Frank Lucas was born September 9, 1930, in Lenoir County, North Carolina. He moved to Harlem in 1946, becoming the driver and protégé of gangster Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson.
When Johnson died in 1968, Lucas took over his heroin empire and expanded it during the drug-fueled period of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Lucas was particularly known for the “Cadaver Connection.” He cut out he middleman by establishing his own drug connection in the jungles of Vietnam, tipped off by U.S. soldiers then fighting in the war.
Lucas smuggled huge amounts of undiluted heroin from Thailand into the U.S. in the coffins of fallen American servicemen.
He dumped the heroin on the streets of Harlem, undercut the competition and called it Blue Magic. Lucas claims to have grossed $1 million a day.
Lucas relied on a tightly controlled crew called "The Country Boys." He preferred using relatives and men from his hometown in North Carolina because they were less likely to steal from him.
Lucas was arrested in 1975 and was soon facing up to 70 years in prison. He quickly turned into a government informant, most notably against the then-corrupt Special Investigations Unit of the NYPD. Out of 70 SIU officers, 52 were eventually either jailed or indicted.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Jesse Owens
James Cleveland Owens was born September 12, 1913 in Oakville, Alabama, the seventh child of Mr. and Mrs. Henry and Emma Owens. When James (J.C.) was nine years old, his parents decided to move the whole family to Cleveland, Ohio. They did not have much money, and J.C.'s father was hoping to find a better job there.When they arrived in Cleveland, J.C. was enrolled in a public school. On his first day of class when the teacher asked his name, she heard Jesse, instead of J.C. due to his southern drawl. He would be called Jesse from that point forward. Cleveland was not as prosperous as Henry and Emma had hoped and the family remained very poor. Jesse took on different jobs in his spare time. He delivered groceries, loaded freight cars and worked in a shoe repair shop. It was during that time that Jesse discovered he enjoyed running, which would prove to be the turning point in his life.One day in gym class, the students were timed in the 60-yard dash. When Coach Charlie Riley saw the raw, yet natural talent that young Jesse had, he immediately invited him to run for the track team. Although Jesse was unable to participate in after-school practices because of work, Coach Riley offered to train him in the mornings. Jesse agreed.At Cleveland East Technical High School Jesse became a track star. As a senior, he tied the world record in the 100-yard dash with a time of 9.4 seconds, only to tie it again while running in the Interscholastic Championships in Chicago. While in Chicago, he also leaped a distance of 24 feet 9 5/8 inches in the broad jump.Many colleges and universities tried to recruit Jesse. However he chose to attend Ohio State University. Here Jesse met some of his fiercest competition, and not just on the track. The United States was still struggling to desegregate in 1933, which led to many difficult experiences for Jesse. He was required to live off campus with other African-American athletes. When he traveled with the team, Jesse could either order carryout or eat at "blacks-only" restaurants. Likewise, he slept in "blacks-only" hotels. On occasion, a "white" hotel would allow the black athletes to stay, but they had to use the back door, and the stairs instead of the elevator. Because Jesse was not awarded a scholarship from the university, he continued to work part-time jobs to pay for school
At the Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor on May 25, 1935, Jesse set three world records and tied a fourth, all in a span of about 45 minutes. Jesse had an ailing back the entire week leading up to the meet in Ann Arbor. He had fallen down a flight of stairs, and it was questionable whether he would physically be able to participate in the meet. He received treatment right up to race time. Confident that the treatment helped, Jesse persuaded the coach to allow him to run the 100-yard dash. Remarkably, each race timer had clocked him at an official 9.4 seconds, once again tying the world record. This convinced Owens' coach to allow him to participate in his other events. A mere 15 minutes later, Jesse took his first attempt it the broad jump. Prior to jumping, Jesse put a handkerchief at 26 feet 2½ inches, the distance of the world record. After such a bold gesture, he soared to a distance of 26 feet 8¼ inches, shattering the old world record by nearly six inches.Disregarding the pain, Jesse proceeded to set a new world record in the 220-yard dash in 20.3 seconds, besting the old record by three-tenths of a second. Within the next 15 minutes, Jesse was ready to compete in another event, this one being the 220-yard low hurdles. In his final event, Owens' official time was 22.6 seconds. This time would set yet another world record, beating the old record by four-tenths of a second. Jesse Owens had completed a task that had never been accomplished in the history of track and field. He had set three new world records and equaled a fourth.By the end of his sophomore year at Ohio State, Jesse realized that he could be successful on a more competitive level. Jesse entered the 1936 Olympics, which to many are known as the "Hitler Olympics." These games were held in Nazi Germany, and Hitler was going to prove to the world that the German "Aryan" people were the dominant race. Jesse had different plans, however, and by the end of the games even German fans cheered for him.Jesse was triumphant in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the broad jump. He was also a key member of the 400-meter relay team that won the Gold Medal. In all but one of these events Jesse set Olympic records. Jesse was the first American in the history of Olympic Track and Field to win four gold medals in a single Olympics.Despite his success, the financial instability of the Owens family continued. Shamefully, at that time in America Jesse was not offered any endorsement deals because he was black. In an effort to provide for his family, Jesse left school before his senior year to run professionally. For a while he was a runner-for-hire, racing against anything from people, to horses, to motorcycles. The Negro Baseball league often hired him to race against thoroughbred horses in an exhibition before every game. Jesse even raced against the some of the Major Leagues fastest ballplayers, always giving them a 10-yard head start before beating them.Jesse also took numerous public-speaking engagements, and emerged an articulate and enjoyable lecturer. In fact, Jesse was so well-liked and successful that he started his own public relations firm. He traveled around the country spoke on behalf of companies like Ford and the United States Olympic Committee. He stressed the importance of religion, hard work and loyalty. He also sponsored and participated in many youth sports programs in underprivileged neighborhoods.In 1976, Jesse was awarded the highest honor a civilian of the United States can receive. President Gerald R. Ford awarded him with the Medal of Freedom. Jesse overcame segregation, racism and bigotry to prove to the world that African-Americans belonged in the world of athletics. Several years later, on March 31, 1980, Jesse Owens, 66, died in Tucson, Arizona from complications due to lung cancer. In recognition to his "triumphs for humanity," Owen was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Metal in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush.Through all the trials, tribulations and successes, Jesse Owens was a devoted and loving family man. In 1935, he married his longtime high school sweetheart, Ruth Solomon. Together they had three daughters, Gloria, Beverly and Marlene. To this day, his widow Ruth and daughter Marlene operate the Jesse Owens Foundation, striving to provide financial assistance and support to deserving young individuals that otherwise would not have the opportunity to pursue their goals. Jesse would certainly be proud of their efforts.
At the Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor on May 25, 1935, Jesse set three world records and tied a fourth, all in a span of about 45 minutes. Jesse had an ailing back the entire week leading up to the meet in Ann Arbor. He had fallen down a flight of stairs, and it was questionable whether he would physically be able to participate in the meet. He received treatment right up to race time. Confident that the treatment helped, Jesse persuaded the coach to allow him to run the 100-yard dash. Remarkably, each race timer had clocked him at an official 9.4 seconds, once again tying the world record. This convinced Owens' coach to allow him to participate in his other events. A mere 15 minutes later, Jesse took his first attempt it the broad jump. Prior to jumping, Jesse put a handkerchief at 26 feet 2½ inches, the distance of the world record. After such a bold gesture, he soared to a distance of 26 feet 8¼ inches, shattering the old world record by nearly six inches.Disregarding the pain, Jesse proceeded to set a new world record in the 220-yard dash in 20.3 seconds, besting the old record by three-tenths of a second. Within the next 15 minutes, Jesse was ready to compete in another event, this one being the 220-yard low hurdles. In his final event, Owens' official time was 22.6 seconds. This time would set yet another world record, beating the old record by four-tenths of a second. Jesse Owens had completed a task that had never been accomplished in the history of track and field. He had set three new world records and equaled a fourth.By the end of his sophomore year at Ohio State, Jesse realized that he could be successful on a more competitive level. Jesse entered the 1936 Olympics, which to many are known as the "Hitler Olympics." These games were held in Nazi Germany, and Hitler was going to prove to the world that the German "Aryan" people were the dominant race. Jesse had different plans, however, and by the end of the games even German fans cheered for him.Jesse was triumphant in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the broad jump. He was also a key member of the 400-meter relay team that won the Gold Medal. In all but one of these events Jesse set Olympic records. Jesse was the first American in the history of Olympic Track and Field to win four gold medals in a single Olympics.Despite his success, the financial instability of the Owens family continued. Shamefully, at that time in America Jesse was not offered any endorsement deals because he was black. In an effort to provide for his family, Jesse left school before his senior year to run professionally. For a while he was a runner-for-hire, racing against anything from people, to horses, to motorcycles. The Negro Baseball league often hired him to race against thoroughbred horses in an exhibition before every game. Jesse even raced against the some of the Major Leagues fastest ballplayers, always giving them a 10-yard head start before beating them.Jesse also took numerous public-speaking engagements, and emerged an articulate and enjoyable lecturer. In fact, Jesse was so well-liked and successful that he started his own public relations firm. He traveled around the country spoke on behalf of companies like Ford and the United States Olympic Committee. He stressed the importance of religion, hard work and loyalty. He also sponsored and participated in many youth sports programs in underprivileged neighborhoods.In 1976, Jesse was awarded the highest honor a civilian of the United States can receive. President Gerald R. Ford awarded him with the Medal of Freedom. Jesse overcame segregation, racism and bigotry to prove to the world that African-Americans belonged in the world of athletics. Several years later, on March 31, 1980, Jesse Owens, 66, died in Tucson, Arizona from complications due to lung cancer. In recognition to his "triumphs for humanity," Owen was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Metal in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush.Through all the trials, tribulations and successes, Jesse Owens was a devoted and loving family man. In 1935, he married his longtime high school sweetheart, Ruth Solomon. Together they had three daughters, Gloria, Beverly and Marlene. To this day, his widow Ruth and daughter Marlene operate the Jesse Owens Foundation, striving to provide financial assistance and support to deserving young individuals that otherwise would not have the opportunity to pursue their goals. Jesse would certainly be proud of their efforts.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Randy Moss
Randy G. Moss was born on February 13, 1977 in Rand, West Virginia ... Earned all-state honors at DuPont (Rand, W. Va.) High ... Chosen West Virginia High School Football Player of the Year as a senior ... Twice selected the state's Basketball Player of the Year ... Lettered three times in basketball and football and lettered in both baseball and track ... Majored in business administration at Marshall. Moss enters the 2007 season as a veteran of nine NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings (1998-2004) and Oakland Raiders (2005-06). He has played in 138 career games with 132 starts and has caught 676 passes for 10,700 yards (15.8 avg.) and 101 touchdowns.
