Prague!!!

Well, first things first, we won!!! We played three games in three days (two within 14 hours of each other--BRUTAL!) and won all three... without a point guard because ours got hurt in the first game, and our other two are not well either. None of the teams were complete though. It was basically "our new, incomplete, and still not in great shape team was better than yours" kind of thing. We beat a really good Prague team (the home team of course) to start things off, then we beat a team that's actually in our Group for Euroleague from Lithuania, and then our 9:30 in the morning game was the one we almost lost, but beat a team from Turkey in overtime. Almost none of it was really pretty, but what I am proud of is that we just found ways to win the game, and that cannot be coached; it's just something that individual players, and hopefully the team collectively, has, and that's huge. I played a lot, not the greatest, but I'm improving and growing more comfortable, so that's all I can ask.

(After we won the tournament!!)

Now, the city was FANTASTIC. We actually got two chances to go into the city and see things for a few hours. I didn't think the Czech Republic would have a whole lot to offer, but the city of Prague was BOOMIN' back in the day. It was 3 times the size of Paris three centuries ago (I guess maybe it still is!) and so much of the architecture is still intact after all this time. It was almost as if you felt you were walking down the streets of the center of Prague in the 18th century, and the squares of "The Lesser Town". It wasn't like Rome, for example, where there is the Coliseum in the middle of the city, and then another monument, surrounded by sometimes chaos and modern buildings. We just kind of got lost in the environment of the palaces and cobblestone walkways (a lot of it was mostly for pedestrians only). Easily, one of everybody's favorite cities in Europe, I would say. It also didn't hurt that most everyone there spoke some English, it being a huge tourist city and all. We took many pictures, so I'll put up only some here, and then the next few Blogs may contain some more.

(Prague was not without it's 200-store, 5-story shopping center!)

Czech: Dekujeme (Jeh-que-yeh-meh) I try to learn at least one word for every country I visit, or for every teammate I have from a different country, and that is "Thank you". Czech seems very difficult to learn, and I'm missing some type of punctuation over the first "e" but I'll try and remember it :)

Tourney in Prague

This has been another tough week of practice, but two out of the three remaining Americans have arrived. I'm hanging in there, but I've never had so many bumps and bruises... It is rough! The price to pay for being on a team with big time players (worth it!). This long weekend, however, we will be playing in a tournament in Prague consisting of 3 other teams that will be playing in Euroleague as well. Hopefully they don't have their full roster yet like we don't (the WNBA is in the play-offs at this point), but it should be a really good test for us. I've also always wanted to go to Prague ever since my cousin, Ella, and her husband, Joel, went across Europe and said Prague was their favorite! As usual, I'm sure we won't have much time to be tourists, but I'll feel more comfortable visiting later if I've been there once already. Here's to adding another country to my list of traveling!

Italian lesson: "Ti amo!" (Italians like other countries have different ways to say I love you to your significant other, and other people you love in your life. This is the "I love you" for that special person).

Strategically Gradual...

We just lost a scrimmage against one of the teams in our league. It doesn't mean a whole lot because we only have 3 guards right now and a younger girl as a sub, and then 4 post players... not quite a whole team especially when the three missing are our three American players. On top of that we aren't in shape like other teams, but I think that may be a sacrifice our team is willing to make.

I haven't spoken to anyone directly about this, but our strength and conditioning coach was very clear not to have us doing any "sprints" (running at 100% of our velocity) until the last couple of practices. In fact, last year this team that ended up winning the Italian championship lost their first 3 or 4 games of the season. However, they weren't burned out at the end of the year, and probably were just peaking in their physical fitness when other teams were on the down side. I'm hoping that's our strategy this year, so no reason to fret.

The picture above was taken at my first practice. The media will be every where this year, so that will take some getting used to. I have already been through other interviews other than my press conference, and really don't like them, only to be told later that after every game the press ask for two players to be interviewed, so I better get used to them... It's not really a bad thing to get pushed out of one's comfort zone, but it's certainly not enjoyable at all times...

Back to Taranto!

We had a scrimmage Saturday night against a division A2 team, and won by like 50 something like we should have. It felt great to get out there and reap some of the benefits of practicing for 9 straight days! Obviously mistakes were made, but our goals were to play like a team and take high percentage shots, which I think we did.

