Souhan: Mixed zones and chop sticks

Last update: August 13, 2008 - 5:16 PM

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By Jim Souhan

jsouhan@startribune.com

A few observations from Beijing, where I've never seen more smog or, strangely, more trees:

• In major American sports, we have two ways of interviewing athletes after a game or competition: The formal press conference, and the open locker room. (In college sports, sometimes locker rooms are closed, and you get players as they leave.)

At the Olympics, we have formal press conference and otherwise are graced with what is called a "mixed zone.'' This is a maze of walkways from the venue. Reporters stand behind barricades and try to get the athletes to stop; the athletes do as they please.

The mixed zone is a mixed blessing. At best, it gives a reporter the opportunity to have a casual chat with an athlete. At least, that's the theory. In reality, there are so many reporters in such little space, and Olympic athletes are often unused to dealing with press demands, that one of two things usually happens. Either the athletes blow by without talking, or there are so many people in front of them that conducting any kind of thoughtful interview is impossible.

There is another problem. The mixed zone features mixed odors. We in the states value deodorant; many foreign journalists do not. So when you crush up against 10 other people trying to ascertain the deepest thoughts of, say, Kobe Bryant, you may end up smelling like a gym hamper.

The other day, after the U.S. men gymnasts took a surprising bronze, a colleague of mine and I were jammed into such a tight space with such foul-smelling individuals that we gave up, and backed out. So I apologize to anyone who didn't get a Raj Bahvsar quote with their morning cereal, but I just wasn't up to it.

• Star Tribune photographer Carlos Gonzalez and I went out to eat late Tuesday. It was my second non-media-area meal in Beijing, and while it wasn't as good as the first, it was passable.

This marked the first time we were required to eat with chopsticks. Or, in Carlos' case, chopstick, since he immediately dropped one on the ground. I know how to hold chopsticks, and how to make the proper motion with them, but I can't grip anything for long enough to get it to my mouth.

Luckily for me, the chopstick can also be used as a skewer. And rice is easy to eat.

• Have we mentioned that the people here are really, really nice? It's overwhelming. In a good way. I think. I'm just not used to it.

Made me imagine an Olympics in New York, where the volunteers would say either "Gedidyourself,'' or "What's in it for me?''

• And this note to Michael Phelps: You're great and all, but can you please pull up your pants? Children are watching.

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