30 Home Games: love this game

Showing posts with label love this game. Show all posts

Sunday, January 21, 2024

Full @30HomeGames interview with GetBuckets on YouTube

<< crossposted on the 30HomeGames Medium blog

I was interviewed by Ryan of GetBuckets to close out 2023, we reflected on our time in Manila for the FIBA World Cup and talked about the world game. I had excerpted our conversation for an IG guide, but seeing as that feature was disabled, I've transferred that info here. You can still scroll through the IG guides via this link: 30HomeGames Instagram guides.

VIDEO: The NBA is not it and FIBA is proving its case

Chatting with Ryan from Get Buckets.
We debriefed after our FIBAWC experience in Manila.
Find the full vid on the 'Get Buckets' YouTube channel.

My intention for FIBAWC 2023 in Jakarta 🇮🇩, Okinawa 🇯🇵 and Manila 🇵🇭

My World Cup Intention
LE: (1m 03s) I knew I had to do it my way, which is usually doing it all 3. Obviously most people will watch their team and whoever the host is, maybe go to Manila for the finals phase.

Because I'm doing it as a traveller, backpacker and explorer and also just someone who wants to immerse myself in the experience, I had to do it all.

Lietuva, where @30HomeGames began
LE: (2m 08s) I was hooping in Rotterdam🇳🇱 with a Spanish guy from the hostel… and he goes "You love basketball, you should go to EuroBasket".

I was like, "What's EuroBasket?"

He explained it to me, I looked it up and went to Lithuania a couple of months later… I got to see Dirk Nowitzki, Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah, Boris Diaw. All NBA guys obviously but that's a side of the game that maybe people don't know about.
You know "The Dream Team", you know your local national team but there's a whole world out there.

Taiwanese superfans of the Baltics in Jakarta

Hoops opening up the world
LE: (5m 22s) The more curious and the more you find out, the more you realise there's more curiosity to look into. There's more that we can dig into…"

Find your pack
LE: (7m 14) We all have to realise that attention is paid to what's popular but there's always going to be a small subgroup of people.

People like Australians who like the Boomers. People who like small market teams, who like the Grizzlies and the Timberwolves who are like
"🙋‍♂️ How about us? 🙋‍♀️ How about us?".
There's always been that tussle.

On growing the fanbase
LE: (8m 20s) For me - and we can talk about this with women's sport or just anything. You just need to build a loyal fanbase. You need to build a fanbase that's "ride or die " with you and who are genuine about the team. Genuine about the culture.

Success can bring you new fans, success can bring you new audiences... but you just need that loyalty, you need that culture. You need that sense of community.

Lebanon fans in Jakarta for FIBAWC

Win for Lebanon
LE: (10m 15s) My first World Cup game was Latvia vs Lebanon, probably the best crowd on both sides I experienced. Lebanon came second in FIBA Asia, Wael Arakji is a player I really like so I came in wanting to like Lebanon. They had an amazing support group... a massive amount of Lebanese fans, that's what it's about..."

Gold stays forever
RA: (11m 08s) This is where I really appreciated that mob of Australians, the old heads who were even wearing custom shirts… Even if the Boomers weren't there, they all had fun. That's what it's all about, being with your mates and enjoying the sport that you love.

Pilipinas at Australia (February 2018)

They say we love basketball
RA: (14m 28s) If the Philippines or Filipinos have the ability to support, they will.
...
In 2018 there was an exhibition match in Melbourne... Gilas vs Boomers. 80% attending were Filipinos IN Australia.
I was so proud that I was there, it was insane!
...
They will support the Philippines team, it's just outside of them and Team USA, it needs some work. I don't think it's the Filipinos' fault. Again, credit to the huge marketing machine that is the NBA...

Love of the game
LE: (19m 09s) You've seen this with sneakers… everyone's a sneakerhead now and everyone knows more about sneakers than you do. Then you're like wait "Didn't you just get into it two years ago?"

But that's all of life now...

Guest piece for 'SBS Voices'
LE: (19m 24s) Everything is just accessible but how does that translate into authentic following. Because if it's easy to get into something, it's also easy to get out of something out.

RA: That's right. Is it a trend or do you believe it as a person and it just became a trend?

This. Is. Wrestling. #30HGlive

Then. Now. Forever.
LE: (20m 08s) Everyone likes everything.

RA: There's small bubbles everywhere. They like their own thing.

LE: But then how many things in your life have you liked since you were 15? That to me is what's interesting… That's basketball for me. It's pro-wrestling as well and then there's a million other things.
But that's also what makes me, me.

Best way to find out
LE: (21m 53s) You want to search for it. There's a comedian Pete Holmes who [has a joke] about Googling. You can Google all knowledge but the best knowledge is when you experience it, maybe organically through conversation or organically through life...
And so for me that story is amazing because you had the intention for something to happen... And to me that's what the experience of going on these trips is about.

