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Post by Billings on Dec 21, 2003 9:14:57 GMT -5
Hello friends,
I have read many of your posts and am very happy to read such enthusiam about volleyball. if there are any questions for those of you who want to be more involved in the overseas process or just want to ask me any kind of questions, i would be more than happy to talk with you.
I saw the post about me playing in japan and yes, i am very fortunate to make it in to this league. it is a very tough league and very professional. fortunatley my team has started off to a great begining at 4-1. we are in second place and looking very strong for the future. unfortunatley i must leave japan tomorrow for the olympic qualifier with the USA team in Puerto Rico. We must win the tourney to make the Olympic's and it is not going to be easy by any means.
I would like to thank those who have givin me support through my carreer and those who have loved to hate me. it has only made me stronger and try harder in this very difficult sport. Everyone who is involved with volleyball i consider family and wish you all happy holidays.
hope all is well,
Brook Billings
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Post by oldsage on Dec 21, 2003 12:15:33 GMT -5
Hello friends, I have read many of your posts and am very happy to read such enthusiam about volleyball. if there are any questions for those of you who want to be more involved in the overseas process or just want to ask me any kind of questions, i would be more than happy to talk with you. I saw the post about me playing in japan and yes, i am very fortunate to make it in to this league. it is a very tough league and very professional. fortunatley my team has started off to a great begining at 4-1. we are in second place and looking very strong for the future. unfortunatley i must leave japan tomorrow for the olympic qualifier with the USA team in Puerto Rico. We must win the tourney to make the Olympic's and it is not going to be easy by any means. I would like to thank those who have givin me support through my carreer and those who have loved to hate me. it has only made me stronger and try harder in this very difficult sport. Everyone who is involved with volleyball i consider family and wish you all happy holidays. hope all is well, Brook Billings Good luck, Brook. You're a brave man de-cloaking on this forum. |
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Post by just...theDH on Dec 21, 2003 14:52:44 GMT -5
doubt its him.
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Post by Billings on Dec 21, 2003 17:59:42 GMT -5
Thank you for the LUCK. Team USA is going to need it past Cuba and Canada in Norceca's. I have nothing to hide so no reason to keep my identity a secret. and for the stuff i don't wish to reply to I won't. I just want people to be more inside of how USA volleyball works and does not only hear what people on the outside say. miss conceptions.
Again happy holidays,
BB
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Post by My2Sense on Dec 21, 2003 18:13:56 GMT -5
Brook... it's fantastic that you've come on. (and, I know it IS you.)
Many of us are very anxious to see the team qualify at the NORCECA's. Do you have a sense of how you'll do there? Who are the other teams, and how has the team done against them?
Did you have to learn any Japanese to enable you to get by there?
Good luck.
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Post by Billings on Dec 21, 2003 18:43:41 GMT -5
As for team USA, I am not sure all as of all the teams that will be in Puerto Rico but I know that our two toughest challenges will be against Cuba and Canada. We have had great success against both teams this summer, beating Canada all matches fairley and a lose to Cuba in the Pan American games. However, in the Pan American games we were with out four starters...Lloy Ball, Clay Stanley, Tom Hoff, and Ryan Millar. We we played them in the Norceca's to qualify for the World Cup the team took care of business and we need to do it again.
As for learning Japanese, i have only come across the basics. I am playing for Coach Gordon Mayforth from Loyola Chicago and am thankful to have him a long. Most of the players took some time to warm up to speak english but they have all learned it in school. I believe now that they are more comfortable that i won't make fun of them for messing up and are more interested in having conversations. The team is full of great guys. We have a guy from Brazil that just got his Japanese citizenship this year. his mom is japanese and father brazilian. This guy is an unreal volleyball player. I am really learning a lot from his style and attitude on the court.
We have faced some good teams with good forigners. So far we have only lost to one team (panosonic). they have Yamamoto (MVP) of the world cup and Kantor from Bulgaria...another steady player. Then we faced JT who has a forigner by the name of Savaliev from Russia. He is like no one you will see in the USA. 33 years old and crushes the ball. Then we played Toray with Abromov from Russia, who some consider the best outside hitter in the world. I might not agree with that statement yet! keep in mind he is only 24 and has plenty of time. Last night we faced NEC. Our club team has not beaten them in two years. Their team has the starting Japanes National team Outside Hitter and Setter along with Brazilian Opposite Anderson. You can only imagine the butterflies going through my stomach going into the match. We ended up taking the first two games, then Anderson went on a tear. He might of hammered 10 aces. we started passing with four (putting me in as a passer) to through something different at him, to get him thinking. of course he hit it as hard as he could in my direction. it was an intense serve. They ended up winning the next two games pretty easy by taking us out of rythem.
