Hi Teammates!
I often evaluate my message and who I am reaching with it. One thing I have often asked myself is why I am not reaching as many women basketball players and what I need to do to change that. I do not just speak to the men playing ball overseas or those that have aspirations to do so. I realize that there are far more men than women who play overseas. Women have a different thought process when it comes to what they decide to do after college. For most women, when their collegiate careers end they continue their education, get “normal” jobs, or think more about getting married and having children. Men tend to put off those thoughts for a later day. Continuing their career in basketball is not as appealing to women as it is to men. I get that. I have tried to tailor my book, its message, and all that I do to be inclusive to women.
I find it difficult to reach out to women as well. My target audience is in the 18-26-year-old range. What I struggle with is something quite weird for me, and I am not sure if I am overreacting. I am a 48-year-old man, and somehow I find it inappropriate for me to be reaching out to female college students or even those who are currently playing professionally. I am acutely aware of how that looks, although I am not sliding into DM’s to flirt with young women. The flip side is that I have no problem with writing to a young man in college that I come across and adding them, whereas it is difficult for me to do the same with a woman in the same situation unless they hit me up first.
Am I overreacting? Quite possibly. I am sure I will figure out how to handle this better in the future, I was just thinking out loud (or typing). If anyone has thoughts on this topic that may help me, please feel free to let me know.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I often evaluate my message and who I am reaching with it. One thing I have often asked myself is why I am not reaching as many women basketball players and what I need to do to change that. I do not just speak to the men playing ball overseas or those that have aspirations to do so. I realize that there are far more men than women who play overseas. Women have a different thought process when it comes to what they decide to do after college. For most women, when their collegiate careers end they continue their education, get “normal” jobs, or think more about getting married and having children. Men tend to put off those thoughts for a later day. Continuing their career in basketball is not as appealing to women as it is to men. I get that. I have tried to tailor my book, its message, and all that I do to be inclusive to women.
I find it difficult to reach out to women as well. My target audience is in the 18-26-year-old range. What I struggle with is something quite weird for me, and I am not sure if I am overreacting. I am a 48-year-old man, and somehow I find it inappropriate for me to be reaching out to female college students or even those who are currently playing professionally. I am acutely aware of how that looks, although I am not sliding into DM’s to flirt with young women. The flip side is that I have no problem with writing to a young man in college that I come across and adding them, whereas it is difficult for me to do the same with a woman in the same situation unless they hit me up first.
Am I overreacting? Quite possibly. I am sure I will figure out how to handle this better in the future, I was just thinking out loud (or typing). If anyone has thoughts on this topic that may help me, please feel free to let me know.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I would like to use this blog post to speak directly to players who would like to play overseas but have no agent. When I am approached by players, more often than not, they have no agent and are looking for advice on how to get one. Typically I ask a few questions to better assess the situation of each individual. I for sure ask how old they are, what school they went to, how long they have been finished with school, if they have an agent, and if they have ever played overseas. Based on those first questions, there are usually a few more questions that will give further insight into the needs of the player. Although each conversation is different, there are parallels that I would like to touch on.
I very much believe that players need an agent in the early seasons of their careers. Older vets can get away without one especially if they have been on one team or in a particular country for a few years. They often know the pay scale and amenities that are offered there based on conversations with other players and managers. If you are at the beginning of your career, you will have no idea of these things. One point where I feel it is important to have an agent is finding a job and negotiating your first contract. Another reason is particularly important. If you have a long-term injury or you are fired, it is important to have someone with your best interests in mind to either negotiate a settlement and/or find you another job.
Some of the advice I give to players without an agent usually centers on pinpointing countries that they would like to play in and contacting as many agents as they can. Going on sites like fiba.com or eurobasket.com will be helpful with finding contact information. I also tell them to be prepared to not hear back from many of them, and even if they do write back, 99% will say that they are not accepting clients at the moment. You only need one agent to believe in you but finding that one will take a lot of patience and grind on your part. Agents rarely take on players that they have not previously scouted. You have to sell yourself and make that agent have the feeling that they can make money off of you. That is the reality. Another piece of advice concerning finding an agent is that they should talk to players that they know who already have one. Find out if that friend can “endorse” you with their agent. It can help get your foot in the door. Hopefully, this blog post will help someone. Feel free to contact me for other ideas or advice.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I would like to use this blog post to speak directly to players who would like to play overseas but have no agent. When I am approached by players, more often than not, they have no agent and are looking for advice on how to get one. Typically I ask a few questions to better assess the situation of each individual. I for sure ask how old they are, what school they went to, how long they have been finished with school, if they have an agent, and if they have ever played overseas. Based on those first questions, there are usually a few more questions that will give further insight into the needs of the player. Although each conversation is different, there are parallels that I would like to touch on.
I very much believe that players need an agent in the early seasons of their careers. Older vets can get away without one especially if they have been on one team or in a particular country for a few years. They often know the pay scale and amenities that are offered there based on conversations with other players and managers. If you are at the beginning of your career, you will have no idea of these things. One point where I feel it is important to have an agent is finding a job and negotiating your first contract. Another reason is particularly important. If you have a long-term injury or you are fired, it is important to have someone with your best interests in mind to either negotiate a settlement and/or find you another job.
Some of the advice I give to players without an agent usually centers on pinpointing countries that they would like to play in and contacting as many agents as they can. Going on sites like fiba.com or eurobasket.com will be helpful with finding contact information. I also tell them to be prepared to not hear back from many of them, and even if they do write back, 99% will say that they are not accepting clients at the moment. You only need one agent to believe in you but finding that one will take a lot of patience and grind on your part. Agents rarely take on players that they have not previously scouted. You have to sell yourself and make that agent have the feeling that they can make money off of you. That is the reality. Another piece of advice concerning finding an agent is that they should talk to players that they know who already have one. Find out if that friend can “endorse” you with their agent. It can help get your foot in the door. Hopefully, this blog post will help someone. Feel free to contact me for other ideas or advice.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Today’s blog post will be somewhat of a rant. As you can see from the picture accompanying this, I get hit up quite often by players that would like to play overseas. 98% of the guys and girls that hit me up, are respectful and are seeking advice, which I am happy to give. But those 2% drive me up the wall. I mean, if you cannot take a minute to look through my page and take note of what I do, why should I take time out of my day to try and help you? I am not sure why, but lately I have gotten quite a few of the same messages. “Can you get me a job overseas?” No hello or anything. I equate it to a record executive walking down the street and people wanting to rap, sing or putting a demo tape in their hand. I am all for the grind and the hustle, but come correct or not at all.
To me, that is a lack of respect, and now I have just started blocking these people right away. It is a waste of my time to explain that I am not an agent, and I do not refer players (especially ones who I have never seen play) to my contacts in the basketball world. I used to write back until one especially hard-headed guy told me I should watch his highlight tapes and then I would know his game. Nah, not doing it. I told this guy respectfully that he is going about it in the wrong way and I most definitely would not be watching his highlight tape because I am also not in the business of evaluating players. In addition, I told him that I hate watching highlight tapes for various reasons. He then told me to “fuck off.” That experience did it for me, no more explanations, I am just hitting the block button from now on.
I do what I do for the love of the game and to give back. Except for the book, the advice I give is free without wanting anything in return. If people are looking for a handout or a shortcut to doing the work, they are barking up the wrong tree with me. I might have been lucky with my career, but I did the work to ensure my luck. I understand not everyone has the profile I did, or the exposure, which is why I will always do my best to help those in need…IF they come correct. Ok, enough of my ranting… let us get back to the positive! Just needed to get that off my chest.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Today’s blog post will be somewhat of a rant. As you can see from the picture accompanying this, I get hit up quite often by players that would like to play overseas. 98% of the guys and girls that hit me up, are respectful and are seeking advice, which I am happy to give. But those 2% drive me up the wall. I mean, if you cannot take a minute to look through my page and take note of what I do, why should I take time out of my day to try and help you? I am not sure why, but lately I have gotten quite a few of the same messages. “Can you get me a job overseas?” No hello or anything. I equate it to a record executive walking down the street and people wanting to rap, sing or putting a demo tape in their hand. I am all for the grind and the hustle, but come correct or not at all.
To me, that is a lack of respect, and now I have just started blocking these people right away. It is a waste of my time to explain that I am not an agent, and I do not refer players (especially ones who I have never seen play) to my contacts in the basketball world. I used to write back until one especially hard-headed guy told me I should watch his highlight tapes and then I would know his game. Nah, not doing it. I told this guy respectfully that he is going about it in the wrong way and I most definitely would not be watching his highlight tape because I am also not in the business of evaluating players. In addition, I told him that I hate watching highlight tapes for various reasons. He then told me to “fuck off.” That experience did it for me, no more explanations, I am just hitting the block button from now on.
I do what I do for the love of the game and to give back. Except for the book, the advice I give is free without wanting anything in return. If people are looking for a handout or a shortcut to doing the work, they are barking up the wrong tree with me. I might have been lucky with my career, but I did the work to ensure my luck. I understand not everyone has the profile I did, or the exposure, which is why I will always do my best to help those in need…IF they come correct. Ok, enough of my ranting… let us get back to the positive! Just needed to get that off my chest.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I had a short discussion last week with someone I respect. We were trying to figure out what the differences are between Consultants and Mentors. When is it that these two terms start to blend? I would think that it has partly to do with money. For example, an agent could be thought of as being a Consultant, and/or Advisor. The discussion made me think about what I would consider myself to be. I have written a book to help athletes achieve their goal of playing basketball overseas. Although I will never get rich off the sales of my book, does it make me a Consultant if someone buys my book? Before this conversation, I would have considered myself to be a type of mentor. Now, however, I believe there is a different term for what I do. I like the term “Guider”. Let me explain why. As I have mentioned many times before, I wrote my book, Same Name Different Game as a way to give back and help athletes. That is my biggest priority. If anyone hits me up with a need for advice via email, DM on Instagram, or elsewhere, I feel it is my responsibility to give honest advice based on that individual's situation WITHOUT the expectation of financial gain or anything else in return. That is where the term “Guider” comes into play for me because of two reasons.
Usually, these are people that I do not know or have a connection with, so I would say I am different than a Mentor. In my experiences with people who I have seen as Mentors, they were all people I was close to and they were giving me advice or tips because they generally cared about me and wanted me to succeed, but not for financial gain. Because we knew each other, it was different from what a Guider does. The next reason is that while I can give tips and advice, I can take neither credit nor blame for the success or failure of that person succeeding or not. When I give advice, I first ask questions about their situation and their goals. I can then analyze their situation, and offer my advice or suggestions. It is then on that person to figure out what they would like to do with the information I provided, and of course, it is also on that person to do the actual work. I am not in the business of finding any player a job or an agent for that matter. I do not want to be an agent, nor am I looking for any commission. I see myself as someone that can guide these athletes in the right direction based on my experiences and knowledge. What they ultimately do with the advice I provide, is totally on them. I would like to see everyone succeed, but the fact that I am usually not personally connected to that person distinguishes me from a Mentor in my opinion. Because I want no financial advantages also distinguishes me from a Consultant. I feel the term Guider to be perfect for what I offer.
In the future, I would like to visit college campuses and speak to them based on the book, Same Name Different Game. Going directly to the source is much more effective, but at the moment I am not ready for that step. In that case, if I charge for such a visit, I would then be a Public Speaker. At that time, I would have to also think about going from a Guider to a Consultant. For now, though, I enjoy the feeling of guiding athletes in their ambition to play overseas. For all of you out there in need of Oldhead advice, just hit me up, and let's see how I can help!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I had a short discussion last week with someone I respect. We were trying to figure out what the differences are between Consultants and Mentors. When is it that these two terms start to blend? I would think that it has partly to do with money. For example, an agent could be thought of as being a Consultant, and/or Advisor. The discussion made me think about what I would consider myself to be. I have written a book to help athletes achieve their goal of playing basketball overseas. Although I will never get rich off the sales of my book, does it make me a Consultant if someone buys my book? Before this conversation, I would have considered myself to be a type of mentor. Now, however, I believe there is a different term for what I do. I like the term “Guider”. Let me explain why. As I have mentioned many times before, I wrote my book, Same Name Different Game as a way to give back and help athletes. That is my biggest priority. If anyone hits me up with a need for advice via email, DM on Instagram, or elsewhere, I feel it is my responsibility to give honest advice based on that individual's situation WITHOUT the expectation of financial gain or anything else in return. That is where the term “Guider” comes into play for me because of two reasons.
Usually, these are people that I do not know or have a connection with, so I would say I am different than a Mentor. In my experiences with people who I have seen as Mentors, they were all people I was close to and they were giving me advice or tips because they generally cared about me and wanted me to succeed, but not for financial gain. Because we knew each other, it was different from what a Guider does. The next reason is that while I can give tips and advice, I can take neither credit nor blame for the success or failure of that person succeeding or not. When I give advice, I first ask questions about their situation and their goals. I can then analyze their situation, and offer my advice or suggestions. It is then on that person to figure out what they would like to do with the information I provided, and of course, it is also on that person to do the actual work. I am not in the business of finding any player a job or an agent for that matter. I do not want to be an agent, nor am I looking for any commission. I see myself as someone that can guide these athletes in the right direction based on my experiences and knowledge. What they ultimately do with the advice I provide, is totally on them. I would like to see everyone succeed, but the fact that I am usually not personally connected to that person distinguishes me from a Mentor in my opinion. Because I want no financial advantages also distinguishes me from a Consultant. I feel the term Guider to be perfect for what I offer.
In the future, I would like to visit college campuses and speak to them based on the book, Same Name Different Game. Going directly to the source is much more effective, but at the moment I am not ready for that step. In that case, if I charge for such a visit, I would then be a Public Speaker. At that time, I would have to also think about going from a Guider to a Consultant. For now, though, I enjoy the feeling of guiding athletes in their ambition to play overseas. For all of you out there in need of Oldhead advice, just hit me up, and let's see how I can help!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
“ADMITTING PAIN IS NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS!” I have to remind myself of that alot these days. Old habits die hard, and as an athlete for so many years, I would tell myself the exact opposite. I never liked to go to the doctor, get massages, or any physiotherapy unless I absolutely needed it. Unfortunately for me, I have a high pain threshold. If I went to the doctor, I was in PAIN. Oh, and I also hate to take pain medicine. I am still that way. I hardly ever get sick, but I never like to admit that I am getting sick because as soon as I admit it, I will be practically on my deathbed. I am fortunate that I seem to be a quick healer, so I can usually hide an illness or something hurting until it heals on its own.
Why am I like this? I have always been an ultra-competitive person and as a pro, I would look for the slightest sign of weakness of an opponent that I could exploit. I imagined that my opponents did the same with me. This led me to hide injuries. I wouldn't even get my ankles taped unless they could not be seen under my socks. The worst thing for me after I broke my leg was that I wore a sleeve on my leg (see picture) for the rest of my career. I have a rather large lump on the front of my shin due to the break and I wore the sleeve solely for cosmetic reasons because I didn't want my opponent to think I was still injured. I thought it looked kinda cool so I didn't mind too much. This was way before wearing sleeves became “en vogue” like now.
In January I will go for my second surgery in the last three months. In October it was my back. The next will be a partial knee replacement. The back was a kind of freak accident, but likely has to do with all the years of playing ball. The knee, however, is a direct result of playing all those years. The wear and tear caught up to me now that I am getting older, but in truth, I should have gotten this surgery years ago. Instead of going to the doc, I didn't want to admit that with every step I took, I felt pain. Every single step…how messed up is my head that I put myself through that for at least the last 12 years? You would think that in my advanced age, I would be wise enough to lose that senselessly macho idea of being weak by going to the doc. As I said before, old habits die hard, but I am working on it. Heed my words the next time you are trying to decide if you need to see a doctor and just GO! Your body will thank me later.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
“ADMITTING PAIN IS NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS!” I have to remind myself of that alot these days. Old habits die hard, and as an athlete for so many years, I would tell myself the exact opposite. I never liked to go to the doctor, get massages, or any physiotherapy unless I absolutely needed it. Unfortunately for me, I have a high pain threshold. If I went to the doctor, I was in PAIN. Oh, and I also hate to take pain medicine. I am still that way. I hardly ever get sick, but I never like to admit that I am getting sick because as soon as I admit it, I will be practically on my deathbed. I am fortunate that I seem to be a quick healer, so I can usually hide an illness or something hurting until it heals on its own.
Why am I like this? I have always been an ultra-competitive person and as a pro, I would look for the slightest sign of weakness of an opponent that I could exploit. I imagined that my opponents did the same with me. This led me to hide injuries. I wouldn't even get my ankles taped unless they could not be seen under my socks. The worst thing for me after I broke my leg was that I wore a sleeve on my leg (see picture) for the rest of my career. I have a rather large lump on the front of my shin due to the break and I wore the sleeve solely for cosmetic reasons because I didn't want my opponent to think I was still injured. I thought it looked kinda cool so I didn't mind too much. This was way before wearing sleeves became “en vogue” like now.
In January I will go for my second surgery in the last three months. In October it was my back. The next will be a partial knee replacement. The back was a kind of freak accident, but likely has to do with all the years of playing ball. The knee, however, is a direct result of playing all those years. The wear and tear caught up to me now that I am getting older, but in truth, I should have gotten this surgery years ago. Instead of going to the doc, I didn't want to admit that with every step I took, I felt pain. Every single step…how messed up is my head that I put myself through that for at least the last 12 years? You would think that in my advanced age, I would be wise enough to lose that senselessly macho idea of being weak by going to the doc. As I said before, old habits die hard, but I am working on it. Heed my words the next time you are trying to decide if you need to see a doctor and just GO! Your body will thank me later.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Throughout my life, I have often asked myself where I see myself in 5 years. Looking back on it, there were many times where I was not where I saw myself 5 years earlier. If I am honest, it hardly ever worked out exactly. That is not to say, however, that I have hardly achieved my goals. Often, what I planned and what happened were on the same path, just a bit different. For example, towards the end of my playing days, I fully expected to coach. I remember clearly that I planned on coaching in Europe first, and then I thought I would be coaching at a college in the States later. Well, I did end up coaching in Europe, but along the way, I decided that I did not want to coach college ball. There is nothing wrong with changing your mind or adjusting along the way.
