Sports Blog » 2008 » August

For you sports fans out there, if you haven’t been paying attention to the current Presidential race, then maybe now is time to tune in.

Why? Because a huge, sports fan just jumped on the ticket.

Sure Barrack may like to play basketball on the campaign trail, and maybe McCain plays shuffleboard or whatever he does, but if there was someone in this election that has a history in sports, then it’s no other than new Republican VP candidate, Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin.

Yep, she started getting involved at an early age and even continued on with sports in her life until she was an adult. And according to Wikipedia, Sarah “the Barracuda” as she was dubbed, had a Jordanesque “flu” moment when she played on a fractured ankle in her high school championship game. And that’s not all. She also hunts, fish and was even a sports reporter for her local television station.

So, if you’re not paying attention to the election because you don’t think you relate to any of the candidates, maybe now you have one.

And besides, she’s much better to look at than Obama, McCain and Biden combined.

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This week in sports blogs and news:

• OJ Simpson Beat Up by His Own Daughter- Sports by Brooks
• Bow Wow and The Game Wager 100K on a Madden 09 Contest - Deadspin
• Top 7: Plays that Needed Instant Replay - Joe Sports Fan
  
• Roger Ebert Gives Jay Mariotti a Thumbs Down on the Way He Quit - Deadspin
• Michael Phelps looks like the next Jonas Brother - The Sports Hernia
• Adam Pacman Jones reinstated at Hooters - The Big Lead

This week on the Smarter Sports Blog we covered:

•  “I give up! Lay one on me!”
• Ireland Brings Home the Gold…In Rock, Paper, Scissors
• Jericho Scott Throws Too Hard, Banned from Little League
• Thanks But No Thanks: Michael Strahan Stays Retired
• The Usain Bolt Interview You Didn’t See

We’ve all seen Usain Bolt run away from the pack in the 100 meters, easily breaking the record in 9.69 seconds.

But, did you see this interview featuring the Jamaican sprinter and his play-by-play of the race. He must have been moving pretty fast, because I didn’t see any of this happening.

And is it just me or does the other Jamaican runner look 12?

Anyways, thanks to Denny for sending this spoof video.

It wasn’t nearly as dramatic as the Brett Favre fiasco, but I’d be lying if I wasn’t a little interested.

And also unlike Favre’s drama, this lasted all but one day.

So without further ado, this just in: Michael Strahan is going to stay retired. And I couldn’t agree more with him, not that it even matters. Despite the millions he could make coming back for another season (around $8 million), he can still make a nice chunk of change off the field ($2 million). You see, Strahan is already signed on to be an NFL analyst for FOX. So despite his on-field talent, apparently he has enough brains to do something off it.

And what about defending their Super Bowl title?

He’s got a ring. Why come back and risk more wear on his body for a repeat that is very unlikely to happen? He’s leaving at the top of his game. Something very few players have ever had the chance of doing. I’m not a Giants fan, so it’s hard for me to even acknowledge the talent Strahan provided to the Giants line. He’s accomplished all he can. Time to move on.

And I like how Strahan was honest about his reasons for not coming back. He just couldn’t dedicate himself to the work involved in playing in the NFL. Some players would sign the multimillion dollar contract and play half-heartedly. Strahan is a class-act. He turned it down in respect to himself and the New York Giants. He couldn’t perform at the same level they’re accustomed too.

And because he couldn’t, his next stop won’t be on the field, but in Canton.

Source: SI

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I’m glad that in today’s age of sports, it’s OK to tell our kids that they can quit. And if there is enough of you to rally around, get another kid kicked out of little league.

Jericho Scott, a 9-year-old from New Haven, Connecticut, was banned from youth league because…well…he makes the other kids look silly.

Last week when Scott took the mound, the opposing team packed up it’s gear, forfeited and left the game.

The reason: Scott just throws too hard.

You see, Scott’s little limb is equipped with a 40-mph fastball. Pretty quick if you’re nine and a huge obstacle if little Johnny can’t hit a fastball. So what is the logical thing to do? Well, if you’re the league officials, demand that Scott be removed from the league, disband the team and redistribute its players among the other teams.

Have people really sunk that low, that they have to punish a kid for being too good?

Well, according to the New Haven Register, they’re banning Scott because it’s good for the other kids’ morale:

The fighting started this week when Coach Wilfred Vidro refused a directive by league officials to replace 9-year-old pitcher Jericho Scott, whose pitching they say is so hard, fast and accurate that it might frighten or discourage other players.

