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American swimmer Natalie Coughlin won two gold medals in the Sydney Olympics four years ago, in addition to a bronze medal in the 100-meter freestyle.
The two-time gold medalist added an American record to her resume yesterday in that event, but then lost the race by nine hundredths of a second. Read more…
When Beijing Olympic officials got wind that Olympic delegations wanted to bring their own food to China, they naturally felt it was a slap in the face to Chinese culture, agriculture, etc. Much to those delegations’ chagrin, Chinese officials told them not to bring any food with them despite concerns about culture shock, contaminated foods (chickens chock full of steroids, etc.), and supply.
Unfortunately, there are some foodstuffs that China cannot naturally provide. Australia, for example, has taken to calling the new restrictions the “Vegemite ban”. Australian athletes cannot currently pack any of the leftover brewers’ yeast for the trip. (Australians believe in utilizing the whole beer, much like Native Americans and the buffalo.)
The Aussies might as well stay home if they can’t bring the paste that gives them their unique abilities. Why, it would be like taking… well, taking beer from an Australian athlete. Someone better get Beijing back on the line, just in case that was also on the list.
The Sharks, a South African rugby team, slipped an extra man onto the grass for two whole minutes without anyone noticing in their Super 14 match against the Queensland Reds last weekend. The 16th man roamed freely in the Sharks win and made two key tackles. Queensland Reds are protesting now, but you have to catch them in the act, Aussies. So sorry!
Now this is how you catch them in the act:
(Anatomy of a cheater)
The brilliant BALL IN EUROPE spotted ETB Essen trying to secure a promotion to the second division in German basketball by pulling the ol’ Maypole trick on the ref with two seconds left in the game. It’s one thing to sneak a 16th man onto a large field of play; it’s quite another to slip a sixth man back onto a tiny basketball court. Große Hoden, ETB Essen!
An Australian streaker, who interrupted a horse race by risking his life while wearing a purple wig, has avoided jail time but was told not to mix booze and the track anytime soon, the BATEMANS BAY POST reports.
Bradley Steven O’Mara faced 3 months in jail but instead must not drink at a track for one year - the ultimate punishment.
The SYDNEY MORNING HERALD claims that topless photos of Lara Bingle, Aussie model and companion to cricketer Michael Clarke, have appeared again on a German magazine’s website.
In March 2007, GQ’s German edition showed shots of Bingle in her birthday suit (possibly NSFW). The nudie pics caused quite a stir, as Lara was known for her brief bikini appearances in cricket ads - and for having an affair with married Australian football player Brendan Fevola.
The commotion was also felt by GQ’s website, as the torrents of traffic caused the mag’s Internet servers to crash.
But when we followed the Herald’s links to the supposedly new pics, we found something interesting. Or make that, didn’t find. Read more…
BECKHAM WOWS AUSSIES WHILE SNUBBING CANCER KIDS: 80,000 Aussie fans got a kick out of seeing David Beckham on Tuesday, as the L.A. Galaxy star notched a goal in an exhibition match in Sydney.
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Sadly, a group of young cancer survivors waiting to meet their favorite player didn’t get the chance. The SYDNEY MORNING HERALD reports that the soccer star blew by the cancer kids when he arrived at his hotel on Sunday.
A police escort had directed Beckham from the airport to the Star City Casino, where photographers and other throngs were waiting outside with the children. Beckham quickly flew from the car to inside the hotel, not stopping for anyone - including the kids.
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Especially hurt was Emma Byers, a 14-year-old leukemia survivor who burst into tears when she missed her chance to present her hero with a toy kangaroo gift.
But Becks claims he never saw the children, and said he would never purposefully snub any sick kids. He added, “I’m more than willing to meet them wherever they want and at whatever time that they want.”
AUSSIE FAN LEAVES DOWN UNDA’ FOR THE FROZEN TUNDRA: There’s a special mystique about the Green Bay Packers. How many other teams can claim a 25-year waiting list for season tickets? And what other pro franchise can drive a deranged fan to shoot the coach’s dog?
The Pack surely drew something out of Wayne Scullino, who somehow convinced his wife to pack up the family and head to northeast Wisconsin - from Australia.
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The MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE reports on the obsession of one fan willing to quit his job, sell his house, and travel 10,000 miles just to park himself on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.Scullino admits more than one person has called him crazy, but says he doesn’t regret making a decision “that flies in the face of all rational thinking but one that we should all do at least once in our lives.”
The Aussie adventurer has used proceeds from his house sale to purchase tickets for games this season. In the meantime, the Scullinos have depended on the kindness of strangers to make Wayne’s ridiculous dream a reality.
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Fellow Packers fans have offered to sell their hard-to-get seats to Wayne. Meanwhile, other Green Bay residents have helped the family in many ways, such as getting an affordable apartment, and keeping their kitchen stocked. Wife Kelly is amazed by all the generosity, happily asking, “Who gives someone a car?“Wayne also has a website up, detailing his experiences of Packer Backing, and also his view of living in America.
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WORLD SWIM MEETERS GO TOPLESS, CHASE CHUBBY: As a longtime water sports aficionado, I’ve been tracking the World Aquatic Championships very closely in Melbourne, Australia. And like you, that global meeting of swim had me on an emotional rollercoaster all last weekend.
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My favorite moment came during the the scintillating women’s water polo bronze medal match between Russia and Hungary, which featured Hungary’s Eszter Tomaskovic slipping past a toppled Evgenia Soboleva of Russia (NSFW).
