A-11 offense, basketball rules, amazing Jennie Finch and Olympic rivals - Aug 12, 2008
- What's the newest high school craze? The Jonas Brothers? iPhone 3G? Rock Band World Tour? How about the A-11 offense? According to the Washington Post, the newest thing to hit high school football fields is an offense that makes "11 offensive players on the field appear to be eligible to receive a pass. The offense slows the defense's reaction time by spreading it out and forcing it to guess which players to cover downfield." Would this ever be possible in college?
- USA Today has an interesting article, asking if NCAA, NBA and international basketball rules should become standardized. What do you think?
- Former University of Arizona softball student-athlete Jennie Finch tossed a no-hitter against Venezuela last night. The women's softball team won 11-0, forcing officials to call the game in just five innings. It was an Olympic record for runs scored.
- United States cyclist Michael Barry had a terrific article in the New York Times, reflecting on his experience and what it means to be an Olympian. "During the long cycling season, we race for our trade teams that are sponsored by companies we are paid to endorse. But for two events, the world championship and Olympics, we race for our countries, becoming teammates with our rivals as we race with our country's flag on our backs." While Barry's experience is about turning rivals into teammates, some student-athletes have had an exactly opposite experience. Former Auburn teammates Kirsty Coventry and Margaret Hoelzer competed against each other in the 100-meter backstroke. Coventry, who swam for Zimbabwe, finished with the silver. Swimming for the United States, Hoelzer finished with the bronze.
