What Super Bowl?

So, the Super Bowl is happening in 30 minutes and in my home state. I am in Torino - that hurts. There are several staff members gathering at a local apartment to watch the game and their is a rumor that we will have it broadcast in the Village. Time will tell. In fact, exactly 30 minutes will tell. I don't think that the commercials for Peroni beer will be at all like any of the Bud commercials.

Sorry about the bit of a lapse between posts - as Bob mentioned he had some computer problems. As for me, I have no excuse. Well, I do have some, but not sure you want to hear them. While you all have been making your plans for the Super Bowl - in DETROIT - here is what we have been doing in the city known as the Detroit of Italy (serioulsy).

Several of our teams have now checked into the Village. It is starting to feel like this is really going to happen. Very cool. One of the people that checked in with one of the teams was Eric Heiden, of Speedskating fame. Incredible, without a doubt. Individuals who are like him do not come along very often. Class all of the way, and truly an Olympic icon.

One of the ironic things about Eric being here in a support staff role for the speedskating team is that an athlete who is being compared to Eric is Chad Hedrick. Chad is a name you don't know now, but you probably will. He literally exploded on the scene in 2003 and is poised to win several medals. On his way to the Olympics he lost a pair of Bose headphones and - as you could figure - was very disappointed. Well, one of the staff members here with the Olympic staff, Jim Ruby, happened to have the exact same pair and he loaned them to Chad for the remainder of the Games. Now that is the good stuff you may never hear about.

The picture at the top is of me, Eric, Keith (in Village media) and Alfredo, one of our NOC Assistants. We were over seeing if a newly built bridge had been opened. At this time it hadn't and it had become the running joke - when will the bridge be opened - if ever. Well, later in the day Keith and I went to check it again and there were two security guys walking on it. Keith asked if we could pass and they told him to go for it. Hold on, we thought. NO ONE had been on this bridge. So then the head security guy comes down and rips the tape off the gate and lets me go. I catch up with Keith and we become the first two to walk across the famous Torino bridge! Truly historic.

Here is the problem though. Once we got to the other side, Keith had a meeting, so I decided to go back to the Village. That is after checking out the Main Media Center and International Broadcasting. Anyway, I go to leave and when I get to the entrance to the bridge - my passage home - they tell me that that the mag and bag does not work. They then ask "do you have a ride home, because that is a long walk." I did not see that as a sign the bridge would open soon, so I got a ride back.

The big news in the Village today - the laundry machines were hooked up. Thank goodness. There are only so many ways you can wear a pair of socks.

My last story, from the "it is all glamour baby" file. Today we had to go in and change over (i.e. strip beds, gather towels, etc) 19 beds so that the women's hockey team could move in. You see last night we had the Luge team here, but they have since moved to another Village. Today the women's hockey team came in, and we needed to turn the rooms. I was not involved as a few of us were moving cars. Like I said, it is all glamour. Oh yea, our elevator in one of buildings broke - but Robert and I were able to get it fixed - at least for tonight. The fix - we got in and pushed the floor buttons, and that is no joke. It takes all types to make a Village, a Village.

Okay, Opening Ceremonies are getting closer. Enjoy the Super Bowl, it starts in 3 minutes (I took a break, I did not write for 27 minutes). Go Steelers. Talk with you soon.

P.S. There are new photos on Snapfish for those of you who want to see them.