Clan-Members » 7-6 at Tennessee in 2009, then bolted for USC -- where

Nneka Ogwumike had a phenomenal season, but I wasnt surprised. Ive seen this for years. Ive always known Nneka was supertalented and that she plays with an unbelievable passion.Its not surprising how well she played, because thats what shes capable of. You know how its the day before a game and theres a ball going out of bounds and you dont dive for it because you have a game tomorrow? Nneka will dive for it. Theres no chill button.In a drill, theres no, You take it easy, Ill take it easy. Theres none of that. And you kind of get to a point where you do what she does. I think everybody kind of took on her identity a little bit.Nneka doesnt get upset when she doesnt get shots. She just goes and gets it. Thats kind of what shes done her whole career, but this year [she was named WNBA most valuable player], we just got her shots. Coach Brian Agler always said that all we needed to do was have practice time together so we could come together and take advantage of our strengths. Thats truly what happened. We got on the court and figured out how to really feature her. [The Sparks won their first WNBA championship since 2002.]Shes always been a good friend and supporter. She helped me understand that its OK to be vulnerable. She often would say, We know you can do everything. Let us help you! If somebody else would say that to me, itd be like, What do you mean? But with Nneka, I knew genuinely that she meant it and its coming from a really good place.I think she understands where I come from and my journey. She kind of bridged the gap between me and the world. I dont really show myself to a lot of people. And she was the one who said, Its OK. Show yourself.We were in Minnesota when she got elected president of the WNBA players union. I went over to congratulate her and she was like, You know I ran unopposed?I laughed. Thats even more of a congratulations, because nobody else would step forward and do it, I said.She wants to spark change and affect things positively. The WNBA can really grow in the right hands. Nneka doesnt just play in the WNBA, she plays overseas, so shes going to protect the rights of both types of players.There were things that were done in the collective bargaining agreement, before this, that basically swayed it to the advantage of players that only played in the WNBA. We cant ignore the fact that you make your living overseas. I know thats something shes thinking about.She definitely cares about the world. Shes very passionate about making sure things are the right way. Thats her biggest thing: making sure things are fair. Whoever you are, whatever you are, if you work hard, you can get out of it what you put in.More on Nneka Ogwumike? Ogwumike helps power Sparks to WNBA title Story ?? No matter how you look at it, Ogwumike is right pick for MVP Story ?? WNBA players turn to Ogwumike as players union president Story ?? What it feels like to be a WNBA champion Video ?The IMPACT25 is espnWs annual list of the 25 athletes and influencers who have made the greatest difference for women in sports. Explore the 2016 list and more content at espnW.com/IMPACT25. Cheap Air Max Sale . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Cheap Air Max Ireland . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. http://www.airmaxireland.com/ .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Air Max Free Shipping . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Wholesale Air Max . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Lane Kiffin was only 31 when the Oakland Raiders provided his first opportunity to become a head coach, and he insisted that he was ready.He was wrong.And he probably wasnt ready to coach Tennessee at 32 or USC at 34, either.Now 41, and freely acknowledging that hes made more than a few mistakes along the way, Kiffin thinks hes truly ready this time to lead a program -- and Florida Atlantic is betting hes right. Kiffin signed his five-year contract to become the Owls new coach on Tuesday, a deal paying him $950,000 annually and coming with a stiff buyout if he wants to leave anytime soon.The things you go through, if you look at them the right way and you learn from them, they make you stronger, Kiffin said. I know that sounds like a line, but they do. Ive got a unique life with a lot of unique experiences, but that makes me so much better prepared and so confident about doing this. Probably 10 years ago, I wouldnt have gone about this the right way. But you change.Hell live a double life for the next few weeks. Kiffin is still the offensive coordinator No. 1 Alabama -- hes going to be there for Tide coach Nick Sabans 7:30 a.m. staff meeting in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday -- preparing for a College Football Playoff semifinal against Washington on Dec. 31 while trying to build a staff at FAU.Some major changes await. Kiffin once counted 48 people at an Alabama staff meeting; there is no way to get 48 people into what will be his staff room at FAU. But in three years under Saban, Kiffin learned from one of the best in the college game and plans to incorporate those lessons in sunny Boca Raton.People grow up, FAU athletic director Patrick Chun said. Its a small enough industry where you can call people, we have mutual friends who would tell me what they think. We spent two three-hour settings together and the good thing with Lane, you dont have to spend a minute evaluating the football piece. This was about fits, values, who are you ... thats where he won me over.Kiffin poked plenty of fun at himself Tuesday, referencing some of his well-known past squabbles with coaches such as Urban Meyer and how Saban seemed to have aa penchant for giving him a number of ass-chewins during his three years with the Tide.ddddddddddddhun said hes certain FAU is getting a more humble, less brash Kiffin -- who has family in Florida, including his father, longtime coach Monte Kiffin.He simply wanted to be the next head coach of FAU more than anyone else we talked to, Chun said.At Alabama, Kiffin was part of a program that has been ranked every week and no lower than No. 3 in any of the last 21 installments of the AP Top 25. At FAU, he inherits a program that has won 15 games in the last four years and has never received a single vote in the AP poll.FAUs last home game this season drew less than 6,000 fans. With Kiffin, the Owls expect plenty of extra eyeballs.The school in the world that is trending most on Twitter in the last 24 hours is FAU, school president John Kelly said.Kiffin becomes the fifth coach in FAU history, after Howard Schnellenberger, Carl Pelini, Brian Wright and Charlie Partridge. The Owls are giving Kiffin $1.7 million for assistant coach salaries, and his buyout starts at $2.5 million in the first year and decreases by $500,000 in each subsequent year.Kiffin went 5-15 with the Raiders in 2007 and 2008. He was 7-6 at Tennessee in 2009, then bolted for USC -- where he went 28-15 in parts of four seasons. The Owls hope both sides can revive the other; FAU went 3-9 in each of the last three seasons and hasnt been to a bowl since 2008.It was very obvious that Florida Atlantic is committed to winning and committed to doing it together, Kiffin said. At Florida Atlantic, we will see great things happen. For us to do the impossible, we have to see the invisible.Kiffin met with the FAU players on Monday night, about two weeks after Chun met with them to tell them why he fired Partridge and promised hed deliver the best coach to lead FAU forward.He felt that was a promise kept.I was able to present to our team the best coach possible, Chun said.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '