Time, where have you gone?

After much delay, I am back on the blogging scene.  Where to begin?  I actually have some events to tell you all about instead of just games and practice.  First, our official opening day was Saturday, September 22nd.  We played another Belgium team and played really well.  They were a good team and we won by about 15 points.  All the cylinders were firing that night.  To start the night, we were introduced to the crowd with a song.  I really didn't know where to go with this one.  I finally decided on "This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan - something light-hearted and with a good beat.  Before the game we signed autographs and played a game of "lightning" with the kids.  It was a fun night. 

This past Sunday we played in the Supercup.  This is a game between last season's Dutch Cup winner (us) and last season's champion (Den Bosch Eiffel Towers - a team in our league).  I guess it was supposed to be at a neutral site, but we ended up playing at Den Bosch.  They have a nice arena and quite a few people were there.  It was on T.V. over here so I wish I would have known that earlier because it was on the internet as well.  In the future I will try to inform you if our game will be on the internet.  I guess basketball doesn't get that much love here in Holland so it's a big deal to have a whole game aired on T.V.  Usually it gets interrupted with cycling or soccer.  Overall, we played pretty well.  We were up for most of the game but let it slip in the third quarter.  In the fourth we made a push and didn't look back.  There is a picture on the right of the team with our trophy.  It's quite an impressive trophy too.  They even had bottles of champagne for the celebration.  For a second it made me feel like we won the NBA Finals, but reality quickly set in; this is the first accomplishment of our goals for the season, but there is a lot of season left.  We all enjoyed a celebration that night and then we knew it was back to work. 

Last night the whole team participated in a large celebration in Leiden for the liberation from Spain back in 1574 (I think I have the year right).  We had the traditional food for the day called hutspot.  It is like a stew with mashed potatoes, carrots, onions, and beef.  Tradition is that when the city was liberated they found a big pot with this hutspot in it so although the dish was actually Spanish, the tradition has carried on (I think I have that correct).  After we ate, we were in a large parade.  Thousands of people lined the streets as we and many other teams and organizations from Leiden walked the street.  It was a little different walking in the middle of the street as people would just look at you, but some would cheer as we went by.  It was a good experience being a part of that. 

We have an away league game this Saturday .  I will really try to keep up with this better.  I appreciate your patience.

Take care and God bless,
Mike