"Why drive when you can fly?" is Michael Jordan's clich?(c) motto.
Belinda Gibb, UB women's basketball guard, could make the same claim to fame, if you disregard the shoe contract, of course.
Having flown to the United States from Denmark, Australia, Gibb never got back in the swing of driving a car since her arrival. In fact the one time she did, it almost turned out to be a bewildering experience with the police.
"I haven't got my license here," said Gibb. "I did drive my teammate's car once in the summer and that was an experience I want to forget. The cops were driving behind me the whole time to the apartment."
After sending UB a home made highlight video of herself, Gibb was quickly flown to America for a full workout with the women's basketball team. The Bulls quickly wanted Gibb part of their future plans, and by January 2003, she became a member of the UB Bulls.
"I sent an e-mail to UB and they wanted to see a tape of me play, so I sent this crappy tape I edited myself," said Gibb. "They flew me all the way here for two days. All the airline attendants were like 'Why are you coming here for two days?' I chose UB because I got to see the place."
When people notice that Gibb is from Denmark, they generally make the assumption that Gibb hails from Europe, and not Australia. Obviously this is not true, but even some in Australia get confused as well.
"Denmark is a small country town on the coast of Australia. Even people in my own country get that mixed up."
Don't let that Australian accent fool you though; Gibb has a rough and tumble side that Steve "the Crocodile Guy" would be proud of. Let's just say that Gibb is not afraid to get in a tussle.
"I nearly got into a fight once," said Gibb. "This girl was mauling my teammate on the floor, scratching her. So I picked her up by the back of her sports bra and dragged her."
Belinda says the transition from Australia to the United States has been fairly easy, but thinks that there are a few things that do not make sense.
"Driving on the wrong side of the road," said Gibb. "I'll say that's wrong cause our way is right."
Adding to the enticement of the states, Gibb notes, was Perry's Andes Mint Ice Cream and the extra bonus of its abundance in the States.
As far as music goes, you won't hear any Justin Timberlake ripping through the locker room either.
"Umm no, not a big fan of Justin Timberlake," said Gibb. "A bit too teeny bopper for me"
Mad Libs with Belinda Gibb: The Soccer Game (Gibb's answers are bold and italicized)
One day when I was playing soccer and a dog jumped on the field. It hopped all over the place. We tried to catch it but it laughed too fast. So we stopped the game and snuck up on it, just then all of its Uncles came out of a hole and interviewed us. I yelled Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! We cooked around for a while before we could decide what to do. Just then a great big Kangaroo came and started to munch all the dogs. As soon as it had finished off the last Uncle, it left as hysterically as it came. So we finished the game, but we lost. Crikey!
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
