Madison Who’s Who Blog

If you’re a football fan, which many of the professionals in Madison Who’s Who directory are, you may be wondering who’s who of the top college teams.  Lets take a look at my picks for the best college football teams to watch in 2008. Each of the teams mentioned here is going to be one of the top competitors in the nation this season.

1. Georgia Bulldogs The Bulldogs are looking strong heading into the 2008 season, and are hoping to repeal a botched attempt at a national title in 2007. The Bulldogs have a beefy, complete roster, a Heisman hopeful in Knowshon Moreno, and a knack for making big plays when it counts. The Bulldogs are ranked #1 in the Coaches Poll heading into the season, and in my opinion, as long as the Bulldogs play some football and forget about the hype around the team, they are going to win it all this season. Defensive tackle Jeff Owens said it in his own words: “I’d prefer to be ranked No. 25 and work our way up, than being No. 1 and everybody is gunning for you. Everybody wants Georgia. Who doesn’t want Georgia?” That’s right, Jeff. Watch out for these Georgia Bulldogs, because they are on their way to a national title - 21 years is a long time to be on the porch with the pups.

2. USC Trojans This team is just swarmed with powerhouse starters. Big playmakers including linebacker Rey Maualuga, running back Joe McKnight, and receiver Patrick Turner are going to be tearing up the field this season. Despite missing a returning starting quarterback from the lineup, Pete Carroll tends to mold the noobs with utmost care, producing big QB starters in just a year. USC is going to take another stab at the Pac-10 title, and win it. Period.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State has consistently produced a huge football program in the last five years, clearly dominating the Big Ten in the last two seasons. This year is no exception, as the Ohio State Buckeyes are poised to win their third straight Big Ten Conference title – a feat that has never been accomplished by any Big Ten team in the 112-year history of the conference. The Buckeyes are returning a whopping 20 starters – the same starters that led the team all the way to the BCS National Championship game in 2007-2008. If they make it to the big game this year, they are going to have to deal with the Bulldogs (my pick), but it looks as if the assault is already prepared. Yep, my crystal ball tells me the Buckeyes are going to dominate – possible repeat appearance at the BCS title game notwithstanding.

4. Florida Gators With an outstanding offense and eight returning starters on defense, the Florida Gators are going to bring some quality football to the table in 2008-2009. Urban Meyer promises to bring back the dual-quarterback system, drawing talent from both Cam Newton and Tim Tebow for a well-rounded offensive. The defense also looks stronger than last season, and is poised to take on just about anything you can throw at it. Georgia watch out: if Florida wants it, you could find yourself second in the SEC in 2008-2009.

5. Oklahoma Sooners Last but not least, you have the boys from Oklahoma. The Sooners are prepared to raise a ruckus this season as quarterback Sam Bradford leads an all-star offense on the ground and in the air. Bradford destroyed the record for most touchdown passes thrown by a freshman in 2007. Coupled with the fact that the team is returning 10 starters on offense – an offense that averaged 6.4 yards per play last season – this team is going to be hard to beat. Although the team is replacing several defensive players, the starting defensive line is there, and is going to open up holes for anyone who wants a piece of the opposition. Look for Oklahoma to win the Big 12 Championship yet again this year.

(source)

The definition of Who’s Who that is used most often utilizes the phrase when we present books, websites and other compilations of outstanding people as well as outstanding events or items. The term who’s who also favors the biographical component of who’s who by bringing to the forefront various tributes or new biographies of the achievers and pivotal personalities through the corridors of time.
Almost every organization or institution also keeps their own who’s who.  There’s a who’s who of outstanding students in America as well as a Who Who’s of the most recognized teachers and even a Who’s Who of lawyers and a Who’s Who’ of athletes.  Every company has its own roster’s of who’s who and every profession looks within it’s own ranks to spotlight their most brilliant with a who’s who designation. Who’s Who can also have the connotation of an “upper class group” or the “elite, gentry, and glitterati” of society.  Who’s who is also used loosely to represent an almanac or a social register, list or line up.

