After a thrilling semi-final win over France, the USA women's soccer team is playing Japan in the World Cup final tomorrow. And the Village Pourhouse is ready, with a free "Red, White And Blue" shot whenever the team scores a goal for people wearing Team USA gear (reservations necessary). Also ready: The Back Nine Grill in Rochester, NY which is co-owned by the brother of Team USA player Abby Wambach. Matt Wambach told the Post, "I expect we’ll have between 1,000 and 1,500 people here to cheer her on. We actually had to rearrange the whole layout of the restaurant to accommodate the crowds — and all the television crews that want to be here." more ›

After last week's exciting 2-2 draw against Slovenia, the U.S. men's soccer team has a chance to move into the World Cup's round of sixteen with today's match against Algeria. With its 1-1 draw with England in its opening match, Team U.S.A. can advance with a win, but there are some other complicated scenarios, detailed here, for how they can continue on or be kicked out. more ›

Under huge pressure to win the game as the host nation, Team Canada was finally able to win its first hockey gold on Canadian ice. But the game between the United States and Canada couldn't be decided in just 60 minutes. After nearly eight minutes of 4-on-4 overtime play, Sidney Crosby scored the gold medal winning goal, beating US goalie Ryan Miller. Roberto Luongo, a Vancouver Canuck truly playing on home ice, had 34 saves in the winning effort. Canada's win comes seven days after an opening round loss to the United States and matches the Canadian women's hockey team's gold medal. more ›

In its semi-final game in the Olympics, the United States Men's Hockey Team defeated Finland, 6-1. Team USA's first goal was scored by Ryan Malone just two minutes into the game after some poor puck handling by Finland goalie Miikka Kiprusoff. Zach Parise and Erik Johnson both added power play goals before Patrick Kane added a 4th goal shortly after the 10 minute mark. Kiprusoff was pulled from the game after allowing four goals on seven shots. Niklas Backstrom replaced Kiprusoff, but didn't fare much better, allowing two more goals. Patrick Kane scored a second time and Paul Stastny added a goal for the quick 6-0 lead. The United States scored the last two goals in 15 seconds and scored 5 goals in less than 6.5 minutes. more ›

Jon Bulette, Organizer, NYC Beard and Moustache Championships more ›

We've seen you do it. Your favorite guilty pleasure 80's hair band song comes on the jukebox and you immediately get in to air guitar positioning. Closing your eyes, raising your arms, curling your fingers around the guitar that only you can see. You are our favorite person in the bar. You embrace your love of music, you don't care what anyone thinks, and you totally rip on that solo. So we hope you heard about the Air Guitar Championships. more ›

Spring is almost here! Pitchers and catchers started reporting to camps in Florida today. In Port St. Lucie the Mets are welcoming new faces Billy Wagner, Carlos Delgado and Paul Lo Duca, as well as several others. In Tampa, the Yankees have several new pitchers, Kyle Farnsworth, Octavio Dotel, Mike Myers and Ron Villone joining their staff. more ›

When we look at the medal totals for the Winter Olympics, we sometimes wonder what the United States would do if snowboarding wasn't included...but out of the men's mogul's competition, comes the inspirational story of Toby Dawson, who was abandoned as a child in South Korea, is searching for his birth-parents, and won the bronze medal. Dawson has been searching for his birth parents and hopes that appearing - and now winning - will help jog someone's memories in South Korea. Aspiring football player, Jeremy Bloom finished 6th and will be at the NFL combine in a little more than a week. The winner of the competition is a former Canadian, who moved to Australia and is a self-made millionaire, that seems to specialize in spam. more ›

Yesterday, an emotional Larry Robinson discussed stepping down has head coach of the Devils on Sunday. Citing health reasons, including severe headaches, Robinson, 54, ended his second stint as the Devils' coach. Replacing Robinson in the interim is Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello. Robinson, a hall of fame player, won six championships with the Montreal Canadians and one with the Devils in 2000 as their head coach. The Devils, who have struggled this season, are 14-13-5 and in 4th in the Atlantic division. more ›

With their hopes of bring home the gold dashed, in the end Team USA had to settle for a Bronze medal in Athens. We at Gothamist have chosen to view this as a glass half full type of situation. Plenty of people will decry the state of US Basketball over the next few weeks (and with good reason), so instead, let’s look at the positives that came out of the 2004 games. more ›

Team USA roared into the semifinals of the Olympics today with a sound 102 - 95 victory over previously undefeated Spain. Team USA found their stroke from long range and nailed 12 of 22 attempts from three point land. For those counting at home, that's 55 percent. more ›

Team USA finally got a breather on Monday and brought up memories of the good ol' days of 1992 as it crushed overmatched Angola 89 - 53 and assured themselves a spot in the quarterfinals of the basketball competition. Tim Duncan led the team in scoring with 15 points in just 13 minutes of playing time. more ›

Look out world, Team USA might finally be "getting it". Team USA fought off an early 10 point deficit to take down Australia 89 - 79 yesterday in Men's Olympic basketball action. The vitcory pushed the American's record to 2 - 1 in round robin play. The US got big games from Allen Iverson (16 points in 23 minutes)and Tim Duncan and actually played some team defense for what seems like the first time in Athens. Duncan notched game highs with 18 points and 11 rebounds. He shot 7 of 11 from the floor and 4 of 6 from the charity stripe. more ›

The US Means Basketball team lost a stunner yesterday to the tiny island of Puerto Rico 92-73, dropping its all time Olympic basketball record to 109-3. It wasn’t the loss itself that was so shocking, never mind that Team USA had beaten Puerto Rico five times in exhibitions since July, it was the manner in which they lost. Puerto Rico held the lead for 33 of the game’s 40 minutes. more ›

- Gothamist Food: V Steakhouse reviewed more ›

Hmmmm…perhaps Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O’Neal were on to something when they cited “security issues” as a reason for not representing their country at the Olympics. Team USA played their final warm up exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey yesterday just hours after two bombs exploded in tourist hotels miles from where the team was staying. Two people were killed and 11 more were injured. more ›

Apparently Carmelo Anthony spoke too soon. The US Men's Olympic Basketball team was trounced earlier today by "European powerhouse" Italy. Just a week after Anthony, the youngest member of Team USA declared "We're guaranteeing a gold medal. We're bringing it back," the US suffered their worst exhibition loss since the NBA started sending players to the Olympics in 1992. more ›

More and more the USA Basketball committee that is selecting the 12 players for this summer’s Olympic basketball squad are hearing "I’m out", especially since the recent bombings in Athens. All this makes Gothamist wonder, who's in? Players that have turned down bids to play for Team USA include Seattle’s Ray Allen (fiancé giving birth this summer), Jersey’s Jason Kidd (nagging injuries), Toronto’s Vince Carter (getting married this summer), Minnesoata’s Kevin Garnett (fatigue from prolonged playoff run), and a trio of Lakers which include Karl Malone (needs time to recover from injury filled season), Kobe Bryant (pesky pending rape trial) and Shaquile O’Neal (doesn’t really want to go). Although he has not declined his invite yet, sources say Indiana’s Jermaine O’Neal is considering pulling out because of safety concerns in Athens. more ›