The United States women’s Olympic soccer team moved out of pool play with a 3-0 record after beating North Korea 1-0 at the home of Manchester United. Photo by Jon Super AP

First Quarter: MLB

1) Today’s schedule
2) Day baseball in the Bronx, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Oakland, Wrigley and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles
3) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (57-47) G. Richards (3-2, 3.91) @ Texas Rangers (59-43) Y. Darvish (11-7, 4.05), 7:05 pm
4) New York Mets (50-54) J. Niese (7-5, 3.86) @ San Francisco Giants (56-47) M. Cain (10-3, 2.80), 9:15 pm

Second Quarter: XXX Summer Olympics in London

1) Medal count
2) NBC online streaming
3) TV listings
4) Olympic photos

Third Quarter: XXX Summer Olympics in London Part II

1) Today women’s basketball is back in action
2) Women’s water polo returns to the pool against Spain
3) Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor are back on the “beach” tonight (afternoon stateside)
4) Men’s gymnastics all-around is on the schedule also

Fourth Quarter: Leftover Links

1) Grantland Part I, Wesley Morris looks at the fashion at the Olympics
2) Grantland Part II, Reeves Wiedeman takes readers into the what if realm of the 2012 Olympics in New York City
3) Steve Rushin of SI.com says even in a Olympic year July is a boring sports month as the calender turns to August
4) Penn State players are leaving Happy Valley Silas Redd and others

Follow me on twitter @MikeVmos please

Yesterday Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor continued their Olympic winning streak on May-Treanor’s birthday. Photo by Marcelo Del Pozo of Reuters

First Quarter: Starter Links

1) Jerry Palm’s college football bowl predictions
2) Today the Chicago Tribune did a story on Royals fan Rany Jazayerli
3) Mad Chatter from Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World Herald
4) Sam Mellinger of the KC Star’s Twitter Tuesday

Second Quarter: MLB

1) Today’s games
2) And the Yankees breath relief
3) Kendrys Morales joined the history books last night
4) Tampa Bay and Oakland played forever (15-innings) last night

Third Quarter: MLB Trade Deadline

1) MLB.com trade buzz
2) Yahoo’s Trade Tracker on deadline day 2012
3) Whose making moves today
4) SI.com’s live blog for today

Fourth Quarter: XXX Summer Olympics in London

1) Olympic Medal Standings as of July 31
2) Here is an all-time look at medals won at the Summer Olympics by countries
3) Missy Franklin took her first gold of the games yesterday
4) NBC’s online schedule

Follow me on twitter @MikeVmos

This is a picture of Russian beach volleyball players during the preliminaries against Greece yesterday. The one on the right is Vasina. I was so exhausted, I kept telling my mom that there was a Russian player named Vagina..

You think that’s funny? Wait till you meet USA star volleyball player.

This is Destinee Hooker, and I’m not kidding of USA volleyball team. Despite what people might say about her name, she is incredible on the court. She’s lithe, and standing at freaking 191 cm. When she spikes, it’s like she’s floating before thundering the ball pretty much wherever she aims at.

What I love about the USA team is that, I recognize all of them from 2008 Olympics! Like my favorite, Akinradewo!

She’s gorgeousssssss.

Find me someone who can pull off looking at good in such shades or glasses or whatever. Give it to any one I know, and they’ll end up looking ridiculous!

During the USA-Brazil match, where I was busy cheering on Team USA at 2 in the morning, there was an accident to one of the Brazilian players, who injured her toe or something. While she was attended to, this happened:

Is it just me, or is USA looking a tad bit impatient, yet VERY COOL. They’re all in that double teacup pose!

Ah I love them. Probably cause I’ve seen them since 2008 and followed all their matches, and the Grand Prix last year or something. Haneef-Park, Berg, Davis, Akinradewo, Logan… Ah they so pretty! I think Logan is hot, omg, go check her out. Wait, Akinradewo’s hotter. But there’s Hooker too….

SPEAKING OF HOTNESS. Look at how hot they are, and they do it effortlessly. They’re perspiring buckets and looking incredible. During the China vs Turkey match, the China players, despite creaming Turkey, looked like they were gonna drop dead anytime. Turkey players looked incredible.

Meet Darnel!

Look at those features! And is it just me or does she look like Penelope from Gossip Girl?

Horst of Austria’s beach volleyball team.

Only he can pout while giving his partner a handshake. And he’s freaking 30 years old and he still looks so good. Find someone who’s 30 who looks this good. Wait, let me get a frontal.

Look at those eyes. I can just imagine all the girls swooning and guys going:

What’s so good about him!

If you had to ask, you’re in denial.

Meet Benes of Czech’s beach volleyball team. Pay attention to the knees. Somehow this just makes me feel that I’ll be in that position sooner or later. Double knee guards, which is so scary.

3.55 pm and 6.05 pm, beach volleyball matches! 8.20 pm too! 9.10pm, 1.40am.

OMG I’m so excited! Today is all men’s matches. Tomorrow is women’s! USA! I can’t wait to see Akinradewo and Logan in action again yay!

While I wanted to post a photo of the Olympics Opening Ceremony I figured you might like a picture of the Netherlands women’s field hockey team. Your welcome.

