Wow, I can't believe this is the 50th post and I've only been gone 27 days.
Well, I am in Volpiano now and I've dropped off more than half of my luggage at Giusi's place so I can travel light for my first true road trip of this adventure. Sure, living on my own in Torino was an adventure, but in many cases that was work related ;-)
I leave on a morning train to Rome from one of the Torino train stations. It's a seven hour train ride so I will be equipped with two books as well as some planning materials for when I head out to the other countries next week.
The Rome portion of my trip, because of travel times, will really be only three full days of sightseeing. I get in in the early evening on Wednesday and my train back to Torino on Sunday leaves in the afternoon and I arrive around 9 p.m.
I am excited about the things I will see in Rome. All I've heard is that you need a lot more time to fully experience Rome but hey, I want to see more than just Rome on this trip. I heard there are something like 900 churches alone in Rome so if you see only one a day, that's a few years you're committing yourself to and even I don't have that kind of time.
I am debating right now which way to start on the country trek because train travel is going to eat up a lot of my time as it is. Leaving from Torino also limits me a bit. I've thought of going to Paris first and then going to Barcelona, Spain. I've also thought about going to Switzerland first or even go through more of Italy, head up to Austria and Germany and then over, but it's all a matter of what kind of train schedule I can find to make sure I am back in Torino the day before I fly back to the U.S.
Then again, I may also take Barbra's advice and use Easyjet. Then again, perhaps I should use the airline service Ryanair, the airline I never knew I owned until now!
We'll see what comes of it all. One thing is for sure: I'll have had my share of trains for awhile after I get back to the U.S.
Ciao!
P.S. For those who wanted postcards, I mailed a batch of them out earlier today. I hope I get to the U.S. after they do.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Monday, February 27, 2006
And finally ...
I begin my post-Olympics trek on Wednesday. I am heading to Rome for a few days for sightseeing and such and then I will head back to Volpiano and then set off for a whistle-stop tour of various European countries. That part of my trip is an as-I-see-fit-to-do thing so you'll just have to follow the blog.
Ciao from the Media Center in Torino for the final time on this part of the World of Wonder tour. I look forward to the next part of the adventure!
RTB
Ciao from the Media Center in Torino for the final time on this part of the World of Wonder tour. I look forward to the next part of the adventure!
RTB
Closing comments on the Olympics ...
With the 20th Winter Olympics now in the books, I have some thoughts about the Olympics in terms of what I experienced or think. To muse ...
Start with the Closing Ceremony. As I mentioned in the earlier post from today, the Carnivale atmosphere is truly great, weird, funny and messy. If you don't like confetti, oranges, candy, wearing red, stepping in horse crap, then my friend, find another place besides Italy to visit at the end of February.
The Closing Ceremony was a lot of things, but despite several proud moments (the cross country gold going to an Italian was a great ending), snowboarders who float in the air, an emotional passing of the Olympic Flag from the Torino mayor who I hope still has my business card to the Vancouver mayor who has been wheelchair bound since age 19, one crazed fan screaming during a speech and a horribly LIP SYNCHING RICKY MARTIN!!??? I felt this
Closing ceremony could have done a bit better. Lose the reliance on American music. Please. I am an American in YOUR country. Give me more Italian music to experience, just like I've done with food, wine and chocolate. The Carnivale theme did that well, I just wanted the FULL experience.
I enjoyed the Opening Ceremony much more because, not only did I get my first look at all that Italy was, it helped me understand how important this Olympics was for a city looking to move forward and become something much, much more than known only as where FIAT exists.
Of the six Olympic events I saw, two men's hockey, one women's hockey, one speedskating, one luge and one curling, here's the rundown of the best and worst:
Best venue: Palasport Olimpico. New arena was very nicely done. I had great views for every hockey game. Clear seats and comfortable too.
Worst venue: I won't knock only Palasport Olimpico here, but I will rip on all of the venues I attended (except Cesana Pariol for luge) because one drawback for me was not being able to walk around the entire venue. Not Oval Lingotto for speedskating and not Pinerolo Palagacchio for curling. If you sat at one end of the arena, you were NOT allowed to go to the opposite side of the arena nor upstairs. It was a security thing, but when I saw the Canada-Germany game and I can't go downstairs to look to BUY merchandise from the event, that's a problem.
Best sport: I am a hockey guy all the way, but as I mentioned in a previous post, Curling was great to see. Speedskating was fun too, but 1500 meters is a bit of a long distance to take in as a fan. Luge was great to see, too, Adrian. Thanks for the suggestion and inspiration.
Worst sport: Again, I love hockey, but aside from a few things here and there, women's hockey didn't give me the same pace as the men's game. I will say that Katie King is a great player and she has some talented teammates, but the game just moved too slow for me at times.
Best food at an event: Since I refuse to drink Budweiser here or anywhere on this planet, I'd have to say the potato chip-esque snack food Cipster. It looks like the cereal Sugar Pops, but it is a potato chip and it is open faced. For 2 Euros you get the whole box.
Worst food: Having a ham and cheese sandwich at Oval Lingotto for speedskating. The bread was too dry and the ham was so rubbery that I didn't finish half of it. 3.50 Euro gone to waste.
Best fans: Dutch speedskating fans. Hands down.
Best blog fans: Jerre, Barbra, Aaron and Mary Ann. I have some honorable mentions too but ...
Worst blog fans: If you haven't sent me a comment yet, you know who you are! Get in the act, people! It's fun! I really enjoy the feedback!
Worst fans: At the Olympics, there's really no such thing as bad fans. Everyone wants their country to win, but fans also want to root for performers to do well. If I had to say something specific, it would be three Norway speedskating fans who always wanted to wave their oversized flag at just the time I wanted to take a photo.
Best athlete(s): Getting to see an All-Star hockey lineup isn't your everyday thing. So, when I saw Canada's men's hockey team play Germany, I got to write down a lineup that any NHL coach would drool at the prospect of doing: Joe Sakic, Jarome Iginla and Todd Bertuzzi up front, Chris Pronger and Rob Blake on defense. I would have preferred Martin Brodeur in the net, but I've always liked Roberto Luongo (even if he's had trouble with the NHL's rules on limitations for goalie equipment).
Worst athlete(s): Again, this shouldn't be happening at an Olympics, but if pressed to make a decision, I'll go with Russia's hockey team. They are too talented and too smart to get this frustrated. Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk should not be getting misconduct penalties. Darius Kasparitis, however, should have been given an Olympics misconduct after that sucker punch he put on Saku Koivu of Finland the night before late in a 4-0 Finland victory in the semifinals against Russia.
Best performance: Enrico Fabris, Italian men's speedskater. He made the 1,500 meters his event by toppling the "feuding" Americans Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick, reducing those two to silver and bronze, respectively, and for Fabris, a 24-year-old whose regular job is as an Italian policeman, he became the Olympics star in his home country.
Worst performance: American speedskater Derek Parra was pleasure to deal with in writing two stories, one for the Press-Enterprise newspaper in California and the other for Mas, a weekly English-Spanish publication in Bakersfield. Seeing him compete in the men's 1,500 meters, however, wasn't a thing of beauty. He told me before the Olympics that this ice and the high altitude would prevent world-record times. He was right. But he also didn't look like the 1,500-meter gold medal winner (and silver medalist in the 5,000 meters) from 2002 in these Olympics. His 19th place finish wasn't a highlight at all for me.
Best decision (by RTB): I bought women's hockey bronze medal, men's bronze medal curling and men's hockey bronze medal game tickets to see something and I got everything I wanted and more. I saw the U.S. women shockingly fall to the bronze hockey game (I thought U.S. and Canada was a gold-medal game lock), the men's curling ticket gave me the chance to the see the U.S. win its first Olympic medal in curling (men or women) and seeing the Czechs and Russians play would have been a tough ticket anywhere (even in the U.S. you hockey-bashing reporters out there!).
Worst decision (by RTB): Buying the luge ticket to sit rather than stand. I could have saved 15 Euro by choosing the latter.
Star-gazing: Sure, D.B. Sweeney is my one Hollywood run-in on my trip so far on the blog, but I also met Torino mayor Sergio Chiamparino (who had a lot of face time at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies), watched as two new friends from Sydney, Australia, Nigel and Ann, got to meet their TV star idols Shelly and Tom from "Get Away" a Sydney-based travel show, saw Al Roker as he waited to return from a commercial break on "Today" and on Saturday night, before the men's hockey bronze medal game, I was standing no more than 5-10 feet from where Canada's CBC News people interviewed Ben Heppner, the opera singer who sang the stirring version of "O Canada" during the Closing Ceremony last night.
Good winning percentage: I saw three events out of four where U.S. athletes had a chance at a medal and acheived it. Shani Davis (silver) and Chad Hedrick (bronze) medaled in speedskating, women's hockey and men's curling won bronze. The only loser was two-man luge where the team of Brian Martin and Mark Grimmette were considered medal contenders. They had won bronze and silver, in that order, in the 1998 and 2002 Games, respectively. Their shot at gold ended halfway down the brutal Cesana Pariol track with a wipeout on their first and only run. The other American team finished well out of the medal running.
My Italian good luck: Fabris won his individual speedskating gold medal, Gerhard Plankensteiner and Oswald Haselrieder won bronze in the two-man luge.
A few shoutouts for my time in Torino: Of course, Giusi has been great and so have her wonderful friends who have made this trip as easy as possible as I explore new ground. Guido, the president of the Silvio fan club; Ita, Guido's wife, who'd love to talk to me in Italian, but has to put up with my poor Italian language skills; Luigi and Gianna for not only hosting a Sunday lunch with their family, but for also giving me a book on making the perfect cup of Italian coffee. It's written only in Italian so I have some homework; Casa Thuringen, the house band and Davide and Fillipo for showing me one hell of a good time. Next time, more German beer and less American music ... OK, I'll dance again to anything that band serves up because they rocked!!!! And last, and certainly not least, Daniel, the son of the mayor of Volpiano. Daniel provided me use of his apartment for 20 days in Torino. It was close to everything I needed it to be for the Olympics, the Media Center and food and beverages.
Ciao!
Start with the Closing Ceremony. As I mentioned in the earlier post from today, the Carnivale atmosphere is truly great, weird, funny and messy. If you don't like confetti, oranges, candy, wearing red, stepping in horse crap, then my friend, find another place besides Italy to visit at the end of February.
The Closing Ceremony was a lot of things, but despite several proud moments (the cross country gold going to an Italian was a great ending), snowboarders who float in the air, an emotional passing of the Olympic Flag from the Torino mayor who I hope still has my business card to the Vancouver mayor who has been wheelchair bound since age 19, one crazed fan screaming during a speech and a horribly LIP SYNCHING RICKY MARTIN!!??? I felt this
Closing ceremony could have done a bit better. Lose the reliance on American music. Please. I am an American in YOUR country. Give me more Italian music to experience, just like I've done with food, wine and chocolate. The Carnivale theme did that well, I just wanted the FULL experience.
I enjoyed the Opening Ceremony much more because, not only did I get my first look at all that Italy was, it helped me understand how important this Olympics was for a city looking to move forward and become something much, much more than known only as where FIAT exists.
Of the six Olympic events I saw, two men's hockey, one women's hockey, one speedskating, one luge and one curling, here's the rundown of the best and worst:
Best venue: Palasport Olimpico. New arena was very nicely done. I had great views for every hockey game. Clear seats and comfortable too.
Worst venue: I won't knock only Palasport Olimpico here, but I will rip on all of the venues I attended (except Cesana Pariol for luge) because one drawback for me was not being able to walk around the entire venue. Not Oval Lingotto for speedskating and not Pinerolo Palagacchio for curling. If you sat at one end of the arena, you were NOT allowed to go to the opposite side of the arena nor upstairs. It was a security thing, but when I saw the Canada-Germany game and I can't go downstairs to look to BUY merchandise from the event, that's a problem.
Best sport: I am a hockey guy all the way, but as I mentioned in a previous post, Curling was great to see. Speedskating was fun too, but 1500 meters is a bit of a long distance to take in as a fan. Luge was great to see, too, Adrian. Thanks for the suggestion and inspiration.
Worst sport: Again, I love hockey, but aside from a few things here and there, women's hockey didn't give me the same pace as the men's game. I will say that Katie King is a great player and she has some talented teammates, but the game just moved too slow for me at times.
Best food at an event: Since I refuse to drink Budweiser here or anywhere on this planet, I'd have to say the potato chip-esque snack food Cipster. It looks like the cereal Sugar Pops, but it is a potato chip and it is open faced. For 2 Euros you get the whole box.
Worst food: Having a ham and cheese sandwich at Oval Lingotto for speedskating. The bread was too dry and the ham was so rubbery that I didn't finish half of it. 3.50 Euro gone to waste.
Best fans: Dutch speedskating fans. Hands down.
Best blog fans: Jerre, Barbra, Aaron and Mary Ann. I have some honorable mentions too but ...
Worst blog fans: If you haven't sent me a comment yet, you know who you are! Get in the act, people! It's fun! I really enjoy the feedback!
Worst fans: At the Olympics, there's really no such thing as bad fans. Everyone wants their country to win, but fans also want to root for performers to do well. If I had to say something specific, it would be three Norway speedskating fans who always wanted to wave their oversized flag at just the time I wanted to take a photo.
Best athlete(s): Getting to see an All-Star hockey lineup isn't your everyday thing. So, when I saw Canada's men's hockey team play Germany, I got to write down a lineup that any NHL coach would drool at the prospect of doing: Joe Sakic, Jarome Iginla and Todd Bertuzzi up front, Chris Pronger and Rob Blake on defense. I would have preferred Martin Brodeur in the net, but I've always liked Roberto Luongo (even if he's had trouble with the NHL's rules on limitations for goalie equipment).
Worst athlete(s): Again, this shouldn't be happening at an Olympics, but if pressed to make a decision, I'll go with Russia's hockey team. They are too talented and too smart to get this frustrated. Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk should not be getting misconduct penalties. Darius Kasparitis, however, should have been given an Olympics misconduct after that sucker punch he put on Saku Koivu of Finland the night before late in a 4-0 Finland victory in the semifinals against Russia.
Best performance: Enrico Fabris, Italian men's speedskater. He made the 1,500 meters his event by toppling the "feuding" Americans Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick, reducing those two to silver and bronze, respectively, and for Fabris, a 24-year-old whose regular job is as an Italian policeman, he became the Olympics star in his home country.
Worst performance: American speedskater Derek Parra was pleasure to deal with in writing two stories, one for the Press-Enterprise newspaper in California and the other for Mas, a weekly English-Spanish publication in Bakersfield. Seeing him compete in the men's 1,500 meters, however, wasn't a thing of beauty. He told me before the Olympics that this ice and the high altitude would prevent world-record times. He was right. But he also didn't look like the 1,500-meter gold medal winner (and silver medalist in the 5,000 meters) from 2002 in these Olympics. His 19th place finish wasn't a highlight at all for me.
Best decision (by RTB): I bought women's hockey bronze medal, men's bronze medal curling and men's hockey bronze medal game tickets to see something and I got everything I wanted and more. I saw the U.S. women shockingly fall to the bronze hockey game (I thought U.S. and Canada was a gold-medal game lock), the men's curling ticket gave me the chance to the see the U.S. win its first Olympic medal in curling (men or women) and seeing the Czechs and Russians play would have been a tough ticket anywhere (even in the U.S. you hockey-bashing reporters out there!).
Worst decision (by RTB): Buying the luge ticket to sit rather than stand. I could have saved 15 Euro by choosing the latter.
Star-gazing: Sure, D.B. Sweeney is my one Hollywood run-in on my trip so far on the blog, but I also met Torino mayor Sergio Chiamparino (who had a lot of face time at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies), watched as two new friends from Sydney, Australia, Nigel and Ann, got to meet their TV star idols Shelly and Tom from "Get Away" a Sydney-based travel show, saw Al Roker as he waited to return from a commercial break on "Today" and on Saturday night, before the men's hockey bronze medal game, I was standing no more than 5-10 feet from where Canada's CBC News people interviewed Ben Heppner, the opera singer who sang the stirring version of "O Canada" during the Closing Ceremony last night.
Good winning percentage: I saw three events out of four where U.S. athletes had a chance at a medal and acheived it. Shani Davis (silver) and Chad Hedrick (bronze) medaled in speedskating, women's hockey and men's curling won bronze. The only loser was two-man luge where the team of Brian Martin and Mark Grimmette were considered medal contenders. They had won bronze and silver, in that order, in the 1998 and 2002 Games, respectively. Their shot at gold ended halfway down the brutal Cesana Pariol track with a wipeout on their first and only run. The other American team finished well out of the medal running.
My Italian good luck: Fabris won his individual speedskating gold medal, Gerhard Plankensteiner and Oswald Haselrieder won bronze in the two-man luge.
A few shoutouts for my time in Torino: Of course, Giusi has been great and so have her wonderful friends who have made this trip as easy as possible as I explore new ground. Guido, the president of the Silvio fan club; Ita, Guido's wife, who'd love to talk to me in Italian, but has to put up with my poor Italian language skills; Luigi and Gianna for not only hosting a Sunday lunch with their family, but for also giving me a book on making the perfect cup of Italian coffee. It's written only in Italian so I have some homework; Casa Thuringen, the house band and Davide and Fillipo for showing me one hell of a good time. Next time, more German beer and less American music ... OK, I'll dance again to anything that band serves up because they rocked!!!! And last, and certainly not least, Daniel, the son of the mayor of Volpiano. Daniel provided me use of his apartment for 20 days in Torino. It was close to everything I needed it to be for the Olympics, the Media Center and food and beverages.
Ciao!
PE diary ... Turin (Torino) should be proud
I think this is my final diary for the Press-Enterprise, but maybe not. I gave them two to use. This ran BEFORE I could add something about the Battle of the Oranges, but then that didn't happen in Torino!
http://www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_diary_27.823e7fd.html
http://www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_diary_27.823e7fd.html
Crappy Oranges, but a wildly, fun Sunday ...
It's called the Battle of the Oranges. I call it a bunch of crappy oranges.
For a few hours on Sunday afternoon, Giusi and I saw festive parades, beautiful horses, more beautiful women dressed up in many colorful outfits, men in regal uniforms, never-ending bags of confetti, silly string, yellow flowers and there was candy to eat and vin brule to drink.
What I will remember most, however, is the traditional battle of the oranges in the town of Ivrea, which, when mixed with numerous horses who are wondering what they did to encourage people to make them go around in circles and take the kind of abuse they did -- along with the brave men and women who dressed up in loads of padding and masks made of extreme tough materials -- that we soon found our shoes covered, I mean COVERED, in horse crap and squashed remains of oranges by the truckloads.
This festive time was all part of the Carnivale, part of the annual tradition held at the end of February. It's actually the first of many of these things that lead up to lent and you can liken it to Mardi Gras. If you watched the Closing Ceremony later Sunday, that was the non-battle of the oranges part, only the fun, whimsical part.
What I was a part of --- and I knew this going in -- is that I now know what Oakland/L.A. Raiders football fans do in the offseason. Or at least this is where they come to recruit new, crazy and bizarrely dressed fans. Actually, I was wondering where Randy Moss was, probably hiding out along with the scores of other patrons who stood behind netting all throughout the town to minimize the damage. But they all still had to walk through the crappy orange goo at some point.
