From the corner chair

Are you ready for some football?

That's a tired old headline anymore, but we are getting ready here at The Gazette.

Besides coverage of the Iowa State vs. South Dakota State game on Thursday, we'll, of course, be covering Iowa vs. Maine on Saturday as well as Northern Iowa at Brigham Young. We'll have a stringer take care of the Panthers for us Saturday night.

The prep slate on Friday has a bunch of good games, and it's only Week 1.

One of the best games of the season, as it stands now, is Cedar Rapids Washington at Cedar Falls in the UNI-Dome on Friday. Some are picking the Warriors to win it all this year and it's very possible. But it's also possible the Warriors could start 0-2. They host Iowa City High next Thursday.

Other games we'll be at on Friday include Jefferson at Xavier, Linn-Mar vs. Kennedy, Dubuque Wahlert at City High, Waterloo East at Prairie, Solon at Mount Vernon, and West Branch and Tipton.

Think you've got a game we should cover this week, next week or in coming weeks. Let me know.

Run, run, race

The Alliant Energy Fifth Season 8K will be run this year. It's not on July 4, of course, but Sept. 1 thanks to the Cedar River leaving its banks and disrupting many, many lives.

I bring this up because we are a little over week away from the race and some folks aren't aware the race is on.

One of the things that always baffled me even in the past is this town is full of people who run and run a lot. Yet, when it comes to racing, they'd rather stay home or watch from the corner.

I've seen numerous people out running on my drive downtown for the start of the race. I just don't get it.

The reason the Bix 7 is so big and popular in the Quad Cities is because the average jogger/runner will run this one race every year. It's not about finishing first or in the Top 10, or placing in your age group. It's about supporting a local event, an event that is good for the community and, especially this year, something that may even give folks a little break, a little relief.

So lace up those shoes on Sept. 1 and enjoy a run/jog/race through southeast Cedar Rapids.

Proud Olympians, still

It really is great to see Iowans represent themselves so well at this summer's Olympics.

Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines is the state's Golden girl after her gold medal performance and her three silvers.

She did our state proud.

But so did Lolo Jones, whose tumble over the next-to-last hurdle was heartbreaking to watch. Yet, there she was, moments later holding her head up high and conducting herself with class. She gave an excellent interview, making no excuses.

Iowa assistant wrestling coaches and former Hawkeye wrestlers Mike Zadick and Doug Schwab didn't win a match. Zadick was outscored 15-0 and Schwab 13-4.

That's tough to take, especially when you work so hard and dream so long for this moment. But, as a colleague here said, "they spent more time in the Olympics than I ever did."

How true that is.

I know it's now consolation and making the team is never the goal. But making the team still is pretty special in this corner chair.

Congratulations to Shawn Johnson and all the Iowans. You represented Iowa with class.

Hurray for Zadick!

It's great to see Mike Zadick will get his shot at an Olympic medal. These opportunities can be fleeting and I'm happy for Mike and sure he will take full advantage of this chance.

Here is the latest from USA Wrestling on Zadick. He received a first-round bye:

"BEIJING, China - A couple of days ago, Mike Zadick wasn't even sure he was going to be an Olympian.

Now he stands just four wins away from his lifelong dream of winning an Olympic gold medal.

Added to the field late Sunday afternoon as a replacement for an injured wrestler from Bulgaria, Zadick and American teammate Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo.) are set to begin their Olympic quests after making weight on Monday afternoon.

Zadick will battle Ukraine's Vasyl Fedoryshyn on Tuesday morning in the first round of the Olympics at 60 kg/132 lbs. Fedoryshyn placed fourth in the 2004 Olympics, fifth in the 2006 World Championships and won the 2008 European Championships. If Zadick wins that match, he will face either Albania's Sahit Prizreni or Kyrgyzstan's Bazar Bazarguruev in the second round. Both those wrestlers won bronze medals at the 2007 World Championships.

Zadick lost to the Ukrainian in an event in Russia in December of 2007. He fell to Prizreni in the first round of the 2007 World Championships. But none of that matters now for Zadick, who won a silver medal at the 2006 World Championships.

"Without a doubt, Mike's getting a great opportunity to wrestle in the Olympics," U.S. National Coach Kevin Jackson said.

Brands interviews Brands?

Just got a call from a friend who has close ties to the University of Iowa wrestling team and Terry Brands has apparently interviewed for the assistant wrestling coaching job vacated by Wes Hand.

It's just a rumor at this point, but we'll keep checking.

The guess here is if Terry interviewed it's probably a done deal. Tom and Terry together again, leading the Hawkeye wrestling program is a dream these two had growing up in Sheldon.

It's also very likely Steve Mocco, the former Iowa and Oklahoma State heavyweight, will be moving to Iowa City, too.

Stay tuned. When we get facts, we'll post them on our Web site.

Suzy in Solon

One of my favorite athletes - in any sport - will be in Solon next week, promoting her new book "Fast Track" and helping raise money for the Solon Spartan Stadium.

I first met Suzy Favor Hamilton when she was a freshman at Wisconsin. The Big Ten track and field meet was in Iowa City and she quickly became the star of the show.

Always welcoming with a warm smile, she is one of the friendliest athletes - persons - I have ever had the pleasure to met.

She also is one of the most talented.

She made three Olympic teams, won six national titles and is a nine-time NCAA champion. Few women have a better resume in this country.

Favor Hamilton will speak on Aug. 15 at the Solon Middle School Auditorium. This is open to the public. On the 16th, she will hold a clinic for high school and middle school athletes at the Solon recreation fields.

If you're looking something to do next Friday or Saturday, this would be well worth your time.

Looking for Olympians

Eastern Iowa has several ties to this summer's Olympics, which open next Friday in Beijing - actually, some events will start midweek.

We have Iowa assistant coach Doug Schwab of Osage and, hopefully, ex-Hawkeye wrestler Mike Zadick in wrestling, Jason McCartney of Coralville in cycling, Lolo Jones of Des Moines in track and, of course, Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines in gymnastics. There is a former University of Iowa diver in the field, too.

Then there is Ben Askren, a former NCAA wrestling champion at Missouri who grew up in Heartland, Wis.

Ben is the only Olympian born in Cedar Rapids.

Of course, he only lived in C.R. until he was almost 5, but, hey, he is a native. Ben, obviously, doesn't remember much about Cedar Rapids, but his mother, Michele, does. Michele was born here, lived on a farm outside Tipton and graduate from Tipton High School.

She met her husband, Chuck, at Tipton. Chuck is a native Iowan who moved to Tipton before his senior year. The couple lived in Cedar Rapids for 10 years.

I'll have a more in depth story on the Askren's and their ties to C.R. later.

But for now, please help me find other unusual connections to 2008 Olympians. E-mail me at jr.ogden@gazcomm.com with any connection, however small.

And let the Games begin.