In This Thread: We look at Legos

The Bird's Nest, via i.dailymail.co.uk

The Water Cube, a.k.a. Smogaquarium via i.dailymail.co.uk

Beach Volleyball Beach, via i.dailymail.co.uk

These were yoinked from this set @ dailymail.co.uk.

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MUST SEE VIDEO, WATCH NOW!!!!

http://blog.ingamenow.com/2008/08/13/hungarian-janos-baranyai-crushes-arm-in-olympic-lifiting-video/

Not quite as exciting as Michael Phelps’ chase for 8 gold medals… but more gruesome for sure. Here is footage from Hungarian Olympic weightlifter Janos Baranyai crushing his arm during competition. Ouch:

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...you have to get up pretty early...

...to watch the USA men's soccer game this morning.   It's at half-time now, USA is down 1-0, but the Dutch aren't running away with it.  Honestly both of these teams look flat.  The highlights of this halftime are presented by Matt V.  Hooray for USA network.

I figured the Dutch would come with the good squad they had at Euro this year, but this team looks different.  The only highlight so far for the USA team has been Freddy Adu rolling through 2-4 defenders at a time.  Wouldn't be suprised to see him score one in the second half.    ....Lithuania knocked of Argentina in Men's basketball sometime in the night.  ...Apparently it's been raining on this day of competition in Beijing. 

The second half of the soccer game should be starting soon.  I need to get ready for an 8.40a southwest flight, going to see the Dodgers/Giants game and bag telephone park to complete the division.

Olympics!

We've all heard that so many Hall of Fame voters have an opinion that a player has to be one of his sport's elite to be considered for enshrinement their first time. In fact, there have been stories of some voters who unilaterally refuse to vote for a player on his first try into a HoF. I can understand if you have so many eligible candidates that you have to pick certain ones to vote for. However, to mentally disqualify a player from receiving your vote only because it's his first year of eligibility is insane! What is it about a player's performance that will make him more worthy a year from now? What stats will have changed??

   As I listened to Art Monk's NFL HoF induction speech, I heard exactly why this "first ballot bias" is so dangerous. Monk spoke of how his father was his biggest fan, and how his father delighted in coming to watch him play. Monk went on to mention how he was sure that his father would've loved to have been at the HoF ceremony.  Unfortunately, that wasn't possible, because his father passed away a few years ago. To the rest of us, it might not make any difference that Art Monk had to wait 8 years to get inducted into the Football HoF, but I think it may have made a big difference to his family.    Voting for most Halls of Fame are totally subjective, and rely on what a variety of statistics means to writers, former players, and other voters. In the case of Art Monk, in my opinion, there was one simple statistic that should've guaranteed that he be an instant Hall of Famer. When there are never any character or off-field matters that might influence voters (like in the case of Pete Rose or Barry Bonds), certain all-time stat leaders should be Hall of Famers. Imagine the NHL HoF without the career leader in goals, or the NBA HoF without the career leader in points, or MLB's HoF without the career leader in strikeouts. Art Monk retired as the NFL career leader in pass receptions. Monk retired with the NFL record for consecutive games with at least one reception. He has since been passed by several players in both categories, but at one time, Art Monk could look into the mirror and see a man who caught more passes than anyone EVER in the history of the NFL. To me, that in itself makes you HoF worthy.     

