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* Wordslinger sent me an e-mail today that’s worth posting…

The summer Olympics begin today in swingin’ London and some Illinois athletes rate a shout out.

Ellis Coleman, the pride of Oak Park, is the most dangerous Greco wrestler in the world. He may be skinny, but I can assure you from personal experience, the dude eats a lot. Check out his signature move, the “Flying Squirrel,” as demonstrated on this poor Bulgarian last year at the World Championships.

Wow. Just, wow…

* Back to Wordslinger’s e-mail…

Also, the James Gang, 6′5″ twins from DeKalb High, who walked on at Wisconsin, are going for the gold in rowing.

I know — twins, DeKalb, Wisconsin, rowing, Olympics — not exactly the usual daydream when you’re walking the row detasseling corn. But it’s for real.

Comments

Sailing. U.S. Women’s team strong and experienced this year.
Also, women’s beach volleyball, though the change in dress code is going to kill viewership.

Comment by Techboy Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 12:57 pm
Kelsey Bryant from Chatham IL, will be representing the USA in diving. I will be watching to see how she does.

Comment by How Ironic Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 12:57 pm
There are three athletes competing from the Springfied area. Lance Brooks from New Berlin in the discus, Kelci Bryant from Chatham in diving, and Andre Iguodala from Springfield in basketball. I’ll be watching as much as I can!

Comment by Anon Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 12:59 pm
Former Illini Deron Williams and Robert Archibald representing the US and England in hoops

Comment by Frank Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 1:03 pm
Damn he’s fast……. (Ellis Coleman)

Comment by I'm Just Saying Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 1:06 pm
For reference, Mark Kirk’s website had a list of Illinois’s olympiads this year. http://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=blog&id=538

Like Bejing, I’m most excited to see if Michael Phelps can live up to the hype again this year. And though it might not be that competitive, Team USA basketball is always entertaining.

Comment by MKA1985 Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 1:08 pm
There is no finer athlete in these games than Ann Romney’s dressage horse, Rafalca. I will be glued to his every dance step. And the best part is that it’s a sport that all Americans can relate to. USA! USA! USA!

Comment by And I Approved This Message Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 1:14 pm
Usain Bolt. The fastest man in the world. It is incredible to see someone that big move that fast.

Comment by Stones Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 1:20 pm
Ross and Grant James are the real deal. Although a bit of a dark horse this year, the practice times the men’s 8+ is posting these days should get them into the final, and if the stars align, a shot at the medals.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 1:24 pm
Women’s beach volleyball is my favorite spectator sport.

Comment by reformer Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 1:32 pm
Volleyball (all forms since the daughter plays). Will also try and catch some sailing, swimming, triathlon, cycling.

But will watch whatever is on, just hope they show more sports and less about how person X overcame a childhood fear of ants or something…

Comment by OneMan Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 1:39 pm
Interview with Ross James:
http://www.row2k.com/olympics/features.cfm?ID=3421#.UBLi64l5mc0

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 1:51 pm
And Grant James:
http://www.row2k.com/olympics/features.cfm?ID=3087#.UBLj4Il5mc0

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 1:53 pm
Team Kirk obviously didn’t have someone familiar with sports as they left off the most prominent Illinois name and that would be Deron Williams (even though he is from Dallas, he made his name in Illinois). Illini fans should also look out for another familiar face as former center Robert Archibald is on the Great Britain national team and I am sure there are other athletes from other schools that may come from other states or countries that kirk left off. Former Bull Tyson Chandler is also on the US team.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain_national_basketball_team

Can any of the Quinn or City of Chicago folks confirm what the city is doing to celebrate Chicago getting the games in 4 years and whether after years of political will and money being spent to get the 2016 games the city will be getting the handoff at the closing ceremonies?

Comment by Shore Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 1:56 pm
Gymnastics and diving are my top two. Also psyched to see the opening ceremonies tonight! And I plan in general to keep the coverage on as much as possible when I am home.

Shore — is that snark? Rio got the 2016 Olympics.

Comment by Lakefront Liberal Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 2:45 pm
Matt Grevers won medals the last Olympics and he looks really fast in the pool this time.

Comment by amalia Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 2:45 pm
Oak Park is famous for its baseball — 2012 state champions, yeah, that’s right! — and softball, but not everyone knows about its wrestling program under coach Mike Powell.

I’m an old wrestler. So was Bill Brady. He hit the mats in Champaign and finished fourth at 185 in state. Believe me, that’s a hell of an accomplishment.

Powell was featured in Sports Illustrated, but even that article doesn’t do justice to the man and the impact he has had on many young men.

Stick ‘em, Ellis!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1194725/index.htm

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 2:46 pm
Amantle Monthso from Maun, Botswana, in the 400m dash. She’s a great runner and a great story.

Comment by Ivory-billed Woodpecker Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 2:58 pm
Wrestling without a doubt. Also, I know this isnt the olympics, but the illinois freestyle and greco teams dominated this year at nationals………again. This seems to becoming a tradition, and ellis coleman is a result of wrestling in the great state of illinois. Wait, it already is a tradition.

Comment by throwing stones Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 3:03 pm
Also, jordan burroughs in freestyle wrestling. Keep an eye on this guy, he’s a stud.

Comment by throwing stones Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 3:10 pm
Slightly off topic. I don’t know if we’ve talked about how stupid and annoying those links are in every Tribune article, including the one about the James twins, but my favorite was the link to the word “port,” as in “port and starboard” which somehow took me to a yellow pages link of places in Atlanta with the word “port” in their name. I guess it’s their advertiser, not the Tribune, but it still makes them look like dopes.

Comment by Ann Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 3:59 pm
I just can’t get enough of Women’s soccer. They are so talented and mentally strong.

Comment by walkinfool Friday, Jul 27, 12 @ 4:23 pm