Move over Mark Spitz.
With Team USA winning the Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay with a world record time of 3:29.34, swimmer Michael Phelps has won eight gold medals at one Olympics, eclipsing Spitz's record of seven.
Spitz won seven gold medals with all record-setting performances at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany.
Phelps has now won 16 Olympic medals - 14 gold.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Favre lands in NY
After drama similar to that of a Spanish soap opera and even becoming his own subject on the ESPN news crawl, Brett Favre has been traded to the New York Jets.
Favre's debacle has gained much media coverage since applying for reinstatement into the NFL after his team, the Green Bay Packers, seemed to force him to retire. The Packers had made it perfectly clear that they were not interested in keeping Favre if his reinstatement was accepted by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Favre's debacle has gained much media coverage since applying for reinstatement into the NFL after his team, the Green Bay Packers, seemed to force him to retire. The Packers had made it perfectly clear that they were not interested in keeping Favre if his reinstatement was accepted by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Thompson, McCarthy won't grant Favre's release
Well, legendary quarterback Brett Favre wants back in the NFL and now it's just a matter of when - and if - he will play next season.
After a teary press conference retirement in March, the winningest QB in history was reportedly wanting to make a comeback and he recently confirmed the rumor, asking his team, the Green Bay Packers, for unconditional release once it seemed like they would not take him back, according to ESPN.com.
The Pack has sunk a lot of time and money - and a draft pick - into young back-up quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The Green Bay Packers' general manager, Ted Thompson, and coach, Mike McCarthy, don't plan to grant Favre's request. If he does rejoin the team, they told The Associated Press, it won't be as the starting signal-caller.
But this tough Mississippi-bred QB, who once had his wisdom teeth removed without the use of Novocain due an addiction to pain-killers, will not accepting any backup roles and could very well be suiting up for another team next September - possibly the arch-rival Minnesota Vikings.
According to ESPN.com, Favre, who was placed on the reserve-retired list in late April, has three years and $39 million left on his contract with Green Bay. To be reinstated, Favre must apply through NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. That would force the Packers to activate the 16-year veteran.
After a teary press conference retirement in March, the winningest QB in history was reportedly wanting to make a comeback and he recently confirmed the rumor, asking his team, the Green Bay Packers, for unconditional release once it seemed like they would not take him back, according to ESPN.com.
The Pack has sunk a lot of time and money - and a draft pick - into young back-up quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The Green Bay Packers' general manager, Ted Thompson, and coach, Mike McCarthy, don't plan to grant Favre's request. If he does rejoin the team, they told The Associated Press, it won't be as the starting signal-caller.
But this tough Mississippi-bred QB, who once had his wisdom teeth removed without the use of Novocain due an addiction to pain-killers, will not accepting any backup roles and could very well be suiting up for another team next September - possibly the arch-rival Minnesota Vikings.
According to ESPN.com, Favre, who was placed on the reserve-retired list in late April, has three years and $39 million left on his contract with Green Bay. To be reinstated, Favre must apply through NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. That would force the Packers to activate the 16-year veteran.
Green Party selects McKinney as '08 nominee
One of America's strongest third parties, the Green Party, has nominated former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney as its 2008 presidential candidate Saturday, according to CNN.com. McKinney represented an Atlanta, Georgia, district for six terms - five consecutively as a Democrat.
McKinney, 53, beat out three rivals to win the liberal environmentalist party's nomination during its convention in Chicago, Illinois. She picked journalist and activist Rosa Clemente as her running mate.
Scott McLarty, the Green Party spokeswoman, admitted that McKinney was a "long shot" for the White House, but said, "Every vote that she gets helps the Green Party."
"The United States needs an alternative party," McLarty went on to say. "The narrow two-party system we have right now has not served us very well.
The most successful Green Party presidential candidate was consumer advocate Ralph Nader, garnering nearly 3 percent of the vote in 2000. Nader is again running for president, this time as an independent candidate.
Earlier this year, the Libertarian Party nominated McKinney's onetime House colleague, ex-Republican congressman Bob Barr, as its presidential nominee. Barr also represented a district in the Atlanta suburbs during his four terms in Congress.
