Archive for the ‘robinson’ Category

Tough to Say Goodbye to A-Rob

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

The nature of professional sports means saying goodbye. Roster change is an inevitable part of the quest to get better and compete for championships. In Seattle, we’ve been lucky not to have to do that so much in recent seasons, but this offseason alone has meant saying goodbye to three favorites: Swin Cash, Le’coe Willingham and now Ashley Robinson.

From a basketball perspective, I’m thrilled the Storm was able to trade for one of my favorite young players in the league, talented athlete Victoria Dunlap. In time, we’ll come to know her as a person and not just a basketball player, as was the case with Robinson when she came to the Storm as an unproven young player midway through the 2006 season.

Still, Ashley will be missed. Over six years with the Storm – more than any other reserve in the league had spent with the same team – she became a fixture.

It’s always bothered me when fans and analysts tried to paint Robinson as a cheerleader, which demeaned her ability to contribute on the floor. Players, coaches and those who watched practice on a  regular basis knew what Robinson was capable of doing when she got enough minutes to build her confidence, and I’m thankful the whole world had a chance to see Robinson’s skills during her breakout 2011 season.

At the same time, there’s no question that Robinson was more valuable to the Storm than her stat line would ever indicate because she is such a great person to be around. Ashley has always been accessible to fans, especially after joining Twitter, and her support for her teammates grew into an important leadership role as she gained perspective as a WNBA veteran.

To know Ashley is to want her to succeed, and I hope you’ll join me in saying a heartfelt goodbye and wishing her the best of luck as she moves on to Washington.

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Robinson Heads Overseas

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Storm center Ashley Robinson has landed for the 2011-12 FIBA season. On Monday, Czech squad Frisco Brno signed Robinson, who spent yesterday traveling and jointed the team today (wearing short shorts, as evident in the photo at right she tweeted).

For the first time, Robinson will be playing in the Euroleague with Brno. Her team is a part of Group C, which means a pair of matchups against Wisla Can-Pack Krakow and Storm teammate Ewelina Kobryn. Robinson’s American teammate for Brno will be Washington rookie Jasmine Thomas, who was drafted by the Storm and traded to the Mystics as part of the deal that brought Katie Smith to the Storm.

Robinson will be a veteran leader on a young team that includes just one other player older than age 26. Five of Brno’s players are still teenagers.

Brno played Wednesday with Robinson watching from the bench, but lost to Prague University 77-74.

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A-Rob Hits the Catwalk

Friday, May 20th, 2011

Storm center Ashley Robinson traded in her basketball shoes for high heels last Friday, serving as a model during the finale night of Seattle Fashion Week. Check out a photo of Robinson on the catwalk from seattlepi.com.

“I’m no model. That’s what I know for sure after Friday,” said Robinson. “It was fun, but I don’t know if that’s a career for me. It was nerve-wracking. Basketball, I practice before I play a game. I needed a week of practice to get all the poses and feel comfortable. The whole time, I was shaking. I felt like you could see my legs shaking, but I don’t think you could. I was so nervous.

“I wanted to do well for this designer and then all these girls are models, so I was trying to walk like a model, look like a model. Maybe I’ll just have to be that celebrity model – and I use celebrity loosely – because it’s hard. It’s not easy, walking and looking pretty and posing and keeping that all in mind at the same time.”

Previously, Robinson had modeled in the Goodwill Glitter Gala in the fall of 2009. That was different, however, because like Robinson everyone modeling was an amateur. Additionally, Robinson wanted to make sure she did justice to the designer dress she was wearing.

“Glitter Gala was more fun for me because I had less pressure,” she explained. “I felt a lot of pressure because this is somebody’s life that they put on me. I wanted to make sure I presented her garment the right way for whoever she’s trying to sell her clothes to. Hopefully I did, but I was nervous. Those girls are professionals. It’s like if you told them to go in during the fourth quarter and shoot some free throws and they’ve never played basketball. I was feeling that fourth-quarter pressure. It was fun, and if anybody asked me to do it again I would do it, but I just want to practice some more.”

Despite Robinson’s nervousness, she got positive feedback from her fellow models. It was the other Storm players who had the chance to attend the show that gave Robinson some constructive criticism.

