Coach today, Gone Tomorrow: Buckie Leach “resigns” as Women’s Foil National Coach

Buckie Leach (on the far right) leading a fencing clinic

A rough week for the USFA on the communication front continued today with the announcement that Buckie Leach has declined his appointment as the National Coach for women’s foil.

It had been announced only two days earlier that he had been appointed to the position so this came as quite a shock.  According to www.usfencing.org:

After continuing negotiations between US Fencing and Buckie Leach, US Fencing is sad to announce that Buckie Leach has declined the position of US National Women’s Foil Coach.(READ MORE)

One might wonder why they would announce him as a national coach if he hadn’t accepted it yet?  

I will give them credit, they did post something in a timely fashion for once.  Now, if only they could post tournament results with this speed.

THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!

I just wanted to send a huge THANK YOU to everyone who turned out for my birthday party at The Gates yesterday and to everyone who sent me messages via facebook and email. 

I really appreciate all of your support and I’m looking forward to a fun 31st year of life with you in it!!! 

Special thanks to my wonderful party hosts: Jason Rogers, Leigh-Taylor Smith, Scott Buccheit and Jourdan Lawlor.  You guys helped make it a very special evening for me, THANK YOU!

Scott you are too funny…

Also thanks to The Gates and it’s staff, Claudine and the crew at ThinkPR, our awesome alcohol sponsor TY KU, Patrick McMullan for taking some awesome pictures of the night and Sam Hamadeh.

Also, to my DJ tag team extraordinaire of Jerone Hsu and Billy Verigan. You guys rocked!  We have Jerone’s new DJ name “Roney Ron” so now we just have to figure out a new one for you Billy!

It will be hard to top this party next year…but of course we’ll try!

Fencing Demonstration on Capitol Hill!

In the shadows of the US Capitol building we came bearing foam sabers and a little Olympic cheer to children in the DC area. Cadet Epee Worlds Silver Medalist Kat Holmes, high school saber phenom Mel Rodriguez, and Alex Bucevicius joined me to introduce fencing to the roughly 50 children who came to the event in support of Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid and the Congressional Youth Sport Caucus.

Future Olympic Champion?

The event took place on Capitol Hill at Lower D Park, South of the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. In addition to demonstrating Olympic and Paralympic sports liketaekwondo, wrestling, soccer, fencing and Paralympic judo, the event featured a brief program with members of Congress from the Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports, including Congressman Mike McIntyre (NC), Founder and Co-Chairman, Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports; Congressman Jim Jordan (OH); and Congressman John Shimkus (IL).

Olympians and Paralympians demonstrating sports to the youth included Bart Conner, two-time Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics; ; Arlene Limas, Olympian in taekwondo; Nathaniel Mills, three-time Olympian in speed skating; Bill Scherr, Olympian in wrestling; Melissa Merson, Olympian in triathlon; Ryan Reser, Paralympian in judo; Myles Porter, Paralympian in judo; Ann Cody, Paralympian in track and field and basketball.

Special thanks to David Sapery for helping to coordinate and connect me with folks in DC, Lynda Moore and all the fencers from the Prince William Fencing Academy (So great meeting you guys!) as well as the folks at the USOC, Chicago 2016 and the wonderful volunteers who took time out of their day to make the event a success!

Heading home to NYC in the mornig!! What a crazy 3 days! Fencing on a fashion runway, my birthday party and then a trip to DC!! Now I just have to figure out where I’m going to live after July 31st since my lease ends and my new one doesn’t begin until August 11!  (Also, looking forward to my good friend and former fencer Jerome Cordero’s wedding on Saturday in Albany!)

Videos from “Paws to Style”

Fox News
http://myprops.org/content/Video-Paws-For-Style/ (You can see Jason and me 58 seconds in.

More to come…

Fencing Takes the Runway at Humane Society Fundraiser “Paws for Style”

Fundraising,  increasing awareness for a charity, promoting fencing and all collided on a fashion runway tonight as Jason Rogers and me “fenced” down the catwalk as the opening “act” at of the annual “Paws for Style”  event run by Wendy Diamond to support man’s  people’s best friends!

Throwing Jason across the stage in our dramatic duel on the runway..(Check how close we are to the ledge!)

This was a truly new and exhilarating experience for us!  We came dashing off the side of the stage going back and forth with parrys before throwing off our masks as Jason attacked me down the runway while I nervously counted paces to make sure I wouldn’t  misjudge the distance and go flying off of the very high and narrow stage!

We threw in a few flips, a duck and jump move and then took a bow to the roughly 500 people and dozens of media in attendance.  We then held our sabers high as host Wendy Diamond came out to thank everyone for coming.  Then the rest of the “fashion show”  commenced andincluded designer Richie Rich, American Idolists, SI Swimsuit models, socialiates and various television personalities walking with their dogs.

With American Idolist Jamar Rogers

Thanks to Wendy for inviting us to participate and to our friends Celine Marie and Helena Dep for being the best supporters!

Big week, birthday party tomorrow night and then I’ll be heading to DC on Wednesdsay with Melvin Rodriguez where we will be meeting up with Cadet world Champion Katie Holmes for a fencing demo on Capitol Hill! (Join us if you’re in DC!)

