Basketball, the world wide sport?

The invention of basketball was not an accident. It was developed to meet a need. Those boys simply would not play "Drop the Handkerchief."

James Naismith


INTRODUCING, the Astana Tigers.

Last week we had the opportunity to attend the championship game of the Kazakhstan league. The professional court is actually in the center of a cycling rink, and the games were for free. :)

The atmosphere in the arena is completely opposite from our last basketball venue 

(i.e the Allen fieldhouse).

At KU the decible level was at maximum the ENTIRE game (and you made sure that you were doing your best to contribute to the vocal support), here in Astana it is silence. You could hear a pin drop. When a goal is made there is polite clapping, but not much else. I must say that we encouraged some cheering, especially Olivia who has had 5 years of tutelage under her fathers large wingspan. 

It was a great time, and the Tigers won! Woo-hoo!

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty six times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Michael Jordan

Basketball fever is catching in Astana. In fact, Nazerbayev University has a men's team and a women's team. And guess who is one of the coaches? Thats right....Brett! He is very excited for this opportunity and has been pleased with his teams. The mascot was recently chosen for the school, the Golden Eagles. 

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Highvill has a basketball court outside. The amusing thing is that the hoop is situated in the middle of the key! Brett has suggested that they can now play basketball like ice-hockey, and run behind the basket. :)

"Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates."

Magic Johnson

:)