Let me add to this delightful tale --- and please, I am not angry or upset by what this event entailed, it was very much fun for me to see, the photos will help you understand it better too --- by saying I was seeing red all day. Actually, you must see red to enjoy this event. Wearing red is an absolute requirement because it is the color that, if you don't have SOME red on your assortment of clothes well, you should be in the trenches with the other crazed patrons who come here without it specifically to throw oranges and, better yet, have them thrown right back at you. Even when these wagons filled with the brave souls I mentioned earlier came through --- and they did throughout the afternoon --- weren't in sight, there would be the occasional person who'd get a bit ansy and want some pre-fight practice. They'd sail a few into the overflowing crowd and those people would actually get upset! Uh, duh, you MIGHT get hit anyway when there is this much er, organized chaos, on hand.
Giusi and I were accompanied at this festival by Laura, the 25-year-old daughter of Giusi's friends Carmen and Johnny. We all had a fantastic lunch prior to the Battle of the Oranges trip courtesy of Carmen and Johnny, with salami, a hotter salami, an egg filled with tuna and covered in a cream-type sauce, a quiche with cheese, egg, bits of ham and a great, light flaky crust, a type of ravioli stuffed with spinach and meat and covered in a ragù sauce (meaty tomato sauce, but not the American stuff!) and finally some tender pork and spinach. There was also bread (it's the best part of any meal) and, of course, some red and white wine and natural (actually tap) water.
Carmen, by the way, was dressed for her part in the parade -- non orange-throwing version --- and I took her picture. She also took us to the smaller, also non-orange throwing version, parade that three quarters within the same town of Borgo Franco come together for in the morning hours. The three separate little areas, called Olmetto, Borgo and Cascine, then enjoy a full day of dancing (people dressed as cooks dance with generals and those in a cow outfit shuffle their feet with the soldiers), eating (salami, bread, cheese, cookies, liquor-filled edibles) and drinking (fresh wines, juice drinks and even Coca-Cola for the kids) and they also give tours of their small wine cellars (Marie, I remember visiting the one your Dad had in Laguna Beach, but it sure wasn't as cool --- and I do mean brrrr, cool --- as the ones I saw here).
One other thing to note about Carmen, Johnny and Laura is that Johnny's love of tennis extends to names within the family. Laura's middle name is Chris, as a homage to tennis star Chris Evert and one of Carmen's dogs is named Venus for, you guessed it, Venus Williams. They also have a huge, beautiful dog named Tommy, but perhaps it isn't a tennis name there, Tommy Haas is the only tennis person I can think of right now.
Anyway, that was my day of celebration, complete with confetti, a swig of beer and wine along the parade trails from kind folks, and of course, too many crappy oranges to know I might never want to drink another glass of orange juice again. Throwing a few at someone, though? Maybe. Sounds like I know what to arm myself with if I happen to attend a Raiders game next season or better still, I have my Halloween costume idea for 2006.
Ciao!
For a few hours on Sunday afternoon, Giusi and I saw festive parades, beautiful horses, more beautiful women dressed up in many colorful outfits, men in regal uniforms, never-ending bags of confetti, silly string, yellow flowers and there was candy to eat and vin brule to drink.
What I will remember most, however, is the traditional battle of the oranges in the town of Ivrea, which, when mixed with numerous horses who are wondering what they did to encourage people to make them go around in circles and take the kind of abuse they did -- along with the brave men and women who dressed up in loads of padding and masks made of extreme tough materials -- that we soon found our shoes covered, I mean COVERED, in horse crap and squashed remains of oranges by the truckloads.
This festive time was all part of the Carnivale, part of the annual tradition held at the end of February. It's actually the first of many of these things that lead up to lent and you can liken it to Mardi Gras. If you watched the Closing Ceremony later Sunday, that was the non-battle of the oranges part, only the fun, whimsical part.
What I was a part of --- and I knew this going in -- is that I now know what Oakland/L.A. Raiders football fans do in the offseason. Or at least this is where they come to recruit new, crazy and bizarrely dressed fans. Actually, I was wondering where Randy Moss was, probably hiding out along with the scores of other patrons who stood behind netting all throughout the town to minimize the damage. But they all still had to walk through the crappy orange goo at some point.
Let me add to this delightful tale --- and please, I am not angry or upset by what this event entailed, it was very much fun for me to see, the photos will help you understand it better too --- by saying I was seeing red all day. Actually, you must see red to enjoy this event. Wearing red is an absolute requirement because it is the color that, if you don't have SOME red on your assortment of clothes well, you should be in the trenches with the other crazed patrons who come here without it specifically to throw oranges and, better yet, have them thrown right back at you. Even when these wagons filled with the brave souls I mentioned earlier came through --- and they did throughout the afternoon --- weren't in sight, there would be the occasional person who'd get a bit ansy and want some pre-fight practice. They'd sail a few into the overflowing crowd and those people would actually get upset! Uh, duh, you MIGHT get hit anyway when there is this much er, organized chaos, on hand.
Giusi and I were accompanied at this festival by Laura, the 25-year-old daughter of Giusi's friends Carmen and Johnny. We all had a fantastic lunch prior to the Battle of the Oranges trip courtesy of Carmen and Johnny, with salami, a hotter salami, an egg filled with tuna and covered in a cream-type sauce, a quiche with cheese, egg, bits of ham and a great, light flaky crust, a type of ravioli stuffed with spinach and meat and covered in a ragù sauce (meaty tomato sauce, but not the American stuff!) and finally some tender pork and spinach. There was also bread (it's the best part of any meal) and, of course, some red and white wine and natural (actually tap) water.
Carmen, by the way, was dressed for her part in the parade -- non orange-throwing version --- and I took her picture. She also took us to the smaller, also non-orange throwing version, parade that three quarters within the same town of Borgo Franco come together for in the morning hours. The three separate little areas, called Olmetto, Borgo and Cascine, then enjoy a full day of dancing (people dressed as cooks dance with generals and those in a cow outfit shuffle their feet with the soldiers), eating (salami, bread, cheese, cookies, liquor-filled edibles) and drinking (fresh wines, juice drinks and even Coca-Cola for the kids) and they also give tours of their small wine cellars (Marie, I remember visiting the one your Dad had in Laguna Beach, but it sure wasn't as cool --- and I do mean brrrr, cool --- as the ones I saw here).
One other thing to note about Carmen, Johnny and Laura is that Johnny's love of tennis extends to names within the family. Laura's middle name is Chris, as a homage to tennis star Chris Evert and one of Carmen's dogs is named Venus for, you guessed it, Venus Williams. They also have a huge, beautiful dog named Tommy, but perhaps it isn't a tennis name there, Tommy Haas is the only tennis person I can think of right now.
Anyway, that was my day of celebration, complete with confetti, a swig of beer and wine along the parade trails from kind folks, and of course, too many crappy oranges to know I might never want to drink another glass of orange juice again. Throwing a few at someone, though? Maybe. Sounds like I know what to arm myself with if I happen to attend a Raiders game next season or better still, I have my Halloween costume idea for 2006.
Ciao!
Men's Hockey (Bronze) Czech Rep. 3, Russia 0
By Ryan T. Blystone
World of Wonder Staff Writer-Editor
TURIN, Italy -- Tomas Vokoun wasn't the Dominator. He was simply good enough and got enough help from teammates Saturday night as the Czech Republic defeated Russia, 3-0, in the men's hockey bronze medal game at Palasport Olimpico.[ep
Vokoun, who stepped in and helped ease his country's fans' minds about the loss of injured Dominik Hasek early in the tournament, turned in a 28-save performance to blank the Russians. Vokoun did have to work hard for his shutout as Russia outshot the Czechs 12-2 in the third period alone.[ep
But Vokoun, the No. 1 goalie for the NHL's Nashville Predators, did his part and Nashville teammate Martin Erat had a first-period goal on a one-timer that gave the Czechs all they needed. Marek Zidlicky scored a power-play goal in the second period off assists from Jaromir Jagr and Robert Lang's second of the game --- he and David Vyborny assisted on Erat's goal. Erat later fed Martin Straka on his empty-net goal with eight seconds left in the game, cementing the team's bronze medal victory and completing a two-game skid for the Russians.[ep
Russia, which had come into the Olympics with a team capable of challenging for the gold, instead fell into the trap that arises when the talent isn't delivering. On Saturday night, it was not goaltender Evgeni Nabokov's loss as he only had to make 12 saves. It was part Vokoun making stops, Russian shots hitting the post and creative scoring chances wiped away by indecision and general carelessness on the part of the Russians, who on Friday were shutout by Finland.[ep
Two of Russia's more talented young players, Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk, were assessed misconduct penalties which seemed out of character for players with supreme offensive capabilities. Kovolchuk was penalized five minutes for boarding when he hit Czech Republic forward Pavel Kubina only 3 minutes, 21 seconds into the second period. Kubina stayed down after the hit, needing to be helped off the ice by a trainer. The referees then added a 20-minute misconduct for Kovalchuk. The Czechs used the five-minute power play to take the 2-0 lead on Zidlicky's shot from just inside the blueline.[ep
Russia appeared to get its first goal in nearly six periods when Datsyuk hit the puck past Vokoun, but the goal was reviewed because Datsyuk had swatted at the puck with his stick too high in the air. Datsyuk went to the referee and argued and appeared to accidently bump him. The referee instantly gave Datsyuk a 10-minute misconduct with under four minutes left in the game. The Czechs, meanwhile, survived a major Russian offensive assault.
Nabokov was pulled for an extra skater, but Erat got a loose puck and fed it to Straka on a 2-on-1 chance with the empty net. Straka’s goal enabled the celebration to begin on the Czechs' bench.[ep
Czech Republic, which won gold at the 1998 Olympics, was able to overcome the loss of Hasek, who left after the first game here with a groin injury, and Patrik Elias, who injured his ribs. The bronze medal team finished with a 4-4-0 record in Torino, but was able to prevent Russia from capturing an Olympic medal.[ep
Russia, which finished with a 5-3-0 record in this Olympics, won bronze in Salt Lake City in 2002 and won silver in a gold-medal game loss to the Czechs in 1998. Russia also didn't medal in the 1994 games at Lillehammer.[ep
World of Wonder Staff Writer-Editor
TURIN, Italy -- Tomas Vokoun wasn't the Dominator. He was simply good enough and got enough help from teammates Saturday night as the Czech Republic defeated Russia, 3-0, in the men's hockey bronze medal game at Palasport Olimpico.[ep
Vokoun, who stepped in and helped ease his country's fans' minds about the loss of injured Dominik Hasek early in the tournament, turned in a 28-save performance to blank the Russians. Vokoun did have to work hard for his shutout as Russia outshot the Czechs 12-2 in the third period alone.[ep
But Vokoun, the No. 1 goalie for the NHL's Nashville Predators, did his part and Nashville teammate Martin Erat had a first-period goal on a one-timer that gave the Czechs all they needed. Marek Zidlicky scored a power-play goal in the second period off assists from Jaromir Jagr and Robert Lang's second of the game --- he and David Vyborny assisted on Erat's goal. Erat later fed Martin Straka on his empty-net goal with eight seconds left in the game, cementing the team's bronze medal victory and completing a two-game skid for the Russians.[ep
Russia, which had come into the Olympics with a team capable of challenging for the gold, instead fell into the trap that arises when the talent isn't delivering. On Saturday night, it was not goaltender Evgeni Nabokov's loss as he only had to make 12 saves. It was part Vokoun making stops, Russian shots hitting the post and creative scoring chances wiped away by indecision and general carelessness on the part of the Russians, who on Friday were shutout by Finland.[ep
Two of Russia's more talented young players, Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk, were assessed misconduct penalties which seemed out of character for players with supreme offensive capabilities. Kovolchuk was penalized five minutes for boarding when he hit Czech Republic forward Pavel Kubina only 3 minutes, 21 seconds into the second period. Kubina stayed down after the hit, needing to be helped off the ice by a trainer. The referees then added a 20-minute misconduct for Kovalchuk. The Czechs used the five-minute power play to take the 2-0 lead on Zidlicky's shot from just inside the blueline.[ep
Russia appeared to get its first goal in nearly six periods when Datsyuk hit the puck past Vokoun, but the goal was reviewed because Datsyuk had swatted at the puck with his stick too high in the air. Datsyuk went to the referee and argued and appeared to accidently bump him. The referee instantly gave Datsyuk a 10-minute misconduct with under four minutes left in the game. The Czechs, meanwhile, survived a major Russian offensive assault.
Nabokov was pulled for an extra skater, but Erat got a loose puck and fed it to Straka on a 2-on-1 chance with the empty net. Straka’s goal enabled the celebration to begin on the Czechs' bench.[ep
Czech Republic, which won gold at the 1998 Olympics, was able to overcome the loss of Hasek, who left after the first game here with a groin injury, and Patrik Elias, who injured his ribs. The bronze medal team finished with a 4-4-0 record in Torino, but was able to prevent Russia from capturing an Olympic medal.[ep
Russia, which finished with a 5-3-0 record in this Olympics, won bronze in Salt Lake City in 2002 and won silver in a gold-medal game loss to the Czechs in 1998. Russia also didn't medal in the 1994 games at Lillehammer.[ep
Random replies ...
Sorry, I've been away for a few days from the blog. I appreciate everyone's responses to what so far has been a great trip. I've got lots of things to write in the next few hours and now that the Olympics are officially over, the next part of the World of Wonder tour can begin.
First off, Dad, the difference between a ristorante and a trattoria is this ... while both places are great for eating, the difference is mostly the atmosphere. The ristorante is many times a place to spend more money, but there's a lot more choices for the customer. It's got pizza too, but it is a place you're likely to have more diverse choices for great food and beverages. At a trattoria, these are smaller, more down to earth places where the menu is still diverse, but still somewhat limited. Usually these are the places run by mom and dad and the kids helping too. Giusi knows about a lot of these types of places and every time I not only tried something new to eat, but it was just as good and we were not rushed at all (not that Italians rush to leave the dinner table ... ever!).
Secondly, sorbetto limone is now my favorite dessert. Marie, I will gladly take you up on the chance to go have some soon after I return from my trip.
Jerre: Thanks for the suggestion. I will check it out. Oh, and I forgot one other song the cheesy, but fun, band played ... Hit Me Baby One More Time. Ugh.
Chris and Jeff: Thanks for checking in. You have Olympic T-shirts coming soon.
To everyone: I've got stories coming on the bronze medal game Saturday night, a Sunday celebration that makes orange juice something I'll never think about drinking again and more on what my next moves are for the post-Olympics trip.
Gotta go write!
P.S. Annie, if you are reading this, Happy Birthday today! And Mom, when you read this, I am also thinking of Grandma as her birthday is on Tuesday. Santa Maria!
First off, Dad, the difference between a ristorante and a trattoria is this ... while both places are great for eating, the difference is mostly the atmosphere. The ristorante is many times a place to spend more money, but there's a lot more choices for the customer. It's got pizza too, but it is a place you're likely to have more diverse choices for great food and beverages. At a trattoria, these are smaller, more down to earth places where the menu is still diverse, but still somewhat limited. Usually these are the places run by mom and dad and the kids helping too. Giusi knows about a lot of these types of places and every time I not only tried something new to eat, but it was just as good and we were not rushed at all (not that Italians rush to leave the dinner table ... ever!).
Secondly, sorbetto limone is now my favorite dessert. Marie, I will gladly take you up on the chance to go have some soon after I return from my trip.
Jerre: Thanks for the suggestion. I will check it out. Oh, and I forgot one other song the cheesy, but fun, band played ... Hit Me Baby One More Time. Ugh.
Chris and Jeff: Thanks for checking in. You have Olympic T-shirts coming soon.
To everyone: I've got stories coming on the bronze medal game Saturday night, a Sunday celebration that makes orange juice something I'll never think about drinking again and more on what my next moves are for the post-Olympics trip.
Gotta go write!
P.S. Annie, if you are reading this, Happy Birthday today! And Mom, when you read this, I am also thinking of Grandma as her birthday is on Tuesday. Santa Maria!
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Bronze at stake, but I'm ready for a great game
My hope for a Finland gold medal are still intact, although playing a Sweden team that is peaking at the right time might make for a difficult task in the gold medal men's hockey game on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, tonight at 8:30, I am in for a treat. Czech Republic vs. Russia. Both teams got blown out in their semifinal games, but perhaps they just ran into the two best teams. This game, for a bronze medal but also for pride, should be worth the money I had to fork over to see it.
It will also be my final Olympic event I see in person in Torino. I am glad though that my final event will be a hockey game.
As for other stuff going on, I really want to tell everyone that if you didn't watch curling on TV during these games, you're really missing out. My experience at Friday's bronze medal match, which the U.S. men won 8-6 over Great Britian, was fascinating. I don't play chess or anything, but the strategy involved was interesting to see in person.
It might have also been a flashback to one of those long nights after a tough shift at the P-T newspaper when all you wanted to do was head over to O'Connell's and have the bartender welcome you with an ice cold Bass Ale waiting for you. Oh yeah, and put money in the CD jukebox and play a game or two of mini-curling, err... shuffleboard.
I also want to alert my blog readers that I have two more diaries running in the Press Enterprise (this is special alert is for you Ironfist!). One is geared to being a Torino tourist (letting me talk good and bad about my experiences) and the last one will be a best of Torino. Here's a hint, as long as it doesn't get edited out. Best dessert, even in a GREAT area for chocolate, is my new favorite, sorbetto limone at Il Saraceno restaurant. As I said in my diary, I'd order a second one instead of finishing my meal with a coffee any day!
Ciao!
Meanwhile, tonight at 8:30, I am in for a treat. Czech Republic vs. Russia. Both teams got blown out in their semifinal games, but perhaps they just ran into the two best teams. This game, for a bronze medal but also for pride, should be worth the money I had to fork over to see it.
It will also be my final Olympic event I see in person in Torino. I am glad though that my final event will be a hockey game.
As for other stuff going on, I really want to tell everyone that if you didn't watch curling on TV during these games, you're really missing out. My experience at Friday's bronze medal match, which the U.S. men won 8-6 over Great Britian, was fascinating. I don't play chess or anything, but the strategy involved was interesting to see in person.
It might have also been a flashback to one of those long nights after a tough shift at the P-T newspaper when all you wanted to do was head over to O'Connell's and have the bartender welcome you with an ice cold Bass Ale waiting for you. Oh yeah, and put money in the CD jukebox and play a game or two of mini-curling, err... shuffleboard.
I also want to alert my blog readers that I have two more diaries running in the Press Enterprise (this is special alert is for you Ironfist!). One is geared to being a Torino tourist (letting me talk good and bad about my experiences) and the last one will be a best of Torino. Here's a hint, as long as it doesn't get edited out. Best dessert, even in a GREAT area for chocolate, is my new favorite, sorbetto limone at Il Saraceno restaurant. As I said in my diary, I'd order a second one instead of finishing my meal with a coffee any day!
Ciao!
Friday, February 24, 2006
Yet another PE diary ...
This is a diary I wrote a few days ago when I attended the women's hockey bronze medal game and met two fans outside the stadium --- one from Baja, Calif., the other from Mexico City. Enjoy!
http://www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_life_24.1cd42626.html
http://www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_life_24.1cd42626.html
More new friends, more good times ...
I had dinner with Giusi on Wednesday night at a very nice trattoria she recommended, but little did I know it was going to end the night with me explaining to five Italian guys about American politics, talking about what I was doing on Sept. 11, 2001 and meeting a great group of guys who are as passionate about everything Italian as I am about ... this trip.
You see, Giusi had to work on Thursday so she invited a young man from Volpiano, Davide, who I'd met when I first arrived because he helped me get the laptop hooked up to the DSL internet connection I had at the hotel I stayed at my first few nights in Italy.
Anyway, Davide and four of his buddies came to the trattorria, Da Michele, after watching some Olympic short track speedskating and taking pictures with some bellas in the audience. They had their faces painted the colors of the Italian flag and they were in quite a festive mood. Especially Filippo, a guy who lives in Torino, and speaks the best English of the group. The others were Alberto (Filippo's brother, I believe) as well as Iacopo and Diego.