Getting swept up by @Gromuls and Team Latvia

The Latvian connection
LE: (23m 32s) I'm walking towards there, then I see a bunch of Latvians and I'm like "They're going to the game, I'll follow them
...
They're friendly to me and they give me a [Rolands Šmits] shirt so I become part of their crew...
So [@gromuls] he's a TikToker, an influencer, and he just knows everyone in Latvia so I was just connected with him for all the games yeah...

Meeting Raimonds Vējonis

LE: (24m 14s) "I want to introduce you to someone. he's the President of Basketball". So I shake his hand, take a photo. He's a cool guy.

Then later on everyone else is taking photos with him and one of the guys goes, "You know who that is right? That's the former President of Latvia".
...
This is who I want to meet and connect with. People who are just like: You're a fan, I'm a fan.
I'm a person, you're a person.

Srbija Got Game

RA: (27m 58s) You want to understand why the last three MVPs in the NBA are not American, this is why. You have to see how they play, how they connect. They're so different.

I go back to Bogdan, this is why I want a Bogdan jersey... he's the lifeblood of the Serbian team.

Approaching 10 years of @30HomeGames. A decade of travelling and connecting over a shared love of basketball.

This year I'll be celebrating 10 years since founding 30HomeGames in Vilnius, Lithuania. I was recently invited on 'The Baseline Podcast' with Stevie Cozens to share my stories as a basketball traveller.

VIDEO: Official EuroBasket 2011 Anthem (English version)

Stevie is a New Zealander with a passion for hoops, he has an interesting mixture of guests who cover a range of perspectives on the game. The pandemic has put a halt on life as usual for all of us. Putting privileges like travel and opportunity in perspective, I'm lucky to have been able to take my chances over the years. Whilst New Zealand is an emerging basketball nation, Stevie and the Baseline Podcast is a great example of how technology and shared interests can open our world and shrink the distance between us. Even when we're robbed of travel or away from the action.

My 7 year old daughter was introduced to the WNBA today in @sabrina_i20 's debut. "Mom, I can be a basketball player even though I'm a girl?" Yes baby girl, you can do anything ❤️ pic.twitter.com/EmzVeB8i8r
— Dia (@diandraann) July 25, 2020

Stevie's guests on the Baseline Podcast have mirrored epiphanies I've had on my own journey. Photographer Diandra Ann shares her discoveries after being exposed to a wider universe of hoops through her work and fandom.

Catching Up With Diandra Ann, The Queen of Blazers Twitter
DIANDRA ANN: (10m 55s) This is all a new world to me. I'm getting familiar with it as I go because there's so much that I don't know still but like you said this is really well known outside of the United States. I think of a lot of it is why you watch basketball? Do you watch basketball because you like LeBron James (nothing against LeBron James, he's a fantastic player). But do you watch basketball because of that or do you watch basketball cause you like to watch basketball? And I think if you're a person who just likes to watch basketball there are so many other people out there that you could be watching including organisations like FIBA...

For Diandra, her exposure began when she started working with Swish Cultures and FIBA. Having international colleagues and doing work with a global focus on the game gave her access to another perspective. Travel has usually been my gateway. I've cultivated my curiosity by exploring different cultures but personal connections to places and people cement that fondness. 30HomeGames began after spending an incredible month backpacking around hoops-mad Lithuania as they hosted EuroBasket '11. The festival atmosphere connecting with hoopheads from around Europe and the amazing hospitality from locals has been a high I've chased ever since.

DIANDRA: (16m 16s) When you put people in that are the best of what you've got then you've got the fans behind you and you build that global awareness for the game outside of just the United States. I still feel like I don't fully understand all of it as far as all the leagues, who's where and all that stuff. I'm kinda figuring it out as I go cuz it's all very new for me because I wasn't really exposed to it before.
When you hear people say all the time "Representation Matters. Exposure Matters" and all those things and that's very true because if you don't know it exists its hard to be familiar with it. As it gets more recognition and as it becomes a bigger thing we're gonna hopefully see excitement building for basketball outside of the NBA and the WNBA...

I'm a big believer in narrative, its a powerful drive in basketball. Its the reason we adore certain teams and players and why we despise others. It's also what pushes us to collect certain basketball cards or buy certain sneaker colourways. Its worth examining those stories because I think it tells us a lot about ourselves and each other. Looking at all my faves through the years, I've found that I have a bias towards, underdogs, small market teams and international players which I touched on in my episode.

Another conversation that resonated with me was Stevie's chat with Kaan Erel. Kaan was a contestant on 'GM School' which originally aired on NBATV and YouTube. His perspective on networking reflected my own, interestingly 'GM School' host Ben Lyons has been one of the most meaningful connections I've made on my 30HomeGames journey. I speak on that in my conversation with Stevie.

