10 of the Biggest College Basketball Stories 2011

It has been a month since both the UAAP and the NCAA declared a respective champion in the men's basketball tournament, the main headliner of both the two league. Apart from the crowning of the San Beda Red Lions (in the NCAA) and the Ateneo Blue Eagles (in the UAAP), however, more news happened during the course of the college basketball season that changed the complexion of both the NCAA and the UAAP. I'm here to track down the 10 biggest headlines of this year's cage wars. Half of them comes from the NCAA, while the other half are UAAP headlines.

Let's start with the NCAA top headlines.

5 - The Overrated and the Underrated Within the Walls

There's a tie for fifth and sixth in my biggest NCAA headlines, but since Letran and Mapua are neighboring schools along the Intramuros area, why not make a 2-in-1 recap? Prior to the season, the Letran Knights were tagged as underdogs, in fact long shots, while the Mapua Cardinals were tagged as playoff contenders with the arrival of big man Yousef Taha and explosive scorer Josan Nimes. What happened after? Letran went on a hot streak, going 7-2 in the first round, while the Cards struggled early, entering the second round with a 3-6 slate. Mapua began to sizzle in Round 2, behind the heroics of Nimes, the eventual Rookie of the Year, Taha, and team captain Allan Mangahas, but Letran stayed in their top form thanks to combo guard Kevin Alas, dominant banger Jam Cortes, rookie point Mark Cruz, and Most Improved Player awardee Raymund Almazan. The Knights smoothly entered the semis, while the Cardinals fell short of making the Final Four. Did the analysts overrate the Cards? Did they think the Knights are a bust? We don't know, but we can expect from these teams more next year.

4 - Here Come the Pirates

The NCAA welcomed a new team in the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates. Many expected the Pirates would end up as the whipping boys this year, but Lyceum shocked them instead. The Pirates stunned the CSB Blazers and the Perpetual Help Altas in Lyceum's maiden two voyages to NCAA supremacy, instantly becoming the talk of the town. While they would lose the next two, LPU made headlines anew by beating Mapua and Arellano next. The Pirates would hit the ship refueling area with a 4-5 card, but they would set sail again with a stunning win over JRU to get even with the Heavy Bombers, who defeated them just a week earlier. But starting with a blowout loss to Mapua, Lyceum began to crumble, especially after losing veteran Allan Santos to personal reasons. The Pirates would be eliminated after losing to San Sebastian, but they would repeat over the Blazers to end their season on a high note and with a stern warning to the other NCAA teams, "We, the Pirates, are for real!"

3 - The Carlo Lastimosa Case

Another team who were in playoff contention this year were the Blazers, but College of Saint Benilde had other issues to tackle with. Early in the second round, news broke out that swingman Mark Romero, a transferee from FEU, left the team to undisclosed reasons. With the news reported during the registration period for the 2nd trimester of CSB (just like its brother school just across Taft Avenue), it was presumed that Romero's problems had something to do with his enrollment. But Carlo Lastimosa's case was even a bigger issue. Becoming an instant star, the news about Lastimosa, who also had registration concerns and had to leave not just the Blazers but also CSB, became a subject of rumors and headlines on various sports news. There were rumors that spread out that Lastimosa would be transferring to San Beda, Ateneo, his uncle's, Jojo Lastimosa's alma mater, or at La Salle's main campus just across the street. Carlo's enrollment matter were already settled and suited up again for the Blazers, but it was a bit too late as the Blazers, who entered the second round tied with Lyceum at number 4 at 4-5, were shown the door with only 2 wins in the last 9.

2 - Championshp Number 19!

In what many thought would be a championship year for San Sebastian under rookie coach Michael "Topex" Robinson, the San Beda Red Lions stayed consistent throughout the season and stole the limelight from the Golden Stags by sweeping the latter in the NCAA Finals. Thanks to veterans Garvo Lanete, Dave Marcelo, the Semerads, Dave and Anthony, and the Pascuals, Jake and Kyle, San Beda remained tough and took advantage of a late Baste downfall to win their 19th NCAA title, tying Letran for the most seniors' basketball championships. Aside from that, they proved that they can win a championship without an import, in this case Sudan Daniel, who didn't play due to a torn ACL. However, the celebration, which I know is still continuing till today, might be cut short as rumors were buzzing around that the Semerad twins, both Anthony and Dave Semerad, are packing their gears in Mendiola and are bound for Katipunan Avenue, transferring to Ateneo. No confirmations are being made as of press time.

