Having fun with gravity!

Play this at full screen!



HT: American Digest

PS - "Don's Version" in the grab does not refer to me, but to the poster on Youtube.

The Tim Tebow Prophecy

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me" - Jesus of Nazareth, Matthew 5.11.

NFL Analysts: Tim Tebow Hated Because of His Faith

Outspoken Christian athlete Tim Tebow, now the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, has been widely criticized by many in the media. NFL analysts are starting to admit that criticism, in large part, has been because of his faith.

''Inside the NFL'' analyst and former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Cris Collinsworth concluded that much of the hatred against Tebow was based on his religious beliefs. Responding to a question from fellow host James 'JB' Brown, Collinsworth showed his disgust for Tebow's treatment: ''It's unbelievable, though, JB, that one of the best kids - just pure kids that's ever come into the NFL - is hated because of his faith, because of his mission work, because of the fact that he wears it on his sleeve, because of the fact that he lives his life that he talks about.''

This isn't the first time the issue has come up. Many sportswriters and fans have mocked Tebow and hoped to see him fail - in large part, his defenders have argued, because of his strong Christian beliefs. Other football analysts are starting to agree with that assessment.

NBCsports.com commentator Jelisa Castrodale argued: “The NFL's other backup-turned-starters don't generate this type of negativity.” And CBS analyst and former 49ers offensive lineman Randy Cross blamed the media for anti-Tebow coverage: ''People, especially the media, root against him because of what he stands for.''

Rare corner kick for a goal

Ronaldinho Did The Impossible And Scored A Corner Kick From A Zero-Degree Angle Last Night

Ronaldinho bent a corner kick into the back of the net for a goal in his Brazillian team's 3-2 defeat last night.

At first glance, it looks like his teammate heads in his pass. But no, Ronaldinho actually scored a goal from a 0-degree angle. It was his ninth goal in 10 games this year.

My son did this same thing in high school. In the video, it appears that the goalie blocked the ball with his hands, but the ball bounced into the net rather than out of it. So Ronaldinho is credited with the goal because no one else on his team touched the ball after he kicked it.

Comment of the day

I'm very happy to hear that the NFL increased the debt ceiling. I'm very informed and my opinions are valid. -- A Facebooker whom I shall not name, for obvious reasons.

Texas Rangers Baseball Fan Dies While Trying to Catch Ball For Seven-Year Old Son

American Power: Texas Rangers Baseball Fan Dies While Trying to Catch Ball For Seven-Year Old Son

"I can blow at any seam" -- early astronauts' way of saying that anything or everything can go real bad real quick. Video at the link, I just can't bring myself to post it here.

There are no guarantees for your very next breath, people.

What a guy!

Tampa Bay player Evan Longoria makes a bare-hand catch to save a reporter interviewing him from being beaned by a batted ball. Outstanding reflexes!



HT: Daniel Jackson, via Facebook

Update: Okay, seems this is just fake.

The $10,720,000 slave

Only in America, where there used to be real, chattel slavery, would someone set to be paid $10.72 million this year say he was in "slavery."

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson compared NFL owners' treatment of players to "modern-day slavery," according to an online interview published Tuesday by Yahoo! Sports....

When discussing other players feeling the same way, Peterson said: "It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too... ."

Not even other football players are buying it.

Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant took exception to Peterson's comment, writing on Twitter: "Their is unfortunately actually still slavery existing in our world. Literal modern day slavery. That was a very misinformed statement." ...

Saints fullback Heath Evans said he agrees with most of the Twitter responses about Peterson, which have been mostly negative.

"We are all blessed to even strap a helmet on in this league!" Evans tweeted.

Adrian, you are being paid more in one season than even a Milwaukee school teacher will make in a lifetime, and you say your work, which you freely chose and leave anytime, is slavery? Bub, you're being paid millions to play a game! Get a little perspective, please. No wait, make that a lot of perspective.

Seahawks fall to climate of hate in Chicago

Climate of hate in the Windy City

You should have known something like this was going to happen. The vitriol and anger in our nation's sports talk has never been harsher - and we may as well face it: most of it is coming from Chicago Bears Fans.

So today a squad of violent men, emboldened by the climate of hate in Chicago towards any of "Da Bears'" opponents, committed murder. Murder most foul. They killed the Seattle Seahawks' chances of playing in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks were sent to their football grave. The Bears beat them - beat them, mind you - 35-24.

The Bears, urged to their lethal deeds by radio commentators and fans, were merciless. With quarterback Jay Cutler at the helm, the mayhem they committed upon the hapless Seahawks was relentless. This is what sports has come to, fellow Americans: open combat instead of friendly competition.

Seattle tight end John Carlson was so badly mauled by a Chicago defender that he had to leave the game after being beaten nearly senseless. He was diagnosed with a concussion. So was teammate Marcus Trufant.

Chicago's climate of hate instigators

"I heard some Chicago fans yelling, 'Hurt him!'" a player told reporters afterward. "They were shouting, "Kill 'em' and 'get him, get him!' It was clear to me that the Bears were simply doing what their fans told them to do. They even had uniformed women on the sidelines actually helping people cheer the Bears on to more violence."

Another player added, "Yeah." Both men were admitted to the hospital where they will remain overnight. Seattle Coach Pete Carroll was said to be concerned about the injuries meted upon his players.

"There has been a climate of hate building here in Chicago against us all week long," said a highly-placed team official after the game. "It started with that sports talk radio figure - you all know who I mean - saying that he hoped the Bears would just destroy us. A caller said the Bears should show us no mercy. Another said he wanted the Bears to crush us. Now we've got two men in the hospital. With all the harsh language and vitriol in this city, it's no surprise that things turned out the way they did."

