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Showing posts with label Pics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pics. Show all posts
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Cool Grey 11 Price and Ralease Date
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Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Deena Nicole Cortese,Wiki,Naked Pics
Jaime Edmondson Pictures,Bio,Videos
I talked to Jaime for a few seconds and found her to be a very nice, happy and friendly person. It’s no wonder they picked her, I would have too. She must have been great to work with considering her wonderful personality. The good looks and tremendous smile are a given, of course.
Chicago Fire Department and Academy,Jobs Oppertunitys
Chicago Fire Department and Academy,Jobs Oppertunitys: Two Chicago firefighters were killed Wednesday morning and 19 were hurt when a roof and wall collapsed while they were fighting a fire in an abandoned, one-story, brick former laundry building on East 75th Street.
The two firefighters were identified as Edward Stringer, a 12-year veteran, and Cory Ankum, a member of the department for less than two years.
Two other firefighters were trapped inside the former Sing Way Laundry at 1744 E. 75th, near South Shore High School, before being pulled to safety and taken to hospitals. Firefighters including Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff swarmed the scene, furiously digging through rubble to find the missing firefighters. When the missing were located, they were quickly carried out of the building, with firefighters clearing a path.
Ankum died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, while Stringer died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, fire department spokesman Larry Langford said.
Dozens of firefighters lined the exit at Christ Medical Center’s emergency room to salute as the body of Ankum, 34, was brought out to be taken to the morgue.
Fighting back tears, Maurice Matthews said his brother, firefighter Steven Ellerson, was injured trying to save Ankum.
“He almost died trying to save his partner,” Matthews said.
Matthews said his brother was in the building when the roof collapsed. He heard Ankum crying for help and came to his assistance, removing Ankum’s mask and unsuccessfully attempting to pull him free, Matthews said.
Eventually Ellerson’s colleagues dragged Ellerson to safety, but not before his eyesight was damaged, Matthews said.
“He’s distraught that he couldn’t save’’Ankum, Matthews said. “The brotherhood and camaraderie these firefighters share is incredible.”
Ankum’s wife is Mayor Daley’s personal secretary. Daley, who is in New York, planned to end his trip early and return to the city Wednesday night following the tragedy.
“I knew Cory Ankum and his family and I share in their loss today,’’ Daley said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon. “. . . The deaths of Firefighters Stringer and Ankum are both a sad reminder of how much gratitude we owe our first responders and a tragedy for all Chicagoans.’’
Ankum was a former Chicago cop who joined the Chicago Fire Department’s Engine 72 a year ago and was described as a favorite at the firehouse at 79th and South Chicago.
The father of three children under 12 years old — including a 1 year old — was “first and foremost, a devoted family man,” said his brother, Gerald Glover, also a firefighter, who worked a different shift at the same firehouse.
The older brother said Ankum switched careers to join him in the fire department because he felt “police officers weren’t getting respect any more.”
Known for his excellent cooking and his jokes, Ankum was quick to help out neighbors on his block, and he knew the dangers of his job, his brother said.
“He was an outstanding young man that took care of his kids and family,” he said.
“He ran in that building — he didn’t know what was happening, but he was doing his job,” his brother said.
As for Stringer, one fire department district commander said he will be remembered for his “bravery’’ and “valor.’’
The commander, who didn’t want to be identified, was walking out of the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office Wednesday carrying a Chicago flag that had been used to drape the remains of both firefighters and a red plastic bag filled with Stringer’s clothing.
“We lost a friend, we lost a brother,’’ he said of Stringer, whose mother is a retired city worker. Stringer “would jump in’’ whenever needed. He also had a “quick wit.’’
Both firefighters were “excellent men, excellent firefighters, excellent parents, excellent friends,’’ the district commander said.
“We are all devastated. It’s a loss, a loss around the holidays,’’ he said.
Langford said all of the surviving firefighters were “stable” — without life-threatening injuries.
Nearly 100 firefighters responded to the “Mayday” call that was sounded to alert the department that firefighters were trapped.
Among them was Hoff, a third-generation Chicago firefighter whose own father died years ago in the line of duty.
“They were removed from different corners of the building,” Hoff, his face marked with soot, said of those who had to be pulled out.
Of the rescue efforts, Hoff said, “They worked hard, got them out fast.”
The fire Wednesday came on the 100th anniversary of the Union Stock Yards fire, which killed 21 Chicago firefighters. That was the single greatest loss of big-city firefighters ever in the United States before the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
The three-alarm fire started just before 7 a.m..
Robert Smart, who owns Smart Bros. Car Wash next door to the former laundry, said squatters regularly slept in the abandoned building. He said he’s called police about the squatters before and that each time a security fence at the rear of the property was repaired, but the squatters cut a new hole in it and returned.
