2008 Beijing Olympics: Goodnight and Goodluck

"Prepubescent looking Chinese gymnasts are quite possibly actually prepubescent" [We are the Postmen]

"Hand Over The Gold China" [Sporting Blog]

"Olympics: If You Build It, Will They Come?" [Intentional Foul]

"YET ANOTHER HOT OLYMPIAN: VICTORIA PENDLETON" [World of Issac]

"Down Goes Federer … And Serena … And Venus" [SportsByBrooks]

"Events that would make the Olympics more interesting" [Ghosts of Wayne Fontes]

"Olympics are a gold mine" [Sporting Blog]

"ABOUT THESE CELEBRATIONS..." [Epic Carnival]

"Tiki Barber Swallows His Pride For Our Entertainment" [Deuce of Davenport]

"U.S. Men's Gymnastics Team: 'Win Or Lose, We Will Cry'" [The Sports Onion]

PhelpsFest 2008 : Phinally Phriday

"NBC Brings You Michael Phelps By Any Means Necessary" [Gawker]

"Michael Phelps' Family: Olympics "Are Like a Roller Coaster" [Us Weekly]

"Michael Phelps' victory dance is innate, scientists say" [LA Times]

"Michael Phelps, the billion dollar man?" [Reuters]

"Olympics: No Phelps, No Gold" [Intentional Foul]

"Everyone shares in Michael Phelps' vision" [Bill Plachke]

"TV networks ride Phelps' golden wake" [Report On Buisness]

"Michael Phelps Medal Count: 6 Golds, 6 Coeds [Busted Coverage]

" Phelps v. Hisory" [The Sporting Blog]

"BEIJING BEAT: Phelps Phenomenon goes global" [AP]

2008 Beijing Olympics: Touched for the Very First Time.

Last night was the stuff dreams are made of- and I'm not talking about Phelps winning his 6th gold medal of the 2008 Olympic Games in the 200 IM. I'm talking about how a graceful little bit of a 19 year old Texas girl with her dad at her side jumped, twirled and stuck her way to Olympic Gold. Nastia Liukin, born in Moscow, raised to represent the United States took all around gymnastics gold. She became who little girls all around this country will aspire to be as they wake up this morning.

Last night came together beautifully for NBC as far as a women's gymnastics event, and NBC didn't blow it. an intensely heated competition between American Liukin, and little peanut of an Iowan Shawn Johnson; with rival and team gold medalists representative Yang Yilin all in the medal hunt. Nastia pulled away by the 3rd of 4 events- with a stunning, epic, balance beam routine. For the life of me I still get chills watching how those little women flip and land on the 4 inch piece of wood. I think It's one of the most awing and difficult thing to ever witness in sport.

\Nastia, the oldest of the three medalists, kept her composure and sealed the deal after cleanly landing her final routine on floor exercise. There were only tears and smiling from an obviously humbled, overwhelmed and quiet Liukin and her father, a former Russian Olympic gold medalist himself.

The powerful 16 year old fresh faced dynamo, America Shawn Johnson; brought home the silver by edging out China's Yilin in the last event with the floor exercise of her life. But despite the narrative athletic drama, it was the demeanor of Liukin; the gracefulness and maturity she displayed on the apparatuses and off, that stole the show.

My first tears shed of the games came watching this sweet faced teenager bring honor and gold back to our country. Just becoming the third American woman to ever take gold in an Olympic all -around competition, behind Mary Lou Retton ( who was in the crowds last night), and mentor back in Texas Carly Patterson.

The stuff dreams are made of.


"Gold in All-Around Adds Luster to Liukin Family Legacy" [NY Times]

"Liukin brings home the gold her father nearly had" [ESPN]

"Liukin, Johnson share gymnastics glory, special bond" [DesMoines Register]

"Liukin is the golden child" [ SignOnSanDiego]

PS- and I totally approved of NBC's little American rebellion by using the intro graphic showing Yang Yilin's age of an illegal for competition, 15 years. Reports came out yesterday finding evidence of Yilin's true age and a cover up by the Chinese gymnastics team. It's the little things...

"So The Chinese Gymnast Was Only 14?" [Dan Shanoff]

"China: The Smog-Filled Land Where Nothing Is Real" [Deadspin]

Philadelphians. No explanation necessary.

