2008 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament, After the tournament
In addition to Pittsburgh's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, seven other conference teams were given at-large bids in the field, tying the conference record of eight teams in the tournament. Georgetown got the highest seed of the conference with a 2 seed and Louisville got a 3 seed. Both Pittsburgh and Connecticut were given 4 seeds and Notre Dame got a 5 seed. Marquette was given a 6 seed and West Virginia got a 7 seed. Finally, Villanova was given a 12 seed and was the final at-large team invited to the tournament. Although Syracuse was not invited to the NCAA Tournament, they were the only team from the conference invited to the 2008 National Invitation Tournament.


2008 Big League World Series
The 2008 Big League World Series took place from July 26-August 2 in Easley, South Carolina, United States. Taylors, South Carolina defeated San Juan,  Puerto Rico in the championship game.


2008 Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place from March 8–12, 2008. The first round was held at campus sites. The semifinals and finals took place at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. The semifinal matchups were determined so that the best and worst teams play in one game. Portland State won the tournament. As a result, they advanced to the NCAA Tournament.


2008 Big South Conference Baseball Tournament
The 2008 Big South Conference Baseball Tournament  was the postseason baseball tournament for the Big South Conference, held from May 20–24, 2008 at Dan Daniel Memorial Park in Danville, Virginia. All eight teams participated in the double-elimination tournament. The champion, Coastal Carolina, won the title for the ninth time, and earned an invitation to the 2008 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.


2008 Big South Conference Baseball Tournament, Format
All eight teams qualified for the tournament. The teams were seeded one through eight based on conference winning percentage. The bottom seeds played a single elimination play-in round, with the two winners joining the top four seeds in a six team double-elimination tournament.


2008 Big South Conference Baseball Tournament, Format
High Point forfeited several games due to the use of an ineligible player. The standings template at right reflects the results after the forfeits, while the table below shows the results of games played in order to accurately reflect seeding.


2008 Big South Conference Baseball Tournament, All-Tournament Team, Most Valuable Player
Tyler Bortnick was named Tournament Most Valuable Player. Bortnick was a shortstop for Coastal Carolina.


2008 Big South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2008 Big South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place from March 4–8, 2008.


2008 Big South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Format
The semifinals were held at the Justice Center in Asheville, North Carolina. The quarterfinals and finals were held at the home court of the better seed.


2008 Big Ten Baseball Tournament
The 2008 Big Ten Conference Baseball Tournament was held at Ray Fisher Stadium on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan from May 15 through 19. The top six teams from the regular season participated in the double-elimination tournament, the twenty seventh annual tournament sponsored by the Big Ten Conference to determine the league champion. Michigan won their eighth tournament championship and earned the Big Ten Conference's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.


2008 Big Ten Baseball Tournament, Format and seeding
The 2008 tournament was a 6-team double-elimination tournament, with seeds determined by conference regular season winning percentage only. As in the previous six years, the top two seeds received a single bye, with the four lower seeds playing opening round games. The top seed played the lowest seeded winner from the opening round, with the second seed playing the higher seed. Teams that lost in the opening round played an elimination game.


2008 Big Ten Baseball Tournament, All-Tournament Team, Most Outstanding Player
Michael Powers was named Most Outstanding Player. Powers was a pitcher for Michigan.


2008 Big Ten Conference football season
The 2008 Big Ten Conference football season is the 113th season for the Big Ten.


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Preseason
Ohio State was selected as the preseason favorite to win the conference with Wisconsin and Illinois second and third, respectively by the Media. Ohio State running back Chris Wells was chosen as the Preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the year while fellow Buckeye linebacker James Laurinaitis was named the Preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the year.


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Preseason
Purdue Head Coach Joe Tiller will enter his final season, while Michigan's Rich Rodriguez will begin his first in Ann Arbor.


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Preseason
In a given year, each Big Ten team will play eight of the other Big Ten teams. Thus for any given team in a given year, there are two others which will not be competed against. Below is the breakdown of "no-plays" for 2008:


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Akron @ WisconsinCoastal Carolina @ Penn StateMaine @ IowaSyracuse @ NorthwesternWestern Kentucky @ IndianaYoungstown State @ Ohio StateUtah @ MichiganNorthern Illinois @ MinnesotaMichigan State @ CaliforniaIllinois @ Missouri


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Eastern Illinois @ IllinoisEastern Michigan @ Michigan StateMarshall @ WisconsinMiami (Ohio) @ MichiganNorthern Colorado @ PurdueOhio @ Ohio StateFlorida International @ IowaOregon State @ Penn StateMurray State @ IndianaNorthwestern @ DukeMinnesota @ Bowling Green


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Florida Atlantic @ Michigan StateLouisiana @ IllinoisMontana State @ MinnesotaSouthern Illinois @ NorthwesternIowa State @ IowaOregon @ PurduePenn State @ SyracuseMichigan @ Notre DameOhio State @ Southern CaliforniaWisconsin @ Fresno State


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Central Michigan @ PurdueFlorida Atlantic @ MinnesotaIowa @ PittsburghOhio @ NorthwesternTemple @ Penn StateTroy @ Ohio StateNotre Dame @ Michigan StateBall State @ Indiana


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Michigan State @ IndianaMinnesota @ Ohio StateNorthwestern @ IowaPurdue @ Notre DameWisconsin @ MichiganIllinois @ Penn State


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Indiana @ MinnesotaIowa @ Michigan StatePenn State @ PurdueIllinois @ MichiganOhio State @ Wisconsin


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Iowa @ IndianaMinnesota @ IllinoisToledo @ MichiganMichigan State @ NorthwesternPurdue @ Ohio StatePenn State @ Wisconsin


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Purdue @ NorthwesternWisconsin @ IowaOhio State @ Michigan StateMichigan @ Penn StateIndiana @ Illinois


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Illinois @ WisconsinMinnesota @ PurdueNorthwestern @ IndianaPenn State @ Ohio StateMichigan State @ Michigan


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Northwestern @ MinnesotaCentral Michigan @ IndianaIowa @ IllinoisMichigan @ PurdueWisconsin @ Michigan State


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Illinois @ Western MichiganMichigan @ MinnesotaOhio State @ NorthwesternPenn State @ IowaPurdue @ Michigan StateWisconsin @ Indiana


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Indiana @ Penn StateMinnesota @ WisconsinNorthwestern @ MichiganOhio State @ IllinoisPurdue @ Iowa


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Schedule
Iowa @ MinnesotaCalifornia Polytechnic State @ WisconsinIllinois @ NorthwesternIndiana @ PurdueMichigan @ Ohio StateMichigan State @ Penn State


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Awards, Conference honors
Dave McClain Coach of the Year (Big Ten Coach of the Year)


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Attendance
The overall attendance for the Big Ten was a total of 5,399,659 fans attending 77 contests this year. This meant that conference schools averaged 70,125 fans per home contest this season. Each Big Ten team has seven home games during the season with two exceptions; Indiana played eight games in Memorial Stadium and Illinois played two neutral sites to limit the Illini to six games in Memorial Stadium. Below are the figures for each game, the total for the team's season and the average attendance per game. The rankings below are by average attendance per game.


2008 Big Ten Conference football season, Attendance
* denotes Ohio Stadium record vs. Penn State on October 25.


2008 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2008 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament was played between March 13 and 16, 2008 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was the eleventh annual Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament. The championship was won by Wisconsin who defeated Illinois in the championship game. As a result, Wisconsin received the Big Ten's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The win marked Wisconsin's second tournament championship in four appearances.


2008 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, Seeds
All Big Ten schools played in the tournament. Teams were seeded by conference record, with a tiebreaker system used to seed teams with identical conference records. Seeding for the tournament was determined at the close of the regular conference season. The top five teams received a first round bye.


2008 Big Ten Softball Tournament
The 2008 Big Ten Softball tournament was held at Sharon J. Drysdale Field on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois from May 8 through May 10, 2008. As the tournament winner, Northwestern earned the Big Ten Conference's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament.


2008 Big Ten Softball Tournament, Format and seeding
The 2008 tournament was an eight team single-elimination tournament. The top eight teams based on conference regular season winning percentage earned invites to the tournament. After all tiebreakers between Michigan and Northwestern came out equal, the Wildcats won the official coin flip which was conducted by Big Ten Conference officials to determine this year's host. This was the first time in the tournament's history that the top-seeded team was decided by a coin flip.


2008 Big West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2008 Big West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place from March 12–15, 2008 at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena in Anaheim, California. The quarterfinals were televised by KVMD The semifinals were televised by ESPNU. The West Coast Conference Championship Game was televised by ESPN2.


2008 Big West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Seeds
There was a three-way tie for first place during the regular season. UCSB received the #1 seed due to a 3–1 record against Cal State Northridge and Cal State Fullerton. Cal State Northridge received the #2 seed due to a 2–2 record against UCSB and Cal State Fullerton.


2008 Big West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Format
The top two seed receive byes into the semifinals. Seeds 3 and 4 receive byes into the quarterfinals. If necessary, the bracket will be adjusted after each round so that the top and bottom seeds in each round play in the same game. The ninth place team, UC Davis, did not receive a tournament invitation.


2008 BigPond 400
The 2008 BigPond 400 was the fourth round of the 2008 V8 Supercar season. It was held on the weekend of 9 to 11 May at Barbagallo Raceway in Wanneroo, north of Perth, Western Australia.


2008 BigPond 400, Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Saturday 10 May. Mark Winterbottom snatched pole position away from Mark Skaife in the final seconds of qualifying, which had to that point looked like an all-Holden Racing Team front row with Garth Tander just behind his teammate. Craig Lowndes qualified fourth for Team Vodafone. James Courtney debuted a new Stone Brothers Racing Falcon in fifth place. Todd Kelly likewise made a stellar debut with a new car, qualifying eighth. Jamie Whincup racing the repaired Craig Lowndes car from the Clipsal 500 was a disappointing 22nd, starting alongside fellow points front runner Lee Holdsworth.


