Questions Over Runner’s Gender Exploitative

Long distance runner Caster Semenya was ordered to take a gender test

I was extremely disturbed by the story I read that information regarding Caster Semenya, an 18-year-old track and field sensation from South Africa, was leaked claiming she was a hermaphrodite. The World Track and Field Federation requested the South African Track and Field Federation force Semenya to take a gender test, after they became suspicious of the large amount of time she shaved off her 800-meter and 1,500-meter runs in a short period at the World Championships, as well as her athletic build. She won the 800-meter run in 1 minute, 55.45 seconds, 2.45 seconds ahead of the second place finisher.

After tests were conducted the Australian media came out with leaked information they said they obtained that showed Semenya had an above average amount of testosterone and no ovaries or womb. Obviously, this would give her an unfair advantage over other women and puts cheating in the forefront of people’s minds.

Illinois High Schools Implementing Tougher Steroid Policy

Many high school athletic governing bodies are instilling new rules state-wide as high school sports seasons begin this fall.

And among the Illinois High School Association’s new rules is a beat down on possible steroid use, one of only four states in the nation that has a policy on steroids.

While Illinois implemented a random drug test to around 700 athletes throughout the state starting in 2008 only before post-season competition, the state will now have year-round drug testing and increase the number tests to 1,000.

Olympic host cities playing money game

The money game surrounding how cities will pay to host Olympic Games is becoming even more complicated in the wake of the economy and money-hungry city officials.

On June 17 Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley told the International Olympic Committee that the city will take full responsibility for the funding of the 2016 Games, should it win its bid to host.

And he did it without the input from the city council or the people.

After Daley suspected Chicago may be falling behind in the bid race due to Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janero already promising a full financial guarantee, he decided to jump right in and go all out.

What Lou Can Actually Learn from Ozzie

Jose Contreras Banished To The Bullpen

Usually, I can’t stand anything that comes out of Ozzie Guillen’s mouth. Bashing just about every team and every ballpark who has ever given his team trouble, usually anything he has to say is not worth listening to.

But I was struck by something he said the other day. In the downturn of a season for pitcher Jose Contreras, Guillen finally rid him of his starting position and banished him to the bullpen. In Contreras’ last outing he lasted just 2 2/3 innings and allowed six earned runs. He was 1-5 in his last eight starts and allowed 26 earned runs in that time span. So, Ozzie finally got real that if he wanted to turn his team’s season around, major changes would have to be made.

“You keep pushing and hoping for him, and nothing works. We are not in position right now where we can use guys and hope they get it done. I think enough is enough,” he said Monday after a 12-8 loss to the Red Sox.

“I feel for him, but our job is to win games.”

I love this quote from Ozzie because it means he is finally facing the music that he is going to have to rely on someone new other than Contreras. He loves the guy and wanted him to get the job done, but he couldn’t, and he is moving on.

Contreras is a veteran of the team who the Sox were hoping to get a few more good seasons out of before the end of his career. In Contreras’ absence, the team is hoping that means Jake Peavy can enter the lineup and give a much needed spark to the pitching staff. Under producing vets? Sounds familiar. Oh yea, the train wreck that has been Alfonso Soriano.

Why WPS Will Continue To Grow when WUSA Didn’t

With the exception of the all-star game Aug. 30, the WPS ended its regular season Aug. 22 as  the Sky Blue FC defeated the Los Angeles Sol 1-0 in the league’s inaugural championship game.

Heather O’Reilly was able to deflect a header off teammate Natasha Kai into the net to give her team the victory. It was quite the story for this first season as Sky Blue made the playoffs by one point and who went through two coaches before finally naming Cristie Rampone player-coach for the final two games.Once in last place they beat the Sol who were the hands down favorite to win the league. The Sol had been in first place the entire season and were led by Marta, arguably the best women’s soccer player in the world.

Now that the season is over however, the focus shifts from who won the championship to what can be taken from the first season to improve it for the future.

The league was so desperately trying to shed the shadow of the fallen WUSA, which folded in 2003 after 5 years because of taking the wrong approach to starting a sports league. With one season down, I can say with confidence the WPS has shed the negative light of its predecessor and will be around for a while. Here is why:

Ochocinco Tries, Fails, To Stream Workout Live

So I wake up and check my twitter this morning, only to find Chad Ochocinco advertising that he is going to stream his workout live at Bengals Camp at 9 a.m. Curious, I turn it on, and see over the video him walking through training camp and into the weightroom while someone holds his computer.

At first it seems kind of cool to get an inside look at the training facility. There was even the option for fans watching across the country to tweet back and forth right on the same screen.

