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<title>Sportales</title>
<link>http://www.sportales.com</link>
<description>New posts in Sportales</description>
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<title>Top 10 Sites for Motorbicycles</title>
<link>http://www.sportales.com/Cycling/Top-10-Sites-for-Motorbicycles.198481</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<ol>
<li> <a href="http://www.Motorbicycling.com" target="_blank">
<h3>Motorbicycling</h3>
</a> A great group of kind and knowledgeable people willing to go the extra yard to help in your motorbicycles needs. Lots of great pics and stories that will increase your desire to ride and save money. Motorbicycles get up to 150MPG</li>
<li> <a href="http://chinesekitmotorbike.blogspot.com" target="_blank">
<h3>Deacon</h3>
</a> Super great blog. Great stories and pics. Written by a true motorbicycle legend. Join him and read as he reports his journey, "Riding In The Hood"</li>
<li> <a href="http://www.Thatsdax.com" target="_blank">
<h3>Thatsdax</h3>
</a> Motorbicycle kits that fits everyones needs. Installation, instructions, videos, and much more. Will answer all questions about motorbicycles.<br /><br />Check out this Bad Boy  - super quiet, super green and clean:<br /><br /><img src="%%IMG1%%" alt="" /><br /></li>
<li> <a href="http://www.Bdconner.com" target="_blank">
<h3>Bdconner</h3>
</a> A really nice blog about motorbicycles and a glimpse of his life, including his "misadventures."</li>
<li> <a href="http://norms-iron-works.tripod.com/id1.html" target="_blank">
<h3>Norms Iron Works<br /><br /><img src="%%IMG2%%" alt="" /></h3>
</a> A true artist for the spectacular. He even does airplanes. Go carts, and regular bikes.</li>
<li> <a href="http://www.spookytoothcycles.com" target="_blank">
<h3>Spooky Tooth Cycles</h3>
</a> Gas and electric bicycles. Ready to ride and affordable. This site has nice info and help to get you started on you journey.<br /><br />These bikes are Spooky Cool:<br /><img src="%%IMG3%%" alt="" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.oilslubesfilters.com" target="_blank">
<h3>OilsLubesFilters.com</h3>
</a>No motorbike is complete without good oil. Pablo will hook you up for all your needs. <br />He will help you with any specific application on lubrication. Just ask him and you will get a prompt answer</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&amp;amp;friendID=53429708&amp;amp;blogID=334583408" target="_blank">
<h3>Kings Sales and Service</h3>
</a>Custom Sprockets and gears. He will help you make your motorbicycle go faster and faster.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.sickbikeparts.com" target="_blank">
<h3>Sick Bikes</h3>
</a> Their goal is to enhance the motorized bike experience by offering all the things that you want but could never have. They have some "Sick Parts"<br /><br /><img src="%%IMG4%%" alt="" /><br /><br />That's a Sick Bike.</li>
<li> <a href="http://www.ewoss.me/auctions.aspx?k=electric+scooters&amp;amp;s=-812845&amp;amp;k2=electric%20scooter%20bike" target="_blank">
<h3>Ewoss</h3>
</a> They have all kinds of electric scooters.</li>
</ol><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FCycling%2FTop-10-Sites-for-Motorbicycles.198481"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FCycling%2FTop-10-Sites-for-Motorbicycles.198481" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:54:57 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>The Five Coolest WWE Titles and What You Didn't Know About Them</title>
<link>http://www.sportales.com/Wrestling/The-Five-Coolest-WWE-Titles-and-What-You-Didnt-Know-About-Them.198461</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p><img src="%%IMG1%%" alt="" /><br /><a href="http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/graphics/WWFIC.jpg" target="_blank">image source</a><br /><br />The Intercontinental Championship has been held many times and Chris Jericho has held it a record of 8 separate occasions. This title has been around in Wwf. The title's creation came as a result of Patterson defeating Ted DiBiase to win the WWF North American Heavyweight Championship and defending the title in a tournament to be unified with a South American Heavyweight Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The title later became known as the WWF Intercontinental Championship.</p>
<p><img src="%%IMG2%%" alt="" /><br /><a href="http://www.ecw-zone.de/mediac/400_0/media/ECW-WORLD.jpeg" target="_blank">image source</a></p>
<p>The ECW World Heavyweight Championship was in the original ECW. Sabu won this title in a barbed wire match where he ripped his bicep open. This title has some violent history. This was the original ECW title and it was active until April 11, 2001 when ECW shut down and Wwe bought its Assets. It was revived in June 2006 when ECW became a third brand for Wwe.</p>
<p><img src="%%IMG3%%" alt="" /><br /><a href="http://sekaiedge.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/worldheavyweightchampionship2.jpg" target="_blank">image source</a></p>
<p>The World Heavyweight championship has been held by people such as Batista Triple H and the legendary Ric Flair. The title was introduced in 2002 by Eric Bischoff because Raw had no World Title he handed it to Triple H because he was the last superstar to have the Wwe Undisputed championship which was currently held by Brock Lesnar</p>
<p><img src="%%IMG4%%" alt="" /><br /><a href="http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/graphics/wweus1.gif" target="_blank">image source</a></p>
<p>The Us Title has been held by many people such as MVP and Shelton Benjamin and this title has been around since Wwf. The title was originally called the WCW United states title but during SummerSlam 2001 Edge won the intercontinental title while he had the U.S Title causing it to be inactive. It was reactivated as the Wwe United States Championship by Stephanie McMahon on Smackdown.</p>