Back in 2020, I started reshaping my book and writing it over. I can remember that one of the goals I had was to get my book, Same Name Different Game in the hands of as many athletes as possible AND to be doing speaking engagements on college campuses around America and Canada. While that is still my goal, I have come to realize I will have to adjust my focus a little based on what I have learned since publishing my book. Is my goal of doing public speaking in a little over three years still realistic? Yes, I believe so, but I will not be disappointed if it does not happen as I planned. If it happens in seven years, that will also be fine.
I feel it is important to challenge myself with these goals. I need that in order not to be complacent. I have learned over the years that the unexpected should be expected. You never know how life will throw you a curveball and you have to change the best-laid plans. There is nothing wrong with that. There is also nothing wrong with deciding to put a goal to rest. I did that with my first attempt at writing and publishing my book. It took me 15 years after my first disappointing attempt before I finally published Same Name Different Game. There is no expiry date for your goals. I will continue to challenge myself. It'll be interesting to see where I end up in the next 5 years! Now, where do you see yourself?
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Throughout my life, I have often asked myself where I see myself in 5 years. Looking back on it, there were many times where I was not where I saw myself 5 years earlier. If I am honest, it hardly ever worked out exactly. That is not to say, however, that I have hardly achieved my goals. Often, what I planned and what happened were on the same path, just a bit different. For example, towards the end of my playing days, I fully expected to coach. I remember clearly that I planned on coaching in Europe first, and then I thought I would be coaching at a college in the States later. Well, I did end up coaching in Europe, but along the way, I decided that I did not want to coach college ball. There is nothing wrong with changing your mind or adjusting along the way.
Back in 2020, I started reshaping my book and writing it over. I can remember that one of the goals I had was to get my book, Same Name Different Game in the hands of as many athletes as possible AND to be doing speaking engagements on college campuses around America and Canada. While that is still my goal, I have come to realize I will have to adjust my focus a little based on what I have learned since publishing my book. Is my goal of doing public speaking in a little over three years still realistic? Yes, I believe so, but I will not be disappointed if it does not happen as I planned. If it happens in seven years, that will also be fine.
I feel it is important to challenge myself with these goals. I need that in order not to be complacent. I have learned over the years that the unexpected should be expected. You never know how life will throw you a curveball and you have to change the best-laid plans. There is nothing wrong with that. There is also nothing wrong with deciding to put a goal to rest. I did that with my first attempt at writing and publishing my book. It took me 15 years after my first disappointing attempt before I finally published Same Name Different Game. There is no expiry date for your goals. I will continue to challenge myself. It'll be interesting to see where I end up in the next 5 years! Now, where do you see yourself?
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I just finished watching the documentary on Netflix called Bad Sport which is about the betting scandal that surrounded the Arizona State University Men’s basketball team in the early 1990s. Watching the documentary brought back a few memories. The first was seeing Ron Riley. He was not implicated at all in the scandal but he and I played against each other in high school in Las Vegas. We were also teammates in Austria years later and won two championships together. The basketball world is extremely small. The other memory was about the funniest recruiting story I have from my senior season of high school. I was recruited pretty hard from several big-time schools, and eventually, I chose the University of Arizona, but before that, I had countless coaches from around the country sitting in my living room trying to convince me to come to their school. Usually, during these home visits, the coaches come with at least one Assistant Coach, make a presentation, talk with your parents, and eat your cookies while praising that they are the best ones they have ever had before they say goodbye and go to the next recruits house and say the same thing. These things last usually at least an hour or so depending on the connection that the family has with the coach. My visit from ASU and Coach Bill Frieder was different…much different.
The week before Coach Frieder came to my home, Coach Lute Olson from the University of Arizona came by. If you know anything about Coach O, you know he was straight business and a total professional. The presentation was immaculate, just like the suit he wore and his hair. The next week, Coach Frieder comes. He shows up at my house with flip-flops on (feet just everywhere), khaki cargo shorts, a white ASU polo shirt, and his hair is a hot mess. That was just Coach Frieder. In his defense, he had just flown in from Tempe, Arizona where the weather was hot, just as it is in Vegas. He was well-respected and known to be a “player’s” coach. He had done a great job at the University of Michigan and was building something special at ASU at the time. I liked him a lot…but my dad didn't. That visit was a mess from the time my father set eyes on Coach Frieder. Especially coming after Coach O, Coach Frieder was doomed for failure with his appearance. If I am not mistaken, he and his staff were in my home for all of 15 minutes before my dad politely (that's a lie, he was very impolite haha) asked Coach Frieder to leave our house. He was not even there long enough to eat the cookies my mom made.
I still could imagine playing for him though and kept ASU in my top 5 along with UNLV, Arizona, Loyola Marymount, and Boston College. I even took my second official visit to ASU and had an amazing time! When it came time to make a decision though, my dad didn't want me to play for two schools…UNLV and ASU. Eventually, I chose the U. of A. Watching Bad Sport and seeing coach Frieder with his hair all wild brought back a lot of memories. I also realized that had I chosen ASU, I would have been there during that scandal. I guess my dad helped me dodge a bullet. I think I need to write a blog about my whole recruitment process and how it affected my relationship with my dad. Might be therapeutic haha. Keep an eye out for it!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I just finished watching the documentary on Netflix called Bad Sport which is about the betting scandal that surrounded the Arizona State University Men’s basketball team in the early 1990s. Watching the documentary brought back a few memories. The first was seeing Ron Riley. He was not implicated at all in the scandal but he and I played against each other in high school in Las Vegas. We were also teammates in Austria years later and won two championships together. The basketball world is extremely small. The other memory was about the funniest recruiting story I have from my senior season of high school. I was recruited pretty hard from several big-time schools, and eventually, I chose the University of Arizona, but before that, I had countless coaches from around the country sitting in my living room trying to convince me to come to their school. Usually, during these home visits, the coaches come with at least one Assistant Coach, make a presentation, talk with your parents, and eat your cookies while praising that they are the best ones they have ever had before they say goodbye and go to the next recruits house and say the same thing. These things last usually at least an hour or so depending on the connection that the family has with the coach. My visit from ASU and Coach Bill Frieder was different…much different.
The week before Coach Frieder came to my home, Coach Lute Olson from the University of Arizona came by. If you know anything about Coach O, you know he was straight business and a total professional. The presentation was immaculate, just like the suit he wore and his hair. The next week, Coach Frieder comes. He shows up at my house with flip-flops on (feet just everywhere), khaki cargo shorts, a white ASU polo shirt, and his hair is a hot mess. That was just Coach Frieder. In his defense, he had just flown in from Tempe, Arizona where the weather was hot, just as it is in Vegas. He was well-respected and known to be a “player’s” coach. He had done a great job at the University of Michigan and was building something special at ASU at the time. I liked him a lot…but my dad didn't. That visit was a mess from the time my father set eyes on Coach Frieder. Especially coming after Coach O, Coach Frieder was doomed for failure with his appearance. If I am not mistaken, he and his staff were in my home for all of 15 minutes before my dad politely (that's a lie, he was very impolite haha) asked Coach Frieder to leave our house. He was not even there long enough to eat the cookies my mom made.
I still could imagine playing for him though and kept ASU in my top 5 along with UNLV, Arizona, Loyola Marymount, and Boston College. I even took my second official visit to ASU and had an amazing time! When it came time to make a decision though, my dad didn't want me to play for two schools…UNLV and ASU. Eventually, I chose the U. of A. Watching Bad Sport and seeing coach Frieder with his hair all wild brought back a lot of memories. I also realized that had I chosen ASU, I would have been there during that scandal. I guess my dad helped me dodge a bullet. I think I need to write a blog about my whole recruitment process and how it affected my relationship with my dad. Might be therapeutic haha. Keep an eye out for it!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I subscribe to a newsletter from someone that I respect. Her name is Misty Buck and she is an athlete mental health and mindset coach. I follow her on Instagram and I find her story and methods interesting. Last week she sent out a newsletter that resonated with me and I thought I would share my thoughts on it. The title of the newsletter was “Make Peace With The End Of Your Sports Career”. Although my active playing career has been over since 2007 and I am very well adjusted with my “after sports life”, I felt intrigued by the title. The article was based on how moving on from your sports career can affect your mental health. I have to be honest and say that I did not have trouble moving on from playing ball. It probably had more to do with how I ended my career and went directly into coaching though. When I decided to stop coaching and went into education, there was also no problem for me because I knew it was time and I was leaving sports behind for a good reason.
I can only speak for myself in that matter, but I am sure for some athletes, it is not as easy as it was for me. Especially if you stop playing your chosen sport due to issues that are out of your control such as an injury. I can imagine in such a case, it would be difficult for anyone to come to peace with the end of their playing days. I did a podcast interview the other day and one theme I discussed was the little things that changed after I stopped playing, such as my diet. It took me a while (and a few extra pounds) to realize I no longer needed to eat as much as I did when I was a player. The extra calories went straight to my love handles because I was not burning them anymore like I had done practically my whole life. It may seem like a rather small issue, but how your body looks is something that many of us face as a part of our identity of being an athlete.
Misty gives great tips such as giving gratitude for the career you had, writing a letter to your sport, and realizing that your life isn’t over, it’s beginning a new chapter. With mental health for athletes becoming a more present topic in the minds of everyone, it would make sense to inform yourself if you find yourself struggling with your identity once the playing days are over. If you are, there is no shame in seeking out help and support. Whether it be with Misty, or someone else that you feel comfortable with. The help is there, just take the bull by the horns just like you probably did as an athlete!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I subscribe to a newsletter from someone that I respect. Her name is Misty Buck and she is an athlete mental health and mindset coach. I follow her on Instagram and I find her story and methods interesting. Last week she sent out a newsletter that resonated with me and I thought I would share my thoughts on it. The title of the newsletter was “Make Peace With The End Of Your Sports Career”. Although my active playing career has been over since 2007 and I am very well adjusted with my “after sports life”, I felt intrigued by the title. The article was based on how moving on from your sports career can affect your mental health. I have to be honest and say that I did not have trouble moving on from playing ball. It probably had more to do with how I ended my career and went directly into coaching though. When I decided to stop coaching and went into education, there was also no problem for me because I knew it was time and I was leaving sports behind for a good reason.
I can only speak for myself in that matter, but I am sure for some athletes, it is not as easy as it was for me. Especially if you stop playing your chosen sport due to issues that are out of your control such as an injury. I can imagine in such a case, it would be difficult for anyone to come to peace with the end of their playing days. I did a podcast interview the other day and one theme I discussed was the little things that changed after I stopped playing, such as my diet. It took me a while (and a few extra pounds) to realize I no longer needed to eat as much as I did when I was a player. The extra calories went straight to my love handles because I was not burning them anymore like I had done practically my whole life. It may seem like a rather small issue, but how your body looks is something that many of us face as a part of our identity of being an athlete.
Misty gives great tips such as giving gratitude for the career you had, writing a letter to your sport, and realizing that your life isn’t over, it’s beginning a new chapter. With mental health for athletes becoming a more present topic in the minds of everyone, it would make sense to inform yourself if you find yourself struggling with your identity once the playing days are over. If you are, there is no shame in seeking out help and support. Whether it be with Misty, or someone else that you feel comfortable with. The help is there, just take the bull by the horns just like you probably did as an athlete!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
During the process of managing my Instagram page for Same Name Different Game, I have reached out to all of my old teams here in Europe in the search for old game pics. I have realized a few things. I am older than dirt and I seriously played in the stone age of European basketball haha. The beginning of my career in ‘95 was especially prehistoric. We are talking about the start of dial-up internet, no iPhone, so of course no Facetime or many of the other communication advancements that we take for granted today. No Youtube, no Instagram, no Facebook, no Netflix, no real emails, and no texts. Sending a fax was a big deal back then. I got my first two contract offers via fax. Do they even still make fax machines anymore?
It was a real eye-opener when each team told me they have no digital pictures of my playing days. One of my teams in Portugal didn't even seem to remember who I was at first, which was hurtful to my pride. The other team in Portugal, CAB Madeira, remembered who I was because one of my former teammates is in the management now, so at least that was good…but there were also no pics except two that they found from an old newspaper article. One team never answered my inquiry so I will take that as a “no” and another team told me literally, “We didn't have Facebook back then so we have nothing. Sorry.” Only one team could send me quality pics, for which I was thankful. Thank you EWE Baskets Oldenburg!
Now that my ego is thoroughly damaged, I will remind you, current players, how lucky you are in this digital age. Basically, it is like your parents telling you how they had to walk 11 miles in the snow to school, all while driving you in the comforts of a car. I have some game film, albeit on VHS tapes. I am sure some of you are scratching your heads and wondering what the hell that is. Google it or ask your parents haha. Maybe one day I will get those tapes converted to digital form, but considering that I am an old dude, I probably won't. As long as my memory is somewhat still functional, I guess I am forced to relive my career highlights in my head. Oldhead out!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
During the process of managing my Instagram page for Same Name Different Game, I have reached out to all of my old teams here in Europe in the search for old game pics. I have realized a few things. I am older than dirt and I seriously played in the stone age of European basketball haha. The beginning of my career in ‘95 was especially prehistoric. We are talking about the start of dial-up internet, no iPhone, so of course no Facetime or many of the other communication advancements that we take for granted today. No Youtube, no Instagram, no Facebook, no Netflix, no real emails, and no texts. Sending a fax was a big deal back then. I got my first two contract offers via fax. Do they even still make fax machines anymore?
It was a real eye-opener when each team told me they have no digital pictures of my playing days. One of my teams in Portugal didn't even seem to remember who I was at first, which was hurtful to my pride. The other team in Portugal, CAB Madeira, remembered who I was because one of my former teammates is in the management now, so at least that was good…but there were also no pics except two that they found from an old newspaper article. One team never answered my inquiry so I will take that as a “no” and another team told me literally, “We didn't have Facebook back then so we have nothing. Sorry.” Only one team could send me quality pics, for which I was thankful. Thank you EWE Baskets Oldenburg!
Now that my ego is thoroughly damaged, I will remind you, current players, how lucky you are in this digital age. Basically, it is like your parents telling you how they had to walk 11 miles in the snow to school, all while driving you in the comforts of a car. I have some game film, albeit on VHS tapes. I am sure some of you are scratching your heads and wondering what the hell that is. Google it or ask your parents haha. Maybe one day I will get those tapes converted to digital form, but considering that I am an old dude, I probably won't. As long as my memory is somewhat still functional, I guess I am forced to relive my career highlights in my head. Oldhead out!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Recently I have been featured on a few podcasts that were actually recorded weeks or in some cases, months ago. Doing podcasts is something that I never actually gave thought to when I first started re-writing my book. I have thoroughly enjoyed each one that was fortunate to be on. It just so happens that they are being rolled out around the same time. Because of that, I have been doing two things when I listen to or watch each podcast. First, I analyze each one to figure out what I can do better. Second, I evaluate whether the message I am trying to get across is being projected.
While I am pretty sure every person on earth hates to hear their voice on recordings, I have come to accept the fact that my voice sucks haha. I listen to small details of each podcast. For example, in one or two podcasts, there seems to be some kind of clicking noise when I talk. I have not figured out what it is. At first, I thought it was my watch because sometimes I talk with my hands, but I noticed it happens even when my hands are still. It drives me crazy although I am probably the only person that notices it. Because of that, I have decided that I need to invest in a microphone. I would like the listeners to enjoy the experience of listening to what I have to say, but if there are noises that disturb that, they may tune out.
Evaluating my message is very important because I am not doing podcasts or any other interview as PR for myself. The content and information that I have to offer should be in the focus. Because most of the podcasts I have done are coming out at the same time, I have often questioned if I am telling the same stories and if it could get boring for the listener. I have concluded that each podcast and its host has a different audience. No one (except for me) is listening to each interview. There is a new audience for each podcast that might reach someone in need of the information I have to offer. Although the stories are not new to me, they will be new to most other people. Of course, the questions will be different since each podcast has its focal points as well. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to be a guest on more podcasts and get my message out. I will be watching each episode afterward and critiquing my performance while cringing when I hear my voice ;-)
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Recently I have been featured on a few podcasts that were actually recorded weeks or in some cases, months ago. Doing podcasts is something that I never actually gave thought to when I first started re-writing my book. I have thoroughly enjoyed each one that was fortunate to be on. It just so happens that they are being rolled out around the same time. Because of that, I have been doing two things when I listen to or watch each podcast. First, I analyze each one to figure out what I can do better. Second, I evaluate whether the message I am trying to get across is being projected.
While I am pretty sure every person on earth hates to hear their voice on recordings, I have come to accept the fact that my voice sucks haha. I listen to small details of each podcast. For example, in one or two podcasts, there seems to be some kind of clicking noise when I talk. I have not figured out what it is. At first, I thought it was my watch because sometimes I talk with my hands, but I noticed it happens even when my hands are still. It drives me crazy although I am probably the only person that notices it. Because of that, I have decided that I need to invest in a microphone. I would like the listeners to enjoy the experience of listening to what I have to say, but if there are noises that disturb that, they may tune out.
Evaluating my message is very important because I am not doing podcasts or any other interview as PR for myself. The content and information that I have to offer should be in the focus. Because most of the podcasts I have done are coming out at the same time, I have often questioned if I am telling the same stories and if it could get boring for the listener. I have concluded that each podcast and its host has a different audience. No one (except for me) is listening to each interview. There is a new audience for each podcast that might reach someone in need of the information I have to offer. Although the stories are not new to me, they will be new to most other people. Of course, the questions will be different since each podcast has its focal points as well. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to be a guest on more podcasts and get my message out. I will be watching each episode afterward and critiquing my performance while cringing when I hear my voice ;-)
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Last Friday I started my new format on Instagram Live called The 4th Quarter. I produced the very first episode with my daughter Cherise as the guest which was a great experience. I was pretty nervous at the beginning because I had never done a live broadcast on Instagram before. I was hoping that the technical side of it would work. I had planned the whole interview and even did a few test runs by myself. I filmed and even timed the test runs to make sure I stayed within the time limit I had set for myself. You never know if the technical side will run as smoothly as you imagine until you begin.
