Recap and Final Thoughts

So when I began this blog after first getting to Lubeck I had no idea what to expect or how my excursion/adventure to Europe would play out. I've been home about two weeks now and at this point being back here in Salem is weird to me as well. I have to pay bills, find a job, and NO FOOTBALL :(. So to say the least my life has completely changed in the blink of an eye.  But in my time away I learned a lot, saw even more, and got to have a true once in the lifetime experience.

First off I'd like to thank the people who made this opportunity possible once again. A huge token of gratitude and appreciation to Timothy Speckman and the Lubeck Seals organization. It was such a great experience to become part of the Seals family. The team and the guys are amazing and you have a good thing going there. I wish you nothing but the best in growing the club and continuing to win on the field. I'm so glad to have been invited over and get to ball out with some good friends in Jose Green and Tim Speckman, as well as, make some awesome new friends I hope to see in the future. Second, thanks to Matt Benjamin at Northwestern Mutual and Coach Scott Dufault and the South Salem Football Program. You guys were awesome in allowing me to pursue this amazing opportunity in Germany by essentially providing me with a 2-month leave of absence from work, without that this never would of been possible. Finally, thank you to my family and friends for being immensely supportive of me going to Germany and encouraging me every step of the way. This was such a quick change and an immensely scary one for me at the time. And especially huge thanks to Lilly Cox, my amazing girlfriend. I know the time away was hard on us and our relationship but we made it work and I'm glad to be back at home with you!

Highlights:

1) My top highlight would definitely have to be visiting Italy for a long weekend. It was amazing to see a place that before I could probably only dream of. Pisa, Lucca, Tirrenia are all beautiful. I know when ppl think of Italy it's always Rome or Milan or Venice, but Tuscany in Northern Italy is nothing to scoff at. The countryside is gorgeous and there is still so much to see and enjoy. I'd love to go back some day and explore even more.

2) Playing ball with an awesome group of guys. It was almost like being back in high school where it's so fun cuz you're just playing with all your best friends and loving all the memories you make together. Playing with so many guys who are just out there for the love of the game and who just like hanging out together was refreshing and reminded me that competition and winning aren't always the only things or the most important things. The guys on the Seals were just so full of energy and life that it made me proud to go out there and put it on the line with them. Thanks fellas!

3) Experiencing a different culture, ideals, etc.  This was probably the most difficult part for me to come to terms with initially. Being away from all the comforts of home had me questioning my choice at times and also really tested my strength as a person. But I learned a lot about Germany and the people. I got to see life through a totally different lens. In many ways it's made me appreciate America and my life that much more, while in other ways I see some of the weak points of our culture and things we could do to improve. It's been really cool to build that insight.

Low Points:

1) Simply being away from home. That was tough for me even for just two months. I felt really out of the loop with friends, family, and just life. And then coming home I realize I really am and it's been an adjustment so far.

2) The 9 hour time difference made it damn near impossible to keep up with people and talk to them even when there was time cuz it was night during the day back home and vice versa. So I rarely could get the latest scoop and keep up with family and friends even when I tried to.

3) The few prejudice moments I dealt with. Those few times really upset me and opened my eyes to how much hate and ignorance exists worldwide. It really opened my eyes and made me think about the social injustices people face everywhere. It was mind-blowing to me.

To sum it all up...

I have to say I had an amazing overall experience. The good definitely outweighed the bad and it was awesome to get to back on the field and compete. I loved being in Europe and getting to travel a bit. I'd love to maybe do it again and get to see/do even more. I would encourage any of my friends who play football and are looking for an avenue to continue to compete at a high level to consider Germany. It's basically a free vacation paid for and you don't have much responsibility besides going out and doing your thing on the field. Being on that team with those guys was truly special and I hate we were unable to finish our season with just one more win and help the Seals move in the second division of the GFL. But it gives them the opportunity to strive for even more and continue to grow as a club and build on the talent the team has. I hope for the best for the Seals and I'm sure they'll get to the GFL 2 soon and do awesome and be very competitive.

Also I'm just amazed at all the history in Europe and how surrounded I felt by the past. I think we should do more restoration here in America and look to retain the stories of our history as we continue to grow, leaving a legacy and a story for future generations. It was so much fun to see those stories first hand each day and continue to learn more about the city of Lubeck and the nation of Germany. This blog has been great and I hope all who've read it have truly enjoyed hearing about my experience and keeping up with me.

Berlin = $57, No Internet for 4 days = :( , Last week in Germany = truly Priceless

So....they say you never realize how good something is until it's gone, well so true. I knew I loved the internet, absolutely depend on it in so many fashions but I had no idea how much it meant to me before our internet randomly shut off Monday night just as the Texans and Jets were set to play on Monday Night Football last week. It wasn't so much that I missed the game (even though I didn't find out the score until Friday -_-)...what truly killed myself and Jose was the inability to do really ANYTHING with no internet. Seeing as how we're in another country our lifeline to home, friends and family, and really entertainment came crashing down in an instant. Luckily the day was saved and on Saturday we were back online for the most part.

But the highlight in the last week has to be my trip to Berlin yesterday, capped off by attending the German Bowl featuring the Keil Hurricanes vs (Blank City cuz I can't spell or say it lol) Unicorns (yes their mascot was the freaking unicorns, even had a unicorn mascot running around haha). Berlin was amazing and we had a local, who'd grown up in the city as our personal tour guide. We got first hand info and stories about what Berlin was like before and after the wall was built seperating East from West Berlin. We learned how families were literally torn apart and recieved Gabby's personal anecdotes on how her life changed with the raising of the wall. Today the city is like most of Europe, walking history. There's so much to see and do, and it really made me smile to see how much of the history pertaining to the Berlin Wall and that time in Germany's history is really dare I say embraced for my generation to learn from and picture through monuments, pictures, and video. The German Bowl, despite the unicorns, was absolutely amazing. An offense first game that went down to the wire with the unicorns pulling out a victory with a field goal at the 30 second mark of the fourth quarter. The atmosphere of the almost 12,000 fans was electric and truly worthy of the big stage. In a country where soccer rules, football was king for a night and it really warmed my heart to be able to be there and see the infancy of the sport I love be so treasured here.

