Returning to Jefferson

This video shows our surprise visit to Jefferson Jr. High (now middle school). We had no idea if anyone would be there and we got lucky to find the team and my old coach Barry Haile there practicing. He has been there for 35 years!

The kids were great and I was surprised to see my #3 jersey and photos framed on the wall in the gym. I can’t remember the last time I was in that gym! Still looks the same...

Photos From the Trip Home

OK, so I know I 'm kind of doing these out of order, but the events leading up to the actual induction ceremony were great, so I wanted to post some more photos from my return "home."

Getting ready for the 4K fundraiser race. Gotta have the Rev3!

Stanton Stevens, my Mom, Donna Azzi, Miss Mimms, and my Dad, Jim Azzi before the hall of fame induction ceremony.

My sister, Susanne Kramer. I was so happy she was there with me.

Fellow inductee Sonja Hogg. She was hilarious!

Carol Stiff of ESPN.

Vern Glenn, of Channel 4 in San Francisco, followed me around for a documentary.

The Class of 2009

Induction night was wonderful. Each inductee and our escorts rode over from the hotel to the Bijou Theatre in a huge limo (you'll see in the video below).

My Dad seemed a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing. It was really fun to go over with everyone. We are all so different yet we were and are so passionate about the “game.”

When my Dad walked me to the stage, I had to really focus and take deep breaths to have the courage to get up on the stage. He was so cute!!!

Vern Glenn of Channel 4 in San Francisco followed me during the weekend for a documentary. Above is his video of my acceptance speech.

An Incredible Night

What a night! My Dad escorted me to the stage for the hall of fame induction ceremony on Saturady. We have shared so much and he has always believed in me — even putting a hoop in our driveway when we could barely afford clothes.

My whole family was there. When I got to the stage to speak, I was literally speechless, doing my best to hold back the swell of emotion. Something took over me as I was standing there looking out into the very bright lights of the Bijou Theater. I had been in and out of tears all day. I have never felt more brave. There is no way to prepare for this kind of emotion.

I speak for a living and I am always prepared, but this was different. This was pure love and emotion coming out of me. There was so much love in the room, love for people, love for the game — Teresa Edwards, Pat Summitt, other legends in the game were all there. Many of the women were playing and making the game great when no one was watching.

I am so very blessed to have played when I did. I am so so lucky. I got a chance on stage to say “Thank You.”

Here are a few photos from the night. I'll have video of the amazing evening soon.

What an amazing class! It's an honor to be included in this group.

Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, center, one of the game's all-time greats.

Visiting Miss Mimms

As promised, here's the video of my visit to see Miss Mimms while I was in Oak Ridge, Tenn. She was the director of Scarboro Day Care Center. We'd lost touch for 30 years and had an emotional reunion.

There's more to come...

Reconnecting in Oak Ridge

I just returned to California and I am feeling so overwhelmed by my “induction” but what touched me the most was the people I reconnected with.

My trip “back” was literally breathtaking. I'll be posting some videos and photos soon. One video in particular that is amazing was taken just following my visit to Scarboro Day Care Center in Oak Ridge. In it, you'll see Vern Glenn from Channel 4 in San Francisco, who is following me for a documentary.

The incredible reunion with Miss Mimms, who was the director of the day care center when my sister and I were kids, had no idea we were coming. We also had no idea if she was still alive since we had no address or phone number for her.

To our complete surprise, we found out from one of the older teachers at Scarboro that she still lived in the neighborhood. So we paid her a visit. I am still trying to process all that I felt...as this is where I learned to love basketball.

I felt total love and acceptance at the school because of Miss Mimms and the love she gave us. Thank God we found her. My Mom, Dad, Sister and my niece Alex were there with me.

I'll have plenty more from the actual ceremony, which was unbelievable, but I wanted to start with this because it was such an emotional and wonderful experience to reconnect with Miss Mimms.

Having a Great Time in Tennessee

I'm having a great time! This is our Class of 2009. They are a very funny and lively group! Tonight is the big night! Going to get some rest now as this day has been crazy busy!

The above photo is from the 4K run this morning. 5 a.m. for me! I'm standing with Cynthia Cooper, one of the all-time greats (she's also being inducted into the hall of fame tonight).

The run is a fundraiser in honor of Kay Yow, NC State women's basketball coach and Women's Basketball Hall of Famer (Class of 2000). She lost her battle with breast cancer on Jan. 24, 2009.

This is Miss Mimms. When we were kids we wanted her to be our mom. Hurt my mom's feelings a bit but we loved her. She was the director of Scarboro day care center. We had lost touch and we had a very emotional reunion yesterday in Oak Ridge. I had not seen the school in 30 years!

I am having a great time! Very busy. Much more to come...

I've Arrived in Knoxville!

I arrived in Knoxville last evening and was greeted at the hotel by my family, including my parents and my niece and my sister! I am so excited to have everyone here with me.

I met Karen Tucker from the Hall of Fame and she escorted me to a print interview with the Knoxville News Sentinel and then to WBIR TV. Then we had dinner at Calhoun’s on the river. They are known for their ribs and barbecue. Ironically, it is the same restaurant we ate at before winning the NCAA Championship here in Knoxville almost 20 years ago.

As we drove in this evening we passed Thomson-Bowling Arena where we beat Auburn to win the title. It seems like yesterday and it also seems like forever ago at the same time. There are so many memories here and I feel it has only just begun.

Today we are off to Oak Ridge (20 minutes away where I grew up) to tour all of our childhood places, including Scarboro Day Care, where all of this began for me. Should be an interesting day.

I am also being followed around by Channel 4 from the Bay Area for a documentary about this bizarre journey.

Tim from USANA is editing a video from yesterday, so look for that soon (Update: It's at the top of the post). Thank you everyone for following me on this journey!

Taking a Look Back

I have always had trouble looking back. Getting inducted into the Hall of Fame is forcing me to look back at not only my basketball career, but my life.

I don’t like to celebrate what “was” as I want to always strive for what’s next. We can too easily become paralyzed by our own success. Even our identity can be wrapped up in how other people see us at certain times in our lives.

The key to a fruitful life is to build on both our successes and our failures, embrace whatever comes our way and keep moving onward and upward. And worrying about what other people think is a waste of time.

I am trying my best to take time to celebrate and embrace my past. Who knows, maybe I will learn something by taking this journey back...