Moss is one of seven players in NFL history to record more than 100 receiving touchdowns and is one of 27 players in league annals to record more than 10,000 receiving yards. His 101 career receiving touchdowns rank fifth on the NFL's all-time list, his 10,700 career receiving yards rank 21st and his 676 career receptions rank 29th.
Moss has recorded seven seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards and has caught 10 or more touchdown passes in six seasons. The Marshall product is the only player in NFL history to record 1,000 or more receiving yards in each of his first six NFL seasons.
Moss was named to the Associated Press All-Pro Team following the 1998, 2000 and 2003 seasons and has earned five career Pro Bowl selections (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003).
Moss caught his 100th career touchdown pass while playing in his 132nd career game (10/8/06). Moss and Jerry Rice (100 touchdowns in 120 games) are the only two players in NFL history to record 100 touchdown receptions in fewer than 140 NFL games.
Moss became the first receiver in league history to record 1,000-yard seasons in his first six years.
Moss enters the 2007 season having recorded 48 games with 100 or more receiving yards, including three such games in the playoffs. Moss led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 1998, 2000 and 2003. He led the NFC in receiving yards in 1999 (1,413) and 2002 (1,347). He led the NFC in receptions in 2002 (106) and ranked second in 2003 (111). Caught his first touchdown pass in a Patriots uniform on a 51-yard pattern from Tom Brady during a 38-14 road victory over the New York Jets on Sept. 9... Racked up the third most receiving yards in a single game in Patriots' history with 183 yards against the New York Jets on Sept. 9... Became the 19th player in NFL history to gain 11,000 or more receiving yards in a career on a 45-yard reception in the third quarter of the Patriots' 38-7 win over the Bills on Sept. 23... Became the first player in NFL history to record four straight 100-yard receiving games in his first four games with a team after a 102-yard performance against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 1... Set a single-game career high and single-game franchise record for touchdown receptions with four scoring catches in the Patriots' 56-10 rout of the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 18... Broke the Patriots' single-season touchdown receptions record held by Stanley Morgan with his 13th in just 10 games as he grabbed four touchdown receptions in the first half of the Patriots' 56-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 18... Became just the fifth player in NFL history to grab four touchdown receptions in the first half during the Patriots' win over the Bills on Nov. 18... Moved into the Top 25 on the NFL all-time receptions list with his 744th career reception on a 7-yard catch in the second quarter of the Patriots' 31-28 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 25... Led the team in receiving yards eight times (at NYJ, vs. SD, vs. BUF, at CIN, at IND, at BUF, vs. PIT, vs. NYJ) and led or tied for the team lead in receptions eight times (at NYJ, vs. SD, at CIN, at IND, at BUF, at BAL, vs. NYJ, vs. MIA) in 2007... Named AFC Offensive Player of the Week twice for Week Nine for his contributions in the Patriots' 24-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 4 and for Week 11 for his contributions in the Patriots' 56-10 win over the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 18... Named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November while averaging 105.3 receiving yards per game and raking in 24 receptions in the Patriots' three victories during the month... Set a new single-season career high with his 19 touchdown reception, while moving into second place behind the San Francisco 49ers Jerry Rice for the highest single-season touchdown receptions total in NFL history in the Patriots' 34-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 9... Set a Patriots team record with his 18th overall touchdown of the season on a 4-yard touchdown reception against the Steelers on Dec. 9... Established a new Patriots franchise record for receiving yards, finishing with 1,493 receiving yards for his 2007 campaign... With his 4-yard touchdown reception against the New York Giants on Dec. 29, moved into 10th place on the NFL's all-time career touchdown list with his 124th score, moving past the Colts' Marvin Harrison... Moved past Jerry Rice on the NFL's all-time single-season touchdown receptions list with his 23rd scoring strike in a two-touchdown performance in the Patriots' 38-35 comeback victory over the New York Giants on Dec. 29.
Moss is one of seven players in NFL history to record more than 100 receiving touchdowns and is one of 27 players in league annals to record more than 10,000 receiving yards. His 101 career receiving touchdowns rank fifth on the NFL's all-time list, his 10,700 career receiving yards rank 21st and his 676 career receptions rank 29th.
Moss has recorded seven seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards and has caught 10 or more touchdown passes in six seasons. The Marshall product is the only player in NFL history to record 1,000 or more receiving yards in each of his first six NFL seasons.
Moss was named to the Associated Press All-Pro Team following the 1998, 2000 and 2003 seasons and has earned five career Pro Bowl selections (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003).
Moss caught his 100th career touchdown pass while playing in his 132nd career game (10/8/06). Moss and Jerry Rice (100 touchdowns in 120 games) are the only two players in NFL history to record 100 touchdown receptions in fewer than 140 NFL games.
Moss became the first receiver in league history to record 1,000-yard seasons in his first six years.
Moss enters the 2007 season having recorded 48 games with 100 or more receiving yards, including three such games in the playoffs. Moss led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 1998, 2000 and 2003. He led the NFC in receiving yards in 1999 (1,413) and 2002 (1,347). He led the NFC in receptions in 2002 (106) and ranked second in 2003 (111). Caught his first touchdown pass in a Patriots uniform on a 51-yard pattern from Tom Brady during a 38-14 road victory over the New York Jets on Sept. 9... Racked up the third most receiving yards in a single game in Patriots' history with 183 yards against the New York Jets on Sept. 9... Became the 19th player in NFL history to gain 11,000 or more receiving yards in a career on a 45-yard reception in the third quarter of the Patriots' 38-7 win over the Bills on Sept. 23... Became the first player in NFL history to record four straight 100-yard receiving games in his first four games with a team after a 102-yard performance against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 1... Set a single-game career high and single-game franchise record for touchdown receptions with four scoring catches in the Patriots' 56-10 rout of the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 18... Broke the Patriots' single-season touchdown receptions record held by Stanley Morgan with his 13th in just 10 games as he grabbed four touchdown receptions in the first half of the Patriots' 56-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 18... Became just the fifth player in NFL history to grab four touchdown receptions in the first half during the Patriots' win over the Bills on Nov. 18... Moved into the Top 25 on the NFL all-time receptions list with his 744th career reception on a 7-yard catch in the second quarter of the Patriots' 31-28 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 25... Led the team in receiving yards eight times (at NYJ, vs. SD, vs. BUF, at CIN, at IND, at BUF, vs. PIT, vs. NYJ) and led or tied for the team lead in receptions eight times (at NYJ, vs. SD, at CIN, at IND, at BUF, at BAL, vs. NYJ, vs. MIA) in 2007... Named AFC Offensive Player of the Week twice for Week Nine for his contributions in the Patriots' 24-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 4 and for Week 11 for his contributions in the Patriots' 56-10 win over the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 18... Named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November while averaging 105.3 receiving yards per game and raking in 24 receptions in the Patriots' three victories during the month... Set a new single-season career high with his 19 touchdown reception, while moving into second place behind the San Francisco 49ers Jerry Rice for the highest single-season touchdown receptions total in NFL history in the Patriots' 34-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 9... Set a Patriots team record with his 18th overall touchdown of the season on a 4-yard touchdown reception against the Steelers on Dec. 9... Established a new Patriots franchise record for receiving yards, finishing with 1,493 receiving yards for his 2007 campaign... With his 4-yard touchdown reception against the New York Giants on Dec. 29, moved into 10th place on the NFL's all-time career touchdown list with his 124th score, moving past the Colts' Marvin Harrison... Moved past Jerry Rice on the NFL's all-time single-season touchdown receptions list with his 23rd scoring strike in a two-touchdown performance in the Patriots' 38-35 comeback victory over the New York Giants on Dec. 29.
Rachelle Smith
Event: 200mHeight: 5-4Weight: 126PRs: 100m - 11.17 (2005); 200m - 22.22 (2005)Born: June 30, 1981 in Norfolk, VirginiaCurrent Residence: Chesapeake, VirginiaHigh School: Booker T. Washington (Norfolk, Va.) HS '99College: Indiana University '03Coach: Quez SmithAgent: Mark PryorClub: Nike
Career Highlights: 2006 USA Outdoor Champion; 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist; 2005 USA Outdoor Championship silver medalist; 2-time (2002, 2003) Big Ten Conference 200m champion; 2001 Big Ten 100m champion
Smith burst on the national scene in a big way with an impressive performance in the 100 and 200 meters at the 2005 USA Outdoor Championships in Carson, Calif. After posting her best-ever finish in the 100m final (4th-11.31), she placed herself on the 2005 Team USA World Outdoor Championships roster with her surprising runner-up finish in the 200 meters in a personal best time of 22.22 seconds. She went on to win silver at World Outdoors, then won the 2006 USA Outdoor title…In 2005, Smith also set a 100m personal best of 11.17 with her fourth-place finish in Rome on July 8. As a prep star at Washington HS in Norfolk, Virginia, Smith earned All-America honors in the 100m and 200m as a sophomore and earned All-State recognition as a freshman, sophomore and senior…state runner-up in the 100m & 200m as a senior…the youngest of 10 children in her family, Smith was a Recreational Sports Management major at Indiana University…maiden name is Rachelle Boone.
2007: 5th at USA Outdoors (22.71)...1st at Reebok Grand Prix (22.31)...4th at adidas Track Classic (22.67)...1st in 200m, 3rd in 100m at Kingston (22.65, 11.19)...7th at Rome (11.23)2006: USA Outdoor Champion (22.31)...1st at Rethymno (22.50w)...3rd at Nike Prefontaine Classic (11.21)...6th at Stockholm (22.85)...3rd at Kansas Relays (11.20)…ranked #6 in the world (#3 U.S.) at 200m by T&FN…best of 11.20 and 22.31.2005: 2nd at World Outdoor Championships (22.31)...2nd in 200m (22.22PR) and 4th in 100m (11.31) at USA Outdoor Championships...ran 11.02w in semi finals at USA Outdoors...4th in race 2 at Rome (11.17PR)...ranked #2 in the world (#2 U.S.) at the 200m and #6 in the U.S. at 100m by T&FN...bests of 11.17 & 22.22.2004: 5th at Olympic Trials 200m (22.69); ranked #7 in U.S. at 200m by T&FN...bests of 11.37, 22.69.2003: Big Ten 200m champion; 3rd at 100m at Big Ten...4th at NCAA Champs 100m (11.36), 200m (23.17)...5th in opening round 100m at USA Outdoors (11.65)...ranked #8 U.S. in 200m by T&FN...bests of 11.22, 22.87.2002: 5th at USA Outdoors 200m (23.63)...5th at USA Outdoors 100m semis (11.56)...ranked #9 U.S. at 200m by T&FN...bests of 11.53, 23.35.2001: Big 10 100m & 200m champ...bests of 11.33, 23.29.2000: Runner-up at Big 10 100m (11.39) & 200m (23.58)...bests of 11.39, 23.37.
