FanHouse http://www.fanhouse.com FanHouse http://www.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif FanHouse http://www.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Unfortunate Bathing Suit Mishap Puts Swimmer in Tears http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/unfortunate-bathing-suit-mishap-puts-swimmer-in-tears/ http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/unfortunate-bathing-suit-mishap-puts-swimmer-in-tears/ http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/unfortunate-bathing-suit-mishap-puts-swimmer-in-tears/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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The Jaked J01 swimsuit was temporarily banned by FINA (the International Swimming Federation) earlier this year because it supposedly gave swimmers an unfair competitive advantage. Recently, it's been the subject of talk of an entirely different sort, as an ill-located tear in the suit forced Italian Olympic swimmer Flavia Zoccari to sit out of a championship race.

At the Mediterranean Games on Wednesday, Zoccari (right) was forced to stand down from competition after the back hinge of the bathing suit tore, leaving a large portion of Zoccari's backside exposed.

Jaked, the manufacturers of the suit, boast that the J01 is "more than skin," but in Zoccari's case all it did was show more skin.

Zoccari, who was flooded with tears of embarrassment after the mishap, later apologized for the incident.

 

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]]> Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-07-02T12:07:00 00:00 Offseason Roadmap: Southeast Division http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/25/offseason-roadmap-southeast-division/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/25/offseason-roadmap-southeast-division/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/25/offseason-roadmap-southeast-division/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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It's officially the offseason, meaning the time is right to look into the future. We continue our division-by-division preview of the potential wheeling and dealing with the Southeast Division.

The Southeast is probably going to be the most boring division in hockey this offseason. Three of the teams don't have the financial capability to make the sort of splash they need, and the other two were good enough to mostly maintain the status quo.

Still, we've got two top-5 draft picks to look forward to, as well as the ongoing sagas surrounding the stars for both Florida franchises.

 

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]]> anssi salmelaanton babchukbryan littlechad larosechris borquedavid boothdennis seidenbergerik coleilya kovalchukjay bouwmeesterjussi jokinenKari Alznerkari lehtonenkarlis skrastinskeith aucoinstephen weisssteven stamkostuomo ruutuvictor hedmanvincent lecavalierzach bogosian Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-06-25T11:37:00 00:00 Navratilova Sued by Former Partner http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2009/06/24/navratilova-sued-by-former-partner/ http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2009/06/24/navratilova-sued-by-former-partner/ http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2009/06/24/navratilova-sued-by-former-partner/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom MantzouranisNine years after they met and unofficially wed in a ceremony in New Hampshire, tennis legend Martina Navratilova is being sued by her former partner, Toni Layton, who is claiming "emotional, mental and physical trauma" after Navratilova suddenly left her.
Layton said: 'Martina has got a fight on her hands. Without any warning, my life came crashing down around me. I was kicked out on the streets with only the clothes on my back.'
According to the Daily Mail, Layton is demanding a share of the four multi-million dollar homes that the pair purchased while together, though she could be entitled to more if her allegation that the couple agreed to "evenly share" all funds and assets attained by either while they were together is true. The lawsuit claims that among these items are a classic Mercedes Benz, two Land Rovers, a Jeep, a speed boat, two scooters, and two all-terrain vehicles.

 

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]]> martina navratilova Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-06-24T13:05:00 00:00 Roofless Era of Wimbledon Ends http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2009/06/22/roofless-era-of-wimbledon-ends/ http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2009/06/22/roofless-era-of-wimbledon-ends/ http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2009/06/22/roofless-era-of-wimbledon-ends/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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When Roger Federer opened his quest for another Wimbledon title on Monday morning under gray skies, long-time tennis fans likely had flashbacks to past tournaments and players sloshing around the court in the rain. The weather wound up holding for Federer's match, a win over Yen-hsun Lee, but it wouldn't have mattered even if rain was falling in buckets.

We're in a new, weather-proof era for Wimbledon, after all.

 

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]]> Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-06-22T15:02:00 00:00 NHL Awards Winners http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/18/nhl-awards-winners/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/18/nhl-awards-winners/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/18/nhl-awards-winners/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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The NHL handed out its annual awards on Thursday, recognizing the best performances in the league this year. After the jump, the full list of winners from the ceremony in Las Vegas.

