BUA Trainer Blog
Demarcus Hall: Finland... "To Each His Own..."
February2011
To Each His Own..
Grateful to be blessed. To travel, to play basketball, its all fun and making for a great experience. An experience that I can draw from. It comes down to the classic argument over life versus lifestyle. Somehow I know that I am heading in the right direction. Just have to make sure to listen to the universe and adhere to the omens.
I remember hearing the question; What are u protecting? Wittingly I answered by stating "my stuff"(phone, bike, apartment or whatever material things I either paid for or was still working to make payments on). Material possessions are temporary and turn to dust with time. Searching for something more lasting with more substance. My answer should have been bonds, goals and ambitions. Bonds that I share with my family and the people I put on with. I have a goal and that is to position myself to help the position of my family. Now that I think about it I cannot wait to reunite with my family as I will have stories to tell and its been a while since I have been in their presence. It will be cool to be around them now that I’ve been around. I'm just trying to continue to advance and be more ambitious.
The goal I wanted to achieve this season was to lead a productive season. Now with the first half of the season recorded I can say that I did it. Before arriving I set a goal to lead a team in every category. Reason being is that I have never experienced that before. Just wanted to see what that experience would bring. Success, as a team, we have had it this season and I have learned how it take it in in spurts.
We have won 5 out of the last 8 games. Now in the second half of the season each team knows what to expect and are preparing accordingly. Teams are battling for playoff positioning and games are becoming more physical and competitive. There are 5 games remaining and each game seems to become bigger than the last. We are looking to continue our momentum and we have an opportunity to get a solid spot for the playoffs. Game time this Sunday!!
Please feel free to leave comments. If you have any question just post them and I will answer them. Give me something to talk about and it would make for more blogs
Grateful to be blessed. To travel, to play basketball, its all fun and making for a great experience. An experience that I can draw from. It comes down to the classic argument over life versus lifestyle. Somehow I know that I am heading in the right direction. Just have to make sure to listen to the universe and adhere to the omens.
I remember hearing the question; What are u protecting? Wittingly I answered by stating "my stuff"(phone, bike, apartment or whatever material things I either paid for or was still working to make payments on). Material possessions are temporary and turn to dust with time. Searching for something more lasting with more substance. My answer should have been bonds, goals and ambitions. Bonds that I share with my family and the people I put on with. I have a goal and that is to position myself to help the position of my family. Now that I think about it I cannot wait to reunite with my family as I will have stories to tell and its been a while since I have been in their presence. It will be cool to be around them now that I’ve been around. I'm just trying to continue to advance and be more ambitious.
The goal I wanted to achieve this season was to lead a productive season. Now with the first half of the season recorded I can say that I did it. Before arriving I set a goal to lead a team in every category. Reason being is that I have never experienced that before. Just wanted to see what that experience would bring. Success, as a team, we have had it this season and I have learned how it take it in in spurts.
We have won 5 out of the last 8 games. Now in the second half of the season each team knows what to expect and are preparing accordingly. Teams are battling for playoff positioning and games are becoming more physical and competitive. There are 5 games remaining and each game seems to become bigger than the last. We are looking to continue our momentum and we have an opportunity to get a solid spot for the playoffs. Game time this Sunday!!
Please feel free to leave comments. If you have any question just post them and I will answer them. Give me something to talk about and it would make for more blogs
Dwuan Rice: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
February2011
Here today....gone tomorrow
Coming off two 16 plus hours road trips and 2 tough loses, we got back to Vermont. Unfortunately, The bad luck didn't stop there. Coach sent a mass text to the whole team informing us we had a mandatory team meeting. As we enter the meeting, the vibe I sensed from everyone wasn't good. All the Members of the board had dejected looks and glossy eyes. They informed us that the team couldn't not financially support us and they were ceasing all basketball operations.
The following day there was a draft, 5 of us got picked up by other teams. I was draft by a team in Dayton, but later I was released. With no team, I wasnt sure what my next move would be. One thing that was certain, I still had more things to be grateful, than to complain about.
I took a couple days to visit some loyal supporters, kids that I'd been mentoring, and reflect on what lesson god wanted me to learn from this situation. Sure enough, I got a call from our arch rivals, Saint John Millrats. They told me to sit tight and they'd bring me in the following week. And they did.