Anyway, Giusi left us and we all went back in the trattoria so they could order food. It was there that we began talking politics. I mentioned something about the Euro and how much more expensive it is with Bush having us in Iraq. The U.S. dollar isn't exactly great on the wallet these days. That talk extends into me explaining the elections in America because Italians, shortly after these Olympics, will be heading into an elections in April.
I told them about Bush and how the 2006 elections could be important as he wants to push things through with things in his favor or not if Democrats gain any ground.
I then talked about Bush and his election success -- they're aware of Gore and the 2000 debacle and John Kerry, even if these guys only know his name here in Italy, reacted when his name was mentioned as not being good enough to beat Bush. It was an opening for me to also mention that perhaps a third-party candidate could emerge in the 2008 Presidential elections in the U.S. because, in my personal opinion, there's not a lot of strong candidates on either the Republican or Democratic side right now. They brought up Ross Perot's name and I told them who he was and how much of an impact he made the first time he ran. I also mentioned Ralph Nader's name and how his running did make an impact of sorts in the 2000 election.
We also talked about power in government and how it can be scary when it is in the wrong hands or when it is abused. I'd add more about the latter, but then again, I have only so much blog space ;-)
Anyway, we closed the trattoria down and left that night wanting to hang out on Thursday night.
Part 2 (Thursday night)
Davide calls me and he, Filippo and another new person to me, Bruno arrive in Davide's car. We then go only a few miles as they took me to a place called Casa Thùringen. It is a temporary party place and it is housed within Torino's Motovelodromo, which in English means it was held at what is normally a stadium for cyclists to perform. There's one of those kinds of places in Carson next to the Home Depot Center.
Anyway, we get in a LONG line. I wasn't sure at first what we were doing, only knowing there was food to eat and music to listen to. It was free admission. The line actually moved kind of fast as far as Italian lines go (everyone crowds in and it's a sure bet the term single-file line doesn't exist in my Italian-English language book).
So we get inside and walk around to the area. There's several tents and lots of people waiting in line for GOOD German beer (the darker the better, although there was also the lighter, Coors Light-esque offered too). Then there was another line for huge brauts and steak sandwiches. I bought Davide, Filippo and Bruno a steak sandwich (for 4 euro each that was ONE good deal). The steak sandwich and dark beer lasted until we got into another line, OK, cutting in with Phillipe's friend Valentina and her boyfriend who I think is named Paolo (Paul). Anyway, we waited a long time, but it was because it was a DINNER line. Inside there were five or six different German meals you could choose from and next to that was another beer garden. By the time we got to the front of the line, I got chicken (yes, I know about bird flu stuff, but it was very good and I'm not sick), veggies (carrots, cauliflower and broccoli) and these great small potatoes that were very, very good. I also had a fresh pretzel. Oh, and another dark German beer.
Then came the moment you're likely really wanting to know about ... we all sat down in the crowded room with several tables. The band for the night had started soon after we had made our way into the main tent.
At first, I was horrified by the music I was hearing. OK, horrified in a good way if you know my music knowledge. They did a medley of KOOL and THE GANG hits like "Fresh", "Joanna" and, of course,"Celebration". I was laughing at how foreigners just love our American music, especially if it can be amped up a bit by a band whose members likely speak German, Italian as well as English. By the time we all sat down with our food, the band took a break. We ate and then the band came back.
This time, however, we were ready for whatever they were dishing up. Born to be Wild (Steppenwolf), White Wedding (Billy Idol), Come Together (Beatles) and even a few verses of Born in the USA? (Springsteen). But here's the highlights for me. In between the strains of the song Kung Fu Fighting and Ghost Riders in the Sky was the most festive version of Stevie Wonder's song "I Just Called to Say I Love You" done by one guy who looked like Joe Jackson (no, not DB Sweeney), another who looked like he could pass for a guy in the band Barenaked Ladies, another who could have passed as being from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and another guy who looked a bit like Stevie Ray Vaughan. Oh, but the drummer was legit. I don't remember his name, but he actually was the star of this band because he played really well --- Air drumming by Ryan well, that is.
The Stevie Wonder song got EVERYBODY in the place swinging back and forth, toasting beers and just about the most fun group I've been around here during my trip.
We left the place around 11:30 p.m. though because a few in the group had to work and yours truly had to get up early for curling in Pinerolo.
And now that I've done this, I will check my email and head off to have some dinner.
Ciao!
You see, Giusi had to work on Thursday so she invited a young man from Volpiano, Davide, who I'd met when I first arrived because he helped me get the laptop hooked up to the DSL internet connection I had at the hotel I stayed at my first few nights in Italy.
Anyway, Davide and four of his buddies came to the trattorria, Da Michele, after watching some Olympic short track speedskating and taking pictures with some bellas in the audience. They had their faces painted the colors of the Italian flag and they were in quite a festive mood. Especially Filippo, a guy who lives in Torino, and speaks the best English of the group. The others were Alberto (Filippo's brother, I believe) as well as Iacopo and Diego.
Anyway, Giusi left us and we all went back in the trattoria so they could order food. It was there that we began talking politics. I mentioned something about the Euro and how much more expensive it is with Bush having us in Iraq. The U.S. dollar isn't exactly great on the wallet these days. That talk extends into me explaining the elections in America because Italians, shortly after these Olympics, will be heading into an elections in April.
I told them about Bush and how the 2006 elections could be important as he wants to push things through with things in his favor or not if Democrats gain any ground.
I then talked about Bush and his election success -- they're aware of Gore and the 2000 debacle and John Kerry, even if these guys only know his name here in Italy, reacted when his name was mentioned as not being good enough to beat Bush. It was an opening for me to also mention that perhaps a third-party candidate could emerge in the 2008 Presidential elections in the U.S. because, in my personal opinion, there's not a lot of strong candidates on either the Republican or Democratic side right now. They brought up Ross Perot's name and I told them who he was and how much of an impact he made the first time he ran. I also mentioned Ralph Nader's name and how his running did make an impact of sorts in the 2000 election.
We also talked about power in government and how it can be scary when it is in the wrong hands or when it is abused. I'd add more about the latter, but then again, I have only so much blog space ;-)
Anyway, we closed the trattoria down and left that night wanting to hang out on Thursday night.
Part 2 (Thursday night)
Davide calls me and he, Filippo and another new person to me, Bruno arrive in Davide's car. We then go only a few miles as they took me to a place called Casa Thùringen. It is a temporary party place and it is housed within Torino's Motovelodromo, which in English means it was held at what is normally a stadium for cyclists to perform. There's one of those kinds of places in Carson next to the Home Depot Center.
Anyway, we get in a LONG line. I wasn't sure at first what we were doing, only knowing there was food to eat and music to listen to. It was free admission. The line actually moved kind of fast as far as Italian lines go (everyone crowds in and it's a sure bet the term single-file line doesn't exist in my Italian-English language book).
So we get inside and walk around to the area. There's several tents and lots of people waiting in line for GOOD German beer (the darker the better, although there was also the lighter, Coors Light-esque offered too). Then there was another line for huge brauts and steak sandwiches. I bought Davide, Filippo and Bruno a steak sandwich (for 4 euro each that was ONE good deal). The steak sandwich and dark beer lasted until we got into another line, OK, cutting in with Phillipe's friend Valentina and her boyfriend who I think is named Paolo (Paul). Anyway, we waited a long time, but it was because it was a DINNER line. Inside there were five or six different German meals you could choose from and next to that was another beer garden. By the time we got to the front of the line, I got chicken (yes, I know about bird flu stuff, but it was very good and I'm not sick), veggies (carrots, cauliflower and broccoli) and these great small potatoes that were very, very good. I also had a fresh pretzel. Oh, and another dark German beer.
Then came the moment you're likely really wanting to know about ... we all sat down in the crowded room with several tables. The band for the night had started soon after we had made our way into the main tent.
At first, I was horrified by the music I was hearing. OK, horrified in a good way if you know my music knowledge. They did a medley of KOOL and THE GANG hits like "Fresh", "Joanna" and, of course,"Celebration". I was laughing at how foreigners just love our American music, especially if it can be amped up a bit by a band whose members likely speak German, Italian as well as English. By the time we all sat down with our food, the band took a break. We ate and then the band came back.
This time, however, we were ready for whatever they were dishing up. Born to be Wild (Steppenwolf), White Wedding (Billy Idol), Come Together (Beatles) and even a few verses of Born in the USA? (Springsteen). But here's the highlights for me. In between the strains of the song Kung Fu Fighting and Ghost Riders in the Sky was the most festive version of Stevie Wonder's song "I Just Called to Say I Love You" done by one guy who looked like Joe Jackson (no, not DB Sweeney), another who looked like he could pass for a guy in the band Barenaked Ladies, another who could have passed as being from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and another guy who looked a bit like Stevie Ray Vaughan. Oh, but the drummer was legit. I don't remember his name, but he actually was the star of this band because he played really well --- Air drumming by Ryan well, that is.
The Stevie Wonder song got EVERYBODY in the place swinging back and forth, toasting beers and just about the most fun group I've been around here during my trip.
We left the place around 11:30 p.m. though because a few in the group had to work and yours truly had to get up early for curling in Pinerolo.
And now that I've done this, I will check my email and head off to have some dinner.
Ciao!
Curling: USA men 8, Britian 6 (bronze medal)
By Ryan T. Blystone
World of Wonder Staff Writer-Editor
PINEROLO, Italy -- Pete Fenson delivered a bronze medal for the United States men's curling team --- the first medal ever for a U.S. team in Olympic competition --- on Friday afternoon at the Palaghiaccio.[ep
The skip, down to a situation where he needed to score the deciding point on his last stone, placed it right in the heart of the target for the deciding point in an 8-6 decision against Great Britian.[ep
That shot might have put the finishing touch on the victory, but it was just the last of a strong performance for Fenson, who earlier in the match gave the Americans a commanding lead with a double take-out and removing two British stones in the middle for a three-point score in the third end.[ep
The Americans scored two more points in the sixth end to take a 6-2 lead, but the British closed the gap to 6-5 on its last stone of the seventh end. Skip David Murdoch was able to knock away the Americans' stone from the red circle, thus leaving three British stones.[ep
The U.S. got one point back in the eighth end with the only stone in the middle and could have closed it out in the ninth end, but Britian used its last stone to again close the lead to one.[ep
Fenson's shot in the10th end, however, closed it out for the Americans, whose team was comprised of second Joe Polo, third Shawn Rojeski, lead John Shuster and 54-year-old alternate Scott Baird.[ep
The victory gave the squad a final record of 7-4 in these Olympics --- the Americans also edged Great Britian 9-8 in round-robin play on Feb. 19 --- and Friday's victory took some of the sting out of a 11-5 semifinal loss to Canada on Wednesday.
Great Britian, which finishes with a 7-5 record, competed in the bronze medal match following a 4-3 loss to Finland. In addition to Murdoch, the British team also featured third Ewan MacDonald, second Warwick Smith, lead Euan Byers and alternate Craig Wilson.[ep
Canada and Finland played in the gold medal game later Friday.[ep
World of Wonder Staff Writer-Editor
PINEROLO, Italy -- Pete Fenson delivered a bronze medal for the United States men's curling team --- the first medal ever for a U.S. team in Olympic competition --- on Friday afternoon at the Palaghiaccio.[ep
The skip, down to a situation where he needed to score the deciding point on his last stone, placed it right in the heart of the target for the deciding point in an 8-6 decision against Great Britian.[ep
That shot might have put the finishing touch on the victory, but it was just the last of a strong performance for Fenson, who earlier in the match gave the Americans a commanding lead with a double take-out and removing two British stones in the middle for a three-point score in the third end.[ep
The Americans scored two more points in the sixth end to take a 6-2 lead, but the British closed the gap to 6-5 on its last stone of the seventh end. Skip David Murdoch was able to knock away the Americans' stone from the red circle, thus leaving three British stones.[ep
The U.S. got one point back in the eighth end with the only stone in the middle and could have closed it out in the ninth end, but Britian used its last stone to again close the lead to one.[ep
Fenson's shot in the10th end, however, closed it out for the Americans, whose team was comprised of second Joe Polo, third Shawn Rojeski, lead John Shuster and 54-year-old alternate Scott Baird.[ep
The victory gave the squad a final record of 7-4 in these Olympics --- the Americans also edged Great Britian 9-8 in round-robin play on Feb. 19 --- and Friday's victory took some of the sting out of a 11-5 semifinal loss to Canada on Wednesday.
Great Britian, which finishes with a 7-5 record, competed in the bronze medal match following a 4-3 loss to Finland. In addition to Murdoch, the British team also featured third Ewan MacDonald, second Warwick Smith, lead Euan Byers and alternate Craig Wilson.[ep
Canada and Finland played in the gold medal game later Friday.[ep
Thursday, February 23, 2006
I just blogged to say ...
I stopped by to check email before heading out to curling. All I have to say about the great time I had last night is this:
I Just Called to Say I Love You ...
Ciao!
I Just Called to Say I Love You ...
Ciao!
Another PE diary link ...
Here's another recent diary link from the Press-Enterprise.
If, for some reason you haven't been able to read these, I have saved each one and can email them to you if you wish to read them. Just send me an email.
http://www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_life_20.7df3e61.html
If, for some reason you haven't been able to read these, I have saved each one and can email them to you if you wish to read them. Just send me an email.
http://www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_life_20.7df3e61.html
My second Derek Parra feature ...
I did another feature story, a much different slant, on American speedskater Derek Parra. This story was written for Mas, an English and Spanish weekly publication in Bakersfield. I had to do this interview via email while here in Torino. Also, check out the Mas Web site. It is a new publication, it began in Sept. 2005, but it sure seems to have some potential as a viable news source for readers.
Here's the link to my story:
http://www.masbakersfield.com/home/viewarticle.php?cat_id=79&post=11306
Here's the link to my story:
http://www.masbakersfield.com/home/viewarticle.php?cat_id=79&post=11306
Olympic men's hockey and curling thoughts
I am a hockey fan. You know that by now if you've read my blog.
I am excited about the prospect of a gold medal for one of four men's teams left: Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic and Russia.
I also like knowing that I have a ticket for the bronze medal game. I like knowing I will see a great game Saturday night no matter who falls in Friday's semifinals.
My predictions? Czech Republic over Sweden, Finland over Russia in the semifinals.
Gold Medal: Finland edges Czech Republic
Bronze Medal: Russia over Sweden
Anyone else have an opinion? Werstine? Kev? Montero? Anyone?
Now, on to a completely different sports subject ....
I will be getting up early Friday to take a train to Pinerolo for the men's bronze medal match in curling. I lucked out because I get to see the 1 p.m. (my time) match between Team USA and Great Britian. It will be interesting to see a sport I wasn't sure the U.S. was good enough to earn a medal in, but unlike those whiny U.S. athletes who complain (BODE who?) I think this might be a chance for the U.S. to win a medal they can actually feel good about instead of crying that they "only" won bronze.
For those Olympic TV fans who are hooked on curling, and the ratings apparently agree that there is significant interest, I recommend anyone reading this blog to go to http://dailynews.com/sportsmedia/ci_3524421 and read Tom Hoffarth's recent sports media column on curling. I've always like Tom's stuff and he used the opportunity to talk to Fred Roggin to also give readers a good, digestable story on curling.
I am excited about the prospect of a gold medal for one of four men's teams left: Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic and Russia.
I also like knowing that I have a ticket for the bronze medal game. I like knowing I will see a great game Saturday night no matter who falls in Friday's semifinals.
My predictions? Czech Republic over Sweden, Finland over Russia in the semifinals.
Gold Medal: Finland edges Czech Republic
Bronze Medal: Russia over Sweden
Anyone else have an opinion? Werstine? Kev? Montero? Anyone?
Now, on to a completely different sports subject ....
I will be getting up early Friday to take a train to Pinerolo for the men's bronze medal match in curling. I lucked out because I get to see the 1 p.m. (my time) match between Team USA and Great Britian. It will be interesting to see a sport I wasn't sure the U.S. was good enough to earn a medal in, but unlike those whiny U.S. athletes who complain (BODE who?) I think this might be a chance for the U.S. to win a medal they can actually feel good about instead of crying that they "only" won bronze.
For those Olympic TV fans who are hooked on curling, and the ratings apparently agree that there is significant interest, I recommend anyone reading this blog to go to http://dailynews.com/sportsmedia/ci_3524421 and read Tom Hoffarth's recent sports media column on curling. I've always like Tom's stuff and he used the opportunity to talk to Fred Roggin to also give readers a good, digestable story on curling.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Torino is more than just the Olympics ...
I know everyone out there knows Torino and Italy as a whole is much, much more than just a place hosting the Olympics.
There are so many places on my city map that I will never get to, even if I were to stay here a full year. So many shops, so many places to have great food, a great birra and wonderful gelato.
Today -- and again on Thursday -- I am giving myself a chance to see more than just the world's best hockey players compete, speedskaters, lugers and curlers who get this Olympic spotlight once every four years. I am seeing history at every turn.
While I still get mixed up on which street is which to lead me back to my destinations at times, mainly because I continue to purposely take a different turn on a street to see something new, I spent some time today checking out the Natural History Museum -- it is close to the Media Center -- which currently has a very interesting exhibit on the Inuit people and their culture.
In addition to many soap stone figures, various objects and art from the Inuit culture, I also learned a lot about those who are from the most remote parts of the northern hemisphere, from the Scandinavian Peninsula to Siberia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland.
I learned about their language, called Inuktitut (language of men), their alphabet has 44 phonetic symbols, it has provided the basis for 40 languages and dialects in the last 1,400 years. And, get this AP Stylebook fans, they have 40 words to describe the word ''snow.''
Aput -- means snow on the ground
Aputiit -- means snowflakes
Their language was invented by Rev. James Evans in the first half of the 1800s.
I was also intrigued by their abilities to not only survive the harshest winters you and I would NEVER survive but also their care for everything in their world. Listen to this item I read at the exhibit:
After they kill and clean the animals they've hunted, they gather the bones of the animal's legs and feet so the spirit of the animals can walk toward a new life.
Following this exhibit, I had lunch, another fine meal at the Il Saraceno restaurant (Giusi and her friend Paolo had taken me there on one of my first visits to Torino) and then I visited the Duomo, the church which has a small exhibit for the Holy Shroud of Turin (Dave from Colorado -- they do not have the actual Shroud open to visitors right now, this was the next best thing).
It might not have been the original thing -- there was a small replica -- but the exhibit was very interesting and moving, even for someone who grew up Catholic but has not gone to church nearly enough since completing CCD classes.
The church itself was pretty impressive, especially the outside. Inside, the church are several different shrines to different figures, including one called Madonna Grande. I left 2 Euro behind for the collection and lit candles for my two late grandmothers and as a token of appreciation for my mother and all mothers around the world.
Cameras are not allowed in the church so I have no pictures of the inside, but I did take away a brochure and took a photo of the outside of the church.
OK, that's what I gained in knowledge today. I am off to go to the apartment and then head over to the Medals Plaza to meet Giusi for dinner nearby.
Of the places I still want to see include a trip to a modern art museum, the Royal Palace and even the National Automobile Museum. I will attempt to get to all on Thursday.
And I will end this post with a shout out to a few new blog readers, Ecco who lives in Ohio and Kevin who I worked with in Long Beach and Los Angeles but is now working for the Miami Herald. Hey Kev, the Flyers SUCK!
Ciao!
There are so many places on my city map that I will never get to, even if I were to stay here a full year. So many shops, so many places to have great food, a great birra and wonderful gelato.
