The Big East Football Conference is in the midst of experiencing its biggest changes since its founding in 1991. Gone are perennial powers Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College as well as league doormat, Temple. New to the conference are Louisville, Cincinnati, and South Florida. Some are calling the changes one big folly; while others believe that the conference will shake off its losses and move forward stronger and wiser.
Three letters have hurt the Big East Conference over the past few years. They are: A-C-C. ACC, as in Atlantic Coast Conference, who lured and then persuaded three Big East schools to make the leap over to the ACC. For the Big East, the three schools represented the league’s top football powers as well as two high performing Men’s Basketball squads: Boston College and Miami. In this age of lucrative television contracts and super conferences the three defecting schools took the money and ran.
Purists were left howling by the departures and at the ACC’s trolling of the Big East Conference. Some suggested lawsuits, while others stated that there was no legal obligation for the schools to stay.
Once it was confirmed that the three departing schools would leave, the Big East Conference was faced with a dilemma that could only undermine its ability to not only thrive, but to survive. It had previously been decided that Temple would be forced out as their program did not measure up to Big East Conference standards, or so it has been said. Still, Temple was not invited back and the Big East began to look elsewhere for schools to fill their depleted ranks. So, the Big East turned to the Conference USA.
Louisville, Cincinnati, and South Florida – along with Marquette who doesn’t play football – were all persuaded to leave Conference USA for the Big East. For some, this is where the folly begins.
Do the three new schools measure up to the programs which they are replacing? Absolutely not. Louisville comes closest and is likely nearly equal to Boston College in strength, but their football program does not compare to either Virginia Tech or Miami. Cincinnati compares much more favorably to the departed Temple team, while South Florida is a new Division 1-A program and was only added to replace Miami as the league’s warm weather school. Just kidding…I think.
The remaining conference schools are Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, and West Virginia. West Virginia is the current conference leader while Rutgers is taking advantage of a weakened conference and also sitting near the top. The remaining schools are rebuilding, making the Big East Conference extra weak this year.
The pundits and prognosticators know that the Big East is reeling and they understand that there is no guarantee that the present league configuration will produce football programs on the level of the dearly departed members. In my opinion, give the conference two or three years and you may find that with just a couple of years of excellent recruiting new leaders will emerge. Perhaps now is the time for Rutgers, Louisville, and South Florida to step it up a notch or two, thereby ensuring valuable television rights and lucrative bowl bids for the conference.
The Big East Football Conference is in the midst of experiencing its biggest changes since its founding in 1991. Gone are perennial powers Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College as well as league doormat, Temple. New to the conference are Louisville, Cincinnati, and South Florida. Some are calling the changes one big folly; while others believe that the conference will shake off its losses and move forward stronger and wiser.
Three letters have hurt the Big East Conference over the past few years. They are: A-C-C. ACC, as in Atlantic Coast Conference, who lured and then persuaded three Big East schools to make the leap over to the ACC. For the Big East, the three schools represented the league’s top football powers as well as two high performing Men’s Basketball squads: Boston College and Miami. In this age of lucrative television contracts and super conferences the three defecting schools took the money and ran.
Purists were left howling by the departures and at the ACC’s trolling of the Big East Conference. Some suggested lawsuits, while others stated that there was no legal obligation for the schools to stay.
Once it was confirmed that the three departing schools would leave, the Big East Conference was faced with a dilemma that could only undermine its ability to not only thrive, but to survive. It had previously been decided that Temple would be forced out as their program did not measure up to Big East Conference standards, or so it has been said. Still, Temple was not invited back and the Big East began to look elsewhere for schools to fill their depleted ranks. So, the Big East turned to the Conference USA.
Louisville, Cincinnati, and South Florida – along with Marquette who doesn’t play football – were all persuaded to leave Conference USA for the Big East. For some, this is where the folly begins.
Do the three new schools measure up to the programs which they are replacing? Absolutely not. Louisville comes closest and is likely nearly equal to Boston College in strength, but their football program does not compare to either Virginia Tech or Miami. Cincinnati compares much more favorably to the departed Temple team, while South Florida is a new Division 1-A program and was only added to replace Miami as the league’s warm weather school. Just kidding…I think.
The remaining conference schools are Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, and West Virginia. West Virginia is the current conference leader while Rutgers is taking advantage of a weakened conference and also sitting near the top. The remaining schools are rebuilding, making the Big East Conference extra weak this year.
The pundits and prognosticators know that the Big East is reeling and they understand that there is no guarantee that the present league configuration will produce football programs on the level of the dearly departed members. In my opinion, give the conference two or three years and you may find that with just a couple of years of excellent recruiting new leaders will emerge. Perhaps now is the time for Rutgers, Louisville, and South Florida to step it up a notch or two, thereby ensuring valuable television rights and lucrative bowl bids for the conference.
Three letters have hurt the Big East Conference over the past few years. They are: A-C-C. ACC, as in Atlantic Coast Conference, who lured and then persuaded three Big East schools to make the leap over to the ACC. For the Big East, the three schools represented the league’s top football powers as well as two high performing Men’s Basketball squads: Boston College and Miami. In this age of lucrative television contracts and super conferences the three defecting schools took the money and ran.
Purists were left howling by the departures and at the ACC’s trolling of the Big East Conference. Some suggested lawsuits, while others stated that there was no legal obligation for the schools to stay.
Once it was confirmed that the three departing schools would leave, the Big East Conference was faced with a dilemma that could only undermine its ability to not only thrive, but to survive. It had previously been decided that Temple would be forced out as their program did not measure up to Big East Conference standards, or so it has been said. Still, Temple was not invited back and the Big East began to look elsewhere for schools to fill their depleted ranks. So, the Big East turned to the Conference USA.
Louisville, Cincinnati, and South Florida – along with Marquette who doesn’t play football – were all persuaded to leave Conference USA for the Big East. For some, this is where the folly begins.
Do the three new schools measure up to the programs which they are replacing? Absolutely not. Louisville comes closest and is likely nearly equal to Boston College in strength, but their football program does not compare to either Virginia Tech or Miami. Cincinnati compares much more favorably to the departed Temple team, while South Florida is a new Division 1-A program and was only added to replace Miami as the league’s warm weather school. Just kidding…I think.
The remaining conference schools are Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, and West Virginia. West Virginia is the current conference leader while Rutgers is taking advantage of a weakened conference and also sitting near the top. The remaining schools are rebuilding, making the Big East Conference extra weak this year.
The pundits and prognosticators know that the Big East is reeling and they understand that there is no guarantee that the present league configuration will produce football programs on the level of the dearly departed members. In my opinion, give the conference two or three years and you may find that with just a couple of years of excellent recruiting new leaders will emerge. Perhaps now is the time for Rutgers, Louisville, and South Florida to step it up a notch or two, thereby ensuring valuable television rights and lucrative bowl bids for the conference.
When you browse around a bike shop, it is easy to get caught up in all of the accessories there are to buy. Some you can easily brush off and find no need for, however, even casual bike riders should consider purchasing various bicycling accessories to make their riding much more comfortable. You don't need any accessories to ride a bike (accept for a helmet for safety), however, I realized after starting back to riding that specific items are now a necessity for myself.
The first thing I purchased for my bicycle was a well-cushioned comfort seat. You can find various types in a bike shop including ones that you can pull over your regular seat. I prefer buying a whole new seat rather than to cover up an uncomfortable one. If you ride for exercise or just for fun, a good padded seat will allow you to ride for much longer periods of time. You can install a new seat yourself or have the bike shop do it for you. Seats are one of the many bicycle parts that are easy to self install.
Another accessory update that helps are pedals with teeth. Most new bicycles come with stock pedals that offer no real grip. These types of pedals are made of solid steel and have teeth or claws that provide a strong grip for the soles of your shoes. These types of pedals can prevent your feet from slipping off of the pedals which can cause an accident.
If you do any type of night riding, it would be wise to invest in a quality headlight. I learned not to go too cheap on a bicycle light because the cheaper models barely light up enough for you to see what is ahead of you. A good high beam bicycle light will provide tons of light to see the road ahead as well as alert any oncoming traffic. The better quality lights usually require a battery pack that are rechargeable. The same goes for having a back light. These are not as expensive but are a good idea to have as the more light you have the less chance of cars not seeing you.
One accessory that you may not consider is the bicycle bell. I was one of those people who laughed at the thought of having a bell on my bike. A bell makes it much easier to warn people ahead of you to make way because you are coming through. This helps a lot when you are on a bike trail. Some bike trails also have people walking on them. Rather than yelling out "on your left" or "on your right", you can simply ring your bell a few times and people will move to the side. This also works great when passing up other bike riders who may not hear you yell out.
Other accessories that add to comfort are bicycle gloves and bottle attachment. Padded gloves will save your hands from calluses and a bottle attachment makes carrying water or a sports drink much easier. Next time you are browsing bicycle accessories, you may want to ask yourself if a particular item could make your riding experience much more comfortable as well as safer.
The first thing I purchased for my bicycle was a well-cushioned comfort seat. You can find various types in a bike shop including ones that you can pull over your regular seat. I prefer buying a whole new seat rather than to cover up an uncomfortable one. If you ride for exercise or just for fun, a good padded seat will allow you to ride for much longer periods of time. You can install a new seat yourself or have the bike shop do it for you. Seats are one of the many bicycle parts that are easy to self install.
Another accessory update that helps are pedals with teeth. Most new bicycles come with stock pedals that offer no real grip. These types of pedals are made of solid steel and have teeth or claws that provide a strong grip for the soles of your shoes. These types of pedals can prevent your feet from slipping off of the pedals which can cause an accident.
If you do any type of night riding, it would be wise to invest in a quality headlight. I learned not to go too cheap on a bicycle light because the cheaper models barely light up enough for you to see what is ahead of you. A good high beam bicycle light will provide tons of light to see the road ahead as well as alert any oncoming traffic. The better quality lights usually require a battery pack that are rechargeable. The same goes for having a back light. These are not as expensive but are a good idea to have as the more light you have the less chance of cars not seeing you.
One accessory that you may not consider is the bicycle bell. I was one of those people who laughed at the thought of having a bell on my bike. A bell makes it much easier to warn people ahead of you to make way because you are coming through. This helps a lot when you are on a bike trail. Some bike trails also have people walking on them. Rather than yelling out "on your left" or "on your right", you can simply ring your bell a few times and people will move to the side. This also works great when passing up other bike riders who may not hear you yell out.
Other accessories that add to comfort are bicycle gloves and bottle attachment. Padded gloves will save your hands from calluses and a bottle attachment makes carrying water or a sports drink much easier. Next time you are browsing bicycle accessories, you may want to ask yourself if a particular item could make your riding experience much more comfortable as well as safer.
Are you ready for some baseball? Some baseball, you said! It’s a 7-month, 162-game season, which means there’s plenty of opportunity to place your wagers. In fact, from April 4th through October there’s rarely a day on the calendar that doesn’t have at least a few MLB games.
Along with the large volume of games, there comes a variety of betting choices. Basic bets include the money line, run line and over/under, while numerous propositions are also offered. As with any other type of sportsbook wagering, many of these bets can be parlayed in an attempt to increase your return.
MONEY LINE:
The most common baseball wager is the money line. A typical money line for baseball would look like this:
Florida Marlins D. Willis+120
New York Mets T. Glavine-130
The top team is the away team. Next to each team the scheduled starting pitcher is listed. The plus symbol in front of the number indicates this team is the underdog, while the minus symbol denotes the favorite. The home team in a wager is always listed below or last, unless otherwise noted.
With the money line above, for every $10 you wager on the Marlins, if they win, you’d get $12 plus your original wager of $10 for a total return of $22. In putting money on the Mets, you would have to wager $13 to win $10 for a total return of $23. In wagering on baseball, for the bet to have action the starting pitchers listed must start the game, otherwise all bets are off and returned.
