Coming to America

Well when we last left off our young hero (how arrogant of me) was told he was no longer needed on the team that brought him to the other side of the world.  On that Friday he was told he would leave wednesday.  Seems like a few boring days until he leaves....

Ok back to first person.

As soon as I am told we are parting ways the team heads off for a 3 day trip to Macedonia, leaving me to fend for myself.  At first it was nice, just to relax, not practice, not run up mountains, and not sit on the bench for unexplained reasons.  Just me to fend for myself.  

And how BORING was that...

I went from staring at the computer screen, to staring at the walls, to staring at myself staring at myself in the mirror (all staring contests resulted in a tie.)

It was clearly evident that I needed to find something to do but lets just say Samokov has about as many options for entertainment as the astronauts had when they landed on the moon (actually....scratch that...at least the astronauts could golf).

I realize I need to go to the bank and the grocrery store anyways.  Since all of my teammates are having a wonderful time in Macedonia without me, I realize that I'll have to use my own transportation I brought with me.

My feet.

To be honest it was kind of refreshing to have to walk to different places I must say, and I blended right in with the locals....well ok maybe not really blended...I guess the stares and double takes I was getting are similar to those Tokyo reisdents give Godzilla as he happily roams the streets.

That can't taste good

I continue on with my errands (I am now a whiz in the grocery store....all strawberry jelly and orange juice for me) and head back home.  I successfully kill 2 hours...

Only 4 more days to go...

I spend the last 4 days venturing to the main city of Sofia, watching Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and packing up my belongings.  My flight is scheduled for 730am Wednesday morning which is a 4am wake up call for me.  It will take me from Sofia to Amsterdam to Philly and finally to Raleigh.  

Much to my relief (and to my readers dismay) there was no forgetting of bags, sprinting through airports, or rockstar guided tours through the terminals.  It was actually quite normal.  I get to Amsterdam and walk about 3 miles (I will not be hiring that architect to build anything for me) from my my first flight to my second.  On the walk over I wonder if I have shrunk after walking past several women who are literally on eye level with me...no heels. Im pretty sure one of them is my replacement on the team I just left.  

With all these flights and long hours in the air I am anxious to get back to American soil.  When we finally arrive in Philly I stand in the customs line and daydream about what it will be like to be home.  I am snapped out of my day dream by a loud.

Next...

NEXT...

NEXT!!!! says the impatient black woman working the customs desk. I smile and say "sorry i was day dreaming."  she looks at me...rolls her eyes and hands me back my passport...ahh thats the American hospitality I have been missing.  Great to be back.

Once the wheels touched down in Raleigh any other emotions I might have had before or during the trip were replaced with relief and happiness.  I was finally home.  In the arms of my mother I realize that there are worse things that can happen to me in these days that I have had.  As one of my teammates told me before I leave

"Adam you may be going home, but it is to family and friends that love you.  Soon you will forget all about everything here and move on with your career.  But for now just enjoy the time that you have with the ones you love."

For that advice I thank you my good friend.

And so this is the life, the life of a pro basketball player.  There are ups and there are downs, there are highs and there are lows, but I know one thing that I will have throughout this roller coaster ride that I have chosen for my career.  The support of my friends, family, and all of you.

Glad to see everyone is watching the game....Conner..

Sour Milk

Looking back at some of my blogs I cant help but laugh at some of the experiences I have had so far.  It has been nothing bad or overwhelming but the hilarious account of my blogs give an accurate account of my adventures in Bulgaria.  

One of the biggest joys that I have had during this time here is hearing about the smiles and laughter that this blog (well more my misfortunes) has brought to my friends, family, and others (when i say others i mean people that work at the bank my mom goes to, her hairdresser, people at her office, my mom really should go into marketing....oh and hi guys thanks for reading)  But I do need to remind myself why i started this blog in the first place.  To let everyone know how I am doing.

Now for hose who have gotten antsy and wondered why I haven't written in almost two weeks, well its because I have...oh whats the word I am looking for...ohhhh yeahhh....

a job.

Yes believe it or not while basketball is a game that is watched by billions around the globe the players are very much at work.  I have been hard at work with two a days, studying the playbook, and just being plain old worn out.  We have traveled to Macedonia and Romania and it has been interesting to see other countries and the way they live.  (Also I saw a McDonalds on our way to a game...I almost cried....and I hate McDonalds...man I need some good food.)  Needless to say there is much catching up to do and while this will be the watered down, politically correct version there will be a future form of publication that will reveal all. (hmm foreshadowing anyone?)

Let's start with the games.  We have had 5 friendly games.  The first one we played here at home was against Steaua, one of the best teams in Romania.  I thought I played ok...not good but ok...with 4 points and 6 rebounds in about 12 minutes of play.  While baffled by the short amount of playing time, I knew it was early and there needed to be some things I needed to work out. 

We left for Macedonia the next day and played that evening. I had 5 points and 2 rebounds in the first half. But was not put in in the second half.  The game after that I was not put in in the first half.  Now I'm not a mind reader but I am pretty sure that they aren't paying me to sit on the bench.  I realize that something is not right.  

I talk to the coach a few days later and while many of his points don't make sense, by the end of the conversation we have talked about what I need to improve in order to succeed.  Im excited to employ it in the next game.  We practice in between those games and I improve greatly in what we talked about.

The first quarter passes by and i am not put in until well in the second quarter.  I play well, but get taken out.  And not put back in until garbage time at the end of the fourth.  Interesting.

Just keep your head up Adam and control what you can control.

The next game is even more baffling.  I go in for one minute (60 seconds, 5,940 milliseconds, 5,940,000 microseconds, 5,940,000,000 nanoseconds... Looking at this last number I feel like i should've been more tired than I was... I knew the mountain workouts would pay off eventually), and get taken out...For the rest of the game.  

By the time this trip is over I am frustrated.  Not because I am playing poorly but more because I have been given no chance to show anything.  You can't see what a player can do in 3 minutes (thats 180,000,000,000 nanoseconds for those of you keeping track at home) on the court.  I figure that this will all be sorted out once our whole team has more time to practice. I go to sleep and set my alarm for 10:30 am.

There is a knock at the door at 10:12. I open it to find the assistant coach uncomfortably standing in the doorway. He asks me if I can meet him downstairs in the office.  I get dressed.

When we get down there he begins to say what I have already figured out when he knocked on my door.  The team no longer requires my services and will be sending me back home.  They ask for all their stuff back. The jackets, the jerseys (with my name on it so i guess the rule of "does it have your name on it?" doesnt apply in Bulgaria) everything...i pack it all up and turn it in.

And with that my time here in Bulgaria is finished.....and the Pursuit of My Dream...is done.

Hold on...

Run that back.

Let's try this again.

Lets just get something straight right now..... no team, no person, no organization, or ANYONE will EVER take this dream away from me.  I will be back.  I will be on another team.  I will play just as hard.  While this may leave a bad taste in my mouth (there's the title reference for those who were looking), one thing I do know about my month of running up mountains, practicing twice a day, and playing in the games is that in each instance I gave everything I had.  They may say I didn't fit but even the coach can't say I didn't play hard.  

I never stop, I never give up, and I will always keep fighting.

And so I will move on.  To where exactly I don't know, but I'm not gonna quit.  This is a stumbling block, a hurdle, an unfortunate part of the game but like one of our favorite songs go...

"its not how you start, its how you finish."

I plan on finishing strong.