First Quarter: MLB

1. MLB scoreboard
2. ESPN Monday Night Baseball 7pm (on ESPN): Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (55-47) @ Texas Rangers (59-41)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (51-51) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (56-47), 9:10 pm
4. New York Mets (49-53) @ San Francisco Giants (55-46), 9:15 pm

Second Quarter: Monday 4Quarters Top14

1 Washington Nationals (61-40, LW-3) 2. Cincinnati Reds (61-40, LW-4) 3. New York Yankees (60-41, LW-1) 4. Texas Rangers (59-41, LW-2) 5. Pittsburgh Pirates (58-43, LW-5) 6. Atlanta Braves (57-44, LW-8) 7. Oakland Athletics (55-46, LW-11) 8. San Francisco Giants (55-46, LW-6) 9. Los Angeles Dodgers (56-47, LW-10) 10. Chicago White Sox (55-46, LW-12) 11. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (55-47, LW-9) 12. Detroit Tigers (54-48, LW-7) 13. St. Louis Cardinals (54-48, LW-14) 14. Tampa Bay Rays (53-49, LW-NR)

Dropping Out: Baltimore Orioles (53-49, LW-13)

Third Quarter: XXX Summer Olympics Games in London, England

1. No spoiler tweets here I promise to you
2. Swimming continues
3. The United States faces Hungary in water polo
4. USA women’s basketball faces Angola

Fourth Quarter: Other Sports

1. MLB – Zack Greinke was traded to the Angels (lost debut 2-0 to Tampa Bay in Anaheim)
2. NFL – Training camps are in full swing
3. NBA – As the D12 turns in Orlando
4. Senior British Open – Fred Couples won the Senior British Open at Turnberry by two strokes over Gary Hallberg

Follow Me on Twitter @MikeVmos Thanks!

2012 Olympics
XXX Olympiad

The opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics or XXX Olympiad was filled with emotional pageantry. Each country participating in this largest cultural celebration is represented by their best athletes for all game competitions.

I am always impressed and inspired by individuals who defy the odds of their challenges and become champions in spite of those trials. As the 2012 Olympics commenced in London this week, I heard about a 26-year old South Korean Archer who is legally blind and actually won a gold metal in the team event at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Im Dong-hyun only sees blurred colors and lines when he focuses on the target, which is about 76 yards away when focusing on his archery. He does not wear glasses in the competition.

What courage and determination this young man exhibits, by not allowing what may appear as a disadvantage to us, to get in his way of becoming a true champion! He adjusted and turned what seemed to be an unfortunate situation into an opportunity to win! And win he has. Im set the first world record in the London Olympics on Friday, July 27^th. He actually broke his own mark and helped South Korea set a team record during the opening round.

Although I am rooting for all of our USA teams, I am still inspired by stories of overcoming insurmountable odds and becoming great champions in the process!

The Olympics are in London this year so here is the full list

Year       City/Country                                     Dates (Opening/Closing)              Summer/Winter               Continent

1896       Athens, Greece                                August 6-15                                         Summer I                           Europe
1900       Paris, France                                   May 14-October 28                           Summer II                         Europe
1904       St. Louis, Missouri                        July 1-November 23                         Summer III                       North America
1908       London, England                           April 27-October 31                         Summer IV                        Europe
1912       Stockholm, Sweden                       May 5-July 22                                     Summer V                          Europe
1916       Berlin, Germany                             Cancelled due to WWI                      Summer VI                        Europe
1920       Antwerp, Belgium                         April 20-September 12                   Summer VII                       Europe
1924       Chamonix, France                        January 25-February 4                   Winter I                                Europe
1924       Paris, France                                   May 4-July 27                                     Summer VIII                     Europe
1928       St. Moritz, Switzerland                February 11-19                                  Winter II                              Europe
1928       Amsterdamn, Netherlands        May 17-August 12                            Summer IX                          Europe
1932       Lake Placid, New York                February 4-15                                    Winter III                             North America
1932       Los Angeles, California               July 30-August 14                             Summer X                           North America
1936       Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany February 6-16                          Winter IV                           Europe
1936       Berlin, Germany                             August 1-16                                        Summer XI                          Europe
1940       Sapporo, Japan                              Cancelled due to WWII                  Winter V                               Asia
1940       Tokyo, Japan                                   Cancelled due to WWII                  Summer XII                       Asia
1944       Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy           Cancelled due to WWII                  Winter V                               Europe
1944       London, England                           Cancelled due to WWII                  Summer XIII                       Europe
1948       St. Moritz, Switzerland                January 30-February 8                   Winter V                              Europe
1948       London, England                           July 29-Auguest 14                          Summer XIV                       Europe
1952       Oslo, Norway                                  February 14-25                                  Winter VI                             Europe
1952       Helsinki, Finland                           July 19-August 3                               Summer XV                        Europe
1956       Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy          January 26-February 5                 Winter VII                            Europe
1956       Melbourne, Australia                 November 22-December 8          Summer XVI                       Australia
1956       Stockholm, Sweden                     June 10-17                                          “                     “                          Europe
1960       Squaw Valley, New York          February 18-28                                Winter VIII                          North America
1960       Rome, Italy                                    August 25-September 11              Summer XVII                      Europe
1964       Innsbruck, Austria                      January 29-February 9                   Winter IX                             Europe
1964       Tokyo, Japan                                 October 10-24                                   Summer XVIII                     Asia
1968       Grenoble, France                         February 6-18                                    Winter X                               Europe
1968       Mexico City, Mexico                  October 12-27                                   Summer XIX                        North America
1972       Sapporo, Japan                            February 3-13                                    Winter XI                             Asia
1972       Munich, W. Germany                 August 26-September 11              Summer XX                        Europe
1976       Innsbruck, Austria                     February 4-15                                    Winter XII                            Europe
1976       Montreal, Quebec                       July 17-August 1                               Summer XXI                       North America
1980       Lake Placid, New York              February 14-23                                  Winter XIII                          North America
1980       Moscow, Soviet Union              July 19-August 3                               Summer XXII                      Europe
1984       Sarajevo, Yugoslavia                 February 7-19                                    Winter XIV                          Europe
1984       Los Angeles, California              July 28-August 12                             Summer XXIII                    North America
1988       Calgary, Alberta, Canada          February 13-28                               Winter XV                           North America
1988       Seoul, South Korea                      September 17-October 2              Summer XXIV                    Asia
1992       Albertville, France                      February 8-23                                    Winter XVI                          Europe
1992       Barcelona, Spain                           July 25-August 9                               Summer XXV                     Europe
1994       Lillehammer, Norway                February 12-27                                  Winter XVII                         Europe
1996       Atlanta, Georgia                            July 19-August 4                               Summer XXVI                    North America
1998       Nagano, Japan                               February 7-22                                    Winter XVIII                       Asia
2000       Sidney, Australia                        September 15-October 1              Summer XXVII                   Australia
2002       Salt Lake City, Utah                    February 8-24                                    Winter XIX                          North America
2004       Athens, Greece                            August 13-29                                      Summer XXVIII                 Europe
2006       Turin, Italy                                    February 10-26                                  Winter XX                            Europe
2008       Beijing, China                               August 8-24                                        Summer XXIX                    Asia
2010       Vancouver, BC, Canada            February 12-28                                  Winter XXI                          North America
2012       London, England                         July 27-August 12                             Summer XXX                      Europe

