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Idaho Mounties Update for FBA
15 years ago
Seems one of the newest rookies for the Idaho Mounties has been keeping a good blog about his first introduction to the FBA.
Jorge Vilata a promising talent from overseas is ready to prove he has got what it takes to make the transistion to the FBA and be a contributor on his new team.
"Jorge Vilata’s Blog
Monday, 15:00
Arriving in the hotel where I will live until I can find a house. McCall is a charming place. Now I feel bad I sold my snowboard when I left Italy. Oh, well.
Monday, 18:00
Q&A with local media, coach Nekka and Krystal Bunny. Mounties PR guy said I needed to improve my English and he would fine me in ten dollars for each time I start answering with a “well, for sure” from now on.
Monday, 19:30
Meeting with adidas folks, and other suppliers. I tried on half dozen different basketball sleeves. The supplier said they could give me more confidence on distance shots. In my opinion, they just feel weird, uncomfortable, and look even worse. Thanks, but no thanks, I will play without those, like I’m used to.
Monday, 20:00
Signing cards with Krystal. DOZENS of cards. The guy from the card company said something about a “special FBA rookies deck”, and that, after the second quarter of the first game, Krystal and me will gave him our used jerseys to be shredded and a small piece of the fabric will be glued in these cards. You know, FBA world can be strange at times.
Tuesday, 06:30
Quick breakfast and photo session around beautiful Payette Lake. Hope to find a house around here, it’s a breathtaking view
Tuesday, 08:00
Physical testing. In Brazil and Italy, they give you some time from one test to another. Here, it’s another rhythm. Electrodes in your fur, air mask on your muzzle, and “let’s go”. No use to try and explain that half of your organs are still on a different timezone. It’s let’s go and don’t stop “let’s-going” until they say so.
Tuesday, 10:00
Finally on court. Lots of warming-up and stretches, some ball shooting, passing and other basics.
Tuesday, 11:30
Met photographer of Furballer magazine, seems the guy is almost a celebrity in the business. Shot lots of pictures of the boys and girls in actions. Asked me if I could wear a medical scrub he brought for a photo. I mean, what on Earth?!
Tuesday, 12:30
Brazil, Italy, USA… no matter the place, the food they give to the players have the same (lack of) taste pattern. Pasta lacking spices for carbs and energy, lots of greenies, one or other tomato, pressed chicken. Pheh.
Tuesday, 15:00
First tactical training. The guys changed the starting line/bench vests hundreds of times. Coach Nekka is trying all the variables to get the best balanced team right from the start. I can see lots of teams will suffer. There are plenty of key players yet to decide their contracts, and just two weeks for the start of the season. There will be teams playing the first month without strategy. Since we’re waiting only for Umaechi decision, we can have a tactical advantage on the first month. We’ll see.
Tuesday, 19:30
Playing H.O.R.S.E. with Victor Vos. Nice guy. I lost, but managed to do my old funny routine:
Me: “Next shot, behind the 3rd line”
Victor: “You mean, behind the 3-point line?”
Me: “Of course not. I mean behind the 3rd line of seats of the audience”
I won that particular letter.
Wednesday, 21:30
Hotel, sweet hotel. Today we had a closed day, no press, no fans, just practicing. Practicing hard. I just want a shower and a bed, not necessarily in that order.
Thursday, 7:00
We started today with a light cross-country running. It was re-energizing, to breath that pure mountain air, surrounded by the great landscape around here.
Thursday, 19:30
End-of-day press-conference. Lost 10 bucks to the PR guy. One… journalist was expelled by the security. He was, in fact, a Playbunny rep, trying to arrange a centerfold with Krystal. Did I mention that FBA world can be strange at times?
Friday, 20:00
Found a Package from Penalty shoes waiting for me in the hotel. Boy, they worked fast. It’s a beauty, very similar to regular utah models, but with a dark red and gold sole, to match Mounties’ colors, and a small brazilian flag in the heels. Now I will look good at the court. "
Jorge Vilata a promising talent from overseas is ready to prove he has got what it takes to make the transistion to the FBA and be a contributor on his new team.
