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<blockquote data-quote="Lone Wolf &#039;49" data-source="post: 1859302" data-attributes="member: 3016"><p>Tuesday, July 24</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>(Please excuse the typos. Will hurry. There’s much Olympics to explore.)</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Because London is so far north, the days are quite long. I woke up shortly after 4 today snd it was light outside. It got dark about 9:30. There was a great crescent moon.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Breakfast: Great crisp bacon, pork and beans, scrambled eggs, toast, cheese, orange juice. (No beat juice.)</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As I left the hotel, Craig B. from Excelsior Springs arrived, having flown all night. I escorted him to the MPC and showed him around. He knows enough to fight through the first day. One reporter told me he took a four-hour nap the first day he arrived; and he wondered why his body hadn’t gotten back on cycle.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Confession: I laid down on the bed my first day, for just a little snooze. After four minutes, something started beeping in the hallway and woke me up. Thank goodness. I haven’t heard any beeping since then. I think it was my sleep Angel.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Commute: Took the 8 a.m. double-decker red media shuttle from Russell Square, 46 minutes. A little smoggy, but the Tower of London and Tower Bridge were still there. You can’t imagine how beautiful they are. Same shuttle back, 10 p.m. departure from MPC. A new record: only 34 minuteds.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Absolutely beautiful morning, like something from a fairy tale. </p><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The USA tennis team’s press conference was today. Wow, what an impressive group.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Nine people got stuck on the elevator in the MPC for nearly an hour. Nobody freaked out. An hour later, 14 others got stuck in the same car, including a pregnant woman.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Yesterday three guys brought a whole cart load of soft drinks and water for the office staff. Only a few folks were there to unload it. My wife and PA need not panic: I used only my good hand. Karen Rosen, a reporter who is maybe the nicest person at the Olympics, used both of hers.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A reporter brought her year-old daughter and her mother to London with her. The grandmother takes care of the little girl while the mom chases news stories all day. How cool is that!?!</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>I have given up McDonald’s for the Olympics. You know I love the restaurant, but figure when in Rome I’ll roam. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Volunteer du jour: Hafiz, happily guarding a fence in Olympic Park. “Who says security people can’t smile and help people?” he says.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Today’s confirmation that George Bernard Shaw was right when he wrote that we and the British are “two peoples separated by a common language.” We got three card for hauling athletes from the village to the press center. (I drove them in Vancouver, but not here; we have drivers.) One of the staff members posted the parking credential in the left front window of the car. I said, “won’t that block the driver’s view?” Not! I also tried to find the button to open the trunk. “That’s not the trunk. That’s the boot.”</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Speaking of Shaw, so far I have heard nobody say, “In ‘artford, ‘eresford and ‘ampshire, ‘urricanes ‘ardly hever ‘appen.”</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Lunch: apple, yogurt, four cookies. Power bar. </p><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>When Mike Moran invited me to my first Olympics-and my friend Bob Condron to his-back in 1984, I was 33 years old. I thought I was a wise and wily veteran of the world. Now I’m 61 and growing less wily each day. </p><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Bob has retired after something like 17 Games. I miss him. I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like for him to stay home after all that time. Well, yes I can-my first Final Four after 16 years on the NCAA staff was really weird, mostly because I missed the people and the ice cream. Bob’s replacement is good-guy Mark Jones.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Very true note from a top-flight PR person back home: “One of the NFL PR guys told me last week “When you volunteer to work the Super Bowl, you become an intern again.” So true (I ended up making copies, taking quotes and holding a microphone&#8230;sounds like you’ve got some of that as well). But it’s also nice not to have too much responsibility sometimes. It also serves well to keep you humble and grounded to get back to the roots sometimes.”</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There are many fresh haircuts in the Main Press Center. </p><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The catering folks offer “at-desk dining” in the MPC and IBC. It’s room service. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Email from home: “What’s your favorite Olympic event?” </p><p></p><p>Answer: well, mine is connecting with people from all over the world. As for sport, my single favorite is the marathon. Both marathons. Second-favorite is the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. It’s ballet.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Weather: This was the most perfect June day you can imagine. Let’s play two. High in Olympic park 84, low 64.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>E-mail from home: “Are you sure they’re pork and beans?” </p><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Answer: “good point; I really don’t know. They LOOK like pork and beans, and they TASTE like pork and beans.” But maybe they’re not a duck at all.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>London Fact that surely must be true because somebody told me: 4,000 trees and 74,000 plants and 70,000 bulbs have been planted for the Games-it’s UK’s largest planting project ever.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In other news, Vahe’s luggage arrived today, 24 hours after he did. Gary and Craig were stuck on a train for a long time. The Independent reported a man drowned while attempting to swim the English Channel yesterday. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It’s fun to speculate about the opening ceremony. I’ll be disappointed someone doesn’t sing “Hey Jude.” I’ve given up hope for “I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am.” The other hot topic is who will light the flame. I’m hoping for Roger Bannister. Or Kate. Or Petula Clark, but I suppose she’ll be occupied downtown. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>An MPC security guard questioned why a spoon was in my backpack. He called the supervisor who granted absolution. I understood: knives are banned. So are forks.