RUN LINE:
The run line combines the money line with a point spread, which is usually set at 1 ½ runs. Point spreads are used to even the playing field and to make wagering just a bit trickier. The run line also incorporates the money line, which means the payoff varies according to the line. The money line has changed due to the point spread, but the point spread is what counts here, making the Mets the favored club. A typical run line for the game between Florida and NY would be:
Florida Marlins + 1 ½ -190
New York Mets -1 ½ +165
This means if you put money on Florida, they can lose by a run and you still win. The bookmaker has spotted Florida one-and-a-half runs. If you place a wager on the Mets, they’ll have to win by 2 runs in order for you to collect. If the final score is Florida 3, New York 4, those who placed cash on the Marlins win. Mets’ bettors are left needing another run for their team to win and to get a return on their investment.
However, note how the point spread changes the money line. With the run line you must wager $19 to win $10 and get a total return of $29 on Florida. In betting the Mets, a $10 bet will yield $16 and a return of $26. By favoring one team over the other with the point spread, you now have to wager more to get a return on the underdog and less to receive money on the favorite.
OVER/UNDER:
The over/under bet is based on the number of runs both teams will score in one game. The over/under on the Marlins and Mets might be listed as 7 ½. If you bet the over on this contest that means you’re putting cash on the chance that more than seven runs will be scored by both teams. Placing money on the under will only result in a payoff if the total runs scored totals less than 7. The payoff is indicated by yet another money line. Along with analyzing each team’s offense, bookmakers consider the pitchers involved. With Dontrelle Willis (LHP) on the mound for the Marlins and Tom Glavine (LHP) taking the ball for the Mets, the over might be -110 and the under +120. In this scenario, the expected result is under 6 runs. Winning on the under with a $12 bet will increase your cash by $10 for a total return of $22, while hitting on the over with a $10 wager, you’ll win $11 for a return of $21.
Usually with any baseball wager the following rules apply:
* The starting pitchers who are listed must start the game or there is no action.
* The game must go nine innings (or 8 ½ if the home team is ahead) or there is no action.
When putting together all the online betting options on this game, you’ll usually see something like this:
6:05 pm Pitchers RunLine Total MoneyLn
959 Florida Marlins D. Willis -R-190-120 +120
960 New York Mets T. Glavine -R -1½ +165 7 ½ +110 -130
PARLAY:
A parlay bet involves combining the outcomes of two or more bets in a single wager. One type of parlay might string together the outcomes of three different games in one $20 wager. For the parlay to payoff, you must win all of your bets. If you’re wrong on even one of your choices, you lose. You may parlay within one game, amongst various contests or amongst various sports, combining baseball, basketball, and NASCAR wagers.
People like to parlay their bets because the payoffs are much higher than on individual wagers. Your return is larger due to the fact that with a parlay you are automatically reinvesting your winnings. A $10 wager may have a $16 payoff, but using that same $10 bet in a parlay that includes 3 wagers would result in a payoff of approximately $120. Although the risk is certainly greater, many bettors feel the chance of garnering a greater return is worth it.
PROPOSITIONS:
Propositions or “props” are bets that focus on one specific aspect of the game or an entire season. Prop bets include two or more outcomes and are not related to the final score of a game. Wagers on who will win the batting crown, whether or not anyone will hit .400 or better, and how many pitchers will win 20 or more games this year are all examples of props. Other propositions include putting money on whether or not Mark McGwire will be elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007, whether or not Barry Bonds will break Hank Aarons’ homerun record, and who will get more Hall of Fame votes in 2007—Cal Ripken or Tony Gwynn?
These wagers may carry a money line and if you hit one, it can be very lucrative. Betting $10 on Derrick Jeter (+2500) having the highest batting average in the majors would result in a $250 payday. Basic odds or multipliers may also be used to calculate a payoff. Whatever method is used, it will be stated clearly with the proposition.
There are also props you can play each day, which usually pit the totals of one player against another player or one team against another club. The odds for propositions based on a seasonal outcome will change throughout the season. Your payoff odds are the ones you were given when you placed your wager. It’s rare that you’ll be allowed to parlay a prop bet (props that can be combined are called “exotics.”)
These are some of the more popular wagers you can place on a ball game. Some are certainly riskier than others, but all of these different bets can be researched prior to putting your money down. Before wagering, take some time to check out the landscape, understand the risks and potential payoffs, and study the teams or individuals on which you’re placing your cash. There are no guarantees, but an educated better with a solid long-term plan has more of a chance of winning than someone who acts on emotion and in a scattershot manner.
Have fun and play ball!
Along with the large volume of games, there comes a variety of betting choices. Basic bets include the money line, run line and over/under, while numerous propositions are also offered. As with any other type of sportsbook wagering, many of these bets can be parlayed in an attempt to increase your return.
MONEY LINE:
The most common baseball wager is the money line. A typical money line for baseball would look like this:
Florida Marlins D. Willis+120
New York Mets T. Glavine-130
The top team is the away team. Next to each team the scheduled starting pitcher is listed. The plus symbol in front of the number indicates this team is the underdog, while the minus symbol denotes the favorite. The home team in a wager is always listed below or last, unless otherwise noted.
With the money line above, for every $10 you wager on the Marlins, if they win, you’d get $12 plus your original wager of $10 for a total return of $22. In putting money on the Mets, you would have to wager $13 to win $10 for a total return of $23. In wagering on baseball, for the bet to have action the starting pitchers listed must start the game, otherwise all bets are off and returned.
RUN LINE:
The run line combines the money line with a point spread, which is usually set at 1 ½ runs. Point spreads are used to even the playing field and to make wagering just a bit trickier. The run line also incorporates the money line, which means the payoff varies according to the line. The money line has changed due to the point spread, but the point spread is what counts here, making the Mets the favored club. A typical run line for the game between Florida and NY would be:
Florida Marlins + 1 ½ -190
New York Mets -1 ½ +165
This means if you put money on Florida, they can lose by a run and you still win. The bookmaker has spotted Florida one-and-a-half runs. If you place a wager on the Mets, they’ll have to win by 2 runs in order for you to collect. If the final score is Florida 3, New York 4, those who placed cash on the Marlins win. Mets’ bettors are left needing another run for their team to win and to get a return on their investment.
However, note how the point spread changes the money line. With the run line you must wager $19 to win $10 and get a total return of $29 on Florida. In betting the Mets, a $10 bet will yield $16 and a return of $26. By favoring one team over the other with the point spread, you now have to wager more to get a return on the underdog and less to receive money on the favorite.
OVER/UNDER:
The over/under bet is based on the number of runs both teams will score in one game. The over/under on the Marlins and Mets might be listed as 7 ½. If you bet the over on this contest that means you’re putting cash on the chance that more than seven runs will be scored by both teams. Placing money on the under will only result in a payoff if the total runs scored totals less than 7. The payoff is indicated by yet another money line. Along with analyzing each team’s offense, bookmakers consider the pitchers involved. With Dontrelle Willis (LHP) on the mound for the Marlins and Tom Glavine (LHP) taking the ball for the Mets, the over might be -110 and the under +120. In this scenario, the expected result is under 6 runs. Winning on the under with a $12 bet will increase your cash by $10 for a total return of $22, while hitting on the over with a $10 wager, you’ll win $11 for a return of $21.
Usually with any baseball wager the following rules apply:
* The starting pitchers who are listed must start the game or there is no action.
* The game must go nine innings (or 8 ½ if the home team is ahead) or there is no action.
When putting together all the online betting options on this game, you’ll usually see something like this:
6:05 pm Pitchers RunLine Total MoneyLn
959 Florida Marlins D. Willis -R-190-120 +120
960 New York Mets T. Glavine -R -1½ +165 7 ½ +110 -130
PARLAY:
A parlay bet involves combining the outcomes of two or more bets in a single wager. One type of parlay might string together the outcomes of three different games in one $20 wager. For the parlay to payoff, you must win all of your bets. If you’re wrong on even one of your choices, you lose. You may parlay within one game, amongst various contests or amongst various sports, combining baseball, basketball, and NASCAR wagers.
People like to parlay their bets because the payoffs are much higher than on individual wagers. Your return is larger due to the fact that with a parlay you are automatically reinvesting your winnings. A $10 wager may have a $16 payoff, but using that same $10 bet in a parlay that includes 3 wagers would result in a payoff of approximately $120. Although the risk is certainly greater, many bettors feel the chance of garnering a greater return is worth it.
PROPOSITIONS:
Propositions or “props” are bets that focus on one specific aspect of the game or an entire season. Prop bets include two or more outcomes and are not related to the final score of a game. Wagers on who will win the batting crown, whether or not anyone will hit .400 or better, and how many pitchers will win 20 or more games this year are all examples of props. Other propositions include putting money on whether or not Mark McGwire will be elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007, whether or not Barry Bonds will break Hank Aarons’ homerun record, and who will get more Hall of Fame votes in 2007—Cal Ripken or Tony Gwynn?
These wagers may carry a money line and if you hit one, it can be very lucrative. Betting $10 on Derrick Jeter (+2500) having the highest batting average in the majors would result in a $250 payday. Basic odds or multipliers may also be used to calculate a payoff. Whatever method is used, it will be stated clearly with the proposition.
There are also props you can play each day, which usually pit the totals of one player against another player or one team against another club. The odds for propositions based on a seasonal outcome will change throughout the season. Your payoff odds are the ones you were given when you placed your wager. It’s rare that you’ll be allowed to parlay a prop bet (props that can be combined are called “exotics.”)
These are some of the more popular wagers you can place on a ball game. Some are certainly riskier than others, but all of these different bets can be researched prior to putting your money down. Before wagering, take some time to check out the landscape, understand the risks and potential payoffs, and study the teams or individuals on which you’re placing your cash. There are no guarantees, but an educated better with a solid long-term plan has more of a chance of winning than someone who acts on emotion and in a scattershot manner.
Have fun and play ball!
Among the oldest spectator sports in the U.S., thoroughbred horse racing originated with the British who introduced the sport to Colonial America a century prior to the Revolutionary War. Proving hugely popular with the colonists, horse racing has remained so, that is until recent years. While still attracting a considerable number of fans, there has been a noticeable and continuing decline in live track attendance.. This can be directly attributed to competition from other forms of gambling, and most certainly due to the convenience of betting at off-track facilities and more emphatically via the internet.
There are still plenty of die-hard handicappers out there, but with gambling sites offering streaming audio/video, etc. the horse player can experience the excitement of the race and place bets with the on-line casino without leaving home. In fact there are literally billions of dollars still being waged on horse racing, but it is estimated that no more than 15% of those wagers are placed at the race track betting windows.
When bets are made off-track, the tracks end up with a lower percentage . However, all of that aside, internet wagering is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds, and there are apt to be more novice bettors playing the ponies through the web than there are novices attending the race tracks. Many bettors new to track betting don’t realize that a player needs to at least know something of the basics of betting on a horse and the reason that particular animal was chosen as a would-be winner.
To begin with, there are two types of horse racing competition. There is harness racing in which a driver rides a two-wheel cart and is pulled by a “trotter”, a horse specially bred and trained for this form of racing. Then there is thoroughbred racing in which a jockey sits astride a saddled racehorse.
There are various ways to bet on a horserace, and would-be handicappers must familiarize themselves with all of them:
Win – Place – Show : Win is to bet on which horse will win the race, and pays higher than place or show. Place is to bet that a horse will place first or second, and pays less than Win. Show is betting that a chosen horse will finish in third place or higher and pays less than Win or Place.
Perfecta: Two winners must be chosen and must finish in the exact order as wagered.
Quinella: Similar to the Perfecta, but winners can finish in any order.
Trifecta: Bettor must choose the first three winners of a race in the exact order as wagered.
Daily Double: A track wager in which the bettor must select the winners in two consecutive races. Usually the first two races of the day.
Pick Three: The bettor must pick the winner in each of three consecutive races.
Interactive race wagering was introduced in the U.S. in 1991, when Television Games Network (TVG) introduced a television racing network available through cable and satellite programming services.
There are still plenty of die-hard handicappers out there, but with gambling sites offering streaming audio/video, etc. the horse player can experience the excitement of the race and place bets with the on-line casino without leaving home. In fact there are literally billions of dollars still being waged on horse racing, but it is estimated that no more than 15% of those wagers are placed at the race track betting windows.