This reporter contacted the White House to get Chicago native President Obama's reaction.

"They brought a knife to the fight," the president responded through a spokesman. "We brought a gun. It's the Chicago way."

Once the game ended, Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas tweeted, "Mission accomplished, Sarah Palin."

And New York Times columnist Paul Krugman hastily blogged, "I am so conflicted. On the one hand, I decry the hate speech and verbal intimidation that Chicago carried out against Seattle because Seattle is one of the most liberal cities in America. So that would mean that Chicago is full of right-wing haters. But on the other hand, it's President Obama's city, Rahm Emmanuel is running for mayor there and Chicago has been under control of the Democrat party machine for generations. So I am just going to suck my thumb awhile."

Stephanie Gilmore The First Female Surfer To Win Four World Titles

Australia's Stephanie Gilmore has happen to the first female surfer to ever win four world titles from as many attempts, after winning her quarter-final at the Rip Curl Pro Search event in Puerto Rico.

The 22-year-old didn't have it all her own way against resolute Hawaiian Melanie Bartels, but did enough to clinch the title, before being chaired off Middles Beach by men's defending champion and Rip Curl stable-mate Mick Fanning.

Bartels put up an almighty fight, with Gilmore's 13.87 mutual score for her two best waves giving her victory by just .10 of a point.

The happy assassin must now be eyeing off the record of seven women's world titles achieved by surfing icon Layne Beachley.

Gilmore is now through to the semi-finals at the Rip Curl Pro Search event, but can now relax knowing that her historic feat is already with her.

Sebastien Loeb Wins Rally World Title 7th Time

Sebastien Loeb claimed an extraordinary seventh consecutive world rally championship by winning his home round in Alsace.

Loeb guaranteed overall victory for the seventh straight year with two legs of the season lasting after winning six of the 11 rallies of the 2010 season - he also managed at least a top three finish in ten of those events.

The champion was able to savour his triumph on home soil as he hails from Haguenau, just outside Strasbourg in eastern France near the German border, the Citroen C4 driver leading home a 1-2-3 for the marque ahead of Spaniard Dani Sordo and Norway's Petter Solberg for a 60th career success.

"This is fantastic," said Loeb. "This has been a very inspiring rally. It has been very difficult and I didn't suppose so many people to be here. This is the best result for me to win the championship here in France."

Sordo was delighted with his second place, and congratulated Loeb and his team.

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View this site car transport

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USA Crowned World Champions In Waterpolo

The United States were crowned women's water polo World Cup champions after a tense 6-3 defeat of Australia in the final at Christchurch. The US claimed their first world title since winning the opening event in 1979.

They led 6-0 at halftime but botched to score again as they held out a determined comeback from the defending champions to win the 15th edition of the World Cup. Both teams scraped into the final after one-goal wins in yesterday's semifinals. Australia pipped Russia 11-10 and the US scraped past Canada 10-9.

In other ranking matches, China won Russia 11-9 to snare the bronze medal while Canada beat Hungary 18-16 in a penalty shootout to finish fifth. The playoff for seventh place in the eight-team competition saw Greece outplay New Zealand 16-8.

It ended a winless week for New Zealand, who earned a rare request to play the world's elite as tournament hosts. Yesterday New Zealand lost their ranking match 11-4 to Hungary. New Zealand water polo chairman Rob Borgers said the experience was precious to the green national side.

"It has given our New Zealand team first-class competition. We are a comparatively young and inexperienced team compared with some of our competitors. But the players have erudite a lot from this about what it takes to be amongst the best in the world," Borgers said.

"As the New Zealand coach Eelco Uri has barbed out, he has longer term goals to get our New Zealand women ranked in the top eight in the world."

Because Australia finished in the top four and succeed for next year's world championships in Shanghai, New Zealand will contend there as the Oceania representatives.

London 2012 Targets youth For Olympic Games

London 2012 Olympics Chief Sebastian Coe said Friday the occasion would be unashamedly targeted at getting young people into sport, as London prepares to mark two years to go until the Games start.Coe said the Olympics would use novel media platforms and angle its ticketing strategy at stirring a new generation to take a lasting interest in sport.

With five years gone since London was awarded the Olympics and two to go until they get in progress on July 27, 2012, Coe said capturing the youth market would be vital to the Games' success."You need the interactivity if you are authentically delivering on the vision to put young people at the heart of the Games," the 1500m Olympic gold medal winner in 1980 and 1984 told reporters.

"Our mascots were in a large part shaped by and for young people, using language, visuals and technology that are far more familiar to them."We've reached out to young people not just through sport, but through our cultural programmes. It makes good quality sense. This is where young people are."Our communication strategy is flagrantly in new media. That is the way you communicate with young people.

"The world they live in, you've got to be much more imaginative if you want to get your messages across and invite them to join you."Coe said organisers were secure to finalising ticket prices and the event schedules. He said ticket prices needed to maximise revenue, make sure full stadia and crucially get youngsters in.

"We need to make sure that they are at prices that allow in the people that you actually want to be in there, inspiring ideally a new, young generation of competitors," he said.The 53-year-old said Tuesday would mark a divide in the London 2012 journey."We're a couple of day off quite a big instant for us. The last five years have gone extremely quickly," he said.

"The next two years of this project both in terms of operational delivery and in communicating and appealing are really the hard business end of the project."He said their strategy were well-suited to survive the economic downturn and government cuts to their budget."The Olympic project is as valid today with the economy at a lower ebb," Coe said."When we were bidding, we were still putting at the centre of our project a sustainably and a responsibly-delivered Games.

"We have always set about delivering a Games that is not simply bigger than the last Games because that's what's always been done, but one with a legacy at its heart. That's why these Games are different."