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TSX Weekend Fab Five: Three weeks of World Championships drama

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August 14, 2017

The Sports Examiner’s best Olympic-sport performances of the weekend includes a look back at the astonishing World Championships in track & field in London and what American athletes accomplished over the past three weeks in the prime Olympic sports of swimming and track:

=> No. 5: Mo Farah and Usain Bolt

These two track & field icons finished their World Championships careers last Saturday, although Farah will continue as a road racer. Neither ended the way they wanted to, but that does not diminish their great achievements and the memories that they left behind. More on their final races at the World Championships, click here.

=> No. 4: Sarah Sjostrom

Hungary’s amazing Olympic champion Katinka Hosszu has won the swimming World Cup for five straight years. She’d also won 12 straight “cluster” awards for the top swimmer in each three-meet group. But it was the Swedish star Sjostrom who ended the streak with two world records in Eindhoven … and collected $74,000 for her efforts!

=> No. 3: Allyson Felix

Now 31, Felix won two golds and a bronze at the World Championships and now holds the record – by herself – for the most career Worlds medals. Amazing … and she’s not done!

=> No. 2: U.S. swimmers & track & field athletes

Usually, there’s a drop-off after an Olympic year in performance and interest among American athletes. Not in 2017, as the stunning results of the swimming and track World Championships showed: 68 medals over the past three weeks. Wow!

=> No. 1: Emma Coburn & Courtney Frerichs

At best, Coburn and Frerichs figured to be about fifth and eighth in the women’s 3,000 m Steeplechase at the track & field World Championships. Instead, Coburn and her coach/fiancee worked out a brilliant plan and Frerichs stuck close to engineer one of the great upset performances in the history of sport. For the details, click here.

Want to know more? Check out all of the highlights in the only all-in-one briefing on Olympic sports anywhere: The Sports Examiner!

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Three weeks, two World Championships, 68 U.S. medals!

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August 13, 2017

PALM DESERT, August 14, 2017 – Although you wouldn’t even know about them if you were reading U.S. newspapers or watching SportsCenter on ESPN, United States athletes just completed three dominating weeks in the pool and on the track.

Between the swimming portion of the FINA Worlds in Budapest and the IAAF Worlds in London, American stars won a dazzling 68 medals.

How does that compare to Rio? To what other countries did? How do U.S. athletes pull this off? We don’t have the answer to that last question, but the rest of the details are in our Lane One commentary, plus:

= p. 5/Vox Populi: More on eSports, the Olympic Games and the IAAF;
= p. 6/Athletics: U.S. wins gold, silver and bronze to close out the World Champs;
= p. 9/Athletics: Who won what: medals, money, records and results!
= p. 18/Diving: Teenagers dominate U.S. Diving National Championships;
= p. 21/Swimming: Sarah Sjostrom wins $74,000 on one meet in Eindhoven!

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

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August 12, 2017

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

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August 10, 2017

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!

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August 9, 2017

tsx pix 80917 iaaf wch w 400 588x400 — 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?

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August 9, 2017

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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Amid the jeers, cheers for Justin Gatlin

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August 6, 2017

tsx pix 62417-gatlin, justin (Augustas_Didzgalvis) 750x500 — 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!

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August 5, 2017

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

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August 4, 2017

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

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August 2, 2017

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

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July 31, 2017

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?

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July 30, 2017

tsx pix 73017 usa team mixed relay 727x500 — 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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The Olympic Games, Los Angeles and hysteria, courtesy of Sergeant Schultz

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July 27, 2017

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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Please … no more pants!

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July 26, 2017

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

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July 24, 2017

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.

When is being the best in the world not good enough?

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July 24, 2017

PALM DESERT, July 24, 2017 – The United States swim team led the medal count at the 2015 World Championships … and was considered a near-failure.

Sometimes, even being the best isn’t good enough. But USA Swimming changed its approach and had an Olympic Games for the ages in Rio last year.

Now a new development could change the way U.S. sports federations think about the years between Olympic Games: NBC’s Olympic Channel.

