Archive for May, 2009

Excuse My Hiatus, Please

// May 15th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

You will have to excuse my latest lack of “blogging”—the girlfriend came in from Vienna and I have been subsequently indisposed… anyway Walk-on-Boy has saved me. Enjoy the read and support a good cause.
-FWG

Rob kindly allowed me to guest post today because - well, he gets more traffic - and the only people who look at my site have ostensibly donated {Hooray supporting family!} and by doing this I get my annual good deed out of the way, so I don’t have to scramble over the Holidays. This is also my one time of the year that I plan ahead. It’s always good to get two birds stoned at once.

I’ll cut to the chase: Head over to the Juvenile Diabetes site and donate if you feel so inclined. Or donate to some other charity of your choosing. You can omit a beer or burger from your weekend entertainment fund to help a great cause.

If you need a little motivation, I am shamelessly whoring myself {Not like that.} out in a Create-a-Player {In the same vein as the NCAA/Madden video game.} Contest. There will be two winners. The philanthropist who donates the most AND the one who has the most creative name {Please note with WOB in your donation note.}. Those two get to determine my accoutrement for our upcoming games {I reserve the right to veto anything that will affect actual performance or that is past the bounds of absurdity even for me. Other than that, let your creative juices flow and I will dance as your little puppet.} on May 30th {Largest donation} and June 12th {Best name}. The photo documentation will be its own blog post. Hell, I’ll throw in a guest post for free. So that’s determining my wardrobe and a guest post {At Walk On Boy, unless Rob gives the all clear at FWG. I haven’t cleared it with him.}

Now that the nitty-gritty is out of the way, I can tell you why I care so much. Both my brother {The donation page I linked to.} and my sister {Didn’t link to hers because she’s much closer to her goal than our brother. Yes, she is the youngest. And the most mature of us three.} have juvenile diabetes. My brother finished up his career as a linebacker at NIU this past season and just completed his degree in Health Education. Watching him convince curious onlookers that he’s shooting steroids or junk when giving insulin is always a good time. My sister is a sophomore in high school, a three sport athlete majoring in awesome {OK, so you can’t have a major in high school. But she should be getting college credit.} and picked up the gift for quoting movie quotes early. She knew this whole scene from Tommy Boy before she was ten and before she’d actually seen the movie. That actually probably says more about my brother and I. How about this? She laughed at me for five minutes after I took out a handkerchief to blow my nose, and then said, “Why do you have a hanky?” Just to make you laugh, Choppity. Just to make you laugh.

They’re two of the toughest people I know; I don’t recall either one of them complaining about having diabetes. In fact, I think my sister just shrugged when I asked her how she was after she found out. While it can be controlled with proper treatment, diet and exercise, diabetics are at a higher risk for other health complications and it requires a constant vigil to maintain proper blood sugar levels. A cure is close, and every dollar helps.

Because I couldn’t find the video of Tracy Morgan on 30 Rock claiming diabetes is a ‘white myth’ and testing out a wheel on his foot or Jimmy Kimmel doing Karl Malone proposing a name change from diabetes to live-a-betes {The full text of the sketch is in Comment 1), here’s Wilford Brimley jamming out with DIABEEEETUS.

Eat To Compete

// May 12th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized


The Fomerly Fat White Guy Project…UPDATE!

// May 11th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Uncategorized

Here is the update on the “contestants” as we are now 2 weeks into the competition:

Remember what is at stake here: UConn Tickets, T-shirts, Ownership of this blog, personal pride, self respect (or lack there of).

Fat Pickle Fatty:

How did I get to be such a fat ass? Hard work, that’s how! A commitment to bad food choices, 50 beers a week, and little to no exercise. The “perfect storm” of fatness. I’m 6 feet tall and currently weigh 203.5 lbs. My “playing weight” is 180-ish. So I could stand to lose 20. And truth is I’m ready to. And I love a contest/bet/challenge.


Tex:

Walk on Boy:
Tony:
Put down that beer…what is that? Schlitz? For shame, for shame.

Fat Pat:
The two weeks have been kind to Fat Pat—careful not to be distracted by his beautiful mane of sparsely distributed chest hair.FWG:
I was told that it’s not fair if I do not have a personal stake in this competition. So here you have it, my “before” picture(s).

Still waiting on updates from Morgan and Martin…..post that later.

