Youth Group Service...Dean is standing up talking

Golf Outing...the Wolfpack

My big man's 30th birthday...he would be the one blowing kisses to the camera

Damian and Trigger...all hands on the American

Church then...Basketball game? What is this the NFL?

My pinky finger sucks!

The main floor in the gym. There are 3 more courts, but they bring in bleachers during games.

Kangaroos do exist! I was beginning to think everyone was lying to us!

My golf partner Tony. Guess who took home the trophy at -2

Well we finally got to play our first two games of the season. We ran into a few problems that we had to work around however. Our big guy Damian has been called a restricted player. This is because he played in Ireland for a couple seasons, but for some reason the Australian league called him a foreign player! Which is a joke since he is not only Australian, but he also played in this league for over 200 games. So, what that means is this, each team is only allowed two restricted players to play at a time. Since Marcus and I are both restricted, obviously not all of us can play at the same time. Damian leaves again for Ireland in a few weeks, so when that time comes Marcus and I will both we able to play, but for now we have to trade off and on for the first few games. The first games this weekend were against good point guard teams; therefore I got the nod to play. The first game was up in the hills against Kalamunda. I was laughing when I walked in and made the comment to my coach that the older I get and the higher league I join, the smaller my gyms seem to get! In high school I played in front of a regular crowd of about 3,000+ every single game. 7,000+ at New Castle or Lafayette Jeff, and even around 15,000 at Conseco. In College the conference games would be full, but then you’re only talking about 1,500 to 2,500 people. Even at the NAIA National Tounament you were lucky to get near the 3,000 people mark. Now that I am playing in a professional league, the gyms continue to get smaller ha-ha. The Kalamunda gym seats about 700. There wasn’t too bad of a crowd though, and I think because most of the gyms are small, they will continue to be near full. Coach tells me before the game that since I haven’t officially played since last March (that’s over a year I might add), he would work me into it. I figured ok, I’ll play 7-8 minutes a quarter, which would be perfect. We play 12 minute quarters so I figured that would be just right. The first quarter begins and I felt pretty good. However, 4 minutes into it I am sucking wind! This 24 second shot clock is a BIG difference. A lot of the time I had to hurry across the half court line because its only 8 seconds to cross instead of 10. I would get my breath and then continue. To make things even better, Kalamunda had two very quick 5’7” point guards who rotated in for each other. Finally I got a break, at the 8 minute mark…of the 2nd quarter! As I sat down Marcus was just laughing at me, knowing that I was exhausted. The game did get interesting however. We got up 15 by the first half but they came back and cut it to one with about a minute to go. After some stops and big shots, we ended up winning by 5. The comment coach makes after the game, “Scott you played really good, I’m impressed. 41 minutes is really good for your first game!” 41 minutes haha.

Our 2nd game was at noon the next day on Sunday. Sunday? Come on what is this the NFL? The team we were playing was the defending champs Kalgoolie. They had a really good point guard and their import was a nice big man inside. He was tough! We were up 55-51 at halftime but in the 3rd they went on a nice run. We got down ten late in the 4th but started our comeback. We tied the ball game and had sooooo many opportunities to win! Me and our two other guards had great looks from 3 to go up, and our big guy had some missed free throws…but no one is to blame. We gave up too many points and end the end lost our home opener by 5. It was a learning experience but a lot of fun. It’s a much different game than back home. It is very fast paced but most of the guys are very big. It will take a couple games to get used to playing, but I think it will be a nice fit for both of us. Oh, just so you know, Coach is a liar lol. I did play less minutes the second game, but only by 2. Eighty minutes in two games, I’m gonna need a personal assistant real soon. I’ll be taking applicants this weekend; here are the qualifications:

Must be willing to be in Australia for next 4 ½ months
Must have good massage techniques, and proper health knowledge
Must be willing to come to all road trips, even the ocean
Must have knowledge of cooking and baking (A MUST)
Must be a wise selector of movies for me to watch on off nights
English speaking is preferred
Must be a good rebounder and pocket passer

If you can fit these qualifications, the job is yours! Ha off this week until the game on Saturday. We play the Eastern Suns, who are so-so. Until then, probably doing a lot of snorkeling, zoo, and some golfing. There is a championship golf course that Marcus and I got a part time job at just to play for free honestly. It is unbelievable. Just a tad bit nicer than Magic Hills, but not close! Yea right, this place is big time. Oh and our website is officially up and running. http://www.wolfpackbasketball.com.au/ is where you can find all our team information. Schedule is under fixtures because apparently they do things differently here, go figure! I will leave you with some word differences between us and them. Pretty much take our words and find a way to shorten them haha. Enjoy!