1 - The Miracle Run

The championship run of San Beda barely missed on overshadowing JRU's big-time run to the Final 4. Entering the 2nd round with a not-pleasing-to-the-eye 3-6 slate, the Heavy Bombers lost their next three assignments, kicking off the next round on a sour note and with analysts thinking JRU's done for the year. That time, I was already thinking about a Mapua, CSB, and Lyceum race for the wildcard. Then the unthinkable happened. Nate Matute, who struggled in the first round, waxed hot late in the season, and with the help of veterans John Lopez, Jeckster Apinan, and Alex Almario, the Heavy Bombers won their last six games, including a shock upset over San Beda and the playoff berth-clinching demolition of Mapua, to enter the semis, besting the Blazers, the Pirates, and of course the Cards. Although the Lions got back at them, they earned much respect for the winning streak. Expect JRU to bomb next year.

Now off to the UAAP top headlines

5 - Where 33-Point Turnaround Happens

Speaking of unthinkables, add this to the collection. The Adamson Soaring Falcons were ahead by 17 halfway through the second quarter of their second round meeting with UST. The Growling Tigers, looking to enter the Final 4, stepped on the gas from there. Thanks to the Jerics, Jeric Teng and Jeric Fortuna, with rookies Kevin Ferrer and Karim Abdul and athletic veteran Chris Camus, the Tigers turned the tides, overcame the deficit, and even beating the Falcons by 16. That's a 33-point turnaround! Not just that this was the biggest comeback win this year, the UST win over Adamson might come down as the biggest turnaround the UAAP has ever seen.

4 - Make Way for the Freshmen

Ferrer and Abdul are just two of a number of explosive rookies we saw this year. While the NCAA has the likes of Josan Nimes, Yousef Taha, Jonathan Grey, and Baser Amer, the UAAP has Kevin, Karim, Kiefer Ravena, Gelo Alolino, and Bobby Parks. Ravena, from Ateneo, won the Rookie of the Year award, starting a new legacy left off by Kiefer's dad, former PBA and MBA superstar Bong Ravena. Parks, on the other hand, won the MVP. Parks, a son of former PBA import Bobby Sr., could have been the ROY as well, if not for that rule disqualifying rookies who did not come straight from high school to win the freshman plum. Nevertheless, both Parks, Ravena, and the rest of the aforementioned rookies will return next year to continue building their already legendary legacy here. Talk about the deepest rookie batch ever in college basketball.

3 - No Sweep...

Entering the 2nd meeting of the Adamson Soaring Falcons and the Ateneo Blue Eagles, people were already talking about the stepladder format. The UST counter-blowout against Adamson was still abuzz. They were also talking about the UP Pep Squad coloring their hairs blonde and what stuff they will show in the cheerdance competition, turned out to be a way to do the grand slam (Oops! Sorry, Talk 'n Text fans). The Falcons, who were sealing the twice-to-beat edge then, made no hesitation to do the act immediately. AdU broke free from a close 1st half and blew out ADMU, 62-46, to stop the Blue Eagles from sweeping the season. Apart from that, the Falcons won for the first time in 30 meetings in the UAAP, dating back to the 1997 season. For Adamson, they cherished the moment as if they already won the title. Though they didn't do so in the UAAP, they are continuing the winning run on the PBA D-League.

2 - ...No Problem

The loss to Adamson did not hinder Ateneo from cementing their legacy in the UAAP. Ateneo would win three straight, a nail-biter against UST in the semis, and sweeping FEU in the finals, to clinch their sixth UAAP seniors' basketball crown. What made it more special was that they won their fourth consecutive championship, the fourth to complete the 4-peat. The teams who accomplished the same feat prior to the Blue Eagles' reign were the 1965-71 UE Red Warriors, the 1993-96 UST Growling Tigers, and the 1998-2001 De La Salle Green Archers. Credit that to Finals MVP Nico Salva, who dominated the court with his veteran moves.

1 - FEU Did The Petron!

Although the FEU Tamaraws fell prey to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Finals, the Tams proved to everyone that they can still pull off the rug against all odds. They had a twice-to-beat disadvantage in their Final 4 encounter with Adamson, picked to make the Finals by many, including me. But FEU showed their might and championship experience in the semis. They blew off the Soaring Falcons in the first game (technically the second because of AdU's twice-to-beat incentive, equivalent to a 1-0 lead in a best-of-three) and played well despite the late rally ignited by Adamson star Alex Nuyles to escape with a 59-49 win. FEU would stave off another late rally of Adamson, this time led by Jeric Cañada, to win the rubber match, 76-73. Although they would lose to Ateneo, FEU still fought gallantly. Many believed when I posted a blog entitled Can FEU Do the Petron?, and I was convinced with them. FEU DID THE PETRON!

