101-81, U.S. NATIONAL B BALL TEAM POUNDS ARGENTINA

Two games down, and 1 more to go for full redemption for Team USA. This was the one game that the four Americans who played in Athens ‘04 circled on their calendars. This game was the real redemption because Argentina had man handled USA since 2002 world games. Then it was teenaged Nocioni DUNKING on Kevin Garnett & Tim Duncan while beating the Americans into submission.

Follow that up with ‘04 Athens where Ginobli & company knocked TEAM USA out of Gold medal contention with a victory over the boys from the states, and you can see why, this was the 1 game we couldn’t lose, not again. Not to TEAM ARGENTINA, who not only whooped us, but danced on the court in joyous celebration in Athens.

Unfortunately, my main man Manu Ginobli re-injured the same foot that was hurt during the Western conference semi finals. Ginobli left the game after teh first quarter never to return. In addition, Nocioni was also injured, his left knee. So, Argentina wasn’t at full strength, but you’ll hear no sympathy from the American boys.

It’s hard,” Scola said of Ginobili’s injury. “You want to play, you want to win, all of a sudden you find out all of the hard work you did is going into the trash.”

ALL 4 1 & 1 4 ALL

For Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James & Carlos Boozer, this was the ONE true vindication they had to recover at all costs. Losing wasn’t even an option, only returning the GOLD medal to the land that created basketball. However, everyone knows that the whole wide world has caught up to us, moreso, they don’t get intimidated by TEAM USA as in the past. The psychological edge is gone!

The game got testy as Luis Scola & Carmelo Anthony got tangled. Anthony threw an elbow to Scola’s chest pushing him sevral feet. No harm, no foul…just keep your hands to yourself…Then Dwight Howard got hit in the face y Fabricio Oberto as attempted to dunk. Howard, usually cool, calm, and collected let out a loud scream at Oberto, and Melo’ came over in a flash to exchange a few words with him. He had to be restrained by his team mates, or Melo’ may have thumped Oberto.

They were better than us, there’s nothing more to say,” Scola said. “They’ve been playing better than us the whole tournament. We have to say congratulations to them.”

If you’re a USA fan this was must see t.v. If you’re a basketball player going to WAR against the world for GOLD, you definitely want Mr. Anthony on your aqua backing you up w/ is NYC bravado.

We still have one more test to go, but I think our team is extremely confident,” said point guard Chris Paul.

Still, you have to givie it to their team. Luis Scola had 28 pts, and got the score within 6 points before the half. Team USA struggled against the zone defense, committing several turnovers, and just  falling out of sync offensively. At one point, TEAM USA had taken 20, 3 pointers out of 30 shots overall. Though there defensive intensity brought them back in the 2nd half.

They wanted to play physical, we played physical with them and I think we beat them at their own game tonight,” Anthony said.

No dounbt, and I loved it because Nocioni, Ginobli & Scola are a force to reckon with. They brought it and may have made the game more competitive had their leader not gone down.

WHO GOT NEXT: SPAIN vs USA

GET YOUR POPCORN READY!!

AMERICA SWEEPS BEACH: MAY/WALSH & ROGERS/DALHAUSSER, BEIJING

The United States becomes the first country in Olympic beach volleyball history to sweep gold at the same Games.

American dominance in Men’s Beach Volleyball hadn’t been done since Karch Kiraly back in 1996, 2000. This was a 3 setter barn burner, that went back and forth. Brazil, was surely the best the U.S. had faced in Beijing at the Chaoyang Park venue.

The Beach volleyball Gold medal match between the Americans & the Brazilians was one to watch. The U.S. team played from behind during most of the 1st game. However, the momentum shifted as the Americans ripped a couple of crosscourt kills. In the end, they closed the first set 23-21 USA. The game was close and intense straight through.

The next set was marked by uneven play from the American team. Rogers recieved most of the serves, therefore, he had to carry the offensive load. Team Brazil never served to Dalhausser because of his sheer size, 6′9″ and power. Brazil won the second set 21-17, though based on the demeanor Team USA was too worried.

