Video: Dwyane Wade at Tweet and Greet in Sydney

From all accounts, Dwyane Wade's Tweet and Greet was a roaring success with hundreds in attendance. According to tweets from the man himself

@DwyaneWade
I wanna thank the 500 plus ppl that showed up for my tweet greet 2day. Sorry I couldn't get to every1. I really tried. Next time

Below are accounts from friends on the ground:

Dwyane Wade signature on Jordan FLY WADE

My buddy JP getting Wade's sig on his Wade sigs

"Yeah the line was crazy, he only got through the first 5 meters of it. He tried signing as much as he can but it just got chaotic! I had to throw some elbows to get this baby signed lol"

------------------------------------

My buddy GD with video of the action

VIDEO: Dwyane Wade at Cook + Phillip, Sydney (November 9, 2011)

NBA star Dwyane Wade and girlfriend Gabrielle Union in Sydney

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union in Sydney

Whilst I'm out here in Europe on the hunt for basketball, NBA superstars are touching down at home in Sydney. Dwyane Wade with actress girlfriend Gabrielle Union has been spotted in Manly ahead of promotional duties for Gatorade. The former Finals MVP was replacing Michael Jordan ahead of a launch for the Sports Drink company. Continuing the theme of following in the GOAT's footsteps, Wade is rocking Jordan Brand from head to toe.

- Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade makes an impact during Sydney arrival
- Gallery of Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union in Sydney

Update: Heads up kids! D-Wade will be at Cook + Phillip in Sydney's CBD. 11:30am, Wednesday November 9.

@Dwyane Wade
2morrow is my last day in Sydney and I'm gonna end it with my very own personal "tweet greet" becuz I love my fans and supporters everywhere

The NBA is coming to Melbourne, Australia

From my sources in Australia, the NBA is coming to Melbourne!
No news yet on the players confirmed:

Hi again, well that is timing for you, I’ve just had the phone call. Have also been advised this information is yet to be released to the public, so you are the first to know!

The promoter has just locked in dates. SADLY as this is strictly a 2 week last minute tour and due to the fact that they are also taking in South America, the promoter has been able to secure a venue & suitable dates for Melbourne ONLY.

WHERE: Rod Laver Arena
WHEN: Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th November
PRICING: $240.00, $320.00, $850.00 and courtside $1200.00 (approx.)

Tickets will be going on-sale to the public on Monday. If anyone is available to commute to Melbourne and are still interested in ticketing please get back to me ASAP.

I think for this event I will provide you with a contact name and number for you to ring through and secure your tickets, that way you can pay directly by credit card. It’s going to be too hard for me to coordinate from here with such a short leeway.

Sorry I’m not the bearer of better news for us Sydney residents.

Update 2 (Oct28): It seems that word on the street is not good. Mere hours after the initial exciting promise

"Word on the street is that LeBron, Carmelo, and CP3 are pulling out of the tour... supposedly D-Rose has pulled out already"

Update 3 (Nov 1): The latest news from my source in Australia

This is the roster touring Australia to the best of my knowledge:
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Durant
Dwight Howard
Dwyane Wade
Amare Stoudemire
Blake Griffin
Chris Bosh
Paul Pierce
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Love
Rajon Rondo
Carlos Boozer
Tyson Chandler
Chris Kaman

Coolspotting: Riga, Streetballers in Latvia

On my fist day in Riga, Latvia's capital, I spotted these three guys Elmis, Mixtyper and Jurtchix shooting a video for a new collective project. They were balling in front of the National Opera House

VIDEO: Freestyle Battle: Mixtyper VS Elmis

VIDEO: Juris Veblovskis - "City" freestyle

Spreading the love: NBA stars playing overseas

I haven't yet got sponsors for the blog but in a way the many people who've shown me warmth and hospitality in my travels have been the greatest sponsors of all.

With that in mind, this post is brought to you by 'TradeDebate.com' - Debate. Trade. Win.


The NBA lockout is obviously disappointing for sports fans but proving the adage "you don't know what you've got till its gone", players are expressing their love for the game by entertaining the fans in pickup games and honing their skills (and bank accounts) by signing overseas.

Whilst one might argue that some players are enhancing their playground cred more than their basketball acumen, they've shown that its not always about the money. Selfishly the player movement overseas is positive for me as it means I get to see some of my favorite NBA stars playing in Europe under unique circumstances.

As my EuroTrip wraps up, I've had to get selective with my travel destinations. Two places I had put on my to-do list have been reinvigorated with some NBA player movements. I'd shown interest in Turkey as I was curious to see how Allen Iverson was faring in Europe. Though an injury has returned him to the States the Turkish team Besiktas replaced the past-his-prime star with primetime PG Deron Williams.

France, the most glaring omission on my EuroTrip resume has become more compelling with news that several NBA players are returning to play for their hometowns. France obviously has its charms as it is, the cuisine, landmarks and belles we've come to know and love from movies. Having had positive experiences with Les Bleus supporters during EuroBasket and being a fan of the French team myself, adding basketball to the cake just makes it more enticing.

Whilst Batum is the only player officially signed on to a French team, fellow NBA stars Diaw and Parker are hoping to suit up for clubs they have stakes in.

Tony Parker's backup: 'Definitely' France
Speaking about his lockout plans, Parker added: "For me, it's more an emotional decision. It's not enough for me just to play for the money, stuff like that, because I am a student of the game. I am passionate about the game. It would be great for my family, my friends, to see me in France.

