That's All She Wrote

It may sound cliché, but all good things do come to an end. Facing elimination in the semi-finals last Saturday, we came out large and in charge – beating Vagos by 20 points. It was great getting back on track and evening up the series. The victory forced a game 3 to be played the following day (Sunday), with the winner punching a ticket to the finals.

Unfortunately, a win wasn’t in the cards for us. Maintaining a lead the entire game and up 8-points with 5 minutes remaining, we started to play scared and much too conservative. Unforced turnovers, stupid shots and lackadaisical defense allowed Vagos back in the game, as they evened the score at 54 with 30 seconds to play. Holding the last possession with 18 seconds on the clock and in the bonus, I knew if Casey or I got the ball in our hands we would win the game. However, neither of us touched the rock on the final possession and the set play for our guards didn’t allow us to get a shot up. Overtime. I got a bad feeling in my stomach when Vagos hit a 3 on their first possession. We traded baskets for most of 5 minutes, but sadly were one shot short when the final buzzer sounded. Heartbreaking and disappointing are words that come to mind. It was our game to lose and we did just that. I won’t be surprised if Olivais dispatches Vagos in 3 straight.

After somewhat getting the bitter taste of defeat out of my mouth, I find it hard to believe my life in Portugal is coming to a close. Six and a half months of hard work, aches and pains are over. Though not reaching the result I had hoped for, I find myself emotional at the thought of leaving this beautiful island Monday night. Normally at the end of a season, foreign players can’t wait to get home. Though I miss family and friends, I’m really sad to be leaving Madeira and all the great people I’ve developed relationships with here. I’ve met friends I hope to keep for life and can’t believe ‘the crew’ won’t be going out together for Karaoke night at Cup & Cino, hitting up the Irish bar for live music, eating at our 3 favorite restaurants, unwinding at the spa, laying out at the beach or dancing the night away at Copa Cabana and Klub Kool. It doesn’t seem real and it’s hard to see this chapter of my life come to a close. I’ve been fortunate in my overseas situations thus far, but can’t imagine the next stop being much better than this. I’ve found a friend for life in Casey, who I plan to keep in close touch with for a long time and became very close with the men’s players. Life goes on and people go their separate ways. That’s one of the hardest things about being a professional athlete abroad - knowing you probably won’t ever see the people you’ve developed close relationships again.

That being said, I thought I would share the highs and lows of my season spent in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.

Highs:
• Living on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean where it was warm and sunny for almost all 6 months. During my time here, it probably rained a total of one week.
• Discovering Chinesas (Portuguese coffee with steamed milk) and thus my new love for coffee.
• The men’s team and the friendships I developed with both the American and Portuguese players. I’m going to especially miss spending time with Jason, Bobby, Lance and David.
• Cup & Cino Monday night Karaoke.
• The beautiful views I woke up to every morning. Wait, let me rephrase that – the beautiful views period. Madeira is gorgeous.
• Laying out on the sand lacking beaches (Madeira is a volcanic island – thus every beach is a rock beach).
• Fresh baked pastries and breads. These are dangerous, but you can’t help but have one…or two a day. From pastel de nadas to bolo de cacos – mouth-watering carbs could be found at any of the numerous cafes lining every street.
• Santa Cruz spa – where we basically got in for free any time we wanted.
• My Portuguese teammates. They’re really nice girls who went out of their way to make me feel comfortable in this foreign country. Also, Juca and Carlos – not only were they my coaches, but they became my friends.
• Um…Bongo – an amazing flavored juice that might actually rival Jussi Juice from Finland.
• Carrot soup – can’t say I’ve ever had it until arriving in Portugal. It quickly became a favorite!
• Stradivarius - pretty sure I spent a good chunk of my paycheck at this clothing store every month. Fashionable clothing with a great Eurostyle that I sadly won’t find at home.
• Moynihans Irish Bar - our go to hangout, where we’d often go just to get out of the house. We became close with 2 of the bartenders (one from South Africa, one from New Zealand) and will miss spending time with them every week.
• Kool Klub – the best dance club on the island that played live and classic American music.
• Placing second in the league while also giving league champions Olivais their only 2 losses of the season.
• The double-cheek hello/goodbye kiss.
• Fresh fruit and veggies from the farmers market.
• Cobblestone streets, historic buildings, old statues and timeless monuments.
• Casey Nash – a great person, teammate and friend. The things we’ve done, places we’ve seen and laughs we had are priceless. I truly hope this is a friendship that lasts a lifetime.

