Bryan McCullough Blog

Let’s get back into the topic at hand. Even though I speak on the negative and positive of things from an American’s point-of-view, I still Love This Game Man and I would play it in Antarctica if they were paying, LOL!

Con of the Day: Television Overseas

Imagine waking up in the morning and there is no Sports Center on TV. That is life overseas. No ESPN on television sucks. You are lucky to have the channels in English better yet worry about Sports Center. You can access American TV through the internet through various websites and can hook up a sling box with your TV back home so your television is on through your computer via an internet connection in both places. I don’t really have time to go through all of that and would rather download (yeah I said it!) a movie or something. The Sports Center provided on ESPN.com does not do it justice. I honestly believe every man who is a real man wakes up in the morning and turns the channel to ESPN in the morning to catch Stuart Scott and the guys make jokes about the sports plays of the day. Just another American tradition that they have us hooked on.

The worst TV I have experienced has to be in Germany. The only English channel was CNN and watching too much of that keeps you informed but also leaves you depressed. Just knowing the world is that bad everyday can be a downer man. Most of the television overseas has a sports channel but it is usually in their language. I already spoke on that (see below in previous blogs). The MTV has to be the worst over there. The host speaks in their language and they play so many AKON videos that you start to hate the guy. Romania television was ok. I hated that the Cartoon Network was translated into Romanian (I love watching the old Bugs Bunny and Tom & Jerry cartoons) but most of the channels were in English. Still no Sports Center over there. I often found myself watching CNN or something like Animal Planet (basically stuff that gets passed over real fast with the remote in my hand when I watch TV in America). When I got to Hungary this season, it was back to CNN again. The only thing I could catch in English was Turner Classic Movies and that came on at night. They also played AKON as if that was the only music playing in the world. Sorry AKON, I love your music but I am tired of hearing “SHAKE THAT” every time I turned on the TV or on kids’ cell phones as their ringer!

Pro of the Day: The Idle Time

This is a great thing for me. I am a busy body back home and I usually find myself running back and forth to the store and gym with no time to just chill and relax. I find time to become an expert on recent video games (yeah I am junkie, Call of Duty: World at War all day son). I do get the basketball in for about 5 or 6 hours out of the day. Whether it is running, shooting, lifting or actual practice but there are 24 hours in a day. I can catch up on all of that precious sleep I miss in America. I can only play video games and sleep so much during the day, so I often find myself taking walks in the cities I am in just to get a feel for the place. I often try to assimilate with the people in the towns but that is so hard (me being about 8 inches taller and a couple of shades darker than everybody in the town). I love having time to contact people I really do not talk to when I am home via facebook or some other internet website.

That time off is good for the body as well. You are lucky if your team provides ICE after practice so just to lay back and rest the knees after practice is always good. I bring my own ice packs available at the EVIL EMPIRE WAL-MART. There is nothing like that quick nap in-between the morning practice and evening practice, which is always a plus. You can finally have that “me time” that you missed during the long high school and college days of practice and learning. That time to find yourself is important. My mother tells me, “Idle time is the devil’s time” but I believe it is how you use it. If you use it in a negative way (I have been guilty of that like everybody else) then nothing good will come out of the time spent. If you use that time in a positive manner, it can help you in the long run.

I am out yo. This message was sponsored by Krider’s Café, the best hamburger in the world (even though you have to order your food in the morning and hope you get it at night). I do get back at all comments so get at me people. Take care and have a blessed one! B-Stacks has spoken!

bmac Sports basketball, life, overseas, personal

Well since the last encounter on here, I have thought about some more things good and bad about the life of a basketball player. I know the bad always comes with the good and I am in no way ungrateful for the opportunity to pursue a career abroad. This is just a place where I can vent my thoughts and I hope you gals and guys enjoy!

