Being a Celtic
First things first… This is a dream come true for any basketball player and it’s clearly a dream for me too. Seeing the jersey of the Boston Celtics, the winningest team in the NBA, with my name there is something I will always cherish. Then getting the chance to go to Vegas, a city so lively and unreal, is a plus. It’s much more than I was expecting.
I didn’t come here just to watch, though. I’m obviously in awe by a place like Caesar’s Palace, where the Celtics are hosted (my room is like a little palace, by the way) or by going to the physical tests in a limousine; that’s something you don’t see in Spain… But that’s not the point. The most important thing here is the game itself. I came to play to the summer league for two reasons: getting the chance to face NBA players and making the Celtics win the tournament.
I know the final scores in these competitions are not all that important to many people, but to me that’s where it all begins. So with teammates like Gerald Green (it’s almost impossible not to get your shot blocked by him in practice!) or Rajon Rondo (he’s lightning-quick and one of the first teammates to approach me and make me feel welcomed here), I think we’re going to have a chance to win this thing.
Practice here is very different to what I’m used to in Spain. It’s just a whole different rhythm since there are A LOT of players with the team. We get to practice the pick-and-roll, five-on-five, defensive drills… And it’s all run by Doc Rivers. I’m being coached by an NBA legend that I watched on TV when I was a kid – that doesn’t go unnoticed to me. His assistants pay a lot of attention to details and they congratulate you when you do a good work and show effort. That’s one thing I’m never going to lack.
I’m already waiting for my first game against the Blazers, where I’ll be facing Sergio “Spanish Chocolate” Rodriguez and that guy Greg Oden. The feeling of anticipation for playing against him is great, although I think my teammate Leon Powe – very strong, very intense – can make things hard for him defensively. We’ll see what happens and if I can get some minutes in the game. I’m very excited about it and I’ll take advantage of every second I play.
On a sidenote, let’s talk food – which is a hot topic when it comes to Euros in the United States. I’m doing fine, thanks. My teammate Andreas Glyniadakis already knows the stuff and takes me to buffets that keep us full of energy these days… And not just for practice, but also when you have to find the room of the hotel, which takes great effort. I have to walk around with a map!
Cheers for all the readers of HoopsHype. It feels great to be a Celtic.
Steve Said,
July 6, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
Sergio, great to hear this! We need another point guard to complement Rajon Rondo and you sound like a great guy. Hope everything works out for you!
-Steve
Boston, MA
david Said,
July 6, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
Sergio, welcome to the NBA. I’m a Spurs fan but I liked your article. Escrive bien in ingles tambien !! Be careful in Vegas. Do you know my friend Spitzer in the south of France ? He knows most of the European players.
Buena suerte (except when you play the Spurs).
David
FLCeltsFan Said,
July 6, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
Thank you for taking the time to blog about your experiences. I am a long time Celtics fan and am looking forward to seeing you play on our Summer League team. Good luck and hope to hear from you again soon.
ryan Said,
July 6, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
good luck. all of us boston fans are cheering for you to do good we definately need another good point guard. here’s hoping it’s you.
Ben Said,
July 6, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
Sergio-
please keep blogging. best of luck to you with our Celtics.
tomas_ars Said,
July 6, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
Desde España, la mejor de las suertes, Sergio.
From Spain, the best luck, Sergio.
Rizzo Said,
July 6, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Hello Mr. Sanchez! I can’t wait for the game tonight (only 1 hour and 15 minutes until tipoff). I’ve seen some clips of you here and there and think you definitely have what it takes to be a part of the Boston Celtics. Although Rondo is the starter, I believe you could definitely be our backup point guard. Sebastian Telfair will be back, but you can never have enough pass-first point guards, especially one with your basketball IQ. Enjoy your time with the Celtics and I hope it leads to a roster spot in the very near future, if not with the Celtics, somewhere in the league! Good luck!
P.S.
Everyone is talking up Sergio Rodriguez but people don’t realize you took his starting spot. I would love to see you take him tonight and show the world who’s the real Sergio!
Daniel Said,
July 6, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
Glasgow Celtic fan wishing all the Boston Celts guys the best..even though we play with a different ball.
