A Piece of Olympic History

You're not going to believe this. I was sitting in the living room watching curling when suddenly the stone closest to the front of my TV fell off onto my floor!!

OK, so I know you're not believing it because the handles on the Vancouver stones aren't the same as the ones used in the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, which is the origin of that rock.

Here's the real story of how it got there.

Last week while watching curling, I had already consumed a bottle of red wine while waiting on txrad to get home from an errand. He was running way behind, hence I consumed the whole bottle of wine as opposed to the half of it which was my intent. When he did arrive it was almost 9PM and he wanted a drink or six. He did a tequila shot and so did I.

I got on the internet to research something about curling and stumbled upon a website for a curling supply store in Madison, WI. Lo and behold, they had a stone for sale from the Salt Lake Olympic curling competition.

For many weeks after the 2002 games I had been searching online to see if I could find one. I looked everywhere and on ebay. No luck. I finally gave up after concluding that the Olympic Committee keeps a tight grip on them, or that there are so few available that the lucky ones who have an opportunity to get one are not so eager to part with it.

So with that bit of history behind me, I knew I had to do this. Mix wine, tequila, and beer with a credit card and internet access and well... a fool and his money are soon parted.

The next morning I woke up and it felt just like any other day, until I recalled that perhaps I had spent $800 on a 40-pound chunk of granite. An email from the curling supply shop confirmed it.

For about an hour I felt like I'd made a huge mistake... until the euphoria started to kick in. After contemplating that it could potentially be considered an investment, aside from being a true piece of Olympic history (OK, Olympic curling history; it's not exactly the swim briefs worn by Michael Phelps in the summer Olympics!), I started to get excited.

Over the weekend I was so hoping it would arrive by Monday but I suspected it would be Tuesday. And on an appropriately cold and snowy day in Austin, my rock arrived.

And oh my God, that box was heavy! You think 40-pounds isn't much but when it is condensed down to something this small, it boggles the mind.

I started looking for the serial number inscribed by the Olympic Committee and couldn't find it. For a few seconds I was starting to suspect I'd been scammed. Actually it's extremely hard to see unless the light hits it at the correct angle. I had to take 5 or 6 photos to get this one.

The owner of the curling supply store in Madison, Wisconsin included a handwritten note as well as an article about the rock with which the gold medal was won by Great Britain at the 2002 Salt Lake City games.

"After the British Olympic Committee purchased this [the winning rock] and the seven other yellow handle stones they used, we were able to purchase the other 8 stones used in the game from the Salt Lake Olympic Committee.

This stone is very special -- enjoy!"

And it was at this point that I realized just how special. This wasn't just a "rock used in competition" during the 2002 Olympics. This one was used in play by the Swiss team competing against Great Britain for the GOLD MEDAL! And it has a very legendary sister residing in the Scottish Hall of Fame -- Yellow C4, serial number 1829 -- which secured Britain's first-ever Olympic gold in curling.

2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics Women's Curling Championship:

Later this afternoon, I can settle in on the sofa to watch some Olympic curling, and occasionally glance down at my own rock. Sweet.

Crossposted at B3

Canada Rocks

Based on the score of 6-2 favoring Canada, you might not think this was an exciting competition. Quite the contrary. I'm amazed. Not that I was ever in doubt Canada was going to clinch it, but the Swedes could muster some precise deliveries.

Great throw by Sweden.

Great sweeping.

80 pounds of rock on the button. Canada grabbed that end by a hair. Literally.

What's not to love?

Poor John Shuster

I feel bad for the guy. Really. Just can't get the rock on the button.

The US lost in yet another frustrating nail-biter in curling competition against the Swiss today.

Jeff Isaacson, throwing a stone for the US today. The US lost in the extra 11th end.

Chicago Or Rio?

Question of the Day

Which city would you like to see host the 2016 Summer Olympics? The contenders are Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, and Tokyo. I'm reducing this to two choices but you can vote for any.

I love Chicago and would love to see it host the Olympics. However, I love to pull for the underdogs, and the fact that no South American city has even hosted the Olympics doesn't seem fair. So I'd have to pull for Rio, under the circumstances.

“It would be overwhelming for our city, for our citizens and for Brazil as a whole,” said Carlos Osorio, the secretary general of Rio’s Olympic bid committee.

While three other finalists — Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo — have also mounted strong bids, Rio has drawn support outside of Brazil’s borders. President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, who has been negotiating military deals with Brazil, said he supported Rio’s bid “100 percent.” King Juan Carlos of Spain has said he will throw his support behind Rio if Madrid is eliminated in the first round of voting.