First elected in 1992, McKinney lost a primary challenge in 2002 after she suggested in a radio interview that members of the Bush administration stood to profit from the war that followed the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
In 2004 she ran again and won, largely avoiding the controversy. But voters booted her out of office in 2006 after she was accused of a physical altercation with a U.S. Capitol Police officer who questioned her after failing to recognize her at a security checkpoint.
McKinney, 53, beat out three rivals to win the liberal environmentalist party's nomination during its convention in Chicago, Illinois. She picked journalist and activist Rosa Clemente as her running mate.
Scott McLarty, the Green Party spokeswoman, admitted that McKinney was a "long shot" for the White House, but said, "Every vote that she gets helps the Green Party."
"The United States needs an alternative party," McLarty went on to say. "The narrow two-party system we have right now has not served us very well.
The most successful Green Party presidential candidate was consumer advocate Ralph Nader, garnering nearly 3 percent of the vote in 2000. Nader is again running for president, this time as an independent candidate.
Earlier this year, the Libertarian Party nominated McKinney's onetime House colleague, ex-Republican congressman Bob Barr, as its presidential nominee. Barr also represented a district in the Atlanta suburbs during his four terms in Congress.
First elected in 1992, McKinney lost a primary challenge in 2002 after she suggested in a radio interview that members of the Bush administration stood to profit from the war that followed the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
In 2004 she ran again and won, largely avoiding the controversy. But voters booted her out of office in 2006 after she was accused of a physical altercation with a U.S. Capitol Police officer who questioned her after failing to recognize her at a security checkpoint.
Former White House spokesman Tony Snow dies
Colon cancer has taken the life of former White House flak Tony Snow. The former federal employee was 58.
Despite once defeating the cancer, Snow had been receiving chemotherapy treatments since the disease returned. He left his job as White House press secretary in Sept. 14, 2007, and in April had joined CNN as a conservative commentator, according to the worldwide news source.
Snow's replacement, Dana Perino, said, "The White House is so deeply saddened by this loss. He was a great friend and colleague and a fantastic press secretary. And his dear family is in our thoughts and prayers."
President Bush said Saturday he and first lady Laura Bush were "deeply saddened" by Snow's death.
"The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character. It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day," the president said in a statement.
Snow also worked for Bush's father President George H.W. Bush, who commented Saturday:
"In this case it isn't a press secretary. It isn't a speech writer. It was a dear, valued friend that went on to heaven. ... He won the respect of even those who violently disagree with the president's proposals and policies. For that I think he'll be remembered. He brought a certain civility to this very contentious job."
Despite once defeating the cancer, Snow had been receiving chemotherapy treatments since the disease returned. He left his job as White House press secretary in Sept. 14, 2007, and in April had joined CNN as a conservative commentator, according to the worldwide news source.
Snow's replacement, Dana Perino, said, "The White House is so deeply saddened by this loss. He was a great friend and colleague and a fantastic press secretary. And his dear family is in our thoughts and prayers."
President Bush said Saturday he and first lady Laura Bush were "deeply saddened" by Snow's death.
"The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character. It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day," the president said in a statement.
Snow also worked for Bush's father President George H.W. Bush, who commented Saturday:
"In this case it isn't a press secretary. It isn't a speech writer. It was a dear, valued friend that went on to heaven. ... He won the respect of even those who violently disagree with the president's proposals and policies. For that I think he'll be remembered. He brought a certain civility to this very contentious job."
Friday, July 4, 2008
Senator wants national speed limit
Sen. John Warner suggested Thursday that Congress reinstitute a national speed limit to save gas and possibly lower fuel prices.
Warner (R-Va.) has asked Energy Department Secretary Samuel Bodman to determine at which speeds vehicles would be most efficient.
In 1974, Congress set a national speed limit of 55 mph due to the shortages resulting from the Arab oil embargo. According to CNN.com, The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon.
Gasoline now averages $4.10 a gallon nationwide, and oil is around $145 per barrel, CNN.com said.
Warner said two studies have shown that the 55 mph speed limit saved 167,000 barrels of oil per day - or 2 percent of the country's highway fuel consumption -and lowered the amount of traffic deaths.
Warner (R-Va.) has asked Energy Department Secretary Samuel Bodman to determine at which speeds vehicles would be most efficient.
In 1974, Congress set a national speed limit of 55 mph due to the shortages resulting from the Arab oil embargo. According to CNN.com, The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon.
