- - Wednesday, March 31, 2004 2003/04 season to remember photos thanks to Lupes *sigh* I'm missing short track season already. I certainly can't even express how much fun I have at these competitions. It's like tunel vision, and for that weekend I'm blissed out on my good friends and watching Apolo & team USA do their 'thang'. Getting to know this short track world from the outside in has been such an experience for me. Just to be a part of the loyal supporters of these olympians has been more than an honor for me. And giving back to them is my pleasure, and only fuels my excitement for the future and what it holds. I'm so glad that now I've aquired a "3-D" view of the short track community that puts perspective on things that would otherwise be sketchy. I appreciate how open and candid that Apolo, Rusty, Bridie, and Caroline have been with me and others in these fast-flying 2 years. The more I attend Cups, the more I learn to understand the 'mind of an olympic athlete', and at it's worst it stumps me - at best, it fascinates me. The tempers, the passion, the outbursts of emotion...and no, that's not the fans I'm talking about. Athletes are just fascinating human beings that have an extra special physical talent as well as a glow that can't be matched or explained. The ST fans were amazing that weekend, and I can't thank everyone enough for helping ST Gear get off to a great start. I'm a weird one, in that I have trouble knowing just how to accept compliments, mainly because I get my kicks from watching others enjoy themselves through my work, rather than being recognized myself. That's definitely what it's all about. Fun is trying to see what it would be like to actually stand on a podium. The hell with it, after the medal ceremony we jumped on the ice and hit that old thing that was damn near a death trap with it's warped levels and carpet tuffs sticking out all over the place. We enjoyed a little photo op, some bows and kisses blown, and some paparazzi if I'm not mistaken. With Apolo poster and Magazine in hand, we made fools of ourselves and had the best time doing it. I talked with enough east coast skating clubs that weekend to know that they'll be waiting on the horn for ST Gear to make it's mark. It's uniting fans in a tangible way, and watching Sooz and Kimo flash gang signs at each other while sporting their hoodies proves how important everyone is in the big picture. As we step closer to Tornio, I hope to fan the flame of short track enthusiasm, with these two crazies below as my floor models. Although, I admit, nothing trilled me like seeing Apolo wearing the black hoodie, and telling me how much he loved it. Hell, I expected nothing out of that fateful 'hoodie toss' from the stands to him on the ice. He could have taking it home to Seattle on his break and buffed the chrome rims of his Lexus LX 470 with it for all I knew, but in the back of my mind I had a hunch he'd dig it...even if only a little. Well, according to my eye in the sky spy from Sweden, it was more than a little. He was spotted wearing the hoodie 3 different times on three different days. Nearly swallowed my tongue when I heard that. I sent him a letter breaking down the whole ST Gear thing, since I didn't tell him much in Cleveland other than "Yeah, I made this..." I have yet to get a hoodie to Shani, but he's next on the list. It'll be a busy off season for short track fans

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