Jim McKay 1922-2008

When I was a kid in New York, I grew up watching ABC Wide World of Sports. To this day my love of international events like the Olympics, cycling, track and field, soccer, boxing, and of course American events like NASCAR, and of course the best of all time demolition derby. There was one person who was always and will forever be the voice of sports in my childhood.

That was Jim McKay, I can't tell you the feeling when I heard yesterday that McKay had passed away, all my memories of sports and my love of them came flooding back. When I heard McKay's voice or saw him over the last few decades I always thought of the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" first!

He loved horse racing like I do, and as far as I concerned he was the finest voice in television sports! He will missed.

Olympics in Chicago in 2016?

On July 26th 2006, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) selected Chicago as one of three United States Candidate City finalists for the 2016 Games. The USOC will make the decision regarding whether Chicago advances to the international competition in the Spring of 2007.

The final decision on which international city will host the 2016 Games will be made in October 2009.

So why should Chicago want to host the 2016 Olympic Games? There are countless reasons, but let’s start with the top 16… My favorite is number 9!

Top 16 reasons why hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games would be a great opportunity for Chicago:

1. Unite the world in our city for a celebration of sport-- With its pageantry, sport and celebration on a global scale, this will be the biggest event in our city in our lifetime. This is our generation’s World’s Columbian Exposition or 1933 World’s Fair.
2. Celebrate our love of sport-- There is no question that Chicagoans are passionate about sport. This event will bring the best in sport to our city. Over 200 countries will be sending their best athletes into our city to perform at the highest levels of competition in our stadiums and in our parks.
3. Share Chicago with the world and raise our international reputation -- We will have the opportunity to share Chicago and what makes our hometown so special with the worlds’ athletes, guests and over 3.6 billion people who will see our City through the global television broadcast. Newspapers, magazines and television from around the world will create profiles of this beautiful Olympic city. This is our chance to inspire the world - to Stir the Soul™ of the world!
4. Create a global sporting legacy for Chicago-- Already a professional sport powerhouse, Chicago will become known as one of the world centers of all sport. New venues will allow us to experience sports, like track and field, swimming and rowing among many others, before and after the games through participation and by hosting events.
5. Act as catalyst for widespread urban revitalization-- Situating the temporary stadium Washington Park will help revitalize a beautiful part of the City. The Athletes’ Village will create mixed-use community right on the lake front, again acting as a central point for improvement of an entire neighborhood on the South Side. It will also act as a magnet for attracting more people to live in the Loop.
6. Generate economic benefits before the Games-- The construction of new venues and infrastructure improvements means new jobs. Being an Olympic host city will attract domestic and international companies to open offices or even possibly move their headquarters here. This wave of new businesses means economic development and new jobs.
7. Generate economic benefits during the games-- Over six million incremental tourists from around the world staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants, taking rides in our cabs. Employers in the service industry will need to hire additional help to service the guests thereby creating new jobs.
8. Generate economic benefits after the Games-- Tourists will come to our Olympic City in increasing numbers years after the Games to remember and relive the 2016 spectacle, see the venues, and experience Chicago firsthand.
9. Accelerate planned infrastructure improvements--Hosting the Games will fast track key capital projects, especially transportation related initiatives, to coincide with the Olympiad.
10. Experience world-class athletics and the values of Olympic sport – in our own backyard -- This is our chance to see the best athletes in the world compete in our parks and stadiums, demonstrating not only the most amazing level of competition the world has to offer, but also the values that make the Olympic movement singular – fair play, friendship, hope, inspiration, and joy in effort.
11. Capitalize on the educational benefits--Our children will be exposed to the athletes and cultures of the world. This global Olympic Movement is a great educational tool for geography, culture, history etc. The City and Chicago 2016 will create many programs focused on our youth that will enrich our children and broaden their understanding of sport and the world.
12. Enjoy great cultural events-- Beyond sport, this event will bring world class singers, actors, dance, theatre, etc. into our city. The Games will be a cultural celebration with events throughout the city - many of them free to the public.
13. Get motivated to get in shape-- The Games will be inspiration for Chicagoans to live healthier lives by embracing fitness and wellness activities.
14. Appreciate Chicago’s distinctiveness even more-- You will learn surprising and amazing things about Chicago and Chicagoans you never knew before that will make you even prouder that you live here.
15. Meet new extraordinary people--By hosting the Games, we will attract broad range of domestic and international visitors to the Windy City who we can learn from and share experiences. Chicago will become the World’s second home.
16. Have fun and show your pride-- This will be a great time, the streets will be alive, and our people will be a big part of the experience. This will be an incredible source of pride for everyone who lives here. And, more fun than you can imagine!

Winter Olympics OD Starts Now!

I spent the evening watching the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies from Italy. As many of you know I like Olympic like-sports. However I have never taken to winter sports, I have only skated 2-3 times in my life, never skied, I have been on sleds...mostly on the nasty "luge" course on Harts Hill in Round Lake with my daughter. I have never even been on a snow mobile either although that's not an Olympic sport. Needless to say its enjoyable to watching, even though there is not one winter sport that I have even tried! Although ski jumping seems like a good start!