Tonight the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Olympics in London happens!

First Quarter: MLB

1) MLB scoreboard
2) We’re four days from the non-waiver trade deadline
3) Will Zack Greinke be a Brewer by weekend’s end?
4) People expect the Texas Rangers to act so will they?

Second Quarter: AL Weekend Series

1) Oakland Athletics (53-45) J. Parker (7-4, 3.00) @ Baltimore Orioles (52-47) Z. Britton (1-0, 3.60), 6:05 pm
2) Detroit Tigers (53-46) R. Porcello (7-5, 4.40) @ Toronto Blue Jays (49-49) C. Villanueva (5-0, 2.86), 6:07 pm
3) Chicago White Sox (53-45) C. Sale (11-3, 2.37) @ Texas Rangers (58-39) Y. Darvish (11-6, 3.88), 7:05 pm
4) Tampa Bay Rays (51-48) A. Cobb (4-7, 5.05) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (54-45) D. Haren (7-8, 4.76), 9:05 pm

Third Quarter: NL Weekend Series

1) St. Louis Cardinals (53-46) L. Lynn (12-4, 3.10) @ Chicago Cubs (40-57) T. Wood (4-5, 4.33), 1:20 pm
2) Philadelphia Phillies (45-54) C. Hamels (11-4, 3.23) @ Atlanta Braves (54-44) B. Sheets (2-0, 0.00), 6:35 pm
3) New York Mets (48-51) J. Niese (7-4, 3.59) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (49-50) J. Collmenter (2-2, 3.82), 8:40 pm
4) Los Angeles Dodgers (53-47) TBA @ San Francisco Giants (55-43) M. Cain (10-3, 2.74), 9:15 pm

Fourth Quarter: Weekend Links

1) The Nebraska Cornhuskers will send a shock to your system when you see the alternate uniforms they’ll wear against Wisconsin
2) Penn State and Wisconsin will apparently play for a trophy starting this season
3) SI.com looks at the top 2012 Olympic storylines and the opening ceremony tonight
4) ESPN.com examines how the British being nervous is normal and CBS Sportsline bold Olympic predictions

See you on Monday! Thanks for reading Four Quarters! Also follow me on twitter @MikeVmos

Luke Hochevar is still looking for an explanation for why Bob Davidson ejected him yesterday in Anaheim. Photo Credit to the AP

First Quarter: MLB

1) Today’s MLB scoreboard
2) Day baseball in Baltimore, Toronto and St. Louis
3) Detroit Tigers (53-45) J. Verlander (11-5, 2.42) @ Cleveland Indians (49-49) Z. McAllister (4-2, 3.21), 6:05 pm
4) Kansas City Royals (41-56) L. Mendoza (4-6, 4.31) @ Seattle Mariners (43-57) J. Vargas (10-7, 3.91), 9:10 pm

Second Quarter: Big Ten Media Days

1) Today starts B1G media days from Chicago
2) Penn State and their delegation will be the story today
3) Getting a chance to hear from all the head coaches
4) Players will also be talking at the start of this two-day event

Third Quarter: Olympics

1) Opening ceremonies eve
2) Olympic soccer continues from around the United Kingdom
3) To re-ask which sports are you looking forward to?
4) How many medals will the host nation take?

Fourth Quarter: Other Sports

1) NBA – D12 still being a bitch
2) MLS – Last night the MLS All-Stars bear Chelsea
3) NFL – Eric LeGrand retired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4) Pac-12 – Media days happened this week also

Please follow me on twitter: @MikeVmos

Aqualilies, a newly formed synchronized swimming group from Beverly Hills has brought the art of synchronized swimming back and these women are inspiring other communities to follow suit. In fact, the group’s founder and director, performance artist Mesha Kussman is planning to offer classes in cities across America, beginning in Florida, Texas and New York. Elegance rather than nearly bare bottoms will be showing up poolside. 

Esther Williams has seen Aqualilies perform and approves wholeheartedly of this resurgence of a sport where she left her legacy. Routines from the 1940s and 1950s have been updated to more modern versions of what was featured on silver screens, perhaps the reason for its popularity among audiences and participants today. 

For more information on Aqualilies and to see a video trailer of the gals in action, please visit these links.
http://cbsn.ws/NGEoSN
.

