football
First Lady Fitness
Just One More Reason Michelle Obama is Cool
She throws awesome White House dance parties. She hula hoops. And now, photo evidence is in: Michelle Obama has pretty good football form as well. Video evidence, over on the NFL's website, further documents her sweet moves. Speaking to kids gathered in New Orleans for the NFL's Play 60 clinic, she said, "We want you guys to grow up strong and healthy...You can't live on soda and chips and all that. You can't. Sorry. If you could, I tell you, I would. But you can't. You've got to have vegetables and fruits." True true. Also, in case you haven't already, please look closely at the photo and notice how awesomely buff her arms are. Just saying, if I had a locker, I would put her picture up inside of the door.
Celebrity Fitness
Bikram Yoga Helps Kevin Bentley Prepare For The Piles
"I'm not all about toughness. It's about staying healthy, and doing what's best for my body....In nine years, the worst I've done is broke my hand my rookie year...That's a testament to my regimen...With a packed class, you can't move, can't breathe, so it allows you to focus. When you get in those awkward positions in the piles, someone has you twisted up, you're less likely to get hurt."
— Texans linebacker Kevin Bentley, discussing his three-times-a-week Bikram yoga practice.
Newslinks
Coach's Daughter Convinces Him To Yog-ify The Team
University of Maryland's football team used to lift weights four days a week. Now it's three days of lifting plus yoga. Why the change? Head Coach Ralph Friedgen explains: "My daughter did [yoga] and I saw what it did for her." Which makes you wonder if her dad times her on drills in the living room or if she just got that noticeably strong and flexible.
Don't Follow Soccer but Want to Impress Your Friends?
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World Cup
Brazilian Refs Cramming With Profanity Flashcards
In preparation for the U.S. versus England match at the World Cup, the Brazilian ref and assistants assigned to the game have been studying English-language obscenities. "We have to learn what kind of words the players say," the ref said. Fédération Internationale de Football Assocation (football's international governing body) says they haven't provided a list of profanities. Though countless British and American teenagers or John McEnroe would probably be happy to provide one.
Wild For The World Cup
How True Fans Show Their Love of the Game
Dan Taylor, British soccer fan, posing in the living room he has turfed over in preparation for the World Cup. Cue the neighbors: "We had no idea. He kept to himself... Seemed like a nice guy..."
Scientific
Are You As Sleepy As the Rest of America?
Nearly 18% of Americans confess to falling asleep or being drowsy enough that they're barely awake during meetings, conversations, and other situations where alertness is required. Maybe you're not boring! Maybe the people around you are falling asleep for other reasons! In a new study released this week, Americans report this and all sorts of other sad sleep data. 19.5% of us report moderate to excessive sleepiness, and 11% of us report severe sleepiness (FYI, severe is worse than excessive). This compared to Europe, where only 15% of the population reports excess sleepiness. What's the big deal? So we zone out in meetings... Er, also while driving. Or if you'd prefer to focus on the positive, another new study shows that college football players who get an extra two hours of sleep a night can shave up to a tenth of a second off their 40 yard dash times, which FYI, could be enough to get them into the NFL. You could be just a few winks away from greatness!
Gratuitous Images
Annie Liebovitz Loves Soccer Abs
FYI: The latest issue of Vanity Fair presents soccer stars in nothing but patriotic underwear. We offer this for several mostly gratuitous reasons: First, to alert you to impending arrival of the every-four-years World Cup of "football." The tournament starts June 11th in South Africa and runs for a month. Second, to point out that, despite her financial troubles (or maybe because of them), Annie Liebovitz' still gets to take the fun pictures. And finally to inspire your situps, navasanas and teasers this afternoon. Video of photo shoot after the jump, complete with excellent ball juggling....
More...Manly Diets
How Very Big Men Lose Weight
Ah, when losing 40 pounds is a mere 11% of your body weight. Welcome to the NFL where the big news this week is about how Rex Ryan, the 311 pound head coach of the New York Jets, challenged two of his players to lose 40 pounds before the training camp begins July 30th. Rex is a slim 311 pounds, while his players are a little closer to 400. But limber. Says Rex of 360 pound Kris Jenkins: "Kris is a tremendous player. This is a big man. He's just a big person. He's got lean muscle mass, but we're trying to trim off some of the other." What's the point? Well, we're just impressed by the numbers, and then there's this: Even when you're a professional athlete, with millions of dollars riding on your body, and millions of people oggling you each week; you STILL need some simple, downhome challenge peer pressure to get you to shape up....
Intramural Sports
Find a Pick Up Game Near You
This year marks the first in my entire life where I have lived by a park. And while this may not seem too interesting to you, as a homegrown Texan, parks populated by people are still pretty new and exciting to me, even if said people are lovely, dirty, tattooed hipsters. In honor of parks in general, and my wiffle ball pickup game midnight last Friday, I’ve got an exciting list of intramural pickup sites — from basketball to ultimate frisbee — you can use to rack up some intramural minutes this month, no long-term commitment required.
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