city acting as a tour guide while giving us a running history on the small town. It’s one of the oldest in Finland, used to be a part of Sweden, is a big vacation spot in the summer, is known for it’s tar trade and is one of the few towns in Finland where signs are in both Finnish and Swedish. The city is bilingual with 20% of the people speaking Swedish as their first language. After shopping downtown, we headed for the beaches…well, beaches during the summer months! It was great to look out on the ocean and breathe in the ocean air. As soon as we entered Kokkola I could feel a difference. Being a west coast girl and living by the ocean all my life, I welcomed the crisp moistness of sea air. I love it and definitely missed it. However, the ocean looked a little different than what I’m used to. Have you ever seen an ocean frozen as far as you can see? I have and it’s surreal. The water was completely frozen. No crashing waves or visible whitecaps – I literally walked on water! Piia said that as a teenager her and her friends would take their cars out and have races on the frozen ocean…um, even though it’s frozen and freezing, you would never catch me doing that! We spotted land in the distance and Liz and I joked we could see the Swedish coast. It became the running theme of the weekend. Surprisingly we weren’t that far off. Separated by water, Sweden is only 100 kms from Kokkola.As our tour came to an end, it was time to visit Piia’s dad before dinner. Driving far into the forest, I was beginning to wonder if Piia was trying to kidnap us! After 20 minutes on a dark secluded road, we finally arrived at his home deep in the woods. Built on 300+ acres this was definitely a place you could call home. Quite the charmer, Piia’s dad and wife made a fuss to make sure we felt at home. They brought out food while we discussed hockey, Vancouver and Montreal – all while in front of a warm and fragrant wood-burning fireplace. After chatting and getting to know one another better, it was time to leave for dinner. Piia’s dad insisted on showing us the huge backyard before we departed. Trekking through the snow, we finally got a sense of his acreage even though it was pitch black out. He explained how he chops his own wood and enjoys the isolation in his home away from town; then educated us on moose which he sees on a daily basis in the backyard. Apparently they are abundant in Finland and cause over 100 deaths each year (hitting them with a car). These large animals weight up to 1100 pounds and are hunted for game in Finland. I really wanted to see one during my trip to Kokkola, but no matter how hard I looked, I wasn’t successful.

(Click play to watch the video above!)

We thanked Piia’s dad and wife for their hospitality and were off to dinner. Since all I ever talk about is how I miss Mexican food, Piia had just the place – a Mexican restaurant, the first I’ve seen in Finland! The restaurant was hilarious, not only did it have a Mexican theme, but a Native Indian theme as well. It was bizarre. There were Mexican blankets, sombreros and cacti integrated with Native Indian headdresses, spears, buffalo and teepees. Hmmm...nevertheless, my fajitas were great and my craving was fullfiled.

Stuffed from dinner, we decided to walk around the “old town” that was built during the 17th century. It was cool looking at the historical buildings and wandering down the narrow streets. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any good pictures as it was dark, snowing and my hands were frozen! After losing all feeling in our faces we headed back to Piia’s sisters. As I lay down in bed I found that I truly enjoyed my visit to Kokkola. Piia’s family are great people who went out of their way to make sure we felt welcome and had a good time. Even with a language barrier we were able to converse and share stories of home. What a great weekend, one that allowed me to explore and experience a different part of Finland.

-BW

Sidenote: If you’d like to see videos I’ve recorded in Finland click here. Be sure to view Finnish weather!

Heroes – They’re All Around Us

In my last post I talked about heroes and the people I looked up to as a young girl. Like my appearance over the years, my heroes too have changed. I no longer idolize college basketball stars or Olympic athletes (read: Marion Jones before I found out she took performance enhancing drugs) but still hold high admiration for Steve Nash, Michael Jordan and Annika Sorenstam. Though these pro athletes have helped me dream and set goals, I’ve realized it’s my family and friends who truly inspire me. These are the people I consider my heroes. In one way or another they all have helped me become a better person. I’m so thankful for my supportive family and great friends. Unlike Michael Jordan and Steve Nash, these are the people that are there for me, the people I can talk to and who can offer advice. They’ve helped me set goals and allowed me to realize what I am capable of. You might not see them in Sports Illustrated, gossiped about in US Weekly, or talked about on TV, but they are awesome people who are doing and going to do great things.

People like Amy Taylor who after graduating with a degree in Physical Education and playing a season of pro basketball decided it was time to give back. She will be starting nursing school at the University of Rochester in May. Amy is going to be a great nurse because she’s a great person. Right now she’s coaching high school girls basketball, which she will continue when she’s a RN. Amy’s someone who taught me not to sweat the small stuff. She’s outgoing and has a positive outlook on life.

Kayla Burt was the first person to make me feel welcome at UW. I was a freshman who didn’t know anyone and she was a cool upperclassman well known to the public around Seattle. She invited me out with her friends, picked me up from the dorms and was willing to lend an ear when I needed to vent about college stresses. Since that day she’s been a great friend who I still remain close to. Kayla taught me perseverance – something she oozes with. This is someone who had cardiac arrest as a sophomore the night before a basketball practice. Someone who after a year of enduring tests, being poked with needles and having a defibrillator inserted into her chest returned to the basketball court and played once again in the purple and gold. Currently Kayla is the assistant coach at the University of Portland and plans on becoming an EMT when she’s done coaching.

