Back Porch FanHouse http://backporch.fanhouse.com Back Porch FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif Back Porch FanHouse http://backporch.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Colbert Nation Raises $40,000 Overnight As New US Speedskating Sponsorhttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/colbert-nation-raises-40-000-overnight-as-new-primary-sponsor-o/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/colbert-nation-raises-40-000-overnight-as-new-primary-sponsor-o/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/colbert-nation-raises-40-000-overnight-as-new-primary-sponsor-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Stephen Colbert announced -- in case you missed it or thought it was fake like his Republican-y shtick-- on Monday night that Colbert Nation would become the new primary sponsor of the US speedskating team for the Winter Olympics.

Colbert jumped in because, as is happening all over the country, the former main sponsor for the speedskating team, DSB Bank NV, a bank of sorts, had to back out of their sponsorship. (Oddly, banks aren't doing well right now in this fantastic financial time.)

But you know who apparently is doing well? Colbert Nation -- Stephen announced on Tuesday night's show that, despite Canadian hackers allegedly going after the donation link, on the first evening of sponsorship, his viewers had raised over $40,000 (!!) to back up the speedskating team. Moving picture happy funtime after the jump.

Now, $40,000 obviously isn't going to cover the cost for the team through the Olympics, but the fact that Colbert has the pull to generate that much cash almost instantly is beyond amazing; he hosts a political opinion show on Comedy Central! (Not that I'm saying that's bad -- I watch every night, it's just incredible.)

The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Canadian Hackers Sabotage Colbert Nation
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

Colbert Nation Raises $40,000 Overnight As New US Speedskating Sponsor originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Will BrinsonWed, 04 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST Aeralist Emily Cook Sets Sights High in Preparation for Olympic Gameshttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/10/19/aeralist-emily-cook-sets-sights-high-in-preparation-for-olympic/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/10/19/aeralist-emily-cook-sets-sights-high-in-preparation-for-olympic/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/10/19/aeralist-emily-cook-sets-sights-high-in-preparation-for-olympic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

U.S. Freestyle Ski Team aerialist Emily Cook hasn't had the best Olympic experiences. After making the 2002 team, she severely broke both her feet while training just two weeks before the opening ceremony, and was forced to watch the Games in a wheelchair.

While there was some serious doubt as to whether she would ever ski again following the injury, Cook made it all the way back to the 2006 Games, but finished in 19th place.

Now, the 30-year-old native of Boston is gearing up for what could be her final Olympic Games, and strongly believes that her previous obstacles have fully prepared her for a medal run in 2010. FanHouse spoke to Cook about overcoming her career-threatening injury and what she needs to do to break the U.S. women's 12-year medal drought. The full interview is below.

Ariel Helwani: Do you know how many days are left until the opening ceremonies?
Emily Cook: I believe we are at about 4 months and 11 days.

So you're not counting, right?
(Laughs) No, not at all. I might be off by a day or two, but we're definitely a little bit less than four and a half months away.

As we approach the start of the Games, what are the emotions going through your body?
For me, my biggest focus is really to just take every day one day at a time, and every jump and every skill one day at a time. For me, that is the easiest way to deal with it. There are a couple of milestones that make it exciting: the World Championships were really exciting last year; the first snow started flying last week in Utah, so that was really exciting. It's really just about ... we set out a plan four years ago, after the Turin Olympics, just making sure that I knew exactly what I had to do in order to be where I wanted to be in February of 2010. And it's a matter of just sticking to that plan every day. It's just making sure that it's slow and steady and consistent, and that everything's getting done every day.

Your two Olympic experiences haven't been career highlights; do you still harp on those moments a lot?
Definitely not. The 2002 injury and also the 2006 Games, they were both, obviously, huge parts of who I am today and huge parts of my life. I would never trade them for the world. In 2002, the three years that I spent rehabbing my two broken feet, I learned more about myself as a human being and as an athlete than I ever could have had if things gone perfectly smoothly. So for me, being injured in 2002 and watching from the stands in a wheelchair, it made me appreciate being able to be an athlete so much more. And it also gave me the opportunity to really choose to be an athlete, because I spent three years not being an athlete, and I realized how much I love it and how much I wanted it.

So 2006, that was all about participating for me. It was about getting there, it was about walking in the opening ceremonies, it was about sharing the experience with my teammates. And of course, because I didn't perform quite as well as I wanted to -- I actually crashed my first jump out in the 2006 Olympics -- I realized when I stood up and looked around after I brushed all the snow off myself, my friends and family were cheering like I had just won a gold medal. And it really put it in perspective for me that for the last four years, since 2002, my dream had been to go to Olympics, to participate, to be an Olympian, you know, in mind, spirit, and this time in body. This time around, things are a little different for me. I've had the opportunity to prepare properly over the last four years, and to do absolutely everything in my power to perform my best next February. So I'm really excited going into these Games. The first time was about qualifying, the second time was about participating, and this time is about performing. So I'm really excited to go do that.

Was there really a doubt that you would never walk again after the 2002 injury?
No. You know, I think everyone was pretty confident that I would walk. The problem was that about a year and a half after the injury, I wasn't walking well. Actually, if you lined up my hip and my knee, my left foot actually pointed out at a 45-degree angle. So I was walking, I was just limping and I was in pain almost all the time. So that second surgery that I had a year and a half after the injury was, you know, I did it with the hope, of course, that I would be able to ski again, that I would be able to jump again, and that I would be able to compete again, but there was really no guarantee that any of that would happen. So really it was about getting back to normal life functioning, and always in the forefront of my mind was getting back to competition and getting back to being an Olympian again. But there weren't any doctors out there that guaranteed that they could get me back up for sure.

I read that your left foot went from a size 6 to a size 2 when you the injury occurred. Was that permanently or just when you broke your feet?
Just when I actually broke it. The thing was that there was a really severe dislocation in the foot, so what happened was that all of the bone just kind of squashed together. My foot actually turned kind of sideways, so that the bottom part was bent on the side instead of down, and it just kind of just shrunk back too. So the bone kind of ... it kind of collapsed up, almost. Like if you see pictures of women who've had their feet bound, back in China, it kind of looked like that. It just kind of shrunk a little bit and twisted sideways. It was pretty disgusting (laughs). Yeah, it was kind of gross actually. It was actually about that point that I definitely kind of went into shock and lost consciousness a little bit during the whole actual process of breaking the feet. Once they reduced the dislocation, it went back to its normal size. It looks different than the other one now, but it's definitely no longer a size 2 (laughs).

