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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! 6143. jexster - 8/22/2008 3:22:32 PM Great White Hope Dethroned in Men's 400 6144. David Ehrenstein - 8/23/2008 3:45:24 PM Gay Australian Beauty Matthew Mitchum wins the Gold!!!! 6145. jexster - 8/23/2008 3:50:39 PM Eight shut out innings, 8k , 200 k 14-3 for the season, Tim Lincecum for Cy Young
14 of the Midgets's 48 wins 6146. jexster - 8/23/2008 3:51:37 PM I think all those platform divers are gay DE. Can't tell about the Chinese. They all look gay to me 6147. jexster - 8/23/2008 7:41:16 PM DE...I watched platform diving TWICE for obvious reasons
Did you see Mitchum swish n twitter for the cameras after nailing one?
My gaydar fried circuits 6148. jexster - 8/23/2008 7:58:19 PM It ain't rocket science Greg Louganis 6149. David Ehrenstein - 8/23/2008 8:28:05 PM Mitcham's been through quite a lot in recent years. At the last minute somebody got his boyfriend Lachlan a ticket to Bejiing, so he was there for the Big Moment. 6151. jexster - 8/24/2008 12:20:19 AM Now back to SPORTS....
Something's rotten in the state of Wang Chung
Omega finally releases Phelps "win" photos 6152. jexster - 8/24/2008 12:26:43 AM World's Fastest Human
Usain Bolt Celebrates Early...Very Early
Now THAT's Haulin 6153. David Ehrenstein - 8/24/2008 2:20:09 PM Great video of Matthew Mitcham after his big win. 6154. jexster - 8/24/2008 11:50:37 PM The EuroTrash at the US/Hungary Water Polo finals were bellowing the same chant I've heard at their "football" games.
What in the hell are they singing?
USA!
USA!
USA!
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