As a kid growing up in Madison, Alabama, I´m sure a guy like Garrett Hicks was often at Palmer park. A beautiful place with a lot of greenery and a lot of pretty baseball diamonds. The perfect place for any kid who loves the outdoors and sports. Now as a professional baller chasing his dream, he has lived overseas in Georgia and currently in Koblenz, Germany playing his second pro season. He couldn´t have picked a more beautiful place to call his temporary home for this season. It is a small city laying in a valley on the Rhine and Mosel rivers and with a massive fortress overlooking the city. I can imagine just strolling down to the Rhine river to get away and just enjoy the beauty of Germany is something not only he would do, but any other American playing for this historic organization. With the Pro A schedule of the EPG Baskets, he will have to stay overseas again just like last season when he was in Tbilisi, Georgia with his girlfriend. For him, it really doesn´t matter where he will be, because he can celebrate Xmas anywhere. “For me Christmas is celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ who deserves all my honor and glory. It would be nothing without him”, warned Garrett Hicks.

                There is a kid in every professional baller overseas. I bet if you asked 10 out of 10 ballers anywhere playing overseas what their favorite holiday was as a kid 10 would say Xmas. There is so much exciting things happening in the holiday season that it is like a kid being in a candy store for weeks. “Christmas was my favorite holiday growing up and still is today. Getting a huge break from school and getting to see all my family used to be the highlight of my year. I also loved seeing Christmas decorations around the city & listening to Christmas music on the radio”, stressed Garrett Hicks. Probably one of the toughest times during Christmas for any kid in USA is Christmas Eve simply because those hours before bedtime must feel like an eternity not to mention the long night before it´s finally time to open presents. “On Christmas Eve me and my family usually stayed up all night and watched Christmas movies & anticipate opening presents for the next morning”, said Garrett Hicks. It is never difficult remembering exactly what your favorite present was as a kid for Xmas and what the favorite gift was that you gave for a loved one. “I remember getting a bike which was my favorite present while I gave a special gift. I curated a family picture album”, remembered Garrett Hicks.

                One of the great attractions in Germany are the unique and pretty Christmas markets. The great thing about them is that they are so in abundance. One doesn´t only find them in the big cities like Frankfurt, Cologne, or Munich, but even in smaller cities and towns. Even if your in the middle of nowhere balling for a Regionalliga team that may be around 100 kilometers from a bigger city, you will tend to find some kind of Xmas market somewhere near. In Koblenz, people have a double treat. There isn´t only the Christmas Market in the center of town, but there is also the Christmas Garden that is in the fortress up on the hill overlooking Koblenz. It is an amazing light landscape that is a must for anyone. He definitely has gotten around not only checking everything out in Koblenz, but also has been to Cologne to see the Xmas market. Even if he is Germany for Xmas, one tradition most likely won´t change in terms of opening presents. “We typically open presents on Christmas morning in America”, said Garrett Hicks. When it come to his favorite Xmas food, he won´t have any problems finding what he always had in the States, but now in Germany in other forms. “It doesn´t matter what, but my favorite Xmas foods are All Christmas sweets. Cookies, cakes, and pies”, stated Garrett Hicks. He also will celebrate Xmas in Germany with his favorite Xmas movie and song this year. “My favorite Xmas movie is This Christmas and favorite song is Wonderful Christmastime”, added Garrett Hicks. Christmas is also a time where everyone is thankful for what they have and simply hope for the best for the world. Not everyone will be celebrating the way a Garrett Hicks will around the world. He has a wish for the world. It is one that would do the world so much good. “My wish for the world is more unity together”, warned Garrett Hicks. With 2026 just around the corner, he also has a new years resolution for himself. “I want to gain a new hobby”, smiled Garrett Hicks. When it comes to new hobbies, Koblenz has a lot to offer. Some candidates would be pottery or ax throwing or water sports on the rivers. Another one would be hiking. He could even ask teammate Calvin Wishart to go hiking with as he seems to have already checked out some of the scenic hikes around the area.