Final Days in El Progreso

I arrived in Honduras in August planning to stay one month. Now after five months in El Progreso I will be leaving in January for Mexico City.

Earlier in December I said goodbye to my teachers and students at Best American school and on the 20th I spent my last day as an OYE volunteer. OYE held it's "Entrega de Becas," a welcome event for our new crop of scholarship students which brings our group to a total of 75 youths.

At the event, my radio students provided me with one of my proudest moments at OYE. The group planned their 6th radio show to be a year-in-review and also coverage of the scholarship event. With only a little prompting from me, the radio crew scoured the room for interviews with new students, parents, and OYE staff members, and interviewed themselves about their experiences in the program. The group of audio editors took care of the sound and our music group presented their top 5 songs of the year. After months of teaching them what I know about radio (in Spanish, which was no easy task) I was overwhelmed to see them put it into practice with such ease.

The OYE radio group

There were times when the radio students struggled to keep their focus and when our weekly meetings were not as productive as I would have hoped. But on my last day I could feel the energy and passion of the kids and I wish that I could spend another five months helping them towards the goal of a live over-the-air radio broadcast.

OYE was what brought me to El Progreso and although i also found a job teaching at a local high school in the mornings, OYE was where my heart is, and I will miss my radio students the most.

OYE! ...In Honduras

Mayan ruins in Copan, Honduras

I have left my friends and Guate-family behind in Quetzaltenango and I am now in El Progreso, Honduras.  I will be here for at least the next month volunteering with OYE's many projects here in Progreso, mainly their radio program.

The first thing I noticed about Honduras is that it is HOT.  During the day it is consistently about 95 degrees with humidity.  Sweat, sun, and heat are a part of life although somehow the Hondurans manage to wear jeans, shoes and long sleeve shirts while I soak through my shorts and t-shirt.  It will definitely be a transition from the

 cool climate of Xela.

But so far I love the culture, the food, and the people here in Honduras.  There is a lot of work to be done with OYE and I can't wait to dig in.

Reggaeton group performing in San Pedro Sula, one of the biggest cities in Honduras.  The group was promoting positive messages and safe streets in Honduras.

The sign that greeted me when I entered a bank in Copan, Honduras.

My Guatefamilia

While I may have left behind my family in California (hi mom!) I was lucky enough to meet an amazing Guatefamilia here in Quetzaltenango. As part of my Spanish studies, I am living with a Guatemalan host family: Elyda, 30, Luis, 29 and their two kids, Ale, 10, and Luis, (above) 5.

In many ways, they are similar to a typical American family: Luisito loves to play soccer and videogames, Ale watches Disney channel religiously, while Ely and Luis give homework help, cook delicious meals and send the kids off to bed.

However with current economic conditions in Guatemala, my family, like others here, still struggles to pay the bills. The $40 per week that I pay for food and lodging is the main source of income. Luis, though very qualified, has trouble finding consistant work, while Ely stays home to care for the kids, cook, and take care of the house.

My Guatefamilia is well-off compared to others. They have a nice TV, stereo, computer, and a three story house (I share the top story with two other language students). But despite the nice things at home, my family can´t afford to go out to eat, see a movie, or take weekend trips.

At first, with my rusty Spanish, I felt like an outsider but now after two weeks I´m more like the American cousin. Ale and I watch ¨Patito Feo¨ together (on Disney Latino channel) and Luis, Luisito, me, and a group of neighborhood kids play fùtobol in the street every weekend. I still have a bit of trouble decifering Luisito´s spanish but otherwise I am right in the middle of the daily dinner table conversations.

Hasta luego!

From high school football to Fùtbol Guatemalteco

While most of the SportsTime crew is busy preparing for the upcoming high school football season, I am in the middle of the Guatemalan fùtbol season. To be more precise, I´m in Guatemala.

This summer I am traveling through Central America with month-long stopovers in Guatemala and Honduras.

Currently, I am in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala´s second biggest city, brushing up on my Spanish, eating plenty of frijoles with my host family, and volunteering as an English teacher at a local high school.

On August 8th, my next adventure begins in Honduras.

I will be working for OYE, Organization for Youth Empowerment (www.oyehonduras.org), as a volunteer with their after school soccer, art, health, and most exciting for me, radio programs!

