Biking the Eastern Shore of Maryland - some of the best bicycle tours on the Eastern Seaboard

Biking the Beckoning Byways of Talbot County, Maryland
Stunning scenery + rider-friendly roads + six mapped tours = cycling Nirvana!


Easton, MD – On the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay, close to major cities yet a world apart, visitors will find a very special place … Talbot County, Maryland. Steeped in history, blessed with natural beauty year ‘round, and dedicated to cultivating both its cultural sophistication and its small-town pleasures, it offers something for everyone – including some of the best bicycle tours on the Eastern Seaboard for riders of all ages and experience levels.

The stunning scenery, level terrain, and charming destination towns that make for great riding have always been here, of course, and many cyclists have been returning to enjoy them for years. In 2009, however, after considerable planning and preparation, Talbot County unveiled a formal map of six themed bicycle trails covering 180 miles of terrain. Featuring farmland, big sky, water, and historical vistas, the routes are part of an ongoing County Office of Tourism initiative to bring health and wellness activities to visitors and residents alike.

Cycling devotees surely are “all in” on the initiative, but even the most dedicated of couch potatoes and the littlest two-wheeling tot couldn’t resist these rides: not only are there six tours to choose from, but the roads are designed with either dedicated bike lanes or shoulders wide enough to serve that function, and – can’t say this too often – the terrain is F-L-A-T.

The official Talbot County Bicycle Map – an impressive multi-page folded brochure – is an excellent source of information. It’s available for download on the Office of Tourism’s website, as well as in brochure hard copy on request. A few highlights to get the imagination rolling:

• School Days Trail – A 28.3 mile loop located northwest of Easton, this route features the Little Red Schoolhouse and a cemetery for black Civil War soldiers. A short side trip to the Pickering Creek Audubon Center offers first-rate bird watching in its 400 acres of forests and wetlands, which also shelter foxes, deer, and river otters.

• Joust Maryland Trail – A 26.7 mile meander located north of Easton, this trail highlights the state sport of Maryland. For the past 140 years, the Maryland Jousting Association has held its Annual Horse Show and Jousting Tournament at historic St. Joseph’s Church in August. Visitors at other times of the year will enjoy the historic Wye Landing steamboat dock, the Wye Grist Mill, and the Wye Oak State Park in Wye Mills.

• Talbot Farmland Trail – At 27.6 miles, this route allows riders to revel in the sights, sounds, and scents of the county’s gorgeous and productive farmland. Looping to the northeast of Easton, the trail offers not only scenic landscapes but also big sky vistas, two general stores, side trails to landings with views of the Choptank River, and some fine birding.

• Chesapeake Views Trail – With waterfront views of open Chesapeake Bay, this 38.2 mile ride can’t be beat for maritime majesty. As Harry Jaffe wrote in the July 2009 “Best of” issue of Washingtonian, “the payoff in water views is spectacular.” Along the way riders can also enjoy the small-town ambiance of McDaniel, Wittman, and Sherwood, waterside farm fields, and magical Tilghman, a former working waterman’s village and now a major port for recreational fishing and boating.

• Oxford/St. Michaels Trail – Recognized as one of the premier bike trails in the Mid-Atlantic region, this 29.6 mile tour includes the historic boat-building town of Oxford, the crossroads of Royal Oak, the fabulous shopping and dining on offer in charming St. Michaels, and the extra special treat of a ride across the Tred Avon River on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry.

• Cemetery Quest Trail – Running south of Easton, this 28.1 mile route features a number of historic cemeteries, some prominent and some tucked away for the adventurous to find; several famous sons of Talbot County are buried along the way. Birders should bring their binoculars, as two side trips feature former millpond sites and mature wetland forest that shelter a range of beloved songbirds and other popular avian denizens.

• For those who enjoy cross-country biking in addition to flat terrain touring, there’s also the recently opened Friends of the Nature Trail just outside the town of St. Michaels. Extending from the eastern town limits to Railroad Avenue, it’s beautifully laid out and makes for a great ride. In Easton, the Easton Rails-to-Trails path, running from Idlewild Park to North Easton Park, offers 2.2 miles of dedicated trail for walking and biking.

• A bonus insider’s tip from Talbot County Office of Tourism Director Debbi Dodson: peddle down Lover’s Lane in Oxford, between the Sandaway B&B and the Tred Avon Yacht Club, and discover a small, quiet beach ideal with a picture-postcard-perfect view of the Tred Avon River. Beachcombers may well find a few pieces of much-sought-after sea glass.

Visitors are welcome to bring their own rides, but several other options are available as well: not only do a number of inns offer complimentary use of their bikes to guests, but at least five shops cheerfully rent and/or service bicycles.

For additional information on biking the beckoning byways of Talbot County, please contact The Talbot County Office of Tourism.

Bountiful Talbot County: a beauteous bonanza for bikers of all stripes


About Talbot County, Maryland:

Talbot County, Maryland invites visitors to experience the perfect balance of rural simplicity and urban refinement. With the timeless beauty of the Chesapeake Bay as their backdrop, the county’s sophisticated small towns, charming country byways, and wide array of activities offer something for everyone who appreciates the opportunity to relax, reflect, and renew. The Talbot County Office of Tourism offers comprehensive information and trip planning services at its Easton, Maryland office (1- 410-770-8000) and on its website (www.tourtalbot.org).

