Ten days ago, I was given the opportunity to interview former UConn Huskies women’s basketball player Mel Thomas about her new book “Heart of a Husky” from her publisher and immediately jumped at the chance.
After talking with Mel, it was decided that we would open up the questions to the fans. I was also given a copy of the book to give away to one of the people who asked questions of Mel (the questions asked by me do not count towards entries to win the book).
And as I promised when I would post the answers, I would announce the winner of the book from the random drawing. The winner of “Heart of A Husky” is Vickie.
I will be sending out an email to you to get your address so that I can get you your copy of the book. If you didn’t win the book and want a copy of it, you can head over to melthomas.com to order a copy for yourself. They do have a limited supply of signed editions as well.
Before we get to the questions and answers, I want to offer a big thank you Howard Cohen from Clerisy Press for setting this up for me and also to Mel for taking the time out of her schedule in Ireland to answer the questions for everyone. Also a big thank you to everyone who asked questions of Mel.
I do request you not copy and paste this elsewhere. You are quite welcome to post a link.
Here is the direct link to the post:
https://soxanddawgs.com/2009/01/17/q-a-with-former-uconn-husky-mel-thomas/
Questions and answers are available after the jump.
1. Ian asks: What made you decide to turn your journal you were keeping into a book?
I always had the thought in the back of my mind, but I never took it very seriously. It was more of a crazy idea, rather than something I really thought I’d do. My injury gave me a completely different perspective, so after I got hurt, I started writing down my thoughts more seriously. I used writing as an outlet to get out my frustrations and keep me sane.
I wanted to share my story because I think the UConn program is truly something special. I wanted other people to understand how much more there is to the program than just basketball and what it means to everyone involved.
2. UCfan asks: We all know that Dawn Staley was a great basketball player (well for those who don’t know – she was National Player of the year in High School, 2 time National player of the year in college, 2 time ABL All-Star, 3 time WNBA All Star and 3 time Olympian). What was it like playing for her with the USA basketball team in the Pan Am games and how would you compare her coaching style with Geno’s?
I really enjoyed the opportunity to have Coach Staley as my coach. She was especially hard on the point guards, and although I didn’t play the point, I paid special attention to the advice she gave them. Through all of her basketball experience, she has developed a true knowledge of what it takes to be a floor leader. I tried to soak up everything I could when I was around her.
Coach Staley and Coach Auriemma are both incredibly passionate about the game, but they also know how to have a good time and make practice fun for their players. Coach Auriemma is a little more structured, while Coach Staley is more laid back.
3. Connfan asks: How did the relationship you had with your teammates enhance the experience of playing basketball at Uconn?
The relationship I had with my teammates absolutely made my basketball experiences what it was. When I think of UConn Basketball, I don’t think of any particular games or accomplishments, I think of my friends. It meant so much to play for a team where everyone played for each other. Whenever it got hard, we were always there to push each other and never wanted to let down our friends. My relationships with those girls are the most important thing I took from UConn, and I’ll carry them with me forever.
4. Catherine asks: Are you keeping a journal as your pro career begins?
I do write things here and there, but my journal is not nearly as extensive as the one I kept my senior year. I don’t know if I would write another book, but I’ve come to use writing as a tool to let out my emotions. I also love being able to look back on all my experiences and memories.
5. Larry Glasser asks: When you went down with your injury my heart went out to you. Just curious, were you more disappointed that you couldn’t play after the injury or with the fact that the team did not win the National Championship?
This is a no-brainer. I was far more disappointed that we didn’t win the National Championship. It had been my dream to win a National Championship for as long as I can remember. It was devastating to go down with my injury, but I was still a part of the team and my dream was still alive through my teammates. Winning a National Championship would have been the greatest accomplishment, but that’s not the way it was supposed to work out for me.
6. Jim Groves asks: Mel, Was writing the book therapeutic for you?
Not at first, but over time I learned to use writing as a tool to let out my feelings. At the beginning of the season, everything went very smoothly. It wasn’t until things got rough that writing started to become therapeutic. Whenever I was frustrated or upset, it seemed like the words flowed so easily.
