Candace Parker Holiday Clinic

If you’re lucky enough to live in, or near, Los Angeles, and you’re a basketball player who wants to train with LA Sparks star Candace Parker, then you’re in luck.

Parker is hosting a one day training clinic on Dec. 28th for girls who want to improve their game and play against top competition.

Check out the flyer for all the details:

Naperville basketball court named after Candace Parker

How’d you like a neighborhood basketball court named after you? That’s exactly what happened to WNBA star Candace Parker last week. The Naperville Park District honored their fave local player by dedicating a newly renovated basketball court in her honor.

Spring-Field Park is where Candace practiced basketball growing up so  when she cut the ribbon on Candace Parker Court, she recalled her childhood.

“This is where I pretty much first picked up a basketball,” said Parker,  “The first time I was on the court I was 5, had these huge braids and played with my big brothers. The park meant so much to our family.”

A plaque implanted in the sidewalk leading to the court notes that it was “the place where, for many years, Parker practiced and honed her craft under the guidance of her father.” Larry Parker was a former college basketball player who helped his daughter shape her game through countless hours of play.

“I am so excited to welcome Candace back to Naperville and present her with a Key to the City,” Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel said. “Candace is one of our hometown heroes and a positive role model for future generations of Naperville athletes. This is a fitting tribute for an outstanding individual. She truly has the key to our hearts in Naperville.”

Parker’s prowess on the basketball court has earned her numerous distinctions, from her high school prep career at Naperville Central High School where her contributions drove the Redhawks to consecutive state titles, as a member of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols where she led in scoring and rebounds during her final season, and as the top pick of the 2008 WNBA draft, going to the Los Angeles Sparks, her current team.

Most recently, Parker led the U.S. women’s basketball team to the gold medal during the Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, China.

Parker said she never imagined evolving into a role model for female athletes during her days playing in Naperville, but believes she has plenty of company.

“My generation was probably the first that had a few female athletes to really look up to, but today there are countless female athletes for young girls to look up to,” she said.

Williams’ sisters, WNBA players nominated for BET Female Athlete of the Year

The 2009 BET Awards will be hosted by Jamie Foxx and aired live from Los Angeles, California on June 28th.

So who will walk away with the “Best Female Athlete”? Will your pick for “Best Actress” make her way to the podium? Find out when artists and trailblazers all gather under one roof to celebrate the achievements of the most influential African Americans in music, acting, sports and entertainment.

Beyonce, always a showstopper, is back this year for her sixth BET Awards performance.

We’re closely watching the Female Athlete of the Year contest. Nominees are an All-Star list including the tennis-playing Williams sisters along with WNBA players Tamika Catchings, Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. These fierce competitors are all at the top of their games, but only one can win.

In entertainment categories, Best Actress of the Year nominees include Angela Basset, Rosario Dawson,Taraji P. Henson, Jennifer Hudson and and BET performer Beyonce Knowles.

The Best Female Hip Hop Artist list includes Lil Mama, M.I.A. and Trina. The A-List group of divas duking it out for Best Female R&B Artist include Beyonce, Keyshia Cole, Keri Hilson, Jennifer Hudson and Jazmin Sullivan.

Keri Hilson, M.I.A. and Jazmin Sullivan are also up for Best New Artist.

Will your faves win? They’re all fierce divas and competitors worthy of a statue so tune in to the BET on June 28. Recognize excellence!

Candace Parker welcomes baby girl

According the the WNBA site, Candace Parker gave birth to a baby girl today at 11:29 a.m. It is the first child for the WNBA MVP / Rookie of the Year and husband Shelden Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The baby girl weighed in at 7 pounds, 6 ounces and 20 inches in length. “Shelden and I are thrilled,” said Parker. “This is such a life changing moment for us, we feel blessed to have a healthy and beautiful baby girl.”

Parker plans to rejoin the Los Angeles Sparks once she has received clearance from her physician.

Congratulations Candace! Girls kick grass!!

Teen Vogue: 20 Questions with Candace Parker

A natural athlete, basketball player Candace Parker has been dribbling a ball since the age of six. She attributes her success to making hard work her passion.  The Los Angeles Sparks forward may be tough as nails on the court, but when the game is over, Parker can be found relaxing in Rock and Republic jeans with her family and beloved dogs Neno, Fendi, and Prada.

