What type of D do you Play?

With each passing week I find myself learning at least one new spanish phrase.  This week’s phrase was picked up during our Friday night scouting report.  I sat in the dark office between Sara Castrillo and the file cabinet, just like I do every Friday.  “Leslie, apaga las luces, por favor,” I turn off the lights and the session begins.  

Charly has written a small scouting report on each player.  In the beginning of the year I tried to read each sentence, but my reading comprehension is oh-so-slow compared to the lightening speed at which Charly speaks, so I have since given up and instead try to fall into sync with the rhythm of his words.  I do not try to understand each word he says, but sort of just let the phrases fall upon my ears while collecting a gist of what is really important.  Anyway, this past Friday he spurted out a sentence that made me think, question myself and then laugh.  After the film session I asked one of me teammates if I had understood correctly and she confirmed my thoughts. 

If we were talking about basketball back home and we were describing a player who does not play defense, what would we say? Something like “she doesn’t play a lick of defense.”  Which now that I think about it, this sentence would probably sound just as funny to non-native english speakers as the spanish phrase did to me.  Ok, getting to the point, the phrase that I heard was, “No defender un pimiento!”  In other words, the girl that he was describing “couldn’t defend a pepper” or “doesn’t play defense worth a pepper.”  I thought that this phrase was absolutely hilarious and hopefully you found it at least a bit amusing as well, if not, sorry.

pimientos.

The team we played this week was called, Irlandesas, from the Basque Country, near Bilbao.  The team bus pulled out of the parking lot around 10:30am on Saturday morning and we arrived at our destination around 4:30pm.  The game didn’t start until 6:30pm so of course we found the nearest bar and went in for a coffee.  Our previous meeting against Irlandesas finished in a victory for Alcobendas, but that was with Sarah Crooks.  This time around would be a bit different.  The first 10 minute quarter flew by in a flurry of baskets; the score board read 20-20.  We went on to win the 2nd quarter by one, 16-15 and the 3rd quarter by 7, 19-12.  The 4th quarter was the kicker.  I believe that we played the best 35 minutes of basketball that we have played all year, but everyone knows that a full game is 40 minutes and 5 minutes of mayhem can send you packing.  In the 4th and final quarter, Alcobendas put up a measly 6 points while their competition rallied to tally 19 big ones.  At one point during the 3rd quarter we had built our lead to 11, hitting on all cylinders and striking at our opponents like a heavy duty battering ram.  In the end, however, they persevered and took the win right out from under us, 66-61.  Very frustrating indeed. 

After the game I approached the American post player from Irlandesas to ask her where she was from.  She said that she was from Chicago and played at Purdue.  Bingo, I knew her name was familiar.  Anybody remember a strong looking post player from Purdue by the name of Emily Heikes?  Well, she graduated in 2005 and I do not think that we ever competed against each other in a game, but regardless it is always nice to meet a former Big Ten player. 

Big 10 connection

The ride home was a long one and if it were not for the series of Sexo en la Ciudad (Sex and the City) that Ana Aritzmendi-Milan brought along, I do not know how I would have made it.  Back home a player always has the luxury of pulling out their cell phone and talking with family and friends, but when you are not paying for an international phone bill, that is an option. 

Switching directions a little bit here, let us talk about something a bit more cheery.  How many of you have made it to the theaters to watch the movie, Avatar in 3D?  Well, if you have not seen it yet, I recommend that you do before it leaves the big screen.  The theater we went to was called, Kinepolis, which made me smile and think of Minneapolis.  This place was ginormous, showing as many as 25 movies at one time.  Now, I would be watching and listening as these giant blue Na’vi creatures spoke in Spanish the whole time, but that did not really phase me, I was just excited to be seeing the movie.  In the end, with the help of all the action and the emotions of the characters I was able to sum up what I had just seen and of course my friend was able to answer any lingering questions and doubts that I had.  There are not too many movies that leave me with the desire to watch them again, but Avatar was so incredibly rich, colorful and imaginative that I would definitely enjoy viewing it for a second or third time. 

Avatar.

Leslie’s Loose Ends:

 The other day, a friend of mine presented me with a snack of cold hotdogs, french bread, slices of white cheese and chunks of octopus.  Pretty normal if you ask me, right?