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Jan Barranco-Grams is a well-traveled, professional business woman in the travel industry. She is currently on assignment at the Olympics in Beijing. Jan will post Blogs, “Bites from Beijing,” exclusively for HOFN.com that will keep us abreast of her fun lifestyle while in China during the 2008 Olympic Games.
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Ni Hao (Greetings):

It’s Tuesday, 6 August. Today we headed back to the old schoolhouse at the base of the Great Wall. We will be taking our guests there for dinner after they visit the The Wall. I was traveling with my design team who are all ex-patriots now living here in Beijing. They all got excited when we drove past this open air restaurant, so it was unanimous, time for lunch.

This place was a trip…a big open-air seating area with a marginal roof. In the center of the courtyard is a swimming pool loaded with fish. My local friends did the ordering and, of course, “fresh” fish was a must. So, our waiter yells to a fisherman who pulls out his trusty net and proceeds to catch our lunch! It was a crude death for the hapless fish; death by thumping. The fisherman (and I use that term loosely) starts whacking the fish, while still in the net, onto the pool deck. This place is not for the weak-of-stomach.

After I denounced my PETA membership, I dug into this fabulous meal. We had one great dish after another – and washed it down with ice-cold Tsing Tao beer. We were in Chinese heaven.

Our drive to and from The Wall is always an adventure. One moment, we’re driving by horse drawn carts loaded with bricks then, a moment later, we pass the Men’s US Biking Team out road-training. I guess they need to get their lungs acclimated to the fine air.

My work associates and I decided we needed to check out the night life in Beijing before the games start, so we took the Mr. Toads wild taxi ride to the Hou Hai district. It’s the obvious night spot for the locals where both young and old hang out. As we came upon the area, it was a wonderful picture; a sea of dancing locals. It was a cross between swing dancing and square dancing, and a treat to watch. Hou Hai is build around a body of water with bars and restaurants everywhere. We walked, ate, drank, and soaked in the local night life – then ended our evening at a disco.

Half the joy of being there was to see how the people seem to be truly happy. And, to think, many Americans have visions of poor, oppressed Chinese. I loved watching how they dance with reckless abandon – and they eagerly wanted to dance with Americans (both the men and women). They love to talk with us and most seem to be very excited about the Olympics.

Tomorrow is arrival day for our first wave of guests, so it was back to the hotel for some rest.

….Oh, I’m very excited! We just learned that the Women’s US Tennis Team will be staying at our hotel! How cool is that? I’m a tennis player, so it’s cool in my book.

I’m really looking forward to my next Blog…the opening ceremonies!

Wan An! (Good night) from China,

Jan

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Jan Barranco-Grams is a well-traveled, professional business woman in the travel industry. She is currently on assignment at the Olympics in Beijing. Jan will post Blogs, “Bites from Beijing,” exclusively for HOFN.com that will keep us abreast of her fun lifestyle while in China during the 2008 Olympic Games.
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Ni hao from Beijing:

I’m happy to report that I woke up to blue skies this morning (Sunday 8/3) … a first since I’ve been here.

I’ve now been in Beijing for five days and happy to say I’ve never suffered any ill affects of jet lag. I got right into the native time zone the first night, and all is good. I think getting the massages the first two days was the ticket. My theory is that it rubbed out all the bad ju-ju travel toxins from my system.

The past three days we’ve been entrenched in premium land or “swag,” as it’s called it in the travel industry. “Swag” is the acronym for “Sh*t We Ain’t Getting.” However, in this case, we have a very generous client, and we are getting all the stuff. Great…more things I don’t need that I have to have.

Today was crazy. I took our client to the SOS Clinic. She was a mess after bowing to the Chinese porcelain throne all night. As hip and modern as our hotel is, they keep sushi at room temperature way too long in my book.

In the afternoon, I took my other client to our favorite tailor to order a Chinese boat load of new clothes. So, I don’t know if you would call what I did work today as much as P.R. (And, yes, of course I’m having a few things made for me, too.)

It was an adventure going clothes shopping. This tailor is the choice of many Embassies. While there, two African Olympic teams came in to be measured for the suits they will wear during the closing ceremonies. It was very fun to be a part of all the madness, as businessmen and athletes were dropping “trou” and trying on clothes right in the shop. Crazy! Nice Crazy!

So far this has been a pleasant assignment. I’ve had time to work out every morning before I check in for work. However, I have a feeling once the games begin these leisure-hours will come to a screeching halt.

Gotta run…brb.

Okay, so I spoke to soon. I just got out of a two hour meeting going over the details of my dinners at the Great Wall. I’ve learned a new saying here…when prices go up overnight it’s “Olympicsized.” But, no problem … I just went for another massage. Five of us walked in without an appointment at 10:30 pm at got another 1-hour massage. I love it!

