Best 10, Worst 10 Cars for Holding Value

If you spend tens of thousands of dollars on a car, you want to get something back for your investment when it's over. Inevitably, the value of your car will depreciate, but you'd like it to have as much trade-in value as possible.

This doesn't just go for buying a car. When you lease a car, the amount it will be worth at the end of the lease is critical in determining your monthly lease payment price. It's called residual value, an important factor to keep in mind if you're shopping for a new car.

In a list compiled by Automotive Lease Guide, or ALG, the 10 cars expected to hold value the most over the next five years are an eclectic group (sedans and small sport utility vehicles, among others). What do these cars have in common?

"You see a much better alignment of production with market demands," says James Clark, editorial director of ALG.

What about cars that will hold the least value after five years?

"You'll see a lot of brands we traditionally have high-depreciation rates for," says Clark.

Some of these vehicles are heavily used as fleet vehicles for rental car companies; some (i.e. Korean brands like Hyundai and its subsidiary, Kia) have perceived quality issues, even though Clark says the Korean brands' "quality has actually gotten a lot better, but their perceived quality is still low."

Best Value Holders:

1. Volkswagen R32

MSRP: $32,990
Style: Performance
5-year residual value: 43 percent or $14,186
Engine: six-cylinder, 3.2-liter, 250 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 4 years/50,000 miles, powertrain -- 5 years, 60,000 miles
Special features: SIRIUS satellite radio, power glass sunroof, multi-function trip computer
Reasons it will hold value: It's a reasonably priced, low-volume car. It's a descendant/variant of the Volkswagen GTI, also known for its quality.

2. Jeep Wrangler

MSRP: $19,680
Style: SUV
5-year residual value: 42.9 percent or $8,443
Engine: Six-cylinder, 3.8-liter, 202 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 3 years/36,000 miles, powertrain -- lifetime limited warranty, certain restrictions apply
Special features: AM/FM radio with in-dash CD player & MP3 capability, Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System
Reasons it will hold value: It's cornered the niche market for people who like to do a lot of off-roading and has few competitors.

3. Mini-Cooper

MSRP: $18,700
Style: Hatchback
5-year residual value: 42.7 percent or $7,985
Engine: Four-cylinder, 1.6-liter, 118 horsepower
Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
Special features: Four years of complimentary roadside assistance, toggle switch controls, fully electronic throttle
Reasons it will hold value: It's sporty, fuel-efficient, reasonably priced and covers a wide spectrum of customers. It also has a good reputation.

4. Scion XB

MSRP: Manual $16,370, automatic $17,320
Style: Compact station wagon
5-year residual value: 39.5 percent or $6,466(manual)/ $6,841 (automatic)
Engine: Four-cylinder, 2.4-liter, 158 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 3 years/36,000 miles, powertrain -- 5 years, 60,000 miles
Special features: Tachometer and trip meter, 60/40-split folding rear seat, AM/FM CD and iPod capability
Reasons it will hold value: It's relatively fuel-efficient, reasonably priced and it has more space than compacts with similar prices.

5. Honda CR-V

MSRP: $20,700
Style: SUV
5-year residual value: 39.4 percent or $8,156
Engine: Four-cylinder, 2.4-liter, 166 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 3 years/36,000 miles, powertrain -- 5 years/60,000 miles
Special features: XM satellite radio, Honda satellite-linked navigation system, digital audio card reader
Reasons it will hold value: It's fuel-efficient for an SUV, seats five and has plenty of storage room.

6. Toyota RAV4

MSRP: $21,500
Style: SUV
5-year residual value: 38.9 percent or $8,364
Engine: V-6, 3.5-liter, 269 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 3 years/36,000 miles, powertrain -- 5 years/60,000 miles
Special features: AM/FM 6-disc CD changer with satellite radio capability and MP3/WMA capability, 10 cup holders
Reasons it will hold value: By SUV standards, it's fuel-efficient. It seats five and has plenty of storage room.

7. Infiniti G35/G37

MSRP: $32,250
Style: Sedan
5-year residual value: 38.9 percent or $12,545
Engine: V-6, 3.5-liter, 306 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 4 years, 60,000 miles, powertrain -- 6 years/70,000 miles
Special features: XM satellite radio, tire pressure monitoring system, heated front seats
Reasons it will hold value: It's a great price for the product. The performance is similar to the BMW 335, but is approximately $8,000 cheaper.

8. Dodge Viper

MSRP: $87,460
Style: Sports car
5-year residual value: 38 percent or $33,235
Engine: V-10, 8.4-liter, 600 horsepower
Warranty: powertrain -- 3 years/36,000 miles
Special features: AM/FM stereo with CD player and CD changer, Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System
Reasons it will hold value: It's a low-volume sports car that has an exotic feel and is reasonably price compared to exotic sports cars.

9. BMW 1 Series

MSRP: $28,600
Style: Small luxury/small-family
5-year residual value: 37.8 percent or $10,811
Engine: Six-cylinder, 3.0-liter, 230 horsepower
Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
Special features: Two-way power glass moon roof, anti-theft AM/FM audio system with 10 speakers and satellite radio/MP3 capability
Reasons it will hold value: It has a very low volume and is smaller, lighter and cheaper than the BMW 3 series.

10. Nissan Rogue

MSRP: $19,430
Style: SUV
5-year residual value: 37.5 percent or $7,286
Engine: Four-cylinder, 2.5-liter, 170 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 3 years/36,000 miles, powertrain -- 5 years/60,000 miles
Special features: Drive computer, XM satellite radio, MP3/WMA capability
Reasons it will hold value: It's a fuel-efficient SUV and good for those wishing to downsize a bit.

Worst Value Holders

10. Hyundai Entourage

MSRP: $23,995
Style: Minivan
5-year residual value: 20 percent or $4,799
Engine: V-6, 3.8-liter, 250 horsepower
Warranty: Limited -- 5 years/60,000 miles, powertrain -- 10 years/100,000 miles
Special features: Projector-type fog lights, dual front automatic temperature control
Reasons it won't hold value: It's a combination of product deficiencies, poor marketing and historical depreciation of Hyundai vehicles.

9. Chevrolet Malibu Classic

MSRP: $20,550
Style: Sedan
5-year residual value: 20 percent or $4,110
Engine: Four-cylinder, 2.4-liter, 169 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 3 years/36,000 miles, powertrain -- 5 years/100,000 miles
Special features: OnStar with standard one-year directions and connections plan, three-month trial of XM satellite radio
Reasons it won't hold value: The body style is in its last generation. It is sold to rental fleets. As such, rental companies sell them after a year, leaving a large supply of them and making resale prices low.

8. Kia Optima

MSRP: $17,030
Style: Sedan
5-year residual value: 20 percent or $3,406
Engine: Four-cylinder, 2.4-liter, 162 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 5 years/60,000 miles, powertrain -- 10 years/100,000 miles
Special features: AM/FM/CD audio system, optional trip computer, optional MP3-compatible audio system
Reasons it won't hold value: It's primarily a rental fleet car. The Kia brand typically sees high depreciation rates largely because of past quality issues.

7. Suzuki Forenza

MSRP: $13,999
Style: Sedan
5-year residual value: 19.5 percent or $2,730
Engine: Four-cylinder, 2.0-liter, 127 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 3 years/36,000 miles, powertrain -- 7 years/100,000 miles
Special features: Eight-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3/WMA playback, heated outside mirrors
Reasons it won't hold value: It's not really designed for the U.S. market. It's primarily a fleet car. Also, this is the last year this model will be made.

6. Hyundai Accent

MSRP: $10,775
Style: Subcompact
5-year residual value: 19.3 percent or $2,080
Engine: Four-cylinder, 1.6-liter, 110 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 5 years/60,000 miles, powertrain -- 10 years, 100,000 miles
Special features: AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system with auxiliary input jack
Reasons it won't hold value: It's a subcompact that's often used for rental fleets. The brand has a history of high depreciation for perceived quality issues.

5. Kia Rio

MSRP: $11,540
Style: Subcompact
5-year residual value: 19.2 percent or $2,216
Engine: Four-cylinder, 1.6-liter, 110 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 5 years/60,000 miles, powertrain -- 10 years/100,000 miles
Special features: Optional AM/FM/CD audio system
Reasons it won't hold value: Similar to the Hyundai Accent's reasons -- it's a subcompact fleet car with past quality issues.

