Used without permission under the Fair Use Exception to the Copyright Laws for public comment on issues of public importance.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
2004 . . .
Used without permission under the Fair Use Exception to the Copyright Laws for public comment on issues of public importance.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
This takes a big anticipatory, pregnant "whew": the news we all knew
Everybody knows that we won the Olympics in Athens. Just want to take a glance back at the news.
For four years, I have been mildly upset with USAToday for the amount of effort they forced me to give to save copies of their Internet Olympic photos: it took all my geekiness and just plain resolve to save them. (Yes, I additionally daily did collect the newsprint supplement. Still have them; may scan some.) But now I'm happy that the paper was such an image surfing bane: this was the news we all "saw". Here is the media's proof that they reported the objective news.
Monday, April 14, 2008
man, Tasha got married and disappeared; no recent news on her sister either; got to get an update . . .
Video source: this link is now broken, so I'm sticking an errant "www" in the link so that if you choose to go out there, you're on your own; httpwww://www.kristypage.com/tasha/pictures/sydneyprep.htm (some other site is redirecting it's visitors) I guess I could have edited out the little ad at the end, but, hey, do unto others . . ..
the '04 sendoff from the US Nationals
My pause has taken me into some exciting directions, best expressed by one of the community's, if not the area's, most renown mathematicians. In undergrad at Texas Southern, I took several mathematics courses from Professor Wiley, including abstract algebra ("Including some English courses, too" a voice in my inner being would chime if I leave this phrase dangling.) Professor Wiley would be at the board, 'into it': "This is good stuff! Good stuff!" I've got some good stuff (and even better direction (directions?)), starting here . . ..
Photo source: (sorry, long since lost.)
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Dementieva takes Dubai
Again, the line from the pros: "Russia's Elena Dementieva poses with her trophy and unidentified dignitaries after beating compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships March 1, 2008."
Photo sources: Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Steve Crisp; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Talking about who is: is this the same Nathalie Dechy I have seen before but never seen before?
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 Svetiana Kuznetsova defeated the Fremchwoman on February 22nd |
 Kutzy |
 Kutzy vs Nathalie in Doha |
Speaking of the two American beauties, they were at Madison Square Gardens March 1st for the Tyson American Cup
Shawn Johnson
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Nastia Liukin
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I was so very impressed at the smile that Shawn maintained even as she saw her lead slip away to Nastia (though Nastia is the press poster person, Shawn is the reigning artistic world champion.) I thought that a beautiful spirit (enviably beautiful 'cause I just don't got it.) The question is if the Chinese will find that spirit indomitable.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Here's the nothing: nothing for nothing
I just finished watching my taping of the Milrose (track and field) Games aired just prior to the US Figure Skating nationals exhibitions on NBC February 2nd. The message was too clear: expect nothing of US women at the Olympics. (Okay, okay: expect nothing of women period; it is oppressive for me to impose my expectations on women as women move to consolidate sisterhood around the world.) So watch Olympics, be ready to hurl. That's fine: then the Chinese women can win their team gymnastics gold before their hommies, per the national sisterhood. I'm for that, though America's two beauties Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin may not be feeling with the half-heartedness and the immense pressure that the seemingly always so delicate Chinese women gymnasts are facing.
Now, I'm caught up.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Sharapova takes much coveted Qatar Open loot
Much has been happening in women's sports, and then nothing. But this something demands notice, explicit notice (and I will try to be caught up by worlds.) I don't represent no "heads" ("hard heads", "dudes") here, but I am a photographer and this first photo speaks. Again back to my (segregated) elementary school, the only thing worse than not thinking was the mindless regurgitation of someone else's thinking, even the teacher's. You could do about anything but plagiarize: you'd do it once, and your ears would be booming "Your own words. Your own words. Your own words." for months. Your own words: But I have to borrow Reuters pics and words here; sorry (abdicating responsibility for political correctness to the pros):
"Maria Sharapova (C) of Russia holds up the Golden Falcon award, with Ali Shareef al Emadi (L), Philippe Guys (2nd L), Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani (2nd R) and Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al Thani after Sharapova defeated compatriot Vera Zvonareva in the final of the Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha February 24, 2008."
The official site is here, but be forewarned: draw and schedule information is in pdf format (sonebody has too much money, needs a real job.)
For her part, Justine Henin (below)a week earlier took Antwerp's Proximus Diamond Games tennis tournament title.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
US National Figure Skating Championships had substance
Just finished watching my tapings of last month's US figure skating nationals, and the event was surprisingly surprising, engaging, exhilarating and otherwise nice. Group 3 of the ladies free skate included Alissa Czisny, Beatrisa Liang and Caroline Zhang. No, that was not the final group: that was the group that preceded the final group. And if you had watched Group 3 during the free skate and had not seen the short programs aired just hours earlier, you would have wondered what trickery the judges could have wrought to foster the expectation that better performances could be had. Well, better performancies were had: much better, excitingly better. Ice dancer Tanith Belbin and her partner Ben Agosto were the only expected gold medalists who were actual gold medalists, but notice the expression of Tanith's face (above) as she awaited the final ice dance performance of the evening of their training partners Meryl Davis and her partner Charles White, who had exceeded the technical marks of Belbin and Agosto in the preceding two dance events. Davis and White (below) did take the ice dance silver. One could not have asked or wished for a better show.
So, you go back to the thing about the waning popularity of figure skating. My attention was not fully on the broadcasts, and there was what appeared to be an endless succession of commercials that made me at one point scream "Who are they talking to?" Women. Oh, yeah, I forgot about them for a second. Rampant cluelessness.
