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Monday, August 15, 2016

Rio takeaways: Monica Puig"s gold medal just part of the story

Mónica Puig of Puerto Rico Celebrates First Gold Medal | Rio Olympics 2016 | The New York Times
12:30 PM ET

Greg GarberSenior Writer
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These days, you"re never quite sure what you"re going to get from 34-year-old Serena Williams -- and women"s tennis is more compelling (not to mention competitive) because of it.

After sailing through her first two matches at the Olympic Tennis Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Serena was stopped in the third round by Elina Svitolina, and the draw opened up dramatically -- to the extent that the No. 34-ranked woman, Monica Puig, vaulted into the gold-medal match.

Those who believe Olympic rings are meaningless to today"s thoroughly professional players might want to reconsider that take. The emotions displayed in and around that final match against Angelique Kerber underlined just what a special event the Olympics can be. With nine days of sterling tennis in the rearview mirror, here are five fleeting takeaways from the women"s event:

1. Monica Puig was a (startling) revelation

REUTERS/Toby Melville

The 22-year-old from San Juan is the first person, male or female, to win an Olympic gold medal representing Puerto Rico. She stared down Kerber, the reigning Australian Open champion, in a powerful finals performance, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. In fact, Puig took down three Grand Slam champions en route (also Garbine Muguruza and Petra Kvitova). Going forward, believe it or not, that achievement might resonate greater than the gold itself.

2. Serena Williams is showing some nerve

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

And this is not in a good way. For several years, Serena, who turns 35 in September, has floated nicely above the fray when most 30-somethings normally start to lose their command. At the time, what we saw at the US Open last year in a semifinal loss to Roberta Vinci looked like a collapse under the pressure of chasing a calendar-year Grand Slam. In retrospect, it might have been the beginning of the end of her complete dominance of the sport. Losing to Svitolina, a woman who had never beaten her, is typical of where Serena finds herself these days. She will likely win more majors, but it"s going to get progressively more difficult.

3. Madison Keys is still a work in progress

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

The 21-year-old American is widely thought to be a future No. 1 player, but she experienced some growing pains in Rio. Keys hits the ball huge, but Kerber is that rare player who can defend those big strokes. Keys was 0-for-10 in the crucible of break points on Kerber"s serve and must find a way to master those pivotal moments with something other than bash and brawn.

4. Venus finds redemption

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

While the 36-year-old failed to escape the first round in singles and went down early with her sister in doubles, mixed doubles was another story. Playing with Rajeev Ram in an attempt for her record fifth gold medal, Venus fell to Jack Sock and Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the championship match. Still, a silver was her fifth Olympic medal in tennis, equaling Kathleen McKane of Great Britain, who won a gold, two silvers and two bronzes in the 1920s.

5. Bethanie Mattek-Sands is money

LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images

You have to love the spark this 31-year-old American can still create. Mattek-Sands can now add an Olympic gold medal to her already impressive resume. She and Sock came back to beat Venus and Ram 6-7 (3), 6-1, 10-7. Mattek-Sands had previously won two Grand Slam women"s doubles titles (in 2015, with Lucie Safarova) and two mixed-doubles crowns, with Horia Tecau in 2012 and Mike Bryan in 2015.

Source: http://www.espn.com/olympics/summer/tennis/story/_/id/17308148/rio-olympics-monica-puig-gold-medal-just-part-story

Beach Volleyball: Crowd taunts US players with "Zika" jeers

Irene Verasio & Camila Hiruela (ARG) Women"s Beach Volleyball Highlights

The crowd at Copacabana"s Beach Volleyball Arena loudly booed and taunted American volleyball players Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat during an Olympic pool match Sunday, shouting "Zika" each time one of the duo served.

Their treatment follows U.S. women"s soccer goalie Hope Solo also being roundly booed in a pool match against France on Saturday night because of her comments about the virus.

Neither Sweat nor Fendrick is known for expressing alarm over playing under the threat of the virus - indeed in an interview with a U.S. channel last week, Fendrick called the water quality in Brazil and Zika "non-factors" for the duo.

But with some high profile U.S. competitors having withdrawn from the Games citing their concerns over Zika, other U.S. athletes also appear to have become targets for vocal criticism.

In February, the U.S. Olympic Committee told U.S. sports federations that athletes and staff concerned for their health over Zika should consider not going to the Games.

American golfer Dustin Johson is among several top-ranked men in the sport who dropped out over Zika fears.

