christmas

Calvin Wishart Will Be In Athens Greece This Christmas But Will Never Forget The Xmas Eve Dinners And Broom Ball In Minnesota As A Kid

One of the great traditions in Germany are the Christmas markets. As a German/American and having lived in Germany now for 20 plus years, I have seen many incredible Xmas markets and it definitely never gets old. I have seen my share of pretty ones like in Frankfurt and Limburg and even got rid of some money for nice Christmas presents in an old castle named Arenfels. The place was perched high on a hill overlooking the Rhein River. The view was simply breathtaking even under the stars. For American ballers in Germany for the first time, visiting a traditional German Xmas market is something on every guys bucket list. It wasn´t any different for second year pro Calvin Wishart (188-G-1999, college: UCSB) who is playing this season in the Pro B for VR Bank Wuerzburg Baskets Akademie (Germany-ProB). But for him walking around in Wurzburg and taking in the great atmosphere, delicious food and hand made trinkets at a Xmas market wasn´t enough, he just had too experience so much more. “I have been able to visit a few of them yes I have been able to go to some in Munich, Frankfurt, Landshut and Würzburg.”, stated Calvin Wishart. The Christmas time for him like so many other ballers overseas is a very vital time of the year. “Christmas is a really important time to be with family and friends. I think that’s the most important thing. Christmas is a magical time of year full of spirit, gift giving, and love. Through the winter time, it being cold and dreary, it’s something to bring up your spirits and enjoy what winter brings with friends and family”, said Calvin Wishart.

The Minnesota native already witnessed Christmas last season as a rookie in Portugal and this season has a massive luxury. In the Pro B, he has a 2 week break. If he would be playing in the easyCredit BBL or Pro A who play during the holidays, he would have to remain in Germany which would still be nice, but this season, he will experience a new kind of Xmas. “I will be celebrating Christmas in Athens, Greece this year with my best friend Anders Nelson”, commented Calvin Wishart. But he will have some interesting stories to tell in Athens about the German tradition as well. For him the Christmas markets remain one of the nicer things, but he also witnessed other things. “I appreciate how people are still outside. The Christmas markets are a good time for people to congregate and share a warm mug and conversations. We had a Christmas party with the Würzburg organization with all the guys and families of the players”, expressed Calvin Wishart. In Germany one opens up presents on Christmas Eve and in the States on the 25th of December in the morning. Would he ever change the tradition if in Germany? “I’m a firm believer that presents should be opened on Christmas morning after Santa has dropped them off via chimney access”, added Calvin Wishart. He also believes that the marketing of Christmas is just as big in Germany as in USA, but believes that one thing is done better here than at home. “I think it’s more decorated here in Europe. Even in Portugal. The towns here do a good job of dressing the city up in Christmas! obviously I’m away from family here in Europe during the holidays so it’s a bit harder, and I have fonder memories of Christmas in Minnesota”, said Calvin Wishart.

I can imagine the American will tell some childhood stories in Greece when he meets new people. Every American has their special memories of how Xmas was as a kid and it isn´t any different for him. “Christmas as a kid was easily the best time of year. On Christmas Eve, my family would host both sides of the family at our home in Buffalo, MN. Mom and dad would put together a big spread of food and drinks for 20-30 people. My dad started the tradition, “Prime Rib Dinner at Wishart’s Tavern” when I was young and we did that every year. We would go to candle lit church service on the eve around 10 pm, come home and sleep and wake up on the morning to open gifts. Growing up my parents really spoiled us with the best gifts”, remembered Calvin Wishart. He also will never forget his favorite gift as a kid. “When I was in 1st grade Santa brought me a PSP, a PlayStation portable. I have it to this day and it’s my most prized possession”, said Calvin Wishart. But nothing is nicer than having the whole family assembled around the fire place on Christmas eve as the dinner is being prepared. There are so many special traditions in families and it isn´t any different with family Wishart. “The Christmas Eve dinners when the whole family would be at our house. We’d also play “broom ball” on our neighbors ice rink. Which is basically skate less ice hockey. With long paddles and a like a handball”, remembered Calvin Wishart. But he still has one order of business before he flies to Greece and that is playing one last game on December 21st. Wurzburg has had an amazing turnround after losing it´s first 6 games, it now has won 5 in a row thanks to the great leadership of head coach Alex King and the dynamic duo of Hannes Steinbach and Calvin Wishart. “A good road win at Bayern Munich going into the break bringing the streak to 6”, smiled Calvin Wishart who believes teammate Eddy Rantz would moonlight bets on the team as a Santa Claus. Unfortunately their winning streak ended in Munich. Now he and the team have a weeks to get their batteries recharged for the second half of the season.

