Ryan Lochte Dominates Field to Win 400 IM Gold Medal

US swimmer Ryan Lochte proudly displays his first gold medal and patriotic dental work. (Fabrice Coffrini)

Very few Olympic swimmers marched in the Opening Ceremony. The long standing duration during the parade would be too much for many of them who began competition today. One of those races today was the men's 400 IM. What made this race an even bigger deal is that it was the first of the much anticipated head-to-head battles between Americans Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.

Phelps, of course, is an Olympic legend. In his final Olympics, he looks to go out in golden glory. In the four years since Beijing, Lochte has become the greatest swimmer in the world. Phelps claimed none of that mattered until Lochte proved it on an Olympic stage. Their first opportunity came tonight.

Lochte got a great start right out of the starting blocks. As the race wore on, he seemed to get stronger. Phelps stayed in contention through the first 200 meters, but then started to lose pace the rest of the way. After Lochte led the butterfly leg, Phelps' best stroke, it seemed certain that it was all but over. The only question that remained going into the final leg was whether or not Lochte could beat Phelps' world record.

As it turned out, Lochte (4:05.18) didn't quite have enough left in the tank to capture the record, but he still won the gold by a wide margin. Brazil's Thiago Pereira (4:08.86) and Japan's Kosuke Hagino won the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Meanwhile, Phelps (4:09.28) finished off the medal podium at a disappointing fourth.

For Lochte, the gold medal has to be rewarding. Even though he is the greatest swimmer in the world, he continues to be overshadowed by Phelps. At this point in their careers, Lochte is simply the superior athlete. The main advantages Phelps had coming into the Olympics were experience and confidence. His experience clearly didn't matter in this race. It is uncertain how this will affect Phelps' confidence. He's never really experienced failure, so it will be interesting to see how he bounces back. Round One goes to Ryan Lochte in convincing fashion, but there's still much more swimming to come.

Opening Ceremony in London Begins 2012 Summer Olympics

Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle lit up the night sky in London at the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics. (Morry Gash)

As the crowd eagerly awaited, the countdown for the 2012 Summer Olympics began. Children popped balloons from ten to one. Then, one of the nation's biggest sports heroes, Bradley Wiggins, walked across the stage. As the first Brit to win the Tour de France, he sported the yellow winner's jersey as he rang a 23-ton Olympic Bell that was produced from the same foundry that made Big Ben and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Thus, began the Opening Ceremony to give tribute to the British Isles.

The ceremony was to be the masterwork of Danny Boyle. Boyle is one of Britain's most successful filmmakers. He began to dream big and got many people involved. He organized 15,000 volunteers to take part in the show. He also convinced Queen Elizabeth II to partake in a scene with James Bond, where it appeared as though the two skydived into the stadium. Mr. Bean brought some humor to the show. The rest of the show highlighted the decade-by-decade history of the British Isles in a cultural, technological, and musical journey.

Seven teenage athletes were chosen for the illustrious honor of igniting the Olympic cauldron. The flames rose and fireworks shot off. The crowd joined in singing "Hey Jude" as the long night came to the close. Lasting about three hours and forty-five minutes, the ceremony had finally came to fruition. Most of the 10,500 athletes had marched representing 204 countries. This is just the beginning of a special 17 days for these athletes, the city of London, and people around the world, longing to cheer their country to victory. It is exciting to think that we are just getting under way.

Brewers Plan on Trading Ace Zack Greinke

The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that they plan on trading their ace starting pitcher Zack Greinke. (Eric Hartline)

The Milwaukee Brewers brought in starting pitcher Zack Greinke to be their ace for a push for the postseason. Now that they appear to be in rebuilding mode, they plan on trading Greinke to another team for the exact same purpose. With teams looking for the key piece to put them over the top, many scouts have been busy observing and reporting on Greinke's work on the mound.

So far this season, Greinke boasts a 9-3 record with a 3.44 ERA. He has a great strike-to-walk ratio with a 144 strikeouts compared to only 28 walks. With Cole Hamels signing an extension with the Philadelphia Phillies and other pitchers getting injured and pulled off the trading block, Greinke has emerged as the top pitching target likely available.

As I already mentioned, many teams have sent scouts to observe Greinke, but there have been four ball clubs that have emerged as the frontrunners. The first two are the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels. While the rivals battle for the AL West lead, they are both looking for a piece to put them ahead of the other and the charging Oakland Athletics. Even though both the Rangers and Angles are certainly interested, they might be concerned that Greinke is in the last year of his contract.

The third team is the Chicago White Sox. They have been the surprise team in the AL Central. After surprisingly leading the division for much of the season, they have been passed by the division favorite Detroit Tigers. If the White Sox are going to keep pace, they need a difference maker. While a stud pitcher like Greinke could provide just that, they need to consider Greinke's anxiety issues. He prefers to shy away from the spotlight and pressure of pitching in a big city.

