- 06:01 AM
- 07/25/08
Rob Green: 21 days that changed my life. This summer West Ham's goalkeeper did without the traditional footballer's holiday and went instead to Africa to work with a charity that helps the truly disadvantaged – and uses football to get its message across. Here Rob Green describes an experience that was both shattering and ultimately uplifting.
posted to Soccer at 10:29 AM CDT
Dara Torres, 41, qualifies for Olympics, rewrites swimming records. Dara Torres qualified for her fifth Olympics, 24 years after her debut in 1984. At 41, two years after having a child, she's still kicking ass and breaking records. Torres swears by resistance stretching and has volunteered for drug tests amid allegations of steroid use. Awesome pic (holy six-pack, Batman!) and more detail about Torres at kottke.org (where I first learned of Dara), plus even more detail at NYT and Wikipedia.
posted to Olympics at 4:21 PM CDT
Woops. That resistance stretching link shoulda gone to this site instead.
posted at 10:19 PM CDT on July 7
Christian News Site Turns Athlete Homosexual OneNewsNow, an online news service owned by the American Family Association, has been editing AP stories to automatically replace the word "gay" with "homosexual," filing numerous stories about the American sprinter Tyson Homosexual and the NBA player Rudy Homosexual. One story still online: "Memphis Grizzlies backers hit the hay hoping that Kevin Love would open things up for Rudy Homosexual in the frontcourt."
posted to General at 9:20 AM CDT
The plane that dropped the first atom bomb, called "Little Boy", was the Enola Homosexual.
Now You Know.
posted at 11:56 AM CDT on July 1
You can't do without Shaq! Noted rapper Shaquille O'Neal, (8 albums, 1 platinum, 5 gold), goes freestyle on Kobe. Despite Shaq claiming that it was done in fun, Deputy O'Neal is being fired coast to coast.
posted to Basketball at 11:46 AM CDT
I thought that was funny. "Tell me how my ass tastes?" LOL
posted at 4:24 PM CDT on June 26
The ultimate soccer pick-up game this evening (5:30) in Manhattan. Steve Nash putting an all-star group together for a pick-up soccer game for charity.
posted to Soccer at 2:44 PM CDT
I'll be there. The little guy with the big skillz.
posted at 3:24 PM CDT on June 25
Erm. My agent was holding out for a stipend. And by "agent," I meant imagination.
posted at 2:25 AM CDT on June 26
Yeah, sorry I'm on the other coast. Woulda been big fun to see Nash mix it up with the likes of Henry, Kalou, Fowler, Reyna.
posted at 4:36 PM CDT on June 26
Paul Ince is Blackburn's new manager and first black English manager in EPL. Frenchman Jean Tigana with Fulham and (Dutch/Surinamese) Ruud Gullit with Chelsea and Newcastle are the only other two black managers to have managed in the Premier League. Ince will be officially presented as Blackburn's manager on Tuesday.
posted to Soccer at 3:39 PM CDT
Yup, other recent famous black English players have been knocking against the glass ceiling longer with even less to show for their efforts.
posted at 6:14 PM CDT on June 23
An incredible collection of photos from yesterday's Turkey vs. Switzerland rain-soaked Euro 2008 match, courtesy of Alan Taylor's phenomenal photoblog at the Boston Globe.
posted to Soccer at 1:26 PM CDT
That Turkey v Czech game might have been game of the tourney. Altho, I'm probably saying that coz I missed that Netherlands thumping of France. (I did get to watch Netherlands thumping Italy - oh, sweet sweet soccer schadenfreude.)
posted at 10:55 AM CDT on June 17
Scolari is new Chelsea coach, effective July 1. Looks like Avram Grant was a stopgap until they found a big name. Now they've found one in the current Portugal coach (who also won something called the World Cup as Brazil's coach in 2002), who's doing quite well at the Euro 2008 championship right now.
posted to Soccer at 3:54 PM CDT
With Big Phil at Chelsea, I wonder if Ronaldo might move over to the Blues, too (instead of Madrid or staying at Man U)?
posted at 5:16 PM CDT on June 11
I'm sure money and access to the top players in the world had nothing to do with it.
posted at 10:56 AM CDT on June 17
16 nations vie for Euro 2008 title beginning June 7. Czech Republic, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Greece, Russia, Spain, Spain, Sweden. Who's your pick to win it? Who will be the surprise team? Where can we watch live in the US for free at home (or can we)? Get the ball rolling inside.
posted to Soccer at 12:21 PM CDT
Ouch, I have Spain twice in there. Must be Freudian: They're my pick for the championship. With four Liverpool players in the team - goalie Reina, defender Arbeloa, midfield maestro Alonso and striker extraordinaire Torres - who else would I pick?
posted at 12:33 PM CDT on June 5
Classic, MrB. Well done!
posted at 4:39 PM CDT on June 5
btw, tselson, I'm using livesoccertv.com's schedule.
Unfortunately, I only get ESPN2 (of the channels listed there) and not all the games are LIVE on ESPN2. I was hoping someone would say Univision or Telemundo or FSC or GolTV was doing some of the other ones. But it looks like ESPN has a lock on the tourney. But they are mostly on ESPN2, so I can't really complain.