Today -- and again on Thursday -- I am giving myself a chance to see more than just the world's best hockey players compete, speedskaters, lugers and curlers who get this Olympic spotlight once every four years. I am seeing history at every turn.
While I still get mixed up on which street is which to lead me back to my destinations at times, mainly because I continue to purposely take a different turn on a street to see something new, I spent some time today checking out the Natural History Museum -- it is close to the Media Center -- which currently has a very interesting exhibit on the Inuit people and their culture.
In addition to many soap stone figures, various objects and art from the Inuit culture, I also learned a lot about those who are from the most remote parts of the northern hemisphere, from the Scandinavian Peninsula to Siberia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland.
I learned about their language, called Inuktitut (language of men), their alphabet has 44 phonetic symbols, it has provided the basis for 40 languages and dialects in the last 1,400 years. And, get this AP Stylebook fans, they have 40 words to describe the word ''snow.''
Aput -- means snow on the ground
Aputiit -- means snowflakes
Their language was invented by Rev. James Evans in the first half of the 1800s.
I was also intrigued by their abilities to not only survive the harshest winters you and I would NEVER survive but also their care for everything in their world. Listen to this item I read at the exhibit:
After they kill and clean the animals they've hunted, they gather the bones of the animal's legs and feet so the spirit of the animals can walk toward a new life.
Following this exhibit, I had lunch, another fine meal at the Il Saraceno restaurant (Giusi and her friend Paolo had taken me there on one of my first visits to Torino) and then I visited the Duomo, the church which has a small exhibit for the Holy Shroud of Turin (Dave from Colorado -- they do not have the actual Shroud open to visitors right now, this was the next best thing).
It might not have been the original thing -- there was a small replica -- but the exhibit was very interesting and moving, even for someone who grew up Catholic but has not gone to church nearly enough since completing CCD classes.
The church itself was pretty impressive, especially the outside. Inside, the church are several different shrines to different figures, including one called Madonna Grande. I left 2 Euro behind for the collection and lit candles for my two late grandmothers and as a token of appreciation for my mother and all mothers around the world.
Cameras are not allowed in the church so I have no pictures of the inside, but I did take away a brochure and took a photo of the outside of the church.
OK, that's what I gained in knowledge today. I am off to go to the apartment and then head over to the Medals Plaza to meet Giusi for dinner nearby.
Of the places I still want to see include a trip to a modern art museum, the Royal Palace and even the National Automobile Museum. I will attempt to get to all on Thursday.
And I will end this post with a shout out to a few new blog readers, Ecco who lives in Ohio and Kevin who I worked with in Long Beach and Los Angeles but is now working for the Miami Herald. Hey Kev, the Flyers SUCK!
Ciao!
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Random notes ...
Some things I've been meaning to bring to the surface as I attend events here, see the coverage on Italian television and other assorted ramblings ...
I know Olympic sponsors pay a lot of money to gain exposure and to make sure their product is as visible as possible, but can anyone tell me why at an Italian Olympics that the only choices for coffee at the "snack points" is Americano coffee or espresso? You have to go to a nearby machine just to get SOMETHING close to a really good cup of Italian Joe.
Another "snack point" rant ... the only beer you sell is Budweiser? Talk about false advertising. Come on, Torino. If I'm going to drink a birra, it had better be at least something from a European country!
The Italians won the team pursuit gold medal the other night and I swear that if former Los Angeles radio sports guy Jim Healy was still alive that the Italian announcers' call on Italy's victory would forever be a sound byte. Then again maybe not because the screaming and hollering for their fellow countrymen would take up almost the whole show. But I guess that would also give us the chance to hear everyone's' favorite Italian, former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, rant about Dave Kingman's performance and how Kurt Bevacqua couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat!
I think the timeliness of Torino's bus system and trains to the mountains are extremely helpful to those of us in town for the Olympics. Nevertheless, I also sense that Italians are surprised that these same buses and trains are on time. It could get interesting after the tourists leave and Torino gets its city back (or at least until the Paralympics crowd arrives next month).
Best fans: Dutch speedskating fans. These people rule. A family of four was leaving the Oval Lingotto on Tuesday night looking like this: The two young boys had orange-colored, replica Roman headgear. the wife had a furry, pimp-like orange hat. Dad? He had an orange afro-like wig, an orange nose and face paint.
Want more proof? The Dutch fans on the opposite side from where I was sitting took full advantage of the downtime caused by the ice resurfacing done after the first half of the 1500-meter speedskating field competed. A band, stretching over three sections of the front row, played traditional songs and even made me happy with stirring renditions of "Proud Mary" (made famous by CCR and Tina Turner) and Queen's "We Will Rock You"/"We Are the Champions." Very cool.
You think the American media harp too much on its athletes? Try being in the media center here and see the Italian TV replay over and over again the falls by the figure skating pairs. Talk about overkill.
Speaking of the figure skating, one thing I can't understand is why after each person skates and they go to a bench area to await their scores and give the TV viewers that priceless look on the skaters' faces when their score is posted that someone with what looks like a sponsor or an officials' badge gets to be on TV? Worse is that they spend their time waving and blow kisses to people? Why? They didn't compete. Keep the cameras only on the skaters, PLEASE. Add to this note: while I was typing in my speedskating account, the women's short program was on the TV and the cameraman might have been wise to this as it was a tighter shot of just the skater. Hooray!
Best thing I've seen as a souvenir -- and can't be bought at the Olympics Superstore -- was a pair of caps on a young couple from Finland. I'm not sure if they are on their honeymoon right now, but the caps have an inscription on them saying "Just Married."
I am looking forward to seeing a story on yours truly. I found out today that I made the front page of the Blue and White newspaper in its Feb. 17 issue. It's the high school newspaper for Bakersfield High. I was on the paper's staff my senior year and sports editor for one semester. Kind of cool to have been asked to answer questions about my trip to the Olympics. If I'm able to get a web link for the story, I will post it. Thanks in advance go out to Darlene Stotler, Bianca Hernandez and Margie Bell for their help.
OK, that's it for today. I don't get to see another Olympic event until Friday when I take another train, but this time to see men's curling (bronze medal) in Pinerolo. The city is the second largest in the Piedmont area behind Torino. Should be fun.
I have some more museums to see on Wednesday and Thursday too. I will also see the place where the Shroud of Turin is located on one of the two days.
Ciao!
I know Olympic sponsors pay a lot of money to gain exposure and to make sure their product is as visible as possible, but can anyone tell me why at an Italian Olympics that the only choices for coffee at the "snack points" is Americano coffee or espresso? You have to go to a nearby machine just to get SOMETHING close to a really good cup of Italian Joe.
Another "snack point" rant ... the only beer you sell is Budweiser? Talk about false advertising. Come on, Torino. If I'm going to drink a birra, it had better be at least something from a European country!
The Italians won the team pursuit gold medal the other night and I swear that if former Los Angeles radio sports guy Jim Healy was still alive that the Italian announcers' call on Italy's victory would forever be a sound byte. Then again maybe not because the screaming and hollering for their fellow countrymen would take up almost the whole show. But I guess that would also give us the chance to hear everyone's' favorite Italian, former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, rant about Dave Kingman's performance and how Kurt Bevacqua couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat!
I think the timeliness of Torino's bus system and trains to the mountains are extremely helpful to those of us in town for the Olympics. Nevertheless, I also sense that Italians are surprised that these same buses and trains are on time. It could get interesting after the tourists leave and Torino gets its city back (or at least until the Paralympics crowd arrives next month).
Best fans: Dutch speedskating fans. These people rule. A family of four was leaving the Oval Lingotto on Tuesday night looking like this: The two young boys had orange-colored, replica Roman headgear. the wife had a furry, pimp-like orange hat. Dad? He had an orange afro-like wig, an orange nose and face paint.
Want more proof? The Dutch fans on the opposite side from where I was sitting took full advantage of the downtime caused by the ice resurfacing done after the first half of the 1500-meter speedskating field competed. A band, stretching over three sections of the front row, played traditional songs and even made me happy with stirring renditions of "Proud Mary" (made famous by CCR and Tina Turner) and Queen's "We Will Rock You"/"We Are the Champions." Very cool.
You think the American media harp too much on its athletes? Try being in the media center here and see the Italian TV replay over and over again the falls by the figure skating pairs. Talk about overkill.
Speaking of the figure skating, one thing I can't understand is why after each person skates and they go to a bench area to await their scores and give the TV viewers that priceless look on the skaters' faces when their score is posted that someone with what looks like a sponsor or an officials' badge gets to be on TV? Worse is that they spend their time waving and blow kisses to people? Why? They didn't compete. Keep the cameras only on the skaters, PLEASE. Add to this note: while I was typing in my speedskating account, the women's short program was on the TV and the cameraman might have been wise to this as it was a tighter shot of just the skater. Hooray!
Best thing I've seen as a souvenir -- and can't be bought at the Olympics Superstore -- was a pair of caps on a young couple from Finland. I'm not sure if they are on their honeymoon right now, but the caps have an inscription on them saying "Just Married."
I am looking forward to seeing a story on yours truly. I found out today that I made the front page of the Blue and White newspaper in its Feb. 17 issue. It's the high school newspaper for Bakersfield High. I was on the paper's staff my senior year and sports editor for one semester. Kind of cool to have been asked to answer questions about my trip to the Olympics. If I'm able to get a web link for the story, I will post it. Thanks in advance go out to Darlene Stotler, Bianca Hernandez and Margie Bell for their help.
OK, that's it for today. I don't get to see another Olympic event until Friday when I take another train, but this time to see men's curling (bronze medal) in Pinerolo. The city is the second largest in the Piedmont area behind Torino. Should be fun.
I have some more museums to see on Wednesday and Thursday too. I will also see the place where the Shroud of Turin is located on one of the two days.
Ciao!
Men's 1500 speedskating: Fabris is Gold, Americans take silver, bronze
By Ryan T. Blystone
World of Wonder Staff Writer-Editor
TORINO, Italy -- Enrico Fabris began these Olympics by giving his home country a reason to smile with a bronze medal in the 5,000 meters, his debut speedskating event. He then helped Italy to gold in the Team Pursuit event a few days later. On Tuesday night, in front of the packed Oval Lingotto stadium, Fabris put his permanent, personal stamp on these Torino Games with a gold medal victory in the men's 1,500 meters event.[ep
His time of 1 minute, 45.97 seconds wasn't enough to set a world or Olympic record marks set by Americans Chad Hedrick (1:42.78 set in Nov. 2005) and Derek Parra (1:43.95 set at the 2002 Olympics), respectively, but Fabris finished ahead of both of those skaters as well as another American, Shani Davis, who settled for silver in a time of 1:46.13.[ep
Hedrick, with a 1:46.22, earned bronze in the event he entered as the United States' top qualifier. Parra, meanwhile, the 2002 gold medalist in this event, did not threaten at all, turning in a disappointing 1:48.54 time for 19th place out of 41 skaters in what was likely the final Olympics for the 35-year-old athlete from San Bernardino.[ep
But the spotlight, despite the usual roar coming from the pro-Dutch fans, was shining brightly on the 24-year-old Fabris.[ep
One older Italian fan entered the venue nearly two hours ahead of the scheduled start time to express his support for the young Italian with a small fold-out sign with Italy's colors and Enrico Fabris' name written inbig, bold letters. It's a sure sign that Italians everywhere are falling in love with their new Olympic hero.[ep
Fans had to wait through 16 other pairings before the lanky Fabris and his competitor, Simon Kuipers of the Netherlands, took to the starting line, but it was worth the wait for each skater. Fabris' time propelled him to the top of the pack, bumping Russian Ivan Skobrev (he was in the 14th pairing). Kuipers, feeding off Fabris' performance, moved into second place with his mark of 1:46.58.[ep
Fabris and Kuipers held their positions after two more groups came and went, including one with Parra, who was in the 19th pairing with Canada's Steven Elm (he finished in 1:48.09).[ep
Hedrick, however, turned in a time good enough to move into second place, pushing Kuipers to third with only the pairing of Davis and Russia's Aleksandr Kibalko remaining.[ep
Davis had already won a gold medal in the 1,000 meters race and irked some within the U.S. speedskating team for his comments about wanting to focus on his individual events rather than participate in the Team Pursuit (which the U.S. failed to pass the quarterfinal round). He and Kibalko were now feeling the pressure of being the last pair as they false started and had to line up a second time.[ep
It proved to be worth it for Davis, who kept himself among the United States' top athletes of these Winter Olympics. Hedrick, who won a gold medal in the 5,000, also has two medals with a shot at a third on Friday in the 10,000 meters.[ep
But Tuesday night, and perhaps, from now on, it is the young Fabris who has captured Italy's hearts.[ep
--- 30 ---
World of Wonder Staff Writer-Editor
TORINO, Italy -- Enrico Fabris began these Olympics by giving his home country a reason to smile with a bronze medal in the 5,000 meters, his debut speedskating event. He then helped Italy to gold in the Team Pursuit event a few days later. On Tuesday night, in front of the packed Oval Lingotto stadium, Fabris put his permanent, personal stamp on these Torino Games with a gold medal victory in the men's 1,500 meters event.[ep
His time of 1 minute, 45.97 seconds wasn't enough to set a world or Olympic record marks set by Americans Chad Hedrick (1:42.78 set in Nov. 2005) and Derek Parra (1:43.95 set at the 2002 Olympics), respectively, but Fabris finished ahead of both of those skaters as well as another American, Shani Davis, who settled for silver in a time of 1:46.13.[ep
Hedrick, with a 1:46.22, earned bronze in the event he entered as the United States' top qualifier. Parra, meanwhile, the 2002 gold medalist in this event, did not threaten at all, turning in a disappointing 1:48.54 time for 19th place out of 41 skaters in what was likely the final Olympics for the 35-year-old athlete from San Bernardino.[ep
But the spotlight, despite the usual roar coming from the pro-Dutch fans, was shining brightly on the 24-year-old Fabris.[ep
One older Italian fan entered the venue nearly two hours ahead of the scheduled start time to express his support for the young Italian with a small fold-out sign with Italy's colors and Enrico Fabris' name written inbig, bold letters. It's a sure sign that Italians everywhere are falling in love with their new Olympic hero.[ep
Fans had to wait through 16 other pairings before the lanky Fabris and his competitor, Simon Kuipers of the Netherlands, took to the starting line, but it was worth the wait for each skater. Fabris' time propelled him to the top of the pack, bumping Russian Ivan Skobrev (he was in the 14th pairing). Kuipers, feeding off Fabris' performance, moved into second place with his mark of 1:46.58.[ep
Fabris and Kuipers held their positions after two more groups came and went, including one with Parra, who was in the 19th pairing with Canada's Steven Elm (he finished in 1:48.09).[ep
Hedrick, however, turned in a time good enough to move into second place, pushing Kuipers to third with only the pairing of Davis and Russia's Aleksandr Kibalko remaining.[ep
Davis had already won a gold medal in the 1,000 meters race and irked some within the U.S. speedskating team for his comments about wanting to focus on his individual events rather than participate in the Team Pursuit (which the U.S. failed to pass the quarterfinal round). He and Kibalko were now feeling the pressure of being the last pair as they false started and had to line up a second time.[ep
It proved to be worth it for Davis, who kept himself among the United States' top athletes of these Winter Olympics. Hedrick, who won a gold medal in the 5,000, also has two medals with a shot at a third on Friday in the 10,000 meters.[ep
But Tuesday night, and perhaps, from now on, it is the young Fabris who has captured Italy's hearts.[ep
--- 30 ---
Say it IS so, it's Shoeless Joe!
Kind of lost in the shuffle of my day at the women's hockey game on Monday was my chance run-in with Hollywood actor-turning-director D.B. Sweeney. You know him, right?
He was Shoeless Joe Jackson in the movie Eight Men Out. He was in some awful movie about being a hockey player who tries his hand at being a figure skating partner for a woman who was too picky for her own good. I think it was called Cutting Edge or something similar.
Well, as I was leaving the Palasport Olimpico, I notice him right in front of me also walking out and with several friends in tow. They were talking about nothing important really but then talk turned to Sweeney working on some new movie that he wrote and directed called Dirtnap. I checked online and indeed www.dirtnapmovie.com exists. He mentioned that Chris Chelios has a small part in the movie and both Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones-Gretzky have something to do with the film too. I BET Janet does for sure.
Anyway, Sweeney's group and I both reached a bus stop and, not knowing if I'd get another chance to say something, I went right up to him and introduced myself and he did the same. I told him I thought he was great in Eight Men Out and he said thanks and that it was a lot of fun to do. He then mentioned his movie - I swear Hollywood actors always have to shill - but he also seemed very relaxed. It probably helps him being in Torino and not anywhere near America where he might be bothered a bit more. Anyway, he and his friends soon realized they were waiting at the wrong bus and they bailed, but not before he wished me a great trip and I told him the same.
Of course, Ryan doesn't do the two things you should -- take a photo and give him a business card -- but you know what? I think it is cooler that he was a nice guy and that it's a moment I can experience for myself. You all just get the blog version. Ha!
OK, I am off to see some speedskating. Americans Derek Parra, Chad Hedrick and Shani Davis all in the same 1500 meters. Sounds like a great ticket for me to have purchased. It will get heavy coverage from the U.S. media so enjoy.
Ciao!
He was Shoeless Joe Jackson in the movie Eight Men Out. He was in some awful movie about being a hockey player who tries his hand at being a figure skating partner for a woman who was too picky for her own good. I think it was called Cutting Edge or something similar.
Well, as I was leaving the Palasport Olimpico, I notice him right in front of me also walking out and with several friends in tow. They were talking about nothing important really but then talk turned to Sweeney working on some new movie that he wrote and directed called Dirtnap. I checked online and indeed www.dirtnapmovie.com exists. He mentioned that Chris Chelios has a small part in the movie and both Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones-Gretzky have something to do with the film too. I BET Janet does for sure.
Anyway, Sweeney's group and I both reached a bus stop and, not knowing if I'd get another chance to say something, I went right up to him and introduced myself and he did the same. I told him I thought he was great in Eight Men Out and he said thanks and that it was a lot of fun to do. He then mentioned his movie - I swear Hollywood actors always have to shill - but he also seemed very relaxed. It probably helps him being in Torino and not anywhere near America where he might be bothered a bit more. Anyway, he and his friends soon realized they were waiting at the wrong bus and they bailed, but not before he wished me a great trip and I told him the same.
Of course, Ryan doesn't do the two things you should -- take a photo and give him a business card -- but you know what? I think it is cooler that he was a nice guy and that it's a moment I can experience for myself. You all just get the blog version. Ha!
OK, I am off to see some speedskating. Americans Derek Parra, Chad Hedrick and Shani Davis all in the same 1500 meters. Sounds like a great ticket for me to have purchased. It will get heavy coverage from the U.S. media so enjoy.
Ciao!
Monday, February 20, 2006
U.S. women's hockey column ...
