First Time Overseas Experience |
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This is the section where you hear it like it is. A few friends who have been there will share their experiences good and bad. It will make you laugh and also say "Hell No" they are crazy. But this is real life and not all fantasy.
Donny Beachum: Did the referees call the game differently? Oh yeah, the refs don't give you any calls. They think because you are american and especially black that you can take the hard foul and still hoop with the no call. Did you get paid on time? How did you handle that situation? Getting paid on time was a problem for me. The first time I didn't say anything and my money came about 5 days late. The next time I was like hey I got bills, my momma need to pay rent, my car is about to get re-posessed, or whatever it took to get them to pay me on time. Sometimes you got to do that. Just make sure you get that money. How did you communicate with family and friends? Get a cell phone. That must be in the contract. If you can bring one from the U.S. A Nokia phone. These work over seas. I also used the internet. Instant messaging and all that stuff. If there was one thing you can change about playing overseas what would it be? If I could change one thing it would probably be the food. Wish they had better food here. Other than basketball related items, name three things you wish you had brought? Playstation, a converter for my clippers, (get it from the U.S. if you can) Movies. What would be your most memorable experience being overseas? Probably the all-star game I played in. The dunk contest and all the people there asking me for autographs and grabbing on me. Did you ever have to go to the hospital? Was it like an American hospital? Yeah, I broke my finger and had to go. It was nothing like the hospitals at home. It looked like a hospital from 1950. It was run down. You had to put plastic over your shoes to walk around. The doctors and nurses wore slippers to work for some reason Tawona Alhaleem: What were your first thoughts when you got to your destination? Wow!!!! I can't believe im in another country all by myself. If there was one thing you can change about playing overseas what would it be? The language barrier. Other than basketball related items, name three things you wish you had brought? Israel was Americanized so i didnt have to bring much, but i will say this LADIES MAKE SURE YOU BRING HAIR PRODUCTS THAT WILL LAST YOU FOR SEVEN MONTHS(perms, shampoo etc.....) I almost forgot, everyone should bring medicine from the states(aleve, motrin, vitamins etc...) If you could offer advice to someone before they came overseas what would it be? Do research on the country and make sure you have an agent that knows what he/she is doing. What was the most outrageous moment you had being overseas? I was attacked by this man while using an outside phone. What would be your most memorable experience being overseas? When I received counterfit money. Renaldo Johnson: Did you get paid on time? How did you handle that situation? No I didnt, but I handled it like a professional and got paid. What were your first thoughts when you got to your destination? You always arrive to the capital which is cool, but your city might not be as good if not in the capital or major city. What was the most outrageous moment you had being overseas? There was 8000 fans with torn newspapers jumping around with roman candles and road flares and m-80 fire crackers. It looked like a soccer game u see on tv overseas but all this was indoors. What did you think about the foods? Did you get sick? I got sick in Brazil, make sure u drink bottled water and they cook your food all the way. They think if u see blood those are the juices. What would be your most memorable experience being overseas? I won a classic game and 2000 fans on the bottom level came out the stands and hugged me one by one. John Grice: What kind of relationships did you have with your teammates? My relationship goes no further than practice and the games in regards to my teammates. How did you keep from getting lost in the country on your free time? I always try to remember the street names and familiar places to What were your first thoughts when you got to your destination? That I was blessed to have another opportunity to visit another country and play ball while I am doing it. Other than basketball related items, name three things you wish you had brought? My family, my truck, and my friends. If you could offer advice to someone before they came overseas what would it be? I would tell them to be mentally prepared because there are some things you will have to adapt to playing overseas. Morris Hall: What kind of relationships did you have with your The relationships with my teammates were not that good because the team that I played for the players were young so they were always playing around, and this is a job for me so I was taking it seriously. Also if you start killing the league your teammates will hate on you and not pass the ball to you. Did the referees call the game differently? The referees are the worst that you will ever encounter. They dont call fouls and they are always looking for a reason to give you a technical foul. It was crazy. What were your first thoughts when you got to your destination? I looked at the gym floor and said this is where I'm going to be playing. I wanted to get on the first plane outta here. Other than basketball related items, name three things you wish you had brought. A laptop, a digital camera, and you have to bring somebody with you period. What was the most outrageous moment you had being The most outrageous moment has been when I was riding in the back of a truck on the way to the club and these people noticed who I was and started chasing the truck on foot it was wild. If you could offer advice to someone before they Be prepared because overseas is not for everybody you have to be focused on your goal at hand, and take care of business period. Did you ever have to go to the hospital? Was it No, but we went to the clinic for our physicals and we had to get 3 shots. I was hot, I did not even know why I was getting poked. What kind of relationships did you have with your teammates? How did you keep from getting lost in the country on your free time? What were your first thoughts when you got to your destination? If you could offer advice to someone before they came overseas what would it be?
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