Shaun White can't be human. That's the only reasonable explanation for what he does. The way he moves on a snowboard is ridiculous.
In the finals of the men's halfpipe he was so fantastic on his first run that he had all but wrapped up the gold medal. So on his second run which turned out to be a victory lap, he busted out his signature double McTwist.
According to nbcolympics.com in a McTwist the athlete rotates 540 degrees in a backside direction while doing a forward flip. White does this move as a double, which is frankly a little insane.
The remarkable thing about White is that he is so good he advanced the sport light years ahead of where it was four years ago when he won his first gold medal. All his competitors had to up their game just to keep up with him.
His response was to go out and do a move so wicked and crazy no one could touch him. You get the sense that all the other snowboarders know that they're just competing for second place.
Now that he has two gold medals I'm wondering what could possibly be next for White as he pretty much owns snowboarding.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
All Olympics all the time
I love the Olympics. Summer or Winter, I don't care. I watch it all. So you can imagine my excitement that the Olympics started during a four day weekend.
It all began with the opening ceremonies, which were really lovely. Everyone was wondering how Vancouver would compete with the spectacle of Beijing. However, the Vancouver ceremonies were much more intimate and wondrous than China.
The first day of competition featured the women's moguls, where the US won gold and bronze. What amazes me about the moguls is the intense beating the athletes' knees must take. You know these people have to all need surgery when their careers are over.
Day two began the first day of figure skating, which is one of my favorite sports. Chinese pair Shen and Zhao were two time bronze medalists who came out of retirement to try for gold one more time. They set a world record with their score in the short program and went on to take gold with a spectacular free skate, while their teammates Pang and Tong took the silver.
The other big story of the weekend was Apolo Ohno winning silver in short track speed skating and tying Bonnie Blair as the most decorated Winter Olympian. He was almost out of the medals when two of his competitors crashed and he and teammate J.R. Celski skated in for silver and bronze.
After only four days of competition these Olympics have proven so far to be everything that you could want from competitions at this level.
They're exciting, awe-inspiring and heart-stopping. And just think, curling hasn't even started yet.
It all began with the opening ceremonies, which were really lovely. Everyone was wondering how Vancouver would compete with the spectacle of Beijing. However, the Vancouver ceremonies were much more intimate and wondrous than China.
The first day of competition featured the women's moguls, where the US won gold and bronze. What amazes me about the moguls is the intense beating the athletes' knees must take. You know these people have to all need surgery when their careers are over.
Day two began the first day of figure skating, which is one of my favorite sports. Chinese pair Shen and Zhao were two time bronze medalists who came out of retirement to try for gold one more time. They set a world record with their score in the short program and went on to take gold with a spectacular free skate, while their teammates Pang and Tong took the silver.
The other big story of the weekend was Apolo Ohno winning silver in short track speed skating and tying Bonnie Blair as the most decorated Winter Olympian. He was almost out of the medals when two of his competitors crashed and he and teammate J.R. Celski skated in for silver and bronze.
After only four days of competition these Olympics have proven so far to be everything that you could want from competitions at this level.
They're exciting, awe-inspiring and heart-stopping. And just think, curling hasn't even started yet.
Monday, January 25, 2010
New Orleans vs. Indianapolis: A dream matchup
In the National Football League it's very rare that the best two teams end up in the Super Bowl. However, this year that's exactly what happened.
All season long the Colts and Saints dominated the rest of the NFL going undefeated for several weeks and humiliating their opponents in blow out games.
Now everyone will get the championship game they've been waiting for. Even better is that both these teams are extremely likable, so with no clear villain fans can just look forward to a great competitive game and be excited no matter the outcome.
There's no doubt the the city of New Orleans deserves to celebrate a championship team, but at the same time, who doesn't like Peyton Manning?
So, for fans of good competitive football, this year's Super Bowl is win-win.
All season long the Colts and Saints dominated the rest of the NFL going undefeated for several weeks and humiliating their opponents in blow out games.
Now everyone will get the championship game they've been waiting for. Even better is that both these teams are extremely likable, so with no clear villain fans can just look forward to a great competitive game and be excited no matter the outcome.
There's no doubt the the city of New Orleans deserves to celebrate a championship team, but at the same time, who doesn't like Peyton Manning?