Career Highlights: 2006 USA Outdoor Champion; 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist; 2005 USA Outdoor Championship silver medalist; 2-time (2002, 2003) Big Ten Conference 200m champion; 2001 Big Ten 100m champion
Smith burst on the national scene in a big way with an impressive performance in the 100 and 200 meters at the 2005 USA Outdoor Championships in Carson, Calif. After posting her best-ever finish in the 100m final (4th-11.31), she placed herself on the 2005 Team USA World Outdoor Championships roster with her surprising runner-up finish in the 200 meters in a personal best time of 22.22 seconds. She went on to win silver at World Outdoors, then won the 2006 USA Outdoor title…In 2005, Smith also set a 100m personal best of 11.17 with her fourth-place finish in Rome on July 8. As a prep star at Washington HS in Norfolk, Virginia, Smith earned All-America honors in the 100m and 200m as a sophomore and earned All-State recognition as a freshman, sophomore and senior…state runner-up in the 100m & 200m as a senior…the youngest of 10 children in her family, Smith was a Recreational Sports Management major at Indiana University…maiden name is Rachelle Boone.
2007: 5th at USA Outdoors (22.71)...1st at Reebok Grand Prix (22.31)...4th at adidas Track Classic (22.67)...1st in 200m, 3rd in 100m at Kingston (22.65, 11.19)...7th at Rome (11.23)2006: USA Outdoor Champion (22.31)...1st at Rethymno (22.50w)...3rd at Nike Prefontaine Classic (11.21)...6th at Stockholm (22.85)...3rd at Kansas Relays (11.20)…ranked #6 in the world (#3 U.S.) at 200m by T&FN…best of 11.20 and 22.31.2005: 2nd at World Outdoor Championships (22.31)...2nd in 200m (22.22PR) and 4th in 100m (11.31) at USA Outdoor Championships...ran 11.02w in semi finals at USA Outdoors...4th in race 2 at Rome (11.17PR)...ranked #2 in the world (#2 U.S.) at the 200m and #6 in the U.S. at 100m by T&FN...bests of 11.17 & 22.22.2004: 5th at Olympic Trials 200m (22.69); ranked #7 in U.S. at 200m by T&FN...bests of 11.37, 22.69.2003: Big Ten 200m champion; 3rd at 100m at Big Ten...4th at NCAA Champs 100m (11.36), 200m (23.17)...5th in opening round 100m at USA Outdoors (11.65)...ranked #8 U.S. in 200m by T&FN...bests of 11.22, 22.87.2002: 5th at USA Outdoors 200m (23.63)...5th at USA Outdoors 100m semis (11.56)...ranked #9 U.S. at 200m by T&FN...bests of 11.53, 23.35.2001: Big 10 100m & 200m champ...bests of 11.33, 23.29.2000: Runner-up at Big 10 100m (11.39) & 200m (23.58)...bests of 11.39, 23.37.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Me'Lisa Barber
Events: 100mHeight: 5-3Weight: 117PRs: 100m - 11.03 (2006); 200m - 22.37 (2005), 400m - 50.87 (2002)Born: October 4, 1980 in Livingston, N.J.Current Residence: Raleigh, N.C.High School: Montclair (NJ) '98College: South Carolina '02Agent: Kim HollandCoach: selfClub: adidas
Career Highlights: 2006 World Indoor 60m champion; 2006 USA Indoor 60m champion; 2006 Indoor Visa Championship Series winner; 2005 World Outdoor 4X100m relay gold medalist; 2005 USA Outdoor 100m champion; 2003 World Outdoor 4x400m relay gold medalist; 2001 World University Games 4x400m relay gold medalist; 2-time NCAA Outdoor relay champion; 2002 NCAA Outdoor 400m runner-up
Barber set a new personal record early in the season in 2007 at the adidas Track Classic, running the 100 meters in 10.95 seconds before succumbing to injury in the semifinals at the USA Outdoor Championships…Barber and 2005 World 100m champion Lauryn Williams had a tremendous battle in the women's 60m final at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Champs, with both finishing in the world-leading time of 7.01 seconds. Officials studied the photo and announced that Barber had barely out-leaned Williams at the finish to win the gold. With her victory, Barber joins Gail Devers as the only American woman ever to win world indoor 60m gold…Barber ran 7.06 seconds to win the 2006 AT&T women's 60 meters, scoring 1,212 points in the Race for the Championship…Barber moved to the 100m in 2005, earning her first U.S. title in the process. She ran the third leg in winning gold in the 4x100m relay at the World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki. Earlier in Helsinki, Barber finished fifth in the 100m finals…She won her first major international championships gold medal by running the lead leg on Team USA’s winning 4x400m relay team at the 2003 World Outdoor Championships in Paris…she also ran on the 2001Team USA World University Games gold medal winning 4x400m relay team with University of South Carolina teammates Demetria Washington, Carolyn Jackson and her twin sister Miki…she has been featured with Miki in stories in USA Today, Track and Field News, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Women and on an Oxygen Network television special, A Touch of Class…as a sophomore at USC, she ran the opening leg in teaming with her sister Miki to set a school record of 3:33.14 at USC finished as the runners-up at the NCAA Outdoor Championships…as a New Jersey prep star, she was named second team all-state in the 55m in 1998 and first team all-state in the 100m and 200m outdoors that year...won her heat of the 100 meters at the 1999 USA Junior Championships, but did not make the finals...her 4x100m and 4x400m high school relays at Montclair HS were both honored as All-American...as a senior she was ranked #3 on the Track & Field News prep list in the 100 meters...was #4 on the 200m list…majored in Retail Management and with a minor in Business at South Carolina...nickname is Lisa...hobbies include watching TV and listening to music...favorite athlete is Michael Jordan.
2007: 3rd at adidas Track Classic (10.95PR)…4th at Athens (11.19)…2nd at Paris (11.19)…3rd at Lausanne (11.11)…2nd at Rome (11.11)…ranked #5 in the world (#3 U.S.) by T&FN…best of 10.95.2006: World Indoor champion (7.01)...USA Indoor 60m champion (7.06)...4th at World Athletics Final (11.10)...2nd at adidas Track Classic (11.06)...3rd at Rome (11.08)...2nd at Lausanne (11.03)...1st in 200m at Road to Eugene '08 (22.92)...1st at Boston Indoor Games (7.09i)...2nd at Millrose (7.098i)...2nd at Tyson (7.11i)...ranked #3 in the world (#2 U.S.) at 100m by T&FN…best of 11.03.2005: World Outdoor 4X100m relay gold medalist (41.78)...5th in 100m at World Outdoors (11.09)...USA Outdoor 100m champion (11.10) and 4th in 200m at USA Outdoors (22.37PR); she ran (11.04PR) in the semi finals...1st in 100m at Reebok Grand Prix (11.05w)...2nd in 100m at Yokohama (11.08)...5th in 100m at World Athletics Final (11.09)...4th in 100m at adidas Track Classic (11.27)...7th in 200m at adidas Track Classic (22.93w)...ranked #5 in the world (#2 U.S.) at 100m and #10 in the world (#5 U.S.) at 200m by T&FN...bests of 23.01, 50.87best of 11.04 and 22.37.2004: 3rd at Home Depot (51.95)...4th in 400m at adidas Boston Indoor Games (53.11)...6th in 60m at Millrose Games (8.57).2003: 5th at U.S. Outdoors (52.04)...World Outdoor 4x400m relay gold medalist (1st leg 3:22.63 World Leader)...best of 52.04.2002: 8th at USA Outdoors (53.90)...2nd at NCAA Outdoors (50.87)...5th at NCAA Outdoors 200m (23.29)...4th at SEC 200m, 3rd at SEC 100m...ran third leg on NCAA Outdoor Championship 4x400m relay team...ranked #8 by T&FN...bests of 23.01, 50.87.2001: 7th at USA Outdoors (53.55)...8th in 200m, 6th in 400m, 2nd at 4x100m relay (3rd leg) & 3rd in 4x400m relay at NCAA Outdoors (1st leg)...3rd at World University Games 4x400m relay in 3:28.04 (1st leg)...2nd at SEC 100m, 6th at SEC in 200m...ranked #9 in U.S. at 400m by T&FN...bests of 11.46, 23.43, 52.18.2000: 5th in opening round at U.S. Olympic Trials 200m (24.07)...1st at NCAA Outdoors 4x400m relay (1st leg), 3rd at NCAA Outdoor 4x100m (1st leg)...bests of 11.59 & 23.23.1999: 5th at USA Juniors 100m, 4th at USA Juniors 200m, 8th in 200m semis at NCAA Outdoors...bests of 11.40 & 23.74.1998: 6th at USA Juniors 200m (23.63)...6th in 100m semi at USA Juniors...bests of 11.57 & 23.93
1/28/08
Career Highlights: 2006 World Indoor 60m champion; 2006 USA Indoor 60m champion; 2006 Indoor Visa Championship Series winner; 2005 World Outdoor 4X100m relay gold medalist; 2005 USA Outdoor 100m champion; 2003 World Outdoor 4x400m relay gold medalist; 2001 World University Games 4x400m relay gold medalist; 2-time NCAA Outdoor relay champion; 2002 NCAA Outdoor 400m runner-up
Barber set a new personal record early in the season in 2007 at the adidas Track Classic, running the 100 meters in 10.95 seconds before succumbing to injury in the semifinals at the USA Outdoor Championships…Barber and 2005 World 100m champion Lauryn Williams had a tremendous battle in the women's 60m final at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Champs, with both finishing in the world-leading time of 7.01 seconds. Officials studied the photo and announced that Barber had barely out-leaned Williams at the finish to win the gold. With her victory, Barber joins Gail Devers as the only American woman ever to win world indoor 60m gold…Barber ran 7.06 seconds to win the 2006 AT&T women's 60 meters, scoring 1,212 points in the Race for the Championship…Barber moved to the 100m in 2005, earning her first U.S. title in the process. She ran the third leg in winning gold in the 4x100m relay at the World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki. Earlier in Helsinki, Barber finished fifth in the 100m finals…She won her first major international championships gold medal by running the lead leg on Team USA’s winning 4x400m relay team at the 2003 World Outdoor Championships in Paris…she also ran on the 2001Team USA World University Games gold medal winning 4x400m relay team with University of South Carolina teammates Demetria Washington, Carolyn Jackson and her twin sister Miki…she has been featured with Miki in stories in USA Today, Track and Field News, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Women and on an Oxygen Network television special, A Touch of Class…as a sophomore at USC, she ran the opening leg in teaming with her sister Miki to set a school record of 3:33.14 at USC finished as the runners-up at the NCAA Outdoor Championships…as a New Jersey prep star, she was named second team all-state in the 55m in 1998 and first team all-state in the 100m and 200m outdoors that year...won her heat of the 100 meters at the 1999 USA Junior Championships, but did not make the finals...her 4x100m and 4x400m high school relays at Montclair HS were both honored as All-American...as a senior she was ranked #3 on the Track & Field News prep list in the 100 meters...was #4 on the 200m list…majored in Retail Management and with a minor in Business at South Carolina...nickname is Lisa...hobbies include watching TV and listening to music...favorite athlete is Michael Jordan.