Lows:
• Not being on the mainland, making travel to different countries/cities very difficult/costly.
• Losing a heartbreaker in the semi-finals, knowing we deserved to be in the championship.
• Not having a car on this extremely mountainous island. We walked almost everywhere as we often missed our buses by minutes.
• Boggling (a word we made up – basically hiking at an extremely slow pace b/c of the steep inclination) up our massive hill everyday 2+ times a day.
• The refereeing in Portugal.
• Smoking and smokers EVERYWHERE. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that British Columbia does not allow smoking in public places. Here I felt like I smoked a pack every time I went out.
• Sloooooow internet.
• Our practice slot from 9 -11pm every night. Ugh.
• Having extremely irritated achilles for most of the season. I’m convinced it was a result of all our steep hill walking. Surprisingly this past month the pain just disappeared. Weird, but great!
• Cockroaches and centipedes somehow always finding ways into our house.
• Stray cats and dogs everywhere! This is related to the dog poop we saw with every step we took. You really need to be on alert when walking anywhere outside of downtown.
• Living near Nazaré – a very shady area on the other side of our gym.
• The crazy lady and men in Nazaré who think they are our best friends. They also thought it was funny to yell sexual remarks at us.
• Seafood rice and mystery meat soup at the café. Not quite my fancy.

There isn’t much I can complain about during my stay on Madeira. I had the time of my life and will keep the memories I have with me forever. That being said, as the season comes to a close – so does my blog. I hope you have enjoyed reading it every week as much as I have enjoyed posting to it. The next time it will be updated is when I sign with a new team for the upcoming season in September. However, I’ll be sure to keep readers out there posted if anything else fabulous happens during my life from May through August. I’ve had a few requests for posts about Hoopfest, a 3 on 3 street ball tournament I play in every year at the end of June, so that’s also a possibility.

I appreciate any comments, suggestions or ideas at anytime. Feel free to contact me through the blog and I’ll try my best to get back to you. I love getting feedback. Thank you everyone for all your support this season!

Love,

Breanne

Very Superstitious

In my years of playing competitive sports, I’ve encountered numerous personalities – allowing me to witness the superstitions many athletes have. They range from interesting, to bizarre to flat out comical. It’s fascinating to see what some people feel they need to do to get themselves ready for game time.

I myself like to think that I’m not that superstitious, rather, I like to complete certain routines before I step on the hardwood. I don’t believe they will guarantee a win or enhance my performance, however, I feel they calm my nerves and prepare me mentally for the task I’m about to face. For example, the night before a game I like to eat a good dinner full of carbohydrates. A couple of hours before game time I listen to my ipod and start focusing on what I need to accomplish on the court. I never wear my uniform to the gym, as I prefer to put it on when I get to the locker room. I always wear 2 pairs of socks, with it being very important that my knee-highs end just below my knees. After dressing in my game attire, I rinse my mouth guard and head for the court.

Once I step onto the hardwood it’s time to start my warm up routine. This is where I like to complete things in 3’s or multiples of 3’s. First its layups from the right, left and center, then form shooting just outside the key from the right, left and center. After I complete these 2 sets and have made my shots in succession without a miss, I’m ready to shoot around and get into team drills.

The only real superstition that I’ll actually call a superstition is ‘knock on wood.’ Whenever a bad thought passes through my mind or I start thinking negatively, I either knock on my forehead or literally knock on some wood nearby. Whether it’s saved me from injury or making future mistakes – I’ll never know. But the thought of doing it is a security blanket; I convince myself that I’ve scared the negativity away! A little strange, I know – but it works for me.

My superstition is naught compared to what I’ve seen past and present teammates do. I’ve had teammates who wear the same spandex, sports bra or underwear every game day. People who put on their right sock before the left, left shoe before their right and put their shorts on left leg, right leg and so on. Some need to be the first out of the locker room or first one in. Many need to listen to the exact same song before hitting the court. The craziest one I witnessed was a girl who said she needed to take the first shot of the game no matter what. The funny thing is she actually tried to do it every time – good shot or bad. WHAT?! I’m pretty sure the first shot of the game should be the first open look someone has, not whether it’s a part of your superstitions or not. That one was weird and come to think of it, very selfish.

That being said, everyone has their own superstitions that they believe help prepare them for their performance. There’s no right or wrong – its just an interesting concept that toes the line between sanity and being OCD.

Basketball Update: Last weekend in the playoff semi-finals we lost the first game of the best of 3 series, putting us in a do or die situation tomorrow. I hate having my back against the wall, but have a good feeling about this weekend. We couldn’t have played worse in our first game out. Being on the road, in a gym that has given us trouble before, we shot terribly and played even worse defense. I’m going to go out and say, it was probably the worst game we played all year and was the worst time to be playing like that. Winning Saturday forces a game 3 Sunday – both to be played here in Madeira. This weekend is huge and if we lose, it’s literally over and I’ll be home next week. If and when we pull off these two games we live to see another week and play for the league title. So put on your red at home and be thinking of me and CAB Madeira!

-BW

What If...

Have you ever played the 'what if' game? It’s dangerous and often leads to over thinking of past situations - which is never a good thing. The past is the past and there is no way to change it; so why waste time wondering what could have been?

That being said, I subconsciously play this game with myself all the time. It’s not that I want to, but whenever I have an excessive amount of free time 'what if' thoughts pop into my mind. I can honestly say I don’t have any regrets in life. However, looking back, I can think of numerous situations I would have approached differently - we all can.

These thoughts tend to hit me when I’m at peace and am taking in my surroundings. One minute I’m stress free, calm and enjoying life while sipping coffee - the next I’m in deep thought dwelling on the past. Oddly enough, most these thoughts occur when I’m in Europe, and probably have a lot to do with the fact that I’m away from my family and close friends. Being abroad has made me realize what’s most important in life and allows me to give a lot of thought to many different things.

