COACHING OUT OF BOUNDS

Coaching in Pune

2012-02-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

Our group flew from Chennai on the southeast coast of India to Pune on Sunday afternoon. This will be our base of operations for the next 7 days. Pune is located on the western coast of India. It is a part of the state of Maharashtra, and there are 4 million people who live here. The city is known for its high tech engineering, and it is a leading IT hub of India. The weather here is hot every day, with temps. averaging around 85-90 degrees. There is rarely a cloud in the sky, so we are all getting a lot of sun.

Our coaching group in Pune: Tony, Mark, Johnny, Stan, Eric, & Deante

Pune players warming up before practice on Monday

Stan helping to get the offensive huddle set. I just saw Stan off for his departure to Europe. He is flying to Turkey early this morning, then on to Germany, and finally to Poland. He will be playing football in Poland this season, his seventh season as a player and/or coach of American football in Europe.

Members of the Pune defensive line wait for the offense to line up.

Coach Tony Simmons instructing his linebackers

Our coaching team- along with a group of students who train year round in judo at one of the sports centers near our training facility in Pune. We watched these young athletes compete and they are truly talented athletes. They live at the training center year round and train 6 hours a day in their sport, in addition to going to school on grounds at the complex. Many in this group are at the world championship level, and a few of these athletes are Indian Olympic hopefuls in judo.

Me and "Coach Raj"-- He is the head coach of the Pune team and one of the nicest guys I've met during my time in India. He is learning the game of American football quickly, and it's evident that his players have great respect for him.

Lights out.

How Much Is Enough?

2012-01-30T09:09:00.000-08:00

The simple picture at the end of this blog post of a couple of fishermen out in the Indian Ocean got me to contemplating a post that I completed about three years ago. The post addressed why I left my job in college coaching. I have reposted most of this particular blog, leaving out the parts about going to Europe to coach. During that time in my life, I'd let things get out of balance. This was a result of working too many hours, wearing too many hats, and not taking enough time to smell the roses.

The decision to come to India and the realities that I witness here on a daily basis have certainly caused me to reconsider many aspects of my life again. One such thought is, Am I giving enough to help those in need around me? I claim to be a person of considerable faith, but what am i really doing on a daily basis that requires faith in my life? In all actuality, I do very little on a daily basis that requires any decent measure of faith. I have clean water, hot food, a roof over my head, money in the bank, which is unlike most of those around me here.

When I witness the pure unbridled joy in the eyes of the school children here, I have to wonder, how can they possibly have so much joy? They are so happy. Maybe it's because they aren't even aware of all the things they don't have. Of course, this is only mere speculation on my part. I only know what I have seen firsthand throughout my time in India thus far. There is a simplicity to life here that rivals anything I've ever experienced.

Again, here is the repost and then a short story about a fisherman.

Where was the joy in my life? I have to admit most of the people I was around were miserable too. I was allowing myself to live in a box that I had created and much of what I was experiencing daily was self-imposed. Nobody was holding a gun to my head and demanding that I carry on living this way. The reason I continued down this dark road is that I got comfortable even when living in dysfunction. My desire to be a people pleaser probably also contributed to the mess I was in. I was always taking on more at work, and then my family were the ones who would suffer for it. The decision to change had to come from within. I realized that I needed to awaken and begin to swim upstream against the current. My goals were actually quite simple. I wanted to create more time for personal reflection, and live a more simple life. I would get outside and explore nature and all that God has created. I wanted to tap into my passions, and reconnect with my family in a deeper and more lasting way.

Many of these ideals are what Henry David Thoreau was searching for when he went to live at Walden Pond in 1845. Thoreau felt that outside forces dull and subjugate the inner man, especially materialism and constant labor. He emphasized the importance of surmounting the obstacles that materialistic society places in the path of the individual. When he made his journey to Walden, he sought self-improvement and a desire to cultivate his intellectual and spiritual needs. The world we live in and the busyness we are all a part of can really choke and suppress what we might be. Essentially, I am talking about living more in the present and leading a more deliberate life. The culture you live in will always tell you that you need more "things" to make you happy. Here is a short story that illustrates the contentment and fulfillment that can be attained through living a simple life. The story also illustrates how others/society will try and influence us to pursue principles or ideals that have less meaning and significance.

How Much is Enough?

The American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fishermen docked. Inside the small boat were several large fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied only a little while.

The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.

The American then asked, “ but what do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican fishermen said, “ I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life.”

The American scoffed, “ I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.

The Mexican fisherman asked, “ But how long will all this take?’

To which the American replied, “15-20 years.”

“But what then?”

The American laughed and said that’s the best part. “When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.”

“Millions?” asked the fisherman, “Then what?”

The American said, “ Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evening, sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos!”

Author Unknown

Lights out.

Back On Track

2012-01-28T04:11:00.000-08:00

I am finally back online after being mostly in a state of confusion, agony, and misery over the past 72 hours. Some sort of sinister south Indian virus decided to attack me starting sometime on Tuesday. After a doctor's visit on Wednesday night, some more herbs (thanks mom), rest, and a ton of fluids, I am back to about 70% health. I am going to try and hang on and finish my five week commitment because there is so much left to see and do while I am here.

Most of you know that I am a person who has a strong faith in Jesus Christ, so I am also thankful to the Lord for helping me battle my illness here in India. When I got sick, I made a decision to thank God for the struggle that was placed before me.

Now on to some football talk.

The teams we are working with are making great strides, and I have never experienced anything quite like the total effort, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn that these athletes bring to each and every practice. I am not exaggerating when I say these guys would run through a brick wall for us if we instructed them to do so.

Today was our last day working with the Chennai Swarm of the EFLI, and we are leaving tomorrow afternoon to fly to Pune. This team doesn't have the numbers that some of the other teams in the league have, but they have the chance to be a really solid team. They have treated us well during our stay here, and it was really sad to say goodbye to everybody after this morning's practice. In fact, the goodbyes took close to an hour. There were lots of high fives, hugs, photos, dancing. The Swarm players literally took us off our feet, throwing us up into the air to show their happiness and appreciation for our visit. This was certainly a new experience for me. I have had many a Gatorade shower, but going airborne was definitely a new high for me. (hope you enjoyed the pun!)

Here are some images from the last 3-4 days in Chennai.

This poor man just epitomizes what so many of the under privileged must endure. He didn't ask for a thing from me, but I felt compelled to give him 10 bucks. The smile he offered me was worth more than the money.

Typical traffic in the city on the way back from practice

Almost snuck away in this rickshaw before they caught me! These 3 wheeled vehicles serve the same function as American taxi cabs and there are literally millions of them in India.

Our last practice in Chennai took place on the beach. These guys reminded me of the Indian version of Venice Beach, California. Venice Beach is also known as Muscle beach and is full of weightlifters and body builders.

Another first for me. On the beach scrimmage. The team does these scrimmages on Saturdays as a way to open the game up to the public and draw in new interest to the sport.

One of our DB/WR Coaches- Mark Philmore. Mark is a very friendly and bright young coach. In this photo, he is explaining the rules of American football to some curious bystanders. Mark played college football at Northwestern, and then wide receiver with the Chicago Bears.

Our QB Coach- Stan Bedwell preparing to be tossed into the air

The Storm in the shotgun formation

Me and my Dline and Oline that I had the pleasure of teaching this week

They talked me into it!!

Looking off into the Indian Ocean. The devastating tsunami that struck this part of the world some 7-8 years ago now, devastated this very beach. More than 200 people in this area lost their lives when the big waves struck.

Stan has been a great roommate here in India. I was his college coach when he played at Trinity nearly 8 years ago. He is now entering his 7th season of playing and coaching football overseas. He sat in my living room in the winter of 2005, telling me his dream was to get paid while continuing to play football, and also see the world. At that point in his life, he'd barely been out of Arkansas. Now some 25 countries later and counting, he is enjoying the life he one day only dreamed of.

One last picture of the Chennai Storm and our coaching staff.

Lights out.

India 7- Eric 0

2012-01-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

I have been unable to find the energy to update the blog over the past 3-4 days due to coming down with something here in India. We flew from Mumbai to Chennai on Saturday, and things were going ok here for the first few days. After practice on Tuesday, I started to feel weak and very achy. I believe this is probably when my fever started. By Wednesday morning, I had to really tough it out just to finish the morning practice. Since Wednesday morning, I've been literally confined to my bed where I have been burning with an intense fever. A doctor was called to my hotel room last night to examine me. I have less joint pain and aching today, but my persistent fever and shivering has made for a very miserable few days. I am doubtful that its malaria because I am taking pills to prevent this, but it feels like a really nasty virus has attacked my body. I am hopeful that I can return to health very soon and resume my coaching duties. We are scheduled to fly to Pune on Sunday, so the next few days will be crucial for me to get well before getting on an airplane again.

Lights out.

Last Day in Mumbai

2012-01-22T08:25:00.001-08:00

Here are some images from our final day in Mumbai. We had a productive stay, and the team made great improvements during the week. We had a scrimmage on Friday afternoon, and both the defensive and offensive units played with a lot of passion and intensity. This team is so hungry to keep learning the game, and I have no doubt they will continue to get better in preparation for the kickoff of the EFLI season in November of 2012.

I will do my next updates from Chennai. We flew to this city, on the southeastern coast of India, on Saturday afternoon. Our next assignment is to work with the team there and help them establish their organization, work on skill development, and integrate some special teams and additional offensive and defensive schemes. I apologize for the pics being a little out of sequence. It is late and I am too tired to fix it!!

Saw this dog lying in this trash pile every afternoon on our walk back from the practice field

Hot tub at our hotel in Mumbai

Looking towards the skyline of Mumbai from our hotel

Siblings navigating their way on the street just outside our practice field

One of my roommates Tony Simmons- He played receiver in the NFL for 3 seasons with New England, and then spent parts of two seasons with the Colts and Giants

Me and the linebackers coach with the Gladiators

Coaches and players pose for a final picture after our last practice with the Gladiators

My position group- Linebackers (What a pleasure to work with these guys!)

Our pool at our hotel in Mumbai-- Great place to relax after a hot practice

Lights out.

A Contagious Spirit

2012-01-19T09:41:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last posting, extreme poverty and challenging living conditions are largely a way of life for hundreds of thousands of people here in Mumbai, India. However, the people of this country are so resilient and pleasant, despite the squalor that many of them live in. I cannot get over how happy and outgoing the average person is here. I have not heard one person complain or utter a negative word. These attributes are also evident in the young men we are coaching in the new EFLI league. Many of these athletes travel 150 kilometers each way every day to attend our two day practices. Some of them leave their homes at 4 am to travel to practice. They then spend the day working with the team and our coaching staff. They leave for home after our late practice ends at 6:30, only to arrive home at 11pm, and then get up and do it all over again. These young men have great passion, exceptional attitudes, and they sincerely appreciate everything you do for them. I am impressed with their work ethic, their unbelievable ability to focus, and the intense effort that accompanies everything they seem to do. So far, I have enjoyed the people of this country more than anything else.

Hope you enjoy the pics. Just click on a picture if you want to see a larger version of it.

The view inside an Indian Rickshaw

Family dinner on the go in a rickshaw

Me and a group of students from Holy Family School

Everybody was into "highfiving" today

We pass this street corner everyday while walking to practice

QB coach Stan Bedwell hanging out with the students

Stan and the rest of us coaches had a great time with the kids today

Our regular walk into oncoming traffic--- There really are no sidewalks to speak of, so vehicles commonly pass you within inches as you make your way along the roadways

Good friends are priceless

The group of linebackers I have been coaching over the past few days

The head coach of the Mumbai Gladiators is in the center of this picture

Coming together at the end of practice

This picture best sums up our day in Mumbai--- There were plenty of smiles to go around

Lights out.

Off to India

2012-01-17T10:25:00.000-08:00

It has been quite a while since I last posted on this blog. In fact, it has been nearly a year, so I figured it was time to jump back in. Over the next five weeks or so, I will be writing about my experiences here in India with the Elite Football League of India. I have been brought over here to help develop and train both Indian players and coaches in this new venture of professional American football. The EFLI is organized and supported by a group of international investors, the Indian government, and some notable American footballers like Ron Jaworski, Mike Ditka, Michael Irvin, and Green Bay Packers linebacker Brandon Chillar. There are currently 5 teams being set up in places like Pune, Mumbai, Calcutta, Bangalore, and Chennai.

I am currently staying in Mumbai, the largest city in India. You may recognize this city in the news now because Oprah Winfrey is here doing some work and filming some documentaries in this area. Mumbai is also the city where the movie Slumdog Millionaire was filmed. The setting for much of this film is Dharavi, one of the city's largest slums, with over a million people living in an area equal to the size of about 535 acres. Mumbai is massive, with about 20 million residents. It is a vibrant place with some tough issues to face, like rampant pollution, overcrowding, extreme poverty, and a series of terrorist attacks in recent years, including the large scale attacks in 2008 that left hundreds dead.

It is a challenge teaching football in a country where the main sport is cricket, and the average person has had little or no exposure to America's most beloved sport. The market for American football could be huge, but it will take a lot of work to influence even a fraction of the 1.2 billion people that live in this country. I decided that I wanted to be a part of this challenge, so that is why I am here. This experience combines two things that I love doing, traveling/experiencing other cultures, and coaching the game of football. I feel blessed to be here and given such a wonderful opportunity. My family, including Estalita and the kids have been very supportive of me coming over here as well. Separation from family and friends is never easy, and I'm not always sure that it is even worth it. However, the struggle inherent in doing something like this ultimately always seems to bring our family closer together. Another big motivator for me to come to India is for me to be moved out of my comfort zone. Visiting a place like this can't help but give one a new perspective on life. I need to be reminded daily that I am blessed beyond all measure, and that I need to find new ways to give back to those who are struggling to survive.

Here are some pics from my first few days in India.

Mumbai Gladiators begin their stretching routine

Mumbai Practice Field-- a.k.a. "The Dust Bowl"

American & Indian Coaches in our group

The practice facility is very spartan, but we have plenty of footballs!

Gathering the group together after a hot practice

I met "Sarej" on my first day in Mumbai

This family was pleased to sell me some small handcrafted items

This little girl was so excited to have her photo taken

The Three Musketeers

One of the thousands of stray dogs that roam the streets of Mumbai

Domino's Pizza delivery vehicles

The "Taj" Hotel-- Site of a violent 2008 terrorist attack in the city

Monument at the Gateway to India

Mother and her little girl searching for something to eat

Boats on the Arabian Sea

Lots of Laundry for 1.2 billion people

Common dwellings in the city

More city homes

Mumbai is located on the Arabian Sea

Common storefronts in the city... Notice the cow in front of the one business

Lights out.

Great Sports Names

2011-02-26T16:43:00.000-08:00

Last week while checking one of my favorite football websites, I came across this bit of information mentioning that one of the coaches for the Indianapolis Colts had been promoted to a new position on the coaching staff. Once I read the name of the coach, I thought that I must do a blog posting on the best names in sports. By the way, the name of this particular coach is Jim Bob Cooter. I am thinking that maybe his parents were inspired one day while watching Boss Hog, Cleetus, Uncle Jessie, and the Dukes of Hazzard, and hence the name Jim Bob Cooter. In any case, here are some other classic names that come to mind in the wide world of sports.

For those of you who watched World Championship Wrestling back in the day, there was a wrestler named Dusty Rhodes.

One of my favorite football names of all time has to be Alge Crumpler. The Steelers had a running back a number of years ago named Chris Fuamatu'Malafa. Now that is a real mouthful.

Some others include former Texas QB Major Applewhite, NBA basketball player World B. Free, and college football coaches Bronco Mendenhall, Joker Phillips, and the legendary Spyke Dykes.

Let me know if you have any good ones to add to the list.

Lights out.

The Insanity Of Winning

2011-02-22T16:38:00.000-08:00

I have long been aware of our society's love affair with winners, especially as it relates to sports. Legendary Packers Coach Vince Lombardi was known for sayings like "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" and "There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game and that is first place. The late Dale Earnhardt commented, "Second place is just the first place loser.

While some admittedly cherish a good underdog, the majority of people seem to prefer being associated with a winner. As a coach, I like competing and winning as much as the next person, but I've come to the conclusion that things are getting way out of hand. I don't know when it all started, but a paradigm shift certainly seemed to take effect sometime in the mid to late 1990's and the new way of doing business is advancing like an avalanche down Mt. Everest.

