Friday, April 18, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
dollar
If anyone can shed light for me on why the dollar becomes more like toilet paper everytime i turn on a computer i would like to know. either send comments or emails to bryanmaag@gmail.com. this is getting pathetic everytime i go to the ATM. I cannot even afford Mcdonalds anymore.
3 weeks of fun
Alright folks after a long break i am back. Hopefully i have kept some readers. As for the Catalon finals what an event it was. I had my little brother as my guest of honor. It was an early Saturday morning start when we took to the field for some warmups and it fealt like high school again when you see the opposition filing off the bus with 60 players to our paultry 19. My brother was in the stands looking forward to seeing his brother lay some hat. People in barbara del valles started rolling in around 10 for the eleven o´clock start. After the usual pregame checking of identification( i guess there might be some ringers out there in spain), we all lined up in the tunnel. We came out of the southern endzone to spanish dance music and fireworks, it was my first official intro with my name broadcast over the PA. Granted only 300 people or so were in attendance it was still kind of fun. We had to delay the start of the game for some pathetic dance group that ended up matching our level of play during the game. We started strong running the ball up the field for a score, and then our quarterback after a 3 week layoff must have forgotten whitch team he was on because he just started handing the ball to the other team. We lost decisively, but it did not take away from the event because just like soccer everyone received a medal at the end of the game for participating. Sunday was my brothers turn to take on spanish football in the flag football tournament. Everyone failed to tell us that it was the daylight saving stime switch over heres so we only arrived for the final half. He made on ineterception and caught an extra point in 10 minutes of play not bad at all.
During the week we took to the streets as determined tourists i am going to highlight some of our best excursions for anyone planning to cross the pond in the future. The first stop for city sight seeing has to be a walk up ramblas looking at all the crazies just like you would telegraph in b-town. The most educational experiance that is a necessity is going to the gaudi museum in the sagrada familia, it shows all of his designs for his architecture and his inspirations. This small museum really opens your eyes to gaudis creative genius and his ablility to harmonize nature into his architecture. The new methods that he created are astounding. From here you can take a walk up to parc guell were you can see his architecture in a beautiful park setting iverlooking the city. The columns and walkways are all detailed you can take hours cruising around. Outside of the city are two favorite destinations were Girona and Montsserrat. Girona contains the largest midevial temple in the world and is only 3 meters less wide then the vatican. It is a towering cathedral with amazing stained glass windows. The landscaped gardens around are a sight to behold as well as cruising around the 50 foot wall with turrets. The wall is huge and we had a great time fending off french invaders from the north, although my brother is a fan of the french i was thinking of sacrificing him at the altar. The city itself is much like the old town of barcelona with its narrow streets but is set on a wide river that runs right through the middle. The buildings actually run right up to the water and you can take some time to check it out. Montsserrat is a great day trip out of the city, you can take a bus tour like we did or venture the city trains. You take a tram up the first part of the mountainb which does makes it seem like you are just climbing some deserted mountian in a wasteland. Once you creep into the valley the little town appears with a menacing cathedral that is the center of spanish christian pilgrimages. We were able to see the famous spanish boys choir sing although my brother pointed out that it is a little wierd that boys only to the age of 13 are alone on a mountain with monks. Anyways we did not take the second tram up the mountain but conquered it on foot and the views are incredible. For the best sights in the city tibidaldo is your best bet but, you are at the top and if you want you can go on roller coasters overlooking the city. After finding an amazing grill in the back of the ramblas market, that was reminiscent of pikes market, we munched on fresh seafood and i sent my brother home with some blaring orange Nikes to go back to school.
Now since we lost the catalon final the game that we had this past weekend determined whether we got into the spainsih playoffs. We drove 4 hours to valencia with 13 players. Yours truly played 5 positions but we ended up winning the game 52-0. After the game i experianced one helluva spanish time, our team bus took us to the beach and dropped us off. We spent the day crusing in and out of the surf as family and friends brought sandwiches and more alcohol then could be consumed by a battalion. My little slovakian model friend who i take with me everywere seemed to have a good inmpression on the team and they now believe that she is the good luck charm. I would say that half of the team played better in her prescence, and it makes me look very good. I have a new nickname on the team and that is dios figure it out. We spent the rest of the night at the local discos conquering the town only to catch the return bus at 5 in the morning. Now i am back to my usuall schedule of going to the gym 3 days a week and trmaping around town looking for something to do. You can find me posted up on my favorite american treadmill (all the buttons are in english) looking over the 10 o´clock pilattes class. I then move to work out with my crazy trainer who has me jumping on balls and twirling like a ballerina but i can still peak glances at the dance class. For any of you that are looking for motivation to get to the gym pick times when there are classes of only women working out it really makes you stay longer. Until next time hasta lluego.
