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The World’s Top 10 Left-Handed Athletes

rappin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:59:58 +0000

Right is wrong and left is … right?

Seems to be. It’s not exactly a bass-ackward revolution, but left-handers are doing okay for themselves in sports these days.

Or are they?

The idea struck me last week when I saw highlights of college quarterbacks Josh Heupel and Matt Leinart winning BCS National Championship Games. They disappeared = Bad.

Then I watched this year’s game and saw Florida’s Tim Tebow will his Gators to a title. He’s one of the best players in the history of college football = Good.

The rest of the planet’s lefties are also in state of quirky so-so-ness.

Rafael Nadal is the world’s No. 1 tennis player, but no lefty was among the NFL’s 32 top-rated quarterbacks this season. Dallas product and Raptors’ forward Chris Bosh is sixth in the NBA in scoring, but there isn’t a lefty among any of college basketball’s All-American probables. The highest-ranked women’s tennis player is 14th (Patty Schynder) and only one of the NBA’s top 50 scorers is lefty (Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince is 51st).

In golf there are two lefties (Phil Mickelson and Mike Weir) among the top 21. In baseball the Indians’ Cliff Lee won the Cy Young and Minnesota’s Justin Morneau won the Home Run Derby and the AL MVP. In hockey, who knows? They’re all left-handed. Or is it right-handed?

Locally, Josh Hamilton’s bat makes the loudest lefty noise.

As for sports’ most righteous left-handers …

UPDATE: Before we continue, allow me to retort to some of the comments. In summation:

*Cricket? You’re kidding, right? Sorry, but I went to a cricket match in England in 1992. The “players” wore Dockers and sweater vests. There was a break for afternoon tea. Cricket = Not a sport. I might as well consider including left-handed basket-weavers.

*Soccer? Though it would be a much better sport, last time I checked players weren’t allowed to use their left HAND. Even throw-ins require both hands. If this list included left feet, there might be an NFL kicker or two.

*Rugby? See above.

*Hockey? Not applicable. They’re efficiently ambidextrous. Impressive, but also ineligible for this list. There are left-handed goalies, but their refined skill is limited to catching.

*Boxing? Joe Frazier would’ve made this list 30 years ago. But is that sport even around anymore?

*And, yeah, I hear you screaming that Nadal is naturally right-handed. I’m well aware. Small detail: He plays tennis left-handed! But fine, if it makes you feel better, go ahead and put him on your list of the world’s best right-handed players. Dorks.

Now, on to the list …

10. Johan Santana, Baseball. Mets’ ace’s 2.53 ERA led all pitchers.

9. CC Sabathia, Baseball. Carried Brewers to the playoffs with an 11-2 post-trade record.

8. Manu Ginobli, Basketball. One of the most underrated players in the NBA and, in fact, the world.

7. Justin Morneau, Baseball. Twins’ first baseman won AL MVP in ‘06 and All-Star Home Run Derby in ‘08.

6. Ryan Howard, Baseball. Majors-leading 48 homers, 146 RBI helped Phillies win World Series.

5. Chris Bosh, Basketball. Olympic Gold Medalist is 6th in NBA scoring.

4. Cliff Lee, Baseball. AL Cy Young winner with a gaudy 22-3 record.

3. Tim Tebow, Football. Two National Championships and a Heisman before his senior season.

2. Phil Mickelson, Golf. World’s No. 3 might dominate in a parallel universe void of Tiger Woods.

1. Rafael Nadal, Tennis. World’s No. 1 player, arguably the best ever on clay.

Blueprint for the 2012 London Olympic venues

rappin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:56:22 +0000

London 2012 Olympic Games main stadium blueprints. That is one of Europe’s largest engineering programme from the London Olympic Delivery Authority (Olympic Delivery Authority) planning, in April 2008 to commence in 2012 and put into use.

According to the London Olympics official Tessa Jowell said that this project will be built in east London, London is one of the poorest areas. The main stadium area will reach 600 acres (250 hectares), the Library established a total of 80,000 seats

Olympics Medal time line 1896 at 2008

rappin — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 07:05:31 +0000

Olympics Medal time line 1896 at 2008

Athens 1896

Paris 1900

St. Louis 1904

London 1908

Stockholm 1912

Antwerp 1920

Paris 1924

Amsterdam 1928

Los Angeles 1932

Berlin 1936

London 1948

Helsinki 1952

Melbourne 1956

Rome 1960

Tokyo 1964

Mexico City 1968

Munich 1972

Montreal 1976

Moscow 1980

Los Angeles 1984

Seoul 1988

Barcelona 1992

Atlanta 1996

Sydney 2000

Athens 2004

Beijing 2008

Athletes Turned Criminals

rappin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:31:37 +0000

10. Art Schlichte

A degenerate gambler, this former Indianapolis Colts quarterback has served a combined 10 years of prison time in 44 different institutions across the country. In addition to losing his NFL career to gambling addiction, he blew millions of dollars and currently lives with his mother in Indiana.

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9. Chris Henry
This former Cincinnati Bengal (and teammate of Pacman Jones) committed so many crimes from 2005-2007 that he is considered untouchable by most NFL teams. A shortlist of his sins includes assault, DUI, and probation violation. Can you belive not one of them involved a strip club?

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8. Marion Jones

Although she won five medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, this world champion has since been stripped of her gold after admitting to taking performance-enhancing drugs. Now serving six months for perjury, she makes Ben Johnson look like a stand-up guy.

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7. Michael Vick
This three-time ProBowler is currently serving a 23-month prison sentence for various federal felonies related to his underground dog fighting hobby. Vick will also be undergoing trial for Virginia state felony charges in June, so don’t expect to see him in a Falcons uniform anytime soon. But you might be able to catch him in the annual Guards versus Prisoners game at the United States Penitentiary.

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6. Marcus Vick
While it looked like he had a bright pro career ahead of him, Ookie’s younger brother blew a Virginia Tech football scholarship after various criminal incidents, including reckless driving, possession of marijuana and distributing alcohol to minors. At least he didn’t hurt any dogs.

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5. Isaiah “J.R.” Rider
Although he was the 1994 Slam Dunk Contest champion, Rider will be better remembered for his criminal record than his “East Bay Funk Dunk.” After a disappointing pro career that was littered with fines and suspensions, the former Laker chalked up a rap sheet worthy of “Grand Theft Auto” that includes kidnapping, assault, drug possession and domestic violence charges.

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4. Mike Danton
This forward from the St. Louis Blues was charged with conspiracy to murder his agent. Danton was caught because the “hitman” he believed he was hiring turned out to be a police dispatcher. He is currently serving 7 ½ years in federal prison.

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3. Mike Tyson
“The baddest man on the planet” served three years in prison for raping a beauty-pageant contestant in the early ’90s. After unsuccessfully trying to reclaim his former glory in the ring, “Iron” Mike encountered more legal troubles, including DUI and felony drug possession charges in Scotsdale, Arizona.

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2. O.J. Simpson
Stealing your own memorabilia is downright despicable. Oh, yeah, he also might have something to do with that double homicide in 1994.

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1. Rae Carruth
A former wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers, Carruth planned the drive-by shooting of a woman who was eight months pregnant with his twins. The woman and one of the children were killed, while the other child survived, but suffers from cerebal palsy. Even O.J. is disgusted.

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