Youth Olympic Flame arrives in Auckland

Danyor Loader, Olympic ambassador of New Zealand holds the torch during the flame arrival ceremony at the airport in Auckland, New Zealand, July 31, 2010. The torch for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games journey arrived in Auckland on Saturday.

LAN SIALII (2rd R), a Maori culture performer, holds the torch during the flame arrival ceremony at the airport in Auckland, New Zealand, July 31, 2010. The torch for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games journey arrived in Auckland on Saturday.

Dancers show the Maori cultural performance during the flame arrival ceremony at the airport in Auckland, New Zealand, July 31, 2010.The torch for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games journey arrived in Auckland on Saturday.

Ser Miang NG (6th L), Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, holds the lantern as he poses for photos with guests during the flame arrival ceremony at the airport in Auckland, New Zealand, July 31, 2010. The torch for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games journey arrived in Auckland on Saturday.

LAN SIALII (R), a Maori culture performer, attends a local Maori welcoming ceremony during the flame arrival ceremony at the airport in Auckland, New Zealand, July 31, 2010.The torch for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games journey arrived in Auckland on Saturday.

LAN SIALII (C), a Maori culture performer, holds the torch during the flame arrival ceremony at the airport in Auckland, New Zealand, July 31, 2010. The torch for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games journey arrived in Auckland on Saturday.

A dancer shows the Maori cultural performance during the flame arrival ceremony at the airport in Auckland, New Zealand, July 31, 2010. The torch for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games journey arrived in Auckland on Saturday.
(Xinhua)

Venus Williams signs new book "Come to Win"

WTA tennis player Venus Williams signs her new book "Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession" for a fan during an autograph session at the ATP L.A. Tennis Open tournament in Los Angeles, California July 30, 2010.

WTA tennis player Venus Williams poses with her new book "Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession" during an autograph signing at the ATP L.A. Tennis Open tournament in Los Angeles, California July 30, 2010.

WTA tennis player Venus Williams poses with her new book "Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession" during an autograph signing at the ATP L.A. Tennis Open tournament in Los Angeles, California July 30, 2010.

WTA tennis player Venus Williams signs her new book "Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession" for a fan during an autograph session at the ATP L.A. Tennis Open tournament in Los Angeles, California July 30, 2010.

A new book by WTA tennis player Venus Williams, "Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession", is displayed before an autograph session at the ATP L.A. Tennis Open tournament in Los Angeles, California July 30, 2010.

(Reuters)

Kobe comes to Guangzhou

NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant gestures to fans during a tour to Jinan University in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, July 29, 2010. Kobe Bryant is on a tour to 5 cities of China to meet Chinese fans and attend basketball training camp. Guangzhou is his 4th stop.

NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant gestures to fans during a tour to Jinan University in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, July 29, 2010. Kobe Bryant is on a tour to 5 cities of China to meet Chinese fans and attend basketball training camp. Guangzhou is his 4th stop.

NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant answers questions from press in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, July 29, 2010. Kobe Bryant is on a tour to 5 cities of China to meet Chinese fans and attend basketball training camp. Guangzhou is his 4th stop.

NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant gestures to fans during a tour to Jinan University in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, July 29, 2010. Kobe Bryant is on a tour to 5 cities of China to meet Chinese fans and attend basketball training camp. Guangzhou is his 4th stop.

NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant gestures to fans during a tour to South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, July 29, 2010. Kobe Bryant is on a tour to 5 cities of China to meet Chinese fans and attend basketball training camp. Guangzhou is his 4th stop.
(Xinhua)

Stankovic Continental Cup 2010: Slovenia vs Australia

Australia's David Andersen (R) shoots during the match against Slovenia at the Stankovic Continental Cup 2010 in Liuzhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 29, 2010.

Australia's David Barlow (L) competes during a match with Slovenia at the Stankovic Continental Cup 2010 in Liuzhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 29, 2010.

Slovenia's Primoz Brezec shoots during the match against Australia at the Stankovic Continental Cup 2010 in Liuzhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 29, 2010.

Slovenia's Jaka Klobucar (C) shoots during the match against Australia at the Stankovic Continental Cup 2010 in Liuzhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 29, 2010.

Slovenia's Goran Dragic (R) vies with Australian players during a match at the Stankovic Continental Cup 2010 in Liuzhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 29, 2010.
(Xinhua)

Top 10 beauties in sports

Guo Jingjing.
Sport: diving.

