Everybody's Got a Story

During my time overseas, I’ve found most European basketball players/clubs/coaches/fans don’t know a lot about NCAA basketball. Sure they’ve heard of North Carolina, Duke and perhaps the Texas Longhorns. Whether you played at the University of Washington or Wartburg College - both are NCAA schools, so what’s the difference? Well, anyone who has lived in North America and followed NCAA sports knows that difference is huge. From rooting for your favorite school, to arguing which team plays in the superior athletic conference - NCAA Division I basketball is a relative unknown in Europe. Over here people don’t understand the high level of play, especially teams that are ranked in the Top 25. This is not to knock the smaller schools, but for the most part, big schools produce big results - or else someone loses their job.

Conversely, sports fans in Europe could tell you anything and everything about their beloved futebol team or Euroleague favorite. Trying to explain the difference between NCAA divisions, the conference you played in or school you played at rarely does it justice, and is pretty much lost in translation. Unless you have a WNBA tag attached to your name (which comes from being drafted, being invited to training camp or actually making a team) you’re lumped together with everyone else. The perspective is that everyone competed at the same level.

Because of this, I often find myself smirking when I see a European wearing NCAA college gear. I know it’s a stereotype, but I always assume the t-shirt was bought based on its colors or style. I mean, who’s this person trying to fool?

While eating lunch at the café last week, our men’s head coach João Freitas, walked by wearing an Arizona Wildcats Basketball t-shirt. Figuring he had bought it at the local sporting goods store because of its Nike brand, I yelled “BOW DOWN” and flashed the ‘W’ sign, thinking he would have no idea what I was doing. To my surprise, he laughed and replied with a “Fight! Wildcats! Fight!” Shocked he knew the words to the Arizona fight song, I quickly returned to my book, trying to hide my flushing cheeks. Sure enough, the next day a men’s player informed me that Coach Freitas was a member of the University of Arizona coaching staff that won a National Championship in 1997. Whoops…feeling like an idiot, I decided I needed to go to the source and hear the real story. The following week I learned how stubborn persistence and a bit of luck led him to Tuscon - where he ended up coaching the likes of Miles Simon, Mike Bibby, Jason Terry and Michael Dickerson.

After coaching women’s basketball for 6 years in Madeira, Coach Freitas was ready for a change. During this time he had met and coached a fair share of Americans. However, coaching American import Bonnie Dove, a University of Arizona graduate, turned out to be his big break. One day while discussing NCAA basketball, Bonnie mentioned she could contact Joan Bonvicini, the women’s coach at the University of Arizona. Intrigued, Coach Frietas took her up on the offer and started corresponding with Bonvicini. He must have done something right because she offered him an interim position in Tuscon. Weighing the pros and cons of a big move, Coach decided if he was going to pack up and leave for the U.S., it had to be for the right reasons. After thinking over the invitation, he realized he enjoyed coaching women’s basketball but wanted a new challenge – coaching men. Declining Bonvicini’s offer, on a whim, Coach Freitas sent an email to Jim Rosborough, Lute Olson’s assistant coach. To his surprise, Rosborough replied and the two traded emails for over a month. Learning more about the program while continually expressing his interest, Coach Freitas was offered an interim position on Lute Olson’s bench for the 1997 season.

Throwing everything he owned into a couple of bags, Coach Freitas moved to Tuscon – knowing nothing about the city or people. That was short lived, as the university community and staff welcomed him with open arms - making him feel at home. Coach Freitas talked of how working under Lute developed his coaching skills, game tactics and player interaction immensely. Not only was 1997 a memorable year of learning for Coach Freitas, but it was the same year the #4 seeded University of Arizona would defeat three #1 seeds in the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats upset the defending champions Kentucky in overtime to with the National Championship and he’s got the ring to prove it. After a magical season in Arizona, Coach Freitas returned to Portugal and has been coaching in the men’s 1st Division ever since.

Basketball Update: I sat out last weekend’s game to rest my aching achilles and haven’t practiced for a week. The left one is still quite sore, but the swelling has gone down and my motion has improved. Tonight I took to the court for the first time since last Wednesday. I’m definitely not pain free, but it’s do-able for this weekend. We have 2 HUGE games that could put us at the top of the standings. Saturday we play Vagos, a team we shouldn’t have lost to in December. It was our worse performance of the season. We shot terribly and turned the ball over way too many times. It’s time for redemption! It doesn’t get any easier Sunday, as we face Olivais - the most talented team in the league. We beat them in Coimbra and another win would solidify our position. I’m hoping I’ll be able to contribute enough to help pull out two ‘W’s.’ In other news, Danielle's replacement arrived yesterday. I think she’s going to be great for us. I may be a bit biased since she’s a familiar face, but the newest member of CAB Madeira is…former rival and Oregon State star - Casey Nash! I’m continually amazed by how small the world is sometimes. My coach called me Monday saying “I’m watching you play right now!” Not understanding what he meant, he explained that he was evaluating a player and noticed I was on the opposing team! Crazy! I think Casey will be a positive addition – we already work well together on the court. Must be that Pac-10 connection!