With just 3 more full days left here I'm getting nostalgic about my short time here and all I've seen and done. I must say Germany is a very interesting place. Once I'm home I'll definitely have to take some time and sit back and really reflect on what I've done here and how truly special it is. I must first thank the Seals organization, Tim Speckman, and all my teammates and now friends for allowing me to come here to play some ball and really have great time. It's been a blast. The people I've met have touched me forever and I can't wait to see how this club continues to grow. As my teammates say HOOOOOYAAAAAAA!!!!

Bitter end to a sweet season

Sour...

That's the taste left in my mouth after a tough loss to finish the season against the Bielefeld bulldogs. It always sucks to lose and for me it's even more disheartening because I just hate to lose so much. We came into the game short-handed, without many of our top players due to injury and other reasons but we fought. From end to end as a team we really brought it and never gave in. For that I'm proud of my teammates because they showed so much heart, will, and effort leaving it all on the field. Unfortunately we just couldn't get it done on that day.

But I think as an organization the Seals can learn from this game. Looking across the field at the Bulldogs we can see exactly where we want to get to. We came into the game with barely enough men suited up to play and lined up against a team 3 to 4 players deep at every position leaving us clearly out manned. Furthermore their stadium was filled with fans and supporters and a clear system that has been developed to provide the team and the organization to grow and thrive.  That's what the Seals club is striving for and has the opportunity to achieve with continued hard work from the players and supporting staff.  Also what that loss provides is motivation. As I said to a few guys after the game you never wanna walk off the field feeling that way again. You never want to give it all and come up short. So you work harder, you study your plays more, and you do whatever it takes so in 2013 the Seals end the season on a high note.

Sweet...

 Despite the loss, I was happy and actually even had fun playing last night. Even though I'm sore and absolutely gassed from my effort, it was good to just get to play ball again. These guys, like I've said so many times, have been like family to me over here and really have made me feel welcome and as comfortable as possible over here. I couldn't be more thankful for the friends I've made and experiences I've had over here. It's been so much fun. I wish so bad I could've gotten the win for each and every one of my teammates. Going forward I think another year in GFL III will be good for the club and allow them to build the infrastructure just a bit more to be able to continue to compete at a high level.

Now gotta prepare to go home...

Packing, Packing, Packing ugh my least favorite part of moving or vacationing or anything. It sucks :(. Also gotta wash a ton of laundry and cleaning to get ready to leave in 10 days. So excited to be headed back. But gonna have to get back to the grind of working and real life lol, it's been really chill not having to work or have any real responsibility.

Making changes

I decided yesterday to try to make a concerted effort to be a more positive-minded person, anyone that knows me knows I'm the epitome of pessimistic and often times it frustrates the people who care about me but there's always been a method to my madness. However, we all have to grow and change sometimes (I guess :/).  In light of this I think I just want to soak as much in as I can here in my final 2 weeks in Europe.

Last Night...

So Jose, Marvin, and I went to a party our teammate CB was throwing. Today is a national holiday marking the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990.  But more importantly the holiday is a day off from work and school for everyone so as the Germans say "we make party" hahaha. It was good to get out of the house and hang out with good friends and even make some new ones. Aside from an almost physical run in with an overly drunk guy, I can't complain about the night at all. I tried this homemade mix of some strawberry juice, vodka, and spices that I must say was the most intriguing alcohol mixture I've ever tasted. Also I was provided with new inspiration for drinking games as my German teammates introduced me to the idea of utilizing a children's game with an adult twist, with the loser having to take a shot after each round (it's pure genious). Can you say drunk twister or battleship or something (I'm still working out the details lol). But YAY for Germany's reunification and good times with some really cool ppl haha :).

Went Exploring Today...

In light of seeking to really relish my experience and time I have left here, I took a 2-3hr walk through Lubeck looking to discover more of the city for myself. I took the time to walk along the canal and through two parks and take a bunch of pics of the scenery and architecture that is so varied from what I see on a daily basis back home. Taking some time to myself just listening to music and taking in new parts of Lubeck was not only relaxing, but therapeutic as I reflected on just how blessed I am to be here. This is such an amazing opportunity and I can't believe just how things fell into place for me to end up playing football here in Germany. Also my walk allowed me to experience the bi-polar nature of the weather here as I dealt with rain, gray skies, and the sun rotating throughout my short excursion. Gotta love that German weather lol

Preparing for this last game...

Now I'm looking ahead to Saturday and the last game of the season for the Seals. We suffered a tough lost to Rostock and now its time to make our next opponent pay in my eyes. I know as a team we are banged up and will be short handed, but we gotta just bring our best effort and leave it all on the field. I'm excited for the opportunity for one more practice and one more game with my Seals family. These men are amazing and I'm hoping I can bring home a win this time. Go SEALS HOOYAH!!!

Rough Loss...

Can't believe we lost that one: 

Tonight experienced my first loss as a member of the Lubeck Seals. It was a tough 13-9 nail-biter against the Rostock Griffins in what was a huge game for the Seals club.  I must say our guys fought hard and left it all on the field, which is all you can ask for of your teammates. We just made so many critical mistakes and that really came back to haunt us in the end. However, I have to give credit where credit is due, Rostock played well and they were very physical for four quarters. It was definitely my kinda game with lots of big hits, trash talking, and even some blood shed haha. Overall, I'm of course very disappointed cuz I really wanted this win. And not even for myself or my own competitive nature, I wanted this one for these guys who have come to be my little family over here. They have been so open and welcoming and I just wanted this win to help these guys achieve their goal of progressing this club to the next division of GFL football. It honestly hurt me to my soul to watch Rostock celebrate on our home field after their close victory. You never wanna watch a team celebrate but on your own field always makes it that much worse.

I feel like in many sense I let these guys down. I didn't have my best game and just couldn't get it going when we needed it most. For that I am sorry because it wasn't for lack of trying or will, just wasn't my night for whatever reason :/.

On a more positive...

I did something right before the game that I haven't done in what seems like forever. I said a true prayer to God just before the game. It felt like such a relief of tension and stress that I'm sure had been pent up inside me for years now. And I was able to let my own emotional guard down and really embrace how blessed I am to have this opportunity to be here in Germany just playing ball with my boys really. Can't wait to see what else is in store for me...