2008 BigPond 400, Race 1
Race 1 was held on Saturday 10 May. Mark Winterbottom took his second race victory of the year, a surprisingly comfortable win ahead of the HRT pair of Mark Skaife and Garth Tander. Tander was pushed hard by Steven Richards and Craig Lowndes. A collision at race start saw Jason Bright touch Greg Murphy who in turn made contact with Michael Caruso, sending Bright and Caruso out of control towards turn 7, where crossing the track Caruso struck Shane van Gisbergen. The incident triggered a safety car.


2008 BigPond 400, Race 1
Jamie Whincup and Will Davison charged through to seventh and eight positions from poor qualifying places. James Courtney was fighting amongst that group but fading rear tyres led Courtney to attempt defensive moves that raised the ire of race control, leading to first the bad sportsmanship flag, then a black flag drive through penalty which dropped him down field.


2008 BigPond 400, Race 2
Race 2 was held on Sunday 11 May. Winterbottom backed it up with a second race victory, pushed all the way by Garth Tander. Jason Richards missed the start with engine problems. A slow start from Mark Skaife off the front row saw a collision with Steven Richards at turn 3 of the first lap. Skaife broadsided the wall but Richards attempted to continue with a punctured left rear tyre, limping back to the pits. Russell Ingall result was caused by a drive-through penalty for pit-lane speeding.


2008 BigPond 400, Race 2
Lee Holdsworth was pinged for a drive-through for an unsafe pitstop release, emerging onto the track as rain began to fall and made contact with Paul Dumbrell. Cameron McConville slithered into the stopped cars. Ingall, likewise put down-field by his penalty stop damaged his steering in a clash with race leader Jamie Whincup as Ingall was being lapped. Ingall later picked up a $5,000 fine for careless driving.


2008 BigPond 400, Race 2
Whincup stayed out during the brief rain squall, and took advantage of being able to pitstop at a better time, jumping back into the field in third place, right in front of teammate Craig Lowndes, the Team Vodafone pair race to the finish together. James Courtney recovered from race 1 dramas to finish seventh while Steven Richards recovered to ninth position falling just short of overtaking Todd Kelly. Shane van Gisbergen's repaired Falcon just made the top ten.


2008 BigPond 400, Race 3
Race 3 was held on Sunday 11 May. An early race clash between Russell Ingall and Jason Richards, saw Richards into the pits with a front left puncture and a flapping door for Ingall. Ingall then subsequently picked up his second pit lane speeding infringement of the weekend.


2008 Biggin Hill Cessna Citation crash
On 30 March 2008, a Cessna 501 Citation crashed into a house in Farnborough, London (UK), near Biggin Hill Airport, from where the aircraft had taken off a short time before. There were no survivors among the five people on board, which included former racing drivers Richard Lloyd and David Leslie.


2008 Biggin Hill Cessna Citation crash, Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a Bermudan-registered Cessna 501 Citation, tail number VP-BGE, construction number 500-0287, built in 1975. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had completed 5,844 hours total time and 5,352 cycles.


2008 Biggin Hill Cessna Citation crash, Accident flight
The Citation took off at 14:32 local time from runway 21 at Biggin Hill airport, with destination Pau Pyrénées Airport in France. Less than two minutes into the flight, the pilot radioed an emergency call, reporting "engine vibrations" and requesting an immediate return to Biggin Hill. The aircraft was given permission to land on any runway, and the pilots indicated that they would attempt to return to the departure runway. Shortly after the radio call the aircraft rapidly lost altitude and at 14:37 crashed into a property in Romsey Close, Farnborough. There were no survivors from the wreckage, which was consumed by fire, as was the house that the aircraft struck. A neighbouring property was also damaged by fire.


2008 Biggin Hill Cessna Citation crash, Casualties
All five occupants of the aircraft (two crew and three passengers) died in the accident. There were no physical injuries among residents of the street into which the plane crashed, although two people were later treated for shock.


2008 Biggin Hill Cessna Citation crash, Casualties
A memorial service was held for the victims on 6 April 2008.


2008 Biggin Hill Cessna Citation crash, Investigation
An Investigation was conducted by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), assisted by the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and by the aircraft manufacturer, Cessna and the engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney Canada. The preliminary report from the AAIB revealed that there was no debris found on the runway at Biggin Hill, and no evidence of a bird strike or foreign object damage to either engine.


2008 Biggin Hill Cessna Citation crash, Investigation
The AAIB published its formal report into the accident on 21 May 2010. It concluded that:


2008 Biggin Hill Cessna Citation crash, Investigation
An inquest into the death of the five victims opened on 31 May 2011 in Bromley, London. The inquest concluded on 1 June with verdicts of accidental death being returned in all five cases.


2008 Bihar flood
The 2008 Bihar flood was one of the most disastrous floods in the history of Bihar, an impoverished and densely populated state in India. The Koshi embankment near the Indo-Nepal border (at Kusaha VDC, Sunsari district, Nepal) broke on 18 August 2008. The river changed course and flooded areas which had not been flooded in many decades. The flood affected over 2.3 million people in the northern part of Bihar.


2008 Bihar flood, Incident
On 18 August 2008, heavy monsoon rains and poor maintenance caused a breach in the Kosi embankment. Water passed through the breach at an estimated 3675 cubic meters per second (129,800 cusecs), flooding many villages in Nepal and hundreds of villages in northern Bihar. The flood submerged most of the Kosi alluvial fan area, which is very fertile, with a dense agrarian population.


2008 Bihar flood, Background
The Kosi River's upper basin in southern Tibet and eastern Nepal drains some 60,000 km2 of mountainous terrain, a region that tectonic forces are elevating by about 1 cm a year. If erosion keeps pace with geologic uplift, an estimated 600 million cubic meters of sediment would be carried downstream in an average year. However, empirical measurements of the river's sediment load have yielded estimates of 100 million cubic meters annually, indicating that the area is rising.


2008 Bihar flood, Background
River gradient ranges from more than 10 meters/km for major upper tributaries in the mountains to as little as 6 cm/km as the lower Kosi nears the Ganges. As the gradient decreases on the plains, current slows and turbulence that holds sediments in suspension diminishes. Sediments settle out and are deposited on the riverbed. This process eventually raises a channel above the surrounding terrain. The river breaks out, seeking lower terrain, which it again proceeds to elevate by deposition. This creates a cone-shaped alluvial fan. The Kosi alluvial fan is one of the largest in the world, covering some 15,000 km2 and extending 180 km from the outermost foothills of the Himalayas to the Ganges river valley.


2008 Bihar flood, Background
Flood waters naturally spread out over the surface of this cone. Flows over 25,000 m³/s have been measured where the Kosi exits the Himalayan foothills, enough to create a flow of water 30 km wide. At this rate, in one week enough water would accumulate to cover the entire megafan to a depth of 1.5 meters.


2008 Bihar flood, Background
Preventative flood control measures include upstream reservoirs that can also serve irrigation needs and produce hydroelectric power. However, in Nepal these are mostly in the planning stages. The flood control measures mainly consist of downstream embankments meant to confine the river to a fixed channel. In theory, the faster flow along this channel would carry high flows away and keep sediments in suspension.


2008 Bihar flood, Background
On 18 August 2008 one of the man-made embankments failed. The river reverted from the prescribed western channel to an old channel near the centre of its alluvial fan. The river spread out widely and flooded towns, villages, and cultivated fields on the densely populated alluvial fan. Recurrent flooding on the lower Kosi contributes largely to India's history of suffering more flood deaths than any other country except Bangladesh, and has earned the Kosi the epithet "The Sorrow of Bihar".


2008 Bihar flood, Affected areas, India
Flooding occurred throughout the Kosi River valley in northern Bihar, in the districts of Supaul, Araria, Saharsa, Madhepura, Bhagalpur, Khagaria and Purnea.


2008 Bihar flood, Affected areas, India
The flood killed 250 people and forced nearly 3 million people from their homes in Bihar. More than 300,000 houses were destroyed and at least 340,000 hectares (840,000 acres) of crops were damaged. Villagers in Bihar ate raw rice and flour mixed with polluted water. Hunger and disease were widespread. The Supaul district was the worst-hit; surging waters swamped 1,000 square kilometres (247,000 acres) of farmlands, destroying crops.


2008 Bihar flood, Affected areas, Nepal
It also affected six districts in Nepal. Approximately 53,800 Nepalese (11,572 households) were affected by the Koshi floods in Sunsari District, according to the Government of Nepal (GoN). Koshi Wildlife Reserve along the Koshi river was severely impacted by the floods including its wildlife and biodiversity.


2008 Bihar flood, Affected areas, Nepal
Satellite image of flood waters in Bihar as of 31 August 2008. (Image UNOSAT)


2008 Bihar flood, Relief and Rehabilitation Work
In response to the disaster, widely reported as the region's worst flood in 50 years, Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar, met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek his help in dealing with the "catastrophe".


2008 Bihar flood, Relief and Rehabilitation Work
The Prime Minister declared a "natural calamity" on 28 August and earmarked US$230 million in aid for the region. Rescue operations were carried out by the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and non-government organisations. Indian Air Force helicopters dropped relief supplies in the worst-hit districts. Mumbai Fire Brigade sent a 22-member disaster management team to help in relief work.


2008 Bihar flood, Relief and Rehabilitation Work
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar requested a rehabilitation package of Rs 145 billion from the central government for the flood ravaged Kosi region.


2008 Bihar flood, Relief and Rehabilitation Work
The Bihar government returned funds from Gujarat for relief work because of purported differences with the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi.


2008 Bihar flood, Relief and Rehabilitation Work
On 1 September, describing the floods as a "disaster," the Dalai Lama gave 1,000,000 rupees to the Bihar government for relief work.


