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Europe 2008: Blog #3
Date: February 14 - 20
Days: 7
Countries: 4
Games: 1
Hours on Train: 22
Best Game: Verona Norte vs. Guadalajara
The past week in Spain was an experience I'll refer to as a paradox. There were some really great things to report, and there were some challenges. Heading into the week I knew it was going to be a bit crazy. I keep the schedule moving at a pretty steady pace in Europe, but at the same time I don't really get stressed. The only time I tend to get a bit irritable is if I can't find my way to an arena for a game. (Thankfully that hasn't been a problem this year). I didn't however, anticipate some of the challenges we would endure while traveling through Spain.
My mother arrived this week to join me as I traveled around Europe visiting our players and watch more games. The highlights of the week started in Bilbao, Spain where I was able to meet Jordan Wilson for the first time. We've been working together for two seasons, but I wasn't able to see her last year during the Europe tour. Although I wasn't able to watch Jordan play, we did have a chance to meet for lunch.
I was so energized after visiting with Jordan. In many ways, she is the High Five athlete prototype. She wanted to return to her team in Spain to help move them up to the next division. They are having a great season and it's likely they will reach that goal. More than that, I was completely impressed with her ability to communicate! She spoke the language very well, translating AND explaining the entire menu to us. She shared historical information about the area she lives in (the Basque Country) and also about some current events. It's difficult to explain in a blog of words how much Jordan has flourished, but we're talking about a kid that went to Europe right out of college that didn't even know how to cook for herself. Now she's telling me about the local dishes she's preparing for herself while her teammate teaches her in Spanish! I'm pretty sure I was glowing the rest of the day from our visit in Bilbao.
Next stop was the long-awaited game near Madrid to see Erika Valek play, live and in-person. Erika and I have gotten to know each other through a couple of visits with her and her family in Indiana over the past two years. She's fully recovered from injuries that kept her out last season and she is doing great! She is truly a miracle and a God-given gift to High Five. Since Erika is originally from Colombia, she is thrilled to be playing in a country where she speaks the language fluently. I was really impressed with the level of competition and Erika played a fantastic game finishing with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in a huge 2-point win.
Despite all the ways Erika impressed me throughout the day, I was surprised when she asked me a question on our way out the door to a restaurant: "Hey Sooz, we're taking the team van...can you drive a stick?" OMGoodness. Yeah, you can guess what happens next. I'm driving Erika's team van somewhere in podunk Spain (Guadalajara), maneuvering this boat-for-a-vehicle up hills and through the round-abouts because she can't drive a stick! Needless to say, we had a great Spanish dinner, a good laugh, and made some memories along the way.
After dinner I tried to get an overnight train to Paris, to Geneva, to anywhere, but everything was booked. (I'd never experienced that before, it was very unusual to have the trains totally booked, especially at this time of year). I decided on short trip to Barcelona, we arrived late and my mother wasn't feeling well. More than likely it was because I whisked her off the plane in Amsterdam and immediately embarked on a frantic journey from Holland to Belgium to France to Spain, all on the train in three days! Lesson learned.
It was a tough week of travel and illnesses, but a good week, nonetheless. It was a blessed week where God showed His genuine, loving kindness. I was blessed with overflowing joy to see Jordan and Erika and I'm so proud of both of them. And that made the paradox experience in Spain more than worth it all.
Jordan Wilson and Sooz
Spanish lunch in Bilbao
Valek #6
Erika and Sooz
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Europe 2008: Blog #2
Date: February 7 - 13
Days: 7
Countries: 4
Games: 2
Hours on Train: 20
Best Game: Spartak Moscow vs. TEO Vilnius
The past week presented a chance to visit some old friends and to experience new adventures!