Last few days...and some updates

Yesterday:

Finally got back into the hospital and got an MRI scheduled on my shoulder. The last few weeks dealing with it have literally been a pain. Hoping it's nothing serious, but it's starting to affect my sleeping so who knows :/.

On a positive note, we once again got to interact with local youth yesterday. Marvin, Jose, and I helped out teaching local students some simple football skills such as throwing, catching, and tackling. It was fun to see them try to figure out how to move and catch at the same time. Also some the guys we worked with seemed really enthusiastic and showed some interest in coming out for our youth teams, which would be a real addition to the club. What had to be the best part was after we'd finished working w/ them, the kids treated us like mini-celebrities :). Especially Marvin, he was a real hit with the kids as they clambered around him to take pictures and talk to him. But Jose and I even got a little love, it was just cool to interact with them and continue to put the Seals club out there in the community. I feel that's gonna be the quickest way to build the program and start to create awareness of the two teams participating here in Lubeck.


This weekend...

The team has a huge opportunity to continue to advance the program and keep pace with what has been an awesome season. I'm so excited to get back on the field and compete against the Griffins from Rostock. After watching them on film and seeing them in person this past Saturday, I must say it will be a tough fight for our club but I believe we definitely have the tools to get a win against these guys. It's a good chance for us to once again show what we've worked so hard for and look to get a big win that would allow us to move up to 2nd division for next season. We just have to stay focused and be ready for the challenge, but I think most importantly we as a team just have to approach it like any other game and go out compete, execute, and get a win. GO SEALS!!!

Good News:

I've mentioned the last few posts my apprehension about what will happen once I'm back home in terms of employment and other issues. Well on the job front I've sent out several applications with my resume and so far I've had two opportunities come about. I'm excited as one is doing something I love working with kids and the lady I've been in contact with said she is very excited to interview me once I'm back. So here's hoping this opportunity pans out! I must say I'm so blessed and the prayers of myself and others continue to be heard. Now I just gotta go out and make these opportunities a reality.

Who's afraid of the black man...

Nobody?

Apparently this is children's game here in Europe (Germany/Austria?). So here's the story...

Marvin, Jose, and I are driving on our way to a local school where we are teaching kids the fundamentals of flag football to build the relationship between the Seals football club and local youth. We were discussing drills or games we could have the kids do today during the hour or so we have with them. We talk about different versions of tag using the flags vs just taggin the individual or playing some type of capture the flag type game w/ the football being the "flag". Then Marvin explains to us a tag like game, similar to something I've played w/ a twist. It's call "Who's afraid of the black man". What makes it hilarious is that Marvin is a black guy from Austria and apparently growing up he often played this and would be the sole individual picked as the "tagger" since he was the fastest growing up.  The basic rules of the game are as such:

1. The game begins w/ a single tagger ("the black man" or Marvin, an actual black man in this case lol)
2. The sole tagger tags others who then also become taggers or "black men"
3. The initial single tagger states: "who's afraid of the black man". The group responds: "Nobody" . The tagger then says: "What will you do if he chases you". And the group shouts: "run". And the game of tag begins.

Now this sounds somewhat horrible, but we all died laughing at the cheer irony that A) Marvin often was the initial tagger at his school and B) that this game was allowed to be played at all w/ a name and back/forth responses like that. Ahh good times w/ my roommates

Updates...

Practiced for the first time in a week after hurting my shoulder in our last game. It felt pretty good to run around and catch some balls, also I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't hurt as much as I expected the next day. Still as a precaution probably gettin an MRI soon since it's a shoulder I had a prior injury to. Keepin' my fingers crossed on this one!

Also gettin pumped for this relegation game against Rostock soon, gonna be awesome to see how are team stacks up against these guys. Always excited for a challenge and the chance to compete. As we said at Willamette: "anybody, anytime, anywhere". So LET'S GO!!!

4 more weeks right now til I'm home and I can't wait for that first late night food run hahaha (craving some Jack in the crack or some Taco Bell lol :P). But really will just be great to get to some of the comforts of home. But now starting to think about what I'm gonna do once I'm back, and also whether this Seals team or another club will be interested in having me back next year? I'd love the opportunity and would definitely have to consider it if the offer came up. Let's see what happens!

ITALIA!!!

Italy at a glance...

Now that I'm back in not so sunny Lubeck I can take a minute to reflect on my time in Italy. Although it was short trip I felt we stuffed a lot in our 2 days worth of touring. From Pisa to Lucca and Florence,  I must say I was enamored with the culture, beauty, and history of the area. Pisa, although known for the leaning tower, offers so much more in the Duomo (Cathedral) of Santa Maria and the Camposanto Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery). The art work within the Duomo is breath-taking with expansive painting covering the walls, ceiling etched in gold, and the statues/sculptures commemorating Christ as well as other influential individuals to the church.  In the cemetery you can easily forget it is even a place of burial with marble and granite covering nearly every surface and the tombs etched with stories and depictions of the lives of the individuals below. It was AMAZING to say the least. In Lucca I was pleasantly surprised by a little Italian city with it's own flavor and spice of life. Just 20min outside of Pisa, Lucca was a city I'd never even heard or thought of. I'm glad T-Speck had previously visited the area and introduced myself to a place I would love to visit again if I'm ever in the Pisa area. The most impressive element to Luca is the massive outer wall encompassing the entire city. The wall once fortified the city from external attacks and from it's sheer size I could see how formidable a defense it would provide.  Finally, once we made it to Florence and found parking (it was like searching for a needle in a hay stack, not to mention the locals were trying to run us off the road haha) we capped our day of touring with a bang.  Florence was at the very center of the Italian renaissance and the artwork sheds light to that. 

Overall the trip was great, full of surprises and intrigue but an experience nonetheless. But I must say just having the opportunity to visit Italy is a dream come true. This was definitely a check off my bucket list and to get to do it within the current circumstances makes the trip all the sweeter. I can't wait to come back someday!

Adventures, Humor, and Downright Ridiculousness 

So at its very core this trip was an adventure in all senses. I have to start with our arrival in Pisa at around 11pm on Fri night. We get into the airport and then go on what seemed a futile effort to rent a car that night. Literally every place had no cars available except one company (Thank God!). Then came the decision to not go to Rome and travel throughout the Tuscany region to save money and gas.  