During the week we took to the streets as determined tourists i am going to highlight some of our best excursions for anyone planning to cross the pond in the future. The first stop for city sight seeing has to be a walk up ramblas looking at all the crazies just like you would telegraph in b-town. The most educational experiance that is a necessity is going to the gaudi museum in the sagrada familia, it shows all of his designs for his architecture and his inspirations. This small museum really opens your eyes to gaudis creative genius and his ablility to harmonize nature into his architecture. The new methods that he created are astounding. From here you can take a walk up to parc guell were you can see his architecture in a beautiful park setting iverlooking the city. The columns and walkways are all detailed you can take hours cruising around. Outside of the city are two favorite destinations were Girona and Montsserrat. Girona contains the largest midevial temple in the world and is only 3 meters less wide then the vatican. It is a towering cathedral with amazing stained glass windows. The landscaped gardens around are a sight to behold as well as cruising around the 50 foot wall with turrets. The wall is huge and we had a great time fending off french invaders from the north, although my brother is a fan of the french i was thinking of sacrificing him at the altar. The city itself is much like the old town of barcelona with its narrow streets but is set on a wide river that runs right through the middle. The buildings actually run right up to the water and you can take some time to check it out. Montsserrat is a great day trip out of the city, you can take a bus tour like we did or venture the city trains. You take a tram up the first part of the mountainb which does makes it seem like you are just climbing some deserted mountian in a wasteland. Once you creep into the valley the little town appears with a menacing cathedral that is the center of spanish christian pilgrimages. We were able to see the famous spanish boys choir sing although my brother pointed out that it is a little wierd that boys only to the age of 13 are alone on a mountain with monks. Anyways we did not take the second tram up the mountain but conquered it on foot and the views are incredible. For the best sights in the city tibidaldo is your best bet but, you are at the top and if you want you can go on roller coasters overlooking the city. After finding an amazing grill in the back of the ramblas market, that was reminiscent of pikes market, we munched on fresh seafood and i sent my brother home with some blaring orange Nikes to go back to school.
Now since we lost the catalon final the game that we had this past weekend determined whether we got into the spainsih playoffs. We drove 4 hours to valencia with 13 players. Yours truly played 5 positions but we ended up winning the game 52-0. After the game i experianced one helluva spanish time, our team bus took us to the beach and dropped us off. We spent the day crusing in and out of the surf as family and friends brought sandwiches and more alcohol then could be consumed by a battalion. My little slovakian model friend who i take with me everywere seemed to have a good inmpression on the team and they now believe that she is the good luck charm. I would say that half of the team played better in her prescence, and it makes me look very good. I have a new nickname on the team and that is dios figure it out. We spent the rest of the night at the local discos conquering the town only to catch the return bus at 5 in the morning. Now i am back to my usuall schedule of going to the gym 3 days a week and trmaping around town looking for something to do. You can find me posted up on my favorite american treadmill (all the buttons are in english) looking over the 10 o´clock pilattes class. I then move to work out with my crazy trainer who has me jumping on balls and twirling like a ballerina but i can still peak glances at the dance class. For any of you that are looking for motivation to get to the gym pick times when there are classes of only women working out it really makes you stay longer. Until next time hasta lluego.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
congrats
i would like to say quickly congratulations to eric rainusso, his baby girl was due on monday i hope that mom, dad, and ? are happy and healthy. i will write a piece this week sorry it has taken so long football has been slow and my time is limited at the internet cafes but i am looking to include some pics from a friend, as my camera was stolen at camp nou the home of fc barcelona three weeks ago. I am now officially a Real Madrid fan, and a nice little asian bazaar down the street sells Real Madrid wrapping paper, so i am giving my coach and our team president gifts wrapped in it. hope all is well for everyone stateside talk to you soon.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
update
well as the dollar keeps falling every morning you wake up and feel like you were just robbed some more, what a feeling. we have not had a game in 3 weeks and nobody shows up to practice it is getting pretty frustrating we barely won our last game and i thought people would be mad and want to come out and get better but that is not the case. i have met the
other americans that are playing football over here and they spend there days playing playstation in their bedrooms which is not interesting to me at all. One thing that is interesting about them is they walk around town like they are superstars which is funny to me because maybe they get 100 people to a game and most of those are former players and family. we play in the catalonian final this weekend and i am hoping that we have a good performance but with the lack of player knowledge it will be interesting how the plays we have installed will work. i have been consistently getting the response that this is spain very similar to leos line in blood diamon "this is africa". i do not understand that thinking, it is one thing to play just to be a part of something but i do not sense that feeling of determination. pregame people are excited but about 5 minutes into the game people take themselves out and nurse sore calfs on the sideline talking to their girlfriends. they like to come in when we are winning and doing well but nobody likes taking the tough snaps. after the games people are thrilled with a victory like everywere but i there is not a determination to improve which is very frustrating. hopefully this week we will get more people out at practice, but as it is the week following easter most people will probably be nursing their hangovers from the 5 days of partying that they have been doing. you have to give them credit these people do know how to celebrate i just have not seen that will to better their current position which does not sit well with me.