PRESS INFORMATION
Carlyle Fairfax Smith
Carlyle International
Ph: 703.898.1333
Carlyle@CarlyleInternational.us

Carlyle International is a boutique strategic communications agency that focuses on supporting the marketing and sales strategies of luxury hotels and spas, destinations and premier special events.

Talbot County Cicycle Map (Press Release) - Aug 03, 2011 -

Champions Series Tennis

Tennis Legends Compete on Special US Tour
Parke Brewer
VOA - September 27, 2011

Photo: VOA - W. Workinger
Eight-time Grand Slam singles champion Andre Agassi will join fellow American legends Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Michael Chang (file photo).

Some legendary male tennis icons are competing against one another in a special tour around the United States. The HSBC Champions Series recently made one of its stops in Washington.

U.S. Davis Cup team captain Jim Courier is one of the driving forces behind Champions Series tennis, which this year is playing in 12 U.S. cities over a five-week period.

The series, launched in 2005, is for players over the age of 30. And this year, Courier has assembled the best players in the tour's history. All are former major tournament champions - Americans Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Michael Chang along with Swedes Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander. Only four at any one time compete in each city.

Courier is also playing on the circuit.

“We want to support tennis and there are a lot of great initiatives around this. We’ll support USTA [the United States Tennis Association] Serves, which is their charity. But at the corps of it, you have players that resonate with tennis fans in this country playing competitive tennis and having some fun with the fans as well,” Courier said.

Michael Chang says it is special to compete against the other former champions.

“You know we all go back a long, long way. And to have the opportunity to play against such great champions in such nice venues as well is a treat for us,” Chang said.

At age 39, Chang laughed as he explained that he is the only player who is younger than 40. He said the format - with only single-set matches for the semifinals and a so-called pro-set match for each final, where the first one to eight games wins - is ideal.

“You know our bodies can’t take the pounding as if we were in our early 20s and stuff like that. And so that’s why we have the format that it is and , obviously, condensing it all into one night [in each city] makes it unique as well,” Chang said.

VOA - W. Workinger

Pete Sampras won 14 Grand Slam singles titles in his 15-year career.


Pete Sampras says he was very receptive to the idea of playing in this year's Champions Series when Courier asked him to participate.

“It just seemed like it would be some fun, a little bit of competition. And I like to work. I like to get out of the house and do a little work and get myself in shape. [It’s] not like it used to be, so it’s less stressful. And it’s a fun night. You know, you get to see some talent out there, and everyone’s got to know I’m not as good as I used to be - a little slower, but I can still serve okay,” Sampras said.

Fans can see Sampras and the other former stars for as little as $35 a ticket.

Rick Batz brought his young tennis-playing daughter to see the matches.

“They help shine things through for the kids that are developing right now to see how far that tennis can go in their lives. It’s a great event for the kids. I have an 11-year-old daughter here and she’s loving it,” Batz said.

Another fan at the Washington tournament, Steve Giaier, said he grew up watching these legends on television and that it was a thrill to be able to watch them in person.

“They’ve still got it. I mean the Agassi and Courier match - they were hitting some hot shots across the net. Yeah, they still know how to play,” Giaier said.

Andre Agassi says he is enjoying not only the competition, but also the camaraderie.

“A couple things are great about this. First of all, staying connected to the game and to the fans that have been with me for so many years. Second is the history we all have together and being able to share that with one another at a time in our lives when we can really take it in and appreciate the moments and create a little nostalgia and spend some time together. So really, one of the true wins in it all is to be together,” Agassi said.

Jim Courier says he knows U.S. tennis fans would like to see American men on the regular tour compete for major titles again soon.

“I know our American public has been long spoiled by people like Stan Smith and Arthur Ashe, and Connors and McEnroe and my generation of players with a plethora of majors, and we’ve not seen that for awhile. But I think we have to recognize it’s a very deep field that they’re going up against right now,” Courier said.

But overall, Courier, who is also a television commentator for the regular men’s tour, says he loves what he sees in today’s game.

“I think we’re in a real golden era and I think it’s hard for those of us who live in this country to maybe recognize this because the dominant male players aren’t American. But it’s an amazing time for men’s tennis right now. These guys are quality players and quality people, and I’m proud of them. They do a great job!,” Courier said.

The players on the Champions Tour are not competing just for fun. They accumulate points for games and matches won, and the top three players will split $1 million in bonus prize money at the end of the season.

In addition to Washington, other cities on the HSBC Champions Tour include Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Phoenix and St. Louis. The final tournament is set for October 22 in Buffalo, New York.

World Team Tennis - Washington Kastles Update

Williams Sisters Team Up in Pro Tennis League
Parke Brewer | Washington, DC - July 21, 2011

World Team Tennis, an innovative, three-week-long professional league in the United States started by legendary women’s player Billie Jean King, is still going strong in its 36th season in the United States. And the team in the nation’s capital, the Washington Kastles - led by Venus and Serena Williams - has been tops in the league this season. Like the others who are competing this month in the league, they not only play but also give back to the game.