But one commercial really took it up to the next level of thinking: a network commercial for its coming series "Lipstick Jungle" starring Brooke Shields, Kim Raven and Lindsay Price (as to those last two I have no clue.) It appears to be about powerful boardroom women. Take Brooke Shields away, and the chances of its surviving the season, I thought, were nil (Brooke's sitcom survived despite the naysayers, so I'm leaving that alone.) I thought the chance of survival slim, because there is so much female oriented programming already on the majors, giving women alternatives now to even "their" sports. And, from a sociological perspective, women can now choose to value watching "their" sports as they value sports in general in their lives. They have viable alternatives.
And what really got to me in watching the hours of US nationals was the fact that personally I did not tire of watching figure skating, but rather the mindset not female that dominated the production of the hours and hours and hours of figure skating programming that was had in that day.
The use of these images is not intended to defeat the owner's copyright interest, but are used under the "fair use" exception to the copyright laws for public comment on a public broadcast of an event of public importance. The use here implies no copyright interest of any sort in the images.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Priceless.
Even more so after having been afforded an opportunity of walking away without comment.
To Ana's fashion (color) critics (and that's a strong term to employ against the essentials men just enjoying sports must now cognize) one must ask how many shades of blue are in this photo?
Yahoo! (shudder) News/REUTERS/Tim Wimborne)
Saturday, January 26, 2008
US Figure Skating Champtionships is . . . happening . . . somewhere . . . I think
I see from the TV listings (on my TV, please you don't want to know about it's going out at 2 am and refreshing itself sending out a signal while off whether I want it to or not), that NBC will broadcast the "U.S. Championships pair's final and women's short program" at 3 pm. I saw a glimpse days ago that a skater whose name I never before heard was leading in the ladies' short. But try to find a news story: 'rots-o-'ruck.
Here's what's cold: try going out to the official US of A Figure Skating Association website, and still no scores. Every link sends you to iceNetwork.com What's up?
This USAToday story Note paragraph 4: "After making $12 million a year with its old TV deal, U.S. Figure Skating is now receiving absolutely no rights fee with its new TV deal. There's no title sponsor for the 2008 U.S. national championships . . .." Woe!
Good news is that despite the knowledgeable people quoted in the article, I don't think the article references in any way what is really going on in figure skating, particularly among the women (like Sasha Cohen was such a beacon of maturity), and that gives them time to get it back to going on.
I am not knocking the iceNetwork thing in any way; quite the contrary, I will have subscribed within 24 hours (I am trying to stretch my 12 months, if memory serves me correctly, as far as possible. I was previously aware of the site and it's offering me a chance to make up to myself my missing Skate America on TV in a story about Nancy Kerrigan accepting a position as a commentator for them.) Still, the lamenting continues.Australian Open '08: Sharapova.
Just no nonsense: the draw Sharapova has ended the last two seasons almost (if not in fact) in tears at not winning the WTA championship event. She could be dangerous this year. I personally me myself would like to see that. Game!
But Sharapova we know; we're even cognizant of Ms. Ivanovic. But (big but) who is this double trouble doubles champion as we close in on the summer Olympics, PROC (don't start counting up that metal yet), ROC and US of A? Uh-oh. Uh-oh. And Shahar Peer in the finals: no one wants to see her gain any confidence; she would just too mess up tour draws.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Australian Open '08: women's singles semis: enough Jelena Jancovic already this early in the tour year; Daniela's growing force
It was Maria Sharapova easily putting away Jelena Jancovic's clowning 6-3 6-1, and hardly soon enough. Jelena and compatriot Ana Ivanovic, who outlasted the Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 0-6 6-3 6-4, are taking celebrity hard. Ana had early success last year, and ego-tripped the remainder of the year. Odds are against her beating the methodical, serious, grounded, motivated, ready, hot, down, fixed and did I serious, no-nonsense Sharapova, but should she do so the weight of the title itself should help stabilize Ana's young (sexy, but young) thinking. Daniela, on the other hand, is 24 years old, but is yet improving her game everyday. She's a player.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Australian Open '08: women's singles quarters: notice has been served: in '08, come with it or stay home; Justine, Serena and Venus sent home
I was noticing scoring during the Venus/Ana Ivanovic match. Venus was up 3-0 in the second set and serving. I thought Venus would take that set and there would be a third set. Back to work. Checked back to see where they were in the third set, and it was Venus down 4-5 still in the second set with Ana serving. Even got to deuce, once. The draw But the Australians are again to be complemented for their seeding, because they have their third, fourth, fifth and ninth seeds in the semis.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Australian Open '08: women's singles round four: eat your heart out US Open!
The draw Justine Henin, Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic, Serena, Venus, Ana Ivanovic, the Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and Agnieszka Radwanska to the quarters! Eat your heart out US Open!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Australian Open '08: Third Round women's singles
The draw Su-Wei Hsieh 6-2 6-7(3-7) 6-4 over Aravane Rezai, interesting. Dementieva is into the fourth round. Jelena Jankovic put aside her theatrics to move on. Mauresmo falls, as do Kutzy and Na Li. The Daniela Hantuchova of Slavokia over Virginia Ruano Pascual. Venus, Serena, Ana Ivanovic, Justine Henin on.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Australian Open '08: Day 4
The draw Venus and Sania Mirza will duke it out in the next round. Na Li on. Ana Ivanovic on. Anna Chakvetadze on. Spanish doubles queen Virninia Ruano Pascual meets the Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia next: a match for which neither could have wished. Petrova on, but in the next round a young compatriot will test what she still has. Kutzy on.
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