About Ivan Saldajeno, the author

a BS Mathematics student at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños. He was the sports editor for The Palawenian, the English school paper of the Palawan National School from 2003-2005. He is one of the page administrators for the Facebook college sports page Kasali ang School Ko sa NCAA or UAAP, and he is one of the bloggers and moderators of FlipRap. His passion in writing sports articles is still ablaze through his sports blogs: Sporty Guy and Hoops Atbp. These blogs talk about basketball, soccer, boxing, and other various sports locally and internationally.

10 of the Most Memorable Manny Pacquiao's Fight

With the 52nd fight of his career coming up (against Shane Mosley), Pacquiao has chiseled his name alongside all-time pound-for-pound greats like Willie Pep, Henry Armstrong and Sugar Ray Robinson. There are have been many moments that have defined the career of arguably the world's current best pound-for-pound fighter.

Let’s take a look at his 10 best moments in the ring.

10 - Manny Pacquiao Vs. Joshua Clottey

The fight turned out to be quite a letdown, but one of the highlights of the night was Manny’s "Pompyang" punch. The Pompyang move is a double open-palm strike to the ears, resembling the clapping of cymbals. It's a trademark move popularized by the late Filipino actor, Fernando Poe, Jr., who used it in most of his action-movie fight scenes.

This illegal move may make Pacquiao seem arrogant by not taking his opponent seriously, but it demonstrates how easily the Filipino fighter can dominate in the ring.

Manny Pacquiao (145¾ lbs) beat Joshua Clottey (147 lbs) by unanimous decision in round 12 of 12.

9 - Manny Pacquiao Vs. Lehlohonolo Ledwaba

Pacquiao arrived in America in 2001 at 21 years old, weighing 112 pounds. On the second of three stops, he entered the gym of the trainer Freddie Roach. There, he formed an odd-yet-formidable combination with Roach, and one month later, Pacquiao entered the ring and defeated Lehlohonolo Ledwaba of South Africa.

The fight arguably put him on the radar, and from that moment, he went on to defend the title four times. He’s lost only one match since his American debut.

Manny Pacquiao (121 lbs) beat Lehlohonolo Ledwaba (122 lbs) by TKO at 0:59 in round 6 of 12.

8 - Manny Pacquiao Vs. Antonio Margarito

His recent destruction of Margarito, a fighter 17 pounds heavier than him, was extraordinary in many ways. Anyone who needs convincing now that Pacquiao has solidified his place among boxing's all-time elite (including Floyd Mayweather Jr.) is as blind as Margarito was on the night he was destroyed by the Filipino fighter.

Not since Erik Morales beat the Filipino superstar in 2005 has a Mexican boxer solved the Pac-Man riddle. But is Pacquiao’s nickname as the "Mexican Killer" justified? The answer seems to be a resounding yes.

Manny Pacquiao (144½ lbs) beat Antonio Margarito (150 lbs) by unanimous decision in round 12 of 12.

7 - Manny Pacquiao Vs. Erik Morales (3rd Meeting)

With the series split 1-1, Pacquiao and Morales locked fists for the third and last time.

It was this fight that marked a change in Pacquiao’s fighting style. As if he wasn’t already dangerous enough, Pacquiao began to use his right hand as a key element of his arsenal. Manny now applied tremendous power in both hands, helping to amplify an already stellar swarming style.

Manny Pacquiao (129 lbs) beat Erik Morales (129 lbs) by KO at 2:57 in round 3 of 12.

6 - Manny Pacquiao Vs. Marco Antonio Barrera (1st Meeting)

It was the first time Pacquiao went up to the Featherweight division. With this win, Pacquiao began to establish his legacy as the newest boxing superstar and the new "King of the Featherweight" division.

For Pacquiao to defeat Barrera was an achievement, but to demolish him in such conclusive fashion showed that he was to be taken seriously by his peers. As for Barrera, he managed to secure a rematch with Pacquiao (which he duly lost).

Manny Pacquiao (125 lbs) beat Marco Antonio Barrera (126 lbs) by TKO at 2:56 in round 11 of 12.

5 - Manny Pacquiao Vs. Erik Morales (2nd Meeting)

Pacquiao put his WBC International Super Featherweight title on the line in the rematch against Morales. Pacquiao had lost the first encounter with a 12th-round majority decision.

