As a youth, my family moved from place to place to place in hopes of finding a better quality of life. This constant uprooting made it tough to develop friendships. It was extremely difficult always being the new kid on the block. However, one way I found it easy to make friends was through sports and competition. At an early age, I discovered that I had a natural ability for and an inclination towards sports. When the neighborhood kids would gather to run a foot race or play a pickup game of football or basketball, I was outside standing right there awaiting my turn.

This insatiable appetite for sports, competition, and camaraderie has never left me. As a youth, I participated in basketball and gymnastics recreation leagues. (A constant battle with vertigo made me give up the latter.) In high school, I participated in three varsity sports: basketball, softball, and track and field. At the time, basketball proved to be my first love and the one that brought me the most local notoriety. There weren’t any college recruiters knocking at my door offering me a scholarship, but I still went on to pursue my plans for higher education.

After graduating from Hayfield High School in Alexandria, VA, I attended Hampton University. While I knew what layed head of me scholastically, I also knew that my athletic desires would need satisfying. Within a week of my arrival at school, I secured a tryout with the Women’s Basketball team and was offered a walk on position as a point guard. That year, we won the NCAA Division II Championship.

Sadly, when my collegiate career ended, so did my opportunity to play the organized team sports that I had known in college. From time to time, I would find a summer or military league or a pick up game of basketball to participate in. But these alternatives did not provide the same challenge, adrenaline rush, or level of competition as did a group of women, striving, practicing, sweating and living a sport as one cohesive unit or challenge. Unfulfilled, I gave up my first love of basketball. I would simply become a spectator now.

In May 2002, a friend approached me about playing women’s flag football. Football? This was a sport that I had watched on TV and played as a youth in the parks with my brother, but never thought of playing as an adult. Additionally, I did not know that women's football teams existed. Intrigued, I responded, "Why not?". This would be a new athletic challenge for me. From the moment I stepped onto the flag field, laced up my cleats, donned my receiver gloves, and heard that first “hike”, I was hooked. I played for a while and enjoyed it, but I very soon realized that this wasn’t the hard-hitting competition that you see on television. I had played so many non-contact sports over the years that it was now time for some contact. I craved its ferocity. I needed it.

In October 2002, I overheard a conversation between two flag football players about the National Women’s Football Association (NWFA). Women’s full contact football? Where do I sign up? I went to the NWFA website and discovered the DC Divas! I also noticed that the last day for tryouts for the Divas was 5 days away. Although I found out by the skin of my teeth, I tried out and made the team. My desire was quenched and “Primetime” was born.

As a DC Diva, I initially only played the Wide Receiver slot position because of my quickness and agility. However, during practice sessions, I would consistently hit the defensive players and knock them off their feet. The coach had no choice but to play me as the outside linebacker on the blitz package and a gunner on special teams from the first game on.

In 2003, the DC Divas went 8 – 2 overall and won the Mid-Atlantic Championship. In that same year, I led the team in tackles, scored six touchdowns, averaged nine plus yards per carry, and received the honor of being chosen the 2003 Rookie of the year. This year, 2004, we went 9-1 overall and repeated as Mid-Atlantic Champions. I scored two touchdowns and averaged 17.54 yards per carry.

Football to me is a sport where controlled aggression is rewarded, where you and your teammates are one unit, and where precision and skill create captivating outcomes. In short, football is my new sport of choice. I cannot imagine a life without it.

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