Say it with Sports: She’s Got Game Gift Box

Celebrate March Madness with unique “She’s Got Game” note cards. Box of high quality 5×7 cards and envelopes to be used for all occasions. Buy a box for yourself or get some as gifts for friends and teammates! Only $10.95 for 12 cards + S&H. Free Pretty Tough stickers with all orders this month.

College basketball brackets revealed

The NCAA men’s basketball championship brackets were revealed on Sunday afternoon and that means the beginning of  March Madness. Millions of people in the US will now start to take part in bracket pools in the hopes of proving they have top knowledge of the sport.

It’s been a busy day in women’s college basketball as well as conferences finished up post season tournaments and more teams learned that their season is not over. Here’s a list of who earned automatic bids to the to the 2010 NCAA women’s college basketball tournament:

TEAM -CONFERENCE -DATE -LAST BID
—- ———- —- ——–
East Tennessee State (23-8) Atlantic Sun 3/6 2009
Austin Peay (15-17) Ohio Valley 3/6 2009
Princeton (26-2) Ivy League 3/6 none
Marist (26-7) Metro Atlantic Athletic 3/7 2009
Duke (27-5) Atlantic Coast 3/7 2009
Ohio State (30-4) Big Ten 3/7 2009
Tennessee (30-2) Southeastern 3/7 2009
Gonzaga (27-4) West Coast 3/8 2009
Chattanooga (24-8) Southern 3/8 2008
Xavier (27-3) Atlantic 10 3/8 2009
Middle Tennessee (25-5) Sun Belt 3/9 2009
South Dakota State (22-10) Summit League 3/9 2009
Connecticut (33-0) Big East 3/9 2009
Tulane (26-6) Conference USA 3/12 2002
Lamar (26-7) Southland 3/12 1991
Bowling Green (27-6) Mid-American 3/13 2007
UC Riverside (17-15) Big West 3/13 2007
Louisiana Tech (23-8) Western Athletic 3/13 2006
San Diego State (21-10) Mountain West 3/13 2009
Hampton (20-11) Mid-Eastern Athletic 3/13 2004
Portland State (18-14) Big Sky 3/13 none
Lehigh (29-3) Patriot League 3/13 2009
Southern (23-8) Southwestern Athletic 3/13 2006
Vermont (26-6) America East 3/13 2009
James Madison (26-6) Colonial Athletic 3/14 2007
Cleveland State (19-13) Horizon League 3/14 2008
Texas A&M (25-7) Big 12 3/14 2009
Liberty (27-5) Big South 3/14 2009
St. Francis, Pa. (17-14) Northeast 3/14 2005
Northern Iowa (17-15) Missouri Valley 3/14 none
Stanford (31-1) Pacific-10 3/14 2009

Sporty Saturday Spotlight presents Emery Kate Tillman

This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on fifteen-year-old snowboarder Emery Kate Tillman. Check out Emery’s in-depth interview below where she dishes on what it’s like to kayak down a huge waterfall, Mia Hamm, and much, much more.

Name: Emery Kate Tillman

Age: 15

Sport(s): Whitewater Kayaking, Soccer, Nordic skiing, but mainly kayaking

Hometown: New Orleans Louisiana

High School: New River Academy and Middlebury Union High School

What’s your fave sport? Kayaking

How many years have you been playing your fave sport? 2 and a half years

What was your fave sporty moment or memory?

When I was in New Zealand last fall I ran a waterfall called Mauria falls. It is this HUGE 35 foot waterfall. I was so scared.  It was one of the biggest things I had seen in my life.  After about 3 days of convincing myself to run it, I slowly geared up and went down it. I am so proud of myself that I did it. Also making the USA team is definitely a favorite memory.

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

The biggest lesson I have learned, well, I have two – on the water and off the water. On the water the lesson is to just have fun, you cannot stress about making minor mistakes. You just have to go with the flow of the current. Additionally, off the water the second lesson is that as much as I argue with my parents, no matter what, they are always there for me.

What lessons have you learned about work ethic from your sport?

