When the Erie Bayhawks travel, there are many traditions that we all stick to on the road.  When you are in the airport all day and are eating any kind of food you can find you have to makes things fun and interesting together.  

Big Bad John Bryant and I always sit together in the same row (this way no one will sit between us during flights).  Big John is also the GPS guide - when we all need a place to eat he has the iPhone and can direct us where and how far we need to go.  Every flight that we get peanuts, I always donate mine to my man Kyle Goldcamp.  I have no clue why, I just started it and haven't stopped.  He might honestly still have peanuts from January in his bag from me.  Ivan Harris and Cliff Clinkscales always share a row together as well (we always fly Southwest Airlines so no assigned seats by the way).  I don't know if it is there prime goal or not, but they always seem to have a hot girl on that particular flight sit between them.  Let me also mention that Ivan might have the most expensive phone bill of anyone I know.  He literally talks on the phone ALL DAY!

Eating on the road in the D-League you pretty much have to settle for what's close and available.  The D-League provides each player $40 per diem a day and with that amount you have to use it wisely.  

Big John usually settles for a salad most of the time (yes that's right) but if we happen to go to an IHOP its the Big Steak Omelette for the big fella.  Clinkscales and Frank Tolbert are seriously on all-candy diets.  From Gushers to Jolly Ranchers - they have candy I have never even heard of before.  Jarvis Gunter is the biggest eater on our team hands down!  A month ago he ate 17 slices of pizza in 10 minutes in an eating contest.  I witnessed him at IHOP with the all-you-can-eat pancakes with a total of 12.  Jackie Manuel and assistant coach Ben MacDonald are HUGE fans of "Nuts on Clark," a popcorn place in the Chicago-Midway airport.  If you like popcorn you need to try this place out.  Keith Grubbs, our renowned athletic trainer, usually sticks with the pasta on the road.  He must assume he has to try and set an example to us for eating healthy, right? Goldcamp might have the worst luck when it comes to food.  I thought I had it bad with food allergies but Goldcamp is allergic to eggs and CHICKEN!  Yes, no chicken.  That really hurts.    My Rockers tag-team partner Blake Ahearn is a big fan of the pasta bowls at Domino's and I tend to stay with the chicken sandwiches and breakfast food religiously.  I failed to mention Coach Treloar, but he tells enough Bob Knight stories when he was an assistant coach for him at Indiana that I don't pay attention to what he eats. Big Mike Sweetney just joined the team so he gets an incomplete on this one.  

Most bizarre eater in the group is Chris "Red" Hughes.  Many might not know him but he is our radio guy that travels with us (maybe the only D-League team that has one that actually travels) and its quite the entertainment.  He will buy a large pizza and just eat that pizza for the next couple of days out of the box!  Its a smart way to save some money but I will have plenty to say about "Red" soon and might shed some light to explaining why he does this.  Stay tuned, you will not be dissapointed.  Trust me.

I thought about not mentioning this but since I love making fun of myself and you fans love me so much, here is what my tag-team partner had to say about me.  

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Just when I thought D-League travel couldn't get any worse, three games in four nights in three different cities made the last long road trip of our season one that I will never want to experience again.

As I write this I am on a Southwest Airlines flight back to Erie from Utah.  Our last road trip of the year has finally come to a close (technically we play at Maine the last game of the year, but that isn't a long trip, so let's not count it). We completed a sweep, going 3-0, and I might be the happiest man in the world right now to get back home. However, all of this good wouldn't come without a nightmare trip of flight schedules that you will not believe.

Our first game was in Albuquerque, New Mexico and again to get there it took a full day of travel.  We left Erie at 10 am and didn't arrive at hotel Elegante (best breakfast buffet EVER! Seriously) until around 11pm.  We had a very short 5-hour lay over in Chicago before flying to Albuquerque.  But to make matters worse, the last flight had cats (yes the animal) on board and yours truly is SEVERELY allergic - that pretty much was the start of a eventful trip for me. 

We played Albuquerque on Friday night. Let me be the one to say it might be the most interesting venue I might have ever played in before.  First, we are playing on RODEO grounds, or as they call it, the Tingley Coliseum!  When we got to the arena for shoot around earlier in the morning, outside were horses running around us at literally 30 miles per hour it seemed.  You know it's a great place when during the game they are giving away MONSTER TRUCK show tickets.

Nothing can compare to the floor we played on in the RODEO.  We would have been better suited playing on an ice rink.  I think I slipped about ten times during the game on just simple basketball movements (or its probably because I am very clumsy).  At the end of the game the bottom of my sneakers were completely covered in dust.

The next morning we flew to Boise, Idaho and this trip would turn out to be a trip for the ages...

