Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Texas Longhorn Surprise by Charlie Richards take Texas star as the No. 1 overall pick in WNBA draft. The Dallas Wings didn't have to look far to find a new player to build around. With the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday's WNBA draft, the Wings selected Texas star Charli Collier, a 6-foot-5 forward/center who helped put women's back on the map in Austin. Collier, who averaged 19 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 51.1% from the field for the Longhorns in the 2020-21 season, was a WBCA All-America honorable mention, who helped lead No. 6 seed Texas to the Elite Eight of the NCAA women's basketball tournament. Her scoring average was the sixth-best in Texas program history, and she was only the fourth Longhorn to average a double-double over the course of a season — a feat she accomplished in each of the last two seasons. © Ricardo B. Brazziell, Austin American-Statesman Texas forward Charli Collier helped lead the Longhorns to the Elite Eight of the NCAA women's basketball tournament following an upset of No. 2 seed Maryland in the Sweet 16. Within minutes of Collier's selection, Dallas was back on the clock, as the Wings became the first team in league history with the top two picks in the same draft. The Wings used their second pick to select Awak Kuier, the first player from Finland to be drafted. Kuier, who was born in Cairo and emigrated to Finland with her family as a small child, has drawn comparisons to reigning Defensive Player of the Year and two-time MVP over the past season. The 6-foot-5, 19-year-old center currently plays professionally for Virtus Eirene Ragusa in Italy. “Needless to say, we are thrilled with the results of the draft for our organization,” Wings president and general manager Greg Bibb said. “We took another big step forward tonight with the progress of our team. Obviously with drafting Charli and Awak we got the two best players in the draft.” Three picks later, the Wings selected , a 5-foot-11 guard out of Arkansas at No. 5. A WBCA first-team All American, the dynamic scorer averaged 22.3 points per game this season for the Razorbacks. In between the Wings' selections, the Atlanta Dream used the No. 3 pick to select Arizona guard Aari McDonald, who became a household name with her stellar play in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, where she led the Wildcats to their first ever national championship game. Averaging 20.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and four assists per game her senior season, McDonald was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year and co-Defensive Player of the Year. © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Aari McDonald led the Arizona Wildcats to their first NCAA national championship game before they fell by one point to Pac-12 rival Stanford. In a bit of a surprise, the drafted , a 5-foot-9 guard from West Virginia, with the fourth pick. Gondrezick averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds and was chosen as a WBCA honorable mention All-American. Collier, the first Longhorn ever selected first overall in the WNBA draft, Kuier and Dungee will join a very young Dallas team with no player on the current roster having more than five years of WNBA experience. But head coach Vickie Johnson, a former New York Liberty star, has a lot of talent to work with and a chance to really reshape the roster before the 2021 season tips off on May 14. The Wings had three of the top seven picks in last year's WNBA draft and used the selections to draft Oregon's Satou Sabally at No. 2 overall, Princeton's Bella Alarie at No. 5 and South Carolina's Tyasha Harris at No. 7. Two years ago, with the No. 5 overall pick, Dallas selected Arike Ogunbowale, who nearly led Notre Dame to the 2019 national championship before the Fighting Irish lost by one point to Baylor. Ogunbowale led the WNBA in scoring last season with 22.8 points per game. Contributing: The Associated Press. 2021 WNBA draft selections. First round. 1. Dallas Wings (from New York Liberty): Charli Collier, F/C, Texas. 2. Dallas Wings: Awak Kuier, C, Virtus Eirene RG (Italy) 3. Atlanta Dream: Aari McDonald, G, Arizona. 4. Indiana Fever: Kysre Gondrezick, G, West Virginia. 5. Dallas Wings: (from Washington Mystics): Chelsea Dungee, G, Arkansas. 6. New York Liberty (from ): , F, UCLA. 7. (from Dallas): , F, Alabama. 8. (from Phoenix Mercury): , G, (Australia) 9. Minnesota Lynx: , G/F, Tennessee. 10. Los Angeles Sparks: , G, Southern California. 11. : , G, Texas A&M (Wilson was then traded to Indiana) 12. Las Vegas Aces: , C, Tango Bourges Basket (France) Second round. 13. Dallas Wings (from New York): , G, Louisville. 14. Las Vegas Aces (from Indiana): , G, Arkansas. 15. Atlanta Dream: Raquel Carrera, C, Valencia Basket Club (Spain) 16. Chicago Sky (from Dallas): , F, Oklahoma State. 17. New York Liberty (from Washington): Didi Richards, G, Baylor. 18. Seattle Storm (from Connecticut): , G, Stanford. 19. Indiana Fever (from Chicago): , F, Auburn. 20. Connecticut Sun (from Phoenix): DiJonai Carrington, G, Baylor. 