After having 2 very successful pro seasons abroad thus far, I guess the 'what if' that enters my mind most is: what if I played more minutes and had a larger role in college? I’m glad I attended the University of Washington and would do it all again in a heart beat – but after coming into my own these past 2 years on the court and being able to display what type of player I always knew I could be is frustrating. If I had been utilized the right way in college, things might have been different and perhaps I could have been given a shot in the WNBA. That is no longer a goal or dream, but a 'what if' that passes through my mind every now and then.

This is not to take anything away from my career as a Husky. It was solid, as I was a starter all 4 years while averaging 19 minutes, 8 points and 4 rebounds per game. We went to the NCAA tournament twice and almost always were in contention for a PAC-10 title. I had wonderful teammates and received my degree from a very prestigious institution. I met friends that I’ll have for life and contacts that have helped me in the business world. That’s why the 'what if' game is so dangerous. I’d take nothing back but will always wonder what if…

I truly believe that things happen for a reason and that obstacles and deterrents you go through in life are there to prepare you for the future. UW was wonderful for me and I probably would have never become the player I am today if it wasn’t for what I went through and accomplished in Seattle.

Basketball Update: The first round of playoffs are complete – we soundly defeated Povoa 2-0 and now move on to the semi-finals against Vagos. Vagos is a strong team with two very talented Brazilian forwards. Casey and I have our work cut out for us inside if we want to come out with the W. Though undersized, I think our athleticism and quickness will be a big factor. The first game will be played Sunday at Vagos and it is vital for us to get the first win. If we can do that, things will be a little easier coming home the following week, as we would only need one win to win the series. The roadtrip this weekend will be fun, as we will be traveling with the men. They play right after us. Wish us luck! Go CAB!

-BW

Sidenote: GO CANUCKS GO!

April Aspirations - The Madness Continues...

It’s that time of year again - the time when every basketball player’s hopes and dreams are within reach. For most, March Madness turns into April Sadness – as late playoff pushes and early round exits are inevitable. This third month of every year harbors a wide range of emotions for many athletes. From joy to despair, anger to frustration and nervousness to desperation – everything a passionate ball player has is left on the court. It may sound cliché, but blood, sweat and tears fall like rain thoughout the Northwest during post-season play. Every team is in search of one thing and one thing only - being crowned National Champion.

After experiencing the highs of college basketball and twice playing in the NCAA tournament, post-season in Europe just doesn’t have the same feel. Sure it’s exciting and the goal remains the same – but the hype, atmosphere and environment pales in comparison. I’m sure this can’t be said for everywhere in Europe – but in my 2 seasons of play abroad, I often find myself thinking about what once was and the emotions college players are feeling this time of year. I miss it.

On the other side of the ocean in a completely different basketball world, my team has entered it’s own playoffs. Finishing 2nd in the Portuguese league has us with a favorable post-season draw. First round we’re playing the 7th place team, a team we beat handily twice this year. However, as every seasoned basketball player knows, that means nothing in post-season. Post-season is a new season, with every team starting at zero and underdogs being fan favorites. The biggest mistake a higher seeded team can make is to underestimate the little guy. Anything can happen with a fresh start and emotions running high. That’s what makes sport so wonderful.

The playoff format for the Liga Feminina is a best of 3 series until the final, which is a best of 5. As I touched upon earlier, our first round match up is Povoa. Last weekend we defeated them 94-63 in Porto. But it wasn’t without a fight. Though the score looks like it was blowout, it was one of those games that was a battle from start to finish. We started out flat - lacking energy, emotion and passion. Going into halftime we were only up 2. I don’t like blaming performance on outside factors, but the fact that we were up at 4:30am to travel and to play at 6:30pm on the very same day had a lot to do with our heavy legs and blank stares in the first 20 minutes. I still can’t wrap my head around how clubs expect you to perform to the best of your ability on lack of sleep, extended travel and spending 6 hours killing time in a mall or hotel lobby. We were never given the chance to rest or take a nap. Can we get a hotel room please? It was madness! Nevertheless, we were able to get the job done and head home with a ‘W.’

Playing on the road can be tough, but is always made easier when you spot a familiar face or hear a recognizable voice cheering for you in the crowd. Amidst the boos, shouts and whistles (which is a boo here in Europe) I was able to distinguish two familiar voices. Two of our American friends from FC Porto made the 30-minute drive to Povoa to come out and support Casey and I on the hardwood. It was great to see them in the crowd and helped provide that much-needed boost. Catching up with the guys after the game was fun and sadly our visiting time was cut too short. Thanks for the love Marcus and Marcio!

Winning on the road means we need one more next weekend (at home) to capture the series. If we lose, we play the very next day on our home court. It’s a strange playoff format that sees the higher seed playing the first game on the road and the next two (if necessary) at home. I almost feel as though it’s a disadvantage for having a successful season. For example, if everything goes according to plan and we make the finals, as does Olivais (the 1st place team and our rivals), we would play 2 games on our home court before going away to their gym for the next 3. So, if we win the first two at home, we only have to win 1 on the road! This definitely plays to our benefit, so hopefully it works out that way.

