Major League Baseball umpires are going to be allowed to use instant replay technology on home run calls. It seems like a wise move. Home runs are important and limiting instant replays to homers should not increase game time length too much.
You probably missed this one at the Olympic games. It's cheerleaders for the beach volleyball games. The beach volleyball dancers performed before the matches and during breaks.
The Wall Street Journal's Chris Rhoads asks Michael Phelps about how he intends to capitalize on the Phelps brand to pursue business opportunities. He plans to take a lesson from another Michael - Michael Jordan. Phelps has already cut one deal - with Kellogs and Frost Flakes - which some say could be a mistake. It will be interesting to see if Phelps can become as huge of a brand as superstar athletes like Micheal Jordan, Tiger Woods and David Beckham. Phelps does sound very modest and very calm in all the interviews.
WSJ's Loretta Chao reports that the 2008 Beijing Games is considered the first "Internet" Olympics. Because of limited television coverage, many are going to the Web to watch minority events like water polo. It is great to have expanded coverage for some of these sports. NBC can only carry so much on broadcast tv but online they can offer much more. Water polo has been one of the most popular sports.
U.S. swimmer Mark Phelps is rapidly accumulating gold medals. He picked up his third today at the Water Cube reports the Chicago Tribune.
No heavy lifting, to pick up gold medal No. 3, was required this time.
Michael Phelps took away the tension almost immediately on Tuesday morning at the Water Cube, leading by the first 15 meters and then seemed to shift into cruise control, lowering his own world record in the 200-meter freestyle at the Olympics, going 1 minute 42.96 seconds.
Didn't someone by the name of Ian Thorpe used to swim this race? Phelps is three for three, all world records, including the classic of a 400 free relay on Monday morning
The medal was Phelps' ninth Olympic gold medal - tying him with Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis. You can find the bio for Mark Phelps here on NBCOlympics.com.
Donruss Quick to Add Brett Favre Jets Trading Card
It took the Packers over 30-days to resolve the Brett Favre situation but it has only taking Donruss a few days to get him on an NFL player trading card with his new team. Donruss announced that a Brett Favre New York Jets trading card will appear in the company's Playoff Absolute Memorabilia product, scheduled to reach retail stores the first week of September. They are wise to move quickly as the new Brett Favre New York Jets jersey has been flying off shelves.
The Favre card features a photo of the Brett Favre holding up his #4 NY Jets jersey at Thursday's press conference. Donruss dispatched a photographer to the event with the express purpose of creating this special card.
"Trading cards have always helped bring fans closer to the players and commemorate historic moments in sports," said Donruss Marketing /PR Director Scott Prusha. "This is one of the biggest football stories in the past decade and we are honored to bring this historic moment to collectors."
The U.S. crushed China 101-70 in the highly anticipated basketball matchup. The game was close for the first half. LeBron James led the U.S. in scoring with 18. China's Yao scored 13 points.
However, with LeBron James scoring 18 points and Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard both contributing 13, the Americans eased clear of a tiring Chinese team.
More than a billion people were estimated to have seen the game on television.
US coach Mike Krzyzewski said: "More people were supposed to be watching this game than any other in basketball history, and we treated that as a great honour. Both teams responded to the magnitude of the event."
Yao, who scored 13 points, said: "It was a great game played in a fantastic atmosphere, with all the flags and cheering. Everyone was very proud."
8-8-08 arrives and the Olympics began with a stunning opening display in Beijing at a building dubbed the Bird's Nest. The Associated Press calls the opening a "a stunning display of pyrotechnics and pageantry."
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, the world record holder in the 100 meters, will also run the 200 meters in Beijing reports the AP. Bolt broke the world record in the 100 in New York this May. Usain Bolt has been one of the most widely discussed athletes appearing at the Beijing games.
Green Bay has traded superstar quaterback Brett Favre to the New York Jets. This is a move that is undoubtedly going to enrage a lot of Packers fans. Aaron Rodgers will now be the starting QB for the Packers as originally planned before Favre changed his mind about retiring.
The move ends a remarkably ugly split between Green Bay and one of its most beloved players, allows the Packers to move forward with new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and gives Favre a fresh start - although not exactly the one he wanted, as Favre's first choice was widely believed to be the Minnesota Vikings.
Favre was scheduled to leave Hattiesburg, Miss., Thursday morning and the Jets said he would be at a 6 p.m. EDT news conference in Cleveland, where New York plays the Browns in a preseason game later Thursday.
According to NFL.com, the Packers will receive a fourth-round draft pick in 2009. The selection would turn into a third-rounder if Favre plays in 50 percent of the plays this season, a second-rounder if he plays in 70 percent and the Jets make the playoffs, or a first-round pick if he plays in 80 percent and the Jets make it to the Super Bowl.
"I am looking forward to seeing Brett Favre in a New York Jets uniform," said Jets chairman and CEO Woody Johnson in a statement issued early Thursday. "He represents a significant addition to this franchise, and reflects our commitment to putting the best possible team on the field."
Brett Favre's destination of choice was apparently Minnesota so even he didn't get exactly what he wanted. The people happiest with this decision are likely New York Jets fans which is good for them since they usually don't have much to be happy about. The people at Snapper mowers are probably very happy as well since Snapper is a product that Favre is a spokesperson for as you can see by the photograph in this post.
The opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing is getting closer and closer. Those curious about the games may want to check out Time's special piece about 100 athelets to watch in Beijing.
Listed at #1 is rising U.S. basketball star LeBron James who has promised an Olympic gold in basketball for the U.S. It's more than just a promise since any medal other than gold would be consider a massive failure for the U.S. basketball team. James will be up against Yao Ming who plays for the NBA's Houston Rockets but will be playing for his home team of China at the Olympic Games.
Another athelete to watch is China's own Liu Xiang, who suprised analysts with a victory in the 110-m hurdles in Athens. Also check out U.S. sprinter Allyson Felix, 16-year-old U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson, Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice and China's diver Guo Jingjing. If you are interested in getting excited about the Olympics this great list from Time will help you to better know many of the possible stars of the 2008 Olympics.
U.S. swimmer Mark Phelps is rapidly accumulating gold medals. He picked up his third today at the Water Cube 
It took the Packers over 30-days to resolve the Brett Favre situation but it has only taking Donruss a few days to get him on an NFL player trading card with his new team. Donruss announced that a Brett Favre New York Jets trading card will appear in the company's Playoff Absolute Memorabilia product, scheduled to reach retail stores the first week of September. They are wise to move quickly as the new 
The U.S. 
Green Bay has 
The opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing is getting closer and closer. Those curious about the games may want to check out Time's 