<p><img src="%%IMG5%%" alt="" /><br /><a href="http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/vi/vivid-imaginations-wwe-title-belts--championship-spinning-belt.jpg" target="_blank">image source</a></p>
<p>The Wwe championship is the richest prize in this business and this title design was made by John Cena. The title was the first Title in the Wwf and it became the Wwe title after the name change. The title was unified after the Wcw Invasion</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FWrestling%2FThe-Five-Coolest-WWE-Titles-and-What-You-Didnt-Know-About-Them.198461"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FWrestling%2FThe-Five-Coolest-WWE-Titles-and-What-You-Didnt-Know-About-Them.198461" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:36:47 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>Top Four Transfers of This Summer</title>
<link>http://www.sportales.com/Soccer/Top-Four-Transfers-of-This-Summer.196379</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>As a soccer fanatic, I waited for transfer news during all summer. Some of these transfers were being expected, but some of them really stunned soccer fans. I am sure, most of those fans spent time by surfing sports channels and news centers as I did. This article is about the most interesting transfer news in soccer world. Here is my list.</p>
<p><img src="%%IMG0%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>28 year old Brazilian striker and attacking midfielder  Ronaldinho transferred from Barcelona to AC Milan after 5 great years in Barcelona. Ronaldinho was the pupil of ardent Barcelona fans. AC Milan has paid 25 million euros for the transfer of him to club Barcelona. Next season, he is gonna play for the victory of Milan. I am sure he will do his best and become victoriuous.</p>
<p><img src="%%IMG1%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Deco is another man leaving Camp Noi. He played for Barcelona FC between 2004 and 2008 years. He scored 13 goals in 4 years but made many assists to his friends. He also played a great role in the success of Portugal National Team in Euro 2008. Chelsea signed a three-year contract on June 30, 2008. Chelsea bord announced that club has paid 7.9 million pounds for this transfer. Chelsea is more powerful with coming of Deco this year. I am sure they will play very well with another midfielder Michael Ballack.</p>
<p><img src="%%IMG2%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Hleb stared while he was playing for Arsenal. He participated Arsenal in 2005 and played for Arsenal for consecutive  three years. He increased the dynamism of the team. On July 16, Hleb was transfered to Barcelona with a fee of 11.8 million pounds. Barcelona board announced that Hleb signed a four-year contract. I am sure he is ready to be the new pupil of the supporters.</p>
<p><img src="%%IMG3%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Guiza is the top scorer of Spanish league in 2007-2008 season. He scored 27 goals in 37 match with no penalty kick. This transfer was completely surprising for both Spanish club and Fenerbahce. Next season, he will play for Fenerbahce in both national league and Champions League if Fenerbahce beats the opponents in qualification matches. I believe he will be a nightmare for the goalkeepers. Fenerbahce has paid 14 million euros for Guiza. He is the most expensive foreign player to be transferred Turkish league.</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FSoccer%2FTop-Four-Transfers-of-This-Summer.196379"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FSoccer%2FTop-Four-Transfers-of-This-Summer.196379" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:25:53 PST</pubDate></item>
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<title>NFL Peview of the NFC East</title>
<link>http://www.sportales.com/Football/NFL-Peview-of-the-NFC-East.195137</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>On paper the Cowboys look the strongest but the Giants are the defending World Champions. This division is historically very physical and good.</p>
<p>The New York Giants. Well the emergence of Eli Manning was a pleasant result for them at seasons end and carried them thru the playoffs. Also Eli came up huge in the Super Bowl with his gutsy play. The mighty Patriots took the lead despite the Giants handling them on defense. But with time running out Eli gave everything he had to lead the Giants to a win. Yes the miraculous catch by David Tyree was pivatol but it also was Eli's ability to escape a certain sack that made that catch possible.</p>
<p>So assuming he's all growed up now the office should be the usual methodical no thrills Giants ball control offense. I personally like shipping Shockey out of town. He was just a big mouth who was only interested in himself it seems. Boss is a more well rounded tight end. Which means he knows how to block. Shockey was willing to block but he oftened was out of position. They better hope some of the young Wide outs continue to get better though. You need more than just Burress.</p>
<p>But the Giants still have a very good to great defense which will continue to be their bread and butter.</p>
<p>The Dallas Cowboys. Plenty of talent here. I am not sure Romo is the leader they need. But they have a better backfield combo now. Defense should be better. So a healthy Cowboy team will fight for the division. The defensive line has the potential to be great. As stated on paper the Cowboys look like you can pencil them down for the division but they don't have the cohesion of a contendor yet.</p>