Last season's MLB MVP for the Philadelphia Phillies Jimmy Rollins has sucked in 2008. No if's and's or but's about it. Jimmy was even benched in the last series the Phil's faced off against division rivals the Met's; for showing up late.

However like consistancy or efficientcy, subtlety is not by any means one of Jimmy's (or anyone in Philadelphia for that matters) strong suit. Rollins was on "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" expressing his distain for his treament from the notoriously angry and innapropriate Philadelphia fanbase.

"There are times," he said. "I might catch some flak for saying this, but, you know, they're front-runners. When you're doing good, they're on your side. When you're doing bad, they're completely against you."

"I hear you. But, for example, Ryan is from St. Louis, and St. Louis, it seems like they support their team, they're out there and encouraging. In Philly, can't be no punk."

One should not throw stones at a sleeping dragon, Mr. Rollins...........

The Video is here: "How to not win over fans, By Jimmy Rollins" [The Sporting Blog]

"Jimmy Rollins: Philly Fans Are Front Runners" [AOL Fanhouse]

NCAA Football: Venereal Diseases Amongst College Football Players? Noooo.

If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Maybe not anymore. The USC Trojans football team's preseason is running at 75% after a quarter of the team fell victim to a rash ( pun intended) of jock itch.

"The illness passed quickly and the Trojans are hoping for similar luck with what Carroll delicately referred to as chafing. 'We've had to adjust to some new equipment that we're wearing that didn't work out right,' he said. 'It's funny how that happened.'"

Probably not funny for the players who have been actually sidelined from the painful and awkward little skin irritation:

"Tailback Joe McKnight and receiver Travon Patterson were sufficiently afflicted to spend Wednesday's practice on the sideline 'It burns,' Patterson said. "

Yummy. Sounds like fun! Of all teams for a somewhat suspicious little problem, the team formally captained by the captain of team STD himself Matt Lienart- it only makes sense it happened to those naughty California Kids.

"Trojans have a little problem; Many players fall victim to skin irritation, also known as jock itch. " [LA Times]

"Trojans Sacked By Jock Itch Epidemic @ Practice" [SportsByBrooks]

"USC is itching to take the field" [The Sporting Blog]

"HAS LEINART RETURNED TO USC?" [With Leather]

PhelpsFest 2008:Obligatory.........

"Eight things you might not know about Michael Phelps" [From Baltimore to Beijing]

"Michael Phelps the greatest ever? News makes case for Ali, Armstrong and MJ" [Daily News]

"Michael Phelps Wins Olympics" [Asylum]

"Michael Phelps: Most popular swimmer evar!!!!11!" [We are the Postmen]

"Pasta and pizza? That's Phelps' gold-medal secret?" [Page 2]

"His Secret Safe, Phelps Hums Atlantis's National Anthem Smugly to Himself" [Gawker]

"Phelps: Beer Sponsor in America, Outcast in China" [SportsByBrooks]

"From the Archives - Michael Phelps: If You have a Skill, You will Get Laid" [Uncoached]

Charles Barkley simultaneously considering future careers in reality TV and civil service. Not a Joke.

Charles Barkley; lovable former NBA star, highly professional sports analyst, gambling fanatic, blowhard. Yes this chubby cheeked over the hill average millionaire is all of those things. But Charles is not by any means satisfied, he is looking to add to his resume; exploring his chances at potential careers in reality golf TV:

"Charles has talked to Tiger Woods' Swing Coach, Hank Haney about doing a show to help him with his Golf game and wants to call it 'Fix Charles Barkley's Swing'."

and this ambitious cat is not stopping there. According to Alabama political Authur Davis, Charles may be coming to a Wal-Mart near you to shake some hand and kiss some babies on an election campaign:

"'I’ve heard Charles’ name mentioned as someone who might have an interest,” Davis said. “I know he has a home in Leeds now and he could buy a flat in Birmingham inside the district but that really doesn’t really matter. I know he’s someone who has a real interest in the state, in wanting to see it move forward.'"

