Redeem Team comes up gold

After cruising for two weeks at the Olympics, the U.S. was challenged for 40 minutes.
And it was worth every last one.

The U.S.’ riveting 118-107 victory against Spain in Sunday’s gold medal game showed how good the Americans could be under pressure, and it capped a three-year mission to put the U.S. back atop the basketball world.

“This team has come a long way, and we had a lot of blowouts those first few games,” point guard Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets said. “So it was fitting that this one would be a close one. It really tested us to see what we were all about, and in the end, we showed we’re the best in the world.”

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Bring it: U.S., Jamacians in near exclusive fight for 200m gold

Former LSU track star Muna Lee ran her personal best in the 200m to qualify for the medal round in Beijing tomorrow. She finished second in her heat with a career-topping time of 12.29.

Americans Allyson Felix, Lee and Marshevet Hooker all advanced, as did the Jamaican trio of Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart. The Americans are hoping to avoid a replay of the 100m final, where Jamaica swept the medals.

Campbell-Brown, the defending Olympic champion, won her semifinal in 22.19. Felix, who was second to Campbell-Brown in Athens, ran a relaxed 22.33 to win the second semifinal.
Afterward, Felix said a sub-22 would be needed to win gold Thursday.

Lolo's final an unexpected heart-breaker

Lori "Lolo" Jones won the hearts of fans with her come-from-behind spirit. She inspired and wowed her fans on her way to assured Olympic gold. Instead, like life, the hurdles dealt a cruel deuce to Jones on her race to stardom.

Jones finished seventh in the Olympic 100 meter hurdles after clipping her foot on the second to last hurdle. In her home of Iowa and her adopted home of Louisiana, we are disappointed, but also search for a way to continue cheering on the young, beautiful spirit that inspired us on and off the track.

That blasted hurdle might represent the countless obstacles thrown in her path that eventually failed to stop her from achieving her goals. The world will see Lolo rise once more.

Related articles:

• Lolo falters; Harper takes 100m hurdles - NBC Olympics
• Jones Misses Medal, Gains Devoted Fans - News Radio 1040

Jones breezes into medal final

Former LSU track star Lolo Jones ran the fastest 100-meter hurdles time in the world this year, winning her semi-final in 12.43 seconds, to set up another US-Jamaican athletics showdown in Tuesday's Olympic final.

See video now >>>

One night after Jamaican women swept the 100m medals with three Americans behind them, Jones and compatriot Damu Cherry won their heats, Cherry taking her semi-final in 12.62, and Dawn Harper advanced just .04 behind.

"We're going to go for an American sweep, 1-2-3, and see what happens," said Cherry, who is fighting the flu. "I'm going to execute my race and see what happens."

Jones would not predict a US sweep. "I never say cleansweeps because anything can happen when you have 10 obstacles in front of you," Jones said. "I'm not going to worry about other lanes, but I hope we have a great day for the USA tomorrow."

Jones, who won the world indoor 60m hurdles crown earlier this year, beat the prior 2008 best and personal best of 12.45 she set to win at the US Olympic trials in July.

"I don't remember the start too much," Jones said. "I just got in the rhythm and everything clicked. I am happy with the time, but as soon as I leave the stadium I'm forgetting the result and focusing on tomorrow.

More on Lolo Jones:

• No more horseplay - Boston Globe
• Jones Advances to Final of Olympics 100 Hurdles - LSUSport.net
• Track's Jones goes from homeless to hero - USA Today
• Run, Lolo, Run - Jones' Web site
  

John Dane, Austin Sperry take lead in Star sailing race

Click HERE for Dane, Sperry photo gallery

John Dane III, a native of New Orleans and one of the oldest athletes on Team USA, has made a quiet, but determined reach for the gold. Dane and his son-in-law Austin Sperry took an unexpected overall lead in the venerable Star dinghy class with second- and fourth-place finishes Saturday at the China games.

"That's what's great about this regatta," said Sperry. "Nobody expects us to win a medal . . . but we're not here as tourists."

Dane qualified for the US sailing team after 40 years of unsuccessful attempts, first in 1968, at age 18, when he was No. 2 in a borrowed Dragon-class boat. He tried again in the Soling class in 1972, then in the Finn class in 1974, and the Star in 1984. It finally worked when he teamed up with the 30-year-old Sperry.

John Dane

• Born: July 15, 1950 New Orleans, LA
• Hometown: Gulfport, MS
• Residence: Gulfport, MS
• Ht: 6'3"
• Event(s): Star
• Position: Helm
• Web site: Dane-Sperry 2008

U.S. Volleyball eliminates Poland

Click HERE for interview with Napoleonville's Kim Willoughby

The USA women’s volleyball team beat Poland in five sets today, the final day of preliminary pool play. The USA had already clinched a spot in the quarter-finals, which starts Tuesday, before the 18-25, 25-21 19-25, 25-19, 15-13 victory. The women finish 4-1 in their pool, with the lone loss coming to undefeated Cuba. With the loss, Poland are eliminated.

