Coaching the Prague Lions in the Czech Republic

During my time in Prague, I have linked up with an American football team called the Prague Lions.  I have been able to help out a bit with coaching wide receivers while I've been here.  I haven't made it to as many practices as I would have liked to because I've been so busy with my TEFL language course.  The Lions have a Czech head coach, and Americans coordinating the offense, coaching the offensive line, and also an American who coaches the defensive line.  It is very unusual to have 3 American coaches on a European team.  I have also met 5 different Americans who have played in games and/or practice with the Lions.  A few of these Americans are here doing a study abroad program in Prague.  The other Americans are paid imports who are earning a salary and benefits like housing, food, insurance, etc.... to play for the Lions.  The team has been a lot of fun to work with, and I've enjoyed my brief time with them.  They are a hard working bunch of guys, who are very eager to keep learning the game.  The team is 3-3 on the season, with two regular season games left on the schedule.  Below are a few pics of some practices and games.  The Lions compete against teams from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

       The Prague Lions begin practice warm-ups

  An American QB drops back to throw during                   offensive skelly session

Pre-game on the road vs. Pribram

Lions Off. Coordinator Zach Harrod (from Wisconsin)

Pribram got the best of the Lions in this one

The Trnava team (from Slovakia) traveled to Prague to play the Lions

The big Slovakian QB looks over the Lions defense

                                     The Prague Lions won a close       game  over the Slovakian team 28-26.



                                                              Lights out.

30 Hours in a Greek Paradise & Asses on the Island of Hydra

                                                Welcome to Hydra

I had the opportunity recently to visit 3 Greek islands.  All 3 islands were within a 2 hour high speed ferry ride from Athens.  Hydra was my favorite island that I visited.  The other two (Poros, and Aegina) were beautiful as well.  However, Hydra just really stood out for me.  It has friendly locals, beautiful scenery.... where mountains and the sea meet to form a sublime landscape.  The island has plenty of sun, low humidity, some of the most pristine, secluded, and gorgeous beaches that I've ever seen.  Throw in a quaint harbor, views of Sparta in the distance, amazing fresh Greek food, and you have something fairly close to paradise.  There is plenty of great hiking and areas to explore on the island, and there are 0 cars on the island.  To get around, people use their feet, or their asses!  Quite literally, this is true.  With no cars on the island, donkeys are the main way of transporting things and people on the island.   It took me about 10 minutes on the island to realize that if ever given the chance again, I'll be back.  During my 30 hours on the island, (yes I left one day and then went right back the next day), I swam in the Aegean Sea, hiked high into the mountains, shared conversation with locals, ate lots of fresh Greek food, and generally just fell in love with this amazing island.

As I mentioned above, one of the unique aspects of Hydra is the fact that there are no automobiles of any kind allowed on the island.  Basically, if you want to get somewhere, you must walk, or find a reliable ass to get you there.  The donkeys, or asses as I will refer to them in this bit, are lined up all along the port entrance as you arrive.  Upon arriving on the island, I was immediately intrigued by the notion of using an ass instead of a car to get around.  Forgive me for a moment, while I indulge in the contemplation of how this might work out.  (Readers note:  Every time you see the symbols **, just substitute the word ass.)

So as I arrived at the port of Hydra just a few short weeks ago, I wandered over to one of the ** caretakers.  I asked him about the benefits of using your ** to get around.  For one thing, he said, we don’t have any crazy ** drivers on this island.  Good point, I thought.  Next, I inquired about the procedure for renting a good, strong **.  He suggested that I pick my own **.  I asked him about finding a smart **, and he said there were plenty to choose from.  I thought there could be nothing worse than relying on a lazy ** or hard ** who doesn’t want to listen to anybody.  I also wanted to avoid the possibility of choosing a dumb ** who might end up getting me lost.  Next, I wanted some advice on how I might deal with a stubborn **.  He admitted that it could be a problem if I couldn’t get my ** moving.  When dealing with a difficult pain in the **, he suggested that I consider a good ** whoopin.  I assured him that I didn’t want to beat his **, but I realized it might be a consideration if I was unable to get my ** in gear.  Ultimately, I chose a simple **, and as I prepared to straighten my ** out, the young man handed me a bottle of water.  He said this would help to cool my ** down if it got overheated.  We both agreed that a hot ** could present all kinds of problems.  Eventually, I paid the man, climbed on, and shifted my ** in the saddle.  It ended up being a great day.  Even though my ** is still a little sore today, I would certainly recommend the ** whole experience.

ATTENTION READERS:  PLEASE KEEP THE WISE ** COMMENTS TO A MINIMUM!!!

                                                            Lights out.

