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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August 27, 2007

Pregame Q&A with Yolanda Griffith

Yolanda Griffith has remained peculiarly composed since the Monarchs lost to San Antonio on Saturday. While she typically breathes fire following losses, Griffith repeatedly has said there is no need to push the panic button over the 86-61 beating at the hands of the Silver Stars. As Griffith and her Monarchs squad prepare for the deciding Game 3 of the first round of the WNBA playoffs at 6 tonight, the veteran center sat down with me to answer a few questions.

Q: How are you feeling about tonight's game?

A: Good. You got to feel good. We still have a chance. Just like anyone else. One loss isn't going to defeat us. We've had our backs against the wall before and we've prevailed. Tonight is more of being smarter players as far as using each other and not just putting our heads down and trying to create something individually. We have to create something for each other. We have to be a little more together on the defensive end. We'll be all right. Nothing has changed. The only thing that has to change is the intensity we have to have to play this defense. We have a lot of great players on this team. Everybody must do their part.

Q: As a leader, what is your role in preparing the Monarchs for this game?

A: I've always been a true leader. I try to talk to players and help players, but as an individual you have to be able to get yourself going, too. Leaders don't tie your shoes for you. Leaders don't get in your head. You have to bring it. As an individual playing on this level you have to bring it. Everyone matters. Leaders can preach and say this or say that, but it's up to you as an individual to do it. But we feel good. We aren't panicking. We're all right. You can't panic. We have an important game tonight.

Q: What is the difference between panicking and understanding the importance of what's at stake in tonight's game?

A: We aren't going to panic, but this is a do-or-die situation. Either we go out here and win this game or it's done. We're going home. That's the urgency of this game tonight. If you want keep playing and move on to the next round, you have to come and play tonight. That's the bottom line.

- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz, August 27, 2007 01:54 PM

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