Once in the city center of Pisa the night life really threw us off. As a university town we thought the night life would be marked by clubs and good bar scene. What we found was the entire city center taken over by a mass of people literally taking the party to the streets. Small store front bars and restaurants fuel this impromptu party scene with music and alcohol. It was crazy to see the wave of people talking, laughing, dancing etc. amidst statues, cathedrals, etc in the city center.

Saturday became our designated touring day as we drove from Pisa to Lucca to Florence and back all in a marathon day of sight seeing and travel.  As I've already stated the area was gorgeous even though this is an understatement. The countryside of Tuscany may be one of the single most beautiful things I have ever seen. The blend of natural, rustic color with a taste of culture with expansive villas was a site to behold. As a backdrop were the rolling hills/mountains adding to the overall spectacle of Italy's beauty. 

Finally on Sunday we took to exploring Pisa during the day. We were greeted by an open market in the square of miracles which is home of the leaning tower, the duomo, and the monumental cemetery in Pisa. We had several "salesmen" seek to entice us with fake designer watches, sunglasses, etc. One went so far as to ask me how much I thought his merchandise should cost. I told the guy it should be free b/c I was a broke tourist haha. Then we took to the Tirrenia, Italy and the beautiful Mediterranean coast. Relaxing in the sun and just enjoying some down time after all the walking and picture taking was nice. 

Then things got quirky,  

First due to having an early morning flight on Mon. we decided to cut some costs and not book a room for sunday night knowing we'd only be there a few hours. We felt we'd hang out at the beach, see the town and waste time at a local bar before taking a bus back into the city and eventually make our way to the airport.

1) We miss our bus into the city at 8 b/c our one drink we decided to have took about an hour (One thing I must say I don't get about Italian culture is just how SLOW the simplest things are), we ordered one drink each and it was like we ordered a 3-course meal

2) Then we proceed to wait for over an hour for the bus b/c the posted schedule was all messed up and we had no idea. While we waited and got antsy, we decided to give hitch hiking back to Pisa a try. Jose took to dancing and thumbing towards Pisa to no avail. So we though maybe a sign would help. All the sign did was add for some extra laughs as ppl sped up to pass by or stared us down like we were aliens or something haha. Then we finally make it back to Pisa and decide to grab a bite before heading to the airport to spend the night.

3) We arrive at the airport around 12:30am, decide to chill for a bit before making our way to our terminal and crashing until our 6am flight. What we find at 1 is that the airport closes and we have to leave, beginning a a marathon 3 hours stuck outside in the cold trying to catch some zzz's on the concrete outside Galileo International Airport. It was the most uncomfortable, yet hilarious moment of my life. Needless to say the night sucked...

4) To top it off at 4 am when we finally get to go inside, the airline wouldn't check us in b/c we had to wait until exactly 2 hours before our flight. WTH???

Basically our last night in Italy turned out to be just sheer insanity, but all in all the trip was a huge success. The food, the sites, smells, etc were all brand new and exciting for me. I can't wait to get the opportunity to return to Italy again sometime. But it feels good to be back in Deutscheland  and now for the homestretch.

4 more weeks...

I'll be back home in the USA. Each day here I continue to realize just how much the comforts of home are comforting. From just the ability to sleep in an airport or have access to certain entertainment at my fingertips, you just never think of how blessed we are as a nation. I miss my family and friends foremost of anything and can't wait to share all my adventures with them. 

But what I can't discount is how lucky I am to be here. And I know I must finish the task at hand. With two more games left on our schedule I know my mission and my purpose is to help take this Seals team as far as it can go. I'm excited for the opportunity and the challenge of the Rostock game and the Game against Belefel as well. Two very good teams ahead for us, but nothing worth having comes easy. Let's work hard, fight, and show these guys what Seals' football is all about!

 

Perfect Season? Don't Mind if we Do

8-0 baby, Go Seals!!!

With a 27-0 performance we secured a perfect regular season in our second match-up with the Elmshorn Fighting Pirates yesterday.  Although the team looked a little sluggish in warm-ups and throughout pregame we brought it once again and got a nice win. Although it's tough to follow up a 63 point onslaught, we played another good all-around game. The defense did the job pitching a shut out and offensively we kept the ball moving on the ground using the sweep and the inside run to keep Elmshorn on their heels all day. It felt great to finish what we started with a perfect record on top of the division championship.

On to Relegation...

Now as a team we have to refocus from our accomplishments and be ready for the task ahead. We have two very talented teams ahead of us and we have to be ready to bring our absolute best again. This will test our will and our preparation as a team and as Coach Speckman made clear WE HAVE TO GET TO PRACTICE. It's important we get our timing and schemes just right and go win these games. I don't know about everyone else, but I don't want to just stop with a perfect regular season and the championship. If this club is serious about moving to the next level then this is where we show that we're ready as a group. We need to rally together and go get this one.

5 days to Italy!

Can't wait to go to Italy! It's like a dream come true for me. Flying into Pisa on Friday and then spending Saturday in Rome. Can't wait to see all the historical sites and just take in as Marvin put it history itself in Rome. I took a Roman history class my last semester at WU and learned so much about the culture of Rome, how the empire came to be, and eventually how it fell. I'm excited to see some of the sites we discussed in my class and have the knowledge of exactly what's in front of me. I'll make sure to take hundreds of pics and post them on my Facebook, so I can remember this awesome experience. AHHHH!!!

Thinking about the future...

I've had a couple questions later about what's next. Whether I'm intending to stay in Germany, come back for another season, or just go back to my internship I was doing before I left.  To all this all I can really say is I don't know. I'm really trying to decide all this myself. I'm having a good time over here but I must admit the comforts of home are calling me. And oh man what i would do for a late night Jack in the Box run right about now haha (the little things truly make all the difference lol). Really I'm just taking a wait and see approach right now. Contemplating my future is just too much work cuz there is so much I want to do, but if my past is any indication of what's ahead I think I'll be just fine. Just have to continue to work hard, stay focused and determined, and most importantly don't settle.

