--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Debbie picked up a tennis racket at age 7 and an athlete was born. Around that same time, she became a Chicago sports fan that has included its share of ups and down thanks to the lowly Chicago Cubs, fond memories of the Michael Jordan era, winners with the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Blackhawks and ongoing low expectations for the Chicago Bears. As a Big Ten and Big East alum, she is a huge college hoops and football fan.