Clanregeln » f the Year awards. Taylor, who was a

DeLisha Milton-Jones is stubbornly optimistic, which is a pretty necessary quality for someone to be a professional athlete for two decades.Milton-Jones hoped for one more opportunity this year in the WNBA -- reached out to teams and stayed in shape -- ready to go if she got the call. She felt she could still be a positive veteran influence for young players. Her optimism extended all the way until mid-September as the regular season came to a close.It was like, OK, this is it, its over, said Milton-Jones, who officially announced her retirement recently at age 42. Its sad it had to end that way. Its hard to watch the playoffs, especially a team like Atlanta which was down a veteran post player.But I had to come to terms with it. I have to know theres a lesson in this for me. I have to move on to phase two of my life, take all the experiences Ive had, and use them for someone elses good.She will do that right away as an assistant coach for Ryan Weisenberg at Pepperdine. The Waves players likely cant even grasp just how much experience Milton-Jones has: how many games she has played, practices she has taken part in, countries she has competed in. The 1997 Wade Trophy winner for Florida, Milton-Jones started playing professionally before some of todays college freshmen were even born.Milton-Jones, who began in the ABL, appeared in more games than anyone in WNBA history, with 499 in the regular season -- averaging 11.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals -- and 50 playoff games, where her numbers were even a little better (11.5, 6.1, 1.5).She won two WNBA titles with Los Angeles. For USA Basketball, she won two Olympic gold medals, plus two golds and a bronze from the world championship. Her overseas career also was very decorated, as she played for teams in Russia, Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, Turkey and Korea.As the WNBA gets set to start the playoff semifinals, Milton-Jones has an interesting perspective. For one, she was on the last Sparks team to make the WNBA Finals, in 2003. For another, her Los Angeles teams are the last to win back-to-back WNBA championships.Why has that, in particular, been so tough to do?Its very hard, because you have to do everything you did the year before, times two, she said. Whos really dedicated to go through that? To have the entire group committed to that journey, thats the first thing.But also players and other teams get better. And if you dont come back and prove as an individual that you can still add your piece to the puzzle, thats going to make it hard. The dynamic of a team changes from one year to the next, even if its a lot of the same players. Those are the rigors of the journey you have to make.Especially considering the league is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, it seemed like the right time for the Sparks to honor Milton-Jones this season, which was sure to be her last even if she had gotten a call to play. She spent 11 of her 17 WNBA seasons with the Sparks, playing 344 games in the regular season and 48 in the playoffs for Los Angeles.But a Sparks spokeswoman said that executive vice president/general manager Penny Toler wanted the organization focused on the current team and the playoffs and would not have a ceremony this year for Milton-Jones.Seattle (Lauren Jackson), New York (Swin Cash), Phoenix (Penny Taylor) and Indiana (Tamika Catchings) all made the playoffs this season, yet still took time to honor their retiring players.It seems a shame the Sparks couldnt arrange even a halftime acknowledgement at Fridays playoff game at Staples Center to let fans express their appreciation to Milton-Jones, especially since she and husband, Roland Jones, live in Los Angeles.Milton-Jones admitted it was a disappointment that didnt happen. But she also knows its time to move on to the next chapter of her life, while also maintaining her love for the WNBA.Milton-Jones echoed the sentiments of other retiring players in regard to how important it is for former players to stay involved with the league in some capacity -- particularly in mentorship roles, passing on the history of the WNBA and womens basketball in general.I hope the current and future players take pride in this product and not take it for granted, she said. Take care of the league, because its special. A lot of people fought hard for it, not just for themselves but future generations.Milton-Jones hopes to add her name to the list of former WNBA players whove become successful college coaches. But she is also from the era long before social media and the ubiquity of cell phones and knows todays players grow up in a different world.Ive been in the situation where Ive been the oldest player in the locker room for many years, Milton-Jones said. I learned years ago the best way to relate to younger people is to relate on their level.Theyre not going to understand my mentality all the time, because they havent had the experiences Ive had. Look eye to eye with them, listen to what theyre saying, break down the barriers. I want them to see me as someone who understands them and can have a conversation with them.Milton-Jones said because young players in club basketball can go to whichever coach at that level makes them happiest, they sometimes have difficulty adjusting to the college atmosphere.I think kids are more sensitive to how theyre talked to, how you look at them, how you make them feel, said Milton-Jones, who adds that shed love to pick Geno Auriemmas brain on the topic. I think the old-school style is someone giving us that stern look and knowing, If I dont straighten up, my butts going to be on the line running.I think there has to be a balance with that old-school type of coaching and finding a way to do it with a little of the sting taken out of it. You have to use psychology more.So this is a new challenge for Milton-Jones, and one shes ready to tackle. Leaving her playing career was brutally hard; theres no sugarcoating that. But when she talks to youngsters about working hard and cherishing every minute on the court, theyll know it comes from someone who excelled a long, long time at both. Freeman Williams Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Quentin Richardson Jersey . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. https://www.cheapclippersonline.com/ . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Grant Hill Jersey . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Eric Piatkowski Jersey .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Marlon Samuels was named the ODI Player of the Year and Cricketer of the Year at WICBs annual awards function in Antigua on Tuesday. Samuels has scored 859 runs in 22 ODIs since 2015, including three centuries. With 258 runs at an average of 36.85, he finished as the second-highest run-getter behind Australia captain Steven Smith in the tri-series in West Indies last month. Prior to that, Samuels had played a starring role in West Indies World T20 title win in India. He smashed an unbeaten 85 off 66 balls in West Indies chase of 156, which fetched him his second Man-of-the-Match award in a World T20 final.Stafanie Taylor scooped the Womens T20 Player of the Year and ODI Player of the Year awards. Taylor, who was appointed captain in September 2015, led West Indies Women to their first World T20 title in April. She was the leading run-getter in the tournament, with 246 runs in six matches, including 59 in the final against Australia Women.dddddddddddd. Her ODI form since the start of 2015 has also been excellent: 491 runs in 10 matches at 70.14.Darren Bravo was named the Test Player of the Year while Dwayne Bravo took the Caribbean T20 Player of the Year award. Chris Gayle, meanwhile, bagged the T20 Player of the Year award.Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who collected six wickets on Test debut against Sri Lanka at the P Sara Oval in October 2015, was named Emerging Player of the Year.Shimron Hetmyer, who led West Indies to Under-19 glory in Bangladesh earlier this year, won the Under-19 Player of the Year award. He made 158 runs in six matches in the tournament at an average of 26.33. ' ' '