Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 at 8:00 am  |  5 responses
Catch and Release

Tamika Catchings overcame a hurdle-filled childhood to become an example for
all.

Fact: There might not be a living soul on the planet who doesn’t like Tamika
Catchings. If you’re being honest with yourself, you’d have to search high
and low for a reason not to. Her playing ability, her altruism, her faith,
and her kind demeanor, quite simply, are magnetic. Because of this, Catchings
has found herself as the embodiment of the epitomic role model for young
women across the globe. This feature ran in SLAM 139, which is on newsstands
everywhere.–Ben York

by Ben York / @bjyork

It’s rare, but it happens: That occurrence where every ounce of admiration
bestowed upon a professional athlete is based on fact. And there is no better
proof of this anomaly than Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever.

The reason Tamika is so remarkable in today’s professional sports world isn’
t just that she practices what she preaches (love, compassion and strength).
It’s that it comes instinctively. It’s natural. She doesn’t wake up every
morning consciously thinking of ways to be a role model or inspiration, she
just…is.

Growing up, Catchings was given many labels by her classmates before
blossoming into a college phenom at Tennessee and then a superstar in the
WNBA. Most were far from desirable. Trying to get through school with a
profound hearing disability that would lead to hearing aids, speech therapy,
lip reading and social exile is difficult (if not improbable) to overcome
while maintaining one’s integrity and honor. Tamika CatchingsInsults were
hurled at Tamika on a daily basis—outcast, loser, outsider and loner, to
name some of the nicer ones. Kids would tease her about her lisp, mock her
for wearing glasses and having braces and taunt her about not being able to
hear. This type of emotional defacement can either destroy a person or make
them resilient. For Tamika, it was the latter.

“The biggest thing for me is just my passion for helping others,” Catchings
says. “I am very passionate about kids and I think every single time I have
the opportunity to talk about my story and relate it to these kids is
something I love. That’s what it’s all about.”

Catchings has never been hesitant to talk about her childhood. Rather than be
embarrassed or ashamed of the trials and tribulations she had to persevere
through, she looks at her story as a testament to beating the odds. She is
appreciative of the people who supported her and maintains a type of
pay-it-forward mentality with the youth she and her Catch the Stars
Foundation seek to assist through mentoring and health programs. “Some
people know my story—growing up with speech problems, hearing problems,
having to wear hearing aids, glasses and braces,” Catchings says. “I think
the biggest thing for me was just being different and being called out on
being different. As a child, all that I wanted was to fit in and be like
everybody else. But the things I had to overcome have helped me become the
person I am today.”

Notice how Tamika says “person” and not “player”—that’s what means the
most to her, not the fame and recognition she’s garnered in the W. The 6-1
forward has finished in the top five in MVP voting seven of her eight seasons
in the WNBA (in the top three four times), won the WNBA Defensive Player of
the Year three times, made the All-WNBA First Team four times and ranks third
all-time in total steals. Last year also marked the closest one can come to a
WNBA title without actually winning it—the Fever lost to the Mercury, three
games to two, in a dramatic and exciting Finals. All of Catchings’ on-court
accolades are extraordinary, and she is certainly proud of what she has
accomplished. But Tamika’s impact on women’s basketball and the community
at large shouldn’t be measured quantitatively.

Based on the integrity and character Tamika displays, it should come as no
surprise that she is a deep, thoughtful and compassionate person. She loves
to read, adores poetry and journals habitually. Catchings used this support
system to get through some incredibly lonely times growing up. It’s this
insightful awareness Catchings has attained that makes her so special, so
distinctive—and she uses that acquired self-confidence to help others. “
Being a loner growing up and not really talking much to anyone, writing
poetry was a way to get all my emTamika Catchingsotions and feelings out,”
 Catchings says about her youth. “Even today, I write a lot in my journal. A
lot of it is about love, some basketball stuff and just different feelings.
The thing I always keep in mind when doing so is how I can be an inspiration
for children and sharing my story to help them out. More than anything,
asking them—what do you want to be and how can I help get you there?”

Because of her dedication to the sport and her efforts in the community,
Tamika has attained “bigger than basketball” status; an incredibly rare
distinction. Not the Beatles’ “more popular than Jesus” type of notoriety,
but someone who has continually surpassed expectations as an athlete and
epitomized the definition of a role model. Catchings would rather inspire a
struggling child to fulfill their dreams than win an MVP award. She’d prefer
connecting a mentor with a troubled adolescent through her foundation than
get touted for her basketball prowess. The sport of basketball was always a
safe conduit for Tamika where no one could justify saying anything derogatory
or inflaming about her. As trivial as it sounds, kids might have been able to
make fun of her hearing loss or speech issues, but they quickly ran out of
ammunition when it came to basketball.

“To me, the WNBA means opportunity,” says Catchings. “I remember in
seventh grade my goal was being a professional basketball player, even if I
had to play against the guys. My dream was to play in the NBA because the
WNBA wasn’t around at that time. Fast-forward to my freshman year in college
and I was so excited since that was the first year of the WNBA. Now I really
had the chance to play! When I think about it now, there is a real
opportunity for ladies coming up today to hope and dream of making it to the
WNBA, and that is fantastic.”

When asked to rank, in order, the importance of a WNBA championship,
furthering her Catch the Stars Foundation or being recognized as one of the
greatest women to ever play the game of basketball, Tamika shows why she
transcends the sport. “Advancing the Catch the Stars Foundation is No. 1,”
 Catchings says without hesitation. “Winning a championship would be next.
Last, but not least, being known as a great player. The thing about
recognition is there is always going to be another well-known player; every
year there is going to be someone else. You’ll never be just another person
when you’re working with kids and helping them achieve their dreams. That’s
first and foremost what I want to accomplish.”

Many know of the historic 39-0 record Catchings helped Tennessee achieve in ’
97-98, but what often gets overlooked is that she graduated a semester early,
with honors, in Sports Management (with a minor in Business) and later with a
master’s degree in Sport Studies. Basketball clearly gave her an outlet to
rise above all of her detractors and naysayers growing up—it’s not just a
game to her. Not coincidentally, her significance to the growth of the sport
is palpable. “When I look at something that I have a passion for and love to
do, it’s easy,” Catchings says. “For me, when I’m able to play
basketball, it’s just in my blood. Even talking about it now makes me want
to play.” In similar ways, Catchings is just as fired up about her
foundation. It’s “in her blood.” The type of excitement and pride
Catchings has when taking the court are the same emotions she feels when
helping a child.

“The biggest thing for me is fulfilling my purpose,” notes Catchings. “
When I’m on the court, my goal is to give 100 percent every day. When the
game is over, I know I gave everything that I had. That’s in everything I
do. When I’m with the kids, my focus is 100 percent with the kids. When I
walk away, I know I did everything possible to help these kids. That’s what
gets me going since I know I only have one opportunity to make a difference;
this might be my only chance and one decision can make a huge impact.”

Tamika’s imprint on women’s basketball will continue long after her playing
days are over. She’ll be remembered for defense, her leadership and being
the most complete player in the game. Yet her passion and vigor for inspiring
others and promoting self-confidence will ultimately be her legacy. “I work
harder and harder every year to get to where I want to be,” says Tamika. “
The ultimate goal is winning a WNBA championship. To work as hard as we do
and to get so close is hard sometimes. But you know what? I feel that
somehow, someway, something good is getting set up. I have faith. As long as
I keep working hard and I keep pushing, it will happen.”

For Tamika Catchings, it always has.


http://www.slamonline.com/online/the-magazine/features/2010/05/catch-and-release/