NEWS » the Slovenian-born British No. 3, ahe

INDIANAPOLIS -- Emotions arent always the same in the professional game. Most WNBA players compete nearly year-round in countries all over the globe. When basketball becomes your business, some of the most genuine and pure emotions in sports take a back seat to pragmatism. Its understandable.But then there is a night such as Wednesday, when a team, a league, a city and a sport say goodbye to someone who made them feel those emotions in a bittersweet flood as very few players could.Tamika Catchings career came to an end with the Fevers 89-78 loss to Phoenix at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. That meant tears. A whole lot of them.Thats my rock, man, Fever guard Briann January said through sobs. Shes just impacted every area of my life and always been there for me and taught me so much about being a professional, about being a good person.Ive been here eight years with her, and its amazing what she does here. People like her just dont come around often, and I am so lucky to have been around her.Dont we all feel that way, even if we didnt get to be around Catchings as closely as a teammate? Arent we all proud that she represented so completely what we want our sports heroes to represent? For 15 years in the WNBA, didnt she compete every game the way we all dream we could for even a single day?Even when Wednesdays game was essentially over, with just 13 seconds left and the Fever down by 11, Catchings waved off an attempt to sub her out for one last standing ovation.Gotta finish strong, Catchings said. I didnt want to spend 13.1 seconds on the bench knowing that I had 13.1 seconds to give everything that I could.Thats what Catchings has done ever since she first started playing basketball. The daughter of NBA player Harvey Catchings, she faced the challenge of being hearing-impaired and looked to sports as a way to avoid being mocked by other kids. It turned out that she was destined for greatness.Every game Ive played against her, shes been such a warrior, said Phoenixs Penny Taylor, who is also retiring when this season ends and faced the potential that Wednesday would be her last game. I feel happy that were going on. As a team, we worked really hard to win that game. But also, its sad because Tamika is such a great player, and you never want to see great players stop.But they all have to. Ever since Catchings announced last year that 2016 would be her final season, WNBA followers have been dreading the end. Yet there is so much to celebrate about what weve seen from a player who defined effort.Catchings had 13 points and 10 rebounds in her last game, and when it was over, she got hugs not just from her teammates but also from all the Mercury players, who showed their respect and affection.It just makes you really appreciate what shes done, Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi said. If anyone wants to play basketball and loves the game, they should use her blueprint because thats how you do it. Theres not many people Ive been around who put that much into it. I said to her, Thank you for everything.Taurasi, Catchings and Seattles Sue Bird each won their fourth Olympic gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Games in August. Thats something Taurasi cherishes too.Its an honor to share the court with them, Taurasi said. I think well look back on it, and it will feel good that we did that with each other. We have so much respect for each other, and we really do like each other. Thats the other side of it too.Taurasi has spent her career with Phoenix and is the signature player of that franchise. The same has been true for Catchings in Indiana.Its going to be a change for the whole Indiana franchise now, Taurasi said. Its like, I was a Lakers fan growing up, and now Kobe [Bryant] is not there. And I dont even know if Im a Lakers fan anymore. But I think Indiana is a great organization. It will be tough, but theyll move on. This is a place people want to play.A big reason for that, of course, has been the presence of Catchings, who finishes her career as the WNBAs leader in rebounds and steals and is second in scoring.We wanted her to go on top, and its hard, said the Fevers Marissa Coleman, who was crying like everyone else in the Indiana locker room. Because shes given everything to us and this organization, and I kind of feel like we let her down. I know she doesnt feel that way, but thats how we feel. Were going to miss her. Shes one of my favorite people.Catchings was honored Sunday with a postgame ceremony that included tributes from politicians, coaches, teammates and officials from the WNBA, USA Basketball and the Fever and Pacers. It was as heartfelt and well-done a send-off as any player could hope for, and really, that is the closing memory of Catchings that everyone should hold onto.For her part, Catchings was the selfless leader right until the end.Theyll be fine, Catchings said of the Fever moving on without her. I think its always tough when you look at passing the baton in any organization. You dont replace me. You find players that step up to the plate for the good of the team to do what they need to do. ... Theyll continue to make this organization grow.Catchings reflected on the big picture of her role in the WNBA and her pride that she has been instrumental in its establishment.Were celebrating the WNBAs 20th year, and thats a big deal, she said. I remember the first year and all the people who doubted if we wouldnt make it past two years, three years, five, 10, 15. Were standing here knowing the next generation whove watched us play aspire to follow in our footsteps. And that gives me strength.Catchings recalls being a child and wishing she could play in the NBA like her dad. The WNBA launched in the summer before her freshman year at Tennessee, and she had a new dream.One of those little girls growing up now hopefully wants to be me, Catchings said. But my challenge is for her to be better than I was.That is some challenge. In Catchings, we saw the best.Cheap Air Max Bw . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. Cheap Air Max 97 From China . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. http://www.airmaxsneakersonsale.com/cheap-air-max-tn.html . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Nike Air Max China Wholesale Paypal . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Cheap Air Max 200 Mens . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court.NEW YORK -- Nick Kyrgios is confident of making a big splash in the Big Apple, but his first-round opponent here, Britains Aljaz Bedene, believes the Australian could be the architect of his own downfall Tuesday at the US Open.The volatile 21-year-old is coming off a second-round exit at Cincinnati, where his temper flared as he smashed three rackets in a row during a defeat to Borna Coric.Either he can play great tennis or he can go down. He is his biggest enemy, said Bedene, the Slovenian-born British No. 3, ahead of their match.Kyrgios, who said in a recent interview with the New York Times magazine that he wants to quit the sport at the age of 27, is also known for a signature tweener trick shot through his legs..dddddddddddd.Its not easy because it gets quite entertaining. Its funny, Bedene added. It gets interesting, as a player you want to enjoy the match. All those different emotions going through and then a player is playing tricks.Its not easy to stay focused, but you have to try to play the best you can.The best players always take advantage. You have to stay focused and you know those games and those points will come. You just have to grab them.Should Kyrgios win his first two matches at Flushing Meadows, he could face a potential third-round match against fellow Australian Bernard Tomic. ' ' '