2007: 3rd at adidas Track Classic (10.95PR)…4th at Athens (11.19)…2nd at Paris (11.19)…3rd at Lausanne (11.11)…2nd at Rome (11.11)…ranked #5 in the world (#3 U.S.) by T&FN…best of 10.95.2006: World Indoor champion (7.01)...USA Indoor 60m champion (7.06)...4th at World Athletics Final (11.10)...2nd at adidas Track Classic (11.06)...3rd at Rome (11.08)...2nd at Lausanne (11.03)...1st in 200m at Road to Eugene '08 (22.92)...1st at Boston Indoor Games (7.09i)...2nd at Millrose (7.098i)...2nd at Tyson (7.11i)...ranked #3 in the world (#2 U.S.) at 100m by T&FN…best of 11.03.2005: World Outdoor 4X100m relay gold medalist (41.78)...5th in 100m at World Outdoors (11.09)...USA Outdoor 100m champion (11.10) and 4th in 200m at USA Outdoors (22.37PR); she ran (11.04PR) in the semi finals...1st in 100m at Reebok Grand Prix (11.05w)...2nd in 100m at Yokohama (11.08)...5th in 100m at World Athletics Final (11.09)...4th in 100m at adidas Track Classic (11.27)...7th in 200m at adidas Track Classic (22.93w)...ranked #5 in the world (#2 U.S.) at 100m and #10 in the world (#5 U.S.) at 200m by T&FN...bests of 23.01, 50.87best of 11.04 and 22.37.2004: 3rd at Home Depot (51.95)...4th in 400m at adidas Boston Indoor Games (53.11)...6th in 60m at Millrose Games (8.57).2003: 5th at U.S. Outdoors (52.04)...World Outdoor 4x400m relay gold medalist (1st leg 3:22.63 World Leader)...best of 52.04.2002: 8th at USA Outdoors (53.90)...2nd at NCAA Outdoors (50.87)...5th at NCAA Outdoors 200m (23.29)...4th at SEC 200m, 3rd at SEC 100m...ran third leg on NCAA Outdoor Championship 4x400m relay team...ranked #8 by T&FN...bests of 23.01, 50.87.2001: 7th at USA Outdoors (53.55)...8th in 200m, 6th in 400m, 2nd at 4x100m relay (3rd leg) & 3rd in 4x400m relay at NCAA Outdoors (1st leg)...3rd at World University Games 4x400m relay in 3:28.04 (1st leg)...2nd at SEC 100m, 6th at SEC in 200m...ranked #9 in U.S. at 400m by T&FN...bests of 11.46, 23.43, 52.18.2000: 5th in opening round at U.S. Olympic Trials 200m (24.07)...1st at NCAA Outdoors 4x400m relay (1st leg), 3rd at NCAA Outdoor 4x100m (1st leg)...bests of 11.59 & 23.23.1999: 5th at USA Juniors 100m, 4th at USA Juniors 200m, 8th in 200m semis at NCAA Outdoors...bests of 11.40 & 23.74.1998: 6th at USA Juniors 200m (23.63)...6th in 100m semi at USA Juniors...bests of 11.57 & 23.93
1/28/08
Allyson Felix
ALLYSON FELIX
Events: 200mHeight: 5-6Weight: 125PRs: 100m - 11.01 (2007); 200m - 21.81 (2007); 400m - 49.70 (2007)Born: November 18, 1985 in Los Angeles, Calif.Current Residence: Los Angeles, Calif.High School: Los Angeles Baptist HS (Calif.) '03Coach: Bob KerseeAgent: Renaldo NehemiahClub: adidas
Career Highlights: 2-time World Outdoor 200m champion ('05, '07); 2007 World Outdoor 4x100m and 4x400m gold medalist; 3-time USA Outdoor 200m champion (’04, ’05, '07); 2004 Olympic 200m silver medalist; World Junior record holder; 2004 USA junior champion; 2003 USA Indoor champion; 2003 Pan American Games bronze medalist; Five-time California state prep champion (three-time 100m, two-time 200m); 2001 World Youth 100m gold medalist
At the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, Felix is second woman in history to win 3 gold medals at one World Championships. With 75 meters remaining in the women's 200m Felix simply took off, striding to the gold medal and a huge personal best of 21.81 seconds (1.7 mps wind), the fastest time run by a woman this century. The time improved Felix's previous best by .30 and defeated Campbell in second (22.34) by an astounding .53, the biggest margin of victory in World Championships history. She then went on to win gold in both relays, running the second leg of the 4x100m (41.98) and the 4x400m (3:18.55) with perhaps the fastest 4x400m relay leg ever by an American woman at a major championship (unofficially 48.0)...Felix raced to her third USA Outdoor title in 2007. At the end of a season of illness and injury, Felix returned to form in the women's 200 meters at the 2006 World Athletics Final, winning in a meet record 22.11. She then went on to place third in the 100m with in 11.07…2005 was a phenomenal year for Felix, who was undefeated in the 200, won the world title, set personal bests at 100 and 400 meters, and earned the Jesse Owens Award as the country’s top female athlete. She won her second straight national title in the 2005 Visa 200 meters at the USA Outdoor Championships (22.13WL), then came from behind to win the world title in Helsinki in 22.16. On the year, Felix owned the three fastest times in the world in 2005… From 2003 to 2004, Felix went from being a national-caliber junior athlete to a world junior record-breaker, World Championships competitor, and Olympic 200m silver medalist…as an 18-year-old, she won her first Olympic medal in the women’s 200m in Athens and secured the world junior record that she had waited a year to officially break, clocking 22.18…the performance gave Felix, the youngest person on the U.S. team, the world junior record by .01 seconds. She beat the existing record of 22.19, set in 1980 by the Soviet Union’s Natalya Bochina. Ironically, her time of 22.18 was not a personal best for Felix…On May 3, 2003, she ran 22.11 in Mexico City, but because meet organizers did not arrange in advance for drug testing at the meet, it could not be officially ratified by the IAAF…Felix won the 2004 Olympic Trials 200m (22.28) a time that was faster than every winning time at the Olympic Games through 1976, and it bests the 1996 gold medal-winning time of France’s Marie Jose Perec by .01 seconds…at the 2003 USA Indoor Championships, she tied the U.S. high school record in the 200 with her time of 23.22 in the semifinals, then broke the record in the finals with her win in 23.14 seconds…outdoors in 2003, her 22.51 clocking at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 19 broke Marion Jones’ previous USA junior and high school record of 22.58, set in 1992…ran a wind-aided 11.12 100m on May 30 in Cerritos, Calif., at the California masters meet…her time of 22.52 in winning the California state title broke Marion Jones’ high school federation record for the fastest time ever run in a high school-only competition…Felix won her first California high school championship as a sophomore in 2001, when she won the 100…as a junior in 2002, she won the 100 and 200, both with U.S.-leading times among junior (19-and-under) athletes…her father Paul, is an ordained minister who teaches New Testament Greek at the Master’s Seminary in Sun Valley, Calif…her mother, Marlean, is an elementary school teacher…high school teammates call her “chicken legs” due to her long, spindly legs…didn’t start running track until her freshman year of high school…USA Today reported that she has leg-pressed 700 pounds on a machine and dead-lifted 245…Felix was a prep media sensation, having had front-page articles in Sports Illustrated and USA Today, among other publications…an extensive profile of Felix was featured by CNN on June 10, 2003…attends the University of Southern California, where her older brother, Wes was the 2002 USA junior champion at 200 meters (21.57)…after the 2003 season, Felix switched coaches, moving from Pat Connolly to Bobby Kersee. Her 2005 performances helped make Kersee the 2005 Nike Coach of the Year ...web site is www.allysonfelixusa.com.