If you ask ten different people what the definition of “who’s who” is it’s likely that you’d get ten different answers.  The term “who’s who” is used in so many different ways that it is is amusing to find how many times we incorporate it into everyday conversations.  We say things such as “the guest list read like a who’s who of corporate America.”  Do a Google Search and you’ll find ‘who’s who’ used in every fashion and manner, including the original incarnation of who’s who which came about in 1849.
According to Roget’s New Millennium™ Thesaurus, Who’s Who can also have the connotation of an “upper class group” or the “elite, gentry, and glitterati” of society.  Who’s who is also used loosely to represent an almanac or a social register, list or line up.
The last interpretation is how the Madison Who’s Who blog most often utilizes the phrase when we present books, websites and other compilations of outstanding people as well as outstanding events or items.  We also favor the biographical component to who’s who by bringing to the forefront various tributes or new biographies of the achievers and pivotal personalities through the corridors of time.
Almost every organization or institution also keeps their own who’s who.  There’s a who’s who of outstanding students in America as well as a Who Who’s of the most recognized teachers and even a Who’s Who of lawyers and a Who’s Who’ of athletes.  Every company has its own roster’s of who’s who and every profession looks within its own ranks to spotlight their most brilliant with a who’s who designation.

Unless you’ve been in exile, or had your head burried in the sand, you have at least heard a little about the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.  But have you ever considered who’s who among the top athletes to watch?  Well here’s an olympian to keep your eye on - Dara Torres.   Torres, a nine-time Olympic medalist in swimming, is 41, the mother of a two-year old, and has just qualified for her fifth Olympic Games, something no other swimmer has ever done. Oh, and the time in the 100m freestyle that got her a ticket to Beijing? It was 2.47 seconds faster than her Olympic effort in 1988, at age 21 — a lifetime in such a short race. So I keep flashing to images of body builders and athletes pumped on steroids with veins bulging out their eyeballs and wondering, Does she or doesn’t she?

This is why it’s hard to be Dara Torres. In the weeks following the Olympic Trials in July, where she earned spots in the 50m and 100m freestyle events and potentially a relay, there are only two questions anyone wants to ask her: Why are you putting yourself through this again? And: What are you putting in youself to make it through?

Physically, Torres looks as taut and toned as swimmers half her age, and not only did she clock the fastest times in her events, but she set a new American record for the 50m free, the splash-and- dash across one length of the pool that is her specialty. (She decided not to swim the 100m free in Beijing.)The holder of that previous record? None other than Torres’ younger self, who set the mark at her last Olympics, in 2000. And think about this: She first set the 50m world mark in 1982, at age 14. Amanda Beard, the second oldest woman on the U.S. team, was then barely a year old. Torres is 12 lbs. lighter now than she was in Sydney, and, she says, “I really feel like I enjoy swimming now more than I ever have. I enjoy competing more than I ever have.”

(source)

If you’re trying to build your professional network, then Madison Who’s Who is a tremendous tool for you.  It can help you gain additional business exposure, career expansion, and job recruitment.  Madison Who’s Who professional directory is constantly growing. Their research staff may choose candidates through research. They also get candidates through professional associations and societies, trade organizations, or newspapers and magazines.  Candidates may also be nominated by a colleague via Madison Who’s Who website.
Many professional Who’s Who directories specialize in providing its members with current biographical information of Executives and Professionals in virtually every industry.
This is to help people maximize their networking capabilities.  To do this Madison Who’s Who allows you to search for members in their online registry.  You can search by almost any criteria. You may select criteria such as, company name, industry, title, name etc. For anyone wanting to build a solid professional network, checkout the impressive service offered by Madison Who’s Who.

Professional directories like Madison Who’s Who can help Realtors network with other realtors on a global basis. Why would a realtor want to network with another realtor internationally?  Because a new report shows that nearly one in five realtors has sold a home to an international client in the past year.  This is according to new research by the National Association of Realtors®. International buyers purchasing homes in the US appears to be a growing trend.
Foreign buyers purchase homes across the United States, but 52 percent of sales in 2006 were concentrated in three states – Florida (26 percent), California (16 percent) and Texas (10 percent). The South attracted nearly half – 49 percent – of international buyers last year, while 31 percent purchased homes in the West.
The ability to network with other realtors worldwide will become an important tool for every realtor wanting to court the international buyer.  Professional directories like Madison Who’s Who give realtors the ability to do exactly that.