VIDEO: GM School - Kaan Erel

Kaan unpacks the basics of interpersonal connection and being able to present oneself as a professional asset. His words also double as great life advice.

Career In Basketball Media With Kaan Erel
KAAN EREL: (34m 22s) Networking is crucial to display who you are to the people that you want... you gotta know who you are and be able to describe yourself in a way that you agree with it. Once you stop trying to get someone else to agree that you are worth it... once you find your own self worth, it becomes easy to talk about it to other people...
You never know when relationships will become something of actual business or professional value but if you don't go into them with that in mind they hold value just because of the connection... It's all about building connections that can amount to different things in the future. That's what I think networking is. It's not about "I need to find a job" or "I need to change out". I wanna meet more people because that's what life is actually about.

This sentiment by Kaan is something I touched on with Stevie. I have a similar philosophy around social media and been blessed to find the right people. My first NBA game was in 2015 at Madison Square Garden. As I do before embarking on my trips, I try to reach out to the destination NBA teams in search of a unique fan experience. During that time I had a modest 200+ Instagram followers (admittedly I don't have too much more 10 years on) but the New York Knicks graciously provided our traveling crew pregame access. That initial experience proved to me I didn't need to have tens of thousands of followers to warrant a connection. Genuineness and openness with timing and good fortune mixed in can go a long way.

Its an honour to be able to share my story on the Baseline Podcast. Enjoy the show.

Follow Stevie Cozens online here:
- Twitter at @StevieCozens
- Instagram at @BasketballContentNZ
- Subscribe to 'The Baseline Podcast'

Follow Diandra Ann online here:
- Twitter at @DiandraAnn
- Instagram at @Diandra.Ann

Follow Kaan Eral online here:
- Twitter at @iKaanic
- Instagram at @iKaanic

Thursday, September 12, 2019

How basketball leads to connection: Isaac Eger on the 'Dear Adam Silver' podcast by Abigail Smithson

Writer and baller Isaac Eger AKA @gluten_daddy

I founded my 30HomeGames mission in Vilnius, Lithuania. I created the project after an unforgettable month traveling the country as the hoopsmad nation hosted EuroBasket 2011. It was my way of preserving that spirit and hopefully a way to keep chasing that high. It was the highlight of my year backpacking Europe, unlocking experiences and connections through a shared love of basketball.

My approach to travel is an extension of how I approach life: Wherever you are, be an interesting and interested person. Basketball becoming my wayfinder these past few years since founding @30HomeGames. I consume and follow plenty of hoops writers. Whilst traveling for work can be standard in sports journalism, I hadn't found many writers with the travel experience or approach that resonated with me.

Rafe Bartholomew was one I admired, he's an American who travelled deeply around the Philippines. Immersing himself in the culture and learning the language in order to understand why a small island nation was obsessed with basketball.

Episode 12: Isaac Eger on the Art of Playing Pickup Basketball

Isaac Eger was another. I found him through some streetball articles a few years ago. I enjoyed his gonzo approach to life and basketball and followed him since. He was a recent guest on artist Abigail Smithson's podcast 'Dear Adam Silver'. She discovered him the same way, describing him in the episode intro thusly:

Isaac is a writer and pickup basketball player, he has played the game all over the world. From Sarasota, Florida to New York City, to Cuba, Israel, Lithuania and Tibet. I reached out to Isaac a couple of years ago after reading an essay he wrote for Los Angeles Magazine about playing street basketball in LA.

In the episode, Abigail and Isaac discuss the power of games and how it allows us to connect with strangers and strange lands.

'Dear Adam Silver' Episode 12: Isaac Eger on the Art of Playing Pickup Basketball
ISAAC EGER: (43m 08s) We play basketball for reasons beyond just the game itself. I think that playing pickup basketball forces you to interact with people in a way that you wouldn't otherwise. I love playing basketball in different countries because I don't feel like a tourist. You know I feel very much on the level with everybody else...
ABIGAIL SMITHSON: Yeah it just seems like a powerful way to sort of build belonging where there is no belonging.

Abigail continues with a point that I've personally lived by. I backpacked Europe in 2011, then South America in 2013. All my travels since have been Stateside or around Australia, always instigated by basketball. The beauty of this calling is it allows me to explore overlooked locales and find appreciation for any destination.

SMITHSON: (45m 12s) Yeah and I think when you're going to a new place and you get off a plane and then all of a sudden there's this other language around you and everything that you're used to is different. The fact that knowing you have a starting point is really a nice thing. It's like you can always go back to basketball to interact with that place. Rather than feeling like you have nothing to do or feel very groundless.