US Word / Australian way

Trunk / Boot

Barbecue / Barbie (Most of you prob knew this)
The letter Z / Zed
Chocolate Chip / Choc Chip
Breakfast / Brekky
Swimsuit / Boardies
Flip Flops or Sandals / Thongs
McDonalds / Mackers
Ball Screen / On Ball
Basketball Jersey / Singlet

Mom / Mum

Ocean breeze / Fremantle Doctor (I'm still confused about this one!)

1 Finger down...oh well at least I have 9 more

So most of you probably already know that Marcus and I have been pretty fortunate to stay fairly healthy most of our careers (with the exception of last season). However, the one injury we always seem to get in dislocated fingers and hairline fractures in them. If you have seen my two pinky fingers than you would understand. One of them has no cartilage left in it I think, so it is never straight. It's more of a circle and doesnt seem to want to ever straighten anymore. The other pinky however is a gem. It sorta of looks similar to....oh a pear would be a good description! I'm not kidding this thing is officially the largest finger that I now have. So at practice last Thursday I'm going for a steal and I feel a sharp pain run through my right hand. I continue playing a shoot a layup at the other end. Jumping on defense the guy I was guarding says, "Eh mate, what's wrong with you finger!?" My pinky is once again dislocated to the side. I ran over to coach who instead of setting it back in place turns away as if I had lepracy. Sooo, I put my hand flat on my thigh and press and pull as hard as I could. This was probably the 5th or 6th time this one has been dislocated, but none were more painful for that one to put back in. I buddy taped my fingers and finished practice. Oh yes why not make it number 7. So at practice tonight (Tues) I have my entire pinky taped up so that I cannot bend it. Halfway through deflect a pass and...dislocated through the tape! Why not right? This was was much worse because now our trainer has to somehow get the tape off before I set it back in place. My finger officially doesnt work and has called it quits apparently. Oh well, at least I have 9 more. I am getting it looked at tomorrow but its not keeping me from playing, so no worries.

Sunday was a great day. We had our pre-season golf outing with the entire team and our sponsors. Each of us were partnered up with someone else from our team and we played a scramble so each person hits and then you take the best shot. Now if you have ever golfed with me heres the thing. The first time I play every season I am silky! I mean Pro status baby. However, throughout summer as the season goes on my golf game slides. And badly. So I was very excited about the first go of 2009 to see if the trend would continue. Our assistant happens to be a rep for Calloway, so Marcus and I got to play with some pretty sweet clubs! This def reminded me of the Lancer Camp Open we used to have every summer. On the first tee me and my partner were the second ones off. And everyone was watching. As you can imagine there was zero golf etiquitte at all! Most of the words included, "You sucks...Your American...Jackass!...Look theres a naked woman"...and maybe whistles and shouting. Started off clean on number one. Birdied number two, then kept rollin. By the time we got to number seven my partner goes, "Dude we are 2 under and havent even cheated once!" And he was right, apart from the accasional improving the lie but come on who doesnt do that? On the longest drive whole I decided to put a swing on one and put it about 20 yards past coaches ball, taking home the longest drive prize thank you. Halfway through the round I saw the one thing that I have wanted to see since I got here...Kangaroos! I told the guys that everyone in Australia is a liar and kangaroos dont really exist. Well the course was packed with them! It was so sweet. I got a lot of good pics and even got about 5 feet away and a pic with a couple of them. I will put pics up tomorrow to let you see! My partner and I finished 2 under and took home the trophy! Marcus and his partner were 2nd at +1 but I think they may have cheated more than once lol.

On Monday I got to also do something I have wanted to do since I got here and that was snorkeling. I went down to the coral reef and it was amazing! I cant swim ha so I got some floaties and put them around my ankles to keep me laying flat...I know real athletic huh? Dad was a lifeguard, my twin was a lifeguard, and I suck at water! The colors underwater are unbelievable. The sun ran through the water and hit the ocean floor, lighting up everything! I explored everywhere swimming with hundreds and hundreds of fish. And were not talking gold fish size either. These things were massive! Not sure what they were but they all had huge red mouths, and the bodies of them were rainbow colored. As I came around one of the large rock areas I saw a snake and followed up by swallowing 3 1/2 gallons of salt water. I could not eat salt for the rest of my life and be good. Afterwards I felt more boyant, so maybe it helped ;-) I spent about 45 minutes just exploring different areas of the reef, getting within inches of fish and marine life. It was by far the coolest thing I have done here so far. It is also a little scary because your not sure what you are gonna see. I keep thinking I'm gonna swim right into a group of jelly fish, but thats what is so exciting about it. The feeling of nervousness/danger is so exciting to me. I think tomorrow I am going to deeper and farther out in the ocean to see what I can find.

