For News Sake

Pink Says Girls Are Better At Cheating

2012-09-24T17:57:00.000-04:00

Say this isn't so, singer Pink thinks women are better at cheating than men. The 'Blow Me (One Last Kiss)' singer - who has just released new album 'The Truth About Love' - believes females are better at covering their infidelities than guys, and get away with it more.

She said: ''Everyone's always like, 'Ah the man cheats,' but I think women cheat more than men, we just don't get caught.'' The 33-year-old star has been married to motocross racer Carey Hart since 2006 and although they broke up between 2008 and 2009, they now have 15-month-old daughter, Willow Sage, together and she is not tempted to cheat on him.

She added: ''I have been in a relationship with this man for 10 years and I have figured out that no one can push your buttons like your mother or your partner. ''I have a tattoo on my wrist that says 'True Love' with Carey's name under it''.
However, the star does understand how some people get tempted, which she writes about in new song 'Where Did the Beat Go'. She told music streaming service Spotify: ''It's about affairs. It's just about how easy it is to fantasise when not being loved, for I think, both sides.''

It Was All Luck For The Colts In Preseason Win

2012-08-12T19:44:00.001-04:00

When the dust settles on the pre-season game between the Colts and Rams rookie QB Andrew Luck, NFL insiders will all agree that Luck did not disappoint. In his first NFL career start, Luck completed a long touchdown pass on his first throw.

Seeking to silence his critics about whether or not he can step up to fill Peyton's shoes, he led to the Colts to their very first win since Peyton's departure, ceiling the 38-3 win over St. Louis.

Indianapolis's coaches wanted this year's No. 1 overall draft pick to take 20 to 25 snaps. He got 24. They wanted to keep him upright, and though Luck hit the ground twice, he was not sacked. They wanted him to show his command of the offense, and in less than a half of play, Luck seemed to take a page right out of Manning's playbook.

Luck wound up of 10 of 16 for 188 yards with two TD passes. Three of the incompletions were drops, two were throwaways, and only one pass, a deep out to rookie T.Y. Hilton, came close to being picked off. But Hilton hauled it in, barely getting both feet in bounds, and in typical Manning fashion, Luck rushed the Colts to the line of scrimmage and snapped the ball before the Rams could challenge.

But it was Luck's quick start that dazzled Colts fans. With the rookie quarterback under pressure on his first NFL play, Luck calmly dumped the ball off to Donald Brown, who darted up the field with blockers in front, then cut from right to left and outran the defense to the end zone. Luck pumped his fist in the air and jogged to the sideline with a broad smile across his face.

On Luck's third series, he converted a third-and-3 with the 12-yard completion to Hilton. Four plays later, Austin Collie beat zone coverage and Luck found him in the front corner of the end zone for a 23-yard score to give Indy a 14-0 lead.

Not enough? After the Rams got a 37-yard field goal, cutting the lead to 14-3, Luck answered with a methodical 13-play, 80-yard drive, disregarding the three drops. Delone Carter ended the drive with a 1-yard run to make it 21-3.

While the Colts looked good in Chuck Pagano's head coaching debut, the Rams struggled mightily in Jeff Fisher's debut as St. Louis coach. Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in 2010 and the Offensive Rookie of the Year, was 7 of 9 for 57 yards and recovered his own fumble. Backup Kellen Clemens was 4 of 6 for 18 yards, but led St. Louis on its only scoring drive.

And, of course, the defense couldn't get anything done against Luck -- or anyone else.

Indy's win ended a streak of seven straight losses in pre-season openers and was its most lopsided since a 35-0 victory over Washington in 1966.

Did Usian Bolt Tarnish His Image - Heck No

2012-08-12T19:38:00.000-04:00

I have been reading the morning papers and getting ticked off by the minute. The latest news story is about whether Usian Bolt has tarnished his legacy by taking a shot at Carl Lewis. In my opinion hell no, Carl opened up a discussion about drug testing policies for the Jamaican Track Team participating in the Olympics. To make a blanket statement as that, leaves some room for a verbal "back-hand" and at least Bolt stepped up to defend himself and his country. Now tell me why should endorsers walk away from him. Bolt Has proven to be a winner who delivers, he has successfully defended his three races, was the most popular athlete in the social media circles - exactly why would sponsors walk away from him.

Carl Lewis has always been a bit angry about the younger sprinters and especially the Jamaicans. People have to recognize that being a Jamaican is always about civic pride and accomplishments, and to back away from a juvenile statement as the one made by Lewis is non-patriotic. Don't get me wrong Carl Lewis is a heck ever athlete, but intelligence has always eluded him. Congrats to the Jamaicans boys who induced their colleagues to bring their A games. Congrats Usain Bolt Yohan Blake Warren Weir Shelly-Ann Fraser Veronica Campbell-Brown

Just Another Day for Lolo Jones

2012-08-09T15:37:00.004-04:00

Lolo Jones says she's not going to change a thing. A day after another disappointment at the Olympics, the 30-year-old Jones told The Associated Press she has no plans to retire and would like to still be hurdling at the Rio Games in 2016.

"Last night, Gail Devers called me and said she was ... 37 when she got her last medal," Jones said of the two-time Olympic 100-meter champion. Jones is backed by big-name sponsors and has appeared on magazine covers, including a recent issue of "Time." Her charisma and childhood narrative – her family once lived in a church basement in Iowa – only add to a story that has made her one of the most marketable and high-profile athletes on the U.S. Olympic team. But she hasn't won much when the stakes are the highest.

She finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles Tuesday, 0.10 seconds behind bronze medalist Kellie Wells. At Beijing four years ago, Jones came in as the favorite and was leading the final when she hit the ninth of 10 hurdles and wound up seventh. She has no Olympic or world outdoor championship medals, and has been criticized in some places for occupying a prominent spot in her sport's limited spotlight despite the less-than-perfect results. But she makes no apologies.

"The Olympics are only once every four years so you have to take advantage of all your opportunities, both to be an inspiration to people and help support your sponsors who help you," she said. "I don't regret doing any stories or being in magazines. For me, it was a chance to do things like get tips on eating healthy and working out to people. "It was hard work and if it made an impact on anyone in a positive way then I wouldn't change it."

Famed Fashion Journalist Anna Piaggi Dies

2012-08-07T14:01:00.001-04:00

Anna Piaggi, a fashion journalist known as much for her exuberant outfits as for her writing, has died aged 81.