In order to participate in Honduras I need to raise $1,000. OYE relies on private funding and requires all volunteers to help them in their fundraising endeavors. A $25 donation would be a tremendous help to the Guatemalan youth that OYE serves.

Tax deductible donations can be made payable to “Organization for Youth Empowerment” and sent to 3351 18th Street N.W.Washington, DC 20010. Please note “Carl Nasman” on the memo line. You can also donate on-line at oyehonduras.org

Also, check back here for updates, pictures, and stories from my summer in Central America.

The Maroon Machine--Ridgewood wins first Bergen County Title

Ridgewood won only their first Bergen County title on Sunday. But the Maroons are no newcomer to county lacrosse--it's just that this was the first time they've even bothered to enter the tournament!

Ridgewood has always been one of the premier programs in Bergen County and in the state of New Jersey. But on Sunday Ridgewood had to prove it on the turf against a talented and streaking Don Bosco team.

BCCA Lacrosse Highlights

Hello all,

I know I promised a lot of people that I would post highlights from last weekend's Bergen County Lacrosse tournament quarterfinals. Well, I've finally gotten the time to put them up.

Here's highlights from two of the four games: Don Bosco vs Fair Lawn and Glen Rock vs Indian Hills. Plus you get bonus highlights of some local baseball!

I'll be at the semi's this Sunday so be sure to say hello! (I'll be the guy with the huge TV camera) And check back here for highlights of those games within a few days.

Bergen vs Essex Softball Highlights

I had a great time at Immaculate Heart Academy over the weekend checking out the Bergen vs Essex County Softball Challenge. Boy was it cold, but saw some great softball!

Here's the highlights from three of the days games. Essex County won the tournament 3 games to 2.


IHA vs Livingston



Dwight-Englewood vs Newark Academy



Cedar Grove vs St. Mary (Rutherford)

The City that Never Sleeps

Yup, no one sleeps in New York City because apparently they use their pillows as weapons! Saturday was international pillow fight day. Video to follow...

Wrestling in the Stands

I had an amazing time in Atlantic City for the NJ high school state wrestling championships! Here's one of the stories I came away with...

Is the action more intense on the wrestling mats or in the stands? I show the ways two parents cope while their sons are in action on the floor. Plus we have our cameras on 3 Bergen Catholic wrestlers for state wrestling highlights!

Taylor Tallies 1,000

Taylor Wootton joined teammate Jacki Mann in the 1,000 point club during a road win at Fort Lee on Thursday night. Taylor came into the game just 7 points shy of the milestone. She collected the first four points on shots in the paint, then scored 998 and 999 on free throws. The Rutherford junior had a chance at a putback for 1,000 late in the first quarter but was fouled and took care of business at the charity stripe.

Taylor finished with 14 points--so its 1,007 and counting...

Check out the video below. Congrats Taylor!

Jamboree Selection Show

What's the noise you hear? It's the buzz surrounding SportsTime's latest and greatest production: The 2008 Bergen Jamboree Selection Show!

We reveal and breakdown the Bergen County boys tournament brackets, interview coaches and players, and even tell you who will win! You can view it here: NJSportstime.com

Let us know what you think! Drop me a comment here or email us at twsportstime@gmail.com

My prediction this year is Don Bosco Prep. Who's your pick?

Boy, is she good!

Last Thursday, Julia Schneider made history at Dwight-Englewood, pouring in her 1,383rd point to set a new all-time school scoring record. The old record was held by Josh Williams who played on the great 2000 and 2001 Bulldogs teams. Yup, Julia Schneider took away the school scoring record from a boys team member. Anyone know how many schools' scoring records are held by a female baller?




Congratulations to Julia, who truly deserves the honor.

Who's in Your 5?

First off, Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you're enjoying the holiday season.

Secondly, with Isiah Thomas's recent announcement that he will be shaking up the Knicks' starting lineup, I wanted to take a look at who should be in Isiah's top 5.



Center: David Lee

Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry have proven that they are incapable of playing together on the court. When those two black holes get too close, they combine into one enormous basketball-sucking celestial being. David Lee is the opposite of a black hole (a white dwarf? red star? maybe this metaphor has gone a bit far...) Lee plays defense--the Knicks are last in the NBA in blocked shots--doesn't need a lot of touches, and brings energy to the lineup. It's time Isiah gave Lee his shot at starting.

