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Japan Beats U.S., Wins Softball Gold

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 8:53AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Asia, USA


In one of the biggest upsets in any sport in these Olympics, Japan has defeated the United States 3-1 to win the softball gold medal.

The U.S. had won the last three gold medals, had a 22-game winning streak in Olympic softball and was accustomed to not just winning but blowing out its opponents. So dominant was the U.S. that softball games involving the Americans often invoked the mercy rule, and American dominance was one of the main reasons that the sport has been canceled for the 2012 Olympics.

But Japan, which got a fourth-inning home run from Eri Yamada, was the better team today. Team USA will settle for silver.

Veronica Campbell-Brown Beats Allyson Felix in 200 as Jamaicans Dominate Sprints

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 8:26AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Americas, USA


Jamaica has completed its Olympic sprint sweep.

Veronica Campbell-Brown won the women's 200 meters today in 21.74 seconds, beating American Allyson Felix by 0.19 second. Campbell-Brown won the 200 gold and Felix the silver in 2004 as well.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt had previously won the men's 100 and 200 meters and Jamaica's Sherone Simpson won the women's 100. There's no doubt about it: Jamaica has taken the place of the United States as the world's dominant sprinting nation.

Gene Upshaw Dies at 63

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 21st 2008 7:30AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Raiders

Multiple news outlets are reporting that Gene Upshaw, the Oakland Raiders Hall of Famer who has ruled the NFL players' union for the last quarter century, has died at the age of 63.

Upshaw's death was first reported by Jim Riggio of Clear Channel, who reported that Upshaw had pancreatic cancer. Upshaw had never disclosed that he was ill, but other outlets, including NBC Sports and the Post Chronicle, have also reported Upshaw's death.

At 8:30 a.m. Eastern, the NFL confirmed Upshaw's death.

Upshaw played for the Oakland Raiders from 1967 to 1981. He was active in the players' union and became its executive director shortly after his retirement.

Kerri Walsh, Misty May-Treanor Win Gold in Rain Soaked Beach Volleyball

Sportz AssassinPosted Aug 21st 2008 12:52AM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Americas, Beijing, USA



There isn't much wonder why women's beach volleyball has taken off as an Olympic sport.

As a sport itself, it is the ultimate teamwork event where two women work together as one for a common goal. It can be graceful and powerful with outstanding athleticism on display. Oh, and it also has women in bikinis diving around on sand and smacking each other's bottoms after good plays.

All the male fantasy needs is some water to come falling from the sky ... which happened in the gold medal match in Beijing today.

Americans Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor fought through the rain and defended their Olympic gold. They defeated the Chinese team of Wang Jie and Tian Jian 21-18, 21-18.

Walsh and May-Treanor have won 108 straight matches and two Olympic gold medals. Just like in Athens four years ago, they didn't lose a set in these games, no matter what the weather.

Kimbo Slice-Sean Gannon Rematch on CBS?

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 20th 2008 7:29PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: EliteXC, MMA Videos

Before he decided to take up mixed martial arts, EliteXC heavyweight Kimbo Slice would brawl in backyards and basements, and the videos would get posted on YouTube and millions would watch.

The only one of those fights that Kimbo lost was to a Boston cop named Sean Gannon. Now it's looking like a Kimbo vs. Gannon rematch could take place, and this time the millions won't watch on YouTube, they'll watch live in prime time on network television.

Kimbo is scheduled to fight in EliteXC's show on October 4 on CBS, and Josh Gross of SI.com reports that Gannon is looking like his most likely opponent. Gannon fought once in the UFC and was thumped out by Branden Lee Hinkle, and after that the Boston Police Department told him he wasn't allowed to fight in MMA anymore. But if Gross's report is correct, either Gannon has convinced his bosses to let him fight, or has figured he can make enough money in MMA to risk losing his job.

I don't much like the idea of Kimbo vs. Gannon II, as I think it will be a rather boring fight between two guys who don't have much MMA skill. But for EliteXC it's all about getting as many viewers as they can while keeping Kimbo -- their meal ticket -- undefeated. I suppose for those criteria, Gannon is as good an opponent as anyone.

I don't recommend watching the first Kimbo-Gannon fight -- especially if you're at work -- but it's after the jump (with an assist from Kid Nate) for those who want to partake.
Continue Reading Kimbo Slice-Sean Gannon Rematch on CBS?

Les Miles Makes Nice With ESPN, Stars in Sportscenter Commercial

Brian GrummellPosted Aug 20th 2008 7:19PM by Brian Grummell (author feed)
Filed under: LSU, Michigan, SEC, NCAA FB Media Watch, NCAA FB Video, General CFB Insanity

Caught this on this afternoon's College Football Live. Unfortunately nobody seems to have the video up yet. What I would recommend is visiting this link here, and downloading the elusive commercial to your computer and watching it. We'll add it here if we find it.

The teaser intro from anchor John Anderson: "Sometimes it's not easy to find good talent for Sportscenter, which is why we brought in Les to help with recruiting".

In the absence of actual video, we present to you this amusing parody of Miles' press conference to debunk rumors of his having accepted the Michigan job last year.

