Okay, can we please get the competition fully underway?

I don’t know, I’m sure I’m in a minority but I’m only going with “good” for the big TV show here Friday night.

Not ready to bestow “great” on it.

Sure, it was cool with the smokestacks, the flying rings, Bond, the whole sheep-in-the-meadow-thing and, of course, Our Gal Her Majesty Liz.

Nice touches, all. And there were others, for sure.

But if one of the enduring images many will have is of Mr. Bean goofing with the symphony, well … I don’t know.

The first part was very cool, although they kind of raced through the music a little bit and the ending was okay.

Not sure about the flame-lighting thing, though. I think that’s a one-person job, someone who epitomizes the host country and the Olympics, I get that it’s all about passing the torch and next generation and all that jazz, I think that might be better served in the closing ceremonies than the opening.

I don’t know if it should have been Roger Bannister but he would have been my choice. Shockingly, though, they didn’t ask me.

One thing they really have to do, and I have no clue what the answer is, is to find a way to shorten or speed up or something the parade of athletes.

It’s simply too big, and takes too long. I understand entirely the joy every last one of them must feel when they step in the stadium to be welcomed by the fans, the fellow competitors, the world. It is, for many, the best moment of their lives and it has to be a thrill of unimaginable proportions.

But it’s bad TV, I cannot imagine it’s all that much fun for the athletes after the initial wave of euphoria and while I wasn’t in the stadium I’m sure it must have dragged on.

Luckily for the athletes who have to compete today or tomorrow, there was a way to sneak out after walking in; they could make a turn and exit rather that stand or sit around for the rest of the night.

Bet a lot did.

Anyway, it was good, not great. Just good.

You want to come away awed or something when you watch these things open. The archer in Barcelona, Ali in Atlanta (and that was a sad sight, him there Friday), the spectacular expense of Beijing.

Today? Not awed.

-

Ok, I owe Irregulars who gave me Lamb’s Conduit a great big thank you.

Perseverance is a fine establishment (Wainwright’s going on the list of favourite amber liquids, I’d say), we did wander down to The Lamb to check it and, all in all, it was a fine night.

Shefali and Kemi were entertaining in the “hey, we made new friends” thing that happens around things like this and how could you not like a joint that welcomes you with this sign on the outside wall:

-

Hey, the Raptors did stuff.

Not at all newsy, of course. They signed John Lucas III and re-signed Aaron Gray but I have to think we’re pretty much done now until at least September.

Lucas fills a role as an emergency guard and is an upgrade on Ben Uzoh, as a fifth big Gray’s a solid returnee; neither will shift the balance of power in the league but they’re the kind of deep rotation guys you need over the course of a long season.

Figure Bryan’s pretty much out of money, roster spots and moves because there’s nothing going on with Calderon and nor should there be right now.

Time to let things sit, I think, and see what they’ve got when camp begins.

And I think, on the whole, it’s been a pretty good summer. Not great, not horrible, just good.

Who’s new?

Lowry, Fields, Ross, Valanciunas and Acy, right?

Who’d they supplant?

Well, Uzoh, James Johnson, Jerryd Bayless, Jamaal Magloire and Solo.

I’d say the new guys, overall, are better than they departed guys and that’s what you want, the evolution of a roster.

I have no clue – no one does – on how it’ll all work once they start doing things but there is more talent on this team than there was on the one that started last season.

Thankfully.

-

Hey, members of the world’s press corps, listen up:

PERSONAL SPACE IS IMPORTANT AND AN ISSUE YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU’RE IN MY FACE ON EVERY BUS AND IN EVERY QUEUE.

Thank you.

Oh, one more thing.

IT’S BEEN HOT, BUY DEORDORANT.

Regards.

-

I have the vaunted basketball-beach volleyball doubleheader today.

Women vs. Russia in the hoops, men vs. the Brits on the dirt and since Prince Harry seems to be the patron of the host beach volleyball team (that’s a pretty bright Prince, I’d say) I may get my first dose of royalty this afternoon.

Maybe he’ll stop and say hello.

And maybe he’ll bring his sister-in-law. That’d be cool.

-

London.

The Smiths.

Yeah, this works.

-

I’m sitting in the Main Press Centre right now, a cavernous joint that’s the media hub at Olympic Park (each venue has its own press centre but this is the one with all the amenities) and I’m glancing at the many TVs.

There’s table tennis on one, beach volleyball on another, one’s got nothing but a static shot of the swimming pool, another’s got some rowing.

Yep, the Games are on.