I’m off to bed and wondering what tomorrow will bring in this fascinating country.

Zai jian,
Jan

Jan Barranco-Grams is a well-traveled, professional business woman in the travel industry. She’s currently on assignment at the Olympics in Beijing. Jan will post Blogs, “Bites from Beijing,” exclusively for HOFN.com that will keep us abreast of her fun lifestyle while in China during the 2008 Olympic Games.

The only saving grace of the 18-hour flight was viewing the US Men’s Water Polo team who were on the same plane. I always try to find a positive in every situation.

I did get pulled into customs, which I thought would be for the 200 bug bands (kind of like human flea collars) that were in my luggage. But no, they wanted to know about the CDs I packed. How many, and what were they for? I do remember reading that pirated CDs are a big problem here. I wonder how much I can get for my Best of Earth, Wind and Fire?

The airport is gorgeous, tidy, huge, very modern, with a million Chinese teens smiling and greeting you.

I’m staying at the brand new wing of the Hilton Beijing. Very hip, modern room with great amenities. So the highlight of my 20-hour travel day, besides standing next to all the handsome Polo Boys at the baggage carousal, was going for the neck and foot massage at this wonderfully tranquil spa called Dragonfly. I slept like a baby the 1st night - thanks to the assistance of Tylenol PMs.

At breakfast this morning, our local staff gal cracked me up, as she exclaims, “I eat myself!” Translation: “Ouch, I just bit the inside of my lip!” I think I’ll find many things to smile about while I’m here.

On my first day in Beijing, our group headed to the Great Wall. We hiked up and down stairs and the Wall for over an hour - then had a very fun ride down the hill in a toboggan. It truly was a thrill to be there. It was surreal to see the Wall go on as far as the eye can see.

We came back to the hotel, worked until 8PM, then went for another massage. One hour costs about 21bucks. I’m going to get used to this.

Zai jian,
Jan

As the saying goes, “Be careful what you wish for.”

It appears Red Sox Nation has had enough of Manny being Manny. For the past week, Boston sports talk-radio airwaves have been inundated with callers who appear to have had enough of the savant slugger, who recently pulled himself out of the Sox lineup twice. Manny stated it was due to a cranky knee, but MRIs came up negative on both knees.

It was one thing for Ramirez to pull himself out of the lineup against the lowly Seattle Mariners, but when he sat again in the first game of the most recent Yankees series at Fenway Park, all hell broke loose in New England. More important than fans and radio talk-show hosts, it also appears the Red Sox brass has had enough of Manny’s quirkiness. What appeared to be a no-brainer two weeks ago – that the Sox would pick up the team’s $20M 2009 option for Ramirez – now seems as likely as John McCain winning Massachusetts in November.

Manny quitting on loyal Sox fans and, more importantly, his teammates is deplorable. Letting teammates down is the mortal sin of an athlete. However, let’s not kid ourselves. Pro sports are all about winning. As a reminder, until 2004, Sox fans had not seen a World Championship since 1918. They’ve now witnessed two since 2004. Would they have done so without Ramirez? Probably not. Had they not won those two championships, would fans and Sox brass still want Manny to walk? My guess is no.

Manny Ramirez is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Does that forgive him for his recent actions? Not in real life, but this is not real life. It’s Major League Baseball. Lest we forget the indiscretions of Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Juan Marichal, Mickey Mantle, Barry Bonds, et al.

David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez are the best 3-4 hitters the game has seen since Ruth and Gehrig. So, be careful what you wish for Sox fans … and enjoy it while you can. Those days may be gone soon. And with it, championships.

Perfectly Frank…
On Saturday’s coverage of The Open Championship, ABC’s Mike Tirico said that Greg Norman was Tiger Woods before Tiger Woods. Actually Greg Norman was Phil Mickelson before Phil Mickelson. While the 53-year old Norma’s bid to win the The Open Championship saved this Tigerless major - and gave the golf world something to watch - there was little chance that Norman could win. Seven times prior, Norman had held the third round lead in a major, and six times he failed to close the deal. On Sunday in England, Norman not only held a two stroke lead after 54 holes, but he still held a one stoke lead with nine holes to play. What came next was predicable to long suffering Norman fans. Not only did Padraig Harrington overtake Norman, he defeated him by a whopping six strokes.

To be fair, Harrington was brilliant, but Norman was anything but. As Phil Mickelson continues to over-think the game of golf, Norman under-thought this final round by boldly playing for birdies on a golf course that offered up few, rather than playing for the pars that could have secured him this championship. Like Mickelson today, Norman, in his prime, was a physical talent whose poor game management made him an underachiever. On the other hand, Tiger, like Jack Nicklaus before him, is not only the most talented player of his time; he is the most intelligent. Greg Norman did not let one get away on Sunday, he gave yet another one away. With a better head he could have been a legend. Instead he has two majors to his name, the same as John Daly.

