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6123. wabbit - 8/15/2008 7:40:30 PM The story behind the ballgirl clip - it was originally meant to be a Gatorade ad. 6124. wabbit - 8/15/2008 7:42:12 PM  Michael Phelps has already passed Matt Biondi. With Saturday's final of the 100 butterfly done, Phelps goes after Spitz's record of seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Teammate Ian Crocker and Serbia's Milorad Cavic have the best chance of derailing Phelps. Crocker and Phelps had combined for the 17 fastest times in history in the 100 butterfly heading into the Olympics.
Even some questionable scoring couldn't derail the American women from gold and silver in the gymnastic all-around final. For Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson it came down to not only the last event, but the last two competitors… Liukin up first, Johnson up last, the gold medal hanging in the balance. Johnson was the favorite, but it was Liukin who ended up golden.
James Blake could shrug off the three match points he failed to convert, and even the misfire on an easy forehand that would have given him a berth in the Olympic final. What stuck in his craw was the notion his opponent didn't play fair. Blake came up one shot short Friday, losing in the semifinal to Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 4-6, 7-5, 11-9. Afterward he accused Gonzalez of failing to fess up on a disputed point two games before the finish. "I've spoken all week about how much I've enjoyed the Olympic experience, how much I love the spirit of it," Blake said. "That's a disappointing way to exit the tournament, when you not only lose the match, but you lose a little faith in your fellow competitor." Or maybe you would have lost anyway, eh? Eighth-seeded Blake, a first-time Olympian at 28, will play for a bronze Saturday as the last hope for a U.S. medal in men's or women's singles. Gonzalez, seeded 12th, will lose Sunday's final to Rafael Nadal.
Beijing Olympics | Results for 8/14 - SI
6125. TheWizardOfWhimsy - 8/15/2008 10:17:32 PM Snookered again by mass media! Thanks wabb. 6126. marjoribanks - 8/16/2008 9:14:08 AM Wabbit's link didn't work for me. But I saw that (awesome) ballgirl clip and immediately suspected tampering because the batter's swing and contact indicated ground ball to shortstop, not lined fly ball to the corner.
I wonder if anyone else here remembers Bo Jackson running at full tilt up a wall as though he had suction cups on his shoes? 6127. wabbit - 8/16/2008 5:00:26 PM Bo Jackson, I was just thinking about him a few weeks ago, can't remember why. I couldn't remember who that game was with, but I found it: ...On July 11, 1990 against the Baltimore Orioles, Jackson performed his famous "wall run", when he caught a ball approximately 2-3 strides away from the wall. As he caught the ball at full tilt, Jackson looked up and noticed the wall and began to run up the wall, one leg reaching higher as he ascended. He ran along the wall almost parallel to the ground, and came down with the catch, to avoid impact and the risk of injury from the fence... I wish I could find video of that catch online. He made some great commercials, too.
6128. jexster - 8/16/2008 5:10:03 PM As far as I am concerned Olympic Sailors Can Blow or Row 6129. wonkers2 - 8/17/2008 4:54:41 AM Dream Cruise 6130. wabbit - 8/17/2008 5:21:35 PM  Can someone explain why runners don't run through the finish line? I was watching the men's 100 meter and Jamaican Usain Bolt set a world record in the 100 meters, but I wonder how fast he would have been had he actually run hard for those final ten meters. If it was a marathon, I could see it, but in 100 meter? I don't get it at all. It isn't like anyone is going to pay him millions per year to run, and even endorsement money isn't going to last long. All he has is his name in the record books. You would think he'd want that record to stand as long as possible. He might have had a time a tenth of a second faster — even a twentieth would have been worth it, imho. Impressive as his win was, I think he lost an opportunity. Well behind Bolt, Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago took the silver medal in 9.89, and Walter Dix of the United States was third in 9.91.
Kenenisa Bekele has successfully defended his Olympic 10,000-meter title in a competition record time, leading teammate Sileshi Sihine in an Ethiopian 1-2 again. Bekele hit the front 450 meters from the finish Sunday and crossed in 27 minutes, 1.17 seconds to beat the record he set four years ago. Sihine, who was second at the Athens Olympics and at the last two world championships, took silver in 27:02.77. Micah Kogo of Kenya won bronze in 27:04.11.
You cannot beat the Chinese in diving. Guo Jingjing of China won the 3-meter springboard title Sunday at the Olympics, becoming the most decorated female diver with her sixth career medal. Guo totaled 415.35 points to defend her title from four years ago in Athens and make China 5-for-5 in diving at these games. Guo and partner Wu Minxia teamed to win the women's 3-meter synchronized title last weekend. Having another gold medal around her neck made Guo back away from the retirement talk that swirled around her before the games. "I like the feeling when I stand on the springboard," she said through a translator. "I just can't give it up." Guo surpassed countrywoman Fu Mingxia, who won five medals during her Olympic career. Guo teamed with Fu to finish second on synchronized springboard at the 2000 Sydney Games, then Guo and Wu won the title in Athens. Guo was the silver medalist on individual springboard in Sydney.