"Jorge Vilata’s Blog
Monday, 15:00
Arriving in the hotel where I will live until I can find a house. McCall is a charming place. Now I feel bad I sold my snowboard when I left Italy. Oh, well.
Monday, 18:00
Q&A with local media, coach Nekka and Krystal Bunny. Mounties PR guy said I needed to improve my English and he would fine me in ten dollars for each time I start answering with a “well, for sure” from now on.
Monday, 19:30
Meeting with adidas folks, and other suppliers. I tried on half dozen different basketball sleeves. The supplier said they could give me more confidence on distance shots. In my opinion, they just feel weird, uncomfortable, and look even worse. Thanks, but no thanks, I will play without those, like I’m used to.
Monday, 20:00
Signing cards with Krystal. DOZENS of cards. The guy from the card company said something about a “special FBA rookies deck”, and that, after the second quarter of the first game, Krystal and me will gave him our used jerseys to be shredded and a small piece of the fabric will be glued in these cards. You know, FBA world can be strange at times.
Tuesday, 06:30
Quick breakfast and photo session around beautiful Payette Lake. Hope to find a house around here, it’s a breathtaking view
Tuesday, 08:00
Physical testing. In Brazil and Italy, they give you some time from one test to another. Here, it’s another rhythm. Electrodes in your fur, air mask on your muzzle, and “let’s go”. No use to try and explain that half of your organs are still on a different timezone. It’s let’s go and don’t stop “let’s-going” until they say so.
Tuesday, 10:00
Finally on court. Lots of warming-up and stretches, some ball shooting, passing and other basics.
Tuesday, 11:30
Met photographer of Furballer magazine, seems the guy is almost a celebrity in the business. Shot lots of pictures of the boys and girls in actions. Asked me if I could wear a medical scrub he brought for a photo. I mean, what on Earth?!
Tuesday, 12:30
Brazil, Italy, USA… no matter the place, the food they give to the players have the same (lack of) taste pattern. Pasta lacking spices for carbs and energy, lots of greenies, one or other tomato, pressed chicken. Pheh.
Tuesday, 15:00
First tactical training. The guys changed the starting line/bench vests hundreds of times. Coach Nekka is trying all the variables to get the best balanced team right from the start. I can see lots of teams will suffer. There are plenty of key players yet to decide their contracts, and just two weeks for the start of the season. There will be teams playing the first month without strategy. Since we’re waiting only for Umaechi decision, we can have a tactical advantage on the first month. We’ll see.
Tuesday, 19:30
Playing H.O.R.S.E. with Victor Vos. Nice guy. I lost, but managed to do my old funny routine:
Me: “Next shot, behind the 3rd line”
Victor: “You mean, behind the 3-point line?”
Me: “Of course not. I mean behind the 3rd line of seats of the audience”
I won that particular letter.
Wednesday, 21:30
Hotel, sweet hotel. Today we had a closed day, no press, no fans, just practicing. Practicing hard. I just want a shower and a bed, not necessarily in that order.
Thursday, 7:00
We started today with a light cross-country running. It was re-energizing, to breath that pure mountain air, surrounded by the great landscape around here.
Thursday, 19:30
End-of-day press-conference. Lost 10 bucks to the PR guy. One… journalist was expelled by the security. He was, in fact, a Playbunny rep, trying to arrange a centerfold with Krystal. Did I mention that FBA world can be strange at times?
Friday, 20:00
Found a Package from Penalty shoes waiting for me in the hotel. Boy, they worked fast. It’s a beauty, very similar to regular utah models, but with a dark red and gold sole, to match Mounties’ colors, and a small brazilian flag in the heels. Now I will look good at the court. "
I agree that it is an advantage to be prepared for the season well in advance, with plays and a solid starting line and all that. But I'd have to think that Umaechi's decision (and don't forget Akanishi) would play a large role in what to expect from the Mounties. I'd say it's on the scale of the Carmelo Anthony saga (though not to be confused with Umaechi wanting out). Like everyone is running plays for Rodger without knowing for sure if he'll be back. It's got to be a little discerning with a young club.