<p>The Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles are in a strange situation. If the planets align themselves correctly they could have a great year. But the are in thin ice. Last year their biggest drop off was the defensive aggressiveness and physicality. They did not give up many points but the lack of offense which happens to all teams made it that they needed a stifling defense. The defense should be more aggressive this year. Special teams was abismal last year so any improvement there will help. DeSean Jackson on returns will help. McNabb being healthy is paramount though. Also the Eagles need more touchdowns and less field goals. The red zone offense was non-existent. Overall if everything goes well, the Eagles could challenge.</p>
<p>The Washington Redskins. A playoff team last year. But also a Joe Gibbs team that was very inspired after the tragic loss of Sean Taylor. New coach and a still young Jason Cambell is a question mark. Clinto Portis is a must stay healthy player also. Their defense is potentially pretty solid so they can make the playoffs again. Division title I don't see it. But not impossible if Cambell settles in to a solid QB like I believe he is.</p>
<p>Let's get it going!</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FFootball%2FNFL-Peview-of-the-NFC-East.195137"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FFootball%2FNFL-Peview-of-the-NFC-East.195137" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:32:34 PST</pubDate></item>
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<title>Chicago Cubs: This is the Year</title>
<link>http://www.sportales.com/Baseball/Chicago-Cubs-This-is-the-Year.194527</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>I believe this year 2008 is the year that the cubs will break the Billy goat curse.</p>
<p>I believe this because they have an excellent manager (debatable), a very fast and good hitting outfield. Paired with the catchers Soto and Blanco, and an amazing infield, who as of today have gone 6 games without an error. Finally they have a lights out pitching staff.</p>
<p>I believe Lou Pinnela is an excellent manager because he plays who is hot. He studies his opponent and puts the right person in at the right time. Though he may get very mad at times and maybe get thrown out he still keeps the cubs on track and winning games. Before when the Cubs had Dusty Baker they weren't winning many games and struggling to get to a .500 winning percentage. Now with Lou as manager as of now they are a fit 4.0 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers and 5.0 games above the Cincinnati Reds. He also brought some astounding additions to the Cubs including Soto, Jim Edmonds, I am pretty sure Alfonzo Soriano, and that new pitcher from Notre Dame.</p>
<p>I say their outfield is fast because of Alfonzo Soriano, Koske Fukadome, and the cubs also have Felix Pie in the minor leagues. Although Koske and Felix are in a batting slump, Alfonzo Soriano and Jim Edmons are red hot and creaming balls. Don't forget about Reed Johnson who can come through if you need him to. As for the infield, at first is Derek Lee, a golden Glover and last year was going for the Triple Crown. At second is DeRosa and also Cedeno. DeRosa can hit well and is a good all around player, he can also play outfield and third if it is needed. At Shortstop Ryan Theriot, and also Cedeno can play there too. At third Aramiz Ramirez who can crush the ball.</p>
<p>Lastly their pitching is amazing with Carlos Zambrono whose only weakness is his temper. His pitches are very good and he can slug the balls for base hits and homeruns but he can also bunt if it is needed. Then there is Lilly whose veteran skills can get him out of rough situations. Dempster and Marquise may give up some runs but are reliable and they are good from batter to batter.</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FBaseball%2FChicago-Cubs-This-is-the-Year.194527"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FBaseball%2FChicago-Cubs-This-is-the-Year.194527" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:55:37 PST</pubDate></item>
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<title>10 Greatest Female Gymnasts in History</title>
<link>http://www.sportales.com/Gymnastics/10-Greatest-Female-Gymnasts-in-History.193893</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>My criteria for making the list are: a.) the gymnast must have won at least one all-around World or Olympic title; and b.) she must have at least two World or Olympic titles on any apparatus, as well. (For those who feel disappointed that their favorite athletes were not included, I sincerely apologize for there are many gymnasts who did not both criteria but are nevertheless considered great gymnasts as well, like Lavinia Miloşovici, Gina Gogean, Olga Korbut, Daniela Silivas, Dominique Moceanu, Mo Huilan and a lot more.)</p>
 <p>As follows are my top 10 greatest female gymnasts in history:</p>
 <h3>1. Svetlana Khorkina (Russia)</h3>
 <p><img  alt="" src="%%IMG0%%" /></p>
 <p>Having won seven Olympic medals and twenty World championship medals, this unusually tall gymnast is considered to be one of the most popular and most successful gymnasts of her generation. She is the very first gymnast to win three World all-around titles (1997, 2001 and 2003). She earned the nickname "Queen of the Bars" for her unrivaled domination on uneven bars, where she won five consecutive World titles (1995-1997, 1999, 2001) and two consecutive Olympic titles (1996, 2000). She is best known for her expressive and elegant dance, as well as for her extremely difficult and innovative routines, with unprecedented eight skills named after her in the Code of Points<a target="_blank" name="1996" id="1996"></a><a target="_blank" name="1997-2000" id="1997-2000"></a><a target="_blank" name="2000_Olympic_Games" id="2000_Olympic_Games"></a><a target="_blank" name="2004_Olympic_Games" id="2004_Olympic_Games"></a><a target="_blank" name="Life_Outside_Gymnastics_and_Controversy" id="Life_Outside_Gymnastics_and_Controversy"></a><a target="_blank" name="Competitive_Highlights" id="Competitive_Highlights"></a><a target="_blank" name="Major_achievements" id="Major_achievements"></a><a target="_blank" name="Original_Skills" id="Original_Skills"></a>.</p>
 