Who says everyone gets lazy in August.
Prepare Thyself For A Charles Barkley Golf Reality Show [Awful Announcing]

Charles Barkley For Congress? Sure, Why Not? [The Big Lead]

2008 Beijing Olympics:Blogorama: Why can't we all just get along?

"Beijing Olympics World's Biggest Ever Gathering Of Hack Reporters!" [Gawker]

"Of Empty Seats And Merciless Scalpers" [Deadspin]

"Chinese Lies…Exposed!!!" [Food Court Lunch]

"NBC Prepares To Screw West Coast Viewers The Rest Of The Olympics" [Awful Announcing]

"How Not To Conduct An Interview With An Athlete After They Have A Rough Go Of It" [Fan IQ]

"Olympic Closing Ceremonies To Feature Launch Of Chinese Nuclear Arsenal, Invasion Of United States" [The Sports Onion]

"The Sports Delorean: Worst Olympics Ever" [JoeSportsFan]

"Spanish Tennis Team Also Strikes "Chinky-Eyed Chinaman" Pose!" [Gawker]

PhelpsFest 2008: Phever or Phatigue?

I do feel like somewhat of a party pooper from yesterday's 'thinking out loud' post. I apologize to those who feel Phelps is here to save humanity - I think Brett Favre has that covered though. However over the past 12 hours it seems as though I am not the only one with the same sentiments.

"America Incorrectly Thinks Phelps Is More Athletic than Lebron" [Simon On Sports]

"Who is the greatest Olympian? Clue: it’s not Michael Phelps" [View from the Bird's Nest]

"THE GREATEST OLYMPIAN OF ALL-TIME?" [World of Isaac]

"As Phelps Collects Golds, His Place in History Is Debated " [NY Times]

But despite the new widespread popularity of the opinion that Michael Phelps is extraordinary yes, greatest in sport- maybe, maybe not; NBC does not want you to doubt that their cash cow Phelps is anything but the second coming of greatness. It's getting quite sickening how Phelps latent ALL of their coverage is.

"Phelps drives Olympic US television ratings bonanza" [AFP]

"Phelps Phatigue" [Dan Shanoff]

"Visa Puts Together "Congratulations Phelps" Commercial In Record Time" [Awful Announcing]

However today I think I will go back to unconditionally adoring Mr. Phelps because I feel better around those who are slightly delusional and offended by my honest opinions. So let's just proceed with hilarious and entertaining posts on Mr. tall, dark and handsome..k?

"Phelps Eats The Equivalent Of 22 Big Macs A Day" [SportsByBrooks]

"A Collection of Michael Phelps eBay Items" [JoeSportsFan]

"Chad Johnson Has Officially Lost It, Challenges Michael Phelps" [Awful Announcing]

"MUSTACHE WEDNESDAY: MICHAEL PHELPS" [EDSBS]

"Ballad of Michael Phelps" [Ryan Parker Songs]

Beijing Olympics; Security Check

"Dear Togo, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan…" [Food Court Lunch]

"Olympic Baseball = Fiasco" [Heavy Medal]


"Now China Has a Serious Image Problem" [The Sports Point]


"CHINA IS, LIKE, NOT FREE, MAN" [With Leather]


"Why So Serious, Beijing Police? Smile!" [Lion In Oil]


"Yahoo Beating NBC In Online Olympics" [Silicon Alley Insider]


"The enumerative Olympic Sports we love" [Sporting Blog]


"Olympic Volleyball Cheerleaders Sadistic Act" [Busted Coverage]


"Creating Olympic Super Babies" [The Angry T]

2008 Beijing Olympics: How to tabulate the medal count

[Page 2]

Blogorama: Once More, with Feeling..

All -That- Is- Olympia

All that is Alicia Sacramone.

"ALICIA SACRAMONE LOSES GOLD; STILL HOT" [World of Issac]

"'Alicia Sacramone is Hot' " [The Big Lead]

"GUESS THE ASS: SILVER MEDAL STYLE" [Epic Carnival]

I don't envy the omsbudsperson at NBC Sports these next two weeks.

"NBC Denies Matt Lauer Was CGI-Generated" [eTrueSports]

"Dear NBC, Your Coverage Stinks" [Stupid Sideline Reporters]

The Good...

"America Rules The World In Beach-Related Sports" [Deadspin]

"Day 4 Update, Canadian-Style!" [Food Court Lunch]

"Mike Krzyzewski Welcomes You Aboard The Showboat" [Deadspin]

"Brazil Can’t Show Off World Cup Titles in Beijing" [Sportable]

The Painful..

"Olympic Weightlifting: Don't Try This At Home" [Lion in Oil]

The Innapropriate.

