Life's JOURNEY...

Eurobasket

2010-10-05T05:31:00.000-07:00

I got a bit of love after my performance (25 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assist) this past weekend from Eurobasket. Unfortunately, we didn't get the win. I'm still on a mission and to be the best I can be and to put Basketball Kontanz on the map.

Check out the article if your're interested.
http://www.eurobasket.com/Germany/basketball.asp?NewsID=205084

My Life's Ovation

2010-10-04T03:08:00.000-07:00

I found a poem I wrote some years ago to my mom for her birthday. I wrote it in 2006 when I found out I was going to travel to Australia to play basketball. Four years later I'm still travelling and playing and since her Birthday is coming up (October 10th) I decided to repost it to my blog.Those of you who follow my blog probably didn't know that I write poems. Read it and please vote if you like it or not.

Thanks
(You can find it near the bottom of my blog on the left-hand side)

HolidayCheck Baskets Konstanz 2009/2010

2010-10-04T02:54:00.000-07:00

0-2 Record

2010-10-04T02:41:00.000-07:00

We have started the season off with 2 losses. It hurts so much to lose and it's hard to put a positive spin on it but I once heard a quote that helps me put things in perspective. It goes:

I been real all my life but they confuse it with conceit.

I will not lose so they try and help them cheat.

But I will not lose because even in defeat,

there's a valuable lesson learned so that even's it up for me.

So what is this weekends lesson. There's so much to be learned after starting a season 0-2. I think its more challenging prioritizing the issues according to its importance because when you lose 2 consecutive games there is a lot to work on.

Team character is ever so important at this moment. It is being defined as we speak. There's an unusual paradox to sports that is evident right about now. Tom Watson once said, "in sports you have to be willing to get worse before you can get better." I have this written on my heart but I'd sure like to start living the "getting better" part of the quote right about now. I think I understand how life works though so I'm not really tripping. I recognize that I have great challenges ahead of me as a leader and I take pride in my leadership. Over the years, I have gotten away with leading by example but I think my leadership style will have to change as that might not be a good fit for the team we have this season.

When I take a step back and evaluate things, we are definitely putting more pressure on ourselves that necessary. This year the only goal we have is to stay in the league. There isn't any pressure for us to be the best team in the league. That is a personal goal, I think. On the drive home I sat in the front seat of Stefan Ahlhaus's 2010 Audi as we sped down the Autobahn. Literally, there were times we were travelling 180 kph, but I couldn't help but reflect on the game. I'm very critical of myself and even though I scored 25 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, dished out 7 assist, got 6 steals, and had 5 turnovers I felt I could have performed better. I can always improve my efficiency. I could have been more vocal. I could have worked harder on Defense. Those are some of the thoughts running through my mind. Then I thought about prayer. When I pray and ask God for patience, He doesn't give me patience. He gives me the opportunity to practice patience. When I pray and ask God for wisdom, He doesn't give me wisdom. He gives me the opportunity to practice wisdom. And the same can be said about anything we pray for. God gives us the opportunity, but in the end we still have to make the choice. I've been praying for our team to grow closer, for good health, and a successful season. I'm now realizing that God is answering my prayers by giving me, and the team, the opportunity to grow closer and build character. You can't do that effectively when everything is going well. We have to get worse before we can get better. We have been given the opportunity of good health with a surrounding team of great athletic trainers, daily practice, and constant exercise. Thats two for two on my prayer list so far. I'm guessing that the team success is next on God's list of things to do. Or at least I'm hoping that is is.

Game 1 Pictures

2010-09-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

Mid-Range

Protecting the ball

Who we play for

Season Opener

2010-09-27T03:11:00.000-07:00

Over 1,000 fans came to watch. The music was loud. The floors were clean. The new Holiday Check Basket uniforms clothed our backs. The setting was perfect. Management did everything they could to create the perfect atmosphere to start the new season in the new league. But... there was one thing that was forgotten. We forgot to bring our A game.

The jitters were being passed around from one player to the next just as frequent as the basketball exchanged hands. It was what consumed us in the beginning. Missed lay-ups, missed open jump shots, on top of missed free-throws started to plague our performance, while our guest very just the opposite. They were very confident in their play. I'd even take it a step further and say they were border line arrogant. Somehow though, we managed to still be within striking distance despite our below average performance.

Half time was spent being verbally destroyed by our disappointed coach. Snippets of his speech were in English but most of it was in German. I tried my best to make sense of it but it's hard when I only speak and understand a little bit of the language. Everyone on the team was disappointed and knew that we were capable of doing better. At this point, I somehow managed to allow my worst critic, Michael Lay, to get in my the way. Deep down inside I knew I was capable of so much more. I was dwelling on the shots I missed. I was thinking about our slow defensive rotation the few times it was actually there. I was trying to translate the half time speech. I know that I have the potential to dictate and control the game, but I just wasn't doing it. I was questioning my abilities as player. In the last five months I played in 2 officiated games and the rest of the time was spent practicing individually. I'm dying to just play and find my feet again but that hasn't happened yet. I have new teammates whom I'm still learning and trying to lead at the same time. I'm the only American so if we lose somehow there will be fingers pointed at me. All these thoughts ran through my mind at intermission. But then I remembered that my ability to impact a game without scoring is an overlooked quality. I'm the PG I can create for others and get them shots so I decided to concentrate more on this and hopefully I will find a offensive rhythm that can propel us to victory.

It seemed this altered mindset was working as we came out to a good start of the 3rd quarter. We had the momentum on our side and things were looking good going into the 4th. With about 3 minutes left the momentum shifted as we lacked the confidence to close out the game as well as the ability to execute down the stretch. We still were in the lead though. My offensive performance can me summarized in one play that happened or didn't happen that could have changed our fate. I can't remember if it was a rebound or a steal but I ended up with the ball in the middle of the key way and it was just me and the other teams 6-9 center. I turned on the jets and raced to our side of the court for a lay-up as he trailed in an attempt to block my shot. As I went to grab the ball and lay it up the ball slipped right through my hands and went out of bounds. What a disappointment. At this point the score was 73-72 in favor of Konstanz with under 45 seconds left. The following play BG Illeteral's go-to guy was at the top of the key with 12 seconds left on the shot clock and fired a three up and it hit the back on the rim and just went flat and slowly made it's way through the net. It was a crushing blow. The game wasn't over yet though. We called a time out to draw up a play for me penetrate and create something. I was denied the ball and as the ball was thrown in to our youngster, Marcel Herbelin, he was fouled. The score is 73-75 in favor of BG Illeteral. with about 10 seconds left. He missed both Free-Throws and we fouled them and it becomes a free-throw game and we ended up losing 74-78.

I guess in someways it's good to have lost because you recognize areas to work on and improve. It doesn't feel good though. I wanted to win so bad. I know I'm capable of doing better. I ended the game with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 5 steals. I also had 7 of our 21 turnovers. I was very disappointed with my turnovers as those are lost possessions. And PG are judged by the assist-to-turnover ratio. I didn't shoot the ball well according to my standards. My hat goes off to Marcel though as he played a very good game. So its back to the lab for me. After 5 seasons of international basketball, 4 years of college basketball, and 4 years of high school basketball I'm still a student of my craft. Forever learning, Forever evolving.

2010/11 Basketball Goals

2010-09-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that I am goal-orientated. I usually write down my goals and keep them in a place I can regularly view them. It serves as reminder for me to stay motivated especially on the days I don't feel like working hard. This season I decided to make my goals public. You can view them on the left side bar.

Analyst Predictions

2010-09-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

Eduard Foth - Small Forward

The season is 2 days away and the experts have made their predictions on how they think the season will finish. It's always funny reading/listening to the so called experts so here's what the had to say.

Holiday Check Baskets lacks experience and should have changed their entire roster in order to last in the 2nd Bundesliga. Hmmmm....
I think it's only fair to critique the critics so here's what I have to say: "Never underestimate the underdog". It might be true that we lack experience in this new league but what we do not lack is camaraderie and chemistry. Those are two valuable factors that can not be measure statistically. We have been together virtually 2 years now and if you overlook that fact then you must be crazy. Regardless of the league any team that has played together and is hungry for success is dangerous. As much as I hate to admit this, but that is why the Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the best teams in the NBA these past few years. They acquire players that compliment what already exist. There is something exciting about watching a team work together for each other in harmony. So for the critics to just completely overlook that or blatantly disregard that is an insult. I take it personal that League analyst picked Holiday Check Baskets to finish 11th out of the 12 teams in the league. As the Point Guard and Co-Captain of this team our success is a reflection of my leadership and I will die on the court trying to achieve this.

Another critical element analyst can't gauge is heart. I know I have the heart of a Lion and am Fearless. I try and lead by example and this method has helped bring Konstanz Basketball success the 2 years I have been here. One season resulted in me being Player-of-the-Year. I know that my teammates are fearless as well so I say to the critics bring them on. I don't expect us to dominate the league but I certainly believe that we will finish higher than 11th place. And in 2 days, we can send a message to the league and critics out there that our motto, "WE CAME TO STAY" is not just a phrase, but will be the summation of our season.

Co-Captain

2010-09-19T04:19:00.000-07:00

Last week was another intense week of practice. We had athletic training two times. It was a hard workout but at least I'm not as sore afterwards. Next weekend will be the true test as we open up against BG Illateral. Hopefully we will have a nice crowd to support us. Personally, I can't wait to put on my uniform and lace up the shoes. I know there will be a lot of adrenaline flowing but it's time for business. All of our hard work in pre-season will be put to the test.

I'm still undecided about the team because we haven't played enough basketball together to draw a conclusion. I do think we have a lot of potential to surprise teams though. We have a good group of guys so I think that will carry us through, but our ability to gel together on the court will be the X-factor. There needs to be a level of trust amongst us on the court, which should come with time.

On another note, I have been selected to be Co-Captain of the 2010/11 Holiday Check Baskets. It's an honor for me to be an outsider, meaning non-German, to even be considered for a leadership position. I think it says a lot about my person for something like this to happen. I accepted the role and plan to lead the team to success this season.

6 more days until game time.

Scrimmage vs. Frieburg

2010-09-11T00:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a practice match against Frieburg. They are in the Pro A, which is the top tier of the 2 League. You see, the league is broken up into two tiers. The teams in the top tier, Pro A, have a larger operating budget. The teams in the Pro B, have a smaller operating budget. Both leagues are under the umbrella of the 2 Bundesliga though.

Anyway, we went into the game without having our full team. We have players who are injured and players that are sick. We went into the game as underdogs but proved that we can play with the best of them. Personally, prior to the game I felt like I was in a heavyweight fight against Mike Tyson and he was hitting me with body blows the whole time. My arms were sore, my back was sore, and abs were sore, even my calf muscles were sore from the intense training we have had during the week. Every time I shot the ball I felt like I was shooting a medicine ball. I ended the game with 18 points on 4-15 shooting. I was and abmismal 1-7 from the 3 point line but managed 8 assist. Almost all my shots were flat. I still managed to run the team and keep us functional and organized and I think it paid off because we were never out of the game. It was always a 2-4 point margin for both teams.

Personally, I think that the training we are doing is great and I'm sure it will pay off but right now it is very painful. On the flip side, I felt like I was able to run forever last night. My cardio is the best it's been in years. With that said, I am very impressed with the team and all the preparation. I think we will spend the next two weeks on more tactics, strategy, and timing. I plan to continue working hard in training and make sure I get into the gym to shoot so my arms aren't as stiff.

Practice

2010-09-07T21:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my first practice with the team and I was super excited. After bring crowned tournament champions over the weekend, it's time to get back in the laboratory to fine tune some things. Little did I know that I was in for a little bit of a treat. The dynamics and intensity of practice has completely changed from last season. We spent a whole two hours without touching a single basketball. The closet we got was a medicine ball, which is 3 kilograms heavier than a basketball. The club has hired a top notch specialist trainer. He specializes in Martial Arts and Basketball. The first hour of training we worked exclusively on agility, quickness, and explosiveness. The next 45 minutes we spent in the weight room. The last 30 minutes were sprinting around a 400 meter track. All I can say is DAMN. It was a workout to remember. I was not expecting it to be that way, not in the slightest.
It reminded me of college though in so many ways. Everything was broken down and you really concentrated on developing muscles specific to your sport. As painful as it was, I really enjoyed the challenge. I can say that this season is far more professional than any other season, I've played with Konstanz. The management has made some very good decision and worked hard to build this atmosphere. I know I will be in TOP shape come September 26th. Hopefully at practice today we will get to dribble the ball. :)

Day 1 = Game 1

2010-09-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

It wasn't even 24 hours before I was suiting up in a Holiday Check Baskets uniform to compete on the court. The team has been practicing since the 16th of August so I was the last to arrive, but my arrival now makes things complete. So I guess you can say it was anticipated.
Let's rewind two days though. Tash and I flew into Singapore together on Friday 3rd of September. We had about an hours wait and I had to walk her to her terminal because we had separate flights to London. It's sad watching your wife leave to board a plane without you. I then walk to my Terminal and eventually board my plane. At this point we are ahead of schedule and the pilot announced that we would be there 10 minutes early, which was nice. Things took a sudden twist when a drunkard began to become obnoxious and rude to the flight attendants. They argued back and forth for 20 minutes only to finally escort her off the plane. It then took 20 minutes sort through the luggage to find this womans luggage and it was a full flight so I can imagine it being packed down there. Because we were idling while waiting the plane was burning fuel so then we had to refuel which took 45 minutes. I thought to myself, off all the things that could happen this is crazy. Tash will probably be at the airport nervous when she sees I'm not there on time.
So I get to London, which is a huge airport. It's like a city within a city. I had to go through all this screening on top of walking at least 5 kilometers to my terminal and I only had 1 hour to do this instead of the scheduled 3. I was nervous I wasn't going to make my flight and concerned for Tash. Our mobile phones didn't work so I had not way to contact her.
I eventually show up at the Terminal just as the last group of folks are boarding the plane and as I look around Tash and I lock eyes. It was a reassuring moment for me. We then board the plane together. As we are walking Tash tells me how her flight was delayed an hour and a half because the Pilots saw some suspicious activity in Singapore and wanted everyone re-screened. Every single passenger had to get off the plane and be individually screened. She said each one was stripped down to pretty much the bare clothing and her flight was full as well.

So essentially we arrived at the same without even knowing it. Crazy how God works. After all that we arrived at our 6th floor apartment with an immaculate view of the city and spent all day unpacking. Then it was game time. I went to meet the team and ended up suiting up to play in the championship of the tournament they were playing in. We ended up winning by 25 points. I played about 15 minutes and it actually felt really nice getting up and down with the team for the first time. I think we will be a force in the new league. Stay Tuned

Teamwork

2010-08-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

It’s less than a week before I take flight to Konstanz, Germany. I can’t lie, I’m very excited. Unfortunately, there have been a few face changes and new additions to our team. I guess since Coach Wash departed, the itch to start cleaning house didn’t go away. I am sad as two of my boys, JR Moore and Samba Thiam, will not be on the team this season. So I want to send shout outs to them. I hope they have safe travels through this journey called life.

With that said, I feel newness about this upcoming season and it’s generating a buzz. Apparently, the guys have been working extremely hard to prepare for the upcoming season. Unlike last year, I feel absolutely no pressure as we will be considered underdogs. The good thing is that we can surprise a lot of teams. Last year, we were expected to win the way we did so that added a bit of pressure. You all know the saying, pressure bursts pipes, and there were a few times last year where our pipes were on the verge of collapse.

For me the most surprising thing that I felt was lacking last year is the camaraderie that seems to exist at the club. A simple gesture such as everyone on the team getting together to help set up me and Tash’s new apartment speaks volumes. Grant it, Coach Wash did that type of thing for us the two year he was coaching, but when your teammates take that initiative it means a lot more.

So as things wind down here in Geraldton, another chapter will close and a new one will begin. It’s hard to believe that this is my 5^th season as a professional basketball player. It’s even crazier that I have only managed to be with 2 different teams within that time frame.