Thanks!
posted at 4:44 PM CDT on June 5
I see there's an exciting opportunity tonight to watch the key friendly between Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
MrB, are you referring to the Developing Nations Football Championship? (originally posted by Bonkers here)
posted at 5:51 PM CDT on June 5
JJ! This site says tune in to PCCW in HK.
posted at 11:20 PM CDT on June 6
Mark Hughes is new Manchester City manager. The former Manchester United star and Blackburn Rovers manager takes over from Sven-Goran Eriksson. The article also mentions that Hughes was non-committal on the impending purchases of Brazilians Ronaldinho and Jo. The next Manchester derby should be a rousing affair, with Hughes going up against old boss Alex Ferguson. Meanwhile, with Hughes' move, Chelsea loses yet another candidate to replace the departed Avram Grant. And Blackburn appear to be in no hurry to fill Hughes' spot, with candidates such as Sam Allardyce (late of Newcastle and Bolton) lined up.
posted to Soccer at 12:05 PM CDT
Really? I would think Keano would have a say about that.
This gets Hughes to a club with resources - at Blackburn, he would've just continued to be the Sam Allardyce of the Rovers. I think it's a stepping stone. Hughes has already run a national team, to good effect, so what he wants now (not waiting until Sir Alex keels over) is the money and big vision and skillful players at his command. It's about a new challenge -- and actually winning some silverware.
posted at 4:55 PM CDT on June 5
Mourinho to Inter Milan, targets Chelsea trio. The Special One lands at Inter, and speculation is he will go after Essien, Drogba and Lampard.
posted to Soccer at 12:52 PM CDT
I would like to second what I just said.
Sincerely, and special,
Jose
posted at 11:42 AM CDT on June 4
IPL hits for six with faster, sexier cricket (NPR audio link). The Indian Premier League scores a resounding succes by juicing up cricket with a new league featuring shorter games, snazzy teams and even cheerleaders (imported from Europe and the US). All hail the Bangalore Royal Challengers, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, and Deccan Chargers!
posted to Other at 12:45 PM CDT
Cheerleaders from the Hyderabad v Delhi game.
posted at 12:47 PM CDT on June 3
Chargdres: Mumbai Indians?! I am appalled! How dare a sports franchise trivialize such a great people. I sense a protest.
Yeah, that was rather unimaginative. I woulda gone with the Mumbai Maharajahs or something like that. But, hey, nobody asked my Indian pro cricket team naming consultancy. Well, at least it's an accurate use of "Indians."
posted at 11:47 AM CDT on June 4
WuChess: Where hip-hop meets chess. Like the Wu-Tang Clan? Like Chess? Awwww yeah - this is the site for you. Play live chess with people from all over the world and get your learn on. WuChess.com lets you get knowledge from REAL chess masters online, or train in chambers against the computer to refine your skills. Create your own chess clans to see who can build the highest ranking. Play in tournaments for prizes, or just for the joy of flexin' ya mentals. They also donate part of their revenues to Hip-Hop Chess Federation ("Using chess, music and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and non-violence). Now you can be a Grand Master in rap, chess and kung-fu. This is too cool.
posted to Other at 6:27 PM CDT
I actually found out about this on Valleywag. WuChess is a collaboration between WTC and ChessPark, "a chess-centric social network." Check out the video at the end of the article; shows a chess tourney in SF organized by Hip-Hop Chess Federation -- looks like the RZA beat the Monk for the championship.
posted at 12:08 PM CDT on June 3
emancipated and Ufez, it should be obvious (whether they say it or not) that WTC get some money, and so does ChessPark, who're doing the heavy-lifting. CP brings the ball and court, WTC brings the game. And part of the proceeds also goes to the Hip-Hop Chess Federation (which they do say on the site).
posted at 11:54 AM CDT on June 4
The LA Times has the same reservations as you guys re: the price of entry, and is looking into the membership experience.
Washington Post points out ChessPark also has a free alternative (but no hip-hop videos or MP3s, which are included with the WuChess membership).
But, no info on the revenue share, or how much WTC makes .
posted at 12:10 PM CDT on June 4
9.72 Usain Bolt breaks WR in the 100m.
posted to Other at 12:00 AM CDT
Bolt. That's a good name.
posted at 6:19 PM CDT on June 2
Whiffle hurling. Like the Irish sport, only with whiffle ball and bats. And a sombrero, apparently (see video). Looks like fun.
posted to Other at 3:53 PM CDT
Would that include a bat?
posted at 6:28 PM CDT on June 2
ESPN Fires Pittsburgh Radio Host Mark Madden Last Wednesday, ESPN 1250 host Mark Madden responded to news of Sen. Ted Kennedy's illness with this comment: "I'm very disappointed to hear that Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts is near death because of a brain tumor. I always hoped Senator Kennedy would live long enough to be assassinated." This Wednesday, he's looking for a new job. AOL Fanhouse blogger Ryan Wilson's response: "It couldn't have happened to a nicer jerk."
posted to Other at 8:34 AM CDT
It's one thing to hate Ted Kennedy -- millions do -- but wishing for someone to be murdered, especially when two of his brothers were murdered as well, is less than cool.
Given that a Democratic contender for Presidential nominee and former First Lady just about implied the same thing (of her opponent) by invoking the assassination of Kennedy's brother, this is pretty much a fart in the wind.
posted at 11:49 AM CDT on May 28
Harkleroad fulfils naked ambition with Playboy shoot I had a hard time picking the category for this one, since it's not all that much about tennis, and spofi doesn't have a category for salacious. A 61st-ranked women's tennis player's who wasn't doing anything else at the moment further fuels the controversy of mixing court and camera.
posted to Culture at 1:45 PM CDT
I read it because the pages were dripping with text appeal.
posted at 9:04 PM CDT on May 27
I know what you mean, THX-1138. I read SpoFi for the naked women, too.