When they are not competing for Grand Slam tennis titles, American stars Venus and Serena Williams spend a lot of time giving back to the game, conducting free clinics for young children. That is a regular part of match days in World Team Tennis.

Venus said it gives her a good feeling when she sees the high interest level, especially among ethnic minority children.

“It’s great to see young people playing in general, but also seeing young African-Americans playing tennis is fantastic, too. But I think my main focus is just young people playing and mostly doing positive things with their lives,” she said.

Younger sister Serena agrees.

“You know it’s really cool. You come out and you help the kids or you watch them play, and you never know what one kid or two kids, or however many kids, you can ultimately influence,” said Serena.

World Team Tennis officials say they hope these clinics can spur continued growth of the sport.

Venus and Serena have another sister who lives in Washington, and Serena said playing for the Kastles here in the nation’s capital is a bonus.

“I love playing for the Kastles, and I love playing for the city, and I love the city. And it’s so beautiful, and now we’re right on the water. So it’s just amazing playing in an amazing stadium and it’s great,” said Serena.

After playing downtown in a temporary stadium last year, the Kastles home venue, which features a unique multi-colored court, now is on the Potomac River. And it has been filled to capacity for all of their games this season.

At one match, even first lady Michelle Obama and her two daughters came out to cheer the home team.

World Team Tennis features men and women in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, and has its own scoring rules and regulations.

Venus Williams likes that aspect of the league.

“Every game counts, so even if you don’t win your match, if you get some games for your team, ultimately that can lead to a win for everyone. So everyone has to contribute an equal part, and that’s what really makes it unique,” she said.

Serena Williams said she enjoys being her older sister's teammate.

“She doesn’t necessarily give me advice. We just go out and do our best and try to play well for the Kastles. We’re both really excited to be playing for the same team,” said Serena.

And the Washington Kastles, which also features doubles specialist Leander Paes of India, has been the best this season in World Team Tennis, becoming the first team to clinch a playoff berth by winning their first 13 matches.




World Team Tennis article from VOA

Ocean City Dew Tour - Ocean City, Maryland

Kyle Baldock Wins Ocean City Dew Tour - BMX Park Finals in Ocean City, Maryland

See Kyle Baldock's winning run from BMX Park Finals at the Dew Tour's 2011 Pantech Open in Ocean City, Maryland.

The Pantech Open featured some of the world’s best athletes in skateboard vert and bowl, BMX park and vert.

US Women's Soccer Team Reached World Cup Final

US Women Reach World Cup Final

VOA - Parke Brewer July 13, 2011

The United States women's soccer team has reached the World Cup final for the first time since it last won the title on home soil in 1999.

The FIFA women's World Cup has been played five previous times, and the United States is the only nation to make the semifinals in every tournament.

But the Americans' only titles came in the inaugural event in 1991 in China and in the memorable victory over China on penalty kicks 12 years ago California.  They finished third in 2003 and 2007.

Now after Wednesday's stirring 3-1 victory over France in Moenchengladbach, Germany, the United States is back in the final for the first time since 1999.

Star U.S. striker Abby Wambach broke a 1-1 deadlock with a header off Lauren Cheney's corner kick in the 79th minute.  It was Wambach's third goal of the tournament and 12th of her career, tying her with fellow American Michelle Akers for third on the all-time World Cup scoring list.

It was Cheney's goal in the 9th minute that gave the United States the early lead.  But she told ESPN she credits Wambach for her efforts.

"Not only is she at the right place at the right time, but she has more heart than anybody that I've ever played with," said Cheney. "And I know that in the last minute, she's going to get it done."

Twenty-two year-old Alex Morgan, the youngest player on the U.S. team, added an insurance goal in the 82nd minute, racing past four defenders on a breakaway and deftly lifting the ball over the French goalkeeper.

U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo told ESPN that after the dramatic quarterfinal penalty kicks win over Brazil, she was confident they would win.

"That's this team's mentality," said Solo. "We do it for our country; we do it for our nation.  It's our mentality, we're going to win.  And there wasn't one point - even though it was a sloppy goal against us, I was very upset - but I knew our team would dig us out."

The United States will play in Sunday's final in Frankfurt against Japan, a 3-1 upset winner over Sweden in Wednesday's other semifinal.

Japan had also upset two-time defending champion and host Germany in the quarterfinals.  

US Women Reach World Cup Final
US Women's Soccer Team Reached Football World Cup Final - Article from VOA

South Korea - Winter Olympics - Pyeongchang Will Host 2018

Koreans Ecstatic Pyeongchang Will Host 2018 Winter Olympics

VOA - Jason Strother | Seoul - July 06, 2011

The South Korean resort of Pyeongchang has been selected to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.  It took only one round of voting in Durban, South Africa, for Pyeongchang to defeat Munich, Germany, and France's Annecy.  Now many South Koreans hope that by having the games, it will also put them on the map as a winter sports hot spot.

After two consecutive failed bids to host the Winter Olympics, the ski resort area of Pyeongchang, about 180 kilometers east of Seoul, finally will get its chance.

A few hundred Korean fans cheered on the lawn of Seoul Plaza late Wednesday as the result of the International Olympic Committee's vote in Durban, South Africa, was announced.