Oddly, this weekend was a free weekend for us, as there was a National basketball festival on the mainland for high schoolers. Since most of the league refs were officiating the tournament Saturday and Sunday, both the women’s and men’s leagues were put on hold. It was strange to have a break between playoff games, but nice to be able to rest my body and nagging Achilles. Hopefully these couple of days gave them the break they needed. Casey and I spent most of the weekend hanging out with the guys and enjoying the weather. Friday morning the two of us went to the Deserted Islands on a Navy ship with some Navy guys we know. It was fun despite the long day and chilly weather. Next weeks post will be all about it.

Até Logo,

-BW

Bre Does Barca

Paris, Prague, Athens and Vienna – these 4 cities make up only a fraction of places I hope to visit and experience one day. When? Only time will tell, but living abroad for the past 2 years has allowed me to cross off many desired destinations. From Tallin, Estonia to Venice, Italy - I’ve done my fair share of traveling and am constantly finding ways to plan future trips. This weekend I did just that and was able to put a line through another city, as I spent 3 fun filled, sleep-deprived days in Barcelona, Spain.

Warmed up and ready to go at practice last week, I was shocked to hear my regulated, routine induced coach announce that was giving us 3 days off rather than the customary 1. Taken aback, I took a moment to control my breathing while my heart thumped double time in my chest. After regaining composure, my mind started to mentally plan out realistic destinations. Eventually Barcelona won out, with London coming in a close second.

With flights booked and bags packed, Casey and I were too excited to sleep, chatting well into the night about the respective adventures we were about to embark on. Casey to Holland to see her husband and myself to Spain – a country friends have only raved about. Up a mere 4 hours later with ticket in hand, I was ready to experience yet another country. Tired from the lack of sleep the night before, Casey and I bid goodbye and headed our separate ways. Passed out the duration of the flight to Lisbon and repeating the same action from Lisbon to Barcelona, I felt revived when deplaning into the afternoon sun.

Grabbing my bag off the carousel, I headed towards the exit and immediately spotted my good friend (and former UW teammate) Jill Bell. After hugging and trading huge smiles, we picked up right were we had left off 7 months ago. Hopping on the metro, we were off to take a walking tour of downtown - but not before stopping at Subway for lunch. You’re probably thinking Subway? While in Barcelona? Since Madeira doesn’t have any of the comforts of home, (i.e. Starbucks, Subway, Olive Garden etc) I ended up breaking one of my European rules and allowed myself to eat at the American restaurant. The thought of passing on foot long sweet chicken teriyaki inches from my grasp was too much to bear.

Satisfied after a great sandwich, we decided to walk around the city centurm. I can’t believe how Americanized Barcelona is. From the Hard Rock Café and McDonalds, to Starbucks on every other corner, (you should be proud – I didn’t drink there once!) the Nike Store and a massive department store that was essentially Nordstrom in disguise - I almost felt as though I was walking around downtown Seattle. Weird. I was also surprised by the amount of people out in the street – again struck by the thought of “does anyone work in Europe?” Jill informed me it was siesta time (a 3-hour lunch break from 2-5 pm) and that everyone was either at home napping or out socializing with friends. During this break most stores close, with the exception of the city center, where most tourists and many Barcelonians can be found.

After wandering down the main streets, enjoying the local farmers market, taking pictures at Casa Batlló and seeing too much PDA in the park, Jill and I took a much needed café break. Here were 2 former coffee haters drinking coffee like it was going out of style. It was hilarious! Chatting about the irony, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see us drinking designer drinks again. I was pleasantly surprised with the coffee quality in Barca, ranking it a close second to my Madeira Chinesa! Walking around a little longer, we eventually jumped on the metro and headed to Jill’s flat to rest our feet before her practice.

Watching Jill’s practice as an outsider, I found myself noticing the obvious differences of our respective situations. European basketball is such a business and you have to fight for everything you’re promised. Seeing her situation in Spain makes me appreciate what I have and where I’m at.

After practice (where no one on her team speaks a word of English - not even the coach) Jill and I walked towards her place, stopping to eat dinner at a local restaurant she frequents. I was surprised when we entered a hole in the wall called La Cava. Walking inside, I was intrigued by how small and packed the place was. Here was a restaurant that held a maximum of 20 people, jam packed with locals to the point you could barely maneuver to the bathroom. As we sat down, Jill chatted with the owner and ordered dinner. La Cava had a great atmosphere, giving me a taste of Spanish culture. Most tables were filled with 6 people or more, drinking wine and laughing the night away. There was food galore and the air was heavy with a thick smog of smoke (after leaving I felt like I had smoked a pack – ugh.) People took their time to eat and were more concerned with telling stories than devouring their food. It was a complete 360° compared to what I’ve seen at home. The food was fabulous and our 2-hour dinner concluded after midnight. Tired and full, it was back to the flat for the night to recharge for the next full day of sight seeing.