George Said,
July 6, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
Wish you the best for your career and life, and would enjoy your play in the NBA serve as a fine example of how much of a world sport basketball is. Good luck with a sense of direction in Vegas, seems like an exit sign is one of the hardest things to find in buildings there…
Brandon Said,
July 6, 2007 @ 11:17 pm
you seem like a nice guy wish you the best of luck hope you play for a long time and have fun getting familiar with america
James Said,
July 7, 2007 @ 1:12 am
Leon Powe is awesome! Wish he gets more playing time!
Guzmán González (Pardiez) Said,
July 7, 2007 @ 1:39 am
You must be proud, Sergio. Whatever you do with hard work will be fine, and we know (Spain) that you always work hard. Show them that you have something special. Good luck!!
Thanks to those who write here. He’s a good guy.
Pop Said,
July 7, 2007 @ 5:50 am
Hey Sergio, good luck with your NBA career.
So, anyone-what happened to Telfair?
yoo Said,
July 7, 2007 @ 7:31 am
aqui no las chuparas todas viciosin
Conor Said,
July 7, 2007 @ 9:02 am
Best of luck, Sergio!
noseque222 Said,
July 7, 2007 @ 9:02 am
Sergio xaxo, cómo t va?! ya t habia leido en el chat de marca y me he qdao flipao al leerte aki tb!!!
suerte tío, dejalos flipaos con tus penetraciones!
y dile al rondo q no vaya de streya!
sobre todo, disfruta tío!
animos desde zaragoza!
Papadopoulos Said,
July 7, 2007 @ 9:31 am
Jugoonnn!!
A noseque222 le harias muy feliz !! jiji
Olvidate de la liga de verano y cambia d equipo en la capital!!
Cuando ganemos la euroliga t daremos via libre pa k dejes impresioanada a la NBA!!
See u man!!!
noseque222 Said,
July 7, 2007 @ 9:47 am
pero mira q eres paaaaardooo maño Papadopoulos!!!!!!
aayy q ser pardo y un lloron!!!!!! ak ak ak
x cierto a ver si fixas de una puta vez x el madrid, q no parais de decir q esta hexo, q no, q si, q no…
x ultimo, paaardo maño!!!
q pensaran los yankis q lean esto…jajaja
suerte jugon!
liam Said,
July 11, 2007 @ 11:55 pm
gerald green should start over ray allen. i wish they traded for a decent center instead of ray (though they did a great job in the allen trade keepin all their great young players)….. good trade but i wish they got a 5 to start and put gerald starting the 2. everyone in boston wants to see more of gerald he’s gonna be amazing, unstoppable, too good and too talented for anyone to slow him down!
best of luck sergio we need another point guard! hope its you man keep blogging great read!
kami Said,
July 13, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
enhorabuena por tu debut sergio!!!
una vez superado lo peor, el miedo a debutar, toca disfrutar. demuestrales lo que vales, como has hecho en estudiantes y fuenlabrada.
ojala puedas seguir los pasos de sergio rodriguez algun dia de estos.
suerte y saludos!
James Martin Said,
July 15, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Sergio, I beg you please sign with Converse. I know this may be a little off topic, but I was so excited the other day to see you wearing the Wade 1.3. Not having a Converse player on the Celtics is just wrong. First off I hope the Celtics do the smart thing and try and sign you… and then I hope you sign with Converse and bring the Converse back to Boston in its 100th year. Regardless good luck and thank you for taking the time to write this blog.
killo Said,
July 16, 2007 @ 11:10 am
Ke ai killo!!!
Muxa suerte en la liga de verano en la NBA. Eres el mejor y tu lo sabes. Weno vuelve pronto pa España y nada mas!!! JEJEJE!!!
SUERTE!!!!!!!!
Jorge Said,
July 18, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
Sergio,
Buena suerte! Yo conosco bien el equipo de los Celtics y puedes creer que tienes lugar en el equipo. Hay mucha politica y posibles cambios. Espero que superes todo y triunfes. Soy un amigo Iberico, del otro pais, que vive en los Estados Unidos.
Jorge
Gabriel Said,
July 22, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Hola Sergio!!
soy Gabriel, el “franchute”, recuerdas, yo he jugado contigo en el caja san fernando en Sevilla en 2001!!! Vivo en londres, entonces ojala que voy a verte durante NBA EUrope live en octubre, vivo 2 minutos cerca del estadio!!!
Hasta pronto!!! Gabriel