I received two topic requests, both pertaining to basketball, from two different people. I was asked to talk about how basketball is here in Europe and to address the transition from college to professional basketball. I will address both questions in this single entry.
Basketball is a sport of many styles. Fast-paced, slow-paced, pick-and-roll, motion-oriented, inside/out, etc. I would not say there is one specific style that characterizes all of Europe. Different teams have different styles, depending on the coach and personnel on the team; however, the pick-and-roll offense does seem to be increasing in popularity on all levels of basketball. It is no different in Europe. It is a tough offense to guard, especially with players who have the ability to make good, smart decisions with the basketball in a short amount of time.
The transition from college ball in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) to professional ball in Europe has been an interesting one. The atmosphere is a little different here in Europe because everything is smaller. Smaller gyms, smaller crowds, even smaller glasses at dine-in restaurants! But the attitude is the same. Europeans love their sports just like Americans! Fans support their teams and and have a strong desire to win.
As expected, I have learned plenty in the short amount of time as a professional basketball player. I expect to continue to learn as time goes by. In the sport of basketball, you are always learning!
Every time you advance to the next level of basketball, everything gets a little (or in some cases, a lot) better. Players are stronger, faster, taller, and more athletic. In my situation, I would not say that the pace of the game is overwhelmingly different. However, professional players tend to be smarter because they have been around the game for so long. They have tricks that they have acquired only attainable through experience. Everything they do has a purpose. Advantage!! It's all about creating an advantage. Of course, this is pretty much the case for any sport. But this terminology/phrase is often used here in Europe.
Hopefully, I fully addressed the two topic requests. At the end of the day, basketball is basketball. I believe that's how you have to approach it as a player. It's a simple game. A game of angles, inches, reads, and deception. It's all about having fun. If you focus on having fun, good things will happen!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Holland!!!
Finally!!! Here it is. Everyone and their mothers, and grandmothers, have been asking me how it is in Holland. I will list 5 things that stand out to me since I have been here these last 2 months. I will include some mini stories and facts that you may find interesting as well throughout this entry.
1. Bikes, bikes, bikes!!!
It's a little overwhelming at first. EVERYONE has a bike! On top of that, bikers have the right of way in most scenarios. The first thing that I saw when I got to Holland was an elderly couple pedaling away on their bikes. If you have a bike, you better take care of it though. The number one crime in Holland is bike theft. There is a random fact for ya.
2. Stroopwafels
If you are an American reading this, you probably have no idea what a stroopwafel is. Basically, it is one of the best things I've ever tasted. I compare it to Krispy Kreme doughnuts in America. I would tell you whats in them, but the ingredients are in Dutch. Sorry. My Dutch teammates told me that every American who has tried the stroopwafel become obsessed. So the first time I tried it, I was determined not to like it to break this stereotype. I took a bite and my taste buds did a mean double take. I've been hooked ever since. Smh.
3. Everyone speaks English
Thank. The. Lord!!! Everyone that I have interacted with has been able to communicate with me to some degree. When I first got here, it took a legit 10-15 minutes just to order my food. I'm starting to pick up on the Dutch language a little bit though. I can count to 10 and I know that "kip" means chicken!!! Dutch 101! Had to learn that right away. Chicken is a necessity.
4. Manual cars
For the most part, there are only stick shift cars here. No automatics. Not even semi automatics (which is a good thing lol). I have also seen horse carriages a couple of times. I have added riding on a horse carriage to my bucket list before I leave.
Learning to drive a stick was definitely frustrating. I killed the car consistently time and time again. The worst part was when I was actually trying to drive on a street instead of practicing in a vacant parking lot. Here is a good story...
My worst enemies were traffic lights. This was the case because the most difficult part for me was getting to first gear. I would always try to hurry and get through the lights. Of course, as soon as I would get to the light, it turns red. Then, a long line of cars would build up behind me. The pressure escalated...I started to twitch...to sweat...to pray. The light turns green and then....DEAD!!! This is the only time I've seen Dutch people get a little upset haha. Guess its pretty understandable. Oh well... They honked or zoomed around me. All I could do is hide my face as I started back up the car- and proceeded to pray again.
5. Dutch people are tall!
Ok, I'm already not the tallest guy. Now, I've supposedly landed in the tallest country in the world. Just my luck...*Kanye shrug*
Well I hope that you have enjoyed my rundown of Holland. Overall, it's a beautiful, peaceful country with many sights to see. I am blessed to have an opportunity to start my professional basketball career here and have been thoroughly enjoying my time so far. Thank you for reading my post! I hope you continue to follow me as I continue on my long journey.
God Bless,
Andre
1. Bikes, bikes, bikes!!!
It's a little overwhelming at first. EVERYONE has a bike! On top of that, bikers have the right of way in most scenarios. The first thing that I saw when I got to Holland was an elderly couple pedaling away on their bikes. If you have a bike, you better take care of it though. The number one crime in Holland is bike theft. There is a random fact for ya.
2. Stroopwafels
If you are an American reading this, you probably have no idea what a stroopwafel is. Basically, it is one of the best things I've ever tasted. I compare it to Krispy Kreme doughnuts in America. I would tell you whats in them, but the ingredients are in Dutch. Sorry. My Dutch teammates told me that every American who has tried the stroopwafel become obsessed. So the first time I tried it, I was determined not to like it to break this stereotype. I took a bite and my taste buds did a mean double take. I've been hooked ever since. Smh.
3. Everyone speaks English
Thank. The. Lord!!! Everyone that I have interacted with has been able to communicate with me to some degree. When I first got here, it took a legit 10-15 minutes just to order my food. I'm starting to pick up on the Dutch language a little bit though. I can count to 10 and I know that "kip" means chicken!!! Dutch 101! Had to learn that right away. Chicken is a necessity.
4. Manual cars
For the most part, there are only stick shift cars here. No automatics. Not even semi automatics (which is a good thing lol). I have also seen horse carriages a couple of times. I have added riding on a horse carriage to my bucket list before I leave.
Learning to drive a stick was definitely frustrating. I killed the car consistently time and time again. The worst part was when I was actually trying to drive on a street instead of practicing in a vacant parking lot. Here is a good story...
My worst enemies were traffic lights. This was the case because the most difficult part for me was getting to first gear. I would always try to hurry and get through the lights. Of course, as soon as I would get to the light, it turns red. Then, a long line of cars would build up behind me. The pressure escalated...I started to twitch...to sweat...to pray. The light turns green and then....DEAD!!! This is the only time I've seen Dutch people get a little upset haha. Guess its pretty understandable. Oh well... They honked or zoomed around me. All I could do is hide my face as I started back up the car- and proceeded to pray again.
5. Dutch people are tall!
Ok, I'm already not the tallest guy. Now, I've supposedly landed in the tallest country in the world. Just my luck...*Kanye shrug*
Well I hope that you have enjoyed my rundown of Holland. Overall, it's a beautiful, peaceful country with many sights to see. I am blessed to have an opportunity to start my professional basketball career here and have been thoroughly enjoying my time so far. Thank you for reading my post! I hope you continue to follow me as I continue on my long journey.
God Bless,
Andre
Monday, October 15, 2012
Yeah I'm a Nerd...So?!
Since this blog is all about my life beyond basketball, let's get the truth out there....yes, I'm a "nerd." "You ain't no nerd?!...I coulda swore you was one!" (*Unforgivable voice*). What many people fail to realize is that there is nothing wrong with it. There are many definitions out there for the term "nerd." Mine is simple...different. Just because I am different from the next person doesn't mean I'm better or worse for it. We are all beautiful and cool in our own way. What's crazy is that a couple of years ago, I would not have shared anything like this about myself to the world. Maybe you will find it interesting haha.
So, now lets talk about my qualifications that confirm my nerd status...
1. I still watch cartoons. Yes, I am 22 years old and I still get excited when Tom and Jerry comes on haha. I don't know if I should be slightly worried about this, but whatever. Tom's constant failures to beat Jerry are borderline sad and thoroughly entertaining to me. Also, I will still watch my favorite cartoon show growing up...Dragonball Z. Kamehameha!!! Classic.
2. I love video games. But then again, what guy doesn't?! I suppose there are some, but there is something about establishing your dominance as a man when having a controller in your hand against fellow gamers. But this is where I take off on a tangent. I don't play sport games. And if you are reading this and don't know me very well, I'm sure that your reaction was like, "What?! What do you mean you don't play sport games?? O_o?!?!" I deal with this reaction wayyy too often but it's true. I don't take delight in playing every 2K or FIFA game that comes out on the market. Just not me. It probably doesn't help that I already play basketball all the time and I just want to do something different. And it definitely doesn't help that I am terrible lol. I play more action/adventure games such as: God of War series (best games ever), Resident Evil series, Final Fantasy series (genuine nerd status), Uncharted series...you get the idea. Now some competitive games that I do play (and have mastered) are Call of Duty and Super Smash Bros. You don't want to see me in either. Promise.
3. I read. This is obviously an art that has been lost among our society with the advancement of technology amongst other things. Reading can be a very fulfilling opportunity to learn about various things. Learn new words, improve grammatical skills, and learn various writing styles. The list goes on and on. Read a fiction novel. You will find that you can improve your creativity skills as you imagine certain characters and places that are described in the written movie by simply using your mind. Your brain is a powerful thing!
4. I have graduated from college, but I still study. Now Im not talking about studying intense subjects such as chemistry or calculus; however, I have found a passion for music recently. I have been playing the piano for almost a year in a half now. Talk about constantly learning!! There is so much music has to offer whether its breaking down music theory or just listening to different music. I'm sure mostly everyone can relate to listening to music. It's has the power to affect us in many ways. A piece of advice that I want to offer is to be open! Extend beyond your favorite musical artists and give other genres a chance. You will be glad you did.
Well, this blog is getting a little lengthy. I probably could have kept going, but I think if you are still reading this, you get the point. Also, if you are still reading this entry, there may be a little nerd in you too! You are more than welcome to share your thoughts or your "nerd" qualifications if you want. We can be nerds together! Lol.
God Bless,
Andre
So, now lets talk about my qualifications that confirm my nerd status...
1. I still watch cartoons. Yes, I am 22 years old and I still get excited when Tom and Jerry comes on haha. I don't know if I should be slightly worried about this, but whatever. Tom's constant failures to beat Jerry are borderline sad and thoroughly entertaining to me. Also, I will still watch my favorite cartoon show growing up...Dragonball Z. Kamehameha!!! Classic.
2. I love video games. But then again, what guy doesn't?! I suppose there are some, but there is something about establishing your dominance as a man when having a controller in your hand against fellow gamers. But this is where I take off on a tangent. I don't play sport games. And if you are reading this and don't know me very well, I'm sure that your reaction was like, "What?! What do you mean you don't play sport games?? O_o?!?!" I deal with this reaction wayyy too often but it's true. I don't take delight in playing every 2K or FIFA game that comes out on the market. Just not me. It probably doesn't help that I already play basketball all the time and I just want to do something different. And it definitely doesn't help that I am terrible lol. I play more action/adventure games such as: God of War series (best games ever), Resident Evil series, Final Fantasy series (genuine nerd status), Uncharted series...you get the idea. Now some competitive games that I do play (and have mastered) are Call of Duty and Super Smash Bros. You don't want to see me in either. Promise.
3. I read. This is obviously an art that has been lost among our society with the advancement of technology amongst other things. Reading can be a very fulfilling opportunity to learn about various things. Learn new words, improve grammatical skills, and learn various writing styles. The list goes on and on. Read a fiction novel. You will find that you can improve your creativity skills as you imagine certain characters and places that are described in the written movie by simply using your mind. Your brain is a powerful thing!
4. I have graduated from college, but I still study. Now Im not talking about studying intense subjects such as chemistry or calculus; however, I have found a passion for music recently. I have been playing the piano for almost a year in a half now. Talk about constantly learning!! There is so much music has to offer whether its breaking down music theory or just listening to different music. I'm sure mostly everyone can relate to listening to music. It's has the power to affect us in many ways. A piece of advice that I want to offer is to be open! Extend beyond your favorite musical artists and give other genres a chance. You will be glad you did.
Well, this blog is getting a little lengthy. I probably could have kept going, but I think if you are still reading this, you get the point. Also, if you are still reading this entry, there may be a little nerd in you too! You are more than welcome to share your thoughts or your "nerd" qualifications if you want. We can be nerds together! Lol.
God Bless,
Andre
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