Fortunately, the episode went well without any problems on the technical side. It was good that I did a test run though. I wasn't exactly pleased with the format that I had decided on for The 4th Quarter. I also wasn't satisfied with my performance as a moderator but I think I am my own worst critic. I can't imagine ever watching one of my shows or interviews and thinking I did well haha. I will always find something to nit-pick at but I can live with that. I am pretty ambitious so I guess I need that self-critic to keep me on my toes.
I only have a few people with whom I feel comfortable asking their opinion on projects or ideas that I have. The few people whose opinion I trust, also know that I cannot stand “yes men or women”. Although I am a Leo and love to hear compliments, I do understand that I also need constructive criticism and that is what I get from my close-knit circle. I think it is important to have people around you that tell it like it is and I am grateful that I have that. I hope that as I gain more experience with The 4th Quarter, I will feel more comfortable in front of the camera and I will develop as a host. Hopefully, you all will be there supporting me and watching me grow. Till next time!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Last Friday I started my new format on Instagram Live called The 4th Quarter. I produced the very first episode with my daughter Cherise as the guest which was a great experience. I was pretty nervous at the beginning because I had never done a live broadcast on Instagram before. I was hoping that the technical side of it would work. I had planned the whole interview and even did a few test runs by myself. I filmed and even timed the test runs to make sure I stayed within the time limit I had set for myself. You never know if the technical side will run as smoothly as you imagine until you begin.
Fortunately, the episode went well without any problems on the technical side. It was good that I did a test run though. I wasn't exactly pleased with the format that I had decided on for The 4th Quarter. I also wasn't satisfied with my performance as a moderator but I think I am my own worst critic. I can't imagine ever watching one of my shows or interviews and thinking I did well haha. I will always find something to nit-pick at but I can live with that. I am pretty ambitious so I guess I need that self-critic to keep me on my toes.
I only have a few people with whom I feel comfortable asking their opinion on projects or ideas that I have. The few people whose opinion I trust, also know that I cannot stand “yes men or women”. Although I am a Leo and love to hear compliments, I do understand that I also need constructive criticism and that is what I get from my close-knit circle. I think it is important to have people around you that tell it like it is and I am grateful that I have that. I hope that as I gain more experience with The 4th Quarter, I will feel more comfortable in front of the camera and I will develop as a host. Hopefully, you all will be there supporting me and watching me grow. Till next time!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I was listening to a podcast the other day and the guest was a famous basketball coach. He was discussing Cause and Effect in terms of basketball. His theory was that most coaches are more interested in the CAUSE of winning or losing games rather than the EFFECT. For example, coaches are focused on preparation. They write about scouting reports, watch a lot of film while trying to expose the opponent's weaknesses, and hide the shortcomings of the team. In the end, coaches have no real influence on the EFFECT or the outcome of the game since they are not playing. They can only hope that the work and preparation that they have put in gets through to the players and they are essentially able to perform the actions that the coach has put forth. Players, on the other hand, are more interested in winning or losing. Because they are on the court, the intensity that they must bring to each game, causes them to focus less on the actual game plan, but instead, they rely more on instinct. They may know and understand the game plan, but if that player feels he/she can keep the offensive player under control in a pick and roll situation that differs from what the coach is demanding, the player will act instinctively. The players have more of a vested interest in the outcome rather than the preparation.
I conducted a poll in my Instagram story asking my “teammates” (my followers), which one was more important in their opinion. I found it interesting that from those who took part in the poll, 71% thought the Cause was more important and 29% thought the Effect was. If I break it down from that 29%, all of those people were current players. From the 71%, there were very few current players. Most of those people were either coaches or retired players. That data correlates to what I wrote earlier in the first paragraph. Players tend to think about winning and losing, and coaches (or those now outside of the game) appreciate the preparation.
Because I was both a professional player and coach, I was able to think about it in both scenarios and I found it intriguing to think about. I understand that poor preparation will likely result in poor performance, but there are times when I have won games, yet felt the preparation wasn't good. There have also been games that I lost but thought the game plan was fantastic. There are far too many factors to decide which is more important. They go hand in hand. In the short term, yes you can win a game or two without proper preparation, especially if you have a lot of talent. Long term though, I do not believe a talented team can win a championship without being prepared. That is just my humble opinion.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I was listening to a podcast the other day and the guest was a famous basketball coach. He was discussing Cause and Effect in terms of basketball. His theory was that most coaches are more interested in the CAUSE of winning or losing games rather than the EFFECT. For example, coaches are focused on preparation. They write about scouting reports, watch a lot of film while trying to expose the opponent's weaknesses, and hide the shortcomings of the team. In the end, coaches have no real influence on the EFFECT or the outcome of the game since they are not playing. They can only hope that the work and preparation that they have put in gets through to the players and they are essentially able to perform the actions that the coach has put forth. Players, on the other hand, are more interested in winning or losing. Because they are on the court, the intensity that they must bring to each game, causes them to focus less on the actual game plan, but instead, they rely more on instinct. They may know and understand the game plan, but if that player feels he/she can keep the offensive player under control in a pick and roll situation that differs from what the coach is demanding, the player will act instinctively. The players have more of a vested interest in the outcome rather than the preparation.
I conducted a poll in my Instagram story asking my “teammates” (my followers), which one was more important in their opinion. I found it interesting that from those who took part in the poll, 71% thought the Cause was more important and 29% thought the Effect was. If I break it down from that 29%, all of those people were current players. From the 71%, there were very few current players. Most of those people were either coaches or retired players. That data correlates to what I wrote earlier in the first paragraph. Players tend to think about winning and losing, and coaches (or those now outside of the game) appreciate the preparation.
Because I was both a professional player and coach, I was able to think about it in both scenarios and I found it intriguing to think about. I understand that poor preparation will likely result in poor performance, but there are times when I have won games, yet felt the preparation wasn't good. There have also been games that I lost but thought the game plan was fantastic. There are far too many factors to decide which is more important. They go hand in hand. In the short term, yes you can win a game or two without proper preparation, especially if you have a lot of talent. Long term though, I do not believe a talented team can win a championship without being prepared. That is just my humble opinion.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I have been watching the NBA releasing their 75 Best Players over the past few days and it got me thinking about who were the best players I had the honor of playing alongside as a professional. If I could assemble a team of former teammates, who would make the list? It was much more difficult than I first imagined. I was lucky to play with some really good players. Over 13 years I probably had between 150 and 200 different teammates. What criteria would I use? Would I just take a starting five or would I extend it to bench players? Taking into consideration that I have a horrible memory, I would probably forget someone. I had to turn to Wikipedia to list all the teams I played for to have an idea again haha. Finally, I decided just to list the players that I loved playing with. These 16 guys had a positive effect on my game and the teams we played on. If they made this list, I respect what they gave me and to the game! Thanks, fellas…
Mike Coffin-By far the best PG I EVER played with as a pro. He knew when I needed a shot and knew which play to call to get it done. His court vision and basketball IQ were off the charts…probably the reasons why he is a successful coach while winning multiple championships now. Johnny Griffin-Hardest working teammate. Sometimes he went overboard (think Jordan with his teammates) but especially early in my career, I needed a teammate like him. Never play the card game “Spades” with him and Mike on the same team though. They cheat! Ron Riley-NBA talent…no question. We knew each other from being rivals in Vegas during high school. He was the difference-maker on my Traiskirchen team that won the League Cup and Championship. Without him, we don't win either trophy…simple as that. Hannes Lutz-He is for sure the least talented guy on this list but he was the ULTIMATE team guy on and off the court. He was a guy I hated playing against, but once he was my teammate, I would have never given up. He was the Bill Laimbeer of Austrian basketball and I am sure he loves that comparison! Lukas Hajda-He had the most unorthodox shot I have ever seen. If you know him, you understand what I mean. He made big shots though and was never afraid to mix it up and never backed down from Americans. Otto Mattisky-Classic old school, huge, eastern European center. Great passer and almost unstoppable if he got his space in the paint. He loved his Pivo (beer) and cigarettes (sometimes at halftime haha).
Kyle Milling-Incredible footwork and talent. If he wouldn't have gotten hurt, I wouldn't have lost my job in France. He is a successful coach and I could see that coming. Versile Shaw-Jack of all trades…he could have played every position on the court and just got things done. His arrival to the team in France probably made me expendable, but I loved watching him go to work haha. Drew Henderson-Think of the Charles Oakley/Michael Jordan relationship…he was my Harlem-born enforcer. He let me talk shit on the court and had my back if someone tried to step up. After the game, he would tell me to shut the fuck up, but he knew I would keep running my mouth the very next game and he always had my back. Jamal Basit-When he was in shape, he was a beast. I played with both the athletic version and the slightly out-of-shape version, but I would have taken both versions. To know him is to love him. Elvir Ovcina-By far the most skilled big man I played with as a pro. The Bosnian national-team player could hit the 3 and back you down. Also, an underrated passer that dropped more than one time to me cutting to the basket for a dunk. Tyron McCoy-His nickname The Cat fit him…First, we were young rivals in Austria, and then teammates years later in Germany. He was simply gifted and passionate. He could score in many ways, and it always looked easy. He yelled at me a lot but I never took exception because his competitive streak matched mine. Quinton Brooks-He could play 3 through 5 and our games just meshed well together although we were very similar. Julien Sauret-Tough dude…his game was bigger than his size and he didn't care who he was matched up with, he was gonna get in their face. I loved that. Ali Seggelke-A gifted scorer. A bit wild at times (think Manu Ginobili) but that was what made him such a tough guard for opposing defenses. Al Elliott-He just got it done! Not the quickest or most athletic PG but he was a winner. He was born for crunch time and that was what I respected about him the most. He also knew instinctively when I needed to get a shot and if I was hot he kept the ball coming.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I have been watching the NBA releasing their 75 Best Players over the past few days and it got me thinking about who were the best players I had the honor of playing alongside as a professional. If I could assemble a team of former teammates, who would make the list? It was much more difficult than I first imagined. I was lucky to play with some really good players. Over 13 years I probably had between 150 and 200 different teammates. What criteria would I use? Would I just take a starting five or would I extend it to bench players? Taking into consideration that I have a horrible memory, I would probably forget someone. I had to turn to Wikipedia to list all the teams I played for to have an idea again haha. Finally, I decided just to list the players that I loved playing with. These 16 guys had a positive effect on my game and the teams we played on. If they made this list, I respect what they gave me and to the game! Thanks, fellas…
Mike Coffin-By far the best PG I EVER played with as a pro. He knew when I needed a shot and knew which play to call to get it done. His court vision and basketball IQ were off the charts…probably the reasons why he is a successful coach while winning multiple championships now. Johnny Griffin-Hardest working teammate. Sometimes he went overboard (think Jordan with his teammates) but especially early in my career, I needed a teammate like him. Never play the card game “Spades” with him and Mike on the same team though. They cheat! Ron Riley-NBA talent…no question. We knew each other from being rivals in Vegas during high school. He was the difference-maker on my Traiskirchen team that won the League Cup and Championship. Without him, we don't win either trophy…simple as that. Hannes Lutz-He is for sure the least talented guy on this list but he was the ULTIMATE team guy on and off the court. He was a guy I hated playing against, but once he was my teammate, I would have never given up. He was the Bill Laimbeer of Austrian basketball and I am sure he loves that comparison! Lukas Hajda-He had the most unorthodox shot I have ever seen. If you know him, you understand what I mean. He made big shots though and was never afraid to mix it up and never backed down from Americans. Otto Mattisky-Classic old school, huge, eastern European center. Great passer and almost unstoppable if he got his space in the paint. He loved his Pivo (beer) and cigarettes (sometimes at halftime haha).
Kyle Milling-Incredible footwork and talent. If he wouldn't have gotten hurt, I wouldn't have lost my job in France. He is a successful coach and I could see that coming. Versile Shaw-Jack of all trades…he could have played every position on the court and just got things done. His arrival to the team in France probably made me expendable, but I loved watching him go to work haha. Drew Henderson-Think of the Charles Oakley/Michael Jordan relationship…he was my Harlem-born enforcer. He let me talk shit on the court and had my back if someone tried to step up. After the game, he would tell me to shut the fuck up, but he knew I would keep running my mouth the very next game and he always had my back. Jamal Basit-When he was in shape, he was a beast. I played with both the athletic version and the slightly out-of-shape version, but I would have taken both versions. To know him is to love him. Elvir Ovcina-By far the most skilled big man I played with as a pro. The Bosnian national-team player could hit the 3 and back you down. Also, an underrated passer that dropped more than one time to me cutting to the basket for a dunk. Tyron McCoy-His nickname The Cat fit him…First, we were young rivals in Austria, and then teammates years later in Germany. He was simply gifted and passionate. He could score in many ways, and it always looked easy. He yelled at me a lot but I never took exception because his competitive streak matched mine. Quinton Brooks-He could play 3 through 5 and our games just meshed well together although we were very similar. Julien Sauret-Tough dude…his game was bigger than his size and he didn't care who he was matched up with, he was gonna get in their face. I loved that. Ali Seggelke-A gifted scorer. A bit wild at times (think Manu Ginobili) but that was what made him such a tough guard for opposing defenses. Al Elliott-He just got it done! Not the quickest or most athletic PG but he was a winner. He was born for crunch time and that was what I respected about him the most. He also knew instinctively when I needed to get a shot and if I was hot he kept the ball coming.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I get asked often why I decided to make Germany my home or why I never seriously consider moving back to America. Well, those are simple questions with multiple layers of answers. Maybe in another post, I will go more in-depth about my reasoning but for now, I will write about one aspect, which is health care. I have lived in Europe longer than I lived in America (22 years compared to 26 years). In those 26 years, I have played professionally, coached, scouted, gone into education, and started my family. I became an adult here, so I know more about the “adulting” things in Europe. I have no experience with the American healthcare system except for what I remember from being a kid…and that was not too great. Both of my parents worked at the local telephone company in Las Vegas. We were a normal middle-class family, but I do clearly remember that it was an unwritten rule in the house that we better not get sick or hurt. Like the time I followed my older brother with his friends and almost got my pinky finger bitten off by a dog. I had to get that finger stitched up well. My brother got in a world of trouble although it wasn't his fault that I wanted to pet that damn dog behind the fence. I clearly remember that my parents had to pay a lot of that bill themselves, but I also know we had insurance through their jobs. I think I never even had a pediatrician. I was hardly ever sick and besides that dog bite, I cannot remember needing to go to the doctor. If I had some kind of twisted ankle or basketball-related injury, my dad was my doctor. Ice, Ben-Gay, and whatever household “medicine” he could gather up would have to suffice, cuz we were NOT going to the doctor. If I could walk, I could get better at home. If I was sick, whatever they sold at the pharmacy would have to do, and I am SURE I took Nyquil at an age that I probably shouldn't have. Those are memories that I thought were normal back then. I realize now as a parent myself, that it shouldn't have been normal. I see now the way it should be.
My children all have a pediatrician. Everything started before they were born with how most European countries handle women when they are pregnant but I won't even go there… let us just say, there is no comparison. Anyway, not once have I been afraid to go to the doctor here. To make a long story short, the way the healthcare system is set up here is basically like this: both you and your employer put into the health care system…yes it lowers your net pay but in my humble opinion, it's worth it. Everyone has the right to healthcare…yes everyone. Even homeless people. If they take up that right is another thing but everyone is entitled to it. All the bills go through your chosen health care provider. Let's take my back surgery for example. I will pay the hospital 10 euros per day for my hospital stay…that is all that I will have to come out of my pocket for. And when I get out, if I need some pain medicine, it will rarely cost more than 5 euros per prescription. Children get most of their prescriptions for free until they turn 16, but if you would like an upgrade in the medicine you were prescribed, it will also only cost 5 euros. I have never paid for any time my children have been sick. Oh, and don't get me started on what happens if my child is sick and I have to stay home from work. Yeah, I get up to 10 days per year paid to stay home with my child. I am not sure what happens after 10 days, but I have never needed it. It is nice to know it is POSSIBLE to stay home with my sick child and not lose income. This is the NORMAL health care system that everyone living in Germany is provided. I will for sure be written off from work for at least a month…and I will receive my full salary from my employer. If I need longer than 6 weeks off, the health insurance company takes over 80% of my salary. Yes, I would be missing 20%, but it is still better than nothing. Of course, some people who make a lot of money choose to pay their health insurance privately. Instead of putting part of their salary into the general system they pay a private insurer. I suppose there are benefits to it but I have never investigated these benefits because the normal system works for me.
In January I will need another operation on my knee. Too many years of playing on concrete courts when I was young, and playing professionally is taking its toll. I put off both surgeries (especially the knee) because I am used to thugging an injury out as I did as a player in order not to seem weakened. Except for the sleeve I wore on my leg, I never liked to wear anything on the court that would suggest I was hurting in order not to give my opponent a point to attack me with. I no longer have an opponent, but some habits die hard. I never thought for one second that I could not afford to have two major surgeries within three months. In America, I could imagine that I would have thought twice and that is not how I want to live. Of course, every system has its advantages and disadvantages, but for me being a normal guy with a normal job and a family, I am more than satisfied with how things are run here. Each European country has its versions of health care, but in general, most are similar. That is a huge factor in my consideration of where to live but there are more. Unemployment security, family support (yes monetary), school systems, no fear of police (zero fear), and even welfare support (which thankfully I do not need) are amongst the reasons that I have chosen to live here. Yes, I pay a boatload of taxes each month, but I see where that money is going. There are things about living here I do not like, but again, the pros outweigh the cons for me. I miss America at times, but I have been conditioned by becoming an adult here that this lifestyle is better suited for MY situation. It may not be for everyone and I understand and respect that.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I get asked often why I decided to make Germany my home or why I never seriously consider moving back to America. Well, those are simple questions with multiple layers of answers. Maybe in another post, I will go more in-depth about my reasoning but for now, I will write about one aspect, which is health care. I have lived in Europe longer than I lived in America (22 years compared to 26 years). In those 26 years, I have played professionally, coached, scouted, gone into education, and started my family. I became an adult here, so I know more about the “adulting” things in Europe. I have no experience with the American healthcare system except for what I remember from being a kid…and that was not too great. Both of my parents worked at the local telephone company in Las Vegas. We were a normal middle-class family, but I do clearly remember that it was an unwritten rule in the house that we better not get sick or hurt. Like the time I followed my older brother with his friends and almost got my pinky finger bitten off by a dog. I had to get that finger stitched up well. My brother got in a world of trouble although it wasn't his fault that I wanted to pet that damn dog behind the fence. I clearly remember that my parents had to pay a lot of that bill themselves, but I also know we had insurance through their jobs. I think I never even had a pediatrician. I was hardly ever sick and besides that dog bite, I cannot remember needing to go to the doctor. If I had some kind of twisted ankle or basketball-related injury, my dad was my doctor. Ice, Ben-Gay, and whatever household “medicine” he could gather up would have to suffice, cuz we were NOT going to the doctor. If I could walk, I could get better at home. If I was sick, whatever they sold at the pharmacy would have to do, and I am SURE I took Nyquil at an age that I probably shouldn't have. Those are memories that I thought were normal back then. I realize now as a parent myself, that it shouldn't have been normal. I see now the way it should be.
