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Home | Sports

Jenn Sterger Covers Maxim

Jenn Sterger was billed as the hottest college football fan ever during her college days at Florida State University, where she was one of the FSU Cowgirls. Maxim says Jenn is working in sports journalism and has contributed to Sports Illustrated and ABC Sports. She posed for a sexy Maxim photoshoot. Take a look:



Posted on July 31, 2010
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Tiger Woods Spotted With Mystery Woman

Tiger Woods Accenture AdRadar Online says Tiger Woods has been spotted with a mystery woman for the second time.
This is the second time the golfing great has been spotted with the same woman.

Tiger's marriage is just about over as he and Elin are leading separate lives. She took their two children to visit her brother in Shanghai.

It is the fifth trip she has taken without Tiger in the past two months.
Tiger's marriage with Elin is pretty much over, but he really needs to get past his womanizing problem regardless. The New York Times published a story about how Tiger's golf game has been bad since his hiatus.

Posted on June 12, 2010
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Lawrence Taylor Arrested and Charged With Rape

Lawrence TaylorFootball Hall of Famer and former DWTS contestant Lawrence Taylor was arrested Thursday and charged with the rape of a 16-year-old girl. USA Today says the girl was beated by a pimp before being delivered to Lawrence Taylor.
Ramapo authorities said the Pro Football Hall of Famer faces up to four years in prison after being arrested and charged with raping a 16-year-old girl who authorities say was beaten by a Bronx pimp, then delivered to Taylor's hotel room.

Taylor paid the girl $300 for sex, authorities said. En route to the hotel, she sent a text message to her uncle, who alerted the New York Police Department. The NYPD arrested the suspected pimp, Rasheed Davis, an ex-convict on parole. The NYPD informed Ramapo police, who woke up Taylor and arrested him in his room at a nearby Holiday Inn at 3:55 Thursday morning. The girl, who was reported missing in March, has been reunited with her uncle, authorities said.
ESPN reports that Lawrence Taylor's lawyer strongly denies the allegations. E News says Taylor faces up to five years in jail if he is found guilty. Take a look:



Lawrence Taylor


Posted on May 6, 2010
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Ashley Cole Allegedly Caught Texting With Models

ITN reports that Cheryl Cole and Ashley Cole's marriage is under more public scrutiny after the soccer star has allegedly been texting nude photos of himself to models. Cheryl's friends want her to end her marriage to Ashley Cole.



Update: The Daily Mail says Cheryl Cole will sing through the pain.

Posted on February 15, 2010
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Nancy Kerrigan's Father Dies, Brother Arrested

Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan is grieving after the unexpected death of her father. Her brother has been arrested in connection with the death, although a cause of death has not been determined. Nancy's father was 70 and had some kind of altercation with her brother before his death. He was arrested and charged with assault. Nancy's mom said her husband had a heart attack and her son is innocent. Nancy's skating friends, Kristi Yamaguchi and Paul Wylie have reached out to her.
Paul Wylie, an Olympic silver medalist who also competed in the 1992 Albertville Olympics with Kerrigan, spoke with her by phone early Monday when he heard the news that Daniel Kerrigan, 70, died after an alleged assault by his troubled son, Mark. "She was really struggling," Wylie tells PEOPLE. "But she called to thank me for calling." Kristi Yamaguchi, who also competed with Kerrigan in Albertville, offered her condolences by text mail, and Kerrigan responded, "Thank you...I appreciate all the support I've been getting."
We wish Nancy and her family all the best during this terrible time.

Posted on January 25, 2010
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Report: Elin to Divorce Tiger

People reports that Tiger Woods' wife Elin Nordegren is spending the holidays in Sweden with her two children. Tiger won't be joining them for Christmas. Elin is reportedly going to divorce Tiger, because she doesn't believe he will ever change.
"Elin is going to Sweden soon," the source says. "Two stewardesses and one pilot are in Sweden with the plane now getting it ready to come pick them up." The initial plan was for Nordegren, 29, and the family to travel to Sweden in January. But those plans changed. Woods is not expected to come along.