Ahn Kyoung An, 23, who sounded a little hoarse from cheering, says she is really happy South Korea won this time. "We are also very stunned, because we tried a lot of times," said Ahn.

Pyeongchang is already the center for winter sports in Korea, but many here say the 2018 Olympics could turn the area into an international hub.

That sounds a little overambitious, says Jason Lee, a long time sportscaster with Korea's Arirang TV.  But he says the resorts there have already done a good job at luring some foreign skiers.

"They are bringing people from countries that do not have snow, from South East Asia, from Africa," said Lee.  "They have got good intentions in trying to make Pyeongchang an area that is just not central to Korea."

But Lee says the hard part is making Pyeongchang's facilities meet international expectations.  The area does not have much in the way of an after ski culture, and major transportation projects are planned to make the three-hour trip from Seoul a little less of a trek.

But Lee says he's confident the Koreans will have it all done by 2018.  "There are a lot of things that need to be built, but it has been one of those things," Lee added.  "We will do it once we are promised these games and I think they definitely do have a long way to go.  But the fact that they have the support of the Olympic committee, the nation is fully behind it."

South Korea becomes the second Asian nation, after Japan, to hold the Winter Games.


Koreans Ecstatic Pyeongchang Will Host 2018 Winter Olympics
Olympic News from VOA

OC 5 Mile Boardwalk Run - Ocean City, MD

OC 5 Mile Boardwalk Run
6/18/2011 - 6/18/2011

Address: Atlantic Ave, Ocean City, MD
Website: http://www.octrirunning.com/

All 5 miles of this course runs the famous Ocean City Boardwalk. This event if perfect for the whole family. After a 5 mile trot, you and your family or friends can spend the rest of the day enjoying the Ocean City Boardwalk and Beach!

Start time is 7:00 a.m. and race begins at the Boardwalk Arch at the end of N.Division St. Registration fee. www.octrirunning.com.

Eastern Shore of Maryland Event Information Sourced From:

http://ococean.com/events

Women Thriving in Traditionally All-Male Football

Women Thriving in Traditionally All-Male American Football
VOA - Tala Hadavi | Baltimore, Maryland June 08, 2011

Photo: VOA Photo T. Hadavi
The Baltimore Nighthawks line up against the Philadelphia Firebirds

American Football has supplanted baseball in recent years as America's favorite sport. But though men and women both enjoy it, it has traditionally been played almost entirely by men. The past few years, however, have seen the debut of a number of women's leagues - playing by the same rules and with the same level of contact as the men's sport.

When you think about American football, you envision it being played by heavily-padded big men making violent contact with each other. But Tarsha Fain, team captain of the Baltimore Nighthawks says, think again.

"I feel women can do anything a man can do," said Fain. "The same way they get out there and hit, we get out there and hit too."

Li Na’s French Open Victory Stirs Debate Over China's State-Sponsored Sports Program

Li Na’s Victory Stirs Debate Over China's State-Sponsored Sports Program

VOA, Stephanie Ho - Beijing June 06, 2011


People across China are still reveling in Chinese tennis champion Li Na’s victory Saturday at the French Open. After becoming the first Asian woman to win a Grand Slam tournament, Chinese online discussion groups turned to analyzing her decision three years ago to leave behind the state-sponsored sports program and train on her own.

EagleMan Triathlon - Ironman 70.3 Triathlon - Cambridge, MD

June 12, 2011
Ironman 70.3 EagleMan Triathlon - 1.2 Mile Swim, 56 Mile Bike, 13.1 Mile Run
EagleMan USATMA Championship AquaVelo - 1.2 Mile Swim, 56 Mile Bike
Great Marsh Park, Somerset Avenue, Cambridge, MD 21613



The Subaru Ironman 70.3 EagleMan Triathlon is one of the most popular Ironman 70.3 triathlons in the USA.

"Magnificent organization and logistics…the course was great, an honest course and beautiful at the same time. I loved every moment of the 2010 experience!"
    ~ Samatha Warriner, 2010 EagleMan Pro Female Champion,

"A must do... Put it on your list!"
    ~ Michellie Jones, Professional Triathlete

“What a wonderful race this weekend! It is such a beautiful spot and the race organization was flatly superb.”
     ~ Dede Griesbauer, Professional Triathlete

"A first class event…2011 EagleMan will be at the top of my list."
    ~ David Kahn, Professional Triathlete

"I have never experienced such an enthusiastic group of volunteers. This was absolutely a first class event!!"
    ~ J.B., EagleMan Finisher

"The Eagleman Ironman 70.3 is a well-organized race supported with outstanding support from the local residents and businesses. Coupled with the opportunity to spend a weekend in a historic Maryland town, this event is a must-do."
    ~ Nan Kappeler, tri-magazine.net

 

 

 

EagleMan Triathlon - Ironman 70.3 Triathlon - Cambridge, MD event information sourced from

http://www.tricolumbia.org/events/?eid=2

French Open Finals - Li Na Wins Final: def Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6

Tennis Star Li Na Spotlights China
VOA - Sarah Williams | Washington, D.C. June 03, 2011

China is celebrating tennis player Li Na's victory at the French Open semifinal in Paris.

