These Games have a ways to go in providing stories

Time to shift in to full-on Olympic mode, I believe (which guarantees Raptors news sometime today in my Life Of Jinxing), because the big airplane leaves tonight and the next missive will be from Jolly Old England, Air Canada-willing.

Not sure how we’ll do for time here but that plan is to have something for you to wake up to each day; pardon me if I miss one early morning, I have a feeling there might be some late nights.

Anyway …

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I have no idea what awaits us in London but I am sure some good stories will pop up because they always do. Like these:

(Pardon me if some have been repeated by they’re what I’ve got)

Barcelona, 1992

Opportunity lost

It’s the first day of the Games, I’m there primarily to cover the Dream Team and Canadian boxers and who knows what else.

First day, I’m sent to cover shooting with is about a three-hour bus ride towards France and three of my boys – Brunt, Farber and Cole, as I recall but I could be wrong – decide to do the boxing draw right by our village.

I drag my sorry butt to the shooting range to cover a guy who finishes 36th or something and it ends up being a line of agate in What Canada Did.

The other three?

They get a private scrum at the boxing venue with Nelson Mandela.

Yeah, that Nelson Mandela.

First time South Africa had been in the Olympics in decades, Mandela was a boxer and, of course, he’s there; I’m on a bus to France.

Atlanta, 1996

Scary ride

Perk and P. Hunter and I grab a cab after the final Saturday night at the track because the volunteer bus drivers had pretty much quit. We’re off to a bar, of course, but the cabbie seems to be going a different route. We’re in a rather dicey part of town, groups on one corner, yutes on the other and now the cabbie decides he needs some gas.

Pull up at the station, guy standing near the pumps and we figure he’s going to: “Good evening, gentlemen; fill ‘er up with regular?”

But, no. He slides open the side of jacket to reveal what looks suspiciously like a gun and says:

“We ain’t selling you no effing gas.”

Yep. Gotta love Atlanta. And that was after the bombing.

Sydney, 2000

A shocking attempt

We’re housed on the grounds of what used to former mental hospital, stark barracks that weren’t too bad and the nice Aussies decided to spice the place up with a pen of kangaroos that were on our walk to the bus spot.

Well, we felt for the ‘roos, they looked all sad in their little enclosure and an intrepid colleague who shall go nameless decided one night – with some help – to let the little cuties out.

An attempt to open the gates led to the discovery that those sneaking Aussies had gently electrified the fence, perhaps knowing that some one would want to “free the ‘roos.”

Athens, 2004

Greatest. Line. Ever.

Main press centre had a nice open-air rooftop bar we discovered early in the journey; a somewhat quiet oasis from the hustle and bustle.

After a particularly late night, I’m standing there sipping and chatting with the comely bar wench because that’s what I do.

Her English could be better – like I cared – and when I asked how late the joint was open, she looked confused and trotted off to speak to a boss or someone.

She comes back, all smiles and says:

“Sir? We are open all the hours.”

Beijing, 2008

Aliens among them

The women’s soccer team played a lot of its games in Tianjin, a huge city about a three-hour bullet train ride from Beijing, forcing more than a few of us into long road trips.

We go one day for a night game with our tickets in hand and land at the main Tianjin train station, a rather opulent, obviously refurbished building with marble floors and all the amenities.

Well, our trip back late, late at night, was from Tianjin East station.

Let’s just say it’s not quite as nice.

We walk in about 11 p.m., a group of bedraggled Canadians wearing credentials and looks of exhaustion to find families – scores and scores of families – sitting in total silence on the cement front stoops, reclined on bags of rice, waiting for the overnight train to Shanghai.

Can’t imagine many of them had ever seen a Canadian, or an American, or any Caucasian and the stares we got – again, in total silence – was amazing.

London, 2012

Who knows!

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Basketball?

Nothing, really. I presume there’ll be some minor NBA news in the next little while but the feeling I’m getting from talking to just a few people is that things are going to shut down, or calm down considerably, for the next little while.

All the Raptors have to do is get James Johnson to Sacramento do his physical so they can finish the John Lucas III deal; they need to finalize Aaron Gray -- nothing’s signed yet and we know nothing is done until it’s done, don’t we? – and then it’s going to be coasting mode, I would imagine.

Which would be very nice, wouldn’t it?

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Am sure you saw or heard the news about the Joe Paterno statue being taken down at Penn State yesterday.

Aside from it being an obvious move to remove some of the horrible memories it must evoke for most right-thinking men and women around that campus I truly think there is a cautionary tale here that should serve all kinds of people well in the future.

I don’t know that anyone should ever erect a statue to a living person, we don’t ever know the secrets they hold, the danger is omnipresent about lionizing someone who isn’t precisely what they purport to be.

Now, yes, I am sure there are some living people who deserve such honours like that; I’m sure there are people among us who are what they are, free of terrible secrets or complicity in unspeakable acts of depravity.

But that’s too bad.

