Quote of the Day/Week- Ernest Hemingway

Today's quote of the day comes from American writer Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) who once lived in Ketchum, Idaho, where it is apparently at least 100 degrees F, for the third or fourth consecutive day in a row. Hemingway, who penned such classics as "The Old Man and the Sea" and "The Sun Also Rises" also lived in Key West, Florida, and in Cuba, of course, he resided there before the revolution started by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.

Hemingway has been in many recent films, most notably Woody Allen's film "Midnight in Paris," where he was played by Corey Stoll, 36, (pictured) whose performance was critically acclaimed, but did not garner an Oscar nomination. Christopher Plummer, 82, won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar this year for his remarkable performance in "Beginners."

Here is Hemingway's quote:

"I always try to write on the principle of the iceberg. There is seven-eights of it under water for every part of it that shows."

SIDEBAR: Since the 2012 London Olympics get underway later this month, we thought we'd mention one of the athletes from North Carolina, one of our states of residence (the other one is not Maine, though we love it up there!). Cullen Jones, 28, from Charlotte and a North Carolina State University alum, will be competing for Team USA in men's swimming. Jones holds the world record in the 50-meter free-style. He won gold during the 2008 Beijing Olympics in a team relay, which included the much-decorated athlete Michael Phelps. Jones was also the first African-American to win gold in swimming.

http://www.hemingwayhouse.com

http://www.gopack.com

http://www.cullenjones.com

Why We Loves Us Some Lochte!

Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps are set for an epic duel in the pool in the Olympic Trials and the Olympics.

Here's why we at Team Ironmac loves us some Ryan Lochte:

A few years ago at a swim meet in Daytona Beach shortly after Mac Crutchfield had died, Maggie Crutchfield (Mac's mom), was at a swim meet to cheer on Mac's former teammates. Ryan Lochte heard about Mac's death at the meet and walked over to her and said, "Whatever I can do for you, you just let me know, I'll be glad to do it."

Well, now we fast forward to look back at what Ryan Lochte has done for the Crutchfields and the Mac Crutchfield Foundation. He has made countless trips to the boonies of South Georgia to just visit with the family or to be the star of a fundraiser. He has agreed to be the spokesperson for the Mac Crutchfield Foundation. But what I saw a couple of weeks ago at a community pool in Gainesville summed it all up for me.

Gold medalist Ryan Lochte revealed his gold heart once again. He has become a surrogate big brother to Savannah Crutchfield, Mac's little sister. I have witnessed him numerous times do big brother things like give her noogies on her head and fake spit loogies in her hair. Things only a big brother could get away with.

Two weeks ago though, I saw it all play out in such incredible simplicity and clarity, it was stunning. Ryan told Savannah he wanted to come watch her swim. Savannah had just returned to competitive swimming a few months earlier. At the pool, Savannah turned to her mother and said, "I don't want him to come see me swim yet, I'm embarrassed."  Savannah's mom told her not to worry. Not two minutes later, Ryan Lochte slipped into the swim meet snuck up behind Savannah and put his hands over her eyes.  She guessed right away who it was.

Ryan Lochte slipped in like a ninja but soon the buzz grew. While Ryan quietly made small talk with the Crutchfield family, a small storm of excited kids waited like they were about to see a Santa Clause with six pack abs and bedroom eyes. When one kid finally got up the nerve to come over and ask for an autograph the line grew exponentially. Ryan was more than friendly and unassuming. He bent down to take pictures with the little ones. He signed everything. Who knows what kind of strong man workout he had just finished. He never complained, always smiled and did whatever the kid asked.

He graciously broke away to yell for Savannah when her event started. This was the only time he got loud. He made sure that everyone knew he was cheering for his newest little sis. Actually I don't think that was his point, he just wanted to be loud enough for Savannah to know that he was there to cheer for his newest little sis.

After she swam, he went quietly and graciously back to signing autographs until there was not a kid in the place with Ryan Lochte's name on something. He and Maggie then quietly made plans for the Crutchfields to come over to his house for dinner. And then he quietly walked off into the sunset like some mythical hero.

And he is, except he's not a myth. He's real. He's genuine. Oh, and Savannah also says he's goofy. Just like any little sis says about their big bro'.

So tonight, or any night over the next couple of months, you see that shark in the water devouring his foes. Remember that is one shark with one very big golden heart.

Olympic Cities Distance Quiz (1 of 6) Athens to London

Today, we begin a six-part series on the distances between various cities which have hosting the Olympic Games. As of this summer, London, England/U.K., will be the first city to host the games three times. The previous two times were in 1900 and 1948.

Athens, Greece, has hosted the modern summer Olympics twice, including the initial games in 1896 and in 2004.

American swimmer Ann Curtis who won gold in women's 400 meter free-style swimming back during the 1948 Olympics is still alive at age 86.

The American delegation sent 300 athletes to the 1948 Olympics.

In 2004, there were significantly more American athletes in the field as 536 athletes were sent to Greece. Among them were Misty May and Kerri Walsh who won gold in women's beach volleyball.

So, what is the distance between Athens, Greece, and London, England; is the answer:

A) 1,466 miles

B) 1,476 miles

C) 1,486 miles

D) 1,496 miles

Several airlines travel the Athens-London route; they include British Airways and Olympic Air (Greece).

http://www.bbc.co.uk

http://www.london2012.com

http://www.britishairways.com


http://www.olympicair.com




SIDEBAR: The answer to our quiz question regarding "The Flintstones" is A) 1960.

Quote of the Day/Week- Janet Evans

Since we quoted the swimming great Mark Spitz on our sister blog "The Daily Vampire," we thought we'd stay in the pool and quip Janet Evans, 41, is amazingly enough training for the 2012 London Olympics.

Evans first achieved prominence 25 years ago, and she won three gold medals and set a new world's record in the 400-meter free-style at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Evans went on to win another gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. In total, Evans has won five medals, including one silver.

She was profiled on the NPR sports show "Only a Game" about her remarkable comeback efforts at a time when she is also busy being a wife and a mother.

It was hard to find a quote from Evans, and even harder to find a good image, but we hope this quip works:

"My straight-arm recover was natural. I really couldn't swim it any other way. I think it developed when I was a kid, and I wanted to get down the pool the fastest."