Hollie Tyler Meriedeth BLOG

April 3, 2008

Questions from Bill Speltz from the Missoulian:

1. Tell me your thoughts on going to training camp in San Antonio. Is this something you've done for a WNBA team before? Would you say it's the realization of a dream? How do you like your chances of making the team? I am really excited to be going to San Antonio. I have heard alot of great things about the coach and have played against a couple of the player so I think it will be a great experience. 2 years ago I went to Chicago and tried out for the Sky. Playing in the WNBA is something I have wanted to do since I was big enough to dribble so yes it is a realization of a dream but Im not on the team yet so the dream wont be fulfilled until I have my name on the back of a jersey. I feel very ready for camp and hope they give me a fair chance to show what I can do. I am in good shape and have no injuries to speak of. I am alot more mentally ready this time also and know what I have to do when I get there... play my butt off.

2. How much did getting married change your basketball priorities? If San Antonio doesn't turn out to be a good fit, what is your back-up plan? Getting married really didnt change my basketball priorities too much. My husband comes to Europe with me. I know that I am only going to play for a couple more years so that we can start a family. Jason knows that I have to put basketball first and is very supportive and does everything he can to help me. If San Antonio doesnt work out and I dont get picked up by any other WNBA team then I will probably spend the majority of the summer driving back and forth between Missoula and my hometown Leadore Idaho. I havent gotten to spend much time with my family the last couple years so I would really like to take time and just hangout with them.

3. Tell me about playing ball in Europe for three seasons. I think there are a lot of folks that would really be interested to know how much you enjoyed it. Please tell me a little bit about the challenges (including playing and living in a foreign country), the compensation (was it worth the big moves?), and the good times (any amusing anecdotes). Playing in Europe has been an incredible experience. I have learned so much about the world and about myself and what I am capable of. Growing up in a town of 90 people, who would have ever guessed that I would be playing professional ball and being a world traveler? The first year I played in Belgium. That team was kinda semi-pro for everyone on the team but me. They all had other jobs and no one lived in the same city as me. Some of the girls drove 2 hours 1 way for practice. We only had 5 practices a week and 1 game most weeks, occasionally 2. I had 3 days a week off so Jason and I traveled alot. We went to Holland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Ireland. It was really neat to see all those places and learn about the different cultures in each place. I learned so much that year. I think the thing that suprised me the most was the first time I went grocery shopping. For some reason I expected it to be like shopping here at home. I was very wrong. I remember, I was very thirsty because everyone told me not to drink the faucet water so i went shopping and bought 6 big bottles of water. When I got home I discovered that it was sparkling water and couldnt drink it. Later that day i had practice and hadnt drank any water in since I got off the plane. I almost passed out from dehydration. Great way to make a first impression. But I learned very quickly how to say water without gas and what kind of water to buy at the store. The other thing that is always enteretaining is going out to eat. Occasionally the will have english menus but alot of restaurants dont so when we would go out to eat we would find something that lookes similar to something we know and just hope it wasnt something that would kill us. We lived through that but I am not sure if I want to know everything that I have eaten.
Last year I played in Hungary. That team was alot more professional. There were only a couple girls on the team that had other jobs and that was by choice. We had 4 girls from Hungary on the team, 2 from The Czech Republic, 1 from Slovakia, and myself. The moment I got off the plane I knew that was going to be an unforgetable experience. I flew into Vienna, Austria and they picked me up and drove me 6 hours across Hungary. None of my bags made it so all I had was my laptop and the extra set of clothes my Mom forced me to put in my carry on. That was right after the whole no liquids thing so I didnt even have toothpaste. When I got to Miskolc I went and met the coach. Pretty much all he said to me was ok see you at practice at 5. I didnt have anything to wear so they gave me an old uniform from 5 years ago which was about 5 sizes too small and an old pair of basketball shoes that had a whole in the toe. I had to go find a store to buy sportsbras and socks. We had 2 practices a day and I didnt have a washing machine and since I only had 1 set of clothes I had to wash my clothes my had after every practice and hang them up to dry. They never quite got all the way dry before I had to put them back on and go to the next practice. After 2 weeks of this my bags finally showed up. What an experience.
This year I am playing in Poland. This team is alot more professional than the last 2 teams. Everyone lives here in Rybnik and no one has other jobs. We usually have 2 practices everyday. I am playing with other Americans for the first time which has been both fun and interesting. It is great to have someone besides Jason to talk to about basketball. There are a couple of girls on the team that dont speak any english which makes communicating on the court very difficult. My coach has only been speaking english for about 9 months so communicating with him isnt very easy either. The season here is almost over and I will come home with even more knowledge than I came with. Playing in Europe has been in itself the realization of a dream. The compensation is decent. I think that if you want to play basketball bad enough you will go where you have to to be able to play. So I really dont think the money is the reason I come to play but it helps and I probably wouldnt do it without it.

