Ray Brinzer

We’ve been in Istanbul for some time, now; I’d intended to write a good deal earlier, but I haven’t had much time online. We settled pretty quickly into a boring routine: from the hotel to a practice venue and back twice a day, and three meals a day in the hotel restaurant. I haven’t been in this part of the world for some time, but it’s very familiar to me and I became comfortable rather quickly. I like the food, I survive the traffic, and the style of buildings is pretty close to what you see in Bulgaria and Greece. So even though I hadn’t been to Turkey since 1992, it was an easy adjustment.

In fact, it all seems so normal that I began to feel that my previous concern over the security situation here was overblown. Turkey is, after all, a modern country, mostly filled with decent people. I believe I’ve seen at least as many women in sleeveless shirts as chadors, which doesn’t suggest a hotbed of religious extremism, either.

But, I reminded myself, how things seem isn’t the point. Besides the political crisis and coup plot I mentioned earlier, there was a gunfight at the American Embassy here, which left 3 good guys (Turkish cops) and 3 bad guys dead. And, thwarting my hopes that we’d be out of here before the case started, the Constitutional Court begins deliberation on the dissolution of the AK Party today. So, I decided, there is good reason to remain concerned and alert, however things may seem.

Well, this evening things turned worse. Two bombs went off in the Güngören district a few hours ago, killing 15 (a number sure to go up) and injuring 150. According to the fellow at the front desk, who seemed not to have heard the news yet, Güngören is about 10 kilometers, or 6 miles, from here.

Now, even so, the odds of any given person here being hurt in such an incident are exceptionally low. We are, however, about to begin a high-profile international event, which surely doesn’t help matters. We are probably still at greater risk from automobiles than from bombs or guns, but given the way people drive around here that’s not exactly comforting.

There’s nothing to do but go forward, however, and act with due caution. The team went out to visit the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar the other day; I expect that will be our last outing. The tournament is about to begin anyway, so it’s time for business. Three medals, and Steve Frasier owes me dinner at a restaurant of my choice — I shall drive the athletes mercilessly.

A fellow from Flowrestling wanted to interview me out at the Central Regional Championship. If you ever wanted to hear me ramble aimlessly for 20 minutes, here’s your chance.

Upon reflection, I too-often fail to give credit where it’s due as I’m talking. While I did wind up at a lot of tournaments alone, at a certain age, my parents also hauled me to an enormous number as well. And coaches in the community like Bill Bauer took me along with their own sons, even when I was being a pest.

As well, I sometimes say “I” founded the club, when I should say “we”. Ty Moore certainly had no less a role in it than I did.

Poor form. Oh well.