• Main site: www.Aqualillies.com
• Facebook:
  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aqualillies/315260815022
  
• Twitter: @Aqualillies
• Tumblr: www.OfficialAqualillies.tumblr.com 

 Water ballet is beneficial to the mind, body and spirit;  effectively combining dance, fitness and performance. To read about all the health benefits of the sport, please check out this article.
http://bit.ly/O3QsQl
    

In a few days, America’s  synchronized swim team will compete against other countries at the 2012 Olympics in London. To view the schedule, please visit this website
http://bit.ly/hxpHQ
. 

Have fun at the Olympics everybody, I look forward to watching America’s teams in all sorts of sports.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

RIP Omaha’s Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium who met the wrecking ball this morning.

First Quarter: MLB

1) Today’s schedule
2) Day baseball in Queens, Pittsburgh, Miami, Southside of Chicago, Anaheim, Seattle and San Francisco
3) Detroit Tigers (52-45) M. Scherzer (9-5, 4.61) @ Cleveland Indians (49-48) D. Lowe (8-8, 5.04), 6:05 pm
4) Los Angeles Dodgers (53-45) A. Harang (7-5, 3.46) @ St. Louis Cardinals (51-46) K. Lohse (10-2, 2.71), 7:15 pm

Second Quarter: MLB Trade Rumors

1) Atlanta is zeroing in on Zack Greinke
2) Will that raise urgency in Washington to add another bat or pitching themselves?
3) Baltimore seems to still be buyers
4) Waiting on Ryan Dempster and the Upton boys

Third Quarter: Olympics (Women’s Soccer)

1) The United State came back on France 4-2
2) Brazil took care of business
3) Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan scored
4) Next up is Columbia

Fourth Quarter: Leftover Links

1) Stewart Mandel looks at the aftermath of the PSU sanctions
2) FS-Kansas City looks at the 2013 Kansas City Royals by Jeffrey Flanagan
3) Carolina Panthers has just made things interesting
4) Katie Baker of Grantland looks at things

Follow me on twitter @MikeVmos please

Rick Nash has been freed from the Columbus Blue Jackets and will be moving to broadway.

First Quarter: Starter Links

1) Nick Zaccardi looks back at the 1996 Olympic bombing in Atlanta
2) Rick Nash is now a New York Ranger
3) Mad Chatter from Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World Herald
4) Sam Mellinger of the KC Star’s Twitter Tuesday

Second Quarter: MLB

1) Today’s games
2) Seattle traded their icon to the other dugout yesterday
3) Detroit made a trade with Miami yesterday
4) MLB.com trade buzz

Third Quarter: Penn State Links

1) Andy Staples looks at the choice Penn State players currently have
2) Stewart Mandel feels the NCAA overstepped their bounds
3) Gregg Doyel wrote another excellent story on this topic yesterday
4) Finally Dan Wetzel writes how this will be worse than death for PSU

Fourth Quarter: Sports Illustrated Olympic Sports Previews

1) Grant Wahl’s men’s soccer preview
2) His women’s soccer preview
3) Austin Murphy looks at beach volleyball
4) Richard Deitsch tackles table tennis

Follow me on twitter @MikeVmos

Adam Scott struggled down the stretch of the British Open and finished second after leading all weekend. Photo by Robert Beck Sports Illustrated

First Quarter: MLB

1. MLB scoreboard
2. ESPN Monday Night Baseball 7pm (on ESPN): Boston Red Sox (48-48) @ Texas Rangers (56-37)
3. Washington Nationals (55-39) @ New York Mets (47-48), 6:10 pm
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (52-44) @ St. Louis Cardinals (50-45), 7:15 pm

Second Quarter: Monday 4Quarters Top14

1. New York Yankees (57-38, LW-1) 2. Texas Rangers (56-38, LW-2) 3. Washington Nationals (55-39, LW-3) 4. Cincinnati Reds (55-40, LW-4) 5. Pittsburgh Pirates (54-40, LW-6) 6. San Francisco Giants (53-42, LW-8) 7. Detroit Tigers (52-44, LW-NR) 8. Atlanta Braves (52-43, LW-7) 9. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (52-44, LW-9) 10. Los Angeles Dodgers (52-44, LW-10) 11. Oakland Athletics (51-44, LW-11) 12. Chicago White Sox (50-45, LW-5) 13. Baltimore Orioles (51-44, LW-13) 14. St. Louis Cardinals (50-45, LW-NR)

Dropping Out: Tampa Bay Rays (49-47, LW-13), Cleveland Indians (47-48, LW-14)

Third Quarter: Olympics

1. USA basketball defeated Argentina on Sunday
2. Friday the opening ceremonies kick off the 2012 Olympics in London
3. Leave a comment with what sport your looking forward to
4. Finally how about a guess the medal count for you the reader, again leave a comment

Fourth Quarter: Other Sports

1. Penn State: The NCAA will announce the fate of Penn State University on Monday morning
2. British Open: Adam Scott bogeyed the last four holes on Sunday and finished second
3. Tennis: Andy Roddick wins the Atlanta Open
4. NFL: Another Detroit Lion breaks the law

Follow Me on Twitter @MikeVmos Thanks!

The  countdown to the 2012 Summer Olympics to be held in London has begun. Olympians have been training hard to represent their country in hopes of winning and brining home an Olympic medal.  What an honor it must be to represent your country and to know  that you are one of the best in the world at your particular sport. Oh, the pride our American athletes will feel marching in the opening ceremony representing our great nation.  USA! USA! USA!

