I don’t understand what the big fuss is all about.

In case you haven’t heard, a photo showcasing the Spain national basketball team taken prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics generated a big uproar recently. The photo, which appears to show all of Spain’s players slanting their eyes, was taken by the media as something that might offend its Olympic hosts in Beijing.

Of course, the Spanish team claims that they did it to pay homage to this year’s hosts to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, saying that they did it, thinking that it was going to be something nice, and I buy it.

After all, who in the right frame of mind will even dare to offend a country hosting the Olympic Games? Do that and you might as well kiss your hopes for a gold medal goodbye. The Spain basketball team is one of the top contenders to win the gold medal and trying to offend China won’t be good judgment on their part.

Jose Calderon is as puzzled as me about all the bad publicity…

Read More » Spain basketball players Pau Gasol and Jose Calderon, likes to make fun of the Chinese in Photo Opportunities

Another injury, surprise surprise…

In case you missed the USA - China basketball game in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Yao Ming, the face of this year’s Games, suffered yet another injury while trying to lead the Chinese national team in its futile attempt to beat the powerhouse collection of NBA talent from the States.

After having his fair share of injuries playing in the NBA, I wasn’t that surprised to see Yao Ming limp off the court again. And now knowing that the seven-foot Chinese phenom is this ‘’fragile,'’ is it about time for him to just say no to China and just rest his body for the NBA wars?

Sure, playing against the States while playing for China in the Games of the XXIX Olympiad was huge for Yao. After all, that was the first time in China’s history that their collection of local stars faced-off against the biggest names in the NBA.

But puh-lease, Yao is an NBA player now and if he wants it to remain that way, it’s probably in his best interest not to waste his time getting his ass injured somewhere else other than an NBA arena.

That is, of course, still depends on the Chinese people.

‘’They will continue to pressure him,'’ one high-ranking…

Read More » After suffering another injury in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is it about time Yao Ming says NO to China?

The biggest sporting event of the year has begun.

Day three of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games went on with athletes breaking new world records for pride and honor representing their respective countries. Powerhouse teams like China and USA have begun their quest for Olympic glory as well and it only gets tougher at this point.

What happened since the opening ceremonies last Friday? Starting off with the event in gymnastics, the Chinese women’s team survived a rare bout of nerves to come first in the qualifiers on Sunday thanks to an equally error-strewn outing from arch-rivals the United States.

Chinese head coach Lu Shanzhen wanted more from his charges, rating their performance at only 70 percent after a string of errors gave a glimpse of the immense pressure on the Chinese to win gold in the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. The Americans came up short after vault specialist Samantha Peszek injured her ankle just 30 minutes before she was due to take the floor, failing to capitalize when they also served up a mistake-ridden performance.

In archery, South Korea’s archers set a new 24-arrow world record Sunday en-route to their sixth consecutive Olympic women’s…

Read More » The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China continues

Well, sort of anyway…

On Wednesday, the 2008 Beijing Olympics will have ‘’war,'’ probably in a literal sense as Alexandra Shiryaeva and Natalie Uryadova of Russia face Cristine Santanna and Andrezza Chagas of Georgia in an Olympic beach volleyball match.

For all ya’ll who didn’t know, Russia and Georgia have been blowing each other to smithereens the last couple of weeks. Hundreds of lives have already been lost since Russia invaded the breakaway region of Georgia which happens to be South Ossetia.

And if you missed it on TV, the scenes depicting this war was horrific, to say the least. You can just imagine the hatred that has developed between Russia and Georgia. Knowing that, will the four women players representing the two countries at war meet at center court and shake hands? Hmm…

International Olympic Committee (IOC) communications director Giselle Davies, for some reason, is happy about the fact that both countries were determined not to withdraw their athletes from the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

‘’That very much reflects the Olympic spirit and values of the Games,'’ Davies said. ‘’The IOC believes this is absolutely the right decision especially for the athletes for whom this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'’

The problem is, both Russia and Georgia couldn’t give a rat’s ass about the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Both countries would rather throw bombs than congratulate each other in a sporting event.

But perhaps what each country will be…

Read More » Russia - Georgia War continues in 2008 Beijing Olympics

08-08-08.

That’s right, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games have finally arrived on the eight day of the eight month of the eight year. August 8, 2008, that date was probably marked all around the globe as people from all walks of life marked that date on their calendar for their personal reasons; be it weddings, opening businesses, birth dates, etc., hoping that the date that comes only once in every hundred years, will bring them good luck.

It was only fitting that the Chinese scheduled the Games of the XXIX Olympiad on the said date as well. But will the date bring good luck to the athletes competing for their country too?

They, after all, need all the luck they can get. The Olympics is the biggest event any sports athlete will have in his sporting career and it is understandable if these athletes feel pressured.

