Reece's Pieces: Nick in Knightland - The View From Across the Pond

The following is a report on day 2 of Nick Rackers Olympic vacation:

The smoothness with which this city is running these games is incredible. We have had to wait in lines but venue entry into these games is always smooth. One might be queuing in a line but that line always seems to be moving. The TSA could learn a thing or two about screening. Each venue has nearly the same requirements as an airport minus shoe removal to enter the venue.

Our first visit to a a live event of these games was doubles badminton. We saw men's matches where China took on Malaysia, South Korea took on Denmark and a women's match for the bronze medal where the Russians beat Canada easily.

As Asian countries tend to dominate badminton, there was lots of cheering from Korean and Chinese fans.   Those cheers weren't in English, of course, but there is one universal language: rhythmic clapping. We cheered for the Danish as they took on Korea. DEN-MARK! (clap,clap,clap). DEN-MARK! (clap clap clap).

We do a lot of walking from place to place.   It was a long walk back to the tube station to head back to London.    Our event was beach volleyball at Horse Guards Parade where the knockout rounds were beginning and Americans Misty May and Kerri Walsh were taking on a Dutch team.

Let me first say that, if I don't have a horse in the race, then I cheer for the home team or the underdog. If not an underdog, I cheer for my closest neighbor. It turned out the Malaysian team we saw was the "Cinderella" team of the games. China won despite our cheers for the Malaysians.   The crowd at Horse Guards must have thought the same because most seemed to be rooting for the Dutch team in their match against the U.S. team of Misty May and Kerry Walsh. That didn't stop me from going hoarse chanting "U - S - A!!!" and annoying some Dutch fans right behind us. They got a little pissy (Editor's note: pissy - adjective - easily irritated) when we stood up for the first set point. When the whole arena is on their feet, the few people who remain seated can't see the action.

May/Walsh, the two time defending gold medalists, won in two sets.

The second game saw USA's Gibb/Rosenthal play a Russian team. I saw very few Russian flags but the mostly British crowd was again rooting for the underdog Russians against the Americans. That put us Americans in the minority again. During the match the PA announcer informed the crowd of TeamGB winning two more gold medals for the home team. Unfazed by the Brits rooting against the U.S., I joined in in a TEAM GB chant to help celebrate.

The USA team won their match against Russia in two sets, but it was very entertaining. I think the Brits just wanted to see a third match and continue the party. That's what I choose to believe anyway. Surely there isn't much resentment to the USA. I guess we are winning the medal count. No one likes to lose all the time. Just once you'd like to see the other guy win.

That said, I sure am glad I'm an American.

USA wins!