Sunday, April 20, 2014

While we were away, the Race went on

By Jim Memmott

Amazing Race All Stars, Season 24, Episode 8

Italy-- Had it not been for the dessert, this report would be complete. Some background:

This reporter was at Fore Street Restaurant in Portland, Maine, one of the two or three best restaurants in the Free World.

He decided to have dessert, something with bananas and caramel and nuts and OMG was it good.

Thus, he and poolster Cindy Schmitt missed the 7:15 ferry to Peaks Island and had to take the 8:15.
The Wabanaki

You're seeing where this is going.

If they had made it aboard the 7:15 they would have seen all of this Amazing Race episode instead of the last 15 minutes.

Good grief, those minutes were confusing. The Trotters seemed to be riding donkeys.

Other racers were doing calligraphy, something that was really hard for Cameron, Dave’s kid.

And everyone was mad at the newly married Brendon and Rachel who came in first but had thrown a U-Turn (extra challenge) at Dave and Cameron who were shocked at what they seemed to think was an ageist gesture.

Dave and Connor

Ageist? Mark Memmott, the new standards and practices guy at NPR and a member of this pool’s Team Beltway, watched the entire episode.

He informed this reporter (also named Memmott) that Dave kept mentioning that he was 60 and that it was rotten that Brenchel would U-Turn a 60-year-old man.

Mark Memmott knows that in the eyes of many people, including this reporter, 60 is the new 30.
Tom and son Cullen post-Boston

Stop whining Dave. And really, Team Beltway’s Tom Cowley, who often competes in the over-70 category, is running the Boston Marathon. Go Tom and take that Brendon. (Update. Tom had a terrific race, finishing in 4 hours, 13 minutes and 2 seconds. Way to go)

Whatever, Rachel – is she the old Rachel now? – was unrepentant, talking tough, walking proud.
Brendon and Rachel

And why not?

She and Brendon finished first for the second episode in a row, and, according to Mark Memmott, found religion along the way.

Now everyone is out to get them. Finally, the race has turned mean.

Flight Time/Big Easy
The Globetrotters, alas, were eliminated, taking Team Beltway down with them.

“They entertained,” Mark Memmott noted. “They went out there with a smile on their faces. And they didn’t complain how old they are.”

It was the Trotters’ fifth sixth place finish in a row. As was noted last week, in a six-team race, sixth screams loser.

Shout Out

Speaking of Amazing. Let’s hear it for Rosco Morgan-Morkris, the gritty Schnauzer who cohabits with this pool’s Emily and Drew.
Rosco

Rosco underwent a leg amputation recently to stop the spread of cancer. 

He has rebounded with style. (See video.)  Indeed, he seems his old self, shifty, fast, friendly, adroit. You  go Rosco.


Overheards 

Contributed by Mark Memmott and Drew Mokris (of Left-Handed Tunes):

Brendon to Rachel: I believe in you . You, me and God; we're unstoppable.

Connor: Donkey racing is a 'pain in the ass'

Brendon:  These guys are fast. We looked for the ones that pooped.

Flight Time (doing calligraphy): I’m getting’ my Leonardo DiCaprio on…. Da Vinci…one of those.

Big Easy: We had a good time.

Order of finish:

1) Brendon and Rachel 
2) Cord and Jet
3) Jamal and Leo
4) Dave and Connor
5) Caroline and Jennifer
6) Flight Time and Big Easy

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