The last time a United States Olympic hockey team played a meaningful medal game against Finland, the Americans on the ice included such names as Mike Eruzione, Jim Craig and Ken Morrow.[ep
That's right, the Americans beat Finland for the 1980 gold medal in men's hockey at Lake Placid. Call it the game most Americans, when asked about their memories of that Olympics, are likely to forget. Beating the Russians in the semifinals was the glory game --- and rightfully so --- but it was a defeat of Finland that enabled the U.S. to complete its gold-medal miracle.[ep
On Monday at Palasport Olimpico in Torino, Italy, another U.S. hockey team, this time the women, completed their 2006 Olympics run with a 4-0 bronze medal victory over Finland.[ep
A forgettable victory? Perhaps. The experts, looking at statistics and history leading up to the 2006 Games, had already predicted a third consecutive United States-Canada gold medal final. If there was one sure thing for these Olympics, that was it.[ep
Why then was the first row of spectators in front of me filled with Sweden fans? Did they not know their team was to play later Monday night in the gold medal final against Canada? Or maybe they too believed the hype about U.S. and Canada and instead hoped the Swedes would reach the "others' final", also known as the bronze game.[ep
Sweden, owners of an 0-25 record against the Americans heading into last Friday's semifinal game, pulled off a 3-2 shocker in a shootout. The victory not only got the Swedes on the all-time scoreboard against the U.S., but its ramifications sent the sport into a slight state of disarray.[ep
One American woman, standing in line for Monday's bronze-medal game, said she had bought her tickets for this game and the gold-medal contest back in October.[ep
Her attitude, though, about seeing the Americans play for the bronze instead of gold was mixed.[ep
"I'm disappointed in the U.S. team," said the woman who is from Anchorage, Alaska and has played nearly two decades in the city's women's hockey league. "These are the only games I've been to and all I know is from what I've read about them, but they cut their captain (Cammi Granato) from the past and it's apparently not the same team.
"But it's also nice to see another team make it to the final because maybe it will help accelerate the quality of women's hockey and improve the game. I had also heard talk of wanting to eliminate women's hockey as an Olympic sport because the Americans and Canada were seen as being too good. For that reason it's nice to see other countries step up."[ep
Indeed, any kind of change at the top --- Canada and the U.S. played in the gold medal game in 1998 and 2002 with each team winning once --- is progress for the women's game.[ep
But leaving the arena Monday after watching Katie King, whose hat trick enabled the U.S. women to claim their third medal in three Olympics, and her teammates play, some of the 5,150 fans in attendance were overheard saying it was better for the U.S. to win bronze than nothing at all.[ep
When the U.S. team won its gold in Nagano, beating Canada provided a nice story for women's athletics. The only problem is that it wasn't nearly the attention-grabbing, watershed moment as the 1999 U.S. women's soccer team's World Cup championship and the infamous on-the-field Brandi Chastain sports bra celebration.[ep
In terms of Olympic moments, Summer Games gold medal victories for women's softball and women's basketball each likely meant more to an American culture that still finds hockey puzzling.[ep
Add to U.S. women's hockey woes that you followed up the 1998 gold with a silver in 2002, in your home country, losing any momentum from 1998 by giving it back to Canada. Sorry, that just isn't how you keep people's attention.[ep
Taking another step down in 2006 with a bronze medal might give three-time U.S. Olympians King, Angela Ruggiero, Tricia Dunn-Luoma and Jenny Potter a complete set of medals to impress their children and grandchildren, but these players might also be left with an unsettling feeling.[ep
Can people forget about beating Finland for a bronze when every player on that 2006 roster knows they should have been preparing for a gold-medal rubber match with Canada later Monday night?[ep
I don't claim to be an expert on women's hockey, but I think I know the answer for each one of those Americans as they now stare at a bronze medal they never imagined they'd have played 60 minutes to win on Monday afternoon.[ep
Ryan T. Blystone is a staff writer, editor and columnist for the World of Wonder web blog.[ep
That's right, the Americans beat Finland for the 1980 gold medal in men's hockey at Lake Placid. Call it the game most Americans, when asked about their memories of that Olympics, are likely to forget. Beating the Russians in the semifinals was the glory game --- and rightfully so --- but it was a defeat of Finland that enabled the U.S. to complete its gold-medal miracle.[ep
On Monday at Palasport Olimpico in Torino, Italy, another U.S. hockey team, this time the women, completed their 2006 Olympics run with a 4-0 bronze medal victory over Finland.[ep
A forgettable victory? Perhaps. The experts, looking at statistics and history leading up to the 2006 Games, had already predicted a third consecutive United States-Canada gold medal final. If there was one sure thing for these Olympics, that was it.[ep
Why then was the first row of spectators in front of me filled with Sweden fans? Did they not know their team was to play later Monday night in the gold medal final against Canada? Or maybe they too believed the hype about U.S. and Canada and instead hoped the Swedes would reach the "others' final", also known as the bronze game.[ep
Sweden, owners of an 0-25 record against the Americans heading into last Friday's semifinal game, pulled off a 3-2 shocker in a shootout. The victory not only got the Swedes on the all-time scoreboard against the U.S., but its ramifications sent the sport into a slight state of disarray.[ep
One American woman, standing in line for Monday's bronze-medal game, said she had bought her tickets for this game and the gold-medal contest back in October.[ep
Her attitude, though, about seeing the Americans play for the bronze instead of gold was mixed.[ep
"I'm disappointed in the U.S. team," said the woman who is from Anchorage, Alaska and has played nearly two decades in the city's women's hockey league. "These are the only games I've been to and all I know is from what I've read about them, but they cut their captain (Cammi Granato) from the past and it's apparently not the same team.
"But it's also nice to see another team make it to the final because maybe it will help accelerate the quality of women's hockey and improve the game. I had also heard talk of wanting to eliminate women's hockey as an Olympic sport because the Americans and Canada were seen as being too good. For that reason it's nice to see other countries step up."[ep
Indeed, any kind of change at the top --- Canada and the U.S. played in the gold medal game in 1998 and 2002 with each team winning once --- is progress for the women's game.[ep
But leaving the arena Monday after watching Katie King, whose hat trick enabled the U.S. women to claim their third medal in three Olympics, and her teammates play, some of the 5,150 fans in attendance were overheard saying it was better for the U.S. to win bronze than nothing at all.[ep
When the U.S. team won its gold in Nagano, beating Canada provided a nice story for women's athletics. The only problem is that it wasn't nearly the attention-grabbing, watershed moment as the 1999 U.S. women's soccer team's World Cup championship and the infamous on-the-field Brandi Chastain sports bra celebration.[ep
In terms of Olympic moments, Summer Games gold medal victories for women's softball and women's basketball each likely meant more to an American culture that still finds hockey puzzling.[ep
Add to U.S. women's hockey woes that you followed up the 1998 gold with a silver in 2002, in your home country, losing any momentum from 1998 by giving it back to Canada. Sorry, that just isn't how you keep people's attention.[ep
Taking another step down in 2006 with a bronze medal might give three-time U.S. Olympians King, Angela Ruggiero, Tricia Dunn-Luoma and Jenny Potter a complete set of medals to impress their children and grandchildren, but these players might also be left with an unsettling feeling.[ep
Can people forget about beating Finland for a bronze when every player on that 2006 roster knows they should have been preparing for a gold-medal rubber match with Canada later Monday night?[ep
I don't claim to be an expert on women's hockey, but I think I know the answer for each one of those Americans as they now stare at a bronze medal they never imagined they'd have played 60 minutes to win on Monday afternoon.[ep
Ryan T. Blystone is a staff writer, editor and columnist for the World of Wonder web blog.[ep
Women's hockey: USA 4, Finland 0 (Bronze)
By Ryan T. Blystone
World of Wonder Staff Writer-Editor
TORINO, Italy -- Forward Katie King doubled her goal total in these Winter Olympics with a natural hat trick and the United States' women's hockey team claimed the bronze medal in a 4-0 victory over Finland Monday night at the Palasport Olimpico.[ep
Hoping to rebound from a stunning 3-2 shootout loss to Sweden in Friday's semifinal game, King and her teammates didn't let a chance at a medal completely slip away. The bronze followed a gold-medal victory in 1998 and silver in 2002.[ep
Canada played Sweden later Monday in the gold medal game.[ep
Kelly Stephens actually got the Americans on the scoreboard 2 minutes, 32 seconds in by redirecting a shot inside the blueline by Julie Chu for the game's only power-play goal. Natalie Darwitz also got an assist on the play.[ep
King then took over with two first-period goals, the first coming 8:09 into the game as she broke in from the right side and waited long enough to slip the puck past Finland goaltender Noora Raty. Helen Resor had sent the puck ahead to King and was credited with the assist.[ep
It took King just under three minutes to score again at 11:05 on a breakaway set up by Jenny Potter, who sent the puck ahead before ending her shift.[ep
King completed the hat trick only 1:44 into the second period as Chu sent a perfect cross pass that King one-timed past Raty. Katie's sister, Kristin King, also assisted on the goal.[ep
The Americans' 4-0 commanding lead prompted Finland to switch goaltenders, sending Raty to the bench in favor of Maija Hassinen who stopped all nine shots by the Americans in a relief role. Raty finished with seven saves on 11 shots faced.[ep
The Americans outshot Finland 20-14 in the game. U.S. netminder Chanda Gunn earned the shutout victory, playing all 60 minutes.[ep
The victory margin was a marked improvement for the U.S., which had beaten Finland 7-3 in an earlier preliminary game at these Olympics. In that game, however, the Americans rallied from a 3-1 deficit with the biggest barrage a five-goal third period.[ep
Nevertheless, the United States certainly expected to be playing for a gold medal and against Canada, the former's chief rival in women's hockey. The loss to Sweden on Friday was the U.S. national team's first in 26 meetings with Sweden. Beating Finland, however, improved the Americans' record to 28-0-2.[ep
NOTES: Katie King scored four of her six goals in these Winter Olympics against Finland. The bronze medal gives three-time U.S. Olympians Katie King, Tricia Dunn-Luoma, Potter and Angela Ruggiero one of each of the Olympic medals ... The U.S. women's hockey team has a 13-2 record in three Winter Olympics appearances. ... The Americans' all-time record against Canada in many different competitions, including the Olympics, is 28-40-1.[ep
---30---
World of Wonder Staff Writer-Editor
TORINO, Italy -- Forward Katie King doubled her goal total in these Winter Olympics with a natural hat trick and the United States' women's hockey team claimed the bronze medal in a 4-0 victory over Finland Monday night at the Palasport Olimpico.[ep
Hoping to rebound from a stunning 3-2 shootout loss to Sweden in Friday's semifinal game, King and her teammates didn't let a chance at a medal completely slip away. The bronze followed a gold-medal victory in 1998 and silver in 2002.[ep
Canada played Sweden later Monday in the gold medal game.[ep
Kelly Stephens actually got the Americans on the scoreboard 2 minutes, 32 seconds in by redirecting a shot inside the blueline by Julie Chu for the game's only power-play goal. Natalie Darwitz also got an assist on the play.[ep
King then took over with two first-period goals, the first coming 8:09 into the game as she broke in from the right side and waited long enough to slip the puck past Finland goaltender Noora Raty. Helen Resor had sent the puck ahead to King and was credited with the assist.[ep
It took King just under three minutes to score again at 11:05 on a breakaway set up by Jenny Potter, who sent the puck ahead before ending her shift.[ep
King completed the hat trick only 1:44 into the second period as Chu sent a perfect cross pass that King one-timed past Raty. Katie's sister, Kristin King, also assisted on the goal.[ep
The Americans' 4-0 commanding lead prompted Finland to switch goaltenders, sending Raty to the bench in favor of Maija Hassinen who stopped all nine shots by the Americans in a relief role. Raty finished with seven saves on 11 shots faced.[ep
The Americans outshot Finland 20-14 in the game. U.S. netminder Chanda Gunn earned the shutout victory, playing all 60 minutes.[ep
The victory margin was a marked improvement for the U.S., which had beaten Finland 7-3 in an earlier preliminary game at these Olympics. In that game, however, the Americans rallied from a 3-1 deficit with the biggest barrage a five-goal third period.[ep
Nevertheless, the United States certainly expected to be playing for a gold medal and against Canada, the former's chief rival in women's hockey. The loss to Sweden on Friday was the U.S. national team's first in 26 meetings with Sweden. Beating Finland, however, improved the Americans' record to 28-0-2.[ep
NOTES: Katie King scored four of her six goals in these Winter Olympics against Finland. The bronze medal gives three-time U.S. Olympians Katie King, Tricia Dunn-Luoma, Potter and Angela Ruggiero one of each of the Olympic medals ... The U.S. women's hockey team has a 13-2 record in three Winter Olympics appearances. ... The Americans' all-time record against Canada in many different competitions, including the Olympics, is 28-40-1.[ep
---30---
First USA event ...
I am leaving now to go see the U.S. women's hockey team play Finland in the bronze medal game. I think, no I'm sure, it will be on TV for you all to see.
I am looking forward to seeing what kind of attitude they have for the bronze game after their shocking loss to Sweden in the semifinals.
It should have been the U.S. and Canada in tonight's gold medal game, at least on paper.
We'll see what happens today and I am looking forward to it because it is my first women's hockey game live and it will be the only women's sporting event I'll see at the Olympics.
I'll talk here again later.
Ciao!
P.S. Snow stopped late last night and it is now just slushy in Torino. :(
I am looking forward to seeing what kind of attitude they have for the bronze game after their shocking loss to Sweden in the semifinals.
It should have been the U.S. and Canada in tonight's gold medal game, at least on paper.
We'll see what happens today and I am looking forward to it because it is my first women's hockey game live and it will be the only women's sporting event I'll see at the Olympics.
I'll talk here again later.
Ciao!
P.S. Snow stopped late last night and it is now just slushy in Torino. :(
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Links ... and photos?
One area I've been very slow is to add some links. In between a hectic week of Olympic events I will see (and we'll see how well the busses run on time if the current weather keeps up), I plan on adding links to many of the restaurants I've been to or other places of interest. I hope this can stave off the frequent inquiries of "I want to see photos!"
I am doing much better with the camera I brought than at first -- it sucked having a few good photos I took suddenly disappear forever without warning! -- and I now have photos stored on my laptop. I just think I would like to have the photos shown as a slide show upon my return from this trip.
Ciao!
I am doing much better with the camera I brought than at first -- it sucked having a few good photos I took suddenly disappear forever without warning! -- and I now have photos stored on my laptop. I just think I would like to have the photos shown as a slide show upon my return from this trip.
Ciao!
Diary No. 3 from the PE ...
Here's the link to my latest diary for the Press-Enterprise. Hope you are enjoying reading it. I did another one that should be in the paper in the next day or two.
http://www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_life_18.225ad9c3.html
http://www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_life_18.225ad9c3.html
Putting Winter into the Winter Olympics ...
Yesterday it was rain and today and still as I write this Sunday night, it is snowing and, even better, sticking to the ground!
I have always loved the snow, especially when our family endured the Thanksgiving and Christmas blizzards in Colorado and, of course, the snowfall in Alaska as a child. I can also say that I've been in Bakersfield when it has snowed.
Even better is that on Sunday I got to hang out with Giusi and her friends Luigi, Guido and Ita (short for Margarita). We drove about 45 kilometers outside of Torino and into the mountains (non-Olympic ones). We stopped for coffee (and a cappuccino for me) and bread filled with marmalade before continuing up the hill to park the car and hike a bit.
I must say that being bundled up and doing a hike in the driving snow might not be the No. 1 priority for most, but for me, someone who has been doing a lot of walking around town in Torino, was a great way to spend the day and time with people who are quickly becoming lifetime friends (I have to learn more Italian though by the time they all come to California in August because I'll be chastised if I don't!!).
We hiked at least a mile and Giusi said normally, if not for the weather, they like to hike for as much as three hours. The snow might have slowed us down, but the real thing that did was ME. I am 36 and it was a new thing for me to hike, even after all the working out I'd done before this trip and the blisters I have from walking so much in Torino. My companions, meanwhile, are all aged $%&£ç°ç$ or more. ... you didn't think I'd really list their ages, did you?
Anyway, they were really nice about it and we stopped and headed back and were back in the car two hours later. We did see some animals far up the hill (they were camascio) but in the snow and all, it wasn't like they were going to come our way.
We got back in the car and drove to a place that will get my mom's attention -- to the Hotel Blanchetti and its Caffe Blanchetti (No Mom, no relation to your grandfather but we did ask). Instead, we ate some bruschetta (bread with what is called lardo here ... thinly sliced fat from pork), really good pasta with a sauce that included herbs from this mountain region. Delicious. Then, we ate something that will also get the attention of my mom, dad and my brother ... I ate polenta! If you've never had it, you should try it sometime. It is a corn-based product and it comes served SEPARATELY as its own thing. This polenta tasted a bit like grits. In addition to the polenta, it was accompanied by some very good sausage in a very tasty tomato-based sauce, some roast beef that was marinated and the last meat choice to eat with the polenta was ... a friend of the camascio we saw during our hike. I will update this blog later with the exact name, but I will tell you this ... he wasn't half bad. We then had a tray full of cheeses and some "cookies" which were more like eating pastries with such things as chocolate, marmalade and a cream-filled one that if I didn't know better, was the icing used on those instant cinnamon rolls Pillsbury made a long time ago (maybe they still do). Anyway, I had another cappuccino and we all polished off our meal with a digestive-helping finisher known as some sweet sherry from a flask that Luigi brought and was homemade. It was very good. I also want everyone to know that white wine is tasting better each time I have some (sorry Aaron, there will be more beer to drink in places other than Italy). I NEVER thought that would happen but hey, every day and every glass of wine makes me a little more Italian.
If only I could speak the language better ...
Ciao!
I have always loved the snow, especially when our family endured the Thanksgiving and Christmas blizzards in Colorado and, of course, the snowfall in Alaska as a child. I can also say that I've been in Bakersfield when it has snowed.
Even better is that on Sunday I got to hang out with Giusi and her friends Luigi, Guido and Ita (short for Margarita). We drove about 45 kilometers outside of Torino and into the mountains (non-Olympic ones). We stopped for coffee (and a cappuccino for me) and bread filled with marmalade before continuing up the hill to park the car and hike a bit.
I must say that being bundled up and doing a hike in the driving snow might not be the No. 1 priority for most, but for me, someone who has been doing a lot of walking around town in Torino, was a great way to spend the day and time with people who are quickly becoming lifetime friends (I have to learn more Italian though by the time they all come to California in August because I'll be chastised if I don't!!).
We hiked at least a mile and Giusi said normally, if not for the weather, they like to hike for as much as three hours. The snow might have slowed us down, but the real thing that did was ME. I am 36 and it was a new thing for me to hike, even after all the working out I'd done before this trip and the blisters I have from walking so much in Torino. My companions, meanwhile, are all aged $%&£ç°ç$ or more. ... you didn't think I'd really list their ages, did you?
Anyway, they were really nice about it and we stopped and headed back and were back in the car two hours later. We did see some animals far up the hill (they were camascio) but in the snow and all, it wasn't like they were going to come our way.
We got back in the car and drove to a place that will get my mom's attention -- to the Hotel Blanchetti and its Caffe Blanchetti (No Mom, no relation to your grandfather but we did ask). Instead, we ate some bruschetta (bread with what is called lardo here ... thinly sliced fat from pork), really good pasta with a sauce that included herbs from this mountain region. Delicious. Then, we ate something that will also get the attention of my mom, dad and my brother ... I ate polenta! If you've never had it, you should try it sometime. It is a corn-based product and it comes served SEPARATELY as its own thing. This polenta tasted a bit like grits. In addition to the polenta, it was accompanied by some very good sausage in a very tasty tomato-based sauce, some roast beef that was marinated and the last meat choice to eat with the polenta was ... a friend of the camascio we saw during our hike. I will update this blog later with the exact name, but I will tell you this ... he wasn't half bad. We then had a tray full of cheeses and some "cookies" which were more like eating pastries with such things as chocolate, marmalade and a cream-filled one that if I didn't know better, was the icing used on those instant cinnamon rolls Pillsbury made a long time ago (maybe they still do). Anyway, I had another cappuccino and we all polished off our meal with a digestive-helping finisher known as some sweet sherry from a flask that Luigi brought and was homemade. It was very good. I also want everyone to know that white wine is tasting better each time I have some (sorry Aaron, there will be more beer to drink in places other than Italy). I NEVER thought that would happen but hey, every day and every glass of wine makes me a little more Italian.