I think the shift started around the time that the stock market was making double digit gains every year, tech stocks were only going up, up, up, and housing values seemed to jump every year. The sentiment embraced by many, and popularized by Michael Douglas while playing the fictional character Gordon Gekko, holds that "Greed for a lack of a better word, is good." The movers and shakers of the collective sports world must have felt the same way, as the economics of the games began to spiral out of control.

Around the same time, corporate luxury suites began to spring up and the average "Joe Fan" was literally priced right out of his seat. Along came "seat licenses" in the mid 1990's and fans soon found themselves not only paying for rising ticket prices, but also this new privilege to actually purchase the lifetime rights to buy season tickets. More than a billion dollars later, NFL teams are literally rolling in the money from this clever marketing idea. As I remember, it was also around this time that salaries in sports like basketball basically skyrocketed overnight. Who can forget a guy like Juwan Howard (an average NBA player at best) getting a 7 year deal for 105 million in the mid 1990's!! That deal literally came out of the blue and it set the stage for ridiculous practices that are still going on today. Then, there was the A-Rod deal in baseball for 10 years and something like 250 million plus. This one was from the (See also bankruptcy court) Texas Rangers.

In any case, the money trail changed the game at several different levels. Many players learned to be "entitled" and selfish on the playing fields, so they could individually cash in on these megadeals. Player behavior off the field also reached new lows as all that money, adulation, and power seemed to cloud better judgment and impair the ability of many athletes to make good decisions. Fans grudgingly accepted the fact of paying more to see their teams, and with it came a sense of bitterness and entitlement to often behave badly in the stands. Fans demanded that players always finish first, and if they don't, it is time to fire the coach and get some new players. Rich teams like the Yankees went out and bought championship after championship and people learned to become okay with calling that sports. Players juiced to break records, hit more home runs, run and bike faster, build more muscle mass, recover quicker, etc..... Some coaches got in the act too by encouraging unfair play and cheating. Why, you ask??? Once again, I would have to point to the money.

Now, the sickness has made its way into high school and college sports. I have witnessed signs of this madness and crazy behavior at youth sporting events as well. More recently, I have witnessed this "warped" way of doing business catching fire in the world of major college football. In my local area, I've watched as three head coaches of major college football programs have literally been shown the door at the schools where they coached. All three programs had winning records this past season, all three made it to a post-season bowl game, and two of the three were victorious in their bowl game. The programs I'm speaking about are West Virginia, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Maryland. Maryland finished 9-4 this season, beat East Carolina 51-20 in their bowl game, and had several winning seasons and bowl game appearances under Ralph Friedgen. He was rewarded by being fired. Dave Wannstedt led Pitt to an 8-5 record, a victory in their bowl game vs. Kentucky, and a 10 win season in 2009. Apparently, the Compass Bowl isn't good enough at Pitt, so Wannstedt was shown the door. Maybe, it was the 35-10 late season home loss vs. West Virginia that sealed his fate. Last but not least, I have to mention Bill Stewart at WVU. The Mountaineers have had winning seasons in each of Stewart's seasons since he took over for Rich Rodriguez (see also- fired and collecting millions). WVU did lose their bowl game this year, but they finished a respectable 9-4. His New Year's gift was the opportunity to stay on one more year as he was told to kindly step aside after next season for new offensive coordinator and head coach in waiting Dana Holgersen.

Have these people gone completely mad!!! Where is the logic in all of this? Maybe it's me who is way of base here. Maybe, I am just slow to adjust to these new times. As I sat to ponder to my own thoughts on all of this one day last week, I happened to pick up the sports section of the Pittsburgh paper. On the front page, an article mentioned that Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ross Ohlendorf had won his arbitration case. The Pirates, coming off a Major League worst 57-105 record, would be forced to give Mr. Ohlendorf a raise. Well, it wasn't just any raise. The raise is equal to 361%. That is none too shabby considering the economic times most of us try and live in. Here is the best part. Ross Ohlendorf went 1-11 last season, and now he will get a raise from $439,000 to $2,020,000. Yes, that's right. 2 MILLION DOLLARS for ONE win. Besides the insanity of this scenario, I decided to apply the principle to people who have jobs outside of the sports world.

Let's take a real estate agent. The agent is presented with the quota of selling 1 property per month for each month of the year. At the end of the year, the agent meets the goal for one month out of the 12 and ends up with a 361% raise---- Not gonna happen

A construction worker is charged with the task of building 12 decks in a year, or one for each month that he works for his company. At the end of the year, 1 deck is still standing, but the other 11 have collapsed to the ground due to faulty construction.----I don't see a 361% raise on his horizon!!

In the end, it appears that we need to redefine what it means to WIN in our society. Winning on the scoreboard is a great goal to have, but not at the expense of everything else that we hold dear as a society. If we fail to change our ways, we will continue to contaminate the ideas of winning. Future generations will never realize that a lot of winning takes place on the journey itself, not just in the order we finish in at our final destination.

Lights Out.

Super Bowl Sunday Preview

2011-02-03T08:35:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that it's that time of year again. Yes, I am speaking about Super Bowl Sunday. It is an American classic. It is also a good reason to eat buckets of unhealthy food and watch a series of expensive commercials aimed to tickle our funny bone. In my case, it is also a great day for my family and I to root for our favorite team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Black 'N' Gold are in the big game for the third time in six years, their eighth overall, as they seek their seventh Super Bowl title. People who know me well, know that I'm fond of gloating a bit when it comes to the topic of the Steelers' success over the years. In fact, I am actually befuddled and at a loss for why so many other teams fail to take notice and follow their simple formula for success. Perhaps, it has to do with the huge egos in the NFL (see also Jerry Jones, Al Davis, Daniel Snyder and many others) who figure they will get it right if they keep changing the face of the organization, re-inventing the wheel, changing schemes, and continually hiring different coaches and general managers to run the show.

Meanwhile, the Rooneys and the Steelers just keep plugging away. They are not flashy. They don't chase the troublemakers, self-centered, me-first guys like Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, Pac-Man Jones of the football world. When they suspect trouble on their team, they usually jettison the player out of town very quickly. Okay, the exception in this case may be Ben Roethlisberger. However, after Ben's last episode, the team did actually try to deal him for a first round draft pick. They were reported to have had serious talks with teams like the Rams for the chance to draft Sam Bradford. In the end, Roethlisberger admitted his childishness, immature behavior, and bad decision making. His attitude and commitment to change may have led to the Team giving him one final chance. In any case, the Steelers have recently shown the road to high caliber players like Santonio Holmes and even Plaxico Burress. Burress is currently in jail, and Holmes continually flirts with trouble.

The team has a great front office that understands how to draft players that fit their system. They have exceptional coaches like Dick LeBeau who are exceptional at developing the talent they have on the roster. They have solid schemes and their coaches are skilled at putting the players in positions to be successful and use their talents in the most beneficial way for the team.

The organization also rarely makes changes just for the sake of change. In fact, they have only had three head coaches in my entire 40 years of life. All three of them have won Super Bowls, and getting to the playoffs is just about an annual event. Surprisingly, the Steelers aren't cyclical like many of the other great franchises that have had a nice run at some point, but then seemingly run out of gas and fail to maintain the ability to win on a consistent basic. Teams like the 49ers, Cowboys, Redskins, and Bills have had nice runs over the last 20 years or so, but each of these teams are cyclical. In other words, they win for awhile and then tank for awhile. They are simply unable to maintain any consistency as a franchise. Consistency, loyalty, and a belief in their system are Steelers trademarks. While the rest of the teams in the league surely work hard at being successful, the Steelers have found a formula for working smart.

Another key for this team is the support they get, from literally around the world. Dallas may call themselves America's team, but nobody travels like Steelers' fans, also known as the Steelers Nation. Just about every announcer I have ever listened to including John Madden, Matt Millen, Mike Tirico, Rich Eisen, etc.... acknowledges that Steelers fans travel more than any other in the NFL. I have been to several Pittsburgh games on the road, including their last Super Bowl appearance two years ago. I can attest that Steelers fans often outnumber the home fans when playing on the road. There is a great tradition in the state, and a lot of passion for football, especially in western PA. The number of well-known QB's from this area includes Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas, Jim Kelly, Joe Montana, and Dan Marino. The list of head coaches from the keystone state is also staggering including Jason Garrett, Bill Cowher, Marvin Lewis, Marty Schottenheimer, Jim Haslett, Dave Wannstedt, and even current Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.

Okay, I will now step off my soapbox and analyze the game. In my opinion, the defensive line of the Packers has the potential to really give the patchwork O-line of the Steelers some real problems. The Steelers ran the ball effectively against the Jets defense, but I don't think it will as easy vs. the Pack. Green Bay will almost surely face a stiff challenge with running the ball against a stingy Steelers defense, but Aaron Rodgers and the Packers receiving corps could potentially feast on a Steelers secondary that is the weak spot of their defense. Mike McCarthy is also a very capable play-caller who does a nice job keeping teams off balance. As for the Steelers strengths, Big Ben just seems to find a way to extend plays and keep drives alive. There is also the Polamalu factor and the Steelers linebackers are so active and disruptive, probably the best overall unit in the league. I see a close game that comes down to the fourth quarter. I think the Packers possess a few more weapons and they are peaking at the right time, but Big Ben and the Steelers have the experience on their side. They play well when everything is on the line, so I think they will do it one last time this season. Steelers 27 Packers 23
Enjoy the pics!

Lights out.

Week 7 NFL Update

2010-10-27T17:27:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that we are nearly half way through the NFL season already. There have been several surprises thus far including some teams who have overachieved and another handful of teams that have fallen short of expectations. The K.C. Chiefs and St. Louis Rams have played better than most experts predicted. The Chiefs are doing it with a dynamic running game and a solid team defense. The Rams appear to be defying the odds with their talented rookie quarterback and a cast of lesser known players. The Seahawks and Titans are playing well too, but there is still a lot of football left to be played.

On the other side of the coin, the New Orleans Saints are certainly not playing like a championship level team. The loss of Reggie Bush has hurt them, and Drew Brees is playing mediocre football. The Norv Turner led Chargers are a huge disappointment in San Diego. The Bolts haven't played well early in the season in recent years, but the hole they've dug for themselves thus far may be too deep for them to climb out of. I would also have to put Minnesota and Dallas on the list of underachievers. Brett Favre has struggled with his health, off the field problems, and his on the field decision making. The Vikings are loaded with talent, but winning in the NFL on a consistent basis has very little to do with potential or talent. Just ask the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have solid playmakers on both sides of the ball, but they beat themselves with penalties at crucial points during the game, and a coach who seems to struggle to get the most out of his players. The Cowboys also have their problems on the offensive line. The team will be watching the playoffs and Super Bowl on tv like the rest of us this winter.

Finally, I was impressed to say the least that Bill Belichick had the courage to trade Randy Moss, a decision that is sure to make his TEAM stronger. I capitalized TEAM because that is the name of the game and Randy Moss has never really proven himself to be a team player. New England won all of their Super Bowls without him and their offense already looks more in sync and disciplined since Mr. Moss packed his bags for Minnesota. I do believe that Moss is a great one on one player, but he wears out his welcome wherever he goes. He is a malcontent who only competes when the ball is sure to come to him. He takes plays off and the great ones just don't do that. I never saw Jerry Rice take a play off. Moss was getting into confrontations with coaches in New England and his unhappiness with his contract had become a distraction. I can never give Belichick my full respect because of his involvement in the video cheating scandal, but he is a very savvy coach with a great technical mind for the game, and a wonderful ability to sell his formula for winning to his players.

It is refreshing to see two new teams in the World Series. My favorite team is the one with the lowest payroll. I'm not sure who that is in this case, but I will try and find out before the series is over. As I've blogged before, the Rangers had to file for bankruptcy due to losing so much money because of paying huge contracts like the quarter of a billion dollar deal they gave to A-Rod several years ago. Now that I think of it, I will root for the Giants. It would be nice to see them win without the all time leader in steroid home runs. If my memory serves me right, I think he was a guy named Bonds.

Lights out.

Blog Hiatus is Over/ Memories from France summer 2010

2010-10-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

My hiatus from the blog has come to a close and I will be posting 3-4 times a week now that things have begun to settle down here at home. Some of you might be wondering what I have been doing over the past 6 weeks since I returned home from coaching in Finland during the summer of 2010. The main issue that has garnered my attention during this time is dealing with a stomach ailment that has been wreaking some havoc in my life over the past 3 months or so. I have had many tests done including gall bladder scans, abdominal ultrasounds, and a colonoscopy. Overall, the tests seem to have cleared me of any major problems and I have started to improve over the past few weeks.

I have spent the rest of my time catching up on things around the house, reconnecting with family and friends, and even helping coach Kodie's youth football team. I am registered to begin substitute teaching again, so I will be resuming that as well. I have been applying for some teaching and government positions over the last month, but I have yet to hear anything. My main job at this time is serving as a part-time instructor for Trinity, the college in North Dakota where I taught and coached for six years. Basically, I teach an online/distance education course in Sports Psychology. It doesn't pay much, but it keeps me in the loop until I figure out the next step in life. As far as the future is concerned, I would love to return to Europe. However, the only way I see that happening is if a team is willing to bring me on full-time to coach or help me get set up with a job in the community to supplement my earnings. The situation would have to be right and my family's contentment is the most important factor in that type of scenario. Besides teaching, I may look to see what college coaching opportunities might be there once the season ends in a few months.

In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy this "time out" in life that allows me the opportunity to hang out with my family, and continue to pursue my freelance writing aspirations. I feel blessed to have this chance to do some serious reflection and really "smell the roses" in everyday life. Yesterday, while out at a local farm and Pumpkin Patch with my youngest daughter and her classmates, I caught myself staring at an old maple tree for what must have been close to five minutes. The old maple was bursting with color as fall has descended upon her. The venerable tree reminded me of my youth and the many tree house cabins that I used to build high above the ground. It was nice to have a few moments to just marvel at God's creation and recognize all the detail within the structure of the large tree. The experience also made me think back to the time I spent in Finland over the past two years and all the beautiful trees that dominate the landscape.

Before I close for today, I wanted to post a few more pics from the time we spent in France this past summer. Maybe, it was my desire to write about some of my moments of reflection that triggered me to think of France during my discussion. The country is currently coping with unrest and massive work stoppages and worker strikes because 70% of the population is upset with the government. What is the reason you might ask? France is coming apart at the seams because it looks as if the country might be raising the retirement age from 60 to 62 years of age. I remember the outrage there a few years ago over the "mind boggling" 35 hour work week. Kind of ironic, isn't it? Seventy percent of our citizens are angry at the government and ready to vote the democrats out because we want more work and the French are rioting because they want to work less. It probably isn't hard to guess what side of the coin I would argue for. I have a theory that much of the "mess" that we see in America today like corporate greed, rampant violence, poor school performance, and a crumbling family unit characterized by high divorce rates and single parent homes, is largely rooted in our love affair with this high production/high consumption mentality. The love affair with working our knuckles to the bone places way more emphasis on the external and leaves little in the form of time to focus and reflect on the internal. Simply put, we are a shallow nation with a very thin veil of understanding regarding the world around us. Ask the average 15 year old in America about the latest P. Diddy song, the newest release of Grand Theft Auto, or who Paris Hilton is dating, and they are likely to score fairly well. If you ask that same young person to find England on a map or name the Vice President of the United States, the scores are likely to be less impressive. The truth is we must find a way to give more quality time and direction to ourselves and our future generations. This theory and 90 cents will probably only buy me a cup of coffee, but I do believe in the importance of taking more time for personal reflection. It may not be great for the pocketbook, but it does wonders for the soul. With that being said, it is time for some pics.

A la Ferme--- Also known as a working farm and one of our lodging destinations during our stay in France. This 17th century stone house is located near Pontorson, a quaint village that is worth a visit.

Our hosts made quick friends with our kids

Our bedroom in the old farmhouse

Another building on the grounds used for summer gatherings/meals

The inside of the 300+ year old structure

Area above the fireplace in the farmhouse-- Year is 1788

The lounge area at our "holiday inn" France

Ready for some dinner

Time for some reflection "French style"

Lights out.

Championship Defeat/ NFL Preview

2010-09-09T12:39:00.000-07:00

The Crocodiles suffered a season ending loss to the Porvoon Butchers 30-17 in the Maple League Championship game last Saturday afternoon in Helsinki, Finland. The team played a tough game and had some opportunities to pull away in the first half, but we didn't capitalize on the chances we had in those first two quarters. We outplayed the Butchers in the first half, but they weathered the storm and the game was knotted up 17-17 at intermission. In the second half, we stumbled on offense after one of our top receivers (Riku) broke his collarbone. We dropped two touchdown passes and also turned the ball over twice to the Butchers on interceptions, both coming on offensive drives in our opponents territory. On the flip side, the Butchers were outstanding in the kicking game as they converted on two field goals beyond 40 yards in the game. They made plays when they had to down the stretch and the play of their veteran QB Robert Johnson and the experience of the 5 time defending champions helped propel them to another title. We were so disappointed after the game as we realized that we let a golden opportunity pass through our hands. I felt terrible about the loss and a few poor calls that I made down on the goal line late in the first half.