View this post on Instagram

Alice in Wonderland, the OG Space Jam 🕳🐰. #JordanIII

A post shared by Loz In Transit (@30homegames) on Oct 9, 2018 at 1:32am PDT

My @30homegames Instagram project has been a handy catalyst for me to seek adventure. Because I've designed it so every post is basketball related, plenty of life experience goes uncatalogued. It's these times that are often the most unforgettable. Lost in the moment with newly made friends, wandering the unbeaten path. Feeling like Alice in Wonderland.

EGER: (45m 38s) That's the first place I always go to whenever I travel. I always look for the basketball court and I let everything else happen on the way to the basketball court. I'm very frequently on foot and a lot of the stories I write about that have nothing to do with basketball, I discover to and from the basketball court. When I go travel, I don't look to go to museums any more. I always found it to be a funny phenomena where people don't go to the museums in their hometown but the second they're in Paris, "We got to go to the Louvre". It's just like "Why?". Why do you feel like you have to go? So I almost avoid that and so if there's a basketball court on the way to the Louvre or I meet an employee there that can get me in for free or I get some special treatment then hell yeah I'll go. Otherwise I don't want to follow the same grooves everyone else has gone through in their travels...

Playing streetball with Colombian locals on Christmas Day 2013

My camera roll is odd and cryptic, devoid of selfies or tourist photos much to my parents chagrin. I have an archive of obscure jerseys in the wild, hoops of the world and nerdy stealth shots. I do it because I enjoy it. I learnt a while ago that one has to find joy in the process. In travel as in life, doing things to impress others is a fool's game if you're not enjoying the lived experience.

SMITHSON: (47m 17s) I don't think that following that blueprint of "these are the places you can't miss". It leaves you feeling a little bit like you've experienced this place in a very enclosed way and your idea of that place hasn't necessarily changed based on your experience.
EGER: Think about the way people share or position themselves relative to these places they have to go visit? I'm sure you've seen the people who are always holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
SMITHSON: Yeah, of course.
EGER: It becomes–It's no different than a green screen at that point.
SMITHSON: Totally. I have to say if I was there, it would be hard for me not to do it. I mean I've never been. I would just do because maybe that's why we interact with that space but I understand I'm trying not to seek them out because I think it lessens the chance that there's this unknown and a variable and when you have a list and when you have a travel book of all the sights you should see. Those variables you can't hear them as much.

Read Isaac Eger's articles:
- What Pickup Basketball Reveals About L.A.
- ‘I Got Next’: Exploring New York Through Pickup Basketball
- @gluten_daddy on Instagram

Find Abigail Smithson's work here:

- Official folio site
- 'Dear Adam Silver' podcast
- @abigailsmithson on Instagram

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

David Jacoby on "Homerism" and being a die-easy fan

The Midas touch continues, home teams have gone 9-0 when I've been in the building. More often than not, said home teams were underdogs or underperforming. True. 2014-15 season: OKC (23-22) lose@ NYK (8-37) DEN (19-29) lose@ PHI (10-39) LAC (33-16) lose@ CLE (30-20) 2016-17 season: MIL (4-2) lose@ DAL (0-5) PHI (1-8) lose@ HOU (5-4) UTA (7-6) lose@ HOU (7-5) DET (4-4) lose@ SAS (5-3) 2017 Playoffs SAS (2nd) lose@ MEM (7th) Gm4 WAS (4th) lose@ ATL (5th) Gm4 #AddtheW #30HGroadtrip #30HGsoutheast

A post shared by Loz In Transit (@30homegames) on Apr 24, 2017 at 9:42pm PDT

Die-easy fan David Jacoby shares a sentiment straight out of my brain.

AUDIO: Goodell Strikes Back, Billboard Message In Philly, Lonzo's Top 5 and More (Feb 27, 2018)
JALEN ROSE: (9m 43s) Is there a limit on how many teams you can be die-easy for?
DAVID JACOBY: No. You know how die-easy fandom works Jalen. That's how it works. I can do whatever I want.
You know what I do when I go to games? This is for real. This is the most die-easy thing I do.
When I go to games, you know who I root for?
JALEN ROSE: The home team.
JACOBY: The home team.
*Jalen Rose laughing*

Just to be excited. I like the energy. I like the collective energy of the human beings around me. I like to get swept up in the emotion. Like I swear --the Podfather [Bill Simmons] doesn't listen to this show so he won't mind-- but when I go to Celtics/Clippers games or something. I'll root against the Celtics. I just like to high five the people around me. I like to chant "D-Fence!". You know what I mean? I like the collective energy. I like to stand up in a big possession.