…Speaking of Greg Norman, the subplot of his recent marriage to Chris Evert was played as a Cinderella story. In fact, Norman spent almost $100 million to dump his wife of 25-plus years for Evert, and Evert paid second hubby more than $7 million to get lost. To make matters worse, Evert’s ex was Norman’s best friend. Everybody is free to their lives in anyway that suits them, but let’s not make this into a great love story.

…And for those who might say Tiger not being in the field diminishes Harrington’s win, remember, this was Harrington’s second consecutive Open victory, and last year’s came with Tiger in the field…How much longer will golf pundits continually proclaim that Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk and Sergio Garcia are among the pre-tournament favorites? They have collectively won one major since 2005, that being Mickelson’s 2006 Master’s championship. Watching the tournament coverage gave viewers a greater appreciation of the TV crews in the US. The guys from the BBC worked hard under trying conditions, but too often the golfers weren’t the only ones who didn’t know where there shots were landing.

….On the ladies side, Michelle Wie was disqualified at the State Farm Classic for failing to sign her scorecard before leaving the scorers’ tent on Friday. She signed it outside the tent, which is a violation. Why do players today even need to sign the scorecard? An official scorer who accompanies each group documents every stroke they take. Players keeping score is a relic from a by gone era. It’s time to do away with that rule at the professional level…

Keeping Pace…
It was nice to see Joe Paterno inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this past weekend. What where they waiting for? Joe Pa’s only been around 43 years, posting 372 wins along the way… Speaking of Hall of Fame coaches, I’ve never been a big fan of Bill Parcells. I always thought he took too much credit for winning and not enough blame for losing. Trading 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Jason Taylor for a draft choice because he hurt your feelings by not showing up for voluntary spring workouts while performing on Dancing with the Stars is not the way I would try and rebuild a 1-15 Miami Dolphins team.

…If you weren’t among those who anteed up about $200 million worldwide to see Batman-Dark Night, you need to do so. It’s an outstanding execution of a terrific script. They do make ‘em like they used to… Nice turn too by old friend Nestor Carbonell as the mayor of Gotham City. Nestor and I spend four years together on the TV series Suddenly Susan, where he played Cuban photographer Luis… I also finally caught Will Smith’s Hancock, which was another winner. It’s been a good summer for superheroes with Batman, Hancock and Ironman doing Boffo BO Biz, as they say in Daily Variety.

And finally Steven Colbert is on the cover of the August 2008 issue of Esquire Magazine. If anyone thinks he’s funny, could you please respond to this blog and tell me what I’m missing? Because quite honestly, I just don’t get it.

I’m not a Yankees fan, so seeing Don Mattingly wearing Dodgers blue after the MLB All-Star Game won’t bother me. However, my two best friends live in a world of pinstripes, and I can’t speak for them. As a matter of fact, one named his son Mickey. However, with much disdain from Dad, Mickey is a Red Sox fan!

It was inevitable that Mattingly would be making his way back into uniform. He signed to be the LA Dodgers hitting coach in November 2007, but was temporarily replaced by Mike Easler in January, due to personal problems.

It’s one thing to see Torre in Dodgers blue - Joe has worn many uniforms. However, Mattingly is a life-long Yankee who has never worn anything but pinstripes. He was a 19th round draft-choice of New York in 1979, and he played 14-seasons in the Bronx. Don was AL MVP and MLB Player of the Year in 1985. He was a 6-time All-Star and won nine Gold Gloves. While not as admired as Mantle or DiMaggio, Mattingly was well-respected by his peers and Yankees fans. Even Red Sox fans had a hard time disliking this classy Yankee. So, while seeing Mattingly in Dodgers blue is really no big deal, I’m sure diehard Yankees fans will have a hard time dealing with it.

Hell, I grew up as a Boston sports fan - and had to deal with seeing Ted Williams in a Senators uniform and Bobby Orr wearing a Chicago Blackhawks sweater. Williams wasn’t too bad, as he joined the Senators as the manager. But, Orr, despite his problematic knees, went on the ice…albeit for only 26 games in two years with Chicago.

Who was the worst sight in a different uniform? How about Willie Mays wearing Mets colors?

Has the newness worn off for you yet? Are you tired of seeing pitchers hit or the DH walk to the plate? Has MLB Interleague Play run its course - or, is baseball now just playing too many games?

I know, attendance for Interleague games remains up versus regular league play, but that might be skewed by real rivalry games, such as: Yankees-Mets; Cubs-White Sox; Angels-Dodgers; Giants-A’s; Indians-Reds; Royals-Cardinals; Marlins-Rays. Plus, any National League team relishes a series with the Yankees or Red Sox - the two biggest road-draws for years.