Reflecting on my first day in Spain, I found I was genuinely impressed with Jill’s Spanish - as all day she conversed almost fluently with locals and understood everything being said to her. I’m so proud! She has really gained independence in Spain and gets around with ease – which I learned is no easy feat. People here DO NOT want to speak English, even if they know how. It’s almost rude. Most people refuse and pretend they don’t know a word of what you’re saying. I’m all about assimilating to new cultures and respecting peoples traditions, but when I’m trying to speak Spanish and you show no patience or look at me like I’m stupid – I don’t appreciate it. As someone with absolutely no Spanish background, (French is my second language) I found myself mixing Portuguese, French and English into one language I decided to call Portu-Franglish. Jill understood it, but the Spanish people did not. ☺

Out the door the next morning at 11am, we again hopped on the metro and were off to tour Gaudi Park (Park Güell.) This is one of the sites I was most excited to see. It didn’t disappoint, as it was everything and more than I expected it to be. Being a Saturday, the place was packed and getting a good photo was a tough feat, however, I managed to get some great shots while appreciating the architecture, walking through the cavernous open areas, weaving through the columns and enjoying the unique tiled details of Antoni Gaudi's work. My favorite part of the park was at the top where you are able to look out on the city. It was a beautiful day with the Mediterranean shining bright blue in the distance. Wow – what a view! After appreciating Antoni Gaudi’s work and enjoying the moment, we left to grab lunch and stop at the Nordstrom replica store where I could buy some Mac blush. Wandering around downtown, I was about to take in the picturesque buildings, street protests and note the culture differences. I couldn’t help but think – am I really here? This is what I love most about traveling. The differences and similarities that make you appreciate the beauty of the country you live in and the country you are a visitor in.

Tired and in need of some rest, it was back to Jill’s flat. While she was grabbing some Z’s before her evening game, I went online to check my bracket and watch some NCAA games. Oh, how I love March madness – too bad I was a Wake Forest fan this year. They completely destroyed my bracket! With Jill revived, her ride picked us up and we were off to the game. A close second half unfortunately ended in a 1-point loss for Jill’s team. Though the girls were dejected, I was impressed their fan support. It was an away game – about 30 minutes from Barcelona and Lima Horta (Jill’s team) had more fans than the opposing team did in their home gym. They were loud the whole game singing cheers, blowing horns and whistling (which is Europe is a boo) at the refs. Even after the loss the fans were quick to console the girls and pat them on their backs.

Finally home, Jill and I ate at a local diner before turning on the Internet to follow our UW men in the round of 32. The game didn’t start until 11pm Barcelona time, so we cheered on the purple and gold while getting ready to go out for the evening. A close game with a heartbreaking finish ended just in time for Jill and I to catch the metro down to the water at 1:15am. I know what you’re thinking, 1:15am? Well apparently that’s early. Most people don’t head out until after 2am. No wonder they have 3-hour siestas in the middle of the day! We ended up meeting a friend at Catwalk, one of the popular nightclubs known for its hip-hop music. A late night turned into an early morning, as we didn’t arrive home until 5am.

A mere 5 hours later we were up at 10:30am, ready to tackle the last couple of tourist sites on my list. Tired, we quickly downed 2 coffees each and were off to the Sagrada Familia Church – one of the most famous sites in this well-known city. After stepping off the metro we rounded the corner and boom! There it was. I was shocked by its sheer size - the monument is monstrous! I was overwhelmed with the detail and beauty of this enormous structure. To think that it started being built in 1882 and is still under construction to this very day is mind blowing. The projected completion date is 2026. Once inside, the two of us wandered around to view the stained glass windows, massive columns and detailed architecture. It was an amazing site, something to see if you ever visit Barcelona. There is only so much to view on the ground floor, which is why they make you pay more if you’re willing to wait in line for an hour to take an elevator to the top. When in Rome…of course I had to get the full experience so Jill and I chatted in line until it was our turn to go up. It was well worth the wait, as the view from the top was breathtaking. I could see the whole city and places we had visited days before. What a great experience, one I won’t forget.

After a quick lunch, we spent the rest of the day by the water people watching until it was time to head back home to get ready for the FC Barcelona Futebol match. You read that correctly. Jill and I managed to score one of the toughest tickets in European sports. FC Barcelona is considered one of the top 3 futebol clubs in the world and employ the likes of the Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o. I could barely contain my excitement as we headed toward the stadium. The atmosphere was electric and fans rowdy. Sitting down in my seat, I found myself hardly watching the match, as I couldn’t believe how large the stadium was and how a 99,000 seat arena (largest in Europe) was completely sold out. It was loud, full of songs, chants and cheers. Prying myself away from watching the fans I was able to enjoy the match and was up on my feat 6 times for Barca goals. A blowout made for an impressive display of offense. It was great. Walking out of the stadium I was taken aback by the sheer joy and happiness of fans. Thousands of people were out in the streets blowing horns, singing and cheering. What an experience!

Upon conclusion of the game, Jill and I met up with some of her friends and spent the rest of the evening at a local bar. It was a great way to end my trip. Saying our goodbyes and thanking Jill for a great weekend, I grabbed a cab to the airport, reflecting on my Barcelona experience.

