In a world full of lines that divide us, imagine one that brings us together. This line comes from a 2012 documentary called “Free Throw”.

 

It’s basically about a group of eight Compton High School students. Being mindful that Compton, California is a place in the states that is known for crime, drugs, gang violence, etc, this documentary proves to it’s audience that this is not all Compton has to offer. In the documentary it shows a different side of Compton and its people. Through the creation of a basketball… (Just stop… Wait for second… I know this reminds you of something… I will get to that in second… Back to the documentary…) it’s a free throw shooting competition for college scholarships. It gets even better though. Not only are they getting money for their education, but they get to also tell their stories. Trust me, by the end of the documentary you will see it’s not where you’re from, but where you’re going. I don’t think much more needs to be said, but Sport Changes Life…(this is what that documentary reminded me of). #grateful #wow #inspire

 

 

My humbling reminder of my love for the game and team pride. I left the final Championship game at the preseason tournament in IT Carlow with nothing but enjoyment and satisfaction.

In my “basketball lifespan”, I have played in pick up games at the park with the boys, pushed through four preseasons of conditionings in college, lost hundreds of games of horse against my dad, played dribble tag at summer camps and sat on the bench with injuries feeling like the world had ended. No matter what was going on in my daily life, basketball was always a factor, and it’s easy to forget how much I actually love playing.

Sunday I was reminded of this love more than I ever have been before. Being able to laugh on the court again – like literally laughing and being myself (people probably thought I was crazy) was gratifying. Anyone who has played in college knows the struggle and rewards, knows the work, dedication and sacrifices on any and every level.

After making it through the semi’s Sunday afternoon, the indomitable Dynamos (yes, us) geared back up 25 minutes after the final horn for the Championship vs. NUI Galway. We elevated our feet, changed our socks, I stuffed in a banana and p&j sandwich and got back on the floor…and we were animals!!  (If you can’t tell, I’m loving the grind here!) The games are dirty, high-speed…dirty, and, you’ve got to have that grit (CCWBB) if you want to win! And we did. Down 10 starting the second half, we fought through/with the flying elbows, hustle plays, key shots and had a little bit of determination. Our fans were rumbling the gym and we decided there was no letting down.

None of my family or friends were there to see the game, and there was no video taken to capture it. It was like choosing to leave my camera behind (that one time in Italy) because there is no proof needed; the greatness of the event or place in time is only meant for the ones who were there and experienced it.

Watch this new advertisement/documentary from The North Face:

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phl82D57P58

 

Unbelievable ad. Personally I think the guy is insane… but I can still respect the effort. It’s just wild to think Alex Honnold would attempt something that 99% of the world probably considers a suicide mission. But take a look at his face at the 5:30 mark… just pure ecstacy. I’m sure at that moment he was the happiest person on Earth.

 

The word surrounding this video is fear. The description, process, and comments about this project all come back to fear, and with good reason I might add. Most of us will never face such a pressure filled situation, but the concept of fear and motivation still applies to us in general.

 

Fear can be both paralyzing and empowering. As Honnold mentions at one point in the video, he simply went from anxiety and nerves to a “let’s do this” attitude. Something just clicked and he was over the fear, or at least had battled it down to a level where he could function and succeed.

Back to the paralyzing vs empowering issue, there are loads of stories that support either end of the spectrum. A paralyzing fear, for example, may be a soldier in a war zone who shuts down under the incredible stress and terror around him. Conversely there are soldiers who ‘accept their fate’ and the prospect of death to accomplish absurd acts of heroism in the face of danger. 

 

Point being, fears are what you make of them. They can crush you or motivate you. The fear of failure can be especially powerful. When you feel the fear of losing a championship game maybe you start playing insanely intense defense. When you feel scared about an approaching final exam maybe you study 8 hours a day for a week straight. Maybe you’re scared you’ll never see that beautiful girl again, so you work up the courage to ask her on a date. Whatever it may be, fear can elicit a powerful response in us. One that we can use to succeed.

 

Little pop culture reference: kind of corny but this talk about fear reminds me of Batman The Dark Knight Rises, when Bruce Wayne is stuck in prison and his only way to freedom is to climb out:

 

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EbM0L073ug

 

At first Bruce is told that the reason he fails to escape is fear… he responds that he’s not afraid. A moment later, however, we’re told that a LACK of fear is what may be holding him back. He wrongly assumes that being afraid was a negative, and could not be used as a positive. Yes it’s a movie and the hero has to succeed, but I like the message the old man gives Bruce.

 

“Use fear to your advantage, don’t let it hold you back. Fear can only cripple you if you’re willing to bend to its will.”

 

When you feel the fear rising inside you acknowledge it. Feel it. Understand it. And use it to propel you to accomplish great things. Alex Honnold sure did.

