Blogger’s Notebook
PLAYING ‘CATCH THE LUGER’
A popular game among the fans (and some journalists) at luge is to try to take a picture of them with your iPhone as they speed past. That is Jim Luttrell above trying to do the same. He’ll tell you he was successful, but I think he managed to get a toe in one of the frames. Four years ago in Vancouver, I was with Jonathan Abrams, a reporter from the Times who was trying it. I bet him a dinner that in 10 tries he couldn’t get any part of the luger’s body in the frame of his picture. I won that one. But I have to admit I owe John Branch a dinner because he nailed it last night.
MEET THE FOURTHERS
We have been working on a daily piece about athletes who come in fourth. You can find it here. It’s official title is shown at left, but we refer to it in the office as Meet the Fourthers, or just Fourthers. We usually pick an event or two a day and a reporter goes there with the sole purpose of interviewing the fourth place athlete. I have gone to a bunch of them to take the picture. Many are bummed but philosophical (Skiers, snowboarders), some just blow right past us and leave us empty handed (Russian biathlete, Korean speed skater). Last night’s was at luge relay. A pretty fun event that was packed with raucous fans. We were semi-relieved to see that the fourth-place team was Canada — no language issue. But we were unprepared for their reaction. It was gut-wrenching. They were devastated. Turns out this was the third time in four luge events (women’s singles, doubles and relays) that they came in fourth. In the words of John Branch who wrote the luge piece, “Combined, the three bronze medals were less than one second beyond the Canadians’ grasp.”
PUPPY LOVE
You’ve all heard about the stray dogs (many of which have disappeared since the bad press). But a small group of strays, including the puppies at left, that were hanging around the Gorki Media Center (GMC) in the mountains have been more or less adopted by the media —bringing them water and leftovers from the cafeteria. The puppies hang out near the bus stops outside the media center so they get lots of affection from the journalists waiting for the next bus.
EDITORS WEEP
No, it wasn’t a heartwarming rags to Olympic gold story. It was a grocery store! It is no accident that the dogs get a lot of leftovers from the media center cafeteria, official name: Food Court 1. No one should ever set the bar very high for the food they serve at these places. Institutional at best. But the food here at the GMC is remarkably bad.
But several days ago, the sports editor Jason Stallman made a discovery in the basement of the mall that is slowly opening, store by store. It has a fully operational, fully stocked grocery store. Just like your local Stop and Shop. He came into the office and told us what he found and all it had to offer. He finished his conversation by saying, “I nearly wept”.
Not 15 minutes later, Victor Mather, another Times editor came in to regale us with what he had found: a grocery store in the bottom floor of the mall. “I almost cried,” he said.
I am sure all of you have signed up for The Times’s Olympic newsletter, which gets delivered to your email inbox every morning. It’s a bit of a primer for the day. You can sign up here. Here are the first few words from this morning’s edition: “Let’s start with a quick introduction to Joe Ward . . .”
Eat at Joe’s 
No more pictures of men’s pair luge please.
I was thrilled to see Joey profiled in my morning NYT email, though I see they left out the napping on top of the half pipe part.
I HEART everybody out there for Valentine’s Day especially my half pipe climbing, luge loving, ligety skiing Joey!!!
(2 weeks down, 10 days to go…not that I’m counting)
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
.
I signed up for the newsletter (just now), but I don’t know how to access the “Meet Joe Ward” e-mail. Can someone help the technologically impaired?
I signed up, but it doesn’t appear that I’ll be getting today’s. Any way to see it?
Because it’s an email, i don’t think there is any way to access it now. Here is the text about Joe:
Let’s start with a quick introduction to Joe Ward, one of our graphics editors here in Sochi. (@wardNYT) He’s covering his sixth Olympics. You’ve seen his name on some of our most ambitious work, like this and this and this. And this.
Joe has been out to one or two events every day since the Games began. He says he’s most impressed with how all the mountain venues are in a relatively concentrated area. That makes it easy to see a lot in one day. He especially likes the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. It’s set up like an amphitheater, so you can see the halfpipe, moguls course and aerials from the same spot.
