2010 PWC Superfinal Task 1

The "LiveTracking" units didn't arrive in time for Task 1 so the provisional download leaderboard is as fresh as the news gets.  It looks like many of the big names fell out early in the course.  Still many names to be checked in at this time.  At the moment, Nick Greece (USA) is leader and Josh Cohn (USA) is in the top-10.

http://www.fastretrieve.com/download/

Tim

The feed from www.timospgblog.com

Source: http://biggovtsucks.blogspot.com/2010/09/2010-pwc-superfinal-task-1.html

George Best Marco van Basten Eusebio Lev Yashin

Weekend Open Thread

Getty

Members of the Indian Army, Engineer Corp, who are flag bearers at the R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium watching local tennis star Sania Mirza on centre court ahead of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on October 1, 2010 in Delhi, India.

::

Hello, everyone. Life, as you might imagine, for a person running for public office with an election coming in four weeks (or, right now, since people can vote early in Maine), is pure chaos. Safe to say, I've managed to retain most of my sanity, and still make time to farm, harvest, and prepare food for winter storage, but that's about all.

Tennis? What's tennis?

I don't know who's back from injury, or who's out. So please, drop those links, engage in civil debate, and tell me what I'm missing.

Source: http://craighickmanontennis.blogspot.com/2010/10/weekend-open-thread.html

Jairzinho Zinedine Zidane Ruud Gullit John Charles

What Does La Nina Mean to Skiers?

Australia just had its wettest September on record.  Winter wheat prices are up 26% in the US due to a dry winter forecast for the Midwest.  Argentina’s corn and soybean crops are suffering from drought.  Rubber and rice prices in Southeast Asia are rising due to flood damage to crops and mines in recent months.  What on earth, you may ask, does this have to do with heliskiing?

Two words: La Niña

This phenomenon of cooler than average waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean has far reaching impacts, and each of the above stories mentions La Niña as a factor.  On the bright side, for those of us looking to ski or snowboard in the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada, the impacts might be just what the doctor ordered.

The media is abuzz with stories about what this might mean.  Statistically, La Niña conditions produce above average precipitation and below average temperatures for the Pacific Northwest, with warmer and drier conditions in the Central Rockies and the Great Plains.

With ski towns from Crested Butte to Revelstoke humming with rumors of this winter being “The Big One” I had to track down a couple of snowfall experts to see what all this might mean for skiers.

First, I asked Karl Klassen of the Canadian Avalanche Centre what he has observed during La Niña winters.  The CAC does not keep these kinds of records, but he shared this perspective: “It probably depends on the strength of the La Niña (which is shaping up to be the strongest in 50 years) and how and where the resultant systemic pattern establishes itself.”

To translate this into brah speak: “If you’re in the sweet spot, you’re gonna get puked on.”

Next, I talked to Uwe Gramann, a mountain weather guru based in British Columbia. Uwe worked for Environment Canada for 8 years before starting Mountain Weather Services, a consulting company that provides focused weather information to ski companies, snow professionals, and avalanche control clients.

While Uwe sounded confident about the statistical aspect of long-term weather predictions, he was quick to point out that the local reality can be quite different.  “To put it in perspective, if you go buy a Kia or a Hyundai, statistically you can say it will be less reliable, but if you drive out of the car dealer and a hubcap falls off, a lot of other factors could have caused the problem.”

Uwe proceeded to point out another underlying problem with long-term weather predictions: Everything is based on a seasonal average, so a couple of singular events can tip the scales.  “All it takes, to make it statistically a colder than average winter, is a cold front or two to tip the average.”

“From a statistical perspective,” explains Uwe, “We (southern British Columbia) are expecting a colder winter with higher precipitation.”  He referred me to this map on the Environment Canada website showing a happy blob of higher than average precipitation right over the snowsport epicentre of the Columbia Mountains.

Uwe also pointed out that, earlier in the season, the long-term weather models (using different data than the La Niña/El Niño predictors) were suggesting a warmer and drier winter in southern British Columbia.  However, in recent runs, the weather models have switched, and are now in agreement with the La Niña historical predictor of higher precipitation and lower temperatures.

Finally, making everything as clear as crud, last night I had dinner with a ski patroller, who recalled a presentation by a weather specialist who had looked into snowfall records from a specific ski area in Colorado and compared them to the La Niña/El Niño phenomena.  As she explained it, about half of the big winters were La Niña, and about half of the big winters were El Niño.  Also, about half of the weak winters were La Niña and about half of the weak winters were El Niño. Go figure.

So nobody can be sure what to expect, but statistically, if you don't plan a ski trip, it will never happen.  So all things considered, including the overall trend of climate change causing unpredictable and severe weather, including record-breaking snowfalls, here's my advice: carve out some time to go heliskiing - if this is the epic winter of all time in British Columbia, you want to be part of it. 

Choker conditions at CMH Monashees photo by Topher Donahue.

Source: http://blog.canadianmountainholidays.com/heli-ski-blog/bid/55482/What-Does-La-Nina-Mean-to-Skiers

Lev Yashin Bobby Charlton Ronaldo Bobby Moore

Weekend Results

by Savannah

For the results from Shanghai, Osaka and Linz as well as the status of all three year end finals please go to Savannah's World.

Source: http://craighickmanontennis.blogspot.com/2010/10/weekend-results.html

Polo Rugby Scuba diving Skiing

Who can stop the Tornado? a 5-0 win gives Texas their 11th straight win

Talk about dominating the NAHL.

The amazing winning streak continues for the Tornado continues as the Tornado had no problems winning their 11th straight with a 5-0 shutout of the New Mexico Mustangs.

The Tornado were lead tonight by Alex Boyer's 2 goals as well as 2 assists from Nathan Slinwinksi, also props goes out to Czech Native Pavel Hurtik who scores his first goal as a member of the Texas Tornado and also picked up an assist in the 3rd period as well.

In all, the team is flexing its muscles and sending a message to the rest of the league that the team can contend for the NAHL Robertson Cup this season. Everything is clicking on all clyinders right now and it's been paying off in all sorts of ways.

First earlier this week, four Tornado Players as Rock Einersen, David Rigatti, Ralfs Freibergs and Jimmy Kruger will be competing at the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament next month in Boston. In addition to the players on the ice, head coach Tony Curtale will also be behind the bench at the event.

Right now with the long homestretch and the way their playing, it will take a combo of a great effort and catching the Tornado on an off night to end this streak and send a message that they can challenge the Tornado to win the South Division and keep the Tornado from getting a shot of heading to Kansas in May to play for the NAHL Robertson Cup.

Also yesterday, Tornado Goaltender Jimmy Kruger had the achievements continue as he was named the Goaltender of the Month for October where he had an impressive 1.63 GAA and a .933 SV%.

The Tornado and Mustangs will play again tonight and theirs no reason in my mind that the Tornado can't make it a dozen in a row. Also the team has the top record in the league at 13-2-3 with 29 points and is just one point up on the Wichita Falls Wildcats who beat the Corpus Christi Icerays 4-2 last night.

"Jimmy has worked very hard since his arrival to become a better goalie and better athlete and he's helped solidify our defense, which is already a solid group," said Tornado Head Coach Tony Curtale, whose team is riding a 10 game winning streak. "He has great size (6'3", 190 pounds) and ability and makes key saves during key moments of the game, which is important."


