Of Roko and more time at the ballyard

Just got done watching the Croatia-Lithuania basketball game and it was excellent, just like this entire tournament’s been, I’m told.

Am going to check Spain-USA later and that’ll be my second time seeing each of them but today was the first time I’ve been able to sit for a couple of hours and watch games.

The gym’s right around the corner from the ball park so it’s a nice place to settle in for six or eight hours.

Roko? He looked all right against Lithuania, nothing spectacular. I wonder about his foot speed and his handle (he looked like he was carrying the ball every time he dribbled it and that might work in Europe but it probably won’t in the NBA) but he looked solid.

He made a couple of great drives on isos where he got easily to the rim and his decision making seemed very good. Trouble was, every time he decided to pass the ball to ex-Net Zoran Planinic, it was like passing it into a black hole. I don’t think the guy gave the ball up once in the entire game.

-

How’d I get from the ball yard to the gym, you ask? Well, let me tell you.

It’s about a kilometre between the two, and a rather serpentine walk with a couple of security checks and a back alley or two to take so I figured I’d find the shuttle that allegedly goes between the two venues.

Go by the bus stop, ask about it and the friendly young volunteer (actually every volunteer is almost too friendly) frowned and told me I just missed it. I was in no rush so I told her I’d wait for the regular bus, which goes from the main press centre to baseball to basketball and was probably half an hour away from arriving.

She would have none of that and it started this mad hunt between her and about three of her buddies to get me taken care of. About 10 minutes later, a 10-seat golf cart-like contraption shows up with three more volunteers, I’m ushered into it with all sorts of apologies for making me wait.

Ten minutes later, I’m in the gym watching basketball and another group of volunteers gets high praise.

These people cannot do enough for us.

-

Only at an Olympic media village here can you go through the buffet breakfast line and see eggs next to har gow and bacon next to shu mai. Makes for a delightful culinary start to the day.

-

Oh

My

God

There’s the Red chicken. Right here at basketball.

And it’s performing during a timeout with the Olympic Dream Dancers.

Trust me, the Whatever They’re Sponsored Next Year By Dance Pak have nothing to be worried about.

Although the Beijing Dream Dancers, who did the halftime gig at Argentina-Iran, look suspiciously like NBA dance team callups.

-

One from the mail, and thanks for all the cards and letters

Q: Hi Doug.

Since you cover so many sports at the Olympics just wondering if you have followed the Michael Phelps sensation. I know I'm Canadian BUT I can't wait to see his next race each and every time. So much is printed here about it just wondered if you guys sit around discussing it on the roof top. Comparing him to other great athletes from various sports.  What do you guys have to say?

Dee-Ann L, Mississauga

A: I haven’t had a chance to see Phelps but we sure talk about him. Usually bleary-eyed on the bus over to the press centre in the morning ‘cause guys are wondering how they’ll write another story about him.

He’s incredible, best Olympic athlete I’ve ever known (I saw him swim four years ago in Athens and he’s better here, obviously). And that seems to be the opinion of the people I talk to over here, incredible talent.

Now, on the roof, though, we’re talking about more important things, like who’s getting the next round, why they don’t sell Rickard’s White here and how the Little League team’s doing.

Oh, and what we’re covering the next day.

-

Three medals. One day. Wow. What a country.

Take that, Togo, and whoever else is behind us now.

We rule.

Sort of.

-

Things you only see at basketball events like this. Two seats to my left at this very moment, a “journalist” is enjoying what appears to be his fourth or fifth Tsing Tao. Maybe he’s with the guy the other night who watched Greece-USA two seats down from me waving his flag and cheering wildly.

Which brings me to:

Q: Heya Doug, I remember reading in the blog a while back that you don't consider yourself a Raps "fan". I believe you explained that a professional reporter cannot (or at least should not) be a fan of the team they're covering.  [Please correct me if I'm wrong!]
Now that you're out there in Beijing covering people and teams representing your country, have you found yourself crossing that line of reporter to fan?  Maybe a fist-pump at a home run, or disappointment at yet another late game meltdown?

Charlie D, Montreal

A: Cannot and should not is right, on the Raptor front.

But you know what? It’s different at these things. You do get caught up in wanting the locals to do well, not to the point of blatant cheering but I do admit I’ve smiled a couple of times when a Canadian has done something significant.

The good reporters and writers – a group in which I include myself – can distance themselves, though, when it comes to reporting and writing. We can ask the hard questions and write the critical copy.

But, and I would bet anyone here with a Canadian credential on would agree if they were really, really honest, we feel good watching medals won. And a bit proud, as a matter of fact.

-

I’m at baseball the other day and so was my friend the Green chicken and he/she/it has the crowd, if not in stitches, at least mildly entertained.

And as it and its buddy Black chicken were running in front of the dugout, all I could think was how never in a million years would anyone smack it on the back of the head and send it tumbling like that dude did in Milwaukee that timeOlympians just carry themselves with more class or something. Or everyone’s afraid they’d be arrested for chicken assault and never be heard of again.

A pause for a sappy moment

Don’t tell anybody, but even we bitter old grouches look forward to what’s referred to among some of us as “Olympic Moments” at bun-tosses like this.

They’re the instances at Games where you smile at the emotion of the moment and feel good that you’ve seen something.

Having covered a fair share of rather unsuccessful moments here, I finally got my first on Friday morning here.

It came when Lauren Bay Regula got out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the bottom of the seventh to preserve a win in what was an absolute gem of a game.

The smile on her face, and the embrace of her teammates when it was all over, was one of those moments you kind of remember for days over here. It reminds you just why most of the athletes are at this thing.

God knows I’ve seen some go the other way – losing archery teams and field hockey teams and water polo teams and soccer teams (although the women did get a win and a tie, too) – so it was nice to see drama.

And joy.

Trust me. You’re gonna like this softball team as we go on and they chase a medal.

Okay, enough gushing, back to your regularly-scheduled snark and bitterness.

-

You go to international basketball things like Olympics and world championships and it’s like a reunion of old players, who love to stick around the game.

