Thursday, November 30, 2006
Xinhua: Tennis top beauty No. 10: Sania Mirza
China's Xinhua news agency has published their pick of the top 10 tennis beauties. The list has caused the most stir in India where Sania Mirza was included in the list at no. 10.
The English version of the story is available here. The story is something beautiful in itself in the selection of photos for the story: it takes a moment to stop and respect another view, another perspective, of what many may well perceive as common (ordinary). It's not about what you are I may see, but what we may not have seen. I must be ever grateful for another perspective.
I don't know the site's page retention policy, so over several days (or weeks) I'll reproduce most of the photos used in the photo essay, beginning with the one reproducible photo of Sania (click the photo for full view):
man on women's sports' format may change soon
Blogger, my weblog host, has a spiffy new and updated version that it has begun pushing rather strongly, and I doubt I'll be able to withstand the need to change with the tide. I might have a format change soon, though Blogger says it is not necessary to alter the format. Still, with all the tools staring you in the face . . ..
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Tanith Belbin and her ice dancing partner Benjamin Agosto for USA take gold at Cup of Russia today
Ice Dancing official results page
Photo sources: (in order) Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Grigory Dukor; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Grigory Dukor; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Thomas Peter
At the ISU Grand Prix Cup of Russia, Switzerland's Sarah Meier takes gold, Hungary's Julia Sebestyen silver
ISU Grand Prix Cup of Russia ladies podium in Moscow today: from left, silver medalist Julia Sebestyen of Hungary, gold medalist Sarah Meier of Switzerland and bronze medalist Yoshie Onda of Japan. The lone American participating, Alissa Czisny, finished ninth. Official results site
News from the USA Olympic Team: Sanya Richards named IAAF 2006 World Athlete of the Year; Paige Railey, World Sailor of the Year
Richards named world's top track star Above, Sanya Richards is pictured with Prince Albert II of Monaco at the World Athletics gala in Monte Carlo November 12, 2006, and left as she receives her award, and check for $100,000, at the gala.
Railey named World Sailor of the Year
USA Olympic Team newsletter
Photo sources: (both) Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
Disappointing bball start for No. 11 Stanford as they lose to both Tennessee and Georgia this weekend
It was Tennessee 77-60; Georgia 74-69.
ESPN.com: Clutch free throws secure Georgia win over Stanford
There was significant introspection just prior to the start of this road trip, although, from my reading, the article seems not to indicate what tournament Stanford experienced an early loss in: Stanford women's hoop win sets up trip
Sania helps give India berth at Hopman Cup in January in Australia
Photo sources: (both) Yahoo! News/Noah Seelam/AFP
NCAA women's volleyball National tournament selections announced today
The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee announced today the 64-team field for the 2006 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship. Seeded No. 1 is Nebraska-Lincoln, No. 2 Stanford, No. 3 Penn State and No. 4 UCLA. The complete story and schedule
NCAA women's soccer College Cup semifinals set: UNC v UCLA; Florida State v Notre Dame
Greensboro News-Record: UNC women move into NCAA semis
DailyBreeze.com: UCLA women's soccer team reaches NCAA semifinals
GoPSDsports.com: No. 8 Lions Fall at No. 1 Notre Dame in NCAA Quarterfinal
Jelena says she's safe
After concerns had been raised that she may have been kidnapped in Zagreb, Jelena Dokic, one of my women's sports favorites, has reported that she is safe, and in Zagreb seeking sponsorship for a comeback. She indicates that this is just her dad at it again. Still ... .
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Team USA's No. 3: Tayyiba Haneef
 Katherine Wilkins (L), Nancy Metcalf (C) and Tayyiba Haneef (3) watch as the ball is served for match point against Cameroon November 3, 2006 Photo source: Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Toru Hanai |
Yu-Na Kim: from junior's and South Korea to top of the podium in Pairs
Photo sources: (all) Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere
Miki Ando in Paris
Photo sources: (all) Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere
China's Shen Xue and her pairs partner Zhao Hongbo were golden at Cup of China in Nanjing on November 9th and 10th
Canada's Valerie Marcoux and her pairs partner Craig Buntin at Skate Canada November 2nd and 3rd for the bronze medal
Expected to shine in the City of Lights, Kimmie Meissner stumbles onto the Trophee Eric Bompard podium for bronze
Channel NewsAsia unfortunately with the blow-by-blow
Actually, checking out the official results site, Kimmie finished fourth in both the short and long; Finland's Susanna Poykio's 8th place short program was too great a hurdle for her to the podium despite her third place free skate finish. At left from left, ISU Grand Prix Trophee Eric Bompard silver medalist Miki Ando of Japan and gold medalist Yu-Na Kim of South Korea.
