Azzi's Induction into Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame

Jennifer Azzi was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame on April 28th, along with Will Clark, Jerry Rice, and Jerry Coleman. Dave Albee, Marin Independent Journal columnist, attended the induction banquet, and reports:

Mill Valley resident Jennifer Azzi delivered the most eloquent and emotional acceptance speech on Thursday night at the 28th annual Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame enshrinement banquet, which attracted a record turnout for the event at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. Jerry Rice, Will Clark and Jerry Coleman were also inducted. Azzi likened the support and encouragement she has received from family, friends, coaches and teammates over the years to the interconnected roots of a redwood tree. She concluded her speech by thanking her parents ("You gave me everything"), her sister, Susanne, and asking people to pray for her 41-year-old brother-in-law, Todd Kramer, a Major in the reserves who was deployed to Iraq last week.

Albee also reports:

The BASHOF banquet will be shown on KTVU Channel 2 on Sunday, May 6, at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. It's must-see TV.

Here is the complete article.

Brooke's and New's first day as a pro

By: Dave Albee, Marin Independent Journal Brooke Smith's first day as a pro was certainly eventful. "It's like you just wait until you're told you're drafted," said Smith, who had to wait even longer later in the day when her connecting flight home was delayed on the ground by snow in Cleveland. "I'm definitely excited about the girls I'll be playing with. They are talented and they are good people. That'll be fun." (More ...)

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By: Patrick Schmiedt, Casper Star-Tribune When Kristen Newlin saw her name pop up on the television screen -- pick No. 34 in the WNBA draft -- she had to take a moment to let it all sink in. "It was just awesome, it was surreal," Newlin said in a telephone interview with the Star-Tribune on Wednesday. (More ...)

Brooke and New selected in WNBA draft

Brooke and New were selected in the WNBA draft today -- Brooke in the second round by the Minnesota Lynx and New in the third round by the Houston Comets. Here is the story from GoStanford.com Here are the complete WNBA draft picks Here is Michelle Voepel's story about the draft.