Thanks for spoiling it, you erudite and eloquent people.
posted at 10:28 PM CDT on May 28
SpoFi: Pandering to a pack of wankers.
posted at 11:49 AM CDT on May 29
FIFA suspends Iraq soccer association. Endangers qualifying for WC 2010
posted to Soccer at 9:16 AM CDT
There are too many winners in that Onion article but here's one:
"In the Third-World Cup, every group is the Group Of Death."
Thanks, Bonkers!
posted at 12:01 PM CDT on May 29
"So although it was an excellent season, we are still disappointed."
posted to Soccer at 10:28 PM CDT
Good grief. By this reckoning, anybody besides Fergie is out.
posted at 10:57 AM CDT on May 25
Manchester City qualify for UEFA Cup based on good behavior. They almost lost the spot to Fulham, who barely escaped relegation from the EPL. "The fair play system awards points based on criteria including respect for opponents and the referee, positive play as well as the number of yellow and red cards received. City will not be able to host the first qualifying round tie at Eastlands as the pitch is due to be relaid once a Bon Jovi concert has taken place on 22 June."
posted to Soccer at 4:05 PM CDT
Fair Play Award is all well and good. Give 'em a plastic medal and a pat on the back from the Queen. But qualification for a tournament? Not so much.
posted at 4:07 PM CDT on May 22
So this is kind of like saying let the slow kids get in for good behavior, because, erm, it's kind of a slow kids tournament and the slow kids aren't gonna get that far.
I see your circular reasoning and raise you a tautology.
posted at 2:27 AM CDT on May 23
Seattle Sounders announce new fan association with power to vote GM off the team, thanks to Drew Carey. Members can be nominated and selected to the Sounders FC Association Council on a yearly basis. Those interested must receive at least 25 nominations from other association members, with the first nominations accepted next month. Association membership is free for all season-ticket holders. Non-season-ticket holders can join beginning in June for an annual fee of $125. Benefits include voting privilege, a membership pin and card, a discount at team shops and an invitation to the annual meeting — which Carey himself will host beginning later this year.
posted to Soccer at 6:57 PM CDT
SpoFi wanna "own" a piece of this? The price is right!
posted at 6:58 PM CDT on May 19
Say It Ain't So, Chuckster A prosecutor says retired NBA star Charles Barkley will face felony charges if he fails to repay a $400,000 gambling debt to a Las Vegas Strip casino.
posted to Basketball at 12:32 PM CDT
Yeah, I'm surprised nobody's broken his kneecaps. Oh, right, he doesn't have any left.
Bada bing, bada boom.
From the article:
Barkley estimated during a May 2006 interview with ESPN that he'd gambled away about $10 million over the years.
"Do I have a gambling problem? Yeah, I do have a gambling problem," Barkley said. "But I don't consider it a problem because I can afford to gamble."
posted at 1:59 PM CDT on May 15
A dazzling Manny being Manny moment I saw this on ESPN this morning and burst out laughing as soon as I saw the high-five. There are few players who could get away with doing something like that.
posted to Baseball at 11:18 AM CDT
That's awesome. Hehe.
posted at 1:58 PM CDT on May 15
Henin retires. Number 1 ranked Justine Henin has announced her immediate retirement from professional tennis.
posted to Tennis at 10:30 AM CDT
What, is this Woman Pro Retirement Week?
posted at 12:30 PM CDT on May 14
Wigan coach and former Man U captain Bruce vows 100% effort against former boss Ferguson. The final games in the EPL will be played this Sunday. Chelsea and Man U are tied on points at the top of the league, with Man U holding a 17-goal advantage over Chelsea on goal difference. However, if Chelsea win, and Man U have anything less than a win against Wigan (who won the former League and European Cup honors with Man U), it will be the Blues taking the championship away from the current holders. All this, ahead of a Champions League final between Chelsea and Man U. It's all Man U's to lose. And it's happened before, exactly 40 years ago.
posted to Soccer at 2:18 PM CDT
Oops.
Correction: ... if Chelsea win, and Man U have anything less than a win against Wigan (who won the former League and European Cup honors with Man U) ...
should read: ... if Chelsea win, and Man U have anything less than a win against Wigan (whose coach Steve Bruce won the Premier League plus domestic and Euro cup honors with Man U) ...
posted at 3:46 PM CDT on May 8
Every spot in the EPL table gets about 500,000 pounds prize money (2004-2006 numbers were the earliest I could find) more than the next spot below it. Wigan has some financial incentive there, if not pride and form, working in their favor, too.
posted at 9:40 AM CDT on May 9
College junior self-declares for 2008 NBA draft. [via kottke.org] No skills? No agent? No problem.
posted to Basketball at 1:49 PM CDT
Would be fun to see rcade declare, too.
(I'm saying this with the full knowledge of rcade's Pope-squatting antics.)
posted at 2:20 PM CDT on May 8
PGA Dresses Down John Daly for Golfing Topless A video of John Daly golfing in Branson, Mo., with no shirt or shoes has prompted this response from PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem: "There are certain things about presentation that we must insist on."
posted to Golf at 6:35 AM CDT
I think THX is on to something there.
