T.D.

When Rudisha first beat Wilson Kipketer's former world record (1:41:11) back in 2010, experts said he would be the first human being going under the mythical 1:40. Now, with three consecutive new world records, he's on his way to legend! Interesting article about the speed of the 800m final. Note that the silver and bronze medalists are only 18 and 17 respectively! And the 800m WR is by no means "soft" - to this date only two men (Rudisha and Kipketer) have gone under Coe's ancient 1981 mark (and silver medalist Amos just equaled it).

+1 (except that I'm not in the least bit a golf fan, but let's just say that I'll be paying more attention to the PGA results women's hammer throw final than to the "dream team"...)

Happy Birthday, Mark!

GA, be sure to check Importcds.com 's prices on these boxes. That's where I've bought most of mine (others in occasional J&R sales). For the Russell, Importcds advertises in stock at $26.13 + $2.99 S/H, so the difference is negligible, but they sporadically run "10% off" sales.

As I understand it, NBC coverage is geared toward prime-time viewership. The prime-time TV-watching demographic is mostly female, so NBC programs accordingly, and does not target the "typical sports fan". Thus you see boatloads of gymnastics in the Summer Olympics and figure skating in the Winter Games, sports that have proven to deliver high Nielsen ratings.

In another upset of sorts, Manzano (USA) got silver in the 1500m - first US medalist at that distance since Jim Ryun in 1968!

I already own quite a few Manne recordings, but must get this one...As a chess player, any album with a tune entitled Isolated Pawn is required! And the lineup is excellent.

I'm kinda partial to rhythmic gymnastics (one of the few all-women's sports). Looks absurd at first glance, but quite hot on closer inspection!

As a former distance runner (well, recreational marathoner), I'm looking forward to the men's 10,000 meters, just starting now. Apart from the standard Ethiopians and Kenyans, GBR and USA have some potential medalists for a change... [Added] Holy crap, Farah (GBR) and Rupp (USA) 1-2, followed by 2 Ethiopians. The great Bekele finished outside the medals in 4th. Mo is going to be a hero!

Happy Birthday, Lon!

Some UK-based sellers on amazon.com (US site) have very low prices on the Monk and Mingus "Complete Columbia Albums". This has been happening with a number of boxes originally offered by Popmarket.

Nice link...I grew up in Chicago area, and by a strange coincidence was recently thinking of long-time Chisox organist Nancy Faust.

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/08/urologist-charged-with-being-an-actual-subway-pervert.html

AP source: Browns sold, pending NFL approval

RIP. I found New Albion's catalog kind of uneven, but there are plenty of releases I enjoy and still own.

Well, Carolina rolled the dice on Semin, but the deal was for only 1 year, $7 MM. Pretty strange deal, says a lot about the player.

For some reason (I'm not even a horse racing fan), Secretariat's annihilation of the field in the Belmont Stakes is my top sports moment.

Potential major severe weather outbreak in NE USA tomorrow: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day2otlk.html

Bobo Brazil Terry Gilliam

Sir Edmund Hillary Tenzing Norgay Bo Derek

Depends on how much a one way player is worth. Nash doesn't play much "D". Don't get me wrong, I would love to have seen him in a Red Wing sweater, but Detroit is reported to have made Columbus a "substantial" offer for Nash and they wouldn't even return their phone calls. The only two free agent questions that remain to be resolved involve Shane Doan and Alexander Semin. Doan will most likely stay in Phoenix and Semin's reputation will probably land him in the KHL. Nash doesn't really seem like John Tortorella's type of player...I expect a stormy relationship. Emphatically agreed on Semin. Re. Mike S.'s post on Larry Robinson (I never figured out how to multi-quote): I'm a huge fan of Larry (and very familiar with him as a NJD fan and admirer of the old Canadiens), but I'm almost certain he doesn't want to be a head coach again, and truly believe he's best employed as an assistant/teacher.

Just read this: A real sleeper: I didn't know anything about Van Ronk (except for the bit I read in Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder novel When the Sacred Ginmill Closes), and knew/cared little about the Greenwich Village Folk scene. But this is a delightful book, very well put together (Van Ronk died before it was completed). In a weird final touch, I bought an excellent condition hardback for $1 from the local thrift shop, and discovered after finishing that it was a signed edition (by the co-author and Van Ronk's second wife).

Not content to let Penn St. and Jeremy Lin garner all the headlines, the Ranger$ have traded for Rick Nash. "...[Nash,] a third-round pick and a minor-league defenseman to the Rangers for centers Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov, defenseman Tim Erixon and a first-round pick next year." Much as I'd like to trash the NYR, that doesn't seem like too outlandish a price. I dunno Nash's contract status, though.

I was going to wonder out loud, but found via Google that In wake of Penn State investigation, FSU's Bobby Bowden becomes all-time wins leader

Great stuff! Yes! This is a great set: I bought an absurdly cheap 10-CD box (buried somewhere way back in this the bargain thread) with those 5 discs of Liszt plus 5 of Chopin.