Four of the injured firefighters were sent to University of Chicago Hospitals. As of 12:40 p.m., one had been released. The remaining three were to be released soon, with all suffering from cuts and bruises, a hospital official said.
Word of the deadly fire Wednesday reached a group of retired firefighters as they marked the anniversary of the Stock Yards fire with a gathering at the firefighters monument in the small park at Exchange and Peoria. The names of the firefighters who died a century ago were being read, a bell tolling for each one, said retired firefighter Bill Cosgrove, who helped raised the money to create the memorial.
“It was beyond disbelief,” Cosgrove, who lives in Tinley Park, said of the timing of Wednesday’s fire. “It broke most of the firemen down when we found out. We have a very sad day today.”
Who Won Skating,Pics
- Vernon Kay
That is the first and only funny line the otherwise abysmally annoying Vernon has said all season. Please England, take him back and never send him to our shores again! We’ll give you Boston back if that sweetens the deal. Sorry about that tea in the harbor business!
Tonight’s finale starts out with a bang as Johnny Weir, dressed like the unholy baby of Prince and an Osprey performs an ‘I know why the caged bird sings’ dungeon inspired routine with some of the other skaters. It was dark and weird and AWESOME and it almost made me sorry this freak show is over.
Then, just when I think things can’t get any stranger, they haul out the old bones of Sean Young and Vince Neil and make them perform bits from their old routines again. Vince and Jennifer bring back their tango and he looks like he would rather be having anal surgery than be on that ice again. Should have looked more closely at that contract Vince! Brandon still can’t skate due to “illness” but manages to cheer loudly from the audience and look as healthy as a horse. Hmm? What ‘disease’ is he suffering from? Acute Cheesy TVitis? That’s gonna make working on the Disney channel awful tough.
Jonny and Brooke come out and re-performed one of their routines that I’ve already forgotten and since he’s in “fuck it, I lost anyway” mode they stumble and even fall for the first time. Yay! Falling! Much like the true meaning of Christmas, I’d forgotten the true reason to watch this show.
Then the judges come out and Johnny does not disappoint with his last outfit of the season, which is a puffy white suit that could have been ripped off of Bette Davis’ back on the set of All About Eve. If you’ll allow me one more bit of Johnny adoration, I’d like to point out that he could very well be the only person on Earth who actually pulls of a mullet. There, I’m done. I love you Johnny Weir!! Ok, NOW I’m done.
As for the finalists, both Rebecca and Bethenny seem like genuinely fun people and not nearly as irritating as some of the other contestants (I’m looking at you, Sean). In tonight’s outfit-off both women look amazing so I’m declaring a tie! Bethenny is wearing a crazy sexy red dress that reminds me of Michelle Pfeiffer slinking on a piano in The Fabulous Baker Brothers and Rebecca looks adorable in a skin tight, slightly retro purple Katy Perry inspired outfit.
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Shane Mosley Fight,Record and his Pics
Shane Mosley Fight,Record and his Pics: Manny Pacquiao plans to fight Sugar Shane Mosley in his next bout May 7 in Las Vegas.
Promoter Bob Arum told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that the deal will be done after Mosley's lawyers approve the final paperwork for the WBO welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Arum says Pacquiao chose the bout because Mosley is the most accomplished and famous boxer in the field of candidates, which included Juan Manuel Marquez and welterweight champion Andre Berto.
"He's the most recognizable name, and it's a difficult fight for him," said Arum, who met with Pacquiao in the Philippines last week. "People are also saying, 'Well, why hasn't he fought an African-American fighter?' He's doing that, but mostly it's because Mosley is the biggest name."
Pacquiao also realizes a potential superbout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. is likely still impossible because of the Mayweather family's various legal troubles.
Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) is on top of the boxing world after trouncing Antonio Margarito in a one-sided decision in Texas on Nov. 13. The 32-year-old Filipino congressman has won 13 straight fights while claiming world titles in an astonishing eight weight classes, most recently taking the WBC 154-pound belt with his win over Margarito.
Arum realizes he could have trouble selling a fight against a nearly 40-year-old opponent who will be nearly 2 1/2 years removed from his last victory when he faces Pacquiao, but he believes Mosley's skill and speed will challenge Pacquiao.
"That was obviously a negative, but Shane Mosley is capable of doing great things," Arum said.
Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) is near the tail end of a remarkable career that began in 1993. The former three-division champion has won just two of his past five fights, getting walloped by Mayweather in an unanimous decision last May before fighting to a dull draw with Sergio Mora on Sept. 18.