Below are some helpful links on the overseas movements of NBA stars
- Player movement: Who's going abroad?
- The National Basketball Association's European Vacation

Players I'm looking forward to see in Europe:
France
Nicolas Batum - Nancy
Boris Diaw - JSA Bordeaux (rumored)
Tony Parker - ASVEL Villeurbanne (rumored)

VIDEO: Nancy makes a move [for Batum]


Turkey
Deron Williams - Besiktas
Mehmet Okur - Turk Telecom

VIDEO: Deron on Playing in Turkey | Deron Williams | DeronWilliams.com

Road Music: Songs to be happy to (EuroBasket edition)

>> crossposted on the 'Loz in Translation' blog

To commemorate my time in Lithuania during EuroBasket2011, here are a collection of "Songs to be happy to" celebrating the game of basketball.

VIDEO: Manu Key - Quai 54 (Feat. Booba, 16ar, Zoxea, Oxmo, Dany Dan)

A French streetballer introduced me to this song in Kaunas, Lithuania. Its an ensemble song featuring France's finest MCs made for Quai54, the iconic International Streetball tourney held in Paris.

VIDEO: Eurobasket 2011 song (Lithuanian version)

This is the Lithuanian language version of the EuroBasket Theme, this song was on high rotation during the tournament. At first appearances the song may seem corny but it actually gets me quite emotional, the clip works because it beautifully captures how basketball is embedded into the fabric of Lithuanian society.

Balancing Basketball and Travel in Lithuania - Part II

<< crossposted on 'Loz in Translation' blog

I've met many incredible people in Lithuania, fellow travelers and hoops heads. I've always been interested in hearing and sharing stories. I believe that a man's journey can be measured by who they've met and spent time with.

Below are a collection of "storytellers" I've encountered:

John of England

links: @johnswisshobbs,

UK freelance journalist. I met him at the fans campsite in Panevezys, during my time there the many British Fans were valiantly supporting a hapless team. Upon leaving Great Britain defeated Portugal and stung Poland to salvage some pride and shake up Group A.

We bumped into each other in Vilnius and Kaunas. It was a treat picking his brain and watching him sniff out stories, busting out his trusty recorder when moments called for it.

Syra of France

links: @ladyhoop, ladyhoop.com, Syra4 - YouTube Channel

French journalist I met in my hostel in Vilnius. She is an inspiration, starting out as an independent blogger she now works for French basketball mag 'Reverse'. We shot hoops and talked about the reality of "living the dream". We coincidentally found ourselves in the same hostel in Kaunas. Apart from her passion for the game, what I'll take from her is the discipline and professionalism one needs to maintain a lifestyle of basketball and travel, negotiating the perils of converting a hobby into a job.

Tim of Holland

links: TimToTango

We started chatting on the busride from Klaipeda to coastal Nida. A charming and thoughtful guy in the opening leg of his 1 year of travel. Departing from his home in the Netherlands, he had been traveling through the Baltic states via couchSurfing and hitchhiking, it was his inspiration that made me try the latter for the first time.

We shared a lot of overlapping thoughts and it was pleasure to reunite with him in Vilnius and meet his ragtag crew of friends and new associates. I will be sure to follow his many coming adventures on his blog.

Ramon of Spain

links: Atlas of Wonders

Ramon was one of the many couchsurfers I met through Tim on a memorable night in Vilnius. We reunited a few days later as he was typically snapping the sights, he joined our assortment of newly-made friends for a coffee.

Ramon is my kind of photographer, shameless and prolific. Shooting first, asking for permission later. When I first met him, he fearlessly took a bucketload of photos of every social interaction in sight. Inexplicably his passion project is documenting the gorgeous but overlooked locations of the world.

Ieva and Dominkya of Lithuania

links: Kombajns' - YouTube Channel

Quirky, fun-loving, social and creative. These gals had just returned from a month hitchhiking, couchSurfing and camping around Europe. They have an amazing spirit and thankfully because they document their travels by Video you can live vicariously through their many adventures.

We met after dancing dubstep with them in Kankles bar in Kaunas. A few days later we hung out together with a Spaniard and Frenchman driving to the city's local gems, picking mushrooms for that evening's dinner and movie.

VIDEO: Challenge accepted ;) Eurotrip, done.

Romain of France

links: Romain-Experiment.blogspot (French)

He was a French superfan Couchsurfing with the girls, my preferred supporter having backed them from the start. We actually had a brief encounter the night previous in a nightclub as he was with the Les Bleus fans celebrating with the French stars. In the name of social etiquette, I'd promised an embargo after 3 weeks of non-stop basketball talk, I couldn't resist as he was so knowledgable of the game and had a few French connections that gave him access to the team and even tickets to Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Nil of Spain

links: CargoLTreuManya.blogspot (Catalan)

Though his nation was victorious, Nil wasn't in Lithuania for the baloncesto. Just a stop as he did a short jaunt around Europe on his motorcycle. He was being hosted by the girls after he was poached from another Lithuanian person he was couchSurfing with, they met on the street a night after I had met them.

Nil was my partner in the mushroom picking challenge. He was the MVP as we bested the girls in mushroom presentation as voted by our French critic.

- Read Balancing Basketball and Travel in Lithuania - Part I