I have learned that you always have to keep trying that you cannot give up. If at first you do not succeed, try, try again.

How do you balance school and sports?

School and sports definitely are hard to balance. Right now, I just got done with my soccer season and I am starting Nordic. (cross country skiing) What I do to manage my time is make lists so I know what I have to get done and when it is due. Last year I had the ability to go to a school focused on Kayaking, so schoolwork was planned around kayaking. It was an awesome school and taught me so much.

List some awards or accolades you have received.

I am a member of the USA Junior Freestyle Team

2^nd at USA Team Trials 2009

13^th at ICF Freestyle World Championships 2009

1^st Kayak School Competition between New River Academy and World Class Kayak Academy (I beat all of their guys.)

Voted most enthusiastic by my soccer team

Who is your fave athlete, both male and female?

Male: Lance Armstrong not only is he an outstanding athlete he has also made a difference in the world by setting up the Live Strong Foundation, which donates millions to cancer research.

Female Kayaker: Emily Jackson: Emily is an amazing paddler she has her own style of paddling that is wicked to watch. She also just turned 19 and killed it at the world championships. She is a great person in the sport to look up too.

Non kayak Female: Mia Hamm when I think of a female athlete Mia comes to my mind. She dominates on the field and scored a record number of goals.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

I am constantly in wearing dresses, baking cookies and cupcakes, also you’ll never find me without a bow in my hair.

Just a quick thanks to my sponsors: Seals Spray Skirts, Julbo Sunglasses, and Immersion Research.

Thanks, Emery! Mia Hamm rocks. Love your interview, congratulations on your accolades and sponsorships, and best of luck with your kayaking career.

Do you or someone you know want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

Roster set for USA-MEX friendly matches

The US women’s national soccer team will be back in action after defeating Germany 3-2 for the Algarve Cup title in Portugal on Feb. 3. Head coach Pia Sundhage has named the 24 players that will take on Mexico in two friendly matches. The first game will be on Sunday, Mar. 28 at Torero Stadium (University of San Diego) at 2pm PT and will be aired live on FSC. The second match will be on Mar. 31 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandu, Utah and will be live on ESPN2 at 7pm MT.

All 19 players that were on the Algarve Cup roster are on this roster, and are joined by some newbies, and one other very familiar name. The 3 goalkeepers are Jillian Lloyden, Hope Solo, and Nicole Barnhart.

The defenders that played in Portugal are Stephanie Cox, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Meghan Schnur, Cat Whitehill, and San Diego’s own Rachel Buehler. They are joined by first-round WPS Draft picks Brittany Taylor, who has trained with the national team before, and Whitney Engen who gets her first call up tot he national team.

The midfield consists of  Yael Averbuch, Shannon Boxx, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, and Kristine Lilly, who will be back witht he national team since Dec. 2008 when she joined that team in the last leg of the Achieve Your Gold Tour after having her daughter.

Up top, forwards Lauren Cheney, Casey Nogueira, Amy Rodriguez, and Abby Wambach are joined by Alex Morgan and Kelley O’Hara who are both also getting the chance to get their first caps ever.

The two matches wil be the first domestic games of the year for the WNT, as well as the domestic debut of their new uniforms.

More info: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2010/03/Sundhage-Names-24-Players-for-Matches-against-Mexico.aspx

Sporty Saturday Spotlight presents Whitney Frankovic

This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on twenty-one year old snowboarder Whitney Frankovic. Check out Whitney’s in-depth interview below where she dishes about how she overcomes frustration, traveling, makeup, and much, much more.

Name: Whitney Frankovic

Age: 21

Sport(s): Snowboarding

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

High School/Middle School/College: I went to middle school/high school in North Royalton, Ohio. I am currently a senior at the University of Utah.

What’s your fave sport?

Definitely snowboarding, but I love to watch baseball too. Go Tribe!

How many years have you been playing your fave sport?

I started snowboarding in ski club with my school in 7^th grade, so it’s been about 10 years.

What was your fave sporty moment or memory?

