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Thursday August 12th , 2010 VENTURE TO SLOVAKIA! Morning came early. It was a beautiful day. After days of rain, it was fun to see the sun! We were all in a good mood. Our team was in a good place. We had won our last two games over Estonia and we were motivated for official games to begin. Everyone had quietly been anticipating our first game in Slovakia and today was the day for the road trip to Prievidza.
Loading up the team bus in front of Vyprez hotel in Decin on Thursday August 12th, 2010. After beating Estonsko Monday night, Pavel called practice for 11am Tuesday. But practice became a picture day and team soccer game. Although I am not a talented soccer player, my 'red card defense' was effective and I got that hat trick. I felt like I was doing my part to support USA soccer overseas. More important than soccer goals, Pavels goal of creating a positive, fun, team atmosphere was in full effect. We all had a great morning.
On the road to Prievidza in the back of the Czech Republic National team bus. Tuesday night Pavel gave us some time off. Decin is a small town so there is not too much to do. It's quiet there. Pavel took me to TESCO, the Czech Republic Wal-Mart. I was happy to see it was open 24 hours and walking around it is definitely the closest superstore to a Wal-Mart I have seen overseas. We went up the small white castle on the cliff overlooking Decin for a coffee and a chat. It was a beautiful afternoon to talk basketball. We were happy with the team. We were thankful for the time. I returned to the hotel to pack for the road trip to Prievidza, something I had looked forward to all summer. I tried to get some rest; I knew morning would come early.
Famous Czech restaurant, Pension Restaurace in Velka Bites. Our team bus departed 10am from hotel Vyprez. We rolled down the hill and through Decin out of town. Pavel put on some Czech movies. The first movie was in Czech and everyone seemed to like it with random laughs from both the front and the back of the bus. Next, was an old Italian comedian with slapstick almost three stooges humor. I did not understand the words, but the jokes were clear --- a loveable loser guy who did not do anything right. It was great to hear laughter burst out from all over the bus. I especially liked to hear Ladja Hojka laugh. When he laughed I laughed just because I liked it! We made our way through Prague so I enjoyed another site seeing tour. This was not just a road trip, it was another life-experience. On a beautiful Thursday to travel, we worked our way through Prague traffic onto the tiny central Czech town of Velka Bites. When the bus pulled up for a stop, I looked around and was surprised where we were. The town was smaller than small. But everyone was excited so I figured there was a great reason to be here. The reason was Pension Restaurace. Walking into the pink building, one can see a line of stars out front like the Hollywood walk of fame. In Velka Bites, famous Czech musicians, politicians, stars and athletes all dined at Pension Restaurace. There were pictures all over the inside and hockey jerseys up on the wall. Pictures, jerseys and items from famous NHL players such as Jaromir Jagr, Pavel Nedved, Pavel Kubina and former Czech National team/Pittsburgh Penguins coach Ivan Hlinka filled the inside. Certainly we were not the first team to make a stop in Velka Bites on a road trip.
Goulash soup in Velka Bites! Sitting down for our team meal, our first course was soup of course. This time, we were treated to 'Goulash Soup'. It was mmm, mmm good. The food was very good and we enjoyed the meal. After a nice team lunch, everyone was talking about two small shops next door to the restaurant which are among the best candy shops in the Czech Republic. Since we stopped in Velka Bites, we might as well get a small bite. Pavel recommended some cream filled cylinder cakes which were very good. We all enjoyed the small snack in the famous small town. It was a refreshing pause from the road. But soon, it was back on the bus.
Inside Pension Restaurace in Velka Bites!
Candy shop in Velka Bites! Back on the road to Prievidza, I was excited about my first trip into Slovakia. Letting everyone know how fired up I was, they joked that I would be let down because going across the boarder was not a big deal. We hit the highway toward the second largest Czech city Brno and passing by could see rows of colorful apartment buildings. The bus barreled on toward the boarder. Weaving our way through the countryside, up and down the rolling Czech hills, I thought of former Chemnitz 99er big man Martin Veber who I had coached in 2001-2002 during my first season overseas. From Slovakia, I thought it would be a good idea to email him when we arrived in Prievidza to see if we could meet up. Looking out the window at the scenery passing by, suddenly, Kuba Dura made his way back to my seat. He handed me his cell phone and said, 'Someone is talking and wants to speak with you'. I thought, 'who would be calling me in the Czech Republic and who would call me on Kuba's cell phone?'. Taking the phone, it was Martin Veber who had gotten Kuba's number from his friend and former teammate, Michael, the manager of Slovakia. I was surprised and happy. We talked briefly and made plans to meet up in Prievidza later to catch up. Everything was falling into place.