PS Marcus and I had our first blowup at each other at practice tonight. And if you have ever seen us in practice you would know that about once a month or so we just go off on each other. Mostly because we are angry and other players or something stupid that was going on. Well tonight we started out arguing about something which escalated into WWIII but most players who have played with us know that already. So they just let it happen and then its over. Well after we get done going at each others throats, the entire gym is dead silent. Our girls on the other side of the gym have stopped play, each player on our team looks like they've seen a ghost, and coach cant stop laughing. Needless to say we had a very intense and good practice haha. Oh these guys will learn soon enough. One of the younger players comes over to me halfway through practice and whispers, "Mate, you are scary. You have massive veins that pop out of your neck and arms when you yell. Hell, I was nervous and you werent even talking to me!" Ha I guess I'm not as nice as I thought I was! Post some pics soon! Good Luck Lancers at Nationals! We'll be listening!

HGH? No thanks, I'll pass this time...

Marcus, Natalie, and Myself at Cottlesloe Beach

Cottlesloe Beach

Outdoor Movie Theatre in the park, Real Sweet!

Middle School kids we taught clinics too...They have to wear these ugly hats!

Just over a week before the season begins, and we are both ready to roll. It’s a weird feeling because even though I have played, I have “officially” played a game since Branson last March. Which before I go on, I have to congratulate my Lancers on a great season and making it back to Branson! I think I was more nervous this year than I was last year! It was funny because Marcus and I were glued to the broadcast of the other championship games at 10 in the morning here, yelling at the computer ha-ha. But after all that, we are going back and I know they will do well. So congrats again guys! We have a scrimmage game tonight against one of the other teams, but our visas wont be cleared until this weekend. So unfortunately we are stuck just practicing and sitting out the games. I kind of feel bad two because some of the guards that have to play are young and very inexperienced and they look so nervous! But they are learning so they will be just fine.

Lately we have been doing a lot of exploring and checking out the city. We went to Cottlesloe Beach, which was very cool. Here are some pictures to check it out. We have also spent some time at Natalie’s place, swimming and eating about anything you can possibly BBQ. Nope, having had a kangaroo yet, but they say they are delicious. However, I am starting to think that Australians are a bunch of liars because I haven’t seen one yet! I guess we have to go more inland because they don’t travel that close to the ocean. Hmm…maybe I’ll just go to the zoo.

So random story…I was riding on the train the other day and sat next to a middle aged man. He was listening to his Ipod while I was trying to ready a map of the city. I was trying to see what he was listening too because he kept on laughing to himself. The funny thing was that he kept trying to hide his laughter but couldn’t, and kept giggling like he just stole candy or something. I couldn’t help it, so I started laughing along with him, and I didn’t even know what he was laughing about. This continued for about 20 minutes until he finally got off the train because he was in tears. It was seriously one of those times that you just laugh and you have NO reason to what so ever. Best train ride so far!

Another random story that I thought was funny. I was lifting the other day and have become friends with the guy who is the manager at one of the fitness places here in Perth. We were at the front when I was getting ready to leave just talking and he made the comment, “Hey your little brother is upstairs lifting if you didn’t know.” I was like you mean my twin? He continued to tell me that he thought Marcus was 17 years old…Apparently I am either overweight ha or he is just too skinny. As we continue talking we go into his office and I begin to ask him about some weight supplements and where to find the best kind. He lets me know that the best thing to do is go through him because he can get the cheapest prices. First he pulls out a protein mix and says, “Here is the top protein that you can purchase right now. Runs about 80 bucks a month.” Then he picks up another tub and says, “Here is the best weight controller out at the moment, this is a little bit more expensive but it will help you during the season. I can probably get you a month supply for about 100 bucks or so.” I said alright what else (making it seem like I would actually spend that kind of money for things like this. The next part I was speechless. He continues saying…and I quote, “Now between you and me, if you want to really bulk up, I mean really maximize your full potential then there is this.” He reaches in his gym bag and pulls out a small bottle filled with some type of clear liquid. Confused I asked him what it was. He says, “This is growth hormone. Kinda expensive but it’ll turn you into a horse!” Now, there is no way in the world I’m taking grown hormone but…since I was there I decided to jokingly ask him some questions. I asked him how much it would cost and he tells me that this bottle (which was no bigger than a finger nail polish bottle) cost around 1,300 dollars! I started to choke on my gum because he caught me so off guard. He told me that he would have to get with a few guys but he could have it for me in a couple weeks. Hmm first off I don’t care if I look like Hulk Hogan, I’m not spending 1,300 dollars on anything like that. Secondly, this stuff actually looks like it will actually turn you into a horse…and that can’t be good. I’ll be growing hooves in a month. Also, I’m not exactly sure the League will enjoy there players being on growth hormone. Not sure how they do things here in Aussieland, but back home this stuff isn’t exactly taken very well. I think I’ll stick to drinking milk! Hey, at least I’m bigger than my little brother right? Ha enjoy the pics, chat with you soon!