Bandaradan

So as I wandered the cross-country venue this morning in Pragelato, I came across just a few Americans, including diehard Nordic skiing fan Terry from Minnesota. He's staying in France, and traveling an hour back and forth nearly every day to watch cross-country and biathlon. We admired the Alps together. He expressed his disappointment that the U.S. media didn't devote more attention to sports like cross-country skiing and biathlon instead of professional team sports. I pointed out that EuroSport 2's "EuroCenter" segments last night led with Champions League soccer highlights and continued with more Champions League soccer highlights before transitioning into soccer press conferences, and didn't get to the Olympics until 10 minutes in. (No, it's not really called "EuroCenter," but it should be.)

Anyhow, Terry gave me the speech about how wonderful it was to see everyone celebrating their nationality and their sport, united in peace and brotherhood and harmony and sap, etc. etc. At the time I had heard just enough about peace and brotherhood and the Olympic spirit. I had Olympic spirit pouring out of my eyeballs and Olympic harmony clinging to my nostrils. But after coming back to my computer and spending three hours with Shani and the Hottie e-mails, I take all that back. Olympic spirit is great.

Still, I was ready for a break, and I found it with a band called "Bandaradan." Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the guys in the band explained that this was a play on "Ambaradan," an Italian military defeat that now means "a big mess" to Italians.

These guys (Davide on tenor sax, Alberto on soprano sax, Sergio on baritone and Mauricio on accordian) call themselves a "comic band," and they walk around the Olympic venues, dancing and serenading fans and playing little polka-type numbers, plus the theme songs from "Mission, Impossible" and "The Simpsons." Mike Wise appeared at one point and started singing in Italian, and Bandaradan whipped up an accompaniment. They've played near the Alpine skiing venues and they've played near the bobsled venues, and this afternoon they were being whisked back off to Sestriere.

For what event, I asked?

"Beer and sausage," Mauricio said. "The Germans are in town."

"But ice beer," Alberto said. "It's the Winter Games."

We spoke as the Canadian national anthem played (young Canadian Chandra Crawford scored a huge upset by winning gold in the sprint), and Davide said the music was "like a funeral march." Then Alberto asked if he could say something in the blog. I said ok.

"I want to say, "CIAO, MAMMA!" he said.

If I ever become an Italian concert promoter, I now have three options: the Silver Tongues, Simple Point and Bandaradan. That would be one of the five best rock shows of all time.

By Dan Steinberg |  February 22, 2006; 1:14 PM ET
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