Media Day... Photo Shoot... Basketball?

Well not much has changed other than I'm a few kg lighter. Pre-season practices have been long and intense with a little conditioning mixed in there too. Since my last post we've had several practices and a couple of media plugs. Last week we took a bus, a really really small bus to Gdansk where our President set up a live interview with the sports network there that covers our region and our games during the season. It was a fun and interesting trip. Fun form the standpoint, we got to be on TV and tour around old town Gdansk which is where I plan to take my visitors from the states (Lele, Bobby & Carp here is a sneak peek). The interesting part was the beginning of the TV interview. We were asked to put on make up before we went on and I've done a few interviews before and have never had to do it but I figure why not might as well do it, it's all part of the experience anyway. After the interview we headed home.

This past week I had a full schedule. Monday morning we found out we were going to be shooting pictures for a calendar I believe with a gangsta theme. This was an experience all in itself. Something I've never done before but had a good time doing it. We shot in several locations around the village, each of us wearing and doing different poses. Lets just say modeling is not second nature to me and I'll stick to my day job. Mom I hope you enjoy the pictures.

On another note, we made friends with the owner of a cafe across the way from our apartment and he offered to bring us back KFC once a week because he picks up pies/cakes for his cafe and brings them back. The coach and the president told me when I arrived the community really backs the team and I think I am starting to get a feel for it. As the season nears I am becoming more and more excited to play a game. Next month we have a few tournaments so it will be nice to play up and down against some other competition. My body has been really sore as of late, especially my hamstrings but I can also feel that I am starting to get back into playing shape.

Well, that's all I got for you for now. I hope all is well back in the states. My nephew has his first high school football scrimmage today and I can't wait to here about it. Man I sure wish I could be there. Good Luck Baboon. Play Hard and have fun!

Love

Bud

"Enjoy the Journey"
Love
Bud

Let the Journey Begin...

Well, its been a while since my last blog so I have a lot to catch you up on but I won't get into to much detail. I had a great summer. I had the chance to see a lot of family and friends which I was extremely happy about. That's one of the greatest perks in my line of work is getting the summers off. The first month and a half I was back in the states I spent most of the time in Redding, but traveled to Arizona 2 times to visit family and attend Carp's graduation. The second month I spent in Santa Clara. I tried to begin training again but wasn't real consistent with that attempt. Had some teammates from Switzerland visit during this time and it was nice to show them everything I had told them about while we were playing. The third month I moved back to Redding to spend some more time with my family because during the middle of June I flew to Starogard Gdaski, Poland for a week long tryout. I later found out this would be my destination for the upcoming season so I wanted to get as much time in with them as possible. Which leads me to where I currently reside. I arrived here on August 4th to play for SKS Polpharma Pakmet-Starogard Gdanski (http://www.sportowa.com.pl/). When I arrived here I was greeted by the President of the club and the website operator/ Translator. We stopped at the Polpharma factory and the town square to take pictures for the team website. After that they showed me my new home away from home. A nice modern looking 1 bedroom flat. We then proceeded to the gym where the team was practicing. Luckily I had the night off, it's pretty tough after a 15 hour trip and the time change to jump right on the court. I was interviewed by a Polish Journalist at the gym and after that they took me back to my new home. I didn't have a chance o eat dinner the first night because the restaurant's slash pub below my apartment complex kitchen was closed. Bummer I was starving the next morning. Anyway, the first practices have gone decently well. They're introducing a lot to me right away. I have to be a good visual learner because everything is explained in Polish. I am one of two Americans on the team so I think this will be a challenge all season. Fortunately, broken or not, there is a few people who speak enough English to comprehend what is being said.

As for the town, it is a smaller town with a population around 50,000. I haven't had much of an opportunity to site see yet. I am still trying to get adjusted to the time change so I I've been sleeping during the day. But what I have seen so far of Starogard seems to be a little bit older and not as current as the towns of other countries I have visited. Not that I m disappointed because I open for anything to experience. It is all part of the journey. I am anxious to learn about the history of Poland and hopefully get a better idea of what eastern Europe is like. This situation seems a little more time consuming than what I was used to last year. I don't believe I will have the freedom I had last year to travel and some of that can attribute to my location last year and Switzerland being central Europe. Regardless, I am excited to be here playing a sport I love. I already miss my family, friends and America a ton. Hello to everyone back home and I look forward to skyping, emailing, facebooking, etc... with all of you soon. Please keep me updated on your lives. I love hearing about everything that's going on back there. Even though I might not ask I am always wondering. Until next time. LOVE

"Enjoy the Journey"
Love
Bud