We as a society have a tendency to lionize people for what we think they are and how they present themselves and don’t even want to ask if what we’re doing is right.

It was a mistake to put the thing up in the first place, I think. Such honours need to be reserved to celebrate life lived, not one that’s in the process of unfolding.

We rush to glorify. We shouldn’t.

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Comments

[JC]

Safe travels

Blogger's note: Thanks

[Zow]

Good luck,safe travels,have a great time!

Blogger's note: Much appreciated

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

Something tells me these Olympics for you are going to be quite different from my Olympic - Montreal, 1976.

I remember sitting in a sort of outdoor cafeteria outside Olympic Stadium, with members of the Dutch track team at the table next to me.

I remember a subway ride home with the members of the Australian Men's Basketball Team in the same car - needless to say, there wasn't much opportunity to take a nap there!

Finally, I remember sitting in the stands watching the US Men's Basketball Team warming up for a game (back when the teams were real amateurs, a concept that I think the Olympics gave up -sadly - for the sake of money), and the 7-foot member of the USSR Women's Basketball Team was sitting a couple of rows in front of me.

Times, sadly, have changed!

All the best on your flight over there, and your time there. I - and I am sure all Irregulars - are looking to your missives from across the pond! Have fun!

Blogger's note: I most certainly will; and times have changed, indeed. You need about three levels of security clearance just to get in the common areas of the village

[Matt G]

Re: "Sir? We are open all the hours." Just how big was your smile when you heard that? 'Cause just reading that line, mine was as wide as Shaq.

Blogger's note: Best. Line. Ever.

[Peter]

Hi Doug, I hope you have a great time in London. I was wondering if you could try for a picture a day while you're in London. Something taken on your iPhone, that we won't see in any other coverage. It's always fun to tour with you in words, but it would be great to see what you see each day too. No problems if you can't.

Blogger's note: WIll do my best

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

Perhaps his has been asked and answere — there are so many great pints going to be available to a guy on a stool, is there a particular flavor you are looking to enjoy after a hard day's night (and you've been working like a dog)?
Safe trip, mi amigo.

marc in panama

Blogger's note: Samuel Smith's organic lager, brewed in Tadcaster; a true delight

[Ken B]

Doug: Just a few reminders, Look both ways before you cross Abbey Road. Make sure you put on clean underware, (you never know). Have a snack before you imbibe. Be back at your room by 11:00 p.m. Don't forget your press pass. Call a cab. Never go out alone. Keep in touch with the irregulars. Call us if you need anything. Don't talk to strangers, especially wenches. Lastly, enjoy yourself, and make us proud.

Blogger's note: All of 'em done; except maybe that 11 p.m. thing

[joeu]

Good morning, Doug.

Further to your point about the pitfalls of lionizing , I saw this a few days ago.

I don't know Rick Reilly, but it seems heartfelt, and it's an interesting glimpse into some of the attitudes behind college football in the US.

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/8162972/joe-paterno-true-legacy

[Isaac]

Have a safe trip brother, it sure will be different Olympics without Randy.

Blogger's note: Sadly, it will

[Dave B]

Doug, I am not a fan of the Olympics and see it as three weeks of bad TV. I think with the drugs and cover-ups, the security, the cost and the professional players participating that this is an event that is well past it Best Before Date.

That being said, I really enjoyed your behind the scenes stories during the Beijing Olympics. It gave a different perspective from the ongoing drivel on TV. So I will come here for all my Olympic coverage.

When you go for your fish and chips, remember that they don't remove the skin before cooking it. Most north Americans don't find it particularly appetizing.

I wish you safe travels my friend and I look forward to your unique perspective on the Olympics.

Blogger's note: I appreciate it

[Striker 77]

Have a safe trip Doug. All the best!

Blogger's note: Thanks a lot

[Lorie]

Morning Doug!
Well, I guess you were too excited about all this Olympic stuff to have noticed that The Teen Choice Awards were last night - and The Biebs got four awards! Sadly, your other fave, Drake, was shut out this year so didn't get to take home one of those prestigious-if-not-practical surfboard award thingys. But Charlize Theron got one for - get this category - "Choice Movie Hissy Fit"! So, Doug, I hope you have lots and lots and lots of happy moments and few, if any, hissy-fit inducing ones. Safe travels and I'm really looking forward to your stories from London 2012! Cheerio!

Blogger's note: If history holds, a private hissy fit, maybe. Thanks

[Ken]

Any information on who (or how many of you) will be trying to fill the shoes of your fallen comrade Mr. Starkman? I know he'll be in everyone's thoughts once you arrive and notice the absence first hand.

Blogger's note: Could be 100 of us and we couldn't. Our team is pretty solid but lacking the star, that's for sure. It's me, Rosie, Dave, Cathal, Paul Hunter and Robyn Dollittle of our city hall bureau. And Stevie Boy Russell's the photog so that'll be top notch

[sportschic]

Safe travels! Looking forward to your posts from London. I`m sure at least one will mention this place: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ye_Olde_Cheshire_Cheese

Blogger's note: You know me too well

[james]

Stay dry (in the literal sense) and give our best to Allison and her team. You must be quite excited.

