A NEW TEAM – CHAPTER SIX – MEET THE VIKINGS
The next day, Team USA had a press conference. They were all a little tired from their long night. They'd gotten in early, but nobody had gone to sleep for a very long time. At least, that was what Michele had inferred from their performance in school that morning. But now, standing up in front of the reporters, the kids looked wide awake.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Team USA hockey," Tibbles said from the podium. Michele saw Fulton yawning. Portman smacked him and said something which made Fulton smack him back.
"And the man chosen to lead them to the gold, Gordon Bombay," Tibbles continued. "Get the Hendrix Bear up here for some pictures."
Hendrix Bear? Michele thought. A huge polar bear-or rather, some poor soul dressed like a polar bear-bounded up to the podium. The "polar bear" was wearing sunglasses and a blue T-shirt that said HENDRIX in red and white letters across the front. "Hi, everyone, it's great to be here!" He said, waving to the crowd as the team posed around him. A few pictures were snapped, and then Tibbles opened the floor for questions.
A blond reporter stood up. "Team USA, how does it feel competing on an international level here in Los Angeles?"
The team responded with variations of "it's great" and "we love it."
"Well, they said it," Gordon said needlessly.
A heavyset, dark-haired man with glasses stood up. "Coach Bombay, the Vikings from Iceland are the heavy favorites. Their coach has already guaranteed victory. How are you going to handle that?"
Gordon stepped closer to the array of microphones on the podium. "Hard work," he answered confidently. "I think our team is ready to go up against the best in the world. Iceland may be tough, but we're Team USA and we're going all the way."
The crowd began to cheer, and Tibbles gave a thumbs-up as if to say "awesome."
"Team USA's going down!" Came a harsh voice from the back. Michele and the crowd turned around and beheld a large mean in front of a group of black-clad teenagers. "That's where you're going."
Oh my goodness, that's the Iceland team! Michele thought. They sure do look intimidating. Maybe it's just an act. I hope it's just an act.
"See you on the ice, Bombay!" The Icelandic coach called.
"Who is that?" Gordon asked Tibbles.
"That's Wolf Stansson, coach for the Iceland team," Tibbles said.
"Stansson from the NHL?" Gordon asked in amazement. "Wolf 'The Dentist' Stansson is coaching Team Iceland? You never told me that!"
"That guy's a dentist?" Ken asked, puzzled.
"It's a nickname," Charlie clarified. "He played one year pros. Got more teeth than he did goals. He punched out his own coach!"
"I heard they ran him out of the league and the country," Julie said.
The three looked towards the back of the conference area, where the press was trying to soothe the agitated Stansson. "What happened to free speech? Huh? Isn't this America?" The man was saying.
"That's his team?" Ken said. "Those guys are enormous!"
"Gordon!" Michele greeted the coach as he came off the platform. "How'd I do?" He asked.
"Great!" Michele said. "Quite a circus, huh?"
"All part of the game," Gordon said naturally.
His response alarmed Michele a bit. "A giant polar bear with sunglasses is part of hockey now?" She asked. "I guess the game's changed a bit."
"Gordon!" Tibbles said. "You're on CNN. This way."
Gordon looked at Michele and shrugged. "CNN!" He dashed away.
CNN? Michele thought. I really hope he's not getting too carried away with all this.
"Hello, Missy, how 'bout a bear hug?" The Hendrix bear said amiably, rushing by Michele.
Michele turned away, hoping the bear would think her uninterested. I need air.
"Don, what are we doing in Malibu?" Gordon asked as Tibbles drove the sleek blue convertible up to a large, contemporary house. "This is way out of our way."
"This is your new place, Gordon," Tibbles said, stopping the car. "You take care of Hendrix, and Hendrix will take care of you."
"I don't mean to be a wet blanket here," Gordon got out of the car and closed the door, "but shouldn't I be closer to the team?"
Tibbles didn't respond, he just opened the door and allowed Gordon inside the monstrosity. The house was absolutely gorgeous. The marble floors were so highly polished that they gave whoever was walking on them a surreal feeling of walking on air. Plush leather furniture sat in the corner, absolutely begging Gordon to sit on it. And out the huge windows was a stunning, picturesque view of the beach.
"You know, they don't need me twenty-four hours a day," Gordon said, turning to Tibbles. "I'm sure they'll be just fine in the dorms."