COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- Their shoes were no-shows.
The Celtic soccer team traveled from Scotland to America this
week to start training for the MLS All-Star Game. The players'
shoes? They showed up a little late.
The start of their workout Tuesday was delayed by about 45
minutes while the team waited for the shoes to reach the practice
field. Baggage handlers at Denver International Airport couldn't
locate them when the team arrived Monday night.
"You Americans go through this much?" midfielder Scott Brown
joked as Celtic FC waited for practice to begin. "We'd like to get
on with this."
For good reason. Temperatures were in the 90s and climbing -- not
exactly what the Scottish Premier League champions are used to back
home.
"There's no sun in Europe whatsoever. I've been everywhere in
Europe this summer and there is no sun at this time of year,"
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said. "I wake up this morning and
it's 100 degrees."
Celtic FC plays the MLS All-Stars on Thursday.
Newly arrived David Beckham is expected to be watch the game
from the commissioner's suite. Beckham is scheduled to make his MLS
debut when his team, the Los Angeles Galaxy, plays Chelsea in an
exhibition game Saturday.