9 Life Lessons From Summer Olympic Athletes

       

Light your torches and go for the gold — it’s almost time for the Summer Olympics. The Olympics means a time where we talk about things that matter: world peace, teamwork, and setting aside our differences for the ancient love of sports. While the Olympics teaches the importance of international literacy and cultural etiquette, there are other things to be learned from the glorious games. You may not ever take home the gold, but take home these nine life lessons from some Summer Olympic greats.

1. If you’re annoying Hitler, you’re doing something right:

   
   "Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust." — Jesse Owens
   Track and field superstar Jesse Owens blew everyone out of the water at Berlin’s 1936 Olympic games. He won four gold medals in track and field events, and catapulted himself to international fame. The victory was made sweeter still, as Jesse Owens was an African-American, and Adolf Hitler was hoping to use the ‘36 Berlin games to proffer ideas of Aryan superiority. According to friend-of-the-devil Albert Speer, the Nazi leader was "highly annoyed by the series of triumphs by the marvelous colored [sic] American runner, Jesse Owens." But Owens didn’t seem to mind. He just kept on running. (Bonus: He was also slighted by Presidents Roosevelt and Truman. "Although I wasn’t invited to shake hands with Hitler, I wasn’t invited to the White House to shake hands with the President either," the legend said.)

2. Age is just a number:

   
   Some summer Olympians will win medals before they can legally drive, vote, or drink alcohol. Does younger equal better? Birgit Fischer flips the script on that claim. The German sportswoman was both the youngest and oldest reigning Olympic canoeing champion, winning gold medals in the sport at the ages of 18 and 42. She’s won eight gold medals spanning six different games and was rightfully named Germany’s sportswoman of the year in 2004. The 50-year-old athlete still actively competes, and while she doesn’t deal with numbers, she certainly knows how to cope. "Without some stress, I cannot really run well," says the ageless champion.

3. "Life is about timing.":

   
   It’s a nugget of wisdom from one of the world’s best athletes, mega Olympian Carl Lewis. Lewis was the most prominent figure in track and field since Jesse Owens, and he’s still a living legend. But timing is everything, they say, and nine-time gold medalist Carl Lewis is living proof. The vegan who competed and broke world records until the age of 30 attempted to run for the New Jersey Senate last year, but was removed from the Democratic ballot. Bad timing this time, King Carl.

4. Being a loner is fine:

   
   Also known as: do you. Michael Phelps has been described by trainer Bob Bowman as "a solitary man," although he’s often praised for caring about his charitable foundation and his family. The 16-time medalist proves that doing your own thing can lead to success. Especially if doing your own thing involves years of disciplined practice and swimming faster than anyone’s ever swam before. Although it’s true that no one’s an island, there’s considerable evidence from this summer Olympian that being a lone wolf can place you at the head of the pack.

5. Everyone idolizes their big sister:

   
   Sometimes, commonalities run in the blood. In Dominique Moceanu’s memoirOff Balance, she tells of receiving a letter from Jennifer Bricker, her long-lost biological sister. Bricker was born without legs and given up for adoption, but both girls were gymnasts. Before knowing that Moceanu was her sister, Bricker idolized the Olympian from afar. Says Bricker’s adoptive mother, "Nature is so much more dominant than you could ever made me believe before."

6. Mustaches were always cool:

   
   If you get tired of looking at kids these days with their Fumanchus and handlebars, you have bad ’70s porno and Mark Spitz to thank. The Olympian swimmer who held the gold-medal record (until Michael Phelps) wouldn’t shave his mustache during the 1972 games — even though his competitors were shoring all their body hair. The mustache was a conversation piece and an Olympic icon, and Spitz’s satiric comments to a Russian coach spread the fad for years to come. In one interview, Spitz tells the tale. "I had some fun with a Russian coach who asked me if my mustache slowed me down. I said, ‘No, as a matter of fact, it deflects water away from my mouth, allows my rear end to rise and make me bullet-shaped in the water, and that’s what had allowed me to swim so great.’ He’s translating as fast as he can for the other coaches, and the following year every Russian male swimmer had a mustache."

7. Love conquers all:

   
   Nadia Comaneci was the first Olympic gymnast to earn a perfect "10." She mastered her sport and did it so well that she (literally) broke the scoreboard. The Romanian gymnast also had to flee from her motherland in 1989. But seeking political asylum during a revolution and being the finest person on the planet at her trade isn’t enough for the superstar — she credits her romantic life as the most important thing. "My marriage to my husband, [fellow gymnast] Bart Conner in 1996," she says, "is my proudest personal moment."

8. Be versatile:

   
   "You, sir, are the greatest athlete in the world. I would consider it an honor to shake your hand." — King Gustav V, 1912, Stockholm
   The best thing you can do to have a great career? Be good at everything. Multi-event winner Jim Thorpe is known as one of the most versatile athletes of all time. Winning gold medals in the 1912 Olympics for the pentathlon and decathlon, the sports star also played a host of other sports. Another lesson we can learn from Jim Thorpe? Wait ‘em out. Although he violated the amateurism rules of the Olympic Games and was stripped of his medals, the sportsman’s glory was restored — 30 years after he died.