And some International Olympic Committee members have been reported to be enamored of the idea of correcting the Games’ historic neglect of South America.

And since the publication of that article which mentioned that Michelle Obama was going to make the pitch to the IOC, Barack has changed his mind and will attend to make the pitch for Chicago.

Frankly, I'd rather he stay here and continue to pitch for health care reform, but whatever.

Previously, Mr. Obama had said that the pressing issue of health care reform would prevent him from making the trip to Copenhagen. Advisers had also said that they were worried that he could be embarrassed internationally if he traveled to Copenhagen and the committee did not vote for Chicago.

Actually it will be more embarrassing if he fails to get health care reform pushed through than whether or not he can secure the 2016 Olympics for Chicago. And probably more costly in 2012 which should be a bigger concern than 2016.

Beauty in the Water Cube

I love the Olympics and I can't help myself. This is beautiful.

Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images

And if you were curious as to why the swimmers go shower off immediately after emerging from the pool, here's an answer.

Theories have ranged from 'to get the chlorine off' to 'they want to have fun' -- seriously, that last one is a direct quote from NBC's diving analyst, Cynthia Potter. Neither are the reason.

Divers shower in between each dive to keep their muscles warm after getting out of the pool. The temperature of the pool water and the air are usually different (the pool is usually around 80 degrees, with the air temperature between 68 and 72 degrees). This difference can cause muscle tightness. To combat this, divers warm up in either the showers or a hot tub.

And while we're on the subject of hot water action, Angelos has one to upstage Janet Jackson.

Hello Kitty

I'm getting a little annoyed with these Chinese athletes who appear to be 12-years-old.

He Kexin can't possibly be 16. Maybe. But I seriously doubt it. I voted for 12. I've seen reports that's she's 14. That a middle ground I'm willing to accept.

And all this purple and blue eye liner and glitter.. it just reeks of underage.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Oh, she's good; no doubt about it. But rules is rules.

16 my ass.

My Least Favorite Event

There are several sports in which I have zero interest. Basketball being one of them. And honestly, I don't get the world's infatuation with soccer. I was watching some of that during lunch at a restaurant today, and frankly it's about as exciting as staring out the window.

But neither of those can approach my least favorite event of all: Weightlifting. It gives me a hernia to watch these people and the palms of my hands literally sweat. I don't like it. And I'm not going to watch it.

Caption this:

I hope 3 billion people can't see that I just shit myself.

Enjoy the Olympics, Mr. Putin

And while I'm on the subject of assholes, I hope Putin was enjoying himself at the Olympic opening ceremonies in Beijing.

I'm not sure what Bush thought he saw when he looked into the eyes of Putin but it clearly wasn't a good soul.

Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin of Russia declared that “war has started,”...

Yes, it certainly has.

The Parade of Nations

Of course when the Iraqi contingent appears, all cameras would point to George and Laura Bush applauding.

And why not?

ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!

A Common Olympic Theme

It seems to be dog eat god out there.

This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by a third party.

Fucking scavengers.

義勇軍進行曲

The national anthem of China is "March of the Volunteers?"

How ironic. And who knew?

How a government can repress people capable of such beautiful artistry is beyond my comprehension.

8.8.08

The opening ceremonies are going to be so cool in high def.

However.... Fuck China.

Photo credit: Chang W. Lee/New York Times

Let the Games Begin

I'm eagerly anticipating the Beijing Olympics for a completely abnormal reason. I'm more interested in the potential for unexpected events which could disrupt the planned ones and potentially prove embarrassing for a country which should never have been awarded the games in the first place.

Where to begin...

Acts of God

Acts of Assailants

Airborne Particulates

Human Rights Violations

And of course, the Propaganda Panda.

On the ever-sensitive subjective of political protests, visitors are warned in no uncertain terms that protests on any subject from politics, to the environment and animal rights will not be tolerated.

[...]

Then again, few other Olympic cities have such an overt approach to propaganda work. Red banners have sprouted all over the city in recent days exhorting citizens to show their enthusiasm - and their obedience to the Party line.

"I participate, I contribute and I enjoy," a banner at the entrance to one of the parks set aside for "protest pens" at the Games reads. "Welcome Olympic Games with joyfulness and construct a harmonious society," says the banner at the other entrance.

But wait; there's more. Let's throw in the entire Bush family just to really ratchet things up a notch.