Coaching for Pizza

Monday, June 6, 2016

A National Holiday, a Moving Day and a Day for American Football

Monday, 6 June, 2016:

Today was . . .

Swedish Flag Day

This is a National Holiday in Sweden that some say is like our Fourth of July while other Swedes tell me that is a relatively new day in Swedish culture to celebrate a somewhat cloudy part of Swedish history.

Regardless, I liked it!

BARÇA!!!

I moved into my newest apartment, hereto referred to as Icelandia III. It is a spacious, two bedroom affair that even has a balcony.

The FC Barcelona headboard makes the whole flat work!

As always, TACK SÅ MYCKET to Lotta Douhan and Aiki Parts for making my transition to a new home an easy one!

Meanwhile, back at the Flag Day celebration . . .

FIKA TIME!

What says Sweden more than those two wonderful words?

I was told to head up the hill from the train station to the Upplands Väsby Hembygdsförening to see some fun doings.

More of Karins Kafé

Here comes the Flag . . .

. . . and the Band

Time for music and politicians

Raising of the Flag

while the assembly sings

the Swedish National Anthem

Flying PROUDLY!

Young Lass in a

Traditional Outfit

More Traditional Outfits

A not so Traditional Outfit

This Konditori was

SWEDEN PROUD!

At 3:00 p.m., we had a U11 practice.

Oklahoma Drill

Offensive Line

getting a good push!

At 4:00 p.m., we were supposed to play a U13 game vs. the Solna Chiefs but it was cancelled.

At 6:30 p.m., our U15 team practice emphasized Special Teams and preparation for this weekends 7-on-7 tournament.

Both of our U11 and U15 workouts featured positive improvements by our players.

With our American football

practices ended . . .

. . . I had to make the two

minute walk through these

woods to Icelandia III

Living this close to the practice/game field is an improvement.

All-in-all, another GREAT day in Sweden!

Sunday, June 5, 2016

A Last Day in Hässleholm, Sweden

Sunday, 5 June, 2016:

The end of my weekend in the Skåne region in the South of Sweden was again a good one.

Adrian "A-Train" Cordeiro

The "A-Train" is my Main Man in Hässleholm when it comes to all things Transformers related.

My knowledge of the Decepticons, Megatron, Optimus Prime and Bumble Bee amongst many others, increased by leaps and bounds in the last two days.

Katarina and Shawn Cordeiro

and sons Adrian and William

The Cordeiros were so gracious in hosting me this weekend! I can not begin to say THANK YOU enough to this family.

TACK SÅ MYCKET

CORDEIRO FAMILY!!!

After breakfast and good-byes at the Cordeiro's home, I was picked up by Hässleholm Hurricanes' veteran Center Johan Persson for lunch and fika at his home in the country.

Johan and his

daughter Cornelia

Dexter, the Persson's Boxer,

led us on a fun nature walk

The Persson's home is located about 50 meters from the edge of this forest.

Back at Johan and Marianne's home, I discovered that just like our son Andrew, Johan is a Star Wars Fan.

I don't think that this is accurate

That's a lot of statues

A glowing Millennium Falcon

Johan and Marianne Persson

with daughters Siri and Cornelia

Johan grilled up some great meat selections and Marianne made a delicious blueberry crumb cake for our fika.

It was a perfect ending to a great weekend.

TACK SÅ MYCKET

PERSSON FAMILY!!!

After a relaxing afternoon, it was time to head to Hässleholm Central to catch the 4:54 p.m. train back to Stockholm.

I had about 15 minutes to meander, so I did . . .

Jack Reacher in Swedish

Near Hassleholm Central

Hassleholm's Main Square

Hey, I'm looking GOOD!

Wounded Panther

Sleepy Panther

Hässleholm's Swedish Church

I'm not sure . . .

Kids at Play

Soaring with a Golden Globe

The Hässleholm SubWay

In 2010, Laurie and I were returning to Hässleholm by train after week in Stockholm and cruising to Tallinn, St. Petersburg and Helsinki.

The four hour rail journey took about ten hours after our train broke down. When we finally arrived in Hässleholm tired and hungry, we found this SubWay which had opened during our week on the road. It was the only place open in town on a late Sunday night and as we knew that we had no food in our apartment, we were overjoyed to eat perhaps the best sandwich ever!

A recent fire in the apartments above this SubWay has forced a temporary closing of the sandwich shop while repairs are made.

Hej Do Hässleholm!

It was so wonderful to see so many people that mean so much to me over the last few days. This was a GREAT weekend!

Saturday, June 4, 2016

What a GREAT Day for American Football in Europe!!!

Saturday, 4 June, 2016:

It was indeed a good day for American football in Europe.

Murcia Cobras

Undefeated 2016 Spanish Serie B

National Champions!!!

I am so happy for this great group of players who today defeated Barcelona's L'Hospitalet Pioners 10-8 to claim the National title and move up to Spain's top league, Serie A, for the 2017 season.

The Cobras won the game with tremendous courage as it turns out!

Trailing the Pioners 7-8, the Cobras won the title on an 80 yard drive that started with 44 seconds left in the game. The Cobras then won the contest on a field goal by Alberto del Cerro with 6 seconds left in the game to become the National Champions!

Here is a link to what Murrains now simply call "The Drive":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl00T0pxeoI&feature=youtu.be

ENHORABUENA COBRAS!!!

Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons

Undefeated 2016 French Division II

Finalists!!!

The Falcons won their National DII Semi-Final game over the Nîmes Centurions by a score of 48-27.

As I understand it, this victory automatically moves the Falcons into Frances's top league, Division I, in 2017.

The Falcons will play the Rouen Leopards in two weeks for the National Championship of DII in France.

Meanwhile, in Hässleholm, Sweden . . .

It was time to see my old team,

the Hassleholm Hurricanes play

I coached the 'Canes in 2010 and was looking forward to visiting some old friends.

Livestream?

Things have definitely improved in the last six years!

Uh-oh, storm front moving into the

greater Hassleholm megalopolis

You could smell the tropical monsoon in the air, but there was no way of knowing how fierce this weather front promised to be.

Rain/Lightning Delay

With 1:20 left to play in the First Quarter and Ystad Riockets leading 7-6, the game was wisely halted as the lightning was simply too close for safety.

The referees would halt the game for 30 minutes and then re-evaluate the situation.

Uffe Palmbrink and Rasmus Griph

These former players were manning the grill.

I loved all three of the hot dogs that I ate solely to lend some financial support to the club of course.

Part of the crowd looking

for cover from the elements

Frank Hilgers re-evaluating

the worsening weather at the

30 minute mark

It was as bad a rain/lightning storm as I have ever seen. The difference today was how long the intensity of this front continued.

It was extremely fierce!

The refs opted to give the game a second 30 minute delay.

We are starting to flood

in the Snack Bar area

I don't think that the umbrella

is helping all that much

Frank Hilgers eating a hot dog

as he makes his final assessment

After an hour of hiding/cowering from the inclement weather, the referees made the right call in postponing the game to a later date that will be determined in the future.