Final Thoughts (yes, it HAS been a while since I’ve had any):

Thinking of doing the “Ten Commandments of Blogging”:
“Thou shall not blog on the Sabbath, lest he receiveth a brandy glass full of brown M&Ms, with an orientation of north by northwest”

I am so out of touch with American movies, but having visited Movies.com today, I am willing to bet that “The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” is not exactly “Oscar worthy.” The smart money is on “Hotel For Dogs”

Yesterday my teammate Ryan was told by an Austrian club-goer that he always enjoyed it when “Germans tried to speak English—stick to German, you’re English is terrible.” Ryan is neither German, nor does he speak a lick of it. That being said, his English is pretty poor.

….and the natives are restless

// May 10th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Uncategorized

Got this little piece of “fan mail” over @ NESN.COM — in response to the piece I ran about our last game against the Gladiators.

Hey Lunn,
I think you fail to realize that you are playing (football) in a tiny village of Austria, for a 3rd tier team. It isnt Austrian Football” and neither does “Portschach” represent Austria. Its a tiny village in a state that is, well, different. The Carinthian Black Lions, your team, arent very good at all, and now that I read about your cigarettes at half time I do understand why they are so miserably bad. I think that if it werent for your DJ Hernandez who is an exceptional athlete, you wouldnt even be able to beat most Division 3 teams (like for example the Gladiators). So maybe next year you can play in a CITY of Austria for a CONTENDING team – although based on your performance thus far, I rather doubt they would pay for your services. The worst of it is though, how you expose your teammates and organisation to ridicule…they really got a lemon and although I dont like the Carinthian Black Pussy Cats, I do feel sorry for them.

Maybe you pass by Vienna some time again and we can show you a thing or two about real football in Austria.

Rgds, Cookie

Ahhh where to start with this? Am I the only one that finds humor in the whole “cigarettes at half time” thing? I hope not. Truth is, this IS Austrian Football—not American Football in Austria. Trust me, there is a difference (Personal Foul in the endzone = 2 points?–yeah, that happened). For the record, the Carinthian Black Lions did a number on the Gladiators, dismantling them and winning by more than 4 touchdowns. DJ has proved to be probably THE premier quarterback in the AFL, providing serious headaches for opposing defenses. And when it comes to me playing in a “real” city well, I’m no statistician but I’d say 8 sacks in 5 games isn’t too bad. But, in the mean time me and my band of flunkies (read: The best group of guys in Austria) are gonna keep on keepin’ on. Put that one in your translator and smoke it.

Questions? Comments? More Fan Mail? TheFatWhiteGuyATgmail.com

We’ve Got Graz

// May 8th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized

Our upcoming game is against Graz. I’ve mentioned this in earlier posts (pay attention). Graz is the hometown of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Austrians have a conflicted relationship with the “Austrian Oaf”–a love/hate relationship that I don’t fully understand. To Americans, the Governator is the American Dream personified: Come to America with little to no money, become larger than life, then marry a Kennedy.
To some Austrians he abandoned their country, went all “right wing,” and eventually sentenced a man to death (a HUGE no-no in this part of Europe). Let me put it this way, the American teammates put this question to our Austrian teammates during some locker room banter, “Who would you say the most famous Austrian is?” In true American fashion only asking questions we already (thought we) knew the answer to.
“Ummmm I vood seey—ze guy who invented Red Bull.”
There you have it, Dietrich Mateschitz (Who??-exactly) is the most famous Austrian,at least in the eyes of the 20-something demographic. That blows my mind.
Anyway, the game against Graz:
Their Quarterback (an Austrian) can really sling it, and they love the option, toss sweep, perimeter run. Should be a real test for our defense, who is battling injuries across the board, from defensive line to the safety position. Stay tuned, and I’ll be back. (See what I just did there?)

The Price Is Wrong, Bob

// May 6th, 2009 // 5 Comments » // Uncategorized

So many things I want to say about this post:
1) What have I always said about Steelers Fans?
2) This guy is the Pride of Pennsylvania (move over Steve Brouse!)
3) God, I miss American television.
4) Grow up Drew Carey.

Nigerian Hookers

// May 6th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

This is something I can’t wait to tell my kids, “when Daddy was out of college, he played football in Europe, visited Spain and got attacked by Nigerian prostitutes as he exited a bar at 4am drunk off of CruzCampo.” Who thought that the stories of my days playing football in Europe would have so little to do with football and so much to do with European night life.