Since Art Monk became eligible for the HoF, he's had to watch a number of WRs go in before him with greatly inferior numbers. Monk: 940 receptions, 12721 yards and 68 touchdowns. Lynn Swann, inducted in 2001: 336 rec, 5462 yds, 51 tds (never more than 61 rec or 880 in any one season). John Stallworth, inducted in 2002: 537 rec, 8723 yds, 63 tds. Michael Irvin, inducted in 2007: 750 rec, 11904 yds, 65 tds. I mean seriously...Lynn Swann?? What a joke! He was good, but Hall of Fame??  But the real point is, voters, if a player belongs in the HoF, vote him in! The athlete himself has had the accolades, made the money, had the high profile. Getting into the HoF and the ceremony surrounding it is for everyone else. The HoF induction speech, whatever the sport, is largely the chance for that athlete to have one grand forum to show his appreciation. It's his chance to stand tall and public thank everyone who helped him achieve the things that he's achieved in his career and life. A chance to mention all the people who most folks don't know are responsible for his success. It's for the mom who drove him to practice. It's for the coach who encouraged him to stick with the game when he wanted to quit. It's for the family who invited him to home-cooked meals when he was away at college. It's for that training camp coach who lobbied for him to be able to make that first professional roster. Those are the ones who deserve it sooner than later.

2008 Canoe Polo World Championships

Welcome, Uncommon Sportsfans, to the 2008 Canoe Polo World Championships. You've never heard of Canoe Polo? Well, let me get you up to speed. It's basically water polo in a canoe, but with raised goals. Dissimilar from Marco Polo, expensive equipment is required.

Why don't we let these fine folks explain it better than I ever could:

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Death Race brings brave souls to Alberta

This coming August 2 and 3 is the ninth North Face Canadian Death Race. From the article:

The Death Race plays on the Greek myth of Charon, the ferryman who ushered the souls of the dead across the river Styx and into Hades for a fee of one gold coin per soul.

Oh. Well that's kind of a letdown. What about this coin?

Each of the 1,000 or so entrants will receive a specially minted coin they must take with them as they make their way through the rugged mountain terrain surrounding Grande Cache.

Racers must have their coin to cross the Smoky River near the end of their trek. Losing the coin means instant disqualification.

You don't say? What is the penalty for disqualification? Is it... death? I'd guess not. They've got a juicy hook to this story, though:

One of the earliest winners of the gruelling, 125-kilometre running race was former Edmonton resident Nik Southwell. He had his eyes on the prize, but Southwell forgot to take in enough food and fluids along the way, says Dale Tuck, one of the event's founders.

Instead of dropping out, Southwell persevered and won the men's solo race, collapsing at the finish line. His kidneys shut down and he was rushed to hospital and put on dialysis.

Won the race, but losing the game...

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The Indian woman's team participating in the World Beach Volleyball tournament have declined to wear bikinis, declaring them objectionable and against their traditions.

Ladies, please. You have got to understand, like any sport that was invented in the US, it's about how many eyeballs you can steal away from someone else. We're all waving our hands in your face like crazy, trying to get you to look at us for 5 seconds and consider buying whatever product is associated with us. There is no greater force on the planet when it comes to attracting eyeballs than T and A. And frankly, you're kicking yourselves in the tit on this one.

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Three Tour de France fans were hit by a team car!

Just think, people have been watching this for like over 9,000 weeks already, and finally they get some action. Yeah, there's the usual "He was doping! No, you're doping!" crap going on, but damn... keep your eyes on the road. Dope.

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The city of Fort Fairfield, Maine's Potato Blossom Festival 2008 is in full swing and the busy inhabitants of such a lovely 'burg have already been partying hardy, starting the Potato Blossom blowout last Friday.

Yesterday marked the beard growing competition. It started at 4:30pm and there was a $5 entry fee. The beards were only given up to a half hour to grow as the judging was performed at 5:00pm, so this one was probably decided by a hair.

Later this week, on Thursday, the action heats up with hay-bale tossing, ladies skillet-throw, and a barrel rolling contest!

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Our two contestants, a normal-sized American and a frail, weak figure whose masculinity is now no doubt in question. I should admit that I consider the Wendy's Triple Classic a novelty food that should not be served, consumed, blogged about, hell... not even pictured.

Wendy's Triple Classic w/Cheese

I'd also like to preface that the editor of this video did a great job. Karate Kid soundtrack, short, informative intro, and a stop-watch so you can watch this competitor consume this colossal construction of cow in 74 seconds, excellent presentation.

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