2008 Bihar flood, Relief and Rehabilitation Work
The Government of Bihar initiated Kosi Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Programme covering 30,000 affected families in Saharsa, Supaul and Madhepura district based on a pilot project implemented by ODR Collaborative, a network of organisations, supporting the Government and an owner driven reconstruction policy was formulated to support each family with Rs. 55,000 to construct their own house. After signing an agreement with the World Bank in January 2011, this programme has been upscaled to cover 100,000 families for reconstruction of hazard safe houses. The cost per house will be Rs. 55,000 ($1200) with an additional cost of Rs.


2008 Bihar flood, Relief and Rehabilitation Work
2,300 ($50) for a toilet and Rs. 5,000 ($110) for solar powered lighting. In cases where beneficiaries do not own land, the Government of Bihar will provide additional assistance of Rs. 5000 ($110) for the people to buy the land. Towards this project, the World Bank is contributing $220 million. The Government of Bihar has also partnered with ODR Collaborative and UNDP to continue the social and technical facilitation and capacity building for this 'owner driven reconstruction' programme. Technical guidelines have been brought out to enable owners to build houses with various local materials including bamboo.


2008 Bihar flood, Relief and Rehabilitation Work
The rehabilitation work has been incredibly slow. Out of a total 100,000 houses to be built by the Government in the Kosi region comprising Madhepura, Saharsa and Supaul districts, only 12,500 were built till February 2014.


2008 Bihar flood, Administrative lapse
Fax messages sent by engineers at the Kosi dam warning the state government of the impending disaster went unheeded as the official authorised to respond was on leave. Consequently, many residents waiting for evacuation instructions never received warning of the flood. Nitish Mishra, Bihar's disaster management minister, said, "There should definitely be some accountability," and that action would be taken.


2008 Bihar flood, Investigation
Bihar Government appointed a one-man inquiry commission, headed by Justice Rajesh Walia, former chief justice of Patna High Court, to probe the cause of the embankment breach. It was asked to examine all aspects related to the efforts to maintain the utility of the Kosi project since its inception in 1953 – particularly after a major landslide in 1979 pushed the Kosi towards its eastern bund – and a breach in 1991. The Commission submitted its report in March 2014.


2008 Bin Salman mosque bombing
The 2008 Bin Salman mosque bombing was on 2 May 2008 at the Bin Salman Mosque in Sa'dah, Yemen, which killed 15 and injured 55. Local officials believed the bomb was hidden in a car or a motorcycle.


2008 Bin Salman mosque bombing
Some witnesses said the target may have been the mosque's imam, or prayer leader, an army officer who adheres to the Salafi school of Sunni Islam. Witnesses said he was not hurt. Military personnel are among those who usually pray at the Bin Salman mosque, which like others in Yemen caters for both the majority Sunni community and Shia Zaidis.


2008 Birmingham City Council election
Elections to Birmingham City Council in England were held on 1 May 2008. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control as it had been since 2003.


2008 Birmingham City Council election
230 candidates stood in the election for the 40 seats that were contested. Five parties contested every ward in Birmingham, the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, British National Party and the Greens. Overall turnout across the city was 31.2%


2008 Birmingham City Council election
The results saw the Conservative party gain significantly, winning 6 seats from the Labour party and Respect gain an independent seat. The Liberal Democrats were pleased to hold all their seats. As a result, the Conservative and Liberal Democrat ruling coalition increased their majority to hold 75% of the seats on the council. Both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats attributed their success to below inflation council tax rises and the national unpopularity of the Labour government.


2008 Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours 2008 were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as part of the Queen's Official Birthday celebrations during the month of June.


2008 Birthday Honours
They were announced on 14 June 2008 in the United Kingdom, on 9 June 2008 in Australia, on 2 June 2008 in New Zealand, and on 14 June 2008 in Barbados, The Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia, and Belize.


2008 Birthday Honours
The recipients of honours are displayed as they were styled before their new honour and arranged by the country (in order of precedence) whose ministers advised The Queen on the appointments, then by honour with grades i.e. Knight/Dame Grand Cross, Knight/Dame Commander etc. and then divisions i.e. Civil, Diplomatic and Military as appropriate.


2008 Birthday Honours, Australia
The Queen's Birthday Honours 2008 for Australia were announced on 9 June 2008.


2008 Birthday Honours, New Zealand
The Queen's Birthday Honours 2008 for New Zealand were announced on 2 June 2008.


2008 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)
The 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours in New Zealand, celebrating the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, were appointments made by the Queen in her right as Queen of New Zealand, on the advice of the New Zealand government, to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. They were announced on 2 June 2008.


2008 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)
The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour.


2008 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
The 2008 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes was the 84th running of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. The race took place in Baltimore, Maryland on May 16, 2008, and was televised in the United States on the Bravo TV network owned by NBC. Ridden by jockey Channing Hill, Sweet Vendetta, won the race by one and one half lengths over runner-up Shes All Eltish. Approximate post time on the evening before the Preakness Stakes was 5:50 p.m. Eastern Time and the race was run for a purse of $150,000. The race was run over a fast track in a final time of 1:49.60. The Maryland Jockey Club reported total attendance of 18,407.


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election
Elections to Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council were held in 2008 on 1 May along with all other local elections in the UK.


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Election result
The party tallies before the 2008 poll were different from the results from the 2007 election. Arif Waghat was sacked from the Liberal Democrats in August 2007 and Michael Johnson quit For Darwen in March 2008. Both are continuing as independents.


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Election result
In this first summary, "seats" represent the number of wards each party are defending.


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Audley
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Bastwell
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Beardwood with Lammack
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Corporation Park
Previously won by Labour in 2007 with a majority of 305.


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Earcroft
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Ewood
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Fernhurst
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Higher Croft
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Little Harwood
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Livesey with Pleasington
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Marsh House
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Meadowhead
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Mill Hill
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, North Turton with Tockholes
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Queen's Park
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Roe Lee
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Shadsworth with Whitebirk
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Shear Brow
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Sudell
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Sunnyhurst
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Wensley Fold
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, Wards, Whitehall
Previously won by ? in 200? with a majority of ?


2008 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2008 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos played their home games at Bronco Stadium, most famous for its blue artificial turf surface, often referred to as the "smurf-turf". The blue turf was new for the 2008 season, as the old Astroplay surface was replaced by Field Turf. The Broncos won the Western Athletic Conference championship and were one of only two teams (the other being the Utah Utes) to finish the 2008 regular season with an undefeated record. However, the Broncos were unable to finish the season undefeated after losing 17–16 to #11 TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Previous season
The Broncos entered the 2007 season ranked #23 in the coaches poll and were on a 13-game winning streak after going undefeated in 2006. After an opening home win against Weber State to extend their winning streak to 14, the Broncos traveled to Seattle to play Washington. The Broncos failed to win against a Pac-10 team, losing to the Huskies 24–10, ending their nation's best winning streak, and dropping out of the top 25.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Previous season
The Broncos would win 9 straight games from September 15 to November 17, including 7 WAC games and wins over rivals Fresno State, Idaho, and Nevada in a 4 OT game that set a new NCAA FBS record for points scored with 136 (69–67; that record total was matched later that season when Navy beat North Texas 74–62). The Broncos reentered the top 25 on November 3 and made it as high as #15 before dropping to #17 for the season ending game at #13 and undefeated Hawaii.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Previous season
The game with Hawaii was for the outright WAC championship, won by Hawaii 39–27. The Broncos would return to Honolulu to play East Carolina in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on December 23, won by East Carolina 41–38. The Broncos would finish the season 10–3, but failed to win either a conference championship or a bowl game for the first time since 2001.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Pre-season, Pre-season awards
On July 25, the Broncos were selected as the favorite to win the WAC by the media by a total of 383 points to 379 for Fresno State and first place votes of 25 to 20. The WAC coaches (not allowed to vote for their own team) voted Fresno #1 with a total of 63 to 57 points. Fresno had a total of 7 first place votes among WAC coaches to Boise States 2.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Pre-season, Pre-season awards
The USA Today Coaches preseason top 25 poll was released on August 1, with Boise State receiving 25 votes to rank 34th.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Pre-season, Pre-season awards
The Associated Press preseason top 25 poll was released on August 16, with Boise State receiving 17 votes to rank 36th.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Idaho State
The Broncos opened the 2008 season with a 49-7 win over their former in-state rival Idaho State in front of a new Bronco Stadium record crowd of 32,318. Freshman quarterback Kellen Moore completed 14 of 19 passes for 274 and 2 Touchdowns (80, 56) in his first collegiate start. Ian Johnson rushed 14 times for 87 yards and one score while Titus Young made 7 receptions for 142 yards and one touchdown and also one rushing touchdown. Richie Brockel rushed for two touchdowns and Tyler Shoemaker caught two TD passes.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Idaho State
The two touchdowns by Young, Brockel and Shoemaker marks the first time three Bronco's had each scored two touchdowns in one game. The Broncos out gained the Bengals 582 to 207 in total yards. The Broncos also blocked a Bengal punt in the 2nd quarter. With the win the Broncos moved their regular season home winning streak to 44. At one point in the fourth quarter, all 11 players on Defense for the Bronco's were freshman.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Bowling Green
Another Bronco Stadium record crowd of 32,335 watched as Boise State raised their regular season home winning streak to 45 games by beating Bowling Green 20-7. The Broncos came out fast scoring 3 touchdowns in the first half. A much improved second half Bowling Green defense mixed with various mental mistakes by the Bronco offense left the Broncos scoreless in the second half. Ian Johnson rushed 13 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Kellen Moore went 18 of 23 for 180, started the game 11 of 11, and rushed for his first career touchdown.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Bowling Green
Kyle Brotzman set a Boise State record by making his 75th straight extra point, breaking the record held by Tyler Jones of 74 made in 2003 and 2004. Safety Jeron Johnson had 13 tackles (8 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass break up and two second half fumble recoveries to win WAC defensive player of the week.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Oregon
Since joining D1A (now FBS) in 1996, Boise State had lost all 13 of their road games against teams from BCS conferences. That streak ended with a 37-32 win over Oregon of the Pac-10 in front of 58,713 hostile fans in Autzen Stadium. The Broncos held leads of 24-6 at halftime and 37-13 in the 4th before Oregon closed out the game with 19 unanswered points. The Broncos were held to only 38 yards rushing, but were helped by the arm of Freshman quarterback Kellen Moore. Moore went 25-37 for 386 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Oregon
One touchdown pass went for 73 yards to Senior Vinny Perretta, his first TD of the season, before he left the game with a concussion. Junior Jeremy Childs added 4 receptions for 100 yards with a long of 41. Junior Kyle Wilson made 2 interceptions (totaling 3 on the season) while Sophomore Brandyn Thompson made his first career interception. Sophomore kicker Kyle Brotzman went 3-4 on field goals from 24, 36, and a career long 51 yards. Sophomore safety Jeron Johnson was ejected late in the 4th.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Oregon
The win propelled the Broncos into the top 25 in both major polls for the first time this season, being ranked 19th by the AP and 20th by the coaches in the USA Today poll. For his efforts, Kellen Moore was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation Bowl Subdivision National Offensive Player of the Week and the WAC Offensive Player of the Week. The Broncos were also named the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Louisiana Tech
6-4 all time, 6-1 as WAC members. Last year 45-31 in Ruston