Here's the Tornado Players at the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament

Jimmy Kruger named NAHL Goaltender of the Month

Game Story from the Texas Tornado Website

New Mexico Mustangs 0  Texas Tornado 5  (0-2, 0-1, 0-2)

From Frisco, Texas: Two goals from Axel Boyer, two assists from Nathan Slinwinski and 14 saves from Jake Stafford led the Tornado to a workman like 5-0 win over the New Mexico Mustangs on Friday Night. For the Tornado, it was there 11th straight win continuing the NAHL's longest winning streak this season. The Tornado and Mustangs will will finish out the series in Frisco on Saturday, November 6th at 7:30 PM. Tickets for the game are still available at the box office, by calling 972-335-9800 or online at http://www.tornadohockey.com/ An official tailgate party will take place prior to the game beginning at 4:00 PM in the South Parking Lot in between the parking garage and the baseball stadium.

The Tornado skated the scoring just over a minute into the game as Jackson Leef got a loose puck off a Mustangs turnover and decked the Mustangs goalie Matt Madore for his 8th goal of the season. Late in the period the Tornado made it 2-0 as some nifty stick work by Nate Slinwinski got the puck in the low slot to Axel Boyer, who one-timed a drive past Madore. Tyler Rostenkowski also assisted on the goal.

The 2nd period was the Mustangs best of the night, but every chance was met by a save Stafford including a few odd man rushes. The Tornado increased the lead to 3-0 as Pavel Hurtik scored his first goal in a Tornado Uniform as he blasted a slap shot from the point just as a Tornado Power Play expired past a screened Madore. J.D. Howard and Marc Biggs assisted on Hurtik's bomb. The 2nd period also saw two fights within a second of another as Mike Fleming and Mark Zagari both threw down for Texas.

The 3rd period was all Tornado as they out-shot the Mustangs 20-2 in the period and got one more on the stick of Boyer, who again was the recipient of some magic stickhandling by his line-mate Sliwinski. Boyer deked Madore for his second of the night and a 5-0 Tornado lead, which would end up being the final score. Hurtik assisted for his 2nd point of the night.

Source: http://texasicehockeyexpert.blogspot.com/2010/11/who-can-stop-tornado-5-0-win-gives.html

Snow-boarding Snow Boarding Softball Squash

Hollers, high fives and fores at the third

In a quiet corner of south Wales the sounds of battle are approaching.

Cheers gain in strength as the first group of players edge up the first and second holes. Down behind the third green the crowd, half a dozen deep around the ropes and packed into the grandstand, wait patiently.

The giant screen opposite the picturesque pond shows morning highlights and the first shots of the foursomes. A generator hums and the gallery murmurs gently.

A breeze ruffles the tall trees behind the lake, but at water level the reeds are still. The white flag hangs limply on the pin. In the distance, three brown cows munch grass, heads down, oblivious.

A cheer goes up from the nearby 2nd green and 190 yards away a scrum of stickmen emerge onto the 3rd tee.

A man in a white shirt hits, the noise of contact following a split-second after the ball leaves the club. The ball thuds into the soft green and stays there, 25ft away, back right. Then another figure, white sleeves under mauve tank top, swings. The ball soars high into the mottled grey sky and lands 10ft to the right of the pin, a perfect length.

The scrum approaches and a roar goes up from the stand. "Italia, Italia," comes a cry. Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, sporting black diamond pattern sweaters and dark trousers, wave their caps high in acknowledgement.

On the green the Italian brothers stride to the farthest ball, the one back right. European assistant captain Jose Maria Olazabal hustles past. Two policemen take up station back down the fairway.

The Molinari brothers lap up the crowd's acclaim during their first taste of Ryder Cup action. Photo: Getty Images

The brothers stalk their putt, gesticulating, pacing, pointing. Edoardo, the taller one, who didn't hit the tee shot, addresses the ball. A pause, he strokes it and lifts his left leg in anticipation as the ball slides agonisingly past. American Zach Johnson, in dark shades, white cap and white wristband, takes a couple of practice wafts before the real thing. He misses. The crowd "oooh". Francesco waves his hand to say the putt is a "gimme". A man announces, "hole halved in three, the match remains all square". And their little squad of officials, media men, marshalls and a few other assorted types scuttle off.

A pause and then a throaty "yesssss" from the 2nd green. People look up to see Lee Westwood on TV. He and Martin Kaymer have just gone one up. Westwood appears in person on the distant tee and soon swings, the clunk piercing the quiet. The ball pitches on the green and leaps up, like it has been stung. It settles about eight feet past the pin.

American Ricky Fowler goes next. We crane our necks and track the sphere through the air. Murmurs of "looks long", and the ball rests on the back left edge.

Another roar goes up from the grandstand as their little army approaches. "Come on Westwood", "Come on Fisher" the crowd implore.

A man called "Remy" wearing one of the controversial American "tracksuits" (it had his name on the back) comes to stand next to me. I inspect the offending article close up. "Yours ok, then?" I enquire. "It got blown out of all proportion," he tells me.

Westwood, hands deep in trouser pockets, mooches about the green as partner Kaymer inspects his putt. Fowler, looking boyish, leans on his putter as Jim Furyk takes his yellow-handled club back and through. The ball misses right as Kaymer steps up. Westwood, his bagman Billy Foster and Kaymer's caddie Craig Connelly stand on the edge of the green, giggling about something. Kaymer hits and misses. Fowler picks it up and tosses it to him, the half secured. "Yep, good. See ya," says Remy as they all troop off. Assistant captain Tom Lehman brings up the rear, speaking into his walkie-talkie.

Another big roar from the 2nd but we don't know why. The TV screen has gone blank. Then a stark cry of "fore" from the 4th tee behind us. People listening to radios provide a stuttering, incomplete commentary. "Molinari misses, five feet", "Poulter, eight feet, first." Four men in Viking helmets and blonde pigtails appear on the opposite bank.

Draped in front of the grandstand to our left are a European flag with the words "Seve for ever", a Scottish saltire and a Spanish flag. There's a lull. People read programmes, fiddle with radios, sip coffee.

Back on the tee, a tall, thin man in grey slacks and mauve top leaps over the fence and disappears. Looks like Dustin Johnson, possibly off to the "bathroom". Probably not for a bath. Shouts erupt from the 2nd green. "Way to go Phil" and "Come on Harrington". Another platoon marches onto the tee and Phil Mickelson takes up a wide stance, waiting for Johnson to re-emerge. The sun comes out, DJ is back and takes a furious swipe. But his shoulders slump immediately as the ball hits the left side of the green and disappears down the bank towards the water. Ross Fisher hits for Europe but leaks it right into a swale. Radio 5 live's Iain Carter and Andrew Coltart race past to inspect the US ball.

