VIN'S PEOPLE: For former LSU basketball star LaDazhia Williams, a new opportunity in Israel
You’ve heard the expression, “When one door closes, another opens”?
It’s taken on a real meaning for LaDazhia Williams and she’s in for a cool cultural experience as a result.
A little background first.
The 2017 Lakewood Ranch High alum, who attended Braden River Elementary and Braden River Middle, helped the LSU women’s basketball team win the 2023 NCAA championship in early April. One week later the 6-foot-4 forward was taken 17th overall in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. But she was waived in early May.
Then the other door opened just days later, albeit 6,600 miles away.
The Bradenton prodigy signed to play in Israel for Hapoel Petah Tikva, one of 11 teams in the Israeli Female Basketball Premier League, which begins its 70th season next month.
What bodes well for Williams is the translation of the city’s name.
Patel Tikva means “Door of Hope.”
· That’s 12 years of wedded bliss for Angela and Chris Babroski.
· Tom Tryon’s still got game.
The retired Herald-Tribune opinion editor and lifelong Orioles fan threw out the first pitch at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore before the O’s 4-2 win over the Blue Jays on June 15.
“It was a slider, down and away …” kidded Tryon, who wore his old baseball glove from his playing days as a Palmetto Tiger.
The occasion was Visit Sarasota Day, a mutual promotional agreement that was part of the Orioles' move to upgraded Ed Smith Stadium in 2010.
On hand were Tryon’s wife Yvonne, grandson Aidan Hebert, his grandson’s girlfriend Caitlyn Salerno and Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota.
By the way, Tryon, who became an O’s fan in 1968 when most of his pals at the Palmetto Boys Club liked the Atlanta Braves, has traveled to 15 MLB ballparks with his grandson.
· Karen and Dan Weaver are 39. Again.
· Big ups to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office basketball team, gold medal winners at the 2023 First Responder Games in Tampa.
The hoopsters included Melvin Burston, Aaron Bowling, Jamecia Cobb, Jonathan DeLacruz, Donnell Deleon-Thompson, Dwayne Denison, George Evans, Adrian Harrison, Joe Hills, George Molina, Ray Moss, Juan Phillips, Howard Porter, Anthony Rodriguez and Sherrarr Tate.
· Uh, oh! Michael Gallen is one year shy of the Big 5-0!
· A bow to Blake Medical Center Registered Nurse Tanya Bitel, who received the 2023 Clinical Nurse Education Award from the Galen College of Nursing, honoring her as Teacher of the Year in the West Florida Division.
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944. Twitter: @vinmannix.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: MANNIX: Former LSU/Lakewood Ranch basketball star gets chance in Israel