Morales escaped being knocked down twice early in the fight, once by holding on to the ropes and once by falling on the referee's body. But his resilience wasn't to last. It was the first time in his hall-of-fame career that Morales was knocked out.

Manny Pacquiao (128½ lbs) beat Erik Morales (130 lbs) by TKO at 2:33 in round 10 of 12.

4 - Manny Pacquiao Vs. Oscar De La Hoya

Can you imagine beating someone so conclusively that you actually cause them to retire? Well, that's exactly what Pacquiao did to Oscar de la Hoya. Pacquiao pummeled De la Hoya for eight rounds straight, and the fight had to be stopped because the Golden Boy was taking such a hard beating.

No title was exchanged when Pacquiao defeated de la Hoya via an 8th round technical knockout. But there was plenty of symbolism. Though very much in the twilight of his career, the much-decorated De La Hoya retired after the match and completed the passing of the torch to Pacquiao.

Manny Pacquiao (142 lbs) beat Oscar De La Hoya (145 lbs) by RTD at 3:00 in round 8 of 12.

3 - Manny Pacquiao Vs. Juan Manuel Marquez (2nd Meeting)

Four years in the making, this fight was dubbed "Unfinished Business" because of the controversial draw that ended their first encounter in 2004. This time, however, Pacquiao managed to edge out Marquez, but the result was not without controversy.

Their match was devastatingly hard-fought on both sides. Pacquiao escaped with a narrow split decision.

Manny Pacquiao (129 lbs) beat Juan Manuel Marquez (130 lbs) by split decision in round 12 of 12.

2 - Manny Pacquiao Vs. Ricky Hatton

The fighter from England went down to the canvas twice in the first round before he was knocked out for good in the second round. In the spirit of Muhammad Ali, Pacquiao looked like he was just biding his time. He then unleashed a left hook that sent Ricky Hatton to the canvas with less than 10 seconds left in the round.

I feel for Hatton, who will have to see this knockout time and again as it gets replayed on KO reels. It was one of those moments that takes your breath away.

Manny Pacquiao (138 lbs) beat Ricky Hatton (140 lbs) by KO at 2:59 in round 2 of 12.

1 - Manny Pacquiao Vs. Miguel Cotto

The most impressive Paquiao moment ever inside the ring has to be the night when he faced off against the lion-hearted Miguel Cotto.

In a legacy-cementing win, Pacquiao defeated Cotto to capture the WBO Welterweight title and WBC Diamond Belt. The win made him the first boxer ever to win seven different titles in seven different weight classes. His performance that night fixed the Filipino's reputation as one of the finest boxers of this -- and possibly other -- generations.

Pacquiao simply destroyed Cotto. Viewers could catch glimpses of Cotto’s wife wincing has he took shot after destructive shot.

Manny Pacquiao (144 lbs) beat Miguel Angel Cotto (145 lbs) by TKO at 0:55 in round 12 of 12.

Humor me? LOL!

Will Mayweather Ever Fight Pacquiao? Probably not after reading this list. To be fair, though, it's possible neither of them could compete with these Top 10: Pound-For-Pound Fighters in their prime.

• Reference/Source: askmen.com by Jose Espinoza

2010 Winter Olympics: Top 10 Medal Table

The top ten listed NOCs by number of gold medals are listed below. Canada is the host nation of 2010 Winter Olympics.

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Canada (CAN)	14	7	5	26
2	Germany (GER)	10	13	7	30
3	United States (USA)	9	15	13	37
4	Norway (NOR)	9	8	6	23
5	South Korea (KOR)	6	6	2	14
6	Switzerland (SUI)	6	0	3	9
7	China (CHN)	5	2	4	11
7	Sweden (SWE)	5	2	4	11
9	Austria (AUT)	4	6	6	16
10	Netherlands (NED)	4	1	3	8

