Well I can't believe that we are already in to 2012. Remember back when we were worried what would happen when the clock hit midnight and the date turned to 2000. People were prepping for the end of the world, stock piling stuff, and bearing in for end of days. Well hahaha now we have the iPad, iPhone, Internet video that can make anyone, Justin Bieber and the no talent Kardashians famous, and working our way back to Mars. But again we are facing another end of days scenario with the Mayan calendar. We must brace for the end, Again. I saw a great cartoon not to long again that depicted to Mayans standing looking at each other and there is a pile of paper in front of them and the first Mayan says "well that's all the paper I have left to finish the calendar" and the second responds "that's really going to mess somebody up someday". (probably didn't do that joke justice so I will try and find it and post it)
Anyway moving forward so let's dive into the BBall for all of you who actually read this for that reason. We have continued to do very well and I must say that when we are playing well we are a very good team. We have won 5 in a row coming into the last push of games before the end of the season. I continue to play well in limited minutes but I keep the productivity at a high level and work hard to make sure that when on the court all I have goes into the game. The team has come together very well and I am always very aware of the fact that this isn't an easy thing because it is rare that a team, in Europe, stays together for more then a year so when we do start to come together to play at a high level it is very impressive. That is what separates good teams over here from championship teams, how quickly you can all come together and play as a real team. For the most part this has gone very well for us. Our fans continue to rock the house for our home games. I really wish that I could share with you how great fans are over here, they are in the game every moment and don't stop. Singing chants and banging on drums man it's great. So BBall is going very well for the moment. I don't remember if I have given out our website or if some of you just don't have it so I will include it at the end of this post. On a side note our photographer this year is awesome, definitely one of the best I have had as a pro so there are some great pics on the site and on my Facebook page.
To finish out I really wanted to get this post out before the end of this month because the next few weeks will be very difficult for me and my family. I can't believe that it has already been a year since my mother passed away. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't find myself reaching for the phone and saying to myself "I need to call mom she will know what the answer is, or what to do, or just tell me that I am her Nicky boy!". That will probably never go away and I don't think it will be any easier to realize that she will not be on the other end of the phone. But I know that she is looking in time to time and sending a smile on the wings of a butterfly or a funny feeling on my neck. I miss her deeply. I will end on that and to all that knew her and continue to be a part of my life I can't imagine surviving this last year with out all the great love and support I get from you all everyday.
Team site: www.wtkanwil.com.pl copy and past in the browser
-Thanks for Reading!
www.theplaybig.com
@TheNickyLew on Twitter
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Chiming In
I will start this post with a quick recap of our season. We are doing very well and just finished up our first run through of all the teams. Overall we are 8-4 sitting in 2nd starting the second round. The second round will be a little tougher for us because a majority of the games will be on the road which is always hard. But if we maintain our confidence and keep working we should end up in a nice spot when all is said and done.
Now down to what I really wanted to write about. I have been sitting back trying to get a grasp of what has been going on in the College sports world lately. The child abuse/molestation cases that have been brought to light make me absolutely sick. Having been an athlete my whole life I have been through all levels of sports and had some extraordinary coaches of whom I owe a great deal. Outside my mom and dad I have to say that these coaches helped mold me into the player, but more importantly the man, I am today. When you are a young kid coming up in the sports world, your coaches become a very important part of you life whether you like it or not. Some coaches may not even know it but kids see everything and hear everything. A coach is looked upon with respect and trust. You look at your coach as someone who you think knows everything and will guide you on the right path. You give them respect, you give them your effort, and most importantly you give them your trust. You trust that during practice they are giving you skills to become a better player, in practice you give them everything you got to make sure you don't let coach or the team down, and finally trust. You trust that coach has your best interest in mind and would never lead you in the wrong direction. Of coarse no one is perfect and coaches will make mistakes but you trust that in the end coach was trying to do the right thing. Coaches wield a lot of power to influence their players and in my experience, and for many players I know and have played with, there has been at least one coach that without him/her they wouldn't be where they are now.