In any case, I am very proud of our guys and everything they put into the 2010 season. We had a great team spirit this year and I can proudly say that this was a great team. I felt it was an honor to coach these players and I will sorely miss everybody associated with this organization. The Crocodiles organization has been very good to me over the past two seasons and our experiences there have been a great source of enjoyment and growth for both my family and I over the past two seasons. It is not an exaggeration for me to say that this experience has been a dream come true for me. Thanks again Crocs for so many wonderful memories.

As for my future, I have decided to comment on some of these issues in future blog posts. There are also some more pictures/moments that I want to share on the blog in the upcoming days.

Before I close today, I thought I would do a short preview of the upcoming NFL season and make a few predictions to stash away for future reference. It is so hard to believe that the NFL season actually kicks off tonight with a stellar showdown between the defending champ Saints and the hard luck Minnesota Vikings.

Here are a few observations based on what I have observed as we look towards the season, followed by my picks for divisional winners/playoffs/ and an ultimate Super Bowl winner.

- Observation # 1-- The league can really do without drama queens like Albert Haynesworth. This guy has been bad news from a character standpoint looking all the way back to his college days. There are $100 million reasons why he should be acting with a little more class and integrity, but Big Albert just doesn't get it and he never will. I would trade him for a 13th round draft pick. Oh by the way, there is no such thing as a 13th round pick!

- Observation # 2-- Peyton Manning is still pretty darn good. The Colts won every game they wanted to last season except the last one, and they almost pulled that one off too. Manning is the best in the game at making adjustments at the line and steering his offense into the end zone. I think the Colts will be 12-4 or better even if the rest of the team suffers a letdown from their Super Bowl loss last season.

- Observation # 3-- Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis will be well qualified to work as a baby sitter, circus ringmaster, or probation officer after he finally gets fired by the team within the next few seasons. The Bengals would probably try and sign Charles Manson to the practice squad if he ever gets out of prison. The recent list of malcontents include guys like Chad Johnson, Larry Johnson (last season), Terrell Owens, and Adam Pac-Man Jones. These are only some of big name guys that have reputations and egos to match. The Bengals seem to find more headcases than maybe even past years versions of the NBA's Portland Jailbreakers. I just cannot ever root for a team, coach, or team president (shame on you Mike Brown) who consistently set the bar so low when it comes to finding players with any semblance of character.

-Observation # 4-- Jay Cutler will never win a playoff game with the Chicago Bears. Cutler is overrated and the Bears are a team on the decline. This is good news for Detroit because the Bears really don't cause the Vikings or Packers to lose any sleep at night. Mike Martz should help this anemic offense, but the Da Bears will slide to new depths with the arrogant Cutler calling the signals.

-Observation # 5-- The Carolina Panthers are one of the most underrated teams in the NFL. John Fox is a solid coach and the Panthers will be better off without Jake Delhomme at QB. They have two dynamic running backs in Williams and Stewart and a defense that can still be effective, even with the loss of Julius Peppers.

-Observation # 6-- The Buffalo Bills are going to really struggle to score points this season. I don't think there will be many wins any time soon in this football hungry city. C.J. Spiller just might be the rookie of the year if he stays healthy, but the rest of the situation in Buffalo looks pretty bleak.

-Observation # 7-- The San Francisco 49ers are poised to be a playoff team this season. Yes, I think the 49ers are going to make a statement in the NFL in 2010. They have a solid defense, a great runner in Frank Gore, one of most talented young offensive lines in football and a great young coach in Mike Singletary to boot. Now all they are missing is a serviceable QB. (see Minnesota Vikings before Brett Favre) I'm not sure Alex Smith is the answer, but I admire the 49ers for believing in him and giving him a chance to mature in this offense.

-Observation # 8-- Jerry Jones will pull the trigger and fire Wade Phillips if the Cowboys fail to at least advance to the NFC championship game. I believe the Super Bowl is held in Dallas this year and Jones is banking on getting there. I just don't see it happening. The Cowboys are a playoff caliber team, but they are grossly inconsistent and it usually shows in the playoffs.

-Observation # 9-- The Pete Carroll era will get off to a slow start in Seattle. Carroll has a nice resume from his days at USC, but the Seahawks don't have Washington State or UCLA on the schedule. This Hawks have an aging QB, who I predict will not finish the season as the starter and no running backs like the former Shaun Alexander on the roster. I see a 6-10 season in my crystal ball.

-Observation # 10-- The Eagles will miss Donovan McNabb. # 5 never led the Eagles to a Super Bowl win, but he often got a bad rap in Philly, a city not exactly known for being warm and fuzzy towards its sports stars. I don't think the Eagles to be horrible, but they will have growing pains with a new starting QB at the helm. I wouldn't be surprised if they are on the short end of some close games this season.

Now for my regular season/playoff/Super Bowl Picks.

First the AFC

1. New England 10-6
2.New York Jets 10-6
3.Miami Dolphins 9-7
4.Buffalo Bills 4-12

1.Baltimore Ravens 11-5
2.Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7
3. Cincinnati Bengals 9-7
4.Cleveland Browns 6-10

1.Indianapolis Colts 12-4
2.Tennessee Titans 10-6
3. Houston Texans 9-7
4.Jacksonville Jaguars 7-9

1. San Diego Chargers 11-5
2. Denver Broncos 7-9
3. Oakland Raiders 6-10
4. Kansas City Chiefs 7-9

Now the NFC

1. Cowboys 11-5
2. Giants 10-6
3. Washington Redskins 8-8
4. Philadelphia Eagles 7-9

1. Green Bay Packers 11-5
2. Minnesota Vikings 10-6
3. Chicago Bears 6-10
4. Detroit Lions 5-11

1. New Orleans Saints 13-3
2. Atlanta Falcons 9-7
3. Carolina Panthers 8-8
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-11

1. San Francisco 49ers 10-6
2. Arizona Cardinals 9-7
3. Seattle Seahawks 6-10
4. St. Louis Rams 3-13

Playoff Picks: AFC Teams-- Patriots, Jets, Ravens, Colts, Titans, Chargers
NFC Teams--Giants, Cowboys, Packers, Vikings, Saints, 49ers

AFC Championship Game: Colts vs. Ravens
NFC Championship GAme: Packers vs. Saints

Super Bowl Pick: Colts defeat Packers 34-27

Lights out.

Championship Bound

2010-09-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

Our team posted a 42-28 victory in the semi-finals of the Maple League Playoffs. We defeated the Helsinki Roosters in a tough back and forth contest that showcased several changes in momentum throughout the game. We started the game with a flurry and jumped out to a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter. The Roosters responded with a score before the half and closed the gap to 21-6 heading into the break. We expected to see the Roosters at their best in the 3rd quarter and they didn't disappoint with their effort as they scored twice in the first 7 minutes of the quarter. We will surely on the ropes, but we answered with a score of our own on as our QB Alex Rouse hit veteran Finnish wide receiver Tuukka Pernu on a play action pass. We carried a 28-21 lead into the final period. We added another score midway through the 4th quarter and extended the margin to 14 points. The Roosters weren't done yet and they answered with a touchdown pass to close the gap to 7 with less than two minutes to play. We recovered the onside kick and then ran the ball on two consecutive plays. Our opponent used their final two time-outs and we had a third and long to go with just under a minute and a half to play. On the next play, Crocs running back Greg Fountain responded with a long touchdown run to essentially seal the victory. The Roosters would again drive down the field, but the game ended on an interception in the end zone. What a game! I was very proud of our guys and the way they play the game. They never give up even when things are looking rather bleak. We had a real gut check when the Roosters tied the game at 21. I credit our players for having the ability to regain their composure and re-establish control of the game. The victory earns us the right to play the five time defending champion Butchers in the Maple Bowl. This is Finland's version of the Super Bowl, only with about 70,000 less people in the stands, and slightly less than half a billion people watching. In any case, it is big news in my life and here in Suomi. The chance to play for the trophy hasn't sunk in yet, but I will be giving everything I have this week to prepare us for this game. I feel so blessed to be in this position, and I am relishing every minute of it!!

The Crocs have one more mountain to climb this season.

We must overcome the Butchers to realize our dream of winning the title.

Wish you all were here to watch the big game

A team with a lot of heart

I really need to get this hair cut--- "Wonder how Justin Bieber puts up with this?"

Can't forget my little half pint

3 Cheers for the Crocs!

Lights out.

Crocs earn regular season title with victory over Wolverines

2010-08-22T01:05:00.000-07:00

The Crocodiles played their hearts out on a gloomy and sad day and came away with a hard fought 35-12 victory vs. the Helsinki Wolverines. I say sad because one of our youth cheerleaders died last week from injuries sustained in an accident with a motorist while she was riding her bike and crossing an intersection. Her name was Katarina and she was only 15. The accident occurred less than a mile from our apartment at the corner of an intersection where the kids and I pass often when riding our bikes here in town. My heart and prayers go out to this family. It was quite hard to focus on the game as we honored the young lady yesterday with some words of reflection and then a moment of silence before the kickoff. Tragedies such as this sure put life into proper prospective and help me to realize that life is so fragile and football is just a game.

As for the game, the team got off to a quick start by blocking a punt in the first quarter and cashing in with a quick touchdown pass. Our defense was fired up yesterday and we kept their QB scrambling as we recorded several sacks on the day. A few of these hits caused fumbles and that was a big factor for us in the game. Our offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage and running back Greg Fountain proved why he is the leading rusher in the Maple League. He pounded the ball inside and had a series of long runs in the contest. Our QB Alex Rouse was efficient with the ball and spread the wealth with his receivers by throwing touchdown passes to three different receivers. Our special teams played well and the win was a total team effort. The victory earned us an 8-2 record and the # 1 seed in the playoffs which begin next Saturday. We host the Helsinki Roosters in the first round. We split the regular season with them. Both games were decided by 3 points or less, so next week's game is sure to be a tough battle for the right to advance to the Maple League Championship on September 4th.

Now for some more pics from 'Summer in Finland' 2010

We kept this washer busy this summer

We soon adjusted to the smaller load capacity

Here is our home made dryer-- We made good use of our sauna this summer!

Getting ready for a dip

Relaxing at Eero's house

Kaylin thinks the water is a bit cold

A tv was waiting for us one night when we returned home-- the first tv we had blew out and then the team quickly replaced it with this one

In all reality, we watched very little tv this summer. The kids played outside and created works of art like this. A miniature playground made out of foil, paper towels, toilet rolls, juice boxes, and anything else they could find around the apartment

An aerial view of 'Central Park'

Collecting bottles and cans and then recycling them at the local grocers became a weekly routine for the kids--- this particular lot at the game in Helsinki two weeks ago fetched the kids 49 euros!! Not bad for 3 hours work

Unique clock tower in the historic town of Jacobstad, Finland

Our good friend Michael Rose came over from Arizona to explore Finland for nearly two weeks-- We enjoyed spending time together and having him as a guest at the apartment for part of his stay

Beautiful wooden boat we saw in the harbor at Jacobstad

There seem to be a lot of these dive platforms at the coastal areas in Finland-- This is similar to the one Kamryn was jumping off last summer at the coast near Vaasa

A little golf in Jacobstad-- Forget about Pebble Beach, this was the hardest course I have ever played-- it was designed for complete and utter failure-- No kidding, it took almost 2 hours for the four of us to finish 18 holes of miniature golf!

This Civil Guard Museum in Seinajoki was designed by the world famous Finnish architect- Alvar Aalto

A statue paying tribute to the Finnish Civic Guard Volunteers

One last water balloon fight in Finland-- I definitely got the worst of this one

Three Crocodile fans who rarely missed a practice

Kaylin has taken a shine to Aatu

Making new friendships has been the best part of this experience over the last two years

Some fun on the trampoline

Lights out.

Victory makes one jump for joy

2010-08-16T00:37:00.000-07:00

The season here in Finland is winding down and there is only one regular season game remaining. We posted a win this past weekend 35-0 vs. the Tampere Saints in monsoon like conditions. The game was briefly stopped before the half due to intense rains and persistent lightning. We are currently sitting as the #2 seed as the playoffs approach. However, we must win this upcoming weekend vs. the #1 seed Helsinki Wolverines if we are to claim the #1 regular season ranking. A win this weekend would give us a home field advantage in the playoffs. Needless to say, there is a lot at stake when the Wolverines come to town. Our team is playing with a great deal of confidence right now. It is enough to make one want to jump for joy!!

Kodie preparing for future 82nd Airborne Ranger status

A good landing is always essential

Aatu looks like he's done this before!

Now for our synchronized event featuring Emmi and Kamryn

Kaylin in on the action too

Land training is necessary before entering the water

Don't try this at home

Air Aatu with some serious hangtime-- Michael Jordan would be proud

Victory is sweet

It was nice to finally win a close game vs. the Roosters-- They are well-coached and their players always compete to the very last play

Crocs QB Alex Rouse hands the ball off to Greg Fountain (a tough RB and the leading rusher in the Maple League this season)

Crocs offense and player of the game # 3 Robert Bishop in motion

Roosters offense on the move

Roosters QB Ryan Rufener looking things over before the snap-- Ryan is a very gifted QB who played college ball at Oregon State

The Roosters like to spread things out and use their skill and speedy players like #5 Charles McCrea for big plays down the field

Crocodiles and Saints get ready for battle this past weekend

Swirling clouds loom overhead before the kickoff-- Shortly thereafter the rains came along with the wind, thunder, and lightning

Kodie (small guy in the center of the picture) got recruited for his first game as a ball boy in the Maple League

Time to clear the field

Winning sometimes makes one do strange things

Lights out.

Crocs squeeze out a close one in OT

2010-08-10T22:10:00.000-07:00

It has often been said that football is a game of inches. I have witnessed the truth of this statement as both a coach and fan on countless occasions. On a hot Sunday evening in Helsinki, under a smoke filled sky from the recent Russian wildfires, our team narrowly escaped defeat in a hard fought overtime battle. The Crocs came out of the gate slow, while the Roosters played with intensity in the early stages of the game. We found ourselves in a 14-0 hole in the 2nd quarter. We regained our focus enough to score before the half and trailed 14-7 at the break.

The guys were really upset at halftime and determined to get things going in the second half. Our team played with a sense of urgency in the 3rd and fourth quarters and things began to swing our way. We converted a 4th down play for a touchdown pass to tie things up and then our defense made some key stops to send the game into OT.

We lost the coin toss and had to take the ball first in OT. A flag for holding was thrown on the first play of OT, which put us in a big hole. After converting a 3rd and long for a first down, we were able to punch in the go ahead TD on a sweep play. The Roosters took their possession and threw an interception right off the bat. Hooray, the game is over and the Crocs win 21-14! Not so fast, we were called for defensive holding and the Roosters got the ball back and received an automatic first down. On the next play, we received another defensive holding call allowing the Roosters to advance to the five yard line. They scored on the drive and now trailed by only one point with the conversion soon to come. We assumed they would kick the extra point and take their chances again on the next series. To our surprise, they decided to go for the two point conversion. They are a tough team to defend in a situation like this, but our team made the stop as their pass attempt floated inches away from their intended receiver. Now it was time to celebrate. We escaped with a 21-20 win and guaranteed ourselves a spot in the playoffs with the victory. Our next game is a home match vs. the Tampere Saints this Saturday. Way to go Crocs!

Lights out.

Part II of our tour through Germany and France

2010-08-04T04:20:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics from the next leg of our recent trip through France and Germany. These photos focus on our time in four different places including Giverny, Rouen, Bayeux, and LeMolay-Littry. The first set of pics focus on the home and gardens of the French impressionist artist/painter Claude Monet. Monet lived in the quaint village of Giverny and drew inspiration from the countryside and the peace and beauty of the orchards and gardens surrounding his home. Monet lived in Giverny with his second wife, and the children from both of their prior marriages. It was easy to see how Monet was so inspired after walking around the gardens, and seeing the water gardens and ponds that he constructed.

View of the front of Monet's house

Monet's talents brought him considerable wealth in his mid to later years and much of this money went into the house and landscapes

One of the beautiful water gardens

Wonder how many gardeners he had to maintain this place?