When bets are made off-track, the tracks end up with a lower percentage . However, all of that aside, internet wagering is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds, and there are apt to be more novice bettors playing the ponies through the web than there are novices attending the race tracks. Many bettors new to track betting don’t realize that a player needs to at least know something of the basics of betting on a horse and the reason that particular animal was chosen as a would-be winner.
To begin with, there are two types of horse racing competition. There is harness racing in which a driver rides a two-wheel cart and is pulled by a “trotter”, a horse specially bred and trained for this form of racing. Then there is thoroughbred racing in which a jockey sits astride a saddled racehorse.
There are various ways to bet on a horserace, and would-be handicappers must familiarize themselves with all of them:
Win – Place – Show : Win is to bet on which horse will win the race, and pays higher than place or show. Place is to bet that a horse will place first or second, and pays less than Win. Show is betting that a chosen horse will finish in third place or higher and pays less than Win or Place.
Perfecta: Two winners must be chosen and must finish in the exact order as wagered.
Quinella: Similar to the Perfecta, but winners can finish in any order.
Trifecta: Bettor must choose the first three winners of a race in the exact order as wagered.
Daily Double: A track wager in which the bettor must select the winners in two consecutive races. Usually the first two races of the day.
Pick Three: The bettor must pick the winner in each of three consecutive races.
Interactive race wagering was introduced in the U.S. in 1991, when Television Games Network (TVG) introduced a television racing network available through cable and satellite programming services.
A good ball glove can have a big effect on youth’s enjoyment of playing baseball and even about whether baseball is a worthwhile sport for them to participate in. Kids could be playing many other sports, and in fact, participation in basketball and soccer is growing fast in the US. There’s no better summer sport or pastime than baseball though. It has a rich American tradition that other sports don’t possess and that’s an important part of your own child’s sports experience.
Baseball is a game that is dependent on equipment though, and if the equipment is poor quality or in doesn’t suit the kids using them, it can dampen their enthusiasm for little league baseball. It’s important to buy youth baseball gloves for your child, not small adult baseball gloves which will discourage your youngster.
They had poor equipment back in the old days, including rotted out or horribly stiff leather gloves. Some would actually throw the glove down and try to catch with their bare hands. It may not be that bad today, but in visiting your local sporting goods store, you’ve probably wondered about the quality of the gloves on the store shelves. Some are weird shapes and feel uncomfortable and the selection is many times limited.
The Good Old Days
Have you ever wondered whether baseball glove manufacturers are producing better ball gloves now than in decades past? Well, if you happen to have an old baseball glove still around and compare it to modern youth baseball gloves, you’ll notice a big difference. Those old gloves didn’t make catching and fielding easy for infielders, outfielders and especially catchers. You actually had to have some outstanding athletic skills and knowledge of catching to make a catch. In those days, you used both hands to catch a ball because you had to.
That’s not to say these new gloves are suited to the ball player that’s using them. These kids range in physical size greatly, and play different positions. The child that has a new, well-fitted glove is going to catch the ball better and play with a lot more confidence.
Young ball players with their metal bats are hitting the ball hard, so infielders and outfielders need good gloves just to catch them, let alone throw the runner out at first. We shouldn’t just assume that any glove would do for our child. Each youngster has their own level of coordination and confidence, along with their own style and preferences, and fortunately, there are so many types and styles of gloves available now, that you should be able to find one they like. You don’t see kids get hurt often but it does happen and it will happen more often with the child that feels uncomfortable with the baseball equipment they’re using.
Bad Bounces
Last week, while watching a youth baseball game (11 year olds) a batter hit a ball hard up the middle, fortunately missing the pitcher. The ball hit the side of the mound and bounced up to hit the base umpire in the shoulder. She was hurt and lay on the ground several minutes before getting up. That highlighted well, the speed the balls are reaching and that the young infielder playing with awkward baseball glove is going to playing with fear. Yes, some fear is good, as it keeps them sharp and makes the game exciting, but too much fear and they’re going to get discouraged.
Many of the kids on these teams have gloves that are too small, and overwhelmingly, you see their reluctance to catch well-hit grounders. They generally wave at it going by them and sigh in relief that it wasn’t hit right at them. One youngster in the outfield ran to make a diving catch only to have the ball pop out of his glove. They used to see that if your glove touched a ball, you should have caught it and it is an error for you. When a ball is in your glove, it should stay in there. In this kid’s case, the ball was clearly in his glove and yet it popped out. The reason for that is that the glove didn’t fit his hand and the web wouldn’t close tightly.
He walked dejectedly back to centerfield, his position, and cursed at himself for dropping it. It was like a scene out of a Charlie Brown episode. If he’d hung onto that ball, he would have been walking on clouds and be the pride of the team. I don’t have to tell you how important peer pressure is with kids these days and when kids never catch the ball, it can deflate the team and even the crowd of parents watching the game. Sometimes, it’s downright torture to watch a ball game if the kids can’t catch or throw properly.
Young pitchers too, can have trouble throwing strikes, and after walking batter after batter, you can sense disappointment. The glove on the pitcher’s hand acts as a counterbalance when throwing and if it doesn’t feel comfortable for him, you may be in for a long inning.
A fair number of kids come from homes that can’t afford a new glove every year and they may not be able to afford baseball shoes. If there’s one piece of equipment you need to focus on for youth baseball players, it has to be the glove. Your child is out there standing for half of the game, with this glove on their hand. If it’s uncomfortable, and doesn’t fit, that has to take some of the enjoyment out of it.
There’s a mind-boggling array of youth baseball brands out there to choose from Rawling, Mizuno, Wilson, Spalding, Rawlings, Nokona, Akadema, Kelly, Nike, Louisville, SSK and more. The problem with many of these big brand names is not only the inflated prices associated with these brands, it’s the weight and stiffness of the gloves. The materials and the stitching are sewn well enough. They aren’t designed with kids in mind who after all, don’t have time to break the glove in. Within one year, they will have likely outgrown the glove, so what’s the point of buying a glove like that? The glove ends up unused in a closet or on the garage floor becoming a nuisance object.
Baseball is a game that is dependent on equipment though, and if the equipment is poor quality or in doesn’t suit the kids using them, it can dampen their enthusiasm for little league baseball. It’s important to buy youth baseball gloves for your child, not small adult baseball gloves which will discourage your youngster.
They had poor equipment back in the old days, including rotted out or horribly stiff leather gloves. Some would actually throw the glove down and try to catch with their bare hands. It may not be that bad today, but in visiting your local sporting goods store, you’ve probably wondered about the quality of the gloves on the store shelves. Some are weird shapes and feel uncomfortable and the selection is many times limited.
The Good Old Days
Have you ever wondered whether baseball glove manufacturers are producing better ball gloves now than in decades past? Well, if you happen to have an old baseball glove still around and compare it to modern youth baseball gloves, you’ll notice a big difference. Those old gloves didn’t make catching and fielding easy for infielders, outfielders and especially catchers. You actually had to have some outstanding athletic skills and knowledge of catching to make a catch. In those days, you used both hands to catch a ball because you had to.
That’s not to say these new gloves are suited to the ball player that’s using them. These kids range in physical size greatly, and play different positions. The child that has a new, well-fitted glove is going to catch the ball better and play with a lot more confidence.
Young ball players with their metal bats are hitting the ball hard, so infielders and outfielders need good gloves just to catch them, let alone throw the runner out at first. We shouldn’t just assume that any glove would do for our child. Each youngster has their own level of coordination and confidence, along with their own style and preferences, and fortunately, there are so many types and styles of gloves available now, that you should be able to find one they like. You don’t see kids get hurt often but it does happen and it will happen more often with the child that feels uncomfortable with the baseball equipment they’re using.
Bad Bounces
Last week, while watching a youth baseball game (11 year olds) a batter hit a ball hard up the middle, fortunately missing the pitcher. The ball hit the side of the mound and bounced up to hit the base umpire in the shoulder. She was hurt and lay on the ground several minutes before getting up. That highlighted well, the speed the balls are reaching and that the young infielder playing with awkward baseball glove is going to playing with fear. Yes, some fear is good, as it keeps them sharp and makes the game exciting, but too much fear and they’re going to get discouraged.
Many of the kids on these teams have gloves that are too small, and overwhelmingly, you see their reluctance to catch well-hit grounders. They generally wave at it going by them and sigh in relief that it wasn’t hit right at them. One youngster in the outfield ran to make a diving catch only to have the ball pop out of his glove. They used to see that if your glove touched a ball, you should have caught it and it is an error for you. When a ball is in your glove, it should stay in there. In this kid’s case, the ball was clearly in his glove and yet it popped out. The reason for that is that the glove didn’t fit his hand and the web wouldn’t close tightly.
He walked dejectedly back to centerfield, his position, and cursed at himself for dropping it. It was like a scene out of a Charlie Brown episode. If he’d hung onto that ball, he would have been walking on clouds and be the pride of the team. I don’t have to tell you how important peer pressure is with kids these days and when kids never catch the ball, it can deflate the team and even the crowd of parents watching the game. Sometimes, it’s downright torture to watch a ball game if the kids can’t catch or throw properly.
Young pitchers too, can have trouble throwing strikes, and after walking batter after batter, you can sense disappointment. The glove on the pitcher’s hand acts as a counterbalance when throwing and if it doesn’t feel comfortable for him, you may be in for a long inning.
A fair number of kids come from homes that can’t afford a new glove every year and they may not be able to afford baseball shoes. If there’s one piece of equipment you need to focus on for youth baseball players, it has to be the glove. Your child is out there standing for half of the game, with this glove on their hand. If it’s uncomfortable, and doesn’t fit, that has to take some of the enjoyment out of it.
There’s a mind-boggling array of youth baseball brands out there to choose from Rawling, Mizuno, Wilson, Spalding, Rawlings, Nokona, Akadema, Kelly, Nike, Louisville, SSK and more. The problem with many of these big brand names is not only the inflated prices associated with these brands, it’s the weight and stiffness of the gloves. The materials and the stitching are sewn well enough. They aren’t designed with kids in mind who after all, don’t have time to break the glove in. Within one year, they will have likely outgrown the glove, so what’s the point of buying a glove like that? The glove ends up unused in a closet or on the garage floor becoming a nuisance object.
Best GPS for Hunting:
There is No One Perfect GPS for Hunting
That's right; there is no one perfect GPS for hunting. There may be one that you consider perfect for yourself, but probably not everyone has the same needs you do. However, overall there are highly recommended GPS for hunting out there, and they are all listed below. These are considered the best GPS for hunting. The hunting community has rated these as the most popular GPS for hunting. However, choosing a good GPS for hunting depends on what and how you, personally, plan on using your GPS for the hunt. I can't tell you the one single GPS that has been proven the best for hunting, though I have put together a list of the most qualified and top rated GPS for hunting. So I encourage you to look into each of these GPS and find what exactly it is that you are looking for and choose which GPS is best suited for you. GPS technology is constantly changing so check back often for updates.
Features of the Best GPS for Hunting:
-Long battery life (between 15-25 hours)
-Plenty of memory to hold waypoints (14-25 MB should be good)
-Easily portable/light weight (hand held)
-I hunt at night so a easily readable screen
-WAAS capability (allows for accuracy of up to 3 meters)
-Water proof/resistant
Top Rated GPS for Hunting
-Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx
-Garmin Etrex Camo
-Magellan Explorist 200
-Garmin GPS 60
Long Battery Life for a Handheld GPS
One of the best features a handheld GPS can have is a long battery life. Hunting is not a short event most go hunting for days even. A long battery life for a GPS can save a lot of frustration while hunting. It allows for longer hunting trips to locations you would not be able to go without a GPS with longer battery life. So be sure you add this feature to your list when deciding the best GPS for hunting.
GPS Needs Plenty of Memory While Hunting
It is a common practice to revisit waypoints several times because most hunters have spots they like. If you are one to revisit waypoints your GPS will start to run out of memory and no one wants to delete spots that have been good to them in the past for hunting. So when shopping for a GPS be sure you save yourself the hassle of having to decide which waypoints are more important and get plenty of memory for your hunting GPS.