I've been lucky to visit multiple basketball cities. For each of those games, I've barracked excitedly for the home team. I'm 14-1 in NBA cities watched and 5-2 for NBL games. I began with 5 straight wins on my recent tour of Australasia. Including watching the slumping (7 losses straight) Brisbane Bullets reverse their fortune against the streaking 36ers (7 game win streak). Interestingly my two blemishes came from formidable playoff-bound teams.

My homer tour of Australia.

My hometown Sydney Kings not included.

I'm a fan of the game, I'd like to preserve that as best as possible. For this Oz tour I took game day photos capturing perspectives for each NBL arena. It was fun running around taking a holistic view of the game but it was a balancing act. Focusing on the contest at hand whilst documenting the energy around me. Being invested in the success of the home team certainly heightened my engagement. It struck a nerve when my home win streak finally fell in New Zealand.

DAVID: JACOBY That's why I'll never get a press pass. Two reasons I'll never get a press pass, never get credentialed. Number one, you can't drink. So-- you know.
*Jalen hasn't stopped giggling*
Number two, you gotta act like you don't care about the game. You know what I mean? When you're in the press area. You have to sit there and be [in serious voice] "I'm a journalist. The outcome of this game doesn't affect me. I'm just here to analyse the performance of the different teams"
JALEN ROSE: That's hilarious.

I have no problem being labeled a die-easy fan. A big part of travel for me is connection, building empathy. I've certainly developed kinships with places visited, the more positive the experience the deeper the bond. It's worth noting I've never watched a game where my favored Memphis Grizzlies or hometown Sydney Kings were visitors. When allegiances are tested I can only hope for a well-fought match. You could argue that my 30 Home Games mission is rooted in being openhearted and die-easy.
First and foremost, I'm a basketball fan.

- Souvenir NBA merchandise and the Politics of being a Sports Homer #30HGtees
- David Jacoby on "Homerism" and being a die-easy fan

Update: Since 2016, I've been making bandwagon logos for NBA teams that earn a playoff berth.

#30HGlogos

Monday, January 8, 2018

Team Chemistry: Pete Holmes and Bill Simmons on the bonds one makes through pick-up basketball

Pete Holmes and friends

Pete Homes' You Made it Weird' is my favourite podcast. I've quoted it extensively for my travels as his outlook echoes many of the observations and epiphanies I've found in my own life. Whilst Pete and Bill share a history growing up in Boston, Pete is unabashedly not a sports aficionado.

AUDIO: Pete Holmes on Conspiracies, Humor, and ‘Crashing’
PETE HOLMES: (18m 28s) This is a joke I've told before but when we used to play pick-up basketball, I didn't count points. I counted friends I'd made. Which is true. Like when guys fight and stuff, I'm like "Fellas. It's f*cking pretend."
BILL SIMMONS: Right.
HOLMES: It's 11 to 6 like who f*cking cares. We just made that up. That's two, that one's worth three. It's all baloney and people getting along mattered more to me than that.
SIMMONS: That's my favourite part of basketball.
HOLMES: Is what?
SIMMONS: Is the relationships. Is the going and playing, staying on the court for three hours. Making like weird friends you'd never make normally. Never seeing those people again after the game.

This exchange resonates with me. For my European and South American trips spanning 2 years, I sought out basketball experiences and pick-up games with locals in each country visited. Sometimes these came via Couchsurfing, more often than not connections were created organically.

December 25, 2013. Bogotá, Colombia.

A conversation struck up over a basketball tee might lead to a pickup game the next day. I reconnected with the driver who picked me up while hitching and watched a game at his nightclub days later. During a lonely holiday period in Colombia, my Christmas day spent hooping with locals punctuated my trip with indelible memories.

A post shared by Loz In Transit (@30homegames) on Jan 9, 2018 at 12:11am PST

It's moments like these that have me pursuing my hoop dreams of travel even as that shot clock winds down. I recently embarked on my Australia tour to tip-off 2018, having just completed my first jaunt in Adelaide. There I met a German backpacker, his "Frankfurt Basketball" tee immediately catching my attention. He remarked over beers, "I want a life I'm happy with on the inside rather than living one other people enjoy from the outside".
Echoing Pete Holmes' sentiment, sometimes we find joy in the little things. From parts of the game where one might not expect it.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

The South 2017: NBA Roadtrip wishlist

@30HomeGames goes South:

Memphis & Atlanta (April 23 21 - May 1)

I'm heading to the South for my first taste of Playoff basketball, hoping to catch two teams with sentimental connections.

