For Club or Country?

Every four years, basketball fans from all over turn their televisions on to watch some of the best players in the world compete in the Olympics and the FIBA World Cup.  These players are all seen playing in the NBA and leagues in their own nations across the world, but are now taking off their club uniform and replacing it with their country.  While fans do see some of the world's best athletes, they do not always see the most prominent players.  LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are both not participating in the FIBA World Cup, but will likely compete in Rio in 2016.

Sport For Thought: The Michael Jordan of the Swimming Pool

Michael Jordan. Michael Phelps. Both of these athletes have dominated and are undoubtedly the greatest athletes in their respective sports. But can you believe they have both failed at the same thing? It seems that Phelps' time playing golf was not as enjoyable as he originally planned when entering retirement. Being the greatest at a sport is not all they have in common after Phelps' recent and shocking decision last week of ending his retirement. After completely one of the most legendary and decorated careers in basketball history and announcing his retirement, Michael Jordan could not last long away from the court. Michael Phelps seems to be taking a similar route as Jordan by coming out a retirement a year after completing one of the most decorated careers in Olympic history.

Guard the Post: There are no warning flags left for Brazil, Rio

Last year, there was a lot of conversation around the Rio 2016 planning committee and how far behind they were on the preparation for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Luckily, the organizer got a bit of a break from the media mercenaries thanks to a man named Putin and some place called Sochi. Now, with Sochi 2014 in the books, all of the international sport focus has shifted to Rio. Guess what? It hasn't gotten better.

Under Further Review: Michael Sam Steals the Show

"I'm not afraid to tell the world who I am. I'm Michael Sam: I'm a college graduate. I'm African American, and I'm gay." - Michael Sam

While the media was still trying to wrap their minds around the situation with Marcus Smart and those who were tired of the near-24 hours of coverage were taking in some action from Sochi, something happened. Changed happened. Former University of Missouri All-American defensive lineman and National Football League hopeful Michael Sam did something that no NFL prospect had ever done. He announced he is gay.

Midseason Check Up: Orange and Black

Back on Track

      Since the firing of former head coach Peter Laviolette after an 0-3 start to the season, the Flyers and new head coach have worked through early season struggles.  They now find themselves with a winning record at 21-17-4, good for second place, only to the Penguins (BOO), in the Metropolitan Division , and 7th place in the Eastern Conference.  Just recently the Flyers ended and started the New Year out west, where they went 4-1 collecting 8 of a possible 10 points, huge.  Tomorrow in Newark, NJ the Flyers finish up their 6 game road streak with a nationally televised game on NBCSN.  A win could catapult them to 5th place in the Eastern Conference.  What has been most noticeable about the Flyers since their putrid start is their never dieing spirit to battle to the end of the game.  We have seen that spirit before in Flyers teams, especially during the improbable Stanley Cup run in the 2011 Playoffs.  This kind of desire to win is fueling the Flyers ascendance up the Eastern Conference Standings as we enter the second half of the NHL season.   

Feeding the Soul: Displaying Courage when Most Vulnerable

Violent, barbaric, and disgraceful, are three adjectives often used to describe Mixed Martial Arts. Many people believe that MMA is not a sport, rather an excuse to beat the crap out of someone. These people argue that MMA displays the militaristic and non-classy characteristics of our society.

Guard the Post: Sochi 2014 is on the horizon

7 years ago, Sochi, Russia was granted the 2014 Winter Olympic games. At that time, Russia needed the attention that comes with hosting the biggest sporting event in the world. In hindsight, the attention may have been a little bit more than the Russo's were looking for. Anti-gay legislation, money problems, political unrest with the United States and other world powers, threats of terrorist attacks, and bombings in other Russian cities, just to name a few.

Under Further Review: Tokyo Wins Bid for 2020 Olympics

There was no perfect choice when it came to choosing the host city for the 2020 Summer Olympics.  Madrid's bid was hindered by Spain's atrocious economic climate, and the Olympics are an expensive show that must go on.  Istanbul is dealing with civil unrest, the kind that puts lives in danger, which really casts a foreboding light over things.  Tokyo's air supply may contain traces of nuclear radiation, but hey the athletes will only be there for three weeks competing at the top of their game needing the best conditions possible and that's certainly not enough time to turn someone into a creature from The Hills Have Eyes, right?

The Closer: London Style: A Year after the Games, where is London now?

This week marked the one year anniversary of the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony. Last year, London held a landmark Games, and being that this was the city's 3rd time hosting, it was definitely well run. Many believe that London 2012 was the best structured, best run, and overall best Olympic Games in recent memory.

The Closer: London Style: Andy Murray: Wimbledon Champion, Sir?

