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EXTRA/Four more U.S. medals, but no fairy-tale farewells for Farah & Bolt

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, August 13, 2017 – Sure, the United States women’s 4×100 m relay team won gold at the IAAF World Championships, but the day featured two great champions who did not fulfill the hopes of their fans.

Mo Farah finished second in the 5,000 m, with American Paul Chelimo winning the bronze, and Usain Bolt – in his final race – pulled up on the anchor of the men’s relay as Great Britain beat the U.S. at the tape.

Allyson Felix set a career record with another World Championships medal and the U.S. is approaching the all-time Worlds medal record, with one day remaining. All the details, previews of Sunday’s finals and much more in this EXTRA edition of The Sports Examiner.

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EXTRA/Not fake news: Coburn & Frerichs 1-2 in Steeple!

By
Rich Perelman
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Truth is always stranger than fiction: Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs win Worlds Steeplechase gold and silver (Photo: USATF)

PALM DESERT, August 12, 2017 – Two Americans expected to finish about fifth and eighth instead stunned the track & field world, as Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs won the gold and silver medals in the women’s 3,000 m Steeplechase at the IAAF World Championships in London.

How crazy was this? Coburn and Frerichs placed 4-5 behind three of the competitors in Friday’s Steeple final at the Prefontaine Classic back in May. But this was different and the first World Championships medals ever won by U.S. women in this event.

How did it happen? We have all the details, plus the NBC/NBCSN/NBC Olympic Channel television schedule, a preview of Saturday’s seven finals – and Usain Bolt’s last race, in the 4×100 m – and much more in this EXTRA edition of The Sports Examiner.

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The antidote to eSports: Real sports, and how the IAAF can lead the revolution

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, August 11, 2017 – The Olympic world is in a dither as the prospective chief executive of the Paris 2024 organizing committee tells the Associated Press he wants to talk about having eSports as part of the 2024 Games.

Are you kidding?

How about promoting real sport, real fitness and a lifetime plan of walking, running or both … and the IAAF could be the organization to do it with a new World Road Race Championships that includes both elite athletes and events for public participation!

Impossible? The details are in our Lane One commentary, plus much more from the IAAF World Championships in London and much more:

= p. 5/Vox Populi: How about some recognition for Jenny Simpson?
= p. 6/Athletics: Kori Carter and Christian Taylor mine U.S. gold in London;
= p. 9/Athletics: Previews of Friday’s four Championship finals;
= p. 17/Swimming: Can Sarah Sjostrom end a four-year streak by the Iron Lady?
= p. 19/Hockey: U.S. women in semis, U.S. men play for bronze in Pan Am Cup.

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EXTRA/Phyllis Francis’ 400 m win even shocked her!

By
Rich Perelman
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Phyllis Francis wins the 400 meters, with Allyson Felix (center) third and Salwa Eid Naser second (Photo: USATF)

PALM DESERT, August 10, 2017 – A crazy day of track & field, held in a heavy rain in London, ended with surprise finishes in the women’s 400 m and men’s 400 m hurdles.

In both cases, the Olympic champions from Rio went down to defeat, including a shocking finish to the women’s 400 that saw a stunned Phyllis Francis of the U.S. win her first individual world title.

We have all the details, plus the NBC/NBCSN/NBC Olympic Channel television schedule, a preview of Thursday’s finals – including a possible U.S. sweep – and much more in this EXTRA edition of The Sports Examiner.

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On your marks, set, shoot! Is the IAAF pointing a gun at its own head?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, August 9, 2017 – The International Association of Athletics Federations is enjoying a banner World Championships in London, but there is trouble ahead.

Doping scandals, investigations of its past president, a worrysome 2019 championships venue and much more. Now the whisper is that the IAAF wants to change its name, if as they will help its problems go away.

