ooh ooh... story from the Lexington Herald-Leader today
When Apolo Anton Ohno entered the baggage-claim area yesterday afternoon at Bluegrass Airport, one of the first sights greeting him was a photo of himself bare-chested. Gold medalist has arrived
posted by noelle . |
9:53 AM
Friday, July 26, 2002
Here's is Lydia's report. She has gone where no OZer has gone before!
Ok this had to be the best day of my life! I woke up bright and early at the crack of down, about 5:30, and got ready for the day. At about two i was at the park already. There i meet up with my buddy April. So we walked around and got bags of free stuff and saw friends and all and then we sat down to make out our plan. How stalkerish is that? We said if we cant get in the VIP we were still going to get to Apolo. So we got up and walked around again. Then we saw my friend Jennifer who works there and got some info from her. We went back again to set and primp ourselves to meet Apolo... lol This guy came over to us like ‘What you girls doing here’ and i said ‘looking for Mr. Ohno, you know anything about it?’ and he went off on how some women just asked him the same thing and told us to ask the men putting up the barricades and stuff. So we thanked him and went and sat in the middle of the park and watched the older men work and ask them questions about Apolo and all and we heard theses people talking about crowd control so we thought he was there. So we went back in and asked another guy and he told us to talk to this gray hair man with glasses, he was in charge of everything. Putting our best smiles on we asked him about Apolo and boy did he ever shoot us down. He was like ‘No he's not going to be signing autographs he will be leaving as soon as it is over’ and he went on like ‘He will be with me the whole time’ and that pissed us off because he didn't really have to have such an attitude with us ya know?
That is where we meet the Briones. Two real troopers from Cali, daughter and mother, they were out here for a tennis tournament and decided to stop by and see our golden boy. These girls are too much. So we found out where The VIP room was, we couldn't get in so being the crazy people we are we go to the window and balcony where it would be held and sat below it until he came in.
They were nice to us and told us how long he would be and all, even though they wouldn't let us up. So the time came where Apolo came in the room. He was like 7 feet away and there was just glass between us. So we stand on the chairs almost falling as we did this and looked in the windows. I could have died then. He was wearing black slacks and a short sleeve gray v-neck shirt. I was in awe. We were trying to get his attention and then he turned and looked at us and we froze and then waved like freaks and he was just like ‘okay’ he autographed a couple of things for them and then left.
So we ran... ran like crazy to find where he would be next. Thank god Applebeeze Park is a small venue. We meet a girl... i don't remember her name but she rocked and she told us that he was going back to the tables where they would be doing the TV interviews with him. We ran... boy did we run there and we sat down got our cameras ready and looked to see a bunch of people coming our way, Apolo in the middle. Let me just say he is so gorgeous. He was... no words no words. This guy kept tryin to get in the way of us. So if u live and KY and see the news and there are a bunch of ppl actin weird in front of the camera its b/c we were tryin to get him out of the picture.
I was taking a pic of him with my regular camera not even caring if he was looking and when i put it down he was looking dead at me smiled and waved. I melted right then and there. After the interview was done, Apolo on his own free will signed autographs. Don't you just love him? I was yelling for my girl April to get my bag and three times straight she got the wrong one so I finally pulled out the pillow I had hand sown Apolo w/t his name on it as he was walking away. I yelled his name twice and he turned looked dead at me and I handed it to him. He almost was too shy to take it but when he did he smiled so sweetly and said ‘Thank You’ in the kindest voice and the people dragged him off. I was just standin there like, did that just happen? I should be thanking him and he just thanked me.
So we decided to move on to our seats. Then I hear this voice sayin ‘Hey hey, hey you.’ I turn to this kid that couldn't be older than like 10 and he asked me if i wanted Apolo to sign the pillow and give it back or keep it. I told him I wanted him to keep it. Then he asked if I wanted Apolo to sign anything. I said yeah and he said he knew where Apolo was. So I gave him a pic of Apolo that I printed out and he told me to wait in this corner and not to tell anyone and he'd be right back. So i was standin there waitin and April was like ‘What are you doing?” I was like ‘Just catchin my breath’ and she thought I was nuts and walked off. So like five minutes the kid came back and gave me the pic back with Apolo's signature on it. I wanted to hug him but he walked off and I yelled thanks.
Everyone freaked when they saw it as I got my water. We had seat right in the front, where the door to the baseball field was and everyone was like ‘That's where they are going to come in’ and so I was on the side seat. Then all these people came in and the crowd started to boo b/c they wanted Apolo to come out. Which was really wrong of them to do. But Apolo's row of seats came out and he was coming down and I was like ‘Oh my God this is it, make a move.’ so when he reached the bottom I stuck out my hand he took it and shook it, slightly winking at me, maybe it was the sun, but I like to say a wink. But can we say soft hands? And those arms.... ok back to the story.
