2008 Olympic Gold Medalists

2008 Olympic Gold Medalists
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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Into the Semis

I have been having trouble finding time to keep everyone up to date. I wanted to blog everyday but it just seems like there is to much to do to get it all done. Also, wanted to let everyone know who is posting that I am reading your post and I appreciate all the support. Have not had the time to post back though but certainly will once the games are over.

Good times the last couple of days. We had that battle against Swizterland and the next day I went to the airport and picked up my wife. Very happy to see her and have her here in support. No kids though. It was a decision that I agonized over for awhile but felt it would be the best call not to have them here. After being here for a couple of days I am glad I made that decision. My kids would not have had a very good time. They would have loved watching me play but they would have been bored out of their minds most of the time. Not to mention that all the venues are a fair distance away from one another and you have to spend about 30 minutes or more in a cab to go to most of the venues. If I actually play for another 4 years and happen to make it to the 2012 games, then I would definetely take them. Long ways away though and I have no desire to even think that far down the road.

On Monday morning we beat the German team of David Klemperer and Eric Koreng. Very athletic team and a couple of very good guys in general. I have the utmost respect for both of them as players and people. Phil played very well. Probably the best he has played so far. I played okay but struggled to pass a bit which made it tough for Phil to set me with consistancy. This of course led to errors, blocks and digs for the Germans. We were fortunate that we won the match in 2 games.

Today we trained in the morning at the site and then Melissa and I did a little shopping at the USA House. They have some great stuff there with the Olympic Logo and USA on them. Winding down the day now. Time to take a steam, have some dinner, and hit the hey for tomorrow's 9am match vs. the Georgian team.

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Good luck tomorrow against the Brazilian Georgians tomorrow. Looking like NBC is not showing the finals live. Sad if that is true that NBC is giving all the live attention to Misty and Kerri. We'll be cheering you anyhow at about 9pm EDT.

Garret

Anonymous said...

I'm a new beach volleyball fan, thanks to these Olympics. I wish you and your teammate all the best. Have fun!

NC Native

Jody said...

Great win against the Germans. I agree with you about the very quick red card. Not necessary. I am surpised about NBCs coverage of you and Phil. They only played the second set vs. Germany, and they are putting you on late night again for the second time in a row. That makes your blog updates all the better. Best volleyball blog around! Glad you have wife there in support. Best of luck.

Jody

P.S. Karch has told the story about Phil loosing his hair every match, sometime multiple times a match. Give them a new story..

Anonymous said...

Good luck!
Candy

Anonymous said...

Hi Todd! Chantell Taylor here... name from the past but hopefully you remember me from high school years. I just wanted to wish you luck and let you know that my family and I have been watching and cheering for. I like to brag that I know you! Congratulations on all your success so far and go kick some ass to the finish! -Chantell
(email:chantell@chantelltaylor.com)

Anonymous said...

Todd, all good things come to those who wait. You and Phil have been very patient in getting the attention you deserve. I have to believe there is a purpose.

Being a reli-stu undergrad, I suspect Beijing is a great place to see some of the various temples: hinduism, buddhism, confucionism, daowism, etc.
All this after you win gold of course.

Jeff

Anonymous said...

Todd Rogers, you and Phil are my favorite guys team and i watch you every time you play ( except when I can't figure out what channel you guys are on!) Before this year I never watched guys beach volleyball but now I am hooked & can't stop watching it! You two have inspired me to become an olympic beach volleyball athlete! Good luck on your next match & bring home the gold!!

Anonymous said...

Nice to mett you! I am a student from China . Today I will watch the match between you and Brazilian . I hope you can win ! Because of you I become fond of the beach voleyball . I will support you forever !
Good luck to you !
Can you connect with me?
(my e-mail:kici77se7en@gmail.com)

Anonymous said...

Best of luck to you guys to bring home the gold!! Your blog is great. I've been playing since the 5th grade and played all through college (D-III). Had to retire though after having two kids and am just living vicariously through you guys and the girls on the beach. Go get 'em!!!

Anonymous said...

The "New York" Rogers' are routing for you guys! Good luck! You and Phil are exciting to watch!

Karen Rogers-Gilligan

Anonymous said...

The rally you guys had towards the end of the second set was phenomenal! WOW! Good luck against Brazil, we will be cheering for you all the way across the globe!!

Unknown said...

Good luck. I have been watching you on the avp tour all last year and all summer. I just graduated college a few years ago and played baseball in college and have since retired and now I have picked up beach volleyball and you have been very inspiring!!! GO USA!
-brandon

Unknown said...

Good luck. I have been watching you on the avp tour all last year and all summer. I just graduated college a few years ago and played baseball in college and have since retired and now I have picked up beach volleyball and you have been very inspiring!!! GO USA!
-brandon

Parents of M and M Sisters said...

Good Luck.. Buena Suerte Todd!!! I am a very blast from the past at UCSB.I also graduated in 1996 and I met you in a volleyball class where I was a volleyball student.. a very poor student... and you were an awesome, patient, helper of the coach. I knew you to always have the most genuine of hearts and not an air of conceitedness I found many other athletes to have. I even talked you into coming to the Boys and Girls Club in Goleta to read to the kids there to get them excited about reading with a Gaucho! I don't know if you remember that, but I sure do! I now live in Kansas City (actually an incredible town I love contrary to what I believed before my husband was transferred here) where I teach high school Spanish. I brag to the kids that I went to college with you... For them Santa Barbara.. and mostly YOU are quite exciting. So.. you've got 200+ high school kids from Staley High School in Kansas City sending you positive winning thoughts!!! We've got your picture hanging on our bulletin board. GO GAUCHO!!!

Parents of M and M Sisters said...

P.S. From UCSB, My name is Anna Maki-Birchler... My yogi instincts tell me you are winning the gold!!!
The M & M sisters (Maya and Mika) and Anna and Ryan...

Unknown said...

INTO THE FINALS!!! I can only go by the score but that looked like a MEECHING! Congrats...great showing by the Bra..er Georgians, I'm rooting for them to win the bronze. More than likely it'll be #1 against #2 in finals. Should be a great one no matter what the result. Maybe NBC will even show it live! Congrats to you & Phil again. ONE MORE BABY!

Garret

Unknown said...

hey, i was at your game v germany and i am the dude with the american flag that you signed (thanks) and i just wanted to wish you the best of luck and that maybe ill see you in la/ manhattan beach sometime, you told me you were going to be playing there and to look you up on your website...this is my sisters name btw (liz)

--daniel

Todd Rogers said...

NC Native - Great to have a new beach volleyball fan.

Jody- thanks. hopefully they got some new materials. I tried to give them new stuff.

Chantell - Great to hear from you. Been a long time. Hope you and your family are well.

Jeff- Lot of cool looking temples and what not in Beijing. Never did get a chance to check any out though. Always seemed so busy and then we left the day after the Gold Medal Match.

Kelli- Thank you. I am glad I can be an inspiration for you. Good luck.

Kici- Thanks. I will email you but it may take a bit of time for me to catch up with all of my emails.

Rick and Dani- Thanks and I hear you with the kids. Every year it gets tougher to leave them for any length of time.

karen- Good to know I have "family" on the east coast. :)

Brandon- Thanks and hope you are enjoying beach volleyball as much if not more than baseball.

Anna and Family- I wish I could say I do remember you in class and at the boys and girls club. Getting old I guess. Love that I have fans in Kansas City. Look like your yogic instincts were right on. :)

Daniel- Nice to meet you and thanks for the support in Beijing. Look me up in Manhattan Beach if you are around.

Todd