Daniel Craig aka Agent 007 and Rachel Weisz secretly wed in New York with just four guests, including his 18-year-old daughter Ella and her 4-year-old son Henry and two friends. Secret marriage for secret agent?
Reel to real. The big-screen James Bond and Oscar-winning actress began dating late last year after playing husband and wife in the upcoming horror film Dream House.
Craig was previously married to actress Fiona Loudon. But this time, did Ian Fleming write the sequel “Marriage is Forever”?
Will P-Noy take a hint? The most eligible bachelor of Monaco also ties the knot today with his long-time companion Charlene Wittstock.
Billed as the "other" royal wedding, His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II, and Charlene are not measuring against recent Prince William and Kate nuptials. This Monégasque wedding must live up to the fairy tale cachet of Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly.
Monaco was doing well enough as a tax haven and casino… but the real coup for the principality was the Grimaldi wedding to Grace Kelly…the Hollywood epitome of High Society.
The Prince espied Charlene, a swimmer in the South Africa team, at the Olympics. She comes from a middle-class family; but she brings class.
He is himself a sportsman and captained the Monaco bobsled team in 2000 Olympics. The red Nike shoes he wore at competition is a trophied showcase of the Nike concessionaire in Monte Carlo.
Philippine honorary Consul General Dr. Stephan Zuellig, who is close to the Grimaldi family and the minders of the Palace, will surely be among invited guests.
At Dr. Zuellig’s Philippine National Day celebration in Monte Carlo, Prince Albert II surprised everyone by popping in. So the performing Bayanihan dancers repeated encore numbers for him, including Sayaw sa Bangko.
The Prince could not recall… (because he never forgot)…. that gossamer experience at Malacañang dinner years ago when a lissome Bayanihan dancer closed a performance by handing him a rose.
Monaco’s honorary Consul in Manila Fortune Ledesma was also invited, but turned uncustomarily shy of topping the top hat act of Princess Beatrice.
The man-about-town Prince Albert II took so long to finally commit to nuptials that Monaco amended its constitution allowing daughters to inherit the throne.
Monaco is a place where even Parisennes can feel poor pressing their nose to the windowpane.
Monégasques enjoy two national holidays this year – on the civil wedding on 1 July and on the church ceremony presided by Bishop Bernard Barsi on 2 July.
Variations. New York, birthplace of LGBT, is the 6th state to allow same-sex marriage. A conservative predicted that the next two cities to allow this will be Sodom and Gomorrah.
2011年6月30日星期四
2011年6月28日星期二
Cops confiscate counterfeit apparel
Undercover detectives raided a shoe store Tuesday morning where counterfeit footwear, clothing and purses were being sold, including Nike sneaker knock-offs, the St. Petersburg Police Department said.
A search warrant was served at Shoe Fashion, 3711 Fifth Ave. N., and counterfeit goods were seized, including more than 780 pairs of shoes, investigators said.
The owner of the store, Alam Shikdar, wasn't present, and no one has been charged.
Investigators launched an undercover operation after receiving an anonymous tip that counterfeit goods were being sold at the business.
Investigators discovered a bevy of counterfeit merchandise, including Nike shoes, Coach purses, Lacoste clothing, Ed Hardy clothing and Coogi clothing. Police said the merchandise, which was likely produced outside the country, was made to look like the authentic product but was being sold for far less.
For instance, a pair of Nike Jordan sneakers sells for $125, a pair of Nike Air Max for $100, and a pair of Nike Air Force 1 for $80, police said. But at Shoe Fashion, each pair cost $20, and a customer could get three pairs for $50.
Selling forgery is a second-degree felony, police said.
"This type of crime a lot of people tend to look at as a victimless crime," said police spokesman Mike Puetz. "To buy a pair of knockoff sunglasses, a lot of people don't think of the ramifications of that."
"We want to send a message out to all the individuals out there that might be inclined to think of this as a way to make a profit not to do this type of thing," Puetz said. "Go through a legitimate manufacturer for their product."
Investigators pored over the merchandise at Shoe Fashion and took what fell within the parameters of the search warrant. They left what didn't.
Investigators collected well over $100,000 worth of merchandise, police said.
One pair of Prada jeans had a sticker price of $975, and a Louis Vuitton shirt had a sticker price of $420.
Police said the store would not be shut down and would be allowed to sell what wasn't confiscated.
A search warrant was served at Shoe Fashion, 3711 Fifth Ave. N., and counterfeit goods were seized, including more than 780 pairs of shoes, investigators said.
The owner of the store, Alam Shikdar, wasn't present, and no one has been charged.
Investigators launched an undercover operation after receiving an anonymous tip that counterfeit goods were being sold at the business.
Investigators discovered a bevy of counterfeit merchandise, including Nike shoes, Coach purses, Lacoste clothing, Ed Hardy clothing and Coogi clothing. Police said the merchandise, which was likely produced outside the country, was made to look like the authentic product but was being sold for far less.
For instance, a pair of Nike Jordan sneakers sells for $125, a pair of Nike Air Max for $100, and a pair of Nike Air Force 1 for $80, police said. But at Shoe Fashion, each pair cost $20, and a customer could get three pairs for $50.
Selling forgery is a second-degree felony, police said.
"This type of crime a lot of people tend to look at as a victimless crime," said police spokesman Mike Puetz. "To buy a pair of knockoff sunglasses, a lot of people don't think of the ramifications of that."
"We want to send a message out to all the individuals out there that might be inclined to think of this as a way to make a profit not to do this type of thing," Puetz said. "Go through a legitimate manufacturer for their product."
Investigators pored over the merchandise at Shoe Fashion and took what fell within the parameters of the search warrant. They left what didn't.
Investigators collected well over $100,000 worth of merchandise, police said.
One pair of Prada jeans had a sticker price of $975, and a Louis Vuitton shirt had a sticker price of $420.
Police said the store would not be shut down and would be allowed to sell what wasn't confiscated.
2011年6月26日星期日
Awe-struck Eagles eager to race today
When the Pine Forest girls track team landed in Eugene, Ore., on Thursday afternoon, it was as if they entered an entirely different world.
