Boxing Day

Another day, another athlete visit. Today, light heavyweights Joe Calzaghe (of Wales) and Roy Jones, Jr. (of Florida) dropped by our 34th Street offices to promote their upcoming fight at Madison Square Garden. The two men sat in our garage for about a half hour today and answered questions from our staff. They joked, talked…

Read More

T-Minus Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four …

In five days, I say “See ya soon!” to New York City and all of the dear friends I’ve collected over the nine years I’ve lived in New York. (So much for that “three-year plan” when I moved here 10 days out of college.) I am certainly not saying good-bye to the Big Apple, because…

Read More

Back in the City

After a little more than five weeks, I am back in New York City. Just in time for the start of the college and NFL football seasons and the U.S. Open here in NYC. But I still can’t stop thinking about the Olympics. Probably because that’s what everyone is asking me about. They want to…

Read More

DAYS 19-26: Off to Shanghai

Well, folks, it’s been fun. Thanks for following along on my Olympic journey. Today, I’m flying to Shanghai for a week of sightseeing and relaxing (and vacationing!) with my friend Lindsay. I am taking off my reporter’s hat and replacing it with the flowered-shirt and around-the-neck camera of a visiting tourist. I am also turning…

Read More

Day 18: Closing Ceremonies

Last night was the last night of Club Bud, our favorite hangout here in Beijing. Today is the last day of the Olympics. Writing both of these sentences makes me a bit sad. This has been quite an experience, to say the least. And a large part of me is sad it is ending. A…

Read More

Day 17: The Wall

In New York, out-of-towners find it funny/annoying/narcissistic that we refer to New York as “The City.” As in, “I live in The City,” or, “I’m going to The City tonight.” Well, folks, here you can tell your hotel to book you a trip to “The Wall,” and a few hours later, you are on your…

Read More

Day 16: BMX is a Success

This morning, the rain finally stopped. So again, after about three hours of sleep, I headed to the Laoshan BMX track for the finals of the inaugural Olympic BMX race. I think it was a glowing success, and at least for now, it is here to stay. The U.S. did fantastic, as expected. Mike Day…

Read More

Day 15: Rain, Rain … Get Lost!

After a restful three hours of sleep, I dashed through the worst rain storm we’ve had yet and caught the 7:30 a.m. bus to the media center. Once we arrived, I hopped a second bus to the BMX venue and had just found a seat when a volunteer came onto the bus and informed us…

Read More

Day 14: BMX Hits Beijing

This morning, I took the bus to the Laoshan BMX track to see the debut of BMX at the Olympics. Instead of rehashing the details, I’ll let you read the piece I did for ESPN.com and the one I wrote for ESPNTHEMAG.com and if you still don’t have your fill of BMX coverage, check out…

Read More

Day 13: Tour de Beijing

This morning, it finally happened. It was fairly quick (lasted about two hours) and not nearly as bad as many of my friends have experienced it. I got a touch of food poisoning. I’m not sure what I ate, because everything at dinner last night was great. My friends Amy and Gretchen and I had…

Read More