Candace Parker’s best Christmas gift might have come this year. After two knee surgeries that kept her on the sidelines her freshman year, Parker, a two-time national high school player of the year who won a dunk contest against high school boys, has finally begun her collegiate career. Averaging 15.6 points and 9.5 rebounds, Parker has helped lead the Tennessee Lady Volunteers to a 10-0 record and a No. 1 ranking. Before going on a yuletide break, the Chicago-area native chatted about her memories of Christmas, playing today with a team with a target on its back, and how a dunk is a dunk is a dunk.
Anthony Cotton: What was Christmas like with two big brothers around?
Candace Parker: We’re a very close family, but it’s funny because I would always sleep late. They would have to wake me up. I’m probably the only kid who ever had to be awakened for Christmas Day!
My mom and dad would have all the presents out – not Mom and Dad, Santa – and I’d just play with all of them. My brothers would always be jealous because they thought I always got more presents than them. We’d stay in our pajamas all day until Mom cooked dinner.
AC: Any other traditions?
CP: On Christmas Eve, we always watched that movie, what was it? I don’t even know the name of it, how horrible is that?
AC: Charlie Brown? Rudolph?
CP: No! The “Christmas Vacation” movie, the one with Chevy Chase.
AC: Are you kidding me?
CP: I love that movie! We watch it every Christmas Eve.
AC: Was there a point when your favorite presents went from toys or dolls to basketballs?
CP: I was always a little girl, so I liked dolls and kitchens and things like that. In junior high, around that time, I got a couple of jerseys and gifts like that, and then I’d start asking for the basketball shoes.
AC: When did you actually start playing against the guys?
CP: I always have. Growing up with two big brothers, and then I had two boy cousins who were always over, so we were out for as long as I can remember, playing with guys around the neighborhood or going to the park to play with them.
AC: And were you beating them right off the bat?
CP: Yeah! You know how girls are so much taller than the guys when you’re young. There was one time, I used to always play with the guys at recess, (I was) the only little girl out there playing with them. One time the other girls decided they wanted to play, girls against guys. So I played with them, and the guys were like, “But you always play with us!”
AC: I take it the girls won that day?
CP: Yup.
AC: With all that’s come your way, how do you deal with being Candace Parker?
CP: I don’t really think of myself as being all that much, to be honest with you. I’m not anything special, I’ve done nothing in the college game. I’m just me; I haven’t changed. My brothers make sure I stay humble. If you have older brothers, you know what I mean.
AC: How great is it to be back out on the court?
CP: It’s amazing; it’s just great! I just think about where I was at this time last year, and to see where I am now. Last year I could barely … I just thought about getting back and playing.
AC: Were you ever really worried that you wouldn’t be able to return?
CP: No. I had full confidence in the trainers and the doctors who performed my surgeries. It wasn’t if, it was really a matter of when.
AC: So you come back to an undefeated, top-ranked team. Is there any pressure attached to that?
CP: No, I think we all came to Tennessee to face the best. And we always have a target on our backs; everybody wants to beat Tennessee. Coming from the high schools that we come from, everybody has seen and faced pressures and expectations. It’s not something we’re worried about. We know, as competitors, everyone is going to attack. We just have to be ready for it.
AC: Why did you choose coach (Pat) Summitt, as opposed to (University of Connecticut coach) Geno Auriemma, or (Duke coach) Gail Goestenkors, or anyone else?
CP: It was a family decision. I don’t know, it just felt right to come here. Knoxville is a great place, the fans are great. I just want to help get them back on top here.
AC: Is it hard not to look ahead to your games against UConn (Jan. 7) and No. 2 Duke (Jan. 23)?
CP: No, we play against top-25 teams almost every game. We’ve played Michigan State and Maryland within two days of each other, then played Stanford, Texas and Louisiana Tech.
AC: I was going to try and get through this without asking you about dunking, but I think I have to. When was the last time you dunked?
CP: In a game or practice?
AC: Either one.
CP: The last time I did it in a game was in 2004; the last time in practice was yesterday.
AC: It’s just not a big deal to you at all, is it?
CP: It really isn’t.
AC: Does it strike you as funny that it is to everybody else?
CP: It’s just not a big thing to me. I remember the first few games of the year, my legs were kind of heavy and I didn’t feel comfortable trying to get one down. In practice I would only do layups. Then a couple of days ago I dunked, and I thought, “Wow, I actually dunked it.” And one of my teammates said, “That’s not a big deal anymore.” And I laughed, because it was funny how no one thinks it’s a big deal anymore.
Staff writer Anthony Cotton can be reached at 303-820-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com.