If only I could speak the language better ...
Ciao!
Saturday, February 18, 2006
When it rains, things are better ...
It's raining here! I actually like that it is raining here because I was ready for a change of weather at some point. I saw that it was snowing pretty good in the mountains for the events you'll see on TV tonight.
Also, I've secured a ticket for curling. I know it was a hit when it was in Salt Lake City in 2002 and it's been somewhat important here too, only they are bogged down by tons of round-robin play.
I will be seeing the men's bronze medal match on Friday (Feb. 24). For anyone in SoCal that also means I might get to see Fred Roggin, the NBC sports guy on Channel 4 in L.A. He is part of NBC's curling coverage team. I actually ran into him last week before the games started and chatted with him a bit. I know I didn't mention it before in my blog, but there you go.
My Olympics in-person viewing calendar is getting full now. I have the women's hockey bronze medal game (US and, I believe, Finland) on Monday. Tuesday is the speedskating, Friday is curling and Saturday is the men's hockey bronze medal game. Sunday I'll watch the closing ceremonies ... from either a TV in Torino, Volpiano or I may be somewhere else with Giusi and her friends on another adventure.
OK, I've got to go now and get to Cafe Robberto. I am meeting Giusi and three or four of her friends for dinner and drinks and another chance to TRY to speak Italian.
Ciao!
P.S. For the poker night crew in Orange, best of luck to you all. Perhaps you should find an Italian market and get items from there for the food and drink portion of the evening. If you do a pizza, another one I recommend is what is called "four seasons". The toppings are mushroom, ham, olives and artichoke. Yup. Artichoke. I recommend the wines from the Piedmont region. If someone does have a beer, Moretti red is good. OK. I've got to run.
Also, I've secured a ticket for curling. I know it was a hit when it was in Salt Lake City in 2002 and it's been somewhat important here too, only they are bogged down by tons of round-robin play.
I will be seeing the men's bronze medal match on Friday (Feb. 24). For anyone in SoCal that also means I might get to see Fred Roggin, the NBC sports guy on Channel 4 in L.A. He is part of NBC's curling coverage team. I actually ran into him last week before the games started and chatted with him a bit. I know I didn't mention it before in my blog, but there you go.
My Olympics in-person viewing calendar is getting full now. I have the women's hockey bronze medal game (US and, I believe, Finland) on Monday. Tuesday is the speedskating, Friday is curling and Saturday is the men's hockey bronze medal game. Sunday I'll watch the closing ceremonies ... from either a TV in Torino, Volpiano or I may be somewhere else with Giusi and her friends on another adventure.
OK, I've got to go now and get to Cafe Robberto. I am meeting Giusi and three or four of her friends for dinner and drinks and another chance to TRY to speak Italian.
Ciao!
P.S. For the poker night crew in Orange, best of luck to you all. Perhaps you should find an Italian market and get items from there for the food and drink portion of the evening. If you do a pizza, another one I recommend is what is called "four seasons". The toppings are mushroom, ham, olives and artichoke. Yup. Artichoke. I recommend the wines from the Piedmont region. If someone does have a beer, Moretti red is good. OK. I've got to run.
This weekend ...
After a week in which I experienced my first-ever taste of live Olympic events -- even something I've never seen before in the luge -- I will be away from the computer again after this post until Monday morning.
Giusi, who works during the week, absolutely lives for the weekends. It has been fun to be able to focus on what I need to do during the week knowing that each weekend, I'll get the chance to see and do something that someone from Italy wants a foreigner like me to experience. I always come away appreciating what I've learned and try to get back to the blog to relay that experience to my World of Wonder readers.
As I write this on Saturday morning, plans are not exactly set in stone for today's schedule, but we'll certainly eat good food and drink, I'll meet new, interesting and fun people and there will be plenty to write about it when I return to the computer.
Giusi did mention a trip to the mountains on Sunday so that's something I will enjoy too. The weather has been really nice in the city of Torino (aside from the heavy fog) but I know the mountains have been getting colder by the day and even some light snow flurries.
Oh yeah, before I forget I wanted to let everyone know that I have now secured my ticket for Tuesday's men's 1,500 meters speedskating event. This is the one ticket I really wanted because American Derek Parra is sure to be racing. He is the defending gold medal winner. He has strong competition, namely his teammates like Chad Hedrick who skates in the 1,000 meters event today.
I guess I also luck out in that the U.S. women's hockey team lost. I thought for sure the U.S. and Canada would meet in the final, but that's why they play the games. I have a ticket for the women's hockey bronze medal game and I thought for sure I'd be seeing the best two teams that couldn't beat the U.S. or Canada. Now, at least, I am guaranteed to see the U.S. and that has me feeling better about that ticket purchase.
OK, I will go now. I hope everyone reading my blog enjoyed my story on Dale Cameron. If you didn't read it, you should because he's certainly one person who made hockey appealing to me as a young boy and even moreso now.
Ciao!
Giusi, who works during the week, absolutely lives for the weekends. It has been fun to be able to focus on what I need to do during the week knowing that each weekend, I'll get the chance to see and do something that someone from Italy wants a foreigner like me to experience. I always come away appreciating what I've learned and try to get back to the blog to relay that experience to my World of Wonder readers.
As I write this on Saturday morning, plans are not exactly set in stone for today's schedule, but we'll certainly eat good food and drink, I'll meet new, interesting and fun people and there will be plenty to write about it when I return to the computer.
Giusi did mention a trip to the mountains on Sunday so that's something I will enjoy too. The weather has been really nice in the city of Torino (aside from the heavy fog) but I know the mountains have been getting colder by the day and even some light snow flurries.
Oh yeah, before I forget I wanted to let everyone know that I have now secured my ticket for Tuesday's men's 1,500 meters speedskating event. This is the one ticket I really wanted because American Derek Parra is sure to be racing. He is the defending gold medal winner. He has strong competition, namely his teammates like Chad Hedrick who skates in the 1,000 meters event today.
I guess I also luck out in that the U.S. women's hockey team lost. I thought for sure the U.S. and Canada would meet in the final, but that's why they play the games. I have a ticket for the women's hockey bronze medal game and I thought for sure I'd be seeing the best two teams that couldn't beat the U.S. or Canada. Now, at least, I am guaranteed to see the U.S. and that has me feeling better about that ticket purchase.
OK, I will go now. I hope everyone reading my blog enjoyed my story on Dale Cameron. If you didn't read it, you should because he's certainly one person who made hockey appealing to me as a young boy and even moreso now.
Ciao!
Friday, February 17, 2006
Goalie with a heart of gold ...
Fill not your heart with pain and sorrow,
but remember me in every tomorrow.
Remember the joy, the laughter, the smiles,
I’ve only gone to rest a little while.
Although my leaving causes pain and grief,
My going has eased my hurt and given me relief.
So dry your eyes and remember me,
not as I am now, but as I used to be.
Because, I will remember you all
and look on with a smile.
Understand in your hearts,
I’ve only gone to rest a little while.
As long as I have the love of each of you,
I can live my life in the hearts of all of you.
-- Printed on the memorial service program for Dale Cameron on Jan. 20, 2006 in Taos, N.M.
Believe me Dale, my heart was quite happy to know I wasn’t really alone on Thursday night, Feb. 16, 2006, exactly one month after you passed away from the effects of renal cancer at age 65.[ep
You were here with me in spirit at Palasport Olimpico in Torino, Italy, rooting on Canada as its men’s hockey team played Germany at the XX Winter Olympics.[ep
Sure, the 8,553 others in attendance – comprised mostly of Canada fans – were satisfied with a 5-1 victory, but for me, the only thing that mattered was that you were happy.[ep
The victory moved Canada, the 2002 gold medal winner, a small step closer to reclaiming an honor that seems fitting for the country where Dale was born.[ep
It’s quite certain Dale, born in Cornwall, Ontario, was passionate about hockey. It’s almost a requirement to have an interest in the sport while growing up in Canada. A day of playing on the frozen ponds until it gets dark and your mother yells that it is time for dinner. Those kinds of days. That kind of passion. A childhood memory that really never leaves a Canadian, even those who eventually come to the United States.[ep
I didn’t know Dale Cameron until our family moved to Colorado. I only met him because his wife, Linda, co-owned a hair salon where my mother worked as a receptionist. I was a young boy interested in lots of things, including hockey.[ep
My family lived on the same cul-de-sac as former NHL forward Gary Croteau. I played street hockey with the Debenedictis brothers and others from the neighborhood in Englewood. I had a keen interest in the Colorado Rockies, the first NHL team in the state. I went to many games and even though they often struggled, I was a true fan. Even when the Rockies were sold and moved to New Jersey, I didn’t lose my passion for hockey or the team.[ep
I had Dale to thank for that. We’d see an occasional Colorado Flames minor-league game. When he wasn’t letting me go to the house to see his wonderfully feisty black lab dog Morgan, he was playing senior league hockey games. He was the goalie. Sometimes he’d win and sometimes he’d be on the wrong side of the score, but Dale always gave his all. His big, bushy, red beard always stood out.[ep
But then Dale and Linda decided to move to Taos, New Mexico, a small, artistic mountain town in the northern part of the state. Linda opened Spirits of Beauty hair salon that she still owns. Dale, meanwhile, worked many jobs – he was a builder, a baseball umpire, helped build a community ice rink and also ran a successful energy business. None of those jobs, however, were nearly as important as the adobe house he built for Linda and, eventually, their daughter Jessica.[ep
It’s a gorgeous home that took far too long than Dale and Linda ever thought it would, but once it was finished and any time you visited, you’d be reminded that it was worth the wait.[ep
When I was 13, I remember taking a bus ride to Taos to help Dale make adobe bricks. I don’t think any of those bricks actually ever became part of the house, but I know I was better for having tried to help Dale. I also recall a second trip to Taos when their home base was a trailer for Dale, Linda and Jessica and the home building was still a work in progress.[ep
I visited with them at least once or twice more, but it was tougher after my family moved back to California. My main contact with them was either writing them a Christmas card or Linda and my mother sending each other letters and cards.[ep
It wasn’t until August 2003, shortly after my grandmother had passed away, that I was interested in a road trip. My grandmother was the fourth extremely close relative to me to pass away within a two-year span.[ep
My trip lasted 10 days, covered seven western states and 3,000 miles. Among the stops was an unannounced trip to Taos.[ep
In fact, when I drove into town and went to Spirits of Beauty, I walked in, said hello to Linda and she didn’t recognize me at first. It had been that long. Once she knew it was I, she quickly called Dale.[ep
He arrived and we sat down and got caught up on each other’s life. He did more of the talking and I listened because I always respected Dale’s opinions. He always had something important to say. Shortly after this exchange, we left and played a round of golf at his favorite place, Taos Country Club.[ep
It might be one of the best, most relaxed rounds of golf I’ve ever played. Not from a scoring standpoint, but it was a beautiful late summer afternoon in Taos and I was playing alongside a very good friend. Two people who were years apart age wise, but enjoyed a bond that was as tight, if not tighter, than 20 years ago in the Colorado days.[ep
When we finished, we joined Linda for dinner and had great Mexican food. I stayed the night at their house. The next morning Dale had to leave early to go to Santa Fe, but we chatted briefly, something about his interest in motor sports, before he left. Linda and I had a late breakfast and I left Taos. This visit marked the last time I saw Dale in person.[ep
The next time I heard about Dale was in October 2005. My mom sent me an email saying she had spoken to Linda on the phone. Dale had cancer of the kidneys and it wasn’t looking good. My mom said Linda had told her Dale would love to talk to me. I called and we talked for about 10-15 minutes. I told him that I loved him for his friendship, many wonderful memories and that I was rooting for him to get better. I told him I looked forward to seeing him again because if anyone could battle his way out of something it was Dale.[ep
I never did talk to him again. I sent a get-well card and a Christmas card. The last few weeks of Dale’s life were quite challenging. It wasn’t until January that I asked my mom if she had spoken with Linda recently. My mom called on Jan. 18 and Linda said Dale had died two days ago. She was busy with his arrangements and was grieving all at once.[ep
No one should be alone in that situation. She mentioned a memorial service was planned for Jan. 20 at the Taos Country Club. When I heard that, I knew I needed to drive there and be there to help Linda in any way I could. I spent the weekend in Taos. Linda was surrounded with a lot of support from family and friends. Dale’s life was beautifully recalled in a very touching memorial service, complete with numerous pictures, Dale’s story of how golf came to be and such things as his ice skates and other personal treasures were present.[ep
The last day Dale Cameron was physically alive was Jan. 16, 2006. Dale’s memory, however, will always live on in the hearts of everyone who came in contact with him.[ep
Call it a great save for those of us who knew the red-bearded goalie from Canada with a heart of gold.[ep
_ By Ryan T. Blystone
but remember me in every tomorrow.
Remember the joy, the laughter, the smiles,
I’ve only gone to rest a little while.
Although my leaving causes pain and grief,
My going has eased my hurt and given me relief.
So dry your eyes and remember me,
not as I am now, but as I used to be.
Because, I will remember you all
and look on with a smile.
Understand in your hearts,
I’ve only gone to rest a little while.
As long as I have the love of each of you,
I can live my life in the hearts of all of you.
-- Printed on the memorial service program for Dale Cameron on Jan. 20, 2006 in Taos, N.M.
Believe me Dale, my heart was quite happy to know I wasn’t really alone on Thursday night, Feb. 16, 2006, exactly one month after you passed away from the effects of renal cancer at age 65.[ep
You were here with me in spirit at Palasport Olimpico in Torino, Italy, rooting on Canada as its men’s hockey team played Germany at the XX Winter Olympics.[ep
Sure, the 8,553 others in attendance – comprised mostly of Canada fans – were satisfied with a 5-1 victory, but for me, the only thing that mattered was that you were happy.[ep
The victory moved Canada, the 2002 gold medal winner, a small step closer to reclaiming an honor that seems fitting for the country where Dale was born.[ep
It’s quite certain Dale, born in Cornwall, Ontario, was passionate about hockey. It’s almost a requirement to have an interest in the sport while growing up in Canada. A day of playing on the frozen ponds until it gets dark and your mother yells that it is time for dinner. Those kinds of days. That kind of passion. A childhood memory that really never leaves a Canadian, even those who eventually come to the United States.[ep
I didn’t know Dale Cameron until our family moved to Colorado. I only met him because his wife, Linda, co-owned a hair salon where my mother worked as a receptionist. I was a young boy interested in lots of things, including hockey.[ep
My family lived on the same cul-de-sac as former NHL forward Gary Croteau. I played street hockey with the Debenedictis brothers and others from the neighborhood in Englewood. I had a keen interest in the Colorado Rockies, the first NHL team in the state. I went to many games and even though they often struggled, I was a true fan. Even when the Rockies were sold and moved to New Jersey, I didn’t lose my passion for hockey or the team.[ep
I had Dale to thank for that. We’d see an occasional Colorado Flames minor-league game. When he wasn’t letting me go to the house to see his wonderfully feisty black lab dog Morgan, he was playing senior league hockey games. He was the goalie. Sometimes he’d win and sometimes he’d be on the wrong side of the score, but Dale always gave his all. His big, bushy, red beard always stood out.[ep
But then Dale and Linda decided to move to Taos, New Mexico, a small, artistic mountain town in the northern part of the state. Linda opened Spirits of Beauty hair salon that she still owns. Dale, meanwhile, worked many jobs – he was a builder, a baseball umpire, helped build a community ice rink and also ran a successful energy business. None of those jobs, however, were nearly as important as the adobe house he built for Linda and, eventually, their daughter Jessica.[ep
It’s a gorgeous home that took far too long than Dale and Linda ever thought it would, but once it was finished and any time you visited, you’d be reminded that it was worth the wait.[ep
When I was 13, I remember taking a bus ride to Taos to help Dale make adobe bricks. I don’t think any of those bricks actually ever became part of the house, but I know I was better for having tried to help Dale. I also recall a second trip to Taos when their home base was a trailer for Dale, Linda and Jessica and the home building was still a work in progress.[ep
I visited with them at least once or twice more, but it was tougher after my family moved back to California. My main contact with them was either writing them a Christmas card or Linda and my mother sending each other letters and cards.[ep
It wasn’t until August 2003, shortly after my grandmother had passed away, that I was interested in a road trip. My grandmother was the fourth extremely close relative to me to pass away within a two-year span.[ep
My trip lasted 10 days, covered seven western states and 3,000 miles. Among the stops was an unannounced trip to Taos.[ep
In fact, when I drove into town and went to Spirits of Beauty, I walked in, said hello to Linda and she didn’t recognize me at first. It had been that long. Once she knew it was I, she quickly called Dale.[ep
He arrived and we sat down and got caught up on each other’s life. He did more of the talking and I listened because I always respected Dale’s opinions. He always had something important to say. Shortly after this exchange, we left and played a round of golf at his favorite place, Taos Country Club.[ep
It might be one of the best, most relaxed rounds of golf I’ve ever played. Not from a scoring standpoint, but it was a beautiful late summer afternoon in Taos and I was playing alongside a very good friend. Two people who were years apart age wise, but enjoyed a bond that was as tight, if not tighter, than 20 years ago in the Colorado days.[ep
When we finished, we joined Linda for dinner and had great Mexican food. I stayed the night at their house. The next morning Dale had to leave early to go to Santa Fe, but we chatted briefly, something about his interest in motor sports, before he left. Linda and I had a late breakfast and I left Taos. This visit marked the last time I saw Dale in person.[ep
The next time I heard about Dale was in October 2005. My mom sent me an email saying she had spoken to Linda on the phone. Dale had cancer of the kidneys and it wasn’t looking good. My mom said Linda had told her Dale would love to talk to me. I called and we talked for about 10-15 minutes. I told him that I loved him for his friendship, many wonderful memories and that I was rooting for him to get better. I told him I looked forward to seeing him again because if anyone could battle his way out of something it was Dale.[ep
I never did talk to him again. I sent a get-well card and a Christmas card. The last few weeks of Dale’s life were quite challenging. It wasn’t until January that I asked my mom if she had spoken with Linda recently. My mom called on Jan. 18 and Linda said Dale had died two days ago. She was busy with his arrangements and was grieving all at once.[ep
No one should be alone in that situation. She mentioned a memorial service was planned for Jan. 20 at the Taos Country Club. When I heard that, I knew I needed to drive there and be there to help Linda in any way I could. I spent the weekend in Taos. Linda was surrounded with a lot of support from family and friends. Dale’s life was beautifully recalled in a very touching memorial service, complete with numerous pictures, Dale’s story of how golf came to be and such things as his ice skates and other personal treasures were present.[ep
The last day Dale Cameron was physically alive was Jan. 16, 2006. Dale’s memory, however, will always live on in the hearts of everyone who came in contact with him.[ep
Call it a great save for those of us who knew the red-bearded goalie from Canada with a heart of gold.[ep
_ By Ryan T. Blystone
Canada 5, Germany 1 ...
By Ryan T. Blystone
World of Wonder Staff Writer-Editor
TURIN, Italy -- It wasn't gold-medal material, a bit rough around the edges really, in only their second game together, but Canada's men's hockey team prevailed 5-1 in an Olympics preliminary game against Germany Thursday night at the Palasport Olimpico.
Wade Redden, Joe Sakic, Simon Gagne, Dany Heatley and Shane Doan each scored a goal for Canada, whose team donned uncharacteristic black uniforms for the game. Gagne also had an assist on Redden's game-opening tally.
