Today was wild. At 5.45pm Team Denmark was ready to go to the opening ceremony. It
wasn't until seven though and the stadium is two stone throws away, so there 

was a lot of waiting around to get done first. We spend the time admiring the
gigantic flag that Thomas Bengtsen (defense) brought from Denmark in its own 

leather casing and all. If nothing else, Denmark will go out of this tournament as
the team with the enormous flag. WOO! 

The teams were lining up in front of the stadium. Some looked more normal than
others. Team USA looked well dressed in khaki and blue. The Dutch team was 

dressed in orange, team Bermuda in shorts, knee high socks and a blazer over a shirt
and tie. It is traditional Bermuda wear. Some of those guys even wear 

that stuff to work. According to the legend, the British sailors from the royal navy
found the climate so hot and unbearable that they decided to cut their 

jeans off over the knees, which then revealed their high socks. Apparently someone
found that look fashionable, because it stuck. Denmark were dressed in red 

and black. Real neat and tidy. Mother would be proud.

After the Canadian Mounties were done getting their picture taken with all the
teams, we marched on to the field in a long line accompanied by bagpipes and 

drums. The Iroquois nations team were led by a man in traditional native American
clothes and carrying a big 7 shaped stick full of feathers. So we get the 

biggest-flag prize, they get the strangest-flag prize. 

There were more players than spectators but (still the biggest crowd team Denmark
has ever seen) the teams walked by the grand stand, received an 

introduction and some sort of applause and then proceeded to go behind the stand and
on to them, so that by the time the last team walked on the field 

(Canada) the stands were full and the applause significant. 

We had team USA on one side (nice guys, but busy writing autographs) and the Czech
republic behind us. In front was the Scots. Terribly international. 

Cameramen and women were zooming with their lenses and poking microphones at
everyone, in search of that illusive perfect shot and that one brilliant 

comment. One of team mates described the view with a comparison; 

"It's like if you had played soccer for a year and now you are walking around next
to Ronaldo and go 'Hey what's up?'" It is awesomeness in the tenth. 

One of the Iroquois elders blessed the fields of the games. He wished for a peaceful
tournament and brotherhood. It took twenty minutes in a language not 

many could understand (they were nice enough to translate the main points
afterwards), but that was cool. How many sports have that feature, eh? Spirit. 

In that train of thought, Scotland’s goalie -the oldest player in international
lacrosse (67 years old!), was given an award for his lifetime commitment to 

the sport. He was clearly touched and said something along the lines: 
"I have traveled all over the world with lacrosse and met a lot of nice people. Done
some drinking. Thanks a lot." Forget the academy, that is a cool thank 

you speech. 

The next ten days is going to be Captain Insaneo's lacrosse madness. Still anything
can happen, still the world is open. tomorrow though and every single day 

after that everything can change from day to day, depending on what happens on the
fields. 

Today the tournament opened, tomorrow the battle begins. 


Oh.. btw: someone stole our TV again! WTH?!