Fabulous Food/ Tastes of Europe 2014

                                                   Traditional English fare-- Fish 'N' Chips with Mushy Peas

                             Slab of weinerschnitzel over spaetzle in Vienna, Austria

 
                                           Iced Nescafe in Athens, Greece

                     Macedonian Chick-Pea Salad with Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil

                             Greek Souvlaki-- Mixture of Beef, Pork, & Chicken Over Vegetables

                             Traditional Greek Salad with feta Cheese on top

                      Traditional Greek Gyro-- covered with fries ($ 2.00 street food)

                                                      Czech Pastries            

                            Goat cheese & Tomato Quiche with salad in Prague

Blend of Italian & Czech in Prague- Glazed Pork with Gnocchi in a Cheese Sauce

                                          

                                                     NEED I SAY MORE?


                                                            Lights Out.

                                     

Ancient Greece--The Cradle of Civilization (Day 1)

 

 

The effort to get to Greece was extensive as I flew from London to Oslo, Norway and then on to Athens.  It was a long day and a lot of flying, especially considering the fact that only 28 hours earlier, I had just flown 7 hours from Philadelphia to London Heathrow.  The scenic route to Athens was quite a bit cheaper for me, and I really didn't mind the brief stopover in Norway.  I have been to Norway a few times before, so I didn't feel like I was missing much by only stopping for a short while at the airport.  Considering the fact that 2 small pieces of pizza cost me about $ 20 in U.S. dollars, I wanted to get out to Athens ASAP.  My first day in Greece was spent getting my bearings and really just settling in.  I strolled through the streets near my hotel, got oriented with the local metro and bus system, and then spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon browsing through the local markets.  In the early afternoon, I decided to visit the Acropolis Museum.  This was a wise choice for me.  The museum contains an amazing assortment of Greek artifacts, pottery, statues, and also a number of the actual structures from several monuments located a top the Acropolis.  While visiting the museum, I decided to stop in the local cafeteria for a quick lunch.  I felt a bit hesitant to eat my first meal in Greece in a museum cafeteria, but I was hungry and I heard the food was good.  About ten minutes into my meal, there was some commotion a few tables down from where I was sitting.  The Greek secret service was arranging a table, and creating a security perimeter just 20-30 feet from where I was sitting.  The next thing I knew the Prime Minister of Greece was walking by and then sitting down at a nearby table to conduct a meeting.  I was amazed to literally run into the leader of  Greece on my first day in the country.  It reminded me of a few years back when I was wandering the streets of Rome.  I made my way to the Vatican City on that particular day, and ended up seeing the Pope entering St. Peter's Square.  I hung around that day and listened to the Pope give a brief sermon.  It goes to show that you never quite know what you'll see when you're traveling.

 

 

 

                                                                                  

                                                                        Artifacts of ancient Greece in the Acropolis Museum

                                                                                       Zeus, Apollo, and Aphrodite  (I think ? )

                                                                                 
                                                             More images from the museum (Think they've lost their minds)

                                                                               Greek secret service agents doing their duty

                                            The leader of Greece conducting a business lunch
                                                                                      Wonder what they are talking about??




                                                                                                                         Lights out.

The Adventure Begins in England

           London was my first stop on my way to Prague.  I always enjoy visiting      this city, and even though my time was short, I still was able to take in quite a bit. 

I visited a few places that I've been to before like Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace, and then a few new sites for me like the National Gallery       and the Winston Churchill War Rooms.  The National Gallery is free to visit and it houses some amazing pieces of artwork from the likes of Monet, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Renoir, etc...  The Churchill War Rooms are a site that I've wanted to visit for quite some time now.  Essentially, the underground war rooms that I visited are the same ones that Churchill and his war staff used to conduct battle plans, and war operations from during the Second World War.  Most of the rooms have been left as is, and many of the actual maps are still hanging from the walls in this underground bunker/facility.  Many of Churchill's belongings are still at the site.  More information on the legendary British leader is available at the Churchill museum, which is now housed in the same facility as the War rooms.  I spent about two hours in the museum itself, and it was certainly worthwhile. The war rooms are located less than a mile away from Trafalgar Square.      The weather was absolutely grand during my visit to London, probably the warmest, clearest day I've ever encountered in the city.                                                                                                                                                                        

Bustling Trafalgar Square on a pleasant spring day

This blue rooster is watching over Trafalgar Square for the next 18 months.

                                                                     The entrance to the Churchill War Rooms

                                        One of the underground meeting rooms in Churchill's bunker

                                                                                               Buckingham Palace

 
                                            A British Guard on duty





                                                  

                                                                                                                Lights out.

Back to the Blog

     After a loooong Blog hiatus, I am back to record and blog about some more of my experiences and misadventures while overseas.  I like to write about things like sports, history, travel, unique aspects of different cultures, etc… but I also enjoy writing about everyday life.  Human interest stories really drive a lot of my content.  I like the quirky side of life, the unusual, the “Road less traveled” if you will.  After this initial post, I plan on posting lots of pictures, so look forward to those coming very soon.

      I have neglected to blog over the past two years or so mostly due to time constraints from coaching, teaching full-time, family life.  Maybe one day, I will find the time to chronicle some of the other trips I’ve taken over the past few years.  My backpacking trip with my son Kodie to Iceland, Finland, France, and Germany last summer would certainly be high up on my list.  I might also include the journey to the Turks and Caicos Islands last May with my wife, probably one of my favorite trips of all time.  In any case, a few things have changed since the last time I was blogging.  

      I am now living in West Virginia with my family and teaching physical education full-time at Potomac State College.  I coach youth and high school football, and do a little writing on the side for a sports website, and a regular travel writing column for a regional community magazine in Maryland. 

 The reasons that I write are still the same.  It is a way for me to record what I see, and capture the moment in much the same way as a photographer does.  As I get older, I am getting more forgetful, so writing is a good way to keep track of fleeting thoughts and foggy memories.  I find writing to be cathartic in many ways too.  It gives me a way to examine and understand myself and others around me.  When I put pen to paper or fingers to keys, I hope to somehow inspire others to laugh, cry, and be more curious about the world around them.  I want to educate and entertain, and also share my experiences that have emanated from meeting so many interesting people.  Traveling the world has been the best textbook that I’ve ever opened.  What I’ve learned about people from various cultures can be summed up in a few sentences.  Even though many people speak different languages, eat different foods, have different traditions, etc… most of us seem to be searching for similar things.  I would define these things as someone or something to love, something meaningful to do, and something to look forward to.  Along with my faith, these 3 core beliefs motivate me on a daily basis. 

 Now it’s time to get started!!  My blogs over the next month will cover my recent time in England, Greece, and the Czech Republic.  I am currently coaching football in Prague, and tomorrow I will start my TEFL class.  Hope you will join me for a new adventure!!

Big Game Bust

As is often the case in sports, a big game that receives a lot of hype and looks great on paper, often falls short of our expectations.  Super Bowl XLVIII will certainly go down as a huge disappointment on the entertainment scale.  Seahawks fans would certainly disagree with this assessment, but the game itself lacked the drama and excitement of more recent Super Bowl contests.  You had to figure the game was going to be somewhat out of the ordinary when the scoring opened with a safety for the Seahawks.  Although 2 points would appear to be insignificant to a Peyton Manning led offense, the play was certainly a catalyst that set the tone for one of the NFL's most dominating defenses.  On this day, the Seahawks could do no wrong.  The defense stymied the Broncos attack, the offense moved the ball effectively, the special teams were outstanding, and head coach Pete Carroll pushed all the right buttons en route to the 43-8 blowout.

I think the game was significant in many different respects.  First, it illustrated that a dominating defense paired with a strong running game and solid special teams play is still a winning formula in the NFL.  Despite the fact that the NFL is a passing league, the above mentioned formula is still a proven commodity, especially during the playoffs in December and January.  Second, it proved that a young QB can win big games.  Russell Wilson is special, and he exudes confidence and solid decision making skills for a young QB.  It also helps that he is an exceptional athlete who can threaten defenses with his mind, feet, and arm.  Finally, Pete Carrol's success is a myth buster in terms of what kind of approach you need to have in order to be successful in the NFL.  Carroll is an ultra positive and compassionate man who smiles a lot, and seemingly wears his emotions on his sleeve.  The 60 something coach behaves like a 'youth football coach' on the sidelines, celebrating each and every triumph with a contagious enthusiasm.  His approach is a stark contrast to the hard driving, alpha male, egotistical 'grinder' types, who believe that football is the center of life.  Carroll is unique in that he believes in having fun, and you can tell that he coaches with the attitude of a 'kid in a candy store.'  Evidently, it rubs off on his players and the rest of the organization.  Now, Carroll will get his due respect and the joy and satisfaction that comes with knowing he did it his way.

The question that will now be asked is can the Seahawks repeat?  Does Seattle have the ability to embark on their own mini dynasty?  Again, it seems logical and would certainly appear to be a reasonable assumption.  They are very talented, young, and have a strong front office and an exceptional coach.  There are always challenges to repeating, and many coaches would agree with the adage that staying on top is actually harder than getting to the top.  Factors that always work against successful teams include changes in the coaching staff as coordinators take HC positions, selfishness and jealousy in the locker room, the big money to be made in free agency, and the issue of complacency.  Sometimes, even elite athletes can get fat and happy.  They may begin to lose focus on doing the little things that it takes to get to the top in the first place.  On top of everything else, injuries can derail a team, and there is also the talent, drive, and determination of your opponents.  For Seattle, the 49ers, Rams, and Cardinals round out one of the most challenging divisions in the NFL.  From my perspective, Seattle will be a force to be reckoned with for several years to come.  However,  I don't see them repeating next year for the simple reason that so much can change from year to year in the NFL.  If you don't believe me, then just ask the Baltimore Ravens.

                                                           Lights out.