Seven years later, how tired are you of talking about that day?
You know, like said since the beginning, it's such a huge part of my life. It's such a huge part of who I am and who I've become as a human being that it's really not a problem for me to talk about anymore. It doesn't upset me anymore. I'm very much past the injury part of life. I've moved forward; I've conquered all the fear that came along with it: fear of re-injury, fear of failure, all of those things that come along with any sort of devastating experience in life. And really, I've had so many more experiences now that have shown me that really in the big scheme of things, yeah, it was terrible that I didn't go to the Olympics, but I have a really incredible, amazing life, and the opportunity to share that with a lot of people. So I'm totally game to talk about it as much as I can, as much as people want to. I know that it inspires other people to come back from injuries themselves and overcome their own obstacles. There are many people in my life who do that for me, as well. So I think the more you talk about it, the more you share the experiences that you have in your life, the better off everybody ends off. So I'm cool with it, it's not a big deal.

Do you still use the techniques that you learned in diving and gymnastics when you are competing on the ski hill?
Absolutely. I think the biggest advantage to being a gymnast before being an aerialist is really just your body awareness and your air sense. Often times as an aerialist, our goal is to keep our eyes down the hill and looking at the ground at all times, and sometimes you just miss and you don't. So for me, flipping and twisting is so natural that if I happen to take a look in the wrong place, a lot of people in that situation would get lost and not exactly know where they were in the air. For me, it's really easy to get my feet underneath me and ski away. That's actually one of my strengths as an athlete, is to land jumps no matter what happens, which is great. But also, just being that competitive athlete at such a young age, I learned a lot of things about sport psychology, about how to be a competitor, about how to relax my mind going into a competition, and all of those important things that come along with being an athlete for so long.

I actually had a really cool experience [recently]. I was at the Women's Sports Foundation, the Annual Salute to Women in Sports event, and had the opportunity to meet Dominique Dawes, Kerri Strug and Shawn Johnson was there. So really just to meet some of the girls that ... Dominique and Kerri, who I watched when I was younger growing up, and who really inspired me to be an athlete. And then, of course, I'm just an Olympic addict; so just to watch Shawn Johnson compete this summer was amazing also. I love gymnastics; I love watching it. We still do a little bit of it for training, we do a lot of trampoline work, and we'll go in the gym and tumble a little bit, and just make sure we're as comfortable as possible upside down.

The aerial competition became an official medal event at the 1994 games. Almost 16 years later, do you think it gets the respect it deserves from the Olympic community because it's not a traditional Olympic sport?
Yeah. Everyone that I talk to thinks it's the coolest thing in the world. I think it gets a ton of respect. In regards to attention, I don't really know, it's not really why I do it. You know, I do it because I love it. I don't know, I don't really think that question is necessarily something that's too big of a deal for me.

Everyone has their preferences, you know. I love watching gymnastics; someone else loves watching swimming. So I just hope that people have a great time when they watch our sport. It's exciting; it's a huge adrenaline rush, I think, just to even watch it live or on TV.

What's it like being an American Olympian at the Games? Are you well received by the other nations?
I don't know if it's a matter of our sport, or just being a Winter Olympian, the Olympics are an opportunity for all of us to get together and celebrate. I don't want to sound all cliché about it, but I love my competitors from overseas. I'm great friends with the Chinese girls, who are some of my biggest competitors, and with the Aussies. I think we're well received everywhere just because of our individual personalities and all of that. I think we'll be very well received in Canada. I love Vancouver. And my family and friends are going to be up there cheering me down the slopes. It's almost like having a home country Olympics, just a little closer to the North.

So, you never receive any backlash given these tense political times?
No, not at all. We're all very close. The thing is about our sport is that we're always in such challenging situations together that we're just always out there helping each other out. And I think that's just a wonderful thing about the Olympics.

An American woman hasn't won a medal in the aerials since Nikki Stone won the gold in 1998. Do you think that drought will end in 2010?
I would absolutely love to see it. Every year my results have been getting better. I've been on the world cup podium a lot, you know, competing against the same women that I will be competing against next year. So I would absolutely be honored to follow in Nikki Stone's footsteps, and bring home a medal next year.

Are you feeling 100% healthy right now?
Yeah, absolutely, I'm healthy. The biggest thing is that the only thing any of us control is our own performance, so I'm just doing everything in my power every day in order to ensure that my performance is going to be the best. I can't control what the other girls are going to do out there, but I can control going out there and performing to the best of my ability. And at this point in my career, I feel like that could potentially be enough. So I'm definitely excited to go out there and do my best two jumps and see what I come away with.

How many more Olympic Games would you like to compete in?
Most likely, this will be my last Olympic Games. I'm definitely not officially announcing that, but I'm 30 years old now, and there are a lot of other amazing things to do in life. We'll have a World Championships in my hometown next year, so we'll see. I may stick around for that. But it's always a matter of whether you're healthy, whether you're happy, having a fun time, and that's something that I'll assess when this Olympics are over. For me right now, it's hard to think past today, never mind past four and a half months from now.

What would you like to do once you retire?
I'm not positive yet. I would definitely love to stay around the athletic field. I love sports. I love the opportunity that it provides especially for young people. So I'd like to stay involved in sport in some capacity. I'm a mass comm. major right now at the University of Utah. I'm a junior, and I'm very slowly chipping away. I'll just probably finish up my education right away and then move forward from there.

Finally, tell to me about what you're doing with Uniqlo?
Uniqlo is an awesome company; I'm so excited to be involved with them right now. What I am is their official Heat Tech Ambassador. They just know that as a winter athlete, I travel to all of these freezing cold places, so their Heat Tech line is a really thin, soft, smooth kind of layering piece. But it's a fashion piece, so it's not meant to be underneath everything, it's meant to be seen. I'm actually wearing one right now. It's incredibly comfortable and it's really warm. It traps the heat inside the material. It's a material designed by one of the largest Japanese fabric companies, Toray. So it's very unique, and comes in tons of colors, and it's very cost-efficient, just around 15 dollars to 20 dollars. So I'm really excited to be with them, and I'm excited that they're going keep me warm on tour while running around the night before a competition, or anything like that.

Aeralist Emily Cook Sets Sights High in Preparation for Olympic Games originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>emily cookEmilyCookAriel HelwaniMon, 19 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST 2010 Olympic Medals Raise Eyebrowshttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/2010-olympic-medals-raise-eyebrows/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/2010-olympic-medals-raise-eyebrows/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/2010-olympic-medals-raise-eyebrows/#commentsFiled under:


The 2010 Vancouver Olympics are three months off, and yesterday we got our first glimpse at the newly designed medals. First impressions? Well, they're different. Very different. So different, in fact, that people aren't quite sure what to make of the look.

(More photos after the jump.)

As Yahoo.com's Chris Chase writes, "The gold medal looks like it belongs in a bowl of potato chips at King Midas's house." But there is an explanation for the unique look.
The medals of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games are circular in shape and based on a large master artwork of an orca whale by Corrine Hunt, a Canadian designer/artist of Komoyue and Tlingit heritage. Each of the medals has a unique hand-cropped section of the abstract art, making every medal one-of-a-kind. ...

The medals ... each feature a different crop of larger contemporary Aboriginal artworks and are undulating rather than flat - both firsts in Games history.
That clears up a lot, and it's a fantastic idea. I'm just not sure about the execution. Then again, nobody cares what I think; there's a better chance the IOC retroactively gives Chicago the 2016 Olympics than there is of me ever winning a medal.


So whether it looks like the traditional oversized coin or Pringles, it's not really my concern. And let's be honest: if you're lucky enough to win a 2010 Olympic medal, I'm pretty sure you'll be willing to overlook the new design.

2010 Olympic Medals Raise Eyebrows originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ryan WilsonFri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST Chicago 2016 Olympics Candidate City T-Shirts Still Availablehttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/10/02/chicago-2016-candidate-city-t-shirts-still-available/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/10/02/chicago-2016-candidate-city-t-shirts-still-available/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/10/02/chicago-2016-candidate-city-t-shirts-still-available/#commentsFiled under:

Chicago won't be hosting the 2016 Olympics, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate its candidacy. Sure, the city was eliminated from consideration in the first round of voting Friday, a distant fourth to eventual winner Rio de Janeiro. But that shouldn't take away from the possibilities of what almost was.

And what better way for supporters to commemorate the Second City status (now on the world stage!) than to don one of these stylish, limited edition Chicago 2016 Candidate City tee shirts.

(Photo evidence after the jump)

According to the web site: "This Limited Edition 100% Preshrunk cotton T-shirt is a great way to display your interest in bringing the summer Olympic Games to Chicago. The official 2016 logo is printed on the chest with 'Chicago 2016 Candidate City printed underneath. On the back, the official Chicago 2016 slogan "Be a Part of It" is printed across the shoulders. This shirt has a fun, clean look to it; don't be the last person on your block to get one. This item has limited quantities available so get yours today!"



Yes, please don't be the last person on your block to get one. Also, if these guys are really interested in moving units might I suggest something along these lines. Otherwise they're likely to become Africa's burden.

via SbB

Chicago 2016 Olympics Candidate City T-Shirts Still Available originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ryan WilsonFri, 02 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST Tom Daley, 14-Year-Old Diver, Forced to Change Schools by Bullieshttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/20/tom-daley-14-year-old-diver-forced-to-change-schools-by-bullie/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/20/tom-daley-14-year-old-diver-forced-to-change-schools-by-bullie/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/20/tom-daley-14-year-old-diver-forced-to-change-schools-by-bullie/#commentsFiled under:

Tom DaleyApparently, being an Olympian at the tender young age of 14 doesn't preclude one from incensing the pathetic bullies of the world. Tom Daley, a 14-year-old diver from England -- who finished seventh in Beijing and is planning on diving in the 2012 London games -- has been virtually forced to change schools due to being excessively bullied.

Daley was attending Eggbuckland Community College, until finally having to say enough is enough. Though it began that way, this wasn't simply verbal harrassment.
'It started harmlessly, like calling me `diver boy' and other things,'' Daley said. ``I tried to ignore it, but it didn't stop and it got worse.''

By the winter semester, Daley was searching for reasons not to go to school. Shortly after that, when his schoolwork and diving began to suffer, Daley confided in his father.

"When I was annoyed at school I began to get annoyed while I was diving, so in that way it affected me,'' Daley said.

Daley's father, Rob, said: ``[Tom] should be seen as a role model for these kids, not someone to be picked on.''

Soon, the bullying had escalated and Daley could not walk the halls of Eggbuckland without being shoved, cursed at and berated. The elder Daley took his son's concern to the school principal, Katrina Borowski.

But Borowski called the problem ''the actions of a few bad apples,'' and little was done to fix the problem, according to the elder Daley.

''The bullying got more severe after that,'' he said. ``He was tackled to the floor, had pens and pencils thrown at him.''

In the spring, while Daley was preparing for the World Series of Diving, the intimidation came to a head. After stories of Daley's persecution came out in the local papers, a bully threatened to break his legs. Afterward, Daley finished sixth and fifth at world series events in Qatar and Sheffield, England, respectively.

''And that was enough for us,'' the elder Daley said.
Hopefully someone has sufficiently explained to Daley these bullies are just immature and likely incredibly insecure people, and that he shouldn't worry himself with guys who probably won't accomplish anything as much as he already has their entire lives. Having never been bullied myself, I'm not sure if that actually means something to a 14-year-old kid, but it should. Here's hoping he understands that and just brushes everything off before starting at his new venue of study.

Thus far, that seems to be what he's done.
''It's a load off my mind,'' he said. ``Some of those worries aren't there anymore.

``It's a different world altogether."
As far as the bullies? I'm sure they found some other kid upon whom to take out their adolescent insecurities. The school's actions of labeling them "bad apples" instead of trying to work with them is just as much of a problem as the bullying itself.

Hat-tip: Game On

Tom Daley, 14-Year-Old Diver, Forced to Change Schools by Bullies originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>tom daleyTomDaleyMatt SnyderMon, 20 Jul 2009 13:50:00 EST Caleb Campbell: Army Soldier, NFL Draftee ... Olympic Bobsledder?http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/caleb-campbell-army-soldier-nfl-draftee-olympic-bobsledder/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/caleb-campbell-army-soldier-nfl-draftee-olympic-bobsledder/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/caleb-campbell-army-soldier-nfl-draftee-olympic-bobsledder/#commentsFiled under:

Caleb Campbell, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Army safety who the Detroit Lions selected in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft, is currently training with the U.S. bobsled team in an effort to make the 2010 Winter Olympics team. It's quite the change of careers for Campbell, who had his NFL dream yanked out from under him at the last possible moment in July of 2008.

