RICARDO MARSH'S BLOG View profile
201cm / 6'7'' - Forward - 1981 USA
Ricardo Marsh Basketball Career
105kg
Born: Sep.12, 1981
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Outlook:
Extremely consistent performer who has demonstrated the ability to improve every season; can play up to three positions, as he is comfortable on the wing as well as in the post; attended the prestigious Pete Newell player development camp; excellent scorer on the post, in the paint, and up to three-point range; great rebounder who knows how to position his body; compliments his skills with a high level of intelligence that allows him to understand the game better than most players his age; very mature and coachable player.
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Career:
Mebane, NC / Orange HS
1999-2000: ODU (NCAA): 30 games: 5.6ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 65.5%
2000-2001: ODU (NCAA, starting five):31 games: 9.3ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.1%, 3PT: 28.1%, FT: 67.0%
2001-2002: ODU (NCAA, starting five): 29 games: 15.3ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 26.9%, FT: 71.9%
2002-2003: ODU (NCAA, starting five): 27 games: ScoreCAA-4(16.7ppg), RebCAA-3(8.4rpg), 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGPCAA-5(47.2%), 3PT: 18.5%, FT: 74.0%: Finished his career at Old Dominion ranked 20th all-time in scoring with 1,350 points and 15th all-time in rebounding (690).
2003: Portsmouth Pre-NBA Draft Invitational Tournament
2003 May: VCU Inviational Showcase in Richmond, Virginia (Greater Richmond Partnership team) 4g 12.5ppg 6.2rpg 1.5apg
2003-2004: Buyuk Kolej Ankara (Turkey-D1, starting five): 26 games: 21.5ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.2apg, in May moved to Dukagjini Pejë (Kosovo-LPBK) for the play-off games
2004-2005: Toyota Alvark (Japan-JBL Superleague, starting five)
2005-2006: Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey-D1, starting five): 34 games: 9.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 2FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 66.0%
2006: July: Seven Cities Pro-Am in Hampton Roads, Va. (Big Blue)
2006-2007: In Nov.'06 signed at Elitzur Ashkelon (Israel-Premier League, starting five): 25 games: Score-1(20.9), Reb-4(6.8), 2.2apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 78.8%
2007-2008: Antalya Buyuksehir Belediye (Turkey-TBL, starting five): 34 games: 18.7ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.8apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP:53.5%, FT:76.2%
2008-2009: ASK Riga (Latvia-LBL, starting five): LBL: 4 games: 14.0ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.5apg; Baltic League (Elite Group): 7 games: 15.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.0spg; Eurocup: 4 games: 12.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.0apg; left in Dec.'08, later that month moved to Antalya Buyuksehir Belediye (Turkey-TBL, starting five): 19 games: 14.4ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 49.3%, FT: 64.9%
2009-2010: BC Donetsk (Ukraine-Superleague): Ukrainian League: 9 games: 10.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.2spg, FGP: 52.6%, FT: 66.7%; EuroChallenge: 2 games: 14.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg; VTB League: 4 games: 10.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 58.8%, FT: 20.0%, left in Dec.'09, in Feb.'10 moved to Cedevita Zagreb (Croatia-A1): Croatian League: 14 games: 13.5ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.1spg, FGP: 67.6%, FT: 70.5%; Adriatic League: 6 games: 5.2ppg, 1.3rpg, FGP: 54.5%, FT: 87.5%
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Awards/Achievements:
CAA All-Rookie Team -00
2nd Team All-CAA -02
Kosovo LPBK Cup Finalist -04
Kosovo LBPK Regular Season Runner-Up -04
Kosovo LBPK Champion -04
JBL Superleague Semifinals -05
Turkish League All-Stars Game -08
Baltic League (Elite Group) Semifinals -09
Croatian Cup (Kresimir Cosic Cup) Semifinals -10
Eurobasket.com All-Croatian A1 League 1st Team -10
Eurobasket.com Croatian A1 League All-Imports Team -10
Croatian A1 League Semifinals -10
BLOG POSTINGS
Jermaine Anderson
It's not about how you start the season, but all about how you finish.- Apr.18, 2010 (by Ricardo)
Good Monday morning Eurobasket family. Thanks for tuning back into my blog the second time around. I don't know about you guys, but I can taste the summer months. A few more good weeks and wins and we can officially close the books on another successful season. Playoff time is fast approaching and players/coaches everywhere are checking out those bonus possibilities and sizing up that last payment date[read more]
Good Monday morning Eurobasket family. Thanks for tuning back into my blog the second time around. I don't know about you guys, but I can taste the summer months. A few more good weeks and wins and we can officially close the books on another successful season. Playoff time is fast approaching and players/coaches everywhere are checking out those bonus possibilities and sizing up that last payment date. I know what's on your mind! Hahaha!! Hey rightfully so, a lot can go on being abroad and on the job over the course of ten months. Some years you get seasons with time off and some you don't. My point guard, Jermaine Anderson (188-G-83, college: Fordham), hasn't seen anything close to where he lives in Toronto since he arrived in Zagreb last September. With that in mind, I'll also have you know, he is one of the last guys out of the gym every day. This point in the year brings real players and coaches to a new focus. As nice as it will be to be sitting on my own couch and waiting for the food to come off the grill, there is still work to be done. Professionalism takes over when your mind starts to wonder elsewhere around springtime. If you can do nine months, then you can do ten easy. It's not about how you start the season, but all about how you finish. Long and hard work with minimal results is depressing in my opinion. If you or your team has what it takes, now is the time of year to dig down and find that extra. That extra at the end of the season can add a few more dollars to the beginning of your next season. That makes it a little more worth it when it hurts now, doesn't it?
