Usain Bolt blends speed, need to dance

August 21, 2008

BEIJING — Ding Dong must love this.

Recent columns

• Usain Bolt blends speed, need to dance

  August 21, 2008

  Ding Dong must love this.

• 3-sport Olympian conquers demons

  August 20, 2008

  BEIJING—Terrorized by a stalker, depressed, seeing a psychologist, dreading medication, selling her house to avoid bankruptcy, seeing the guy placed under house arrest, having him turn up anyhow, fearing murder or rape, hearing he was arrested again, testifying at his trial, watching him go to prison for five years …

• 3-sport Olympian conquers demons

  August 20, 2008

  Terrorized by a stalker, depressed, seeing a psychologist, dreading medication, selling her house to avoid bankruptcy, seeing the guy placed under house arrest, having him turn up anyhow, fearing murder or rape, hearing he was arrested again, testifying at his trial, watching him go to prison for five years …

• Mike Downey: U.S., China play different kind of hardball

  August 19, 2008

  BEIJING — Our relations with China were nearly broken at the plate.

• There's no limit for Rafael Nadal

  August 18, 2008

  BEIJING — Tall and tan and young and handsome, the boy from España goes walking. And each girl he passes goes, "Aaah."

• There's no limit for Nadal

  August 17, 2008

  Tall and tan and young and handsome, the boy from España goes walking. And each girl he passes goes, "Aaah."

• Sprinter Usain Bolt puts on a show

  August 17, 2008

  BEIJING — One flew through the Bird's Nest.

• Bolt wins, but could he have run faster?

  August 16, 2008

  One flew through the Bird's Nest.

• Magical journey for Torres

  August 16, 2008

  Dara Torres was born on April 15, 1967, two weeks before a blessed event at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas -- the wedding of singer Elvis Presley and his bride, Priscilla.

• Magical journey for swimmer Torres

  August 16, 2008

  BEIJING — Dara Torres was born on April 15, 1967, two weeks before a blessed event at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas — the wedding of singer Elvis Presley and his bride, Priscilla.

• Iraqi sprinter's dream elusive ... just like her

  August 15, 2008

  She isn't coming.

• The reality is, it's all just show biz

  August 14, 2008

  BEIJING—When he was 5, a cute boy from Southern California by the name of Nuufolau Joel Seanoa—now a 29-year-old pro wrestler known as "Samoa Joe"—performed a Polynesian dance at the Opening Ceremony of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

• The 2008 Olympics makes you wonder: Is it real or is it ...

  August 13, 2008

  When he was 5, a cute boy from Southern California by the name of Nuufolau Joel Seanoa—now a 29-year-old pro wrestler known as "Samoa Joe"—performed a Polynesian dance at the Opening Ceremony of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

• Gold rush continues

  August 12, 2008

  BEIJING — "Did you do it for Michael?"

• Michael Phelps continues the chase

  August 11, 2008

  BEIJING — Michael Phelps, half man, half chlorine, continued his quest to become the aqua king of the world. He ran into some unexpected trouble Monday morning, but with a 32-year-old teammate, Jason Lezak, saving the day, the 4-x-100 freestyle relay gold medal went to the U.S. in a neck-and-neck race against time and France. That kept alive Phelps' shot at breaking the record for gold medals in a single Olympic Games. So far he is 2-for-2, with six races left. How good was Lezak's last leg?

• Phelps continues the chase for gold

  August 11, 2008

  Michael Phelps, half man, half chlorine, continued his quest to become the aqua king of the world.

• Olympics quickly marred by tragedy

  August 10, 2008

  JUYONGGUAN, China — You felt peace, serenity, joy.

• The warm glow of the Olympics turns cold too quickly

  August 9, 2008

  You felt peace, serenity, joy.

• Mike Downey: Opening Ceremony spectacular

  August 9, 2008

  BEIJING—A billion Chinese do care.

• Olympics open with full variety of athletes

  August 8, 2008

  BEIJING—He answered to "Frenchy" when he played for the Dodgers and managed the Cubs. He answered to just about anything in his Hollywood acting gigs, playing a bum on "Knight Rider," a cannibal on "Gilligan's Island" and a goon in the Riddler's mob on an episode of " Batman."

• Games promise mix of fear, hope

  August 8, 2008

  He answered to "Frenchy" when he played for the Dodgers and managed the Cubs. He answered to just about anything in his Hollywood acting gigs, playing a bum on "Knight Rider," a cannibal on "Gilligan's Island" and a goon in the Riddler's mob on an episode of " Batman."

