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วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 3 พฤษภาคม ค.ศ. 2007
story soccer for you (Related)
Football Manager 2007 (Related) Football Manager is a series of football (Related) management simulation games first released in 1982 by Addictive Games (Related) , and lasting until the mid 1990s. In 2004, the series was revived by Sports Interactive (Related) to replace the name of their Championship Manager series (Related) . The original series is credited as being the first ever computer game to use the concept of managing a football team. Football Manager 2007 (Related) is the latest in the series.In the United States (Related) and Canada (Related) the series is sold as Worldwide Soccer Manager or WSM. This is similar to the name of the series (Related) on the Sega Saturn (Related) and Sega Dreamcast (Related) . These games were published by Sega (Related) who, incidentally, are now Football Manager's publishers, in the place of Eidos (Related) , who published Sports Interactive (Related) 's Championship Manager series (Related) until their split in 2003.On 8 June 2006, Sports Interactive published details on Football Manager 2007 (Related) . "Packed full with more than 100 new features, Football Manager™ 2007 is set for release on PC, Mac and Intel Mac, as well as the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Football Manager Handheld on Sony’s PlayStation Portable handheld entertainment system (PSP) completes the format line-up, with all platforms set for a Christmas 2006 release." On 24 September 2006 it was announced that Football Manager 2007 would be released on the 20 October (Related) 2006 (Related) .On 1 October 2006, Sports Interactive released a Gold Demo of FM 2007, available in two versions, vanilla and strawberry. Both versions allow users to play 6 months into a season. The strawberry version contains a larger collection of quickstarts so users can try out more leagues. It also contains more graphics than the vanilla version.As a result of certain retail outlets ignoring the official release date, Football Manager 2007 was actually released on 18 October (Related) 2006 (Related) . New Features in the 2007 version of FM include the ability to include pictures for you as the manager; substantially increased media interaction such as approaches from national newspaper journalists about the upcoming match or asking for comments on a player's performance in recent matches; new varying degrees of criticism or praise for players (happy with form or very pleased with form rather that just one generic good term), a similar feature has been included for such actions as admiring players or attempting to unsettle transfer targets. Improvements have also been made to board request interactions.The main improvement lauded by Sports Interactive for this version of FM is the improved scouting system. Scouts' and coaches' experience is now shown graphically via bar charts and scouts gain knowledge from areas they have scouted previously. To go with this it is now possible to get feeder/parent club status which allows you to either send your players to lower league teams to gain experience, make it easier to get work permits, merchandise sales in other areas etc. or work from a similar angle from the opposite end gaining parachute payments from higher league clubs and their reserve players on loan for no cost. In turn the parent club gains scouting knowledge for the area that the feeder club is in if it is in another country than that club.A patch has been released to combat some of the main bugs in the game, such as unrealistic scout reports and high amounts of injurys sustained whilst playing on the pitch. The latest build of this patch is 7.0.2 94768.Posted by winning at 7:26 AM (Related) 0 comments (Related) Wayne Rooney's stunning last-minute winner kept Manchester United's hopes of reaching the Champions League final alive after an Old Trafford classic. (Related) Cristiano Ronaldo's fifth-minute header put United in front, only for AC Milan to draw level through Kaka's angled drive after 21 minutes.Kaka put Milan ahead from close range before the interval, but Rooney turned in Paul Scholes' cool pass on the hour.Rooney then lashed a glorious 20-yard finish past Dida in injury time.It was a moment of magic that gave United a precious lead to defend going into the second leg in Milan next Wednesday.United opened in sparkling fashion, and it took a desperate intervention from Alessandro Nesta to divert Rooney's shot over the bar.But they were soon ahead when Ronaldo met Ryan Giggs' corner with a firm header, which Dida palmed into the air and could then only divert into the net.United were firing on all cylinders up front - but all the time Milan, in the shape of Kaka, were waiting to probe their suspect and under-strength rearguard.And the strike they feared came after 21 minutes when Kaka took Clarence Seedorf's pass and accelerated away from Gabriel Heinze and fired a left-foot angled drive across Edwin van der Sar.A high-quality encounter saw Rooney just fail to get on the end of Giggs' cross and Ronaldo bring a crucial block from Dida with a 25-yard power drive.But Brazilian superstar Kaka was an ever-present threat, and he took advantage of shambolic United defending to grab a crucial second away goal for Milan after 36 minutes.Kaka chased a long pass, and when Heinze and Patrice Evra collided, he moved smoothly into top gear to slide a perfect finish past Van der Sar.Evra was then booked for dissent - a yellow card that rules him out of the second leg at the San Siro, an inconvenience United did not need given their lack of defensive resources.Michael Carrick wasted a glorious opportunity to put United level after 47 minutes when he side-footed wide of an open goal when he arrived unmarked at the far post on the end of another dangerous Giggs corner.Milan lost captain Paolo Maldini to a knee injury at half-time, then were robbed of Gennaro Gattuso with a knee problem - with the combative midfield man being replaced by Cristian Brocchi.Kaka was giving a master-class, escaping the offside trap to shoot across the face of goal then playing a sumptuous one-two with Seedorf only to volley narrowly over.United desperately needed inspiration, and a moment of genius from Scholes provided it as they drew level after 59 minutes.Scholes instinctively lifted the ball into the path of Rooney, whose finish was half-stopped by Dida but rolled in.United were suddenly buoyant again, and the unpredictable Dida saved brilliantly from Darren Fletcher after Rooney's cross was headed into his path.Fletcher forced Dida into a save at his near post as United pressed for what would be a crucial lead to take to Italy.Dida then finger-tipped Ronaldo's dipping drive inches wide as United mounted a spell of sustained pressure in the closing stages.United's sheer courage was rewarded when Rooney ran on to Giggs' pass and fired past a startled Dida to send Old Trafford wild in celebration.Sunday, March 11, 2007How Old Is Too Old To Play Pro Football? (Related) There have only been just over 40 professional football players who have continued to play after reaching the age of 40. Football is one of the few sports where the players usually quit playing while they're still in their 30s, and possibly even younger if they're seriously injured. There are several reasons why these pro players retire so young. Since football is such a physical sport, it is quite normal for NFL players to attain some type of injury on a regular basis. These injuries vary in seriousness from simple bruises or sprains, to more serious injuries such as dislocations, breaks, etc. Some players simply tire of incurring these 'poundings' and choose to leave. The body can only take so much abuse, and it's a fact that the older they get, the more likely they are to be seriously hurt.The body is less resilient at thirty-eight than at twenty-two. Others may wish to pursue other career options, and possibly even play another sport.But just how old is too old to play pro football? Who decides when they should retire? These are some really good questions, because every person is different. One player may be in better physical shape at forty-two than another is at thirty-two. A twenty-seven-year-old may have gotten hurt severely enough to be forced to end his career before he's even thirty.George Blanda holds the record for being the oldest NFL player, choosing to retire one month prior to his forty-ninth birthday. Most of the time a player makes the decision of when he wants to discontinue playing professional football. Sometimes, though, it may be recommended by their physician or some other person whose opinion matters. As long as a football player is healthy and in shape, as well as able to pass the countless physical agility tests and examinations, then he can leave it up to his own body to tell him when it's time call it quits.Some football players are especially fragile, and may have a history of sustaining multiple injuries. If these fragile players decide to leave one team and join another one, they may be forced to retire. The new team will not sign a player, no matter how good they are, if they are not 100%.So, ultimately, it's up to each individual player and his experiences to decide when it will be time to retire from the NFL.by Stacey DayPosted by Arm_smith at 7:11 PM (Related) 0 comments (Related) Wayne Rooney is okay to play! (Related) Wayne Rooney's right knee was injured in the match against Liverpool but scans have discovered there is no damage and that he is in perfect condition to play for Manchester United who is to face Lille on Wednesday for the second-leg last 16 encounter at Old Trafford.Rooney of 21 years of age had the team worried and concerned on whether or not he would play in the next Champions League match, given the fact that he one of the teams' key players even though he has not scored a goal while at the Champions League since his debut with Fenerbahce in September 2004.Manchester United is also lacking other star players due to injuries, which is the case of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who must recuperate from his knee surgery for a period of three weeks and Alan Smith has still not fully recovered after breaking his leg in different places last season. On the other hand, Henrik Larsson has returned to Sweden.With the above players absent from the team they could not afford to loose Rooney but luckily there were no major damages to his knee and the team can now count on having player number eight out on the field.by Cindy FergusonPosted by Arm_smith at 7:09 PM (Related) 0 comments (Related) Guide: Buying soccer boots (Related) Important questions you need to aks yourself before buying a boot are:1. What kind of player am I? 2. How to determining my size? 3. What material do I prefer? Leather or synthetic? 4. Do I have widht feet? 5. What kind of studs do i prefer? 7. How to take care of my new boots?1. What kind of player am i? Are you a quick winger? Then you might want to try a lightweight boot. This will increase a players mobility and accelleration. Most lightweight boots are made of synthetic material because it's thin and less water absorbing then leather. Defenders usually choose for a more stabel boot with long studs. This will prevent them from sliding all over the pitch.2. How to determining my size?Fit tips Soccer boots are sized like regular shoes, but most are designed with a more narrow upper than typical sneakers to allow for better feel and control of the ball. High-quality leather boots will generally stretch a bit when worn. They will actually mold to the shape of your foot, so they should fit snugly when new. Shoes that are too small are one of the major causes of foot pain and problems with athletic footwear; however, soccer boots should naturally fit more snugly than other athletic boots because of their design.Determining your shoe size Determining your proper shoe size is essential to a comfortable fit.Don't assume you shoe size is the same as it has always been. The shape of you feet changes over time.3. What material do i prefer? Soccer boots come in two basic materials: leather and synthetic.Leather Offer the best feel and fit of any soccer shoe, but are also generally more expensive.Full-grain leather shoes are strong and durable, while variations such as Kangaroo leather are more flexible and offer an even beter feel. The softer the leather, the better the feel for the ball, but also the less durable the shoe. Absorb more water than synthetic shoes and are not recommended for constant use on wet fields; however, water treatment options are availableSynthetic Ideal for most entry and mid-level players. Generally less expensive than leather shoes, but do not offer as good a feel and do not last as long as a well-cared for leather boot. Generally contain some sort of water treatment and therefore last better under poor playing conditions. Easier to clean and dry out than leather shoe.4. Do i have width feet? Adidas, Puma, Umbro and Mizuno are excellent boots for players with width feet. If you do not have width feet you might wanna go for Nike.5. What kind of studs do i prefer? Footwear for soccer depends on a number of factors: the level of your game, the types of fields you play on, and how much you want to spend. Most leagues require you wear the proper type of soccer boot during play, so it is most important to understand which type you need.Molded Boots - Basic soccer shoe design - Non-removeable rubber, or hard plastic formed on the bottom of the shoe is used to help provide traction and control - Ideal for beginning and intermediate level players - Suited for play on almost all field types and in all weather conditions - Required by many youth programs for safety reasonsDetachable Boots - Feature studs on the bottom that can be screwed on and off and be replaced easily. - Boots vary in length and are usually made of hard plastic or plastic with metal tips - The type and length of the studs can be changed depending on the weather and field conditions of that day's game or practice - Ideal for experienced players who can tailor the boots to their playing field and weather conditions - Suitable for use on wet, soggy fields, or on well-groomed, soft grass fieldsTurf shoes - Contain various raised patterns on the bottom in place of studs, for use on harder outdoor surfaces and on artificial turf - Generally good training shoes that could serve as a back-up game pair for hard-surface conditionsIndoor shoes - Resemble low-cut, lightweight sneakers - Designed for playing indoor soccer in a gym or recreational facility - Feature a flat, rubbery-type bottom for better traction on indoor courts and fields - Required by many indoor soccer facilities when playing on artificial turf, so the turf does not get torn upSandals - An important footwear add-on for all soccer players - Worn before the game to save wear on your soccer Boots - Easy to slip on and off when soccer socks and shin guards are on - Allow you to immediately remove your playing shoes after a game to rest your feet - Many sandals have special massage-type features for the bottom of the foot for added comfort6. Care of your soccer boots Once you've bought a great boot, you want to keep it as new. The tips below might help your boots.- Undo the laces properly when you take your soccer boots off. - Remove soil by banging the boots together or using a brush. Then wipe with a damp cloth. - If wet, allow the boots to dry before polishing them. Don't heat-dry or the boots will crack. - Grease screw-in studs occasionally to prevent rusting. - Stuffing boots with newspaper helps them retain their shape. - Don't play in soccer boots with broken studs, mixed studs, or over-tightened studs. - Never use oil or detergents on soccer boots. Waterproofing sprays and polishes are available to use instead.by Harry VeenstraPosted by Arm_smith at 7:08 PM (Related) 0 comments (Related) soccer store (Related) http://www.maximumcounter.comis this the best soccer store? i think this is new web site and i see that the web site is really simple but i can say it's really user friendly unless for buy icon this is affiliate web site marketingit's true i can compare prize at this web for any soccer gear i was try to buy one and it's very well i can says this is not scam web siteyou can try to see it by andrew setiawanPosted by Arm_smith at 7:06 PM (Related) 0 comments (Related) Young Soccer Players And The Stages Of Learning by Neil Stafford (Related) When a new skill is learned there are three stages of the development, the mental, practice and automatic stage.Throughout these three stages your input into the learning cycle will differ according to the phase the player is in.The Mental StageWhen a player first learns a new skill their key goal is to understand what to do to perform the technique correctly. They draw upon all of their awareness to search for information to map the correct technique.It's more about internalizing "mentally" the physical technique of what's to be done. The mental map is made from previous activities, similar actions and looks, visual input as the player attempts to make neural connections so that their physical body can perform.Coaching during the Mental StagePatience is the key. Some players will make the connections a lot quicker and will be able to perform the technique sooner than others.Only key information should be given to the players at this stage as there is a tendency for player to become overwhelmed with information if they are given too much instruction.Visual indicators are very important during this development phase, which is why we encourage you to demonstrate new techniques and skills.The Practice StageThe next phase of mastering a technique is to have a go.There is some overlap with the mental stage here as the players will be having a go at the technique, but they will still be making mental connections as the neural paths start to give information too.Refinement is the key here and so the more opportunities that the players have to execute the skill the better.As players practice the errors they make should start to reduce over time as the sensory, visual and touch functions will start to give feedback to the players on how well they are performing the technique.For example, when under 6's practice dribbling just keeping the ball close is a major battle, any adjustments they make can often lead to the ball being toe poked away even further!But as the young players see the ball moving away from them, and make small jumpy movements to keep the ball under control, all of the feedback signals will be computing and assisting in their development.Coaching in the Practice StageObservation, accurate feedback, encouragement and praise are all key skills during this phase.Very young players will need more feedback whereas youth players should be able to self analyse their performance; some well structured questions can also assist.The Automatic StageAs practice continues so the players become far more proficient at the technique; this then frees up some mental capacity to take the learning even further.This is why some techniques lend themselves to a chaining type coaching method, or when using a functional phase practice and build it through to extended play.Players in the automatic stage know when they have made mistakes and also have the knowledge internally on how to put things right without much input from the coach.However, complacency can creep in, so to can over-analyzing a technique which can be harmful to performance.Coaching in the Automatic StageRather than coaching specifics, the coaches duty now shifts to present more challenging situations to practice the technique and develop it into a full functioning skill.Refinement is the key to develop truly magnificent players.Skateboarding - One of the Most Exciting and Skilled Board Sports by: Ben RuhlandIf you’re looking to get into a board sport why not try out skateboarding? Let me guess you and your friends go out on weekends looking for something to do but you’re bored stiff. Well I can guarantee you skateboarding is a sport you’ll never be able to give up on once you get into it. It’s a board sport that can have a steep learning curve depending on the person but most people can pretty much master the basics within a couple of months.Skateboarding has developed quite a bit in recent years. For decades when skateboarding was in its infancy, it was seen as an activity performed by youngsters, mainly rebel kids. In these earlier years skateboarders were perceived as outcasts who went around vandalizing other people’s property by skating on it. It is becoming more understood these days but it still has a long way to go before people will fully understand the skill and dedication that goes into this sport.The basics of skateboarding like pushing yourself along the street are easy to learn but once you get into the tricks and manoeuvres such as the most basic trick, the ollie, it takes quite a bit more practice to master. You need to learn the ollie as it’s a fundamental move that is combined into the majority of tricks where the board leaves the ground. The ollie is what could be considered a “jump” where the skateboard and the rider leave the ground with the board under their feet. To really master this basic move it can take a natural skater up to a year to really get it down.When learning to skateboard some protective gear can go a long way to ensuring your safety as you can expect to take many falls when first starting out. A decent helmet, some elbow pads and knee pads will give you the safety you’re looking for and a little extra confidence knowing you won’t get too hurt when you fall. You can buy this protective gear fairly cheap from most skate shops and even some general purpose stores.It’s easy to get nervous when first starting out on a skateboard because your balance will most likely be very out of tune. But don’t worry, every single skater you see out there on the skate park doing all those big moves, grinding rails, doing big grabs on the half pipe, they were all just like you when they started out. It’s a sport that takes a lot of dedication, and it relies on practice. If you put in the hours you’ll be popping kick flips in a matter of months. So go out there and get practicing, it’ll keep you busy for many years to come.For more sports articles visit: http://www.choozle.com/sports/ (Related) CollectibleSport.com offers a great selection of collectible sports memorabilia and gift ideas.by: Kevin FairbanksCOLLECTING anything, antique or modern, is limited by two factors: the money available and the space to be filled. Having determined these basic essentials, it is then a personal matter. The taste of the collector may lead to sports watches or cards, jerseys, or innumerable other things. The lucky acquisition of an admired piece may lead to a determination to get more of the same, or at least to find out what the admiration is all about.Sports Memorabilia Collectors are flocking by the droves to buy Collectible Sports Memorabilia from CollectibleSport. They are taking advantage of the great selection and value found for most popular sports, including baseball, basketball, football, golf, NASCAR, die cast cars, sports bobble heads, and sports hero posters. This is the perfect marriage of the popularity of Collectible Sports Memorabilia and the upcoming holiday gift giving season.Visitors to CollectibleSport.com have commented on the excellent layout of the site, the ease of use, the great selection, and fantastic deals to be found there. Updated items are being continually added for the sports currently in season.Collectible Sports Memorabilia that can be found at CollectibleSport.com allows the connection to a time that we love to remember regarding a special sporting event. Those experiences are brought back from our memory with the Collectible Sports Memorabilia collected for a particular event.As those special sporting events happen, make sure you capture that exhilarating feeling. Make sure you do not miss out on those Collectible Sports Memorabilia items that capture those special moments. Now is the time to visit CollectibleSport.com and check the special prices and selection.The holiday gift giving season is fast approaching. A Collectible Sports Memorabilia item from CollectibleSport.com would make the perfect gift!Kevin is the husband of Becky and the father of 2, Nicholas and Kirsten. He is an avid sports fan and over-all good guy. He has taken his love of sports and developed web sites that offer that love of sports to others.http://CollectibleSport.comhttp://www.GolfClubsHome.comhttp://Profits-For-You.comhttp://www.WebHomeHaven.comThis article is free for republishingKevin is the husband of Becky and the father of 2, Nicholas and Kirsten. He is an avid sports fan and over-all good guy. He has taken his love of sports and developed web sites that offer that love of sports to others.http://CollectibleSport.comhttp://www.GolfClubsHome.comhttp://Profits-For-You.comhttp://www.WebHomeHaven.comCollectible Sports Memorabiliaby: Kevin FairbanksSummary:Modern sports has become astonishingly popular. This popularity has propelled the collectible sports memorabilia industry to new heights, also. Physical connection to a sporting event or personality with a collectible sports memorabilia item creates a special bond between fan and sport.Article:COLLECTING sports collectibles or sports memorabilia, antique or modern, is limited by two factors: the money available and the space to be filled. Having determined these basic essentials, it is then a personal matter. The taste of the collector may lead to Baseball Memorabilia, Basketball Memorabilia, Football Memorabilia, Golf Memorabilia, NASCAR memorabilia, Diecast Collectibles, Bobble Heads, Hero Posters, or innumerable other things. The lucky acquisition of an admired piece may lead to a determination to get more of the same, or at least to find out what the admiration is all about.An encyclopedia definition of Sports Collecting would go something like this: "The hobby of sports collecting consists of acquiring specific sports items based on a particular sporting interest of the sports collector. These sports collections of sporting things are often highly organized, carefully cataloged, and attractively displayed." A sports collectible (or collectable) is defined as a manufactured item designed for