Of blade runners, basketball, movies ... and, of course, a pub

Little items today.

A few of them but nothing really stands out.

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Sentences I never thought I’d utter.

(To a volunteer in the main press centre as I was writing my track story)

“Ma’am, could you please change the channel on that television to badminton?”

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Finally!

In our Adventures In Pubs part of this shindig, finally found a Samuel Smith joint, the Princess Louise on High Holborn just a stone’s throw from the hotel.

Sam Smith’s Organic Lager might be the favourite beverage of that ilk anywhere in the world; crisp, not too heavy and you can’t find it everywhere. Think the barman said there were less than 40 Sam Smith pubs in the city – not including Free Houses, I would think – and it was a pretty good find.

And if you find it in a 140-year-old pub with all kinds of snugs and tiny rooms with ornate wainscoting and some mirrors that were part of the original structure, you’ve hit the motherlode.

Yes, this trip isn’t half bad at all.

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Yes, they take their warnings seriously around these parts. Saw this on some electric relay station or something outside the main press centre.

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It’s about 8 a.m., I’m going on about four hours sleep again with a long day of track, basketball and then track ahead.

I do not need, at any level, a group of exuberant volunteers a few rows down singing Happy Birthday to someone.

Really.

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Someone needs to explain to me how a list of the best movies ever comes out and not only does Citizen Kane get kicked out of first place, it’s kicked out for Vertigo.

Vertigo isn’t even Hitchcock’s best, every right-thinking person in the world knows that Rear Window is Alfred’s best, let along the best ever.

These people need to give their collective heads a shake.

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So as I’m researching the track story, I have to find some Oscar Pistorius quotes, or at least some background information on the South African blade runner.

And it seems he had a press conference somewhere here this week and there’s a nice full transcript.

Quote of the day on how his Mom influenced him is priceless:

"My mother said to us one morning, 'Carl (his brother), you put on your shoes, and Oscar, you put on your prosthetic legs.’ And that was the last we heard of it. I didn't grow up thinking I had a disability, I grew up thinking I had different shoes.”

Pretty good, no?

However, I’m not entirely sure I agree with the Court of Arbitration’s decision to overturn the IAAF’s ruling that he not be allowed to compete here.

It’s a tough one, no doubt. He’s met the qualification standards, there is medical evidence that there is no physical advantage to racing on prosthetics and those are probably the two biggest issues.

But it gets dicey in my mind. And you need to know I all about inclusiveness and think treating people equally well regardless of almost any circumstances.

But here? Here I think Pistorius should probably be in the Paralympics. Those are the Games that put him, so to speak, on equal footing with his other competitors, his presence there will, in some way, raise the bar for other amputees, he gives them a standard to try to meet.

I think if there’s a “cause” to advance, it might be best that he advance it against others in similar circumstances.

I don’t know though. I could probably be talked into changing my mind because his presence in the Olympics could very well stir others on to try and match his accomplishments and proves how we should not view amputees as different but as normal athletes.

Either way, it’s a pretty good story and that’s a pretty good quote.

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You know me and roundabouts (or traffic circles as we know them).

Well, there are a billion of ‘em here, we go through half a dozen or so each day on our drives in and out of Olympic Park and, get this, they also have traffic lights.

Traffic lights at roundabouts?

Kind of like wearing suspenders and a belt, isn’t it?

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The beach boys got knocked out of the Olympics last night, the women were eliminated in the afternoon and I fear my journeys to Horse Guard’s Parade are now over.

That’s good in a way because the incessant music was nice and all but they play this song about every 40 seconds it seems and it’s been rattling around in my head for days.

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I see the Americans edged Nigeria 156-73 in the men’s basketball here Thursday night.

Yeah, that’s the kind of delightful game that’ll “grow” the sport incredibly.

No, the Yanks didn’t run up the score, it’s just the way the game unfolded and it’s the kind one-off rout you’re going to get every now and then.

The story over at the basketball – and, yes, I’ll get there one day soon, haven’t been able to yet because other things are getting in the way – would be Lithuania, which is 1-2 and the coming showdown between Russia and Spain that could be epic.