 

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]]> Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-06-18T20:34:00 00:00 Barret Robbins Takes Positive Steps in Regaining His Life http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/13/barret-robbins-takes-positive-steps-in-regaining-his-life/ http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/13/barret-robbins-takes-positive-steps-in-regaining-his-life/ http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/13/barret-robbins-takes-positive-steps-in-regaining-his-life/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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Today, our society is better at understanding and accepting mental disorders. Troubles that were once delegitimized are now seen as serious medical issues and are attended to as carefully as physical ailments; people who were once discredited for being different are now seen in a different light.

 

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]]> barret robbins Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-06-13T15:47:00 00:00 Penguins Win Stanley Cup, Become NHL's New Elite http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/12/max-talbot-the-unlikely-hero-as-penguins-win-stanley-cup/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/12/max-talbot-the-unlikely-hero-as-penguins-win-stanley-cup/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/12/max-talbot-the-unlikely-hero-as-penguins-win-stanley-cup/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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Yet again, it wasn't easy, but battles of titans never are. In the wake left behind by the Penguins and Red Wings, it's time to consider one thing: the Wings, with their tradition and history of excellence, have been unseated atop the hockey world.

While there's no shame in losing in seven games to a team as talented as the Penguins, especially when you've set the bar unreachably high for a decade-plus, this loss feels more significant, more grave for the Wings. It feels like the making of a new superpower. It feels like the Penguins are poised to occupy the spot the Red Wings have inhabited, and that they'll be there for a long time.
Penguins 2, Red Wings 1: Recap | Box Score
Evgeni Malkin the Conn Smythe Winner

 

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]]> 2009stanleycupfinalsbill guerindan bylsmaevgeni malkinmarc andre fleurymax talbotnicklas lidstromsergei goncharsidney crosby Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-06-12T22:40:00 00:00 Pens Survive Late Fireworks, Stay Alive http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/09/p/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/09/p/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/09/p/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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Why not make it seven?

When there's hockey being played as urgently, breathlessly, and brilliantly as Tuesday night's Game 6, and you're given the gift of more, you don't ask why. You just accept it and offer gratitude to the two teams who made it possible. Forget Saturday's anti-climax, a 5-0 win for the Red Wings over the Penguins that again had Detroit looking epic and Pittsburgh embodying the lamb. Forget what you've known through six games.

These two teams deserve the most poignant of climaxes to the thrilling narrative they've written thus far.
Penguins 2, Red Wings 1: Recap | Box Score
Videos: Thrilling Saves for Pens

 

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]]> 2009stanleycupfinalschris osgoodjordan staalkris drapermarc andre fleurysidney crosby Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-06-09T22:40:00 00:00 Stanley Cup Finals Live Chat http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/09/stanley-cup-finals-live-chat-2-pm-et/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/09/stanley-cup-finals-live-chat-2-pm-et/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/09/stanley-cup-finals-live-chat-2-pm-et/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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The Cup will be present at Mellon Arena Tuesday night, but will it make an appearance on the ice? The Red Wings have one more win to go for their 12th Stanley Cup championship and second in a row, but the Penguins won't go quietly into the night, especially in their own building. Can Pittsburgh force a Game 7? We're talking about that and many other topics now. Join us after the jump.
Petr Sykora to Return for Game 6?

 

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]]> 2009stanleycupfinals Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-06-09T14:00:00 00:00 Dan Morgan Retires ... Again http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/08/dan-morgan-retires-again/ http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/08/dan-morgan-retires-again/ http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/08/dan-morgan-retires-again/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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Perhaps the Saints should stop looking at damaged goods to fix their weakside linebacker position?

In 2006, they brought in Anthony Simmons, a former Pro Bowler, to play there. It didn't matter that Simmons missed most of '04 and all of '05 with injury; he was supposedly healthy and low-risk/high-reward. He retired before his first game as a Saint ever came.

In '08, they brought in Dan Morgan, a former Pro Bowler. It didn't matter that Morgan had a list of concussions that would make Steve Young commiserate, as well as a partially torn Achilles tendon, the collaborative effects of which forced him to miss almost all of '06 and '07. He was supposedly healthy and low-risk/high-reward. He retired before his first game as a Saint ever came.