~~Good news: I'm flying in to Memphis for the 2017 NBA postseason.~~
~~Bad news: I might not get to see my team play.~~

It was always going to be a Riverboat gamble. Threading the needle with work leave, I was securing travel plans before the Playoff schedule was released. Using last year's programme and comparable seedings as a rough guide, I took a chance. It turns out a previous season's calendar has no bearing on future schedules. Lesson learnt.
Memphis starts their series rematch with San Antonio on the opening day of the Postseason. Unlike last year, the first round games this season have a tighter turnaround. Arriving Stateside on the 9th day of the Playoffs, I narrowly miss the two guaranteed games at FedExForum. I'm left to pray that the series grits to a 6th game where it returns to Memphis. That would be a dream.
~~Mercifully I'm able to catch Game 4 in Atlanta versus the Wizards. My initiation into Playoff basketball.~~

This trip came about quite suddenly. A flash of inspiration had me scrambling for work leave and securing flights before the schedules had even been released. 30HomeGames will be at Game 4 in Atlanta and Memphis.

Believe Memphis

The Grizz are my team and Marc Gasol is my favourite player. There's uncertainty about how much longer the Core 4 of the Memphis will remain intact and the retirement of the ageless Vince Carter looms. 1st year Assistant Coach, Nick Van Exel is one of my all-time faves too. Having welcoming colleagues within the Grizzlies organization in 'The Basketball Physio's Dean & Dave gave me the impetus to make my Grindhouse pilgrimage sooner rather than later. I hope to connect with the Melbourne lads during my time in the Blues City.

True to Atlanta

Inspired by Outkast and Hawks basketball, my current rec ball team are the 'ATLiens'. We emerged as Champs in our maiden season and as an added surprise got major love from some of the ATL's biggest boosters. NBA Hang Time's Lang Whitaker and Sekou Smith are our 6th men from across the pond, complete with team jerseys. I'm not sure if either sportswriter will be returning home to cover Atlanta's games but it would be a treat to run into our ATLiens teammates.

Atlanta and Memphis rank 4 and 5 respectively on Jalen Rose's "Black Guy City" power rankings. Coupled with one of America's finest cities in Nashville, the trip is fixin' to be a blast. Truth be told, I'd also love to meet Harry the Hawk and Grizz, my two favorite mascots. Harry has the League's best Social Media game, whilst Grizz reps Memphis Wrestling.

My grand plan for the year had been Congo-Brazzaville for AfroBasket 2017. This completes my set, visiting each Continent for FIBA competition. I'd allocated most of my work leave and bankroll for that adventure in August. I had a feeling my 30HomeGames mission would never feel whole if I never watched my Grit-'N'-Grind Grizzlies in person thus my impromptu jaunt. It's a brief trip but I have my fingers crossed the Grizzlies will come through.

Greetings from Memphis, Tennessee

MEMPHIS
Wrestling
_ Millington Mayhem 4 "United We Stand" (Apr 29 at N-82 gymnasium)
_ Real South Wrestling Federation (Apr 29 at 3715 South Perkins suite 21)

Other
_ Jerry Lawler's BBQ
_ King Jerry Lawler's Hall of Fame Bar & Grille
_ Grizzlies-branded court at 'Howze Park', Binghamton
_ Riverboat Gambling
- Gus's World Famous Hot & Spicy Chicken
- Champagning and Campaigning in the NBA Cities: Western Conference

Memphis Grizzlies:
FedEx Forum
191 Beale Street Memphis,
Tennessee 38103

Game 3: Thursday Apr 20, 9:30pm
Game 4: Saturday Apr 22, 8pm
Game 6*: Thursday Apr 27 TBD

Greetings from Nashville, Tennessee

NASHVILLE
Wrestling
_ Freedom Pro Wrestling

Comedy
_ Zanies (Gary Gulman, Apr 27-29)
_ Third Roast Comedy Club

Other
_ 'Master of None' Hits and Misses

Greetings from Atlanta, Georgia

ATLANTA
Comedy
_ Relapse Theatre (Myq Kaplan, Apr 27)
_ Laughing Skull Lounge
_ Highwire Comedy Co.

Other
_ Hawks-branded court at 'Welcome All Park', College Park
- Champagning and Campaigning in the NBA Cities: Eastern Conference

Atlanta Hawks:
Philips Arena
1 Philips Drive,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Game 3: Saturday Apr 22, 5:30pm
Game 4: Monday Apr 24, 8pm
Game 6*: Friday Apr 28 TBD

Related posts:
- Jalen Rose's City Power Rankings aka Black Guy City Power Rankings
- 30 Home Games mission: Southwest Division map
- All posts on the Memphis Grizzlies

Sunday, April 3, 2016

LozinTransit in 2015: American Roadtrip, FIBA Oceania and Asia

<<crossposted on the 'Loz in Translation' blog

Founded in Lithuania during EuroBasket 2011, I've been documenting my search for basketball experiences on my @30HomeGames project. It became an Instagram-focused pursuit when I got my first smartphone in 2014, each day capturing a moment through the lens of basketball. Whether its snapping basketball kicks on a bushwalk, a jersey at a foodie gathering or finding "hoops of the world". These daily scavenger hunts have made my adventures at home as novel as my adventures abroad, a premium placed on quirky and improbable intersections.