I love traveling, especially to new resorts, so I love getting the chance to explore a new mountain.

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

Don’t worry about the other people that are out there, ride for yourself and do your own thing.

What lessons have you learned about work ethic from your sport?

Sometimes learning something new when it comes to snowboarding can get frustrating. It’s important to not get mad and loose confidence when you fall. You’ll never learn if you don’t take a few good crashes. It will be worth it when you get the trick down.

What have you learned about teamwork?

I think teamwork is great because everyone is there to support each other, push each other to excel and just be there to just have a good time with. It’s fun being around people who aren’t there to judge you, but there to give you confidence.

How do you balance school and sports?

In high school it was easy, because my home resort in Ohio didn’t even open until 3:00pm every day, so I would just head up after school. I didn’t really do much studying so there was never really a conflict with that. In college it’s a little harder. I try to schedule my classes as early as I can in the morning so I can head up to the resorts in the afternoon then study at night. Sometimes I’ll have to take a day or two off during the week to get some things done for school. I think it’s important to get school stuff out of the way, because then I’ll be worrying about it when I’m out riding.

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

It’s really hard to just pick two, because there are so many great athletes out there, but I guess if I had to pick, it would be Marie-France Roy and Euro Ettela.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

I really like makeup for some reason. I don’t even wear it all the time, but I have tons of it! Sometimes I get up a little early and put makeup on before heading up to the mountain (haha).

Thanks, Whitney! So many amazing life lessons you’ve shared! Great stuff and best of luck with your snowboarding career.

Do you or someone you know want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

Memorable moments from female athletes at the Winter Olympics

All in all, the Vancouver Olympics were  a roller coaster of emotion; so anticipated and anxiety-driven, filled with milestones and achievements as well as heartbreak.  In the span of two weeks, there were personal, poignant moments to cherish, along with stories of accomplishments and  disappointments. A lifetime of emotions, condensed into 14 action-packed days.

Needless to say, there were lots  of memorable moments from the Winter Games , not the least of which was Shaun (”The Animal”) White’s repeat  gold medal and his Double McTwist 1260, a whirl of somersaults and flips that ends with a blind landing.

In this post, we’d like to shine the light on the oft-overlooked female athletes and some of our fave moments that will last long after the athletes pack up and leave Vancouver.

Hannah Kearney (Women’s moguls)

Four years ago, U.S. moguls skier Hannah Kearney sat in the stands in Turin after placing a dismal 22nd in the qualifying round as Canadian Jenn Heil proudly climbed atop the podium for gold. It was a moment Kearney never wanted to repeat.

She proved that during the first weekend of the Games, when she exorcised that nightmarish performance and spoiled the party for Heil with a dominating victory on Cypress Mountain. Kearney turned her showdown with the defending Olympic champion into a blowout, posting a score of 26.63 to claim the first U.S. gold medal in Vancouver.

Joannie Rochette (Figure skating)

Twenty-four year old Joannie Rochette may not have won the gold medal in figure skating but she won the hearts of fans around the world with her incredible performance.  She competed just days after her mother, Therese, died from a sudden heart attack after arriving in Vancouver. A grieving Rochelle broke down in tears after her short program and followed  with an emotional free skate program to capture the bronze at the Pacific Coliseum.  It hardly mattered that two skaters beat Rochette, including gold medalist Kim Yu-Na of South Korea who broke a world record with a highly memorable routine.

Petra Majdic (Cross-country skiing)

If gold medals were handed out for bravery then Slovenian cross country skier Petra Majdic would have been a runaway winner. Majdic broke five ribs when she slipped and fell down a gully during a training run but defied medical advice and excruciating pain to battle through three races and clinch the bronze in the women’s sprint classic. She was in so much pain that she needed help just getting on to the podium to collect her medal.

Lindsey Vonn/Julia Mancuso (Women’s downhill)

Lindsey Vonn lived up to the hype and won the women’s downhill on a badly bruised shin in a 1-2 finish with American teammate and rival Julia Mancuso in the opening week of the Games.