9. Be great:

   
   "It’s important to push yourself further than you think you can go each and every day — as that is what separates the good from the great." — Kerri Strug
   Kerri Strug was the pensive, blonde counterpart to Moceanu’s brunette spunk. The teammates are both members of the Magnificent Seven, but Kerri Strug is a true champion. The gymnast finished a vault routine at the 1996 Atlanta games with an injured ankle. Though sweat and pain showed on her face, Strug shrugged it off and persevered. A great sportswoman with a great attitude and the determination to go for the gold.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 9th, 2012 at 9:50 pm and is filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

10 College Students Going for Gold at the 2012 Olympics

Posted on Monday July 9, 2012by Staff Writers

It’s easy to assume Olympic athletes spend all their waking hours training and practicing (andeating). It seems they would have to, in order to be literally one of the best in the world at their chosen sport. Yet for a select class of Olympians, knocking out exams in the morning and training in the afternoon are all in a day’s work. Here are 10 athletes from around the country and internationally who are headed to London this summer to make college students everywhere proud.

1. KRISTIAN IPSEN, STANFORD UNIVERSITY:

   
   With this summer making diving partner Troy Dumais’ fourth Olympics, Kristian Ipsen will have that world competition experience to lean on as the two chase their first Olympic medals. However, Ipsen has been making his own (tiny) waves diving at Stanford as a freshman. In the 2011-2012 season, he became the first Cardinal to win a NCAA title in 82 years, with his victory in the 3-meter dive. Dumais and Ipsen recently took silver in the 3-meter synchronized dive at the AT&T USA Diving Grand Prix, hopefully a sign of good things to come at the Summer Games.

2. DEREK DROUIN, INDIANA UNIVERSITY:

   
   IU has its first Olympic high jumper in Derek Drouin, although they’ll have to wait to see one waving the red, white, and blue. With a 2.31 meter (7.5 feet) leap at the Olympic Trials in Calgary, the Hoosier junior earned the right to represent his native Canada in London. The feat made him only the second person in the world to clear the height this season. Expectations are high for this former high school track and field star who’s brought Indiana its first national titles in high jump and been named indoor and outdoor Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year.

3. SAM MIKULAK, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN:

   
   After breaking both ankles during competition last year, this Wolverine junior had to sit out five of six events at the recent Olympic trials when one of the ankles swelled up. But the 2012 NCAA High Bar champ’s work on the pommel horse was good enough to earn him the nod, joining another college student, Oklahoma’s Jake Dalton, on the team. When he heard he’d qualified, Mikulak summed up his thoughts on Twitter by saying, “YESSSSSS!!! I love today. Thank you everyone, friends, fans, and my great family! Olympics and London bound here I come.”

4. EMMANUEL NARTY, WESTON COLLEGE:

   
   This business management student is one of 7,500 at Weston College in North Somerset, United Kingdom. But he’s also the top black belt in all of Africa and 23rd in the world. He started studying judo at the age of 9 and earned his black belt at 17. Now 29, he will stand and fight for his home nation of Ghana at the Olympics. Narty is also a tank trooper in the British Army; he says both the school and the Army are giving him time off to pursue his dream of winning a gold medal.

5. ALISE POST, SAN DIEGO UNIVERSITY:

   
   As she says on her Twitter page, this 21-year-old college student races kids’ BMX bikes around dirt obstacle courses for a living … and it’s fun. BMX Super Cross Racing, or Bicycle Motocross, is one of the most exciting events in the Summer Games, and Post is one of the most exciting racers to watch. She recently showed off her skills at the 2012 UCI BMX SX Papendal, taking first by launching over a triple jump combo. She left her native Minnesota for college in sunny California, and she says her favorite place to ride is Chula Vista BMX.

6. EMMA COBURN, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO:

   
   Coburn has racked up awards during her time on the track team at CU, including being only the second woman ever to win the women’s USA steeplechase while still a college student. She redshirted during the 2012 season to train for London, and on June 29 the 21-year-old proved it was worth it, earning a bid to the Olympics by winning the women’s 3,000 meters steeplechase final. Her teammate, Shalaya Kipp, finished third in the race and secured her own ticket to the Games. After winning, Coburn turned around and hugged Kipp as she crossed the finish line.

7. LEE KEIFER, UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME:

   
   It’s not uncommon for high school grads to take a trip in the summer before they head off to college. For this soon-to-be Notre Dame freshman, the destination is London. At just 17, Keifer is ranked seventh in the world and already has two world championship titles in fencing under her belt, and she’d love to add an Olympic medal to her trophy case before heading back to school. Her father fenced at Duke, and her sister won an NCAA title in fencing at Harvard, but Lee says they didn’t do a good enough job recruiting her to sway her from becoming a Fighting Irish.

8. ANDREW CHETCUTI, GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY:

   
   At a school assembly, 10-year-old Andrew Chetcuti informed his classmates he would one day swim in the Olympics for his mother country of Malta. Now, nine years later, his Georgia Tech classmates will be cheering him on as he goes for the gold in men’s 100 meter freestyle. He got the bid through an Olympic rule that allows athletes from smaller countries to compete in events in which they hold their home country’s fastest time. Chetcuti is an all-around athlete, excelling in water polo and setting records in cross country. And as he is studying biomedical engineering at GT, he’s clearly not your average jock.