We have all the details, and the core issue the IAAF must address in our Lane One commentary, plus much more from London and beyond:

= p. 5/Vox Populi: Comments on our Lane One story saluting Justin Gatlin;
= p. 6/Athletics: U.S.’s Sam Kendricks soars 19-6 1/4 for pole vault gold;
= p. 9/Athletics: Previews of Wednesday’s three finals in London;
= p. 20/Swimming: The Iron Lady strikes: 4 wins & a world record in Berlin!
= p. 22/Wrestling: U.S men’s junior Freestylers win World Junior Championships.

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EXTRA/Jenny Simpson’s sprint claims World Champs silver

By
Rich Perelman
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Think Jenny Simpson is thrilled with her silver medal at the IAAF World Championships? (Photo: USATF)

PALM DESERT, August 8, 2017 – The field for the women’s 1,500 m final at the IAAF World Championships was one of the greatest ever. The world-record holder, two Olympic champions, two World Champions and the 2017 world leader were all on the start line.

One of those past World Champions was American Jenny Simpson, whose reputation for tactical excellence was won in races like this.

And she did it again. Find out how she somehow claimed a sensational silver medal in this EXTRA edition of The Sports Examiner, plus previews of Tuesday’s finals and the week-long World Championships television schedule on NBC, NBCSN and the NBC Olympic Channel.

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Amid the jeers, cheers for Justin Gatlin

By
Rich Perelman
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Justin Gatlin (Photo: Augustas Didzgalvis via Wikimedia Commons)

PALM DESERT, August 7, 2017 – Lustily booed by the capacity crowds in London’s Olympic Stadium and then stunning the world by winning the men’s 100 m World Championship over countryman Christian Coleman and Jamaican icon Usain Bolt, American sprint star Justin Gatlin is being derided as a “disaster” for the sport of track & field.

Far from it: he should be celebrated, for his resilience, perseverance and grace. We have all the details in our Lane One commentary, plus much more from London and beyond:

= p. 5/Athletics: A four-medal day for the U.S. and history by Tori Bowie & Amy Cragg;
= p. 13/Archery: Ninth national title for shooting star Brady Ellison!
= p. 14/Beach Volleyball: Silver medals for the U.S.’s April Ross & Lauren Fendrick!
= p. 18/Swimming: Sarah Sjostrom on a roll with two more wins in Berlin World Cup;
= p. 19/Triathlon: Winning streaks end for Mario Mola & Flora Duffy in Montreal World Series.

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EXTRA/Gatlin guns down Coleman & Bolt from lane eight!

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, August 6, 2017 – The thrilling semifinal showdown that saw American Christian Coleman edge Jamaica’s Usain Bolt put the focus on those two in Saturday’s men’s 100 m final at the IAAF World Championships.

And then Justin Gatlin – booed before each of his races in London – stole the race from lane eight and won his second World Championships, some 12 years after his first.

How? We have a full analysis and much more in this EXTRA edition of The Sports Examiner, plus:

= p. 1/How Gatlin made history in the men’s 100 m on Saturday;
= p. 7/Who to look for in Sunday’s six finals, including the morning marathons;
= p. 6/U.S. television schedule for the Championships.

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EXTRA/Farah’s fitness wins 10,000 m; what about Bolt?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, August 5, 2017 – The IAAF World Championships got underway with a brilliant men’s 10,000 m final and the third straight world title for British distance icon Mo Farah.

It wasn’t easy, but he did it in the greatest 10,000 m in World Championships history. All the details in this EXTRA edition of The Sports Examiner, plus:

= p. 2/Reviews of Friday’s qualifying events;
= p. 4/Previews of Saturday’s four finals, including Usain Bolt in the 100 m;
= p. 3/U.S. television schedule for the Championships.

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Did Los Angeles get a good deal for 2028, or just a deal?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, August 4, 2017 – First the announcement and the excitement. Now comes the careful review.

The International Olympic Committee has made public the “Host City Contract Principles” for the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad in 2028, so we examined it in detail to determine whether the Los Angeles bid committee got a good deal … or just a deal to host the Games in 11 years’ time.