Hunting GPS Should be Light Weight and Portable
No one enjoys walking around the woods hunting while carrying a big heavy burden of a GPS. There are some handheld GPS that weigh up to 3.5 pounds. That would be a terror to go hunting with. Anything over 2 pounds is a little to heavy to be considered in the best GPS for deer hunting category. So try and stay under 2 pounds when shopping for your hunting GPS.
GPS Should Have WAAS Capability to be Good for Hunting
WAAS has been around for awhile and yet many GPS owners still have no idea what it is. WAAS capability basically allows for a GPS unit's accuracy to be within 3 meters. When hunting you want to know exactly where you are and how far you have to go in case of an accident. So when deciding which GPS is the best for your hunting needs be sure to include WAAS capability as a must have feature.
When Hunting GPS Need to be Water Resistant/Water Proof
As most already know, hunting, is an outdoor sport, which means weather applys. When it comes to a $100+ piece of equipment thats primary use is outdoors you don't want a little water to ruin it. So be sure your hunting GPS is some what water resistant. Particularly if you are one to go hunting in the woods where there are plenty of places to accidentally drop the GPS into standing water.
There is No One Perfect GPS for Hunting
That's right; there is no one perfect GPS for hunting. There may be one that you consider perfect for yourself, but probably not everyone has the same needs you do. However, overall there are highly recommended GPS for hunting out there, and they are all listed below. These are considered the best GPS for hunting. The hunting community has rated these as the most popular GPS for hunting. However, choosing a good GPS for hunting depends on what and how you, personally, plan on using your GPS for the hunt. I can't tell you the one single GPS that has been proven the best for hunting, though I have put together a list of the most qualified and top rated GPS for hunting. So I encourage you to look into each of these GPS and find what exactly it is that you are looking for and choose which GPS is best suited for you. GPS technology is constantly changing so check back often for updates.
Features of the Best GPS for Hunting:
-Long battery life (between 15-25 hours)
-Plenty of memory to hold waypoints (14-25 MB should be good)
-Easily portable/light weight (hand held)
-I hunt at night so a easily readable screen
-WAAS capability (allows for accuracy of up to 3 meters)
-Water proof/resistant
Top Rated GPS for Hunting
-Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx
-Garmin Etrex Camo
-Magellan Explorist 200
-Garmin GPS 60
Long Battery Life for a Handheld GPS
One of the best features a handheld GPS can have is a long battery life. Hunting is not a short event most go hunting for days even. A long battery life for a GPS can save a lot of frustration while hunting. It allows for longer hunting trips to locations you would not be able to go without a GPS with longer battery life. So be sure you add this feature to your list when deciding the best GPS for hunting.
GPS Needs Plenty of Memory While Hunting
It is a common practice to revisit waypoints several times because most hunters have spots they like. If you are one to revisit waypoints your GPS will start to run out of memory and no one wants to delete spots that have been good to them in the past for hunting. So when shopping for a GPS be sure you save yourself the hassle of having to decide which waypoints are more important and get plenty of memory for your hunting GPS.
Hunting GPS Should be Light Weight and Portable
No one enjoys walking around the woods hunting while carrying a big heavy burden of a GPS. There are some handheld GPS that weigh up to 3.5 pounds. That would be a terror to go hunting with. Anything over 2 pounds is a little to heavy to be considered in the best GPS for deer hunting category. So try and stay under 2 pounds when shopping for your hunting GPS.
GPS Should Have WAAS Capability to be Good for Hunting
WAAS has been around for awhile and yet many GPS owners still have no idea what it is. WAAS capability basically allows for a GPS unit's accuracy to be within 3 meters. When hunting you want to know exactly where you are and how far you have to go in case of an accident. So when deciding which GPS is the best for your hunting needs be sure to include WAAS capability as a must have feature.
When Hunting GPS Need to be Water Resistant/Water Proof
As most already know, hunting, is an outdoor sport, which means weather applys. When it comes to a $100+ piece of equipment thats primary use is outdoors you don't want a little water to ruin it. So be sure your hunting GPS is some what water resistant. Particularly if you are one to go hunting in the woods where there are plenty of places to accidentally drop the GPS into standing water.
Thats right, there is no one perfect GPS for geocaching. There may be one that you consider perfect for yourself, but probably not everyone has the same needs you do. However, overall there are highly recommended GPS for geocaching out there, and they are all listed below. These are considered the best GPS for geocaching. The geocaching community has rated these as the most popular GPS for geocaching in the last year. However, choosing a good GPS for geocaching depends on what and how you, personally, plan on using your GPS in the quest for the cache. I can't tell you the one single GPS that has been proven the best for geocaching, though I have put together a list of the most qualified and top rated GPS for geocaching. So I encourage you to look into each of these GPS and find what exactly it is that you are looking for and choose which GPS is best suited for your geocaching needs. GPS technology is constantly changing so check back often for updates.
Features of the Best GPS for Geocaching:
-Long battery life (between 15-25 hours)
-Plenty of memory to hold waypoints (14-25 MB should be good)
-Easily portable/light weight (hand held)
-I geocache at night so a easily readable screen
-WAAS capability (allows for accuracy of up to 3 meters)
-Water proof/resistant
Top Rated GPS for Geocaching
-Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx
-Garmin Etrex Legend
-Magellan Explorist 200
-Garmin GPS 60
Long Battery Life for a Handheld GPS
One of the best features a handheld GPS can have is a long battery life. Geocaching is suppose to be a relaxing hobby where geocachers can enjoy taking their time in the great outdoors. A long battery life for a GPS can save a lot of frustration while geocaching. It allows for more wilderness geocaching where the prize might be miles away or there could be several geocaching waypoints in the area, which happens a lot in cities. So be sure you add this feature to your list when deciding the best GPS for geocaching.
GPS Needs Plenty of Memory While Geocaching
It is a common practice to revisit waypoints several times because the geocaching treasure is constantly changing. If you are one to revisit geocaching waypoints then your GPS will start to run out of memory and it is hard to decide which waypoints you need to delete in order to enter new ones. So when shopping for a GPS be sure you save yourself the hassle of having to decide which waypoints are more important and get plenty of memory for your geocaching GPS.
Geocaching GPS Should be Light Weight and Portable
No one enjoys walking around the woods geocaching while carrying a big heavy burden of a GPS. There are some handheld GPS that weigh up to 3.5 pounds. That would be a terror to go geocaching with. Anything over 2 pounds is a little to heavy to be considered in the best GPS for geocaching category. So try and stay under 2 pounds when shopping for your geocaching GPS.
GPS Should Have WAAS Capability to be Good for Geocaching
WAAS has been around for awhile and yet many GPS owners still have no idea what it is. WAAS capability basically allows for a GPS unit's accuracy to be within 3 meters. When it comes to geocaching this is key. No one hides their prizes out in the open so it really is important to get as close to the waypoints provided as possible, and a GPS with WAAS capability can do just that for you. So, again, when deciding which GPS is the best for your geocaching needs be sure to include WAAS capability as a must have feature.
When Geocaching GPS Need to be Water Resistant/Water Proof
As most already know, geocaching, is an outdoor sport, which means weather applys. When it comes to a $100+ piece of equipment thats primary use is outdoors you don't want a little water to ruin it. So be sure your geocaching GPS is some what water resistant. Particularly if you are one to go geocaching in the woods where there are plenty of places to accidentally drop the GPS into standing water.
Features of the Best GPS for Geocaching:
-Long battery life (between 15-25 hours)
-Plenty of memory to hold waypoints (14-25 MB should be good)
-Easily portable/light weight (hand held)
-I geocache at night so a easily readable screen
-WAAS capability (allows for accuracy of up to 3 meters)
-Water proof/resistant
Top Rated GPS for Geocaching
-Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx
-Garmin Etrex Legend
-Magellan Explorist 200
-Garmin GPS 60
Long Battery Life for a Handheld GPS
One of the best features a handheld GPS can have is a long battery life. Geocaching is suppose to be a relaxing hobby where geocachers can enjoy taking their time in the great outdoors. A long battery life for a GPS can save a lot of frustration while geocaching. It allows for more wilderness geocaching where the prize might be miles away or there could be several geocaching waypoints in the area, which happens a lot in cities. So be sure you add this feature to your list when deciding the best GPS for geocaching.
GPS Needs Plenty of Memory While Geocaching
It is a common practice to revisit waypoints several times because the geocaching treasure is constantly changing. If you are one to revisit geocaching waypoints then your GPS will start to run out of memory and it is hard to decide which waypoints you need to delete in order to enter new ones. So when shopping for a GPS be sure you save yourself the hassle of having to decide which waypoints are more important and get plenty of memory for your geocaching GPS.
Geocaching GPS Should be Light Weight and Portable
No one enjoys walking around the woods geocaching while carrying a big heavy burden of a GPS. There are some handheld GPS that weigh up to 3.5 pounds. That would be a terror to go geocaching with. Anything over 2 pounds is a little to heavy to be considered in the best GPS for geocaching category. So try and stay under 2 pounds when shopping for your geocaching GPS.
GPS Should Have WAAS Capability to be Good for Geocaching
WAAS has been around for awhile and yet many GPS owners still have no idea what it is. WAAS capability basically allows for a GPS unit's accuracy to be within 3 meters. When it comes to geocaching this is key. No one hides their prizes out in the open so it really is important to get as close to the waypoints provided as possible, and a GPS with WAAS capability can do just that for you. So, again, when deciding which GPS is the best for your geocaching needs be sure to include WAAS capability as a must have feature.
When Geocaching GPS Need to be Water Resistant/Water Proof
As most already know, geocaching, is an outdoor sport, which means weather applys. When it comes to a $100+ piece of equipment thats primary use is outdoors you don't want a little water to ruin it. So be sure your geocaching GPS is some what water resistant. Particularly if you are one to go geocaching in the woods where there are plenty of places to accidentally drop the GPS into standing water.
Sleep is essential for our existence; it is the state of natural rest to re-energize the body. During sleep the body regains much needed strength, and relieves the tiredness brought about by daily activities. A third of a person’s life is spent sleeping in bed which is why it is important to have a comfortable bed to rest on. Many people are not aware that they are sleeping in uncomfortable beds. This is evident why some parts of your body ache after a long sleep. You may also feel restless no matter how long you sleep.
If you think flat beds are better, you should consider that they do not offer any support to your body during sleep. The best choice is an adjustable bed that can surely give you a comfortable sleep.
The human body is not flat but curved in so many areas, that is the reason why we feel uncomfortable when we sleep in a flat bed. Sleeping on flat beds causes strain to the body since your body cannot adjust normally to a flat surface. With adjustable beds you can regulate the angle of incline of the head so that the neck is in the correct position relative to your whole body, giving you more comfort through the night.
Choosing the correct position can notably reduce various body pains such as neck and back pains, shoulder tension and other body aches. You can adjust the bed to any height so you never have to stack pillows to watch TV, read or do anything in bed that requires you to be upright. With an adjusted upper body during sleep your air passages are more open so you breathe better during sleep. Acid reflux is reduced if you elevate your head which prevent stomach acids from moving towards the esophagus. The upper back and shoulders are also spared from pressure so you wake up refreshed. And with an adjusted head height, snoring is prevented, giving you and your sleep partner a good night’s sleep. The lower body can also be elevated to your desired height to increase circulation throughout the whole body.
Combined with the right mattress, you can further maximize the comfort of an adjustable bed. A good mattress to match the adjustable bed’s feature is a memory foam mattress because it diminishes pressure points or body impact which can give your body improved circulation. Unlike ordinary mattresses a memory foam mattress contours to your body giving you more point to point support.
Instead of using springs these mattress uses a layer of state-of-the-art Viscoelastic memory foam. Underneath are layers of high-resilience and pre-crushed foam. Memory foam mattresses also adjust to body warmth permitting your muscles to relax. With these materials and contouring capability, you are ensured of a recharging and pleasant sleep.
Sleeping on an adjustable bed is proven to benefit your health by giving you a comfortable sleep. You have no reason to feel restless upon waking up since you know that only adjustable bed can give you the rest you deserve.