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As i write this I am currently in bed waiting for Kaley Cuoco to bring me some soup and crackers. You might remember her as Penny from The Big Bang Theory.  I am in love with her and is also in the best show on TV right now.  If you haven't seen the show you should be ashamed of yourself.  One of the episodes reminds me of when Scott goes to a movie and can't figure out where to sit.  I have been under the weather lately and have some kind of flu or virus going on.  I can't really do too much so I thought what a great time to talk about the D-League.

All D-League teams are in charge of putting up there players to live, whether be in an apartment or a hotel.  We are only here for such a short time and its hard to really call it home (can't forget the great D-League travel on the road also) but we have to make the most out of it.  The Hotel PURE Avalon I stay at in Erie has arguably the worst TV channel selection of any hotel in the world. (Seriously) They do not have CBS, ABC, or FOX but they do have NBC.  I can't even watch the NCAA Tournament in my own room!  They have ESPN, ESPN Classic and NFL Network but no ESPN2?  I never thought I would watch so many old-school American Gladiators episodes in my life.  Seriously, what TV package are they under?  

On a more positive note, the internet does work here (well, most of the time)  and I don't have to steal a wireless network from Joel Abelson (Thanks Joel) like I was doing when in Idaho.  And you thought I could go without mentioning him? 

Every D-League team has there own practice facility/court and they can vary from good to bad.  While I am not exactly sure about every team, but I do know the L.A. D-Fenders use the Lakers practice facility and arguably have the best place.  However, others are not so good.  When I was in Idaho we practiced at a Boys & Girls Club.  For all you fellow D-Leaguers that were at the Showcase and had the opportunity to practice there that week, you know exactly what I mean.  It might have the most slippery floor of anywhere I have ever played.  You can sweep and wet the floor as much as you want, it will NEVER make a difference.  Also, I have heard Fort Wayne's practice court might have the hardest floor for a human beings knees.  Ice on the knees a MUST after practice.  So with that being said I am very lucky to be here in Erie.  

The place we practice at here in Erie is at LECOM- Medical Fitness & Wellness Center.  Let me tell you this place is top of the line, maybe the best fitness center I have ever been in.  Besides the fact that the court is not regulation size and no NBA 3 point lines it is still great.  LECOM is practically brand new and has everything you need from physical therapy (Steve Burke is the best), weights, pools, they have it all.  Also, i cannot forget to mention my girl Maggie who makes the best Strawberry protein shake for me after every practice from the Healthy Cafe!   

Like to give a shout out to Matt Hubert, the great writer that does a tremendous job covering the Erie Bayhawks as well as the D-League.  In his D-League Olympics post on D-LeagueDigest he had yours truly taking the Gold for best player-blogger.  I am very humbled and appreciate the love Matt, but I am not even close to being on my favorite blogger 's radar, Fort Wayne Mad Ants Center Jared Reiner.  

Not sure if you are all aware of this but I have teamed with United Way and Plyler Overhead Door in a charity promotion.  $1 dollar to United Way for every point I score for the rest of the season, and $5 for every 3-pointer. (No pressure on me there LOL) I am very excited about getting the chance to do something like this and will do my best to make it as successful as possible.   

By the way I have found my new favorite DJ; Rony Seikaly!

Talk to you soon...

Many of you have enjoyed poking fun at me (mostly Scott, but for good reason, but at least it's not Pep's Pizza) because of the West Virginia Lottery commercial I was in years back. But now I am proud to say I am part of one with the "Logo on my chest". Yes Jerry West.  If you don't know what I mean please read what Lanny Smith has said, my former roomie in Idaho. Get healthy buddy!  Mike Had The Hustle. 

Take that Scott!

*****

I am currently on my way to the best road game atmosphere in the D-League: Portland, Maine.  I write this from a Southwest flight to Manchester, New Hampshire. I am currently sitting next to Big Bad John Bryant and yes there is no one sitting between us two in our row. We left Erie at 10am this morning and drove to the Pittsburgh Airport and have already connected through Philadelphia. When we get to Manchester we still have an hour and a half drive to Maine. Estimated time of arrival is only about 10pm. Just an easy days travel of 12 hours. But what really bugs me is when I was inside the Pittsburgh Airport I was looking up at the Departure screen and what do you know?  A direct flight from Pittsburgh to Portland!

Which got me thinking about the Maine Red Claws:

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East Conference:

PG:  Springfield's JamesOn Curry  lookalike: Omarion

SG:  Your favorite blogger Erie's Mike Gansey  lookalike: Seth Myers / Brent Barry

SF:  Maine's TJ Cummings  lookalike: RZA  

PF:  Erie's John Bryant  lookalike: Bryant "Big Country" Reeves

C:  Fort Wayne's Jared Reiner  lookalike: Ryan Reynolds (Here's my side-by-side - Scott)

For the rest of a loaded bench, along with a coaching staff including Steve Gansey, and BREAKING NEWS regarding Joel Abelson, continue reading!