So then I see over the stream Ochocinco talking to a weight instructor and explaining to him why someone is holding a computer in his face. The instructor then proceeds to tell him he is not allowed to videotape his workout. And, that’s that.

I just have to laugh at this situation. If NFL teams are getting overly testy about players twittering at team functions, what makes Ochocinco think he is allowed to do a live stream of his workout over the Internet? Oh yea, its Ochocinco. Apparently he is exempt from any team rules.  You can even hear players laughing at him on the video when they see him walking around with that camera. They are thinking the exact same thing as me.

We’ll see if his overly ambitious tweets and online obsession will ever cost him sanctions by the team. What’s next, is he going to have his own show on VH1 like T.O.? Maybe Ochocinco should be focusing on the upcoming season, not his followers in twitterland. So far, he’s been having a good preseason, even stealing the spotlight Thursday against the Patriots when he kicked for an extra point to win the game. There are already enough eyes on you as it is, stop creating more distractions for yourself.

Nice try, Chad, but no. Just do your workouts.

Click here to see the failed attempt.

The 10 Most Absurd Little League Moments In Movie History

Check out this awesome article I found on bleacherreport.com. These funny sports moments in little kid sports movies seemed so awesome at the time, until we either tried them or actually learned to play the sport and realize there is no way they could actually happen in real life. My faves: the knuckle puck from D2, and the last penalty kick in The Big Green.

by Matt King (Columnist)

The Little League World Series starts up this Friday and it is a time where we stop looking at the adults and focus on the youngsters and their athletic abilities.

Some of the most inspirational moments can come from kids playing sports, because it’s just an innocent love of the game that drives them.

That sort of thing is ripe for the picking by Hollywood who have churned out plenty of kids sports movies over the years. However, we all know that Hollywood has a tendency to go overboard and make things just a little too unbelievable.

This is a salute to those moments.

Another reason to like Jay Cutler

I went to see Kenny Chesney headline an awesome concert at Soldier Field in June that included acts like Montgomery Gentry, Miranda Lambert, Sugarland, and my faves, Lady Antebellum. My sister, determined to get up close and personal to the stage, finally got on the floor during Kenny Chesney’s set. And who does she text me she is right next to? None other than Greg Olson and Jay Cutler! She’s a little too far to talk to them, but is amazed to see them to up close!

Then, I heard US99, the country radio station in Chicago, talking about how the two were hanging out at the Pat Green concert at Joe’s Bar on Weed St. on Aug. 20. I didn’t know football players were capable of being country fans! I found out his favorite singer is Gary Allen and he is known to hang out backstage at his concerts.

As I’m yet undecided if I really want him to be the savior of the Bears this season, this is just one more mark that makes me lean toward yes. Good thing Cutler has another country music-loving friend on the team.

Moved Val to Disney!

Just came back from my Florida trip where we moved Val to Disney World. She is doing the Disney College Program where they get to work at Disney as well as take classes and network and learn all about what it is like to run a business like Disney World.

She found out she is going to be working in the Wide World of Sports! That is the coolest place I think because she will get to watch all the cool events that come through, as well as see Braves Players (who have Spring Training there) and get to hang out outside and in an overall sporty atmosphere. Hopefully, she’ll get to be involved with some of the sports down there as well! I’m guessing working at Wide World of Sports will give her some insight into the ESPN corporation as well as give her the opportunity to learn about sports organizations and meet some of the people who run the events.

I think it’s going to be a great opportunity and def think she lucked out where she got to work!

On a totally unrelated note, I also get so amazed by how many Cubs fans are at each visitors park when we travel. When I watch the games on TV, the cameras always seem to find the seas of Cubs jerseys and hats who always seem to be sitting in clumps. I’m watching the game right now, and during the seventh inning stretch I could hear loudly all the fans in the park singing “root, root, root for the CUBBIES” right on cue. It was so loud, and makes me think there have to be more Cubs fans than Dodgers fans in the park. Sounds pretty sweet.

That must be so cool to have a swarm of fans everywhere you go. Wonder what it’s like for the true home team, who might as well be playing an away game.

Boras must help, not hinder Strasburg’s career

Tomorrow  at Midnight is the day we will see if Stephen Strasburg, the pitcher from San Diego State who very well may be one of the best college pitchers ever, will become a major league baseball player this season.

The Nationals selected him first overall in this year’s MLB draft and have yet to reach an agreement after agent Scott Boras continues to reject any offer the Nationals have thrown at him. It was reported the team has offered him a record breaking deal, anywhere between $14-$16 million dollars, breaking the previous draft pick record of, guess who, Mark Prior, who signed for $10.5 million.

Well, we all know Prior’s story, reminding us of the dangers of spending big on players who have yet to play a major league game.