One Of Omari Knox´s Biggest Xmas Memories Was Seeing The New York Knicks Play At Madison Square Garden In 2018

You can be thankful about so many things around the Christmas time and for me personally it´s having good health. It didn´t look so rosy some years ago for me, but just to still be around at this part of the year and being able to be around your loved ones is simply the best feeling. Basketball wise, I´m actually thankful about many things, but one comes to mind and that is that I actually will see the great Omari Knox (185-SG-1986, college: Bloomfield) play again this season not once, but twice. Last season I wrote a farewell article to his career as it seemed like he would retire, but no he is back again this season at the ripe age of 38 and still a main force in the Pro B with TSV Tropics Oberaching. He has played his whole career in Germany and seen many Christmas´s and like for so many ballers out there a very important time of the year. “I would define it as the annual celebration of Christ’s birthday. Christmas has always been important over the years to completely recharge and enjoy time away with the family. As an athlete you invest so much time away from your family, coming home later, and every weekend spent in the gym, so the winter break really allows you to get in some quality time without distraction”, stressed Omari Knox.

The explosive scorer grew up in Brooklyn New York and still remembers those special Christmas´s as a kid as if it was yesterday. Times haven´t changed as my 7 year old son in 2024 has some Switch games on his Santa Claus wish list and when Knox was a kid, he remembers one of his favorite gifts being a Sega Genesis gaming system. “I remember being too excited to go to sleep and wake up for Christmas morning. I would usually wake up to the smell of breakfast and the sound of Christmas music playing. I would be allowed to open my gifts right away. I’m not sure how old I was, but waking up to a living room full of wrapped gifts under the tree, that weren’t there before I went to bed. I had assumed Santa wasn’t coming that year hahaha. Only to be happily surprised and get pretty much everything that I had asked for”, remembered Omari Knox. I always remembered being able to open my presents at night in the States as my German parents celebrated Xmas the European way. When school resumed I would always annoy my classmates about having already seen my presents on Christmas eve. For the guard, he has seen both sides to the story. “I’ve experienced both as a kid so it doesn’t really make too much of a difference for me. I would say I always found it more exciting and more of a Christmassy Vibe, to wake up together in the morning, have music playing and open gifts as a family”, said Omari Knox.

This season he will be back in Bavaria for Christmas where he has been most of the time since coming overseas in 2009. But there have been exceptions when he was in the States like in 2018 when he experienced an incredible time related to basketball. “It was my wife’s first time in New York and we also got to see the Knicks at the Garden”, said Omari Knox. He also has a favorite Xmas here in Germany and that was in 2022 when his parents visited him and celebrated in Germany which was their first time in Germany. There are so many beautiful things that you can experience in Germany in the holiday time and one of those are the extraordinary Christmas markets that seem to be on almost every corner like Mcdonalds are in the States. “I think my first season in Germany, one of my teammates must have brought me over to see it for the first time. Now every year, I try to go at least once or twice. Especially if I’m not yet in the holiday spirit”, added Omari Knox. During the Xmas season he is still working as he has games every weekend leading up to Christmas and then has a 2 week break. This season he has a special basketball present he wants. “The perfect basketball Xmas present for me this season would be to finish out our last 2 games with wins. Especially with the last game being, a tough one on the road in Cologne against my former team”, warned Omari Knox. His team Oberaching has continued to rise as in the last 3 seasons finished 8,7 and 6 in the standings and this season are in 4th place, It is apparent that great coach Mario Matic´s developing of team chemistry and keeping guys for years has really paid off. “Coach Mario has done a great job of always keeping the core guys together, and only bringing in good character players to add to the band”, stated Omari Knox. He also would allow his teammate Peter Zeis to play Santa Claus for the kids as he would fit that bill perfectly. Will he celebrate Xmas any differently this season? “Hopefully, the same way I’ve always enjoyed it. I hope to be able to wake up on Christmas morning, have breakfast with my family, open some gifts, and give my son some nice core memories from the holidays”, commented Omari Knox. Some things never change during the Xmas season. Reliving those memories from your life will always be present. Merry Xmas Omari. Looking forward to seeing you in 2025 in the arena again.

