Romney Shares Moving Story in Waukesha, WI of the 9-11 World Trade Center Flag at the 2002 Salt Lake City, UT Winter Olympics

If this does not give you chills and make you proud, nothing will …

This was truly a touching and moving moment in Mitt Romney’s speech last night at Paul Ryan’s home coming in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Governor Romney told an inspiring story about the 9-11 World Trade Center Flag being carried into the Salt Lake City Games as the United States National Anthem was played. Governor Romney and his newly selected VP candidate Paul Ryan spoke in front of a crowd of 10,000  in Wisconsin.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Utah Symphony sing the Star-Spangled Banner at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Hat Tip: The Gateway Pundit

It’s these kind of moments that have been missing under an Obama Presidency. Moments that make you proud to be an American rather than a president apologizing for America. We can also remember that it was Mitt Romney who saved the Salt Lake City Games. Just another reason why we need Romney in office to help save America from the last four years of Obama.

US Beach Volleyballers Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Defeat the Italians and Bring them to Tears … Ruthless Americans?

Some one forgot to tell the female Italian Olympic beach volley ball team that there is no crying in beach volleyball …

Two time Olympic gold medal champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the United States advanced to the semi-finals on the 2012 London Summer Olympic games after defeating the Italian two sets to none. However, the pursuit of a three-peat for Walsh and Trainer was not the story of the match, it was the fact that they brought one of their competitors to tears. Actually, that was not even the story, it was the anti-American reporting of the story calling Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh ruthless Americans. Hey Reuters, with all due respect, go pound beach sand. Ruthless? This is not socialism folks, its sports. You never give a lesser opponent life and the feeling like they can beat you. Guess what happens when you do, you lose!

Italy’s Greta Cicolari and Marta Menegatti had beaten May-Treanor and Walsh this year and were considered the strongest European team at the Olympics. But the ruthless Americans gave them such a pounding that Menegatti was in tears on court.

“I didn’t know that, but that’s what you want,” said May-Treanor when a reporter told her what had happened.

“Well, it’s not what you want to do, but that’s (because of) us being aggressive, she was probably like ‘I don’t know what to do’, and that’s how you get teams in trouble,” said May-Treanor.

Shameful, just shameful that the media were refer to Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh as ruthless Americans. Hey Reuters, they are not ruthless Americans, the are the greatest female beach volleyball team in history an competitors.

The Americans won two sets to none (21-13, 21-13) in 33 minutes. That caused you to cry, seriously? It’s a good thing you did not play tennis and playing Serena Williams who dismantled Maria Sharapova in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1. You can really thank your lucky stars that you were not a part of the Nigerian basketball team that lost to the USA, 156 – 73.

Hey Italy, this is not elementary school whiffle ball. It’s time to put your big girl pants on and play. What exactly were you expecting from the two time Olympic gold medal champions and greatest female beach volleyball team in history, a free pass? The team of Walsh and Treanor have been trying to get back to the form that saw them win gold in the last two Olympics. Tonight’s performance was their best of the London Games and as close to perfect as they have played in a long time.

May-Treanor and Walsh are friendly and charming in conversation, but on court they have no mercy. After Sunday’s match they gave some insight into the steely mindset that has made them the most successful pair in their sport’s history.

“I don’t want to let our opponents breathe. I don’t want to give them an edge. I don’t want them to feel comfortable for one second out there,” said Walsh.

UPDATE I: Oh yea Reuters, Misty May-Treanor is such a ruthless American that after the Americans destroyed the Italians, Treanor went over to Marta Menegatti, the Italian player who had broken into tears during the match, and gave her words of encouragement. Because that is the sign of a ruthless American.

Oh and this comment is hardly one of a ruthless American from Kerri Walsh.

“I definitely knew she was emotional,” Walsh Jennings said. “I could feel it and I could see it. But to me that’s not a sign of weakness. She wants it that bad and she puts her whole heart into it… She had really high expectations, and that’s why she’s so good. She just had a bad game.”

Reuters, there is a big difference between ruthless and winning.

South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius Makes History as First Double Amputee to Compete in Olympics

South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius, the ‘Blade Runner’ makes history …

Today was truly an Olympic moment as South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius made history as the first double amputee to compete in the Olympic Games. Pistorius, known as the ‘Blade Runner’, said that the moment almost overwhelmed him after battling for so long to compete on the grandest state. He said, “I was so nervous this morning. I didn’t know whether to cry. I had a mixture of emotions. It was the most amazing experience, the crowd was amazing. I saw the South African flag.” However, Oscar Pistorius did not just come to start a race, he came to compete and win. Pistorius finished second in his prelim race and qualified for tomorrows semi-finals.