Bald werden wir in Lake Konstanz werden, um die Familie komplett.
means soon we will be in Lake Konstanz to complete the family

2010/11 Season

2010-08-07T16:25:00.000-07:00

The season is almost here. To say the least I'm excited. Most of you'll are probably wondering what I've been doing in my off time here in Australia. Has he been surfing? Has he been snorkelling? Has he travelling? Has he been relaxing?

Actually, I been working on my game DILIGENTLY. I shot and make at least 200 shots a day, working on perfecting moves, playing 5 on 5 with the SBL Geraldton Bucaneers, Coaching the SBL Geraldton Bucaneers, and improving my fitness. I even flew over to a place called Wollongong to train with their national league team. It was good because I got a chance to see how I measured up. To be honest, I didn't do that bad of a job in my eyes. But the coach thought I did pretty well. Other than height, I didn't feel out of place which was good for me.

I remember how I started the season last year in Germany and I was pretty disgusting to watch. I don't want that to happen again. It's a new league which means new competition which also means I'm an underdog again. I love being the underdog because 1. I been an underdog my whole life 2. because it creates this hunger inside of me 3. because the road to the top taste so much sweeter when you diligently work your way up. That's what I've set out to do. Establish myself as the best point guard in the league which means consistenly making plays, consistently making my teammates better, and consistently knocking down open shots.

Our first game is near the end of September, but Tash and I fly on September 3rd.

I can't wait.

All - Regionallia SW Foreigners Team

2010-07-09T15:13:00.000-07:00

Die Spieler und Trainer des Jahres 2009/10 in der Regional-Liga (Basketportal Germany / 5/14/2010)

Here is a translated version of an article that was passed on to me regarding the post season awards. Thought I might share with you guys.

Training

2010-06-22T02:40:00.000-07:00

I have started training again. The first week hurts. I hate it but love it at the same time. Thankfully, I'm in a place where basketball is taken serious so that helps. The Geraldton Buccs, my old team, is in 1st place in the SBL. I can't lie, it hurts watching them play. I sit back and watch and compare. I know that my hoop game has evolved and improved so much after having a European experience. Watching them fuels me though because I know that soon enough I will be on the court in blood, sweat, and tears.

The club has made a bold move in purchasing a shooting machine. If you aren't familar it rebounds for you and kicks the ball back out to you. It's a wonderful invention and I am truly addicted to it. I first got introduced to it back in College at Concordia University and it was love at first sight. My coach can vouch for me, I used that machine faithfully and it helped me improve my shooting so much. I'm hoping to get the same results as before. Only time will tell, but so far so good. I'm able to make 500 shots in about an hours time which exactly what I need.

Anyway, I gotta get going. I'm training with the Geraldton Sun City Plumbing Buccs.

Chow.

P.S. - I have been learning 5 German phrases a day.

Seasons

2010-05-29T00:44:00.000-07:00

I have entered a new season on my life, vacation time but that is going to be short-lived because vacation time is up. I have literally sat in front of the 49" flat screen for 10 days straight. I left the house a few times to get some food and run a few errands but that's about it. I have never been so bored in my life. Funny thing is that this is exactly what I wanted. I guess the old adage is true, be careful what you wish for.

I like Geraldton because of its slow paced lifestyle, but these past few days have been too slow for me. My time for relaxing hasn't really been exactly as I imagined it though. My sleeping patterns are still messed up and it seems we have a visitor every other 30 minutes. I find myself telling the same stories over and over and answering the same questions. That's married life for you though, I guess.

Right now I feel like I'm inside of a glass box. I don't do much but somehow find myself forming a monotonous routine, one I don't really want to have. I guess it's good that I have already outlined the next 15 weeks of my life though. It will simply evolve around basketball, working out, and more basketball. I have applied for a few jobs and had an interview on Friday, so maybe I will need to tweak my plans but at least there will be some cash flow coming. I find myself getting more restless and more stressed as the days pass. I miss my family more and more each day. I find myself questioning if my following my dreams is really worth it nowadays. Is it really worth being separated from my family?

I have rediscovered the true value of working out and its ability to relieve stress. It is exactly what I am missing in my life to bring balance. Have just been sitting on my butt and have been experiencing back problems again so I know its stress related. Yesterday, I went to use the rest room and blacked out. I ended up hitting my head on the wall and scratched up my forehead. I don't know how long I was unconscious but I eventually woke up next to the toilet with my pants half down and my head hurting. I'm optimistic so I know things will change because I have recognized the problem. Inevitably the next step forward is change.

Tonight I will go and watch the Geraldton Buccaneers, my old team, play. I know it will ignite a fire inside me and that's precisely what I need at the moment. Overall, I'm doing alright but that will change soon.

Coolbrz84

Australia

2010-05-24T00:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

I have successfully touched down in Australia. After flying from Stuttgart to London only to wait 10 hours at Heathrow Airport, fly to Singapore, then fly to Perth to wait another 10 hours, and finally fly to Geraldton I feel like a zombie. I can only thank God for safe travels and being reunited with my wife. I have spent the last few days sleeping all day and my nights staying up. I have the worse case of jet lag ever. I hope to adjust soon though otherwise I'm in for a long 3 months. Right now my plan is to kick back for the rest of the week. I won't just be sitting around on my ass enjoying my brand new 49" flat screen TV. In between commercials I plan to design an off-season court workout regime to get ready for the 2010/11 basketball season:) I plan to hire a plyometrics trainer to assist in my speed, agility, and quickness. Overall, my goal is to play at a high level consistently next season. I'll keep you guys updated on M. Lay's life in the off-season.

8 Game Winning Streak (click here)

2010-05-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize we finished the season with 8 consecutive wins. There was so much going on that my focus was divided. This was good though because in the beginning I was stressing because I knew what the goal was and I could feel the pressure. It was all I thought about. It was on my mind 24/7, but then something happened. We began to evolve and trust started to develop. With the coaching change everything was new. I think people were trying to re-establish their roles. In the midst of that we lost a few games. I once read a quote that reads, "Those who achieve inner excellence are response-ABLE. They don't let what they can't do interfere with what they can do."

I think we started to realize that we don't have total control over our fate. If we did, we wouldn't have lost a game this season. What we do have control over is our effort. Instead of fighting amongst each other, we started to play with each other, (no homo, hahaha), and we started to play better basketball. More importantly we started to get the results that we desired, wins. Just that shift in thinking allowed us to take things one game at a time and finish the season strong.

GREAT JOB, Holiday Check Baskets.

Unterschrift Bitte

2010-05-11T01:40:00.000-07:00

The title means "signature please" in German. That's probably what the management and sponsors of Holiday Check Baskets were thinking when the horns went off after our game on Saturday. It was the final home game of the season and in front of over 1000 spectators, we managed to end on a high note. Now that the game was over, the attention immediately was turned to celebrating. In the midst of all the chaos, I managed to sneak away with the Club Owner, Stefan Ahlhaus. After careful weeks of talks and considerations, we were able to agree to contractual terms. Mr. Ahlhaus calmly pulled out the clear folder that gracefully contained my basketball fate, gently placed it on the table, and confidentally said, UNTERSCHRIFT HERE BITTE, thus cealing the fate of Holiday Check Baskets and Michael Lay once again for the 2010/11 basketball season.

Konstanz feiert eine Basketball-Party

2010-05-11T01:26:00.000-07:00

With the ups and downs of our season, these picture are worth a thousand words. The last time I remember this feeling I was a sophomore at Concordia University and were Co-Champions of the Cascade Collegiate Conference. With only one game left in our season, I can start to enjoy the fruits of our labor. To the left you will find a team of Gladiators. To the right you will see what it was we were fighting for, the love of the people. At the bottom you will see happiness with a side a beer.

AUFSTEIGER KONSTANZ AUFSTEIGER

Dreams to come True..

2010-05-11T01:08:00.000-07:00

Fellow readers,

It has been months since my last post. If you are wondering why that is I have one word for you, LIFE. Life has inundated me with a fair amount of responsibilities. I'm a Husband then a basketball player now. I unconsciously boxed away my lap top and coincidentally traded it in for Scrabble with my wife. The free time I had before was occupied with writing. Now that time is spent with my wife. I'm not going to lie I struggle finding balance as we adapted to married life. I apologize to you all.

With that said I somehow didn't let go of the dream. The vision outlined by Basketball Konstanz at the beginning of the year was still a top priority. Personally, I feel that my overall performance was below average. You might say that I am being hard on myself, or you might agree. The good thing about it all is that is not just about me. I am just a grain of sand at the beach in the grand scheme of things. However, I can't begin to explain how good it feels to be on a team that reached its goal. As an outsider, I don't think I can fully comprehend the reality of what it means to Basketball Konstanz to be moving up to the next level. I wasn't there during the building stages. Those are always that hardest years but there are people who have. There are people who have spent countless time and energy putting pen to paper in hopes of transcending a dream into a reality. The joy that comes from the long awaited moment is clearly displayed in the photo. The Club owner spreads his overwhelming joy and in that moment I realized that I was a part of something special. I immediately thought back to the day I told Tash that I was coming to Germany. At the time, I didn't know why God has directed my path to this place I knew nothing of, but that is why he is God. As hurtful as it was to leave her, I had to step into the trust of God, by embracing it with the same joy Stefan is embracing me with. Fast forward, Tash and I ended up getting married at the same time helping fulfill a dream. WOW!

AmericanNOT in Germany anymore

2010-02-15T01:44:00.000-08:00

   Recently, Germany decided it wanted to push to develop its youth players. This decision came as Germany is striving to develop their very own and to also minimize the dependence on Foreigners in order to achieve success. It's a very interesting topic depending on what side of the argument you are on, but I'd like to explore it a bit more.
   There are lasting consequences and subliminal messages to be extracted from this move though. I have learned and come to realize that Europe is absolutely right in its efforts to develop its younger players. That is very important, but there is a very huge fact that is overlooked when considering this. That fact is this; no other country except America integrates sports into schools. Every other country operates sports through a club. Now, there are both pros and cons to this approach. Personally, I believe that by integrating sports into the academic curriculum, kids are driven more because participation in sports is considered a privilege. It's only after an individual can display they are capable of achieving at least average marks in the classroom that they will be allowed to participate in sports.
   Another key component is that sports participants in America are taught the fundamentals earlier in life and the emphasis are more on the fun, in most cases. When the sport is being run through a club there is not much of a difference, but there is more of an emphasis on the business side (i.e. - financial sustainability) rather than personal development. It's only when an individual shows remarkable skill level in a sport that doors will open up, but only for that individual. Otherwise, kids grow up just playing and not being taught the basics until later when they decide to take it more seriously. By then it's too late. This systematic approach is slightly, only slightly, different than the college system though. Both provide opportunities. The only difference is the average age sports are taking seriously. This understanding is precisely why I think this push towards the youth is being made.
   If history has any significance then you can see the American model of development pays more dividends as the NBA is regarded as the best of the best. This is not a criticism of any other country because I also believe having varying options is crucial. However, there are areas of the European model that conflict with the vision or direction a club may want to go if the focus is primarily on the youth and you want to ostracize Americans all while making a profit.
   Contrary, I also am well aware of the Americans who are contracted to play in countries and don't understand the situation in its entirety. I'm talking about the belief that every American is out for himself on the court, is all about partying, and has an ongoing list of women he sleeps with. I'm not trying to dub guys in, but that is the perception which inevitably becomes a reality. We forget that we are the guest of the host country; therefore, we should be more open to the culture and adaptive. After all, we are typically only spending a season or two in these places but the decisions we make while being there can have severe side effects and last a lifetime.
   More often than not THE AMERICAN WAY mentality impedes us individually and to a degree insults the host country because in all actuality the underlying meaning is, my way is better than yours and that not always true. Oh, and those lasting consequences I mentioned earlier has a deferred impact by affecting the next generation. The predecessors are somewhat ruining it because of their poor choices. Their behavior only validates the preconception of Americans. Thus, those of us who may be different are stereotyped and punished for something we walked in to and because of where we are from.
   This shouldn't be new to most ballers of dark or fair skin being that we represent a minority stake in the United States of America and most likely have experienced this form of prejudice at some point in our lives. For most of us, we used sports as an outlet to escape those realities and transcend our circumstances. This motivation intensified our seriousness about playing because sports might have been the only way to step up the socioeconomic ladder.
   What am I really saying here? I'm saying that as Americans, we need to remember where we have come from, open our eyes, and realize we are representing something larger than us. Let’s rise above this and transcend our circumstances once again. Let's try to make it so the next generation can continue to build on the already laid foundation with one minor change; let's put less emphasis on self and be more open.

REGIO TV

2010-02-12T06:31:00.000-08:00

Attached is a link to the Regional Television station in Germany. The video clip highlights our last game and how we were defeated on our home court. Our coach was interview along with myself. Although you might not be able to understand because there are German voice overs, you should still be able to get the general idea.

HOLIDAY CHECK BASKETS vs. OBERELCHINGEN
(click to view)

TIME

2010-02-12T06:04:00.000-08:00

Recent developments have reminded me of a really nice poem I once read. It reads:

To realize the value of one year: Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize the value of one month: Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of one week: Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of one hour: Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of one minute: Ask the person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize the value of one-second: Ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realize the value of one millisecond: Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

The Arthur of these words is unknown but those words are so compelling and powerful for me right now. Some issues are surfacing within our team that’s beginning to transcend into a problem. If those problems aren't addressed the success of our season can quickly evaporate. Please indulge me so that you can become current on the events here in Germany.

In a nutshell, basketball has become just something to do instead of being fun. Upon returning to Konstanz in September there seemed to be a negative energy circulating that I couldn't understand. Logically, one would imagine that a team that has played together for a year would have an undisputed level of chemistry. After all, you are all familiar with each other and we have had success. In all actuality, it feels like the complete opposite is true. There seems to be no camaraderie amongst us, everyone seems to be out for themselves, and the discipline we once had is now gone.

How does a team go from successfully defeating the #1 ranked team in the league one week to losing to the 12th ranked team another week. I’ll tell you. Our team is developing an ego. I get the feeling that individuals on our team think they have to increase their personal performance in hopes of impressing our new coach. I also get the feeling that guys are beginning to compete with each other for all the wrong reasons. In other words, we are competing for personal benefit and not for the benefit of the team.

I think losing last week revealed some critical concerns within our team. I say the word team very cautiously because it doesn’t feel like a team anymore. I always thought a team was meant to be an extension of family which meant love and trust. I hope that we can rediscover ourselves before the end of the season and start having fun with each again and not competing amongst one another. I hope that we can sacrifice our egos and trust in our new coach. I hope we can remember that we play because we love the game. I hope that we can remember that time waits for no one and that we are in a very privileged position. I hope that we can cherish this opportunity because we may never be presented with this chance ever again.

A SLAP IN THE FACE

2010-01-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

Last week Holiday Check Baskets suffered defeat at the hands of Rastatt. It was an ugly loss that totaled 25 points. At one point we were down by 35 in the 4th quarter. The team that showed up on the court was not the team that I have grown to know over these past two years. It was such a painful loss. Our timing was off, our rhythm was gone, the basketball seemed like an invisible lid was placed on it and for the other team it seemed like they were throwing rocks in the ocean.

With that loss we have forfeited our cushion in the league standings but it's not the end of the world. We are in a 3-way tie for 2nd place instead of flying solo. However, we play one of the teams we are tied with so stayed tuned for the results.

WASHout...

2010-01-18T12:57:00.000-08:00

This is a Public Service Announcement. Coach Roger Washington is no longer the coach of Holiday Check Baskets. Coach Wash and the Management decided to go in separate ways for reason I will not mention. That was an internal thing and will stay that way but I thought I owe him a tribute for all he has done for me. So here goes.

