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

Summer time blues!

Well it's that time of the year again, the hurry up and wait game. Trying to figure out where we are going to play next year is always a stressful time. You just have to keep your fingers crossed and know that hard work will pay off. I also have great representation who work really hard to make sure we get placed on a team that I can take the most advantage of my skills and drive to be successful.

The summer has been great thus far. Been able to spend a lot of time with the family. I must say it is tough going home knowing mom won't be there but life is moving forward and I have spent a lot of great times with dad and the brothers. We are still waiting on summer to come and stay in Seattle so hopefully our last few weeks stateside will be sunny and awesome. I am sorry I wasn't able to get out and see more of the "extended" family but I promise it will be top of the list next summer. Love to you all and I am back in the blogger mode so be on the look out! Also if you have twitter I'm on @thenickylew.


- Thanks for reading and keep checking in!

Goings On

I really appreciate all the kind words and support I received from the last post. We all know how awesome mom was so I will leave it at that and try not to make anyone cry this time. Things have been moving along pretty well here in good old Strasbourg. Weather has started to turn, we have had a week of sunshine which has been nice to recharge the old batteries.
Basketball is going along and we are still trying to break into and maintain our spot in the top 8 so we can make the playoffs and get some bonuses. We have lost some heartbreakers down the stretch which is very frustrating because one play, shot, or call goes our way and we have 3 more victories. I have been working hard and picking up my defense. It is really frustrating not being able to contribute more but I just keep workin hard and stayin focused.
I have also started my own company called PlayBIG LLC. The goal for me is to start providing summer basketball camps for kids to teach them the much needed fundamentals. I am really excited to be able to give back some of the knowledge and experience I have gained to help kids have opportunities like I did. We are working on a website and trying to lock down dates and locations for our first camp this summer. I will add the website link as soon as we get it finished.

Family Loss

I start this post with a heavy heart. My loving mother was taken from us on January 23. The cancer that she had so valiantly battled for 6 years finally became too much. She showed me what it really meant to be a survivor. She never let this horrible disease change what she was going to do in this life. My mom took the news that one day she would die and spun around and said screw that I have life to live. Man did she ever live life after she was diagnosed. She hiked some of North America's largest mountains, traveled the world, and gave my dad, brother, and I more love then we even knew we were getting. She truly is my hero. I have been struggling with my loss but I must say it does help to have basketball to return to. At least for a few hours everyday and can forget about "real" life and work hard to become as good a player as I can. My mom would have wanted it no other way. When I came home for Christmas this last December, I sat and had a great conversation with my mom (one of our last). I was not ready to return to France. I didn't want to leave her because I knew something wasn't right. She grabbed me in her hands, kissed my cheek, and said "No tears, you go on, you live your life knowing I will always be with you." I left for the airport a few hours later not knowing that that would be the last time I saw my mom. She I think knew that I was going to be ok because I have my wonderful wife and second family the amazing Helbock clan. I cant say enough about how much I love you guys and how amazing you have been helping me through this.
I still have trouble at night, laying in bed my mind drifts to thoughts of my mom and I have trouble falling asleep. She gave so much of herself to so many and I am so blessed that she was my mom. I will miss her more then I think I even know right now. She is with all the angels and is sipping her coffee mug, walking the beach, and sending rays of sunshine from her big smile down to all of us everyday. I love you MOM!!
It has been very nice to return to France and engage myself in basketball. My teammates and the SIG organization have been so generous and helpful to me and I thank all of them very much. We, as a team, are starting to find ourselves. We have been playing very well over the last few games and especially this last Saturday night when we defeated Pau at home. Again I am very thankful that I get to play a game for a living and have the opportunity to not really have to grow up. I can find my release on the court for my sorrow and pain. But as my Mom always said to me before every game I played since Middle School "Play Big". I will continue to Play Big for Mom knowing she is with me everyday making sure I don't let down.
Thanks to all my friends and family who have been there for me, Jake, and my Dad. Keep checking in and feel free to leave messages!! Love