With our friends Celine Marie and Helena Dep backstage

Capitol Hill Fencing Demonstration, July 29th 2-4pm

I'll be teaching children to do this! (Well maybe not. Parry 3-4 more realistic)

I’m speaking and doing a fencing demonstration on Capitol Hill next Wednesday,  2-4pm (July 29th) with several hundred children expected to attend.  

It’s in conjunction with Chicago 2016 and the congressional committee promoting youth sports.  I want to invite all DC area people to come check out fencing and the 6 other Olympic sports that are being demonstrated.  

DETAILS:

Chicago 2016 Capital Hill Event 2009

Overview and Information 

Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Committee and World Sport Chicago in collaboration with U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre and the U.S. Olympic Committee is pleased to announce a Capital Hill Olympic and Paralympic Sporting Demonstration Event.  

The purpose of this event is to help exhibit nationwide support for Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and to help raise awareness and build support for youth sport programs across the U.S.

We are pleased that you have agreed to participate as an educational display of Olympic and Paralympic sports.  A number of Olympic and Paralympic athletes will be present to provide pointers about their sports and to interact with guests.  A brief speaking program will take place during the event and will include Members of Congress that are members of the Youth Sports Caucus as well as Olympic and Paralympic athletes.   

This event is free to the public and will be held on:
Wednesday, July 29^th, 2009 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Official Program begins at 3:15pm

Lower D Park located South of the Rayburn House Office Building (C & South Capitol Streets – ADA accessible entrance onto park grounds at this intersection); Please proceed to the Park entrance for this event on South Capitol Street.

Sport Demonstrations
The event is designed around the following six sport demonstration zones:

1. Taekwondo
2. Wrestling
3. Soccer
4. Fencing
5. Inline Skating
6. Paralympic Judo

Parking
Parking is limited around the Rayburn House Building and Lower D Park.  Recommended parking for cars and buses is the South Capital Street Parking lot located south of the park on South Capital Street and within walking distance from the Lower D Park.  There will be a fee for using this lot. 

The bus drop-off location is Garfield Circle which is north of the U.S. Botanical Garden and within walking distance of the Lower D park.  Buses will not be able to drop off at the park. It is recommended that children are escorted to and from both of these locations.

Shaquille O’Neal: I Challenge YOU to a DUEL!

You heard me right Big Fella!

Ok, please don’t hurt me if we actually meet and duel! Lol

Shaq has a new reality show on ABC where he will take on top athletes in their sports including Michael Phelps, Ben Roethlisberger, Serena Williams and Misty May and Kerry Walsh in Beach Volley.

It’s actually a very cool concept and there will also be a large charitable aspect to the show as each episode will involve fundraising for charities and a main event  where the athlete will take on Shaq in their sport.

This would be an amazing opportunity to showcase fencing andsupport some of our charities!  If anyone could help give fencing’s visibility a boost its Shaquille O’Neal!

So, Mr. O’Neal, if you’d like to duel…we’re here waiting!

READ MORE: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4341098

Yeah, We Did…(Part Deux)

Tim and Jason are fencing on bumper cars  (and they were moving!!) at Coney Island because…

a) They’ve really lost it now!?!?!

b) They’re experimenting with new ways to make fencing more exciting and  ”spectator friendly” for television?

c) They can’t afford a car so this is the best they could do with the current funding situation to get around town?

d)  Their Olympic teammate Keeth Smart told them it was his secret training regiment before Beijing and that they should do it everyday to prepare for world championships…(Keeth wouldn’t play a trick on them, would he??!?)

e) Other???

What’s your guess???

Here are a few more clues/random pictures to help (maybe)…

Tim and Jason with Miss Coney Island 2009...

Hmm, need more?

Jason autographs a sneaker for his new fan...

Hmm, these are all pretty random…

Some great kids and their teachers (new fencing fans!) pose with us on the boardwalk

These kids were awesome!  We fenced on the boardwalk for about thirty minutes drawing a decent crowd and at one point this group came along…

I would bet 500+ people saw fencing for the first time today…more people than watched us at Pan Am Championships! (Sad, right?)

The very exciting part is that people (especially the kids!) get super psyched to watch it!  We just need to get it out there!! (Ok, stepping off soup box)

Anyway, still not sure? We had a photo shoot with Vanity Fair today at Coney Island for an upcoming story.   We’re very excited to see how the real pictures come out!! (We also fenced on the subway, but you’ll have to wait for VF for those!)

European Championships of Fencing 2009

Video of  individual men’s saber.  Reshetnikov’s victory over Pillet in the Gold Medal match.

Men’s Foil Individual

 

Women’s Foil Team

Women’s Foil individual
Men’s Indivudal Epee
Women’s Epee Individual
Women’s Individual Saber

Joe Biden: Those Ukrainian Women Are Gorgeous!

Thank you to Vice President Joe Biden today for commenting on the hotness of Ukrainian women causing a giant increase in the amout of people searching for “hot ukrainian women” and thus finding my blog! lol

You can check out the story here:http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2009/07/21/biden-those-ukrainian-women-are-just-gorgeous.aspx

Or the first installment of “fencing is a sexy sport” featuring the very sexy Ukrainian fencing team on the cover of their version of Maxim here: http://timmorehouse.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/fencing-is-a-sexy-sport-part-ii-ukrainian-fencing-gold-medalists-pose-for-sexy-magazine-cover/