Victory Tastes So Sweet!

Hello everybody! I am sitting here in a very good mood as I type this week's post! As you can probably tell by the title, We got a win this week! This was huge for us and everyone who follows this blog knows why, lol! I also had a great week away from basketball as I will discuss later. So let's get into another week of Exceeding Expectations!
Coming into this week we were faced with a must win game vs. Rouen! Unfortunately, this game was key for our survival in the top league. Rouen has been playing some good ball lately. I knew that it was going to be tough to go into their place and get a win! This proved to be exactly how the game was won! We had to tough it out for not just 40 minutes but for 50 minutes. Thats right, 2 overtimes! Neither team wanted to give in, but in the end Le Havre came out on top! After so many weeks of hardwork and comittment we were still falling short game after game. However, last night we finally got a much deserved win, and VICTORY TASTES SO SWEET! We have 3 games left in the season and I believe that we can win all 3! I will admit that this season has not been what I anticipated, but to end it on a good note would be great!
As for life outside of basketball, I had my extended european family come to visit me this weekend. Diane and Mark Saelens are from Belgium where I played last year. Our friendship has really grown every since the day we met! This couple has to be 2 of the nicest people I have ever met! They drove 4 hours to support at the game last night! They also brought some good luck with them for us to get the win, lol! They also prepared dinner for me last night as well as today and left me with enough food to last for some time! I also must admit that waking up to fresh coffee and breakfast this morning was awesome! Oh, I failed to mention that they were kind enough to take boxes full of my things back to Belgium with them so that I would not have to send them back to the United States! Now they will be waiting for me when I decide where I want to play in Europe next year! All these things are great, but their company is what I cherished the most about their visit! My wife has been home for some time now and it can get lonely out here. It really did me good to be able to hang out with friends away from the basketball court! Mark and Diane, if you are reading this I am truly grateful to have friends like you!
As for life in France, everything is everything. The weather is continuing to get better and better. I must say that the closer the season gets to the end the more I am ready to get home, lol! The sunny weather is a gift and a curse. I mean beautiful days are awesome, but they seem to make think about all the things I could be doing at home! I will be here for about 1 more month. It seems as if this season has gone by really fast. Maybe I shouldnt say this but I hope this last month does the same! I am ready to see family and do some yardwork (I know that sounds silly)!
Well thats all for this week! Thanks for checking out another episode of my life! I am about to call my mother and watch the NBA playoffs! I hope everyone has a great week and as always EXCEED EXPECTATIONS!

Backs Against The Walls!

Depending on where you are in the world when you read this Good Morning/Good Afternoon. It is a beautiful day in Le Havre, France. The sun is out and the temperature is nice. I am relaxing after yet another tough loss! Yes that's right, we are still weathering the storm over here. Our team is fighting hard and we seem to be improving, but it just seems like one thing happens after another! Just when I think that we are about to snap out of this losing streak, we fall short yet again. Last night we played my former team from Paris. We started the game out pretty good, but before we knew it we found ourselves on the bad end of a couple of questionable foul calls! We already had one big guy out due to injury, and now our other big guys were in foul trouble before halftime! I wish I could blame everything on the referees but that is not the case! I have to hand it to the team from Paris, they really did a good job of executing and forcing us into turnovers! The end result was very discouraging because we have been working hard and improving over the last 3 weeks! Now our BACKS ARE AGAINST THE WALLS! We have a do or die game next week against our somewhat local rivals! We are in a position now where we have to beat this team in order to secure our place in the top league in France! This is a big deal! I do have confidence that we can get this win! Despite our performance last night, we have been doing some good things over the past few weeks and I am sure that we can taste victory once again.
This is new territory for me. I have been trying to embrace the challenges that have been presented to me over the past few months. I really believe that I am growing through all of this, both as a player and a man!
As for life outside of basketball, things are pretty good! We have only a month left in the season and I have to be honest when I say that I can't wait to get home! Monica is already there waiting for me and I am looking forward to being able to spend some time with her! I think Prince is missing me as well, and it will be good to play with him again! I also can't wait to see my mom, lol! That's right, I am a Momma's boy! The summer is probably the greatest time of year for me to just have fun and relax! The weather is great and that is always a good thing! My plans for the Driven Perfection Youth Foundation summer events are coming along well and are right on schedule! So all that is left to do is to focus on getting wins and finishing the season strong. Tomorrow is the beginning of another practice week in which I will have the opportunity to EXCEED EXPECTATIONS! I plan on doing just that, and I hope that you will do the same! Have a great week!

Easter Sunday

Hello Everybody! I hope all is well on this great day! I have decided not to blog on my life and what's going on with me today out of respect and acknowledgement of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Today is Easter Sunday and we sometimes forget or take for granted what that actually means.
Easter symbolizes the ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven. On Easter Jesus rose from the grave in what is called the Resurrection. Jesus died for the sins of mankind on Good Friday. He was crucified, which means nailed to a cross until he died. His body was entombed. When his tomb was approached on Easter Sunday the large rock sealing the tomb had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. Since Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind, the way to God the Father is through Him. Christ suffered and died so that man might live life to the fullest, with the assurance of salvation. Easter is a joyous occasion celebrated by Christians who know in their hearts and are willing to share with others the news of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. The meaning of Easter goes way beyond the physical attributes of the celebration, too. Easter is a time to renew one's faith and to feel the energy of Christ's gift in one's heart. The true meaning of Easter is the gift of grace. We were undeserving of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made.
Jesus Christ and His resurrection is the true meaning of Easter.

Thanks everybody for checking out this week's post. I hope that you were touched in a positive way. I am looking forward to the upcoming week as it will be another opportunity to EXCEED EXPECTATIONS! Have a great week!