-

No, sorry, didn’t get to much of the mail so the usual fare will have to wait a bit. When I get some down time we’ll get to it, until then you’re welcome to try and say hello.

Click. Write. Send.

Cheerio.

-

 

Comments

[capt kirk]

Eh Doug who is this Cochrane kid?

Blogger's note: The swimmer? He's pretty good, and the race today isn't even his best event, I'm told
Here's our pre-Games profile
http://www.thestar.com/sports/london2012/athletes/article/1222029--london-2012-swimmer-ryan-cochrane-s-competitive-streak-just-under-the-surface

[Erik from Iroquois Falls]

Hey Doug, can we do the first ever women's IGBT? How is the wifi there? Would Mr. Rogge not allow an IGBT?

Blogger's note: We're checking on IGBT, not entirely sure.
Canada up 6 at half on Russia, making all kinds of shots and playing great

[Kate C]

Hi Doug,

Watching our women play basketball live, early on a Sunday. Lookin' good! Playing some great defense in the first half. Best regards to you - hope you continue to enjoy your time in London.

Kate C

Blogger's note: Am sitting in the arena watching it, too. They are playing out of their heads, good to see

[Kevin]

OK, Doug -- NEVER thought I'd see you post a video by my all-time favourite band, The Smiths. So, if it's The Smiths you want, and London-themed, how's about their noisy ditty, "London." Even name-checks Euston station in the first line: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PShfGsFr6d4

Blogger's note: I can be a guy of surprises

[Simone]

So it is confirmed that Magloire isn't coming back? Didn't hear anything up until now so I wasn't sure.

Blogger's note: Don't know for sure, all I do know is that he doesn't have a deal today. And I haven't much talk about him around the team

[511]

I enjoyed the ceremony for the most part, but I can’t imagine having to have watched it in real time. I’m glad I DVR’d it. It might just be me but watching the spectacle unfold as it did, getting somewhat caught up in the ‘art’ of it, I found it jarring every time Brian Williams and Lisa LaFlamme began their preamble to another commercial break. Suddenly, it felt like we were watching the Santa Clause parade on TV ... which would’ve had me quickly changing the channel had I not been able to fast-forward. Those ‘voices’ didn’t cut it for me at all, never mind the scripted dross that may have been necessary to allow for the ‘breaks’ (the bills have to be paid, I suppose), but so thoroughly dragged it all down, for those moments, anyway ... for this viewer. (And fast-forwarding through the endless marching in of the athletes was the only way I could’ve sat through any of that part.) But now it begins. Go Canada. Let’s win some medals.

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:
In your list of 'replaced' players, you listed Jamaal Magloire. I realize that you are across the pond, so this may be unanswerable at the moment, but do think this is it for Jamaal? Or do you think he'll be picked up by some team for basically the same reason the Raps got him?
Thanks for the great Olympics coverage. And, I agree - the Opening Ceremonies were just OK. They did plan for the commercial breaks on NBC well, though.

Blogger's note: Not sure about Jamaal, actually. All I know is he has no deal today

[Jeff R]

Here's another London name-check song for you from a great Canadian band, Spirit of the West:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPJD3qcIL7s

[Ken C]

Doug,

I thought you might want to share this info with the readership,Bell tv has a channel devoted to showing all the basketball games from the Olympics. (Ch.1175 HD) There is no commentary on the games, but I know most Raptors fans would be interested in watching JV play.

Enjoy the games !

[doug]

I agree on the opening ceremonies...I think they missed the boat on them, not on the presentation as so much the theme....to me the British are a misunderstood lot, they are surly negative etc...but they are survivors. they persevere and get on with life as their history shows...to me Americans are whiners not specifically as I know many and their fine people and I think they are tired of being Americans......but to me the opening ceremonies never showed the British grit, yes the smokestacks were a good beginning but to just ignore to the 2 world wars was a mistake....as that defines them.....but NBC pays the bills and therein lies the problem, as they edited the opening ceremonies for their feed to exclude the "victim" part which was and is a sham as after 9/11 didn't the whole world stop??...a sad nation the U.S. is as a whole, as where were they when the British were being carpet bombed they only became engaged after Pearl Harbour...or any any conflict, self-serving should be their credo, and the opening ceremonies reflect that...I always said to me friends/family etc that the worse thing being a Canadian is being adjoined to the U.S...to me I wish we were part of Europe where were just a border onto a border..I am not anti-american at all...but they are what they are and we are what we are, more British then American, and thank-god for that...ok cheers...

[Zbig]

Really? Bean?

Distance to one and yourself with a plum of cherry.

Behind and behold

Zbig