Li defeated Russian Maria Sharapova Thursday to win a place in the women's final, where she will compete Saturday against Italian defending champion Francesca Schiavone.

Lacrosse Debuts in Washington, D.C. Inner-City School

Lacrosse Debuts in Inner-City Washington School

VOA - Jeff Swicord | Washington, D.C. May 28, 2011

Photo: VOA

Some of the girls on the lacrosse team at Ballou High School in Washington, D.C., run a drill on the practice field, May 2011

The modern version of the Native American game lacrosse is a popular sport at many predominately white and affluent, suburban private schools in the United States. But it also has taken root at a predominantly African American, public high school in Washington, plagued by poverty, violence and low academic achievement. Girls are now playing lacrosse at Ballou High School, where educators and students there hope to gain from it.

See Video

Belmont Stakes - Preakness Stakes Winner Shackleford and Kentucky Derby Winner Animal Kingdom Get Ready For The Next Big Horse Race

Preakness: Shackleford Win Ends Triple Crown Prospects

VOA - Carla Babb | Baltimore, Maryland May 22, 2011

 

More than 107,000 people came to a horse racing track in the eastern U.S. state of Maryland Saturday to see the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes, and perhaps witness the making of a champion. The Preakness is the second of the three horse races making up what American’s call the Triple Crown.

 

As a trumpet blasted the familiar clarion call of horse racing, fans of the sport watched to see if Animal Kingdom, winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby, would capture the second leg of the sport’s Triple Crown.

It is an uncommon achievement, occurring only 11 times since 1919. And it will not happen this year. Animal Kingdom could not catch Shackleford, a three-year-old chestnut colt who won the 136th running of the Preakness with a time of 1 minute, 56 and 47 one-hundredths seconds.

Shackleford’s jockey, Jesus Castanon, says he knew his horse would win as he rounded the last stretch.

“When they asked me to pick it up, I can feel my horse get bigger and he went on and do his business and it’s just emotional,” said Castanon.

The winning colt was named after the Shackleford Islands, a retreat that features wild horses off the coast of North Carolina. But Shackleford proved anything but wild Saturday, determined to hold on to his lead in front of one of the largest audiences in Preakness history.

Jockey Castanon hails from Mexico, where he and his family owned racehorses in Mexico City. His father passed away last year, and Castanon was overflowing with emotion at the end of the race.

“When I passed the wire, he just came to me," he said. "I know he was up there watching me.”

By coincidence, Mexico was this year’s host country for the International Pavilion, a big tent located at the racetrack’s finish line where diplomats and leaders of the horse industry can socialize.

Mexico's ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhan said he was proud that his country played such a big role in the race.

“I think it speaks volumes to the contributions that Mexican jockeys and Mexican workers and the backstretches of most of the racecourse in the United States play in this important industry,” he said.

Festive crowds wearing suits, sundresses and ornate hats enjoyed a beautiful day at Pimlico. Race-goers experienced the Maryland track at its finest, eating the food, listening to the music, and most-importantly, admiring the horses.

Colt Animal Kingdom finished second, with Astrology a close third.

And when the last jewel of the Triple Crown - the Belmont Stakes - comes around in June, it will be any horse’s race to win.

Preakness: Shackleford Win Ends Triple Crown Prospects

Article from VOA

French Open Tennis News

Djokovic Hopes Run Continues at French Open

VOA - Kelyn Soong | Washington May 20, 2011

The second Grand Slam tennis tournament of 2011, the French Open, begins Monday in Paris.  Much of the attention will be on Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who is a remarkable 37-0 this year and is looking to dethrone defending champion and five-time French Open winner Rafael Nadal of Spain.

In recent years, nine-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal of Spain has been virtually unbeatable on clay, with only eight losses in his past 201 matches on the surface.  In fact, one of his nicknames is “King of Clay.”

However, this season has been owned by another player, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, who is undefeated on all surfaces.  The 23-year-old Serb has moved up to number-two in the world rankings and enters the French Open with the best start to a year since American John McEnroe began the 1984 season 42-0.  Although for world number one Nadal - who has lost to Djokovic in two consecutive clay court tournament finals - the true test of a champion is winning on the big stages.

Seve Ballesteros - Golfing Great Remembered

Golfing Great Seve Ballesteros Remembered

VOA - Nick Dye | Mallorca, Spain May 11, 2011

The funeral for Spanish golfing great Severiano Ballesteros was held Wednesday at his native fishing village in northern Spain, with a number of the top European golfers in attendance.  The record holder of 50 European Tour victories died from a cancerous brain tumor at his home in Pedrena on Saturday at age 54.

There have been calls to change the European Tour's Harry Vardon logo to one showing Seve Ballesteros.  There have been and will be further calls to name various holes after the five times major winner.

The Vivendi Trophy goes on with his name attached, and undoubtedly there'll be trophies and tournaments in his honor.

But essentially, his memory will live on regardless.  It's not the 87 tournament wins or his success in Ryder Cups, but the way he played the game, the joy he brought and the inspiration he gave others.

Everyone seems to have a Seve story.  Thomas Levet is no exception.  He plays on, celebrating the life of a legendary figure.