 <h3>2. Larissa Latynina (USSR / Russia)</h3>
 <p><img  alt="" src="%%IMG1%%" /></p>
 <p>Two-time Olympic (1956, 1960) and two-time World (1958, 1962) all-around champion. She still holds the record for having won the most number of Olympic medals at eighteen (nine gold medals, five silver and four bronze). Trained in ballet, she was known for her graceful movements on floor exercise, where she won three consecutive Olympic titles (1956, 1960 and 1964).<a target="_blank" name="Gymnastics_career" id="Gymnastics_career"></a><a target="_blank" name="Retirement" id="Retirement"></a></p>
 <h3>3. Svetlana Boginskaya (USSR / Belarus)</h3>
 <h3><img  alt="" src="%%IMG2%%" /></h3>
 <p>The 1989 World all-around champion and three-time Olympic medallist, who was nicknamed the "Goddess of Gymnastics" and "Belarusian Swan" because of her stature, balletic grace, and long elegant lines that was most eminently exhibited in most of her routines, especially on floor exercise. In 1990, she swept the European Gymnastics Championships by winning the gold in every individual event.<a target="_blank" name="References" id="References"></a><a target="_blank" name="Results" id="Results"></a><a target="_blank" name="1995" id="1995"></a><a target="_blank" name="1997" id="1997"></a><a target="_blank" name="1999" id="1999"></a><a target="_blank" name="2000" id="2000"></a><a target="_blank" name="Career_Summary" id="Career_Summary"></a></p>
 <h3>4. Ludmilla Tourischeva (USSR / Ukraine)</h3>
 <p><img  alt="" src="%%IMG3%%" /></p>
 <p>The 1970 and 1974 World all-around champion. She was regarded as the epitome of the Soviet style gymnastics: grace, classiness, perfect form and flawless technique. Although she won the all-around title in the 1972 Munich Olympics, she was largely overshadowed by the unexpected fame of her compatriot Olga Korbut, whose exceptional acrobatic skills and open display of emotion, in contrast to the typical stoic expression of eastern bloc athletes, enraptured world audiences.</p>
 <h3>5. Věra Čáslavská (Czechoslovakia)</h3>
 <p><img  alt="" src="%%IMG4%%" /></p>
 <p>One of only two female gymnasts, along with Larissa Latynina of the USSR, to win two consecutive all-around Olympic titles (1964, 1968). She holds the record of most Olympic individual event titles than any other gymnasts, a record that still stands today. She was well known for her cheerful demeanor and extraordinary stage presence; and at the same time, she was also revered for her courage in openly voicing her opposition to communism and the Soviet invasion of her country during the 1968 Mexico Olympics.<a target="_blank" name="Senior_career" id="Senior_career"></a><a target="_blank" name="Post-retirement" id="Post-retirement"></a><a target="_blank" name="Major_results" id="Major_results"></a></p>
 <h3>6. Yelena Shushunova (USSR / Russia)</h3>
 <p><img  alt="" src="%%IMG5%%" /></p>
 <p>1985 World and 1988 Olympic all-around champion. She is best known for her powerful vaulting and difficult tumbling as well as her matchless consistency, having won medals on every apparatus including world titles on vault (1985, 1987) and floor exercise (1985).</p>
 <h3>7. Nadia Comăneci (Romania)</h3>
 <p><img  alt="" src="%%IMG6%%" /></p>
 <p>The media darling of the 1976 Montreal Olympics, where she became the very first gymnast at any Olympics to be awarded a perfect score of 10 and would eventually earn six more 10s, on the way to capturing the all-around, uneven bars and balance beam title. At only age 14, she was the youngest ever Olympics gymnastics all-around champion. She is credited, along with Olga Korbut, for popularizing the sport all over the world.<a target="_blank" name="Montreal_Olympics" id="Montreal_Olympics"></a><a target="_blank" name="1977.E2.80.931980" id="1977.E2.80.931980"></a><a target="_blank" name="Post_retirement" id="Post_retirement"></a><a target="_blank" name="Awards" id="Awards"></a><a target="_blank" name="1988_Olympics" id="1988_Olympics"></a><a target="_blank" name="Life_after_gymnastics" id="Life_after_gymnastics"></a><a target="_blank" name="Skills" id="Skills"></a></p>
 <h3>8. Shannon Miller (USA)</h3>
 <p><img  alt="" src="%%IMG7%%" /></p>
 <p>The 1993 and 1994 all-around World Champion and the 1996 Olympics balance beam gold medallist. With a total of sixteen World championship and Olympic medals, she is certainly the most decorated gymnast in American history. She is best remembered for her performance in the Individual All-around at the 1992 Olympic Games, where she missed the gold by the tiniest margin (0.012) in Olympic history.<a target="_blank" name="Personal_life" id="Personal_life"></a><a target="_blank" name="Professional" id="Professional"></a></p>
 <h3>9. Nellie Kim (USSR / Tajikistan)</h3>
 <p><img  alt="" src="%%IMG8%%" /></p>
 <p>The 1979 World all-around champion. She was the first woman in Olympic history to receive a perfect score of 10 on vault and floor exercise, winning the gold medal on both. She was admired not only for her feminine beauty but also for her flamboyance, gracefulness and intensity that marked her every routine.</p>
 <h3>10. Lilia Podkopayeva (Ukraine)</h3>
 <p><img  alt="" src="%%IMG9%%" /></p>
 <p>The first female gymnast since Ludmilla Tourischeva to simultaneously hold the European (1996), World (1995), and Olympic (1996) all-around titles. She was frequently described as the "complete package" gymnast, possessing impressive excellence in both technical skill and artistic expression with no apparent weakness in any of the four apparatus. Her routines were characterized as a combination of stylish choreography, clean execution, perfect form and exceptionally difficult skills.<a target="_blank" name="External_links_and_sources" id="External_links_and_sources"></a><a target="_blank" name="External_links_and_references" id="External_links_and_references"></a></p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FGymnastics%2F10-Greatest-Female-Gymnasts-in-History.193893"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FGymnastics%2F10-Greatest-Female-Gymnasts-in-History.193893" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:30:31 PST</pubDate></item>
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<title>Why Do Fish Hide Next to the Ceiling</title>