MariaSharapova.
Sport: tennis.

Nastia Liukin.
Sport: gymnastics.

Kim Yu-na.
Sport: figure skating.

Fukuhara Ai.
Sport: table tennis.

Ana Ivanovic.
Sport: tennis.

Paola Espinosa.
Sport: diving.

Federica Pellegrini.
Sport: swimming.

Stephanie Rice.
Sport: swimming.

Sania Mirza.
Sport: tennis.

(Photo: agencies)

Manchester United routs MLS All-Stars

Manchester United's Federico Macheda (R) is congratulated by teammates Ryan Giggs and Nani (17) after scoring his first of two goals in the first half against the Major League Soccer All-Stars during their exhibition soccer match in Houston July 28, 2010.

Manchester United's Ryan Giggs (L) runs with the ball next to Major League Soccer All-Star Guillermo Barros Schelotto during their exhibition soccer match in Houston July 28, 2010.

Manchester United's Darron Gibson (C) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during their exhibition soccer match against the Major League Soccer All-Stars in Houston July 28, 2010.
(Reuters)

Radevica beats Gomes in long jump at Europeans

Ineta Radevica of Latvia poses with her gold medal during the awards ceremony for the women's long jump final at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona July 28, 2010. Radevica won the gold medal ahead of Naide Gomes of Portugal and Olga Kucherenko of Russia.

Olga Kucherenko of Russia poses with her bronze medal during the awards ceremony for the women's long jump final at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona July 28, 2010. Ineta Radevica of Latvia won the gold medal ahead of Naide Gomes of Portugal and Kucherenko.

Gold medallist Ineta Radevica (C) of Latvia poses with silver medallist Naide Gomes (L) of Portugal and bronze medallist Olga Kucherenko of Russia during the awards ceremony for the women's long jump final at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona July 28, 2010.
(Reuters)

Sports. Let me tell you about them...

There was once a little girl named Kaitlin Elise Smith. She wanted to be an artist when she grew up. Her mom put her in dance classes.

This is her, in the blue skirt. She is standing next to her little sister and her cute cousin, Natty B.

Kaitlin was never a very good dancer. Soon she read the books Matilda and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and became obsessed with reading every book she wanted to. (It's apparent she thought they would give her some sort of magical powers, Roald Dahl's books deemed it would be so.) She had a stack of books. She hid out in her room like a hermit, just reading them all.

Her dad, David, had a love of fishing and sports. He bled BYU cougar blue. He had two season tickets to watch his beloved football team play every season, every game. He married into a BYU football family, and he got some pretty swell seats out of the deal too.

His wife gave birth to four girls.

Then David took turns taking those girls to BYU football games. He'd watch Utah Jazz games with them too.

Even though Kaitlin was often in her room being a hermit, she watched sports with her dad, and even though she never played sports and was a failed dancer/artist, she loved to watch sports. Her favorites were BYU vs. Utah and the Utah Jazz in the NBA finals.

That is how it all began.

Kait's oversimplified, childlike caboodle of the NBA:

This is Kobe, Kobe Bryant

In the NBA, sometimes players have one name only. Kobe and Lebron are sort of like Cher and Madonna. Kobe is the sworn enemy to this man, Raja Bell:

Who has just gone to Kaitlin's favorite basketball team in the world, the Utah Jazz.

This is Deron Williams

He is a leader. He is the team's heart.

He is down-to-earth: He chills with the crowd and is goofy. He has the best crossover the NBA's seen in years.

This is Dwight Howard

He is Chuck Norris, John Stossel, Malcolm Reynolds, and Jack Bauer, all rolled into one glorious NBA player.

Dwight Howard does not play for the Jazz. If he did, the Jazz would be so awesome, the NBA could not contain them.

This is John Stockton

He was and is fantastic. He made little Kaitlin want to quit being a hermit and join the Junior Jazz (she didn't quit being a hermit for a while though.)

Good Report and Praiseworthy:

Even if you don't like sports, I'd suggest watching them with a die-hard sports fan sometime. Then you might learn to like sports too. Or you might just do it to archeologically psychoanalize human behavior. Or you could be a detective like me.

Older Kaitlin didn't learn after the Roald Dahl experience. After she read every Sherlock Holmes story in high school, she decided the life of a private investigator was her dream job.

Yumi Katsura wedding dress

VIA