If you think flat beds are better, you should consider that they do not offer any support to your body during sleep. The best choice is an adjustable bed that can surely give you a comfortable sleep.
The human body is not flat but curved in so many areas, that is the reason why we feel uncomfortable when we sleep in a flat bed. Sleeping on flat beds causes strain to the body since your body cannot adjust normally to a flat surface. With adjustable beds you can regulate the angle of incline of the head so that the neck is in the correct position relative to your whole body, giving you more comfort through the night.
Choosing the correct position can notably reduce various body pains such as neck and back pains, shoulder tension and other body aches. You can adjust the bed to any height so you never have to stack pillows to watch TV, read or do anything in bed that requires you to be upright. With an adjusted upper body during sleep your air passages are more open so you breathe better during sleep. Acid reflux is reduced if you elevate your head which prevent stomach acids from moving towards the esophagus. The upper back and shoulders are also spared from pressure so you wake up refreshed. And with an adjusted head height, snoring is prevented, giving you and your sleep partner a good night’s sleep. The lower body can also be elevated to your desired height to increase circulation throughout the whole body.
Combined with the right mattress, you can further maximize the comfort of an adjustable bed. A good mattress to match the adjustable bed’s feature is a memory foam mattress because it diminishes pressure points or body impact which can give your body improved circulation. Unlike ordinary mattresses a memory foam mattress contours to your body giving you more point to point support.
Instead of using springs these mattress uses a layer of state-of-the-art Viscoelastic memory foam. Underneath are layers of high-resilience and pre-crushed foam. Memory foam mattresses also adjust to body warmth permitting your muscles to relax. With these materials and contouring capability, you are ensured of a recharging and pleasant sleep.
Sleeping on an adjustable bed is proven to benefit your health by giving you a comfortable sleep. You have no reason to feel restless upon waking up since you know that only adjustable bed can give you the rest you deserve.
Benefits of Online Gambling: Top Reasons to Gamble Online
Posted on
Kamis, 22 Juli 2010 |
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The online gambling industry is the most profitable industry on the internet. Millions of people around the world are wagering on sports online, playing online poker, bingo and even the lottery online at any of the thousands of gambling sites available on the net. Even people who have never visited a land based casino or a local bookie are finding themselves visiting online casinos and poker rooms on a regular basis.
So, what makes gambling on the internet so appealing? Yes, you can play any game of your choice without having to leave your favorite chair. Still, you will not be served free drinks; you will not be able to watch the game you have wagered on from big TV screens; you can neither see the facial expressions of your poker opponents nor to hear the sounds of the coins fall from the slot machine when you hit the big jackpot…
Here are the benefits of gambling online comparing to traditional gambling:
Diversity: how else can you jump from an online poker room to the craps table and to a bingo hall while staying seated on your most comfortable chair? Most online casinos feature a large variety of casino table games, slots and video poker machines. Moreover, in many major online gambling companies you can switch from online casino gambling to online sports wagering with the same username and account.
Bonuses: where else can you receive free money to gamble with? Most online casinos offer free money bonuses in order to entice new customers and to keep up with the competition. The bonuses can start from 10 dollars free just for downloading the casino software to a couple of thousand dollars for completing a certain required amount of raked hands
Convenience: obliviously, what can be more convenient than playing your favorite casino game in the comfort of your own home while listening to your favorite music and drinking your favorite beer? Not to mention being able to put your dealer on hold each time up you want to take a break
Smoking and Dress Codes: whether you are a smoker or a non smoker, when you are gambling online you are free from obeying the rules. Same goes for dressing, eating and drinking; you can either smoke non stop or remain in a non smoking environment; wear your sloppiest clothes or stay naked; eat, drink, talk on the phone, watch TV, whatever
Atmosphere: when you are gambling online, there are not any cocktail waitresses who will sedate you with free drinks and distract you from beating the dealer. In addition, you can set an atmosphere of your choice that can include clocks or even a source of day light
Beginner Friendly: a land based casino can be an intimidating place for the newbie gambler. The average online casino, on the other hand, is much more beginner friendly than its brick and mortar equivalent. Interactive tutorials, play money modes and the option of avoiding social embarrassment caused by misunderstanding of the rules and codes of behavior is a more pleasant welcome for the novice casino gamer or poker player
Safety: yes, gambling online is usually safer than playing in a land based casino and carrying big amounts of cash money in your pocket. Most online casinos are reliable and respectable businesses that will not risk their reputation and lose their customers base by scamming their players
In addition to the list of benefits mentioned above, online gambling offers equal opportunity for people with disabilities or those who cannot afford traveling out of their state to play in a legal land based casino.
However, reading about the benefits of online gambling makes the huge popularity of online gambling, online poker playing and online sports wagering much easier to understand.
So, what makes gambling on the internet so appealing? Yes, you can play any game of your choice without having to leave your favorite chair. Still, you will not be served free drinks; you will not be able to watch the game you have wagered on from big TV screens; you can neither see the facial expressions of your poker opponents nor to hear the sounds of the coins fall from the slot machine when you hit the big jackpot…
Here are the benefits of gambling online comparing to traditional gambling:
Diversity: how else can you jump from an online poker room to the craps table and to a bingo hall while staying seated on your most comfortable chair? Most online casinos feature a large variety of casino table games, slots and video poker machines. Moreover, in many major online gambling companies you can switch from online casino gambling to online sports wagering with the same username and account.
Bonuses: where else can you receive free money to gamble with? Most online casinos offer free money bonuses in order to entice new customers and to keep up with the competition. The bonuses can start from 10 dollars free just for downloading the casino software to a couple of thousand dollars for completing a certain required amount of raked hands
Convenience: obliviously, what can be more convenient than playing your favorite casino game in the comfort of your own home while listening to your favorite music and drinking your favorite beer? Not to mention being able to put your dealer on hold each time up you want to take a break
Smoking and Dress Codes: whether you are a smoker or a non smoker, when you are gambling online you are free from obeying the rules. Same goes for dressing, eating and drinking; you can either smoke non stop or remain in a non smoking environment; wear your sloppiest clothes or stay naked; eat, drink, talk on the phone, watch TV, whatever
Atmosphere: when you are gambling online, there are not any cocktail waitresses who will sedate you with free drinks and distract you from beating the dealer. In addition, you can set an atmosphere of your choice that can include clocks or even a source of day light
Beginner Friendly: a land based casino can be an intimidating place for the newbie gambler. The average online casino, on the other hand, is much more beginner friendly than its brick and mortar equivalent. Interactive tutorials, play money modes and the option of avoiding social embarrassment caused by misunderstanding of the rules and codes of behavior is a more pleasant welcome for the novice casino gamer or poker player
Safety: yes, gambling online is usually safer than playing in a land based casino and carrying big amounts of cash money in your pocket. Most online casinos are reliable and respectable businesses that will not risk their reputation and lose their customers base by scamming their players
In addition to the list of benefits mentioned above, online gambling offers equal opportunity for people with disabilities or those who cannot afford traveling out of their state to play in a legal land based casino.
However, reading about the benefits of online gambling makes the huge popularity of online gambling, online poker playing and online sports wagering much easier to understand.
Born on September 10, 1974, Ben Wallace attended college at Virginia Union, where he studied criminal justice, and currently plays for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. He stands 6'9" tall and weighs 240 lbs and is the 10th of 11 children. In his free time away from the court, Ben Wallace enjoys swimming, hunting, fishing and video games. During the off-season, Ben and his wife Chanda reside in Virginia. During his collegiate years, Wallace led his team to the Division II Final Four and an impressive 28-3 record.
The 1996-1997 season marked the rookie year for Ben Wallace, during which he saw only limited action as a reserve player for the Bullets. Having appeared in 34 competitions during the season, he averaged 1.1 point per game. During the 1997-1998 season, Wallace experienced his first NBA career start, during which he grabbed 12 rebounds, against the Indiana Pacers on January 27, 1998. The following seasons gave Ben Wallace additional court time, which allowed him to continue bettering his game. The 2002-2003 season found Ben Wallace missing a handful of games due to injuries, but he still managed to play and start in 73 regular season games.
The 2003-2004 season marked the second consecutive season for which Ben Wallace earned All-NBA Second Team honors and the third consecutive season that he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, he wrapped up the season as being the only NBA athlete to be ranked in the Top-10 in rebounds, blocks and steals.
During the 2004-2005 season, Wallace appeared and started in 74 games. He averaged a career-high of 9.7 points per game and finished the season as being the only NBA Player to be ranked in the Top-5 in blocks and Top-25 in steals. In November, Ben Wallace missed six regular season games due to an NBA suspension. As the 2005-2006 season statistics were calculated, Ben Wallace averaged 7.3 points per game, 11.30 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Standing 6'9" and weighing in at 240 lbs., Ben Wallace stands poised to help make the Pistons one of the frontrunners of the 2006-2007 season.
Fans who would like to request a signed photo or simply send Ben Wallace their best wishes are urged to do so in care of his NBA franchise team. If you are requesting an autograph, be sure to include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) along with your request. Some of the most popular items to have signed include a blank index card, trading card or photo. Fans are not advised to send an item that has special sentimental value, is a limited edition or prized possession. As with all autograph requests, there is never a guarantee of a response. For reasons of both time and commitments, some athletes are prevented from answering all fan mail. For this reason, many fans prefer to simply request that the athlete send a signed photo rather than providing their own to be autographed. Letters and requests should be mailed to:
Ben Wallace
Detroit Pistons
The Palace of Auburn Hills
4 Championship Dr.
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
The 1996-1997 season marked the rookie year for Ben Wallace, during which he saw only limited action as a reserve player for the Bullets. Having appeared in 34 competitions during the season, he averaged 1.1 point per game. During the 1997-1998 season, Wallace experienced his first NBA career start, during which he grabbed 12 rebounds, against the Indiana Pacers on January 27, 1998. The following seasons gave Ben Wallace additional court time, which allowed him to continue bettering his game. The 2002-2003 season found Ben Wallace missing a handful of games due to injuries, but he still managed to play and start in 73 regular season games.
The 2003-2004 season marked the second consecutive season for which Ben Wallace earned All-NBA Second Team honors and the third consecutive season that he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, he wrapped up the season as being the only NBA athlete to be ranked in the Top-10 in rebounds, blocks and steals.
During the 2004-2005 season, Wallace appeared and started in 74 games. He averaged a career-high of 9.7 points per game and finished the season as being the only NBA Player to be ranked in the Top-5 in blocks and Top-25 in steals. In November, Ben Wallace missed six regular season games due to an NBA suspension. As the 2005-2006 season statistics were calculated, Ben Wallace averaged 7.3 points per game, 11.30 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Standing 6'9" and weighing in at 240 lbs., Ben Wallace stands poised to help make the Pistons one of the frontrunners of the 2006-2007 season.
Fans who would like to request a signed photo or simply send Ben Wallace their best wishes are urged to do so in care of his NBA franchise team. If you are requesting an autograph, be sure to include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) along with your request. Some of the most popular items to have signed include a blank index card, trading card or photo. Fans are not advised to send an item that has special sentimental value, is a limited edition or prized possession. As with all autograph requests, there is never a guarantee of a response. For reasons of both time and commitments, some athletes are prevented from answering all fan mail. For this reason, many fans prefer to simply request that the athlete send a signed photo rather than providing their own to be autographed. Letters and requests should be mailed to:
Ben Wallace
Detroit Pistons
The Palace of Auburn Hills
4 Championship Dr.
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
The Pittsburgh Steelers found a real gem when they drafted AFL quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. Nicknamed “Big Ben,” this Ohio native led the Steelers to the Super Bowl during his second year in the league.