<link>http://www.sportales.com/Scuba-Diving/Why-Do-Fish-Hide-Next-to-the-Ceiling.187623</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>That witty fish I could never see because it was always hiding next to the ceiling of its cave when I was looking inside. They know all the tricks those fish brained creatures. How can they be so intelligent? How do they manage to make people open and close their mouth like an &amp;ldquo;o&amp;rdquo; when they look at them inside an aquarium? Well, those people who imitate fish are surely the not the ones with an over average fish I.C. More seriously, in places where scuba diving is very popular, sometimes fish develop this behaviour.</p>
<p><img src="%%IMG1%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>When you check a hole or a small cave looking for any fish living there, they get flat next to the ceiling trying not to be seen. To observe them well you have to look from a lower angle and then waiting motionless till they feel more confident. Inexperienced divers who dive too far from the sea bed often see only the really big fish  and/or the ones living outside caves. Photographers know this well and learnt how to wait and even not breath trying to avoid bubbles that might scare the fish.</p>
<p>This behaviour is even more common if in that area underwater fishing is allowed. Only in more rarely visited marine sanctuaries where scuba diving is not so popular fish behaves even curiously approaching you.</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FScuba-Diving%2FWhy-Do-Fish-Hide-Next-to-the-Ceiling.187623"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FScuba-Diving%2FWhy-Do-Fish-Hide-Next-to-the-Ceiling.187623" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:47:47 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>Olympic Impact</title>
<link>http://www.sportales.com/Sports/Olympic-Impact.184979</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>If my calendar is correct, there has&amp;nbsp;been two thousand and eight years since the start of the Common Era, but more specifically one hundred twelve years have past since the first modern Olympic Games took place in Athens, Greece in 1896. From that time the world has come together, despite many global issues and differences, every four years to celebrate and participate in the most&amp;nbsp;elite sporting event&amp;nbsp;on the planet.&amp;nbsp;Five interconnected rings on a white background are more than just a creative logo&amp;nbsp;designed to market this spectacle of athleticism.&amp;nbsp;They signify the&amp;nbsp;coming together of enemies and allies&amp;nbsp;on a peaceful, yet competitive, world stage displaying the best that each country&amp;nbsp;has to offer in the way&amp;nbsp;of athletic talent. It starts with a single flame ignited in the ancient birthplace of the Games in Olympia, Greece&amp;nbsp;and is concluded with champions who return to their home countries as heroes and heroines.</p>
<p>&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;From beginning to end, the Games of the Olympiad are conducted with&amp;nbsp;class and honor, and considering the quality of athletes who take part, it is easy to understand why. Carl Bond of Sweden, Tadahiro Nomura of Japan, Michelle Smith of Ireland, Janos Martinek of Hungary, Carl Lewis of the United States, and Liu Xuan of China are just a few of the talented athletes that have stood atop the highest podium in sports over the years and received a gold medal in their respective sports&amp;nbsp;for themselves and for their countries. Shannon Miller of the 1996&amp;nbsp;U.S. women's gold medal gymnastic team speaks with a tremendous sense of pride in her family contributions as well as what it means on a national level to compete in the Olympics.&amp;nbsp;Miller's first gold medal was the team victory she shared with her teammates and her second was for an individual effort on the balance beam. "It couldn't have been any better,"&amp;nbsp;Miller&amp;nbsp;recalls of her experience winning her first gold medal in Atlanta. "It was so very hard fought and in the end, to hear the crowd chanting, "USA USA," it was amazing. There is nothing I enjoyed more than slipping on the red, white and blue."&amp;nbsp;</p>
<p>&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Taken seriously by spectators, but even more seriously by the athletes themselves, is the sense of importance to one's country that each event represents,&amp;nbsp;which&amp;nbsp;was famously displayed&amp;nbsp;in the&amp;nbsp;1936&amp;nbsp;Berlin Olympics by the performance of Jesse Owens. Named an Ambassador of&amp;nbsp;Sports by&amp;nbsp;U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower in 1955, Owens won a total of four&amp;nbsp;Gold medals in the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash, the long jump and the 4 x 100 meter relay at the&amp;nbsp;Berlin Games,&amp;nbsp;much to the chagrin of&amp;nbsp;then Chancellor Adolf Hitler, who was using the Olympics as a way to show the world that Germany was once again a world power and&amp;nbsp;also to prove that the Aryan-race was superior in every way. Owens, as well as&amp;nbsp;many other athletes over the years, crossed&amp;nbsp;political and racial&amp;nbsp;lines&amp;nbsp;with his victories, which, in this instance,&amp;nbsp;might be called a foreshadow of events to come as the German regime was toppled just eight&amp;nbsp;years later at the conclusion of World War II, just as Owens defeated them on the track.</p>
<p>&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;In 1972, thirty-six years later, world superpowers would again collide on the Olympic stage, but this time the results would be even more shocking yet much less publicized. Most noted for the brutal killing of eleven Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorist group Black September, an event that was the result of thousands of years of turmoil in the Middle East, the Munich Olympics also consisted of a battle between two titans on the basketball court who were also at odds on the global political stage, the United States and the U.S.S.R. The undefeated United States basketball team was the heavy favorite&amp;nbsp;going into the&amp;nbsp;Games, with an impressive sixty-two wins and zero losses. They powered through the early rounds with ease, winning with scores like 66 to 35, 81 to 55, 96 to 31 and their narrowest victory to date, 61 to 54 over&amp;nbsp;Brazil. The U.S.S.R was no slouch either, winning each of their first eight games en route to the championship game against their Cold War foe, the United States. After a late fight between American Dwight Jones and Russia's Dvorni Edeshko, the Russians led by four with less than twelve minutes to play. With multiple players injured or ejected, the Americans closed the gap to just one point with ten seconds remaining in the game. One hard-foul and two perfect free throws later, the Americans had taken the lead and all but sealed up a victory with just three seconds left in the game. After three clock resets, Soviet Aleksander Belov drove to the hoop and sunk the game winning shot, giving the Americans their first Olympic loss in men's basketball and signaling that the Russians were a force to be dealt with on every level, athletically and politically.</p>