other americans that are playing football over here and they spend there days playing playstation in their bedrooms which is not interesting to me at all. One thing that is interesting about them is they walk around town like they are superstars which is funny to me because maybe they get 100 people to a game and most of those are former players and family. we play in the catalonian final this weekend and i am hoping that we have a good performance but with the lack of player knowledge it will be interesting how the plays we have installed will work. i have been consistently getting the response that this is spain very similar to leos line in blood diamon "this is africa". i do not understand that thinking, it is one thing to play just to be a part of something but i do not sense that feeling of determination. pregame people are excited but about 5 minutes into the game people take themselves out and nurse sore calfs on the sideline talking to their girlfriends. they like to come in when we are winning and doing well but nobody likes taking the tough snaps. after the games people are thrilled with a victory like everywere but i there is not a determination to improve which is very frustrating. hopefully this week we will get more people out at practice, but as it is the week following easter most people will probably be nursing their hangovers from the 5 days of partying that they have been doing. you have to give them credit these people do know how to celebrate i just have not seen that will to better their current position which does not sit well with me.
Friday, March 7, 2008
As we drove through the Spanish countryside I was able to see the real differences in American and European industrialization. Barcelona was built and inhabited long before America had its inauguration. You see the old buildings in the center of town, the age old festivals and it seems that everything is just being updated with technology. This Saturday was my first opportunity to get outside of the city and and immediate suburbs. The land here in Catalonia is very similar to San Diego with low brush and sprawling settlements. The largest differences are the management of human waste. Beyond the bright lights of the wharf and ramblas the outlying areas are strew with debris in the shadows of large factories and waste piles. We passed Montserrat, with its jagged rocks it looks like a lot of teeth pointing into the sky, this is were Ignatius Loyola founded the Jesuits and at the top of the mountain there is “the rose of April, the dark one of the mountain”, a statue of the Virgin Mary who is black from age and candle soot. Driving farther beyond we came to our destination Igadalla, A small community overlooking agricultural land that is parched from the lack of rain in the region. These small towns are not designed for cars, with little streets and central town squares. We pulled up to the field and at first glance it was a pleasant setting. Right next to the town plaza they had a dj and a little festival going on with many people dancing. My first steps onto the field told me that it was going to be a long afternoon. The field was a green carpet with a few centimetres of sand directly on top of pavement. I had finally overcome jet lag and was ready to make my presence known. I played every snap if the game and lost a lot of skin for it. I almost scored my first touchdown but the play was called back on a penalty. Lots of people in town stopped by to watch in between shopping, which made the experience fun. We won the game and drove back to barbera. We all sat around at our local bar and eating and joking(I speak with my hands) and celebrated the win. I had my first experience with Spanish ham which is a delicacy. It is not imported to the United States because of the way the it is cured but it is delicious and anyone travelling to Spain has to try it. I could not make it to the disco this Saturday because I was too tired but I aim to make my presence felt there soon. Until next time.
*****cultural note******
I finally found out how Europeans smell so great. For those that thought that they do not shower you are gravely mistaken. At the gym that I go to there are vats of cologne located every ten feet in the mens locker room. These cauldrons are equipped with industrialize sprayers much like a pressure hose. Now to properly bathe one must take a shower and I am assuming use soap and shampoo(I do not watch this part), you must then go to one of the sprayers for a quick body spray. Upon application of your clothes you must then provide a conditioner size bottle of your preferred designer cologne. The key is to spray your hand 4-5 times and then apply to head, again spray 4-5 times apply to upper torso, then repeat for the lower extremities. This may sounds excessive but it is crucial that every square inch of your body is covered. One more spray for good luck and you are ready for the day.
