Christian Cantwell speaks matter of factly about his approach to his sport. He says he doesn’t waste much time warming up and seems to do his best when things are chaotic. Don’t mistake his laid back approach as indifference…he’s going to China to win a gold medal.
Cantwell, a former Mizzou track and field star and native of Eldon, is a U.S. olympic shot putter and is preparing to leave for China in a few days. He is one of the best in his event that the U.S. has dominated, having won 47 of the 78 medals available in the Olympics.
He’ll be joined by stiff competition from fellow countrymen Reese Hoffa and Adam Nelson. Cantwell’s best put of the year was 71 feet, 4 3/4 inches, which places him third in the world behind Nelson (72, 7) and Hoffa (72, 6 1/4). Cantwell finished second in the USATF Olympic Team Trials.
Cantwell leaves on August 4th to help his body adjust to the time change. He competes in the first day of the Olympics on August 15th. The men’s shot put is the only sport where the qualifying and final rounds are held on the same day, so he’s not participating in the opening ceremonies. As he says, standing four or five hours wears out a big guy. He’s not sticking around for the closing ceremonies as he expects to be back in the states by August 20th.
He’s going to China for business. He’s going for the gold medal.
Former Mizzou and Eldon native shot putter is ready for China
Royals sweep the A’s
For the first time in 20 seasons, the Royals swept the Oakland A’s in a three game series winning their fourth straight in 10 innings and a 4-3 win. A day after it was rumored that Jose Guillen wanted out of KC, he picked up two RBIs including the game winner on a sac fly.
Guillen is denying reports that he wants to be traded out of Kansas City, saying this latest rumor caught him completely by surprise. A report came out in ESPNdeportes.com on Tuesday saying that Guillen wanted to leave because of his relationship with manager Trey Hillman. Hillman denies that he does not talk with Guillen and Guillen even said that while they have had differences, they have always handled it professionally.
With a story always following Guillen blocked it out to deliver the game winning RBI sac fly when Esteban German scored after a lead off walk and double to Mike Aviles by Oakland’s Huston Street put runners on second and third and nobody out. Street walked Alex Gordon with one out before Guillen flew out.
Brian Bannister got a no decision as he gave up two runs on eight hits and four walks. What helped Bannister, who normally is a strikeout pitcher was that he rang up seven A’s hitters.
Cardinals continue beating up on Atlanta
The offense is not giving the Cardinals bullpen any opportunity to make mistakes as the Cardinals win 7-2 for their third straight win. Albert Pujols came up big again in the clutch and Chris Carpenter fared well in his first start in 16 months.
Pujols broke a 2-2 tie with two outs in the 7th when he doubled in Adam Kennedy. Pujols continues his tear in Atlanta where he is 5 for 9 in this series with 5 RBI and 6 runs scored. The Cardinals added on against the Braves bullpen with two runs in the 8th and 9th innings.
As far as Carpenter, I thought he was pretty lucky to get out of the first four innings with just one run. He gave up five hits and walked two and got out of a bases loaded jam. It looked like he had good movement on his pitches, but threw a lot of balls. In his 68 pitches on the night, he threw just 36 strikes.
Regardless, it was a good first step for Carpenter and with the trade deadline at 3pm Thursday, it appears the team is banking on Carpenter giving the starting rotation a boost.
The Cardinals have tied the Brewers for the NL Wild Card and remain four back behind the Cubs.
Obama pleased with tour of rural Missouri
He’s spent a lot of time in Missouri’s urban centers – St. Louis and Kansas City. Wednesday, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama (D-IL) spent the day touring rural Missouri, making stops for events in Springfield, Rolla, and Union.
Accompanied on the trip by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Obama touched on themes that have become familiar parts of his campaign. Obama criticizes the Bush Administration for policies he claims are hurting middle class Americans. Obama pushes the idea that a vote for Republican presumptive nominee John McCain is a vote for a third term for President George W. Bush.
After round tables in Springfield and Rolla, the final event of the day was a barbecue in Union. Obama stepped away from this gathering of about 200 supporters to conduct an interview with the Missourinet, commenting on his decision to travel into parts of this state that are considered Republican areas.
Obama made it clear he wants to reach out to voters in all parts of the state – even on those parts that might not give him a lot of votes in November.
"I’m not gonna win every vote down here," Obama told the Missourinet, "But I think people here in Union – even Republicans here in Union – appreciate that you’re listening to them."
As for the overall strategy of targeting rural Missouri, Obama says, "I think a lot of times Democrats defeat themselves by just not showing up to places and not talking to people."
Obama makes it clear that all areas of Missouri – even the traditionally Republican areas – are being challenged in this election.
Download/Listen: Steve Walsh interviews Senator Barack Obama (4:00 MP3)
Download/Listen: Barack Obama speech in Union (13:00 MP3)
Cleaning up Missouri roads
If you glance at the side of the road during your next trip you might see the occasional shoe or fast food bag but those are just the top of the mountain of trash collected every year.
Rocking chairs, a prom dress and ski goggles aren’t exactly items you expect to see on the side of the road, but state department of transportation coordinator Melissa Black said they’ve seen it all and more.
"You do wonder sometimes, especially when you find odd articles of clothing how one looses these things," she said.
Cigarette butts and fast food containers make up the majority of trash on the side of the road, Black said.
"You know cigarette butts people think, I’m sure, it’s just a tiny little cigarette but besides the possibility of starting a fire you have the fact that those don’t go anywhere they just sit there," she said. "When you’ve got all the people thinking the same thing and they’re all throwing cigarette butts out the window you end up with quite a mess."
After cleaning up the mess, if a crew finds an item they think someone might want back they take them to the nearest maintenance shed. Black said people should call MoDOT first to see if the item is there. Time and weather have made most things are unable to be returned, she said.
If you do realize immediately that something important went out the window in the last few miles, she suggests pulling over and calling either MoDOT or the highway patrol for help.
