Gym RocketsNovember 7, 2008 - It’s game on for tween girls.

Though we haven’t tested them yet, Ener-G video games are being marketed as the first brand of sports games targeted toward girls.

The titles supposedly focus as much on gameplay as on socialization and allow girls to experience the fun of being part of a team. The games in the series feature three popular activities: dancing, gymnastics and horseback riding. 

In a press release, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft Tony Key says, “The Ener-G games will not only satisfy parents, but they also give tween girls a new outlet through which they can express their creativity and love for sports.”

We think girls have enough outlets for creativity and really want to kick some butt but will reserve judgement until we’ve actually played the games which include:

Ener-G Dance Squad
lets girls reveal their dancing potential by working with a coach to develop new steps and choreograph dances by combining the coolest moves.

Ener-G Gym Rockets 
lets girls live the life of a young gymnast, as they twist, tumble and twirl in five events, including floor, uneven bars and balance beam, on the way to the World Gymnastics Championships.

Ener-G Horse Rider
lets players create and train their own horse, enter competitions, ride around the open countryside and even tame wild horses.

Two game modes are available. Girls can play through story mode or try their skills in challenge mode.  It’ll be interesting to note which mode is more popular.

Rated E for Everyone by the ESRB, the first three Ener-G titles are on store shelves now at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $29.99.

Check out the site  -  www.ener-ggame.com  -  for a peek at the gameplay and graphics and a bit of online fun.  Like what you see? Might make a good stocking stuffer this holiday season.

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Eight BellesMay 2, 2008 - The Kentucky Derby, set to go on Saturday, will play host to  the best filly in the land, Eight Belles, who will take on the colts in the mile-and-a quarter classic. Suddenly, the run for the roses has a whole new look- with the distinct possibility of making history. Will she be the belle of the ball?

Only three fillies have won the Derby in its 134-year history. The first was Regret in 1915, the second was Genuine Risk in 1980 and the latest heroine, Winning Colors, scored 20 years ago in 1988. Thirty-five other fillies have tried to win the Derby and failed.

Entering a filly in America’s greatest horse race is, of itself, no small deal. The Kentucky Derby is loaded with tradition, part of which dictates that usually only colts run in America’s greatest race. The fillies have their own showcase on Derby eve, the Kentucky Oaks.

What makes Eight Belles’ appearance special and exciting is that she has a bright chance of winning. She has the speed, the performance, the staying pedigree and the massive frame to clobber colts.

And as if that were not enough, Eight Belles comes from the same owner, Rick Porter, and the same trainer, Larry Jones, who put the buzz in last year’s Triple Crown with their terrific speedster Hard Spun, who finished second in the Derby, third in the Preakness and fourth in the Belmont.

Jones made no secret of why he wants to tackle the Derby with Eight Belles. “All the boys are vulnerable,” he said. “There isn’t one that sticks out above the others. Every one of them is being asked to do something they have not done before.”

Eight Belles, who will be ridden by Gabriel Saez, a gifted 20-year-old Panamanian making his Derby debut as well, has won her last four races. She won those races, including the Honeybee and the Fantasy at Oaklawn Park, by a combined 30½ lengths. She has a perfect running style for the Derby, a stalker who sits just off the leaders. The filly turned in Sunday’s second-fastest workout, running 5 furlongs in 58.20 on the dirt at Churchill Downs.

A little girl power mixed with a great underdog story. Watch out boys!

Editors Note: On Derby Day, Eight Belles did  hang with the boys.  She ran the race of her life but all that heart and her gallant fight, which ended with a second place finish, ended in the worst possible way:  two broken ankles and no other choice but euthanization. RIP Eight Belles.

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Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.

Kristi Lee Cook American IdolApril 17, 2008 -  American has voted, and decided there were too many cooks in the kitchen. Last night, Kristy Lee Cook’s American Idol run ended.

We picked Kristy Lee early on, not because she had the best voice or we’re big country music fans, but we loved the fact that she’s an equestrian and martial artist who also loves softball. This gutsy gal showed class from the beginning.

Apparently Kristy failed in her first Idol tryout in July, in San Diego, and in true competitive style decided she wanted to give it another shot the next month in Philly. She didn’t have money to buy a cross country plane ticket so she sold a barrel horse she had trained and the rest, as they say, is history. It was mentioned on the show that she’s tried to buy the horse back but the new owner isn’t willing to sell :-(.

Kristy’s AI run was marked by a number of stays in the bottom three so it didn’t come as a huge surprise though she would have liked to make it to the top 5 (she was 7th). She went out in style and on a happier note Wednesday night, Cook’s boyfriend proposed (or reproposed), dropping to his knee on the Idol set.

Wonder if she’ll invite Simon to the wedding?

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Feb. 14, 2007 - American Idol 7 is down to the top 12 guys and girls. Our pick? Equestrian and kick boxer Kristy Lee Cook!

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Liz Halliday
Everyone tells me I am mad to have this twin sporting focus in my life, but I find that one complements the other. The cars demand focus, accuracy and strength. The horses require the same, but with a lighter touch. One is a machine that is purely technical, while the bond between horse and rider is a unique relationship” - Liz Halliday

Recently an article in SpeedWorld Magazine about women in racing said “take a look in the rearview window, guys. More women are racing than ever before…” However, it is Liz Halliday who has been looking in her rearview window to find the guys as Liz has won three races this year and has a record six wins for a female in the American Le Mans Series.

Having not started motor racing until she was 16, Liz was at a distinct disadvantage as most professional drivers begin “carting” at 10 -12 years old. Encouraged by her father, Don Halliday, a Sports Car of America instructor and vintage race car driver, it was soon evident that she had talent. She rose rapidly from racing at Club Level in Britain to FIA GT and Rolex Grand Am. In 2005 she received the North American Rookie of the Year presented by Dailysportscar.com. This year Liz’s Intersport Racing team was awarded the prestigious Lynn St. James Award for providing an opportunity for women in racing.

(more…)

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