Can it really make a difference? We examine the possibilities in our Lane One commentary, plus full coverage of the FINA World Championships in Aquatics and much more:

= p. 5/Aquatics: U.S. opens swimming with four medals & five U.S. records!
= p. 15/Football: Jamaica stuns Mexico and will meet U.S. in Gold Cup final!
= p. 16/Cycling: Chris Froome wins fourth Tour de France with brilliant time trial;
= p. 18/Athletics: Bolt wins, but Ajee Wilson sets new U.S. women’s 800 record!
= p. 25/Beach Volleyball: Kerri Walsh Jennings injured in World Tour Olsztyn;
= p. 28/Hockey: U.S. women victorious in World League semi-final tournament!

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The Sports Examiner’s Weekend Watch List: The Katie Ledecky Show

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July 21, 2017

The best of Olympic sport on television this weekend is from, in reverse order, Paris, Arlington, Pasadena and Budapest:

=> No. 3: Cycling/Tour de France: Stages 20-21

¶ Stage 8: Saturday, July 22 on NBCSN at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time from France.
¶ Stage 9: Sunday, July 23 on NBCSN at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time from France.
¶ Why watch? British star Chris Froome is closing in on his third straight Tour de France win, but he’s not free and clear yet, especially from France’s Romain Bardet, just 23 seconds back in the overall standings, after more than 80 hours of racing. Remember, no Frenchman has won the Tour since 1985, so he will have plenty of supporters!

=> No. 2: Football/CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals

¶ Saturday, July 22 on FS1/Univision/UDN at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time from Arlington, Texas;
¶ Sunday, July 23 on FS1/Univision/UDN at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time, from Pasadena, California.
¶ Why watch? The U.S. men’s soccer team faces Costa Rica, which humiliated the Americans so badly in their last game in November that Jurgen Klinsmann was fired and Bruce Arena re-hired. That’s on Saturday.

On Sunday is upstart Jamaica, trying to make its second consecutive Gold Cup final vs. defending champion Mexico, with a suspended coach and more drama than all the telenovelas on television put together, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

=> No. 1: Swimming/FINA World Championships

¶ Sunday, July 23 on NBCSN at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time from Budapest, Hungary.
¶ Why watch? The swimming action is finally starting, with American superstar and world record holder Katie Ledecky swimming in the 400 m Freestyle, and the men’s and women’s speed relay, the 4×100 m Freestyle, all from Budapest.

When technology went too far: Swimming’s fantastic plastic suits

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July 20, 2017

tsx pix 72017 lzr suits intro 2008 720x450 — Introduction of Speedo's LZR Racer plasticized swimsuit in February 2008 ~ when technology overtook swimming.

PALM DESERT, July 21, 2017 – The swimming portion of the FINA World Championships starts on Sunday with American superstar Katie Ledecky possibly ready to better her own world record in the women’s 400 m Freestyle.

But there are plenty of records that will not be approached, as they are reminders of the short but devastating era when technology got ahead of the swimmers. The plastic-suit era saw a wholesale rewriting of the record books and because it took two years before the suits were banned, half of today’s records date from 2008 and 2009.

We have the details in our Lane One commentary, plus full coverage of the FINA World Championships in Aquatics and much more:

= p. 5/Aquatics: Ashley Twichell takes gold for U.S. in Open Water 5 km!
= p. 13/Football: U.S. men reach Gold Cup semis, face Costa Rica on Saturday;
= p. 14/Cycling: Britain’s Chris Froome leads Tour de France with three stages left;
= p. 16/World Games: 31-sport, 222-event with 111 nations starts in Wroclaw!
= p. 17/Athletics: Usain Bolt’s last pre-World Champs tune-up in Monaco today!
= p. 21/Basketball: No. 1-ranked U.S. women’s U-19 starts World Champs in Italy;
= p. 21/Weightlifting: Pan American Champs starts in Miami!

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Phelps is racing sharks for fun, Owens raced horses because he needed money

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July 19, 2017

tsx pix 71817 owens & horse 630x500 — This is not a mirage: Jesse Owens really is getting ready to race a horse in 1938.