-BW

Sidenote: Be sure to read this article my good friend Lindsey Wilson wrote for the NEW YORK TIMES! Nice! You can also read about her European adventures by clicking here.

Terceira, Azores Islands

I’m going to mix it up a bit, with this weeks post being somewhat of a journal entry detailing a typical day/roadtrip in the life of a professional basketball player. Here’s a taste…enjoy!

Friday March 13, 10:00am

This morning at practice I was really tired. Even though it was light with a lot of shooting and half court drills, my legs were heavy and I felt as though I was using all my energy to get up and down the floor. I’m not sure why I was so exhausted, but this past week my muscles were really sore and my body felt run down. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that I was getting over a cold and our late night practices (9-11pm) which are followed by morning workouts only 11 hours later (10am) were making it tough for my body to completely recover. I’ve been sleeping fine, but sometimes you need time to rest. A lot of people have knocked my profession, suggesting that it’s easy to only play basketball as a job. But what they don’t realize is that even though I only ‘work’ 4 hours a day, every single ounce of energy I have in me is expended during that short period of time. I’m the type of person that gives everything I have in whatever I do. There’s no coffee break here, just 100% effort put out and left on the floor. Some days are tougher than others, but you find a way to make it through.

While eating lunch as a team at the gym's café, I made sure to sit in the sun and soak up its warm rays - deciding it was easily one of the most beautiful afternoons I’ve experienced on Madeira. Too bad we left for the Azores a few hours later...After lunch we hopped in the van and headed for the airport. With no direct flight from Funchal to Terceira, this was going to be the longest road trip of the season. We left Funchal at 2pm for Lisbon, after a 2 hour layover caught the Lisbon to Terceira flight and finally landed on the Azores at 7:30pm - gaining an hour in the process. Tired, sore and hungry, Casey and I collapsed in our hotel room and played cards for almost 2 hours before the scheduled 9pm team dinner. Ahhh, how I love European travel itinerary…

Fun fact: Terceira is closer to the USA than it is to Lisbon.

Saturday, March 14, 9:30am

Happy Birthday to me! Today I’m 24 and feel as though I’m 30! Seriously, I didn’t sleep a wink last night - which probably had a lot to do with the fact that our hotel room reeked of mold. It was disgusting! Opening the windows didn't help, as the smell was embedded in the pillows, sheets and towels. Even grosser? Casey’s sheets were damp. Sick! Apparently Terceira is known to have a lot of mold problems because of its humidity and dampness. The combination of these two is not a good one, thus, the nose crinkling smell of mold is everywhere. Ugh!

Heading down to breakfast I expected at least a happy birthday from one of my teammates. Nope, just bom dia’s (good morning) all round. I was kind of crushed, but Casey had made me stay up the night before until midnight Madeira time (11pm on Terceira) to wish me happy birthday and give me a hug. At almost the same time I received a phone call from Jason (one of our men’s players) and a couple text messages from friends not on the trip with us. It was nice and made my day. After breakfast Case and I caught a couple more hours of sleep before heading to team lunch. Still no birthday wishes – sad. Ah well, I’ll live. After eating, Casey and I wandered around downtown to take pictures and explore a bit of the historical city. Terceira is very unique, lined with old buildings and cobblestone streets. Some stores were painted bright colors while others barely clung to their old brick foundations. One of my favorite parts of playing pro ball is experiencing and walking around random unique cities - places I would never dream of visiting or knew existed had I not decided to play professional basketball. I know I say this all the time, but I’m so thankful for what basketball has given me.

Near the end of our walking tour we came across a store called Loja Americana. Low and behold, it was a grocery store that sold only imported American food. From Ritz Crackers to Pop Tarts to Betty Crocker cakes – a little slice of home was all right there. Both of us were ecstatic to grab a taste of home and pulled on the door handle only to find out it was locked. Just our luck! It had closed at 1pm and it was 1:30pm. Talk about bad timing. Oogling at the goodies inside, we managed to tear ourselves away, trudging back to the hotel.

Once we returned to our room we changed into our jerseys and cranked the music to get pumped up. Casey and I were ready to face Boa Viagem (4th place team we had lost to earlier in the season) in the last game of the regular season. With the gym only 2 blocks from our hotel, we headed into battle on foot. Upon entering the gym, I immediately started coughing. If I thought the hotel had a moldy smell, it was nothing compared to the gym. Wondering how I was going to get enough oxygen to my lungs from the stagnant arena air, I thought positive thoughts and tried to acclimate as quickly as possible.

