Coach G's journey to the gold: Aug. 11
Aug. 11, 2008
Wow!! It's hard to find words to describe how incredible the Opening Ceremonies were. I hope everyone had the chance to watch them on TV, because they were second to none. We didn't get to see as much as we would have liked, because the coaches and teams are kept in a holding facility until it's time to march. We did get a visit from and pictures with President Bush and his father. I got a picture with the First Lady as well. I also had the opportunity to see several of our Longhorns during the ceremonies and took pictures with Kim Brackin, Eddie Reese and Matt Scoggin. It felt like we were all one big family. I have to admit that although those outfits we wore may have looked sharp, they were hot! A long sleeve shirt under a heavy jacket is not a good idea in the heat and humidity of Beijing. We were all sweating like crazy, but we didn't let it dim our spirits. There is nothing quite like walking through the tunnel into the Olympic Stadium in front of 90,000 people. You can really feel the pride and passion of the USA. We've played two games so far. After a slow start in our opener with Czech Republic, we rolled to a 97-57 victory. We played some of our best basketball in our next game, beating China 108-63. It's really nice to see the team coming together. Our defense has been a focus, and it continues to improve. Our days and nights are pretty busy. We are either meeting, watching video, practicing, playing or scouting other teams. We have a day off on Tuesday, so it will be nice to go into the city and do some shopping. The men's team has been great! We're staying in the same hotel and eat all our meals together. They've been coming to our games to support us, and the camaraderie is excellent! Kobe Bryant is like a rock star here. Wherever he goes, there is a mob of people screaming his name...Kobe, Kobe, Kobe!! These players have been great to coach. They work hard and are highly motivated, and they are willing to do whatever is necessary to help the team come away with the gold! I do miss my team back home, but I get updates daily. I know they are working hard in the classroom and in conditioning, so we can build on the success we saw late in the season last year.
More updates soon! Take care and as always, Hook Em'! |
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