#30HomeGames in 2015: USA Roadtrip and being the Ultimate NBA fan

I started 2015 with a splash, spending 2 weeks on the US East Coast. The New York Knicks graciously hosted my friends and I at the "world famous" Madison Square Garden. An auspicious start for my mission to visit all 30 NBA Cities.

In 2011 and 2013 I quit work and went on extended trips, 13 and 6 months respectively. I knew this wouldn't be the case for 2015 but continuing my FIBA (International Basketball Federation) streak would be a solid consolation. During my EuroTrip I spent a month in Lithuania as they hosted the biennial European Basketball Championship. I made sure to attend the Americas equivalent in Venezuela during my 2013 South America Trip. For 2015 I had a choice between FIBA Asia and AfroBasket. I had sights on the African tourney in Tunisia but ultimately decided against it with uncertain developments in the area. Going to Changsha, China for FIBA Asia and adding nearby Wellington and Melbourne for FIBA Oceania rounded out a worthy mission for the year.

Stash from Australia, New Zealand and China

Under the umbrella #30HGaustralasia, the itinerary for Oceania was:
Aug 15 - Melbourne, Australia. FIBA Oceania Game 1
Aug 18 - Wellington, New Zealand. FIBA Oceania Game 2
Aug 22 - Melbourne, Australia. LSU Downunder Tour
Sep 23 to Oct 3 - Changsha, China. FIBA Asia
Oct 11 - Shenzhen, China. NBA Global Games

As with previous forays into FIBA action, watching games came with a learning curve. I endeavour to watch as many of the competing nations as possible, sourcing tickets through official channels. Regular games usually don't meet quarter capacity whilst the host nation plays to a packed house which often means having to brave the secondary market. With FIBA Asia in Changsha, there was little choice but to deal with secondary vendors. Rather than having booths by the stadium, tickets were sold at the nearby university. A stall was set up with all the tickets emanating from a lone backpack manned by a student-type, these were snapped up by enterprising locals who tried their luck reselling them. All transactions were cash in hand which makes one wonder where the money ultimately ended up. How much you paid for tickets fluctuated with demand and the whims or mercy of the vendor, a glimpse into the negotiable markets of China.

In some ways this helped. I paid most for tickets in the beginning when I was just getting my bearings and saved money progressively. I watched all 7 Gilas Pilipinas victories paying around 100-200 RMB (AU$20-$40) for the earlier, less coveted games. Come the Playoffs as Gilas matches were incorporated into double-headers with the China games, we were able to ask for tickets from the departing locals who only wanted to watch their national team play. We had to compete with savvy resellers doing the same. Newcomers invariably get taken advantage of so it helps to ask around and get a lay of the land as early as possible. The fun part about these trips are always the things you stumble on and the connections you make that can only happen by being on the ground and having your feelers out.

A photo posted by 30homegames (@30homegames) on Sep 30, 2015 at 5:20pm PDT

Whilst this proved successful for watching other games, I ultimately couldn't stomach paying the high price to see the host nation play. I departed Changsha altogether on the morning of the Philippines VS China grand final knowing it'd be futile trying to watch it live. Reports would later say that even Filipino coaching staff had trouble securing tickets for the game.

This proved the same for the NBA Global Games in Shenzhen between the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers. With tickets starting at a hefty AU$80 and ultimately selling out, I braced myself for an uphill battle. I was happy to observe the pandemonium in search for access but didn't want to risk any money by joining them, I witnessed every manner of bribery and trickery imaginable from eager travelers and locals desperate to watch the game.

Vista views: Fenghuang and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Ticketing aside, for me these trips are shaped by the adventures outside of basketball. Without the benefit of a rolling start and the considerable language barrier, this mission was arguably my most challenging travel experience. As South China was less frequented by western travelers I didn't encounter many peers, on the other hand I was less concerned about falling prey to travel scams. Interestingly as China is densely populated and I'd unwittingly visited during the Golden Week holiday, I was never very far from hordes of Chinese locals who were commuting during their short annual window away from work. En route to my final basketball destination in Shenzhen, I spent a week traveling through Fenghuang (Ancient Phoenix town) and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (popularly inspiring James Cameron's 'Avatar'). Heavy rain and a severe dose of food poisoning put a damper on some of the days but it turned out to be some of the most scenic places I've ever visited.