<p>&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Thirty-six years later at the Beijing Olympics, the world is once again fighting in many wars and dealing with many disasters, such as the Cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in China. One can't help but to wonder what events will take place this year that will set off a chain of events that will effect our global landscape; it's all a part of the excitement that leads up to the Games.</p>
<p>&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;In addition the national significance of the Olympics, the Games mean a lot to the people who participate&amp;nbsp;and to their families. "I can remember the financial and time sacrifices that my family made when I was growing up," says Miller, "but&amp;nbsp;it's all that I have ever known." Miller started gymnastics when she was just five years old in Edmund, Oklahoma. By the age of 12, she had already made her presence known by placing&amp;nbsp;third in the Olympic Festival of 1989, a competition for rising stars. With five World Championships and seven&amp;nbsp;Olympic medals,&amp;nbsp;two of which are gold, under her belt,&amp;nbsp;Shannon Miller is one of the most successful&amp;nbsp;gymnasts in U.S. history.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;</p>
<p>&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Competing in these games is a dream that every young athlete has but so few get the opportunity to&amp;nbsp;achieve. "I am just so thankful of all the blessings I have,"&amp;nbsp;Miller said when asked&amp;nbsp;what it meant to have a childhood dream come true. Referring to her faith, she continued,&amp;nbsp;"Win or lose, whether I fell five times or stuck [a landing], I always knew there was someone out there with me and that just takes all of the pressure off." Currently Miller contributes to media coverage of her sport and represents young athletes as they prepare for their journey to the&amp;nbsp;world stage.</p>
<p>&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Larissa Latynina of the U.S.S.R, Paavo Nurmi of Finland,&amp;nbsp;Birgit Fischer of Germany, Elisabeta Lipa of Romania, Thomas Alsgaard of&amp;nbsp;Norway, Janica Kostelic of Croatia and Roman Fonst of Cuba have all represented their countries well and have won multiple gold medals, upholding the elite standard that was set so many years ago when Games were brought back. "We are out to compete," states Miller. "It's all about unifying the athletes and the sports in the greatest&amp;nbsp;sporting event in the world."&amp;nbsp;Boys and girls and men and women become heroes and heroines and&amp;nbsp;are&amp;nbsp;vaulted&amp;nbsp;into Olympic history, and&amp;nbsp;after all of the awards&amp;nbsp;have been presented and&amp;nbsp;they are&amp;nbsp;heralded as champions, the month long athletic celebration comes to an&amp;nbsp;end that is just as awe-inspiring as the opening; the president of the International Olympic Committee declares that the games are concluded and calls upon the youth of the world to return in four years to do it all over again, the flags are lowered and the flame is extinguished.</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FSports%2FOlympic-Impact.184979"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FSports%2FOlympic-Impact.184979" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:23:10 PST</pubDate></item>
<item>
<title>Five Funny Football Pictures You Must See</title>
<link>http://www.sportales.com/Soccer/Five-Funny-Football-Pictures-You-Must-See.184565</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>I have browsed the internet and found some funny football pictures you have to see. Starting from number five and going downwards. Guaranteed to make you smile.</p>
<ol>
<li>These players are far away from each other so this makes an illusion of the sizes. They are around the same size in real life.<br /><br /><img src="%%IMG1%%" alt="" /></li>
<li>That's a bad fall he could have broken his neck and kicked the guy behind him. He actually got straight up like nothing happened and continued to play football.<br /><br /><img src="%%IMG2%%" alt="" /></li>
<li>This poor player got the ball kicked in his face when the referee gave a corner. He actually got the ball kicked by his own teammate trying to kick it to the corner spot. That has to be painful and embarrassing.<br /><br /><img src="%%IMG3%%" alt="" /></li>
<li>Rooney holding a goalkeepers leg. It looks like he is actually hold him up in the air with his arm.<br /><br /><img src="%%IMG4%%" alt="" /></li>
<li>Now even if you are trying to tackle someone who has the ball in front of you this is the best way to do it, kick him where it hurts and make 50,000 fans laugh. When you get sent off field it's worth it. This is funny and painful to watch at the same time.<br /><br /><img src="%%IMG5%%" alt="" /></li>
</ol><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FSoccer%2FFive-Funny-Football-Pictures-You-Must-See.184565"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FSoccer%2FFive-Funny-Football-Pictures-You-Must-See.184565" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jul 2008 10:37:46 PST</pubDate></item>
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<title>20 Most Outstanding Performances of Modern Olympics Athletes</title>
<link>http://www.sportales.com/Sports/20-Most-Outstanding-Performances-of-Modern-Olympics-Athletes.181535</link>
<description>
<![CDATA[<p>Olympic Games is a quadrennial sports events that originated in Greece. Modern Olympic Games which started in 1896 in Athens, Greece is subdivided into summer and winter sporting events which are held every four years. Until 1992, they were both held in the same year. Since then, they have been separated by a two year gap.</p>
<p>Each Olympiad is highlighted by the outstanding performance of an athlete in a certain event. Here's a list of outstanding athletes from each Olympic Games from 1896 to 2004.</p>