John Inverdale and Chris Evans arrive, also for radio. Inverdale speaks loudly into his mic. Evans nudges him, giggling. "That was a bit loud, mate," he says. Mickelson, hands on hips, discusses his shot with caddie "Bones". Caroline Harrington, sporting enormous sunglasses, watches as hubby Padraig chips up. "Go, go," she urges but the ball is short. Mickelson flops his up high but well past the hole. The Americans stalk their putt together and Mickelson addresses the ball. There's a worry he might hit out of turn but he stands aside. Johnson, long of sideburn, putts and misses and stands there, scratching his face. "Come on Ross," implore the gallery. Another roar from nearby. Sounds European.

Fisher putts and makes it for the win to get back to all-square. The Englishman punches the air and shares a high five with Harrington. The next group is already on the tee and a Californian snapper I recognise turns up. It can only mean one thing. This guy's job is to always follow Tiger Woods.

The world number one is visible now and hits first. You can hear him shout "bite, bite" even from this distance, and the ball flies into the Harrington swale to "oooohs". Peter Hanson goes for Europe. It's the best tee shot so far, to about five feet and the crowd erupts. Woods hugs the lake as he nears the green and walks past it to a toilet cubicle half-hidden behind. Then everyone cracks up. As Woods arrives at the toilet, a blonde woman emerges. What are the chances?

Back on the green Steve Stricker chips up to a few feet. "Played partner," says Woods. Miguel Angel Jimenez holes his birdie to level the match and salutes the cheering crowd. Woods putts his anyway.

Almost immediately, Luke Donald tees off. The ball is silhouetted against a cloud shaped like a jellyfish. Bubba Watson is up next, his distinctive left-handed swing producing a viscious banana that hits the left edge and trickles into Mickelson country. "Go, go," urge the crowd, not entirely sportingly.

Donald and Ian Poulter approach the green and the crowd roar once more. The pair wave their hats in the air. "Come on, Ian, you're the man," yells someone.

Colin Montgomerie takes up station behind the green. Sergio Garcia remains down the fairway. US assistant Paul Goydos is there too.

Jeff Overton asks, "It is us, isn't it?" and then chips up to about 12ft. Poulter crouches to survey his putt, shading his eyes like blinkers on a horse. He misses and Watson concedes. The rangey American then goes for his par but slides it by and walks off biting his lip. Donald's wife Dianne strolls past, and a gaggle of US wags. A man is spotted lurking in the reeds with binoculars. Would look weird anywhere else.

Another man squeezes through the gallery and ducks under the rope. "You can do that when your son is the US Open champion," says his friend, wearing a badge that says "Norn Iron". The first man is Graeme McDowell's dad Kenny.

Stewart Cink hits long into the left fringe. McDowell's ball is all over the pin. Kenny drums his cushion in appreciation. Monty can be seen marching back down the fairway. Where's he going? This is the last group. "He just likes people clapping him," cracks a wag.

McDowell and McIlroy get thunderous applause as they reach the green. Cink chips on. "Little bit left in that," whispers Kenny. McIlroy putts from 10ft past the hole but it's always going left. Matt Kuchar, with a lime-green putter handle, also misses. Kenny nudges the scorer, who is clutching the all-square card. "Don't change that yet, you'll put the scud on it," he says. But McDowell makes the one coming back and he and McIlroy exchange an elaborate low five as they bounce off all-square again.

After just over an hour the battle moves elsewhere and the crowd stretch and drift away.

Heavy drizzle falls, the cows keep munching, and this corner of Wales returns to peace for a few hours.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/robhodgetts/2010/10/an_hour_of_hollers_high_fives.html

Luigi Riva Jose Nasazzi Gunter Netzer Alessandro Del Piero

What makes Westwood special

"So what makes Lee Westwood so special?" It was my opening question to Westwood's coach Pete Cowen after the Englishman usurped Tiger Woods as world number one.

The answer was unexpected - I was waiting for something along the lines of great driver of a golf ball or something - but it encapsulated his rise to the top of the rankings.

"He's very comfortable in uncomfortable situations," said Cowen. "It means he wants to be where it hurts. That's what all great sportsmen can do; they can cope with adversity very well."

Translated to the golf course that suggests Westwood relishes the pressure of the big occasion, thriving and embracing the situation when others might buckle.

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Number one Lee Westwood sets his sights on a major title

"He's always had it," says Cowen. "As a kid he was always confident with his ability."

The pair first teamed up in 1995 and by 2000 Westwood had reached number four in the world. But then he went his own way, dabbling with other coaches and other methods, searching for the answer, the quick fix to the top. He plummeted to 266th before tackling adversity head on and beginning the long fight back.

"I always tell my players the road to success is always under construction, you never actually get there," says Cowen.

"There's a light at the end of the tunnel but some think there's a short cut to it. Lee did a bit of that in early 2001. But all these deviations off the straight and narrow are all dead ends. You never lose your ability but you think you lose it. He had the answer all along, all we had to do was get his short game a bit sharper and keep working."

Cowen and Westwood worked on-off before getting back together again full-time two years ago. Along with sports scientist Steve McGregor, the trio threw the kitchen sink at it.

"Lee wanted to do everything right so we said: 'Your body has got to be in great shape to do what we want you to do with your golf swing.' Steve has got to take a lot of credit for that."

The main changes were improving the muscle structure in Westwood's shoulders and core.

"To play under pressure you've got to have some stability," says Cowen. "I think the biggest problem in the golf swing is the lack of stability in the shoulders.

"The golf swing is pretty simple. The body is the engine, the arms and the club movement are the steering wheel. You can have a car with a great engine and steering wheel but if the linkage between the two is poor the car will still drive terribly. So we worked hard on the shoulders. Once his body was tuned it made my job easier."

Englishman Cowen, who also coaches US Open champion Graeme McDowell and Open winner Louis Oosthuizen, initially set about improving Westwood's short game, which Cowen rated as two out of 10.

"If my players get a five from me they're doing very well and Lee's probably now at four and a half," said Cowen. "So if he can get to number one when I'm giving him 4.5 out of 10 who knows what he can do.

"He's becoming a really good bunker player, with all different types of shots from different types of lies. It's making sure he picks the right shot at the right time.

"For the long game I'll probably give him seven. He's the best ball striker in the world and he's a great putter, fearless. Again, I'd say seven."

The pair often meet up three times a week when Westwood's at home. A typical day might involve gym work in the morning, then two hours short-game work, another couple of hours on the long game and half an hour or so of putting.

"Anything up to five hours for quality practice, that's all that's needed," says Cowen. "I've done more punishing practice myself and I don't think that's the answer. It has to be purposeful practice."

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Lee Westwood holes a 30-foot putt at the Ryder Cup

Instead of banging balls on the range, the pair will work on spin control, ball flight - including reducing the amount of shape on shots - ball penetration, and accuracy.

"There's more to it than just working on the swing," says Cowen.

"Deviation factor is massive in golf. It's not the good shots we're worried about, it's how good the bad shots are. We set ourselves a deviation pattern of five yards left or right and five yards long or short. It's simplifying it so that his iron shots are stunning. Most people saw that at the Ryder Cup - every iron shot was hunting the flag."

The lack of a major victory will continue to dog Westwood but Cowen believes it is only a matter of time.

"He knows he's good enough and he knows what it takes to win majors," he says.

"He's played in three this year and finished second in two. You can't do much more than that. He's got to be patient and that chance will come again. When that door opens I'm sure he'll walk through it.

