Every day, Michael Preston, who is responsible for Team USA media relations, will post a blog here on GlobalFootball.com…
If the 4.45am alarm failed to wake up the team USA contingent preparing to leave the Mission Valley Resort in San Diego then the load claps of thunder would have stirred them from their beds.
The scene of palm trees bending in the stormy winds and the torrential rain had team manager Patrick Steenberge wondering whether or not the traveling party would be able to leave a rain soaked southern California in time to make a flight connection to Tokyo in San Francisco. As is turned out there was no cause for concern. Three hours after several players had been caught on the hotel car park midway between checking out of their rooms and reaching the team bus, the hail and rain that had soaked them had subsided and the skies were clear.
We were on our way – or so we thought.
The tired contingent sat aboard a United flight unable to take off since the plane’s catering supplies had not been delivered. Forty five minutes later San Diego was finally becoming ever smaller in the distance and San Francisco soon loomed into view.
A representative from ANA airlines whisked everyone bound for a likely delayed flight 0007 to Tokyo Narita international through the airport at a brisk pace. And boy could this lady fly! If any of the Japanese running back are related to this lady coach Surran’s boys had better watch out as she rushed us all to the ANA check in desk leaving a few stragglers to get lost along the way. After some confusion over the reprinting of boarding passes and a collection of passports, there was one hurried pass through the security mags before the team boarded the 737.
Leg room was certainly at a premium and some reshuffling of the seat assignments allowed the taller members of the party to find much sought after aisle seats. It must pay to be the quarterback since Daniel Nicholas found himself with a premium bulkhead seat albeit in the middle seat. It pays to be the coach too. Business class has its obvious perks.
Those of us on the starboard side of the plane were treated to a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Marin County during take off. Rob Moran, the sole Californian on the team, might well have been able to see his Portola Valley home from the port side. With a choice of a dozen movies on demand – from Atonement to National Treasure and subtitled Japanese movies to the sound of Music - there should have been little chance for boredom to set in even if the flight is 11 hours long. There were games, quizzes and a map of our progress on the individual screen in the back of each seat in front.
When the food came, the mixture of sushi, cold noodles and seaweed raised a few eyebrows but they accompanied a choice of pork or cod and there didn’t appear to be many disappointed appetites. A first shot at perfecting the art of using chopsticks was welcomed by many though everyone seemed to defer to a spoon when it came to devouring the ice cream.
The cabin lights were dimmed for the first time, almost four hours into the flight. Because of the peculiarities of crossing the international dateline the team did not see the sun set during the flight and relied on people to close their window blinds to help people to sleep. Everyone’s body clocks were sure to be out since 4.30pm PST was 8.30am in Japan and the team was due to arrive at around 3pm Monday local time having missed out Sunday night and Monday morning completely, while it would still be yesterday in some parts of the Unites States. Confused? Yeah, me too!
Once safely in Japan, it emerged that kicker Michael DiGangi’s personal luggage and equipment bag were still back in San Francisco and will not arrive in Tokyo until Tuesday evening.
The team traveled a further 90 minutes by bus from Tokyo Narita Airport to the Kawasaki Stadium site of Saturday’s game, where they were paired with Japanese host families. No sooner had they arrived than they were off to new and unfamiliar but hospitable homes for their first night in Japan. The evening was not yet finished for the coaches, who went through some x’s and o’s on a whiteboard before finally calling it a day.
On Tuesday’s agenda… practice, a visit to a sumo and kendo school, a visit to a local high school to talk with students, the GE Global Challenge Bowl press conference and Welcome Banquet…
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