Alex Zanardi - A True Competitor Never Gives Up.

In life there are many ups and downs.

Eleven years ago, Alex Zanardi was in the lowest point of his career. The 2-time CART champion, former Indianapolis 500 starter, and former Formula1 competitor, was having a difficult 2001 season with CART's Mo Nunn Racing. He was 22nd in the points out of 27 racers. But on September 15, 2001, in the Lausitzring in Germany, Zanardi showed the world again his true potential. He worked his way to the front of the pack and was leading the race with 13 laps to go when he makes his last pit stop. As he rejoins the track, his car spins and heads straight across the racing circuit. One car narrowly misses Zanardi's machine, but the next car of Alex Tagliani cannot avoid Zanardi as he tries to regain control.

Tagliani's car crashes into Zanardi at 200 mph. The reinforced nose of the Canadian's car impacts Zanardi's machine right behind the front wheels, the weakest part of the race car, literally ripping the car in two. Both of Zanardi's legs are ripped off of his body in the crash. The result should be fatal.

It wasn't. And the story is just beginning.

(Note: images in this story are graphic and might be disturbing to some readers)

Gymnastics Controversy

The scoring system, the judges, the deductions, the gymnast. That's what normally determines (in order) the score of a gymnastics routine. That's what determines who is the best gymnast in the world.

Jordyn Weiber reacts after being knocked out of the gymnastics
all-around finals by teammate and friend Allie Raisman.

This year in London, however, something else is determining who will win the gold medal: a technicality.

Last night in the women's all-around qualifications, Americans Allie Raisman, Gaby Douglas, and Jordyn Wieber finished 2-3-4 in the standings. 24 women qualify for the all-around finals later this week. However, Jordyn Wieber is not one of them due to a rule with allows for "spreading the wealth" of Olympic glory.

This is sickening.

Oscar Pistorius - Unfair Advantage?

"Every Olympics has at least one story that leaves a giant, enduring footprint. Just guessing, but this summer it will be about the sprinter with no feet." ~ Bill Plaschke, LA Times

I think that best sums up what is happening right now with the 2012 Olympic Games.

The story that Bill Plaschke is referencing is that of South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius. The 25-year-old known as the 'Blade Runner' will be competing in the London Olympic Games in the 400m and 4x400m relay.

The reason Pistorius will be the story? He's a double amputee. Pistorius will become the first amputee track athlete to compete in the Olympics.

The story, of course, comes with controversy. He runs using prosthetic legs called Cheetahs. These carbon fiber artificial limbs leads to the discussion: Does Pistorius have an unfair advantage over his competition?

My answer: Are you serious?

Jeneba Tarmoh vs. Allyson Felix - NEVERMIND

This afternoon, Jeneba Tarmoh withdrew from contention for one of the three positions on the US women's 100m team. Tonight at 8:00 Eastern, Tarmoh was supposed to compete in a winner-take-all runoff against Allyson Felix. The two women had tied for third place in the finals of the US Olympic Trials last weekend, each running the 100 meters in 11.068 seconds.

Many are disappointed in Tarmoh for not going for the win and for the Olympic berth. Others are disappointed with Felix, who already qualified for the 200m dash and is a gold medal favorite in London, not withdrawing since she is a lock to race in London and Tarmoh is not. I'm disappointed at the process, especially in one of the few Olympic events out there where there is no questioning who is the winner.