They immediately were whisked to the University of Oregon, where they're competing today in the Nike Track Nationals, an elite event in which the top 12 girls teams and top 12 boys teams in the country compete for a national title.
They dropped off their bags in their dorm rooms, located adjacent to the famous Hayward Field, where the nation's best athletes currently are competing in the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Then, they were showered with gifts: new uniforms, new Nike running shoes, new warm-up suits. After that, all seven of the competing athletes were fitted for their own personal track spikes.
"I've never seen a town this crazy about track and field," said Paul Bryan, the Eagles' head track coach. "It's wild out here."
But today, the girls will be competing against the nation's best for a national title. That reality is starting to sink in.
"I just want to run in a personal-best time," said Johna' Whitaker, a rising junior who's competing in the 100-meter hurdles. "I love to run against people who are going to push me. Even if I'm not going to win, it's always better to run a faster time."
Whitaker currently is seeded third in her event, Bryan said. But several of the girls who are seeded behind her are just one-hundredths of a second off Whitaker's personal-best time of 14.12 seconds.
Darroneshia Lott, the three-time Class 3A 800-meter state champion, has an even bigger challenge to face. In the 800 meters, she'll be competing against Amy Weissenbach, a rising senior from Hollywood, Calif., who on Thursday night was named the nation's Female Track Athlete of the Year by both Nike and Gatorade.
Weissenbach's best time this year in the 800 is 2:02.04. To put how fast that is into perspective, the time is faster than the top qualifier for this week's U.S. national meet (Phoebe Wright, Nike, 2:03.42), plus would have won the NCAA Division I championship (Anne Kesselring, Oregon, 2:02.15).
"Darroneshia is about to run against her," Bryan said. "We're realistic about what we can and can't do."
Lott, who signed with three-time defending junior college national champion South Plains College from Levelland, Texas, also has a tough field in the mile run. Latorria Bell, an Ole Miss signee, is ranked in the middle of the pack in the 100, Bryan said.
But the Eagles had a good workout Friday morning. And what's most important to the team's seven competing athletes is that they take advantage of this opportunity, doing their best when it comes time to compete. In the meantime, they're just trying to take everything in.
"It's been a great experience," Whitaker said. "At first, I was nervous. But when I got back out on the track (Friday), I started to focus and put my head in the game. I'm not shaking anymore. I'm focused."
They immediately were whisked to the University of Oregon, where they're competing today in the Nike Track Nationals, an elite event in which the top 12 girls teams and top 12 boys teams in the country compete for a national title.
They dropped off their bags in their dorm rooms, located adjacent to the famous Hayward Field, where the nation's best athletes currently are competing in the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Then, they were showered with gifts: new uniforms, new Nike running shoes, new warm-up suits. After that, all seven of the competing athletes were fitted for their own personal track spikes.
"I've never seen a town this crazy about track and field," said Paul Bryan, the Eagles' head track coach. "It's wild out here."
But today, the girls will be competing against the nation's best for a national title. That reality is starting to sink in.
"I just want to run in a personal-best time," said Johna' Whitaker, a rising junior who's competing in the 100-meter hurdles. "I love to run against people who are going to push me. Even if I'm not going to win, it's always better to run a faster time."
Whitaker currently is seeded third in her event, Bryan said. But several of the girls who are seeded behind her are just one-hundredths of a second off Whitaker's personal-best time of 14.12 seconds.
Darroneshia Lott, the three-time Class 3A 800-meter state champion, has an even bigger challenge to face. In the 800 meters, she'll be competing against Amy Weissenbach, a rising senior from Hollywood, Calif., who on Thursday night was named the nation's Female Track Athlete of the Year by both Nike and Gatorade.
Weissenbach's best time this year in the 800 is 2:02.04. To put how fast that is into perspective, the time is faster than the top qualifier for this week's U.S. national meet (Phoebe Wright, Nike, 2:03.42), plus would have won the NCAA Division I championship (Anne Kesselring, Oregon, 2:02.15).
"Darroneshia is about to run against her," Bryan said. "We're realistic about what we can and can't do."
Lott, who signed with three-time defending junior college national champion South Plains College from Levelland, Texas, also has a tough field in the mile run. Latorria Bell, an Ole Miss signee, is ranked in the middle of the pack in the 100, Bryan said.
But the Eagles had a good workout Friday morning. And what's most important to the team's seven competing athletes is that they take advantage of this opportunity, doing their best when it comes time to compete. In the meantime, they're just trying to take everything in.
"It's been a great experience," Whitaker said. "At first, I was nervous. But when I got back out on the track (Friday), I started to focus and put my head in the game. I'm not shaking anymore. I'm focused."
2011年6月22日星期三
Change in China Hits U.S. Purse
For more than a decade starting in the early 1990s, U.S. inflation declined as low-wage workers in China and other developing nations joined the global economy and produced a tide of cheap goods that washed onto U.S. shores.
The trend made American consumers feel better off and, by restraining the upward crawl of consumer prices, helped enable the Federal Reserve to fuel the U.S. economy with low interest rates.
That epoch appears to be over. Prices of imported goods are climbing, becoming a source of inflationary pressure. A wide variety of common products made abroad, from shoes to auto parts to jewelry, are landing on U.S. docks with higher price tags.
U.S. import prices, excluding oil, rose 8% over the past two years, a historic shift from their downward drift for two decades. The increase is bigger still when including oil, which is up on global demand and Mideast turmoil.
Though the pressures eased a bit in recent weeks as commodity prices retreated, they show signs of becoming a nagging presence as Chinese workers and others in emerging markets win higher wages and also become eager domestic consumers.
The shift is part of a broader change that is reshaping the U.S. economy and its place in the world, with attendant pain as well as benefits. For years, U.S. consumers feasted on cheap imported goods—cheap partly because the Chinese currency was kept undervalued. This bred large U.S. trade deficits.
Most economists agree the U.S. needs to consume fewer goods from abroad and ship out more American-made goods and services. The upward drift in the prices of imported goods is a mechanism that makes that happen.
Currencies play a role. Washington has long pushed China to let its yuan appreciate and to encourage domestic consumption, both of which it has done to varying extents. The yuan is up 28% against the dollar in six years. The weaker dollar helps U.S. exporters, but the stronger yuan and the higher costs within China from domestic demand press upward on the costs of things U.S. shoppers want.
