Guest columnist Linda Frohlich: Hurry up and wait: Zip to New York, then sit

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 | 9:35 a.m.

Editor's note:Linda Frohlich, a former UNLV All-American and a professional basketball player, writes a column exclusively for the Las Vegas Sun.

NEW YORK -- Hello, Las Vegas.

I am writing you from New York, my home in the WNBA for the past two years, and my home for a few days last week. You are surprised?

Well, so was I a couple of days ago: On Thursday my agent called me and asked me whether I would be willing to pack my bags within the next couple of days to get back to the WNBA, and I said, "Sure."

The next day around noon, my agent called me back and said that the New York Liberty wanted to sign me to a seven-day contract. He asked me if I wanted to go, and of course, I said, "Of course."

Things happened quickly from there: I had to pack my bags, get to the airport, and cancel my reservation for a camping trip that I had previously planned with my boyfriend and a couple of our friends. My plane departed California in the early evening and I arrived at my hotel room around 4 a.m. The good thing was that the coaches had moved practice from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the next day ... or shall I say, that same day.

To tell you the truth, I was a little bit nervous before that practice. Not that there was any type or pressure on me at this point, but since I had been out for the past two months, I wasn't sure if I needed an oxygen tent or not. Seriously, you can be the master of the Elliptical, or the Stepmaster, but running up and down the court is a whole new ballgame ... literally. In the end, thanks to the countless times that my boyfriend had dragged me out to the park to hoop it up, I am still in decent shape, so an oxygen tent was not necessary.

Overall things went pretty well the first practice, and I was glad that despite the change in the coaching staff, most of their set plays are still the same, so it was easier for me to get right back into the flow. There was really no time for getting used to everything again. Once again, things were happening quickly.

The next day we had to go down to the city early to play a game on TV against -- you won't believe the timing -- Phoenix, my former team. Before the game I was told that I was going to get into the game as the fourth post player. I was pumped: I really wanted to get out there, and use the opportunity that would be given to me. I'd been out for a while, and I was feeling good, motivated. In a nutshell, I was ready!

When we walked into the locker room at halftime, I hadn't gotten one minute of playing time. It hurt. But I didn't quite want to give up yet; I wanted to stay mentally ready for the second half. You never know what might happen. And I did. I kept my focus. We played great and were extremely aggressive. We had a lot of energy, and beat Phoenix. When we walked back into the locker room this time, cheering and excited, I still hadn't played one minute.

I didn't play again the second game, but I was not worried about what would happen Friday when my seven-day contract expired. The lesson that I have learned over the past couple of months is that there are things that I can't control, and some things that I need to control.

Soon I will have to decide what team I will sign with so I can improve my game for next WNBA season: my final decision will be between Rovereto Basket in Italy and DKSK Miskolc in Hungary.

Now I have to go, because in a little bit I am actually going to meet up with Becky Hammon (my ex-rival from Colorado State University) and we are going to drive down to Madison Square Garden to attend Prince's concert.