Fave City: Chicago
Fave Food: Mom’s Lasagna
Fave Musical Artist: Jay-Z
Fave Celebrity Look: Rihanna

Check out what Parker has to say about beauty, basketball, and making it to the top of her game.

20 Questions with Candace Parker

Star in the new “Me, Myself” adidas campaign

Adidas has put together a cool campaign called “Me, Myself” to support the launch of their new women’s apparel website.

What makes it cool? You could be the new face of adidas and star with WNBA MVP Candace Parker in a series of ads and marketing initiatives.

Participants upload their picture and share a personal, inspirational story that other visitors can view and vote on. The site also allows for voting via Facebook and other social networking apps. At the end of the contest, three winners will be chosen to be in a photo shoot with Parker in Los Angeles which will be the basis of the adidas marketing campaign.

The contest officially launched this week at www.adidas.com/women. Voting begins March 1.

Around the world wide web…

A few articles to note this weekend:

LA Sparks star Candace Parker talks for the first time about her pregnancy, motherhood and coming back to play part of this season. 

At 21, Allisa Czisny is the oldest first-time U.S. Figure Skating champion since Nancy Kerrigan in 1993.

 U.S. Women’s National Team soccer players Heather Mitts and Angie Woznuk came into training camp with a little extra weight on their left ring fingers.

Mr. President, The Ball Is In Your Court

Sports journalist Sally Jenkins pens a letter to President Obama in her Washington Post column outlining 10 ways to change the sports landscape in America. Obama, a serious baller and self-professed sports junkie, should take note.

Jenkins writes:

As with any issue vital to the republic, what you need is a sports czar to point you in the right direction and set your agenda as well as help you avoid the mistakes of your predecessors, such as boycotting the wrong thing or biking when you should be thinking.

Her open letter includes such suggestions as:

• eliminating the skewed BCS system in college football
• making college freshman ineligible for sports so they can concentrate on school activities including academics
• informing the American public that there’s no difference between men’s basketball and women’s basketball and highlighting the point by inviting Candace Parker to the White House for a game of one-on-one.
• enforcing equal pay for women’s sports (hello…)  Tennessee Vols coach Pat Summit, who has won eight national championships, makes about half of what her male counterpart, who has never made it past the Sweet 16, makes.

Jenkins notes that most of the suggestions concern college or amateur sports. We’ll have to wait for Obama’s second term to tackle the pros. Read the full article here.

Oh baby!

Last year was a year of firsts for Candace Parker.

In 2008 Parker was selected the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, she was the first woman in the WNBA to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, she captured her first Olympic Gold Medal at the Summer Games in Beijing and last November she eloped.

Entering a new year, Parker confirmed she has a special first to look forward to. This spring, she and husband Shelden Williams of the Sacramento Kings are expecting their first child.

And the timing works out perfectly. Parker says she will continue to work out in preparation to participate in the 2009 WNBA season which kicks off for the Sparks on June 6th. Guess she won’t be playing in Russia as expected but she’s young and assuming there are no complications there’s no reason she can’t return to play quickly.

In a letter to fans, Sparks owners Carla Christofferson and Kathy Goodman write they “are delighted to be adding a new Sparks fan.” Boy or girl, this kid should be dunking in no time (as well as perusing sponsorship offers).

The former face of the Sparks, Lisa Leslie, announced on the same day that Goodman and her Christofferson bought the team that she would miss the entire 2007 season due to pregnancy so we’re guessing the news wasn’t a total shock to the owners.

Still, the health of the Sparks and the WNBA rests somewhat precariously on Parker’s shoulders so there must be added pressure. No male athlete has to account to the league or fans regarding child birth decisions – it’s unfortunate the same can’t be said about female athletes.

Congrats CP – Enjoy the moment!

Gatorade scores with G

Have you seen the new commercial for Gatorade called “What’s G?”

The spot features Serena Williams, Misty May Treanor & Kerri Walsh, Candace Parker,  the legendary Muhammad Ali, and a bevy of other celebrity-athletes. It’s pretty cool though you’d never know they were selling a sports drink.

This latest comes shortly after Gatorade scored with the amazing ball girl video, easily the best viral marketing campaign of 2008.

In other beverage news, Gatorade is expanding into action sports  and has announced the addition of 17-year-old snowboarder Ellery Hollingsworth to their elite team roster.

What do you think of the latest spot?

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