These changes are particularly apparent in apparel and footwear. U.S. consumer prices for apparel fell for 13 of the past 17 years, according to Labor Department data. Now, retailers and manufacturers warn of plans to push up prices on Nike sneakers, Hanes underwear, Abercrombie & Fitch and Polo apparel, Ugg boots and other products when fall lines hit the racks.
The key factor is that cotton prices have surged, driven in part by demand from developing economies. Higher labor costs in Chinese factories, rising transportation costs and the more expensive yuan also are pressuring makers and retailers to push up their prices.
U.S. apparel prices rose 1% in the 12 months through May. The American Apparel and Footwear Association estimates prices for its goods will be up 4% to 6% in the fall from a year earlier.
"The days of watching our product drop in price relative to other retail products have ended," said the association's president, Kevin Burke.
Thus, apparel prices and the cost of other imported goods, rather than helping the Fed control inflation as in the past, could tend to restrain it as the central bank searches for ways to spur a lumbering post-bubble U.S. economy.
Because the economy is still weak, overall inflation is unlikely to surge as it did in the 1970s. Fed officials have been comfortable enough with inflation to hold short-term interest rates near zero. But they are hesitant to take new measures, in part because inflation has ticked up.
The "inflationary impulse" from abroad requires the Fed to be "more wary," Richard Fisher, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said in an interview this month.
The U.S. consumer price index rose 3.6% in the year that ended in May—above the Fed's informal 2% target. This was largely because of gasoline, but pressure is building elsewhere too. Excluding volatile food and gas prices, the index was up 1.5% in May from a year ago, a pickup from increases of less than 1% last year.
"China's disinflationary forces are beginning to wane and more inflationary pressure is building," said Alan Greenspan, the former Fed chairman, who predicted such a shift in his 2007 autobiography. He said his successor, Ben Bernanke, is operating in a more challenging environment than Mr. Greenspan confronted in 19 years running the Fed.
The Chinese supply 78% of the footwear imported into the U.S.; 71% of the ties; 55% of the gloves; roughly 50% of dresses and baby clothing; and 90% of house slippers, according to Commerce Department data.
In contrast to the decades when a flow of Chinese workers from the countryside pushed factory labor costs down, China's workers now are demanding higher wages and better jobs.
They are also emerging as an army of consumers whose shopping puts upward pressure on prices globally. "I can afford even the nice things now," says Shi Yuhan, a 29-year-old telecommunications manager in International Business Machines Corp.'s Beijing office, where she makes more than $4,600 a month.
Ms. Shi hits pricey city shops nearly every week, spending $150 or more at a time. Her new outfits include sundresses from Spanish retailer Zara, a Burberry trench coat and Adidas sneakers with her English name, Rebecca, printed on them. Ms. Shi says she recently negotiated a 30% raise when a competitor tried to poach her, and her income is twice what it was four years ago.
Peter McGrath, a U.S. sourcing consultant for big companies, says Chinese demand is shaping global pricing dynamics.
He sits on the board of directors of Xiniya Fashions, a Chinese retailer with 1,400 shops. He says Chinese consumers pay up to $25 for polo shirts at Xiniya (pronounced Zenya), well above the $15 the same shirts sell for in the U.S.
Even with rebates that Chinese manufacturers get for exporting, that $25 domestic price makes them less willing to accept the price cuts that used to be a standard part of their business, Mr. McGrath says: "They can make more money by selling it to the Chinese market."
The trend made American consumers feel better off and, by restraining the upward crawl of consumer prices, helped enable the Federal Reserve to fuel the U.S. economy with low interest rates.
That epoch appears to be over. Prices of imported goods are climbing, becoming a source of inflationary pressure. A wide variety of common products made abroad, from shoes to auto parts to jewelry, are landing on U.S. docks with higher price tags.
U.S. import prices, excluding oil, rose 8% over the past two years, a historic shift from their downward drift for two decades. The increase is bigger still when including oil, which is up on global demand and Mideast turmoil.
Though the pressures eased a bit in recent weeks as commodity prices retreated, they show signs of becoming a nagging presence as Chinese workers and others in emerging markets win higher wages and also become eager domestic consumers.
The shift is part of a broader change that is reshaping the U.S. economy and its place in the world, with attendant pain as well as benefits. For years, U.S. consumers feasted on cheap imported goods—cheap partly because the Chinese currency was kept undervalued. This bred large U.S. trade deficits.
Most economists agree the U.S. needs to consume fewer goods from abroad and ship out more American-made goods and services. The upward drift in the prices of imported goods is a mechanism that makes that happen.
Currencies play a role. Washington has long pushed China to let its yuan appreciate and to encourage domestic consumption, both of which it has done to varying extents. The yuan is up 28% against the dollar in six years. The weaker dollar helps U.S. exporters, but the stronger yuan and the higher costs within China from domestic demand press upward on the costs of things U.S. shoppers want.
These changes are particularly apparent in apparel and footwear. U.S. consumer prices for apparel fell for 13 of the past 17 years, according to Labor Department data. Now, retailers and manufacturers warn of plans to push up prices on Nike sneakers, Hanes underwear, Abercrombie & Fitch and Polo apparel, Ugg boots and other products when fall lines hit the racks.
The key factor is that cotton prices have surged, driven in part by demand from developing economies. Higher labor costs in Chinese factories, rising transportation costs and the more expensive yuan also are pressuring makers and retailers to push up their prices.
U.S. apparel prices rose 1% in the 12 months through May. The American Apparel and Footwear Association estimates prices for its goods will be up 4% to 6% in the fall from a year earlier.
"The days of watching our product drop in price relative to other retail products have ended," said the association's president, Kevin Burke.
Thus, apparel prices and the cost of other imported goods, rather than helping the Fed control inflation as in the past, could tend to restrain it as the central bank searches for ways to spur a lumbering post-bubble U.S. economy.
Because the economy is still weak, overall inflation is unlikely to surge as it did in the 1970s. Fed officials have been comfortable enough with inflation to hold short-term interest rates near zero. But they are hesitant to take new measures, in part because inflation has ticked up.