"Jack Nicklaus said many years ago that he was given more tournaments than he won. He just stayed in the present, did what he was good at and other people folded around him. Sometimes you don't win, other people lose. In golf you can only control what you're doing and Lee's able to control himself better than anybody at the moment."

Westwood could be shot down quickly if Woods, Phil Mickelson or Martin Kaymer have their way at the HSBC Champions event in China this week.

But judging by what Cowen says, it sounds like he'll be more than comfortable with the target on his back.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/robhodgetts/2010/11/what_makes_westwood_special.html

Rugby Scuba diving Skiing Skin diving

Comment Of The Week

Reuters

Spain's Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium before the start of a Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Ajax, in Madrid, September 15, 2010.

::

from peytonallen:

A couple thoughts before I talk about Rafa.

1) Novak just won over a lot of hearts this weekend, maybe even Craig's (as cold as it is). The old Joker would have folded up shop against Fed and then on numerous occasions against Rafa tonight. He fought. He made Nadal earn his dinner and has nothing to feel bad about. He will win another major and if this was the beginning of Djoke/Nadal bring it on.

2) Despite the media song of the big boy tennis taking over the game all 4 majors were STILL won by two men. Some will still consider it a weak era here and there but this is an arms race we've not seen the likes of since US/Russia. Even though they may never play another major final against the other, this is Martina/Chrissy for the ATP. You will read books written about the rivalry, you will see movies. Amazing.

Reuters

I don't see Nadal getting to 16. Fed had a couple years with no serious competition from his age-peers while Rafa was building his all-surface game. 7 more slams is a Hall of Fame career in itself. But he will get to 11-14 major titles.

How does he become the greatest of his era? He's already got the h2h advantage. He has a Gold Medal (which should count as a major.) He's done something only Laver has done before him with three in a row, Rafa's being on three different surfaces.

To make his case bullet proof he needs 2 of everything. Which means one more on each hard court. But, the big one comes in January when he'll go for the Rafa Slam.

If Rafael Nadal can win the Australian Open and hold all four major titles, its case closed. No, it wouldn't be a Grand Slam, but it'd be damn close.

Where does Nadal's season rank? There was a column on ESPN debating this. Obviously Laver's GS is #1, but from there it's debatable. Fed in '04 barely lost. He was locked in EVERY MATCH. 4 major finals only loss to Rafa.

Jimmy Connors in '74. Won all three slams he played lost 4 matches and wasn't allowed to play the French due to signing a contract to play World Team Tennis.

Getty

And Rafa in '10. I think Nadal winning on three different surfaces in a row in majors is a slight edge over Fed's year especially when considering the year he came back from. The injury/mental lay off. Who saw this coming? Oh, we all saw the French Title but really who saw this?

Novak said it was disheartening that Nadal keeps getting better, seemingly every time they play. The fact that he could walk away from a summer and fall of ass kickings and say "yeah I need to improve to win, no?" and then do so after already being so accomplished is amazing.

Nadal's 4th set tonight may be the best set of the year by once performer. 50+ straight points with no UFE. Get out. And the kid was hitting the crap out of the ball.


Getty

How does the sport's greatest defensive player become one of the best offensive players?

Fed said it best after the '07 Wimbledon final, "I have to win now before he wins them all."

Great match tonight. By both men. Maybe for drama's sake and being a 5th set the Fed/Joker match was better, but much cleaner ball striking by both men tonight. Both men moved with grace and power. Very good final.

How fitting that Rafa tries for the 'Slam' in Australia? In Rod Laver Arena.

::


AP

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal arrives a press conference at Barajas Airport, Madrid, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010. Nadal won the U.S. Open trophy and completed the career Grand Slam on Monday, 13, in a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Novak Djokovic.

Source: http://craighickmanontennis.blogspot.com/2010/09/comment-of-week.html

Jogging Motorcycle racing Para gliding Polo

Article about our new coach

Our new women's head coach and Lake Placid regional coach, Jonne Kahkonen, was recently interviewed by Fasterskier.com:

"Getting to know Jonne Kahkonen"
By Chelsea Little 10.25.10
Jonne Kahkonen was hired by the United States Biathlon Association this summer to be the new women?s head coach. Kahkonen, who hails from Finland, just finished a four-year stint as head coach of the biathlon program. Finland?s top performances last season came from Kaisa Makarainen, who finished the year ranked 22nd in the overall World Cup Standings.

Source: http://comeskiwithme.blogspot.com/2010/10/article-about-our-new-coach.html

Rivaldo Claudio Caniggia Tostao Frank Rijkaard

AlleeeeeeEEEEEEEZ!!!!!

Vids of Elite Massilia are now up and about.

Nade00 has graciously cross-uploaded-and-posted videos from French TV of Aussies in the Massilia event finals.

Blythe Lawrence has some qualification videos available.

Merci one and all!

Source: http://ozgymnastics.blogspot.com/2010/11/alleeeeeeeeeeeeez.html

Alan Hansen Bryan Robson Ladislao Kubala Neville Southall

IBU US Biathlon press release: "...Upward Trend"

"Change Helps US Continue on Upward Trend"
www.biathlonworld.com
Jerry Kokesh Nov. 26, 2010

"Earlier in the year, US Biathlon Head Coach Per Nilsson said the entire program had ?gone back to basics? to begin the new Olympic cycle. Now after six months of training, Nilsson thinks this philosophy and some tweaks in the program have the team poised to continue its upward performance trend that started in 2006. "


World Cup Opener: Ostersund Individual Competitions Dec. 1&2

Source: http://comeskiwithme.blogspot.com/2010/11/ibu-us-biathlon-press-release-upward.html

Hristo Stoichkov David Beckham Tom Finney Rivaldo

Sun Valley Nats Day2 Task 1 - Cancelled due to wind and low cloudbase.

Click on photo for larger view

Once again the day dawned cold and cloudy in Sun Valley.  The forecast wasn't very encouraging but we headed up to launch with an optimistic attitude, ready to fly above this amazing scenery.


Upon reaching the summit, we found ourselves in the base of the clouds at 32�F. Soon the sun was peeking through, and cloudbase lifted a bit, so the task committee build a task similar to yesterday's aborted task with an upwind return to DURLZ for a total distance of 50 Kilometers.

Initially a 2:15 start time was set and we all headed for the launch area.  The winds were quite cross at launch and, when the wind-techs got into the air, proved to be quite strong from the South in the valley.

The winds continued to freshen and were about 60� to 90� crossed so the meet director put the launch on hold.  After putting launch on hold for a while, and consulting with the safety committee, Meet Director Dave Glover cancelled the task.

It's disappointing, for everyone, to start a comp with two cancelled days.  Mike Pfau has been very generous with pizza and beer for the idle troops while spending our "down-time" in Sun Valley and Ketchum.  Tomorrow looks unlikely as a taskable day but we will be in position if conditions allow us to fly and compete.

Thursday through Sunday are looking much better and we hope to see the area from the air soon.

Fly Safe -

Tim  

The feed from www.timospgblog.com

Source: http://biggovtsucks.blogspot.com/2010/08/sun-valley-nats-day2-task-1-cancelled.html

David Beckham Tom Finney Rivaldo Claudio Caniggia

Rafael Nadal Makes History

Getty

Rafael Nadal from Spain holds his trophy after winning against Novak Djokovic from Serbia during the Men's Singles Final at US Open 2010 match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York September 13, 2010.

