Post Trip

If a watched pot never boils, then a watched phone never rings.

The wedding was quite a party.  Friends.  Relatives. Music. Dancing.  It was one of those rare weddings where the dance floor was never empty.  I have to give the DJ credit, he really kept it lively, but as my son's new father-in-law noted, "it's the people that make a party."  The people at this party kept it going until deep into the night and there was even a post party back at the hotel into the wee hours of the morning.

I was scheduled to go fly back to Shang Hai Sunday afternoon.  It would have been very difficult to kiss the wife and kids and head out.  But I was also hoping to get a call that an alternative sponsor had been found and the final dates of the tour were back on.  It was truly the definition of mixed emotions. 

I heard from Jeremy via e-mail that the team won a game over the weekend.  The addition of an American player from UNC-G had increased the outside fire power.  The general feeling was if he had been around the whole time......

That's really sports.  It is brief windows of opportunity which open and close and in the middle you have to make the most of it.  Players never really know which game is their last.  Coaches never really know if the game plan they worked so hard on will be sufficient.  Even the fans, they do not know which game will be the best they ever saw when they buy a ticket.

It's about the people.  Making connections. The Australians were an incredible group of guys.  They made me feel welcomed and respected right from the first minute.  Jeremy, Dave, and Anna were an incredible administrative crew.  I hope some of them take me up on my offer to buy them a Tony Luke's cheesesteak if they come to Philadelphia. 

For now, it's back to Peach Country.  There is comfort in routine. But I am looking forward to the discomfort of a new routine.  I am certainly trying to parlay this experience into full time basketball gig.  But in the meantime, there is a group of people who I enjoy working with and lots of work to be done.  I will keep one eye on the phone and one on the road.