Unlike many countries, the United States Olympic Committee is a private organization that relies  on contributions and corporate sponsorships.  In 1936, A.G Spalding & Company became the first official outfitter for the United States Olympic Team.  Since this time, there has been various clothing companies and designers that have provided the attire for our athletes to wear. In 2008, one of my favorite American designers, Ralph Lauren provided our athletes with sweater vests and belts for the Summer Olympic games in Beijing, China. Once again, Ralph Lauren has stepped up, designed  and donated the uniforms for  American Olympians to wear during the 2012 Olympic ceremonial events.

Pretty nice, right?  Not everyone thinks so! It seems that although Ralph Lauren is an American designer, born in the great state of New York, his generous donations were manufactured in China.  Certain U.S. lawmakers are in an uproar about the origin of the labor of these American uniforms. They are alarmed and upset that they were not made in America.  Some have  said the uniforms should be burned and destroyed.  Six U.S. Senators have even co-sponsored the “Team USA Made In America Act of 2012″  legislation that would make the U.S. Olympic team wear uniforms made only in America. What about their competition uniforms, athletics shoes and other gear?  Nike, Adidas and Reebok to name a few.  All of these are not made in America! Will the legislation if passed include all of the above?  Is this hypocritical or is it a political football being thrown around before the upcoming elections?  What say you?

Related articles

• Ralph Lauren Responds To U.S. Olympic Uniform Controversy (stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com)
• After Uniform Outrage, Ralph Lauren Will Produce Team USA Uniforms Within The United States Going Forward (kansascity.sbnation.com)
• Ralph Lauren Pledges To Make 2014 Olympic Uniforms In The U.S.: Let’s Discuss (glamour.com)
• You: Olympic Uniforms by American Apparel? (thedailybeast.com)

Since the Dark Knight Rises today, Anne Hathaway.

First Quarter: MLB

1) MLB scoreboard
2) Kansas City traded Jonathan Sanchez for Jeremy Guthrie of the Rockies
3) Philadelphia and Houston made a huge trade
4) Will any other moves be made this weekend?

Second Quarter: AL Weekend Series

1) Chicago White Sox (50-42) J. Peavy (7-6, 3.12) @ Detroit Tigers (49-44) J. Verlander (10-5, 2.43), 6:05 pm
2) Baltimore Orioles (48-44) M. Gonzalez (1-1, 2.59) @ Cleveland Indians (47-45) D. Lowe (8-7, 4.43), 6:05 pm
3) New York Yankees (57-35) I. Nova (10-4, 4.18) @ Oakland Athletics (48-44) T. Milone (9-6, 3.54), 9:05 pm
4) Texas Rangers (55-36) D. Holland (6-4, 4.57) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (50-43) J. Weaver (11-1, 2.26), 9:05 pm

Third Quarter: NL Weekend Series

1) Atlanta Braves (50-41) T. Hanson (10-5, 4.02) @ Washington Nationals (53-37) S. Strasburg (10-4, 2.66), 6:05 pm
2) San Francisco Giants (51-41) T. Lincecum (3-10, 5.93) @ Philadelphia Phillies (41-52) V. Worley (5-5, 3.47), 6:05 pm
3) Los Angeles Dodgers (49-44) A. Harang (6-5, 3.53) @ New York Mets (47-45) J. Santana (6-6, 3.59), 6:05 pm
4) Milwaukee Brewers (44-47) M. Estrada (0-3, 4.13) @ Cincinnati Reds (52-40) H. Bailey (8-6, 3.93), 6:10 pm

Fourth Quarter: Weekend Links

1) The B1G won’t give Jim Delaney absolute power
2) British Open leaderboard
3) As D12 turns
4) And finally the United States thrashed Great Britain in a Olympic tune-up

See you on Monday! Thanks for reading Four Quarters! Also follow me on twitter @MikeVmos

Plenty of day baseball today in the majors so maybe the chance for some celebrations?

First Quarter: MLB

1) Today’s MLB scoreboard
2) Day baseball in St. Petersburgh, Atlanta, Detroit, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., Kansas City and the Northside of Chicago
3) Chicago White Sox (50-41) @ Boston Red Sox (47-45), 6:10 pm
4) New York Yankees (57-34) @ Oakland Athletics (47-44), 9:05 pm

Second Quarter: British Open

1) British Open leaderboard
2) David Duval won the last time the Open championship was played at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, Lancashire, England
3) Will Tiger get his first major in forever?
4) Are we going to see another different major winner?

Third Quarter: NBA

1) Team USA taking on Great Britain today in Olympic warm-ups
2) Dwight Howard is saying he sign with the Lakers long-term if traded there. Not even Pinocchio believes him.
3) NBA Summer League is still going on if you needed the reminder
4) Kobe takes a shot at David Stern’s age idea for the Olympics

Fourth Quarter: Other Sports

1) NHL – Shea Weber and the Flyers might be in business
2) CFB – SEC media days roll on
3) Tennis – Wimbledon will be pushed a week forward in 2015
4) CFB Part II – Pittsburgh and Syracuse get their independence from the Big East for ACC a year earlier but cost them $$$

Please follow me on twitter: @MikeVmos

I think this Lin fade away jumper is perfect for how the Knicks just let yesterday go to Houston.

First Quarter: MLB

1) Today’s schedule
2) Philadelphia Phillies (41-51) C. Lee (1-6, 3.92) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (48-44) C. Kershaw (7-5, 2.84), 2:10 pm
3) Arizona Diamondbacks (43-47) I. Kennedy (6-8, 4.55) @ Cincinnati Reds (51-39) M. Latos (7-2, 4.10), 6:10 pm
4) San Francisco Giants (50-40) R. Vogelsong (7-4, 2.36) @ Atlanta Braves (49-40) M. Minor (5-6, 5.97), 6:10 pm

Second Quarter: MLB Trade Rumors

1) Is Boston looking to trade Carl Crawford?
2) Will Miami really look to unload Hanley Ramirez and others?
3) How close are the Phillies to blowing things up?
4) Oakland is playing well but how tempted is Billy Beane to making moves?

