the oprah show
CHICAGO, IL
Taping of the Team USA Oprah show was this morning in Millennium park. We rolled out from the Hilton in 4 double decker busses while people on the streets cheered, waved, and took pictures the whole way. Could see from the top that the Line for tickets streatched almost a whole block!! Seats were sold out at the venue, plus they crammed in as many fans that could fit on the grass. Fans love Oprah to death, add Olympians and they go ballistic. Haven't heard this much screaming in awhile. Our entrance was organized by sport like a parade, confetti flying everywhere, high fives all around in the audience.....
Must have been 150+ medalists, only a few missing, so it was an awesome showing. Oprah started with Phelps, opening with a little highlight real, then into it. I am sure Phelps has answered all these questions a billion times, he hasn't even been home yet. We saw him in the lobby with a hood on, looking down at the ground, followed by a huge entourage. Don't envy him right now, except that he is set for life with the cash. So Phelps, then his relay teammates.
Next was Kobe. I was most impressed by him. We are huge fans, but he was the most mellow guy there, having a good time, used to all the nonsense that comes with his superstar role. At the Olympics the ballers were going to events and taking in the experience, but he also said today that representing America was his number 1 objective, which is kind of surprising, but definitely cool.
Gymnasts Nastia and Shawn. Smallest people I have ever seen. It is hard not to stare at Shawn Johnson, I felt bad, but jeeze.
Rest of the line up was Volleyball's Kerri Walsh and Misty May, Darra Torres, Quick words with Jennie Finch, then the women's 4x400 relay including the training center's very own Monique:). I think that was it. Oh wait they had that kinda gay looking American idol guy sing an olympicy song, David something, dunno, then we all exited.
This crazy discus girl actually did a cartwheel on stage, it was kinda weird, but she was hyped obviously. We all wet back into the crowd for more high fives, then called it a day. Pretty fun experience even though there was a lot of sitting. This was the only time we were all together like this in one place, Oprah has pull like that though.
I snipered that first pic while on stage. Had to go for it, hope you appreciate the risks I take:) Show aires this Monday September 8th. Somebody tape it for me. C ya jill
Oprah’s guest list.
September 4, 2008
The Olympic medalists participating in “The Oprah Winfrey Show” season
premiere include the following:
Baseball
Jeremy Cummings, Brian Duensing, John Gall, Mike Koplove, Terry Tiffee,
Casey Weathers
Basketball (Men’s)
Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard,
Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Redd, Dwyane Wade, Deron Williams
Basketball (Women’s)
Tamika Catchings, Sylvia Fowles, Kara Lawson, Lisa Leslie, DeLisha Milton,
Candace Parker, Katie Smith
Beach Volleyball (Men’s)
Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers
Beach Volleyball (Women’s)
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh
BMX Racing (Men’s)
Mike Day, Donny Robinson
BMX Racing (Women’s)
Jill Kintner
Boxing (Men’s)
Deontay Wilder
Cycling (Women’s)
Kristin Armstrong
Decathlon (Men’s)
Bryan Clay
Equestrian (Men’s)
Will Simpson
Equestrian (Women’s)
Laura Kraut, Gina Miles
Fencing (Men’s)
Tim Morehouse, Jason Rogers, Keeth Smart, James Williams
Fencing (Women’s)
Emily Cross, Erinn Smart, Hanna Thompson, Mariel Zagunis
Gymnastics (Men’s)
Alexander Artemev, Raj Bhavsar, Joe Hagerty, Jonathan Horton, Justin Spring, Kevin Tan
Gymnastics (Women’s)
Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, Chellsie Memmel, Samantha Peszek, Alicia
Sacramone, Bridget Sloan
Judo (Women’s)
Ronda Rousey
Rowing (Men’s)
Josh Inman, Marcus McElhenney, Dan Walsh
Rowing (Women’s)
Erin Cafaro, Anna Cummins, Susan Francia, Michelle Guerette, Caroline Lind, Elle Logan, Lindsay Shoop, Mary Whipple
Sailing (Men’s)
Zach Railey
Sailing (Women’s)
Anna Tunnicliffe
Shooting (Men’s)
Walton G. Eller, Vincent Hancock, Jason Turner
Shooting (Women’s)
Corey Cogdell, Kim Rhode
Soccer (Women’s)
Nicole Barnhart, Shannon Boxx, Rachel Buehler, Lori Chalupny, Stephanie Cox, Angela Hucles, Carli Lloyd, Kate Markgraf, Heather Mitts, Heather O’Reilly, Christie Rampone, Hope Solo, Lindsay Tarpley, Aly Wagner
Softball
Monica Abbott, Laura Berg, Crystl Bustos, Andrea Duran, Jennie Finch, Tairia
Flowers, Victoria Galindo, Lovie Jung, Kelly Kretschman, Caitlin Lowe, Jessica Mendoza, Stacey Nuveman, Natasha Watley
Swimming (Men’s)
Ian Crocker, Mark Gangloff, Matt Grevers, Brendan Hansen, Cullen Jones,
Jason Lezak, Ryan Lochte, Aaron Peirsol, Michael Phelps, Peter Vanderkaay,
Garrett Weber-Gale
Swimming (Women’s)
Elaine Breeden, Caroline Burckle, Natalie Coughlin, Margaret Hoelzer, Katie
Hoff, Megan Jendrick, Kara Lynn Joyce, Christine Magnuson, Christine
Marshall, Lacey Nymeyer, Allison Schmitt, Emily Silver, Julia Smit, Rebecca
Soni, Dara Torres, Kim Vandenberg
Taekwondo (Men’s)
Steven Lopez, Mark Lopez
Taekwondo (Women’s)
Diana Lopez
Track and Field (Men’s)
Bershawn Jackson
Track and Field (Women’s)
Allyson Felix, Shalane Flanagan, Hyleas Fountain, Monique Henderson, Sanya
Richards, Stephanie Brown Trafton, Sheena Tosta
Volleyball (Men’s)
Gabe Gardner, Tom Hoff, Rich Lambourne, David Lee, Ryan Millar, Reid Priddy, Riley Salmon, Scott Touzinsky
Volleyball (Women’s)
Lindsey Berg, Heather Bown, Kim Glass, Tayyiba Haneef-Park, Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, Danielle Scott-Arruda, Stacy Sykora, Kim Willoughby
Water Polo (Men’s)
Tony Azevedo, Layne Beaubien, Brandon Brooks, Peter Hudnut, Rick Merlo,
Merrill Moses, Jeff Powers, Peter Varellas, Adam Wright
Water Polo (Women’s)
Patricia Cardenas, Natalie Golda, Alison Gregorka, Brittany Hayes, Jaime Hipp, Heather Petri, Jessica Steffens, Moriah Van Norman, Brenda Villa, Elsie Windes
Wrestling (Men’s)
Henry Cejudo
Wrestling (Women’s)
Randi Miller