“Let’s go to shootaround,” Shealyn said, dropping her bag in the office where they would change before the game.
Nicole laid her clothes over the back of a chair and shouldered her small backpack. “Anyone in particular you plan to talk to before the game?”
They walked down the corridor towards the sound of bouncing basketballs and squeaking shoes on the gym floor.
“Well, it won’t be your favorite point guard since she’s not playing in this game,” Shealyn said as they walked onto the floor.
Nicole smirked. “We are supposed to be neutral.”
Shealyn chuckled. “I’m teasing you. We can’t help but have favorite players here and there.”
“Yes and some of them aren’t the best players on the court either,” Nicole replied.
“Here comes one of our favorites now,” Shealyn smiled at a tall woman holding a basketball as she approached them. “Janell Jackson.”
“Hi, JJ,” Nicole said.
“It’s nice to see the network sent the A-team to cover our home opener tonight,” Janell said.
Nicole smiled. Some players appreciated what Nicole and Shealyn brought to the game; however, there were always those who did not like their comments.
“How am I doing so far?” Janell asked.
“You’ve only had one game,” Shealyn replied. “I’ll let you know.”
“What about you, Nicole?”
Nicole studied Janell for a moment. “I noticed some fancy footwork in your opening game and you added a fade-away jumper.”
“It’s hard to shoot over those trees in the paint!” Janell exclaimed. “I had to do something.”
“You’re one of those trees!” Nicole chuckled.
“Thanks for noticing, Nicole.” Janell nodded. “I worked hard in the off season.”
“You always do,” Nicole replied.
Janell wasn’t the best inside player in the league, but she was an asset because she was a team player. Whether that meant coming off the bench to fulfill a specific role or starting the game to set the tone. Nicole and Shealyn had covered Janell when she was playing in college. Now, as a ten-year veteran, she was always a favorite to talk to and they considered her a friend.
“We’ve added two players from the French national team,” Janell said.
“Oh, we know,” Shealyn said.
“Of course you do.” Janell chuckled. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to them.”
“I’m going to take a look at our new setup on the other side of the court,” Nicole said.
“Oh yeah, they have a special table for the broadcast media across from the scorer’s table,” Janell said.
“It’s like that in most arenas now. We can’t listen in on your time-outs anymore.” Shealyn chuckled.
“We don’t have to,” Nicole added. “They have the coaches miked-up a lot of times now.”
As Shea and Janell walked away, Nicole strolled across the court watching the players shoot, pass, and practice their footwork. She stopped behind the broadcast table and looked out over the court.
“How’s the view?”
Nicole turned as a woman approached the table from the other end of the court.
