Another Scrimmage...

Blog #7:

Today we had a scrimmage against some players from Texas. Most of which just trying to get a look I am assuming. The bus ride to the gym was hot as hell. We had both teams on the bus, the air conditioning was blowing out hot air and it was 112 degrees out. That's one thing about playing in Mexico that I like and that's that it doesn't take much to feel warmed up lol. The gyms in Poland I think we had the heater on a couple of times. Did I mention the bus ride to the gym is 20min? I'm dying on here...

Our last scrimmage we had was an inter-squad scrimmage. I had 13pts and 7assts. I hope i can continue to improve each day and get in better shape. Pre-season has been tough on the body but it's just as tough on the mind. As much as I enjoy playing this game at times it can be warring.

Tonight's scrimmage we won 133-100. Yes that's 12 min qtrs. Yes there was zero defense played. I played about 15-20min. Really the only productive thing we got out of this was we weren't playing against each other and we got up and down the floor. There wasn't a whole lot of set plays being ran, in fact I think 87% of our points came in transition. We're supposed to play the team again tomorrow but I heard the asst. coach saying we might not. Our head coach has been gone at meetings for the LNBP (name of the league i play in) the past few days and he's supposed to be back tomorrow so the schedule may change. We have practice at 4pm. Supposed to be 110 degrees again mañana so I'm probably going to the pool to stretch, swim a little & work on the tan.

On a final note, ally teammates are talking about twitter this and twitter that. So I joined the club so I be in the loop with them and the rest of the world lol...

I hope all is well back home. Gordon aka gym rat slash one of my dad's closest friends and someone I call family. It was great talking with you and sharing my journey thus far with you. Now if I could only do that with your Australian son lol. I love and miss you everybody. Until next time................ Love

Passing the days...

Blog #6:

Some of the restrictions living in a hotel in another country that isn't very safe:

Limited activity - this is nothing like the capabilities you would have when making two beds into a bunk bed (Step Brothers). I have a roommate for the time being and don't have the luxury of doing that. Because of the cartels here I can't really leave the hotel unless it's in a group. So it's the hotel and gym for me a majority of the time.

3 English channels on TV - 2 movie channels and one news channel (CNN)

Internet - is hit or miss, you get free wifi in the lobby but I live on the second floor. I have to go down to the lobby to get the best signal. I would use the wifi in the room but it cost money.

Food: limited to hotel food and pricing. Occasionally some of the guys branch out but I have yet to do so. There are a few places within walking distance but like I mentioned earlier you have to travel in packs so going to dinner after practice can be a process organizing. When you practice as late and as long as we do you usually just want to shower, eat quick and go to bed.

Yesterday we only had one practice. We've been going since the 15th, two times a day. I decided to go early and get some shots up not knowing we were going to go 3 and half hours. I was in the gym from 6:30 - 10:30pm. Which means I left the hotel at 6pm and didn't get home until 11pm. That's after a game yesterday, two-a-days and no break. Needless to say but my legs is done!

We got 2 practices today. On our way to the first now. When I get back I think I'm gonna hop in the pool for a little bit and get some sun before the second practice.

I hope all is well back home. I love and miss you. Until next time........... Love

Team & League Websites...

Here are a couple of links for my team and league:

http://www.torosnld.com/

http://www.lnbp.com.mx/

Until next time............ Love

Scrimmage #2...

Blog #5:

Our second scrimmage went well although the outcome wasn't what we wanted. We ended up losing by 9 points as we gave it away late. I let the gut I was guarding hit 2 big 3s to extend the lead to 10. I let him get in a comfortable rhythm and he knocked 'em both down. I furious to say the least. I ended the game with 17pts and probably one the better outings i've had in a long time. The starting PG gets here today though so we'll see how my role will be now that he is here. My dad used to always say coaches don't decide you plays players do... I hope that's still the case because no one will out work me. I ended the night with a couple of cervezas (Sol) and was asleep by 11pm... I hope all is well back home. I love and miss you. Until next time..................... Love

Press Conference, Practice & Fans...

Blog #4

Today I woke up and had the usual (hotcakes & fruit). The breakfast buffet at the hotel is open until noon on weekdays and 1pm on weekends. We had a press conference for the media at 11am and practice from 1:30 - 4pm after that. I'm still not in that good of shape but slowly getting there. After practice I got up off two feet and dunked with 2 hands. It's been a while since I last did that because last year I pulled the calf muscle and after that sprained the ankle. Although I'm not quite 100% it's nice to know I'm getting there.

When we got back to the hotel they gave us 45min to shower and eat before we went to the local Wal-Mart for a meet and greet/autograph signing.

The meet and greet went well. A decent turnout. Probably more so because it was at the mall on a Saturday. We sat at tables and fans of all ages lined up for autographs and photos. It never gets old when someone wants a picture with you. Originally I had planned to hit up the pool but after we grabbed some BK at the mall it was already 7:30pm. So I guess the pool will have to wait until our first off day or 1 practice day... Until next time............ Love

Scrimmage...

