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Kenneth Walker uses RockTape
Rocktape in Europe!
Meet Kenny Walker, Rockstar of outstanding proportions. 6 feet 9 inches to be exact! Kenny is currently playing in the Czech Republic and was named the MVP of the NBL.
Kyle DeHaven uses RockTape
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Kenneth Walker interview by Vern Glenn of KRON-TV,San Francisco CA - Czech Republic - Jun.18,2009
Vern Glenn (VG) with you here and we are joined by Kenny Walker MVP of Czech Rep. League and MVP of Salt Lake City Euobasket summer League 2008 former Alabama Crimson Tide forward. Kenny, you continue to impress those overseas, those over in the Mattoni NBL League (Czech Republic), being named MVP. What is in the water over there?
Kenneth Walker (KW): I dont know. I think it is more of whats coming from the States. VG: (laughing)
KW: I am just working hard, trying to be the best that I can. Im out there to prove something. I want play as hard as can and hopefully be remembered, thats all, just have a great life.
VG: You are certainly making things memorable for those who have followed your career. Let me ask you this and this is kind of a thought provoking thing when you go over there to play, I know that you are trying to prove yourself and I know that you play the best that as you can but when you grow up here dreaming of the NBA and arent playing in the NBA, do you kind of play with a chip on your shoulder, a little edge?
KW: Im of the mindset that the NBA is always watching, even when Im overseas playing basketball, having a point to prove. But growing up watching the NBA, the NBA was something Ive always wanted to do. Ive tried to make it to the NBA every summer but it seems as though it doesnt work out but that doesnt mean I give up. I just keep going and I keep moving forward.
VG: Well they say in life, everybody has a purpose, and for now, for whatever reason your purpose is the Mattoni NBL MVP and certainly no surprise to you, what is it about your game that makes you clearly, head and shoulders above at least most playing in that league?
KW: I guess from a players standpoint to a coach's standpoint, that pretty much they told me that Im such a great player because I know the game, Im very experienced, at the same time Im a great guy on and off the court and very humble. My actions speaks for itself, Im not the one out there to talk a lot, Im the one out there actually showing it and being the best that I can and allow my team the opportunity to win every game. Im pretty sure that everyone loves a winner and Im such a humble guy.
VG: Were visiting with Mattoni NBL League MVP Kenny Walker. Hes our guest today and Kenny playing over there, I wont say you are socially in a fishbowl but you arent in the United States, give us a sense of what life is like there and how you are able to kind of get around socially, communications wise, what is it?
KW: Thats kind of funny because in the beginning I had to use like sign language, I could sit out right there and try to speak English but they would look at me with a crazy face. Sometimes they really dont understand what I was saying so I would have to use sign language and from there things got a little easier because I ran into a couple of young people and it was like there was a lot of older people there but there is lot of younger people and they speak English. I was to get around along with my teammates; they made it very easy for me. Playing in a town where its called Novy Jicin in the Czech Republic, it is very small, some people call it a village but I call it a town It is very simple, no violence and it is very clean. They really love going for nature walks over there and raising their children so you dont really have anything to worry about, pretty much. I found myself over there cooking every day because the food is very fresh and it just allowed me to grow as a person and learn different things
VG: Lets talk about that. What have you had to, maybe by force, to teach yourself to do, acclimate yourself to playing over there and living over there as opposed to, I guess for a lack of a better way of saying it, as relying on what you knew growing up in Jacksonville and in Tuscaloosa?
KW: In Tuscaloosa and in Jacksonville, I pretty much had things done for me and if I needed help; I know who to seek or to find or if I needed something I knew exactly where to get it from but overseas you dont really have that luxury because technology is very different and you probably dont have access to everything that you would want or need that would be common (in the United States). I found myself most of the time ordering stuff from the States and having it sent overseas but I will say some of things over there is a lot better than in America because I believe most of medicine from over there comes from Europe or Asia is sent from there and is a good thing in my favor because of my allergies. Just me taking care of myself and learning how to cook, you cant just walk in and say hey Mom can you make me something to eat or go get some fast food because they dont have any fast food restaurants over there. It is more of town like atmosphere restaurant and everyone knows one another and you really cant do much. I found myself staying home a lot and being to myself, learning things. Actually it was a great experience, actually looking how to cook, learning recipes off the internet and stuff like that, and growing as a person.
VG: Whats your signature dish?
KW: My signature dish is greens, green beans with yellow rice, BBQ baked chicken with sweet potatoes or yams. I even bake too; I bake cakes (laughing)
VG: (laughing) Will the boys back in Jacksonville be shocked to hear that?