<h3>
 Michael Phelps 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG0%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>In the 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens, Greece, swimmer Michael Phelps of the United States won 8 Olympic medals: a gold medal each in -100 meter butterfly, 200 meter butterfly, 200 meter individual medley, 400 meter individual medley, 4x200 meter freestyle relay, and 4x100 meter medley relay; and 2 bronze medals; one each in 200 meter freestyle and 4x100 meter freestyle relay.</p>

<h3>
 Ian Thorpe 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG1%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Nicknamed the &amp;ldquo;&amp;rdquo;Thorpedo&amp;rdquo; Ian Thorpe won 3 gold medals in swimming during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He won 5 gold Olympic medals all in all (3 in Sydney Olympics and 2 in Athens), the most won by an Australian.</p>

<h3>
 Amy Van Dyken 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG2%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Amy Van Dyken won 4 gold medals in swimming at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics making her the first American woman to win 4 gold medals in one Olympic game.</p>

<h3>
 Matt Biondi 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG3%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>At the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, Biondi became only the second swimmer (after American Mark Spitz at the 1972 games in Munich, West Germany) to earn seven medals in one Olympiad. He won five gold medals, including victories in the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle races, in addition to one silver medal and one bronze medal.</p>

<h3>
 Carl Lewis 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG4%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Carl Lewis won 5 Olympic medals in the LA Olympiad of 1984; 4 gold medals and 1 silver medal in the track and field event. He won 10 Olympic medals including 9 golds, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were gold, in a career that spanned from 1979 when he first achieved a world ranking to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and subsequently retired.</p>

<h3>
 Eric Heiden 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG5%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Eric Heiden of the United States of America won gold medals in all 5 men's speed skating events, setting records in each in the 1980 Winter Olympics held in Lake Placid, New York, USA.</p>

<h3>
 Nadia Comaneci 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG6%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Nadia Elena Comaneci is a Romanian gymnast who was winner of five Olympic gold medals during the 1976 Montreal Olympics. She was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10 in an Olympic gymnastic event. She is one of the best-known gymnasts in the world and, along with Olga Korbut, is credited with popularizing the sport around the world.</p>