4. Suzuki Reno

MSRP: $13,299
Style: Subcompact
5-year residual value: 19 percent or $2,527
Engine: Four-cylinder, 2.0-liter, 127 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 3 years/36,000 miles, powertrain -- 7 years/100,000 miles
Special features: AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo with eight speakers, heated rearview mirrors
Reasons it won't hold value: Although it's priced significantly lower than its direct competitors, such as the Honda Fit, the Reno is known to underperform, get poor fuel efficiency for its class, ride badly and fall short in refinement.

3. Kia Spectra

MSRP: $13,545
Style: Compact
5-year residual value: 18.8 percent or $2,546
Engine: Four-cylinder, 2.0-liter, 138 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 5 years/60,000 miles, powertrain -- 10 years/100,000 miles
Special features: AM/FM/CD audio system with audio input jack for MP3 devices
Reasons it won't hold value: For many of the same reasons other Kias won't -- it's a rental fleet car and it has perceived quality issues.

2. Chevrolet Uplander

MSRP: $22,320
Style: Van
5-year residual value: 18.5 percent or $4,129
Engine: V-6, 3.9-liter, 240 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 3 years/36,000 miles, powertrain -- 5 years/60,000 miles
Special features: OnStar with one-year Safe and Sound Plan, AM/FM/CD stereo with MP3 playback and auxiliary input jack
Reasons it won't hold value: Its gimmick of taking a minivan and trying to make it look like an SUV didn't work. This model will not be produced after this year.

1. Lincoln Town Car
MSRP: $45,295
Style: Sedan
5-year residual value: 18 percent or $8,153
Engine: V-8, 4.6-liter, 239 horsepower
Warranty: Basic -- 4 years/50,000 miles, powertrain -- 6 years/70,000 miles
Special features: Heated front seats, universal garage door opener.
Reasons it won't hold value: It's a fleet car and it's not fuel efficient (it's only sold as a V-8).

Every little bit Phelps: Swimmer a VMA presenter

LOS ANGELES - He does comedy, writes books, and mixes it up with the hottest stars in music and Hollywood. With all this, who needs swimming?

Certainly not Michael Phelps — not anymore, at least. But as a presenter at the 2008 Video Music Awards, all that fresh Olympic bling will certainly help.

The swimmer who took home a record-breaking eight gold medals from the Beijing Games joins Miley Cyrus, Scarlett Johansson, Lindsay Lohan and Ciara as presenters at the Sept. 7 VMAs telecast from Los Angeles. British comedian Russell Brand will host.

It's been a busy week for Phelps, who announced he'll write a book about his road to Olympic history (to be released in time for the holidays) and plans to host the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live." On Thursday, Phelps was in New York City, filming a cameo for the HBO series "Entourage," and on Friday, he celebrated with a parade at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Corbin Bleu of the "High School Musical" franchise will also present at the VMAs, as will "Twilight" actors Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, MTV said Thursday.

The network also announced performers Katy Perry, T-Pain, Lupe Fiasco and The Ting Tings.

Performers already announced include Rihanna, Pink, Paramore and T.I., who will be making his first appearance at a major awards show since his arrest right before an awards ceremony last year. The Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne and Kid Rock are also scheduled to do their thing onstage.

___

On the Net:

http:/http://www.mtv.com

5 Big Bills You Can Cut Fast

As the economy weakens and prices soar on everything from gas to groceries, Americans are looking for quick ways to cut their expenses and hold on to more cash.

Fortunately there are plenty of ways to chop your spending without a lot of time or hassle. Some of these cuts will save you just a few dollars, while others can net even bigger savings.

Add them all up, and you could trim your annual expenses by hundreds of dollars or more.

Following are five areas where you can cut your bills fast. These tips can help you to weather the current economic downturn and continue to thrive once happier days return.

Energy and Gas Savings

Energy costs are boiling over. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates Americans will typically spend $2,350 on home energy costs in 2008, up from $2,100 a year ago.

Moreover, households are slated to spend $3,950 on gas for the year, up from $3,000 in 2007.

Fortunately, some relatively cheap fixes are available, and many begin in the home.

For example, weatherstripping, caulking doors or sealing windows can keep out cold and heat, lowering your heating and cooling bills.

"Every little step helps, and if you can't afford new windows or storm windows, plastic film kits aren't a bad alternative," says Ronnie Kweller, deputy director of communications at the Alliance to Save Energy.

Other tips for cutting home energy costs include:

Installing a programmable thermostat. These handy gadgets let you turn up the heat or air conditioning just before you get home rather than paying to keep your empty dwelling comfy all day. Households that use these thermostats typically save $180 per year, far more than the roughly $100 it costs to purchase the thermostat, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.

Switching to energy-efficient light bulbs. Yes, they do cost more than traditional bulbs, but they wind up saving money because they use two-thirds less energy and can last 10 times longer, Kweller says. That computes to savings of $50 per bulb.

Being efficient. Clean and change furnace air filters and wrap your water heater. These moves help your appliances run more efficiently and cheaply. Seal ducts on air and heating systems to improve efficiency by as much as 20 percent, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.

Lower the water heater temperature to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. That's hot enough to kill germs and safely wash dishes. Do laundry in cold water.

Meanwhile, you can also trim vehicle gas costs with the following steps:

Adopt good driving habits. You'll save a bundle if you stop speeding. If you typically race around at 70 mph instead of 55 mph, you're lowering your vehicle's fuel efficiency by as much as 17 percent, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, or ACEEE.

Pump up your tires. Tires lose about a pound of pressure a month, and if you drive with tires that are 3 pounds underinflated, your vehicle's fuel economy drops by 1 percent, according to the ACEEE.

Clean your car. If your car resembles a junk yard on wheels, clean it out. If you're hauling around 100 extra pounds, for example, you're lowering fuel efficiency by up to 2 percent, according to the ACEEE.

You can find more gas-saving tips in the Bankrate feature "15 ways to save money on gas."

Food and Groceries

Americans spend an average of $6,111 per year on food, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Consumer Expenditure Survey. But with prices rising quickly, food is taking an increasingly bigger bite out of our budgets.

How can you save on something so fundamental? It's actually not difficult. A family of four can slash $240 from its monthly food budget by switching from pricey meals to lower-cost options, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The key is to embrace culinary change rather than fearing it.

"We can't be doing the same thing the same old way," says Sheryl Garrett, author of the "Personal Finance Workbook for Dummies."

Store shelves are crammed with relatively expensive prepackaged convenience foods designed to save time, Garrett says.

"But what we need to do is try to remember two simple words: whole foods," she says. "Instead of buying prepared, frozen, twice-baked potatoes, buy a real live whole potato. It costs a fraction of the price, pennies per pound. And it probably even tastes better."

Here are some ideas for saving at the supermarket:

Buy food less frequently. If you're running to the market before dinner each night, it's time to quit. Instead, think about what you want to eat for the next few days, and buy groceries at once. You'll save money, time and gas.

Use a shopping list. A full two-thirds of purchases at grocery stores are impulse buys, according to Paco Underhill, CEO and founder of Envirosell, a market research and consulting company. To reduce that temptation, make a shopping list and stick to it.

Pay with cash. You'll be more likely to stick to your shopping list.

Stick to the perimeters of the supermarket. That's where you'll find all the unprocessed basics you need -- dairy products, meats, bread -- while avoiding inner aisles brimming with tempting, processed foods that drain budgets.

Buy in season. Craving strawberries in January? You'll pay top dollar. With that in mind, make it a habit to eat what is in season locally. Guard against cravings by canning or freezing fresh items so you can enjoy those berries any time of year.

Cook cheaper meals. Instead of serving huge portions of meat, use it to supplement larger portions of rice or pasta in affordable casseroles. For other low-cost ideas, check out the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "Recipes and Tips for Healthy, Thrifty Meals."

For more tips on cutting your grocery bill, check out the Bankrate feature "32 ways to save on groceries."

Banking and Credit

Individuals pay banks, brokerages, credit card companies and other vendors a slew of extra fees, charges, interest and penalties.

One recent study by the Government Accountability Office and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., or FDIC, found that Americans spend $36 billion annually on bank fees alone. That's up from $24.4 billion in 2000.

