http://www.thedailytimes.com/sited/story/html/208921 Holdsclaw `pretty chill' about starting over in L.A. 2005-06-05 by Beth Harris The Associated Press LOS ANGELES -- Chamique Holdsclaw is starting over with a new team, a new city and a new outlook nearly a year after leaving the Washington Mystics because of depression. So far, things are going well for the three-time WNBA All-Star. Holdsclaw is the league's third-leading scorer, averaging 20.4 points, behind Houston's Sheryl Swoopes and Diana Taurasi of Phoenix. Her best performance in the season's first five games was 27 points and 10 rebounds in a victory against her former Washington teammates. ``I have this excitement,'' she said. ``I want to be in a position to win a championship.'' That wasn't likely to happen any time soon in Washington, which made Holdsclaw the league's No. 1 pick in 1999. Coming out of Tennessee, she didn't know anything but winning. The Lady Vols were three-time NCAA champions and she was a two-time national player of the year in Knoxville. Holdsclaw's arrival in the WNBA was heralded as a boost to a league in search of its next superstar. She was named rookie of the year, but the losing persisted and Holdsclaw lacked the strong supporting cast she'd had at Tennessee. The Mystics' only winning season was in 2002, when they lost to New York in the Eastern Conference finals. ``I asked to be traded,'' said Holdsclaw, who became depressed and left the team in July. She won't talk about that time, which came after the death of her grandmother -- who raised her. A tattoo visible above Holdsclaw's right sock is of a cross and the word `grandma.' The native New Yorker needed a change of scenery, so she traveled to Valencia, Spain, to play basketball and didn't think about returning to the WNBA. But Sparks president Johnny Buss had Holdsclaw on his mind. He had met her briefly at a Final Four and was impressed. ``He was like, `Let's go get her,''' Sparks general manager Penny Toler said. Fan favorite DeLisha Milton had been asking to be traded for three years, but the Sparks wouldn't let her go for nothing. So when Holdsclaw became available, Toler called her and said she was making the trade, whether or not Holdsclaw planned to play in the WNBA this season. ``She never told us she wasn't going to play,'' Toler said. ``I was never worried.'' Holdsclaw considered taking the summer off to refocus. ``I have a lot of other interests, things I can be as good at as I am in basketball,'' she said, declining to elaborate. ``I like to keep things to myself.'' But Toler's persistence persuaded Holdsclaw to try the West Coast. ``I knew Penny was going to trade for me whether I was coming or not,'' she said. ``I was like, `They have a lot of confidence in me.''' Holdsclaw is thriving with the Sparks, in part because she no longer has to carry a team. That pressure falls on WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie, who is happy to have Holdsclaw on her side. They previously played together on the U.S. national team. ``I think she's happier,'' said Leslie, who issued Holdsclaw a standing invitation to enjoy her mother's home cooking. ``I told her, `Hey, you're here for a reason, and you're surrounded by good people.''' For eight seasons, Leslie has been the Sparks' superstar, usually leading them in scoring and rebounding. Now, Holdsclaw occasionally tops Leslie's numbers. Leslie doesn't mind one bit, unlike former Lakers teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, who shared a famously uncomfortable existence. ``People talk about two stars coming together. There is enough room for one trophy,'' Leslie said. ``I know by winning championships, you can't win it alone. Why Kobe would want to do it alone, I don't know.'' New Sparks coach Henry Bibby has seen Holdsclaw take control of the team when foul trouble limited Leslie's minutes. ``She's that good,'' he said. ``She wants to win and she plays hard every time. She's a silent killer. She quietly gets you tough baskets every night, and when she gets more comfortable she's going to be even better.'' The Sparks remind Holdsclaw of the championship teams she was on at Tennessee. ``It's more of a team effort here. In Washington, I would have to handle the ball more,'' she said. ``From day one, Lisa is like, `I'm glad you're here.' We both want to win.'' On her off days, Holdsclaw likes to hang with a couple of close friends, exploring the funky Venice neighborhood where she lives or eating Cajun food. She knows she can drop into Toler's office any time or grab a bite with the former Sparks player. ``I'm very appreciative to be here,'' Holdsclaw said. ``The laid-back nature is conducive to my spirit. It fits me as a person. Everything is pretty chill.'' The biggest challenge for Holdsclaw has been learning the city's myriad freeways and driving her black pickup truck in heavy traffic. Holdsclaw's shy smile doesn't reveal what Toler says is her ``really funny'' side. She enjoys putting things over on people. Over dinner with a Nike representative, Holdsclaw convinced a Dutch friend to pretend to be a pro boxer signed to a $13 million deal with rival Adidas. As her friend was spinning stories about her big-shot life to the fascinated Nike rep, Holdsclaw could hardly contain her laughter. At the end of the night, Holdsclaw admitted the whole thing was a joke. ``I'm laid back, so people don't expect it,'' she said, smiling. ``I got the good deadpan face.'' Holdsclaw has yet to pull any stunts on her new teammates, but they consider themselves warned. ``I'll get them eventually,'' she said. Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed. --

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