As many of you already know, next game against Lakkapää (18/12) the club will be raffling off my shoes! Kobe VI Sunsets to be correct. One of the little pleasures of being a professional for me and the rest of my American teammates on the National team, is we get to wear whatever shoes we want!
Sounds weird right? In America, we have no professional league, nor a semi professional league like here in Finland. Growing up, the goal is to have a strong enough youth career to be recruited to play volleyball in college. Even though I can't complain because I loved the 5 years I spent in college, the one thing that wasn't the greatest, is we have to wear our team issued shoes.
Fast forward to the National team, same rules apply, where we are given mizunos, still great shoes but everyone has the same pair.
Finally, summer is gone and all of us our off to our different professional teams but not without picking up a pair of Kobe VIs! (Nike Basketball shoe, named after the best basketball player in USA Kobe Bryant).
And if your good enough to play in Korea, might as well get 3
For me, especially last year, it was a sort of a pat on the back for myself, having signed my first professional contract, I was so excited and had joked with my teammates that if and when I would sign a contract to play overseas, then of course my next move would have to buy a pair of Kobes. A little extrinsic reward for myself, kinda the "I made it". Rewarding myself for all the hard work and sweat I've put in over the years, by buying myself some over priced shiny basketball shoes and feel pretty darn good about it.
Anyways! Why am I mentioning all of this!? Well, its because Im giving the shoes pictured at the top, to one lucky fan of Loimu. Hopefully most of you have already heard about the raffle but if not here is a link to the Loimu Facebook page, where you can enter.
http://www.facebook.com/RaisionLoimu (hint.. click on the shoes!)
I actually brought these shoes to play in this year but I spoke early with Jani and Jukka at the beginning of this year and offered to donate them to the club, hoping they could serve as a platform to get even more people into our games and of course, give one lucky fan some Loimu Kobes, which will be presented 18/12 against Lakkapää. My small way of saying, I really appreciate all the support and kindness all the fans and in general all of Raisio has shown to me in my time in Finland.
And if your wondering, where are my Kobes? Well, there not in Finland now but they'll be on my feet when I get back from Christmas break!
Hope to see you all on Kertullan next Sunday 18/12.
Until next time,
Dustin (Jenkki #1)
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