Writers at Sports Illustrated shared their “bucket list” of sports events – events they want to see before they die. That inspired me to share my own list.
I’m proud to say I’ve witnessed several exciting sports events in my life – White Sox-Mariners playoff game in 2000; the memorable “black-out” play-in game between the White Sox and Minnesota Twins last October; the 2006 World Figure Skating championships in Calgary; 2008 and 2009 national figure skating championships in St. Paul, Minn., and Cleveland; and the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the United Center in 2007. But there’s plenty more I want to see.
1. Kentucky Derby – Mint julep, anyone? I love a good horse race, and while I’ve been to Arlington Park Race course in suburban Chicago, it probably doesn’t compare to the tradition and excitement of the Derby.
2. Baseball World Series – I missed the opportunity to watch the White Sox in the 2005 Series, but I’m hoping for another chance.
3. Wimbledon – I watched a women’s pro tournament at the UIC Pavillion in the mid-90s, including Venus and Serena in a doubles match when they were mere teenagers. If I’m going to see a pro tournament, it might as well be the grandaddy of them all – Wimbledon.
4. NHL playoffs – With the Blackhawks reaching the Western Conference finals in the playoffs this year, my love of hockey has been reignited. With their young, talented team, there is no reason why the Hawks shouldn’t make a return trip to the playoffs over the next few seasons. The trick will be to get my hands on what is sure to be the hottest show in town.
5. Michael Phelps – As long as he continues to swim competitively, my desire to see him compete is alive and well.
6. Olympics in Chicago – If Chicago is named the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games, I will have a smorgasbord of events to choose from – diving, rowing, gymnastics, basketball. Even better would be to attend the opening ceremonies and the parade of nations.
7. Chicago Fire or Red Stars soccer – The Fire and Red Stars are Chicago’s two pro soccer teams (men’s and women’s soccer, respectively). I watched some soccer while attending a small college. The team was one of the best in the nation, having won eight NAIA titles in 13 seasons. I’m eager to see the Fire and Red Stars at Toyota Park.
8. WNBA – Rumor has it the WNBA is struggling and could be the next league to fold after the Arena Football League suspended operations last week. If that’s the case, then I should check out the improved Chicago Sky this season. Runner up: NBA playoff game featuring the Bulls. Again finding a ticket for the pro game is tricky.
9. Snowboarding – I was fascinated watching the snowboarding competition during the 2006 Torino Olympics on TV. These guys and gals look like they’re having a blast, and it must be even more fun to watch them in person.
10. Gymnastics – When I was in high school, I had to learn to do a routine on the balance beam and uneven parallel bars, and I’m not athletically inclined. I have a tremendous appreciation for what these young men and women do on these apparatuses.
Showing posts with label swimming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swimming. Show all posts
Monday, August 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Beard Bares It All for Playboy
I’m baffled by the reaction that Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard has received to her decision to bare it all for the July issue of Playboy magazine. Among them are Sun-Times columnist Carol Slezak who called Beard’s posing “selfish” and former swimming champion John Nabor who said on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” that it would hurt Beard’s career. Other critics suggest that her appearance in the buff discredits women athletes and hurts her image as a role model to young female swimmers.
Beard defended her position on ESPN and in Playboy saying this was “a business decision” and a “lifetime opportunity.” Beard has appeared in three Olympics and won seven medals, two of them gold. She has already accomplished more in her swimming career than most people will do in their entire lives. If she makes the U.S. Olympic team for the 2008 Beijing Games, Beard will be 26 and likely will make her final appearance on the Olympic scene. She is, as she says, taking advantage of a business opportunity and preparing herself for a career after swimming.
Why do people care so much if women, especially female athletes, pose nude for Playboy? If Beard, or any other female athlete, has the body and the guts to pose in the nude, more power to them. Why should the rest of us criticize their choice?
A Playboy cover won’t take away any of Beard’s Olympic medals nor will it hurt her career, as some critics believe. I’m willing to bet that 10 or 15 years from now, most people won’t even remember the Playboy feature.
Beard defended her position on ESPN and in Playboy saying this was “a business decision” and a “lifetime opportunity.” Beard has appeared in three Olympics and won seven medals, two of them gold. She has already accomplished more in her swimming career than most people will do in their entire lives. If she makes the U.S. Olympic team for the 2008 Beijing Games, Beard will be 26 and likely will make her final appearance on the Olympic scene. She is, as she says, taking advantage of a business opportunity and preparing herself for a career after swimming.
Why do people care so much if women, especially female athletes, pose nude for Playboy? If Beard, or any other female athlete, has the body and the guts to pose in the nude, more power to them. Why should the rest of us criticize their choice?
A Playboy cover won’t take away any of Beard’s Olympic medals nor will it hurt her career, as some critics believe. I’m willing to bet that 10 or 15 years from now, most people won’t even remember the Playboy feature.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Doping Allegations Overshadow Swimming Championships
American swimmer Michael Phelps completed an astounding week, winning seven gold medals at the FINA World championships in Melbourne, Australia and breaking five world records. He tied fellow American Mark Spitz for the most gold medals earned at an international competition. Spitz won his seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympics. Phelps surpassed Australian, Ian Thorpe, who won six gold medals in the 2001 world championships and was an international sensation at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
Overshadowing Phelps’ accomplishments, however, is the news that a report had been leaked to a French newspaper that Thorpe is under investigation for a doping test before the swimmer was notified of the result. According to a published statement, Thorpe said he was “deeply alarmed” that the test result was made public before he was informed of it. “The press receiving this information before an athlete jeopardized the whole integrity of the testing process,” Thorpe said.
