April 30, 2008 - The 9th annual Coachella festival took place last weekend (April 25, 26, and 27 ) in Indio, California where it was deathly hot but worth every dehydrating moment. It was an arts and music festival but fashion was definitely on stage as well.

The boys of Coachella kept it simple and sported just khaki shorts, and many went topless. The girls worked harder and planned their outfits out each day. From their hair down to their sandals (predominately gladiator), the girls did whatever it took to look fresh and cute.

American Apparel was definitely the brand of choice but there were, of course, girls that wanted to be different and not match the hordes. Those girls shopped at secondhand stores, trying their best to wear all vintage and look cute nonetheless.

Musically, there was something for everyone this year at Coachella, from headliners Jack Johnson, Prince and Roger Waters to obscure European indie bands and DJs with perfectly orchestrated sets. Drawing electronic music, indie rock and pop acts the festival fostered days of sun-drenched dancing.

The festival was dominated by male acts but one highlight was M.I.A who stole the show this year. During her performance, she changed up her songs, and played some new ones that we couldn’t wait to download when we got home. Her electronic sound is so addicting, and it for sure kept everyone entertained. On Saturday afternoon, Uffie dominated the stage, and had crowds of fans cheering her on. Another must see was Tegan and Sara who performed on Friday afternoon. And, of course Portishead, who reunited for Coachella fronted by Beth Gibbons.

I would have liked to see more girls represented on stage - we know the talent’s out there, so maybe next year the organizers will try a little harder. Nevertheless, it was worth every sweltering, musically-tinged minute - and if the girls weren’t rocking the stages, they were definitely making their presence known in the tents and on the concert lawns.

Filed under: Fashion, Music by amo
No Comments »

April 30, 2008 - It started in the late ’60s with California kids on Schwinn bicycles imitating motocross riders on vacant lots, and ultimately developing their own sport.

Now, four decades later, BMX has left those makeshift tracks for the largest sports stage in the world. Is BMX ready for the Olympics? Perhaps the better question is whether the Olympics are ready for BMX.

“The world’s in for a shock,” said Kyle Bennett, the top-ranked rider in the United States and second in the world. 

In exactly 100 days, the 28-year-old from Texas hopes to be walking in the Beijing opening ceremonies alongside the swimmers and gymnasts and track athletes who have long defined the Games. Just as snowboarding changed the face of the Winter Olympics, BMX riders are planning to inject their own extreme flavor into the summer events.

(more…)

Filed under: General by Valerie
No Comments »

April 30, 2008 - In the midst of a heavily protested torch relay and questions about the host nation’s political stance in Tibet and its human rights issues, China celebrates the 100-day mark until the Olympics open in Beijing.

Buried beneath the protests and the political issues is the athletic competition. In 100 days, the world’s top athletes will compete against each other for gold.

The U.S. softball team is primed, looking to win its fourth straight Olympic crown. Beijing could mark softball’s final Olympic appearance, as it is not on the slate for the 2012 London Games.

Beach volleyball players Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh are also looking for gold in China. The duo won gold in Athens to claim the United States first Olympic title in women’s beach volleyball.

The U.S. could reign in gymnasts again, as well. Four years after Carly Patterson won the all-around title, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin are leading for the women’s crown in Beijing.

Others to keep an eye on include fencer Mariel Zagunis, swimmer Katie Hoff, sprinter Allyson Felix, bmx racer Jill Kintner and the USA women’s basketball and soccer teams.

 Loading …

Filed under: Beijing Summer Games 2008, News Bytes, Olympics by jane
No Comments »

April 29, 2008 - Ice cream may not be your list of healthy foods, but we couldn’t miss the chance to let you know about  31 Cent Scoop Night at Baskin-Robbins. Besides, it’s for a good cause.

From 5PM to 10PM on Wednesday, April 30th, Baskin Robbins is honoring America’s firefighters by reducing prices of small ice cream scoops to 31 cents. Make your way to your local participating BR and scoop up the good will.

What’s your fave flavor?

Filed under: Charity/Cause, General by jane
1 Comment »

Editors Note: Baylee Grace Alldredge is one Pretty Tough player. With her winning essay in the recent Screwball contest (be sure to check out the new YA novel Screwball by Keri Mikulski), we’re proud to profile this softball player from Alabama.    

Name: Baylee Grace Alldredge
Hometown: Boaz, Alabama
Nickname: BayBay
Age: 9
Height: 5′2″  
Fave Sport: Basketball 
Other Sports: Softball, Soccer and Pin Dodgeball 
Career Highlights:  Softball: 16 career homeruns so far, my team won the City and County Champs in 2007 and 2008. I am  the pitcher for my softball team. Basketball: My team was first place this year in my town, I also play in another league and we were first place this year also. I play Center.  I scored 13 of our 15 points for our city championship win. 
Fave Car: Red Kia Sportage
Fave Magazine: Fastpitch Softball
Fave Athletes: Jennie Finch and Candace Parker
Fave Pro Team: Team USA Softball
Fave College: The University of Alabama ~ Roll Tide
Fave TV Show: Reba
Fave Vacation Spot: Gulf Shores, Alabama
Fave Subject: Math
Fave Book: The Giving Tree
Fave Place to Shop: Claires
Fave Thing to Do: Play sports, drawing and shopping
Dream Job: Professional Basketball Player
Pet Peeve: Silly girls
Fave Girly Thing to Do: Manicures
Fave Quote: “It doesn’t matter how good they are, you’ve just got to want it more than they do,“  says my Dad (and my coach) 

Filed under: Contest, Profiles by keri mikulski
No Comments »

April 28, 2008 - The fashion and entertainment elite came out to celebrate Maria Sharapova’s 21st birthday last night at a party hosted by luxury watch brand TAG Heuer. Her actual birthday was April 19th.