• The Hamms are together again ... in missing out on the 2008 Olympics

  August 7, 2008

  Of all the gym joints in all the world, I had to walk into his?

• Clearing the air on Chicago as 2016 Olympics host

  August 3, 2008

  Next time you hear from me (I hope), it will be from Beijing, which back in the Middle Ages when I was a younger man was known to all of us as Peking (and a duck).

• Mike Downey column

  August 3, 2008

  Next time you hear from me (I hope), it will be from Beijing, which back in the Middle Ages when I was a younger man was known to all of us as Peking (and a duck).

• Ken Griffey Jr. in a Sox uniform? I'm stoked

  August 1, 2008

  I zipped over to the Web sites as fast as my fingers could type Thursday to find out if it was fiction or fact.

• Believe it: Griffey will be great asset

  August 1, 2008

  I zipped over to the Web sites as fast as my fingers could type Thursday to find out if it was fiction or fact.

• Buyer beware: Cubs fans can be rabid

  July 31, 2008

  From the blog of Cubs player Mark DeRosa:

• Peoria's brawlers ready for Wrigley

  July 29, 2008

  Hide the kids. Cover your ears. Guard your face. Here come the Peoria Chiefs!

• Peoria's hitmen roll into Wrigley

  July 29, 2008

  Hide the kids. Cover your ears. Guard your face. Here come the Peoria Chiefs!

• Who knew in May that July would be Cubs' cruelest month?

  July 27, 2008

  Well, you fun-loving, song-singing, "W"-flag-waving Cubs fans, you still feeling confident in the Confines? Did you see this coming?

• Who knew? July, not June, swoon for Cubs

  July 27, 2008

  Well, you fun-loving, song-singing, "W"-flag-waving Cubs fans, you still feeling confident in the Confines? Did you see this coming?

• Sox better than they get credit for

  July 24, 2008

  Every day, some idiot tries to tell you what is wrong with the White Sox.

• Let's make a deal to rev up the rivalry

  July 22, 2008

  I had an idea. The deal of the century. The deal of any century. The most talked-about trade in the history of trades.

• Let's make a deal to rev up the rivalry

  July 22, 2008

  I had an idea. The deal of the century. The deal of any century. The most talked-about trade in the history of trades.

• Still in the fast lane

  July 20, 2008

  Greg Norman is leading the British Open? After three rounds? By two shots? At 53?

• Still in the fast lane

  July 20, 2008

  Greg Norman is leading the British Open? After three rounds? By two shots? At 53?

• Norman still in the fast lane, where he belongs

  July 20, 2008

  Greg Norman and I hung out together in Australia after he won the British Open for the first time.

• John McDonough's ties to Cubs not completely cut

  July 17, 2008

  Let's see now: Games 3, 4 and 5 of the World Series would be played at Wrigley Field on Oct. 25, 26 and 27.

• Overseas interest in Cubs not a foreign concept

  July 15, 2008

  Suppose, just suppose, that Wrigley Field and the Cubs were sold to foreign interests.

• Overseas interest in Cubs not a foreign concept

  July 15, 2008

  Suppose, just suppose, that Wrigley Field and the Cubs were sold to foreign interests.

• Harden gets first taste of Cubs craziness

  July 13, 2008

  He needs to get acquainted with his new home city.

• Rich Harden gets first taste of Cubs craziness

  July 13, 2008

  He needs to get acquainted with his new home city.

• Life is sweet at beach, ballpark, sweeter together

  July 10, 2008

  Volleyball golden girl Misty May-Treanor threw out the first pitch at an April baseball game in Anaheim.

• Material boys, girls a tabloid hit

  July 7, 2008

  Downey's Eleven:

• The skinny on Alexei

  July 6, 2008

  Shouldn't we be saying more by now about Alexei Ramirez of the White Sox as a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year?

• The skinny on Ramirez

  July 6, 2008

  Shouldn't we be saying more by now about Alexei Ramirez of the White Sox as a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year?

• Sox's Alexei Ramirez coming along fast

  July 6, 2008

  Shouldn't we be saying more by now about Alexei Ramirez of the White Sox as a strong candidate for rookie of the year?

• A tale about a bout ... and an about-face

  July 3, 2008

  Denis Savard was happy to be there for David Diaz at Saturday night's lightweight championship fight in Las Vegas.

