Pistorius makes strides: is his quest to compete in Beijing. The double-amputee won his appeal against the IOC in his hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (previous SpoFi discussion on this topic here and here; note Amateur's graphic that suggests how far Oscar still has to go in competition).

posted by smithers to other at 08:56 AM - 56 comments

Dakar Rally cancelled: by the Amaury Sport Organisation due to security concerns after four French tourists were killed in Mauritania. Have other sporting events of this magnitude been cancelled before due to terrorist threats or other such security concerns?

posted by smithers to auto racing at 11:32 AM - 6 comments

8-year-olds suspended after hockey brawl: in Guelph, Ontario. Criminal charges may be pending against one of the coaches involved.

posted by smithers to hockey at 07:41 AM - 8 comments

Electric skates to hit the hockey rink!: Therma Blade uses battery-powered electricity to heat skate blades and lessen the friction between blade and ice surface. While it sounds slightly quirky, they have Wayne Gretzky on board as an endorser.

posted by smithers to hockey at 10:11 AM - 5 comments

Women's Basketball and Free Market Economics: "They are too young to fully appreciate the irony of American basketball players traveling to Russia to earn a far better living than possible in the United States."

posted by smithers to basketball at 08:59 AM - 18 comments

Why we look the other way.: An interesting essay by Chuck Klosterman on steroids and the NFL.

posted by smithers to football at 05:41 PM - 46 comments

"Say goodbye to international sports and most national sports": because of caps on pollution emissions and peak oil, according to David Horton of the Huffington Post.

posted by smithers to culture at 09:27 AM - 42 comments

Son of the Great One Kid just looking to have fun playing hockey: Neat story in the NYT about Ty Gretzky finding a balance between the expectations of others and his desire to enjoy the game with which his family name has become synonymous.

posted by smithers to hockey at 02:47 PM - 7 comments

Movie to feature gay Toronto Maple Leaf: The NHL and Toronto have given permission to use uniforms, etc. for the movie. Tom Cavanagh, former Ed star, will play the Leaf. No Love Monkey jokes, please.

posted by smithers to hockey at 08:47 AM - 25 comments

One more NBA H2H player needed for full league!: There's no dress code and you can talk as much trash at the commisioner as you want...

posted by smithers to fantasy at 09:35 AM - 7 comments

2006-07 NBA Head-to-Head League: Register now for the SpoFi NBA H2H fantasy league. Details inside...

posted by smithers to fantasy at 12:38 PM - 30 comments

Weekend warriors to play forever?: Umbilical cord blood might provide the perfect "repair kit" for athletic bodies that are seriously injured or breaking down. (via Toronto Star)

posted by smithers to culture at 08:06 AM - 14 comments

Teen with cerebral palsy completes marathon swim: 15-year-old Jenna Lambert of Kingston, Ontario, an athlete in ultra-marathoner Vicki Keith's swimming program, swam 32km across Lake Ontario yesterday. Oh yeah, because of her CP, she did it without the use of her legs.

posted by smithers to extreme at 10:59 AM - 22 comments

Canada advances to World Cup semis: Hector Vergara, a referee from Winnipeg, will work the sidelines for the Germany-Italy semi-final, and has blogged his Cup experience. (via Toronto Star)

posted by smithers to soccer at 07:19 AM - 13 comments

"At Play in a Land of Death": I wish ESPN used its Worldwide Tentacles to do more stories like this one on the Right to Play organization.

posted by smithers to culture at 11:24 AM - 4 comments

Football minnows get a chance to swim: before the big fish get at it later this week.

posted by smithers to soccer at 02:17 PM - 6 comments

Games against native Canadians forfeited.: Members of the Six Nations community have been involved in a dispute over land slated for private development in Caledonia, Ontario, since they believe the land belongs to them. Although a month-long blockade and protest is starting to die down, parents of Caledonian little league baseball players have forfeited games against Six Nations players, citing "safety concerns".

posted by smithers to baseball at 02:20 PM - 25 comments

iJogging: Nike and Apple join to forces to create running shoes that communicate wirelessly with your iPod while you're running.

posted by smithers to culture at 09:33 PM - 28 comments

NBA GM Fixit: An invitation to SpoFiers inside...

posted by smithers to fantasy at 02:16 PM - 3 comments

Auntie Climax: It looks like this year's SpoFi March Madness pool is all over but for the crying. RainBigBaby cannot be caught....it is just a matter of how big an ass-kicking the final score is. We do, however, need an official ruling on the Costanza....more inside.

By the way, some guy named Tim McKenna called the Final Four and is in first place in the Yahooniverse.

posted by smithers to fantasy at 11:13 AM - 24 comments

U.S. Open to use instant replay for disputed calls: Another sport yields to the siren call of replay technology. Thoughts?

posted by smithers to tennis at 08:23 AM - 24 comments

A Black Cultural Fiction?: Toronto Raptor Eric Williams is pitching a new line of merchandise from his company, Eric Williams Apparel. The first product line is a series of urbanwear dedicated to "Black League Basketball" that existed from 1920-1940. The problem? Most historians agree the league never existed.

posted by smithers to culture at 10:46 AM - 26 comments

NBA Unveils Official "2005-06 All-NBA First Team - Fantasy" Award: It's not like the recognition you get at SpoFi, but the NBA plans to be the first professional sports league to recognize its fantasy best.

posted by smithers to basketball at 01:37 PM - 2 comments

Michelle Wie DQ'd in professional debut: after a Sports Illustrated reporter flagged a possible rules violation the day after it occurred. The reporter's friendly intervention cost Wie fourth place -- and a $53,126 paycheque.

posted by smithers to golf at 10:54 PM - 51 comments

ESPN announces its first ombudsdperson, George Solomon: I'm curious as to what everyone thinks about this move ... something to make it look like ESPN cares, or will it really improve the network?

posted by smithers to culture at 02:55 PM - 9 comments