Gasoline now averages $4.10 a gallon nationwide, and oil is around $145 per barrel, CNN.com said.
Warner said two studies have shown that the 55 mph speed limit saved 167,000 barrels of oil per day - or 2 percent of the country's highway fuel consumption -and lowered the amount of traffic deaths.
Former Sen. Jesse Helms dies
Former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, a North Carolina Republican who once said his job was to derail the freight train of liberalism, died today at the age of 86.
The Jesse Helms Center, a private, non-partisan foundation, announced on its Web site that Helms died at 1:15 a.m. Friday in Raleigh.
According to CNN.com, the Charlotte News & Observer, Helms' hometown newspaper, unofficially dubbed him as one of the creators of the modern Republican Party.
"Helms helped broaden the party to include religious conservatives and people who drank not just Chablis but sweet tea, and who drove not just BMWs but pickup trucks," the paper wrote when he announced his retirement. "In doing so, Helms played a pivotal role in moving the Republican Party to the right -- changing the GOP from the party of Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller to the party of Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich."
President Bush commented on the former senator's death, saying, "Sen. Helms has been a tireless defender of our nation's freedom and a champion of democracy abroad."
The Jesse Helms Center, a private, non-partisan foundation, announced on its Web site that Helms died at 1:15 a.m. Friday in Raleigh.
According to CNN.com, the Charlotte News & Observer, Helms' hometown newspaper, unofficially dubbed him as one of the creators of the modern Republican Party.
"Helms helped broaden the party to include religious conservatives and people who drank not just Chablis but sweet tea, and who drove not just BMWs but pickup trucks," the paper wrote when he announced his retirement. "In doing so, Helms played a pivotal role in moving the Republican Party to the right -- changing the GOP from the party of Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller to the party of Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich."
President Bush commented on the former senator's death, saying, "Sen. Helms has been a tireless defender of our nation's freedom and a champion of democracy abroad."
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Spain wins title
Let the celebration begin.
For the first time in 44 years, the Spaniards have won soccer's Euro Cup in Vienna, Austria.
Fernando Torres provided the heroics, scoring the game's lone goal in the 33rd minute, as España took home the coveted title for the first time since 1964.
For the first time in 44 years, the Spaniards have won soccer's Euro Cup in Vienna, Austria.
Fernando Torres provided the heroics, scoring the game's lone goal in the 33rd minute, as España took home the coveted title for the first time since 1964.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Fresno State makes history
Fresno State became the lowest-seeded team to win a National College Athletic Association in any sport after beating the Georgia 6-1, capturing its first College World Series.
Fresno's Justin Wilson, a junior, let up run in eight innings and sophomore Steve Detwiler had a 4-for-4 day with two home runs and all six RBIs last night. Fresno State won its second straight game to take the best-of-three championship series 2-1.
Both schools' mascot is the Bulldogs.
Fresno's Justin Wilson, a junior, let up run in eight innings and sophomore Steve Detwiler had a 4-for-4 day with two home runs and all six RBIs last night. Fresno State won its second straight game to take the best-of-three championship series 2-1.
Both schools' mascot is the Bulldogs.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Tim Russert dead at 58
Less than a week after the death of legendary sportscaster Jim McKay, the journalism world has been dealt another blow with the sudden death of NBC's "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert. He was 58.
The network said Russert collapsed at work Friday and that he was taken to Washington's Sibley Memorial Hospital, where he passed away.
According to CNN.com, Russert's colleague and former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw announced his co-worker's death on the network just after 3:30 p.m., adding that Russert had just gotten back from a family vacation in Italy to celebrate his son Luke's graduation from Boston College.
President Bush and Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama all expressed their sadness over Russert's passing.
"He was an institution in both news and politics for more than two decades. Tim was a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it. Most important, Tim was a proud son and father, and Laura and I offer our deepest sympathies to his wife, Maureen, his son, Luke, and the entire Russert family," Bush said in a statement Friday.
"He was truly a great American who loved his family, his friends, his Buffalo Bills and everything about politics and America. He was just a terrific guy," McCain said.
Obama said of Russert, "There wasn't a better interviewer in television."
Russert was a graduate of John Carroll University and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University and had been working at NBC in 1984. He had been hosting "Meet the Press" since 1991.
