ROCKSTARS

My younger cousin Brett had never been to Europe. He'd never watched a game in Martini Plaza. The date he selected for his trip turned out to be decent timing. What he didn't know was that a city in Holland called Groningen was about to rock his world. This past week we were living in a dream world. The world where you walk the red carpet to be greeted by the major. A place where you're given fancy watches, flowers, t-shirts, etc. A world where the only time you are running into the cops is when they give you a police escort. The world where you walk into the club through the back door. The world with bottles on ice were waiting upon your arrival. A place you're given VIP passes to the parties, signing autographs and taking pictures. The world where you are taken out to fancy restaurants or invited over for amazing home cooked meals The world where you get free shopping sprees. The world where you get people pulling up next to you on the road yelling "CHAMPIIIIONS!" Place where your back hurts from all the pats it's getting. 1982, 2004 and 2010 are the only three titles we have but this city knows how to embrace champions. Brett couldn't help but say once or twice, "THIS IS THE BEST WEEK OF MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!"

After we won the title, I had dozens of fans asking for my jersey or shoes. I frame my jersey every year so that request was out of the question. My shoes however were a different story. I can't believe people wanted my not so great smelling kicks. After hearing the story of my new friend Geert...the shoes were definitely his. Hearing his story and how I can make his day gave me the chills. He made this cool shrine of the shoes I had signed for him (see picture above). I don't see myself any more important then the person next to me...but to see the ear to ear smiles that we give to people is a blessing. B-HOP (my cousin) said the only thing he was getting tired of was the number of girls approaching him...I said riiight. We recently went to a nice clothing store called "Okay" and it's name would be an understatement. JH owner of 31 clothing stores in Holland hooked me and Hype up before our vacation. I don't think it bothered B-HOP either when JH told him to pick out whatever he wanted.

The people are what make the town of Groningen so special. For a country not known for it's basketball, one city up north sure gets excited about it. We were greeted by thousands of fans in the Grote Markt in the center of the city. Thousands sang "We are the Champions" and "I Gotta Feeling." I will be playing with my grandchildren in 50 years and look back on this year with a huge smile. Going to Prague with the fellas, the bus on road trips, arguing and laughing... I will remember it all. I was recently named the Player of the Year for Holland...but it's like going to the Playboy Mansion and picking the hottest girl...you can't really go wrong with whomever you chose. After this week, it's kinda crazy to think we are leaving tomorrow for Ibiza, Spain....