Piaggi, a native Italian, rose through the ranks at Vogue Italia but became well-known for her eccentric and colourful approach fashion. Often described as a muse for fashion designers, she was creatively close to Karl Lagerfeld and was well know for wearing hats by milliner Stephen Jones. In 2006, the Victoria & Albert museum in London exhibited clothes from her personal wardrobe, dresses from which were said to number in their thousands.

Her passing provoked a number of tributes from around the world. Vogue tweeted: "Our deepest sympathy to the family and fans of one of the world's grandest style icons", while Ari Seth Cohen, who runs the blog Advanced Style, said: "Anna Piaggi was a great inspiration on me. What a brilliant and original woman. May she rest in peace."

Over 6.2 Million Canadians Watched Bolt Take Gold

2012-08-07T12:42:00.001-04:00

A massive audience of 6.2 million Canadians watched the world's fastest runner win gold in the men's 100m final Sunday, powering Day 9 (Aug. 5) to be the most-watched day yet for Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium at London 2012. With an average of nearly 5 million viewers watching from 4:52 - 5:03 p.m. ET on CTV alone, Usain Bolt's winning race is in line with the record-setting Top 10 (non-hockey) events from Vancouver 2010. Day 9 (Sunday, Aug. 5) becomes the most-watched yet at London 2012 with 2.5 million viewers watching on average over 22 hours of coverage.

Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium confirms that audiences for London 2012 continue to out-run Beijing 2008, with viewing increasing by an impressive 87%* during Days 7-9. An average of 2.3 million viewers tuned in throughout the Consortium's 22 hours of daily coverage from Aug. 3-5, including an average audience of 2.9 million viewers in prime time. Additionally, a whopping 3.6 million viewers tuned into OLYMPIC DAYTIME during Days 7-9, with 4.3 million viewers tuning in to Sunday's daytime broadcast alone. On CTV, the tape-delayed prime time coverage averaged 2 million viewers, up 43% over CBC's prime time live/tape-delayed coverage of Beijing 2008 (1.4 million) for the same time period.

From the start of the 2012 Games to date, an incredible 30.5 million Canadians - or 90.7% of the population - has watched some coverage on Consortium channels. Additionally, London 2012 continues to be a wide-reaching event with 92% of all women, 91% of all men and 87% of all children experiencing some part of the 2012 Games on television.

In addition to the men's athletics 100m final, the top events of London 2012 on the Consortium networks all took place over the weekend. On Canada's golden Saturday, an average of 2.1 million viewers tuned in as Rosie MacLennan won Canada's first gold medal of the 2012 Games during the women's trampoline final. The men's 1500m freestyle swimming final averaged 2.8 million viewers as Canada's Ryan Cochranewon a silver medal, while the women's team pursuit cycling averaged 2.2 million as Canada won bronze. Additionally, Michael Phelps' last Olympic race, the men's 4x100m medley relay, garnered an average audience of more than 2.9 million on Saturday.

Meanwhile, despite only two days of coverage, athletics (16.3 million) is now a close second to swimming (18.6 million) in terms of most-watched sports by unique viewers.

ZICO Takes Gold For 2012 Olympics

2012-08-07T12:36:00.000-04:00

ZICO Pure Premium Coconut Water is proud of their presence at the London 2012 Olympic Games as the official coconut water supporting and hydrating select athletes and even spectators. The London 2012 Olympic Games mark the beginning of ZICO's long-term commitment to the Olympic movement. Over the coming years ZICO will look to develop unique programs and events that will bring the spirit of the Olympics to millions of naturally powered athletes, families and fans.

ZICO has always been about supporting and empowering diverse athletes across all levels of participation and competition in their sport. This belief led to the creation of Team ZICO, a carefully selected group of professional, Olympic and grassroots athletes who were chosen based on a combination of their passion and commitment for fitness and health, and their incorporation of ZICO's "Naturally Powered" brand philosophy. One such athlete is ZICO-sponsored swimmer Mallory Weggemann, who plans to compete in 9 events at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The Olympic Games bring together thousands of elite athletes from around the world and ZICO is thrilled to support an event that is rooted in the core values the brand was built upon. "ZICO has always shared the Olympic Values, which include, excellence in giving the best of oneself, on the field of play or in life, taking care of one's own health and respect for the environment," said Mark Rampolla, CEO of ZICO Beverages, LLC. "We are honored to be a part of and look forward to supporting such a momentous event going forward."

Founded in 2004 by Mark Rampolla, ZICO Beverages, LLC (pronounced Zee-co) is the maker of ZICO Pure Premium Coconut Water. With five electrolytes, as much potassium as a banana and low acidity, ZICO is the all natural, refreshing way to hydrate and replenish. And because ZICO is the only major brand of pure premium coconut water available in both a tetra carton and a re-sealable, recyclable, on-the-go HDPE bottle, it truly is the ultimate hydration drink. ZICO is headquartered in El Segundo, California.

Usian Bolt And Justin Gatlin's Post Race Banter

2012-08-06T23:32:00.001-04:00

I guess all the trash talk leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games by and between the world's fastest man Usain Bolt and American sprinter Justin Gatlin came to close on Sunday. Shortly after Usain Bolt retained his Olympic Games100m title, he could not avoid being asked about his rival American Justin Gatlin - who he said has spoken out of turn this year. It was a response many Americans, including Galtin himself, would have wanted Bolt to regret after they raced yesterday.

Gatlin, who just over a year again returned from a four-year drugs ban, weeks ago said he was ready to take down Bolt in London - a comment the world record holder rightly replied to by saying "I think Gatlin has a few guys he needs to get past before he worries about me."

On Sunday after the men's 100m final, before Bolt had time to make his trademark 'to the worl' signal, Gatling offered him congratulations, but it wasn't enough to save him from Bolt's later comments. "Justin has been saying a lot of things, I wanted to run with him from the semi-finals, I was praying (for it to happen), but it didn't," Bolt said, while hinting he wanted to beat him from then.

"People can talk a lot of things, you can say anything you want, showing up and do what you got to do is a different thing, so for me it was all business," Bolt continued.

Bolt said Jamaican athletes again proved they rule the sprints. "This is always a competition against the Americans to see who the sprint champions are, to see who is number one"

"Shelly-Ann did great, no doubt my money was on her yesterday. We both defended our titles and showed the world Jamaica is a great sprinting country." Both Bolt and Fraser-Pryce won the 100m titles in Beijing, four years ago, and will see action later this as they attempt to qualify for the 200m.

