Even though there was 100% chance of rain today, I predicted it would not do so. I was right! Ha! It drizzled a bit in the morning, but has been otherwise very ok outside, if cold.
I spent a lot of time today eating Cadbury chocolate, which can be sold here. I have missed it so much since leaving England. Mmmmm diary milk bars! They were 2 for a dollar at the Max, which is their Sheetz.
Next on my agenda was a huge interview with the US strength and conditioning team and medical staff. They are using a revolutionary approach to keep the US Women healthy, combining accupuncture, osteopathic medicine, and herbs and yoga with rehab programs and then keeping the specific health and positoinal needs of each athlete in mind when designing workouts. Very fascinating. One hundred percent interesting. It inspired me to email my sister and tell her to focus on sports medicine, because I think this approach will be the next hot thing in the States.
Tonight, my hosts are going to watch their collegiate team play in a tournament. I'm pretty jazzed to go with them and see the level of play Canadian universities exhibit. Perhaps I can scout study abroad students for Penn State, or at least encourage some transfers.
Tomorrow will be my first day with actually nothing to do. I would take myself to a movie, only it costs $13 to see movies here. Crap!
I very badly wish I were at practice tonight with the Angels. I am beginning to feel like a lump hanging out with these elite athletes and not exercising anything except my hand muscles.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Rugby Reporter: Day 4
It is so nice to have an entire day to relax and get some school work done after my day of traveling and working. Also, my bag arrived last night, so I got to sleep in my pajamas and am sitting in my own socks having brushed my hair. Always a plus. (Though I was kind of looking forward to going to the Edmonton Mall to buy stuff since the mall is 48 blocks huge)
Today I drove to the hotel to hang out with my friends on the US team. I am writing 2 articles about Claudia and another about the team's recovery practices. They are doing acupuncture and pool treatments and other fascinating stuff. It was really interesting to hang around and see their "camp." Basically, the Eagles have staked out a conference room and spend the majority of their time in there. I got to sit in on the lunch buffet while I interviewed Claudia.
I feel like I could get very used to the power of being a writer. Here I have people working their asses off to be the best in the world at the thing they love. Then, I come into the picture to advertise it, to tell the world about what they are doing. Everyone has been so excited to share with me and I have been fascinated to look into their world here in Edmonton.
I arranged to meet with the team doctor tomorrow and to maybe watch a practice session. I say maybe because it's turned rainy and terribly cold here. I don't know how excited I am to brave the elements when I don't have to.
Not much exciting is going to happen for me until Saturday's match day, which will be another day of running like a crazy person. Although for Saturday I get a fine green Adidas IRB polo. Now I have the experience of having done such work before. Hopefully I will improve for that day.
Today I drove to the hotel to hang out with my friends on the US team. I am writing 2 articles about Claudia and another about the team's recovery practices. They are doing acupuncture and pool treatments and other fascinating stuff. It was really interesting to hang around and see their "camp." Basically, the Eagles have staked out a conference room and spend the majority of their time in there. I got to sit in on the lunch buffet while I interviewed Claudia.
I feel like I could get very used to the power of being a writer. Here I have people working their asses off to be the best in the world at the thing they love. Then, I come into the picture to advertise it, to tell the world about what they are doing. Everyone has been so excited to share with me and I have been fascinated to look into their world here in Edmonton.
I arranged to meet with the team doctor tomorrow and to maybe watch a practice session. I say maybe because it's turned rainy and terribly cold here. I don't know how excited I am to brave the elements when I don't have to.
Not much exciting is going to happen for me until Saturday's match day, which will be another day of running like a crazy person. Although for Saturday I get a fine green Adidas IRB polo. Now I have the experience of having done such work before. Hopefully I will improve for that day.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Rugby Reporter: Day 3
I'm here and I am in clean underwear, though my toes are cold and my bag is still missing. I am not really worried, though, since I got several phatty new IRB Adidas polos. They are seriously high class. I also have a fine new Adidas backpack for hauling around match reports, score sheets, and statistics.
I had no idea what I was getting into today. Turning around match reports one half hour after a match is brutal! I don't know how journalists do this every day. I spent every instant of my day so far running around like a crazy person, writing down names and trying to understand South African people well enough to quote them accurately. I feel so honored to have spoken to the captains and coaches and standout players from all these teams. I felt such power in the media box as I said "Get me the winger after the match" or "I need to talk to whomever scored that drop goal."
It was also absolutely phenomenal to watch the United States win against Australia today. I felt so energized cheering for my country, even if it is uncouth for the media to cheer loudly. I was stationed right by Australia's bench, and they were very unhappy with several hundred calls from the referee, so I felt obligated to provide some support for the Americans.
I'm getting kicked out of the media center now that it's 8 at night. Check out my match reports.
Samoa vs South Africa:
Scotland vs Ireland
USA vs Australia
I had no idea what I was getting into today. Turning around match reports one half hour after a match is brutal! I don't know how journalists do this every day. I spent every instant of my day so far running around like a crazy person, writing down names and trying to understand South African people well enough to quote them accurately. I feel so honored to have spoken to the captains and coaches and standout players from all these teams. I felt such power in the media box as I said "Get me the winger after the match" or "I need to talk to whomever scored that drop goal."
It was also absolutely phenomenal to watch the United States win against Australia today. I felt so energized cheering for my country, even if it is uncouth for the media to cheer loudly. I was stationed right by Australia's bench, and they were very unhappy with several hundred calls from the referee, so I felt obligated to provide some support for the Americans.
I'm getting kicked out of the media center now that it's 8 at night. Check out my match reports.