Kallie Humphries, Heather Moyse, Helen Upperton, Shelley-Ann Brown (Women’s bobsled)

Before the Vancouver Games, Canada had never won a medal in women’s bobsled. By the time the Games  ended, the country had two -gold and silver – courtesy of new champions Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse and runners-up Helen Upperton and Shelley-Ann Brown who sent the Whistler Sliding Center into a roaring frenzy with their medal-winning final runs. That Upperton missed a medal four years ago by .05 of a second driving Moyes, whose arrival in her sled booted a broken-heart Humphries, simply added another layer of drama to the moment.

Lydia Lassila (Women’s freestyle aerials)

Australia’s Lydia Lassila has won the gold medal in the women’s freestyle aerials by beating Chinese stars Li Nina and Guo Xinxin into the silver and bronze positions respectively.

The Chinese, led by Turin silver medallist Li, had been highly expected to win the event and even perform a podium clean sweep. They currently dominate the World Cup points table, filling five of the top six berths.

But Lassila, the only non-Chinese in the world top six, wowed the judges, and the underdog, who recently battled back from a series of injuries, moved into the gold medal position.

Angela Ruggiero, U.S., Canadian & Finnish Teams  (ice hockey)

Women’s ice hockey offered a myriad of memorable moments during the Vancouver Games. From early complaints that the sport wasn’t competitive enough, to the high-stakes gold medal game between the U.S. and Canada, to the post-match celebrations, we’ll remember these female athletes.

Who can forget the champagne, beer, at least one cigar and an attempt to drive an ice resurfacing machine after the Canadian team captured the gold medal in a 2-0 win over the U.S?  It seemed like a typical championship celebration, save for the fact the IOC and Hockey Canada felt the Canadian women’s team somehow provided a disservice to Olympic “ideals” by enjoying as they saw fit on the ice. Never mind that IOC honchos can dine with whatever wine and spirits they like, the court of public opinion forced the IOC’s complaints to go up in a cloud of smoke.

And when the president of the IOC announced to the world the sport needs to change to remain on the program, Finland’s women’s hockey team stepped up big time. Their overtime win against Sweden on Thursday had all the feel of gold. Just as the Swedes in 2006 stunned the hockey world by upsetting the Americans for the first non-U. S./Canada final in women’s Olympic hockey history, Karoliina Rantamaki’s goal 2:33 into extra time gave the Finnish team their first medal since women’s hockey’s debut Olympics in 1998.

Special Mention: Though it was certainly a memorable moment when Ruggerio won her fourth Olympic medal, her biggest contribution to the Olympic movement might still be to come: Ruggiero, who played hockey at Harvard, was elected by her peers to represent all Olympic athletes on the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission. The appointment will be for eight years and allows Ruggiero to become a full-fledged member of the IOC.

In the end, it wasn’t a single nation or gender that owned the podium, but the single-minded, passionate pursuit of athletes from around the world. And along with their competitive performances,  memories saved for eternity.

After Vancouver, the baton is handed to Russia

Do Svidanya (Goodbye) Vancouver. Do Vstretchi (See You) in Sochi.

As the Vancouver Olympics come to a close, the focus turns to the other side of the globe and Russia’s first Winter Games which will  take the Olympic movement to a new territory and a new set of challenges.

Scheduled to take place from February 7 to February 23, 2014. this will be the first time that the Russian Federation will host the Winter Olympics; the Soviet Union hosted the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow.

The Russian city’s first big moment in the world spotlight came during Sunday’s closing ceremony, with the Olympic flag handed from the mayor of Vancouver to the mayor of Sochi.

At the end of the Handover ceremony , the audience inside the BC Place was invited to hold up their own small Zorbs, like snow domes. Around the world, the crowd appeared as twinkling red, white and blue spheres, representing the Russian colors, and demonstrating Sochi 2014’s commitment to the involvement of people from all cultures and backgrounds.

After the glitz and glamour of the closing ceremonies, the hard work will continue back home as organizers continue to prepare for an event that has the prestige of Russia and its leaders – including Prime Minister Vladimir Putin – on the line.