The answer? Find out in our Lane One commentary, plus the start of the IAAF World Championships:

= p. 6/Athletics: British idol Mo Farah defends his 10,000 m title in London;
= p. 12/Triathlon: Will Mario Mola and Flora Duffy make more history in Montreal?
= p. 13/Beach Volleyball: Three U.S. teams left in Beach World Championships;
= p. 14/Football: Australia wins Tournament of Nations, with U.S. second;
= p. 15/Swimming: Sjostrom sets two world records in first World Cup meet!

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A third Los Angeles Games in 2028 ends a 32-year quest for the faithful

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, August 2, 2017 – When the news flash came across on Monday that an agreement had been made to award the 2028 Olympic Games to Los Angeles, quiet smiles broke out on the faces of a group of people who have never been associated with the LA2024 Bid Committee.

But they knew all about bidding for the Games, because they were part of an organization that had been bidding almost continuously over the last 73 years to bring the event back to Los Angeles, had succeeded in 1984, and were determined to succeed again.

What organization? Who has been bidding for 73 years, and for the last 32 since the 1984 Games? Find out in our Lane One commentary, plus money matters in swimming and look ahead to this week’s mega-championship:

= p. 6/Athletics: A look ahead to the IAAF World Champs starting Friday in London;
= p. 11/Swimming: A Swede and a Brit scored the biggest paydays at the FINA Worlds!
= p. 13/Cycling: USA Cycling Track Nationals underway in California;
= p. 14/Football: U.S. women in final Tournament of Nations match vs. Japan;
= p. 14/Swimming: FINA goes from great World Champs to silly World Cup series.

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TSX Weekend Fab Five: Comebacks, history and total U.S. domination

By
Rich Perelman
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The Sports Examiner’s best Olympic-sport performances of the weekend … includes a miracle comeback from the U.S. women’s national soccer team and historic performances from American riders, international triathletes and those incredible American swimmers.

=> No. 5: U.S. women get off the mat for 4-3 win over Brazil

This has been an uneven year for the no. 1-ranked American women’s soccer team. There’s nothing really to play for until the Women’s World Cup in 2019, but even in a made-up event called the Tournament of Nations, the U.S. looked lost with a 1-0 loss to Australia and down 3-1 to Brazil in San Diego. Then came nine magical minutes and a 4-3 win! See today’s issue for the details!

Embed from Getty Images

=> No. 4: Alise Post and Corben Sharrah

Don’t recognize the names? You should: they’re the World Champions in BMX, after winning this past weekend’s Elite divisions at the UCI Worlds held in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Both had a tough ride against veteran opposition; the story on page 15 of today’s issue.

=> No. 3: Mario Mola and Flora Duffy

Both are the reigning World Series champions from 2016, but the Spaniard Mola and Bermuda’s Duffy won their fourth World Series race in a row in Edmonton. That’s never been done before on the men’s side and Duffy is now tied with the great Gwen Jorgensen of the U.S. among women. History!

=> No. 2: Caeleb Dressel

He won a gold medal in Rio at age 19 as the “unknown” member of the men’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay, but he came into his own in 2017 with SEVEN gold medals at the World Championships, winning three individual events and four relays. Can he equal Michael Phelps’ record of eight golds in a single Games in Tokyo? Check out our Lane One commentary for the outlook …

Embed from Getty Images

=> No. 1: United States swim team

For the second week in a row, who else can it be but the American swim squad? This team didn’t just dominate the World Championships – as it did the Rio Olympics last year – but set an all-time record of 38 medals – across 42 events – won in a single Worlds. Wow!

Swimming’s new dilemma: What if you have two Michael Phelps?

By
Rich Perelman
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Why shouldn't these American swimmers smile? Their team won the most medals in the history of the FINA World Championships!

PALM DESERT, July 31, 2017 – A marvelous World Championships in the aquatic sports closed on Sunday with a historic performance by the United States swim team, which won more medals – 38 – than any team in history.

The next World Championships isn’t until 2019, but FINA and the Olympic organizers in Tokyo for 2020 will starting thinking quite soon about the Games swimming schedule. Will it allow American stars Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky to potentially pursue “unreachable” medal goals held by Olympic stars Michael Phelps and East Germany’s Kristin Otto?