The "inflationary impulse" from abroad requires the Fed to be "more wary," Richard Fisher, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said in an interview this month.
The U.S. consumer price index rose 3.6% in the year that ended in May—above the Fed's informal 2% target. This was largely because of gasoline, but pressure is building elsewhere too. Excluding volatile food and gas prices, the index was up 1.5% in May from a year ago, a pickup from increases of less than 1% last year.
"China's disinflationary forces are beginning to wane and more inflationary pressure is building," said Alan Greenspan, the former Fed chairman, who predicted such a shift in his 2007 autobiography. He said his successor, Ben Bernanke, is operating in a more challenging environment than Mr. Greenspan confronted in 19 years running the Fed.
The Chinese supply 78% of the footwear imported into the U.S.; 71% of the ties; 55% of the gloves; roughly 50% of dresses and baby clothing; and 90% of house slippers, according to Commerce Department data.
In contrast to the decades when a flow of Chinese workers from the countryside pushed factory labor costs down, China's workers now are demanding higher wages and better jobs.
They are also emerging as an army of consumers whose shopping puts upward pressure on prices globally. "I can afford even the nice things now," says Shi Yuhan, a 29-year-old telecommunications manager in International Business Machines Corp.'s Beijing office, where she makes more than $4,600 a month.
Ms. Shi hits pricey city shops nearly every week, spending $150 or more at a time. Her new outfits include sundresses from Spanish retailer Zara, a Burberry trench coat and Adidas sneakers with her English name, Rebecca, printed on them. Ms. Shi says she recently negotiated a 30% raise when a competitor tried to poach her, and her income is twice what it was four years ago.
Peter McGrath, a U.S. sourcing consultant for big companies, says Chinese demand is shaping global pricing dynamics.
He sits on the board of directors of Xiniya Fashions, a Chinese retailer with 1,400 shops. He says Chinese consumers pay up to $25 for polo shirts at Xiniya (pronounced Zenya), well above the $15 the same shirts sell for in the U.S.
Even with rebates that Chinese manufacturers get for exporting, that $25 domestic price makes them less willing to accept the price cuts that used to be a standard part of their business, Mr. McGrath says: "They can make more money by selling it to the Chinese market."
2011年6月20日星期一
Nicole Named in Wilson Elite Team
Zimbabwe's number 1 Under-14 tennis player, Nicole Dzenga's fairytale rise continues as she has been named in the 2011 Wilson Elite Team to be co-sponsored by Nike and tennis sports equipment manufacturer Wilson.
The six-member team made up of three boys and three girls, one each for the Under-14, 16 and 18 groups includes Philip de Bruyn, Matthew Rossouw, Trent Botha, Dzenga, Ilze Hatting and Madrie Le Roux from South Africa.
The players receive full sponsorship, including free racquets, tennis shoes, clothing and tennis bags for a year. The Nike team will tour Europe at the end of the year to participate in tournaments involving other Nike elite teams worldwide.
In a letter to Nicole, the sponsors' South Africa representatives said Nicole has to continue working hard if she wishes to continue being a member of the Elite team next year.
"As an elite member, you will now also receive a variety of Nike clothing together with your Wilson equipment. We only offer this elite sponsor to Wilson players.
"Due to your hard work and dedication in ranking top of your group, this is a true honour. If you would like to remain in the Wilson Elite Group for 2012, you are required to continue working hard. This sponsorship expires on December 31," the letter said.
Nicole, who is currently ranked as the number two on the Under 14 Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) rankings is fast fulfilling her father Regis Dzenga's dream of making her a world-class player.
Many a sport fan will remember that in 2008 when Dzenga quit his job as Zimbabwe Football Association's (Zifa) board member, it was stated that he was leaving the association to concentrate on coaching his then 10-year-old daughter in tennis.
"I am moving out of football and will now be focusing on training my daughter (Nicole) in tennis and assisting in the development of tennis.
"Every institution has its principles and ways and I guess it was a question of different approaches and principles. I feel I need to move out of the game," Dzenga declared that time.
His efforts seem to be bearing fruits as Nicole, who had to rely on her father's resources all along, is getting some recognition.
She is a member of the Zimbabwe junior tennis team and represented Zimbabwe at the 2011 Africa Junior Tennis Championships held in Botswana early this year.
Nicole to represent Zim
Nicole Dzenga is set to represent Zimbabwe at the World Junior Tennis Finals qualifiers in Egypt together with Karen Machisa and Karen Muswere where they are battling out against players from Namibia, Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and hosts Egypt.
In the boys' section, Tadiwa Chinamo, Alywn Mushonga and Ngoni Chiwetete will battle it out with players from South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, Ghana and Egypt.
The six-member team made up of three boys and three girls, one each for the Under-14, 16 and 18 groups includes Philip de Bruyn, Matthew Rossouw, Trent Botha, Dzenga, Ilze Hatting and Madrie Le Roux from South Africa.
The players receive full sponsorship, including free racquets, tennis shoes, clothing and tennis bags for a year. The Nike team will tour Europe at the end of the year to participate in tournaments involving other Nike elite teams worldwide.
In a letter to Nicole, the sponsors' South Africa representatives said Nicole has to continue working hard if she wishes to continue being a member of the Elite team next year.
"As an elite member, you will now also receive a variety of Nike clothing together with your Wilson equipment. We only offer this elite sponsor to Wilson players.
"Due to your hard work and dedication in ranking top of your group, this is a true honour. If you would like to remain in the Wilson Elite Group for 2012, you are required to continue working hard. This sponsorship expires on December 31," the letter said.
Nicole, who is currently ranked as the number two on the Under 14 Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) rankings is fast fulfilling her father Regis Dzenga's dream of making her a world-class player.
Many a sport fan will remember that in 2008 when Dzenga quit his job as Zimbabwe Football Association's (Zifa) board member, it was stated that he was leaving the association to concentrate on coaching his then 10-year-old daughter in tennis.
"I am moving out of football and will now be focusing on training my daughter (Nicole) in tennis and assisting in the development of tennis.
"Every institution has its principles and ways and I guess it was a question of different approaches and principles. I feel I need to move out of the game," Dzenga declared that time.
