Monarchs Blog and Q&A

Bee staff writer Melody Gutierrez grew up in Twentynine Palms. At 14-years-old, she decided to combine her two passions -- sports and writing -- when she became a special assignments reporter for the Desert Trail, her hometown weekly newspaper. Melody headed to Northern California in 2000 to attend Chico State and has remained in the region ever since. She earned an internship with The Bee and subsequently became a staff writer in 2004 and has covered virtually every sport, starting with high schools, up through college and then the pros. Melody took over coverage of the Monarchs last season and chronicled the team's pursuit of a second straight league championship -- a quest that fell just short.

Melody welcomes your questions and will answer as many as she can as the season progresses.

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May 14, 2007

Welcome back, and pay up

Monarchs veteran DeMya Walker was fined Monday for returning late to training camp. The team was expecting Walker to practice Monday, three weeks after the start of camp, but the All-Star forward missed her flight out of Houston.

The team's policy is not to disclose fine amounts.

Walker arrived in time for today's practice but missed an appointment for a required physical to be cleared to play. Her first practice will be Tuesday.

"I'll suck it up and take the fine," Walker said.

Walker had been playing for CSKA Samara in Russia until losing to Spartak Moscow on Thursday in Game 5 of the Russian Superleague grand final series. Ticha Penicheiro plays for Spartak Moscow and returned to practice Saturday, playing in Sunday's preseason win against Phoenix.

Walker was in Houston to leave her 1-year-old daughter, Zachara, with the baby's father. Zachara will stay with her father until the Monarchs play the Comets on June 11.

- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by Brian Blomster, May 14, 2007 06:44 PM

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