August 5, 2008 - In 1999 Britney Spears walked on stage and welcomed everyone to the very first awards chosen by and for teens - “your choice, your voice.”

Since then, hundreds of surfboards (yes they’re real surfboards!) have been awarded to teen favorites in movies, music, tv, sports, fashion and more.

It’s ten years later and the Teen Choice Awards still reflect youth tastes in entertainment. At the top of the leaderboard this year were Disney stars Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus (doubling as host), and Vanessa Hudgens who all scored big-time.  “Gossip Girl” took home six awards including breakout show and best actress (Blake Lively).

Bringing home the “surfboard” for 2008 Best Action Sports Female was surfer Stephanie Gilmore (how appropriate) and Best Female Athlete winner was Shawn Johnson who is a top choice for a medal in gymnastics at the Olympic Games.

Other highlights of the night included dance crews M&M Cru vs. ACDC with M&M declared the online dance battle champions (not surprising considering the Miley fans in the audience).

See all the winners here.

Filed under: Entertainment, TV by jane
No Comments »

August 1, 2008 - If you happen to have an extra $125.00 to spend on a polo shirt or $50.00 for a tee, or you’re one of those people who likes your apparel covered in logos and symbols, then by all means check out the Ralph Lauren Olympic Games Collection.

Lauren was selected to design the official Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony parade outfits as well as an assortment of Olympic “village wear” pieces for the 150 U.S. athletes competing in Beijing and they’re now available at Olympic Spirit stores, select department stores and RalphLauren.com.  Ah…capitalism at it’s best. Wonder if the garments are made in China?

Lauren’s  logo-festooned designs are “inspired by the rich past of the Olympic Games and in keeping with the time-honored tradition of this historic event.”   Reflecting Ralph Lauren’s trademark sporty sophistication, the collection offers casual sportswear styles in combinations of red, white and blue adorned with the U.S. Olympic Team and iconic Polo Pony logo.

None of the offerings we viewed made us want to take out our credit card or shell out any hard-earned cash. All carry an unmistakable air of preppy confidence and there’s the added touch of patriotic team spirit but even though we’re big supporters of the Games we’re not that inclined to line Lauren’s already heavily padded coffers. If, however,  you are one of those people who likes to wear red, white and blue polos heavily embroidered with official-looking badges  — you’re in luck.

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

July 29, 2008 - The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics kicks off on August 8, 2008. Don’t miss a minute of the Olympic fastpitch action. Check out the live television schedule below. Keep in mind the times and channels are subject to change. 

Tuesday, August 12
USA vs. Venezuela - Midnight EST – CNBC 

Wednesday, August 13
USA vs. Australia – Midnight EST - CNBC 

Thursday, August 14
USA vs. Canada –  Midnight EST

Friday, August 15
USA vs. Japan – Midnight EST

Saturday, August 16
USA vs. Chinese Taipei – Midnight EST

Sunday, August 17
USA vs. Netherlands – 7:30 a.m. EST - CNBC

Monday, August 18
USA vs. China - Midnight EST

Wednesday, August 20 - Playoffs
GM1: Seed 1 vs. Seed 2 – 9:30 p.m. EST CNBC 
GM2: Seed 3 vs. Seed 4 – Midnight EST - CNBC 
GM3: Loser of GM1 vs. Winner of GM2 – 5 a.m. EST-  MSNBC 

Thursday, August 21
Grand Final Game –6:30 a.m. EST – USA 

Also, check out the official NBC Olympic softball coverage, including interviews with Jessica Mendoza, Cat Osterman, and more, here.  

Filed under: Beijing Summer Games 2008, Olympics, Softball, TV by keri mikulski
No Comments »

Female athletes face some tough hair and beauty challenges, so read on for some revitalizing solutions.

Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard captured her first gold medal when she was just 14 years old, making U.S. swimming history as the second-youngest gold medalist ever. She competed in her second Olympics in 2004 in Athens and is heading to Beijing for the 2008 Games. At the height of her training, she’s in the pool four-plus hours a day. Find out how Shape Magazine helped get her hair back in peak condition.

You may not be in the water four or more hours a day - but if you’re a swimmer, you know the potential hair care problems.

The sun, coupled with chlorinated water, makes swimmers hair dry, brittle and in need of serious attention. For anyone who spends long hours in an outdoor pool, it’s critical to rehydrate the hair. It’s also a good idea to avoid overlayering too much to reduce exposure to lots of ends which eventually will split and look dull and frizzy.

In a quick search for great hair care advice, we came across some common hair-care myths. For example, do frequent trims make hair grow faster? No. Does switching shampoos make your hair healthier? No. Is brushing your hair 100 strokes each night good for your hair? No.

We also found out about some budget-friendly haircare products that can be purchased at the drugstore. These include Garnier Fructis Leave-In Conditioning Cream and Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask.