After twelve years, it seemed appropriate to visit my former coach, Ole John Nielsen (aka OJ) and team, Falcon in Copenhagen, Denmark.There is something special about the Danish way of life. It might be the fact that the family unit is highly valued and cherished. Maybe it's the warm demeanor and joyful willingness to speak English to any silly foreigner attempting to speak their language. I personally believe that kind of benevolent spirit is a direct result of the six weeks of annual vacation automatically granted to all workers. I guess for me it's simple: Danish pastries. Ok, so you've probably noticed a trend with my favorite European delicacies. In all seriousness, there are many reasons I love Denmark, but the primary reason is OJ, his family and my teammates. I hold close the experiences I had while playing in Copenhagen and I truly hope our athletes will be just as blessed as they experience life overseas.
Next on the agenda was my first trip to one of the Baltic countries to see Lauren Jackson. Spartak Moscow handed TEO Vilnius their second straight defeat and advanced to the EIGHTH finals in Euroleague competition.
While in Lithuania, I connected with a new business partner who was introduced to me by a friend at Athletes in Action. Sarunas was a wonderful host as he accompanied me to Lauren's game, and then provided a great tour of Vilnius along with some insightful history of his country. I have to admit, the reality of life in Lithuania was completely opposite to my preconceptions of the country. The city of Vilnius was bustling with business and appeared very advanced in terms of architecture and technology. Lithuanians are extremely patriotic, which I'm sure is borne of their independence attained after the Cold War. They are very proud of their beer, their basketball and their country. Sarunas strongly believes that Vilnius is second only to Prague when identifying the most captivating cities in all of Europe. From a restaurant/bar on the top floor of a posh hotel we could see many of the two hundred churches in the city, despite the fact that few people actually attend. We toured Old Town Vilnius along with the oldest university in Eastern Europe built in 1547.
After my trip to Lithuania I had a few days before my next game, so I decided to fly back to Copenhagen to spend more time with OJ and family. Sofie, OJ's daughter, was a sweet young nine year old the last time I saw her. She is now the leader of the team I used to play for and kindly offered the opportunity to practice with the team. I soon found out she was no longer the sweet young girl I remembered (on the court anyway), and graciously proceeded to kick my butt for two straight hours. As much as I miss playing the game competitively, I now much prefer to watch from the sidelines :)
It wasn't easy to leave Denmark, but I was excited to get back to visiting our players. I met with Enji Izidor for coffee in France along with a new business partner while in Paris. The past week has been extremely enjoyable and productive and I'm looking forward to heading south next week!
PREVIEW: Next week watch for an update from games in Spain and the Czech Republic!
Sooz & OJ
Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson, Diana Taurasi - Spartak Moscow
LJ & Sooz
Sofie & Mikael
Enji & Sooz
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Europe 2008: Blog #1
Date: January 31 - February 6
Days: 7
Countries: 4
Games: 2
Hours on Train: 11
Best Game: Amazone vs. ProBuild
Welcome back for the third annual High Five European Tour! I landed in Amsterdam before the sun came up on Friday, Feb 1st and thought I would have some time to grab a fresh squeezed OJ before my ride showed up. Little did I know, the owner of Tyler's team was already waiting for me. Ray and I had a chance to meet and discuss how the season was going while I enjoyed my first of what promises to be many cappuccinos over the next few weeks. Ray is very optimistic about the remainder of the season as they find themselves in sole possession of second place in league standings. He was also glowing from a recent win which qualified them for a spot in the Cup Finals in March.
I started the tour in Holland with a game where two of our players went head-to-head. Tyler McIlwraith and Rene Haynes are playing for the second and third place teams respectively in the league. It was great to watch these two rookies put up solid numbers for their squads. Tyler and Rene actually know each other from their high school playing days in Ohio. They are good company for each other and stay in touch via frequent instant message conversations.
Aside from Tyler and Rene's game, the highlight of the first few days was watching the Super Bowl, LIVE, and in English! I guess that shouldn't be a surprise in Amsterdam where the majority of locals speak fluent English, but it was still a small luxury. Unfortunately the infamous Super Bowl commercials weren't part of the broadcast.
PREVIEW: Next week you'll hear all about my visit to Copenhagen, Denmark and then the big EuroLeague game in Vilnius, Lithuania with Russian powerhouse Spartak Moscow taking on TEO Vilnius.
Sooz & Tyler in Utrecht
Rene
Tyler
Post game with Rene, Ty & Sooz