PALM DESERT, July 19, 2017 – The silly Michael Phelps vs. a Great White Shark show coming Sunday is designed to be fun and entertaining. But man vs. beast was no joke for another Olympic champion 81 years ago.

Jesse Owens won four gold medals in Berlin in 1936, but he couldn’t find a job when he returned to the U.S. So, he had to race horses to pay his debts.

We remember Owens’ pain in his own words in our Lane One commentary, plus full coverage of the FINA World Championships in Aquatics and much more:

= p. 5/Aquatics: U.S. scores first medals in Budapest in diving, open water and synchro!
= p. 11/Fencing: Strong U.S. team headed for Leipzig and 2017 World Champs;
= p. 13/Football: U.S. men in Gold Cup quarterfinals in Philadelphia tonight!
= p. 14/Cycling: Decision time in the Alps for the 2017 Tour de France!
= p. 17/Triathlon: Flora Duffy joins elite company with third win in a row!

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The IOC changed its future, now what about the Paralympics?

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July 16, 2017

PALM DESERT, July 17, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee made a decisive move for the future with its decision to select host cities for both the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games.

Now the International Paralympic Committee is getting ready to find its future through the election of a new governing board and a new president. But what is the IPC’s vision for the future?

Can it continue to grow? Will it do the one thing that will bring its athletes into the spotlight, unhindered by the shadow of the Olympic Games?

We check in on the IPC and its future in our Lane One commentary, plus a full coverage of the FINA World Championships in Aquatics and much more:

= p. 5/Diving: China still strong, but not invincible so far in Budapest!
= p. 11/Athletics: Sensational shot put series from U.S. & Olympic champ Ryan Crouser;
= p. 17/Cycling: Tour de France is getting serious now; are you paying attention yet?
= p. 23/Triathlon: U.S. scores silver in first-ever Relay World Championship race!
= p. 25/Wrestling: U.S. men’s Freestylers go 25-0 in Grand Prix of Spain!

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The International Olympic Committee, and its money

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July 14, 2017

PALM DESERT, July 14, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee gives away 90% of all of its revenue to support the Olympic Movement.

Is this, to paraphrase 19th Century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, “lies, damned lies or statistics”?

We comb through the IOC’s just-released annual report to find out the facts from the figures in our Lane One commentary, plus a full coverage of the FINA World Championships in Aquatics that starts today:

= p. 5/Phil Hersh: IOC and NBC reinforce Peter Ueberroth’s Olympic legacy;
= p. 9/Aquatics: Previews of FINA World Champs diving, open water and synchro events;
= p. 14/Athletics: U.S. World Champs team warming up at Diamond League Rabat;
= p. 17/Swimming: Ryan Lochte returns from suspensions & two swimmers get BMWs!
= p. 18/Wrestling: 17 U.S. wrestlers in new United World Wrestling rankings!

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Remembering UCLA’s Jim Bush, who knew the power of effort and encouragement

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July 12, 2017

PALM DESERT, July 12, 2017 – Do we die a little bit inside when one of our mentors passes away?

For so many athletes who were coached, encouraged or advised by UCLA’s great track & field coach, Jim Bush, the world is a little less bright after he passed on Monday, aged 90. He had gathered with alumni and friends last April, knowing that his time was short and wanting to touch those whom he knew and loved best one more time.

A personal recollection of Coach Bush is in our Lane One commentary, plus a full analysis of the historic 130th Session of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne:

= p. 6/Olympic Games: IOC approves L.A. and Paris for 2024/2028, IF they can agree …
= p. 8/Aquatics: Massive FINA World Champs start Thursday; our Water Polo preview!
= p. 9/Football: U.S. men’s team faces group leader Martinique in Gold Cup action;
= p. 11/Athletics: Christian Coleman only in 100 at Worlds; Bolt’s next race is …
= p. 12/Table Tennis: Tizzy over Chinese walkout about coaching still percolating.

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Ronald Reagan’s advice for the IOC and future Olympic bids

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July 9, 2017

PALM DESERT, July 10, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee is on the verge of selecting host cities for two Olympic Games at the same time for the first time since 1921. But is this going to help solve the IOC’s problem in attracting bid cities for the future?

