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Female athletes: The world's bestI love sports. I really, really do. I played three different sports competitively at different point in my life, and I started attending football games at my dad's alma mater when I was so young that I barely even knew which team to cheer for. More recently, I've lived in the heart of the SEC where the head football coach is the highest paid state employee, and spotting the place kicker on campus is text-all-your-friends type of news. But even when surrounded by all the over-commercialized glitz and glamour that comes with revenue-generating college sports, my real heart lies with (usually sparsely attended and barely noticed) women's athletics. So, imagine my delight at the discovery of MSNBC's compilation of the best female athletes in 16 different sports. While their inclusion of poker still has me scratching my head, they do include several other under-the-radar sports that always seem to be left out. Additionally, they appear to actually have some knowledge of the sports they select from. Rather than simply choosing the most popular athlete in each sport, they have done their research in selecting the best from each. Check the list out for yourself for the full rundown, but here are some of my favorites: Best WNBA player: Lauren Jackson
The blond Aussie — who turns 27 on Sunday — was drafted No. 1 overall by the Seattle Storm in 2001 and has remained with them ever since. In those seven years, she's a two-time MVP award winner, holds the WNBA record for most points (47) in a game, and was declared the Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. So, not only can she shoot, but she can block and rebound as well? Impressive. Oh, and did I mention that she posed for 2005's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition? Best softball player: Cat Osterman
Osterman is a former Gatorade National Player of the Year, holds more NCAA records from her days at Texas than I care to list, and is a gold medal-winning Olympian for Team USA. At 6'2", she boasts six different pitches and will undoubtedly be one of the deciding factors in whether Team USA can claim its fourth straight Olympic gold. MSNBC's foresight to select Osterman over the better known Jennie Finch makes it probably their best pick of the bunch (in my mind, anyways). Best figure skater: Mao Asada
Currently ranked No. 1 in the world (and not even 18 years old yet!), this Japanese skater has won a slew of national and international championships in the past few years. At the ripe old age of 12, she became the first female figure skater to successfully complete a triple flip, triple loop, triple toe loop combination. Yeah, I don't know what that is either, but it sure sounds impressive. Best mixed martial artist: Gina Carano
Mixed martial arts (MMA) has been popularized in the past decade because of the UFC, yet still remains more of an underground sport. Carano's specialty is Muay Thai (Thai boxing), and her reputation as one of the best in the sport earned her an invite to be one of the fighters in the first official female MMA fight. These days, though, she is best known as her alter ego Crush on American Gladiators. (Which, by the way, starts up again on Monday!) So what did you think of the 16? What sport would you have liked to see represented? What athlete did they overlook? Who do you think will win their poll in their quest to find the best of the best? (Hint: Candace Parker is leading the next closest contender by 10 percentage points.) Submitted by on May 9, 2008 - 9:00am. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Man that Gladiator is
Man that Gladiator is hawt!!!
Gotta say I'm disappointed not to see a gymnast on the list, but it is always good to see female sports personalities being recognised. However, poker is NOT a sport! Uh-uh, no way! They included a poker player but not a gymnast! That's just wrong!!
Yelena Isinbayeva...
...my choice, any day. I am in awe evey time I see her jump.
Also, Janica Kostelic. She doesn't ski anymore, but when she was, she simply kicked ass.
Fabiola Da Silva
This girl is da bomb! She single-handedly made the Aggressive Skaters Association create the so-called "Fabiola Rule". Google her if you don't know what I'm talking about. Rock on, Fabby!!
Yess!!!
My choice
Kelly Smith one of the most talented women's footballers in the world.
Don't forget...
You shouldn't forget Birgit Prinz, if you're talking about women's soccer!
Marta all the way
Actually I think NSNBC is right on the money as far as the best soccer player is concerned. Marta's got it all - she's fast, mentally strong (despite that weak penalty in the WWC final) and pure magic on the ball, has a good head for the game, adapts well to different environments and doesn't lose her drive once the game turns a bit more physical. Plus she's still very,very young.
Prinz is still an exceptional player, but she hasn't been playing her best game for a couple of years now. She did step it up once more for the WWC, but right now, she's definately not among the top five in the world.
Carolina Klüft,
Carolina Klüft, definitely, she is such an inspiration:
And Isinbajeva is also one of my favorites:
amazing athletes
my favorites are definitly Katja Nyberg (among other things MVP in WC 2007) and Gro Hammerseng (one of the best in the world as Katja) , two amazing handball players...handball is a great sport, which is popular in Europe...
Anni Friesinger (speed skating) and Justine Henin (tennis) are also two of my fav athletes...but there are too many to mention here...
Katja Nyberg and Gro Hammerseng
i second IAGSW's nomination of Gro and Katja! ... handball is such a fantastic sport to watch.. so much energy and intensity and these two are just an amazing couple both on and off the court : )
go team usa!!!!!
i definately think cat osterman will end up being the best softball pitcher of all time.
im really impressed with the list. for once they didnt just pick the popular players. the only player that i have a slight problem with is justin henin. she's having a pretty bad year. i know she's won a couple of tournaments this year but she got schooled by sharapova at the ao and then by serena in miami. im not sure you can be considered the best player in the world when you lose sets at love.