Meanwhile, Consumer Reports estimates Americans spend $216 billion a year on fees for personal financial services, from banking to mortgages.

Don't just take these fees and rate hikes lying down. For example, if your lender hikes your credit card rate, call to have it lowered. You've got a 50-50 chance of getting resolution, according to a consumer study by U.S. Public Interest Research Groups, or U.S. PIRG.

"Credit card companies will routinely raise your rates to see if they can get away with it, so you have to be vigilant," says Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director at U.S. PIRG.

When it comes to some fees, you may be your own worst enemy. For example, spend more than your credit limit these days and you'll be allowed to shop. The catch: You'll owe an over-limit fee, which typically runs $39.

"Keep a healthy cushion (between) what you're allowed to spend and what you (actually) spend," says Jim Campen, executive director of Americans for Fairness in Lending.

Other tips for keep your banking and borrowing costs low:

Comparison shop. Switch banks, credit cards, even brokerage accounts that drain your finances by switching to competitors offering better deals. It's easy to find the best offers using Bankrate's Compare rates tool.

Read the fine print. Pay attention to requirements that could wind up costing a bundle. A free checking account may sound appealing, but is there a minimum balance requirement? If you can't meet it, you may wind up paying fees that make that free deal pricier than you thought.

Watch out for ATMs. Whenever possible, pull cash out of your ATM in larger amounts to reduce repeat visits to the machine. According to Bankrate's 2007 survey of ATM fees, the average ATM fee for nonaccount holders was $1.78. However, some banks charge more. Tack on the foreign-use penalty your own bank levies when you use a competitor's ATM and you could well be spending nearly $5, or 25 percent of that $20 you grabbed on the go.

Chuck the debit card. Putting away the debit card lowers the odds of triggering courtesy overdraft protection fees. They kick in when you use a debit card and make purchases that exceed your account balance. Overdraft fees now average $34 per transaction, or $17.5 billion annually in the United States, according to the Center for Responsible Lending.

Pay on time/beware of default rates. Miss a payment deadline and chances are you'll wind up paying hefty fines. In fact, if you're late on one bill with any creditor, your other creditors can legally use that tardy track record to jack up interest rate they charge you. When you get bills, mark their due date on a calendar or set up automatic payments so you don't miss deadlines.

Scrutinize statements. More than two-thirds of lenders, 77 percent, say they can change rates "at any time, for any reason," according to Consumer Action. So even if you pay on time each month and think you're an ideal customer, study your statement and look at the fees, your interest and other unexpected changes that could cost a bundle.

For more on fees and how to avoid them, read the Bankrate feature "Here come the fees."

Taxes

If you're like most people, you probably don't pay much attention to taxes until April 15 rolls around. But taxes affect us daily, whether we're working, shopping or saving for important milestones like retirement.

As it turns out, fall is the perfect time to trim taxes. This year, 15 states have already or soon will sponsor reprieves from sales taxes as part of back-to-school shopping. These tax holidays vary, but typically are scheduled anytime from just before the school year to about mid-October, says Craig Shearman, vice president of government affairs at National Retail Federation.

"That could mean the difference between buying new back-to-school clothes or making do with last year's wardrobe for some families," says Shearman.

Other ways to reduce your taxes include:

Snag the first-time homebuyer credit. Individuals who buy a dwelling from April 9, 2008, to July 1, 2009, and who haven't had owned a primary residence for the previous three years can claim a new credit that's worth 10 percent of a dwelling's purchase price, or up to $7,500. The break phases out for joint tax filers with incomes of $150,000 (or $75,000 for individuals). It's important to note that these credits are structured more like interest-free loans than true tax breaks.

Claim the 2008 homeowner's tax break. Individuals who own their home outright or who've had a mortgage so long they're mostly paying principal rather than interest may no longer qualify to itemize on their returns. Now there's some temporary relief for them. This year, they can take $500 (or $1,000 for joint filers) of state and local property taxes as an addition to their standard deduction on their 2008 federal income tax return.

Grab breaks for low-income earners. One out of four eligible taxpayers fails to claim the earned-income tax credit, or EITC, worth as much as $4,716 a year depending on someone's earnings, marriage status and whether they have children or other dependents. If you qualified for but didn't claim the EITC, file an amended tax return for any previous year back to 2005.

For more tips on trimming your tax bill, read the Bankrate feature "10 often-overlooked tax breaks."

Car Insurance

Americans typically spend $820.91 to insure one vehicle per year, but in many parts of the country, premiums can reach "thousands of dollars," according to the latest study by National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Yet there's still much you can do to lower rates.

Boost your deductible. That's the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. Raise yours from $250 to $500, and you'll shave money from your insurance premium because you're essentially agreeing to take on more financial burden in the event of a mishap.

Trim insurance for that old clunker. If your wheels are worth little, consider getting rid of collision coverage, which pays for repairs.

Snag low-mileage discounts. Have you cut back on your driving to save gas? Let your insurer know. If you don't drive much (less than 7,500 miles a year), you can usually get rates lowered.

Bundle your policies. Buy more than one policy from the same insurer and you may well get a break of 5 percent to 15 percent, according to Insurance Information Institute. So try keeping your auto, homeowners and other insurance policies with one company.

Make age-appropriate auto decisions. A driver's age may impact insurance rates. So, restrict your teen to driving the family's oldest car. Then, let the insurance company know your son or daughter has no access to more valuable cars you own. Older drivers may also pay higher rates. Seniors ages 55 to 70 may qualify for price breaks if they take a safe-driving course, such as the 55Alive program that's run by the Automobile Association of America and the National Institute of Highway Safety.

Bush: Gulf Coast govs to have full federal support

WASHINGTON - President Bush, confronted with the prospect of a second monster hurricane striking the still-battered Gulf Coast, checked in with governors and federal officials Saturday to make sure Washington was doing all it can.

The president called state leaders in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas in the early morning from the White House before heading out for a 90-minute bike ride, spokesman Scott Stanzel said. Those states are in the potential path of Hurricane Gustav, which could reach the U.S. by early Tuesday.

Three years ago Hurricane Katrina drowned New Orleans and the city is still recovering. It appeared likely to get slammed again, by at least tropical-storm-force winds if not worse.

Bush also received regular updates from aides about the storm's path and the government's preparations.

The president asked each governor what was needed from the federal government, Stanzel said. Bush praised them for mobilizing their states so effectively to get ready.

"He told each of the governors that federal officials were monitoring Hurricane Gustav very closely," Stanzel said. "President Bush pledged the full support of the federal government."

The Bush White House was badly burned by its fumbling response after Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005. Bush's image as a strong leader has never entirely rebounded, even though he has labored to improve on the Katrina performance since by displaying his concern and effectiveness in times of disaster since.

On Friday, Bush pre-emptively declared states of emergency for Louisiana and Texas. Such a move is rarely taken before a disaster hits. The declaration clears the way for federal aid to supplement state and local efforts and formalizes coordination. The administration did the same thing before Katrina struck.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Federal Emergency Management Agency chief David Paulison were in the region monitoring developments. Equipment was put in position and safe shelters readied, with cots, blankets and hygiene kits en route.

The White House kept a close eye on developments to see whether Bush might need to change his plans to travel to St. Paul, Minn., on Monday to address the Republican National Convention. White House press secretary Dana Perino said such decisions probably would not be made until the last minute.

One of the reasons Bush was so criticized after Katrina was that he stuck to a schedule that took him from his ranch in Texas on a two-day trip to Arizona and California. There, he promoted a Medicare proposal while making just scant references to Katrina even as it slammed the Gulf Coast. Bush even happily strummed a guitar backstage at one event. He did not return to Washington until two days after the storm and did not visit the region until five days after.

Triathlete dies after bike crash in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Barbara Warren, one of the world's elite endurance athletes in her age group and one-half of a well-known pair of triathlete twins, has died after breaking her neck in a bike crash at the Santa Barbara Triathlon. She was 65.

Warren, of San Diego, died Tuesday at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital when her family told doctors to take her off a ventilator, her twin sister Angelika Drake told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Warren crashed her bike on a downhill road about halfway through the 34-mile cycling section of the race on Saturday, race director Joe Coito said.

Warren was paralyzed from the neck down and was breathing with the aid of the ventilator. Drake said her sister told the family by blinking and nodding that she wanted to die.