Kirani James Wins First Ever Gold For Grenada

2012-08-06T22:55:00.000-04:00

19-year-old Kirani James won the first ever gold medal for the island of Grenada, as he stormed to the finish line recording a personal best of 43.94 seconds, well clear of fellow teenager Luguelin Santos in second. Lalonde Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago too the bronze.

James said: "It means a lot. Grenada will be going crazy right now." Since 2008, James has won Commonwealth Youth gold, World Youth gold, the World Juniors, World Championships and now the Olympics.

With this display, he becomes the eighth fastest man in history over one lap. This is a new generation of 400m men. In an event traditionally dominated by the United States, not a single American made the final.

Silver medallist Santos of the Dominican Republic is just 18 years old, while only one man in the field - the Bahamas's Chris Brown - is over 24. Brown, fourth in Beijing and in two previous world finals, was once again just a place off the podium.

But it was James, just as it was in Daegu a year ago, who is the talk of this event. He already has a street in the Grenadian capital of St George named after him. Having carried his country's flag into the opening ceremony, he can expect a hero's reception when he returns home.

The future of the event may also be his. Michael Johnson's incredible world record of 43.18 secs has stood for 13 years. While that remains well out of James's reach for now, his own talent and the competition engendered by his youthful rivals could one day see him do what few thought possible and break that Beamonesque mark.

Golden Jubilee Cricket Match for Jamaica and Trinidad's Cricket Teams

2012-08-06T19:31:00.003-04:00

When the national cricket teams from Jamaica and Trinidad arrive in South Florida this week,they will have more than winning on their minds, in fact, this historic match will celebrate each country’s golden jubilee of independence.

The athletes and organizers of the match which scheduled Central Broward Regional Park say they hope to do what Federation of the West Indies failed to do politically 50 years earlier: unite the English-speaking Caribbean.

“Cricket isn’t just a sport,” said Anil Ramnanan, consul general for Trinidad and Tobago in Miami, whose consulate is promoting the event along with Miami’s Jamaican Consulate General. “Cricket is a language and the history of the West Indies could be told in the tale of cricket.”

Indeed, in a region separated by an ocean and dialect, but united by a common history, cricket has been a unifying force: The West Indies cricket team consists of players from across the English-speaking Caribbean.

“The only time we come together as one nation is West Indies cricket,” said Kamal Abdool, who is organizing the Friday and Saturday matches with help from the countries’ diaspora groups. “The one thing that is a common thread throughout the English-speaking Caribbean is cricket.”

Retired Jamaican-born cricket player Lawrence Rowe agrees.

Now a Miami resident, Rowe holds a 40-year-old cricket record after scoring a triple century — 302 runs — in his first Test Match.

“Jamaica got independence on Aug. 6, and Trinidad on Aug. 31. In the English-speaking Caribbean, we were the first,” said Rowe, who is expected to captain the Jamaica Consul General team as it plays “a friendly” match against the Trinidad and Tobago Consul General team before the national teams debut on the field.

“That is what we are celebrating,” said Rowe. “It’s not about the competitiveness of the two islands.” Sandra Grant Griffiths, Jamaica’s consul general in Miami, is already calling the winner. “We’re sure we are going to win, and they are sure they’re going to win,” she joked.

The friendly challenge on U.S. soil in Broward, considered the seat of the English-speaking Caribbean in Florida, is just one of many activities planned to celebrate both islands’ 50th anniversary of independence from Britain.

Miami’s Jamaican Consulate General has designated Monday Flag Day in celebration of Jamaica’s being the first and largest of the Caribbean nations to end British rule, on Aug. 6, 1962. The country’s easily recognizable black-gold-and-green flag will be on display throughout South Florida, including at the Miramar Town Center.

The iconic Miami Towers at Southeast Second Street and First Avenue in downtown Miami also will be lit in the island’s colors. Additional events for Jamaica50 include church services, cultural celebrations and an Aug. 18 anniversary gala in Miami featuring Jamaica’s Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen.

“What we want to say is that we are a nation of achievers and achievements,” Grant Griffiths said of Jamaica, whose strong sense of identity is lauded in its music, culture and reputation as a track-and-field powerhouse. “We have accepted our challenges the world has thrown at us, and responded accordingly. And we are prepared to use all of our experiences to move forward.”

• Like Jamaica, the local Trinidad and Tobago’s Consulate General will also host a gala to highlight the nation’s achievements and nationals who have made worthy contributions in academia, art, culture, music, business, community service, health and sports. The invitation-only, black-tie event will take place Aug. 12 at the Broward County Convention Center.

“Fifty years is a very young state in the development and governance of any country,” said Ramnanan, the consul general. “By no means, is it a very long time. But we would like to learn from some of the lessons coming out of that 50 years and celebrate the successes.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/05/2934791/cricket-unites-an-independent.html#storylink=cpy

Usain Bolt Scores Gold For Jamaica's Golden Anniversary

2012-08-06T00:17:00.002-04:00

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt sealed his status as the greatest sprinter of all time after retaining the men’s Olympic 100m title with an electrifying display on Sunday.

The world record holder turned on the after-burners at 60m to clock an Olympic record of 9.63sec, the second fastest time in history.

Bolt banished the doubts that had surrounded him in the build-up to the Olympics after he was beaten by training partner Yohan Blake in the Jamaican trials, but the young pretender was left trailing two meters behind.

“I executed and that was the key,” Bolt said. “When it comes to the championships, it’s all about business for me and I brought it.

“I feel extremely good and I’m happy.” Blake, long tipped as Bolt’s successor as the fastest man in the world, claimed silver after equalling his personal best of 9.75sec.

“Usain has been to this level and he knows what it takes, he’s a world beater and he’s the fastest man in the world,” said Blake, who sent Bolt into hiding after beating him in the 100 and 200m at the Jamaican trials.

Blake added: “I have to give a lot of thanks, it’s my first Olympics and I get a silver medal. What more can I ask for? To be the second fastest man in the world behind Bolt is an honor.”

American 2004 Olympic gold medallist Justin Gatlin completed his remarkable comeback from a four-year doping ban by taking the bronze medal in a personal best of 9.79sec. The 2007 double world champion Tyson Gay came in fourth, one hundredth of a second off his teammate Gatlin in 9.80sec, with a third American, Ryan Bailey, fifth in 9.88.