“They all said, ‘You looked gorgeous, you did great, way to go.’ My teammates said I looked mad up there, like they thought something was wrong, but I was just trying to get that model/diva no-smile face. So I need to work on my ’smeyes,’ as Tyra (Banks) would say – smiling with your eyes.”

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Robinson Debuts in Israel

Monday, February 14th, 2011

After playing the first half of the overseas campaign in Australia, Ashley Robinson has found a new home. She signed with Maccabi Ashdod in Israel for the remainder of the season and made her debut on Monday. Robinson played 17 minutes off the bench as Ashdod lost 73-59 to Raanana Hertzeliya. Robinson had four points, seven rebounds and six blocked shots, quickly making her presence felt. Raanana Hertzeliya’s all-Fever backcourt of Briann January and Jene Morris totaled 40 points and outplayed Ashdod’s Renee Montgomery, who missed all seven of her three-point attempts.

Fresh off advancing in the EuroCup playoffs, Elizur Ramla picked up another win in league play, beating Elizur Holon 81-66. Tanisha Wright scored 15 points, handed out eight assists and grabbed six rebounds. Le’coe Willingham had 11 points and eight rebounds and Kia Vaughan contributed 21 points and eight rebounds. Shannon Bobbitt led Holon by scoring 22 points.

Electra Ramat Hasharon maintained its hold on second place in the league by topping Elizur Natanya 70-60. Camille Little put up nine points, seven rebounds and four assists while Shavonte Zellous topped the team with 22 points. With two weeks left in the season, Electra Ramat Hasharon leads Maccabi Ramat Hen by one game for second behind runaway leader Ramla.

Returning to league play after a Euroleague playoff series win, Sparta&K Moscow Region blew by Spartak Noginsk 93-60 on Sunday. With the game over early – Sparta&K led 52-28 at the half – Sue Bird was able to get some rest. She played just 12 minutes, scoring three points and handing out two assists. Sonya Petrovic had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

UMMC Ekaterinburg got a tougher test from Dynamo-GUVD before earning a 69-54 victory. Svetlana Abrosimova was one of five Ekaterinburg players to reach double-figure scoring, knocking down a pair of three-pointers en route to 10 points and three assists in 23 minutes.

Despite an atypical 18 turnovers, Ros Casares Valencia defeated Palacio de Ibiza 69-54 on Saturday. Jana Vesela turned scorer for Ros Casares, putting up 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and a pair of rebounds. Rebekkah Brunson (16), Katie Douglas (14) and Marta Fernandez (10) joined Vesela in double-figures. Shona Thorburn, who had a cup of coffee with the Storm in 2007, scored 15 points for Ibiza.

A 45-28 second-half advantage helped Halcon Avenida run away with an 88-63 win over Obenasa Lacturale. Storm newcomer Belinda Snell used 7-of-7 shooting from the foul line to score 17 points. Her total was only surpassed for Avenida by Alba Torrens, who finished with 18 points.

Big win on Sunday for the Dandenong Jayco Rangers, who knocked off Townsville 70-54 at home. Because Dandenong holds tiebreakers against Sydney and Logan, the two teams behind in the standings, it appears the Rangers have clinched the fourth of five spots in the WNBL postseason bracket (according to The Age, Dandenong’s coaching staff is still waiting for official confirmation) with one week to go. Despite foul trouble, Abby Bishop had 10 points, six rebounds and three steals in Sunday’s win. She was one of four players in double-figures for the Rangers, who pulled away for good in the second quarter. Bishop might rest in the team’s final game if it has clinched.

Dandenong’s position has ramifications for the Canberra TransAct Capitals, who are still clinging to an outside chance at finishing atop the WNBL. The Capitals would need a win next weekend as well as a loss by the Bulleen Boomers, who face the Rangers. Canberra did its part to keep hope alive by beating the Logan Thunder 80-67 on Friday. Suzy Batkovic, who had 21 points and 13 rebounds, was too much for Logan to handle inside. Michelle Cosier added 16 and Alison Lacey contributed three points, five rebounds and three assists for the Capitals.