people interested in sports to collect. The term sports memorabilia usually refers to items related to sporting that can be directly connected to a recent or historical sporting event or sports personality. There are many people that collect these sports memorabilia and collectibles.Since collecting depends on the interests of the individual collector, it may deal with almost any subject including sports collectible & sports memorabilia. The depth and breadth of the collection may also vary. Some collectors choose to focus on a specific subtopic within their area of general interest, for example Baseball memorabilia of the New York Yankees, Basketball memorabilia of the Los Angeles Lakers, Football memorabilia of the Dallas Cowboys, Golf memorabilia of Tiger Woods, NASCAR memorabilia of Tony Stewart, Diecast collectibles of fire trucks, Bobble Heads for any sport, & posters of heroes such as Lance Armstrong. Others prefer to keep a more general collection, accumulating any or all Baseball memorabilia, Basketball memorabilia, Football memorabilia, Golf memorabilia, NASCAR memorabilia, Diecast collectibles, Bobble Heads, or Hero Posters.When the NBA, MLB, and NFL began selling their basketball, baseball, and football jerseys in stores during the 1980s, game used jerseys also became a hot item among sports memorabilia collectors. Former NBA player Dennis Rodman was famous for taking off his jerseys and throwing them to the stands after his games were over. Michael Jordan is probably the basketball player whose memorabilia is most sought after by collectors. Today’s stars include Ben Roethlisberger, Shaquille O'Neil, Nomar Garciaparra, etc. These players seem to be pushing the already popular area of sports collectibles and memorabilia to a new level of acceptance to the public.Collections can take the form of a single item such as a signed baseball, football, or basketball. Collections can also take the form of a series of items, such as jerseys from each member of a particular baseball, basketball, or football team. A NASCAR collection of hats from different drivers is very popular. Golf balls with different logos are especially popular. The cost of any sports collectible memorabilia item is directly proportional to the popularity of the sports figure with which the item correlates. The more popular the sports figure, the more money the sports collectible memorabilia item will demand. The whole sports collectible memorabilia industry is driven by supply and demand. The more demand the higher the price and vice versa. Also, the more supply of an item, the lower the price. Sports cards would be a good example. Only so many of certain cards were ever made. Those carry a higher price than those that were made in bulk. Quality is a very big determining factor in the price of any sports collectible memorabilia item. In general, the better the quality, the higher the price.Kevin is the husband of Becky and the father of 2, Nicholas and Kirsten. He is an avid sports fan and over-all good guy. He has taken his love of sports and developed web sites that offer that love of sports to others.http://CollectibleSport.comhttp://www.Collectible-Sports-Memorabilia.comhttp://www.GolfClubsHome.comThis article is free for republishingKevin is the husband of Becky and the father of 2, Nicholas and Kirsten. He is an avid sports fan and over-all good guy. He has taken his love of sports and developed web sites that offer that love of sports to others.http://CollectibleSport.comhttp://www.GolfClubsHome.comhttp://Profits-For-You.comhttp://www.WebHomeHaven.comSports Massage - An Introductionby: Richard LaneSports Massage - An Introduction Copyright 2005 Richard Lane Many therapists offer Sports Massage on their “Massage Menu” yet few understand what Sports Massage is about. When a client comes in requesting a Sports Massage, some therapists merely react by going in deep. Sports Massage is so much more. Whilst Sports Massage does have some aims in common with other forms of massage therapy, the usual experience in conventional massage is to aim to restore the normal function when someone is injured. But in sport there is no ‘normal’ and athletes are always looking to improve and gain a competitive edge. Most athletes aim to reach a level of performance they can never achieve. A Sports Massage therapist has great potential to assist the athlete to become better, rather than merely normal. In striving to be better, the athlete attempts to systematically increase the level of training and thereby subjecting the body to gradual and controlled overuse. This overuse can often create imbalances and problems in the soft tissues, which if ignored may become chronic. Clearly this may hinder the athlete’s performance and/or rate of improvement. Sports Massage can become a key ingredient in an athlete’s success and this is why top competitors incorporate it as an integral part of their training regime. So what is Sports Massage? McGillicuddy(1) defines Sports Massage as “the specific application of massage techniques, hydrotherapy protocols, range of motion/flexibility protocol and strength-training principles utilized to achieve a specific goal when treating athletes”. He considers that there are three principles that are vital to understanding what type of Sports Massage to apply to an athlete at any given time. These principles are: Timing Technique and Intent The timing of Sports Massage is related to when the massage is applied, is it pre-event or post-event, during a maintenance period or possibly post-injury when rehabilitation is required. The technique refers to what massage/stretching/strengthening methods the therapists employs to attempt to achieve the intent, the desired outcome. The intent of pre-event massage is to warm up the muscles and to get blood flowing through the muscles. The massage techniques generally used are petrissage, vibration, percussion, compression, muscle broadening strokes, etc. With post-event massage, the intent is assist in the recovery process by increasing venous and lymphatic circulation to assist with removal of metabolic by-products and thereby decreasing muscle soreness so that the athlete can return to full training faster. The massage techniques would include effleurage, compression, petrissage, passive movements and light stretching. The intent of maintenance massage is to keep the athletes muscles and tissue in optimum condition and is generally scheduled at a regular frequency (be it weekly or fortnightly), closely married to the athlete’s training program. Thus Sports Massage is not about going deep nor it is learning one technique. The requirement for the therapist is to apply the appropriate treatment at the appropriate time, which takes education, skill and experience. (1) M. McGillicuddy. “Three Key Principles of Sports Massage”. MassageToday.com May 2003, Volume03 Issue 05. ---------------------------------------------------- Richard Lane is a qualified remedial and sports massage therapist, with a mobile massage practice in Sydney's Inner West (www.innerwestmassage.com.au or info@innerwestmassage.com.au). Health fund rebates. ATMS 13020Richard Lane is a qualified remedial and sports massage therapist, with a mobile massage practice in Sydney's Inner West (www.innerwestmassage.com.au or info@innerwestmassage.com.au). Health fund rebates. ATMS 13020Why use an internet sports book to make wagers?by: James CampbellAlthough I started using online sportsbooks almost ten years ago, I still maintained contact with a couple of local books for the express purpose of getting better lines with regard to the local or favorite teams of choice in my neck of the woods, the reasoning of course was so that if I saw "Value" in going against the the local or favorite teams of choice then what better place to get the best line when going against them then in their home area?However, a not so funny thing happened when one of the locals that I was using got crushed one week three years ago and skipped town and in doing so stiffed me for $1200, since that point in time I have wagered strictly online!I have always held the believe that if you want the beat deal available then it would be foolhardy to purchase the first car that you see at the first dealership that you visit, that very same line of logical thinking should be applied to "Sports investment" and of course is the very reason why I personally use four different "outs" as a means of gaining as much of an edge as possible with regard to finding the best line on games that I am wagering on, sometimes a half of a point here or a half of a point there can make all the difference in a winning week versus a break even or losing week.It never ceases to amaze me for example how some people will be totally misers with regard to insisting that any light on in a room with no one in it is a capital crime, these same individuals always seem to be the ones not willing to take the wife and kids to a movie or out to a restaurant for lunch or dinner because they may have to fork over a few dollars on something they consider unwarranted and wasteful.However, these same individuals find nothing wrong with shacking up in a tavern all Saturday or Sunday afternoon with the boys watching the games and betting with the local bookies, don't get me wrong as I like to stop for a beer or two myself now and then, but why do I make this comparison you ask?Simple my friend, if someone as I described above was truly cost conscious and on a quest of sorts for savings and "Value", why then would anyone in their right mind make sports wagers strictly with local bookies? Aren't these local guys the ones who make you wait until the morning of the game to get their lines? Aren't these the same guys that you have to track down and fight busy signals to reach on the ole telly phone?What real "Value" can be had from a local book that basically shoves his/her line in your face and figuratively speaking says "take it or leave it pal"?Hometown gamblers using strictly local bookies are missing out on more than just the convenience of being able to place a wager on an upcoming NFL or College football game days in advance, these hometown gamblers using strictly local books are also missing out on their fair share of "Moola"----"Black gold"----"Texas Tea"....No I am not going to start singing about Jed Clampett here but instead about the sign up bonus's offered by online sportsbooks.Think about it a second, let's say that you have a $5000 starting bankroll that is dedicated to nothing but sports investing, you could deposit the whole $5000 with one sportsbook and get as much as a 20% sign up bonus for doing so, which means that you would now have a starting bankroll of $6000...that's your $5000 plus the $1000 sign up bonus, right?WRONG!! Most sportsbooks in fact have limits on the total sign up bonus for an individual that ranges anywhere from $200 to $500, if that is the case then why not divide up your initial $5000 starting bankroll four ways between four different sportsbooks and possibly get a 20% sign up bonus from each sportsbook?$5000 divided four ways would mean that if you were to deposit $1250 at each sportsbook and got a 20% signup bonus with each one, your starting bankroll with each of your four sportsbooks would then be $1250 plus a $250 sign up bonus for a total of $1500.Thus $1500 X 4 means that you now have a $6000 starting bankroll, ( that's your $5000 plus the $1000 in total sign up bonus's ), and your money is now evenly spread out over four different sportsbooks which now allows you to "Line shop".As you now see, by depositing your entire bankroll with one sportsbook you could actually cost yourself some dinero in lost sign up bonus money, an added benefit of spreading your starting bankroll over three or four different sportsbooks is derived from the fact that sportbooks require you to "Roll over" the amount in your account so many times prior to being able to withdrawl funds.For example, if the sportsbook that you are using has a five (5) time rollover rule in effect and your initial deposit was $1000.00, you would have received $200 with your initial deposit for a total of $1200 if the sign up bonus was 20%.You would now need to wager a total of $6000 or ( $1000 + $200 ) X 5 in total bets placed before you are entitled to keep the initial sign up bonus and make a withdrawl of your funds, I would however advise you to be careful and to do your homework before depositing any funds anywhere as there are probably just as many "Fly by night" operations out there as there are legitimate and reputable ones.Ask questions of others that you know who may have used the different sportsbooks and hear what they have to say, troll thru the various forums and posting boards and post messages that ask the opinions and experiences of others.The main over riding factor to the equation is that you want to have the ability to "Line shop" for the best possible odds with as many reputable sources as possible.Football Forecastor is home to the nations most prolific sports handicapper, we specialize in NFL and College Football handicapping, we take sports betting to a whole new level by treating sports wagering as an investment.Over the past 30 plus yrs, I have been on both sides of the Sports Investment Business, as a entrepreneur that ran his own business, to building and maintaining a Private Clientele base that Greatly Benefits from my Superior Handicapping expertise in the sporting arena.Football Forecastor has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, we specialize in NFL and College Football handicapping and over the past eight years have maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.If you are looking for a Proven winner that churns out Consistent NFL and College football winning selections, visit up at footballforecastor.com today!Football Forecastor is home to the nations most prolific sports handicapper, we specialize in NFL and College Football handicapping and take sports betting to a whole new level by treating sports wagering as an investment.Over the past 30 yrs plus, I have been on both sides of the Sports Investment Business, as a entrepreneur that ran his own business, to building and maintaining a Private Clientele base that Greatly Benefits from my Superior Handicapping expertise in the sporting arena. Football Forecastor has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, we specialize in NFL and College football handicapping and over the past eight years have maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.If you are looking for a Proven winner that churns out Consistent NFL and College football winning selections visit us at footballforecastor.com today!!ESPN the Cheap Magazine, Literallyby: david chaseBack in the day ESPN was merely space fodder for people with cable subscriptions; back when only the "real" sports fan (me) could sit in front of the tube and bear with the constant rambling of numbers and statistics. Oh it was great. Back before they offered a cheap magazine subscription that was nothing more then an extension to their online subscription service they offered through their website. These were the good old days.No over-sized clowns spraying the screen with saliva as they scream a point that has already been beat to death by every other major sports media outlet. No silly Ebonics from Stuart Scott and his lowly attempts at integrating hip-hop lingo and culture with sports commentating. Back in the day Berman's sound effects, wit and satirical humor were actually pretty clever; they were fun, and stimulated conversation amongst the boys who played ball out front. Now your left with mainstream content, the "edge" is gone, the only thing that spews out of these writer's pens, and analysts mouths is sponsor-friendly garbage. Can anybody take ESPN's content seriously anymore? Sportscenter was a morning ritual. ESPN the Magazine would have been a no-brain annual subscription; Peter Gammons and his sports monologues--to a diehard--were simply un-passable. Could you imagine how great their magazine's content would be without ESPN having to be handcuffed by their endless affiliates, and licensing partners? It would be nice to sit back and get the real opinions out of these analysts and writers. Honestly, its probably the only thing I miss about the 80's. I don’t want dummied down content from their discount magazine and their trashy over-sized recycled paper they call pages. I want opinions on how they really feel about a controversy in sports. As a long time ESPN fan it has become disheartening watching the network dive head first into homeplate only to have their nose busted by the Catchers shin-plates. You can contact david@magazine-subscription-cheap.com and visit his latest internet project and website http://magazine-subscription-cheap.com (Related) Seattle Supersonics Full Of Energyby: Julie SmithBy Julie SmithOn the NBA round, Seattle Supersonics won again last night on a basketball game played against Indiana Pacers. For the third time in a row, the Sonics have shown their fans they are full of energy and they are improving their scoring techniques.As back up guard Ronald Murray said: “We're just trying to bring whole lot energy, and keep the rhythm going and the pace going.”An evidently tired Indiana team couldn’t achieve the objective they had in mind for this basketball game. It might have been that the NBA team didn’t have all the concentration they required or they haven’t got all the sleep hours they needed. Even though Ron Artest said the long road trip didn’t have any effect on the Pacer’s performance. Anyway, it worked out just fine for Seattle Supersonics. The final score for this game was 107 - 102The Sonics also won last Friday when playing with Cleveland Cavaliers: 115 – 108.About the Author:Julie Smith is one of the most recognized copy writers on Sports and currently writes for http://www.instantactionsports.comFeel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.This article is free for republishingAbout the Author:Julie Smith is one of the most recognized copy writers on Sports and currently writes for www.instantactionsports.comFeel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content. (Related) Home Field Advantage in the MLB (Part 3)by: Proloy BhattacharyyaBy Proloy BhattacharyyaNFLSystems.comproloy@nflsystems.comSeptember 12, 2005In one of our earlier articles, we demonstrated how the home field advantage was stronger in the first game of a series and qualified that by explaining how the opposing team has to travel to a visitor’s stadium and may struggle in the first game.I wanted to apply a few handicapping principles that we generally apply to the NBA such as the betting against a team on zero-days rest angle.Home teams in the first game of a series are 54.4% winners if their opponent is playing back-to-back days but only 52.8% if their opponent has had 1 or more days rest. This is a significant advantage that is averaged over approximately 5000 games.If we condition this fact on our team not having to travel because its previous game was at home, the percentage increases to 975-801, 54.9%. In fact, blindly betting home teams in this situation is +26 units over the past 6 years. Because of the large number of games in baseball, even simple angles such as these do not get factored into the spread as they should.As my “2005 YTD Home Favorite Money Line Records” piece suggested, home teams perform much better against non-divisional rivals than against divisional rivals. Utilizing that knowledge, we improve this system to 55.6%, +39 units.American League favorites that fall into this system are 226-113 (66.7%), +56 units over the past 6 seasons with no losing seasons. Even though this is coincidentalChat about all sorts of sports information at the Sports Wagering Forums (Related) .Founded by mathematicians and scientists, NFLSystems.com and EasyBaseballBetting.com analyzes sports the right way for profit. Ranked in the Top 5 for baseball handicapper in their very first year on the internet.Newly Launched Sports Betting Forum (Related) Coach Tom Craft got fired!by: alfred johnsonThe NCAA Football former quarterback for the Aztecs in the mid-1970s Tom Craft was fired Monday after failing to post a winning record in four seasons.The NCAA Football athletic director Jeff Schemmel promised to hire a replacement, “Give Tom a lot of credit. I think the program's better than it was before," Schemmel said.Schemmel hopes to hire a replacement by Christmas, promised to hire a replacement "who can excite the community."Possible candidates: The former Washington and Colorado NCAA Football coachRick Neuheisel, Bobby Hauck, coach at Division I-AA Montana its another option.Schemmel saids San Diego State can become a top 10 program.This article is free for republishingAlfred Johnson provides all sports fans with the most recent a up to date news information in the sports world. Mr. Johnson has been an exceptional article writer for www.bookemdirect.com (Related) Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.Cleveland Indians: 2005 Title Contenders or Pretenders?by: Proloy BhattacharyyaBy Proloy BhattacharyyaNFLSystems.comproloy@nflsystems.comSeptember 10, 2005I lived in Cleveland for two summers not too long ago. My second year there was when they had their fire sale. Jim Thome was one of the last to go. Their argument to him was that it would take a long time before they start to contend again so that it was best to part ways.Well, the Indians are contending in a hurry and are atop the Wild Card by 1.5 games. There is no question in my mind that these Indians are title contenders. With the questionable starting pitching of the Boston Red Sox, inconsistent hitting of the Angels and White Sox, the Indians prove to be the only team with a great balance of hitting and pitching. What’s better news is that these Indians are lethal on the road. Their road record of 45-29 is the third best in baseball. The Indians can play small ball and they can also play long ball which makes them great in any ballpark on the road. They can run the bases and move people over in pitching friendly ballparks. They can also hit home runs in hitting friendly ballparks.Their pitching staff is headed by lefty C.C. Sabathia and is supported by one of the best bullpens in baseball. There is no doubt these Indians are playing the best baseball. The Indians are on a 70% run spanning more than 40 games and are hitting both lefties and righties extremely well.The one glitch to the Indians season is that they are a combined 8-18 against AL playoff teams Red Sox, Angels, White Sox. If they are going to advance to the World Series, these are the teams they are going to have to beat.Chat about all sorts of sports information at the Sports Wagering Forums (Related) .Founded by mathematicians and scientists, NFLSystems.com and EasyBaseballBetting.com analyzes sports the right way for profit. Ranked in the Top 5 for baseball handicapper in their very first year on the internet.Newly Launched Sports Betting Forum (Related) Morris’ Suspension Reduced to 14 Gamesby: Julie SmithBy Julie SmithKentucky University Randolph Morris’ suspension was reduced to 14 games this Thursday after he tried to enter the NBA draft.According to the NCAA some of the new information that helped to soften Morris’ punishment was the fact that he clearly intended to retain his collegiate eligibility while he was declaring for the draft.Morris declared he had made some bad decisions, like accepting bad advice and putting distance between him and his coaches and teammates.The NCAA Basketball player won’t be able to play on Kentucky's nonconference schedule until the Southeastern Conference opener on January 10th 2006 against Vanderbilt.The basketball team have been struggling with their inside game without Morris, who started 33 of 34 games last season with an average of 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. This article is free for republishingAbout the Author:Julie Smith is one of the most recognized copy writers on Sports and currently writes for www.instantactionsports.comFeel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content. (Related) Home Field Advantage in the MLB (Part 2): Tale of Two Halvesby: Proloy BhattacharyyaBy Proloy BhattacharyyaNFLSystems.comproloy@nflsystems.comSeptember 10, 2005Home teams perform completely differently during the first half of the baseball season and the last half. I analyze baseball games differently based on which half of the season it is and I will demonstrate one such disparity.Baseball is a long drawn out season with so many games that the best effort from teams generally do not surface until the latter half of the season. As a result, the home field advantage is stronger during the first half of the season.Over the past 6 seasons, baseball’s home teams have won 54.6% of their games during the first 81 games of the season ( including 55.8% this season ). During the second half of the season, baseball’s home teams have only won an average of 53.0% of their games. Although a 1.6% difference may not seem major, it still represents a 3.2% drop to a home team’s advantage. Also, first half home records have not been below 53% in any of the past 6 seasons. If we only take into account division rivals, the home field advantage drops by exactly 4% from the first half of the season to the second. This indicates that one ought to first try to find profitable road teams during the second half of the season. So far this season, road teams in the second half of the season are 179-153, +54.3 units. Last season they were 319-353, +16 units. Decreasing the sample size to a smaller number of games can really yield huge profits for any bettor.Visit us at the Sports Wagering Forums (Related) .Founded by mathematicians and scientists, NFLSystems.com and EasyBaseballBetting.com analyzes sports the right way for profit. Ranked in the Top 5 for baseball handicapper in their very first year on the internet.Two great NFL systemsby: James CampbellFOOTBALL FORECASTORHello my friend...It is never a good idea to place a wager based strictly on a system or on a trend or because of an injury or just because of a weather concern, the reason why of course is because you can bet your bottom dollar that the odds maker also knows of these factors as well and has already made the adjustments.Why would the odds maker make adjustments you ask? Simply put my friend, the reason why is because the odds maker already knows what today's “Joe Public” bettor will do and that is to pounce on the system or trend play or in the case of bad weather jump on the “UNDER” and when hearing about an injury jump on the opposing team like there is no tomorrow. Personally, when hearing of a team suffering an injury to virtually any player with the exception of the QB, I have found it very profitable to play the ole “wait and see” game, meaning that later in the week once Joe Public has influenced the line that value will probably be found on the side of the team with the injury!Below you will find a couple of NFL system plays dated since 1990 that have been quite profitable because of the fact that they are very uncommon in frequency and secondly because they combine solid handicapping theory, meaning that there is rhyme and reason as to why they occur!1) Play against teams playing their 3rd consecutive road game if they lost the 1st game and won the 2nd game. 15-4-1 ATS 79% What makes this system so useful is the fact that it is based on straight up wins and losses in a teams previous two games which allows a handicapper to see a prevailing pattern, in this pattern the team in question falls into two different handicapping situations that cannot be overlooked as the team in question will not only be in “Road Weary” mode, but they will also be in a prime spot for a “Letdown”.2) Play against a team playing their 3rd consecutive home game if they are a dog of more than 3 points and they lost their 2 previous games in straight up fashion. 