Chapter 1154 Heading to London
Looking at the Olympic Games and then the World Cup, athletes often travel to the competition city a week or more in advance to adapt to the time difference, adapt to the environment, and adjust their status.
However, the NFL needs to complete such a move during the intensive regular season games. The difficulty can be imagined, and it may even be far beyond imagination.
Generally speaking, when the NFL goes to London or Berlin to start overseas games, they need to start adjusting from Monday. According to the physical trainer's plan, the time difference will be adjusted from ninety minutes to two hours every day to ensure that the players are in the situation without knowing it. Adapt to the time difference across the ocean.
When they go to London, the time difference has been adjusted to London conditions. Waiting for the plane to land, the players can start training seamlessly.
At the same time, we rely on high-tech means to collect players' sleep data and physical conditions, keep abreast of the situation at any time, make adjustments and provide necessary assistance.
But even if we achieve this step, the difficulties are still there:
There are games the week before and the week after, and the overseas games are just one of the weeks. The players must adjust to the rhythm of London and then back to the rhythm of North America in a short period of time, and maintain a competitive state during this period.
Disaster! It’s hard to reach the sky!
Just look at the past London games. Like the Monday Night Games, overseas games are often disappointing. The intensity and excitement of the competition are lower than expected. Both opponents need to face drastic changes in the world in a short period of time. This It’s much harder than playing home and away games in the Champions League.
For young players, they have never experienced such a challenge before. When the actual game occurs, situations often occur beyond their knowledge, and the shortcomings of lack of experience will be further amplified.
This is the advantage of the Los Angeles Lightning——
The veterans headed by Rivers are all experienced. In addition to team arrangements, they will also make their own adjustments to prepare for the game.
However, Mahomes and Levi are different.
In fact, let alone Levi, even Kelsey was doing it for the first time.
After the game against the Tennessee Titans, the Kansas City Chiefs began to adjust to the jet lag. Not only the players, but also the coaching staff needed to adjust with them. They adjusted for ninety minutes every day, trying their best to avoid affecting daily training and preparations, so as to fit in with the other side of the Atlantic. frequency.
Moreover, the team needs to start preparing even further in advance:
equipment. equipment. supply.
All kinds of unimaginable supplies, worth millions of dollars and weighing up to nine tons, all need to be transported across the Atlantic to the front line in London, and all arranged and set up before the players and coaching staff arrive to ensure that the team can complete the game intact. Enjoy the same training facilities in London.
Note that these equipment cannot be just thrown on the plane casually. For example, special items such as medical alcohol, batteries for electronic equipment, etc. can only rely on sea transportation, which involves different logistics cycles, which means team logistics Departments need to start preparing and planning early.
Behind the excitement of a London match is not that simple.
Looking back at the past ten years, Goodell is resolutely trying to open up overseas markets, but there are always different voices in the league, and not all thirty-two teams happily agree——
Reason, you can get a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg.
It is precisely because of this that in the past few years, underdogs led by the Jacksonville Jaguars were willing to sign agreements with the league to play games overseas. Even if it is troublesome and frustrating, this is the best way for them to build a fan base overseas. However, those strong teams have no interest in overseas games. Their eyes are still on victory and the Super Bowl. It is not cost-effective to spend a lot of time to play overseas games.
As time goes by, teams gradually see the huge potential of overseas markets, especially the London game. Whether it is attendance or ratings, including the enthusiasm of British fans, those strong teams gradually let go of their arrogance and nodded in agreement to go overseas. Playing games, Goodell's plan is on track.
Due to various reasons, this year is the first overseas game for the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only the team, but also the NFL has given them the highest treatment. The preparations, publicity and momentum have been started a few months ago.
After waiting and waiting, this week finally arrived.
In fact, it was indeed a severe adjustment for Levi and the others.
Over the course of three to four years, their daily biological clocks have taken shape, and any changes may disrupt their usual rhythm of life. Don’t underestimate the importance of adjusting one hour or ninety minutes every day. In your familiar biological clock plan, forcing yourself to delay going to bed for an hour may not necessarily lead to smooth sleep——
There is a sense of oppression there. If you force yourself to sleep, it will easily disrupt your rhythm.
And, after just one week, you have to adjust back?
Just by describing it, you can feel the difficulties; what's more, the actual situation is more difficult than described.
For a young team like the Kansas City Chiefs, pressure and motivation coexist, excitement and tension are intertwined, and different emotions are bustlingly intertwined.
"...Rookie, are you awake? Haha, did you have a secret date with Ariana last night and are you feeling depressed now?"
"Professor, you should be called professor now! How can you not be a professor? If you can't do it, the professor must also do it."
"Gungun, I don't bother to show you whether I can do it or not. Just be envious."
"You've been sleeping all the way here, and there's still a seven-hour flight across the Atlantic. Are you going to sleep all the way to London?"
"You should take a look at Patrick. His eyes were wide open the whole time and he was so excited. The rookie slept too much, while Patrick slept too little."
Chirping, making complaints and making jokes, it was very lively.
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Kansas Chiefs boss Hunter was extremely satisfied with the season performance of the two-time defending champions. This time he went to London and cooperated with NetJet, endorsed by Levi, to charter two private planes to transport 200 people, including players, coaches and staff. On the other side of the Atlantic, you get exclusive treatment.
Still, Kansas City couldn't travel directly to London, and the team needed to complete a connecting flight in New York, splitting the long flight into two parts.
Right now, the team has just arrived in New York.
It can be clearly seen that Levi is sleepy and can't open his eyes.
Obviously, the pace of preparation for London is different and Levi is adapting.
Mahomes on the side was too excited to sleep, and his eyes were wide open the whole time.
Amid the complaints and teasing from his teammates, Mahomes had no intention of refuting. He was laughing and looking like he was gearing up.
Not only Levi and Mahomes, but Kelsey and Hill were all in the same boat. It was their first overseas game in their careers, and everyone was extremely excited.
"Does anyone really watch rugby there? I mean they like rugby, right? I know rugby has its own World Cup."
"They are probably all watching football, right? Whose home stadium is Wembley? Manchester United?"
"Arsenal, that's Arsenal's home ground! Don't discuss football with others when you go to England."
"Idiot, that's Tottenham Hotspur's home ground, you all should shut up."
Haha, hahaha.
(End of chapter)