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“Before I Met You” by Usher
“My Place” by Nelly (featuring Jaheim)
“Farewell Ride” by Beck
Son of Undocumented Immigrants Wins Gold Medal for U.S.
Henry Cejudo, the son of undocumented immigrants, won the gold medal in men’s freestyle wrestling at the 55 kilogram weight class. New York Times:
Henry Cejudo, the 21-year-old wrestling prodigy who had wrestled in only one world-level senior tournament before Beijing, has won the Olympic gold medal in men’s freestyle 55-kilogram wrestling.
Cejudo, crying the moment the match ended and wrapping himself in an American flag, defeated Tomohiro Matsunaga of Japan 2-2 on tiebreaker and 3-0 in the best-of-three match. Cejudo was 31st in last year’s world championships, his only prior tournament at this level.
Read more about Cejudo’s story in a separate article in the New York Times.
His right eye bruised and darkened, Cejudo talked of all the hours his mom worked over the years, as a janitor and a construction worker, anything to put food on the table or to heat the house. He talked about all the times they moved, from Los Angeles to New Mexico to Phoenix to Colorado Springs, each time in search of a better life.
“I wish I could just give her the medal right now,” Cejudo said.
More lives changed, like those of all the people back in Phoenix. Frank Saenz, Cejudo’s coach at Maryvale High School, was the one who raised money for him to enter tournaments by knocking on doors and pleading for donations.
Tracy Greiff, another wrestling coach from the Phoenix area, was the one who had told Cejudo in seventh grade that he would win an Olympic gold medal. Greiff said he sold hundreds of tickets to travel here and sit in the rowdiest section this venue had ever seen. [...]
His family waited near the tunnel, and after Cejudo received his prize, he made wrestling’s version of the Lambeau Leap — right into the stands. His family embraced him, tousled his hair, wrapped seven pairs of arms around him.
They all wore or waved American flags, an entire family decked in the stars and stripes. A family that started with illegal immigrants and advanced to right here, this moment, their very own gold medalist resting in their lap.
“Only in America,” Cejudo said.
USA Baseball Railroads China, Win 9-1
Team USA steamrolled over host-country China in baseball on Monday with a 9-1 victory that saw sparks fly between teams, and two players leave hurt.
Chinese pitchers tagged several American ballplayers that prompted San Ramon Valley alum Nate Schierholtz to steamroll over the Chinese back-up catcher Yang Yang at the plate. Watch:
TPM: McCain Campaign Returns to “Aggressive Whining”
Folks from the McCain campaign must be among those “whiners” their former top economic adviser Phil Gramm described earlier this summer.
Jindal Unable to Identify Any “Big Ideas” Offered by McCain
Another potential vice presidential choice for presumptive GOP nominee Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) drew a blank on the McCain vision for America.
Governor Bobby Jindal (R-Louisiana) was unable to identify any “big ideas” offered by the McCain campaign. Think Progress:
Gregory then asked his guest Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA), “What’s the big idea Senator McCain is campaigning on?” Jindal responded, “I think there’s several,” but couldn’t provide an answer. Gregory asked again, “Where are the new big ideas of the Republican Party that John McCain is, is championing?” And again Jindal couldn’t provide an answer.
Last month, fellow potential running mate Governor Mark Sanford (R-South Carolina) drew a blank on drawing differences on the economy between McCain and President Bush.
Michael Phelps Wins Eight Gold Medals
USA Rallies to Beat Canada, 5-4
Team USA rallied from behind to defeat Canada in baseball, 5-4, keeping alive the hope of returning to the States with an Olympic medal. NBC Sports:
“We’ve played a lot of tight ballgames,” said Eckstein, the third base coach. “There’s no question we’ve been tested in so many ways so far this tournament. We’ve responded. I like what I’m seeing: their heart and character.” [...]
The Americans’ medal chances seemed to be in serious jeopardy when trailing 4-0 in the fourth inning Saturday. The U.S. team (2-2) must finish among the top four in the eight-team, robin-robin tournament to have a chance of reaching the medal stand.
The two teams to defeat the United States are still undefeated: Cuba (4-0) and Korea (3-0).
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Beijing 2008
USA! USA! USA!
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