My children all have a pediatrician. Everything started before they were born with how most European countries handle women when they are pregnant but I won't even go there… let us just say, there is no comparison. Anyway, not once have I been afraid to go to the doctor here. To make a long story short, the way the healthcare system is set up here is basically like this: both you and your employer put into the health care system…yes it lowers your net pay but in my humble opinion, it's worth it. Everyone has the right to healthcare…yes everyone. Even homeless people. If they take up that right is another thing but everyone is entitled to it. All the bills go through your chosen health care provider. Let's take my back surgery for example. I will pay the hospital 10 euros per day for my hospital stay…that is all that I will have to come out of my pocket for. And when I get out, if I need some pain medicine, it will rarely cost more than 5 euros per prescription. Children get most of their prescriptions for free until they turn 16, but if you would like an upgrade in the medicine you were prescribed, it will also only cost 5 euros. I have never paid for any time my children have been sick. Oh, and don't get me started on what happens if my child is sick and I have to stay home from work. Yeah, I get up to 10 days per year paid to stay home with my child. I am not sure what happens after 10 days, but I have never needed it. It is nice to know it is POSSIBLE to stay home with my sick child and not lose income. This is the NORMAL health care system that everyone living in Germany is provided. I will for sure be written off from work for at least a month…and I will receive my full salary from my employer. If I need longer than 6 weeks off, the health insurance company takes over 80% of my salary. Yes, I would be missing 20%, but it is still better than nothing. Of course, some people who make a lot of money choose to pay their health insurance privately. Instead of putting part of their salary into the general system they pay a private insurer. I suppose there are benefits to it but I have never investigated these benefits because the normal system works for me.
In January I will need another operation on my knee. Too many years of playing on concrete courts when I was young, and playing professionally is taking its toll. I put off both surgeries (especially the knee) because I am used to thugging an injury out as I did as a player in order not to seem weakened. Except for the sleeve I wore on my leg, I never liked to wear anything on the court that would suggest I was hurting in order not to give my opponent a point to attack me with. I no longer have an opponent, but some habits die hard. I never thought for one second that I could not afford to have two major surgeries within three months. In America, I could imagine that I would have thought twice and that is not how I want to live. Of course, every system has its advantages and disadvantages, but for me being a normal guy with a normal job and a family, I am more than satisfied with how things are run here. Each European country has its versions of health care, but in general, most are similar. That is a huge factor in my consideration of where to live but there are more. Unemployment security, family support (yes monetary), school systems, no fear of police (zero fear), and even welfare support (which thankfully I do not need) are amongst the reasons that I have chosen to live here. Yes, I pay a boatload of taxes each month, but I see where that money is going. There are things about living here I do not like, but again, the pros outweigh the cons for me. I miss America at times, but I have been conditioned by becoming an adult here that this lifestyle is better suited for MY situation. It may not be for everyone and I understand and respect that.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Originally, I was not going to write about my hospital stay, but of course, while I have so much free time, I decided to do something constructive, which is to write. I am currently laying in a hospital bed in my home city in Braunschweig, Germany. Yesterday I had decompression surgery to alleviate the pressure that two parts of my spine was putting on a nerve. I had been having pain and other problems for over a year and the doctors tried everything to avoid surgery, but to no avail. I had physical therapy, acupuncture, shots, and all kinds of stuff. Nothing worked. In the end, the doctor said my condition will only get worse over time so I reluctantly agreed to the surgery. The surgery went well yesterday and I was able to stand and take my first steps six hours after the surgery. Today I took a walk around the hospital. Luckily, I am pretty much pain-free and in no need of pain medicine (I hate taking pills). I am a bit stiff but I guess that is to be expected.
Me being a former professional athlete, I do not like to think of my body breaking down on me, but I cannot deny that I am getting older and with that, the wear and tear of all the years of playing on concrete playgrounds and gyms all over the world are starting to take its toll. Father time is undefeated. There was a guy around my age in the bed next to mine that had a similar surgery. He had been here five days and I marveled at how well he was walking. If you know me, you know that I am extremely ambitious and competitive. I took it upon myself to use the guy next to me as motivation. I wanted, or needed, to be able to walk out of the hospital better than him. When I walked six hours after the surgery, I was surprised at how well it went. The man even told me I walked better than he did. I know it's stupid, but I felt a sense of achievement. And after the therapist came this morning, I wanted to prove to her that I was in good shape considering I just had surgery. She was also pleased but gave me a stern warning when she felt I was overdoing it. That will be a challenge for me these next weeks.
I will probably be written off from work until early December with strict orders not to lift anything or do too much besides going to therapy. I am impatient by nature so I have to make sure not to override common sense. My whole life I have been a quick healer, but besides my broken leg, I haven't had to deal with surgery and longer rehab periods. My common saying is that I am tougher than I look, which is true, but now I have to be smarter than I look haha. Let's hope I can do that. In part two of this blog post, I will discuss the health care system here in Germany which is one of the reasons why I made the decision not to live in America again (unless I hit the lottery lol).
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Originally, I was not going to write about my hospital stay, but of course, while I have so much free time, I decided to do something constructive, which is to write. I am currently laying in a hospital bed in my home city in Braunschweig, Germany. Yesterday I had decompression surgery to alleviate the pressure that two parts of my spine was putting on a nerve. I had been having pain and other problems for over a year and the doctors tried everything to avoid surgery, but to no avail. I had physical therapy, acupuncture, shots, and all kinds of stuff. Nothing worked. In the end, the doctor said my condition will only get worse over time so I reluctantly agreed to the surgery. The surgery went well yesterday and I was able to stand and take my first steps six hours after the surgery. Today I took a walk around the hospital. Luckily, I am pretty much pain-free and in no need of pain medicine (I hate taking pills). I am a bit stiff but I guess that is to be expected.
Me being a former professional athlete, I do not like to think of my body breaking down on me, but I cannot deny that I am getting older and with that, the wear and tear of all the years of playing on concrete playgrounds and gyms all over the world are starting to take its toll. Father time is undefeated. There was a guy around my age in the bed next to mine that had a similar surgery. He had been here five days and I marveled at how well he was walking. If you know me, you know that I am extremely ambitious and competitive. I took it upon myself to use the guy next to me as motivation. I wanted, or needed, to be able to walk out of the hospital better than him. When I walked six hours after the surgery, I was surprised at how well it went. The man even told me I walked better than he did. I know it's stupid, but I felt a sense of achievement. And after the therapist came this morning, I wanted to prove to her that I was in good shape considering I just had surgery. She was also pleased but gave me a stern warning when she felt I was overdoing it. That will be a challenge for me these next weeks.
I will probably be written off from work until early December with strict orders not to lift anything or do too much besides going to therapy. I am impatient by nature so I have to make sure not to override common sense. My whole life I have been a quick healer, but besides my broken leg, I haven't had to deal with surgery and longer rehab periods. My common saying is that I am tougher than I look, which is true, but now I have to be smarter than I look haha. Let's hope I can do that. In part two of this blog post, I will discuss the health care system here in Germany which is one of the reasons why I made the decision not to live in America again (unless I hit the lottery lol).
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… To me, the twilight years of my career were probably the most exciting and noteworthy time. I have many stories I could share during this time, both good and bad. After leaving Switzerland for Germany, I played that first season for POM Baskets Jena in the 2nd League. The coach wanted to have an experienced player that would have a positive influence on the team. The interesting fact was that no one, not even those in the team management, expected us to be very good. The only ones that expected us to be good were the 12 players and our coach. We did not have the most talent, but we played hard and together. We surprised everyone by winning the 2nd league and promotion into the Bundesliga. In my second season in Jena, our name changed to Science City Jena, and we kept a majority of the players from the season before which proved to be a mistake. Not only did we not have the budget of other teams in the BBL, but we also had too many players that could not compete on the next level. Simply put, we were not good, and we lost a lot of games. I had already decided that it would be my last season before retirement and the plan was for me to come onto the coaching staff in Jena the next season as an assistant coach. My journey had different plans though. To make a long story short, halfway through the season, the coach was fired after winning only two games. Because we were anyway strapped for cash and could not afford to hire a new coach, the management asked me to take over as head coach. After two weeks of me saying “Hell no”, I finally relented and took over a team that I had just been a part of as a player. In the 20-plus years, I have lived in Europe, I have NEVER heard of such a story! Unfortunately, we still were not very good and after winning only 3 more games when I took over, we were relegated back to the 2nd league. Although it was not the normal way to start a coaching career, the experience of coaching in the Bundesliga strengthened my resolve to coach.
Life… Jena is a nice city in the former East German side of the country. I had reservations about going to an East German team in the beginning based on hearing stories that many racists lived there, but to be honest I had no problems living there. I realize that because I was an athlete, I was held to a different standard than other black people that lived there. I have no idea how it would have been for me had I not been a professional basketball player. I enjoyed my time in Jena. I lived there for a total of 3 seasons as a player and later as a coach without incident, except for the time when there was a Nazi demonstration gathering at the same parking lot that we always met to catch our bus for a game. Although nothing happened and I felt safe, I did have a weird feeling sitting and watching this demonstration unfold. Other than that, I loved my time in Jena.
Next… “Coaches are hired to be fired.” That is a famous coaching quote and although funny, it has some truth to it. After a five-game losing streak halfway during the season, I received pressure to win the next game during a meeting with the manager. It was an either-or situation. Either win the next game or be fired afterward. By the end of a heated meeting, I stepped down as coach because I felt I did not have the support that was needed for a coach with such little experience. Mind you, this was the same manager that asked me to take over the team. Looking back on it, I was not ready to be a head coach at the time. I was, however, a fantastic judge of talent, and my recruitment for that team was impeccable for the budget I had. I think with a more experienced coach, that team could have competed for a chance to move back up to the 1st league. After I was demoted to scout work for the team until the season was finished, I then made the move to youth basketball in Bayreuth, Germany where I took over their youth program. I was in charge of totally revamping the entire youth program and we did good work there that I am incredibly proud of. I was there for three years but I felt I needed the challenge of professional ranks again and served as an assistant coach in Cuxhaven in the 2nd division We had a fantastic season, and I would have liked to stay there longer, but because of an issue with the management about getting paid on time, I decided to leave. I then went back to youth basketball for the next three years in Braunschweig, Germany. It was there that I eventually retired from the game and began my current job as an educator six years ago. I think that was one of the best decisions I ever made. I miss basketball, and especially competition. I keep tabs on what’s going on in the basketball world through former players, and my coaching friends. I love hearing my friends’ stories and being able to offer advice. What I do not miss, however, is the time that basketball demands. Since I have walked away, I have realized how much time I spent just THINKING about the game, let alone how much time I was away from my family (both mentally and physically). My transition from the game was easier than most former athletes and coaches. Everything fell in line at the right time, and for that I am grateful.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… To me, the twilight years of my career were probably the most exciting and noteworthy time. I have many stories I could share during this time, both good and bad. After leaving Switzerland for Germany, I played that first season for POM Baskets Jena in the 2nd League. The coach wanted to have an experienced player that would have a positive influence on the team. The interesting fact was that no one, not even those in the team management, expected us to be very good. The only ones that expected us to be good were the 12 players and our coach. We did not have the most talent, but we played hard and together. We surprised everyone by winning the 2nd league and promotion into the Bundesliga. In my second season in Jena, our name changed to Science City Jena, and we kept a majority of the players from the season before which proved to be a mistake. Not only did we not have the budget of other teams in the BBL, but we also had too many players that could not compete on the next level. Simply put, we were not good, and we lost a lot of games. I had already decided that it would be my last season before retirement and the plan was for me to come onto the coaching staff in Jena the next season as an assistant coach. My journey had different plans though. To make a long story short, halfway through the season, the coach was fired after winning only two games. Because we were anyway strapped for cash and could not afford to hire a new coach, the management asked me to take over as head coach. After two weeks of me saying “Hell no”, I finally relented and took over a team that I had just been a part of as a player. In the 20-plus years, I have lived in Europe, I have NEVER heard of such a story! Unfortunately, we still were not very good and after winning only 3 more games when I took over, we were relegated back to the 2nd league. Although it was not the normal way to start a coaching career, the experience of coaching in the Bundesliga strengthened my resolve to coach.
Life… Jena is a nice city in the former East German side of the country. I had reservations about going to an East German team in the beginning based on hearing stories that many racists lived there, but to be honest I had no problems living there. I realize that because I was an athlete, I was held to a different standard than other black people that lived there. I have no idea how it would have been for me had I not been a professional basketball player. I enjoyed my time in Jena. I lived there for a total of 3 seasons as a player and later as a coach without incident, except for the time when there was a Nazi demonstration gathering at the same parking lot that we always met to catch our bus for a game. Although nothing happened and I felt safe, I did have a weird feeling sitting and watching this demonstration unfold. Other than that, I loved my time in Jena.
Next… “Coaches are hired to be fired.” That is a famous coaching quote and although funny, it has some truth to it. After a five-game losing streak halfway during the season, I received pressure to win the next game during a meeting with the manager. It was an either-or situation. Either win the next game or be fired afterward. By the end of a heated meeting, I stepped down as coach because I felt I did not have the support that was needed for a coach with such little experience. Mind you, this was the same manager that asked me to take over the team. Looking back on it, I was not ready to be a head coach at the time. I was, however, a fantastic judge of talent, and my recruitment for that team was impeccable for the budget I had. I think with a more experienced coach, that team could have competed for a chance to move back up to the 1st league. After I was demoted to scout work for the team until the season was finished, I then made the move to youth basketball in Bayreuth, Germany where I took over their youth program. I was in charge of totally revamping the entire youth program and we did good work there that I am incredibly proud of. I was there for three years but I felt I needed the challenge of professional ranks again and served as an assistant coach in Cuxhaven in the 2nd division We had a fantastic season, and I would have liked to stay there longer, but because of an issue with the management about getting paid on time, I decided to leave. I then went back to youth basketball for the next three years in Braunschweig, Germany. It was there that I eventually retired from the game and began my current job as an educator six years ago. I think that was one of the best decisions I ever made. I miss basketball, and especially competition. I keep tabs on what’s going on in the basketball world through former players, and my coaching friends. I love hearing my friends’ stories and being able to offer advice. What I do not miss, however, is the time that basketball demands. Since I have walked away, I have realized how much time I spent just THINKING about the game, let alone how much time I was away from my family (both mentally and physically). My transition from the game was easier than most former athletes and coaches. Everything fell in line at the right time, and for that I am grateful.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… After leaving England, my journey took me to Geneva, Switzerland for the next two seasons playing in the SBL (1st league). Geneva was another team on the cusp of becoming a force and winning titles when I arrived. In my first season, we placed second and greatly exceeded expectations. The players on that team gelled very quickly and I played well. Although we lost in the finals, we were confident that the following season, we could win it all. Unfortunately, my second season was very turbulent for many reasons. Although we had almost the same team as the season before, we could not play to that same level. In what would be the most drama-filled season of my career, we ended up in third place.
Life… One thing to know about Geneva (and Switzerland in general) is that life there is EXPENSIVE! Geneva is commonly in the top 10 of the most expensive cities to live in the whole world. It is also a very international city with many American companies having subsidiaries there. Many people speak English there and I felt comfortable. I was also fortunate enough to meet great people, including my best friend, that I still speak with today.
Next… After such a tumultuous season, I knew I needed a new challenge for my remaining years. I was 33 years old and I knew that I wanted to play a maximum of two more seasons. I had already begun to transition mentally to becoming a coach. I was never the type that wanted to play well past my prime. I saw the signs that both my body and game were changing, and while I could still play on a high level, there were differences to when I was 28 years old. Not long after my season ended in Switzerland, I got a call from a coach in Germany. Little did I know that I would finish my career there, begin and finish my coaching career there, and settle my life there as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… After leaving England, my journey took me to Geneva, Switzerland for the next two seasons playing in the SBL (1st league). Geneva was another team on the cusp of becoming a force and winning titles when I arrived. In my first season, we placed second and greatly exceeded expectations. The players on that team gelled very quickly and I played well. Although we lost in the finals, we were confident that the following season, we could win it all. Unfortunately, my second season was very turbulent for many reasons. Although we had almost the same team as the season before, we could not play to that same level. In what would be the most drama-filled season of my career, we ended up in third place.
Life… One thing to know about Geneva (and Switzerland in general) is that life there is EXPENSIVE! Geneva is commonly in the top 10 of the most expensive cities to live in the whole world. It is also a very international city with many American companies having subsidiaries there. Many people speak English there and I felt comfortable. I was also fortunate enough to meet great people, including my best friend, that I still speak with today.
