http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/ en Copyright 2008 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:08:09 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Action Sports Report (or ASR) on espnthemag.com, which posted today, and will post every Tuesday from here until eternity. While you're on the site, take a minute to vote for 2008 NEXT athlete of the year. Not that I'm trying to influence your voting (I would never do such a thing), but I am writing about Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. And if Ryan wins the fan voting, he (and my story) make the cover. Seriously, vote for anyone you want. Racecar driver Joey Lagano, pitcher david Price, basketball prodigy Ricky Rubio ... or rookie sensation MATT RYAN, who is in the process of lifting the suffocating Atlanta Falcons from the depths of the NFC South to the mountaintops of the NFL post-season. The (blatantly obvious) choice is yours. ]]> http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/11/action_sports_report.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/11/action_sports_report.html Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:08:09 -0500 here. Of course, the new blog won't change the frequency of this blog, or its content. It will just give me more work to do. So, on that note, a bit about my trip to Vermont last week to report a story on snowboarder Kevin Pearce, who will be featured in our Winter X Games preview issue in January ... I traveled to his hometown of Norwich last week because Kevin and his older brother David were shooting a PSA for the National Down Syndrome Society. David has Down Syndrome and is a truly inspiring person to be around. Spending time at the Pearce home, it was easy to see why Kevin is such a down-to-earth, level-headed, all-around good kid. When I meet people like Kevin (or, more often, folks on the opposite end of the behavioral spectrum), I often think to myself: I want to meet your parents. You know, learn what to/not to do when the time comes. The cool thing is, because of my job, I often have the opportunity to do just that. I won't give away the entire story, but I'll just say the Pearces are amazing people. They opened up their home and their lives to a writer (me) they'd never met, and made her feel extremely comfortable and welcome. They were honest, open and just a lot of fun. On my final day, we toured the Simon Pearce (Kevin's dad) glass factory and I got a lesson in blowing glass. I will never look at stemware the same way again. STEP ONE: Twirl liquid gas heated to volcanic temperature on the end of a metal stick while simultaneously holding wooden spoonlike object and dipping it in water. Goal: create perfectly round ball of liquid glass. (Note: Mr. Pearce told me it takes five years to learn the glassblowing trade, eight years to get good, and 10 before you are good enough to work for him. I plan to bypass his plan and wow Mr. Pearce by being an instant glass-blowing prodigy.) STEP TWO: Remove glass/metal stick from wooden spoon, lean back, place metal stick in mouth and blow. Keep twirling the stick. Blow! Twirl! Blow! Twirl! Don't stop twirling! Or blowing! STEP THREE: Learn lesson -- Stick is made of metal. If you do not place stick gently onto your lips, you will cut your lip and begin to bleed. (Step 3A: Clean off blood, prepare to try again.) STEP FOUR: Repeat steps 1 and 2 (skip, but remember!, steps 3 and 3A) until you have created beautiful, hourglass-shaped, bubbly glasslike object. (That is then tossed back into the furnace under the guise of being "below standard".) Clearly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Step 5: Scribble note to self reminding self not to quit day job. ]]> http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/11/about_a_blog_1.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/11/about_a_blog_1.html Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:21:34 -0500 Nicole Sanchez, Maui photographer extraordinaire, e-mailed me some shots from my day of stand-up paddling with the Fabulous Maui Surfer Girls. She's clearly a fantastic lenswoman, because she made me look like a pro ... First, I had the honor of taking a lesson from Maria Souza, who runs her own paddle surfing school in Maui and is one of the badass chicks surfing Jaws I mentioned in my last post. (And who considers a 40-mile paddle "fun.") We start by warming up our shoulders (and our balance!) on the beach ... Then she talks me through the correct paddling motion and body position ... After about 15 minutes of instruction, we head to the water, to practice our (well, my) paddling skills ... And then, we grab our boards and away we go. I can't think of a more perfect way to spend an afternoon. Thanks, girls! ]]> http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/10/a_lesson_in_standing_up.