Goofy practice, w/ some major decisions on the horizon

Major Decisions:

So today was the beginning of some huge decisions for the Lubeck Seals football club. Since I've only been here a month it felt a little weird to sit and listen (well get translations via Marvin) about where the players, coaches, admin, etc. stand on the team moving from Division 3 to Division 2 in the GFL next season. What I've learned is that the top two teams from each division have the option to move up to the next level up following the season's completion.  Also the last place team is forced to move down based on how many wins and losses the team managed in the season.  What this means for the Seals is a crossroads. Many of the players and some of the coaches/admin would like the status and increased competition that comes from moving to the GFL Div. 2, however the money involved and the amount of work it would take is cause for concern.  As it stand the infrastructure of the club is not necessarily where it needs to be for the team to succeed and continue to build at the next level. Yet with the potential for an undefeated championship season within reach it would seem like the next logical step would be to move up.

Personally I sought to kind of keep my opinion to myself as a newly acquired import player for the Seals. I know how much this means to so many of the guys and I felt at odds within myself to want to say that it would be in the club's best interest to continue to build and to grow within Division 3 at least for one more season. One of my main concerns is with the lack of depth within roster. And on top of that many players have not made the team, practice, training/conditioning, etc a priority. In order to compete at this higher level and remain a successful team would only be possible with increased commitment to football in general for the players. Not only this but more recruiting of players and continuing to build quality players through the youth program to bring up and contribute right away.  All and all I want this for these guys, cuz quickly they've become like family. But at the same time I want these men who I admire so much for their passion to be able to succeed.  Although we did decide to compete in the relegation games to decide if we can move up or not, I think it was a good idea to hold off the choice to actually promote the team to GFL 2. As an organization it has to be considered what's really in everyone's best interest before that choice is made. Whatever happens I wish these guys luck and who knows maybe I'll get to be apart of that next step.

Fun Practice:

Although the intense team meeting took close to 2 hours and took away most of our practice time, we did get out on the field and run around for a bit. We all went out and stretched then just ran routes; linemen, defensive players, and all. It was hilarious to see our 300lb lineman running slants and fade routes from the QB. Highlight of the practice had to be his catch using his head and arms to bring in the ball on a deep route.  It's never dull being out on the field with these guys. I love practices and games and just the camaraderie a dn feeling that every guy has the others back. It's really refreshing. Can't  wait to get back out there this weekend and hopefully put up another big win against Elmshorn. GO SEALS!!!

P.S. Just 10 DAYS TIL ITALY!!!! CAN'T WAIT :)

4 tds = pretty awesome, 63-13 win =- beatd down, but winning the GFL Division III League championship = PRICELESS!!!

CHAMPIONS:

Absolutely HUGE win for the Seals organization. And not only did we clinch our Division championship in our league, but we did it in absolutely dominating fashion. A 63 to 13 victory showed exactly what we can do when we're clicking on all cylinders. The offense and the defense played physical football today and by the 4th quarter absolutely took the fight out of Elmshorn.  It was great to see all the smiles, hugging, congratulations, and celebration from my teammates after all the hard work so many people have put in not just this year but in previous years as well.  In winning today we reached our goal, and I personally helped fulfill what I was brought her to do which was clinch a title for this Seals team and seek to build on what looks to be a very promising future for this club. I'm so glad I was able to contribute and bring a championship to my team. Though I haven't been here long I was almost brought to tears at the sheer emotion and joy of these men who put it all on the line today and we came out victorious.  GO SEALS!!!

Best Game as a Seal:

And it wasn't even close. My first two games were a bit of a struggle as I tried to get used to our rolling carousel at offensive line and mesh with the other skill players around me. But today things just "clicked".  7 carries for 67 yards and 4 TOUCHDOWNS!!!  This was my stat line and if not for an absolutely horrible call by the officials I'd have had a 5th touchdown as well.  Today i just took out a personal vendetta on Elmshorn and all their players. My sole mission was to come here and win a championship and with this win making that a reality I was bound and determined to get the job done. Not only did I do that personally, but as a team we made a statement today about what Seals' football is all about and showed just how dominant a force we can be. Amidst countless broken tackles, showing more heart than my opponent, and simply just willing myself forward I felt nearly unstoppable on the field today.  It was awesome to finally show exactly why T-speck fought so hard to get me here for the last few months of this season and to exhibit my calling card as a football player in my sheer will and determination not to be stopped which showed with damn near a hundred broken tackles haha.

What was best about my game was how I was able to put it all together. Blocking well, running the ball with impeccable vision and burst, and then really finishing every play. I felt I played a complete game both on offense and special teams and most importantly got a much need "W".

Final Thoughts:

I'm so happy to have been welcomed into the Seals family so willingly and openly. It makes me feel amazing to be surrounded by so many nice and amazing people in my teammates and other people really close to the team. Today felt like a dream to be able to share this moment with all my amazing new friends and my Seals family. These guys put in so much hard work and it made me proud that we were able to pull this one out.  This was the a huge reason I came here was to aide this team in securing a championship and bringing some pride to the Seals' football program.

And idk it just feels good to win. I'm so competitive and just hungry for success and this was the ultimate success for myself and my teammates as we were able to protect home-field and bring home a  Seals' championship.

Now we look forward to our rematch with Elmshorn next Friday and then our relegation games against some higher division teams. Can't wait to take on this challenge :)

P.S. ITALY IN 2 WEEKS!!!! I CAN'T WAIT :-D

 

Last night...stupidity at it's finest

Hurt me to my soul...