<h3>
 Mark Spitz 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG7%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Mark Spitz, American swimmer was winner of seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany. At the 1972 games he won gold medals in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle races and the 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly races, setting a world record in each race. He was also a member of the winning 4x100-meter freestyle, 4x200-meter freestyle, and 4x100-meter medley relay teams, each of which set a world record.</p>

<h3>
 Bob Beamon 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG8%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>The outstanding event in the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games was African American Bob Beamon's long jump of 29 ft, 2 &amp;frac12; in (8.9 m), setting a world record that stood until 1991.</p>

<h3>
 Wilma Rudolph 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG9%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Wilma Rudolph became the first US woman to win 3 gold medals in track and fields. The powerful sprinter emerged from the 1960 Rome Olympics as &amp;ldquo;The Tennessee Tornado,&amp;rdquo; the fastest woman on earth</p>

<h3>
 Larissa Latynina 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG10%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Larissa Semyonovna Latynina was a Soviet gymnast who won 4 gold medals in the 1956 Melbourne Olympiad. She was the first female athlete to won nine Olympic gold medals. She still holds the record for being awarded the most Olympic medals at 18 (nine gold medals, five silver and four bronze).</p>

<h3>
 Emil Zapotek 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG11%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>The most remarkable performance during the 1952 Helsinki Olympics was that of Emil Zapotec of Czechoslovakia who won 5,000 meter run, 10,000 meter run and marathon all in record times. He is regarded as one of the greatest runners of the 20th Century.</p>

<h3>
 Fanny Blankers-Koen 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG12%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>The most outstanding athlete in the 1948 London Olympics was Fanny Bankers-Koen of the Netherlands, who won 4 gold medals in track and fields events. She accomplished this as a mother of two, during a time when many disregarded women's athletics. Her background and performances earned her the nickname &amp;ldquo;the Flying Housewife.&amp;rdquo;</p>

<h3>
 Jesse Owens 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG13%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>He won 4 gold medals and was the hero of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. He achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the long jump, and as part of the 4x100 meter relay team.</p>

<h3>
 Mildred Didrikson 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG14%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>The outstanding performer of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics was the US athlete Mildred &amp;ldquo;Babe&amp;rdquo; Didrikson; she won 2 gold medals and a silver medal in track and field competition. She was named by the Guinness Book of Records, along with Lottie Dod, as the most versatile female athlete of all time. She achieved outstanding success in golf, basketball and track and field.</p>

<h3>
 Sonja Henie 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG15%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>In the Winter Olympics of 1928, Sonja Henie of Norway won the first of her 3 successive championships in Olympic figure skating. Henie won more Olympic and World titles than any other ladies figure skater. She later entered show business, and at the height of her acting career she was one of the highest paid movie stars in Hollywood.</p>

<h3>
 Paavo Nurmi and Johnny Weissmuller 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG16%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Johnny Weissmuller</p>
<p>In the 1924 Paris Olympics, Paavo Nurmi of Finland, won 4 medals in the track and fields events and Johnny Weissmuller, a US swimmer won 3. Nurmi won a total of 12 medals in 3 successive Olympics (1920, 1924 and 1928), 9 gold medals and 3 silver medals. On the other hand, after the swimming career of Weissmuller, he became the sixth actor to portray Tarzan in films, a role he played in twelve motion pictures. Dozens of other actors have also played Tarzan, but Weissmuller is by far the best known. His character's distinctive, ululating Tarzan yell is still often used in films.</p>

<h3>
 Paavo Nurmi 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG17%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>The most impressive performance in the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games was by Finland with victories by Paavo Nurmi and his team mates in the long-distance running races.</p>

<h3>
 Jim Thorpe 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG18%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Jim Thorpe was the Star of the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games. He won both the pentathlon and the decathlon. His medals were later taken from him, however, because he had previously participated in a semi-professional sport. The decision to disqualify him was reversed in 1992, nearly 30 years after his death. He is considered one of the most versatile athletes in modern sports. He also played American football and professional baseball and basketball.</p>

<h3>
 Raymond Ewry 
</h3>

<p><img src="%%IMG19%%" alt="" /></p>
<p>Raymond Ewry, an American athlete won 3 gold medals in the 1900 Paris Olympics, 3 gold medals in the 1904 St. Louis Olympics and 2 gold medals in the 1908 London Olympics in the track and field events. He had won a total of 8 medals, 3 in standing high jump, 3 in standing long jump, and 2 in standing triple jump.</p>
<p>The 2008 Summer Olympic Games will be held in Beijing, China. Watch out who will emerge as the outstanding athlete on this Olympiad.</p><a href="http://www.pheedo.com/click.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FSports%2F20-Most-Outstanding-Performances-of-Modern-Olympics-Athletes.181535"><img src="http://www.pheedo.com/img.phdo?x=&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportales.com%2FSports%2F20-Most-Outstanding-Performances-of-Modern-Olympics-Athletes.181535" border="0"/></a>]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:44:19 PST</pubDate></item>
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