The fourth and final team is the Atlanta Braves. The Braves are pursuing the Washington Nationals for the lead in the NL East. With a young rotation, Greinke could provide the consistency that they need. Many believe that Atlanta is the preferred destination by Greinke himself. The Braves concern might be whether or not they have the money to resign him long term.

The Zack Greinke sweepstakes are well underway. Phones are ringing and GMs are losing sleep. With so many contenders looking for that key piece, anything is possible. Pitching always seems to be at a premium at the trade deadline. This year is no exception. With Greinke emerging as the ace of the available pitchers, the asking price will be high. It will be interesting to see which team is able to pull the trigger and bring him into their rotation.

Marlins Trade Disappointing Hanley Ramirez to Dodgers

Infielder Hanley Ramirez had two key hits in his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Dilip Vishwanat)

When Hanley Ramirez came up with the Miami Marlins, many thought the uber-talented shortstop would be baseball's next premier superstar. From 2006-2010, it appeared that would be the case. Over that span of time, Ramirez led major league shortstops with 124 home runs and a .521 slugging percentage. He is a former NL Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star, and NL batting champion. All signs seemed to point to a prosperous and promising career.

Unfortunately, last season turned out to be a lost cause for Ramirez. Battling injuries and struggles at the plate, he saw major regression. In the offseason, the Marlins signed star shortstop Jose Reyes to a big contract. Ramirez agreed to move to third base to make room for Reyes. The Marlins hoped Ramirez and Reyes would add the one-two punch they needed to lead their offense. However, Ramirez's struggles continued this season. The Marlins tried everything they could, but finally their patience with Ramirez ran out.

They began to quietly shop Ramirez to see what they could get in return. The Los Angeles Dodgers have had an up-and-down season. They got off to a blistering start, before struggling through some injuries and cold hitting. With players getting healthier, the Dodgers are in a battle with the San Francisco Giants for first place in the NL West. Looking for a spark for their lineup, the Dodgers decided to inquire about Ramirez. The two sides talked through some options and worked out a deal.

The Marlins traded Ramirez and left-handed reliever Randy Choate for young starting pitcher Nate Eovaldi and minor-league right-hander Scott McGough. Eovaldi made his major league debut last season. He hasn't looked particularly dominant, but he is still only 22 years old. Choate will help bolster the Dodgers bullpen. He is a lefty specialist who is capable of getting outs when needed.

In his debut with the Dodgers tonight, Ramirez had a great game. In the first inning, he tripled off the wall for his first hit as a Dodger. He later came home to score. During the sixth inning, the Dodgers called on Ramirez for a clutch hit. He delivered with a RBI single to tie the game. It was a solid debut for Ramirez, who will play shortstop for the time being. When former Dodgers starting shortstop Dee Gordon returns from injury, it is expected that he will shift back to third base.

There is no doubt that the Dodgers took a chance by making the deal for Ramirez. There's certainly a chance that his struggles will continue. What they hope is that a chance of scenery could make a difference. If Ramirez is able to regain his All-Star form, this trade is an absolute steal for the Dodgers. Ramirez will join Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier in the heart of the Dodgers offense. If Ramirez returns to top form, the trio could be very formidable. It will be interesting to see how Hanley Ramirez does with the Dodgers.

Pirates Acquire Wandy Rodriguez from the Astros

The Pittsburgh Pirates have looked to bolster their rotation by acquiring Wandy Rodriguez from the Houston Astros. (Pat Sullivan)

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in playoff contention this late in the season for the first time in twenty years. As a result, they are actually buyers coming into the trade deadline as they try to make a push for a playoff berth. While finding a big offensive bat might be their biggest need, the Pirates knew the value that adding another solid starter could mean for their pitching staff as a whole.

The Houston Astros are years from contention. With many young prospects in their daily lineups, it comes as no surprise that they have the worst record in baseball. With the youth movement in full swing, the Astros were looking to move their ace Wandy Rodriguez. He is signed at $13 million per season through 2013 with a club option for 2014.

The interests of the two NL Central rivals seemed to line up for the time being. The Astros agreed to trade Rodriguez to the Pirates for three prospects, center fielder Robbie Grossman and left-handed pitchers Rudy Owens and Colton Cain. The three prospects help to add further depth to the Astros' farm system. While none of the trio of prospects are marquee players, each one is young enough to potentially grow into the difference makers the Astros hope they will become.

The Pirates add Rodriguez to a starting rotation with a 3.91 ERA, which is seventh best in the NL. Rodriguez and his 3.79 ERA in 21 starts with the Astros is expected to replace Kevin Correia in the rotation. Rodriguez is widely considered the far superior pitcher with a better strikeout/walk ratio. He should also benefit from improved support from Andrew McCutchen and the upstart Pirates offense.

