As the video below shows, failing and setbacks are part of life.  Ultimately, people are judged by how they respond to setbacks, not the setbacks themselves.  Life = Risk.  Try your best.  Never give up.

The Best Motivational Video

The oldest surviving yo-yo dates back to 500 B.C.  The toys were made of clay, wood or metal.  In the 16 Century, Philippine hunters used rocks with strings attached to hunt animals from trees.  The word “yo-yo” means “come-come” or “return.”

Donald Duncan purchase the Yo-Yo Manufacturing Company based in Santa Barbara, California from Pedro Flores, a Filipino American for $250,000 in 1929.  Although the company did well for many years, sales slowed in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  Duncan paid for a new TV advertising campaign in 1962 that sent sales skyrocketing.  The launch of the Duncan Butterfly was a huge hit.  Duncan ultimately lost his trademark on the word “yo-yo” and several other manufacturers entered the marketplace.

Today, yo-yo contests abound.  In some contests, contestants must perform 25 looping tricks to regulation standards and can only miss one.  Technology improvements have made today’s yo-yo very different from Duncan’s Butterfly.  However, Duncan still sells about 2 out of every 3 yo-yos in the U.S.

Canadian National Champion Jensen Kimmitt wins the the 2010 World Yo-Yo Contest

The most exciting rugby play — “That Try” — by Gareth Edwards came early in the match and helped the Barbarians to a 23 – 11 win.

Cliff Morgan, the announcer, described the try like this, “Kirkpatrick to Williams.  This is great stuff!  Phil Bennett covering chased by Alistair Scown.  Brilliant, oh, that’s brilliant! John Williams, Bryan Williams. Pullin. John Dawes, great dummy. To David, Tom David, the half-way line! Brilliant by Quinnell!  This is Gareth Edwards! A dramatic start! What a score!  Oh that fellow Edwards.”

Edwards was voted “The Greatest Welsh Player of All Time” at a Players’ Association dinner in 2001.

1973 Barbarians vs. The All Blacks — “That Try”

The Catch

10 Biggest and Best Jumps Ever video

During the Minnesota Walleye Opener last weekend, 2-year-old Ella was fishing with her Barbie fishing pole on Round Lake near Randall, Minnesota. With a hook and worm, she had just caught her first fish. She was reeling in the small sunfish when a big muskie swallowed it whole. Suddenly, she had a much bigger fish on her line. With the help of her mom and grandfather, the fish was brought in. The muskie measured 30 inches and weighed 20 pounds.

Ella thought she had caught a shark. After a photo was taken, the fish was released. The Barbie fishing pole survived the experience.

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She’s also known for her charitable work.  Hannah has donated her Olympics winnings of $25,000 and her other prize money since 2008, about $75,000 from some 10 events, to charity.  Her donations help support Kirindon, a Kenyan village of about 60,000.  Hannah’s Gold, an organization she founded in 2008, sells Vermont maple syrup and organic wristbands to raise money for the Kirindon community. Because of these efforts, Kirindon’s residents should have consistent access to clean water by 2011.  To find out more about Hannah’s Gold, visit their website at www.hannahsgold.com

Hannah Teter on the Ski Channel

12. Fort Wayne Mad Ants (NBA D League). Well-designed logo. Also, you gotta like the tag line, “Join the Invasion.” Bonus points for name originality. How many Mad Ants teams do you know?

11. Washington Freedom (Women’s Professional Soccer). The logo communicates “Washington” and “soccer” very quickly. Good use of soccer ball.

10. Miami RedHawks (College). Nothing too clever here, but a very strong logo suggesting that you don’t want to mess with the RedHawks.

9. Detroit Red Wings (NHL). A classic. Simple and yet evocative. Based on the logo of a Canadian team, the Montreal HC, nicknamed the “Winged Wheelers.”

8. Temple Owls (College). A right-in-your-face logo. Fierce.

7. The Big Ten Conference Logo (College). You’ve just added an 11th team (Penn State) to a 10 team conference and you still want to keep the “Big Ten” name. What do you do? You find a creative way to work in the number “11.” Well played.

6. New England Revolution (Major League Soccer). Stylish way to weave the soccer ball into the U.S. flag.

5. Green Bay Packers (NFL). First and only helmet logo in team’s history. It was designed for Lombardi by the team equipment manager Dad Braisher.

4. Milwaukee Brewers (Major League Baseball). The “M” for Milwaukee and the “b” for Brewers make up the design of the baseball glove. Clever.

3. Manchester United (Football — English Premiere League). The logo is derived from the coat of arms of the city of Manchester. Nicknamed “The Red Devils,” a red devil is displayed prominently on the crest.

2. Army Black Knight (College). Intimidating.

1. Hartford Whalers (National Hockey League). Designed by Peter Good. The blue whale’s tail and green “W” create the “H” in negative space (white) representing Hartford.

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What do you think? Did we miss any of the best logos in sports?  What are your favorites?

According to the All Blacks website,

More than any aspect of Maori culture, this complex dance is an expression of the passion, vigour and identity of the race. Haka is not merely a past time of the Maori but was also a custom of high social importance in the welcoming and entertainment of visitors. Tribal reputation rose and fell on their ability to perform the haka (Hamana Mahuika)

New Zealand vs. Tonga with both teams performing their pre-game dance

Scott Willoughby of the Denver Post caught up with White and his coach Bud Keene,

Keene, the personal coach this season for reigning Olympic and X Games gold medalist Shaun White, believes the snowboarder’s new double McTwist 1260 is the hardest halfpipe trick ever performed. In addition to incorporating another 180-degree spin to the double-cork 1080, the McTwist flip is done to the heel — or blind — side, making it impossible to spot the landing on the 22-foot halfpipe wall until the last possible moment.

And although White has not been severely injured performing the move, he confesses to hitting his head hard enough on at least three occasions to warrant replacing his helmet.

“I was scared. I’ve never admitted that, but I was scared to do this trick,” he said. “It’s really intimidating. It’s such a commitment right off the bat, and to not know what the outcome is going to be before you go into it just takes all your energy and focus, and I’m just happy to have that trick now. It’s the best trick I’ve ever done.”

Read complete Denver Post article.

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