21. Connecticut Sun (from Minnesota): , G, Central Michigan. 22. Los Angeles Sparks: , G, Rutgers. 23. Seattle Storm: N’Dea Jones, F, Texas A&M. 24. Indiana Fever (from Las Vegas): Trinity Baptiste, F, Arizona. Third round. 25. New York Liberty: Valerie Higgins, G, Pacific. 26. Indiana Fever: Chelsey Perry, F, UT Martin. 27. Atlanta Dream: Lindsey Pulliam, G, Northwestern. 28. Los Angeles Sparks (from Dallas): Ivana Raca, F, Wake Forest. 29. New York Liberty: (from Washington), Marine Fauthoux, G, Lyon Asvel Feminin (France) 30. Connecticut Sun: , G, Oregon State. 31. Indiana Fever (from Chicago): Florencia Chagas, G, USE Scotti Rosa Empoli (Italy) 2 longtime Birmingham-area high school football coaches die. Alabama lost a pair of successful former high school coaches this week. Former Tarrant coach Charlie Richards died Wednesday after a battle with COVID-19, according to his son Chuck Richards. He was 91. Longtime Parker coach and former New York Jet Cecil Leonard also died Wednesday in Statesboro, Ga., according to HBCU GameDay. He was 74. His cause of death was not immediately known. Richards coached Tarrant from 1955-1965. He finished with a 63-36-11 record. His best season came in 1964 when his team went 10-0, scoring 267 points and allowing just 21. He also was head coach at Huffman from 1975-1978. “We had a surprise 90th birthday for him last year,” Chuck Richards said. “I was amazed that some of his friends flew in from as far as California. These guys talked about the 1950s and 1960s and how their lives were changed by my Dad like it was yesterday. Most of them said they would never have gone to college had it not been for my dad. Some went on to be All-Americans.” Chuck also said Charlie Richards coached under Paul “Bear” Bryant at Alabama in the 1960s, working with players such as Kenny Stabler. “The whole time he was at Alabama he was getting his doctorate in education,” Chuck Richards said. “He said he left because my mother told him he should get a job where he could make more money and see his family a little more on the weekend.” Richards was a two-sport star in football and baseball at Tarrant and later played at Howard College (now Samford) and Livingston (now West Alabama). In addition to coaching, he later served as principal at Tarrant and also had a long career as a baseball umpire and basketball official, which included stints in the SEC. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011. Chuck said his father still lived in the Birmingham area and had been hospitalized for a month with COVID-19. “He seemed to be doing a little better with his breathing, but his heart gave out yesterday,” he said. Until contracting the coronavirus, Charlie Richards still went dancing three nights a week. “He was definitely my idol,” Chuck said. “He had a better social life than I have.” A native of Sylacauga, Leonard was a Tuskegee legend and former player with the New York Jets and the Birmingham Americans of the World Football League. He also served as the head coach at Miles College from 1994-2000. He was perhaps best known for his work in 20 years as a high school coach. Leonard started his career at Parker in 1973. After two years there, he spent five years at Hayes (1975-1979) and then went back to Parker for 13 years. He finished his high school career with a 128-83 record. He led the Thundering Herd deep into the state playoffs twice. In 1980, his first team back at Parker went 12-2 and lost to Vestavia Hills 15-13 in the 4A state championship game. In 1989, Parker went 9-4, losing to Anniston 19-0 in the Class 6A semifinals. Texas Longhorn Surprise by Charlie Richards. Excerpt - Texas Longhorn Surprise. The excerpt below contain explicit adult language and sexual content. By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site. Sam Abbott heard the rumble of a vehicle engine and the crunch of tires on gravel. Must be Luc returning with that Ryan fellow. He wasn’t certain how he felt about Kontra agreeing to use the human’s intel to shut down a training facility somewhere around them in Oregon. Oh, Sam knew they needed to shut down the facility. He just remained skeptical about trusting a human that had worked for the scientists. Still, Kontra seemed sure, and Sam trusted his alpha. Returning his focus to his crossword puzzle, he read the next clue. Seven letters. Pensive, melancholy, or thoughtful. Sam cocked his head, thinking. He knew that with that kind of clue, the answer would be a synonym. He glanced at the space the word should go and saw the second letter should be an I and the last letter an L. “You are such a cheater!” Land hollered, throwing a couple pieces of popcorn at his mate, Payson. Payson—a hyena shifter with one or two screws loose, but more loyalty than anyone could ask for—laughed and threw popcorn right back at his human mate. “It’s not my fault I’m better at chess than you,” he crowed. “You’re just jealous.” Land lifted a hand and pointed at Payson. “You didn’t deny it! You did cheat! I knew it! What’d you do? How’d I miss it?” Looks like their chess game is done, Sam