Napoleonville native Kim Willoughby is the outside hitter for U.S. Volleyball and she scored two points in the win over Poland.

Kim Willoughby

• Born: November 7, 1980 Houma, LA
• Hometown: Napoleonville, LA
• Residence: Colorado Springs, CO
• Ht: / Wt: 5'11" / 165 lbs
• Event(s): Women's volleyball
• Position: Outside hitter
• Web site: USA Volleyball

Lee makes final, but Jamaica sweeps women's 100m

Team Jamaica took spots 1, 2, and 3 in the Women's 100M final Sunday.

Jamaica's big win turned into a giant disappointment for the United States. Lauryn Williams finished fourth, Baton Rouge resident and former LSU standout Muna Lee fifth and Torri Edwards last. Lee, the only one of that U.S. trio with another chance for an individual medal -- in the 200 -- said she thought there was a false start.

Edwards herself said she thought she had false-started. The American team filed a protest, though it was swiftly rejected.

Williams didn't sound like someone who felt she had been cheated. "We've dominated for years, and now it's their time," Williams said.

Danielle Scott-Arruda Player of Day in U.S. win

Click HERE to see this amazing video coverage

Danielle Scott-Arruda, competing in her 4th Olympics, helped the U.S. beat China in 5 games and earn a spot in the quarterfinals. Scott-Arruda is a native of Baton Rouge and has played professional volleyball for several years. She was the U.S. Volleyball Player of the Day Friday, August 15, when the U.S. beat the defending gold medal champions.

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Danielle Scott-Arruda

• Born: October 1, 1972 in Baton Rouge, LA
• Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
• Residence: Colorado Springs, CO
• Ht: / Wt: 6'2" / 185 lbs
• Olympics: 2004, 2000, 1996
• Event(s): Women's volleyball
• Position: Middle blocker

Muna Lee finishes first in Olympic heat

Muna Lee, former LSU track and field standout, finished first her heat at the Olympic games today in Beijing. She qualifies for the next round with a time of 11.33.

Lee represents the United States at the Olympics for the second time in her career and she looks to contend for medals in the women's 100m and 200m events. A seven-time national champion and 20-time All-American during her outstanding career at LSU, Lee recovered from a car accident weeks before the Trials to clock a personal-best in the 100m and place second in the 200m in Eugene.

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Muna Lee

• Born: October 30, 1981 Little Rock, AR
• Hometown: Kansas City, MO
• Residence: Baton Rouge, LA
• Ht: / Wt: 5'7" / 109 lbs
• Event(s): 100m, 200m

N.O. Hornet offers insight after big win over Spain

Click HERE to view Chris Paul interview

The U.S. men's Olympic team is halfway back to the top of the basketball world. And not even the world champions -- on paper anyway -- could give the Americans a game. Unleashing a lethal 3-point barrage for the first time in Beijing, the Americans turned the marquee matchup of the preliminary round into another romp, beating Spain 119-82 Saturday night to clinch the top seed in their group.

After finishing second in the NBA MVP voting in just his third pro season in 2007-08, N.O. Hornet Chris Paul is making his Olympic debut in Beijing. His only other stint with the U.S. senior national team was at the 2006 World Championships, where he started six of the nine games as the U.S. went 8-1 and won a bronze medal. Paul averaged 7.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and a team-best 4.9 assists in 23.7 minutes per game. His total number of assists (44) and per-game average were records for U.S. players in a world championships, and he also finished the tournament as the top player overall in assists-to-turnovers ratio. Paul did not play for Team USA in 2007 after undergoing surgery to repair a left foot stress reaction.

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Chris Paul

• Born: May 6, 1985 Winston-Salem, NC
• Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
• Residence: New Orleans, LA
• Ht: / Wt: 6'0" / 170 lbs
• Event(s): Men's basketball
• Position: Point guard

Farris sets two U.S. weightlifting records

Weightlifter Kendrick Farris set two U.S. records in the men's 85-kilogram division, putting him in contention for a medal ahead of Friday's final session.

Farris hoisted a total of 362 kg (798.1 pounds) to set a national record and finish first in the morning session, although the higher-ranked lifters in the weight category were not competing until later Friday.

"I think that total is going to hold up," said the 22-year-old from Shreveport, La. "I'm not even coming to watch the next session, I'm just waiting for someone to call me."

