Congratulations to the USA Soccer Ladies
The Women’s National Soccer Team took the FIFA World Cup with a decisive win over the Japanese women’s national team 5-2 in Vancouver, Canada last week. Led by Carli Lloyd’s three first half goals, the American women completed an incredible run for the championship and won the enthusiastic support and admiration of the United States fans with their outstanding play and no nonsense approach to the competition. Christie Rampone, who was the only player on the team who was also a part of the last American championship team in 1999 embraced coach Jill Ellis and gave her a well done. Hope Solo won the Golden Glove as top goalkeeper of the tournament. It was Carli Lloyd, however, who won the Golden Ball as the Cup competition’s Most Valuable Player. The 32-year-old two-time Olympic gold medalist will go down in the sports history books with her performance.
The Colts and NFL
It may interest some of the Colts fans, particularly the ladies, that three of the Colts’ offensive lineman will be appearing nude in the upcoming issue of ESPN Magazine’s special Body Image edition. Tackle Anthony Castonzo, and guards Todd Herremans and Jack Mewhort agreed to pose in the buff to show off their sculptured physiques. Castonzo is starting his fifth season as a Colt. Mewhort was the team’s second round pick last season, and Herremans joined the Big Blue this year after nine seasons with the Eagles. All three of the men appear to be in fighting trim, and if they performed as well with their pads and uniforms on as they look in their collective birthday suits, then the Horseshoe offensive line will be in pretty good shape.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodall heard Tom Brady’s appeal of his four game suspension for his participation in the “Deflategate” controversy. Brady claims no knowledge of the incident and wants the suspension dropped. Brady also asked that Goodall appoint a special arbitrator to hear the appeal but Goodall denied the request. The Commissioner has yet to make a final decision on the appeal.
Rolando McCain, who was named the 2014 NFL comeback player of the year in taking over the Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker job, has been suspended for the first four games of the season for using performance enhancing drugs.
McClain was the #1 draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2010 after playing college ball at Alabama. He has had some definite ups and downs in his pro career.
Antonio Gates, the San Diego Charger tight end who had established himself as one of the all-time great receivers at his position, has been suspended for the first four games of the season for using performance enhancing drugs last season. Gates is thirty five years old and like so many senior athletes has been looking for ways to fight the ravages of father time on his body. The Colts Robert Mathis fell into the same trap in 2013 and it wound up costing him the entire 2014 season.
Floyd Mayweather is Stripped of Title
Floyd Mayweather, who won the World Boxing Organization welterweight boxing title by beating Manny Pacquiao two months ago, has been stripped of that title for failing to pay the $2,000,000 sanctioning fee to the organization. Mayweather did not meet the Friday deadline for fee payment and the organization announced their decision to remove his title. Mayweather had the welterweight title in three of the four major sanctioning bodies. He also holds titles in two other weight classes which is also against WBO rules. Many boxing experts consider Mayweather to be, pound for pound, the greatest boxer in the world. His bout with Pacquiao was billed as yet another “Fight of the Century.”
Andretti Autosports sign Justin Wilson
Andretti Autosports has signed Justin Wilson to join the team as a forth driver, Wilson will compete in the last five races of the season. Wilson drove for the team in both the Angie’s List GP and the Indy 500 this year. Wilson won the 2012 Texas Firestone Indycar 500 and has 3 total wins in 104 starts to his Indycar credit. He also had 4 wins in Champ Car competition. Wilson is 36 years old and was born in Sheffield England.