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Promoter Bob Arum told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that the deal will be done after Mosley's lawyers approve the final paperwork for the WBO welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Arum says Pacquiao chose the bout because Mosley is the most accomplished and famous boxer in the field of candidates, which included Juan Manuel Marquez and welterweight champion Andre Berto.
"He's the most recognizable name, and it's a difficult fight for him," said Arum, who met with Pacquiao in the Philippines last week. "People are also saying, 'Well, why hasn't he fought an African-American fighter?' He's doing that, but mostly it's because Mosley is the biggest name."
Pacquiao also realizes a potential superbout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. is likely still impossible because of the Mayweather family's various legal troubles.
Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) is on top of the boxing world after trouncing Antonio Margarito in a one-sided decision in Texas on Nov. 13. The 32-year-old Filipino congressman has won 13 straight fights while claiming world titles in an astonishing eight weight classes, most recently taking the WBC 154-pound belt with his win over Margarito.
Arum realizes he could have trouble selling a fight against a nearly 40-year-old opponent who will be nearly 2 1/2 years removed from his last victory when he faces Pacquiao, but he believes Mosley's skill and speed will challenge Pacquiao.
"That was obviously a negative, but Shane Mosley is capable of doing great things," Arum said.
Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) is near the tail end of a remarkable career that began in 1993. The former three-division champion has won just two of his past five fights, getting walloped by Mayweather in an unanimous decision last May before fighting to a dull draw with Sergio Mora on Sept. 18.
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Maya Moore Boyfriend,Pics
Maya Moore Boyfriend,Pics: Congratulations to Maya Moore (photo at left) and the UCONN Women's Basketball team. UCONN set a new college basketball record of 89 straight wins. In other words, the University of Connecticut hasn't lost since the 2008 Presidential Race.
UCONN star Maya Moore was hot, scoring 41 points, and dominating play against Florida State, with the team winning 93 to 62.
OK. That aside, let's talk.
All of that crap about comparing the UCONN women's team to the UCLA Men's Basketball Team coached by the late John Wooten is just that. Crap. It doesn't matter that the UCONN team that set the record for all of college basketball is female.
What matters is they did it, and we should get behind women's sports for that reason: we're in a golden age of great female athletes at play. From Maya Moore at UCONN to Lindsay Vonn and Julia Mancuso in skiing, and the growing of acceptance of the strong woman in American culture, this is a great time for women in sports.
It's a total shame more women's sports don't get the support they need to generate profits. And it's really not just the fault of men, but women too.
UCONN star Maya Moore was hot, scoring 41 points, and dominating play against Florida State, with the team winning 93 to 62.
OK. That aside, let's talk.
All of that crap about comparing the UCONN women's team to the UCLA Men's Basketball Team coached by the late John Wooten is just that. Crap. It doesn't matter that the UCONN team that set the record for all of college basketball is female.
What matters is they did it, and we should get behind women's sports for that reason: we're in a golden age of great female athletes at play. From Maya Moore at UCONN to Lindsay Vonn and Julia Mancuso in skiing, and the growing of acceptance of the strong woman in American culture, this is a great time for women in sports.
It's a total shame more women's sports don't get the support they need to generate profits. And it's really not just the fault of men, but women too.
5 Things about Noureen Dewulf his Pics he is Muslim
Noureen Dewulf is an actress, and you may remember her from her role in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past with Matthew McConaughey.
Here are five things you probably don’t know about Noureen Dewulf:
1. Noureen Dewulf was born in New York City, but grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Her parents are from India, making her Indian-American.
2. She got her first big break in 2007 in West Bank Story, where she played a fast food cashier in Palestine who falls in love with an Israeli soldier. The film won an Academy Award.
3. Noureen Dewulf has appeared on the big screen in The Back-Up Plan with Jennifer Lopez, and also American Dreamz and Ocean’s Thirteen.
4. Her TV credits include 90210, CSI NY, Numb3rs, and Chuck.
5. In 2007, Noureen Dewulf was featured in Maxim as one of their top 100 most desirable women on the planet.
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Rex Ryan Wife Michelle Ryan Pics,Fansite,Boyfriend
Ryan completed the event in 5hrs 40mins.
Follow us on Twitter. Have Bob's Blitz delivered to your inbox by clicking Here or Return to BobsBlitz.com.
Also betcha this is the Michelle Ryan you wish everyone was talking about today.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 19: Michelle Ryan arrives for the BAFTA Video Games Awards at the Hilton, Park Lane on March 19, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)
But, alas, it is not. And that stinks. You know what helps get rid of stink? Flowers.
