August 3, 2012
LONDON CALLING (DAY 11)
Try not to leave anything behind, including your hat

By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor

NEWCASTLE, England -- When you cover international sporting events day in and day out, it is easy to forget things.

It is easy to get amnesia, running from event to event or being up for ridiculous hours or just working too many hours.

Journalists I have known have misplaced or lost their wallets, computer electrical cords and even their bank cards in bank machines.

Through the years I have been quite fortunate, thankfully, never losing anything of importance.

You make a mental list of what you need to bring with you (in no particular priority order):

* My glasses (I keep them right next to the bed in an easy place to reach)

* Wallet (no credit cards or cash, no food)

* Keys (personal and hotel)

* Credentials (if you lose this, you are in deep, deep trouble)

* Your passport (that will cause a headache or two leaving the country)

* And my notebook, which in many ways has become another part of my memory because I write down what I need to do over the course of a day.

Saying that, unfortunately, I regret to report that I left my blue cap from Costa Rica at St. James' Park while covering Friday's women's Olympic quarterfinal match between the United States and New Zealand. In my haste to get back into the media room, I believe I left the hat at my seat in the stadium.

It could have been worse. I could have left my credentials in my room or lost my passport.

I will mourn for that hat if it isn't in lost and found, when I return for the Brazil-Honduras quarterfinal on Saturday.

Just wondering if you have any thoughts about a replacement hat for me?