The sold-out 80,000-capacity crowd at the Olympic Stadium were on their feet when the eight finalists, including the four fastest men in the world – Bolt, Gay, Blake and Asafa Powell – lined up.

As the television cameras picked out each racer, the excitement mounted as they reached Bolt in lane seven, dressed in black shorts and the yellow and green singlet of the Jamaican team.

The 25-year-old showed no signs of nerves as he bid to replicate his gold medal showing in the Beijing Games in 2008. To mass delight, he practiced his DJ mixing skills, one hand raised to his ear, and then drew laughter after drawing pretend pistols and registering them after pointing them down the track.

As the starter called them to the blocks, Bolt put a finger to his lips to hush the excitable crowd, briefly crossing himself and looking the sky as the cameras zoomed in. Bolt seemed his old self shuffling on the starting blocks.

But as the silence descended on the stadium, the gun went and Bolt’s reaction time from the blocks saw him rocket away, but Gatlin had the edge on his left. Bolt, however, pushed his huge frame through his renowned drive and transition phase after 50 metres.

Teeth gritted and long legs pumping, Bolt completed what turned out to be a remarkably comfortable victory given the quality and strength of the field. After Bolt crossed the line, he immediately set off on a lap of victory, a Jamaican flag draped over his shoulders and Blake in tow. He stopped to perform his customary “bow and arrow” pose at various points, to chants of “Usain, Usain!” ringing around the stadium.

Bolt revealed afterwards that his false start in last year’s world had been worrying him before the race, but his coach Glen Mills put set things straight for him. “My coach told me ‘stop worrying about the start, the best part of your race is at the end,” he said.

Bolt’s teammate and former world record holder Powell was left in a crumpled heap after pulling up and crossing the line in 11.99sec. The two other finalists, Churandy Martina of the Netherlands and Trinidadian Richard Thompson, crossed the line in sixth and seventh in 9.94sec and 9.98sec respectively.

It was a remarkable result for Bolt, who revolutionized sprinting, and indeed athletics, four years ago in Beijing, setting then-world records when winning the 100 and 200m titles, and also starring in a record-breaking Jamaican quartet in the 4x100m relay.

He left the Chinese capital as one of the most recognizable figures in world sport, unbelievably going on to beat both his individual sprint marks with new times of 9.58sec and 19.19sec in the Berlin worlds in 2009.

Bolt lost his world 100m title in Daegu last July to Blake after sensationally false-starting in the final, but has fired back in most emphatic fashion.

Coach Andy Reid Plans To Return For Preseason Opener

2012-08-05T21:07:00.000-04:00

As the entire Eagles family grieves the sudden death of Garrett Reid, the 29-year-old son of coach Andy Reid, the team is practiced on Sunday afternoon, at Andy Reid’s request.

Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com has more details regarding the aftermath of the tragic events, which the team will feel directly and powerfully because Garrett Reid died in his training-camp dorm room. He had been assisting strength and conditioning coach Barry Rubin. Frank separately reports via Twitter than owner Jeffrey Lurie said Reid plans to return to the team by Thursday, when the Eagles host the Steelers in the preseason opener.

Garrett Reid often was present on the sidelines at training camp. Per Frank, Garrett Reid also had helped out recently with the Temple football team, where brother Britt Reid is a graduate assistant coach and brother Spencer is a redshirt freshman running back.

The strong connection between Reid’s family and the Eagles family has added even more emotion to Sunday’s events. Frank writes that, after G.M. Howie Roseman told the media that Garrett Reid had died, Roseman “broke down sobbing.”

“My deepest sympathy for one of the greatest men on earth,” Eagles head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said via Twitter. “My heart bleeds for you, Andy Reid.”

Commissioner Roger Goodell also expressed his condolences. “We are deeply saddened by the news about Garrett Reid,” Goodell said in a statement released on Twitter. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Andy, Tammy and their family. We will support them and the Eagles in any way we can through this difficult time.”

These will be difficult days for the Eagles and for the Reid family. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with everyone affected by the passing of Garrett Reid.

Professional Athletes Race To Invest in Hyperice

2012-08-03T08:56:00.001-04:00

Professional athletes Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers, NBA), Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL), Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies, NBA) and U.S. Olympian Hope Solo (U.S. Women's Soccer), have become equity partners in Hyperice, a new state-of-the-art, patented high performance line of ice compression recovery gear. These sports stars join elite athletic trainer Robbie Davis , who has been a partner in the company from the outset.

Each Hyperice device is composed of an ice cell and a compression wrap that work together as a system to maximize temperature control and compression. The ice cell features a patented air release valve that removes air from the cell throughout the icing process to deliver optimal compression to the affected area.

"Hyperice is just now being made available to the public, and we are in a really unique position to already have the support of some of the world's best athletes," said Anthony Katz, founder of Hyperice. "The fact that they all stepped up and wanted to be a part of this company is a testament to the quality and potential of the brand."

"Hyperice will be a key part of my daily recovery process throughout the NBA season," said Griffin. "I am proud to be part of the Hyperice team and know that I am partnering with a company that has produced and will continue to produce a superior product."

Each athlete was introduced to Hyperice at various stages of an extensive testing period, during which time the Hyperice team, led by Katz, worked closely with engineers, professional trainers and athletes to test and modify the product. After using Hyperice and seeing improvements in how their bodies responded, Griffin, Solo, Polamalu and Gay each recognized the company's potential and expressed interest in becoming involved as business partners. Additionally, they will all play an integral role in the brand's marketing and promotional content.

Hyperice currently offers five cold compression wraps, including the shoulder, extended shoulder, back and knee, as well as a utility that can be used to help prevent or treat ankle sprains, shin splints, tendonitis, bruises and more. At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, more than 50 athletes representing U.S. Men's Basketball, Women's Soccer and Men's and Women's Indoor and Beach Volleyball have been given advance access to Hyperice to help them recover between games and matches.