9. SHOTA IIZUKA, TETSUYA TATENO, AND CHIAKI ISHIBASHI, CHUO UNIVERSITY:

   
   This school in Tokyo has three first-time Olympians in attendance. In July 2010, law student Shota Iizuka brought home Japan’s first World Junior Championships gold medal in the men’s 200 meter dash. He’ll be joined on the track team by teammate Tetsuya Tateno, an accounting major and 400 meter runner. And 21-year-old Chiaki Ishibashi rounds out the trio, seeking victory for Japan in men’s freestyle swimming. Speaking of his chances, Ishibashi probably spoke for all three when he said, “Everyone there will be really good, but I think I have what it takes to hang in all the way to the end.”

10. HALEY ISHIMATSU, DUKE UNIVERSITY:

    
    Before an elbow fracture ended her career, this Blue Devil had been a gymnast for eight years. Her sister had been a diver at USC and no doubt influenced Haley to try the sport out. The result was an Olympic berth in 2008, where she managed a fifth place finish in 10 meter synchronized diving. A top finish at the USA Diving Winter National Championships this year makes her one of the favorites in London, so keep an eye on her. You may be treated to a three-and-a-half somersault pike dive, a move only a handful of female divers can pull off.

CRCBL All-Star Festivities at Povich; Big Train Beat T-Bolts Again

CRCBL All-Star Festivities Full of Big Train Participation

This year's CRCBL All-Star festivities are loaded with Big Train. From the location (Shirley Povich Field) to the manger (Sal Colangelo), and from the roster (a league-high seven players) to the Home Run Derby (Hunter Renfroe is the favorite), the Big Train are sure to have a great time during their short break. Here is the list of Big Train players selected to the All-Star team: Cameron Cuneo (Pitcher - UC Santa Barbara) Ben Griset (Pitcher - St. Mary's (CA)) Brendan Hendriks (Third Base - San Francisco)    Colin Kish (Rightfield - Florida Southern) Bo Logan (Pitcher - Florida Atlantic) Cole Norton (Leftfield - St. Mary's (CA)) Hunter Renfroe (Centerfield - Mississippi State) Big Train Manager Sal Colangelo will manage the "National" team in the game. To see the full rosters, click here. Come out to Povich Field on Wednesday to support your Big Train representatives. The Home Run Derby, featuring CRCBL home run record-holder Hunter Renfroe, will take place at 5:00, followed by the All-Star Game itself at 7:30. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. Big Train season pass holders may use their season passes to attend the game. And remember, you can still buy Big Train season passes now for just $65. Click here to get yours now or buy one at the gate.

Big Train Finish Home-and-Home Sweep of T-Bolts

Mike Miedzianowski three-run double paced the Big Train in Silver Spring. The Big Train were able to stay hot heading into this week's All-Star break as they beat the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts 9-4 in Silver Spring on Monday night. Bo Logan (Florida Atlantic) took the mound and earned his third win in his last three starts as he went five innings, giving up only four hits and striking out three. Ryan Doran (San Diego State) pitched the last four innings of the game and gave up no runs and struck out three. As for the hitting, the Big Train fell behind early but quickly battled out of those circumstances. In the top of the fourth, Hunter Renfroe(Mississippi State), Colin Kish (Florida Southern), and Avondre Bollar(San Diego State) loaded up the bases with one out. Mike Miedzianowski (High Point) hit a ball that was just short of a grand slam. When the dust settled, it was a three-run double. Justin McCullough (El Camino) followed Miedzianowski's clutch double with a walk and brought first Adam Barry (Cal State Northridge) up with two on and one out. Barry singled to score both Miedzianowski and McCullough. The Big Train offense would strike for two more runs in the top of the fifth. Kish and Tucker Tobin (George Mason) reached base to lead off the inning and both scored on a double by Bollar to pad the lead and make the score 8-3. The Big Train and Thunderbolts each tacked on one more run later but it did not affect the outcome as the Big Train won 9-4. Click here to see the play-by-play and box score of last night's game. ANNOUNCEMENT: THE CONTINUATION OF THE GAME AGAINST THE BALTIMORE REDBIRDS WILL NOT BE PLAYED TODAY AND HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO 7/24 AT 5:00 AT POVICH FIELD.

Berry reduces colon cancer up to 60%

Berry Reduces Colon Tumors
As Much as 60 Percent

    Here's a seasonal idea for you during these summer days. Studies show black raspberries can be another potent tool in your cancer-prevention toolbox. In fact, they appear to be very effective against the second leading cause of cancer deaths in America, according to the National Cancer Institute.¹


    While strawberries, red raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries are generally regarded as cancer-fighting and healthy, the neglected black raspberry may be even more powerful, especially against colon cancer and esophageal cancer. Keep reading for more details on how food really can be a medicine. . .


Continued below...