10-4 ATS 72% Like the above system, is a very uncommon but very effective situation indeed when considering that six different teams played three straight home games during the 2003 season but none ended up classifying for the system.The last time this system came into play happened at the end of the 2001 season when the Panthers of Carolina played host to the Patriots after coming off consecutive home losses to St. Louis and Arizona.Those of us that were fortunate enough to have wagered on New England in that contest were rewarded with a 38-6 Patriot win and cover!take care and good luck this season!JimVisit us at www.footballforecastor.comFootball Forecastor is home to the nations most prolific sports handicapper, we specialize in NFL and College Football handicapping and take sports betting to a whole new level by treating sports wagering as an investment.Over the past 30 yrs plus, I have been on both sides of the Sports Investment Business, as a entrepreneur that ran his own business, to building and maintaining a Private Clientele base that Greatly Benefits from my Superior Handicapping expertise in the sporting arena. Football Forecastor has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, we specialize in NFL and College football handicapping and over the past eight years have maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.If you are looking for a Proven winner that churns out Consistent NFL and College football winning selections visit us at footballforecastor.com today!!What Do Gladiators and the Weekend Warrior Have In Common?by: Louise RoachStrip off the tie and grab your running shoes, golf clubs or baseball mitt! The weekend has arrived. You look forward to extra time on Saturday and Sunday to enjoy your favorite sport. And you probably cram in as much activity as possible before Monday morning rolls around. You're a weekend warrior! If you find yourself nursing a painful knee or strained muscle at the office, you are in the company of gladiators. Favored gladiators were considered the sports heroes of their day. If a gladiator survived serious injury, they were attended to by sports physicians for common problems such as sprains, torn ligaments and muscle strains. The first doctor to gain notoriety for treating gladiators was Galen, acclaimed as the father of sports medicine. Living from 129 to 199 BC, Galen traveled throughout Rome bandaging- up gladiators. Although Galen used a form of traction to set bones and was considered way ahead of his time, he was not aware of the simple principle of R.I.C.E. (rest-ice-compression-elevation) to treat sports-related injuries. Today, it's easy for weekend warriors to take care of minor sprains and strains using the recommended technique of R.I.C.E. According to the Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, "more than 10 million sports injuries are treated each year in the USA. Athletes and non- athletes share many similar injuries…Immediate treatment for almost all acute athletic injuries is R.I.C.E." Here is the four-part method for using R.I.C.E.:Rest: Stop the activity causing pain and allow the injured area to rest for 2 to 3 days.Ice: To decrease swelling and numb pain, apply ice in the form of ice packs or ice massage as soon as possible. Treat for a period of 48 to 72 hours after an injury happens. Ice applications should last for 10 to 30 minutes until the point of numbness. Longer icing periods should be avoided as this could result in tissue damage. Allow the skin to return to normal temperature before reapplying an ice pack.Compression: To decrease swelling and bruising, compression should be applied immediately using a compression or elastic wrap, or athletic tape. Do not apply compression to the point of cutting off circulation (a feeling of numbness or tingling). Compression can also be used at the same time an ice pack is being applied.Elevation: Raise the injured area to above heart level to minimize internal bleeding and swelling.Unlike yesterday's gladiators, today's weekend warriors who survive the trials of running too hard, pitching a no-hitter or shooting too many hoops, are better prepared. With a reusable ice pack in hand and knowledge of R.I.C.E., every warrior can triumph over pain.Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical treatment or consultation. Always consult with your physician in the event of a serious injury.About the Author: Louise Roach is a health and fitness editor, marketing specialist, and product development consultant. She helps others find pain relief through the use of SnowPack reusable, chemical-free ice packs, the SnowPack SportCover and SnowPack Body-n- Ice Kits. Learn more about the benefits of ice therapy at http://www.snowpackusa.com/ Sign up for free health and fitness newsletter at: http://home.netcom.com/~newsflash/ This article is free for republishingLouise Roach is a health and fitness editor, marketing specialist, and product development consultant. She helps others find pain relief through the use of SnowPack reusable, chemical-free ice packs, the SnowPack SportCover and SnowPack Body-n- Ice Kits. Learn more about the benefits of ice therapy at http://www.snowpackusa.com/ Sign up for free health and fitness newsletter at: http://home.netcom.com/~newsflash/Home Field Advantage in the MLB (Part 1)by: Proloy BhattacharyyaBy Proloy BhattacharyyaNFLSystems.comproloy@nflsystems.comSeptember 10, 2005Of all the major sports, baseball is known for not having a great home field advantage. During the regular season, astute bettors will prey upon bookies by betting on teams that are in situations where the home field advantage is extreme.Home teams win on average 53.6% of the time. This translates to a 7.2% advantage over road teams which is a smaller disparity compared to Basketball and Football. Home teams in Football and Basketball feed off of their home town fans and are motivated. With baseball, it is most appropriate to try to find situations in which baseball teams will be more motivated.Consider the Red Sox are 51-15 + 29 units the past 3 seasons at home off a home loss. Over the same span and angle, the Rangers are 47-33 +17 units and the Braves are 52-20 +20 units. These are 3 such teams that have a strong home field advantage given this situation. Because baseball is such an unpopular sport with bettors and this angle does not apply to all teams, the oddsmakers have not had to adjust on a situation as this.Those 3 teams alone combined for 150-68, +66 units. This means that to even it out, the spread would have to be adjusted 30 points. So instead of being -130, the team would have to be -160. Instead of being +145, they would have to be +115. This is considerable in the eyes of most bettors. The normal home field advantage is already taken into account in the spread but it is the handicapper’s job to find profitable situations in which the home field advantage is higher and capitalize on it.Please visit us at http://www.nflsystems.comFounded by mathematicians and scientists, NFLSystems.com and EasyBaseballBetting.com analyzes sports the right way for profit. Ranked in the Top 5 for baseball handicapper in their very first year on the internet.Sunglasses 101by: Nathan SauerSunglasses are not as simple as many people think. As such, it’s important that you get “briefed” before you buy.The different parts to sunglasses will have a great impact on the look and feel of the pair. Different parts can also affect UV protection, glare resistance, and what sports the sunglasses would best be used for. With this in mind, it is important to consider each of the different options available for sunglasses.Different sunglass lenses, tints, and coatings will be beneficial depending on the intended use. Lens materials also serve different purposes. The best lenses to use are glass lenses, because they are of the highest quality and most scratch resistant. Unfortunately, the glass lenses are also the most expensive. Acrylic plastic lenses are the least expensive and weigh less. As a result, they are not of the highest quality and therefore scratch extremely easily. For casual ware, less expensive glasses may be preferred. For sports, higher-quality lenses should probably be considered. Sunglass tints also serve different purposes. The common tints are amber and orange, brown, gray, green, rose, vermilion, and yellow. Amber and orange tints reduce blue light, which is a chief component of glare. This tint is ideal for high glare sports like fishing, boating, skiing, and flying. Brown tints are good for variable light conditions. The dark tint reduces eyestrain, making it an ideal tint for driving, cycling, and running. Gray and green tints are good tints for many purposes. Rose, vermillion, and yellow are all solid daytime tints. Certain tints work best for certain needs, but the best way to find out is to try different tints. If the tint fits your needs, than it is a good option. There are also several different coatings for lenses. Some coatings are anti-reflective, while others have mirrors.The frame of the glasses is very important. There are several materials for frames. Plastic frames are the cheapest and therefore not of as high quality. Plastic frames also crack easily. Nylon and metal frames are both good choices. However, nylon is flexible and stronger than metal. The hinge can also have metal and nylon. Again, in this instance, nylon is stronger and therefore probably the better choice. Whichever pair you choose, I’d like to leave you with a bit of advice: remember you’re your lenses should be cleaned often. For cleaning sunglass lenses, mild soap and warm water should be used. Cleaning lenses removes dirt and oil and helps avoid buildup of debris, which can cloud vision or scratch lenses. After washing lenses, one should dry them with a lens cloth or non-abrasive cotton in order to prevent scratching. You can also buff the lens by holding the frame firmly and moving in a gentle, circular motion. Nathan Sauer enjoys outdoor sports and prefers to wear custom Oakley sunglasses (Related) . This article is free for republishingSatellite Radio: XM Radio or Sirius?by: Ron KingSatellite radio is the hottest trend in radio entertainment for your car, home, and office. The freedom from commercials and static is an exhilarating experience. No longer do you have listen to obnoxious jingles and hot air. No longer are you condemned to choose between dead air and Country & Western when traveling in rural areas. Commercial-Free, Digital-Quality Sound All of these problems are solved with satellite radio. And there is nothing else in the radio world that can compete with its digital quality sound. Satellite can provide uninterrupted listening pleasure anywhere in the world. The only problem is deciding upon which satellite radio provider to choose. The top 2 contenders are Sirius and XM Radio. If you want satellite radio, you are immediately faced with the issue of how to choose between them. XM Radio, First In The Sky XM Radio established its presence first, and has a market share of 2 million listeners. XM has had the time to establish an excellent system of 68 commercial-free music channels with an incredible array of music. It also adds 33 channels of news, sports, talk shows, and entertainment to its programming mix. To top it off, XM has revolutionized the satellite radio world by providing 21 channels of up-to-date weather and traffic for most of the major metropolitan areas in the United States. Sirius, Radio Innovator On Satellite TV Sirius may be the comparative upstart, but it offers some advantages of its own. New contacts with DISH Network satellite television have given Sirius access to more than 10 million subscribers. It provides more than 120 channels if you add up all of the music, sports, information and entertainment. For sports, Sirius is hard to beat. It broadcasts live games for professional football and hockey leagues, as well as many other sporting events. Sirius will also be the home of Howard Stern in 2006. New Technology, New Listening Experience So, whether you choose XM Radio for experience and staying power, or cast your vote for the innovations of Sirius, there's no reason to wait. Satellite radio is to broadcast radio as the VCR was to television. You can have it all -- without commercials! So what are you waiting for -- pick one. About the author:Visit http://www.sat-radio-now.com (Related) to learn more. Copyright 2005 Ron King. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.Wrapping Up Week 13 Who To Keep And Who To Let Goby: Cathy JonesAs we are beginning week 14, let’s go over some teams that I think might not make the 2006 playoffs and should be thinking of getting rid of the elements that got them the bottom spots before the 2006 NFL Draft.Miami Dolphins: Ricky Williams is not helping, looks like his career is over, this sends a clear message to management of who to be letting go. Baltimore Ravens: The team is a disaster. Quarterback Kyle Boller, should be the first one to be fired. Houston Texans: This is the worst franchise in the NFL and they have to draft someone like Reggie Bush and rebuild their offensive line. On the positive end the Indianapolis Colts will be 12-0. Are they becoming the first NFL team to finish a regular season 16-0? That's another matter overall. I can’t seem to think of many reasons why that can’t happen. I do believe that Indianapolis is the best team on the NFL. If forced to wager my estate house and plantation on who will take the trophy home I would not hesitate to say the Colts. This article is free for republishingCathy Jones writes on sports betting and gambling one of the fastest growing online industries and she is one of the top senior article writers for www.envivosports.com (Related) Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.Latest Extreme Sport, Kitesurfingby: Ispas MarinLooked at many extreme sports but just can't find the right thrills? It's time to take a look at the ocean, you might just find some inspiration.The latest craze in extreme sports is kitesurfing, it only started out in 1990 but there are tens of thousands of enthusiasts around the world. You can go to any ocean side on a Sunday and you'll see that kitesurfing has a strong following and has expanded quickly.The kitesurfing board is a surfboard but shorter and the kitesurfer is attached to it with foot straps or bindings. You have the board attached to a kite, that looks more like a parachute, by a series of lines of various lengths. The board is propelled by the kite across the water at quite great speeds.The challenge in kitesurfing is that your body is the only connection between the kite and the board and mastering the control of both the kite in the air and the board on the water is a key point.If you're asking yourself how it's possible for a kite to stay in the air while holding the weight of the board and your weight at the same time the explanation is this: while flying, a kite is creating it's own wind and the wind it creates is faster than the wind powering it producing more power than the actual wind.The Kitesurfing GearYou might think that kitesurfing is not an expensive sport but that's not entirely true, the board and kite aren't the only equipment you need. Other equipment components are a kite pump(inflatable kite), bar, lines, board harness, life jacket and helmet. If you'll add the starting lessons you'll get a good amount that you'll have to spend.Taking Kitesurfing LessonsThe theory behind kitesurfing is simple enough, the practice is another story. Because of that you need a little while to master. Kitesurfing enthusiasts should take lessons from an experienced kitesurfing instructor before practicing this sport, no matter how much experience you have with surfing or windsurfing.For all the tips and tricks on kitesurfing visit our kitesurfing (Related) guide now. For great information on kitesurfing equipment visit our kite surfing equipment (Related) page. This article is free for republishing2005 NFC East Football previewby: James CampbellOVERVIEW: NFC EASTThe Eagles once again appear to be the top team in the NFC for 2005, however, I wouldn’t look for them to win 13 games this season due to the fact that each of the other teams in the NFC East should improve this year. A look at the Eagles schedule for 2005 reveals the fact that Philly will face the league’s third easiest schedule when considering the Eagles 2005 opponents combined for a 118-146 straight up record last season.One would expect that with the Eagles posting a straight up record of 54-20 over the past four seasons that they would eventually have a bad draft due to having to choose from the draft leftovers, however, that has not been the case as the Eagles once again had a pretty good draft which is a testament to just how good HC Andy Reid is with regard to being able to wheel and deal in the draft as well as his ability to pick talent.The Eagles weren’t all that active in the free agent market but were able to snag a quality backup QB in Mike McMahon from Detroit who became expendable when the Lions picked up QB Jeff Garcia. It should be no surprise that the Lions picked up Garcia when considering that Garcia was Detroit HC Steve Mariucci’s QB when both were in San Francisco.Cowboy HC Bill Parcells used free agency to bring in RB Anthony Thomas to backup Julius Jones and also snagged QB Drew Bledsoe to run his offense for 2005, however, Parcells main focus during the off season was to fix what ailed his defense which allowed 406 points in 2004. Parcells appears to have been successful with a quality draft head lined by picking up DE Demarcus Ware, DE Marcus Spears and LB Kevin Burnett with his top three selections in the draft.Overall Parcells had an excellent draft and used six of his eight draft selections on defensive players which should serve to shore up a shaky pass rush which allowed opposing QB’s time to toss 31 TD’s last year. The Giants threw last season away by using QB Eli Manning under center earlier than they probably should have, however, the playing experience gained in 2004 should serve Manning well this season and especially since QB Kurt Warner is now in Arizona which means that Manning will not be looking over this shoulder.The Giants only had four draft choices which was the fewest amount in franchise history, however, they were able to pick up CB Corey Webster out of LSU in the second round, Webster should have been a top 10 or top 15 pick but fell to the Giants with the overall 43rd pick in the draft due to injuries sustained in College, the G-Men used free agency to bring in QB Tim Hasselbeck to back up Manning and signed a go-to WR in former Steeler Plaxico Burress for Manning to play catch with.By not addressing glaring needs on offense Washington appears set to bring up the rear in the NFC East for 2005, last year Skin HC Joe Gibbs brought in former Jag QB Mark Brunell to run his offense, however in the nine games Brunell started last year he only completed 49.79% of his passes and at seasons end finished with a QB rating of 63.90.In contrast QB Patrick Ramsey started seven games in 2004 and completed 62.13% of his tosses which was good enough to post a QB rating of 74.8, the Skins used their second draft selection on QB Jason Campbell out of Auburn which was probably a bit of a reach as Campbell will need lots of work, however, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that Patrick Ramsey will be the starting QB for 2005.Regardless of whether the Skins decide to go with either Mark Brunell or Patrick Ramsey at QB for 2005, Washington still needs to fix their offensive line play which was atrocious to say the least and was the main reason for the Skins averaging a meager 15 points scored per contest last year.The Skin defense appeared set to be the bright spot for this team once again in 2005, however, the arrest of safety Sean Taylor on gun charges, the free agent loss of CB Fred Smoot and the off season ankle injury/stress fracture to top draft choice CB Carlos Rogers leaves that open to debate.In closing the Eagles posted an overall mark of 15-4 straight up and 12-7 ATS last year, I fully expect to see the public back these Eagles in most outings in 2005, however, a check of last season shows that 3 of the Eagles 4 straight up losses occurred against AFC teams and 4 of the Eagles 7 spread losses came against the AFC.A check of the past three seasons reveals the fact that Philly has only lost a total of 14 games in this time frame, however, 7 of those 14 losses came at the hands of AFC teams, and to think that in the past three years these Eagles only played AFC teams a total of 13 times!!This of course leads me to believe that 2005 road games at Kansas City and at Denver might very well be prime spots to go against Philly and especially if the Eagles are installed as road favorites when considering that the Eagles have gone 4-9 ATS overall against AFC teams over the past three seasons, in road games (not counting the SB) against AFC teams during this same time span Philly posted a mark of 2-4 ATS.I would be careful in picking my spots with regard to Dallas, New York, and Washington this season until after the fourth game of the year because of the QB situation at each location, with that being said keep an eye on the Cowboys who could very well end up being the surprise team in this division as well as in the NFC this year if QB Drew Bledsoe can remain healthy and the Dallas defense shapes up like I think they will.Jim Campbell is one of the nations most respected Sports Handicappers, he specializes in College and Pro Football, you can visit Jim at his website located at footballforecastor.com for all of your handicapping needs including free play selections, College and NFL stats, trends and award winning analysis on upcoming games.With over 30 plus years experience in the handicapping profession Jim has built a solid reputation, his web based handicapping service at footballforecastor.com as been in existence since 1997 and year after year proves to be one of the very best handicapping services in America.Football Forecastor is home to the nations most prolific sports handicapper, we specialize in NFL and College Football handicapping and take sports betting to a whole new level by treating sports wagering as an investment.Over the past 30 yrs plus, I have been on both sides of the Sports Investment Business, as a entrepreneur that ran his own business, to building and maintaining a Private Clientele base that Greatly Benefits from my Superior Handicapping expertise in the sporting arena. Football Forecastor has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, we specialize in NFL and College football handicapping and over the past eight years have maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.If you are looking for a Proven winner that churns out Consistent NFL and College football winning selections visit us at footballforecastor.com today!!Do you want the Top Ten Reasons to Select Directv? Here they are!by:Unlike cable television, Directv can offer over 225 channels! With that amount of channels to choose from, you will not have to feel limited at all. There are so many choices that you can choose from. Whether it is romance, soap operas, college or professional sports, comedies, action or thrillers, Directv has it all! You will not be lacking when it comes to variety and different choices. If there is one thing that Directv is, that would be bountiful!You own it! Literally! You get to keep the equipment as your own when you get your whole Directv package. Cable television does not offer you the availability to keep the equipment, so that is one way to tell that Directv is a definite winner.What could be the number three reason why to select Directv for your company? Maybe because you get 100 percent digital channels! This definitely ensures quality. How much better can it get when you can have both quality and quantity at the same time?! Rolling in at the fourth reason as to why you should purchase Directv would be because it offers High Definition TV! That one says satisfaction in itself.What could number five possibly be? You are available to get Multi-Channel viewing! Who wouldn’t want to have the power of watching different channel’s on different televisions at the same exact time? Let’s roll onto lucky number six as to why you should get Direct tv (Related) shall we? What is your chance of having an outage? Not very much, because the statistics show that there is only a 1 percent chance! When cable television has a 3-5 percent chance of an outage, which one would you rather pick? I don’t know about you, but I would pick Directv. Lucky number seven is here at your service! If you are a sports fan, which obviously sports is a huge deal here in the United States. You will absolutely adore Directv after you hear that you will get the availability to the NFL Sunday Ticket, MLB Extra Innings, NHL on the Ice, and last but not least ESPN Game Day! The eighth