 

There was alot of positive energy in the building last night at #eHoops! The lads were all over the place, clapping, chest bumping, and high-fives everywhere. Even if they missed a shot or messed up during the new passing drill me and fellow scholar Kerri Shields introduced to them which was the 3-man weave; they were still loud and having fun!

 

But before all that took place we had a chat about #TEAMWORK which was the theme for the session. Alot of the guys said that a good thing about being on a team is you have other people to rely on if you are not  good at a certain task, one of your teammates might be able to help you out. And vice versa you can help your teammate out if he is not as strong in an area as you are.

 

I thought this was big because they are willing to help each other out and they have each others backs. Even though they do not all have the same goal they can still work as a team to help each other achieve the goal that they have in life. Something as simple as a high-five or a pat on the back can be encourgaing enough for them to keep pushing toward their goals. Its motivating to know you have people in your corner cheering you on.

 

Lets see if they keep the energy alive for next week!

 

#SportChangesLife #Inspire #TeamWork

 

 

 

 

As excited as I was to finally have my first practice with the UL women’s soccer team this week,  I was feeling quite jittery about my first time meeting the ladies.  For the past four years of my life I played on a team that had become my second family; I had absolutely no idea what to expect this time around and I found it hard to think about starting all over with another team.

 

As I was walking to the field feeling a bit anxious, I saw the fresher men’s squad playing 8-a-side and I caught myself smiling, the nervousness slowly slipping away. I hadn’t played seriously since my last game in November, and seeing them practice reminded me how much I missed playing the game I fell in love with when I was just a little girl.

 

All in all, the practice went well; we pretty much played 8-a-side the entire time and my team was a group full of hard-working, great girls. I also had a fun time playing alongside an international student from Norway that Marian had introduced me to, who thought it would be funny to call me “Champ” the whole practice after Marian told her I was a “soccer star and a champion” (thanks for the grand introduction, Marian.)

 

This year in Ireland will be different in many aspects, from the culture differences all the way down to the differences in playing soccer. I can’t expect it to be the same as my days with La Salle Women’s Soccer, but I do know that it will be another fun ride. No matter the difference, any team from any country is after the same goals. I’m looking forward to starting another journey with UL Women’s Soccer!

Each week gets better and better in Ehoops. Words can’t explain how over the edge I am to be a part of a great program. The focus this week was Champions. The young men got to share what they thought a champion was and who they believe are champions. In doing so they realized that there were champions in the room…Themselves. Even the “World’s Greatest” Muhammad Ali once said “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision”. He is simply saying you don’t have to play a sport to be a champion; but you have to have those 3 things. I have a desire to learn more about management, a dream to graduate from University of Ulster with a masters in Business Management, and a vision to franchise a Chick-fil-A. It’s within me. I can truly say that I am one step closer in becoming the champion that I want to be…because after months of dying socks, writing term papers, and studying for final exams, I successfully passed all three of my modules last semester: marketing, new enterprise, and finance. Two more semesters to go before my dream comes true. #iamachampion #victory #ehoops

Weekends in Limerick are a great chance to explore the surrounding city and the cultural events it has to offer. Starting on Friday night, we headed to the weekly (and famous) International Night held at Stables Bar on campus. Every Friday serves as a night to meet other international students attending the University of Limerick (as there are over 2500 here this semester)! The International Society at UL does a great job bringing the international students together with various events, parties, socials, and trips around the country.

 

Saturday night we discovered the Limerick Jazz Festival downtown at Dolan’s Pub and Warehouse. It was a great way to see a different part of Limerick City and also hear some awesome music! I personally love hearing and seeing live music performed – just to see the passion on the musicians’ faces. Their talent was unmatched and it felt like the jazz band had been playing together for years. Little did we know – one of the main saxophonists was playing with the band for his first time ever!

 

On Sunday, Jon and I joined a group of students on a tourist bus trip to the neighboring town of Kilkee, one of the most popular vacation spots in the Western part of Ireland. Standing atop the cliffs over the beautiful Atlantic Ocean has definitely been one of my favorite highlights from my first month in Ireland, and it gave me a chance to take some great pictures in the process!

This weekend Saint Joe’s squared off against Lasalle in their first of 2 regular season Atlantic 10 match ups. By no surprise the Hawks took down the Explorers on their home court. If some of you don’t know, I live with fellow scholar Michele who played for Lasalle and all I have had to hear all year was how amazing the run to the sweet 16 was last year and how they are going to do it again this year. I am sick of it! (Just kidding, I am totally jealous that I never made the Big Dance) Although 2 NIT appearances could equal 1 NCAA tournament?! Anyone agree? Is anyone out there? Bueler? K, didn’t think so. 

