Retweet of the Day - August 10, 2012

The big news in the sports world today was in college football. Louisiana State University All-American cornerback and 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu, also known as "The Honey Badger", was kicked off of the LSU football team by Coach Les Miles for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Last season, Mathieu was suspended for a game because he tested positive for synthetic marijuana, against team rules. The Twittersphere served up a plethora of one liners with speculation that Mathieu got in trouble for the hippie lettuce. There were plenty of viable candidates, but this tweet, by Jared Day ‏(@thejaredday), took the day's honor.


"Ok so if honey badger smokes weed and Michael phelps does2 whose to say usain bolt doesn't smoke weed #topAthletes @TPowell11 jst said this"

Did anyone not see this Photoshop coming a mile away?

  Image from www.marijuana.com

Aqua Woman II

Recently, the Hat Trick ran a chick pic collection/spread of USA record breaking swimmer Michael Phelps' former girlfriend, Carolina Pal. At the time the piece was run, I was unaware that Phelps had broken up with Ms. Pal. In an effort to bring you the current significant other the the most decorated Olympian in history, here is a chick pic of his current squeeze, Ms. Megan Rossee.

A bikini? So she likes the water, too. 1

There is plenty of time to lie down on the job after London. 2

I don't think she really wears that in the kitchen. 3

To the victor goes the spoils!

Gold and the girl...must be nice! 5

1) Image from http://www.the-mainboad.com
2) Image from www.latinospost.com
3, 4) Image from www.ifdb.com
5) Image from www.swankycelebs.com

Aqua Woman

Michael Phelps won his 20th career Olympic medal yesterday, furthering his lead as the all-time most decorated Olympic athlete. Today's chick pic is of Phelps' girlfriend, model Caroline Pal. I am sure she helps provide motivation and inspiration for Phelps.

(Note: Update 8/7/12 - Apparently Phelps and Pal broke up recently. E! and Huffington Post recently reported that Phelps' new girlfriend is model Megan Rossee. There were photos of Phelps and Pal together published as recently as this past spring. The Hat Trick apologizes for this oversight but if you are reading this, you are probably here to see the skin pictures and don't really care.)

Like Phelps, she's a team player. 1

And plays well with others.... 2



Every guy loves an independent woman who supports herself. 3



There she is being a team player again! 4



The writing is on the wall (and Ms. Pal) fellas, this is Phelps' woman. 5

Like Phelps, she has to make adjustments when getting into and out of the water. 6

I wonder if they lounge around the pool when Phelps isn't busy. 7

1, 5) Image from www.yeeeah.com
2) Image from www.sodahead.com
3) Image from www.celebglitz.com
4) Image from www.niketalk.com
6) Image from www.zimbio.com
7) Image from http://m.thehollywoodgossip.com

Retweet of the Day - August 3, 2012

I don't care much for drug, gambling, or other vice references on the Hat Trick very much, but funny is funny! Today's retweet (retweeted over 2,000 times) is from Men's Humor (‏@MensHumor), referencing American swimmer Michael Phelps' well publicized bong smoking moment following the 2008 Olympic Games in Bejing, China. Yesterday, Phelps became the first Olympian, ever, to win 20 medals, adding more distance between his record and the old record of 18 medals, held by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina since the 1964 Games in Tokyo, Japan. 


"Michael Phelps becomes the most decorated Olympian in the history of the world, giving us another reason to never smoke weed."

"I wasn't 'partying'; I was training, duuuuude!"

Image from http://sardoniccatholicdad.blogspot.com

Retweet of the Day - August 2, 2012

Today's retweet is another pithy one liner from Not Bill Walton (‏@NotBillWalton), nicely summing up how we, as Americans, can be lured into allowing sports to drift out of their proper perspective in our lives.


"Maybe we wouldn't all think Aqua man was so useless if he was competing in the summer Olympics instead of trying to fight crime."

The ultimate crime fighting superhero?

Image from www.thefisherofstories.com

Must See Sports - First Week of August 2012

1

Last week's advantage/disadvantage record: 3-3

Must See Sports 2012 record (excluding series): 55-37

Advantage/disadvantage record in series, 2012: 6-7 

Last week was “slim pickings” in Must See Sports. This week, I doubt you’ll be able to watch half of my suggestions, if you’re among the half-dozen people who actually listen to them. The Olympics are in full swing, Major League Baseball is approaching the stretch of its regular season and we have the return of FOOTBALL!

