GeezerJocks
By Sean Callahan
The people, places and things in the news in Masters sports include Dara Torres and her impact on Masters swimmer, Jennifer Lopez and the Nautica Malibu Triathlon, Barack Obama and the Chicago Big Shoulders Swim and the still angry John McEnroe. . . . keep reading...>>
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Like the Ancient Greeks
By Sean Callahan
Jim Hart, a personal trainer and amateur bodybuilder, let us know about a nude duathlon, which was held in June at the Sunny Rest Resort in Palmertown, Pa., in the Pocono Mountains. The race is part of a series of "clothing-optional" duathlons, 5ks and triathlons that are professionally run with timing chips and well-marked courses, according to Hart, who is 48. He said more than half of the competitors were 40 or older. Among the races in the series are the Running Bare 5k in Crossville, Tenn., and the Bare Hare Sprint Triathlon in Reidsville, N.C. Hart noted that the organizers of the events are named -- wait for it -- Gary and Sue Butts. On a more serious note, Hart pointed out that at the original Olympics in Greece the competitors wore no clothing. Of course, that would be impossible today. Where would you put the Nike swoosh? . . . keep reading...>>
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NSGA launches new event
By Sean Callahan
THE NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES ASSOCIATION announced that Rhode Island will host the new National Senior Games Championship Festival and Euflexxa Hockey Championships in 2008, 2010 and 2012. The 2008 event will take place Sept. 4-7. In addition to ice hockey, the championship festival will feature billiards, pickleball, team bowling and weightlifting. The various competitions will take place in and around Providence, R.I. To compete in the 2008 National Senior Games Championship Festival and Euflexxa Hockey Championships, athletes must be age 50 or older by Jan. 1, 2008. Qualifying is not necessary. The festival is slated to take place in 2009, 2011 and 2013 in Florida. For more information, visit www.nsga.com. . . . keep reading...>>
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Old tennis players never die...
By Sean Callahan
IN THE LAST ISSUE, we talked about John McEnroe contemplating retirement from the Outback Champions Series, a senior tennis tour. Now we have more news: Pete Sampras, 36, is planning to play two senior tennis events on the BlackRock Tour of Champions, one in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and another in London. "Today, or 10 years from now, if I'm on the tennis court, I'll still want to play well and win. When you're out there, even though it's now a different sort of arena, you want to win," said the 14-time Grand Slam champion. Not a bad summary of the Masters sports philosophy -- for such a young man. . . . keep reading...>>
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Mac attack!
By Sean Callahan
In a recent tournament on the Outback Champions Series, a senior tennis tour founded by Jim Courier, the legendary John McEnroe faced Todd Martin in the finals and lost 6-3, 6-1. "If there was any doubt in my mind I was going to come back, it was erased in the last hour and 15 minutes," said McEnroe, according to Seth Soffian of the Fort Myers News-Press. The seven-time Grand Slam winner has said this will be his last year of competitive tennis. "I've taken pride over the years trying to remain as competitive as possible, trying to maintain my fitness level so I can attempt to compete against seemingly younger and younger opponents," McEnroe said. It seems the problem may not be with McEnroe but the format of the Outback Champions Series. McEnroe, 49, was playing against a 37-year-old Martin. The genius of Masters sports is placing competitors in five-year age groups. If somebody launched a professional tennis tour for the 50+ crowd, McEnroe could look forward to feeling much younger next year. . . . keep reading...>>
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Ambassador Navratilova
By Sean Callahan
News about people, places and things in Masters sports...File this under D for "Duh": Masters athletes will not be surprised by the results of a recent study by Cambridge University, which found that people who don't smoke, eat their veggies, exercise regularly and drink alcohol in moderation tend to live an extra 14 years on average. What's been ignored in most press coverage of the study is that those extra 14 years are more likely to be lived in good health -- not in a nursing home -- because if you keep using your body and treating it right, it will, in turn, stay useful and treat you right. . . . keep reading...>>
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Still winning
By Sean Callahan
In this first edition of the "GeezerJocks" column, editor Sean Callahan catches up with the former GeezerJocks of the Year, Bill Collins and Ruben Gonzalez. . . . keep reading...>>
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