Steven Jackson Is Headed to Rams Camp After Agreeing to ... Wait, He Hasn't Signed?

Will BrinsonPosted Aug 20th 2008 7:15PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Rams, NFC West

Steven Jackson has ended his holdout and signed a huge extension with ... oh, what's that? He's coming into camp without an extension? Sounds weird, I know, but that's what FOX's Jay Glazer (scooop!) is reporting, along with the news that the Rams and Jackson's camp believe that within the next two days, they'll ink a for real extension.
"This is certainly a step in the right direction," coach Scott Linehan said. "We're hoping we can get this thing squared away real quickly."

Jackson had skipped all of training camp and the team's two preseason games in an attempt to force the Rams to give him a new deal. As of Wednesday, the holdout had reached 27 days, prompting Rams head coach Scott Linehan to tell the St. Louis Post-Dispatch earlier in the week it was "critical" that Jackson get into camp.

"It is getting critical to where time now becomes more of an issue for just the physical part of getting ready for the opener," Linehan said. "Every day we miss now ... does start to factor in as to what the workload will be from the start."
I like how "critical" is somehow a huge understatement in this situation. Make no mistake, S-Jax is the key to the Rams season. After all, if you're gonna get scored on, you gotta be doin' some scoring as well.

I think he'll play, not because he was called out by Marshall Faulk, but because he likes to play football and enjoys large sums of money.And that's what the Rams should give him, even if he's a little overrated.

Amanda Beard Thinks Michael Phelps is 'Eww'

Shane BaconPosted Aug 20th 2008 4:30PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: USA


When you're the most popular athlete person on the planet right now, it's hard for someone to knock you down a notch.

No worries, that is what swimmers allergic to clothes are for. Two-time gold medal winner, former Playboy cover girl and occasional Mr. Ed extra Amanda Beard was asked on Tuesday about America's baby Michael Phelps and if they were at all a medley team outside the agua.

Beard, 26, denied yesterday that she was dating Phelps, 23, saying, "Eww, that's nasty."

"I have never, ever hooked up with Michael Phelps," Beard said via telephone from Beijing on the "Johnjay and Rich Show," which is broadcast on Kiss FM 104.7 in Phoenix.

Honestly, there couldn't be a more American moment than in the wake of one of the greatest sports feats in our history, we have tabloids and radio shows talking about "hooking up."

Let's make sure we have this correct about Phelps. Facebook questions? Check. Celebrities trying to draw attention away from his incredible accomplishment? Check and check. Hearing that a swimmer isn't another swimmer's type? Check.

Ok, I'm ready for Thursday.

Portuguese TV Station Uses Iwo Jima to Advertise Ryder Cup

Shane BaconPosted Aug 20th 2008 4:04PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA

When one thinks of war images, nothing truly translates like that timeless Joe Rosenthal image of Iwo Jima. Six American servicemen took Francis Scott Key to another octave, raising our stars and stripes on Mount Suribachi during a battle that killed nearly 7,000 American soldiers.

So, when talking about the Ryder Cup, a golf event that brings tons of emotion between Europe and the United States, what could really get us Yanks a little hot under the collar? A Portuguese television station, Sport TV, using that fabulous image as a magazine ad, dogging the United States.

Thanks to Copyranter we have the full spread of the statue raising an 18th hole flag in the air with the dates of the tournament in the top left corner. This is disrespectful and ignorant on so many humanitarian levels, but let's just talk about golf.

The Ryder Cup is match play, so a lot of the groupings never even make it to the 18th hole. Also, Portugal, really? There has never been a Ryder Cup ever hosted in the country, not to mention there has never been an individual from the country on the team to represent the Europeans.

The ad is pointless and weak. You don't see the NBA advertising Carmelo Anthony dunking an atomic bomb on Hiroshima because it would be classless and ridiculous, so why in the world would a country so meaningless in an event like the Ryder Cup drop something so brash?

You're Sport TV, stick to soccer highlights and, umm, soccer highlights?

China Jails Elderly Women for Asking to Protest at Olympics

Michael David SmithPosted Aug 20th 2008 3:02PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: China


Two elderly women have been given what is described as a sentence of one year of "re-education through labor" after they applied for permits to stage protests at the Olympic Games. The New York Times reports:
Wu Dianyuan, 79, and Wang Xiuying, 77, had made five visits to the police this month in an effort to get permission to protest what they contended was inadequate compensation for the demolition of their homes in Beijing.

During their final visit on Monday, public security officials informed them that they had been given administrative sentences for "disturbing the public order," according to Li Xuehui, Ms. Wu's son.

Mr. Li said his mother and Ms. Wang, who used to be neighbors before their homes were demolished to make way for a redevelopment project, were allowed to return home but were told they could be sent to a detention center at any moment. "Can you imagine two old ladies in their 70s being re-educated through labor?" he asked.
I can't imagine it. The International Olympic Committee promised that the Games would be part of China's reformation. Instead, the Games have led China to tear down people's homes, and to jail those people when they complain about it. What a disgrace.
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