Photo source: Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere
This is ten days old, but, if you haven't heard, grab the tears-of-joy hankie: Michelle Kwan, Condie Rice and Shirley Temple Black
CBS News: Michelle Kwan Accepts Job As Diplomat To be likened to, let alone added to the class of, Shirley Temple Black is without precedent (period): the class of one now has another member. We'll have to coin a term for them, after certain people finish school. Pictured Michelle Kwan (in the white blouse and smile and a half) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Photo sources: (all) Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
Saturday, November 18, 2006
At Trophee Eric Bompard (Skate France), Kimmie trails Yu-Na Kim, Miki Ando and Joannie Rochette after the short
Though it is not a biggie by any means, Kimmie Meissner is in fourth at the ISU Grand Prix Trophee Eric Bompard after the short in Paris last night. Only two weeks ago, Joannie Rochette (currently in 3rd place and pictured left) went from 5th after the short to first. Official results site
Canada.com Canadian Joannie Rochette places third (in the short program) at Grand Prix figure skating event
Pictured below, Japan's Miki Ando in second going into the free skate
Photo sources: AP via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Michel Spingler; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Michel Spingler
Friday, November 17, 2006
USA finishes 9th at FIVB worlds; Russia wins its sixth world volleyball championship title
After easily defeating the Republic of China (Taiwan) 25-15, 25-20, 25-21 on Wednesday, Team USA defeated Turkey 25-22, 23-25, 25-17, 25-16 yesterday to take the top rung of the 9th to 12th classification This should encourage Team USA to set its goals much, much higher in future competitions.
Russia defeated Brazil 15-25, 25-23, 25-18, 20-25, 15-13 yesterday to earn the championship title.
Final standings at the FIVB Women's World Championship:
- Russia
- Brazil
- Serbia & Montenegro
- Italy
- the People's Republic of China
- Japan
- Cuba
- Netherlands
- USA
- Turkey
- Germany
- the Republic of China
I am aspiring how to post more photos from the championships over the next several months.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
At the FIVB worlds, an official handout photo by Federation Internationale de Volleyball
Italy's Elisa Togut spikes against Peru's Mirtha Uribe (foreground) and Milagros Moy in Italy's win November 1, 2006, during round 1 in Nagoya. Hey, an official representation: I couldn't have said it better!
At the FIVB worlds, as Poland (in blue) defeats Costa Rica during round one in Tokyo November 3, 2006
USA enters the final two days of the FIVB World Volleyball Championships in the 9th to 12th classification rounds
USA's Women's National Volleyball Team, ranked world's no. 6 at the start of the 2006 FIVB World Championships, performed admirably during round one of the tournament:
- Oct. 31: USA def. Kazakhstan 19-25, 25-19, 25-19, 26-28, 16-14
- Nov. 1: USA def. Netherlands 25-19, 25-22, 27-29, 20-25, 15-7
- Nov. 3: USA def. Cameroon 25-17, 25-18, 25-11
- Nov. 4: Brazil def. USA 25-23, 25-21, 25-13
- Nov. 5: USA def. Puerto Rico 25-14, 25-16, 25-15
But US fortunes were totally reversed in Round two:
- Nov. 8: China def. USA 20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-17
- Nov. 9: Azerbaijan def. USA 25-19, 16-25, 25-22, 25-27, 15-13
- Nov. 11: Russia def. USA 25-20, 25-21, 25-17
- Nov. 12: USA def. Germany 25-27, 25-23, 19-25, 26-24, 15-11
Had the US outscored Germany by four points for the entire match on Sunday and had China defeated the Netherlands on Sunday, the US would have entered the 5th to 8th classification rounds in keeping with its pre-tournament ranking. Neither proved to be the case.
For complete information, this USA Basketball press release (however, be forewarned, it is fairly technical).
As for pictures, rest asured you will be seeing those for at least the rest of the year (if not until the next world chanpionship) (my skills as an image surfer were honed in these environs.)
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Madrid Day 6: Justine Henin-Hardenne walks away with it all!
Madrid's Sony Ericsson Championships official results site
USAToday: Henin-Hardenne beats Mauresmo for first WTA Championships title
Saturday, November 11, 2006
USA's Emily Hughes stumbles to third at Cup of China; surprising victory for Julia Sebestyen
Cup of China official results page (ladies)
Sports Illustrated: American Hughes fades in China
The real surprise is that USA's Beatrisa Liang did not make the podium as one would expect given the depth of this field.
Pictured: Cup of China ladies gold medalist Julia Sebestyen (su-BAST-yan) of Hungary.
ESPN has a 3 hour Cup of China broadcast scheduled for Sunday, November 19, 2006, at 3:00 pm CDT.
Photo sources: (in order) Yahoo! News/AFP/Frederic J. Brown; AP via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News
Madrid Day 5: Ouch! Henin-Hardenne takes out Maria Sharapova 6-2 7-6(7-5); Mauresmo undoes Clijsters 6-2 3-6 6-3
Sony Ericsson Championships official results site
Pictured: Maria Sharapova today: this women is game first, endorsement if then! True, she had been perfect to this point of the tournament, having not dropped a set. Similarly, Mauresmo should be forewarned that though her defeat of Henin-Hardenne yesterday (4-6 7-6(7-3) 6-2) was quite an accomplishment, it pales as regarding what will be required to prevent Justine from proving that she rightly deserves the title currently hers of world's number one and the title here of WTA champion- not to mention the cool million bucks.
Photo sources: (in order) Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Victor Fraile; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Susana Vera; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Victor Fraile; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Jasper Juinen; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Victor Fraile; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Jasper Juinen
