Blake Griffin Won The 2011 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest

To win the NBA All-Star slam dunk contest, players need more than a difficult dunk, they also need creativity and good presentation. LA Clippers' Blake Griffin is the latest person to prove that. He won the 2011 contest by made a powerful dunk after jump over a car. He beat Javale McGee from Washington Wizards in the final.

In the final, a KIA sedan enters the court. Then a choir sing R Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly. Blake Griffin's teammate, Baron Davis, came from the roof of the car, and gave an alley-oop pass for him. Griffin then jumped over the car's hood and made a powerful dunk. He succeeded in his first attempt.

Judging by the difficulty level, Blake Griffin's dunk was not that impressive. But his idea of doing something that no one ever thought before, plus the complete presentation that includes a choir, brought the 21-year-old power forward to win this year contest.

Blake Griffin's full presentation for the Slam Dunk Contest:

"It was actually my idea to use the car," said Griffin. "When they first came to me with the dunk contest idea, they said there were no rules. I was like, 'So I can jump over a car?' Kind of playing around.

"They were like, 'Yeah. And I thought 'Oh, maybe I have to do it now,' " he added.

Griffin's opponent on the final, Javale McGee, came impressive in the second round by doing a triple dunk in one jump. McGee dunked a ball from each hand and then caught a third one, tossed up by his Washington teammate John Wall. He admitted that Griffin came up with a better idea, "He came prepared with the car," McGee said, "and nothing's going to beat the car unless I bring out a plane or something."

This is the video highlight of 2011 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest:

Rafael Nadal and Lindsey Vonn Win 2011 Laureus Awards

The Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal won the Sportsman of The Year, while the American skiing athlete Lindsey Vonn won the Sportswoman of The Year. Those are the top honors of 2011 Laureus World Sports Awards.

Established in 1999, Laureus World Sports Awards are awarded annually to sportspeople who have been outstanding during the previous year. This year event, which was held in Abu Dhabi on 7 February 2011, also chose Spain World Cup winner as World Team of The Year.

Rafael Nadal is the winner of three Grand Slam titles in 2010. He beat other nominees including Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao and Barcelona footballers Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi.


Lindsey Vonn, winner of the women's downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games and a third consecutive overall World Cup title, took the sportswoman's award. Among the other nominees are high jumper Blanka Vlasic and tennis players Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki.



These are the complete list of 2011 Laureus Award Winners:

World Sportsman of the Year: Rafael Nadal (Spain)

World Sportswoman of the Year: Lindsey Vonn (US)

World Team of the Year: Spain World Cup Team

World Breakthrough of the Year: Martin Kaymer (Germany)

World Comeback of the Year: Valentino Rossi (Italy)

World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Verena Bentele (Germany)

World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Kelly Slater (US)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Zinedine Zidane (France)

Spirit of Sport Award: European Ryder Cup team

Sport for Good Award: May El-Khalil, founder of the Beirut Marathon

Marta Vieira da Silva is Woman's Ambassador for Fighting Poverty

Marta Vieira da Silva is the best woman footballer in the world, proven by her four consecutive FIFA Women's World Player of the Year (2006-2009) awards. That's one of the reasons why Marta was recruited by the U.N. Development Program to advocate for women's empowerment as part of a global strategy to fight poverty.

"Marta is a role model for women and girls around the world, and I have no doubt that just as she has inspired them to play (football) so will she inspire others to come together in achievement of the Millennium Development Goals," said Helen Clark, the program's administrator.

Brazilian Marta Vieira da Silva was appointed goodwill ambassador in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 11, 2010.


The U.N. Development Program (UNDP) "works around the world making a positive difference in people's lives and I am proud to add my personal commitment to its work," said the FC Gold Pride's forward. "We all need to contribute to help defeat poverty."

It was in Sweden where Marta’s career flourished, scoring an outstanding 111 goals in 103 appearances between 2004 and 2008. During her time playing for her Swedish club, Umeå IK, the 24-year-old was named the top scorer for 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008.

In 2007, fellow football players Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane invited her to play in UNDP’s Match Against Poverty in Fez, Morocco, where she became the first woman in the history of football to play in an internationally-sanctioned men’s football match.

Among UNDP’s other Goodwill Ambassadors are soccer stars Ronaldo, Zidane, and Didier Drogba, Japanese actress Misako Konno, Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway, Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, and Spanish actor Antonio Banderas.