The Army's decision to reverse course and require Campbell to report for service, despite having implemented a 2005 exemption penalty, ignited a firestorm of debate. Now Campbell is training in Lake Placid, N.Y., while stationed at West Point. He has a new dream -- making the Olympic team.

While the military won't allow Campbell to pursue a career in the NFL until late 2010, they do have a policy in place that allows would-be Olympians to pursue their training as part of their military commitment. After being contacted by a member of the U.S. bobsledding team in July of 2008, Campbell has thrown himself into the training and pronounces himself in the best shape of his life. "Some days, it hurts to get out of bed," he says.

Over a year ago, I trained with Campbell for the NFL Draft. I wrote about Campbell's story for FanHouse and initially wrote about Campbell's draft dreams for Sports Illustrated in March of last year. Late last July, Campbell called me as he drove back to West Point, his NFL hopes left behind in Detroit. "Don't tell anyone, Bookman," he said to me (a.k.a. "Bookman"), "but they want me to try out for bobsledding. They need someone of my size and speed." I asked him if he'd ever been on a bobsled before, "Hell, no," Campbell said.

After an assignment as a graduate assistant with the Army football team in the fall of 2008, Campbell began to learn the basics of bobsledding.

"The bobsled moves so fast," says Campbell, "faster than anything I've ever done before."

As the brakeman, the last member of the four-man team to jump back into the bobsled, Campbell provides the final push down the chute after other members of the team have helped to start the bobsled from a standing position. Campbell's position requires speed, explosiveness, and great strength. Not to mention the dexterity to swing into the bobsled after it's already gained a tremendous amount of speed. All while running full speed on a concrete track covered with artificial ice. While Campbell's not the first football player to make the transition to bobsledding -- former running back Herschel Walker was a member of the Olympic team in 1992 and former wide receiver Willie Gault was a member of the 1988 Olympic team -- he certainly never believed he would find himself training for the Winter Olympics.

"I grew up in Texas, Bookman, no one bobsleds in Texas. We don't even get much snow."

While Campbell has improved immensely, winning two silver medals and a bronze this past April in one competition, all has not been smooth going. "Hitting that ice at full-speed is a harder hit than anything I've ever taken on a football field," he says. "And sometimes the bobsled tips over. It's wild."

And fast.

Bobsleds can rocket up to 125 miles an hour.

Near the end of the chute, Campbell pulls on the brake. Then he hops out, stomach left somewhere on the hillside behind him, and does the run all over again. In August, the bobsled team aspirants will gather in Lake Placid. After cuts, the best among them will advance to time trials in October. As the 2010 Winter Olympics near, Campbell believes he has a good chance of making the team.

"I hope so," he says, "but you never know."

If he does, then come the winter of 2010 in Vancouver, the NFL's unlikeliest would-be hero might become the Winter Olympics' unlikeliest hero.

But if he doesn't make the team and commence full-time training for his Olympic dream, Campbell will await orders to report wherever the Army assigns him. He'll train with a unit and then he'll ship out for active duty. Maybe to Iraq, maybe to Afghanistan.

"I told my superiors a while back that I was ready to serve. Not to coddle me," he says. "We'll see."

Until then, Campbell plans to keep on sprinting down the ice-covered track until the last possible second, when he hurtles over the edge of the craft and comes to rest in the rear of the bobsled. From this position, Campbell ducks into the fetal position. He can see nothing at all.

"You just pray it turns out right," he says.

Caleb Campbell: Army Soldier, NFL Draftee ... Olympic Bobsledder? originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>2010 Winter Olympicscaleb campbellClay TravisThu, 02 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST Unfortunate Bathing Suit Mishap Puts Swimmer in Tearshttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/unfortunate-bathing-suit-mishap-puts-swimmer-in-tears/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/unfortunate-bathing-suit-mishap-puts-swimmer-in-tears/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/unfortunate-bathing-suit-mishap-puts-swimmer-in-tears/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Jaked J01 swimsuit was temporarily banned by FINA (the International Swimming Federation) earlier this year because it supposedly gave swimmers an unfair competitive advantage. Recently, it's been the subject of talk of an entirely different sort, as an ill-located tear in the suit forced Italian Olympic swimmer Flavia Zoccari to sit out of a championship race.

At the Mediterranean Games on Wednesday, Zoccari (right) was forced to stand down from competition after the back hinge of the bathing suit tore, leaving a large portion of Zoccari's backside exposed.

Jaked, the manufacturers of the suit, boast that the J01 is "more than skin," but in Zoccari's case all it did was show more skin.

Zoccari, who was flooded with tears of embarrassment after the mishap, later apologized for the incident.

Unfortunate Bathing Suit Mishap Puts Swimmer in Tears originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Tom MantzouranisThu, 02 Jul 2009 12:07:00 EST 'Shawn Johnson Dead' Video Doesn't Amuse Her Friends and Familyhttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/06/17/shawn-johnson-dead-video-doesnt-amuse-her-friends-and-family/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/06/17/shawn-johnson-dead-video-doesnt-amuse-her-friends-and-family/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/06/17/shawn-johnson-dead-video-doesnt-amuse-her-friends-and-family/#commentsFiled under: ,



The above video, courtesy of The Onion, is an obviously satirical news report about gymnast Shawn Johnson, comparing her to a racehorse and saying that her parents decided to put her down after she suffered a knee injury. Just so we're clear, Shawn Johnson is not dead.

The video has gone viral, with more than 50,000 views in its first day on YouTube. And the phrase "Shawn Johnson dead" is currently one of the most-searched terms on Google. The popularity of the video shows that a lot of people find it funny, but apparently Johnson's friends and family weren't amused.

Geena Pilcher, a fellow gymnast and friend of Johnson, told the Des Moines Register, "It's sort of rude; it's just over the top." Johnson's publicist told the paper, "At this time there will be no comment from Shawn or her parents about the video."

For more sports news, follow me on Twitter.