Karl Lagerfeld Downplays Pippa Middleton Popularity

2012-08-03T08:45:00.000-04:00

Pippa Middleton’s debut as maid of honor to big sister Kate may have scored her legions of fans across the world (and a Facebook page entirely devoted to her rear view), but one particularly vocal person is not one of them. If you believe the recent The Sun article, Karl Lagerfeld thinks Pippa is a butter face—in other words, he thinks she should keep her face under wraps and stick to only showing her rear.
Though The Sun didn’t specify the context or who Lagerfeld spoke with, he apparently had high praise for Kate: “Kate Middleton has a nice silhouette and she is the right girl for that boy. I like that kind of woman, I like romantic beauties. On the other hand, her sister struggles. I don’t like the sister’s face. She should only show her back.” After the whole Adele debacle (if you need a refresher, he called the Grammy-winning singer “a little too fat” last February) you’d think Kaiser Karl would have tried to curb his appearance-bashing tendencies. Hopefully Lagerfeld’s most recent comments were simply taken harshly out of context, because if even Pippa doesn’t live up to his high standards, we can only imagine what he thinks about 99 per cent of the rest of the population.

PGA Of America Renews Sponsorship With PepsiCo

2012-08-01T12:27:00.003-04:00

The PGA of America and PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) has renewed their longstanding partnership with a new multi-year contract. PepsiCo, maker of iconic beverage brands such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Lipton iced teas and Aquafina, has served as the official non-alcoholic beverage provider of PGA Professionals since 1993.

Nearly two decades ago, PepsiCo first made a commitment to The PGA of America and its thousands of Professionals nationwide. Today, PepsiCo beverages will continue to be exclusively served in hospitality and concession areas at each PGA Championship, U.S.-based Ryder Cup, Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid and PGA Grand Slam of Golf. PepsiCo beverages will also be poured at PGA of America-owned and operated facilities, including Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., and PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla., which encompasses PGA Golf Club, PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance and PGA Country Club.

"An impressive line of PepsiCo products have collectively served as the beverage choice for a generation of PGA Professionals," said PGA President Allen Wronowski. "The PGA of America is delighted that PepsiCo has extended our partnership, which will span over two decades when the terms are fulfilled, a reflection of the great value of and influence our 27,000 men and women PGA Professionals have on consumers. With a rich tradition of support at the green grass golf facility level and continued engagement at the Association's major consumer events and golf properties, PepsiCo beverages have become an integral part of the fabric of The PGA of America and the game of golf."

"PepsiCo and The PGA of America have shared a strong relationship for many years, and we're excited to renew our partnership as its exclusive beverage provider," said Stacy Reichert, senior vice president, national sales and chief customer officer of PepsiCo's Foodservice division. "We're committed to supporting the game of golf and its thousands of Professionals across the United States. The PGA of America is a valued partner and will continue to give our brands' great visibility in the golf community over the coming years."

PepsiCo has also renewed its support of Golf Retirement Plus™. Founded in 1997, Golf Retirement Plus is a supplemental retirement program for PGA Professionals and apprentices, GCSAA Superintendents, and CMAA Club Managers, which allows them to make their own contributions or have their employers contribute to their Golf Retirement Plus account on their behalf. PGA Professionals may also earn personal retirement incentives by participating in the Golf Retirement Plus Sponsor Programs.

Since its founded in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.

PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also, means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate.

Snoop Dogg No More- How About Snoop Lion

2012-08-01T12:14:00.002-04:00

Talk about rebirth, nearly 20 years after releasing his debut single, "What's My Name?," Snoop Dogg -- born Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. – shall now be referred to as Snoop Lion, so say the rapper during a press conference in NYC on July 30. The legendary hip-hop star has taken on the new identity after undergoing a spiritual and artistic rebirth in Jamaica. "I didn't want to be Snoop Dogg on a reggae track. I wanted to bury Snoop Dogg and become Snoop Lion, but I didn't know that until I went to the temple and received the name Snoop Lion from the Nyabinghi priest," he explained. "From that moment on, I started to understand why I was there and was able to create something magical in this [Reincarnated] project, something I haven't done before in my career."
Married to high school sweetheart Shante Taylor since 1997, Snoop has three children: Cori, Corde and Cordell. The rapper, famous for profane, over-the-top tracks about sex, drugs and partying, believes his new music will give him "a chance to perform for kids and grandkids."
According to him, the image makeover was a necessary step in fulfilling his musical destiny. "I have always said I was Bob Marley reincarnated," the rapper said. "I feel I have always been a Rastafari. I just didn't have my third eye open, but it's wide open right now." Marley's son, Rohan, 40, gave Snoop his blessing at the press conference, which was held at the popular Caribbean restaurant - Miss Lily's in New York City.
"There comes a point where you say I done it all, or there isn't much more to do," Snoop said. "This was like a rebirth for me." The 13-time Grammy Award nominee added that "rap is not a challenge" anymore. "I had enough of that. It's not appealing to me no more. I don't have no challenges. I'm 'Uncle Snoop' in rap. When you get to be an uncle, you need to find a new profession so you can start over and be fresh again. I want to be a kid again."
“This awakening was necessary,” he told a press assemblage at Miss Lily’s jerk joint in New York’s West Village on Tuesday. “I don’t even know why, I don’t know how. I thought I was going to make another gangsta record. I thought I was going to do another pimp album. I thought I was going to do what I do. But this called me and put all of that to rest.”
The album, Reincarnated, featuring the lead single, “La La La,” was produced by Major Lazer, the team known for their work with Beyonce, Usher, M.I.A. and Santigold.

“Snoop wanted real reggae music,” Major Lazer’s Diplo explained. “He wanted to sing and find a new voice. It’s a dream for a producer to work on an entire record. I always work on a song here or a song there, but working on an entire record is very rare to do that with an artist nowadays. There’s no label here. It’s Snoop putting together the project and Ted. That’s 100% creative control. That doesn’t exist anymore.”

Snoop isn't the only celebrity to change his professional name: rapper Sean Combs has gone by Puff Daddy, Diddy and P. Diddy, Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest changed his name to Metta World Peace and "1 Thing" singer Ameriie added an extra "i" to her name.

Venus And Serena In Doubles Medal Hunt

2012-07-30T15:44:00.002-04:00

The unseeded doubles team of Venus Williams and Serena WIlliams took to Court 2 Monday to begin their Beijing gold medal defense, beating Romanians Sorana Cirstea and Simona Halep in front of a spirited crowd.

The sisters were pulling double--and doubles--duty on Monday after they both had one singles matches earlier in the day. But they didn't tire against the gamely Romanians, who made the Wimbledon champs work for their 6-3, 6-2 victory.

Earlier, Venus had been on the same court for a sound 6-3, 6-1 victory over French Open finalist Sara Errani. It was on Court 2 that Venus was bundled out of Wimbledon a month ago, her first-ever loss int he first round at The Championships.