4. How much of an adjustment did you have to make playing pro ball in Europe? Did you change positions from college? Work to develop new skills? How were the crowds over there? What has been your proudest moment as a pro? There is huge adjustment from college to Pro. Basketball is so much more physical now. I know that if I went back to college and played the way we play here I would foul out in the first quarter. The refs let it be that way so you have adjust and play just as physical or you will get beat. I am playing the same position as college. I have been working on my quickness and versatility because I know I am really not tall enough to play center in the WNBA so I will have to play the 4. The crowds here are ok. Sometimes we get great crowds and sometimes we dont. Our stadium this year holds about 1000 people and we usually get around 700-800 people per game. It gets pretty loud sometimes but nothing like Dahlberg Arena. I think my proudest moment as a pro was this season. I was voted onto the Polish Allstar team by the fans here in Poland. That was a huge honor for me. I got to play with some incredible players and it was just a great experience.

5. Do you miss anything about playing pro hoops overseas in the off-seasons? Of course I miss playing in the off season. I love my job very much and wish I could play for the rest of my life. I do however enjoy the time off. My body gets very tired and worn out after 9 months of nonstop pounding. My life is so much different over here. All I have to care or worry about is basketball and of course my husband. This year I really dont have alot of time do go do anything fun because I have to save my energy for practice and games. In the summer I try to play as much as possible. In the past I have worked alot of Lady Griz camps and try to stay around Missoula so I can play pickup with the current Lady Griz.

6. How did playing for Robin affect your career and your life? Any favorite Robin moments? Rob was an incredible coach. I learned so much for him. It is hard for me now because I compare all of my coaches here to him and none of them really hold a candle to him. Not only was he a great coach he was always very caring and concerned about us as people and would help us any way he could. And he always let us put our family before basketball. I think he has a great talent for getting as much out of his players as possible. He brings out the best in people and helps them achieve their highest potential. He demands but earns your respect at the same time. He is the type of person that I aspire to be like. He is very successful but not concieted and is just an all around good person. Of course there were alot of Robin memories. I think the funniest thing I remember his saying was my freshman year. Jamie Faris was playing and shot a jumpshot and he yelled "Jamie you're a hooker, not a shooter."

7. How much different is the WNBA than pro ball overseas? Is it a huge leap or not so much? Not actually having played in the WNBA I really cant say from experience how different it is but I know that it is different. The leagues that I have played in overseas have been very physical. The WNBA is alot faster paced and more finess than European ball. I think basketball in the USA is still considered a non-contact sport but in Europe you almost need pads and a helmet to come off the court in one piece.

8. What is your height and position? How much have you changed physically since your days as a Lady Griz? I am 6'3" and I play center or 5 position. Physically I have lost some weight and I am in much better shape than I was in college. But only because I have to be. This is my one and only job now and I play about 35 minutes every game so I have to be in better shape. Also I think I am more mature now and understand how much better my body feels when I am not carrying around extra weight. I can get up and down the floor quicker and my knees dont hurt as much. I think I am alot stronger than I was in college especially through my core and arms.

9. I noticed on your wedding Web site that you lived in Missoula recently. Do you expect to return and settle in at some point? Yes, Jason and I both really like the area. We both have family there and it is about the same distance to both of our homes. We have purchased some property and hope to build a home on it someday. It would be my dream to come back and coach for UM.

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March 22, 2008

My Mom and Jason's Mom came to visit us a couple weeks ago. It was really great to have them here! No one in my family has ever been to Europe and I have been trying for 3 years to get some of them to come visit me. I had alot of fun showing her how I live while I am here and all the of interesting things that I have seen in Poland. We went to Krakow and visited the city center and did alot of shopping and playing tourist. Luckily there was nice weather for a couple days wandering around outside was nice. We played 3 games while they were here. It was great because my Mom hasnt seen me play in 3 years and Jason's Mom has never seen me play. We only won 1 game out of the 3 but atleast they got to meet my team and see me play. It was really hard for me to see them get on the plane to leave. I miss my family so much while I am in Europe. But only a couple months and I will be home.

More good news from home. My sister found out that she is having a little girl in August. I am really happy for her and hope that I can be there when she is born!