I lived with Kelly McDonald for 2 years while attending the UW. It wasn’t until our second year in the 5556 that I realized she was actually really cool. I don’t know what took us so long to click (maybe it’s the fact she’s 5’1 ☺) but I’m glad we did. I consider Kelly one of my best friends. I mean, I’m practically part of the McDonald family! Kelly taught me how to be spontaneous and how to make any situation fun. Kelly’s a clown…but for real, she’s an acrobat/performer for Franco Dragone’s Le Rêve at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. Go check it out, you won’t be disappointed!

Holly Robertson is good people. While she probably knows more about me than she needs to, she’s been a constant friend over the years. We met in 2003 while on the National Team and have been close ever since. Though we don’t see each other a lot (she’s from Cochrane, Alberta and went to Brown in R.I.) our communication has weathered the storm and we’ve kept in great touch. Holly is extremely intelligent (graduated in Biology/pre-med from an Ivy League school – hello!) and is someone who keeps me humble and in line. She’s currently playing basketball in Germany after playing 2 seasons in Italy.

Brian Bauer is someone you can feel comfortable with. Whether I’m covered in sweat from a long workout or dressed to impress, Brian has never made me feel out of place. He’s a great guy, someone I’m thankful to have in my life. He pushes me and is the only reason I run the outside of Greenlake rather than the inside loop ☺! He’s full of energy and has a love for endurance sports. The future will see him completing an Ironman and climbing Mt. Rainier. Don’t doubt it.

Kara Mulflur and Katerina LaMarche are two awesome girls that I lived with my senior year of college. We had never met before living with one another, and what an adventure that became. The three of us clicked instantly and you will rarely find one of us without the other two. I think it’s our different personalities that makes us so close. Kara’s a bubbly outgoing character that always make you smile, while Kat’s serious side and factual knowledge definitely keeps you on your toes. The two of them showed me how to live senior year to the fullest, and how friendship can survive its ups and downs. Kat’s currently working for the King County Prosecutors office and is off to law school in the fall, while Kara plans to be involved with the marketing of a pro sports team in Seattle.

Jason McDonald is the kind of friend you can sit in a basement with for hours, not utter a word and still have had a great time hanging out. I think we have a lot in common (besides his extreme intelligence and dry humor.) Whether going out on Oasis Island, cooking fried chicken or grabbing drinks at the K&K, we always have something to talk about. He’s someone who has shown me how to make things happen and bring people together.

Where do I even start with Jill Bell? My sister from another mister showed me how not to take life so seriously and just have fun. She is probably the funniest person I’ve ever met and her impersonations are dead on. I keep telling her she needs to be on SNL or something…currently Jill is playing pro ball in Spain. Miss you girl!

Courtney Thompson – the name says it all. She is the most dedicated, passionate person I’ve ever met. Living with her for 2 years taught me how to determine what matters most in life and how to pursue it with reckless abandon. Right now she’s enjoying the beaches of Puerto Rico where she is playing pro volleyball. Expect to see her holding it down as athletic director at a big time university in the next 10 years.

Nicole Castro and Sarah Keeler are 2 former teammates I hold close to my heart. While Nic is far away in Australia, I believe she’s someone I will be friends with forever. Nic is one of the most selfless people I have ever met. She always puts others before herself and taught me how to look for the best in people. It’s no surprise that she’s gone back to school to become a teacher. She believes everyone has a right to education, not just people with money and wants to be a part of that solution. Keeler is free spirited and a great friend. She always finds a way to make you laugh and just being with her brings a smile to my face. She’s my music connoisseur and someone who knows how to make country cool! She took me to my first rodeo and it’s become an annual event (Let’er Buck!) A true Husky; don’t be shocked to see her at UW events in her purple foam Husky head.

I never thought I would befriend a Cougar. However, I knew I’d eventually cross paths with a WSU grad. Believe me when I say I had no plans to become close with one of them. Well that went out the window! Kate Benz and I have become good friends despite our different choices in color. Though extreme rivals on the court (yes we guarded each other twice a year for 4 years) it’s through basketball we became such good friends. Avoiding the crimson crew while staying at the same hotels on road trips became a thing of the past when we finally shared our mutual respect for one another’s game. It was an odd friendship from the start as we wouldn’t talk a week before we played each other, received glares from teammates and coaches and routinely made fun of each others school and colors. However, we have grown closer over the years. Kate’s very ambitious and has showed me what independence is and how to take a chance. She packed her bags and without knowing anyone moved to Austin, Texas. She’s working for a TV station as an editor and plans to write a book in the future. Ameri-CAN twins for life baybeeee!

Though only recently meeting this summer, Lindsey Wilson is someone I’ve felt I’ve known for a long time. An impressive basketball player (34th overall pick in the 2003 WNBA draft – played in Greece, Turkey and presently Slovakia) Lindsey helped me prepare for my first season overseas and talked me through the tough times. I think the reason we get along so well is because we share characteristics such as competitiveness, determination, hard work and desire. I met my match when I started working out with Linds; she pushed me to another level and I’m grateful for her very honest personality.