The network said Russert collapsed at work Friday and that he was taken to Washington's Sibley Memorial Hospital, where he passed away.
According to CNN.com, Russert's colleague and former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw announced his co-worker's death on the network just after 3:30 p.m., adding that Russert had just gotten back from a family vacation in Italy to celebrate his son Luke's graduation from Boston College.
President Bush and Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama all expressed their sadness over Russert's passing.
"He was an institution in both news and politics for more than two decades. Tim was a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it. Most important, Tim was a proud son and father, and Laura and I offer our deepest sympathies to his wife, Maureen, his son, Luke, and the entire Russert family," Bush said in a statement Friday.
"He was truly a great American who loved his family, his friends, his Buffalo Bills and everything about politics and America. He was just a terrific guy," McCain said.
Obama said of Russert, "There wasn't a better interviewer in television."
Russert was a graduate of John Carroll University and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University and had been working at NBC in 1984. He had been hosting "Meet the Press" since 1991.
One for the Constitution
The detainees at Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba have the right to challenge their detention in American civilian courts according to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Boston Globe reported.
The prisoners are being kept there as part of President Bush's policy of holding terrorist suspects indefinitely without charge.
Many believe the 5-to-4 ruling will bring on a barrage of hearings of the roughly 260 men who have been detained for years without trial or formal charges, according to the Globe.
The U.S. government must now provide evidence against the detained men that proves they are a threat to national security or release them.
The prisoners are being kept there as part of President Bush's policy of holding terrorist suspects indefinitely without charge.
Many believe the 5-to-4 ruling will bring on a barrage of hearings of the roughly 260 men who have been detained for years without trial or formal charges, according to the Globe.
The U.S. government must now provide evidence against the detained men that proves they are a threat to national security or release them.
A new American
Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz recently became an American citizen.
Big Papi was granted U.S. citizenship during a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Library Wednesday along with 226 other immigrants from 57 countries, according to the Boston Globe
Ortiz, a native of the Dominican Republic, was very proud, the Globe reported.
Big Papi was granted U.S. citizenship during a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Library Wednesday along with 226 other immigrants from 57 countries, according to the Boston Globe
Ortiz, a native of the Dominican Republic, was very proud, the Globe reported.
Bryant slams Schilling's criticism
Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling attended Game 2 of the NBA Finals in which Kobe Bryant's LA Lakers lost 108-102 to the Boston Celtics. Schilling, having been perturbed by the sight of Bryant shouting at his teammates during the defeat.
"He'd yell at someone, make a point, or send a message, turn and walk away, and more than once the person on the other end would roll eyes or give a 'whatever dude' look," the hurler wrote on his Web site.
At press conference soon after, Bryant was asked by reporters to respond to Schilling's criticism. The star's two-word response?--- "Go Yankees!"
"He'd yell at someone, make a point, or send a message, turn and walk away, and more than once the person on the other end would roll eyes or give a 'whatever dude' look," the hurler wrote on his Web site.
At press conference soon after, Bryant was asked by reporters to respond to Schilling's criticism. The star's two-word response?--- "Go Yankees!"
Sunday, June 8, 2008
何がイチロー〔一郎〕で具合が悪いですか？ (What's wrong with Ichiro?)
My Boston Red Sox defeated the Seattle Mariners 2-1 earlier today to wrap up a three-game series at Fenway Park. And one of the most striking things about the Mariners' box score is the batting average of Ichiro Suzuki, which is still at a sub-par level. At .290, this Japanese juggernaut's batting average far below what he is capable of. Since his rookie season in 2001, Suzuki has batted .350, .321, ..312, .372, .303, .322 and .351.
Surely, the right fielder-turned center fielder has not lost his touch, but something is definitely going on with the Kasugai, Japan, native. I am used to enjoying seeing him perform with such grace that slapping hits into the outfield, beating out infield singles and throwing out runners with pinpoint precision look ridiculously easy. He will obviously snap out of it, but the All-Star is about a month away and such a low batting average leaves Major League Baseball fans to wonder: What's wrong with Ichiro?
