LANDED JFK

Parting shot of apt 70605.

Sochi Olympic coverage in Russia has been pathetic: only 2-3 hours of evening coverage (of Russian-dominated events).  German ZDF has been my go-to and I figured they would have the women’s slalom.  Wrong.  A cooking show.  I was forced to “watch” Mikaela Shiffrin’s first run as her interval times popped up on the FIS live-timing web link.  With her 0.49 sec lead after first run I knew where I needed to be for the second. 

Mix zone at slalom venue.

I have been doing most of my studying and research in the media centers both at the jump and in town.  Great web access, printed results, flash quotes, training summaries, and a Sochi-specific database for all athletes.  Monitors with live coverage of all events and rows and rows of desks.  The media centers were where Paul Robbins, journalist and friend of all things skiing, camped out for these events and even though he’s been gone for 6 years I have not walked through one since without keeping an eye out for his signature tam atop the biggest pile of junk.  When I arrived at the slalom venue with still 90 minutes until the second run I sought refuge in the alpine media center and was finally rewarded with a glimpse of Paul.  Someone is still looking out for him and I, for one, appreciated it.

Paul Robbins photo in alpine media center- caption reads "Hey, take the rest of the day off."

Mikaela was Mikaela.  Unbelievable that it was so obvious even at age 6 and frankly more incredible- to me- that nothing derailed a path that was so obvious.  And an eerie feeling to witness the final metamorphic transformation from the talent that was treasured (and possessed?) locally to something that is now treasured (and possessed?) globally.

In both the women’s slalom and figure skating it was great to have youth served in an Olympic movement that is trending heavy toward veterans.  It used to be only the athletes from the Eastern Bloc (where the state used, and invested in, athletic success to validate political systems) stuck around for more than one, maybe two bites at the apple.  Now, the Olympics have become a career path even (especially?) in the free world where our brilliant market forces pool money (collected in surcharges on cereals, mutual funds, and energy drinks) to fund our favorite athletes so they can extend their careers.  Curious that capitalism trailed communism on this front.  But we’re certainly kicking butt now that we’ve cracked the code. Red Bull our Red Party.

Taking watch.  Canine welcoming committee works in shifts- 4 hours on, 8 off.

And speaking of communism, the rat bastards at Moscow airport first sold me vodka (after scanning my boarding pass) then confiscated it at the gate when I tried to get on the plane.  “Temporary policy,” I was told and that was the end of the conversation.  Vodka gone.  I can’t help but think that flights to USA were targeted and that this is Putin’s way of saying f-you to the US.  If we were better guests we would have let them win in hockey and this mess could have been avoided.

But don’t blame the messenger, right?  Russians (vs. Russia) were great.  Individuals are vulnerable and human… in groups they are less vulnerable and behavior, accordingly, becomes less humane.  There is both safety and danger in numbers.  And good to be sitting in JFK among numbers that play by rules I understand a little better.