Showtime, NBL Style

And father had had such hopes
For a son who would take the ropes
And fulfill all his old athletic aspirations
But apparently now there's some complications
But while I am lying here, trying to fight the tears
I'll prove to the crowd that I come out stronger
Though I think I might lie here a little longer

- From "The Sporting Life," by the Decemberists

This song makes me laugh when I think of my earlier athletic endeavors. I've been pretty good, but never good enough to take it to the next level. (I used to be convinced that I should have become a NFL punter, if only FCDS, my high school, had had a football team, but I digress...) Well, now the dream has been reborn - I am utterly, absolutely convinced that I could (and should) join the Czech professional basketball league.

Our friend Tim Lyle plays professionally here, in the Czech National Basketball League. He played at James Madison in college (go Dukes!), and has traveled Europe playing professional ball in a number of countries. Here, he plays for a team located in Podebrady, a really nice town about 45 minutes outside of Prague, that is called Sadska. He had a game against USK Praha last weekend, so we took in the action. Let me tell you, it was intense. Some things you should know:

1) tickets were three dollars, and the gym looked like a medium-nice high school gym in the States;
2) the crowd was very pro-Podebrady, and loud - like soccer games, supporters wear scarves and carry drums into the arena. The Podebrady fans chanted and banged their drums constantly;
3) we suspect this enthusiasm was partially fueled by beer. It was cheap at the arena, and I swear we saw thirteen-year-olds drinking. Needless to say, we weren't surprised;
4) each team was allowed to have two Americans, and players from other European nations also filled out the rosters. One of Tim's teammates played for the Croatian national team...against the original Dream Team (think MJ and Charles Barkley)! Sure, he's the wrong side of 35 these days, but he was crafty and could shoot;
5) actually, everyone could shoot, and the whole game is geared around three pointers; the style is very different, very physical, and this led to the one negative thing about the game: the officiating.

Although Tim's team lost, he led all scorers with 18 points. He would have had 30 if it weren't for the fact that he got assaulted every time he touched the ball. Tim is big - probably 6'8" - and is a really, really good post player. Unfortunately, his skills couldn't prevail against the hometown refs allowing the other team to grab, scratch, and otherwise hang all over Tim. This officiating, however, has given me a new sense of calling: I am giving up academia, and becoming a professional ref in the Czech Republic. I certainly couldn't make the league as a player, but I'm definitely better than the zebras over here! Tim's last game is tonight, and Sadska needs to win to make the playoffs. We're pulling for the yellow and black, and hope everyone else will cheer them on to victory!

This our friend Chris and Laura's son, Owen; he's Tim's biggest fan!