Surely, the right fielder-turned center fielder has not lost his touch, but something is definitely going on with the Kasugai, Japan, native. I am used to enjoying seeing him perform with such grace that slapping hits into the outfield, beating out infield singles and throwing out runners with pinpoint precision look ridiculously easy. He will obviously snap out of it, but the All-Star is about a month away and such a low batting average leaves Major League Baseball fans to wonder: What's wrong with Ichiro?
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Sportscaster Jim McKay dead at 86
The sports world mourns tonight the death of legendary sportscaster Jim McKay, who passed away of natural causes at his farm in Monkton, Md., this morning. He was 86.
McKay began hosting ABC's "Wide World of Sports" in 1961 and continued this work for 40 years. But he is perhaps most known for covering 12 Olympic Games, most notably the Summer Games in Munich, Germany, in which Palestinian terrorists kidnapped 11 Israeli athletes. McKay was the one who announced to the world the shooting death of one of the captured and later the murder of the remaining 10 when a commando raid to rescue the athletes ended tragically.
According to foxnews.com, McKay won both a news and sports Emmy Award for his coverage of the Munich Olympics as well as the prestigious George Polk award.
It is fitting that McKay died just hours before Big Brown made his unsuccessful attempt to win a Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes, as McKay considered horse racing to be one of this favorite sports.
McKay began hosting ABC's "Wide World of Sports" in 1961 and continued this work for 40 years. But he is perhaps most known for covering 12 Olympic Games, most notably the Summer Games in Munich, Germany, in which Palestinian terrorists kidnapped 11 Israeli athletes. McKay was the one who announced to the world the shooting death of one of the captured and later the murder of the remaining 10 when a commando raid to rescue the athletes ended tragically.
According to foxnews.com, McKay won both a news and sports Emmy Award for his coverage of the Munich Olympics as well as the prestigious George Polk award.
It is fitting that McKay died just hours before Big Brown made his unsuccessful attempt to win a Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes, as McKay considered horse racing to be one of this favorite sports.
Big Brown can't deliver
Well, the 140th Belmont Stakes is in the books and jockey Alan Garcia led 38-1 long shot Da' Tara to an upset victory, forcing the racing community to keep waiting for the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978.
Instead of being the 12th winner of racing's Triple Crown, and the first in 30 years, Big Brown - the 1-4 favorite who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes - came in last and in the 19th horse in history to win the first two legs and finish in the cellar at the Belmont, according to ESPN.com.
Da' Tara paid $79 with his win. Denis of Cork placed and Anak Nakal and Ready's Echo both showed.
Jockey Kent Desormeaux slowed up Big Brown before the 3-year-old was even finished the race.
"I had no horse," said Desormeaux. "He was empty. He didn't have anything left."
The Belmont Stakes is by far the longest and most difficult of the Triple Crown races.
Instead of being the 12th winner of racing's Triple Crown, and the first in 30 years, Big Brown - the 1-4 favorite who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes - came in last and in the 19th horse in history to win the first two legs and finish in the cellar at the Belmont, according to ESPN.com.
Da' Tara paid $79 with his win. Denis of Cork placed and Anak Nakal and Ready's Echo both showed.
Jockey Kent Desormeaux slowed up Big Brown before the 3-year-old was even finished the race.
"I had no horse," said Desormeaux. "He was empty. He didn't have anything left."
The Belmont Stakes is by far the longest and most difficult of the Triple Crown races.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Oh, what's in a (nick)name?
Baseball immortal George Herman Ruth was more commonly known by the his nickname, ‘Babe.’ Legendary defensive lineman Ed Jones was called “Too Tall.” And college basketball great Pete Maravich was “Pistol Pete.”
For as long as professional sports have been familiarized in American living rooms thanks to the invention of television, certain athletes have had nicknames bestowed upon them with which their coaches, teammates and loving fans and friends refer to them. And the Massachusetts women’s soccer team is not different.
Almost as soon as they sign a letter of content with the Maroon and White, incoming female soccer stars have a playful pseudonym given to them by UMass coach Jim Rudy. He said he likes nicknames not only because they help him reach a personal level with his players, but they also make opposing players confused when he shouts instructions from the sidelines addressed to someone with a name that is not listed the roster.
Here is a list of Rudy’s nicknames for each of his Minutewomen and how they earned them:
Junior forward Vanessa Patry (a.k.a. Bucky)- “The nickname Bucky came from her initials, which are V.P., which is short for vice president. And what did the vice president (Dick Cheney) do to his best buddy? He hit him with buckshot. And, you know what, she (understood it). It takes a stretch of the imagination to that and she got it.”