2007: World Outdoor 200m champion (21.81)...World Outdoors 4x100m (41.98) and 4x400m gold medalist (2nd leg - 48.0, 3:18.55)…USA Outdoor 200m champion (22.34) and 4th place 100m (11.25)…1st in 400m, 3rd in 100m at Reebok Grand Prix (50.53, 11.01)…1st in 200m at adidas Track Classic (22.18)… 1st in 300m at Tyson Invitational (36.33iAR)…1st at Sheffield (22.35)…2nd in 100m at Rethimno (11.11)…1st in 400m at Stockholm (49.70PR)…2nd in 400m at London (50.17)…ranked #1 in the world (#1 U.S.) at 200m, #3 in the world (#2 U.S.) at 400m and #6 in the world (#4 U.S.) at 100m by T&FN…bests of 21.81, 49.70 and 11.01. 2006: 1st in 200m, 3rd in 100m at World Athletics Final (22.11, 11.07)...5th at Stockholm (22.71)...6th at London (11.33)...1st at Madrid (22.73)...1st at Doha (22.78)...1st at Norwich Union (22.19)...1st at Kansas Relays (11.04PR)…ranked # 1 in the world (#1 U.S.) at 200m and #6 in the world (#4 U.S.) in 100m by T&FN…bests of 22.11, 11.04. 2005: 200m World Outdoor Champion (22.16)...1st in 200m at USA Outdoor Champs (22.13)...1st in 200m at adidas Track Classic (22.14)...3rd in 100m at Rome (11.14)...3rd in 100m at Stockholm (11.29)...7th in 100m at Zurich (11.18)...1st in 100m at Yokohama (11.05PR)...1st in 200m at Doha (22.78)...1st in 200m at Monterrey (22.31)...1st in 200m at World Athletics Final (22.27)...1st at Norwich Union (51.12PR)...ranked #1 in the world (#1 U.S.) in 200m and #9 in the world (#4 U.S.) in 100m by T&FN...bests of 11.05 in 100m and 22.13 in 200m.2004: Olympic 200m silver medalist (22.18 WJ)...Olympic Trials 200m champion (22.28)...USA Junior 200m champion (22.73)...2nd in 100m at Modesto (11.19)...2nd in 100m at Mt. Sac (11.14w)...3rd in 200m at Payton Jordan US Open (22.71)...3rd at adidas Oregon Track Classic (23.12)...2nd in 400m in Mexico City (51.83)...1st Linz 100m in PR 11.16...7th in 60m at USA Indoors (7.33)...2nd in 400m at adidas Boston Indoor Games (52.28)...5th in 60m at Verizon Millrose Games (7.36)...ranked #2 in the world (#1 U.S.) by T&FN...best of 22.18.2003: USA Indoors 200m champion (23.14 national HS record)...Pan American Games 200m Bronze medalist (22.93)...3rd at USA Outdoors 200m (22.59)...3rd in Paris on July 4 200m (22.66)...6th in heat 3 at World Outdoor Championships 200m (23.33)....1st in Mexico City 200m (22.11 U.S. junior record, faster than existing WJR)...1st at Mt. SAC Relays in 200m (22.51 U.S. junior record) and 100m HS (11.24w)...ran 23.22 in semis at USA Indoors to tie previous HS record...3rd in semifinal heat at World Indoors (23.29)...1st at Pasadena Games in 400m (52.26)...won the California state high school championships 100m (11.29), 200m (22.52)...ranked #8 in the world (#3 U.S.) at 200m by T&FNbests of 11.29, 22.11, 52.26.2002: Runner-up at USA junior champs (23.31)...5th at World Juniors (23.48)...won California HS titles at 100m (11.40) and 200m (22.83, fastest by a U.S. junior in 2002)...bests of 11.40 and 22.83.2001: Won 100m at the 2001 World Youth Athletics (11.57)...ran the 200 leg on Team USAs winning Sprint Medley Relay (2:03.82)...Won California HS title at 100m (11.61), second in 200 (23.27)...won the 200m at Youth Athletics nationals (23.82)...bests of 11.51 and 23.31.2000: 7th at California HS champs (24.35).
Events: 200mHeight: 5-6Weight: 125PRs: 100m - 11.01 (2007); 200m - 21.81 (2007); 400m - 49.70 (2007)Born: November 18, 1985 in Los Angeles, Calif.Current Residence: Los Angeles, Calif.High School: Los Angeles Baptist HS (Calif.) '03Coach: Bob KerseeAgent: Renaldo NehemiahClub: adidas
Career Highlights: 2-time World Outdoor 200m champion ('05, '07); 2007 World Outdoor 4x100m and 4x400m gold medalist; 3-time USA Outdoor 200m champion (’04, ’05, '07); 2004 Olympic 200m silver medalist; World Junior record holder; 2004 USA junior champion; 2003 USA Indoor champion; 2003 Pan American Games bronze medalist; Five-time California state prep champion (three-time 100m, two-time 200m); 2001 World Youth 100m gold medalist
At the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, Felix is second woman in history to win 3 gold medals at one World Championships. With 75 meters remaining in the women's 200m Felix simply took off, striding to the gold medal and a huge personal best of 21.81 seconds (1.7 mps wind), the fastest time run by a woman this century. The time improved Felix's previous best by .30 and defeated Campbell in second (22.34) by an astounding .53, the biggest margin of victory in World Championships history. She then went on to win gold in both relays, running the second leg of the 4x100m (41.98) and the 4x400m (3:18.55) with perhaps the fastest 4x400m relay leg ever by an American woman at a major championship (unofficially 48.0)...Felix raced to her third USA Outdoor title in 2007. At the end of a season of illness and injury, Felix returned to form in the women's 200 meters at the 2006 World Athletics Final, winning in a meet record 22.11. She then went on to place third in the 100m with in 11.07…2005 was a phenomenal year for Felix, who was undefeated in the 200, won the world title, set personal bests at 100 and 400 meters, and earned the Jesse Owens Award as the country’s top female athlete. She won her second straight national title in the 2005 Visa 200 meters at the USA Outdoor Championships (22.13WL), then came from behind to win the world title in Helsinki in 22.16. On the year, Felix owned the three fastest times in the world in 2005… From 2003 to 2004, Felix went from being a national-caliber junior athlete to a world junior record-breaker, World Championships competitor, and Olympic 200m silver medalist…as an 18-year-old, she won her first Olympic medal in the women’s 200m in Athens and secured the world junior record that she had waited a year to officially break, clocking 22.18…the performance gave Felix, the youngest person on the U.S. team, the world junior record by .01 seconds. She beat the existing record of 22.19, set in 1980 by the Soviet Union’s Natalya Bochina. Ironically, her time of 22.18 was not a personal best for Felix…On May 3, 2003, she ran 22.11 in Mexico City, but because meet organizers did not arrange in advance for drug testing at the meet, it could not be officially ratified by the IAAF…Felix won the 2004 Olympic Trials 200m (22.28) a time that was faster than every winning time at the Olympic Games through 1976, and it bests the 1996 gold medal-winning time of France’s Marie Jose Perec by .01 seconds…at the 2003 USA Indoor Championships, she tied the U.S. high school record in the 200 with her time of 23.22 in the semifinals, then broke the record in the finals with her win in 23.14 seconds…outdoors in 2003, her 22.51 clocking at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 19 broke Marion Jones’ previous USA junior and high school record of 22.58, set in 1992…ran a wind-aided 11.12 100m on May 30 in Cerritos, Calif., at the California masters meet…her time of 22.52 in winning the California state title broke Marion Jones’ high school federation record for the fastest time ever run in a high school-only competition…Felix won her first California high school championship as a sophomore in 2001, when she won the 100…as a junior in 2002, she won the 100 and 200, both with U.S.-leading times among junior (19-and-under) athletes…her father Paul, is an ordained minister who teaches New Testament Greek at the Master’s Seminary in Sun Valley, Calif…her mother, Marlean, is an elementary school teacher…high school teammates call her “chicken legs” due to her long, spindly legs…didn’t start running track until her freshman year of high school…USA Today reported that she has leg-pressed 700 pounds on a machine and dead-lifted 245…Felix was a prep media sensation, having had front-page articles in Sports Illustrated and USA Today, among other publications…an extensive profile of Felix was featured by CNN on June 10, 2003…attends the University of Southern California, where her older brother, Wes was the 2002 USA junior champion at 200 meters (21.57)…after the 2003 season, Felix switched coaches, moving from Pat Connolly to Bobby Kersee. Her 2005 performances helped make Kersee the 2005 Nike Coach of the Year ...web site is www.allysonfelixusa.com.
2007: World Outdoor 200m champion (21.81)...World Outdoors 4x100m (41.98) and 4x400m gold medalist (2nd leg - 48.0, 3:18.55)…USA Outdoor 200m champion (22.34) and 4th place 100m (11.25)…1st in 400m, 3rd in 100m at Reebok Grand Prix (50.53, 11.01)…1st in 200m at adidas Track Classic (22.18)… 1st in 300m at Tyson Invitational (36.33iAR)…1st at Sheffield (22.35)…2nd in 100m at Rethimno (11.11)…1st in 400m at Stockholm (49.70PR)…2nd in 400m at London (50.17)…ranked #1 in the world (#1 U.S.) at 200m, #3 in the world (#2 U.S.) at 400m and #6 in the world (#4 U.S.) at 100m by T&FN…bests of 21.81, 49.70 and 11.01. 2006: 1st in 200m, 3rd in 100m at World Athletics Final (22.11, 11.07)...5th at Stockholm (22.71)...6th at London (11.33)...1st at Madrid (22.73)...1st at Doha (22.78)...1st at Norwich Union (22.19)...1st at Kansas Relays (11.04PR)…ranked # 1 in the world (#1 U.S.) at 200m and #6 in the world (#4 U.S.) in 100m by T&FN…bests of 22.11, 11.04. 2005: 200m World Outdoor Champion (22.16)...1st in 200m at USA Outdoor Champs (22.13)...1st in 200m at adidas Track Classic (22.14)...3rd in 100m at Rome (11.14)...3rd in 100m at Stockholm (11.29)...7th in 100m at Zurich (11.18)...1st in 100m at Yokohama (11.05PR)...1st in 200m at Doha (22.78)...1st in 200m at Monterrey (22.31)...1st in 200m at World Athletics Final (22.27)...1st at Norwich Union (51.12PR)...ranked #1 in the world (#1 U.S.) in 200m and #9 in the world (#4 U.S.) in 100m by T&FN...bests of 11.05 in 100m and 22.13 in 200m.2004: Olympic 200m silver medalist (22.18 WJ)...Olympic Trials 200m champion (22.28)...USA Junior 200m champion (22.73)...2nd in 100m at Modesto (11.19)...2nd in 100m at Mt. Sac (11.14w)...3rd in 200m at Payton Jordan US Open (22.71)...3rd at adidas Oregon Track Classic (23.12)...2nd in 400m in Mexico City (51.83)...1st Linz 100m in PR 11.16...7th in 60m at USA Indoors (7.33)...2nd in 400m at adidas Boston Indoor Games (52.28)...5th in 60m at Verizon Millrose Games (7.36)...ranked #2 in the world (#1 U.S.) by T&FN...best of 22.18.2003: USA Indoors 200m champion (23.14 national HS record)...Pan American Games 200m Bronze medalist (22.93)...3rd at USA Outdoors 200m (22.59)...3rd in Paris on July 4 200m (22.66)...6th in heat 3 at World Outdoor Championships 200m (23.33)....1st in Mexico City 200m (22.11 U.S. junior record, faster than existing WJR)...1st at Mt. SAC Relays in 200m (22.51 U.S. junior record) and 100m HS (11.24w)...ran 23.22 in semis at USA Indoors to tie previous HS record...3rd in semifinal heat at World Indoors (23.29)...1st at Pasadena Games in 400m (52.26)...won the California state high school championships 100m (11.29), 200m (22.52)...ranked #8 in the world (#3 U.S.) at 200m by T&FNbests of 11.29, 22.11, 52.26.2002: Runner-up at USA junior champs (23.31)...5th at World Juniors (23.48)...won California HS titles at 100m (11.40) and 200m (22.83, fastest by a U.S. junior in 2002)...bests of 11.40 and 22.83.2001: Won 100m at the 2001 World Youth Athletics (11.57)...ran the 200 leg on Team USAs winning Sprint Medley Relay (2:03.82)...Won California HS title at 100m (11.61), second in 200 (23.27)...won the 200m at Youth Athletics nationals (23.82)...bests of 11.51 and 23.31.2000: 7th at California HS champs (24.35).