FLORHAM PARK, NJ - JANUARY 21: New York Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan and his wife Michelle Ryan pose for a photo during a press conference announcing Ryan as the new Head Coach of the New York Jets at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on January 21, 2009 in Florham Park, New Jersey.
Review and Release Date of Ford Explorer 2011 also its pictures
The all-new 2011 Ford Explorer, which is slated to begin reaching dealerships in January, takes a secure step toward the crossover side of the SUV realm—meaning it has a few more carlike driving experience, a bit more emphasis on passenger space, and even better attention to cabin appointments than previous versions. Ford hasn't entirely forgotten about off-roading either; as we reported in a First Drive of the Explorer, this ute gets a Land Rover-like multi-mode system that can still tackle steep slopes, mud, and sand.
The former Explorer, a longtime best-seller, failed to achieve top results in side impact, despite a full range of airbags and standard safety features in recent years. But the Explorer has been a top 'good' performer with respect to frontal impact since the 2002 model year.
The new 2011 Explorer has all the goods: dual front, side and curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control; and active headrests. Rear-seat inflatable seatbelts make their debut in the Explorer, and blind-spot detectors, adaptive cruise control and "curve control" that predicts tight corners are all available.
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Treatement of Raynaud S Syndrome|,Emedicine
Sufferers experience their fingers (and often their toes) going white, then blue, as the extremities of the body seize up when they become starved of blood.
An attack is often caused by cold winter temperatures, but can also be triggered by wandering past the freezer cabinets in a supermarket.
“The first time, my fingers turned white in a slight breeze on a summer’s day,” said Alison Wright, 39.
She went to her doctor who diagnosed Raynaud’s. That was six years ago and she has suffered regular “attacks” ever since.
It is particularly bad in winter, when it’s cold – and this is when sufferers like Alison experience a lot of pain.
“My fingers can be white and painful every minute of the day in winter.
“It’s a combination of pain and numbness, like trapping your finger in a door – except it affects every finger,” she says.
Cold to the touch
The symptoms are due to a lack of blood reaching the periphery of the body, caused by the arteries contracting spasmodically.
This can be triggered by touching cold objects or exposure to cold of any kind.
A slight change in temperature, even during the summer, can cause the body to react.
Raynaud’s is thought to affect up to 20% of the adult population worldwide and there may be as many as 10m sufferers in the UK.
The condition is most commonly found in women, and approximately 10% of women in the UK suffer from Raynaud’s to some degree.
Many sufferers have never seen a doctor as they are unaware that their condition has a name or that there is anything that can be done to help.
Alison says she has learned to live with the pain.
“I have got used to it. It does reduce me to tears sometimes, but I have learned to manage it and I don’t want it to get the better of me.”
“The worst thing you can do is put your hands on a radiator after an attack,” she says.
“I have to warm up my hands and feet very slowly and gently once they’ve gone white, but they can stay that way all day.”
When she was first diagnosed, Alison tried a variety of medicines to help improve her circulation and keep the blood vessels dilated.
Blood flow
But some of these caused complications and adverse reactions.
Instead, she now uses hand-warmers, silk liners and thick socks to try to stave off any attacks.
Getting money out of her purse with numb fingers or picking up cold milk bottles are everyday frustrations which she endures.
And she has given up on skiing.
But she does exercise by go swimming and teach pilates – something the Raynaud’s and Scleroderma Association recommends.
Exercise helps to keep your skin flexible and maintains better blood flow, says the association, which also advises sufferers to maintain a healthy diet and wear plenty of thin layers of clothing rather than one thick layer.
The association also warns against smoking as “just one cigarette can reduce the body temperature by one degree over a 20 minute period”.
Alison’s favourite coping mechanism is a regular winter holiday in the sun.
“It’s great to know I can escape the cold for a week or two,” she says.
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Bio,Pics of Tasha Nicole his Contracts
Digicel, a telecommunications company in the Caribbean, renews contract to sponsor Caribbean Cup Football (soccer).
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Michael Phelps Height and Wingspan,his Bio,Wiki and Pics
Michael Phelps Height and Wingspan,his Bio,Wiki and Pics: Everyone who plays sports has dreams. Many involve winning championships, collecting medals, and playing the sport at the highest level. For most, however, the dream ends without being fulfilled, often after high school or college. Adam Powell, a senior on the men’s swimming and diving team, isn’t ready to let his dreams slip away without a fight. Powell is planning on taking a year off after graduation to attempt to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in the 50 meter freestyle.
If you’ve walked around Morningside Heights, you probably recognize the name Adam Powell. Powell’s grandfather was Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., a former New York City congressman whose name graces Seventh Avenue north of Central Park.
