Jilin Tigers

The Clinics in Russia were FANTASTIC!!

2008-03-04T05:50:29Z

February 17, 2008...I'm on our "hometurf" now, having arrived on Thursday night from Beijing...Jet Lag? Hmm, listen to this schedule: Friday afternoon went to Bellevue Community College and took in the Skyline HS vs. Issaquah HS game...Issaquah won going away, but not without having to overcome a double digit effort...then visited Seattle to see my close friend, Dave B., and politely excuse myself as "another" game beckoned my desire to watch another student of mine perform...This time it was Kentwood...(read more)

"Passwords: wrongword, keyword, guessword, whatisitword, favoritecolorword, firstcarword, firstgirlfriendtodriveinword, firstcarword, Mother'smaidennameword, dogsname, favoritesnackword...and other debilitating numbthinking recalls..."...

2008-02-06T00:54:22Z

February 3, 2008...somewhere between China, Japan and Russia...sitting close to the window seat and don't see any Migs or F-116's flying along, so I guess we're in a "free" flyzone...Okay, I gotta get something off my chest: Passwords...This blogit is for anyone over the age of 50 who "suffers" the same freakn embarrassment of using a website and not remembering your passwords...Now, I am of the generation, whose "generator" is still operating at a steady pace, mind you, that was introduced to the...(read more)

"Vladivostok: Dr. Shivago, I know now why you loved Russia..."...

2008-02-06T00:41:47Z

January 4, 2008...Sunset on the frozen bay of Valdivostok, Russia from a truly picture perfect window in my hotel room... It's cold, but NOT that cold compared to Changchun, aka Coldchun, China...maybe 25degrees, no wind or breeze, unless you're waiting to cross the street and the whirlwind of a passing car hits your face, and then you remember "cold" as it once was 2 weeks ago in Changchun... I arrived in Vladivostok from Seoul, Korea about 2pm today...I was met by a Non-Government Official by the...(read more)

"I hit The Wall today...at 10 degrees above Zero..."...

2008-02-06T00:36:18Z

February 2, 2008...Beijing...Sunny...cold...but colder on the Great Wall like you wouldn't believe...Anyone who is a Tall Mountain Climber, well, hats off to you, briefly, as the experience I had today was one I won't soon forget...depending on how quickly my "not-so-smart" cells continue to defrost...When I left the RedWall Hotel (my hotel in Beijing) this morning, I felt pretty good overall, considering I was squinting from the sunshine at the entrance of the hotel..,plus, the chill factor was...(read more)

"After careful deliberation with my vary-altered Ego...I found the box..."...

2008-01-30T05:32:46Z

January 30, 2008...Wednesday afternoon...about 45 degrees, sun out in Beijing...what I'm about to share with now, is what is called "losin it..."... The Box returns...err...is found...err...HAS BEEN HERE ALL THIS FREAKIN TIME!! This morning, early, I was turning over and over again my thoughts and the dialogues of all the people involved in my packing, loading, unloading and droppoffs, trying to resolve in my mind that "it's gotta be somewhere in this country...help me, Lord...", and to His credit,...(read more)

"Glory!! Coach tom gets on the court again..."...

2008-01-28T20:32:07Z

January 26, 2008...Sunday evening, Beijing... At last! I was fortunate enough to be invited to speak and get on the court again at Coach Wang Fei's Basketball Academy outside Beijing...What a pure joy this experience was, and those parents whose sons and daughters have trained with me over the last several years "know" how much I enjoy teaching and watching players practice new skills they are being taught for the first time... The Wang Fei Basketball Academy is part of a private middle and high...(read more)

"Evree things gonna be alright now...evree things gonna be ohkay..." or so I thought...

2008-01-26T04:54:34Z

January 23, 2008...Wednesday night...at the airport waiting for the flight from Changchun to Beijing...and Bob Marley is definitely the "Mastah Rastah Brah"...I've got him on my Nano now, and let me tell you, his words from his heart overshadow his love for life...and his was short...God Bless him... It's kind of a bittersweet departure right now...leaving Coldchun and the kind, generous people that I became close to on the team at the Hotel and throughout the city...It has been a wonderful journey,...(read more)

"Ah, does anyone "know" where the Lost and Found might be at the airports...?"...