Redbook offers some surprising ways you might be taxing your tresses — along with easy fixes.  Outdoor elements (wind, cool temperatures) can be rough even for dry hair but when hair is wet, it’s actually more fragile and susceptible to breakage so beware.

Once you get your hair in great shape, you have to decide whether to wear it hair up or down. Marie Claire taps some beauty pros who share what’s absolutely essential to sport each look.

Pretty Tough Tip
Here’s our advice: If you’re a swimmer and chlorine tends to turn your hair green, try squirting lemon juice in your hair. Let it soak in for about two minutes then rinse out in the shower. No guarantees but it’s worked for us!

Filed under: Beauty, Fashion, Health, Swim by maddy
No Comments »

July 21, 2008 - At last night’s ESPY Awards, the trophy for Best Moment went to the Sportsmanship demonstrated at a Central Washington vs. Western Oregon Softball Game. In case you’re unfamiliar with the story,  it’s worth repeating.

The women’s softball teams from Western Oregon and Central Washington were playing for a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs. With the score at 0-0 and two runners on base, 5-foot-2 Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky came to bat. The outfielder had never hit a home run before. Not in college, not in high school. And then she hit one over the center field fence.

In her excitement to round the bases, Sara missed first. She stopped, pivoted and collsapsed with a knee injury. Crawling back to the base, she was told none of her teammates could help her, and if they put in a substitute runner her homer would be ruled a single.

And that is when Central Washington senior Mallory Holtman stepped in. With her team’s chances of moving onto the playoffs on the line, she  asked the umpire if she and her teammates could pick Sara up and carry her around the bases. Mallory and shortstop Liz Wallace picked up their injured opponent and the unlikely threesome made their way around the bases. By the time they reached home plate, the crowd was cheering and in tears.

Western Oregon went on to win the game 4-2 and the series. Mallory and Liz’s good deed no doubt ultimately helped to end their team’s season but that’s not really what mattered, said Mallory:

“In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much. It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run.”      

Sportsmanship of this caliber is rare and these beautiful girls with their big hearts rightfully deserved the ESPY (and so much more). They acted above the moment, above the game, and above themselves; they acted without hesitation. No sports moment of the past decade can supersede this one.

Congrats girls!If you watch this clip, be sure to have a box of tissues on hand!

Filed under: College Athletics, College Softball, General, TV by jane
No Comments »

July 21, 2008 - Stars and athletes hit up the 2008 ESPY Awards at the NOKIA Theatre in Los Angeles, California last week and the event was televised last night on ESPN.

Self-proclaimed sports junkie Justin Timberlake hosted the show and earned raves from the athletes and the viewers.  Charming, irreverant and sexy as ever, when the Best Moment Award was given to members of the Central WA Softball Team for incredible sportsmanship, JT was fittingly carried off by university softball players.

Among the awards presented at the 2008 ESPYS:
Best Female Athlete/Best Female College Athlete: Candace Parker
Best Moment: Central Washington vs. Western Oregon Softball
Best Coach-Manager: Pat Summitt
Best Female International Athlete: Lorena Ochoa
Best WNBA Player: Lauren Jackson (Seattle Storm)
Best Female Action Sports Athlete: snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler
Best Female Tennis Player: Maria Sharapova 

Recognizing major sports achievements, the ESPYs are determined by fans who vote online.

Filed under: Entertainment, Events, TV by jane
No Comments »

July 17, 2008 - Our Pretty Tough Pick of the Week may seem a bit odd but read on….

Kay Ryan , an award-winning poet and self-described “modern hermit,” was named the next U.S. poet laureate today. The Library of Congress announced that the lifelong Californian, whose compressed, metaphysical poetry has been compared to Emily Dickinson’s , will become the 16th U.S. poet laureate, starting in the autumn.

How she became a poet, however, is closely tied to her love of cycling. In her twenties, she and a friend left California on a 4,000-mile cross-country bicycle trip, which would give her time to think about whether to devote herself to poetry as a vocation.

As the friends pedaled through Colorado, the repetitive, rhythmic exercise gave Ryan a sense of oneness with her surroundings. In that moment of heightened awareness, Ryan, realized  she liked writing better than anything else.

Since then, Ryan has fashioned a life conducive to poetry, one in which the essential elements of that bike trip - repetition, expansiveness, and large intellectual leaps - shape both her daily routine and her voice as a writer.

And since that ephiphany on the seat of her bike, Ryan has been the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as numerous prestigious literary awards. Not bad for a woman who was once considered too independent to be accepted by her college’s poetry club.  Ride on Kay….

Filed under: Book Club, General, Mountain Bike, Profiles by jane
No Comments »

July 3, 2008 - In the midst of all that’s happening this month,  the annual ESPY Awards will take place in LA to honor the coolest & best star athletes and memorable moments from the past year.

