-It's raining here again today. I feel like an extra in Blade Runner.
I'm not complaining. There is something relaxing and atmospheric about beautiful, rainy cities, and the streets are filled in Vancouver despite the iffy weather.
My colleagues Rachel Blount and Mike Russo will cover the Opening Ceremonies tonight; I'm going to head to Irish House and see just why a country with no chance of Olympic medals was the first to open its ``House," and why the neighbors have been complaining. (Tough assignment for an irish guy who likes Guiness.)
-Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died Friday after a crash so horrific that I couldn't watch televised replays.
His death is sad, and tragic. It is not, however, surprising.
I'm surprised more winter athletes aren't victimized by their sports. I'm surprised more athletes in general don't succumb to the dangers to which they subject themselves.
What is most disturbing about Kumaritashvili's death is that the Canadians, in their intense effort to lead the medal count at these Olympics, restricted practice time allowed to other nations at their venues. The danger of this luge run, combined with the lack of time athletes could spend familiarizing themselves with it, could have cost Kumaritashvili his life.
-Along with three current colleagues, we're joined in Vancouver by former Strib intern Rachel Bachman, the sports enterprise reporter for the Portland Oregonian. Rachel was recently named the Oregon sportswriter of the year, the first woman in the 50-year history of the award to be so honored.
