Category: Sports

Proof Chinese Cheated Gymnist’s Age

China Media Project » Blog Archive » China’s early press coverage of “secret weapon” He Kexin

Click on the link above for original China publications and their translations. China’s female Olympic gymnastics team is now coming under intense pressure as evidence mounts that champion gymnast He Kexin (何可欣) is below the age of eligibility for Olympic competition in the event. The evidence against He’s eligibility includes online news coverage by China Daily and the official Xinhua News Agency, which Chinese officials are now saying is inaccurate.

But as Berkeley’s China Digital Times has noted, a number of Chinese newspaper articles last year and early this year reported He’s age as 13. In trying to build a credible case for the gymnast’s eligibility, Chinese officials will find themselves denying a series of independent Chinese news reports.

Here is the link to the China Daily web page that revealed her true age, that has since been taken down by the embarrased government.

More Documents found on-line by Mike Walker

Fay Crashes Kiter Into Building

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Thanks to Kiter Randy Marks
Here is the link to the full news broadcast. Again Hit the “Enlarge ” button for better viewing.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A 26-year-old kite surfer was critically injured when winds associated with a Tropical Storm Fay feeder band slammed him face-first into the ground and then dragged him through streets until he hit a building.
The man, who did not heed emergency officials’ warnings to seek shelter during severe weather from an approaching Tropical Storm Fay, was kite surfing on the Fort Lauderdale beach at A1A and Las Olas Boulevard when the storm winds intensified.
Witnesses said a huge gust of wind caught the man by surprise.The surfer, Kevin Kearney, was harnessed into his sail and videotaped being dragged along the beach and then into buildings, WFOR in Miami reported.A WFOR photographer said Kearney was blown away by a forming waterspout.Kearney was transported to Broward General Medical Center in critical condition.
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) — The condition of a kite-surfer thrown airborne into a Fort Lauderdale building by strong winds this week has improved, his mother said Wednesday. Broward General Medical Center upgraded Kevin Kearney’s condition from critical to serious Wednesday morning, said his mother, Alicia Paradise-Garza.

Surfing Lava Waves

Volcano surfing: Lava waves in Hawaii – Telegraph

Even for the hardened adventurer, surfing in boiling waters just 20 feet from the flowing lava of an active volcano is pushing the boundaries of extreme sport.

But for professional surfer CJ Kanuha the thrill of a challenge was too good to pass up.
CJ Kanuha, the daring professional surfer paddles close to the flowing lava of Kilauea volcano

Hovering above in a helicopter, a photographer captured the moment he edged as close as possible to the molten lava of Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Kirk Lee Aeder, who took the shots, said: “It was one of the most thrilling photo shoots I have ever had in my life.

“One day I was talking to my pro-surfing friend, CJ and we began discussing the idea of him surfing, or should I say, stand up paddle surfing close to where the lava enters the ocean and that I would shoot it from a helicopter.”

“I was tentative to get too close at first, and for good reason, the boiling water there is well over 200 hundred degrees in some spots, super hot, and it quickly melted the wax on the surfboard.”

The surfer, who suffered peeling skin on his legs from the boiling water, added: “It was an amazing feeling to get so close to the power of the lava from the volcano.” Click on picture to enlarge or on link for more photos.

Chips & Snacks Enthusiast Site

Snacking Stats
For all you snack junkies, total snacks reviewed: 3816, by the self-styled Secretary of Snacks and Chief Snacks Officer.

Where else are you going to find Comeback Caramel (chocolate and caramel socks and thick caramel swirled in caramel flavored ice cream), Fenway Fudge (chocolate and fudge socks swirled with thick fudge in chocolate flavored ice cream), Green Monster Mint (chocolate mint socks swirled with thick fudge in mint flavored ice cream) and Peanut Butter Nation

The Decline Of Golf

More Americans Are Giving Up Golf – New York Times

You would think that with all of the baby Boomers Retiring. One complaint that I’ve heard is that with the Pros designing courses that they have gotten too hard for the average golfer to enjoy. (Picture of Tigers new yacht)

The disappearance of golfers over the past several years is part of a broader decline in outdoor activities — including tennis, swimming, hiking, biking and downhill skiing — according to a number of academic and recreation industry studies.

“The man in the street will tell you that golf is booming because he sees Tiger Woods on TV,” Mr. Kass said. “But we track the reality. The reality is, while we haven’t exactly tanked, the numbers have been disappointing for some time.”
Continue reading “The Decline Of Golf”

Charting Roger Clemens

Analyzing Roger Clemens: A Step-by-Step Guide – Freakonomics – Opinion – New York Times Blog
we turn to a more reliable metric — walks plus hits per inning pitched. This metric yields less “bounce,” and a more reliable pattern is revealed. Fitting a curve, we find that Clemens’ performance deteriorated for about a decade, then started to improve for the last decade of his career.

The turning point appears to be at around the age (36-37) in which the Mitchell report suggests he used performance-enhancing drugs.