*****

Sources caution that Nordegren's holiday trip to Sweden, where she recently purchased a $2.3 million country retreat outside Stockholm, is not a permanent one as she plans to split her time between both countries. But she still still intends to separate from Woods. "She plans to leave Tiger," a source told People after she was photographed sans wedding ring near her Florida home.
People usually has very reliable sources before they run such an item so it looks like a divorce is imminent for Tiger Woods. How long it takes depends entirely on whether Tiger will try to play hardball and enforce their prenuptial agreement which does not give Elin very much money at all, especially considering Tiger's net worth. We hope he does the right thing by her.

Posted on December 16, 2009
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Jaimee Grubbs Latest Woman to Emerge in Tiger Woods Scandal

A cocktail waitress names Jaimee Grubbs claims to have had a three year relationship with Tiger Woods. The golf star is in the midst of a scandal after crashing his car into his neighbor's tree. Jaimee Grubbs is just one of several women who potentially had affairs with Tiger Woods. You can watch a clip here of Jaimee Grubbs on VH1's Tool Academy. Jaimee Grubbs claims to have voice mail messages and hundreds of text messages from Tiger Woods. Take a look:



Posted on December 1, 2009
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Serena Williams Hit With $82,500 Fine For Profanity

Serena Williams was hit with a record $82,500 fine for her profanity-laced tirade at a tennis match. She had already paid a $10,000 fine, but the new fine is from the Grand Slam organization. Some analysts think the fine was so high because of her half-hearted apologies and lack of remorse over the incident. If she does it again, she could be out of Grand Slam events. Take a look:



Posted on November 30, 2009
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Tiger Woods in Domestic Distrubance, Car Crash

Tiger Woods was involved in a single car accident at around 2:25 am this morning. Tiger had an argument with his wife, according to local police. He backed out of his driveway, hit a fire hydrant and a tree. When the police got there, his wife was standing over him and he was going in and out of consciousness. The police said his wife Elin Nordegren used one of his golf clubs to break a window in the Cadillac Escalade to free him.

The police referred to the argument as a "domestic disturbance." Tiger's rep said he was released from the hospital with minor injuries and that alcohol was not involved. It's a pretty odd story. Many are speculating that the argument had to do with allegations by The National Enquirer that Tiger has been cheating on his wife with a woman named Rachel Uchitel. Rachel has allegedly been showing texts from Tiger to friends. Rachel is the same woman who claimed to have an affair with David Boreanaz recently.

But there are no confirmations of any of those rumors.

Posted on November 27, 2009
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Tony Romo May Have Broken Up With Jessica Simpson

Jessica SimpsonPeople reports that actress, singer Jessica Simpson may have been dumped by her Cowboys quarterback boyfriend Tony Romo. Sadly, it sounds like she was dumped the day before her birthday. A source told People that Jessica Simpson is "heartbroken."
"She is heartbroken," says the source. "She loves Tony. But it's been difficult lately. He's busy with his career and she's getting ready to shoot her show (The Price of Beauty). They decided to part ways."

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback fueled breakup rumors when he showed up with about 14 friends at the Hollywood hotspot MyHouse on Friday night without the birthday girl, a source tells PEOPLE.

"He had quite a few girls stop by his dance floor table," says an onlooker. "Romo was sipping Grey Goose and having a fun time with the boys."
People says reps for both Simpson and Romo were not commenting.

Photo: Jessica Simpson's website

Posted on July 13, 2009
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Subway Stands By Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps' partying did cost him his Kellogg's endorsement but Subway will stay on with the Olympic champion. A Subway rep told US Weekly that Phelps remains in the company's plans.
Despite being removed from the sandwich chain's website, Subway will not drop its endorsement deal with the Olympic gold medalist because of his controversial pot photos.

"Like most Americans, and like Michael Phelps himself, we were disappointed in his behavior," Megan Driscoll, the rep for Subway, tells Usmagazine.com. "Also like most Americans, we accept his apology. Moving forward, he remains in our plans."
Blogs here and here noticed that Michael Phelps photo was removed from Subway's website but it is clear from Subway's statement that he hasn't been removed from Subway's marketing plans. Here's a video of Phelps with one of Subway's subs.



Posted on February 6, 2009
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A-Rod's Thanksgiving Double Play

Alex Rodriguez got a lot of grief in the press when his soon to be ex-wife Cynthia let it slip that the "soul-less" baseball player was going to skip Thankgiving dinner with his kids to be with Madonna. After a couple of days of really bad press, A-Rod ended up having his cake and eating it too. He had dinner with Cynthia and the kids and then rushed off to be with Madonna.
Rodriguez enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner in Miami Thursday afternoon with ex-wife Cynthia and daughters Natasha, 4, and Ella, 7 months. Reports surfaced earlier this week that Rodriguez was planning to abandon his children on Thanksgiving to spend time with Madonna in New York. However, a source tells PEOPLE this was never the case.