*****cultural note******
I finally found out how Europeans smell so great. For those that thought that they do not shower you are gravely mistaken. At the gym that I go to there are vats of cologne located every ten feet in the mens locker room. These cauldrons are equipped with industrialize sprayers much like a pressure hose. Now to properly bathe one must take a shower and I am assuming use soap and shampoo(I do not watch this part), you must then go to one of the sprayers for a quick body spray. Upon application of your clothes you must then provide a conditioner size bottle of your preferred designer cologne. The key is to spray your hand 4-5 times and then apply to head, again spray 4-5 times apply to upper torso, then repeat for the lower extremities. This may sounds excessive but it is crucial that every square inch of your body is covered. One more spray for good luck and you are ready for the day.
Monday, February 25, 2008
nfl experience
This weekend my team had the opportunity of hosting a football tryout for the NFL. Everyone affiliated with the program was excited all week because American coaches were coming to teach and evaluate players from all over the globe. I was excited to be able to see the NFL´s foreign relations that Roger Gooddell has publicized in his first year in office.
Saturday morning I went with the coach of our program to escort the players and training staff from their dorms outside of Barcelona to our facilities in Barbara. We are one of two clubs that have a football field in Spain, and it is due to the community support.
Barcelona like many other Mediterranean cities and towns is a family oriented society. The grandparents pick up their grandchildren from school, while it is not uncommon to live at home into your thirties. People believe that sports are an integral part of a child’s development and like everything else they make it a family affair. In contrast to the United States were the games are competitions between schools and private foundations, sports in Barcelona are held in the town community centers that contain fields, gyms, pools, archery rings among many others sports. Games are traditionally held on Saturdays, a day reserved for family and friends to get together. Matches become small parties were after the game everyone goes to the local bar (café) to eat, drink, and relax.
This weekend the NFL had the opportunity to help salvage a little of the support they lost after the failure of NFL Europe. One could see the day would be a long one when all the players against instructions from the town staff marched from the buses across the town’s brand new track with their cleats. The coaches immediately started drills; the culturally diverse players were suited up in their respective club uniforms and had an air of arrogance about them. The only NFL offices in Europe are currently located in London, so they took care of providing the all English training staff. The training staff upon arrival proceeded to order the town staff around to fulfil all of their needs, while chastising in English the incompetency of their work. Over the course of the day many people from the town showed up to watch with their kids. I have to give respect to a DB´s coach from Monroe, Louisiana during breaks would interact with the people and try and teach the kids how to throw a football. All other coaches and staff displayed the royal treatment to everyone in attendance. Practice concluded with the buses pulling up at the back of the field and everyone leaving as quickly as they came. The town was left with a torn up field and a track strewn with trash and debris.
Sunday hoped to provide a little excitement on my part, wishing the last day of camp would enable the coaches and players to correct their mistakes, I was dead wrong. The players and coaches showed up earlier then expected trampling the track and had their practice. Practice concluded and everyone left for the airport to catch their planes back to were they came from.
This weekend I had false hope for the American identity abroad as well as for the positive steps that the NFL could make in Europe. Players on my team only wanted footballs because you are not able to purchase a good one here in Spain. I believed that the town wanted a show, which they should have received for their efforts. Instead of spreading the game we love and cherish Americans and the British showed indifference to the people of Spain.
One thing really got me thinking, why do these people that represent the NFL have such an arrogance about them in a foreign country? 1 player at the tryouts played on the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks and as Allen Iverson so eloquently stated, “practice, were talking about practice”. 1 of the coaches was reportedly the quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame and after last year’s performance he might as well be coaching penguins to fly in Antarctica. What have the British provided to the game? Two of the trainers in attendance of the Giants vs. Dolphins game this past season were to drunk to remember anything that happened. Cheers! (they do have a shirt) Instead of a celebration of sport and a great chance to educate the world, the people of Barbara received a bunch of pompous Rudy’s.(the glorified practice player in the movie of the aforementioned name, played by an actor better known in his role as the Hobbit Sam Ganji in the Lord of the Rings). The field now cannot be practiced on for at least a week, while the track will remain with the holes as the only way to remember the people of the NFL. It seems that the NFL has moved into the realm of many large businesses were money and profit secede their values and product. As I kid I looked up to NFL players and I still do in a lot of ways, the work that many of them do on and off the field should be applauded. For an NFL tryout the same conduct should be expected as for the players in the league. If you want to be an NFL player learn to act like one from the very beginning because if you ever make it you are going to be a role model for kids everywhere.
