August 8, 2008 6:08 AM
The 08 Challenge
You've run the numbers; you've crunched the numbers. You've got lucky numbers stored away for that next Powerball jackpot. This Saturday night, you might be out hoping to get someone else's numbers.Chances are, your favorite TV show has been cancelled because of numbers. (Unless your favorite show is "Numb3rs"; that's still on the air.)
You know the most importantly numbers already in sport: 19-0. 100. 4,256. *73. You wouldn't even hesitate when asked about #23 or #99.
But what about the numbers that matter the most this August? 205 countries. 302 events. 9.72 seconds in the 100 meter dash. 12.87 seconds for the 110m hurdles. And if you pay attention to slogans: One World. One Dream.
Then there's the one the Chinese pride above all else: eight. In Chinese, the character is å…«, or bÄ?, which sounds like the word for prosperity (å?‘, or fÄ?). So tonight, at 08:08:08 on 08/08/08, the Chinese will open the Olympic Games.
Numbers drove the Chinese to syncing the Opening Ceremonies down to the second. Numbers, really, can drive you to just about everything. To 21 shots. To creating fan sites trying to dissect the ultimate meaning of the numbers. To drafting potbellied catchers out of Alabama because of them. To writing merciless columns criticizing general managers for believing in potbellied Alabama catchers because of the numbers in the first place.
Or how about this: to all-day quests to glorify the lucky numbers of a language you don't speak.
Actually, I'll do you one (well, a multiple of eight) better: 24 hours, 24 minutes and 24 seconds. Consecutively.
Starting now.
We'll still have posts going up all day here at the Rocky's Olympic Blog, thanks to the miracle of Movable Type's "scheduled to be published" button. So enjoy the Opening Ceremonies, Denver.
See you Saturday.
After stepping outside today, I'm calling off the first annual 08 Challenge. I can't breathe outside. Sorry, folks.
October 23, 2010
2:41 PM
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