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Louisiana Tech
Boise State won their WAC opener for the 8th straight year and extended their regular season home winning streak to 46 by defeating the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech 38-3. Kellen Moore threw an interception on the opening drive, then was almost perfect finishing the game 20-28 for 325 and 2 TD's (13, 44) to Julian Hawkins and Chris O'niel, the latter on a reverse throw back to Moore from Vinny Perretta. Moore's numbers were good enough to earn the WAC Offensive Player of the Week award for the second time this season.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Louisiana Tech
D.J. Harper added 2 TD's on 9 carries for 35 yards. Ian Johnson again had a subpar rushing game, 9 for 42, but had his first career 100 yard receiving game with 106 on 3 catches. The Bronco defense has now given up 7 points or less in 3 of the 4 games this season. Kyle Brotzman hit a 49-yard field goal and averaged 57.7 yards on 3 punts including one downed at the 1-yard line and another of 72 yards. The Broncos moved up in the top 25 polls to #15 in the AP and #16 in the USA Today Coaches poll.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Southern Miss
The Bronco defense shined in holding the strong Southern Mississippi offense to just 278 yards, stops on 4 fourth down tries and forced 2 turnovers to help the Bronco offense that continues to struggle. The Bronco offense was great in the second quarter, scoring all of their 24 points, but a series of three and outs, penalties and other bad decisions led to just 113 yards and 6 first downs in the second half.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Southern Miss
The Broncos were held scoreless in the second half for the second time this season, but also held their opponent to 7 points or less for the fourth time in five games this season. Kellen Moore went 21 of 30 for 170, 3 TD's and 1 pick. 10 of his completions went to Jeremy Childs for 92 yards. Austin Pettis added 2 TD's on 4 catches for 30 yards. Jeron Johnson recorded his first interception of the season.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Southern Miss
Kyle Brotzman went 3 for 3 on PAT's, made a 32-yard field goal and averaged 39.7 yards on 6 punts that included 2 down inside the 20-yard line and a long of 63 in rout to being awarded the WAC Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time in his two-year career. Boise State remained the same in every major poll following the win. Prior to the game wide receiver Titus Young, who had previously been suspended for the Oregon game, was suspended indefinitely.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Hawaii
6-3 all time, 6-1 as WAC members. Last year 27-39 in Honolulu


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Hawaii
The Broncos defense came up with 5 interceptions and 7 sacks in taking down the defending WAC champion Hawaii Warriors 27-7 in front of another record crowd of 32,342 in Bronco Stadium. Brandyn Thompson had 3 interceptions and 5 solo tackles (one for a loss) to be awarded the WAC Defensive Player of the Week. George Iloka and Jeron Johnson also made interceptions. This marked the 5th time this season the Bronco Defense held their opponent to 7 points or less and moved to 2nd in the nation in scoring defense giving up only 10.5 PPG.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Hawaii
On offense, Kellen Moore went 25 of 33 for 256 and 3 TD's, 6 of his passes going to Vinny Perretta for 82 yards. Kyle Brotzman won the WAC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second straight week going 2 for 4 on field goals (31, 43), brought his school record for consecutive extra points to 90, and averaged 60 yards on 3 punts with a career long of 75 and 2 downed inside the 20. The Broncos have still never lost a home WAC game (26 straight) and have now won 47 straight regular season home games. The Broncos moved to #13 in all of the major polls and debuted at #12 in the first BCS rankings.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, San Jose State
8-0 all time, 7-0 as WAC members. Last year 42-7 in Boise


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, San Jose State
The last two trips to San Jose for Boise State resulted in unsuccessful but scary close upset bids by the Spartans, both times the Broncos were undefeated. This game had the same ingredients and looked to be heading for a close finish being 20-16 in the third quarter, but the Broncos scored the game's final 13 points to stay undefeated and stop the Spartans chances of playing spoiler to the Broncos undefeated chances. Kellen Moore went 26 of 40 for 244 1 INT and 2 TD's to Jeremy Childs and Austin Pettis.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, San Jose State
Jeremy Avery rushed 21 times for 96 yards and Ian Johnson added 66 on 16 carries and 2 TD's to set a new career touchdown mark in Boise State history, now with 51. Along with his 5 receptions Jeremy Childs had a first quarter punt block that led to a Bronco Touchdown. Kyle Brotzman hit 2 field goals from 31 and 39. The win gives the Broncos sole possession of first place in the WAC and moved them to #11 in every major poll, including the BCS.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, New Mexico State
8-0 all time, 3-0 as WAC members. Last year 58-0 in Boise.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, New Mexico State
New Mexico State quarterback Chase Holbrook, who entered the game averaging 295 yards a game, only managed 64 yards passing and his Aggies were shut out by Boise State for the second straight year. The Bronco defense held the Aggies to only 150 total yards, made 7 sacks, 1 INT by Kyle Wilson, forced one fumble and now have given up 7 points or less in 6 of 8 games this season and are now giving up just 9.88 points per game.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, New Mexico State
Kyle Wilson also scored the Broncos first non offensive touchdown of the season by returning a fourth quarter punt 71 yards. On offense, Kellen Moore went 15 of 23 for 246, 1 INT and 3 TD's, 1 to Austin Pettis and 2 to Jeremy Childs. Ian Johnson had 10 carries for 61 yards and 1 TD to increase his school record to 52 TD's in his career. The Broncos moved to #9 in the AP Poll, their highest regular season ranking in school history, and moved to #10 in every other poll.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Utah State
10-4 all time, 3-0 as WAC members. Last year 52-0 in Logan


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Utah State
Four different Bronco players threw for a combined 5 TD's and 458 yards passing to collect  their 37th straight conference home win and remain undefeated on the season. Kellen Moore went 27 of 36 for 362, 2 TD's and 1 INT. Backup quarterback Mike Coughlin and wide receivers Tanyon Bissell and Vinny Perretta also added TD passes. Perretta added a 38-yard touchdown reception of his own to go along with 2 each by Jeremy Childs (57, 17) and Austin Pettis (7, 5). Ian Johnson's 1-yard TD run moved his school record for career rushing TD's to 53.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Utah State
The Bronco defense held the Aggie rushing attack to just 44 yards, forced 6 turnovers and scored their first TD of the season when Ellis Powers picked up a Ryan Winterswyk forced fumble and returned it 4 yards. George Iloka had 2 interceptions. The Bronocs are now ranked #9 in every major poll.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Idaho
19-17-1 all time, 3-0 as WAC members. Last year 58-14 in Boise


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Idaho
The Broncos knocked off their in-state rivals for the 10th straight year to retain the Governor's Trophy and secure their 6th WAC Championship in 7 years. The Vandals opened the game with an 81-yard TD on the first play of the game and it was all down hill from there. The Broncos ran over the Vandals to the tune of 525 yards, 315 of those on the ground.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Idaho
Jeremy Avery became the first Bronco back to go over 100 yards this season by gaining 156 yards on 11 carries, had a long of 57 for one of his two touchdowns and set a school record with 14.2 YPC. Ian Johnson added to his school record for rushing TD's which now stands at 54. Kellen Moore went 23 for 31 for 210 yards, 11 of those to Jeremy Childs for 99 yards and 6 to Austin Pettis for 71 yards.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Idaho
Kyle Wilson now leads the WAC with 5 interceptions and returned a punt 79 yards for his second return TD of the season. Ellis Powers return a fumble 45 yards for a TD, his second TD in as many weeks. True freshman defensive lineman Byron Hout, who made 5 solo tackles, 2 sacks and forced the fumble that led to the Powers TD, was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Week. The Broncos remained at #9 in every major poll.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Nevada
22-12 all time, 7-0 as WAC members. Last year 69-67 in 4 OT's in Boise.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Nevada
The Broncos held off a frenzy second half comeback by the Wolf Pack that ended when Colin Kaepernick's pass was batted down in the end zone on the last play of the game to secure the Broncos their 11th win of the season, their 5th season this decade with 11 wins or more, and the WAC championship for the 6th time in 7 years.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Nevada
The Broncos came out quick to lead Nevada 24-3 at halftime, but Kellen Moore threw 3 3rd quarter interceptions, 2 that were returned for touchdowns, and Nevada's offense scored on a 31-yard run to make it 31-24 at the end of 3. The Bronco's pushed their lead back to 17 on an Austin Pettis touchdown reception and a Kyle Brotzman 50-yard field goal.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Nevada
Nevada scored a TD with 4:36 left, recovered an on-side kick, kicked a FG with 2:36 left, and got the ball one last time with 1:37 left after a Brotzman missed 44-yard field goal but couldn't punch it in the end zone to force overtime. Kellen Moore went 29 of 48 for 414, a career-high, 3 TD's and the 3 costly INT's. Austin Pettis had 9 catches for 126 yards and 2 TD's (18, 10) to be named WAC Offensive Player of the Week while Vinny Perretta made 5 catches for 126 yards and a rushing TD. The Broncos only managed 70 yards rushing, 66 of those on an Ian Johnson TD run. The Broncos remained #9 in all major polls for the 3rd consecutive week.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Fresno State
6-4 all time, 6-1 as WAC members. Last year 34-21 in Fresno