The Lithuanians are interesting, I’m told. Valanciunas has been okay but only played seven minutes the other day against France for some unknown reason and they are just 1-2 and seem destined to barely squeak into the quarter-finals.

I wouldn’t read too much – heck, I wouldn’t read anything – into the Valanciunas numbers, which are quite underwhelming. First off, numbers don’t tell the story; secondly, it’s a different style of play and, third, the kid has skill. So, please, don’t sweat it.

As for Russia-Spain, it’s a huge game between two very good teams with an awful lot on the line.

The winner, if all things play out as expected, won’t have to face the Americans until the gold medal game; the loser would have to play the USA in the semifinals.

It goes Saturday at 11:15 a.m. our time and I think I need to be there.

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Comments

[Dan]

Hi Doug,

The Cittie of Yorke pub on High Holborn is also a pretty cool, very old place, with some nice snug areas and tiny rooms.

Blogger's note: It's on the list now, thanks

[Marc]

Doug

Glad you liked the Princess Louise.

The best Sam Smith pub in London (and a contender for best pub in London period) is Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - about a 20 minute walk from Holborn. Go all the way down Kingsway, then left at the bottom, and another left onto Fleet Street. The Cheshire Cheese is about half way down on the left. It's more than 400 years old and has been a favourite drinking haunt of literary London for most of that time. Dr. Johnson, Voltaire, Thackeray and Dickens are all known to have drank there. Very cool.

Blogger's note: Have been there! Best. Pub. Ever.

[Heath]

I totally spaced on recommending this place but the American Bar in the Savoy (quick walk from your hotel) is a really interesting place to see http://www.fairmont.com/savoy-london/dining/americanbar/. The cocktails are incredible, and incredibly over priced, but the experience is really cool and the historical aspect of such a famous hotel is really cool. They have a small museum detailing their history, like certain celeb guests room-cards from the '20's that detail their requests for check-in. Enjoy.

[LeeZ]

Citizen Kane employed revolutionary filmmaking techniques. The plot was incredible, the character development stupendous, the use of light and shading miraculous, the psychology mesmerizing, and the acting and pacing superlative. Whereas Vertigo, while undeniably a great movie, was laughably kitchy. No comparison.And you're quite right, Rear Window was the better movie for any number of reasons, not least because Grace kicks Kim's butt any. Day. Of. The. Week. And, of course, "the kiss". Nuff said. There's a reason Grace is the official mascott of this blog. Don't go changing it to Kim Novak, Doug, I implore you!

[Mr. Cook]

Roger Ebert explains the list here: http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2012/08/a_few_calm_words_about_the_lis.html He's not saying anyone should like it, but his insider knowledge of its growth and trending of the votes is interesting. I like the Director's list better. I'm also of the opinion that, like literature, there is an unfair bent on picking things from the deep past over the recent past. Films, like books, have to be given time to show their mastery and influence and I get that. But just as McCarthy and Pynchon and D. Foster Wallace should be considered among the best ever, so should Lynch and Herzog.

[Rob.V]

I dont know. When I look at the boxscore and see Melo hoisted 16 shots in 14 minutes, and 12 of those 14 shots were 3 point attempts... it smells like trying to run up the score.
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Kobe, started it with his talk of beating the 92 team so it seems as though they are going out to prove the 2012 edition would be on par with the 92 squad.
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Is it just me though, or does it seem desperate?
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Except for Kobe the kids in the NBA today are still just wannabe's. LBJ seemed to finally "get it" this past season however Melo is exactly that... still a wanna be. I dunno, maybe it's just my general distaste for his game however that guy needs Phil Jackson about as bad as Kobe and MJ needed him early in their careers.
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I will say this though. Until that cat changes his focus, he (and the NYK's) are nowhere closer to an NBA championship team than you and I are.

[codeJP]

For those of you who didn`t watch, here`s a summary of the USA vs. Nigeria game.

Kobe went off in the first minutes, hitting difficult shots. The game was already over in the first 5 minutes. Carmelo and everyone else couldn`t miss from behind the 3 point arc. Nigeria just left them open from the arc trying to protect the paint. Melo broke the record with the most points for an USA player with 37 points, in just 14minutes.