Con of the Day: The Language Barrier

Who ever knew that I actually should have paid attention in Latin, French and Spanish classes instead of squeaking by copying answers? That really did come back to bite me in the ASS! It is already difficult enough being away from home but not being able to understand most people is an insecure feeling. If you did not know, people are going to talk about you regardless of who or what you claim to be. Hell, they even talked about JESUS but I digress. It is bad enough people talk about you but to talk about you in a language you do not understand can be degrading to an extent. It can be hard to get and give 100% to your coach/team because you do not have a clue of what in the world they are talking about. I mean, these guys are suppose to be your family away from your family but if you can’t understand them, it is pointless. You can sometimes become sort of an outcast to your team and coach. I often find myself only interacting with players who speak english on the team and that can be good and bad in a way. I always feels the meaning of your words gets lost in translation due to the way people talk and interact in other cultures. So you might say to one of your teammates (in a positive manner), “Pick it up man, let’s go!” and through translation from a teammate it can be perceived as negative.

I gave you the advice to interact with people as much as possible overseas but if they do not speak the language, this task can be daunting. You might ask, “Why don’t you just hang around your english speaking teammates all day for interaction?” Good point and I often do for the most part. There also comes a time where that guy has to live his life as well and not be concerned with you and yours. This is called “FREE-TIME.” Every player needs that so I can’t be mad at them for wanting to do them. This leaves you in a predicament. What if you get hungry in the middle of the day or need somethings from the grocery store? This is when you try your hardest to interact with people around the city. I often find myself communicating with people through one-word lingo and signals. For example, if I need to know where a place to eat is located, I would just say the word “EAT” and signal like I am putting food in my mouth with a fork or rubbing my belly as if to say I’m starving. It can look pretty ridiculous at times. I usually found myself in a 30 to 40 minute conversation and interacting with more people than expected (good and bad in a way) when I actually needed to know where a good restaurant is located. Typically a good 2 or 3 minute conversation in english. And the most screwed up thing about the whole process of the language barrier is that by the time you catch up with the language and can say a few phrases, it is time to go back home.

Pro of the Day: The Fans abroad

These people are the true definition of fans overseas. They take the wins with the loses (even though they will talk dog ish about you and throw you under the bus after a lost). They will not be mad at you forever but they represent their team with pride unknown to most Americans. Ok so you might be a “Cameron Crazy” or bleed “Carolina Blue” but you have not seen anything until you are in smoke filled gym in Eastern Europe where the people can actually touch you if they wanted. Where the security is there really for show and if a fight or riot breaks out on the court, these guys would be right their to fight with you.There is nothing like that feeling. You thought the Indiana and Detroit brawl was something, PLEASE! You feel bad to disappoint and they instill in you their pride for the team. In most of the cities I played in, most fans were born and raised their. It is not like America where you attend college and have a certain loyalty towards that school ex. Duke fans and Carolina fans. It is more like a small hill billy high school atmosphere times 10 when you play overseas (no offense to the rednecks out there). Where everybody knows everybody and you are the talk of the town. They idolize you and treat you as their King when you win a game. You can never do anything wrong and you feel invincible if only for a second.

They are often their to talk to you. The ones who speak english will often approach you with their thoughts and it is cool in my opinion. Most of the fans will know where you live and not let too many people bother you. They can make life real easy abroad. They often make it so you only have to focus on basketball and winning for the team which is always good. I find myself making life long friends with most of the fans and people in general overseas. For the most, part they are just like myself but speak multiple languages.

Most of the younger fans in a city or town will often seek pictures with you and ask for your autograph. That makes me feel great. I never thought my autograph or a pic with me could make a young fan’s day. To be considered as a role model is an accomplishment in your life (besides being a role model to your child).

This blog today was brought to you by me, MAC STACKS (thats my name today)! Again, comment and give me that feedback so I know where to go with this. As you can see, I enjoy talking and listening so holla at yo boy!