Starting the first quarter strong, CAB raced out to a 5-point lead. However, that quickly diminished and we found ourselves down by 10 for most of the game. BV’s American player is much bigger and stronger than me and I had a tough time defending her myself. Switching to a ¾ front with the double coming from the weak side, Casey and I were able to contain her much better; but with no rotation on the pass out, the two of us became extremely frustrated because BV seemed to be scoring at will. After throwing in some junk defense and playing tougher ‘D’ on the help side, we were able to stay in the game. With most my shots rolling out in the first half, I quickly found my rhythm in the second and rattled off 6 straight points. Tighter defense on their American led to her collecting a frustration foul on offense. She didn’t like the call, or our guard who boxed her out and quickly turned her direction and punched her in the neck! No joke! Thank goodness for the ref being in the right place at the right time. He immediately issued her a intentional foul and she was out of the game. Crazy. I was so proud of our young player who caught her breath, collected herself and knocked down both free throws. Not bad for 17! This was the momentum change we needed and we started playing with a passion and energy we lacked in the first. Though the game was close the rest of the way, I had a feeling we were going to pull this one out. Down 5 with a minute 30 to go, I rebounded an offensive board and threw it out to our wing who buried an open 3. Next possession we created a turnover and our PG hit 1 of 2 FT. With 13 seconds left in the game and us down by 1, coach drew up a play for Casey who had hit her last 2 shots. The set broke down on offense and their guard doubled down on Casey. Reacting, I quickly sealed my player inside. Our PG immediately saw the opening and passed me the ball inside. Making a quick move middle and spinning the other way, I banked a hook shot off the glass – up and in!!! Timeout Boa Viagem with 7 seconds left to play. Hype after gaining our first lead since the first quarter, we were all pumped to play some sticky ‘D’. Receiving our assignments - it was now or never. Once the ball was in play Carla, our best defensive player, locked up their best guard and she turned the ball over! We quickly in bounded the ball and ran out the time – victory!!! A great win and huge character builder for our team heading into playoffs. Phew! We all embraced at half court and quickly shook hands with the other team. As we walked back to our bench the girls surrounded me and sang happy birthday in Portuguese at the top of their lungs. I couldn’t stop smiling and decided to do an impromptu dance inside the circle. What a great birthday gift!

After showering and changing clothes, we were off to dinner, where the lights were dimmed and happy birthday was sang once again with cake. The girls explained that they knew it was my birthday, but wanted to get the ‘W’ and surprise me at dinner. Thank goodness we won…

Returning to our hotel room in high spirits around 10pm, Casey and I decided we didn’t want the night to end quite yet. Since I had just turned the big 24, we asked Juca (our coach) if it was ok if we could go to a local bar and hang out for the rest of the evening. He told us to be smart and make sure we were at breakfast at 8:30am. No prob. After chatting with the guy at the front desk, we learned about of couple of the hot spots and chose one to test out. Catching a cab we were off, with our destination being an indoor/outdoor bar on the water. It was awesome. Here we were sitting on a dock, looking out onto the ocean while house music thumped in the background. It was pretty amazing and a nice way to take in the atmosphere. Casey and I had a great time people watching, viewing passing ships and admiring the old buildings surrounding the scene. I don’t know how many times we said to each other “look where we are right now! How many people get to experience this?” Of course on such a small island, it should be no surprise that we bumped into 2 American men who played on Terceira team. We spent most of the evening talking to them about home and our experiences abroad. They were nice guys and it was a great way to spend the last hours of my birthday.

Fun fact: cows outnumber people living on the island of Terceira.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Up bright and early for our jaunt back to Funchal, the girls and I couldn’t wait to get home (Madeira.) After surviving layovers and flight transfers we finally arrived in Funchal at 5:30pm. I couldn’t wait to get to the house, relax and grab some dinner. However, Casey had other plans. After jumping out of the shower, my awesome roommate had another b-day surprise planned. Who walks in but our 3 men’s players with a bunch of groceries. Imagine my surprise when they announced they were cooking dinner for my 24th and that all I had to do was sit back, relax and just be the DJ. A dinner of fried chicken, home made mac and cheese and sweet potatoes was topped off with ice cream and a couple of gifts! Wow, what great people I have surrounding me this year. I couldn’t believe the generosity of my North American counterparts and couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. We closed out the evening at our favorite bar full of transplants from all over the world. New Zealand, England, South Africa, Sweden and so on. It’s a great place with good people and we love going there to just hang out. This is a birthday I won’t forget. What a fabulous weekend, thanks Casey – you’re the best!

Fun Fact: Terceira is home to Lajes U.S. Air Base, which is strategically located between North America and Europe in the North Atlantic Ocean. Lajes provides support to 15,000 aircraft, including fighters from the US and 20 other allied nations each year. The geographic position has made this airbase very important to both America's and NATO's war fighting capability.

-BW

Sidenote: My brother’s university (UBC – University of British Columbia) made the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) National Championship final Sunday night in Ottawa. While Casey and the guys were cooking we all watched the broadcast online. After dominating the first half and leading by 5 into the break, they played an uninspired second and ended up losing by 10. It was disappointing, especially because they were clearly the better team. Number 2 in Canada is nothing to scoff at, but it’s hard losing a close game like that. I’m proud of you bro!

EuroStyle

It’s amazing how different Europeans are from their (North) American counterparts. From culture and history to food, fashion and mannerisms – distinctness is apparent and actually, is one of my favorite things about living abroad. Seeing this diversity first hand is both refreshing and humbling. I’ve learned a lot about myself because of it and it has helped me realize what’s most important in life. Reflecting further, I’ve become conscious of the fact that many Canadians and Americans take too much for granted and tend to lose sight of what is most important to them.