The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University Endowment Lands, and in the resort town of Whistler. Approximately 2,600 athletes from 82 nations participated in 86 events in fifteen disciplines. Both the Olympic and Paralympic Games were being organized by the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC). The 2010 Winter Olympics were the third Olympics hosted by Canada and the first by the province of British Columbia. Previously, Canada hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta.
Following Olympic tradition, then-Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan received the Olympic flag during the closing ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The flag was raised on February 28, 2006 in a special ceremony and was on display at Vancouver City Hall until the Olympic opening ceremony. The event was officially opened by Governor General Michaëlle Jean.
For the first time, Canada won gold in an "official" sport at an Olympic Games hosted at home, having failed to do so at both the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary (although Canada won a gold medal in the "demonstration-sport" of curling in Calgary).
Canada clinched first overall in gold medal wins on the second to last day of competition and became the first host nation since Norway in 1952 to lead the gold medal count. With 14, Canada broke the record for the most gold medals won at a single Winter Olympics, which was 13, set by the former Soviet Union in 1976 and Norway in 2002. The United States won the most medals in total, their second time doing so at the Winter Olympics, and broke the record for the most medals won at a single Winter Olympics, with 37, which was previously held by Germany in 2002 at 36 medals. Athletes from Slovakia and Belarus won the first Winter Olympic gold medals for their nations.

• Reference/Source: wikipedia.org

The Top 10 Super Bowl Commercials of 2011

The dust has settled at Cowboys Stadium and the Green Bay Packers are taking the Lombardi Trophy home. But now that the game is over, it's time to talk about the ads! We've selected our favorites and now you can vote for the one you thought was the best.
We've narrowed down our list of Super Bowl commercials to the ones you'll see below. So sit back, crack open another beer, and let us know which one you liked best by voting in our poll on the next page. The voting is only open until Friday, so vote now!

Audi - Kenny G

0 Comments | 57,645 Views

Bridgestone - The Beaver

0 Comments | 53,203 Views

Bud Light - Dogs in the House

1 Comments | 58,895 Views

Chrysler - Eminem's Detroit

1 Comments | 44,729 Views

Doritos - House Sitting

0 Comments | 55,813 Views

Motorola - Xoom

0 Comments | 30,661 Views

Skechers - Kim Kardashian

0 Comments | 37,964 Views

Snickers 'n Chainsaws

1 Comments | 43,628 Views

Stella Artois - Adrien Brody

0 Comments | 27,067 Views

Volkswagen - Mini Vader

1 Comments | 48,830 Views

• Reference/Source: spike.com by dhammond

The Top 10 Transfers Of Winter 2011 [Goal.com]

Which players have been the best buys and top movers?

Each European transfer window, Goal.com International decides on the best acquisitions, in order from 1 to 10, and we encourage you to let us know your thoughts.

We judge based on:

* The player's overall ability (this being the most important factor)
* How the player will fit into his new line-up
* How the player will adapt to his new surroundings, and vice-versa
* The transfer fee payable, if any, and any other financial details known. (Transfer fees unconfirmed by either club or otherwise unknown are given as approximations and are marked in italics.)

For the reason that players arriving on permanent deals tend to be more adaptable and often more important, there is preference given to full transfers over loans. That is not to say that loans, co-ownerships etc. cannot be included, but players must be extra special to justify a space on such a move.

With all of that explained, it's time to see the list! This was last updated at 02:50 CET on Tuesday January 11th.

