“Dinara Safina serves to Victoria Azarenka during their quaterfinal match on Tuesday.”
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I’m sure I don’t need to remind my well-versed in gymnastics moves audience what the Marinelli Pose is; but for those unfortunate few who AREN’T familiar, it’s an incredibly difficult “inverted backbend where the whole body is supported by the mouth by gripping onto a short post that is held between the gums.” Cake!
Well, Iona Luvsandorj, 28, a resident of West Hempstead in London who was born and raised in Mongolia has been training as a contortionist for 19 years and the other day held the demanding pose for a full 33 seconds, setting a new Guiness Record by over 11 seconds. Luvsandorj is now in school studying to become a lawyer but clearly her contortionist training is still very important to her. However, despite the ridiculousness of how hard this pose looks, for Luvsandorj, it’s not a huge deal.
“It’s not painful – if it was I wouldn’t be here now. But there are very few people that can do what I am about to do, so don’t try this at home,” she said.
Yeah, I don’t she needs to worry about me trying this out on my own…
That’s in large part thanks to his home run call last night when John Sterling — often referred to as “The Voice of the Yankees” who has called every game since 1989 — starts using his stupid and annoying catchphrase for A-Rod even though it was Hideki Matsui who hit the home run. It’s no big deal though, I’m sure Matsui was PSYCHED to have an A-Bomb attached to his accomplishments. In fact, the Japanese LOVE A-bombs right?
[Deadspin]
My interest in funny car racing is non-existent, besides when we looked at uber-cutie Ashley Force last year, well, as of now there are TWO reasons for me to enjoy the NHRA, and it’s Ashley’s youngest sister, Courtney.
While there is a middle sister, Brittany, she doesn’t excite my passion for the sport in the same manner. Courtney is 20, and when she isn’t on the drag race circuit she is working on a communications degree from Cal State Fullerton, fulfilling a promise to her mother. Seeing that she’s following in her father’s (and sisters’) footsteps, Courtney might, if you’ll excuse the pun, become a force to be reckoned with. As well, she is on the family’s reality show, Driving Force. I may have to start following funny car racing now…but for the moment, I’ll enjoy these many photos after the jump I hastily assembled of her cuteness-osity.
And if you’re interested in following Courtney a bit more, she will be writing a regular piece for the USA Today as she goes through the racing circuit this summer.
03
Jun
09
You Said It!
After Monday’s game, AJ Pierzynski of the Chicago White Sox was talking with reporters about Jim Thome’s 550th HR with one of the smarter statements anyone has ever said.
He’s got almost 600 home runs so he’s done it a million times. He’s been up there so many times that I don’t think it phases him. The guy made a mistake and Jim hit it. The one thing about Jim if he gets the barrel on the ball it can go out to any part of the park. That’s why he’s got 550 homers.
Which is it, 600 or 1 million?
[ESPN]
02
Jun
09
That Man Was Punching My Boy
In Helsinki, Finland on Saturday night, EU light weltweight champion Giuseppe Lauri fought Juho Tolppola; losing the match Tolppola tried in the 10th round to get a late punch in at the back of Lauri’s head. Considering he’d already been penalized for a headbutt, the ref signaled he was stopping the fight.
The local Finns didn’t love that and in particular, Tolppola’s dad took offense, charging at the ref before eventually being tackled by different ref.
Now that’s good parenting. I’m always a fan of when the family decides to come after the refs.
02
Jun
09
The Worst Hat in America
It’s bad enough to go to a sports stadium like Fenway Park and see loads of pink hats fans — both literally and figuratively — around, but this latest hat offering from the Boston Red Sox is simply abysmal. I don’t care that this is being marketed for kids, it’s absolutely terrible.
Introducing, the one item that all of America has been clamoring for, a pink Red Sox hat that has scratch and sniff parts that smell like watermelon.
At last!
This is the worst.
[MLB via Boston Dirt Dogs]
Japanese swimming phenom Ryosuke Irie is upset because the international swimming regulatory body FINA has yet to ratify his record-setting 200 meter backstroke performance from last month. FINA is concerned over the bathing suit that he wore and whether or not it unfairly aided his abilities.