Nominees for the 16th annual ESPYs, which will be televised July 20 were announced this week in 37 categories. Votes — there were 12.5 million last year — can be sent in online or via mobile phone.

Major nods this year for Best Female Athlete include Danica Patrick (also a presenter), golfer Lorena Ochoa, baller Candace Parker and skier Lindsey Vonn.

Among the nominations for best moment are Danica Patrick’s win of the Indy Japan 300; and the Central Washington University’s sportsmanship when members of the team carried Western Oregon University’s Sara Tucolsky around the bases after she collapsed in a playoff game.  

In case you missed the latter, Tucolsky hit her very first home run ever only to come up lame going around first. Since rules state that if any teammate touches you on the base path you are automatically out, the other team picked her up and carried her around the base path so her first home run would count.

Women’s Motocross multi-time National Champion Jessica Patterson has also been nominated for a 2008 ESPY award in the Female Action Sports category. The 25-year-old racer dominated the 2007 AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross National Championship winning an impressive 10 out of 12 motos and the title.

Other nominations in the category include: Snowboarders Gretchen Bleiler and Lindsey Jacobellis, and Surfer Stephanie Gilmore. Steph - btw- has the honor of being the only professional surfer, male or female, to be nominated for any ESPY award in 2008. In 2007, she was not only the first surfer (male or female) to ever win an ASP World Title their rookie year, but she also scalped 4 out of 8 event victories on the elite ASP Women’s World Tour.

The ESPYS, Excellence in Sports Performance, is a premier sports awards event, put on by ESPN, that honors individual and team athletic achievements and other sports-related performances each year. Other gals nominated for 2008 awards include Allyson Felix, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Rachel Dawson, Justine Henin, Pat Summitt, Diana Taurasi, Angela Tincher and more.

This year’s event will be hosted by Justin Timberlake (not exactly sure why but hey - we love him) and take place July 16th at the Nokia Theatre. The winner of each category is decided by fan votes,  so visit www.espys.tv to cast your ballot. Voting continues through July 12th and fans of women’s sports are encouraged to vote for their fave female athlete. Lets give the girls the recognition they deserve!

Filed under: Action, Entertainment, TV by jane
No Comments »

July 3, 2008 -  Looking for something to do this holiday weekend? Jump from the runway to the fairway.  Barbie recently teamed up with Cougar Golf (Sports Source) to launch a line of golf equipment aimed at gals ages 4 + .  The Barbie Golf Set incorporates shorter shafts and “girl-favorite features and detailing” including lots of pink, flowers, hearts and butterfly graphics. The set also includes a driver, iron, putter, carrying bag and USGA-approved golf ball, as well as a visor, six wooden tees and three ball markers.

Finding a way to get girls involved in golf at early age is a good thing. Yeah - the pink may be overkill but in 10 years when we’re interviewing the next girl golf superstar she may well say, “my passion for golf started when my parents bought me Barbie golf clubs for my birthday.”

According to the National Golf Foundation, there are approximately 4.8 million junior golfers in the U.S. ages 6 to 17 and, of those, nearly two million are young females.  So there are plenty of young Annika wanna-bees out there that might be willing to trade up from a Barbie doll, to a Barbie driver.

It seems, however, that Paula Creamer may be a more appropriate role model for aspiring girl golfers than Barbie.  She does loves pink and all.  Now if Paula had HER name on a set of clubs, we’d be sure to buy them. Until then, it’s Barbie taking pink to the green.

Along the same lines, there are a number of organizations using golf to teach life skills to youngsters is the aim of many groups, among them:

The First Tee:  In 47 states and five international sites and largely for children 8-18, it has 1.5 million participants ( www.thefirsttee.org).

The First Tee National School Program: Designed to introduce elementary school students to golf in physical education classes, it’s operating in 1,600 schools ( www.thefirstteensp.org).

LPGA-USGA Girls Golf: Golf pros work with community leaders to introduce the sport to girls 7-17. The nationwide program is available at nearly 200 locations( girlsgolfonline.org).

Filed under: Entertainment, Fun Stuff, Golf by jane
No Comments »

July 2, 2008 - With July 4th right around the corner, we can almost smell the bbq (maybe that’s because one of our neighbors is literally grilling a burger right now). This is the perfect month to get the summer party started so whether you’re going for a casual, fancy or diet-friendly vibe at your get-together, we’ve got some suggestions.

PT Alert! The average person attending a summer BBQ consumes at least one soda, a hot dog, a burger, chips, coleslaw, potato salad, and dessert. That can easily exceed 1,500 calories. So beware.

With some planning you can still enjoy all the festivities (and the food) without regretting it later. So, without further ado, here’s your need-to-know BBQ info:

Stock up on essentials:

(more…)

Filed under: Entertainment, General, Nutrition by jane
No Comments »