Powell has been carving out quite a name for himself at Columbia as well, and has already etched himself into Columbia swimming history. Powell is the school record holder in the 50 free (19.72 seconds) and 100 free (43.91 seconds) and is part of the school-record holding 200 medley team (1:29.81 minutes). Powell qualified for the NCAA Championship in the spring for the 50 free with the 18th fastest time in the nation, but failed to make it out of the preliminaries.
Powell has been swimming since he was a child, although it’s fair to say the Olympic Trials were not always on his mind.
“When I was seven, I joined the town team,” said Powell, who hails from Pound Ridge, N.Y. “The town summer swim team was the cool thing to do.”
“I joined because it was an extracurricular activity,” Powell said. “I usually went to the same park for summer camp, so now I went to camp and had practice afterward.”
Powell enjoyed the sport and joined his first club team that fall when he was eight years old. But despite his fondness of the water, Powell didn’t swim competitively over the summer even though swimming is a year-round sport at the highest levels.
Powell continued to swim and was on his high school’s swim team, but club teams provided the most competition and training for him as he got older and better.
“It’s all about the club team,” Powell said. “High school plays a part, but swimming consumes your life long before high school.”
Powell was always a good swimmer but didn’t start to show his true potential until his sophomore year of high school.
“Before that, I just liked to swim,” said Powell. “At the end of my sophomore year I grew. I was always a tall kid, when I was a freshman I came in at like 6’1 but I grew to 6’5. That combined with hitting puberty and gaining muscle played a big part.”
As Powell improved, swimming became a bigger and bigger part of his daily life.
“Swimming became my exclusive focus and I started to take training more seriously,” Powell said.
It was around this time that he made a change that would change the trajectory of his career.
“I started as a backstroker, but I started to swim freestyle around then,” said Powell.
As he blossomed, Powell set his sights on swimming competitively in college, and colleges set their sights on having him swim for their teams.
“Over 75 coaches called,” Powell said. “It was almost every other night.”
But there was one group of schools in particular that were intrigued by Powell and his potential.
“July 1 before your senior year is the first day to call, and the first two schools to call me were Harvard and Princeton.”
Columbia wasn’t far behind, and Powell was drawn to Morningside Heights for a number of different reasons.
“I liked the fact that it was in the city and that it was close to home,” said Powell, who was ultimately deciding between Columbia and powerhouse Virginia. “I chose Columbia because I thought I could accomplish the same goals in swimming and academics at Columbia, and I felt I wouldn’t have to sacrifice anything.”
Powell, who swims the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 backstroke, had a strong sophomore campaign, breaking the 50 free record, and then breaking it twice more that year.
Powell’s junior year was even better, and was spurred in part due to an increased training regimen over the summer.
“I made changes between sophomore and junior year,” Powell said. “I started swimming year-round and I saw the improvement right away. I saw the benefits of full time training.”
Powell’s improvement since he stepped foot on campus was also noticed by his head coach Jim Bolster.
“Adam’s improvement since he arrived on campus as a freshman has been steady and significant,” the head coach said. “The most obvious improvement is the amount of time he has dropped in his three events, but I believe he has made even greater strides in his approach to swimming.”
Of these changes, Bolster said, “In high school Adam could just show up and win. He did not train much nor did he spend any extra time other than the 20 plus seconds it took him to swim his race thinking about swimming. He knew he was fast and that he would win and he was comfortable with that. In college I think Adam has come to realize that his natural skills only take him so far; if he wants to win at the highest levels he must train and think at the highest levels. As a result his attitude towards training and his training habits, his weight room routine, his nutritional practices, and his understanding of the need for a year-round perspective have all contributed significantly to his time improvements.”
Powell broke the school record for the 100 free as a junior, and went undefeated in the 100 free and 50 free all year. Powell was the Ivy champion in both events. Powell was also named to the Mid-Major all-America first team once, the first-team all-Ivy twice, and led the swimming and diving team to a third place finish in the Ivy League—the team’s best finish in years.
Powell has gotten off to another strong start this year, as he is undefeated in both the 50 and 100 free, and set pool records in the two events earlier this year. Powell won three events this past weekend at the Big Al Invitational, including another victory in the 100 free where he won easily with a time of 43.77 seconds. Powell also won the 50 free and the 100 backstroke.
Powell has set his sights firmly on the Olympic trials for the London 2012 games, despite the fact that he has never been to an Olympic trial—having missed the cutoff for the 2008 games by two-tenths of a second.
“First off, it’s the year after I graduate, and I would be doing a disservice by not going after it for one more year,” said Powell when asked of his motivation. “Secondly, I think I have a legit shot at making the team. And finally, I’ve never had a full year to focus exclusively on swimming.”
