Shorts Story

TigerBlog is in his 60s.

Other than Princeton Athletics apparel, he can count on his two hands and feet the number of times that people have asked him where he got whatever it was he happened to be wearing at the time, and probably 90 percent or so of those times involved his Kane recovery shoes.

With that as background, TigerBlog met up with a friend for lunch the other day. What did he wear? One of the two new pairs of shorts he bought a little over a week ago. This was the first time he'd worn them.

The overwhelming majority of TB's wardrobe, by the way, falls into two categories: things that say "Princeton Something" on them and things that are solid colors. He hasn't quite given up on his dream of being on the cover of GQ, but he will acknowledge that it's getting more and more unlikely.

So there he was, on his way for lunch, wearing his new shorts. They are a little more colorful than his normal selections. They're also really, really comfortable.

And, to top it all off, they're reversible. How great is that? He paid for two pairs of shorts, and in reality got four. And for 70 percent off to boot.

There was a short wait for a table, and so TB waited outside on the nice day. A woman left the restaurant, walked past him, stopped, turned around and said "I love your shorts. Where did you get them?"

At first, TB assumed she was talking to someone else. It was like one of those situations where someone waves at you and you're not sure if that person is waving at you or someone behind you, and you don't want to awkwardly wave back if you're weren't the intended recipient of the initial wave.

Once TB realized she meant his shorts, he immediately explained where he got them and that they were reversible.

About two minutes later, an older man walked out carrying a bag that clearly was a takeout order. And what did he say to TB? 

"Love your shorts. Where did you get them?"

This time, TB's first thought was that he was on candid camera. He wanted to say to the guy "okay, who put you up to this?" Instead, he simply said "thanks" and told him where he got them.

His friend then showed up, and their table was ready. They sat and ate and talked for about an hour, and then, suddenly, a woman at the next table said "I love your shorts. Where did you get them?"

TB, now beaming, told her where. In addition, he not only told her they were reversible but also folded them over so she could see. She called it "dinner and a show."

As she was saying that, her father came back from the men's room. His comment? "They're nice. You could make a dress out of them." TB attributed that to jealousy. 

Of course, nobody even noticed TB's shirt, which was the Henley Royal Regatta shirt he bought a year ago when he was at the oldest regatta in the world. He's not there this year, but he was up early yesterday to watch the first two Princeton boats that were competing there this year. 

One of the commentators, in fact, personally welcomed TB, sort of. Yeah, no. What she actually said was "If you're watching in New Jersey, good morning to you."

As he watched, TB was immediately taken back to last year's experience, as he watched from the banks of the Thames as race after race came down the stretch. He could see the people who were where he stood last year, and he thought about the ones behind the grandstands, in their colorful suits and ties or dresses, all with hats that ran the entire gamut, as they ate, sipped champagne and enjoyed the environment.

As for the races themselves, the course is 2,112 meters, which meant that the two Princeton crews rowed 4,224 combined meters — and never trailed.

There are 27 different trophies on the line at Henley. Princeton's first two competitors are vying for the same one, the Temple Challenge Cup. The Princeton A boat — the 2V — raced first and was never really challenged by Durham University B. 

The Princeton B boat — the 3V — was really, really never challenged by the Exeter University boat, which came through the qualifying ranks over the weekend. 

Having relatively — hmmm, what's the word; certainly not "easy," since nothing at Henley is easy — starts is a major plus, since both boats are right back at it today, and hopefully tomorrow and beyond. It's a single elimination format, and it'll take five wins to earn the Temple Cup. 

Racing continues tomorrow, which is the Fourth of July here and Thursday over there. As a local said to TB last year on America's Independence Day, it was "an unfortunate day for the Empire."

Enjoy your Fourth of July. And if you need great shorts for your picnic, TB got his at Tommy Bahama.