An interest in sports during his high school years perhaps led to Roethlisberger’s success. As captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams, this star in the making finally landed his spot as the quarterback of his high school football team during his senior year. It appears as if that practice paid off - literally. In 2004, when Ben Roethlisberger found his way into the NFL Draft, the Steelers signed him to a six year contract with an impressive signing bonus. During his rookie season, Roethlisberger succeeded with a 13-0 record for the best start by a rookie. In October 2005, just one year after he was selected in the draft, Ben Roethlisberger became the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year as named by the Associated Press. During his rookie season, passing records were something to be broken by this Findlay High School graduate. Among them, best passer rating and highest completion percentage. It was obvious to all who saw him, including Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, that this young man was here to play. And play he did. As the 2005 regular season wrapped up, the Steelers had secured the AFC league’s wild card position in the Super Bowl XL. On February 5, 2006, the Steelers took hom the Super Bowl victory in a win against the Seattle Seahawks.
Roethlisberger is far from being your average quarterback. In fact, his stature leaves little doubt that he is a force to be reckoned with. Tied with few others as the tallest starting quarterback in the NFL, “Big Ben” knows how to use his height to read the competition. In addition, his arm seemingly has a knack for guiding the passes to their intended receiver. There is no doubt that height would be an advantage to any quarterback trying to spot an open receiver on the field.
Ben Roethlisberger is the second youngest quarterback to play in the NFL Super Bowl. While he has been compared to many legends of the game, Roethlisberger is out to make a name for himself. With only his second regular season behind him, and 4 years remaining on his contract with the Steelers, it looks as if Pittsburgh can expect “Big Ben” to be a powerhouse for the team in the years to come. What’s next for this NFL superstar in the making? Stay tuned and find out.
An interest in sports during his high school years perhaps led to Roethlisberger’s success. As captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams, this star in the making finally landed his spot as the quarterback of his high school football team during his senior year. It appears as if that practice paid off - literally. In 2004, when Ben Roethlisberger found his way into the NFL Draft, the Steelers signed him to a six year contract with an impressive signing bonus. During his rookie season, Roethlisberger succeeded with a 13-0 record for the best start by a rookie. In October 2005, just one year after he was selected in the draft, Ben Roethlisberger became the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year as named by the Associated Press. During his rookie season, passing records were something to be broken by this Findlay High School graduate. Among them, best passer rating and highest completion percentage. It was obvious to all who saw him, including Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, that this young man was here to play. And play he did. As the 2005 regular season wrapped up, the Steelers had secured the AFC league’s wild card position in the Super Bowl XL. On February 5, 2006, the Steelers took hom the Super Bowl victory in a win against the Seattle Seahawks.
Roethlisberger is far from being your average quarterback. In fact, his stature leaves little doubt that he is a force to be reckoned with. Tied with few others as the tallest starting quarterback in the NFL, “Big Ben” knows how to use his height to read the competition. In addition, his arm seemingly has a knack for guiding the passes to their intended receiver. There is no doubt that height would be an advantage to any quarterback trying to spot an open receiver on the field.
Ben Roethlisberger is the second youngest quarterback to play in the NFL Super Bowl. While he has been compared to many legends of the game, Roethlisberger is out to make a name for himself. With only his second regular season behind him, and 4 years remaining on his contract with the Steelers, it looks as if Pittsburgh can expect “Big Ben” to be a powerhouse for the team in the years to come. What’s next for this NFL superstar in the making? Stay tuned and find out.
Bellamy would be getting back to the field after a shoulder injury suffered during last season's third game that kept him away from football games. That hadn’t happened to him since 1995. Bellamy has 13 years of experience at the National Football League and he is just waiting to come back to help the New Orleans Saints defense.
Since he joined the Saints in 2001, Bellamy has 451 total tackles (334 solo), nine interceptions, 4.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. His veteran savvy and leadership was missed in the New Orleans' secondary over the final 13 games of the year.
He started all 67 games as a Saint prior to his injury -- 122 overall (the longest streak among all NFL defensive backs) before he went down on the first defensive series at Minnesota on September with a rotator cuff injury. But, that disappointment was reduced during the rest of the season as he stayed around to support his teammates.
It seemed that Bellamy would have another great year as he did in 2004, time when he accomplished 116 total tackles, 2 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries but the 11 tackles (eight solo) in the first three games in 2005 was all he could do that season before he experienced his shoulder injury.
Bellamy was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1994. On November that same year he was placed on reserve/injured by the Seattle Seahawks. In 2001 he was signed by Saints to a four-year contract (UFA) and in 2005 he was re-signed by Saints to a three-year contract (UFA). In 2005 he was placed on Reserve/Injured by the Saints.
Since he joined the Saints in 2001, Bellamy has 451 total tackles (334 solo), nine interceptions, 4.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. His veteran savvy and leadership was missed in the New Orleans' secondary over the final 13 games of the year.
He started all 67 games as a Saint prior to his injury -- 122 overall (the longest streak among all NFL defensive backs) before he went down on the first defensive series at Minnesota on September with a rotator cuff injury. But, that disappointment was reduced during the rest of the season as he stayed around to support his teammates.
It seemed that Bellamy would have another great year as he did in 2004, time when he accomplished 116 total tackles, 2 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries but the 11 tackles (eight solo) in the first three games in 2005 was all he could do that season before he experienced his shoulder injury.
Bellamy was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1994. On November that same year he was placed on reserve/injured by the Seattle Seahawks. In 2001 he was signed by Saints to a four-year contract (UFA) and in 2005 he was re-signed by Saints to a three-year contract (UFA). In 2005 he was placed on Reserve/Injured by the Saints.
The poker room in the hotel Bellagio is lavishly designed, but that is not what I have examined. In the following article, you will be able to read about the different poker games and tournaments offered as well as the poker tables, odds and gaming pros and cons.
The Bellagio devotes poker to three large sections. The first is the standard game room where one can participate in regular holdem and Omaha games. The next is a special section for those wanting to play for high cash betting. This section is called Bobbys poker room. The third game section is a location that can be hired and is called Club Prive.
Advantages:
1) A regular WPT tournament venue, playing poker at this casino gives you the chance to play where celebrities have been but also allows you to enter and watch those games live.
2) No one (not even the high stake pros) is allowed to smoke in any of the casino halls. This means that your poker gaming environment is smoke free.
3) The Bellagio caters to all poker tastes. It offers game tables where one can play different variations of poker as well as different pot limitations and wagering regulations. A big plus is the daily no limit games that they run.
4) The Bellagio bar serve high-priced alcohol and cocktails and do not charge for these drinks. In addition, you can keep your valuables and money in special safes that they give you.
5) Three different tournaments take place at the Bellagio. The first is as I stated above: the No Limit Holdem countdown. But there are two more highly popular tournaments. From Sundays to Thursdays, the buy in amounts to fifty dollars as well as a starting sum of five hundred and if you prefer the weekend, then the sum multiplies by two into a thousand dollars and an eighty dollar buy in.
Cons:
1) Because the poker room at Bellagio is highly esteemed and brings in many enthusiasts, you will have to wait for quite some time until a chair opens up. If you are in Vegas during the weekend, the waiting might stretch up to an hour or more.
2) Mainly because of the reputation that the Bellagio has gained through the years, and also because many poker pros prefer this poker room to others in Vegas, winning at this location is tougher than any other poker playing room in Vegas.
3) Because the Bellagio serves the finest booze and because their bartenders have the ability to whip up cocktails that will make you ask for more, this is not a very ideal place to bet money at.
4) If you play at one of the high stake rooms such as Bobbys Poker rooms, you will be competing against world professionals and not just local self-named experts.
Conclusion:
If you consider yourself a professional or at least have respectable skills at playing this card game, then the poker room at Bellagio is the one to pick if you are in Vegas. But, if you are relatively new to the game, stay away from the Bellagio and choose another Las Vegas poker room unless you want to lose all your money and fast.
The Bellagio devotes poker to three large sections. The first is the standard game room where one can participate in regular holdem and Omaha games. The next is a special section for those wanting to play for high cash betting. This section is called Bobbys poker room. The third game section is a location that can be hired and is called Club Prive.
Advantages:
1) A regular WPT tournament venue, playing poker at this casino gives you the chance to play where celebrities have been but also allows you to enter and watch those games live.
2) No one (not even the high stake pros) is allowed to smoke in any of the casino halls. This means that your poker gaming environment is smoke free.
3) The Bellagio caters to all poker tastes. It offers game tables where one can play different variations of poker as well as different pot limitations and wagering regulations. A big plus is the daily no limit games that they run.
4) The Bellagio bar serve high-priced alcohol and cocktails and do not charge for these drinks. In addition, you can keep your valuables and money in special safes that they give you.
5) Three different tournaments take place at the Bellagio. The first is as I stated above: the No Limit Holdem countdown. But there are two more highly popular tournaments. From Sundays to Thursdays, the buy in amounts to fifty dollars as well as a starting sum of five hundred and if you prefer the weekend, then the sum multiplies by two into a thousand dollars and an eighty dollar buy in.
Cons:
1) Because the poker room at Bellagio is highly esteemed and brings in many enthusiasts, you will have to wait for quite some time until a chair opens up. If you are in Vegas during the weekend, the waiting might stretch up to an hour or more.
2) Mainly because of the reputation that the Bellagio has gained through the years, and also because many poker pros prefer this poker room to others in Vegas, winning at this location is tougher than any other poker playing room in Vegas.
3) Because the Bellagio serves the finest booze and because their bartenders have the ability to whip up cocktails that will make you ask for more, this is not a very ideal place to bet money at.
4) If you play at one of the high stake rooms such as Bobbys Poker rooms, you will be competing against world professionals and not just local self-named experts.
Conclusion:
If you consider yourself a professional or at least have respectable skills at playing this card game, then the poker room at Bellagio is the one to pick if you are in Vegas. But, if you are relatively new to the game, stay away from the Bellagio and choose another Las Vegas poker room unless you want to lose all your money and fast.
Having suited cards when playing Texas Holdem can give you a definite advantage. Being suited allows cards that under normal circumstances might be thrown in the muck to suddenly become playable.
Hands like QTs, JTs, T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s, or even K9s, Q9s, J9s and so can be played in late position when the pot is sure to be multiway, and have a much better chance of winning compared to their unsuited counterparts.
You might be asking yourself, is there really that big of a difference between K9 suited, and K9 offsuit. The answer is a definite YES!
Even if the difference of winning only changes from say 16 percent to 20 percent, this is not just a 4 percent increase, but is a 25% increase! The value of being able to make a flush can turn a loss into a win. Even in pots with 6 or 7 people involved, a flush will usually be good enough to win you the pot. While flushes don't come in often, when they do the rewards can be enormous.
Another benefit to suitedness is having redraws in situations like when you might only have one pair. In these situations, your holding is very vulnerable to someone else making a bigger pair or making two pair or better on the turn or river. Having suited cards can often give you the opportunity to make a flush even when your one pair is drawn out on, and still win the pot.
Another thing to think about in multiway pots is that with more people involved, the likelyhood of one or more of them having suited cards goes up. This puts an unsuited hand at a disadvantage that a suited hand wouldn't face. Playing hands like Q8o or A5o in large multiway pots gives your opponents a big head start if they hold suited cards. This is a large starting gap to overcome that sometimes even the best players aren't able to do.
If you ARE going to play offsuit cards in texas holdem, then make sure that they have big card value. A hand like AQo is affected less by the fact that it isn't suited because it's other obvious benefits make up for the disadvantage of being offsuit.
Basically, if you are ever unsure of whether or not you should get involved, be more inclined to play suited hands than unsuited ones.
HOWEVER - this doesn't mean that just because a hand is suited, you can play it in any situation. A weak hand like J5 is trash regardless of whether it is suited or not. Being suited does improve the strength of your hand, but this doesn't give you an excuse to play bad cards just because they are of the same suit.
In short: Being suited in holdem will offer you a greater chance of making money in multiway pots than unsuited ones, and can make a marginal hand like Q9 playable.
Hands like QTs, JTs, T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s, or even K9s, Q9s, J9s and so can be played in late position when the pot is sure to be multiway, and have a much better chance of winning compared to their unsuited counterparts.
You might be asking yourself, is there really that big of a difference between K9 suited, and K9 offsuit. The answer is a definite YES!
Even if the difference of winning only changes from say 16 percent to 20 percent, this is not just a 4 percent increase, but is a 25% increase! The value of being able to make a flush can turn a loss into a win. Even in pots with 6 or 7 people involved, a flush will usually be good enough to win you the pot. While flushes don't come in often, when they do the rewards can be enormous.