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Fresno State
The new record crowd of 32,412 rushed the field and fireworks went off above Bronco Stadium to celebrate the Broncos 3rd undefeated season in 5 years, their 5th 8-0 WAC season in the last 7 years, and their 7th straight year of being undefeated at home all to keep their slim BCS chances alive. Senior QB Bush Hamdan started on Senior day and threw 1 pass that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Fresno State. The Bulldogs would only manage 3 points the rest of the game.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Fresno State
The Broncos started slow in the first half leading only 13-10 at the half but broke the game wide open with 4 TD's in the third. Jeremy Avery scored on a 43-yard rush, Kyle Wilson returned a punt 90 yards for his 3rd return score of the year, Julian Hawkins caught a 35-yard TD pass from WR Tayon Bissel on a reverse pass, and Kellen Moore found TE Tommy Gallarda for a 16-yard touchdown reception. Ian Johnson had a 69-yard run on the last play of the 3rd quarter and scored a TD to open the 4th.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Fresno State
Johnson added another TD later in the 4th to tie Marshall Faulk for the WAC record for TD rushes in a career with 57. In all Johnson carried the ball 14 times for 128 and the 2 scores. Kellen Moore went 17 for 23 for 213 and 2 TD's. Kyle Wilson was named the WAC Special Teams Player of the Week. On December 7, the Broncos were selected to play #11 Texas Christian (10-2) in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on December 23.


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Game summaries, Poinsettia Bowl - TCU
1-0 all time. Last meeting 2003 (34-31 in the Plains Capital Fort Worth Bowl)


2008 Boise State Broncos football team, Post Season Awards, First Team All WAC
Jeremy Childs- Jr. WR- Second straight year on 1st team


2008 Bolesław Chrobry Tournament
The 1st Tournament for Bolesław Chrobry Crown - First King of Poland was the 2008 version of the Bolesław Chrobry Tournament. It took place on 29 June in the Start Gniezno Stadium in Gniezno, Poland. The Tournament was won by Rafał Dobrucki who beat Rafał Okoniewski and Sebastian Ułamek. The top Gniezno' rider Piotr Paluch was ninth.


2008 Bolesław Chrobry Tournament, Heat details
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance •  t - exclusion for touching the tapes •  x - other exclusion •  e - retired or mechanical failure •  f - fell •  ns - non-starter •  nc - non-classify


2008 Bolivian autonomy referendums
Referendums on departmental autonomy statutes were held in four departments of Bolivia—Beni, Pando, Santa Cruz, and Tarija—in May and June 2008. These four departments, known as the Media Luna, voted in favor of autonomy in the June 2006 elections. The National Electoral Court had blocked the referendums, along with the proposed referendum on Morales's new constitution. The referendums were also unconstitutional, as the constitution in force at the time had no provisions for departmental autonomy. Under the Framework Law on Autonomy, passed in 2010, the autonomy statutes must be harmonized with the 2009 Constitution before being enacted.


2008 Bolivian autonomy referendums
The first autonomy referendum was held in Santa Cruz Department on 4 May 2008. Autonomy referendums were held in Beni Department and Pando Department in Bolivia on 1 June 2008 Both departments approved autonomy with slightly over 80% of the vote. Turnout was only 34.5% in Beni and slightly over 50% in Pando.


2008 Bolivian autonomy referendums
A similar referendum was held in Tarija Department on 22 June 2008.


2008 Bolivian vote of confidence referendum
A vote of confidence in President Evo Morales in the form of a referendum was held in Bolivia on 10 August 2008. The vote was held to determine whether Morales, Vice President Álvaro García Linera, and eight out of nine departmental Prefects should stay in office. Morales received more than 67% support and six of the eight prefects were returned. The prefects of Cochabamba Department and La Paz Department were defeated and had to face re-election.


2008 Bolivian vote of confidence referendum, Background
The referendum was initially suggested by Morales in December 2007, but was rejected by the opposition at the time. However, the opposition-controlled Senate brought back the suggestion following their victory in the Santa Cruz autonomy referendum on 4 May 2008, with Morales agreeing to hold the vote.


2008 Bolivian vote of confidence referendum, Background
The recall election would be deemed successful if the percentage voting in favour of the recall exceeded the percentage of voters that originally voted for the person. For Morales and Linera, there would have to be more than 53.74% (their margin in the 2005 presidential election). The same rules apply for the governors, but their margins are between 48% and 38% in La Paz Department which makes their recall much easier to accomplish. If the recall is successful then fresh elections would be held.


2008 Bolivian vote of confidence referendum, Background
Morales has stated that if he stays in office, he will use the referendum result as a springboard for more reforms – for instance, setting a date for the constitutional referendum which would grant more rights to Bolivia's poor indigenous population. If he loses, he said he would go back to farming coca.


2008 Bolivian vote of confidence referendum, Background
Polls in May 2008 showed Morales easily defeating the recall.


2008 Bolivian vote of confidence referendum, Background
Following autonomy referendums held in the second quarter of 2008 in Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando and Tarija, the governors of these four states initially refused to take part in the recall referendum unless the referendum complied with the new autonomy statutes, which the Supreme Electoral Court considers to be invalid; they pushed for early elections to be held instead. Nonetheless, the governors later agreed to participate. However, there were still obstructive measures from these four departments a few days before the referendum.


2008 Bolivian vote of confidence referendum, Background
The recall referendum did not apply to the governor of Chuquisaca Department, as Savina Cuéllar was just elected very recently in June 2008. Cuéllar was a member of the Bolivian Constituent Assembly for Morales' Movement for Socialism, but ran for governorship of Chuquisaca as the candidate of the opposition Interinstitutional Committee Alliance, winning with 55% to MAS' Wálter Valda's 45%. The gubernatorial election was held after the previous governor, David Sánchez of MAS, resigned (against the wish of his party) due to violent protests.


2008 Bolivian vote of confidence referendum, Background
Shortly before the election, the rules were changed, though the legality of this move remains in doubt; under the new rules, the governors will be removed from office if over 50% of voters recall them, effectively raising the threshold required.


2008 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election
Elections to Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council were held on 1 May 2008. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.


2008 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election
20 seats were contested with 9 being won by the Conservatives, 7 by the Labour Party and 4 by the Liberal Democrats.


2008 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election, Council Composition
Prior to the election the composition of the council was:


2008 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election, Ward results, Rumworth ward
Conservative candidate for Rumworth, Zahid Raja, withdrew before the election.


2008 Bombardier Learjet 550
The 2008 Bombardier Learjet 550 was the seventh round of the 2008 IndyCar Series season and took place on June 7, 2008 at the 1.455-mile (2.342 km) Texas Motor Speedway, in Fort Worth, Texas. In the first half, three single-car incidents involving Mario Domínguez, Justin Wilson, and Oriol Servià slowed the race. The lead changed hands between Hélio Castroneves, Bruno Junqueira, and Scott Dixon for the first 100 laps. Two sequences of green flag pit stops occurred under a long stretch of green flag conditions. A caution for debris came out on lap 165, sending the leaders to the pits once more. Vítor Meira stayed out to take over the lead.


2008 Bombardier Learjet 550
With 21 laps to go, Meira was forced to pit for fuel, giving up the lead to Marco Andretti. Moments later, Enrique Bernoldi crashed in turn four. Andretti led the field back to green on lap 219. With six laps to go, Dixon slipped by Andretti to take the lead. On the next lap, down the backstretch, third place Ryan Hunter-Reay dove below Andretti heading into turn three. Hunter-Reay pinched his left wheels onto the apron, lost control, and touched wheels with Andretti. Both cars spun and crashed hard into the wall. The race finished under caution with Dixon the winner, and Castroneves slipping by the accident to finish second.


2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival
The 2008 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival was held June 12–15. Aside from the festival's opening year (2002), attendance at the 2008 event, at approximately 70,000, was the smallest in Bonnaroo's history.


2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival, Cancellations and rescheduling
Bonnaroo had many cancellations and reschedules by artists both before and during the event. Cancellations included Black Kids, who appeared on the initial line-up but were later removed. Two months prior, due to health issues, The Allman Brothers Band cancelled their slot at the festival. Their cancellation led to the replacement band Widespread Panic being announced as the festival closer. Due to a schedule conflict, David Cross also had to cancel his appearance and was replaced by Louis C.K. in the Bonnaroo Comedy Theatre.


2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival, During the festival
The surprise SuperJam was composed of Les Claypool on bass/vocals, Eugene Hutz (guitar/vocals), Sergei Ryabtsev (violin), Oren Kaplan (guitar), and Yuri Lemeshev (accordion) of Gogol Bordello, and Claypool's touring drummer (and Cake member) Paulo Baldi on drums. They were later joined by Kirk Hammett of Metallica on guitar for three numbers. Hammett was introduced by Claypool as "some guy that used to sell me weed back in high school." The set consisted of eleven Tom Waits covers ("Russian Dance" was performed twice, the second time as an encore), along with a single Claypool song, "D's Diner".


2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival, During the festival
Chris Rock's main stage set was billed as being "one of the largest ever for a comedy show".


2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival, During the festival
Kidz Jam, a non-profit organization out of Dayton, Ohio provided free entertainment, water, earplugs and safety information for the families which attended Bonnaroo in 2008.


