Guest Writer: James "Yoga" Hughes

 I want to start this thing off by introducing myself.  My name is James Hughes and I just recently finished my 7^th season as a pro.  I’ve played in Poland, Turkey, Israel, Puerto Rico (well, I was paid but didn’t actually play…nor was I on the roster. Which, by the way, was by far the EASIEST money I’ve ever made), Holland (Netherlands), Ukraine, Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia and Japan.  Just a quick FYI, I’ve played in those countries in that exact order.  Now, everyone knows (well, they think they know) about the glitz and glamour that comes with being an overseas basketball player.  We get to see the world, make some money, and just “live the life.”

            Don’t get me wrong I love what I do.  If I didn’t I would’ve quit back in October of ’07, my first year out, but I digress. During this rant I’m going to touch on some of the struggles we endure overseas.  Obviously they’ll be personal to me, but I know a few “hoopers” will understand where I’m coming from.  Before I dive in, I want to give a shout out to J. Love for giving me the opportunity to share with a larger audience.  I’m pretty sure my family is tired of hearing my stories.

First and foremost, let’s talk about the food in these countries.  Now me being a picky eater my first question to myself is always, ‘what am I gonna eat over there?’  When I first made the trek over even my aunt was like, “awww baby, I was worried about what you were gonna eat over there.”  Now I’m a lean, slim (just don’t call me skinny) guy, and I’m very, VERY picky.  Just put it like this… I can write a whole blog on my pickiness, but for times sake I’ll leave it at I’m very picky.  Of all the countries I’ve played in Turkey, Czech and Israel had the best food. Japan and Poland bring up the rear and the rest of the countries were like, whatever.  As a matter of fact, I struggled this past season in Japan with the food.

              One thing I never have a problem with is my snacks, EXECPT while I was in Japan. My go-to snacks are: Pringles, Snickers, Haribo gummy bears, and apple juice. Now, I’m a meat and potatoes kind of guy, Midwest to the core. Majority of the countries I’ve been to have fish as a main staple.  But some of this stuff I’ve seen and had…MAN! For instance, the red cabbage crap in pretty much every country I’ve played in, or the pig heads for sale at the markets in Poland. Like right there, a big ol’ boar’s head ready to be bought and eaten.  Speaking of Poland, it reminds of what this Polish agent said to me after I requested only fries and chicken breast for all team dinners.  “James, why don’t you eat Polish food?  It’s good.”  Now mind you I was 23 and cocky and was like, “my mom and granny can’t make me eat what I don’t want.  You really think YOU can?!?!?”  Needless to say, I can say chicken and potatoes in about 9 or so languages.  Oh and while we’re on the topic of chicken, when I was in Ukraine they used to use this egg batter or something and I had to dissect my chicken before eating it. After a few months my common sense kicked in and I just requested my chicken without it.    I know I didn’t give many examples of the type of food because I don’t fool with it.  If I don’t know it I won’t eat it, and that was pretty much my mindset in Japan.

Now this next thing is a bit more serious. Let’s talk about the hassles we may or may not have with the teams.  Which include, but not limited to:  late money, threatened to be sent home, terrible working facilities, terrible living conditions, and just all around messed up attitudes.  I remember the first time my money was late. We were in the midst of a winning streak, a couple months after the coach KILLED me in film session.  I remember my numbers were mediocre; 12pts on 4 shots, 8rebs and 4blks.  We didn’t have a decent point guard and were looking to replace the one we had.  But as all Americans know, the finger pointing started because we lost to a team we “should’ve” beaten and I was the oldest American and second oldest on the team.  Anyway, I took the criticism like a pro. At the time I was 28 so I was seasoned by then.  We changed pg’s, went on a winning streak and now my money was late. So I casually strolled into coach’s office with my gear on and said, “Coach, I want to practice, but I haven’t been paid, so I’m gonna lift weights today.”  “Ok James I understand” is what he said to me.  5 minutes later the GM came to the gym and explained the situation.  And yes, I practiced. 

  You see, you regular Joes don’t really have to go through this.  You lose a game or they get mad at you and they want to withhold your money.  They dangle it in front of you like a toy as if this isn’t our livelihood. Playing with my cheese, one can only remain professional for so long. Did I mention the threats of being sent home? Happened to me twice in one season (but I stayed, didn’t I J. Love??).  Every now and then these teams think they can bully us when they get mad and think we’re just gonna roll over.  This right here separates the boys from the men.  Thousands of miles away from home and being punked, you either strap up or fold.  Now I know some guys who’ll cuss everyone out. But I’m more of the mellow type and just won’t do something, or do a little Denzel. Oh and last but not least, there are times that you have to wait weeks after the season to get your money. And the team knows damn well they owe you AND how much.  But I really don’t mind the after season wait...lets me get a little traveling in.

See back at home y’all have workman’s comp, OSHA, and some other crap I don’t remember and don’t care to Google.  What we have are cold gyms, (because teams are too cheap to turn the heat on or just flat out don’t have it), uneven floors, showers with no hot water, leaks in the roof, bats and birds flying in during practice, gyms with ZERO air conditioner, sewer smells, and tiny locker rooms.  Let’s not forget raggedy trains\bus trips for 17hrs, small hotel beds, small hotel rooms that are shared with another dude (except for in Japan we were solo in the rooms), and a bunch of other things that you have to deal with whereas back home you wouldn’t have to.  You may be going through one or more of these situations and then the team gets mad at you for losing in the playoffs to the team that would be the champs and was pretty much known they were gonna be the champs. And they want to fine 50%, but it gets reduced to 30% because the lady who handles the money felt sorry.  She felt sorry because it was money that was owed to us. There is no performance clause stating if we lose we get fined in the contracts. And yes I experienced all of these situations.  Like they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Well to hell with that… I like to say I’m hardened and seasoned which is my way of basically saying the same thing.

There’s soooo much I can touch on, good and bad. And as you the reader can see, I’m very long winded.  Try having a conversation with me and I’ll talk your head off.  You get lonely being in these countries. There are times you might go a day without speaking a word.  But that’s another story for another time and if I can come back you better believe I’ll share it with you all.  But, as I said before, I LOVE what I do. Even with all the BS, I love it.  It may seem like I was complaining and yes I was...but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  So with all this being said I’ll bid you adieu and until next time, much love from the Czech Republic.  Yeah, that’s how I spend my summers, “European nights” thanks to this game and the opportunities these teams have afforded me.

Thanks for reading

Jimbo