"Create The Caption #262" [Awful Announcing]

"My Money's On Jason Kidd" [Fan IQ]

"Coach K Doesn’t Care For “Low-Life” Anti-US Fans" [SportsByBrooks]

"Hot German Olympians Get Naked For Playboy" [Busted Coverage]

PhelpsFest 2008: I would never lie to you....

The sad but true reality I posed this morning. Just because Michael Phelps is dominating the Olympics, the media headlines, and our hearts now; doesn't mean we will be talking about or even remember this epic quest next August. Seconded by the father of Sports Blogging himself, Will Leitch.

Sorry for all of you who believed otherwise...

"Leitch: Why the Olympics Are the Reality TV of Sports" [NY Mag]

FavreFest2008: The Musical ( Hey Brett Does own Broadway..)

"The Brett Favre story set to music" [The Meaningful Collateral]

"Splitsville: Dissecting Favre and the Packers" [Page 2]


"Favre Trade to Jets May Haunt Us All…" [Juiced Sports]


"The Favre-Goodell Conspiracy Theory" [The Big Lead]


"Soon We Will Discover That Brett Favre Has Tits" [Hugging Harold Reynolds]


"Jets Stream: Brett Favre is supposed to bring the Jets stability. But mostly he just shows how all-over-the-place the team has been." [Will Leitch]


"Clairvoyant Jersey Predicted Favre Trade To Jets" [SportsByBrooks]


"ZOMG Favre." [The Sports Frog]


"Aaron Rodgers Finally Reaches His Breaking Point" [Kissing Suzy Kolber]


"Brett Favre says his arm is "fatigued." Wait, what?" [Deadspin]


"Gunslinger may be shooting blanks" [The Sporting Blog]

NFL Update: In an Athlebrity all quarterbacks sans Brett Favre sort of way

Start things off with why we are sooo freakin excited for fall and football season [Rumors and Rants].

And "Preseason Week 1: Inside the Headlines" [Kissing Suzy Kolber]


Tom Brady alternate Esquire Covers- what else does God not give a shit about. I don't know what Sunday school YOU went to Mr. Brady, but I believe God does give a shit about SWEARING. I could be wrong.... "TOP 10 THINGS THAT GOD VALUES IN TOM BRADY" [Epic Carnival]



Eli Manning will see you your Esquire Tom Brady, and raise you a Men's Vogue cover. [Towleroad]


Tony Romo could give a shit about fashion magazine covers. Tony Romo gives a shit about the Ladies....."Tony Romo-Jessica Simpson-Carrie Underwood Love Triangle?" [You Been Blinded]



For those fans and football players NOT into the L-A-D-I-E-S, Brady Quinn's preseason fashion show continues. [Busted Coverage]

To prevent you and Brady Quinn from making fun of those who prefer engaging with the same sex in activities God may or may NOT give a shit about- "The Cleveland Browns Fan Code of Conduct" [The Dave Burba Revolution]

Peyton Manning, a caring quarterback. Feel Good Story of the Week! [SportsByBrooks]

And feel good humor story of the week, move over Harold and Kumar. Brah's and guidos unite! "The Adventures Of Matt Leinart And Nick Lachey: Douchebags In Crime! Episode 2: In Da Club" [Kissing Suzy Kolber]

Blogorama: Once is NEVER enough.

Update on naughty athletes disqualified for doping. [Epic Carnival]

"Beijing Olympics: Come for the rhythmic gymnastics, stay for the political ads" [Deadspin]

...and Spanish rythmic gymnast Almudena Cid Tostado will make it worth your while. [Busted Coverage]

Is NBC making a safe investment putting 1/2 a million dollars into Olympic coverage?? [Gawker]

USA Basketball, hoops or oops? [ Dan Shanoff]

and Spanish doesn't think the racist basketball team photo is an oops. [SportsByBrooks]

Protecting the world's finest human specimines from those pesky venerial diseases. [With Leather]

"Just for kicks, lets see if we can fit my gold medal into a Trojan condom" [Meaningful Collateral]

Phelps Fest 2008: Will #1 be the loneliest number?

Michael Phelps has without question bagged the title of "greatest Olympian ever" but those looking to debate his standing as 'greatest athlete ever' feel uneasily confident with Phelps as their selection. Uneasy because of course, you open the can of worms that is what exact resume points are necessary to be considered the greatest in sport.