Ever since Sochi was awarded the games by the International Olympic Committee three years ago, questions have been raised: Can Sochi complete its massive construction projects on time? Will the funding hold up? Will the games be safe in a city near the separatist Abkhazia region in neighboring Georgia?

Putin, Russian president at the time, was instrumental in Sochi securing the games when he traveled to Guatemala City in 2007 and personally lobbied IOC members. He and current President Dmitry Medvedev remain centrally involved in making sure the games are a success.

Sochi, established as a summer resort under Joseph Stalin, is a city of about 500,000 people in Russia’s Krasdonar region. Olympic organizers hope the games will serve as a catalyst in turning the area into a year-round world-class destination for Russians and foreign tourists alike.

Organizers say the games will feature the most compact layout in Winter Games history, with a cluster of ice arenas situated along the Black Sea coast and snow and sliding venues a half-hour away in the Krasnaya Polyana mountains. A new rail line is being built to connect the two clusters.

Sochi has to build virtually all of its Olympic facilities from scratch. All the venues are now under construction, with 16,000 workers busy on what is probably the biggest construction site in the world.

Sochi promises that all venues will be ready two years in advance to allow for the holding of Olympic test events. The first trial run will take place a year from now with a second-tier European Cup event in Alpine skiing. More than 70 test events are planned in 2012 and 2013.

The cost of the Olympic infrastructure project is put at $7 billion.

So what do you have planned for mid-February 2014? Whether you’re an athlete hoping to compete, or a fan who wants to watch the Games, it’s never too early to start making plans.

(via USOC)

Sporty Saturday Spotlight 2-27-10

This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on seventeen-year-old Weekly Short Track Racer, Amber Abram. Check out Amber’s fun interview below where she dishes about her favorite driver, pink trophies, and much, much more.

Name: Amber Abram

Age: 17

Sport(s): Weekly Short Track Racer

Hometown: Stafford,Virginia

High School/Middle School/College: North Stafford High

Number: 57

Position: Driver

What’s your fave sport? Racing

How many years have you been playing your fave sport? 3

What was your fave sporty moment or memory?

My favorite moment would have to be my rookie year when I was presented a pink trophy for the first girl to complete the U-CAR series at Old Dominion Speedway. They made a big deal out of it by keeping it hidden all night and made a long speech but afterwards that was the talk of the banquet because the trophy was pink since my racecar is hot pink.

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

Men don’t take women beating them very easily in this sport but whatever happens you have to get right back out there the next week and pretend like nothing ever happen.

What lessons have you learned about work ethic from your sport?

You have to put in a lot of time and effort and meet the right people to go to the top!

What have you learned about teamwork?

Well currently I am a one girl team but communication is a big thing when you’re on a two car team.

How do you balance school and sports?

Since my races are on the weekends it usually does not interfere but when a big project is due or something that I have to finish over the weekend I usually do what I can Friday night if I’m not practicing otherwise I just cram it all in Sunday after church.

List some awards or accolades you’ve received.

*First girl to complete the U-CAR series at Old Dominion Speedway
*Top ten in points rookie season

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

My favorite hometown athlete would be my brother Adam, he has been racing just one more year than I have but he is a great driver. He has over come many bumps along the way in his racing career yet still has many wins under his belt to prove he is a force to be reckoned with. My NASCAR fave would be Jeff Gordon, ever since I was a kid I have always loved Jeff’s paint schemes but other the years I have realized he is a very talented driver as well.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

I think the girliest thing I like to do is be Miss Old Dominion Speedway. I am the official track trophy girl / promoter I guess you can say. I dress up in a really cute or fancy dress (depending on the occasion) and tell people about the track.

Thanks, Amber! Wow! Miss Old Dominion Speedway and the first girl to compete at the track – impressive and fun!

Do you or someone you know want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

Run Like a Girl: Endurance Racing

Endurance racing can be intimidating but once you make the leap, the amount of support and encouragement that comes from the community is infectious. Not surprisingly, many of the races for women benefit a female-targeted charity or cause. Here are some great events to check out:

26.2 with Donna: The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer
The annual Jacksonville Beach, Florida race, founded by news anchor Donna Deegan, benefits Breast Cancer research.