Mikele 'Miki' Barber
MIKELE 'Miki' BARBER
Events: 100mHeight: 5-2 Weight: 115 PRs: 100m – 11.02 (2007)Born: October 4, 1980 in Livingston, N.J. Current Residence: Duluth, Ga. High School: Montclair (NJ) ‘98 College: South Carolina ‘03 Coach: Gail DeversAgent: selfClub: NikeCareer Highlights: 2007 World Outdoor 4x100m gold medalist; 2007 Pan Am Games 100m gold medalist and 4x100m silver medalist; 2000 NCAA Outdoor 400m champ; 2000 NCAA Indoor 200m champ; 1999 NCAA Outdoor runner-up; 5th at 2000 Olympic Trials.At the 2007 IAAF World Championships, Barber ran the third leg of the 4x100m. After receiving the baton in a virtual dead heat with Jamaica, Barber blew the race open, giving Team USA a large lead, which Torri Edwards held on to, and the U.S. claimed gold in a world-leading 41.98...Barber broke the 28-year old Pan American Games record and set a personal best in winning the women's 100m in 11.02 seconds, she went on to anchor the 4x100m relay to a silver in 43.62...Barber has continued to improve her times in 2001, clocking a U.S. leading time of 50.63 at 400m (personal best) at the SEC championships in May. Later in the month, Barber lowered her personal best at 200m, with a time of 22.71 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships… she was a 4x400m relay pool member at the 2001 World Championships, although she did not compete. From Edmonton, Barber traveled to Beijing, China for the World University Games, where she won gold (4x400m) and bronze (400m)… Has a twin sister, Me’Lisa, who is also an excellent sprinter at South Carolina...the twins have been featured on Oxygen Sports and in Sports Illustrated...SI also tabbed Barber its Track & Field Player of the Year for the 2001 season... goes by nickname of Miki...Hobbies include ceramics ... Favorite athlete is the late Florence Griffith Joyner... Barber was part of the 2000 Olympic 4x400m relay pool, but she did not compete in Sydney.2007: World Outdoor 4x100m gold medalist (41.98)...6th at USA Outdoors (11.27)…Pan Am Games champion (11.02)…6th at Reebok Grand Prix (11.14)...ranked #10 in the world (#6 U.S.) by T&FN...best of 11.02. 2006: 6th in 100m at USA Outdoors (11.27)…4th at Ostrava (11.39)…6th in 200m at Oslo (23.42). 2005: did not compete 2004: did not compete 2003: 1st in NCAA Indoor heats (23.06)…5th in 200 at NCAA Indoors (23.12), 8th in 400 (53.03)…1st in heat at Knoxville (23.46)…1st in 400 at Gainesville (52.43)…bests of 23.06i and 51.92i. 2002: did not compete 2001: Gold medalist at 4x400m relay at World University Games (3:28.04)… World University Games 400m bronze medalist (51.92)…3rd in 400m at NCAA Indoors (52.87)… 4th in 200m at NCAA Indoors (23.41)…6th in 200m at NCAA Outdoors (23.51)…4th in 400m at NCAA Outdoors (53.00)…ran 50.63PR at SEC Championships, fastest time by an American in 2001…6th in 400m at U.S. Outdoors (52.70)…ranked #7 in U.S. by T&FN…bests of 22.71 and 50.63. 2000: 5th in 400 at Olympic Trials (51.17)...set PR of 50.98 while winning the SEC outdoor 400... won NCAA Indoor (23.06)...won NCAA Outdoors 400 (51.14)...set 200 PR of 22.98 at Chapel Hill, NC, on June 18... ranked #6 in U.S. at 400m by T&FN... bests of 50.98 and 22.98. 1999: 8th at USA Outdoors 400 and 2nd at NCAA Outdoors...2nd at World University Games 400... ranked #7 in 400 in U.S. by T&FN...bests of 23.05 and 51.03. 1998: 2nd at USA Juniors 400 and 8th at World Juniors...bests of 23.94 and 52.56
Events: 100mHeight: 5-2 Weight: 115 PRs: 100m – 11.02 (2007)Born: October 4, 1980 in Livingston, N.J. Current Residence: Duluth, Ga. High School: Montclair (NJ) ‘98 College: South Carolina ‘03 Coach: Gail DeversAgent: selfClub: NikeCareer Highlights: 2007 World Outdoor 4x100m gold medalist; 2007 Pan Am Games 100m gold medalist and 4x100m silver medalist; 2000 NCAA Outdoor 400m champ; 2000 NCAA Indoor 200m champ; 1999 NCAA Outdoor runner-up; 5th at 2000 Olympic Trials.At the 2007 IAAF World Championships, Barber ran the third leg of the 4x100m. After receiving the baton in a virtual dead heat with Jamaica, Barber blew the race open, giving Team USA a large lead, which Torri Edwards held on to, and the U.S. claimed gold in a world-leading 41.98...Barber broke the 28-year old Pan American Games record and set a personal best in winning the women's 100m in 11.02 seconds, she went on to anchor the 4x100m relay to a silver in 43.62...Barber has continued to improve her times in 2001, clocking a U.S. leading time of 50.63 at 400m (personal best) at the SEC championships in May. Later in the month, Barber lowered her personal best at 200m, with a time of 22.71 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships… she was a 4x400m relay pool member at the 2001 World Championships, although she did not compete. From Edmonton, Barber traveled to Beijing, China for the World University Games, where she won gold (4x400m) and bronze (400m)… Has a twin sister, Me’Lisa, who is also an excellent sprinter at South Carolina...the twins have been featured on Oxygen Sports and in Sports Illustrated...SI also tabbed Barber its Track & Field Player of the Year for the 2001 season... goes by nickname of Miki...Hobbies include ceramics ... Favorite athlete is the late Florence Griffith Joyner... Barber was part of the 2000 Olympic 4x400m relay pool, but she did not compete in Sydney.2007: World Outdoor 4x100m gold medalist (41.98)...6th at USA Outdoors (11.27)…Pan Am Games champion (11.02)…6th at Reebok Grand Prix (11.14)...ranked #10 in the world (#6 U.S.) by T&FN...best of 11.02. 2006: 6th in 100m at USA Outdoors (11.27)…4th at Ostrava (11.39)…6th in 200m at Oslo (23.42). 2005: did not compete 2004: did not compete 2003: 1st in NCAA Indoor heats (23.06)…5th in 200 at NCAA Indoors (23.12), 8th in 400 (53.03)…1st in heat at Knoxville (23.46)…1st in 400 at Gainesville (52.43)…bests of 23.06i and 51.92i. 2002: did not compete 2001: Gold medalist at 4x400m relay at World University Games (3:28.04)… World University Games 400m bronze medalist (51.92)…3rd in 400m at NCAA Indoors (52.87)… 4th in 200m at NCAA Indoors (23.41)…6th in 200m at NCAA Outdoors (23.51)…4th in 400m at NCAA Outdoors (53.00)…ran 50.63PR at SEC Championships, fastest time by an American in 2001…6th in 400m at U.S. Outdoors (52.70)…ranked #7 in U.S. by T&FN…bests of 22.71 and 50.63. 2000: 5th in 400 at Olympic Trials (51.17)...set PR of 50.98 while winning the SEC outdoor 400... won NCAA Indoor (23.06)...won NCAA Outdoors 400 (51.14)...set 200 PR of 22.98 at Chapel Hill, NC, on June 18... ranked #6 in U.S. at 400m by T&FN... bests of 50.98 and 22.98. 1999: 8th at USA Outdoors 400 and 2nd at NCAA Outdoors...2nd at World University Games 400... ranked #7 in 400 in U.S. by T&FN...bests of 23.05 and 51.03. 1998: 2nd at USA Juniors 400 and 8th at World Juniors...bests of 23.94 and 52.56
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Michael Jordan
During his first season in the NBA, Jordan averaged 28.2 ppg on 51.5% shooting. He quickly became a fan favorite even in opposing arenas, and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the heading "A Star is Born" just over a month into his professional career.Jordan was also voted in as an All-Star starter by the fans in his rookie season.Controversy arose before the All-Star game when word surfaced that several veteran players, led by Isiah Thomas, were upset by the amount of attention Jordan was receiving.This led to a so called "freeze-out" on Jordan, where players refused to pass him the ball throughout the game. The controversy left Jordan relatively unaffected when he returned to regular season play, and he would go on to be voted Rookie of the Year. The Bulls finished the season 38–44, and lost in the first round of the playoffs in four games to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jordan's second season was cut short by a broken foot which caused him to miss 64 games. Despite Jordan's injury and a 30–52 record, the Bulls made the playoffs. Jordan recovered in time to participate in the playoffs and performed well upon his return. Against a 1985–86 Boston Celtics team that is often considered one of the greatest in NBA history, Jordan set the still-unbroken record for points in a playoff game with 63 in Game 2. The Celtics, however, managed to sweep the series.
Jordan had recovered completely by the 1986–87 season, and had one of the most prolific scoring seasons in NBA history. He became the only player other than Wilt Chamberlain to score 3,000 points in a season, averaging a league high 37.1 points on 48.2% shooting.[7] In addition, Jordan demonstrated his defensive prowess, as he became the first player in NBA history to record 200 steals and 100 blocks in a season. Despite Jordan's success, Magic Johnson won the league's Most Valuable Player Award. The Bulls reached 40 wins,and advanced to the playoffs for the third consecutive year. However, they were again swept by the Celtics.
Jordan's second season was cut short by a broken foot which caused him to miss 64 games. Despite Jordan's injury and a 30–52 record, the Bulls made the playoffs. Jordan recovered in time to participate in the playoffs and performed well upon his return. Against a 1985–86 Boston Celtics team that is often considered one of the greatest in NBA history, Jordan set the still-unbroken record for points in a playoff game with 63 in Game 2. The Celtics, however, managed to sweep the series.