"The magic of that guy was unbelievable," recalled Levet.  "You know he was like a magician.  He could teach magicians.  He would teach how to escape from things, because he was [that way].  The touch he had with the golf ball around difficulties was just unreal."

Colin Montgomerie attended the funeral in Pedrena together with Seve's great friends Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

"Very few people are called legends in this world and Seve was one of them," said Montgomerie.  "Never before in our lifetime have we seen such a talent swing a golf club."

Monty and Olazabal have late tee times in Mallorca Thursday where Alejandro Canizares aims to go one better than last year and secure a Spanish victory.

"We all want to be like Seve," Canizares noted.  "We try hard to be but it's very, very difficult to have something anything close to what he was.  So hopefully a Spanish player wins and they dedicate the tournament in his memory."

Golfing Great Seve Ballesteros Remembered

Article from VOA

Animal Kingdom Wins Kentucky Derby - Rosie Napravnik rode Pants on Fire to a sixth-place finish, the highest-finishing woman in Kentucky Derby history

Horse Racing News - Animal Kingdon Wins 2011 Kentucky Derby





Women Jockeys Keep Up with the Men

Deborah Block | Baltimore May 04, 2011

Photo: D. Block, VOA

Jockey Stephanie Korger

The premier horse race in the United States takes place Saturday in the southern U.S. state of Kentucky.  This year, there will be a woman jockey in the Kentucky Derby. She's only the sixth woman to ride in the annual race since it began in 1875.  Other women jockeys are hoping they will eventually make it to the Kentucky Derby. At the Pimlico racetrack in the eastern U.S. city of Baltimore, Maryland, women jockeys are showing they can win races in a male dominated sport.

It was the first of ten races at Pimlico Race Course recently, and 22 year-old Stephanie Korger and her horse took the lead early on, crossing the finish line first.

"She actually worked really good today. She did everything that I asked her to and very cooperative for the win," Korger said of the horse she rode.

Korger's horse was trained by Dane Kobiskie. "Stephanie, as a rider, to me is just a very smooth rider," Kobiske said.

Korger says there’s nothing she’d rather do than be a jockey. "It is an absolute exhilarating rush.  I mean there’s no feeling like it.  When those gates open, I mean there’s nothing else in the world that you can compare with," she said.

She's the top apprentice rider at Pimlico, where the prestigious Preakness race is held three weeks after the Kentucky Derby.  When her year- long apprenticeship is finished, she will become a professional rider or journeyman.

A man named Walt comes regularly to the track to bet on the horses. He says the women jockeys keep up with the men.  "Women riders have a different touch, generally, than male riders, in my opinion in that they tend to be more patient," Walt said.

Sarah Rook is also an apprentice rider and competed in her first professional race today.   She saw an opening between two horses and slipped through to cross the finish line first.

"She just went right through and kept going.  She was perfect," Rook said of her horse.

Korger says getting to the top isn’t easy. "There’s some trainers who won’t ride you specifically because you’re a girl, and the only thing you can really do is go out there and be determined and beat them in a race and prove to them that you’re just as good as any other guy out there," she said.

Jonathan Joyce has been a jockey for six years. He says the women have more to prove. "I think they just have to overcome a lot as far as trainers and competitiveness between the guys and trying to be accepted in a game that has been so much known as a man’s sport for so long," he said.

Korger says, like the men,  the women have to work their way up. "We race four days a week, Thursday through Sunday, and we get on the horses in the morning and we work them, make sure they’re fit and exercised.  We do that for free, and in exchange, we get to ride the horses in a race," she said.

Last July, Korger broke her shoulder when she fell off her horse after it stumbled during a race. "It’s a very physically demanding job.  Jockeys are some of the most fit athletes in the world and at the same time it’s a very dangerous sport," she said.

Twenty-six-year-old jockey Forest Boyce was one of the top apprentice riders in the United States last year.  Now a journeyman, she says winning is hit and miss. "Most of the time, when they’re supposed to win they don’t, and when they aren’t, they do," she said.

Gina Clay, a horseracing fan is impressed with Boyce. "I watched her race and I saw her and she kind of hung in there with all the big boys, you know, and I thought it was great," she said.

The only woman in this year’s Kentucky Derby is Rosie Napravnik, who began her career in Maryland in 2005.  Korger says Napravnik is a role model. "It’s really exciting.  It’s definitely going to open up a lot of doors for female riders, I think."

Like other women jockeys, Korger wants to be in the big races, including the Kentucky Derby.

Women Jockeys Keep Up with the Men

Article from VOA

Winter Olympics - 2014 Sochi, Russia - Six New Events Added

Six New Events Added for 2014 Sochi Olympics
VOA Sports April 06, 2011

The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia will have six new events, including women's ski jumping.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge announced in London Tuesday that the board also approved the addition of men's and women's ski halfpipe, mixed relay in biathlon and team events in luge and figure skating. That means an extra 150 athletes will compete in the Russian Black Sea resort city.

Women's ski jumping had long campaigned to be in the Winter Games and even lost a legal battle for inclusion at last year's Vancouver Olympics.

Rogge said the newest additions "are exciting, entertaining events that perfectly complement the existing events on the sports program" and they "bring added appeal and increase the number of women participating at the games.''