Me and Ross Demasi, former Frostheave and teammate arrived Saint John tuesday around midnight. We had one day of practice and a game two days later. We played against a team from Quebec, Canada the division leaders. In a winning effort, I mustered up 12 point and 6 assist. Ross had 14 and 6 rebounds.
Through this trial, I was reminded nothing is certain. It's here and the next minute it can all be gone. As I continue to pray and strengthen my faith in Christ, I know that he knows the desires of my heart and he will not allow me to be in a situation too big for me to handle.
God bless
-Wanni
Dwuan Rice: Vermont... 3rd times a charm!
December2010
After a long summer of hard work, I have finally arrived in Vermont. As you can imagine, its colder than a polar bears toe nail here! No snow the first couple days but temperatures under 20 degrees, Cali boys aren't built for this type of weather lol. I got here a week before everyone else, just to get some extra work in. Coach had me go to a few community events in my first couple of days, but that's over now and it's time to focus on training camp. I am extremely excited to get this season underway.
So far we have some guys that I feel will make the game a little easier for me and some that make me feel like it could be a long season. Nevertheless, this is a big year for me, as I am planning on being overseas this time next year. With that as one of my primary goals, I have to perform regardless of my competition and/or supporting cast. we brought 18 guys into training camp and we can only keep 10, which means 8 guys are gonna be on the chopping block, ugh!
As of today, 2 guys have been released, 3 guys are hurt, and 12 traveled to Saint Johns, Canada for our first preseason game. This year is gonna be a grind, I can already sense it. We have some budget cuts, and team travel was hit the hardest. Instead of flying or team buses, we are doing a lot of traveling in vans. Not so good for these 7’ dudes but at 5‘9, I’m goodie lol. Any-who, Im anxious to get out there and play, but a little disappointed because I wont be playing much. Coach, said he wants to get a chance to evaluate the other players more, so sadly I guess I have to take one for the team. We’ll see how tonight goes, either way it should be fun.
Until next time, Keep me in your prayers and god blesss.
It was written........
-Wanni
So far we have some guys that I feel will make the game a little easier for me and some that make me feel like it could be a long season. Nevertheless, this is a big year for me, as I am planning on being overseas this time next year. With that as one of my primary goals, I have to perform regardless of my competition and/or supporting cast. we brought 18 guys into training camp and we can only keep 10, which means 8 guys are gonna be on the chopping block, ugh!
As of today, 2 guys have been released, 3 guys are hurt, and 12 traveled to Saint Johns, Canada for our first preseason game. This year is gonna be a grind, I can already sense it. We have some budget cuts, and team travel was hit the hardest. Instead of flying or team buses, we are doing a lot of traveling in vans. Not so good for these 7’ dudes but at 5‘9, I’m goodie lol. Any-who, Im anxious to get out there and play, but a little disappointed because I wont be playing much. Coach, said he wants to get a chance to evaluate the other players more, so sadly I guess I have to take one for the team. We’ll see how tonight goes, either way it should be fun.
Until next time, Keep me in your prayers and god blesss.
It was written........
-Wanni
Demarcus Hall: Finland...Life is Good
November2010
LIFE IS GOOD..LIFE IS GREAT..LIFE IS WHATEVER U WANT IT TO BE!!!!
Grateful in being blessed with the opportunity to continue hooping. Being a million miles from home seeing new things and meeting new people is great. Expansion is something I longed for; now being provided an ample opportunity I am all for it. I am out of my comfort zone, in return I am forced to construct a new comfort zone to form new ideals perceptions and to build within myself. You have to lose anything to gain everything. Coming here I believe I did just that. When I arrived all I had was a BIBLE, my passport an identification card and hope. I had to make new relationships, build new friendships, establish resources and form support groups. You have to do these things in order to be successful while being abroad.
Basketball is one of three of the main sports here. Hockey and futbol(soccer) are the other two. Its easy to see that hockey would be popular here given that it snows for seven months out of the year and its extremely cold throughout the duration of the calendar year. Soccer is popular here just as it is extremely popular in all of Europe.
I am currently competing for a team in Jyvaskyla, Finland. So far the team has been great in many ways. The coaching staff has been positive and motivating with me and what I bring to the fold. The players have been open as they have welcomed me into their lives and team structure. League play takes its course over 32 weeks. The first half of league will demand teams to play one game a week. The midpoint of the season leaves 16 weeks and at this point teams will play two game per week. We have gotten off to a solid start as we have jumped out to a 2-0 record in the marathon and the season looks be one of promise. The great start just motivates me to do more and continue to improve.. Individually the start of the season has been great. For the first round of league play I received the player of the week award. For the second round of league play I ranked in the top three in individual performances.
