Tryouts

Well we arrived at our first tryout yesterday at Joondalup Stadium. This was for the Wannaroo Wolfpack. As Marcus and I shot around we met a really cool guy on the team who was 26 and has played several places in Europe. He is about 6'8 and pretty good. He reminded me a lot like Jared Adler skill wise. When the practice began Coach Downer pulled us aside and gave us a crash course of what we would be doing. Pretty much we were going to be thrown right in the mix and have to pick everything up along the way. It was strange cuz there were about 2o guys there! I asked Damien (the big guy) if all these guys were trying out and he said that a lot of them on are the Division 1 team, which would be like a JV team. Practice was about 2 1/2 hours long but it was good. Marcus and I both played and shot very well, until our legs started to go. Still not quite used to practicing in 85+ degree weather, even at 7 pm! After the practice was over Damien gave us a ride back home and gave us his cell. No one says call, they all say ring. "I'll ring ya tomorra mate!" Is about what it sounds like. Coach Downer said he would call us and meet us for lunch the next day on Friday.

Friday came and we got to go to the Perth Wildcats practice, which is the NBA team here. These guys are HUGE and make big time dollars playing ball. The cool thing about Coach Downer is that he is also the assistant coach for the Wildcats team, so we get the benefit of working out in their gym, meeting some cool guys (great ballplayers), and getting to know some of the other coaches. There stadium seats about 5,000 and Marcus and I are going tomorrow night. After practice Coach took us out for lunch and explained what they were looking for. After about a half hour he said that he needed to make sure visas/and import rules match up ok, but he wanted us both to be a part of their team! What a blessing! He told us that he would be talking to our President Ryan Hunter and getting the contracts worked out. So great news! Hopefully by next week we will be signed and ready to go. Games actually start in 5 weeks, so we dont have much time to prepare, but the concepts seem pretty simple enough. Push the ball, and shoot the damn thing before the 24 second shot clock goes off ha-ha. Defensively it is right up our alley. We are a smaller team so Coach wants us to press as much as we can. I have talked to a few other coaches, but Coach Downer by far is my favorite. He is very personable and seems to have a great understanding of the game. Of course good news cant happen with some bad. After lunch we went back to the gym for a workout with coach and two other players on different teams in our league. Both are pretty good guards. Halfway through I come off a screen and pull up to shoot and...pop. All I felt was like a rubberband snapped me on the hamstring. Sure enough, I pull it. The good news is that it is a regular hamstring pull in my mid leg, not up high like it was all season last year. It is really sore at the moment but I am taking all the careful procedures in order for this to go away. Also it doesnt hurt my spot, I'll just have to make sure I wait it out this time until I heal up. Might be a couple weeks but I'm not worried. Being 100%...or maybe 90 lol is the most important thing. It looks as if we might have a really good team. Damien however is leaving 10 games into the season to leave for Ireland, so that will hurt. But we might be getting a few bigger wing and post players when the Wildcats finish their season. They dont get a lot of playing time on their team so this is a chance for them to put up good numbers.

After the workout we came back and I looked on Ebay for a new right leg. No one has posted anything yet but I'll keep my eyes open. We went to the weight room then to get a workout in then walked along the ocean. I cant describe enough how this place looks. It's like a paradise here. The water is crystal clear and the waves are high. The sand is a light brown color and the sky cant get more beautiful. Honestly, Bob Ross had some sweet drawlings but even my man couldnt paint this picture! I finally have a few pictures on my computer so I'll throw them on here. This is the beach house we are staying at along with the beach. I'll make sure to add some pictures of Coach, teammates, and the gym here shortly. Oh by the way, you know we are in the big time when we only practice 2 days a week!!!! Yes that's right. We practice Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30-9:00. Then we have 1 or 2 games on the weekend. I'm gonna do my best to let Coach K know about this idea, even though it might be easier to get him to say a swear word. Which obviously is impossible...so sorry Grace guys! Alright I'm out.

Closing Thought: I have seen more speedo's in the last 3 days than I have in my entire life. At what point does a man say to himself, "Hmm...you know what, I think today I'm gonna show off my cash and prizes to the entire world." Seriously. And the guys that wear speedo's are definitely the guys who shouldnt be wearing them. Dad looks like Matthew McConnahey compared to these gents. Well maybe more like a skinnier version of of Jack Black, but you get the idea.