Powell will train at Columbia after the swimming and diving season ends in March, and will then train out of his home.
“I met a coach during my sophomore year, and I’ll train with him in Rockland, N.Y.,” Powell said.
In the meantime, coach Bolster is fully supportive of Powell’s lofty goals. “We think Adam’s Olympic aspirations are great and a natural outcome of all the improvements he has made since arriving on campus,” Bolster said. “To make Olympic trials he will have to continue to work hard acclimating to swimming meters. The longer pool puts a premium on technique over power and Adam does not have a great deal of meter/long course training and racing experience.”
“The quality that makes Adam one of the best Ivy swimmers is his insatiable desire to be the best/fastest,” continued Bolster. “Adam likes speed! He likes it when people talk about someone being ‘the fastest.’ Right now he is the fastest in the Ivy League, but Adam will not be satisfied until he owns that moniker at the national level. If he wins a national title he will put his name in the conversation for an Olympic team spot.”
When it comes to Olympic swimming, however, there is only one name that comes to mind: Michael Phelps.
“He sheds a lot of light on our sport,” Powell said. “That goes without saying.”
But Phelps had publicly expressed a desire to become a sprinter for the 2012 Olympics. Will Powell have to face off with Phelps for a spot on the team?
“Thankfully, he doesn’t swim the 50 free,” Powell said. “I don’t think the 50 is something he would do, I think the 100 is.”
No matter what happens in the future, Powell has found his passion in the pool.
“The 50 free is the reason why I swim,” he said. “It’s a short burst of adrenaline, two laps, 20 seconds. All-out max effort. I like the idea of going fast, generating the most power and speed.”
If Powell’s speed measures up in the years to come, he may just be walking in the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic games.
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If you’ve walked around Morningside Heights, you probably recognize the name Adam Powell. Powell’s grandfather was Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., a former New York City congressman whose name graces Seventh Avenue north of Central Park.
Powell has been carving out quite a name for himself at Columbia as well, and has already etched himself into Columbia swimming history. Powell is the school record holder in the 50 free (19.72 seconds) and 100 free (43.91 seconds) and is part of the school-record holding 200 medley team (1:29.81 minutes). Powell qualified for the NCAA Championship in the spring for the 50 free with the 18th fastest time in the nation, but failed to make it out of the preliminaries.
Powell has been swimming since he was a child, although it’s fair to say the Olympic Trials were not always on his mind.
“When I was seven, I joined the town team,” said Powell, who hails from Pound Ridge, N.Y. “The town summer swim team was the cool thing to do.”
“I joined because it was an extracurricular activity,” Powell said. “I usually went to the same park for summer camp, so now I went to camp and had practice afterward.”
Powell enjoyed the sport and joined his first club team that fall when he was eight years old. But despite his fondness of the water, Powell didn’t swim competitively over the summer even though swimming is a year-round sport at the highest levels.
Powell continued to swim and was on his high school’s swim team, but club teams provided the most competition and training for him as he got older and better.
“It’s all about the club team,” Powell said. “High school plays a part, but swimming consumes your life long before high school.”
Powell was always a good swimmer but didn’t start to show his true potential until his sophomore year of high school.
“Before that, I just liked to swim,” said Powell. “At the end of my sophomore year I grew. I was always a tall kid, when I was a freshman I came in at like 6’1 but I grew to 6’5. That combined with hitting puberty and gaining muscle played a big part.”
As Powell improved, swimming became a bigger and bigger part of his daily life.
“Swimming became my exclusive focus and I started to take training more seriously,” Powell said.
It was around this time that he made a change that would change the trajectory of his career.
“I started as a backstroker, but I started to swim freestyle around then,” said Powell.
As he blossomed, Powell set his sights on swimming competitively in college, and colleges set their sights on having him swim for their teams.
“Over 75 coaches called,” Powell said. “It was almost every other night.”
But there was one group of schools in particular that were intrigued by Powell and his potential.
“July 1 before your senior year is the first day to call, and the first two schools to call me were Harvard and Princeton.”
Columbia wasn’t far behind, and Powell was drawn to Morningside Heights for a number of different reasons.
“I liked the fact that it was in the city and that it was close to home,” said Powell, who was ultimately deciding between Columbia and powerhouse Virginia. “I chose Columbia because I thought I could accomplish the same goals in swimming and academics at Columbia, and I felt I wouldn’t have to sacrifice anything.”
Powell, who swims the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 backstroke, had a strong sophomore campaign, breaking the 50 free record, and then breaking it twice more that year.
Powell’s junior year was even better, and was spurred in part due to an increased training regimen over the summer.
