-^-for posterity-^-

out of the blue i ended up in a tiny town just south of nha trang playing in a vietnamese basketball tournament.

we left at 630 this morning. it was a hot morning and we all gathered in one of the main coffee shops in town. the group that was going to head up to this small town whose name i still don't know was a rag-tag group of youngsters and old vets.

the young people are the kind of people who fear nothing. they are the young people who have had rough lives. they sit in the back of the van and tell dirty stories and talk about girlfriends. they smile and make crude jokes. they are wonderful people and i'm pleased to understand them.

the older people are basketball vets. they all have played since they were children and are always doling out advice. they are nice people and i play basketball with them three times a week.

the idea of going to a basketball tournament all the way up in the middle of vietnam had been brewing for a long while. i never thought i would be invited because i didn't think they would let a foreigner play in the tournament. evidently some calls were made and i am good to go.

so, after a 12 hour bus ride and about 187 dirty jokes, we arrived in a tiny, dusty town on the beach. we came at night and watched some of our competition practice. the other teams have come from all over vietnam and are here to claim the large gold trophy that sits at one end of the court always under the watchful eye of the organizers.

we practiced for a bit and then ate supper. the practice, which took place late at night, was attended by a number of youngsters from around town. they all stood around us and smiled and laughed and we were celebrities. i wonder what it will be like for an actual game.

the air around here is full of excitement. this tournament has pitted some of the biggest cities in vietnam against one another and i am here to take part. it should be interesting.