Relationships are everything

We hear this all the time, especially in college.

It’s about who knows you and who likes you.

This was very true for me yesterday when attending Wisconsin women’s basketball shootaround. I was calling their game against IU Thursday night and because of relationships, their coaching staff was especially friendly and helpful.

The first thing I saw when preparing for Wisconsin is a familiar name on the coaching staff. Kyle (Black) Rechlicz, a former North Central basketball star who played at Wisconsin, was on staff at her Alma mater. I have three older sisters, one of which who played basketball at NC long after Rechlicz. Last time I saw her was at her wedding reception!

Wisconsin hired a new coaching staff this season and is now led by former Stanford player and assistant Bobbie Kelsey. Well it just so happened that the Indiana Fever, where I’ve worked for 10 years, drafted Jeanette Pohlen last season. Easy conversation.

Then after getting into talks with assistant coach Alysiah Bond, I found out she was at the University of Tennessee with Tamika Catchings for three years as director of operations.

Common bonds and common relationships make for easier conversations and in turn, I learned more than I do with most staffs. Plus it was a blast to chat back and forth about similar experiences.

That wasn’t it.

Before my broadcast of Indiana and Wisconsin, I saw two familiar officials in Felicia Grinter and Roy Gulbeyan. College basketball is their primary job but to make more money in the offseason, they officiate WNBA games as well. Part of my gig with the Fever is to take care of them.

There’s a lot of negative feelings about referees. It’s a thankless job. I don’t know how night after night, these people go out on the court to get boo’d, no matter the call. They will never please everyone.

On my 21st birthday about 20 months ago, there was a Fever game and Grinter left me a tip of $21 for the special occasion. It’s little things like this one that I will never forget.

Relationships will continue to expand. Having similar friends and experiences, as I’ve found out first hand, really do make whatever you are doing better. And they all make great resources.

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