| Gymnastics:
Movie Review: 'Stick It' tries to raise the bar, falls flat |
 |
"Stick It" is the first
attempt at a gymnastics movie since "American Anthem" (1986), and not a whole
lot has improved in the genre in 20 years.
It's a decent concept: a troubled teen finds redemption
in athletics, in the mean time exposing the gymnastics judging system for
what it is. But the acting kills it. The best acting in this film is curiously
from the adults playing bit parts. |
| Tennis:
Sharapova wins Pacific Life Open |
 |
Eighteen year old Maria
Sharapova picks up her first win of the year with a 6-1, 6-2 trouncing of
Elena Dementieva, in the first ever all-Russian finale for the
tournament. |
| Tennis:
Youngsters schooled as Pacific Life main draw begins |
 |
The main draw of the Pacific
Life Open began Wednesday with veterans dashing the hopes of several young
upstarts, in first round WTA action. |
| Gymnastics:
No. 2 Utah Rallies To Defeat UCLA |
 |
Second-ranked Utah defeated
third-ranked UCLA in a dual meet at Pauley Pavilion Saturday evening,
194.875-193.85. The Utes (1-0) rallied in the final rotation to overtake
the Bruins (5-1), who had led throughout each of the first three
rotations. |
| Soccer:
WPSL players called up for Four Nations Cup in China |
 |
The U.S. Women’s National
Team head coach Greg Ryan has called in 28 players for a week of training
at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. The training camp will be
held Jan. 3-9, after which, Ryan will select the final 20 for the Jan. 18-22
Four Nations Tournament in Guangzhou, China. |
| Hockey:
Olympic dream drives Barons 'First Lady of Hockey' |
 |
If Bonita Vista High School
(Chula Vista-Calif.) sophomore Kelly Nash’s inner will is as relentless
as her play on the rink, there is no doubt that she will achieve her
goal. |
| Skateboarding:
Woodcock, Nugget win San Diego |
 |
13 year old Apryl Woodcock
won the pro division ahead of Caron and Mandy Eschemann, while Allison "Nugget"
Matasi picked up top Amateur honors at the San Diego All Girl Skate
Jam at the Van's Warp Tour. |
| Wrestling:
USA Juniors qualify for Lithuania |
 |
Jackie Cataline was named
Outstanding Wrestler at the Body Bar Women’s FILA Junior Nationals in
El Cajon, Calif., April 10. This competition serves as the USA World Team
Trials at the FILA Junior level. The winners will compete at the Junior World
Championships in Vilnius, Lithuania this summer. |
| Grand
Prix Motorcycle Racing: Thorne to ride in British
Championships |
 |
Lisa Thorne, who made a
name for herself last year as one of the sports only female riders, will
ride in the British Championship GP125s for Team NVidia.
Thorne is the first woman to score points in a British
Championship (2001 Aprilia 250 Challenge). She also was the first to qualify
into the front of a national grid, in the 2002 GP125s. |
| Women's
Soccer: Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy & Joy Fawcett hang it up |
 |
Against a background of
scoring fireworks provided by youngsters Aly Wagner, Abby Wambach and Shannon
Boxx, Fab Five members Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy played their final games
and, together with Joy Fawcett, retired from international soccer. |
| Tennis:
Sharapova, Hingis headline Pacific Life Open |
 |
2006 Pacific Life Open
champion Maria Sharapova returns to defend her title in second round action
Friday. Seeded players in her half include Jelena Jancovic and Anna Chakvetadze,
as well as Martina Hingis, who is also slated to play her second round match
Friday. In the other half of the draw, Svetlana Kuznetsova was a late add
and seeded No.2. Her path eased up considerably with the withdrawal of Elena
Dementieva, who may be out for up to six weeks following the discovery of
stress fractures in her ribs while practicing in Moscow last week. |