"He always had every intention of spending the holiday with Cynthia, the family, and his two daughters," the source says. "There was never any intention of him flying back. The allegations regarding this trip to New York [to be with Madonna] couldn't be anything farther from the truth," the source says.

Instead, Madonna extended her Miami trip and the pair were able to spend the holiday together anyway. The Daily News says that Rodriguez rushed off to Star Island, where Madonna has a home, soon after wrapping up Thanksgiving dinner with his family.
This sounds like damage control, big time. Cynthia played the press card and A-Rod had to show up for Thanksgiving dinner with his kids. That's what we think, anyway.

Posted on November 29, 2008
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David Beckham Moving to Italy

David Beckham discusses his upcoming move to Milan, Italy. It's just a temporary move -- he'll be loaned to the Italian team. Beckham says the American soccer season is too short for him and says he doesn't do well when he has that much time off.



Posted on October 25, 2008
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Lance Armstrong Returning to Professional Cycling

It's true: Lance Armstrong is returning to professional cycling in 2009. He is doing it as part of a global initiative to stop cancer. Here's the statement he issued:

"I am happy to announce that after talking with my children, my family and my closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden. This year alone, nearly eight million people will die of cancer worldwide. Millions more will suffer in isolation, victims not only of the disease but of social stigma. After the passage of Proposition 15 in Texas, a $3 billion investment in the fight against cancer which is helping to make this disease part of the national dialogue in America, it's now time to address cancer on a global level."

Mr. Armstrong will discuss his cycling program and an international LIVESTRONG strategy on September 24th in New York City at the Clinton Global Initiative."

You can see a video statement from Lance here. You can find out more about Lance's fight against cancer at Livestrong.com.

Posted on September 9, 2008
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The World Plowing Championship

Did you know there was a World Plowing Championship. The Wall Street Journal reports on the recent World Plowing Championship. The Championship was hailed as "competitive plowing at its finest." The reigning world champ and favorite - known as the "Tiger Woods of Plowing" really struggled in this year's competition.



Posted on September 2, 2008
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Michael Phelps to Host Saturday Night Live

Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps will host the premiere episode of Saturday Night Live.
Michael Phelps' victory lap on NBC continues, with the swimmer booked to make his acting debut on the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live."

Phelps will host the 34th season premiere of the sketch comedy series when it debuts Sept. 13, along with musical guest Lil Wayne. Though it might seem like an awkward pairing, several professional athletes have hosted the show in years past (Wayne Gretzky, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning).

NBC has banked on viewer interest in Phelps continuing even though his Olympics quest to win eight gold medals has finished. Phelps is a guest on NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on Sept. 8 and the network picked up the broadcast rights to the 2009 World Swimming Championship from Rome and USA Swimming National Championships.
Is Michael Phelps funny? We'll find out September 13.

Posted on August 28, 2008
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Sports Illustrated Issues Michael Phelps Poster

Photo of Sports Illustrated cover


The Sports Illustrated cover featuring Michael Phelps with his eight gold medals is going to be released as a poster.

"I have spoken at length about my desires to help grow the sport of swimming and I am truly honored that Sports Illustrated has chosen to create this commemorative poster for fans across the US and around the world," said Phelps. "I hope the poster will serve as a reminder to all that anything is possible."

The posters will cost $15 and are available here.

Posted on August 25, 2008
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Michael Phelps Dating Aussie Gold Medalist

No sooner did he step down from the medal podium, then Michael Phelps became the subject of a massive investigation to see who the Olympic swimmer is dating. Well, according to Page Six, he's been seem smooching Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice.
The Baltimore Bullet swooped in for the lip-lock with the 20-year-old brunette just weeks after she split from Aussie swimmer Eamon Sullivan. "All the swimmers are talking about it, and [Sullivan] is cut up about what happened," the source said.

