Women's Hoops Blog

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. While its her first year on the Washington beat, she has covered the Storm since its inception. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!"

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June 17, 2007 2:59 PM

Basketball dads

Posted by Jayda Evans

One time last winter I noticed Sonics All-Star Ray Allen changed up his routine and drove his black Porsche to practice. Later, he rushed off the court and told the awaiting media they needed to hurry because he had to pick his daughter up from school. Tierra, 14, had just relocated from South Carolina to live with Dad.

As I wondered how blasé kids are about their parents' cars since everyone goes broke to buy the latest, especially considering gas these days, the scene kind of reminded me of when I was growing up. My Dad, then an assistant coach at the University of Wyoming, dropped me off at school in his white Trans Am. When the engine roared, kids stopped running around on the playground, and suddenly I was no longer the black girl with cooties, but someone all the boys wanted to square dance with.

It's fun having a Dad in the biz. Tierra's obvious connections provided her with the chance to roam through the Storm locker room on Friday with center Ashley Robinson as she collected autographs and saw the sights.

Not that the training room and whirlpool are all that exciting, but who knows what it may inspire. A basketball and volleyball player at a private eastside school, Tierra was named Most Athletic 2007 in Bellevue.

Today, she and her two younger brothers loaded Dad up with a laptop computer and iPod Nano for when he runs. Tierra has told people Ray is a great Dad. I know how she feels because I have a great Dad, too -- Happy Father's Day Daddy!

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