If Tiger had been playing golf without his shirt and shoes on, that woulda been a Nike commercial.
John Daly, not so much.
If LPGA could double attendance with their ladies playing w/o shirts, you know they'd be on it like stink on a monkey.
posted at 1:53 PM CDT on May 8
Heisman Winner Tim Tebow Circumcises Kids How did Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow spend his spring break? Performing medical and dental surgeries on impoverished children in the Phillipines -- including circumcisions. "The first time, it was nerve-racking," he said. "Hands were shaking a little bit."
posted to Football at 6:28 PM CDT
Pigskin star does the Heisman to foreskin!
posted at 10:40 PM CDT on May 5
Some Athletes’ Genes Help Outwit Doping Test. Studies suggest that about 2/3 of Asian men and nearly 10 percent of Caucasians lack both copies of a gene used to convert the testosterone into a form that dissolves in urine, calling into question the efficacy of certain drug tests.
posted to General at 2:30 PM CDT
So you're saying that Caucasians will have a 10% likelihood of being caught using that drug while Asian men will likely be caught 66.6% of the time?
posted at 5:37 PM CDT on May 1
This should make the China Olympics real fun. Asia FTW!
posted at 8:50 PM CDT on May 1
Chelsea beat Liverpool, set up final battles with Man Utd for Premier League and Champions League Chelsea broke their Liverpool and Champions League jinx with a 3-2 (4-3 aggregate) win to move into the final against Premier League leaders Manchester United. Has this ever happened before, where the same top two domestic teams (they are tied on points but United has far superior goal difference with two matches to go) are also in the Champions League final?
posted to Soccer at 4:25 PM CDT
I am crying silently into my post-lunch drink.
posted at 4:26 PM CDT on April 30
Bionic athletes and the future of sports A look at the future of sports -- a world where prosthetics can enhance athletic skill beyond current human capabilities:
posted to Culture at 2:41 PM CDT
and those who wish to see what man can do with man would be satisfied
Rewrite!
posted at 11:33 AM CDT on April 30
And back on topic, I would be for bionic sports as long as we could get the metallic sound effects and slo mo every time they used their bionic sight and hearing, and while lifting, throwing, punching, jumping and running.
Can I haz Steve Austin?
posted at 11:36 AM CDT on April 30
posted to Baseball at 10:27 AM CDT
Also, all credit to the opposing team, not just Holtman. It took Holtman and a teammate to carry the injured Tucholsky. And their coach could've said "No." Holtman's team went on to lose the game, and a possible chance to add to her own list of achievements in her college's record books.
Great story, great post, apoch.
posted at 6:44 PM CDT on May 1
Clemens reportedly had affair with country star Roger Clemens has another potential scandal he's already denying. He reportedly had a affair with country singer Mindy McCready in a decade-long relationship that began when she was 15 and Clemens was a 28-year old with the Red Sox. This could be especially damaging as Clemens' defamation suit against Brian McNamee proceeds.
posted to Baseball at 9:54 AM CDT
dyams, if you're gonna correct someone on their spelling, at least don't correct them with another misspelling.
It's sycophant. Look it up.
posted at 12:11 PM CDT on April 28
153!
We are the champions, my friends ...
posted at 4:33 PM CDT on April 30
YingYang, your consolation: Your overall comment no. was 1666000.
posted at 5:36 PM CDT on April 30
Cheerleader death renews calls for increased safety steps. "Figures show 50 percent of injuries to young women in high school athletics are from cheerleading," [state Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian, chairman of the Public Health Oversight Committee] said. "These girls don’t wear pads, and they’re pushing the boundaries at every turn. While the boys' sports, contact sports, get all the attention, there's a great deal of injuries these young women endure."
posted to Other at 5:50 PM CDT
I'm dumbfounded. I've cringed from seeing video of a cheerleader getting her teeth knocked out during a routine. But this fatality has me wondering: Since when did a team support activity turn into a front-and-center competitive sport, especially one that results in severe injury and death? If you wanna go crazy like that, why not do gymnastics or join the circus? Maybe cheerleaders should just go back to, you know, leading cheers. I certainly see no shame (or death) in that.
posted at 5:51 PM CDT on April 21
hawkguy, shotput and llb have essentially captured where I'm coming from:
"Cheerleading isn't cheerleading anymore. It just a bunch of circus acts"
"it's not just about whether our team beats their team, but whether our cheerleaders beat their cheerleaders, our band beats their band, even whether our fans beat their fans, forgodsakes."
"Personally, I find cheerleaders at sports events that I actually attend to be annoying, a sort of side show, so it doesn't bother me that they sometimes have to go to their own competition"
It's bad enough when it's a sideshow but this competitive stuff is just ridiculous, especially with the combination of high-velocity stunts and amateur-level safety precautions.
posted at 10:21 AM CDT on April 22
We should ban kids!
posted at 6:56 PM CDT on April 22
Danica Patrick Wins IndyCar Race in Japan Danica Patrick became the first female winner in IndyCar history Sunday, taking the Indy Japan 300 when leader Helio Castroneves was forced to pit for fuel in the final laps. The 26-year-old driver won in her 50th IndyCar start. "She's rocketed herself to the top end of the roll call for most successful female racing drivers ever," writes Gemma Briggs. "The last significant victory was probably Michele Mouton's World Rally Championship win ... way back in 1981."