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/10/a_lesson_in_standing_up.html Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:36:27 -0500 Maria Souza, Andrea Moller and Dustin Tester--who runs the Maui Surfer Girls camps--are the only all-female team towing into Jaws. That's right. They tow-surf Jaws, one of the nastiest big-wave spots in the world. Nicole is a photographer who has documented their journey over the past four years. I can't believe more people aren't aware of these women, but I'm hoping to change that. Nicole took some fun photos of our surf session, and I'll post them as soon as she sends them to me. (Hint, hint.) While we're on the subject of surfing, one of my favorite writers (and in yet another example of the Weird Wide Web, my Facebook friend), Allan Weisbecker, is doing some really neat things with the publishing of his most recent book, Can't You Get Along With Anybody?. If you click here, you can download a free e-Book. He decided, since "writing the book nearly killed me, three times," it was more important to him for folks to read the book than for him to make money. I think that is pretty damn cool. Also, if you want to read about his most recent brush with death, click here. Pretty trippy stuff.]]> http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/10/hawaii_time.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/10/hawaii_time.html Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:52:22 -0500 Last night, I made my first trip to Dodger stadium to watch game 3 of the NLCS. I immediately fell in love with the 46-year-old ballpark (now the third-oldest in MLB). It is intimate, friendly ... and has palm trees. (My favorite form of foliage.) The fans were another story. I know playoff baseball can get ugly, but I quickly tired of witnessing the mistreatment of the few dedicated Phillies fans who showed up sporting their red and white. Two drunk men in Dodgers gear picked out Jamie Moyer's sons and harassed them all the way back to their seats. A Phils fan in the right field seats had his hat stolen and thrown into left field ... twice. The ump had to stop play to walk over, pick it up and return it to the stands. (The LA fans thought Manny might want it as a souvenir.) I know this behavior is not isolated to Los Angeles, or to baseball, but I wish folks would let a game be a game. Enjoy the rivalry and the baseball. Leave the rest of the BS at home. The times when I sit in the stands at games, I've had the most fun when I'm trading friendly jabs with folks from the visiting team. Sports rivalries should be fun. But I guess, until the athletes begin to set a better example (see: bench-and-bullpen clearing melee from the same game), the crowds will simply continue to follow their unsportsmanlike lead. Tomorrow, I'm flying to Maui on a reporting trip, so I should have some great updates over the next few days. Stay tuned ... http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/10/rodger_dodger.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/10/rodger_dodger.html Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:04:43 -0500 This past week, my mom flew out to Los Angeles to help me finish up a cross-country move (10 weeks after starting it) and a few of my west coast friends finally had the opportunity to, as they put it, "See where she gets it from." Besides moving furniture, hanging shelving, unpacking boxes, shopping for a new car, a new refrigerator, new rugs ... my mom and I watched a lot of (really fun) football. And there is no more animated football fan than my mother (There was also no more animated--or better/tougher/bullish--Little League softball coach in Southwest Florida). Sometimes I wish NFL and college coaches (or more specifically, whomever is coaching the Steelers or the Gators) could hear the criticism she's throwing their way, because most of the time, she is spot on. Sometimes I believe the analysts can hear her, because they often echo her sentiments, word for word. Monday night, we walked to Barney's Beanery on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica to watch the Steelers-Jags game. We settled into a great booth, ordered a couple of beers and a plate of nachos and I entertained myself watching people, mainly young guys, watch my mom watch football. Woman knows her stuff. Thankfully, the Steelers pulled off another close one. It was a good night. And now that I'm on the west coast, it was only 9 p.m. ]]> http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/10/so_thats_where_she_gets_it.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/10/so_thats_where_she_gets_it.html Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:55:18 -0500 I spent the past three days at the first Stone Clinic Women's Sports Conference in San Francisco, California, and had the opportunity to get to know some of the most remarkable women I've had the opportunity to meet in my years as a sports writer. I attended the conference to speak on a panel about women in the sports media, and to give advice to young athletes about how they can get their story out there, and how they can work more effectively with the media. I met big-mountain skiers, white water kayakers, cyclists, mountain bikers, snowboarders and rowers with incredible stories who felt they would never break through the noise or be able to make a difference for their sport. The weekend made me a bit disappointed in the messages these athletes have been receiving in the current media, yet optimistic about the future of women's sports. I left thinking there has to be a way to make a better sports magazine for women. Conferences like this are a good start. Today, I am off to Switzerland for my friends Lisa (you may know her from my Olympic posts) and John's (ditto) wedding in Leysin (as well as a week of wine tasting, golf, thermal spas and chocolate). But first, a stop at their apartment in Lausanne, home of the International Olympic Committee's HQ ... where we will not be talking about sports. http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/09/girls_girls_girls.