That's not a silver medal! That's a platinum medal!

Ahh, when the Olympics roll around, it's fun to hate the Russians. Especially when they won silver and then claim they won platinum.

Evgeni Plushenko, the much-decorated Russian figure skater who lost the gold in Vancouver to American Evan Lysacek, has apparently created a fourth kind of Olympic medal: A platinum one.

Evgeni, who blamed the judges for his near-miss effort at gold last week, has posted a picture of his "platinum" medal from Vancouver on his official Web site.

Oh man! That's classy! I wish more figure skaters would pull ridiculous moves like this. Pull a steel chair on a hated rival. Trash talking after a routine. You want to make figure skating more accessible to men? Do away with the tights and have the guys act selfish and angry all the time!

See the madness first hand at http://evgeni-plushenko.com/

(Found this on The Locker Room Blog)

Man, sucks to be you

Say what you will about Michael Phelps, and James from Collegiate Handyman has plenty to say:

"All the American Announcers want to jump his bone, they don't even talk about the rest of the swimmers. I'd rather just watch the Canadian broadcasts."

Well said, I'll try to talk a bout another swimmer ... Serbia's Milorad Cavic, who was leading Phelps in the 100m butterfly but instead of taking one last stroke, he coasted and tried to stretch out for the victory, which allowed the American swimmer to do one last stroke and push ahead quickly for a .01 margin of victory.

Thank goodness for touchpad sensors.

It's really go to suck to be Cavic right now. He had the race, but a half-second action cost him a gold medal. But really... don't coast to victory, you still had enough room to do a final stroke.

Okay, I have no idea why I'm calling people out on swimming when I couldn't make it across a pool at the local Holiday Inn.

Hey, does anyone know if the Davenport Hotel has a pool?

Epic Video: Olympic rap

Tacoma resident, Paul Brogan is at it again.



Here's his MySpace with more raps.

Epic Video: Brad Walker

Spokane native and University of Washington graduate Brad Walker qualified for the Beijing Olympics in the pole vault.

He finished third during the trials yesterday, not having his best performance. He cleared 18-6.5 feet.

But three weeks earlier he set the American Record at 19 feet 9 3/4 inches. Here is that vault.

Washington native sets new American Record in Pole Vault

It was quite a day for Washington natives in the professional sporting world today.

Today marked the Nike Prefontaine Classic, and 14,221 fans were in Eugene, Oregon to watch.

A number of meet records fell, but no one was more watched than Spokane native, Brad Walker.

Walker, a graduate of University high school in Spokane, and the University of Washington, cleared an American Record in the pole vault. He cleared 19 feet 9 3/4 inches.

After two attempts at the World Record of 20 feet 2 inches, he called it a day.

"I've never heard cheering like I heard at my second attempt at the WR. It startled me. It's overwhelming. But I'll take that any day of the week. It was great."

Walker will be back at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus in a few weeks for the Olympic Trials. The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be held June 27-July 6.

Another Northwest native, Tommy Skipper of Sandy, Ore. and University of Oregon graduate, finished 6th in the pole vault at 17 feet 8 3/4 inches.

And as for another Washington athlete, Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Race today at Pocono. It was his third win in the past four races. But only two count toward point standings, as his win at the All-Star race isn't a point qualifying event.

With the win Kahne moves up to 9th in the overall NASCAR standings, 365 points behind the leader.

Not too bad of a day for professional athletes from the Pacific Northwest.

Epic Video: Olympic Matrix

This is one of the coolest things we at Just South of North had seen in a while.

In honor of the upcoming summer Olympics. Enjoy.



Here's the real site: http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=3537

Epic Photo of Greatness

(Thanks Spokesman-Review for your photo slideshows)

Sometimes I give the French a little more razzing than they deserve. I must applaud their anti-Chinese protests as the Olympic flame was paraded through their city. Here's a caption from the photo above...

A Pro-Tibet protester escapes a police officer during the Olympic torch relay in Paris. Security officials extinguished the torch four times Monday as chaotic protests against China's record on human rights and Tibet interrupted the relay. (Jacques Brinon/Associated Press)

Apparently things got testy in Paris, because French people get really pissy when governments start taking away freedom. I wish Americans would do the same but we're too busy getting Tivo to work.

(Actually, San Francisco is bracing for the worst when the Olympic torch comes through their town. I hope things get rocking because we know the Bay area loves a great political protest)

Sorry China, but until you start treating your people like human beings, you shouldn't be allowed to host the Olympics. Now go block this blog from your people's search engines...