-BW

Choose Your Own Adventure

A.) If you decide to explore old town Funchal, turn to page 3
B.) If you decide to stay home and sleep all day, turn to page 7
C.) If you decide to follow the levada stream, turn to page 9
D.) If you decide to write at the coffee shop, turn to page 11Always an avid reader, I still remember my favorite books in elementary school. I loved the "choose your own adventure" novels. As the protagonist, I had complete control over what actions I would take and destinations to explore. I created my own stories, discovered new worlds and imagined these wonderful places in my mind. Wondering the outcome of other options, I’d often flip back to previous pages so I could encounter them as well.

While playing abroad, I sometimes feel as though I’m living in a "choose your own adventure" novel. As I’ve alluded to in previous posts, I make a point to learn about the new cities and countries I reside in. In order to do so, I get out of my apartment as much as I can. I ask locals about places I must visit, food I have to taste and take time to research hidden destinations that need to be explored. Through playing basketball overseas, I’ve had the unique opportunity to experience and enjoy places I would never have known.

I choose my own adventure everyday. Being employed as a professional athlete gives me a flexible schedule and often, a lot of free time. Most days I ‘work’ for about 4 hours. Two hours of shooting and lifting weights in the morning and 2 hours in the evening of team practice. It’s a nice schedule, but when AM workouts are at 10am and night practices start at 9:30pm - it’s a large gap to fill. Since I’m the type of person that likes to be kept busy and on the go, excess time can be a bit of struggle. Before I go to bed, I usually formulate a plan for what I want to do or discover the next day. I know too many professional athletes who attend practice and then stay locked in their rooms for the rest of the day. Most spend their time sleeping, watching movies or reading. There’s nothing wrong with that, and I understand everyone is different. However, I feel they are missing out on the best part of this experience. How many people get to live expense free in a foreign country while getting paid to play the game they love? Not a lot. I think it’s important to get the most out of every opportunity. Appreciate your new surroundings, as it’s a great way to learn and allows you to more worldly. How can someone say they’ve ‘lived’ abroad, when in reality they’ve only seen the inside of their apartment, various gyms and conversed only with teammates? When someone asks about their time overseas, could they really describe the country, people and culture?

Which brings me back to the 4 options I listed at the beginning of this post. I enjoy learning and one way I do it is by soaking up as much as I can from new experiences in foreign surroundings. Yesterday, after lifting weights in the morning I selected option C.), and decided to follow a levada stream I see everyday by the bus stop. With the hot sun shining in a cloudless sky, it was easily one of the most beautiful days I’ve experienced in Madeira. For over an hour I followed the narrow levada, which terraced through the mountains. I photographed lush green vegetation, admired the bright blue Atlantic, enjoyed breathtaking views from above and exchanged hellos with people I encountered on the path. I saw farmers hard at work, touched green bananas on a banana tree, admired million dollar homes and observed the other side of the island. It sounds like a cliché, but I couldn’t stop smiling. Here I was enjoying a bom dia (beautiful day), soaking up the sun and learning more about my island. As I rested on a cliff overlooking the ocean, I couldn’t help but think how nice it would have been to share the view with my close friends.

Returning home 2 hours after I had left, I turned on the TV in time to see the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Though I’m not an American citizen – I was moved, tingling with goose bumps. President Obama is very charismatic and when he speaks, you can’t help but believe he will make a difference. I know he is only one man, but if people can put their differences aside and work together, I believe he can make a difference in the world. He's very inspirational.

Basketball Update: Last night we played Uniao (the other island team) and had no trouble securing the win. Like last weekend, we won by 30 pts. My left achilles is still extremely sore, to the point that I can’t wear anything but flip flops off the court. I’m really worried because I have to play on it – I don’t have much of a choice. I receive treatment daily, but it doesn’t seem to be doing much. I think I’m going to have to work something out with coach where I only shoot at practice and ride the bike and swim for cardio. I hate missing practice, but don’t want to keep playing on it, as it could lead to something more serious. I can play through pain, but there is still 3 months left this season. To make matters worse, the club told Dani yesterday they were sending her home. Her stress fracture has healed, but she still has swelling around the area that is sore to the touch. The club suggested surgery to see what the problem was, which she didn't agree to – since it wasn't clear if it was necessary or not. Obviously, Dani has to do what is best for her. I would have probably made the same decision in her place. I’m sad to see Dani leave. We not only complemented each other on the court, but we got along great off it. I’m really going to miss her. She became more than just a teammate, she became a good friend. Whoever they bring in has big shoes to fill!