His efforts seem to be bearing fruits as Nicole, who had to rely on her father's resources all along, is getting some recognition.
She is a member of the Zimbabwe junior tennis team and represented Zimbabwe at the 2011 Africa Junior Tennis Championships held in Botswana early this year.
Nicole to represent Zim
Nicole Dzenga is set to represent Zimbabwe at the World Junior Tennis Finals qualifiers in Egypt together with Karen Machisa and Karen Muswere where they are battling out against players from Namibia, Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and hosts Egypt.
In the boys' section, Tadiwa Chinamo, Alywn Mushonga and Ngoni Chiwetete will battle it out with players from South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, Ghana and Egypt.
2011年6月16日星期四
Gordon's dream comes true in Bronx
From the top of the Yankee Stadium mound, the top of a journeyman's world, Brian Gordon surveyed the sweeping majesty of the place. No, he wasn't in Kansas anymore.
Or Corpus Christi or Round Rock or any of the minor league stops that defined a ballplayer's dream, and one that appeared certain to die in some backwater corner of America's game.
"I tried to pull my hat down low and not get caught up in it," Gordon said. "I figured if I pulled my hat down low and looked at the catcher, hey, I was doing that a week ago in Triple-A."
He'd been playing baseball in the minors ever since he was drafted as a 17-year-old by Arizona in 1997. The Diamondbacks took him in the seventh round as a hitter, an outfielder, even though he was just another kid out of Texas who burned to be the next Nolan Ryan.
"All Brian ever wanted to be was a pitcher," said his father, Ernie, a former Army sergeant out of West Point. "We were shocked when Arizona drafted him as a hitter, but we thought maybe the Diamondbacks saw something we didn't see."
It turns out they didn't. Gordon put in 10 years as a position player, constantly hitting the wall in Triple-A before finally deciding he would retire or pitch, one or the other. He was playing with Round Rock in the Astros chain when he knocked on the door of his manager, Jackie Moore, and told him he wanted a shot on the mound.
Over the years, Gordon would hit .275 with 119 homers in the minors, and he never once didn't feel a void in his competitive soul.
"Coaches had kept telling Brian to get pitching out of his head," said his mother, Wendy. "He'd been waiting all this time for one coach to tell him what Jackie told him: 'Show me what you got.'"
So Thursday in the Bronx, with Jackie Moore serving as bench coach for the visiting Texas Rangers, Brian Gordon did what his old minor-league manager asked him to do.
He threw five and a third innings of smart, efficient baseball at the Rangers, holding them to two runs in a tense game the New York Yankees would win 3-2 in the 12th.
"I'm very proud of him," Gordon's hero, Nolan Ryan, said from his Texas office after Joe Girardi lifted his man and sent him toward a standing ovation.
"Brian's performance was very representative of the type of pitcher he is, and it speaks volumes as to how much heart he has. To spend 10 years as a hitter in the minor leagues and end up pitching in Yankee Stadium, that's a true success story."
Ryan had a Hall of Fame hand in that story. Wendy Gordon worked as an office manager for the Round Rock team that Ryan owned, and when the strikeout king heard Brian wanted to pitch he gave the kid a call.
They worked out together, Ryan and the converted bush-league outfielder who used to rush home from school to watch videos of the one and only pitch.
"I worked on Brian's delivery some," Ryan said, "and I told him he had to command his fastball to move up to the big leagues. I encouraged him to stay with it. Even though he wasn't blessed with an overpowering fastball, he had command of the breaking ball and he was very dedicated to becoming the best pitcher he could possibly be."
In 2008, Gordon pitched four innings in relief for Ryan's Rangers before being ticketed for another minor league bus. This season he was 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA for Philadelphia's Triple-A team, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, when he exercised an out in his contract to sign with the Yanks.
Tuesday night, on the drive to New York, Gordon dialed his mother on one cell phone and his father on the other. "Brian didn't want one of us to hear the big news one second before the other," Wendy Gordon said.
Thursday, in the hours before his very first big-league start, Brian Gordon sat at his locker with his back to the vast oval clubhouse. A Yankees gym bag rested on the carpeted floor to the right of his chair, and three boxes of Nike shoes rested on the carpeted floor to the left.
One pitcher lockered next to Gordon, Aumari Sanit, had just been fired to make room for him on the 40-man roster, and yet Sanit had something his replacement did not -- a nameplate above his stall. Gordon? He was identified by a blank white card, a sure sign his was also scheduled to be a temporary stay.
"If I have to say goodbye," Brian Cashman had said, "it's a lot easier saying goodbye to him than somebody I drafted and developed."
Gordon reached for one of the Yankees warmup shirts and inspected the jersey as if it were some sacred shroud. He spent most of his pregame time just sitting and staring into nothingness, the silence occasionally interrupted by the equipment guy, Rob Cucuzza, or the pitching coach, Larry Rothschild, or a teammate, David Robertson, all of them checking in on this or that.
At 12:02 p.m., some 66 minutes before his first pitch, Gordon scanned an over-sized lineup card with the intensity of a linguist trying to decipher a Stone Age alphabet. He had every reason to be nervous. Cashman had described his $200 million team as a "massive underdog" simply because Gordon was on the mound.
"If you're in Vegas," the GM said, "you'd bet against us."
Cashman wasn't done. He was asked if it was odd that a potential World Series opponent such as Philadelphia would give the Yanks a credible and encouraging read on a pitcher who might aid their depleted staff, if only for a start or two.
"They got Cliff Lee, I got Brian Gordon," Cashman said through a smile. "I don't think they've got anything to worry about."
Or Corpus Christi or Round Rock or any of the minor league stops that defined a ballplayer's dream, and one that appeared certain to die in some backwater corner of America's game.
"I tried to pull my hat down low and not get caught up in it," Gordon said. "I figured if I pulled my hat down low and looked at the catcher, hey, I was doing that a week ago in Triple-A."
He'd been playing baseball in the minors ever since he was drafted as a 17-year-old by Arizona in 1997. The Diamondbacks took him in the seventh round as a hitter, an outfielder, even though he was just another kid out of Texas who burned to be the next Nolan Ryan.
