WELCOME 2010
First I want to say Happy New Year. Two weeks ago I went to Naples,Italy for a tryout. Naples is first division Italy, one of the best if not the best league in the world(not counting the NBA) so I was really excited about the opportunity to see how I matched up with players at that level. The team had not won a game but they were building a better team to win. The team added former NBA players Damon Jones (Cavs, Heat, Mavericks, Bucks) Robert Traylor (Bucks, Cavs) and Travis Best ( Pacers, Bulls, and actor in He Got Game). When I arrived in Naples my bag didn’t get there, it was stuck in Rome but I still went to the gym where the team was having morning shoot around. I got to the gym and met the players and former Liege and Charleroi player Armands Skele. When I met the coach he told me there would be no practice that day because of a strike for late salary payments. I was thinking I would be going to the hotel because there is no practice and no gear with my bag not being there but no the coach said I had to work out so he can have a look at me. I told him my bag was in Rome and I didn’t have anything but my computer so the equipment manager took me to the storage room and gave me shoes, practice uniform, travel uniform and team jacket. I went on the court and did shooting drills and every player and staff member watched me shoot and I shot 50-53 from 2 and 50-57 from 3. I made a good impression on everybody and because the coach wanted to see what kind of shape I was in the strength coach took me through a conditioning drill that lasted 20 minutes. When the workout was over the coach told me he would let me know when the next practice was going to be and he would come get me at the hotel. I spent the next 3 days in the hotel just hanging out with the other players who stayed there and the 4th day there was a team meeting. I was in the team meeting like a member of the team as they talked about if they were going to play in he upcoming game or not. The meeting finished after the players agreed to play and I had a meeting with the president and team manager and they told me that they love me as a player and they were going to sign me after the Christmas break when the money promised from the city would come in. The coach told me the start date for practice after the Christmas break so I thought I am going to sign for sure but during the Christmas break the head sponsor left the team due to late payment of taxes and the city did not pay the team because they are in last place. So the team decided to just finish the season with junior players and go to 2nd division next season. This is too bad because I really like the coach, the city and the management. It are hard times for basketball teams, even in Italy, to keep a healthy financial situation, but I hope they will get healthier and everything works out for the best for them. I know next year they will go to second division, but second division Italy is still very competitive and one of the top 10 leagues in Europe. So for now I am still searching for a team, I was very close, but stuff like this happens, and I am still working out, ready for the next call.