Thursday, August 2

Games of the XXX Olympiad - London 2012 Summer Olympic Games 

Swimming

Men's 100 meter Butterfly
Michael Phelps, USA - Heat 6

Women's 200 meter Backstroke
Missy Franklin, USA - Heat 5

Men's 200 meter Backstroke - FINAL
Ryan Lochte, USA

Men's 200 meter Individual Medley - FINAL
Michael Phelps, USA
Ryan Lochte, USA

Women's 100 meter Freestyle - FINAL
Missy Franklin, USA

I won’t pretend to have an in depth, analytical knowledge of Olympic swimming. But I have seen enough of Phelps, Lochte, Franklin, and other Americans to expect the USA to bring home gold in today’s medal competitions.

Phelps (left) and Franklin (right). 2

Men's Basketball

Group A Preliminary Round
United States vs Nigeria


As much of a fan as I am of New Orleans Hornets forward Al-Farouq Aminu, he is the only NBA player on Nigeria’s roster. This will not be a competition, though I’ll be rooting for him to succeed individually.

Advantage: USA

This is what Team USA did to France back in the 2000 Games in Sydney. The 2012 team is three times as good. Will that mean three times as many "American packages" in a opponent's faces? 3



Yep.... 4

Men's Singles Tennis

Quarterfinal Round


Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France vs Novak Djokovic, Serbia & Montenegro

An upset is not completely out of the question. It isn’t likely, either. Djoko rolls….

Advantage: Djokovic


Nicolas Almagro, Spain vs Andy Murray, Great Britain

I expect Murray to pick up the pieces of his pride that he wept onto the court at Wimbledon last month, losing to Roger Federer in the finals.

Advantage: Murray


Kei Nishikori, Japan vs Juan Martin Del Potro, Argentina

The winner gets to become cannon fodder in the medal rounds.

Advantage: Del Potro


Roger Federer, Switzerland vs John Isner, USA

There’s a reason you have not heard much about American men in Olympic tennis after Andy Roddick was eliminated. I’ll wish Isner the best of luck and an upset is not physically impossible (if Federer is sick).

Advantage: Federer

Get used to it, Andy. 5

Women's Tennis Singles

Quarterfinal Round

Petra Kvitová, Czech Republic vs Maria Kirilenko, Russia

I think this match is a toss up, but I will defer to the chalk in my expectation. This match should be as pleasing to the (male) viewer for its competition as much as its visual aesthetics.

Advantage: Kvitová

 
Kim Clijsters, Belgium vs Maria Sharapova, Russia

Both of these ladies are also lovely to look at. Citizens of Russia and fans of Sharapova will enjoy looking at the scoreboard, too.

Advantage: Sharapova



Serena Williams, USA vs Carolina Wozniacki, Denmark

Wozniacki is eye candy, too, but I expect Serena to chew up and spit out a “Danish” in this round.

Advantage: Williams


Victoria Azarenka, Belarus vs Angelique Kerber, Germany

And, a recurring theme in women’s tennis…. Guys, this match will be pleasing to the eyes because of Victoria Azarenka. Whether or not Azarenka makes it appealing to the ears depends on your preferences. On the court, this should be swift and decisive. Azarenka is the #1 WTP ranked player in the world.

Advantage: Azarenka

Sharapova (left) and Cjlisters (right). Cjlisters pulled off a major upset back in 2010 here at the Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open in Cincinnati, Ohio. I think Sharapova is going to rain some cold, hard facts on Cjlisters with every serve and every return. 6

Friday, August 3

MLB

Cleveland Indians at Detroit Tigers

Justin Masterson (7-9, 4.47 ERA, 107 Ks) - Indians vs Anibal Sanchez (5-8, 4.11 ERA, 113 Ks)

Cleveland is most likely competing for one of the American League Wild Card spots, but their fate had not been sealed in the American League Central Race. I expect the Tigers to further seal it for them, but the games are played for a reason. Cleveland has quietly been playing good, consistent baseball and an Indians series win can truly turn the Central race into a three way competition.

Advantages - Game: Tigers, Series - Tigers

Saturday, August 4

Games of the XXX Olympiad - London 2012 Summer Olympic Games 


Men's Basketball


Group A Preliminary Round
United States vs Lithuania


The Lithuanians don’t have a single member playing professional basketball in America…but they two have two members of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors - Jonas Valančiūnas and Linas Kleiza. Lithuania will play the U.S. a little tougher than some of the other Olympic opponents to date. Still, expect a healthy double-digit victory for Team USA.

Advantage: USA


Women's Tennis Singles

Final Round

Expect two things – 1) Some eye candy 2) A very good, competitive tennis match between two world class tennis players.