FIFTH GAME: one point difference all the way. 13-13, Anderson back to serve. I looked at our passers faces and could just sense everyone was praying he would miss or something would happen. Toss, contact, LONG!!! 14-13 us. everyone jumps with joy. game still not over. side out them 14-14. I got set a red (yong in japanese), front row right side, and soft block back to our side. I scream for the ball again but we set a pipe and Kale (our brazilian/japanese player) hits it wide. our hearts fell, but the game is not over yet! we side out 15-15 and then Anderson hits one long, no touch. they side out on a Anderson kill. Then it is all history, we set Brook on the right side again and Kill. Back to serve Brook, miss hit ace...you gotta love those. crowd goes wild. BLAZERS WIN!!!
maybe it is more exciting to me but it is professional volleyball and I am loving it. I wish there was a pro league like this in the US so you could all enjoy great matches like this. Hope you believe it is me now.
BB
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Post by quikset on Dec 21, 2003 19:40:28 GMT -5
Brook,
Maybe you could give us some insight on the "business" side of playing for Team USA. Does each player on the team sign a contract? If so, has everyone on the current team signed through Athens? Does the contract with Team USA include stipulations for allowing everyone to pursue pro opportunities overseas?
Must be a blast to play in Japan in front of big crowds every match. Best of luck to you guys in Puerto Rico.
-Aaron
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Post by nucleus on Dec 21, 2003 20:45:29 GMT -5
Brook,
Thanks for the update on the start of the Blazer's season. There are a few of us here in the Midwest that are familar with Blazer Volleyball and the v-league and we appreaciate the updates. I hope you keep posting throughout the v-league season.
I was fortunate enough to see you play in Tokyo during the world cup and I am glad that Coach Mayforth and the Blazers are getting a player of your calibur. Good luck to you and team USA in PR and also when you get back to Osaka.
Jam on it,
Nucleus
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Post by Billings on Dec 21, 2003 21:10:26 GMT -5
The "buisness" side of USA Volleyball is not for me to discuss. I can only tell you that each player does sign a contract. We do not discuss what others have done in that department so I do not know what the answer is. I would rather not discuss this topic for it could get me in trouble.
As for the Blazers i will keep it updated for those who are interested for the website is only in japanese. I am happy that the fans in the US are into Japanese volleyball.
BB
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Post by halesvb11 on Dec 21, 2003 22:34:11 GMT -5
brook,
as some have said before, i think its awesome that you "came out" to explain and enlighten us to the world of international professional volleyball. im in college and curious as to what it takes to play overseas, both in the aspects of playing ability and ability to adjust to culture. our opposite and i had a conversation about possibly trying to play overseas after graduation, and pretty much came up clueless as to what it takes. i think that i would have the drive and motivation to do it, but i dont know exactly how far that will get you. anything you can do to help things become clearer to everyone here would do a lot. thanks again
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Post by hwy101 on Dec 30, 2003 4:35:29 GMT -5
Brook,
Could you post your team's website? Does it have an English site or is it only Japanese.
Enjoyed watching you over the years. I have a tape of the USA vs. Brazil match at the World Championships. You were amazing in that match!
Any news from you Stanford chum, Paul Bocage? Last time I spoke to him, he was trying to play pro ball overseas.
Best of luck in your career!
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Post by cyberVBmidwest on Dec 30, 2003 8:26:42 GMT -5
Could you post your team's website? Does it have an English site or is it only Japanese. The web site URL is: www.blazers.gr.jp/Japanese only.  But you can see Brooks photo on the right sidebar. |
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Post by foreignball on Dec 30, 2003 14:07:12 GMT -5
We have faced some good teams with good forigners. So far we have only lost to one team (panosonic). they have Yamamoto (MVP) of the world cup and Kantor from Bulgaria...another steady player. A small correction: Kantor is not from Bulgaria, he’s Hungarian.  |
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Post by Wolfgang on Dec 31, 2003 0:31:43 GMT -5
This is probably Brook because who's lame enough to pretend to be some known athlete? But just to test his veracity:
Brook, I have some questions:
1. What is the name of the USC SID in 2002? (Easy question)
2. What time of day did you conduct your interview with rollshot.com?
a. morning
b. afternoon
c. evening
3. What did you primarily talk about with the rollshot.com "reporter" during the interview?
4. What was your biggest concern about the article rollshot.com was going to write about you, which you expressed openly (but which did not appear in the article) during the rollshot.com interview?
5. Did you or did you not have a girlfriend at the time of the rollshot.com interview?
6. What was your biggest complaint about the UCLA campus that you expressed to the rollshot.com "reporter"?
7. Was the rollshot.com "reporter" male or female?
Thanks, man. I can understand if you don't remember some of this.
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Post by Charlie on Jan 1, 2004 15:27:42 GMT -5
our opposite and i had a conversation about possibly trying to play overseas after graduation, and pretty much came up clueless as to what it takes. Hales - I can suggest getting in touch with Tim Kelly, who helps players find professional playing opportunities in Europe. One way he does this is by putting together "exposure" tours for players. His organization is called Bring It Promotions. www.bringitusa.com/ |
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But you can see Brooks photo on the right sidebar.