Samoa vs South Africa:
Scotland vs Ireland
USA vs Australia
Monday, September 11, 2006
Rugby Reporter: Day 2
If I have to be stuck in an airport, strip searched, witness my luggage combed, and transferred to three flights on three airlines in an attempt to reach the great north, at least they have given me free WiFi. Seriously, this isn't too bad. I don't have any water, but I have free time to do my work for grad school.
I used the WiFi to convince my Canadian car rental place to stay open late enough for my flight to get there, provided this one actually takes off. I haven't gotten to do any glamorous media things today, nor have I seen any rugby or ruggers. I suspect this airport drama is commonplace for international traveling writers. Even first class ticket-holders can't get around this crap when there is bad weather and only one flight per day to a city.
Thankfully, I made contact with my hostesses and everything should be cool with my rugby bed and breakfast. They hinted I might have my own entire room! With a bed! This is better than a hotel. I am going to redirect my energy away from being upset at my airport situation and toward thanking the heavens for a house full of cool ladies waiting for me in Edmonton.
I used the WiFi to convince my Canadian car rental place to stay open late enough for my flight to get there, provided this one actually takes off. I haven't gotten to do any glamorous media things today, nor have I seen any rugby or ruggers. I suspect this airport drama is commonplace for international traveling writers. Even first class ticket-holders can't get around this crap when there is bad weather and only one flight per day to a city.
Thankfully, I made contact with my hostesses and everything should be cool with my rugby bed and breakfast. They hinted I might have my own entire room! With a bed! This is better than a hotel. I am going to redirect my energy away from being upset at my airport situation and toward thanking the heavens for a house full of cool ladies waiting for me in Edmonton.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Rugby Reporter: Day 1
Before I even arrive at the World Cup, I already feel like a real reporter. I just got off the phone with Dom Kelly, the website guy for the IRB. After I got over being excited to talk to a real British person again (I miss my funny talking coaches of days past! I miss living in the UK!), we got right down to business. He sent out a style guide and stipulations and requirements for the press reports. He sent my accreditation to the media office. I'll have a press pass, a media liaison, wireless internet, food, a laptop station, the works! I feel jittery and excited. I wonder what they'll serve to eat!
I realized as I was talking to him how absolutely ridiculous I sound. Here is the first part of our conversation:
D: You're only getting here midnight on Monday? And you have to be at the stadium at 1030 on Tuesday?
K: Yep. I'm flying in from Pittsburgh, PA.
D: Is that very far from Alberta?
(geographical banter...)
D: So you don't have the address where you're staying and you don't have directions to the pitch and you won't have a phone while you're here?
K: I was going to sort all that out when I woke up in the morning...I do have the promise of a couch to sleep on with some rugby girls...I hoped they would give me directions.
In any sort of universe other than a rugby one, the media manager would probably question the credibility of said reporter. I am hoping this person understands that rugby people wouldn't lead me astray. A promise of a couch is a promised couch and those girls will get me and my rental car where I need to be on time. (As I have done for many wayward travelers on rugby weekends past)
This takes me back to the bus station in Exeter, when I stood with loads of luggage and a confused look on my little freckled face. As chance would have it, one of my future professors happened to be sauntering by en route to the rugby club. He saw my Ireland jersey, heard me speak, and saved the day. If I can trust old former flyhalves to rescue me on the street in a foreign land, to buy me pints of cider and introduce me to a team to join, I have full confidence that the Edmonton ladies will be just as amazing. I SHOULD have told Dom: "Not to worry. Everything is taken care of and I will ring you at 9am to check in."
That's what a seasoned, actual reporter would do. Hopefully my bags won't get lost and I can meet him and dazzle him with my professionalism.
Oh god. What should I wear? Are rugby clothes appropriate in this scenario? Do I need to repack?
PS--I called him back and am glad I did! He'll be sending an IRB outfit for me! I have an official IRB Press shirt!!!!
I realized as I was talking to him how absolutely ridiculous I sound. Here is the first part of our conversation:
D: You're only getting here midnight on Monday? And you have to be at the stadium at 1030 on Tuesday?
K: Yep. I'm flying in from Pittsburgh, PA.
D: Is that very far from Alberta?
(geographical banter...)
D: So you don't have the address where you're staying and you don't have directions to the pitch and you won't have a phone while you're here?
K: I was going to sort all that out when I woke up in the morning...I do have the promise of a couch to sleep on with some rugby girls...I hoped they would give me directions.
In any sort of universe other than a rugby one, the media manager would probably question the credibility of said reporter. I am hoping this person understands that rugby people wouldn't lead me astray. A promise of a couch is a promised couch and those girls will get me and my rental car where I need to be on time. (As I have done for many wayward travelers on rugby weekends past)
This takes me back to the bus station in Exeter, when I stood with loads of luggage and a confused look on my little freckled face. As chance would have it, one of my future professors happened to be sauntering by en route to the rugby club. He saw my Ireland jersey, heard me speak, and saved the day. If I can trust old former flyhalves to rescue me on the street in a foreign land, to buy me pints of cider and introduce me to a team to join, I have full confidence that the Edmonton ladies will be just as amazing. I SHOULD have told Dom: "Not to worry. Everything is taken care of and I will ring you at 9am to check in."
That's what a seasoned, actual reporter would do. Hopefully my bags won't get lost and I can meet him and dazzle him with my professionalism.
Oh god. What should I wear? Are rugby clothes appropriate in this scenario? Do I need to repack?
PS--I called him back and am glad I did! He'll be sending an IRB outfit for me! I have an official IRB Press shirt!!!!
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