Thorpe, who retired from swimming last fall, has been an outspoken critic of the procedures used by FINA, the sport’s governing body, to catch drug cheats. He was once reprimanded by FINA for claiming that the organization was naïve in thinking that all swimmers at the Athens Olympics were drug free. Thorpe also expressed suspicion of the timing of the leak, which occurred the same week as the world championships in his home country. “I don’t think it was a coincidence that it happened here,” he said in a statement.
Doping allegations are nothing new to this sport -- I remember the East German and Soviet women being under suspicion of steroid usage in the 1980s. While I believe that Thorpe is not involved in doping – any athlete that is openly critical of the dope testing procedures isn’t likely to be involved with drugs himself, in my humble opinion – it may have a reverberating effect on other swimmers and the entire sport. After witnessing Phelps’ performance at the world championships, one wonders if there is going to be a carryover effect. In other words, if some people suspect Thorpe to be guilty of doping, would they also suspect Phelps? Will this investigation mar what has become one of the most surprising and incredible sports stories of 2007?
Overshadowing Phelps’ accomplishments, however, is the news that a report had been leaked to a French newspaper that Thorpe is under investigation for a doping test before the swimmer was notified of the result. According to a published statement, Thorpe said he was “deeply alarmed” that the test result was made public before he was informed of it. “The press receiving this information before an athlete jeopardized the whole integrity of the testing process,” Thorpe said.
Thorpe, who retired from swimming last fall, has been an outspoken critic of the procedures used by FINA, the sport’s governing body, to catch drug cheats. He was once reprimanded by FINA for claiming that the organization was naïve in thinking that all swimmers at the Athens Olympics were drug free. Thorpe also expressed suspicion of the timing of the leak, which occurred the same week as the world championships in his home country. “I don’t think it was a coincidence that it happened here,” he said in a statement.
Doping allegations are nothing new to this sport -- I remember the East German and Soviet women being under suspicion of steroid usage in the 1980s. While I believe that Thorpe is not involved in doping – any athlete that is openly critical of the dope testing procedures isn’t likely to be involved with drugs himself, in my humble opinion – it may have a reverberating effect on other swimmers and the entire sport. After witnessing Phelps’ performance at the world championships, one wonders if there is going to be a carryover effect. In other words, if some people suspect Thorpe to be guilty of doping, would they also suspect Phelps? Will this investigation mar what has become one of the most surprising and incredible sports stories of 2007?
Friday, March 30, 2007
Swimmer Phelps Piling Up the Gold
Tiger Woods may dominate on the golf course and Roger Federer on the tennis court (unless he’s facing Guillermo Canos of Argentina), but 21-year-old American swimming sensation Michael Phelps is making a splash in the pool.
At the FINA World Swimming Championships this week in Melbourne, Australia, Phelps has already earned five gold medals and smashed four world records (as of this writing). He slashed nearly a second off his previous world record to win the 200-meter individual medley final, and set the best ever times for the 200 freestyle and 200 butterfly.
Unfortunately, the only way you can watch Phelps’ amazing races is to subscribe to WCSN.tv (World Championship Sports Network). The rest of us will have to wait until next summer for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Also see USA Swimming
At the FINA World Swimming Championships this week in Melbourne, Australia, Phelps has already earned five gold medals and smashed four world records (as of this writing). He slashed nearly a second off his previous world record to win the 200-meter individual medley final, and set the best ever times for the 200 freestyle and 200 butterfly.
Unfortunately, the only way you can watch Phelps’ amazing races is to subscribe to WCSN.tv (World Championship Sports Network). The rest of us will have to wait until next summer for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Also see USA Swimming
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Wake-Up Call from Olympic Swimmers
Folks outside the U.S. may need someone to give them a wake-up call to watch the swimming and gymnastics events during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The International Olympic Committee has agreed to allow the swimming finals and much of the gymnastics competition to be scheduled in the morning, Chinese time. That coincides with evening in the U.S. and falls nicely into NBC’s primetime TV coverage of the Olympic Games.
Naturally, the U.S. supports the IOC’s decision, but Australia, China and Britain criticized it, arguing that the IOC put commercial interests ahead of the well-being of the athletes, who must complete several rounds of heats in the evening and compete in the final race the following morning. They also claim that schedule gives U.S. athletes a big advantage and specifically hurts the Chinese and Australian swimmers.
Naturally, the U.S. supports the IOC’s decision, but Australia, China and Britain criticized it, arguing that the IOC put commercial interests ahead of the well-being of the athletes, who must complete several rounds of heats in the evening and compete in the final race the following morning. They also claim that schedule gives U.S. athletes a big advantage and specifically hurts the Chinese and Australian swimmers.
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