Lonely Planet:  find a friend.

2 of my China travel books.

 I’ve got a new travel guide and it’s providing me with a uniquely Irish perspective on China.

My Aunt Enda lives in a small village called Rathdrum on the east coast of Ireland in County Wicklow.

She’ s a loyal reader of Deirdre’s Diary.  Truthfully, she’s kind of a online stalker.  Not in a NBC Dateline Chris Hansen kind of a way.  More like a “let’s tell everyone in the Rathdrum pubs about my niece’s blog” kind of way.

In fact, I credit Enda for the global success of my blog.  So does she.

Check out what Enda sent me for my birthday.

 

The 1st line of Beijing For Beginners.

The payoff comes at the end when you’ll see iPhone mania is even getting to the fittest people on the planet.

Suzy Powell is going for her 3rd Olympics this weekend in Bend, Oregon, at the Olympic Track & Field Trials. 

You know how parents always say they love their children equally?  That even Steven approach doesn’t fly with me when it comes to Olympians.  There are some I’ve adored.  There are some whose names I’ve forgotten five minutes after I’ve interviewed them.  Some I’ve borderline stalked.  And a few have borderline stalked me back for more coverage. 

But, very few are like Suzy Powell.

There are two types of Olympians.  Children and grownups.  Suzy is a grownup.  But, KCRA has covered the discus diva since she was an adolescent smashing world records while a student at Downey High School.

After the trials, Suzy will know if she’s going to compete in her 3rd Olympics.   She is as composed and confident now, as she was when we profiled her for the first time 14 years ago. 

Here’s an Olympic Zone flashback to Suzy Powell…circa 1994. 

Guard, a 2004 silver medal Olympic gymnast, just returned from the Mens Olympic Gymnastics Trials.   Guard now lives in Yuba City with his wife and sons.  When I found out he had a journalism degree, I couldn’t resist pawning my work off on him.

Here is my new BFF Guard Young’s account of what went down at the Trials. -Fitz

From Guard Young:

The 2008 Olympic Trials was one of much excitement and much controversy.  Lin the heart of historic Philadlelphia, the final official qualifying round to the 2008 Olympic Teams was to say the least ELECTRIFYING. 

Olympic Champion Paul Hamm, who did not compete due to a broken hand suffered at the National Championships three weeks prior, was named to the team without sticking a single landing.  Some might argue that a “wait and see” attitude would be best before finalizing his spot on the team.  However, I believe that by adding Paul to the team, he’ll be able to fully focus on healing and getting back to the top of the sport.

Oklahoma Sooner Gymnast Jonathan Horton also earned a coveted spot on the team by finishing first. Horton has been criticized for his inconsistencies this year.  All these concerns were squashed by his amazing performance on the final night of the trials when he nailed all six events.

 The other four men on the team include:  Kevin Tan, Joseph Haggerty, Justin Spring, and Morgan Hamm.

What to look for: 

The US men should be very competitive on the high bar, parallel bars, and floor exercise.  The US should do well on the vault but will not be able to leap ahead of teams if they fall behind.

Paul Hamm could possibly defend his Olympic title.  Fatigue might have been Paul’s biggest adversary.  With longer and harder routines, the lack of preparation may turn out to be the difference in medal color.

Kevin Tan is one of the fvorites to medal on the rings.  Justin Spring is one fo the most exciting gymnasts to watch on th eparallel bars and high bar.  But with a reconstructive kneww less than a year ago, a stuck landing might be out of the question and the difference in a finals berth.  -Guard Young

Rociero is our first Olympic hopeful with four legs and no opposable thumbs.  He’s owned by Auburn’s Margaret Carrera and Phil Joffe. 

The couple is in San Juan Capistrano for two weekends of dressage competition.  We’ll know by Sunday whether Rociero will head to China as an Olympic horse.

Here’s an emailed update I got from Margaret after last weekend’s events.

There was record heart in San Juan Capistrano.  Kristina and Rociero were not up to their usual game.  They still have a chance at the reserve position, but only if Kristina is able to pull it together for a clean ride.

Erin Cafaro’s mom, Vian, emailed this picture and a short note to alert the media (that would be me) that both Erin and Mary Whipple have been officially named as Olympians.  They are official members of the women’s 8 team.  Erin will row the bow seat and Mary Whipple will take part in her second Olympics as coxswain.

