THIS GUY'S BUSTING UP A STEREOTYPE

They should play the Ride of the Valkyries when this guy carries the ball.

SA RUGBY WINGER FASTER THAN CHEATAH

My choice for most interesting thing about the world-cup-winning South Africa rugby team is that one of the Springboks' wingers, a guy named Habana, raced a cheatah and it looks like he won. I've watched this race a couple times, though, and the result is due mainly to the cheatah's lack of technique. He wastes probably two or three strides by jaunting sideways a bit a couple of times. With some really good form coaching, this cheatah could just be the fastest animal on Earth.

RYAN OUT AS US WOMEN'S COACH

Watching Briana melt in the Brazil game you knew this was coming. When you set a goal of winning the World Cup and you don't, no 45-1-9 record will save you, I guess. Personally, I don't see how you fire a guy for one incredible blunder when he has that kind of record, if the firing is based on outcome alone. (I don't know what kind of internal struggles/personality conflicts might be going on, though.) But If I won as many games as he did and lost as few (ONE LOSS, I REPEAT, ONE LOSS), I'd be pretty happy. OK, technically, they lost two on his watch. They lost a penalty shootout to Germany, but for some reason that counts as a draw.
Soccer America has a different take, and makes an interesting case - that it wasn't the record, or even the Brazil loss, but the style (or lack thereof) of play. Check that out:
http://www.socceramerica.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=24082

S.A. TAKE RUGBY WORLD CUP

The Springboks are world champions of rugby. I watched the final in delay today - good match actually. England had a try that they weren't awarded, but the 'Boks probably would have won anyway. Everything you want to know about it is in the story you read by clicking the link above.

RUGBY W.C. FINAL PREVIEW

It's England v. South Africa this weekend to see has the best rugby 15 in the world.

WHEN THE GAME MEANS MORE THAN THE GAME

Today's soccer story is actually from April. This is why you love soccer.

IN HONOR OF THE START OF NHL SEASON

Hockey used to be one of the big four sports in the States, but now it has honored "other sport" status and therefore can be talked about freely on this page. In my opinion, hockey was ruined when it went south, trying to market itself to people who didn't grow up with the game. Hockey should be played in Montreal, Buffalo, Philly, Boston and Chicago not Atlanta, Nashville, Phoenix and Tampa. But whatever.

ENGLAND JOINED BY SOUTH AFRICA, FRANCE AND ARGENTINA

World Cup semis are set

ENGLAND FIRST SEMIFINALIST IN RUGBY WC

England are through to the semis in France. Is it me, or has this tournament lasted like 5 months?