Now, that's some kind of doubleheader

There’s nothing like a Canada-Japan baseball-softball doubleheader, is there?

That’s how I spent the last nine or so hours hours, watching the men spit up another one (1-0, can’t hit with men in scoring position, reminding me of the Evil Canada Screwing Jays) and then hopping a bus over the softball venue for the big women’s tilt where Canada got drubbed.

A heckuva sweep for Japan. Would have been nice if one of the Canadian teams had scored a run.

But now I know who gets what media attention in Japan.

An hour to first pitch at the baseball game and there were about 50 Japanese grunts in the media seating and a television crew getting ready to broadcast the game.

Softball?

Maybe a third of the number.

There were about three of us Canadians who did both ends of the twinbill which either means we’re far more equitable in which teams we cover or we all work for papers that work us too hard.

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Is this right?

Should a basketball arena in Beijing have private boxes? Doesn’t that run counter to something? Shouldn’t all the fans sit together?

Anyway, they’ve got suites ringing the Olympic arena – looked like they have nice flat-screen HD TVs in them, too – and I’m told three members of the Central Committee were in one for the China-Germany men’s game the other night.

They didn’t flash their picture up on the scoreboard. Woulda been cool to see if anyone booed had they done that.

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More culinary delights.

One of the few things that these Games don’t have are concession stands that the media can easily get to.

We can’t usually get into the stands with the fans (they like to keep us separated from the people for some reason) but at past Games they’ve always sold us food – some even edible – in the various press centres.

The only place I’ve seen anything more than free cookies and water they put out is here at Fengtai softball where they’ll see you Bento and bread and, ta-da!, pizza.

Tucked into what’s called a “Block Of Pizza” on the menu and I gotta tell you, it tastes a lot like cardboard but for a starving grunt, it’s the best cardboard I’ve had since I got here.

It’s kind of like frozen stuff you get in the supermarket back home, tossed in a microwave.

And because they are ever-careful here, there’s a notice on the door of the stand that says:

For Food Safety Reason No Return/Exchange

Glad I didn’t get a piece of used pizza.

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hey love their foul balls at Wukesong.

That’s where the ball parks are here and every time a ball goes in stands there’s all kinds of oohing and ahhing.

A priceless moment yesterday when a foul ball goes right out of the park in the Canada-Japan game and the PA folks play a tape of the tinkling of broken glass.

You would have thought Rodney Dangerfield had done 10 minutes of schtick or that Dashan dude had performed for the laughter that sound effect induced.

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One from the mail:

Q: First off, thanks for the Beijing blog - it provides insight and creates a visual picture that we wouldn't normally get from our usual homogenized sources, ie: the clip-clapping of 'special meat' traps.

I've tried to come up with a Raps question for you but the best I can come up with is a comment. Holy cow, I forgot how young our Mr. Bosh is and that he's still improving. His defensive prowess has been impressive indeed and only makes me salivate more for a peek at how he and Mr. O'Neal operate together.

On to my question ... I'm sitting here watching Mr. Bolt in the 200 meter and recalling a conversation I had with a buddy of mine the other day between squash games. I noted that he was receiving criticism for his self-aggrandizement in the final 10 metres of the 100m final in lieu of trying to set an almost unbeatable record.

I agreed with your disappointment in his behaviour, but my buddy made the point that he's 21, and that he can beat that record any time, if not several times, and is perhaps saving that moment for some high-dollar event where they fill a stadium to watch the world's fastest man, yadda yadda.

I concurred that due to his age he could probably beat that time at will at the event of his choosing... could he and/or his people be more clever or at least more savvy than we're giving him/them credit for? Thoughts?
James G, Toronto

A: I can’t say for sure what he was thinking, but I believe any athlete on such a grand scale should push himself as hard as he possibly can and not hot-dog it for self-promotion and fun.

It is the essence of individual competition to go as hard as you can for as long as you can and it’s disrespecting the sport and yourself, I think, to start celebrating that soon.

That said, I’m sure Bolt thinks he’ll run 9.64 or 9.60 and I hope he does.

But I guarantee you, a fraction of the people will know about it or will see it than the audience he had at the Olympics.

He will unquestionably make millions and should; but he will do it in the relative anonymity of some Grand Prix in Europe or somewhere.

He chose to celebrate rather than set a mark that might have been Bob Beamon-esque.

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Honest to God, I think they’ve removed the Red chicken from all official events. Haven’t seen the little it in days. Green Guy was at baseball this morning, though, looking quite entertaining.

Comments

[andy c]

i'm with you on this one Doug. who honestly watches track and field outside of the olympics? who the heck watches any of the other sports besides basketball outside of the olympics? he better hope his does not get hurt before London 2012 because that was the biggest audience he'll run infront of ti'll then.

[Kyle]

Since the red chicken is obviously in a class above the other chickens, I believe he/she/it has been sanctioned for special Central Committee events only (perhaps some red colour bias came into play as well?). The regular Joe´s will now be left with the second rate chickens only. Sorry to hear you lost your stalker/boyfriend/girlfriend.

[bballer]

the anonymity of some grand prix event in europe or better known as the golden league which has over 35k people watching live and millions more across europe and the rest of the world. athletics is more popular globally than any sport aside from soccer and bball. when bolt broke the record this year, that was broadcast around the world. the 100m record will always be a focus.

bolt is 21. leave him alone. nobody criticizes ovechkin for his over-exuberant celebrations when he scores. his celebration was enjoyed by all except for the curmudgeon tribe known as the media.

other than that, glad to know you are enjoying the games. this olympics may go down as one of the best ever.

[Kalson]

I totally agree with Doug and said it myself while watching Bolt set the record..

Bolt sets the World Record and that's great and all, but he could've set the CRAZIEST world record for the 100m dash, in the world's most televised track event.

Everyone would've seen it and you know what that means? Big bucks for Bolt for not only being the world's fastest man, but for creating the buzz that comes from "smashing" an existing record.

People would be calling it a "new era" in the 100m dash.

He'll see the success that comes from his accomplishment, but I think if he had just ran hard all the way, he would see more success and shown more respect to the sport.

[Richard]

I think you have gotten to too many people about your loveable red friend. They sold out of the cups at McDonalds with the red guy on them. Plenty of the others left.

[Jim T]

Hey Doug use a pretty lucky guy being there live to watch ball,
My question for you, is there anything to the coaching tactics of the spaniards with all the lineup changes? and why is that massive german who won the triathlon not on the bball team im thinking they would be in the QF right now with him...lol
Have fun and enjoy all the birds;)
P.s do you think Bosh will be Showing off his Gold for the fans when he gets to T.O

[Mark Steinberg]

First of all, Bolt isn't watching the clock to see what time he's running WHILE he's running. As he said later in the CBC trackside interview, he had no idea how fast he was going - he only knew he was smashing the field, hence his relaxation at the end. He really only started beating his chest with 5 meters or so to go, so Canadians - and disgruntled, jealous Americans - should get off their high horse.

A world record is a world record regardless of whether it was 9.69 or 9.59 - if he wants to pump his chest and celebrate, he's entitled to it.

[Christopher]

Regarding Usain Bolt, one thing that I think people need to keep in mind is that when he was running he had no idea what his time was in order for him to think about smashing the record to pieces. Remember that this is about his 10th time running the 100m as he is a 200m specialist and just started running the 100m to do speed work for his pet event.

That being said, I would have preferred him to run full speed to the end as I believe thats how everyone should race, but he is just 21 and still has a lot to learn not just as an athlete, but as a person as well. I think the moment just got to him and the next time he breaks the record we'll see the celebration after he finishes the race.