The Big 12 Men's Basketball All-Stars are in the midst of a two-week trip through Europe. For more on the team's trip, click here.

Aug. 5, 2002
The team gathered just after 7 a.m. Monday in the lobby of the Wyndam Anatole, passports in hand. The "adventure" that coach Dave Bliss had talked to the All-Stars about the night before in a team meeting started earlier than expected when the bus scheduled to take the team to DFW couldn't make it - and the staffers and players scrambled to pile themselves and their substantial pile of bags into some rental vans and personal vehicles for the short drive to the airport.

After a two-hour flight to Chicago, the team spent its final three hours on American soil in the international terminal at O'Hare. Most ate McDonalds, which assistant coach Brian O'Neill (Baylor) commented they'd probably see a lot of in Scandinavia.

The team finally flew out at around 4:20 p.m. CDT. The flight was so long that two movies were shown (Clockstoppers and Spider Man) and dinner and breakfast were served. The players attempted some sleep between the meals and movies, with varied success. Ivan McFarlin (Oklahoma State) kept track of the beautiful sunset taking place outside the northern windows, which was followed almost immediately by an impressive sunrise. The "Northern Lights" effect.

The team landed at approximately 8 a.m. local time in Stockholm, Sweden, which was 1 a.m. CT, Tuesday.

It is still debated whether the American that Quannas White (Oklahoma) spent 20 or so minutes talking with in the Stockholm airport was Nick Carter of Back Street Boys fame. He introduced himself to Q as Nick, a recording artist. "I didn't even know who it was until the guys started telling me afterward," White said. "He gave me his number." Blair Wilson (Colorado) is convinced it was Carter himself.

The seven-hour time jump thrust the group into Tuesday morning in Stockholm, where Jason Sarkees of Basketball Traveler's, which helped organize the tour, greeted the weary team after baggage claim.

So this entry covers Day 1 and Day 2, because they essentially ran together for the Big 12 All-Stars and staff.

Aug. 6, 2002
Immediately after landing in Stockholm following an eight and a half hour flight through the abbreviated night the Big 12 All-Stars, who couldn't check into their hotel, were ushered onto a bus for a tour of the city. Tour guide Tanja Johansson narrated the three-hour drive-and-walk to the jet-lagged and sleep-deprived players and staff. Those that were listening to Tanja learned that Sweden's capital has 53 bridges that link the 14 islands that Stockholm is built on; that one-third of the city is "settled" area, one-third is open parks, and one-third is water; or that the Stockholm subway is referred to as the "longest art gallery in the world."

What most impressed Ivan McFarlin (Oklahoma State) was when the bus stopped at Palace Hill, and the All-Star group walked the old cobblestone streets and watched the changing of the Swedish guard in front of one of the royal buildings.

The team checked into the Radisson Hotel Viking around noon, and after exchanging dollars for a few Swedish Kronor ("Crowns" as pronounced by Tanja the tour guide) and grabbing a bite to eat at Burger King and McDonald's, got an hour or so of sleep before busing to the Fryshuset gymnasium for an afternoon practice.

The practice was held in the stuffy gym, home to the club team 08 Stockholm Human Rights, in front of 30 or so regulars - who were transfixed on the American players and audibly admired each dunk. The "08" squad is Wednesday's opponent in Game 1.

The All-Stars wrapped up their two-days-in-one start to the trip by getting dinner and crashing for the night at the hotel. A exhaustingly long journey that kicked off this basketball tour for 12 players, 2 coaches, four staffers and five guests.

Oh yeah, and Jake Sullivan's (Iowa State) blueberry ice cream he ate during a stop in the tour on a hill overlooking the Baltic Sea, was "the best."