Beijing Olympics
6131. wabbit - 8/17/2008 5:22:46 PM  Talk about your class act. Dana Torres got her silver by the same slim margin that won Michael Phelps his seventh gold; 1/100th of a second, a fingertip. And as soon as she saw the times, she laughed, then she ducked under the barrier to congratulate Germany's Britta Steffen for winning the gold. Completing a race for all ages, 16-year-old Australian Cate Campbell claimed the bronze in 24.17. Torres finishes the Olympics with three silver medals. Not bad for an old broad.
Michael Phelps helped the Americans come from behind Sunday in a race they've never lost at the Olympics, cheering from the deck as Jason Lezak brought it home for a world record in the 400-meter medley relay. It was Phelps' history-making eighth gold medal of these games. Aaron Peirsol got the Americans off to the lead in the backstroke, but Brendan Hansen slowed them down with only the third-fastest breaststroke leg. Phelps caught the two guys ahead of him on the return lap and passed off to Lezak a lead of less than a second for the freestyle. The Australians countered with former world record-holder Eamon Sullivan as their anchor. Sullivan tried to chase down Lezak and appeared to be gaining as they came to the wall, but Lezak finished in 3 minutes, 29.34 seconds for Phelps' seventh world record. The Aussies took silver in 3:30.04, also under the old world record of 3:30.68 set by the U.S. in Athens four years ago, while Japan held on for the bronze.
It was another near miss for Shawn Johnson on Sunday, as she took home her third silver medal of the Games, this one in the floor exercise. Nastia Liukin, who became the all-around gold medalist two nights earlier, added a bronze in the floor to her growing collection, so she now has one medal of each color from these Games. Romania's Sandra Izbasa, 18, the only competitor who had a higher start value in floor (6.5 vs. 6.4) than Johnson, scored higher than Johnson in the floor in both the preliminaries and the individual all-around finals, stuck all her landings, and edged Johson by .15 of a point. It's all in the judging, just like it is with figure skating.
Beijing Olympics
6132. jexster - 8/17/2008 5:40:00 PM Cheaters. Mark Spitz didn't use performance enhancing supplements and your eyes DID NOT deceive you on that 7th gold medal either 6133. jexster - 8/18/2008 12:39:24 AM Faded Old Gorey
US No Longer King of the Track
We won skeet gold though!
USA! USA!
 6134. wabbit - 8/18/2008 5:49:11 PM  Finally, a judging controversy. Not that the gymnastics judging in Beijing has been beyond reproach — China's Cheng Fei won a bronze medal last night in the vault despite landing once on her knees — but Monday's uneven bars scoring, which kept Nastia Liukin from winning, or at least sharing, a second gold medal, finally brought attention to the peculiarities of a FIG judging system that is desperately in need of an overhaul. Here's what happened: China's diminutive He Kexin started the bars competition with a risk-filled, six-release routine that was scored 16.725. She had a small step upon landing, and the difficulty of her routine was judged to be 7.7. Her execution score was 9.025.
Next up was Liukin. Fresh off her all-around gold medal and her floor exercise bronze, she was brimming with confidence as she approached her favorite event. (The 16.90 she scored in bars in the women's team finals was the highest score awarded in these Games.) She, too, had a 7.7 start value, and executed five release moves, having a little trouble in one, her pac salto, in which she goes from the high to the low bar executing a flip. Her landing, though, was perfect -- the first time this entire season she's stuck it. Her score: 16.725. Her execution score: 9.025. Same as He's numbers.
Yet, when the tally was flashed on the scoreboard, He was placed first, Liukin second...
...He was one of the gymnasts suspected of being underage — in May she was identified in a Chinese newspaper as being just 13...
Beijing Olympics — Artistic Gymnastics
6135. wabbit - 8/18/2008 5:49:28 PM  Jake Arrieta struck out seven and Taylor Teagarden and Nate Schierholtz each hit two-run doubles as the U.S. beat China 9-1 Monday in an Olympic baseball game that turned ugly and featured three ejections. China's top player, catcher Wang Wei of the Seattle Mariners organization, was knocked out of the game with a left knee injury following a collision at the plate with Matt LaPorta in the fifth. After Schierholtz made a hard slide home against backup catcher Yang Yang on a sacrifice fly in the sixth -- and Yang had to be held back from Schierholtz by teammates -- China manager Jim Lefebvre was ejected for arguing about the rough play. Chinese reliever Chen Kun and pitching coach Steven Ontiveros were tossed soon after when Chen hit LaPorta in the head to start the seventh. That came after U.S. skipper Davey Johnson and Ontiveros were called out for a discussion about the situation with the umpiring crew...
Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia has broken her own world record in winning a second consecutive Olympic pole vault gold medal. Already assured of victory over rival Jenn Stuczynski of the United States, Isinbayeva set the record of 5.05 meters on her third and final attempt at that height Monday. After eclipsing her old world record by 1 centimeter, Isinbayeva did a somersault on the mat before jogging around the Bird's Nest track with a Russian flag. It was the third world record in athletics at the Beijing Olympics. Stuczynski's top height was 4.80, while bronze medalist Svetlana Feofanova of Russia, the 2003 world champion, topped out at 4.75.
Even the Serbs gave up disputing the Omega folks after seeing the photos.
Beijing Olympics
6136. jexster - 8/18/2008 5:52:55 PM Doctored photos. 6137. jexster - 8/18/2008 5:53:43 PM Big Chicom NBC promo fraud Wabbit.
I'm putting a Barry bonds asterisk on my scorecard 6138. jexster - 8/20/2008 4:35:53 PM That guy BOLT won another medal. He's what Herb Caen, late SF columnist, used to call a "namephreak"
And this is Jeremey Weriner - Great White Hope in the 400m
That white boy can run
To me 400m is the most beautiful race...most graceful stride/speed/strategy combination 6139. wabbit - 8/21/2008 6:10:02 PM RIP Gene Upshaw… the Hall of Fame guard who during a quarter century as union head helped get NFL players free agency and the riches that came with it, has died. He was 63. Upshaw died Wednesday night at his home in Lake Tahoe, Calif., of pancreatic cancer, which was diagnosed only last Sunday, the NFL Players Association said Thursday. His wife Terri and sons Eugene Jr., Justin and Daniel were by his side.
With Opening Day for the Patriots just 17 days away, there’s a possibility Britt could be the starting left tackle against the Kansas City Chiefs. Matt Light, an All-Pro for the first time last year while also playing in his second Pro Bowl, has not been on the practice field since July 26, a mere three days into training camp, as he recovers from an undisclosed injury. Yesterday, New England coach Bill Belichick said Light is "getting better every day," but no timetable has been given for his return. Peyton Manning proved Tuesday he can stand, walk and talk. Next question: Will the two-time league MVP start in the Colts' season opener? Manning made it to his first practice of the season Tuesday, then ended his self-imposed silence by saying he wanted to play in Indianapolis' first regular-season game Sept. 7 against Chicago — although he couldn't provide a guarantee. "I've not really had a whole lot to say to tell you the truth," he said. "As to when I'll be back on the practice field, that's still to be determined. Obviously, the sooner, the better for me. My goal is to be back for the first game."
St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson ended his holdout on Wednesday while his agent continues negotiations for a new contract. The 235-pound Jackson, a bruising runner and the centerpiece of the team's offense, is entering the final year of a five-year, $7 million deal he signed as a first-round pick in 2004. His prolonged stand perhaps reflected a realization of his value to an attack that averaged only 16 points last season while going 3-13. The Rams cut off negotiations in late July on the first day of training camp after Jackson's agent, Eugene Parker, turned down a deal the team said would have put Jackson in the top echelon at his position.
NFL news
6140. wabbit - 8/21/2008 6:11:21 PM  Carli Lloyd scored in the sixth minute of extra time Thursday night, Hope Solo bailed out her teammates time and again, and the United States beat Brazil 1-0 to win the gold medal in women's soccer for a third time in four Olympics. As the final whistle sounded, the Americans charged across the field, hugging anyone in sight. Someone handed out flags, and several players took off, running. The victory was a bit of redemption for the Americans, who went to the World Cup as favorites last fall only to be humbled 4-0 in the semifinals by Brazil…
With silver medals swinging from their necks, their eyes filled with tears, five members of the U.S. Olympic softball team walked to home plate and placed their cleats in the dirt. Their games were over, and so were their international playing careers. With that they said goodbye to softball, the sport they played better than anyone else save for one game. Losing for the first time since 2000, the Americans were denied a chance for a fourth straight gold medal Thursday, beaten 3-1 by Japan in softball's last appearance in the Olympics for at least eight years… Yukiko Ueno, Japan's remarkably resilient right-hander, shut down the Americans and handed them their first loss since Sept. 21, 2000 at the Sydney Games. The U.S. had won 22 straight since then, most with outrageously lopsided scores…
 The Chinese and the wretched Beijing weather were no match for Misty May-Treanor and "Six Feet of Sunshine." May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won their second consecutive gold medal in beach volleyball Thursday, playing through a steady and sometimes driving rain to beat China in straight sets and extend their winning streak to 108 matches in a row… No one's ever won 14 consecutive Olympic matches before, either, sweeping away their opponents in both Beijing and Athens without losing a single set. The Americans beat Wang Jie and Tian Jia 21-18, 21-18 on Thursday, playing through smog and swelter and a drenching gold medal game to confirm their dominance of the sport…
Beijing Olympics
6141. TheWizardOfWhimsy - 8/21/2008 10:38:27 PM Lest we forget the geekness of swimmers . . . and some fans in the stands . . .
6142. wabbit - 8/22/2008 12:07:52 AM LOL!! I can only imagine what you'll be doing with that last one!
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