I was in my second season in Australia and I get a phone call in the middle of the night from a funny looking number. I answered it and it was a man with a deep voice asking to speak to Michael Lay. He introduced himself as Coach Wash, the head coach of Konstanz Basketball. He began asking me indirect questions about my character. Little does he know I saw right through it, but I answered honestly? He asked me questions like, do I like to party and drink? He threw a few basketball questions in there to try and throw me off but I was on to what he was doing. He was asking about who I was as a person.

Anyway, from that point on we formed a unique bond as player/coach. He took a risk on me despite questions from the management about my height, hence doubting my ability to perform on the court. Coach Wash saw something in me that they didn't see. He saw me in the same light as I see myself and that became obvious early on. He pushed me and challenged me in a way that I became familiar with early on in life because it was the same way my dad would do things or very similar. I think Coach Wash's military background was a huge factor in his approach to things and for those whom aren't familiar with people from that kind of background can find their way of doing things very direct, to say the least. Initially, I think the newness of it all intrigue people but after awhile people began to rebel against his approach, philosophy, and his authority. It's kind of like a democracy in the sense that the people have the power speak out. After all it was took the courage of brave African Americans to stand up and speak out against slavery so that I blacks can throw down the chains and pick up a textbook.

Needless to say that Coach Wash was in a difficult position because he received no recognition for games we won, but received a lot of condemnation for the losses. It’s a catch 22 or a double edge sword. Unfortunately, that is the painful and unfair world we live in.

Having said that I want to publicly thank Coach Wash (even though he might not read this) for all he has done for me, for believing in me, and taking a chance on me. He was a great man and a great coach. I'm sure he will have no problem finding another coaching job once he is ready to take the stage again.

THANKS COACH

Return of the King

2010-01-09T02:40:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since my last post. Actually, it’s been just over three weeks, but I tribute that to the holidays. I thought about writing a few post, but decided not to in lieu of my desire to enjoy my time off. This time last year I was burnt out from playing for 10 consecutive months without time off, but this time is different. I'm married now and have had plenty of time to rest both physically and mentally and my body feels so much better, fresher, and rejuvenated right now.
I have also had the pleasure of spending my first Christmas with my wife and the In-Laws. On the flip side, I wasn't able to see my immediate family this year. Anyway, outside of basketball life has been fun and challenging and this holiday has been great. I tried Deer for the first time as well as enjoyed some very cold nights full of snow.

Regarding hoops, it’s time to start the second half of the season. Right now we are 2nd place with 15 games left. I spent a few days reflecting on the first half of the season and noticed a few areas I can improve on. I also sat down and thought about the direction I'm headed. In order for me to get where I want to go it is evident that I need to make a few changes. Like Michael Jackson once said, "you have to start with the man in the mirror" and that's what I plan to do. S stay tuned for a refocused M. Lay. I am on a quest to return to the MVP like performance of last season to help ensure our team reaches our goal. A CHAMPIONSHIP. So make way because the King has returned.

Week 13

2009-12-13T02:01:00.000-08:00

This week Holiday Check Baskets hit the road to take on the Hanau White Wings. Hanau is loaded with two very good Americans and two or three Germany Americans. You see, after the war some American soldiers stayed in Germany and consequently started their own family. I believe that Hanau used to have a United States military base in or near the area.

Anyway, it was a very interesting game as Hanau jumped out and took a very early lead. They were hitting on all cylinders and Holiday Checks couldn't seem to make baskets as we missed many lay-ups and lots of free-throws. Somehow we managed to pull together a run to close out the first half which turned out to be the start of a momentum change.

The second half saw the Holiday Checks Baskets with a renewed focus and concentration. I credit that to our interim coach’s halftime speech, or should I say his scolding that probably would have needed to be censored for viewers/listeners. But it worked and I like it because he isn't afraid to call guys out and challenge us and it's quite clear that he believes in us, which is important. We ended up scoring roughly 28 points in the 3rd and 4th quarter alone to grab control of the game and ensure victory.

We are currently in 2nd place with one game left before the Christmas break and after a not so good start to the season I can say that we have found our rhythm.

P.S. - I had to put a photo up of my boy JR Moore because I in my opinion he controled the boards rounding up 14 rebounds.

Game Stats(click to view stats)

Week 12

2009-12-07T10:53:00.000-08:00

Fellow readers, I apologize for not informing you all on hoops last week but a lot happened and to be honest I needed some time to process and sort things out. To start our coach found out that is mother was terminally ill and had little time to live, immediately after hosting us to a FANTABULOUS Thanksgiving dinner. Sad right. Well, it gets worse. He was unable to attend our game as he flew back to the States to see her before she met her maker, except that she past while he was on the plane before he even got there. I sit and ask myself how can one cope?

Then I find out that a previous teammate of mine committed suicide. That was shocking because apparently he suffered from depression, which I would have never imagined. I thought to myself, what is it that happens to someone in their lifetime to lure them in wanting to kill themselves. Then I thought about the time in college when I was on the verge.

To add injury to insult, we lost our game on Saturday, which ended our 8 or 9 game winning streak. It was nice because I had a bit of a fans/friends come to watch as my Aidlingen neighbors came to support. They say things happen in groups of 3 so I'm hoping that is the end of this adversity.

When I step back and look at it all, that is a lot to process and me being me didn't sit down and absorb and reflect on it all. Me being me, deep thought is a part of my nature and not having time to think is a big deal for me, hence why I have been suffering from backpains lately.

Anyway, we bounced back this week and won a very critical game that allowed us to secure 2nd place even though we lost last week. There are two games left before the break and I can't wait. A break is much needed for me right now to rejuvenate and refocus.

STAYED PRAYED UP COACH WASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

coolbrz84

Pride - The Double Edge Sword

2009-11-16T09:38:00.000-08:00

This past weekend the Holiday Check Baskets prevailed as we defeated our Hidelberg-Kircheim opponents by 14 points, thus continuing our 6 game winning streak. We still sit tied for 2nd place, with 6 more months of basketball left and a lot of things can happen within that time frame. Today, I want to focus on the pride because I was reintroduced into the lesson of pride and what it can do for you and what it can't do for you. So here goes.

One definition of pride states, pride is pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself. This description of pride is what I believe helped elevated me to where I am today. It was foolish pride that held me together when my high school coach shattered my hopes and dreams by telling me that I wasn't good enough to play for him. I instantly made a covenant with myself that he would swallow those words. From that day forth I worked on my game every night striving for perfection and when I signed and faxed my contract to the coach over in Australia, I was satisfied in knowing I worked hard to get to this point and that I deserved it.

Pride also means, a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc. This is the type of pride I suffered from this past weekend which is the inspiration of this post. I was full of pride this weekend. I was playing in the same gymnasium that I once scored 40 points in. We are winning, playing good basketball, and I feel like my basketball output is as good as it was last year, if not better. I walked in to the gym feeling like I was untouchable then WHAM! I'm slapped in the face with a mighty hand of power from authority I must obliged, only to literally be placed in my seat. It seemed the officials had it out for me, but as I look back I can't help but notice my complaining and sniveling only helped their disdain for the kid. It seemed I was destined for failure and for someone who might have witnessed Holiday Check Baskets for the first time would have been highly disappointed with what was happening. I found myself complaining over things I had absolutely no control over. Don't get me wrong, there were a plethora of calls the officials made that seemed biased or controversial, but as a basketballer the number one lesson learned is that you can not argue with the referees, ever. At the end of the day they will get the last laugh. And they did. The watched me drag my feet over to the bench in the middle of the 3rd quarter. It was unprofessional and embarrassing.

With that said, the bible advocates humility and being humble. Those are two traits I try and live my daily life by, but I am human. I sin (miss the mark) just like the next person. As painful as it was, I had to swallow my pride and cheer for my team as the pulled together and dominated the opponent. And that is today's lesson on pride and how it is a double edge sword.

Highlight Video

2009-11-10T19:49:00.000-08:00

Okay ya'll. It's the moment of truth. I decided to be a little bit narcissist by putting together a few clips of me playing for your enjoyment. Have a look. I am also taking a Poll so if you can please vote if you like the video or not that would be great.

~coolbrz84

P.S. - My apologies that there is no music. I put some on but due to copyright laws it had to be taken off. You can still enjoy the footage though.

MTV Cribs

2009-11-08T01:37:00.000-08:00

Tash and I decided to have a little bit of fun and created this video. Some of you may have seen it aleady, while others might not have. For those of you who haven't, Enjoy!

Week 8

2009-11-08T00:53:00.000-08:00

Week 8's opponent comes from the town of Tübingen. They were a group of young developing players, so you can imagine they have lots of energy. To their credit they started the game out full of energy and intensity, but from the opening tip-off it wasn't looking too good for Tübingen. After ten minutes of play they managed to score 6 points to our 29 points. Seeing that I have been playing this game for a while, I could see the fear and disappointment in their eyes. To our credit we didn't allow pity to ease its way into our veins and kept the pressure up. We eventually ended up winning the game by 44 points. The final score was 92-48.

Personally, I felt like this was great team performance as just about everyone played and we seem to have found that key ingredient that we were lacking from before, FUN. There were lots of smiles on the Holiday Check Baskets faces as we marched our way to a deciding victory.

I was very pleased with my performance as I was seem to have found that balance of setting my teammates up, which is a strength of my game that is often undervalued or overlooked because I can score the ball. I finished the game with 23 points, 10 assist, and 6 steals. I feel so good inside when I have lots of assist as I like to think of myself as a generous person and in basketball that statistic is a reflection of that. The highlight of my night was when one of the "KONSTANZ KRAZIES" came up to me and told me in German, "Sie sind wie eine Katze schnell." That means, "you are fast as a cat." That's not the exact wording but its close enough. Now that I know a little bit of Germany, I take a liking in trying to speak and write it.

bis später
See you later

Samson

2009-11-03T08:32:00.000-08:00

In the bible is a story about a man with long hair. His name is Samson. His long hair symbolized his strength. That story inspired me a few weeks ago because I was in a dark place. I needed change and I needed something to symbolize my committment to this change. I made a pat with myself to not cut my hair until we lose another game. I was debating between not showering but remember that I'm married. :) It's been four weeks now and if you see me right now you can see 4 weeks of hair on top of my head. I now have a mini-afro with little baby curls. If Holiday Check Baskets keeps this pace then who knows how big it will get come end of the season.

Week 7

2009-11-03T08:22:00.000-08:00

Seven weeks into the season and we are 5-2 and are in a four way tie for 3rd place. This past weekend we successfully defeated Ober-Ramstadt by 22 points. Going into the 4th quarter we were up by 35 points.

As a team we seem to be finding a rhythm as we are improving. Coach Wash still has his criticism but what coach wouldn't. It's important for us to stay level headed. We can't fly too high with confidence and we can't fly too low with confidence. Coming into the season I think we mentally were writing teams off and underestimating our opponents, thus the 2 defeats we suffered. They served good purpose though because we learned not to taken anything for granted.

I think we still are a long way from playing the typed of basketball we are capable but we are honestly taking it one step at a time. KAIZEN is a Japanese word that means constant daily improvement. I want to take that up as our season motto.

Auf Gates Konstanz

kaizen

coolbrz84

Hoop Update

2009-10-31T23:55:00.000-07:00

It's game day. The time is 7:55am in Germany and I had a good night of sleep. Today's opponent hasn't won a game yet this season. Holiday Check Baskets are not trying to let them win either. Having said that we are by no means looking to underestimate our competition. We will just go out and play hard.

So far this season we are 4-2 and sit in 3rd place. We are tied with about 4 other teams for that spot, but in time that will change. Statistically, I'm doing alright. I'm scoring 23.5 points per game (ranked 4th), shooting 55.7% from the field (ranked 53rd), shooting an abysmal 28.7% from 3-point (ranked 83), shooting 72.9% from the free-throw line (ranked 45th), turning the ball over 4.2 times per game (ranked 5th), getting 5.7 assist per game (ranked 1st), stealing the ball 2.8 times per game (ranked 3rd), and have an efficiency of 20.3 (ranked 4th).

As you can see there are signs of improvement that can be made. I just do whatever I can to put us in the best position to win. I'm a competitor and I always want to win.

We are on a 3 game win streak and are trying to make it 4 wins in a row tonight at 5:30pm.

MTV Cribs

2009-10-31T14:15:00.000-07:00

Thought that I would share with you all The Lay version of MTV Cribs. It's our first home together and I'm very proud of it. Enjoy!

~coolbrz84

Operation Exploitation

2009-10-29T02:24:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think to myself, "how did I get here?" Sometimes the joy is so overwhelming that I can't believe it's true. Other times, the hurt is so painful that I wish I could close my eyes and sometimes make it go away. It's been a long time since I have blogged and sure enough my life, thoughts, and emotions have been scattered like Obama trying to figure out a strategy in Afghanistan. Funny thing is I know exactly how to resolve it, yet have not had time/made time but here I am ladies and gents. Back from the dead. So please allow me to bring you up to speed.

First off, Germany is the same as it was when I left it in April 2009. My lifestyle consist of serving sandwiches by day and shooting hoops by night. Earlier I wrote, "how did I get here?" The answer is my passion and love for the game. So as much as I don't like my day job, my night job is what keeps my tank full. Inevitably, it balances out in some weird way.

Anyway, married life is everything I envisioned it to be. The challenge for us is time management and being discipline about blocking out our schedule to make time for each other. I can't lie, initially, I was skeptical because for the first time "Spading" took the back seat. Take it a step further, my output upon arriving in Germany wasn't where I wanted and I began to sense that management was beginning to have doubts. You see, I wasn't able to put as much time into hoops due to the shift of priorities. With that said, the question came up again, "how did I get here?" I took the initiative to sit down with my wife and talk it out with her because it's important to me to have success in marriage and hoops now, not just hoops. The bottom line is I was brought here to win and starting the season of 1-2 and sitting in 10th place will raise flags. As much as I enjoy playing, I forgot that there is a business side of things that drives this.

As fate would have it, motivation would spring up to inspire me once again. I love doubters also known as HATERS. I started to see the true character in people surrounding me. I categorized them into the believers and the non-believers. As always, there are only a few real believers and a whole lot of those who pretend to believe especially when the going is good. But when the going gets tough, those pretenders become contenders.

Why am I mentioning all this? It's simple, because for the past month I have been experiencing a lot of politics and hate. I hate it and love it at the same time and its the reason why I have a new-found love for the game. I refuse to empower the HATERS/DOUBTERS by blaming them for the situation. It was by my own doing which I can surely change. I have been given great talents from the GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE and I don't want to let him down. That is my only ambition, all the while, striving to become the best that I can become.

The joy is in the journey, not crossing the finish line and I am certain this season is going to be full of excitement. STAY TUNED!

2 DAYS

2009-09-11T00:04:00.000-07:00

Wow,

2 days until we set sail to the likes of Europe. It's been so much happening these past few months so I must admit that the departure is greatly anticipated. For my wife, it's a bit harder as she is being uprooted from her comfort and travelling to a foreign place. As I sit and think back to what it was like when I first stepped outside the comfort of California, I can't help but to have mixed emotions now as I did then. Back then, I had no idea what I was doing or where that was actually going to lead me. Right now, I have no idea what I am doing or where I am going to end up. You see, I have an additional set of priorities now being a husband. I sat and watched my lovely wife sit on the floor of the bathroom today as she slowly packed her stuff away only to notice her teary eyes. I knew instantly that they were tears of sadness not joy as the reality of moving finally hit her. I remember the exciting days when we talked about moving to Germany but lately it seems like those days are long gone as nothing but sadness seems to lurk.

Irregardless, I believe in my heart that the direction we are travelling will serve us both and stretch and grow us in ways we oblivious to. Sometimes the best things we can do in life are also the hardest and this current situations definietly signifies that. As a husband I will lead us in all possible ways to ensure our safety harness our comfort, and to protect us.

On a basketball tip, I am ready to destroy any and all opponents. I have a new found love for the game as I have had lots of time to evaluate things. I belive that I am in possession of a gift. Soon all of Germany will notice it as well.