This was All-Star weekend in Poland, as the Polish National Team squared off against what appears to be a team of the best internationals playing in the Polish PLKK. The thrilling game went to OT, where Erin Phillips had a key three-pointer to help the foreigners win 90-87. Phillips started and scored 14 points with four assists. Her teammate Jelena Maksimovic scored 19 points to win MVP honors.

Also see a video interview with Phillips on the PLKK website complete with highlights from her time in Poland.

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Robinson Headed Down Under

Friday, September 10th, 2010

Storm center Ashley Robinson is headed to Australia this offseason. The WNBL’s Dandenong Jayco Rangers announced today that they have signed Robinson to join Storm teammate Abby Bishop on their roster. Bishop helped make the connection between player and team.

“It just happened randomly,” Robinson explained. “She said her team was looking for a center. I said, ‘I’ll go play.’ She talked to her coach; I’m on the team now. I’m excited. I think it will be a lot of fun. We get to be teammates for a whole year.”

Bishop is new to the Rangers, who play in a suburb just outside of Melbourne. She changed teams as a free agent after teaming with Lauren Jackson to lead the Canberra TransACT Capitals to a second consecutive WNBL Championship. Now, Bishop has a new Storm teammate, and the two post players’ skills should complement each other.

“We’re going to try to do a little high-low,” joked Robinson. “Let Abby shoot her threes. I’ll grab the rebounds if she ever misses.”

Robinson, who has played in Turkey and Spain and spent last offseason at home in her native Dallas, is looking forward to enjoying a new continent – just from indoors.

“I’m excited about going to Australia,” she said. “Spring and summer weather, so that will be fun. I don’t know that I’ll be doing too much outdoorsy stuff, because I watch TV and I know they have the snakes, and the sharks and the spiders, so I’ll be inside while I’m there.”

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Robinson Heads Overseas

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

Add a new name to the ranks of Storm players overseas. Center Ashley Robinson, having completed her internship for the Dallas Mavericks and her time working with a prep team in the Dallas area, is now playing for Pankup TED Kayseri Koleji in Turkey. If that club sounds familiar, it’s because Camille Little played for Kayseri before deciding to return to the U.S. Robinson has in effect taken Little’s spot on the roster. Robinson had six points, six rebounds and two blocks earlier today as Kayseri lost 71-61 to Besiktas Cola.

Good news from Ireland, where Kristen O’Neill has been named the Irish Superleague Player of the Month for February. O’Neill finished the regular season as the Superleague’s leading scorer at 25.5 points per game. She also ranks in the top 10 in rebounding (9.9, sixth), steals (3.1 spg, fourth), blocks (1.6, fourth), free throws (58, third) and three-pointers (26, tied for second)

O’Neill’s UL Aughnish squad hosts the first leg of a two-game aggregate semifinal series against Team Montenotte Hotel Cork this Saturday.

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Robinson Diary: Mavs Fans Remind Me of Storm Fans

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

Hey y’all! I have been so busy this month. I finally have time to sit down and get everyone caught up on what has been going on in Dallas. I know all of y’all are Seahawks fans, but “HOW BOUT THEM COWBOYS!!??” I think the Terrell Owens and the Cowboys receivers vs. Tony Romo and Jason Witten bickering is over. I didn’t know whose side to take on this one. TO is a huge Lady Vol Fan, but Witten is a Vol! I stayed neutral throughout all that drama. I think the media made something out of nothing. TO has been on his very best behavior since he became a Cowboy. So please leave my BOYS alone. It’s looking like the Cowboys are not going to make the playoffs anyways. BUMMER!

STORM FANS! I have said it before and I’ll say it again – Storm fans are the best fans in the WNBA! I think your only competition might be the Mavs fans! They are terrific. They have the longest sellout streak going in the NBA right now. How incredible is that? My challenge to my faithful Storm Fans is to start our own sellout streak. The energy the Mavs fans bring reminds me so much of Storm fans. The Mavs just had a seven-game homestand. It was amazing how the team fed off of the energy. The only downfall was that the other teams that aren’t used to playing in a packed arena fed off that same energy. Every home game ended up being a nailbiter. The Mavs came out on top, going 6-1 during that homestand. The only loss was a double-overtime game against a healthy San Antonio Spurs squad. In 2009 we need to get KeyArena rocking on another level! Let’s further prove that Storm fans aren’t just the best in the WNBA but the best in all sports!