Next… After such a tumultuous season, I knew I needed a new challenge for my remaining years. I was 33 years old and I knew that I wanted to play a maximum of two more seasons. I had already begun to transition mentally to becoming a coach. I was never the type that wanted to play well past my prime. I saw the signs that both my body and game were changing, and while I could still play on a high level, there were differences to when I was 28 years old. Not long after my season ended in Switzerland, I got a call from a coach in Germany. Little did I know that I would finish my career there, begin and finish my coaching career there, and settle my life there as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… As I had played so poorly the season before, my agent was struggling to find me a new contract. To stay in shape while I waited, I agreed to a short-term contract with my old club Kapfenberg in Austria. I would play for them during the preseason while I was looking for my next team. I participated in the preseason games and won the Austrian Supercup title before the regular season started, and then I was off to England. In England, I played for the Leicester Riders in the BBL (1st League). I had played against them the two years before while I was in Portugal and made an impression on their coach. We kept in contact and eventually I signed to play there. My season was great for my confidence and I played well. I think I needed that after the disappointing season in Oldenburg. As a whole though, my experience in England was like a rollercoaster. We were losing more than I had expected and eventually the coach that brought me in was fired. We had many injuries, but with those injuries, I was able to find a new level to my game because I was forced to play the point guard almost half the season and I flourished. I knew I would not return to Leicester after the season was finished, but I was thankful for the opportunity to add a new dimension to my game.
Life… Socially, Leicester was one of my favorite cities that I was fortunate to live in. I had a blast there. I lived in a huge house with one of my teammates and we had many long nights of either pub-hopping (or crawling haha) or deep discussions that lasted into the early mornings. British people know how to have a good time and I fully embraced that! It was fantastic to live in a place where English was spoken. I was so used to having to learn or understand new languages from the places I lived previously. Another positive aspect was that when my coach got fired, I got to host his radio show on the BBC (British Broadcasting Company for those of you wondering). I enjoyed doing those interviews and talking about the upcoming games. I guess I like running my mouth. I only did that a few episodes until the new coach was hired but it is something I will never forget. Driving on the other side of the street is not as difficult as people think, and I loved the fan culture there as well.
Next… After the season, it was time to move on again. Although I enjoyed playing in England, things were not as professional as I was used to, so I decided to move on for the twilight years of my career. Switzerland would be my basketball home for the following two seasons.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… As I had played so poorly the season before, my agent was struggling to find me a new contract. To stay in shape while I waited, I agreed to a short-term contract with my old club Kapfenberg in Austria. I would play for them during the preseason while I was looking for my next team. I participated in the preseason games and won the Austrian Supercup title before the regular season started, and then I was off to England. In England, I played for the Leicester Riders in the BBL (1st League). I had played against them the two years before while I was in Portugal and made an impression on their coach. We kept in contact and eventually I signed to play there. My season was great for my confidence and I played well. I think I needed that after the disappointing season in Oldenburg. As a whole though, my experience in England was like a rollercoaster. We were losing more than I had expected and eventually the coach that brought me in was fired. We had many injuries, but with those injuries, I was able to find a new level to my game because I was forced to play the point guard almost half the season and I flourished. I knew I would not return to Leicester after the season was finished, but I was thankful for the opportunity to add a new dimension to my game.
Life… Socially, Leicester was one of my favorite cities that I was fortunate to live in. I had a blast there. I lived in a huge house with one of my teammates and we had many long nights of either pub-hopping (or crawling haha) or deep discussions that lasted into the early mornings. British people know how to have a good time and I fully embraced that! It was fantastic to live in a place where English was spoken. I was so used to having to learn or understand new languages from the places I lived previously. Another positive aspect was that when my coach got fired, I got to host his radio show on the BBC (British Broadcasting Company for those of you wondering). I enjoyed doing those interviews and talking about the upcoming games. I guess I like running my mouth. I only did that a few episodes until the new coach was hired but it is something I will never forget. Driving on the other side of the street is not as difficult as people think, and I loved the fan culture there as well.
Next… After the season, it was time to move on again. Although I enjoyed playing in England, things were not as professional as I was used to, so I decided to move on for the twilight years of my career. Switzerland would be my basketball home for the following two seasons.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… After leaving Portugal, I played for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg in the BBL (1st League). Oldenburg, at that time, was incredibly ambitious and had big plans for the future. I was a part of that building process in the lone season I played there. The season in Oldenburg is honestly the season I look back on and am disappointed with my playing performance. We made the playoffs but lost in the first round which was somewhat of a success. Personally, though, I think it was my worst professional season. I did not live up to my expectations and I am sure I did not live up to the expectations of the team. For some reason, I was not a great fit although I loved playing there. I was fortunate to play with one of my best friends, and the team, coaching staff, and organization were all excellent. I learned a valuable lesson of how to deal professionally with not being the first, or second, or third option on a team. I am proud of how I dealt with my frustration during a challenging season though.
Life… Oldenburg is a typical northern German city. There are about 160,000 residents but it seems much smaller. It is a quaint and quiet city that has a lot of charm. The town is basketball crazy and the fanbase is knowledgeable and intense (in a good way). In my opinion, they have some of the most loyal fans in the league. I had no problems living in Oldenburg. It probably helped that I could speak German already but in general, I have always found Germans to readily speak English to foreigners. In France it was different. My coach spoke about 70% French from day one, and although Paris is a world city and most people CAN speak English, I found them unwilling if they did not have to. Germans on the other hand seem more willing and open to speaking English.
Next… I was extremely disappointed when my contract was not renewed after the season because I wanted the chance to prove that I could play better. In the end, the club made a decision that they felt was best for them and I had to accept it so I moved on to my next destination…England.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… After leaving Portugal, I played for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg in the BBL (1st League). Oldenburg, at that time, was incredibly ambitious and had big plans for the future. I was a part of that building process in the lone season I played there. The season in Oldenburg is honestly the season I look back on and am disappointed with my playing performance. We made the playoffs but lost in the first round which was somewhat of a success. Personally, though, I think it was my worst professional season. I did not live up to my expectations and I am sure I did not live up to the expectations of the team. For some reason, I was not a great fit although I loved playing there. I was fortunate to play with one of my best friends, and the team, coaching staff, and organization were all excellent. I learned a valuable lesson of how to deal professionally with not being the first, or second, or third option on a team. I am proud of how I dealt with my frustration during a challenging season though.
Life… Oldenburg is a typical northern German city. There are about 160,000 residents but it seems much smaller. It is a quaint and quiet city that has a lot of charm. The town is basketball crazy and the fanbase is knowledgeable and intense (in a good way). In my opinion, they have some of the most loyal fans in the league. I had no problems living in Oldenburg. It probably helped that I could speak German already but in general, I have always found Germans to readily speak English to foreigners. In France it was different. My coach spoke about 70% French from day one, and although Paris is a world city and most people CAN speak English, I found them unwilling if they did not have to. Germans on the other hand seem more willing and open to speaking English.
Next… I was extremely disappointed when my contract was not renewed after the season because I wanted the chance to prove that I could play better. In the end, the club made a decision that they felt was best for them and I had to accept it so I moved on to my next destination…England.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
First, let me start by saying that I am a team guy. I loved playing a team sport. I loved coaching a team sport. I think I could have never been an individual athlete. I NEEDED the team. I am far from a selfish dude as my former teammates and former players can attest to…BUT…in terms of European basketball, the quote in the picture is in my humble opinion, bullshit (excuse my French)! Let me explain. In the NBA, professional soccer all around the world, and many other team sports, the contracts are much longer than in European basketball. In other sports, many players have the opportunity to play on one team for a much longer period of time, which in turn, leads to that player (even foreign players) becoming invested in the team, the city, and the culture where he or she plays. If you play and live someplace a few years and you have your support system there, or your children possibly grew up in that city, you will automatically form a bond with that team. That situation in European basketball, however, is very rare. There are VERY few players that stay many seasons with the same team. There are no Kobe, Dirk, and Tim’s as foreign players in Europe. Foreign players in Europe are more likely to be Chucky Brown, Jim Jackson, Joe Smith, and Tony Massenburg who all played for 12 NBA franchises. I played on nine teams in my 13-year career playing in Europe. Even one of the greatest players in soccer, Lionel Messi, left FC Barcelona after playing a total of 21 years in their club.
I do not have the exact figures, but I would go out on a limb and say that in European basketball, 80% - 85% of the players change teams after the first season. Why is that? One factor is surely that teams offer their foreign players short-term contracts of one season unless you are an established player. If you are lucky, you might get a 1 plus 1 contract…meaning one season with a possible second, usually with the team holding the rights for the option. Because there is an abundance of players on the market, teams are more likely to move on from a player, especially if that player’s contract demands do not fit the budget. Teams can always find players for less money. As a foreign player in Europe, you are much easier to replace than in other sports. Although the popularity of basketball is continuously on the rise in Europe, it still ranks far behind many other sports. I recently read a study that said that between 2018-20202, basketball ranked 20th in the most popular sports in Germany behind such sports as Soccer (1), Swimming (10), and even Tobogganing (19)! The surplus of foreign players, and the lack of long-term contracts, are contributing factors in players changing teams often, but there are also other factors.
So when did it change? I believe for most foreign players in Europe, the name on the back of the jersey becomes more important than the one on the front, as soon as they sign on the dotted line of their first professional contract in Europe. In college, many players feel a strong identity with their school, but when basketball becomes your job in Europe, you quickly begin to see that the sport you love is a business, and you are expendable. So how do you handle this change? Each person has their own motivational factors, but the common theme is that each day in Europe, you are not only practicing and playing for a team, but also your next contract. You are practicing and playing for your future salary. You are playing and practicing for your family. You are playing and practicing for the unseen eyes that are watching you and trying to determine if you would fit on their roster in the future. Most importantly though, you are playing for yourself! Don't get me mistaken, I am not calling for foreign players to play selfishly. You have to find balance in how you handle this realization. I am only giving my opinion based on what I have experienced, and what I still see today, long after I have retired from playing and coaching. I made a conscious decision to play in different countries so that I can experience numerous cultures because that was important to me. Your motivation is probably different. I applaud any player that can play on the same team for a long time, just understand that it is unlikely while playing professional basketball in Europe.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
First, let me start by saying that I am a team guy. I loved playing a team sport. I loved coaching a team sport. I think I could have never been an individual athlete. I NEEDED the team. I am far from a selfish dude as my former teammates and former players can attest to…BUT…in terms of European basketball, the quote in the picture is in my humble opinion, bullshit (excuse my French)! Let me explain. In the NBA, professional soccer all around the world, and many other team sports, the contracts are much longer than in European basketball. In other sports, many players have the opportunity to play on one team for a much longer period of time, which in turn, leads to that player (even foreign players) becoming invested in the team, the city, and the culture where he or she plays. If you play and live someplace a few years and you have your support system there, or your children possibly grew up in that city, you will automatically form a bond with that team. That situation in European basketball, however, is very rare. There are VERY few players that stay many seasons with the same team. There are no Kobe, Dirk, and Tim’s as foreign players in Europe. Foreign players in Europe are more likely to be Chucky Brown, Jim Jackson, Joe Smith, and Tony Massenburg who all played for 12 NBA franchises. I played on nine teams in my 13-year career playing in Europe. Even one of the greatest players in soccer, Lionel Messi, left FC Barcelona after playing a total of 21 years in their club.
I do not have the exact figures, but I would go out on a limb and say that in European basketball, 80% - 85% of the players change teams after the first season. Why is that? One factor is surely that teams offer their foreign players short-term contracts of one season unless you are an established player. If you are lucky, you might get a 1 plus 1 contract…meaning one season with a possible second, usually with the team holding the rights for the option. Because there is an abundance of players on the market, teams are more likely to move on from a player, especially if that player’s contract demands do not fit the budget. Teams can always find players for less money. As a foreign player in Europe, you are much easier to replace than in other sports. Although the popularity of basketball is continuously on the rise in Europe, it still ranks far behind many other sports. I recently read a study that said that between 2018-20202, basketball ranked 20th in the most popular sports in Germany behind such sports as Soccer (1), Swimming (10), and even Tobogganing (19)! The surplus of foreign players, and the lack of long-term contracts, are contributing factors in players changing teams often, but there are also other factors.
So when did it change? I believe for most foreign players in Europe, the name on the back of the jersey becomes more important than the one on the front, as soon as they sign on the dotted line of their first professional contract in Europe. In college, many players feel a strong identity with their school, but when basketball becomes your job in Europe, you quickly begin to see that the sport you love is a business, and you are expendable. So how do you handle this change? Each person has their own motivational factors, but the common theme is that each day in Europe, you are not only practicing and playing for a team, but also your next contract. You are practicing and playing for your future salary. You are playing and practicing for your family. You are playing and practicing for the unseen eyes that are watching you and trying to determine if you would fit on their roster in the future. Most importantly though, you are playing for yourself! Don't get me mistaken, I am not calling for foreign players to play selfishly. You have to find balance in how you handle this realization. I am only giving my opinion based on what I have experienced, and what I still see today, long after I have retired from playing and coaching. I made a conscious decision to play in different countries so that I can experience numerous cultures because that was important to me. Your motivation is probably different. I applaud any player that can play on the same team for a long time, just understand that it is unlikely while playing professional basketball in Europe.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… After my short intermezzo at Aveiro Basket the season before, I decided to continue my career in Portugal. CAB Madeira was the team I would play for in the FPB (1st league). The team was decent and we were playing in the European Cup (Korac Cup at that time) which gave me more exposure as a player. I played well there and we were very close to moving into the second round of the European Cup but we got knocked out by a strong Spanish team. We made the playoffs but unfortunately we were not able to bring the championship to the island.
Life… The island of Madeira is famous for being where Cristiano Ronaldo is from, but back then he was 15 or 16 years old haha. The island is also known for its beautiful flowers and the weather. The weather was warm the whole year and I lived five minutes from the beach. It was amazing living there. Three things stick out in my mind from living there. The first was the view overlooking the ocean from the gym. After a hard practice or game, coming out of that gym and having such a fantastic view was always worth it. The other memory that I will cherish was the New Years’ celebration that the island put on. Throughout the island, in the different villages, fireworks were lit simultaneously at midnight. It is still, by far, the best fireworks I have ever seen. And the last moment that I will never forget is 9/11. I was at my apartment watching like everyone else in the world. I remember thinking World War 3 was about to begin, and being on that island was probably one of the best places I could be at that moment.
Next… After just one season, I decided to move on to another country. I wanted to see as many countries as I could so my leaving after just one season was by design. I did not know how long I would play and wanted to take advantage of being able to live where other people took their vacations. My journey would take me to Germany for the first (but not the last) time.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… After my short intermezzo at Aveiro Basket the season before, I decided to continue my career in Portugal. CAB Madeira was the team I would play for in the FPB (1st league). The team was decent and we were playing in the European Cup (Korac Cup at that time) which gave me more exposure as a player. I played well there and we were very close to moving into the second round of the European Cup but we got knocked out by a strong Spanish team. We made the playoffs but unfortunately we were not able to bring the championship to the island.
Life… The island of Madeira is famous for being where Cristiano Ronaldo is from, but back then he was 15 or 16 years old haha. The island is also known for its beautiful flowers and the weather. The weather was warm the whole year and I lived five minutes from the beach. It was amazing living there. Three things stick out in my mind from living there. The first was the view overlooking the ocean from the gym. After a hard practice or game, coming out of that gym and having such a fantastic view was always worth it. The other memory that I will cherish was the New Years’ celebration that the island put on. Throughout the island, in the different villages, fireworks were lit simultaneously at midnight. It is still, by far, the best fireworks I have ever seen. And the last moment that I will never forget is 9/11. I was at my apartment watching like everyone else in the world. I remember thinking World War 3 was about to begin, and being on that island was probably one of the best places I could be at that moment.
Next… After just one season, I decided to move on to another country. I wanted to see as many countries as I could so my leaving after just one season was by design. I did not know how long I would play and wanted to take advantage of being able to live where other people took their vacations. My journey would take me to Germany for the first (but not the last) time.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… My journey led me to France in the year 2000. There I played in the Pro B (2nd league) for a very ambitious team on the outskirts of Paris named Rueil-Malmaison. They wanted to move up to the Pro A (1st league) and were trying to put together a team to accomplish that goal. Unfortunately, I did not play there the whole season. After a rash of injuries by important players on the team, we hit a major snag and a losing streak was the result. Because I was the highest-paid player on the team, and I admittedly didn't play as well as I could, I was let go. This was the first and the last time that I was let go and it was a tough pill to swallow. It is a business and I learned quite a few valuable lessons that season. I am thankful in a strange way for going through that. The experience of being fired was one of the contributing factors in my decision to write my book. I realized I knew NOTHING about what happens if you are let go, and I figured that many others would feel the same way. After I left, the problems did not change and the team did not make the promotion into the Pro A.
Life… Rueil-Malmaison is a suburb of Paris. I could see the Eiffel Tower from my bedroom window and it only took 10 minutes for me to drive from my apartment to the Arch De Triumph and the world-famous Champs Elysee street. Of course, living there was amazing! Paris is a world city and living there was incredible. I love big cities so Paris reminded me of New York. I got a chance to live somewhere that most people pay to visit on vacations! I grew fond of warm baguettes with salted butter, dipping croissants in hot chocolate, and cheese as a dessert haha. I also got used to enjoying meals that would last HOURS, full of discussion and wine. Living and playing there is one of those experiences I will always cherish and I have been back quite a few times because I love the city!
Next… I found a new job quickly after being released. I left Paris to play in Portugal for the first time. I finished the season at Aveiro Basket. I was fortunate to get a new job so quickly after being released in France and I was hungry to show that my experience in France had not shaken my confidence. Although I only spent almost three months in Aveiro, I was impressed with the people and the basketball there. Because I enjoyed it in Aveiro so much, it influenced the decision of where to play the following season.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… My journey led me to France in the year 2000. There I played in the Pro B (2nd league) for a very ambitious team on the outskirts of Paris named Rueil-Malmaison. They wanted to move up to the Pro A (1st league) and were trying to put together a team to accomplish that goal. Unfortunately, I did not play there the whole season. After a rash of injuries by important players on the team, we hit a major snag and a losing streak was the result. Because I was the highest-paid player on the team, and I admittedly didn't play as well as I could, I was let go. This was the first and the last time that I was let go and it was a tough pill to swallow. It is a business and I learned quite a few valuable lessons that season. I am thankful in a strange way for going through that. The experience of being fired was one of the contributing factors in my decision to write my book. I realized I knew NOTHING about what happens if you are let go, and I figured that many others would feel the same way. After I left, the problems did not change and the team did not make the promotion into the Pro A.