The other night at Lithuania-Russia before USA-Greece, three guys from different continents were sitting around swapping stories and it must have been very, very cool.

Jay Triano’s sitting alongside Andrew Gaze of Australia and the great Oscar Schmidt of Brazil watching and chatting. They probably represent a kabillion or two international points scored.

And Oscar was probably the best. One of the greatest pure scorers in international basketball history, he could roll out of bed and get you 40 before he wiped the sleep from his eyes.

Knew his place, too.

Jay tells me at one point in the conversation, he said of his team and himself:

"We had four guys to carry the piano and one guy who had to play it.”

Classic.

-

I know the names aren't exactly right given first and surnames in this part of the world but it was pretty cool to look down at my scoresheet at the Canada-China softball game and see Sun batting just ahead of Tan.

-

So I hear of this little local joint down the street from the basketball venue that’s become quite the night spot for parched North American writers and the odd NBA assistant coach.

It’s got affordable cocktails and a menu that’s, well, that’s quite interesting.

Among the delicacies, according to the English side of the menu, are:

Fish Tastes Like Pork and Soup Made Of Goat Private Parts.

And on the list, along with chicken, beef and pork is something they term Special Meat.

I can only imagine.

Maybe, on a dare, we get some of that Saturday night after Spain-USA.

Or maybe not.

-

Priceless public address announcement of the day at softball:

"We are glad you cheer for the teams but please remain silent when the player is about to strike the ball and please do not use profanity.”

How do you think that goes over in North America?

-

Holy crap!

They’ve got mountains around here.

Who knew?

Well, we didn’t, what with the haze that’s engulfed the city since we arrived, replaced every now and then by clouds and rain.

Imagine my surprise when, as we’re on a bus from the main press centre to Fengtai, home of softball, and there were mountains on the horizon. First time I’d seen them since landing here almost a week ago.

The weather Friday was spectacular. Blue skies, about 30 C, no wind. Guess the cloud seeding or whatever meteorological magic they’re pulling off finally worked.

-

Raptor fans out there?

I tell ya, I don’t think I’ve seen Chris Bosh play too much better at both ends of the court than he did in that game on Thursday over here against Greece.

Active, intense, unselfish. He looked outstanding.

And my spies tell me that’s pretty much how he’s been playing all along this summer with the American team. He’s forced Carlos Boozer to a 12^th man role and I’m betting he pushes Dwight Howard for minutes the rest of the way.

I don’t know if it’ll translate to every night in the regular season (it’s going to be a lot harder to get up for, say, Charlotte some Tuesday in February than it is for Greece at the Olympics) but something seems to have twigged for the young fella.

-

This is interesting and very telling about the character of Roger Federer.

It’s about 1:20 a.m. Friday when we were pulling out of the main press centre to head home after a long, rainy day.

The tennis stadium’s on the way and we notice the lights are on and games are being played. A fellow traveller reports that not only are games going on but that Roger Federer, as big a name as anyone here, is out there toiling in doubles, just a couple of hours after losing to James Blake in singles.

Now, I know it’s cynical but I can imagine a handful of other big-time athletes pulling a muscle or getting a cramp or developing some intestinal illness that would have allowed them to bail on the doubles and that could have only been cured by a drive to the airport.

-

Hey, kids, I'm glancing every now and then at the mail in-box and there aren't that many good queries in there. What's wrong, you all watching the Olympics or something?

Rain drops are falling on our (well covered) heads

LUCAS OLENIUK/TORONTO STAR

Friendly reminder at the ballpark. Hands off!

There’s a story in today’s paper (Thursday, I believe) about the zaniness at the ballpark, where fans are discouraged from catching foul balls because, you know, they might hurt themselves catching them. Guess it’s better to sit there with your hands at your sides and get drilled in the head by one.

Well, softball’s just as entertaining.

Was at a game today (Canada-US that was suspended due to rain) and the PA announcer might be the best at the games. In high-pitched and rather halting English, he used one break between innings to announce:

“The object of softball is to obtain one of the bases by hit or other means and then continue around to all the bases until home plate where you will score a run for your team.”

And the majority of the crowd applauded.

There was also his female counterpart, who added a little biographical information gleaned from media guides to each at-bat. Like:

“Now batting for Canada, Jane Doe. She says she parents are her greatest influence.”

"Now batting for the United States, Joan Doe. She enjoys reading and long walks in the park.”

Classic stuff.

-

Here’s Jose Calderon yesterday morning here on the Spain photo controversy, courtesy of the flash quote system here because I was at a rainy softball park instead of watching Spain-Germany.

"I think we are talking about things that don’t matter. We feel bad, but there is too much talk about it. We are a very multicultural country in Spain. We are for sure going to apologize.”

I figure a formal apology can’t be too long in coming.

And I keep getting asked what the Raptors should do.

I don’t know what they can do. I know they don’t approve, who could? But if Jose and the Spanish federation apologize to those who took offence – which I think is practically everyone – there’s not much else to be said.

It was in bad taste, intentional or not, if they say they’re sorry that’s got to end it.;

And, quite frankly, it’s a non-issue over here. No one I’ve spoken to has seen a single outward show of anger from anyone around the basketball venue, or anywhere else.

It’s certainly hasn’t created a huge buzz in the media. It’s a story, it got written and now there are other stories to work on.

-

Speaking of rain delays, when it started pouring in the first inning of the Canada-US games, the open air press seating right behind home plate was hardly the most comfortable place to be. But then one of the million or so volunteers started running p and down the aisles passing out these flimsy plastic ponchos to all the members of the media. Nifty colours, too. Some mauve, some a light green, some red.

You haven’t seen anything ‘til you’ve seen a collective of large and extra large writers standing around wearing mauve ponchos about two sizes too small.

-

A dip in the mail bag:

Q: I have an Olympic question:

When athletes are done their events, do they have to leave the Athletes Village right away or can they stay there until after the closing ceremonies?

As a side note, did you find an all night roof top bar this time?