MLB

Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds
James McDonald (10-5, 3.38 ERA, 115 Ks) - Pirates vs Mike Leake (4-7, 4.44 ERA) - Reds

The National League playoff race and the N.L. Central division race is at the point where any game involving the Reds, Pirates, or St. Louis Cardinals counts. Any series involving two of those three is critical. Cincy is on fire. The Big Red Machine rolls on in this series, but I expect James McDonald to continue his (very quiet) excellence he has had on the mound in this season.

Advantages - Game: Pirates, Series: Reds

Sunday, August 5

NFL

Hall of Fame Game from Canton, Ohio
Arizona Cardinals vs New Orleans Saints

Hallelujah! It’s the return of FOOTBALL! Come on everyone…FOOTBALL!!!


I cannot wait to see some pre season football, especially with my New Orleans Saints. The game, of course, succeeds the prior day’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which will include former New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Willie Roaf (spent four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs). Also being inducted are running back Curtis Martin (Patriots, Jets), defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy (Seahawks), center Dermontti Dawson (Steelers), defensive end Chris Doleman (Vikings, Falcons, 49ers), and cornerback Jack Butler (Steelers).

The last time the Saints faced any Cardinal with a connection to the Hall of Fame (Kurt Warner, middle, future HOF-er), it led to some trouble down the line for the Black & Gold. 10 

Games of the XXX Olympiad - London 2012 Summer Olympic Games 

Beach Volleyball


Women's Quarterfinal Round


I am going to go out on a limb and assume that two time gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the Unites States will be in this round. This is yet another example of women’s sports at it best. Good competition to follow…lovely athletic bodies to observe.

This was a picture from the 2008 semifinals. Expect the same in 2012. 7

Men's Tennis Singles

Final Round

Expect this to look like, seemingly, every men’s Grand Slam final – with someone named Federer or Djokovic to be competing in this round.



Monday, August 6

Men's Basketball


Games of the XXX Olympiad - London 2012 Summer Olympic Games 


Group A Preliminary Round
United States vs Argentina


This will be the toughest Group A matchup for Team USA. Argentina has four talented NBA players on its roster, including one possible future Basketball Hall of Fame member in Manu Ginobli (Spurs). Also on Argentina’s roster are Luis Scola (Suns), Carlos Delfino (Bucks), and Pablo Prigioni (Knicks). Argentina could make Team USA sweat and you can count on the Argentinean NBA players to be psyched up for this game.

Advantage: USA

MLB

New York Yankees at Detroit TigersIvan Nova (10-5, 4.53 ERA, 119 Ks) - Yankees vs Justin Verlander (11-7, 2.63 ERA, 152 Ks) - Tigers

The Yankees continue to remain hot while the Tigers appear to be surging at the best possible time, after a so-so start. I think the Yanks are better and have the advantage in this series, but I do not expect them to win a matchup starting Ivan Nova against Justin Verlander, who is in the running for a second consecutive American League Cy Young award.

Advantages - Game: Tigers, Series: Yankees

If you are at the plate and you see this, don't let your seat on the bench get too cold. 8

Wednesday, August 8

Games of the XXX Olympiad - London 2012 Summer Olympic Games 


Men's Basketball


Quarterfinal Round

The Americans will be in it. The Americans will win it. I’m going to take a huge gamble and say that team USA will win this round without even knowing the opponent.


Advantage: USA

Having another man's nuts in your face has to get old. Then again, this dunk was against France. Just sayin'.... 9

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We are just weeks away from the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England. With the big event around the corner, I thought we were due for an Olympics article. Hazel Taylor of Online Classes submitted today's article about the impact of the Olympic Games beyond the venues of competition. You can find the original article at the blog at http://www.onlineclasses.org/. 

9 Life Lessons From Summer Olympic Athletes

Light your torches and go for the gold — it’s almost time for the Summer Olympics. The Olympics means a time where we talk about things that matter: world peace, teamwork, and setting aside our differences for the ancient love of sports. While the Olympics teaches the importance of international literacy and cultural etiquette, there are other things to be learned from the glorious games. You may not ever take home the gold, but take home these nine life lessons from some Summer Olympic greats.

1. If you’re annoying Hitler, you’re doing something right:

   
   "Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust." — Jesse Owens
   Track and field superstar Jesse Owens blew everyone out of the water at Berlin’s 1936 Olympic games. He won four gold medals in track and field events, and catapulted himself to international fame. The victory was made sweeter still, as Jesse Owens was an African-American, and Adolf Hitler was hoping to use the ‘36 Berlin games to proffer ideas of Aryan superiority. According to friend-of-the-devil Albert Speer, the Nazi leader was "highly annoyed by the series of triumphs by the marvelous colored [sic] American runner, Jesse Owens." But Owens didn’t seem to mind. He just kept on running. (Bonus: He was also slighted by Presidents Roosevelt and Truman. "Although I wasn’t invited to shake hands with Hitler, I wasn’t invited to the White House to shake hands with the President either," the legend said.)

