Queen of Sports

Steve Nash’s Comedic Push For The Winter X Games

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Steve Nash may play basketball in Arizona, but he doesn’t want people to forget he spent most of his life in the Canadian snow. So, in light of the upcoming Winter X Games, Nash made an attempt to convince event officials to let him enter the competition.

Nash teamed up with sponsor Vitaminwater to film a comedic attempt at the “most epic snowboard trick ever.” Check it out.

Freestyle Skier Sarah Burke Dies At Age 29

In a very tragic turn of events since her accident on the slopes 8 days ago, Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke has passed away.

Burke was in an induced coma after falling and rupturing a vertebral artery, one of four major arteries which supplies blood to the brain. As a result, Burke suffered an intracranial hemorrhage which led her to go into cardiac arrest. She underwent surgery and many neurological examinations, but it was ultimately determined that the damage to her brain was severe and irreversible. Her family released a statement which noted that it was Sarah’s wish that all her organs and tissues be donated to save the lives of others.

Burke was a Roxy team rider for six years. On behalf of Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight, the company sent out their condolences to Burke’s family, reaffirming her importance in the action sports world, saying, “Sarah was a pioneer of her generation and for action sports. She has touched so many and accomplished so much in her time with us. Sarah’s memory will live on. Her skiing legacy continues to inspire people everywhere to believe in themselves and follow their hearts.  Her passing is not a cause to pack up our skis or our boards, but a reason to step in and ski our asses off for Sarah and the dreams that she inspired.”

Her family has set up a fund to honor her. Donations can be made here.

Our condolences go out to her family and friends. Sarah Burke may have passed, but her legacy will live on.

Photo: Roxy.com

Motocross Rider Dead After Crashing During Practice

Another tragedy has shaken the action sports world after motocross rider Jim McNeil died from injuries suffered during a crash at a practice ahead of the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

McNeil, a 32-year-old FMX rider, was taken to the hospital after the crash where he was pronounced dead. A five-time X Games competitor who was a part of the Boost Mobile FMX team for nine years, McNeil was known by friends and fans as “Jumpin’ Jimmy” and “McNeil The Real Deal.”

Our condolences go out to his friends and family.

Photo: Dominic Salvado

Italian Motorcycle Rider Dies During Race

Italian motorcycle rider Marco Simoncelli died Sunday during a race in Malaysia after being hit by two other MotoGP riders, according to the Associated Press. He was only 24 years old.

Simoncelli, pictured above on the day of the race, reportedly lost control of his motorcycle before swerving across the track, in the path of two riders. His helmet was ripped off in the collision. He was unconscious when medical personnel arrived and attempted to resuscitate him. He died of chest, head, and neck injuries.

Simoncelli’s death was the first MotoGP fatality since 2003. According to MotoGP, it was the 47th death in the organization since it was founded in 1949.

Our condolences go out to all those affected by the tragic event.

Photo: Insidefoto / PR Photos

ESPN’s Third Annual “Body Issue” Hitting Newsstands Soon

ESPN The Magazine will once again be celebrating athlete bodies in their third annual “Body Issue” hitting newsstands Oct. 7.

Athletes who will be posing nude or semi-nude for the best-selling issue include gymnast Alicia Sacramone, snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, soccer goalie Hope Solo, NBA star Blake Griffin, MLB star Jose Reyes, and the NFL’s Steven Jackson.

Other female athletes who will be featured: the WNBA’s Sylvia Fowles; LPGA rookie Belen Mozo; track and field star Natasha Hastings; hockey player Julie Chu; tennis player Vera Zvonareva; surfer Steph Gilmore; roller derby player Suzy Hotrod and bowler Kelly Kulick.

And some more men who will be posing include speedskater Apolo Ohno; NHL player Ryan Kesler; UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones; IndyCar racer Helio Castroneves; boxer Sergio Martinez; marathoner Ryan Hall and paralympian Jeremy Campbell.

Over 20 athletes will be featured in the “Bodies We Want” section of the issue that is an “exploration and celebration of athletic form.”

Photo: ESPN the Magazine’s second annual “Body Issue”

Shaun White: Hot Or Not?

