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!