'Shawn Johnson Dead' Video Doesn't Amuse Her Friends and Family originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Shawn JohnsonShawnJohnsonMichael David SmithWed, 17 Jun 2009 08:56:00 EST Usain Bolt Sets 150-Meter World Recordhttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/05/19/usain-bolt-sets-150-meter-world-record/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/05/19/usain-bolt-sets-150-meter-world-record/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/05/19/usain-bolt-sets-150-meter-world-record/#commentsFiled under: ,

Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world at 100 meters and the fastest man in the world at 200 meters, so it's not like anyone doubted that he's also the fastest man in the world at 150 meters. But just to prove the obvious, Bolt ran in a 150-meter race over the weekend, and he ran the fastest time ever recorded.

Bolt finished the 150-meter sprint in 14.35 seconds, easily topping the time of 14.99 seconds set by Donovan Bailey in his famous 1997 race with Michael Johnson. Bolt easily out-ran Marlon Devonish, Ivory Williams and Rikki Fifton.

The 150-meter dash is hardly ever run, and Bolt's time is really an unofficial world record. But it's still noteworthy if for no other reason than it's the first time Bolt has competed since suffering a foot injury in a car crash.

"I'm not in the best shape and I still have a lot of work to do," Bolt said afterward, "But I am getting there."

Usain Bolt Sets 150-Meter World Record originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 19 May 2009 11:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Usain BoltUsainBoltMichael David SmithTue, 19 May 2009 11:40:00 EST Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony: First TV Broadcast With 1 Billion Viewershttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/05/11/beijing-olympic-opening-ceremony-first-tv-broadcast-with-1-bill/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/05/11/beijing-olympic-opening-ceremony-first-tv-broadcast-with-1-bill/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/05/11/beijing-olympic-opening-ceremony-first-tv-broadcast-with-1-bill/#commentsFiled under:



A new study on the global reach of the 2008 Summer Olympics reveals that the opening ceremony at the Bird's Nest Stadium became the first television broadcast ever to reach 1 billion people around the world.

The Sunday Times of London reports that the study, released Monday, shows at least 984 million people tuned in for part of the opening ceremony, and the researchers say they are sure they missed at least 16 million viewers, putting the broadcast over 1 billion:
"Our report takes data from 85% of the world's TV households and includes only viewers who watched at home, not in public places," says Kevin Alavy, head of analytics at the global sports research consultancy Futures Sport + Entertainment, which compiled the data. "You can extrapolate from the 984m that the Olympics opening ceremony was the first one billion people occasion ever. It appealed to the huge domestic Chinese audience but resonated globally too."
The study tracked the most-watched sporting events around the world in 2008, and found that the Top 4 were all from the Olympics: The closing ceremony came in second, a volleyball match between China and Cuba was third and the men's 100-meter final was fourth.

Super Bowl XLII came in sixth around the world, behind the Euro 2008 soccer final between Germany and Spain, and ahead of the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea and the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony: First TV Broadcast With 1 Billion Viewers originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 11 May 2009 10:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Michael David SmithMon, 11 May 2009 10:08:00 EST President Obama Makes His Pitch for Chicago as Olympic Hosthttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/04/09/president-obama-makes-his-pitch-for-chicago-as-olympic-host/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/04/09/president-obama-makes-his-pitch-for-chicago-as-olympic-host/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/04/09/president-obama-makes-his-pitch-for-chicago-as-olympic-host/#commentsFiled under:



As Chicago makes its appeal to host the 2016 Olympics, it has a powerful ally in President Obama, who put together the above video to welcome International Olympic Committee members to his city last week.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has called Obama "the quarterback of our bid," and his support for Chicago is considered one of the city's strongest assets as it competes with Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid for votes from IOC members. Chicago is probably a slight favorite at this point, but it's very close, and it's still several months before the votes are counted on October 2.

President Obama Makes His Pitch for Chicago as Olympic Host originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Michael David SmithThu, 09 Apr 2009 08:09:00 EST Olympic Silver Medalist Kills Himselfhttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/02/19/olympic-silver-medalist-kills-himself/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/02/19/olympic-silver-medalist-kills-himself/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/02/19/olympic-silver-medalist-kills-himself/#commentsFiled under:

In a tragic turn, Mike Whitmarsh, an Olympic silver medalist in beach volleyball, committed suicide Wednesday. The means of death was determined to be carbon monoxide poisoning. Whitmarsh was 46.

The following is the entirety of AP's report on this sad story.



From the Associated Press:

SAN DIEGO (Feb. 19) - Mike Whitmarsh, a 1996 Olympic silver medalist in beach volleyball, killed himself through carbon monoxide poisoning in the garage of a friend's home, officials said Wednesday. He was 46.

His body was found Tuesday at a home in Solana Beach, just north of San Diego, said San Diego County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Jan Caldwell. The medical examiner's office said an autopsy showed Whitmarsh committed suicide with carbon monoxide from car exhaust.

Whitmarsh teamed with Mike Dodd to take the silver medal in the inaugural beach volleyball competition at the Atlanta Olympics. The team lost to Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes in an all-U.S. final.

"We are shocked and saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of Mike Whitmarsh," USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal said in a statement. "The Olympic volleyball family and all of USA Volleyball have lost a wonderful person and remarkable athlete and performer.

"Our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences go out to his family for their loss at this tragic time."

Whitmarsh also played basketball at the University of San Diego, leading the Toreros to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1984. He later switched to beach volleyball.

"Mike was a great alum and did great things for the school, and we will miss him greatly," athletic director Ky Snyder said.

Whitmarsh is survived by his wife, Cindy, and two daughters.

Olympic Silver Medalist Kills Himself originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Randy KimThu, 19 Feb 2009 17:18:00 EST Stephanie Rice Wants You to Stop Calling Her a Party Girlhttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/02/19/stephanie-rice-wants-you-to-stop-calling-her-a-party-girl/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/02/19/stephanie-rice-wants-you-to-stop-calling-her-a-party-girl/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/02/19/stephanie-rice-wants-you-to-stop-calling-her-a-party-girl/#commentsFiled under: ,

Michael Phelps isn't the only Olympian to be pinned as a partier after having success at the Beijing Olympics. Stephanie Rice, three-time 2008 gold medalist in the 200-meter, 400-meter and 4 x 200 relay, has been labeled a party girl in her home country of Australia and is trying to shake the image, saying she has avoided knocking back shots since the new year.