Startling new report from Cancer Defeated: Nobel Prize winning discovery can now reverse memory loss—even Alzheimer's!     Recently, the Cancer Defeated team decided to investigate Alzheimer's disease and dementia. And just as with cancer, we uncovered effective treatments for this health problem that mainstream medicine has overlooked or even deliberately suppressed.     Conventional doctors believe once your memory's gone it's gone for good. But they're totally wrong—there are many solutions to mild memory loss AND severe dementia. We're especially excited about one new discovery almost no one knows about!     Click here now and watch a new video presentation about this Alzheimer's breakthrough.     Nobel Prize-winning science has uncovered how to improve your mental power, alertness and memory as you age! And people with so-called "hopeless" dementia and Alzheimer's are slowing, stopping and often completely reversing memory loss…     Click here now to watch the video!

    Black raspberries are not as widely eaten as red raspberries, or even the similar-looking blackberry. The black raspberry is more seedy and less juicy than its red counterpart, which may explain why it's less popular.


    Based on some new findings, you may want to take a second look. The black raspberry's darker skin means it contains significantly higher levels of cancer-fighting anthocyanins than do red raspberries — plus a host of other cancer-fighting phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and acids.


    Black raspberries boast a high antioxidant value — essential for reversing free radical damage — and especially valuable for preventing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.


    In addition, the black raspberry has anti-inflammatory and neuro-protective benefits. As you'll see in the next couple of minutes, the best advice is run, don't walk, to make these berries part of your diet.


    The most exciting benefits identified so far involve colorectal cancer and esophageal cancer. Colon cancer is one of the most common types in the U.S. — and one of the most deadly. Among cancers it ranks second for the number of people killed. An estimated 143,000 people will learn they have colon cancer in 2012.


    Early findings suggest that black raspberries may be a potent way of preventing this disease.

Kept mice from developing cancer

    Researchers at University of Illinois-Chicago and Ohio State University genetically engineered mice to develop either: (1) intestinal tumors outright, or (2) colitis, an inflammatory colon disease known to increase your risk of colorectal cancer.²

    Then for 12 weeks they fed all the mice a high-risk diet low in calcium and vitamin D, and high in saturated fat. Some of the mice were also randomly assigned to receive a large part of their calories, about 10 percent, from freeze-dried black raspberry powder.

    The results were astounding.

    Of the mice engineered to get tumors, the black raspberry powder slashed the number of new tumors by 45 percent, and the number of total tumors by 60 percent.

    Among the mice engineered to get colitis, black raspberry powder significantly reduced the number of new and total tumors by 50 percent.

    This is especially significant considering these mice were engineered to become diseased.

    This study began with the premise that raspberries, black raspberries and blueberries all contain varying amounts of special antioxidants believed to have cancer-fighting characteristics, as well as strong anti-inflammatory and neuro-protective qualities.

    But these researchers also suspect that the black raspberry's ability to fight inflammation through your whole body may be linked to its specific ability to fight cancer, and perhaps also other diseases of aging as well.

    As you probably know, ongoing inflammation can wreak havoc on your body.

    In the case of colitis, the prolonged irritation can permanently damage sensitive digestive tissue — causing it to mutate and become cancerous.

    A different study, in 2001, showed that freeze-dried berries stopped cellular changes that can lead to cancer. That study used animal cells grown in lab dishes.

Benefits for esophageal cancer, too

    Two studies conducted in 2009 — one in cells in lab dishes and one with mice — found that the compounds in black raspberries can prevent and stop the proliferation of esophageal tumor cells. The esophagus is the tube that leads from your throat down to your stomach.

    The findings appear to confirm a 2007 pilot study on patients with Barrett's esophagus. Barrett's esophagus is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It's a pre-malignant condition linked to a 30- to 40-fold increased risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma — a particularly deadly cancer that few people survive. The five-year survival rate is 15%.

    When the drug companies try to scare you into taking acid reflux drugs, they often mention that acid reflux (GERD) can lead to cancer. They're right about that much, although they've got the wrong answer.

    Barrett's esophagus results in chronic injury to the esophagus… and can lead to key changes in the lipids, proteins, and genes of these tissues.

    Laura Kresty, PhD, the study's author, chose black raspberries for three reasons:

1. Several studies suggest black raspberries protect against a number of cancers.
2. Black raspberries are known to have especially high levels of several compounds with potential anticancer properties (antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and anthocyanins)
3. Black raspberries are among the most extensively studied fruits in animal-based studies.

    Every day for six months, twenty patients received either 32g (females) or 45g (males) of freeze-dried black raspberries. Forty-five grams is equivalent to about 2 cups of whole black raspberries. But the freeze-dried form is concentrated and packs a bigger punch in a smaller volume, plus you can mix it with water.

    Biopsies, urine, and blood samples were evaluated at the beginning of the study, at 12 weeks and at 26 weeks. Dramatic changes occurred in two urinary markers for global oxidative stress, a measure of the body's total oxidative stress.

    In addition, the black raspberry treatment increased a protein important in tissue detoxification, GST-π, in 37% of these patients. This is especially promising, given the increased oxidative damage patients with Barrett's esophagus experience in their esophageal tissue.