I have no problem assuming Michael Phelps is the greatest ever to grace athletics. My uneasiness comes from the question of whether we will remember Phelps and his miraculous performance this past week come mid September. When the sexiness that is the Tim Tebow's, Tom Brady's/Tony Romo's/ Phillip Rivers's of the world....or the Terrell Owens's and Chad Johnsons... the Octoberfest that is the MLB playoffs and World Series...and Brett Favre's bowel movements ( yes, you know they are sexy)...When these old friends of ours reappear and Michael Phelps has no more races to swim...will we remember him???

I site Mark Spitz as a primary example. Spitz has previously held the "title" of greatest athlete ever, but on average how many households you think sit back reminiscing on sports legends with Mark Spitz in the lineup? Now how much airtime do you think Mark Spitz has at the family dinner table over a Dan Marino, Joe Namath, Babe Ruth or hell even Greg Norman ?

A more recent example would be a shining Olympic star, an American hero of the winter Olympics in speed skating; a young man by the name of Ono. ( crickets.....) Apollo Anton Ono. Five career Olympic medals, only one of four athletes to earn more than 3 career medals EVER in winter Olympic history. Like Phelps, Ono is himself a living legend in sport walking among us minions. Yet how many of us would have been able to name Apollo as a sports HERO and not a champion of 'Dancing with the Stars'?????

You see what I'm getting at? Phelps can demolish world records and rack up an historic amount medals. We can deem him the greatest athlete of all time, I support the motion to anoint him with ever fiber of my being. But I worry that our countries love affair with our great AMERICAN pastimes ,the behemoth football, basketball, and baseball leagues may eclipse our memory of how amazing Phelps's feat this past week has truly been.

"We Welcome Our New Michael Phelps Overlord" [Deadspin]

"Call Phelps the greatest ever" [The Sporting Blog]

"Phelps Makes Olympic History" [AOL Sports]

"FIVE FOR FIVE" [With Leather]

"TOP OF THE WORLD; PHELPS SETS RECORD FOR CAREER GOLDS" [NY Post]

"Michael Phelps Uses Sonar" [The Sports Frog]

"Michael Phelps Medal Count: 5 Golds, 5 Coeds" [Busted Coverage]

"MICHAEL PHELPS WANTS A CHOCOLATE MEDAL" [With Leather]

"Rave Reviews For Michael Phelps And His Amazing Technicolor Swim Cap" [Deadspin]

"US has 10 gold medals; Phelps has 5 of them" [Washington Post]

2008 Beijing Olympics;Wait, Chinese Athletes are plagued with cheating scandals?since when?

Photo Courtesy of LOL Jocks But in all seriousness, there are many articles out today ( SI in particular is going bonkers over this storyline) about how freakin young the gold medal winning Chinese gymnastics team is. If you know anything about Olympic level gymnastics , you know that most girls sacrifice delaying puberty etc for their sport. The Olympic committee has an age requirement of 16 years at the time of competition for all gymnasts but let's face it; practically none of those girls look 16! However as I watched last night, I was definitely struck by how tiny the Chinese were compared to every other team of gymnasts competing.

"Chinese gymnasts shine, but black cloud hovers over gold medal" [SI]

"Bela Karolyi Wants to Train Your Babies" [Deadspin]

"IOC turns blind eye to controversy over China's kiddie gymnasts" [SI]

"Records Say Chinese Gymnasts May Be Under Age" [Ny Times]

But ya wanna know what I think after reading all of this, it sucks. It Sucks, nothing will be done about it or investigated, and we Americans sound like a bunch of sour grapes. We sound like sore losers neglecting the fact that last night US gymnast captain Alicia Sacramone made a multitude of huge falls that cost us gold. And apparently our US team ( well our captain) has some skeletons we'd rather not have looked into either...I believe they call this assault in some degree...

"Alicia Sacramone Punches Some Guy" [Yardbreaker]

Blogorama: Olympic Sized

It's not racist if no one finds out about it...oops. "Spanish Show sensitive, racist side" [Sporting Blog],

Your Olympic Coverage evaluations and storylines.

