I could tell immediately that Duane Means meant business as he prepared to compete in the softball throw at Ed Weir Track on Tuesday.
From his red shades with dark lenses to his Oregon Duck green-and-white uniform (sans Nike swoosh), the 32-year-old was going "Intimidator" on the rest of the field.
But then he had to go Lady Gaga on them with his black suspenders -- a new addition to his competing outfit.
"I'm a trendsetter," Means said.
Really, now.
"You never know," he continued, grinning.
Means was one of six athletes in his softball-throwing division. Amazingly, three were lefties.
Means noted he usually gets his best throws by lofting the ball. But he snapped his first one Tuesday like a curveball for his best toss of 13.63 meters. His next was more like a changeup before he got more air under his final throw. And then, with the sun starting to bear down, he doused himself with bottled water.
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Later, Means competed in the 100-meter walk, finished third in his heat. He's also entered in the 50.
"I kind of like the 100 better. It's more challenging," Means noted.
Quite fitting for a Special Olympics athlete, wouldn't you agree?
Asked if his first trip to Nebraska was living up to his hopes, Means said, "That -- and more."
Get into a rhythm
Inside the comfier confines of the NU Coliseum, I took in the rhythmic gymnastics Level 1 finals set.
Thanks to the required music used by those performing hoops, I'll be hearing "At The Hop" in my sleep for the rest of the summer. No complaints about that, either.
Alabama had six athletes competing, twice as many as from any other state, but Minnesota's lone entrant, Sara Abbott, definitely had the most support behind her. And she didn't try and act like she was too cool to notice, either.
When one fan whooped, "You're a rock star," after her routine, the 37-year-old immediately turned to her section of more than a dozen and saluted.
Something tells me she recognized the voice.
Surprisingly, Nebraska had none of the 36 rhythmic gymnasts, who compete in five different skills: clubs, ropes, ribbon, balls and hoops.
The rules require each athlete to use the same moves, which had me really glad not to be a judge. Almost everyone had their routine perfected. And that was in the entry level. I can hardly imagine how smooth Lani DeMello of Georgia will look when she competes Wednesday. DeMello, 25, is the only competitor who's reached Level 4.
Getting friendly
I just got back from a trip to Florida that included a visit to Disney World. But an athlete who asked how I was doing as she passed by got me to thinking there are better places.
This is "the original friendliest place on Earth," said Charles from Arkansas, here to watch his brother compete in track and field.
By the way, a lot of the 100-meter walkers looked like they could give the early-morning crowd at Universal Studios a good race to the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Getting a lift
Tuesday's powerlifting competition had 17 competitors from 15 states doing squats, bench presses and dead lifts. As a sport, bocce appears way more popular, but it's not for lack of effort by powerlifting official Jim Hollis. The North Carolinan has a live stream up and running for the first time, and people noticed. On Monday, Hollis said the site got 14 viewers, "75 percent of them my family." On Tuesday, there were 120 watching.
Favorite moment of the day
One track and field athlete, obviously noting my superior athletic build, had me sign his autograph book. I'm sure the signature I received back is worth a lot more.
Unfavorite moment of the day
Going to Kimball Hall only to learn that the powerlifting competition was over for the day. Surely, my physique would have drawn in more autograph seekers.
Line of the day
"Whoa! Whoa! Those girls are fast." -- a male athlete watching a 100-meter race.
I always knew that's what people thought about Nebraska girls.
