Game One

Game 1 Highlight Clips

Linces vs. Pioners

We played our first game this weekend against the defending national champions Los Hospitalet Pioners (not Pioneers). The Pioners are from a small suburb of Barcelona and they have been a national powerhouse for the last few years. On the Pioner squad where American players Cody Ellis, a Wide Receiver from The University of Washington and David Malino, a QB with NCAA experience. As a whole the Pioners where a much more experienced football team than ours. In Barcelona American football is much more popular because it was home to the former NFL Europe champions Barcelona Dragons.

The experience of the Pioners was evident throughout the game as they went on to win 47-6. Offensively we moved the ball pretty well, however we shot ourselves in the foot multiple times with penalties. We also missed a few field goal attempts. Running the ball was a little rough. but i did manage to break free a few times and once for a 50yd touchdown. Our offensive line is physically solid but very inexperienced. Defensively, I didn't play this game but I 'm hoping i can play a little D this next game. All in all we have a long way to go in terms of improvement but the team is confident and optimistic about the season.

Next week we play the second toughest team in the Nation the Valencia Firebats. I've been told that Valencia is sponsored by Ford Motor Company and that allows them to recruit many players from other countries. We have our work cut out for us but we have had a pretty solid week of practice and I think we will put up a good fight. Wish me Luck!!!!!

Getting started

A bit of a rough game - but another newspaper mention (he scored a touchdown!) and a photo from the post-game BBQ. Can you see Alex?


"The Lynxes debut against the champions"

Tapas and Siestas

Tapas
Last night I had my first tapas experience and the concept of it amazes me. Tapas is more of a social experience than it is a meal. At the basic level tapas are small plates of appetizers that you eat with a copita (small beer). The tapas I had last night included bacon wrapped chicken with a sweet mustard sauce and a plate of sweet sesame chicken and both came with patatas (potatoes). A tapa usually runs you around 1-2 Euros and one usually orders around 3-4 per site. How it usually works is a few friends get together and sit at a tapas bar and order a round of copitas and a few tapas. One person takes care of the bill, and then you’re off to the next tapas bar to talk, eat, drink and be merry. A night of tapas and beer will cost you no more than 15 Euros. Time flies when you tapaiando and before you know you’re at your fourth or fifth bar and stuffed from all the amazing variety of tapas. There is no lack of laughter and conversation in these bars and you can easily make friends with all those around you. Within 5 minutes of my apartment you can find more than 50 tapas bars. So for all of you that are coming to visit, prepare to gain 10 lb!!!

Siesta
Another Spanish concept that intrigues me is the siesta. The people in Sevilla are on a completely different time schedule than we are accustomed to. The day in Sevilla usually doesn’t start until 10 am and many shops and cafes open at their leisure thereafter. In Sevilla, waking up any earlier than 8 am is absurd. Around 3 pm the city becomes eerily desolate and quiet. This period is called siesta. People here usually take a 3 hour lunch break where most usually head home have a large meal and recharge their batteries. Most shops and cafes also close down during this period. The siesta is like being in the eye of a hurricane, everything appears calm but you sense that something big is coming. Between 5 and 6 the city explodes with action. Shops re-open as people head back to work with a new sense of energy. Sevilla peaks as the sun sets and the city lights come on. The typical work day usually doesn’t end here until closer to 9pm. After a late dinner the city usually sleeps closer to 1 am.
More to come….

He's kind of a big deal

An article on the new American Football Player popped up in the local newspaper Sevilla Press on January 15th (for those of you who don't know Spanish it basically says that he is the primary reinforcement for the team with ten years of experience and all the schools he played at and some of the awards he won and height and weight in Euro-terms):

http://www.sevillapress.com/noticia/13898.html

Alex Garfio primer refuerzo de la temporada para los Sulime Linces
El jugador norteamericano Alex Garfio será el primer refuerzo en las filas de los Sulime Linces de cara al inminente inicio de la temporada frente a los Hospitelet Pioners el sábado 24 a las 12:00 AM en las Instalaciones Deportivas de La Cartuja. El jugador reforzara el backfield sevillano ocupando la posición de corredor, puesto en el que cuenta con 10 años de experiencia.

Garfio llega al equipo sevillano desde la liga universitaria americana donde jugo en Ventura Community College y en UC Davis (Div-1AA) siendo nombrado en la primera de ellas capitán y MVP del equipo y seleccionado para el All-Western State Conference squad. Su paso por el High School también dejo huella donde fue seleccionado para el Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame en el año 2003. Con sus 89 kg de peso y su 1,74 m de altura Garfio será una importante pieza dentro del juego ofensivo de los Sulime Linces

Photos from Alex's First week

Wandering around the neighborhoods and getting a feel for the city

Guadalquivir River which runs through Sevilla

Old Church in La Macarena

Calle Pedro Miguel

Calle Pedro Miguel in La Macarena

The patio at Alex's apartment on Calle Pedro Miguel

First Week In Sevilla

Hello Everybody!!!!

My apologies for the lack blogs this week. The Internet situation in Sevilla is a bit hectic. People here are just becoming aware of wireless internet and finding a internet cafe is a journey in itself. I should have a stable internet connection by next week (which in Sevilla time could mean a month).

Since arriving in Sevilla everything has gone pretty smoothly. The people here are vey nice and easy going. I'm currently living in the old part of town in an area called La Macarena. I'm within a 20 minute walk of all the major attractions.


More to come...

We're ready...