Wrestling: Iowa wraps up team crown, places five in the finals
It was a high five Iowa wrestling fans won’t soon forget.
All five Hawkeye semifinalists earned the right to climb onto the elevated mat for Saturday night’s national championship matches with victories on day two of the three-day competition at Qwest Center Omaha.
Iowa clinched its third straight NCAA crown and 23rd overall before Friday’s semifinals were completed and holds a commanding 105.5-64.5 advantage over second-place Cornell. Ohio State (56.5), Iowa State (53) and Minnesota (49) round out the top five.
The Hawkeyes have three other wrestlers going for seventh on Saturday. Iowa coach Tom Brands said it was gratifying to wrap up the team title before the final day of competition.
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“It shows that you’re in control. It shows that you’ve wrestled well as a team,’’ he said. “I don’t think it lessens the urgency of winning five titles and three sevenths. But it’s flexing your muscles, you know?’’
Iowa’s finalists are third-seeded freshman Matt McDonough at 125, second-seeded senior Daniel Dennis at 133, sixth-seeded sophomore Montell Marion at 141, second-seeded senior Brent Metcalf at 149 and second-seeded senior Jay Borschel at 174.
McDonough won 14-3 by major decision over unrated Cashe Quiroga of Purdue. Dennis scored the winning takedown with 37 seconds left in the one-minute sudden-victory period for a 5-3 win over third-seeded Franklin Gomez of Michigan State.
Marion trailed 10th-seeded Tyler Nauman of Pittsburgh in the second period, but took a 7-5 lead on a reversal with 1:32 left in regulation, and held on for a 7-6 win.
Metcalf set up Saturday’s anticipated showdown with top-seeded Lance Palmer of Ohio State with a 6-2 win over third-seeded Kyle Terry of Oklahoma.
And Borschel saved the best for last, rallying from a 9-3, second-period deficit for a thrilling 10-9 win over third-seeded Christopher Henrich of Virginia.
Travel Deals: Up to 25% Off at Starwood Hotels
Starwood Hotels & Resorts is offering up to 25 percent off at its properties worldwide through May 31.
The sale, which includes brands like the W, Westin, Sheraton, and Le Méridien, is available for Thursday through Sunday stays at Starwood hotels, and every day of the week at Starwood resorts. Some properties are also offering perks like upgraded rooms and suites. Book by March 30 by visitingstarwoodhotels.com or calling (866) 924-8704 and using the promo code 383511.
Sample rates include:
- Le Méridien Dubai, United Arab Emirates, $157
- Sheraton Cairo Hotel, Egypt, $172
- Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort, Bahamas $179
- Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, Vietnam, $188
- The Westin Sydney, Australia, $215
- W Santiago, Chile, $235
- The Park Lane Hotel, London, $240
- W Times Square, New York, $259
http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/travel-deals-up-to-25-off-at-starwood-hotels/
Obama to Capitol Hill Saturday on health care
The vote is planned for Sunday and Obama plans to deliver a final pep talk on Saturday. Obama has invitedSenate Majority Leader Harry Reidso he can assure House Democrats that the Senate will go along with the changes to its health care package that the House is taking up.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/20/AR2010032000868.html
Want a drink in flight? Bring plastic
Passengers on all US Airways’ mainline domestic flights will have to use a credit or debit card to pay for food and beverages because it will no longer accept cash for onboard purchases, the airline said today.
Many airlines have switched to only credit- and debit-card purchases for drinks and snacks so their flight crews don’t have to carry large amounts of cash, or store money in hotel rooms on overnight layovers.
US Airways, Philadelphia’s largest airline, said in an employee newsletter today, that accepting cash involves “manual processes” that are inefficient and add costs. Another benefit: “We’ll be able to serve drinks and snacks more quickly.” The new process will use card-scanning devices.
The change applies only to the airline’s so-called mainline flights. US Airways Express or commuter flights will continue to accept only cash. Both cash and credit cards will be accepted on flights to Europe, South America and the Middle East.
US Airways tested the card-scan devices on about 600 flights in December 2008, and in January 2009 gave passengers on most US Airways’ mainline flights the option of paying with cash or credit cards.
A cashless cabin makes it easier for airlines to track and adjust inventory. Carriers also have found that travelers tend to spend more if they put purchases on a card.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/business_breaking/88646907.html
‘Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution’ regurgitates the worst of reality TV pap
Well, you can imagine how eagerly the people of West Virginia respond to a foreigner with meticulously rumpled hair and a funny accent telling them to hand over the fries.
Anyone who has ever tried to pry chicken nuggets from their child’s grip has been met with the same stubborn resistance seen in “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” (premiering Sunday night). Also there’s the added soupcon of outright scorn. Not a word is spoken at “Food Revolution’s” outset about our culture’s politicization of food — the whole arugula divide, the high cost of eating right, the class issues over portion size, the constant character judgments strewn between a fine meal and the drive-thru.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/19/AR2010031901683.html