BLOCK PARTY @ DA BCH

They opened that 3rd set with monster serves, and monster blocks at the net by Dalhausser. It may have been 4 consecutive blocks by Dalhausser against Fabio. It ws surreal, the usually stoic Dalhausser screaming with intensity as the teams switched sides of the court. It was a magical moment in an otherwise tense final that seemed to ebb & flow over the duration of the match.

“You don’t play many third sets for the Olympic gold medal,” Dalhausser said. “If there was one time to get fired up, that was the time right there.”

“I just got in the zone,” Dalhausser said. “You know, some athletes say you just get in a zone and you don’t think. You just do it and you do all the right things. It’s pretty amazing.”

On the other side, women’s beach volleyball didn’t fail to appeal to all the hype. Earlier, in the competition President George Bush came to show his support of May & Walsh. In volleyball, players tap one another on the ass as a token of luck.

Surprisingly, May-Treanor asked “G DUB” to smack that for luck. She turns around, pops her back side like Beyonce, and BUSH in true GANGSTA PREZ form lightly taps May on the upper back, while grinning from ear-to ear. It was hard to judge who enjoyed the friendly tap more DUB or MAY? Probably Bush, at any rate, it made for scintillating theater.

I may not agree with his politics in Washington, but I approve of his sand politics on the beach. For once, I was proud tha he was my Prez. I wonder what Laura was thinking when she that footage?

108-0 MAY/WALSH REPEAT

May & Walsh didn’t really need ‘good luck’ they blew through the field like Tropical Storm Fay in Florida. For the second straight olympics they didn’t drop a set. Incredible! At the games of the 29th Olympiad they extended their winning streak to 108 matches. Combined with the fact, they achieved history under the ever watchful eye of paparazzi & American media. We all know how tough that can be!

“Kerri and Misty in general inspire us,” Rogers said. “We’ve talked about it a lot and said, ‘Hey, let’s just try and do what Misty and Kerri do.’ They’re just so much better than everyone else. Everyone else is catching up a little bit, but when they turn it on, no one comes close to them. On the men’s side, it’s not that way. I recognize that we’re not going to be 108-0; we’re going to lose a few tournaments. …So just to be within shouting distance of them, I look at that as, ‘Wow, that’s an accomplishment.’ They push us.”

“I dreamt about rain last night. It could have been 500 degrees or 500 below, and we’d be happy,” Walsh said. “The rain makes it better. We felt like warriors out there.”

Yea they really were Warrior like out there, even the opposing Chinese team had to acknowledge as much.

“The American team is better than we are,” Tian said. “They are more experienced and stronger. But we have made great strides for these Olympic Games. This is the best that we could do.”

The best quote came from Walsh, “I’m not done, and I hope Misty isn’t done yet, either,” Walsh said. “I can’t imagine playing without her.” For our sake let’s hope not…

TEAM USA VOLLEYBALL IS HOTTER THAN FISH GREASE…

{excepts from NBC Beijing Bch Volleyball Blog}

JAMAICA GOLD RUSH CONTINUES, BEIJING OLYMPICS

SWEET ECSTASY

Jamaica’s 1st Gold medal olympic champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown repeated her 2004 Athens feat. She won the women’s 200M final in the 2008 Beijing Games. Her chief competition was American Allyson Felix, however Felix didn’t resemble the runner who had beaten Brown several times since Athens. This time history would repeat itself: Brown-Gold, Felix-Silver.

For her efforts Brown posted the fastest time this year, and the 7th swiftest time EVER! Indeed, the Jamaican National team has swept the sprint events, and has gained international acclaim. They broke records, swept events, dazzled Chinese fans, and excelled at the most popular events in the summer games. When the pressure mounted, TEAM JAMAICA rose to the occassion.

This team is the quintessential best in the sprints a tribute to their national obsession with the sport. Campbell-brown ran a 21.74 destroying the field, and marking the 3rd fastest time EVER by a Jamaican woman. Can you say H-I-S-T-O-R-I-C-A-L? That seems to be the theme with ultra-talented JAM team.