But the 2000 Sydney Olympics singles gold medalist brushed that aside and she and Serena both played well from the baseline and the net. Serena won on Court 1, beating a fellow little sister--Urszula Radwanska, Agnieszka's sibling--6-2, 6-3.

Cirstea and Halep gave the Williams sisters a solid practice on the court, however. They move ahead and play German duo Angelique Kerber and Sabine Lisicki in round two, both of whom are still alive in the singles.

Queen's Granddaughter Zara Phillips Makes Olympic Debut

2012-07-29T19:36:00.000-04:00

Zara Phillips, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, had a few royal fans in the stands as she made her Olympic equestrian debut Sunday, earning a respectable score in the eventing dressage competition despite a slight mistake.

Phillips' grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as her mother, Princess Anne, were in the VIP seats at Greenwich Park as Phillips rode her horse, High Kingdom, through the paces of a standard dressage test to demonstrate the horse's obedience.

She scored a solid 48.10 penalty points, despite a mistake toward the beginning of her canter in the first "flying change." In the stride, the horse is supposed to change the sequence of his steps, but High Kingdom didn't respond immediately to Phillips' cues.

Cheers and applause broke out as she rode into the stadium and erupted anew when she finished. Anne, wearing a bright red canvas hat to protect against the strong sun, applauded politely at the end. Despite the bobble, Phillips said she was pleased with the performance.

"It was disappointing about his first change, but his other ones were really good," she said afterward. "But he coped with all the crowd and is only getting better." Phillips, a former world and European eventing champion, said the mistake had nothing to do with the enthusiasm from the stands -- a rousing welcome that prompted the announcer to remind the audience to keep applause to a minimum until the test was finished.

"He's very chilled," she said of her bay gelding. "That was nothing to do with the crowd. It was just inexperience and getting stronger, and he's getting stronger all the time." She said she was looking forward to Monday's cross country event, the most difficult and dangerous of the eventing tryptich, which also includes show jumping.

The course is unusually hilly with several tight turns. "He's quite quick and easy to turn so hopefully it'll be good," Phillips said. "I think he wants to get out there now; he's a bit bored of dressage."

In an indication of the respect the royal granddaughter has in the equestrian world, Phillips was warmly greeted after she competed by Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand, who will ride later Sunday. In the first day of the dressage competition Saturday, Australia took the early lead with Germany and the United States close behind.

Pitbull Acquires Miami Subs Franchise

2012-07-28T11:52:00.000-04:00

Armando Christian Perez is affectionately known to music fans as "Pitbull," recently acquired announced the purchase of an equity ownership in Florida's largest and most iconic sub and grill chain, The New Miami Subs Grill. CEO Richard Chwatt, along with President Bob Vogel and Miami Subs Executive Partners Bruce Galloway and Dieuveny Louis celebrated the announcement at a private reception held at Shelborne South Beach in Miami.

The unexpected announcement comes hot off the heels of the "Win Lunch with Pitbull at Miami Subs" sweepstakes and corresponding Webisode series depicting the illustrious history between the two brands. For weeks, the public's curiosity has been mounting as social media outlets for both Pitbull and The New Miami Subs Grill alluded to an upcoming announcement. The fourth and final webisode of the series officially announced the partnership.

"Since childhood Miami Subs has been one of my favorite Miami spots – It's an incredible feeling to take ownership in a brand that's so close to home," says Pitbull. "When you think about music, it's the universal language. When you think about food, it brings everyone together in the same way – that's powerful and now we're bringing The New Miami Subs Grill franchise worldwide."

"We are excited to welcome Armando, 'Pitbull,' to The New Miami Subs Grill family," says CEO Richard Chwatt. "His introduction as a key member of our executive team and Board of Directors is an important step forward for the franchise." President Bob Vogel adds, "Not only will his astute business acumen and American Dream success story inspire prospective franchisees, consumers can expect influences of Mr. Worldwide incorporated into various aspects of existing and planned restaurants, as well as our upcoming Latin Fusion menu."

"As one of the top global artists of our time, with a powerful viral fan base, Pitbull will certainly make The New Miami Subs Grill the franchise brand to watch in 2012 and 2013," remarks Executive Partner Dieuveny Louis.

"I am extremely excited to see this relationship take hold and see Miami Subs reach its full potential, with the inclusion of Pitbull on the team," states Bruce Galloway, current board member of The New Miami Subs Grill.

Heralded by fans worldwide for their famous Philly cheese steaks, wings, gyros as well as the chain's Healthy Dining menu, certified by HealthyDiningFinder.com, The New Miami Subs Grill has been on the cusp of an active brand revival. Descending upon the marketplace in the late 80s, the brand was considered one of the hottest industry success stories of the 90s, pioneering the term 'fast casual' for their dedication to "great food served fast." Customers raved over their late night dining, drive-thrus and the ability to purchase beer, wine or Dom Perignon champagne, which the brand is planning on re-launching at select locations, to complement the quick serve offerings.

Recently, the Fort Lauderdale-based chain announced aggressive expansion efforts, including new locations planned for the US and Latin America in 2012 and 2013. The brand recently achieved record-breaking sales comparison store by store, year over year, for 72 out of 74 weeks respectively, which CEO Richard Chwatt attributes to the franchise's focus on revitalizing the brand through renovation, relocation and a commitment to downsizing existing locations that simply don't fall in line with projected growth plans. New product introductions include Fresh Angus Steak Burgers which have positioned the chain to compete for added market share in the fast casual sector and include quality statements such as freshly baked brioche rolls and multigrain buns.

Miami Subs Grill, a South Florida company, has been serving great food for over 20 years with the first true Miami Subs restaurant opening in 1988. The iconic franchise chain beloved by fans worldwide, has grown to become Florida's largest regional sub and grill chain featuring world famous Philly cheesesteaks, wings, gyros and burgers. Delivery, beer, wine and breakfast available in select locations.

