by The Editors on July 29, 2007
Carlsbad’s hometome trading card and sport memorabilia company Upper Deck has decided to pull Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick from its 2007 trading card releases and removed Vick memorabilia from their online store after allegations of Vick’s involvement with dog fighting have been brought to light.
“Of course we appreciate the fact that Mr. Vick is innocent until proven guilty, but the allegations alone have resulted in an outpouring of very strong emotion within our organization and among the collecting community,” said Kerri Stockholm, Director of Marketing for Upper Deck. “We believe collectors will agree and support this decision as being the best course of action for our football business.”
Guess this rules out the official Michael Vick maimed dog action figures, huh?
[Link: PR Newswire]
by The Editors on July 20, 2007
The world women’s tennis number one seed Justine Henin withdrew from the Acura Classic yesterday saying that she has injured her wrist. Her website says she is “on a highly deserved vacation of rest and relaxation.” Henin is the fourth top 10 player to drop out of the La Costa Resort & Spa’s final WTA hurrah.
Eight of the top 10 players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour were in the field when the Acura’s entry list was announced, with Henin atop this list. Of the eight, only four now can be considered likely participants in the $1.34 million event July 28-Aug. 5 at the La Costa Resort and Spa.
But no worries. The Acura Classic is still a great time no matter who is missing.
[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]
by The Editors on July 19, 2007
It was opening day where the turf meets the surf in old Del Mar yesterday, and hordes of Carlsbadistanians skipped work to be down on the rail dressed up and betting. The San Diego Union-Tribune caught two of them dressed up as a horse and his trainer.
Carlsbad residents Jim Meade (left) and Larry Irwin skipped the hats and instead donned masks to portray a trainer and his horse yesterday at the opening day of racing season at Del Mar. The two stayed in character much of the day, with Meade often leading Irwin around.”
Click the link for more details on opening day.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on July 18, 2007
Saucy 18-year-old Czech tennis player Nicole Vaidisova says that due to a “viral infection” she will not be able to play in the upcoming Acura Classic at La Costa Resort & Spa.
I am obviously very disappointed,” said Vaidisova, 18, ranked No. 10 on the tour. “The doctor has told me to rest for about two to three weeks, at which point I can slowly get back on the court. I hope to be back for Toronto (where the Rogers Cup will be held Aug. 13-19).”
Nicole, we are obviously very disappointed as well. . .but at least we still have Maria Sharapova.
[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]
by The Editors on July 14, 2007
Each year, for the past 17 years, San Diego County’s best graduating high school senior football players have come together for a classic battle of the North vs. the South. And last night, July 13, 2007, at Mesa College the South rose again against the North by winning 14-0 in the 17th Annual Alex Spanos All-Star Football Classic.
As is common in many All-Star games, the defenses dominated. In a scoreless first half, the North’s Ivory Herd of RBV was the leading rusher with 9 yards on 2 carries. La Costa Canyon’s Nick Witzman was a defensive stalwart for the North, racking up two of six first-half sacks.
Get all the details on the game by clicking the link.
[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]
by The Editors on July 12, 2007
Nicole Vargas of the San Diego Union Tribune has listed all the San Diego High school graduate athletes who will continue playing at the intercollegiate level. We thought the list was a little too long, so we just cut it to the Carlsbad kids. You know, the ones we care about. For the complete list click the continue.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 12, 2007
The Carlsbad-based trading card company has a long history of pulling in the cash, and a recent press release explains just how they do it. On July 17, 2007 Upper Deck is releasing a new Sidney Crosby vinyl action figure. And to celebrate this launch they are also releasing a run of 500 all black & silver figures that are available only to VIP members of the All Star Vinyl Platinum Club. But that’s not all:
Additional benefits of the club include the ability to have a coveted one-hour of early access to all future vinyl figures released [in the online store], enabling fans to scoop up new figures before they are released to the public and a chance to buy even the evasive event-exclusive figures.
How does one join this exclusive club? By paying Upper Deck $100. Upper Deck is now charging people for the “opportunity” to be the first to buy more of their stuff.
Sniff, sniff, sniff? What’s that smell? That’s the pungent aroma of marketing, son.
[Link: All Star Vinyl]
by The Editors on July 12, 2007
All three times Venus Williams has played in the Acura Classic at the La Costa Resort & Spa she has won. Now, the 2007 Wimbledon champion has announced that she will play (along with her sister Serena) in the Acura.
It’s been a few years since I’ve played in San Diego, and I am proud to have won the tournament the last three times I played it,” Venus told tournament officials. “In some way, I feel like I’m returning as defending champion.”
There is still time to get tickets, we suggest you get on it.
[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]
by The Editors on July 12, 2007
Thanks to rain during qualifying for last week’s Pepsi 400 at the Daytona Speedway, Carlsbad’s favorite NASCAR driver Boris Said and the SOBE/No Fear number 60 car were out of last Saturday’s race. NASCAR rules state that all cars much finish their qualifying runs, or the race seeding will be based on current points. Even though Said had qualified, rain cancelled the runs after only 39 of the 53 cars had taken to the track, according to the North County Times.
“I’m just disappointed; we worked really hard and probably would have won the pole,” the 44-year-old driver explained, showing his frustration. “We would have backed-up last year’s pole and would have shown (potential sponsors) what we can do.”
No word on when Said and the SOBE/No Fear car will race again.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on July 8, 2007
Today’s Carlsbad Triathlon, which basically took over all of Carlsbadistan for the day, was won by a Canadian. Yes, blame Canada. Michael Simpson of Vancouver, B.C. Canada took the swim, bike, run with an unofficial time of 1:07:03, a full two minutes faster than last year’s time set by Luke Bell.
For triathletes unaccustomed to ocean surf the set waves can be a problem. And there was some surf action inside. “The waves smoked me,” Simpson said after the race. “I was in second pretty much the whole swim and then as we were coming in I looked over and saw Michellie go sliding past me on a wave. I thought, no way.”
But that didn’t slow Simpson. He rolled the bike course right where he wanted to be. It wasn’t until the run that he got worried. Caue Suplicy moved passed him on the sea wall just out of the transition. “He surged and I said, when he fades I’m going to go and not look back for half a mile. I didn’t want to leave it up to the end. It’s more entertaining for the spectators, but I didn’t want to put myself through that. When I finally looked back he wasn’t there.”
For women’s winner (defending champ, Olympic medalist, and 2006 Iron Man World Champion) Michellie Jones the hardest part about winning her sixth Carlsbad Triathlon was rolling past her house on the bike. “I went past my driveway twice and each time the bike just wanted to turn in,” said the Carlsbadistanian. “But some of my neighbors were out so they cheered me on. The spectators were awesome today. And that really helps.”
A journalist asked Michellie how much longer she was going to be doing triathlons, she nodded her head toward her husband/coach/agent Pete Coulson and said, “You better ask him.”
Pete answered back, “As long as she wants to.” Then, after a second thought, “Or as long as her sponsor keeps letting her.”
Click the continue for more photos from the day (click the images to see them larger) and elite unofficial results.
[click to continue…]
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