“I made changes between sophomore and junior year,” Powell said. “I started swimming year-round and I saw the improvement right away. I saw the benefits of full time training.”
Powell’s improvement since he stepped foot on campus was also noticed by his head coach Jim Bolster.
“Adam’s improvement since he arrived on campus as a freshman has been steady and significant,” the head coach said. “The most obvious improvement is the amount of time he has dropped in his three events, but I believe he has made even greater strides in his approach to swimming.”
Of these changes, Bolster said, “In high school Adam could just show up and win. He did not train much nor did he spend any extra time other than the 20 plus seconds it took him to swim his race thinking about swimming. He knew he was fast and that he would win and he was comfortable with that. In college I think Adam has come to realize that his natural skills only take him so far; if he wants to win at the highest levels he must train and think at the highest levels. As a result his attitude towards training and his training habits, his weight room routine, his nutritional practices, and his understanding of the need for a year-round perspective have all contributed significantly to his time improvements.”
Powell broke the school record for the 100 free as a junior, and went undefeated in the 100 free and 50 free all year. Powell was the Ivy champion in both events. Powell was also named to the Mid-Major all-America first team once, the first-team all-Ivy twice, and led the swimming and diving team to a third place finish in the Ivy League—the team’s best finish in years.
Powell has gotten off to another strong start this year, as he is undefeated in both the 50 and 100 free, and set pool records in the two events earlier this year. Powell won three events this past weekend at the Big Al Invitational, including another victory in the 100 free where he won easily with a time of 43.77 seconds. Powell also won the 50 free and the 100 backstroke.
Powell has set his sights firmly on the Olympic trials for the London 2012 games, despite the fact that he has never been to an Olympic trial—having missed the cutoff for the 2008 games by two-tenths of a second.
“First off, it’s the year after I graduate, and I would be doing a disservice by not going after it for one more year,” said Powell when asked of his motivation. “Secondly, I think I have a legit shot at making the team. And finally, I’ve never had a full year to focus exclusively on swimming.”
Powell will train at Columbia after the swimming and diving season ends in March, and will then train out of his home.
“I met a coach during my sophomore year, and I’ll train with him in Rockland, N.Y.,” Powell said.
In the meantime, coach Bolster is fully supportive of Powell’s lofty goals. “We think Adam’s Olympic aspirations are great and a natural outcome of all the improvements he has made since arriving on campus,” Bolster said. “To make Olympic trials he will have to continue to work hard acclimating to swimming meters. The longer pool puts a premium on technique over power and Adam does not have a great deal of meter/long course training and racing experience.”
“The quality that makes Adam one of the best Ivy swimmers is his insatiable desire to be the best/fastest,” continued Bolster. “Adam likes speed! He likes it when people talk about someone being ‘the fastest.’ Right now he is the fastest in the Ivy League, but Adam will not be satisfied until he owns that moniker at the national level. If he wins a national title he will put his name in the conversation for an Olympic team spot.”
When it comes to Olympic swimming, however, there is only one name that comes to mind: Michael Phelps.
“He sheds a lot of light on our sport,” Powell said. “That goes without saying.”
But Phelps had publicly expressed a desire to become a sprinter for the 2012 Olympics. Will Powell have to face off with Phelps for a spot on the team?
“Thankfully, he doesn’t swim the 50 free,” Powell said. “I don’t think the 50 is something he would do, I think the 100 is.”
No matter what happens in the future, Powell has found his passion in the pool.
“The 50 free is the reason why I swim,” he said. “It’s a short burst of adrenaline, two laps, 20 seconds. All-out max effort. I like the idea of going fast, generating the most power and speed.”
If Powell’s speed measures up in the years to come, he may just be walking in the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic games.
Watch Christmas Wallpapers
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Hsight of Lebron James,his Bio,Wiki and his Pics Height of other players
Alex Rodriguez is 6′3″
Peyton Manning is 6′5″
Michael Phelps is 6′ 4″
LeBron James is 6′ 7″
It looks like size does indeed matter! Especially in these games, these players got not only game…but they got height.
Live Stream Video of Lunar Eclipse
The lunar eclipse 2010 is certainly an event worth checking out – but areas that are experiencing rain, snow or otherwise non-clear viewing conditions can look online for live feed video to watch it all unfold.
What time is the lunar eclipse 2010? Watch the total lunar eclipse 2010 online with the live stream video below or check out these websites:
Google Earth Sky
Slooh Space Camera – includes audio commentary from astronomer Bob Berman
NASA – live streaming video, plus chat online!
Night Skies Network
Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, tells MSNBC that the eclipse begins at 12:29 a.m. ET and takes five and a half hours to get through the 12 stages of the eclipse.