In June, American cyclist Tejay Van Garderen withdrew his name from consideration for the U.S. team, also citing concern over the virus.

Global health officials are racing to better understand the virus behind a major outbreak that began in Brazil last year and has spread to many countries in the Americas.

In the match, Fendrick and Sweat started strong against Poland"s Monika Brzostek and Kinga Kolosinska, winning the first set 21-14, before falling apart and losing the following two sets 13-21 and 7-15.

(Reporting by Amy Tennery; Editing by Alison Williams)

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-rio-beachvolleyball-m-zika-idUSKCN10I0OL

Ohio Politics Now: Will Donald Trump talk about story on Paul Manafort, Ukraine while in Youngstown?

COMPLETE INTERVIEW: Jake Tapper Interviewes Paul Manafort On "State of the Union" (8/14/2016)

Want to know whats happening in Ohio government and politics from Columbus to Washington,D.C.? The Columbus Dispatch has you covered.

GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump will appear at a rally at Youngstown State Universitythis afternoon expected to give a majorforeign policy speech.

What you can expect: "He"s going to lay out his vision and his strategy fordefeating radical Islamic terrorism," runningmate Mike Pence told Fox News Sunday.

Team Clinton already on the attack: Over the course of the campaign, Trump hasput forth one falsehood after the next, trash-talking America and our leaders with ridiculoussmears and using outrageous lies to stoke fears and division for personal gain. Trumps foreignpolicy comments range from long-debunked false attacks on Hillary Clinton to fact-free rhetoricabout global issues that makes us less secure, the campaign for Democratic nominee Hillary Clintonsaid in a release sent out Sunday.

Reminder: The Mahoning Valley is Trump-friendly territory. He won there and alongOhios eastern border counties in the March primary even while Ohio Gov. John Kasich won the restof the state.

But will Trump address this New York Times story? Under the headline Secret ledger in Ukraine lists cash for Donald Trumps campaign chief, Andrew E. Kramer, Mike McIntire and Barry Meier write:

On a leafy side street off Independence Square in Kiev is an office used for years by Donald J. Trump s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, when he consulted for Ukraines ruling political party.His furniture and personal items were still there as recently as May.

And Mr. Manaforts presence remains elsewhere here in the capital, where governmentinvestigators examining secret records have found his name, as well as companies he sought businesswith, as they try to untangle a corrupt network they say was used to loot Ukrainian assets andinfluence elections during the administration of Mr. Manaforts main client, formerPresident Viktor F. Yanukovych .

Handwritten ledgers show $12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments designated for Mr.Manafort from Mr. Yanukovychs pro-Russian political party from 2007 to 2012, according to Ukraines newly formed National Anti-Corruption Bureau. Investigators assert that the disbursements werepart of an illegal off-the-books system whose recipients also included election officials.

Well be there to see: Dispatch Public Affairs Editor Darrel Rowland will be atthe Youngstown event. You can follow him on Twitter for the latest updates and check back with Dispatch.com.

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Happening later this week: Clinton will stop back in Cleveland to talk about tospeak about "tax fairness and investing in Ohio, according to Dispatch reporter Randy Ludlow.

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In case you didnt know: Ohio is kind of a big deal in the election and you canexpect to see the candidates here quite a bit. You can see where theyve been already with our interactive map thatincludes stories, photos and videos from their stops.

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At the Columbus Festival Latino: Dispatch reporter Catherine Candisky talked to people about the election thisweekend at the Columbus Festival Latino.

What they said: "I could never vote for someone as inhumane and immoral as Trump," saidJessica Rodriguez, a 40-year-old Columbus immigration lawyer and independent voter. "He"s a bully.He scares people."

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Talk of child care and the election: Both Trump and Clinton have releasedambitious plans aimed at cutting the costs of child care in America, signaling that in thiselection, one of the most hotly contested groups might be those pushing strollers, Dispatch Washington reporter Jessica Wehrman writes.

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Circus show: Rowland was on hand last week for a focus group of Wal-mart moms inColumbus where 10 women talked about this years election.

When asked how they feel about the election, the used words like Worried. Frustrated. Messy.Divided. Ridiculous. Disrespectful. Circus show, Rowland writes.

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Lets talk about the Senate race: You may not know much about Rob Portman or TedStrickland yet, but chances are, their campaigns know about you, Wehrman writes. Thanks to increasingly sophisticated methods of using data tocategorize and target voters, their campaigns are having incredibly specific conversations withvoters.