posted to Auto Racing at 8:59 AM CDT
Helio Castroneves will go down in history, too. He'll never live this one down. ;-)
Good for Danica.
posted at 11:24 AM CDT on April 20
Fukudome doesn't find racist T-shirts in Wrigleyville funny A Fukudome T-shirt with a racist image is the hottest-selling item at a souvenir stand that sells unlicensed Cubs-related merchandise across Addison Street from the ballpark.......... The Cubs front office was flooded with angry emails from fans in response to a Sun-Times story about a controversial T-shirt being sold outside of Wrigley Field. The ballclub does the right thing (update inside) after the uproar, for those of you who feel we've licked the problem of Racism in America, Guess Again!
posted to Baseball at 10:43 AM CDT
Isn't the Cubs stadium for sale? Maybe a Japanese company can buy it and rename it Fukudome - that would totally rock.
posted at 2:02 AM CDT on April 21
Billy Beane Gets Into Football And wants to find out if sabermetrics can be applied to the English Premier League. Will Moneyball work in the beautiful game?
posted to Soccer at 9:08 AM CDT
Thanks for the pointer, owly. It'll be good to see if Billy's work can tweak the soccer scouts, too. Can definitely see how it would be of great interest to teams working on a tight budget.
I googled the Match Analysis company mentioned in the article and found this:
Match Analysis sell video tagging and search software called Mambo Studio that allows you to quickly have your match videos tagged quickly on 1200 parameters and then ask and see the video for things like "How many times did player X pass to player Y in the last 10 mins of match Z?" Costs $1900 - $30,000 depending on if you're an amateur or pro team.
They also sell something called Tango Online which is "a complete, touch-by-touch indexed video database of a single team or an entire league. Watch every shot, every foul, every goal, or even every touch by your favorite player." They're working with teams and sponsors right now to see who's gonna be the first to launch this.
Veddy veddy interesting.
posted at 2:08 PM CDT on April 21
Basketball team resists Saudi restrictions on female athletes. These Saudi women are going to play basketball, by gum, and there's nothing you can do about it. Zahed, who prays regularly and wears a head scarf even when outside Saudi Arabia, said that nothing in Islam bans women from sports. "Our society just has to get used to it," she said. "It's not yet normal for them to see women playing sports. But times are changing, and they have to start accepting it." (There's even a video of them playing.)[via]
posted to Culture at 12:48 PM CDT
I welcome our new Haram Globetrotters!
posted at 12:54 PM CDT on April 17
Rushin' to the Olympics: Former Silver Stars guard Becky Hammons becomes a naturalized Russian citizen in order to compete in the 2008 Olympic games.
posted to Olympics at 11:12 AM CDT
lbb said: The solution: get rid of the nations-based teams.
We already have. In world soccer, we've had Brazilians playing for Croatia and Japan. There's a former Brit pro playing for Singapore, I believe. And the US had their French guy. And I'm sure there are more examples of this. So, official or not, it's already a done deal. There'll probably be a flap at some point where FIFA will make some lame attempt to have a foreigner quota on national teams (they've done that at the pro level but it's haphazard and limp-wristed at best) but it'll all blow over. Because everybody's got to be the winner, right?
posted at 12:54 PM CDT on April 10
Improv Everywhere makes the kids' day. For one day, two Little League teams got to experience the big leagues; complete with shirtless fans, NBC's Jim Gray calling the game, a jumbotron and the Goodyear blimp.
posted to General at 3:57 PM CDT
That was AWESOME. Can you feel the love?
posted at 6:20 PM CDT on April 7
Olympic torch put out by protests. Security officials canceled the final run of the Olympic relay through Paris after chaotic protests Monday, sending a snuffed-out torch to its destination on a bus in a humiliating concession to protesters decrying China's human rights record.
posted to Olympics at 12:24 PM CDT
India's soccer captain (a Buddhist from the northeast Indian Himalayan state of Sikkim) has refused to carry the torch in the New Delhi leg of the relay, in order "to show solidarity with the Tibetan people."
posted at 10:53 PM CDT on April 7
Miles1996: Today's edition of Tank McNamara says it much better than I ever could.
Your explanation was fine but that link was classic. Nicely done, Miles, nicely done.
posted at 11:38 AM CDT on April 8
btw, the torch has arrived in SF. "One scheduled San Francisco torchbearer, Jaclyn Kimball, a 14-year-old cross-country runner, has bowed out because of concern about the run."
Continuing coverage by the SF Chronicle.
posted at 11:44 AM CDT on April 8
Profile of Asafa Powell, who has run the five fastest 100 metre sprints in history and is still based in a run-down training facility in Jamaica. Photo Gallery
posted to Olympics at 1:33 AM CDT
it's the ganja, mahn!
posted at 4:30 PM CDT on April 6
Rickroll the Mets! In their final historic season at Shea your New York Mets are having a contest to select the song to be used all season during the 8th Inning Sing-A-Long. A Digg campaign is underway to write-in a certain song. voting ends noon on Monday April 7th, vote early, vote often!
posted to Baseball at 10:09 AM CDT
From grum's link, I copied what appears to be the "Never Gonna Give You Up" lyrics:
We're no strangers to love
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitments what I'm thinking of
You wouldn't get this from any other guy
I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand
* Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
We've know each other for so long
Your heart's been aching
But you're too shy to say it
Inside we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it
And if you ask me how I'm feeling
Don't tell me you're too blind to see
(* repeat)
Give you up. give you up
Give you up, give you up
Never gonna give
Never gonna give, give you up
Never gonna give
Never gonna give, give you up
I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand
(* repeat 3 times)
posted at 7:20 PM CDT on April 8
Football and Music No, not this kind of football music. This kind of football music.
posted to Soccer at 12:17 AM CDT
Oh my.
posted at 6:44 PM CDT on April 7
Barry Bonds signs with Yankees!