We consider the possibilities for history – based on what we saw from Budapest – and the politics in our Lane One commentary, plus a wrap-up of the World Championships and much more:

= p. 5/Swimming: Recap of the Worlds’ final, frantic day and how the U.S. made history;
= p. 9/Water Polo: Undefeated U.S. women earn gold and extend an amazing win streak;
= p. 15/Cycling: U.S. stars Alise Post & Corbin Sharrah win BMX world titles!
= p. 17/Football: Wild comeback for U.S. women vs. Brazil: 3 goals in 9 minutes!
= p. 23/Triathlon: Mario Mola & Flora Duffy make history at Edmonton Sprint!

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EXTRA/FINA World Champs Day 8: Will the U.S. set a medals record?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, July 30, 2017 – After the U.S. Nationals, it was clear that the U.S. would send a formidable swim team to the World Championships in Budapest. But a team that would win the most medals in the history of the event?

After a brilliant, six-medal performance on Saturday, it’s possible, as the U.S. has 31 medals through the first seven days of the swimming. The record is 36 in a single Worlds, set by the U.S. back in 2007, and the American squad could have as many as 11 finalists in Sunday’s final day of competition. Wow!

In this EXTRA edition, we have your full guide to the final day:

= Previews of all eight of Sunday’s swimming finals;
= Saturday’s highlights, and how much history Caeleb Dressel made in 106 minutes;
= Comprehensive review of the records and results from Budapest this week!

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EXTRA/FINA World Champs day 7: 3 Caeleb Dressel golds in 98 minutes?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, July 29, 2017 – Caeleb Dressel is using the 2017 FINA World Championships to announce that he will be a force in the swimming world for years to come. He’s already won two golds in the 100 m Free and the 4×100 m Free Relay, but could win three gold medals on Saturday in just 98 minutes … if everything goes just right!

We have his full schedule, and his chances in each event, in this EXTRA edition, with previews of all six finals on Saturday’s program, including another gold-medal opportunity for Katie Ledecky.

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The Olympic Games, Los Angeles and hysteria, courtesy of Sergeant Schultz

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, July 28, 2017 – As the International Olympic Committee and the bid committees of Paris and Los Angeles get closer to an agreement that will place Olympic Games in both of them over the next 11 years, the level of hysteria is increasing at an exponential level.

Naysayers are doing everything short of lighting themselves on fire to warn of impending doom. It’s worth asking, however, if any of these “experts” have spent even a day working for the organizing committee of a major sporting event. Answer: they haven’t.

They’re reminiscent of Sgt. Schultz, the Sergeant of the Guard at Stalag 13 in the 1960s sitcom, Hogan’s Heroes. “I know nothing” was his trademark reply and, in the case of Los Angeles for 2028, the naysayers are in league with Schultz.

We explain why Los Angeles has real advantages for 2028, and where the focus of concern should really be, in our Lane One commentary, plus full coverage of the FINA World Championships and much more:

= p. 6/Aquatics: Three more golds and a U.S. first since 1978 at the swimming Worlds;
= p. 14/Football: Amazing Gold Cup win for the U.S. men’s team and Bruce Arena;
= p. 15/Fencing: American Foil fencers win two team silvers at World Championships;
= p. 20/Triathlon: Can Mario Mola and Flora Duffy make history in Edmonton?
= p. 21/Basketball: No. 1 USA women in U-19 World Champs quarters vs. France!

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EXTRA/FINA Worlds Day 5: More U.S. gold in Budapest?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, July 27, 2017 – Starting the second half of the FINA World Championships, the U.S. has stars Nathan Adrian, Caeleb Dressel, Chase Kalisz, Kathleen Baker and a relay headed by Katie Ledecky ready to compete on Thursday.

There are five finals coming up and we have previews of all of them, as well as full details and analysis of the two world records by the U.S. in the new Mixed Medley relay and Ledecky’s silver medal in the 200 m Freestyle.

