Miss Australia shows off her skills in "Condom Olympics"

For those of you who thought beauty pageants were nothing more than platforms for girlie girls to parade around on stage in swimsuits and give semi-heartfelt speeches about worthy causes, I offer this video as proof that beauty pageants are more than just a showing of brains & beauty...but breath as well.

Rachael Finch AKA Miss Australia was vying for the crown of Miss Universe this past weekend at the pageant in the Bahamas when she and a few fellow Miss Universe contestants competed in the "Condom Olympics"... I can't make this stuff up.

The contestants had to blow up a condom as big as possible without bursting it...Take a look at the video to see how Finch "blew" her competition out of the water.

Now that's talent. Brains, Beauty, and the lung capacity of Jacques Cousteau... I'm in love. Unfortunately for Rachael, her conquest in the Condom Olympics didn't translate to a victory in the main event. Finch grabbed second runner up to Ms. Venezuela (the second year in a row a woman from Venezuela has won Miss Universe). Oh well. Can't win 'em all I guess.

When asked about finishing second in the pageant, Finch replied "it sucks...actually, it blows.." Sorry, it was too easy. She didn't say that, but I had to take a swing.

Michelle Obama & her wardrobe..

A lot has been made of Michelle Obama's decision to wear shorts during the family's vacation visit to the Grand Canyon a few days ago. Temperatures in the canyon can reach upwards of 100 degrees this time of year. The shorts look like some standard Old Navy cargo shorts...nothing particularly fashionable about them. I think that she wore for comfort and not fashion, but a debate has sprung up about whether or not she is "too casual" as a first lady.

Michelle already won my 'Swag Award' following the Obama's first trip to Europe, where she wowed the media and other female heads of state while President Obama was meeting with officials at the G-20 Summit.

Personally, I think the shorts are fine and I would be more outraged if she wore a pants suit in the middle of August to the Grand Canyon than these simple shorts. I wanted to pose the question to my readers though. What do we think of her shorts?? Comfortably chic, or crossing the line??

Swag Award of the Week August 10-16

Talk about an upset.. This is a David vs. Goliath story if I've ever heard one. Y.E. Yang, ranked #110 in the world at the outset of the PGA Championship out dueled Tiger Woods in the final round to win the tournament by three strokes.

Woods entered the final round with a two stroke lead and for the first time in his professional career relinquished a final round lead in a major. Woods had previously won all 14 majors when entering the final round with a lead.

With the victory, Yang became the first Asian-born golfer to win a major. For his efforts, Yang received $1.35 million, the 44-pound Wanamaker Trophy, and a five year exemption on the PGA Tour and all majors. Woods' loss means he will finish the year without a win at a major for the first time since 2004.

Congrats Mr. Yang for not backing down as the Tiger roared, as so many golfers have in the past. Watch the highlights here.

Mike Vick speaks for the first time since his release

Yesterday evening Mike Vick, former NFL superstar turned convict spoke to James Brown of CBS Sports on 60 Minutes for his first formal interview since his release from prison following a two year stint for bankrolling an intrastate dogfighting ring.

In the interview Vick told Brown that the magnitude and severity of his actions did not really sink in until the door of the prison cell slammed shut in Leavenworth, Kansas. He also said that he initially lied about the allegations because he was scared, and knew his career was in jeopardy and also, that lying to his sponsors, teammates and Falcons owner Arthur Blank backfired on him tremendously.

Vick's interview was one of the more honest, sincere interviews I've seen in a while, especially compared to A-Roid's interview a few months back with Peter Gammons of ESPN.

Personally, I'm happy the Vick is back in the league. I think he is contrite, humbled, and eager to revive his NFL career and his standing in the eyes of the public. Vick has a team of image coaches assisting him with his return to game. Former NFL coach Tony Dungy, who regularly visits prisons to speak with inmates has been serving as a mentor to Mike for months. Vick has also teamed up with the Humane Society and has already begun making appreances to speak out against cruelty to animals.

I have enjoyed watching Mike Vick play football since his college days. His athletic prowess was/is undeniable. Everyone makes mistakes, and he has without question paid the price for the biggest mistake of his life. I wish him all the best on his road to redemption.