7. Kibitzer asks: Mel, when the team has one of those little mini-huddles on the court before free throws are shot, which player (when you were active) would normally be the one to speak, and what was a typical message for her teammates?
Most of the time, the captains or the point guards did the taking. Those huddles were to make sure everyone was on the same page. We talked about what we were running on offense, what defense we were in (matchups), what we needed to improve, we encouraged each other, or addressed anything else we noticed on the floor.
8. Redman1925 asks: Mel, I have already read your book and thought it was amazing. As an athletic trainer I am making one of my female athletes who recently tore her ACL read it. You’re such an inspiration to those who battle through injuries. My question to you is: After being injured you still managed to keep a positive attitude. Is there one person you turned to for help and inspiration?
As awful as it was that Kalana and I had to go through it together, it was great to have her there every step of the way. We leaned on each other for support throughout the whole process. Our athletic trainers, Rosemary Ragle and Lindsay McDowell, were extremely encouraging as well. It was often only the four of us in the training room, and they were the best support group I could have ever asked for. We managed to make a good situation out of a terrible one by keeping each day as upbeat and positive as possible.
I think it’s also important to set goals to keep yourself focused and motivated. My ultimate goal was to be 100 percent by the fall so I could play overseas, but I also set little goals along the way.
9. Vickie asks: When it comes to playing through an injury, how do you decide whether
a). My team might lose if I don’t play, so I’ll play; or
b). My injury might cause my performance to suffer and hurt my team’s chances, so I won’t play. Obviously, this does not apply to a major injury such as the one you suffered to your knee, but to other ones.
It’s hard to find that balance because every athlete thinks they can play through anything. With experience, athletes become more aware of their bodies. Athletes have to think about what’s best for their team in the long run. If you decided to play before you’re ready and you get injured worse, you’re hurting your team much more than if you only missed a game or two.
10. Cathy asks: You made reference in the book about the “Boneyard”, the UConn message board. In general, how aware are the players to what is being said about them in the papers and message boards during the season?
I can only speak for myself, but I never knew anything that was written about me. I never checked any message boards, and we didn’t get the newspaper. I never worried about what other people thought, I just focused on what I could control.
I often looked at our campus newspaper because they were free outside of our classrooms. The Daily Campus articles were the only ones I read, usually during class while I was supposed to be taking notes. =)
11. John Molina asks: Congratulations on your book. My questions are a bit more broad as I am currently working on a book as well about the All American Red Heads, a womens basketball team that played 200 games y7 a season from 30s to 80s, only against men and won over 70%, so I have yet to read your book (but intend to)
What do women at your level know about the History of Women’s Basketball and any reflections it has on you as a person and player. You played at the top college in the country before thousands of fans, national media and all. Yet it wasn’t that long ago (at least to me)when not many opportunities existed for girls to even play at a parks and rec level, never mind at a college level where scholarships could be attained.
I enjoyed watching you throughout your career. Many ups, yet many challenges as well that you overcame and pursued on. Much like the history of the game itself.
Also, any specific challenges in doing the book? We are almost done with research but still have a ways to go before draft is done.
I honestly don’t know much about the history of the game. Most kids my age take their opportunities for granted. I’ve talked to women only 20 years older than me who said they were only allowed on one side of half-court. Women’s basketball has come such a long way in recent years. There has been professional basketball available to women for as long as I’ve been involved in the sport. I’m very grateful for the opportunity that I had growing up, so I think it will be very interesting to learn more about it in your book.
12. Mainer asks: My daughter is a teen athlete who, like many, is feeling a bit of pressure to specialize in one sport. In middle school she played four sports. Her frosh year of high school she played three. By her senior year, perhaps even next year, her junior year, she may be just playing one. What other sports did you play? How old were you when you decided to focus on basketball? What advice would you give a female teen athlete who is facing this decision? (I hope you don’t mind that there are three questions, not one! ;>)
I played basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer, track and field, diving, and dance. I quit everything besides basketball by the time I was in eighth grade. I had no interest in anything else but basketball, so it was an easy decision for me.