And Finally my two girls from home Julie Little and Lani Gibbons. Sadly, I’ve lost touch with a lot of people from my high school days, but these 2 rivals on the bball court (Lani at SFU and Julie at UBC) are thankfully still present in my life. Julie graduates this spring as a RN and plans to take her nursing skills to developing countries around the world to help those in need. J-Li and I share a sacred love for the Spice Girls ☺. Lani plans to continue playing after she graduates this year and will become an elementary school teacher when she’s done with that. I think this is a great career choice for her, because it’s probably the only place where she will be taller than anyone…(it’s all love Pepé!!!)

Of course I can’t leave out my parents and brother. This goes without saying that they are my true heroes. The 4 of us have been through everything together and are always there for one another. I love them so much and appreciate everything they have done for me in my life. Thank you for helping me mature into a respectable young woman. XO

It’s because of the people close to me I’ve developed into the person I am today. Each of them is an inspiration and hero in their own right. Of course there are many more people who have impacted my life in a positive way, but if I wrote them all down, this post would be never ending. Just know I’m thinking of you! Take a look around you – I’m sure you’ll be able to see that you too are surrounded by heroes.

-BW

Giving Back

Every summer my family and I used to take a vacation to Penticton, BC while I attended the city’s basketball camp for 5 days. It was a great way to spend time with one another while relaxing in the sun, swimming in beautiful lakes, taking in the scenery and conveniently allowing me to improve my bball game. I looked forward to this summer trip every year. Basketball camps allowed me to play with/against new girls, show off my skills and most importantly – get better. However, the thing I enjoyed most about basketball camps were the counselors – normally college girls who seemed so good and so much older than me at the time. I was intimidated, but I also looked up to these young women. Knowing of their successes on the court, I wanted to be like them, and I wanted to be their friend. They were great role models and great people to look up.

After attending numerous camps across the province, training in Basketball BCs Regional Training Center and Center for Performance and playing on Provincial Teams, my skills developed enough that I was able to achieve one of my goals – attending a Pac-10 university on a basketball scholarship. It was a dream come true. Hours in the gym had paid off. Not only was I going to play in one of the best conferences in the nation, I was getting my collegiate education paid for. Husky home games would see us playing in front of 3,000 to 4,000 fans on any given night. It was awesome! Halfway through my freshman year it finally clicked. I was now that role model I looked up to when I was younger. Thousands of girls (and boys) of all ages attended our games, screaming and cheering for us as we battled our opponents. Win or lose they were there after games waiting for my teammates and I to autograph game cards, sign posters, pose for pictures or just say a few sentences to us. We were minor celebrities who were recognized around Seattle, especially when in U Village or shopping at the mall. I learned that I was someone young girls could look up to. It was strange feeling. I never considered myself a role model or minor celebrity of any kind. I was just Breanne; a klutzy Canadian who enjoyed being with her friends and making people laugh. It was surreal.Realizing the affect I had on adolescent girls (and boys), I decided to embrace it and be a great role model (wake up Britney!) I refrained from swearing on the court (however, we all slip up every now and then ☺), acted in a professional manner towards opponents, refs and coaches – aware that every move I made on the floor was probably being watched. I never refused an autograph or picture, made sure to say hello to fans that went out of their way to support the team or me, and tried to make time for those who wanted to chat. I was a camp coach/counselor at June Daughtery Hoop Camps, volunteered at free clinics around Seattle, spent time with kids at the Ronald McDonald House and went to the odd high school game to support former campers. I felt it was the least I could do – I used to be that little girl wanting to spend time with her favorite college player. I knew what it felt like when your hero took the time to sign a piece of paper or even just say hello.

After graduation I assumed my time as a public figure was over. Wrong! I’m by no means a known face here in Jyväskylä, but do have a 7-10 year old following. (I know, you’re jealous!) This is because Liz, Charlee, Monty and I coach elementary kids for an hour every Wednesday at one of the local elementary schools. It’s fun and very rewarding. I love seeing the kids get better each week. The toughest obstacle to overcome during these sessions is the language barrier. Most of the kids understand English, but few can actually speak it. This results in a lot of hand motions and us using our extremely limited Finnish vocabulary (paul-o=ball, who-va=good, yo=yes, sue-ett-a=pass, os-kal-lay=travel). Most of the kids laugh at our pronunciation, but thankfully 3 or 4 (our favorites!) correct it, teach us words or translate for the rest of the kids. They’re pretty cute and love bouncing the balls around. Monty is definitely the favorite – he dunks on request! Other than Wednesdays, we rarely see the kids. Mind you, many turn up at home games or walk up to us in town. They think it’s funny to sneak behind us, stand there and wait until we bump into them. Apparently it's hilarious, causing them to promptly burst out into laughter. Oh to be a kid!

-BW

Sidenote: Baby bro was in the Vancouver papers this week. The Province and The Sun. Must be doing something right!