Not one player/ kid received a ball during the weekend which is the simplest gift to give. In the future if the NFL actually wants to spread globally put some time in and study the culture and be gracious to your hosts. This weekend I was ashamed of the presentation of football in Spain and the people of Barbara deserve an apology. This small culture of football in Europe only wants to be recognized and most importantly learn. If the NFL intends to have a super bowl abroad I hear that Moscow is nice in February and they can include a bottle of Smirnoff and one of those cool looking tank hats with the ear flaps in their gift bags, I will be front and center.
Saturday morning I went with the coach of our program to escort the players and training staff from their dorms outside of Barcelona to our facilities in Barbara. We are one of two clubs that have a football field in Spain, and it is due to the community support.
Barcelona like many other Mediterranean cities and towns is a family oriented society. The grandparents pick up their grandchildren from school, while it is not uncommon to live at home into your thirties. People believe that sports are an integral part of a child’s development and like everything else they make it a family affair. In contrast to the United States were the games are competitions between schools and private foundations, sports in Barcelona are held in the town community centers that contain fields, gyms, pools, archery rings among many others sports. Games are traditionally held on Saturdays, a day reserved for family and friends to get together. Matches become small parties were after the game everyone goes to the local bar (café) to eat, drink, and relax.
This weekend the NFL had the opportunity to help salvage a little of the support they lost after the failure of NFL Europe. One could see the day would be a long one when all the players against instructions from the town staff marched from the buses across the town’s brand new track with their cleats. The coaches immediately started drills; the culturally diverse players were suited up in their respective club uniforms and had an air of arrogance about them. The only NFL offices in Europe are currently located in London, so they took care of providing the all English training staff. The training staff upon arrival proceeded to order the town staff around to fulfil all of their needs, while chastising in English the incompetency of their work. Over the course of the day many people from the town showed up to watch with their kids. I have to give respect to a DB´s coach from Monroe, Louisiana during breaks would interact with the people and try and teach the kids how to throw a football. All other coaches and staff displayed the royal treatment to everyone in attendance. Practice concluded with the buses pulling up at the back of the field and everyone leaving as quickly as they came. The town was left with a torn up field and a track strewn with trash and debris.
Sunday hoped to provide a little excitement on my part, wishing the last day of camp would enable the coaches and players to correct their mistakes, I was dead wrong. The players and coaches showed up earlier then expected trampling the track and had their practice. Practice concluded and everyone left for the airport to catch their planes back to were they came from.
This weekend I had false hope for the American identity abroad as well as for the positive steps that the NFL could make in Europe. Players on my team only wanted footballs because you are not able to purchase a good one here in Spain. I believed that the town wanted a show, which they should have received for their efforts. Instead of spreading the game we love and cherish Americans and the British showed indifference to the people of Spain.
One thing really got me thinking, why do these people that represent the NFL have such an arrogance about them in a foreign country? 1 player at the tryouts played on the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks and as Allen Iverson so eloquently stated, “practice, were talking about practice”. 1 of the coaches was reportedly the quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame and after last year’s performance he might as well be coaching penguins to fly in Antarctica. What have the British provided to the game? Two of the trainers in attendance of the Giants vs. Dolphins game this past season were to drunk to remember anything that happened. Cheers! (they do have a shirt) Instead of a celebration of sport and a great chance to educate the world, the people of Barbara received a bunch of pompous Rudy’s.(the glorified practice player in the movie of the aforementioned name, played by an actor better known in his role as the Hobbit Sam Ganji in the Lord of the Rings). The field now cannot be practiced on for at least a week, while the track will remain with the holes as the only way to remember the people of the NFL. It seems that the NFL has moved into the realm of many large businesses were money and profit secede their values and product. As I kid I looked up to NFL players and I still do in a lot of ways, the work that many of them do on and off the field should be applauded. For an NFL tryout the same conduct should be expected as for the players in the league. If you want to be an NFL player learn to act like one from the very beginning because if you ever make it you are going to be a role model for kids everywhere.
Not one player/ kid received a ball during the weekend which is the simplest gift to give. In the future if the NFL actually wants to spread globally put some time in and study the culture and be gracious to your hosts. This weekend I was ashamed of the presentation of football in Spain and the people of Barbara deserve an apology. This small culture of football in Europe only wants to be recognized and most importantly learn. If the NFL intends to have a super bowl abroad I hear that Moscow is nice in February and they can include a bottle of Smirnoff and one of those cool looking tank hats with the ear flaps in their gift bags, I will be front and center.
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