Christmas Isn´t About The Gifts For Malik Riddle(RheinStars) But Having Special People Around To Show Love To

For American ballers playing the game they love overseas is an experience that they will never forget. Being able to travel all through Europe during a career and learn new things about different cultures is priceless. Being overseas during Christmas is also a very unique experience. There is always that first time like seeing that first NBA game, going to a wedding or getting that annoying speeding ticket. For ballers there is also that first time spending Xmas overseas. It isn´t any different for American Malik Riddle (193-G-1999, college: HSU) who is doing his first Xmas in Germany this season. He isn´t a rookie this season as he balled in Malta last season, but actually went home last season after his game on December 17th to celebrate Xmas in the States. Usually there is that certain excitement as to see what gifts one will get, but this season he already has a very special Xmas present that he knows about. “I will celebrate Christmas this year with my lovely girlfriend in Germany excited to spend Christmas in another country with her”, stressed Malik Riddle.

Malik Riddle grew up in Tennessee and got his first basketball experience at Rossville Christian Academy and then played at Morehead State University (NCAA) and Henderson State University (NCAA2). He celebrated Christmas in the States like any other kid and it is a time of year that he is always geared up for. “Christmas has always been a special time for me. Mostly just spending time with my family and loved ones make it’s special. Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of Christ. It’s the time to be thankful and joyful for family and friends. To me it’s not all about gifts, but it is really having special people around to show love to”, said Malik Riddle. Even though he isn´t a kid anymore at 25 years old, he still has those childhood Xmas memories tingling in his head as if it were yesterday. “I remember how exciting it was waking up to open gifts. And we usually had a family dinner at my house so it was nice when family came over for that. Back then basketball was very much involved on Christmas day and one that still ranks high on his list today. My fondest memory would be just being around family and enjoying each other company while watching NBA games”, smiled Malik Riddle. For small boys getting that first basketball or football is probably a gift that was one of their greatest or for girls getting that first Barbie doll or in 2024 getting a present pertaining to Taylor Swift. Thank God I don´t have a daughter so I wouldn´t know about what girly things are in. Anyway for the talented baller, he still remembers that special gift that he got as a child and it wasn´t a basketball. “It was when I got my first drum set, that would be my most cherished present”, said Malik Riddle.

Last season he was in Malta pre Xmas eve/day and still remembers how it was then. “It was nice out there in Malta during Christmas time. There were lights and decorations everywhere and a lot of Christmas spirit”, added Malik Riddle. He will experience his first Christmas market in Germany and what better place then to witness all the beautiful stands, decorations and food at the Cologne cathedral. The cathedral is the main visiting site in Cologne and one that is just breathtaking when your standing before it and just looking up and thinking about all the history involved. One can only imagine how unique the structure is with the bells ringing and a little snow present. It is the place to be in Cologne. It will also be his first Christmas where he is confronted with the question with how will we do the presents? Will it be the classic American way with breakfast and gift opening in the pajamas or in the more different way doing it the German way on Christmas eve? “I mean some families open present on Christmas Eve in the states so it’s not that different it’s a little different to me but nothing crazy”, stated Malik Riddle. Unfortunately a very cherished gift he would have liked didn´t come true. He was hoping that his team RheinStars would go into the break undefeated, but that wish was halted by Wurzburg as they continued their winning streak at 5 games. It would be funny to see though which of his teammates would fit the Santa Claus costume best and play the role best? We both agreed that the best fit would be a certain big man. “I think Bjoern Rohwer would be the perfect Santa Claus”, said Malik Riddle. He and the RheinStars will have a 2 week break to recharge and then return in the new year and get back to business. For now though, it is all about enjoying the Christmas season being thankful and having loved ones around.

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