Who knew I didn't have to see to shoot well?

The weekend before last, we travelled to Berlin (once again) to play a league game versus a below .500 opponent. We played them once in the preseason in a game that was far from exciting. This game didn't prove itself any different. I think we won by close to 30 points. I played alright, though I didn't get as many shot attempts as I would have liked. I think the "official" record has me down for 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks. 

This past Friday, I woke up with my eyes the color of ketchup. I had to wear sunglasses inside because light felt like a hit with a sledgehammer. I called the VP of the basketball club and scheduled an appointment with the doctor. They gave me eye cream, yes cream, that burned and didn't work. I went in for another appointment Saturday morning before our game. The doctor strongly advised me against wearing contacts for a while, so I was resigned to playing blind. 

We travelled 3.5 hours to play the Ascherleben Tigers. The car ride was a special experience because the new medicine they gave me dilated my pupils. The combination of the pitched  blackness of the country night and bright headlights on the autobahn meant lots of squinting and looking away. Thankfully, the lights in the arena didn't bother me. 

We were up after every period, and up 11 with 2:30 to go but still managed to lose. Our starting point guard left the game because he was "dizzy", our back up point guard had 4 straight turnovers that resulted in break away lay-ups, and we missed 6 straight free throws including  the possible game winning ones.  Daggers. I probably played my best game since being over here but it was wasted in a losing effort. The stats aren't official yet, but my coach thinks I had somewhere between 25-32 points and 15 rebounds..

Oh yeah. Amherst plays their first game next week! Let's go Jeff's. Terras Irradient.

like a raisin in the sun?

I think Presidential elections often give valuable insights into the disposition of a country. The notion of an African American being chosen as the candidate for a major political party prophesied that change was on the horizon, that the country was embarking on new journey. But what kind of beginning lie ahead? Would this mark the beginning of finding solutions to various social and economic issues that were typically divided over phenotypic differences or would this just be the final schism during a turbulent time? With last night's results, America authoritatively responded with the former. 

I wish I could have been home to feel the vibrations of triumph that resonated across the land or to take part in the collective sigh of relief when CNN officially declared Obama the victor. I can only imagine the gamut of emotions that must have swirled within different families. I wasn't emotional until I realized how not-so-far removed I was from different times. Times when my Grandparents had to provide for my parents during the Civil Rights Movement. How could they have imagined then, when race was a determining factor for everything, that it would become a cursory detail? And, wow, how amazing is it for my 10 year old sister? She doesn't have to dream about the day someone who looks like her is President. Pause. That's not true, but this must make that vision more than a dream deferred.

Change doesn't usually happen radically and abruptly. Typically, it happens step by step then one day you look back and see how far you've walked. Since its inception, America has been a beacon to other countries. And with this election, it can start to erase some of the stains that marred it over the past eight years. 

What else is changing in America? There is a saying I found on the internet that I kind of like:

"Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Barack could run. Barack ran so our children could fly."

In Harlem during the 1950's, Langston Hughes (famous African American poet, novelist, short story writer, columnist, and playwright) asked, "What happens to a dream deferred"? On November 4, 2008, an entire country finally answered. 

PS-

A dream deferred. (Langston Hughes)

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode? 

PPS- We won our last game and I had a double-double.

Okay, so as requested: 

The Cottbus White Devils are now 3-1. After last weeks disappointing loss, we responded with a decisive 34 point victory over an undefeated team. Since we had been struggling to score points, my coach started me at power forward, moved Nick to center, put in another a shooter at small forward, and benched our former starting center. 

I finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds on a pretty efficient performance. We put in a few new sets on offense that aren't really designed for me to score, so I did not get many looks early; however, I managed to sneak in a few offensive boards and put backs and a few transition post ups to get going. My defender started heading straight for the paint after that so I was able to get some trail three's also. All in all, I feel much better about my/our play than I have in a few games. 

Our team lacks some leadership and dedication, but I think this game did a lot to establish confidence. It's a lot easier to put in the hard work when there is a reward, so hopefully knowing we can win in this fashion will take us to another level.

I did split my lip a little bit, but it's healing quickly.

Wellps..