Rice is getting herself set for the world trials next month in Australia, avoiding going out and focusing strictly on training, even if nobody believes her.
"I haven't been out basically since Christmas and New Year, but I continue to be called a party girl and it's just gone too far now,'' Rice said.

"When I first saw the headlines calling me wild and a party animal, I just thought it was a bit over the top. But for it to continue when I'm back training and competing is untrue and it's got to the stage where enough is enough.''
Obviously the speculation that she has spent more time at bars and less time in the pool were fairly justified when she seemed winded and exhausted after three 200-meter races in the NSW Championships.
Rice almost collapsed with exhaustion following Sunday's program where she raced in three 200m events including a dramatic end to the 200m freestyle.

"I was spent and swallowed water nearing the end of the race and I just had this coughing attack,'' the world record holder said. "It was a full-on weekend of racing and by Sunday night I was exhausted and feeling the strain. I am far from being at my peak.''
Rice will have to battle more than just her image problems and her endurance during the time trials next month. A television scheduling glitch has put the 200-meter butterfly and the 400-meter individual medley just 25 minutes apart, giving swimmers basically no time to catch their breath if they want to race in both.
The Queenslanders face the dilemma of producing their best in the 200m butterfly and 400m individual medley with just 25 minutes rest between the two finals. It's a scheduling glitch that should not exist because the two finals are raced three days apart at the world titles in Rome.

If Rice could compete in both of those and even place, for heaven's sakes, then that would get rid of her party girl image in an instant.

Stephanie Rice Wants You to Stop Calling Her a Party Girl originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Michael PhelpsMichaelPhelpsStephanie RiceStephanieRiceShane BaconThu, 19 Feb 2009 10:34:00 EST Usain Bolt Wins 2008 International Athlete of the Year over Michael Phelpshttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/01/02/usain-bolt-wins-2008-international-athlete-of-the-year-over-mich/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/01/02/usain-bolt-wins-2008-international-athlete-of-the-year-over-mich/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/01/02/usain-bolt-wins-2008-international-athlete-of-the-year-over-mich/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I don't quite understand this one. Michael Phelps -- he of the Olympic record eight gold medals this past year -- was beaten out in the international voting for athlete of the year by Jamaica's Usain Bolt. I mean this as no disrespect to Bolt, who is a stud in every sense of the word. I've gushed about his abilities before. Sure, some might be a bit miffed by the fact that he's been known to showboat from time to time -- including during a race. Overall, though, Bolt is a superstar and would be quite worthy of this accolade in most years.

My problem is that 2008 wasn't most years. Michael Phelps broke the record for the most Olympic gold medals of all time in a single games. He should be an automatic winner.

As I sit around trying to figure out what would compel voters to vote for Bolt over Phelps, I'm only left with the simple realization that many people hate America.

Look, I know we can be ego-centric in this country, and I'm more guilty of that than most people. Knowing this, I tried to figure out what else could have possibly spurred on this voting. Here's what I came up with:

1. Bolt is more explosive. I can see someone claiming it was more exciting watching Usain pulverize his competition on the track than it was watching Phelps do the same in the pool. The only problem with this argument is that Bolt only won two individual races in the Olympics, and Phelps accrued at least two blowouts of similar dominance in the pool.

2. Bolt competes in more non-Olympics events, and this isn't just an Olympic award. If the margin between the two in the Olympics was narrow, I could understand this. I'm looking at eight to three on gold medal count in an Olympic year, however, so this is ridiculous. It would be like naming someone the golfer of the year over a guy who won four of the five majors. When does it matter the most?

Actually, that's it. I can't think of any other argument to vote for Bolt over Phelps.

Unless you hate America.

Usain Bolt Wins 2008 International Athlete of the Year over Michael Phelps originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>michael phelpsMichaelPhelpsusain boltUsainBoltMatt SnyderFri, 02 Jan 2009 11:15:00 EST Cancer Is Not Enough to Stop Olympic Swimmer Eric Shanteauhttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/12/08/cancer-is-not-enough-to-stop-olympic-swimmer-eric-shanteau/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/12/08/cancer-is-not-enough-to-stop-olympic-swimmer-eric-shanteau/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/12/08/cancer-is-not-enough-to-stop-olympic-swimmer-eric-shanteau/#commentsFiled under: ,

This past weekend, Eric Shanteau returned to the pool after kicking testicular cancer to the curb, and he did the same to most of the other swimmers against whom he was competing.


You might remember the story of Shanteau. He went to the Olympics in Beijing to compete, having postponed cancer treatment in order to do so. He'll admit to being a bit distracted during the games, but who can really blame him? Cancer isn't exactly akin to a mild headache or a nagging cough, you know. Since returning home, Shanteau underwent surgery -- which successfully removed the cancer -- and rehabbed for many weeks before finally returning to competition this past weekend.

In Atlanta, Shanteau finished second in the 200-yard individual medley -- to American record-holder Ryan Lochte, whom you should remember from the Olympics -- in the U.S. Short Course Nationals. He set a personal best in this event, and also set a personal best in the 100-yard breaststroke, noting to CNN that "For me to go the times I did is pretty incredible." Of the whole experience, though, the times in each individual race took a backseat to the journey itself.
"This experience gave me a very different and new perspective on life -- it's a good one," Shanteau said. "As traumatic as cancer can be, there's a lot of good that you can take out of it. Appreciate the small things."
While this isn't the first story of perseverance we've heard like this -- and it won't be the last -- it never gets old to hear about people battling adversity and coming out shining of excellence. It's a testament to the human spirit that someone can emerge just months after facing a life-threatening illness as a winner.

Even though Eric Shanteau came out of that pool in second place, he was definitely a champion when you consider what he overcame. This adds to the wonderful collection of in which someone battled and defeated cancer like it was some sort of a game. We can always use a little more inspiration.

Cancer Is Not Enough to Stop Olympic Swimmer Eric Shanteau originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>eric shanteauEricShanteauryan lochteRyanLochteMatt SnyderMon, 08 Dec 2008 11:55:00 EST Michael Phelps Takes Cocktail Waitress Home to Meet Family for Thanksgivinghttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/12/01/michael-phelps-takes-cocktail-waitress-home-to-meet-family-for-t/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/12/01/michael-phelps-takes-cocktail-waitress-home-to-meet-family-for-t/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/12/01/michael-phelps-takes-cocktail-waitress-home-to-meet-family-for-t/#commentsFiled under: ,

At this point in his life, Olympic superstar Michael Phelps has been romantically linked with everyone from Amanda Beard to Lindsay Lohan to Stephanie Rice, which is understandable given the whole "eight gold medals in Beijing" thing.

