Olympian's book helps young girls face growing up

After growing up in Philadelphia, Staley was eager to share her life lessons.
By CHUCK SCHOFFNER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In a career that has taken her around the world, Dawn Staley has played basketball, coached the sport, won two Olympic gold medals and created a foundation that carries her name.
Now she can add another item to her burgeoning resume: author.
Staley, a guard on the U.S. women's team that will play in the Athens Olympics in August, has written a series of four books aimed at girls entering their teen years.
They're based loosely on her life and talk about the challenges -- and joys -- of growing up.
"It's just going to be a tool for young girls to use for everyday life," Staley said. "There are things I went through as a teenager that little girls are still going through, still have difficulty living through.
"I want to let them know that it's still OK. I've made mistakes. It's what you do after you make the mistakes or when that situation is presented to you again. That's what matters."
Staley, 34, has plenty to share.
Tough life
She grew up in the tough streets of North Philadelphia, the youngest of five children. Playing sports with the neighborhood boys helped keep her on the straight and narrow in an area that had gangs, drugs, prostitution, fights and shootings.
"I saw it all," Staley said. "It's probably the same thing happening to our youth today. Hopefully, I can lend a ray of hope -- you stick with things, surely success will come your way.
"It has to do with passion, finding your passion. What is it that moves you."
Staley's passion became obvious early. As a youngster, she coveted only one luxury: the best sneakers her family could afford.
"I probably spent what a whole wardrobe was worth on one pair of tennis shoes," she said. "I didn't care what I looked like from the ankles up, as long as I had nice shoes. That's what my mother provided for me.
"I got my wants. The necessities could wait."
Staley took those shoes to the asphalt courts and thrived. A mere mite against her bigger, stronger opponents -- Staley is only 5-feet-6 today -- she relied on her quickness, instincts and ambition to hold her own.
What followed was the stuff of dreams: an All-American career at Virginia, gold medals galore in international competition, including the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, and a stellar professional career.
Staley is in her sixth season with the WNBA's Charlotte Sting. For the last four years, she also has been the women's basketball coach at Temple, compiling a 74-47 record with two NCAA tournament appearances.
Away from the court, Staley charms those around her with her wit and impish grin.
Authority
So yes, she can speak with authority to youngsters. She has done it with the Dawn Staley Foundation, which she started in Philadelphia in 1996 to offer athletic and academic opportunities for at-risk youth. Soon, she'll do so with her books.
The first book in Staley's series talks about finding a passion. The others discuss self-esteem, body image and relationships. Staley said she has handed the final version into her editor and it should be going to the publisher soon. The title remains a work in progress.
"It will have 'Dawny' in it," Staley said. "That's what they called me in the neighborhood."
That neighborhood still lives in Staley. No matter where her travels took her, including stints with pro teams in Italy, France, Spain and Brazil, Staley always returned to Philly.
The tug on her heart simply was too strong.
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