It's rare that I'll come right out and admit something bothered me, but last night left me almost speechless really hit me hard.  Jose, T-speck, and I went out to Hamburg for a night out on the town and so I could get my first experience with a much larger city here in Germany.  The night started out pretty awesome walking around laughing, talking, and just joking (ya know being guys).  We hit up a couple clubs got our dance on (despite idiot locals just standing in the middle of the dance floor cramping our style lol) and had some drinks to really set the night off perfectly. All in all we were having a great night and then in literally a flash the entire night turned sour.  We were walking through the streets just chatting and Jose noticed a group of women speaking English (which around here is like a little piece of heaven, cuz it's like living in a vacuum of confusion and misunderstanding sometimes).  Jose approached the girls and we found out one of them was actually from Eugene, OR.  We all chatted for awhile (I think we were all just so excited to meet other ppl who understood us haha) then decided it would be fun to hit this club Thomas Reader. We get to the club and stand in line waiting to go in. Finally we got to the front and the girls go in right before us, then Jose steps up and the bouncer at the door takes one look at him (doesn't even check his ID, which is his main job) and tells Jose he can't in.  At this point I'm thinking oh it's gonna be that kinda thing where they don't let us in cuz we're American. I was wrong b/c T-speck steps up and is ushered right in.  Instantly I realize what the real issue is and right on cue as I step up the bouncer glances at me and says "Nope" and tells me to step aside.  Then things got ugly pretty fast.  T-speck turns looking at Jose and I looking rather confused and sheepish as we stand beside this prick.  T-speck waves us in prompting the bouncer to again stop and tell us we can't come in.  T-speck asks the guy why his friends can't come in several times (seems like a simple question to me).  The bouncer continually blows him off saying the club is "empty" (I think he meant full, just his english wasn't good the guy was an idiot in all senses), as he continues to let other ppl in front of us.  T-speck again questions the guys motives asking if it's b/c our skin is darker than other people's.  This instantly sets the guy off and the situation escalates.  He yells at T-speck to either go in or out and that we could not come in.  Again T-speck asks why and asks if its an issue of race again.  The guy then is in T-speck's face telling him to leave as well. He pushes him close to us toward the exit line, but still non-threatening and with his hands out to his sides in a clear sign of nonviolence T-speck asks why.  The guy proceeds to shove him again (mind you we are at the top of about 3 flights of stairs here) and then punches T-speck without warning.  At this Jose and I step in between him and T-Speck to make sure  he doesn't continue to assault our coach and friend.  At this the bouncer pushes us and yells for us to leave.  Everything in me wanted to fight, wanted to give this guy exactly the rise he was looking for and show him how tough he really was because it doesn't take a big man at all to sucker punch someone for asking a question.

We end up leaving the club and going to police in the area, but to no avail.  The club sent the guy home so we couldn't even identify him to the authorities.  But at that point the night was ruined and I was left feeling so upset and empty.  It's just disgusting that even today, b/c the color of our skin we end up in a situation where our white coach is socked in the face for standing up and questioning the bouncer's ignorance.  And what's more Jose and I couldn't even respond knowing that if we raised a hand to this guy 1) we would end up locked up in jail and 2) we would've probably been beaten up or at least hurt b/c a group of 6 guys ran over right after we stepped up after the bouncer hit T-speck.  Today after sleeping on the matter I'm not nearly as upset as I was last night, but I'm still shocked at what occurred.  I know there are ignorant ppl everywhere and that racism is still present, but this was just absurd and sad.

All in all the night in Hamburg was fun and the city is awesome.  But that one experience may have tainted it for me. I know it's a bit silly to take one person's ignorance to heart, yet for whatever reason I can't shake it. 

 

Last few days...

Some updates and things I forgot...

So the last few days have been pretty chill. Involved some really late nights talking to friends, family, and of course the special girl in my life Lilly Cox. We fought the other night but with so much distance and the major time difference it's bound to happen once or twice (or maybe even more lol) but we worked through it. Just wanna say to everyone back home the especially my amazing mother, my brother and sister, my Aunt Missy and Uncle Sean who've been like a second set of parents, my cousins, Brent (my brotha from another motha), the Cox family who's welcomed me into their fam w/ open arms, and Lilly too I love you guys and miss you so much and I wouldn't be here without EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. Although I've traveled far and wide away from all of my homes, I never forget where I came from cuz that's made me who I am.

The Beach:

On Monday following our tough win over Göttingen Marvin, Lisa (Marvin's gf), Jose, Ben, and I headed out to Scharbeutz to hit the beach. Only one word could describe the place: AMAZING. It was just what we all needed after getting banged up from the game, the cool water felt great :) and unlike the rocky Pacific, it was absolutely tranquil with barely a ripple in the water. To make the place even more appealing the sand was like satin soft to the touch and like nothing I had ever experienced at a beach in my life. Next to the Bahamas I would have to say this was the best beach I'd ever been to. So thumbs up to the Balkan Sea! Plus hanging out with some awesome ppl makes any experience more the better (thanks guys!!!).  Oh and an important side note: Jose and I FINALLY  got crepes.

Tue, Wed, Today:

The last 3 days including today have all been pretty low key, which is nice to rest the body and recoop for the game in two weeks. We're playing for the league championship so everyone is pretty stoked, we just gotta keep working hard and improving as a team. Practice today and Tue was really all about trying to learn more and get a better grasp on an offense that would be an understatement to describe as difficult. The intricacies of the "fly" offense can take months, even years to click so we have a ways to go as a club. But I know we have the capability just gotta put in the time. 

Funny story I forgot:

So I'm not sure how I forgot this in the last post but it was a great start to our Sun. morning. On our way to the game (mind you the group was a strange one for Germany, 2 Americans one black and the other Mexican that's Me and Jose, A black guy from Austria in Marvin , and his ethnic girlfriend Lisa also from Austria). We're driving to Confima field to catch our bus to the game about 3-4 hours away and we pass a cop car which loops around to catch us down and pull us over just as we pull into the stadium drive. Mind you we are dressed all of us in straight scrub clothes cuz its 7am (I'm talking sweats, flip flops, t-shirts so nothing flashy). The cops pull us over and first interrogate Jose about his license and if he's legal to drive then they proceed to say they thought we might be coming from a club (around here the party doesn't stop til 6-7am). We all look at each other then down at our clothes and it's clear that bs. They just saw a car full of ethnics and thought we must be up to no good @ 7am hahaha. This all plays out in front of several of our teammates making it embarrassing but all the more hilarious. Oh good times in Germany.

So it was a rough start to the day but we got the win, which is all that matters. No we gotta go win this Championship!!! 

6-0, funny stories, and a heat wave

Game #2 as a Seal...

Game today against Göttingen Generals and man word for the day has to be HEAT! The temperature for the game was around 33 degrees Celsius (which is like 90+ degrees Farenheit), so needless to say it was hot as f@#% out there.  The heat took a toll on us, but we battled through and stuck together to get a much needed win 16-0.  Through countless injuries and just fighting having a small roster and limited practice time together we were able to get the job done. I was literally drained of all energy at the game's end, but just knowing we came out on top made it all the sweeter. 6-0 feels and sounds real nice and I'm glad I've been able to help the team out right away bringing my "special skill set & attitude" to this Seals football team (Jose knows what I mean about special skills haha). But I'm just having a great time being apart of something special, Let's go Boys!

