Day 5: Ma, crocs and the French rugby team

René Rougeau

Monday, June 30, 2008 | 9:12 a.m.

(Filed at 6:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, Sydney time.)

First and foremost, I would like to say hello to my mother all the way out in Sacramento. I just got off the phone with her in the Sydney airport and she chewed me out for not showing her any love since I’ve been here.

Love you mom! LOL.

In our final game in Sydney (Saturday night), the team made big steps in a very positive direction. We battled through adversity like never before, and came out victorious. Everyone played great and stuck together even when it seemed like we were down and out.

The fans did a tremendous job of keeping us motivated throughout the entire game! It was so intense that I jumped into the stands and made sure I showed our fans some love for all the support they gave us this entire trip.

The team we played was probably one of the better teams that I’ve played against; they had great shooters, solid point guards and big guys that gave us problems all night long.

I was happy to see that gym we played in was a very nice facility. The weight room really impressed me because, to be honest, it was better than our workout facility. A bit jealous you could say. LOL.

Before the game on Saturday, a few of the guys went on a ferry ride over by the Sydney Opera House and appeared to have a good time. I couldn’t even make the trip because I was so drained from the previous night’s game.

After we won it, we mingled with the other team and the school that hosted us (the King’s School). The entire group then headed back to the hotel to get cleaned up and headed out for a night on the town.

We all decided that we needed to go bowling again to get the night started off right. After a few games, it was time to head over to an area that everyone has been telling us about known as “King’s Cross.”

The taxi driver tried to get over on Matt Shaw, Wink Adams, Beas Hamga and myself but we weren’t having that at all. There were definitely a lot of people in this area for a Saturday night, but there were no Hip Hop spots for us to enjoy.

We tried to make the most of the night but eventually just decided to go back to our hotel because everyone was starting to get tired around midnight.

It is Sunday morning now and it is time for us to check out of the hotel and leave for the airport to go to Brisbane for our next part of the tour.

I was glad to see that the flight from Sydney to Brisbane was only an hour long, but the flight attendant had Scott Hoffman and me somewhat nervous with some things she was telling us.

Hopefully, she was just joking. But she was telling us that we need to be careful in Brisbane and Cairns with the crocodiles that could possibly be lurking in the waters.

I love to swim and boogie-board at the beach. But if there is a possible threat of crocs in the area, then I’ll just have to wait until I go back home to California to go to the beach.

We finally arrived at our hotel in Brisbane, and it is very high-tech from the looks of the outside and the lobby. Boy, were we in for a surprise once we got into our rooms. We were definitely caught off guard with the twin beds that were in the room and especially how close together they were.

It was a bit awkward, and we didn’t waste any time rearranging the room because we all needed some space from each other.

After getting settled in our rooms we got some lunch, and – yes, once again – went bowling again. That probably wasn’t the best idea because some of the “better bowlers” played their worst games ever.

I found it pretty funny and was having a good time myself, especially seeing I beat the guys in my lane! There were complaints about the bowling balls and the lanes. Blah. Blah. Excuses, excuses, excuses!

Unfortunately, I was rudely woken up from a nap by my teammates. I can tell you now, I was not happy about that and will have my vengeance on them.

I think the guys weren’t taking it too well, how bad they bowled and how I whooped up on them. I don’t know if it’s just me, or what, but it seems like rugby, Australian Rules football, cricket and tennis are always on the Fox Sports channels.

I’m starting to think that these sports never end out here! It’s funny, I was watching the Australia vs. France Rugby Union game on TV last night, and now the French rugby team is staying in the same hotel as us.

Those guys are huge! I couldn’t even imagine getting tackled by one of those guys let alone trying to take one of them down. Guess I’d have to use my speed burst on them because I wouldn’t want to get hit by one of those guys.

Until tomorrow, wish me the best of luck with the beach; I pray everyone makes it back safely and in one piece!

Have a wonderful day. Cheers, mate!

Sincerely,

Rene Rougeau