LESAProject

For any NHL fan, the stories of the trials every young player goes through to realize his dreams are the stuff of legend. T.V. commercials glamorize fitness sessions with teenage superstars, who conduct their dry-land training with the help of an army of personal trainers and the best technology sports science can offer.But behind the hype and the images that are routinely beamed into hockey households across North America, there are literally thousands of individual stories of players and families whose dreams never came true.An effort to demystify the modern NHL dream is the subject of a new and important ...

Oscar Pistorius, the first amputee to compete in the Olympic Games, allegedly gunned down his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in cold blood. Given Pistorius' history and the fact that Steenkamp was shot multiple times inside the home, it seems far-fetched to believe there's an innocent explanation for the tragedy.Granted, stranger things have happened, and then there's the whole innocent-until-proven-guilty shtick, though South African law may be different. Suffice it to say, however, I'm part of the camp that's not holding its collective breath.We've seen this story before: A sensational athlete whose feats in competition are so profound, he or she gets miscast ...

Gentlemen, start your leashes.The Westminster Dog Show is back for its 137th consecutive showing, an impressive feat, and a true testament to the grandness of this event.Entries from all 50 American states, along with several foreign countries, comprise an impressive field of 2,721 dogs—the largest number in 15 years.This year also sees the introduction of two new breeds—the Treeing Walker Coonhound and Russell Terrier—which brings the total number of types up to 187.Here's a quick breakdown of when and where to watch the action, complete with some thoughts on why you'd be wise to do so. Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City, ...

It seems that Louisvillians appreciated the honor of hosting the 2013 UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships and had a good time in the process.  An online poll at the Louisville Courier-Journal's website reveals that by a ration of 2.5 to 1, the folks in the metro area support the event.And why not? We're talking about a bona fide world class sporting event right there in one of their city parks.As I reported earlier, Louisvillians appreciate elite-level sporting events and are willing to put up with some inconvenience for a chance to showcase their fine city to the rest of the world. Louisville ...

Two days before the 2013 UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships, USA Cycling gathered its top riders in each race category for a press conference at the race’s media center, set up in the building that houses the University of Louisville women’s rowing team.  Women’s rowing is one of the sports that colleges and universities added to comply with Title IX, which mandates equal opportunities for sports participation by men and women.  Soccer and cycling are also sports that saw a boost at the collegiate level as a result of Title IX. The general growth of women’s sports in the United States ...

As San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's desperation 4th-and-goal pass intended for receiver Michael Crabtree fell out of the end zone untouched towards the end of Super Bowl XLVII, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh yelled and pleaded with head linesman Steve Stelljes and side judge Joe Larrew for a holding call on Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith.Harbaugh reiterated his opinion post-game: "no question in my mind there was a pass interference and a hold."During that same interview, the losing coach also stated his disagreement with a previous pass interference call against San Francisco's Chris Culliver earlier in the period.Though NFL Rule 8-4 authorizes ...

Sports provide us with some incredible (and incredibly ridiculous) examples of sport identity.  This term is defined as “those aspects of an individual’s self-image that derive from the social categories to which he perceives himself to belong" (see book Examining Identity in Sports Media, edited by Heather Hundley and Andrew Billings) In other words, this is just a fancy way of academics understanding the fans’ and athletes’ selves in the realm of sports and our society.  The development of identity comes from a feeling of belonging within a group, which in this case would be a specific sport or sports team: Fans view ...

At Thursday's press conference USA Cycling coach Marc Gullickson sat quietly at one end of the podium as his star 'crossers took the media's questions.I asked him his approach to coaching elite athletes on a national team when all of the 'crossers have their own coaches, trainers and racing teams in support. Did he approach it like Mike Krzyzewski and draw up the x's and o's or was his role more organization and support?"I guess I have my own Dream Team," he said with a shy grin.He spoke for a couple minutes about the support he and USA Cycling provide for ...

 A couple of hours ago, the UCI sent out a press release announcing a change to the racing schedule for the Cyclo-Cross World Championships.Here’s the reason: Forecast data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) project that high water levels in the Ohio River will cause Beargrass Creek to flood the low lying areas of Eva Bandman Park in Louisville, Ky, in the early hours on Sunday morning and that water level will continue to rise for the next 48 hours. As a result of this forecast, the UCI decided to reschedule the Sunday races for Saturday.  Racing begins ...

World championship cyclo-cross course designer: it sounds like the most awesome job in the known universe.You get to be outside telling people what to do while plotting sinister traps for the racers.  You and you alone are responsible for the success of the race and your design is the test that selects a world champion.This is what I was thinking as I walked the course at the 2013 UCI World Cyclo-Cross Championships two days before the event. What devious mind came up with these off-camber straightaways that I can barely walk on?  Who devised these seemingly normal steps that rise ...