And then there is this: Ohios U.S. Senate race, where $33 million and thatsjust spending from outside groups has already been dumped into web, radio and TV ads. The race,said campaign watchdog Center for Responsive Politics, is the most expensive one in the nation. Thebulk of that nearly $19 million has been spent opposing Strickland, Wehrman writes.

But lets talk about issues: Wehrman breaks down where Strickland and Portman stand on economic issues.

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On the countdown: 85 days until the general election.

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A look at ECOTs history with the state: Todays legal battle potentiallyinvolving hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars paid to online charter schools in Ohio beganmore than 15 years ago with an audit, an unusual agreement and a mysterious scrawled signature followed by years of legislative inaction, Dispatch reporters Jim Siegel, Catherine Candisky and Bill Bush write.

This isnt a new issue. Its just come to a head, said Steve Burigana, former chiefoperating officer and head of the Department of Educations Office of Community Schools. Thedepartment is trying to do the right thing ... and once again, ECOT is saying no.

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A look at whats happening with Agile Networks and the state: State officials areforfeiting hundreds of thousands of dollars annually by allowing a contractor to lease stateproperty to another company and keep the money, Ludlow writes.

But, they say, that was the price to be paid to comply with federal tax laws while alsoexpanding internet connectivity to rural areas, particularly in southeastern Ohio.

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On this day: According to the Dispatch library, on this day in 2008, Formereastern Ohio Congressman Bob Ney walks out of a Cincinnati halfway house, ending his 17 months infederal custody for trading legislative acts for meals, a golf trip and other perks from adisgraced Washington lobbyist.

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Get the news in your inbox: Did you hear we have a Dispatch Politics email? Getpolitical news delivered to your inbox each morning and as news breaks. Sign up here.

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meverhart@dispatch.com

@meverhart26

Source: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/08/15/ohio-politics-now-will-donald-trump-talk-about-paul-manafort-ukraine-while-in-youngstown.html

Meet the German beach volleyball player whose hat has a history of its own

Sheyla Gomez - Womens Beach Volleyball Goddess from Canary Islands
Lars Fluggen, a German beach volleyball player, competes in pool play of the 2016 Olympics. (Getty)

Lars Fluggen probably isnt trying to make a fashion statement every time he steps on the sand, but the 26-year-old beach volleyball player is still turning heads.

While amodest accessory, the not-quite-white bucket hat atop Fluggens head definitely manages to catchthe eye. And the Olympian isnt planning to play without it any time soon.

I dont know what will happen if I stop wearing this, he said earlier in the week.

The hat looks similar to the one worn by the title character of the 1960s sitcom Gilligans Island, and its origins go back to 1995, when Fluggen was just 5 years old. His mother bought it for him on a vacation in Amrum, a German island in the North Sea, but it didnt become a regular wardrobe addition until much later.

Fluggen, who started on the junior circuit as a teenager in 2008, discovered the old gift in his closet a few years ago and made it a permanent part of his match attire. h**l wash the 21-year-old hat following tournaments but not while one is in progress.

Now, making its first appearance in the Olympics, the Gilligan hat has gathered a small following on Twitter.

It was quite a journey for Fluggen and his partner Markus Bockermann to reach Rio in the first place. In the FIVB Qatar Open in April 2016, the two of them reached the semifinals but had to withdraw because Fluggen suffered a knee injury. One month later, the pair entered the championship match of the FIVB Antalya Open, only to have Fluggens knee fail him again.

Just two months ago, the German duo successfully qualified in its final opportunity. Hat in tow, the Germans made their way to Rio, entering ranked No. 13 in the world, according to their FIVB World Tour Ranking.

Unfortunately, Fluggen and Bockermann were unable to do much once they reached Rio, though, losing three straight matches. A straight-set loss to the Russian duo of Nikita Liamin and Dmitri Barsouk on Wednesday officially eliminated them from the Olympics.

While the lucky hat didnt bring much luck in Rio, at least Fluggen will get a chance to wash the sweat and sand out for a fresh start inthenext competition.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/meet-the-german-beach-volleyball-player-whose-hat-has-a-history-of-its-own-084822269.html

Kevin Hart gets married to longtime girlfriend

Kevin Hart Pissed Off Michael Jordan

Hart, 37, married his longtime girlfriend Eniko Parrish, 31, in California on Saturday.

