Answer: This guy is Mike Ilitch, owner of the Detroit Tigers and he is standing (or has had his standing image superimposed) in front of Comerica Park, the Tigers stadium.
I know, it looks like your high school biology teacher is standing in front of one of those horribly awesome 90s school photo backgrounds. This is the poster that welcomes us in the lobby of our dormitory here at Tigertown. Sometimes Ole Mike and his wispy auburn locks (google "Mike Ilitch hair" if you want a good chortle) startles me or some of my rugby comrades after a long day of throttling each other. The image is awfully lifelike and Mikey's smile is a little creepy--like the creepy smile of that gilded, greasy guy at the bar who just wants to buy you a "cocktail."
Okay, enough about Mike Ilitch and his hair. Today, I rose from the rigidly unforgiving mattress of a Tigertown bunk bed a little sorer than I was yesterday, a little stiffer, a little more tired, and a little less anxious to go throw my body at someone. Of course, you soon realize that everyone is just as sore, stiff and tired as you are, and, if you've been in this racket long enough, you embrace the hurt, maybe laugh at it a little, crank your engine, and continue to chug along.
My own personal soreness is a little different this time around. I'm not really accustomed to having to figure out the logistical setup that hurts least when pulling my hair into a ponytail. I have been informed that this is a "front row problem," and I will get used to it. The upper-body aches that come with the "front row territory" are new to me. I would say that as a former back, I have a greater appreciation for what goes on in a scrum and with the forwards in general since my enlistment as a hooker, but since I'm a forward and am now in the middle of the scrum, that would be kind-of like congratulating myself. I'm sure that any tight five players who are reading this now are smiling to themselves in a bit of smug satisfaction (maybe there's a little schadenfreude at play) at hearing a former back acknowledge the physicality of and pains involved in their jobs, and I am glad to give them that, because they (we) deserve a lot of appreciation.
Besides the stiffness and general rugby aches, I feel good. Camp feels good. We're getting better at our system and players are becoming more comfortable in their respective roles. Today has been less physically demanding than the first two days, and I think the players are grateful for that, since the first two days were like a triathlon of boxing, a strongman competition, and the running of the bulls (although if a triathlon of that sort existed, I think rugby still may beat it in intensity). Also, we play tomorrow, so it's good to have a bit of lighter day.
Speaking of playing, I am very excited about getting back on the pitch with all that I've learned this week I want to put all of that mental focus and effort to use. This has been one of the most intense WNT camps I've attended, and I'm excited to see how we've progressed over the few days we've been here.
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