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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« June 2007 | Monarchs Blog and Q&A front page | August 2007 »

July 30, 2007

Minnesota quietly rebuilding

In the visitor's locker room and past the trainers room is a bathroom, a brown curtain concealing the shower, which Minnesota coach Don Zierden is using as his office.

Zierden welcomes me with a gentle handshake and warm smile. With 45 minutes until tip off Sunday against the Monarchs, Zierden is gathering his thoughts inside his Arco Arena hideout.

His demeanor is patient and kind.

"Everything is a process right now," Zierden said. "We are trying to get better in practices and gain experience."

With five rookies and six players with less than three years experience, the Lynx are being pegged as a team with playoff expectations as early as 2008.

"They should feel positive about their future," Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek said
after Sunday's 78-73 loss to the visiting Minnesota with the help of a career-high 39 points from second-year guard Seimone Augustus.

- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 07:59 AM | Comments

July 27, 2007

Jenny and Reggie?

Wikipedia is playing matchmaker in Sacramento. The site that accidentally killed comedian Sinbad has an entry that claims Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek is dating Kings coach Reggie Theus.

Monarchs personnel were already laughing about it by the time I called on Friday afternoon. Jenny wasn't around to give her formal denial, but the entry on her page is believed to be false.

What's funny about the entry is that everything else on Jenny's very detailed Wiki page appears to check out. Reggie's page doesn't link him to Boucek.

Give it a peek before it's taken down at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Boucek
-- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 04:00 PM | Comments

July 25, 2007

Why road unis at home?

Question: Just curious - why were the Monarchs wearing their away uniforms during last night's game against LA?

Jayne, Sacramento

Answer: It's part of a promotion encouraging fans to watch upcoming Monarchs away games on TV. The campaign is tagged "Have You Seen Us ... On the Road?" The games being advertised are July 31 against Seattle at 7 p.m. on ESPN2; Aug. 10 against Houston at 5:30 p.m. on News10 and Aug. 19 against Phoenix at 4 p.m. on News10.
-- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 11:15 AM | Comments

July 13, 2007

Q&A with San Antonio's Erin Buescher

Erin Buescher's smile is contagious. It always has been. She may have left the Monarchs during free agency in March, but fans here never stopped rooting for her. That's why news that she tore her anterior cruicate ligament Wednesday had Monarchs fans and players somberly shaking their heads.
Not Erin. Not now.
The Silver Stars starting forward was putting up career-highs with ease. This had to be devastating news for the 28-year-old. During a 10-minute interview from her San Antonio apartment, Erin's infectious optimism transmitted through the phone.

How are you doing?
ERIN: I'm doing OK. It's disappointing, but I do believe that God has a plan and this is part of it.

When is your surgery?
ERIN: In 10 days. It's weird. I think I've jammed a finger before this. That's it. In that way I guess I can't complain. One injury is pretty good.

It sounds like you are trying to keep a positive outlook on all this.
ERIN: Of course it's disappointing and frustrating and it's sad. I love this team and not being able to be a part of it is sad, but there are other ways I will be a part of it.

What have you heard about the surgery on July 23?
ERIN: It will be interesting. They put a tube down my throat so I can breathe when I'm under. Hearing about that made me queasy.

Have you gotten a lot of support through this?
ERIN: A lot of people have come out of the wood works. My teammates were amazing. Yesterday, they were in here non-stop at my apartment cooking and trying to clean. They brought me a bunch of DVDs. They were just hanging out.

What will be the toughest part for you?
ERIN: I like activity, not just basketball, but staying active. I was supposed to be home for the All-Star break and out at the beach. But some things are just out of your control. There are lessons in every situation in life.

But the timing? You have to be upset about the timing? You had just been named Player of the Week and scored a career-high 27 points against Seattle on July 7.
ERIN: That's frustrating, but it's interesting. The last few games I've played some of the best games I've played in the WNBA. Honestly, it came easily. I really believe that was from The Lord. He gave me those games and I do believe He gave me this, too.