They then introduce the athletes and all the sponsors and all and after what seemed like forever Apolo finally said his speech. It was sweet to hear him talk to all the athletes like that. He even got to light the torch. I didn't think he would be able to reach it at first but he did. So after all then we bumrushed the field wanting to get to Apolo. My old DARE teacher off. Young was there and he let us wait for him to come over. We kept yelling for him to come over to our group. He did. I freaked he was within reach again. So when he signed about four from our big group. I was one of them. I had a magazine from my local paper that had him on it from before the Olympics. As he began to sign it I asked him if he liked his pillow, he stopped and looked up at me and said ‘I really like it thanks’ and went back to signing it and when he got done I swallowed my gut and asked him for a hug. And he said yeah and hugged me... Apolo hugged me; he rapped his arms around me... my god I could have passed out in his arms. He smelt good... lol and his hair is so soft. When we pulled away I said thank you and he smiled and went on to my friend April, who also asked for a hug and he kinda just walked away. I felt sorry for her. As Apolo left i yelled out one more time and said ‘Bye Apolo’ and he stopped turned around and waved bye to me. I was in heaven.
After he left we just stood there and soaked up what had just happened. Apolo is the sweetest guy, He's just as beautiful in person. I took some pics with my digital camera I just have to remember how to work the program, I start my vacation tomorrow so I’ll have my other pics in as soon as possible.
posted by noelle . |
11:59 PM
Thursday, July 25, 2002
Another Jena special, about the 2nd Apolo book coming out
Here's the scoop on the second Apolo book: All About Apolo is a 32-page paperback (but sized like a magazine - it's 8" x 10" - and they call it a FANzine). It's full of fun facts and photos, written for ages 9 - 14, will sell for approx. $6.99. On sale in early August in bookstores
The ESPN 100: #81 Apolo Anton Ohno Storming the Olympic stage, Apolo Anton Ohno and his short-track speedskating sidekicks dished up chaos and controversy fast and furiously. Ohno staggered to silver after a final-lap, four-man wipeout in the 1,000, then nabbed 1,500 gold when South Korean Kim Dong-Sung was DQed for blocking. Click here for the full list:The ESPN 100
posted by noelle . |
9:19 AM
Tuesday, July 23, 2002
Lydia is trying to arrange for VIP passes to the Bluegrass State Games Opening Ceremonies on Friday. Please contact Lydia if you are planning to attend!
Tonya sends the scoop on Apolo's appearance July 26 at the Bluegrass State Games in Kentucky
Applebee's Park is open on Friday, July 26 from 3:30 p.m. to the close of ceremonies - about 9 p.m. and is located at 1245 North Broadway in Lexington. Opening Ceremonies include: 7 p.m. Pre-show music 7:30 Parade of Athletes Presentation of Colors Invocation National Anthem & My Old Kentucky Home Introduction of VIPs and platform guests Governor Patton - welcome and open remarks Bob Ramsey (representing LFUCG) Alan Stein - President/CEO of the Lexington Legends Martin Kish - Valvoline Oil Apolo Ohno Oath of Athletes (Gov. Patton) Torch Lighting - Apolo Ohno and BGSG athlete 8:30 Gov. Patton declares 2002 BGSG officially open
Apolo Ohno is scheduled to be at the park from 5 p.m. to the close of the ceremonies. A news conference with Apolo is scheduled for 5:15 and a VIP reception at 5:30
Info from Tiggie regarding the upcoming Teen Choice Awards:
I found some info on the Teen Choice Awards from Ticketmaster and seventeen.com. While seventeen.com promotes the Fox Teen Choice Awards airdate August 19, the actual show will be taped Sunday, August 4 at 4 PM at the Universal Amphitheatre, according to Ticketmaster. The Absolute Tickets site lists Apolo as a "confirmed celebrity." Just wanted to get this info out so that all the SoCal fans can rally at Universal Aug. 4 and cheer on our Apolo! If the setup is anything like the Scorpion King premiere at the Universal Amphitheatre, there will be plenty of red carpet area along which fans can gather. Here are the links to the sites: Click here: Ticketmaster - Artist Click here: seventeen.com | teenchoice Click here: Teen Choice Awards Tickets by Absolute Tickets
posted by noelle . |
9:46 PM
Monday, July 22, 2002
Thanks for visiting OHNO ZONE: Web resources for fans of Apolo Anton Ohno with the latest Ohno news, competition info, photos, appearances and more. Most of our photos,
fan encounters and comments are contributed by visitors. Many thanks to everyone who has contributed so far!
- Todd & Noelle
Comments by: YACCS