Shaun White took home his 20th X Games gold medal in L.A. last weekend. He also has two Olympic gold medals. His list of accomplishments within the snowboarding and skateboarding realm are extensive. One of the most recognized figures in extreme sports, White has accomplished all this by the age of 24. Born in San Diego, White proved he was a fighter from the get-go. He underwent two open-heart operations before the age of one due to a congenital heart defect he was born with.

White gets his hair color that brought on the nickname “The Flying Tomato” (which he doesn’t like to be called anymore) from his Irish American heritage.

His skateboarding career was helped along after Tony Hawk befriended him when he was only 9 years old. He turned pro at age 17. All the while, he was also focusing on his snowboarding career. He won gold medals for snowboarding at both the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.

You can catch Shaun White on the big screen in the new romantic comedy starring Justin Timberlake and Mile Kunis, “Friends with Benefits” that is in theaters now. White plays himself.

So, what do you guys think about Shaun White? Do you like his skater style and long hair? Hot…or not?

Photos: Andrew Evans / PR Photos

Shaun White Takes Home The Gold At X Games 17

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Shaun White is unstoppable when he’s on a board of any kind.

White took home his 20th X Games gold medal this weekend at L.A. Live, after beating Pierre-Luc Gagnon on the Skateboard Vert. White’s final performance was scored a 93 by judges, which was just enough to beat Gagnon’s 91.66. Gagnon, a five-time Vert gold medalist, took home the silver while four-time Vert gold medalist Bucky Lasek took the bronze.

The win was White’s first Vert gold medal since 2007 and only his second Summer X Games gold.

Boston Mayor Urges Nike To Clean Up Its Act

Boston Mayor Tom Menino is furious over a display of Nike t-shirts he saw in the window of a local Niketown that he believes promote drug use. The shirts in the window feature phrases like “Get High” and “Dope” on the front.

Menino told the Boston Herald, “I said, ‘This is outrageous.’ What we don’t need is a major corporation like Nike, which tries to appeal to the younger generation, out there giving credence to the drug issue.” The Mayor wrote a letter to Niketown, urging them to take down the shirts which he believes are “out of keeping with the character of Boston’s Back Bay, our entire city and our aspirations for our young people.”

A Nike spokeswoman responded to the letter, saying the t-shirts were a part of an action sports campaign “featuring marquee athletes using commonly used and accepted expressions for performance at the highest level of their sport, be it surfing, skateboarding or BMX.”

The T-shirt with the word “dope” on the front, a reference to the lingo of skaters and surfers, has a graphic of a pill bottle with skateboards and surf boards spilling out- not drugs.

What do you think? Has Nike crossed the line with these T-shirts?

Photos: Nike.com

Ochocinco’s Latest Extracurricular Activity

Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco has been widening his horizons in terms of playing other sports in the NFL offseason. He tried out for Major League Soccer team Sporting Kansas City a few months ago, and now he’s been offered a new opportunity. This time, Ochocinco has been offered $10,000 to ride a bull at the LucasOil invitiational that’s taking place this weekend. Ochocinco of course accepted the offer and will be in Duluth, Georgia for the invitational. If he can stay on the bull for the required eight seconds, the Professional Bull Riders organization will give Ochocinco a new Ford F-150 and the chance to rename the bull.

Photo: Twitter

Athletes At Cartoon Network’s 1st Annual “Hall Of Game” Awards

Cartoon Network’s 1st annual “Hall of Game” awards are airing Friday night on the network, and we have a few arrival snapshots of some of the athletes in attendance at the awards ceremony. Held at the Barker Hangers in Santa Monica, and hosted by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, the awards will feature categories like “Alti-Dude” and “Dance Machine.” Nominees for the “Alti-Dude” award include extreme sports stars Travis Pastrana, Paul Rodriguez, Ryan Sheckler, and Shaun White. The nominees among the athletes who have the best celebratory dance skills are Jimmie Johnson, Terrell Owens, the South African Soccer Team, and Venus Williams (pictured above).  Watch the show on Friday night to see who else is nominated, who wins, and who else was in attendance. Pictured below is soccer stud Landon Donovan.

Photos: FayesVision/WENN.com