Probably the best thing our coach could have said was said in the locker room before the game. When I shoot totally relaxed, I'm tough to beat, so my personal goal was to be calm through all the excitement of our first "official" game with the team. Our coach, Roberto, said that the new people (only me and another foreigner were new and actually playing) didn't have to show them anything. Meaning, we didn't need to feel the pressure in performing for them to demonstrate what we can do. We are here on this team for a reason. I felt like weights were lifted off my shoulders already in a sense. We were able to go out there and give the dedicated fans a little taste of what we should be able to accomplish this year.

It was crazy after the game. People want to take pictures of us, they want to talk to us after the games, and that's not even the reporters! I had over 50 people from Taranto "befriend" me on facebook this summer before I even arrived. These people are die hard, bleed red and blue (Taranto's colors, of course) fans. Now, they aren't in the numbers of purple and gold fans, or soccer fans in this country, but I can't keep track of everyone I've met thus far already. It's a cool feeling, but something not to get caught up with.

Ok, I got the internet finally, so things should get a little more stable and constant. We play against the Italian National Under-19 Men's team tomorrow evening. That should be interesting... Then we also have a scrimmage against one of the Italian Div. A1 teams Saturday, I believe. And then the two American guards should be arriving next Monday or so. Good stuff to look forward too :)

Half-way through the tough stuff

This part of the season is the most difficult in many ways. For one, I've only been through a training camp like this for the national team two summers ago, so it's not a normal routine you easily get into. However, on one hand, we are being spoiled like college athletes-- they feed us, put us on a schedule for the entire day, drive us together to practices twice a day, and we are also away from distractions of the press, learning the new city, etc. But on the other hand, what makes it so difficult for me is that I'm very eager to get into a comfortable routine. A big part of that is to be comfortable with my teammates and the rest of the staff we spend the entire day with. Another part of that will be having an established role on the team, whether it's what I want or not, at least I'll know something. And also, I'm waiting for someone else to speak english as a first language!!!!! The team's leading scorer, American guard, Megan, will be coming in about 5 days now, so that will be a big plus as well.

Don't get me wrong though. Our Euroleague games WILL BE DIFFICULT. This is what Wikipedia has to say about Euroleague--"The Euroleague (EL), also known as Euroleague Basketball is the highest level and most important professional basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different European countries....Clubs from Israel, entirely within Asia, are also part of the system.
The league usually, but not always, includes domestic champions from the leading countries."

So there you go...That part will be difficult too, but if this is the hardest part of the season besides the games, then I feel much more confident now (especially after my best performance in practice so far!) that this will be another great year of great experience.

Italian word of the blog: Schiffo (Ski-fo) meaning "gross" or "disgusting" (Jodi's favorite saying in Italian so far is "Che schiffo!"... "How gross!")

Back in Italia!

Wow, it had been a great summer! I meant to blog, but I really only do so because it's so hard to keep in touch with everyone while I'm over here, so if we missed out on communicating this summer... it's our own faults... :)

Ok, it was a LONG trip over here--longest breaks ever, but almost everything was on time (except for the ONE italian flight, but whatev). I like the no stress and rush of almost missing flights when you cut it close, but over 30 hours by one self... not so preferable either. But everything is going great so far. I'm the only American here so far, and I already like my teammates and coaches. We are at a 10 day training camp at another city, staying in a hotel and practicing at a higher altitude because it is ridiculously hot in the city of Taranto, and a bit cooler here.

Two really cool things that happened. The first MADE MY DAY when I got into my apartment after travelling for so long. I opened my huge bag of gear they gave me, and was so pumped when I saw my old number that I've had since I was in like 8th grade... #11!!!!! It really shouldn't make any difference whatsoever, but it was just comforting, can't really explain it.

The other awesome thing was that my first day in, a press conference was held just for me. It was so crazy, reporters were everywhere, news cameras and flashes were all in my face, and they were asking me a bunch of questions. I still needed a translator, but I'm doing really well with my Italian still. The picture above is (from L to R) our president, vice president, me, our head coach, and my translator, Simone (I'm pretty sure they wanted him OUT of the picture, but he was a nice guy...)

It was such a humbling experience to hear the things they said about me. Both the pres. and vice pres. said that they are looking to make the team younger and build it with good people as well as players and I was one of those "dream" players they were looking for. My coach said similar things that it wasn't by chance I landed in Taranto, but they were totally pursuing me as a player, and they were very pleased with my physical and mental toughness, even though I am an undersized shooting guard.

I'm just amazed at how blessed I am. I am so fortunate to get an opportunity like this. This season will be very defining for me, and it's a little scary, but excitement totally overcomes it.