reason why you should purchase Directv is because you can choose can get Pay-Per-View Movies & Events! There are approximately 80 channels to choose from! Cable TV only offers you approximately 40 movies to choose from, now you can decide which one is the better deal! Do you plan on moving? Reason number nine will encourage you even more to look into the Directv system! You can move or reinstall the system in your new home when you buy Directv. This will make your life a lot easier. When you get done with the move and get your satellite system all set up, you can throw your feet up, relax and watch your favorite television show from your favorite satellite provider!We’re at our last reason for this article as to why you should look into getting the Direct tv (Related) system! Because you can get JD Power! This is claimed to be the number one ranking versus both cable and satellite providers for your customer satisfaction! Now what are you waiting for? Those are your Top Ten Reasons to Select Directv! This article is free for republishing2005 AFC South football previewby: James CampbellOVERVIEW: AFC SouthIn the AFC South look for the Jacksonville Jaguars to nip at the heels of the Colts for most of the season but in the end the Colts with an improved defense must be given the nod to win the division. Colt HC Tony Dungy had to do something with his defense given the fact that they were ranked 28th overall in the NFL last season and allowed a whopping 237 yards per game thru the air which ranked them 26th in pass defense, Dungy came through in a big way by drafting five defensive players within his first six selections and three of those picks were used on defensive backs.The Colts top draft pick this year was used on CB Marlin Jackson out of Michigan, with their second pick they drafted CB Kelvin Hayden out of Illinois, Jackson should be an instant starter while Hayden will in all likelihood be used in nickel packages, with their fifth selection the Colts took S Matt Giordano out of California for depth and help on special teams.When you had the best passing attack in the NFL in 2004 and overall averaged 404.4 yards per game on offense its no small wonder that the Colts didn’t tinker much on this side of the ball, however, the Colts were indeed fortunate to finish the 2004 campaign with a straight up record of 13-5 overall when considering just how bad their defense was in allowing an average of 366.1 total yards per game which of course is the reason why Colt contests exceeded the posted total in 12 of 18 outings last year.Jacksonville was the opposite of Indianapolis with regard to not allowing a lot of points but then they didn’t score a lot of points either, as a matter of fact 12 of the Jags 16 outings in 2004 dipped UNDER the posted total and according to the ole history book the Jags have now failed to score 30 points or more in their past 50 straight contests, with QB Byron Leftwich back under center and a year of experience under his belt I would look for the Jags to score more points this season, however, keep in mind that HC Jack Del Rio is and always will be a defense first coach that likes to play conservative on offense.Jacksonville, Indianapolis, and Houston have the distinction of being in a three way tie for having the 13th toughest schedule in the NFL for the 2005 season based on their opponents 2004 final win/loss records, this does not bode well for Jacksonville and Houston who are trying to unseat the Colts for the top spot.Houston has improved their seasonal win/loss total each of the past three years since their 2002 NFL debut and it would not surprise me to see this Texan team win 8 or 9 games in 2005 and possibly take the second spot in the divisional standings when its all said and done. What looks to hold these young Texans back in 2005 is the fact that they are in the same division as the Colts and Jags.Texan QB David Carr has proven he can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’ when considering that he was sacked 49 times last season, this same offensive line was responsible for most of the injuries that Texan RB’s absorbed in 2004 and this weakness will probably prove to be Houston’s downfall once again in 2005 as they have not taken steps to correct this fault.If these young Texans can stay healthy this season and improve their offensive line play they will indeed surprise some folks, however, look for these Texans to tire coming down the stretch as they will take their bye early in the season during the third week of the schedule and must play three of their final five games on the road and in this same span will play much improved Arizona and Jacksonville teams at home.The Titans finished last years campaign with a 5-11 straight up and ATS record which was by far the worst finish under HC Jeff Fisher during his tenure. The good news for the Titans is that they had a pretty good draft which should give them a much needed shot of youth on their roster, the bad news is that they are still in salary cap hell for this upcoming season which is the reason why they were so quiet in the free agent wars.With the being said, Titan HC Jeff Fisher is still one of the very best coaches in the league and always seems to get the most out of his troops. Although I see Tennessee once again finishing up in the cellar I believe there will be many opportunities to win some wagers this season with these Titans, however, these opportunities will probably not present themselves until after the first four weeks of the new season.Tennessee opens their season against four playoff teams from 2004 when they take on the likes of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, St Louis, and Indianapolis in their first four outings, all four games will in all likelihood be marked in the loss column which will create “Value” when they play their next five games against non playoff teams prior to taking their bye during week 10 of the 2005 season.Football Forecastor is home to the nations most prolific sports handicapper, we specialize in NFL and College Football handicapping and take sports betting to a whole new level by treating sports wagering as an investment.Over the past 30 yrs plus, I have been on both sides of the Sports Investment Business, as a entrepreneur that ran his own business, to building and maintaining a Private Clientele base that Greatly Benefits from my Superior Handicapping expertise in the sporting arena. Football Forecastor has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, we specialize in NFL and College football handicapping and over the past eight years have maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.If you are looking for a Proven winner that churns out Consistent NFL and College football winning selections visit us at footballforecastor.com today!!2005 NFC North Football previewby: James CampbellOVERVIEW: NFC NorthLook for a changing of the guard In the NFC North in 2005 as I fully expect to see the Green Bay Packers pass the torch to the Vikings and finish below the .500 mark, Pack QB Brett Favre has spent 14 of his 15 NFL seasons in Green Bay and has had a Hall of Fame career which includes the honor of being the NFL’s only three time MVP, Favre also has the distinction of being the NFL’s “Iron Man” with regard to his starting 225 consecutive games.However, Favre will turn 36 yrs old on October 10 and his offensive line is significantly weaker with the key losses of starting offensive guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle, and those losses are in addition to losing starting S Darren Sharper and bit players S Michael Hawthorne and S Bhawoh Jue who provided depth in an already weak defensive secondary.Other than snagging Favre’s replacement in QB Aaron Rogers with their top draft selection the Packers had a very average draft which is not a good thing when considering that they really didn’t pick up anyone of consequence in free agency, Green Bay opened up their 2004 campaign with a 1-4 straight up and ATS record which includes losing their first three home games to the likes of the Bears, the Giants, and the Titans which is not a good sign considering that these three teams finished up 2004 with a combined record of 16-32 straight up.The Vikings appear to be the heir apparent to the NFC North throne as the ousting of WR Randy Moss who was nothing but a distraction along with the best draft of any team in the division and a good free agent crop might just turn these Vikings into a serious contender for the overall NFC crown when the smoke clears.However, with that being said the real question is whether the Vikings can overcome the distraction of the team being sold as well as the silly game time decisions and poor clock management of HC Mike Tice who if you recall was busted for scalping Super Bowl tickets.Detroit figures to give the Vikings a battle for the crown as long as they can remain healthy, Lion HC Steve Mariucci is in his third year with the organization and needs to make strides this year if he wants GM Matt Millen to hang around after 2005, Steve Mariucci was brought in after the Lions finished 2001 and 2002 with a combined record of 5-27 straight up and 15-16-1 ATS.In Mariucci’s two seasons with the Lions they have gone 11-21 straight up and 17-15 ATS which means although slowly there has been improvement, the Lions selected three Pac-10 players with their top three choices by drafting WR Mike Williams out of USC with their top selection which makes this the third straight draft that a WR was chosen with the Lions first overall pick, with the Lions second pick they chose DT Shaun Cody out of USC and with their third choice they picked CB Stanley Wilson out of Stanford.The Lions got a possible steal in the fifth round with QB Dan Orlovsky out of Connecticut, Detroit was also very active in the free agent wars by picking up QB Jeff Garcia who used to play for Mariucci in San Francisco and thus knows this offense very well, if QB Joey Harrington continues to under perform expect to see a switch to Garcia. The additions of problem child WR Kevin Johnson and TE Marcus Pollard will bring veteran leadership to the offense.HC Lovie Smith and his Bears continue to be a work in progress as they once again will bring up the rear in 2005, windy city faithful had high hopes for this team following a 13-4 straight up and 11-5-1 ATS season in 2001, however, in the three seasons since that break out year of 2001 these Bears have tallied a dismal 16-32 straight up and 20-28 ATS record and the song will remain the same in 2005 as the Bears used their top draft choice on RB Cedric Benson.Benson will in all likelihood be one heck of a back, the problem lies in the fact that the Bears don’t have an offensive line to block for the poor guy, Chicago’s terrible offensive line play in 2004 was the root cause of the Bears seeing three QB’s including Rex Grossman sidelined with injuries, its head shaking stuff to consider that this offensive line allowed a staggering 66 sacks which in the end caused the Bears to finish with an overall offensive ranking of 32nd in the league.In closing I see the NFC North as a race between the Vikings and Lions for the top spot with the Packers coming in third and Chicago bringing up the rear, if not for the Vikings bad game time coaching I would expect to see them win this division handily, however, Viking HC Mike Tice will probably cost his team two close losses via bad decisions when its said and done.The Vikings will probably be a public darling for most of the season so not much “Value” will be found by backing them, instead look to play against the Vikes when they are installed as road favorites this season as they are 4-10 ATS in this role over the past four years, the Vikings also tend to be way over valued by the public when playing at home as evidenced by the Vikes 1-10 ATS record as a home favorite of more than six points.Look to jump on the Lion bandwagon this season when they are installed as road doggies, Detroit posted a road mark of 3-5 straight up and 5-3 ATS in 2004 which is eye opening stuff when considering that they had lost 24 straight road games prior to 2004, if these Lions can remain healthy and QB Joey Harrington or Jeff Garcia have a decent season these Lions will have an offense that can keep them in any game they play.Jim Campbell is one of the nations most respected Sports Handicappers, he specializes in College and Pro Football, you can visit Jim at his website located at footballforecastor.com for all of your handicapping needs including free play selections, College and NFL stats, trends and award winning analysis on upcoming games.With over 30 plus years experience in the handicapping profession Jim has built a solid reputation, his web based handicapping service at footballforecastor.com as been in existence since 1997 and year after year proves to be one of the very best handicapping services in America.Football Forecastor is home to the nations most prolific sports handicapper, we specialize in NFL and College Football handicapping and take sports betting to a whole new level by treating sports wagering as an investment.Over the past 30 yrs plus, I have been on both sides of the Sports Investment Business, as a entrepreneur that ran his own business, to building and maintaining a Private Clientele base that Greatly Benefits from my Superior Handicapping expertise in the sporting arena. Football Forecastor has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, we specialize in NFL and College football handicapping and over the past eight years have maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.If you are looking for a Proven winner that churns out Consistent NFL and College football winning selections visit us at footballforecastor.com today!!Cold Nights and Hot Games: Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourneyby: Ron RichardsEach year, colleges and universities from all over the nation send their men's basketball teams to the "Last Frontier State" to the Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourney. The competition heats up the cold winter days and nights, as teams meet head on to battle for buckets. Colleges and universities get the opportunity to play against their top rivals and powerhouses of the game. These games draw in record crowds each year, as any basketball fan should not miss the chance to attend this fast paced pre season classic.The main question on any sports fan's mind is, why Alaska? The reason is simple, former University of Alaska Anchorage head coach, Bob Rachal found a loophole in the NCAA rules determining pre season play. In an effort to draw more attention to the state, the University of Alaska Anchorage, and the Seawolves athletic program, Rachal became the mastermind of what began as the Sea Wolf Classic. The NCAA rules stated any games played outside the contagious 48 states did not count towards a program's pre determined allotment. For this reason, participants of the Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourney can get an early gauge of their teams prowess against national talent. The first Sea Wolf Classic was held in 1978 for the '78-'79 basketball season and saw the Wolfpack of North Carolina State University crush the University of Louisville's Cardinals. The tournament ended in 1978, leaving many wondering if it would become an annual event. Much to everyone's relief, the Sea Wolf Classic became a Thanksgiving tradition in 1979, but under a new name.Broadcaster Billy Packer is credited with changing the name from the Sea Wolf Classic to the Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourney back in 1979. In this stunning tournament, the title game came down to the University of Kentucky Wildcats and the Iona College Gaels. The Wildcats proved too powerful for the tiny New York school, and emerged victorious as the second champion of this fantastic new basketball challenge. A list of past champions reads like a who's who of College basketball, including NC State, Louisville, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, and UCLA to name a few.The attendance may have been meager in the early days, but soon the action caught on, and now college basketball fans of all ages flock to the state for the Thanksgiving weekend Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourney. What better way to celebrate our national day of thanks than by cheering on teams from all across the country? Many hotels, cruises, and lodges have special packages designed with the college basketball fan in mind.If you find you cannot wait until December to enjoy hot hoops action, head to Anchorage and watch the action melt away the snow! Plan a trip for the family and bring budding sports fans to experience the thrilling display of skill and sportsmanship, or make it a raucous occasion for celebration with your best hoops loving buds. Whoever you bring, just make sure you bring yourself to this annual college basketball showdown!About The Author:A lifelong Alaskan, Ron Richards lives in the beautiful Matanuska Valley. Ron invites you to come and see Alaska. One excellent way to enjoy Alaska is by taking an affordable Alaska cruise. (Related) This article is free for republishingWhite Water Rafting - A Very Sociable Adrenaline Buzzby: Blair ThorneOne of the main reasons that White Water Rafting is such a popular adventure sport is because it is a highly exhilarating experience that can be shared with friends and colleagues alike.Up to eight people can be crammed like sardines into a single raft, making it an ideal way to for groups of friends to share an adventure together. The social aspect of White Water Rafting lends itself perfectly well to stag and hen parties that flock to locations all over the UK, with the rugged landscapes of Scotland and Wales providing particularly hair-raising rides.This gregarious nature of the sport also makes it a big draw for companies seeking to get their staff working together as a cohesive team unit. Indeed providers such as www.adrenalinepass.com state that around half their entire white water rafting clientele are corporate organisations seeking effective team building activities.Scotland offers the full spectrum of white water rafting experiences ranging from the tame to the extremely dangerous! Depending on the time a year, the same stretch of river can be classed anywhere within six categories from Grade I smooth flowing water, to Grade VI - impassable with likelihood of injury or death!The River Tummel for example is dam-release, guaranteeing water levels every weekend from June to September. It is a narrow, technical and exciting river, offering almost continuous rapids to Grade IV, culminating in the descent of a double-drop waterfall!So what are you waiting for, organise a group of friends or colleagues and experience a thrilling ride together - one you'll all be talking about for a very long time to come.Copyright 2005(c) Blair Thorne, Adrenaline Pass White Water Rafting (Related) This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and this resource box (with all links) are included and the article is not changed in any way (apart from spelling and grammatical corrections).Blair Thorne is the creator of Adrenaline Pass Extreme Sports Adventure Sports (Related) and owner of Emerge Studio - Web Design UK Web Design Scotland Web Design Glasgow (Related) a web and graphic design consultancy based in Glasgow.This article is free for republishing2005 AFC East Football previewby: James CampbellOVERVIEW: AFC EASTIn the AFC East I expect to see the Patriots drop off a bit, but not much, the reason for the projected drop off is mainly due to the fact that the Patriots will be without the services of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, both have moved on to head coaching positions, Weis with Notre Dame and Crennel with the Cleveland Browns. Eric Mangini is the new defensive coordinator, while Bill Belichick will be calling the plays on offense himself.The Patriots play seven games this season against 2004 playoff teams and four of those affairs will take place on the road, the Patriots also lost a lot of talent such as WR David Patton, OG Joe Andruzzi, and CB Ty Law via free agency and very well could be without their defensive leader LB Tedy Bruschi whose status is uncertain following an off season stroke, then there is the matter of the Patriots winning three of the past four Super Bowls, meaning that the Patriots have played nine post season games above and beyond the normal sixteen game regular season schedule over the past four years and have had to deal with all of the off season commitments and hoopla that come with winning the big game, also, don’t forget that the team that wins the Super Bowl is in the least best position come draft time, meaning that the “Fresh Blood” talent pool on the Patriots has depleted due to their success.The saving grace for the Patriots in the AFC East comes from the fact that the Jets did not help themselves a whole lot in the draft other than taking Kicker Mike Nugent out of Ohio State with their top selection, like the Patriots, the Jets also lost a lot of talent via free agency with the departure of starters WR Santana Moss, TE Anthony Becht, RT Kareem McKenzie, and DT Jason Ferguson, however, the greatest loss to free agency for the Jets may turn out to be RB Lamont Jordan who could have stepped in quite nicely if 32 year old RB Cutis Martin goes down to injury.However, the Jets were smart enough to pick up former Dolphin QB Jay Fiedler to back up starting QB Chad Pennington who has been injury prone as of late, Jet HC Herm Edwards replaced his offensive coordinator Paul Hackett with former Titan offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger which will be interesting because Heimerdinger likes to throw the deep ball, meanwhile, Pennington is fresh off shoulder surgery and is better suited for the west coast style of short ball passing.Buffalo finished the 2004 season strong down the stretch in winning 8 of 9 games before losing their final game of the season at home to the Steelers, however, that season ending loss to Pittsburgh was costly as it proved to be a difference maker in deciding who went to the playoffs and who stayed at home, the Bills are indeed a team on the rise with a really good defense and excellent special teams, however, they probably booted QB Drew Bledsoe out of town a year too early and will be starting last years #1 draft pick JP Losman in his place which of course means some growing pains this season for the young QB.Miami finished the 2004 season with a shoddy 4-12 record but like Buffalo looks to be a team on the rise in the AFC East, I won't be foolhardy enough to predict a playoff berth after a four win season but I do see major improvement for the Dolphins this season and think a seven or eight win season is not out of the realm of possibility when considering that the Dolphins now have Nick Saban at the helm as their new HC.Unlike Steve Spurrier when he made his NFL debut with the Skins, Nick Saban was smart enough to go out and get experienced NFL assistants, Saban brought in former Viking offensive coordinator Scott Linehan to run the offense and former Charger coach Hudson Houck to run the defense, Saban also engineered one of the best drafts of any team in the league, look for former Auburn RB Ronnie Brown to make an immediate impact.In closing, the Patriots finished up 2004 with an impressive 13-5-1 ATS mark on the heels of posting a 14-4-1 ATS mark in 2003, can New England once again dominate the spread wars in 2005? Probably so, but not to the extent of the past couple of seasons, you see my friend “Joe Public” type bettors will in all likelihood view the Patriots as a “Go against” team in 2005 due to the loss of Weis and Crennel, however, Belichick is still the HC and Tom Brady is still the QB under center.With that being said I would recommend making a play on the Patriots whenever they are receiving points in a doggie role, not much value will be had this season with the Jets, meanwhile, both Buffalo and Miami will be unpredictable during the first eight weeks of the season due to the fact that both teams will have new starting QB’s under center and both teams have weaknesses up front on the offensive line, in Miami's case their players have to learn new schemes on both sides of the ball due to a whole new coaching staff.Football Forecastor is home to the nations most prolific sports handicapper, we specialize in NFL and College Football handicapping and take sports betting to a whole new level by treating sports wagering as an investment.Over the past 30 yrs plus, I have been on both sides of the Sports Investment Business, as a entrepreneur that ran his own business, to building and maintaining a Private Clientele base that Greatly Benefits from my Superior Handicapping expertise in the sporting arena. Football Forecastor has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, we specialize in NFL and College football handicapping and over the past eight years have maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.If you are looking for a Proven winner that churns out Consistent NFL and College football winning selections visit us at footballforecastor.com today!!Offensive Decline of the 2005 MLB Baseball Seasonby: Proloy BhattacharyyaOffensive Decline of the 2005 MLB Baseball SeasonBy Proloy BhattacharyyaNFLSystems.comproloy@nflsystems.comSeptember 9, 2005As of today, total runs scored per game are down 0.52 runs a game. Most people attribute this considerable drop in offensive production to the new steroids policies. We are entering a new era where pitching dominates and this will have a serious impact on baseball betting for the next couple of years. Relying too much on past trends and systems of even a year ago will hurt even the astute bettor unless they take into account some of the new trends and angles that we have seen this season.The most striking statistic is that a larger number of games are resulting in shutouts. 