The trivia contest makes another late, tragically sad appearance

At this point, media members are basically shaken down for Olympic pins when entering the security lines. When men in uniforms carrying guns ask if you have a pin, the answer is yes. Always yes. But still, the momentum of my early entreaties for pins has continued, and while I'm now not quite so desperate for readers as to bribe them with cheap Olympic merchandise, I've got to do something with all these hunks of metal.

(Aside one: Speaking of hunks and guns, my female co-workers, of whom there are many, say that Italian policemen and security guards are much more attractive than their American counterparts, no offense to any of the latter who might be reading. "Gorgeous, tall, handsome," one said. "And the uniforms are so gorgeous, too.")

(Aside two: Speaking, as we so often do, of such shallow nonsense as people's looks, reader Daina writes:

As a 30 yr old female with a soft spot for philanthropy, I insist that you MUST revisit the topic of "hottest Olympian" because there is a need to discuss the fact that speedskater and philanthropist and all around good and hot guy Joey Cheek is most deserving of "Hottest Male Olympian." He exemplifies what America is about, and how sports and the Olympics can be used to help humanity. And he's cute to boot!

[Ed. note: And he's from Greensboro, N.C., home of an NCAA tournament first round site and possible destination of the three Georges: Washington, Mason and 'Town.]

(Aside three, and man am I keeping the parentheses industry in business or what? Reader Fred writes with an appreciation of Sasha Cohen, "with those doe eyes and porcelain white skin. May she rock on the ice and anywhere else the future leads her.")

(Aside four: An Italian telecom guy just entered our office and told us how much he likes the Washington Wizard [sic]. When I was at curling the other day, the Italian volunteer next to me was extremely excited to learn that I covered NCAA basketball, and then rattled off the entire starting five of the Miles Simon/Mike Bibby Arizona team that won the national championship in 1997. The Italian volunteer said it was the greatest Final Four ever. He thinks Duke, Connecticut and Memphis are the favorites this year. I've long had a thing against Conference USA, and I will hereby predict that Memphis bows out no later than the round of 16. Read Matt Rennie's and Eric Prisbell's college basketball chat at 11 a.m. here.)

(Aside five: As to the efficacy of my bribing readers to hit the "refresh" button constantly with the promise of free stuff via trivia contests, Mike Wise and style writer Libby Copeland think I've reached a point of critical mass where I no longer need to frantically compose posts at 4:45 in the morning for later frantic use, and that I should use my newfound power to tease readers by writing less frantically and frequently. Loving roommate Les, on the other hand, thinks maybe I should try to make my Olympics blog about, you know, the Olympics. I would solicit your e-mailed thoughts on this topic, but I probably wouldn't read 'em. But if you want to try......

Anyhow, if you're still reading this, on to the trivia contest. So today is two for one day. The prizes: an NBC News pin, and a "What a difference 'Today' makes" pin. Aside from being NBC swag, neither appears to have anything to do with the Olympics. That makes me feel weird, based on loving roommate Les's comments above, so I'm also throwing in a pin featuring one of the weird snowflake creatures that are the official mascots of this game. The pin features the red one, whichever one that is. Wait, how about this: What's the name of the red weird snowflake creature? Yup, that's the trivia question. E-mail me here. Put "Weird Snowflake" in the subject line."

By Dan Steinberg |  February 15, 2006; 10:29 AM ET
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