Danskin SheROX Triathlon
Series of 10 all-women’s triathlons that  inspire and motivate participants, volunteers and spectators alike.

Iron Girl
This nationwide series offers 10 events in terrific locations; destination races throughout the USA, and likely in your region. Join the women who are participating, celebrating and taking the challenge.

Rocketchix Racing
Rocketchix wants to give women of all ages and abilities the chance to discover their inner athlete.

Racing for a Good Cause
More and more active women are going beyond getting fit for themselves and crossing finish lines for the greater good. Charity races are booming, with more events and causes to fight for than ever.

Barb’s Race: 70.3 Miles of Wine Country
If Barb can beat cancer–twice–you can finish a half Ironman-distance triathlon. And Sonoma’s wine country is a great place to swim, bike and run 70.3 miles.

Maui Channel Swim Challenge
Billed as the only Masters inter-island relay race in the world, this event takes place over Labor Day weekend.

Susan G. Komen Race  for the Cure
By participating in a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure,  you will experience an event that has changed the way the world views breast cancer.

Nike 26.2  Marathon and Half-Marathon for Women
The Nike 26.2 Marathon and Half-Marathon for Women benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It is open to runners and walkers, including men. It’s a celebration of women running, but men are welcome.

Thanks to Active.com for much of this info.

Female jockey Julie Krone is a “Freak”

I was delighted to read that award-winning filmmaker Katherine Brooks (”Loving Annabelle,” 2006, and “Waking Madison,” 2009) is making a film based on legendary female jockey Julie Krone.  The film is called “Freak,” which refers to a racing term for horses who win over and over, even when they shouldn’t.

When it comes to horses, Krone is indeed a freak of nature. The film is an adaptation of her autobiography, “Riding for My Life”, which chronicles her rise to fame and unparalleled success as a jockey. A vivid look at the world of horse racing, “Freak” aims to explore one woman’s battle against sexual inequality in a classic tale of an underdog’s passage toward victory.

Dubbed the winningest female jockey in history, Krone is the only woman to be inducted into thoroughbred racing’s Hall of Fame.  She won 3,704 professional races, totaling over $90 million in prize money.

Krone is still the only woman to have won a Triple Crown race, flying across the finish line atop Colonial Affair in the 125th running of the Belmont Stakes in 1993. She’s also the only woman to ever compete at Belmont, where she raced on five occasions.

To achieve success, however, Krone had to overcome fierce obstacles. During her career,  Krone faced intense chauvinism in additon to suffering major injuries, including six fractures in her vertebrae, broken hands and cracked ribs.

For a long time, women didn’t even have the option of competing professionally because they weren’t legally allowed to ride at a track.  It wasn’t until 1968 that women were finally allowed to race, but they were prevented from doing so when male jockeys threatened to boycott the races.

Following in the footsteps of a handful of women before her, including Diana Crump who became the first woman to race professionally, Krone blazed her way to success. It wasn’t easy making a mark in the male-dominated “Sport of Kings” and for a long time no one took the petite (4′ 11”)  blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl seriously.

When a guy slashed Krone’s ear with a whip, she broke his nose. When people called her names, she looked the other way.  To the world, she was fearless. But inside, she was alone. The hardship fueled her desire to succeed even more. “Freak” is Krone’s heartfelt story.

According to IMDB, Brooks was initially against adapting Freak because she is a PETA member and spent much of her life rescuing injured horses off the track. It wasn’t until she met Krone and read her auto-biography, that she felt she could focus more on the intimate struggles of the character than the sport of racing. This is clearly a multi-layered story which promises lots of action and drama.

“Freak”, scheduled to shoot on location  in New York and Louisiana, is being produced by Sophie Watts of Gravity Films with an anticipated release around spring 2011. You can follow the progress via the film’s Facebook page or Twitter.

Official Website

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