Sunday, August 03, 2008

How Did Our Mascots Do?

I am leaving tomorrow so there is a lot of catchingup before I leave.
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And so, I will abscond to the Olympics on Monday Morning. Continental Airlines was quite nice in allowing me to change my flight – and for having a web site that couldn’t figure out how to charge me a change fee! So I am off early.
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I feel it is time to see how our past Mascots of the Month who were trying to get to the games did.

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July: Dara Torres
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Well, you have no doubt heard she made it in 50 M Freestyle swimming. At 41 she is representing not just Americans, or mothers but also 40 year olds. God Speed Good Woman!!! (Ps – she will do this alone as the other 50 M Swimming was bounced for doping – and appealed it so late that the US didn’t have enough time to replace her. Young punks!
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June: Adam van Koeverden
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Our Canoe / Kayak boy not only made it but will be the Canookian Porte-Drapeau (Flagbear!).
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And yes, Eddie and I actually have tickets to the semi's of Flatwater Canoe and Kayak. I acutally purchased them before I even heard of Van Kayak! It will be cool.

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May: Pascal Hens
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The reigning King of Handball is set to play for Germany in less than 1 week’s time. However, as you may remember, now that Iceland is going, they have my heart for now. FYI – Many TV people are picking this as a great sport to watch. It will be on MSNBC all day on August 10th .
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April: Brett Ormsby

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Sadly, Brett did not make the US Olympic team this year. He will be replaced by two other Water Polo Bruins : Adam Wright

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and Brandon Brooks

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The team is made up of 1 USC Trojan, 2 Pepperdine Waves, 2 UCLA Bruins, 3 UC-Irvine Anteaters (ZOT!) and 5 Stanford Trees.

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March: Sasha Artemev

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Alexi / Sasha was a lock to make the team as the US Gymnastics Team desperately needed a Pommel Expert and he was World Champions Bronze Medalist in the Pommel Horse. In the course of 2 US qualification tournaments, he fell off the Pommel all 4 times (get your head in the game Sasha!). He is going, but only as an alternate.

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February: Pascal Behrenbruch
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Pascal is going and peaking at the right time. But he looks hard pressed to medal in the Decathlon, as there are some amazing competitors. We have tickets to the Decathlon.
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January: Breaux Greer
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Well, good news and bad. I will take it from the NBCOlympics web site: In winning the bronze medal at the World Championships in Osaka, Greer injured his right throwing shoulder. The injury did not heal properly during 2008 and prevented Greer from throwing at all leading up to the Olympic Trials, where he finished 17th and did not qualify for the final. However, as one of only three throwers with Olympic A qualifying standard, Greer was placed on the team by USA Track & Field.

So that was our Olympic Mascot of the Month Parade…
..however...
there were some old Mascots that made it to the games too:

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January 08: Tero Pitkamaki
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Mentioned and pictured in the Breaux Greer and the Andreas Thorkildsen posts, Tero is competing in Javelin for Finland.
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It will be interesting to see Javelin (and yes we have tickets for the finals) with Breaux, Tero and our next Mascot....

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September 2006: Andreas Thorkildsen
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Ahhhh… the beginning of the beautiful Javelin throwers. There will always be a place in my heart for Anders. He will be in Beijing (and I will be looking for him!)
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Now I know this isn't a great picture of Andreas. He looks much better when that horrible helmet of hair is flopping as he throws. I know see why Breaux goes with the Breaux-hawk.
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Feruary 2005: Lleyton Hewitt
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Ley –ley gets the nod from the Aussie Olympic committee to compete again in Beijing.
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Let's be honest, Lleyton probably won't do well in Beijing, Lleyton's prime is past (prime of tennis). Furthermore, he is about to dad for the first time.
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But at least he, unlike Mark Phillapopus, isn't do bad US Reality TV (remember the Cougers vs. the Bimbos show - that was the Aussies' other tennis sensation.
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I only electronic records easily available to June of 2004 (when the design changed), but ladies and germs, the very first Mascot of the Month Raj Bhavsar is finally going to the Olympics. After spening Athens sitting as an alternate – and being selected an alternate this year – he was just put on the team as Paul Hamm pulled out.
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I didn't put the old himbo picture of Raj up, but I took this picture earlier this year at the Tyson cup!