(Was that Joe’s vantage point for the men’s halfpipe finals the other night, when Shaun White was dethroned?) Nah. He was up on top of the halfpipe, looking down, while his colleagues covered from other angles.)
Joe was back up on the mountain this morning for Alpine ski racing. This time it’s the men’s super combined – that’s super combi if you know your way around the wax cabin. Kjetil Jansrud of Norway led after the downhill portion; the slalom runs begin in about 30 minutes, at 6:30 a.m. in New York and 12:30 p.m. in the Gudbrandsdalen valley (where Jansrud grew up). Lurking less than a second back is Ivica Kostelic of Croatia, whose father designed the slalom course.
Thank you, Annabanushka! That’s terrific! I can’t see the “Fourthers” graphic either, even in the NYT website. Must be me! I also was a Fourthers today, withdrawing from the “shoveling twenty inches of snow” competition after the short program. Apparently that’s ANOTHER event unsuitable for middle-aged white-haired fat ladies. I’m going back to spectating, although the sight of Matt and Al in luge suits still haunts me.
Thanks, Anna. Like the others, I didn’t sign up in time to get this morning’s newsletter. Hope you are having a great visit with your sister.
Here is the link to Fourthers, hope it works: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/02/09/sports/olympics/fourth.html
That’s some amazing stuff! Talk about losing by the blink of an eye…tough breaks for all of them, but they seem like a pretty stoic, classy bunch.
Medal Update: Annabanushka just won a GOLD MEDAL at the Society of News Design awards. Wonder if she’ll be on the Today Show tomorrow? Nice work AB!!
CONGRATULATIONS, Annabanushka! She should be on the a Today show, Joe…I’d even be okay with her wearing the luge outfit. Nicely done, Anne!
Congratulations, Annabanushka!!!!!
Hey I know that Joe Ward guy!!! Congratulations Anne! If you get to the today show, please tell Matt I said hi. Sorry to hear about the food situation. Bet you’re dreaming of a nunans lobster right about now! Those puppies are adorable!!! I just want to remind you that sister #2 is having a birthday soon. Maybe one could fit in your suitcase. I’m looking forward to reading the fourth place story. Hopefully. I’m expecting to be able to catch up on these Olympics in about ten years or so (thanks to my ANDJANDA).
Good work over there!
Note to everyone: #2 sister does not want a four-legged critter of any kind. Ever.
CONGRATULATIONS, ANNABANUSHKA!!!
Joe, Did I miss it somewhere? Didn’t the speed skaters test their suits and times out before the Olympics? Nice job AnnaB though I thought there might a mention of some of our intrepid Timesman’s pre-Olympic training in the intro, not necessarily chairlift face plants! If you can’t bring me a bottle of Green Mark home, then I guess a little four legged “Sochi” saved from execution snuck in your overhead might be a nice Birthday present for #2. Just forget all those wisecracks she makes.
TWONKA!!! No. Four-legged. Critters. EVER! Nothing with fur, paws or gills, thank you very much. Some birthday chocolate from my favorite chocolatier is a different story, however! 🙂
I am going to try to set the record for posting from the most states in one day. Goodbye california! Thanks Brady & bob & christie and family.
Had a great time!!!
Thanks for the continuing coverage from Sochi; eatatjoe’s beats out all other sources of olympic coverage. And much congrats go out to Ms.Annabanushka on the Gold, but who came in fourth? It’s not currently snowing here but ‘modest crampons’ would be helpful in traversing local paths of travel. Are you going to try skeleton?
Here briefly in deserty Reno Nevada.
Time for a quick slot machine. Where do you think I will end up next?
This is like “Where’s Banushka?” I hope you’re wearing a striped scarf and big glasses like Waldo. I say…Philadelphia!
I have the itinerary, does that mean I can’t play ” Where’s Banushka”?
It does mean you can’t play. You should be practicing donning your skeleton suit. Is Philadelphia a contender?
philly is not a contender. now you’re on your own, I’m going bowling.
Detroit? Bowling?? You don’t have te for bowling. Is that a hint? Does bowling require a spandex suit? All these unanswered questions!
