As the cameras settled on the athlete who has lived her whole life as a female, onlookers pored over their TV screens, studying the woman now rumoured to be a man.
IAAF has asked the South African athletics federation to conduct a gender test after her muscular physique and amazing performances sparked speculation that she is, in fact, a man.
She does look like a man and for the sake of the competition, I think it’s fair to raise the question and do the tests. Of course, there is the possibility she is neither a man or a woman but a hermaphrodite.
Director of Communications, Nick Davies, was unable to say whether any retrospective action could be taken should Semenya be revealed to have issues surrounding her gender.
"I can't say that if X happens in the future that we will, for example, retroactively strip results. It's legally very complex.
The results of the test, which include a physical medical evaluation, along with reports from a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, an internal medicine specialist, and an expert on gender to resolve issues of ambiguous genitalia, might take weeks but her family has guaranteed Caster is a woman.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Caster Semenya Controversy : Gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, internal medicine specialist
Friday, July 24, 2009
Mark Buehrle Tosses Perfect Game
The White Sox 5-0 win moves them into a tie with the Detroit Tigers for the lead of the AL Central Division. The Chisox travel to Detroit tomorrow to play a four games series against the Tigers.
As for Buehrle, he becomes the 16th pitcher to throw a perfect game since 1900. His perfect game is the first in MLB since May 2004 when Randy Johnson accomplished the feat while a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Atlanta Braves.
This is also Buehrle's second career no-hitter. In April 2007, Buehrle fired a no-hitter for the Chisox against the Texas Rangers. He has pitched his entire 10-year MLB career on the South Side of Chicago.
In between decimating our country's health care system and defaming the Cambridge Police Department, Chisox fan and President of the United States Barack Obama called Buehrle to congratulate him on his triumph. It is worth noting Obama met with Buehrle prior to the All-Star Game last week in St. Louis. Obama suggested in jest that Buehrle threw the perfect game because he wore the White Sox jacket when he threw out the first pitch. Gee Barry, I thought everything wasn't all about you. Well, today it's about Buehrle.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Roethlisberger Charged With Sexual Assault (UPDATED)
"Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by a woman in Nevada. According to online court records, a defamation lawsuit was filed in Washoe County on Friday. Andrea McNulty is listed as the plaintiff. Details of the suit were not available late Monday night. Roethlisberger was one of nine defendants listed in the online court docket report. Roethlisberger's attorney released a statement to several media outlets Monday night saying the two-time Super Bowl winner was accused of sexual assault in the lawsuit by McNulty. Atlanta-based attorney David Cornwell denied Roethlisberger sexually assaulted McNulty (Sportsline)."
I don't want to say a lot here, because a lot of cases like this against celebrities is just for money, but even if this is all not true it is going to be a distraction for the Steelers. Roethlisberger doesn't strike me as a guy who would do this, but like I've said before you just never know. We'll let you know more are the information becomes available.
*****UPDATE*****
Sources connected to the Ben Roethlisberger sexual assault case claim the psychiatric care the accuser says she's under has nothing to do with Ben .... it has to do with a relationship she had with a man who never existed.
Andrea McNulty has sued Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl champ, claiming he sexually assaulted her in July 2008. Sources tell us Roethlisberger and McNulty had a sexual liaison at the time but Ben in! sists it was purely consensual. We're told the two knew each other because Ben had stayed at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe over the last several years for golf tournaments -- and she worked at the hotel.
Sources connected with the case tell us a former co-worker of McNulty's at Harrah's came forward with this incredible story -- that around the time McNulty hooked up with Roethlisberger, she was allegedly involved with a married man. The man's wife, we're told, created an email account, posing as a U.S. soldier in Iraq. The wife began corresponding with McNulty to gain information. We're told the former co-worker has said McNulty fell in love with the fictitious soldier and began telling people she was engaged to him. When the wife stopped the correspondence, McNulty then began telling people the soldier was killed in action. More
Another reason to think women are crazy.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay Named ASG Starting Pitchers/Halladay on Jody Mac Show
Roy Halladay was a guest on Jody Mac on ESPN 950 today. Though he was clearly dancing around it - he said Philadelphia "fits the bill of what I am looking for". Click here for the entire interview with Roy Halladay, Jody Mac and Harry Mays.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
No-Hitters Arenât Just For Baseballâs Elite
The no-hitter Friday night by San Francisco Giants hurler Jonathan Sanchez is a reminder that one of baseball’s most hallowed accomplishments is not just reserved for pitchers with lofty career statistics. Instead, for one night anyone (even a pitcher with a 16-26 career record) can look like a Hall of Famer and stamp himself a place in baseball immortality.
No-hitters have a special place in baseball lore because, while there are other accomplishments that occur with less frequency, a no-hitter is one feat that can seemingly come out of nowhere.
That was no more evident than in the case of Sanchez.
