*From Hawaii to Philadelphia

[PDXBaller]

“ONE MORE LAP!!!” Coach Jones shouts as we cross the end zone.

“MOVE IT KAMAKA!!!” He roars into my ear as I keep my head up and push through the offending lineman.

“READ THE PLAY SON!!! COME ON!!!!!! KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BALL!!!” I misread the offense and get tangled up with the left guard.

“WHO SENT YOU HERE SON?!? WAS IT THE OUTLAWS?!? HUH?!? MAYBE THE WRAITHS?!? THEY SEND YOU HERE TO FUCK UP MY TRAINING CAMP?!?!?” I’m gasping for short pockets of air at this point and it feels like I’ve got a boulder sitting on my chest.

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Coach Jones’ bellowing has gotten to me and it’s only day 2 of Rookie minicamp. I’m getting PTSD from all the ‘attention’ he’s given me. Every mistake or misstep and he’s in my ear screaming at the top of his lungs. I cringe every time this behemoth of a man stomps over to me.

I look over at Ridley (@MacTonight) on the other side of the field and he gives me a thumbs up. I can only shake my head since I can’t even move my arms at this point. I see Davidson (@sabills) and DiMirio (@124715) over on the sidelines watching our workout with big grins as if to say “Welcome to the big leagues boys!” I didn’t stay active at all after graduation and that mistake is catching up to me now. I look down at the grass and think…”I’m not even supposed to be here!”

There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding me before the draft and there's probably still shades of doubt as we head into the season. I had written off the idea of going pro after graduation and prepared to go home back to Honolulu to be a sports writer for the Star-Bulletin. I was actually set to begin work a few days after the draft! My coaches from Oregon kept texting me leading up to it, trying to convince me to declare. They all had faith in me, but I didn’t feel like I could even match up to most of the other rookies heading into the league.

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However, getting picked 33rd overall was one of the best feelings in the world. I knew that Philadelphia would be a big change for me (I hate snow), but I had always been a fan of the organization (I hate snow) and absolutely love cheesesteaks (did I mention that I hate snow?!?). @adam2552 and @Silver Fox were very transparent with me from day one and it felt like a blessing to be picked by such a respectable organization in the league.

So now we’re a few days away from the preseason and I can’t get over this overwhelming concoction of feelings: dread, anxiety, impatience, and nausea (probably from the cheesesteaks I ate at this sketchy hole in the wall that Oles recommended (@`To12143`). It’s been a long journey for me and it feels like freshman year all over again. I had to prove myself at Oregon and now I’ll have to do it again. I’ll take solace in knowing that I’ve trained hard and done my best to prepare for this moment.

When I take the field for the first time, I’ll remember all the people in my life who helped me get to that point. The hours of practice and reps in the gym. All the folks back home in Hawaii will be watching me and all my coaches from Oregon. I’ll remember all their words of encouragement and belief in me. And even though I probably won’t hear him from the sidelines, Coach Jones will definitely be in my head every play…

“MOVE IT KAMAKA!!!”



(words: 612)


GRADED

[Silver Fox]

Glad to have you. You've got big shoes to fill ever since Ottokar Von Gerhardt disappeared on that flight over the Bermuda triangle, but we're confident we have our guy now. Remember, no small planes, it's in your contract.

[Perry87]

You've got big shoes to fill ever since Ottokar Von Gerhardt disappeared on that flight over the Bermuda triangle, but we're confident we have our guy now.

To this day I can't look a salmon fillets or tarter sauce without tearing up

[HalfEatenOnionBagel]

To this day I can't look a salmon fillets or tarter sauce without tearing up

I gave up fishing entirely