Day 30 - Bball Guys, German House

I was making my walk down to SportsDock just like any other morning to make sure the surfaces are clean and ready to go for practices for the day when it hit me that no matter how small or big each task I compete or any other person on the team completes they are all vital to Team USA's success.  It all builds into the big goal.  Each little thread inside the big rope is important to making it strong.  I've always known this but by looking at all the experiences I've had at these Games and my prior event experiences I can look back at the littlest things and see how that one thing can make something else difficult or snowball and make many more things more difficult or a bigger problem.  One small broken thread makes the big rope weaker or a weak link in a chain makes the big chain weaker (if that's a better analogy).  It actually shocked me I was able to think this deep that early because if there is one thing I've noticed after the many consecutive days is that it is hard to find the subjective feelings.  The little sleep deprives you and to do that nonetheless in the morning surprised me and made sharing that moment worth it.  The volunteers and I competed the morning tasks.  I couldn't thank them enough for helping me and simply making everyday an unforgettable experience.    Even though I know they have probably hated me making them print out all those gold medals to put on the medal standing charts lol.  I know deep down they love seeing the US do well.  It's been fun to see the amount of medals increase daily and help remind people working of the success that everyone has played a part in.  The US has really began to take off and completely exceed the expectations of many.  While we are an optimistic group many believed that realistically the Chinese would win.  We will have to see.  You can never count out America.  Once again I played escort to the many media personnel that were allowed access to the men's basketball team before practice.  It's amazing how many different people want to interview these guys.  I'll admit it was a fun day interacting with a few of the guys.  A lot of times in my position it is very thankless and many do not see what preparation is done behind the scenes but it makes up for it when you do get rare experiences like walking down the hall next to Coach K and he asks you how your day is or being acknowledged by a superstars like Kevin Durant and Chris Paul, a couple of my favorite players to watch.  After each practice the nutrition station has smoothies made for the guys.  Deron Williams and Tyson Chandler are all over that like white on rice.  They are jokers.  It was fun laughing around with them while they ate their smoothies today.  After practice we spent the afternoon watching some events.  Seeing Ali Raisman finish her Olympic quest with another gold was great and then seeing a good friend, Max Levy, win silver against Team GB legend, Chris Hoy, was special.  It looked like he had Chris beat but there seemed to be something extra that the home advantage gave Chris to hold off Max.   

Max and I and his silver medal

Nonetheless an amazing accomplishment for him.  Abby, Paul, and Ryan didn't mind the outcome of course.  Paul invited me over to watch some more events and cook a pizza for the evening.  It was nice and chill before another German cyclist friend, Christina Vogel, messaged me that she was at German House and could get Paul and I in.  So I talked Paul into it and we headed over there.  It was so nice of Christina and Miriam to use their passes on us.  It was located by Canary Wharf.  The place was set up quite nice.  A really good atmosphere for celebrating and hanging out.  It was quite interesting being in a place where most people don't speak english and even if they do they chose to speak German.  It was great to see the entire German cycling team there after they had been to Colorado Springs the past two years.  

Kristina's gold medal from the Team Spring

 Christina had her gold medal she won with her and she even let me try it on for a picture.  That thing was heavy!  So cool!  While this was happening Paul ran to the bathroom and next thing I know he is chatting it up at the bar.  When he came back he told me some non-German guy started talking to him in the bathroom and then wanted to buy him drinks.  He was being hit on.  I couldn't help but laugh because weird stuff like that always happens to him lol.  I know he'll enjoy me putting that in here.  He did get his chance to see an Olympic medal though because we ran into Max.  It was cool to see his reactions since event was only hours before.  Earlier in the day we were watching a German discus thrower win gold and then tear his uniform off and go running around crazy and start jumping hurdles.  It was hilarious.  Then he came running into German House still amped up. That was funny.  It was a good night and another new interesting experience that I never would have envisioned myself doing.  Still more days ahead to fill with other things.  It's amazing how much the opportunity drives you to keep going with the "It's the Olympics I got to take full advantage of this" attitude.  Well folks I'm shot.  'Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars'

Day of the XXX Olympiad: 12