::

I need sleep. Will organize my thoughts later this week.

Source: http://craighickmanontennis.blogspot.com/2010/09/rafael-nadal-makes-history.html

Fencing Bowling Car racing Cycling

Who were the top 10 F1 drivers of 2010?

Sebastian Vettel was crowned the youngest world champion in history after a memorable final twist at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but was he the best driver of the year?

It's a subjective question, and so difficult after such a momentous season that I have been wrestling with it for some weeks.

Does Vettel's pace in the dominant Red Bull mean he was Formula 1's top driver? How does that rank alongside the performances of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in inferior cars?

What about Robert Kubica's ability to mix it with the title contenders in the Renault? Or Kamui Kobayashi's attacking verve in the Sauber?

Vettel is centre-stage among the class of 2010 - but is he number one in our list? Photo: AFP

Here is my list of the top 10 drivers of 2010:

10) After battling for the title with Brawn in 2009, it cannot have been easy for Rubens Barrichello, at 37 going on 38, to drum up the enthusiasm for a season battling to make the top 10 in qualifying with once-great Williams.

But drum it up he did, impressing the team with his technical feedback and producing some excellent drives that resulted in strong points positions when Williams had something of a purple patch mid-season.

The veteran Brazilian was outshone by rookie team-mate Nico Hulkenberg at times as the German found his feet late in the season.

Nevertheless, as he heads into an astonishing 19th F1 season in 2011, Barrichello clearly still has a lot to offer.

9) Kamui Kobayashi emerged as one of F1's most exciting talents with some all-action performances in 2010.

Overtaking is notoriously difficult but the Japanese simply went for it, finding unconventional passing places to liven up such races as Valencia and Japan.

There remain doubts about his ultimate potential, with Sauber drafting in the reliable Nick Heidfeld for the final five races of the season to give Kobayashi a benchmark to measure himself against.

But Kobayashi responded perfectly and gives all the signs of having a great future.

8) It all started so well for Felipe Massa, who out-qualified new team-mate Alonso at the first race of the season. But when Alonso passed the Brazilian around the outside of the first corner, it set the tone for the entire year.

Alonso trounced Massa in 2010, proving faster than him at virtually every race, and there is no doubt the Spaniard's relentless excellence got to the man in the second Ferrari.

There were some good drives from Massa - particularly his third places at Monza and Korea. But he will have to pull something very special out of the bag, not to mention rediscover his mental equilibrium, to reverse this trend in 2011.

7) Nico Rosberg convincingly beat Mercedes team-mate Michael Schumacher this year and, had he achieved that feat 10 years ago, there would have been no doubt he had emerged as a truly great F1 driver.

But the Schumacher of this year was not the same driver as before, as even the seven-time champion himself effectively admitted.

Rosberg drove a strong season, and some good races, and there are an increasing number of people in F1 who believe he is emerging as a top-class contender.

But until he goes up against - and beats - a driver of the highest calibre, it will be hard to tell whether he deserves to be considered as that himself, or whether he is nearly there, but not quite.

6) Not even Jenson Button probably expected to be leading the championship after winning two of the opening four races of 2010 and out-qualifying McLaren team-mate Hamilton 3-1.

Button's two victories in the wet in Australia and China owed a lot to clever strategic calls but that was not all. The sight of Button pulling away from Hamilton in China on a wet track and on tyres of comparable age proved once and for all that this is a driver of the very highest calibre.

After that, Hamilton got on top and stayed there but Button, who was rarely very far away in qualifying and often more or less matched his team-mate on race pace, provided a convincing answer to those who said he had gained his 2009 triumph more by luck than ability.

5) Mark Webber chose the name Aussie Grit for his Twitter account, and 2010 proved why. Expected to fulfil the role of an obedient number two at Red Bull, Webber went toe-to-toe with team-mate Vettel throughout the season and led him in the championship for most of it.

After a shaky first couple of races, Webber came on song when the season came back to Europe with dominant wins in Spain and Monaco that left Vettel bemused at where his team-mate had found such electrifying pace.

By mid-summer, Vettel had got his edge back, but Webber remained large in his mirrors, ready to take advantage of any mistakes. That he was able to do this despite suspicions that Red Bull were not perhaps being quite as even-handed in their treatment of their drivers as they insisted was all the more impressive.

But his challenge faded in the end, crashing in Korea and failing to make any real impact in the final two races of the campaign.

4) Did Renault's Robert Kubica perform better than any other driver on the grid when you consider the equipment he had at his disposal?

You can certainly make that case. No-one else can claim to have made so few mistakes while extracting what appeared to be the maximum from his machinery.

The Renault was not fast enough for Kubica to regularly mix it with the title contenders but on three occasions he transcended the car's limitations in a way only the truly great can - at Monaco, Spa and Suzuka, F1's three great drivers' circuits.

To qualify second in Monaco, third in Spa and fourth in Suzuka was a momentous achievement - and he backed that up by taking podium places in both Monaco and Belgium before being robbed of another when his wheel came loose in Japan.

There is still a slight question mark over a man who, in 2009, was not able to comprehensively overshadow Heidfeld at BMW. And let's not forget that Kubica was not burdened with the kind of pressure that the likes of Alonso, Vettel, Button and Hamilton were.

But put Kubica in a competitive car and all his rivals would fear him.

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3) Sebastian Vettel is a great talent and a deserving world champion but, considering the stunning pace of the Red Bull car, he should have won many more races and clinched the title much sooner.

The car's fragility did not help - failures in Bahrain, Australia, Spain and Korea cost him a lot of points - but the German also made a number of high-profile errors. He crashed into rivals in Turkey and Belgium, suffered a puncture following a red-mist moment at Silverstone and was penalised for misjudging the safety car in Hungary.

Ten pole positions and five wins speak for themselves to an extent but, as the (slightly) faster driver in comfortably the fastest car, they are to be expected.

Some of those pole laps were stunning, though, with Vettel possessing an Ayrton Senna-esque ability to pull that little bit extra out on his very final lap, no matter what the circumstances, while each one of his wins was a masterpiece of domination.

However, there have to be fewer mistakes, more wins dragged out of adversity and more convincing performances when he is back in the pack for him to be ranked above the next names on the list.

2) Had this article been written after the Belgian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton would have occupied the number one spot.

Up to that point, Hamilton had made not a single mistake worth the name and he was leading the championship in what had from the mid-point of the season been the third fastest car.

Hamilton had maintained his exuberant, attacking style and stunning natural pace and had mated it to a consistency that was making him a formidable competitor.

His fantastic victory at Spa - not forgetting the qualifying lap that earned him second on the grid on slicks in a shower of rain - confirmed him as the outstanding driver of the season to that point, notwithstanding the canny Button's two wet wins.

Suddenly, though, it all went wrong. Hamilton crashed out of the next two races in Monza and Singapore and when he crashed again in Friday practice at the next race in Japan his season appeared to be coming apart at the seams.