"The Olympics Sap-o-Meter" [Slate]

"The Olympics and NBC: Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems" [The Big Lead]

"It's the Olympics!! On NBC!!!" [Sports Hernia]

"Olympic Adoration: Nerdy Journalists Still Awed by Jocks" [Gawker]

"NBC Claiming Huge Olympic Ratings, But Fine Print Tells A Different Story" [Awful Announcing]

Posts for the dirty mind, from the typical sources. "Diseased Poon Not Good For Fellow Olympians" [Deadspin], "CRAIG SAGER APPROVES" [With Leather]

The same sources also bring you the detailed accounts of how China attempted to pull the wool over our eyes with fireworks and pretty girls.

"CHINA FAKED IT" [With Leather]

"CHINA FAKED IT, PART 2" [With Leather]

"Even The Little Girls In China Are CGI-Enhanced" [Deadspin]

More hating and amusement with the Chinese. "8 Pictures That Prove China Is Ready For English-Speaking Tourists" [YepYep], "What Isn’t China Fixing in the Olympics?" [Larry Brown Sports]

Discussing the actual athletes...

"For His Country, Carmelo Sacrifices His Groin" [Larry Brown Sports]

"Special Olympicks" [Will Leitch]

PhelpsFest 2008: 5 for 5..Just give him the rest...just because...

My Olympic fever is not unlike anyone else's- and completely revolving around Michael Phelps. Phelps is making this little meet amongst the best international competition has to offer look like a day at the beach. Wait, does Phelps go to the beach you think? Do sharks swim away in shame when he enters the water?

Phelps's second gold medal effort although was not as breezy as he has made the others look. The 4X100 Freestyle Relay was only 25% of his doing, and not the best 25% of that relay if I may say so. Jason Lezak saved Phelps's quest to win more gold than anyone by squeaking past the French haters in epic fashion. Seriously the best swim race I have EVER seen. ( and I swam competitively as a toddler through high school!) Easily the BEST moment of the Olympic games thus far....maybe in since Atlanta and Kerri Strug....

"The Magic Touch; Phelps Wins Second Gold As Teammate Saves Day" [Wash Po]

"You Taste Of America, Jason Lezak" [Deadspin]

"'No way' turns into 'no quit' for Lezak, men's relay team" [ESPN]

"Lezak, Not Phelps, Puts on a Show " [NY Times]

"U.S. COMEBACK AGAINST FRANCE" [ World of Issac]

"AMERICA BITCHSLAPPED FRANCE" [With Leather]

"You would think that they would be used to it by now" [LOL Jocks]

"Oooooh what a rush" [Hugging Harold Reynolds]

I can only hope Phelps is planning on buying his team captain Lezak a house with that new million dollar Speedo contract Phelps will receive should he only come home with golds. Or at least some sweet wheels or something. I have not seen anything to date that made me more excited to be cheering for the US of A.

Phelps took his third medal in the 200 Freestyle by breaking his own world record. World record breaking is now another fun historical milestone we are now tracking when it comes to Phelps.

"Michael Phelps: Winning More Than Medals" [The Add Show]

"Michael Phelps Wins Gold #3" [The Big Lead]

"THREE FOR THREE" [With Leather]

"As Swimming Records Fall, Should We Doubt?" [The Sports Frog]

Now as Michael Phelps is on the precipice of eliminating the record of golds won at an Olympics set by now ancient US swimmer Mark Spitz- everyone is drawing the comparisons and ruminating on what seems to be inevitable, deeming Michael Phelps the greatest Olympic Athlete in history.

"They Say This Cat Phelps Is A Bad Mother— Hey, I'm Just Talkin' 'Bout Phelps." [Fan IQ]

"Phelps: Eight is enough?" [Salon]

"Chasing Destiny" [USA Today]

"No, Mark Spitz Will Not Go Quietly. And Why Should He?" [Deadspin]

"Might As Well Just Hand Him The Final Three Golds" [Fan IQ]

And, some obligatory hilarious entries on Michael Phelps, if anything these are the must reads!!!!