ONE MORE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT LEBRON FOR MVP!!!!

bmac Sports basketball, life, overseas, personal

A few highlights of my time playing basketball

As most of you all know, I am a professional basketball player currently playing in the overseas market. For the people who do not know, I am a professional basketball player currently playing in the overseas market (my first attempt at humor, rate the humor below please with comments).  For most, I am living in a dream and they would give up a limb to be in my shoes and that is rightfully so! But they would not be able to play basketball on my level if they did so.  I don’t take it for granted one bit. I just wanted to start a blog  examining some of the pros and cons of playing basketball in the overseas market. Now, I can only give you detailed accounts of the European basketball market because I have not been to any other continent to hoop.  I have gotten stories from other players about the markets in other countries but I can’t verify them. I just want to give the people a personal feel.

Con of the Day: The Missing of Family Members Overseas

This is by far the biggest adjustment a player has to make when going to play in another country. Even though technology has revolutionized since all this crossing of the water to hoop and you can call the fam through the computer for dirt cheap nowadays, there is nothing like getting a plate of “my mamas biscuits” (another attempt but that one provided by the great Martin Lawrence).  The personal touch of family is gone and just talking to them over the phone is never enough (in my opinion anyway).  Being from America, we have a lot of commercialized holidays that have become apart of our daily lives when it comes to family and not being able to celebrate certain traditions with family can give you the sense of detachment.  Most teams give the Christmas Holidays off (if you are lucky) and you get to spend sometime with your family. You end up spending more money than intended on gifts for family and friends. Most players over eat (my mama’s biscuits) and tend to get out of shape during this time. You can and can’t blame them but everything comes with a price.

I think the biggest part of missing family overseas is that family keeps you grounded in your beliefs and just in life generally.  My mother is a profound believer of going to church on Sundays (shout out to Ardis Chapel). When I am away from home, I do not go to church. I often read the Bible (shout out to GOD too) but it is nothing like being in church, especially one that speaks english. The language barrier is critical in a player attending church. I know I do not want to be stuck in a church where the preacher is speaking another language. The family also keeps you level headed. Whenever I would score 20 something points in an high school or college game and thought I was on top of the world, my father was there to tell me what I did wrong and what not to do next time. That also came from friends closely associated with me. There is none of that overseas. After you score 20 or more points in a game overseas and your team wins, you often get put on a very bad pedestal. It gives you a false feeling like you can’t be touched. There is nobody to stop that adrenaline rush you still have after a game. Nobody to tell you to calm down and you just want to shout out to the world what you accomplished (usually via facebook, twitter or myspace).

Pro of the Day: Experiencing Different Cultures

This has to be one of the greatest perk of playing basketball overseas but only if a player takes advantage. You can get a sense of history from other people’s perspective that is priceless. Nobody can ever take away the fact I actually saw Dracula’s Castle or I drove over 200 kph on the German Autobahn (don’t tell my mama, she will not make me any more biscuits). If you are taking my advice before going to a certain country to play,  I would just tell you to experience the city/country as much as you can. Whenver you have a day off or when you finish your basketball duties for the day, take a walk around town and observe the people of the country. It can be quite rewarding and beneficial. If there is a famous museum (there always is), take a trip and see what’s in it.  Interact with the town people (the ones who speak english). The point I am trying to make is that who knows when you will be able to experience life in another country again so take full advantage. I am kinda of a history buff and I can watch the history channel all day but some buildings in Europe are older than the country of America! The other shocking thing is that people might still live in them. That is just amazing to me but I am half geek in a way.

Being American, we are brought up with an idea that America is superior to other countries. That is true in a way and false in way. America is just starting to get a national identity, in my opinion, when places overseas have had a national identity for ages. Especially in Europe! If going to Europe (FOR FREE) to play basketball, experience the place. It is like getting a free ride to the moon and not bringing back a moon rock or something.  I truly enjoy my time abroad and would not trade it for anything in the world.

This is the conclusion of The Life: Pros and Cons Volume 1 brought to you by Bryan McCullough aka B aka B-MAC aka MAC aka 704 all day ( I got ignorant right there for a second). Tune in next time when I continue the debate of Pros and Cons of a basketball player overseas. Leave a comment for your boy too!  If you gals and guys have any ideas of what to debate, post it below and I will be sure to get into the topic in detail.

bmac Sports basketball, life, overseas, personal