Senior midfielder Jenny Roehrig (a.k.a. J-RO)- “There’s a J-RO… there’s an A-Rod, so that’s where (she) got (hers). (That) was obvious.”
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Kristin Walker- “Walker’s just Walker. In fact, nobody knows her by ‘Kristin.’ Her mom said something about ‘Kristin this or that’ – I didn’t know who she was talking about.”
Senior midfielder/defender Kaelyn Caldwell (a.k.a. Mini)- “When I first saw her I thought she was sort of a small kid. She plays big but I thought she was a small kid so I called her ‘Mini.’
Senior forward Britt Canfield (a.k.a. Granny)- “I call her ‘Granny’ sometimes because she’s from Granville, (Mass.)” Her official name is ‘Brittney,’ but she is always addressed as ‘Granny’ or, more commonly, ‘Britt.’
Senior goalkeeper Melissa Jubinville (a.k.a. MoLiss)- “It’s sort of a sub-in for ‘Molissa,’ because they talk a little differently, you see [Though he doesn’t have a southern accent, Rudy was born in Washington D.C.]. You can’t have a ‘MELissa,’ you got to have a “MOlissa.’ And we already had a Melissa, we had Melissa Toulouse (when Jubinville transferred from St. Anselm).”
Senior midfielder/defender Christina Nunes (a.k.a. Nunezy)- “The players will call her that.”
Senior midfielder/defender Tina Rodriguez (T-Rod)- [Same reason as Alex Rodriguez]
Junior defender Melissa Toulouse (a.k.a. Mel or Melacious)- “(‘Melacious’) is the antithesis of who she is. A malicious person is a bad person and Mel is just a happy-go-lucky, good person. It’s being facetious.”
Sophomore forward Cristina Adams (a.k.a. Young Adams)- “Because she’s young.”
Redshirt sophomore defender Amy Ballew (a.k.a. Lew)- “I call her Lew and I call her Amy.”
Sophomore forward Jacquelyn Desjardins (a.k.a. DJ)- “I call her ‘DJ’ for Desjardins (French for ‘of the gardens’). I love French names. My wife is French Canadian.”
Sophomore midfielder Meghan Gould (a.k.a. Lesley)- “She was on crutches a lot of last year [after undergoing two leg surgeries] and her nickname was ‘Limp-along Lesley.’ [Rudy picked ‘Lesley’ because it is an alliteration of ‘Limp-along’]
Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Luckey- “I don’t have one (for her). When you’re Luckey (lucky) you don’t need a nickname.”
Sophomore midfielder/forward Katie Ruggles (a.k.a. Rugg)- “It’s abbreviated and it’s quick.”
Sophomore forward Sydney Stoll (a.k.a. Syd the Kid)- [She got the nickname when she was a freshman]
Freshman defender Kelsey Anderson (a.k.a. Woo)- “It’s just a nickname that her sister told me to call her. I think when she was a young baby or something she used to just jump up and down on the bed and go, ‘Woo, woo’… I don’t know. It sounds good and it’s quick.”
Freshman midfielder/forward Ashley Hamel (a.k.a. Ham or Ash)- “Ham for Hamel. I call her Ash, too.”
Freshman midfielder Therese Smith (a.k.a. Tee or Smitty)- (Her teammates) call her ‘Tee,’ I call her ‘Smitty.’ I’ve had two (players) I’ve called ‘Smitty’ over the years. It’s quick and it works.”
Freshman defender Alyssa Visconti (a.k.a. Wee or Vava)- (Her teammates) call her Wee. That means we have a ‘Wee’ and a ‘Woo.’ I call her ‘Vava’ because she’s very technical like a Brazilian. Vava! Although she is of Italian descent.”
For as long as professional sports have been familiarized in American living rooms thanks to the invention of television, certain athletes have had nicknames bestowed upon them with which their coaches, teammates and loving fans and friends refer to them. And the Massachusetts women’s soccer team is not different.