Time. That was supposed to say you don’t have TIME for bowling. I need an editor.
Phoenix, for like 5 minutes. Darn!!
65 and sunny. Next I will b in eastern time zone, not NY
You and Waldo are both safe from me! Atlanta? This must be the super-duper economy Fifty Shades of Layovers flight!
Maybe I actually went bowling in Russia! How many people can say that?
Here in beautiful Charlotte N.C.
I should get a gold for long distance dash between gates.
Joseph, we thought you were up day and night toiling. You have time for bowling?? While poor Annabanushka is part of The Amazing Race all over the country?? Sheesh…the sympathy factor for you is definitely waning, younger brother.
#2 sister, I like that amazing race reference. To get to tahoe you have to fly to Reno and as they say, you can’t get there from here, or anywhere else…
Yikes. It’s been a long day for you!
I’m on a roll. Think I should just jump on an Aeroflat and head to Sochi. What do you say Joe? There’s a full moon.
Ok, I’ll stop now.
Achieved my goal. The record:
One day, six states, six posts.
Goooooaaaaaaal!
OMG Annie, that many stops and you couldn’t come by and see me????????????Excellent job on the Gold, is that for real? It looks like you are getting 2 great souvenirs from the Olympics. Woof, woof. Oh yeah, hope all is well with you Joe. Great graphics.
AB, thanks for the multi-state posts. Happy you’re home!
Welcome home, Banushka. Joseph, I don’t believe there is a new blog entry today. Seems to me your bowling time would have been better spent blogging. We aren’t paying these high subscription fees so you can knock down a bunch of pins. Plus, I heard you used bumpers.
Are we going to get the medal results from the men’s singles 10-pin final or what?
You have to actually experience the Russian bowling (or the basement of a Belarusian hotel?) before you can blog about it.
I feel like I’m watching Chanel 1054 on TWC! There’s just nothing happening here.the most exciting thing in a day is seeing AnnaB get out of Newark ok! 55 degrees and jw is lounging in a Tshirt, I’ve been shoveling since last Wednesday. Last time Joe and I bowled together he gave ME a Tshirt that said”if bs was money I’d be a millionaire” and someone smashed my car window and sole my Jackson Browne album while I beat Joe and Bill handily bowling a stellar 177 (I think the beers helped).For those waiting for a blog update, on Chanel 1015 there is coverage of sport a little more entertaining, “the Naked Sledding World Championship” from….Hecklingberg (for real) Germany. This is true!
Sad to say the Slovakian was disqualified for use of an illegal rudder/steering device, but the air bags on the British gal were tremendous in protecting her during the crash on turn 3.
Maybe if the tanning oil makes it too slippery for Joe to type as often, #2 can upload a copy of John Putin’s last address at the pot roast assembly of comrades for the rest of us, who weren’t invited!
I am amazed at how empty these venues look, do you feel like you are at pre-Olympic training? I’m sure the hockey will be the hottest ticket of the games,no? And lastly, I like Bode and Shawn White, but seriously, between them they make 100 million a year and now Congress is wasting time putting through legislation so these guys aren’t taxed on their medals? Pllleease!
Ok Bananie, let me have it!
Twonka, will this be your last post at age 54? Hey everyone, Twonka’s birthday is tomorrow (Feb.19; thought I needed to clarify because so many time zones are represented here).
We thought that T-shirt was hilarious, but you were none too happy about getting it, which, of course, made it even funnier. I don’t remember the 177, but i’ll have to take your word for it.
And remember the ghost living in your Vega?
And for the record, for every Bode and Shaun, there are thousands of Olympians who aren’t. Don’t we have this discussion during every Olympics?
Everyone sing Happy Birthday to the Candyman!
It’s snowing pretty good here right now, AGAIN!
Reminds me of one of Joe’s favorite movie quotes (paraphrased)…
S*it!
What?
SNOW!
No!
Yeah!
S*it!
Hey Twonka,
Hitting the vodka a little early for the birthday celebration? And same question for eatatjoes? Have you or have you not bowled in Russia (the suspense is killing us)
Sochi, come get our snow PLEASE!!!