Only a couple weeks until playoffs start. I hope that we can end the season as well as we started it. I think we have a great chance to end up in the top 4 if we play like a team and play smart. We have been having some very physically demanding practices the last few days. I hope we continue to do so so that we will be in the best shape possible for playoffs. I hope that our fans will come and support us in our last few games of the season!

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February 18, 2008

Losing our last game was a big disappointment! I hope that it has made the team realize that we are not guaranteed a win against anyone. We have to prepare ourselves for each and every opponent and come ready to play. Our game this weekend is at home. It will help alot to have our home crowd and to be playing on our home court. I am looking forward to our game because hopefully we will pull it together and play the way we can.

I received great news the other day. My Mom is coming to visit at the end of February. I am really excited because I have been playing in Europe for 3 years now and no one from my family has come to visit. I cant wait to show her what my life is like over here and hopefully get to take her to some of the cool places I have gotten to see.

Today is Valentine's Day. I woke up this morning to some beautiful flowers that my husband bought for me. He also gave me my favorite candy from home that I havent been able to find anywhere here.... Butterfinger! He brought it back for me when he came back after Christmas and has been saving it for me until today. He is so sweet! I think I have best husband in the world!

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January 29, 2008

The Allstar game was a really great experience. I met so many great people and had alot of fun. Nikita and I arrived in Krakow on Saturday around 2:00 pm. We had lunch with the team and coaches at 3:00 pm and I knew from the moment the coach stood up and spoke to us that it was going to be a great time. After dinner we went to the gym and had a short practice so we could get to know each other a little and learn a couple very basic plays. After practice we went back to the hotel and took showers. Jason and Marquetta met us at the hotel. We were invited to eat with a bunch of the players from the Wisla team and most of the All-Star team. We spent most of the rest of the night hanging out and getting to know each other. It was ALOT of fun!
The game on Sunday was also a great experience. Everyone was playing good but we all knew the most important thing was to go home without any injuries. I think we put on a pretty good show for the fans and showed off a little bit of what we are capable of on the court. We didnt win the game but I was still happy with how it turned out.
Getting this opportunity was great for me. I met some really fantastic fun people that otherwise I would probably never have gotten the chance to hang out with and get to know. It will make playing the rest of the season against these girls more fun and competative. Now that the fun is over it is time to get back to work and focus on our next games. But this is one experience that I won't forget. Thanks to the fans for voting me onto this team!

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January 15, 2008

It is great to be back in Poland and back into our regular routine of practice and games. We played really well last weekend. I think it was the best we have played offensively all season. It was a fun game for me. In the next couple weeks we are going to have alot of practice time. I think it will be great for our team to get ourselves back into the shape we were in before Christmas. I know the Holidays were a little too sweet for me. The food and sweets are some of the best things about Christmas time but not so good for staying in basketball shape. I hope that everyone works hard in the next couple weeks so we can be as ready as possible for the rest of the season because I know we are going to have alot of tough games.

I heard today that I made the All-Star team. That was a big shock and a huge honor for me. I think playing with the amount of talent that the other players have will be an incredible experience for me. I am really looking forward to playing with the team. It should be alot of fun.

My husband arrived in Poland today. I am so happy to have him back here! Life has been pretty lonely without him. But I really havent had alot of time to think about him not being here because we have been traveling alot with basketball and playing important games. We have a cup game tomorrow. I hope that we can play well. I hope that we have alot of fans attend the game. It makes playing so much more fun when we have a great crowd!

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December 30, 2007

It is so great to be home for the Holidays. My flights home were alot different than they were supposed to be. I missed my flight into Missoula so ended up flying into Boise and then driving to Pocatello and staying with my sister then driving to Leadore with my brother on Christmas Eve. My entire family was home with their husbands and kids. It was great to have everyone there! Christmas morning was alot of fun. We opened our stockings and watched the kids open presents. In the afternoon all the guys went snowmobiling and the women stayed home and played with the kids and played cards. I really enjoyed having everyone home. I got to spend alot of time with my Mom and Dad which I was really nice. I got everything I wanted for Christmas. My family bought me a kareoke machine for my birthday so was spent alot of time singing while I was home.

My nose is doing pretty good. It only hurts when I touch it. I have had 2 beautiful black eyes since the game and gotten alot of funny looks from people wondering what happened. The color is starting to go away but I still look like I got beat up. I am not looking forward to having to wear a mask for basketball. I have had to wear one before and it makes playing alot more difficult. I am looking forward to getting back on the court. I think we have a great chance to win more games in the second half of the season. I hope everyone comes back from the Holidays focused and ready to play.