HONEYMOON (click to view slideshow)

2009-09-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

We are officially back from our honeymoon and it was a beautiful time. We started off checking in to the Sheraton Resort which borders a Four-Mile Beach that is pretty much in our backyard. We then made our way up north to the Daintree Rainforest's, which is the oldest Tropical Rainforest's in the world. We saw some Crocodiles, but the best part were the millions of different species of tress inside the forest we saw. YEAH RIGHT! They all looked the same to us and it was pretty boring, but it was something we can now say we did. Next, we woke up at 4am to go Hot Air Ballooning to view the sunset. It was immaculate. Ironically, as we were celebrating our honeymoon a cute little couple got engaged on the balloon. Following that we just spent a day of relaxing at the pool/lagoons the Resort had, sat in the sun, went for a swim, and both got massages. The highlight of our honeymoon was probably snorkel ling. The Great Barrier Reef was stunning as the water was crystal clear, warm, and full of little Nemo's and sharks. Thank God we didn't see any sharks though. Just a side note, that both the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest are both World Heritage listed. That means Australia has an international obligation to preserve these areas due to their significance. Another side note is that both the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef is the only place in the world where the Rainforest's and the Ocean meet. We concluded our honeymoon by visiting the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. It was crazy. I've never seen so many butterflies at one time in my life. They land on you and everything. It was beautiful. Have a look at the slide show.

CHAPTER 3 - MARRIAGE

2009-08-25T00:59:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow readers. A lot of time has elapsed since my last post. A lot has been going on these past 4 months so let me quickly bring you up to speed.
I finished my season in Germany and headed back to Australia to be with my fiance. I worked in Accounting, as well as, managing a Youth Basketball Program in the communicty. I also did individual and small group basketball workouts for kids in the community. I also spent a bit of timing putting the finishing touches on my business plan while slowly getting back into basketball shape for the upcoming season in Germany.
I got married on August 22nd and am currently honeymooning. I am at an internet cafe in Perth, Australia waiting to catch a flight over to Cains, Australia to relax for one week. Following that will be an intense two weeks of conditioning and training for the 2009/2010 German Basketball season.
To be honest I don't really feel married yet. Well other than.... you know :)it feels almost the same because we spent everyday with each other prior to August 22nd, but it is a really good feeling marrying someone who's company and conversations you enjoy. I have included the link to some photos of our wedding so feel free to have a look.

http://paulpichugin.com/blog/

P.S. - I will be updating reguarly as hoop season is approaching.

CoolBrz84

PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR

2009-04-28T00:53:00.001-07:00

Like most jobs there comes a time when individuals are recognized for their diligence, teamwork, etc. That time has come. As coach picked us up this morning to drive us to Frankfurt Airport, he had this smirk on his face. He leaned in to JR Moore to give his usual greeting. Only this time it wasn't the name JR Moore that came out. It was Hello Mr. DEFENSIVE PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR. Then he looked back to me and extended his arm with the greeting, Hello Mr. MVP. I was a bit taken back. Never have I been awarded such an honor nor has JR. I humbly smirked and JR remained calm. Then a loud scream and shaking comes from the drivers seat and it was coach screaming and rejoicing and celebrating. I mean, it was his decision to bring us here and it was beautiful for him I'm sure of this.
Receiving such an honor is only a compliment to the team, the coach, and the organization. We were never out there playing selfishly, although there are some who might beg to differ. Instead, we were only doing what was being asked of us and some of our roles encompassed more freedom while others didn't. Fact is, without the sacrifices made on behalf of some of my teammates I can't justify receiving such an award.
With that said, I hope my teammates are smiling while reading this entry because we are all PLAYERS-OF-THE-YEARS. I mean it. Without you guys we would not have had the success we had this year. My college used to always say, "we are only as strong as our weakest link." So I sincerely am blessed to have played a season with you all and I know that without God guiding me none of this would even exist. But let me say this. I would trade this award in for a Championship any day of the week. Funny thing, is I would hear NBA guys say that and think to myself. "YEAH RIGHT" but here I am saying the same thing and experiencing the same feelings they share in being recognized for your individual efforts. Last time I checked basketball was a team sport and if you don't win a championship then you have fallen short.
Anything less than a championship next year is UNACCEPTABLE.

COOLBRZ84

13 months

2009-04-28T00:49:00.000-07:00

Dear readers,

Now that I have successfully completed a season in Europe the time has come for me to reflect and look back. After all, if I want to know where I am going I have to know where I’ve been. Most of you may not know but I have been playing basketball on a semi-professional level for the past 13 months consecutively. For most of you that might not register or you might not fully understand how long that really is. So let me highlight the journey I have been on these past 13 months to fill in a few gaps. Before I do so, let me say this: “Everything that has happened in these months is exactly what I wanted to happen.” I want to make that clear because I am realize how privileged I am.
February of 2008 I was standing in front of a class teaching 12-15 year old kids how to operate computers and helping building up their mathematical skills. Little did I know that within that one year later I would have played over 60 games. I then traveled to Australia for a second season because I enjoyed my time there so much the first year. Plus the club wanted me back. In my opinion we had everything in place to win a championship but all that changed when I fell and hurt my wrist three quarters through the season. It wasn’t just the immediate season I was concerned for, but also my future. Up to this point in my career I had never suffered an injury as severe. Seeing that I had signed to play in Konstanz by this time I was very much concerned about my future in Europe. I toughed it out and rehabilitated my wrist as often as I could. It was 7 months of intensity and focus down in Australia.
Once the playoffs came, critics were expecting us to be in the championship considering the team we had. Our dreams fell short as we lost in double overtime in the third game of a three game series by 2 points. It was the craziest game I ever played in.
I then had about 3 weeks to somewhat relax but I still had to stay in shape seeing I had another season I was about to play in. I felt more pressure seeing that I had never played in Europe and I know how With that said, that mentality didn’t allow me to really relax because I was in the gym trying to get back to 100%.
September comes and I’m on a flight to Germany, leaving behind my precious girlfriend and not to mention it has been 7 months since I have seen my family. I have a dream and I know they all support me so I kept pushing. I arrived in Germany with a few goals, to win a championship, play my best, and make a name for myself. By the end of the season two of those goals were accomplished, but it took a lot out of me. Coach Washington really pushed me to my limits. At the time, it was misery but it only brought out the best in me. I never kept my eyes off the prize though. Although, we fell short of a championship this year I think we did a great job this season considering the amount of new faces that were added and that’s tribute to Coach Washington.
Just for one second imagine this. Before you read on take a deep breath and close your eyes for a brief second before you read on………..
Okay! Think about your personal dream. Now contemplate committing yourself to follow your dreams despite knowing the huge sacrifices and hurdles that will come. Remember nothing worth having is going to come easy and if your dream is worth it then the road you travel to get there is going to be tough. Now that you have mentally prepared yourself for what’s to come, imagine yourself being in the exact situation you envision and an environment that will enable you to become a step closer to reaching your dream except now you have physical obstacle arises. This is supposed to be the easy part but you find it difficult. You are drained mentally and emotionally and you have someone behind you commanding you to do your best and pushing you to your limits. 13 months of being pushed to your absolute limit. Imagine that.
Now think about what your limits really are and how often you cut corners or take short cuts because that route is easier. In the long run that only hurts you because a lot can be learned from taking the road that is less travelled. Are you confused yet? I bet you are wondering where I am going to take this right?
Well, for the past 8 months I have been pushed like never before. The last time I remember this amount of pressure being put on me I was a kid and it was from my dad. It wasn’t a pressure directly as if someone was constantly in my ear. It was the pressure of someone believing in you and seeing something in you that you might not be able to see in yourself. That kind of pressure can be very stressful and for those of your who have experienced this may know what I am talking about. I mean, I was looking in the mirror just the other day and noticed a gray hair in my mustache. I’m sure it is from the past 8 months 0f stress. So I immediately decided to shave to keep a professional and young image, but that’s not the point. The point is that I have someone who believes in me, who took a chance on me, and has pushed me. I am and will forever be thankful of that.
So despite playing basketball for 13 months, I know that I am only at the beginning of something great. All this has just been preparation and will only make sense for me later on in life.
So now that the season is complete I plan to take a month long break away from hoops. I need to unplug because I don’t want to overload on basketball. I believe in balance and I am in dire need of that right now. I will come back to Germany in September refreshed. I like to think of it as a new and improved Michael Lay, but I will leave that for you (the fans) to judge.
I will keep writing on my blog as it is a place to debrief and unwind which contributes to my peace and balance. Until next time.

Coolbrz84

HOMELAND SECURITY

2009-04-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

It's innate for us men to protect what's ours, especially when it comes to your home. When intruders approach, it's time to fight and defend but even more important is that it's time to protect what's rightfully yours.

This season many teams have attempted to step foot into Konstanz with the hope of winning the battle. Many have tried, few have succeeded. In fact, none have succeeded. We have managed to achieve a unprecedented undefeated record at home. I'm not sure exactly how many games that is but when you have zero losses at home it doesn't matter. That's pretty impressive and this week was our last home test of the season. We played the team who has sat atop of the standings pretty much all season long. They arrogantly stormed into our Hall with the expectations of winning. Probability wise their chances were good seeing that we lost last week.

Unfortunately, Holiday Check Baskets had other plans. We posses something called pride and although our chances of winning the Championship have narrowed, we still are professionals. Therefore, we must maintain that image not just for the fans, but for ourselves. And that's what we did. We protected our home in the most professional manner possible and left the likes of the league leaders with disappointed faces when the clock struck zero.

The funny thing is that we had a chance to move into second place because of the point system used in Germany to calculate the standings. You see, this week the 1st place team competed against the 3rd place team. Next week, the 1st place team plays against the 2nd place team. It will be the last game of the season. Seeing that the 1st place and 2nd place team have identical records, the winner will pretty much take all. Well if the 1st place team loses next week consequently they would move to 2nd place and thus having an identical win loss record with the 3rd place team (Holiday Check Baskets). It then would come down to head to head competition to determine who would acquire the 2nd place spot. Earlier in the year we lost to them by 14 points. So, if we won by 15 points that would put us ahead in the point column. And it couldn't have been scripted any better. There was about 10 seconds left and the other team was shooting free throws. At this point we are up by 12 points. Fortunate for us 2 misses followed but we couldn't get our hands on the rebound. A foul was called and they went back to the free throw line with now about 8 seconds. Two more misses follow and fate was in our control. We rebounded the ball and an outlet pass was thrown in my direction. I chased after the ball and paced down the floor with one goal, shooting the 3 pointer. I sailed down the right side and crossed over and pulled up for the 3 ball. It felt good and it looked good. I just knew that it was going to hit the bottom of the net and it nicked the front of the rim and bounced up and rimmed out.

That's not even the sad part though. Well really there is nothing to be sad about because we won, but I was a little disappointed. I was disappointed because we were actually up by 13 points and only needed 2 points to get the head to head point advantage. I somehow miscalculated while they were shooting free throws. It might not mean much to you but for me it meant a lot because I believe in our team and for me 3rd place finish is an underachievement. A 2nd place finish is also an underachievement but 2nd place sounds and looks better than 3rd.

Overall, it was a good game and even better season. I'm really looking forward to the future in Germany but I'm very glad that God managed to introduce Michael Lay to Konstanz.

Thank all the wonderful fans for their constant love and support of our team. I hope they enjoyed watching us play just as much as I enjoyed being here.

BlACK FOREST CONQUEST (part 2)

2009-04-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of our adventure was better than the first because it was sunny outside. The best part of it all was that I got to visit 2 more castles. One of the castles happened to be Napoleon III's residence. I can't explain to you guys what its like to read about historical figures and see pictures of them in the history books and then to somewhat experience the life they once had is incredible. You can't take pictures inside the castles, which sucks but the outside and surrounding area is breathtaking.

Enjoy

Black Forest Conquest

2009-04-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

Seeing that it was Easter and I am here in Germany away from my family, friends, and fiancee one of my teammates extended an invitation my way to celebrate Easter with him. It was an honor so of course I rejected it. Hahaha! I'm joking, I accepted the generous offer. Enclosed you will find a slide show of photos taken on Day 1 of our conquest. The place is Freiburg, Germany, known for it's super bright sunny days even though the pictures don't reflect that. I hope you guys enjoy the show as much as I enjoyed the scenery.

Coolbrz84

Suffering Defeat

2009-04-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

Last night was unbelievable. As the clock struck zero, I glanced at the clock, and saw that the other team had more points than my team. Up to this point it only happened on three other occasions, but it was something about this one that was more hurtful. Perhaps it was because the winner would be proclaimed as the 2009 Regionallia Champion. Maybe it could have been the fact that it was the cross town rivalry. All I know is that it was the game of the year. There was so much hype coming into this game that you would have needed Aderall, a drug prescribe to treat Attention Deficit Disorder, in order to calm down.
The game started out with lots of emotions as you can imagine. Back and forth the game swung like a pendulum. Up and down, like a pogo stick. Side to side like a... I don't know anything that swings side to side, but I wanted to keep it going. Anyway, everything was tight going into the half. We were down by 1 point despite not playing our best and considering a few of our players were in foul trouble.
The third quarter began with both teams firing shots at one another. Then the unthinkable happened. I picked up a technical foul. The first of the whole season. I was trying to explain to the refs what I felt the opposing guards were getting away with. Being caught in the moment, I took it a step further to demonstrate what was happening. I reached out and grabbed the refs arm and the second ref hit me with it. I got the technical foul plus a personal foul because I fouled when I initially lost the ball. They in turn get 4 free throws making 3 out of 4 plus they get the ball back. On the ensuing possession, their 3 point specialist nails a 3 pointer. We go down miss a shot and they come down and nail another 3 pointer. In short, they scored 9 unanswered points following my technical foul.
We never really recovered after that. We ended up going down by 15 points and it was I think I was most disappointed that all we had worked for was being stripped of us at our very own doing.

Brotherhood

2009-04-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

I've said it before and I will gladly say it again. Basketball is like a brotherhood. It has so many parallels to family that no matter where you are, in most cases, you can feel right at home. My teammates here have grown to be viewed as life long brothers and basketball is the common denominator. So shouts out to my German teammates and everyone involved with Konstanz Basketball.

Coolbrz

The Big Game

2009-04-08T06:54:00.001-07:00

WOW! The time has come where preparation will collide with opportunity. Saturday night is one of our last three games. What makes this game special is not that it's against our cross town rival. It's not just because it's the end of the season. It's not because we have identical records of 18-3. It's because the winner will be one step closer to achieving its preseason goal of achieving a Championship.
They will be so many key match ups. I mean virtually every position from point guard to center's will be crucial during this match. Despite the fact that we have successfully defeated our counterpart on two previous occasions this season, none of that matters now. It's about one dream, one purpose, one goal.
Personally, I can't put it into words how excited I am about the opportunity. It is a chance of redemption because my performance in previous key games was subpar. I am here to declare that change has come. I have a renewed focus and a heightened sense of ambition.
It's an away game for us, but it won't matter. Tip off is Saturday 5:30pm Amersterdam, Berlin time so be there or be square. I know most of you reading this won't be able to make it due to the large body of water that lies between us, but I just wanted to say that.

It is time.....

2009-03-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

"Hey you. Yes you. I noticed you notice me, and I wanted to put you on notice that I notice you back" adopted from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. I wanted to say that because I wanted to get your attention. Now that I have it, I want to take this time out to inform you all that I have decided to start writing my book. I wish I can give you all the details right now and it kills me not to because I am so excited about doing this. It pains me to tell you that you all will just have to go out and purchase the book when it is released. Those of you who are on my good side, might get a pre-released version to read, but that's only for those close to me and will provide an objective honest opinion. I can spoil you guys just a little bit seeing that you guys are true fans of "the kid" so I will let you all in on the title of the book. The name of my book will be: CROSSROADS- "Fate, Destiny, and the Inevitable." So stay tuned and I will find a way to keep you all informed with the process. I"m hella excited, how about you?