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Email from home: “Which wrist did you break? (left, thank goodness) Wouldn't be an Olympics without a Hancock broken bone. I kinda feel sorry for Jennie. Had to look up Bradley Wiggins.”</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We met with NBC’s staff tonight. You probably know that every Olympic event will be available live. I’m sure you will see more of it at home than we will here.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Dinner: Burrito with green peppers, chicken, salsa, sour cream, lettuce and cheese-in the press center cafeteria, at 9 p.m. I’ve come to London to go to Don Chilito’s.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>These people are SO friendly&#8230;</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>What a privilege to be here! Every day is an adventure. Inspire a generation. And mind the gap.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lone Wolf '49, post: 1859302, member: 3016"] Tuesday, July 24 (Please excuse the typos. Will hurry. There’s much Olympics to explore.) Because London is so far north, the days are quite long. I woke up shortly after 4 today snd it was light outside. It got dark about 9:30. There was a great crescent moon. Breakfast: Great crisp bacon, pork and beans, scrambled eggs, toast, cheese, orange juice. (No beat juice.) As I left the hotel, Craig B. from Excelsior Springs arrived, having flown all night. I escorted him to the MPC and showed him around. He knows enough to fight through the first day. One reporter told me he took a four-hour nap the first day he arrived; and he wondered why his body hadn’t gotten back on cycle. Confession: I laid down on the bed my first day, for just a little snooze. After four minutes, something started beeping in the hallway and woke me up. Thank goodness. I haven’t heard any beeping since then. I think it was my sleep Angel. Commute: Took the 8 a.m. double-decker red media shuttle from Russell Square, 46 minutes. A little smoggy, but the Tower of London and Tower Bridge were still there. You can’t imagine how beautiful they are. Same shuttle back, 10 p.m. departure from MPC. A new record: only 34 minuteds. Absolutely beautiful morning, like something from a fairy tale. The USA tennis team’s press conference was today. Wow, what an impressive group. Nine people got stuck on the elevator in the MPC for nearly an hour. Nobody freaked out. An hour later, 14 others got stuck in the same car, including a pregnant woman. Yesterday three guys brought a whole cart load of soft drinks and water for the office staff. Only a few folks were there to unload it. My wife and PA need not panic: I used only my good hand. Karen Rosen, a reporter who is maybe the nicest person at the Olympics, used both of hers. A reporter brought her year-old daughter and her mother to London with her. The grandmother takes care of the little girl while the mom chases news stories all day. How cool is that!?! I have given up McDonald’s for the Olympics. You know I love the restaurant, but figure when in Rome I’ll roam. Volunteer du jour: Hafiz, happily guarding a fence in Olympic Park. “Who says security people can’t smile and help people?” he says. Today’s confirmation that George Bernard Shaw was right when he wrote that we and the British are “two peoples separated by a common language.” We got three card for hauling athletes from the village to the press center. (I drove them in Vancouver, but not here; we have drivers.) One of the staff members posted the parking credential in the left front window of the car. I said, “won’t that block the driver’s view?” Not! I also tried to find the button to open the trunk. “That’s not the trunk. That’s the boot.” Speaking of Shaw, so far I have heard nobody say, “In ‘artford, ‘eresford and ‘ampshire, ‘urricanes ‘ardly hever ‘appen.” Lunch: apple, yogurt, four cookies. Power bar. When Mike Moran invited me to my first Olympics-and my friend Bob Condron to his-back in 1984, I was 33 years old. I thought I was a wise and wily veteran of the world. Now I’m 61 and growing less wily each day. Bob has retired after something like 17 Games. I miss him. I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like for him to stay home after all that time. Well, yes I can-my first Final Four after 16 years on the NCAA staff was really weird, mostly because I missed the people and the ice cream. Bob’s replacement is good-guy Mark Jones. Very true note from a top-flight PR person back home: “One of the NFL PR guys told me last week “When you volunteer to work the Super Bowl, you become an intern again.” So true (I ended up making copies, taking quotes and holding a microphone…sounds like you’ve got some of that as well). But it’s also nice not to have too much responsibility sometimes. It also serves well to keep you humble and grounded to get back to the roots sometimes.” There are many fresh haircuts in the Main Press Center. The catering folks offer “at-desk dining” in the MPC and IBC. It’s room service. Email from home: “What’s your favorite Olympic event?” Answer: well, mine is connecting with people from all over the world. As for sport, my single favorite is the marathon. Both marathons. Second-favorite is the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. It’s ballet. Weather: This was the most perfect June day you can imagine. Let’s play two. High in Olympic park 84, low 64. E-mail from home: “Are you sure they’re pork and beans?” Answer: “good point; I really don’t know. They LOOK like pork and beans, and they TASTE like pork and beans.” But maybe they’re not a duck at all. London Fact that surely must be true because somebody told me: 4,000 trees and 74,000 plants and 70,000 bulbs have been planted for the Games-it’s UK’s largest planting project ever. In other news, Vahe’s luggage arrived today, 24 hours after he did. Gary and Craig were stuck on a train for a long time. The Independent reported a man drowned while attempting to swim the English Channel yesterday. It’s fun to speculate about the opening ceremony. I’ll be disappointed someone doesn’t sing “Hey Jude.” I’ve given up hope for “I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am.” The other hot topic is who will light the flame. I’m hoping for Roger Bannister. Or Kate. Or Petula Clark, but I suppose she’ll be occupied downtown. An MPC security guard questioned why a spoon was in my backpack. He called the supervisor who granted absolution. I understood: knives are banned. So are forks. Email from home: “Which wrist did you break? (left, thank goodness) Wouldn't be an Olympics without a Hancock broken bone. I kinda feel sorry for Jennie. Had to look up Bradley Wiggins.” We met with NBC’s staff tonight. You probably know that every Olympic event will be available live. I’m sure you will see more of it at home than we will here. Dinner: Burrito with green peppers, chicken, salsa, sour cream, lettuce and cheese-in the press center cafeteria, at 9 p.m. I’ve come to London to go to Don Chilito’s. These people are SO friendly… What a privilege to be here! Every day is an adventure. Inspire a generation. And mind the gap. [/QUOTE]
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