Well, big names be damned, it appears that the current lady of Phelps' dreams is none other than a cocktail waitress from Las Vegas named Caroline "Caz" Pal.


The 26-year-old Pal works at Moon in the Palms and reportedly went home to Baltimore with Phelps for Thanksgiving to meet Phelps' family.
"She's there [in Maryland] meeting his family for the first time," a source close to Pal tells PEOPLE.
You can check out pictures of Pal here via Sports by Brooks. This might not exactly edge "Barack wins the Presidency" and "DOW drops below 8,000" as the story of the year for 2008, but anything involving Phelps these days still seems to qualify as news.

Phelps was said to have run into his lady friend while polishing up his poker skills (making him exactly the four-billionth male in America to take up poker).
He recently made it to the final table of the Caesars Palace Poker Classic.

"It was fun!" he told PEOPLE after the tournament. "It's just like a game that I could become better at and use some of my competitiveness at the poker table."
I'm really rooting for the guy to win a poker tournament or two. I hear he could use the extra cash.

Michael Phelps Takes Cocktail Waitress Home to Meet Family for Thanksgiving originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Michael PhelpsMichaelPhelpsShane BaconMon, 01 Dec 2008 12:34:00 EST Michael Phelps Makes Time for <i>60 Minutes</i>http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/12/01/michael-phelps-makes-time-for-i-60-minutes-i/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/12/01/michael-phelps-makes-time-for-i-60-minutes-i/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/12/01/michael-phelps-makes-time-for-i-60-minutes-i/#commentsFiled under: ,

If he didn't rest before the Beijing Olympic games in order to get himself ready to be a worldwide hero and record-holder, he sure isn't resting these days as he prepares himself to be a Hollywood icon and marketing extraordinaire.

Last night, Michael Phelps was on 60 Minutes talking about everything Olympics with CNN's Anderson Cooper, who even challenged Phelps, who claimed at 205 lbs. to be the heaviest he has ever been, to a swimming race.

The conditions? Cooper would get to dive into the pool and freestyle (that is swim, not rap) and Phelps had to do the whole thing underwater without making a stroke. The winner? Well, it wasn't Anderson Cooper.

Phelps was on 60 Minutes for just over 12 minutes last night, showing his medals to the crew only when they asked to see them, speaking of his mother ("I owe her the world") and of his constant grind post-Beijing (Asked if he worries he's doing too much, Phelps told Cooper, "No, cause I'm having fun. You know, it's like [yawns], excuse me, you know, after I ...).

Maybe the most interesting information revealed was the news that 60 Minutes caught Phelps' agent, Peter Carlisle, showing the human dolphin an offer of $5 million ... that Carlisle rejected.
"Sometimes I get a little frustrated but in the long run I know why he rejected it and why he does stuff like that," Phelps said.

"These types of things were happening so frequently. The number of offers like that that just obviously didn't fit in. It was astounding," Carlisle said.

Carlisle's office receives about 300 calls a day regarding Phelps, but he's only looking for companies that fit Phelps' lifestyle.
Video of the interview is after the jump, fit with one or two goofy Phelps grins. Enjoy.

Michael Phelps Makes Time for 60 Minutes originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Anderson CooperAndersonCooperMichael PhelpsMichaelPhelpsPeter CarlislePeterCarlisleShane BaconMon, 01 Dec 2008 12:03:00 EST Olympic Gymnast Alicia Sacramone Is Trying to Make It in Hollywoodhttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/11/11/alicia-sacramone-the-hot-olympic-gymnast-is-trying-to-make-it/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/11/11/alicia-sacramone-the-hot-olympic-gymnast-is-trying-to-make-it/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/11/11/alicia-sacramone-the-hot-olympic-gymnast-is-trying-to-make-it/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A lot of athletes have made it in both sports and Hollywood, but not a lot are doing it by pimping their leotards.

Twenty-one-year-old Alicia Sacramone, who became a fan favorite at the Olympics for her "never give up" mentality that came after falling in both the beam and floor competition for Team USA, has been in talks with MTV, Bravo, A&E and Style for a television show about her fashion sense.



Lou Reda Productions is working with Sacramone and said they were "very intrigued by Alicia during the Olympics and thought she'd be great on TV." I'm assuming that this is because she's so talented and seemed to enjoy herself in Beijing even during the tough times. Or, it's because she's hot. Yep, probably the second one.

For her reel, Sacramone - who designed all her costumes for the Summer Olympics - treated 13-year-old Sarah DiNatale of Needham to a makeover.

First off, the gals had a breakfast of champions at Sonsie. Then it was hair and makeup lessons at Salon Persona, where the gymnast's mom, Gail, works. After that, they hit H & M, where Alicia whipped together a rock-star outfit for Sarah for under $100.

You know those television previews that come on basic cable when you're watching Sunday Night Football or something and thinking to yourself, "There is no way I'd watch that show unless I was in a torture chamber with my toes hooked up to electrical sockets in a bathtub, and they said they'd either turn them on or force me to watch 'Cavemen?'

Well, I almost guarantee that this is not one of those shows. Sacramone is a pretty, young Olympian who seems to have a lot of ambition and is obviously talented in more than just the back-flip kinda way.

I mean, a rock-star outfit for under $100? I couldn't even get high heels and a set of cute earrings for that much!

Olympic Gymnast Alicia Sacramone Is Trying to Make It in Hollywood originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Alicia SacramoneAliciaSacramoneShane BaconTue, 11 Nov 2008 18:05:00 EST How Paralympian Josh George Inspired a FanHouse Marathonerhttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/11/04/how-paralympian-josh-george-inspired-a-fanhouse-marathoner/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/11/04/how-paralympian-josh-george-inspired-a-fanhouse-marathoner/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/11/04/how-paralympian-josh-george-inspired-a-fanhouse-marathoner/#commentsFiled under: ,

FanHouse blogger "This Suit Is Not Black" recently completed the New York City Marathon, but the highlight of her weekend might have actually been the time she got to spend with Olympic paralympian Josh George. Here are TSIB's thoughts on meeting the inspiring 24-year-old athlete.