{Excerpts & photo from Jamaican Daily Gleaner}

“I am just very happy that God has helped me to come out here and defend my title. I am just overwhelmed,” Campbell-Brown said. “I am in the best shape of my life this year.”

“Her winning sprint is also the fastest untainted clocking at the Olympics since Gwen Torrence did 21.72 to win in Barcelona, 16 years ago. Only two other Jamaicans, Merlene Ottey, 21.64, and Grace Jackson, 21.72, have gone faster than Campbell-Brown.”

Campbell-Browns 29th Olympiad has been one written for the ages. On the other hand, Its a little baffling they haven’t recieved more press coverage. It’s probably because Track is so revered in the states that people are still in a state of shock. Although, these athletes are from a small caribbean nation, they have defeated the American Goliath in a most improbable setting. That alone has & should vault them on the national scene & international acclaim.

LARGE UP TO THE JAMAICAN NATIONAL TEAM!!!

WHEN KEEPIN IT REAL GOES WRONG, BRAT GETS 3 YRS.

For sure there have been all sots of things that go down in night clubs. Hell, most songs Hip-Hop artists make nowadays are specifically targeted fro the club market. This story is alarming on a couple of levels.

1.   Da Brat’ s, government name is Shawntae Harris, career has been irrelevant for a HOT minute now.

2.   What ever happened to the days of the :”fair one?” (hand-hand, man-man fisticuffs)

As Common said, “The days of the fair one is over for.” People don’t fight anymore, they pick up shit like kids who are afraid to get they ass whooped. I can’t respect that. Especially, in this case where the girl Da Brat got it in with was the hostess for a party at JD’s club Studio 72. Shayla Stevens is the hostess’ name, she was also a cheerleader for the Atlanta Falcons.

 

THE INCIDENT: (excerpt Atlanta Journal Constitution)

“On the night of Oct. 31, 2007, Harris went to a private Halloween party at Studio 72, a Lawrenceville Highway nightclub owned by rap mogul Jermaine Dupri. At some point she bumped into Shayla Stevens, an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader working as a hostess at the event.”

“Moments later, Harris struck Stevens in the head with a nearly full bottle of rum, prosecutors said. Stevens fell down some stairs to a cement floor and suffered a severe facial cut. Stevens has a permanent scar, the judge said Friday in noting the severity of the attack. Stevens was in court but did not speak or talk to reporters.”

So, you tellin me this chick bumps into Da Brat, then ole girl goes up side her head with a bottle of Bubbly knocking her down some stairs to a concrete floor. What ever happened to “excuse me sister?” I’m sure things that we wouldn’t think twice over, while under the influence of alcohol we get that “liquid courage” to do.

While I liked the Brat as an artist her behavior as a full grown adult (34) years old leaves a bad taste in my  mouth. I hope she get’s her act together cuz lyrically she’s talented.

TEAM USA 4 X 100 RELAY DISQUALIFIED, BEIJING GAMES

What is really going on with TEAM USA track & field? Both the men & women dropped the baton in preliminary heats of the 4 x 100 relay. First, the men. On the third leg, Darvin Patton attempting to hand off to anchor leg Tyson Gay, something went wrong. The baton dropped to the track. Cardinal rule #1 when running track, never drop the baton. Its an automatic DQ (disqualification).

Patton drops attempted pass to GAY

The U.S. men were in contention with Trinidad for that race up to that point. Extremely disappointing results for the men, especially Tyson Gay. He leaves Beijing with no Bling, after having one of the best 2007 seasons in the World Championships. Still, no one remembers that only the Olympics. Gay has been one frustration after another.

He dissatisfied in the men’s 100M & 200M, and now in the 4 x 100 relay. Old boy has a lot of redeeming to do. Well, word is him & Kobe are buddy buddy, so maybe he can get some pointers on redemption.

    

Edwards Dejected in defeat & DQ

Similarly, the USA women who have held their own. Although, they have been bullied by the Jamaican sprinters as well. So, this was a chance for them to get a little back by going for gold in this ultimate in team running. Wasn’t to be though, same scenario Torii Edwards on the 3rd leg trying to pass to Lauryn Williams, somehow the exchange got bobbled and the baton fell ominously to the ground.