Brent, Burlington

A: They can stay, and many do. But some like to get out and back home as quickly as possible. Daniel Nestor, for instance, was eliminated here Monday night and was looking for a flight out the next morning. But a lot of them like to hang around and just chill.

And, on a side answer:

Yes, we have found a roof top bar at the main press centre but, alas, it is not open “all of the hours” like the one in Athens. It closes at midnight, with is far, far, far too early.

One thing we haven’t found is a local close to the press centre that’s open until daylight.

-

A day without the Chickens is a day without sunshine.

So I guess it’s rather fitting that it’s been cloudy and gloomy and full of thunderstorms around here today (it’s about 7 p.m. as write this and I’ve been up about 14 cloudy hours) ‘cause I haven’t seen a little mascot all day.

I miss the red one.

-

They’ve got bats at the softball park.

Okay, stop snickering.

Real bats. Big freaking bats. And cicadas big as your forearm.

Saw ‘em Wednesday night here when your plucky Canucks were beating Netherlands.

Figure the bats just live in the dark recesses of the standstand. And the cicadas or whatever they are must be food for the humongous scorpion-like monsters that inhabit this country and its train stations.

-

Remember how they’ve been papering the house here with waves of volunteers wearing orange t-shirts and cheering for everyone? Made for an odd sight at the softball park when Canada played Netherlands, whose fans all wearing orange.

In one section, you’d have rows and rows and rows of rabidly cheering legitimate fans and a section over there were a couple of hundred seat-holders not exactly yelling their lungs out.

-

Okay, United States-Greece goes in an hour and it could be quite the scene. Got a softball story for the newspaper to knock off before so I better run.

We're having some ball over here

I’m ball boy for the next couple of days and that’ll be cool.

Did base while you were sleeping, am at soft now, be back at soft on Thursday morning here and then – finally -- some basket on Thursday night.

REUTERS

Terry Puhl, manager of Canada's Boys of (a very stinky, hot, humid) Summer.

But first, a few words about our Boys of (a very stinky, hot, humid) Summer and, specifically, manager Terry Puhl.

You’ve probably heard a mealy-mouthed quote or two from athletes over here talking about how it’s an honour to compete and they’ve done their best and learned a lot and love the atmosphere and they’ll go get ‘em next time.

Of course, that’s usually after they finish fifth or eighth or thirtieth or something.

Well, Puhl isn’t like that.

He’s here to win and win however he has to. He had Scott Thorman stealing second up five over China on Wednesday and is not going to worry about ruffling any feathers.

"We’re coming here with one thing in mind, to expose any team that we play. We have a lot of honour in this game but we’re here to win ball games.”

Gotta love the dude.

And then he said later that he was only going to play guys who are contributing and if someone’s nailed to the bench for the entire tournament, so be it.

"We’re here to win nine games.”

A refreshing attitude, if you ask me.

-

I’ve only caught a little bit of basketball the past couple of days – I’ll get to spend some time there on Friday over here watching USA-Greece in what could be a doozy – but have spoken to a few NBA and FIBA types who’ve seen it all.

Early quick impressions:

Croatia’s good and Roko plays a pretty big role. He didn’t get much time in their game on Tuesday against Russia because Zoran Planicic was playing so well. They go to Ukic for a steady hand and I’m told he’s having a pretty good tournament through a couple of games.

Spain? Well, there are a lot of questions about coach Aito Garcia, who’s jerking around the starting lineup. He didn’t start Pau Gasol in the first game but started him in the second; he didn’t start Jose in the second game (for Juan Carlos Navarro) after starting him in the first. Neither of moves makes much sense so the thought is Spain’s 2-0 in spite of the coach, not because of him.

(An aside to everyone who’s asked: Jose’s fingers are fine; he’s got ‘em taped so he doesn’t hurt them again but told me on Sunday he’s 100 per cent).

The Amercans? For some reason they can’t shoot to save their souls, which is going to be the thing that jumps up and bites them in the butt sometime soon.

But I will tell you this: Kobe’s all over this tournament. When I was over there on Sunday to see Spain and Greece, a spy who was down near the court said the only American player who came by the arena to scout was Kobe, who stayed for about a half before heading out.

The dude wants to win above all else.

I’ll get you hoop heads some more tomorrow when I actually catch a break from soccer, archery, softball, baseball, water polo, field hockey and whatever else I do to fill my days and get a chance to see some basketball. Looking very much forward to that.

-

They’re papering the houses here, finding volunteers with nothing to do – or finding people on the streets and telling them what to do – and outfitting them with tickets and orange shirts, sending them into the stands to cheer wildly.

Doesn’t matter which sport, doesn’t matter which country.

If there are wide expanses of empty seats – and there have been everywhere I’ve been except at the China-Canada soccer game in Tianjin – they’re filling them.

But how’d you like to be a local who actually paid money to see, say, women’s soccer between Canada and Sweden and you look over and your next door neighbour’s in an orange shirt enjoying a free night out.

Oh, and I guess that whole thing about how every ticket was sold was, um, not quite true.

What I want to know is where they have these large groups of idle volunteers ready to go watch a game at the drop of hat. They must be storing them somewhere we can’t see them.

-

Okay, maybe the bloom is off the rose.

Was at the ballpark this morning (or deep in night back home) and two of the chickens came to roost. I mean, root.

But the red one wasn’t there. It was Blue and Green.

Maybe the red thing’s dumped me for something. I’m crushed.

-

I don’t know what they were thinking with this.

It sort of appalls me because that’s not the Jose or Garbo I know. I’m sure it bothers a lot of right-thinking people and I’m sure someone in the Raptor brass will have word with Jose sometime.

It’s caused a bit of stir over here but the Spanish team hasn’t been around to do much explaining. They will be Thursday and I’m sure there’ll be more to report.

For now, here’s what Jose’s saying on his website.

-

How 1970s of them. The fans at the Canada-Sweden soccer game the other night tried to get the wave started at the Worker’s Stadium.

Didn’t work, thankfully, because about the only thing worse than the wave are thunderstix and you all know how I feel about them.

I got a sneaking suspicion it was the seat-fillers who were told to start it. If so, they gotta get better seat fillers.

-

Hey, the tank was gone when we arrived at the main press centre this morning. A couple of gun-toting soldiers were still there, though. -

You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen a gaggle of grunts sitting around trying to figure out the various soccer permutations while Canada was playing Sweden in the final preliminary round game the other night.

Was the first tie-breaker goal differential? What if Canada lost and the USA lost and Korea lost? Who would Canada play and where? What if China won and Canada won? It was like we needed an abacus and a smart person or two.

Of course, The First Lady and I were the winners on figuring out what was going to happen. We got that they were going to Shanghai to play the Americans and won the race.

-

Okay, off to watch the women softballers face Netherlands. Turn it on when you're having breakfast, I think you'll like this team.

Some news and some entertainment (I hope)

This just in: The soccer women are through to the quarters.

Yup, you’re reading it here first, they got in when Germany beat Korea 1-0 in a game that ended about an hour before Canada took the field to face Sweden.

It’s still to be determined who they play and we’ll get that figured out after the game that I’m sure you’re all going to watch.

I now return you to your regularly-scheduled blog.

-

You get a load of the story about the Aussies thinking Canada’s too rough at field hockey?

Half-rugby, half-field hockey is how one guy described the Canadian style of play.

I don’t know, but I went to the game and the last thing I thought was that Canada played tough.

In fact, there were so few collisions of any kind I figured most of the players’ energy went into avoiding people rather than even slightly bumping them.

And I thought Aussies were tough.

-

My new favourite play?

The penalty corner in field hockey.

Just ‘cause the three guys put on those Hannibal Lecter masks and hide in the net while the attacking team pretty much tees up a shot from point blank range.

There’ve actually been a couple of cool things I’ve seen in competition that I hadn’t seen before.

The penalty corner’s one for sure (although The First Lady says I missed out not seeing a penalty flick) and the other is the sprint that starts water polo games.

Two guys bolt out of the net, dashing to get the ball and the first possession of each quarter.

Sorta reminds of two dudes trying to race to get the last flotation device at the swim-up bar.

-

You may be reading a lot of softball by yours truly in the next week and a half, or for at least as long as Canada’s in medal contention.

Got over to the venue today (last night back in Ontario) and it’s a doozy.

Set in a real neighbourhood, with small streets, apartments and small businesses as opposed to the wide open spaces around them, it’s relatively quiet, quite brand new and sort of reminds me of a spring training ballyard.

And my good friend Tom Withers, the Associated Press expert on all things women’s softball, told me he picked Canada as the bronze medalists so maybe there’ll be more than a few trips to the park in my future.

I remember covering the women back in Athens in ’04 and they were a good story en route to a fifth-place finish, if they can get to the semis and the medal round here, they might become a great tale.

And, really, that’s what makes it so cool about covering teams over here – at least for now.

They tend to build momentum and interest back home and it’s much nicer to write about a developing story than, say, a one-time wonder who’s event starts and finishes all in one.

-

Doug's new nickname in Beijing: Tank.

Like my new ride?

Makes it easy to get through – or over – traffic.

Seriously, though, not sure why they’ve stepped up blatant security but we saw soldiers with guns outside the media centre and a few locations around the main Games venue. And this nifty little number got left overnight ride at the entrance to the Main Press Centre.

-

So now that I’m, like, an archery expert, I’m really intrigued by the sport.

Asked Toronto’s Crispin Duenas the other day about his training regimen and he ran through it extensively.

He does cardio, of course, lifts weights for upper body strength and works on his calves so they give him a steady base when he has to shoot.

And then he told me about working with a sports psychologist on relaxation techniques so he can slow his heart rate, which I presume makes it much easier to shoot with accuracy.

I asked him how that’s coming:

"After I’ve run around and everything and walked around and I’ve been awake for a while, I can get it down to 54 just by thinking about bringing it down. Not by doing anything special.”

Fifty-freaking-four! A hundred and fifty-four might be more like for a slug like me.

-

Andre V of Toronto gets into the mailbag with:

‘Hey Doug, did you try some hotpot?’

Nope, not yet, it’s one of the delicacies I’ve yet to get to. But I will.

The cool part of the dining experience at our media village is we get breakfast as part of the cost and there’s always some local flavour to the meal.

Today, you could have had eggs, bacon, a frittata and a bagel.

Or, you could have done like me and gone with the hargow and noodles.

Very nice.

-

It’s sort of cool to watch the fans watching sports they’re quite unfamiliar with and here – like it was in Athens – it’s baseball and softball that are strange to the people.

So much so that I’m sure some unassuming first-time local fan’s going to take a foul ball off the forehead.

Today at softball, a couple of lasers got hit down the lines into groups of fans who were chatting, watching the grass, checking out the sights and paying no attention.

Luckily, no one got clocked. But someone will, I’m sure.

-

All you people who’re wondering when I’m going to get back to the business of basketball (and I hope there’s one or two out there), the answer is not for a couple of days.

But when I do, I’ll find out all I can about Roko because, while I’ve heard good things about the way he’s playing from independent observers, I haven’t had a chance to check him out myself. Probably Thursday.

-Okay, off to see the football women in action. Back tomorrow.

I think the Chickens are chasing me

Today, I was an expert in – ta-da! – archery!

Well, expert might be stretching it. Neophyte’s probably a better word and totally clueless might be a more apt description.

After all, I did sort of wander into the place looking for a guy with an apple on his head.

But that’s what makes the Olympics grand.

Sunday morning here, I get up and do water polo on deadline.

Monday morning here, I get up and do archery on deadline.

Lucky, lucky readers.

But it does put check marks in two more boxes of Sports I’ve Seen For The First (And Possibly Last) Time.

Gotta say, though, archery’s pretty cool

They got the requisite PA announcer who screams when a guy gets a 10 and is more muted and disappointed when it’s an eight or – gasp! – a seven.

And I saw a guy get a six, which only happens, I think, when the archer sneezes simultaneously with his release or shoots his arrow into the crowd.