See full coverage on NBCOlympics.com

• Video coverage
• Link to Olympic bio
• Photo galleries

Against the World: The Best of the Bayou

Athletes representing the U.S. with Louisiana ties

Danielle Scott-Arruda Women’s Volleyball Native of Louisiana Seimone Augustus Women’s Basketball Native of Louisiana Erica Bartolina Track and Field: Pole Vault Lives in Hammond Kenta Bell Track and Field: Triple Jump College: Northwestern Erin Blanchard Gymnastics: Trampoline Native of Louisiana Daniel Cormier Wrestling: 96kg freestyle Native of Louisiana John Dane III Sailing: Star Native of Louisiana Chris Estrada Gymnastics: Trampoline Lives, trains in Lafayette Kendrick Farris Weight lifting: 85kg class Native of Louisiana Sylvia Fowles Women’s Basketball College: LSU Breaux Greer Track and Field: Javelin College: UL-Monroe

Brian Johnson Track and Field: Long jump Native of Louisiana Lolo Jones Track and Field: Hurdles College: LSU Brandon Knight Men’s Baseball Lives in New Orleans Muna Lee Track and Field: Sprinter College: LSU John Lovell Sailing: Tornado Native of Louisiana Chris Paul Men’s Basketball Lives in New Orleans Miguel Pate Track and Field: Long jump Native of Louisiana Leigh Smith Track and Field: Long jump Lives in Destrehan Kim Willoughby Women’s Volleyball Native of Louisiana Alaina Hebert Gymnastics Alt. :Trampoline Native of Louisiana Tara Guidry Gymnastics: Coach Native of Louisiana Dimitri Poliaroush Gymnastics: Coach Lives in Lafayette

Bayou to Beijing a gift basket for trip to China Olympics

Every four years, the Olympics focus on bringing back the “Gold,” honor, dignity or endorsements. On a rainy, but emotional July day, we focused on what the athletes take with them and not just on what they bring back. Bayou to Beijing: Send-off ’08 was a gift basket carefully wrapped by the people of Louisiana to send love, appreciation and support to all athletes competing in Beijing with ties to the Bayou State.

The July 31 reception honored the more than 20 athletes who are natives or who have lived or attended school in Louisiana.

The Old State Capitol of Louisiana was a fitting backdrop for the moment. Not just because it is rich in architecture and artwork, but because it is a part of Louisiana that has stood the test of time and was fought over and even burned down and rose from the ashes to represent an even stronger Louisiana.

Rising from the ashes of obstacles were Olympic heroes like St. Francisville native Miguel Pate who suffered through a near career-ending knee injury to qualify in the long jump and John Dane III who, at 58, is one of the oldest Olympians and uses his sailing popularity to raise awareness of melanoma.

Family members like Pamela Johnson proudly stood to represent athletes like her husband Brian who have already departed on their journey Beijing. Brian Johnson, a former Southern University stand-out is the top U.S. long jumper competing in Beijing. He and Hammond resident Erica Bartolina were subjects of a short video presentation shown during the reception.

Through familiar surroundings and the humble nature of the athletes, one could easily see that they were just like us – hard-working dreamers determined to do our state and nation proud.

The team behind Bayou to Beijing was as diverse as the athletes they honored. The Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and family and sports medicine physicians Dr. Rani Whitfield and Dr. Kim Edward LeBlanc joined to salute the courage and commitment of our local and state Olympic representatives who are also role models in the state’s health and fitness mission of youth and adults.

“The Olympics are the pinnacle of an athlete's career,” said Dr. Whitfield. “Everyone who takes part in swimming, track and field, boxing or whatever, aims to go to the Olympic Games.”

“These young people and coaches are not only representing our state, but our country and I am proud to have been able to meet some of them – their friends, their families. These athletes are competing for the ultimate symbol of excellence in sports – the gold medal – and I am truly blessed to have been a part of this experience.”



The night was deliberate down to the cuisine. Executive Chief Edward Rhinehart, a culinary genius with specialties in raw vegan and health-conscious dining, presented “Tastes of the World Olympic Fair.” He took his guests on an epicurean tour of countries including Australia, Italy and Japan in an effort to capture the diverse favor of the Olympics. Even the hand-carved edible centerpieces were symbolic of the spirit and tone of the Olympiad.

Chef Rhinehart is a former instructor with the Culinary Arts Institute of Louisiana and owner of Chef Ed’s in Destrehan.

In other coverage: The August 1 Advocate front page was graced by the beautiful and mega talented Lolo Jones, the favorite to take the gold in the 100 Meter Hurdles. The photo with Dr. Rani Whitfield was used the highlight an article on the cover the Sports Section about the Bayou to Beijing reception. See State gives athletes Olympic send-off on 2theadvocate.com.