Anyways, I'm sitting in my room here in Adelaide, South Australia listening to some 810 radio as I sometimes do before I go to bed. It's fun for me to be able to listen to what's going on with the Royals while I'm away since the news here doesn't cover Kansas City sports for some odd reason. I've really enjoyed learning about new sports while I'm here, however. I've mentioned in my previous posts about AFL Football (footy) and how different it is from anything I've seen. I actually got to go to an Adelaide Crows footy game a few weekends ago and it was incredible. Despite the fact that they got a shellacking from the Sydney Swans, just experiencing the atmosphere was so awesome to me. Hearing the fans yell at their players and cuss up a storm was entertainment in itself (and they don't take it easy on their players!). Yes, the players wear short shorts. Yes, the rules are a bit confusing. But unlike soccer, and Miami Heat basketball games, these AFL players are TOUGH. There are no helmets, no pads, no whining, no flopping. These guys will take an absolute massive hit, pull the grass out of their teeth, and get up and go on their way without batting an eyelash. That's fun to watch.
We were lucky that the weather wasn't horrible that day. It's winter time here now, and in Australian terms it's basically cold and rainy the majority of the time. Some days the sun comes out and it makes me question how this could POSSIBLY be referred to as winter. Then the next day will be cold to the point where I refuse to take my jacket off at any point during the day. Before I came here, when I thought of Australia I imagined balmy hot days, tumbleweeds blowing through the outback, people at the beach year round, rattlesnakes and crocodile hunters. I guess it's only like that during the summer. There are still days where I can roll the windows down while I drive, crank some Justin Timberlake, and wonder where the hell I'm going and why people are honking at me...and enjoy the weather.
Shifting gears a little bit (no pun intended), something that has been a blessing in disguise while I've been here is coaching clinics that I do at numerous elementary schools in the area. Those of you that know me know that during basketball season, I focus solely on the playing aspect of basketball. In college athletes really don't have a choice but to have this kind of focus during the season. I've been struggling to find my shot lately though and have gotten so caught up in this focus that I forgot the reason I'm here. I forgot COMPLETELY about my love for the game. I got asked a simple question a few weeks back.. "Why do you play the game?" Even just thinking about my answer really made me disappointed in myself, because it made me open my eyes and realize how I let the passion that I have for the game slip. I realized I wasn't having fun. I go to these coaching clinics, and I see kids who may not know what dribbling is but are doing it just the same. I see kids who shoot with two hands from their chest and are happy to see the ball make it over the rim. I see kids with smiles ear to ear every second they are out on the floor. I see this and it makes me realize why I love the game. It brings joy to people. It's fun. Somewhere along the line I got so wrapped up in the "work" part of it, that I forgot why exactly I play the game in the first place. Maybe just ONE of these kids, who know very little about basketball, will discover that they love the game too. Maybe that one kid will grow to learn more and more about the game and join a team, and be successful. It's pretty cool to think about the impact a sport could have on a kid's life and it has been a blessing to take a step away from the competitive side of the sport and see the other ways basketball can affect people.
As a matter of fact, there's a way YOU could impact a child's life (great transition, ya? Ya.) This upcoming Saturday is the annual ROUND FOR ROBBIE golf tournament in Kansas City, Missouri put on for Robbie Morley who has had a difficult journey since his birth 3 years ago. This tournament is a fundraiser used to help the family with the costs for surgeries and hospital stays that they have to experience every year. Many of you won't be able to attend to golf, but there is still the ability to sponsor a hole or even just donate money for the cause. Go ahead and email me for more information if you want to contribute, it would really mean a lot!
Thank you all for keeping up with my journey and checking up on me.
Until next time,
Jessica Koch
