European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 8, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Left Lou Dunbar has Bis hands full with a member of the shamrocks. Above the globetrotters work a weave pattern to confuse their  photos by l Emmett Lewis or. A we so of it living a dream come True by Mark wonders staff writer at 5 feet 8 inches Sandra Quot sweetness Quot Hodge is dwarfed by her fellow Harlem globetrotters As she scurries around the court. Darting from place to place in a sort of figure eight she suddenly makes a break for the Basket and takes a Beautiful feed for the Layup. Later in the game she puts on her own Solo sliding and dribbling by would be defenders left and right until they tire of the Chase and she humanely drives to the Basket putting an end their misery. The smallest Globetrotter is making a big statement scoring Points a both on and off the court.  finally living out her lifelong dream of being a professional basketball player a a goal that Only a few years ago seemed impossible for any female. Quot we All As Young athletes have goals. Mine was to be a professional basketball player Quot says Hodge 28, a native of Clinton miss., and a graduate of the University of new Orleans. Quot i did t know How and i did t know what team but i knew that that was what i wanted to  her philosophy of beating the Odds and achieving Success in a male dominated sport is simple a work work work. Quot i think that no matter what Job you go into you have to prove yourself whether you re male or female. And i be played with them for three years now Quot Hodge says proudly a three year Veteran who has had to prove herself every year by making the squad. She is one of Only two women on the two team 11 Man or member squad. Now that Hodge has fulfilled her dream of playing professionally a unlike some of her counterparts who still yearn for the Fame and Fortune of the National basketball association or european leagues a she now is beginning to plan for other future career alternatives when her playing Days with the Harlem globetrotters come to a close. But playing in a men s league is definitely not on her list of options. Quot it s a dream come True. I feel very honoured to be a Globetrotter and these Guys Are like Brothers to me. But i Don t want to play in the Aba Quot explains Hodge. Quot you have to face reality. The men Are just too big too  Hodge feels that her position As a member of the Harlem globetrotters creates a perfect Opportunity to set an example for today s youth a especially girls a who she says need guidance and Hope for the future. Quot i want to Send a message to the Young girls out there to stay in school and Don t get pregnant Quot says Hodge. Quot they also need to know that you Don t need drugs to live. It starts with us the athletes. We Are role models Quot says Hodge. She says that people in her position can sometimes reach kids and share things with them easier than parents can. Because of this she Hopes to devote her energies to organizations with these goals after her playing Days Are Over. Quot i want to be Able to give Back to the kids who need it and make sure they take the right path Quot she says. Quot i realize How fortunate i was and How easy it could have been to go the wrong  it would seem that Sandra Hodge is going to be Quot big Quot in whatever she pursues whether it is on or off the basketball court. Sandra Quot sweetness Quot Hodge puts on a dribbling exhibition As the shamrocks Charles Barrouk tries to catch up with the Ball. November 8, 1990 stripes Magazine 11