U.S. MEN’S 4X100 RELAY TEAM: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!

                        

– Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones and Jason Lezak — The U.S. Mens 4×100 Relay Team arguably won the most memorable & historic race ever. Consider, TEAM USA team hadn’t won Gold in the event since 1996, however they dominated the relay event since 1964. Still, in an unprecedented fashion TEAM USA wins GOLD last night.  They were heavily favored underdogs against their rival French team. No one expected them to win, except themselves and every America around the world.

“I had more adrenaline going than I ever had in my life,” Lezak said.

“America has a great tradition of winning that relay,” he also said, adding just a moment later, “All of us knew what we’re capable of, but to actually do it, to get that tradition back — it’s a phenomenal feeling. Still, right now, I’m in disbelief.”

In fact, the French team was talking trash about the American team before the meet began, and to add to the drama the two teams were lined up together in lanes 4 (USA) & 5 (France). French swimmer Alain Bernard said “the Americans we are going to smash them!”

Well, actions speak louder than words. The Americans actions spoke volumes, so loud it will be heard around the world….Look who’s talking NOW!!

 

While the race had all the intrigue, it was quite remarkable to watch it unfold. I mean Lezak was behind at least a full body length at the final turn. However, I recall talking to the TV saying, “ok its time to make a move man”  50 meters, 40 meters, 30 meters left…..USA still behind, then finally in the last 5 meters Lezak passes Bernard & OUT TOUCHES the French swimmer by a hand & just .08 of a second!! Amazing, Absolutely Amazing!!

REMARKABLE!!!                UNBELIEVABLE!!!!            MEMORABLE!!!               HISTORICAL!!!

In fact, Jason Lezak swam the fastest anchor leg EVER in HISTORY!! A leg with a time of 46.06. These moments are rare in SPORTS, especially, on an International scale that the olympics is on. I mean if you didn’t see it then where were you when Michael Phelps out swam the competition in the first leg? I was glued to the TELE like like honey bees to honey..

Where were you when the American’s set a WORLD RECORD with a time of 3:08:24?

“C’est le sport,” one of the French racers, Fabien Gilot, said afterward, which means literally, “It’s sport,” but which, in this context, really means, “That’s why they race the race.”

BEIJING OLYMPICS: MEN’S B-BALL BEAT CHINA, LED BY D WADE

Wdae led the charge with 19 pts followed by James with 18 pts & Bryant with 13 pts. The final score 101-70: America wins…

“It was our first game. We were very anxious. We missed shots that we normally would hit. But at the end of the day, you win by almost 30 points, you’ve got to take good things out of that,” Wade said. “We played very, very hard. We give ourselves a chance defensively every night. That’s what it’s all about with us.”

Team USA fell behind early when the 7′5” Yao Ming stepped out to International 3 pt line & let it rip. The bucket sank as China jumped out to an early lead over the Americans. The game was full of hi-lights.

HIGH LIGHTS:

Kobe Byant had a breakaway dunk in the 2nd quarter over his newly acquired team mate of 1 day Sun Yue. In the 3rd quarter Dwight Howard was going up for a left handed lay-up when out of nowhere Sun Yue leaped in for the block. He’s 6-9 and extremely athletic. Yi Jianlin also had a put back dunk over Carmelo Anthony. In addition, Darrin Williams had a dunk over Yao Ming that is sure to be on highlight reels from one corner to the other, though to yao’s credit he was only about 65-70% healthy.

Still, this game was extremely competitive over the first 2 1/2 quarters. China was only down by 12 points at the half. Though, when the 2nd half began the “Redeem Team” took over in a hurry and the game was never in question after that.

“NBA players are wildly popular in China, where the league estimates 300 million people play basketball. The Americans, still known as the Dream Team here, enjoyed a huge backing during exhibition games in Macau and Shanghai, support that will surely help them here on their gold-medal quest. “

Although, the U.S. team struggled from beyond the arc they only completed 1-12 in the first half of play, while China went 5-7 to keep things relatively close.

Even though they struggled early there defense was the barometer that kept the team grounded. Despite being in a building with over 18,000 fans, anytime Bryant, James, or Wade made an exciting play or dunk the crowd went hysterical. It was obvious that TEAM USA has a lot of fans in Beijing which should help them in teh medal rounds after these first 5 games in the preliminary rounds.

“Look, I had five dunks in one game. That’s because of the crowd. Last time I had five dunks in a game I was like 17. So that’s all because of the energy in this crowd,” Bryant said. “I think they knew that history was being made tonight and obviously it was a proud moment for their country as it was for ours. You could feel the electricity.”

LET’S GO TEAM USA!!!

 

PUERTO RICO: STATEHOOD OR COMMONWEALTH?

Proponents on each side can’t seem to agree on the political future of the island that is comprised of mostly a non-white majority. Although, the island’s power elite whom head government posts are mostly “white”, much like other ‘Latino’ countries, and are educated in the lily white schools of North America. Moreover, their perspective isn’t in line with majority of Puerto Rican subjects.

Their strategic planning accounts for the perpetuation of a racial politics designed with the intent of mainaining the status quo 2nd class citizenship for Puerto Ricans. The leadership preaches racial democracy, yet there isn’t racial equality with the distribution of resources.

Much like other ’subjects’ of American protectorates: Guam, Virgin Islands & Washington D.C. they have “taxation without representation.” Some have pointed to the fact that if these territories were to achieve equal representation under the law then there would be a tremendous shift of the balance of power in the District of Columbia.

In fact, Puerto Rico & The Virgin Islands would each have 2 Senatorial candidates along with 6-7 congressional members. That alone would send ripples of “shock & awe” throughout D.C. as congressional districts would need to be re-drawn once again to try & balance the power equitably as seen fit by “Washington insiders” & “old guard.”

In closing, Puerto Rican sovereignty is united with D.C. statehood, yet coupled along with other territories under American domination that seek equal representation. Lest we be fooled all of these “districts” have one abiding common ground in force, and that is they are predominantly populated with descendants of Africans and indigenous people native to the geographical location they find themselves immersed in….

Its time to apply teh full rights of independence, sovereignty, and equality to all those underdeveloped, underserved and unrequitted in the face of modernity, hegemony & imperialism….