It's Sunday, November 2, 2008, a day I'll forever remember as the day I finished the New York City Marathon a mere 2 hours and 23 minutes behind Paula Radcliffe -- doubling her winning time to the minute (and for this, my mother couldn't be more proud).

But at 5:55 AM, that's not what I'm thinking about. I'm thinking about the young man I'm walking past who looks a lot like Olympic athlete Josh George, the 24-year-old I spoke with over the phone on Friday. I've only seen him in pictures, but it could be him. It looks just like him. I have five minutes before my bus boards so I take my chance and approach him as he mills about with his fellow racers.

It is him, so I don't have to slink away embarrassed, thank goodness. We shake hands, exchange pleasantries -- he comes across just as kind in person as he did on the phone -- and then we part. I quickly add a, "Good luck!" as I turn to walk away, but then remember that luck is one of the last things he needs. People like me need luck to win (or just finish, really). George, on the other hand, has been training for this his entire life.

At just four years old, while playing in his 12th-story bedroom in northern Virginia, George slipped and fell out of the window, suffering paralysis from the chest, down. Family and friends were awed at his survival while he lay in the hospital in a full body cast. One doctor even called him "a living miracle." Society would not have expected that, at six, he'd tell his parents that he wanted to be an athlete. And no one could have predicted his future greatness as arguably the greatest wheelchair athlete in the entire world.

When speaking with George, though, you would never think you were speaking with a world-class athlete. This man has a unique quality. If I had to choose one word to describe it, I guess it would have to be "humility." But that doesn't seem to do him justice. Within moments of hearing his voice, you forget you're speaking to such a highly regarded athlete. I've heard high-school varsity has-beens speak of their "careers" with more pride than this guy. You are truly speaking to one of the most unassuming people you will ever meet. The kind of gentleman who won't talk about himself unless directly asked, and even then finds a way to downplay his accomplishments.

For example, when I asked him how he did in Beijing this summer, he said it "went fairly well."

"What do you mean by 'fairly well?' "

He meant he won a gold in the 100 meter T53 and a silver in the 800 meters. And I didn't even find out that his 100 meter finish also set a Paralympic World Record at 14.79 seconds until I stopped by his website. Further research revealed that George took home two bronze medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. He holds four Gold medals from the 2006 World Championships in the Netherlands (100m, 200m, 400m and 800m) and he led the United States men's basketball team to the Gold medal at the 2008 Parapan Games in Brazil.

As if that's not inspiring enough, George is also one of the 2008 recipients of the Arete Award for Courage in Sports - putting him in a class among Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong.

But George would rather you not pay attention to those accomplishments behind the curtain. As he explains it, he didn't start with world class aspirations in mind. He just wanted to play sports.

His parents got him involved at a young age in sports groups -- particularly one wheelchair group in Baltimore, Maryland. It was here, he said, where everything they offered, he tried. "Everything" includes basketball, racing, archery, swimming, and table tennis. All of which easily makes him more athletic than most of the people I've ever met in my life; people to whom I'd now like to ask, "What's your excuse?" But that's me. I have the sneaking suspicion that you would never hear those words come out of George's mouth.

George raced throughout high school, but it wasn't until his freshman year at the University of Illinois that his career as a marathoner began to take shape. "I showed up at our first track practice and my coach had me do a time trial," he explained. "I did pretty well in the time trial and so he came to me after practice and said, 'Hey, you're gonna run the Chicago Marathon' [which] was a month later." And with that one month of training, George finished in 1:56, just over 20 minutes after the winner. And do you know what he told me when I asked him about his experience? Nope, it wasn't an expose about his blooming sense of pride and accomplishment. George laughed and said it was so miserable that "the only reason I ever did another one after that was because I qualified for Boston." Thank goodness he did. George has since won three Chicago Marathons (2003, 2004, 2006).

Sunday's marathon wasn't the finish that George was hoping for. In 2nd place at the 23 mile mark, Josh hit a pothole. His front and one of his rear tires went flat. He changed the rear tire and had to push the last 3 1/2 miles with a flat front tire. He finished 11th, still managing to be the top American to finish with a time of 1 hour and 54 minutes. Despite a time 20 minutes slower than he'd hoped, at 24 he's a virtual baby in the sport. Wheelchair racers rarely peak until their 30's, and some of George's toughest competetors are in their early 40's. With the years ahead of him, George hopes to improve in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters, but, he says, "the next couple of years I'm gonna be focusing primarily on marathon racing."

The sport would be so much less without him.

How Paralympian Josh George Inspired a FanHouse Marathoner originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Josh GeorgeJoshGeorgenew york city marathonNewYorkCityMarathonParalympicsKristine BlinnTue, 04 Nov 2008 13:41:00 EST Something Tells Us Things Will Work Out for Alicia Sacramonehttp://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/08/13/something-tells-us-things-will-work-out-for-alicia-sacramone/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/08/13/something-tells-us-things-will-work-out-for-alicia-sacramone/http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2008/08/13/something-tells-us-things-will-work-out-for-alicia-sacramone/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you happened to tune in to last night's coverage of this morning's women's team gymnastics in Beijing, you undoubtedly saw the Americans set the record that quite probably won't be broken for some time. I'm talking of course about the "Most Disappointed About a Silver" Olympic and organized competition records they broke in their loss to the "yeah, sure they're all 16" Chinese team. Led by Alicia Sacramone, who was understandably upset by her multiple mistakes, even the perma-smile of American Shawn Johnson couldn't hold the team back from disappointment history.

The irony of course, is that the most disappointed member of the team might have come ahead of anyone on the U.S. team last night. Less than 12 hours after the falls and the missteps and the crying, Sacramone's dominating the talk of the event -- and not all in a bad way.

In a sport dominated by 16-to-18-year old young women with bodies typically resembling those of 10-to-12-year old boys, the world (or at least the part that overlaps with the UFC, Axe Body Spray, energy drink and lad magazine target markets) fell in love with Alicia, a 21-year old at Brown University and FanHouse Attractive Olympian, from the first moment their parents/girlfriends/wives made them watch the 2008 women's team gymnastics competition.

Continue Reading Something Tells Us Things Will Work Out for Alicia Sacramone

Something Tells Us Things Will Work Out for Alicia Sacramone originally appeared on Back Porch FanHouse on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Alicia SacramoneAliciaSacramonegymnasticsTrey DaltonWed, 13 Aug 2008 12:22:00 EST