Apparently the transition from Brookings, South Dakota to Amsterdam is a bit of a culture shock. At least it was for Adam Vinatieri.
In an ESPN oral history commemorating the 10th anniversary of the end of NFL Europe, the former Patriots kicker recalled http://www.ochomesnloans.com/brenton-bersin-jersey-c-1_45.html his time in the now-defunct overseas league. After finishing his college career at South Dakota State, the Coyote State native began his remarkable football career with the Amsterdam Admirals for a single season.
(According to a 2016 ESPN article, it was during his time with the Admirals that Vinatieri impressed an former staffmate of Bill Parcells, who convinced the then-Patriots head coach to give the kicker a tryout. The rest, of course, is history.)
Overall, the 44-year-old — who now (still) plays for the Indianapolis Colts — said his time playing in the overseas expansion league a “great experience” that helped him adjust to playing in front of bigger crowds.
“For me, it helped because it gave me the confidence going to the NFL,” he said. “It was almost like having a fifth year [of college].”
However, when Vinatieri refers to the European league as his “fifth year [of college],” he means it strictly in a professional development sense. Despite Amsterdam’s reputation, Vinatieri said his most memorable experiences were http://www.yadeos.com/ed-dickson-jersey-c-1_17.html experiencing the Netherlands’ history, visiting the Anne Frank House and tulip fields, and, yes, even “putting on the wooden clogs.”
The Dutch capitol’s (in)famous red-light district? Not so much.
“I didn’t do a lot of the nightlife because it wasn’t my style,” he said. “Guys have stories of things I didn’t partake in. There’s so much more to Holland than the red-light district.”
John Fassel — an assistant for the Los Angeles Rams who played and coached for the Admirals in 2000 — described Amsterdam’s culture as surprisingly clean and easy-going.
“I was shocked how clean the city was, how many bikes there were, and how free-spirited everyone was about trying to sell you marijuana,” Fassel told ESPN. “Walked through the red-light district, see young kids walking around. I was like, ‘This isn’t what I thought it would be.'”
Still, for Vinatieri, the open European culture was at times striking.
“We went to the beach, everyone’s half-naked, and it’s like, ‘Holy crap, I’m not in South Dakota anymore,'” he said.
Read the full oral history of the fondly Garrett Celek Kids Jersey remembered European football league over on ESPN.com.