Blog #3

Scrimmage:

Surprise! Surprise! We were supposed to leave at 2pm, we left @ 2:33pm. I don't know if I'll ever get used to that. My family has always been notorious for showing up to social functions fashionably late. In college my housemates put myself and another housemate in a group called NSU (No Sense of Urgency). Maybe it's because I treat basketball like it's my job because I don't like to be late. I'll be the first to admit that I am usually strolling in a few minutes late when it comes to social functions when there is no consequence or reprecaution but ever since my roommate in college and I were late to our first road trip of our college career, I've stuck to what they call Double D time since then. I usually set at least 3 alarms. One for each part of the preparation:

#1 is wake up

#2 is usually shower

#3 pack up

2 & 3 are interchangeable depending on the event. Ask my girlfriend Lele she experiences first hand the alarm system I have lol... I plan on sticking to my system even though I am usually 15min early already it just gives me more time to skype, email, blog and stay up on current events.

Scrimmage or game, it's great to start off the season with a win. They ended the first half up 35-40. I missed all 3 of my shot attempts and overall didn't do much. The style here is a lot different then Europe. They let a lot more stuff go, pushing, grabbing, hand checking, etc... The second half I bounced back and went 3-5 from the field and made a big play down the stretch. An and one to put us up 3. We ended up winning by 7 or 8. Still have a lot to improve on and get acclimated with my new team, coach and style of play. Can only go one way from here and that's forward. We have a press conference tomorrow at 11am in the hotel and practice at 1pm. We also scrimmage Monterrey again on Sunday but at home this time. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

I guess we have a few long bus rides this year so DVDs are a must have. We watched Machete on the way there and I Am Legend on the way back. In English! Most of my road trips over the past 3 years have been in the native tongue of that region. I am hyped to say the least. We also stopped at a Subway/Church's Chicken for dinner. I got a foot long turkey with everything on it including jalapeños. I'm not gonna lie it was just as good as the states...

I hope all is well back home. I love and miss you more than I show. Until next time................... Love

Schedule, Border Crossing & Update...

Toros Schedule:

So here is a look at my new schedule for the next 4-6 months. I arrived here on August 15th from Brazil and we hit the ground running. Another player from the national team is my roommate at the hotel we're staying at. I'm hoping it's only for the time being (meaning pre-season) because I spoke with the coach and so did Rick and while they are finalizing the roster it is better because we have so many guys trying out. I haven't received our game schedule yet but we play 2 times a week from September 2 - December 29th and then playoffs start. Practices have been long and hard. 2.5 - 3 hours in the morning and 2.5 - 3 hours in the evening. Below is a minor description of what the practices look like. That being said we have a scrimmage coming up this weekend, so we've been scrimmaging a lot more in the evening and the routine has altered slightly.

Thus far things have been going pretty well. Coach, players, living conditions, etc... All of which I am very content with. I know its early too. At practice yesterday coach said don't cross the border after 8pm because there are no taxis back, always travel in groups and wear Toros gear LOL... That is one thing that will be a change is I won't be taking daily strolls downtown to kill some time. I will spend most my time in the hotel and in the gym. That's how it should be right? Life of a Mexican-American Basketball player lol...

Today we had one practice in the morning and the evening off. So me and some if the guys crossed the border. Some of us went to the mall and a couple of us went to Wal-Mart. I didn't have anything in particular that I wanted, I really just wanted to cross to see how the procedure worked. I did end up getting a few things: chewy oatmeal chips ahoy, pb & j, cheez-it Parmesan flavor, chewy granola bars (caramel & chocolate chip flavored) and lastly some kool-aid. On the way home we stopped at Popeye's for dinner. Got myself a 3 piece spicy combo. The cab ride ended up being $33.00 split between 2 people which could have been cheaper but we made him wait outside for us. One would think I would be more nervous crossing into Mexico but I was more nervous crossing into the states. Don't ask me why because I really don't know lol. Everything went well and smoothly and I am glad it is only a 10 min cab ride to the border. I think next time I cross I'm going to check out the mall. On another note I found out from one of my teammates that has AT&T as well that he gets coverage at the hotel, which I found out upon returning. Whoop whoop! So if anyone reads this blog feel free to give me a ring because I'll have my phone on now.

I gotta run now and give Lele a call and let her know she can reach me at any time. That make things a whole easier especially since our Internet is down at the hotel for a couple days.

Games:

Home: Friday &Sunday

Away: Thursday & Saturday

Practice:

1st: 10:30 - 2:00pm

2nd: 7:15pm - 10:30pm

Breakfast: 9am

Lunch: 3pm

Dinner: 11pm

1st Practice:

Warm up shooting(catch and shoot)

Water

Dynamic Warm up

Water

3-man Fullcourt layup and jumpers

Water

Ladder and cone drill

Water

4 on 4 help & rotate

Water

2 man shooting

5on5

Water

Abs

Stretching

2nd Practice:

Warmup 2-lines lay-ups to 3's

Water

Dynamic warm-up & stretching

3-man Fullcourt lay-ups

Water

3 on 3

Water

4 on 4

Water

5 on 5 half court

Water

5 on 5 fullcourt

Water

Dynamic cooldown & stretching

I hope all is well back home. I love and miss you. Until next time.................. Love