"All Brian ever wanted to be was a pitcher," said his father, Ernie, a former Army sergeant out of West Point. "We were shocked when Arizona drafted him as a hitter, but we thought maybe the Diamondbacks saw something we didn't see."
It turns out they didn't. Gordon put in 10 years as a position player, constantly hitting the wall in Triple-A before finally deciding he would retire or pitch, one or the other. He was playing with Round Rock in the Astros chain when he knocked on the door of his manager, Jackie Moore, and told him he wanted a shot on the mound.
Over the years, Gordon would hit .275 with 119 homers in the minors, and he never once didn't feel a void in his competitive soul.
"Coaches had kept telling Brian to get pitching out of his head," said his mother, Wendy. "He'd been waiting all this time for one coach to tell him what Jackie told him: 'Show me what you got.'"
So Thursday in the Bronx, with Jackie Moore serving as bench coach for the visiting Texas Rangers, Brian Gordon did what his old minor-league manager asked him to do.
He threw five and a third innings of smart, efficient baseball at the Rangers, holding them to two runs in a tense game the New York Yankees would win 3-2 in the 12th.
"I'm very proud of him," Gordon's hero, Nolan Ryan, said from his Texas office after Joe Girardi lifted his man and sent him toward a standing ovation.
"Brian's performance was very representative of the type of pitcher he is, and it speaks volumes as to how much heart he has. To spend 10 years as a hitter in the minor leagues and end up pitching in Yankee Stadium, that's a true success story."
Ryan had a Hall of Fame hand in that story. Wendy Gordon worked as an office manager for the Round Rock team that Ryan owned, and when the strikeout king heard Brian wanted to pitch he gave the kid a call.
They worked out together, Ryan and the converted bush-league outfielder who used to rush home from school to watch videos of the one and only pitch.
"I worked on Brian's delivery some," Ryan said, "and I told him he had to command his fastball to move up to the big leagues. I encouraged him to stay with it. Even though he wasn't blessed with an overpowering fastball, he had command of the breaking ball and he was very dedicated to becoming the best pitcher he could possibly be."
In 2008, Gordon pitched four innings in relief for Ryan's Rangers before being ticketed for another minor league bus. This season he was 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA for Philadelphia's Triple-A team, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, when he exercised an out in his contract to sign with the Yanks.
Tuesday night, on the drive to New York, Gordon dialed his mother on one cell phone and his father on the other. "Brian didn't want one of us to hear the big news one second before the other," Wendy Gordon said.
Thursday, in the hours before his very first big-league start, Brian Gordon sat at his locker with his back to the vast oval clubhouse. A Yankees gym bag rested on the carpeted floor to the right of his chair, and three boxes of Nike shoes rested on the carpeted floor to the left.
One pitcher lockered next to Gordon, Aumari Sanit, had just been fired to make room for him on the 40-man roster, and yet Sanit had something his replacement did not -- a nameplate above his stall. Gordon? He was identified by a blank white card, a sure sign his was also scheduled to be a temporary stay.
"If I have to say goodbye," Brian Cashman had said, "it's a lot easier saying goodbye to him than somebody I drafted and developed."
Gordon reached for one of the Yankees warmup shirts and inspected the jersey as if it were some sacred shroud. He spent most of his pregame time just sitting and staring into nothingness, the silence occasionally interrupted by the equipment guy, Rob Cucuzza, or the pitching coach, Larry Rothschild, or a teammate, David Robertson, all of them checking in on this or that.
At 12:02 p.m., some 66 minutes before his first pitch, Gordon scanned an over-sized lineup card with the intensity of a linguist trying to decipher a Stone Age alphabet. He had every reason to be nervous. Cashman had described his $200 million team as a "massive underdog" simply because Gordon was on the mound.
"If you're in Vegas," the GM said, "you'd bet against us."
Cashman wasn't done. He was asked if it was odd that a potential World Series opponent such as Philadelphia would give the Yanks a credible and encouraging read on a pitcher who might aid their depleted staff, if only for a start or two.
"They got Cliff Lee, I got Brian Gordon," Cashman said through a smile. "I don't think they've got anything to worry about."
2011年6月14日星期二
Woman wakes with burglar in bedroom
A man broke into a home in Southeastern Clarke County on Sunday night, stealing a cellphone from a night stand next to a sleeping woman, Athens-Clarke police said.
The woman woke up during the burglary at the Woodlands of Athens condo complex, 490 Barnett Shoals Road, and saw the man run off with a second burglar who was waiting near the back door, according to police.
Authorities notified residents about the 10:20 p.m. burglary with the Nixle public alert system.
"It was a little concerning because the victim was home asleep when they came in," Athens-Clarke police Lt. Mike McKeel said Monday. "It scared everyone" at the condo complex, he said.
Police described both suspects as black men, between 16 and 20 years old; one had a buzz-cut hairstyle, a navy blue shirt, black basketball shorts and black Nike shoes, was about 6 feet tall and weighed between 155 and 160 pounds. The shoes had a white Nike "swoosh" and a red stripe that ringed the back of the heels, police said.
The other suspect was about 6 feet 2 inches tall, had pointy ears and wore a black shirt.
The woman woke up during the burglary at the Woodlands of Athens condo complex, 490 Barnett Shoals Road, and saw the man run off with a second burglar who was waiting near the back door, according to police.
Authorities notified residents about the 10:20 p.m. burglary with the Nixle public alert system.
"It was a little concerning because the victim was home asleep when they came in," Athens-Clarke police Lt. Mike McKeel said Monday. "It scared everyone" at the condo complex, he said.
Police described both suspects as black men, between 16 and 20 years old; one had a buzz-cut hairstyle, a navy blue shirt, black basketball shorts and black Nike shoes, was about 6 feet tall and weighed between 155 and 160 pounds. The shoes had a white Nike "swoosh" and a red stripe that ringed the back of the heels, police said.
The other suspect was about 6 feet 2 inches tall, had pointy ears and wore a black shirt.
2011年6月12日星期日
TOMS shoes distinguishes itself from other brands through donations to needy children
TOMS isn't just any other shoe brand. It is trying to make the world a safer place for kids -- one purchase at a time.