Morgan then unretired earlier this year and claimed that the Saints, who still had his rights, were getting a healthy and motivated player. On Monday, he retired. Again.

 

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]]> dan morganscott shanle Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-06-08T19:00:00 00:00 Stanley Cup Finals Predictions http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/29/stanley-cup-finals-predictions/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/29/stanley-cup-finals-predictions/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/29/stanley-cup-finals-predictions/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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The more things change, the more they stay the same. We've got a new president, gas prices have fallen and unemployment has risen. Yet Saturday's Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals will have a familiar look to it, as the Penguins and Red Wings are meeting in a finals rematch for the first time in 25 years, even if the teams themselves don't exactly look the same. Will the results match last year's? Find out what we think, after the jump.
More Coverage: Stanley Cup Finals Ref Report

 

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]]> 2009stanleycupfinals Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-05-29T12:00:00 00:00 NHL Playoff Predictions, Conf. Finals http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/16/nhl-playoff-predictions-conf-finals/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/16/nhl-playoff-predictions-conf-finals/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/16/nhl-playoff-predictions-conf-finals/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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(Getty Images)

Well, that was an exciting round of postseason hockey, wasn't it? Even with the anti-climax between the Penguins and Capitals, the second round was saturated with competitive action. Our predictions race is no different. After the second round, there's a logjam at the top, where four of our writers sit with an 8-4 record.

Which two teams do we each see competing for the Cup? Find out after the jump.

 

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]]> Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-05-16T15:00:00 00:00 Looking for Bruins-'Canes? Good Luck ... http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/14/looking-for-bruins-canes-good-luck/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/14/looking-for-bruins-canes-good-luck/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/14/looking-for-bruins-canes-good-luck/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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You've probably heard it by now, but this postseason (Wednesday night's epic fail by the Capitals aside) has been absolutely riveting, the type of postseason the good-press-hungry NHL needed. And the good press has come; people are noticing.

Still, there have been two stories undermining an otherwise success -- the league's TV exposure, and a ridiculously inconsistent disciplinary structure. The TV thing, though, is nothing new; people have ragged on Versus from the inception of the league's deal with them. The gripes are valid, even if the league's reports of ratings increases are meant to quell them. There are still fundamental flaws in the league's TV deal, as almost everyone interested in watching Thursday's Bruins-Hurricanes Game 7 will experience first-hand.

 

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]]> Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-05-14T14:00:00 00:00 Scott Niedermayer Elbows Pavel Datsyuk http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/13/scott-niedermayer-elbows-pavel-datsyuk/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/13/scott-niedermayer-elbows-pavel-datsyuk/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/13/scott-niedermayer-elbows-pavel-datsyuk/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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We chuckled slightly when the Ducks accused the Red Wings of being a dirty team, because, well, they're the Ducks, and they're no strangers to rule-bending play themselves.

At the end of Tuesday night's Game 6 between the Red Wings and Ducks, Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer added to Anaheim's history of extreme physicality, elbowing Pavel Datsyuk in the face and, in the process, adding to a large melee. Don't expect Niedermayer to get suspended, though, because this is the NHL, and that would make too much sense. Video of the elbow is above, and video of the fight at large is after the jump.

 

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]]> pavel datsyukscott niedermayer Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-05-13T13:15:00 00:00 Familiar Ground for Ovechkin, Not Crosby http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/13/familiar-ground-for-ovechkin-not-crosby/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/13/familiar-ground-for-ovechkin-not-crosby/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/13/familiar-ground-for-ovechkin-not-crosby/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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Players are usually predictable quotes, and you know that the company line from the Capitals and Penguins leading into their Game 7 Wednesday will be about how this is just another game.

Except for the fact that it isn't. And the players know it.