So, for fans of good competitive football, this year's Super Bowl is win-win.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Mt. San Antonio, Santiago Canyon wins soccer state titles
The Southern teams from California edges one point wins over the Northern teams in the community college soccer finals.
Mt. San Antonio College beat Taft College in the men's final, 2-1, capturing their first state title in school history and ending the season with a 20-1-3 overall record.
Aaron Salazar, the one who led San Antonio into the finals, scored one of the two goals for the team.
Teammate Albert Verduzco scored the second goal for San Antonio, while Christian Alvizar assisted in one goal.
Christain Hernandez had the very first goal of the match that put Taft up a goal for 10 minutes, before Mt. San Antonio tied the game.
Mt. San Antonio's coach Juan Sanchez said it was a big win for the college in a interview on the www.ccsoccernews.com Web site.
"We've been down like that before, we fell down to Cerritos in the regional final," Sanchez said. "That game prepared us to deal with persity against a quality opponent."
As for the women's final, Santiago Canyon College beat Comsumnes River College, 1-0, as the team captured its second title in school history and finishing the season with a 23-0-2 overall record.
Amanda Hardeman scored the only goal of the match for Santiago Canyon after an uneventful first half.
"There becomes this level of expectation with the association of being a part of the State Championships," said Santiago Canyon's coach Ian Woodhead in a interview on the www.ccsoccernews.com Web site.
"Where we are now, we attract some players who want to ride the success. We also attract others who want to win," said Woodhead. "This team wanted to take it on, not ride on the backs of the success of the past."
Mt. San Antonio College beat Taft College in the men's final, 2-1, capturing their first state title in school history and ending the season with a 20-1-3 overall record.
Aaron Salazar, the one who led San Antonio into the finals, scored one of the two goals for the team.
Teammate Albert Verduzco scored the second goal for San Antonio, while Christian Alvizar assisted in one goal.
Christain Hernandez had the very first goal of the match that put Taft up a goal for 10 minutes, before Mt. San Antonio tied the game.
Mt. San Antonio's coach Juan Sanchez said it was a big win for the college in a interview on the www.ccsoccernews.com Web site.
"We've been down like that before, we fell down to Cerritos in the regional final," Sanchez said. "That game prepared us to deal with persity against a quality opponent."
As for the women's final, Santiago Canyon College beat Comsumnes River College, 1-0, as the team captured its second title in school history and finishing the season with a 23-0-2 overall record.
Amanda Hardeman scored the only goal of the match for Santiago Canyon after an uneventful first half.
"There becomes this level of expectation with the association of being a part of the State Championships," said Santiago Canyon's coach Ian Woodhead in a interview on the www.ccsoccernews.com Web site.
"Where we are now, we attract some players who want to ride the success. We also attract others who want to win," said Woodhead. "This team wanted to take it on, not ride on the backs of the success of the past."
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Community college: California state final
College of San Mateo will be hosting Mt. San Antonio College on Dec. 12 for the California community college football state title.
It will be the first time in history San Mateo will be competing for the state title, and the team heads into the match with a 10-1 record.
Mt. San Antonio advance into the state finals in a 27-2 win over Palomar College.
The win improves Mt. San Antonio overall record to 12-1.
The match will include both No. 1 teams from the Northern and Southern California regions.
It will be the first time in history San Mateo will be competing for the state title, and the team heads into the match with a 10-1 record.
Mt. San Antonio advance into the state finals in a 27-2 win over Palomar College.
The win improves Mt. San Antonio overall record to 12-1.
The match will include both No. 1 teams from the Northern and Southern California regions.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
California community college soccer finals
The California community college soccer state finals are set for Dec. 6, that will feature past champions and new competitors.
Mt. San Antonio College Vs. Taft College in the men's match and Santiago Canyon College Vs. Consumnes River Collegein the women's match.
Mt. San Antonio defeated Fresno College, 1-0, with the only goal of the match scored by Aaron Salazar to launch Mt. San Antonio into the finals. The win gave the team its first chance to win the college's first state title.
In the other semifinal match, Taft College defeated Santa Ana College, 3-1.
Alex Caceres, Sergio Cedano and Christain Hernandez scored a goal piece and Noel Lopez assisted once and Miguel Ibarra twice in the win for Taft.