But then came one of the laps of the season - third on the grid at Suzuka in a car in which he had done just six flying laps before qualifying. It was a reminder of Hamilton's amazing talent. By then, though, as far as the championship was concerned, the damage had been done.

1) Fernando Alonso's first year with Ferrari started with a few shaky races and finished with a strategic mistake that cost him the title. In between the Spaniard did just enough to earn the right to call himself the best driver of 2010.

Early-season errors were born of trying too hard in a car that was not quite on the pace. Combine that with Ferrari losing their way for a while and Alonso was 47 points off the lead at the midpoint of the season.

But in a car that established itself as the second fastest behind the Red Bull, he recovered that margin by driving with a consistent, relentless brilliance that his rivals were not able to match. His victories at Monza and Singapore were stunning. Only Hamilton at Spa and perhaps Webber at Monaco can claim a performance of comparable quality.

That ultimately Alonso did not win a third title was only because of his team's error in Abu Dhabi. For the 2005 and 2006 champion, as he said himself, it was still a great year.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2010/11/who_were_the_top_10_f1_drivers.html

Gymnastics Hand gliding Hockey Horse racing

How to improve the Football League?

On Monday evening, Football League chairman Greg Clarke sat down for a low-key, off-the-record dinner with 12 chairmen from clubs in the North West of England.

He was hoping to find out what they really thought about the state of the Football League and if they thought it could be improved. He wanted to hear their ideas and opinions, no matter how bizarre or radical they might seem.

It was the latest leg of Clarke's very own grand tour, as the 53-year-old attempts to visit all 72 clubs under his jurisdiction during the course of the current season.

Clarke dropped in at Preston, Accrington, Stockport and Crewe over the course of Monday and Tuesday. On Friday evening, he will be at Burton and on Saturday will see Charlton play Yeovil at The Valley.

Accrington supporters collected money to help save their club last year. Photo: PA

It is a busy schedule - and one that has so far taken Clarke, a former chairman of Leicester City, to roughly 35 clubs. But he firmly believes that by sounding out opinions in small groups, chairmen will be more candid and forthcoming than they would be at the quarterly general meetings that are attended by all 72 clubs each year.

The intention is that Clarke, who succeeded Lord Mawhinney in March, will build up a detailed picture of issues facing his clubs and the concerns of people running them.

"I am collecting opinions," Clarke told me. "Ultimately, I am trying to move us away from dealing with issues as they emerge to having a view of where we want to take the Football League over the next five, 10 or 15 years."

Lofty ambitions - and not surprisingly a lot of Clarke's discussions have focused on finances. With the country facing an uncertain economic future, financial health is surely the single biggest issue facing his clubs.

"We are all holding our breath wondering what is going to happen," added Clarke, who has a lengthy business background, including spells as chief executive of Cable & Wireless and head of Australian company Land Lease, which is building the the Olympic Village in London. "What we do not want to do [at the Football League] is spend all our time rescuing nearly bankrupt clubs."

His comments are timely given the situation at Sheffield Wednesday. The League One club are �27m in debt and this week were given 28 days to find new owners and clear an unpaid tax bill after surviving a winding-up petition in the High Court.

Then there are the clubs Clarke visited this week. Accrington needed a 'Save our Stanley' campaign to prevent them from going bust last year, while Stockport recently spent more than a year in administration and Preston are cutting costs as they attempt to reduce their sizeable debts.

Not surprisingly, Clarke is actively encouraging his clubs to try to maximise their ways of generating income while finding out whether they are willing to put in place regulations that will help them control spending.

"Imagine there is a small chance of really bad economic things happening in six, 12 or 18 months - what tools do we have in place to manage it?" said Clarke. "Currently we don't have them." So what ideas have been thrown at Clarke? And what are these tools?

Well, clubs in the fourth tier are currently limited to spending 55% (it used to be 60%) of their income on player wages or risk a transfer embargo. This is technically known as Salary Control Management Protocol (SCMP).

League One clubs agreed to trial the system at their last meeting in October. They are currently filling in the necessary paperwork and will continue to do so for the remainder of the season, although at this stage there will not be any punishment for clubs that fail to stay within the limits.

Clarke has not encountered much support for this sort of scheme from Championship clubs. Most have been in the Premier League and are focused on returning. However, Clarke hinted they might be prepared to trial an adapted version of the Uefa financial fair play regulations brought into force in May. The gist of these is that, over time, top-flight clubs must break even financially if they want to play in European competitions.

"All the clubs in all the divisions are looking at very different ways of examining how to keep their costs under control," added Clarke. "We are not looking for revolution but to evolve good ideas. Trying something out is a painless way of understanding what works and what does not."

Listening to Clarke in conversation can be a dizzying and confusing experience for someone without a business background. His answers are sprinkled with phrases such as trajectory of governance, negative economic consequences and managing cost space.

Yet Clarke's willingness to leave his office to engage with 72 Football League chairmen suggests a man who understands that football does not operate like any other business.

The Football League believe they govern an exciting three divisions. Photo: Getty Images

"The skills you need to draw ideas out of people at a football club are fundamentally different to being the chief executive of a multinational [company]," he said.

Chairmen of clubs are under pressure to spend to succeed (to up the risk profile, as Clarke put it), signing the players that might bring promotion or stave off relegation. Clarke was briefly in charge of Leicester during their spell in administration in 2002 and reckons he has been up to his neck in the mud, blood and bullets of running a club. His experience has taught him that a club must be run on a sound financial footing if it is to survive. "Finances are fragile and we have to address some of the fundamental problems," he said.

Clarke also told me he has been surprised by the volume of innovative ideas he has encountered in his informal meetings and believes that the assertion that football is run by inherently conservative people is wrong. "A lot of clubs are willing to think the unthinkable if it takes them where they want to go," he said.

He is in no doubt that the Football League would be happy to trial goal-line technology, for example, or other such initiatives. "The Football League will put itself forward because we are an innovator," said Clarke. "There are always a few who are not sure about something but they are generally willing to try it."

Clarke's big idea is that the Football League puts in place a vision of where its clubs are going in the long term. What opportunities will emerge? What are the big risks? Trying to find the answers to this is part of the reason he is going out to visit his clubs.

"The whole idea is that we will have some initial analysis to share with the clubs at the end-of-season meeting in June," he said.

Clarke's predecessor, Lord Mawhinney, showed during his seven years as chairman an ability to drive through the legislation that brings about change. He rebranded the league, introduced transparency over payments to agents and tightened the rules regarding administration.

Clarke believes that the Football League is a strong product - exciting, competitive and unpredictable. He wants that to continue while ensuring clubs are robust enough to survive if the economy really does sour. It is a laudable and, in these uncertain times, sensible aim.

Personally, I have yet to be convinced that clubs would willingly sacrifice ambition for stability even though it is clearly time to prioritise a balancing of the books. What do you think? And If you were at an off-the-record dinner with the chairman of the Football League, what would you suggest to him?

You can follow me throughout the season at twitter.com/Paul__Fletcher

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2010/11/how_to_improve_the_football_le.html#277626

Jairzinho Zinedine Zidane Ruud Gullit John Charles

BAPA Comp in Dunlap - Sept. 2010

Smoke at sunset

The troops met in Dunlap for the last time in 2010 this weekend.  The weather was reasonable with clear skies and light winds forecast.  I arrived at the top on Friday night and watched the sunset while assembling my pop-up trailer.  The sky was red and the sun a bright red due to smoke in the air.

