2012-olympics Page 4 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
USA Vs. Spain: Let's Discuss
The US men's basketball team is set to tip off its exhibition match against Spain in just a few minutes. Earlier, we wrote about what this game could mean, and now we want to yak about it with you as it unfolds (4:30 ET, ESPN2 and WatchESPN). Please report to the discussion section below with all o...
The Olympics Opening Ceremony? Giant Voldemort Fighting 30 Mary Poppinses, Obviously
London's Sunday Times is reporting that Friday's Olympics opening ceremony may not be unwatchably boring. According to Yahoo, which excerpted parts of the Times' subscription-only story, a 40-foot Voldemort (hologram? parade float? ventriloquist's dummy?) will take center stage for the ceremony and ...
Today's USA-Spain Basketball Game Could Mean Everything Or Nothing
The last time the United States and Spanish Olympic basketball teams met each other, they gave us one of the greatest basketball games that nobody watched. That was the 2008 gold medal game in Beijing, which the USA won 118-107 after being up by only four points with under three minutes to play. It...
London Eye To Serve As Giant Mood Ring For Olympic Games
EDF Energy, an energy supplier in London, has announced their Energy of the Nation initiative, in which they plan to illuminate the London Eye according to how Twitter users are feeling about the Olympics each day. EDF, along with a group of 70s-minded MIT grads, has developed an algorithm to conve...
Not Even Kate Middleton's Family Is Safe From The Olympic Branding Gestapo
We all know the Olympic folk are very touchy about their trademarks. No non-sponsor companies allowed in the Olympic village. No posting Facebook photos or Youtube videos from the games. No small businesses using any two of the terms "Olympic, London, 2012, summer, or games."...
We Made Up With The Mean Dressage Guy
On Tuesday, I told you about my encounter with Ken Braddick, proprietor of Dressage-News.com and the guy who haughtily dismissed my request to use one of his photos. I called Ken an asshole, because, frankly, he was acting like an asshole. I had no problem with his refusing to allow us to use one of...
Sure, God Made The Universe. But Can He Coach An American Marathoner To Olympic Gold?
March 29 was a busy day for Ryan Hall, the fastest American marathoner ever. He was 137 days and roughly 2,100 miles of road training away from representing the country in the London Olympics. He had to be up early for drug testing....
Ann Romney's Horse Hangs Out With Assholes
So, part of my job as a Deadspin intern has involved writing some those fun Olympic field guides that you may have seen on the site recently. Today I started writing one about Ann Romney's dressage horse, Rafalca, who will be competing in the London Olympics. I wanted to get a nice photo of Rafalca...
Pregnant Malaysian Woman Will Handle Live Weapon At London Olympics
The New York Times has the story today of Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi (left), a Malaysian rifle shooter who will compete in the Olympics later this month. When she picks up her gun in London, she will be eight months pregnant....
Olympics Field Guide: Aya Medany, The Only Athlete In A Hijab
Name: Aya Medany...
"Please Don't Shoot Missiles Off Our Roof," London Residents Ask Of British Military
In effort to ward off potential airborne terrorists, the British military has plans to use a residential apartment building as a missile base. Understandably, the residents of the building are up in arms about this decision, considering that, according to The Herald, nobody really bothered to ask t...
Olympics Field Guide: Lolo Jones, The 29-Year-Old Virgin Hurdler
Name: Lori "Lolo" Jones...
Olympic Flame Extinguished During White Water Raft Ride
After traveling for 50 days through Greece and the UK, the Olympic torch was briefly extinguished by a pesky splash in the middle of the canoe slalom venue. Zachary Franklin, the torch bearer, tried his best to keep it "well away from the water," but the Eternal Flame was no match for the swift rap...
Double Amputee Oscar Pistorius Will Compete In The 2012 Olympics
Less than a week ago, it appeared that Oscar Pistorius's feel-good story had come to an end, as the double amputee sprinter had failed to post a worthy time in the 400 meter race at the Olympic qualifiers, effectively killing his chances to represent South Africa at this summer's games....
Olympics Field Guide: Peter Hudnut, Water Polo's Comeback Kid
Name: Peter Hudnut...
Olympics Field Guide: Im Dong-Hyun, The Lethal Blind Archer
Name: Im Dong-Hyun...
British Mayor Scandalizes Tiny Town By Showing Up To Olympic Torch Parade Dressed As "Sausage"
61-year-old Jill Makinson-Sanders is mayor of Louth, Lincolnshire, England, a cozy town of 15,000 in the English countryside. (Jim Broadbent lives nearby.) Small-town politicians, as a matter of habit, do what they can to put their towns and their towns' industries on the national map. Makinson-Sand...