Colorful apartments of Brno.
Beautiful rolling hills of southeastern Czech Republic and Slovakia. Nearing the boarder, I made my way up front to sit shotgun by the bus driver. He was a cool guy and even though he could not speak English and I could not speak Czech, we could communicate. I liked him because he had some style, with a big chain around his neck. He was a cool bus driver. Up front he was cranking his music, some heavy metal Czech band. He was an aggressive driver and every time he honked the horn at some smaller car, I laughed. We made a short stop for gas at a OMV near the boarder. Back on the bus, we made our way a few kilometers to the Czech-Slovak boarder, one that did not exist over a decade ago.
Signs at the Slovakian boarder. The boarder was closed. The history was in vacant buildings where Czech and Slovak passports used to be checked. I guess I was expecting more, but I was not disappointed. It was interesting to see the set up and imagine what the buildings used to look like when they were operational. Just over the boarder were the signs, 'Slovenska Republika'. We were in Slovakia.
Preuge Hotel in Prievidza Slovakia. Enjoying the ride through beautiful Slovakian mountains, I took in the scenery. Our bus followed small roads through small towns in Slovakia. Soon, signs began to show Prievidza. With kilometers counting down, we were closer and closer. Prievidza was a basketball town with tremendous passion and tradition. Although Bratislava is the biggest city in Slovakia, Prievidza was selected specifically because of their home crowd. I was happy to see a basketball town in Slovakia.
Heading into the City Arena Prievidza for our practice. Our bus parked on the opposite side of the street from the Preuge Hotel at 5pm. Kuba went inside to ask about a parking place. We went around back, unloaded and settled in. The hotel was modern and in a good location. The Slovakian team was in the hotel too. After a quick snack, we prepared for 7pm practice at City Arena in Prievidza.
Lockerroom in City Arena was modern in 1960. City Arena was old. It even smelled old. To some, the home team, that smell is tradition. To the visitors, it's a funk. No matter what what, we had better get used to it. This was the gym for the biggest game of the summer. Not only the first official game, but the place of the Derby, Czech vs Slovakia.
The hallway in the gym had a funk to it. Slovakia was on the floor when we arrived so we waited outside in the hallway. It was more time to get accustomed to the funk. Usually, after a while, it becomes regular. Not this time. We decided to get some fresh air outside. Finally time to get on the floor, we moved quickly into the gym. Inside was cool. Petr Toncar asked me what I thought of the gym, and I replied 'you would never see a gym like this in the USA'. It was definitely an eastern gym I loved the artful stansion which arched long behind the baseline more like a piece of artwork than a basket base. But my favorite part of the gym was the old-school, four sided basket which was off in the corner. Now teams and programs have 'The Gun', years ago, players could get shots up on this shooting gallery on wheels. Seeing a different gym in a different city was fantastic. But although there were clear differences from what I am used to, in Prievidza, it was clear, love of the game was the same.
This is basketball artwork!
Before 'The Gun', there was this! Practice was light but intense. Players warmed up with ballskills and worked through shooting drills. We joked about the secret cameras watching our practice. Toward the end of the workout, Pavel turned the team over to Ladja and he took the players through a variety of resistance drills. My favorites were the resistance exercises designed to help the players learn to use their body, feel pressure and use leverage. Partnered up, players competed physically while pushing each other to halfcourt and back. After several trips working a variety of resistance and movements, the pairs moved to the halfcourt line for pushing contests. It was great to see the guys compete. Ladja got into the drills and went one on one against Tomas Toth. Following the bouts, a cool-down completed our workout. We finished our first practice in Prievidza.
Ballskills for warmups in Prievidza
Resistance exercises from our team conditioning coach Vladimir Hojka
Back at the hotel we enjoyed a fine Slovakian dinner together. After dinner, I met with my former player Martin Veber and his friends. Martin played in Prievidza in the mid-1990s before going to the USA to attend college playing at St. Gregory's in Oklahoma. During my first season overseas in Chemnitz Germany, we signed Martin as our starting center. It was fun to reflect on our championship season togehter in the regionaliga South East. With Martin was one of his former teammates, Michal Ondrus, current manager for the Slovakian national team and a member of their support staff names Tomas. Martin and Michal told stories of their times playing together in Slovakia and we talked for several hours over a range of topics. One topic which was avoided was the upcoming Derby. We knew what it was about. But it was still one full day away.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm and international baketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! GO ULM! MIKE T
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