Having said all that I turn now to the atrocities that have unfolded at Penn St and Syracuse. These coaches used ALL the trust and respect that kids put in them and used it to do unspeakable things. Allegedly of coarse and I do believe full heartedly in "innocent until proven guilty". But some of the acts that have been brought forth don't leave much doubt in my mind. A coach who has the gall to use their position to put children in such a terrible situation is inexcusable. We have become so lost in the moment of sport and records and image that we look past the fact that children had their innocence ripped away from them by someone they thought was their guide, their coach. I have nothing but disgust for anyone who would take advantage of a child in any way, shape, or form. Children have one thing that makes them better then us grown ups, innocence! This world is way to tough and sometimes evil to have to force a child out of innocence and into the real world too early. My deepest prayers and sorrow go out to ALL victims of abuse and molestation of any form. We must try to preserve innocence as long as we can, there is plenty of time to grow up.
Now down to what I really wanted to write about. I have been sitting back trying to get a grasp of what has been going on in the College sports world lately. The child abuse/molestation cases that have been brought to light make me absolutely sick. Having been an athlete my whole life I have been through all levels of sports and had some extraordinary coaches of whom I owe a great deal. Outside my mom and dad I have to say that these coaches helped mold me into the player, but more importantly the man, I am today. When you are a young kid coming up in the sports world, your coaches become a very important part of you life whether you like it or not. Some coaches may not even know it but kids see everything and hear everything. A coach is looked upon with respect and trust. You look at your coach as someone who you think knows everything and will guide you on the right path. You give them respect, you give them your effort, and most importantly you give them your trust. You trust that during practice they are giving you skills to become a better player, in practice you give them everything you got to make sure you don't let coach or the team down, and finally trust. You trust that coach has your best interest in mind and would never lead you in the wrong direction. Of coarse no one is perfect and coaches will make mistakes but you trust that in the end coach was trying to do the right thing. Coaches wield a lot of power to influence their players and in my experience, and for many players I know and have played with, there has been at least one coach that without him/her they wouldn't be where they are now.
Having said all that I turn now to the atrocities that have unfolded at Penn St and Syracuse. These coaches used ALL the trust and respect that kids put in them and used it to do unspeakable things. Allegedly of coarse and I do believe full heartedly in "innocent until proven guilty". But some of the acts that have been brought forth don't leave much doubt in my mind. A coach who has the gall to use their position to put children in such a terrible situation is inexcusable. We have become so lost in the moment of sport and records and image that we look past the fact that children had their innocence ripped away from them by someone they thought was their guide, their coach. I have nothing but disgust for anyone who would take advantage of a child in any way, shape, or form. Children have one thing that makes them better then us grown ups, innocence! This world is way to tough and sometimes evil to have to force a child out of innocence and into the real world too early. My deepest prayers and sorrow go out to ALL victims of abuse and molestation of any form. We must try to preserve innocence as long as we can, there is plenty of time to grow up.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Here's Winter
Hello Mr. Frosty. Yep winter just came in nice and fierce in the last few days in Wloclawek. When I stepped off the bus after our long road trip at 5am this morning the weather had definately decided to kick into winter for real. Cold, damp air wiping up your your pant legs is no bueno. May be time for some long john's. Well we got our butts kicked in Turow yesterday. It was just an all around bad game, couldn't throw it in the ocean offensively and they didnt miss ANYTHING in the first half. We have been on a bit of a slide since our 6 game win streak and dropped our last 2 in a row. We got away from playing together and spreading the court. I had a nice double double last week which felt really good and I need to do that a few more times. I am struggling a bit from 3 right now which has really been affecting our game plan. When I am on from outside it really takes pressure off our 5 man and opens the floor WIDE. Makes it harder for the other team to double down and allows our guards to penetrate from every where and dish the ball. We will get right back to where we need to be, top of the Polish league. We are that good and will be at the top at the end of the season.
