Sunday, August 10, 2014

August 10, 1984

30 years ago today I was at the L.A. Coliseum in Los Angeles to watch a day of track and field completion at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

That Olympics I attended Men's Basketball, Baseball (which was a demonstration sport) and Team Handball.  I also found time to take in a California Angels vs. Oakland Athletics Baseball game.

It was a beautiful Friday and my seat was 3 rows from the top.  Since I am not a great fan of heights, it took about 2 minutes once I sat down for my head and stomach to settle in.  I was fortunate enough to watch the Women's 3,000 Meter Race final with America's hopeful, Mary Decker.

The race started in late afternoon.  On the 3rd lap, the runners were still tightly bunched together, running as a pack.  Decker got entangled with Zola Budd and fell to the ground.



She tried to get up but could not and was unable to finish the race. Budd was constantly booed by the crowd as she passed each section.  She finished 7th, with tears coming down her face.  Budd was at first disqualified but later reinstated.

Decker said "I worked my whole life for something that was gone in an instant," They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  This picture says it all.






Saturday, August 9, 2014

Matchbox Superfast #23 Volkswagen Camper

Here is my orange Matchbox Volkswagen Camper.


Here is my blue one.

 
 
On Friday night one of the towns has old cars on display and I saw the actual Volkswagen camper the Matchbox car was modeled after.  Check it out.
 
 
 
 
 
Check out the interior.  You can live in this!
 
 
 
 
It was a fun and inexpensive way to spend a beautiful summer night.