4th Quarter

2009-03-29T11:19:00.000-07:00

Its the last 4 weeks of the season here in Germany and it really has been amazing for me to have this experience. I remember sitting on a bench in Australia talking this over with my girlfriend and telling her that it's important for me to have this experience. I find that some people are too afraid to take a chance in life or are extremely content with their circumstance. In other cases it is the fear of change that hinders people so much that they ultimately take away from their blessings. I'm a risk taker and I took a big risk career wise, relationship wise, and spiritually. Uprooting yourself from all you have come to know to travel to a totally foreign place is a huge life risk. I am forever thankful of the outcome and the reward of my discipline. I can't let up though. I can't get content with situation at hand because the job is not complete.
With 4 games left, I have to continue to give my all to help achieve our goal. It's the 4th quarter and the last for minutes with no time for the fainthearted. Only the strong survive right now. So lets get it done Konstanz. Auf Gates, Konstanz! That's German for lets go :)

Thank you

2009-03-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

I thought I would spend this blog to give special thanks to all of those that follow, read, etc my blog. It has been truly amazing to hear that great stories the readers. What has really surprised me is the impact it has had on some of the readers. Truly, I am thankful that I can have such a positive impact on lives. It sucks because I don't and in most cases won't get the chance to witness the seeds blossom, but I find comfort knowing that I am doing my part.

So to all my avid readers much THANKS to you all. I am and will forever be grateful to you guys even if we don't meet in this lifetime. I'm sure there will be plenty of time to do so in the next.

Sincerely,

cOolBrz84

CUP Championship

2009-03-07T07:49:00.000-08:00

My fellow basketball lovers. I am proud to announce that Holiday Check Baskets has recently made history. Allow me to fill you in.
Aside from playing in our regular season, we also participate in a Cup Tournament. Currently, we were playing against teams within our same division. However, if the past is any indication of the future then Holiday Check Baskets is on their way. The team recently accomplished a feat that has never been done in the Club history. Last Saturday we competed in the Championship game against our cross-town rivals, Schwenningen. Schwennigen is also tied with us in the regular season for 1st place. It was a absolute disaster from the start up until the last quarter. At one point we were down by what seemed to be an insurmountable amount, but managed to be 15 points
After being yelled at by coach for playing bad basketball, we somehow managed to do what we do best, play as a team.
Unfortunately, I wasn't anywhere near my best offensively this night. To give you an idea, I air balled 4 times and managed to make my only 3 pointer at the top of the key which happened to be a bank shot. If we are more than a one man wrecking crew now was a time to let it be known. The heroic efforts of 19 year old Marcel Herberlin was nothing short of brilliant. He played as a veteran. Our Captain, Lars Mencke hit some bit three's down the stretch. JR Moore made some key defensive plays and grabbed some big rebounds. Pete got us some easy transition buckets at a critical point in the game. Me, I was able to really play point guard and distribute the ball and get my teammates good shots. It's not like I don't do that already, but it was one of the key factors in our comeback.
Marcel Herberlin ended up making the game tieing free-throws with about 0.8 seconds left on the clock to send the game into overtime. While in overtime we exchanged baskets and were able to pull away at the end. It was a great game to be apart of.
Side note: my high school teammate Richard Chaney attend the game. He is also playing out here in Germany in the first division for Tuebingen. It was nice having friends in the crowd, ya know.
Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!

2009 All-Star Game

2009-02-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

I didn't get a chance to see it, but I heard so I had to YouTube it and thought it was worth putting on my blog. Seeing that I have met Shaq once and I have always enjoyed watching him play except for when he played with the "FAKERS." Did I say "FAKERS", I mean "BAKERS." I'm sorry not the "BAKERS," but the "FLAKERS." Most of the world know them as the "LAKERS".
Anyway, Shaq is known for his comedy and once again he doesn't let me down, not to mention he acquired a 2009 Co-MVP All-Star trophy for his performance, but if you ask me he should have gotten for his ability to dance being 7ft 315lbs.

Munich, Germany

2009-02-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we travelled to Munich, Germany with my fiancee. We went on a day tour that included visiting two of King Ludwig II Castles. One of the castles is the worlds most popular castle and it is the same castle that inspired Walt Disney to make a complete replica for himself, which is the signature of Disneyland.

Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take pictures inside of the castles. I seriously felt like royalty being inside and it was just amazing that I was in a building constructed by a King, who actually spent time there at some point. I felt like royalty.

One of the castles was very small. It only had 5 bedrooms in it but it was the beauty of all beauties. Each room had something like 1 ton of Gold in it, except for one room which had 1 ton of silver. But I was in awe each and every step. I have never seen so much gold in my life. I thought my eyes were being deceived, but there I was.

Well, I included a slide show of pictures. It is located under the title, "PICTURES OF MUNICH". I hope you enjoy them!

Debriefing...

2009-02-18T08:11:00.001-08:00

I need to debrief from our last game. It was a battle and I mean a battle. The physicality of the game itself wasn't so bothersome, but the imbalance in officiating. Now, I know that every player/athlete thinks that referee's are out to get them, but on Sunday I couldn't believe some of the calls that were made both against us and for us.

I always try and keep things in perspective, but the the purpose of rules are to keep things fair and officials are meant to uphold those rules to ensure there is no unfair advantage. If you open up a newspaper or watch CNN you will see/hear about Alex Rodriguez and many other baseball players who are under close surveillance because they are accused of having an unfair advantage other than raw skills.

Anyway, late in the game I lost my mental focus because I allowed myself to become consumed with things I didn't have control off, such as the officiating. I mean, it is someone perspective, therefore subject to human error right?

Well, I missed 2 free throws in a row because of this and at that point I was mentally flabbergasted. Not to mention I had a couple hands full of turnovers/lost possessions which is was bothering me as well.

Needless to say, we lost at 13 point advantage in a matter of minutes and made a game that was on the brink of being in our favor into a nail-biting thriller for the fans. I think we gave Coach Wash a few more gray hairs as well. Had Stefan, the team owner, been I'm sure he would have had a few more too. But we are got the win and are still in contentions for completing our goal, Regionallia Champs!!!!!

Holiday Check Baskets team WEBSITE

2009-02-18T08:03:00.000-08:00

Fellow readers,

I want to apologize to you all because I just realize there is not link to the team website from my blog. So, I have rapidlly place a link for you all. If you scroll down to MICHAEL'S LINKS, you will find the link there. Its a very professional and well organized website. If you have time check it out. I have provided you all with the English version, but let me give you a heads up: the english is not so good as it is a direct trasnslation so you have to really work hard to get an idea of what they are trying to say.

I know its late, but better late than never.

coolbrz84

2009 Regionallia Championship Poll

2009-02-18T07:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have inserted another poll on my blog for those of you who read, follow, and/or care. Right now there is a 3 way tie for 1st place in the Regionallia German Basketball League. So, I am curious to know what some of you think. So, just click to answer the question.

Discipline...

2009-02-05T02:38:00.000-08:00

Discipline has and will always been the cornerstone of my life. I learned it at an early age and have come to appreciate it's value over the years.

Having a weekend off is great timing for our team as we have worked hard to establish a top rank position in the Regionalia and will use this time to take our team play to the next level as we have some big games ahead. After the Christmas break we seemed to have lost a step or two, but I never doubted our ability because Holiday Check Baskets has this discipline and resiliency about us that keeps us in games, and thus far has allowed us to be in a prime position to reach our goal. I think it is possible for us to win the Championship and be crowned number 1 at the end of the season, but my biggest joy comes in seeing how we are really starting to turn the corner and take steps towards reaching our FULL potential as a team.

This week we have had two very good training sessions. For me, I loved it because I could feel something lingering in the air. There was a confidence and a focus and a fierce look in each of our eyes. I haven't seen this before, since being in Konstanz, but I know we are moving forwards.

Coach Washington commands our respect as our leader and as a team we all believe in what he is doing, but the biggest thing is our discipline. We do whatever it is he ask of us and I can see the commitment in each of my teammates. I have only been here one year, but I feel this year's team is an identical reflection of the organization, its management, and staff because everyone involved with Konstanz basketball has committed themselves to the Club. So when Holiday Checks win, ultimately we all win.

But this is the most professional Club I have been on. I really like the way business is conducted and I believe in the club wholeheartedly. I am so thankful to be apart of the organization and hope that I can continue to help the club succeed. After all, who knows what the future holds for me here in Konstanz.

IM GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!

2009-02-02T11:03:00.000-08:00

So... this blog has served as a place for me to voice my thoughts and feelings, but it's sole purpose is to inform interested readers of my life's journey. Thus far, my blog has mainly included my life as a basketball player, however, there are other areas of to my life.

Upon journeying/travelling, I came across someone who caught my attention. Natasha Shaddick is her name and from day one we just started having fun and building a friendship together. She loves the lord immensely and that has always been our connection point. We have spent a lot of time together, as well as, a lot of time apart. The thing that really got my thinking about the seriousness of our relationship is that no matter if I was in close proximity or afar, we never changed. We always stayed positive, always stayed on the same page, and our communication never toggled. The communication came at a high cost, literally, as we have had a couple thousand dollar phone bills, but love has no limit. Love is about compromise and sacrifice and we have done that with the utmost.

Fast forward, 1 year and 5 months later we are in Germany together celebrating my birthday. She took me to Paris for my 25th birthday. After months of deliberating about the direction of our relationship I realized that I had something special and it was probably best I hold on to it. So, I decided to sit on it, not think about it, and wait for a sign of assurance. I know, I was really relying on faith, but it is only because of my faith that I am where I am today. So I waited and waited and waited. Then it came. I got the sign I was looking for and I got a ring, even though I had no idea when I was going to ask the question. I just decided to keep it on me at all times and when that right time came, I had full confidence that it would be apparent to, "the kid."

So, while in Paris Tash and I had a super crazy day. You know how you try and describe a funny event to someone to share in the laughter, but it's only funny to you. You know, one of those you had to be there type of things. Well, it was a day like that. So for me to explain would be useless because none of you would be able to understand, but as we sat and had dinner in Paris reliving the events of the day, my mind started to ponder.

As we made our way to the Eiffel Tower to experience Paris and it's beauty during the night, it became clear that it was time. Still unsure, I prayed. Then I realized that I probably won't be able to have an opportunity like this again and it felt right, so I asked her to marry me. She hesitated and hesitated and made me wait for what seemed like an eternity before she said yes. Naw, I'm joking she screamed and jumped up and down and said yes with the biggest smile on her face.

As of now, our plan is for me to return to Australia and we have picked August 15th for our wedding date. I am currently in talks with the team here in Germany about returning and also looking at waiting until the next Australian season to play. I have to consult with my fiancee. Wow, that's crazy for me to say now, fiancee.

Anyway, I thought I would fill you guys in. I'm sure you are all wondering why I haven't updated the blog in a while. So hope all of you are well.

"Mind Gym"

2009-01-12T10:28:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's to you all. I managed to make my way home for the holidays and got to see family and friends after being absent for almost a year. It was nice except I was sick as a dog for more than half of my time there. But I still made the most of it.

Anyway, I made it back to Germany safe and sound only to get sick again. I guess me and travel and planes and hot weather and cold weather and lack of sleep doesn't fit well. So after being here for 3 days, we had our first game. The challenging part of it is that I was fine up until Friday morning. I woke up with the sore throat, muscle aches, a real bad headache, chest pains, and a cough. I trucked my way down to Konstanz and attempted to play, but it was the ugliest game in the history of Konstanz, I think. I know Coach Wash kept reminding me how terrible I played and my pride wouldn't allow me to make excuses. I acknowledged that I knew it wasn't one of my best performances but it was all I could give based on the way I felt, but reminded him that we did win.

So on my way home, my car breaks down and I'm mean it was freezing cold outside. I think it was -15 or something. I had to wait an extra hour to get home because I had to wait on someone to come get me. Upon getting home I slept Friday night and all day Saturday, and I mean all day. I woke up to use the toilet and to try and eat something, but I would throw that up and drink some water and lay back down and go back to sleep.

I finally jumped out of bed around 6:30pm on Saturday night and that was because my body was craving orange juice. So I had to mustard up all my strength and walk down to the market to get some juice because the car was still broke down. Once I made it back home I drank about half of the carton and laid back down and fell asleep until Sunday morning, the time in which I had to start getting ready because we had another game.

Sunday, I feel a little better. I still had all my symptoms minus the headache.I can play with muscles aches and sore throat and stuff but playing with a extremely bad head ache was probably the most challenging for me on Friday. Now my challenge is finding the energy because I had been sleeping trying to rest and stuff in between the days and my stomach wouldn't allow me to eat. I was throwing it back up. I ate a small thing of French Fries on the way down to Konstanz for our Sunday game and that was even a struggle.

So we play the game and its pretty clear that we are out of shape and need to get back to training. Once again I played lower than expectation simply because I had no energy. I would get winded really fast. I think it was from all the congestion in my chest and I just didn't have any energy. I mean none. Coach blasted me at halftime and at that point I had to go to what I know best. I just prayed. I didn't know how God was going to do but I knew I couldn't do it on my own. So for the second half of the game while it was going on all I was doing was mumbling prayers to help will me through.

We ended up winning by 17 after being down by 7 going into the 4th quarter. Then my nose started bleeding after the game and I couldn't help but think about this book called "Mind Gym", the title of my blog. It's only so appropriate. The book is about how the mind influences your athletic performance as much as your physical skill does, if not more. It has lessons and anecdotes from professional athletes to build what the book calls "mental muscle". And in the book there is a quote that reads: DON'T ACT SURPRISED WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING WELL, AND WHEN YOU'RE STRUGGLING DON'T LET OTHERS KNOW IT. MAINTAIN THE WARRIOR MENTALITY. STAND TALL EVEN IF YOU FEEL YOU ARE COMING APART ON THE INSIDE, AND CARRY YOURSELF IN A CONFIDENT WAY. ALL PERFORMERS CAN ACT THEMSELVES INTO A WAY OF THINKING JUST AS THEY CAN THINK THEMSELVES INTO A WAY OF ACTING." That's pretty deep if you sit and think about it and it just resonates with me on a deeper level having had to experience the challenge of being sick plus lead the team to victory.

But I accept the good with the bad, the freedom and the pressure, the fame and the shame. I'm not playing for that. I play because of love the game.

Statistics

2008-12-22T06:33:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you guys are all wondering why I don't talk much about statistics even though they are an important part of measuring efficiency in sports. Well, I don't do it because its easy to get caught up in them. My main thing is to win, but I will use this blog to inform you of some statistics.

Holiday Check Baskets (11-2)
Regionallia Sudwest - 2nd place

Michael Lay
27.0 points per game (2nd in the league)
76% Free Throw Percentage (41st in the league)
36 Three Points made (3rd in the league)
2.8 avg Three Pointers per game (3rd in the league)

Those are the only stats they keep track of in our league. Coach does everything though and according to his stats, I also average about 7 or 8 assist, about 6 rebounds, about 5 steals, and about 5 or 6 turnovers per game. That is and always has been an area for me to improve on. I have a high turnover count, but I am going to continue to work on getting that number down.

The All-Star game is coming up in February and I hope that my performance merits the opportunity to be apart of that. Either way, I came here for a championship so anything else is extra.

Christmas Holidays

2008-12-22T06:30:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have decided to go home for the holidays. It has been almost a year since I have seen my family and I do miss them. It will be very nice to have a authentic home cooked me and have some laughs and good times with the fam bam. I leave on Wednesdsy December 24th and will be there until January 5th. Family I hope you are ready to recieve me. I can't wait to see you guys.

Career Night

2008-12-22T06:08:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we played against Heidelberg/Kirchheim. They are in 4th place. Technically speaking, we are tied for 2nd place, but the point system has us in 3rd. Anyway, it was an important game for us because it was the last game before the break and the club has very few wins in this place. But in order for us to keep our goal within arms reach, this game was a must win for us.