KW: If they were put in my shoes they probably would be doing the same thing and wont say nothing about it but eventually everyone will find out.
VG: We are just at the finish of the NBA Finals, Kobe finally got Shaq off his back there, do you still keep the dream alive to possibly be playing in the NBA some day?
KW: As long as I can step on the basketball court, I always going to keep that dream alive, no matter what age or how old I get, there is always a chance. Some guys that play in the NBA are old even if it is for only one season but Ill still live with that dream, even if I was to only get one second on the court and to have my name on that jersey that would be a blessing to me.
VG: For those that are in other parts of the country or the world or just have not been able to follow your career, what style do you have that maybe that you patterned your game after that folks can relate to?
KW: I feel that Im an all-around basketball player because I never settle. Im always working on my game. I shoot, I dribble the basketball, I run the floor. Running the floor has really helped me. Im a defensive minded player because when good things happen on defense, good things happen on offense, easier points. It makes my job easier, easier for the next person.
Who I mimic my game after, I watch Kobe, I watch Vince Carter, I like him. I watch Dwight Howard and I look at Dwight Howard and his footwork as far as getting separation, watching Kobe with his jab step, learning something from each player to make my game even better.
VG: Well it is obviously working for you Kenny, to take a little from each of those guys you mentioned and to formulate into your game because you keep racking up these MVP honors. Kenny we appreciate you taking the time to join us for a few moments. All we can say is Roll Tide and continued success
KW: Thank you Vern, thank you very much
Vern Glenn of KPIX-TV CBS
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Kyle DeHaven. Další rozehrávacku si vyhlédly basketbalistky Karlových Varu za velkou louží.
Kyle DeHaven. More rozehrávacku he looked Basketball Karlovy Vary, a great puddles.
Tri kola v první lize má za sebou v dresu Lokomotivy americká rozehrávacka Kyle DeHaven. V dresu Lokomotivy se osvedcila, na západe Cech zustane nejméne do konce sezony.
Three rounds in the first league has had in jersey Locomotives U.S. rozehrávacka Kyle DeHaven. The locomotives proved jersey, west Bohemia remain at least until the end of the season.
Proc práve Karlovy Vary? Kontaktoval me muj agent. Karlovy Vary o me mely zájem. Byla jsem pro. Je to dobrý tým, na krásném míste. Rozhodla jsem se to zkusit. Pro me to je nová zkušenost.
Why Karlovy Vary? I contacted my agent. Karlovy Vary were interested in me. I was pro. It is a good team, a beautiful place. I decided to try it. For me it is a new experience.
Budete pak komplexnejší hráckou. Urcite. Proto jsme také kývla na nabídku. Abych se mohla dál basketbalove rozvíjet.
You will then more complex player. Sure. Therefore, we also nodded to offer. To be able to further develop basketball.
Jaký je evropský basketbal? Jiný než ten v Americe. Hraje se tu trochu jiným stylem.
What is a European basketball? Other than the one in America. Playing with a little different style.
Možná proto máte takové problémy s fauly, kvuli kterým nedohráváte zápasy. To je pravda (smeje se). Na palubovce jsem trochu agresivnejší, než je asi zapotrebí.A rozhodcí mi to obcas pripomenou.
Maybe that's why you have such problems with fouls, for which nedohráváte matches. That's true (laughs). . The palubovce a little more aggressive than is probably needed. A judge me to be reminded occasionally.
Trenér Veselý z toho asi moc radost nemá. Kvuli zranení vám už beztak chybí hodne hrácek. Zranení nás trápí. Ve Varech je jinak velice dobrý tým, tohle nás ale sráží. Zahraju si ted sice možná víc, ale bylo by lepší, kdybychom už byly kompletní. Hraje se ve vysokém tempu, hodne se toho nabehá. Potrebujeme se rychle strídat.
Coach Veselý It probably is not much fun. Due to the already injured you are missing a lot of players. Injury worries us. In Karlovy Vary is otherwise a very good team, that we also deducted. Play now, while perhaps more, but it would be better if we were already complete. It is played at very high speeds, much to the rise. We need to rapidly rotate.
Ve Varech jste tedy spokojená? Je to tu výborné, zamilovala jsem si to tady. Karlovy Vary jsou moc pekné mesto.
The Karlovy Vary festival were you satisfied? It's great, I love it here. Karlovy Vary is a very nice town.