I like the trade for both teams. While the bigger need might be offense, the Pirates will definitely benefit from adding Wandy Rodriguez to their rotation. Not only does it help the other starters, but it also aids the bullpen and gives them additional rest. The Astros got three young prospects. They can only hope that at least one or two of them will mature into everyday players. The real question for the Pirates is whether this is just their first move. I believe they have at least one more move to make. They need to find the right bat to add to their lineup, without giving up their best prospects. No doubt GM Neal Huntington is exploring his options right now.

Yankees Acquire Veteran Ichiro Suzuki from Mariners

Veteran outfielder Ichiro Suzuki made his debut as a New York Yankee before his former home crowd in Seattle. (Elaine Thompson)

Ichiro Suzuki was already a legend in Japan before coming to the United States. When he signed with the Seattle Mariners, no one could be completely sure how he would do transitioning to Major League Baseball. Well as they say, the rest is history. Ichiro became MLB's first Japanese-born position player, was named the American League's MVP and Rookie of the Year in 2001, has the all-time single-season hit record, won two AL batting titles, won ten Gold Gloves, and had ten consecutive seasons with 200 hits. It is safe to say that he will be a Hall of Famer in Cooperstown someday.

But now at this stage in his career, Ichiro is nearing retirement. He is 38 years old and in the last year of his contract. Meanwhile, the Mariners are in full fledged rebuilding mode. As much as Ichiro loves playing for the Mariners, both he and the team knew it would be in both of their best interests if he was traded. When exploring options for a trade, the Mariners knew they wanted to reward Ichiro by trading him to a contender.

The New York Yankees have been playing great baseball, but about a week ago they found out that their speedy left fielder Brett Gardner would need season-ending elbow surgery. They immediately started looking for a low-cost, temporary replacement. Ichiro was an excellent option for them. With his age and being in the last year of his contract, the Mariners weren't looking for a ton in return.

On Friday afternoon, the Mariners agreed to trade Ichiro to the Yankees for reliever D.J. Mitchell and minor league pitcher Danny Farquhar. The Mariners got a couple young pitchers in return, which is what they were looking for. The Yankees got the low-risk, high-reward veteran they were looking for. They gave up little to acquire Ichiro. In return, they got a good hitter, who still runs and fields his position well. By joining the Yankees, Ichiro has a chance to do something he has never done before, win a World Series.

I really think the Yankees did well here. Even though Ichiro has declined over the past several seasons, one has to believe his numbers will improve by playing in the Yankees' lineup and home games at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees have done well with the seasoned veterans they have acquired the past several seasons. Ichiro might be the best one yet. If he can even regain a fraction of his former top form, the Yankees could be reaping the benefits in the postseason.

Ernie Els Wins British Open Following Adam Scott Collapse

Ernie Els remarkably won his second Open Championship for his fourth career major victory. (Stuart Franklin)

Ernie Els wasn't sure if he would ever return to top form. Things started to go down hill in 2004 when Els had a chance to win all four majors, but came up empty. He then had knee surgery. Next, came his son Ben's diagnosis with autism. Admittedly distracted with his son's ailment, Els struggled with his putting and largely his game as a whole. Things got so bad that he didn't even receive an invitation to this year's Masters.

Els' saving grace appeared to be that he was returning to Royal Lytham, the very place he had won his previous Open Championship ten years prior. He had a solid first round, but coming into Sunday's final round, he and everyone else was looking up at leader Adam Scott. Els stood six shots behind Scott to start the day and remained that far back after the front nine. Following a birdie by Scott on the 14th hole, Els fell to four shots back once again. Els concluded his round with a nice 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole, but it really felt like too little, too late.

After all, Scott looked to have the Open Championship all but sealed up with a four shot lead with four holes to play. But that is when Scott's nerves got the best of him. Poor tee shots and putting led to his large lead vanishing before everyone's eyes. His puts for par, no matter how easy, went begging wide of the hole. With his lead completely gone, Scott still had one chance left at the 18th hole. However, a bunker shot put him trouble. Scott responded well though and had a put to force a playoff with Els. But it wasn't meant to be as he unbelievably missed another straight forward put.

The victory earned Ernie Els his second Open Championship and fourth career major victory overall. Amazingly enough, the four major victories have occurred over three decades. But for the man they call Big Easy, the road to this victory was anything but that. If one considers what Els did both to get to this point again and how he won it on Sunday, it is an incredible accomplishment to consider.

For Adam Scott, it is sheer disappointment. A man who has been so close so many times, he came up just short once again. This will be very difficult for Scott to get over. The remarkable thing is that one of the best people that can relate to him and this feeling is the man that beat him, Ernie Els. Els has overcome a difficult stretch, now maybe he can help Scott do the same.