Call me old-fashioned, but I’d prefer waiting for October to see American League versus the National League.

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While I’m on the subject of Interleague Play, I might as well add my two-cents regarding the DH rule. Having lived in an AL city most of my life, I’ve been watching the DH for so long (it was introduced in 1973) that I no longer have interest in watching pitchers hit. Nor does Hank Steinbrenner, especially after losing pitching ace Chien-Ming Wang to a base-running injury. Two sets of rules in one league are ridiculous. Plus, one would think the MLB Players Association would push for the DH in the National League to extend time-served for some aging players.

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Be sure to vote in this weeks www.HOFN.com Poll regarding Interleague Play. Are you for or against?

Here’s another question for you…other than baseball, is there another sport where the defense has the ball?

When did ABC/ESPN become the PR team for Kobe, Inc?

How tired are you of the references “the best player on the planet,” or those silly comparisons to Jordon? Please. Kobe hasn’t even been the best player on the floor. That distinction belongs to Paul Pierce. Even more sickening…how many times are we to be subject to the piece on Kobe at home portraying the good family man? Are we to dismiss his admitted adulterous sexual encounter in Eagle, Colorado on July 1, 2003? I know that incident is old news and should be put to rest – and it would be, if not for the “family man” campaign imposed by Kobe’s ABC public relations team. He’s trying too hard to convince the pubic he’s something we all know he’s not. Maybe if he bought me a $4M diamond ring, as he did his wife after his Colorado indiscretion, I’d forgive him, too.

It seems apparent that Kobe wants and needs to be liked. With apologies to LeBron James, Kobe is the best player in the league…but, likeable? Magic or Jerry West he’s not. First, he runs Shaq out of town – then he wants out of LA himself. Even Lakers’ fans had enough of Kobe prior to the start of the season. However, it’s amazing what a few W’s can do for fickle fans.

As the Finals heads back to Boston for game six, let’s hope we’ve seen the last of the Kobe campaign and just see a great game.

We’ve all seen and heard enough about the rich Celtics - Lakers traditions. Well, almost. How can this championship round go on without hearing the names Chick Hearn and Johnny Most? It can’t.

Considered the two greatest basketball radio-broadcasters of all-time, Hearn and Most were the voices of these two great franchises - and as much a part of their glorious history as Russell, West, Bird and Magic.

Johnny Most announced Celtics games “high above courtside”� (his traditional opening remark), from 1953 to 1990. Chick Hearn could be heard calling Lakers games from 1965 to 2002, including a consecutive-game streak of 3,338. Between the two, there were 25 championships (16 by Most and 9 by Hearn), and nearly 90-years of radio-broadcasting. Most passed away in 1993. Hearn in 2002.

Hearn was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. He was also inducted into the American Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 1995 - and has a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. Most was inducted into the media-category of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, and was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Basketball Hall of Fame trustees. That he’s not an actual Hall of Famer is a travesty.

Hearn is credited for numerous basketball sayings - called “Chickisms,”� including “slam dunk,”� “air-ball,”� and “no harm, no foul.”� My personal favorite was “ticky-tack”� foul. Most was best known for his raspy voice and villainizing of Celtics opponents. His famous call: “Havlicek stole the ball”� lives in NBA and Celtics lore.

I grew up listening to Johnny Most - and grew old admiring Chick Hearn. There will never be anyone like them again.

Celtics versus Lakers just isn’t the same without them.

Some of us fiftysomethings remember Bizarro, one of the spinoffs of the Superman comics. In the series, Superboy was hit by some rogue radioactive ray and transported to Htrae – Earth spelled in reverse – a cubically-shaped planet where to do or say anything good or right became a crime.

Sounds like contemporary France to me.

Just today a Paris court convicted animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot of “provoking discrimination and racial hatred.” The 73 year-old former film star and pin-up girl must also pay almost $25,000 in fines and damages. Her two-month prison sentence was suspended.

Her crime?

In a December 2006 letter to now President Nicolas Sarkozy – who at the time served as Interior Minister – Bardot objected to the growing public celebration of the Muslim feast of Aid el-Kebir. A rather bloody sheep slaughter – sans anesthetique– is among the highlights of the fiesta.

In the letter to Sarkozy – which was later reprinted in her animal rights quarterly journal – Bardot wrote that France is “tired of being led by the nose by this population that is destroying us, destroying our country by imposing its acts.”

New French anti-racism laws now prohibit “inciting” hatred based on religion or national origin. The court sided with the radical group MRAP, whose lawsuit claimed Bardot’s words were as “inciting” as they were indeed insightful.

For the time being, at least, we in the United States have a first amendment to the Constitution that guarantees free speech. It is the amendment without which all the others are rendered meaningless.

The world of Bizarro never had one.

France just lost theirs.