Another benefit to suitedness is having redraws in situations like when you might only have one pair. In these situations, your holding is very vulnerable to someone else making a bigger pair or making two pair or better on the turn or river. Having suited cards can often give you the opportunity to make a flush even when your one pair is drawn out on, and still win the pot.
Another thing to think about in multiway pots is that with more people involved, the likelyhood of one or more of them having suited cards goes up. This puts an unsuited hand at a disadvantage that a suited hand wouldn't face. Playing hands like Q8o or A5o in large multiway pots gives your opponents a big head start if they hold suited cards. This is a large starting gap to overcome that sometimes even the best players aren't able to do.
If you ARE going to play offsuit cards in texas holdem, then make sure that they have big card value. A hand like AQo is affected less by the fact that it isn't suited because it's other obvious benefits make up for the disadvantage of being offsuit.
Basically, if you are ever unsure of whether or not you should get involved, be more inclined to play suited hands than unsuited ones.
HOWEVER - this doesn't mean that just because a hand is suited, you can play it in any situation. A weak hand like J5 is trash regardless of whether it is suited or not. Being suited does improve the strength of your hand, but this doesn't give you an excuse to play bad cards just because they are of the same suit.
In short: Being suited in holdem will offer you a greater chance of making money in multiway pots than unsuited ones, and can make a marginal hand like Q9 playable.
Beginner Triathlete-Novice Ironman--Don't Expect Bike Magic
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Jumat, 16 Juli 2010 |
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In preparing to take on the challenge of a first Ironman, I believe far too many athletes put too much emphasis on the bike they choose to purchase for the event.
Somewhere along the Ironman trail, many athletes have come to believe that the lighter, and more state of the art the bike, the faster they will finish the bike leg of the Ironman.
Nothing could be further from the truth. For example: You could put one athlete on a $10,000 bike and have him train without the aid of a proper diet or without paying attention to proper hydration choices and repacement drinks and the Ironman will spit him out like a cherry pit somewhere around mile 80 on the bike course.
Take another athlete and put him on a $800 reliable, average weight, used bike fitted with proper pedals and aero bars. Then have him pay particular attention all training year to proper diet, hydration, and raceday fueling techniques and somewhere around mile 80 of the same course he will call out "nice bike" as he passes athlete number one who is in for a very long, painful day.
Don't get all wrapped up in taking out a second mortgage so you can buy that "special" bike that is 6 ounces lighter than anything on the road. After all, you're going to be loading 5 pounds of water and food and gear on the thing before you even get out of transition. This is not your normal bike race. If you were just racing a bike century and that's it, then that might be a different story. But that's not the nature of this beast.
First of all you've most likely been bashed around for an hour or so in a wild free-for-all swim and for most of that time your heart-rate has been racing out of control. Plus, you still have a full marathon to consider after you get off the bike.
Your bike is just a small part of the Ironman equation. Don't get too wrapped up in light and fancy and expensive. I know, I've done that.
I had my best bike leg ever and my first thought was to fix up the old bike and keep racing it. However, I let my bike supplier talk me into buying a fancier, newer model that was so much lighter that I would go even faster. I never, never matched my fastest bike ride over the next 10 years. Even on bikes valued 10 times more than my old standby. It was probably the biggest single mistake I made in my 20 year Ironman career. I should have gone with my very first instinct.
For some reason, a bike will just suit you. It suits your style, ability and "fits" you like that favorite pair of runners. When this happens, hang on to that bike. If you have to, save it mainly for races and get a second bike for the bulk of your training. That way your race-day bike will last you for years.
I've raced on more than one high-end bike that I was just never comfortable on, no matter how light and fast they were supposed to be. At first it may seem cool to be the recipient of envious gazes from fellow triathletes when they see you on your bike the week leading up to the race. You are the bike "king".
Believe me, its not so cool when these same athletes pass you out on the course with those dreaded words left in their wake. "Nice bike."
Every time you hear that, you will want to sink further and further into your bike seat. You will wish you were on a $250 beater. At least that way you reason, you would have an excuse for getting passed over and over again. There is nowhere to hide out there.
To save yourself a ton of embarrasment and humiliation, be sure that your ability matches the bike you ride.
All my bikes are gone now, except for one. That same old bike is in my living room on a wind-trainer and if I decide to do this amazing race once again, when I turn 60, four years from now--it will be on a very special, 16 year old bike.
Somewhere along the Ironman trail, many athletes have come to believe that the lighter, and more state of the art the bike, the faster they will finish the bike leg of the Ironman.
Nothing could be further from the truth. For example: You could put one athlete on a $10,000 bike and have him train without the aid of a proper diet or without paying attention to proper hydration choices and repacement drinks and the Ironman will spit him out like a cherry pit somewhere around mile 80 on the bike course.
Take another athlete and put him on a $800 reliable, average weight, used bike fitted with proper pedals and aero bars. Then have him pay particular attention all training year to proper diet, hydration, and raceday fueling techniques and somewhere around mile 80 of the same course he will call out "nice bike" as he passes athlete number one who is in for a very long, painful day.
Don't get all wrapped up in taking out a second mortgage so you can buy that "special" bike that is 6 ounces lighter than anything on the road. After all, you're going to be loading 5 pounds of water and food and gear on the thing before you even get out of transition. This is not your normal bike race. If you were just racing a bike century and that's it, then that might be a different story. But that's not the nature of this beast.
First of all you've most likely been bashed around for an hour or so in a wild free-for-all swim and for most of that time your heart-rate has been racing out of control. Plus, you still have a full marathon to consider after you get off the bike.
Your bike is just a small part of the Ironman equation. Don't get too wrapped up in light and fancy and expensive. I know, I've done that.
I had my best bike leg ever and my first thought was to fix up the old bike and keep racing it. However, I let my bike supplier talk me into buying a fancier, newer model that was so much lighter that I would go even faster. I never, never matched my fastest bike ride over the next 10 years. Even on bikes valued 10 times more than my old standby. It was probably the biggest single mistake I made in my 20 year Ironman career. I should have gone with my very first instinct.
For some reason, a bike will just suit you. It suits your style, ability and "fits" you like that favorite pair of runners. When this happens, hang on to that bike. If you have to, save it mainly for races and get a second bike for the bulk of your training. That way your race-day bike will last you for years.
I've raced on more than one high-end bike that I was just never comfortable on, no matter how light and fast they were supposed to be. At first it may seem cool to be the recipient of envious gazes from fellow triathletes when they see you on your bike the week leading up to the race. You are the bike "king".
Believe me, its not so cool when these same athletes pass you out on the course with those dreaded words left in their wake. "Nice bike."
Every time you hear that, you will want to sink further and further into your bike seat. You will wish you were on a $250 beater. At least that way you reason, you would have an excuse for getting passed over and over again. There is nowhere to hide out there.
To save yourself a ton of embarrasment and humiliation, be sure that your ability matches the bike you ride.
All my bikes are gone now, except for one. That same old bike is in my living room on a wind-trainer and if I decide to do this amazing race once again, when I turn 60, four years from now--it will be on a very special, 16 year old bike.
Why do the Ironman Triathlon?
I've lost track of how many times over the years I've been asked why I commit so much of my time to preparing for yet another Ironman.
For a long time I found it difficult to come up with a reasonable response, because often I wasn't sure myself. I think what makes it difficult, is goals change as the years pass and so would the answer to the question.
At first like so many others, I was "Ironstruck". When I first saw this event I was drawn toward it and made the decision that I just had to cross that finish line. Despite the fact that I couldn't swim a stroke and had never been on a racing bike I was compelled by some unseen force to do this race.
Once I consciously made the decision, there was no turning back and my life took on a new direction. It was easily the most important and life-changing decision I have ever made. It touched every single aspect of my life.
At 56 years old I don't plan to do an Ironman every year from this point on. However I've learned from my long Ironman career how important maintaining a healthy lifetstyle is to a persons quality of life.
My plan is to do my next Ironman in my 60th year. There is no confusion "why" any longer when I am asked that question yet again.
By setting that goal, I realize that I will have to stay fit between now and then. It also means that when that starting gun goes off 4 years from now, I will be going into my 60's in absolute peak condition. Most likely among the fittest 60 year olds in the world. Really not a bad group to be a part of at that stage in ones life. How that particular race turns out really has no bearing on anything. Just making it there is reward in itself.
I strongly believe that how successful or rich a person is doesn't really make a whole lot of difference when a twist of fate strips it all away and makes people from all walks of life materially equal and dependent on their own physical strength, courage, and adaptibility in order to survive.
The world is changing and events like 9-11 and hurricane Katrina are examples of catastrophic events that knew no boundaries and in an instant left individuals with nothing but the ability they possessed within themselves to at least provide a fighting chance to survive.
Of course it doesn't mean everyone has to begin training for the Ironman Triathlon-- one of the most challenging events in the world. However, to meet the unexpected circumstance of an ever-changing world, it behooves all of us to take care of our physical well-being to the best of our ability. At any age and yes, even as we settle into the retirement years.
Perhaps the best way to explain what I mean is an example I used in a previous article.
Twenty years ago, had I found myself in the middle of a lake, 5 miles from shore with no lifejacket--I would have drowned in 2 or 3 minutes. Now it would be an opportunity for a long training swim.
The Ironman has given me that ability and that confidence. I owe this amazing event so much.
I've lost track of how many times over the years I've been asked why I commit so much of my time to preparing for yet another Ironman.
For a long time I found it difficult to come up with a reasonable response, because often I wasn't sure myself. I think what makes it difficult, is goals change as the years pass and so would the answer to the question.
At first like so many others, I was "Ironstruck". When I first saw this event I was drawn toward it and made the decision that I just had to cross that finish line. Despite the fact that I couldn't swim a stroke and had never been on a racing bike I was compelled by some unseen force to do this race.
Once I consciously made the decision, there was no turning back and my life took on a new direction. It was easily the most important and life-changing decision I have ever made. It touched every single aspect of my life.
At 56 years old I don't plan to do an Ironman every year from this point on. However I've learned from my long Ironman career how important maintaining a healthy lifetstyle is to a persons quality of life.
My plan is to do my next Ironman in my 60th year. There is no confusion "why" any longer when I am asked that question yet again.
By setting that goal, I realize that I will have to stay fit between now and then. It also means that when that starting gun goes off 4 years from now, I will be going into my 60's in absolute peak condition. Most likely among the fittest 60 year olds in the world. Really not a bad group to be a part of at that stage in ones life. How that particular race turns out really has no bearing on anything. Just making it there is reward in itself.
I strongly believe that how successful or rich a person is doesn't really make a whole lot of difference when a twist of fate strips it all away and makes people from all walks of life materially equal and dependent on their own physical strength, courage, and adaptibility in order to survive.
The world is changing and events like 9-11 and hurricane Katrina are examples of catastrophic events that knew no boundaries and in an instant left individuals with nothing but the ability they possessed within themselves to at least provide a fighting chance to survive.
Of course it doesn't mean everyone has to begin training for the Ironman Triathlon-- one of the most challenging events in the world. However, to meet the unexpected circumstance of an ever-changing world, it behooves all of us to take care of our physical well-being to the best of our ability. At any age and yes, even as we settle into the retirement years.
Perhaps the best way to explain what I mean is an example I used in a previous article.
Twenty years ago, had I found myself in the middle of a lake, 5 miles from shore with no lifejacket--I would have drowned in 2 or 3 minutes. Now it would be an opportunity for a long training swim.
The Ironman has given me that ability and that confidence. I owe this amazing event so much.
Buying a metal detector can be a very confusing process. There are so many different metal detectors being manufactured today that is really hard to distinguish whats, what. Though there are a few steps you can take to ensure that you buy a metal detector that will suit your needs.
The first is reading through some metal detector reviews online, not the metal detector reviews where just one point of view is given, but metal detector reviews like the ones found at http://Reviews.Detectorx.com . The reviews given there are generated by people like me and you, they are unbiased and will usually give you a pretty good idea as to whether or not a metal detector is right for you.
