Seimone Augustus: The Player and Person
Seimone Augustus is every so often you meet someone who has an immediate impact on you. It could be for a variety of reasons, and that impact will likely leave an indelible mark. I became a season ticket holder for the Minnesota Lynx in 2015. I entered a world as foreign to me as Katmandu is from Minneapolis, but a world in which I knew I belonged. In short order, I began to appreciate what and who I was watching: Maya Moore, Lindsay Whelan, Rebekkah Brunson, Sylvia Fowles, and Augustus.
As much as everyone astounded me with their athletic skills, their collective dignity on the court, and a team personality that exuded confidence and strength, Seimone had something a little different, something elegant. As I watched I thought, you I’d like to meet, if for no other reason than to find out what that something was.
That didn’t happen until two years later. At the end of the 2016 season, I decided to have my motorcycle painted with the team colors and logo. Back in those days, there was a pre-season event, generally held at a sports bar. It is where the players and coaches would act as servers and bartenders. It was a fundraiser for the Lynx Fast Break Foundation, and fans could pay $10 for an autograph or a photo.
Seimone Augustus and My Motorcycle
I decided that if I could get some of the players to have a picture taken on my bike and make a contribution to the foundation. Ultimately, I did manage to get several players to do it, and no one that I asked said no. When I approached Seimone and asked her, she gave me that big smile and happily agreed. I will say this – when Seimone got on my bike, well, it just fit. She owned it, much like she owned the court. Of all the photos I took, it is still my favorite, with one of Cheryl Reeve a very close second.
Over the next couple of years, whenever there was an event or function, I was always greeted with that same smile and was able to share a brief conversation. Watching games, my eyes were always drawn to her, and of course, to the rest of the team. In retrospect, there was always a feeling of it being an honor to watch that team. Also, to watch an athlete with those skills, that personality, that commitment to a game that she seemed to love dearly.
It doesn’t take much to understand someone’s humanity. In fact, all it takes is the desire to do so. I don’t mean on a personal level necessarily, but rather than be enamored as a fan, I was struck by what some might call the soul of an individual.
Closing Thoughts On a WNBA Legend
When Seimone departed for the Los Angeles Sparks, it was a sad event. It was business, and you either accept it or you don’t. I don’t believe that the love for Seimone Augustus waned one bit. This was evidenced by the overwhelming reception she received when her number was retired. Her No. 33 will forever hang in the rafters of the Target Center.
It is my opinion that if you allow people to touch your spirit, you cannot lose. Whether or not Seimone Augustus remembers me doesn’t matter. What matters is that, as a fan, and a passerby in life, I remember. I know that she contributed to my love of the game, and set the bar pretty damn high. A true fighter, a dedicated opponent, and one hell of an elegant warrior. Thanks.
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