Now that the 2008 NFL pre-season is officially underway, we thought it would be a great time to take a look at who’s who among NFL rookies.  Here are the top 4 rookies to watch this season:
1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings - Rated as a top 3 talent by some well-known draft experts, Peterson slid a little in the first round - but not too far. He’s unquestionably the top running back from the 2007 draft and collectors know it.
2.  JaMarcus Russell, QB, Oakland Raiders- The big man with the big arm was the No. 1 overall pick, and he’ll be suiting up for a team that has little choice but to start him soon. Russell will have to beware of opposing rushers because the Raiders didn’t do much to improve the protection in front of him, but at 265 pounds he’s bigger than plenty of blitzing linebackers.
3.  Brady Quinn, QB, Cleveland Browns - Quinn took a roller coaster ride on draft day, getting passed on by a bunch of teams that appeared to need a young quarterback, then ending up with the Browns after they traded up to the 22nd pick to grab him. It wasn’t the way he pictured it going down, but he’ll be playing for the team he idolized as a young boy.
4.  Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions - True to his word, Matt Millen didn’t allow his past failures drafting wide receivers with high first-round picks to dissuade him from taking Johnson. The question now is whether collectors will find it just as easy to forgive and forget.

While many who’s who directories include lists of professionals in their field, Madison’s Who’s Who boasts a diverse membership base that includes artists, academicians, engineers, and realtors to name a few.  Providing those member’s biographies and credentials along with the multiple benefits of online exposure was just the first step of many that Madison Who’s Who has taken to providing Madison Who’s Who members increased value.
Now members are not only names in a book but are real and viable connections.  With the addition of a virtual bulletin board, Madison Who’s Who members have a forum where they can engage in business, chat about trivia, and mingle with professionals with like goals, life styles and ambitions.
Madison Who’s Who also provides convenient news feeds where members can review headlines from leading online publications from around the globe.  After perusing the latest investment news, Madison Who’s Who thought a classified ads section would be especially handy for members to engage in business, list job openings or recruit.
Madison Who’s Who could have stopped there and still retained a competitive edge.  Truth is, in creating an online presence, Madison Who’ s Who committed itself to never standing still.  As long as there is technology available that will increase and improve our services, Madison Who’s Who is committed to applying it.

If you’re wondering whos’ who in the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics in China, time has selected a list of 100 top athletes to watch at the Beijing Olympics. Not surprisingly the list is dominated by athletes from the United States. I was surprised not to see Grant Hackett on the list.