Third Quarter: NBA Free Agency (Jeremy Lin heavy edition)

1) Jeremy Lin is heading to Houston so cue up the puns
2) SI.com talked with Lin
3) Gregg Doyel on the Knicks letting Lin go
4) Phil Jackson to the Blazers front office? Seems like it’s being discussed

Fourth Quarter: Leftover Links

1) Richard Deitsch and Nick Zaccardi compiled a list of 50 twitter feeds to follow during the Olympics in London
2) This doesn’t paint a good picture of the London Olympics
3) Indianapolis wants a second helping of the Super Bowl
4) Michael Bamberger of Golf.com looks at the British Open which begins tomorrow

Follow me on twitter @MikeVmos please

Since SEC football media days is going on I thought I’d use this picture from a few years ago.

First Quarter: Starter Links

1) Looks like the USFL might ride again
2) Dez in trouble in Dallas (off the field)
3) Mad Chatter from Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World Herald
4) Sam Mellinger of the KC Star’s Twitter Tuesday

Second Quarter: MLB

1) Today’s games
2) Jose Batista is out for the Blue Jays so up comes a heralded prospect
3) Speaking of hitters on the DL, Joey Votto is staying there
4) ESPN.com looks at who could be on the move in the NL

Third Quarter: College Football

1) Andy Staples does a mock draft which is a must read
2) Bruce Feldman looks at 10 predictions for SEC media days
3) The NCAA apparently won’t rule out the “death penalty” for Penn State
4) Edward Aschoff previews SEC media days for ESPN.com

Fourth Quarter: NBA Free Agency/USA Basketball Olympic tune-up

1) Grant Hill and the Clippers have agreed to a two-year deal per Adrian Wojnarowski
2) O.J. Mayo tweets he’s going to Dallas or sources say per ESPN
3) USA basketball didn’t play its best against Brazil last night
4) President Obama was on hand

Follow me on twitter @MikeVmos

Time is running out in the final vote for the MLB All-Star Game so #VoteBroxton!

First Quarter: Starter Links

1) Check out this Huskers themed cake
2) Wimbledon results
3) Mad Chatter from Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World Herald
4) Sam Mellinger of the KC Star’s Twitter Tuesday

Second Quarter: MLB

1) Today’s games
2) Why we need every team to be represented at the All-Star Game by Rob Neyer of SB Nation
3) A talk with commish Bud
4) #CrownARoyal campaign might be over so now Royals fans #VoteBroxton in the final vote.

Third Quarter: US Swim Trials

1) Quick turnaround after the US Swimming Trials in Omaha
2) Dara Torres missed out on another Olympics but exited with grace on Monday night
3) The Omaha World Herald’s photo gallery from Monday
4) Here is the list of those going to London after qualifying at the swim trials

Fourth Quarter: NBA Free Agency

1) SI.com’s Zach Lowe on how the Nets could get Benedict 12
2) Ray Allen’s going to check out South Beach
3) Boston tracking Jason Terry?
4) Chris Mannix also of SI.com lists his top25 FA’s

Follow me on twitter @MikeVmos

I came across this cute image of a Zen Fencing Master

A fencing master once ordered his student to drink a cup of tomato juice. “Once you imbibe its contents, tip the glass and report back to me,” he said.

The student, expecting his usual tactical lesson, exits the room to begrudgingly fulfill his fencing master’s request. He drinks a full cup of tomato juice, as dictated and then tips the cup.

“What did you see after tipping the cup and looking inside?” asked the fencing master.

“I only saw the bottom of the cup, of course,” answered the student.

“Then you did not do as I instructed,” the fencing master patiently replied and then promptly ordered him to conduct the same task. Once again the student reported having seen the same bottom of the same cup and once again he was ordered back to the tomato juice.

Twenty-six cups later, the student returns bloated from the heavy fluids and nauseas from the heavy salts his body now contained. After the reporting the same answer for the twenty-sixth time, he is once again patiently ordered to repeat the same task.

The fencing student is now feeling quite ill but obediently hobbles away to perform the task.

This time however, he is able to see differently. As he pours the tomato juice into his cup, still woozy and nauseated and barely thinking about finding the “right” answer, he notes the brilliant red color of the tomato juice and the smell that, although sweet, now makes him want to gag. As he sips it, he feels his thoat closing around the pulpy juice and his stomach begins to tighten. As he peers into the now empty cup, he observes that it’s not empty at all and that a thick layer of pulpy red still remained loosely layered at the bottom of the cup.

He sat for a moment and watched the streams of fleshy juice particles collect at the base of the tipped cup. He watched even longer and saw tiny pulpy pieces that seemed to be sliding at their own pace down the smooth glass surface. Some formed their own streams and the joined other pulpy beings to forge their journey together. Still others resisted gravity and remained for a great while holding onto that glass wall until its collected potential energy turned kinetic and it formed its own tiny stream. Sometimes the pattern of the stream looked straight, other times it was more curvilinear, and still other times it was a wild zig zag, or perhaps it was a combination of the three. That withstanding, every stream was begun by one pulpy leader and then followed and forged by other pulpy pieces who joined the first pulpy piece. Most importantly though, every path was unique and so had to form in its own time.

The fencing student then reported this to his fencing master and the fencing master seemed pleased. He said, “That is your tactical lesson for the day. Next time that you want to win a medal, or make a National Team, or qualify for the Olympic Games, remember those pulpy tomato pieces. Most people finish a cup of juice or finish out a season or an Olympic quadrennial and think that their cup is empty; But if they observe more closely, they would see that the most interesting process has just begun and that, like the pulpy tomato pieces, each being moves in its own time and in a unique stream.”