I left this bar in Spain at closing time, and to be honest it was time for me to go. There’s only so many times you can fall off a barstool and still be served. I make my way into the street and immediately received what the Austrians call “Luft-Schlagen” or “the air slap”. Meaning when the cold night air hits, it delivers an immediate, sobering blow to your rosy cheeks. Imagine my continued surprise, when in the post luft-schlagen moment I was mobbed by no less than seven Nigerian whores.

Read the rest HERE

He Lacks The Opposable Thumbs, Focker

// May 5th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized

In case you didn’t know. I run/own NESN. In the eyes of the Klagenfurt Hospital I am now the sole owner, operator, CEO, and President, etc of the New England Sports Network.

But how did this happen? Please allow me to explain:

We played our 4th game yesterday—a grudge match if I’ve ever seen one. Two teams, a lot of history between then, and a personal vendetta. The story goes something like this: Back in 2004 the Carinthian Black Lions were actually the “Carinthian Cowboys.” Their starting quarterback was an Austrian (which for this league is fairly rare, since most quarterbacks tend to be “imports”). This quarterback, Bernie was all run-and-gun, modeling his game after the late great Michael Vick. The only problem was that Bernie didn’t have blazing 4.4 speed, shiftiness, or any remarkable athletic ability. Instead Bernie looked like a down and out offensive guard, with legs like a snake and an arm like a wet noodle.

Read the rest HERE

Welcome To Fitmax

// May 5th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized


With the Formerly Fat White Guy Project in full swing, I figured it is about time I showed you where we “train ” here in Austria. Just a little bit different from our facilities at UConn.

“I Told That Kraut Down At The League Office…”

// May 1st, 2009 // 8 Comments » // Uncategorized

Like it or not, this blog is actually popular (I know!–who-woulda-thought?). Something was just brought to my attention, that needs to be discussed, addressed, squashed, what-have-you.

I took down the “SCOREBOARD” that some of you early readers might remember, because in my opinion it was a little too “hey! look at me.” But for the record, Thoughts From a Fat White Guy just passed 300,000 hits. Pause for celebration.

So where exactly am I going with all this? I’m trying to say Thoughts From a Fat White Guy has gone global. Until now it has been very well received….

Well recently FWG was “called out” in a blog post and news paper article by German reporter Jürgen Kalwa, who posted his rant on Football-Austria.com (screenshot below)

The point of said article (the entirety of which you can find here—get your translator ready)

The article starts off stating that “Rob Lunn has learned nothing in college” and “Even a fool can have an opinion” was that he was upset about my “interpretation” of culture–whether it be at “the spa” (FWG not used to that much nakedness), caricatures of President Obama proudly displayed on the streets of Klagenfurt (see below), as well as the style, dress, and practice habits of bar patrons and teammates alike (my sweatpants, their Canadian-Tuxedos–both in poor taste).

I have ALWAYS hoped that my writing is worth a laugh and maybe a few insights into life as a college athlete or football player. Self- deprecation has always been the name of the game. I am not patronizing my teammates or Austrians, rather I have thought it humorous my observations on how life is different compared to the United States. I have not once said that one way of life is better than the other, because if anything, being here has shown me one is NOT superior to another. Simply put, the world is smaller; we are no longer isolated nations and no man is an island. The 21st century is truly marked by the concept of the global community, barriers (political, social, and economic) are being broken down everyday.

For one person to say that my American teammates and I are ignorant, or “have learned nothing in college” is exactly the type of broad and sweeping generalization I would hope to avoid, especially from someone who is making the argument that I am the ignorant one.

After four years of college, graduating above a 3.0 with a degree in political science, being told that I do not, “understand the intricacies of a political culture” is something to which I take great offense.

I have not made political statements with my blog regarding how Austrians (or Europeans) view America, or I them. I am here with the most open of minds, truly soaking in all this country has to offer. Above all else, I am here to play football and enjoy a new (and sometimes strange) experience. The concept of “hilarity ensues” should be explained to Mr. Jürgen Kalwa — my experiences in these situations don’t make the experiences (people, places, things) bad, they make the interaction funny. FWG goes to Nude-Bath: Hilarity Ensues.

In closing, I hope that everyone continues to enjoy my Tales From Austria, whether it is on this site, NESN.com or Deadspin.

And again, a big THANK YOU for helping to reach 300,000 hits!