Dominique Daniels-The Number 1 BMX Biker In The USA

I watched the inaugural BMX cycling event in the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, but little did I know the baddest and number one ranked female BMX biker in the country is African American.

Her name is Dominique Daniels, and she is all that and three bags of chips.  The Grand Canyon University student from Chandler, AZ discovered the sport by accident on her 12th birthday.   

There was a bike track near her home that her father Tim noticed her eyeing when they passed it.  As a birthday surprise he bought Dominique the necessary equipment and a small starter motorcycle, but when they arrived at the track discovered it was for BMX bikes only.  Tim returned to the store, bought his daughter a Huffy bike and the rest is history.

It didn't take Dominique long to quickly rise up the junior ranks and acquire the nickname in BMX circles of 'The Dominator'.   She turned pro at age 15 and progressed to the elite level in the sport so quickly the US Olympic Committee briefly considered waiving the age 19 restriction so she could compete for a spot on the 2008 Beijing Olympic team.


She's the number one ranked Union Cycliste Internationale BMX biker in North America, has competed internationally and is the 2009-2010 back to back National Bicycle League Elite Women’s Champion.

 


Daniels is considered a favorite to make the US 2012 Olympic BMX team and I'm looking forward to watching her ride next summer in London from August 8-10 against the world's best riders with a gold medal on the line.

O Canada-USA Gold Medal Hockey Version

I told a certain Canadian a few days ago her women's team was going down.    While I didn't see it happen during the Vancouver Games, I'm enjoying the fact the Team USA women are now the three time IIHF tournament champions after their 3-2 victory in Switzerland Monday 

USA 3-Canada 2

Ahem, to quote the late James Brown...I feels good!

And as your men's team advised the USA men's hockey team before they got beat down by the USA 5-3 during the Vancouver Olympics, it's time to learn how to sing 'O Canada'.

Catchy tune, but I'll have to tweak it with some extra special lyrics.

O Canada-USA Gold Medal Hockey Version
(sung to the tune of the Canadian national anthem)


Oh Canada,
Your fans just got to see
Your women lose
The gold in IIHF hockey

Your glowing hearts
Got to see rise
The US flag on your TV

From far and wide
O Canada
The world saw the USA beat thee

We won the game
Gloriously
O Canada the gold is ours
In women's hockey

O Canada the gold is ours
In women's hockey

Is Tiger Back?

Needed a break from the Net and the drama surrounding the federal government shutdown and HB 235, so I found myself tuning in to the second round coverage of the 2011 Masters.

While scarfing down my Blue Bell I tuned in just in time to see Tiger Woods surge from being at even par for the day to closing to three shots off the lead while shooting a 66.  In the process he looked like he was starting to hit the types of shots he routinely used to make when he was the world's number one golfer for the last 10 years.

There's 36 more holes of golf to be played at Augusta national, and the question on mine and every other sports fans mind as we go into this weekend will be 'Is Tiger Back?'

Since he came back from his drama a year ago he's shown flashes of the old Tiger, but faded in later rounds.   I would like to see him break Jack Nicklaus' record for major tournament wins since he's only two tournaments wins from tying it.  I'd also like to see him start winning tournaments again, be it a major or a PGA tour one.   

As to whether he's back and finally sorted out the issues that have plagued his golf game, we'll find out in a few hours as the third round of The Masters gets underway. 

Happy Birthday To 'The Greatest'!

Today was also the birthday of the the best heavyweight champion of all time, Muhammad Ali.   He was born in Louisville on this date in 1942 and will always be The Greatest' to me and my generation of fight fans.