Penalties, however, and several harder-than-expected hits slowed this game to a crawl on several occasions. One player, Canada's Bryan McCabe, was called for checking from behind and was also given a 10-minute misconduct penalty early in the third period.
Germany, which has only a few NHL players on its roster, was still not much of a match for Canada coach Pat Quinn’s squad, which on many occasions puts a complete NHL All-Star-caliber unit on the ice every shift.
Canada (2-0 Group A) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period against Germany.
Redden scored 4:52 into the game on a cross pass from Gagne. It came immediately following a play in which Canada's goaltender, Roberto Luongo, came too far out of the crease to challenge a shot. Defenseman Adam Foote was able to knock away what would have been a sure goal.
Sakic got Canada's power play going with a goal that came off a loose puck in front after a shot by Rick Nash. Todd Bertuzzi also assisted on the goal at 7:29.
A four-on-four situation arose in the 10-minute mark. Gagne scored as he was falling to the ice. He was set up nicely by Brad Richards and Robert Regehr.
Nonetheless, the Germans were led by a respectable effort from goalie Thomas Greiss who stopped 35 of 40 shots.
Luongo's start gave Canada's No. 1 netminder, Martin Brodeur, a chance to rest one day after he beat Italy in Wednesday's opener. Luongo made 11 saves, but Germany had only 12 shots and only a few good scoring chances.
Germany's goal, a wrist shot by Christian Ehrhoff at 9:13 of the second period, cut Canada's lead to 3-1. The goal also gave German fans, which were overwhelmed by a pro-Canadian crowd among the 8,554 in attendance, reason for optimism.
Greiss' play kept Germany in the game. He stopped a barrage during one stretch when he thwarted Jarome Iginla, Rob Blake, Chris Pronger, Nash and Bertuzzi. Heatley finally gave Canada an insurance goal to make it 4-1, although it was reviewed for a high stick.
The action was grittier in the final period, as evidenced by McCabe's nasty hit 2:24 in, but Canada completed the scoring on Doan's goal with 34 seconds left, off an assist from Blake.
World of Wonder Staff Writer-Editor
TURIN, Italy -- It wasn't gold-medal material, a bit rough around the edges really, in only their second game together, but Canada's men's hockey team prevailed 5-1 in an Olympics preliminary game against Germany Thursday night at the Palasport Olimpico.
Wade Redden, Joe Sakic, Simon Gagne, Dany Heatley and Shane Doan each scored a goal for Canada, whose team donned uncharacteristic black uniforms for the game. Gagne also had an assist on Redden's game-opening tally.
Penalties, however, and several harder-than-expected hits slowed this game to a crawl on several occasions. One player, Canada's Bryan McCabe, was called for checking from behind and was also given a 10-minute misconduct penalty early in the third period.
Germany, which has only a few NHL players on its roster, was still not much of a match for Canada coach Pat Quinn’s squad, which on many occasions puts a complete NHL All-Star-caliber unit on the ice every shift.
Canada (2-0 Group A) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period against Germany.
Redden scored 4:52 into the game on a cross pass from Gagne. It came immediately following a play in which Canada's goaltender, Roberto Luongo, came too far out of the crease to challenge a shot. Defenseman Adam Foote was able to knock away what would have been a sure goal.
Sakic got Canada's power play going with a goal that came off a loose puck in front after a shot by Rick Nash. Todd Bertuzzi also assisted on the goal at 7:29.
A four-on-four situation arose in the 10-minute mark. Gagne scored as he was falling to the ice. He was set up nicely by Brad Richards and Robert Regehr.
Nonetheless, the Germans were led by a respectable effort from goalie Thomas Greiss who stopped 35 of 40 shots.
Luongo's start gave Canada's No. 1 netminder, Martin Brodeur, a chance to rest one day after he beat Italy in Wednesday's opener. Luongo made 11 saves, but Germany had only 12 shots and only a few good scoring chances.
Germany's goal, a wrist shot by Christian Ehrhoff at 9:13 of the second period, cut Canada's lead to 3-1. The goal also gave German fans, which were overwhelmed by a pro-Canadian crowd among the 8,554 in attendance, reason for optimism.
Greiss' play kept Germany in the game. He stopped a barrage during one stretch when he thwarted Jarome Iginla, Rob Blake, Chris Pronger, Nash and Bertuzzi. Heatley finally gave Canada an insurance goal to make it 4-1, although it was reviewed for a high stick.
The action was grittier in the final period, as evidenced by McCabe's nasty hit 2:24 in, but Canada completed the scoring on Doan's goal with 34 seconds left, off an assist from Blake.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Early to event means early to a fun time ...
The travel alarm clock I have still exists, even if it does go off at exactly 6:47 a.m.
That was the time I'd set for myself to wake up as I was preparing for my first in-person Olympic event, the two-man luge (see the accompanying AP-esque story if that's more your style). This was also going to be my first experience utilizing the train station at Porta Nuova in Torino, a very large facility that sends passengers all over the area, including trains to Milan.
Nevertheless, I arrive at the station around 8:30, only to find out that the next train to where I'm going, Cesana Pariol via Oulx, via a train that will only list Bardonecchia (site of the Olympic snowboarding, by the way) isn't until 9:10 a.m.. I buy my ticket -- the lady speaks no English but I am still able to acquire a ticket with my limited Italian (how's that for knowing my stuff Kathy O'C?).
The train ride is smooth and takes about an hour to Oulx, a place that serves as haven for all Olympic fans, media and officials because there are numerous shuttle busses to take you to where you really need to be. As I ask the first two helpers where the bus to Cesana Pariol is, I am directed to a young man named Paolo (the other two helpers hollered for him to help) who quickly understood my dilemma. No, not that I needed a bus to Cesana Pariol, but that because the luge event starts at 4 p.m. (gates don't open until 1 p.m.) and it is currently 10:15 or so that the next shuttle bus isn't until 2 p.m.!!! He then mentions, not sure if he was joking or not, that there is a free bus to take me to the small resort town of Cesana, which is a short walk to where I'd need to be to get to Cesana Pariol.
At this time, two Australians, Nigel and Ann, looking for the same info as me follow me across the train stop and into an area filled with police but also close by is a bus that's loading up for Cesana. The three of us climb aboard and settle in for the drive. It, too, is a nice bus ride and once we arrive at Cesana, we are surrounded by Olympic ski fans who are either attending the Alpine downhill skiing event at noon or are taking their own skis to do a little skiing themselves (Most of the mountain areas where the Olympics stuff is going on is either very limited or won't reopen until after the Olympics). Also, you get to take a chairlift to the events which is a cool idea in my opinion. You get an upclose, breathtaking look at the mountainside, you pass where the biathlon athletes are going through practice training (it was an off day for them on Wednesday) at Cesana San Sicario. You then reach the Cesana Pariol part where Nigel and I (Ann had accidentally jumped on the lift ahead of us) watched as Ann did not get off the lift. So we didn't either. Instead, we all go to the next area, San Sicario Fraiteve, where the alpine skiing is happening. Ann gets off her lift and jumps into ours as we just take the lift around the bend and head back to the spot where the luge event will take place. Mind you, it's only 11 a.m. and we know we all got here WAY TOO EARLY (I guess Dave from Colorado can laugh at me right here .... OK, that's enough).
So what do one person from California and two from Australia who have been to Bakersfield do with themselves? Well, you walk a few minutes to the small town of Cesana and you look around. Up and down one true main street. After 10 minutes of that, even looking down a few other streets with a store or two, we still had A LOT of time to kill.
That's when you take the cappuccino break (sorry Aaron). And you talk about everything. You get to know each other better. I expressed to them some things about the U.S. that aren't to my liking --- too many straM-laW in places they shouldn't be, too many skcubratS and they said they were shocked by the number of SUVs in California and that USA's coffee isn't much to be desired. They also mentioned they spent three nights in Baker (has ANYONE else done that?) and raved about the Mad Greek restaurant, but said their one and last experience eating at a Denny's was god-awful (I agree, but then again, in the college paper days, Denny's tasted pretty good at 3 or 4 a.m.).
It was somewhere around this time, not even noon yet, when Nigel had a Hollywood tourist from out of town moment. Her name was Shelly. No last name required here. She is a TV star in Sydney, co-hosting "Get Away", a very popular travel show for the city of Sydney. Nigel and Ann, both of whom had their Aussie flags with them immediately went outside the cafe we were at and got Shelly's attention. Nice lady. Typical blonde, perky TV person. Beautiful, yes. In California, she's a penny a dozen. But she was very sweet to Nigel and Ann. Nigel posed for a picture with Shelly which Ann took. Of course, what's a popular TV show without a male host for the women to ogle. Ann initially wanted to see Tom, Shelly's counterpart on the show. Ann talked up Tom's image, likening him to an International Playboy-type. Best part was her response to seeing him in person -- "he's shorter than I thought."
Nigel and Ann did get to be in a segment Shelly was filming as background extras for the episode that will air on, I believe it is Channel 7 in Sydney on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Nigel and Ann plan to have friends tape the show for them. I hope they do get to see it because they are both really nice people and I truly enjoyed my time with them.
We then parted ways with Shelly and the three of us went to an area where a much smaller version of the Olympic flame is lit and sat down at a bench as Nigel and Ann ate something that looked like fiber-rich cardboard smashed together with something in the middle and finished it off with a large yogurt and we later ate some lemony poundcake (I did have a piece of it, not the other stuff) which they were given by their B&B hostess. It was delicious.
That was the time I'd set for myself to wake up as I was preparing for my first in-person Olympic event, the two-man luge (see the accompanying AP-esque story if that's more your style). This was also going to be my first experience utilizing the train station at Porta Nuova in Torino, a very large facility that sends passengers all over the area, including trains to Milan.
Nevertheless, I arrive at the station around 8:30, only to find out that the next train to where I'm going, Cesana Pariol via Oulx, via a train that will only list Bardonecchia (site of the Olympic snowboarding, by the way) isn't until 9:10 a.m.. I buy my ticket -- the lady speaks no English but I am still able to acquire a ticket with my limited Italian (how's that for knowing my stuff Kathy O'C?).
The train ride is smooth and takes about an hour to Oulx, a place that serves as haven for all Olympic fans, media and officials because there are numerous shuttle busses to take you to where you really need to be. As I ask the first two helpers where the bus to Cesana Pariol is, I am directed to a young man named Paolo (the other two helpers hollered for him to help) who quickly understood my dilemma. No, not that I needed a bus to Cesana Pariol, but that because the luge event starts at 4 p.m. (gates don't open until 1 p.m.) and it is currently 10:15 or so that the next shuttle bus isn't until 2 p.m.!!! He then mentions, not sure if he was joking or not, that there is a free bus to take me to the small resort town of Cesana, which is a short walk to where I'd need to be to get to Cesana Pariol.
At this time, two Australians, Nigel and Ann, looking for the same info as me follow me across the train stop and into an area filled with police but also close by is a bus that's loading up for Cesana. The three of us climb aboard and settle in for the drive. It, too, is a nice bus ride and once we arrive at Cesana, we are surrounded by Olympic ski fans who are either attending the Alpine downhill skiing event at noon or are taking their own skis to do a little skiing themselves (Most of the mountain areas where the Olympics stuff is going on is either very limited or won't reopen until after the Olympics). Also, you get to take a chairlift to the events which is a cool idea in my opinion. You get an upclose, breathtaking look at the mountainside, you pass where the biathlon athletes are going through practice training (it was an off day for them on Wednesday) at Cesana San Sicario. You then reach the Cesana Pariol part where Nigel and I (Ann had accidentally jumped on the lift ahead of us) watched as Ann did not get off the lift. So we didn't either. Instead, we all go to the next area, San Sicario Fraiteve, where the alpine skiing is happening. Ann gets off her lift and jumps into ours as we just take the lift around the bend and head back to the spot where the luge event will take place. Mind you, it's only 11 a.m. and we know we all got here WAY TOO EARLY (I guess Dave from Colorado can laugh at me right here .... OK, that's enough).
So what do one person from California and two from Australia who have been to Bakersfield do with themselves? Well, you walk a few minutes to the small town of Cesana and you look around. Up and down one true main street. After 10 minutes of that, even looking down a few other streets with a store or two, we still had A LOT of time to kill.
That's when you take the cappuccino break (sorry Aaron). And you talk about everything. You get to know each other better. I expressed to them some things about the U.S. that aren't to my liking --- too many straM-laW in places they shouldn't be, too many skcubratS and they said they were shocked by the number of SUVs in California and that USA's coffee isn't much to be desired. They also mentioned they spent three nights in Baker (has ANYONE else done that?) and raved about the Mad Greek restaurant, but said their one and last experience eating at a Denny's was god-awful (I agree, but then again, in the college paper days, Denny's tasted pretty good at 3 or 4 a.m.).
It was somewhere around this time, not even noon yet, when Nigel had a Hollywood tourist from out of town moment. Her name was Shelly. No last name required here. She is a TV star in Sydney, co-hosting "Get Away", a very popular travel show for the city of Sydney. Nigel and Ann, both of whom had their Aussie flags with them immediately went outside the cafe we were at and got Shelly's attention. Nice lady. Typical blonde, perky TV person. Beautiful, yes. In California, she's a penny a dozen. But she was very sweet to Nigel and Ann. Nigel posed for a picture with Shelly which Ann took. Of course, what's a popular TV show without a male host for the women to ogle. Ann initially wanted to see Tom, Shelly's counterpart on the show. Ann talked up Tom's image, likening him to an International Playboy-type. Best part was her response to seeing him in person -- "he's shorter than I thought."
Nigel and Ann did get to be in a segment Shelly was filming as background extras for the episode that will air on, I believe it is Channel 7 in Sydney on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Nigel and Ann plan to have friends tape the show for them. I hope they do get to see it because they are both really nice people and I truly enjoyed my time with them.
We then parted ways with Shelly and the three of us went to an area where a much smaller version of the Olympic flame is lit and sat down at a bench as Nigel and Ann ate something that looked like fiber-rich cardboard smashed together with something in the middle and finished it off with a large yogurt and we later ate some lemony poundcake (I did have a piece of it, not the other stuff) which they were given by their B&B hostess. It was delicious.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
2-man luge story
By Ryan T. Blystone
World of Wonder Staff Writer-Editor
CESANA, Italy – Austrian brothers Andreas and Wolfgang Linger set the pace early and finished strong to claim the gold medal in two-man luge event on a chilly, windy Wednesday night.[ep
The brothers, who jumped out to a lead after running the difficult Cesana Pariol course in 47.028 seconds as the fifth of 21 teams in the first round, earned gold with an equally strong 47.469 as the last team to run in the second and final round.[ep
The victory gave Austria its second gold medal of these Torino Olympics and it gave the country, which hosted the first Olympic luge events in 1964 at Innsbruck, the ability to best one of its chief rivals, Germany.[ep
Andre Florschuetz and Torsten Wustlich earned silver for the Germans, finishing a total of .310 of a second behind the Lingers’ combined time of 1 minute, 34.497 seconds. Italy took bronze as Gerhard Plankensteiner and Oswald Haselrieder finished .433 back.[ep
As the Lingers waited their second turn, the lead changed hands several times. The United States’ duo of Preston Griffal and Dan Joye, who had opened with a time of 47.772, used a 47.688 to pull ahead with 10 of the 18 teams running in the second round still to go.[ep
Italy’s Christian Oberstolz and Patrick Gruber took over first place with a 47.336 (1:34.956 overall) two teams later and it lasted until Plankenstein and Haselrieder notched a 47.694 on their second run for a 1:34.930 total.[ep
After another German duo, Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch, failed to supplant the two Italian teams from the top spots, Florschuetz and Wustlich did knock both down with a 47.666 run for a 1:34.807 total.[ep
Austria’s second team of brothers, Tobias and Markus Schiegl, knocked Oberstolz and Gruber out of the medal race with their mark of 47.843. The Schiegls were then pushed to fourth overall as the Lingers took the gold.[ep
The two-man event, which concluded the luge’s Olympic program Italy, was marred by three first-round accidents, including one by the United States’ top medal-contending team of Brian Martin and Mark Grimmette.[ep
Both were able to walk away from the accident, but because they did not complete their first run, their chance to improve on a silver medal, won in 2002 at Salt Lake City, vanished. The team also won bronze in Nagano, Japan in 1998.[ep
Also crashing was the Ukraine team of Oleg Zherebetskyy and Roman Yazvinskyy. The duo actually completed their first run, but one of the team members was taken away by ambulance shortly after coming off the second-to-last turn awkwardly. Russians Dmitriy Khamkin and Vladimir Boitsov comprised the other team that crashed.[ep
NOTES: The victory prevented Austria from being shut out of the gold medal count in the luge. Italy won the men's single luge and Germany swept the top three spots in the women's single luge. There is not a two-woman luge Olympic event. ... The next time you have a choice between a 50 Euro "seat" for luge and a 35 Euro "standing" ticket do yourself a favor and take the standing ticket. Fans of the respective countries did spend much of the time before the luge event Wednesday in the stands, but soon stayed down much closer to the action when the event started. Just another lesson for fans to learn while they are partaking in Olympic events in Italy.
--30--
World of Wonder Staff Writer-Editor
CESANA, Italy – Austrian brothers Andreas and Wolfgang Linger set the pace early and finished strong to claim the gold medal in two-man luge event on a chilly, windy Wednesday night.[ep
The brothers, who jumped out to a lead after running the difficult Cesana Pariol course in 47.028 seconds as the fifth of 21 teams in the first round, earned gold with an equally strong 47.469 as the last team to run in the second and final round.[ep
The victory gave Austria its second gold medal of these Torino Olympics and it gave the country, which hosted the first Olympic luge events in 1964 at Innsbruck, the ability to best one of its chief rivals, Germany.[ep
Andre Florschuetz and Torsten Wustlich earned silver for the Germans, finishing a total of .310 of a second behind the Lingers’ combined time of 1 minute, 34.497 seconds. Italy took bronze as Gerhard Plankensteiner and Oswald Haselrieder finished .433 back.[ep
As the Lingers waited their second turn, the lead changed hands several times. The United States’ duo of Preston Griffal and Dan Joye, who had opened with a time of 47.772, used a 47.688 to pull ahead with 10 of the 18 teams running in the second round still to go.[ep
Italy’s Christian Oberstolz and Patrick Gruber took over first place with a 47.336 (1:34.956 overall) two teams later and it lasted until Plankenstein and Haselrieder notched a 47.694 on their second run for a 1:34.930 total.[ep
After another German duo, Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch, failed to supplant the two Italian teams from the top spots, Florschuetz and Wustlich did knock both down with a 47.666 run for a 1:34.807 total.[ep
Austria’s second team of brothers, Tobias and Markus Schiegl, knocked Oberstolz and Gruber out of the medal race with their mark of 47.843. The Schiegls were then pushed to fourth overall as the Lingers took the gold.[ep
The two-man event, which concluded the luge’s Olympic program Italy, was marred by three first-round accidents, including one by the United States’ top medal-contending team of Brian Martin and Mark Grimmette.[ep
Both were able to walk away from the accident, but because they did not complete their first run, their chance to improve on a silver medal, won in 2002 at Salt Lake City, vanished. The team also won bronze in Nagano, Japan in 1998.[ep
Also crashing was the Ukraine team of Oleg Zherebetskyy and Roman Yazvinskyy. The duo actually completed their first run, but one of the team members was taken away by ambulance shortly after coming off the second-to-last turn awkwardly. Russians Dmitriy Khamkin and Vladimir Boitsov comprised the other team that crashed.[ep
NOTES: The victory prevented Austria from being shut out of the gold medal count in the luge. Italy won the men's single luge and Germany swept the top three spots in the women's single luge. There is not a two-woman luge Olympic event. ... The next time you have a choice between a 50 Euro "seat" for luge and a 35 Euro "standing" ticket do yourself a favor and take the standing ticket. Fans of the respective countries did spend much of the time before the luge event Wednesday in the stands, but soon stayed down much closer to the action when the event started. Just another lesson for fans to learn while they are partaking in Olympic events in Italy.