I still have more bragging to do about these Mavs Fans. Mavs season ticket holder Neal Hawks came up with this brilliant idea to give up his courtside seats to military personnel on a special day called “Seats for Soldiers.” This year American Airlines flew in 150 soldiers that are currently rehabbing injuries suffered while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. They took a 45-minute flight from San Antonio to DFW. I was lucky enough to get tag along with Mavs Sideline Reporter Emily Jones on this special day. We greeted the soldiers at the airport and rode on the charter buses with them en route to dinner.

I was supposed to be interviewing different soldiers and just hearing their stories to assist Emily in finding a good story for the game broadcast. I don’t know how well I did interviewing, but I did have great conversations with a few of the men and women on the bus. From the airport we went to Abacus. Abacus is one of the top restaurants in Dallas. Abacus Chef Kent Rathbun is BIG TIME! He’s been Iron Chef, on the CBS Morning Show and he has been featured in multiple magazines. Chef Rathbun put it down for the Soldiers. I normally don’t eat at high-end restaurants like Abacus, but I was not going to pass up free food from Chef Rathbun. As we say down south, “He put his foot in it.” I wasn’t even hungry but ate anyways. Glad I did. So we get to the game and guess who the Mavs were playing? The team formally known as the Seattle Super Sonics! I was excited to see some of the guys, but I have to say I do wish they were still in Seattle. The team formally known as the Seattle Super Sonics played hard, but the Mavs came out on top.

From talking with the soldiers I learned that I have no idea what the word “war” really means. The men and women in our military are truly a group of unselfish Americans. I felt so proud to be in their presence. What heart it must take to go fight and protect people you don’t even know. They just know they love our beautiful country and plan on keeping us safe. Seats for Soldiers was one of those experiences that I will never forget. I left at the end of the day feeling so blessed. Thank you to all of our men and women serving in the U.S. Military.


Courtesy Mavs.com

I finally heard from Kristen and Swin. Kristen was so sweet. She told me the best part about Ireland is she gets to work out whenever she wants. LOL! I used to try to get Kristen to leave the gym. I never could talk her into leaving early. She was consistently the first person in the gym and the last person to leave. I told her a lot of her needs to rub off on me and just a little of me needs to rub off on her. She seems so happy and I’m guessing she might be home by now. There might be some Kristen O’Neill sightings in the area. Swin and I are never online at the same time. One morning I woke up to a cute little message from Swin. Swin’s nickname is grandma. Her message was, “Very wise like a granny.” LOL! Love you, Swin!

So many people have asked me if the Storm is OK since the Comets folded. I want to make sure everyone saw this quote from Karen Bryant, the Storm’s CEO, on the Storm’s future. She said, “It’s definitely a loss, there’s no doubt about that. But as it relates to our future here, our future continues to be bright. We’re focused on our 10th anniversary of playing in Seattle and have a lot of momentum already.”

I think that answers all question about the Storm. OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT!!!

Being home has been a great time. I’ve started to miss playing so bad. I don’t miss being in Europe, but I do miss being on the court with my Storm teammates. Everybody should be on their way home for the holidays. I wish all my lovely teammates safe travels back home. Happy Holidays to you from me! 2009 is going to be a blast!

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Robinson Diary: Interning in Dallas

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

Hey y’all! Sorry it has taken me so long to write. I have been pretty busy this offseason. So, let me get you all caught up on what I’ve been up to. …

I decided to stay in the U.S. of A. and not go play in Europe this offseason. I am home in Grand Prairie, Texas. This is my first time being home for longer than two months since I left to go to college in 2000. I am taking advantage of this time to just be here. My little sister, Katrina, and I hang out at least three days a week. I think that’s my favorite part about being home. We have a blast together. I think she needs to move to Seattle this summer with me. I don’t how she will feel about leaving the South for the Northwest! I’ll try to talk her into it.

Other than hanging with Trina, I’ve been doing an internship with the Dallas Mavs Broadcasting Department. I am having a ball. I cannot believe all that goes into having professional basketball games broadcast on TV. When you are playing you don’t really think about it. I just come to the gym, get dressed, warm up, listen to coach and then go play. So, thank you Seattle Storm Broadcast Team! :) My boss lady with the Mavs is Anita Green, AG for short. I heard rumors that she used to be a scary boss! She has been quite lovely! Love, love, love AG! (A little brown nosing never hurt anybody!) LOL!