Jordan had recovered completely by the 1986–87 season, and had one of the most prolific scoring seasons in NBA history. He became the only player other than Wilt Chamberlain to score 3,000 points in a season, averaging a league high 37.1 points on 48.2% shooting.[7] In addition, Jordan demonstrated his defensive prowess, as he became the first player in NBA history to record 200 steals and 100 blocks in a season. Despite Jordan's success, Magic Johnson won the league's Most Valuable Player Award. The Bulls reached 40 wins,and advanced to the playoffs for the third consecutive year. However, they were again swept by the Celtics.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Kobe Bryant
Born: 23 August 1978
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Best known as: Superstar guard of the Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bryant joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996 and became part of a celebrated one-two punch with center Shaquille O'Neal. The pair led the Lakers to NBA championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Bryant was an NBA prodigy, jumping straight from high school to the pros. (He was drafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets, then traded to the Lakers for center Vlade Divac.) Bryant's charisma and flashy talent led some to compare him with former NBA superstar Michael Jordan.And on 22 January 2006 scored 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors. It was the second highest-scoring individual performance in NBA history, trailing only the 100 points scored by Wilt Chamberlain on 2 March 1962.
Bryant stands 6'7" and plays guard... He wore the jersey number 8 for years, but switched to 24 at the start of the 2006 NBA season... According to Bryant's NBA bio, his parents "named him after a kind of steak (kobe) seen on a restaurant menu prior to his birth"... Bryant's father Joe Bryant played eight seasons in the NBA and also played pro ball in Italy, where Kobe spent part of his childhood... Bryant married the former Vanessa Laine in April 2001; their daughter, Natalia, was born in January 2003.
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Best known as: Superstar guard of the Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bryant joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996 and became part of a celebrated one-two punch with center Shaquille O'Neal. The pair led the Lakers to NBA championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Bryant was an NBA prodigy, jumping straight from high school to the pros. (He was drafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets, then traded to the Lakers for center Vlade Divac.) Bryant's charisma and flashy talent led some to compare him with former NBA superstar Michael Jordan.And on 22 January 2006 scored 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors. It was the second highest-scoring individual performance in NBA history, trailing only the 100 points scored by Wilt Chamberlain on 2 March 1962.
Bryant stands 6'7" and plays guard... He wore the jersey number 8 for years, but switched to 24 at the start of the 2006 NBA season... According to Bryant's NBA bio, his parents "named him after a kind of steak (kobe) seen on a restaurant menu prior to his birth"... Bryant's father Joe Bryant played eight seasons in the NBA and also played pro ball in Italy, where Kobe spent part of his childhood... Bryant married the former Vanessa Laine in April 2001; their daughter, Natalia, was born in January 2003.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Mike Vick # 7
Selected as a first round (1st pick overall) draft choice by Atlanta in 2001.Intense competitor, who is blessed with rare athletic abilities not before seen at the quarterback position in the history of the NFL, possessing a combination of blazing speed as a runner and a cannon for a left arm.
Called the most electrifying and exciting player in the NFL by his peers and media throughout the NFL.
Owns several NFL records, including the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season (1,039 in 2006), highest average per carry in a single season (8.45 in 2006), 100-yard career rushing games by a quarterback (eight), best two-game rushing total (225 in 2004) and rushing yards in a single game (173 in 2002).
His 1,039 rushing yards and 8.4 average yards per carry in 2006 marked NFL records for a quarterback in a single season.
Became the first quarterback in NFL history to tally more than four career 100-yard rushing games as he has now collared eight such contests in his career.
Vick and teammate RB Warrick Dunn (1,140) became the first quarterback/running back duo to each surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a single season, and one of only four teammates to accomplish the feat in NFL history, with the last being Cleveland Browns' running backs Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner in 1985.
Enters the 2007 season ranked third among quarterbacks for rushing yards (3,859) in NFL history.
Vick's 2,474 passing yards in 2006 moved his career totals to 11,505 yards, which ranks fourth all-time in Falcons history.
With seven wins in 2005, Vick surpassed Chris Chandler (34) to move into second place on the Falcons all-time career wins list for quarterbacks. Only Steve Bartkowski (55) has won more games for the team.
Earned his second consecutive and third overall Pro Bowl nod in 2005 as he passed for 2,412 yards and 16 touchdowns in addition to leading all NFL quarterbacks with 597 rushing yards and six scores.
Named to the second Pro Bowl of his career after leading the Falcons to their third division title in team history and breaking numerous NFL and team records in 2004.
Set an NFL postseason record for a quarterback with 119 rushing yards in the 2004 NFC Divisional Playoff win against the Rams.
Became the first quarterback to ever throw for more than 250 yards and rush for over 100 yards in the same game at the Broncos (10/31/04).
Named the NFC Offensive Player the Week on two separate occasions in 2004.
Became a bonafide star and MVP candidate in his first season as a full-time starter at the age of 22 in 2002.
Named to the 2002 Pro Bowl and became the sixth quarterback to be voted to the NFL All-Star game in his first year as a starter since 1970, joining Dan Marino of Miami (1983), Brett Favre of Green Bay (1992), Kurt Warner of St. Louis (1999), Daunte Culpepper of Minnesota (2000) and Tom Brady of New England (2001).
Missed 11 games in 2003 after breaking his right fibula vs. Baltimore (8/16) in the preseason. Returned in Week 14 to guide the Falcons to a 3-1 record as a starter in the final four weeks of action.
Established several NFL records in 2002, including the most rushing yards in a game (173) by a quarterback and the most rushing yards by a quarterback in his first two seasons (1,066).
Top overall NFL draft choice in 2001 after a celebrated college career at Virginia Tech.
Was the fourth Falcons No. 1 overall pick in club history (Tommy Nobis in 1966, Steve Bartkowski in 1975, Aundray Bruce in 1988). The Falcons traded their No. 1 pick (5th overall) and No. 3 pick in 2001, a No. 2 pick in 2002 and WR/KR Tim Dwight to San Diego for the rights to the No. 1 overall choice a day before the draft.Vick and teammate RB Warrick Dunn (1,140) became the first quarterback/running back duo to each surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a single season, and one of only four teammates to accomplish the feat in NFL history, with the last being Cleveland Browns' running backs Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner in 1985.Named to his third Pro Bowl after starting all 15 games played and completing 214 of 387 passes for 2,412 yards with 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Led all NFL quarterbacks with 597 rushing yards on 102 carries (5.9 avg.) with six scores. His 5.9 average yards per carry led all NFL rushers with at least 100 carries. Also helped three players have career years in RB Warrick Dunn, TE Alge Crumpler, and WR Michael Jenkins.
Called the most electrifying and exciting player in the NFL by his peers and media throughout the NFL.
Owns several NFL records, including the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season (1,039 in 2006), highest average per carry in a single season (8.45 in 2006), 100-yard career rushing games by a quarterback (eight), best two-game rushing total (225 in 2004) and rushing yards in a single game (173 in 2002).
His 1,039 rushing yards and 8.4 average yards per carry in 2006 marked NFL records for a quarterback in a single season.
Became the first quarterback in NFL history to tally more than four career 100-yard rushing games as he has now collared eight such contests in his career.
Vick and teammate RB Warrick Dunn (1,140) became the first quarterback/running back duo to each surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a single season, and one of only four teammates to accomplish the feat in NFL history, with the last being Cleveland Browns' running backs Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner in 1985.
Enters the 2007 season ranked third among quarterbacks for rushing yards (3,859) in NFL history.
Vick's 2,474 passing yards in 2006 moved his career totals to 11,505 yards, which ranks fourth all-time in Falcons history.
With seven wins in 2005, Vick surpassed Chris Chandler (34) to move into second place on the Falcons all-time career wins list for quarterbacks. Only Steve Bartkowski (55) has won more games for the team.
Earned his second consecutive and third overall Pro Bowl nod in 2005 as he passed for 2,412 yards and 16 touchdowns in addition to leading all NFL quarterbacks with 597 rushing yards and six scores.
Named to the second Pro Bowl of his career after leading the Falcons to their third division title in team history and breaking numerous NFL and team records in 2004.
Set an NFL postseason record for a quarterback with 119 rushing yards in the 2004 NFC Divisional Playoff win against the Rams.
Became the first quarterback to ever throw for more than 250 yards and rush for over 100 yards in the same game at the Broncos (10/31/04).
Named the NFC Offensive Player the Week on two separate occasions in 2004.
Became a bonafide star and MVP candidate in his first season as a full-time starter at the age of 22 in 2002.
Named to the 2002 Pro Bowl and became the sixth quarterback to be voted to the NFL All-Star game in his first year as a starter since 1970, joining Dan Marino of Miami (1983), Brett Favre of Green Bay (1992), Kurt Warner of St. Louis (1999), Daunte Culpepper of Minnesota (2000) and Tom Brady of New England (2001).
Missed 11 games in 2003 after breaking his right fibula vs. Baltimore (8/16) in the preseason. Returned in Week 14 to guide the Falcons to a 3-1 record as a starter in the final four weeks of action.
Established several NFL records in 2002, including the most rushing yards in a game (173) by a quarterback and the most rushing yards by a quarterback in his first two seasons (1,066).
Top overall NFL draft choice in 2001 after a celebrated college career at Virginia Tech.
Was the fourth Falcons No. 1 overall pick in club history (Tommy Nobis in 1966, Steve Bartkowski in 1975, Aundray Bruce in 1988). The Falcons traded their No. 1 pick (5th overall) and No. 3 pick in 2001, a No. 2 pick in 2002 and WR/KR Tim Dwight to San Diego for the rights to the No. 1 overall choice a day before the draft.Vick and teammate RB Warrick Dunn (1,140) became the first quarterback/running back duo to each surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a single season, and one of only four teammates to accomplish the feat in NFL history, with the last being Cleveland Browns' running backs Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner in 1985.Named to his third Pro Bowl after starting all 15 games played and completing 214 of 387 passes for 2,412 yards with 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Led all NFL quarterbacks with 597 rushing yards on 102 carries (5.9 avg.) with six scores. His 5.9 average yards per carry led all NFL rushers with at least 100 carries. Also helped three players have career years in RB Warrick Dunn, TE Alge Crumpler, and WR Michael Jenkins.
Hillary Clinton
In 2000, Hillary was elected to the United States Senate from New York. As Senator, Hillary has continued her advocacy for children and families and has been a national leader on homeland security and national security issues.