The day after the face-sucking frolics, Phelps and Rice cheekily posed together for Speedo - laughing and playfully groping each other as a photographer snapped them in their swimsuits. "I definitely admire him for his athletic ability and everything he's achieved," gushed Rice, who won three gold medals of her own. "I'm just really glad to be in the mix with that."

Whether the dynamic duo is now a couple isn't known. Phelps' rep didn't return our calls.
So, there you have it. He's seeing Stephanie Rice -- this week, anyway.

Posted on August 22, 2008
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Bill Murray Goes Skydiving

Bill Murray, under the watchful tutelage of the U.S. Army Golden Knights, kicked off the 50th Chicago Air and Water Show by jumping out of a plane 13,500 feet above the city. They landed safely.



Posted on August 16, 2008
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Kobe and LeBron Enjoy the Opening Ceremonies in Beijing

Photo of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James


Kobe Bryant and LeBron James help each other achieve maximum sartorial splendor at the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Don't they look stylin? We certainly think so.

Posted on August 9, 2008
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Olympic Swimmer Amanda Beard Poses Nude For Peta

Amanda Beard Peta


Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard has posed nude for Peta to raise awareness and help save animal skins. Amanda's ad campaign comes as Peta is investigating the fur industry in China.
Even with her busy and demanding training schedule, Amanda took the time to bare her skin to help save animals' skins. With the tagline "Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin. Don't Wear Fur," Amanda posed nude to help raise awareness of the cruelty inherent in the fur industry.

With Beijing hosting the 2008 Olympic Summer Games, Amanda's ad couldn't have come at a better time. An investigation into the fur industry in China-which is where most fur originates-revealed that minks, foxes, dogs, cats, and other animals are kept in tiny wire cages in all weather extremes. In the video footage, animals were strangled or bludgeoned, and they were often still alive and struggling when workers flipped them onto their backs or hung them by their legs or tails to skin them.

The cruelty of the fur industry does not end at the borders of China. Every dog, fox, rabbit, mink, and baby seal suffers immensely, whether they are killed in China, Europe, or North America. "I have seen a lot of the videos, and [it] brings me to tears," Amanda says. "What [some people] think is pretty is actually something that's very gruesome and gross."
The Beijing Olympics will be Amanda Beard's fourth Olympics. She will be one of three captains for the women's team that will swim in Bejiing.

Posted on August 6, 2008
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Robbie Knievel Breaks Father's Bus Jumping Record

Robbie Knievel is just as crazy as his daredevil father Evil. Reuters reports that Robbie Knievel managed to beat his dad's world record motorcycle jump of 24 buses. The record bus jump occured at King's Island park in Ohio. Knievel's dad jumped 14 buses here in a motorcycle jump 30 years ago. Like father, like son.



Posted on May 27, 2008
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Cheerleaders Suspended For Panty Flash Stunt

We're sorry to interrupt your Black Friday Shopping Spree with this shocking news report, but it's an important issue that needs to be addressed. High school cheerleaders were suspended for doing a routine to Britney Spears' song "Hit Me Baby, One More Time". At the end of the routine, the girls turned their backs to the crowd, then hiked up their skirts to show their bloomers which spelled out the name of the team, Indians. As their bloomers were displayed Britney sang "Hit Me Baby, One More Time!" to the delight of the crowd.

The school superintendent was not amused -- the girls all got two-day suspensions. It's shocking really. See the distrubing local news report here:



Posted on November 23, 2007
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Tony Romo Gets Friendly With Britney Spears

Ryan Seacrest observed Britney Spears giving Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo a lap dance this weekend.
Ryan Seacrest was at Hollywood club Les Deux October 26 when Britney Spears mingled with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo - said he saw the singer give him a lap dance. "I spoke to her for a minute. She seemed to be in a very, very good mood,” he said on his KIIS-FM radio show this morning. “She had her sunglasses on. I said, 'Busy day, huh?' She kind of smiled and laughed and said, 'Yeah.' And then I believe I saw her and Tony Romo frolicking."

"Lap dancing?" a co-host asked. "I mean some would say," Seacrest said. "She's on his lap," the co-host continued. "Yeah," Seacrest replied.

Usmagazine.com reported Spears (with longtime pal Alli Sims) first met up with Romo when they made a five-minute stop at Ketchup restaurant in L.A.after her frenzied custody court hearing on Friday. Spears and Sims left after about five minutes. The pair hit Les Deux around 10:30 p.m. Romo, 27 (who was recently linked to Sophia Bush), and his friends joined them a short time later. "She was dancing and talking a lot with Tony," an onlooker told Usmagazine.com.

