THE SPORT HOT NEWS

Here's the latest medal count....through 08/15:

Medal Tracker - Beijing 2008
Rk.	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	USA	14	13	19	46
2	China	26	9	6	41
3	Australia	5	7	8	20
4	Russia	3	8	8	19
5	Korea	6	9	3	18
Full Medal Tracker

Courtesy...CBS Sports

This week, the sports world has been glued to the Beijing Olympics....


So let us get you up to date on what's been happening in Major League Baseball.

Two of the mighty (during the '90s) ........died this week. The New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves. The Yankees have lost 7 out of their last 10 to fall 9 1/2 games out of the division lead.

The Braves were swept by the Chicago Cubs this week and fell to 10 games out. The Cubs won every game against Atlanta this year for the first time ever.




Manny Ramirez was asked by new manager (Joe Torre) of his new team( the Dodgers) .....to get a hair cut........and he did. His dreadlocks still extended down his back.....but were about an inch shorter. Well.......he did as he was told.....he got a hair cut. Manny ....being ...Manny.






Prince Fielder jumped in the face of Milwaukee Brewer pitcher, Manny Parra, after Parra had pitched a loss against the Cincinnati Reds. A shoving match ensued......the two had to be separated . This was on August 4..........After that, the Brewers won 8 in a row. Club house harmony.....is so over-rated.







The Barry Bonds rumors are heating up again. The latest is that the Tampa Bay Rays are entertaining thoughts of signing Bonds to help their offensive line-up down the stretch run of the pennant race. It sounds nutty.....but.....The Rays are young......they need a DH......Bonds and the circus that will surround him will take the pressure off the rest of the team. This may well work.




The standings....as of today:

Courtesy of Yahoo Sports..

Regular Standings

From GaPeach 913......

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

It was ....the summer of 1968.....

In Mexico City.......the Olympics. (It actually took place in mid October).....but .....

Tommie Smith and John Carlos of the USA track team, raised their arms straight into the air....and made a fist. On the platform of the medal winners.......after Smith had won the gold in the 200 meters....and Carlos had placed third.

No words..........just an arm raised.....and a fist formed.

Well........The United States of America.....well.......they went .....bananas!

"How dare they disgrace the USA?" "They made a Black Panther signal!!!!!" "They should give there medals back!!!!"

And so forth...........and so on..........The Media crucified these men..........And for what?

For expressing themselves as black men.....going through the trials........that were...........the '60s......Remember 1968? Martin Luther King was assassinated. Robert Kennedy, also. Thee Democratic National Convention? The race riots? Those were ...trying times.

And these two men........chose the forum.....which was the Olympics.....to express themselves....

Fast forward........2008.....Beijing.......

Seems the Spanish basketball team made a statement......expressing themselves.....using their fingers....to "slant" their eyes........China style.

Well ........as usual.....the US media..........has been hammering these guys....calling them racist, etc.

Spain and the rest of world........says. "What's the big deal?"

And we agree......We are so "politically correct" in this nation.........it's become pathetic.....

Lets...........let........people express themselves.......It's really not all that bad.

Women's Beach Volleyball.....that is...



It began here......in the deep south. The 1996 Atlanta Olympics introduced the rest of the world to volleyball.......played in the sand......with 2 person teams.

Put the women teams in bikinis......all of a sudden ......the sport just takes off. Go figure!

Of course, beach volleyball originated back in the 1920's............in Santa Monica, California.

It's popularity was always high out west, and with the television ratings garnered in Atlanta, it has been one of the most watched Olympic events in the 2000 Athens and 2004 Sydney Games.

I like the competitiveness of the game.....the scenery is not bad either.....


Here's what others are saying:


Beach Volleyball's Moment

The competition at Beijing's 12,000-seat Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground is one of the hottest Olympic tickets. The sport, with its beach-party atmosphere featuring impeccably cut and tanned athletes competing in skimpy bathing suits, is seen as having huge entertainment potential, which is why NBC is featuring it live in prime time throughout the Summer Games.
Read more from Wall Street Journal


See........I'm not the only one.

If....it's Wednesday.....It must be Hump Day.....

A few thoughts......and a little news.



19-17.....And this was a Major League Baseball game....

Last night the Boston Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 19-17, after blowing a major league record 10 run lead.

Talk about your wild games........The evening featured a combined 36 runs, 37 hits, 4 errors and a total of 11 pitchers used.

Here's the box score: Box Score



This Michael Phelps dude is really good.....

At 6' 4", he is an imposing figure.....with a wing span of 6' 7".......He has already won 11 gold medals in his career.

Meet the man...........courtesy of Wikipedia:

Michael Phelps - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Things I think I think..........on a Wednesday....

I always thought John Edwards was a phony........now.....I'm sure of it.

I think Brett Favre will have a tough time in New York .....this season.

I think I'm about to jump on the Chicago Cubs bandwagon.......They are the best team in baseball.........or at least in the National League.

I think it's a good thing the Olympics come only every 4 years........I could not survive all the hype.


Have a great ......Hump Day.

Back by popular demand........

We bring you greetings from "The Classic City"......Athens, GA

Thanks to the Athens Banner-Herald.......Here's todays Police Blotter.....

Store clerk injured saving cheap wine

A Watkinsville man is facing felony charges after he assaulted a Hull convenience store clerk over two $3 bottles of stolen Mad Dog 20/20 and a $2 bottle of beer, according to the Madison County Sheriff's Office.

Craig Nicholas Lakins, 23, was charged Monday with kidnapping, aggravated assault and robbery. Police said Lakins was sitting in his car and grabbed the arm of the clerk just before 9 p.m. Thursday at Diamond Hill Grocery, drove off and dragged him for 75 feet.

The clerk had confronted Lakins about stealing the alcohol, and when the clerk reached in to take the bottle, Lakins grabbed his arm, police said.

The clerk was taken to St. Mary's Hospital for treatment of several abrasions he got falling to the asphalt and a wound to his wrist that required stitches, police said.

Now that's..........one dedicated......employee!

Car not stolen, but driver faces charge

An officer arrested a 29-year-old Athens man early Monday after he was stopped because his car matched the description of a stolen car, Athens-Clarke police said.

The Monte Carlo was not stolen, police said, but officers saw a bag of marijuana in the car, and when they searched it, found another bag and a digital scale, police said.

Adrian Lynn, 29, of Lombardy Drive, was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a drug-related object and driving without insurance, police said.

Talk about bad luck.......this guy was in the wrong place...with the wrong car...

Stay tuned.......we'll be back next week....with more Police Blotters from this southern college town.