The second round was a tough one to swallow. Even with the rave reviews my team lost a game to the top ranked team in our league with a final score of 77-80 in favor of the opposing team. The third round of league play proved to be a learning experience, even at his point, as my team let a 17 point first-half lead go to waste as we eventually lost that game by 11 points. Record wise my team has “balanced out” as we now stand at 2-2. Like I previously stated this is a marathon and not a race. Well we have a week off from games but we do have practice throughout the week. In the meantime in between time I will stay on my grind. Continue to showcase who you are!!!!!!!
Grateful in being blessed with the opportunity to continue hooping. Being a million miles from home seeing new things and meeting new people is great. Expansion is something I longed for; now being provided an ample opportunity I am all for it. I am out of my comfort zone, in return I am forced to construct a new comfort zone to form new ideals perceptions and to build within myself. You have to lose anything to gain everything. Coming here I believe I did just that. When I arrived all I had was a BIBLE, my passport an identification card and hope. I had to make new relationships, build new friendships, establish resources and form support groups. You have to do these things in order to be successful while being abroad.
Basketball is one of three of the main sports here. Hockey and futbol(soccer) are the other two. Its easy to see that hockey would be popular here given that it snows for seven months out of the year and its extremely cold throughout the duration of the calendar year. Soccer is popular here just as it is extremely popular in all of Europe.
I am currently competing for a team in Jyvaskyla, Finland. So far the team has been great in many ways. The coaching staff has been positive and motivating with me and what I bring to the fold. The players have been open as they have welcomed me into their lives and team structure. League play takes its course over 32 weeks. The first half of league will demand teams to play one game a week. The midpoint of the season leaves 16 weeks and at this point teams will play two game per week. We have gotten off to a solid start as we have jumped out to a 2-0 record in the marathon and the season looks be one of promise. The great start just motivates me to do more and continue to improve.. Individually the start of the season has been great. For the first round of league play I received the player of the week award. For the second round of league play I ranked in the top three in individual performances.
The second round was a tough one to swallow. Even with the rave reviews my team lost a game to the top ranked team in our league with a final score of 77-80 in favor of the opposing team. The third round of league play proved to be a learning experience, even at his point, as my team let a 17 point first-half lead go to waste as we eventually lost that game by 11 points. Record wise my team has “balanced out” as we now stand at 2-2. Like I previously stated this is a marathon and not a race. Well we have a week off from games but we do have practice throughout the week. In the meantime in between time I will stay on my grind. Continue to showcase who you are!!!!!!!
Jeff Christensen: Norway
November2010
I am currently playing for a team in Bergen, Norway, which is the second largest city in Norway. Norway is an extremely wealthy country and the people are well taken care of, proven by the United Nations recently declaring Norway as having the best quality of life in the world. Everybody here speaks english as well, so my transition from the states has been very smooth. The other American out here was actually in the Bakersfield Jam Training Camp when I was on their staff, so already knowing somebody has made it even easier.
Basketball isn't as popular here as it is in other parts of Europe; it takes a back seat to soccer and even handball, but still has a good following.Our team is 4-1 and playing very well. Every game is important because there are so few. We only play once a week, so there is more of a football mindset in the sense that one loss can have a drastic effect on the standings. Everybody works hard and is only concerned with winning, which is a pleasure to be around. I currently lead the league in assists and steals, with my best game being a win where I had 23 points and 12 assists. Hopefully we can continue to play well and be atop the standings before the winter break.
Basketball isn't as popular here as it is in other parts of Europe; it takes a back seat to soccer and even handball, but still has a good following.Our team is 4-1 and playing very well. Every game is important because there are so few. We only play once a week, so there is more of a football mindset in the sense that one loss can have a drastic effect on the standings. Everybody works hard and is only concerned with winning, which is a pleasure to be around. I currently lead the league in assists and steals, with my best game being a win where I had 23 points and 12 assists. Hopefully we can continue to play well and be atop the standings before the winter break.
Kyle Shiloh: France
October2010
Me and the rest of the BUA family will be updating our own blogs throughout the year to keep everyone up to date on what we’re doing. The BUA staff is currently having a very accomplished year so far with their professional and collegiate careers which means we are all learning even more while we continue to play the game on a high level[...] Read More...