The World Badminton Federation has charged eight players with misconduct after each team in two women’s Olympic doubles matches tried to “throw” them to secure a more favorable draw later on.
No Style Points, But Still A Win
July 31, 2012 By
Every time the 2012 Team USA steps on the court they face two opponents: the team from another country, then the USA Basketball legacy and how they’ll measure up to it.See how they fared Tuesday.
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Phelps Hits The Mark
July 31, 2012 By
While the night may not have been exactly as he would have scripted, Michael Phelps won his record-breaking 19th medal. There were signs of the old and the new swimmer who has dazzled us for years.
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What To Watch: Olympics Day 5
July 31, 2012 By
Mariel Zagunis aims at third straight gold in sabre, Beijing time trials champ Kristin Armstrong looks to defend her crown and the men’s gymnasts tackle the all-around. Here’s what we’re watching on Day 5.
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Obama tightens sanctions on banks helping Iran sell oil
July 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment
(Reuters) – President Barack Obama announced new U.S. sanctions on Tuesday against foreign banks that help Iran sell its oil, efforts that he said would increase pressure on Tehran for failing to meet its international nuclear obligations.
Obama’s decision, in an executive order, came ahead of congressional votes on new sanctions intended to further strip Iran of its oil-related revenues. It also followed criticism from Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney that the White House is failing to act strongly enough to stop Iran’s suspected pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
In a statement, Obama said the United States remained committed to finding a diplomatic resolution to the standoff with Tehran but was committed “to hold the Iranian government accountable for its actions.”
“If the Iranian government continues its defiance, there should be no doubt that the United States and our partners will continue to impose increasing consequences,” he said.
Obama’s new sanctions target foreign banks that handle transactions for Iranian oil or handle large transactions from the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) or Naftiran Intertrade Company (NICO), two key players in Iran’s oil trade.
The order also targets China’s Bank of Kunlun and Iraq’s Elaf Islamic Bank for providing services to Iranian banks.
The new measures will help curb Iran’s efforts to evade U.S. banking and oil sanctions, said Mark Dubowitz, head of the non-profit group Foundation for Defense of Democracies, which pushes for tough sanctions on Iran.
But he said more steps are needed to blacklist Iran’s energy sector and require countries to further cut their oil purchases.
(Additional reporting by Samson Reiny; Editing by Will Dunham)
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Olympics: Michael Phelps earns place in history with 19 Olympic medals
July 31, 2012 By
Gold Medallist Michaell Phelps of the United States smiles prior to receiving his medal on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay final on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre on July 31, 2012 in London, England.
(July 30, 2012 – Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe)
(PhatzRadio / AP) — LONDON – For Michael Phelps, Beijing was about perfection — and London is about history.
Phelps won silver in the 200 butterfly and capped off the night by winning gold in the 4×200 freestyle relay in the London Games on Tuesday.
In the relay, Phelps had more than a two second lead when he took over as the anchor. The Americans won in 6:59.70, more than three seconds faster than runner-up France. Ryan Lochte swam the leadoff leg, followed by Conor Dwyer and Ricky Berens.
Phelps said he told his teammates to give him a big lead going into the last leg.
“You better give me a big lead,” Phelps said with a big grin, “and they gave it to me. So I just wanted to hold on. And I thanked them for being able to allow me to have this moment. It has been a pretty amazing career but we still have a couple of races left.”
In the 200 fly, Phelps finished .05 seconds behind South Africa’s Chad le Clos, who shouted and slapped the water in celebration. Le Clos won in 1:52.96, pulling ahead of Phelps in the final meters.
Tuesday’s 200 fly race was eerily similar to the 100 fly four years ago in Beijing, when Phelps barely edged Milorad Cavic, reaching the touchpad just .01 seconds ahead of the Serbian.
Against le Clos, Phelps appeared to glide to the finish. It cost him a shot at winning his third consecutive gold medal in the event.
“Obviously I would have liked to have a batter outcome in the 200 fly,” Phelps said. “You know, I was on the receiving end of being touched out. Chad swam a great race. … It’s obviously my last one, I would’ve liked to win, but 1:53 flat isn’t a terrible time.”
With the two medals, Phelps surpassed former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, who won 18 medals, nine of them gold, at Melbourne in 1956, Rome in 1960 and Tokyo in 1964.
His medal count now stands at 15 gold, two silver, two bronze. He also won silver in the 4×100 freestyle relay here.
Bob Bowman, his coach, said at the Olympic trials that London offered Phelps a chance to “take his gold medal count to a level I don’t know if anyone could touch it. It might be there already.”
Phelps, 27, had won the 200 butterfly in Athens and Beijing and no man had ever won an individual event at three successive Games. Just two women have done it: Australia’s Dawn Fraser and Hungary’s Krisztina Egerszegi.
To underscore how difficult it is to do, Phelps failed in his attempt at three consecutive Olympic wins in the 400 individual medley, finishing fourth on Saturday.
Phelps, who says this will be his last Games, will have two other chances at Olympic trifectas, in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley.
The 200 IM, which will begin Wednesday, offers Phelps an opportunity to even the score with rival and friend Lochte, who won gold in the 400 IM on the first night of the meet.
Phelps has been saying all along that he has goals in London, though he has declined to say precisely what they are. Surely, making history is one of them.
“You guys are still stressing about it,” he told reporters just days before the Games. “I have times that I want to hit and things I want to do. That’s why I’m here. Obviously, we always want to swim faster.”
Olympics: Michael Phelps earns place in history with 19 Olympic medals is a post from: PhatzRadio.com
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WATCH LIVE: U.S. Men’s Basketball
July 31, 2012 By
The Dream Team marches toward the medal round in London tonight against Tunisia and Coach K may empty the bench in what is expected to be a rout. Regardless, you’ll still see some of the world’s best.
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Phelps Swims Into History
July 31, 2012 By
Michael Phelps won his 19th career medal Tuesday in London to become the most decorated Olympian in history. He earned the medal by swimming the anchor leg of the 4 x 200m freestyle relay.
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Primetime Preview: Phelps Leads The Way
July 31, 2012 By
Bob Costas previews what’s coming up on Tuesday’s prime time show on NBC, including Michael Phelps’ date with history and the U.S. women taking center stage in the all-around team final. Watch at 8p ET.
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Allyson Felix Sees The Big Picture
July 31, 2012 By
After the deadheat in the women’s 100m at the Olympic Trials, some speculated that Allyson Felix would concede the spot to Jeneba Tarmoh. That didn’t happen. For the first time, Felix explained why.