1 Last week: 2	Antonio CASSANO	AC Milan - Sampdoria - Undisc. Antonio Cassano is an enigma to say the least, but there is no doubt at his best he can give a massive push to Milan's Scudetto bid. Capable of creating goals and scoring them in abundance, his talent alongside the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic will have attacking football enthusiasts' mouths watering. His superb start so far moves him to the top.
2 New entry	Edin DZEKO	Manchester City - Wolfsburg - €32m Dzeko's mammoth transfer fee is right now the only thing separating him from top spot. If he can hit the ground running, though, he could turn out to be one of the best success stories in Premier League transfer history. City are in the running for the league title, remember, and a(nother) top-class name up front is hardly going to hurt.
3 Last week: 1	Ibrahim AFELLAY	Barcelona - PSV - €3m The versatile Afellay will provide Barcelona's squad depth with a huge boost. He has plenty of experience despite his young age, and he should fit in easily into Barca's football philosophy. For a reported €3m fee, he comes very cheap, but how much he will play in the first team at the start remains to be seen. When he does, expect fireworks.
4 Last week: 3	LUIZ GUSTAVO	Bayern Munich - Hoffenheim - €15m Luiz Gustavo arrived in Germany from Brazil in 2007 and quickly established himself as a success wherever he went. As a left-back in the 2. Bundesliga, he was great. As a centre-back and defensive midfielder in the top flight, he was even better. He's just 23 and is set to shine for Bayern for years.
5 Last week: 4	SIMAO Sabrosa	Besiktas - Atletico Madrid - €900k The ambitious Turkish side will glady welcome an experienced, flamboyant winger who will give the team more attacking width and dimension. Eventhough he's already 31, the Portuguese still has great pace and dribbling skills and his set-piece deliveries are as sharp and potent as ever.
6 Last week: 5	JULIO BAPTISTA	Malaga - Roma - €2m Over 4,000 Malaga fans descended to welcome Brazilian attacker Julio Baptista back to La Liga. Here, in the Spanish league, Julio is a proven success: his final days at Real Madrid were actually quite good. The Andalucian side can call on his big-game experience when it counts.
7 Last week: 6	Federico MACHEDA	Sampdoria - Manchester United - Free (loan) We saw what 'Kiko' could do in his Manchester United debut. Now it's time to see what he's capable of in Serie A. Antonio Cassano is a tough act to follow but the 19-year-old seems to have everything it takes to succeed.
8 Last week: 7	ELIAS	Atletico Madrid - Corinthians - €7m A left-sided central midfielder with true attacking flair, Elias cost Atleti big bucks from Corinthians. The 25-year-old has been on the Brazilian circuit for years and counts national team coach Mano Menezes as his biggest fan. Voted best player in his position in Brazil in 2010 - a class act well worth following.
9 Last week: 8	Andrea RANOCCHIA	Inter - Genoa - €12.5m Something of a gamble for Inter, Ranocchia's signing could go either way. The Italian international will solidify what has been a weak position for the Nerazzurri over the last two years, provided that he adapts quickly. If he does he will be a very useful starter.
10Last week: 9	Raffaelle PALLADINO	Parma - Genoa - Undisc. (co-ownership) A very talented winger who is at his best playing on the right or left of a 4-3-3, on his day Palladino can be truly sublime but he is very inconsistent and can sometime disappear during matches. But his ability and potential is without question and he could shine at Parma.

• Reference/Source: goal.com By Ewan Macdonald [Jan 11, 2011]

Top 10 Outdoor-Sports Rivalries

Snow Boarding

Source: nationalgeographic.com | As March Madness kicks off this week, talk around ye old office water-cooler will likely revolve around NCAA basketball. But that doesn’t mean college hoops fans should have all the fun. So we decided to give you ADVENTURE crowd your own bracket-like list to debate: a run-down of the best modern rivalries in outdoor sports. And when we say rivalries, we don’t mean to imply that these athletes snipe and bicker like Rock of Love contestants. We mean, simply, that they’re vying for their sport’s top spot—and pushing each to be better in the process.
Here, then, are our picks for today's Top 10 Outdoor-Sports Rivalries in climbing, cycling, ski racing, and more:

10. Sailing

Any rivalry pitting the French against the English is sure to be a good one. And the competition between sailing’s Francis Joyon and Ellen MacArthur doesn’t disappoint. Last year, after the Frenchman annihilated the English MacArthur’s around-the-world solo record by a full two weeks, he told her: “I had a hard time beating your record. I hope that you won't be in a hurry to beat mine.” Sorry, buddy. We’d bet she’s already working on it. Here’s a blow-by-blow of Joyon’s arrival last January—and oui, it’s in français, but it’s easy to follow the action:

9. High-Altitude Parachute Jumping

Speaking of French versus English rivalries… Ever heard of Michael Fournier and Steve Truglia? If you haven’t yet, you’re likely to soon. Over the past few years, the two high-altitude parachute jumpers have been neck-and-neck in a heated race to make a world-record busting jump from 120,000 feet (more than 23 miles) up—literally from the edge of space. Just to give you an idea of how crazy that is: A typical skydive lasts about one minute before the canopy is deployed; jumping from 120,000 feet up means Fournier and Truglia would freefall for more than seven minutes. From that high, the sky will be pitch black, and they’ll easily be able to make out the curvature of the Earth. Englishman Truglia’s “Space Jump” program is said to be on track for a jump any day now, while Fournier’s French team is aiming for a May ’09 jump. Stay tuned.

8. Skateboarding

So who’s primed to take the reigns from Tony Hawk as the country’s next top skateboarder? Well, after the Battle at the Berrics competition last week, we’d say it might be a toss-up between Mike Mo Capaldi and Benny Fairfax. The two went head-to-head in the final round of the battle—a trick-for-trick tournament of skating that plays out something like a game of HORSE in basketball.