The 2016 Olympic Games will be hosted by Rio de Janeiro. One of my favorite cities and the first Olympics held in South America, where much of my family lives!

So here I am in Virginia Beach where US Nationals is being held. I’m ranked in the top 8 nationally but it’s no longer numerically possible for me to make the 2012 US Olympic Team. I should probably feel distraught but I actually  feel more motivated than ever. I am going into the 2016 Olympic quadrennial armed with the experience of the last quadrennial. I’ve come so close that I could taste it and I still know in my heart that this is totally possible and that with hard work and the right attitude, my Olympic dreams could come to fruition. Thank you to all of my friends, family, and sponsors who have been behind me this far. As the fictional zen master said in a story drawn up from my sometimes overactive imagination, “the most exciting part of the journey is just beginning.”

In celebration of my favorite fruit, the tomato, I just had to share these images from the largest tomato celebration on the planet, La Tomatina!

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The prospect of a bid to stage the 2012 Olympics in London passed a major hurdle yesterday when the cabinet endorsed the plan subject to assurances.

The prospect of a British bid to stage the 2012 Olympics in London passed a major hurdle yesterday when the cabinet endorsed the plan subject to detailed assurances in the next two weeks.

Enthusiastic ministers had been expected to delay a final decision only until next Thursday’s meeting. But the shadow of the hasty 1997 decision to build the Millennium Dome at Greenwich has caused a further delay.

“Everybody acknowledges that it would be great if we could bid for the Olympics. But there was agreement that this has got to be a hard-headed assessment of all the different factors,” the Downing Street spokesman told reporters after yesterday’s weekly meeting.

Four areas of uncertainty have been identified as needing further work and assurance before ministers take a decision in principle to go ahead:

Whether Britain can seriously hope to win a 2012 bid against likely rivals that will include New York, Madrid and Moscow;

Whether it can deliver on its bid when Britain’s past record of staging major events has been patchy;

Whether the £2.6bn public cost of staging the Olympics can be properly funded;

What sort of legacy will be left behind for London and its battered infrastructure.

At yesterday’s meeting, the foreign secretary, Jack Straw, and the culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, key ministers on the Olympic subcommittee, gave a positive assessment of prospects for a London bid.

“If this is going to fly it will need absolute political backing and a unified approach,” one Whitehall source said. What yesterday’s meeting appears to have confirmed is that no significant member of the cabinet – let alone a major player like the chancellor, Gordon Brown – has been prepared to block the proposal at this stage.

The chancellor, who has said the cost must be weighed against the cost of public service reforms, is the most likely opponent, not least because he feels London already gets more than its share of big infrastructure projects.

There is also what officials call “the shadow of the dome” which blighted Labour’s first term, though ministers say it is a very different case because everyone knows exactly what an Olympic bid is for.

Morale has been boosted by the success of last summer’s Commonwealth Games in Manchester, which survived despite a serious financial wobble – and government rescue – and a downpour during the closing ceremony.

What No 10 called “complex issues that arise from a number of departments”, for the government as a whole, and for the London mayor, Ken Livingstone, and the Greater London authority, have also pointed towards delay at a time when ministers’ eyes are on Iraq.

No formal bid notification is needed before July 15. Mr Livingstone, who has cut a £1bn deal with Ms Jowell to find some of the money, said: “We are confident there is an overwhelming case for bidding for the Olympics.”

This picture reminded me of the Omega Team from Canadian Bacon, enjoy the rest of this post

First Quarter: NHL

Here is what the NHL has in store for you tonight
The Sabres aren’t going to make changes even after losing 5-0 in Detroit last night

Second Quarter: Where Lockouts Happen

Yes, I’m telling you about that league with guys who wear tank tops and shorts to work
Yesterday the NBA announced who made the first cuts of the 2012 USA Olympic basketball team this guy didn’t

Third Quarter: Olympic security detail of the day

I cannot wait for the 2012 Olympics in London and odds our this guy won’t be running security anymore.

Fourth Quarter: Popuri (spelling might be wrong by here are a bunch of different links)

Notre Dame picked up a QB who can’t make up his mind on where to go to school
MLB arbitration season heating up this week
College basketball conference standing as of Jan. 17, 2012 Men’s and Women’s
Talking about college hoops here is ESPN’s Bracketology Men’s and Women’s

“We’re the defending champion and we want to defend our title and I don’t see why we wouldn’t,” Serena said of the London Games. “This (December 3 Exhibition in Milan) is a good preview to the Olympics, we both want to play. So this is a great, great time for us, so exciting.”

Tennis fans we are totally aware of the Williams Sister’s FAMILY TRADITION of playing together as a doubles team that goes for and WINS OLYMPIC GOLD.  After excelling with two amazing victories at the 2000 Sydney and 2008 Beijing Gamesh. Serena and Venus are eager to go for their third Olympic gold together.   The pair didn’t enter the doubles competition in Athens four years ago because Serena was injured at the time.

HISTORY IN OLYMPIC COMPETITION

Serena will be making her third Olympic appearance having won a gold medal in women’s doubles at the 2000  and 2008 Olympic Games with sister, Venus, becoming the first set of siblings to win Olympic gold.

This is also the third Olympic appearance for Venus Williams. She won the singles Olympic Gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. When Venus won two Gold Medals in doubles competition at the 2000 and 2008 Olympics, where she teamed with her sister.  Joining Helen Wills in 1924 as the only player to sweep both titles at the same Olympiad by having won a gold medal in both women’s singles and women’s doubles at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Serena sister Venusare eager to go for their third Olympic gold together.