By the 4th quarter, USA was already up by 70. They settled into a zone and walked the ball up even when they had a fast break. Still, they scored 39 points in the 4th.

[jumpshot]

Doug, it now looks like 4 games where our ladies basketball team has collapsed in the 2nd half. Regardless of the outcome against Brazil (4th qtr just started) some serious questions need to be asked about the coaching staff here. You can't blame the athletes, but certainly this is all about coaching!

Blogger's note: Or the opponent. But I imagine you've seen enough international women's basketball to know

[jumpshot]

Doug, I know enough to understand that being mentally prepared to handle intensity and pressure is ALL about being mentally prepared and that is on the coaches.

Blogger's note: You're wrong. End of discussion

[jumpshot]

Well I guess you do get the last word. But I believe my 30 years of playing, coaching and watching this sport (and others), plus my university courses in Sports Psychology actually give me great comfort in knowing I am not. But we'll leave it at that.

Blogger's note: Whatever. So the comeback after losing the lead means Allison's a great coach, right?

[TLI]

Hey, Doug -- just thought our local London girl, Lesley Thompson-Willie, should have a shout-out here. So here it is.

Loved Dave Feschuk's piece on her after the women's 8s silver; a worthy tribute.

Mother Star seems to have fielded a great team for these Olympics, too!

[james]

I and my 40 years of experience couldn't disagree more with @jumpshot. That is one resilient team we have there. They wobbled in the third, but didn't panic and had it figured out by the end of the fourth. There was one other aspect of that game that I won't mention, except to say that Allison McNeill has a great deal more self-control on the bench than I have on my couch in limiting herself to livid looks. At least Canada made most of the free throws they were given. Great work by Tamara Tatham, Krista Phillips and Kim Smith defensively but, really, it was a total team effort and their best offensive game by far. And kudos to Ms. Thorburn for not picking up the fifth foul that probably would have sunk them.

[Jean-Serge Baril]

Hey Doug, thx for the great work as always! Although I rarely post or send questions, I enjoy the read everyday. Just wanted to add as far as Hitchcocks movies go, do not forget The Rope, a movie filmed in one shot, in the same room, without taking anything out of the plot. cheers!

[sportschic]

Nice! The Canadian women's soccer team beat Great Britain to progress. Will you be able to have a chance to check out their game against the U.S.? Christine Sinclair (as someone mentioned here earlier) would certainly be worthy of a few lines.

Also, kudos to the Canadian women's basketball team. :)

Blogger's note: Nah, that's all Cathal's baby and he's covering it like a blanket

[doug]

I don't give a flying frig what a lot of critics say....Citizen Kane is by far the best movie of all time...it was so far ahead of it's time and even to this day some of those shots are magnificent pieces of cinematography, and that's not even talking about the storyline, the acting etc...pure genius and evolutionary and totally watchable today...kudos to canadian women both on the pitch (Sinclair is our best athlete right now in all sports) and the hardcourt, as the b-ballers showed sometimes losing early in the fashion they did against Russia and France pays dividends later as to win tough close games is a learned skill, these players I believe learned from those losses earlier and weren't going to allow it to happen again....so kudos to them....ok cheers and carry-on...I think at some point we need a Sultan's of Swing tune as that Dire Straits song is all about London and it's music scene...signing off.....

[sportschic]

Aaaah .. I missed that there was an IGBT for the women's game. Cathal's taking over on the IGBT stakes lately. ;)

Blogger's note: He's killing it; tough to compete with but I'll try to find some event to give it a shot at. Trouble is, not all games or events are being shown live start to finish, right?

[Dave B]

I didn't get to watch all the women's Basketball game (I had to go to the funeral of the father of a friend of ours). I set up my PVR to record but for some reason it didn't work. I assume I cancelled it after it started.

I was glad to see the win, but didn't get to see the last half of the third quarter or the fourth. I was concerned about Canada getting out rebounded in the first half. There were a lot of put backs by Brazil. I assume this improved in the second half.

In any case, I was happy to see them make it to the quarter finals. However, if they have to face the USA, I assume this is the end of the road for them. Is the quarter finals 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3?

Good luck ladies.

Blogger's note: One left against Australia and then, likely, the States