See anyone you recognize up there? That's our own Jessica Dickson, second from the left, alongside some of the best women's basketball players in the world. Dickson, a Vanguard and U. of South Florida grad and a 2007 WNBA draft pick, was chosen this week to participate in the EuroLeague All-Star Game on March 13 in Moscow. Dickson made the 12-player "Rest of the World" roster, joining WNBA/EuroLeague stars Diana Taurasi, Nykesha Sales and Lauren Jackson (left to right). Dickson averaged 15.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 10 EuroLeague games.
Here's her latest blog entry, and below that, the text of a quick phone interview I did with Dickson on Wednesday nigh. You can also read her entries from September and October and November and December and January, as well as The Sports Blog's original post on the signing.
OK everyone, I have some good news and I have some bad news. Well, I will tell you the bad news first. My team is out of EuroLeague play. We were not able to advance to the tournament, but that's OK. This was our first year in EuroLeague play, and with a little more adjusting I think next year the team will go further. Now, the good news is I got selected to play in the 2008 EuroLeague All-Star game. Wow! Now if you think that's something, here's a list of the people I get to play alongside:
REST OF THE WORLD
G - Diana Taurasi (Spartak Moscow Region)
G - Lindsay Whalen (ZVVZ Prague)
F - Lauren Jackson (Spartak Moscow Region)
F - Cappie Pondexter (Fenerbahce)
C - Delisha Milton-Jones (Ros Casares)
G - Kedra Holland-Korn (Phard Napoli)
G - Nykesha Sales (TEO Vilnius)
G - Jessica Dickson (Jolly JBS Sibenik)
F - Chamique Holdsclaw (Lotos PKO BP)
C - Janel McCarville (Kosit 2013)
C - Iciss Tillis (TTT Riga)
C - Nicole Ohlde (USVO)
I mean this is definitely an honor for me. These are the big-time players in the women's game. I'm so honored and humbled because anyone besides me could have made the roster, there are so many great players out there. It's definitely a blessing and I truly thank God! I am so excited. The game will be March 13th in Moscow - I believe the game can be viewed on the Internet. I will get the Web site and post it on my blog as the time comes closer for the game. Until next time, take care and God bless!
PHONE INTERVIEW
TSB: So, those are some pretty cool names you're on the roster with. How does that feel?
JD: Very, very, very cool. I'm definitely honored to be alongside some of the great players like Taurasi and Jackson and all of the great players, Cappie Pondexter, all of them that are on the roster. You know, I'm definitey blessed.
TSB: Were you surprised, or did you know you were in the running for it?
JD: I actually didn't know I was in the running for it...I never thought that I would be considered for the All-Star Game. It definitely surprised me. My coach told me, I was walking with the team coming out of the locker room, that I would be going, and I was just surprised. So I definitey didn't think that I would be going.
TSB: Do you think this might help your chances to get back in the WNBA next year?
JD: My whole play in the EuroLeague and the other league that we're playing in, just playing over here, I hope will speak for itself.
TSB: Are you getting more homesick over there, or are you getting used to it?
JD: I've gotten used to it. I had the chance to come home for Christmas, and then I came back I was a little homesick because I got a taste of home. You know, I'm used to it. I've got, I think, three months left. I take it each day at a time. But I'm definitely used to it.