Muslim players have faith in U.S. basketball – KansasCity.com

I was trying hard not to do a World Cup post (can’t believe the Italians won it all). But watching Zidane being sent off the way he was shocked me. Couldn’t decide if Materazzi talked about his wife or his mother. Turns out he may have called Zidane “a dirty terrorist.” Read this post from the Chapati for more. Update: Ali Eteraz has more at Progressive Islam (1, 2). Update: As always, Wikipedia is on top of the situation. It seems if Materazzi did in fact use a racist slur, it could jeopardize the win. That’s severe, and probably unlikely,…

This Sunday, France and Italy will play in the finals of the World Cup. It has been a wild ride this month, one that I enjoyed thoroughly. I am not a big football fan and do not watch or follow any particular team or league during the year. The only time I watch is every four years during the World Cup. I like the event, because I have seen firsthand the power of football to unite people and countries. This World Cup has become a defining moment for Germany since unification. Even the Turks in Germany are supporting the national…

Kulsoom Abdullah honors Muslim faith, makes history at US weightlifting nationals – The Washington Post. Kulsoom Abdullah has become the first woman to compete in the U.S. weightlifting championships while wearing clothing that covers her legs, arms and head.  Abdullah was cleared to compete in accordance with her Muslim faith after the International Weightlifting Federation ruled two weeks ago that athletes could wear a full-body “unitard” under the customary weightlifting uniform.