Saturday we play away at Esgueira, a team currently sitting in 9th place. I'm sitting this one out so I can rest my foot. Next weekend we have 2 huge games. Saturday and Sunday at home against Vagos and Olivais. Yikes…without Dani this will be a huge test.

Boa Noite,
-BW

Sidenote: Click here to read a very interesting article on European women's bball. Next stop - Russia!

Kiss Kiss

I never understood the double cheek kiss. To me, it always seemed like a trend celebrities felt they had to act out - finding yet another way to draw attention to themselves. Is it really necessary? Or done on purpose to continuously flaunt fame? In all likelihood, the entertainers that partake in this action have probably seen the person they are interacting with fairly recently. It’s not as though they are being reunited with a long lost relative or former flame. I found it quite ridiculous – until I came to Portugal and understood it.Through my travels I’ve witnessed many differences between certain country’s cultures, ideals and daily routines. You quickly learn what is accepted and what is frowned upon. Prior to coming to Portugal, I thought the double cheek kiss was stupid and assumed it was something Paris Hilton made ‘hot’ after seeing the French greet each other. (Which in reality she probably did.) But now I have a new respect for it, as I’ve learned it’s a part of Portuguese (and Southern European) norm. It’s a way to greet friends or acquaintances and display respect for the person you are conversing with. It show's your affection for one another. Imagine my surprise when I was bombarded with a flurry of kisses from players on our men’s team my first week. When introduced to each of them, I found a handsome fellow leaning towards me. Not comprehending what was occurring, I thought these guys who I had just met were going in for the always-awkward first kiss. Ummm…frozen in place and unsure of what to do, I quickly found out it was the double cheek kiss! Phew – that could have been awkward. I wonder what they would have thought had I’d thrown caution to the wind and gone for the lips! ☺ After getting over my initial discomfort, I’ve become somewhat at ease with this tradition. Now when I go for coffee and see one of the guys, we’ll exchange “olá’s” and often complete the routine before conversing. It’s unique, and now that I understand it – I appreciate it.


What I’m still confused about is when is the motion is suppose to occur. To me, it seems like it’s done on random occasions. One day at the café I’ll partake in the action with a friend, whereas the next day we may just exchange hellos. Or, when seeing the coach’s wife after practice we’ll smile to each other pleasantly, while after a game, complete the double kiss action. Being someone who loves structure - this can be very perplexing. Add that to my awkwardness and bad timing, it can make for a very amusing situation.

As I start to become somewhat at ease with this custom, it’s still a bit weird and I tend to get nervous before greeting someone. I’m a hugger. Whenever I’m home from Europe or catching up with a friend I haven’t seen in awhile, I like to hug it out. This habit of mine has thrown off my timing in Portugal. When someone leans toward me, I frequently assume they are coming in for the hug. Not so – it’s usually the double kiss, putting me in a tricky situation that leads to bad timing in the kissing motion. I’ve even been known to bump heads with others…it can be very embarrassing! Typical Breanne. Thankfully no one has made me feel like an idiot after these occurences…yet.

As I’ve gained knowledge of this new tradition, I can now say that I appreciate and respect the custom. However, I will continue to believe that celebrities exploit it excessively.Basketball Update: This past weekend we played back-to-back home games. On Saturday we soundly defeated ESSA by 20+ points. ESSA is one of the weaker teams in the league and we had no trouble securing the ‘W.’ I finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, but was kicking myself after missing a few easy hoops around the basket. Though I’m in good shape, it’s always a wake up call playing 40 minutes your first game back. Whew! The next day we had a big game against one of the stronger teams in the league – Algés. Algés is a team CAB had lost to by 4 points prior to my arrival in Madeira. Interestingly enough, this was a team that was trying to sign me before I chose CAB. The coach even introduced himself and chatted with me before the game. Nice guy, however I believe I made the right decision coming to Madeira. With Dani still nursing an injury, I knew this was going to be a battle. The first half was back and fourth with Algés making a run before the break. Down 6 at half, it was important for us to come out strong in the first 5 minutes. We did just that, going on a 12-0 run to take a 6-point lead. Though the game was close, we were able maintain a comfortable 10 point cusion until the last 2 minutes of the game. Up 2 with 30 seconds left, our 17-year-old point guard made 2 crucial free throws to make it a 2-possession game. A stupid away from ball foul and sunk free throw, again made it a 3-point game. Then Maria (the same 17-year-old) hit 1 of 2 to seal the win for us. The final score was 74-71. Nice! I had 21pts and 11 rebounds, but didn’t have a very good shooting day from the field. My shot has been off recently, frustrating me for the better part of the first half. The second half was much better, but I still was disappointed with my shooting percentage. Nevertheless, a win is a win and we’ll take it!