"I talked to her and she nodded over and over and over again. She wanted to leave," Drake said. "No athlete would like to have a life with only their eyes talking."

Warren's two daughters and her husband Tom were also with her at the hospital when she died.

Warren won her age group in the 2003 Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii. She competed in the race, the world's top triathlon, 13 times and finished in the top five in her age group eight times.

The two sisters alternated riding bikes in the Race Across America, covering 2,983 miles in less than 10 days.

Warren also competed in a seven-day race across the Sahara Desert, and finished a triple Ironman in France that included a 7.2-mile swim, 336-mile bike ride and 78.6-mile run.

Warren was well-loved among younger triathletes.

Michellie Jones, who won a triathlon silver medal in the 2000 Olympics and won the 2006 Ironman World Title, was also a twin who remembered her fondly.

"She always asked about my sister," Jones said. "She understood the bond."

Warren's twin said she lay next to her sister as she died.

"My heart and my soul are gone," Drake said. "She was everything in my life."

Manager: Spears not slated to perform on VMAs

LOS ANGELES - Britney Spears won't perform on this year's MTV Video Music Awards, according to her manager.

"Contrary to media reports, Britney was never slated to perform on this year's VMAs," Larry Rudolph, Spears' manager at Jive Records, said in a statement. "She's in the middle of recording her next album, which is going amazingly well, and her focus remains on the studio."

Spears' "Gimme More" comeback performance during last year's VMAs was one of the most-talked-about moments of 2007. The tabloid queen is currently appearing in spots promoting this year's ceremony.

In June, MTV Networks Music Group President Van Toffler said the network wasn't ruling out giving viewers another dose of Spears at the VMAs. MTV later confirmed they were in talks to have Spears appear in some capacity. The rebounding pop queen is nominated for video of the year for "Piece of Me."

This VMAs will air live Sept. 7 from Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles. Previously announced award show performers include Kid Rock, Lil Wayne, Pink, Rihanna, Paramore, T.I. and the Jonas Brothers.

Boca call in AFA over contoversial Nayar deal

The Argentinian Football Association is to ask its Spanish counterpart to veto Recreativo Huelva's signing of Boca Juniors midfielder Sebastian Nayar because of a dispute over the player's contract.

Recreativo announced on Wednesday that they had signed the 20-year-old to a four-year deal, claiming the player was unattached after the expiry of his deal with Boca. But that has brought an angry reaction from the Buenos Aires club, where club president Pedro Pompilio insists he has a valid contract for the player and will not allow him to leave. Later on Wednesday, AFA president Julio Grondona announced that he has contacted the president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Angel Maria Villar, to ask him not to authorise the transfer. 'I talked to Villa, my colleague in Spain, and we sent a letter to disallow the club to sign the player,' Grondona told the Ole newspaper. 'He can be there and do whatever he wants, but we'll see if he plays.' AFA secretary general Jose Luiz Meiszner gave a separate interview to Radio La Red in which he claimed Villar had previously agreed that the deal should not go though at the present time. 'Villar committed himself not to authorise any signing until this controversy is sorted out,' he said. A statement on Recre's website read: 'Sebastian Nayar, midfielder formerly of Boca, has become a new member of the Recreativo first team after negotiations between the two parties (Recre and the player) reached an agreement in the past few hours. 'A deal has been completed to tie the player to the club for the next four seasons. He will be presented in the next few days.' The statement continued to explain Recreativo's version of events, claiming that Boca had tried to keep hold of the player using a contract the Spanish club claim is not valid. 'The player was wanted by his club of origin, with whom his contract ended on June 30, and who tried to keep him using an extension which was in no way valid. 'In the coming hours Recreativo will ask for the players rights to be transferred from the AFA (Argentinian FA) so that the player can be registered with the Spanish league. 'In the case of this being denied by the Argentinian club, we will ask for a provisional transfer to be put through by FIFA.' Under AFA regulations, when the contract of a player comes to an end, there is an automatic two-year extension with the player receiving a 20% pay rise. However, that rule does not appear in FIFA regulations. In an interview with Argentinian TV station TyC Sports, Nayar said he believed FIFA had approved the deal. 'The club and the Spanish Federation have already been told its okay by FIFA,' he said. 'If Grondona wants to send a letter to the federation, we'll see what happens.' Pompilio has claimed to hold a contract tying Nayar to Boca until 2012. However, Nayar denied that. 'I have never signed that,' he said. 'My contract finished on June 30 and I gave Boca a lot of chances to retain me.' 'FIFA do not recognise the automatic two-year extension the AFA set after the contract finishes.' Nayar himself admitted that he was happy to have made the move to Spain, and revealed that he had tried to leave Argentina in January but a loan to fellow Argentinian side Newell's Old Boys and a transfer to Holland was blocked by his club. 'I've taken the decision because I have an important opportunity,' he said. 'The train only passes once and when it comes along, you have to get on. 'In January, I had a chance to leave (to Newell's) and Boca did not let me. 'Then, an offer came up from the Netherlands and Boca put a US dollars six million price tag on me. It's too much for a player who has played only one senior game.'

Boca Juniors rocked by Palermo knee injury

Boca Juniors have confirmed that striker Martin Palermo has suffered a serious knee injury and will be out for at least five months.

The 34-year-old damaged the cruciate ligaments in his right knee after an awkward fall shortly before half-time in the 2-1 Apertura victory over Lanus.

Boca team doctor Jose Veiga told Radio La Red that Palermo 'will undergo surgery in 48 hours'. The operation is expected to take place on Tuesday.

Viega added: 'We found out exactly what we didn't want to discover.

'Martin firstly injured the inner ligament and then the effort tore the cruciate ones. He will need five to eight months to recover.'

This is the second time Palermo has injured his right knee, having suffered a similar injury in 1999.

Palermo's team-mate Juan Roman Riquelme, who took gold with Argentina at the Beijing Olympics at the weekend, was shocked by the news.

'I have just been told Palermo got injured and I am deeply sad,' Riquelme said on his arrival in the Argentine captial from China.

'I was happy to hear about the victory but then I was told about this. It's terrible.'

Earlier this month, Palermo scored his 194th goal for Boca to level Francisco Varallo as the club's record scorer. Varallo has held the record since 1939.

Argentina beats Nigeria 1-0 for Olympic gold

BEIJING (AP)—On a day when the heat on the field topped a punishing 107 degrees, and the referee twice stopped play because of the sizzle, Argentina proved itself a champion again.

Angel di Maria provided the finish to another piece of magic from Lionel Messi, helping Argentina defeat Nigeria 1-0 for its second straight gold medal in Olympic soccer.

Di Maria collected Messi’s expertly timed pass in the 58th minute Saturday and nonchalantly lobbed it over the goalkeeper. Nigeria, the 1996 champions, settled for the silver medal.

“This group deserved this,” Messi said. “We knew coming in that we may never have this experience again, so we are lucky that everything went well and we got what we wanted.”

Brazil, which has never won Olympic gold, earned the bronze medal Friday by beating Belgium 3-0 in Shanghai. After the final, Ronaldinho and his teammates stood on the field to collect their bronze medals and see the title go to their biggest rivals.

Messi almost didn’t play in the tournament because FC Barcelona won a ruling that it could pull him from the tournament. The Spanish team allowed him to play.

“I think he has played very well in the Olympic tournament,” Argentina coach Sergio Batista said. “He’s played very well today as he normally does in his position and I knew that he could probably be the deciding factor.”

The final began at noon in the Bird’s Nest, and the referee took the rare step of twice allowing players to stop and take drinks.

“Maybe the heat was a factor,” Batista said. “I think it the game had been played in another part of the day it would have been very different.”

The game was the only one to be played in Beijing’s main Olympic stadium, and it was watched by a crowd of 89,102 that included former Argentina great Diego Maradona. But the fans had to wait a long time to be entertained.

Not surprisingly, the searing heat made for poor quality in the first half— mistakes, misplaced passes and slow movement to conserve energy.

“We tried to make sure that we didn’t get uptight, just too play our own game,” Batista said. “We wanted to play with intelligence and move the ball around and not run around so much. We wanted the ball to do the work.”

After Peter Odemwingie’s free kick forced Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero to make a diving save in the sixth minute, Juan Roman Riquelme sent one over the bar.

