LSU plays its best game, but still falls to Bama
November 6, 2012
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November 6, 2012
Dear friends and family,
Regretfully, this will be my final column entry in the Tri-Parish Times’ sports section. We fought as hard as we could and played until the final whistle, but my team was stopped short of its championship goals this week and fell at the hands of Quebradillas. They won all three games in our Best of 5 series – all by close margins. But it was a fairly decisive series nonetheless.
Most of the time when I lose in basketball, I have a bitter feeling in my mouth and I immediately ask myself a series of “what-if” questions.
But when I walked off of the court for the final time in Puerto Rico, I really didn’t have many regrets.
Quebradillas is a great team. They should be proud of the things that they’ve accomplished this season.
I will never say that they are a better team than us. I have too much pride to say that.
But they wanted it more than we did. They outworked us in every aspect of the game and they truly deserved the outcome that they received.
They will move onto the league finals and I want to let it be known that I wish them the absolute best of luck in the championship round.
So with my season having ended this week, I shifted my attention to home. When you’re abroad and basketball stops, the team makes all of your accommodations in terms of flying and everything.
For me, I came back home Friday afternoon and I was immediately reunited with friends and family whom I hadn’t seen in a month and a half.
It surely is great to be home, but there is not an ounce of relaxation in this woman’s body. As soon as my foot touched ground on Louisiana soil, my Puerto Rican chapter ended and a new chapter within my life began.
What that chapter entails, I am not certain, but I will definitely bust my tail to create a comfortable situation for myself and everyone within my circle.
Before I go, I really need to say thank you to a few different people.
Firstly, I’d like to thank the Tri-Parish Times and SportsNet for giving me the opportunity to keep everyone at home updated on my progress in Puerto Rico.
When a local girl is blessed to do the things that I am doing, the attention you receive through Facebook, e-mail and other outlets is sometimes overwhelming. But having a place where I could give updates through a mass audience was special. I sincerely appreciate it.
Secondly, I need to thank the people of the Tri-parish area. Since being in Puerto Rico, I have received thousands of likes on Facebook, hundreds of comments and/or messages and countless text messages, emails and other messages of support.
I admit that I was not able to respond to every message given to me – I apologize for that.
But I can promise you from the bottom of my heart that I read every word of encouragement given to me and I can assure you all they meant the world to me.
A wise man once said that great people are destined to do great things.
I believe that wise man’s proclamation to be true.
But what the same wise man didn’t mention is that great people are only great because of the immense support and encouragement that they receive from those around them.
My time in Puerto Rico truly reminded me how blessed of a woman I am!
I am happy to be home and I cannot wait to begin the next chapter.
Until next time, stay blessed!
-SL7
Houma native and San German Atleticas guard Sumar Leslie chases a loose ball during a game this season. Leslie’s journey in Puerto Rico came to an end this week, as her team’s season ended in the playoffs. She has returned home and thanks everyone for support.