Peace and tranquility

The English Backpacker

A destination well worth the effort

Beautiful flowers as far as the eye can see

Monet found Giverny while passing through on a train one day

The wild flowers reminded me of our days living in the Yellowstone region of Montana

This stream looked so clear and inviting

I saw trout in the stream and a little bamboo forest on the other side

Very interesting tree spanning the little stream

More water lilies-- one of Monet's favorite landscapes to paint

Green and more green

The next group of pics focus on Rouen. This city located in the Normandy region of France totally blew us away. There was so much history there to see. It is the site where Joan of Arc was tortured, beaten, put on trial and later executed. The city has cobblestone streets, lively street life, countless half-timbered buildings, and a number of impressive cathedrals. If you love old abbeys with massive spires and antique stained glass, then Rouen is the place for you.

Ornate detail of the cathedrale Notre Dame

The Cathedrale Notre Dame was severely damaged during WWII-- It was built between 1201 and 1514

Its spires soar above this ancient medieval city

The Eglise St-Maclou church was built in the flamboyant Gothic style

The facade has a unique arrangement of five pointed arches set over an ornate Renaissance porch

Amazing detail and craftsmanship

With an elaborate interior as well

An art display in the old city called Weather Reports-- The real life broken glass image on the floor quite literally "mirrors" the image on the wall

Europeans and side walk cafes go together quite naturally

An up close image of the Gros Horloge-- the clock's mechanism dates from the 14th century

Rouen is known for its nearly 2000 half-timbered buildings and houses

More half-timbered beauty

Almost done

Still smiling after a long day of travel

Rouen has many tempting street side cafes and lots of tasty treats

Macaroon heaven

Okay, a few more half-timbered structures and a sassy little girl

Time for a ham and cheese gallette ( otherwise known as a buckwheat crepe) and some apple juice

The Abbatiale St-Ouen

This 14th century church was part of a strong Benedictine abbey-- Notice the abundance of slim columns

Beautiful stained glass

The famous pipe organ is often used for concerts-- there were a group of musicians practicing while we were there

Less decorative than many of the other old world abbeys I have seen, but impressive nonetheless

A friendly game of boules outside the grounds of the Abbey

Last half-timbered pic of Rouen-- I promise

Unique artwork in one of the city squares

Wish I could do that

Napolean is never far away

Tower where Joan of Arc was held and tortured during 1430-31-- before she was burned at the stake in Rouen in May of 1431

This remarkable young lady is a patron saint of France

Relics inside the tower of torture

Maybe she was kept inside here-- Notice the security camera top left which might have been used to guard against an attempted escape-- Well, probably not

This cross marks the site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake by the English bad guys in 1431-- For you reality TV fans, it marks the place of a stop for a clue (spring 2010 epidsode) on the hit series "The Amazing Race"

Joan of Arc

Chillin out in the hammock with her Barnes and Noble Nook-- Estalita and Kaylin at our gite (guesthouse) in the Normandy countryside

Our car is parked in front of La Rieu-- The blue car is parked in front of our section of the 17th century French stone house that served as our accomodations for 3 nights--- This site was only a few miles from General Eisenhower's quarters after the D-Day Landings

The section of the gite known as the farmhouse

Looking to the right out of the back of our gite

Time for a little American football in France

Easy come easy go

Now on to the wonderful city of Bayeux. This area serves as a great jump off point for exploring the Normandy beaches which are just a short drive away. Bayeux has a great war museum and a large British cemetery is located there as well. The city is perhaps best known for the Bayeux Tapesty, a 70 meter strip of linen that is nearly a thousand years old. The world famous tapestry tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England and the rise of William the Conqueror. No photos were allowed, so you will just have to go see the Tapestry for yourself. It is the most exciting piece of old linen I have ever laid eyes on!

Inside the Cathedrale Notre Dame in Bayeux-- which dates back to the 11th century-- when William the Conqueror was planning to invade England

A remarkable Cathedral with an elaborate crypt as well

A fine example of Norman Gothic and Romanesque architecture

Bayeux has lots of old stone houses and remnants of old watermills

Lights out.

Back from Germany and France

2010-08-01T05:48:00.000-07:00

We just returned from our second European adventure in France and Germany. The Finnish Maple League of American football was on a two week hiatus due to the European championships in Frankfurt, so we decided to do some more exploring. We spent our first break back in June touring around Scandinavia in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark along with visiting Estonia and Latvia. This time we decided to head to western Europe and take a road trip to Paris, and then continue on to the Normandy and Brittany regions of northern France. We had all been to France and Germany on prior occasions, but we decided to do things a little differently on this trip. We booked accomodations in a variety of settings including budget chain hotels, a French countryside Gîte and a farmhouse. There will be more on these experiences on a later posting. Things didn't start off so well for us upon flying into Frankfurt, Germany last Thursday. We decided to rent a GPS system since we would be traveling to many small towns and villages along the way, but we struck out with both systems that were given to us. I say both because the first one was faulty and we had to backtrack some 30 kilometers to trade it in after realizing it wasn't working properly. The second one seemed fine until it ran out of charge somewhere east of Paris around 1 am in the morning on our first day of traveling. We couldn't get it to recharge, so we spent a few hours driving in circles around Paris (see also Chevy Chase in the film European vacation) until arriving at our hotel around 3:30 am. There was no parking at the hotel because the garage was full, so we spent the next 45 minutes driving around the place looking for a place to park. Finally, we parked illegally on a side street in front of the hotel with the blessing of the night front desk person. We had already had our picture taken earlier in the day by a German traffic attendant who was threatening to give us a ticket because we were parked in a zone that was off limits. The fact that the rental car company told us to park there didn't seem to matter to him, so we'll leave it at that. After getting settled in around 4:30 am, we finally went to sleep with great anticipation for our time in Paris. Here are some photos from the first leg of the trip.

The Eiffel Tower-- just over 1,000 feet tall

The River Seine and the Eiffel tower go together like love and Paris

Kamryn and Kodie on their way up

Keep going guys

Looking down onto the green lawns of the Champ de Mars

The tower offers great views of the Panthéon-- which contains the remains of distinguished French citizens like the scientist Marie Curie and Louis Braille

Beautiful views of Paris in all directions

Looking down on the bridges that span the Seine

Estalita and I celebrating our 15th anniversary in Paris-- The Arc de Triomphe looms in the background

The Tour De France festivities were in full swing

These guys work to keep the Eiffel tower sparkling and shiny-- the tower is painted every seven years requiring more than 50 tons of paint to do the job

This car has really gone "Green"

Part of the Renault "future cars show" in Paris

Some interesting looking boats navigate the waters of the Seine

A Grand Entry Way

Strolling the Champs de Elysees-- this avenue is world famous and full of cafes, bars, and designer shops and boutiques.-- This one and a quarter mile stretch is still considered the most expensive strip of real estate in Paris

Taking a short time-out from our long day of walking

the Palace of Versailles-- about a one mile walk from our hotel-- The treaty of Versailles was signed here in 1919, essentially bringing World War I to an end. Germany was held accountable for her actions in the conflict and many believe this treaty set the stage for the second World conflict which began only 20 years later. Italy, England, France, and the U.S. had many disagreements while hammering out the details of the treaty. It is said that President Wilson had to step in between the French and English leaders to keep them from throwing punches!

Lights out.

Our Tour and "The Tour" de France

2010-07-27T01:23:00.000-07:00

We are now in France after spending a short time in Germany. Our time in Paris was short, but very much worth the effort. Our hotel was located less than a mile from the Palace of Versailles, so it was convenient to catch the train into the city. The kids loved the Eiffel Tower and our stroll on the Champs Elysees. The weather has been pleasant thus far and surprisingly cool for this time of year. Over the next several days, we will be staying in the Normandy region of France. Internet access is a bit limited for us right now, so pictures are not uploading as I had planned. I will start posting pictures once I establish a stronger and more reliable connection. Au Revoir.

Lights Out

5 and 15

2010-07-22T00:19:00.000-07:00

Some rather "rich" American coffee products at the local grocer-- (almost 9 euros for coffee-mate, Ouch!!)

Some fine sugary processed foods from the U.S. (wonder if there is a Finnish version of Aunt Jemima???)

Americana Central at the City Market grocery store-- even some Paul Newman salad dressing, and of course 'good ol ' peanut butter!

The Finns love their potatoes--- there are plenty to choose from at the store

Our team extended its winning streak to four games and raised our record to 5-2 on the season with a 49-14 win against the Jaguars last Saturday. We started off very slowly and didn't play a very sharp game. We are sometimes plagued on the offensive side of the ball by the tendency to put the ball on the ground, so that is something we must fix if we are to reach our goals this season. Our QB Alex Rouse continued to play well. He is leading the league in completion percentage and doing an excellent job of running the ball too. Alex manages the game well, makes plays, and does a great job of spreading the ball around to his receivers. We now have a break from league play and won't play our next game until Sunday August 8th in a rematch vs. the Helsinki Roosters. The Roosters are in first place in our league.

Another big event in my life is my 15th wedding anniversary on July 22nd. Wow, Estalita and I have been married for 15 awesome years already! I really don't know where the time has gone. She has been such a great companion, the love of my life, and is truly my best friend. I feel very blessed to have her in my life. We are celebrating # 15 by heading off to Germany and France for the week. It worked out well to have a break during this time, and it didn't hurt that Ryan Air was offering some really cheap flights out of Finland either. All five of us are flying round trip to Germany for less than 300 dollars. We plan on spending the night of our anniversary in Paris, and then touring around some for a day or two. I will be posting some pics from the trip along the way.

Lights out.

The Pathetic Culture of American sports

2010-07-17T00:36:00.000-07:00

Most of my recent blog posts have been dedicated to Finland related topics, summer activities, and pictures from our time here this season.

It has been a little while since I expressed my opinions or shouted from my "soapbox", so I figured it was high time to vent some frustration and cool things off a bit.

Well, here it goes.

The dominant headlines over the past week or so have focused on the passing of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, the LeBron James free-agency show, and the unemployment of Terrell Owens.

I have never been a Yankees fan, but that is beside the point in this discussion. Let me just also say that I cannot bring myself to speak in only negative terms about a man who helped influence and shape the current culture that runs rampant in pro sports today. At the very least, I have to give the man they refer to in baseball circles as the "Boss" his due for making such a sound investment. Steinbrenner purchased the Bronx Bombers in the early 1970's for around 10 million dollars and the current value of the Yankees is in the neighborhood of 1.6 billion dollars.

My issue with the man known as the "Boss" was his win at all costs mentality and his supreme willingness to buy championships. I would argue that these two ideals have contributed to the shifting of values in the American sports culture in a dramatic way, but sadly, not for the better. I just can't bring myself to call outspending your competition and stacking your team with the best players in your given sport fair play. When I looked up "sports" in the dictionary this morning, it defined the term as --- physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs, often engaged in competitively. Maybe I am just too old fashioned in my values, but I use this definition as a framework for how I view sports in general. You see there are important words in this definition like rules, customs, and competition, which suggest there is more to this thing we call sport than simply beating your opponent. There is a certain honor inherent in teams that compete and strive to win within a given set of parameters or rules. That has seemingly disappeared now and movers and shakers like George Steinbrenner and agents like Scott Boras have left their fingerprints on this new culture of "moneyball". Moneyball has replaced baseball as America's new past time. Not that the game isn't sick from other maladies like megastars who pop pills and shoot up with roids so they can hit the ball out of the ball park and score a fat contract. I almost forgot to mention how "moneyball" has left franchises like the Texas Rangers bankrupt in the wake of their slimy pursuit of the front running Yanks. The Rangers sold the house, farm, and franchise while giving A-Rod 250 million in their quest to beat New York. The plan didn't work out so well for them or several other major league teams who have to contend against Steinbrenner's deep pockets each off-season. The players benefit from this foolish spending even if they don't win their coveted championship. A-Rod made a quarter of a billion dollars with the Rangers and then must have figured if you can't beat the Yanks, then maybe it is best to join them. Just recently, the cashless Rangers still figured out a way to trade for Cliff Lee in their desire to beat, (you guessed it) the Yankees.

I'm not naive enough to think this is all Steinbrenner's fault or these problems are limited to baseball. In fact, these issues have permeated other sports in our country like football, basketball, etc... The marriage of corporate greed and hip-hop culture values have created the perfect storm for moral and spiritual decay in the sports we used to love. Showmanship, trash talking, and poor sportsmanship are the by-products of this "win at all costs" and "chase the dough" mentality. Let's face it, most professional athletes come across as being self-absorbed egomaniacs who believe they are above the law, and entitled to whatever they desire at any given moment. (ex: Barry Bonds, Ben Roethlisberger, Serena Williams) I wish it weren't the case, but I would be lying if I said that most athletes I come into contact with these days aren't very shallow people in most respects. This is a very judgmental statement on my part, but I'm simply commenting on what I have observed over the last 10 years or so. Many of them are fixated with getting laid, (see also Tiger Woods) self-promotion and being the center of attention, (see also LeBron James) prone to misbehaving in public, (see also Pac-man Jones) an inclination towards violent acts (see also Michael Vick) willing to take drugs and cheat to get ahead, (see also Mark McGwire) lazy and unwilling to sacrifice for their teammates, (see also Randy Moss) and just simply in love with their own stats and image, (see also Chad Johnson)

I see signs of our sick sports culture at the youth events I attend where parents seem like they are out to win a championship at every game, and stretching the rules is very much en vogue. I have witnessed parents yelling at coaches during my son's (age 7-8) youth football games, cussing up a storm, and even encouraging their kids to take cheap shots at their opponent.

I have witnessed coaches at my ten year old daughter's softball games yelling at girls on our team who are still learning the rules and being openly disrespectful to the umpires and other coaches. The unruly behavior is shameful and outrageous to say the least!

Often times when I stand up in front of young people today and talk about things like not caring who gets the credit in victory, encouraging the person who is playing in front of you, and not running up the score in a blowout victory- the players stare into my eyes like I just stepped off the spaceship from Mars. I am often very perplexed by their reactions and quite disturbed by what I am seeing.

In the end, all I can hope for is that the future of American sports has less LeBrons, T.O.'s, and Steinbrenners at the forefront. If not, I don't think I'll be tuning in.

Lights out.

Weekend Fun in the Sun

2010-07-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

Stilts anyone? Kamryn, Kodie, and Nick give it a go

Even Kaylin got in on the action

One of my favorite signs I've seen in Finland thus far--- these signs are actually necessary throughout the country--- where people just seem to pee whenever and wherever they get the urge!

Brother and sister having some fun in the sand

We even caught some fish by hand in the shallow waters of the Baltic

Boats and jet skis were a common sight along the shores of Yyteri

Large crowds gathered round for the beach football matches

Just a beautiful day to be at the beach

Doing the tango in the streets--- As Al Pacino would say in the movie "Scent of a Woman"--- HOOwaaah!

These fried fish or "muikkua" were selling like hotcakes--- so we decided to try some--- they tasted like ...... chicken! (ok, not really)

yummy yummy

City Square in full swing during 2010 summer Tango Festival

Hope you enjoyed the pics from the Tango festival in Seinajoki last weekend and our day trip out to Yyteri Beach in Pori, Finland.

This has been a busy week here in Seinajoki. We are getting ready to play the Jaguars and our other coach (def. coordinator) Eero Martinmaki is on holiday with his family. I have been busy with some extra duties on special teams and running the defense while Eero is away. I have definitely felt stretched as a coach this past week and I'm hopeful that we will play well tomorrow. We are shooting for our fourth straight win.

We are also enjoying having some guests from England here in Seinajoki. Our friends Nick and Vickie are visiting us for three days. We have been showing them around the city and hanging out at the beach. They will be here to watch the game tomorrow and then head back to Helsinki on Sunday for their flights back to the UK. We only get to see them about every 2-3 years, so it is a real treat to get to spend some time together.

Tough battle versus the Butchers

2010-07-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

Crocs players warming up for the Butchers game

The cheerleaders were out in full force

Including this young group of cheering fans-- Kaylin doing her best "Go Crocs" cheer

A fine day for football

"Gang-Green"

On Friday evening, we played the five time defending champions from the south of Finland known as the Butchers. We started off poorly with a few offensive turnovers, shaky tackling, and a busted coverage. We even killed a drive with an offensive penalty and helped the Butchers keep a first half drive alive by first having twelve men on the field, and then subsequently jumping offsides on consecutive 4th down penalties. Fortunately, we didn't lose faith in our ability to rebound from our mistakes. The team pulled itself together and scored two key touchdowns late in the first half, one coming on a slant pass with just eight seconds left before intermission.

