All Blacks: Notes from the Midwest

Herald sports writer Dylan Cleaver dispatches notes from a snowy Chicago preparing to host the All Blacks tomorrow

- It's snowed today and the weather is only expected to deteriorate in the next 24 hours. All Blacks fans are truly going to experience the magic of what Americans simply call a cold-weather stadium. Those onesies that were issued to those who came over with All Blacks Tours could yet prove a masterstroke.

- The cold didn't stop people coming out in force for an Air New Zealand-hosted boot party yesterday, a Kiwi version on the American concept of tailgating. Hundreds of ex-pats, tourists and Chicagoans had the opportunity to indulge in some meat pies and flat whites.

- A local suggested taking a piece of cardboard along to the Stadium tomorrow to stick under my feet. The reason? When it gets really cold, your feet can freeze to the concrete, making standing up and walking an interesting proposition.

- It was great to hear contemporary music being blasted through the tannoy at the Blackhawks-Ducks NHL match on Tuesday. Our stadiums, which seem to have the same songs on loop from the 1980s and beyond (another Slice of Heaven, anyone?), could learn a thing or two about enhancing the spectator experience from their American counterparts.

- Somewhere between 60-70 major New Zealand companies have staff in Chicago this week, leveraging business opportunities and, let's be honest, having a good time.

- At a gala dinner on Thursday night, held in the magnificent Great Hall of the city's Union Station, some of America's surprisingly rich rugby history was revealed. Jay Berwanger and Larry Kelley, the first two winners of the Heisman Trophy, given to college football's best player and considered the most prestigious individual honour in American sport, stopped playing American football after college and took up rugby instead. It is Berwanger who is immortalised in statue on the Heisman Trophy. Berwanger's son John told of a chance meeting his father had with President John Kennedy. Berwanger went to introduce himself and Kennedy cut him short, saying: "I know who you are, I watched you play rugby against my brother."

- There was one awkward moment at said gala, when one of the hosts, who was doing a Q&A with four Eagles' players and the coach, mentioned that All Blacks coach Graham Henry might be starting to get a bit nervous. From the comfort of his Waiheke eyrie, we're pretty sure Ted's nerves are fine.

- Sole Mio entertained the crowd at the gala and will sing the national anthem, for about $20,000 we're told. Not bad work if you can get it.

- How big are the struggling Chicago Bears, whose home field has been loaned to the All Blacks and USA Eagles? Their media guide is 478 pages long. That's big.

* Dylan Cleaver is in Chicago courtesy of All Blacks Tours. Book online for World Cup packages at www.allblackstours.com