Happy Monday from #MLSAllStar. The party has officially started.
Everyone woke up raring to go. It was finally time for the All-Stars to take the pitch for their first training session, after all.
Or not.
A combination of bad weather and the fact that most of the guys aren't, you know, here yet meant that the squad was forced to trade the practice field for the hotel fitness facility. Treadmills, guys!
Once everyone had their turn on the stationary bike, coach Peter Vermes led everyone to a separate location for the team's first organized media session of the week. Lots of journalists, microphones and TV cameras.
Two guys who weren't part of the aforementioned scrum: Graham Zusi and Thierry Henry. Why? They were the featured speakers (along with Vermes) at the joint press conference Monday afternoon with Roma. Their counter parts? You may have heard of them.
After Bradley, Totti and Garcia exited the stage, it was time for Zusi, Henry and Vermes to say their piece.
And of course, what's a prematch presser without a little trash talk?
While all this was happening, the King of Kansas City made his return. With an ice cream truck:
Every signature Major League Soccer event usually features a PR stunt. This time around, it was the Brush Creek Kick down on the Plaza, where All-Stars and dignitaries alike tried their foot at kicking a ball over the creek into a goal on the other side.
As far as we know only one was able to convert. Sporting Kansas City midfielder Uri Rosell:
Back at Power & Light, Marco Di Vaio took some time out to get a little FIFA 13 in. His opponent? Yeah...
Across the street at Social HQ, Commissioner Garber stopped by to conduct a Twitter Q+A with fans. Here's a taste:
At pretty much the exact same time, All-Star head coach Peter Vermes cruised from the press conference to Social HQ to take part in a Google+ Hangout. Here it is:
Now it's time for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. We'll have more on that a little later on.