But in true Olympic spirit, Lauryn Williams, whom had the same thing happen to her in 2004 Athens picked up the baton & ran the race to completion. She said, “she couldn’t walk it in, she had to finish it.” Indeed, she did by running it out strong. I really appreciate her spirit and competitive integrity which is rare to find these days with new school athletes.

LIGHTINING STRIKES TWICE, BOLT BREAKS RECORD

U-S-A-I-N   B-O-L-T,  JAMAICAN SPRINTER CRUSHES 12 YEAR OLD WORLD RECORD, WINS GOLD!

For sure, when lightining strikes it sends most scampering for the nearest shelter to avoid being struck. This wasn’t your normal strike, this was more like a blur across your screen wearing green & gold. Everyone in the house was in shock, How can this guy win like he does, and do it so effortlessly?

Outside of the dominance of Michael Phelps in the swimming pool, clearly Bolt is the most dominant athlete this sport has seen in a very very long time. Consider, that no other sprinter has won both the 100 & 200 Gold medal since Carl Lewis in 1984. That’s twenty-four years ago, in addition, he broke Michael Johnson’s record which had stood for 12 years, since he set it in Atlanta back in 1996.

                                                      

Everyone wanted to know how fast is this guy, if he runs an all out race start to finish. We all saw him ease up in the 100M, so we figured he’d try the same in this race. Although, track records are treated as sacred repositories of history, none but Bolt knew he would break Johnson’s record.

When the gun fired he may have been 10 meters out ahead of the sound, he’s just that scarily swift. According, to speedometers Bolt runs about 32 mph. Say what? Yes, he runs faster than some gas powered scooters. Hmmm, could this be an alternative to high prices at the pump? Doubtful, you see Bolt is 6′5″ tall and is really lean.

He has revolutionized the sport the same way Johnson did back in 1996, and its for his personality. Sprinters have always had larger than life ego & personas, thats hat makes their feats that much more entertaining. Bolt has resurrected the sport with his energy, passion & enthusiam. Despite, being a relatively new school sprinter, his talent belies the history of Jamaican track & field.

“Everything came together tonight,” Bolt said. “I just blew my mind. I blew the world’s mind.”

You can say that again, he puts butts in seats like Jordan put butts in arenas. He makes you wan to watch his races, partly because of his amazing talent. On the other hand, he just seems above all the stuffiness that older athletes seem to portray.

“He added spirit to the sport,” said American Shawn Crawford, “He danced in the introductions, and he danced at the end.” He & American sprinter Walter Spearmon are buddies, while Spearmon was giving an interview, Bolt came over & poured some blue powerade down his shirt. That’s the kind of energy he has, fresh, new, vibrant!

“I saw I could get the world record in the 200, so I said, ‘I’m going to leave everything on the track,’” Bolt said. Then he went out and did it.”

Shit, the only thing he left on the track was his legacy & reputation as arguably the greatest Jamaican sprinter for all time. To see him running so relaxed, as other runners are straining to just get 2nd & 3rd place is mind blowing. No one has won this way before. I mean he destroyed the field, and didn’t seem pressed during the process. Give credit where credit is due. Bolt is the truth.

Perhaps, Bolt was just destined for this moment, before the games began, there was a report that Bolt was racing himself in a video game & broke the 100M record. Moreover, 12 years ago Michael Johnson wore GOLD spikes on his shoes. Guess what color spikes Bolt wore on his shoes GOLD as in medal—-can you say foreshadowing? Something to think about….

“Michael Johnson is a great athlete, and he revolutionized the sport,” Bolt said. “I just changed it a little bit.” Still, Bolt is like no other runner before him. In fact, its been suggested that his running stride is about 9 feet in length. Which has to be an advantage.

“I talked to the Prime Minister,” Bolt said. “He told me everything in Jamaica is blocked off. Everyone is in the streets.”