The New York Yankees have pulled out all the stops to win this season and have signed Barry Bonds to act as their DH. This comes on the heels of Jason Giambi being diagnosed with another stomach tumour (his first one was in 2004). Bonds is expected to practice with their Florida State League team for a couple of weeks before being called up to the majors. The terms of his contract are currently unavailable.
posted to Baseball at 12:14 AM CDT
April Fools?
posted at 12:43 AM CDT on April 1
Get a Vasectomy, Enjoy More Roundball "Research shows four out of five guys want to schedule their vasectomy before a major sports event," the Oregon Urology Institute declares in new radio ads. "It's Snip City, and we have the ticket for 24 lucky guys to get their premium vasectomy appointment on the day before the tournament." (Via Rebel Dad.)
posted to Basketball at 2:00 PM CDT
This still makes me feel like curling up into a ... ball.
And it's so demeaning, as if we could be bought off by some hoops and pizza. The nerve!
btw, could I have some buffalo wings instead of the pizza?
posted at 4:41 PM CDT on March 11
Mark Cuban asks: When will US pro sports get its Abramovich? (I know, it looks like Mark Cuban day.) For a while there, it looked like North American sports teams owners were going to take over European Soccer. The biggest Premiere (sic) League names were getting bought up. Then a funny thing happened. The US Dollar turned upside down against major currencies making deals that once looked tenable, all of the sudden seem very, very expensive. Which US pro league and team, and which foreign owner is most likely to be the first? Why?
posted to Business and Law at 11:56 AM CDT
Found this post after following curlyelk's post re: Cuban banning bloggers from the Mavericks locker room.
posted at 11:58 AM CDT on March 11
Maybe if Abramovich throws a high-end escort service into the mix, he can get the guv'nor to push through a Yankees sale?
posted at 5:06 PM CDT on March 11
How about them Cubs?
posted at 5:58 PM CDT on March 11
Billy Crystal joins the Yankees. The 59-year-old comedian will sign a one-day, minor league contract with the New York Yankees and play in Thursday’s exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, wearing #60, a day before his 60th birthday. Crystal said, “I’ve been waiting 50 years for this call ... I know this’ll be tougher than the Broadway Softball League, but I’m looking forward to helping the younger players, which by the way is all of them."
posted to Baseball at 11:38 AM CDT
Happy Birthday, Billy.
posted at 11:58 AM CDT on March 11
When's George Costanza going to get his chance?
Would be fun to hear Steinbrenner over the PA going, "CostanzAH! Get out there!"
posted at 5:11 PM CDT on March 11
Wow, I just thot this was a fun story when I posted it. But you guys have taken it to another level. I'm not sure what that level is, but it sure ain't where I had it.
My work here is done.
posted at 5:43 PM CDT on March 17
Five Greatest Fictional TV Bowlers
posted to General at 11:52 AM CDT
I wanna see the top 5 MOVIE Bowlers.
The Big Lebowski probably has all of them, no?
posted at 9:31 PM CDT on March 4
Brett Favre Retires Brett Favre has told the Packers and coach Mike McCarthy Tuesday morning he's planning on retiring after 17 seasons.
posted to Football at 9:07 AM CDT
Hey, if you don't make mistakes, you ain't trying hard enough (or doing anything new).
Heard on the NPR about this, and how his style of play tended to drive the coaching staff crazy because of the interceptions, yet, at the same time, allowed him to make completions most people wouldn't even try.
Happy retirement, Brett. There's more to life than just the pigskin, so I hope you enjoy it.
posted at 9:23 PM CDT on March 4
"The chief executive officer of Tribune Company says he won't hesitate to sell the naming rights to Wrigley Field -- even if baseball purists don't like the idea. Zell has a suggestion for the makers of DoubleMint and Juicy Fruit.
'Perhaps the Wrigley Company will decide after getting it for free for so long that's time to pay for it,' he said."
posted to Baseball at 8:36 PM CDT
Being in Chicago and all, if Wrigley's doesn't pay up, I'd hope some local business does.
Oprah Field? The Big O? (all innuendo intended)
Playboy Mansion 2?
posted at 6:09 PM CDT on February 28
Tony Kornheiser Hates Sportsfilter If a huge dumpster landed on their mother's house, and got all the way into the basement and crushed them, nobody would care. Nobody would miss them. They provide nothing good, no service that's any good at all.
posted to General at 3:56 PM CDT
Hey, yerfatma, no fair with the recursive linking! My interbrains iz exploding!
posted at 4:56 PM CDT on February 26
Arsenal's Eduardo Da Silva injured in outrageous tackle, possibly ending his career. A truly horrific injury, broken pieces of bone were sticking out of his sock as he was stretchered of the field. This is the sort of injury that you never truly recover from (See Alex Smith). I hope the FA bans Martin Taylor for life.
posted to Soccer at 1:12 PM CDT
that just looks f-ing lazy for a pro tackle. I didn't watch the game and I'm not clicking any links but I've played and watched enough games to expect pro defenders to know where to aim their tackles. That one pic is enough to see that he was onrushing the player, not going from the side. You can point your toe down and maybe ding him in the shin, or you can stick your studs up and nail the guy whether you get the ball or not. Eduardo had played the ball before Taylor got to him. Going in flying is uncalled for especially when the two players are reasonably mild-mannered and don't have a running feud. If there was no malice, that was the shittiest tackle I've ever seen. Matty Taylor is no Keano or Robbie Savage or Joey Barton so I really don't know where this came from.