11.1% of the games played to date have resulted in a shutout as opposed to an average of 9.68% over the past several years. This means that pitchers are more dominant than ever before. We can no longer “expect” those miraculous 3 run HRs to help our game easily sail over the total. In fact, we would expect a larger number of unders now. Historically, over/unders rarely dip below 7. They would be 6.5 only when two potential National League CY Young award winners are facing off. If two great pitchers were facing off in an American League stadium then the over/under would rarely dip below 7.5. Therefore, any bet on the over deserves a second look.Another item to note is a team’s performance after a shutout loss. These teams are 128-104 +24 units this season. We have all heard the saying “save some offense for tomorrow”, well, going against teams off an outing where they scored greater than 10 runs is 117-95 +27 units this season.Going for teams off a bad hitting performance or against a team off a good hitting performance has proven to be extremely profitable this season!Although these could be aberrations, it is important to note current trends in the MLB when analyzing a game that one wants to bet on.Founded by mathematicians and scientists, NFLSystems.com and EasyBaseballBetting.com analyzes sports the right way for profit. Ranked in the Top 5 for baseball handicapper in their very first year on the internet.Golf Nutrition Is Not An Oxymoron…Listen Upby: Mike PedersenGolf nutrition is still a relatively new concept. However, everybody knows that leading athletes in the NBA and NFL quite often have special diets and specific nutrition programs to help them perform at their peak. The reasons who golf nutrition is still in it’s’ infancy in the golf game is easy to see. To start with nutrition in sports goes hand in hand with the training and physical exercise program for the particular sport. In golf, exercises are still a very new concept although many professionals have already embraced it as an important part of their golf game. For years golf has had the image of being a leisure sport to be played by the rich and the sort of people who do not just carelessly break into a sweat. Then came golfers of the likes of the legendary Tiger Woods. For the first time in the sport, leading golfers were very young and extremely physically fit. Since then, the game has never been the same again and as exercise continues to take center stage golf nutrition has to grow alongside it. Golf nutrition is usually part and parcel of a golf exercise program and is really designed to enhance energy and strength even as the exercise program works to build up the golfer. The sort of golf nutrition that will become common will not be very different from what we see in other sports. The idea will be to have a diet of energy foods and foods that will help in building up strength and endurance for a better golf game. So the typical nutrition recommendations that go with weight training for strength will be found in the special golf nutrition that leading experts are recommending to golfers. This is the direction that the wonderful game of golf has taken and it seems that there is no turning back for any golfer who wants to improve their game. You just have to consider golf nutrition alongside your current golf exercise program.About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness swing trainers in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at his golf swing tips (Related) site - Perform Better Golf.The golf swing is a physically demanding movement. Until golfers realize this, their pursuit of the perfect swing will never be achieved. Mike Pedersen is President/CEO Perform Better Golf which offers golf training dvds, manual and equipment. Get Mike's free Fit To A Tee ebook by subscribing at http://www.performbettergolf.comI Must Get The Newspaperby: Aron WalladI Must Get The NewspaperEvery day when I wake up one of the first items that creeps into my head is getting the newspaper. I have got to get the paper. I have operated this way for over 40 years. The paper gets me in the know. More so than the internet I guess it might be because I can touch it or feel it. I confess - I have to see the sports pages. It's out in the open. I admit it. There is something missing for me if I do not get to see the sports pages. Who hit home runs? Who got the most hits the previous day?What pitchers won? Who drove in the runs? Yeah I like that one the most. RBIs.If we are out of baseball season, it's off to the transaction part of the paper. Who signed and who got released? ( I almost always feel bad when I see a name of a player I liked that got dropped by their team). Any trades I may have missed? People's lives on the move. While this part of the paper announces transactions, it's really about how how lives change by the places these players move away from. And where they move on to. Sometimes that is all it takes like a new city for some players to excel like a Paul O'Neill or Roger Maris to name two great Yankee transactions.During the season I have to see my boys, how are they doing?Yankee Stats - I always observe them. Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Gary Sheffield are the guys whose statistics I scrutinize now. In the old days it was Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Don Mattingly, Reggie Jackson, Roger Maris, and Thurmon Munson. I know I am omitting a few. Please forgive me.When I am done with the statistics I peruse the pages for some good story. I do not have any game plan for this pursuit. I usually get caught by some headline and go from there. Lately I noticed that when I see an article by a writer I do not care for I spit at the paper. No I do not I am only kidding.I read the paper as if I am about to get a test. I read by myself without any interruptions, sitting in my car or at my kitchen table. With a cup of coffee or tea by my side I engage the paper. I think about who I might run into that might ask me a question about the Yankees that I should know. I better know. I remember when I traveled in Europe in the early 70's. I had to get to the International Herald for their one or two page sports section. Reggie Jackson was having an awesome first half of the season. It seemed like every day he was hitting another homer for the Athletics. I could not wait to see in the paper if he hit another one.The New York Times, The Newark Star Ledger, The Bergen Record, USA Today and in the past The Newark News have been my companions in the morning. I would not have it any other way.I hope you get as much enjoyment out of your paper as I get out of mine.I even read the front page and do the crossword puzzle. Sometimes.This article is free for republishingHow to Buy World Series Ticketsby: Amanda GoochHow to Buy World Series TicketsHave you ever known someone who wanted so desperately to go to the Major League Baseball World Series that they were like a rabid dog? Well, I have…and it is not a pretty sight. I have been married for a few years to “Brian”. Brian is an avid sports fan. Ladies…you know the type I am referring to…the type that can quote obscure sports statistics at the drop of a hat, but can’t seem to remember your birthday. (It is May 5th, by the way!) That’s my Brian! Anyway, Brian has varied sports taste. He loves football, golf, basketball and tennis. But he truly loves baseball. In fact, baseball maybe his one true love…but I digress!Brian has ALWAYS wanted to go to the World Series. Unfortunately, his team never seems to make it that far. After the past few disappointing seasons, he toyed with the idea of getting tickets to go to the World Series without his beloved team. He worries that this may be seen as “cheating”. However, I encourage it! Afterall, going to the World Series has been a lifelong dream of Brian’s. Sure it would be even better if his team was going with him, but I think he should take this opportunity now. I even offered to purchase his tickets. Now, I know what you are thinking…Sainthood, right? Yeah, me too! But then reality hit me…I have NO idea how to go about buying tickets for the World Series.The first thing I do is go directly to www.google.com and start looking for World Series tickets. Aaahhh…almost 23 million links!! Many of them are ticket brokers, but which one is the best? Which one is the most reputable? What is the typical price range? How will I get the tickets? How can I be sure the tickets are real and not counterfeit? Should I try Ebay? After a lot of research and worry, I came up with a very simple list of strategies. You may have to use more than one strategy, but it will well be worth the effort. Strategy #1 Talk to friends, family members, colleagues, and your brother’s-wife’s-sister’s-boyfriend’s-mom’s-cousin who just happens to have season tickets for one of the teams going to the World Series. They have the best chance at getting World Series tickets at face value. Strategy #2 Watch Ticketmaster or team websites for the scheduled on-sale period. You can do this via the phone or the internet. Keep in mind that these will sell out within minutes, so you have to be on your toes! Also, if you are given multiple phones for the scheduled on-sale, try picking one that will be less busy. For instance, say the St. Louis Cardinals are going on-sale. Instead of calling the numbers in St. Louis; try calling the number for the small town of Washington, MO instead. Strategy #3 Visit http://www.consumerchoicereview.com. This is a great site that gives you all kinds of information about the major sporting events as well as various ticket brokers who specialize in the World Series. You can feel confident that all of the ticket brokers listed on this site are reputable because consumers are allowed to review each ticket brokers and their level of service. It even provides event information, so that you can impress your family and friends with your obscure sports knowledge!! Consumer Choice Review also gives you helpful information on how to protect yourself from purchasing counterfeit tickets. Strategy #4 Another option for World Series tickets is www.ebay.com. Ebay will have a plethora of tickets, but consumers should be aware that you could be paying top dollar for a ticket that is fraudulent. I have heard horror stories of people buying on Ebay, so I have always been leery of using it. I found some really good tips on using Ebay on Consumer Choice Review. This site provides a step by step guide to buying on Ebay.Strategy #5 Go to the stadium and take the risk that there are no tickets available from scalpers. Or that the tickets that are available are ridiculously expensive or even worse, possibly counterfeit or stolen. I would never pay hundreds of dollars in cash for tickets that could turn out to be fake or stolen. You should always use a credit card because they offer protection of purchases that turn out to be fake or stolen tickets. ***Be very careful when taking this approach and be sure to read the tips posted on Consumer Choice Review prior to taking this strategy. As a final note, I highly recommend checking out the website I used to collect information, http://www.consumerchoicereview.com. They are not just for the World Series, but for any other major sporting event. It truly helped to calm my nerves when looking desperately for these tickets. It helped to guide me on what to expect and, more importantly, on how to protect myself. In the end, I chose a ticket broker whom I found through Consumer Choice Review and everything has gone just as I expected. And Brian…well, he can’t wait for the first pitch!!This article is free for republishingHow to Unleash Your True Golf Potentialby: Craig LePage, CSCS, NASM-CPTBy Craig LePageTime and time again we see today’s golfers out on the driving range trying to better their game. Whether it’s working their short game or driving the long ball, hours upon hours are spent on trying to master proper technique in order to take strokes off their game. What most golfers are unaware of is that the proper technique they are striving for is often hampered by something call muscle imbalance. Muscle imbalances are postural deficiencies that will cause faulty movement patterns, discomfort or even pain during activities such as a golf swing. Muscle imbalances can be caused by many other factors besides golf, for example sedentary lifestyle, occupation, and injury just to name a few. Repetitive movements such as a golf swing can cause muscles on one side of the body to tighten while the apposing muscles become weak and lengthened. This will often result in the loss of power and accuracy in a golfers swing. For a golfer to achieve his or her true potential, one must correct these imbalances that are hampering their ability to perform proper technique. Muscle balance can be achieved through a method of exercise called Corrective Exercise. This type of exercise program focus’ on identifying and correcting both tight (short) muscles and lengthened (weak) muscles through a series of strengthening and flexibility exercises. Achieving muscle balance will result in a strong balanced posture and allow the body to perform at an optimal performance level (increased power and accuracy). When hiring a fitness professional to improve your golf game ask them if they are experienced on the topic of corrective exercise. A complete evaluation should be performed to identify your areas of need. For additional information please contact (Craig LePage) craiglepage@yahoo.comOr log on to www.lakenormanfitness.comCraig LePage, CSCS, NASM-CPTCraig is a well-known Fitness Professional in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, where he resides with his wife Nicole. He has been helping people reach their fitness and wellness goals for more than 10 years. His credentials include a Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of Bridgeport Connecticut, CSCS credentials from the NSCA and a Personal Training Certification from the NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine). Craig has written for Charlotte, NC area Newspapers, authored his own fitness & nutrition program and is a frequent guest on a Charlotte area radio show that focus’ on health and wellness. He is currently co-authoring a golf specific exercise book (Play Better, Longer – Golf) and is also working on a book of his own that should be available sometime next year.Craig LePage CSCS, NASM-CPTCraig is a well-known Fitness Professional in the Charlotte, North Carolina area and is the Director of Precision Fitness Mooresville. He has been helping people reach their fitness and wellness goals for more than 10 years. His credentials include a Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of Bridgeport Connecticut, CSCS credentials from the NSCA and a Personal Training Certification from the NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine). Craig has written for Charlotte, NC area Newspapers, authored his own fitness & nutrition program and is a frequent guest on a Charlotte area radio show that focus’ on health and wellness. He is currently co-authoring a golf specific exercise book (Play Better, Longer – Golf) and is also working on a book of his own that should be available sometime next year.Why do Injuries Occur in Golf?by: Sean CochranInjuries occur in all athletic events quite frequently, certain sports more so than others. Golf is no different than any other sport. The severity of injuries in golf usually are not as severe as in other sports. The scenario of a 300 lb. defensive lineman slamming into the side of your knee tearing every possible ligament structure in the knee will never happen in the sport of golf. An interesting visual if you combined the sports of football and golf onto the same playing field, but inappropriate for this paper. There are two types of injuries classified by professionals in the fields of athletic training and sports medicine. The two types of injuries are: 1) acute and 2) chronic. The above example of the football player is classified as an acute injury. An acute injury can be defined as the trauma in the body occurring immediately after the injury. Refer to the football player example above for a reminder. (For us older golfers, remember Joe Theisman of the Redskins and Lawrence Taylor’s leg breaking tackle? Acute injury.) Relating an acute injury to golf is a little more difficult. Probably the easiest, and maybe most the common, acute injury in golf, occurs while swinging and you hit a rock or something that creates an injury to your wrist. That would be the best example in the sport of golf of an acute injury. Overall, acute injuries tend to be rare in golf because contact by the body with external forces is rare. My back is always killing me!The second type of injury, chronic, is much more prevalent when it comes to the sport of golf. A chronic injury is one that occurs over time. Think of it as a “wear and tear” injury. These are usually the result of the body breaking down over time. A great sports example outside of golf is when you hear about a baseball pitcher having tendonitis in the elbow. Tendonitis is an inflammation of the elbow resulting from the stresses placed upon it from throwing. Over time the elbow becomes tired and eventually injured from the number of pitches thrown. If you are a runner and, after a certain amount of time, your knees begin to hurt, this is usually a chronic injury. When we talk about golf, the majority of injuries are chronic. They tend to be a direct result of the golf swing (just like the pitcher’s elbow). Usually the chronic injuries in golf show up in the lower back. If chronic injuries are caught soon enough in the cycle, rest and proper treatment (i.e. massage, chiropractic care) will heal them. But if you wait too long the body is going to “break,” and then you will not be playing any golf for a long time. This is where the unfortunate situation of surgery and other invasive procedures are considered. So a couple of questions we must ask when it comes to chronic injuries in relation to golf are: how do they occur, and how do we prevent them? Chronic injuries occur as a result of the body becoming fatigued and eventually “breaking down.” The muscles, ligaments, and tendons of your body are required to perform the activity of swinging a golf club. Over time this activity causes fatigue within your body. As the body continues to fatigue, or get tired, the body gets sore. This is the first indicator of a developing chronic injury. If you continue with the activity you’re participating in, with soreness in the body, eventually your body will break down. This “break down” will be in the form of maybe a pulled muscle, muscle stiffness, tightness, or some other type of inflammation. All of the above examples are a result of structures in your body breaking down from fatigue and overuse. Even if just on one swing you feel “your back go out,” nine out of ten times it is a chronic injury, and that last swing was the “piece of straw that broke the camel’s back.”How to Prevent Chronic Injuries in GolfWe all know that the golf swing is a repetitive movement, meaning the body is performing the same activity over and over again. This creates fatigue in the body over time. And if over time our body can’t support the number of swings we are taking, it is eventually going to break down. There are three variables we have when it comes to the prevention of chronic injuries in golf. Number one is workloads. Workloads can be defined as the number of swings that the body takes with a club over a given period of time. That time frame can be seven days or an entire tour season. Number two is efficiency of your mechanics. When we say “efficiency of mechanics” we are talking about how biomechanically correct your individual swing is. “Why is this important?” you ask. Let me tell you. I think most of us would agree that the tour players have very “efficient” swings; their swings are smooth and look almost effortless. A swing like this asks less out of the body to perform and requires less effort from the muscles; hence fatiguing levels in the body are lower. Some amateur swings look like they take a lot of work to perform, and in reality they do! These types of swings ask a lot more out of the body and fatigue it more quickly. The final variable is what we term “golf strength.” Golf strength is a measure of the required levels of flexibility, strength, endurance, balance, and power to successfully support the mechanics of the swing. Large amounts of golf strength allow the body to support an efficient swing. Low levels of golf strength do not provide the support needed for the swing.Workloads, Swing Mechanics, and Golf StrengthAll three of these variables work together to determine if you are a candidate for a chronic golf injury. Golf strength is essentially the foundation upon which your swing is built. This variable indicates how many times you can swing a golf club with your current mechanics before you come up injured. If you have high levels of golf strength then regardless of how efficient of a swing you have, you will be able to play for quite awhile before you get sore. The flip side can also be said. If you have low levels of golf strength, regardless of your swing mechanics, you will come up sore in a shorter amount of time.Secondly, let us look at swing mechanics. If you are a player that has a very efficient swing that places very little stress on the body, you will undoubtedly be able to play many rounds before your body starts screaming at you. Again, if you have poor mechanics, it is going to take its toll on your body and your game.Finally, we have workloads (i.e. number of swings). The number of swings one makes must match up with levels of golf strength and swing mechanics. The golf swing is a “stressor” of the body and breaks it down over time. If you have an efficient swing, each swing does less “damage” to the body. If you have a poor swing, the body has to work harder, thus fatiguing it more quickly. In addition to this is golf strength. If you have high levels of golf strength, you can swing the club more (i.e. workloads) before you get tired. Low levels of golf strength present the situation of the body’s fatiguing more quickly. “So what is the magic formula?” you ask. My first suggestion is twofold: 1) work on your swing to improve the efficiency of it, and 2) increase your levels of golf strength in order to support your swing. For the time being, match up your swing and golf strength levels to determine what workload levels you can get out of your body. If you are in need of some more information on the golf strength side of the equation, take a look at www.bioforcegolf.com.About the AuthorSean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.Golf and Fishing what have they in commonby: Kacy CarrGolf and fishing could not be more different but they both have something in common and that being is, how they give enjoyment and pleasure to all who participate in the sport. For most people they are hobbies and for others it is how they make their living. You can earn big money as a professional golfer. May I suggest if you do not play golf and think the sport is not for you then think again? The proof of the pudding is in the eating.If it is the Rupert bear yellow checked pants, red jumper and blue cap that deters you from venturing onto the green then do not let this put you off. This is a familiar trade mark of most players who are comfortable with the Disney look. You wear what you are comfortable with.Golf has to be one of the most laid back relaxing and enjoyable sports out there; if a sport can excite and give pleasure throughout a whole game then need I say anymore.Learning to play is a great experience and can be great fun; mistakes will be made and no doubt this will leave your fellow golf partners doubled over with laughter. It will be easier for you to understand why this game is one of the world's most popular sports by joining in.Fishing, If you intend to take up angling in the sea make sure you are in a boat, as you do not want to end up bait for most big fish.Another peaceful sport is fishing. Imagine yourself sitting on the river bank with your fishing basket at your side fully packed with sandwiches and a flask of piping hot coffee. And to make the day even more special are the sedate and scenic surroundings accompanied of course by a flowing river.The beauty of fishing is the feeling it gives as i.e. not having a care in the world. A very rewarding sport when the fish start to bite.Fishing can become an addictive sport or hobby where you never want to go home, what is so wrong in that I ask unless of course you have a wife and kids. How to cast a baited rod like a professional is not as hard as you may think, the right guidance tips and advice from an experienced person in this field will prove to be the best move you could make in acquiring these skills for your self.Kevin Brovold gave me the inspiration that was needed to fulfill my dream of becoming a pro with his Golf Magic tips on the sport. Choosing which sport to take up may cause problems. Problem solved do both.http://www.benidormbeaches.comExpert coaching willl help to achieve. Kevin Brovold became my mentor. I now enjoy teaching others. This article is free for republishing (Related) Why winning as a team is the only way to play sportsby: Nick GustavssonWhy winning as a team is the only way to play sports) Copyright 2005 Nick GustavssonOk so you have been on a few softball or soccer teams where there is one good kid who players much better then all the rest. Most of the games he/she carries the team and it is expected that he/she will raise to any occasion if needed. How do you deal with this as a coach? What is the reason for the team? To win right? That should be simple then. Play the good kid all the time. Wrong and here is why.We will take a not so big step from youth sports to military training. What do they have in common? Just about everything. Lets take a look at it more closely. They both have individuals of different abilities when they start. They have one goal. Many ways to achieve it. Rules to play (or fight as it were) within. They have to hang together to be effective. And they have to like one another. There are two aspects to a team. First its physical aspect. How fast it is. How strong and so on. Then we have the mental aspect. How well it can think. React. Keep it together. Deal with stress. You can train the first all you want but without the second you will have no chance at all to succeed. Why is this? Because we are only as good as we think we are. Allow me to illustrate with a story about children and flees. In South America children would put flees into a jar and place the lid back on. Once the flee started to jump it would bump into the lid of the jar. After only a few minutes the flee would stop jumping as high and just jump low enough to avoid the lid. At this point the flee was let out of the jar, but would never again jump higher then the lit had allowed. We are no different, we too react to limitations. We will not keep running into a locked door or try to walk on water. We learn very quickly from observation. it has long been thought that the military will break you down so they can build you up to be a robot that follows orders. That is a load of stuff for sure. Nobody is broken down ever. A broken soldier is worth nothing. A soldier who stops thinking he is better then the guy next to him, is. When you should a group of people they can do something they did not think they could, they bold through the positive experience. Don't get me wrong, they bond through negative too, but that is for another article.The power of positive. So let's say we have to show some year olds how to be a better soccer team. Would it be better to tell them what they did wrong or to tell them what they did right? Yeah, you got it. Stick with the positive here. So in order to get them on the right track, break down the task at hand and feed them a part at a time. In the example we are trying to show them how to pass the ball more effectively. What is involved in this? Well we have the ability to understand where to shoot the ball in the first place. To the open stop or right to the player. That would depend on some guide lines so take the simpler, pass the player. Next we have the act of kicking the ball straight and hard enough. Then we have the act of receiving the ball without it bouncing off our foot and away from us.Don't line up the group and ask them to pass one another. Why? Because you will have some kids who will ave played at home and can already do it and some that cannot. All you do is divide the team into the "can" and "cannot" groups. Fear that state, fear it with your life. Instead what you do is say, "We are going to play a new game". Make up some game that is allowing the players to perform the action you want to practice, but without the negative of "why do I have to, I already know how to shoot". This is not the time for individuals, this is the time for team. Now have all the kids do the game, make it simple enough so that they all can do it, but at the same time hard enough so that it actually helps them. Once you ave mastered this, move on to some other exercise that build upon the first. Again, keeping a keep eye out for making the whole team arrive at the goal together. All or none. Must be together.What you will have in the end of this is a team that thinks well of each other. Where gifted player had respect for the not so gifted player because they both can do what is required. The team also needs to learn that they only get to the end by arriving together. If you have any reservations about this, just remember that if it is good enough for the special forces around the world, it is good enough for you. They train as a team, they live as a team and they win as a team.Now go and build your team. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nick Gustavsson writes about sports and coaching from the perspective of team and team building. No coach should be without these powerful insights. Please visit http://bluetree.primateonline.com/youthsport/ for more great tips. This article is free for republishingNick Gustavsson writes about sports and coaching from the perspective of team and team building. No coach should be without these powerful insights. Please visit http://bluetree.primateonline.com/youthsport/ for more great tips.Contact him at http://bluetree.primateonline.com (Related) Listen Up: It's Football Season Again!by: Jon BischkeIt's starting to get a bit chillier outside and the sun is setting earlier. This can only mean one thing. Football season is upon us again. As the New England Patriots embark on an historic attempt to win three consecutive Super Bowls, every other team in the league is gunning to take them down. The Philadelphia Eagles are hungry to the championship having been to four consecutive NFC championship games. And the AFC is stacked with several teams who would love to dethrone the Patriots including the Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders with new addition Randy Moss. And in the world of college football it's up to everyone to see if they can upset vaunted USC from their throne and prevent another team from winning three straight titles.Let's face it. You love football. But sometimes sports talk radio gets a little tiresome. So if you're looking to learn a little more about the game you love why not check out some football audio books and podcasts? It's a great way to gain a great understanding of the history and intricacies of the game.Why not start your football audio odyssey with "Namath" a biography of Joe Namath, one of the sports' most colorful characters. Follow "Broadway Joe" his childhood, collegiate career and the Super Bowl III victory where Namath infamously guaranteed victory. Namath was a trend-setter both on and off the football field and his story is truly an amazing one.Another interesting looking title is "The Junction Boys". This is the story of Paul "Bear" Bryant's 1-9 Texas A & M team of 1994. If this title sounds familiar it's likely because this book provided the inspiration for an ESPN movie bearing the same name.Interested in learning more about some of the game's most vaunted coaches? Try taking this trifecta of audiobooks on for size. "When Pride Still Mattered" is the story of Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers. "Bootlegger's Boy" by Bud Shrake is the story of Barry Switzer, the outspoken former coach of the Oklahoma Sooners and Dallas Cowboys. "Paterno By the Book" wanders from football but is insightful nonetheless as would be expected from one of college football's winningest coaches.Round out your football knowledge by learning more about fantasy football from a trio of new podcasts. Regardless of whether you're a hardcore fantasy football with a half-dozen teams or simply a newbie who belongs to the local office league, you'll be able to gain the edge on your competitors by listening to The Fantasy Football Guys Podcast, The Football Fantasyland Podcast and THE Fantasy Football Podcast.The best part of all of these football titles is that they can be listened to on your way to work or while you're on the treadmill burning off all those calories you ate last Sunday when you were watching…football. Happy listening!About The Author: Jon Bischke is the Founder of LearnOutLoud.com and is passionate about helping you improve your life. He invites you to check out the complete selection of educational and self-development audio and video material at http://www.learnoutloud.com For the HTML version of this article complete with links to the titles that were mentioned, please visit http://www.learnoutloud.com/football01 This article is free for republishingGymnasts and Gymnastics Coaching Resourcesby: John howardThere is always more to learn about a sport as complicated as gymnastics. Most coaches learn something everyday from the athletes they teach, if they are open to such things. Good gymnasts try to learn as much as they can about the sport. This article is to reveal some sources for gymnastics information that we have found useful.Those Who Do, Don’t Write (except for us) There are other ways to learn about the sport of gymnastics. One of the difficulties, however, about researching gymnastics is that the very ones who are at the vanguard of coaching are much too busy with actual gymnastics coaching to write and publish what they are doing. For the very latest in gymnastics research, one must resort to other than traditional methods. Thousands of Gymnastics Resources There are literally thousands of books, studies, papers, articles and dissertations about the sport of gymnastics. We have compiled a list of and read over 1500. These are available through normal academic channels at any major University. Old Gymnast Magazines There are a treasure trove of back-dated articles from Madamesoille Gymnast, International Gymnast, Technique Magazine and USA Gymnast magazine. Even if there have been new trends in skills and equipment, there are numerous idea inspiring articles available. A Few Good Books There are some published gymnastics books that have some merit and even some of the latest gymnast biographies are interesting and revealing.Insight From Other Sports Books and research about other sports, for example, weightlifting, strength and conditioning, can give new insights into coaching gymnastics. Any coaching books and manuals can be sources for information and insight. Sport Psychology Child development and child psychology research can give insight into dealing with gymnastics coaching, skill progression and discipline problems with gymnasts. Online Resources There are an increasing number of gymnastics resources available online on the Internet.Gymnastics Congress, Conventions and Clinics The USAIGC and USAG both give seminars at their national conventions and around the country for both coaching and business topics. Some regional gymnastics conventions do a credible job on a smaller scale at the same thing.Check Out Other Gyms Visiting other gyms can be a source of great inspiration and new ideas. Every gym has something that you might be able to use in your own gym to advantage.Network Develop a network of other gymnastics coaches, gym owners, businessmen etc. to talk with. Bounce new ideas off them and listen to their experiences for insight into how to improve your own program and business.Ask Other Employees and Staff Members Ask your employees for new ideas and solutions to problems. They are on the front lines and also may have previous experience that may be of use.Survey Your Customers Ask your customers what they would like. Talk with them, survey them, run focus groups, ask for feedback, call program drop-outs for information and advice (don’t forget to invite them back).Business Development And Research Reading business publications can give new ideas about business management, marketing and organization. Old issues of Inc. magazine are especially useful.Learn, Learn, Learn Keep your eyes out for that one idea that will improve your training, program or gym. One idea per month will contribute to the success of your gym and one new idea per week can turn your gym into an outstanding facility and program.Or Just Visit Our Web Site: http://gymnasticszone.com (Related) Save Body Sway for the Dance Floor, Not Your Golf Swingby: Sean CochranBody motion in the swing is necessary, but too much of a good thing can wreak all kinds of havoc with your golf swing.I received a question over the weekend from a BioForce Golf subscriber about “body motion” in the swing. The question from our subscriber asked how not to fall into the trap of too much movement backwards during the golf swing.What we are really talking about is weight transfer during the golf swing. Too much weight transfer onto the back foot during the take-away and backswing causes difficulty in getting back to your front foot on the downswing.This creates some difficulties in your timing during the golf swing.Oftentimes, this type of swing fault is termed “body sway.”So how do we fix this golf swing fault?Let’s take a brief look at golf swing mechanics.Optimal golf swing mechanics are both a rotational (rotating around a fixed spine angle) and linear (weight transfer backwards and forwards) movement.It is the sequencing (proper order) and combination of these two biomechanical movements that develop the great foundation of your golf swing.Amateurs often have difficulty performing these two biomechanical movements simultaneously and in the correct sequence.Discussing “Body Sway” in Relation to Linear Weight Transfer of the Golf SwingAmateurs often shift their weight too far onto their back foot. Once this occurs, they are never able to get their weight forward, causing them to “spin out” and leave the clubface open at impact.A conversation I had with top teaching pro Rick Smith on body sway enlightened me on one of his teaching points: the weight transfer in the backswing cannot go past the inside arch of the back foot.In order to limit your weight transfer in the swing to this position, you must “feel” it in your swing. You must be able to feel your weight on the inside of the back foot and not allow it to move any farther back.If your weight transfer exceeds this position, your timing will be off, your golf swing mechanics will be flawed, and compensation of the downswing will occur.Now knowing what we need to know about golf swing mechanics and the problems resulting from “body sway,” how do we go about fixing it?The golf swing is one of the most intricate athletic movements performed in sports today.It requires precision in every biomechanical movement involved in the swing, the correction sequencing of each movement, and the correct timing.As a whole, the golf swing is a very difficult movement to perform.Attempting to “fix” a swing fault when swinging the golf club at full tilt is almost impossible.So what are you to do?Simply, it is much easier to break down the golf swing into parts. Working on pieces of the golf swing and then re-building the swing is the way to go. This is a much easier task to achieve.Once you have broken down the golf swing into pieces, then you can focus upon the area of the golf swing that is giving you difficulty.Fixing the area of the golf swing that is giving you problems can be addressed by implementing swing drills.Swing drills introduce and re-enforce the proper swing mechanics into your body and allow you to eventually cure your swing fault.This will eventually return you to a position where you can “feel” every position in the golf swing.So, if you are struggling from “body sway” in the golf swing, break down the swing into parts and address the area of the golf swing that needs help through swing drills.Sean CochranAbout the AuthorSean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.This article is free for republishingGreat Baseball Quotesby: Aron WalladGreat Baseball QuotesI love what prominent baseball people have to say about the great ballplayers. They seem to eloquently capture what we are thinking. "It was his solemn duty to catch a ball that wasn't in the stands." - Monte Irvin (Newark Eagles OF, May 6, 1981), on Willie Mays "Maybe they should see if his body is corked." - Howard 'Hojo' Johnson (NY Mets), on Bo Jackson, from Sports Illustrated, October 19, 1986 "When he took BP everybody would kind of stop what they were doing and watch." - Jim Kaat, former pitcher, on Mickey Mantle "I played with him for nine years and marveled at how hard he hit and how fast he ran. How can anyone ever forget the catch he made on Gil Hodges' line drive to save Don Larsen's perfect game?" - Tony Kubek, former shortstop, on Mickey Mantle "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." - Jackie Robinson "Having Willie Stargell on your ball club is like having a diamond ring on your finger."Chuck Tanner "Ted Williams was the greatest hitter I ever saw, but (Joe) DiMaggio was the greatest all around player."Bob Feller"No one hit home runs the way Babe (Ruth) did. They were something special. They were like homing pigeons. The ball would leave the bat, pause briefly, suddenly gain its bearings, then take off for the stands." Lefty Gomez"When Neil Armstong first set foot on the moon, he and all the space scientists were puzzled by an unidentifiable white object. I knew immediately what it was. That was a home run ball hit off me in 1933 by Jimmie Foxx."Lefty Gomez"Every time Johnny Bench throws, everybody in baseball drools." - Harry Dalton"He (Babe Ruth) hits a ball harder and further than any man I ever saw." - Bill Dickey"He (Lou Gehrig) just went out and did his job every day."Bill Dickey"He gets better every year, that's what's remarkable about him. Some guys are good and stay good. Some guys are good and get better. He reminds me of Kareem. Hubie Brown said that Kareem worked at the beginning of every season to improve some facet of his game. It's that way with the best, whatever the profession. That's the way this kid is." Ed Bradley on 60 Minutes - Talking about Derek Jeter"I think he was one of the greatest third basemen of all time. He had one of the sweetest swings I ever saw." - Teammate Johnny Logan - Referring to Eddie Mathews"How good was Stan Musial? He was good enough to take your breath away." - (1989)Vin Scully"When he (Maury Wills) runs, it's all downhill." Vin ScullySeeing what these writers, ballplayers and managers has to say about these players lights up the page for me. I can visualize these players on the field hitting home runs, running with arms outstretched to catch a ball or throwing out a would be base runner trying to steal a base.This is my baseball memorabilia.This article is free for republishingIncrease Golf Swing Speed Easilyby: Mike PedersenGolf swing speed is an elusive term for most amateur golfers. We’ve all heard of it and know it relates somehow to longer drives, but how can we increase golf swing speed quickly and effectively?Do you think it’s swing harder? Have you tried that approach? What happened? I can take a wild guess. The ball didn’t go anywhere! You were so tense that your golf swing speed was actually much slower. That’s not what you want!So how do you achieve the ever-elusive higher golf swing speed?It starts with your engine. Your core. The center of your machine. The stronger and more flexible you get your core, the faster the arms, hands and club will come through without swinging harder. Resulting in longer and much straighter drives.Just take a look at the main movement in the golf swing!It’s rotational!In ALL sports movement…what dictates the power? One guess. It’s your core. That’s why athletes spend so much time throwing weighted medicine balls, pulling weighted cables and doing tons of twisting exercises with resistance.The same approach should be taken for the golfer wanting to improve golf swing speed. Start with simple rotational exercises that incorporate both strength and flexibility like the seated rotation with a club.• Sit upright with a club on your shoulders behind your neck.• Grab each end with your hands.• While facing forward, focusing straight ahead, rotate to the right and back to the left.• You will feel tight and restricted at first.• Maintain an erect posture with eyes straight ahead.• Do this slowly at first, then build up the rate of speed.• Rotate back and through 10 times for 3 sets.This is a starting (basic) core exercise that will make a HUGE difference if you haven’t worked on your core before. You will notice a difference in your range of motion and power output on the course quickly.You would then progress up to more resistance related rotational exercises with handweights, tubing (cables), weighted medicine balls and even weighted clubs.With just a little bit of effort you will see a dramatic increase in golf swing speed!About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness swing trainers in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at his golf swing trainer (Related) site - Perform Better Golf.The golf swing is a physically demanding movement. Until golfers realize this, their pursuit of the perfect swing will never be achieved. Mike Pedersen is President/CEO Perform Better Golf which offers golf training dvds, manual and equipment. Get Mike's free Fit To A Tee ebook by subscribing at http://www.performbettergolf.comThe Basics Of Learning Golfby: Bud Bradley"The Basics Of Learning Golf"- by Bud Bradley ==========================================================Golf is one of Americas most popular sports. People of allages want to play golf. Without learning golf, one cannotplay golf properly. You need to learn the basics of thegame and then practice them to become proficient. For learning it, you have to join a Golf Academy, which hasall the required facilities. Apart from the commonfacilities, the academy should have good instructors, wherethe learner can have personal attention. This is very important for a beginner because he may havelot of questions and unless one gets one to one interaction with the instructor, he may not feel comfortable. Getting personalized attention such as one to one, though ideal but may be difficult. Therefore, you should be happy if you get an acceptable ratio of three or four to one.Instructor Is the KeyLearning Golf from an instructor having following traitswould be ideal, because he is the one who will not onlyteach you ABCs of the game but will take you to the nextlevels one by one.1. The Instructor should be able to chalk out a personalplan and then he should ensure that the plan works asplanned and desired.2. Swing, which is natural and is difficult to change. Due emphasis must be given to swing. It is for the instructor to improve your swing. The instructor should be knowledgeable enough to explain the fundamentals leading to swing. 3. The instructor must ensure that your game improves everyday. There is a saying that "You'll get worse before you get better!" but you and your instructor should try to prove it wrong. 4. The instructor must behave like a friend; he should encourage you for a good shot and should correct it if there is something wrong or not-so-good shot. 5. The instructor must have the habit of less talking and more teaching. He should always focus on the training, similarly as a learner one should also follow it but aim at learning only. 6. The instructor is like a life partner as far as the Golf is concerned, he is always there to help, guide and support you.That is why Learning Golf is not as easy as any othersport. One has to put all necessary efforts to learn andbecome a good player. ===========================================================Discover valuable advice and information about golfschools - what should you look for, and what you shouldavoid. Find out how to play the best golf you can play...Click http://www.golf-schools-uncovered.com/Discover valuable advice and information about golfschools - what should you look for, and what you shouldavoid. Find out how to play the best golf you can play...Click http://www.golf-schools-uncovered.com/The Best NCAA Coachesby: JB WebsThe Best Coaches in NCAA Football HistoryNCAA football, particularly Division I-A, is one of the most competitive collegiate sports. Many coaches have had winning seasons, but only the greatest are remembered by fans. Bobby Bowden, forty four years after coaching his first college game and after twenty nine years with Florida State, is the winningest coach in NCAA history. His Seminoles were ranked in the Associated Press (AP) Top Five for fourteen consecutive seasons. His 1999 team was the first ever to go from opening game to the championship while maintaining their number one AP ranking the whole time. He is ranked second in most bowl wins. When he took over in 1976, the Seminoles had won a total of only four games in three seasons. His career record with the Seminoles, playing some of the league's toughest teams, is 278-70-4.Also considered a NCAA coaching great is Joe Paterno. As he prepares for his fortieth year with Penn State, he is in second place for all time victories, only behind Bobby Bowden. He led the Nittany Lions to national championships in 1982 and 1986 and had five unbeaten/untied seasons. Oh, and he is the one Bobby Bowden is chasing for all time bowl wins with a record of 20-10-1. If NCAA football was a religion in Alabama, Paul “Bear” Bryant would be their messiah. He led the Crimson Tide to six national titles between 1961 and 1979. At the time of his retirement, he was the winningest coach of all time and also held the record for most bowl wins. Bear was known as a stern, no nonsense coach. He once suspended his star quarterback, Joe Namath, causing him to miss the 1964 Sugar Bowl.But Bowden and Paterno, as great as they are, may never be able to reach the greatness a certain Norwegian achieved while coaching America's most famous Irish-Catholic university. Knute Rockne has been the subject to countless books and even a movie that featured a former president, Ronald Reagan, as his most famous player, George Gipp. Even people that don't know much about football or Notre Dame surely know the line “Win one for the Gipper.” What Rockne could have accomplished will never be known. He was cut down in his prime, dying in a plane crash at age 42. But in his short thirteen years at Notre Dame, he managed to compile a record of 105-12-5, including six national championships. That is the winningest percentage (.881) of any NCAA football coach ever. He was also created the unstoppable backfield known as the four horsemen that led the Fighting Irish to a 28-2 record. He was dearly loved not only by his players, but fans as well. Sure, there will be other great coaches in the future of the NCAA. But no one can ever forget these great men or their astonishing accomplishments.About The Author:Learn more about football by visiting http://saints-football.football-fans.info/ and learn all there is to football.2005 College coaching changesby: James CampbellThey say once you leave home you can never look back, however, someone apparently forgot to tell that to this years crop of first year head coaches in the college ranks, for example, Dave Wannstedt, Charlie Weis and Mike Gundy have accepted positions at their alma maters while Frank Solich, Walt Harris, Terry Hoeppner and Ed Orgeron are moving closer to their home towns, Brent Guy and Bill Cubit have with the addition of big titles made a return appearance to former employers, and lets not forget that Steve Spurrier and Tyrone Willingham have returned to the SEC and Pac-10 which originally spawned them.In the college ranks there exists a distinct advantage with regard to familiarity, many of this year’s new hires used that same familiarity to their advantage during the interview process, 2005 brings no less that 20 newly hired Division 1-A head coaches, following is a listing of the new HC’s and where the former HC ended up as well as a brief synopsis on what each newbie is walking into…..good luck!BYUHead Coach: Bronco MendenhallFormer HC: Gary Crowton—now the Offensive coordinator at OregonReturning BYU to its glory days will be a tough task but new HC Bronco Mendenhall has an outstanding reputation as a near genius when it comes to coaching defense, Mendenhall is only 38 yrs old and this is his first head coaching gig so he has a lot to prove and of course a