Happy New Year!

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November 30, 2007

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. We had a great dinner. It was the first time in a long time that I have had family, other than Jason, at Thanksgiving dinner. It was also my first Thanksgiving as a married woman. It was great to have Jason’s sister and cousin here. We didn’t have a game so we got to go see and Krakow and Auschwitz. Auschwitz was a very difficult place for me to visit. I don’t understand how people can be so cruel to each other. But I feel like it is something that everyone who has the chance to see should see.

This week of practice has been very good. I feel like we are preparing ourselves very well for our game against Wisla on Saturday. Q has been a nice addition to our team. She works really hard and is very talented. I am excited to see how we do with her out on the court. Nikita will also be back at 100% on Saturday and I feel like I am back to 100% after being sick last week. I am really excited to play on Saturday. It should be a great game. I hope we have a lot of people from Rybnik that come to the game.

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November 13, 2007

The snow we are recieving reminds me of home and makes me think about it more and more. I am counting down the days until Christmas. Driving has become a little more challenging because I haven't had to drive in snow in a couple years. Some of Jason's family are coming to visit in a couple weeks. We get to celebrate Thanksgiving while they are here. It will be really nice to be with family on this holiday as it is always a big family event. Being away from my family for the past few years has been really hard for me but spending my first Thanksgiving with my new husband will be a great new beginning. This is also the first time that I have had visitors from home. My family is planning to come in March.

Basketball is going very well. I feel like we are becoming more of a team with every game. This weekend will be a big test for us. I am really looking forward to the challenge this team will present. I know they are a good team but I believe that we have a good team as well. It is really nice to see more and more people attending our games. I really hope that we continue to see alot of people at our games.

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November 4, 2007

I feel really good about where the team is right now. I think we are playing well and starting to play together as a team. The last couple of games have been great for team morale because everyone has gotten to play. It is awesome to see the gym filling up at our home games. It makes playing so much more fun if you have a great atmosphere and having cheering people in the seats really helps create that atmosphere.
My husband got a job teaching english. I think he is enjoying it. It is great for me because it gives him something to do during the day and keeps his mind occupied. The way his hours are he still gets to play volleyball and basketball. So it seems like an all around good thing. Jason's sister is coming to visit in about a month. I am really excited to have some company from home. I miss my friends and family so much I can hardly wait for Christmas!

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October 1, 2007

My trip to Poland was long but there were no major problems. I even got all of my luggage. I was very happy to get to Rybnik and get settled into my apartment.
I like the team, the coaches, and everyone. Our trip to Hungary was not eventful but it was good to get to know my teammates and coaches. The girls on the team are nice and I love how hard they work on the court. The first game was a little shaky but considering we had never really played together I thought we did pretty good. The second game was alot better and I think we will improve more every game. I am very happy to be back in Rybnik. My husband arrived last Wednesday. I was very happy to see him. We have spent the last couple of days exploring the city, trying to find our way around. The people here are very nice and I think I am really going to enjoy playing and living here. It has been great weather and I hope it stays like this for a while. I can't wait until we have our first home game. I hope we have have alot of fans. I think we will be a fun team to watch.
October 19, 2007

I am really happy with how the team played on Wednesday. Everyone played so hard the entire game and I never felt like anyone was giving up when things weren't going our way.
Everyone contributed in one way or another. The ride home was really long but it felt good to finally crawl into bed at 4:30 AM. I am looking forward to playing again tomorrow. It will be great to play on our home court. Hopefully we will have a great crowd.
We went bowling last night. It was pretty fun. We met some interesting people. Some where really nice and others, well weren't. It was fun to just go hang out and do something to take our minds off of basketball. I went to see the movie Rush Hour 3 yesterday with my husband. It was pretty funny. I would recommend going to see it.
An entire month has gone by since I got here. I have really been enjoying my time here. I hope the next months are as much fun as this one has been.

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September 16, 2007

The next few days I am going to spend with my friends and family. I am getting very excited to come to Poland. I think it will be a great place to live and play.
Only 5 days until I leave on my new adventure. This summer has gone by so fast! Last week I spent the week with my family in Idaho. I went elk hunting everyday and shot an elk last Wednesday with my sister. This week I have been running around like crazy trying to get everything done before I leave. Also trying to get in those last few workouts to make sure I am in good shape. The next few days I am going to spend with my friends and family. I am getting very excited to come to Poland. I think it will be a great place to live and play.