Almost as soon as they sign a letter of content with the Maroon and White, incoming female soccer stars have a playful pseudonym given to them by UMass coach Jim Rudy. He said he likes nicknames not only because they help him reach a personal level with his players, but they also make opposing players confused when he shouts instructions from the sidelines addressed to someone with a name that is not listed the roster.
Here is a list of Rudy’s nicknames for each of his Minutewomen and how they earned them:
Junior forward Vanessa Patry (a.k.a. Bucky)- “The nickname Bucky came from her initials, which are V.P., which is short for vice president. And what did the vice president (Dick Cheney) do to his best buddy? He hit him with buckshot. And, you know what, she (understood it). It takes a stretch of the imagination to that and she got it.”
Senior midfielder Jenny Roehrig (a.k.a. J-RO)- “There’s a J-RO… there’s an A-Rod, so that’s where (she) got (hers). (That) was obvious.”
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Kristin Walker- “Walker’s just Walker. In fact, nobody knows her by ‘Kristin.’ Her mom said something about ‘Kristin this or that’ – I didn’t know who she was talking about.”
Senior midfielder/defender Kaelyn Caldwell (a.k.a. Mini)- “When I first saw her I thought she was sort of a small kid. She plays big but I thought she was a small kid so I called her ‘Mini.’
Senior forward Britt Canfield (a.k.a. Granny)- “I call her ‘Granny’ sometimes because she’s from Granville, (Mass.)” Her official name is ‘Brittney,’ but she is always addressed as ‘Granny’ or, more commonly, ‘Britt.’
Senior goalkeeper Melissa Jubinville (a.k.a. MoLiss)- “It’s sort of a sub-in for ‘Molissa,’ because they talk a little differently, you see [Though he doesn’t have a southern accent, Rudy was born in Washington D.C.]. You can’t have a ‘MELissa,’ you got to have a “MOlissa.’ And we already had a Melissa, we had Melissa Toulouse (when Jubinville transferred from St. Anselm).”
Senior midfielder/defender Christina Nunes (a.k.a. Nunezy)- “The players will call her that.”
Senior midfielder/defender Tina Rodriguez (T-Rod)- [Same reason as Alex Rodriguez]
Junior defender Melissa Toulouse (a.k.a. Mel or Melacious)- “(‘Melacious’) is the antithesis of who she is. A malicious person is a bad person and Mel is just a happy-go-lucky, good person. It’s being facetious.”
Sophomore forward Cristina Adams (a.k.a. Young Adams)- “Because she’s young.”
Redshirt sophomore defender Amy Ballew (a.k.a. Lew)- “I call her Lew and I call her Amy.”
Sophomore forward Jacquelyn Desjardins (a.k.a. DJ)- “I call her ‘DJ’ for Desjardins (French for ‘of the gardens’). I love French names. My wife is French Canadian.”
Sophomore midfielder Meghan Gould (a.k.a. Lesley)- “She was on crutches a lot of last year [after undergoing two leg surgeries] and her nickname was ‘Limp-along Lesley.’ [Rudy picked ‘Lesley’ because it is an alliteration of ‘Limp-along’]
Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Luckey- “I don’t have one (for her). When you’re Luckey (lucky) you don’t need a nickname.”
Sophomore midfielder/forward Katie Ruggles (a.k.a. Rugg)- “It’s abbreviated and it’s quick.”
Sophomore forward Sydney Stoll (a.k.a. Syd the Kid)- [She got the nickname when she was a freshman]
Freshman defender Kelsey Anderson (a.k.a. Woo)- “It’s just a nickname that her sister told me to call her. I think when she was a young baby or something she used to just jump up and down on the bed and go, ‘Woo, woo’… I don’t know. It sounds good and it’s quick.”
Freshman midfielder/forward Ashley Hamel (a.k.a. Ham or Ash)- “Ham for Hamel. I call her Ash, too.”
Freshman midfielder Therese Smith (a.k.a. Tee or Smitty)- (Her teammates) call her ‘Tee,’ I call her ‘Smitty.’ I’ve had two (players) I’ve called ‘Smitty’ over the years. It’s quick and it works.”
Freshman defender Alyssa Visconti (a.k.a. Wee or Vava)- (Her teammates) call her Wee. That means we have a ‘Wee’ and a ‘Woo.’ I call her ‘Vava’ because she’s very technical like a Brazilian. Vava! Although she is of Italian descent.”
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