“To share this kind of moment with your sister,” Venus said, “it never grows old.”

“I don’t know anyone out there who would get tired of playing with Venus Williams,” said the Serena.

SPECIAL MOMENT FROM THE 2008 OLYMPICS
When the red carpet was rolled out on center court, the sisters climbed the medal podium together holding hands. A beaming Venus bobbed her head to the beat as “The Star-Spangled Banner” was played. That’s really what it’s all about.  America’s best – no doubt – The Williams Sister Rock!

In the meantime, a number of Londoners will take advantage of the Olympics to take a break from the city, leaving empty houses and apartments behind them. HomeExchange.com allows supporters and Londoners to meet and become happy exchange partners: Londoners plan vacations of a lifetime at no cost, while visitors find real homes in the City during its most demanded time ever, a win-win for both.

“I’m hoping to organize an exchange for the olympics. I’m not a huge fan of sports so I can exchange with people who will appreciate being here then. By coming to London they’d be here right in the thick of it! They’d get to be part of the buzz that is happening in the city at this time, and London is a great place to visit, especially in the summer. My property is actually in the host borough where the Olympics are being held. So you could be in Stratford in 10mn by bus! Or you can take the greenway which is currently being built and walk there. You couldn’t be any closer to the action,” says Ikumelo G., a London HomeExchange Member.

In the past few years HomeExchange has become a mainstream travel option, now recommended by major insurance companies. The success of the site at the occasion of the coming London games proves that discerning travelers have discovered value that goes well beyond unlimited vacations for less than the cost of a single night in a hotel.

Founded in 1992, HomeExchange.com has become one of the leading home exchange agencies in the world with more than 40,000 members in 142 countries. The site started its strategic development in 2005 with the French Trocmaison, followed by 16 more international sites. 60,000 exchanges were achieved in 2010, while 200 new listings join HomeExchange.com every 7 days. Among members, 98 percent declared they were satisfied with their exchange partners. Families are the most represented social group.

For more information: Subscription rates:

www.homeexchange.com 3 month $15.95 per month

1 year $9.95 per month

Even as the feel-good emotions of the Beijing Games lingered on a windy day, swimmers already were taking different flip turns on roads they hope lead to London.

That was never more evident than when Michael Phelps lost - are you ready? – twice Sunday.

And yet Phelps and his coach, Bob Bowman, talked about the progress the 14-time Olympic champion made despite placing second in the 100-meter freestyle and 100 backstroke.

“We just came from killing him for three weeks,” Bowman said of a training camp in Colorado Springs, Colo. “He made progress in the 100 free.”

Winning, Phelps promised, will “come down the road.”

In the spring of swimming’s quadrennial cycle, 2009 is a season of rebirth for elites such as Phelps, who is peaking for the world championships in Rome next month.

“An Olympic year is just such a big year for an athlete – emotionally, physically and mentally,” said Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry, the two-time defending Olympic champion in the event she won Sunday, the 200 backstroke. “This year is all about having fun and racing hard.”

It certainly is for three-time Olympic champion Leisel Jones. She is skipping the world championships after representing Australia for the past nine years. Jones, who will give a clinic to the Palo Alto-Stanford Swim Club today, is enjoying meets such as Santa Clara’s without the pressure of training for a major championship.

“It’s like being a little kid again, a junior carnival,” the eight-time Olympic medalist said.

In the case of newcomer Dagny Knutson, however, the Santa Clara meet was a chance to start challenging the giants of her sport.

Knutson, 17, hails from Minot, N.D., the hinterlands of swimming. But during the junior Pan Pacific championships in Guam in January, she swam the 200-meter individual medley in a time (2 minutes, 10.79 seconds) that would have placed fifth in Beijing last year. She was fourth in the event Sunday.

Mark Schubert, USA Swimming’s national team coach, says this is the year for Knutson to gain international experience.

“No one gets to the Olympics without the experience of the world championships or the Pan Pacific,” he said.

Knutson’s journey began when she joined a Minot swim club when she was 9.

“Dagny has been on a mission since” then, her coach, Kathy Aspaas, said.

From those humble beginnings, Knutson found herself on the starting blocks of the 400 individual medley Saturday with defending Olympic champion Stephanie Rice. She called the moment surreal. But the teenager wasn’t intimidated, finishing second to Coventry, the Olympic runner-up in the event.

At 21, Cal’s Dana Vollmer is a former gold-medal winner who failed to make the U.S. Olympic team last year. Despite the heartbreak, Vollmer is discovering motivation in the setback. She won three titles at the 2009 NCAA championships and stood out at Santa Clara.

“I came prepared and ready to race,” Vollmer said.

After failing to qualifying for Beijing, Vollmer spent the rest of the summer allowing her injured shoulder and back to mend. She has been injury-free since returning to the pool. Her psychic wounds also have healed.

“That was something I had to let go,” said Vollmer, who is shooting for a world record in the 200 freestyle this season. Still, she isn’t planning too far ahead, because so much can happen between now and 2012.

That attitude hasn’t stopped others from projecting. One coach this weekend wore a T-shirt that proclaimed, “London’s Calling.”

Cal Coach Teri McKeever, who served on the staffs of the past two U.S. Olympic teams, paused when she saw it.

“Can we give it a rest?” she wondered.

Ryan Lochte, the world-record holder in the 200 backstroke, held off Phelps in the 100 backstroke with a time of 54.15 seconds. Phelps, who said he started too slowly, finished in 54.31. Of defeating Phelps, Lochte said, “I guess I like to get a little kick in there.”  

Via: Mercury News, image by: Marcio Jose Sanchez