HighSchoolElite.com's Player Journals- Parker 4

Frank's notes:
On Friday, July 11, the No. 1 women's high school player in the nation went down with an injury that could put her out for most of her senior season. At the Maine West observation tournament for college coaches, Naperville Central's Candace Parker sustained a torn ACL. Candace averaged 24 points, 15 rebounds and five assists last year for the Class AA State Champion Redhawks.

Well, it’s true. I tore my Anterior Cruciate Ligament on July 11. I will remember that day for the rest of my life. It was just a bad day! I locked my keys in my car, forgot my basketball shoes, got into an argument with my mom and tore my ACL.

We were playing this team from New York when my injury occurred. I remember checking into the game 15 seconds prior to the injury. I went up for a rebound (I was pretty high if I might add), and when I came down an opposing player, who shall remain nameless for protection purposes, bumped me. When I landed, my knee went one way and my foot went the other. It is really hard to describe the pain. I screamed at first, but then I quickly calmed down. I think I screamed from the fact that it scared me and not for pain. My parents, the trainer and our assistant coach Mike Henry, rushed out on the floor to tend to my knee. The trainer placed a mobilizer on my knee and carried me to the training room in order to get a better look at my knee. He informed me that my ACL was definitely loose and that I would need an MRI to dictate whether it was torn or not.

Immediately upon hearing the awful letters "A-C-L” I started to cry. Never in a million years had I thought that this would happen to me. I had jumped for 1,000s of rebounds and landed the same amount of times uninjured and unharmed. Not playing basketball for several months to rehabilitate was foreign to me because the longest I have ever not played is one week. On that table I am shamed to admit that I felt sorry for myself. I was crying because I was afraid of what lay ahead. Finally, a person had the guts to tell me that this is a test to really see if I have what it takes. Everyone faces adversity, but adversity in fact reveals character. I know I possess character and that is why I am positive I will overcome this. Sure there will be times of frustrations, tears and sorrow, but there will also be times of joy and happiness. Happiness will be when I step back onto the court for the first time back and play the game I love. I have learned a lot from this injury in just a little over a weeks’ time. I am sure over the next few months I will learn a lot of valuable lessons. But, the sun did come out on July 12 and life did go on, just as I did and will.

One more thing regarding my knee then I am through. I really discovered who my friends are when I became injured. I was really appreciative of all the well-wishers and prayers that have been sent my way. From cards, to candy, teddy bears, to phone-calls, all have been greatly appreciated. I felt very lucky to have the kind of support and love demonstrated. But also, in this process I have encountered some doubters and haters. You know what I say to them? Bring it on, challenge me. Because it is challenges that have got me to the point that I am at today. Naysayers, people that don’t think I can do or accomplish whatever it is that I am trying to. I dunked because my father challenged me, I came to Central because people said it couldn’t be done, our state championship was won because people doubted the Redhawks. Without doubt I would begin to feel complacent and feeling self-satisfied is not going to get me through the tough road that lies ahead.

Anyway, although I tore my ACL on Friday, I still had to leave on Monday for California to attend the ESPYs. In a way it was good, I had something to look forward to. The experience in California was a great one. I got to meet a lot of great athletes: Serena Williams, Carmelo Anthony, Gary Payton and many more. Gatorade gave us great seats at the ESPYs; I was in like the fifth row at the Kodak Theater. Jamie Fox, the host of the show, is hilarious! If you didn’t see the show on TV you should definitely check it out, I’m wearing a peach dress so look for me in the crowd. I was really excited because the Gatorade athletes got to be recognized on stage during commercial break. After the awards ceremony, we all went back to the hotel and changed clothes. I stayed up laughing and talking so long that I did not go to sleep. I had so much fun. I got back to my hotel room with just enough time to shower and pack to catch the cab at 4:30 a.m. to take us to the airport.

I flew directly to the Nike All-American Camp in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was really disappointed that I could not play, but was excited that I still had the opportunity to be at the camp. I only stayed at the camp for a day then my parents came and got me. Some of the girls and I just clowned the entire camp. I watched basketball games, hung out, ate and just enjoyed myself. The games were pretty good. The best player at the camp that I saw was Sade Wiley-Gatewood. This point guard from Cali is the real deal. She is the one that committed her freshmen year to Tennessee. She can pass, drive, shoot and just happens to be a good friend of mine. Perhaps maybe one day we could be teammates. I had a blast! I returned home Friday and have been chillin’ ever since.

A lot is going to happen in these next few weeks, I will definitely keep you’ll posted and I will holla at ya lata.

PLJ
CP#32