Diana Nyad Makes Another Attempt to Swim From Cuba to Florida

 

By LEEZEL TANGLAO

Sept. 24, 2011

Diana Nyad is making another attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida after failing to reach her goal in August.
This time, the 62-year-old endurance swimmer from Los Angeles said she's ready for the planned 60 hour journey which she began in Havana Friday night.
"I'm prepared and even saying that though, how many times do you get to do something of this big an adventure? You know, how many times do you get to feel this alive? This awake and alive?" said Nyad.
An asthma attack ended her attempt last month after 29 hours in the water. She was 15 mph off course due to strong currents, according to Tweets on her page at the time.
Nyad is hoping to break her own world record for open-water swimming without a shark cage. A swimmer from Australia finished a swim from Cuba to the Keys in 1997 but used a cage.
If she completes the swim, she would break her 1979 record, where she swam 102.5 miles from the Bahamas to Florida.
"I feel in better shape at 62 than I was at 28, which is the first time I tried this, 28 years old - I'm not as fast as I was then and I'm a little fatter, uh, but that's ok," she said.
Well wishers cheered Nyad on as she began her swim Friday.
"I know I'm going to be cold," Nyad told the Associated Press. "I know I'm going to run into all kinds of jellyfish and the nights are going to be long."
On Nyad's twitter account, her assistants have been updating the public of the swimmer's progress.
At one point, it appeared she was stung by a moon jelly.
"Chief handler Bonnie Stoll said, "Diana was stung along both arms the side of her body and her face," in a message posted on her twitter account.
After changing suits and rehydrating, Nyad continued her journey.
If all goes well, she predicts reaching Florida early Monday morning, the Associated Press reported.

ABC News' Enjoli Francis, Eric Noll, ABC News Radiol and The Associated Press contributed to this story.

 Taken from  http://abcnews.go.com/US/diana-nyad-makes-attempt-swim-cuba-florida/story?id=14596664

Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz live updates

Round 4
Mayweather lands big combo with Ortiz huddled downward. Ortiz gets his feet, pounds Mayweather against ropes with his own hard barrage. Mayweather nods it doesn't hurt. Ortiz hurts Mayweather, but loses a point on head butt. Mayweather knocks down Ortiz with right and left. Ortiz is counted out. Fight over. Controversial finish. Referee Joe Cortez had separated the fighters after the point deduction. Cortez gave a weak signal to resume, and Mayweather unleashed blows to Ortiz, who was seemingly trying to apologize to Mayweather and didn't know the fight had resumed. He tried to get up at 7 and couldn't.
Post-fight update here.
Round 3
Mayweather slaps Ortiz with lefts. Ortiz looking for opening to no avail. Mayweather gets in jab. Nice firm right to face by Mayweather. Nice right to jaw by Mayweather. Ortiz too slow, walking into punches. Mayweather lands right, quickly backs away. Mayweather hides behind left shoulder and lands rights. All Mayweather now. Mayweather 10-9
Round 2
Ortiz lands a shot. Mayweather lands big counter right. Ortiz charges in. Mayweather again. Ortiz right to body. Mayweather holds in corner. Ortiz flails. Mayweather lands. Mayweather 10-9
Round 1
Mayweather throws two rights and ducks after each. Both guys feeling jab. Mayweather lands jab and right. Ortiz swings a glancing left. Mayweather gets in a right. Ortiz charges with a left. Mayweather to body before hold. Mayweather 10-9.

Pre-fight
Call him a villain if you want, but Floyd Mayweather Jr. is 41-0 with 25 knockouts and the most successful pay-per-view fighter in the world.

"Floyd is motivated because he's the best thing out here at this time in boxing, and he wants to show the world how great he is," said his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather.

If Mayweather's boxing skills match his swagger tonight, look out.

Mayweather, 34, expressed no concern about the issues some fight fans feel could be detrimental to him inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena boxing ring.

Has a 16-month layoff built up rust on his aging body? Might legal problems, including a three-felony domestic violence case set to resume next month, distract him?

"Next question," Mayweather said earlier in the week while playfully flipping a reporter's notebook page.
 Ortiz, 24, listened and reasoned, "He tries a little too hard to scare people. I think it's funny how hard he tries to get into somebody's head. He talks some stuff. I'll take it."
Ortiz will receive $2 million in guaranteed money, plus a share of pay-per-view revenues, while Mayweather is guaranteed $25 million, and could make as much as $40 million.
--Lance Pugmire

Originally posted on
 http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/09/floyd-mayweather-victor-ortiz-live-updates.html

Metta World Peace: Ron Artest changes name to better the world

Metta World Peace: Ron Artest changes name to better the world  Metta World Peace is now officially Ron Artest's new name. Mr. World Peace's name change was initially delayed due to outstanding traffic tickets. 
By Associated Press / September 17, 2011

Ron Artest's bid to become Mr. World Peace was delayed, but not denied.A court commissioner granted the Lakers forward's request to officially change his name to Metta World Peace on Friday, three weeks after the bid was blocked because Artest had unpaid traffic tickets.
Artest, 31, did not attend a brief hearing Friday.

Superior court spokeswoman Patricia Kelly said that Artest's new last name will be World Peace.
His publicist, Courtney Barnes, said the player chose Metta because it is a traditional Buddhist word that means loving and kindness toward all.
"Changing my name was meant to inspire and bring youth together all around the world," World Peace said in a statement released after the hearing. "After this short delay, my tickets have been paid and I'm glad that it is now official."He requested the change in June, citing only personal reasons. He is scheduled to appear on the next season of "Dancing With the Stars."
Barnes wrote in an email that World Peace will now have to get a new driver's license to reflect his new name, but the switch won't affect his contracts with the Lakers or any endorsement deals.
Artest helped the Lakers win an NBA title in 2010 and in April he received an award for outstanding service and dedication to the community.
He has testified before Congress to support mental health legislation.
Artest isn't the first athlete to adopt an unusual name.
Lloyd Bernard Free, a professional basketball player who played in the league from 1975-88, had his first name legally changed to World in 1981. A friend had given him the nickname because of his 44-inch vertical leaps and 360-degree dunks.
In the NFL, wide receiver Chad Johnson legally changed his last name to Ochocinco in August 2008 to reflect his jersey number. The name means "eight five" in Spanish. Ochocinco is now with the New England Patriots.

 Originally article was posted on http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0917/Metta-World-Peace-Ron-Artest-changes-name-to-better-the-world