 Oscar Pistorius, The Blade Runner, a true Olympic Hero

South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius made history on Saturday when he became the first double amputee to compete in an athletics event at the Olympics.

The 25-year-old qualified for the semi-finals of the 400 metres by running a season’s best of 45.44 seconds in finishing second.

Pistorius, who had both legs amputated below the knee before he was aged one, because of a congenital condition, runs on carbon fibre blades.

He is also due to run in the 4x400m relay at the Games.

Pistorius said the occasion had almost overwhelmed him, as he at last realized his dream after battling to convince the authorities to let him make it happen for several years.

Many think that his blades give him an advantage in running. Really? This may be a first time ever that a double amputee is said to have an advantage over athletes with both of their normal legs. Really people, are you listening to yourself? After watching Pistorius all I could think is how on earth did anyone actually try to black this guy from competing in the Olympics and how ashamed they should be of themselves. It is stories like this that make the Olympics the Olympics. Some one overcoming all odds to compete, medals be damned.

London Olympics: Michael Phelps Ends Olympic Career With Gold … USA Wins 4 x 100 Meter Medley Relay (Phelps, Grevers, Hansen, Adrian)

Michael Phelps has the Midas Touch in his final race …

Michael Phelps wins the gold medal in that is supposed to be his last race as an Olympian. Phelps, along with his teammates, Matt Grevers, Brendan Hansen and Nathan Adrian, won the 4×100 meter Medley relay and captured the gold. It was Phelps’ 22 Olympic medal, 18 old, 2 silver and 2 bronze. Simply amazing. If this is truly his last race, Phelps went out in style as the golden boy and an accomplishment that we will probably never see again in our lifetime.

Michael Phelps won gold Saturday night with his 4 x 100-meter medley relay teammates in the last race of the Olympic swim meet — and of his storied career.

The victory upped his medal count to an unsurpassed, and perhaps unsurpassable, 22 — 18 gold, two silver, two bronze.

The U.S. won with a time of 3:29.35. Japan was second and Australia third.ng.

London Summer Olympics: Badminton Scandal, Doubles Pairs Face Match-Throwing Probe, So Much for the Olympic Creed (Update: 8 Olympic Badminton Player Out … Booted from Games)

The Olympic creed …

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” (Pierre De Coubertin)

I guess some of the Badminton doubles teams at the London Summer Games did not get the Olympic creed memo.  Eight female badminton players, including the world champions from China, are under an investigation for allegedly throwing matches. Seriously? The possible match throwing scheme is a result of the new round-robin format in the initial round of play rather than a knock out one, where losing one game can lead to an easier matchup in the next round. Good grief, don’t hate the game … question the integrity and ethics of the player.

A disciplinary hearing began Wednesday for eight female badminton players, including the world champions from China, after they were accused of trying to throw matches at the Olympics a day earlier to secure a favorable draw.

The Badminton World Federation said in a statement it had charged the doubles players from China, South Korea and Indonesia under its players’ code of conduct with “not using one’s best efforts to win a match” and “conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport.”

The South Korean players and coach already have been questioned at the hearing, which is being held at a hotel near the Wembley Arena venue. Still awaiting questioning are the Chinese and Indonesian teams.

Federation spokeswoman Gayle Alleyne declined comment on possible sanctions from the hearing.

While the IOC is at it and investigating Chinese athletes, they might want to take a long hard look at Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen and alleged blood doping.

UPDATE I: 8 Badminton Olympians Out … How is it that of all the sports that are contested in the Olympics that it is Badminton that becomes the most controversial? Shuttlecocks? Imagine that most athletes train a lifetime for one shot at winning a medal or at the very least compete in an Olympics. So what did these fools do, intentionally lose to draw a weaker opponent in the second round. Rather unbelievable if you think about it. As much as I have questioned and disagree with many decisions by the IOC to throw them out of the Games. Next time you want to throw a match, you may not want to make it look so obvious.

Four badminton teams were kicked out of the women’s doubles at the London Games on Wednesday for trying to lose on purpose, conduct that a top IOC executive said strikes at the heart of Olympic competition.

The eight doubles players from China, South Korea and Indonesia were cited by the Badminton World Federation for “conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport.”