7. Sport Climbing

Quick: Who’s the best sport climber in the world? Well, duh—Chris Sharma, right? For well over a decade, the 27-year-old Sharma has been the sport’s main man. But now a young upstart has some saying his reign could be nearing an end. So who’s scrambling for the title as the world’s best? Chris Sharma and Adam Ondra, who at only 16-years-old is already sending just about every hard line in the world. But is the young Czech good enough to be as good—or better—than you know who? Time will tell. In the meantime, you can judge for yourself here, in this footage of Ondra climbing one of the world’s hardest, “La Rambla,” in Siurana, Spain.

6. Ultrarunning

For the past few years, ultrarunning’s biggest prize purse—the $10,00 first place reward at The North Face Endurance Challenge’s 50-mile race—has been split between Matt Carpetner and Uli Steidl. Steidl, 36, took the 10 G’s back in 2007—but last year, the 44-year-old Carpenter beat him out by more than five minutes. So who reigns supreme at the 50-mile distance? Well, as Steidl says of his rival, that might depend on where the race takes place: “Whenever we race,” Steidl says, “I know it’s going to be a good competition—unless it’s at high altitude, and then I don’t stand a chance.”

5. Ski Racing

With Bode Miller’s decision to opt out of the rest of the ski racing season earlier this month—and now possibly eyeing retirement—we thought it was high-time for us to adopt a new face of American skiing. So here now, very officially, we pass the mantle on to Lindsey Vonn. Just last week, the 24-year-old became the first American woman to ever win two overall World Cup crowns (watch a video). The one thing Vonn hasn’t won is Olympic gold—she was a favorite for the downhill at the Torino Games in ’06 but got injured and finished eighth. So who stands in her way of total domination at the Vancouver Games next winter? We think the ones to watch will be Linsday Vonn and Maria Reisch, Vonn’s closest friend—and rival. The two spent Christmas this year together with Reisch’s family in Germany and often share the podium together, as well. Vancouver should be interesting.

4. Surfing

Andy Irons and Kelly Slater have been carrying the torch as surfing’s big rivalry since 2003, when the 31-year-old Slater was making a comeback, threatening the 25-year-old Iron’s post as the reigning world champ. And even after Iron’s slump last season, we still say surfing’s big rivalry is… Andy Irons and Kelly Slater. Yep, the boys still got it. Their much-hyped dislike for each other is one for the record books. Add to that the fact that a happy ending may be on the horizon: Just yesterday (March 15, 2009) Iron Brothers Productions released a new documentary called A Fly in the Champagne, capturing a two-week big-wave trip to Indonesia that Irons and Slater took—together! Willingly! Doubtful they actually kiss and make up, but this, we’ll need to see for ourselves.

3. and 2. LanceLanceLanceLance!

At least 99.8 percent of Tour coverage this July is going to revolve around seven-time champ Armstrong’s return. (That’s an in-house ADVENTURE estimate, mind you.) And rightly so: No one’s done more to popularize the sport in the states. Still, after a three-and-a-half-year break from professional competition, is he still the rider to beat? We think so. Our eyes will be trained on: Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador, and Levi Leipheimer. Okay, so we fudged and made this one a three-way tie. But after the 26-year-old Contador’s 2007 Tour de France win and Leipheimer’s first-place finish at last month’s Tour of California—where Armstrong finished 7th—it’s too close to call. The trio will be riding as teammates on the Astana ticket, but all three will be bidding for the yellow jersey.

1. Snowboarding

At the Burton U.S. Open this week (opensnowboarding.com), everyone knows Shaun White’s the dude to beat. But lately there’s been a crop of up-and-comers threatening his perennial place on the superpipe podium’s top spot. The ones to watch? We say it’s Shaun White and Kevin Pearce, another Burton shredder who beat White out at the 2008 X-Games superpipe.

Top 10 international Athletes: Pacquiao No. 5

Source: www.examiner.com | We rank the top five international athletes around the world. The criteria used include accomplishments, popularity and name recognition, impact, earnings, sport popularity, and long-term coverage in the media. The athletes on this list come from tennis, soccer, baseball, boxing, track and field, hockey, and MMA.
Note: U.S.-based athletes are excluded from this list (i.e., Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, etc.).

10.  Alexander Ovechkin (Hockey)
Country of Origin: Russia
The 2009 NHL MVP earns about $12 million a year. He is a two-time league MVP and holds a lot of promise being only 24 years old. Unfortunately, Alexander Evechkin's lack of English fluency makes it difficult for him to become more popular in the American mainstream.