Funny Story though...

Some of the guys were telling me before the game that the team we were playing tried to get me disqualified on a technicality involving signing players after June 30...the funny thing is that the rule applies in a different league and not the one my team participates in. So, sorry guys I'm here to stay and continue wreaking havoc hahaha. I think it's funny these teams would be looking to get rid of me when they haven't even seen me play yet (hell I may suck :P).

Well the last few days have been a good time. Really wanna thank the Seals family for being so welcoming to me and allowing me to be apart of this journey towards a league championship. I really like the direction this team is going and feel this could be something special. We just gotta continue to work and put in the time to get better and live up to that potential. 

PS:  for those of you wondering about seeing games and what not, they aren't streamed live or anything but I plan to post some plays/highlights from the games I've played in as I get them. So be on the lookout for that on my facebook. Love and miss all you guys back home :)

Another good one

Practice and recap of my continued Lubeck tour...

Fun practice tonight with the guys. Went out to the field and I must say I really wasn't feeling it all. My body and mind both felt so fatigued and just drained after these past few days. I was totally in a rut but pushed through and ended up having a great time tonight. "Mind over matter" as they say, and it really rang true tonight for me as I was able to work through the pain and get my body going and turn my attitude completely around tonight. It felt great to just relax and feel the tension ease form my body and my mind as I got into the flow. I wanna thank all my teammates and especially my coach, Tim Speckman, for keeping the mood light and reminding me that this is a GAME and it's supposed to be fun at the end of the day :)

Lubeck cont'd

So Jose and I went back into the city yesterday and continued my introduction and exploration of this amazing city.  From the random side streets w/ little shops, cafes, and hidden treasures to the colossal cathedrals that dwarf the surrounding building I must say Lubeck is quickly growing on me. I love the sights (ppl riding bikes, lounging and laughing, just the hustle and bustle) and the smells (fresh sweets from little bakeries and the smell of foreign dishes and delights).  It's like opening up your mind to a brand new world and it almost makes me feel like a kid again.  The highlight of the trip had to be going up to the top of St. Peter's church, which provides a complete 360 degree view of Lubeck.  I can't even really put into words just how gorgeous it was up there and how breathtaking the whole experience was for me to see the city in all its glory. From there Jose and I found a new little jazz cafe that I'm sure we'll visit again for drinks and to just lounge around. The place had complimentary blankets for patrons (talk about classy bahaha).   Overall just an awesome day, gorgeous weather with literally no clouds to be thought of and hangin w/ a good friend. Can't wait to continue to explore Lubeck and beyond.

Sore body, Getting adjusted, & Lazy Days

Last Couple Days...

Haven't been too exciting, but nonetheless just b/c I'm in Germany every day seems like a bit of an adventure of sorts.  Had my 3rd practice w/ the team last night and I must say I felt like old man river out there or something. Need a nice, freezing ice bath to rejuvenate my legs before the next game on Sun. but sadly that's not available to me unless I get real resourceful in the next few days. So here's hoping on that one :/ 

Monday Jose, Marvin, and I literally did nothing for most of the day. Luckily the sun doesn't go down here til around 10pm or so, allowing us to "start our day" at about 5 and go into the city for a few hours. We hit up an electronics store called Saturn where we took over the electronic massagers that were on display, let's just say it was heaven on earth for about 20min. Then ppl started walking by and giving us funny looks so we decided it might be a good time to go....Highlight of the night had to be the aftermath of a fight b/t a group of guys that left one with the back of his head and face scarred and bleeding, the other guys took off just as we got close to the group of ppl and medical personnel present. There commenced to be what seemed like a city-wide emergency as sirens were going off everywhere.

But looking forward to this weekend and my 2nd game with the Seals. We have a pretty good test ahead of us against a very unorthodox team. I'm sure we will be more than up to the task as we look to continue our winning streak. Glad to be here and apart of this awesome group of guys. Also I'm looking to post some highlights from our last game @Flensburg sometime soon, so stay tuned for that! 

Game Day!!!

Officially a Seal...

Got my first live action today with the team in Flensburg.  Was a bit of a hectic day waiting up until a few hours before game time to find out whether I'd be eligible to play or not. Luckily my player pass came through and I got to "get my feet wet" over here and start helping my team get better.  It was a great game for us getting a big victory 26-0 and improving our record on the season to 5-0! The defense really came out and made it a struggle for the Flensburg offense.  Although the offense had some struggles as we continue to work out the kinks in the fly offense, we made some huge plays in the passing game and I felt like I really showed my value to the team as a tough runner and blocker out of the backfield. It felt good to touch the ball and plow through some guys today. Hell one of the opposing players even called me "tank" after the game was over, so I guess I left a pretty good impression.  Also got a chance to get on the field on special teams and make 2 or 3 tackles as well. Haven't been on that side of a collision in awhile so I had to knock the rust off (I apologize to Flensburg for taking it out on them, but it had to happen).

What was the best of all was just being out there with my teammates and having fun. These guys play simply for the love of a sport so new and in its infancy here in Germany. It's awesome to see these guys fly around and make plays and then celebrate together. No egos, no in-fighting, just friends playing ball. I dig this atmosphere and can't wait for next week to get to get back out there with these guys on the game field. So good job Seals, gotta make sure we all get to practice this week and just keep getting better. 

 Pre-game, during our B youth team's game

 Game Field

 Again w/ a nice view in the back

Welcome to Lubeck

Day tour and Night on the town...

So got my first taste of what Lubeck is truly like. Jose and I walked from our flat into the downtown area and I got kinda an unofficial tour of the city. It was absolutely AMAZING!!! So much history and so many interesting places just in one area. From a cathedral that was once a hospital to a building built above an archeological site now being excavated, there was just so much to see. The blend of both new and old really left me in awe and I think I began to fall in love with this place just a little. Lubeck is full of just little treasures: the monstrous churches in the downtown area, tons of little bakeries w/ some of the best sweets you could imagine, live musicians on the streets just like any major metropolitan city, and even little hideway parks for ppl more inclined to get away from all the hustle and bustle of downtown life. It's like a miniature of all the things a person could want from nature to the city lifestyle. Definitely the type of place I could see myself being happy for a few years if that's the route I decide to go.

