AN AMERICAN WOMAN TO WATCH FOR FUTURE WORLD CUPS?

Ashley Harris is leading a resurgent Florida

US WOMEN HAVE EASY TIME WITH ENGLAND, GO THROUGH IN WORLD CUP

The US got second half goals from Wambach, Boxx and Lilly and will face the winner of Australia-Brazil. England had some goalkeeping blunders and possession problems, and faded in the second half.

WOMEN'S WORLD CUP UPDATE

Ives Galarcep has this update on the WWC on his Jersey soccer blog. Most of today's games have been postponed because of Typhoon Wipha or whatever it's called.

US NAMES SOFTBALL TEAM FOR GOLD DEFENSE

RUGBY WORLD CUP UPDATE - FIJI EKE OUT WIN OVER JAPAN

Go Fiji.

WOMEN'S WORLD CUP SOCCER UPDATE

USA Today's overview of where the US sits in the WWC.

HAN SOLO SAYS ALL IS JUST FINE

Hope Solo says, essentially, sometimes at the highest levels, you just make a little mistake, like letting the ball go through your hands. And she's happy overall with the way she played. Here's her blog from the World Cup

WE HOPE SOLO SHAKES OFF THAT GOAL

When I saw the highlights of the USA women in the World Cup yesterday I couldn't believe the first goal Hope Solo let in. But in the highlights you couldn't tell how bad the conditions were. I watched the game later - it was pouring, turning what normally would be routine saves into adventures she mostly handled well. It was really weak midfield play, poor tackling in midfield and defense and loose marking in the back that let us down. The game really showed how much Abby Wambach adds to the squad - both PRK goals came while she was on the bench gushing blood.
North Korea had a player named Un Suk - which was a nice summary of their team. They didn't suck. Here's a more positive take on the US game from SI:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/mark_bechtel/09/11/us.nkorea/?eref=mostpop

US now has a must-win situation with Sweden - finishing second in the group means having to face Germany too early. Germany, in case you missed it, beat Argentina in a laughable 11-0. Maradona has no daughters and Messi and Tevez no sisters I guess. GK Correa had a particularly tough day, knocking 2 in herself. And Germany's Prinze is now tied with Michelle Akers for leading all-time women's world cup scorer with 12 career goals.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-6912377,00.html

RUGBY WORLD CUP - US LOSS TO BRITS IS MORAL VICTORY

The Eagles showed well Saturday against defending world champion England. Tonga is next for the Americans, who felt good despite their loss at the weekend.

WOMEN'S WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNEY OPENS TOMORROW

Will Kim Jong Il be watching as the U.S. women take on his favorite team? Or will he be at the palace, thinking, "Ronery, I'm so ronery?"
http://www.willisms.com/archives/teamkim.jpg

THEY'RE NOT WATCHING FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS

In case there's any question what's on the collective minds of all 4.2 million New Zealanders today (actually it might be tomorrow there), check out the front page of TVNZ. Of course they have the story of the Marseille massacre with the All Blacks thorough destruction of Italy, followed by today's rugby World Cup stories - all 29 of them.

RUGBY WORLD CUP - EAGLES ABOUT TO KICK OFF V ENGLAND

In the world championships of the planet's toughest game waiting for USA to kick off against England and enjoying the replay of last night's France v. Argentina match I can't help but wonder if they have blood banked on the side to replace the gallons that are lost on the pitch.
The Italians have had a tough start - getting absolutely crushed by New Zealand 76-14. The All Blacks had a rediculous 11 trys.
http://en.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/round=100/match=10074/report.html#all+blacks+launch+blitz+opener

The US takes on reigning world champion England later today. Hopes are dim for the Sammys. Here's the preview:
http://en.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/round=100/match=10076/preview.html#reigning+world+champions+face+americans

NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER - PRESEASON TOP 30

It's maybe a bit of a rebuilding year for FSU, they drop to 8 in the SoccerBuzz preseason poll. But UF at 7?

SWIMMING'S NEXT BIG AMERICAN STAR?

MaxPreps has a profile of Pan-Am quadruple gold medalist Kathleen Hersey

DECATHLON HEROES UNHERALDED

When I was growing up I knew who Bruce Jenner was - everybody did. He was on the Wheaties box and in a lot of commercials. What happened? Why are decathletes no longer cool?

WORLD T&F CHAMPS - WARINER IS WORLD'S FASTEST MAN AT 400 M

Texan Jeremy Wariner is the world's fastest 400 meter runner, but he's still not Michael Johnson.