Messi had a penalty appeal turned down when he tumbled over Dele Adeleye’s challenge.

Nigeria almost went ahead shortly after the first drink break when Odemwingie crossed from the left and Promise Isaac just missed the ball in front of goal. The ball came back and Isaac’s looping header was saved by Romero.

“No team has actually played at noon since we started this tournament,” Nigeria coach Samson Siasia said. “It affected both countries and most players didn’t perform to their level because of the heat. But we didn’t make the rules. They said play the game at 12 o’clock which I don’t think wasn’t a good idea.”

Argentina, and Messi in particular, were disappointed in the first half, but Di Maria almost made the breakthrough with a 30-yard shot that goalkeeper Ambruse Vanzekin pushed around the post.

Messi produced one of his special moments in the 50th minute when he spun past a defender just outside the penalty area and sent a left-footed drive Vanzekin punched away.

Victor Obinna had a chance to even the score in the 63rd minute with a clear shot, but he sent it straight at the goalkeeper.

Ebenezer Alijore also had a shot at the goal, but it rolled wide of the post and then Sani Kaita shot over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.

Canoeing-Kayaking not for the faint hearted

BEIJING, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The Spanish silver medallist could not help throwing up on the podium.

The Ukrainian bronze medallist had to be picked up by the rescue boat after fainting on the finish line. And the German silver medallist from another race spent several hours in hospital.

With such short distances of 1,000 and 500 metres, canoeists and kayakers out on Lake Shunyi push themselves to exhaustion.

After the second race of the day on Saturday, two of the medal winners had to be driven the short distance to the press conference because they could not walk.

Spain’s David Cal, who had entered as the C1 500 metre favourite, looked white and repeatedly threw up while collecting his silver medal, while Iurii Cheban of Ukraine fainted several times on the side of the lake after finishing third.

On Friday, Germany’s Thomasz Wylenzek was taken to hospital after collapsing following his silver medal-winning performance in the double.

However it seems that a gold medal can override all pain. Russia’s Maxim Opalev who won the gold over Cal and Cheban danced all the way to the press conference, waving his flag on the way.

Analysis: Biden pick shows lack of confidence

DENVER - The candidate of change went with the status quo.

In picking Sen. Joe Biden to be his running mate, Barack Obama sought to shore up his weakness — inexperience in office and on foreign policy — rather than underscore his strength as a new-generation candidate defying political conventions.

He picked a 35-year veteran of the Senate — the ultimate insider — rather than a candidate from outside Washington, such as Govs. Tim Kaine of Virginia or Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas; or from outside his party, such as Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska; or from outside the mostly white male club of vice presidential candidates. Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't even make his short list.

The picks say something profound about Obama: For all his self-confidence, the 47-year-old Illinois senator worried that he couldn't beat Republican John McCain without help from a seasoned politician willing to attack. The Biden selection is the next logistical step in an Obama campaign that has become more negative — a strategic decision that may be necessary but threatens to run counter to his image.

Democratic strategists, fretting over polls that showed McCain erasing Obama's lead this summer, welcomed the move. They, too, worried that Obama needed a more conventional — read: tougher — approach to McCain.

"You've got to hand it to the candidate and the campaign. They have a great sense of timing and tone and appropriateness. Six months ago, people said he wasn't tough enough on Hillary Clinton — he was being too passive — but he got it right at the right time," said Democratic strategist Jim Jordan. "He'll get it right again."

Indeed, Obama has begun to aggressively counter McCain's criticism with negative television ads and sharp retorts from the campaign trail.

A senior Obama adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity, said his boss has expressed impatience with what he calls a "reverence" inside his campaign for his message of change and new politics. In other words, Obama is willing — even eager — to risk what got him this far if it gets him to the White House.

Biden brings a lot to the table. An expert on national security, the Delaware senator voted in 2002 to authorize military intervention in Iraq but has since become a vocal critic of the conflict. He won praise for a plan for peace in Iraq that would divide the country along ethnic lines.

Chief sponsor of a sweeping anti-crime bill that passed in 1994, Biden could help inoculate Obama from GOP criticism that he's soft on crime — a charge his campaign fears will drive a wedge between white voters and the first black candidate with a serious shot at the White House.

So the question is whether Biden's depth counters Obama's inexperience — or highlights it?

After all, Biden is anything but a change agent, having been in office longer than half of all Americans have been alive. Longer than McCain.

And he talks too much.

On the same day he announced his second bid for the presidency, Biden found himself explaining why he had described Obama as "clean."

And there's the 2007 ABC interview in which Biden said he would stand by an earlier statement that Obama was not ready to serve as president.

It seems Obama is worried that some voters are starting to agree.

Cuban taekwondo athlete banned after kicking ref

BEIJING (AP)—A Cuban taekwondo athlete and his coach were banned for life after Angel Matos kicked the referee in the face following his bronze-medal match disqualification.

Cuban coach Leudis Gonzalez offered no apology for Matos’ actions during the men’s over-80 kg (176 pounds) match.

Matos was winning 3-2, with 1:02 in the second round, when he fell to the mat after being hit by his opponent, Kazakhstan’s Arman Chilmanov. He was sitting there, awaiting medical attention, when he was disqualified for taking too much injury time. Fighters get one minute, and Matos was disqualified when his time ran out.

Matos angrily questioned the call, pushed a judge, then pushed and kicked referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden. Matos then spat on the floor and was escorted out.

“He was too strict,” Gonzalez said, referring to the decision to disqualify Matos. Afterward, he charged the match was fixed, accusing the Kazakhs of offering him money.

“This is a strong violation of the spirit of taekwondo and the Olympic Games. The sanctions are the following and are effective immediately: Lifetime ban of the coach and athlete in all championships sanctioned by the (World Taekwondo Federation) and at the same time, all records of this athlete at the Beijing Games will immediately be erased,” said the announcer, reading a WTF release.

In his first match, Matos defeated Italy’s Leonardo Basile, then beat China’s Liu Xiaobo 2-1 in the quarterfinals. But he lost to South Korean Cha Dong-min in the semis to land in the bronze-medal match.

“To me it was obvious he was unable to continue,” Chilmanov said. “His toe on his left foot was broken.”

Matos won the gold medal in this division at the 2000 Sydney Games, dedicating the victory to his mother, who died on the day of the opening ceremony. At the 2004 Athens Games, he finished 11th.

Matos’ tantrum followed a day of confusion on the mats.

Earlier Saturday, China’s double gold medalist Chen Zhong crashed out in the quarterfinals after initially being declared the winner. It was the first time a match result had been overturned since taekwondo became an official Olympic sport in 1990.

Japanese swimmer collapses at Water Cube pool

BEIJING (AP)—A member of Japan’s synchronized swimming team had to be helped out of the pool during Saturday’s final after she apparently fainted.

Hiromi Kobayashi, a 23-year-old from Osaka competing in her first Olympics, was taken off the deck on a stretcher after hyperventilating as the routine ended.

Two men in swimsuits jumped into the pool to assist the team, which was helping Kobayashi to the side. The other team members climbed out to await their scores, while the ailing woman clung to the pool’s edge.

Kobayashi was lifted out by the two men in swimsuits and she buckled to her knees. Her body and head went limp as they carried her. She was wrapped in a white sheet and rushed away on the stretcher, attended to by several volunteers and medical personnel.

The woman hyperventilated because of stress, said Hiroshi Takeuchi, press officer for the Japanese team.

“That kind of thing has happened to her before. She is a very nervous athlete,” he said. “She is good. Don’t worry, she’s not in serious condition.”

Kobayashi was conscious and resting at the arena, and did not require a hospital visit, he said.

The Japanese team tied the United States for fifth in the final. Japan was assessed a two-point penalty for touching the bottom of the pool during its routine.

“During the last part of the routine, the team became exhausted,” coach Masako Kaneko said. “The last part was the climax, but it went wrong and this was reflected in the score. Their sharpness was poor as well.”

The Spanish team came on deck as Kobayashi was poolside.

“We saw something had happened—there were a lot of doctors moving all around—but we didn’t think about it,” swimmer Paolo Tirados said. “We wanted to do our own thing and fight for a medal and be close to the Russians.”

Martin Short image hovers over synchro swimming

BEIJING (AP)—Barred from wearing suits that made them look like waterproof Christmas trees, the Spanish team took a different tack.

