Five individuals inducted into Canada’s Water Ski and Wakeboard Hall of Fame
Five individuals have been inducted into Canada’s Water Ski and Wakeboard Hall of Fame this week for their valuable contribution to the field through the years.
According to reports, Lisa Long, her father Wally Sokolowski, Greg Athans, Louis Simard and Rob Bocock were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Long was part of the national team from 1978 to 1982 and has won numerous titles, including the one at the 1975 Canada Games. She said that she was surprised and honored with the accolade, adding that the sport made her who she is now.
As for her father, Long said Sokolowski was the vital figure in developing the sport of water skiing during the 1940s and 1950s. Her father also served as the executive director of Ontario Water Ski Association from 1971 to 1995. His two decade service in the organization has expanded the sport to become a nationally recognized leisure activity.
3D studio finishing cave diving, filming at Indian Ocean for latest movie
3D Production company PassmoreLab has finished its filming for its latest science film “The Extreme Nature of Bats” after several months of filming at the Indian Ocean.
The film deals with the myths, truths and dark legends of bats. In order to make this possible, the crew went into a cave diving expedition to explore three bat species, the megabat, free-tailed bat and vampire bat.
Aside from their shoot at the Indian Ocean, the crew traveled to several parts of the world to film the bats in their natural habitats.
The production of the film started in October last year in Texas. The crew filmed the free-tailed bats at one of the state’s biggest caves. There are about 12 million Mexican free-tailed bats residing in the cave.
The crew then traveled to Romania to explore the myths of bats and the proceeded to Mexico to film the vampire bat and at the Indian Ocean for the megabat. Lets just hope the women wore sports bras on this epic adventure!!
Golfer Tiger Woods buys boat for estranged wife
World’s most recognizable golfer Tiger Woods has reportedly purchased a new boat for his estranged wife Elin Nordegren in a bid to reconcile their differences and save their marriage.
According to reports, the custom-made boat was bought just for Nordegren. The 61-foot sport boat is specifically used for scuba diving which makes it a perfect Valentine’s Day gift as his wife is a scuba diving lover.
A source was quoted as saying that the couple used to go scuba diving several times after their wedding. This served as their past time whenever they want to relax and just spend quality time together.
The boat reportedly costs $3 million and is currently docked in Jupiter Island in Florida.
Despite this development, the couple is still not living together but they are both in Orlando. The children were said to be shuttled back and forth in separate homes for visitation.
Two-year long fishing ban enforced in Alameda Creek
California state officials have enforced a two-year long ban on fishing in Alameda Creek in a bid to save the marine life in the area such as the steelhead trout, which had virtually disappeared.
The area will be closed off for sport fishing starting March 1 this year. This covers the downstream from the Del Valle, San Antonio and Calaveras reservoirs. These usually supplies about fifteen percent of the water supply of entire San Francisco.
The decision was approved by the California Fish and Game Commission last December. This is in an active bid to save rainbow trout and steelhead trout among others in the third largest tributary behind San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers.
Alameda Creek Alliance Director Jeff Miller said that the local population of trout has almost disappeared which made it impossible to fish. Miller is a conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity.
Rugby league executive calls for independent commission
Shane Richardson, the chief executive for South Sydney Rugby league said that the only way for the game of rugby to move forward is to have “true independence.”
Late last week, the coaches, captains, chairmen and chief executives of the league gathered in Sydney and unanimously voted to end the rule of the Australian Rugby League and News Limited in favor of an independent commission.
Richardson said that there are changes in the rules of the game that must be enacted quickly in order to serve what the fans want. He added that an agreement can be drafted faster between ARL and News Limited.
The chief executive stressed that the new independent commission can be set into place before this year’s season starts.
Richardson said that true independence means putting the public’s interest first rather than certain vested interests.
Rugby league star gets cleared from assault charges
Greg Bird, a player for the Australian rugby league international, was cleared of charges for assaulting his girlfriend last Wednesday and can now continue playing for the team. The last time Bird played was last season. He was fired by Australian National Rugby League club Cronulla in January this year.
According to reports, Bird’s American girlfriend Katie Milligan incurred broken eye socket and eye cuts after an alleged fight that took place in August 2008. Bird was sentenced to eight months in jail with a maximum term of 16 months.
However, evidence surfaced that Milligan’s drug use caused the fight. Milligan allegedly attempted to attack Bird with a water glass and the rugby player was just attempting to defend himself.
The glass reportedly broke but it remained unclear why it did and why it ended up bruising Milligan.
Australian rugby coach warns team on upcoming match against Ireland
Australian coach Robbie Deans warned his team that the highly-anticipated rugby match against Ireland at the Croke Park in Dublin this Sunday will serve as a test for the team’s development.
Australia defeated England last weekend but Deans said that the team should not be complacent in the upcoming match considered that Ireland is a Six Nations titlist and could provide a tougher match. He said that this will serve a test for the team to determine if they already have what it takes to dominate the sport.
He said that it’s “litmus test” for the team since aside from being Six Nations champions, Ireland has been European Cup champions for two years (2008 and this year) thus making Sunday’s match a lucrative one.
He added that the Irish team is always expected to win everytime which gives them more confidence when it comes to high profile matches.
Four countries bid to host 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup
The bidding action begins for the right to host the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup and as of now four countries have expressed strong interest to hold this prestigious sporting competition.
According to reports, Samoa, United States, Kazakhstan and New Zealand have expressed interest in hosting this rugby. This development was announced by the International Rugby Board officials on Monday.
The Rugby World Cup Limited will now go through the bids and will be coming up with recommendations at the IRB Council meeting by May next year.
IRB Women’s Development Manager Susan Carty said that they’re currently working hard to make the rugby event for 2010 become successful and added that they are happy to note that more people are expressing interest in the game. England will be hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup next year.
Former All Blacks player to make return with old team in 2010
Former All Blacks rugby player Chris Jack is reportedly slated to make a grand return to the Canterbury Crusaders by 2010 after his two-year stint with Saracens, a London-based club.
This development came out after five New Zealand Super 14 rugby franchises announced their players for the next season earlier in the day. Jack caught everyone’s attention when he was chosen to become part of Crusaders, a team he was playing for prior to his transfer to Saracens in 2007. He played 84 matches for Crusaders.
Also making a return to the Crusaders team is All Blacks flyhalf Daniel Carter who took a year-long leave to play for Perignan, a French-based club. He was forced to rest for more than seven months after incurring injury on his Achilles tendon.
All Blacks winger Zac Guilford will be playing for Canterbury.
New Zealand players, coaches to be observed during All Blacks’ Japan stint
Coming up with a winning team for the 2011 Rugby World Cup is not going to be easy but it can be determined through the players’ performances in tournaments this early. As the All Blacks fly to Japan this weekend for a six-week tour and games, the coaches’ and players’ performances will be observed.
According to reports, the tour served as a great opportunity to determine which team should composed New Zealand in a bid to boost the team’s chances to win the prestigious title in home soil.
All Blacks coaches Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith admitted last weekend in a press conference that a massive shake-up is needed in the team. This is to boost the chances of New Zealand in making it as far as lifting the trophy once the 2011 Rugby World Cup is over.