2008-01-26T03:45:17Z

January 25, 2008...Saturday late morning...2 Advils, meditative positive thoughts vibrating once again...BUT STILL NO FREAKIN BOX that's disappeared between my hotel and Beijing...Okay, I know, "it's just a box, tom...", but YOU don't know that I had my laptop headset in it, my laptop camera, my seattle cell phone, my basketball folders for the Russian coaches, my hookup connections to various plugs...In other words, I am only 'half-connected', but then again there are those out there who've always...(read more)

"Running fast to catch a to slow train to Shenyang..."...

2008-01-24T02:16:15Z

January 22, 2008...Tuesday...Somewhere between Coldchun and Shenyang on a slow train to Shenyang...When I say slow, we're talking the kinda "slow" that when you paint your house with an oil base paint and watch it dry...yep, THAT slow... Okay, I FINALLY received the DHL documents this morning, which was originally expected to arrive no later than the 191h from Vladivostok, Russia...That being said, I missed the train yesterday, Monday, and had to ask a favor of the Bellman to exchange them back at...(read more)

"and the Magical Mystical Tour continues.."...

2008-01-19T15:56:30Z

January 18, 2008...in a colder Changchun City... So, today, I was expecting my documents from the Vladivostok, Russia, Basketball Federation via DHL...only to be left out in the "cold" so to speak, as it was revealed to me that they will may not arrive until Monday or Tuesday, meaning I will postpone my trip to Beijing until Thursday, after I go by train to Shenyang, a 3 hour trip to the Russian Consulate's office for the "stamp" of approval...arrrrgh...It's not that I want to leave, rather I had...(read more)

What's the difference between "O" and "20 Below Zero"...?

2008-01-17T12:49:13Z

January 16, 2008...Coldchun City, China...Okay, I've been harpin on the fact that there's cold and then there's C O L D...and add an "E R" to this word and you get the chilling visual...The citizens of this city have it down pat...Let's say this: PETA followers would have a hard time wearing non-fur coats under these conditions...I mean really, when you go back a few thousand years, and even a couple of hundred with Native Americans, there was a reason they wore WARM PELTS to keep from freezing in...(read more)

"CBA All Star game was an exercise...if that..."...

2008-01-13T14:47:35Z

January 13, 2008...Sunday night apre' All Star game...somewhere outside Urumqui, Northeast China... The CBA did a great job to promote their event prior to tipoff, having players from both teams visit elderly people, schools and I believe a hospital as well...They had their "Rookie Game" last night, which wasn't televised, and then their main event tonight...The pregame ceremonies were well planned and a great effort was made by all to put on a "show"...Unfortunately, the players in the Main Event...(read more)

"What a wonderful visit today with an Ex-Pat teaching in Chanchun..."...

2008-01-12T12:37:20Z

January 12, 2008...Changchun... I had the distinct pleasure of meeting a very interesting ex-pat by the name of Aaron A. Vessup...He is a distinguished gentleman from Southern California, whose life of education and life experiences has brought his "journey" here Jilin University, Changchun City, China...I met Aaron at our last home game, sitting directly behind our bench, and of course you know me, I just had to acknowledge him before the game got underway...We exchanged acquaintances after the...(read more)

"A little rest goes a looooooonnnnnnng way towards good health..."....

2008-01-11T13:59:21Z

January 11, 2008...Coldchun City...about 20 degrees day time...10 'maybe' at night... Now I know why "furry" animals hibernate during the winter...I think I probably would too if I had any mop on top these days...I mean really, how people are able to daily survive in this type of really cold, you know, the "type" where manmade cloth and half covered body leather, down coat, shoes, thermals DO NOT HOLD BACK the invitation of being outside in this environment...I swear, any "new" hairs that had any...(read more)

"Welcome to the Magical Mystical Tour Part II..."...

2008-01-07T13:28:44Z

January 8, 2008...the Day After the season ended quietly... Got some GREAT beauty sleep last night, this morning and a nap this afternoon...It's amazing after all these years when a season is abruptly "over", how the order and discipline of daily practices and here the novelty of "controlled" environment is no different in the psychosis of a coach without a practice, competition and playoff to prepare for anymore...There is such a remarkable void, it's hard to describe unless you're a player, coach...(read more)