lot to change in this program when considering that the Cougars have gone a shoddy 14-23 since that stellar 2001 season when they posted a mark of 12-0.EAST CAROLINAHead Coach: Skip HoltzFormer HC: John Thompson—now co-defensive coordinator at South CarolinaIf the new Pirate skipper has a last name that rings a bell in the back of your mind...it should...he is the 41yr old son of Lou Holtz who retired from South Carolina following last season, Skip Holtz served as his dad’s offensive coordinator with the Gamecocks since 1999 and hoped to succeed his father, however, the availability of Steve Spurrier nixed that notion.FLORIDA Head Coach: Urban Meyer Former HC: Ron Zook—now Head coach at IllinoisUrban Meyer at only 40 years of age is another member of the up and coming crop of young HC’s to keep an eye on, Meyer made his mark at Bowling Green by completely turning around that program in 2001 and then the following year led those Falcons to a top 25 finish.The past two years Meyer has been at Utah and capped off his short stay by leading the Utes on a 16 game win streak followed by a blow out win over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl which was the first ever BCS bowl appearance by a non-BCS school...in Meyer’s two years at Bowling Green and his two years at Utah he compiled a lofty four year mark of 39-8...look out SEC!ILLINOISHead Coach: Ron ZookFormer HC: Ron Turner—now Offensive coordinator of the Chicago BearsAfter a disasterous (by Gator standards) three year stay at Florida which saw Ron Zook compile a mark of 23-14 following the departure of Steve Spurrier to the Washington Redskins, the Gator faithful had their fill and ousted Zook, however, somehow someway, Zook landed on his feet and is now heading up the Illini. Zook’s strength is teaching and running a strong defense which of course was former HC Turner’s weakness, only time will tell.INDIANAHead Coach: Terry HoeppnerFormer HC: Gerry DiNardo—Currently unemployedHoeppner had six winning seasons as the HC at Miami of Ohio and was instrumental in molding star QB Ben Roethlisberger into the prize catch that he turned out to be for the Pittsburgh Steelers, now its off to the Big Ten for Hoeppner who will have his hands full trying to turn around the program at Indiana.LSU Head Coach: Les MilesFormer HC: Nick Saban—now Head coach of the Miami DolphinsIt only took Les Miles four short years to bring a down and out Oklahoma State program into the media spotlight as well as gaining a spot in the hearts of the Cowboy faithful after knocking off Oklahoma twice during his tenure. Miles leaves Stillwater with a 28-21 record and three straight bowl appearances.Oddly enough Miles takes over a Tiger program from former HC Nick Saban who jumped from the college ranks to the NFL ranks with the Miami Dolphins, I say oddly enough because Les Miles took the opposite approach having left the NFL for the college ranks with regard to Miles having been the tight ends coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 1998 to 2000.In the big scheme of things Miles takes over a Tiger program that was left in great shape by Saban, thus, no re-building needed here, all Miles has to do is keep LSU on the right path, the retention of Jimbo Fisher and addition of Bo Pelini out of Oklahoma to run the offense and defense should have LSU once again in contention for the National Title.MIAMI OF OHIOHead Coach: Shane MontgomeryFormer HC: Terry Hoeppner—Now Head coach at IndianaHoeppner got most of the credit for the success of the Redhawks but those in the know realize that he couldn’t have got it done without Shane Montgomery who served as the RedHawks offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Hoeppner since 2001, those that keep tabs on the rising stars in the coaching world know that in 2003 Montgomery was a finalist for the Broyles Award which is given annually to the game’s top assistant.Keep an eye on the Redhawks to produce another Ben Roethlisberger with Montgomery’s guidance who in turn was a star QB himself at NC State from 1987 to 1989, Montgomery earned three letters as a Wolfpack QB and was named MVP of the Peach Bowl and Copper Bowl in successive seasons, look for the Hawks to continue to thrive under Montgonery and especially QB Josh Betts who figures to have a break out year.MISSISSIPPIHead Coach: Ed OrgeronFormer HC: David Cutcliffe—Now QB coach at Notre DameFormer HC David Cutcliffe’s fall from grace was swift with the Ole Miss faithful following last seasons mark of 4-7, funny how short their memories are that this same guy posted a combined record of 31-18 in the previous four seasons, but then again QB Eli Manning was on the squad for the previous four years...no Eli no winning season.Cutcliffe’s demise was really brought about by his less than stellar recruiting skills, in new headman Orgeron the Rebels get a guy that is a proven master at teaching defensive linemen and who also just happens to be one of the top recruiters in the country, Orgeron oversaw the defensive line at Miami, Syracuse and most recently at USC.He’s also been on the staff of four national championship teams, and has tutored the likes of Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland, and Warren Sapp, Oregeron spent seven seasons with the Trojans and over the past four years doubled as the recruiting coordinator...starting to feel bad for opposing offenses in the SEC yet? Don’t feel too badly yet as this is Oregeron’s first gig as the “Man” and the SEC is a lot tougher than the Pac-10.NEW MEXICO STATEHead Coach: Hal MummeFormer HC: Tony Samuel—Currently out of coachingWhen you’re New Mexico State and have had losing seasons four of the past five years and have not gone to a Bowl game in 45 years you tend to get a little desperate, enter Hal Mumme who brings tons of baggage along with him stemming from the four years he spend at Kentucky, Mumme built up the Kentucky program and even had a QB taken #1 in the draft (Tim Couch) but in the end he left them in disgrace amid more than three dozen NCAA violations, the past two seasons Mumme has been in exile heading up the Southeastern Louisiana program.NOTRE DAMEHead Coach: Charlie WeisFormer HC: Tyrone Willingham—Now Head coach at WashingtonCharlie Weis is one of the more intriguing additions to this years crop of new HC’s in the college ranks as Weis is making a return to his alma mater and is fresh off his third Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots.Not only is Weis going to be a college head coach for the first time ever but this is also his first job outside the NFL since leading Franklin Township (N.J.) High School to a state title in 1989. Weis is a classic rags-to-riches story of a coach, who didn’t play the game and earned his stripes at the high school level before Bill Parcells gave him his first break in 1990, since then he’s spent every season working for either Parcells or Bill Belichek.OHIO UNIVERSITYHead Coach: Frank SolichFormer HC: Brian Knorr—Currently out of coachingOhio’s landing of Frank Solich is another surprising hire in the college ranks and makes Ohio a team to keep an eye on this year, Solich is originally from the Cleveland area which probably explains this move on his part after being unceremoniously dumped by Nebraska after posting a mark of 58-19 during his tenure, Solich brings a wealth of experience to this small MAC school, unfortunately for Ohio this job is probably just a stepping stone for Solich.OKLAHOMA STATEHead Coach: Mike GundyFormer HC: Les Miles—Now Head coach at LSUGundy has spent most of his adult life in Stillwater and still holds the record as Oklahoma State’s all time leading passer, he was the offensive coordinator at this program under Les Miles and with the departure of Miles to LSU was promoted to the HC which makes him the youngest head coach in division I-A football, look for Gundy to keep the Cowboys on course.PITTSBURGHHead Coach: Dave WannstedtFormer HC: Walt Harris—Now Head coach at StanfordAfter 16 mostly up and down years in the NFL coaching Dallas, Chicago, and Miami, Dave “Wanny” Wannstedt returns home to Pittsburgh and to his alma mater in an attempt to bring back the glory years of the 1970’s to Pittsburgh when the Panthers and Steelers ruled the roost, don’t be surprised if the media reports “Wanny” asking the advice of Jimmy Johnson when considering that together they won a national championship in 1987 and a pair of Super Bowls in the early 1990’s.SAN JOSE STATEHead Coach: Dick TomeyFormer HC: Fitz Hill—Currently out of coachingMost coaches are retiring at age 66 but not Dick Tomey who will attempt to breathe life into a Spartan program that’s had one winning season since 1992, the Spartans should improve under Tomey who was the defensive genius behind the famed Desert Swarm defense during his tenure at Arizona, Tomey took the Arizona Wildcats to seven bowl trips and the program’s only Top 10 finishes in 1993 and 1998 but he will be hard pressed to duplicate that kind of success with the Spartans who posted a 2-9 record last year and have gone a combined 14-33 over the past four seasons.SOUTH CAROLINA Head Coach: Steve SpurrierFormer HC: Lou Holtz—Retired from coachingMajor kudo’s must be given to the Gamecocks for replacing one legendary coach with another as Steve Spurrier makes his return to the college sidelines following two forgettable seasons with the Washington Redskins, whether you like Spurrier or not you have to recognize his brilliance and ability as he sustained one of the greatest coaching runs in the modern era of college football while at Florida, in 12 seasons with the Gators Spurrier compiled a 122-27-1 record, won six SEC titles and won a national championship. Look for the ole ball coach to have the Gamecocks competing for their first SEC title before long.STANFORDHead Coach: Walt HarrisFormer HC: Buddy Teevens—Now Head coach at DartmouthWalt Harris returns home to Northern California following five straight winning seasons and last year’s Big East championship while at Pittsburgh, however, Harris was not well liked in Pittsburgh and could not get along with superiors which caused constant controversy and mudslinging in the media. Harris is however, a major upgrade over Teevens and should be able to bring stability to the Stanford program.SYRACUSEHead Coach: Greg RobinsonFormer HC: Paul Pasqualoni—Now Assistant coach with the Dallas CowboysIt took 30 years as an assistant coach but Greg Robinson has finally landed his first HC job, Robinson spent the first 15 years of his career at the college level and last fall as the co-coordinator of the Texas defense but he’s actually best known for his achievements in the NFL, from 1994 to 2003 Robinson was the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Kansas City Chiefs, picking up Super Bowl rings with Denver in 1997 and 1998.Here’s a nugget to keep in mind my friend, in eight bowl appearances as an assistant coach which includes four Rose Bowls with UCLA and Texas, Robinson coached teams have yet to lose. Robinson is a firey competitor and figures to bring it with him to Syracuse so keep an eye on this team as a possible giant killer in the watered down Big East.UNLVHead Coach: Mike SanfordFormer HC: John Robinson—Retired from coachingUtah’s unprecedented success last fall opened the door for Utah HC Urban Meyer to take the Florida job, for assistant coach Kyle Whittingham to take over in Utah and for Mike Sanford to take over the program at UNLV. Along with Urban Meyer, Mike Sanford was one of the architects of a Ute spread offense which baffled defenses last season.UNLV is a program to watch as they have a ton of potential, look for Sanford to bring a fresh energy and an option attack that’s geared toward putting fans in the stands and points on the board.UTAHHead Coach: Kyle WhittinghamFormer HC: Urban Meyer—Now Head coach at FloridaWhittingham has spent the past ten years as the defensive coordinator at Utah and now gets his shot to strut his stuff as he takes over for Urban Meyer and assumes his first head coaching position. During his tenure in Salt Lake City the former BYU linebacker has regularly produced underrated and fundamentally sound defenses that have ranked in the Top 25 in points allowed six of the last eight years.Whittingham has his work cut out for him at Utah as expectations are very high following last seasons 12-0 mark, the Utes became the first non-BCS school to win a BCS bowl game and the Utah faithful want more of the same. The problem is that it won’t be so easy this coming year as offensive masterminds Urban Meyer and Mike Sanford are gone.UTAH STATEHead Coach: Brent GuyFormer HC: Mick Dennehy—Currently out of coachingBrent Guy spent the past four years as Arizona State’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach and now becomes the 25th head coach in Utah State history. No stranger to Logan, he coached Aggie linebackers from 1992 to 1994 and was Dirk Koetter’s defensive coordinator at Boise State from 1998 to 2000 when the Broncos won two Big West titles , Guy’s Bronco defense led the league in total defense and scoring defense in back to back seasons.Utah State’s move to the WAC and need to upgrade facilities signal a pivotal time in the program’s history, those around Cache Valley are hopeful the high energy Guy can effectively usher in a new era of Aggie football while helping raise the $16 million needed to give Romney Stadium an extreme makeover, those that have followed Aggie football know that while Guy is a key to the future he is also a bridge to the past as he was on staff in 1993 when the school captured its only bowl win.WASHINGTONHead Coach: Tyrone WillinghamFormer HC: Keith Gilbertson—Currently out of coachingAfter his highly publicized dismissal from Notre Dame Tyrone Willingham returns to the familiar Pac-10 which spawned him, Willingham was at Stanford prior to taking over the Irish and guided the Cardinal to their first league title and Rose Bowl appearance in nearly three decades and was twice named Pac-10 Coach of the Year.Say what you will about Ty Willingham but the fact of the matter is that he’s the epitome of sideline professionalism and preparation, after failing to turn around the Irish in three years some have begun to wonder out loud if he’s just an average head coach, however, with only one bowl win in ten years as a college coach you really can’t blame the doubters.WESTERN MICHIGANHead Coach: Bill CubitFormer HC: Gary Darnell-Currently out of coachingCubit returns to Kalamazoo where he coached the Bronco offense to some impressive results from 1997 to 1999, Cubit’s only college head coaching experience came at D-III Widener from 1992 to 1996. With W. Michigan riding a streak of four straight losing seasons capped off by last seasons 1-10 finish, anyone could have predicted a change.A look at the roster shows the name of QB Ryan Cubit, yup, a father and son combo, it has to be sort of weird when your dad’s the HC, but at least Ryan won’t have to work too hard learning a new system since his dad has been his teacher since birth.Jim Campbell is one of the nations most respected Sports Handicappers, he specializes in College and Pro Football, you can visit Jim at his website located at footballforecastor.com for all of your handicapping needs including free play selections, College and NFL stats, trends and award winning analysis on upcoming games.With over 30 plus years experience in the handicapping profession Jim has built a solid reputation, his web based handicapping service at footballforecastor.com as been in existence since 1997 and year after year proves to be one of the very best handicapping services in America.Football Forecastor is home to the nations most prolific sports handicapper, we specialize in NFL and College Football handicapping and take sports betting to a whole new level by treating sports wagering as an investment.Over the past 30 yrs plus, I have been on both sides of the Sports Investment Business, as a entrepreneur that ran his own business, to building and maintaining a Private Clientele base that Greatly Benefits from my Superior Handicapping expertise in the sporting arena. Football Forecastor has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, we specialize in NFL and College football handicapping and over the past eight years have maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.If you are looking for a Proven winner that churns out Consistent NFL and College football winning selections visit us at footballforecastor.com today!!Skydiving training methodsby: Andrew CaxtonThe BasicsFirst, you will need to find a skydiving school with a good reputation. This is a fairly easy thing to do. The internet, phone book, and local airports are full of them. Next, you will need to check your pocket book. Skydiving is one of the more expensive sports to learn. Then, you will need to decide how you want to learn. There are three methods of training: tandem, static line, and Accelerated Free Fall (AFF). All of these methods have their benefits and drawbacks, but we will touch more on those a little later. What's First?Health and Safety.First, you must consider health and safety. Know the risks involved before you get involved. Skydiving is not chess; you will not be sitting on an uncomfortable concrete bench moving your pieces around a game board. You are going to step out of an airplane and, in freefall, will reach speeds of up to 250 feet per second… that is 110 miles per hour!! If you have a bad ticker, unregulated high blood pressure, or any number of other health problems, speak to an instructor and discuss your options in detail. Also keep in mind, even the best of the best in this sport sometimes hit the ground a little harder then they intend to. So, bad knees may also be a consideration. DO NOT be afraid or embarrassed to discuss these things with your instructor before making that first jump. It is always preferable to hit the ground safely then to plant yourself in it. Truthfully though, with the proper preparations and instruction you would be more likely to develop cataracts from reading this article then suffer a serious injury from skydiving. Listen to your instructors, know your equipment, and never assume you know how to do something just because you saw it in a movie.Which Training Method To Use?Training MethodsAs I researched information, I discovered that there are three approved methods of training to become a licensed skydiver, the Tandem jump, the Static jump, and the Accelerated Free Fall (AFF).TandemThe tandem jump is the easiest and quickest method to get into the air. With ground training typically lasting about 30 minutes, you will then jump out of an airplane while strapped to the chest of a professional Tandem Instructor. After three or four of these jumps and completion of the approved First Jump Course (ground school), a student may then move on to the next level.Tandem jumping, however, does provide an opportunity for the adventurous spirit who may not quite meet the physical or proficiency requirements for the static line or accelerated free fall jumps. By relying on tandem instructor's skills, it may still be possible to experience the extreme thrill of skydiving.Static LineStatic line skydiving was developed by the military as a safety measure for paratroopers. It is used for instant and reliable deployment of parachutes at a relatively low altitude, about 2000 - 3000 feet. Basically what happens is a specially designed cord is attached to the plane and to your parachute. As you step away from the plane, the cord immediately deploys your parachute for you. No fuss - no muss. After about two of these jumps the student begins demonstrating mock-pulls of a dummy ripcord. After about three of these jumps the student is then ready for their first free fall.Accelerated Free FallThis is the way to go for the adrenalin junky out there. Why? You get to free fall from jump one!! Of course this method is a little more expensive due to the fact that you will have two instructors jumping with you, and, although you will be in free fall, the instructors will maintain hands-on contact at all times during free fall. After a few jumps like this, you will begin doing it on your own with a single instructor giving more advice and training. This method will get you your class a license a little faster.Training Completed!! Really?After ClassAfter you have completed 4 to 5 hours of ground school training and have made 25 jumps, you are qualified for a license and can keep going all the way to your D license, requiring 500 jumps. But once you have your license, are you really done? The answer to that question is no. As with any skill, you never learn everything. There is always going to be that next skill level to work towards. New equipment and techniques are being developed every day. So the only thing left to do now is to get started! Have fun and good jumping! About The Author:Andrew Caxton is the webmaster and publisher of http://www.skydiving-parachuting-guide.com. Andrew used to publish interesting skydiving equipment (Related) articles and reviews.How to Buy SEC Championship Ticketsby: Amanda GoochLet me start this article with a sincere “Thank You” to all of those who read my last article on “How to Buy World Series Tickets”. I was contacted by numerous individuals who asked about getting tickets to all kinds of sporting events. (Who knew when I started my search for World Series tickets for my husband that I would be nicknamed the “ticket lady”.) I have not had time to research getting tickets to all of these events, but I am taking them one at time…starting with the NCAA SEC Championship held in Atlanta, Georgia.For those of you who live outside of the southeast, you are probably gleefully unaware of the seriousness to which college football is taken there. College football is a certifiable religion. SEC fans are much like the zealous evangelists proselytizing to the masses. (Of course, there is far more alcohol involved with the football.) There are 12 teams that comprise the SEC. The SEC Championship is the decisive game that crowns the winner of the very coveted SEC Football title.My husband’s friend, Dave came to me and asked for my advice in finding SEC Championship tickets for his girlfriend. Apparently, she is an LSU Alumni and much like her fellow SEC-ites, she is a rabid fan. I immediately took up his cause. Here are a few strategies I discovered in my search:Strategy #1Talk to friends, family members, colleagues and your brother’s-wife’s-sister’s-boyfriend’s-mom’s-cousin who just happens to be a current ticket holder for the SEC Championship. Each year, current ticket holders have the opportunity to renew their SEC Championship tickets for the next SEC Championship game. Maybe you can sweet talk them in to letting you use the tickets for this year. If not…see Strategy #2.Strategy #2It may be a wise idea to go ahead and place your name on the 2006 SEC Championship Tickets Waiting List which is open from September 1st through December 31st. If there are any tickets available after the renewal period the SEC will randomly contact members on the tickets waiting list and give them the opportunity to buy tickets. Strategies #1, #2 and #3 maybe your only options to buy SEC Championship tickets at the face value, so it is definitely worth a shot. (**Note: the 2005 Waiting List is closed.)Strategy #3Contact the ticket office of the schools that are selected to participate in the SEC Championship and the Georgia Dome. Students, alumni and faculty usually get the first priority at the school box offices. All tickets sold through the ticket offices are sold for face value. The box office at the Georgia Dome will only release tickets if available, which is unlikely. Strategy #4Visit http://www.consumerchoicereview.com. This is a great site that gives you all kinds of information about the major sporting events as well as various ticket brokers who specialize in the SEC Championship. You can feel confident that all of the ticket brokers listed on this site are reputable because consumers are allowed to review each ticket broker and their level of service. It even provides event information, so that you can impress your family and friends with your obscure sports knowledge!! Consumer Choice Review also gives you helpful information on how to protect yourself from purchasing counterfeit tickets. Strategy #5 Another option for SEC Championship tickets is www.ebay.com. Ebay will have a plethora of tickets, but consumers should be aware that you could be paying top dollar for a ticket that is fraudulent. I have heard horror stories of people buying on Ebay, so I have always been leery of using it. I found some really good tips on using Ebay on Consumer Choice Review. This site provides a step by step guide to buying on Ebay.Strategy #6 Go to the stadium and take the risk that there are no tickets available from scalpers. Or that the tickets that are available are ridiculously expensive or even worse, possibly counterfeit or stolen. I would never pay hundreds of dollars in cash for tickets that could turn out to be fake or stolen. You should always use a credit card because they offer protection of purchases that turn out to be fake or stolen tickets. ***Be very careful when taking this approach and be sure to read the tips posted on Consumer Choice Review prior to taking this strategy. All in all, there are several options to find tickets to any sporting event you want to attend, whether it is the SEC Football Championship or the NCAA Final Four. The deciding factor is how much are you willing to pay? And what price are you willing to put on your protection as a consumer? This article is free for republishingVideo Game Violence...What do you think about it?by: M6.Net Web HostingEver since video game designers were able to put red pixels on their imaginary characters that had recently deceased, there have been people crusading against their subversive ways. The outrage at video games seems to be cyclic, fading very briefly before exploding into the public eye once more with renewed frenzy. The controversy seems to have sparked up again in recent times, with numerous crimes being blamed on the corruptive influence of video games. There have also been various "controversies" surrounding recent video games and their content in the areas of both violence and sexuality.The first game to receive widespread criticism and media attention was the martial art fighting game "Mortal Kombat". This game included large