Pitbull has risen to become a global superstar as both a recording and performing artist. The Miami-native recently added to a long-and-growing list of hits with his first #1, "Give Me Everything." At the same time, his Planet Pit world tour sold out concerts in Mexico, Canada and Europe, before bringing the party to the United States, Japan and Australia. Pitbull teamed with international superstar Shakira for his latest single "Get It Started," which is the first release from Global Warming, the highly anticipated follow-up to Planet Pit, which earned critical acclaimed and enjoyed massive commercial success with sales of more than 1.3 million albums and 18 million singles. Global Warming comes on the heels of Pitbull's million-selling single "Back In Time," the chart-topping anthem from the action-adventure-comedy Men In Black 3. To complement his worldwide success as an artist, Pitbull is also a burgeoning businessman with his own line of premium, low-calorie vodka, Voli and a partnership with Sheets, the dissolvable energy strip. These entrepreneurial ventures are the latest for Pitbull, who has inked major sponsorship deals with blue-chip brands like Dr. Pepper and Bud Light.

Bells Will Be Ringing In Londontown

2012-07-27T17:53:00.003-04:00

Led by Big Ben, bells across Britain rang out Friday in a joyous cacophony, their deep bongs and tinkling tones marking the official opening day of the London Olympics. At precisely 8:12 a.m., 12 hours before what is expected to be a spectacular Olympic opening ceremony, the bells heralded a day of celebration that has been years in the making. Big Ben — the famous bell inside Parliament's clock tower — bonged 40 times over three minutes to ring in the games. It was joined across the country by bells and horns in churches, ships, boats, trucks and cars 12 hours before the symbolic time of 2012 British Summer Time — 8:12 p.m.

It was an exuberant display — a bit too exuberant, in the case ofOlympics Secretary Jeremy Hunt, whose small bell flew off its handle and almost struck a bystander during an event aboard the World War II vessel HMS Beflast.

An apologetic Hunt later posted a Twitter message: "Oops bell broke ... no one hurt but classic #TwentyTwelve moment" — a reference to the BBC's satirical television comedy on the Olympics, "Twenty Twelve," in which everything that can go wrong does.

As crowds began to gather at Olympic Stadium before the ceremony, scores of presidents, prime ministers and princes from around the world attended a reception at Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth II and her family were welcoming a diplomatic who's who, with invitees includingBrazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama.

More than 80 heads of state and government are due to attend the opening extravaganza at the stadium.Friday's bell-ringing project, "All the Bells," was the idea of Turner Prize-winning artist Martin Creed, who once designed a piece of art that consisted of a light being switched on and off.

"Bells are the loudest instruments, and so I thought to do a work in public using bells, trying to make a sort of public piece of music that could be heard everywhere, you know, across the whole city and kind of across the whole country," Creed said.

Creed said the idea was to ring the bells as quickly and loudly as possible. "There's no point in trying to be subtle about it," he said. Olympic organizers say they believe Friday was the first time that Big Ben's 13.5 ton bell, which usually strikes the hour, has been rung outside its regular schedule since 1952, when it tolled 56 times for King George VI's funeral, once for every year of his life.

Hours before the opening ceremony, the Olympic torch was completing its 8,000-mile (12,900-kilometer) journey around the British Isles with a trip Friday down the River Thames on the royal barge Gloriana.

The torch then went into seclusion until its appearance at the opening ceremony to light the Olympic cauldron. The identity of the cauldron-lighter, and the way it will be done, is the ceremony's most closely guarded secret. It will be the climax of director Danny Boyle's extravaganza, which is titled "Isles of Wonder" and features 10,000 volunteer performers.

Billed as a panorama of Britain's past, present and future, the opening ceremony will be seen by 60,000 spectators inside the stadium and a global television audience estimated at 1 billion. It will open with the sound of a 27-ton bell from the 442-year-old Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which also made Big Ben and Philadelphia's Liberty Bell.

Ready Set Start: Usain Bolt's Legs Are Ready

2012-07-27T11:46:00.001-04:00

A laid back Usain Bolt has decided the best way to improve his not-so-perfect start is not to worry about it, the Jamaican world record holder said on Thursday. "The more I focused on it, I think the worse it got," Bolt told Reuters in an interview following a packed news conference.

Starting has never been a work of art for Bolt as he struggled to squeeze his long legs into the blocks and then tries to get them moving at full stride but the woes have increased in the past 12 months. First there was the false start in the final of last year's world championship 100 meters that ended his chances of defending his title in South Korea.

Then a month ago at the Jamaican Olympic trials, a sluggish Bolt lost the 100 and 200 to world sprint champion and training partner Yohan Blake, as in the shorter race he was way off the pace over the opening strides.

"So I sat down with my coach," Bolt said in an interview arranged by his kit sponsor Puma. "He said stop worrying about the start and compete. So that is the plan (in London). Forget the start and get it (the race) right."

A strained hamstring that slowed him at the Jamaican trials has healed, and the world's top sprinter says he is now in championship mode with no major thought of trying to better his 2009 world record of 9.58 seconds for the 100 meters.

Social Media App Goop Launches London City Guide

2012-07-26T16:20:00.001-04:00

goop, a digital media and e-commerce company founded by Gwyneth Paltrow, announced today the release of its new London City Guide as part of its goop City Guides App. The London guide is the second city in a series that will feature within the goop City Guides app and is available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch in the App Store

Taking goop's popular journal category "GO" to the next level, this London City Guide sends you to many of goop's much-loved and often undiscovered spots. Featuring an exclusive video tour with Gwyneth around some of her favorite places in her neighborhood, this is goop's selection of the city's best. From the most entertaining kids spots, to the city's top restaurants and favorite neighborhood gastropubs, under-the-radar boutiques and outdoor markets, it's all the information you'll need to get around London and much more.

A resource for first-time visitors to London and city dwellers alike, the guide is filled with many under-the-radar places and classic favorites goop has discovered over the years.

"We at goop proudly bring you our London City Guide. London is a place I call home for at least half of the year and am so excited to be sharing everything goop loves to see and do in the city - from old-school classics to the best of what's new in food, shopping, decorating and more," said Paltrow.

Over the past four years, goop has grown into an eminent lifestyle publication, dedicated to informing and positively inspiring its audience. goop gives readers access to exclusive collaborations, recipes, travel guides, fashion, wellness tips, cultural notes and more. Incorporating the knowledge of expert contributors and tastemakers, along with our own editorial eye and uncompromising style, issues are delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday.

