Golden

At some point more details. But for now all you need to know is we won!!

Go Team USA. It was a good night.

Thumbs up for GOLD!!

Calm....

Off day today. Light practice and stretcher for the team just sticking to routine. I had a couple hours in the day so I finished moving out of my digs at the Univ of East London. The subway ride was crowded but eventful. I ran into a group of Korean fans coming from the ExCeL center where they have been doing a variety of sports like fencing and maybe table tennis and other things. A coupe of them were decked out and I loved seeing them support their team like that. They interacted with subway riders and even had a photo session with one of the kids who was watching events with his dad.

Walked around the Olympic Park a little and took in some of the sights, the people and the whole thing. The basketball arena was lit up tonight and it looks great with the shadows and silhouettes of the structure inside. Honestly during the day it is pretty boring but I'm a fan of how it comes alive at night. It's almost two different buildings.

There have been a lot of inspiring performances by American athletes/teams and athletes from GB and around the world. Our beach volleyball team of Kerri Walsh and Misty May won their third straight gold medal, the OT win for the women's soccer team over Canada and each day more inspiring performances. The theme of these Olympic Games in London have been "Inspire a Generation". I know that has happened during these games but each performance inspires the current generation of Olympians to achieve greatness as well. Our team has the chance to both be inspired and also to inspire as we play for Gold tomorrow.

Send your good vibes to the team while they sleep. I have been truly blessed to be along for the ride with such an amazing team and even more, an amazing group of people.

Thumbs up for great opportunities.

Photo 1: crowded tube day at Canning Town tube stop
Photo 2: saying goodbye to my crib at the UEL
Photo 3: Korean Fans living it up
Photo 4: love the dedication. Love the Olympics.
Photo 5: The Olympic Basketball Arena.

W

Game day today. We took on Australia in the first semi of the tournament. Now it shouldn't be a surprise we played Australia. It seems like every major tournament involves us matching up with Australia at some point. They are a very strong team with great shooters, team speed, versatility and goalie play. Despite all that, we played a great game. Had a little adversity at the end there that gave Australia a chance to tie the game on a penalty with one second left in regulation. They hit it to send it into overtime. In the OT our girls came together in a big big way winning OT 2-0 for a 11-9 final and a huge win to send us into the gold medal game on Thursday! Seriously a team effort with incredible moments and characteristically strong team play. So proud of the big win, one more. We get a second shot at Spain after our tie in the group play. Incredible win.

Thumbs up for the "W".

Photo 1: Wenger taking one for the team. Whatever it takes. Just how it is.
Photo 2: the bench celebrates
Photo 3: team
Photo 4: out of order again but the starters enter the game just before the openin sprint.

Down to four

The team beat Italy last night and it was a solid win. Final was 9-6 but they scored a late goal that I won't count. So really we won by 4. Not bad considering the other three games were very close (even of they weren't all anticipated to be as close) and the Australia China game went into a shootout. So we're on to the semis and we play at 3:30 tomorrow (Aug 7). That's 7:30am pacific time. Hope you're okay with that.

Took a stroll through the Olympic park on our way to practice and it was packed. Tons of people just hanging out and there is a grassy area in front of a jumbo tron that has been packed with people. Everyone is braving the weather which isn't that bad but in spurts it'll pour rain then just stop. Great atmosphere. I wasn't sure how the volunteers were going to be as the games wore on. They were amazing to start with tons of life, energy, fun and friendly with an incredible attitude. To my surprise, that has maintained through this point in the games. I imagine it'll stay like that and that's amazing.

Big game tomorrow against Australia. Go USA!!

Thumbs up for the final 4.

Photo 1: the fans have been incredible. Love every one of those people
Photo 2: action shot
Photo 3: the team lined up for intros before the start of the quarterfinal game v Italy. I know the pictures are out of order but my blogger app decided that's the order they should go in and there's no way to change it. I know you guys don't care so much about that. But it bothers me. Enjoy!

McVillage

I just got back from lunch in the Olympic village and I broke down and got Chicken McNuggets and fries. It was awesome. Regardless of where you are, McDonald's is pretty much the same. That's comforting when you know what the sweet and sour sauce is going to taste like even if the packaging is slightly different. A little reminder of one of the most influential establishments to come out of our super-size-me capitalism, our love of quick food and more being better. The more amazing thing is how many of the athletes were also eating at McDonalds. Golden arches.