• A tale about a bout ... and an about-face

  July 3, 2008

  Denis Savard was happy to be there for David Diaz at Saturday night's lightweight championship fight in Las Vegas.

• Derrick Rose: Just can't beat coming home

  July 1, 2008

  Well, Derrick Martell Rose, welcome home.

• Derrick Rose: Just can't beat coming home

  July 1, 2008

  Well, Derrick Martell Rose, welcome home.

• Wait, Kerry Wood is the healthy Cub?

  June 29, 2008

  You worry about the Cubs. You can't help it. They're the Cubs.

• Banged-up Cubs refuse to play crying game

  June 29, 2008

  You worry about the Cubs. You can't help it. They're the Cubs.

• Banged-up Cubs refuse to play crying game

  June 29, 2008

  You worry about the Cubs. You can't help it. They're the Cubs.

• White Sox's Nick Swisher starting to enjoy himself

  June 28, 2008

  Jermaine Dye had three hits and made a great game-ending catch.

• Smile returns to South Side merry man

  June 28, 2008

  Jermaine Dye had three hits and made a great game-ending catch.

• White Sox's Nick Swisher starting to enjoy himself

  June 28, 2008

  Jermaine Dye had three hits and made a great game-ending catch.

• No joke: Home-grown Rose is destined to blossom here

  June 26, 2008

  To: John Paxson, general manager, Chicago Bulls, 1901 W. Madison, Chicago, Ill., 60612:

• No joke: Home-grown Rose is destined to blossom here

  June 26, 2008

  To: John Paxson, general manager, Chicago Bulls, 1901 W. Madison, Chicago, Ill., 60612:

• Mike Downey's 11

  June 24, 2008

  Downey's Eleven:

• Cubs are big cheese at Wrigley

  June 24, 2008

  Downey's Eleven:

• A game even the rats could enjoy

  June 21, 2008

  It wasn't easy to hear during Friday's seventh-inning sing-along if country music superstar Kenny Chesney gave the traditional Wrigley Field rally cry "Let's get some runs!" after he sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at our North Side vs. South Side baseball civil war.

• No prize, but fight legendary

  June 17, 2008

  Apollo beat Rocky.

• Woods wobbly, but still standing

  June 16, 2008

  A correspondent from the Golf Channel was chatting with Tiger Woods' agent about a half-hour before Sunday's (supposedly) final round of the U.S. Open.

• No. 13 makes mincemeat of Phil Mickelson

  June 15, 2008

  A nine? A nine?

• Johnson's eyes on prize, but mind on Iowa

  June 14, 2008

  Few knew him. He was asked how he would describe himself.

• Long-shot winner? Try Fasth

  June 11, 2008

  OK, which of these guys is our Cinderella story? Who's going to become our Tampa Bay Rays of golf? Where is our Da' Tara, that 38-to-1 colt out of the blue that outran Big Brown?

• U.S. Open distractions? Tiger Woods has seen it all

  June 11, 2008

  Possible distractions for Tiger Woods in his return to golf:

• D.J.'s spirit lives in Boston

  June 8, 2008

  Paul Pierce was carried off the court, so it had to be serious.

• No such thing as a sure thing for Bulls

  June 7, 2008

  DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN. (A famous 1948 headline from the Tribune.)

• Obama's the man to bring Olympic bid home

  June 5, 2008

  In the excitement over reaching the 2016 Olympics "final four," you can't really fault a Chicagoan for jumping a little too high a little too fast.

• Bartman never let off hook by Alou

  June 3, 2008

  I told my boss. I told friends. I told colleagues. I said it on radio shows.

• Bulls success may be gradual with new coach, draft pick

  June 1, 2008

  Michael Beasley's coach at Kansas State has called him flat-out "the best player in college basketball."

• Daley rings up another win

  April 15, 2007

  Ten days shy of his 65th birthday, Mayor Richard M. Daley of the running, jumping, tumbling, fighting city of Chicago was presented with a gift Saturday more precious to him than silver or gold.

• Baseball is lost if game is not true

  June 5, 2003

  There it sat, a Sammy Sosa bat, lying flat. It was the one (we hope) he swung to hit his 500th home run, hermetically sealed at the Field Museum like an Egyptian art relic or a dinosaur bone.

• Sosa's bat, credibility shatter

  June 4, 2003

  It was as if someone had caught Superman using brass knuckles, or suspected Robin Hood of stealing from the poor, or accused King Arthur of rigging it so that the sword would slide easily out of the stone.