On a side note I am going to step up on my soap box and preach a bit. I have been following the lockout in the NBA, as a lot of us European players have been, and I must say it doesn't look like there is an end in sight. I am proud to say right now that I am a Profesional Basketball player and Kobe and Lebron are not, hahaha, NICE! I have also read a few articles about players from the NBA who have tried to play over here and all they say is that the living conditions, travel, and lifestyle is terrible. Well you have to be mentally tough and have heart to play over here! The fans are ruthless, refs terrible, and gyms smokey and small. But we love it over here, we play for the love of the game not the money. We play to try and support our families the best we can. I have been given many great things and opportuinties from basketball but I have also given up precious time with family and missed many important events back home but I love and respect this game. I play for the love and I hope that people understand that while it has been great, it is also hard, but the hard makes it great!
On a side note I am going to step up on my soap box and preach a bit. I have been following the lockout in the NBA, as a lot of us European players have been, and I must say it doesn't look like there is an end in sight. I am proud to say right now that I am a Profesional Basketball player and Kobe and Lebron are not, hahaha, NICE! I have also read a few articles about players from the NBA who have tried to play over here and all they say is that the living conditions, travel, and lifestyle is terrible. Well you have to be mentally tough and have heart to play over here! The fans are ruthless, refs terrible, and gyms smokey and small. But we love it over here, we play for the love of the game not the money. We play to try and support our families the best we can. I have been given many great things and opportuinties from basketball but I have also given up precious time with family and missed many important events back home but I love and respect this game. I play for the love and I hope that people understand that while it has been great, it is also hard, but the hard makes it great!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Polski
The new season has started, where in the world is Nick Lewis this year? Well if you speak Polish you would know from the title of this post that I am in Poland. Yep Poland the place where WWII started unfortunately. Must say that so far it has been a very good experience minus the 3 hour wait I had my first day straight of the plane for the doctor to get my physical. I got picked up from the airport and away I went with the driver that was provided by the team to take me the few hour drive to Wloclawek (my current home city). On the way we were going to stop and get my physical out of the way so I would be ready to practice the next day. Well needless to say the doctor got the day wrong and as any of you who have traveled in Europe know that NOTHING is open Sunday, which I actually have come to appreciate as it should be a day off to stay at home. So the doctor was not available for 3 hours. So let's travel for 14 hours, get in a small car for a 2 hour drive, and then sit in a parking lot and wait for the doc. Not a great start but hey gotta roll with the punches.
Amid that suspect start the actual transition to Poland has been really good. The gym that we play in is very nice and def one of the best that I have had as a home court while I have been in Europe. Good weight room and training room available whenever I need which is always a bonus. The guys have been very helpful in the transition but it is always difficult coming into a situation having missed the entire preseason and training camp. That is an important time to develop as a team and find everyone's role. I am just going to have to do it on the fly. No worries like the marines say adapt and over come.
Personal note I am over here this year alone as my beautiful wife got a job that was too good to let go this year. She and our little monster stayed home in Seattle. In the current tough times tough decisions have to be made but we are a strong family and the time will fly by! But if any of you could use a Euro vacation I have room and could always use the company. On a climate note however if you come during the next 3 months plan to dress almost like you are going to explore either one of the poles, bit chilly over here...
Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question, would be great to get a little 2 way communication this year. More interactive blog. Pass Life of Basketball along!
Nicholas Lewis
www.theplaybig.com
Twitter: @thenickylew
Amid that suspect start the actual transition to Poland has been really good. The gym that we play in is very nice and def one of the best that I have had as a home court while I have been in Europe. Good weight room and training room available whenever I need which is always a bonus. The guys have been very helpful in the transition but it is always difficult coming into a situation having missed the entire preseason and training camp. That is an important time to develop as a team and find everyone's role. I am just going to have to do it on the fly. No worries like the marines say adapt and over come.
Personal note I am over here this year alone as my beautiful wife got a job that was too good to let go this year. She and our little monster stayed home in Seattle. In the current tough times tough decisions have to be made but we are a strong family and the time will fly by! But if any of you could use a Euro vacation I have room and could always use the company. On a climate note however if you come during the next 3 months plan to dress almost like you are going to explore either one of the poles, bit chilly over here...
Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question, would be great to get a little 2 way communication this year. More interactive blog. Pass Life of Basketball along!
Nicholas Lewis
www.theplaybig.com
Twitter: @thenickylew
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