So, that means we’ve got a little Nor Cal on both ends of the boat.   Congrats girls!

6.  Have you ever been to China?  What is your favorite chinese food?

This will be my first time to China.  I love Chinese food and my Aunt Margaret makes the best egg foo young.  Chow mein is also a staple.

7.  We bonded over a love of trashy reality TV shows, namely those that follow housewives on Bravo TV.  I like them because you can check your brain at the couch.  What’s your excuse?

While my team and I were at the Olympic Training Center, often times wtaching TV would be the highlight of the day.  It involved resting and relaxing your brain.  Luckily the Housewives of Orange County was starting a new season. 

They’re my guilty pleasure because I like the way they enjoy their money and their family life is sensational but seems like any other family.

8.  You’re pretty lucky in that a boat is your office right now.  How do you think you’d handle a cubicle?

After 2004, I had an internship witha PR firm and had a desk in a workroom.  Eventually, I made it out to the magazine library, a major upgrade.  It was sad to get to work in the dark and then leave in the dark.  I made an effort to go outside during lunch and see the sun.  After the Olympics, I’m thinking about going back to school or trying to find a coaching job.

 9.    You live on the west coast and travel the world for your sport.  What do you miss about Sacramento?

Every time I come home, getting Mexican food is a top priority.  Adalberto’s in Orangevale and Dos Coyotes in Folsom are my favorites. 

 I also miss my family and friends and usually hit Leatherby’s for the best ice cream creations.  They’ve ruined my desert expectations at other restaurants for life.

10.  What’s the most ridiculous question you’ve been asked about your sport. (Please tell me I didn’t ask it.)

I once drove cross-country from Princeton to San Diego with singles on my truck.  At a gas station, someone asked me if they were gliders.  Some other coaches have been asked if they were missiles.  To their defense, the boats do look funny without their riggers on them. (Riggers are what help our oars attach to the boat.)

Mary Whipple is the presumed coxswain for the US Olympic Womens Rowing Team.  She played 10 Questions with Deirdre’s Diary.

1.  As the main womens coxswain you’re 99.9% sure you’ll be named to the Olympic rowing team.  What kind of tomfoolery would you have to comit to meet that .1% cut and get booted?

I would probably have to crash our $50,000 boat.

2.  Seriously, you’re in a great position where you’re reasonably sure you’ll be heading to China.  Many of your rowers are not.  What’s the mood like?  As the “in boat coach” do you say or do things to keep the motivation up?

We all rely on each other right now.  There are 8 days left until the naming date and we are getting down to the final selection.  The stress level is high but we are all dedicated to making the eight the fastest possible so whoever goes has a shot at medaling.

3.  By definition, coxswains are small.  Your personality is huge. ( I mean that as a compliment.)  Are people surprised so much energy comes from such a small person?

At first people are surprised that I’m not that loud.  But, it helps that I have a microphone and there are speakers in the boat.  It does take a certain personality to organize eight women and make sure we are on the same page.

4.  Is it tough to have a social life when you are training for the Olympics and you spend a good chunk of your time with a bunch of girls on a boat?

We actually like hanging out with each other and now that it is BBQ weather we get together and it’s an instant party when we have an afternoon off.  My internet is currently out so my roommates (2 girls on the team) and I are at our other two teammates’ house watching 27 Dresses and checking email between practices.

 5.  Your parents, AKA Team Whipple, are legendary on the rowing circuit for their creative travel arrangements.  We caught up with them as they camped out in Athens.  What are their plans for China?

With hotel rooms being so expensive they got their hands on a great hostel near the Forbidden City.

Erin Cafaro is the kind of girl you want to hate. 

She’s tall, thin, blonde, beautiful, witty and worst of all she’s incredibly smart.

Here are my top 5 reasons to look past those horrible faults and like Erin Cafaro:

1.  Humility.   She didn’t mean to become a world class rower.  It just sort of happened.  That’s the truth.  She read an article in The Bee about Ali Cox, another Central Valley Olympic rower and thought, “wow that’s cool.”  Cal Berkeley took her as a walk on athlete based on potential and the rest is history.

2. Sense of Self.  Oprah has filled 20 odd years of TV trying to help women find themselves.  Erin Cafaro exudes confidence and from what I hear, she’s had it her whole life.  What you see is what you get and what you’re getting is a hard working, driven, confident athlete.