Our defense made some big stops in the second half and the offense kept ringing up big plays when it had to. A total team effort allowed us to overcome our early miscues and register a 42-30 victory over the Butchers. The guys were so excited about the win and the crowd was treated to a great football game on a hot sunny day in Suomi. We are starting to play with a lot of confidence and the guys are giving exceptional effort on the field. There is a hunger to keep getting better. We have one more game before our second break of the season. This Saturday, we play the Jaguars at home. The Jags are coming off a 24-21 victory vs. the Tampere Saints.

After the Friday game, we decided to hang around town on Saturday and attend the Tango Festival in Seinajoki. This annual event brings in thousands of people from all over the world to, well you guessed it, TANGO. They tango in the mall, in the city square, on the streets, in the campgrounds, and just about anywhere else you can think of. It is really quite the spectacle. Their are many vendors present at the event selling everything from jewelry, clothing, tango dancing shoes, fresh fruit, and countless other items.

On Sunday, we drove two hours south to Pori, Finland and visited a beach called Yyteri. Many say that it is the finest beach in Scandinavia. It is a beautiful beach that sits near a forested area close to a nature preserve. There are big sand dunes as far as the eye can see and the water was surprisingly warm compared to the Baltic waters near Vaasa, where we swam last summer. The place was jam packed full of people and it even felt a bit like Daytona Beach--- Finnish style. The kids thought it was great so we might take another trip down there before we return to the states. I will post some pics from our weekend activities on the next blog.

Lights out.

Crocs Face Off Against Butchers

2010-07-09T03:53:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are interested, our game versus the Porvoo Butchers will be streamed live over the Internet today. The broadcast begins at 6:15pm Finnish time (11:30am U.S. East Coast time).

www.sajl.fi (and click on "Media" in the top right corner)

Lights Out

Stretching Our Euros/ More Midsummer Break pics

2010-07-08T04:28:00.000-07:00

Me and my sauna hat in the "sauna" section of the local City Market

View from our apartment balcony around 1 am

Our budget dinner on a Finnish train-- cream crackers, salami, and some assorted cheeses

Some tapas selections on the Viking Line

The Panna Cotta was superb

The reindeer was tasty too

Fresh bread with some extra virgin olive oil accompanied by a tapas of feta mousse

One of the nearly 30,000 islands that you can find on the trip from Stockholm, Sweden to Turku Finland--- If you look closely, you will see a lone individual in the middle of the picture-- He is standing at his easel and painting!

A fresh salad really hit the spot--- All this sailing really makes one hungry

A Viking Line ship making its way into port at Mariehamn on the placid waters of the Baltic Sea

We passed right by several other vessels including this Silja Line ferry on its way to Stockholm

Another Viking Line boat right behind us

Kaylin having her own kind of fun on the ship

Finnish sun seekers sitting on the rear deck and enjoying the views

I never get tired of looking at all of the little dwellings and cottages on even the smallest of islands

The Old town Square in Tallinn, Estonia

One of the beautiful flower markets in Tallinn

An Irish coffee and free WiFi-- Life is good in Tallinn

Nice panoramic view of the Old town area in Tallinn, Estonia

Our second family trip to Estonia

Just had to get a picture of this door

View looking towards the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral-- an orthodox church in the Old town district of the city of Tallinn

Maybe someday I will give this one a go

One of the biggest challenges for our family of five in Europe is trying to budget our money so we don't run into the problem of too much month at the end of the euros. Traveling in this part of the world is not cheap and there are no Tom Bodett's that "leave the light on for you" for say 50 U.S. dollars a night. Transportation costs, food, and especially lodging can really put a dent into a travel budget in no time at all. We have developed some very basic strategies for cutting corners and stretching our money, so we can see and experience as much as possible during our time here. Here are a few of our travel secrets!!!!

First, we let our feet do the walking. When traveling with three young children, prices on buses, trains, and trolleys can really add up. Although the fares for the younger children are generally reduced, many times children receive only a small discount on full adult fares. Therefore, we usually grab a street map and walk to our destination. We generally avoid shuttles, unless of course they are free, and we only opt for a taxi if the weather is brutal or we are in a major hurry to make a connection. It is always an adjustment for the kids at first, but they seem to adapt fairly well. We are often amazed at the sights or hidden gems we encounter along the way.

Another thing we do is always book ahead well in advance of our trip. Estalita and I both scour the internet for deals and comparison shopping can generally save you some serious money. On a recent Viking Line (12 hour boat trip from Stockholm to Turku, Finland), I secured five tickets for us for only 8 euros each by booking well in advance. This did not include a cabin as this would have run us an additional 200+ euros for the trip. However, I went to the front desk after we boarded the boat and negotiated a full cabin for only 20 additional euros.

Tip # 3 involves food. We generally always scout around for a small grocery store close to wherever we are staying and then buy some basics like drinks, dried fruit, bread, cheese, cream crackers and salami. On a recent trip to Sweden, we found a small grocery store near our budget hotel and then spent about 12 euros on these items for our evening dinner. Breakfast is included in the price at most European hotels, so we try and eat our bigger meal in the morning if this is the case. If we are checking out before breakfast, the hotel staff is usually happy to make up a small "to go" bag free of charge in lieu of the hot breakfast. You just have to ask.

My last tip involves visiting tourist info. centers and asking the staff for coupons or info. about any advertised specials for local restaurants or attractions. Don't forget that simple forms of ID like student cards, can generally get you into a museum at a reduced rate.

Lights out.

Riga and Stockholm

2010-07-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

Dome Cathedral in Riga, Latvia--- the church dates back to the 13th century and the church organ houses close to 7,000 pipes

One of the picturesque sidewalk cafes in the old town of Riga

Riga is known as the "Paris of the North" and the architecture in this old city is splendid to say the least

St. Peter's Church--- which dates back to the year 1209-- much of the church was destroyed by fires during the second world war

Love these color combinations, which can be seen all over the city

Europeans really take their World Cup Soccer seriously-- This truck was set up in one of the main squares for everyone's viewing pleasure

Getting ready for some of the dark garlic bread that Riga is known for-- that is St. Peter's Church in the background

On our way back to catch our boat for the 17 hour boat ride back to Stockholm. The dark and oily waters of the Daugava River are in the background. This river runs from the hills of western Russia all the way to the Gulf of Riga.

One of the many canals in the city.

This freedom tower was constructed in the city in the 1930's-- It symbolizes the freedom that Latvians experienced after the first world war. The country was under German and Soviet control from 1939 until the early 1990's

Great place for a clothes line

Checked out this occupation museum which had poignant artifacts and displays from all the years that Latvia suffered under direct occupation--one memorable display was of a Russian "gulag" or hard labor camp-- where thousands of Lats were sent during this time period

weapons from the gulags-- where conditions were often harsh and thousands perished

More articles from the camps

Now For Some More Stockholm Pics

Wonderful view from the Aquarium on the island of Djurgarden

The Stockholm Aquarium-- Don't think you will find these sort of fish in the chilly waters of the Baltic though

The Nordiska Museum-- A Grand and Opulent Structure, which seems to be the norm in Stockholm

George and Laurie Contreras in Stockholm-- It was great to finally meet the two of them--- Think they will be ready to co-author their very own Lonely Planet Travel Guide sometime soon!

Did I ever mention that I really love Stockholm???

Thought these cloud formations were really unique

The "Vision of the Seas" Cruise Ship in port at Stockholm Harbour

Taken from our cruise ship somewhere in the middle of the Baltic Sea

Kodie and Kamryn on the "Vision of the Seas"

We have been back in Seinajoki five days now and the weather has been absolutely splendid. The kids have been swimming twice this week and outdoor summer activities are at their peak this time of year in Finland. Kaylin hasn't been feeling well since we returned, so we took her to the local hospital yesterday. It looks like she has some type of eye infection that has been accompanied by a sore throat, so now she is on medication and already seems to be improving.

Our team traveled to Turku this past weekend to play the Trojans. Despite missing two more starters on defense due to recent injuries, our team rose to the occasion and turned in our most consistent performance of the season. The game was played in sweltering heat (about 84 degrees by Finnish standards), but our team got off to a quick start and played well in all 3 phases of the game. We had over 500 yards of total offense in our 63-0 victory and the defense held our opponent to less than 50 yards of total offense. It was just one of those days where everything was clicking and my hat is off to our players for turning in such a dominating performance. Great job guys. The road gets even tougher now as the Porvoon Butchers come to town this Friday for a big match up against us. The Butchers are probably our most intense rival and they have won the last 5 championships in a row. They are a physical team with many skilled players and they know how to win. It should prove to be a great test for our team.

Hope you enjoyed the photos of Riga, Latvia and Stockholm, Sweden.

Lights out.

Back In Seinajoki

2010-06-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

Kodie working out with the junior Crocs team

Billboards in town advertising our big game with the Butchers next weekend--- But first we have a very big game against the Turku Trojans this Saturday!

Big Sis and Little Sis having some fun in the park

We finally arrived back in Seinajoki about 4 am this morning after 9 days on the road. Things didn't go as planned for us in finding a train back from Turku, Finland last night. We spent more than 5 hours on 3 trains and another 3 hours waiting on connecting trains to our destination. This was after our 11 hour boat ride on the Viking Line. We had a really nice time, but it was good to get back to our apartment too. The family was able to visit two new countries during the trip including Latvia and Denmark. We also realized that Estalita and the kids had been in 8 different countries over a 10 day period since their arrival earlier this month. I will be posting some pictures from the trip over the course of the next week.

One of the major highlights of the trip for us was getting to meet George Contreras and his wife Laurie over the weekend in Stockholm. In some ways, I feel like I have known George for quite some time even though it was our first ever opportunity to meet in person. He and Laurie are living in Sweden this summer after spending the two previous seasons in Catania, Sicily. They are a wonderful couple and a lot of fun to be around. They have many unique and fascinating stories to tell after all their time living and traveling in Europe over the past 3 seasons. I sure hope to meet up again with them sometime in the future.

Lights out.

A Damp Day in Denmark

2010-06-25T01:14:00.000-07:00

Our first visit to Copenhagen was a quick one and marked by sporadic rain, but the city lived up to its hype. We'll certainly return sometime in the future for a more thorough visit. The architecture in the city was truly fabulous. Stockholm still ranks as my favorite city in northern Europe, but Copenhagen is up there pretty high now too.

The three amigos in the Nynhavn district

Nynhavn is a great spot for food, drinks, and people watching

Marching guards pass us by on the world famous Stroget--- the longest shopping street in Europe

Windmills were plentiful in the parks surrounding the city

The beauty of Tivoli gardens

Tivoli Gardens amusement park is a must when visiting Copenhagen

The park is said to have inspired Walt Disney

Hans Christian Andersen

Kodie and Kamryn didn't let the rain stop them from enjoying the rides at Tivoli

Lights out.

Cruisin in Scandinavia

2010-06-22T05:36:00.000-07:00

Sailing through the Oslo Fjord

Island living in Oslo Fjord

Fantastic Four is ready for some adventure

Kodie giving the climbing wall a go. ( Think he found a new sport!)

Kamryn near the peak--- Way to go!

Lights out.

Off to Oslo

2010-06-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

Ski hill (joupista) near our home field in Seinajoki

Crocs starting safety Juha

"D.A." Our DE from the UK

The family made it safely and soundly to Finland on Tuesday and had a few days in Seinajoki. Now we are off to Oslo to catch our boat for a 5 day cruise on Royal Caribbean around northern Europe. We are actually taking the same ship as we did last summer, but this route is a bit different. We sail through the Oslo fjord on Saturday afternoon and the first destination is Copenhagen, Denmark. We are at sea the second day and then travel on to Tallinn, Estonia. The trip then finishes up in Stockholm, Sweden. It will be nice to revisit these cities again this summer and get the chance to scope out some new sights in Copenhagen.

We had two practices with the team this past week, but our numbers were very low at both practices. Many of the guys are traveling and getting ready for the Midsummer celebrations that are fast approaching. During this time of year, most Europeans in this part of the world are abandoning the cities for the country side and the countless summer lake cottages that dot the landscapes of Scandinavia. Remember, Finland has close to 200,000 lakes and only 5 million inhabitants in the entire nation. In other words, that means there is approximately one lake for every 25 people in the country.

It is nearly time to board the plane and the battery power on my computer is dwindling.

Lights out.

18 hours and counting

2010-06-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

Janne our team treasurer-- he is also in the music business

The Fish Net Shirt is making a comeback in Finland

Some Finnish Folk Dancers

A German accordion-- Retails for around 8700 euros

Its Italian counterpart... for only 9600 euros

Seinajoki Music Festival

Grocery store parking lot in Seinajoki

It is now only 18 hours until I pick Estalita and the kids up in Helsinki. They are flying over on Icelandic Air with a short stop in Iceland before catching their flight to Finland. Hopefully, the volcano will stay quiet and not cause any problems. I am SOOOO excited to have them all here again for the summer.

We had a short evening practice and only 14 guys showed up tonight. That was a bit disappointing, but I expected to have lower attendance because we are nearing our break. In fact, our mid summer break starts after our practice on Wednesday and we don't play another game until the 3rd of July. We will resume workouts on Monday June 28th. In truth, we are very banged up right now and in need of this bye week.

I was disappointed to read that QB Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans got himself into some trouble by assaulting a man at a strip club near Dallas, Texas. It never ceases to amaze me how so many athletes, who are obviously blessed with extraordinary physical skills, can have such little sense and maturity when it comes to making good decisions. I guess people who have never really had to work for a living (see also Big Ben, Larry Johnson, PacMan Jones) just don't appreciate the reality of a short working life. In fact, their sense of entitlement just blinds them from the fact that there really is any kind of problem with their behavior. I am curious as to what it would be like to live in that kind of fantasy world.
I read an article on Vince Young just last week in ESPN the Magazine. I am beginning to think that he too is living in this fantasy world. In that world, pro athletes must believe that a few autographs for kids, a tax write-off check to a local charity, and a United Way commercial, is all you really need to do to be considered a do-gooder. The key is to create a perception that you are a good guy through the use of your agent, publicist, and the media. Agents like Drew Rosenhaus and Scott Boras are really smart and they have figured this out. Perception is stronger than reality. The key is to make your guy look clean, smart, and sensible, even if he is a total knucklehead and a cancer on your team. (see also Terrell Owens)
Anyway, back to Vince. In the article, he cleared the air about his rumored suicide attempt from a few years ago and also talked about how much he has matured and grown up recently. I found myself rooting for him and hoping he would stay on track and use his platform as a pro athlete to make a positive difference. I must say that I am no longer a fan of Vince Young the man or the athlete. The article I read showed a picture of Vince's pregnant girlfriend and pointed out that they are expecting their first child together. Not cool Vince. You are an expectant father who is hanging out in strip clubs and assaulting people. You say that you idolized Steve McNair and the way he carried himself and all the things he taught you. Well, Air McNair also had a secret side to him. He abandoned his family and secretly took up residence with his young mistress. Things went downhill from there and he ultimately lost his life. Wake up Vince before you throw your career down the drain again. Learn from the mistakes that your idol made while you still have the chance.

Lights out.

Back in the Win Column

2010-06-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we spent about 13 hours on the bus as we traveled to lappeenranta in eastern Finland to take on the Border Knights. The border they are referring to is the one with their big neighbor to the east--- RUSSIA

It is weird to drive into the city and see road signs posted for St. Petersburg, Russia. I still haven't made it into this country and I'm not sure if we'll get there this summer. It is fairly difficult to travel there if you are trying to enter as an American. The best way to visit is through one of the no visa options either by taking a cruise with one of the big name cruise liners, or by taking a no visa cruise on the Saimma Canal into the Russian city of Vyborg.

As for the game, we were able to beat the Knights 30-28 and gain our second victory of the season. Our record now sits at 2-2. We had a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter, but then our one and only quarterback Alex Rouse pulled his hamstring and struggled to move much for the rest of the game. We had to change our game plan and move away from our option plays and rollout passing game. We struggled offensively for most of the rest of the game, but found ourselves late in the game and executed an 80 yard drive against a strong wind. That drive may have been a turning point for this team. We mostly ran the football and converted on several 3rd down situations. I was proud of Alex for toughing it out and our running backs for gaining some tough yards. Last but not least, our offensive line led my offensive tackle Pontus Bondeson challenged the offensive unit to dominate the line of scrimmage and create running seams for our backs. All in all, it was a big win for our team heading into the break. We just have to learn how to close teams out and quit trying to snap defeat from the jaws of victory.

