Playing Network Ping-Pong In Olympic Land

DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS

This morning I awoke to the finals of the men's doubles in badminton. I was transfixed by what I saw: A large sellout crowd screaming wildly on every point. It was Indonesia against Hong Kong in the Gold Medal Game. I saw moves with a racket that Andre Agassi only dreams of. You've never seen anything until you see Indonesia open up a can of badminton whoop-ass.

Our workspace in the International Broadcast Center was interrupted repeatedly yesterday by loud explosive screams coming from the suite next door. I decided to investigate. After slipping past a couple of daydreaming security guards, I found myself inside the Chinese Television Networks studios. Dozens of technicians were in a large impressive control room with hundred's of television monitors; all tuned to a ping-pong -- I mean table tennis -- game. I found someone who spoke English and explained that next-door no one was even remotely interested in the table tennis game. I asked if I could return with a cameraman to videotape their nail-biting delight in something we yawn at. "It will make a fun story on the cultural differences between our two great countries," I offered. "Yes. Yes. Come back", he replied.

Moments later I returned with a cameraman but was greeted by the man and his superior, who spoke no English. "My supervisor says you can not come in because we were not allowed to shoot in your space." It turns out they wanted to show NBC's headquarters to the Chinese viewers but were denied permission after submitting numerous request forms. I couldn't help but think that's how the big world works. In many cases the little guys can and would get along but the big-shots, the decision makers, the politicians, get involved and make it difficult, if not impossible. I've worked up an appetite standing on that soapbox. Let's eat.

MEAT PIE FEVER

Aussies love a good meat pie. Who doesn't? The most famous place in the world to get a meat pie is Harry's Caf? De Wheels. A small, very clean establishment right on the wharf, Harry's serves about 1,500 pies a day. It's staying open 24 hours a day during the Olympics to take advantage of meat pie fever. Harry's most popular pie is chopped beef and mushroom. I had a chicken pie with potatoes and peas. They pile the potatoes on top of the pie and peas on top of the potatoes. For a real treat, try the "floater"; pie dropped into a bowl of thick pea soup. Barbara Streisand and Elton John are among the celebrities who have eaten at Harry's.

While we're on fine dining. Food logs inside the Athletes village reveal that in one day the 11 thousand Olympic Athletes consumed 51-hundred portions of seared sea perch, 18 thousand steaks, 32 hundred Beef Satays, 48 hundred Asian Stir Frys and 90 thousand pieces of fruit. That doesn't include the food eaten at the McDonalds inside the village.

OYL VOLY

Olympic Volunteers are called Oly Voly's. One Oly Voly was reportedly helping out at a Laundromat and observed members of the South African soccer team stuffing dirty clothes into a washing machine. The volunteer suggested that they make things easier by separating the whites from the colors. The coach, obviously upset, spun and responded "madam, we do not practice apartheid in our country." Thank you, I'll be here all week. Please tip your waitress.

Speaking of Olympic volunteers, they're everywhere; 15,000 strong and the most pleasant group of unpaid workers I've ever seen (if you don't count schoolteachers). One gets the impression they would put you on their back and carry you around if you wanted. That's a good omen for the Sydney Games. An IOC memo to host cities emphasizes that the demeanor and attitude of volunteers is the most important element in determining how people remember an Olympic games.

TV TALES

A few days ago we reported that the Opening Ceremonies did a 75 share on Australian TV. (75 percent of all people watching TV were watching the Games. Channel Seven, the Australian rights holder, has now announced that based upon research that includes those watching in pubs, restaurants and other peoples homes, 95 percent of Australians watched the Opening Ceremonies. What did those who didn't watch the games tune into? Thanks for asking. 22,000 Sydneysiders watched the Paul Hogan movie "Almost an Angel" and 9000 watched a cooking show about meat pies.

BACKLASH

Anytime something generates as much interest as these Olympics; there's always a backlash. Of course there is. Human nature demands it. The anti's must be heard from. They revel in their polarization. The small town of Walhalla is the center of anti-Olympic sentiment. An old gold-mining town in Western Victoria, Walhalla has declared itself an "Olympics Free Zone". Residents are fined $1 every time they mention the "O" word. When the Melbourne daily paper arrives in town, all of the Olympic inserts are removed before the papers go on sale. You can still get one but you'll have to pay the $1 fine.

HEARST-ARGYLE TEAM MEMBER OF THE DAY

Our Hearst-Argyle Team Member of the Day is Mike Domalaog. "Domi" is a photographer/editor at KCRA in Sacramento and a veteran of 2-Olympics, 6 Super Bowls, 5 Major League All-Star Games, the World Series, hurricanes, forest fires and more.

On working at the Olympics Domi says; "In terms of shooting video, this is the most restrictive sporting event I've ever covered but the security guards are much nicer here than back in the states. They make it easier to deal with the daily frustrations of getting around." Domi's other observation on Australia: "you have to put salt on everything." An avid chef, Domi is married, has a cat and a dog and loves to play and coach softball.

AUSSIE GLOSSARY

Dunny: Toilet
Struth: Truth
Shrapnel: Small change, coins
Tucker: Food
Tucker Chute: Mouth

Today, I'm not going to put them into a sentence for you. It's time you began to do that on your own. Good luck.