Happy Patriot's Day

All I could think of during that hostage situation on the lifeboat was "Damn, I hope the deck cadet did a good job counting the waters and checking for expired rations."

Given that I'm in the heart of Dixie (there is a Confederate Day state holiday here!), I had to reflect on my home state holiday of Patriot's Day (aka Marathon Monday) and say that I miss Boston. Patriot's Day, a celebration of the Lexington and Concord battles, is a great day in Boston with the Sox playing in the morning followed by the finish of the Marathon. By the way, it's usually 43 degrees like today was and everybody is wrecked. Back in 1982, I was a vendor at Fenway and after working the game, made my way over to Boylston Street to see the finish of the race. Hearing the motorcycle engines and the roar of the crowd and seeing Salazar leading Beardsley by a few paces and flying down the street was a sight I will never forget. After Game 7 of the Celts-Lakers in 1984 Finals, it is the best sporting event I have ever seen. You've got to check out the youtube video. Amazing. It was chaos with the crowds and motorcycles. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmzljrUrwKE) The motorcycle actually bumped Beardsley and almost knocked him down and threw him off his pace and dropped him back. Amazingly, he fought back and closed the gap.

Later dubbed the Duel in the Sun, it is also the best sports book (along with The Greatest Game Ever Played) I've ever read and worth the purchase. Both of them didn't know it but that race physically took it's toll and although they were just reaching their racing peaks, they never ran close to that speed again. It was learned years after that Salazar burned 30+% of his lungs in the mid 70s heat and sun as he did not drink a drop of water through the whole race. Beardsley later was injured in a farm accident and became addicted to pain killers. Both have bounced back and are amazing. Also, both of their times, race records at their time and just off Salazar's world record, are still in the top 6 finishes all time in Boston. The video probably looks like 1932 video of Jesse Owens in the Berlin Olympics but gives me goosebumps.

Well, enough of memory lane. I hope everybody's making their own memories and enjoying life. Let's all get together soon. Tim, Bob, Jay, Bee and I are running an Olympic distance triathlon (.9mi mile swim, 24 mi bike, 6 mi run) in September in DC. I suggest we make a little wager on best finisher. Of course, Tim-O did finish an ironman so we will need to handicap his participation. Tim, we won't physically make you handicapped but you'll have to spot us a leg of the race (maybe the swim). We'll have to think about the stakes at a later date.

All the Best,
BC