Tyson recommends watching the lunar eclipse at its peak on the East coast – 2:45 to 3:00 in the morning.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Zack greinke Contracts his Bio,Wiki
7:30am: The Brewers acquired ace righty Zack Greinke from the Royals, confirms ESPN's Buster Olney. Milwaukee will reportedly send shortstop Alcides Escobar, center fielder Lorenzo Cain, and pitching prospects Jeremy Jeffress and Jake Odorizzi to the Royals for Greinke, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, and $2MM. Credit Jim Breen of Bernie's Crew with the scoop last night, with an assist to Andrew Wagner of OnMilwaukee.com.
Greinke, 27, had been one of the winter's most discussed trade candidates, with rumors picking up steam after the right-hander requested a trade earlier this weekend. Although many clubs reportedly inquired on and pursued the Royals ace, a trade was no sure thing, due to Greinke's no-trade clause and the Royals' high asking price. However, neither issue ultimately proved to be an obstacle for the Brewers, who had made repeated attempts to acquire the righty despite being on his no-trade list, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter links).
During his time in Kansas City, Greinke posted a 3.82 ERA in 1108 innings, including a 3.25 ERA and 8.4 K/9 over the last three years. Prior to his Cy Young campaign in 2009, Greinke signed a four-year extension, meaning he'll remain under Milwaukee's control for two more seasons, at a cost of $13.5MM per year.
Escobar, who turned 24 earlier this week, was viewed by Baseball America as the Brewers' top prospect heading into the 2010 season, his first full year in the bigs. Although he struggled at the plate, hitting .235/.288/.326 in 552 plate appearances, Escobar provided above-average defense at shortstop, according to UZR. Baseball America's scouting report prior to the season dubbed Escobar a "defensive whiz" and a "special defender," while also citing a hope that he'd develop into a solid leadoff option. The 24-year-old's minor league numbers (.293/.333/.377, 176 SB) indicate that his offensive game should continue to improve at the major league level.
Cain, 24, was considered one of the Brewers' top 10 prospects even before a hugely successful 2010 campaign. After hitting .317/.402/.432 across two minor league levels, Cain received his first shot at the bigs, and posted a .306/.348/.415 slash line in 148 plate appearances in Milwaukee. Like Escobar, Cain's primary strengths are his speed and athleticism. Baseball America suggested before the 2010 season that he "could be a more prolific and successful basestealer," and Cain responded by stealing 33 bases in 37 attempts between the minors and majors. According to Baseball America, the former 17th-round pick shows "flashes of power but is mostly a gap hitter."
Both pitching prospects heading to Kansas City are former first round picks; the Brewers selected Jeffress with the 16th overall pick in the 2006 draft, while Odorizzi was taken 32nd overall in 2008. Jeffress' path to the bigs has been sidetracked by repeated suspensions for substance abuse. His most recent violation resulted in a 100-game ban that saw him miss significant chunks of the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Jeffress' fastball has touched 100 mph and Baseball America raved that he had "as much sheer talent" as any player in the Brewers' system heading into this season, but his off-field issues and control problems (5.5 BB/9 in his minor league career) had slowed his development.
Odorizzi, meanwhile, was rated by some teams as the best high school pitcher in the 2008 draft, according to Baseball America. Just 20 years old, Odorizzi is the only player in the deal who has yet to see major league action, but he turned in an impressive year at Class A Wisconsin, recording a 3.43 ERA and 10.1 K/9 in 120 2/3 innings. ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick notes in a tweet that the two right-handers were ranked first (Odorizzi) and third (Jeffress) in Milwaukee's system in Baseball America's upcoming Prospect Handbook.
The move represents the second major pitching acquisition of the winter for the Brewers, who previously traded top prospect Brett Lawrie to the Blue Jays for Shaun Marcum. The Brewers had long indicated a desire to shore up a starting rotation whose 4.65 ERA ranked near the bottom of the National League in 2010. Moving a handful of young players in the two trades, while hanging on to Prince Fielder, suggests that the club feels they can immediately contend in the NL Central.
Is that so wrong official video of julianne hough and his Bio,Wiki
CMT has banned the Julianne Hough video because they think it’s too racy…do you agree? Julianne is dancing around in her underwear a bit, which is what seems to have everyone all worked up. But is the Is That So Wrong Julianne Hough video really any more risque than other artists out there?
Julianne Hough is a grown woman, not a little girl, and to me, it seems like people are overreacting a bit. If she were a teenage girl, I could see why people would be upset, but she’s an adult, and she has a right to be sexy if she wants to be.
What do you think of the Is That So Wrong Julianne Hough official video?
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