Gangsta.

They marched onto the deck at the Water Cube in costumes embroidered with a menacing cartoon character across the front and back, his cap backward and carrying a stick in a threatening manner.

Somewhere, Martin Short is smiling.

This is synchronized swimming, a sport that requires as much strength, stamina and skill as any in Beijing—but still draws snickers from those who believe the gelled-up hair, caked-on makeup and outlandish suits are better suited for a Vegas show than an Olympic pool.

A hilarious “Saturday Night Live” bit from 1984 is usually a convenient starting point for any discussion with the uninformed. Adorned with noseclips, Short and Harry Shearer played brothers who dream of being the first males to compete at the Olympics in synchronized swimming.

Never mind that Short has to wear a lifejacket because “I’m not that strong a swimmer.”

“You would be surprised,” said Andrea Nott, who competes for the United States in both the team and duet events—and, no, she doesn’t wear a flotation device. “That was more than 20 years ago and people still say, ‘Hey, I saw the ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit.”

Her response?

“We do it because we love it and there’s enough satisfaction in it for us,” Nott said. “If some people think it’s dorky, well, they don’t have to watch it.”

Judging from the packed stands at the Water Cube this week, plenty of people enjoy a sport that combines the artistry of a ballet with the athleticism of an acrobat show, all in the water. These are true athletes, practicing up to 10 hours a day, six days a week to coordinate the intricate moves and build up enough lung capacity to perform strenuous underwater techniques, often upside down, while holding their breath.

“There’s something about the breath holding that makes the lactate acid come on a little sooner,” Nott said after a duet routine that lasted nearly four minutes. “By 30 seconds into the piece, we’re burning.”

American coach Tammy McGregor, a gold medalist in Atlanta, said many misconceptions about the sport originate in her own country, even though the U.S. was a powerhouse when synchro swimming was added to the Olympics at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Winning gold didn’t reduce the ridicule.

“Our country is very focused on football, basketball and baseball,” McGregor said. “When we go to Japan, people go nuts for synchro. A venue like this one here would be sold out wall-to-wall for the world championships. When we go to Europe, it’s the same way. It’s really only the Americas” where people seem hung up on the is-it-a-sport-or-not debate.

There have been tasteless jokes: If one member of the duet team drowns, does the other one have to drown, too?

And the derision shows no sign of stopping. Disney reportedly has a comedy in development entitled “Synchronicity,” the story of (stop us if you’ve heard this one before) two guys who are synchronized swimmers.

Before every competition, synchro swimmers wet their hair, pull it back in a tight bun using old-fashioned bobby pins, then apply a gel to remove any chance of it getting in their face during the routine. It goes on as a warm, thick paste and hardens while drying, which leaves the hair shining like a car just off the assembly line. They say it can be washed out with very hot water, but a chisel might work better.

There’s no skimping on the makeup, either. Apparently, one must look like a Kabuki performer to attract the notice of the judges; the garish blue eye shadow might be a little excessive even for a lady of the night.

Then there’s the routines. Nott and her duet partner, Christina Jones, went with the theme “metamorphosis,” accompanied by music from Mozart’s “Lacrimosa.” A giant butterfly was emblazoned across their chests.

“We were showing the whole part,” Jones said. “The playful part, the death and then the rebirth at the end. We were trying to show every kind of emotion.”

McGregor, who studied fashion in college, designs most of the suits worn by the Americans.

“It needs to communicate what you’re doing,” she said. “It needs to be visible from very far away. There can’t be a lot of stuff on it. Just one idea that’s really big. It also depends on whether you’re indoors or outdoors. You sparkle a whole lot more outdoors than indoors.”

With the Olympics being held inside, the Spaniards came up with a novel way to stand out. They developed a suit embedded with waterproof lights, figuring it’s just the next step in a sport where sequins are almost mandatory. Alas, the governing body of swimming ruled the luminaries were a violation of the rule against using extra props.

But apparently, there is no rule against invoking rap culture in the pool.

There are other issues. Much like figure skating, the scoring sometimes seems to be preordained, removing much of the drama. The Russians won gold in duet and no one believes they won’t do the same in Saturday’s team final.

“It’s hard not to get upset about things you can’t control,” Nott said.

Another thing. For some reason, every performance begins with the pair or team marching onto the specially built deck with an exaggerated waggle, throwing themselves around as though they were playing a game of Twister, then turning to the judges with a freeze-frame smile before they dive in.

“It’s really just setting you up,” McGregor said. “It’s that first impression. If you didn’t have the most amazing deck pose, I don’t think that would really make a difference. But a lot of times, you’re setting up a theme or a mood, while showing some flexibility or strength. It’s just a bonus deal.”

On the other hand, synchronized swimming should look no more out of place at the Olympics than rhythmic gymnastics, where competitors prance around the mat using clubs, hoops, balls, ribbon and rope. Or race walking, which is sort of like letting those who can’t swim very well compete in the dog paddle.

And we haven’t even mentioned figure skating, which takes Winter Olympic fashion to new lows and revels in having a kiss-and-cry area for over-dramatic performers to receive their scores.

No one can deny that synchronized swimmers are bona fide athletes. Anyone who has seen the sport up close and studied the moves on underwater cameras realizes that it takes astonishing skill to pull off what is essentially a ballet without a leg to stand on.

Remember, no touching the bottom.

“There is art in this sport,” Russia’s Anastasia Davydova said after winning gold in the duet. “We perform to music, and if you have music you have art. But today all my muscles ached, were completely numb—except for the ones in my brain—so I don’t know how they could kick us out of the Olympics.”

Her partner, Anastasia Ermakova, agreed.

“At the last Olympics, when (Davydova) was undergoing a doping test, someone said, ‘But why would you need doping for synchro?’” she said. “I don’t think people understand how hard it is to do what we do. They should be put underwater to see how hard it is.”

IOC orders investigation into He Kexin's age

The International Olympic Committee has ordered an investigation into the age of Chinese gymnast He Kexin, The Times of London reports. Faced with almost insurmountable evidence which suggests that He is two years younger than the birth date listed on her Chinese passport, the IOC has launched an inquiry that could result in the stripping of He's gold medals.

This news comes on the heels of another Times report that details the findings of a New York computer security expert who found official Chinese documents that list He's age as 14 years and 220 days. Mike Walker used a Chinese search engine's cache feature to find He's actual date of birth on spreadsheets from a Chinese government website. The spreadsheets were taken down off the site recently and He's name had been removed.

Assuming the IOC is committed to a real investigation and not some dog and pony show, the revelation that the Chinese government covered up the ages of gymnasts could end up being the defining moment of these Games for the host country. Officials wanted the Olympics to be a coming out party for a new China. But while the Games have been a huge success, there is a legitimate possibility that China's legacy from Beijing '08 will be that of a massive government cover-up, not the magical Opening Ceremony or the transformation of Beijing or anything else positive.

All the good work China did to put on these Olympics could be forgotten because of an unnecessary, arrogant move by the government. Why risk everything to put a 14-year old in the competition when they could have replaced her with an of-age 16-year old gymnast? Sure, He is a better gymnast than the Chinese gymnasts who were eligible to compete, but with the judges they had at the Olympics, would it really have mattered?

US softball team denied gold, loses 3-1 to Japan

BEIJING (AP)—They walked around in a daze unsure of what to do next.

Andrea Duran leaned on a fence and cried. Lovieanne Jung sat alone on the charter bus. Laura Berg politely signed a few autographs for Olympic volunteers. Stacey Nuveman and Monica Abbott hugged each other tightly, almost afraid to let go.

The U.S. softball team never thought it would lose. Not here, not now, not in these Olympics.

“This isn’t how it was supposed to end,” pitcher Cat Osterman said.

In softball’s final appearance for at least eight years—and perhaps for good—the good-as-gold Americans met their match.

Behind a rubber-armed pitcher who stared down the world’s mightiest lineup and never blinked, Japan stunned the U.S. team 3-1 on Thursday, denying the Americans a fourth straight gold medal in the sport’s last swing until at least 2016.

The loss was the first for the Americans since Sept. 21, 2000 at the Sydney Games. They had won 22 in a row, most by outrageously lopsided scores. With power pitchers, power hitters, power everything, the Americans set the standard and showed no signs of slowing down.