Having spent the last three weeks in the bullpen after losing his spot in the rotationâ€"he entered Friday’s game with a 2-8 season recordâ€"Sanchez only got the start against the San Diego Padres because future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson (owner of two career no-hitters) went on the disabled list earlier this week.
The left-hander made the most of his opportunity, as he was nearly perfect. He struck out 11 batters and had a perfect game until an error in the eighth inning. He did not surrender a walk in the contest.
No-hitters are also a special moment for an entire team because, wh! ile the pitcher gets and deserves much of the credit, it is truly an achievement that is dependent on everyone playing at a high level for the entire game.
That was quite clear in the ninth inning Friday as Sanchez’s bid would have ended two outs shy of completion had centerfielder Aaron Rowand not made an incredible catch at the wall to rob Edgar Gonzalez of an extra base hit.
Sanchez is just the latest in a long line of pitchers with otherwise forgettable careers who will forever be recognized as having been, for one night at least, un-hittable.
His no-no is the 262nd in baseball history and 220th since 1900.
While there are many Hall of Fame pitchers who have thrown no-hitters, including Nolan Ryan (seven times), Sandy Koufax (four), Warren Spahn (2), Jim Bunning (2), Catfish Hunter, Jim Palmer, Gaylord Perry, Tom Seaver and Juan Marichal, there are many pitchers with plaques in Cooperstown that never achieved such one-game greatness.
In fact, except for Johnson, the most recent additions to the 300-victory club never accomplished the feat. Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens combined to win 1,014 career games, yet none of the three ever threw a no-hitter.
Then consider that four pitchers who have thrown no-hitters this decadeâ€"Anibal Sanchez (15 wins), Clay Buchholz (5), Bud Smith (7) and Sanchez (16)â€"have a total of 42 career victories between them.
Other pitchers whose names may not be recognizable, but who pitched a no-hitter in the majors include Ed Halicki (55 wins), George Culver (48), Tommy Greene (38), Joe Cowley (33), Juan Nieves (32) and Mike Warren (9).
Of course, the most famous no-hitter in baseball history was the perfect game thrown by Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series. Larsen was never confused for one of the greats of his era as he posted an 81-91 career-record and never won more than 11 games in a season.
No-hitters also are magical because they can serve as the defining moment for pitchers who have battled against great odds and difficulties to gain, or return to, greatness.
The no-hitter in 1993 by Jim Abbott, who pitched 10 years in the majors despite being born without a right hand, will forever serve as inspiration for people trying to overcome adversity.
Similarly, the no-hitter by Jon Lester in May of 2008 served as his signal to the baseball world that he was completely recovered from the lymphoma that many thought might end his promising career just two years earlier. He went on to win 16 games that season and remains one of the key hurlers on the Red Sox.
It is not surprising that Dwight Gooden pitched a no-hitter during his career, but what is surprising is that it didn’t happen during his tenure as the best pitcher in the game for the New York Mets. Instead, it happened a decade later while pitching for the New York Yankees.
At the time, Gooden’s no-no seemed to serve as a re-birth for the former All-Star following his long-time battle with substance abuse. Even though his struggles continued following that moment, the memory of him being carried off the field by thrilled teammates illustrates the power a no-hitter can have to, in one night, turn mediocrity into greatness.
It is likely that Sanchez’s career ! peaked w ith his near-perfect performance against the Padres. However, for he and his fatherâ€"who was in attendanceâ€"it is a memory that will never get old.
Plus, for the rest of time, Sanchez will know that for one night, he was the best pitcher in baseball.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Stallworth Released From Jail
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth has been released from a Miami jail after serving 24 days of his DUI manslaughter case.
His attorney, Christopher Lyons, says Stallworth was released from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center early Friday. Lyons says Stallworth is at home and plans to "fulfill his obligations under the plea agreement and spend time with his family."
The 28-year-old Stallworth served 24 of the 30-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter.
Stallworth has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL. He signed a signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns before last season but was injured much of the year, finishing with 17 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown.
Here's how the story broke on WSVN-TV
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Joey Chestnut Sets World Record in Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2009:
Joey Chestnut, the defending champ, made it three in a row on Saturday at the 94th annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island. He choked down a world-record-setting 68 franks in 10 minutes.
In doing so, Chestnut continued his dominance of his archrival, six-time titleholder Takeru Kobayashi, in Saturday’s action. Chestnut led throughout this year's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.
In the 2008 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, Chestnut and Kobayashi finished tied, both with 59 dogs. That contest was settled with a 5-frank eat-off.
Showing that today might be a slow sports day (it really isn't), or rather, that hot dog eating contests are big deals, ESPN broadcast this year's Nathan's event live. Chestnut said:"After the second minute I knew my body was cooperating."
The prize money in the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2009 is $20,000. At the same time Joey Chestnut will take home the "coveted" Mustard Belt.