Taft moves forward into the finals looking to win their second state title after winning their first in 2007.
Santa Ana College's strong playoff run ends with a single goal against Taft, but before the match the team seemed it was set to win its seventh title after having a impressive 18-4-1 record.
In the women's semifinals, the No. 1 team from the southern region and from the Orange Empire Conference league, Santiago Canyon, defeated American River 3-2.
In the high scoring match Santiago Canyon scored the third goal that would result in the game winning goal, advancing the team into state finals and attempting to capture its second state title in three years.
For the other semifinal match, Consumnes River defeated Ventura 3-0, in a one sided match dominated by the No. 5 team from the North.
Growing confidence from upset victories over No. 4 Santa Rosa College and No. 1 Solano College, Consumnes River was lead by Dani Arellano, Arrianna Fragoso and Madelyn Roberts scoring a goal a piece and Nydia Ramos and Fragoso assisting a piece.
The win over Ventura gives Consimnes River their first shot at caputring their first state title.
Mt. San Antonio College Vs. Taft College in the men's match and Santiago Canyon College Vs. Consumnes River Collegein the women's match.
Mt. San Antonio defeated Fresno College, 1-0, with the only goal of the match scored by Aaron Salazar to launch Mt. San Antonio into the finals. The win gave the team its first chance to win the college's first state title.
In the other semifinal match, Taft College defeated Santa Ana College, 3-1.
Alex Caceres, Sergio Cedano and Christain Hernandez scored a goal piece and Noel Lopez assisted once and Miguel Ibarra twice in the win for Taft.
Taft moves forward into the finals looking to win their second state title after winning their first in 2007.
Santa Ana College's strong playoff run ends with a single goal against Taft, but before the match the team seemed it was set to win its seventh title after having a impressive 18-4-1 record.
In the women's semifinals, the No. 1 team from the southern region and from the Orange Empire Conference league, Santiago Canyon, defeated American River 3-2.
In the high scoring match Santiago Canyon scored the third goal that would result in the game winning goal, advancing the team into state finals and attempting to capture its second state title in three years.
For the other semifinal match, Consumnes River defeated Ventura 3-0, in a one sided match dominated by the No. 5 team from the North.
Growing confidence from upset victories over No. 4 Santa Rosa College and No. 1 Solano College, Consumnes River was lead by Dani Arellano, Arrianna Fragoso and Madelyn Roberts scoring a goal a piece and Nydia Ramos and Fragoso assisting a piece.
The win over Ventura gives Consimnes River their first shot at caputring their first state title.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Los Angeles dominated the competition
As it appears, it looks like Ron Artest is becoming to be a great addition to the Los Angeles Lakers more than many expected.
The Lakers are currently riding a seven game winning streak, but despite crushing over losing teams that cannot defend for themselves, the Lakers are winning the games by double digits.
Normally what would be a taboo for Laker fans, the Lakers never really finished games off once they had a big lead in the beginning of the game.
Now that they have Artest assisting Kobe Bryant on duties to defend the other team's best player, the Lakers are locking down their opponents and finishing out games by not allowing teams to creep their way back in.
The Lakers have not given up 100 points in the seven games they won and all of them have been won by 10 or more points.
The team is now 14-3 and currently has the best record in the NBA.
The team has had a easy schedule thus far, but it has been getting the job down and winning games they should win but in big lopsided victories.
No one will really know for sure how good the team is with Ron Artest until mid January when they start to begin playing the elite teams like the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic.
The Lakers are currently riding a seven game winning streak, but despite crushing over losing teams that cannot defend for themselves, the Lakers are winning the games by double digits.
Normally what would be a taboo for Laker fans, the Lakers never really finished games off once they had a big lead in the beginning of the game.
Now that they have Artest assisting Kobe Bryant on duties to defend the other team's best player, the Lakers are locking down their opponents and finishing out games by not allowing teams to creep their way back in.
The Lakers have not given up 100 points in the seven games they won and all of them have been won by 10 or more points.
The team is now 14-3 and currently has the best record in the NBA.
The team has had a easy schedule thus far, but it has been getting the job down and winning games they should win but in big lopsided victories.
No one will really know for sure how good the team is with Ron Artest until mid January when they start to begin playing the elite teams like the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic.
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