Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Artland adopt-a-puppy calling!
The Artland Dragons, the team I play for and one of those exempted from first two Eurocup preliminary rounds, started the German League season on September 16. We played once or twice a week until the end of October and then had one game during a total of 20 days. I am exaggerating that point a bit, because if I stretched the timeline to 22 days, it would have been three games - an average of one per week - but it certainly was a long time between the first two of them. The routine of practice, practice, practice, sleep and more practice had one of my teammates, Zach Whiting, so bored that he and his wife decided to get a puppy. To me, that shows extraordinary commitment, since a puppy will be around for a long time. Zack calculates an 18-year commitment, the average life span of a Jack Russell terrier according to him. But I googled it, and most of the sites said that a Jack Russell lasting even 15 years might be on the high side. I didn't have the heart to tell him or his wife. Until now, sorry Zack.
Is it possible that Zack's puppy decision is indicative of the boredom that comes at this point in the season - especially when you play one game in 20 days. In recent weeks, our team has hosted a pumpkin carving contest and a costume party. Personally, I have changed my facial hair pattern about 12 times. I went to see the new chick flick with Richard Gere, in German. And I am now attempting to grow a mango tree in winter. This is what happens when last season's team handles its business so well, as Artland's did by qualifying us directly to the Eurocup regular season. Due to their work, we did not have to participate in the qualifying rounds. What we didn't bargain on, however, was the wait. This new Eurocup system is different than its predecessor, the ULEB Cup. I think the people running the European cups get as bored in the summer time as some of us players do without games. But instead of growing mango trees or buying puppies, they fool around with the competition system and name. But whatever the wait or the name or the system, the competition is here for us, and we are thankful! As basketball players, we need as many diversions as possible, mainly so that we do not focus on how many practices will occur in between games. So I am pretty happy that the Eurocup will begin because it means less time bumping into my teammates at practice and all of us getting on each other's nerves. Of course, I will also add the politically correct statement, which is: I cannot wait to compete against top-level teams from all over Europe and have the opportunity to see some interesting places. It is true and I am excited, but it sounds so cliché. But I guess they call them clichés for a reason. Maybe because they are universally true?
The quick background on me is that I was a blogger last year for the Euroleague site. My claim to fame was being a teammate of last year's Euroleague leading scorer, Marc Salyers. Sometimes he let me hold his towel and he said "bless you" one time when I sneezed. Now I am back in Germany, living in the town of Quakenbrueck, playing for Artland again. I played here two years ago and we did pretty well. After I left, they did even better, which begs the question, why in the heck did they re-sign me? I am pretty sure that I am good for morale, because I sometimes go months without getting a haircut, which is slightly entertaining (I think) to others. And my dim-witted comments are usually written off, as "Oh, that is just Adam, he is weird". There is no question that the team seems to have no legitimate reason for bringing me back, but why did I come back? Well, for one, Artland does a good job of picking quality people to work for and to work with. I actually like the guys on my team….although I'm still not sure if they like me. I looked up ostracize and it is defined as: to exclude from a group by common consent. No mention of whether the person being ostracized has to be aware it.
I also have to mention the fans: we have some crazy fans in this town. Our arena only sits 3,000 people, but it has been sold out for years, which only gets more impressive considering the population of the town is roughly 13,000 people. On the other hand, the population of cows and sheep in this area is staggeringly greater. This little-town team, with great fans, great guys (well, great enough to at least not tell me if they don't like me) and solid management, was able to finish in second place in the German League last season, to win the German Cup and to get within one game of the Final Eight of the ULEB Cup! That will be hard to top this season. Not only do we have a tough group in the Eurocup, but it will be even harder to advance with fewer games. So I am hoping that my teammates and I can make a serious commitment to the team. We all need to follow the lead of our teammate Zack and his wife, who made a serious commitment to adopt a living being. If we are committed, like the Whitings in their fight against boredom and their mission to nurture a Jack Russell terrier, then just maybe our team could surprise some people again this season.
Until then, all I can do is wait and see if the mango tree begins to grow.
POSTED BY
Adam Hess, Quakenbruck