NLL Insider

So here I am, sitting in the airport in Chicago waiting for my plane back home to Buffalo, which has been delayed. My first training camp is over and we have two weeks off for the holidays before we resume practice. As I sit here I begin to think about what I could write in my first blog. My first camp experiences seem like a logical start, but then it hits me, I’m going from sunny San Jose, where it was 60 degrees and I was swimming a day earlier, to Buffalo, where a Noreaster has just swept through and 12 inches of snow are waiting for me upon my arrival. So why not write on the differences between the places. So here goes.

 

Now I’m about as Upstate New York as you can get. I was born and raised in Buffalo, and attended college in Albany. Snow is second nature to me, I’m used to the Bills breaking my heart, and I say “pop” instead of “soda.” So the change of pace to the California lifestyle is something that is dramatically different. But so far, so good.
When I first got there it kind of felt like the first day of a new school with a whole new area to learn and a new group of people to meet. But the mid 60’s this time of year soon put to rest any uneasyness I might have had. When I arrived at my apartment I was in awe. The new ownership group, along with Johnny Mouradian and Doug “Clutch” Locker, have hooked us up with some sweet digs to live in. I was instantly drawn to the giant hot tub that we got there. Having the majority of the team live in one area is great and it allows us to bond and get to know one another faster than most teams.
I realized quickly that there would be many things I would have to get used to, Sushi instead of chicken wings, Sharks games instead of Sabres games, Coronas instead of Molsons, surfing instead of skiing, and worst of all no Bills games, just 49ers or Raiders. The only thing worse than watching one of those two teams play this year is listening to Sean Morris talk about how great the Patriots are. But hopefully these things will become second nature to me down the line.
As a 22 year old, a rookie in this league I’m gonna have my bumps and bruises, heck, this training camp was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through. But playing pro lacrosse has been my dream from the day I picked up a stick. The fact that I get to play with some of the greatest players in the world, move to California, and get paid to do it … well, I’m pretty much I’m living my dream.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Buffalo as much as anything else. But for right now I guess I’m just California dreaming.

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