Life… Rueil-Malmaison is a suburb of Paris. I could see the Eiffel Tower from my bedroom window and it only took 10 minutes for me to drive from my apartment to the Arch De Triumph and the world-famous Champs Elysee street. Of course, living there was amazing! Paris is a world city and living there was incredible. I love big cities so Paris reminded me of New York. I got a chance to live somewhere that most people pay to visit on vacations! I grew fond of warm baguettes with salted butter, dipping croissants in hot chocolate, and cheese as a dessert haha. I also got used to enjoying meals that would last HOURS, full of discussion and wine. Living and playing there is one of those experiences I will always cherish and I have been back quite a few times because I love the city!
Next… I found a new job quickly after being released. I left Paris to play in Portugal for the first time. I finished the season at Aveiro Basket. I was fortunate to get a new job so quickly after being released in France and I was hungry to show that my experience in France had not shaken my confidence. Although I only spent almost three months in Aveiro, I was impressed with the people and the basketball there. Because I enjoyed it in Aveiro so much, it influenced the decision of where to play the following season.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
A few weeks ago, I got some good news from others that made me feel good and I would like to share that. The news showed me that I am on the right path with my mentoring role, and also that I have positively affected my former players even years after I no longer coached them. The relationships I have made with my former players are incredibly important to me.
Since I have begun the process of writing my book, my main goal has been and always be, to help athletes. I want to make sure the knowledge that I have is easily accessible for anyone interested. Now that I have a website and a growing presence on social media (mostly my Instagram page) I have been coming into contact with players that pick my brain about the European basketball experience. Most would like some form of advice, which I am glad to offer. Recently two players that I have had regular contact with both reached out to me to let me know that they had gotten a contract someplace and had gotten an agent based on our conversations. That made me feel great about what I am trying to achieve. I think it is my responsibility to offer my opinion based on what I know, but it is the responsibility of the player to filter out my advice and use what they feel is best for their situation and act on it. These two individuals did that and all the credit goes to them for doing the work.
And then one of my former players recently earned his A-Trainer license. This is a huge accomplishment. For those of you that do not know, in Germany, that is the highest level you can earn and it is not easy to achieve. With this license, he is now able to coach on all levels in Germany (and Europe) and is also able to coach a National Team if he would like (one day haha). While doing the course for the license, he had to write a paper. In one subject portion, he had to name three influences that helped mold him as a coach. I was one of those influences. He sent me what he had written and I have to say that I felt an immense amount of gratitude. Not so much about what he wrote about my influence on his coaching (which was very flattering), but that one of my players went on to get his A-license and understood my philosophy enough to infuse a part of it into his day to day coaching life. I think I can be proud that many of my former players still keep in touch with their old coach years later. Their success is my success!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
A few weeks ago, I got some good news from others that made me feel good and I would like to share that. The news showed me that I am on the right path with my mentoring role, and also that I have positively affected my former players even years after I no longer coached them. The relationships I have made with my former players are incredibly important to me.
Since I have begun the process of writing my book, my main goal has been and always be, to help athletes. I want to make sure the knowledge that I have is easily accessible for anyone interested. Now that I have a website and a growing presence on social media (mostly my Instagram page) I have been coming into contact with players that pick my brain about the European basketball experience. Most would like some form of advice, which I am glad to offer. Recently two players that I have had regular contact with both reached out to me to let me know that they had gotten a contract someplace and had gotten an agent based on our conversations. That made me feel great about what I am trying to achieve. I think it is my responsibility to offer my opinion based on what I know, but it is the responsibility of the player to filter out my advice and use what they feel is best for their situation and act on it. These two individuals did that and all the credit goes to them for doing the work.
And then one of my former players recently earned his A-Trainer license. This is a huge accomplishment. For those of you that do not know, in Germany, that is the highest level you can earn and it is not easy to achieve. With this license, he is now able to coach on all levels in Germany (and Europe) and is also able to coach a National Team if he would like (one day haha). While doing the course for the license, he had to write a paper. In one subject portion, he had to name three influences that helped mold him as a coach. I was one of those influences. He sent me what he had written and I have to say that I felt an immense amount of gratitude. Not so much about what he wrote about my influence on his coaching (which was very flattering), but that one of my players went on to get his A-license and understood my philosophy enough to infuse a part of it into his day to day coaching life. I think I can be proud that many of my former players still keep in touch with their old coach years later. Their success is my success!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… My first destination in Europe was in Kapfenberg, Austria. At that time the name of the team was Aflenz Basket Bears. In my second season, they changed to the city of Kapfenberg and the name was Kapfenberg Bears. Some years later the name changed to its current name of Kapfenberg Bulls. I spent 4 seasons there and had some measure of success. Kapfenberg has developed into the best of what Austria has to offer in professional basketball. I am proud to know that I was there when that upward trend started. It was at Kapfenberg that I broke my leg, and that moment changed the trajectory of my career and life for that matter. In my four seasons there, we placed three times 3rd place and one time 2nd place. I left Kapfenberg and moved on to Arkadia Traiskirchen. I only played one season there, but we were wildly successful. We won both the League Cup and the League Championship. Interestingly enough, we won both of those titles against Kapfenberg. I would lie if I said I was not feeling a bit of redemption by winning those titles against my former team. It was during that season that I changed my citizenship and obtained Austrian citizenship.
Life… I loved living in Austria. At first, it was weird especially since I could not speak German, but oddly enough, after I broke my leg, I immersed myself into the language and culture and ended up appreciating the country much more. Living in Kapfenberg was a slower life. There are mountains, the city is pretty small in comparison to other European cities I lived in but it has lots of charm. Traiskirchen is an even smaller city compared to Kapfenberg, but the difference is that the capital city Vienna is about 20 minutes away. I spent quite a bit of time in Vienna at clubs or hanging out with friends when I had downtime from playing or practicing. I basically only slept (sometimes), ate, practiced, and played in Traiskirchen. Vienna is a beautiful city and more modern than other cities in Austria although there is still lots of tradition, museums and cultural highlights there.
Next… After that lone season in Traiskirchen, I decided to move on to other countries. Now that I had a European passport, I was able to command more money because I no longer took a foreign spot anymore. I will forever be grateful for the teams I played for and the people I met in Austria. I might not live there anymore, but I feel right at home whenever I visit.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Basketball… My first destination in Europe was in Kapfenberg, Austria. At that time the name of the team was Aflenz Basket Bears. In my second season, they changed to the city of Kapfenberg and the name was Kapfenberg Bears. Some years later the name changed to its current name of Kapfenberg Bulls. I spent 4 seasons there and had some measure of success. Kapfenberg has developed into the best of what Austria has to offer in professional basketball. I am proud to know that I was there when that upward trend started. It was at Kapfenberg that I broke my leg, and that moment changed the trajectory of my career and life for that matter. In my four seasons there, we placed three times 3rd place and one time 2nd place. I left Kapfenberg and moved on to Arkadia Traiskirchen. I only played one season there, but we were wildly successful. We won both the League Cup and the League Championship. Interestingly enough, we won both of those titles against Kapfenberg. I would lie if I said I was not feeling a bit of redemption by winning those titles against my former team. It was during that season that I changed my citizenship and obtained Austrian citizenship.
Life… I loved living in Austria. At first, it was weird especially since I could not speak German, but oddly enough, after I broke my leg, I immersed myself into the language and culture and ended up appreciating the country much more. Living in Kapfenberg was a slower life. There are mountains, the city is pretty small in comparison to other European cities I lived in but it has lots of charm. Traiskirchen is an even smaller city compared to Kapfenberg, but the difference is that the capital city Vienna is about 20 minutes away. I spent quite a bit of time in Vienna at clubs or hanging out with friends when I had downtime from playing or practicing. I basically only slept (sometimes), ate, practiced, and played in Traiskirchen. Vienna is a beautiful city and more modern than other cities in Austria although there is still lots of tradition, museums and cultural highlights there.
Next… After that lone season in Traiskirchen, I decided to move on to other countries. Now that I had a European passport, I was able to command more money because I no longer took a foreign spot anymore. I will forever be grateful for the teams I played for and the people I met in Austria. I might not live there anymore, but I feel right at home whenever I visit.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
While getting to know different people through my book, I get asked a common question. “Are you planning to move back to America?” The short answer is no (unless I win the lottery and my grandkids' grandchildren never have to work). The long answer is a bit more complicated. I do not have plans to move back to America because my life is firmly rooted here in Germany. I could imagine moving to another European country like Greece, but not until I am older. I have actually lived in Europe longer than I lived in America. My whole adult life I have lived somewhere out here in one of the 6 countries I either played or coached. I was a kid when I lived in the states. I moved to Austria when I was 22 years old and have never really looked back. In the year 2000, I even gave up my American citizenship in favor of the Austrian one. That pretty much sealed my fate as a Euro-lifer. If I wanted to move to the states, I would be treated like every other foreign person looking to live there. Kinda weird huh?
What makes me stay in Germany or Europe in general? This is also a complicated answer for an American to understand unless they had lived here before. The short answers are that I have my own family here, I love being able to travel to different cultures in an inexpensive and short amount of time, I love the relatively safe environment (especially for my children), I love my job, I have great friends, the health care and the social benefits systems, in general, is not comparable to America and I could go on and on. I have had many discussions over the years about what makes me stay and I sound like a broken record.
Do I miss America? Yes and no. Mostly I miss the convenience of America. I miss customer service back home (Germans can be quite mean when you go shopping). I miss being able to go to the store at 2 am if I get the munchies. I cannot do that here. I miss some food, but of course, I can order ingredients or things that I miss online (albeit at a much higher cost). I used to miss being able to buy clothes and music, but now those needs are met with the internet. Yes, I miss my family and friends back home, but they all understand that my life is nowhere. None of them are willing to pay my bills and find me a job to support my family so they understand haha. These are not good enough reasons for me to uproot myself and my family to move back to America. The negative reasons far outweigh the positive ones for me! In the end, every person has to do what they feel is right for their situation. I have made my decision and I have never regretted it for an instant.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
While getting to know different people through my book, I get asked a common question. “Are you planning to move back to America?” The short answer is no (unless I win the lottery and my grandkids' grandchildren never have to work). The long answer is a bit more complicated. I do not have plans to move back to America because my life is firmly rooted here in Germany. I could imagine moving to another European country like Greece, but not until I am older. I have actually lived in Europe longer than I lived in America. My whole adult life I have lived somewhere out here in one of the 6 countries I either played or coached. I was a kid when I lived in the states. I moved to Austria when I was 22 years old and have never really looked back. In the year 2000, I even gave up my American citizenship in favor of the Austrian one. That pretty much sealed my fate as a Euro-lifer. If I wanted to move to the states, I would be treated like every other foreign person looking to live there. Kinda weird huh?
What makes me stay in Germany or Europe in general? This is also a complicated answer for an American to understand unless they had lived here before. The short answers are that I have my own family here, I love being able to travel to different cultures in an inexpensive and short amount of time, I love the relatively safe environment (especially for my children), I love my job, I have great friends, the health care and the social benefits systems, in general, is not comparable to America and I could go on and on. I have had many discussions over the years about what makes me stay and I sound like a broken record.
Do I miss America? Yes and no. Mostly I miss the convenience of America. I miss customer service back home (Germans can be quite mean when you go shopping). I miss being able to go to the store at 2 am if I get the munchies. I cannot do that here. I miss some food, but of course, I can order ingredients or things that I miss online (albeit at a much higher cost). I used to miss being able to buy clothes and music, but now those needs are met with the internet. Yes, I miss my family and friends back home, but they all understand that my life is nowhere. None of them are willing to pay my bills and find me a job to support my family so they understand haha. These are not good enough reasons for me to uproot myself and my family to move back to America. The negative reasons far outweigh the positive ones for me! In the end, every person has to do what they feel is right for their situation. I have made my decision and I have never regretted it for an instant.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
December 7th, 1991 “Turn off that damn answering machine today!” That is what I would say to you if I could go back to one moment in time Sean. That is the exact date that your time at the U of A practically ended. What happened after that date, was a direct result of listening to that damn answering machine. It will be a few hours after playing against Shaq and his LSU squad on national television…or should I say, NOT playing much against Shaq. You played about two and half minutes of garbage time in that 87-67 win. Yeah, I know you were hyped to be playing in front of 14,545 fans on your home court for the first time in the third game of your freshman season. Yeah, I know that you wanted to prove that you could play in a nationally televised game. But here is something no one in your inner circle ever had the balls to tell you to your face Sonnyboy…”You ain't that good yet kid. Pay your dues, be patient, work harder in practice, respect your older players and learn from them.” Oh and speaking of which, Chris Mills elbow broke your nose the first day of practice on purpose cuz you talked too much shit. So shut your fuckin mouth! And lastly, stay clear of the frat houses and strip clubs…you won't make it to your 8 am classes and you will be put in the dog house that you will never exit from! You will get a chance to apologize to Coach Olson many years later in an airport. That will be a great moment for you.
But back to December 7th. Yeah, I know you were disappointed that you didn't play much but seriously Sean, WTF did you expect? You have a future pro playing in your position and he is REALLY good. Do you think he is just gonna give you his minutes? Nah, it doesn't work like that you string bean! Yeah, I also know you are a hot-head (you will get better with that), but calm down on your walk back to the dorm because you are about to press play on that answering machine and you will NOT like what you hear. It will make you angry and you will feel unjustly embarrassed. You will walk into your dorm room with Damon, go straight to the blinking red light on the answering machine (do they even make those anymore?) and you will push play. There will be about 4,923 messages on there from family, friends, so-called friends, girls, and practically everyone you know that thought you would be playing 30 minutes as a freshman. They will ask, “Yo where were you?” or say, “I watched that whole game to only see you play two minutes!” and then there was this gem that made you ready to fight Mike Tyson…”I knew you would fail!” That will come from a VERY close family member, and that comment will change that relationship forever. Just let it go, and lean on Terry for guidance. Your big brother will always be there for you.
Sean, I know how hard-headed you are, so even if you don't turn off your answering machine, you will have a great friggin' life. You will travel the world, make some pretty good money, win a few titles and have experiences that you cannot even fathom now. You will have your darkest day as an athlete in Austria two months after you get there though. No Sean, not Australia…Austria. Go to the library and learn about that country you knucklehead. You will change your citizenship and your firstborn will see the light of day there. Germany will become your forever home…yeah THAT Germany and you will work with kids just as you planned. Oh and one last piece of advice…don't worry about not getting your manuscript published the first time you try. It was crap anyway haha. You will eventually revise it and put it out on your own…the gratification will be amazing. So Sonnyboy, read this and reflect. You can be proud of your older self!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
December 7th, 1991 “Turn off that damn answering machine today!” That is what I would say to you if I could go back to one moment in time Sean. That is the exact date that your time at the U of A practically ended. What happened after that date, was a direct result of listening to that damn answering machine. It will be a few hours after playing against Shaq and his LSU squad on national television…or should I say, NOT playing much against Shaq. You played about two and half minutes of garbage time in that 87-67 win. Yeah, I know you were hyped to be playing in front of 14,545 fans on your home court for the first time in the third game of your freshman season. Yeah, I know that you wanted to prove that you could play in a nationally televised game. But here is something no one in your inner circle ever had the balls to tell you to your face Sonnyboy…”You ain't that good yet kid. Pay your dues, be patient, work harder in practice, respect your older players and learn from them.” Oh and speaking of which, Chris Mills elbow broke your nose the first day of practice on purpose cuz you talked too much shit. So shut your fuckin mouth! And lastly, stay clear of the frat houses and strip clubs…you won't make it to your 8 am classes and you will be put in the dog house that you will never exit from! You will get a chance to apologize to Coach Olson many years later in an airport. That will be a great moment for you.
But back to December 7th. Yeah, I know you were disappointed that you didn't play much but seriously Sean, WTF did you expect? You have a future pro playing in your position and he is REALLY good. Do you think he is just gonna give you his minutes? Nah, it doesn't work like that you string bean! Yeah, I also know you are a hot-head (you will get better with that), but calm down on your walk back to the dorm because you are about to press play on that answering machine and you will NOT like what you hear. It will make you angry and you will feel unjustly embarrassed. You will walk into your dorm room with Damon, go straight to the blinking red light on the answering machine (do they even make those anymore?) and you will push play. There will be about 4,923 messages on there from family, friends, so-called friends, girls, and practically everyone you know that thought you would be playing 30 minutes as a freshman. They will ask, “Yo where were you?” or say, “I watched that whole game to only see you play two minutes!” and then there was this gem that made you ready to fight Mike Tyson…”I knew you would fail!” That will come from a VERY close family member, and that comment will change that relationship forever. Just let it go, and lean on Terry for guidance. Your big brother will always be there for you.
Sean, I know how hard-headed you are, so even if you don't turn off your answering machine, you will have a great friggin' life. You will travel the world, make some pretty good money, win a few titles and have experiences that you cannot even fathom now. You will have your darkest day as an athlete in Austria two months after you get there though. No Sean, not Australia…Austria. Go to the library and learn about that country you knucklehead. You will change your citizenship and your firstborn will see the light of day there. Germany will become your forever home…yeah THAT Germany and you will work with kids just as you planned. Oh and one last piece of advice…don't worry about not getting your manuscript published the first time you try. It was crap anyway haha. You will eventually revise it and put it out on your own…the gratification will be amazing. So Sonnyboy, read this and reflect. You can be proud of your older self!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
The other day I did a Get To Know Me round of questions on my Instagram page. One of the questions I asked got me thinking. I asked the question “how many games did I play at the University of Arizona before getting kicked off the team?” The answer was 11 but that is not what got my head clicking. It was the “What if” question in my head that I have occasionally asked myself since I was an 18 year old impatient (still am), immature (hope I have passed that phase), and knuckleheaded (not that anymore) kid. Here is a brief recap for those of you that do not know. I went to Arizona as a freshman and because I was unsatisfied by not playing so much. If you are an athlete in any sport, you understand how frustration from your sport usually affects the rest of your life in a negative way. I started partying waaaaaay too much, not going to class, and was incredibly close to flunking out of school. I got kicked off the team, looked into transferring (eventually to Dixie Jr. College), and finished out my freshman year while finally concentrating on my grades so I could transfer.