 

However, my hawks are having a great season at 17-7 and are projected first four out of the tournament currently, but still a lot of ball to be played. Lasalle is a really good team as well but just not living up to the expectations. The two teams will meet on Hawk Hill in the last game of the regular season and Michele and I decided to put a little wager on the game. Since we are still broke college students living in Europe, monetary bets were out of the question. We talked about the other having to get a tattoo of the other teams mascot. But after getting the Titans logo tattooed on my arm, I don’t want to go through that pain again. ( I wish I could see my Dad’s jaw drop when he read that last line! Obviously joking!) 

 

So we decided that the loser has to wear the other teams gear all week long. We both have plenty of t-shirts, shorts, sweatshirts, and pants so that won’t be an issue. The only issue I am worried about is not getting made fun of for the Lasalle gear but rather for how tight Michele’s clothes might look on me. But that is a moot point, because I think Michele will look fab in the crimson and gray. March 9th can’t come any sooner. The Hawk Will Never Die. 

 

 

My friends told me about this new Japanese restaurant called Taikichi, so I figured I would try it the next time I went to town. I didn’t think I would be going so soon, but the storm with 100mph winds and tons of rain left our apartment village on the fritz with power outages. I decided to take a break from it all and ran some errands. I went to the post office and sent back my souvenirs from Africa. I also got my hair done, but as I left I strolled pass Taikichi to see what the place had to offer.

 

The prices were so affordable and they had a range of choices from delicious sushi to simple fried rice. I asked for a table and began battling with what to choose. Eventually I gave in and asked the waitress what her favorite dish was, and what was popular. She suggested I get the chicken teriyaki bento box, and I added the grilled salmon sushi and the not-so-spring rolls. I know Diana is a big fan of sushi so I wanted to try it out; and I love to eat and try new foods so this place was perfect. The chicken teriyaki bento box came with chicken teriyaki of course, steamed rice, fruit, miso soup and a salad. The not-so-spring roll was a vegetarian and chicken roll with a side of peanut sauce. I kind of cheated with the sushi because I asked them to grill the salmon so it was well done, but it was so amazingly good.

 

The service was fast, the portions were large, and my only struggle was eating with chopsticks, but I refused to ask for regular silverware. It was a challenge and occasionally I caught a hand cramp, but it was totally worth the experience. I can say I made it through an entire meal successfully. I give this place a #victory two thumbs up rating. I will definitely go back again with Diana and any time we are craving some top-notch Japanese cuisine, then we will know where to go…Taikichi…the best place in Limerick. 

As many of my friends and family know food is very important to me, mainly because I enjoy any type of food and also trying new things. So I’ve decided to make a list of comparisons and statements regarding my experiences with Irish food versus my ever favorite Philly/American foods.

 

1. Super Size it – The first thing I’ve realized is how SMALL the portions are here in Ireland.  Or maybe America’s portions are just too big?  (wonder if that correlates to the growing obesity problem..)

 

2. Tea, Tea and more Tea – I’ve never drank so much tea and coffee in my entire life. At any time of day and for absolutely any occasion; tea is the answer.  

 

3. Irish Soda Bread and Scones are my new replacement for my Philly soft pretzel addiction.

 

4. Turkish Kabab- My first time having one here and they’re are dangerously delicious. Mix of lamb and chicken on a grilled pita with lettuce, slaw, tomato, topped with garlic and chilli sauce…bang, bang.  My new replacement for my Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak obsession (there’s a Kabab shop on just about every street here…also dangerous.)

 

5. Chips – also known as fries where I come from. Expect chips with every single meal, but not to there are super crisp and tasty as every potato is from this country.

 

6. Seafood – You can’t beat the seafood here in Galway. As the river is full of salmon and runs directly through this city, you will have the freshest fish of your life.

 

7. Diluted Orange – this is a strong concentrate of either Orange or Blackcurrant (Cranberry) flavoring that you add to water to.  You won’t find Vitamen Water or the range of Gatorade flavors from America when you go out to eat, but you will have your standard choice of dilutes as a stable drink.

 

8. Where’s Beef? – Actually it’s more like where are the greens? For a salad lover such as myself it’s hard to find a good salad place here, because almost every meal is just a variety of meats accompanied with chips or potatoes.

 

9. Ranch- Wait what’s Ranch? There is no such thing in Ireland, the closest I’ve come to find is the popular “garlic sauce”. Along with ranch, hot sauce and buffalo sauce are also very hard to find here … *tear* 

 

10. Beer and Cider – America can’t hold a candle to how delicious their draft Guinness and Bulmer’s Cider are here. It’s especially emabarassing when the only American beers that are sold in the pubs are Budweiser (bud heavy) and Coors Light…(why?).