When a customer buys a pair of the distinctive shoes, TOMS donates a new pair to a needy child in one of 23 countries. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based company says the five most popular places it donates to are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Malawi, Peru and South Africa.
"I first saw them when I was shopping in California and thought they looked cool, but when I found out that they donate a pair to children in Africa, I knew I had to have a pair," says Palo Verde High School junior Sarah Sanders.
Toms is sold in several retail outlets; the most popular are Nordstrom and Toms.com.
The utilitarian shoes have been seen on men, women and kids of all ages.
Ryan Lipparelli, a junior at Palo Verde, says Toms are a great summertime shoe because they're easy to slip on and off. He owns a tan woven pair.
"A unique thing about mine is that they have been worn in the ocean," he says.
Blake Mycoskie started Toms in 2006, shortly after vacationing in Argentina. The Texas entrepreneur had visited the South American nation in 2002 while competing in the popular CBS reality TV show "The Amazing Race."
He saw many Argentine children who weren't wearing shoes. After getting Toms started, he returned later in 2006 with 10,000 shoes.
The company derives its name from the word "tomorrow." Mycoskie's original name for the concept was the "Shoes for Tomorrow Project."
In Argentina, Mycoskie came across the espadrille, a shoe Argentine workers wear.
He modernized the shoe by placing a rubber sole and leather on the inside, with bright colors on the outside. At first, he planned to sell a few hundred out of his loft in Santa Monica. Then retailers such as Fred Segal and American Rag heard about the shoes and wanted to sell them.
Toms is now pairing up with the Olsen twins (Mary Kate and Ashley) in their clothing line The Row to give Toms a luxurious look that is scheduled to come out in the fall. They will feature plaid, wool cashmere and herringbone styles. These styles will range from $98 to $150.
The average Toms pair costs anywhere from $48 to $69. Toms can be found in many other styles, including canvas wedge and sneakers.
Priya Ram, a junior at The Meadows, says that Toms are great because they go with the school's uniform. "At least 70 percent of the girls have at least one pair," she says.
Toms has a reputation for being comfortable.
"They are super duper comfortable, pretty much my go-to shoe," Sanders says. "I feel like I can do anything in them."
Connar Vela, a senior at Palo Verde, agrees.
"They have really good arch support, which I needed in order to stand for long periods of time at work," she says. "They form fit my feet so every time I put them on, it's so comfy."
Sanders loves Toms' humanitarian initiative.
"They represent more than just a shoe to me; they show me that I have in some way, made the world a better place," she says. "I know not by much but I plan on buying more Toms to fix that."
When a customer buys a pair of the distinctive shoes, TOMS donates a new pair to a needy child in one of 23 countries. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based company says the five most popular places it donates to are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Malawi, Peru and South Africa.
"I first saw them when I was shopping in California and thought they looked cool, but when I found out that they donate a pair to children in Africa, I knew I had to have a pair," says Palo Verde High School junior Sarah Sanders.
Toms is sold in several retail outlets; the most popular are Nordstrom and Toms.com.
The utilitarian shoes have been seen on men, women and kids of all ages.
Ryan Lipparelli, a junior at Palo Verde, says Toms are a great summertime shoe because they're easy to slip on and off. He owns a tan woven pair.
"A unique thing about mine is that they have been worn in the ocean," he says.
Blake Mycoskie started Toms in 2006, shortly after vacationing in Argentina. The Texas entrepreneur had visited the South American nation in 2002 while competing in the popular CBS reality TV show "The Amazing Race."
He saw many Argentine children who weren't wearing shoes. After getting Toms started, he returned later in 2006 with 10,000 shoes.
The company derives its name from the word "tomorrow." Mycoskie's original name for the concept was the "Shoes for Tomorrow Project."
In Argentina, Mycoskie came across the espadrille, a shoe Argentine workers wear.
He modernized the shoe by placing a rubber sole and leather on the inside, with bright colors on the outside. At first, he planned to sell a few hundred out of his loft in Santa Monica. Then retailers such as Fred Segal and American Rag heard about the shoes and wanted to sell them.
Toms is now pairing up with the Olsen twins (Mary Kate and Ashley) in their clothing line The Row to give Toms a luxurious look that is scheduled to come out in the fall. They will feature plaid, wool cashmere and herringbone styles. These styles will range from $98 to $150.
The average Toms pair costs anywhere from $48 to $69. Toms can be found in many other styles, including canvas wedge and sneakers.
Priya Ram, a junior at The Meadows, says that Toms are great because they go with the school's uniform. "At least 70 percent of the girls have at least one pair," she says.
Toms has a reputation for being comfortable.
"They are super duper comfortable, pretty much my go-to shoe," Sanders says. "I feel like I can do anything in them."
Connar Vela, a senior at Palo Verde, agrees.
"They have really good arch support, which I needed in order to stand for long periods of time at work," she says. "They form fit my feet so every time I put them on, it's so comfy."
Sanders loves Toms' humanitarian initiative.
"They represent more than just a shoe to me; they show me that I have in some way, made the world a better place," she says. "I know not by much but I plan on buying more Toms to fix that."
2011年6月7日星期二
Tigers' Danny Worth enjoying early success, big-league perks
Tigers infielder Danny Worth will take whatever playing time he can get in the big leagues. And, whatever free tennis shoes he can get, too.
Worth received a gently worn pair of Nike tennis shoes from manager Jim Leyland after Leyland complained his two-day-old shoes were unflattering. Worth mentioned his fondness of the Detroit Tigers-themed sneakers during a workout session prior to Monday’s game.
“We were in the weight room and (Leyland) was complaining about how ugly they were,” Worth said. “I told him that those are the best shoes I’ve seen around.”
Worth said he didn’t mind that his new-fangled shoes were a half-size larger than the size 10 ½ shoe he is accustomed to wearing. He said he considered Leyland’s kind gesture a perk to playing in the majors.
“I told him I’d take them off his hand if he ever wanted to throw them away, so he just gave them to me,” Worth said.
Worth was called up on May 27 from Triple-A Toledo to fill Scott Sizemore’s roster spot. He has five hits in 10 at-bats, including a two-run double that he lined to deep right center Monday.