2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival, During the festival
Kanye West's Saturday night set, having been moved back and forth between stages by Bonnaroo promoters, eventually ran on the main stage. West was not on time due to a scheduling conflict. This, in addition to Pearl Jam playing over an hour longer than scheduled and taking a long time to remove their equipment, and the complex stage set-up for West's performance, meant the show started at 5:00 am.


2008 Borjomi Wildfire
The 2008 Borjomi wildfires started in the Borjomi Gorge, Georgia on August 15, 2008 and lasted for several days to come, destroying 250 hectares (620 acres) of the 75,000 hectares (190,000 acres) Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, one of the largest national parks in Europe.


2008 Borjomi Wildfire
The fire started in the concluding days of the hostilities during the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, some 80 km far from the conflict area. Eyewitnesses reported camouflage-painted helicopters in the sky just before the fire erupted. Georgia accused Russia of bombing the area and deliberating starting a fire using incendiary devices, describing it as an ecocide. Russia's Defence Ministry denied bombing the forests and said that they would help the Georgians extinguish the fires if requested. Despite Turkish and Ukrainian aid, the firefighting efforts were complicated by the ongoing conflict and airspace restrictions.


2008 Borjomi Wildfire
"the fire spread to over 950 hectares of forest land. An area of 250 hectares was totally destroyed, and 150 000 m³ of standing trees were lost. As a result, the forest's ecosystem lost its ecological function, as well as commercial value. In the affected area, endemic and other species were almost completely destroyed, including Himalayan yew, spruce, abies, pine, beech, oak, hornbeam and many varieties of forest wildlife.... The fauna of the region experienced significant damage as well."


2008 Borjomi Wildfire
The Borjomi wildfire alarmed international environmental organizations. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) called on "all parties capable of helping put out forest fires in central Georgia to work together to extinguish them." The PAN Parks network, of which the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is a member, sent a latter to the Russian Minister of Natural Resources, expressing its concerns that the "recent bombing in Borjomi district resulted in a forest fire, which threatens Borjomi Kharagauli National Park."


2008 Borjomi Wildfire
The World Bank expressed its "grave concern the reports of forest fires in the Borjomi area of Georgia" and sent an assessment team in the area. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe-UNEP mission will also assess the damage caused by fire, including in the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park and adjacent forested areas.


2008 Bosnian municipal elections
Municipal elections were held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 5 October 2008. Parties and independent candidates had to register by 23 May 2008, party or coalition lists by 25 June 2008. These were the first local elections were representatives of minorities were elected to the municipal assemblies.


2008 Bosnian municipal elections
64 political parties and 183 independent candidates were certified to stand in the election.


2008 Bosnian municipal elections
Nationalist parties (the Party of Democratic Action and the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the federation and the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats in the RS) were the most successful in the election, while the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina was considered to have been the loser of the election. Turnout was 55% (an increase and more than expected), but only 40% in the cities, were the voters were the most supportive of smaller, multi-ethnic parties.


2008 Boston Cannons season
This is the 8th season that the Eastern Conference team called the Boston Cannons play in their home games at Harvard Stadium. They were selected on host the 8th annual Major League Lacrosse Steinfeld Cup championship weekend at Harvard Stadium on August 23 to August 24. The opening game of the season is at home against New Jersey Pride.


2008 Boston Cannons season, Standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT = Winning Percentage, GF = Goals For, GA  Goals Against


2008 Boston College Eagles football team
The 2008 Boston College Eagles football team represented Boston College during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was Boston College's fourth season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Eagles were led by Jeff Jagodzinski in his second and final season as Boston College head coach. Boston College has been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference's (ACC) Atlantic Division since joining the league in 2005, after leaving the Big East Conference. The Eagles played their home games in 2008 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, which has been their home stadium since 1957.


2008 Boston College Eagles football team, Season recap
Boston College had to replace Matt Ryan, who was drafted third overall in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Senior quarterback Chris Crane was the starter at the beginning of the year to take over the starting quarterback position. In the November 22 game against Wake Forest, Crane broke his collar bone, and was replaced with Dominique Davis. Other big losses that had to be dealt with from the 2007 season include tailback L.V. Witworth and running back Andre Callender.


2008 Boston College Eagles football team, Season recap
True freshman Josh Haden was assumed to be the starting running back, but true freshman Montel Harris later turned out to have the starting job. BC finished the year with one of the best defenses in College Football, with the most Interceptions in all of FBS Football, and allowing the fifth fewest yards.


2008 Boston College Eagles football team, Season recap
The team had its first loss in a home game against Georgia Tech. It went on to lose two more games against the North Carolina and the Clemson before winning four games in a row to take the team to its second ACC Championship Game in a row, which again, put the Eagles against the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Eagles lost the game 12–30, and placed the team in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee.


2008 Boston College Eagles football team, Season recap
The Eagles lost the game to Vanderbilt, which not only ended the Eagles bowl winning streak, which was the longest in the nation, but gave Vanderbilt its first bowl win in over 50 years. On January 5, 2008, Coach Jagodzinski was fired by Boston College, for apparently interviewing for the head coaching vacancy for the NFL New York Jets despite being warned not to. He was later hired as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.


2008 Boston Lobsters season
The 2008 Boston Lobsters season was the fourth season of the franchise (in its current incarnation) in World TeamTennis (WTT).


