A Message From Tay Fisher - 12/2009

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to take the time and email you one more time while I am on this Military tour to let you know how everything is going. We just finished a show tonight and have 2 more to go before we return home. We are currently in Iraq right now and it is cold. I know in the last email I was telling you that is was hot, but here its probably like 45 degrees. Since the last email we have been to Kuwait and Iraq and the experience is still mind blowing. We have seen incredible things and met wonderful people. When we left Kuwait to arrive in Iraq we took a helicopter which was cool. It was pretty tight but the flight was only 45 min/1hr so it wasn't that bad. We had to the wear a vest and helmet in the helicopter. The vest was heavy and my head was too big to fit the helmet lol. I took allot of pictures, that I will have to show you when I get the chance. I would just attach it to the email, but I am on the base computers here in Iraq because they don't have Wifi. We are actually ending our tour in Spain, which was a last minute thing and after that game we will head back to the states.

I feel like I am in heaven here in Iraq right now. I don't know how heaven feels, but I hope it is something like this because we have been enjoying ourselves that past 2 days. We are staying in a center called the "FREEDOM REST" which is a place that has free food(all you can eat just let the cooks know and they can make it), snacks, drinks, multiple computers so everyone can be online, ping pong, pool, TVs, video games, they even have the Wii. I don't really play video games but I been getting my butt whooped every time I get on there. Every time I challenge someone they don't hesitate to say "Lets go"' lol. If we just had the internet without any games or food we would still be satisfied because that's our way to communicate home with friends and family. That's all we are concerned about at this point. I haven't ate soo much in my life, especially here. They told us they can make whatever we ask them to make so one of my players asked for a chocolate chip hamburger hahahah and they made it lol. I was going to ask them to make my mommas Fried Chicken but I know they cant make it like her. I just been eating so next time I come home you guys wont say it looks like a lost weight. Last tour I know I lost weight because I wasnt eating that Libya food. I even ordered a smoothie. That was delicious. I was walking around with a straw and a tooth pick in it. Fruits were on top of the tooth pick lmaooo. The players were asking me if that was a alcoholic beverage the way I was walking around and sipping on it lol. Shit was good though.

As a unit everything is good with the team. Ran into a few situations but nothing serious. Trying to learn these plays are pretty difficult. There are allot of plays and they want us to learn multiple positions and that isn't easy. At training camp we didn't go over much of the plays but we had to learn them fast. Since they through us in the show right after training camp was over in September the heats been on for us to pick up on things fast. One thing that I do know is that they don't do a good job teaching you the plays. They just expect us to learn them by watching but its not that easy. Its a bit different from competitive basketball so the transitions been kinda tough, but I'm adjusting pretty good. Some of the players are putting there arms around me and helping but others are taking it too seriously just expecting me to know it right away. I been writing them down and trying to play it in my head as much as possible when I'm chilling on the bus or in the room. Its actually been working for me. They say that I am too quiet lol. They might actually be right to be honest with you. I just be chillin. I talk but more to certain individuals. Some players I just don't have a good vibe about, but that happens. Sometimes I have things to say and other times I don't.

I last 3 shows I been having my best dribbles. The crowds been enjoying it allot. When we sign autographs I been having multiple people say that my dribbling routine is awesome and they can see that I am suppose to be the next Curley Neal lolol. I don't know about that, but I still know that it can be better. When they ask me how long I been doing it and I tell them a few months because I am a rookie they get blown away.

Overall so far so good with things. I am just trying my best and working hard so I can come back with allot of things to show you guys. I am coming back with some great things from this military tour that's been giving to us from fans/troops or from the commanders of the bases we been at. Allot of certificates of appreciations which I will put up in my house. I will see or talk to you soon. Next time you hear from me I will be home so try and get in touch with me somehow by phone, text or email. I am going to the Kingston game against Pine Bush next Friday. Its away but that will be my only game to support my boys(JV/Varsity) while I am home. I wish I could see more, but I will make my presence known on that day, I might coach them lmaoo. Good Luck today to Siena as well. Keep up the good work and I am keeping up on everything as best as possible. Thanks for the support and the love. I appreciate it soo much and hopefully when I come to Albany in Feb you will be able to see me act a fool and enjoy myself in the show. You will love the show sooo much. Talk to you soon