-

ANDY GAO/REUTERS

Doug Smith getting along just fine with the red one in Beijing.

The stuffed animals were back at the archery this morning and I’m wondering if a couple of them aren’t following me around ‘cause I’m such a fan of the various Chickens in the world.

This morning, or last night I guess for most of you, the red one and the blue one showed up at the archery field, or court, or stadium, or whatever. They did a little dance, much to the delight of the fans, wandered through the crowd for a minute before heading off to spread their own little brand of cheer elsewhere.

If I see the red one at field hockey later, or tennis, depending on where I have to go next, I’m gonna start thinking she/it/he’s got a crush on me. It’s my favourite, too.

-

Hey, you know how we’re always having the discussion on which team sports athletes are the best athletes in the world and we talk about basketball (my pick), soccer (usually yours) and hockey (which is only in the discussion in Canada, I bet)?

Well, I’m putting water polo in the conversation.

I watched those Canadian guys go against Spain the other day (I think it was Sunday here, Saturday back there so I’m just going with ‘the other day’) and those dudes are fit.

I didn’t see one guy do a dead man’s float for one second in the pool.

No swim-up bar, either.

Seriously, it’s not a mainstream sport by any stretch of the imagination but the athletes have to be on the Mount Rushmore of toughest in team sports.

-

Checking the mail, I see you folks are up to your usual hijinks of sending lots of questions; I’ll get to ‘em as I can:

Q: Are there any of the international rules you'd like to see the NBA adapt? Also, do you think all this FIBA officiating bashing is deserving? After all, it's not like NBA officials are known to be much better.

Tom P, Edmonton

A: Personally? I’d love to see the wider lane, except FIBA’s taking it out in favour of the rectangular one next year, I believe. I’d also love the two timeouts per half deal (I’d make a concession and let the players call them, too) but I can’t see that happening what with TV and all.

The rule that lets defenders go up and get the ball the cylinder's pretty good, too, but I don't know if it's workable in the NBA.

As for the officiating, there are far, far, far more international refs of dubious quality that there are NBA refs who aren’t good. The cream of the FIBA crop’s here, so it might not be an entirely true indication but I’ve been at some world championships and seen more head-scratching calls in a two-week tournament than you’re likely to see in a month of NBA games.

-

Softball and baseball start soon (see how good I’m getting at fudging time and day and stuff like that?) and if you’re watching, be prepared for some odd bastardizations of the rules.

In softball, if it’s a tie after seven innings, the top of the eighth begins with the team at bat getting to put a runner (the last out of the seventh) on second base and the batting order resumes as usual. Same goes in the bottom of the eighth until someone wins.

They’ve screwed up baseball even more. If there’s a tie after nine, they play the 10^th as they usually would, then things really get goofy.

In the 11^th, each team can decide which hitter it wants up to lead off the inning and – get this! – he gets to hit with runners at first and second and nobody out.

Really.

Visiting team decides it wants to have the No. 3 hitter lead off the top of the 11^th. That’s cool because the No. 2 hitter goes to second base and the No. 3 hitter goes to first.

Then the home team could decide it wants its lead off guy to bat in the bottom so the No. 9 hitter goes to second and the No. 8 guy goes to first.

They play the 11^th and if nobody scores, the visiting team doesn’t get to pick its lead-off guy for the 12^th but they do get to put runners at first and second. Let’s say the No. 8 hitter is scheduled to lead off the 12^th. He goes to bat but the No. 7 guy goes to second and the No. 6 man heads to first.

Ridiculous?

I sure think so.

I hope the Erindale Lions Little League -- where, by the way, the MIGHTY YANKEES HAVE WON THE REGULAR SEASON TITLE EVEN, OR MAYBE BECAUSE OF, ONE OF THEIR COAHCES BEING IN CHINA -- never institutes that silly rule.

Check that, we'd never play extra innings, it always gets dark too quickly to even get in six.

-

Remember the ‘driving to slow’ note from the other day. So does this alert reader:

Q: Do you think they're driving slow to cut down on the smog for the Games? Or is it just a case of a different culture?

Peter L, Toronto

A: I’m told it’s a bit of both. The buses have restrictors on them that don’t allow them to go more than 90 km-h and I know that doesn’t apply to regular drivers because on the bus ride back from Tianjin, we were being passed by every manner of car, cab, jalopy and, I think, a jogger or two.

More games than you can imagine

Now, this is starting to feel like the Olympics.

One of the big things about getting this gig is seeing different sports, talking to different people.

In the last 24 hours, got to see the women’s soccer team, the men’s water polo team and Garbo, Jose and Spain trounce Greece.

Made for a whirlwind time but it’s also what’s special about this.

Now, I don’t know good water polo from bad water polo and have to have the intricacies of soccer pointed out to me but not talking to professional athletes can be kind of refreshing.

The water polo coach, Dragan Jovanovic, sort of killed his guys after what I’m told was a horrible 16-6 loss to Spain. The women of the soccer team will stand and answer questions for as long as we care to ask them. And Garbo and Jose seemed genuinely glad to see a couple of familiar faces (The First Lady Of The Beat and I) after the game against Greece

Now, if they could just do something about those scorpions in the train stations. (I keed, I keed).

-

I’m pretty sure you’d never see this in North America.

The media conducts its post-game interviews at the Olympics in these places called ‘mixed zones,’ spots just off the court or field where the players have to file by on their way to their locker room.

We’re usually separated by barriers and we stand against them, call out to the athletes as they walk by and hope they stop.

Very dignified.

Anyway, there’s always a whole bunch of cheering in the press box and mixed zones at these things, a fact I remember all too well at the natatorium yesterday morning.

When a couple of the Spanish players walked by, not only did the writers, or whatever they were, call out to them, they called them over and gave them big hugs to congratulate them.

Very professional.

-

You should know that Garbo looks in as good physical condition as I think I've ever seen him. Lost some weight, too. Looks to me like he could withstand an NBA season. -

Here’s one reason to love international basketball.