Proposals for inclusion of slopestyle events in snowboard and freestyle skiing and a team Alpine skiing event were put on hold for further review.

In the new event of ski halfpipe, skiers score points for performing tricks and jumps on the same course used for the snowboard halfpipe.

The only remaining Winter Olympics event that does not have both male and female representation is Nordic combined, which features ski jumping followed by a cross country ski race.




Six New Events Added for 2014 Sochi Olympics
Article from VOA

Cyclist for the Bay - Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Become a Cyclist for the Bay

Take The Pledge 

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 The Bay you love is in TROUBLE.

The Chesapeake Bay is dangerously out of balance. The Bay and its rivers and streams are being choked by nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, toxic contamination, and oxygen depletion.

You can be part of the solution. Join CBF's CYCLIST FOR THE BAY program and help protect this national treasure.

Membership is FREE!

Pledge now and receive:

• Two CYCLIST FOR THE BAY stickers to proudly display your support for the Bay and its tributaries.
• Pledge card with useful Bay information.
• Access to Cyclist Network — an online source for all things Bay area cycling. From links to great area organizations to forums where you can share routes with other cyclists for the bay!
• Automatic enrollment in CBF's Action Network, our e-mail alert system for important Bay issues.
• Discounts on merchandise from CBF's online store.

Questions? Contact Heather Tuckfield at htuckfield@cbf.org or 443.482.2151.

Become a Cyclist for the Bay

Take The Pledge 

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As a CYCLIST FOR THE BAY, I will

• Use my bicycle instead of a car whenever possible to reduce the harmful effects of vehicle emissions.
• Ride my bike to work at least once a week, if circumstances allow.
• Do what I can to promote cycling as an environmentally-friendly means of transportation.
• Spread the word that vehicle exhaust contributes more than one-third of all the nitrogen pollution entering the Bay from the air.
• Encourage other cyclists to join the fight to protect and restore the waterways, farmlands, and forests of the Bay region.
• Speak out for decisive action to save this national treasure.

Take the Pledge  

Become a Cyclist for the Bay

Take The Pledge 

---

Welcome to the Cyclists Network!

The Bay you love is in TROUBLE. Luckily, your actions as a Cyclist for the Bay can make a difference in the quality of our waters.

By taking the pledge, your dedication to cycling will help reduce pollutants that harm the Chesapeake and our environment in general.
Here on the Cyclist Network you will find useful resources to suppport your effort to save the bay through cycling. Welcome!
DID YOU KNOW?

• Washington DC was recently named one of the most improved cities for cycling! See the full article in Bicycling Magazine!
• Reasons To Commute By Bicycle! Health, Economic, and Environmental benefits...read more here.
• In a new report released by the League of American Bicyclists, Virginia Ranks 23rd for Bike Friendliness. The League recently ranked states using a questionnaire that addressed 70 factors on "6 key areas: legislation, policies and programs; infrastructure; education and encouragement; evaluation and planning; and enforcement".
  
  The highest and lowest rankings were awarded to Washington and West Virginia respectively. Virginia placed 23rd in the ranking. The Bicycle Friendly States program, a separate program from Bicycle Friendly Community Awards, was supported by Bikes Belong and Trek Bicycle Company.

Back to Top
GET BIKE ROUTES FROM GOOGLE

Google is one step closer to making the world safer for bicyclists by adding bicycle routes to Google Maps. Visit maps.google.com, select Directions, and choose "Bicycling" from the drop down menu.



GET GEAR!

The CBF store is full of great gear for your ride, or just for enjoying your day outside!
Back to Top

USEFUL LINKS

Bike commute tips blog: http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/
Bikely route creation: http://bikely.com
Bike hugger blog: http://bikehugger.com/
Bike commuting tips: http://www.runmuki.com/commute/index.html
Bicycle safe: http://www.bicyclesafe.com/
Bicycling magazine: http://www.bicycling.com/
Bike blogs: http://www.bikeblogs.com/
Ecovelo: http://www.ecovelo.info/
Commute by bike: http://commutebybike.com/


Cyclist for the Bay informaiton came from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation website www.cbf.org

NBA - International Players Triple in 20 Years

International Players' Impact on NBA Grows in Past Two Decades
Mariama Diallo February 17, 2011- VOA


The number of foreign-born players in America's professional National Basketball Association has tripled in the past two decades. One of the veterans - San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker - and a rookie - Washington Wizards' Hamady Ndiaye - talk about their respective experiences as foreigners in the NBA.

For NBA fans, Tony Parker is a household name, a 10-year veteran on one of the best teams in the league. Hamady Ndiaye is a little-known rookie on a team that loses far more often than it wins. What these two players have in common is they both grew up outside of the United States.

Parker is fortunate to be playing for one of the National Basketball Association's best teams, the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs have won four NBA titles in the past 12 seasons and have high hopes for another one. Two-thirds of the way through the season they have the best record in the league, having won 84 percent of their games with a 46-9 mark through February 17.

They recently scored a lopsided win over the struggling Washington Wizards in the nation's capital. Although he scored the most points for the Spurs, Parker still credited the team.

"It was a great team win," said Parker. "The team played great, everybody contributed; so it was a great win."