2008 Boston Lobsters season
The Lobsters finished the regular season with 7 wins and 7 losses and qualified for the WTT playoffs. They lost the WTT Wild Card Match to the Sacramento Capitals, 22–15.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Move to Middleton led by Mayotte
In January 2008, after playing their home matches during the previous three seasons on the campus of Harvard University, the Lobsters announced plans to move to the North Shore region. On March 18, 2008, the Lobsters selected Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton, Massachusetts as their new home. Lobsters owner and CEO Bahar Uttam said a stadium with a seating capacity between 1,500 and 2,000 would be constructed on the grounds of the club. Uttam said that studies conducted by the team revealed that the North Shore had the highest concentration of tennis players in Greater Boston.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Move to Middleton led by Mayotte
The Lobsters had also considered moving to the Bass River Tennis Club, but that club only has indoor courts and scrapped plans to build an outdoor stadium, because management felt the $40,000 rent the Lobsters offered to pay did not justify the projected $300,000 stadium construction costs. While announcing the move, the Lobsters also named Tim Mayotte their new head coach, replacing Anne Smith.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Drafts
In announcing the team's move to Middleton the previous day, the Lobsters also made known their intention to draft and sign Martina Navratilova for the 2008 season. On March 19, 2008, it became official, as Navratilova was selected with the third pick in the Marquee Player Draft. In the Roster Player Draft, the Lobsters chose Jan-Michael Gambill in the first round and left Christina Fusano unprotected. Fusano was selected in the fourth round by the Delaware Smash. In the second round, the Lobsters protected Amir Hadad. This filled the Lobsters' quota of two full-time male players and meant they could not protect Nikita Kryvonos in the third round, where they selected Marie-Ève Pelletier. Raquel Kops-Jones was the team's final selection in the draft, leaving Julie Ditty unprotected. The Lobsters did not select any roster-exempt players.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
The Lobsters opened their season on the road against the New York Sportimes on July 3, 2008, and found themselves leading 12–9 after three sets on the strength of Marie-Ève Pelletier's set win in women's singles which followed her women's doubles set win paired with Raquel Kops-Jones. However, the Sportimes won the final two sets and squeezed out of 19–18 victory.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
After another loss on the road at the hands of the New York Buzz, the Lobsters hosted the Delaware Smash in the inaugural match on their new home court at the Ferncroft Country Club on July 7, 2008. Jan-Michael Gambill gave the Lobsters an early lead with a 5–3 set win in the opening set of men's singles. Kops-Jones teamed with Pelletier and Amir Hadad for set wins in women's and mixed doubles. After dropping the final set of women's singles to Madison Brengle, Pelletier clinched a 23–19 victory for the Lobsters when she won the third game of overtime.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
The following evening, the Lobsters visited Serena Williams and the expansion Washington Kastles in the inaugural home match for the Kastles. Hadad and Gambill opened the match with a 5–1 set win in men's doubles. Hadad then teamed with Kops-Jones for a 5–2 set win over Williams and Justin Gimelstob in mixed doubles. In the third set, Gambill won a men's singles tiebreaker to give the Lobsters a 15–7 lead. Williams and Mashona Washington took the women's doubles set over Kops-Jones and Pelletier in a tiebreaker. After Williams won the final set of women's singles, Pelletier won the third game of overtime to give the Lobsters a 22–19 triumph that evened their record at 2 wins and 2 losses.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
Venus Williams led the Philadelphia Freedoms into Ferncroft Country Club on July 10, 2008. She won the opening set of women's singles over Pelletier in a tiebreaker. Williams then paired with Lisa Raymond for a 5–2 set win in women's doubles over Pelletier and Kops-Jones. The Lobsters rebounded when Kops-Jones and Hadad earned a 5–3 set win over Williams and Travis Parrott. After Gambill won a tiebreaker in men's singles, he teamed with Hadad to take another tiebreaker in men's doubles that sent the match to a super tiebreaker. The match came down to a deciding point, which Parrott and Alex Bogomolov Jr. were able to win, giving the Freedoms a 22–21 victory.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
The Lobsters' record stood at 3 wins and 5 losses on July 16, 2008, when Martina Navratilova made her season debut in a home match against the Springfield Lasers. Gambill won the opening set of men's singles and teamed with Hadad to win the third set of men's doubles and give the Lobsters a 13–11 lead. Navratilova and Kops-Jones extended the lead to 18–13 by taking the women's doubles set, 5–2. Navratilova and Hadad lost a tiebreaker in the final set of mixed doubles but won the second game of overtime to secure a 23–19 win for the Lobsters.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
The Lobsters hit the road the following evening looking to avenge their home loss against the Freedoms. Hadad and Gambill opened the match with a 5–3 set win in men's doubles. Pelletier followed by taking the women's singles, 5–2. After the Freedoms won the mixed doubles set, Kops-Jones and Pelletier dominated women's doubles, 5–1, to give the Lobsters an 18–11 lead. Gambill closed out the match by winning a tiebreaker in men's singles that gave the Lobsters a 23–15 victory. In the midst of a tight playoff race, the split in the season series gave the Lobsters a tiebreaker edge over the Freedoms on the basis of games won in head-to-head meetings, 44–37.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
Returning home the next night, the Lobsters faced another playoff contender, the Kastles. Boston won the first four sets of the match to take a 20–9 lead. Hadad paired with Gambill in the opening set and with Kops-Jones in the second set to take the men's and mixed doubles. Gambill and Pelletier each recorded 5–2 set wins in men's and women's doubles, respectively. After the Kastles won the final set of women's doubles, Kops-Jones and Pelletier won the first game of overtime to secure a 23–14 victory. The win gave the Lobsters a season-high three-match winning streak and a record of 6 wins and 5 losses, the first time all season the team had a winning record. It also gave them a sweep of the season series with the Kastles and another important tiebreaker edge.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
Playing for the fourth consecutive day, the Lobsters started a home-and-home series with the Newport Beach Breakers. The Breakers won the first four sets to take a 20–13 lead. Navratilova and Kops-Jones blanked Michaela Paštiková and Rebecca Bernhard, 5–0, in the final set of women's doubles to send the match to overtime with the Lobsters trailing, 20–18. However, the Breakers won the first game of overtime to take a 21–18 win and end the Lobsters' winning streak.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
After an off day as the teams traveled to the West Coast, the Lobsters carried the momentum they had built at the end of the first match with the Breakers into the start of the second match. Navratilova and Hadad won the opening set of mixed doubles, 5–1. Pelletier followed with a 5–0 set win in women's singles that gave the Lobsters a 10–1 lead.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
The Breakers turned things around when Ramón Delgado won the third set of men's singles, 5–2, over Gambill, and they went on to win the final three sets, sending the match to overtime with the Lobsters holding a slim 17–16 lead. Hadad and Gambill won the first game of overtime to secure an 18–16 victory that improved the Lobsters' record to 7 wins and 6 losses. With the teams splitting their two regular-season matches, the Breakers, who were also playoff contenders, earned a tiebreaker edge over the Lobsters by winning more games in head-to-head matchups, 37–36.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
On July 22, 2008, the Lobsters played their regular-season finale on the road against the defending WTT champion Sacramento Capitals. The Lobsters found themselves in a difficult position on their playoff quest. A victory would have given them a record of 8–6, and guaranteed them the best record among third-place teams in WTT. However, that would not necessarily be enough to secure the WTT wild card berth. The Capitals, as host of WTT Championship Weekend, were guaranteed the wild card berth if they did not finish first or second in the Western Conference.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
The Capitals record stood at 6–6, and they were in second place. The Breakers were third at 5–7, and the Lasers were fourth at 5–8. Thus, a Capitals loss would keep the Breakers and Lasers in the hunt for second place in the West. The Breakers held a tiebreaker edge over the Capitals, and the Lasers held a tiebreaker edge in the case of a three-way tie with the Capitals and Breakers at 6–8. However, a Capitals win coupled with a Breakers loss (to the Sportimes) would guarantee the Capitals second place in the Western Conference and make the wild card available to the best team not finishing first or second in its conference.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Regular season
In the match, the Capitals blitzed the Lobsters, winning four of the five sets. Pelletier's dominant 5–1 set win in women's singles was not enough as the Lobsters fell, 21–13, and saw their record drop to 7 wins and 7 losses. Later that evening, the Breakers lost to the Sportimes, clinching second place in the Western Conference for the Capitals.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Clinching a playoff berth
With their schedule completed, the Lobsters became interested spectators on the final day of the WTT regular season. They were third in the Eastern Conference, and their record stood at 7–7, identical to that of the Philadelphia Freedoms over whom they held a tiebreaker edge. The Washington Kastles entered the final day fifth in the Eastern Conference at 5–8 and were eliminated. The Newport Beach Breakers held third place in the Western Conference at 5–8 and were also eliminated. It would seem that the Lobsters had already clinched the wild card.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Clinching a playoff berth
However, the wild card berth was to be awarded to the team that had the highest overall seeding without finishing in the top two places in its conference. That is not necessarily identical to the third-place team with the best record. In the overall seeding of the teams, it remained possible for the 7–6 Sacramento Capitals, who had already clinched second place in the Western Conference, to finish 7–7, creating a three-way tie with the Lobsters and Freedoms.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Clinching a playoff berth
The games won against common opponents tiebreaker step would apply, and the Freedoms would be first with 157, the Lobsters second with 152 and the Capitals third with 133 plus the number of games they would win in a loss to the Sportimes. The maximum number of wins against common opponents the Capitals could reach in a loss was 157. Therefore, the tiebreaker would have given the Freedoms the wild card and the #4 seed in the WTT playoffs. The Capitals, as the second-place team in the Western Conference, would have been the #5 seed.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Clinching a playoff berth
The Lobsters would be eliminated, even though they held a head-to-head tiebreaker edge over the Freedoms, and even if they finished second in the three-team tiebreaker for the #4 and #5 seeds. Therefore, the Lobsters needed a Capitals victory, which would give Sacramento an 8–6 record to avoid the three-way tie, allowing the Lobsters to win the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Freedoms.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, Clinching a playoff berth
In a tightly contested match that ended the WTT regular season, which would have given the Sportimes the Eastern Conference title had they won, the Capitals prevailed in a final-set tiebreaker, 20–19. The Lobsters made the playoffs on what was literally the season's final point played.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, WTT Wild Card Match
Making their first postseason appearance since 2005, the Lobsters met the Sacramento Capitals in the Wild Card Match on July 24, 2008, at Allstate Stadium at Westfield Galleria at Roseville in Roseville, California, the predetermined site for WTT Championship Weekend, which was also the Capitals' home court. There was some familiarity between the teams, since they had played just two days earlier in the same venue. The Capitals, as the higher seed, set the order of play and opened with Sam Warburg taking the men's singles set, 5–2, from Jan-Michael Gambill.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Season recap, WTT Wild Card Match
Raquel Kops-Jones and Marie-Ève Pelletier responded for the Lobsters with a 5–2 set win in women's doubles that tied the score at 7 all. After the Capitals won the mixed doubles set, 5–2, the Lobsters turned to Pelletier, who had closed the regular season by winning four of her final five women's singles sets, including a 5–1 triumph over Tamaryn Hendler in the season finale. However, Hendler turned the tables on Pelletier and won the set in a tiebreaker to give the Capitals a 17–13 lead. The Capitals closed out a 22–15 victory by winning the final set of men's doubles.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Draft picks
Since the Lobsters finished with the fourth worst record among nonplayoff teams in WTT in 2007, they selected third in each round of WTT's two drafts, after the Houston Wranglers folded.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Draft picks, Marquee Player Draft
In the Marquee Player Draft on March 19, 2008, the Lobsters selected Martina Navratilova in the first round. They did not make a second-round selection.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Draft picks, Roster Player Draft
The league conducted its 2008 Roster Player Draft on April 1, in Miami, Florida. The selections made by the Lobsters are shown in the table below.


2008 Boston Lobsters season, Statistics
Players are listed in order of their game-winning percentage provided they played in at least 40% of the Lobsters' games in that event, which is the WTT minimum for qualification for league leaders in individual statistical categories.


2008 Boston Marathon
The 2008 Boston Marathon was the 112th running of the annual marathon race in Boston, United States and was held on April 21. The elite men's race was won by Kenya's Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot in a time of 2:07:46 hours and the women's race was won by Ethiopia's Dire Tune in 2:25:25.


2008 Boston Pizza Cup
The 2008 Boston Pizza Cup, the men's curling championships for Alberta, took place on February 12-17 at the Grant Fuhr Arena in Spruce Grove, Alberta. The Kevin Martin rink won the final over Randy Ferbey's team and represented Alberta at the 2008 Tim Hortons Brier.


2008 Boston Red Sox season
The 2008 Boston Red Sox season was the 108th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished in second place in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 67 losses, two games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox qualified for the postseason as the AL wild card, and defeated the American League West champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALDS. The Red Sox then lost to the Rays in the ALCS in seven games.


2008 Boston Red Sox season
In late March, the team started the regular season playing in Tokyo against the Oakland Athletics for MLB Japan Opening Day 2008. In July, seven Red Sox players were selected for the AL All-Star team, with outfielder J. D. Drew being named the game's MVP. In September, the team officially retired uniform number 6 in honor of Johnny Pesky.


2008 Boston Red Sox season, Player stats, Batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases; Bold indicates leader in category.


2008 Boston Red Sox season, Player stats, Pitchers
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts


2008 Boston Red Sox season, Player stats, Pitchers
* indicates player led their respectable league in that certain category** indicates player led all of baseball in that certain category


2008 Boston Red Sox season, Player stats, Pitchers
Led team in starters ERA Led in team ERA Allowed fewest runs as a starter for the Red Sox Led team in runs allowed. Led team in walks allowed. Led starters in walks allowed.


2008 Bougainvillean presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Bougainville (an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea) from November 30 to December 18, 2008. Voters elected the new President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, following the death of President Joseph Kabui while in office, on June 7.


2008 Bougainvillean presidential election
The potential resumption of controversial mining activities, which were at the root of Bougainville's civil war in the 1990s, was reportedly a key issue in this election.


2008 Bougainvillean presidential election
There were twelve candidates at the by-election: Nick Peniai, Edward Okuwau, Gerard Sinato, Sam Kauona, Clarence Cozxiune, James Tanis, Ruben Siara, Sam Akoitai, Sylvester Niu, Joel Banam, Raymond Hakena and Patrick Leslie. The two favourites had been considered to be Papua New Guinea's former mining minister Akoitai and former rebel leader Kauona. In total, 14 candidates stood in the election. Sinato represented Kabui's Bougainville People's Congress, while Hakena represented the New Bougainville Party.