Will your family be coming to San Antonio to be with you?
ERIN: My mom will come out. I'm trying to get home before the surgery, because I won't be able to after.

What else did the doctors tell you? Did you think it was an ACL tear initially?
ERIN: They also said that I dislocated my kneecap. I felt a strong dislocation. It felt so wrong. It was pretty yucky. I felt it slide. It came undone and slid to the side. I was trying to not faint. I could feel myself sliding down that slope. I have a weak stomach with that stuff. I remember when Kara Lawson dislocated her finger I felt queasy.

So, what's your prognosis?
ERIN: It's a common thing. So many athletes do it. It's foreign to me, but lots of people have done this. I'm just lucky to have supportive good people around me.

You stepped away from the WNBA in 2004 and strongly considered not coming back. Are you sure you will return after this?
ERIN: Yeah, I am. I am looking forward already to the 2008 season. It has been fun being a part of the Silver Stars this year. I think we all felt excited about the opportunities. They will still do it. I will just join them next summer.

So, you are doing well?
ERIN: I won't lie. When the doctor came in there and said what it was there were tears. But God has a plan and this is part of it.

Posted by tnegrete at 05:57 PM | Comments

July 06, 2007

This country song had a ring to it

Kara Lawson shocked 105.1 KNCI listeners Thursday when she called into the Pat and Tom Show. Lawson was chatting about her experience at Tuesday night's Kenny Chesney concert at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre, which she attended with her boyfriend, Damien.

"My favorite song from Kenny is 'Anything But Mine,'" Lawson told Pat and Tom. "He starts to play that song and you know when it's your favorite song, whatever your favorite song is, you might be in your car, you might be in the shower, whatever. You start singing like you're the only one there. I'm jamming; I'm singing this song ... I turn around and my boyfriend is down on one knee."

Yes, he was proposing marriage.

Her response?

"I said 'yes,'" Lawson said.

-- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by tnegrete at 11:49 AM | Comments

July 02, 2007

Yup, Jenny was their choice

There are some coaches the Maloofs would rather not take credit for hiring (please see Eric Musselman). Then there is Jenny Boucek.

"That's a really terrific hire," Gavin Maloof said Monday. "She's firey. She's smart. Great hire. Great hire. We'll take credit for that one."

Gavin did pass along some kudos to General Manager John Whisenant, too, for picking his replacement.

Boucek will coach the Western Conference All-Star team on July 15, an honor she earned after leading the Monarchs to the highest winning percentage by today's deadline.

The first-year coach has remained humble, calling it a team honor and refusing to acknowledge it as a personal accolade.

"This team coaches itself and I'm here to support them, help them and serve them in any way that I can," Boucek said after Sunday's win over Minnesota.

"This is an honor, but definitely for them. I don't see it as an honor for me whatsoever."

However, Gavin certainly thinks Boucek deserves praise.

"She deserves all the credit in the world," he said.

--Melody Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley at 04:52 PM | Comments

July 01, 2007

Griffith gets OK to play

Good news for the Monarchs coming out of Arco Arena today as center Yolanda Griffith started tonight's game against visiting Minnesota. Doctors previously did not clear Griffith to play Friday because of swelling in her neck because of a strained clavicle.

Griffith said there still is some swelling, which is causing pressure in her back and chest, but after discussing her options with team doctors she was cleared to play.

"The only problem is when I get hit it's going to pinch," Griffith said before the game. "You have to try to avoid getting hit, but you can't avoid that in basketball."

With Griffith back in the lineup, the Monarchs have a better shot at sending their coaching staff to the All-Star Game on July 15 in Washington.

San Antonio defeated Detroit 71-68 earlier today, meaning the Monarchs have to win tonight to give coach Jenny Boucek the honor of coaching the Western Conference All-Stars.

- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 06:56 PM | Comments

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