thought, watching with amusement as Payson grabbed Land’s hand and yanked him halfway across the coffee table. Chess pieces went flying. Yep, definitely done. He watched for several seconds as Payson pulled a struggling Land all the way across the table, into his arms, and laid one on his mate. Land immediately stopped struggling…well, to get away anyway. Now, he wriggled over the table the rest of the way and straddled Payson’s lap as they took the kiss deeper and really went after each other’s mouths. Looking away, Sam wished he could find his own mate. He wanted that…the all-consuming need, affection, even the fighting. I want it all, he thought wistfully. Wistful! Of course. He wrote the word into the crossword puzzle just as he heard the door open. He didn’t look up until he’d double-checked his work. Yep. That works. Smiling at his progress, satisfaction filled him. He’d managed to get about half done while Luc made the run to the airport. Sam looked up when their guest’s scent tickled his senses—smooth and bitter, like the finest scotch—it made him want to take a big drink of the man. The view of the guy was just as nice. Maybe six foot two, strong, well-muscled limbs and lean lines, a chiseled jaw and masculine features, topped off with shortly buzzed dirty-blond hair and a piercing hazel-eyed gaze that was currently focused on Land and Payson—who completely ignored the newcomer and Luc’s arrival and continued to make out. Sam really wanted the guy’s focus on him. He rose from his chair, placing the crossword puzzle and pencil on the end table. “You must be Ryan Carpenter,” he said, his deep voice finally interrupting the kissing couple. While a still-shy Land hid his clearly flushing face against Payson’s neck, the hyena shifter grinned over at the new guy. “Oh, hey, man,” Payson greeted. “Welcome.” “Uh, yeah, thanks,” Ryan responded, then finally turned and focused on Sam. Licking his lips, he nodded. “And, yeah, I’m Ryan.” Meeting Ryan’s hazel eyes, Sam felt the blood rush through his veins. Mate! He opened his mouth, not certain what he planned to say, but Luc interrupted him. “This is Sam, Land, and Payson,” he said, pointing to each of them in turn. “As I’m sure you can guess, Land and Payson are fairly newly mated.” He rolled his eyes and added dryly, “They can’t keep their hands off of each other.” Payson snorted while running his hands over Land’s spine provocatively through his shirt. “Awe, Luc, you know there’s no reason to keep my hands off my mate while we’re in our own place.” Luc snorted. “Yeah.” He grinned and swept his gaze over the pair. “At least the view is pretty.” He put his arm around Ryan’s shoulders companionably. “Don’t ya think?” Sam couldn’t hear Ryan’s response over the blood roaring through his veins. An undeniable need to get Ryan away from Luc surged through him. “Mine!” he snarled as he lunged forward. Texas Longhorn Surprise. When Ryan Carpenter realizes the scientists he works for are torturing sentient beings, he feels the need for penance in the form of helping the shifters free their comrades. To that end, Ryan heads to Oregon to offer aide in shutting down one of the scientist’s training facilities and freeing any captive shifters. He’s unprepared for one of the men, Sam Abbott, a Texas longhorn bull shifter, to express an attraction to him. Unfortunately, Ryan has secrets of his own, and knows if he becomes involved with Sam, a shifter, his own transgressions against Sam’s kind would eventually come out, destroying anything they might have built. Walking away—especially for the good of everyone—should be easy, right? Об авторе. Связанные категории. Предварительный просмотр книги. Texas Longhorn Surprise - Charlie Richards. On the Road: To combine two lives, first one must understand the components of each. When Ryan Carpenter realizes the scientists he works for are torturing sentient beings, he feels the need for penance in the form of helping the shifters free their comrades. To that end, Ryan heads to Oregon to offer aide in shutting down one of the scientist’s training facilities and freeing any captive shifters. He’s unprepared for one of the men, Sam Abbott, a Texas longhorn bull shifter, to express an attraction to him. Unfortunately, Ryan has secrets of his own, and knows if he becomes involved with Sam, a shifter, his own transgressions against Sam’s kind would eventually come out, destroying anything they might have built. Walking away—especially for the good of everyone—should be easy, right? The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Texas Longhorn Surprise. Copyright © 2013 Charlie Richards. Cover art by Angela Waters. All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books. Look for us online at: Texas Longhorn Surprise. Kontra’s Menagerie: Book Thirteen. To my loving partner—Your support gives me the drive to continue. Tapping a thumb restlessly on his thigh, Ryan Carpenter glanced around surreptitiously as he waited beside the luggage carousel for his bag. Normally, he wouldn’t have to check anything, but he’d decided to bring his M24, and that wasn’t something he