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Hillary worked with her colleagues to secure the funds New York needed to recover and rebuild. She fought to provide compensation to the families of the victims, grants for hard-hit small businesses, and health care for front line workers at Ground Zero. And she continues to work for resources that enable New York to grow, to improve homeland security for New York and other communities, and to protect all Americans from future attacksAfter the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Hillary worked with her colleagues to secure the funds New York needed to recover and rebuild. She fought to provide compensation to the families of the victims, grants for hard-hit small businesses, and health care for front line workers at Ground Zero. And she continues to work for resources that enable New York to grow, to improve homeland security for New York and other communities, and to protect all Americans from future attacks.She is the first New Yorker ever to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee, working to see that America's military has the necessary resources to protect our national security. She has visited troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and at Fort Drum in New York, home of the 10th Mountain Division and other New York bases, as well as at Walter Reed Military Hospital. She has learned first-hand the challenges facing American combat forces. Hillary passed legislation to track the health status of our troops so that conditions like Gulf War Syndrome would no longer be misdiagnosed. She is an original sponsor of legislation that expanded health benefits to members of the National Guard and Reserves and has been a strong critic of the Administration's handling of Iraq.But Hillary has recognized that we can't ignore our problems at home while we face challenges overseas. She has introduced legislation to tie Congressional salary increases to an increase in the minimum wage, because she believes if America's working people don't deserve a raise, neither does Congress. She has supported a variety of middle-class tax cuts, including marriage penalty relief, property tax relief, and reduction in the Alternative Minimum Tax, and supports fiscally responsible pay-as-you-go budget rules. She helped pass legislation that encouraged investment to create jobs in struggling communities through the Renewal Communities program. She has championed legislation to bring broadband Internet access, which is so important in today's information economy, to rural America.Hillary has been a powerful advocate for women in the Senate. Her commitment to supporting the rights guaranteed in Roe v. Wade and to reducing the number of abortions by reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies was hailed by the New York Times as "frank talk...(and) a promising path." Hillary is one of the original cosponsors of the Prevention First Act to increase access to family planning. Her fight with the Bush Administration ensured that Plan B, an emergency contraceptive, will be available to millions of American women and will reduce the need for abortions.
Hillary is strongly committed to making sure that every American has the right to vote in fair, accessible, and credible elections. She introduced the Count Every Vote Act of 2005 to ensure better protection of votes and to ensure that every vote is counted.
In 2006, New Yorkers reelected Hillary to the Senate with 67 percent of the vote.
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Hillary worked with her colleagues to secure the funds New York needed to recover and rebuild. She fought to provide compensation to the families of the victims, grants for hard-hit small businesses, and health care for front line workers at Ground Zero. And she continues to work for resources that enable New York to grow, to improve homeland security for New York and other communities, and to protect all Americans from future attacksAfter the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Hillary worked with her colleagues to secure the funds New York needed to recover and rebuild. She fought to provide compensation to the families of the victims, grants for hard-hit small businesses, and health care for front line workers at Ground Zero. And she continues to work for resources that enable New York to grow, to improve homeland security for New York and other communities, and to protect all Americans from future attacks.She is the first New Yorker ever to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee, working to see that America's military has the necessary resources to protect our national security. She has visited troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and at Fort Drum in New York, home of the 10th Mountain Division and other New York bases, as well as at Walter Reed Military Hospital. She has learned first-hand the challenges facing American combat forces. Hillary passed legislation to track the health status of our troops so that conditions like Gulf War Syndrome would no longer be misdiagnosed. She is an original sponsor of legislation that expanded health benefits to members of the National Guard and Reserves and has been a strong critic of the Administration's handling of Iraq.But Hillary has recognized that we can't ignore our problems at home while we face challenges overseas. She has introduced legislation to tie Congressional salary increases to an increase in the minimum wage, because she believes if America's working people don't deserve a raise, neither does Congress. She has supported a variety of middle-class tax cuts, including marriage penalty relief, property tax relief, and reduction in the Alternative Minimum Tax, and supports fiscally responsible pay-as-you-go budget rules. She helped pass legislation that encouraged investment to create jobs in struggling communities through the Renewal Communities program. She has championed legislation to bring broadband Internet access, which is so important in today's information economy, to rural America.Hillary has been a powerful advocate for women in the Senate. Her commitment to supporting the rights guaranteed in Roe v. Wade and to reducing the number of abortions by reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies was hailed by the New York Times as "frank talk...(and) a promising path." Hillary is one of the original cosponsors of the Prevention First Act to increase access to family planning. Her fight with the Bush Administration ensured that Plan B, an emergency contraceptive, will be available to millions of American women and will reduce the need for abortions.
Hillary is strongly committed to making sure that every American has the right to vote in fair, accessible, and credible elections. She introduced the Count Every Vote Act of 2005 to ensure better protection of votes and to ensure that every vote is counted.
In 2006, New Yorkers reelected Hillary to the Senate with 67 percent of the vote.
Obama
Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was born and raised in a small village in Kenya, where he grew up herding goats with his own father, who was a domestic servant to the British.
Barack's mother, Ann Dunham, grew up in small-town Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs during the Depression, and then signed up for World War II after Pearl Harbor, where he marched across Europe in Patton's army. Her mother went to work on a bomber assembly line, and after the war, they studied on the G.I. Bill, bought a house through the Federal Housing Program, and moved west to Hawaii.
It was there, at the University of Hawaii, where Barack's parents met. His mother was a student there, and his father had won a scholarship that allowed him to leave Kenya and pursue his dreams in America.
Barack's father eventually returned to Kenya, and Barack grew up with his mother in Hawaii, and for a few years in Indonesia. Later, he moved to New York, where he graduated from Columbia University in 1983. Remembering the values of empathy and service that his mother taught him, Barack put law school and corporate life on hold after college and moved to Chicago in 1985, where he became a community organizer with a church-based group seeking to improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods plagued with crime and high unemployment.
The group had some success, but Barack had come to realize that in order to truly improve the lives of people in that community and other communities, it would take not just a change at the local level, but a change in our laws and in our politics.
He went on to earn his law degree from Harvard in 1991, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Soon after, he returned to Chicago to practice as a civil rights lawyer and teach constitutional law. Finally, his advocacy work led him to run for the Illinois State Senate, where he served for eight years. In 2004, he became the third African American since Reconstruction to be elected to the U.S. Senate. It has been the rich and varied experiences of Barack Obama's life - growing up in different places with people who had differing ideas - that have animated his political journey. Amid the partisanship and bickering of today's public debate, he still believes in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose - a politics that puts solving the challenges of everyday Americans ahead of partisan calculation and political gain.
In the Illinois State Senate, this meant working with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. He also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases.
In the U.S. Senate, he has focused on tackling the challenges of a globalized, 21st century world with fresh thinking and a politics that no longer settles for the lowest common denominator. His first law was passed with Republican Tom Coburn, a measure to rebuild trust in government by allowing every American to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars is spent. He has also been the lead voice in championing ethics reform that would root out Jack Abramoff-style corruption in Congress.
As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama has fought to help Illinois veterans get the disability pay they were promised, while working to prepare the VA for the return of the thousands of veterans who will need care after Iraq and Afghanistan. Recognizing the terrorist threat posed by weapons of mass destruction, he traveled to Russia with Republican Dick Lugar to begin a new generation of non-proliferation efforts designed to find and secure deadly weapons around the world. And knowing the threat we face to our economy and our security from America's addiction to oil, he's working to bring auto companies, unions, farmers, businesses and politicians of both parties together to promote the greater use of alternative fuels and higher fuel standards in our cars.
Whether it's the poverty exposed by Katrina, the genocide in Darfur, or the role of faith in our politics, Barack Obama continues to speak out on the issues that will define America in the 21st century. But above all his accomplishments and experiences, he is most proud and grateful for his family. His wife, Michelle, and his two daughters, Malia, 9, and Sasha, 6, live on Chicago's South Side where they attend Trinity United Church of Christ.
Barack's mother, Ann Dunham, grew up in small-town Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs during the Depression, and then signed up for World War II after Pearl Harbor, where he marched across Europe in Patton's army. Her mother went to work on a bomber assembly line, and after the war, they studied on the G.I. Bill, bought a house through the Federal Housing Program, and moved west to Hawaii.
It was there, at the University of Hawaii, where Barack's parents met. His mother was a student there, and his father had won a scholarship that allowed him to leave Kenya and pursue his dreams in America.
Barack's father eventually returned to Kenya, and Barack grew up with his mother in Hawaii, and for a few years in Indonesia. Later, he moved to New York, where he graduated from Columbia University in 1983. Remembering the values of empathy and service that his mother taught him, Barack put law school and corporate life on hold after college and moved to Chicago in 1985, where he became a community organizer with a church-based group seeking to improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods plagued with crime and high unemployment.
The group had some success, but Barack had come to realize that in order to truly improve the lives of people in that community and other communities, it would take not just a change at the local level, but a change in our laws and in our politics.
He went on to earn his law degree from Harvard in 1991, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Soon after, he returned to Chicago to practice as a civil rights lawyer and teach constitutional law. Finally, his advocacy work led him to run for the Illinois State Senate, where he served for eight years. In 2004, he became the third African American since Reconstruction to be elected to the U.S. Senate. It has been the rich and varied experiences of Barack Obama's life - growing up in different places with people who had differing ideas - that have animated his political journey. Amid the partisanship and bickering of today's public debate, he still believes in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose - a politics that puts solving the challenges of everyday Americans ahead of partisan calculation and political gain.
In the Illinois State Senate, this meant working with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. He also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases.
In the U.S. Senate, he has focused on tackling the challenges of a globalized, 21st century world with fresh thinking and a politics that no longer settles for the lowest common denominator. His first law was passed with Republican Tom Coburn, a measure to rebuild trust in government by allowing every American to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars is spent. He has also been the lead voice in championing ethics reform that would root out Jack Abramoff-style corruption in Congress.
As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama has fought to help Illinois veterans get the disability pay they were promised, while working to prepare the VA for the return of the thousands of veterans who will need care after Iraq and Afghanistan. Recognizing the terrorist threat posed by weapons of mass destruction, he traveled to Russia with Republican Dick Lugar to begin a new generation of non-proliferation efforts designed to find and secure deadly weapons around the world. And knowing the threat we face to our economy and our security from America's addiction to oil, he's working to bring auto companies, unions, farmers, businesses and politicians of both parties together to promote the greater use of alternative fuels and higher fuel standards in our cars.
Whether it's the poverty exposed by Katrina, the genocide in Darfur, or the role of faith in our politics, Barack Obama continues to speak out on the issues that will define America in the 21st century. But above all his accomplishments and experiences, he is most proud and grateful for his family. His wife, Michelle, and his two daughters, Malia, 9, and Sasha, 6, live on Chicago's South Side where they attend Trinity United Church of Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)