Spears, the witness added, "seemed in a really good mood and was super happy when [one of her] songs came on." Her pal Avril Lavigne also popped by her table to say hi. In typical Spears club style, the singer changed into a new dress and shades in a club bathroom midway through the night.
Tony Romo really gets around. First it was Carrie Underwood. Then last week it was Sophia Bush. Now it's a lap dance from Britney. Could an encounter with Paris Hilton be in his future? It seems like a logical progression.

Posted on October 29, 2007
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O.J. Simpson is an Robbery Suspect

O.J. Simpson just can't keep out of trouble. He's now a suspect in a Las Vegas robbery, of all things. Simpson said he was conducting a "sting operation" to retrieve sport memorabilia that he owned and which was being illegally sold. The memorabilia guy says O.J. robbed him at gunpoint.
Las Vegas police have questioned former football star O.J. Simpson and named him a suspect in an armed robbery at a casino hotel room. Simpson said he went to the room to recover sports memorabilia that belonged to him but denied breaking in, according to The Associated Press. The armed robbery was reported Thursday night at the Palace Station Casino, Las Vegas Metro Police Capt. James Dillon said at a press conference Friday afternoon. He said that the robbery victim said that Simpson was involved but emphasized that no weapons had been recovered and that the investigation was in its infancy. Dillon said Simpson, who was questioned and released, had been cooperating with the investigation.

David Cook, a lawyer for the family of Ron Goldman, who was murdered with Nicole Brown Simpson, told ABC News that a sports memorabilia dealer contacted him Friday to say that he had been robbed by Simpson and several other people. Alfred Beardsley, the memorabilia dealer, said that guns were drawn during the incident at the Palace Station hotel room and said Simpson took his property, possibly including the suit Simpson wore when he was acquitted of killing ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, according to Cook. Beardsley didn't return a phone message seeking comment. He gave a similar description of the incident to the Web site TMZ.com.

Simpson, who is not in police custody, told The Associated Press he went to the hotel room to try to recover his property but denied breaking into the room. Las Vegas police spokesman Jose Montoya told ABC News that Simpson told detectives that he believed some of the sports paraphernalia in the hotel room belonged to him Simpson told The Associated Press that he was conducting a "sting operation" to collect his belongings at the Palace Station casino. An auction house owner called Simpson several weeks ago to say some collectors "have a lot of your stuff and they don't want anyone to know they are selling it," according to The Associated Press account. The owner set up a meeting with collectors, saying he had a private buyer interested in purchasing Simpson's items. "It's stolen stuff that's mine. Nobody was roughed up," Simpson told the AP.

Simpson told The Associated Press he was accompanied by several men he met at a wedding cocktail party, and they took the collectibles, including his Hall of Fame certificate and a picture of the running back with J. Edgar Hoover. Simpson said he wasn't sure where the items were taken. A spokeswoman for the Las Vegas district attorney said the office had not yet reviewed the police reports or made a decision on whether Simpson would be arrested or charged.
He was conducting his own sting operation? What, he's with the FBI now? And if he really had a gun, he's in big, big trouble.

Posted on September 14, 2007
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Londoners Hate Their New Olympic Logo

Photo of London 2012 Olympic logoThe logo for the London 2012 Olympics has just been released -- and everyone really hates it. Which is not surprising, because it is absolutely hideous.
The "iconic" logo for the 2012 London Olympics was unveiled here on Monday, but critics immediately condemned it as "hideous" and a waste of money. The jagged emblem, designed to define the image of the Games in five years' time, comes in a series of bright shades of pink, blue, green and orange, and includes the signature five Olympic rings emblazoned onto the "0". "This is the vision at the very heart of our brand," said London 2012 organising committee chief Sebastian Coe, the former 800m and 1,500m world record holder who won gold in the 1,500 metres at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics.

"It will define the venues we build and the Games we hold, and act as a reminder of our promise to use the Olympic spirit to inspire everyone and reach out to young people around the world," he said at the London launch. Organisers hope the logo, designed to be instantly recognisable worldwide, will help boost its campaign to raise two billion pounds to stage the Games. "This is an iconic brand that sums up what London 2012 is all about -- an inclusive, welcoming and diverse Games that involves the whole country," said Olympics minister Tessa Jowell. But critics were not impressed.