Power Forward: Zach Randolph

Randolph is a proven scorer. Randolph is a proven rebounder. Unfortunately, he's also a proven shot-taker and poor defender. No one's perfect, and NY needs the scoring.


Strong Forward: Renaldo Balkman

The Knicks are a bit weak here. Q-Rich has been starting but can't hit the 3 (which was supposed to be his strength), is not a lock-down defender, and seems to have lost a step. Jared Jeffries doesn't bring much to the floor. Wilson Chandler? Randolph Morris? Malik Rose? No. Renaldo Balkman is not a starter for most NBA teams, but he fits in here because of his hustle, defense, and energy.


Shooting Guard: Jamal Crawford

At this juncture a year ago, Crawford was seen as the cancer of this team, but now he is the Knicks' most indispensable player. Crawford is the go-to-guy now. He takes the big shots, creates in the lane, and seems to be the leader on and off the court. At least someone has improved since last year.

Point Guard: Not Applicable/Nate Robinson

Let's face it, Nate is not a point guard. I'm not saying he'll never be, but right now, he does not have that pass-first mentality. But besides him, the Knicks don't really have a point guard. Stephon Marbury has never been the kind of guy that makes the players around him better. And besides, who knows when he'll be back on the floor and in a condition to focus entirely on basketball. Fred Jones is more of a 2-guard. Crawford takes too many shots. So Nate gets the call. Just like David Lee, Nate has paid his dues and deserves a long look at a starting role. Although, undersized, Nate doesn't hate playing a little D, and is a capable scorer.

So there's my proposed starting lineup. Hopefully Isiah is reading this. What do you think? Who's in your top 5? Drop me a comment.

Lee Clark Court

What a great opening night at Leonia! Before they faced off with New Milford, Leonia dedicated their court to former coach Lee Clark. Clark coached the Lions boys basketball team for 30 years, averaging 13 wins per season and winning the 1976 Group 1 state title. Now in his 70’s, Clark is the 6th-winningest coach in Bergen County history.
Dozens of former players, friends, and colleagues showed up at the game, mingled at the pre-game reception, and swapped stories about the golden years at Leonia. Bergen Catholic is the only other Bergen County School to name their court after a former coach and you could tell Coach Clark was truly touched.
The game vs. New Milford marked the first time in four years that the Lions would not have the services of Ahmad Hassan. The big question coming in was how would the Lions transition from a one-player dominated offense to a team game? Answer: by splitting scoring duties between Chaz Portera, Chris Carillo, and Austin Levy. Portera scored 21 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, Carillo recovered from an awful first half to chip in 13 points including 9-9 from the line, and Levy looked like a stud at point guard. Leonia won 58-49 and should be a serious threat to Park Ridge in the BCSL Olympic.
Leonia is now 1-0 on Lee Clark Court.

The Great "Hoosiers" Debate

So, we're taping the latest SportsTime show and Jeff Hansel wants to use a movie reference when referring to the Ridgefield girls basketball team. The Royals had a rough season last year, winning only one game. In Jeff's studio wrap, he says his advice for the struggling Ridgefield squad is to watch the movie "Hoosiers."

I'm thinking to myself, have any high school kids out there even seen Hoosiers? Would that reference be totally lost on our audience? The other day while shooting a feature, I dropped a Sprite commercial reference from the 90's ("I played Hamlet at Cambridge!") and got nothing but blank stares from the high school kids.

Jeff argued his case for Hoosiers but we ended up settling on some more recent, albeit cornier basketball movies: Space Jam and Air Bud. So the question for you is, do kids these days know anything about Hoosiers? Have they seen the movie? Is Hoosiers still relevant? It was voted the best sports movie of all time!

Welcome!

Welcome to the new blog! I had been posting on the SportsTime googlepages site, but the show has upgraded its website so it was time to give the blog a face-lift as well.

I'll be sharing my take on the New Jersey high school sports scene, laying out all the things that don't make the SportsTime airwaves, talking a bit about the Knicks (due to my latest gig, Knicks podcaster...more on that later) and writing about whatever else crosses my mind.

The best part about this new blog is the comments feature. If you agree or disagree with what I have to say, want to drop me a line, or give me your own sports scoop, please post a comment!