    The one downside was that these patients gained an average 3.9 pounds during the six months, which could be connected to the additional 200 calories per day of the fruit in their diet.

    The researchers were quick to point out that this could also be normal weight gain. Don't take a chance. You should pair the additional 200 calories with additional exercise or reduced intake of other foods, to ensure weight gain doesn't turn the raspberry powder into a net loser for your health.

    I want to make clear that black raspberries aren't a treatment for acid reflux as such. That's another topic. But they may be an important way to reduce the damage it does.

    Next question...

Can you tell a black raspberry from a blackberry?

    Black raspberries (Rubus occidentalis) share their genus Rubus with both red raspberries and blackberries. Collectively, they're often called brambles.

    In the wild, black raspberries create extensive thorny thickets, which is why they're sometimes considered weeds. They grow like crazy where I live, and can be a nuisance.

    Especially if you're eating your black raspberries fresh, you may need a little help differentiating blackberries from black raspberries. They look similar, so it's hard to tell unless you're a horticulturist. These tips may help…

    The botanical distinction between raspberry (either red or black) is really in the fruit.

    Raspberries leave a little white core behind when you pull the fruit off the bush. Blackberry cores come off with the fruit.

    Why not try some today? Pop them into your mouth fresh. Or add them to a smoothie.

For greater convenience...

    I think the whole, fresh fruit should be eaten when practical. But black raspberries aren't found all that often in stores. Besides that, they're not in season all year long. And eating a therapeutic amount of them — about two cups — every single day is out of the question.

    A quick search of the Internet provides you with two other options, which incidentally get rid of the seediness problem too, if you're sensitive to that.

    One option that addresses both calories and convenience is to take a black raspberry supplement. Secondly, you can take it in freeze-dried powder form, like the one the researchers used in the studies above.

    Both options allow you to take more concentrated amounts, but supplements will generally contain less fructose than the powder, and therefore fewer calories.

    Our knowledge of black raspberries is in its early stages, and I'm sure we'll learn more as time goes by. But already it seems clear you can't go wrong by adding them to your diet, as long as you watch out for the weight-gain angle.

    All the most common and popular berries — strawberries, blueberries and blackberries as well as raspberries — have tremendous health benefits. Eat each one while it's in season -- and during the off-season, too, if they're available and you can afford them. While almost no one can eat two cups of black raspberries a day, many people should be able to eat at least ONE of these fruits almost every day.

    It's essential to buy organic because large amounts of chemicals are used in growing berries the conventional way. I wish I could tell you better news, but it's a fact that the conventional form of these fruits is likely to be laden with poisons.

Star Wars Night is TONIGHT vs T-Bolts! Big Train Fall to Rockville; BT Help Raise over 2 Tons of Food for Manna

TONIGHT is Star Wars Night! Come Out Early for a Meet-And-Greet Picnic

This game isn't a long, long time ago or in a galaxy far, far away. It's TONIGHT right down the street at Povich Field. Come to the first Star Wars Night at tonight's game against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts to see characters both good and evil roaming the grounds! Be there at 6:00 when the gates open and buy a ticket to the Davis Family Picnic Pavilion! You don't need to be part of a big group to use the pavilion! You can buy tickets for you and your family that will allow you to meet Darth Vader and more! Tickets include meeting the characters, admission to the game, and a voucher good for one hot dog, one bag of chips, and one drink at the Home Run Cafe. Make sure you show up early as Disney Night and Super Hero Night, our first events of this kind, were a huge success! If you would like to reserve your spot now, click here!

Late Rally Not Enough as Big Train Fall 8-7

Michael Bass went 2-for-3 while raising his on base percentage to over .400. A late rally was not enough last night as the Big Train lost to the Rockville Express 8-7. The loss was the team's second in their last 10 contests. Cameron Cuneo (UC Santa Barbara) took the mound for the Big Train and kept the Express bats quiet for the first two innings, allowing the Big Train to take a 2-0 lead on base knocks from Hunter Renfroe (first inning, Mississippi State) and Michael Bass (second inning, UNC Wilmington). The heat and humidity forced Cuneo to exit early, though he gave up only two earned runs while striking out five over 3.2 innings. Cuneoturned the game over to Jordan Gross (Tulane) in the fourth, andGross did his best to keep clean in a sticky situation. Despite giving up no earned runs, Gross found himself down 7-2 by the end of the fourth due to miscues by the Big Train defense. However,Gross would buckle down over the next two innings, giving only an unearned run. Gross's persistence paid off, as the offense was able to propel the team back within striking distance in the sixth, as Avondre Bollar (San Diego State) and Bass picked up RBIs on a home run and a single, respectively.  Cole Norton (St. Mary's (CA)) crossing the plate on Bass'ssingle pulled the team back within three, and the offense wasn't done just yet. Colin Kish (Florida Southern) would drive in two more runs in the eighth inning to bring the Big Train back to within one run, hammering a double deep to left field. Though the rest of the lineup couldn't bring home Kishfrom third base, the team still had one last shot at tying the game headed into the ninth inning. After drawing a leadoff walk, Norton would work his way around the bases in the top of the ninth, eventually scoring with two outs to tie the game at seven. However, the bullpen would not be able to force the game into extra innings, as the Express walked off on a bases-loaded groundball that managed to sneak through the infield winning the game 8-7. Look for the Big Train to bounce back tomorrow night against the Takoma-Silver Spring Thunderbolts as they host the first game of a home-road split. The Big Train will look to improve their season record to 3-0 against the T-Bolts. Be sure to come to the park early for Star Wars Night Game Notes:     - Last night's box score and play-by-play can be viewed here. - After drawing two walks last night, leadoff hitter Michael Bass now has an on-base percentage over .400. Bass's production out of the 1-hole has paid huge dividends for the Big Train this season as he's scored 12 times in the last 10 games. - Hunter Renfroe made his second start this season behind the plate last night, giving Cole Norton a chance to get the start in center field.Norton responded to the role well, scoring two key runs in the Big Train's rally. - Despite the loss the Big Train still sit one game ahead of the Alexandria Aces for fourth place in the standings. The team will look to gain ground on the third-place River Dogs tomorrow night in their home game against the Thunderbolts.