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/09/girls_girls_girls.html Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:13:33 -0500 ROY SIGNS MY GLOVES, RIGHT NEXT TO FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR. CAN'T TAKE THESE TO BOXING CLASS ANYMORE ... JOE SIGNS NEXT. DID YOU KNOW BOXERS ALWAYS SIGN BOTH GLOVES? ONE TO KEEP ... ONE TO E-BAY ... ]]> http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/09/boxing_day.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/09/boxing_day.html ESPN ESPN The Magazine Joe Calzaghe Jr. Roy Jones Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:35:03 -0500 Tony Steele and Peter Gold. (My new sports heroes.) I also ripped my hands to shreds, bloodied by lip and was sore as hell by the time I arrived home Sunday night. I was also addicted. MY HANDS. (MY FRIEND MARISA'S HAND IS IN THE MIDDLE. SHE THOUGHT IT'D MAKE ME LOOK TOUGHER.) The Monday after I returned home from camp, I drove to D.C. with three friends, and co-workers (Lindsay, Sarah and Elena) for the Washington Capitals' media day. Lindsay and Sarah skated in their media camp and Elena and I filmed them for mag.com and heckled from the sidelines. SARAH AND LINDSAY DO THEIR OPENING STANDUP ... My favorite part of the day was when we went into a film room and listened to coach Bruce Boudreau break down the power play on game film. I am a bit hockey illiterate, so I felt a little smarter after the session. I was impressed at what a down-to-earth, approachable, accessible guy Boudreau was. Then, I backpeddled on my gushing a bit when he told a few of us that, "That lady who's running for VP has my vote. She's a hockey mom. That's all I need to know." Fortunately, he's Canadian. They're still not allowed to vote. I DROPPED BY THE STORE AND NOTICED THIS JERSEY BEING MADE. APPARENTLY A FAN CALLED UP AND PLACED THIS CUSTOM ORDER. SHE WAS GOING TO PRESENT IT TO PALIN AT A RALLY THAT NIGHT ... Back from D.C., I spent the rest of the week in the office. On Thursday, Italian superstar Valentino Rossi dropped by the office. I didn't think I would have to tell anyone how cool it was to have the most famous athlete in Italy (and one of the biggest stars in Europe; he was also one of the highest-paid athletes in the world last year, bringing in $37 million) drop by our little 34th Street office. But unfortunately, I did. So I assume I have to do the same here. Rossi is a multiple Moto GP world champion motorcycle racer and just one of the coolest athletes on the planet. Check out his visit here. ROSSI EXPLAINS TO OUR ESPNTHEMAG.COM FOLKS JUST HOW COOL HE IS ... A $37 MILLION SIGNATURE This weekend, I am spending my last Saturday and Sunday watching college and NFL football with friends. Pretty soon, I'll be doing that over breakfast. ]]> http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/09/tminus_eight_seven_six_five.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/09/tminus_eight_seven_six_five.html ESPN ESPN The Magazine trapeze Valentino Rossi Washington Capitals Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:07:35 -0500 After a little more than five weeks, I am back in New York City. Just in time for the start of the college and NFL football seasons and the U.S. Open here in NYC. But I still can't stop thinking about the Olympics. Probably because that's what everyone is asking me about. They want to know, "What was your favorite moment? Favorite event? Favorite part of Beijing?" (My answers: Watching the 100- and 200-meter finals, and the 100-meter press conference; the men's indoor volleyball final; the people.) During the week I spent in Shanghai, the Olympics was the topic of every dinner conversation. Folks who grew up in China wanted to know what I thought about their country, their covering of the Olympics and the Games themselves. They told me stories about how they heard little negative coverage of the Games through the Chinese media (what murder?) and how Liu Xian's house was vandalized after he withdrew from the Games with an injury. In China, these Games were more than mere games. Folks from the States wanted to know what events I attended and if I had any athlete gossip. (Of course I did!) But most of all, they just wanted to talk about the Games. As did I. Because we all know that very soon talk of Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt and Chinese gymnasts will fade as the sports conversation turns to MLB playoffs and the BCS. And it won't return for another four years. In the meantime, we have Vancouver to look forward to. http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/09/back_in_the_city.