It's been a fairly eventful two weeks since the last time I checked in. We have won the last four games which brings us to 6-1 overall with about 3 weeks to go in the regular season. Four games ago, in the fourth quarter, I reached across a player and one of the fingers on his offhand poked me in my eye which damaged an oblique muscle in my right eyeball. I've been sidelined since. You would be amazed how much you rely on BOTH of your eyes to function normally throughout the course of a day. I've had a full dose of being one eyed Jack over these last few weeks. One thing that Americans seem to be wary about is proper medical attention and diagnosis when they're anywhere other than the United States. I can honestly say that I have been one of those people. I left Turkey on 2 different occasions to be there for my wife and the birth of our little Marshs' and would do it again, even knowing that one of those two teams would later hit me with a fine for leaving. Family is first in my book; sorry Mr. Team President!! Common sense, along with my management at the time will tell you that babies are clearly delivered everyday in hospitals all throughout Turkey, but I guess there's no place like home especially when you are dealing with health issues. Since this minor set back with my eye I have been fairly content with the medical attention that I have received in Croatia. The facilities were clean, communication was not an issue and at the end of the day I can still see. I don't know what's been harder, taking the pain of the injury or taking the pain of watching my teammates grind everyday without me. Ok the physical pain was pretty numbing, but my point is being a competitor isn't easy.
Aside from the initial shock and fear factor of having an eye injury, every day I have wanted to do more but my body won't let me. At this point in the year practice is a little different than it was all season long. It's a pretty intense hour and fifteen minutes. Everyone is already in shape so we mainly work on strategy for the upcoming game and keeping our individual skills tight; shooting, rebounding, ball handling, post moves for the big guys. When you have guys who have to play big minutes all season, a well coached hour and fifteen are crucial on a players body. I know I have some miles on these wheels and I'm only 28. Personal opinion, if you are a coach at this level you have to know when to pump the brakes on two and three hour practices. I say save it for when the lights come on but be efficient in the time that you do spend in the gym during the week.
We are working to solidify home court advantage throughout the playoffs and I really feel like we are well on our way. The guys won a big one tonight against cross town rival Zagreb CO. Zagreb CO has also had great success this season and have high expectations finishing up as well. The game was a TV game on the road which is a smooth ten minutes from our gym. Down five at the half we were right where we wanted to be. We took control of the game in the fourth quarter and didn't look back. Way to get it done Cedevita!!! I'm especially excited to come back because, since I got here two months ago, I've definitely grown to know the guys individually but now I feel a part of them more. That makes sacrifice easy for me because I feel a part of a club that is 'bigger than me'. I don't know how that will be taken but I've accepted my role here and look forward to doing my part so we can get this thing done at the end of May. Let's get it!
If you know the words please send a little prayer up for me and a healthy and speedy recovery as I work on moving around a little bit more this week. Be back in a few days. Keep your eyes on the prize people!
-Character and reputation should never be confused. A man's reputation is what people think he is. His character is what God knows he is.-
Ricardo Marsh
Struggle defines a man, not money- Apr.5, 2010 (by Ricardo)
I'm Ricardo Marsh (201-F-81, college: ODU) and welcome to my blog!! It's my first time being a blogger, but must say that I look forward to sharing the good, bad, and indifferent about my life overseas and being a pro ball player in Europe. Seven years as a pro, and seven countries conquered ...I guess you can say I'm in love with the grind. It's like I can't get enough[read more]
I'm Ricardo Marsh (201-F-81, college: ODU) and welcome to my blog!! It's my first time being a blogger, but must say that I look forward to sharing the good, bad, and indifferent about my life overseas and being a pro ball player in Europe. Seven years as a pro, and seven countries conquered ...I guess you can say I'm in love with the grind. It's like I can't get enough. No matter how exhausted I can be, or how bad my body is screaming at me, by the end of a given season when mid August comes around I start to get that itch. Time to go over and do it again...it's only right. Being a professional athlete in Europe has completed me in so many ways. I have been blessed to say the least to have the opportunity to put the real world on hold thus far and do something that I love, all the while supporting my family and showing them the world. Priceless!! One of my best friends says, 'struggle defines a man, not money.' Being in Europe and Asia over the course of the last 7 years has taught me so many things about life. Everybody seems to think that coming overseas to hoop is a cake walk. Everybody should be averaging 25 and 10 with no worries in the world, go play ball with these Europeans cats everyday and come home and live the good life. Ahh, not exactly. My first year out I landed in Turkey at Buyuk Kolej. A small team with a very tight knit family feel that initially just wanted to keep the team in first division. No pressure right?? Who knew that Turkish people could actually play basketball. Little did I know...but I soon found out the Turkish league is one of the strongest leagues in Europe, and continues to get better one year at a time. Playing the game was the easy part, but adjusting to living in Ankara and being isolated from family and friends after never setting