The issue is money, and U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s approach to dealing with Soviet promises of nuclear arms control applies equally to what the IOC must do in the future with its candidate cities.

We have the details – and the data – in our Lane One commentary, plus the details of a wild week of U.S. successes and disappointments in races and games around the world:

= p. 5/Athletics: Allyson Felix, Kerron Clement & Aries Merritt star for U.S. in London;
= p. 8/Basketball: U.S. men win bronze at FIBA U-19 World Cup in Egypt;
= p. 9/Beach Volleyball: U.S. duo of Phil Dalhausser & Nick Lucena win Gstaad 5-star!
= p. 21/Table Tennis: Kanak Jha & Lily Zhang repeat as U.S. champs;
= p. 22/Volleyball: U.S. women beat China, start 3-0 in FIVB Grand Prix!

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What did the IOC’s Evaluation Commission really say about L.A. and Paris?

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July 7, 2017

PALM DESERT, July 7, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee’s Evaluation Commission gave glowing endorsements to both the Los Angeles and Paris bids for the 2024 Olympic Games in their report released on Wednesday.

But were both bids as perfect as they seemed? Both are excellent … but not perfect, and the Commission did pick up on some of the underlying issues. And there’s a big monetary mistake that’s a plus for both cities!

We have the details in our Lane One commentary, plus a full report on what’s going on in the five-ring circus:

= p. 6/Athletics: Wayde van Niekerk’s 43.62 just one of five world leaders in Lausanne!
= p. 9/Basketball: U.S. U-19 men crush Mali and head to world Cup semis vs. Germany!
= p. 11/Swimming: Ready for the Global Association of Professional Swimmers?
= p. 12/Athletics: Star-studded Diamond League meet with Farah & Felix on Sunday;
= p. 15/Football: U.S. men face Panama in Gold Cup opener in New Jersey!

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What is fairness? The IAAF, Caster Semenya and “intersex” athletes

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July 5, 2017

Testosterone chemical structure formula

PALM DESERT, July 5, 2017 – South Africa’s reigning Olympic 800 m champion Caster Semenya has been a lightning rod for controversy since her 2009 World Championship at age 18 that raised questions about her status as a woman.

The IAAF required her to be medicated to reduce her unusually high testosterone level, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport told the IAAF it had to come back with better scientific evidence and suspended the federation’s rules on testosterone. Now the IAAF has its report in hand; what does it say and what’s next?

The background and the issues going forward are in our Lane One commentary, plus a full report on what’s going on in the five-ring circus:

= p. 6/Shooting: Mother and son both make the U.S. National Team in Air Pistol!
= p. 7/Swimming: USA Swimming names World Champs team for Budapest;
= p. 9/Athletics: World-record holder Wayde van Niekerk in Lausanne meet Thursday!
= p. 13/Basketball: U.S. men’s U-19 World Cup team faces Mali in Round of 16;
= p. 13/Cycling: Star rider Peter Sagan throws an elbow and is DQ’d in Tour de France!

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The unbearable sadness of watching the world’s greatest swim team

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July 2, 2017

PALM DESERT, July 3, 2017 – USA Swimming’s Phillips 66 National Championships in Indianapolis was the swim meet of the year, producing 48 top-five marks in the world, eight world-leading times and two American Records.

But it was also depressing, because the stands were only half-full at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. Who is to blame for this? What wasn’t done? Who should be fired?

It’s a lot more complicated than that and we explore the issues in our Lane One commentary, plus a full report on a hot weekend in Olympic sport:

= p. 5/Swimming: Full coverage of a sensational 2017 Phillips 66 Nationals!
= p. 9/Athletics: A great day for U.S. hurdler Devon Allen, and then a false start …
= p. 10/Basketball: U.S. men’s U-19 team wins first two World Cup games by 217-116!
= p. 13/Cycling: Has anything important happened at the Tour de France yet? Yes!
= p. 18/Gymnastics: Laura Zeng wins fifth straight U.S. Rhythmic All-Around title.

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