34TH AND MADISON: LAIRD HAMILTON DROPS IN ON US!

Max Klinger and Stevland Wilson — May 16, 2008, 11:26 AM

It could be argued that no one has changed the face of a sport more in the last twenty years than Laird Hamilton has for surfing. The man reinvented how surfers look at and access the ocean. For starters, he and some friends invented the tow-in, which in one winter seemingly doubled the number of waves that could be surfed in the world (it all cumulated in this "Oh, my God" wave in 2001 from the movie Riding Giants). He's also been instrumental in pushing stand-up paddling, foilboarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing and long distance paddling (watch more here and here). Seriously, if there's something that can be done in the ocean, you can bet Laird has done it and made it better in some way.

In addition to being a hell-man in the water, Laird has also been a major ambassador of his sport, spreading his love and respect for surfing around the world—and even in our offices! He recently dropped by to talk about the launch of his new clothing line Wonderwall, which offers surf and skate-inspired duds for less than ten bucks (by the same people that did Stephon Marbury's Starbury line). He also talked sports in general, his thoughts on the greatest living athlete and surfing Easter Island with Obama.

We're not ashamed to admit it: we think Laird rules the school. So let's just say it was a happy day around here.

THE WEEK THAT WAS ... BROMANTIC

Mag.Com Staff — May 16, 2008, 4:44 PM

So we had some interesting stuff happening this week. For instance, the quarter machine in the lounge just dispensed 13 M&M's. On one quarter. That's unprecedented. We had some other unprecedented things happen this week, and it all revolved around some form of bromance.

MMA SUBMISSION: KUNG FU PANDA

Ryan Hockensmith — May 16, 2008, 4:12 PM

For pretty much the entire existence of MMA, fans have clamored for a movie to come along to capture the sport for mainstream audiences. And though it's not exactly pulling Iron Man box office, David Mamet's Redbelt, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 25, has been the best of the bunch to come out of Hollywood. With the first MMA pic out, now die-hards can turn their attention to yearning for the next monumental movie moment— an animated feature about a blackbelt panda.

THE ULTIMATE RACE

Luke Cyphers — May 16, 2008, 3:37 PM

WHICH WILL END THE WORLD FIRST: GLOBAL WARMING OR PEAK OIL?

We thought it might be fun to run the two doomsday scenarios head to head, based on a mostly random reading of current events. What can we say? We like competition.

THIS WEEK: BEAR TRAP!

BONUS DREAM DATE:
HANK STEINBRENNER AND JOHNNY UTAH

Chris Sprow — May 16, 2008, 1:02 PM

With the stunning and brilliant news that Point Break might be given new life—17 years later!—as a sequel, it was a perfect time for Johnny Utah to swing through New York. Utah is irrepressible and the Yankees are oppressed, in last place in their division at the latest point in a season since 1975.

So it was good that Utah ran into Hank Steinbrenner as the new-boss-same-as-thee-old-boss tried to figure what to do.

SECOND LOOK: LET 'EM PLAY

Mag.com Staff — May 16, 2008, 12:45 PM

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled in favor of Oscar Pistorious today, overriding an IAAF ruling that banned the double-amputee sprinter from competing against able-bodied athletes for a spot in the olympics. Pistorious was featured in Eric Adelson's cover story for the May 5 issue of ESPN The Magazine, which discusses how disabled athletes are reaching new heights with the help of advancements in prosthetics. To go along with the feature, The Mag also profiled a number of these "bionic" athletes in this photo gallery.

A special E:60 video as well if you click through.

REPORTING FROM THE JOCK-OSPHERE

Ryan Corazza — May 16, 2008, 12:21 PM

[Ed's Note: In the long view of the sports media industry, it's still a relatively new concept that athletes, agents, executives and yes, mascots, could circumvent us and tell their own stories…instantly, on blogs. We say, fantastic—but we're going to cover what they're writing.]

LUNCH LINKS

The Airplane Quoting Brigade — May 16, 2008, 11:44 AM

Pop culture rec for Friday: HA! and HA! and HA!

REPORTING FROM ... THE OTHER OLYMPIC GAMES

Lisa Costantini — May 16, 2008, 11:52 AM

Vancouver will be home to the 2010 Winter Olympics, but you wouldn't know it by being there. Where there should be banners emblazoned with the Olympic rings and rotating ads displaying Bode Miller shilling for his sponsors, all you see are chalkboards scribbled with Stanley Cup playoff matchups. Uh, it's good to see those Canadians have their priorities in order.

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE:
BIG BROWN

Mag.com Staff — May 16, 2008, 11:30 AM

Derby winner Big Brown is the prohibitive favorite to win the Preakness tomorrow. If he does, he'll be the favorite to take the Belmont and capture that ever-elusive Triple Crown. But, as it turns out, it's not really up to him, it's up to you.

Can you lead Big Brown to the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978?

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE: BIG BROWN

POLITICS AND SPORTS: NEVER SAY NEVER?

Ted Bauer — May 16, 2008, 11:10 AM

[Ed's note: Think this is off-topic? Naw. We're all about politics over here. Check out Presidential Fantasy League! ]

John Edwards goes on Today and flatly rules out running with Obama. Cool—and we generally believe it. But hey, life (and sports!) is littered with people saying one thing, then doing another when the opportunity arises. Consider: A-Rod opting out and "not returning" to the Yankees. Bobby Petrino's entire career. And heck, most people on this list.

FIRST PERSON: TEACHERS' DAY

Ted Bauer — May 16, 2008, 10:24 AM

Thing you didn't know No. 1: it's the end of Teacher Appreciation Week. No. 2: it's Teachers' Day in Malaysia. And numero tres: I used to be a teacher. This means very little to you, because you don't know me, unless you're one of the handful of people that does. I taught at JW Oates Elementary School (if I'm gonna bold "Kobe," I'm gonna bold that) in Houston from 2003 to 2005, and now I work for ESPN. Odd. But when I was teaching, my love of sports didn't abate. One story of appreciation, if you click through.

BREAKING: CHINA LOOKING FORWARD TO HUMILIATING DEFEAT IN BEIJING

Anthony Tao — May 16, 2008, 10:49 AM

Poll in today's China Daily insert, The Olympian:

Yao Ming will face Kobe Bryant in the opening match of the Olympic basketball competition on August 10. By what margin (number of points) will the new US 'Dream Team' win its opening game against China?

30 points, or more: 42.62%
20 points: 29.51%
10 points: 27.87%

Dream big, China.

SECOND LOOK: SUCKING IT UP

Magazine Staff — May 16, 2008, 10:09 AM

Lakers vs. Jazz Game 6 tonight. Can the Lakers make it back to the Conference Finals? Is it possible to win in Utah ever? Will Laura Lane be there? We know nothing. Well, we know one thing: Kobe's got a bad back, Deron's got a bad bum, and whoever brings it harder probably determines the outcome. That said, take a look at the Magazine's Sucking It Up package on the value of playing through pain and the best athletes at doing just that. E-mail us at editor.espnmag@gmail.com and tell us who YOU think is the best at playing through. We'll publish a few before we get out of here.

CLIP REEL: SPORTS MOVIES

Ted Bauer — May 16, 2008, 10:01 AM

Today in 1929, the first Academy Awards were handed out. Awesome. (Was Kirk Douglas on the red carpet? Probably.) This provides the perfect excuse to dedicate today's "Clip Reel" to the best clips from sports movies ever. This should be fun.

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