Usain Bolt Coming to a Broadand Near You

2012-07-26T16:13:00.001-04:00

Despite recent injuries, Dawes is confident world record holder Bolt will be in peak condition as he attempts to retain both individual titles and help Jamaica keep their 4 x 100m crown. "He's back fully," Dawes said. "He has been training very, very hard and his performance is on track."We expect he'll be fully fit by the time the Olympics come around." Dawes believes Bolt and sprint rival Yohan Blake could reach new heights in London for the Jamaican team. "Both of them are at the top of their game. "If the conditions are ideal, then we are going to see something fantastic. We may see records go. "They are 100% fit and 100% raring to go. They are mentally fit and they are going to be going all out." First up for Bolt will be the men's 100m's on 4 August in the Olympic Stadium, with his defense of the 200m title starting three days later on 7 August. The men's 4 x 100m Relay starts on 10 August.

John Elway Wins Korbel Hole-In-One Contest

2012-07-23T14:18:00.002-04:00

Fourteen of the greatest names in sports vied for the title of Korbel Hole-in-One Champion Friday, July 20 in Lake Tahoe but the wind was not on their side in this inaugural contest. John Elway unleashed a booming drive landing him 6 feet 7.5 inches away from the pin acing out his competitors to win this first-annual competition. The Korbel Toast Life® Foundation generously donated $5,000 to the Lake Tahoe Community College Foundation in honor of Elway's victory. The Hole-in-One Competition, took place on hole 17 and is a featured event at the American Century Championship of celebrity golf, currently being played at the Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Unable to repeat his stunning hole-in-one on 17 at last year's American Century Championship, NHL Hall of Famer Joe Sakic came in second with a distance of 8 feet 6 inches from the pin. Coming in third with 11 feet 10 inches and displaying some serious style was NFL Pro-Bowl Quarterback Mark Rypien.

Among crowd favorites were Brandi Chastain, former US Olympic Soccer Player, who set the bar high by being the first competitor to tee off. Exhibiting fierce drives down the fairway were NFL superstars, Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Chicago Bears Kicker Robbie Gould, San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Alex Smith, and Green Bay Packers Linebacker AJ Hawk. Taking their best slap shot towards the pin were former NHL all-stars Dan Quinn and Jeremy Roenick, while Former MLB Pitcher and World Series MVP Bret Saberhagen gave it his best "over the plate" swing. Miami Heat Forward Shane Battier, coming off his NBA Finals Championship, dunked his ball towards the far away flag. Keeping cool, Olympic Gold Medalist Skier Bode Miller took his best shot, unfazed by the summer heat. And the true comedian of the bunch was Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor Alfonso Ribeiro who kept the crowd and competitors entertained throughout the event. "Champagne and celebrations go hand-in-hand and for that reason Korbel is proud to participate in this golf tournament and sponsor the Hole-in-One Competition," said Gary Heck, owner and president.

Lake Tahoe Community College Foundation was established in 1995 to encourage investment in educational opportunities at Lake Tahoe Community College. The Foundation believes that students come first and student scholarships have always been a top funding priority. An investment in education can be the gift that lasts a lifetime and to many students a scholarship is also the gift of a lifetime.

The 23rd Annual American Century Celebrity Golf Championship takes place at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Club, July 17-22. The 54-hole Modified Stableford tournament is the most prestigious and richest celebrity tournament in golf, featuring a $600,000 purse with $125,000 going to the winner.

This event is often referred to as the Super Bowl of celebrity events, with more than 80 of the biggest sports and entertainment stars participating, including Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Tony Romo,Aaron Rodgers, Ray Romano, Emmitt Smith and Jack Wagner.

Established in 1882 in Sonoma County's Russian River Valley, Korbel Champagne Cellars produces the United States' most popular methode champenoise champagne. But, the true measure of Korbel's success during its 130 years can be seen in the impact it's had on American consumers and its presence at various celebrations throughout the years. Owned and managed by the Heck family since 1954, Korbel currently makes eleven champagnes and a limited amount of still wine. In a separate facility, Korbel also produces one of the country's most respected brandies.

South African Cricketer Hashim Amla Breaks Scoring Record

2012-07-23T14:04:00.000-04:00

Hashim Amla became the first South African to score a triple century, leaving England facing an uphill task to save the first Test at The Kia Oval. The 29-year-old made an unbeaten 311 as he and Jacques Kallis, with 182 not out, helped the tourists pile up 637-2 declared - a lead of 252.

England lost their top four cheaply in reaching the 102-4 by the close, needing a further 150 to avoid an innings defeat. Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara remain at the crease, knowing they need to bat deep into the final day if England are to have any hope of avoiding falling 1-0 down in a three-Test series which will determine the best team in the world. It was a chastening day for England, whose number one ranking appears under serious threat from a superb South Africa side.

Analysis

After watching Amla and Kallis remorselessly pile on the runs, South Africa captain Graeme Smith declared at tea before his bowling attack brought a seemingly docile pitch to life. Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir hunted as a pack - all were rewarded with a wicket before the close - but England's batsmen contributed to their own downfall.

Alastair Cook's dismissal started the rot as he followed a first-innings century by edging Philander behind for a six-ball duck. When Steyn drew Jonathan Trott into playing at one that left him, the hosts were without their two most resistant batsmen for a rescue mission that was already demanding enough.

Kevin Pietersen, playing in his usual frenetic manner, survived when he steered a Morkel bouncer to a diving Kallis at second slip, but he had his middle stump uprooted moments later as he played down the wrong line. Andrew Strauss too will be angry with his dismissal, the captain top-edging a sweep at Tahir to Philander at square-leg.

England's struggles contrasted sharply with two sessions of complete South Africa dominance. It was another batting masterclass from Amla and Kallis, who dominated a weary England attack.

Highest

They were watchful for the first hour of the penultimate day, their resistance breaking any initial England spirit before they scored with apparent ease. Amla, who began the day on 183, brought up the second double century of his career with a trademark shot through the covers, before ticking off the landmarks.

He passed 250, went beyond his previous Test best of 253, and registered the highest score by a South African in Test cricket when he advanced to 281 not out with a boundary off Tim Bresnan. Kallis - 82 not out overnight - was similarly obstructive. He brought up his 43rd Test century from 227 balls, significantly boosting his average of 29 in England. He timed the ball superbly and went through the gears later in his innings to help build South Africa's substantial lead.

He and Amla shared their third 300-plus stand in Tests, with AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph and JP Duminy taking it in turns to pad up, to avoid spending so long waiting to bat.

Amla - perhaps nervous, more likely weary - drove narrowly over Bell at extra cover to bring up his 300, and offered Bopara a one-handed caught-and-bowled chance shortly before the declaration.

By the time Smith did call them in, the third-wicket partnership was worth 377 and spanned 102 overs.