And remember that, in a world of ordinary mortals, you are a Wonder Woman!
Zamo!
Elena Zamolodchikova (or Zamo as she is more commonly known) from Russia been the greatest female gymnast of the 2000's..... unfortunately at age 28 she is now not up to her incredible standards of the early to mid 2000's, but I really thought that she should still be mentioned here, as hopefully she will pull out all the stops for the 2008 Bejing Olympics, her 4th and final Olympics.
Plus she is very easy on the eye, and a tad butch around the edges, no? ;-)
(*blistering guitar feedback*)
Lorena Ochoa!
easy
well, it's an american list, so i sort of expected handball to be skipped.. still, no doubt this couple are my two fave female athletes. talent, speed, strength, and guts galore
i wonder who compiled the list of 16 sports though, because i thought there were a LOT of good athletes and sports missing. Others have mentioned Carolina Klüft and Yelena Isinbajeva, and I couldn't agree more, they deserve a spot on the list.
where's jennie??
jennie finch is ALSO a gold medal olympian, and has more recognitions than i can count. pac 10 pitcher of the year at least twice, pitcher of the week at least that many times...plus, she's kind of beautiful, if you like that sort of thing (not really my style, personally, but i can recognize good looks when i see 'em).
misty may and kerri walsh
i would have to say misty may and kerri walsh they are awesome they always kick ass
i also would pick mia hamm
hockey
Cat Osterman
Katja and Gro for sure!
They play one of the most physically demanding sports I've ever seen and have such sheer determination. If any of you followed last night's final match on the forum, you'll see how these two plus their team kept fighting to the end, even though the odds were stacked against them. Even though their team didn't win in the end, just looking at the pictures, they still managed to crack a smile.
Also, they're hot! Just look at absentminded87's picture. Can you really beat the combination of two hot athletes, in white tank tops, converse sneakers, showing off their arms? It's not too late to put them on you Hot 100 list ;) Ohyeah, I forgot to mention that they're an out couple. That makes them even more inspirational.
LJ v.s. CP3
parker
Blanka Vlasic!
She domionated high jump last season and just started off the new season with her 23rd victory in a row!
!
What about... Hockey? Rugby? Snowboarding? Volleyball? Speedskating? Diving?
And poker, wtf?
But more importantly we should all take the time to recognize the wonder that is women's timbersports, because it's so butch it's hilarious.
GRRRR DIE LOGS.
May 31st Gina Carano Vs.
May 31st Gina Carano Vs. Kaitlin Young
Popular female fighter and recent "American Gladiator" Gina Carano (5-0) will return to fighting for a bout with rising star Kaitlin Young (4-1).
The fight, first reported by fiveouncesofpain.com, will air on the May 31 EliteXC Saturday Night Fights show. The event, airing live on CBS, takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
It'll be the first event -- and first-ever female fight -- featured on major U.S. network television.
As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) previously mentioned, EliteXC matchmaker Jeremy Lappen hinted at Carano's likely involvement in the event while a guest on HDNet's most recent "Inside MMA" episode.
Carano, an Xtreme Couture product, hasn't competed since a September submission victory over Tonya Evinger. Soon after the fight, her duties as a gladiator with the reincarnation of "American Gladiators" kept her tied up -- and even forced her off Saturday's Strikeforce/EliteXC card.
Young, a Muay Thai fighter, made her professional debut with a TKO of Lindsey Frandrop at an October 2007 event in Minnesota. She then roared through a November HOOKnSHOOT-Bodog Fight event with three consecutive knockouts in less than a minute each.
Young, who trains with the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, suffered her first career loss in February, when undefeated Sara Schneider earned a second-round submission via armbar.
And if you're thinking it's going to be an easy win for Gina then you may want to watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qczQL_BAaYs ouch!
-Nathiest
live for lust die for love
Lauren Jackson
Lauren is amazing...
...and we share the same birthday, May 11, 1981. I love that, because I always had secret hopes of becoming a super-athelete but never had the opportunity and now I can live vicariously through LJ. She is for sure THE BEST basketball player I've ever seen play the game--regardless of gender--and I hope 27 is as lucky for her as the previous years seem to have been :). Way to go, twin!
more fuel for the rumors
How bout some love
For the female triathletes?
Hello Samantha McGlone!
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"From error to error, one discovers the entire truth."
- Sigmund Freud
Trihardist's BlogHUH?!
Holy crap, I went to middle school with her (we were in the Gifted program)! That is so random. But not only a great athlete, also a very smart person
Love Gina Carano, ever since
Women in Sports
While it was nice to see horse racing represented, I wish other equestrian sports would have been up there. :)
So very happy that Candace Parker was named top college basketball athelete. There is of course no question that she should be- but she's been short changed frequently this year. :-/
Go Lady Vols! :)
very Nice People
Love Effie Ferns!
Kisses!!@@
Alison Stokke *drool*