spurts of blood emitted from attacks and also "Fatalities" that could be performed on stunned opponents after their defeat. These Fatalities were gruesome animation sequences showing the victorious player killing their defeated opponent in a vast variety of ways. Gamers revelled in this new experience and the controversy surrounding the violence caused mass hype that informed the less informed gamers that the game was out there. Consequently gamers played the new game just to find out what all the talk was about, thereby greatly increasing revenue.One of the largest sparks of controversy has been the recent "Hot Coffee" modification for "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA:SA)". This involved unlocking a sexually oriented mini-game that had been removed from the game before release, although evidently not from the source code. The creators of the game, Rockstar Entertainment, obviously realised that this particular part of the game was not appropriate for the video gaming public and removed access to it. An enterprising fan of the game found out and modified the original code to give access to the content once again. Lawsuits were brought against Rockstar for including such content in their game, although the validity of the lawsuit has to be questioned. If the game is simply purchased and played as intended by the developers, this admittedly tasteless and inappropriate mini game would never be encountered. It is not until the user-made modification is downloaded and installed that the player is able to access the content.Regardless of who's to blame, "GTA: SA" was re-rated in America and banned from sale in Australia. Oddly enough the gratuitous and encouraged violence in the game went largely unnoticed in the wake of the "scandalous" sex scenes involving clothed, cartoonesque people. When examined objectively almost all games contain a certain amount of violent content. The kid-friendly bright and colourful "Mario" games by Nintendo feature a character stomping on animated creature's heads. In fact the majority of games, even children's games, involve the protagonist crusading against an enemy horde of some sort and generally "disposing" of them in some manner, whether it be striking them with a weapon or body part (feet, hands, possibly a tail depending on the nature of the character). The only real stand out difference is that in a children's game the 'bad' characters will generally bounce backwards in a cute manner and explode with a humorous puff sound (or simply disappear) whereas in a game oriented towards older mature players, the characters are more likely to be (somewhat) realistic, spraying a gusher of red upon their demise.Whenever some young person somewhere commits a violent crime these days it seems to get blamed on a video game, from "Duke Nukem" and "Quake" being accused for the Columbine High massacre, to a more recent incident involving a group of minors attributing their violent actions to the "Mortal Kombat" video games. Without any solid evidence either way it's hard to say whether or not video game violence actually has much of an influence on players. To really be sure you'd probably have to have a control group of isolated children that have never seen a violent movie or played a bloodthirsty video game. History does however show that brutal crimes were committed long before video games or even movies came into existence.Children are quite easily influenced by something that they're excited about and I've seen this happen a lot. Playing a wrestling video game with a group of eight year olds often leads to the eight year olds screaming raucously and trying to pin each other down on the ground. Pre-teens will often punch and kick their way out of a cinema in terrible combat stances after having viewed a martial arts movie. The current content rating system in place is not geared towards consumer restriction; it is largely aimed at simply informing the public about what they are going to experience. Legal restrictions are not actually put in place until the higher, more severe ratings like in x-rated films. Parents, guardians, and society in general need to start taking an interest in who is viewing certain types of content. Instead of complaining about the entertainment a child is enjoying, the parent could be there at the beginning looking at the rating that is printed clearly on the packaging of all entertainment. A simple "I don't think that's suitable, how about this game? It has a lizard!" distracts the child a surprising number of times. In my experience, children genuinely just want people to take an interest in what they're interested in, not just murmuring indistinctly, "Yes dear, that's nice." as the child installs the newest violent game.What about the children that are playing the games in the restricted ratings categories? The only way that they can even get the game into their possession is if a parent (or someone of legal age) purchases the game for the child, or if the store disregards the rating guidelines in place and sells it to them regardless. Either way the fact that a game's content has fallen into a minor's hands is not the fault of the game developer.I'm not out to defend the integrity of artistic vision presented in video games as many other gamers are. Frankly there seems to me to be little artistic integrity in rendering blood that is ever more liquid in appearance. I do however enjoy playing some games that are quite violent in nature and in many cases the violent nature of the game increases my enjoyment. Video games are escapism, there's (arguably) no point in playing a video game that simulates something you can just walk outside and do (and yet sports games somehow consistently sell in large numbers... curious...). Interestingly I have never yet felt the overwhelming desire to break down into a kung fu stance and commit murder. Perhaps more important than simply banning questionable content in video games would be studying why this content is so appealing to today's society? Daniel PunchM6.Net Web Helpershttp://www.m6.net (Related) Leaders in Web Hosting, M6.net is a strong company that has pioneered in the web hosting industry since 1997. The company started with nothing but a few web sites and less clients; and is now hosting over ten thousand web sites across more than one hundred countries around the world. For reliable web hosting M6.net offers the best value, starting from $4 m/o with 500 MB space, 20GB bandwidth, a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee and 24 hour support.Go Karts - Becoming a Racing Enthusiastby: Michael WalkerFree to ReprintDigital Reprint Rights:- You have permission to reprint this article in your website as long as the author's resource box remains intact, with the active links included.- You do not have permission to reprint this article in any way that suggests spamming behavior.- You may only reprint this article in opt-in publications.- You cannot change the article or author's resource box in any way, the article must be published as it is.*************************Article Start*************************Go Karts - Becoming a Racing EnthusiastImagine - ripping your torso as you hit a curve launching your sprint kart down the circuit. Pressing on the accelerator as you exercise dead-on hand-and-eye coordination determining the smartest way to turn the drift in the 21st minute of an hour- long enduro race. Or perhaps be a spectator - routing for the likes of Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher as they race neck-and-neck on the last lap. Guess what - you are breathing and witnessing (even smelling the distinctive aroma of clay dirt on the dirt track) the atmosphere that comes with go-kart racing.Developed in the 1950ดs by pilots with a zest for tinkering with motorcycle engines to propel simple frames, go-karting extended internationally after the construction of the first go-kart by Art Ingels in Pasadena. Before dwelling on it's mass European appeal and discussing the pinnacle of Formula 1 racing, let's backtrack for a second. Riding go-karts (or karting) is the best way to break into professional racing. It is the simplest means of exploding your chassis down the track before getting into the sophisticated arena of professional racing. Single cylinder engines, basic chassis models, and lack of speed producing components provide go-kart racing with the air of simplicity, geared towards beginners and novices.The concept of sprint karting comes to our mind when we think of the prototypical kart & track in amusement parks, recreational areas, and arcade palaces. Impeccable karts with sleek designs and sturdy frames rip through on short tracks, usually made from asphalt or concrete - ranging from half a mile to a mile in length. Sprint karting is divided into classes (think boxing middleweights and welterweights) that distinguish engine-types (two-and four-cycle), driver (classified according to age and weight), brand of kart (Yamaha and Honda are popular choices), and specifications. No carbon-fiber made frames and McLarens built with lightweight materials here! Sprint karting is a simplified, scaled-down form of professional go-kart racing with shorter tracks, downgraded technology, less experienced drivers, and downgraded components across the board.Other forms of karting include enduro racing. Endurance racing, or "enduro" for short is a prolonged version of sprint. Propelled by aerodynamical butterfly steering, enduro karts are an upgrade over sprint karts - participating in races lasting an hour or more. Dirt, oval tracks is the staple of endurance racing and is more prevalent in the Midwest than anywhere else. Because of the long racing period, special emphasis is paid to durable karts and pit stop maintenance than focusing on just speed. In runner's terms, enduro is a marathon - not a sprint. If you sacrifice chassis and tire maintenance for speed throughout the course of a race, reaching the finish line is out of the question.Behind every successful sprint car are its well-performing components, specifically its frame, engine, and tires. The dynamics of a go-kart is two-fold: to be built to withstand the rigors of racing and to serve as the backbone for speed. Usually made of steel, frames have the option of being flexible or not. Flexible frames mean easier maneuvering along the track, especially when turning as to maintain good "side bite" and control of the kart. Because non-professional go-karts have no sophisticated traction and suspension system to withstand bumps, frames are usually subject to more punishment. Sprint kart tires usually do not have indented grooves, as they are soft in nature and more suited to all-terrain.900 BHP horsepower engines are the norm for souped-up Honda Formula One karts. Capable of reaching speeds of 200+ mph, they represent the all-out nature of karting technology. For the novices, a simple 2-cycle engine will do! Running on gasoline and electricity instead of petrol (typically mixed with other fuels to suit environmental conditions for Formula One,) sprint karts run on either 2-cycle or 4-cycle engines. 4-cycle engines are the weakest engine around, with horsepower topping 20 HP. Think of the power needed to run a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner - that's how much power a 4-cycle engine exerts. 2-cycle engines are typically associated with the likes of Vespas (European motor scooters) and mopeds. These go up to 90 HP. Added cylinders (individual horsepower generators in go-karts) can boost horsepower, adding pure speed & power to your machine. Perhaps 10-cylinder Formula One kart engines and its incredible capabilities ring bells to you now!Want pinpoint control over the speed of your go-kart? No problem here! Go-karts have basic transmission systems with gears that control speed to its desired amount. Coming with clutches, shifter karts (a popular type of sprint kart that allows you to move at a certain amount of speeds) make the best use of engine power when zipping along a straight path or maneuvering over the short or wide curve. Depending on the amount of cylinders and engine, shifter enthusiasts can lay opponents in their dust blazing trails up to 90 mph. Shifters usually run on larger road courses known as road racing. It is flush in structure with qualification criteria like class of kart, weight of driver, etc. Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha are popular suppliers of engines. These companies are at the forefront of karting technology, regularly tinkering with what's already available or creating new concepts of their own.Sprint karting opportunities are available to everyone. If you want to enjoy it as a form of recreation instead of competition, visit your local track and rent a kart! Make sure to sign any insurance waivers and become acquainted with the rules and regulations! If you like to compete, inquire from within. Sprint karting is one of the least expensive sports out there. People from all walks of life and all economic backgrounds can drive a kart, or even purchase their own with a powerful engine. There are many karting schools available all over the nation that will let you ride their karts for a nominal fee. In essence, karting is more than a pastime. It is a bonafide sport capable of preparing you for more advanced karting by helping you shape your judgment, hand-eye coordination abilities, and technological/dynamical know-how of the instruments you're using.Michael Walker is a freelance author providing information about a variety of go-kart topics including http://www.go-kart-kits. com , http://www.go-kart-kits.com/go-kart-frames.html and http://www.go-kart-kits.com/go-karts-engines.html His articles prove to be both a useful and entertaining resource of valuable information for the karting enthusiast.Michael Walker is a freelance author providing information about a variety of go-kart topics including http://www.go-kart-kits. com , http://www.go-kart-kits.com/go-kart-frames.html and http://www.go-kart-kits.com/go-karts-engines.html His articles prove to be both a useful and entertaining resource of valuable information for the karting enthusiast.Contact him at http://www.go-kart-kits.com (Related) Variety is the Spice of Lifeby: Peter Jay“Variety is the Spice of Life.” This is one of my favorite quotes, and how true it is. Is life not much better when it is filled with a “variety” of the things we like? Of course it is. It is inevitable that some things in your life will go wrong, so it is nice to have other things that you still enjoy to fall back on. Like investing, they always say, “Do not put all of your eggs in one basket.” The same goes for our personal lives. The way to be happy is to fill our lives with a “variety” of things that make us happy. If you have a variety of things that make you happy, this decreases the risk of becoming unhappy if just a few things go wrong. So, do not risk your happiness by not broadening your horizons and not finding and doing a variety of things that you enjoy. One way to fill your life with a variety of things is to get different hobbies. Hobbies can be as numerous as there are ideas. If you have an idea of something you would like to do, then go and do it.Many people do not fill their lives with the things or hobbies (Related) that they would like to do. Since it is so obvious that variety is the spice of life, what makes people not fill their lives with a variety of the things that make them happy? There are many explanations for this. Some are financial. People cannot afford to pay for all of the things they would like to do. Many people are tied down by debts; they have put on the golden handcuffs and cannot find a way out. This obviously impedes on their pursuit of recreational things. Another reason for people to not pursue personal hobbies or interests is a time constraint. People are so busy working or have other things to do that they just do not have time to pursue recreational activities.I have found, however, that if you just prioritize your time and money better, you should in the long term be able to pursue successfully, any interest or hobby (Related) you have. In fact, by pursuing personal interests outside of work, you can increase your effectiveness in the work place. Everyone needs a recreational break from working all the time. It improves morale and makes employees work more efficiently.Like I said, there are as many hobbies as there are ideas. There is not limit to what you can do if you just go after it. Hobbies by definition are recreational or leisure activities outside of one’s career or workplace. You can have hobbies that require exercise and can not just be something you enjoy, but they can keep you in shape as well, such as playing sports, mountain biking, lifting weights or working out. You can have hobbies that stimulate the mind, such as arts and crafts, chess or other board-games, reading clubs, crosswords, or other things. You can also have hobbies just to get away from things and take your mind off the world, such as playing the guitar or other musical instruments. Do not let money or time hold you back. Variety is the spice of life, and it is time to spice up your life a bit. Just sit down and think of anything you would like to do, anything you would like to pursue. Write it down. Write down how you can do it and what it will take, and then go after it. I have found that just half-an-hour a day of doing something can really make a difference. It might take some time to develop some new hobbies, but it will be worth it in the end. Find some new hobbies at Variety Access, your online hobby store (Related) and more.Peter Jay is the Owner/President and CEO of Variety Access – Your online hobby store and more. For more information about hobbies, hobby products, or Variety Access, go to www.VarietyAccess.com.This article is free for republishingQuality of Lifeby: Peter JayA new hobby can improve your quality of life. Think of it. A hobby is a recreational or leisure activity outside of you career or work place. It is something YOU are interested in, some YOU want to pursue. Would it not improve your quality of life to do the things that you enjoy? You should not be selfish in pursuing what you want, what you want can actually benefit others around you as well. You can think of activities to which you can invite others to come along. You can find activities and hobbies that not only improve your own quality of life, but others as well.People need a purpose in life, a reason to do things. I am not saying that hobbies are the ultimate purpose for living, but I think that people should be happy and if they pursue hobbies that they enjoy, it can improve their lives and the lives of others. I think wholesome leisurely and recreational activities with family and friends are very important to having a good quality of life. It improves relationships, by providing good experiences together, it also just gives people the opportunity to get out and do something that they enjoy. It gives them the opportunity to feel like they have accomplished something and done something constructive.I heard once that happiness is the culmination of small successes. Is the quality of life not improved by small success, whether it be success in your career, success raising your family, success improving your life in some, or success in mastering some hobby or other interest that you have? A hobby or new interest can be something that you can quickly and easily master, or at least just enjoy learning to do it. It can give you a feeling of accomplishment, which will inspire and encourage you or others.One specific hobby (Related) that can increase your quality of life is music. Music is relaxing. Different music can stimulate different reactions of thought processes. They even have university undergraduate, masters, and doctorate degrees in music therapy. Learning to play a musical instrument or just listening and getting to know good music can be a way for you to improve your quality of life. It can be a hobby that is leisurely, relaxing, and can be a means for you or others to feel like they have accomplished something that makes a difference. If you can play a musical instrument, think of the good you can have in others’ lives. Musicians are often the life of the party. It seems everywhere I go, if someone can play the guitar, by the end of the night they will be entertaining everyone with their musical talent. The same goes for the piano or many other musical instruments. I myself played the trumpet for seven years, I also taught myself to play the guitar. I taught myself to play the piano a little bit, but I am not as good at it yet as I am at the guitar and the trumpet.Many hobbies (Related) can improve your physical health and stamina as well. Would it not be great to have a hobby, something you enjoy, that also keeps you physically fit? Many people play sports or participate in athletic events as hobbies to keep in shape. One of my favorites is to play tennis. I actually have never taken a class or learned to play tennis, I just taught myself and as I began playing I gradually got better. Now it is something I can do as leisure activity outside of work that will keep me in shape as well. Another hobby I just started is running. I ran the marathon over the weekend, I still cannot walk well, my feet and legs hurt, but I am sure I will get better. The pain will go away, but now I will be a marathoner forever. Find your hobby at the online hobby store (Related) and more.Peter Jay is the Owner/President and CEO of Variety Access – Your online hobby store and more. For more information about hobbies, hobby products, or Variety Access, go to www.VarietyAccess.com.This article is free for republishingOnline shopping for bike accessoriesby: Andrew CaxtonAt one time you could only buy cycling equipment at your local cycle shop, if they had what you wanted or you had to hope they could order it and then you would have to wait for it to come and hope it was the right size, colour or price. Then cycling magazines started to have adverts for the bigger stores and you could post off a cheque and wait for your prized article to arrive. Now things could not be easier, your at home watching the Tour de France on television, you see you hero attack on the mountainous slopes of Alpe-d’Huez, what are those sexy carbon cranks he’s using? They look like FSA or are they Campagnolo, they could be Stella Azurra, which are they? How much will they cost? Where can I get them? Well, get on the Web, put the name of that most wanted item into your search engine and see what it comes up with. The next move can be nearly as exciting as riding your bike up the mountains, that’s making comparisons of all the equipment, something you probably wont be able to do at your local cycle shop and then ordering it online, the worst bit is waiting for it to arrive.All the top cycle components, clothing, frames and cycle manufacturers have their own web-sites, once you’ve found what you really want for your bike, most sites can link you to a retail out let, from there, with the use of your credit card you can order the goods on-line, or check out a store near to where you live and if they stock what you are looking for. This is best for items of clothing, shorts and jersey sizes vary from one maker to another and there is nothing worse than receiving your new professional look a like kit and it is too big or small, so get down to your local cycle shop or sports store, try on your choice for size and if all is OK, you can buy it there and then or if you don’t mind waiting and it’s at a better price, order and pay for it online and wait for it to arrive in the post to your house.How To Buy Cycling Shoes On Line…There are many cycling shoes on the market, and finding the right ones for you can be hard. Look them up on the web, go through the search engine or if you have a particular make in mind, find them online and if you can’t try some in a shop, this is best, because size can be a problem, one manufacturer size 9 could be a half size bigger or smaller than another company, and most of the best cycling shoes are Italian, so remember that European sizes are very different from American or English sizes, and German shoes are wider and Italian shoes are narrower and you may be looking for a size 44 or 45, so try as many different shoes you can and then make your decision. Very importantly with shoes is which pedal system you are using, Look, Shimano, Campagnolo, Time and all the other systems have different fittings on the sole of the shoe, check up which they have on the shoe manufacturers web-site and then it should then be safe to order them online.….And HelmetsAn other good and very important item you could look for online is a cycle helmet, as with most cycling goods there are many different helmets on the market, some times the helmets you see on the heads of the professionals are difficult to find, but anything is possible on the net, just type it in and away you go, it may be that just the helmet you are looking for is available in Holland, get it ordered, it may take some time to come but if its what you want it’ll be worth it. Sizes of helmets, like shoes can vary, so if it is possible to try before you buy, then make sure it’s a comfortable fit, the big difference between cycle shoes and helmets is that helmets come with different pads to go inside so you can make the helmet fit exactly, which could help if you’ve ordered the wrong size, this is not something you can do with cycling shoes.The net is a great way to find the frame size you want for your new bike, with the new sloping frame designs it can be tricky to know which size to order, all frame designers have their own ideas for what is best, so if you know the top tube length of your present bike then you can compare online with the design dimensions on the manufacturers web-site and then you will know what size to order either at you local bike shop or from your internet supplier. As this is probably the most important and expensive thing you’ll buy for your cycling, and so with online shopping you can make sure you make the right decision.http://www.bike-cycling-reviews.comAbout The Author:A. Caxton is a successful freelance author and the webmaster of http://www.bike-cycling-reviews.com. An online cycling magazine that focuses exclusively on bicycle components and parts, clothing and heart rate monitors.
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