3/6/07: On The Road With the Mounties

March 6, 2007

DAY ONE: Tuesday, March 6, 10:00 PM CST

Since I have been given the extreme privilege of covering the women’s team at the national tournament in Sioux City, Iowa, I decided that the best way to thank the Eastern Athletic Department is to write back with daily blogs while I’m here.
When I was told that I would be able to broadcast the games live that EOU would participate in, I could only think what an incredible experience it would be. The farthest thing from my mind was that I would be back in 12 degree weather! I thought those days had finished last month in La Grande. I was incorrect when my plane touched down in Minneapolis.
I suppose I should start with my 6:15 wake-up call at the Boise Airport Hampton Inn. I tried to get going as fast as I could, so I ended up skipping out on a very good complimentary hotel breakfast.
I wanted the radio equipment to work fine when I arrived so I asked the airline counter if they could put a fragile sticker or tape on my bag. Apparently this sticker only exists in the movies, because she seemed shocked I asked. She told me the best idea was to carry-it-on, so I did along with two other bags.
I always find it amusing when I travel that if you’re running a little late when you first take-off in the plane the captain will come on the intercom and assure the passengers that we will make it fine and we can make up the time in the air. This brings up the obvious thought that if the plane can go that fast all the time, why not just travel that fast all the time?
So I arrived in Minnesota right on time even though the plane took off about 30 minutes late. My three-hour layover was not bad at all, pretty much because I paid eight dollars so I could access wireless internet and ended up talking to my girlfriend for two hours.
The flight from Minneapolis to Sioux City is very quick, and I arrived to see white all over the place. I took a taxi to the Sioux City Comfort Inn, the team hotel, I had just enough time to put my things down, hang up some clothes, and get dressed for the tournament banquet.
When I met the team in the lobby, I saw the women walking down the hall and honestly could not recognize them. Not a lot of us in La Grande get to see the ladies all dressed up, they do a very nice job it to say the least. Now, remember I said I have a girlfriend, so I promise I was looking at them with protective goggles on. This is probably one of those paragraphs as a writer that is impossible to sound correct at. So, I’ll move on.
The banquet was themed as James Bond OO7 for the 2007 tournament, so there were James Bond cut-outs, cars, and even a boat. The team was in good spirits, laughing at almost everything imaginable. It was good to see all the teams together before they begin to compete. The Sioux City Convention Center did a phenomenal job in almost every facet for the banquet.
The food was amazing; no offense to the fine staff at Aramark in the Hoke Building, but this may have been the best meal I’ve had in awhile. I’m not sure what was better though, the cheesecake or the well-rehearsed and placed anecdotes in all the speeches. Tim McCormick, former NBA player and ESPN broadcaster, was the special guest speaker. I feel that Tim had more acronyms in his speech than rebounds in his career, and this guy is almost seven feet tall.
The team ended the night with a team meeting in the lobby, and is set to play tomorrow. I need to get some rest after a long-day and rest my voice. It maybe bias, but I feel an upset coming in favor of the Lady Mountaineers! Stay tuned, same time tomorrow for the day two blog, thanks for bearing with me through day one.