Two timeouts per team per half. Only called by the bench.

-

Here’s one reason to love international water polo (me being the international water polo expert and all).

Four eight-minute quarters. No timeouts. Game’s over in about an hour.

-

Oh yeah, all you Raptor fans wondering whether former second-round pick Giorgos Printezis will ever be in the NBA.

Probably not soon. A DNP-CD in a 15-point loss to Spain does not bode well.

-

Since we’ve got a lot of basketball today, here’s a basketball question:

Q: I know he lacks the star appeal of the other players on the team but wouldn't Jason Kapono be a perfect fit for the US Olympic team? The international game is all about 3 point shooting (a relative weakness of the US team) and, even though he's had his troubles guarding bigger quicker NBA players, I think JK could be a decent defender against international competition, especially if the US plays a zone defense instead of man to man. Add all that to the fact that he'd likely get a ton of open shots playing with guys like CP3, LeBron, Kobe, Bosh, Dwight Howard etc. and he seems like a logical choice. If the US gets beat again this year, especially by their inability to make 3 point shots, do you think we might see Kapono on the next edition of Team USA?

Serge P, Ottawa

A: Well, you know, I was going to dismiss this out of hand and then I figure, if Michael Redd’s on the team, which can’t Jason Kapono be?

And then I remembered that Jason’s not the greatest defender in the history of the game – maybe not even in the history of his family for all I know – and that may be what’s keeping him off an Olympic roster.

I heard they invited him to play for the developmental team that P.J. and Jay coached before the real team left for here and I’m told he declined. Probably had a golf game.

And I can’t imagine he’d get a sniff four years from now, he’ll be older someone else will emerge to fill that role.

-

We’re sitting watching the women’s soccer game the other night and we figure it’s becoming a pretty popular team back home, right?
So why, in its infinite wisdom, did the CBC and TSN not send a soccer play-by-play guy and an analyst over here?

They got basketball guys and boxing guys and baseball guys and guys and gals for a whole raft of sports. But not soccer?

Now, I hear the CBC does a brilliant job on Olympics (I’ve been at the last five summer games so I’m going by the comments of others) but that decision was, frankly, a mistake.

Surely to goodness they could have found room for two more people.

-

Yes, Jose Calderon makes that familiar three-finger sign after a three-point basket playing for Spain, too.

-

For every second we’ve been here, it’s been humid and it’s felt like a thunderstorm was only seconds away.

Well, we finally got one today, a nice downpour.

Did it clear the humidity? Yeah, not bad, actually.

Guess whatever they’re doing to seed the clouds or alter the weather is working.

-

Saw a couple of basketball games Sunday and nary a peep of The Chicken. They might be saving she/he/it for the playoff round.

But did get a look at the goofy little mascots, who were traipsing around the water polo venue (and you gotta love a stadium called the Yingdong Natatorium) during halftime of the Canada-Spain game.

Not sure if I’m warming to them, yet. Maybe it’ll take a while.

I can’t remember what the stuffed animals were, exactly, in Barcelona but they stick in my mind as some of the best out there.

The Oompa Loompa things in Nagano were sorta cute, too.

Aboard a slow bus to Tianjin

I’m pretty sure the China Tourist Board, or whatever it is, won’t be using the Beijing-Tianjin drive as a selling point.

Think 401 London-Windsor without the charm.

(For those of you unfamiliar with the subtle charm of southwestern Ontario, think kilometer after kilometre after kilometre of ribbon of highway dissecting fields of nothing and if you’re still awake, keep reading).

Took the bus over to Tianjin from Beijing today – didn’t want to see another scorpion-crawfish-bug-thingy at the train station – and as a cure of insomnia, it’d be perfect.

About three hours of drudgery broken only by naps. Oh, and these drivers over here? Lead foots, they’re not.

Dude didn’t get over about 80 km-h the entire way, I swear. Posted speed limit? 120.

Usually when we go to these things in new lands, we’re stunned by the audacity of the drivers (Rome and Madrid were crazed last fall) but here? They’re slooooooow.

And frustrating.

-

Not sure how much, if any, women’s basketball you were able to see back there but I caught a bit of Australia-Belarus before heading out on the road Saturday morning.

Never mind the result – the Opals won in a walk – the reason to check out the game was to see Dawna Townsend officiate.

I’m not sure how big a deal it is to get the first game of the Games but I’m gonna make it big because Dawna’s a friend and deserves some props.

Can’t imagine it’s easy balancing a family with young kids, a real job and all those hours at the Air Canada Centre as the official scorer dealing with getting a starting lineup from usually Cantankerous Sam (I know. Go figure. Sam. Cantankerous).

Good on her.

-

Big Raptor day tomorrow.

Jose. Bosh. Roko.

Opening day. Should be a doozy. And if Captain Byers plays along, I’m gonna get a water polo game in the morning (actually night back home, for those as confused as I am by this time thing) and then a few hours of hoops.

Will be fun to see ‘em all.

Don’t know if you’ll be able to.

I’m told the CBC crew, which did the USA women’s game here on Saturday, is doing the USA men’s game against China tomorrow but not Spain-Greece.

Too bad. Maybe some live streaming’s going to be available somewhere.

If not, guess you’ll just have to check back here to get all the inside dope.

And I’ll have it.

-

Dog day afternoon.

So, we drag our tired carcasses off the bus at security here and we go through the X-ray machine while a gaggle of little soldier types give the bus the once over, checking luggage compartments, using mirrors to check under the carriage and these two dogs to sniff out whatever they sniff out.

It was the first time I’d seen dogs at venues but as long as they’re friendly and the minders aren’t carrying automatic weapons, I’m okay with it.

One of the pups gets in a luggage hold and won’t come out ‘cause it’s cool in there. Finally, in what can only be called a universal game of ‘fetch’ the soldiers roll a ball to entice them out.

The other dog?

He/she/it wasn’t at all impressed.

Dog tired, you might say.

-

Where’d you watch the ceremonies? Comfort of the couch? The office?

