Thankful

By Rebecca Gray
HoopGurlz Columnist
Posted Tue, 11/27/2007 - 08:39 Even a holiday week is a more-than-full week for North Carolina freshman Rebecca Gray.

---

PHOTOS COURTESY REBECCA GRAY

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."
_ James Dean

Thanksgiving break was well needed. Our team had played six games up to that point and we were in need of some refreshment. I love holidays and Thanksgiving is my second favorite behind Christmas. This Thanksgiving was different from all my previous ones. It was my first Thanksgiving away from Kentucky.

The tradition of Thanksgiving means more than where you are celebrating. I’m not going to lie, I wish I could have gone home but instead everyone came down to Chapel Hill. I love to eat and eat and eat – especially chicken and dumplings. You might not be able to tell from my size, but I eat anytime I have free time. You will find that being a collegiate athlete requires a lot of energy. Now, food is energy and athletes need almost double the amount of energy a regular student needs. Nutrition and hydration are among the many important things you have to have to be successful. Healthy foods and adequate hydration are essential for athletes. Being hydrated will enable your mind to focus clearly and help you react better. Carbohydrates are the best energy you can find and carbs usually can be found in good food like pasta. Staying healthy is key heading into the long stretches of the season.

I had a great week that was full of different types of situations. For example, the UNC field hockey team won a national championship, I got to spend time with my family and, most of all, I had time to breathe and enjoy life. I think we sometimes can take life for granted and just stepping back for those few days gave me time to appreciate it all. The first practice back from break, coach Hatchell went around the circle and asked each of us what we were thankful for. I sat there and it just ran through my mind for a few moments. I realized that I had a lot to be thankful for and I knew I could not even begin to say it all. So, I mentioned the most important things – everyone who I considered family, having the opportunity to be a university like UNC, my health and god. This is why I love Thanksgiving; it’s a time for rejoicing, good food and even some great football and basketball games.

I watched the UK football game on the couch in my parents’ apartment. I happened to be there by myself so I turned the television up loud to cover up my yelling. If you did not get a chance to see it, then you missed a really good game. They were playing Tennessee and we have not beaten Tennessee in 22 years. I thought that this would be the game! It ended up going into four overtimes and as each one ended, you could hear my yelling in the background. The final score was 52-50 with Tennessee winning. UK played their hearts out and the big blue nation is proud I’m sure. After the game, the team met up at the movie theatre.

The good thing about holidays and away games is our little movie bonus. If we are at an away game or it is a holiday, then we don’t pay for the movies. So, we took advantage as most people would. We all split into our different theatres and it was only fitting that I went and saw the Bee Movie. It was just me and Cetera DeGraffenreid and the only reason she went to see it was because I made her. It was a good movie and really funny as well. The other players said that August Rush and This Christmas were also very good. If you’re looking for good movies then I would recommend those three and realize that I’m being biased about the Bee Movie.

I know one thing is for sure in my life and it is the fact that my life has become very busy. We have our semester exams next week and a bunch of games before that. We played Furman Monday night and we won, so our record is now 7-0. Our next few games include College of Charleston on Tuesday, Purdue Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPN, and our first away game against Tennessee on Sunday. The Tennessee game is also on ESPN. That should be a good first away game, wouldn’t you say?

We have been practicing extremely hard and we are pulling everything together. We lost our starting point guard, Alex Miller, to a knee injury, but she is a tough kid and I know she will make a speedy recovery. Our new starting point is Cetera and she has been doing really well for us the past few games. We are getting better with every game and every practice. I am very excited about this week, and who wouldn’t be! My life is busy and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Playing basketball is a way of life and it can make a great foundation for you and discipline you for the future. It has already done wonders for me and if you work hard enough and really strive to be the best, then this wonderful game will do the same for you.

"Never underestimate the heart of a champion."
_ Rudy Tomjanovich

---

Click Here for All Rebecca Gray Columns

---

Discuss This on Our Message Board:

Click Here

---

Rebecca "Bee" Gray is a freshman on basketball scholarship at the University of North Carolina. A 5-foot-10, sharp-shooting guard out of Georgetown, Ky., Gray was ranked 47th in the 2007 class and an Honor Roll selection by HoopGurlz.com. She was named Miss Basketball in the state of Kentucky after averaging 25.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 4.8 assists during her senior season at Scott County High School, where she also finished as its career scoring leader with 2,907 points.

---