Saturday morning we awoke to smoke clinging to the canyons and in the air.  Apparently a fire was burning in the Sierra between Dunlap and Bishop.  It was in the deep Sierra and wouldn't affect our flying tasks to the West, but was a good indication of the Easterly evening wind.

Saturday Jug built a task that had us do the valley tour, then head Southwest to Cutler, and back to meet at the pizza joint in Squaw Valley.   I launched early and found the lift to be dependable up to the 6,500' inversion.  I manged to get a great start and was first over to Hill 49917 and back to launch for the leg to Last Chance.  Fred went ahead of me on the way to Last Chance.  Josh and Jug took a higher line than I did on the way back to launch and we flew together for the remainder of the task.

It was obvious, as we proceeded from Hill 49917 to Bald Mtn., that the West wind was much stronger than expected.  The leg SW to Cutler was going to be tough even if we could get up at Bald (which we didn't).

Everyone except Fredric landed at (or prior to) the ranger station.  Fred continued on to land a few kilometers South of the pizza joint.

My flight is HERE.

Sunday's forecast was similar to the preceding day's with light, Southy winds.  Jug built a great task of 24 miles that had two valley crossings and some good opportunities for tactical decisions.  As it turned out, the task was very enjoyable racing and put a lot of pilots into goal.

I had another good start and was chasing Josh around the course.  Another gaggle was trailing me by a climb or two and kept me hustling to stay ahead.  It was nice to find climbs when you needed them and, sometimes, nice climbs were found in spots that usually don't work too well.

My last climb was to 7,000' and gave me sufficient altitude to fly to Bald and then to the finish.

It was a very fun day of racing and great to see the happy faces in goal after one of my most enjoyable flights in Dunlap.

Cumulative scores for the league will be HERE when they are up.

Next week the league heads to the Owens Valley and it's looking less than likely I'll be able to attend.  I hope the weather cooperates and you all go high & far.

Fly Safe -

Tim

The feed from www.timospgblog.com

Source: http://biggovtsucks.blogspot.com/2010/09/bapa-comp-in-dunlap-sept-2010.html

Frank Rijkaard Jose Luis Chilavert Kevin Keegan Paul Gascoigne

Clothing Choices to Keep you Skiing in All Weather (Part 1)

This is the first article in a series of three complied by Exercise Physiologist Dr. Delia Roberts and Carl Moriarty of Arc'teryx outlining clothing solutions to challenges presented by varying weather conditions encountered while heliskiing.

Good snow generally means colder temperatures and lots of moisture, and we certainly see an abundance of powder while heliskiing with CMH. On the other hand, you’ll be working hard and generating a fair bit of heat making all those turns. Whatever weather you find, be it cold and/or stormy or bright and sunny, you can be comfortable while in our true mountain wilderness. Just choose your clothing to create your own microclimate! Layering your clothing can allow you to retain just the right amount of heat and provide just the right amount of ventilation throughout your day. Stay warm and dry, and enjoy the amazing powder and terrain!

Layer: Next-to-Skin or Base

Issue: Damp garments draw precious heat away from your body because water is a good heat conductor. Even in conditions above freezing, this rapid heat loss can cause a dangerous drop in your body temperature. Besides, cold clammy clothing doesn’t feel very good.

Solution: The inner-most layer should transport moisture away from the skin and disperse it to the air or outer layers where it can evaporate.

CMH Choice: The best base layer materials are synthetics (polypropylene and polyester), especially if it's very cold, or you perspire heavily. These materials are light in weight, thermally efficient and have excellent wicking properties, moving moisture away from your skin. They will keep you dryer than any other type of material. Merino wool can also be a good choice. It absorbs moisture but feels dry and warm to the touch. Since this is a characteristic of the fibres themselves, repeated washings do not decrease wool's ability to keep you dry. An additional benefit is that wool doesn't absorb oils from perspiration, so it won't host odor-producing bacteria. The design features of your base layer are important to avoid skin chafing. Gussets and stretch fabrics allow for ease of movement. Seamless or flat-seam garments lie flat and won't rub your skin. Fit is also important, the garment should fit snuggly without constriction. Tops should be long enough to tuck in, or not ride up when bending over.

Arc'teryx Recommendations: Arc’teryx offers a base layer choice that meet these requirements in CMH's retail shops. The Rho AR (see photo) is a  polyester knit with high levels of spandex to ensure a snug fit and unrestricted mobility.

Dr. Roberts is an Exercise Physiologist who has worked with Olympic medalists, Heli-Ski Guides and is currently working on injury prevention for Ski Patrols and Ski and Snowboard Instructors.  Send us your training and physiology, diet and performance oriented questions or contact Dr. Delia Roberts at droberts@selkirk.ca

Source: http://blog.canadianmountainholidays.com/heli-ski-blog/bid/53482/Clothing-Choices-to-Keep-you-Skiing-in-All-Weather-Part-1

Lothar Matthäus Gordon Banks Jurgen Klinsmann Dennis Bergkamp

AGB Meets Team Australia

Well, I said I'd go today, "rain, hail or shine" and boy did it rain!

It was a little hectic inside the VWHPC because it was also Squad Photo Day, so young gymmies were running to and from the autograph table in between doing poses in front of a grey backdrop. The gym has a brand new floor mat, big and blue and bouncy as you'd expect it to be.



Ash, Georgia and Lauren were seated (in that order) at a table in front of a GA banner, signing printed-out pictures in their Australia t-shirts and trackies.



I managed to snap a pic of Britt and G-Bro standing nearby watching Ashleigh. All the gymnasts would cheerfully ask for name spellings and sign leotards, t-shirts and autograph books as well as the proffered photos. Gymmums were also handing out little flyers, reminding people to vote for Lauren in the Sports Performer awards (see previous post).



It was finally my turn and I did my usual star-struck gabble. I honestly don't know how to exude coolness and calm when it is needed. I didn't ask to get photos WITH the gymnasts this time but I did make sure I let them know there were lots of us who'd followed their competitions late into the night and once again "nearly broke the internet with our celebrations". I also made mention of those overseas fans who were excited with Team Australia's wins (told you I would, Robin!) and each girl was chuffed to hear there was an international following. And Lauren was REALLY amazed to hear that last year's 260 Facebook fans had been trumped by this year's 1,500!



I also managed to tap Michelle from JumpMedia on the shoulder and thank her very sincerely for events like this one, and for 'going in to bat' for the gymnasts at Delhi airport during that whole media blackout shermozzle, and for basically providing excellent resources for fans and enthusiasts during competitions. She was very touched.

Now, the interesting factoid I learned was that today's apperance was planned as something different- In its early stages, was intended for Lauren to pop on a leo and do some training alongside the VWHPC gymnasts and the day would act as an open session from which the public could wander in and out. But there were problems with getting Lauren into Victoria on time, so an autograph session it was to be.

It was a great day, I just hope not too many people got saturated on the way home like me.

Thanks to the HPC for opening its doors again, and to all at Gymnastics Australia/JumpMedia for organising such a great event for fans.


