Mother’s Day tributes to a trio of amazing mothers
Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers in the world!
This month I wanted to introduce you to three amazing women, on different levels.
A professional athlete and full-time mother, the mother of a professional athlete, and a college coach who is a former professional athlete with two little ones at home.
Since I relaunched WGRamirez.com, I've tried to bring you some inspirational stories, some fun, others sad, a couple possibly controversial.
This month I hope you find something from these three amazing women, all of whom have been able to touch my heart in some fashion.
I had no clue had to approach Renee Robinson. I've been in the media industry since 1987 and been covering sports fluently since 1992. But with no PR person, not previously scheduled interview, no one to buffer, how do you approach a woman in the middle of a baseball stadium as she prepares to watch her son open the season 13 months after he attempted to take his life? This was a new one on me. Renee was cordial, welcoming, warm, and full of emotion, as her son Drew took the field for the Sacramento Rivercats on May 6, at Las Vegas Ballpark, against the Las Vegas Aviators. Her touching story made this month's series an easy triple play for me.
Since the time the Las Vegas Aces arrived, Dearica Hamby has been one of my favorite ballers. But it's not just because of her play on the court, fun personality off it, but it's her dedication toward her daughter, Amaya. The energy and effort she put into being a mother is infectious and inspiring. Each year I've told someone that I want to do a "ride-along" story on Dearica, from the start of her day to the end of it, so people can appreciate what it takes for a professional athlete to raise a child. Being a single father for 24-plus years, I recognized from day one how special a story Dearica would be. She granted me a private Zoom session a couple of months back, in preparation for this Mother's Day project, and it was just as I thought it would be. Candid, uplifting, straightforward, and nothing but smiles while talking about her lively little sidekick WNBA fans worldwide have fallen in love with when the two are splashed across social media.
I've only known Arizona basketball coach Adia Barnes through press conferences at the Pac 12 Women's Basketball Tournaments. But I've always appreciated her style, her vibe. She carries herself with such poise, but with a lot of flavor. She's always reminded me of someone who would have fit right in with our crew back in the day in old Las Vegas. Sort of the New Jack-era, when we were groovin' to the group Guy, or Boyz II Men, or En Vogue. Adia has coached one of Las Vegas' best women's basketball products the past four seasons, so naturally I'm always keeping an eye on the Wildcats. I was glad I didn't have my reporter's hat on during the national championship last month because it allowed me to be a fan, and cheer for Adia and Sam Thomas. I spoke so highly of them during the game on Easter Sunday, when the last-second shot didn't fall, my own Mother teared up because she knew how much I wanted them to win. But it was a halftime story about Adia, told by veteran reporter Holly Rowe, that brought light to normalizing full-time working mothers that thrust the 44-year-old coach into the national spotlight even more. When Adia and I spoke on May 6, I started by saying she may or may not remember me, and she replied: "the one with the suits and bald head," I smiled and knew I liked her for good reason. A great story, great coach, and wonderful mother of two.
Enjoy this month's edition and have a Blessed Mother's Day.
Willie G.
