Even ice freezes here

I am in Toronto. It's so cold even native Torontoans are complaining about the cold. I know journalists aren't suposed to root, but I can promise you next year, I am rooting for the Orange Bowl.

My God, it's freezing up here.

I took a 6 am flight out of Bradley because I wanted to be in Toronto to do a story on East Hartford's Will Solomon, who plays for the Raptors (more on that later).

So, I get up at 3:30 am and upon arriving I am told my luggage won't make it because of weight restrictions. The guy said it like it wasn't a problem. He tried to get me on another flight. I decided to take my oversized bag with me as a carry on and personally checked it plane side.

I started thinking? Weight restriction? Was I flying in a Cessna?

Well, I don't know what plane it was, but it was closer to a Cessna than a 737 that's for sure. The plane was a 16 seat turbo prop. Direct to Toronto - Air Canada. The second pilot acted as the flight attendent.

"Bathroom is in back. Keep your seatbelts on."

That's the last I ever heard or saw him.

I somehow dozed off sitting in the first seat before turbulence rudely woke me up. I thought I was in a nightmare. I couldn't hear anything because of the propellers and I look in the cock pit (the cock pit was open for most of the flight, so much for secruity) and I see the pilot reading USA Today. So I am on a tin can up 20,000 feet and this guy is reading the sports page? Bravo, newspapers need readers anytime we can get them.

So anyhow I go to the Air Canda Centre to interview Will Solomon and in the 200 yards between the Rogers Centre and an enclosed skywalk I nearly freeze to death. I don't think I am leaving the hotel for the rest of the trip.

Solomon was very good. He talked abot his time playing hoops in Europe and about professionalism. I am going to write a profile next week. The only time he flinched is when Chris Bosh walked by and gave him a funny look. I don't think Bosh is used to seeing Solomon being interviewed.

As I was leaving the Nuggets were practicing. George Karl looked miserable and the Nuggets players looked like they were messing around. They are form Denver, but I bet they were cold too.

There is a game tonight and one Friday. I am going to try and get to the Friday game.

As far as the rest of the day -- Randy Edsall talks at 2:30 p.m. and Huskies will be available after practice. Turner Gill is avilable at 3 p.m. at the Westin, but I don't think I can make it. And, even walking for two blocks is treacherous.

I'll be back more from updates. I need to eat and take a nap for an hour, or I won't make it until midnight.

Did I mention it's cold up here?