It was a hard fought game from start to finish. Both teams battled and competed. Going into the game I tried something different. Throughout the week coach had been talking to me about the game and my skills. He spoke very confidently about my abilities and of his confidence in what I am doing and trying to do for the team. He just wants me to do whatever it takes to win. If that means scoring or passing or defending. For instance, last week I scored 18 points but had 13 assist and we won by 30 points. Coach doesn't just dictate though he also hears me out as well which is very good for our communication. So going into the game I decided to just play and not think. All of the processing and analyzing I found myself doing before, during, and after the games I decided to let it go and see what happens. I just played as if I was playing pick up basketball with some friends.

Wow! It was such an amazing feeling, let me tell you. I felt like I couldn't miss. It was like throwing a rock in the ocean for me out there. Well, it was that way up until I got knocked in my nose in the 4th quarter and couldn't see for about 3 minutes and managed to shoot 3 air balls. But once my vision was restored the feeling was still there. Freedom! It's such a beautiful thing. I didn't worry about coach yelling at me, (no offense coach). I didn't worry about the fans. I didn't worry about the refs. I didn't think about anything but that moment. I ended up having a career night, but the beauty of it all was that we won and are still in 2nd place, or tied for 2nd however you want to look at it.

The game went into overtime and it was an intense battle. I think so far this season we have won like 5 or 6 games by 5 or less points. That says a lot about our team and its character. I finished the game with 43 points, the most I have ever scored in my life. I have watched Kobe and Lebron and old Jordan games and have witnessed moments where their preparation collided with opportunity. Where their training and hard work had it's defining moments. Some people call it "being in the zone" and some people call them "white moments" because it's like a blurr. All I know is that there is no thinking involved and I have experienced what being in the zone is like.

So I get a 2 week break for Christmas and it is well needed. Merry Christmas to you all and have a Happy New Years!

vs. Ludwigsberg

2008-12-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

Last week we had a home game against Ludwigsberg. They weren't a very strong opponent and perhaps that what we needed to get back on track. All week long that losing feeling was lingering. We still worked hard and it paid off. We defeateh them by 30 points. Our captain Lars Menke, was the star of the night as he torched them for 26 points. He made shot after shot and it was a good feeling. I know the Konstanz Krazies enjoyed the shooting display he put on.

One more week and then we are on our Christmas break. I can't wait because I definitely need one. I have been working my butt off this first half and soon it will be time to rest. A 2nd place finish is waht we are aiming for going into the break and even then I will be preparing for the second half of the season. It's always harder to beat a team the second time around so we will have to be a step ahead. I'm not sure how this seasons start compares to past starts but I know the Club is satisfied. With that said, our goal is still to be reached and Iwill not lose track of that.

My apologies

2008-12-22T05:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delayed response as to our game against the 1st place team. Here is the run down. From start to finish it was a dog fight. They are very big and have lots of weapons. They had about 5 guys with 10 or more points against us. Personally, I think they are very beatable but on that night they proved to be the better team.
It was a close game until the 4th quarter where they opened up a lead to about 10 points. We stormed back but came up short and didn't capitalize on a few golden opportunities. We ended up losing by 14 points, but in my opininon it was a closer game than the score reflects.
I didn't shoot the ball that well. The ball was sticking to my hands which was very weird. My hands had no moisture to them at all and it was affecting my shots a lot. I tried to battle through it but my efforts were unsuccessful.
Overall it wasn't out best performance, but we know what we are up against now and they certainly are in our way of winning this Championship.

2nd place or 1st losers

2008-12-07T12:37:00.000-08:00

We lost the game tonight by 14 points. I'm too tired and sore to really write anything more. I will give you guys the run down in a few days.

Number One Spot

2008-12-04T08:10:00.000-08:00

Time is of the essence, as we anxiously await to play the first placed (Weißenhorn) team on Sunday. Up to this point, they have been absolutely demolishing teams. Meanwhile, the Holiday Check Baskets have been grinding it out and not only winning close games, but building character and mental toughness as well. Defensively, the Holiday Check Baskets are the best defensive team in the league, while the Weißenhorn (pronounced Vicen-horn) are the worst defensive team. In contrast, Weißenhorn lead the league in scoring, and I'm not too sure where we are to be honest.

Anyway, it's 1st place vs. 2nd place. One game separates us, and critics have overlooked what is happening down in Konstanz all season long. But critics/opinions are just like arm-pitts. They all stink and everyone's got em'. Those non-believers can continue to doubt, but I think a better term is "HATE" because the reality is that we need "HATERS." It's inspirational and motivating so please keep on doubting and "HATING" because in the end Konstanz, also known as Holiday Check Baskets, will get the last laugh after we win this league championship. It started 10 games ago, and nothing has change. The opponent is different but the goal remains the same and in a few days the results will be the same as well, victory.

Tune in on Monday to hear the results.

Player of the Game

2008-11-30T07:41:00.000-08:00

This weeks Player of the Game is a tough call. I mean, J.R. played well. Lars also played well and Roland continues to find ways to add value to our team. But, I'm going to have to go with J.R. Moore for my Player of the Game because I thought he had his best offensive game thus far. I don't know his stats, but I'm sure he was close to a triple double. He scored, grab rebounds, blocked shots, made some good passes, and he continues to be the heart and soul of our defense. Keep it up Big Guy! Congratulations on a great game.

vs. Rasttat

2008-11-30T06:30:00.000-08:00

Last night we played against Rasttat at home. For the fans it was a nail bitter as the game went down to the wire only to see Holiday Check Baskets pull away in the end to win by 3 points. The first half saw the likes of Captain Lars Mencke shooting the lights out and J.R. Moore dunking virtually everything he touched. He even pulled himself up on the rim and slapped the backboard for me on one dunk. Big Roland Andris also stepped up and played, what I thought, was his best game of the year, thus far. He nailed back to back three points and once again played excellent defense and was our energy guy. Me, I didn't manage to score a single point in the first half. It wasn't so much that the defense was stopping me, but more of me toning my game down because I recognized that some of my teammates had it going at the time. When the opportunity presented itself for me to step up, I did and help lead the team to another victory.

In my opinion, I thought our offensive chemistry improved, but our team defense needs work. I take some of the responsibility for the lack of defense as I sometimes don't slide in the direction I wish to go because I am not in a proper stance. That's a bad habit I am developing and I need to change that. Luckily, I have the Mr. Volleyball anchoring the Defense. The opponents take it in to the paint and serve the ball up and J.R. spikes it out of bounds just like they do it in Volleyball. He is always there to correct our mistakes.

Overall it was a good win. Well, any win is a good win, but in the grand scheme of things we are improving every day and one step closer to reaching our goal. There's a good feeling in the air. Character is being built and we are developing a swagger/confidence as a team. Not an arrogance or conceit, but a feeling that only comes when you practice and work hard at something. It's an internal assurance that you know the time is right for preparation to meet opportunity. And teams get excited to play against us because that is also an opportunity for them but we just keep disappointing them, by winning.

Enjoy the pictures from Saturday nights game!

Player of the Game

2008-11-29T01:55:00.000-08:00

Last weeks featured player is JR Moore and Roland Andris. If you didn't read the synopsis on our team website for last weeks game or couldn't understand it, I will give you the run down.

Mr. J.R. Moore made the game winning shot at the buzzer to help us complete an unbelievable run to finish the game on a 10-2 run. We were down by 8 with 2 minutes left in the game and something magical happened. After struggling in the 3rd quarter and losing the lead, it seemed like time was against us. The beauty of it all is how contagious things are when talking about basketball. You just need that one player who is reckless, but under control. One player who is busting his butt to make something happened and in the closing minutes Mr. Roland Andris was that guy. He is known for his energy and that was precisely what we were missing in last weeks game. He came in and played some great defense. He got a steal, a rebound, as well as a charge in the closing minutes. That was the turning point and we capitalized on those possessions and J.R. put the icing on the cake with the game winning tip in. It was a magical moment, and I was screaming with unbelievable joy.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-29T01:22:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was celebrated this past Thursday and I had the luxury of spending it with my Coach and his family as well as some of my teammates. I had a very good time. The food was great. I mean, I felt like I was back at home while I was stuffing my face with food. Don't get me wrong, mom's cooking comes second to none, but Mrs. Washington's skills in the kitchen are definitely top notch.

The day before Thanksgiving Me and JR had a little bit of a run in with the law out here. I won't go into too much details but I will give you guys an idea of what happened. Pretty much, we had the wrong color skin! What more needs to be said. Naw, but we were getting dropped off from practice and the Polizei happened to be near. I'm my opinion three black guys sitting inside a BMW 600 series looked a little suspicious and they got curious. What made it look even worse is that once we realized they were near, Me and JR got out of the car and walked to ours. I mean, I grew up around drugs so from the outside looking in, I can understand how that may look.

They proceeded to ask us for identification. JR had his passport, but I didn't. I just had my military I.D. card which is suppose to me enough. Technically, the Polizei are suppose to called the military police because they aren't allowed to handle any military personnel or staff, which is JR and I.

Anyway, the cops appeared to speak very little English so communication was very hard. I know a little German and directed the Polizei to our Coaches house, which was near by, so he can better explain to them as he speaks fluent German and can better direct them than we could.

Our visit to coaches house didn't help as they still took us to the precinct at 1:00am in the morning to check if we were rightfully allowed to be here in Germany. I thought we were going to be locked up and stuff. I was tired, we were on our way from practice, and all I could think about was Thanksgiving dinner.

After about an hour of being detained for reasons still unknown to me, they gave us the okay and said we were free to go. At least they were kind enough to drive us back to our cars, but it was profiling if I ever seen it. The crazy thing is that on the way home, all of a sudden the cops were speaking English clear as I do. They were asking us how we like Germany and how basketball was going? When that happened, I knew that it was profiling.

But all that happened so that I can have a deeper appreciation of Thanksgiving and the wonderful meal that was prepared. So from now on just call me "Mr. Thanksgiving" or "Thanks" for short, hahaha. Anyway, even though, I couldn't spend it with my family, I still felt right at home over at the Washington's house.

Sports Worldwide Training Video

2008-11-20T11:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Bloggers,

Most of you may not know this, but I am an aspiring entrepreneur. Over the years I have bounced idea after idea off the wall and have finally listened to my heart and created Sports Worldwide L.L.C., in hopes of bridging the gap between sports and life. Most of you all should know a little bit about my background, so it’s shouldn’t be news to you when you hear me say I have played many sports in my lifetime. Over the years, I have been somewhat successful in the sense of utilizing sports to get to where I want to go. For example, I always wanted to go to college and I used sports to do just that. Or, I have always had ambitions to travel and here I am halfway across the world travelling still playing sports.

In light of this knowledge, I have not reinvented the wheel but have simply jumped on the bandwagon and am beginning a new chapter in my life as I continue to travel down the highway of sports/life. I want to lift those aspiring young athletes up who, just like me, have a dream, but are in need of a little direction or guidance.

Sports Worldwide L.L.C. aims to assist aspiring athletes, old and young (mainly young), in their particular sport of interest to help them excel. Yes, Sports Worldwide, L.L.C., is an atmosphere where individuals can come and fine tune their athletic abilities, but it is also a place where participants can learn how to apply the core values from sports into their daily lives(team work, discipline, diligence, commitment, sacrifice, integrity and my favorite value perseverance just to name a few). Because success is subjective, which means it’s personal or one’s perspective, success for one person can be much different to another. The important thing to note is that success is not limited and in today’s ever evolving society, just because you might not succeed in one area doesn’t mean you are predestined to fail in the next. It simply means that, there is something else you are meant to be or do, however, there are still lessons, values, principles, etc. that you probably are uncousciously aware of, but can help you succeed in another area of life. Let me say this again, success is subjective, which means it’s personal or one’s perspective. Success for one person can be much different to another and success is not limited.

So, Sports Worldwide, L.L.C. aims to create a controlled atmosphere for athletes to harness and improve their individual skills in order to ultimately help them within a team setting, but also aims to highlight, teach, and re-teach those values as they pertain to their particular sport, as well as, its life application.

That’s pretty much my vision in a nutshell. I just want to create an atmosphere for individuals to set themselves up for success in life by utilizing sports to coach, educate, and emphasize some of those values we athletes practice each and every day we lace up our shoes and hit the field.

Anyway, I just wanted to keep my fellow blog readers abreast of what’s going on in my world. I don’t just spend my days thinking about or playing basketball. There is much more going on in my life. I’m just trying to make sense of it all and this is where it has led me. So if any of my fellow readers have any tips or advice and/or support, please don’t hesitate. I’m in the process of trying to build a company website and get the fincancial side of things organized. I have also included in this blog a video that I have put together of the some of the youths I worked with while in Australia. Have a look and I’m interested to know your thoughts and what you think.

In His Grip,
Coolbrz84

Holiday Check Baskets (6-1)

2008-11-15T03:04:00.000-08:00

So we are almost half way through the first half of the season and we are 6-1, with our 1 loss coming in overtime to a young ambitious team. We currently sit in 2nd place, 1 game behind the 1st place team. The loss was certainly a wake up call as last week we dominated our opponent on defense by holding them to a mere 46 points, despite them averaging 80+ for the season. It was a good colletive effort from our team as we played excellent team defense and what I was impressed with the most was our scoring distribution. It was very balanced.

I think we lost that feeling and became comfortable with the early success, and we didn't take into account that we were slowly becoming the hunted not the hunter. But just like any great team, we responded well and persevered. What was also impressive is that the team we held to 46 points was in 2nd place so I think we really made a statement, by limiting their scoring but also winning by 20 points.

This week we take on the Ludwigsberg (I hope I spelled that right) on our home court. It's been three weeks since we have been home so it will be nice to play in front of our home town fans. I will nickname them, "The Konstanz Krazies" because they get real crazy during our games and I love it.

Konstanz time

2008-11-15T02:59:00.000-08:00

This weekend me and JR thought it would be a good chance to spend a bit of quality time with some of our teammates. With living in Herrenberg we don't get much time to just hang out with the boys. Seeing that we play on Sunday this weekend, we decided to stay down in Konstanz after practice. So I am down in the wonderful city of Konstanz, listening to th church bells ring every hour and am FREEZING my butt off because it is COLD down here. Supposedly it gets colder than this. But I'm going to vist our sponsor "SOULFOOT" and maybe pick up a few new items of clothing.

sTaY TuNeD

Presidential Dance Off

2008-10-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

With all the drama and seriousness of the Presential election, I stumbled upon this video which brought tears of laughter to my eyes. IT'S HILARILOUS... HAVE A LOOK!

Blog Readers

2008-10-25T02:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Faithful Blog Readers,

I have added something especially for you. On the right hand side of the blog page, you will find an area title, "Blog Readers." I encourage you guys to create a profile or at least click the link that is title, "follow this blog." It's just to elimate those who read the blog every blue moon from those faithful readers such as yourself. That's all. Plus, I would like to have a better idea of those of you who are interested in my bloggings.

Thanks,

Coolbrz84

Presidential Election

2008-10-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

The Election is coming up and it has been getting a lot of coverage. Well, the only channels I have that are in English here are MTV and CNN so I guess it's only appropriate that the 2008 Presidential Election would get coverage on CNN, the channel I watch the most. I'm not a big fan of MTV. Anyway, It's going to be interesting to see what happens. The McCain campaign seems to be shooting themselves in the foot right about, but all the negativity and the attempted slanders are crazy to witness. I can't imagine what a day in Barack Obama and John McCain's shoes would be like. The adage goes, "don't judge another until you have walked a mile in his moccasins" and both of those moccasins are some pretty big shoes to walk in. Anyway, is it going to be McCain or Obama. I want to do a poll for those of you who read my blog. On the right hand side, if you scroll down a bit, you will find a poll. I'd like to get your opinion of who you guys think will win the election. Just click and cast your vote!

Reflection (part 2)

2008-10-25T00:51:00.001-07:00

So afer I graduated from Concordia University, I set sail for the journey of my life. I went down to Mexico with a Christian basketball travelling team and that was my first international experience. Growing up, my mom would take us to different places within California and I think that is where I developed a taste for travelling.