Here is where the “What if…” comes into play. I was TOTALLY in the wrong back then. My behavior was immature and I own up to that…but…of course from time to time, I wonder what would have happened if I had stayed my whole collegiate career at the U of A. When I look at all the guys on that team that later played in the NBA, my stomach cramps up. Would I have been one of those guys? How would my life have been had I stayed? I think that is a normal human trait to wonder about certain things, however, I regret NOTHING. Could I have been less immature? Yes. Could I have taken the challenge from Coach Olson better? Hell yeah! At the same time though, it was meant for me to be unceremoniously kicked out of the McKale Center before practice that Monday afternoon and never return. I ended up having a great life after I walked off that immaculate court in my socks after telling a Hall of Fame coach that he could give them to the equipment manager (that's another story haha). Could my life have been better? Who knows, and who cares!
I have made many bad judgments or poor decisions…more than I can count, and I will probably make a few more during my time above ground. I am not the person that has regrets about decisions in my life though. To me, there is a huge difference between regretting something and the “what if”. Everyone is different, but from my experiences, having regrets from your past is disrespectful to the experiences or life you have now. I went on to play for two fantastic coaches in college (Dave Rose and Bill Evans), played and coached in Europe, started my family, met most of my closest friends, and have a pretty cool life (in my opinion). Some may disagree about having regrets, but for me, having only one “what if” for the 48 years I have been on this earth is pretty admirable.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
The other day I did a Get To Know Me round of questions on my Instagram page. One of the questions I asked got me thinking. I asked the question “how many games did I play at the University of Arizona before getting kicked off the team?” The answer was 11 but that is not what got my head clicking. It was the “What if” question in my head that I have occasionally asked myself since I was an 18 year old impatient (still am), immature (hope I have passed that phase), and knuckleheaded (not that anymore) kid. Here is a brief recap for those of you that do not know. I went to Arizona as a freshman and because I was unsatisfied by not playing so much. If you are an athlete in any sport, you understand how frustration from your sport usually affects the rest of your life in a negative way. I started partying waaaaaay too much, not going to class, and was incredibly close to flunking out of school. I got kicked off the team, looked into transferring (eventually to Dixie Jr. College), and finished out my freshman year while finally concentrating on my grades so I could transfer.
Here is where the “What if…” comes into play. I was TOTALLY in the wrong back then. My behavior was immature and I own up to that…but…of course from time to time, I wonder what would have happened if I had stayed my whole collegiate career at the U of A. When I look at all the guys on that team that later played in the NBA, my stomach cramps up. Would I have been one of those guys? How would my life have been had I stayed? I think that is a normal human trait to wonder about certain things, however, I regret NOTHING. Could I have been less immature? Yes. Could I have taken the challenge from Coach Olson better? Hell yeah! At the same time though, it was meant for me to be unceremoniously kicked out of the McKale Center before practice that Monday afternoon and never return. I ended up having a great life after I walked off that immaculate court in my socks after telling a Hall of Fame coach that he could give them to the equipment manager (that's another story haha). Could my life have been better? Who knows, and who cares!
I have made many bad judgments or poor decisions…more than I can count, and I will probably make a few more during my time above ground. I am not the person that has regrets about decisions in my life though. To me, there is a huge difference between regretting something and the “what if”. Everyone is different, but from my experiences, having regrets from your past is disrespectful to the experiences or life you have now. I went on to play for two fantastic coaches in college (Dave Rose and Bill Evans), played and coached in Europe, started my family, met most of my closest friends, and have a pretty cool life (in my opinion). Some may disagree about having regrets, but for me, having only one “what if” for the 48 years I have been on this earth is pretty admirable.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Today while I was preparing my classroom for the first day of school tomorrow, one of my colleagues stopped by to distract me and asked how my book is selling. To tell the truth, I have no idea! The book started pre-selling on my website (seanjmccaw.com) on June 15th and was available to purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other outlets on August 15th. During that time, I have never looked at the sales numbers. Not once. It is not that I am uninterested, but I am uninterested haha. Because purchases made through my website are sent personally by me, I have a little bit more of an idea. I also sign each of those personally so I have more of a connection to how it is selling by how many times I write a dedication and take it to the post office. What is being sold on other outlets is easy for me to find out, but there has not been a need for it…until now. The “Tax Man” would like to know what is going on. Now I have to report my revenue to my tax consultant, so I have to send monthly reports and will be forced to see how the book is selling.
The other thing that my colleague said threw me off slightly. He asked me how it feels to be a “published author.” I of course knew that I am now a published author, but to hear someone say it out of their mouth was weird. It had been such a dream of mine to write and publish a book that I never really processed the fact that I had done it. Many people have book ideas but do not follow through with writing and getting those ideas published. I can now say that I have done it. So what next? Do I sit back and enjoy being a “one-hitter quitter?”
If you know me, you already know the answer to that one. There is no way I can be satisfied with just writing one book. I got bit by the writer's bug! Soon after I finished Same Name Different Game, I had an idea for the follow-up book. Then I began some months back and had an idea for a third book. When those next two books will be published is yet unknown, but I do know that I will learn from the experiences of the first book and enjoy the process. When I do publish the next book, I will be able to say that I have written and published “multiple” books. I look forward to that!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Today while I was preparing my classroom for the first day of school tomorrow, one of my colleagues stopped by to distract me and asked how my book is selling. To tell the truth, I have no idea! The book started pre-selling on my website (seanjmccaw.com) on June 15th and was available to purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other outlets on August 15th. During that time, I have never looked at the sales numbers. Not once. It is not that I am uninterested, but I am uninterested haha. Because purchases made through my website are sent personally by me, I have a little bit more of an idea. I also sign each of those personally so I have more of a connection to how it is selling by how many times I write a dedication and take it to the post office. What is being sold on other outlets is easy for me to find out, but there has not been a need for it…until now. The “Tax Man” would like to know what is going on. Now I have to report my revenue to my tax consultant, so I have to send monthly reports and will be forced to see how the book is selling.
The other thing that my colleague said threw me off slightly. He asked me how it feels to be a “published author.” I of course knew that I am now a published author, but to hear someone say it out of their mouth was weird. It had been such a dream of mine to write and publish a book that I never really processed the fact that I had done it. Many people have book ideas but do not follow through with writing and getting those ideas published. I can now say that I have done it. So what next? Do I sit back and enjoy being a “one-hitter quitter?”
If you know me, you already know the answer to that one. There is no way I can be satisfied with just writing one book. I got bit by the writer's bug! Soon after I finished Same Name Different Game, I had an idea for the follow-up book. Then I began some months back and had an idea for a third book. When those next two books will be published is yet unknown, but I do know that I will learn from the experiences of the first book and enjoy the process. When I do publish the next book, I will be able to say that I have written and published “multiple” books. I look forward to that!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I am back from my much-needed vacation and break. I am in the last week of vacation from the six weeks I had off from my job. During that time, I moved into a new house, did a bunch of garden work, went on vacation to Greece, and chilled out. I am in the process of developing a “Man-Cave” in my basement where I can write, conduct interviews for my next book, or do guest appearances on various podcasts without disturbing anyone. Even while on vacation, I still did quite a bit for the book, but I tried to focus on being ready for the upcoming school year since I will take over a very large 5th-grade class. I also took the time to spend quality time with the family, although they would probably say I was on my phone too much posting stuff on IG for Same Name Different Game.
So far, I have been pleasantly surprised with the purchase numbers of Same Name Different Game. I knew going into this journey that I would not be on the New York Times Bestseller list, and truthfully, that is not my goal. I also know this will be a slow-burner in terms of sales. What is more important for me is the outreach from both male and female athletes that are asking questions and wanting a bit of advice from me based on the book. My following on IG is steadily growing and I reply to each question I get. I have pretty much given up on Twitter, I just haven't figured it out haha.
I am more than happy to advise those in need, even if those athletes never buy the book. I know that is a poor business model, and my defacto business partner Sebastien will probably be pulling out his (thinning) hair as he reads this but oh well, that is how I am. I am more interested in helping than selling. Maybe sometime in the next ten years, I will break even on what I invested into the book financially…if not, oh well the investment was still worth it…I am a published author! One thing I do know is that in those same ten years, I will help quite a few athletes with the knowledge and information I can provide. That is gratifying for me!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I am back from my much-needed vacation and break. I am in the last week of vacation from the six weeks I had off from my job. During that time, I moved into a new house, did a bunch of garden work, went on vacation to Greece, and chilled out. I am in the process of developing a “Man-Cave” in my basement where I can write, conduct interviews for my next book, or do guest appearances on various podcasts without disturbing anyone. Even while on vacation, I still did quite a bit for the book, but I tried to focus on being ready for the upcoming school year since I will take over a very large 5th-grade class. I also took the time to spend quality time with the family, although they would probably say I was on my phone too much posting stuff on IG for Same Name Different Game.
So far, I have been pleasantly surprised with the purchase numbers of Same Name Different Game. I knew going into this journey that I would not be on the New York Times Bestseller list, and truthfully, that is not my goal. I also know this will be a slow-burner in terms of sales. What is more important for me is the outreach from both male and female athletes that are asking questions and wanting a bit of advice from me based on the book. My following on IG is steadily growing and I reply to each question I get. I have pretty much given up on Twitter, I just haven't figured it out haha.
I am more than happy to advise those in need, even if those athletes never buy the book. I know that is a poor business model, and my defacto business partner Sebastien will probably be pulling out his (thinning) hair as he reads this but oh well, that is how I am. I am more interested in helping than selling. Maybe sometime in the next ten years, I will break even on what I invested into the book financially…if not, oh well the investment was still worth it…I am a published author! One thing I do know is that in those same ten years, I will help quite a few athletes with the knowledge and information I can provide. That is gratifying for me!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I would like to write about something that I have experienced lately while connecting with players about the book. I am very pleased that more and more players are starting to reach out to me about playing overseas. I make sure I answer every question with the truth, and sometimes that means opening eyes and showing that playing overseas is not for everyone. It won't happen for everyone. What I am seeing is that there is a ton of players that have NO idea what this life is like. They only see dollar signs and that is their primary motivation. Because playing basketball overseas is much more “en vogue” than it was years ago, players are aware that playing overseas is a viable option. Unfortunately, most of these players are woefully misinformed about the process and how difficult it is to even sign a contract. Here is an example of what I mean.
I recently chatted with two younger players that should have still been in college. Before I give any advice or suggestions, I ask questions about their backgrounds and what they are looking to achieve. They both had similar stories and wanted to come to Europe asap to make money and provide for their families. Neither had a recent game film, nor an agent. They both had some kind of reputation where they were respectively from. The problem was that these days, without a recent game film, or an agent, the likelihood of a 19-year-old American player scoring a contract overseas is zero. Even with game film and an agent, it would be difficult. I informed them both that every team over here is in “win now” mode. Either they are competing for a title, or they are trying not to be relegated to a lower league. Why would a European team take a chance on an unproven 19 year old from the USA when they probably have a more talented native young player already on their roster. These teams are not into developing an American. As an American, you have to be a finished product, both physically and mentally. I ended up informing both of them to continue their studies and grow mentally, and physically. They should keep developing their basketball skills. I think both understood what I meant, but after each conversation, I had a bad feeling that I was smashing the dreams of these young guys because I believe NOTHING is impossible if you want it bad enough and are willing to work for it. Never would I want to dash someone’s hopes and dreams…never! I owe it to the person asking for information, however, to be realistic.
I am thankful for the trust that these two young guys put in me to lead them in the right direction and I take that responsibility very seriously. I am convinced more than ever that my book will help players (of both genders). These conversations have also shown me that I should probably change up my marketing and my target audience to include younger players. Hopefully, one of these young players will read my book and be even more prepared for what is to come. That in itself makes me thankful for these two conversations. I look forward to having more of them in the future!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I would like to write about something that I have experienced lately while connecting with players about the book. I am very pleased that more and more players are starting to reach out to me about playing overseas. I make sure I answer every question with the truth, and sometimes that means opening eyes and showing that playing overseas is not for everyone. It won't happen for everyone. What I am seeing is that there is a ton of players that have NO idea what this life is like. They only see dollar signs and that is their primary motivation. Because playing basketball overseas is much more “en vogue” than it was years ago, players are aware that playing overseas is a viable option. Unfortunately, most of these players are woefully misinformed about the process and how difficult it is to even sign a contract. Here is an example of what I mean.
I recently chatted with two younger players that should have still been in college. Before I give any advice or suggestions, I ask questions about their backgrounds and what they are looking to achieve. They both had similar stories and wanted to come to Europe asap to make money and provide for their families. Neither had a recent game film, nor an agent. They both had some kind of reputation where they were respectively from. The problem was that these days, without a recent game film, or an agent, the likelihood of a 19-year-old American player scoring a contract overseas is zero. Even with game film and an agent, it would be difficult. I informed them both that every team over here is in “win now” mode. Either they are competing for a title, or they are trying not to be relegated to a lower league. Why would a European team take a chance on an unproven 19 year old from the USA when they probably have a more talented native young player already on their roster. These teams are not into developing an American. As an American, you have to be a finished product, both physically and mentally. I ended up informing both of them to continue their studies and grow mentally, and physically. They should keep developing their basketball skills. I think both understood what I meant, but after each conversation, I had a bad feeling that I was smashing the dreams of these young guys because I believe NOTHING is impossible if you want it bad enough and are willing to work for it. Never would I want to dash someone’s hopes and dreams…never! I owe it to the person asking for information, however, to be realistic.
I am thankful for the trust that these two young guys put in me to lead them in the right direction and I take that responsibility very seriously. I am convinced more than ever that my book will help players (of both genders). These conversations have also shown me that I should probably change up my marketing and my target audience to include younger players. Hopefully, one of these young players will read my book and be even more prepared for what is to come. That in itself makes me thankful for these two conversations. I look forward to having more of them in the future!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
It has been a while since I posted a new blog entry. I have been extremely busy in the last few weeks. I have also been dealing with a few “old man” physical limitations…nothing serious, but the years of playing ball on concrete courts as a kid and the life of a professional are catching up to me haha. I also moved to a new house and trust me, having 3 floors is not fun when you try to fit furniture through narrow European staircases.
If you read my last blog entry, then you know that I have started to look for public speaker agents. In the meantime, I have also begun to look for a literary agent. The last weeks have shown me that I do not have time to publicize Same Name Different Game the way that it deserves. I have been able to do the bare minimum of postings on IG and the rest of my social media, but this book deserves so much more and I have come to the conclusion that I need help. Having a full-time family, a full-time job, and just life, in general, does not leave me the time I believe is needed to focus on this project as I would like.
I know that doing a little is better than doing nothing, but the book has so much potential and can help so many basketball players. This information has to get out to more people than I am reaching. I have had players, both male and female, reach out to me asking questions and for my advice. This shows me that the interest is there. I have to find a way to get it out there more, and I will do so. Keep your fingers crossed that I can find the help I need so that I in turn, can help those who need it!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
It has been a while since I posted a new blog entry. I have been extremely busy in the last few weeks. I have also been dealing with a few “old man” physical limitations…nothing serious, but the years of playing ball on concrete courts as a kid and the life of a professional are catching up to me haha. I also moved to a new house and trust me, having 3 floors is not fun when you try to fit furniture through narrow European staircases.
If you read my last blog entry, then you know that I have started to look for public speaker agents. In the meantime, I have also begun to look for a literary agent. The last weeks have shown me that I do not have time to publicize Same Name Different Game the way that it deserves. I have been able to do the bare minimum of postings on IG and the rest of my social media, but this book deserves so much more and I have come to the conclusion that I need help. Having a full-time family, a full-time job, and just life, in general, does not leave me the time I believe is needed to focus on this project as I would like.
I know that doing a little is better than doing nothing, but the book has so much potential and can help so many basketball players. This information has to get out to more people than I am reaching. I have had players, both male and female, reach out to me asking questions and for my advice. This shows me that the interest is there. I have to find a way to get it out there more, and I will do so. Keep your fingers crossed that I can find the help I need so that I in turn, can help those who need it!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
One of the goals I have for the future is to do speaking engagements on college campuses to inform student-athletes about what I wrote about in my book Same Name Different Game. After doing research, I decided to write to a selected number of agencies that represent public speakers. So far, I have only written to one because each one has different requests for such applications. The picture above is the rejection email I got back. You may think I am nuts, but I was pleased when I got it.
This is a full-circle moment for me. Why? Because in my book, I gave detailed instructions on what to do if you need to look for an agent. I also wrote that the reader should be ready to get rejected often. I was lucky enough when I played that I never had to search for an agent, so now being an unknown entity as a writer and public speaker, I am getting a dose of the same medicine I wrote about. Now I have to up my game, and grind until I convince one of these agencies to take a chance on me, just the same as I wrote about in my book! Time for me to take my own advice.
I was not expecting to get an acceptance letter. I know this is a part of the process and I will embrace whatever comes my way. I am in this for the long haul and when I put my mind to something I usually get the results I am looking for. It may not happen today or tomorrow, but eventually, my hard work will pay off. Time for me to get back to it!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
One of the goals I have for the future is to do speaking engagements on college campuses to inform student-athletes about what I wrote about in my book Same Name Different Game. After doing research, I decided to write to a selected number of agencies that represent public speakers. So far, I have only written to one because each one has different requests for such applications. The picture above is the rejection email I got back. You may think I am nuts, but I was pleased when I got it.
This is a full-circle moment for me. Why? Because in my book, I gave detailed instructions on what to do if you need to look for an agent. I also wrote that the reader should be ready to get rejected often. I was lucky enough when I played that I never had to search for an agent, so now being an unknown entity as a writer and public speaker, I am getting a dose of the same medicine I wrote about. Now I have to up my game, and grind until I convince one of these agencies to take a chance on me, just the same as I wrote about in my book! Time for me to take my own advice.
I was not expecting to get an acceptance letter. I know this is a part of the process and I will embrace whatever comes my way. I am in this for the long haul and when I put my mind to something I usually get the results I am looking for. It may not happen today or tomorrow, but eventually, my hard work will pay off. Time for me to get back to it!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I am incredibly excited that my first book is now for sale. And the fact people have paid money for it has floored me! Of course when you decide to write a book, eventually you would like for people to actually buy your work once it's finished. For me though, as I have previously mentioned, helping people is and will always be my priority. Selling copies of my book is the byproduct of writing and wanting to help current and future athletes. Passing along the information that I have experienced is paramount for me. In the years since I started writing the book, I have surely given away more copies than I will sell for a while...and I am ok with that. I am not a businessman, and the profit margin is not important to me, although my best friend and de facto business partner tries to educate me on the “bottom line”.
