Just CeCe: Why I Write the Way I Do

I woke up in my thoughts — like I always do.

And this morning, I found myself thinking about sports writers. Analysts. The folks who get paid to cover the game. And how… generic so many of them sound.

The rules. The tone. The politics of it all.

Having to watch what you say because you work for a certain newspaper. Or represent a certain team.
Having to write something that’s not even what you truly feel — but because you’re on that payroll, you have to shape it a certain way.

Or worse — having to write passionately about a team you’re not even passionate about… just because that’s who’s cutting the check.

Or even worse than that — getting paid to bad-mouth a team, just to make another one look better.
Saying things that aren’t fully true, exaggerating negativity, pushing a narrative… all because somebody said, “Here’s what we want it to sound like.”

That’s not truth. That’s business.

And I realized — I don’t ever want to be that.

I don’t want to be tied to a newsroom. I don’t want to be filtered. I don’t want to sit on the fence just because that’s the “professional” way.

And even with a YouTube channel and a podcast,
I’ve never seen myself as media.
Other people might. But I don’t.

I’m not here to be media. I’m here to tell stories. To speak truth. To connect. To do what I love — freely.

So I decided to sit down and tell y’all what I was feeling.
Why I create the way I do.
Why I talk this game the way I see it.

I’m Not a Sportswriter

I’m not a sportswriter.
I’m not a reporter.
And I don’t want to be.

What I do — the way I write, the way I break things down, the way I speak on this game — it comes from somewhere real. Somewhere lived.

It’s not scripted.
It’s not for clout.
It’s from the heart.

Especially when it comes to USC Women’s Basketball.

I’m a Fan With a Voice

Every piece I write, every video I post, every thought I share — it starts with one simple truth: I’m a fan.

A real fan.

Not a credential-chaser. Not somebody doing it for views. I ride with USC, and yeah, I’m biased — and I don’t apologize for that. Because my bias comes from love. From loyalty. From watching. From knowing.

But here’s what sets me apart: I speak the truth, even when it’s not popular.

I’ll call it out when it needs to be called out.
I’ll back it up with film. With stats. With facts.
Because I don’t wear blinders — I just ride hard for what I believe in.

I Finally Have the Time — Even If It’s Not All the Time

I’m an empty nester now — no kids at home, no husband, no dog — but let’s be real: I still have a full-time job that pays the bills.

I’m up early, out handling my business, doing what I’ve got to do.

But in the in-between moments? Late at night, early in the morning, on lunch breaks, weekends — this is where I put my heart. This is where I’m free. This is where I get to do what I love.

Talking about basketball. Writing stories. Breaking down tape. Creating. Connecting.

And I’ll be honest — I still hold out hope that one day I’ll hit the lotto or maybe find a bag of money on the side of the road, so I can finally give 24/7 to what I passionately want to do before I leave this earth.
LOL. If you see me pulling over on the freeway staring at a trash bag, mind your business! 😂💰

And hey — if any millionaires or billionaires just so happen to be reading this… throw your girl a lifeline. Slide a check across the table. I’ll put it to good use. 💸😎
Real talk — for real.

Because honestly? My other passion — just so you know — is wanting to help single parents navigate life. Because it ain’t easy. I know that. I lived it. I did the best I could without child support, and I know how heavy that can be — emotionally, financially, spiritually.

So if I ever get the platform or the resources, I want to give back in a real way. Help other women and men figure it out. Be that support. Share what I’ve learned. Make somebody else’s road just a little bit easier.

So yeah… that lifeline? It wouldn’t just be for me.
It’d be for all the people I hope to reach along the way.

LOL… there I go rambling again, just like I do on my podcast. Dang it, CeCe! Alright — let’s get back to the original content.

I Feel First — Then I Go Deeper

I don’t write to impress anybody.

I write because I feel something.
And once I feel it? I dig in. I study. I research. I replay the game film.

That’s my rhythm:
Heart first. Homework second.

It’s not about being perfect — it’s about being present.
It’s not about being right all the time — it’s about being real, all the time.

I’m not trying to convince you of anything.
I’m just sharing what this game makes me feel — and why it matters.

Connection Is the Whole Point

In a world where everyone’s glued to their phones, scrolling past each other, missing real moments... connection has never meant more to me than it does now.

Because in my day job?
I talk with decision makers.

I look them in the eye. I sit down with them. I listen.
And I help them find solutions that support their goals and help their businesses thrive.

That’s not therapy — that’s real communication. That’s partnership. That’s trust.

And honestly? That same skill carries over into how I write and create.

Because I’ve learned that connection — real connection — is an art.
It teaches you not to judge.
It teaches you to slow down.
To understand.
To build bridges.

That’s how I write. That’s how I speak.
From a place of wanting to reach people — not just inform them.

Bridging Generations

The era I grew up in, Gen X, was nothing like the Gen Z world I’m creating content in now.

But I don’t run from it — I lean in.

TikTok. YouTube. Substack. Podcasting. All of it.

I bring my old-school values and my lived experience right into this new digital world. Because the stories I have? The wisdom I’ve earned? They still matter. They hit different when you say them in your own voice.

So when I write — whether it’s about USC, culture, or life — it always starts with what I feel. Then I get to work. Then I speak my truth.

That’s how I stay grounded. That’s how I stay connected. That’s how I stay me.

I Break Down Film Because I See It

Yeah, I do film breakdowns.
I run the tape back. I draw the circles. I use the arrows. I pause it mid-play to show what others might miss.

Not because I’m trying to be some polished analyst — but because I see the game with intention.

I might not use every modern term.
Ghost screens, hammer actions — that’s cool. But me? I keep it real simple.

A screen is a screen. A cut is a cut. A missed rotation is a missed rotation.

And look — I’m not out here trying to be the cleanest editor or the flashiest creator.
That’s not me. I’m just doing what I do.
Running the tape. Calling it how I see it. Talking to people who love the game like I do.

Is it perfect? Nah.
But it’s honest. It’s passionate. And it’s real.

I’m Not Trying to Be Perfect — I’m Just Being Me

Sometimes I get it right.
Sometimes I post something and later think, “Dang, I could’ve said that better.”
But I leave it up anyway.

Because it came from a true place.

No pretense.
No mask.
Just CeCe.

This Is Bigger Than Basketball

This isn’t about likes or attention.

I do it because it means something.
And I’ve let go of needing outside approval.

I’m not here for validation.
I’m not here to impress.
I do this because it matters to me.
Because I enjoy it.
Because it brings me peace.
Because it feels right.

The game shaped me — no doubt about that.
But so did the military.

I wrote about it recently — how playing ball in the military felt like college ball in so many ways.
The structure. The sacrifice. The travel. The respect.
It taught me discipline. Teamwork. Leadership. Grit.

So when I say this shaped me, I mean both:
The game itself, and the way I lived it in the military.
Those two experiences built my mindset — on the court and off.

They gave me lessons. Friendships. Clarity. Peace.

But that didn’t mean I got everything right.
It didn’t stop me from making mistakes later in life — real ones.
Which I’m sure I’ll be talking about in future blogs, because I’m not afraid to go there either.

Because this journey?
It’s still unfolding.
And I’m still showing up — every day — doing it my way.

I want to pass that on — to fans, to young girls, to people who feel overlooked or unheard.
I want to show them that you don’t have to wait on someone to give you a platform.

You can build your own.
Brick by brick.
Word by word.
Clip by clip.

You don’t have to know every term.
You just have to care.
You just have to show up.

I’m not here to be polished.
I’m just here to be real.
I’m just CeCe.
And that ain’t gonna never change.
Period. Point blank.
Go USC. Fight ✌🏽On.