Katerina Wegnerová
as seen on Eurobasket and USBasket
At home we are in the gym - Apr 9, 2010 (by Ozell Wells)
They met playing basketball and now with him they look to conquer the world. Or at least, Karlovy Vary, where they spent the last season together. Kyle DeHaven (175-G-84, college: Delaware) with BK Lokomotiva Karlovy Vary, her boyfriend, Michael Joseph Toth with Thermia in Division One.
KARLOVY VARY
She is playing the highest competition in the city center, on the outskirts of war in the second division. Like Romeo and Juliet, only the New World. From a country where the famous story of two lovers swear by, you have to Shakespeare in school, perhaps a specific subject, where endlessly discuss tensions between the Montagues and Kapulety. The basketball couple from the United States - Kyle DeHaven and Michael Joseph Toth share a similar story now living away from home in Karlovy Vary.
On two separate teams, where they are each other's biggest fans. 'We go along to training, we encourage the matches. Actually, we're still together, 'they say. Together in Karlovy Vary. 'I feel great here. I play on a good team, that is winning. I feel great support here. We fell in love with the city, so here we are experiencing great times, 'says Michael.The life here is a little different, but this suits us,' added Kyle. When for a moment relieved from basketball, they go to get together some food or just pass through the city. 'Here the city is a bit smaller then back home. We dont really need a car here, everything is close. '
Problems do not include the language barrier. 'In the beginning it was a little hard, but I got used to it and now it's much better. The coach always has spoken without any problems, 'says Kyle. And anyway during games signals are used.
We use words that are taken from English, after all, basketball is one of them. 'Sometimes its just simple English,' says Kyle.
'Its Harder to communicate on defense then it is on offense.
Even there, however, always use the same words. Either English or Czech 'says Michael. For Thermia he plays at the position of quarterback, same as Kyle. 'The communications I have not had any serious problems from the beginning, most of the guys on the team speaks English very well. And the more we talk, the better it gets. In addition, I've also picked up some Czech, 'says Michael.
'Czech, we are both learning, but it is very difficult for us to speak,' Kyle knows. 'Kyle has learned more Czech then I have,' says Michael. 'But we try to speak Czech as much as we can.' This mainly applies to basketball terms. 'I know sup, sup (Czech for Go,Go),' Kyle laughs. And when she remembered how often her coach encourages a faster return to offense or defense. Posledni (Czech for Last),' adds the very next phrase. 'But I can also count to ten: One, two, three, four ... 'and yet I still cant pronounce the' R '. 'As I got used to the team I spoke more, my Czech is a little better than at the beginning, so cool, 'Kyle laughs next question.
'For me it was not so difficult. I think my game is appropriate for the total European style of basketball. Its not so tough, 'says Michael. And while the slyly smiling.
Kyle knows what encounters. It is she who has problems in Karlovy Vary with fouls. Match which has been abandoned because of fouls. 'True, I play a little more aggressively,' said Kyle. Michael nudges. 'But trying to change.' They also further odbude hint: if you are away from home, do you feel lonely sometimes? 'It is clear to me that sometimes I miss home, but do not suffer terribly. For a moment I was here alone before Mike came. Now its better since he is here, there is always something going on between practices and hanging out. To be here, this means to me rather more fun. 'And while it would still mourning invaded, still has the hands of Michael. 'In the summer it will be two years since we met,' counted quickly. Two years with a break. Kyle played last season in Germany away from Michael for six months. 'Our relationship is still fresh,' Kyle smiles. Place where they met you will guess easily: the basketball court. 'But it was a gym at home,' says Kyle. Always corresponds to the first. When she stops, he fails to answer who is the boss in their relationship. Michael is laughing loudly and they are pointing to each other. But then they shall act in unison: 'complement each other, we are actually best friends.' Similarly, in unison and then answer the last question: where to anchor (play) next year. 'If things work out we would love to come back to Karlovy Vary!'
FACTS
BK Lokomotiva Karlovy Vary to the medals this year, heated, in the quarter fell to Slovanka. Place play-off to play a consolation prize in the competition for fifth to eighth place. In the lobby at street riding season ends in early April. And it also rozehrvacka Kyle DeHaven.
Thermia season after a long time have not. She got into the playoffs. As the last of the four in group A1 had six rounds of waiting, this would mean Michael Joseph Toth stand still in Carlsbad at least until 9 May.
Courtesy of: Regional mutation | Mlada fronta DNES - Carlsbad Region
Autor: Pavel Mrhlek
