Guest Columnist — Linda Frohlich: It’s almost that time to trade Italy for Phoenix

Thursday, April 8, 2004 | 9:33 a.m.

Former UNLV All-American Linda Frohlich writes a guest column exclusively for the Sun.

ROVERETO, Italy -- Hello to all. How is everyone doing?

I hope that everything is great in my favorite city of the world. Right now here in Rovereto, this is the best time of the year. This is the time when the birds begin to sing, the flowers start to bloom, and the sun shows her marvelous light again. It's springtime.

These are the days that I look forward to all throughout winter. Here in Italy, it is sooooo beautiful. It is hard to put into words. In the midst of spring, the landscape seems to be taken right out of a fairly tale book ... so romantic and wholesome. On a long sunshine day I can see the snow melting off the mountains, like a symbol that shows that the sun will be taking over for the next couple of months.

With all the majestic beauty that God has made in this season, there is yet one problem that comes along with it. It's me: I need a TAN! Boy, oh, boy, I look like Casper the friendly ghost.

My time here in Italy is coming to an end, and -- as expected -- I am getting a little bit sad. I will miss my teammates and the local community; my apartment in the nice city of Rovereto and the indescribable nature. I also have just learned how to speak some Italian, and I can only hope that I won't forget it too quickly.

I will truly miss Vickie Johnson and Crystal Robinson. Ever since I left Las Vegas for New York, I have been on the same team with them. They have become a part of my personal basketball family, and we really have a special bond that I hate to break up. But most important, I will miss my Grandma. It was so soothing for me to be in her presence for the past couple of months. ... I might actually have to take Grandma with me to Phoenix now.

So, all you handsome mature men, be on the look out for Grandma. She is single!

Basketball has been going better. We have put together a string of wins again and that feels good. We have learned to play with an undermanned team. I also feel that I have personally progressed in this last stretch of the season. I have been improving on something new in every game -- one game I shoot the ball well, and another game it is my defense that stands out. That's good ... now I will have a couple of weeks left to put all of those partial improvements together, and have an overall blameless performance on the court.

I have to take advantage of this time that I have left here in Italy, and prepare wisely. With me going to a new situation in Phoenix, I have to be at the top of my game. For the past three months I have adapted healthier eating habits and have been working out with our athletic trainer. I can see and feel the difference.

I have one more month to go now. Our last game will be May 8, and I am going to head to Phoenix immediately the next day. No time to stop in Germany to spend some time with my family. That's rough, but that's my life. My family doesn't necessarily prefer such a lifestyle, but they understand and support me a 100 percent. They know that I want to be with my new WNBA family as soon as possible, so we all can get ready for a great and successful 2004 season.

I would like to thank everyone who has (e)-mailed the Phoenix Mercury on my behalf. Your support really means a lot to me. I just found out through my agent that the Mercury had been swamped by fan mail, stating that they were happy that I am back on the West Coast and to be a part of their team.

To all of you who have written one of those letters: Thank you very much! And to all of you who haven't written them yet: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON? I'm trying to get a starting position this year ... help a sister out! (Just joking ... no, I'm not.)

All right. Take care to all and see you in May,

P.S.: I would like to congratulate the Lady Rebels to a phenomenal season this year. It is great to see that women's basketball continues to improve in Las Vegas, and I believe that with this upward trend over the past couple of years, UNLV will be a dominant force in the NCAA soon. Former UNLV All-American Linda Frohlich writes a guest column exclusively for the Sun.