My favorite days to work are game nights. Every game I work I get to observe and learn from different people doing their job. Y’all know I have no problem meeting new people, so this is right up my alley. Last week I observed the NBA Loggers. I had great teachers in Damien and Darryl. I logged the fourth quarter of the Cavaliers game and the second half of the Spurs game.

This week, I had to work the Lakers game, but not for the Mavs. I was a runner for the Lakers’ Broadcast team. A runner means that I do all the leg work in the arena for that particular team – make copies, get water, bring stats and whatever else the producer needs. I kind of felt like their secretary for the day. HA! LUCKY ME, THOUGH! I got to meet the Lakers announcers, also. I got way excited when I shook the hands of Stu Lantz and Joel Meyers! EXCITING! That was a fun day on the job. I went and peeked in on the interview with Phil Jackson also. Could not miss that! If you didn’t know already, he is so tall! I’m always amazed when someone can make me feel short.

The Mavs have great analysts as well. I’m looking forward to shadowing as many of them as they will let me. Rolando Blackman is one of the Fox analysts for the Mavs. I am super excited to learn from him. Seattle fans that do not know Ro Blackman, please go look him up. I’ve always been a Mavs Fan and he is one of our legends! I was also thinking … since the Sonics are gone, I say all Seattle bball fans just become Storm and Mavs Fans! LOL! Still can wear green!

The most exciting thing I’ve done while being home was going to the Mayor’s Gala. I was so happy to be able to dress up. I went with some of my infamous guy friends from grade school – BJ, Marcus, Brent and Doc. We had a great time. I got to meet the Mayor of Dallas, Tom Leppert. With all the election hoopla this year I’ve been feeling all political. LOL. I came in contact with people that I normally wouldn’t brush shoulders with. It was so inspiring being around a group of successful people. I felt so grown up.

All the Storms (hehe) that I have spoken with are doing well. Balling! Every time I talk to one of them they had 20+ points and 10+ boards. I probably talk to Shyra and T the most. Shyra’s team beat someone by 103 without her. Her coach told her to rest that game. Ha! 103 POINTS! WOW! I haven’t spoken with Kelly, Kristen or Swin! I’m sure they are doing just as well as the rest of my teammates.

To all the girls, Lola (my toy fox terrier) is doing just fine. She gets treated like my mom’s first grandchild. It’s hilarious. If it was up to my mom we would carry Lola everywhere we went. She has taken over my whole family, pretty much. She’s had some sleepover requests; I wasn’t invited. LOL! She is one of the cutest dogs I’ve ever been around so I can’t blame them. She gets it from her Mama!

Well y’all, that’s all I have for now. I’m going to go enjoy this warm Texas weather and make my way to 24-Hour Fitness so I can get a membership. I have to work off these home-cooked meals Kathleen Robinson, my mama, has been whipping up!

ARob

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Here's to You, Ms. Robinson

Thursday, August 14th, 2008


Aaron Last/Storm Photos

Yesterday was Ashley Robinson’s 26th birthday, and she made no secret of that fact, donning a pink tiara while shooting free throws after practice. Teammate and fellow Tennessee alum Shyra Ely turned 25 on Saturday. The Storm had today off and will be back on the court at The Furtado Center tomorrow.

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Robinson Returns to Practice

Monday, July 7th, 2008

Storm center Ashley Robinson returned to practice Monday after rolling her right ankle last Thursday and missing Saturday’s win over Minnesota. She was on the floor for the brief live action we saw at the end of practice.

“I feel fine,” said Robinson. “A little achy, but it’s normal. It’s still a little bit (swollen), but it’s under control and it goes down a lot every day.”

Robinson and the Storm’s training staff have been working hard to get her ankle ready to go over the last few days.

“Ice, stim treatment,” she said. “Compression boot, exercises for it – I’m trying a little bit of everything.”

The Storm should have Robinson available for tomorrow’s game in Sacramento (7:00 p.m., 1150 AM KKNW).

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