Oh yeah - 'that' medal.

Lauren proudly lay it down it on the table when one little girl asked to see it. It outshone absolutely everybody in the room, sitting pretty on its (naturally) orange ribbon.

Source: http://ozgymnastics.blogspot.com/2010/10/agb-meets-team-australia.html

Rivaldo Claudio Caniggia Tostao Frank Rijkaard

Grube

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/tqsO/~3/LcyAiyt9vwo/grube.html

Dino Zoff Hristo Stoichkov David Beckham Tom Finney

British Fencing and a French revolution

Not many sporting arenas look like Le Grand Palais.

Fencing has taken its World Championships to Paris and set up home in the vast, imposing metal-and-glass construction on the banks of the Seine, opposite the Eiffel Tower.

Millions of euros have been spent fitting out the interior to accommodate eight fencing pistes and grandstands for thousands of supporters as well as provide an extravaganza of light and sound to accompany each final being contested this week.

Just as some believe the Beijing Games were so lavishly financed as to ensure they will never be beaten for style, the French - working with fencing's world governing body, the FIE - have attempted to make this the best venue the sport will ever have.

Like Beijing, it is the British who have the unenviable task of following, with the European Championships coming to the United Kingdom next July. Organisers of that event have been touring Le Grand Palais, working out how to make Sheffield the next Paris.

The French seem to have it all: an astonishing venue, huge queues of excited spectators waiting to get in and world-class fencers (France topped the fencing medal table in Beijing). How do the British go about replicating that success?

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Video: See inside Le Grand Palais (UK only).

From the outside looking in, it is an interesting challenge. If you want popularity, you need success. If you want success, you need funding. If you want funding, you need success and popularity.

At the moment, fencing in Britain is struggling for any of those things. Only four Olympic sports receive less funding than fencing's �2.5m UK Sport grant, which covers the period from 2009 to 2013, while no British fencer has won a medal at a World Championships since 1965.

As for the crowds, the large number of French fans have left the British team gobsmacked. GB's Jo Hutchison shook her head in disbelief on seeing ticket touts operating outside the arena entrance.

"I'm jealous of what they've got going on here," said epee fencer Jon Willis. "Even the British fencers get surrounded by autograph hunters and kids. I saw a French guy win earlier and he got a standing ovation from thousands. That's never happened to me."

A dismayed Laurence Halsted - one of Britain's top fencers - summed things up after his surprise defeat capped off an unimpressive weekend for British Fencing in Paris. "This venue is amazing, which is the reason why I wanted to carry on and do more fencing," he said. "It's incredible to be here. This is what we want to have in every competition.

"I think it'll be a top-notch competition in Sheffield but this is an incredible venue. We'll be holding the European Championships in a sports centre, not a grand palace."

Not everything has gone to plan in Paris. Officials and athletes have been left confused by organisational problems behind the scenes and frustrated by overzealous stewards, while the roof on the venerable building, which was built at the end of the 19th Century, leaked onto competitors when the rain set in at the weekend.

But those issues cannot mask the problems facing British organisers for next year's European Championships.

They have a budget of �500,000 to stage the event at Sheffield's English Institute of Sport next year, whereas the World Championships are believed to have been staged on a budget roughly equivalent to �5m. Similarly, British Fencing believes its French equivalent operates to a budget 20 times the size of its own.

"France certainly get more money than we do and they're certainly ahead of us at the moment," said British Fencing's chief executive, Piers Martin, a man who made his name in swimming before taking up the challenge of bolstering fencing's fortunes.

"We're not going to compete with this in Sheffield but we want to try to create an intense atmosphere. We're running Sheffield 2011 not for show but to help our athletes get on the ladder for 2012. This is a real step stone for them. They go from here to the European Championships. Then we move to the test event in 2011 and the major event in 2012."

"Our main target is a medal at London 2012. People look at fencing in a different light - we've got to shatter those perceptions and make it simple and easy for people to start. We've got to show we are succeeding, because we are."

Martin points out that, while world medals continue to elude them, Britain won European bronze for the first time in four decades earlier this year and are getting fencers onto the podium at junior events. As I discovered last week, initiatives to get children fencing in Britain - and blow the cobwebs from the sport's image - are starting to have an impact.

Dusks sets on the fencers inside Le Grand Palais in Paris. Photo: AFP

But John Timms, the man charged with overseeing preparations for Sheffield 2011, is under no illusions that the British public will need persuading to turn up in Sheffield.

"That's something we recognised early and we're going to have to work hard on," he said, "although we've got lots of interest from schools and communities already. They're already signing up to take part in projects so, yes, we can create the same excitement.

"There's lots here we'd like to do and lots of things we can still do but not to the same level of grandeur or spectacle. What I do want to achieve are the world-class elements the athletes are receiving here. We've got to make sure it looks as good as this. We may not be able to do all the wonderful lights, colour and all the other things. I just wish we could have this budget, it'd be amazing."

Marketing will have a clear role to play. There are posters advertising the World Fencing all over Paris as well as adverts for fencing exhibitions in other venues. Full-page spreads have been given over to the sport in many newspapers. That is what Graham Watts, the performance director who will be responsible for British fencing's success at London 2012, believes is missing in the UK.

"Culturally, fencing is a French sport, it goes back generations," he told me. "We can't replicate that overnight. But in Britain I think there is a lot of interest in fencing.

"It's exciting when you come to watch it and it's reasonably easy to understand once you get into the rules. Provided it's marketed in the right way, it'll pick up the interest."

Having spent several days watching the events, with a little help from educated onlookers, I certainly found that the sport becomes easier to follow and more exciting as a result. Fencing's three disciplines - foil, epee and sabre - make much more sense when you see up close what is going on and what the objective is. But you have to get people into the venue and educate them first.

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Video: British stars in action at World Fencing (UK only).

Martin added: "We want to get the images and names of people like Laurence Halsted and Richard Kruse out there, so we get kids interested in wanting to be the next one of them. Maybe a child who goes to watch in Sheffield next year could be on the podium for us in the future."

Halsted himself believes it is those children who hold the key to unlocking the sport's popularity in Britain - and not necessarily if he wins a medal or not.

"There's no use just going for high-performance results. They help but we need to provide a structure to get people to know about fencing," he said. "The medals at international level bring fencing into the public consciousness but that's the first step."

As for his chances of taking that first step, all is not lost. Halsted returns with his team-mates for the men's foil team event on Thursday, which is the one where British Fencing expects a medal come 2012. Kruse would normally lead the team but his broken foot means Halsted will do so instead in Paris.

"It can be worse to do well in the individual event first, then you're too satisfied with your performance ahead of the team event," he told me, slightly unconvincingly, after his loss.

"The fact we've all come up without the results we wanted means we'll be desperate to do well in the team event. We're actually gaining some domination in the world scene, especially my squad and my team, but you get the odd competition where it doesn't come up at all. But I know we're a team to be revered and feared... most of the time."

Will you take time out to travel to the European Fencing in Sheffield next July? What would fencing have to do to appeal to you? Let me know. Chances are, the organisers will be listening and taking notes.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olliewilliams/2010/11/fencing_french_revolution.shtml

Hristo Stoichkov David Beckham Tom Finney Rivaldo