Basketball On The Internet.

DUAL Olympian and 2006 World Champion Jenni Screen today made it official, informing the Opals tonight’s clash with Mozambique would be her last international for Australia.

It has been one hell of a ride since her first national senior coach, Jan Stirling, selected the 180cm guard as an Opal in 2006.

The Opals won the Commonwealth Games Gold Medal – no real surprise there – but then went on to record Australia’s greatest senior basketball moment, Gold at the 2006 World Championship in Brazil.

Two years later, Screen was back playing her trademark hard-nose defence in Beijing where a severe ankle injury to 2006 World Championship MVP Penny Taylor would keep Australia from putting its best foot forward in the Gold Medal game.

But there was still a consolation Olympic Silver.

The roller-coaster ride continued in 2010 when new Opals coach Carrie Graf looked off Screen and her lifelong buddy Laura Hodges as she sought to stamp her own mark on the national team.

It backfired of course, with the Opals out of the medal race at a major international event for the first time since Tom Maher had them playing for Bronze at the 1994 Worlds.

Screen doesn’t know the meaning of quit and forced her way back into the 2012 Opals team for the London Olympics.

Hodges did too and, not surprisingly, Australia was back in the medal hunt, coming home with the Bronze.

Screen also came home with a colossal shiner, not the first of many injuries she copped during a stellar international, domestic and pro career.

From the lows of omission in 2010 to the high last year of co-captaining Australia at the Oceania Series, Screen has ridden the wave and never given less than her all.

It has been a tough off-season too, with her beloved WNBL club Adelaide Lightning not offering her a contract on the one hand, while Opals coach Brendan Joyce maintained her in his national group.

Installed as part of his leadership team, Joyce has nothing but praise for how Screen has carried herself and what she has brought to his program.

“She’s not only been a great player for the Opals, but she has been a tremendous leader,” he said today.

“All the values we talk about when it comes to being an Opal – Screeni has lived those values whenever she has been part of program and has played a leading role in establishing the culture that has made the team so successful.”

Stirling loved her tenacity and fearless approach.

Graf grew to understand how much she meant to the Opals, inserting her into the starting lineup in London.

Joyce gets to say “farewell and thank you” with his team tonight in Yagamata as the Opals look to waltz past Mozambique for a 4-0 sweep of their Japanese tour.

The Australian team has lost a great servant.

Jenni Screen was never the most spectacular player, the most athletic or the most dominant.

But she was always the most energetic player, the most enthusiastic and the glue which held together disparate teams of huge egos – the player working to keep everyone on the same page.

She gave it everything. Not a bad way to be remembered.

If the Opals were the Beatles, she would have been Ringo.

The 32-year-old sorely will be missed.

 

THIS is how Jenni herself put it in her speech to the Opals in Japan.

“To My Beautiful Fellow Opals, As from the very first time I stood in front of you last year, I told you girls that there is one constant in life and that is change. Our biggest challenge is in not resisting it.

I woke up two mornings ago with a sense of calmness which to me was a sign I am ready. I wrote Laura (Hodges) a text message as I laid in bed and said three simple words "I AM DONE" and I love you – so really six words :)

I have resisted change for quite a few months, maybe longer, but after much deliberation, tears, sleepless nights, heartache, conversations with important people in my life and indecision, I have finally come to the conclusion that it’s time to move on from the Opals. I am retiring and there will be no comeback – I can assure you.

It hurts, it kills me to do this, but it’s like this because it matters and that’s okay. The pain will pass as time moves on and new journeys begin. Tomorrow the sun will come up and the milkman will deliver and life will go on.

Some may see that I am being cowardly or weak, maybe even running away, but at the end of the day it is my story not theirs and this chapter in my journey is coming to an end. I don’t see it as an ending; I see it as a beginning. It is very difficult to stand here in front of you all and bare my vulnerability.

I have always tried to show resilience and a certain tough exterior, but those close to me know I am like an egg – hard exterior, but crack me and I go sh*t. I am a passionate person, I wear my heart on my sleeve and I have lived, breathed and bleed for this program for 10 years and over 100 games. I have had some massive lows, but some unbelievable highs with some truly amazing people. And I want to go out on those highs.

Those special memories will never be taken away from me. As I reflect on my time with the Opals, I have been privileged to have stood next to and play with people that I once idolised both past and present. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that would happen.

I am truly fortunate and grateful for all that basketball has given me. Not only the Opals, but more importantly lifelong friends and amazing coaches and staff over the years that have challenged me mentally and physically and helped me grow as a person. I will have you all for life.

However, the most important thing that I received from this sport is my husband Neil (Mottram). He has been my rock and my lifeline at times. My critic and my confidante. He is my best friend; I wish he was here as this too is his journey as he has been a part of me for 14 years. Since it all began back at the AIS.

I have medals and success from this long standing and amazing program, but the most important thing to me that I have ever received from this unit over my career was when team mates I admire have said to me:

"Damn Screeni you are the best team mate I have ever had"

"Screeni you are honest and always stand up for the Opals"

"You are passionate, you are a true Opal"

I have prided myself on being that true, loving team mate. Those words from various teammates I value, that at various times have said these things to me mean more than any medal I've ever received. To you young ’uns – our time together has been short. I hope that I have mothered you a little, but more importantly made you feel welcome into such a special program. Shown you that you can let you hair down and have some fun. The world is your oyster and I look forward to watching your journeys transpire in due course.

To my oldies, my side kicks, my buddies, my sisters two of you sit here in this room, I wish the others were here, but to you two – I love you both dearly. We have shared a lifetime of memories that I look forward to at all our reunions and get togethers, when we are fat and old, reminiscing how good and hot we were and how we used to be people that once upon a time were really good at something… well at least thought so!

Snelly, (Belinda Snell) you are one of the purest people I know. So humble and hardworking – a private person whom I can trust anything with. I have loved our duels over the years and I would like to think that our on court clashes made you a better player by chasing you around the court for years trying not to allow you an inch.

Laura (Hodges) – one of my best friends in this whole world. I’ve known you almost half my life. At times I feel we are a married couple and I love that. You know me better than I probably know myself. The journey would not have been the same had I not been able to share it with you, so thank you.

Journeys are never easy, there is uncertainty and unknown and I am scared, but I know that I have taken all I can from this journey and hopefully I have left, even if small something behind that occasionally you can call upon and use or even laugh about, even if it’s at my expense.

I cherish each and every one of you in some way and I am a better person for having met you all. As for the upcoming World Championships – whatever the team is, you will all at some stage in this room get to wear the green and gold at a major tournament. I wish you nothing but the best of luck.

Stick with the system and no matter what have each other’s backs. The power of 12. Always remember the memories that you have will last a lifetime, so to the friendships you make. Cherish these for this is what team sport is all about, yes we all want to win, but the journey is just as important as the destination and it is the journey that moulds you into the people you become.

So here it is one last time that I get to stand in front of you as Screeni. I am not crying because I am sad or that it’s over, I am just humbled and grateful that for some reason it’s happened to me. Once an Opal, forever an Opal. Thanks for this opportunity. Peace xxx”

 

YES, Jenni is one of a kind.

(She also lives in an interesting suburb of Adelaide if she still has a milkman making daily deliveries.)

Catch tonight’s Opals match with Mozambique and Jenni’s farewell game for Australia via live streaming through the BA website.

It is a final chance to see someone who definitely bled green 'n' gold.