The invitation-only event for the three-time Grand Slam winner drew several celebrities including Michelle Trachtenberg and Dave Annable. Vogue’s Anna Wintour also made an appearance at the party, along with designers Vera Wang, Doo.Ri and Brian Wolk and Claude Morais of Ruffian.

A TAG Heuer ambassador since 2004, Sharapova symbolizes what hard work, world-class training and unwavering commitment can achieve: a front row seat on the world’s stage. The company’s President and CEO Ulrich Wohn welcomed Sharapova’s friends and family and toasted the 21 year-old before presenting her with an elegant white and pink eight-tier cake.

Happy Birthday Masha!

Filed under: Entertainment, General, Tennis by Pretty Tough
No Comments »

April 28, 2008 - What the heck is a Funny Car anyway?

If you know anything about motorports, you know Funny Cars are considered to be the wildest class of drag racing.  Funny Car fuel systems are key to their immense power and these babies go fast - up to 350 mph. The cars have forward-mounted engines and they’re usually powered by methanol or ethanol.

The first Funny Cars were built in the mid-’60s and were named because the rear wheels had been moved forward on the chassis and the tires were over sized compared to stock. Looking at the cars, they didn’t quite look stock, hence the name “funny.”

Funny Cars must meet a whole bunch of automotive specifications: Like they must weigh at least 2,400 pounds, driver included, and have a wheelbase of 124 to 125 inches. They must have a flame-retardant covering or coating and most important, they must have twin parachutes to help them stop.

When fully deployed, parachutes catch the air behind the Funny Car causing a wind drag that aids the driver to come to a complete and safe stop. Kinda important when barrelling down the track at race with an elapsed time of under 5 seconds at a top speed of about 320 miles per hour.

Women of the Racing World

Shirley Muldowney was the first woman to receive a license to drive a top fuel dragster by the NHRA and the first Top Fuel driver to win three NHRA titles. The “First Lady of Drag Racing” is heralded for breaking the gender barrier over 30 years ago. 

In 2006, Melanie Troxel became the first NHRA Top Fuel driver to reach the final round in the first five events of a season. Troxel is a also two-time NHRA champion and record holder in the Alcohol Dragster class.

Ashley Force is the daughter of 14-time NHRA Funny Car division champion John Force.  She and her father made NHRA history in Atlanta in April 2007, when they became the first father and daughter to race against each other.  A year later, she made history again when she became the first female racer ever to lead the NHRA Funny Car  point standings and she claimed her first-ever NHRA Funny Car win.

Filed under: Motorsports by jane
1 Comment »

COMMERCE, Ga. — Ashley Force beat father John on Sunday in the NHRA Southern Nationals to become the first female driver to win national Funny Car event.

Ashley had a winning run of 4.837 seconds at 320.36 mph in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to take a 59-point lead over Tim Wilkerson in the season standings.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Filed under: Motorsports by Becki Wheeler
No Comments »

April 27, 2008 - The Georgia gymnastics team once again proved to be the best in the country as the Gym Dogs (197.450) won their fourth straight national title.  And they won the title in their home arena of Stegeman Coliseum in front of all their fans.

In the wake of leading the Georgia gymnastics team to their  ninth NCAA title night, head coach Suzanne Yoculan was named National Coach of the Year. She has a year left to aim for a perfect 10th NCAA championship  (she’s said she will retire after the 2009 season).

Rounding out the Super Six contenders at the NCAA Championship: Utah finished second with a 197.125 followed by Stanford (196.750), Florida (196.700), LSU (196.350) and Alabama (196.125).

Four gymnasts claimed individual titles including Susan Jackson (LSU) on vault, Tasha Schwikert (UCLA) on beam, Grace Taylor (Georgia) on balance beam and Courtney McCool (Georgia) on floor exercise.

Georgia was ranked No. 1 all but two weeks this season, but had to overcome the loss of junior Courtney Kupets to a ruptured Achilles’ tendon in March. Kupets was the NCAA all-around champion the last two years. Go Dawgs!!

Watch video highlights

Filed under: College Athletics, Gymnastics, News Bytes by jane
No Comments »

April 27, 2008 - Mariel Zagunis, who won a gold medal at the Athens Olympics, Sada Jacobson, who won the bronze in 2004, and Becca Ward were selected to the women’s sabre team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Dagmara Wozniak was named an alternate.

Zagunis,  the daughter of Olympians,  won a rare Olympic fencing gold medal for the U.S. when she shocked Tan Xue of China in the finals in 2004. Less than a decade after Mariel picked up fencing, she became the first American woman in 100 years to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport.

“It will be totally different this time around,” Zagunis said. “I have a title to defend so that is added pressure. You have everyone expecting you to win and there’s a big target on your back that everyone is gunning for.”

Erinn Smart, Emily Cross and Hannah Thompson were named to the women’s foil team, with Doris Willette as the alternate. Kelley Hurley will compete in the women’s epee.

Filed under: Beijing Summer Games 2008, Fencing by jane
No Comments »