3.  Oh Brother Where Art Thou.  Erin and her brother, JD have the kind of relationship you might have seen in a 1950s tv show.  They like each other.  They really, really like each other…and always have.

 JD, a former Cal football player, still coaches Erin on things like nutrition through email.  And, she listens.  He’s her biggest supporter and will be in Beijing if she’s lucky enough to be chosen to the Olympic team.

4.  Superstition. 

I’m posting this on Friday the 13th and while I don’t know exactly where in the world is Erin Cafaro, I’m reasonably sure she is not walking under a ladder or cuddling up to a black cat. 

Erin has a great superstitious streak going. 

In honor of her favorite San Francisco Giant, #22 Will Clark, she adds 22 seconds to every workout. 

It’s 22 seconds more that the girl next to her does and it’s that competitive nature that’s made her great.

 5.  Nicely, Nicely

She’s really, really nice.

It’s pure energy to see the athlete’s face.

It’s pure wonderment to watch their parents.

Our Friday Olympic Zone story will profile Modesto rower Erin Cafaro.

 At 25, she’s on the verge of being named to the Olympic Rowing team.  Her parents are on the verge of losing their minds waiting for the big news to find out if they too are Beijing bound.

I love Olympic parents.  They can out Costas Bob Costas when it comes to random Olympic facts.  Got questions?  Get parents.

Erin Cafaro’s mom, Vian Cafaro, could earn a gold medal in supporting your kid.  She was kind enough to answer some extra questions for Deirdre’s Diary.

1.  Most of us think our kids are the greatest.  You’ve got proof that yours actually is…what’s that like?

The thing about Erin that has always amazed us is her perseverence.  Also, whenever she sets her mind on a goal, just get out of her way!  I can think of two examples. 

A.  She potty trained herself in one day when she was 21 months old.  She simply said, “No more diapers, and that was it. 

B.  Erin and her brother JD used to do a sports conditioning program with Coach Mike Gline at Central Catholic High School.  At the end of the session, Coach Gline would take anyone on in a game of horse.  Everyone knew Coach Gline needed to win before everyone could go home.  Erin would never allow that.  She wanted to win.  Some nights the kids would stay for hours while this contest of wills went on and on between them.

2.  The rowers tell me there is a great parent circuit that follows them around the world.  Where has rowing taken your family?

I have to say this travel deal has been a huge bonus for all of us.  Erin’s first international race was in 2005 in the under 23 World Championships in Amsterdam.  We all went.  John, JD (Erin’s brother) and me.  We had a blast and even had a day to do the tourist thing with Erin.

Last year, in 2007, the Rowing World Championships were held in Munich, at the old Olympic course.  The parents formed a nightly tour of the Munich beer gardens.  Let’s just say, we nightly closed the places down.  This is a long answer, but I really should say, “parent a rower, see the world!”

3.  Would you ever have guessed you’d be an Olympic hopeful’s parent?

Until it actually happens, we can’t believe it.  There are going to be only 550 rowing athletes chosen to represent their countries in the 2008 Beijing Olympics total.  To have our daughter amongst this very elite group, representing the United States, would be the honor of a lifetime.

4.  Have you ever been tempted to get in a boat and try it out?

No way.  I don’t do boats very well.  I get sea sick!  Ask anyone.  We do have a ergometer, an indoor rowing machine.   I do get on that.  It is a terrific workout, and it makes you respect what Erin does every day even more.

5.  What advice have you given Erin about expectations and goals as she prepares to hear whether she is Beijing bound?

No advice.  Erin is very much an adult at 25 and her own woman.  We talk and email as a family daily.  So, we do share her quest in that respect.  However, Erin is also very humble.  And, I know she would never project herself into being selected for a seat in a boat representing the United States until the actual naming of the team.

Regardless, she has already made the decision to pursue another Olympic cycle, culminating in London 2012.

6.  Who do you think gets more stressed…the athletes or their parents?

Definitely the athletes.  They are like race horses with blinders on.

Their entire world, their focus has been representing the US at the 2008 Olympics.  I think the parent’s role in this is to support your child in whatever way you can, financially, emotionally, and to stay out of the way so that they can achieve their goals.