2. Age is just a number:

   
   Some summer Olympians will win medals before they can legally drive, vote, or drink alcohol. Does younger equal better? Birgit Fischer flips the script on that claim. The German sportswoman was both the youngest and oldest reigning Olympic canoeing champion, winning gold medals in the sport at the ages of 18 and 42. She’s won eight gold medals spanning six different games and was rightfully named Germany’s sportswoman of the year in 2004. The 50-year-old athlete still actively competes, and while she doesn’t deal with numbers, she certainly knows how to cope. "Without some stress, I cannot really run well," says the ageless champion.

3. "Life is about timing.":

   
   It’s a nugget of wisdom from one of the world’s best athletes, mega Olympian Carl Lewis. Lewis was the most prominent figure in track and field since Jesse Owens, and he’s still a living legend. But timing is everything, they say, and nine-time gold medalist Carl Lewis is living proof. The vegan who competed and broke world records until the age of 30 attempted to run for the New Jersey Senate last year, but was removed from the Democratic ballot. Bad timing this time, King Carl.

4. Being a loner is fine:

   
   Also known as: do you. Michael Phelps has been described by trainer Bob Bowman as "a solitary man," although he’s often praised for caring about his charitable foundation and his family. The 16-time medalist proves that doing your own thing can lead to success. Especially if doing your own thing involves years of disciplined practice and swimming faster than anyone’s ever swam before. Although it’s true that no one’s an island, there’s considerable evidence from this summer Olympian that being a lone wolf can place you at the head of the pack.

5. Everyone idolizes their big sister:

   
   Sometimes, commonalities run in the blood. In Dominique Moceanu’s memoir Off Balance, she tells of receiving a letter from Jennifer Bricker, her long-lost biological sister. Bricker was born without legs and given up for adoption, but both girls were gymnasts. Before knowing that Moceanu was her sister, Bricker idolized the Olympian from afar. Says Bricker’s adoptive mother, "Nature is so much more dominant than you could ever made me believe before."

6. Mustaches were always cool:

   
   If you get tired of looking at kids these days with their Fumanchus and handlebars, you have bad ’70s porno and Mark Spitz to thank. The Olympian swimmer who held the gold-medal record (until Michael Phelps) wouldn’t shave his mustache during the 1972 games — even though his competitors were shoring all their body hair. The mustache was a conversation piece and an Olympic icon, and Spitz’s satiric comments to a Russian coach spread the fad for years to come. In one interview, Spitz tells the tale. "I had some fun with a Russian coach who asked me if my mustache slowed me down. I said, ‘No, as a matter of fact, it deflects water away from my mouth, allows my rear end to rise and make me bullet-shaped in the water, and that’s what had allowed me to swim so great.’ He’s translating as fast as he can for the other coaches, and the following year every Russian male swimmer had a mustache."

7. Love conquers all:

   
   Nadia Comaneci was the first Olympic gymnast to earn a perfect "10." She mastered her sport and did it so well that she (literally) broke the scoreboard. The Romanian gymnast also had to flee from her motherland in 1989. But seeking political asylum during a revolution and being the finest person on the planet at her trade isn’t enough for the superstar — she credits her romantic life as the most important thing. "My marriage to my husband, [fellow gymnast] Bart Conner in 1996," she says, "is my proudest personal moment."

8. Be versatile:

   
   "You, sir, are the greatest athlete in the world. I would consider it an honor to shake your hand." — King Gustav V, 1912, Stockholm
   The best thing you can do to have a great career? Be good at everything. Multi-event winner Jim Thorpe is known as one of the most versatile athletes of all time. Winning gold medals in the 1912 Olympics for the pentathlon and decathlon, the sports star also played a host of other sports. Another lesson we can learn from Jim Thorpe? Wait ‘em out. Although he violated the amateurism rules of the Olympic Games and was stripped of his medals, the sportsman’s glory was restored — 30 years after he died.

9. Be great:

   
   "It’s important to push yourself further than you think you can go each and every day — as that is what separates the good from the great." — Kerri Strug
   Kerri Strug was the pensive, blonde counterpart to Moceanu’s brunette spunk. The teammates are both members of the Magnificent Seven, but Kerri Strug is a true champion. The gymnast finished a vault routine at the 1996 Atlanta games with an injured ankle. Though sweat and pain showed on her face, Strug shrugged it off and persevered. A great sportswoman with a great attitude and the determination to go for the gold.

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To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.