 

11. Pizza – the popular late night pizza place in Galway is deffinitely fulfilling at the time but unfortunately doesn’t compare to the slices you can get in Manayunk or at the Jersey Shore at the same hour.

 

12. Salads – No not regular salads, these salads are either cole slaw, potato salad, or egg salad and are a staple on just about every sandwich and or meal.

 

13. Curry- Chicken Curry is huge here and is as popular as Mexican and Asian cuisine is in America. I guess this will have to do to replace my Qdoba burrito and General Tso chicken cravings.

 

14. CANDY – the candy and more sepcifically chocolate in Ireland is out of this world.  I’m from the same state where America’s Hersey’s Chocolate orginates, so it pains me to say this but literally any candy bar I’ve tried here puts America’s to shame! I don’t know what they do differently but the chocolate is so rich and creamy that I will not be surprised to come back home with a few cavities. 

 

Just felt the need to give a quick run down on the food situation as I know some of you were curious.  To sum it up, there are definitely pros and cons to each country’s food culture, luckily my Mom and Dad raised me right and I am the furthest thing from a picky eater! Until next post…Cheers!

 

I was lucky to play basketball with my sister Christine for three years in high school. It was the highlight of my basketball career, although I didn’t know or appreciate it at the time. Once I started my college career, I quickly realized that my passion for basketball was closely intertwined with my relationship with Christine. Some of my fondest basketball memories include going to the gym just the two of us and spending hours making up our own plays (2-0) we would use in our in-town games and championships (we were about 12…)! Or the ridiculous passes I could throw to Christine from anywhere she would catch for an “and one”—passes that go flying out of bounds to anyone. We had that 6^th sense, and I don’t think that either of us completely realized it until it was over. Our unique friendship continued to grow at a distance as she played at Holy Cross and I played at Merrimack. Despite busy schedules, we made it to any games that didn’t conflict, often packing some of our own teammates in the car for the 1-hour drive between campuses. Because of how close Christine, Madelyn and I are, both teams quickly became part of our extended family.

 

So while not playing with Christine was a challenge, we both continued to grow and mature. I got to see Holy Cross play when I was home for break, but Christine was sidelined with an illness. Luckily, my (not so little any more) youngest sister Madelyn who also plays at Holy Cross played lots of minutes and made it all worth it. Although I wasn’t able to see Christine play in person this year, I have watched more games online (at 12pm Ireland time) than I have been able to in the past, and for that I am so thankful.

 

I get emotional at all senior nights; my own memories from high school and college basketball emphasize how transformative those years are on our lives. Even if I don’t know the kids playing, a few tears are a guarantee. Now I’m watching Christine play in her college senior night. And when it’s my other half, it hurts to watch this era come to a close. Nothing compares to college athletics. However, once you can appreciate all that it gave you and the memories you have and will cherish forever, you also recognize just how much the rest of the world—that serious athletes often miss out on—has to offer. I am so proud of you Riskay, and so glad that you and Madelyn have the chance to play together this year and that mom and dad are there for your special night.  Hugs from Dublin  <3

 

In case you missed it, here is a great article that details just how lucky I am to be part of such a supportive and amazing family.

What a weekend! This past weekend my NUIG Mystics team and I travelled to Carlow for a National League Pre-Season Tournament. I knew it was going to be a long, tiring weekend, with three matches (better known as games in the States) on Saturday and possibly one or two on Sunday, but it was even more tiring than I expected. Nonetheless, it was so much fun and I wouldn’t have wanted it any different. The weekend brought back some great memories from my AAU days where we would play 3 or 4 matches in a day and it was always great fun, so I knew this weekend was going to be one to remember!!! Getting the chance to travel around Ireland, and play basketball all day with my friends and teammates…what could be better!

 

I was super excited to be on the court with my girls and play some games again. On Saturday, we played three matches, all of which were extremely competitive and close. We lost our first match against Oblates and fellow scholar Jen, but bounced back and won our next two matches against Killester and Portlaoise. We were all pumped to beat Killester because they had beaten us two weeks ago in the Dublin Tournament. Needless to say, it felt great to pay ‘em back! We ended up 2-1 on Saturday, and made it to the semi-finals on Sunday where we would play IT Carlow and fellow scholar Jess! Sunday’s matches were no different than Saturday…it was just as, if not more physical than Saturday. Our team stuck together though and fought for each other and came out on top and made it to the finals, where we would face Oblates, again. Unfortunately, we lost 66-70. Even though we didn’t get the result we wanted, I couldn’t be more proud of my team and our fight all weekend! Whether we were up or down, we never quit fighting or gave up and always had each others’ backs. We learned a lot from the games, our mistakes, and we learned a lot about each other. I had such a blast building team chemistry on and off the court, bonding with my team, and making memories that’ll last a lifetime. I can’t wait till our next set of games! GO MYSTICS!