Big Train Help Raise Two Tons of Food for Manna!

Big Train players participating in yesterday's challenge. The Bethesda Big Train, Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts and Rockville Express were at six Giant Food locations yesterday collecting nonperishable food items for Manna Food in the 3rd Annual Feed the Hungry Challenge! The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts raised 1,863 pounds, Rockville Express 1,621 pounds and Bethesda Big Train 1,356 pounds, totaling 4,840 pounds of food our neighbors in need. Congratulations to the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts! Ed Drijas will be presenting the Thunderbolts a trophy at tonight's Big Train home game at Povich Field. Thanks to everyone for your support!

Home Game TONIGHT vs Rockville! Big Train Earn 11th Win in 12 Games; Manna Food Drive TODAY

Big Train Earn 11th Win in Past 12 Games; Look to Stay On Top Tonight at Home vs. Rockville

Ben Griset went 5.2 innings giving up only three hits and one earned run. It was another great night of baseball on Friday, as the Big Train captured their sixth consecutive win. The Big Train defeated the Southern Maryland Nationals 9-1 as Ben Griset (St. Mary's (CA)) picked up win number three on the season. Griset went 5.2 innings, giving up only three hits and one earned run. The key to the game was keeping the Nationals' bats quiet early so that the Big Train offense could get hot in the middle of the game. Griset answered the call by striking out seven. Griset was rewarded for his efforts in the third inning, as the offense struck for six runs including five off home runs from Hunter Renfroe(Mississippi State) and Tucker Tobin (George Mason). Michael Bass(UNC Wilmington) also contributed an RBI single to give Griset a 6-0 lead headed into the bottom of the third. After a Nationals run in the bottom of the inning, the offense responded by tacking on two more on four hits. Brendan Hendriks (San Francisco) collected an RBI on a single to score Bass, and Tobin would follow that up with a bases-loaded single to drive in Renfroe to extend the lead to seven. Eric Martin (Tennessee) relieved Griset in the sixth and kept the bats quiet for the next two innings, striking out four while giving up only one hit. Brennan Middleton would score in the eighth inning to add on to the already-substantial lead, giving Will Resnick (High Point) an eight-run cushion as he came on to pitch the ninth inning. Resnick was able to coast through the final three outs, giving up no runs and only one hit, securing the 9-1 victory. The Big Train will look to move into second place tonight as they host the Rockville Express at Povich Field at 7:30 pm! Come see if the Big Train can even the season series and win their seventh straight! Tickets for tonight's game are only $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Tickets can be purchased here or at the gate! Speaking of discounted tickets, SEASON PASSES ARE NOW JUST $65! Make sure to go online or to buy yours at the gate at the new price for the second half of the Big Train season! I Click here to purchase your's now!    Game Notes - Click here for last night's box score and play-by-play.  - With last night's win, the Big Train are now 9-1 in their last 10 games. This after a 4-9 start; the team has really been able to come together and make a terrific - After last night's multi-hit performance, Michael Bass now has hits in 7 of his last 8 games including four games of 2 or more hits. - Ben Griset has now moved back into the league-lead in ERA (amongst qualified players) with a 2.02 and is also tied for third in wins (3).

TODAY: Big Train Participate in Manna Food's 3rd Annual Feed the Hungry Challenge!

Big Train players participating in last year's challenge. Help the Big Train and Manna Food fight hunger today at the 3rd Annual Feed the Hungry Challenge! Stop by Giant Food at either 7142 Arlington Road or 10400 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda and donate nonperishable food this Saturday, July 7th, between 10AM and 2PM. Big Train players, staff, Homer, and Bunt will be on hand to collect the food. The Big Train will be handing out one-night family passes to anyone who donates two items or more to the cause! The Rockville Express have emerged victorious in the first two years of this incredible event. Homer wants to come out on top, so make sure that you do your part to help the Big Train get in the win column! For more information, please click here.

High school boy invents pancreatic cancer breakthrough

15-Year-Old Finds a Way to
Detect Pancreatic Cancer Early

    What better way to celebrate the 4^th of July than with news of a young American who may have just saved tens of thousands of lives — per year? His invention could mean effective early screening for pancreatic cancer, a disease for which no early detection test is now available.