And...

 Also got my first taste of the nightlife here in town and I swear the strange mix of techno, rock, and hip hop was a bit intriguing but fitting with the many styles and trends in the ppl frequenting the downtown area tonight. From the young and hip to the old and trendy there was just an interesting mix of locals and foreigners like Jose and myself. I really enjoyed getting to see Lubeck in all it's glory both during the day and night. So thanks Jose for showing me a good time and really giving me my first taste of a city full of surprises

P.S. I'll also post some awesome pics of my day on FB 

I think I Earned My Stripes Today :)

Making Impressions...

So today was much more exciting than yesterday...Went out into the city and got to explore a little and take some pictures. Found out that as picturesque and "fun" as it sounds to ride bikes through a gorgeous little town, it's kinda a pain in the @$$ especially with angry European drivers around (no patience 'round here lol). But all in all the little trek was fun. I finally got to take some pics of Lubeck and it's just only made me want to explore much much more. Luckily, weather permitting Jose and I are gonna adventure through town and hit all the cool spots and do that whole tourist thing (makes me wish I had a camera w/ the strap to mob around with and piss ppl off as I obnoxiously stop at every corner to take insane amounts of pictures haha). Sadly I'm stuck using my temporarily out of service smartphone, but it'll do. Just excited to see more of what the city has to offer and create my own personal impressions. It should be a blast!

Practice #2

Let's just say I came out with a bang today. It makes things so much simpler when you know the offense and can just be an athlete as Glenn Fowles would say. I would have to say I had an amazing day today at practice and really earned my stripes w/ my teammates and the coaching staff. As the new guy coming in I felt like I had something to prove and expectations to live up to and today I far and away blew them out of the park.  One of my coaches even went so far as to say my presence raised the overall level and competitiveness of the practice overall and made the offense better.  His words "this was the best practice we've had all season." So I feel honored to be able to come right in and contribute and get these guys going and motivated. GO SEALS!!!

Also here are so teaser pics of my day...More to come soon I promise :) 

Chill Day

It's official...

My sleep cycle is ALL f%$@ed up. Didn't get out of bed til like 4pm Lubeck time -_- haha. Then channeled my inner meat head as Jose, Marvin, & I went beast mode on the Seals' gym. Felt good to throw some weight around and stretch out a little, definitely feeling the soreness from my first day back with the pads on running around yesterday. Looking forward to practice #2 tomorrow. Feels good to be a part of something special here. These guys are a great group and it's got that family feel that drew me to WU Bearcat tradition. I'm excited to make some noise over here. Hopefully I get to play this weekend but things aren't looking good for my debut. Our opponents' VP is also in charge of player passes (which all Americans access to play over here) and of course they don't wanna see me on the field so they're holding up my player pass for an extra few days most likely. But if I'm not on the field I'll be on the sideline cheering my guys on for sure. Cuz either way we're about to mash these guys (they just don't realize haha). Otherwise pics coming soon of my flat here in the city, the football field, and hopefully some of downtown Lubeck...staytuned

One down...

First Practice as a Seal:

  Felt so good to be back on a football field, running around and doing something I finally know how to do. Everything here has been so new to me and just a bit overwhelming, but football is football and I felt right at home. The team is awesome! Great ppl, amazing atmosphere, and just a group of men out having a blast. I couldn't be happier to be where I am right now. Everyone has welcomed me with open arms and been very helpful so far. Although I felt a little rusty and off my game today, I realize I can definitely make a difference for this team and it's future success. Can't wait. I hopefully will see my first live action this weekend and as we say at WU, "THEY AIN'T READY"  GO SEALS!!!

Yesterday...

Finally got my first look at a city that lives up to its billing as a historical site. The place is oozing with rich tradition and history on nearly every corner. The downtown area is a great mix of the new and old coming together in the city square.  The sounds, tastes, smells, etc are like an alarm waking up your senses to just a new walk of life. I can't wait to see and do more and experience all that Lubeck has to offer.  Although the city is small it's a like a buried treasure here in the country side of Northern Germany. I'll have pictures to come of the area so stay tuned!

 

Made it to Lubeck (Finally)

Crying babies, Lost & Found, but...I made it

 Finally in Lubeck after 11.5 hrs and almost 5000 miles, I'm finally here! I've never been so relieved to just sit somewhere and not have a next thing to do and yet I'm still almost restless. Two rows behind a demon spawn child who wouldn't shut up for 10 hrs, then waiting at the airport for an unknown person to just come find me was needless to say a bit stressful. Yet, I was found and still maintained some sanity thanks to Nicholas Sparks (yes I am reading a mushy girl book). Beyond that I managed to time travel to the future and make it all in one piece, which I must say is an amazing accomplishment. So far I haven't seen much of Lubeck, but I think I'm gonna dig living with Jose and Marvin. Jose is a familiar face which always helps a transition and Marvin, well he just seems like the kinda dude I could click with. So day one down, and it's not an epic fail just yet. Let the fun really begin

Preparing to leave

This is Crazy...

 So the day is finally here and I couldn't be  more of a ball of emotions. Nervous, happy, excited, sad, scared, etc etc etc. But all I keep telling myself is how great this opportunity is for me to go to another country, play the sport I love, and get to see yet another part of the world. It sounds all so great on the surface, yet the apprehension continues to creep in. Maybe I'm worrying to much or maybe it's just the nerves. At the end of the day though I'm ready to face this, cuz as the say you only live once (YOLO baby!!! ;P). Gotta seize this opportunity and embrace it.  I will miss family and friends dearly and probably spend more time holding on to what's in the rear view than looking forward to begin with. But the past is what makes us who we are.  What I won't do is not take advantage of this amazing chance I have before me. It's a blessing and it would be selfish and absurd of me to not enjoy it. So Thanks to Tim Speckman for making this opportunity a reality. Thank you Matt Benjamin and the ppl at NW Mutual for being so supportive and allowing a young man to LTD (live the dream) and go play some ball. Also thank you to all my friends and family who have supported me along the way and been there to congratulate me and hold me up in my times of weakness or insecurity. This is crazy and one for the ages!!