After seeing the new Wolf of Wall Street movie starring Leonardo Dicaprio and also attending my International Finance course two times a week, I seem to have money on the brain. 

 

It was really interesting to take this international finance course because it brought me back to my corporate working days before coming to Ireland. Many may not know this but I didn’t graduate in the class of 2013 like the majority of the scholars in this program. I graduated from college in 2012 and immediately started working as an accountant for a large international corporation who’s headquarters were in center city Philadelphia. 

 

Just two weeks before coming to Ireland I was working with balance sheets, income statements, and profit and loss accounts, so on the first day of class when my professor was going through the details of financial statements that businesses frequently use, I was having flashbacks to working with these exact documents.  Business is really interesting to me because I think it’s amazing to watch investments and ideas grow into huge successes within a matter of months and or years.  And on the other side of the coin, watching huge successes fail just as fast is also amusing.   

 

Having classmates from all parts of the world and coming from different backgrounds listening to my professor discuss the concepts of international business, it dawned on me that regardless of what language or currency you are familiar with, the ultimate goal remains the same.  Everyone wants to be successful.  Whether you measure success in how much money you make, how many friends you have, or how happy you are, we are all looking for some way to be successful.  Now the question remains how does that happen? What I learned from watching the Wolf of Wall Street and learning about the success and failures of many different business ventures, is that judging success in money alone isn’t necessarily the best measure. I think it’s important to remember that it may not always be dollar signs that measure success because money will come and go, just as the stock market continues to fluctuate every single day. I find it’s more the intangible things that measure success that is the most important, because when all of your money and possessions are gone what will you have left?

This has been a busy week here in Belfast! With class, course work, volunteering and basketball all in full force, we are well into the second half of our journey. I am currently in my Entrepreneurship module for my masters program. Today in class, we spoke at great lengths about leaders, and people who we believe to be entrepreneurs. As a Management and Leadership major in college, this is a topic that really fascinates me. What characteristics do great leaders possess? Are leaders born or made? Is any person able to become a leader? These were all talked about in great lengths in our class today, as we spoke about how entrepreneurs are essentially leaders, who have had the courage to challenge the status quo. At one point, my professor put a picture of President Obama on screen, and asked what makes him a great entrepreneur. As the only American in the program, I thought I may be the only one to have a real opinion of him. I was wrong, as numerous people gave their positive opinion on a man who has inspired many. We spoke about how as an African American raised by a single mother, by even running for President he was challenging the status quo. He was nowhere near the “norm” for what we would have viewed an American president as in the past. He has changed those views for all.  He is a symbol of hope for all people, all because he had the courage to pursue a dream that no one thought was possible. 

 

Ironically, this was very similar to our discussion in eHoops last night. We were divided into groups, and in these groups we had to discuss people we believe to be champions. In our definition, we said that champions were people who have overcome loss/adversity, and continued life in a positive light, by positively influencing people on the field, in business, in the community, at home, etc.  It was really fascinating to hear the guys opinions on this, as they spoke about famous athletes they look up to, who are not only successful on the field, but also are active off the field in the community, using their power for the good. They all spoke of a community priest from their community who had positively touched the area in many different ways. Most importantly, they agreed that they were all champions, for they have all had some loss/hardship in their lives, yet they still have the courage to come to these sessions so they can stay on the right track.

 

I think this is the most powerful lesson we try to instill in these kids; that anything with hard work and determination, we all have the power to do something great, something we may not have thought possible. We must have the strength and the determination to make change. What I learned from last night’s session, as well as today’s class, is that we all have the power to be champions. We all have the power to touch people’s lives in a positive way, to make a difference, to have faith that no matter what the obstacle, we have the strength to overcome it. We are all capable of being champions, leaders and as my professor says, entrepreneurs. We just need to have the heart and strength of mind to do so, and know there is something positive to take from every loss, hardship and obstacle.  Most importantly, we need to have the courage to be different, to challenge the status quo and dream big.

Chipotle was the last meal I had before leaving the states, and I was torn up over the fact that although in London, there wasn’t one in Ireland. During training, we considered “Chipotle” a dirty word that had the Voldemort, “he who should not be named,” effect to suppress the memories.

 

White cilantro rice, spicy chicken, fajita veggies, pico de gallo, lettuce, corn salsa, a little sour cream, and guacamole (yes, I know it’s extra). In college, between my boyfriend, roommates, and teammates, I tried to get out for a burrito at least once a week.

 

Shelby and I have spent the past 4 weeks in Dublin trying to fill this void. I’m not kidding, we have been to at least 3 different places, and although good, they just didn’t do the trick.