could carry on. He tried not to come off as twitchy as he wondered if any of his fellow travelers were shifters like the ones he intended to help. It wouldn’t be surprising, and it was impossible to tell. He sure as hell wouldn’t have known they existed if the scientists hadn’t recruited him to work their security. Ten years in the military and this was how he went out…by getting sucked into some fascist scientist’s vendetta against another race that most people didn’t know inhabited the planet. Of course, at the time, he hadn’t known that shifters were sentient in their animal form. It’d taken watching the animals…er…shifters while guarding them for six months, followed by a guy also employed by the scientists and in the intelligence division, to get him to realize the error of his ways. Well, it wasn’t even his ways. Outside what he thought of as the line of duty , he’d never harmed an animal in his life, other than the occasional spider or scorpion. He’d been following blindly. Not something I’m proud of. He spotted his gun case—the camo colors standing out against the pink, reds, and blues of many of the other passenger’s luggage. When he snagged it, he got a couple curious looks from others. Ignoring them, he kept his head up and shoulders back while making his way toward the exit. Ryan? Ryan Carpenter? Ryan turned and spotted a tall, slender fellow with sandy-brown hair and a slight smile. The man stepped close and held out his hand. I’m Luc Laurent. Kontra sent me. He offers his thanks for your willingness to come. Right. Kontra’s the leader of this pack of shifters. He’d learned from Carson—a wolf shifter in Stone Ridge—that shifters kept to a fairly strict hierarchy in their groups. They had to do it to keep order, which assisted in assuring the continued secrecy of the race. Ryan took the man’s hand and replied, It’s no problem, all the while wondering what kind of shifter Luc was. He had a slight French accent and laugh lines around his hazel eyes. Now that he’d confirmed Ryan’s identity, he appeared to relax, his shoulders loosening and his smile widening. " You may feel that way, Luc replied, leading the way up an escalator, out of the airport, and into a parking structure. But it means a lot to us to get our brethren out of…such a dangerous situation." He just nodded, uncertain what to say and not wanting, even inadvertently, to offend. Years in the military had taught him when to keep his mouth shut. Luc stopped at a navy blue SUV. Taking in the plates, Ryan noted it was a rental. He wondered at that, hoping this wasn’t some elaborate set-up to get him alone to punish him for his part in holding shifters hostage. Declan—the big alpha wolf from Stone Ridge—had made him plenty nervous, but he hadn’t seemed the type to be vindictive like that. Ryan opened the back door and placed his duffle inside. Keeping his rifle case with him, he settled in the front seat, the case resting between his right thigh and the door. If he needed to duck out for any reason, he wanted his weapons with him. The shifter started the vehicle, but instead of backing out of the parking space, Luc rested his arm on the steering wheel, turning to face him. You don’t trust us. Feeling no point in beating around the bush, Ryan replied, Probably about as much as you trust me. Fair point, Luc said, nodding. Then, he cracked a smile and stated, Except if you were trying to deceive us, we’d scent the lies in your words. Ryan’s brows shot up. You’re lie detectors? Luc shrugged. That’s one way to put it. Unless someone is a professional con artist, we can pretty much tell if the average person is lying or even omitting or stretching the truth. A person’s heart rate will spike, their pupils often dilate, and there’s an increase in nervous sweat. To a shifter, the nerves are the biggest indicator because it changes the person’s scent. Wow, that’s— Ryan frowned and shook his head. How many times had he wished in the last couple of weeks that he’d been able to tell how the scientists were lying to him? Sighing, he slid his gaze out the window, not really seeing the other vehicles. That’s a handy ability to have. A calloused hand landed on his arm, giving it a squeeze. Ryan turned to see a sympathetic expression on Luc’s face. It’s not just lies we can scent out, he revealed. "Now, you’re feeling guilty. That wasn’t my intention. I just wanted you to know. Texas Longhorn Surprise. When Ryan Carpenter realizes the scientists he works for are torturing sentient beings, he feels the need for penance in the form of helping the shifters free their comrades. To that end, Ryan heads to Oregon to offer aide in shutting down one of the scientist’s training facilities and freeing any captive shifters. He’s unprepared for one of the men, Sam Abbott, a Texas longhorn bull shifter, to express an attraction to him. Unfortunately, Ryan has secrets of his own, and knows if he becomes involved with Sam, a shifter, his own transgressions against Sam’s kind would eventually come out, destroying anything they might have built. Walking away—especially for the good of everyone—should be easy, right?