Well, me and Perk and D. Feschuk get this great idea that we’re going out among the people, to Tiananmen Square, actually. Off we go on the subway, dum dee dum, dum dee dum, 11 stops on one line, two after a transfer and here comes the first Tiananmen stop.

And there it goes. Closed. A ghost stop.

Second one? Same deal and we’re like, ‘hmm, this doesn’t bode well (we’re smart that way).”

We get off at the next one, figure we’ll double back walking except we get turned around, go the wrong way as turns out, a fact we found out when we landed at some cool little restaurant for a quick bite.

And quick it was. It was about 7:30 local time Friday night and the lovely ladies were literally running out of the joint to get somewhere to watch ‘em We eat fast and ask one of the servers how long it’ll take to get to the square.

Almost faint when she says “60 minutes” and that’s when the cab came into play. Because our Mandarin isn’t quite up to snuff (I can do ‘ni hoa’ and that’s about it), we enlist the aid of a young server to help us hail a car and get to the square.

She’s so bound and determined to help us, she runs – runs! In like a kabillion degree heat and humidity – about a block and half to find a cab only to come back and tell us, in halting English, that the square was either closed or too full and no cab would take us there.

So we end up riding back to our village, sitting outside in a courtyard and watch the festivities.

'Til bedtime, that is.

-

They sell knock off goods all over the streets here, watches, handbags, scarves, all kind of stuff.

And pizza.

The First Lady Of The Beat, Mr. Baseball from The Globe and I, with about five hours to kill before the big football tilt I’m sure you’re all glued to right now, ventured across the street to the Molson Outlet Mall (no, not that Molson, unfortunately). And what’d spy?

Pizza Hill.

Same colour scheme, pretty much the same menu as Pizza Hut. Pretty good, too.

-

Mail about here:

Q: Hi Doug, I've been trying to think of a Raptors question for you but I've got nothing. I really just wanted to point out that your giant bug appears to be a crayfish. Kind of like a mini-lobster. Not sure why they have one hanging out at the train station but at least you know its not a giant scorpion.
Okay, here's a non basketball related question. What would you say now to fellow reporters who were hesitant about going to Beijing to convince them things aren't as bad as they thought, or are they?
Ron M, Markham

A: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Crawfish. Maybe. But there was no way I’d eat it if they boiled it. And it shouldn’t have been in a train station any way.

Things are great over here for us. Best media village room I’ve had in six Olympics, transportation works great, computer services are outstanding and the only venue I’ve been at, with my Glorious Canadian Women Soccer Heroes, works fine.

The people? They’re almost too helpful. Makes me sheepish to try and do anything for myself because there’s always like three of ‘em there to help.

So far, so very good. Of course, as I type this, the first full day of competition is about half over so things may change.

-

That Yao Ming, what a card!

The iconic Chinese athlete’s asked the other day at a basketball practice what kind of game China would have for Sunday night’s game here against the United States

"I won’t tell you anything. That’s top secret.”

So, too, is his off-the court life. Seem Aug. 6 was Yao's first wedding anniversary (“candlesticks always make a nice gift, and uh, maybe you could find out where she's registered and maybe a place-setting or maybe a silverware pattern,” I thought) and the prying press wanted all the details.

"Can I keep that a secret?”

Okay, maybe it wasn't a scorpion, but it was ugly

Okay.

Here it is

Ta-da!

Spain

Your 2008 Olympic men’s basketball champions.

The easy pick’s the United States, right? LeBron. Kobe. Wade. Kidd. But I’m just getting this goofy vibe that when it comes right down to it, Spain’s experience – as a team and in international play – is going to carry the day.

Not sure when the Americans will lose, maybe in the semifinals like they have in each of the last two big global events, or maybe they make it to the gold medal game before falling short but fall short they will.

I know the Americans have the most talent 1-12, there’s no debating that. But I’ve seen them deconstruct in the past when the most was on the line and I can see it happening again.

They don't shoot it well enough, I don't think they're big enough and I think when things get tough, they might get selfish. I could be wrong -- although that seldom happens -- and I presume you'll all let me know when I am but if Spain does win, I are gonna be thought of as very smart.

-

This oughta be a hoot.

On Sunday morning over here, I’m off to cover the first water polo game of my career and, because of those pesky time zone things, I have to write right on deadline back in North America.

Now, it might be the greatest water polo game in the history of water polo and I wouldn’t know. But I’m pretty sure my first question shouldn’t be:

"Hey, coach, how do you get the horses in the pool?”

That’s the glory of the Games, you go and cover things you know very little about and hope there’s some human interest angle that gets you through 600 words.

-

Okay, maybe that scorpion-like thing was a crayfish, but it was the ugliest looking crayfish I’ve ever seen. From about four metres away, of course.

And there was no water anywhere we could see. But what do I know? I originally wondered if it was a baby gila monster.

-

You know what I haven’t seen around here yet?

A submachine gun.

Usually at the Olympics, the security is oppressive and the guards at the media village, the venues and the main press centre are always soldiers carrying weapons that say, “don’t screw with us.”

I’m not naïve enough to think there aren’t guys like that lurking around the Beijing Games but so far they haven’t made their presence known. It’s sort of unsettling to have some burly dude holding a machine gun watching your every move; it’s sort of nice to see smiling volunteers greeting us at these Games.

-

My Man Perk’s got a really good column going in tomorrow’s paper about the circus that was the American basketball media conference here Friday (which was Thursday back there, I think) and Lucas Our Photog has a great picture.

But I’ll give you a hint: It was a freaking circus.

Did get some time to hang with Bosh, though, who sat there and patiently answered about a zillion questions, many repeated by repeated waves of reporters.

And while a lot of big-time athletes are going to avoid the rest of the Games, he’s going to be out and about watching events..

"Yeah, track and field, boxing, swimming, all the venues. This only happens once every four years and I’ll never see it happen again in Beijing. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I don’t want to be cramped up in my room. I know that we have a goal in mind and I will make sure I keep that in mind when I’m out there having fun but I’ll get my rest and drink lots of water.”