Of course, they're not just trying to convince us that it's just another game, they're trying to convince themselves. Game 7s are won with poise and will; those aren't necessarily traits that manifest when a player allows himself to realize the exact gravity of what's to come. Especially in this rare instance of the sporting world at large focusing on one hockey game. That attention has come, obviously, because of the presence of Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, so how they handle the mental and emotional toll is critical.
More Coverage: Gonchar Practices Again for Pens

 

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]]> alex ovechkinsidney crosby Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-05-13T12:15:00 00:00 Michael Phelps, Sexual Olympian? http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/05/11/michael-phelps-sexual-olympian/ http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/05/11/michael-phelps-sexual-olympian/ http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/05/11/michael-phelps-sexual-olympian/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom MantzouranisNews of the World is quickly making a reputation based on sullying the reputation of Michael Phelps. You probably remember the tabloid exposing a photo of Phelps smoking a bong at a house party earlier this year, causing a media whirlwind around the record-breaking Olympian, but they're at it again. Their latest look at Phelps again involves his party habits, except this time they're focusing on the bedroom.

 

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]]> michael phelps Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-05-11T12:49:00 00:00 Blackhawks Rally Late, Even Series http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/07/blackhawks-rally-late-even-series/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/07/blackhawks-rally-late-even-series/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/07/blackhawks-rally-late-even-series/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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It's a thin line between being clutch and being a goat. The Blackhawks are learning how to handle that delicate balance.

Another dreadfully slow start had Chicago staring at a 3-1 series deficit to the Canucks, until they decided to stop playing with fire and start turning that heat on Vancouver. As a result, the NHL saw another late goal change the landscape of a game this postseason, with the Blackhawks getting the better of this one and leveling the series at two games apiece.
Blackhawks 2, Canucks 1 OT: Recap | Box Score | Thursday's Scores

 

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]]> andrew ladddarcy hordichukdave bollandjonathan toewsmartin havlatpatrick kaneroberto luongo Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-05-07T22:58:00 00:00 Saints Admit Interest in Edgerrin James http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/06/saints-admit-interest-in-edgerrin-james/ http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/06/saints-admit-interest-in-edgerrin-james/ http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/06/saints-admit-interest-in-edgerrin-james/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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Earlier this offseason, Sean Payton broke down the Saints' personnel objectives into needs and wants. Among the needs: safety, corner. Among the wants: power running back. They were close to obtaining the latter in last month's draft, when they almost swung a deal to move up and select Beanie Wells. Alas, they didn't, thus they're currently still left wanting.

The team that did wind up selecting Wells, Arizona, pushed a disgruntled Edgerrin James out of town to make room for the rookie. Now, the Saints are looking at Edge to fill the power-back role in New Orleans.

 

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]]> beanie wellsdeuce mcallisteredgerrin jamesheath evansherb donaldsonlynell hamiltonmike bellpierre thomaspj hillreggie bushsean payton Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-05-06T15:58:00 00:00 Chris Pronger, NHL's Dirtiest Player http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/06/video-chris-pronger-nhls-dirtiest-player/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/06/video-chris-pronger-nhls-dirtiest-player/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/06/video-chris-pronger-nhls-dirtiest-player/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom MantzouranisYou might have heard that a recent Sports Illustrated poll of 324 NHL players resulted in Chris Pronger and Steve Ott being named the dirtiest players in the game, with Jarkko Ruutu falling just a hair behind.

Pronger brushed off the "honor," saying "That's their prerogative. There's always a lot of whining out on the ice." Pronger might be able to dismiss his overly-rugged play, but a picture is worth a thousand words. And videos? Well, the proof is in the pudding. After the jump, videos of Pronger doing the dirty work.

 

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]]> chris prongerjarkko ruutusteve ott Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-05-06T13:15:00 00:00 Chris Kunitz Avoids Suspension http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/05/chris-kunitz-avoids-suspension/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/05/chris-kunitz-avoids-suspension/ http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/05/05/chris-kunitz-avoids-suspension/#comments Tom Mantzouranisby Tom Mantzouranis

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You would probably think that Chris Kunitz would face some sort of punishment from the NHL for what appears to be, in the slow-motion video above, a deliberate cross-check to the face of Simeon Varlamov. But that would be giving the wacky NHL too much credit.

 

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]]> blair bettschris kunitzdonald brashearjiri hudlermike brownsimeon varlamov Tom Mantzouranis tom-mantzouranis 2009-05-05T16:20:00 00:00