Spring Break
A real O-State baller
Nick Lilja
Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: Sports
Last I checked, the definition for "baller" hadn't made it into Webster's Dictionary - but don't quote me. Whenever Mr. Webster decides to do so, I'm going to recommend he call up Ebony Young from the Oregon State's women's basketball team.
She knows damn right.
After joining Oregon State late as a partial qualifier in 2002, Young has done nothing but give 110 percent to the women's basketball team. Sound cliché? Fine, be a hater.
But since that year she has battled through numerous injuries and kept her head up, becoming one of the favorites of the team. It's not because she is the leading scorer or because she strikes fear in the hearts of players around the Pac-10. It's because she exudes something that fans can connect with and people enjoy watching: heart.
Perseverance isn't just a catch phrase and a poster on a wall to Young; it's a way of life. She's battled her way back from multiple injuries. I battle for a chance at a game of one-on-one with Mark Curry.
Her first battle with injury was just nine games into her sophomore year in her first year of playing time. She tore her ACL in a game against Cincinnati, the game before Oregon State grabbed its 400th victory in women's basketball. Young ended the season averaging 4.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in 14.6 minutes.
But she would return. She learned from her experience and after an off-season of rehab and a new appreciation for knee-braces, she was back for her junior year.
This time it was 20 games into the season when injury struck: other knee, same ligament. Young missed the final nine games of the season. She finished averaging 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.5 minutes of action.
Most people would throw in the towel after one knee injury, but returning to court after two ACL injuries is absurd in the minds of 99 percent of America. It would be easy to call it quits and watch from the sidelines, never worrying about injuring a knee again.
But that's not Ebony Young.
She knows damn right.
After joining Oregon State late as a partial qualifier in 2002, Young has done nothing but give 110 percent to the women's basketball team. Sound cliché? Fine, be a hater.
But since that year she has battled through numerous injuries and kept her head up, becoming one of the favorites of the team. It's not because she is the leading scorer or because she strikes fear in the hearts of players around the Pac-10. It's because she exudes something that fans can connect with and people enjoy watching: heart.
Perseverance isn't just a catch phrase and a poster on a wall to Young; it's a way of life. She's battled her way back from multiple injuries. I battle for a chance at a game of one-on-one with Mark Curry.
Her first battle with injury was just nine games into her sophomore year in her first year of playing time. She tore her ACL in a game against Cincinnati, the game before Oregon State grabbed its 400th victory in women's basketball. Young ended the season averaging 4.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in 14.6 minutes.
But she would return. She learned from her experience and after an off-season of rehab and a new appreciation for knee-braces, she was back for her junior year.
This time it was 20 games into the season when injury struck: other knee, same ligament. Young missed the final nine games of the season. She finished averaging 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.5 minutes of action.
Most people would throw in the towel after one knee injury, but returning to court after two ACL injuries is absurd in the minds of 99 percent of America. It would be easy to call it quits and watch from the sidelines, never worrying about injuring a knee again.
But that's not Ebony Young.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Matt T
posted 2/21/07 @ 7:56 PM PST
Did you go soft on us? Is this a real article?
All joking aside, I was one of the people at the games that used to watch, E-Bo, as she is called play. (Continued…)
Young#00
posted 2/21/07 @ 9:29 PM PST
WOW! Where do I start? I loved the whole thing, thank you so much. It must be an emotioanl time for me because I can't stop crying...thanks again!!! Alos thank to Matt T for your support. (Continued…)
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