As for other girls in the same situation, it’s definitely a personal decision. Only you will know what’s right for you. Playing basketball for hours and hours a day since I was 12 has made me happy, but that’s not for everyone.
It’s hard to be completely committed to more than one sport, but it’s possible to be involved with multiple sports. Many of the girls on my team at UConn played other sports in high school. For example, Cassie played volleyball, Renee played soccer, and Lorin ran track. It’s a personal decision based on what you want to do and what makes you happy.
13. Beverly Francis asks: I really enjoyed your book and I always enjoyed watching you play because you always put your heart into it.
Can you tell us what the coaches say at half time. So often, when the first half has not been played well the second half has so much more energy. What do they say to you all to get your motivation up?
I never knew what Coach was going to do at half-time. Sometimes when we played poorly, I thought he would come into the locker room breaking things and going crazy. Instead, he’d walk in extremely calm. Other times, when I thought we played decent, he was a lunatic. The thing about Coach is that he always knew how to push our buttons.
I can’t give you a solid answer as to what he said. Sometimes he told us we all sucked and other times he was completely supportive, but he always knew what he need to say to get us up for the second half.
14. TonyC asks: Would love to have you or another Huskie keep a diary of what goes on during the season and write a book. What a great insight to what goes on. We Love you guys.
Thanks! I’ll have to talk one of the younger girls into writing the sequel!
15. Cheesedanish asks: In my quest for your book to acquire,
I hear you put yourself under fire,
You’ve described your coach, Geno
As a tad schizophrino.
Was he that bad? I’d like to inquire.
Haha…
Most of the time, Coach was actually calm. He had the tendency to tell us how bad we were very casually. We had to really tick him off for him to go crazy.
He was a very tough coach. He demanded perfection and wouldn’t settle for anything less. He is hard on his players, so they have to be very confident. It’s all worth it, though, because he is such an amazing coach. He is an unbelievable motivator and a great teacher of the game.
16. Erik asks: Hey Mel, as a student myself I was wondering what it was like to be an athlete at the University of Connecticut. Did you feel like you were on a short leash or just like any other student
Trust is a huge part of our program. Our coaches didn’t give us a curfew, tell us we couldn’t go out, get into our personal lives, or check to see if we were in class. Instead, they instill values into their program and trust their players to make good decisions. We all respected the program, so we wouldn’t even think about staying out late the night before a game or going out during the season. We went to class and we did the right thing.
Of course, being a student-athlete is a huge time commitment. We had class, practice, lifting, study hall, and there wasn’t much time for much else. Still, the coaching staff did their best to make our lives as normal as possible.
17. Ian asks: What did you like and dislike about playing for Geno Auriemma?
Everything I ever disliked about Coach , I later grew to respect and admire him for. When I was a freshman, I hated that Coach exposed every doubt I had each day at practice. I just wanted him to be on my side. Sometimes I thought he was such a jerk, but everything he did made me stronger and more mature.
I loved his ability to teach. His knowledge of the game far exceeds that of anyone I’ve ever met. I respect the values he has built into his program. He wants his players to be good people as much as he wants us to be the best basketball players.
18. Ian asks: How do you compare the play in Ireland to back here in the United States?
It’s completely different. It’s hard to fully understand how good you have it until it’s gone. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to be playing again, but it’s not the same. I don’t think it ever will be. It’s been very hard to adjust. I was used to playing on a team in the truest meaning of the world. Everyone had a shared goal, and we always looked out for each other. We gave up our individualism to be a part of something bigger than ourselves-a team. That’s going to be hard to find again.
The competition isn’t quite as good. Some of the rules are different in European basketball – wider lanes, deeper three-point line, players can’t call timeouts, and hand checks are allowed.
It’s much different, but it’s been a great experience so far. It was hard to move to a foreign country where I didn’t know a soul, but it is helping me learn about myself and grow as a person. And I’m having a little bit of fun with the Irish too. =)
Thanks so much for everyone who submitted a question. I am very thankful for all the support and positive feedback I have received with my book. I love all my Husky fans!
Again, a big thank you to everyone for submitting questions, to Howard Cohen for the opportunity and to Mel for taking the time to answer the questions.