    Legendary Apple CEO Steve Jobs put pancreatic cancer in the spotlight when he died of it last fall. At the time, news reports talked about scores of complicated treatments and diagnostic approaches.


    At a staggering cost (for most of us) of $75,000, Jobs had his entire genome decoded, along with the genome of his cancer, in hopes of finding a cure. He was one of the first people to do so. His bold, experimental effort didn't save his life. This complex genetic approach does guide the treatment of certain cancers, but not pancreatic treatment at this point.


    Now -- too late for Steve Jobs — a fifteen-year-old boy may have developed a simple yet effective way to find pancreatic cancer early, when it's far more treatable. It's a $3 detection method dreamed up by a Maryland high school student named Jack Andraka. Keep reading because this could be major lifesaver. . .


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One of the hardest cancers to diagnose

    As many as 44,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. The disease tends to spread fast and kill quickly.

    The median survival time following diagnosis in only five months. This means half the victims die within five months of learning they have the disease. A paltry 4% of patients make it past the five-year mark, once diagnosed. All told, about 37,000 people are dying of pancreatic cancer every year. Few things are more frightening than being told you have this disease.

    Current standard treatments for pancreatic cancer consist mostly of the typical allopathic arsenal — chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. They're even more ineffective than with other types of cancer because pancreatic cancer is usually advanced by the time a diagnosis is made. At that point, a cure is rarely possible.

    Pancreatic cancer has traditionally been tough to diagnose. Most cases surface after a patient reports weight loss, abdominal pain, and chronic itching. Jaundice is another symptom.

    Sometimes it takes months before a patient becomes alarmed enough about the symptoms to seek a doctor's help. And if the doctor recognizes the symptoms as possible pancreatic cancer, an imaging test is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis (meaning a CT scan, an MRI, or an ultrasound).

    If the imaging test shows a mass on the pancreas, most doctors order a biopsy. Till now, that's been the only way to tell for sure if the problem is pancreatic cancer. Early detection hasn't been possible.

    One problem is that the current blood test to detect pancreatic cancer isn't effective till patients are in the advanced stages of the disease. The test looks for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA 19-9, but CEA and CA levels don't spike until the game is just about over.

    Endoscopic ultrasound has also been used for early detection, but it's an invasive, expensive procedure. Because of that, it's only used for those at high risk, such as someone who's had multiple family members diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

This shaggy-haired high schooler
may have reinvented cancer diagnosis

    Fifteen-year old Jack Andraka's test for pancreatic cancer costs a tiny fraction of current accepted tests. It's also 168 times faster, 400 times more sensitive, and 100 times more selective than the closest thing now available. And by the way, it's 26,000 times less expensive — and it doesn't give false positives or false negatives.

    In a single-blinded study of 100 patient samples, Andraka's test gave a 100 percent correct diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

    Most importantly, the test can diagnose the cancer at an early stage, before it spreads.

    Andraka calls it the "Non-Invasive Pancreatic Cancer Detection Tool." Using simple diabetic test paper and a $50 meter from Home Depot, Andraka made a basic dip-stick sensor test. He focused specifically on early-stage pancreatic cancer after losing an uncle to the disease.

    To get the test to work, Andraka dipped the filter paper into a solution of carbon nanotubes, which he calls the "superheroes of material science." More formally, he describes them as "hollow cylinders with walls the thickness of a single atom."

    These nanotube "cylinders" are coated with a specific antibody designed to attach to the protein or virus you're testing for. In this case, they bind to a protein that's associated with pancreatic cancer cells.

    The electrical meter tells the technician whether there's been a shift in the space between the nanotubes. This is important, because a shift only happens when the targeted protein or virus comes into contact with the antibodies on the surface of the nanotubes.

    Andraka says the test looks for "minute changes in conductivity to detect targeted viruses or antigens faster, cheaper and more accurately than today's standard diagnostics."

This could be the beginning of
major changes in cancer diagnosis

    For his groundbreaking efforts, Andraka won the $75,000 Gordon E. Moore award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (think of it as the world's largest high school science research competition). He beat out over 1,500 students from 70 counties.

    Andraka says the idea just came to him one day in Biology class. He also points out that blood tests are the only effective way to diagnose this disease in routine screenings. The sensors employed in his test are only three bucks, and up to ten tests can be performed on each strip.

    Naturally, he's being pursued by multiple companies like Quest Diagnostics, all of them extending offers to license or commercialize his invention (which he's in the process of patenting). Andraka is also slated to speak in front of Congress about the need for funding to support pancreatic cancer research. And soon, he'll submit his idea for publication with the American Association for Cancer Research.

    It's very possible Andraka's test will change the way cancer and other fatal diseases are diagnosed. It could even change the way they're treated. Already, Andraka says his test can be used for early diagnosis of lung and ovarian cancer as well — two more diseases where early diagnosis plays a major role in survival rates.

    Just think … all this is possible thanks to the efforts of a shaggy-haired, forward thinking teen who loves science.

