August 14, 2004

It is the Critical 24 hour period, well, actually the critical 12 hour period. The most important issue at hand, BREAKFAST. I know we have all been told this, and I have become a product of this belief. My day can't get started, especially on a game day, without a good breakfast.

Getting ready for the olympics. = ). This seems to be the best way to get things done.

MoMo and I, on GAME DAY, USA vs Brasil and Mali vs Greece.

I am among the early risers. I am usually accompanied by Lil, CP, Abby, a couple of trainers, and then the rest seem to straggle in when they leisurely awake. Today, scrammbled eggs, toast, orange juice and a cup of tea.

We share the dining area, a big banquet hall, with our opponent tonight, Brasil as well as four men's teams, Ghana, Mali, Paraguay and Japan. As the games go, teams move in and out. However, in one days time, I have managed to speak 6 languages, or, pieces of them I should say. This is to me what the Olympics is all about... Building bridges, making friends and sharing the spirit of competition.

I have met three players, MoMo and Foose from Mali, a country located in the southwest side of Africa, near Senegal and well as Julie Gonzalez from Paraguay. It is funny to think that MoMo and Foose whose country's official language is French, with smaller subsections of tribal type languages, conversed with Abby and I in Spanish. See, these players on the men's side play their football all over the world, and it just so happens that MoMo is on the first team from Valencia in Spain.

Tonight we could seal our fate into the quarterfinals with a victory over Brasil, since they defeated Australia in the first match. After our game, the Greek men play Mali, which will produce a full house. I am hoping that we will get to stay to enjoy the excitement of the home crowd in action.

Think good thoughts for us and we inturn promise to play hard, be strong and represent USA with pride.