First time for everything

By: Colin Brown

Covering the London Olympics

Growing up as a typical American boy, I have attended dozens, maybe hundreds, of sporting events. Ranging from football to basketball to baseball games as well as several golf matches, I have witnessed my fair share of professional sports. But recently I got the chance to witness a new sport — an opportunity that I won’t find back on my home turf.

Cricket match at Uxbridge Cricket Club. (Photo by Colin Brown)

I attended my first cricket match with my journalism partner-in-crime, Danny Medlock, on Sunday. We saw the Clydesdale Bank 40 Tournament match between the Middlesex County Cricket Club and the Worcestershire County Cricket Club. Neither one of us had ever seen a cricket match in our lives, so as avid lovers of all sports, we were incredibly excited for the new experiences that the day would bring us.

We were greeted at the gates as “chaps” by Middlesex’s PR guy, Steven Fletcher, or “Fletch”, as he is known around the club. We sat down in the front row and observed the first hour of the match in compete confusion. I saw the “runs” section of the scoreboard increasing after every moment of action, but I had no idea what the players were doing to earn these runs. To help with my perplexity the gentleman sitting next to me tried to explain to me the details of the game. His friend watching the match with him then offered me a glass of fine, red wine and later the two popped open a bottle of champagne. I was shocked! When was the last time that you were at a sporting event and saw someone pull out bottles of expensive alcohol from their bag?

Middlesex County Cricket Club and Worcestershire County Cricket Club end their match in a draw at 229, after five hours of play. (Photo by Colin Brown)

Cricket is a unique sport. Whether it is the details of the game or the fans that come to watch it, you won’t find many other sports that are similar to cricket. It really provides for a one-of-a-kind experience.

After watching the five-hour long match, seeing one player account for 120 runs by himself (a rare occurrence in the game) and experiencing a comeback of four “maximums” in the final “over” of the match, the match ended with both teams tied at 229!

That is the craziness that is cricket.

Too much pageantry?

By: Colin Brown

Covering the London Olympics

If you didn’t know by now, England sure does like its royalty.  The only thing that they enjoy more (if at all possible) is making a firework out of a sparkler.  Whether it’s a wedding, a jubilee or a job, England likes to celebrate.

Thursday morning, Olivia and I took the 8:55 a.m. train into London Waterloo to cross off one of the items on our bucket list: watch the “changing of the guard” ceremony at Buckingham Palace.  When I went to Washington D.C. on the eighth grade field trip I saw the “changing of the guard” ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, so I was expecting something similar.

But then I remembered that I was at the Queen’s house and it wouldn’t be England if there weren’t a bit of pageantry.  A parade of “knights” sitting atop their noble steads made their way around the Victoria Memorial and through the main gates with their shiny, gold helmets to remind the crowd what a big deal they are.  They were followed by a marching band playing common songs.  All this time there were two groups of guards facing each other on opposite sides of the large, black gate being shouted at by their commander.  There were copious activities to be watching all at once.

With the entire spectacle around to gawk at, I truly did not actually see the guards change positions during the ceremony.  I’m assuming that they must have done so because otherwise that would be quite the overdone formality.

In the end, the “changing of the guard” was a neat experience to be able to say that I have seen it, but I would have to say that in true English fashion it is incredibly haughty.

p.s. Don’t you think that the Queen gets upset when there is a band playing outside her palace every morning when she is trying to make the most of her beauty sleep?

BMX Cyclist Takes Unusual Route to 2012 Games

By Jacob Corrigan

At the London 2012 Games

London, England - BMX Cyclist Brooke Crain hasn’t exactly taken the most direct path to the Olympics. But she is an Olympian, regardless.

Just days after a crash that severely injured teammate Arielle Martin, lacerating her liver, Crain was selected to compete in her place. Crain, the youngest member of the US BMX squad at 19 and a native to Visalia, Ca is excited to be part of the team despite her route.

“This is obviously not the way I wanted to make the team, but at the same time, I am part of the team,” said Crain. “I am moving forward and going to do the best job to represent Arielle and my country. It is exciting and a dream come true to me. Just to be able to say I have been to the Olympics and been an Olympian is just unreal.”

Photo by Olivia Arbogast. Brooke Crain speaks to media on Sunday afternoon.

Crain found out she was headed to the Olympics just two days before the team left last Wednesday. The team purposely came late because of the long wait until their competition after the Opening Ceremony. Martin’s 27th birthday was on Monday, the day that Crain found out she would join the team, making it even tougher.

“I think the day it happened, it looked pretty bad. We had our moment for her that day and the following days after we found out what happened,” said Cyclist David Herrman. “But since we have boarded the plane, I have tried to put that in the back of my head. I do feel bad for her. She was ready to compete, and this happened and it is unfortunate, but I am here to race.”

With such a short time to prepare for her race, questions have come up as to whether Crain will be mentally ready for the games, especially at such a young age.

“I know for a fact that not knowing until a couple of days ago has played into her favor,” said Head Coach John Herrera. “ I trained her as if she was going to be here.”

Even with the loss of Arielle, Brooke remains excited about the chance to compete at the Olympics.

Brooke’s only communication with Arielle has been through a birthday card she sent her, with Justin Beiber on it.

“She always jokes about how much I love Justin Beiber, so I thought it would make her laugh,” she said.

Crain is set race on Wednesday evening in London and said she is prepared.

“I have had a clear mind,” she said. “Going in it’s whatever happens, happens. I am just going for the experience. So I haven’t been worried or stressing about it. I haven’t had any time to do that.”