He has medal to match his heart
Swimming: Eric Shanteau wasn’t really sure what to do. He’d never climbed to the top step of the medal podium at a major meet.
So he listened to two ol’ pros, Michael Phelps and Aaron Peirsol.
“I was just following,” said Shanteau, who finally won that elusive gold medal Sunday night as part of the U.S. 400-meter medley relay team – with a world-record time, no less. “Obviously, Aaron and Michael have been around forever. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of experienced guys to be on that relay with.”
Shanteau completed a remarkable journey that began a little over a year ago when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, shortly before the U.S. Olympic trials.
Then he stunningly made the team for Beijing when overwhelming favorite Brendan Hanson flopped in the 200 breaststroke. Faced with a difficult decision, Shanteau decided to put off surgery until after his possibly once-in-a-lifetime chance. He also went public with his story, hoping to be an inspiration to others with the dreaded disease.
There was no Hollywood ending in China – Shanteau failed to advance to the final – but he’s emerged from that ordeal a much stronger swimmer.
Associated Press
Hall opens Jordan exhibit
Basketball: The Basketball Hall of Fame has opened a Michael Jordan exhibit before his enshrinement next month.
The display features items from Jordan’s NBA career and from his time at North Carolina and with the 1992 Olympic Dream Team. There is also a batting glove from Jordan’s brief foray into baseball.
The exhibit is made possible in part by a $250,000 donation from Nike and features several pairs of the superstar’s Air Jordan shoes.
Associated Press
McCain ‘sick’ over steroids
Baseball: Sen. John McCain is lamenting the latest report of a baseball player linked to performance-enhancing drugs.
Last week the players’ union confirmed that Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was among the 104 major leaguers who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.
In response to the revelation, McCain sent a message on his Twitter account that read, “David Ortiz tested positive for steroids, ‘where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?’ ”
McCain says the situation in baseball makes him sick. Even more bothersome, he says, is the idea that someone in a laboratory somewhere is trying to develop a substance that tests can’t detect.
Associated Press