2008 Bougainvillean presidential election
With 22,956 votes being cast, the election was won by James Tanis, a former Bougainville Revolutionary Army separatist and the third-place candidate in the 2005 election, with 11,112 votes. Akoitai finished second with 9,217 votes,. Tanis was sworn in on 6 January 2009.


2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team
The 2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team represented Bowling Green State University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head football coach was Gregg Brandon. The Falcons played their home games at Doyt Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio. They were a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 6–6, 4–4 in MAC play to finish in a tie for second place in the East Division. Despite being bowl eligible, they were not selected to participate in a bowl game.


2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team, Preseason
Shortly after the 2007 season, the Falcons lost backup quarterback, Anthony Glaud and wide receiver, Zach Charles to transfer as the pair made their way to defending MEAC champion Delaware State, because of lack of playing time. On May 12, the Football Writers Association of America announced that Bowling Green senior defensive lineman Diyral Briggs was placed on their watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the nation's top defensive player. At the MAC football media day, the Falcons were voted as the preseason favorites to win the East Division crown, garnering 17 first place votes and 206 total votes, just edging out rival, Miami (OH) who had 7 first place votes and 202 total votes.


2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team, Coaching staff
The Bowling Green Falcons have seen numerous changes in the coaching staff. Offensive Coordinator Mick McCall left the team to take the same position at Northwestern, while former Buffalo head coach, Jim Hofher, was named Quarterbacks Coach, Troy Rothenbuhler was named Passing Game Coordinator, Matt Campbell was named running game coordinator, and Doug Phillips was named recruiting coordinator.


2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
The Falcons opened the 2008 campaign against nationally ranked Pitt at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in front of 45,063 and a national television audience on ESPNU. The Falcons came in as 13-point underdogs against the Panthers, who had previously been 25-2 against the MAC and 24-0 at home against the conference. Pittsburgh showed their poise early on in the game scoring on their first offensive drive of the game with an 11-yard run by running back LeSean McCoy to cap off an eight play, 71-yard drive that took less than four minutes to complete.


2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
Pitt would extend their lead in the early in the second quarter with 4 yard touchdown pass to Derek Kinder from quarterback Bill Stull, making the score 14–0 in favor of Pitt. The Falcons would answer back against the Panthers on the following possession, marching down the field 73 yards in eight plays, capped off with a five-yard pass to Jimmy Scheidler from wide receiver Freddie Barnes, cutting Pitt's lead to 14–7.


2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
Scheidler would bring in his second touchdown reception of the game six and a half minutes later on a three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Sheehan, which tied the game at 14–14. Pitt would answer back on the following possession as their Lou Groza Award candidate kicker Connor Lee booted 36 yard field goal as time expired in the first half, giving Pitt the halftime lead 17–14.


2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
The game would become a story of two halves as the Falcons came out and as the Falcons defense slowed down the powerhouse McCoy and forced Pitt to two fumbles and an interception. Bowling Green would take their first lead of the game with an 8-yard run by wide receiver Anthony Turner with 3:53 left in the third quarter. The preceding extra point was blocked by Pitt and the Falcons took the lead of 20–14.


2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
Early in the fourth quarter the Bowling Green defense caused Pitt's third fumble and seemed to return it to the end zone for an apparent game-winning touchdown, but due to an inadvertent whistle, Bowling Green was stripped of the touchdown, but still took over possession of the ball at Pitt's 11-yard line. The Falcons would make good on their field position scoring on an 11-yard run on a quarterback draw by Sheehan which increased the Falcons' lead to 27–17.


2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
Pitt continued to attempt to mount a comeback but after Lee's missed field goal of 42 yards at 3:58 left in the fourth quarter blew the wind out of Pitt's sails and Stull being intercepted in the end zone by Kenny Lewis with 1:26 left in the game officially put Pitt away. The Falcons improved to 1–0 on the season and had their second consecutive season opening victory over a BCS Conference opponent (having defeated Minnesota 32–31 in overtime the year before), although being outgained by the Pitt offense 393–254.


2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
Sheehan lead the Falcons in the passing game completing 24 of 40 attempts for 163 yards, 1 touchdown, and an interception, followed by Barnes who was 2 of 2 for 27 yards and a touchdown. The Falcons' running game was led by Chris Bullock who had 7 rushes for 44 yards, followed by Turner and Sheehan who each had a rushing touchdown. Bullock also led the receivers with 7 receptions for 49 yards along with Scheidler who had 3 receptions for 30 yards and two touchdowns. Jamal Brown led the Falcons defense with 14 tackles, followed by Antonio Smith's 12.


2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team, Game summaries, Pittsburgh
Smith, Lewis, and Enrique Dozier each forced fumbles, with Lewis, Dozier, and Angelo Magnone each recovering a fumble and Lewis snagging the lone interception for the Falcons defense. The Falcons were able to sack Stull four times, twice by Bronko Nagurski Trophy candidate Diyral Briggs and once each by Smith and Dozier.


2008 Box Office Entertainment Awards
The 38th Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation Box Office Entertainment Awards (GMMSF-BOEA) is a part of the annual awards in the Philippines held on May 13, 2008. The award-giving body honors Filipino actors, actresses and other performers' commercial success, regardless of artistic merit, in the Philippine entertainment industry.


2008 Box Office Entertainment Awards, Winners selection
The winners are chosen from the Top 10 Philippine films of 2007, top-rating shows in Philippine television, top recording awards received by singers, and top gross receipts of concerts and performances.


2008 Box Office Entertainment Awards, Awards ceremony
On May 13, 2008 at RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue in Makati, Philippines, the 38th Box Office Entertainment Awards night was held. The event was aired on May 17, 7pm at NBN 4 - Net 25.


2008 Box Office Entertainment Awards, Multiple Awards, Companies with multiple awards
The following companies received two or more awards in the television category:


2008 Boxing World Cup
The 2008 Boxing World Cup is a boxing competition between top ranked boxers in different weight categories. It was held in Moscow, Russia from December 10 to December 14.


2008 Boxing World Cup, New format
The format for the 2008 competition changed when it was announced that the event would take place under a new format and become a biennial event. Whereas before the competition was between teams, now it will be between the top ranked boxers in their weight categories. The winning country will be the one taking more medals than any other, without any group stages as previously.


2008 Brabantse Pijl
The 2008 Brabantse Pijl was the 48th edition of the Brabantse Pijl cycle race and was held on 30 March 2008. The race started in Leuven and finished in Alsemberg. The race was won by Sylvain Chavanel.


2008 Bradford Bulls season
This article details the Bradford Bulls rugby league football club's 2008 season. This is the 13th season of the Super League era.


2008 Brands Hatch Superbike World Championship round
The 2008 Brands Hatch Superbike World Championship round was the tenth round of the 2008 Superbike World Championship. It took place on the weekend of August 1–3, 2008, at the Brands Hatch circuit. The round was marred by the death of Craig Jones during the Supersport race.


2008 Brasil Open
The 2008 Brasil Open was a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 8th edition of the Brasil Open, and was part of the International Series of the 2008 ATP Tour. It took place in Costa do Sauípe resort, Mata de São João, Brazil, from 11 February through 17 February 2008.


2008 Brasil Open
The singles draw featured former World No. 1 and Chennai semifinalist Carlos Moyá, 2007 Cincinnati Masters quarterfinalist Nicolás Almagro, and 2007 Moscow and 2007 Metz quarterfinalist Igor Andreev. Also present were 2007 St. Petersburg quarterfinalist Potito Starace, 2007 Rome Masters semifinalist Filippo Volandri, Agustín Calleri, José Acasuso and Albert Montañés.


2008 Brasil Open, Champions, Doubles
Marcelo Melo /  André Sá defeated  Albert Montañés /  Santiago Ventura, 4–6, 6–2, [10–7]


2008 Brasil Open – Doubles
Lukáš Dlouhý and Pavel Vízner were the defending champions, but chose not to participate that year.


2008 Brasil Open – Doubles
Marcelo Melo and André Sá won in the final 4–6, 6–2, [10–7], against Albert Montañés and Santiago Ventura.


2008 Brasil Open – Singles
Guillermo Cañas was the defending champion, but chose not to participate that year.


2008 Brasil Open – Singles
Nicolás Almagro won in the final 7–6(7–4), 3–6, 7–5, against Carlos Moyá.


2008 Brazilian Grand Prix
The 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix (formally the Formula 1 Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2008) was a Formula One motor race held on 2 November 2008 at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Interlagos, in São Paulo, Brazil. It was the eighteenth and final race of the 2008 Formula One World Championship. Ferrari driver Felipe Massa won the 71-lap race from pole position; this was the last of Massa's 11 wins. Fernando Alonso finished second in a Renault, and Massa's teammate Kimi Räikkönen finished third.


2008 Brazilian Grand Prix
Massa started the race alongside Toyota driver Jarno Trulli. Massa's teammate Räikkönen began from third next to McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton. Rain fell minutes before the race, delaying the start, and as the track dried Massa established a lead of several seconds. More rain late in the race made the last few laps treacherous for the drivers, but could not prevent Massa from winning the Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel of Toro Rosso finished in fourth place behind Alonso and Räikkönen. Hamilton passed Toyota's Timo Glock in the final corners of the race to finish fifth, securing him the points needed to take the Drivers' Championship.


2008 Brazilian Grand Prix
Hamilton received praise from many in the Formula One community, including former champions Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher. The McLaren driver also received official congratulations from Queen Elizabeth II and British prime minister Gordon Brown. Massa's win and Räikkönen's third place helped Ferrari win the Constructors' Championship. The Grand Prix was David Coulthard's final race; the Scot retired after 246 race starts.