1. LeBron James - US - Basketball
2. Dara Torres - US - swimming - the 41 year old mother is planning to show the world age is no barrier.
3. Michael Phelps - attempting to break Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals at a single Olympic Games.
4. Liu Xiang - China’s biggest medal hope on the track, in the 110 meter hurdles
5. Yao Ming - China’s favorite basketball giant.
6. Allyson Felix - Won a silver in Athens in the 200 meters
7. Shawn Johnson - At just 16 years old, she is regarded as the best gymnast in the world
8. Roman Sebrle - Czech decathlete
9. Guo Jingjing - China’s medal hope
10. Tyson Gay - United States medal hope in the 100 meters
11. Asaga Powell - Former Jamaican world recorder holder in the 100 meters
12. Usain Bolt - Current world record holder in the 100 meters from Jamaica
13. Yang Wei - China’s gymnastics medal favorite
14. Stephanie Rice - Katie Hoff’s rival in the 200 and 400 meter medley’s.
18. Chris Paul - point guard in the U.S. basketball team
19. Paul Hamm - U.S. gymnast medal favorite, recovering from a wrist break
20. Zou Shiming - Chinese boxer who won a bronze medal at the Athens games
21. Sheila Taormina - United States Pentathlon, first woman to qualify for three different sports at an Olympics - swimming, triathlon and now pentathlon
22. Sara Khoshjamal - Iran, taekwando
23. Marta Vieira da Silva - soccer, Brazil
24. Nastia Liukin - Russian born gymnast who will compete for the United States
25. Alicia Sacramone - United States gymnast
26. Chellsie Memmel - United States gymnast
27. Laure Manaudou - France swimming - 400m freestyle, 100m and 200m backstroke, and 400m medley relay
28. Federica Pellegrini - Italy swimming
29. Alain Bernard - France - swimming
30. Laura Flessel-Colovic - France - fencing
31. Paula Radcliffe - Great Britain - World record holder in the women’s marathon
32. Nader al Masri - Palestine - long distance running
33. Kobe Bryant - U.S. basketball star
34. Vanessa Ferrari - Italy - gymnastics
35. Freddy Adu - U.S. - soccer/football
36. Andrew Howe - Italy - long jump
37. Martin Lel - Kenya - marathon
38. Catherine Ndereba - Kenya - marathon
39. Marianne Vos - Netherlands - cycling
40. Adam Korol - Poland - Rowing
41. Aaron Peirsol - United States - swimming
42. Mark Lopez - United States - taekwando family
43. Diana Lopez - United States - taekwando family
44. Steven Lopez - United States - taekwando family
45. Mark Warkentin - United States - open water swimming
46. Bryan Volpenhein - United States - rowing
47. Guo Yue - China - table tennis
48. Taufik Hidayat - Indonesia - badminton
49. Lin Dan - China - badminton - Labeled the “John McEnroe” of badminton
50. Tibor Benedek - Hungary - water polo
51. Kohei Uchimura - Japan - gymnastics
52. Wang Liqin - China - table tennis
53. Billy Joe Saunders - Great Britain - boxing
54. J.R. Holden - Russia’s only black basketball player
55. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore - India - shooting
56. Amnat Ruenroeng - Thailand - boxing
57. Ryan Lochte - United States - Swimming
58. Nagmeldin Ali Abubakr - Sudan - sprints
59. Dayron Robles - World record holder in the 110 meter hurdles from Cuba. A real threat to China’s favorite Liu Xiang.
60. Kerri Walsh - U.S. - Beach volleyball gold medal favorites
61. Misty May-Treanor - U.S. - Beach volleyball gold medal favorites
62. Libby Trickett - Australia’s gold medal favorite in the swimming
63. Tom Daley - Great Britain’s diving prodigy
64. Oxana Chusovitina - Germany - gymnastics
65. Otylia Jedrzejczak - Poland - swimming
66. Natalie Coughlin - United States - swimming
67. Katie Hoff - United States - swimming - the Michael Phelps of female swimmers
68. Jenn Stuczynski - United States - pole vault
69. Cat Osterman - United States - softball pitcher
70. Ryan Hall - United States - marathon
71. Candace Parker - United States - basketball
72. Bernard Lagat - United States - distance running
73. Reese Hoffa - United States - shot put
74. Jennie Finch - United States - softball
75. Breaux Greer - United States - javelin
76. Ryoko Tani - Japan - Judo legend in Japan. Hoping to win her third consecutive gold medal in Beijing.
77. Sanya Richards - United States - sprint
78. Brian Clay - U.S. - decathlon
79. Rau’Shee Warren - U.S. - boxing
80. Taylor Phinney - U.S. - cycling
81. Donny Robinson - U.S. - BMX
82. Melanie Roach - U.S. - weightlifting
83. Kristy Coventry - Zimbabwe - swimming
84. Eric Shanteau - U.S. - swimming
85. Brad Vering - U.S. - wrestling
86. Laura Wilkinson - U.S. - diving
87. Howard Bach - U.S. - badminton
88. Terrence Trammell - U.S. - hurdles
89. Vladimir Dyatchin - Russia - swimming
90. Blanka Vlasic - Croatia - high jump
91. Novak Djokovic - Serbia - tennis
92. Matt Emmons - United States - shooting
93. Ali Adnan - Iraq - archery
94. Im Dong Hyun - South Korea - archery
95. Keeth Smart - U.S. - fencing (brother/sister)
96. Erinn Smart - U.S. - fencing (brother/sister)
97. Haile Gebrselassie - Ethiopia - distance running
98. Kyle Shewfelt - Canada - gymnastics
99. Dana Hussein Abdul-Razzaq - Iraq - sprints
100. Natalie du Toit - South Africa - distance swimming - Second amputee to qualify for the Olympics.

We see young, rich, Hollywood socialites grace the covers of magazines, and appear on television talk shows (for good or bad) nearly every day. But, have you ever wondered who’s who when it comes to those that top the list of television’s rich and famous. Well, Forbes magazine has put that question to rest with the release of their latest rankings, which may surprise you. Oprah Winfrey keeps topping Forbes’ rankings of the rich and famous. Winfrey, 53, now leads Forbes.com’s list of the 20 richest celebs on television. Winfrey, whose media empire includes a magazine and stakes in syndicated daytime talk shows by Dr. Phil McGraw and Rachael Ray, earned an estimated $260 million between June 2006 and June 2007. Surprisingly, Jerry Seinfeld is No. 2 with $60 million. The comedian continues to get rich from reruns of his sitcom “Seinfeld,” which he partly owns. So, Jerry is definitely making the most money for doing absolutely nothing. Runners-up: Simon Cowell of “American Idol” ($45 million); David Letterman ($40 million); Donald Trump and Jay Leno (both $32 million); McGraw and Judy “Judge Judy” Sheindlin (both $30 million); George Lopez ($26 million); Kiefer Sutherland ($22 million). However, perhaps the biggest surprise: Regis Philbin ($21 million) who makes almost as much as Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer combined (both $12 million).