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!