foot in Europe before was the issue. The 11 hour bus trips, food that was actually really good but killed my stomach for weeks, the fact that drinking the water was ill advised, not to mention getting stared at pretty much all day when I was out on the streets...and I'm supposed to be productive? Oh yeah, how about gong to the grocery store and having to lease a shopping cart while you get groceries and then buying the grocery bag that your filling up by youself. Yeah, we're defintely not in North Carolina any more. I guess that's why everybody can't be a professional athlete! (Not because of the grocery store factor but the other stuff, the combo......you know). I respect anybody who comes over and plays in these different countries for a number of years. Everybody is not built for even the small things that you have to endure mentally and physically over the course of a 10 month season, let alone a career. Nature of the beast baby! I averaged 22 and 6 that year and ended up, and I still love Turkey like a 2nd home. I got a chance to learn the language and embrace the culture and it just really opened my mind to the point where I appreciate every little thing about living in the States. Guess Turkey wasn't what I thought it would be...it was better. Would have been nice to have a Christmas...or a Thanksgiving...or any holiday off for that matter. Good times huh? By the end of that first year I knew playing in Europe would gradually change my thought process. To have a sign on my elevator door translated to me that read 'if you have big trash this week put it on the streets for the Gypsies.' How could you not appreciate something as small as being able to go in the kitchen and put together a meal whenever you want. Something to think about. Sometimes I think Americans are spoiled. I was in Kosovo for 3 weeks for the playoffs after my first season...yes 3rd world kosovo has basketball too. In Kosovo people would dress like they were going to a night club in New York City just to walk circles around 5km town for hours at a time. I didn't know how to feel. One thing I did know was that I wasn't any better than anybody pacing that city, and I was ready to again reach out and be apart of this nation of people even for that short period of time. Everyone there is so happy to be alive as the country rebuilds. It almost makes me wanna go back from time to time just to be around that vibe. We never had a game that wasn't jammed packed with screaming men and women supporting their teams. The fans were borderline dangerous and I loved it!! I thought they were getting paid too. It's like something in the air in a region like that humbles your spirit. Sounds kind of eire but true story! Next stop was Tokyo, Japan..WOW! What a place? So clean you almost feel like if you drop some trash on the street it instantaneously evaporates into the concrete. Extremely professional and intelligent business men and women who are passionate about their work. Payments like clock work with hotels and facilities that are 5 star everything. Absolutely loved Japan. Outside of losing myself at times in the bright lights and having to come to terms with living in the most expensive city in the world at that time, Asia showed me another side of basketball. The league wasn't as strong..the foreigners where really good, but I got a lot out of playing for Coach Ono at Toyota, still, something wasn't right. Yeah, the money was good and secure. We only had one practice a day most days...but where's the thrill?!?! I'm thinking..2 successful years in a row and still no brain surgery??? Now we got a career; let's get it! Over the next 5 years I managed to make my way back to Europe and since then I've touched Turkey 3 more times, Israel, Latvia, Ukraine and today I'm sitting in front of my laptop in Zagreb, Croatia. Competition has been stiff in each one of these leagues but the game has been the same. European basketball is not so much about who has the best crossover, or who can dunk from the free throw line. I think it's the closest you can get to high level college basketball in a professional environment. It focuses on fundamentals, team defense, hard work and physicality. You would be amazed at how many guys come overseas and get the shock treatment thinking their just gonna show up and kill it. Playing at a high level in Europe requires professionalism, patience and a strong minded attitude that puts one foot in front of the other from those eager days of August to the grind time in June. I got to Croatia about a month and a half ago. I started this season in Ukraine and in an unfortunate situation with a club that folded mid season. I was down, but far from out. Humbled and at home for 2 months before Cedevita made the offer to finish up the season in Zagreb. I got here in decent shape but with the help of a strong coaching staff and good teammates I'm starting to bare down and play some hoops again. Man I missed it. I think I was moving too fast when I got here. I wanted to be out there playing 40 minutes when I got off the plane...let's just say it didn't happen like that. What can I say, the guys on my team can play. They're making me better and that makes the grind worth it. Life is about progress. If you're not getting better, you're getting worse. We finished the Adriatic league in 7th position which is huge for this club considering it was the first year the team got the bid to participate and that guarantees european competition outside of Croatia for at least one more season. Glad to be apart of it. We're coming off of a big win over cross town rival and a Top 16 Euroleague team Cibona last night going into a stretch of some must win games on the road to this Croatian League Championship. Been a pleasure submitting this first blog. Those of you who know me know that interesting situations always seem to find me. Be back next week with something good...wish us luck! Character and reputation should never be confused. A man's reputation is what people think he is. His character is what God knows he is.
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