riverside 1904

Well, just as the marathon was one of the concluding events of the Olympic
Games, we are now bringing our broadcast marathon to a close. Beyond the
competitive drama, every Olympics provides a snapshot of a city and a
country at a point in time. This one was more compelling than most, since
China's rise and its ongoing transformation is the global story, not only of
the moment, but likely of the foreseeable future. These Olympics were a
milestone in that still unfolding story. And while history will tell us
whether or not the Olympics provided China with the confidence to not only
build on its considerable strengths, but also to address its considerable
problems. This much we know.This is a country so vast, a people with lives
so varied and a history so rich and complex that no visitor can fully grasp
it. Still, of these Games, no advanced degree in international relations
was required to appreciate the genuine warmth of the Chinese people, the
honest pride in their country and how seriously Chinese citizens, famous
Olympians, to everyday men and women, took this chance to show themselves to
the world.All Olympics are important to the host city. These Games were
monumentally important to the host nation, which happens to be home to 1/5
of humanity. All that said, just as these Olympics were significant
politically, they were also very significant competitively. Beijing turned
out to be among the most memorable Olympics ever.One headline was
anticipated before the Games began, and then verified here. For the first
time since the fall of the Berlin Wall, an ongoing Olympic rivalry shapes up
. In Beijing, the U.S. won 110 medals-the most it's ever won at a non-
American Olympics. But China, second in the overall count, easily won the
most golds here, and the most by any country since the old Soviet Union in
1988. Many of China's triumphs went beyond excellence. Their perfection and
precision, simply beautiful to behold. China is now a sports power with a
sophisticated state-supported sports system. They will be at or near the top
of the medal list at London and beyond.Meanwhile, the Americans had plenty
to cheer about. Beach volleyball pairs both prevailing, Nastia Liukin and
Shawn Johnson winning gold and winning hearts, the men's basketball team
doing exactly what they set out to do-winning, yes-but also redeem and
redefine the image and purpose of the U.S. program.These Games reached
multiple crescendos. From the beginning, there was Michael Phelps, who now
ranks among the very greatest Olympians ever and who is also now in the top
tier of the best and most popular contemporary athletes in any sport-unheard
of for a swimmer, until Phelps.Just about the time Phelps left the pool, a
Jamaican jet zoomed over the track. The sprints are supposed to be decided
by blinks of an eye, not by bolts of speed so astonishing that, like the
spectators, the competitors can only marvel at the world's-- and history's--
fastest man. More nations, 204, participated here than in any Games before.
And more won medals, 87, than ever before as well.But beyond the medal
podium, the Olympics remain a human panorama, with many also-- ran finishes
and first-round eliminations, nonetheless representing epic personal stories
, only appreciated by the participants themselves and their families,
friends and countrymen.Theses Games began with Zhang Yimou's stunning
Opening Ceremony, so boldly conceived and brilliantly executed, that it set
a standard for such occasions unlikely to be equaled. And tonight, with more
theatrical touches, the curtain came down. So the people of the world came
to Beijing, and the people of China extended their hands. You don't have to
speak a word of Mandarin to understand that.I've been fortunate to be
involved with many memorable Olympics, and in many ways, this has been the
most memorable. In no small part, due to the efforts of the small army of
people who worked tirelessly to bring these Games home to you. For these
colleagues, I will always have enormous professional regard and personal
gratitude.The names of these talented men and women accompany this final
montage of the images of China and Olympic moments-moments we hope resonate
with you as they have with us. Good night, this one last time, from China.

看见Bob Costas做这个总结陈词的时候让人感慨万千。当他们抛开意识形态之争而带来的

偏见的时候，做出来的东西真的很赞。这个煽情的总结比CCTV就不知道强了多少倍。

为了保证收视率或者说广告收入，NBC没有直播当地时间早上八点的开幕式。人家是私营机构，顾及经济利益没什么。录播就录播吧。省得直播了还要请一天假。

晚上回来，准备了啤酒小菜，八点前就坐在了沙发前。看着看着，我彻底的被NBC雷到了。坐在演播间的主持人在扯了一通对中国前景的善意忧虑后，诚挚的说，2008年8月8点，现在我们就带领大家到北京，去见证这也许是中国历史上最重要的时刻。镜头那一头，北京夜色正浓。然后一遍又一遍，他们使劲暗示，this is what is happening now.

我靠，他们是不是真的不知道美国人民也懂得时差这么回事。

上海的短期旅行已经结束。

回到北京的第一天，高温，但是第一时间去看了熊猫阿宝。

比上班的时候更忙。拍完的照片没有时间处理。忘了带DPP回来，RAW也转不了JPG。回了米国再慢慢贴吧。

留言最近也没有时间一一回。以后再补。：）

一张以前的照片：立正，向左看齐

明天开始，放假三周。

每次回国前的晚上都很兴奋，不想睡觉。收拾完行李就看无聊肥皂剧打发时间，直到天亮。

今天晚上估计还会重蹈覆辙。

已经有了很多计划。陪C逛街看功夫熊猫以及动物园的奥运滚滚们；吃香锅海底捞，大董涮羊肉；见狐朋和狗友；拍北京的东西南北城。

回家真好。

身为一个中国人而且是球迷, 大概已经是球迷界里面的最衰. 如果你又像我一样碰巧还喜欢荷兰, 那简直就是衰到无以复加了.

欧做错了什么, 为什么要这样折磨欧呢.

中国队的事就不用提了. 多年前不小心成了三剑客的粉, 进而成了橙子军的饭. 从此没有真正开心过. 好几次, 就差那么一点点. 可是那一点点就是最遥远的距离. 这次欧赛的头三场让人YY无极限。让欧渐渐冷却的热情死灰复燃。

今天又看见了伟大的荷兰队，进攻如潮水一般，像水银泻地。只不过，这是个贴了个罗刹标的，希丁克的荷兰式球队。巴斯滕是欧心中最伟大的球星。今天之前我以为他也会成为伟大的教练。在前辈面前他昏了头。以为自己带的是巴西队。荷兰飞翼也不要了，非要在中路分个高下。可惜，他没有苏格拉底，也没有里瓦尔多。罗刹年轻人们在中间抢得荷兰人练球都拿不稳。看了好几次荷兰输球，可是记忆里没有像今天这样输得窝囊，输得惨痛。简直有点巴西队屠杀中国队的意思。

南斯拉夫，波兰，克罗地亚，一代代东欧的代表们死去的死去，老去的老去。现在走来了俄罗斯。给他们一个更好的前锋，英法德意西之流的都要在新沙皇阿沙文跟前使劲磕头。

希丁克也让人不得不服。无论在哪儿，他都能给你惊喜。想起他也曾经跟中国队很接近，一方面让你更加相信猪协真的全是猪。另一方面，欧要替他高兴。他做了个无比英明的决定。差一点，他也许就会在猪协的圈里变成个臭大粪。