My achilles have been extremely sore this past week and have been causing me quite a bit of discomfort whenever I wear shoes. I took yesterday’s game off (a 40 point win over the U-18 Portuguese National team) and am hoping to get a bit more rest before we play Vagos and Olivais next week.

Até Logo,
-BW

Frequent Flyer

Having flown numerous times across the Atlantic, I’ve become somewhat accustomed to long flights and swollen legs. I’ve learned to accept airline food, enjoy various complimentary alcoholic beverages and have even found ways to finagle myself into business or first class. I’m a pretty smooth talker and after discussing my height, displaying my long legs or justifying that I will likely be the tallest person on the plane – I’m usually rewarded with an exit row, or at worst an aisle seat. Never in all my years of flying have I been assigned a middle seat that I actually had to sit in during a flight. However, this streak was broken the day I traveled back to Madeira. With snow wrecking havoc on B.C., the Lower Mainland (Vancouver and surrounding areas) experienced its largest snowfall in 25 years - causing complete chaos at the Vancouver Airport. My brother almost didn’t make it home from Hawaii for Christmas (basketball tournament) because YVR was limiting incoming arrivals. With a spillover of pre- and post-Christmas travelers and the continuous accumulation of falling snow, regular operations were difficult for an airport unaccustomed to functioning in this surprising weather. These among other factors led to me receiving an unassigned seat for my flight to Frankfurt. Uh-oh, this didn't sound good. After testing my regular spiel on the desk attendant, I was immediately shot down. The flight was completely full, people transferring had lost baggage and passengers on standby were trying to sweet talk their way on the plane. I had a gut feeling that I wouldn’t be sitting pretty for my long return to Europe.

Anyone who has traveled enough can probably place previous seatmates into 4 categories: the chatty Cathy, the friendly flyer, the silent seatmate, or the smooth talking chap. Sure enough I found myself sitting between two sweet talking fellows who wouldn’t stop babbling to me the duration of the on the flight. And these were BIG guys. Seriously, they were probably the largest guys on the plane. I think the funniest part was that they were traveling together and I was smack between both of them. Thinking I could use this to my advantage, I suggested we swap seats so they could sit beside one another. Nope, they said they’d rather sit by a ‘lady’ than their buddy. Awesome.

I was cordial at first – smiling and nodding in all the right places, but after constant conversation an hour plus into our trip, one would think that if I kept trying to put my headphones on to watch the movie or started closing my eyes to get some sleep - you would stop talking to me. I wasn’t trying to be rude, but some people don’t know how to take a hint.

It took great effort for me to keep my sanity and to not tell these two ultra talkative Vancouverites to shut up. I like conversation; in fact I usually welcome it as I enjoy getting to know new people. But when a stranger who is seated thisclose to me for half a day starts getting personal and inappropriate, that’s where I draw the line. I’m not interested in sharing the intimate details of my life, especially with someone who is unfamiliar. In fact, it makes me uncomfortable and I find it impolite. Thankfully, I survived the flight, but was none too happy. I felt accosted and now realize I should have said something to a flight attendant when it was occuring. I’m anything but passive, but for some reason I let these guys get out of line with me. That won’t ever happen again.

After surviving subsequent flights to Lisboa and then Madeira without trouble, I am now settled back on my island in the sun for another 4 months. Though I’m again staring out onto the brilliant blue of the Atlantic, enjoying the sunny 18°C weather rather than the freezing negative temperatures and snow – I miss home. Over my break I had a wonderful Christmas with my family, caught up with and made new friends in Vancouver, traveled to Seattle to watch my alma mater play, reminisced with American friends, while also reuniting with my bffs ☺ for New Years. Kara, Kat, Kay and I spent the last moments of ’08 at the Seattle Aquarium on Pier 59. It was a great way to ring in 2009.

This week is going to be crazy. We have games Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. Dani (my American teammate) is out for probably another 3 weeks. She got an MRI while home over the break and found out she has a stress fracture in her leg. Eeek! Hopefully it heals quickly, because we need her out there on the court!

-BW