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On The Road to Salt Lake – A 12-Man Journey
First Stop – Las Vegas
By Steve Schairer, San Diego CA
The time has come.
Years of preparation and planning have brought us to the beginning
of the 2002 Winter Olympics in the state of Utah - Salt Lake City. The
Winter Olympics have finally returned to American soil and the world
awaits anxiously. The official motto of "Light the Fire Within" stands
as a rallying call to both athletes and spectators; a daring challenge
to ignite your competitive fire in the true spirit of the Olympic tradition.
Athletes from the far reaches of the globe will live out their lifelong
dreams and athletic aspirations upon the slopes and sheets of ice gently
crafted from Nature's own bosom. The world awaits both in person and
via satellite connection to see the uplifting triumphs and crushing
defeats of the countrymen selected to personify their national images.
But the stage is not completely set. Despite a multi-million dollar
opening extravanganza and a solemn statement by the President declaring
the games open, the curtain is not yet up.
The 2002 Winter Olympic Games await twelve athletes from the furtherest
reaches of America, six from San Diego, three from Washington D.C.,
two from the Bay area and one from Atlanta. Twelve men in their prime,
ready to show the world the meaning of the words competition....desire.....intensity.
Only upon their arrival in Salt Lake will the games officially begin
as these twelve seek to light a different fire.
A fire primed by alcohol and fueled with the quest for outrageous stories
and overwhelming shenanigans. The questions linger like frost in the
shadows of a rising sun.
• Will the six competitors driving from San Diego survive
a Fat Tuesday in Vegas on the way to the games?
• How will our athletes overcome Mormon laws limiting sales
of alcohol in clubs and bars?
Can anyone "light their fire within" on 3.5% alcoholic beer?
• How universal is the exchange rate for a string of Mardi
Gras beads?
Be prepared for the daily account of twelve men, certainly not angry,
but ready to show the world their unique brand of Olympic athleticism.
Stand by to read the accounts of the ski jumping, Sweden vs Canada men's
hockey, doubles luge, men's Super G and awards ceremony as witnessed
through blurry eyes and impaired judgement of our twelve athletes.
Sure, many of us have found that if you don't use the muscle it turns
to fat. And most of us certainly couldn't lift that rock over there,
it is much too heavy, but perhaps a smaller one.
But as a different kind of athlete, we have prepared our entire adult
lives for this one chance to go for the Goldschlager, the Silver Bullet,
the Honey Bronze Ale. Our chance in Olympic history to experience the
thrill of martini, the agony of scotch neat
So stand by as we pour some miracles on ice (with perhaps a splash
of coke), unleash the cowbells and uncover the true spirit of the Winter
Olympics, PubClub style.
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