He was drafted in 2001 when he was only 19 years old. In only his second season with San Antonio, the Spurs won their second NBA title - their first came in 1999 - and they added championships in 2005 and 2007, when Parker was named Most Valuable Player.

Parker was born in Belgium to a Dutch mother and an African-American father, but grew up in France, where football (soccer) is one of the most popular sports.

"When we grew up basketball was in our family. We were big Chicago Bulls fans because my dad is from Chicago, so we always played basketball. That was the main sport in the family."

Parker's father played professional basketball in Europe and one of his two brothers currently plays in France.

He says basketball is one of the reasons he loves living in the United States and he's happy in San Antonio, Texas. "I am feeling very blessed and very lucky to be in a great organization, a great team. This year we are having a great year."

While Parker is considered a veteran since he has been with the Spurs for about a decade, Hamady Ndiaye of the Washington Wizards is a rookie in the NBA, being drafted last year out of Rutgers University in New Jersey.

A native of Senegal, Ndiaye is 2.1-meters (7 feet) - tall and recently celebrated his 24th birthday. The Wizards have won only 27 percent of their games so far this season - with a 15-54 record through February 17 - but the rookie remains upbeat.

"Well, it is very tough for the whole team and for me in particular," said Ndiaye. "I just came back from the D-league and I try to help these guys out at practice. Seeing us lose this hard, we [have] to pick it up real quick and move on. We got one coming up tomorrow. Hopefully we will get together and come in ready."

Ndiaye was born in Dakar, but says he spent a lot of time in Saly and Ngaparu, two resort towns with scores of hotels and luxury residences spread along their beaches.

He credits one person, Babacar Sy, not only for teaching him the basics in basketball when he was 15, but also with finding him a scholarship at a high school in California. He later would get another scholarship to Rutgers, where he played for four years and eventually earned a communications degree.

Although playing in the NBA is a dream come true, Ndiaye said there also are some tough moments.

"It is pretty tough not having your family and people you know and love around you," said Ndiaye. "It is tough, but I know I am here for a reason. Bigger things, not just me or my family, but I got a whole country behind me and supporting me all over the place. So it is tough in a way, but at the same time rewarding, knowing that I am working hard for a reason."

Ndiaye and Parker are following in a long tradition of foreign-born NBA players. Henry Biasatti of Italy is credited with being the first international player in the league in 1946.

In 1992, though, the year of the original U.S. Olympic "Dream Team," the NBA had only 21 international players on its rosters. Today, that number has tripled to 20 percent of all NBA players who represent 40 countries.





International Players' Impact on NBA Grows in Past Two Decades
Aricle from VOA

NASL - Division 2 North American Soccer League - 2011 Season

Second-Division Soccer Makes a Return in US

Kelyn Soong February 15, 2011 - VOA

Second-division soccer in the United States is set to make a return.  The on-again, off-again Division 2 North American Soccer League (NASL) has been provisionally sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) for the 2011 season.  The league will be expected to meet certain requirements before receiving permanent Division 2 status.

In a nation where American football reigns supreme, soccer is viewed more as a niche sport.  And while Major League Soccer, the top tier professional soccer league in the United States, has grown slowly and steadily, the leagues underneath it have struggled to stabilize.

U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati this week emphasized the influence the second-tier North American Soccer League would have on the growth of the sport in America. "If we want to see American soccer grow, having additional outlets for fans, whether in some cases it's in very different cities than where MLS may be, in other cases in suburbs of MLS markets or at a different level, I think it's very important," he said.

The re-development of NASL, which originally operated from 1968-1984, has been promising but not without struggles.

The league had been provisionally sanctioned in November 2010 before being revoked last month over financial concerns of some of its teams.  But last Friday, the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors voted to re-instate the provisional sanction.

NASL Chief Executive Officer Aaron Davidson understands that the NASL is a work in progress. "No one is under the assumption all of our teams are going to break even overnight, even now we are provisionally sanctioned and we are a second division league," he said.

With league play scheduled to begin on April 9, NASL is working hard to promote its eight teams (Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, FC Edmonton, FC Tampa Bay, Miami FC, Impact De Montreal, NSC Minnesota Stars and Puerto Rico Islanders) that are located in major markets across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati believes that with a solid foundation, NASL will be difficult to ignore. "The opportunity and the stability of the league are, obviously, very much related.  If the league is stable, and that's what we're counting on, and the business plan makes sense and you have sensible attendance and so on, then there will be increased interest for people to make an investment in a team," he said.

NASL's Aaron Davidson views the 2011 season as a litmus test to see where the league stands and what needs to be done to create stability in the future.  "This year is really about focusing on [foundation] and making sure we run a league where the teams are happy with the direction it's headed, where the [U.S. Soccer] Federation is happy with the direction it's headed, where the media and fans so we can build a methodical growth plan going forward," he said.

One of the teams, Montreal, will only be on board for one year before joining MLS and the five U.S.-based NASL teams will not be involved in this year's U.S. Open Cup soccer tournament due to delays in sanctioning. For NASL, the promising but difficult journey has just begun.

 

 

Second-Division Soccer Makes a Return in US

Article from VOA