“The spirit of the league was community, family, well being, nurturing. It’s an extended family and it’s been disrupted,” said attorney Peter Noble, who represents Liga Juvenil De Baseball De New Haven, Spanish for Youth Baseball League of New Haven. The league is not affiliated with Little League baseball. The Scotts also met with an attorney on Monday.

Scott’s parents say he’s being wrongfully targeted because the little guy didn’t want to play for the defending league champs. A team that is sponsored by one of the league’s officials.

There’s no better message to send our kids, saying that it’s OK to be sore losers and that if you can’t get what you want, go to all costs to get it. If we had this kind of upbringing when I played in Little League, players in the pros would be about as athletic as Andy Dick struggling to hit a whiffle ball.

Source: Deadspin, Fox Sports

It came down to one shake. One final match for eternal glory.

But through all the sweat and tears, the hard work finally paid off, as Ireland came away with the gold…In ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!

Yes folks, Ireland’s Mark Cleland can now say he has the quickest reflexes and uncanny ability to outwit his opponent in a game of threes. Or, at the least, he just has the most luck out of his competitors. After jumping out to an 8-2 lead over Sebastian Gatica of Canada, Gatica kicked it up a notch and brought the pain to Cleland. After a hard fought battle, Cleland came out on top to win 10-9, making all the redheads in his country proud.

But don’t worry, the U.S. didn’t walk away without a medal. Sean “Wicked Fingers” Sears slammed Guam in the bronze medal match.

I, on the other hand, am not satisfied with third place. I think we should put together a committee, led by Jerry Colangelo, to round up the best team of competitors. I want the U.S. to bring dominance to the sport of Paper, Rock, Scissors!

And through the next four years, maybe HBO will put together a Hard Knocks series to witness the training of greatness. Hmm, I also for some reason picture a tournament like this to be a feature film starring Ben Stiller and televised at midnight on “The Ocho.”

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Tell us what you’d say!

What would you say? Write us your caption and post them in our comments!

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This week in sports blogs and news:

• Top 7: Sports Movie Fat Kids - Joe Sports Fan
  
• Tiki Barber calls Jenna Wolfe the “C-Word” - Deadspin
• Mark Spitz says who could have take Michael Phelps - SportsByBrooks
• Michael Phelps and Stephanie Rice? - The Big Lead
• Shawn Merriman has ligament damage - Fox Sports
• Marvin Lewis’ word means nothing. Henry is back - Larry Brown Sports
• The Olympic hug heard around the world - The Sports Hernia

This week on the Smarter Sports Blog we covered:

• “I love you too Jessica…”
• Shawn Kemp is Back! But Going to Italy
• Usain Bolt Slowed Down to Make More Money Later?
• Usain Bolt Bolts to Another World Record in the 200
• Charles Barkley to Televise His Colonoscopy

Just when you thought you’ve seen all the sides of Charles Barkley, he finds another way to share himself with you.

Through a colonoscopy.

That’s right folks. Sir Charles is going to show you what his good ol’ colon looks like. I wonder how TNT’s coverage is going to be on this. Do you think Kenny Smith is going to give some commentary, halfway through the procedure?

“It looks like Charles needs to relax a bit more out there. That camera is have a hard time finding it’s way around his defensive spleen. I like to see him loosen up and just go with the flow. Ok, back to you Doc.”

But with all humor aside, Barkley is going to televise the procedure in the name of a cancer benefit. I guess letting people know the “inner” you is always a good way to promote having a doctor probe you. I’m in!

Source: SBB

Usain Bolt solidified his position as the “World’s Fastest Man” becoming the first sprinter to capture the world records in the 100 meter and 200 meter at an Olympic games since 1984.

Not since the great Carl Lewis has a sprinter dominated the two events in record form. Bolt, who was criticized by some, while in awe by others for pulling up early in his 100 meter performance, ran hard for this entire race, finishing in 19.30 seconds.

He breaks the former world record in the 200 meters formerly held by the US’ Michael Johnson at 19.32 seconds.

The endorsement money is sure to be piling in soon for Bolt. He’s most likely due a huge bonus for his performance in the 100 meters and this most likely means he’ll be getting another bonus check.

The scary part is, he’s only going to get faster.

Source: SI