Anyone who has run a marathon...I have run 10...would tell you how upsetting and unsettling it would be to endure such a confrontation...especially at the 37k mark...especially at such a high profile event in the world we now live. They shoulda thrown away the key to save him from doing it again, endangering himself and others. It cost the Brasilian the gold medal, and may change the way major marathons are conducted.

I was talking about another guy, Wayne. But that guy, he's nutty too.

I was quite sure the nutty guy in Athens got you thinking of other nutty guys...yours was always there at major golf events on ABC, behind the green, at most of Jack's wins. As always, past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour, and the nut with the big hair was an easy one to forsee. Why the heck someone did not shoot the Athens kook, or the Canadian tu-tu diver, was a stroke of luck, with all the security around. My bet would be if the American (the one born in Aratria-"from away", but claimed by U.S. because of distance running draught and he is the first since Frank Shorter to do well in Olympic marathon)had been approached in the race, a special agent nearby would have taken him out tout suite. Anyway, watch for the x-priest or copycats at your next favourite sporting event near you. People need to be protected, and protected from themselves. His actions and punishment unfortunately were nothing but encouraging.

You are quite right. The range and diversity of the fruitnut cakes is one of my favorite hobbies and one that will never run dry. I was listening to NPR when we were over in the states Sunday and they were talking with the marathon runner who won Olympic gold when the prankster kid ran out of the tunnel into the stadium first. Was the runner's name Frank Shorter? I am too lazy to Google his name. Anyway, the real runner was all keyed up for the big roar that would greet his entry and all there was was silence as everyone thought at that moment that he was second. Clearly the only solution to this is gathering all these runners into groups of 22, giving them a ball and limiting them to a patch of grass 150 metres by 100 metres.

I like fruitcake, but alot of nuts out there are giving it a bad name.

It was Frank-(Montreal Olympics I believe...no, he was favourite there but lost. He won in '72, Munich),and Frank was on PEI during the runner Cruise thing last year. He loves PEI...no surprise-he is an astute fellow, and is coming back for this months Island Marathon.
No bigger thrill I can imagine then running for the last 20k or so in relative silence, down a dark tunnel to enter the stadium and into the light, where one is greeted by the roar of 75,000 people. I get goosebumps thinking of it. Remember Joan Benoit-Samuelson (Benoit is a clue she had French-Canadian roots)entry into the stadium in Los Angeles as the first woman to win an Olympic marathon?

But, they would have to call it "soccer"...ouch!

Rosie Ruez pulled the same stunt in Boston in the mid-'70's, robbing Jacalyne Gareau, a female runner from Quebec the thrill of crossing the finish line as first female. Ruez rode the subway for 24 miles and robbed Jacalyne of her glory, who was later the next day deemed the real winner, and awarded the olive wreath head thing and the prize money...Ruez's name was placed up there with Benadict Arnold as a name to identify a personality characteristic.

[pssst...ummm...we like Benedict Arnold, Wayne. His defection in part saved our land.]

Right. Maybe I have been spending too much time watching American Tele lately, trying to figure out the difference between a "Battleground State" and a "Swing State". And, a lawyer buddy once did explain to me about Electoral Colleges, but I forget.

But, who can blame me, with all the CBC pre-olympic hype, enthusiasm over 12th place, Brian Williams inquiries to try to look like a journalist, call for more funding, crying that 12th place is good if you REALLY tried, and winning never matters...and the same darn thing, all over again in 4 years. (Darn...there is that "4 more years" again thing)

I can't wait for the Europeans to crush the yanks in the Ryder Cup. No place for wimps and sweet stories there! Try hard and lose? Go home, ya bum! Win and we luv ya!

NOW I am with you. Ryder Cup rules! I listened to the 1991 version on BBC radio in a flat in Poland when Langer missed the putt.

He broke my heart. But, changed his putting grip, (several times) and is now the European Captain. The course in Michigan will be set up for the yanks. If I was where you are, I would be there. And, I know of a great Ribs joint in Windsor...<i>Tunnel Bar-B-Que</i>. If you go, you can repay me by getting me a cap.

Windsor! That is a hell of a long way away from here. You can bet, however, you get a cap every time I go to Windsor.