I think auto reds for studs up challenges should be considered, just as they are given for tackles from behind.
posted at 10:48 PM CDT on February 23
holden, you're right - I mixed up Martin Taylor (the offender) with Matthew Taylor.
posted at 4:55 PM CDT on February 24
Phillies hot-doggin' the trade market A rare spring-training move sees Kyle Kendrick traded to the Yomiuri Giants in exchange for Kobayashi Iwamura.
posted to Baseball at 3:25 PM CDT
LOL.
I came back here only after seeing this on the front page of My Yahoo, thinking I'd post this link. Of course, it was already here. But I had disregarded it as just another normal player trade post.
Here's the follow-on, round-up report that sent me back here.
Best post of the week.
posted at 11:41 AM CDT on February 19
Liverpool bundled out of FA Cup by Barnsley. Championship League side Barnsley came to Anfield and did the unthinkable, scoring a last-gasp winner 30 seconds from the end to knock out Liverpool, a team currently 29 places above them. Will Rafa Benitez walk alone after this?
posted to Soccer at 11:05 AM CDT
Too many times this season and in the past, Liverpool have played like this. Plodding toward some unclear conclusion, making the majority of chances but never really dominating, not showing enough confidence or imagination for the breakthrough. And then their opposition snaps up the one chance that matters.
Surely, Rafa must be on his last legs here.
posted at 11:08 AM CDT on February 16
Well, I was considering the season up to this point. It hasn't given too much to cheer for. On to the Champs League, then.
And well played, Barnsley. Well played.
posted at 1:14 PM CDT on February 16
Skrtel played his first game for Liverpool in an FA tie, I think against Havant & Waterlooville, where he promptly scored an own goal. A cruel, cruel start which I'm sure would damage anyone's confidence, especially going into the pressure-cooker second half of the season.
But I have to agree w/ Bill that the rotation policy is great ... when it works. But it hasn't. And I'd have to point the finger where Bill puts it - it just hasn't let the team gel. It hasn't let the players get comfortable in a specific position. It hasn't let players get to know how their teammates will play, where they'll run to, what their rhythms are, who is going to pass to them. Also, even if you played well doesn't mean you won't get pulled from the next game. I think the low point was that surreal moment when we were down 3-1 to Reading in the league match, and Rafa pulled Torres, Gerrard and some other first-choice player off, with 30 minutes left, essentially saying "We're done. I'm more concerned about the upcoming Champions League match." Now, contrast that to Wenger throwing on Adebayor and Flamini, even with them being 3-0 or 4-0 down in the FA cup match against ManU this weekend. At least he tried. At least he showed some pride. What does Rafa's tactical decisions say to his team?
posted at 11:56 AM CDT on February 19
I guess Rafa showed me (and Inter Milan) today. Go Reds!
posted at 11:50 PM CDT on February 19
Fast and the Furious In a sport historically slow to adapt to any but the slightest change, basketball programs at every level from high school to the NBA are embracing a whole new way of playing the game. Stranger yet, the architect of this change has never coached above Division ll.
posted to Basketball at 5:20 PM CDT
Wow, this looks almost like total football, pioneered by the Dutch (and Ajax) teams in the 70s, I believe.
This is going to make me watch March Madness with great interest. Heck, this is going to make me watch March Madness.
posted at 11:25 PM CDT on February 13
Asian Football Confederation joins growing backlash against EPL globalization plan. [Follow-up to an earlier post ...] Reacting to the EPL's proposal to play an extra week of league matches outside of England (beginning January 2011), the AFC head said, "With relation to the overall principle, it is my belief that it is not a good idea to organise domestic leagues in territories other than their own." The US Soccer Federation has already said the same thing. Australia, Japan and Korea FAs also echoed the sentiment. The English FA is grilling EPL chairman Richard Scudamore today on the proposal.
posted to Soccer at 1:40 PM CDT
Do exhibition matches in foreign countries get TV coverage? My guess is no.
But the actual EPL matches in foreign countries probably will.
Will local clubs get a cut of those TV monies? My guess, also no, or very little, as chico has pointed out.
posted at 5:34 PM CDT on February 12
The current proposal is for the games to be played in January, starting 2011. (Saw some chappie - might have been Scudamore - yapping about this on FSC over the weekend.) This would require games to be played in places that have relatively nice weather at that time of year, or in places that have large indoor stadiums or stadiums with roofs.
Australia? China?
We'd need to find a maximum of 10 stadia. Sharing stadia or having the games played over 2 or 3 days would be mirror the normal league schedule, but there's still the team flights and other logistics to work out. I'm sure players and managers will be pleased to finish the Boxing Day extravaganza, then play one of the UEFA matches, then jet out to Beijing before rushing back to England to resume normal league play.
posted at 12:32 PM CDT on February 13
FIFA chief Sepp Blatter says, "This will never happen, at least as long as I am president of FIFA."
posted at 6:22 PM CDT on February 14
What does $9,999 get you?