It is now only about 26 hours until Estalita and the kids leave for JFK airport and the beginning of their journey to Finland. I am working on getting things ready for them in the apartment. It will be so great to see them and get back to being together on an everyday basis. Their stay in Finland will be relatively short as we leave again on Friday to begin Scandinavian Journey "Part Deux." Our journey will begin next weekend in Oslo, Norway.

Fourth Time a Charm ?

2010-06-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

I DARE YOU TO LOOK AT THIS PICTURE CLOSELY-- WARNING!!-- Objects in toilet may be larger than they appear

I have reported quite often about the highs associated with coaching football overseas, but there are a fair share of frustrations as well. Paying to use public toilets, a lack of ice cube trays in the country, not being able to turn right on red, and the precipitous fall of the euro is enough to cause a guy some real stress. This season has been particularly trying, which has caused me to question what I am doing on more than one occasion. Today was one of those kind of days. I have been moved around four times since I arrived in Finland on May 2nd, and have yet to settle in and put any of my personal belongings away. There have been major issues with the apartments this season. In fairness to the team, the city is growing and there is a shortage of decent apartments in the area that open up before the college students finish their semester. In my first place, I had bugs in my bed, mold in the kitchen, and drunks causing trouble in the halls at all hours of the night. Today I relocated to my fourth and hopefully final location for the summer. The only trouble with the move was the condition of the apartment when I arrived today. The people who left before me forgot to take their mess with them and the place is very dirty. I think the Adams Family may have lived there before I arrived, but one thing is for certain. I have some major cleaning to do before Estalita and the kids arrive next Tuesday.

No this is not an abstract piece of art by Picasso or Salvador Dali--- It is a view of the walls in my living room

More art on the walls

Things are growing in the fridge

The floors/baseboard are interesting too-- Wonder if I can rent a power washer?

Lights out.

A Long Journey Back To Finland

2010-06-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

I am back in Finland now after spending about 68 hours at home. The trip back started in Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon and my first stop was London on Wednesday morning. I had a seven hour flight and then a six hour layover, so I decided to do a little exploring. I have been to London on 3 or 4 prior occasions ( after all I am married to an English woman), but I have been looking forward to going back to check out more of what the city has to offer. The six hour layover didn't leave me much time because I had to allow time for switching terminals and going through all the security checks. I also had about 50 minutes travel time each way on the tube, so my time was limited to about 2 hours on this occasion. The Paddington Express train would have taken me into central London in only 15 minutes from Heathrow, but the cost was 32 pounds for a return trip. So I opted for the 4.50 pound ride on the London underground train known as the tube. While in the city, I did find time for some breakfast. I guess all that flying made me hungry! The breakfast known as the "Full Monty" or the "Full English" is my absolute favorite in the world. I found one on this day in Piccadilly for only 5 pounds, which really made me happy. Now the "Full English" has been written about on this blog before, but it's mere greatness justifies another mention on this site. This artery 'cloggin' breakfast has been around for some 200 years, and I fully expect it to be around for at least 200 more. The breakfast consists of cooked mushrooms, half of a cooked tomato, two pieces of buttered toast, beans, two eggs-- fried or scrambled, bangars (otherwise known as sausages), a few bacon rashers, (which is 90% lean meat and 10% fat-- unlike the American version of clear fatty bacon), and in some cases a serving of blood pudding. Now, I have tried the blood pudding, but I am fine with leaving this out of the equation. The choice of additional flavor for this breakfast is the 'royal' HP sauce. HP is fully endorsed by the queen and it is a very like able brown sauce. It is similar to it's cousin A-1 sauce, but decidedly unique. Comparing HP and A-1 is akin to comparing the U.S.A. and Great Britain. In other words, they are very similar, but yet very different.

After devouring my breakfast, I set out for some more walking and the chance to take some additional photos. I still had a long day ahead of me including another two and a half hour flight from London to Helsinki, a 45 minute bus ride to the train station, and then a 5 hour train ride back to Seinajoki. Is this starting to sound like a sequel to the film "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles?"

After my return to Heathrow a few hours later, I decided there was only one thing I could do to help alleviate all the stress of my travels. EAT! I scoped out the menu at Gordon Ramsay's restaurant and asked the hostess if I could be seated for a quick bite before taking off. I have watched Gordon Ramsay on the telly for some 2-3 years now, most notably on his show called Hell's Kitchen. He is one of the most colorful Brits I have ever seen in action. If they ever cast him as 007 in a James Bond film, the movie would have to be rated R or maybe even triple X for all the language he can muster. In fact, he can drop more F-bombs in one minute on his show than Vice President Biden can during a campaign speech. Now, that's a lot of F-bombs.

In regards to Gordon, I have always found the bloke to be a bit cheeky. His dishes are smashing, but he likes to get into a row with his students and often tells them to bugger off. Even so, the chance for some spotted dick for only a few quid seemed just lovely to me. Plus, I was knackered from all the walking, felt like I'd been traveling at least a fortnight, and desperately needed the loo.

American translation= I think Gordon is a guy who is brash and ornery. His food is extraordinary, but he does seem to enjoy arguing and fighting with his students, while sometimes telling them to get lost. My chance to have a well known English dessert for only a few dollars was super. After all, I was tired from the walking and felt like I had been on the road for two weeks. And, I really needed to use the restroom.

I never met a pasta dish I didn't like and this one was no exception at Gordon Ramsay's "Plane" Restaurant

No Sign of Gordon

If you ever find yourself in terminal 5 at Heathrow-- check this place out

The New Terminal 5 at London Heathrow

The "Full English" accompanied by the HP Brown sauce

By the way, spotted dick is a sponge and sweet pudding with raisins or currants in it. It is usually served with hot custard and very popular in England.

Lights out.

Surprise-- I'm Home

2010-06-01T05:02:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we traveled to Tampere, (the second largest city in Finland) to take on the Saints. We started off a bit slow, playing like a team coming off a game we had at times dominated, but still lost just the week before. Our first quarter hangover put us in a 7-0 hole and we just seemed out of sync. After settling down a bit and regrouping, the team found its way back on track and led 14-7 at the half. We made a few adjustments at the intermission and then came out after the break with more consistent play. We ended up with a 31-10 victory. Next week, we travel to Helsinki to take on the Wolverines. We have to play much better if we hope to beat this team on their home field next weekend.

Now, on to the rest of my weekend. After the Saints game, the family of our starting defensive end Janne took me to the train station at Tampere to begin my long journey home for the weekend. Once I realized the schedule for the season back in February, I began to plan a surprise trip home to see my family. The idea of not seeing my family for a period of 45 days was too much for me to deal with. I noticed a Friday night game on the schedule and then a Sunday evening game for the following week. With the extra time between games, the fact that we have a second American coach, and the approval of the management, I set to work on booking some flights and trying to keep the secret from my Estalita and the kids.

Needless to say, there were some challenges along the way. My wife has the in born 6th sense that all mothers seem to possess, so I had to find a way to keep the credit card statements from her. I involved my brother-in-law and sister-in-law in this clandestine operation and even set up a secret email account for flight itineraries and communication purposes, etc...

Then, there were some other unexpected curve balls along the way, like the Icelandic volcano, the threat of an eruption by the second larger volcano, and even some last minute flight cancellations because of the current British Airways cabin crew strike.

After navigating through all of these hurdles and a few late trains and minor flight delays, I was able to arrive back in Philadelphia Saturday afternoon. I set it up for my family to go to my brother-in-laws restaurant and sports bar (Torino's) for some pizza and this is where I showed up unannounced. Estalita and the kids were in shock and very surprised to say the least. Over the last few days, we have been enjoying the 90 degree weather in Maryland and spending time outside swimming, barbecuing, watching movies, and playing ball with the kids. Oh the joys of being home. Air conditioning, sweet tea, and soft toilet paper! I could go on and on, but these last 72 hours have been well worth the efforts it took to get here.

I am catching my flight back to Europe this afternoon and will hopefully be back in Finland sometime very late on Wednesday night. I am so thankful for the time and opportunity I had to come home and reconnect with my family.

A kayaker navigates his way down the river in Seinajoki

A nice day to be out on the water

The Tampere Saints doing their pre-game stretch

The Crocs are poised to take the field

Former Croc and current Rooster player Charles McCrea during pre-game warm-ups

Tough Loss to Open the Season

2010-05-28T02:35:00.000-07:00

Our team opened the season with a disappointing 27-24 home loss vs. the Helsinki Roosters. We led 24-6 with 10 minutes to play, but a series of unfortunate events led to our coming up short on a warm sunny afternoon in Seinajoki. We did turn the ball over 3 times on offense, but the same crew who worked our semi-final game last season sure didn't help us out either. They threw close to 20 flags on us, which totaled close to 200 yards in the game. We had nearly 600 yards of total offense, so the penalty yardage did a fine job of wiping away much of that. This pattern of fourth quarter penalties against us in the form of holding calls and pass interference calls has led me to file a report with the Federation here in Finland. The umpire even told our starting right tackle from Duke that he will keep throwing the holding calls because we are blocking with our hands inside. Wow, Imagine that! The idea of blocking with the hands inside has been around for only about 20 years now, so there isn't much to say to that. Needless to say, we need to bounce back this Friday against the Saints in Tampere.

The game will be on the net as a live feed, so tune in if you get a chance. Just go to sajl.fi
Then click on media and you will see the game between us and the Saints. The game starts at 6:30 pm Finland time, which is 11:30 am east coast time in the states.

I will update soon with pics and info. from both games. My internet connection is still affecting my ability to blog on a regular basis, so I am still working on getting this resolved.

Lights out.

What time is it, Game Time?

2010-05-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

The long awaited opening weekend for Maple League Play kicked off last night here in Finland as the Porvoo Butchers defeated the Lappeenranta Border Knights 31-21 in the first league action of the 2010 season. Our season opener is tomorrow afternoon 4 pm Finnish time as we take on the Helsinki Roosters at our home field in Seinajoki. Considering our four straight road games after this contest and the mid summer break, we will not play on our home field again until a Friday night game against the Porvoo Butchers on July 9th.

Our league appears to have a great deal of competitive balance this year, so getting a win in this home opener is a big deal. The Roosters will provide quite the challenge, so I am hoping we can overcome all the distractions we've had during our pre-season and come out today with a victory. We have had more intensity and better participation at practice over the past 2-3 days, but our offense still isn't clicking, so I have some definite concerns going into this matchup. I really believe the key for us today is to get out of the gate quickly and put some points on the board early. The Roosters offense is explosive and built to score on big plays. I believe we can be physical with a team like this. It will be a necessary ingredient if we want to slow down their attack

It is just after 4 am here now and it looks like the middle of the day outside. The sunlight woke me up around 3 this morning, so I'm not sure that I'll be able to get back to sleep. I do have curtains this year to block out some of the light, but it still takes some getting used to. Maybe, I will just stay up and watch some more film. My adrenaline is already pumping and after all, it is game time!

Crocodiles Club Night

2010-05-18T14:51:00.000-07:00

The Crocodiles had their "Club Night" last week as community members were invited to the stadium for some festivities. The junior team played a short scrimmage, the cheerleaders performed some dance routines, and our senior team and coaches were introduced. The club is trying to continue its outreach into the surrounding areas to spread the word about American football in Seinajoki. One of the efforts the team has undertaken is working to grow the youth football programs in this part of the country. There might be as many as 3 or 4 new youth teams that start up this summer in this region of western Finland. The hope is that these programs will continue to expand and ultimately supply the Crocodiles with players for many years on down the road. I was able to have one small part in contributing to this effort over this past off-season. During my time coaching in the midwest, we at Trinity use to play a small college in Illinois called Principia College. I got to know many of their coaches very well and when they dropped their football program this past year, a door opened for me to help the Crocodiles get some great equipment. As it turns out, the Crocs are getting almost all of Principia's football gear at a very discounted price. The college has also been kind enough to donate many items to us for free including new wireless head sets, new game jerseys, and nearly new game pants. Buying football gear in this part of the world is not only difficult, but also very expensive. I know this equipment will be put to good use here in Finland for many years to come.

Crocs youth cheerleaders performing at the team "Club Night"

Riku # 77, Big Sami # 76, HP in the background, Jukka # 68, Jari # 72, and Janne # 60
These are the guys who work hard in the trenches as offensive lineman, but usually only get mentioned or noticed if they make a mistake--

kitchen in my apartment

I currently share an apartment with our other American coach Todd Klugh and his wife Maja-- Here is my room-- I haven't completely unpacked yet because I will be moving again in a few weeks just before my family arrives.

The rest of my Finnish kitchen

Lights out.

No Blog Vacation

2010-05-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

My absence from the blog over the past six days was not intentional, but rather due to some problems with my weak internet connection here at the apartment, and the difficulty I am having uploading pictures to the site. In any case, I am back and hope to be posting on a more regular basic now that I have found a few ways to get around these issues. In truth, my wife Estalita has informed me how to get around these obstacles and I'm just following her directions. (that is a familiar pattern for me in life!)

This past week, we had practice every day and a few other activities to keep us busy. I had a chance to speak at a seminar for about 40 people at the Kuortane High Performance Training Center. This particular training center is one of only 75 in the world that is accredited by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It is used by Olympic athletes in ice hockey, volleyball, track and field, and wrestling. I was asked to speak for an hour on the topic of attitude and motivation. It was really a lot of fun and challenging at the same time. One of the people in the audience who was listening to my talk was Tapio Korjus. Tapio is an Olympic gold medal winner in the javelin event. He won his medal for Finland at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea and he is now the director of the Kuortane Sports Complex. Along with being a very dynamic individual, he was a very gracious host.

Just a few days later, Coach Todd Klugh and I returned to Kuortane with many of the Crocodiles players. The purpose of this visit was for the players to get tested in the 40 yard dash, vertical leap, body fat measurements, and a few other tests that measure core strength in the abdominals and legs. Some of the tests are completely unlike anything I have ever seen before in the states, so I won't even try and explain them. There are a few pictures of the machines below that were used to test the athletes. A few of these machines are close to 30 years old, but they are still being effectively used to test world class athletes. Now, that would be hard to imagine in the states! The search for bigger and better methods motivates many in the U.S. and it is doubtful that any equipment close to 30 years old would be used to train modern athletes in our country. I think it goes to show that medals aren't necessarily won by fancy equipment, but rather by elite athletes who are willing to train hard and commit themselves to being the best.

Now that the week is coming to a close, I am starting to realize just how close we are to our home opener. We open the season next weekend vs. the Helsinki Roosters. The Roosters have a solid defense and a high-octane offense, so this will be a tough test for us. They beat us in the playoffs last season, so we know what they are capable of. We had a few disappointing practices this past week, so we have to get it in gear if we hope to have success in our first contest. I am excited for the challenge that awaits us.

Olympic gold medalist Tapio Korjus ( for those of you who might be new to the blog-- he is on the left!)

Tapio and the 6'5" tall defensive coordinator for the Crocs-- Coach Todd Klugh

Our American import Robert Bishop warming up before his 40 yard dash

British import D.A. in full stride on his 40

Our Finnish tight end Janne- being tested for leg strength

American import running back Greg Fountain straining those abs

QB Alex Rouse from Carson Newman College-- getting hooked up to his Ab tester

Lights out.

First Live Action

2010-05-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

Our scrimmage with Nokia allowed us to get some important reps for both sides of the ball on Saturday evening. Nokia plays in a lower division than us and they seemed to be missing several of their players. Five of our first seven running plays resulted in touchdowns, so it is hard to really estimate where we stand in relation to other Maple League teams. We appreciate the guys from Nokia coming up here for the scrimmage and the effort they gave on the field.

Sunday was an off day, so I focused on getting my laundry done and writing up our running plays against various fronts for our Oline. We only have about 25% of our offense in at this point, so we have a lot more teaching and installation to do before our home opener in two weeks.

We have practices everyday again this week and then some testing at a sports training facility on Thursday. I will be traveling out to the same training facility tomorrow morning with our other American coach Todd Klugh to speak at a seminar at the sports institute. It will be similar to the talks I gave last summer on team building and attitude/motivation. These seminars are something I enjoy, and it allows me to get out and meet Finnish business people from all walks of life. Many of them are very curious about life in America.

There are still snow banks all around the field-- I failed to pack enough warm clothes for the temps we've been getting since I arrived!

Team Nokia

American import Robert Bishop warming up during pre-game

That is team captain Thomas Cekken in the center of the picture-- He is as intense as any football player I have ever been around

One of our new defensive players we signed for the 2010 season-- Ollie played for the Roosters last season, as you can see by his helmet

Men in Black-- Me with Coach Todd Klugh-- Todd hails from New York. He is doing a superb job with our defense.