“It’s sad everyone keeps talking about the swimsuits. Mentally it was a bit upsetting for me,” Irie said, “My swimming went to pieces and I didn’t want to get in the pool for a while.”
“It would be better if all the swimmers did (wear tiny g-strings) but it would be tough to make them do it,” he told a Reuters reporter.
I for one am ALL in favor of, well, at least the women, wearing g-strings. I think it will add a much needed boost to the sport and capitalize on the brief period of popularity that lasted right after the Summer Olympics and has already faded from consciousness.
I would like to be the first to suggest, obviously, that my favorite swimmer, Stephanie Rice be the first to race in g-strings. Or she can just come over to my apartment in one and work on this new training regimen I’ve come up with…
[Yahoo!]
02
Jun
09
I Can See Your Balls
Russian biker Denis Menchov was very excited after winning stage 21 of the Giro D’Italia race, I’m sure I’d be excited too, but I likely wouldn’t be displaying my balls like this.
OK, that’s not 100% true…
Also, nice pink leotard.
02
Jun
09
Bill Simmons Ripped Me Off
Notice this passage from Bill Simmons’ latest article in ESPN the Magazine, or as I like to call it, “That thing I get in the mail and throw out without opening.”
We reached the “ending badly” point with David Ortiz five weeks ago. Remember in Superman II when Clark Kent gave up his superpowers so he could be with Lois Lane — lesson No. 184 on how women ruin everything — and then a bully beat the crap out of the suddenly mortal superhero in a diner? That’s been Big Papi since Opening Day.
And then there is THIS, from my piece last week about Big Papi:
And yet, despite all this, despite Ortiz’ struggles the fans of Boston have embraced him still. Sure a smattering of boos followed him after some of his many strikeouts, but those reactions are out of love, the fans have looked to Papi for so long as indestructible, you knew when he came up that he’d come through for the team. For all of us, it’s like in Superman 2 when Clark Kent gets beaten up in the diner and starts bleeding from a cut for the first time. How could this happen to him, he’s Superman, how could it come to this, David Ortiz struggling to even get a hit?
I can’t believe Simmons is reading my stuff, and then STEALING it. How else could we BOTH have used the same Superman 2 reference, albeit, slightly different? I refuse to believe that anyone else, prior to me writing my bit thought to compare Superman 2 and Ortiz. Therefore, ESPN, I’m ready for an apology/job offer. After all, unlike Rick Reilly I work every day and I don’t write stories that are 3 months too late.
02
Jun
09
Now THIS is a Commercial
Ah, America. I’m also a big fan of the location of Bear Mountain Sports, right by Weedpatch Highway, because as soon as I get my gun I’ll want to go after some hippies.
And from a Yahoo review of the store comes this gem: “The only place to shop . . .: Good old small town advise, and great prices. You won’t get jacked around like you do at Second Amendment Sports.”
Because as we all know, Second Amendment Sports is run by douchebags.
02
Jun
09
England Discovers Sunglasses
British citizens automatically seem to be a little bit classier, a little bit smarter and certainly more cultured, just by nature of their accents than Americans. However, then I see this article, from the science correspondent of the Telegraph, I start to rethink the way I see the Brits.
Here’s the actual headline from the story:
England Cricket Team’s secret weapon – sunglasses
The England cricket team are to use a secret weapon in this summer’s international matches: coloured sunglasses.
Read the whole article if you’re so inclined, but basically it turns out that dark lenses make it harder for cricket players to see the ball and that with lighter glasses they can see the ball easier. AMAZING!
Michael Vaughan, former England captain and batsman, said he regularly wears black-tinted sunglasses to help him pick out the ball in bright conditions. He said: “I wear black iridium sunglasses.
“I used to wear them when it was windy to help keep the wind out of my eyes. When it was sunny or slightly bright it would help reduce the glare.
“With the amount of time we spend outside, a lot of the players find it helps relax our eyes if we are wearing sunglasses and it can help you pick the ball up quicker.”
The Brits have had scientists and optometrists working on these revelations in secret, in order to maintain their competitive edge over the rest of the cricket world.
Sometimes I wonder how a worldwide empire can collapse, then I read this story…
The Slanch Report 
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