Columnist Linda Frolich: Missing the playoffs hurts a bunch

Linda Frolich

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003 | 9:31 a.m.

Linda Frohlich, a former All-American at UNLV, is in her second year with the WNBA's New York Liberty. She writes a weekly column every Thursday in the Sun. Check out what Linda's up to by logging onto her Web site at www.lindafrohlich.com

Well, first of all I would like to say that my heart goes out to all of those who were affected by the flood in Las Vegas a couple of days ago. My prayers go to you, and all the people who are putting out the heart and effort to help their fellow men.

It is just crazy what Mother Nature has done to us lately. The heat wave in Germany/Europe continues, and let me tell you: Over there, we are not prepared for so much sun we don't even have air conditioning. Now I know that I am talking to Las Vegans, and you probably are thinking, "Get tough!" But seriously, Europe is sweating!

And I'll be there soon. I am heading back home. Back to Germany, then to Italy.

Unfortunately our season has come to an abrupt stop here in New York. With our loss in Charlotte a few days ago, we are out of the playoffs this year, and let me tell you: It hurts! It hurts to think about how we could have won that last game. And how we could have won more road games. It hurts to see other teams in the media. And it hurts to clean out your locker, turn in your house key, leave your car, etc.

At the beginning of the season things really looked good for the Liberty. We really had one of the strongest teams on paper. We had all the potential, but we still didn't make it. That hurts.

Against all the expectations, against the history of this team (which has made to it the playoffs all but once since the inauguration of the WNBA), we didn't make it.

It once again won't be the New York Liberty to go home with a championship ring and that hurts!

Now we are at the point where one teammate could hold another one responsible for the shortfall of our team, or where all of us could blame it on the adversities that we had to face throughout the season. But as UNLV Coach Regina Miller used to say over and over again to us Rebels: "There are no excuses!"

And she was right... for once! (Smile, I'm just kidding!) The responsibility is on each individual of the team now to sit down and analyze themselves -- what they brought to the team, what they could have done better, and what they need to improve on for next season.

This is going to be a crucial offseason for the New York Liberty. We need to come back strong, and learn from our mistakes that held us back from being the WNBA champions this year.

As for this season, we learned, we were humbled and reminded to seize the moment, and not to take anything for granted.

On this note I hope that you will keep checking my Web site for news. I'm getting ready to plan my annual basketball camp in Las Vegas for the Christmas holiday.