Bob Neill, 2012 Olympics spokesman for the main opposition Conservative Party, was disparaging about Coe's optimism, despite him being a fellow Tory lawmaker. "Lord Coe has described this logo as 'ambitious, interactive and youth-friendly'. I would describe it as hideous," he said. "Questions need be answered as to how we have ended up in this situation. Was there an open competition to supply the designs? If so, what on earth do the rejected ones look like! "We need to know how much money this exercise has cost, because whatever it was, it's been a complete waste of money."

Initial public reaction was also less than positive. "This logo makes me embarrassed to be English," said a contributor called Clumbers on one online message site devoted to the logo, which was devoid of supporters of the chosen design. "It looks like it could have been done by a six year old. I could do better with my eyes closed," added someone called Bige. A poll by the BBC News website asked readers to give it a gold, silver or bronze medal, or a wooden spoon if they really didn't like it. Eighty three percent gave it a wooden spoon.
We think it looks like a post-modern version of the Nazi swastika. Which was probably not exactly the image that that Olympic Committee was going for. Time for a do-over.

Posted on June 5, 2007
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Bob Cooper Named Rock, Paper, Scissors World Champion

Bob CooperThe new world champion of rock, paper, scissors is Bob Cooper from London, England. Cooper told the BBC how he came to be the very best rock, paper, scissors player in the entire world.
So how did he achieve it, last week in Toronto, defeating a field of more than 500 contestants and an American in the final?

"Hard work, training and lots of research into tactics, body language and basic psychology," he says.

His sunglasses helped him to the top prize, he believes.

"It's similar to poker when you're out there bluffing, putting out the right or wrong signals. The eyes give away a lot so the shades are a definite benefit."

Bluffing is called "priming" and enables a player to either fake a move or provoke the opponent into a wrong move, he says.
If you want to be the next rock, paper and scissors champion start researching body language and look for a cool dark pair of shades. Dark enough so that no one can see your eyes and know that you are thinking "rock" or "paper." You will also need lots of practice. The article says Cooper practiced one to two hours each day. You will also need to learn how to predict what your opponent is predicting about you.
Bob Cooper: "It's not about knowing what your opponent will throw; it's about predicting what your opponent predicts you'll throw."


Posted on November 22, 2006
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The Real Mexican Wrestlers

Lucha LocoPhotographer Malcolm Venville reveals the secret life of Mexican wrestlers in his upcoming book of photography, Lucha Loco. We have seen Jack Black's comic portrayal of these wrestlers in Nacho Libre but the mexican wrestlers are very real and wear dramatic and unusual costumes. You can see some of the photographs on Venville's website.
Lucha Loco is the artistic result of Venville's quest to find and capture the essence of these masked gladiator-like showmen throughout many different trips to Mexico City in 2005. Venville says, "Lucha Loco represents something that is missing from life in the western world since the disappearance of the circus and vaudeville. There is poetry in its vibrant and expressive style that is lacking from wrestling."

As a child of profoundly deaf parents, Venville is fascinated with the unspoken language and still countenance of the luchadore mask. It is through Venville's tenacity and desire to observe this serious form of expression while revealing the humanity underneath that culminates in the stunning portraiture series Lucha Loco.

Detailed color photos introduce the figure, the name reveals the character, but the quote reveals the mind behind the mask -- ranging from the emotional -- Super Porky who says, "Here in Mexico us wrestlers work every single day. Sorry, do forgive the tears" -- to the humorous -- Coco Verde, "We don't mix the character from free wrestling with sex," -- to the simple -- Las Momias, "We're the mummies, here to serve the people."

In the introduction, Mexican poet, novelist, and literary critic Sandro Cohen, astute to the ironic imagery, observes that "El Solar, strangely, found it necessary to confess that he once wanted to be a lawyer, and in Mexico that still means fighting for the little guy. Real life didn't allow him to be an avenger for the downtrodden, but wrestling did."
Some of the photographs actually look even more ridiculous than Jack Black's costume. Mexican wrestling is definitely a very expressive form of entertainment.