9.  Fedor Emilianenko (MMA)
Country of Origin: Russia
Fedor Emilianenko is the World Alliance of MMA Heavyweight Champion.  The 33-year old is one of the most popular fighters in an increasingly visible sport that is gaining traction with major networks.  MMA is extremely appealing to the young demographic.  Many pay homage to the formidable Russian-born prize fighter.
8.  Alberto Pujols (Baseball)
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
The 30-year old is the 2009 National League MVP.  Pujols along with Alex Rodriguez are chasing home run and slugging-related records.  He is excelling in a sport that is fairly popular, and thus earns about $18 million annually.  He is one of the three best hitters in baseball.  Additionally, Pujols is probably the best athlete to ever come out of the Dominican Republic.

7.  Usain Bolt (Track and Field)
Country of Origin: Jamaica
The sky is the limit for the 23 year old Jamaican considered by far the world's fastest human.  What Usain Bolt was able to accomplish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was simply mind boggling.  He won three gold medals at the 2009 World Championships.  The fastest man in the planet shattered his Beijing world records at the 2009 world championships. The name Usain Bolt is familiar with most sports fans despite belonging to a sport that is covered by the press infrequently.  At just 23, Bolt is the best athlete to ever come out of Jamaica.

6.  Rafael Nadal (Tennis)
Country of Origin: Spain
The 23-year old won the 2009 Australian Open and earns over $31 million a year. He is largely known as an elite player second only to Switzerland's Roger Federer, Nadal displays tremendous energy on the court and lays everything on the line each and every game - a trait that resonates with millions of fans in a sport with hundreds of millions of followers.  Nadal, at just 23, is the best athlete to ever come out of Spain.

Manny Pacquiao | Boxing

5.  Manny Pacquiao (Boxing)
Country of Origin: Philippines
Philippine national hero Manny Pacquiao, 31, is regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time.  He sports a record of 50 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws, and is the WBO welterweight champion of the world.  Pacquiao is universally regarded as the best athlete to ever come out of the Philippines.  Additionally, he is regarded as the best Asian boxer of all time.
The Filipino earned close to $40 million in 2009 and intends to run for congress in his native land in May 2010.  While boxing is gaining in popularity, the sport remains a niche activity in the minds of mainstream fans, having fallen out of the top 15 American sports.  A prospective fight with undefeated American Floyd Mayweather, Jr could become the biggest fight in boxing in over 30 years.  Pacquiao's mythos, it is said, is rivaling Muhammad Ali's.
Photos: Manny Pacquiao training at Wild Card Gym (Feb 2010)
On Facebook: Manny Pacquiao

4.  Dirk Nowitzki (Basketball)
Country of Origin: Germany
Germany's Dirk Nowitzki, 31, earned close to $30 million in 2009.  Nowitzki has been a fixture as one of the NBA's elite players, and is the franchise player for the Dallas Mavericks.  He is the best basketball player to come out of Germany, and one of the best German athletes ever.  Dirk Nowitzki is the NBA's top international player for most of the past decade, Nowitzki continues to pursue winning a NBA championship ring.  He starred in his eighth consecutive all-star game in 2009.
3.  Maria Sharapova (Tennis)
Country of Origin: Russia
The 22-year old Russian is the most popular Eastern European athlete in the world, and earned close to $24 million in 2009.  Maria Sharapova endorses for companies such as Nike, Tiffany, Canon, and Land Rover.  There are more accomplished athletes on this list - Sharapova won the 2008 Australian Open.  However, her beauty earns her high visibility among sports fans around the world.  Sharapova recently signed a $70 million deal with Nike.

2.  David Beckham (Soccer)
Country of Origin: England
David Beckham, 34, is not just one of the top international athletes of the world, he is a global cultural icon and celebrity.  Along with actor Brad Pitt, Beckham is one of the most followed cultural personalities in the world.  His official Facebook page attracts over two million followers.  In 2008, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.  The name "David Beckham" is one of the most searched names on Google and Yahoo in the decade of the 2000s.  In 2009, he earned about $23 million.  He is one of the few athletes in which fans do not necessarily have to watch him in a game - they follow him wherever, whenever, regardless.

1.  Roger Federer (Tennis)
Country of Origin: Switzerland
The top-ranked international athlete in the world today is none other than tennis superpower Roger Federer.  There is ongoing debate whether Federer or Pete Sampras is the sport's greatest player ever.  A large percentage think that the Swiss is simply the greatest tennis player of all time.  At 28, Federer set the record for most career Grand Slam titles in 2009.  He earned close to $33 million in 2009.  He won at Wimbledon to clinch the record for all-time Grand Slam titles.  Federer endorses products of companies such as Nike, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex, and Gillette.