Floating High and Low (15 May 2013)
Two more of last year's top eight arrived at the Colosseum today, with Team Kiko Lake being the first to show around noon. After the obligatory meet-and-greet with fans and a short Q & A session with reporters, KL went straight from the locker rooms to the training fields. "The team's ownership has been concered about the late-season problems we've had recently," Holbie Pinnock explained to reporters following the first set of cone drills. "The atmospheric pressure here in Altador is slightly lower than that of Kiko Lake, and our coach has the theory that we need to spend more time training in the Colosseum in order to be fully adjusted once the Cup finally rolls around." KL's head coach confirmed the statement later in the evening, and added that they planned to spend the first week experimenting with different styles of YYB equipment, to see which ones were best suited for the Kikos' unique traction issues.
The sun had nearly set by the time Team Darigan Citadel showed up, and due to the late hour it was decided that only the head coach and GM would attend the press conference. Most of the questions revolved around last season's unprecedented quadruple battle with KD, though there were a few reporters who brought up rumors of a player trade, which the head coach managed to artfully dodge. The General Manager also gave a short statement at the end of the press conference, thanking the Altador Cup Planning Commitee for hearing the team's greivances and introducing a new line of plushie Darigan Yooyus wearing the official DC Yooyuball jersey. As for the players, they had planned to spend the night settling in to their locker rooms, until HW's Wan Dirx mentioned that a local group of fans held a rally to support DC every night outside of the Hall of Heroes. After a brief discussion, the entire team decided to make the trip through Altador, and the delighted fans got the chance to hang out with their favorite players and chat about Yooyuball until the wee hours of the morning.
With a full one-third of all teams now in the Colosseum, the once-lifeless stadium is slowly being filled with the sound of laughter and the echo of dropped slushies and slung Yooyuballs.