--30--
Torino Tourist Diary No. 2
Here's the link to my second diary as it ran in the Press-Enterprise in today's edition.
www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_diary_15.12f9ebda.html
www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_diary_15.12f9ebda.html
A L-O-N-G Distance shout out for Bako ...
Guess who I met today?
OK, they're not famous people to the world, but to my world of wonder caravan, I just wanted to be sure that Nigel and Ann of Sydney, Australia and Mindy and Vinny of San Diego know that I truly enjoyed my time talking to them on Wednesday day and into the evening, respectively, as we were all at Cesana Pariol, the site of Wednesday's two-man luge competition.
I met Nigel and Ann shortly after getting off a train at Oulx which is the point place to then pick up a shuttle bus to Cesana. I was asking for help in getting to the right bus when Nigel and Ann, needing the same information, became a pair of very nice, intelligent and interesting people. They've also stopped to eat oranges in Bakersfield it so happens once I mentioned that I am from California and the next obvious question is where in California?
As for Mindy and Vinny, I met them at the start of the luge event and again near the end of the event. It turns out Mindy and Vinny, who have been married for three years but have done their fair share of overseas travel, adopted their cat, Mochi, from Bakersfield.
Talk about a small world. Was I supposed to be at the luge event today Adrian or what?
More to follow ... on the luge happenings anyway.
OK, they're not famous people to the world, but to my world of wonder caravan, I just wanted to be sure that Nigel and Ann of Sydney, Australia and Mindy and Vinny of San Diego know that I truly enjoyed my time talking to them on Wednesday day and into the evening, respectively, as we were all at Cesana Pariol, the site of Wednesday's two-man luge competition.
I met Nigel and Ann shortly after getting off a train at Oulx which is the point place to then pick up a shuttle bus to Cesana. I was asking for help in getting to the right bus when Nigel and Ann, needing the same information, became a pair of very nice, intelligent and interesting people. They've also stopped to eat oranges in Bakersfield it so happens once I mentioned that I am from California and the next obvious question is where in California?
As for Mindy and Vinny, I met them at the start of the luge event and again near the end of the event. It turns out Mindy and Vinny, who have been married for three years but have done their fair share of overseas travel, adopted their cat, Mochi, from Bakersfield.
Talk about a small world. Was I supposed to be at the luge event today Adrian or what?
More to follow ... on the luge happenings anyway.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
In a fog ...
Once again to all the peeps out there, Happy Valentine's Day from Italy!
Just wanted to post to you that I visited the Mole Antonelliana a few hours ago. Consider it to be Torino's answer to the Sears Tower or Empire State Building. According to the brochure, it stands 167 meters and when it was built that high, it became the highest traditional brick building in the world.
I have seen it light up the night when I'm walking around the neighborhood I am staying and it is quite a sight. Kind of reminds me of seeing Mount Rushmore at night when on a family vacation many years ago. It's just huge and quite a sight. The only disappointment while I walked onto the observatory deck was that the city is once again in a mid-day fog. It's been foggy a lot during my days here. Bummer. But then again, a photo I will certainly take is one of the Mole Antonelliana at night.
Also, for the movie buffs out there, the Mole Antonelliana also houses the National Cinema Museum. There are numerous movies playing at any one time from Italian comedies, drama all the way to the Blues Brothers and Breakfast at Tiffany's. You name it, the Mole has likely got it. By the way, to tie in the Olympics, the flame did go to the top of the structure on the day of the Opening Ceremony in the late afternoon.
OK, I've got to go now. Ciao!
Just wanted to post to you that I visited the Mole Antonelliana a few hours ago. Consider it to be Torino's answer to the Sears Tower or Empire State Building. According to the brochure, it stands 167 meters and when it was built that high, it became the highest traditional brick building in the world.
I have seen it light up the night when I'm walking around the neighborhood I am staying and it is quite a sight. Kind of reminds me of seeing Mount Rushmore at night when on a family vacation many years ago. It's just huge and quite a sight. The only disappointment while I walked onto the observatory deck was that the city is once again in a mid-day fog. It's been foggy a lot during my days here. Bummer. But then again, a photo I will certainly take is one of the Mole Antonelliana at night.
Also, for the movie buffs out there, the Mole Antonelliana also houses the National Cinema Museum. There are numerous movies playing at any one time from Italian comedies, drama all the way to the Blues Brothers and Breakfast at Tiffany's. You name it, the Mole has likely got it. By the way, to tie in the Olympics, the flame did go to the top of the structure on the day of the Opening Ceremony in the late afternoon.
OK, I've got to go now. Ciao!
Monday, February 13, 2006
Happy Valentine's Day ...
Very last post from me for the night ... It's 10:30 p.m. on Monday and I'm ready to leave the Media Centre for the night.
I just want to take this opportunity to wish everyone of my blog readers who are female a very Happy Valentine's Day. Being in Italy for this "holiday" should be fun, especially in Torino since chocolate is divine in this region. I shall sample some chocolate on Tuesday as a tribute of sorts to all those who can't be here in person.
Ciao!
I just want to take this opportunity to wish everyone of my blog readers who are female a very Happy Valentine's Day. Being in Italy for this "holiday" should be fun, especially in Torino since chocolate is divine in this region. I shall sample some chocolate on Tuesday as a tribute of sorts to all those who can't be here in person.
Ciao!
Diary No. 1 for PE link ...
I will be doing an occasional diary for the Press-Enterprise as a freelance writer in Torino. It will focus on some of things I see while I'm here. Just know that what I write for the PE will be exclusive to them. What I write here on the blog is what I choose to do.
However, please take a look at this link (this story ran on Saturday, Feb. 11) because you'll get some other observations I have through both my experience and others too. I wrote another diary today (it might run Tuesday) that talks about the Medals Plaza atmosphere. Enjoy!
http://www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_diary_11.16749646.html)
However, please take a look at this link (this story ran on Saturday, Feb. 11) because you'll get some other observations I have through both my experience and others too. I wrote another diary today (it might run Tuesday) that talks about the Medals Plaza atmosphere. Enjoy!
http://www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_diary_11.16749646.html)
Birra....
Per my friend Aaron's request for knowledge of my intake of fine beers of the world, I present to you this post (I have a feeling Dave of Colorado wanted to post the same comment, but he must be too busy at the moment).
I have tasted many a birra (italian word for beer) in my time in Italy. I have stayed with the red (darker) beers, especially with my new favorite pizza -- proschietto e funghi (ham and mushroom). I enjoyed a blonde beer with my Sunday brunch last week at Pepino, a fine place to eat before a day of museum viewing (to my friends at the PT, I apologize for the DK name-dropping of a restaurant!)
I've had more Moretti rossa (red) beer than any other although I do still have a bottle of beer that is lighter than most that I was given by my new friends here to try at my leisure. I'll be sure to report back to you if it is something I can recommend.
Also, for anyone who visits me after I return from this trip -- yes, I expect a few to come to Bakersfield -- we're going to visit Dagny's Coffee to enjoy good coffee, BEER and food and perhaps even some music. Sounds like I'm hosting a poker night in April.
Ciao!
I have tasted many a birra (italian word for beer) in my time in Italy. I have stayed with the red (darker) beers, especially with my new favorite pizza -- proschietto e funghi (ham and mushroom). I enjoyed a blonde beer with my Sunday brunch last week at Pepino, a fine place to eat before a day of museum viewing (to my friends at the PT, I apologize for the DK name-dropping of a restaurant!)
I've had more Moretti rossa (red) beer than any other although I do still have a bottle of beer that is lighter than most that I was given by my new friends here to try at my leisure. I'll be sure to report back to you if it is something I can recommend.
Also, for anyone who visits me after I return from this trip -- yes, I expect a few to come to Bakersfield -- we're going to visit Dagny's Coffee to enjoy good coffee, BEER and food and perhaps even some music. Sounds like I'm hosting a poker night in April.
Ciao!
Weekend of Wonder-ful memories ...
Hope everyone is doing well. Thanks to Nancy, James and Kathy for their comments on my most recent post. Consider this my way of giving a shoutout to those who leave a comment. For those who read this blog and have not sent me a comment, no worries. You can do it without signing up. If you want to continue to just email me separately, that's fine too. Hope all is well in your world. Meanwhile, in my Italian world of wonder, it's going something like this ...
Friday night I wasn't able to attend the Opening Ceremony in Torino, but I sure felt like I belonged while watching the festivities LIVE on TV knowing that the ceremony was only a few miles away from the apartment I'm staying at in the city.
The ceremony certainly was a spectacular display of what Torino's phrase "Passion lives here" is all about. It's wild, it's exciting, it's about cars, it can be about people coming together in peace and not just saying it, it is about the heart, it is about the love of life. It is all of these things and more. I certainly believe the crowd in the stadium felt the electricity there as much as I did watching it on TV.
I woke up Saturday watching a little of the Olympics, but I quickly gathered my things to walk to the nearby train station to take me to Volpiano. I got there and I went with Giusi, my English-speaking guide, who had organized a bus trip for 34 friends/spouses of those retired from their work. Many of the people were older, but they were certainly young at heart. Being the only American, I was the center of attention and welcomed warmly by all. Italians are definitely friendly people who genuinely want to know everyone is having a good time.
The trip we took was from Volpiano to the AostaValley to see the Forte di Bard. It is a large fort formerly occupied by soldiers but it was much more a museum now geared toward not only honoring the soldiers who used the facility for battle but also to recognize the many Alps areas in Europe. It was restored only recently and what our tour group saw was only a small part of what will be a much larger exhibit when it is completed in stages now through 2007. Trust me, though, our tour was long enough for now. It was great to see these people take such pride in their way of life. It's a reminder to all of us in the now that we should preserve things better than I think we do. Life happens so fast some times that it's sometimes hard to keep track of what really matters (Ok, I'll step off the soapbox now!)
Following the tour of the fort -- for which we had to take four lifts just to reach the top -- we got back on the bus and we went to a restaurant called The Alps. There a group of 36 people all sat down and ate a meal -- I counted some 13 different things to eat, Nancy and Brady -- including a few dishes with mushroom complements and the unlikely pairing of tuna and beef and Turkey and fried potatoes. It was washed down by me with the following things -- a house red wine, a strong Barbera red, a small cup of cafe and guappa.
The bus group was so nice to me. They even took up a collection so the bus driver could afford to drive me all the way back to Torino instead of having Giusi be the one to drive me back to my apartment.
On Sunday, I did the following things:
Went with Giusi and two of her friends to get on the train that takes us to the La Superga, a grand church that overlooks Torino (Barbra, yes, I took photos!). La Superga has many great aspects to it. Not only is it a fabulous church with magnificent art inside, but there's also a memorial to Grande Torino, a soccer team whose plane crashed in bad weather in1949. It killed the entire team and six others and it brought to an end one of Italy's most fabled sports teams. Flowers are always present to remember them.
From there, we went to have lunch -- a Sunday feast -- at another of Giusi's friends' house in the city of Torino. Luigi and Gianna, their daughters and a niece sat with us for a lunch filled with appetizers, bread, 3 kinds of cheese, pasta noodles in only olive oil and sage (I had two helpings!) , small fillets of meat, salad and spinach. I had white wine (4 glasses full), natural water (no gas), a coffee and for dessert, chocolate cake with cream on top, whipped cream on the side and fruit (orange and berries) on top.
After lunch, everyone but the daughters and the niece hopped a bus to Casa Italia to see the area where Italians can gather and tourists can use to learn more about places to visit in the country. It's mainly advertising along with an Italian team souvenir stand, but it was OK to see. From there we went to walk through the Valentino area near the Po River. It was a nice walk and is right by the Torino Exposition Center which hosts some of the preliminary men's and women's hockey games. There's even a life-size medieval fort that is mostly touristy but had some nice features.
We then hopped another bus back to the heart of Torino to walk and see a lot of shops, stop for a drink and to finish our day at the Medals Plaza where from afar, we saw Americans Chad Hedrick, a speedskater, and snowboarder Shaun (the Flying Tomato) White awarded their gold medals. Star-Spangled Banner was playing for both athletes. The loudest cheer, however, was for an Italian bronze medal winner who earned his country's first speedskating medal on Saturday.
Talk about an exciting time for Italians. Made me even feel better knowing that I was there to soak it all up. Just like the wine and the culture of this trip so far.
P.S. For those who checked out the Parra story thanks. It was the feature written before I left for Italy, hence no Torino byline. I am however, going to be doing a short diary item for the PE every few days while I am here.
Ciao!
Friday night I wasn't able to attend the Opening Ceremony in Torino, but I sure felt like I belonged while watching the festivities LIVE on TV knowing that the ceremony was only a few miles away from the apartment I'm staying at in the city.
The ceremony certainly was a spectacular display of what Torino's phrase "Passion lives here" is all about. It's wild, it's exciting, it's about cars, it can be about people coming together in peace and not just saying it, it is about the heart, it is about the love of life. It is all of these things and more. I certainly believe the crowd in the stadium felt the electricity there as much as I did watching it on TV.
I woke up Saturday watching a little of the Olympics, but I quickly gathered my things to walk to the nearby train station to take me to Volpiano. I got there and I went with Giusi, my English-speaking guide, who had organized a bus trip for 34 friends/spouses of those retired from their work. Many of the people were older, but they were certainly young at heart. Being the only American, I was the center of attention and welcomed warmly by all. Italians are definitely friendly people who genuinely want to know everyone is having a good time.
The trip we took was from Volpiano to the AostaValley to see the Forte di Bard. It is a large fort formerly occupied by soldiers but it was much more a museum now geared toward not only honoring the soldiers who used the facility for battle but also to recognize the many Alps areas in Europe. It was restored only recently and what our tour group saw was only a small part of what will be a much larger exhibit when it is completed in stages now through 2007. Trust me, though, our tour was long enough for now. It was great to see these people take such pride in their way of life. It's a reminder to all of us in the now that we should preserve things better than I think we do. Life happens so fast some times that it's sometimes hard to keep track of what really matters (Ok, I'll step off the soapbox now!)
Following the tour of the fort -- for which we had to take four lifts just to reach the top -- we got back on the bus and we went to a restaurant called The Alps. There a group of 36 people all sat down and ate a meal -- I counted some 13 different things to eat, Nancy and Brady -- including a few dishes with mushroom complements and the unlikely pairing of tuna and beef and Turkey and fried potatoes. It was washed down by me with the following things -- a house red wine, a strong Barbera red, a small cup of cafe and guappa.
The bus group was so nice to me. They even took up a collection so the bus driver could afford to drive me all the way back to Torino instead of having Giusi be the one to drive me back to my apartment.
On Sunday, I did the following things:
Went with Giusi and two of her friends to get on the train that takes us to the La Superga, a grand church that overlooks Torino (Barbra, yes, I took photos!). La Superga has many great aspects to it. Not only is it a fabulous church with magnificent art inside, but there's also a memorial to Grande Torino, a soccer team whose plane crashed in bad weather in1949. It killed the entire team and six others and it brought to an end one of Italy's most fabled sports teams. Flowers are always present to remember them.
From there, we went to have lunch -- a Sunday feast -- at another of Giusi's friends' house in the city of Torino. Luigi and Gianna, their daughters and a niece sat with us for a lunch filled with appetizers, bread, 3 kinds of cheese, pasta noodles in only olive oil and sage (I had two helpings!) , small fillets of meat, salad and spinach. I had white wine (4 glasses full), natural water (no gas), a coffee and for dessert, chocolate cake with cream on top, whipped cream on the side and fruit (orange and berries) on top.
After lunch, everyone but the daughters and the niece hopped a bus to Casa Italia to see the area where Italians can gather and tourists can use to learn more about places to visit in the country. It's mainly advertising along with an Italian team souvenir stand, but it was OK to see. From there we went to walk through the Valentino area near the Po River. It was a nice walk and is right by the Torino Exposition Center which hosts some of the preliminary men's and women's hockey games. There's even a life-size medieval fort that is mostly touristy but had some nice features.
We then hopped another bus back to the heart of Torino to walk and see a lot of shops, stop for a drink and to finish our day at the Medals Plaza where from afar, we saw Americans Chad Hedrick, a speedskater, and snowboarder Shaun (the Flying Tomato) White awarded their gold medals. Star-Spangled Banner was playing for both athletes. The loudest cheer, however, was for an Italian bronze medal winner who earned his country's first speedskating medal on Saturday.
Talk about an exciting time for Italians. Made me even feel better knowing that I was there to soak it all up. Just like the wine and the culture of this trip so far.
P.S. For those who checked out the Parra story thanks. It was the feature written before I left for Italy, hence no Torino byline. I am however, going to be doing a short diary item for the PE every few days while I am here.
Ciao!
Friday, February 10, 2006
Derek Parra story link ...
Hey Dave Werstine and anyone else in need of a shout out!
Just thought bloggers would like to see that my story on Derek Parra, U.S. speedskater and 2002 Gold and Silver medalist from San Bernardino, is up on the Press-Enterprise website right now. They do make you sign in to see full stories and since I don't want to be sued for running the story here, I've given you the link to it. The AP did contribute to this story -- no quotes, those are all mine -- but some of the details on his divorce and some reworking of some things took place.
http://www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_parra_10.109ee725.html)
Also, I'm working on a few other things for the PE so sign up! (And I didn't even get paid to say that!)
Hope my readers are having a good time in California, Colorado, New York, Alaska, Italy or whereever else you might be reading this blog. I'm going to the apartment to see Opening Ceremony stuff now. Oh yeah, I was able to score my luge, women's hockey bronze and men's hockey bronze game tickets. Sweet! And I give myself a gold medal for being able to wait in line. The internet has been weird here today so I went in person to the box office. Single-file line is NOT a concept Italians understand, if you must know.
OK, I won't be near my computer this weekend so no posts until Monday unless something changes. I will come back stronger than ever thought with a mega post then.
Ciao!
P.S. Yes, Jon, I ate the anchovies (twice) but I'm likely to steer clear of them. It's about trying different things on this trip. Pizza with ham and mushroom is my new favorite here. Yum!
Just thought bloggers would like to see that my story on Derek Parra, U.S. speedskater and 2002 Gold and Silver medalist from San Bernardino, is up on the Press-Enterprise website right now. They do make you sign in to see full stories and since I don't want to be sued for running the story here, I've given you the link to it. The AP did contribute to this story -- no quotes, those are all mine -- but some of the details on his divorce and some reworking of some things took place.
http://www.pe.com/sports/olympics/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_oly_parra_10.109ee725.html)
Also, I'm working on a few other things for the PE so sign up! (And I didn't even get paid to say that!)
Hope my readers are having a good time in California, Colorado, New York, Alaska, Italy or whereever else you might be reading this blog. I'm going to the apartment to see Opening Ceremony stuff now. Oh yeah, I was able to score my luge, women's hockey bronze and men's hockey bronze game tickets. Sweet! And I give myself a gold medal for being able to wait in line. The internet has been weird here today so I went in person to the box office. Single-file line is NOT a concept Italians understand, if you must know.
OK, I won't be near my computer this weekend so no posts until Monday unless something changes. I will come back stronger than ever thought with a mega post then.
Ciao!
P.S. Yes, Jon, I ate the anchovies (twice) but I'm likely to steer clear of them. It's about trying different things on this trip. Pizza with ham and mushroom is my new favorite here. Yum!
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