Blogger's note: Getting there, last of the pre-Games work just done

[Mike kovacs]

I am so jealous of you sipping Sam Smiths ( notice the plural ) at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese!

Blogger's note: At least one, I promise

[Mike kovacs]

@doug: Thanks for the youtube link of the hurdler on the w/e. She is going to accrue a huge fanclub!

[skinnyD]

If "coasting mode" means this is the team we are going into training camp with, I would have a hard time then not pre-proclaiming this year as another re-build. There is still no legit starting SF, Calderon is still on the team, and after BC's press conference with Lowry, why wouldn't he want out. He states out loud that Lowry is being given the keys to the bus so to speak.

It is a shame that BC cannot find a taker for Calderon ASAP. This is going to be TJ and Jose all over again if they go to camp with both vet PG's.

The nice gift this summer was watchng Ross in summer league. Finally, a Raptor capable of creating his own shot. I have no idea who the Wright(sp) was on the team, but that guy was awesome.

Also, was nice to see Robert Sacre make an impression. 60th in the draft, ignored by the Raptors, Canadian kid, BC boy, a stud, and who does Toronto pick 57th??? Thats right, its some Euro who will never play in the NBA......I mean why draft a CDN kid who plays the same position, is bigger, stronger, played NCAA ball, when you can have a Euro to stash for the next 5 seasons?

Regardless of how that all went down, the Raps absolutely refuse to draft CDN, even if it is the best player available at that position , at that point in the draft. They WILL not do it. Why? Ask Colangelo. He knows................

I know Robert doesn't care though, he's in LA, probably going to the Finals or West Finals at least as a Laker, gets to play with Nash and Kobe, and learn from Gasol and Bynum. Maybe BC actually gave this kid a gift by NOT drafting him.........

Blogger's note: You will unquestionably have the stones to come back here on opening night and openly retract that rant if Sacre's not on the Laker roster that night, right? Promise? That's what a man would do

[Bob Wesley]

Hey Doug,Have a safe trip overseas buddy.Do the English drink only warm Beer?I notice Rodney Carney on the Raptors summer league team,If he plays great will he get a training camp invitation?

Blogger's note: Oh, no. There's refridgeration now. No clue on Carney

[Dan]

I agree with you on Paterno, but I don't think a statue of say, Nelson Mandela, would be a bad thing, though he's still alive. Anyway, welcome to London. It's the first sunny day here in two months.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

I have no real qualm with whatever sanctions Penn State ends up getting and deservedly so. But may I throw out a thought on these types of situations that might be worth at least a look at? We have a Penn State football program and history that will be paying penalties. With Pete Rose, we have a baseball career and history paying penalties. With Russia and Afghanistan, we had the Olympics program and history paying penalties.
At some point, maybe we to need to take a closer look at the real root problems, rather than dancing around them by dealing with and punishing the smaller, easier targets. The smaller, easier targets here are football, baseball and the Olympics. The true, root problems are pedophilia, gambling and, oh, the invasion of a foreign country.
Are we really getting anywhere with finding 'a fix' for the big-ticket issues when we tend to change the subject and our focus from the apples to the oranges? Just wondering.
Cheers, and good travels to ye, Doug.

[J]

@skinnyD

"I mean why draft a CDN kid who plays the same position, is bigger, stronger, played NCAA ball, when you can have a Euro to stash for the next 5 seasons?"

Gotta love dumb questions that practically answer themselves (hint: they wanted someone they could stash, as opposed to paying a 6th or 7th big for each season until he develops, while taking up a roster spot, lest they lose his rights). Also, your prejudice is showing, and while it's something I've learned to expect from my American brethren, it's truly disappointing from a Canadian. Maybe you should point fingers at yourself before pointing them at BC.

I have no vested interest in Zubcic, nor do I care who gets picked in the late second round, but 1) no, they don't play the same position (not even the same skillset to argue that C and PF are interchangeable), and 2) Sacre was the best player on the board by whose standards? Yours?

[doug]

@Mike Kovacs best part of that vid (ok one of the best is she went out kicked butt, ok bad pun but she did)....so kudos to the Ncaa I dish on them regularly but they got it more then right today, they KO'ed Penn Stare, maybe and to the victims I wish it wouldn't come to this or what I am going to say but maybe this will be a eye-opener for all NCAA schools, so if those young boys can ever forgive or take solace in anything it's people do listen eventually and care...and no man or no program can ever take away from you what was taken away from you , your pride,dignity and part of your soul,don't let them win, as your the winners...so kudos to the NCAA more sports league should take notice of the way NCAA handled this (never thought I'd utter those words)...have a safe trip/flight and here's to adding to your memories list (those were some good ones), sort of like a bucket list but better as you're already doing it...chip,chip cheerio or something like that...