Avoiding Muscle Cramps

(Phys, August 1999) - A cramp is an involuntary, violent, and painful spasm of a muscle. Especially performing intense exercise, men and women are likely to experience cramps mostly in the calf muscles, hamstrings, quadriceps, and small muscles of the feet and hands.

Clarifying the type of cramp provides the first clue to the underlying physiological causes and subsequent treatment. A true cramp, or "charley horse," is most common. These cramps are most frequent in people with well-developed muscles. Heat cramps develop when a person performs intense muscular work in a hot environment and perspires profusely. During heat exposure, electrolytes (SODIUM, POTASSIUM, CHLORIDE, and other MINERALS) are lost in perspiration. Muscle pain and spasms may occur, especially in the calves, if these electrolytes are not replaced. Intermittent, painful spasms of the muscles, called tetany, are usually attributed to low CALCIUM levels, but low potassium levels have also produced tetany-like symptoms in individuals. Low blood MAGNESIUM levels have also resulted in tremors and seizures.

Until the 1950s cramps were commonly thought to be psychosomatic, occurring primarily in people who were tense, anxious, and insecure, and who fought feelings of anger and guilt. Today, with these wives' tales behind us, researchers suspect that cramps result from overactivity of the nerves sending messages to specific muscle groups. In addition, changes in the fluid outside the cells, such as occurs in dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, or alteration of intracellular metabolites, such as enzymes, can initiate and terminate muscle cramps.

General recommendations for preventing muscle cramps include drinking plenty of water and fluids, consuming a high-CARBOHYDRATE, NUTRIENT-dense diet, maintaining optimal MINERAL and ELECTROLYTE intake, and frequently and gently stretching the troublesome muscles and/or warming up and cooling down before and after exercise.

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Discount Tickets for TONIGHT's Game; Big Train Sweep Doubleheader, Now Just 2GB

Health Night Rescheduled for TONIGHT at 7:30: Adults/Kids just $5/$3, and FREE PROGRAMS!

Bo Logan will pitch for the Big Train tonight vs. Baltimore.  Come out to Povich Field for a rare Tuesday night game as the Big Train face the Baltimore Redbirds in a make-up game from Saturday night. The Redbirds are ahead of the Big Train by just two games at the top of the standings and the Big Train look to close the gap. Because the game was rescheduled, tickets will be just $5 for adultsand $3 for kids! Also, come out to the park tonight and get a FREE Big Train Souvenir Program! Bo Logan (Florida Atlantic) will take the mound for the Big Train tonight.Logan leads the league in ERA with a meager 1.04.

Big Train Sweep Rare Day Doubleheader vs. Braves: After Winning 10 of Last 11, Just 2 Games Out of 1st

Avondre Bollar came up big in both games yesterday vs. Herndon. Due to the lack of electricity at Povich Field, yesterday's doubleheader became an afternoon affair. However, the heat didn't bother the Big Train as they rolled to a sweep of the Herndon Braves. Cameron Cuneo (UC Santa Barbra) took the mound for the first game of the doubleheader and pitched six strong innings while striking out eight.  "If we throw strikes our hitters are going to get it done," said Cuneo.  The offense certainly did get it done. The Big Train scored six runs in that game, all coming in a huge third inning that was highlighted by a two-RBI double by Hunter Renfroe (Mississippi State).  The big inning combined with solid pitching from Cuneo and Robbie Kidd (Tennessee) would be enough for the Big Train to take the first match-up by a score of 6-3.  Jon Carlson (High Point) would make his home debut in the second half of the doubleheader, and kept the Big Train in the game until the bats could come alive. Carlson struck out four over four innings of work and gave up no earned runs.  "My change-up was working pretty well today," said Carlson. "Pitching in front of the fans is always nice and it's nice pitching at home to get that home field [advantage]."  A Colin Kish (Florida Southern) home run in the bottom of the second tied the score at one before the offense really started going in the third inning. Adam Barry (Cal State Northridge), Renfroe, and Kish would all reach base to start the inning, followed by a two-run triple from Cole Norton (St Mary's (CA)) to give the Big Train a 4-1 lead. Norton then scored on a single from Avondre Bollar (San Diego State) to make the score 5-1. The Big Train would end up scoring five more runs in the next two innings, giving Jordan Gross (Tulane) plenty of cushion in the top of the seventh. Gross shut down the Braves bats, capping off a 11-1 victory for the two-game sweep. "We're rolling right now," said Avondre Bollar. "We have good pitching ... we're hitting now so we're going to be fine." The Big Train will look to continue their hot streak tonight as they host the Baltimore Redbirds at Povich Field. Come see if Brendan Hendriks can continue his hot streak against Baltimore (two home runs against the Redbirds this year) and the Big Train can move closer to first place. Tickets can be purchased at the gate! Game Notes: - Avondre Bollar had a day for himself at the plate. Normally a designated hitter or late-game pinch hitter, Bollar started in both legs of yesterday's double header and came with clutch hits in both games. "I was just swinging at whatever I thought I could hit, and it worked out," said Bollar. - With the wins, the Big Train are now just two games out of first place and have a chance to make it a single game because they face the first place Redbirds in tonight's game.