Usain Bolt is fast

He did it again.. Another race, another world record. This past weekend, Usain Bolt raised the bar again as he won the 100m dash at the IAAF T&F Trials in Germany in a hasty time of 9.58 seconds.

I was at the Olympics last year when Bolt shocked the world and coasted to the finish line and still set a world record then with a 9.69 time.

At 6'5, Bolt towers over the competition and his long strides make it hard for anyone to keep up once he reaches top speed. Apparently running the 100m dash in 9.58 seconds is equivalent to running 30MPH...Wow. The man is fast...like lightning. I can't think of a more appropriate last name for a sprinter as fast as he.

Are you ready for some football??

Apparently Reggie Wayne is, as he showed up to the Colts training camp a few days back in a dump truck..

Equipped with his hard hat and lunchbox, Wayne said he was ready to start rebuilding the road to the the Super Bowl. If you remember, it was Wayne & the Colts who won Super Bowl XLI back in 2006 beating the Chicago Bears 29-17.

Good luck this year Reggie. Usually antics like this would have been all over the TV, but it's hard to get in the limelight with Mike Vick trying to make a comeback, Steve McNair's untimely death, T.O.'s realty show, and Brett Favre's saga. Gotta love the NFL. Getcha popcorn ready.

President Obama gets a mountain named after him for his birthday

No, Mount Rushmore has not been updated to inlcude a granite image of President Obama, but Barack Obama does now in fact have a mountain named in his honor. As the president celebrated his 48th birthday yesterday, the Prime Minister of Antigua named that country's highest mountain after him.

Mt. Obama, formerly known as "Boggy Peak."

A little ironic considering the mountain of debt and economic turmoil this country finds itself in, but a very nice gesture nontheless.

Formerly known as "Boggy Peak," Mount Obama stands 1,300 ft. over Antigua's southern tip. Baldwin Spencer, the Prime Minister of Antigua held a ceremony on the island yesterday to celebrate the occasion. There is a plaque at the base of the mountain that reads:

"Mount Obama, named in honor of the historical election on Nov. 4, 2008, of Barack Hussein Obama, the first black president of the United States of America, as a symbol of excellence, triumph, hope and dignity for all people."

Video of the ceremony that took place in Antigua.

What a birthday present. Happy belated President Obama.

Swag Award of the Week August 3-9

I know it's only Wednesday, but I don't think anyone can take the award from Bill Clinton this week. In a 20 hour trip, Clinton flew to North Korea, met with Kim Jong Il and accomplished a feat the U.S. government had been trying to accomplish since March; broker the safe return of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, the two American journalists who were sentenced to 12 years hard labor after being arrested while crossing into N. Korea from China. Clinton and the journalists returned home today to tearful eyes and open arms of family members and Al Gore, who owns the media company the journalists work for.

View the emotional press conference:

Apparently this trip had been in the works for some time as the White House & the N. Korean Foreign Ministry had been engaging in talks for months. Possible candidates to make the trip included Bill Richardson New Mexico governor Bill Richardson as well as former President Al Gore, but the Koreans let it be known that Bill was their choice to engage in talks.

Clinton's visit was the first visit by such a high-ranking U.S. official since then Secretary of State, Madeline Albright visited with N. Korean officials in 2000. According to the White House "Mr. Clinton went to North Korea as a private citizen, did not carry a message from Mr. Obama for Mr. Kim and had the authority to negotiate only for the women’s release"... Right.. Bill Clinton has had a vested interest in N. Korea and its nuclear capabilities since his time a president and officials close to the matter said “It would be someplace between surprising and shocking if there wasn’t some substantive discussion between the former president, who is deeply knowledgeable about the nuclear issue, and Kim Jong-il."

Whatever was said at that table may never be known by anyone who was not in attendance, but the outcome is clear. Two U.S. citizens have been reunited with their families and have escaped a terrible fate thanks to the efforts of Bill Clinton and other U.S. diplomats.

Eight and a half years removed from office, and Bill Clinton's appeal and effectiveness on a global stage cannot be overstated. The fact that he was sought by the Koreans, made the trip there and came back with the two journalists in under 24 hours says something. Someone told me a long time ago that "you have to be in demand to make demands." President Clinton's successful trip embodies that phrase. SWAGGER !!