U.S. Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps, is one dude who’ll feel the most pressure for sure. He has the opportunity to become the Olympian to win the most gold medals in history both for a single Games and for a career. He has to win eight more gold medals, giving him 14 for his career.

U.S. basketball team head coach Mike Krzyzewski and Kobe Bryant should…

Read More » The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China are here

They should have something to prove come August 8.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is merely a few days away and the USA basketball team wants one thing and one thing only, GOLD. You don’t need a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

While other countries may be satisfied with a silver or bronze, Team USA don’t have the same luxury. Showcasing the best athletes in the world, there is no excuse on God’s green earth that the red, white and blue shouldn’t retrieve what to them is rightfully theirs.

Taking a deeper look on Team USA, it is fun to watch these players take pride in every sport that they play.

They are backed up by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The Committee supports American athletes, specifically Olympic athletes and selects which athletes will participate in the Games of the Olympiad, the Olympic Winter Games, and the Pan American Games. The Committee also provides training centers, funds, and support staff to elite athletes.

The USOC also acts as the United States representative for all Olympic matters, including for the…

Read More » Redemption for Team USA in 2008 Beijing Olympics?

I know, it’s so sad ain’t it?

As we count the remaining days heading to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, news broke out that we won’t have the privilege of watching Sharapova’s panties dance around the tennis court when the biggest sporting event of the year starts on August 8.

You read it, the hot and sexy Maria Sharapova won’t be playing for her mother country Russia, pulling out of the tournament because of a right shoulder injury. Sharapova, winner of three Grand Slam singles titles, said that an MRI exam and other medical tests showed she has two small tears in tendons in her shoulder.

Sharapova, before opting out of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, already pulled out of the WTA tournament in Montreal because of the said injury.

‘’After yesterday’s match, I knew there was something seriously wrong with my shoulder,'’ Maria Sharapova said in a posting on her web site under the headline that reads, ‘’No chance of me competing in Beijing.'’

‘’This is something that needs a lot of time to heal, which really hurts me to say that I have to miss the Olympics.'’

‘’I'm currently packing up really quick to hop on the plane and head to…'’

Read More » No Maria Sharapova in the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Probably because they don’t want to have the same number of doping scandals this year’s Tour de France had.

The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China is almost here and the event’s organizers have begun running here and there to bring its fans the best only the Olympic Games so rightfully deserve.

In fact, the International Olympic Committee has come up with ‘’anti-doping rules'’ that they are hoping to be the answer to the somewhat dangerous trend the world of sports is in these days.

For starters, they have increased the number of tests in these Olympic events. From the 3,600 tests they made back in the 2004 Athens Olympics, they moved it up to 4,500 for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, a clear example how they want to have fair play on the biggest sporting event of the year.

There are some new elements of the ruling too, like one where an athlete may be notified and tested more than once during the same day. If an athlete misses a test on two separate occasions during the Olympic Games, or on one occasion plus twice in the 18 months beforehand, that athlete will be considered to…

Read More » The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games have rules on Dope

It’ll be all about BLING in Beijing.

How’s that for a theme in the coming 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China eh? With merely days to go before the Beijing Games begin, athletes who will be competing in this grandest sporting event of the year are all set to go and win gold medals for their respective countries.

Different countries are pouring in tons of resources, hoping that their athletes will achieve national glory by winning a gold medal.

While the Olympics do not lack feel-good stories of athletes overcoming adversity to make it to the Olympic Games, the superpowers of the world have traditionally dominated the podium.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, for example, the top-five nations that won the most gold medals are; USA, China, Russia, Australia, and Japan, with USA taking home 36 gold medals, closely followed by China with 32.

The biggest question now is, which of these superpowers will go on and win the most gold in the 2008 Olympics? China, as the host country, has a bigger chance of winning it overall since they will be participating in all of the events, while the United States of America is an automatic shoe-in to win the 2008 Beijing Olympics because, well, they the United States.

Still, host China could still give the United States…

Read More » Which Country will win the most Gold Medals in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China?

You just know that it’s officially ON now.

The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China is almost here and as far as the national basketball team of Germany is concerned, they made it just in the nick of time, thanks to NBA German phenom Dirk Nowitzki of course.

You read it, Germany has qualified for the coming Beijing Games on August 8, joining the American team in what should be a very strong Group B basketball division in the Olympics.

It was the LAST available spot in Beijing and Germany seized the opportunity, making sure they will have that one remaining spot. Led by Dirk Nowitzki, Germany beat Puerto Rico, 96-82, to finish in third place at the Olympic qualifying tournament.

The Dallas Mavericks German superstar finished with 32 points to earn a possible rematch with the powerhouse United States team in the Olympics. The last time the Germans met the Americans in an international basketball tournament, it was in the semifinals of the 2006 world championships when the Germans came up with an upset win over this American team flooded with NBA talent.

Although Germany was defeated by Spain in the end…

Read More » Dirk Nowitzki led Germany to 2008 Beijing Olympics spot