Posted on August 24, 2006
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Shaq Turns Into a Beanie Baby

photo of Shaq Beanie Baby Basketball great Shaquille O'Neal has been immortalized by Ty: he now has a Beanie Baby in his likeness. The ShaqBear is available online at www.ty.com/Shaq for $6.00. The official press release elaborates on this exciting launch:
ShaqBear(TM) is a 10" medium brown Beanie Baby(R) bear, wearing a white jersey and shorts, with red and yellow trim. The jersey front is embroidered with "SHAQ" and the Dunkman logo; the jersey back reads "O'NEAL" and has the number 32, all in red lettering. ShaqBear(TM) also wears Dunkman athletic shoes with the name "SHAQ" on the tongue. ShaqBear(TM) has 3 different hang tags; each tag variation has its own poem, Shaq Fact, and an inspirational message for children from Shaquille O'Neal.

"I am honored to be the first athlete for whom Ty created a Beanie Baby," said Shaquille O'Neal. "Beanie Babies have been providing companionship and strong values to children around the world for a long time. Those things are important to me, and partnering with Ty to continue to spread those messages really means a lot."

"We believe that ShaqBear has universal appeal," said Ty Warner, Chairman and CEO of Ty Inc. "Sports fans will want this item for its collectability, and children, adults and Beanie Baby fans will want this piece for our usual high quality, attention to detail and overall cute characteristics."
You're just a nobody until they've created a Beanie Baby in your likeness.

Posted on June 17, 2006
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The Mystery of the USC Cheerleader and the Inappropriate Cheer

The UCLA fan message board has been discussing this photo of a USC cheerleader showing inappropriate enthusiasm when UT (the opposing team) scored during the Rose Bowl. So what was she thinking? Did she not realize that it was the other team that scored? Was she a mole placed by the UT cheerleaders to destroy the USC cheerleaders' morale? So far, the mystery remains unsolved.

The look on the other cheerleaders' faces is priceless. (Hat tip to Deadspin).

Posted on January 13, 2006
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GSN Turns Dodgeball Game Into Hit Show

Remember the hilarious film called Dodgeball starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn? Well the GSN cable network has taken the idea from the film and turned Dodgeball into a real sport. Even more surprising is the fact that people are watching GSN's Extreme Dodgeball -- it's the number one show on the network for ages 18 to 34. The teams, which compete for a championship victory prize of $170,000, have ridiculous names like the Chicago Hitmen, New York Bling, L.A. Armed Response and the Philadelphia Benjamins. An Associated Press article has more about the "new" sport.
"Our version of dodgeball has moved away from the fourth-grade game and moved toward the NBA more than anything else," says executive producer Mark Cronin in the newly designed arena at Hollywood Center Studio. "It's an exciting sport to watch and it's an exciting sport to play."

The schoolyard game, discouraged in some areas for being too violent, has become an all-out sports craze on college campuses and among adults in recent years.

"Dodgeball is the new softball - it's very social," says GSN President Rich Cronin (no relation to the show's producer).

"We came up with the idea a year ago when we noticed it was catching on on college campuses. Then we read about the dodgeball movie (starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn) and we thought, `Great, we will debut our dodgeball series at the same time as the movie. We'll jump on this hot trend of dodgeball as a growing sport (and) help fuel the trend.' That's exactly what happened."

"Extreme Dodgeball" is now the highest-rated show on GSN among 18- to 34-year-olds, according to the network, and in many ways has become key to the channel's programming strategy.


Posted on August 5, 2005
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Lance Armstrong Wins 7th Tour de France

Lance Armstrong has done it: he won his seventh Tour de France title. Sponsored by the Discovery Channel, who took over after the U.S. Post Office as his main sponsor, Armstrong confirmed that he will retire after his amazing win.
In a brief speech after a French military band played "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the American flag was raised on the Champs-Élysées, Armstrong praised the two riders flanking him on slightly lower steps, Ivan Basso and Jan Ullrich. Basso, the Italian leader of CSC from Denmark, finished second by 4 minutes 40 seconds and Ullrich, the German leader of T-Mobile from his homeland, was third, 6:21 behind.

As is the custom, the opening part of the final stage was marked by general hilarity and conversations in the pack. Armstrong even shared a Champagne toast en route with his Discovery Channel team director, Johan Bruyneel, who was driving a car. Neither did more than clink glasses. Once the hijinks were over, the race turned serious in Paris, with frequent attacks and careful bike handling on the wet cobblestones of the broad Champs-Élysées. For his labors, Armstrong won 400,000 euros, or $500,000, in addition to a handsome bowl just like the six others at home in Austin, Tex.