Time moves slowly in Europe. From afternoon siestas to coffee breaks every 15 minutes, time isn’t of the essence. It’s more important to grab a mid-afternoon drink with a friend than to be constantly on the go completing a thousand different tasks at once. Europeans like to sit down and enjoy meals, investing time with each course. Americans grab everything on the go because we can’t spare a moment to sit down and enjoy our food.

As cliché as it sounds, time is money. Why is it that when I have a free moment I subconsciously feel as though I’m not working hard enough? Americans are so used to being busy during the workweek that it can be hard to find time to grab a bite or even take a bathroom break. Every time I return to Europe I’m continually amazed by how many people I see wandering the streets, relaxing at cafes, chatting at coffee bars or reading by the water. Do these people not have jobs? Most do, but Europeans don’t seem to be pre-occupied with the notion that life revolves around money and power. Instead, relationships are of high importance. They’re what matter most and fulfill something money can’t.

Money of course is a necessity in life and changes the way people live their lives. Because I’ve been fortunate enough to travel around the world and live in different countries, I’ve found it easy to see how much more materialistic Americans are than Europeans. As a whole we seem to feel the need to own the iPhone, carry a Louis Vuitton purse, show off our platinum engagement rings or drive the biggest SUVs. We’re so concerned with what others think of us – that it affects how we present ourselves. Europe is different in that respect. Most cars here are compact and environmentally friendly. Wedding rings are simple gold bands and you seldom see women toting oversized brand name purses. This isn’t to say that Europeans don’t wear brand name clothing or flashy accessories - of course they do, but Americans tend to think too much about what others think of them, rather than being comfortable as themselves.

From fashion to conversation, it’s interesting to see the difference in mannerisms from country to country. Americans tend to sugarcoat criticisms or try to soften blunt remarks. Many don’t speak their mind and make indirect comments. Americans tend to sugarcoat criticisms or try to soften blunt remarks.. Many don’t speak their mind and prefer to make indirect comments. Yet reducing the blow of a comment can lead to confusion and further questions. In my European experiences I’ve found that people are very direct and forward in their comments, to the point of being rude. However, I think a lot of this is due to the language being lost in translation. Example: I was eating lunch at the gym one day and was pretty tired and run down from the previous week. This must have been reflected in my face and/or body language, as the marketing director for CAB walked up to me and asked me what was wrong with my face. Excuse me? At first I thought I must have had a huge zit or food left on my chin. Nope, it was nothing like that. He was just telling me I looked like crap and wasn’t afraid to say so. At first I used to get offended by these very blunt, direct remarks. But as I spend more and more time in Europe, I continue to understand that it’s just the way people communicate over here. They’re going to tell you exactly what’s on their mind whether you like it or not. My skin is tougher now and a comment like “Breanne, you’re playing like s**t, get it together!” doesn’t bother me anymore. It’s definitely an adjustment, but it’s also refreshing in some respect. Bluntness lets you know exactly what the problem is and how to fix it. I thought I was blunt, but I’m a puppy compared to some of the comments made on this side of the Atlantic!

I could continue to write for days about the differences between Americans and Europeans, but I don’t want to bore you. Therefore, I’ll finish with my thoughts on sexuality. Nakedness in Europe is expected. Showing skin is almost a requirement. I’ve never seen so many bare bellies, low cut shirts and excessively tight pants. As someone who is somewhat of a conservative dresser, I get a kick out of shopping for clothes away from home. Finding pants/shorts/dresses long enough are few and far between and some of the shirts are so tiny I might as well walk around public in just a bra. This is not to say I’m a prude, but I think some things are better left to the imagination, rather than being on display for everyone to see. From bikini thongs to old men in speedos – anything goes. It’s quite different than home. I remember after college games we would shower in separate curtained off showered areas. No one was about to let anyone else see their bare butt, whereas here, the locker room is one massive skin show. Everyone is naked. Whether conversing about current events, the weather or what is happening later that night no clothing is necessary. There is no shyness or self-consciousness like in America. It’s normal; it’s comfortable. During my first season I was completely paranoid and nervous to be butt naked with a group of people I barely knew. You’d find me hiding behind my towel or cowering in the corner until everyone else was done. How things have changed! It’s a part of the routine and is something I’ve learned to become comfortable with. Men do it all the time, but American women have this stigma about being judged and are way too self-conscious for their own good. It’s a part of life and is a new experience I’m now embracing.

Basketball Update: This weekend was a free weekend. It was much needed to rest our tired, aching bodies. My achilles feel pretty good, so we’ll see tonight in practice how beneficial these couple of days off were. Our men’s team played Benfica on Sunday and unfortunately didn’t get the result they had hoped for. It was a clash of the league titans as 2nd place CAB faced the league leaders. They played a great first half, down 2 at the break but were unable to keep up the momentum in the second. The gym was packed and the crowd loud and even though we lost, it was a fun atmosphere to be a part of. This weekend we play our last regular season game on the Azores Islands. We face Boa Viagem, a team we lost to earlier in the season. A win is a must, as I’d like to celebrate a victory on my 24th birthday!

-BW