-

You know how kids in North America play basketball in the schoolyards and hockey on the streets as they hone their skills?

Over here, it’s badminton.

In about a 20-minute bus ride the other night, we saw about four places – school yards, I think – where impromptu badminton games, most without actual nets, going on.

-

They do know how to take care of us here.

A colleague was leaving the media village this morning and when his bag went through the X-ray machine, a full beer can was spied by the eagle-eyed security dude.

Apparently it’s against the rules to take it out of the village (guess they want to sell you another one at the next stop) but they didn’t want to confiscate it, it being valuable and full and all.

What’d they do?

Checked it in a locker all by itself and gave my man a claim check for it.

We’re heading back there now, about 10 hours later, and figure it’ll be there and waiting.

How nice of them, eh?

-

Gonna keep it a bit short today, about to rush out of the press centre to drop the computer back in the room and venture out among the people to watch the opening ceremonies.

That should be very, very cool.

Talk to you later

The things you see

As close as it gets for Doug. Photo possibly taken with zoom lens.

You see a lot of things in the first class lounges of various train stations and airports – not that I go there very often in these budget-conscious times (hi boss!). Things like famous people sometimes. Free food. The odd drink. Comfortable chairs.

And, apparently, bugs.

Big, stinking scorpion-like bugs.

That’s what greeted four of us at the Tianjin West train station the other night at the end of a looooooong women’s football day.

We’re sitting there and notice – because we’re crack observers of course – this huge thing on the counter and three young workers playing with it. It’d run a metre or so, they’d pick it up, turn it around and watch it saunter back.

Great sports, I guess.

Not entirely sure what it was, and I only got close enough to snap a picture because me and bugs have issues, but I was sort of hoping they’d bring out another so we could watch a race and maybe have a friendly wager.

Alas, we were left to transcribe tape. And sip a beer.

-

Speaking of, I got a bone to pick with whoever’s in charge over here and reading this blog (I get antsy every time I write that word now).

At every Main Press Centre I’ve been in at five summer games now, there’s always been a 24-hour lounge somewhere at the MPC because we’re all working on the 24-hour clock and like to relax with a cold beverage whenever the day is done.

Well, over here at Puritanical MPC, they give last call at TWELVE FREAKING MIDNIGHT. And a couple of thirsty Team Star travelers report they couldn’t find a place to buy a beer at midnight back in our media village.

That, my friends, has to got to stop. Even in Ontario that wouldn’t happen.

-

While we’re on 24-hour establishments, here’s another installment 2 of Tales From Past Games.

We’re in Athens four years ago and discover, much to our glee, a gorgeous rooftop patio overlooking the stadium and the city. Breezy, lots of nice seats, plenty of serving stations and 3 Euro a pint beer.

As I’m picking up a tray or two for the crowd, I need to ask the comely young barkeep how late the joint may be open, trying to figure out how early I’d have to get there.

She goes, confers with some supervisor ‘cause I don’t think she quite understands my English and comes back to report:

"Sir, we are open all the hours.”

You think I smiled?

-

Okay, enough about booze.

Let’s get on to cigarettes.

(A note: I smoke, you shouldn’t. None of you. It’s not cool. I have to quit. I will. Don’t start).

Anyway …

We’re walking into the restaurant the other night and I, because I’m a good Canadian trained in non-smoking, butt out just as we get to the door.

A local with some knowledge of the place looks at me like I’ve got three heads and says, “Don’t worry, you can smoke in restaurants here. I think you can smoke in hospitals if you want.”

-

Okay, really, enough about booze and smoking.

Let’s get on to athletics. Sports. You know, games.

Of course, I’m the only one from Team Star who’s seen a game – the glorious 2-1 football win over the dastardly Argentines – and I gotta say, I admire the women.

It was stinking hot and stinking humid in Tianjin, and even hazier than it is in Beijing usually, and while it was a perfect opportunity to complain about the conditions, no one did.

No one worried that it would affect performance – that will become the excuse du jour, I’m sure – because, frankly, it’s hot and sticky pretty much everywhere in August. You deal with it.

"Obviously it’s a little bit of an adjustment, your shirt weighs about 10 pounds at the end of the game but everybody has to play in it,” said Christine Sinclair.

Quite refreshing, that attitude is.

-

Remember way back in day when I said we should have some legit nicknames for our international teams?

Well, the Chinese women’s soccer team are the Steel Roses. That might be one of the best ones out there.

Us? We’re Team Canada. Yawn.

-

This is quasi-Games related mail:

Q: I was watching a bit of the U.S./Aussie pre-Olympic warmup and I noticed Nathan Jawai (a.k.a. Aussie Shaq) wasn't on the team. Why do you think he isn't, I don't know much about the Aussie's except Bogut, but I figured with all the pre-draft hype he'd be there, any reasons why not? Also, I caught an interview with Aussie Shaq and he said that the NBL was probably better than U.S. college ball. Comparing the number of guys in the NBA from U.S. college vs. NBL I would think that would be a tough arguement. Your thoughts?

Mark P, Ajax

A: I think that’s a little bit of patriotic hyperbole but the fact is, the pro leagues around the world are men, rather than college teens so the basketball IQ might be a bit better.

And the Aussie team, which gave the Yanks a bit of scare in that game ‘cause all they got were open three-pointers, are one of the most veteran teams here, it’s no surprise that a kid who’s played one year of professional basketball didn’t make the squad.

-

I don’t know if this signals anything, it probably doesn’t, but there will be four basketball players carrying flags in Friday’s opening ceremonies.

Yao Ming gets the gig for China, Andrei Kirilenko does the honours for Russia, Dirk Nowitzki handles the deal for Germany and Manu Ginobili does it for Argentina.

Guess that takes Yao out of the Who Lights The Torch lottery. Better tell Perk so we can revise the wager.

-

So, it’s night over here and the work is pretty much done (it’s fun, some days, to cover Games with games) and there’s this reception thingy at Canada Olympic House. I believe they will feed and water us and that should give lots of fodder for this space tomorrow