The China trip gave me lessons and set expectations for AfroBasket and FIBA World Cup if I am to pursue them. Likewise for missions in general. At times it can feel more like a business trip, as previously these basketball trips were happy detours on a larger backpacking adventure I hadn't really noticed the process of it previously. Interestingly all my trips this year have been in the service of basketball, beginning with USA to Melbourne, New Zealand and China. I like traveling with a larger theme in mind, so its only fitting.
Its been a good year. My daily Instagram snapshots, whilst seemingly one-dimensional with its basketball theme offers a fair accounting of what I've been up to. No plans for 2016 but I've got my head up waiting for the next play.

Find other Basketball adventures here:
- Balancing Basketball and Travel in Lithuania (1 of 2)
- My time in Caracas, Venezuela for FIBA Americas 2013
- Hashtag Roadtrip: #30HGroadtrip

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

#30HGaustralasia Plans for 2015: FIBA Oceania in Melbourne and Wellington, FIBA Asia and the NBA Global Games in China

It all started in Rotterdam when I met a Spanish fellow in a hostel who was starting a new life in the Netherlands. I saw he had a ball and told him I'd been trying to have a basketball experience in each Country I visited. He remarked "So you're going to Lithuania then?".
He was introducing me to a new world, back then I wasn't familiar with FIBA's regional, biennial tournaments. I booked flights to Lithuania that evening and have been hooked ever since.

I traveled all over Lithuania for EuroBasket '11 watching as many group games in each of the smaller towns. I made fast local friends and had memorable experiences all because the love of the game brought me there.

'Doin it in the Park' maps

#30HGeurope (2011)

#30HGsouthamerica (2013)

Whilst my basketball journey had organically begun when I arrived in Europe months previous, I officially founded #30HomeGames in the Country's capital, Vilnius. It was my mission to have a basketball experience in each Country visited. Be it watching a local league in action or finding a pickup game. It was buildup to my ultimate goal, visiting all 30 NBA Cities in America.

In 2013 when I backpacked South America, I realised it overlapped with FIBA Americas. The host Country was Venezuela but several friends familiar with South America warned me against going. With a little trepidation I went ahead and had another great time, albeit a challenging one.

- FIBA Oceania 2015, Gm1 Melbourne, Australia (August 15)
Gm2 Wellington, New Zealand (August 18)
- FIBA Asia, Changsha 2015 (September 23 - October 3)
- NBA Global Games, Shenzhen (October 11)

With momentum behind me, I was compelled to continue my FIBA streak for 2015. Though I originally had designs for FIBA Africa, current news on the ground gave me pause for concern. I've decided on twin trips to FIBA Oceania and FIBA Asia instead. Dubbed the #Homecoming, the Oceania event promises the strongest ever Boomers squad, fielding most of our rising and established Aussie NBA stars. Going to China also gives me the opportunity to watch an International NBA Game between the Houston Rockets and the Charlotte Hornets.

As in previous trips the primary goal is to be there on the ground then see what arises. Travel and exploration is the main component of my journey so the little planning I do extends to just getting there. One difference from my previous trips is a larger emphasis on Social media. Whilst I'll still be relying on street level engagement, I'm hoping the '30 Home Games' project can facilitate connections with locals and fellow hoopsheads in my travels.

Read about my previous FIBA journeys:
- '30 Home Games' recap in Europe (2011) and South America (2013)
- Balancing Basketball and Travel in Lithuania - Part I
- Balancing Basketball and Travel in Lithuania - Part II
- My time in Caracas, Venezuela for FIBA Americas 2013

Friday, November 21, 2014

Coolspotting: 30HG '2015 NBA RoadTrip' Champagne and Campaign spots (2 of 2)

It'll be interesting negotiating the trip with 3 other people with various interests. I'll have a fellow running mate who's also a hoops and hiphop head, a buffet enthusiast and a foodie. Personally I enjoy exploring subcultures and supporting local scenes, from wrestling, punk & hiphop to comedy. It's something I seek at home and in my travels, in some cases it overlaps with my love for basketball. We'll be working together to tick off our collective to-do lists as we explore each neighbourhood.

The '30 Home Games' Inside/Outside game
We come for the Basketball, we stay for the Culture

Our local contact in New York will be particularly handy, especially for finding local parks to ball in. One of the first things he did after relocating from Sydney was to find a local hoops league in Manhattan. I'm not a stellar player and haven't had to face tough competition in my travels. Basketball has not been widely played in many countries I've visited, relative to national sports like soccer and certainly its popularity in the States. I'll need to improve my game in the months leading up to the North America trip.
- 30HG NBA Destinations: WrestleMania 29 and Indy Wrestling
- 30HG Destination Spotlight: Finding Comedy in the NBA Cities

- NBA Cities: Eastern Conference
- 30HG mission: Atlantic Division map (Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia)
- 30HG mission: Central Division map (Chicago, Cleveland)

Below are the many places of interest in the respective NBA cities: