When Ali was starting out in the Jr. High wrestling room she developed a special bond with coach Hoffmann. She would always say that someday when she went to the olympics, she wanted him to go too. All these years later, Ali still has a special spot in her heart for coach Jeff. One of the last things she put in her suitcase( for luck), as she packed for Beijing, was this picture.  Coach Hoffmann WILL be in Ali's corner in Bejing, just as she said he would be..... way back when she was in 7th grade!!




Brandon Reichel coaches Ali in a New Ulm wrestling match in 2003








Andy's Hot Shot fire-fighting crew is based in Craig Colorado. He had a week-end off between assignments, so Rocky flew to Denver, Andy picked him up, and they drove down to see Ali during her training camp in Colorado Springs.





Andy needs to learn to hide his wallet anytime Ali gets near an arcade game. She has an addiction, and will beg for quarters until you give in just to keep her quiet.

Roger was assigned to safe-guarding the restaurant doggy bag during the outing ...weight cutting hadn't started yet.






This past week-end I went to Colorado Springs to pick up Ali's car. The day before I left, 82 year old Grandma Too-Too decided she wanted to join me.She wanted see Ali before she left for Beijing, and she thought I needed some company on the 1,048 mile drive back to New Ulm.






Mom, Ali and Grandma at the Olympic Training Center




It was an intersesting trip.....the Olympic training center is thinking about adding another statue to one of their exhibits!

Supporters from Minnesota and the United States will follow Ali to Beijing






By Sunday August 3rd, Ali was packed...

...And ready to put up a fight in China

GOOD LUCK
And Bring Home The Gold From Beijing!!