It was hot down in Mexico, but that didn't stop us. We went from a small town called Chihuahua that literally had dirt roads and was a spiting image of the typical Mexican towns you might see on T.V. Dudes were slouched down on the ground outside with their big sombero's and drinking and asking for change. It was a shock to see just how poor Mexico really is. The we went to Mexico city where it was jam packed with people and busier than New York, not to mention it was hot. I remember I made the mistake of letting some of the tap water get into my mouth. I won't share with you what happened after that, but I'll just say I wasn't 100%. From there we went to the beautiful city of Merida and then on to Playa del Carmen which is near Cancun. It was on the beach and it was just a nice way to end the basketball tour. The beach was so nice, the water was crystal clear, and I was just soaking it all in.

From there I travelled to North Carolina where I played on another basketball team and was there for 3 months. We travelled around North Carolina and South Carolina playing schools in their preseason as well as giving personal testimonies and sharing the scripture with them. The coach of this team, was known for helping guys get basketball jobs playing overseas so the tour was designed to give us an idea of what it would be like if we did get a basketball job overseas and to stretch our faith.

This coach told informed me of a job down in Australia and that the coach was looking for a point guard. We had three point guards on our team so he said that he would send our information to the coach and it was his call if he liked us or not. From there, the coach down in Australia contacted me and said that he was interested and instructed me to send some film so he can get another look at what I bring to the table. Of course I sent my best college game and that is how it all happened. The timing of it all is what blows my mind though

I left to Australia in March of 2007 to play in my first whole season as a professional basketballer. Actually, it was my second basketball job because I did play down in Monterrey, Mexico in January and February of 2007 right before I went to Australia but it was far from professional. So I won't really count that, but I remember being on that flight to Australia with butterflies and anxiety because it was really happening.

After my first season in Australia, I was honored to be labelled as the best point guard in the league by being name to the First-Team All Star Team. I was in disbelief and thanful for what life has brought me. I even got a chance to work with a team in the top division of Australia along side the Olympic Head Coach as well as 3 out of 5 Australia Olympic starters of the basketball team, the same team that competed in the 2008 Olympics.

I then went home and chilled out for about 2 months. I went to visit my old college and some of my old friends before I started working. I worked as an 8th grade teacher at a Middle School in Compton, CA. Funny story is that the teacher I filled in for name is Mr. Phillip May. My name is Mr. Michael Lay. All the kids thought that Mr. May and Mr. Lay looked alike so they thought I was his son. Some of the kids couldn't understand how we can favor on another so much and have similiar last names but not be related. I still think that's funny to this day and I'm sure Mr. May does too as he reads this blog. What makes the story even better is that it turned out the Mr. May went to high school with my Uncle and my dad. It came up because he just happened to say something like, "Lay" I remember back in high school my best friend's name was David Lay. I causally said, "I have an uncle named David Lay" and that I think is how I ended up getting that job.

Teaching those kids was a challenged and it took me right back to when I was a kid. Talk about Karma, WOW, because I was a troublesome kid who was alwyas testing boundaries. Now I was on the other side of the fence and I had a whole classroom full of boundary testers. I had no prior teaching experience so I was learning just like they were. I do have good rapport with kids though and I think because I was so young that the kids somewhat looked to me as one of their peers. But once they started to see that I would follow though like call their parents when I said I would or actually hold them in detention then they started to disciplin themselves. Once they showed discipline then I was able to really start reaching some of them and teching really began. It's a shame that my teaching stint was just that, a stint, because I ended up going back to Australia for my second season at the end of the semester.

One of my goals was to go back to Australia and win a Championship. I thought we had a legitimate chance. We had a lot of challenges we were faced with midway through the season that ended up hurting us down the stretch, but I always was confident. I mean we had the league's leading scorer, Curtis Marshall (who ended up being the leauge MVP) myself, as well as some very good complimentary players. We entered the playoffs not 100% because about 2 months before the first round, I fell on my wrist and wasn't able to shoot for about 1 month and a half. We slso had some other guys with some nagging injuries, but nothing too major.

Then we had the craziest series ever and ended up losing a three game series in the final game in doouble overtime, by 3 points. It was crazy. In the midst of the season though, my Australian coach introduced me to an agent who had some ties to a few teams over in Europe. I asked him if he would be willing to help me play in Europe and I think one month after I signed the contract that bound him to me as my basketball representative, I got a call from Coach Washington about playing here in Konstanz. I remember getting off the phone with Coach Wash and thinking to myself, "DAMN he doesn't sound German at all." Then I looked at his photo and I saw that he is black and that probably had something to do with it and that fact that he is an American. But I remember laying on my bed and thinking about what an awesome opportunity it would be to go to Europe and I just had to wait to see what happened. In the mean time, I had to still take care of business in Australia. There was talk lingering there about me not being focused anymore because I was more concerned about going to Germany, but that wasn't true at all. I was always leaving it on the court and I wanted to win just as bad as the next man, if not more.

So, following the season in Australia, I jmuped on a plane and flew to Kuala Lumpur, Maylasia before arriving in German and that is how it all happened. It started in the drive-way of my grandma's house with a trash can. 16 years later, I find myself in Germany playing basketball and I still have that same feeling that my grandma is watching/spying on me as I did when I was in that drive way shooting in trash can, all by myself.

The Derby

2008-10-25T00:33:00.001-07:00

We played in the Derby last night and the competition is getting stronger and stronger. We are slowly becoming the hunted and are no longer the hunter. That is both good and bad. Good in the sense that we are taking care of business and bad becasue we are no longer overlooked. We are a target.

The Derby is the biggest game of the year and it was a packed out stadium last night. There were so many people there chanting and cheering. It was easy over 1,000 in attendance I think.

As for the game, it was a very slow start for us. I think so far we average about 80 points and some how only managed to have 8 points at the end of the first quarter. It wasn't pretty. Not only that but we were losing by about 8 points as well. Schwenningen came out firing on all cyclinders and jumped to an early lead but were still within stricking distance.

We played a decent 2nd quarter and ended up even by halftime at 28-28. The third quarters are our quarters as we are able to make impromptu adjustments and for some reason we always play well in the third quarter. We jump out on them and pretty much controlled the game from that point on. They clawed and fought but never really had the momentum in their favor and we came up with some big plays down the stretch, but it was our ablitly to managed the game in the end that helped us along with our relentess efforts and our cohesion. They say that adversity is a true test of character and these past two weeks we have had some adversity and I think the fact that we don't get rattled and stay together as a team in these tough times is a good indication of where our character is.

We won by 10 or 11 points, I can't remember, but I do know that we are 5-0 thus far. Coach is doing an amazing job at pushing us and keep up on our toes and prepared for each game. On the drive home from Konstanz to Herrenberg, he always mentions how the fans have really taken notice of the team, the bond the team shares, how well we play together, and how much they enjoy watching. That's a good thing to know for Me and J.R. as we are outsiders and are trying to fit in to the team/culture to a certain degree.

Holiday Check Baskets is 5-0, we are having fun, and I think great things are still on the way.

Reflection (part 1)

2008-10-24T03:07:00.000-07:00

I want to take a turn and use this blog to reflect on how I even ended up here in Germany.

I was a young kid just trying to fit in really. I played sports to keep out of trouble, but where I'm from you couldn't escape it. Staying busy only minimized the amount of trouble one got in to. I remember like it was yesterday though. I was at my grandmothers house and it was summer. I asked her if I could move the trash can to the drive way. She asked me, "what for" and I told her so that I could play basketball. She looked at me all crazy and said go ahead. Just don't break my window. I remember dribbling around and shooting in the trash can and re-inacting what I saw on TV and what all the kids at school would talk about. I was out there by myself, but I am almost sure that my grandma was spying on me.

I played just about every sport: soccer, American football, baseball, track and field and when I got to high school I wanted to make a choice. I made a choice to concentrate on one sport. I chose basketball and from that moment on that's all I did. I worked hard and I tried to learn as much as I could so I could improve. Unfortunately, there weren't many positive male mentors around, but I remember coming across one individual who caught my eye. He was confident and he was tall and he was good at basketball. I was like 14 years old and I challenged him to a game of one-on-one. From that moment on he kind of took me under his wing and showed me a move or two. I would work on whatever he showed me every night when I got home. A typical day for me was to walk down to the park and play ball then go home, eat, then go in the backyard and shoot on my court and work on my moves all by myself. I was relentless at it. Just always working. My mom started to take notice and she would even come out and shoot some baskets with me sometimes. Her shooting form was pretty decent too and I soon found out that she played ball in high school.

Years passed and I just kept working and working and working. It wasn't easy because I'm not tall like most basketball players. I think I got a mental edge though because I knew how hard I would work and because I'm not that tall I had to work a little bit harder.

Then one day, all the hard work and all that I was aspiring for was a reality. I got a chance to go to college and play basketball. At that moment, I had to make another decision. I wanted to make the most of this opportunity and not have any regret. So I entered college with a fierce mentality to improve and I soon realized that I was immature and had a lot of developing to do. I wasn't that far behind but it was clear that I wasn't in the same breath as some players. I was a just kid and all I knew was violence, basketball, girls, and ways to get money. The newness of it all was a shock. Not to mention this was the first time I was away from my family.

I continued to grow and develop. I started lifting weights, and I was learning so many different things both globally and domestically. Issues of major concern like the atrocities over in Africa and the ignorance/arrogance of the Western Culture and how religion is man made. Things started to make sense to me for the first time. I started to find purpose. Things soon came crashing down as I made some bad choices and ended up losing all that I had worked for. To this day, I think of that year as the self defining, turning point of my life. I was able to understand what it's like to lose something and the old adage, "if you let it go and it comes back then you know it's here to stay" took on a whole new meaning for me.

I really discovered who I am during this time and found that the values I lived by where really put to the test only to force me to grow and shift my thinking. I was headed in the right direction but it was for the wrong agenda. I was doing it for myself and my glory when it really should have been for the sake of the man upstairs. To say the least, I CHANGED. I CHANGED FOR THE BETTER.

So I was able to get back on track and complete the race I started and graduated college, which was a sweet feeling. I can't describe the feeling to you really, but it would be something similar to this: imagine being the parent of a 8 year old child and shopping in a store. You are so fixated on the things you need to get that you don't realize your child has strayed off to the toys section. You panic and are now in shock as you have lost a precious part of you. A search begins only to find the child is over in toys. Relief, thankfulness, and joy are just a few emotions that come to mind that might describe how that parent feels. That's how I felt as my name was called to receive my diploma and as I looked out to see my family stand in an ovation and cheer for me. It was a good feeling.

Now life begins and I have no clue what I am going to do. Stay tuned to read what happens next.

(to be continued...)

Podcast

2008-10-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

The podcast is now "AVAILABLE" on the team website. Attached is the English version of the team website. Have a look and tell me what you think.

Copy and paste this link to view:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.basketball-konstanz.de/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbasketball%2Bkonstanz%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX

Saturday nights picture

2008-10-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

Pictures from our game vs. Giessen

SECOND PLACE... "but it's not a sprint it's a marathon"

2008-10-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

4-0 and "Holiday Check Baskets" is in first place of the Regionalia. Things are looking good right now. The most amazing part is the chemistry amongst the team and the brotherhood like bond we have formed. I think that is what has been carrying us through and hope to maintain that throughout the course of the season. I think, NO, better yet I know that will be the key to any success we hope to have. We have played 2 games on the road and two games at home and home games are a very different atmosphere. Road games have been near empty, little to no atmosphere, and small gyms. I don't think every club is like that, but I think most are. I walk into those gyms extra proud to be a part of Konstanz having experienced the love and professionalism of the Club.
Let me talk a little bit about our last two games. Last weeks game was a good team victory. We won by I think 30 points or something like that, but we had crisp ball movement and good team play. The opponent wasn't that strong but when in battle to not take advantage of any weakness would be crazy. This weeks opponet was a lot different. They played the preseaon favorties to win the league last week and lost by 1 point at the buzzer, due to a tip in. So critics, rated them highly and were expecting them to beat us, as they have not accepted the reality the Konstanz Basketball is serious this year.
The game was physical from start to finish. I'm actually in a little pain from last nights game right now typing this blog, but I'll be alright. I spent quite a bit of time on the floor last night as the defender they put on me only mission was to take me out of the game somehow, someway. So from him being allowed to push me around, elbow me, and him sticking his foot out in an attempt to trip me slowed me down a bit. It worked to a certain degree because, in my opinion, I didn't play as good as I thought I could have. Mentally, I lost focused a little bit and even showed signs of frustration at times. Some of that was due to the officiating and some of it was my own disappointment/frustration with myself. To give you a perspective, all three of our centers fouled out. Anyway, I have had somewhat of a good start to the season, and Coach mentioned that I would be targeted now so I guess that is just the beginning.
All in all, we ended up winning convincingly by 14 points, but had we played 25% better than what we did I think a 25-30 point victory would have be a realistic assumption. We were 9-18 from the free-throw line and we missed a lot of lay-ups. To their credit, their aggressive defense took us out of sync, but we are a team. If you take one player out or focus too much on one person, that just opens it up more for others. And seeing that our Captain, Lars Mencke, made his debut after the massive eye injury, last night he was the guy to stepped up when the opportunity presented itself. Stay tuned as we play our cross town rival, Schwenningen on Friday night. Enjoy the slide show of pictures from Saturday night's game vs. Giesen

Holiday Check Basket pictures

2008-10-06T13:38:00.000-07:00

Pictures from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2008-10-05T05:56:00.000-07:00

Our first home game...

2008-10-05T03:09:00.000-07:00

... WoW!!!!! We played in our first home game and it was CRACKIN'. It was a nice sized crowd and the introduction was like they how they do it in the NBA. They turn the lights off, and have one bright light flashing on us as we do our, "LEAN WIT IT, ROCK WIT IT" and big J.R. does his dance in the middle of the circle. Then they call us out and we escort a young kid to the halfcourt line. It was unreal. I really felt priviledged to be a part of that. The club is very professional.

Now as for the game, I was matched up against one of the best guards in this league. He has been here for a few years and is respected well within the league. I saw it as a point to make a name for myself and really see where my game was at. I made my first 5 shots before I finally missed one. Two of those were three's, one was a bank shot from the side, and they were followed by a timeout and the crowd was ROCKING. They had the drums out and were screaming stuff in German that I had no idea meant, but it sure as hell sounded good.

We went on to play amazing team ball, as many of the fans came up after the game and congratulated us on our win and commented on how good we look as a team and that is all credit to Coach Wash because he made it all happen.

We ended up winning by 28 points and I'm not sure what the individual stats were. The best part though was the post game interview which will be available on Podcast Wendesday.

So we are 2-0 right now, and yet we still have areas we need to improve on as a team if we are going to be serious about this. Stay Tuned.

Saarlouis vs. TV Konstanz

2008-10-05T02:50:00.000-07:00

My first game of the European basketball and it didn't start off that good to say the least. Our Captain Lars Mencke is still out due to an eye injury. We started off a bit nervous I think and the other team was pumped. It was their first game in the league as they moved up this year and were trying to make a point.

The first quarter, saw the score go up and down until the Saarlouis boys made a run after nailing a couple of 3 pointers. Coach Wash called a time out and in his very unique way put a fire under us. We went out and started balling and after being down by 12 points in the first half managed to take a 4 point lead going into halftime, as I hit a three pointer right before the buzzer sounded.

J.R. Moore played like an animal in the first half as he was playing volleyball with the other team as he spiked ball after ball out of bounds. He ended up with a game high 9 blocks.

I got hot in the second half and made two 3 pointers and manged to get in the lane for some mid-range buckets. In my opinion that is a lost art as most players nowadays either take it all the way or shoot the three ball. They have no in-between game and I think that is going to help me out in the long run.

We ended up making a run and got up by 12 points and there was a critical turning point of the game. J.R. got a technical foul for raising his fist to a guy in what looked like an attempted fight waiting to happen. Coach lost his marbles and the team got two foul shots plus the ball and ended up hitting a three so that is a 5 point swing.