 

Thanks to free burrito tickets from joining Medical Overseas Voluntary Electives (sorry Shelby), we crossed the Liffey in search of Boojum. The Belfast scholars had told us this place rivals Chipotle. The aroma showed promise, and the energetic staff reminded me of home (despite those Irish brogues!). I ordered my go too, but in order not to be disappointed, we set our expectations low. Boy, were we surprised. I think the key to this great burrito was the cilantro lime white rice (something Chloe will always miss out on) and the chunky guacamole, something we find rare in this country. Our new friend Mai-Thy was quick to point out how quickly we devoured them. Filled with a sense of relief and satisfaction, Shelby and I just made eye contact and nodded in approval, mid bite. 

 

Check out the loyalty card perks. Your 10^th burrito is free, but the kicker is at 40, you get a free t-shirt. Challenge accepted. The student discount is €5.50, so it falls within budget. Shout out to the amazing staff that took a picture with us, and for our photographer who had to opt out of the shot because he is on tv?

 

Anyone in Ireland craving a burrito, head to Boojum. Something tells me that when we go home, we are going to miss this place. 

Everyday life in Belfast has always taken me back to the reasons why I am here. A great visit from my friends from school brought me back to the meaning of true sisterhood. The sisterhood bond that I have experienced with my friends is the same type of bond we try to install in Ehoops. From the simple things like giving each other a high-five, to a fist-pond after anything for encouragement, or even just being there for one another in order to establish a brotherhood for those young men. Bryan Wilson (Victory Scholar in Belfast) once said at an Ehoops session, “Hands in… Wait do you know why we are doing this?… We do it because we are a team, which builds chemistry, brotherhood…”

 

Henry Ford even once said “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” 

 

Just before my friends came to visit for the weekend, the week started off with an Event at the University of Ulster entitled “Children and Young People: Engaging Youth”. The event gave information on policing and justice powers in Northern Ireland in order to raise the profile of the rights of children and young people who come into contact or are at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system. It also spoke of how programs such as Y-APP, RADAR, and the program I am with (Ehoops), does just as Henry Ford said. 1. Coming together is the beginning–every Wednesday young males in the community, PSNI, local community workers, and SCL come together. 2. Keeping together is progress–and this doesn’t happen over night, however since joining the program before Christmas break, the young males keep coming back… 3. Working together is success, and I can honestly say that we are seeing success right before our very eyes as these young men learn to work together as one unit. I’m grateful for the relationships I have in my life- on and off the court and I know that we all need that sense of community, appreciation, etc. in order to do well in life!

In the first game of the day we were facing off with the league favorite, Brunell basketball club. Although we scored first, they quickly took control of the game as our nerves got to us and made some costly mistakes. By the end of the first quarter though, we were right back in the game and at half time had tied it up.
In the second half, we came out focused and built a small lead by the end of the third quarter. Brunell thought they would be able to come back and beat the little-known Elks, until we went on a run with 4 minutes to go. The Lady Elks went on to win comfortably with a final score of 43-32.
No better way to start the day than with a big win! Unlike tournaments back home, there was no snack bar with overpriced pizza and Gatorades. Instead of making money off the hungry participants and spectators, the families of the host team prepared tables of sandwiches, bananas, and sweets that went perfectly with a cup of tea.
It was time for the second game against Carrig na bhFear. The message was the same, “Have fun. Get better. Play to win.” The girls did just that, and we went on to win 66-58. And for our final matchup in our group, we faced Tolka Rovers, a team we dominated last week in Dublin. This game was no different as we won 62-50, while resting our starters a wee bit before the semi-finals (where we would play the 2nd seed from the other group).
Matched up against the Limerick Celtics, featuring a girl from the Irish national team whom stood head and shoulders above our tallest player, we knew what we had to do and exactly what they wanted to do. We took care of business and had our largest margin of victory with the final score reading 52-36.
Now it was time to play on the full length court. The seats were rearranged and it was time to play our fifth game of the day! From the tap you knew that this game was going to be tough, but not because the opponent was superior. It was a fight against ourselves. We had already played 4 games with 8 minute quarters, totaling up to 128 minutes. Physically, we just didn’t have what it took to win the last game against a good Father Mathews team, as we fell 52-43. Overall though, it was an amazing experience for the girls, and they achieved the three objectives each time they taken to the court. At 9 pm, we left the Brunell gym in Cork with a great deal of respect that was not there when we walked in at 9am.