As you may have seen here, I am currently spending the summer in London studying abroad. Being that I have been here since the 20th of June, I have had the great pleasure of experiencing the Championships Wimbledon in person. Obviously with Andy Murray winning there has been a huge amount of  media coverage of Murray and his family, but most of the attention has been put towards Murray's future.  A lot of the media attention has been focused on the possibility that Murray may be on his way to knighthood at the age of 26.

Olympic Royalty

Michael Fred Phelps II, the greatest Olympian of all time. A phrase that is making more and more sense as time goes by. Yesterday the American swimmer from Towson, Maryland won his 19th Olympic Medal (15th gold) and surpassed former Ukrainian gymnast Larisa Latynina with 18 medals. Michael Phelps won a silver medal in the 200 meter butterfly, which might have been one of the best Olympic events of the 2012 London Games. After being ahead on every 50m checkpoint, the American phenom lost the gold medal to Chad le Clos, a South African swimmer who outswam Phelps with a time of 1m 52s 96 against Phelps' 1m 53s 01. This was South Africa's second medal in the 2012 games and both have been gold medals coming from mens swimming. Phelps' second medal of the day, and the one that made him the all-time leader in medals was the gold he won in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay.

Phelps holds the all-time records for gold medals (15) and gold medals in individual events (9). He is also the current individual long course world record holder in the 100 meters butterfly, 200 meters butterfly, and 400 meters individual medley. Phelps is now 27 years old and is competing in his third Summer Olympic Games, which means he could still be able to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games since he would be 31 by then. 

If appointing the title of greatest Olympic athlete of all time, it is hard not to say Michael Phelps without even blinking, but there is a strong case to be made for Ukrainian gymnast Larisa Latynina. Larisa was born in Kherson, a part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic on December 27, 1934 and is 77 years old. She has 18 Olympic medals (9 golds) and is the female athlete with the most gold medals ever and who at one point held that record for both men and women.

London 2012 Countdown

One week from today, the Olympic Torch will illuminate the city of London and mark the beginning of the 2012 Summer Olympics. The whole world will turn to watch the competitions that we’ve longed to see for four years. This years' events will be nothing short of spectacular, and we’ll be sure to see our fair share of records broken, tears shed, bursts of raw emotion, inspiration, and pure glory. To have a truly complete experience with this year’s Olympics, I’d make sure to keep your eye on some of the following stories and opportunities for Team USA:

The big one everyone’s talking about… Ryan Lochte vs. Michael Phelps. They’ll compete head to head in the 200 and 400 individual medley and work together for the 4x200 freestyle relay, but the big question is “whose going to earn more gold medals”? Every race shall be a fight to the finish so I’d get your DVR set up now.

On the women’s side of the sport, we’ll see 17-year old Missy Franklin compete in her first Olympic Games. She will be swimming in 7 different events, and with her potential she just might place in every single one.

Men’s Basketball is dealing with a whirlwind of injuries at the moment, so can they still ban together and continue to make other teams look silly? Spain is a big threat standing in their way, and it will be an interesting matchup of NBA teammates when they square off.

The Women’s Soccer (football) team looked sharp in the qualifying tournament, and here’s to hoping they can carry that over to the big show. A talented, young, yet experienced group of women will work to repeat the success of their Beijing counterparts and take home the gold this year. 

The “fab five” of gymnasts will be competing in the women’s all around with Jordyn Wieber leading this pack of young teenagers to victory. It says quite enough that Nastia Liukin couldn’t make the cut this year after an inspiring performance for the all-around gold medal just four years ago.

As we approach the makeshift beach of central London, we will look to Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh to do it again for us in the Beach Volleyball competition.  If you followed their journey in 2008, you couldn’t help but jump out of your seat with every passionate point from the duo. However, a lot has changed and will make this trip more difficult. Walsh gave birth to two children, Misty May dealt with lingering injuries, their 112 match win streak came to an end, and to top it all off their biggest threat this summer are the fellow US competitors (Kessy and Ross). It will be an uphill battle, but I don’t foresee a lack of excitement. 

For extra motivation (as if you need it) here is a video to pump you up for next week:

What are you looking forward to? Do you have a dark horse to keep your eye on?

With so many talented US Olympians, it's hard to pick a few to spotlight so please share any noteworthy athletes I may have left out.

Olympic Activation

As the 2012 London Olympic Games draw near, it's time to look back on the preparation and ahead to the implementation of the partners involved with the 30th Olympiad. The World Partners, as well as the London partners have been hard at work to get the most out of their sponsorship activation which has the potential to reach millions of viewers world-wide. I have outlined some of the most significant developments and plans for the Olympic Games of the World Partners: