At NCAAs with Women's Gymnastics: Tuesday
4/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
The team gathered at the Donald R. Shepherd Gymnastics Center to begin the first leg of its trip to Salt Lake City and the 2007 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships. At 12:45 p.m. sharp(ish), the bus pulled out and the team set off for the McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metro. Once the bags were checked and boarding passes distributed, the team proceeded to Terminal B via the infamous Detroit Metro underground walkway. The walkway is like traveling through the more outdated portions of Epcot Center. The walkway was someone's idea 20 years ago of what the future would be like -- an endless brightly colored light show, moving walkways and music that is exclusively wind chimes and woodwind instruments. After enjoying the future that never was, the team boarded the plane for the first air leg of the trip West, heading Southeast to Salt Lake City via Cincinnati (obviously).
After changing planes in the Cincinnati airport (which smelled vaguely of chili), the team cruised for three and a half hours several thousand feet above the clouds. Some listened to music, some slept, others (Clare Flannery) learned proper karate technique, some (Clare Flannery) helped fellow passengers apply eye drops during the most turbulent portions of the journey and others (Clare Flannery) ate candy. One traveler did a crossword puzzle (What's a nine letter word with the clue "The Fresh Prince's partner DJ") but I'm not sure anyone watched in-flight entertainment, Jack Black's miscast attempt at playing the lead in the romantic comedy "The Holiday". The flight was turbulent but the team arrived safe, sound and hungry.
Head trainer Lisa Hass and the coaches checked out the four vans that would make up the team caravan for the weekend, while the rest of the program looked at the mountains in the distance and hobnobbed with security. A short drive later, the team debarked in front of the team hotel, The Salt Lake City Center Hilton. Marketing maestro Ryan Duey swore he saw Paris Hilton walking through the lobby to deliver a feta cheese omelet to one of the rooms on the top floor of the hotel where you need to swipe a special card in the elevator to access, but his sighting was not corroborated. The Hilton (hotel), located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, had a spacious lobby that the team lounged in while head coach Bev Plocki checked in. With stomachs rumbling the plan was simple -- dump the bags in the room and run off to dinner.
Reservations were confirmed by master manager Kate Karpinski at Benihana, the interactive Tepanyaki cuisine made famous by its colorful cooks who prepare meals before you eyes on large and deceptively hot grills (some had the benefit of being warned about the grills in question by assistant coach Louis Robinson, whose son once tested the laws of physics despite his father's three warnings). All manner of chicken, vegetable, beef and sea creature were was prepared before the team's eyes with ample dipping sauces and rice provided for all. The Diet Pepsi flowed like wine. Some (at least the smart ones) partook in a post-meal sorbet before waddling back to the hotel to unwind. Others (Ryan) went off in search of the feta cheese omelet.
Players Mentioned