With 24 of 42 events still to be swum, the American squad leads with 16 medals to six for Australia and five for China and Italy. More coming on Thursday!

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Please … no more pants!

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, July 26, 2017 – Have you been watching the FINA World Championships from Budapest?

The competition has been marvelous … except for those deck-side interviews where the athletes are still panting and gasping for breath after their swims.

Do we really need this? The concept of putting athletes and media together next to the field of play started in 1984 and needs to be updated. We have the back story in our Lane One commentary, plus full coverage of the FINA World Championships and much more:

= p. 5/Aquatics: Four world records, Katie Ledecky and Lilly the King on Day 3!
= p. 13/Football: U.S. and Jamaica face off for the Gold Cup on Wednesday;
= p. 14/Beach Volleyball: World Champs starting, but without Kerri Walsh Jennings;
= p. 17/Cycling: Who won how many Euros at the Tour de France?
= p. 21/Basketball: No. 1 USA women in U-19 playoffs in Italy!

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EXTRA/FINA Worlds Day 3: Ledecky vs. the clock, Efimova vs. King and much more

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, July 25, 2017 – Day three of the FINA World Championships in swimming will have three riveting rivalries to watch:

  • Olympic champion Lilly King of the U.S. against Russia’s reigning World Champion Yuliya Efimova in the women’s 100 m Breaststroke;
  • American Olympic champions Matt Grevers (2012) and Ryan Murphy (2016) trying to chase China’s Jiayu Xu in the men’s 100 m Backstroke;
  • Katie Ledecky against the clock in the women’s 1,500 m Freestyle!

We have previews of each event, links to the live results, a review of Monday’s highlights and the records and results summaries in this EXTRA edition of The Sports Examiner.

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TSX’s Weekend Fab Five: A Jamaican you know and one you don’t

By
Rich Perelman
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The Sports Examiner’s best Olympic-sport performances of the weekend … includes two fine Jamaican performances, but also a powerful start by the formidable U.S. swimmers:

=> No. 5: Usain Bolt, Evan Jager and Ajee Wilson

At the IAAF Diamond League meet in Monaco, Jamaican icon Usain Bolt showed that he is quite capable of winning the 100 m World Championship in London in a couple of weeks. But American Evan Jager ran the no. 2 time in U.S. history in winning the Steeplechase from Kenya’s Jairus Birech and Ajee Wilson set an American Record in the 800 meters in a tight finish with Olympic medalists Caster Semenya and Francine Niyonsaba.

=> No. 4: British diver Tom Daley

The 2009 World Champion in the 10 m Platform event, Britain’s Tom Daley famously imploded last year and failed to make the Olympic final in Rio. In 2017, he was expected to challenge for a medal, but China’s Aisen Chen – gold medalist in Rio – was a prohibitive favorite. Instead, Daley’s first two dives gave him a lead he would never relinquish, and a second World title, in Budapest.

=> No. 3: U.S. women’s hockey team wins FIH World League semi

True, it was only a semi-final tournament, but the sixth-ranked U.S. women fought their way through second-ranked England and then out-lasted Germany in the final, winning two shoot-outs in a row to claim the win and move on to the final later this year.

=> No. 2: U.S. into the CONCACAF Gold Cup final … against Jamaica?

Turnarounds came this weekend in the Gold Cup as the U.S. powered through Costa Rica and reversed the humiliating loss last November with a 2-0 at AT&T Stadium in Texas. Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Kemar Lawrence curled a free kick into the Mexican goal to send the Reggae Boyz to their second straight Gold Cup final with a 1-0 upset.

One more winner from these results will be the advertising directors of Mexican radio and television sportstalk shows, which are sure to see their audiences increase!

=> No. 1: United States swimmers

The American swim team had an astonishing first day at the FINA World Championships with three gold medals, four total medals and five American records. Katie Ledecky won two golds on the first day and Caeleb Dressel set two American records, wiping out two marks from the plastic-suit era in one day.

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