The Crocs defense is ready

Lights out.

Eve of the Nokia Scrimmage

2010-05-07T15:28:00.000-07:00

I finished up with practice this evening around 8pm and then walked around town for about an hour before returning to the apartment. On the way out for my walk, I decided to snap a few pictures of the apartment/area where I am currently living. It is less than half a mile from where we stayed last summer.

We have our first scrimmage tomorrow evening against a team from Nokia. This is the same town that is known globally for its Finnish cellular brand namesake. I don't know much about the team coming in here tomorrow. They are a lower division team, but I am expecting a very tough and competitive group of players to arrive for the game. We are missing some of our key guys and our practices have been less than stellar over the past few days. Our defense is making some nice strides, but our offense is having a lot of mental breakdowns. We have a lot of work to do and improvements that need to be made before our Maple League schedule begins in two weeks. We open the season on May 22nd at home vs. the Helsinki Roosters. The Roosters knocked us out of the semifinals of the playoffs last season on a long scoring pass with less than 10 seconds left to play in the game. They look to be very tough again this season. Speaking of Roosters, check this bird out!

Took this photo right out behind my apartment

Here is the front of my apartment-- I dwell on the 3rd floor

View from my window

my room is the top floor on the right

the path I take to walk to the practice field

thin crispy crust, cloves of garlic, chicken, feta cheese--Sofram Pizza is out of this world.

Lights out.

A Second Time Around

2010-05-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

I finally made it to Finland after about 27 straight hours of traveling, which included about 11 hours in the air, 5 hours by train, and a mere 45 minutes on the bus. Of course, the 27 hours does include the 5 hour layover in Frankfurt, Germany.

Things have been very busy since I arrived in Seinajoki. We have been getting our phone and internet connections sorted out, helping the import players get situated, and setting up our practice schedules. My initial accomodations weren't the greatest, so I have relocated to another apartment in town. It is close to where I lived last year, but it looks like I will be moving again at the end of the month.

We have had two practices already and there is great potential on this team. We are still missing many of our regular players, so we should be closer to full strength by next week this time.

The weather has been very chilly compared to back home. When I left Maryland on Saturday, it was 91 degrees. It has been in the 50's here during the day and evening practice temps. are probably in the mid to upper 40's. It is already getting light out at around 3:30 am, so I know we'll be close to 21-22 hours of daylight within the next 2-3 weeks.

I have only been here 3 days and here is what I've experienced so far.
1. one flat tire while driving the white bomber-- check
2.one parking ticket while parking directly in front of a bank--check
3. one administered breathalyzer test while driving back to my apartment (no, I was not drinking)--check
4. two drunks, one being thrown out of a restaurant and another keeping me up most of the night at my first apartment--priceless

For those who love Finland, it pays to discover. (ok, some of you may not get this!)

Anyway, I really am having a great time and it is good to be back. I miss my family dearly and can't wait for their arrival next month.

Here are a few pics from my journey over to Finland.

A businessman on a bicycle at the Frankfurt, Germany Airport

Lufthansa planes lined up at Frankfurt International

I think there is a bread shortage in Germany. I have seen this before when traveling here. A big bratwurst and a small bun can be a tough eating challenge. It leaves very little room for the onions, mustard, and kraut.

German race cars in the airport-- Not sure about the Hess sponsorship though?

Saved the best pic for last-- This one is for my son Kodie. I didn't realize U.S. Airways had such great taste in football teams.

Lights out.

T minus 40 hours

2010-04-29T22:23:00.000-07:00

Well, the time has nearly come. In less than two days, I will be making my way back to Finland for my second season of coaching American football in Europe. I am returning to the Seinajoki Crocodiles and look forward to reuniting with all the veteran players and meeting an exciting core of new players. Hopefully, the volcano in Iceland has calmed down for the time being and things will go smoothly on the way over.

It looks as if we'll be staying in a familiar setting in the city center of Seinajoki. It is a great location with convenient access to shopping, parks, walking trails, and of course our favorite pizza place--- Sofram!

It will be nice to get back into a regular coaching routine, but I know I'll be counting the days until Estalita and the kids can leave to join me in Finland. I will hit the ground running again this season as our first practice begins on Tuesday and then our first scrimmage is scheduled for just four days later. I don't think we'll have too much in by then, but I sort of like the sense of urgency it creates.

The blog will also return in full force once I get settled in after my arrival. I hope to get back to posting several times a week and reporting on all the fun and peculiar situations we seem to get ourselves into. There will be plenty of pictures again this year on the blog, so stay tuned.

Lights out.

Oh Ben, Say it isn't So

2010-04-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

I have sat back, watched and listened, while the NFL considered the facts in the Big Ben sexual assault/harassment case. I was not surprised to see the league suspend the QB for six games to start the 2010 NFL season. Most people who read this blog know I am a passionate Steelers fan, but I too am disgusted with the behavior of our franchise quarterback. I have long bragged that the Steelers organization is built on principles like loyalty, character, integrity, and patience. We have never been the type of team to chase the Terrell Owens or Pac-Man Jones of the professional football world. In fact, when one of our young players shows signs of questionable character, or is fixated on becoming a "Me" player (See also Plaxico Burress, Joey Porter, etc...), the organization generally shows these players the door. Now, the team finds itself between a rock and a hard place because of the actions of a few of its players ( See also, Ben and Santonio Holmes). Holmes was shown the door last week, and the Steelers are rumored to be entertaining offers for their star QB.

I have long been troubled by the behavior of pro athletes off the field, but that is only a microcosm of what is happening in modern society. The most baffling part of all of this for me is how willing these athletes are to throw it all away. Most of them will make more in a year than any of us will ever make in a lifetime, yet they are willing to throw it all away for a few thrills in a nightclub. I have always believed that nothing good happens in any establishment that serves alcohol after midnight. I guess we have to ask ourselves why athletes continue to put themselves in such compromising situations. Perhaps, its because they feel invincible or somehow protected from all the power, money, and adulation that follows them wherever they go.

I read an article about Ben several months ago before all of this surfaced. He was asked a question about the hardest job he ever had. His response was that he has never had a job outside of football. I actually found it rather sad that he doesn't have any work experience outside of being a football player. I believe there is something to be learned from washing dishes in a busy kitchen, putting shingles on a hot roof, or marching in formation under a hot sun. These sorts of tasks aren't associated with making lots of money, idol worship, or scoring with the ladies. Rather, they teach one the importance of hard work, discipline, and how to get through life's hurdles without a posse, publicist, or grandiose sense of entitlement. We have built the modern athlete up so much by massaging their egos and closing our eyes to their discretions. The only thing we ask in return from them is that they win. Just maybe, we ought to start asking our heroes to be more self-less. Isn't that what a hero really is anyway? Did the countless men and women who rushed to help those trapped in the burning towers on 9/11 stop to think of themselves first?

Isn't it time we also start demanding that our athletes learn a little more about being humble. Instead, we put way too much attention on pride in our society. In fact, I have seen hundreds of t-shirts in my day that have the letters P-R-I-D-E printed on them, but I have yet to come across one that had H-U-M-I-L-I-T-Y as the main slogan. Now, I know that athletes who deflect attention from themselves aren't generally going to make the headlines on Sportscenter, but there is something to be said for giving some credit to the other guy. Let's start teaching young athletes that humility is the first step to building a great team. If they don't want to buy in to the humility message, then we can point to athletes like Tiger and Big Ben as great examples that Pride Cometh Before the Fall.

Lights out.

Flicks and Food

2010-04-10T17:29:00.000-07:00

I don't get out to the movies much these days and the ones that I do see are usually of the animated sort. I normally attend these films with my 3 kids and find many of them to be quite good. The latest film of this genre that we had a chance to see is the Alice In Wonderland Film. I thought the special effects were exceptional and Johnny Depp delivers another unique performance. He has mastered the art of being an 'eccentric' and he reminds me of a chameleon when it comes to the multitude of roles that he takes on. I don't think I remember Alice in Wonderland as having such a dark or scary theme, but I still think this film is worth seeing.

I also recently watched 'Up In The Air'' starring George Clooney while I was essentially up in the air on a plane traveling to Finland last month. I share the excitement with Clooney's character for maxing out reward points and trying to circumvent all the hassles of modern airline travel. I have some of my own secrets of the trade like always wearing slip on shoes so I can get through security lines faster as well as never getting behind families when I'm in line. I like to travel light and see just how much I can condense into the ziplock bags I use for packing much of my clothing. I must admit I've always had an affinity for hotels and airports. Let me clarify that! Airports in the days prior to Sept. 11th are what I mean specifically. These days navigating through all the red tape and security checks at the airport can be rather stressful. Plus, airline service on American carriers has gone down the tubes. Most of them now employ the strategy of nickel and diming passengers for everything from snacks, to aisle seats, to luggage charges. Just this past week, one U.S. carrier took the bold move to start charging passengers for carry on luggage as well. How long before most of the others follow suit? In any case, I will always equate airports as the link to fresh horizons and the starting point for new adventures. There is something exciting about staying in a hotel for me as well. I estimate that I've spent about 2 years of my life staying in motels/hotels. There is something electric about walking into a nice facility and checking out all the amenities that await you. The only downside is getting some 30 year old mattress or pancake like pillows that cause back and neck problems for 3 days after your stay. When I was 20, I could sleep on a bed of nails and not complain, but those days are gone. Clooney never complains about bad bedding in the movie, but anyone who travels as much as his character does is sure to have some negative experiences.

Since I'm on the subject of entertainment, let me just say that I am now hooked on Chef Jamie Oliver's new show called America's Food Revolution. Jamie has set out to change the garbage style food that is being served in American schools. His journey begins in America's most obese city... Huntington, West Virginia. This show will absolutely and positively blow your mind. It goes a long way in explaining why American schools are losing ground on the world scene. We are 100% depriving our children's bodies and brains of the nutrition they need to be at their best in the classroom. The school my children attend is no different from the one Jamie is trying to change. The sad part is that most Americans think Jamie is the one with the problem. Here are some brief facts from the show. Kids are being served pizza for breakfast, chicken nuggets for lunch, and then hamburgers for lunch the next day. Many of the younger kids couldn't identify foods like tomatoes, broccoli, potatoes, or cauliflower. Jamie is chastised by the school food supervisor when one of his meals ( a 7 vegetable and meat stir fry) has to be altered because it is missing a bread. Meanwhile, kids are walking through the next line with a burger and fries and this passes the grade. The fries count as a vegetable and the burger is protein. I almost forgot the bread on the hamburger meats the bread requirement for this particular combination. Another enjoyable moment is when Jamie realizes that most young American children cannot properly use a knife and fork in conjunction with one another. In fact, this particular school didn't even have any knives on hand and they rarely seemed to use forks. There isn't much need for these utensils when pizza, burgers, fries, nachos, and chicken nuggets are so often on the menu. I won't spoil any more of this show for you, but you've got to check this program out.
Guess that is all for tonight. Time to watch a movie and get something to eat!

I leave for Finland in 20 days!-- Lights out.

A Reason To Celebrate

2010-04-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday evening family and friends gathered in Bel Air, Maryland to celebrate my brother-in-law and sister-in-laws new business. Nick and Jenna Molyneux are the proud new owners of Torino's Restaurant and Sports Bar. I know both of them will be adding some personal touches to this establishment including a brand new name, which will soon be revealed. I know I'm biased, but I believe this business is going to continue to grow and expand with Nick and Jenna at the helm. Both of them bring a lot of knowledge, enthusiasm, and creativity to the table. I applaud them for working hard to make this dream a reality. The opportunity to be with them to celebrate their first night as new business owners just reinforces why Estalita and I chose to move back to Maryland after being away for close to 15 years. Congratulations Nick and Jenna!!

Torino's Restaurant and Sports Bar

New business owners - Nick and Jenna Molyneux

Sophie and Natalie -- Artists at work

My dinner for the night-- Chef Duff's homemade meat loaf--WOW!!

An American classic-- Onion Rings

" I thought seniors were supposed to get 10% off."

Kaylin and her cousin Jacob; He is on holiday all the way from Rochdale, England

Molyneux's are photogenic by nature-- Great smile Sophie!

Torino's is full of classy pictures --- Just like this one # 59 Jack Ham

Think it was Ryan Wetnight if I'm not mistaken

The Bishops and Molyneuxs are in the house

Think I know where I'll be watching Steelers games next season

Lights out.

F Bombs, Taxes, and Lawsuits

2010-03-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help but chime in a bit on the current health care debate that is sweeping across this nation. First of all, I must say that I am unable to fathom the extreme partisan climate in the U.S. political arena and just amazed that so many Americans view these situations with such a 'black and white' form of reasoning. Let me give you an example. I consider myself to be fairly conservative, but I am absolutely sickened to watch blowhards like Sean Hannity sound off on Fox News. It is almost laughable that this network prides itself on fair and balanced reporting. I don't think I've ever heard people like Hannity or Rush to judgment Limbaugh say anything positive about our current president. I now view their shows as purely entertainment, much in the same way that I view the show 'Saturday Night Live.' Instead of being part of the solution, these hate mongers just throw darts at the other side. I'm not a democrat, but at least this administration is trying to figure out some solutions for our health care issues. In truth, both sides are to blame and its not surprising that very little gets done in Washington these days. I am convinced that the sole objective of each side is not to make improvements in American life, but rather to focus on spending all of their time and energy working to defeat the ideas and agendas of their counterparts. We all want to blame the politicians, but guess who is electing these people. We are!! There needs to be more compromise and more politicians should be willing to vote across party lines. Otherwise, it becomes a puppet show. Those who do have the courage to vote differently are often bashed by their colleagues.

The Republicans had no answers or ideas to solve the healthcare mess for the last 8 years, but now they want to cripple the efforts of someone who is trying to make a difference. These are the same people that criticize the stimulus, even though we would probably be underwater without it. These are also the same people that want a balanced budget, but lower taxes. Isn't this a bit like having your cake and eating it too? Last time I checked, the U.S. was one of the lowest taxed nations in the world. Some countries like those in Scandinavia actually understand the importance of paying taxes. It is viewed as a part of the freedom we all enjoy. Conservative voters like to demonize the principles of socialism, as if America will go to hell in a hand basket if we allow things like government optioned health care. People in this country want things, but only if it doesn't pain them. When it starts to pain them, the Republicans scream and call it socialism. Last time I checked, most socialist nations have the highest life expectancy rates in the world, low infant mortality rates, a great track record in education, low cost health care for all, and more harmony in their society. This is in contrast to America ideals where we focus more money on hiring police officers and building more prisons to combat the ever increasing violence and crime in this nation. Call me a socialist, but I would rather spend more tax dollars to ensure that everyone has access to education, than spending my tax dollars on another methadone clinic or to build another prison.

This nation is the only wealthy and industrialized country in the world that doesn't ensure that all of its citizens have medical coverage. We also spend a greater percentage of our personal incomes on health care than other nation within the United Nations conglomerate. Yet, health care costs continue to stress households and it is one of the leading causes of personal bankruptcy in the country. Insurance companies can name their price for care and much needed prescription drugs causing an estimated 20,000 deaths a year due to people who neglect treatment or drugs because of costs. I wouldn't expect people like Rush Limbaugh or Glen Beck to understand this because they are entertainers and their 7 figure salaries insulate them from everyday realities. Sadly, we are spending around 15% of our GDP on health care and that quite interestingly, is the highest rate in the world.

Almost on cue, the opposing politicians of this whole debate began the great American practice of suing once this latest bill had passed. Oh the art of lawsuits! We are masters at this art and most of the rest of the world finds this to be rather amusing. Just out of curiousity, I decided to have a look at the yellow pages right as I finished the previous sentence. Guess who's mug is plastered on both the front and back cover. You got it.... two different ads for personal injury lawyers. My next experiment showed there to be 51 whopping pages of ads for lawyers in the yellow pages of my local phonebook. Restaurants were a distant second at 21 pages! I'm not trying to pick on attorneys, but we have a real problem in this nation with scapegoatitis. That simply means that somebody out there is surely to blame if things aren't going your way. If you do get in a tight spot, then a lawyer is sure to be close by to lend a helping hand. (for a small fee of course) Failure to accept responsibility is running wild in this land. Yesterday, I read that Dolphin running back Ronnie Brown was upset at police because they stopped him for failing to use a turn signal and then found out he was intoxicated. He was charged with a DUI. His take on the issue was he was stopped because he is black and he was driving an expensive car. Excuse me Mr. Brown, but two wrongs don't make a right. Instead of accepting responsibility for his behavior, he played the race card and neglected to point out that he had broken two laws. As a coach, I have seen these attitudes permeate into sports and it is a very sad state of affairs. Nonetheless, our government has set the bar high and initiated legislation to stop the health care bill.