"Eli is Michael Phelps" [NFL Juice]

"An Olympic Headline Even Bloggers Wouldn't Use" [The Sports Point]

"Michael Phelps Makes Me Feel Terrible" [Rumors and Rants]

"Michael Phelps Eats Entire Menu for Breakfast" [Simon on Sports]

Blogorama; Olympic Fever- may or may not be related to Avian Flu

Dunbar's Olympic-sized Bits and Pieces [Hugging Harold Reynolds]

Will China Really Win More Gold Medals Than the US? [The Big Lead]

Beijing Leads in Race for Most Polluted Olympics [Wired]

Misbehaving like Bode Miller [OutSports]

OLYMPIC ATHLETES WHO SHOULD NOT GET MARRIED [World of Issac]

Now Here Are Some Olympic Fans [Washington Post]

Dirk Nowitzki Has Olympic Fever [Deadspin]

Dirk flashes international sign for "Goin' hoggin'" [Sports Hernia]

FavreFest 2008: Rock You Like A Hurricane

Winners and Losers after Hurricane Favre.

"Favre May Get Special Treatment From ESPN, But Not Eric Mangini" [FanIQ]

"Favre cheered on penalty lap at 2nd Jets practice" [AP]

"There were no winners in the Brett Favre fiasco" [Seattle Times]

"Brett Favre vs. Chad Pennington Week 1" [Larry Brown Sports]

"What the Hell is Aaron Rodgers Still Doing in Green Bay?" [Sportable]

"Aaron Rodgers Just Needs A Hug" [Deadspin]

"New York's New Favre-rite Son" [Supreme Sports Justice]

"Aaron Rodgers Decides To Send His Agent Packing" [SportsByBrooks]

"The Real Winner Of The Brett Favre Trade, CBS" [Awful Announcing]

Beijing Olympics; Ladies Night

And I'm not just talking about tonight's 3M synchronized springboard diving and women's gymnastics taking place tonight. Last night, flying under the huge wingspan of Michael Phelps; fellow US swimmer Dara Torres, and Olympic volleyball defending gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May Treanor.

Torres swam the anchor leg for the silver medal winning women's 4 by 100 meter US women's relay last night. In the process she broke a 100 year old record; becoming the oldest swimmer to win an Olympic medal, at 41 years of age. Last night's silver was Torres 10th Olympic medal, and is now 2 medals short of the most Olympic medals earned by an American female swimmer; a record currently held by Jenny Thompson.

"41-year-old Torres leads US to silver" [Chicago Tribune]

"Torres finds a silver lining in relay" [Boston Globe]

Now I forgot how exciting it is to watch the defending gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May Treanor. They are the overwhelming favorite to repeat in Beijing, holding the no 1 world ranking currently. It's even more exciting knowing full well that the duo will both most likely retire after this Olympic Games.

"But ask what they'll be doing a year from now, and the answer has little to do with beach volleyball. 'Hopefully, we'll both be pregnant,' Walsh said. 'Pregnant, but with two gold medals.'"

"IN THE SPOTLIGHT Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh" [Washington Post]

"George Bush learns some traditions of beach volleyball" [LA Times]

Kerri Walsh also happens to have one of the best bodies I've ever seen, period. One question though, what's the deal with those beach volleyball cheerleaders dancing around in bikinis??

PhelpsFest2008: 1 For 1, Still Golden...

I don't know what was better about last night- Phelps's emotional reaction to winning gold #1 in the 400 IM, completing the evening with a teary- eyed performance on the gold medal podium; or the fact that Phelps's hardest event is in the books and this historical run at immortality looks more like a reality than ever.

"1 Down, 7 To Go" [FanIQ]

"Swimming - Perfect start for Phelps in Beijing" [Reuters]

Phelps won in tremendous fashion last night, setting a new world record in the process of winning gold.Phelps downplayed the fact President Bush was front and center for his race last night, and cheering like a proud Papa for the country's new favorite son; calling it "Pretty Cool.". He must be a Democrat- love him even more!!!

What Phelps did last night was send a message to every other competiton in every other event he will face in all seven of his events he has yet to swim....'It's Over.' Phelps demolished the competition in his most difficult event. You could tell Phelps was truly nervous about the race due to the intense relief he exhibited after winning- proof that even superman can feel the pressure. However you could also hear the voices of the male swimmers who have yet to face him all the way from Beijing, and those voices were all saying 'oh, shit.'

"Handicapping Phelps' run at Olympic glory" [ESPN]

"Phelps is Golden" [Newsweek]

Phelps swims the 200 meter freestyle tonight, his second look at another gold medal. Phelps's quest for 8 gold medals, with 8 being the luckiest number in China; makes this thing look all but wrapped up!

"Swimmer Phelps captures Olympic gold in world record" [Chronicle]

"All Clocks Run on Phelps Standard Time" [NY Times]