Eyes on the (ridiculously hot) prize

May 25, 2012

What's up, my buddies? Quick update on what's going on in Treviso, as well as a special section dedicated to extended travel. In keeping with the junior high dance analogy, the number of suitors courting the ridiculously hot babes has dwindled to four. We have left: an Italian dude, a French dude, the German guy, and a young man from Greece, all holding strong in their attempts to make extended eye contact with one of the loveliest young ladies. It looks like the French team has taken a liking to the same hot Blondie we are interested in, while the German guy and the young Grecian have taken off their shirts and are flexing their muscles in an attempt to impress a hot brunette over in the corner. Recently, there was nearly an altercation over by the buffet between the Italian guy and the Latvian dude, but one of the pretty good looking girls broke it up and apparently left the dance with the aforementioned Latvian. But the two ridiculously hot babes are still waiting to be swept away. The analogy is getting deep here, still with me?

Moving away from the analogy for a moment, I don't know what happened in Latvia against Ventspils. Yes, it was a long trip, and yes, there were strategically placed 10's sitting courtside, but our whole team, top to bottom, played like a large pile of elephant excrement. We were legitimately lucky to make a run in Game 1 and cut the margin to a manageable five points. And even though we won by 12 three days later in Treviso, it was a battle for the whole 40 minutes. Ventspils is a very young team, but they played super hard, played together, and it seemed like they literally did not miss open shots - ever. They absolutely earned my respect, and I think they will do very well in the Eurocup. And in all honesty, from what I saw on my brief trip, there are enough ridiculously hot babes in Latvia already.

And due to the ridiculous amount of time I spent listening to my Ipod on the brutal trip from Treviso to Riga, I have decided to include a small list of musical suggestions in this week's blog. My ability to appreciate great songs has been called legendary on more than one occasion, and there are no limits to which genres I find appealing. There should be something for everyone here, so work with me on this...

Country - Tim McGraw, "It's a Business Doing Pleasure with You."

This song is amazing. You don't find too many connoisseurs of great country music in the European basketball world, but luckily I am here to help. This song goes out to all the big ballers out there that have girlfriends and wives dragging them around to Gucci and Prada stores for $900 shoes and $3,100 bags. (I am single and not a big baller, but a guy can dream.) The opening line is "I spent 1,500 dollars on your damn dog's collar, put new spinners on your Escalade. I swear I almost started crying when you brought up buying diamonds, Lord I'm spending more than I'm getting paid!" And it only gets better from there.

Rock - David Bowie and Queen, "Under Pressure."

This song's title was particularly relevant after our loss in Riga, but it's unquestionably a classic. Many of you will associate this song as "the one that kinda sounds like ‘Ice, Ice Baby.'" In the beginning they are similar, but I assure you that they progress differently. (Both great songs though.) Regardless of the amazing amount of drugs Mr. Bowie and Queen may have ingested, they were still magical beasts with a microphone and a guitar.

Rap - Jay Z ft. Mr. Hudson, "Young Forever."

This song is actually not on my Ipod. However, my teammate Cartier Martin has a pair of headphones that are literally capable of filling an entire gymnasium with sound while they are still around his ears. It's amazing. I have tried to convince him they are broken and that his ear health is in serious danger but he refuses to acknowledge my concerns. My appreciation of this song came about when I thought he was listening to Alphaville, "Forever Young," which is one of my favorites. However, I was mistaken when he empatically told me that it was a Jay Z song. An argument between me and Cartier ensued (which I won) over the original artist of the song. However, Jay Z is the man and the remake is very good too. Cartier's headphones, on the other hand, are not good.

Album - Pearl Jam, "Backspacer."

Great band, another great album, from top to bottom. Nothing else needed here.

Book - James Patterson "Sail."

This is guy is my main man when it comes to page-turners. Along with Harlan Coben and John Grisham, these three dudes make up the majority of my attempts at reading. In no way do these books make me smarter, but I always have a feeling of accomplishment when I finish a long book. Yes, this is kind of pathetic, but it is true for me.

That's all I got. That was a look inside what was funneled into my brain throughout the several flights, multiple bus rides, and hours of hotel hanging which accounted for our team's trip to Latvia. Feel free to request suggestions from various genres and I will be happy to oblige in the future. As for now, I hope you enjoy my previous musical suggestions and I hope you will be cheering for Treviso in this last round of qualifications. Orleans is a very good team and we know we have a daunting task in front of us.

To bring everything full circle, moving back to the junior high dance analogy and still maintaining the song theme. At the end of all my Junior High dances, there was always that moment where the DJ announced that it was time for the last song. A mad scramble among the previously nervous and timid boys ensued for one last memorable slow dance with the best looking girls. Even Junior High kids know that it's the last dance that is the most important one. So as Semisonic's "Closing Time" begins to blare from the heavily discounted rental speakers, the Italian dude has spotted a super hot blonde bombshell still unaccounted for over by the punch bowl. Stay tuned to see what happens.

"Closing time, time for you to go out to the places you will be from….
I know who I want to take me home…"*****

*****I am fully aware of how corny this is.

POSTED BY

CJ WALLACE - TREVISO, ITALY

DATE:

Monday, October 05, 2009