We ended up closing the game out and only winning by 3 points. I finished the game with 39 points and was the top scorer. I think I had about 23 or something in the second half. No one else on the team really provided an offensive punch for us. J.R. finished the game with 13 points, 9 blocks, and 10 rebounds. Peter Leidig also had 15 points. In the end, it was our first win of the season and it's always nice to start the year off with a win.

Konstanz Training Camp

2008-09-22T02:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had a two day training camp that was nothing but BASKETBALL, BASKETBALL, BASKETBALL. We just spent two days to break down the offense and defense that we will be running and to all get on the same page. We worked on our execution on offense over and over and over again. It was Konstanz Basketball 101.

We then had a chance to test what we just learned against a worthy opponent. In the game we played very good team ball, I thought, as we shared the ball and executed offensively. Of course, we had little breakdowns but we will have to have a look at the game to dissect it a bit more to make improvements, but we were all on the same page now. Coach Washington was impressed with our performance and as a result elected to give us Sunday off as we were meant to practice from 11am-6pm. Good looking out Coach Wash.

As for me, I didn't shoot the ball that well for the second game straight, but all my shots felt and looked good. They just haven't managed to stay down. So many of my shots on Saturday were soft rolls off the rim. Shooters call those shots good misses because they are soft and don't come bouncing hard off the rim. I know it is just a matter of time before those shots drop and I think coach knows that as well. I still can create and get into the lane when I want without my shot from outside, but imagine things will part like the Red Sea when Moses split it once I start knocking down shots from outside. My strengths are making my teammates better and getting those guys buckets which I have been doing. Now,I just need that knockout punch.

All in all, I feel really confident about the upcoming season and am extremely excited about Sunday as it is our first game. We have our first press conference on Tuesday along with a photo shoot before practice so I think the website will be updated with individual photos of the team soon.

Club Konstanz

2008-09-18T12:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am offically now in Europe and Germany is a lot like Oregon. There are so many trees here and it's really green. I have had three practices with the team and so far so good. Then again things always look good until you play, but seeing that we played a game two days after I got here, I can form somewhat of a conclusion. I don't think we played good ball but still managed to get the win and grind it out so that has to account for something.
Anyway, our first real game is in two weeks and big things are expected this year. The Club is looking to move up a division and myself and J.R. Moore can be a part of that. J.R. is the other American and he went to Portland State University. I went to Concordia University which is in Portland and ironically enough we both knew each other before arriving in Germany. So it's kind of nice playing with someone you know.
I haven't had the opportunity to travel much but the parts I have seen are very appealing. Germany has a very historic feel to it. Most of the cities are near a hill and the houses are collosal; collosal in the sense of being 4-5 stories and full of rooms. I will take some photos in the next week or so and post them.
Other than I been spending my days learning German. I have learned a lot in three days and hope that in a couple of months I can have a basic conversations with someone speaking only German.
Oh yeah, I stay in an apartment with my own room, which is kind of nice. I actually stay about an hour away from Konstanz in a place called Herrenberg. It's a small town, but it's nice and peaceful. Coach, J.R., and myself all caravan down to practice and use that time to just talk and joke around and sometimes talk business. The Coach is a brotha and he is real cool. He's been here for 21 years and he knows his stuff on the court.

Buccaneers Awards

2008-08-21T00:38:00.000-07:00

Here are this years award winners:

MVP - Curtis Marshall
Runner up - Michael Lay
Coaches Award - Matt Wundenburg

We often referred to ourselves as the "Big Three" like the Boston Celtics and hoped to immulate the season they had, but came up short in the end. Congrats Matt and Curtis on the great year. It was a lot of fun playing along side you guys.

Game 3 vs. Cougars

2008-08-20T23:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's game 3 of the series. The winner advances to the next round. Just a bit of a history lesson for you, the Buccaneers have been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round 4 years straight. It was certainly going to be a mental game as both teams fought hard the night before and having to play at 12:30 in the afternoon, with less that 24 hours to recover is difficult.
The Cougars ponced on us at the very start as we came out flat and lethargic. However, the game picked up as we started to get defensive stops, get to the foul line for easy buckets, and knock down shots from the field. Momentum was certainly in our favor as we headed into halftime.
We came out with a difference bounce the second half and gained full momentum. The Cougars could sense that their season was coming to an end as the clock kept ticking and things just seemed to be going our way. Even with things going right, the Cougars always remained in striking distance. They clawed back into the game late in the fourth only to have it slip away from them again.
With about 2 minutes left in the 4th quarter, it started becoming a free-throw game and we were unable to make free-throws down the stretch. We even got stuck forcing up tough shots as the shot clock was winding down and even had a couple offensive foul calls that went against up, thus giving the Cougars chance after chance.
We were up by 6 points when our free throw woes began and somehow managed to be up by 7 points with about 45 seconds left. The Cougars wouldn't go away. Their big man, was left open at the three point line and seemingly managed to hit a three pointer giving them hope. We failed to score on our next possession and with about 10seconds left the Cougars star guard, Alex Prince, went down and pumped faked to get the defender off the ground, leaned into him and shot a three pointer in the final seconds and drained a 3 to send the game into overtime.

OVERTIME

Overtime began with the Cougars scoring first. I failed to mention that our starting center, Matt Wundenburg fouled out in the fourth quarter. He is a rebounding machine and we had to compensate for the loss. This left room for his best friend, Aaron Ralpy to get his chance to shine as he filled in for him and surprisingly hit two big three's in overtime to give us a hefty lead. Up by 3 points we are more than in control as you can just see the disappointment in the Cougars eyes. Somehow, we come up with a loose ball and score a lay up and are now up 5 points with about 1 minute left to play. Once again, the cougars big man steps up. He drives to the basket, takes a shot, gets fouled, and makes the following free throw making the game a two point game with plenty of time left on the clock. Our captain, Jason Buntz, gets fouled and nails one out of two free throws. Up by 3points, the Cougars go down and hit another 3 to tie the game up. With about 12 seconds left, I advance the ball up the court drive and shot a mid range shot to give us the lead. The Cougars quickly inbound the ball and throw it the length of the court only to have it knocked out of bounds by a Buccaneers player. There is about 3 seconds left for the Cougars. 3 seconds and the Buccs get to do something they haven't done in four years. The Cougars in bound the ball and throw in straight into their big man. He catches the ball in the corner, turns, pump fakes, goes up for the shot, double pumps it and nails it as the time expired sending the game into a second overtime.

2nd Overtime

In the Second overtime, the Buccs managed to score first. It went back and forth until we finally missed and the Cougars went down and scored. They got up by 4 points only to have another one of our players step up and make a big play. Our only aboriginal player, William Foster, was fouled in the act of shooting a three pointer. He only made 2 out of 3 free throws though. Down by 2 we ended up getting the stop we needed and coach called a time out. With about 13 seconds left and emotional drained from the game, he elects to go for the win. He draws up a play for our high octane scorer, Curtis Marshall, and we didn't execute it to perfection but he got a good look. The shot came up short, the Cougars rebounded the ball and we fouled. The Cougar player makes his first free throw and missed his second. Our captain rebounds the ball, throws it to me and I shot it from the corner of half court. As the ball was in the air I could hear myself breathing as it seemed like time slowed for just a brief second. The shot was spot on and rattled in the rim for about 2 seconds before it finally came out. GAME OVER! SEASON OVER! It was a hell of a game that should have had the Bucc's come out on top, but fate had another plan.

Game 2 vs. Cougars

2008-08-20T23:44:00.001-07:00

Game 2 of the semi-finals in the SBL took place at the Tip Top Stadium, home to the Geraldton Buccaneers. It was an intense game from start to finish. It was a physical game that saw both teams almost throwing punches at one point. The fierce crowd that came to support certainly generated some enthusiasm during the night.
The Cougars simply had no answer for our force as we controlled the game easy en route to win game 2 and force the series into a deciding game 3 to be held Sunday afternoon.

Game 1 vs. Cougars

2008-08-11T02:55:00.000-07:00

We faced off against the Cockburn (pronounced Co-burn not the other way) Cougars in round 1 of the playoffs. We came out really flat and to their credit they took full advantage of that. Playing on the road is difficult as the crowd are usually a sixth man with the enthusiasm and cheering they provide and Cockburn's fans were energetic.

Despite our piss poor effort in the first half we were only down 11 points going into the half, but the momentum was on the Cougars side. Coach was pretty upset with our performance and let us know how bad we did during half time.

In the second half, we came out with a different focus and much more intensity. One of the things coach wanted us to do was give the post guys some touches as they weren't seeing the ball much and that will open up things a lot more for us on the perimeter. We took his advice and sure enough crawled right back into the game with plenty of time to spare. From about the middle of the 3rd quarter until the last 45 seconds of the game it was neck and neck. One team would score a basket then the other team would respond. Just when one team thought they had a cushion, the other team would come storming back. Personally, I thought the Cougars did a relatively good job of keeping the ball out of my hands by denying me in the back court and forcing someone else to bring the ball up. It really disrupted our chemistry, which means I didn't do my job of getting us into the offense.

There seemed to be an invisible lid on the rim as I feel like we missed quite a few shots and to make matters worse, I got nailed with an offensive foul late in the 3rd quarter that counted for my 5th foul. That meant I had only 1 more fouled to give before I was fouled out. So, coach sat me down for the rest of the 3rd quarter and most of the 4th.

Curtis Marshall, Matt Wundenburg, Jason Bunter, and Aaron Ralph all help keep the momentum in our favor as they fought harder and harder and harder and harder for each ball. It seemed that the rebounds and lose balls we were missing in the first half were coming our way in the second. It was just that we struggle to get into an offense and failed to put the ball in the whole. So although we were getting stops, we weren't capitalizing on them.

With about 5 minutes left the momentum swung back and forth from our favor to theirs just like a pendulum. The last 2 minutes of the game saw the Courgars play fierce defense denying us of our offensive options and forced us into tough shots as the shot clock was winding down. You can also argue the reverse in saying that we didn't execute our offense and we became stagnant and got caught watching our offensive teammate instead of being involved. In other words, poor execution down the stretch. Both perspectives probably have some sort of truth.

In the final minutes we were getting the defensive stops we needed, but consistently came up short on the offensive end. With about 45 seconds left, the Cougars were up by 2 points and had possession of the ball with the shot clock winding down and their big guy was left near the top of the key to shoot a slightly contested 3 pointer, and nailed it to pretty much ice the game. The Cougars were able to escape with the victory. That three point shot put them up 5 points and we fouled and stuff and they stretched it out to 10. Cockburn Cougars 1, Geraldton Buccaneers 0.

Next stop Tip Top Stadium on Saturday for game 2 of the quarter finals. A win on Saturday will force the series into a game 3 which will be played on Sunday at the Tip Top as well. If we lose either of the games then say good-bye to the Geraldton Dominoess Pizza Buccaneers chances of winning an SBL Championship.

Life after Geraldton

2008-08-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

I have signed with a basketball club in Konstanz, Germany and will be leaving Australia on the 9th of September to head to Germany. It will be my first time in Europe and I am very excited. I enclosed a link to the club website which is update frequently so you can follow my progress online. I think the link is the translated link but if you get there and its not translated you have to translated it from German to English. The club also has a free podcast where post game interviews are streamed live. You should be able to view them at any time though. You will just need to download itune, which is free. After you successfully download and install itunes, go to search and type in BASKETBALL KONSTANZ. It should take you to another screen if you have done this correctly and all you have to do is click download and wait. Anyways, here is the link:

http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.basketball-konstanz.de/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbasketball%2Bkonstanz%26hl%3Den

PLAYOFFS....

2008-08-04T19:41:00.000-07:00

Okay peoples, the time is now. There's little to no room for errors as they will be costly. Only the strong survive on this terrain called PLAYOFFS. The best will be crowned CHAMPS, while the rest have to take a backseat. In 5 weeks time, only one team will hold that feat and all are in it to win which means intensity, determination, focus, and hustle all have to go to another level. But when you are matched up against an opponent sometimes the only way to be willed through the adversity is something I learned to play with a very long time ago. It is the backbone to every athlete no matter if you are in the NBA or playing at the YMCA. It's called HEART. Just playing with HEART is sometimes the only edge one can get over an opponent and I can't think of a better time then now to display HEART.

We finished the regualar season in 4th place as we lost 2 of our last 3 games. Personally, I have found encouragement in witnessing our team's nucleus holding strong and our teams true character shown as we have been faced with adversity the past few weeks. I have been battling a wrist and back injury that has found me self medicating before games, (drugs of which where provided by our trainier) so I don't feel the pain during the game. Let's just say I have struggled to perform and at some points struggle to even remember playing the game to say the least. I do recall the likes of Curtis Marshall, our other import, willing the team by scoring a remarkable 125 odd points in 3 games. Yes, one of those games was a 50 game for him. I have seen our center Matt Wundenburg, play with a ferociousness never seen and our captain, Jason Bunter, lead like he has never led before. What has impressed me the most is a guy by the name of William Foster, who is aborginal, play some amazing basketball. He comes off the bench and averages about 20 minutes per game but has earned the nickname, "Shotcun Willie" because of his explosiveness on the court despite limited minutes. He is quite handy let me tell you.

So now that the playoffs are here the critics have silenced themselves as of late due to the not so good performances we have put together as of late. That is only grounds for us to once again crawl from underneath the rock and be a part of history.

So this week I have made a committment to get my wrist rehabilitated and my back massaged daily in order to get back to playing ball the way I know I can to help lead this team to the Championship. The road is not going to be easy, but the one muscle that is impossible to measure is the HEART and that is the edge we will have over each and every one of our opponents. Stay Tuned!!!

Jeremy Morgan Golf Tournament

2008-07-20T19:51:00.000-07:00

This past weekend the club had its annual golf tournament in memory of Jeremy Morgan. I never met Jeremy Morgan, but from what I understand he was an awesome person. He was the Bucc's water technician for many years but what made Jeremy unique was that he lived everyday of his life with a disability yet was very passionate about basketball. Before his earthly departure, he played in his only every basketbal game as both teams agreed to allowing him to suit up as a player, allowing the Bucc's to win the tip, handing the ball to Jeremy and allowing him to score his first and only point in a Bucc's game ever. Apparently it was amazing. He died shortly after that experience but his legacy lives on and forever will.
So, we play 9 holes of golf on Sunday as a fundraiser that goes toward a foundation that aims to prevent, cure, and treat whatever ailment Jeremy Morgan suffered from.
I have enclosed some exclusive footage of my golf team as we journeyed around our 9 holes and drank beer all day long. This is what we pretty much did. Although we lost the tournament by one stroke, it was a very fun event.

3 games left

2008-07-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

With 3 remaining games of the regular season, a semi hurt wrist, and with chronic back pain, I am still optmistic about the future. We are still in 3rd place and have a very very very good chance as we are continuing to gain momentum. Our last two victories were respectively by 35 and 45 points which allowed for everyone to play, everyone to score, and everyone to contribute.

20th year Anniversary

2008-07-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Geraldton Buccaneers celebrated 20 years of existence this past weekend. The club was started in 1988 and have had a very successful history as a club. Just some facts about the Bucc's, they have had over 20 American Imports, have had 3 players play in over 400 games, and only missed out of the playoffs once in twenty seasons. If history is an indication of the future then I would say the Buccs are due for a championship. And there's no better time than now seeing that it is the 20th year Anniversary of the club. I had a friend take some photos during Saturday nights game and have included them.
In conjunction with the anniversary the Club also celebrated the retiring of Mr. Dan Hunt's Jeresy number. Many of you many not know who he is or even heard of him. Dan Hunt was the very first American Import the Bucc's ever had. He played for 15 years with the Buccs and basically is and was THEE Geraldton Buccaneer. He now resides out here and is happily married with two children, one of which I do basketball skills sessions with. It was amazing to be a part of the tremendous milestone. As I stood there during the ceremony I repeadedly got chills as I was flattered to be a part of history and more importantly, proud to be a Buccaneer.