WNBA Shocker: Ballin' and Brawlin' to ESPN's Front Page

Perhaps all of this bench-clearing fighting between basketball players is just "one of those athlete things." Perhaps it's a just a Detroit thing.

 

Maybe the brawl that erupted during Tuesday's game between the LA Sparks and Detroit Shock (for which Shock Assistant Coach, Rick Mahorn, and 10 players were suspended) was just what the WNBA needed to toughen its image. 

One ESPN columnist goes as far as suggesting the fight represents a step closer to gender equity in women's professional sports (and I think that, strangely, she's on point). 

Check out footage of the Sparks-Shock fight here. 

One thing is certain: There are a few more people tuning into WNBA newswire this week. 

 

Japanese Extreme Sports Go Viral!

HUMAN TREBUCHET Fans Across Japan (and the internet) Lobby for Olympic inclusion for Beijing Games!!!

This is basically a repost of today's Olympic buzz post: Japan's home-grown extreme sport: Human Trebuchet. 

The sport of Human Trebechut involves a rather large, wooden see saw, a net, some ropes and harnesses (i think), and lots of voluntarily flung extremities. 

Check out the original post here and the YouTube video here. 

Japanese TV is the True Reality!!!

US Track and Field takes a Jab (er, jav...) at Olympic Trials Loophole

I'm all in favor of diversified and talented US representation for the upcoming Summer Games in Beijing. 

That is why I am thrilled that the swelling (126 athlete) roster of American track and field superstars has just grown to add another individual to the mix: "weirdo" Javelin thrower Breaux Greer

After the eight-time national champion failed to qualify to a spot on the US Team Roster at the US Olympic Trials, Greer was appointed by the US olympic selection committee that enacted an injury rule that allows for Greer's automatic selection to the american team. 

Personally, I'm psyched... Call Bob Costas or Dick Enberg or whomever is crafting this Olympic season's human interest stories! 

Meet Jelena Jankovic: Grand Slam Winner and WTA Poster Girl

Jelena Jankovic is part of the Women's Tennis Association's (Eastern) bloc of young, talented (and good-looking) players with names spelled with v's and vowels (i.e. ivanovic, hantuchova, vaidisova, dementieva, sharapova, golovin). She (along with other v-and-vowel peers) is a top-ten player on the pro tennis tour and, lately, a top-ranked player on the internet.

The Serbia & Montenegro-native has earned her web ranking by creatively interpreting tennis' long-standing rules and traditions.

In the following video, take a look at Jankovic "exhibiting" during the player changeover. ha!


Advantage Jelena Jankovic - Watch more free videos

Check Out more Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Videos (available On Demand) HERE!!!

Countdown to Beijing!

check out the latest interactive feature from ESPN.com which includes profiles on Olympic hopefuls (like Alicia Sacramone, above), updates on past US Olympians and info on the broader international Olympic scene. 

Also, check out the entire list of this year's US Olympic Hall of Fame inductees, which include 

Individuals

• Karch Kiraly - Volleyball
  
• Bruce Baumgartner - Wrestling
  
• Joan Benoit - Marathon
  
• Brian Boitano - Figure Skating
  
• Oscar de La Hoya - Boxing
  
• J. Michael Plumb - Equestian
  
• David Robinson - Basketball
  
• Amy Van Dyken - Swimming
  
• Lones W. Wigger, Jr - Shooting
  

Team 

• 1996 Women's Gymnastics Team - Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Jaycie Phelps and Kerri Strug
  

Goodnight, Fortnight. It's been Grand... WOW!

For once in my professional tennis-watching life, I agree emphatically with the ever-exuberantly hyperbolic bud collins when he declares that this year's wimbledon finals were probably the best he's ever seen. 

I wasn't able to agree (emphatically) until i'd actually seen both Finals since, being Tubeless, I've been reserving my early mornings to the play-by-play audio coverage at Radio Wimbledon 87.7 fm (speaking of... check out radio w.'s "best of the press conference '08" clip!). 

I finally caught the epic Williams final, which turned out to be a marvelously played family affair during which winners were abundant and the match's statistical winner (serena) did not end up hoisting the champion's silverware. All the naysayers, skeptically cynical about a possible "fixed" match, were silenced by the Sisters Williams and their magnificent play. This is what the All England Club (and the WTA) has been waiting to see!

I'd barely descended from my spectator high when the rain-delayed Gentlemen's Final was set to begin. In one corner: the muscular, biceps-baring Mallorcan powerhouse. In the other corner: the man with the legacy, the footwork & skill, the finesse and on-court calm... and the burden of being Number One. 

Surely this match could not live up to its pre-match expectations, right? Well... Mr. Collins and I both emphatically disagree. 

After a brief weather interruption, which delayed the start of the match a half-hour, tennis enthusiasts were treated to an "Instant Classic." I'll spare the detailed analysis (since ESPN, Fox Sports and the Wimbledon Press Room have already done the work). 

As painful as it was to watch Federer end the longest match (approx. 4 hrs 48 min) in Wimbledon history as Runner-up, I am still marveling the play of two above-the-cut men playing each point as if it were the most important point of Wimbledon's Greatest Match Ever ... most of the time, it really was. Hats off!

I bet you wanted to know...

God Bless the Radio Wimbledon 87.7 FM on-court commentators. 

I'm listening to the play-by-play and commentary on the live action between Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova and the breakdown discussion is centering largely around - well, er - each players' respective b-r-e-a-k-d-o-w-n. 

"Their families must be devastated. They're probably thinking, 'How many times have we seen (these breakdowns) before?"

my dearest Commentators... 

I didn't realize you had portal access into the brain waves of each player's respective family. don't tell me you know what the players are thinking, too.  oh, wait...

you're about to tell us about Elena Dementieva's mindset as she reaches match point.  

"She (elena d.) must be thinking she should not be anywhere near the semifinal."  

"let's just see if she's (elena d.) thinking clearly."

listen for yourselves. enjoy. 

so passive aggressive.

gotta love the championships at the all england club. 

 

Brad WALKER - Pole Vault ANIMAL!!!

Brad Walker sets a new American Record in the Men's Pole Vault at this past weekend's U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. 

Check out the University of Washington graduate's PV photo gallery at the NBC Olympics website. Sick!

Also, check out the recent NPR profile on this rising track star (from NPR's All Things Considered).