The couple, who"ve been engaged for two years, gave fans a glimpse into their nuptials by documenting the lavish affair on Instagram.

Parrish wore two custom Vera w**g gowns for the big day. One for the ceremony, and another with French Chantilly lace appliqu, for the reception.

Hart, who has two children from his previous marriage to Torrei Hart, made their eight-year-old son Hendrix his best man. He posted a dapper pic of them in matching tuxedos and wrote, "U can"t teach COOL...U either have it or u don"t.....My son AKA my best man has it!!!!! Last night was MAGICAL."

Hart"s daughter Heaven, 11, was also part of the ceremony and posed for a beautiful family pic with the caption, "#Harts What"s understood doesn"t need to be explained! #livelaughlove."

Hart, who must of had a great time, posted a photo at the end of the evening of himself bleary eyed and sprawled out on the lawn captioned, "How my wedding night ended."

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/15/entertainment/kevin-hart-married-eniko-parrish/

Police Trying to Determine What Caused JFK Airport Gun Calls

No Shots Fired At JFK Airport

NEW YORK Police were investigating what caused people to report hearing gunshots at Kennedy Airport on Sunday night, triggering a series of evacuations and some panic among travelers spooked by the heavy police response.

Investigators determined there were no guns or ammunition involved, but videos and photos showed people cowering behind chairs and running across a road to escape the evacuated terminals.

One video showed startled travelers scrambling for cover as a team of police officers swept through the terminal, weapons drawn, shouting for people to get down on the ground.

Police evacuated Terminal 8 as a precaution around 9:30 p.m. Sunday after receiving a 911 call reporting the sound of a gunshot near the departures area.

The initial report that resulted in the "robust response" was "not a hoax," said airport police spokesman Joe Pentangelo, but rather appeared to be "an initial reaction to people running."

It"s not clear what had prompted the people to run.

Port Authority police called in officers from the New York Police Department to assist with the investigation.

A short time later, police closed Terminal 1 after receiving reports of a gunshot there. A highway approaching the airport also was shut down.

Demetrius Pipkin told WPIX-TV he was in Terminal 1 waiting for his Norwegian Airlines flight when passengers were "told to get on the floor and take cover behind any and everything we could find."

Pipkin described the terminal as a "madhouse" with panicky passengers eventually bolting for the nearest exists.

According to the flight tracking company, FlightAware, all inbound flights were held at their origin at until 11:30 p.m. "due to security."

Continue reading the main story

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/08/15/us/ap-us-jfk-airport-incident.html

12 Reasons Why We Love Dipa Karmakar More Than Ever Before

Rio Olympic 2016: Dipa Karmakar eyes historic medal in vault final today

Dipa Karmakar is the toast of the nation right now. She may not have won a medal but the 4th place finish in the gymnastics vault event has put her on the map.

AFP

The 23-year-old"s achievement is no mean feat as it is a big boost for the sport in the country. Here are some reasons why we should embrace her:

1. She loves what she does

AFP

Her smile is always proof that she is at home when she performs those deadly moves.

2. Understands her own value

AFP

Dipa knows that no medal can decide how good an athlete she is.

3. Despite all her achievements, she remains grounded

AFP

Humility is her cornerstone and she still has it despite her name and fame.

4. For her success is a reality and not some dream

AFP

She knows her success is not a dream run as she has worked hard to be where she is.

5. Shares a great relationship with her coach

AFP

The chemistry helps her do well on the big stage.

6. Worked on her body to become a gymnast

AFP

From a flat-footed child to a world class gymnast, the journey has been epic.

7. Is very close to her loved ones

AFP

At the end of the day, only what those close to her think of her matters to Dipa.

8. Always full of optimism

AFP

Is never down mentally as she believes every cloud has a silver lining.

9. Enjoys the journey to become the best

AFP

Learns from experience to be the best at what she does.

10. Despite no medal at Rio, she has no regrets

AFP

Dipa knows that this performance is a stepping-stone to more success.

11. Dominates her sport like a person in control

AFP

She knows what she is doing when she is flying through th air.

12. Has more talent than many others

AFP

Dipa is clearly no ordinary girl and that"s what sets her apart.

Source: http://www.indiatimes.com/sports/rio-olympics/12-reasons-why-we-love-dipa-karmakar-more-than-ever-before-259990.html