But Yukiko Ueno, who pitched 21 innings one day earlier to give her country a shot at gold, worked out of two bases-loaded jams as Japan outplayed the Americans with solid defense and two big hits.

“We had opportunities,” said Nuveman, a three-time Olympic catcher. “We just couldn’t get that big hit.”

This was the upset the softball world had been waiting for. And, in a strange way, the one it may have needed.

The U.S. has dominated the sport since its Olympic debut in 1996, and that utter domination—outscoring the field 51-1 four years ago in Greece—that may have contributed to the International Olympic Committee’s decision to drop the sport from the 2012 London Games.

To bolster its case for reinstatement, softball needs to show the IOC before its next vote (set for Denmark in October 20O9) that it has grown globally and that the rest of the world was gaining on the Americans.

Well, here’s proof.

“If this can be an aid to get us back in the games, then so be it,” U.S. coach Mike Candrea said. “I think this game is very good right now. “

This time, the U.S. outscored the field 57-2 through eight games. The Americans batted .348, their opponents .054. They threw two no-hitters, a perfect game and gave up zero earned runs in 48 innings.

What promised to be a more competitive tournament than Athens turned into a tourist stop: Behold the Great Maul.

But with Ueno on the mound, Japan had given the U.S. all it could handle on Wednesday in the semifinals, forcing the Americans to extra innings before Crystl Bustos hit a three-run homer in a 4-1 win.

Ueno had pitched the entire game (9 innings) and then added 12 more as Japan beat Australia 4-3 in bronze-medal play to set up a rematch with the Americans. With few other options—the U.S. pounded Naho Emoto and Mika Someya in the prelims—coach Haruka Saito turned again to Ueno, who went a total of 28 innings over two days.

Did she ever come through.

Though it’s rare for a pitcher at this level to work consecutive days, Ueno’s performance can stand with any in these games. Not only was it physically demanding in China’s thick air, but she couldn’t afford a misstep in two matchups with the U.S. or against the free-swinging Aussies.

How did she do it?

“It was my strong belief to win,” she said through an interpreter.

She was in trouble in the first, but the Americans couldn’t push a run across despite having the bases loaded.

Japan took a 1-0 lead in the third. Masumi Mishina doubled for the first extra-base hit against U.S. pitching in nine games. Yukiyo Mine sacrificed, and with two outs, Ayumi Karino beat out a bouncer, scoring Mishina with the first earned run against the Americans.

“Behind” is not a place the U.S. knows well.

Soon, the Americans found themselves in a deeper hole.

Eri Yamada opened the fourth by driving Osterman’s first pitch over the center-field wall. Suddenly, it was 2-0 Japan, the biggest deficit the Americans had faced in 37 Olympic games.

More ominous, it was also the first homer off a U.S pitcher since Sept. 21, 2000—the Americans’ previous loss.

“I wish I could have that pitch back,” Osterman said.

Both Japanese hitters seemed to guess correctly on her deadly riseball, and they may have been helped by third-base coach Hiroko Tamoto. A silver medalist in 2000, Tamoto, who still wears batting gloves in the coach’s box, yelled at Japan’s hitters while Osterman was in her windup. Whatever she screamed, it helped.

Interestingly, Tamoto had coached first base earlier in the tournament.

Osterman settled down and got two outs, when the game was stopped by rain. When it resumed 19 minutes later, Osterman got the third out and the U.S. players gathered in front of their dugout.

“Let’s go, U.S.A!” Jennie Finch shouted.

Bustos heard her—loud and clear,

The three-time Olympian led off the fourth with the 14th homer of her Olympic career, cutting Japan’s lead to 2-1.

It looked as if the Americans would finally get to Ueno when they loaded the bases in the sixth. But she got Duran to pop to short and Nuveman to second. Danger averted, Japan’s players sprinted to their dugout.

The Americans were rattled and they made two uncharacteristic errors in the seventh to help the Japanese add an important insurance run—one they didn’t even need.

Surely, the U.S. would come back, and they nearly did.

Vicky Galino led off the seventh with a pinch-hit single. But Tairia Flowers fouled out on a ball that Japan’s shortstop snared after a long run and Natasha Watley followed with a rocket down the third-base line that was caught.

Caitlin Lowe grounded to third for the final out, and Japan’s overjoyed players danced in the infield. Across the way, the Americans hung their heads and quickly retreated to their locker room to compose themselves.

They were comforted by Candrea, who had lost his wife, Sue, just before the 2004 games.

“I told them I was proud of them,” he said. “We had one hell of a run. I almost wish we had lost a game early on. Then, this wouldn’t hurt so much.”

Later, the stunned Americans got their silver medals, little consolation for a team accustomed to gold.

As she and her teammates watched Japan’s flag being raised up the pole, Jessica Mendoza’s legs shook and she bit her lip.

Afterward, Berg, a four-time Olympian, Bustos, Jung, Flowers and Kelly Kretschman clasped hands and walked to home plate, cleats in hand, to say goodbye to a game they loved.

Each one left a pair in the dirt.

It was time to move on.

Whopping Fish Declared New Species

A man-sized grouper that trolls the tropical waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean for octopuses and crabs has been identified as a new fish species after genetic tests.

Called the goliath grouper, the fish can grow to six feet (1.8 meters) in length and weigh a whopping 1,000 pounds (454 kg). Until now, scientists had grouped this species with an identical looking fish (also called the goliath grouper, or Epinephelus itajara) living in the Atlantic Ocean.

"For more than a century, ichthyologists have thought that Pacific and Atlantic goliath grouper were the same species," said lead researcher Matthew Craig of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, "and the argument was settled before the widespread use of genetic techniques."

Once upon a time, about 3.5 million years ago — before the Caribbean and the Pacific were separated by present-day Panama — they were, in fact, the same species. Now, DNA tests have revealed the two populations have distinct genes, indicating they likely evolved into two separate species after their ocean homes were divided by Central America.

Scientists disagree about how to define the term "species" and what separates species from one another biologically, though some say that a species is a group that can mate with one another and produce offspring that are not sterile. However, this biological definition doesn't always hold up, for instance, with coyotes and wolves (considered separate species), which can successfully produce fertile offspring. In this study, the scientists relied on differences in the fishes' genetic codes to establish the separate grouper species.

The new Pacific species, now designated as Epinephelus quinquefasciatus, is described in a recent issue of the journal Endangered Species Research.

The Atlantic variety, E. itajara, is currently listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, or International Union for Conservation of Nature. Due to its scarcity, E. quinquefasciatus also may be considered critically endangered.

"In light of our new findings, the Pacific goliath grouper should be treated with separate management and conservation strategies," said researcher Rachel Graham of the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York.

The research was funded by Programa Petrobras Ambiental, Conservation International Brazil to Projeto Meros do Brasil, The Summit Foundation, National Science Foundation and Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology.

On the new cover of Allure: Carrie Underwood is a whole lot cooler than we thought

You know what's awesome? When you develop an unexpected girl crush on a celebrity you'd completely written off. This is what just happened to managing editor Annette and me after reading Allure's September cover story about Carrie Underwood. In it, the 25 year-old singer/ American Idol winner comes across as vulnerable, likeable, frugal, slightly confused and young. Which is so much more honest than when 20-something celebs try to pretend they actually know something or get all deep and pretentious about their "craft" and "life path." Sure, Underwood still looks freakishly perfect—super, super airbrushed, glossy, coiffed and skinny (she apparently has to maintain a weight of between 110 and 115lbs, so she records every snack she eats). But it's what she says that made us want to hang with her, protect her from the jerks and maybe sit her down and give her some old-fashioned sisterly advice.
Read on for excerpts from the interview (the issue is on newsstands now).
On money:
The Steinway piano she craves? "I have the space. It's just waiting for the piano, but, you know, they're expensive!" The SUV she desires? "They're expensive, too!" She is still driving around in the Mustang she won on American Idol.
"But what if I don't earn any more next year? What if something awful happens? I'm not at the point where I say, 'OK, I've made enough.' I don't know what the limit is."

About Chace Crawford of Gossip Girl:
"We didn't have a fight. No one cheated. It plain didn't work."

On ex-bf Tony Romo:
"We were both small-town people doing very big things, and we relied on each other, dealing with fame," she says. And now? "I don't know. The phone will ring and it'll be him, and I'll maybe not answer."

