Big Shots for October 14, 2009

Much has happened in the world of sport since my last post. The NHL has started playing hockey again (that would be the skating thing that happens in between the fights), Major League Baseball began playoff action (I'll hopefully devote a separate post to that later this week), and sled dogs have begun their training even though there's no snow yet. Yet. I'd also like to tell you that for the next three weeks this blog will be left in the very capable hands of my fellow Globe picture editor Lloyd Young while I'm on vacation. See you November 10. ( 37 photos total)

A shot-putter competes in the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games at Sydney Olympic Park October 11 in Sydney. (Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

A Portugal supporter reacts as the team is announced at the start of their World Cup qualifying soccer match with Hungary October 10 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) #

Phoenix Mercury players celebrate a win over the Indiana Fever and the WNBA basketball championship October 9. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) #

Alexander Dodge competes in the Men's Kayak K1 during the 2009 Charlotte Open at the US National Whitewater Center October 3 in Charlotte, N.C. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) #

Under pouring rain, Argentina's Federico Insua celebrates after his teammate Martin Palermo scored during a World Cup qualifying soccer match against Peru in Buenos Aires October 10. (AP Photo/Eduardo Di Baia) #

Brazilian officials, including President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (second from right) rejoice October 2 in Copenhagen after Rio was announced as the host of the 2016 Olympics. (OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

Lords of the dance, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes (left, talking with coach Mike Tomlin October 4) and Australian cricketer Brett Lee (celebrating versus New Zealand October 5), tell their stories through interpretive dance. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar) (GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images) #

Wisconsin players hoist the Paul Bunyan Ax after beating rival Minnesota in an NCAA football game October 3 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia) #

An athlete poses during the Bulgarian National Bodybuilding Championship in Sofia October 4. (NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP/Getty Images) #

Competitors warm up backstage before posing in front of the judges during the Japan Bodybuilding Championships in Tokyo October 12. (REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao) #

People ride ziplines over the course before the 2009 Charlotte Open at the US National Whitewater Center October 2 in Charlotte, N.C. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) #

Amateur triathletes wait for the start of the 2.4 mile swim section of the Ironman World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii October 10. (REUTERS/Hugh Gentry) #

A view of the start of some 1800 sail boats of the traditional "Barcolana" regatta in the gulf of Trieste, Italy October 11. In the foreground at right, the "Faro della Vittoria" (victory lighthouse) stands tall. (AP Photo/Franco Debernardi) #

Runners leave the "Energy Lab", which is the halfway point of the marathon-length running portion of the Ironman World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii October 10. (REUTERS/Hugh Gentry) #

Drivers practice for the ALMS Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway October 8 in Monterey, Calif. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) #

The debris of driver Dan Wilkerson's car is shown after crashing into the wall during the O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park Monday October 5 in Millington, Tenn. Wilkerson was uninjured. (AP Photo/NHRA, Marc Gewertz) #

Allan Letcher rolls his vehicle during the V8 Ute Racing Series of the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama October 10 in Bathurst, Australia. (Australian V8 Ute Racing via Getty Images) #

Japan's Katsu Taguchi and Mark Stacey of Australia drive in their Mitsubishi Evolution during the Rally of Indonesia in Takalar, South Sulawesi province October 4. (REUTERS/Yusuf Ahmad) #

Racers get airborne during the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup at Roc d'Azur Frejus October 10 in Frejus, France. (Michael Steele/Getty Images for UCI) #

Sara Tait competes in the women's 1500 wheelchair event during the Australian Paralympic Youth Games at Olympic Park October 8 in Melbourne. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) #

Japan's Yuki Ota (left) competes with American Kurt Getz in the men's team foil quarter-final fencing event at the World Fencing Championship in Antalya, Turkey October 6. (REUTERS/Murad Sezer) #

Ukraine's Oleksandr Yakubovs'kyi performs in the men's floor event during the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2009 at the 02 Arena in London October 13. (CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images) #

Jockeys ride their horses at the 119th traditional Velka Pardubicka Steeple-Chase in Pardubice city, Czech Republic October 11. (JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images) #

Luca Manca passes camels at the Pharaons International Cross Country Rally in front of the Giza pyramids October 10. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) #

Competitors prepare a homemade go-kart before the start of a soapbox race in Jerusalem October 7. (REUTERS/Baz Ratner) #

A Russian musher rests his team of Alaskan malamute sled dogs after a 5 km race just outside St. Petersburg October 3. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images) #

Air Force's Colton Reid reacts after losing to Navy in overtime during an NCAA college football game October 3 in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Rob Carr) #

Alabama's Julio Jones cannot pull in a pass in the end zone as Mississippi defenders watch during an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss. October 10. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) #

New Zealand and Malawi players challenge for the ball during their World Netball Series match in Manchester, England October 9. (REUTERS/Nigel Roddis) #

William Gay (right) of the Pittsburgh Steelers breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Malcom Floyd of the San Diego Chargers October 4 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) #

Rangers' Steven Whittaker (left) and Celtic's Scott Brown battle for the ball during the Scottish Premier League soccer match at Ibrox stadium in Glasgow October 4. (AP Photo/PA) #

The Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald (right) picks up yardage as the Houston Texans' Dunta Robinson (left) and Eugene Wilson defend during the first half of an NFL football game October 11 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) #

A fan snaps a photo of the Colorado Avalanche's Darcy Tucker (right) and the Vancouver Canucks' Kevin Bieksa during their NHL hockey game in Denver October 3. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking) #

Participants pose during the annual Underpants Run October 8 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Chris Stewart) #

A surfer walks in from the ocean as fog rolls in at Rockaway Beach in New York October 4. (REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton) #

Workers shovel snow from Jonah Field prior to an NCAA college football game between Wyoming and New Mexico October 10 in Laramie, Wyo . Laramie has 7 inches of snow and the game-time temperature was 15 degrees. (AP Photo/Laramie Boomerang/Andy Carpenean) #

A gymnast balances on the beam during a practice session for the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2009 at the O2 arena in London October 12. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant ) #