Dover, Vt. -- I touched an Olympic gold medal Sunday night.
My protons trembled from the sheer enormity of the moment. This was Indiana Jones drinking from the cup of the Holy Grail in "The Last Crusade." Only bigger.
Dining at TC's Family Restaurant just down the road from Mount Snow, I put my right index finger on the 2002 gold medal belonging to snowboarder Kelly Clark.
The man in charge of this medal refused to allow me to drape the gold around my neck for as little as two seconds so I could feel the awesome magnitude of Olympic glory. We New Yorkers can be quite forward, eh?
I pleaded my case as a New York sports writer trying to enhance this story by putting the medal around my neck. The guardian of the gold medal wanted no part of me. What nerve! Apparently, New York has very little cachet up here on Route 100. Nor does the $93 bill and gracious tip from myself, Lawyer friend Steve, Insurance friend Mike and Carpet King Wild Bill.
TC's is owned by Clark's parents, Terry and Cathy. Has been for more than 25 years.
"[Kelly] grew up at Mount Snow," our waitress said.
The restaurant is adorned in Olympic gear. The gold medal. The Roots beret from Salt Lake City. Photos. Newspaper and magazine clippings. Her ESPY Award. Dozens of other snowboarding awards, certificates, photos, whatever.
Our waitress said Monday night figured to be insane in TC's. Clark is competing on television in the women's halfpipe in Turin and TC's is "more of a local place" so doing the math does not require a calculator.
Randomly picking a restaurant and stumbling upon Olympic magic is just plain cool. And the meatball hero is really good.