What she thinks about fame:
"You never really know why somebody wants to be around you, or if they do genuinely like you," she says. "I wish everyone had a label on their forehead so you could automatically tell their intentions. Sometimes you just wish that no one wanted anything from you."
and
"I really have gotten rid of a lot of people in my life that don't need to be there."

About the inequalities in the music industry, especially country music:
"I know [the record companies] figure out their target audience is thirtysomething females. So they get these guy singers in there, thinking that will appeal to them. But there's nobody left for these thirtysomething women to relate to! The guys, they're just there to be eye candy!" She stares furiously down at her black flip-flops sprinkled with silver glitter. "We work harder than the guys do, because we have to! They think, She's doing great 'for a woman.' They don't come out and say it that blatantly. But they think it.†Moreover, she continues, "There's a lot of women who should have been nominated for Entertainer of the Year. Martina McBride! Faith Hill! You know what I mean?"

Meanwhile, Underwood has plans. Maybe these plans will even include Faith Hill. Underwood says she intends them to include Kellie Pickler, another Idol graduate tilling the same musical soil. "I want to have a girls-only tour and get some awesome chicks together, and have us all go out and," Underwood beams a happy smile out toward this future, "kick butt."

On fashion and her critics:
"Whenever you wear a simple, solid color dress, they'll be like, 'Oh, she's playing it too safe.' But then you do something fun and you hear, 'Oh, she should have stuck with something simple.' Nobody is ever happy. Style is all about what you feel great in."

US beats Brazil 1-0 for gold medal

BEIJING (AP)—They came to the Beijing Olympics as a team trying to find its way, still adjusting to a new coach and each other, still smarting from a loss that brought humiliation on and off the field.

They dropped their first game, hardly an auspicious start for a country that had lost only one other in three Olympics. But bit by bit, game by game, they came together, figuring out what it would take to win.

On Thursday night, the U.S. women’s soccer team stood as one, Olympic gold medals around their necks, champions once again.

“Vindicated? I feel great, I feel amazing. I just won a gold medal,” said goalkeeper Hope Solo, whose banishment at last year’s World Cup symbolizes the struggles these Americans have had and without whom they wouldn’t have won this game.

Solo made save after save to keep the United States in the game, and Carli Lloyd scored in the sixth minute of extra time to give the United States a 1-0 victory over Brazil and the gold medal for a third time in four Olympics.

It was the first victory in a major tournament for new coach Pia Sundhage, who took over less than nine months ago.

“It was hard, and this win wasn’t just down to my goal,” Lloyd said. “It was only achievable with the team we have and that we played for each other.”

United now, the Americans were ripped apart at last year’s World Cup, also in China.

Though Solo had allowed only two goals in four World Cup starts and had a shutout streak of nearly 300 minutes going, then-coach Greg Ryan decided to sit her for the semifinal against Brazil and play veteran Briana Scurry. The move was a disaster, and the United States—a favorite to win the tournament—was humbled 4-0, its worst loss ever at a World Cup.

Solo lashed out at Ryan, and was banished. A month later, Ryan was fired.

“I went through hell. A lot of people did,” Solo said. “But I feel stronger in the end. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m glad I went though it. I learned a lot about myself.”

And she has a gold medal as the result.

After the game ended, Solo sprinted back out onto the field, a gaudy imitation gold medal around her neck, a phone to her ear and a bright smile on her face. She closed her eyes when the national anthem began playing, and bounced proudly and gripped her medal when the team posed for pictures afterward.

A few fans in the crowd chanted, “We want Hope! We want Hope!”

“I asked two questions: Do you want to win? Yes. Do you need goalkeepers to win? Yes,” Sundhage said. “We had to move on, and this day you could see that we did it.”

Emotion poured from the Americans at the final whistle. They charged to the middle of the field, screaming in celebration. A few grabbed American flags and sprinted to the U.S. fans in the stands. Mostly though, they beamed, those long months of tension and uncertainty suddenly far away.

“This is such a reward for nine months of hard, hard work and soul-searching after the World Cup,” Kate Markgraf said.

For the Brazilians, it was yet another bitter disappointment, the third consecutive time they’ve been the runner-up at a top event. They outplayed the Americans in the 2004 final, too, and lost in extra time. They also fell to Germany in the World Cup final last year.

As jubilant as the Americans were, the Brazilians were just as despondent. Goalkeeper Barbara lay on her back when the game ended, sobbing, while Cristiane sat on the ground crying.

“I have no idea why we can’t win a final,” said Marta, who sobbed when she got her silver medal, her lip quivering. “It’s something I’m gonna keep asking myself for a long time. You keep asking what you did wrong.”

The two-time FIFA Player of the Year has nothing to regret. Her speed and control mesmerized the American defenders, and her cat-like quickness allowed her to get to balls no other player would have come close to. She was credited with six shots on goal, but she seemed to be in Solo’s personal space more often than a pickpocket.

“I’m more mad than sad,” Marta said. “Again we had a chance to win the gold and again we let it slip away. It’s hard to say why that keeps happening to us.”

Though the Americans arrived in Beijing as the world’s top team, they were far from favorites for gold. They lost top defender Cat Whitehill in June, when she tore up her left knee. In the final tuneup before Beijing, leading scorer Abby Wambach broke her leg. Then they lost their opener, giving up two goals in the first few minutes to Norway.

This was not, it was clear, a team like the United States had grown accustomed to in the days of Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy, who played together so long, they knew each other’s every move.

But Sundhage’s calming presence bolstered the Americans. Their offense wasn’t always a thing of beauty, but they found ways to win games.

“We are not looking at the results, but on how we play,” Sundhage said. “Soccer is not a matter of 1-0 or 2-0, it’s the way to find out the rhythm. The match against Norway is our key point in the tournament. … We found out our weak points and improved it. That’s why we stand here with the gold medal.”

The Americans were outclassed for much of the game by Brazil’s dazzling speed and control, but Solo kept them in the game, making at least a half-dozen big saves. In the 31st minute, Lloyd lost a ball to Formiga, who passed to Cristiane. Cristiane was the tournament’s leading scorer, and she ran full-speed looking for another. But Solo came off her line and dove at Cristiane’s feet to collect the ball, upending the Brazilian in the process.

Even more impressive was Solo’s save in the 72nd minute, when Marta lost the ball behind Heather Mitts and Markgraf and then picked it back up for a close-range shot that looked certain to be in. But Solo leaned out, threw up her right arm and sent the ball flying out of harm’s way.

“I think I was leaning to my left waiting to dive to the left because the whole goal was open,” Solo said. “And she ended up going right, and I luckily kept some of my weight on the right.”

Said Marta: “I don’t understand why the ball wouldn’t go in. In so many games before we were able to score easily, but today it wasn’t the case.”

The rest of the Americans picked up the slack in the last five minutes of regulation, nearly scoring three times—twice in the 86th minute alone.

Then, in extra time, Amy Rodriguez held off two Brazilians and put the ball up for Lloyd who gave it a light touch with her right foot and then left-footed it from a yard outside the area. Barbara dived, but the ball scooted past her and settled in the far bottom corner of the net.

“I just knew that I had to keep it low, strike it hard and it went in,” Lloyd said.

Marta did everything she could to draw the Brazilians even. In the 102nd minute, she was tackled by Mitts and then, after getting the ball back, was blocked first by Markgraf and then by Christie Rampone. In the second extra period, she tried to bend in a corner a few minutes later only to watch Solo punch it free. Renata Costa collected the rebound, but her shot banged into the side of the net, drawing groans from the star-studded crowd of 51,612—Kobe Bryant, Pele, FIFA president Sepp Blatter and International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge were all in the house—that clearly favored Brazil.

Shortly after, Marta looped in a free kick, but none of her teammates went for it, and the ball bounced over the scrum and wide of the far post.

“We felt like we were getting better each minute,” captain Christie Rampone said. “We said, ‘Don’t worry about making mistakes, just go out there and play with confidence and be brave.’ You could feel it every minute of that second half and in overtime. We felt strong.”

With just seconds left, Cristiane’s header went wide.

The Americans began to celebrate, champions once more, whole once again.

“Brazil is a fantastic team, and they have many great individuals,” Markgraf said. “But they didn’t put away their chances tonight. We had one.”