Last night We watched Jessica Ennis receive her gold medal in the heptathlon. She was understandably emotional, how could you not be with an entire stadium and country singing your national anthem along with you as you watch your flag being raised in front of your home town crowd. The best moment in sport.

Thumbs up! Well done Jess.

Photo 1: Jessica Ennis receiving her gold and being honored by her country and the world.
Photo 2: more pictures with friends, this is Liz who I went to college with, was coached by and coached as well. Incredible to see her.
Photo 3: the velodrome. One of my favorite buildings here in the Olympic park.

Group Played

We finished our group play last night against China. It was a close hard fought game and we came out with a 7-6 win. Because we tied Spain in points for group play tie breaker determined first and second in advancing to the quarterfinals. We beat Hungary by 1 and Spain won by 2 so we will advance second in our group and will play Italy in the quarter finals. The crowd support has been great and last night might have been the best yet. We met friends and family again after the game and it was a beautiful night in the Olympic Park.

On my way to meet up with the USA friends and families I bumped into one of my former players, Fabiana from Penn. She was a MBA student from Brasil. Incredible player and more importantly a great person and life-of-the-party fun (Brasilians know how to enjoy themselves). I hadn't seen her since she graduated in 2003. 9 years! I guess she's living and working in London. One of the highlights of my trip for sure.

Great Britain has had a rough go at the polo venue so far losing a close game, losing a blowout and losing a third game to Italy last night. Through it all they have played pretty well and their crowd support has been great. I've enjoyed being at their games and the fans are really out in force. Many of them have never seen water polo but want to be sure the teams feel the love. It's been a great experience.

Thumbs up for a great win. On to the Quarters.

Photo 1: USA!! Greatest fans in the world.
Photo 2: Team GB getting some love from the hometown fans
Photo 3: Fabiana!!
Photo 4: lights and sights of the Olympic Park after the game.

Friends & Family

Had a good day today. Got out and saw some of the sights.... Kind of. We took a long bus ride to the practice pool. Long bus rides are better on a British double decker bus. Especially if you sit up top.

The pool we went to was nice, you can see a pic below.

Drove back on our magnificent double decker. Had a great lunch and dessert at the village BBQ park. The fudge being served at the Scottish station was basically a sweet delicious hybrid of sugar cubes and caramel. As a whole, lunch couldn't have been better.

I met Tony and his wife Jenny for dinner at the P&G house here near the London Bridge. It's a great place for family an friends to hang out and enjoy some pampering with good food, laundry, spa, barber shop grooming in the "Man Cave" and of course all the USA fans and games you could want. It's amazing to see friends particularly great friends like Tony and Jenny. You can never get enough LeBlanc. Funny story, we stopped to take a picture in front of the American flag up in the P&G house and to get all three of us in it we had to ask someone to take the picture. You've all been there. Only person close was this girl/lady who I tapped on the shoulder holding Jenny's pink camera. She gave me a sort of salty look. Turns out it was Jenna Bush (yeah W's kid). I think she was salty because she thought I was going to ask her if I could get a picture with her. Once she realized I was just asking her to take the picture she was super nice and friendly. She mentioned the crest portion of the house where they have a green screen where you can pose as athletes and Olympians. Funny how much she was like her dad in accent and smile. Pleasantly surprised at how cool she was to us. (Dad, I'm sure you love to hear that). Later in the night we stopped for some paella and Catalan stew from a open air restaurant near the London Bridge. The food wasn't bad and the company was as good as it gets.

Huge thumbs up for friends and in particular friends who are family. My home away from home.

Photo 1: practice pool
Photo 2: the team watching semi final heats of the 50 free.
Photo 3: the team and the rings. The girls are wearing the softball jerseys they were given and this is in support of the USA Softball team.
Photo 4: Tony and Jenny throwing down some Spanish food here in London. Incredible to see them, made my night.

In it

We played Spain last night in a tough game. We went down early 1-3 after the first. Clawed back to tie then go up 9-6. Spain went on a run to end the game and we ended in a tie 9-9. Since it's group play we finish in a tie, no overtime. So that makes things interesting in our bracket both Spain and us have a win and a tie so we just need to take care of business against China tomorrow and see how it all shakes out.

Thumbs up from The Big O.

Photo 1: the teams shake hands before the game
Photo 2: the team just before the opening sprint
Photo 3: just a shot of the Olympic Park and some of our awesome weather.