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As I was relaxing over All-Star break I was wondering what to write in my next blog. I thought to myself, everyone looks like someone.  Right?  After putting a list together of some of your favorite D-League players, here is the West squad that I have put together...

West Conference:

PG: Austin's Carldell Johnson lookalike: Lil Wayne

SG: RGV's Stanley Asumnu lookalike: LeBron James / Tyreke Evans

SF: Utah's Jordan Brady lookalike: John Cena  

PF: Albuquerque's Kurt Looby lookalike: Chris Porter

C: Bakersfield's Brian "Pep's Pizza" Butch lookalike: Polar Bear

For the rest of the bench, along with a coaching staff including Joel Abelson, continue reading!

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(He's baaack. If you didn't catch it, Gansey's first post is here.)

What a great time for a break!  As you all know it is All-Star break for the NBA as well as the D-League - A perfect time to get some rest and just relax. I am excited to see the city of Dallas put on a great weekend of events for the fans.  Let's hope my fellow West Virginia alum  Adam (don't call me Pac-Man) Jones doesn't show up and try to make it rain like he did in Vegas a few years back.

Tell me if I'm wrong, but I just realized Pat Carroll is not my teammate.  I thought with how much we have seen each other this past week I just assumed he was on my team.  With my time in Iowa I should have just gotten an apartment, literally.

It has been a trip from hell in Iowa. As I write this we are busing to Omaha, Nebraska to finally get out of Iowa and back home. We have been here since Thursday.  Now I love playing the game of basketball and competing everyday but playing the same team four games in a row is not exactly normal. For the past six days the only time I left our hotel was to go to the arena for our games or practice!  Feels like I have been on house arrest trapped in a cage and do not know what normal civilization is like in the outside world. 

The D-League needs to look at the scheduling and make a change.  I know it's about money and stuff like that but playing a team four games in a row?  Maybe we need to drug test the person in charge of the scheduling? What about the home team fans? "Geez, Iowa playing Erie again?  It seems like they are always playing them."

Due to the weather our game against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants Wednesday was postponed but had we played this game it probably would have been the most sluggish, poorly played game of the D-League schedule this year.

Here is why...

Fort Wayne played at home vs Rio Grande Valley Tuesday night and after the game would have gotten into Erie in the middle of the night.

We played at Iowa the same night and were supposed to leave at 3am (yes you read that right, 3am!!!) on a bus to Omaha, Nebraska, then fly from Omaha to Chicago, Chicago to Cleveland, and bus from Cleveland to Erie. Arrive in Erie around 4pm and have just enough time to get no rest and play at 7pm.  What a barnburner this game would have been!

Speaking of All-star break, here are my predictions of all the festivities that will be going on...

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As I previewed yesterday, Mike Gansey will occasionally be checking in with RU throughout the rest of the D-League season (and hopefully beyond).  Without further adieu, D-League Performer of the Week and co-star of this commercial, Mr. Gansey. -- Scott

First things first. I would like to thank the RU staff for letting me update you readers on my world as well as give you some insight on life in the D-league.

I played my college ball at West Virginia (yes, you read that right - we are #6 in the latest rankings) and since then have played all over in Italy, Germany and now in the D-league.  I was with the Idaho Stampede earlier in the year but was traded and now am currently an Erie BayHawk.

I have loved every minute being here in Erie. It is a class act organization and has some great fans. I am from the great city of Olmsted Falls, Ohio so it is very close to home and family and friends can come see me play. Playing everyday for Coach John Treloar and with my teammates has really been fun, and hopefully over the second half of this season we can string some wins together.

We just got back from a road trip to Maine and Springfield. Now I do not know who does the scheduling for the D-league games but this trip was crazy. We played at Maine on Friday at 7:30pm. After the game we drove vans to Springfield, which was about a 3-hour drive so we didn't get to the hotel until 2:30am! I pretty much took a nap, woke up, and we tipped off at 1pm.

By my calculation that is 2 games in about less than 18 hours!!! Imagine how myself and my teammates felt warming up before the game? Because we are in such great shape (thanks Coach Mac) we ended up winning the game in Springfield and finally got some rest. But, as I will write, the D-league travel is always quite an experience.

Maybe I am biased, but Jackie Manuel is hands down the best defender in the D-league. It is amazing how many games we have won with him stopping guys at the end of games. An unbelievable teammate but what is going on with his North Carolina Tar Heels this year?

I would like to give a shout out to my favorite blogger and fellow D-Leaguer, Fort Wayne Mad Ants Center Jared Reiner. We played together in Germany last year and he really encouraged me to try this. Thanks buddy! [Scott's note: Amazingly, Reiner updated his DraftExpress Blog today, so check that out.]

Talk to you soon...