Greatness.
posted to Hockey at 10:25 AM CDT
What a creative guy. Amazing how he coordinates it all, including getting his dad and kids involved, and still has fun at it.
posted at 1:12 PM CDT on February 10
I don't know why tommytrump needed to be sarcastic, but if you'd read the article, you'd see I wasn't being facetious with my comment.
I mean, think about it. You can pack it in, but you love what you're doing. So you buy a team and run it. On top of that you do a camp for people willing to pay ten-large for you to sit and watch a game with them, drink some beers with them, and yes, school them on the ice. Now you could just do that and coast. But, no, you've got your family involved, which means you get to spend time with your dad and your kids. On top of that, you get all your other businesses (wine label?) and foundations and sponsors along to fund this thing, and you kick it up a notch by mixing in a surprise team's uniforms each time. Somehow, he manages to juggle all this big-business corpo shit (funding, running and marketing the camps) without letting it fuck up some innocent (and expensive) fantasy fun.
That's why I say Gretzky's creative. "I skate to where the puck is going to be."
posted at 1:22 PM CDT on February 11
no worries, tommy. no offense meant.
posted at 4:42 PM CDT on February 11
EPL Makes Pitch for International Audience Beginning in 2011, England's Premier League may play matches in Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Miami and Shanghai during the season. One football supporters' group was none too pleased. "Are we going to see local derbies played in a foreign country thousands of miles away?" asked Football Supporters' Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke. "Are supporters supposed to accept missing the biggest games of their season because it's being played on the other side of the planet?" Foreign TV viewership of the league has skyrocketed during this decade. Though it's likely a vast overstatement, the article repeats a claim that one billion people watched Arsenal's match with Manchester United last November.
posted to Soccer at 10:12 AM CDT
Here's the Beeb article I think bill was referring to. It provides excellent background for this recent decision by describing the history of the EPL, its revenues, the increasing globalization of its ownership and fan support, as well as comparisons with the globalization of other sports.
posted at 1:14 PM CDT on February 7
btw, I'm with Sean Ingle of the Guardian: It's "an audacious and depressing voyage to the ends of the earth."
posted at 1:26 PM CDT on February 7
etagloh said: If Manure wants to play a league fixture in Beijing, and the opposition doesn't mind travelling, let them give up a home game. Shorter trip for many of the faithful, I'd imagine.
Matt Scott at the Guardian claims that, ironically, poor EPL uptake in China (against other pro leagues such as the NBA) is driving the global move.
posted at 2:04 PM CDT on February 8
From Exeter City to the 2010 World Cup... via Singapore? After struggling to forge a professional career in the lower leagues of English football, John Wilkinson was about to pack it all in and quit the sport. Then the Singaporean FA came calling, and he now has a realistic chance of competing at the next World Cup in two years time.
posted to Soccer at 10:10 AM CDT
Having seen Brazilians playing for Japan and Croatia, it's kind of hard to complain that the minnows are now doing the same thing. Brings whole new meanings to "globalization" and "World" Cup, donnit?
posted at 4:12 PM CDT on February 6
That story's got some gems but here's one that floored me:
Wilkinson's journey to Singapore began in the West Country, where he played for Exeter while Uri Geller, Michael Jackson and David Blaine took ineptitude in football club ownership to a whole new level. "Uri used to come into the changing room bending spoons and that before games, handing everyone a spoon and saying, 'I want you to focus on it'. We started giggling and he used to get really angry and storm out, throwing his spoon on the floor," explained the 28-year-old of the time when the Israeli-born psychic briefly ran the club. "It was a crazy time. I'd love it if Michael Jackson was at David Blaine's house now thinking, 'Oh, I must just check how Exeter got on. ...
posted at 4:19 PM CDT on February 6
Not picking on you at all, owlhouse.
I think it'll be fun to watch the World Cup if any of these "import" countries make it. It gets really interesting when a preponderance of the team is not local-born talent (what's the FIFA-sanctioned ratio of locals v foreigners for national teams, if any?).
At that point, we might just want to dissolve the national teams, and have the top club teams represent their respective nations. Oh wait, it's called the Champions League. But we can just dispense with that and have a yearly World Cup instead.
I'm only half kidding.
posted at 6:15 PM CDT on February 6
All the goals from the world's major footie leagues, as YouTube-like Flash video highlights. The interface is in Spanish, but navigation is straightforward. Premiership, La Liga, Calcio, Bundesliga and much, much more. Eat my goal!
posted to Soccer at 5:58 AM CDT
So many goals, so little time!
posted at 10:17 PM CDT on February 4
Fans make Liverpool takeover move Liverpool supporters are to launch an ambitious plan to buy the football club from its current American owners and turn it towards the Spanish/German model. "The Champions League has been won on six occasions in the last 15 years by clubs owned and run in such a way," said football business lecturer Rogan Taylor, one of the three prime movers.
posted to Soccer at 10:31 PM CDT
All I could think of was (even as a Liverpool fan meself) WTF?
I went to their site and got this: "This Account Has Been Suspended Please contact the billing/support department as soon as possible. "
This is romantic and all but, heck, if they can't run a fooking website, you want them to run an international cooperative for a half-billion-POUND club?
posted at 1:02 PM CDT on January 31
If the 'Pool's not playing, I'll be cheering for Green and the Hammers.