I’ve been heckled quite a bit in my sports career. At low major D1 basketball most of it is pretty good natured and humorous, and honestly I enjoy a little banter with the crowd. Gets you kind of jacked up to play plus its worth a good laugh if done well. Probably my favorite thing opposing fans ever did was sing “Born in the USA” and the Star Spangled Banner at me while I was shooting free throws. A creative crowd sign or taunt is all in good fun. Course other places I’ve played haven’t been nearly as tame. One away game in Israel stands out in particular. The crowd sat about 5-10 feet behind the benches, and for the better part of the two hours we spent at the game they hurled obscenities and threats at our team. Needless to say it wasn’t the most comfortable place to play.

 

I bring this up because last week one of the top players in collegiate basketball, Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart, got into a physical altercation with a fan. You can read a bit about it here http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10426105/marcus-smart-oklahoma-state-cowboys-shoves-fan . There are varying accounts of the interaction that preceded Smart pushing Texas Tech superfan Jeff Orr. I heard Smart allege that Orr called him the N word while Orr maintains he called Smart a “piece of crap”. Personally I can’t believe Orr any less. Trust me when I say Smart has heard far FAR worse than piece of crap; I doubt he would snap from hearing just that. Also, do people really think Orr is going to walk into the national spotlight and tell the world he’s a racist bigot and called Smart the N word? Can anyone possibly believe that? Might as well give his interview wearing a KKK outfit. We’ll never find out what he really said, but I have to believe Orr said something worse than piece of crap. Alas, I digress.

 

What I really wanted to say is that time and time again we see fans at all different types of sporting events cross the line interacting with athletes. Because they’ve paid for a ticket all of a sudden people think they have free license to say and do whatever they want. I understand the thought process, but it’s gone much too far. You are paying for a service/experience and are “getting your moneys worth”. But what fans seem to forget is that athletes are people too. They have friends, families, and all the different emotions we all have. Most of them are alpha-males who have reached the pinnacle of sport through hard work, talent, and incredible competitiveness. When you throw vulgarities at someone with insane amounts of pride, aggression, and an unwillingness to back down there are going to be consequences. Do I think athletes should get into physical confrontations with fans? Of course not. But fans treat athletes like animals at a circus. No fan would ever have the balls to say similar things to an athletes face outside the sporting event. They know in real life the consequences would be dire. That’s my new rule of thumb: if you wouldn’t yell the same taunt while locked in a room with an athlete you probably shouldn’t be shouting it during a game.

 

The atmosphere surrounding big games is incredible, but fan interaction is growing bolder by the year.. it’s only a matter of time before athletes retaliate. Hopefully it doesn’t take another Malice in the Palace for people to realize it.

Motivation is a word that applies to everything that we do in life. Whatever it is that we decide to do, any choice that we make, there is something motivating or persuading us to do so. When people wake up for work in the morning, they obviously don’t want to get up that early five days a week, but there are factors that are motivating them to do so, whatever those may be. In terms of sports and specifically basketball, I always had the motivation to get better and become the best I could be. At every level I played at, I found something that made me want to improve or I set goals so I had something to strive for and reach. If anyone would try and compare me to someone in my grade then I made sure I improved drastically in the areas I needed to so that comparison wouldn’t happen the following year. There is always something you can do that helps separate you from the pack. These are the same principles that we try to teach the kids we work with in Northern Ireland. It may not be through sports, but whatever it is that you love to do and enjoy, continue to find something that motivates you to stay with and improve in that sport/hobby. Whether the motivation is to make money, be the best you can be at a sport, or just overall better your life, there should always be something or someone there to help push you to keep improving and growing!

 

Looking forward to motivating in tonights #EHOOPS session with the lads!

 

#MOTIVATION #VICTORY #INSPIRE

Yesterday started out just like any other day in the states and just like that 13 people who went to work yesterday are no longer here because of a shooting rampage at the Navy Yard in D.C. Its just the usual things and people we take for granted, the jobs we go to that we despise and are ungrateful for… The sacrifices of others that we overlook because we’re moving too fast, too busy, too self-absorbed… too busy complaining to be grateful… And now 13 families are preparing for their funerals as we speak now. This might of occured yesterday, but it did not hit me until now after visiting City Hall in Belfast today and learning about The Belfast Coat of Arms that comes from Psalm 116:12, ‘Pro tanto quid retribuamus’ Translated from Latin it means “What return shall we make for so much”. We should tell people you love them while they are alive because as my grandfather would say give me my flowers now because when I am gone I will not be able to smell them. PRAYING FOR WASHINGTON DC!

The West Belfast #eHoops group is making strides toward success! Each week I see a change in the young lads attitudes. They are trying out the new sport activities we have for them with 100% effort! I personally liked the cycling session seeing them out of breath struggling but still pushing to finish the cycle.

 

The last couple weeks we have been talking about who inspires us and why. A lot of them chose their favorite soccer player because they are “class”. As we got deeper in the topic they know the soccer stars do not become “class” over night. It is a lot of hard work and dedication!

