January deserving

Dave Trimmer, your front-page article featuring Briann January (Aug. 19, 2009) was not only brilliant, but a very well-deserving one. January is today’s real true all-American superstar athlete.

As her school counselor at Grant Elementary School, I knew she would go all the way to the top as a basketball player: from Grant School to Lewis and Clark High School to the Arizona State Sun Devils, to her current team, the elite WNBA and Indiana Fever, and, it’s only the beginning.

Today, January is (also) an outstanding role model and a caring, compassionate person. But, along the way it took a “team” of great people to help her, i.e. her parents, grade school coach Marie Courchaine and LC and Arizona State coaches.

Briann January, as a friend, I now like to leave you with this advice: Remember the final measure of your life won’t be how well you live, but how well others live because of you.

In other words always continue to give back. And never lose that warm beautiful smile.

Tony J. Antonucci

Spokane