"There was nothing on the line this year, no history, no record, no financial reward, just a promise," he said Saturday, explaining his participation. When Discovery Channel signed on as sponsor for three years this season, replacing United States Postal Service, Armstrong promised to ride the Tour one more time. As for his retirement, he said, "Absolutely no regrets."
Armstrong fought an intense battle with cancer.
For six hours, the surgeon scraped tumours from Lance Armstrong's brain. Once the delicate operation was over, and as the anesthetic was wearing off, the doctor checked whether his knife had done lasting damage by asking the patient his name. "Lance Armstrong," came the reply, according to his autobiography. "And I can kick your ass on a bike any day."
Congratulations to the indomitable Lance Armstrong!

Posted on July 25, 2005
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Blog Tracks Craig Biggio's Painful Record Attempt

Houston Astros player Craig Biggio is closing in on the painful record for getting hit by the most pitches in Major League Baseball. Biggio has been hit by a pitch 268 times which leaves him just 20 away from the all-time record holder Hughie Jennings, who was hit by a pitch 287 times during his career. A blog called Plunk Biggio is tracking Biggio as he closes in on the record. Plunk Biggio informs us that Craig Biggio has been hit by a pitch 4 times on the release weekend of a new Harry Potter novel. Since Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is out this weekend maybe Biggio will get plunked by another pitch?

Posted on July 16, 2005
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Ref Peeved Over Women Tennis Players' Grunting

Wimbledon referee Alan Mills has had enough of loud female grunting on the tennis courts, and wants it stopped. One of the worst offenders is the youthful Maria Sharapova, who reportedly makes a 100-decibel grunt. That's as loud as a small aircraft landing nearby.
Grunting noises made by female tennis players as they strike the ball are getting out of hand, and rules should be changed to crack down on the practice, Wimbledon referee Alan Mills has said, according to a report.

Mills, Wimbledon's chief official for 22 years who retires after this week's tournament, which begins on Monday, told The Sunday Times he believed coaches were teaching young women players to grunt. "I don't like it at all. Today there is probably more grunting than there has ever been," he said. "If I was playing an opponent making so much noise, I think I'd just laugh. But it's what young players are being coached to do. Many of the non-grunting players are unhappy about the noise pollution and a kind of counter-grunt culture has emerged in recent years whereby offended parties ape their opponent's noises."

He added: "Officials can only act if the player is shown to be making the noise on purpose, which is virtually impossible to do."
We have to admit that we were a little surprised to hear loud grunting emanating from the TV and discovering that it was a women's tennis match. We thought it was a wrestling match. But what if Ms. Sharapova can't play her best without imitating a landing aircraft? Let the woman grunt, howl or whoop as need be.

Posted on June 21, 2005
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Assemblyman Doesn't Like Hockey Team's Evil Name

New Jersey Devils MascotNew Jersey State Assemblyman Craig Stanley wants to exorcise the demons from New Jersey's hockey team, the New Jersey Devils. Stanley told KFMB he is horrified every time he hears someone say they're going to see the Devils:
"I've always cringed when people say they're going to see the Devils," said Stanley. "The merchandise, the paraphernalia is based on the actual demonic devil. Personally, it causes a little bit of an issue with me."
The Devil's mascot (pictured on right) is a seven foot tall devil with horns and a goatee. KFMB reports that the team isn't really named after the biblical devil but after a horrifying monster instead.
However, the team's name, chosen in a 1982 fan contest, comes from the mythical Jersey Devil, not the Christian symbol of the antichrist, according to Weird N.J., a travel guide to the state's most offbeat attractions.

The mythical Jersey Devil with bat-like wings, a forked tail and oversized claws was said to terrorize Pine Barrens dwellers in the 18th-century after being born the 13th child to poor South Jerseyans and morphing into a dinosaur-like beast.
Stanley plans to introduce a resolution to rename the team in the Assembly next month. If he gets his way, a new name for the team will be selected in a statewide competition. But Devil's owner Jeff Vanderbeek isn't about to be undeviled: "He's hellbent on keeping the Devils name," Stanley said.

Posted on May 31, 2005
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