 

We are challengeing them to take the next step in the right direction to reach their goals. Remembering that it does not happen over night, but continue to take strides and keep pushing like they did in the cycling session.

 

Our next session Wednesday night should be fun!

#SCL #Inspire #Victory

 

Yesterday, I participated in my first basketball game as a Galway Titan. It created a memory that will be stuck with me for the rest of my life! All throughout the week and up until Saturday morning, I was so eager to get on the court and give it my all. Saturday morning came around, and the butterflies started coming one by one. The first one came when I woke up. Knowing it was game day had me feeling a little frantic just because it was my first game playing in Ireland! I didn’t know what to expect going into the game.  All I knew was that the referees were going to allow the game to be more physical than I am used to, so I mentally prepared myself for it beforehand. 

 

My teammates came to pick me up and we hit the road, headed to play at Virginia College. It was a two and a half hour ride to a city called Virginia, what my coaches call “the first and real Virginia.” I was so nervous that I asked about 150 questions on the way there. Questions about the other team, about basketball, and anything else I could possibly think of. I knew my teammates were already getting sick of me before the game even started! But at this point I knew there was no going back, so I had to go with the flow.

 

The game started at 3:00 and we were at 2:00. We were playing a team called the Dublin Thunder. We were already warming up when they walked into gym. The first thing that I noticed was that they were HUGEEE! All of them were just about my height and bigger! That didn’t really mean much to me because I know from experience it takes more than height to win a basketball game.

 

I was very excited to be a starter in my first game in another country! At the end of the first quarter it was a close game, 19-22 their lead. I started off a little slow, but I knew I had time to pick it up, so that’s what I did. After the first quarter I started to warm up. At half time the score was 31-36, their lead. Coach gave us an encouraging speech and we came out roaring, but not enough to gain the lead back. We ended up losing the game; thankfully it was a scrimmage and didn’t count against us. At the end of the day winning or the scoresheet doesn’t matter. The experience is what will be stuck with me for a lifetime and I am so thankful for it. 

Injuries happen. They are part of the game. Every athlete experiences them at some point in their lives. All that being said, that doesn’t make them any easier.

 

Relative to some of my peers, I have been quite lucky on the injuries over my career. Save a broken nose or finger, a few muscle tears, and the normal bumps and bruises that come with a long, tough season, I have been relatively injury free.

 

Unfortunately, in our most recent game against Brunell, I jumped, landed wrong, and rolled my ankle pretty badly. For me, there is nothing worse than having to sit out and feeling like you are letting your team down. I know my body absolutely needs rest to recover and I plan to do just that, but I also plan to be the best cheerleader (sans pompoms, I won’t go that far) I can be until it’s time to get back out on that court. Hopefully, a few physio appointments and some rest will do the trick and I am back in no time!

For now, it’s time to let the healing powers of the body do their job and focus on the books as I am back at it for a long week of lectures. I hope everyone is staying warm back home as I hear the temperatures are going subzero again!

Losing is never fun, but there is something to learn from each game. Our college team is improving each game and building team chemistry, but we have to connect each lesson and get a win. We have only played three games, one that occurred before holiday break, but losing all three has been a reality check. In order for us to start winning, we have to be on the same page and have confidence in each other and ourselves.

 

I think going forward we have to support one another and have each other’s back on offense and defense. If that means we have to come to practice early to review the plays or talk about the zone defenses, then that is what we have to do to help one another. We also have to be ready to bring our A game every time we step on the floor.  It is very important that we maintain a high level of confidence because mistakes will be made, but the team that has a short memory and responds with a positive attitude will likely have a better outcome. Over the next two weeks we have four games, four winnable games that I am looking forward to playing. I would also like to thank some of the UL men’s college players for coming out to support us today! Having a good support system on and off the floor can really make a difference. 

Since I’ve arrived a few weeks ago I have met a ton of great people in Belfast. What stands out the most so far is how many people I have met that are either from near my town, been to my small college, or knew someone that I knew! The last thing I expected when I came here was to meet anyone that knew anyone I did or had been to my college before. One of the legendary Victory Scholars last year (Andre Tongo) went to my college so I figured that he would be the only familiar connection I would have with anyone here. That was not the case at all, last night I met a couple who asked if I knew a girl named ML from my school, in fact she is one of my good friends and will be thrilled that I mentioned her! Also, one of my teammates told me the other day that he actually went to a basketball camp at my school but I thought I I was hearing his accent wrong! I thought to myself that there was no way he went to a camp at my school and he must have meant somewhere else, but I was wrong again. I’m sure more of these situations will come up and I look forward to each one, it’s always nice talking to people that have something in common with you! In the meantime, classes start this week so I better start mentally preparing now!

 

Until next time,

Brian