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/09/back_in_the_city.html Beijing ESPN ESPN The Magazine Olympics Shanghai Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:34:34 -0500 nin man zo!]]> http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/08/day_19_off_to_shanghai.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/08/day_19_off_to_shanghai.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 07:04:25 -0500 And it reminded everyone, including me, why we all love sports. COACH MCCUTCHEON AND LLOY BALL EMBRACING AFTER THEIR WIN ... THE MEDAL CEREMONY ... ]]> http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/08/day_18_closing_ceremonies.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/08/day_18_closing_ceremonies.html Beijing ESPN ESPN The Magazine Olympics Sun, 24 Aug 2008 04:25:50 -0500 what Kevin Michael Connolly did Saturday afternoon. Although I am exhausted, it was such an amazing experience. As has this entire trip. I can't believe we are one day from closing ceremonies and the end of the Olympics. But not my trip. Monday, I'm off to Shanghai!]]> http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/08/day_17_the_wall.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/08/day_17_the_wall.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:14:38 -0500 I think it was a glowing success, and at least for now, it is here to stay. The U.S. did fantastic, as expected. Mike Day took silver, Donny Robinson took bronze, JIll Kintner took bronze and Kyle Bennett somehow managed to race all three of his semifinal heats with a separated shoulder, and just barely missed qualifying for the main. After the race, however, the sport showed how green it is in the press conference. Not only did a rep from the ABA (American Bicycle Association) stand up, take the mic, and ask a self-serving question in both the men's and women's conferences ("So, how did you all get involved in BMX, how can other kids in America, and is there a website parents can go to?"), Kintner's brother asked the final question in the men's conference. So weird. If anyone in the conference had known who her brother was, I'm pretty sure they would have been offended. But they were too busy trying to figure out how to write stories about a sport they'd never seen before. After BMX, I went back to the press center, took a nap, had some nuggets, went back to the press center, had some more nuggets (half-kidding ... for those of you who get this) and wrote a story. Then I did something I haven't had the opportunity to do since arriving: take a shower before dinner. Lindsay, Jim and I showered, put on nice clothes and went to Block 8, a popular club in Beijing owned by the Norwegian mafia, for an Oakley party. The highlights ... * Watching all the boys bend down to hit on Shawn Johnson. (Jim wasn't leaving until he took a photo with her, which he did.) * When Lolo Jones got up on the bar and started dancing. Jones showed up with an entourage of about 50 folks, walked up to a friend from Oakley and said, "I'm about to get this party started." * They had an air-hockey table, which I couldn't resist. Then I accidentally broke one of the paddles. I felt terrible ... until Lindsay broke one of the little men off of the foozball table. *Although he looks like a very nice boy, we couldn't quite figure out why Amanda Beard dumped Carl Edwards for the new guy. He does backflips. * Watching Julia Mancuso use Jill Kintner's bronze medal to work the guy and the door and get us all into a CNBC wrap party upstairs. * I finally got to check out a real Beijing sports bar (All-Star Bar) and club (Bling) and found out they are way too much like a) cheesy American establishments b) Cancun.]]> http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/08/day_16_bmx_is_a_success.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/08/day_16_bmx_is_a_success.html Beijing ESPN ESPN The Magazine Olympics Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:57:07 -0500 This is not how it was supposed to end. Lindsay and I watched from the stands and took the emotional roller coaster ride right along with the U.S. fans, friends and family who'd traveled to Beijing to see their team win one more gold. After the game, outfielder Jessica Mendoza led the three teams in a ceremony meant to unite softball players around the world and send a message to the IOC. I spoke with her after the game in an exclusive interview that you can check out here. Hopefully Jessica's efforts will help bring back softball. If nothing else, they showed true sport above self.]]> http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/08/day_15_rain_rain_get_lost.html http://alyssaroenigk.com/blog/2008/08/day_15_rain_rain_get_lost.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:05:12 -0500