I was just having a conversation with someone the other day about the book and my expectations of how much money I expect to make from selling it. I explained that my livelihood is not dependent on the successful selling of the book. I have a great job that I would never want to give up. I have a family which also takes up a lot of my time (of course). I am far from rich, so I cannot pay people to do the marketing, website, promotion and many other things that this book probably deserves. I do everything by myself. Learning by doing. Once again, I am ok with that.
I do not want to give the impression that because my livelihood does not depend on the book's selling success, that the book is not important to me. If you know me, then you will know how ambitious I am, and how passionate I am when it comes to things that are important to me. I do nothing “half-assed” (excuse my French) when I decide to put my time and energy into a project. This book is incredibly important for me, albeit not for monetary reasons...and once again, I am ok with that. This book (and the following ones haha) has the potential to help athletes for many years. And I am REALLY ok with that!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I am incredibly excited that my first book is now for sale. And the fact people have paid money for it has floored me! Of course when you decide to write a book, eventually you would like for people to actually buy your work once it's finished. For me though, as I have previously mentioned, helping people is and will always be my priority. Selling copies of my book is the byproduct of writing and wanting to help current and future athletes. Passing along the information that I have experienced is paramount for me. In the years since I started writing the book, I have surely given away more copies than I will sell for a while...and I am ok with that. I am not a businessman, and the profit margin is not important to me, although my best friend and de facto business partner tries to educate me on the “bottom line”.
I was just having a conversation with someone the other day about the book and my expectations of how much money I expect to make from selling it. I explained that my livelihood is not dependent on the successful selling of the book. I have a great job that I would never want to give up. I have a family which also takes up a lot of my time (of course). I am far from rich, so I cannot pay people to do the marketing, website, promotion and many other things that this book probably deserves. I do everything by myself. Learning by doing. Once again, I am ok with that.
I do not want to give the impression that because my livelihood does not depend on the book's selling success, that the book is not important to me. If you know me, then you will know how ambitious I am, and how passionate I am when it comes to things that are important to me. I do nothing “half-assed” (excuse my French) when I decide to put my time and energy into a project. This book is incredibly important for me, albeit not for monetary reasons...and once again, I am ok with that. This book (and the following ones haha) has the potential to help athletes for many years. And I am REALLY ok with that!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I am so proud to finally be able to release the cover to Same Name Different Game! It is an incredible feeling to hold my work in my hands. The cover art is such a big part of the success of the book and I was very nervous about the preparations. I spoke extensively with the graphic artist Arsalan (you did a great job man!) about my vision and what I felt would be good for the cover.
Of course, without any prior experience, I was only going by with my gut feeling and what would interest me if I was thinking about buying a book. After Arsalan finished the three different versions, I did a survey and asked pretty much everyone I knew what they thought. For me, it was clear that this would be the one I would choose once I saw it. I was still interested in learning what people liked about each version. In the end, this version was a close winner.
I asked Arsalan to tweak the picture a bit based on the feedback I got from the survey. I can imagine I got on his nerves with all of my suggestions (especially the last-minute ones). In the end, it came much better than I had envisioned at the beginning. I hope that people judge this book by its cover because I believe it is an attention-getter that I am proud of!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I am so proud to finally be able to release the cover to Same Name Different Game! It is an incredible feeling to hold my work in my hands. The cover art is such a big part of the success of the book and I was very nervous about the preparations. I spoke extensively with the graphic artist Arsalan (you did a great job man!) about my vision and what I felt would be good for the cover.
Of course, without any prior experience, I was only going by with my gut feeling and what would interest me if I was thinking about buying a book. After Arsalan finished the three different versions, I did a survey and asked pretty much everyone I knew what they thought. For me, it was clear that this would be the one I would choose once I saw it. I was still interested in learning what people liked about each version. In the end, this version was a close winner.
I asked Arsalan to tweak the picture a bit based on the feedback I got from the survey. I can imagine I got on his nerves with all of my suggestions (especially the last-minute ones). In the end, it came much better than I had envisioned at the beginning. I hope that people judge this book by its cover because I believe it is an attention-getter that I am proud of!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Today I have had the word “Firsts” on my mind. Literally the whole day, I have been remembering some of the firsts of my life such as: my first dunk, my first championship, and other important moments of my life. As I write this, I realize that I had no negative “first” thoughts today. I take that as a good sign since for the most part, I am a pretty positive person.
In the last 9 months since I began to re-write my book, I have achieved many firsts. It is always an exhilarating feeling to do something for the first time. There is an unmistakable feeling of fear and excitement at the same time. Next week I will have my first Webinar speaking event for my alma mater Southern Utah. In my long-term plans, I definitely see myself doing more public speaking and mentoring. For that reason, this first Webinar will be meaningful to me.
As I continue my publishing journey, I will be thankful for each of my firsts. I also look forward to reminiscing later in my life, while having positive thoughts of this period of time. Do I know where this journey will take me? No, but each step takes me closer to another first. That excites me!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
Today I have had the word “Firsts” on my mind. Literally the whole day, I have been remembering some of the firsts of my life such as: my first dunk, my first championship, and other important moments of my life. As I write this, I realize that I had no negative “first” thoughts today. I take that as a good sign since for the most part, I am a pretty positive person.
In the last 9 months since I began to re-write my book, I have achieved many firsts. It is always an exhilarating feeling to do something for the first time. There is an unmistakable feeling of fear and excitement at the same time. Next week I will have my first Webinar speaking event for my alma mater Southern Utah. In my long-term plans, I definitely see myself doing more public speaking and mentoring. For that reason, this first Webinar will be meaningful to me.
As I continue my publishing journey, I will be thankful for each of my firsts. I also look forward to reminiscing later in my life, while having positive thoughts of this period of time. Do I know where this journey will take me? No, but each step takes me closer to another first. That excites me!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
When I first started writing my blog, I thought I should only write about basketball or topics related to my book. Now, however, I think I should write about anything on my mind. Right now I am heavy-hearted with the events of what is going on in America so maybe it will help my mental to write about it. Not only is the trial of Derek Chauvin (the police officer charged with the death of George Floyd) going on in Minnesota, but just a few days ago another African-American was killed at the hands of police in Minnesota. And when I awoke this morning, I read about the tragic death of an unarmed 13-year-old child Adam Toledo...also at the hands of the police. Any death is heartbreaking, but it just hits differently when it is a child. Probably my father instinct kicking in. Just the thought of someone telling me one of my children being shot and killed literally makes me sick to my stomach.
Those of you that know me personally also know I have no plans to ever move back to America. This is a major example of why I won’t. A simple issue of safety...for me and my family. I have often told people about my fear of police when lived in America or even when I visit these days. It is a shame, but every black person I know has it. If a cop car is behind me while I drive...my heart starts racing...even though I know I have done nothing wrong. In Germany, I NEVER have that feeling. I have been conditioned living here that the police mean me no obvious harm. In America, I would never pass a cop car on the highway, whereas I don’t flinch to do it on the Autobahn.
I have my opinions, but I do not have all the answers. This problem is such a complex and deeply rooted issue that it will take decades of reform, attitude changes, and people working together instead of against each other before any noticeable change is apparent. I hope that now, in the age of social media, more pressure will be administered to the decision-makers in America. I also hope that I will have less heavy-hearted mornings in the future...I am doubtful, unfortunately.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
When I first started writing my blog, I thought I should only write about basketball or topics related to my book. Now, however, I think I should write about anything on my mind. Right now I am heavy-hearted with the events of what is going on in America so maybe it will help my mental to write about it. Not only is the trial of Derek Chauvin (the police officer charged with the death of George Floyd) going on in Minnesota, but just a few days ago another African-American was killed at the hands of police in Minnesota. And when I awoke this morning, I read about the tragic death of an unarmed 13-year-old child Adam Toledo...also at the hands of the police. Any death is heartbreaking, but it just hits differently when it is a child. Probably my father instinct kicking in. Just the thought of someone telling me one of my children being shot and killed literally makes me sick to my stomach.
Those of you that know me personally also know I have no plans to ever move back to America. This is a major example of why I won’t. A simple issue of safety...for me and my family. I have often told people about my fear of police when lived in America or even when I visit these days. It is a shame, but every black person I know has it. If a cop car is behind me while I drive...my heart starts racing...even though I know I have done nothing wrong. In Germany, I NEVER have that feeling. I have been conditioned living here that the police mean me no obvious harm. In America, I would never pass a cop car on the highway, whereas I don’t flinch to do it on the Autobahn.
I have my opinions, but I do not have all the answers. This problem is such a complex and deeply rooted issue that it will take decades of reform, attitude changes, and people working together instead of against each other before any noticeable change is apparent. I hope that now, in the age of social media, more pressure will be administered to the decision-makers in America. I also hope that I will have less heavy-hearted mornings in the future...I am doubtful, unfortunately.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
By nature, I am a VERY impatient person. I cannot stand waiting in lines, I hate slow traffic, and at the moment I am battling my impatient self due to my book. You see, the book is finished...all done...finito, but I cannot release it yet and that is frustrating to a person like me. I am looking at a copy of it sitting next to me and my only wish is to get it out to those who may need it, especially while March Madness has America in its grips!
I did extensive research into marketing a self-published book such as mine. I developed a plan of how to generate interest based on the experts that I either spoke with or read about. On the one hand, I am satisfied with the progress so far. Interest in the book is growing slowly but surely...just as I expected. On the other hand, I hate waiting so it is hard for me to sit still and trust the process.
So how do I resist the urge to scrap my plan and simply publish it right now? I start kicking around ideas for further books haha. I have initiated the development of the next book which I am cautiously slating for a March 2022 release. Various factors will determine if it works or not and I understand it is an ambitious time-table but sometimes I need ambitious goals. I work best under pressure. Let’s see if I make my self-appointed time-table. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
By nature, I am a VERY impatient person. I cannot stand waiting in lines, I hate slow traffic, and at the moment I am battling my impatient self due to my book. You see, the book is finished...all done...finito, but I cannot release it yet and that is frustrating to a person like me. I am looking at a copy of it sitting next to me and my only wish is to get it out to those who may need it, especially while March Madness has America in its grips!
I did extensive research into marketing a self-published book such as mine. I developed a plan of how to generate interest based on the experts that I either spoke with or read about. On the one hand, I am satisfied with the progress so far. Interest in the book is growing slowly but surely...just as I expected. On the other hand, I hate waiting so it is hard for me to sit still and trust the process.
So how do I resist the urge to scrap my plan and simply publish it right now? I start kicking around ideas for further books haha. I have initiated the development of the next book which I am cautiously slating for a March 2022 release. Various factors will determine if it works or not and I understand it is an ambitious time-table but sometimes I need ambitious goals. I work best under pressure. Let’s see if I make my self-appointed time-table. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
During the process of writing SAME NAME DIFFERENT GAME, I have come into contact with people that have inspired me. I see what they are doing to improve the lives of athletes, whether those athletes are still playing, or about to transition to their after-playing days. I did an interview the other day with two ladies (shout-out coming) that are doing impressive things. Towards the end of the interview, I commented that what they are doing for building a sense of community for athletes, in general, was unheard of when I was playing. I believe that it can be a powerful tool for generations to come. If they can inspire this old-head with their ideas, then their work is planting seeds. Now I would like to give a quick shout-out to those that have inspired me and say thanks!
Taj Dashaun was one of the first people I reached out to on social media about my book and right away he helped me out with some questions I had. He wrote a book called Thrive After Sports that is about helping athletes make a smooth transition after their sports career. I have a copy and it is an excellent read. Another person I reached out to was Jori Davis. Being a current basketball player in Greece, I asked her opinion about the women’s side during my research for my book. Not only is she a baller, but is one of the CEOs of WEVOLV along with Toccara Renee. Those are the ladies I had the conversation with the other day. WEVOLV is dedicated to connecting athletes and exploring options for the community of those athletes. I look forward to their future projects! Marv Fox Jr. is someone that I ran into during an online meeting through WEVOLV and we just clicked right away. He is my go-to motivational speaker at the moment and his work is based on people fulfilling their purpose in life. Carlon Brown is doing fantastic things with Pointadvising. He gives a wealth of information, tailor made for European ballers. He is doing similar things as what I have planned but that doesn’t matter to me. Everyone has their own story to tell and in their way. I am proud of what he is doing because I believe his message is only for the benefit of the next generations of players. I am glad my voice isn’t the only one being raised to inform and help athletes.
Kyle Hines is someone that I have never reached out to personally, but I see from afar what he is doing as one of the founding members of the Euroleague Players Association. The work he and his fellow players is doing will have a trickle-down effect on the rest of the European leagues in the future. And lastly, giving those who aspire to play professional basketball an alternative to having an agent. I met Brad Kanis through social media but it turns out we are both SUU T-Birds. He broke my school record for blocks in a game (I will never forgive him for that!) He is building extraordinary things in Valencia for players looking to play professionally without an agent. His player exposure camp Europrobasket is rapidly growing and has signed over 180 players to professional contracts without the use of agents. Alen Ruovac and his Strsljen Sports Management also help those who do not go the “traditional” route. Since 2013 his company has helped over 255 players obtain contracts. I do not know Alen personally but what I have seen from him, he keeps things real and does not seem to sugarcoat the trials and tribulations of European basketball and that is what made me take a closer look at what he is doing. Hopefully, someone will look back and say I inspired them just as these men and women are doing for me now!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
During the process of writing SAME NAME DIFFERENT GAME, I have come into contact with people that have inspired me. I see what they are doing to improve the lives of athletes, whether those athletes are still playing, or about to transition to their after-playing days. I did an interview the other day with two ladies (shout-out coming) that are doing impressive things. Towards the end of the interview, I commented that what they are doing for building a sense of community for athletes, in general, was unheard of when I was playing. I believe that it can be a powerful tool for generations to come. If they can inspire this old-head with their ideas, then their work is planting seeds. Now I would like to give a quick shout-out to those that have inspired me and say thanks!
Taj Dashaun was one of the first people I reached out to on social media about my book and right away he helped me out with some questions I had. He wrote a book called Thrive After Sports that is about helping athletes make a smooth transition after their sports career. I have a copy and it is an excellent read. Another person I reached out to was Jori Davis. Being a current basketball player in Greece, I asked her opinion about the women’s side during my research for my book. Not only is she a baller, but is one of the CEOs of WEVOLV along with Toccara Renee. Those are the ladies I had the conversation with the other day. WEVOLV is dedicated to connecting athletes and exploring options for the community of those athletes. I look forward to their future projects! Marv Fox Jr. is someone that I ran into during an online meeting through WEVOLV and we just clicked right away. He is my go-to motivational speaker at the moment and his work is based on people fulfilling their purpose in life. Carlon Brown is doing fantastic things with Pointadvising. He gives a wealth of information, tailor made for European ballers. He is doing similar things as what I have planned but that doesn’t matter to me. Everyone has their own story to tell and in their way. I am proud of what he is doing because I believe his message is only for the benefit of the next generations of players. I am glad my voice isn’t the only one being raised to inform and help athletes.
Kyle Hines is someone that I have never reached out to personally, but I see from afar what he is doing as one of the founding members of the Euroleague Players Association. The work he and his fellow players is doing will have a trickle-down effect on the rest of the European leagues in the future. And lastly, giving those who aspire to play professional basketball an alternative to having an agent. I met Brad Kanis through social media but it turns out we are both SUU T-Birds. He broke my school record for blocks in a game (I will never forgive him for that!) He is building extraordinary things in Valencia for players looking to play professionally without an agent. His player exposure camp Europrobasket is rapidly growing and has signed over 180 players to professional contracts without the use of agents. Alen Ruovac and his Strsljen Sports Management also help those who do not go the “traditional” route. Since 2013 his company has helped over 255 players obtain contracts. I do not know Alen personally but what I have seen from him, he keeps things real and does not seem to sugarcoat the trials and tribulations of European basketball and that is what made me take a closer look at what he is doing. Hopefully, someone will look back and say I inspired them just as these men and women are doing for me now!
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I am taking the time out today to pat myself on my back. I think we as humans don't do that enough. Those of you that know me are probably rolling your eyes and thinking, “This dude needs to pat himself on his back? His ego ain’t big enough as it is?” Well, the answer to that my friends is yes, I do need to do that from time to time. Even confident people have moments of doubts or thoughts of insecurity. Ok, it doesn't happen to me very often, but that isn't the point right now haha.
The point is that I got a few packages in the mail which made me extremely proud of myself. I got the books that I will sign and send out to everyone when the sale of Same Name Different Game commences. Seeing all of those books and opening one up as a real copy in my hands was a feeling I have wanted to experience since I first put pen to paper to write this book. It wouldn't matter to me if I sold one copy or one million copies...this is the result of a lot of time and effort. If this book can help one person, then the time and effort will be TOTALLY worth it!
So I would like each of you reading this to take a moment and be proud of yourself today for whatever reason. Pat yourself on the back! You've earned it…
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean
Hi Teammates!
I am taking the time out today to pat myself on my back. I think we as humans don't do that enough. Those of you that know me are probably rolling your eyes and thinking, “This dude needs to pat himself on his back? His ego ain’t big enough as it is?” Well, the answer to that my friends is yes, I do need to do that from time to time. Even confident people have moments of doubts or thoughts of insecurity. Ok, it doesn't happen to me very often, but that isn't the point right now haha.
The point is that I got a few packages in the mail which made me extremely proud of myself. I got the books that I will sign and send out to everyone when the sale of Same Name Different Game commences. Seeing all of those books and opening one up as a real copy in my hands was a feeling I have wanted to experience since I first put pen to paper to write this book. It wouldn't matter to me if I sold one copy or one million copies...this is the result of a lot of time and effort. If this book can help one person, then the time and effort will be TOTALLY worth it!
So I would like each of you reading this to take a moment and be proud of yourself today for whatever reason. Pat yourself on the back! You've earned it…
Thank you for taking the time to read my words!
Sean