Every season has a different ending, sometimes for the positive and sometimes not. Whether a team's season ends well or poorly, there is always an off season. This is a great time to visit family and friends that you have not seen during the year, and to take a mental break from the concluded season. It is also a good time to let injuries heal, work on your game, and improve your self physically for the next year.
Every player goes about preparing for a season differently[read more]
Every season has a different ending, sometimes for the positive and sometimes not. Whether a team's season ends well or poorly, there is always an off season. This is a great time to visit family and friends that you have not seen during the year, and to take a mental break from the concluded season. It is also a good time to let injuries heal, work on your game, and improve your self physically for the next year.
Every player goes about preparing for a season differently. I have heard many methods that people use to get ready for the next year. Some people are big into playing in summer leagues, others focus on the weight room, and some do nothing.
For me personally, I like to work on different things as the summer progresses. I like to keep a consistent schedule of lifting weights and stretching throughout the summer, usually three times per week. Towards the beginning of the summer I like to focus on individual offensive moves and skills I need to improve on the basketball court, as well as specific agility movements that improve speed. As the summer progresses I add conditioning prior to the basketball skill work or get into 5 on 5 games. I try to do basketball work Monday through Friday and rest on the weekends.
As professional players it is important to keep yourself at a high fitness level. Getting injured in the pre-season can cause irritating injuries for the rest of the season. Entering the pre-season healthy and in shape gives you the opportunity to have a solid season.
One thing I have always enjoyed about European Basketball is following who is on what team, and where they move to from year to year. From week to week I am always checking up on former teamates from European teams, as well as former college teamates. I have noticed over time that a good number of guys that i played with at Bowling Green State University (2000-2005) are playing all over Europe.
Here is a look at some of my college teamates and where they are playing at this season[read more]
One thing I have always enjoyed about European Basketball is following who is on what team, and where they move to from year to year. From week to week I am always checking up on former teamates from European teams, as well as former college teamates. I have noticed over time that a good number of guys that i played with at Bowling Green State University (2000-2005) are playing all over Europe.
Here is a look at some of my college teamates and where they are playing at this season. John Reimold (198-F-81, college: Bowling Green), who I graduated with, is playing in Luxembourg for Basket Esch. Ron Lewis (193-G-84, agency: Arik Krayn Services, college: Ohio St.), who played at Bowling Green before transferring to Ohio State is playing for CEZ Nymburk in Czech Republic. Steven Wright (191-G-83, college: N.Kentucky), is currently with Walter Tigers Tuebingen in Germany. Len Matela (206-C-80, agency: Interperformances, college: Bowling Green) is playing his 8th professional season in Europe, and is currently with Charleroi in Belgium. Scott VanderMeer (213-C-86, agency: Interperformances, college: Ill.-Chicago) is in his first season as a pro in Europe playing with the Lugano Tigers in Switzerland. Keith McLeod (188-G-79, college: Bowling Green) played in the NBA for a number of years for the Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Indiana Pacers. He also spent some time in Europe playing for Livorno and Sienna of the Italian League A, and is currently playing in the NBA D-League for Albuquerque.
There are some other Bowling Green players who played before me who went on to have careers in Europe. It is interesting to me because I grew up as a teenager going to their games and really looking up to them. Anthony Stacey (191-G/F-77, college: Bowling Green) played 9 seasons in Spain, spending most of that time in LEB Gold with a few stints in the ACB before retiring after the 2008-2009 season. James Larranaga (195-G-75, college: Bowling Green) played 12 seasons split between France, Greece, Spain, and Italy. He also retired after the 2008-2009 season. Dave Esterkamp (200-F-78, college: Bowling Green) is currently in his 10th season as a player in Europe and has played in France, Austria, and currently Switzerland for Fribourg.
Playing on a sports team at any level can bring some interesting people in your life. Since I have been playing basketball, even back to elementary school, I have been around a very diverse group of individuals. People of different races, rich people, poor people, different mentalities, and now that I play in Europe, different countries[read more]
Playing on a sports team at any level can bring some interesting people in your life. Since I have been playing basketball, even back to elementary school, I have been around a very diverse group of individuals. People of different races, rich people, poor people, different mentalities, and now that I play in Europe, different countries. For me personally, I enjoy the experience of playing with and getting to know all the different kind of people that might be involved with a basketball team. Some of the people will fade from your memory, and others you will remember for a life time. During the two years I spent in Germany, I encountered a person who is impossible to forget. His name is Axel Mock, better known as 'Aggy'
Aggy is the name of a man who has been a huge part of the TBB Trier basketball team in the German Bundesliga. His jobs are, but not limited to; Massage Therapist, Physio, Equipment Manager, Water Man, House-guard of the arena, and Team Mascot just to name a few. For the better part of the last 25 years he has held all these titles, usually all at the same time. He has literally given his life to the team. My description in words do not really do him justice. So I would suggest you check out his facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Axel-Aggy-Mock/59212425420?ref=sgm or his my space page http://www.myspace.com/axelmock
His list of legendary stories and achievements are too great to discuss in a blog, and are probably better suited for a book. I will just quickly share that the Russian National Basketball Team picked him up as the Physio for their second place finish in the 1993 European Championships. Alot of people do not believe him when he tells this story, until he shows them the team picture. In many of his claims, there is always a hint of doubt. Like when he told some guys on the team he had 25 different track suits to wear to practice. Everyone laughed. He then went on to wear a different color track suit for three strait weeks just to prove a point. Everyone was shocked when he walked in everyday with his new threads. I am not sure if the shock was because he had a new outfit on, or because a few of them looked like they were from 1986.
Everyone knew Aggy gave his all for the team. After being with the club for 25 years, and celebrating his 500th win with the team. It was probably time for him to be honored, and the club stepped up by making his likeness into the mascot. At the first home exhibition game there was a presentation to the fans, presenting the new Aggy mascot. The real life Aggy led the dance team onto the floor and showed the crowd his dance moves to the James Brown classic 'Sex Machine'. Half way through the song the mascot Aggy entered the gym and the fans went crazy. Fans are still going crazy today, as the Aggy mascot picked up the BEST MASCOT award for the third strait year at the All-Star weekend.
Aggy is a great person to know. He is always willing to help anybody at anytime. I always enjoyed my time around him, and he was always entertaining. I will surely never forget him.
Check out a video of him at youtube as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEKdW_f9Rh4. It will better explain everything I was talking about.
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