In a rather humorous side note, VP Joe Biden dropped the F bomb yesterday when introducing the president at a news conference. It is no secret that Biden can be a loose cannon at times, but this clearly demonstrates just how passionate this debate has become.

Here is my prediction for the future of U.S. politics. The divisiveness will continue and reach new levels. More radical behavior will come to the surface as has been witnessed in the last few days. Most telling of all will be the propensity of voters to yo yo back and forth (this has already begun) between electing democratic and republican leaders, and in doing so, think that one group or the other will provide the answers to all of our nations ills. In truth, working to solve our nations problems will take time, cooperation, and some sense of sacrifice. In my opinion, the average American voter doesn't have the stomach for any of the three principles I just mentioned. We want things our way, we want them easy, and we want them yesterday. I would welcome any politician who would stray from ripping the other side, but instead focus on offering the country a dose of reality therapy and some practical ways to get things done. I'm not interested in rah-rah speeches by people who have to write on their hand to remember what they believe in. Instead, we will see more movements sprout up across the nation like the Tea Party. Some of these will gain in popularity, but probably lack the necessary momentum to change the landscape of American politics anytime soon.

Whew! I'm glad I got all that off my chest now. I like to stir the pot from time to time. Make no mistake about it though, I am proud to call this great land home. I have served once in the armed forces and I would gladly do it again if needed to protect all the rights I have and the opportunity I have to speak my mind freely. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and see what Vice President Biden will say next.

Lights out.

A little vodka, a little beer

2010-03-22T15:56:00.000-07:00

I remembered that I still needed to post the rest of my pictures from my spring camp trip to Finland and Sweden, so here they are. I spent a considerable amount of time in Stockholm during my journey. Each time I visit this city, I find more things to like about it. I have visited many of the well known sites including both the National and the Vasa Museum. I've checked out the shopping scene at the famous NK, walked the streets of Gamla Stan in the Old Town district, and even toured part of the Royal Palace. As I prepared to leave Stockholm a few weeks ago, it dawned on me that I still hadn't visited one of the largest tourist attractions in the city.

With only a few hours to spare, I looked at my map and headed out in search of the Absolut Icebar. The Absolut Icebar is located in the Nordic Sea Hotel near the Central Station in Stockholm. This unique establishment opened in 2002 and now ice bars have sprouted up in other European cities like Oslo, London, and Copenhagen. The entire bar is completely made of ice including the walls, artwork, stools, counter, and even the drinking glasses. The ice is shipped in from the Torne River which lies up north on the border between Sweden and Finland. For about 25 U.S. dollars, you can "chill out" for a while in this establishment and enjoy one complimentary cocktail. A few dollars less will get you some time in the bar and a non-alcoholic drink. The temp. in the bar is kept at a constant of -5 degrees celsius, which is roughly the average temp. of a spring day in North Dakota. (true story!) Before entering the bar, an attendant will set you up with a warm cape and some gloves to match. I kept the cape on, but opted to remove the gloves because I wanted to see how quickly the warmth of my hand would begin to melt my glass. (have I ever mentioned that it doesn't take much to amuse me?) There wasn't much of a crowd when I visited the icebar, but the place is often packed during the summer months, and reservations are generally recommended. This is indeed a very 'cool' thing to do if you ever find yourself in Stockholm, even if the bartender gives you the cold shoulder. (ok, I promise no more frosty jokes)

Since I'm on sort of an alcohol theme here, I thought it would be appropriate to post a truly classic picture that I took at my grandparents house this past weekend in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. My grandfather has kept a can of Billy Beer in his fridge for the past 33 years and I felt it was deserving of some attention on the blog. I'm not really sure why the beer has been in his fridge for more than 3 decades, but it just seems worth talking about. For those of you who don't know the meaning of Billy Beer, let me do a little explaining. The beer was named for Billy Carter, the colorful and sometimes outlandish younger brother of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter. Billy was a hard drinking good ol' boy from Georgia, who was never shy around the cameras. It has been reported that he once urinated on an airport runway while the press and photographers looked on. Millions of cans of Billy Beer were brewed back around 1977, but the beer never became a mainstream hit. In fact, Billy lost money on the whole deal and the venture is said to have wiped out much of his finances. In any case, now you know a little more about this infamous can of beer.

33 year old can of Billy Beer

Beautiful spring day in PA

Cheers from the Absolut Icebar in Stockholm, Sweden

The House Drink-- lots of vodka and very little juice

Freddy the Bartender getting ready for happy hour

Freddy's arsenal

Swedish version of "Cliff" and "Norm" talking about the pros of universal health care

A colorful view of the ice

Glasses are washed and ready

A look behind the counter

Freddy is ready for business

Main entrance to the Absolut Icebar

Lights out.

Spring Camp in Finland

2010-03-13T13:54:00.000-08:00

I just returned from Finland and our spring camp with the Crocodiles. There were a few bumps along the road, but that is something I have learned to accept when traveling so far away from home. My first little bump came in Amsterdam as I learned my flight on to Stockholm would be delayed due to electrical problems with the plane. The maintenance crew made quick work of the problem and changed out a part from another plane. Soon, we were in the air and on our way to Stockholm. I was greeted in Stockholm by a severe blizzard and near white out conditions and soon learned from the locals that the city was experiencing one of its worst winters in some 30 years. I did some sightseeing in Stockholm, but things were a bit limited due to the heavy snow and slippery walking conditions. Later that evening, I took the bus back out to my plane and spent the night. I say plane, because that is where I spent my first night on the road. I often look for unique and unusual places to stay when I'm traveling and the Jumbo Hostel just off the grounds of the Arlanda International Airport in Stockholm fit the bill. This 747 was flown commercially from 1976 until 2002 and it now serves as a hostel for travelers in this wonderful city. I rented out one of their 4 person rooms, which was certainly a bit cozy with 4 people. However, the price was right at 35 euros and the location is very convenient to the airport. There are 25 rooms in the converted hotel including a cockpit suite for the more adventurous traveler. I summoned the front desk attendant for a quick tour and she was kind enough to take me around for a look at the conference room, black box suite, cafe, and aforementioned cockpit room. This was truly a unique and affordable way to spend the night and as it turned out, I spent a second night there on my way out a week later.

My second glitch of the trip was traveling on the Viking Line ferry over to Finland. I have traveled on these ships before during the summer and the experience is actually quite good. The Viking Line ships are equipped with great restaurants, casinos, night clubs, shopping, live music, etc.... The journey is quite long as you travel through the Baltic Sea over to the port cities of either Turku or Helsinki, Finland. The trip lasts between 14 and 17 hours depending on what city you are traveling to. The ships are equipped with comfortable sleeping cabins, so it isn't very taxing to travel on these floating resorts. In any case, the sea was full of ice and these ships began to get stuck the day after I arrived in Finland. Two ferries collided at one point as the winds and ice battered these large boats. Ferry service was suspended as ice breakers came to rescue the ships and clear a path in the sea. My return trip was cancelled, so I had to adjust my schedule and travel on a night ship once a thin path was cleared by the ice breakers.

I had a very limited stay in Helsinki, but I was amazed at the amount of snow in Finland. The harbor was unrecognizable and full of ice packs and copious amounts of white powder. My time in Seinajoki lasted about 5 days and we had some valuable time together as a team. I saw great improvement in our younger players and was encouraged by the addition of Pontus Bondeson to our football team. Pontus played his college ball at Duke and he brings a great attitude, size, strength, and tremendous skill to our interior line. Maybe most impressive of all, he is very coachable and has a great passion for the game. I also had a nice stay at Mika's house. He and his girlfriend Leena have made me feel at home both times I have stayed with them over the last few years. The Tuokko family had me over for dinner on Sunday and my stomach is still grateful for that wonderful meal. Timo's wife Mari made this delicious roasted meat dish with broccoli and Finnish potatoes. There was also the usual selection of Finnish desserts and sweet rolls. It was also nice to see their kids and take back a few things they made for my kids. I had a chance to catch up with our team president Jari and my friend and fellow coaching partner Eero Martinmaki. Jari is now the team president and he has a great vision for growing this team. Eero has a very good mind for coaching football and he brings a lot of good ideas to the table. Despite the harsh weather, the trip to Seinajoki was very worthwhile. In some respects, it felt like returning to my home away from home. I was able to meet many of our new players and put in some of our base offensive and defensive plays. I am hopeful that this time will pay dividends when we start our season in May.

The trip home was less eventful, but still worth reporting. The trip across the Baltic went fine even though the ice was still thick. I had a great day sightseeing in Stockholm on the back end of the trip. The skies were clear and the sun was out. A feeling of spring was certainly alive in the air. I spent the day walking around Old Town and exploring the National Museum. The museum had some works on display from the great Dutch painters Peter Paul Reubens and Anthony Van Dyck. There were also some works from Monet, el Greco, and even a handful of Rembrandts. After another night at the Jumbo Hostel, I began my long journey home. The last bump in the road was a mechanical problem in Detroit after a 5 hour layover!!! This time it was pressurization problems in the cockpit and I was just about ready to start walking home. I was nearly stranded for the night there, but the airline located another aircraft for us after another short delay. I finally made it home after a 26 hour travel day and lots of adventure along the way. Soon, it will be time to book the next flights and head back over for our second summer of American football in Finland.

St. Jacob's Church-- Stockholm, Sweden

One of the many Stockholm city parks

Looking out towards the Royal Palace

Grand Hotel in Stockholm--- spent a free night here in summer of 2009

The spring thaw has started in the harbor

Stockholm residents seem very active even during this harsh winter

Stockholm is a city surrounded by water

Groma Lund amusement park--- as featured in the tv show the "Amazing Race"

one of the stately residences in the archipelago

multi-colored buildings dot this part of the waterfront

South African band performing on the Viking Line ship

Photo of the hostel taken as I wait for my bus to head to the airport

front desk of the Jumbo Hostel

the grand entrance leading to the front of the hotel

a Ball State alumnus (that's me) standing in the snack bar

Why not try some airline food?

the Board Room on the Jumbo Hostel--- notice the airline seats

the Cockpit Suite

my 4 room flat

looking down the hallway from my room

another look at my room

snow was coming down hard when I first arrived

Looks like a Maryland and Notre Dame fan in Finland

my favorite pizza in the world-- Sofram Pizza Ravintola-- Seinajoki, Finland

got to have some salad with my pizza at Soframs

Helsinki Cathedral

standing on the top deck of the Viking Line as we depart Stockholm and head for Helsinki

view of the icy harbor

looks like a road, but it's really the bow of the ship as we cut a path through the icy Baltic waters

view of one of the 57 bridges in Stockholm that looks out towards the Grand Hotel

this young sentry was guarding the Royal Palace and trying hard to stay warm

the Old Town district located in the historical Gamla Stan section of the city

Lights out.

Back in Suomi

2010-03-07T11:40:00.000-08:00

I arrived back in Finland on Wednesday morning after a few blizzard filled days in Stockholm and an icy 17 hour trip across the Baltic Sea. I found out later that my Viking Line ship was one of the last ones to make it across before boats started freezing in the ice packed waters. Ice breaker vessels have been working hard to clear a path in the sea, so it should be an interesting trip back over to Stockholm.

My trip back to Seinajoki was like returning to a home away from home. It was great to see the management and veteran players once again and meet some new faces along the way. I even felt a few jitters as I jogged out onto the field to begin the first practices of the 5 day camp. After a few drills, it was like I had never left. The players responded very well in the camp and our attendance reached 30 players for the Saturday meetings and two a day practices.

In truth, we have lost a few guys to retirement, but there are some promising young players who are looking to step in and get the job done. I was reintroduced to the Finnish tradition of "sauna" on Wednesday night and then again at a team function/dinner on Friday night. I definitely missed this slice of Finnish life. There is nothing better than sweating out some stress while sitting in a hot sauna on a cold winter night in Scandinavia

Most of my time here has been focused on football and the meetings and practices that are associated with a camp experience. However, I did have some time to go to dinner with some friends and talk about our anticipation for the summer of 2010.

Now, it is time to head home and cross the icy Baltic waters once again. In just 7 weeks, it will be time to repack the suitcase and prepare for my return.

Lights out.

Great night of music/artistry

2010-02-27T15:03:00.000-08:00

Let me just say right off the bat that this post may throw some people for a loop. I must qualify that statement by saying I have a very eclectic taste in music. I like country, rock and roll, jazz, Christian, classical, and the list goes on and on (rap not included). I also have an ear for Irish music and Celtic tunes. In recent years, I have become a big fan of a group called Celtic Woman. I attended my first Celtic Woman concert in Fargo, North Dakota about two years ago. This past weekend, my wife and I took in a second concert by these amazing performers at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland. The concert was absolutely fabulous and the talent of the singers and musicians is just beyond words. Many people are surprised when I tell them about my interest in this kind of an experience. Perhaps, my taste is a bit unusual considering that I coach a sport that many consider to be brutal, violent, and barbaric. This is a rather unique irony about my personality and one that I do not always fully understand. Within the white lines, I could be aggressive as they come. In fact, I will admit that I've even been thrown out of a few games in my career for fighting. However, I am rather laid back off the field. Away from football, I gravitate towards things like travel, golf, reading, philosophy, and keeping up on current events. I would rather take a walk with my daughter and pick flowers than watch a heavyweight fight or a UFC match. I know, I can't explain it either??? I have never liked to kill things and that surely explains why I don't hunt and probably never will. The only gun I will ever own is a water gun. Don't get me wrong here. I don't have any issues with those who like to hunt, but I just know I would freeze if I ever had Bambi in my sights and my finger was on the trigger. I guess one of the great things about getting older, and trust me, this is the only one I've been able to come up with so far, is this feeling that I am getting more comfortable in my own skin. Even if this skin is a lot more wrinkled that it used to be! My point is that I'm really okay with having interests off the field that are quite different from many of my colleagues.

In truth, I have been reluctant to follow a career path in pursuit of a Division I college football job because I have seen what it can do to somebody who is totally over committed. There were times at Trinity when I felt married to my job and I know the price of coaching at the Division I level is very high indeed. Just ask Urban Meyer about trying to find that correct balance. In any case, I just never want football to define me as a person. Football has always been an outlet for me, a legal way to display aggression and get my competitive juices flowing. It is a great rush and challenge to coach the sport. I am so thankful to be involved with the sport and have an opportunity to influence the lives of others. The only title I have in my life that sounds better is "Dad." It is a great honor to be called "Coach, even if I am the kind of coach who admits to getting all fired up for a Celtic Woman Concert!

The Bag Pipes added an interesting element to the concert

Mairead Nesbitt-- The most amazing fiddle player

Mairead and the 4 main vocalists

A wonderful concert at the Inner Harbor

Lights out.

Reflections on a Special Game

2010-02-22T06:58:00.000-08:00

Recently, I realized that I never did post any pics from the Army/Navy contest. It has been a few months now since my son Kodie and I attended our first service academy game. The experience was certainly everything we thought it would be. The game itself was not one for the ages, but witnessing the ceremony and tradition associated with the event was really something special. I have a great respect for the service academies as well as the sacrifices and commitments that are made by all of the cadets off the field. On the playing field, cadets exemplify qualities that are becoming less and less common in the real world of sports. Sportsmanship is part of the equation when Army plays Navy. There is a respect for the game and a sense of integrity to uphold. There are generally few penalties in these contests because the athletes possess strong discipline and excellent attention to detail.

The crowd at these games is also very enthusiastic as cadets from each academy chant and cheer throughout the game to give their team support. Kodie was mesmerized by the paratroopers who parachuted onto the playing field during pre-game. The sound of jet flyovers and the sight of cadets doing pushups after each score only added to the electricity.

The game was close most of the way as Army played with great emotion to match the superior talent of their opponent. In the end, the midshipmen were just too much for the team from West Point. Navy cruised to victory and continued their recent trend of dominating this annual football game. Navy would later prove that they were no fluke during the 2009 season by defeating the University of Missouri during their college bowl matchup.

Rare picture indeed-- An option team passing the football

Looks like a cover 2 look to me

Army's pre-game introductions

A few West Point cadets rooting on their team

America's Game

Kodie at the big game

Looking out towards the Philly skyline

Part of the pre-game festivities

Lights out.