“I was working a lot down in Triple-A trying to drive the ball more,” Worth said. “It’s good to see some results, even though I’m not trying to hit for power. I’m just trying to get singles and get on base.”
Worth received a gently worn pair of Nike tennis shoes from manager Jim Leyland after Leyland complained his two-day-old shoes were unflattering. Worth mentioned his fondness of the Detroit Tigers-themed sneakers during a workout session prior to Monday’s game.
“We were in the weight room and (Leyland) was complaining about how ugly they were,” Worth said. “I told him that those are the best shoes I’ve seen around.”
Worth said he didn’t mind that his new-fangled shoes were a half-size larger than the size 10 ½ shoe he is accustomed to wearing. He said he considered Leyland’s kind gesture a perk to playing in the majors.
“I told him I’d take them off his hand if he ever wanted to throw them away, so he just gave them to me,” Worth said.
Worth was called up on May 27 from Triple-A Toledo to fill Scott Sizemore’s roster spot. He has five hits in 10 at-bats, including a two-run double that he lined to deep right center Monday.
“I was working a lot down in Triple-A trying to drive the ball more,” Worth said. “It’s good to see some results, even though I’m not trying to hit for power. I’m just trying to get singles and get on base.”
2011年6月2日星期四
Village Baptist's music minister embarking on new journey
When Marten Spena came to Village Baptist Church in 1994 as director of all music ministries, it was at a time in his life when he felt God's calling to make a move.
Today, similar circumstances are leading him away from Village after 17 years to a new church undertaking in Enid, Okla., a little closer to his native Missouri.
Spena's last official Sunday at Village will be June 12, but he'll be around a little while after that, leading his final children's choir summer music camp at the church June 20-24 before packing up and reporting for work in Enid on July 1.
"If God has anything else for me to do, this is the time to do it," Spena said. "The position at the church in Enid is music and missions. It's a chance to help plan and direct mission activities for the church, something that has been near and dear to me for some time."
Spena also feels the move is timed right for his family. His daughter, Amy, just graduated from Village Christian Academy. His wife, Ronda, teaches music at the academy and felt she had completed the work God had called her to do at the school.
"The natural things in our lives that were occurring said this was great," Spena said. "It was time to see what God has for you someplace else."
He will leave behind strong, positive memories of his years at Village. One of the biggest was the physical move of the church in 1996 from its previous location on Village Drive, where it was known as Village Drive Baptist Church, to today's complex that includes Village Christian Academy on McPherson Church Road.
For years since the move, Village pastor Dr. Bruce Martin has jokingly referred to Village as "the church that lost its drive."
But Spena said it only takes a quick look at the facilities, programs and ministry at Village to know that is just a play on words and anything but fact.
"It was a privilege working with Bruce over the last 17 years and being part of the growth here at Village," Spena said, "the things we were able to accomplish."
Martin said Spena is unlike many church music ministers, who often approach music in worship as art. "For Marty, worship is heart first, then it's art," he said. "Worship was not just a service, but an experience of God. He led us to worship in spirit and in truth.
"For Marty, worship is a verb. It's something you do all the time. He truly saw his leadership as a ministry to souls, and he did an excellent job."
Martin said the church's personnel committee is looking for Spena's replacement and hopes to have someone in place before school starts in the fall.
"I don't know if that's possible," Martin said. Whoever it is, Martin said he'll have some large shoes to fill.
"When he (Spena) came here, we had about 300 in worship," Martin said. "Since then, we've started three churches and we have 1,300 in worship. He has been a dynamic part of all the ministries of this church and will be sorely missed."
Spena offered some advice for the person who will take his position at Village. "Dream big," he said. "Love these people and love the Lord. I think there's such a great opportunity for ministry here.
"Even though God is calling me away, he has somebody awesome to fill my shoes, and he's not leaving this church high and dry. I look for God to do amazing things at Village in the years to come."
Today, similar circumstances are leading him away from Village after 17 years to a new church undertaking in Enid, Okla., a little closer to his native Missouri.
Spena's last official Sunday at Village will be June 12, but he'll be around a little while after that, leading his final children's choir summer music camp at the church June 20-24 before packing up and reporting for work in Enid on July 1.
"If God has anything else for me to do, this is the time to do it," Spena said. "The position at the church in Enid is music and missions. It's a chance to help plan and direct mission activities for the church, something that has been near and dear to me for some time."
Spena also feels the move is timed right for his family. His daughter, Amy, just graduated from Village Christian Academy. His wife, Ronda, teaches music at the academy and felt she had completed the work God had called her to do at the school.
"The natural things in our lives that were occurring said this was great," Spena said. "It was time to see what God has for you someplace else."
He will leave behind strong, positive memories of his years at Village. One of the biggest was the physical move of the church in 1996 from its previous location on Village Drive, where it was known as Village Drive Baptist Church, to today's complex that includes Village Christian Academy on McPherson Church Road.
For years since the move, Village pastor Dr. Bruce Martin has jokingly referred to Village as "the church that lost its drive."
But Spena said it only takes a quick look at the facilities, programs and ministry at Village to know that is just a play on words and anything but fact.
"It was a privilege working with Bruce over the last 17 years and being part of the growth here at Village," Spena said, "the things we were able to accomplish."
Martin said Spena is unlike many church music ministers, who often approach music in worship as art. "For Marty, worship is heart first, then it's art," he said. "Worship was not just a service, but an experience of God. He led us to worship in spirit and in truth.
"For Marty, worship is a verb. It's something you do all the time. He truly saw his leadership as a ministry to souls, and he did an excellent job."
Martin said the church's personnel committee is looking for Spena's replacement and hopes to have someone in place before school starts in the fall.
"I don't know if that's possible," Martin said. Whoever it is, Martin said he'll have some large shoes to fill.
"When he (Spena) came here, we had about 300 in worship," Martin said. "Since then, we've started three churches and we have 1,300 in worship. He has been a dynamic part of all the ministries of this church and will be sorely missed."
Spena offered some advice for the person who will take his position at Village. "Dream big," he said. "Love these people and love the Lord. I think there's such a great opportunity for ministry here.
"Even though God is calling me away, he has somebody awesome to fill my shoes, and he's not leaving this church high and dry. I look for God to do amazing things at Village in the years to come."
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