The second thing you can do is visit some some metal detecting forums around the internet and chat with other people that enjoy the hobby of metal detecting. Ask questions about any metal detectors you may be thinking about purchasing. This is another great way to get unbiased information on metal detectors. Remember though, be as specific as possible with your questions, dont generalize. Metal detectors are not cheap, you want to get as much information as possible on any metal detector before you decide to buy.
If your going to buy a metal detector from a shop, ask the owner or salesman as many questions as possible. He or she should be willing to take as much time as possible to explain different features and settings. He or she should also have demo metal detectors on hand that you can try before you buy. If either of these two elements are missing, or you just feel uncomfortable with the situation or person, walk away and go to a different metal detector shop.
By follow this advice you will ensure that you get a metal detector that fits your needs.
The first is reading through some metal detector reviews online, not the metal detector reviews where just one point of view is given, but metal detector reviews like the ones found at http://Reviews.Detectorx.com . The reviews given there are generated by people like me and you, they are unbiased and will usually give you a pretty good idea as to whether or not a metal detector is right for you.
The second thing you can do is visit some some metal detecting forums around the internet and chat with other people that enjoy the hobby of metal detecting. Ask questions about any metal detectors you may be thinking about purchasing. This is another great way to get unbiased information on metal detectors. Remember though, be as specific as possible with your questions, dont generalize. Metal detectors are not cheap, you want to get as much information as possible on any metal detector before you decide to buy.
If your going to buy a metal detector from a shop, ask the owner or salesman as many questions as possible. He or she should be willing to take as much time as possible to explain different features and settings. He or she should also have demo metal detectors on hand that you can try before you buy. If either of these two elements are missing, or you just feel uncomfortable with the situation or person, walk away and go to a different metal detector shop.
By follow this advice you will ensure that you get a metal detector that fits your needs.
Beekeeping for pleasure and profit is carried on by many thousands of people in all parts of the United States. As a rule, it is not the sole occupation. There are, however, many places where an experienced bee keeper can make a good living by devoting his entire time and attention to this line of work. It is usually unwise to undertake extensive beekeeping without considerable previous experience on a small scale, since there are so many minor details which go to make up success in the work. It is a good plan to begin on a small scale, make the bees pay for themselves and for all additional apparatus, as well as some profit, and gradually to increase as far as the local conditions or the desires of the individual permit.
Bee culture is the means of obtaining for human use a natural product which is abundant in almost all parts of the country, and which would be lost to us were it not for the honey bee. The annual production of honey and wax in the United States makes apiculture a profitable minor industry of the country. From its very nature it can never become one of the leading agricultural pursuits, but that there is abundant opportunity for its growth can not be doubted. Not only is the honey bee valuable as a producer, but it is also one of the most beneficial of insects in cross-pollinating the flowers of various economic plants.
Beekeeping is also extremely fascinating to the majority of people as a pastime, furnishing outdoor exercise as well as intimacy with an insect whose activity has been a subject of absorbing study from the earliest times. It has the advantage of being a recreation which pays its own way and often produces no mean profit.
It is a mistake, however, to paint only the bright side of the picture and leave it to the new bee keeper to discover that there is often another side. Where any financial profit is derived, beekeeping requires hard work and work at just the proper time, otherwise the surplus of honey may be diminished or lost. Few lines of work require more study to insure success. In years when the available nectar is limited, surplus honey is secured only by judicious manipulations, and it is only through considerable experience and often by expensive reverses that the bee keeper is able to manipulate properly to save his crop. Anyone can produce honey in seasons of plenty, but these do not come every year in most locations, and it takes a good bee keeper to make the most of poor years. When, even with the best of manipulations, the crop is a failure through lack of nectar, the bees must be fed to keep them from starvation.
The average annual honey yield per colony for the entire country, under good management, will probably be 25 to 30 pounds of comb honey or 40 to 50 pounds of extracted honey. The money return to be obtained from the crop depends entirely on the market and the method of selling the honey. If sold direct to the consumer, extracted honey brings from 10 to 20 cents per pound, and comb honey from 15 to 25 cents per section. If sold to dealers, the price varies from 6 to 10 cents for extracted honey and from 10 to 15 cents for comb honey. All of these estimates depend largely on the quality and neatness of the product. From the gross return must be deducted from 50 cents to $1 per colony for expenses other than labor, including foundation, sections, occasional new frames and hives, and other incidentals. This estimate of expense does not include the cost of new hives and other apparatus needed in providing for increase in the size of the apiary.
Above all it should be emphasized that the only way to make beekeeping a profitable business is to produce only a first-class article. We can not control what the bees bring to the hive to any great extent, but by proper manipulations we can get them to produce fancy comb honey, or if extracted honey is produced it can be carefully cared for and neatly packed to appeal to the fancy trade. Too many bee keepers, in fact, the majority, pay too little attention to making their goods attractive. They should recognize the fact that of two jars of honey, one in an ordinary fruit jar or tin can with a poorly printed label, and the other in a neat glass jar of artistic design with a pleasing, attractive label, the latter will bring double or more the extra cost of the better package. It is perhaps unfortunate, but nevertheless a fact, that honey sells largely on appearance, and a progressive bee keeper will appeal as strongly as possible to the eye of his customer.
Bee culture is the means of obtaining for human use a natural product which is abundant in almost all parts of the country, and which would be lost to us were it not for the honey bee. The annual production of honey and wax in the United States makes apiculture a profitable minor industry of the country. From its very nature it can never become one of the leading agricultural pursuits, but that there is abundant opportunity for its growth can not be doubted. Not only is the honey bee valuable as a producer, but it is also one of the most beneficial of insects in cross-pollinating the flowers of various economic plants.
Beekeeping is also extremely fascinating to the majority of people as a pastime, furnishing outdoor exercise as well as intimacy with an insect whose activity has been a subject of absorbing study from the earliest times. It has the advantage of being a recreation which pays its own way and often produces no mean profit.
It is a mistake, however, to paint only the bright side of the picture and leave it to the new bee keeper to discover that there is often another side. Where any financial profit is derived, beekeeping requires hard work and work at just the proper time, otherwise the surplus of honey may be diminished or lost. Few lines of work require more study to insure success. In years when the available nectar is limited, surplus honey is secured only by judicious manipulations, and it is only through considerable experience and often by expensive reverses that the bee keeper is able to manipulate properly to save his crop. Anyone can produce honey in seasons of plenty, but these do not come every year in most locations, and it takes a good bee keeper to make the most of poor years. When, even with the best of manipulations, the crop is a failure through lack of nectar, the bees must be fed to keep them from starvation.
The average annual honey yield per colony for the entire country, under good management, will probably be 25 to 30 pounds of comb honey or 40 to 50 pounds of extracted honey. The money return to be obtained from the crop depends entirely on the market and the method of selling the honey. If sold direct to the consumer, extracted honey brings from 10 to 20 cents per pound, and comb honey from 15 to 25 cents per section. If sold to dealers, the price varies from 6 to 10 cents for extracted honey and from 10 to 15 cents for comb honey. All of these estimates depend largely on the quality and neatness of the product. From the gross return must be deducted from 50 cents to $1 per colony for expenses other than labor, including foundation, sections, occasional new frames and hives, and other incidentals. This estimate of expense does not include the cost of new hives and other apparatus needed in providing for increase in the size of the apiary.
Above all it should be emphasized that the only way to make beekeeping a profitable business is to produce only a first-class article. We can not control what the bees bring to the hive to any great extent, but by proper manipulations we can get them to produce fancy comb honey, or if extracted honey is produced it can be carefully cared for and neatly packed to appeal to the fancy trade. Too many bee keepers, in fact, the majority, pay too little attention to making their goods attractive. They should recognize the fact that of two jars of honey, one in an ordinary fruit jar or tin can with a poorly printed label, and the other in a neat glass jar of artistic design with a pleasing, attractive label, the latter will bring double or more the extra cost of the better package. It is perhaps unfortunate, but nevertheless a fact, that honey sells largely on appearance, and a progressive bee keeper will appeal as strongly as possible to the eye of his customer.
David Beckham has stood down as England captain following the Three Lions World Cup quarter-final defeat to Portugal.
Beckham was first given the captaincy by then England caretaker boss Peter Taylor in 2000 and continued in the role under the five year management of Sven-Goran Eriksson.
It was Beckham’s leadership in the final 2002 World Cup qualifying game at home to Greece at Old Trafford that will be most fondly remembered.
At the peak of his talent, Beckham single-handedly dragged England over the finishing line to qualify for Japan and Korea, a sensational last minute free kick earning England a draw and automatic qualification.
As Beckham spoke of his intention to step down as captain with immediate effect, tears began to well in his eyes, a decision made even more heartbreaking following England’s exit.
An emotional Beckham said "It has been an honour and a privilege to have captained our country and I want to stress that I wish to continue to play for England and look forward to helping both the new captain and Steve McClaren in any way I can.
“This decision has been the most difficult of my career to date. But after discussing it with my family and those closest to me I feel the time is right.
"Finally, I have lived the dream, I am extremely proud to have worn the armband and been captain of England and for that I will always be grateful."
Beckham grew up in the East End of London and always harboured a wish to play for his boyhood heroes Manchester United.
Alex Ferguson gave him his chance at first team action at United and Beckham never looked back, soon becoming a national and world icon.
A rift between Ferguson and Beckham led to the ex-England captain’s transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2003, though he is still waiting for his first major honour with the Madrid club.
Beckham was first given the captaincy by then England caretaker boss Peter Taylor in 2000 and continued in the role under the five year management of Sven-Goran Eriksson.
It was Beckham’s leadership in the final 2002 World Cup qualifying game at home to Greece at Old Trafford that will be most fondly remembered.
At the peak of his talent, Beckham single-handedly dragged England over the finishing line to qualify for Japan and Korea, a sensational last minute free kick earning England a draw and automatic qualification.
As Beckham spoke of his intention to step down as captain with immediate effect, tears began to well in his eyes, a decision made even more heartbreaking following England’s exit.
An emotional Beckham said "It has been an honour and a privilege to have captained our country and I want to stress that I wish to continue to play for England and look forward to helping both the new captain and Steve McClaren in any way I can.
“This decision has been the most difficult of my career to date. But after discussing it with my family and those closest to me I feel the time is right.
"Finally, I have lived the dream, I am extremely proud to have worn the armband and been captain of England and for that I will always be grateful."
Beckham grew up in the East End of London and always harboured a wish to play for his boyhood heroes Manchester United.
Alex Ferguson gave him his chance at first team action at United and Beckham never looked back, soon becoming a national and world icon.
A rift between Ferguson and Beckham led to the ex-England captain’s transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2003, though he is still waiting for his first major honour with the Madrid club.
For those unable to jet off to warmer climates, dreaming about the sun, sand and surf may be the only way to make it through the long winter months. But for boat and outdoor enthusiasts, there's a surefire way to cure the winter blues: boat and sports shows.
U.S. boat and boating-related retail purchases totaled $30 billion in 2003 and this figure is growing quickly. Seventy-two million people participate in recreational boating, more than the combined total of those who play golf or tennis, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
Each year, the NMMA holds boat shows from coast to coast that are open to the public. At these shows, experienced boaters and newcomers alike find a friendly, relaxed atmosphere where experts are on hand to offer unbiased advice.
"Whether you're a seasoned sailor or someone who's never been on a boat, we want you to come in here and feel the excitement of boating," said Steve Tadd, director of NMMA's Discover Boating program. "Boating is something you can get into at any point in your life. So whether you're 8 or 80, we're here to show you how much fun you can have and how easy it can be."
Most NMMA boat and sports shows offer family-oriented entertainment; some even border on the spectacular - featuring aquatic animal touch-tanks, sea lion shows, remote-control boat races and a host of interactive activities. Kids are admitted free or at greatly reduced prices to most shows.
In addition, experts stop by many of the shows to offer fishing seminars, instructions on boat repair, one-on-one casting demos for beginning anglers and even scuba-diving lessons.
Here are some highlights of exhibits and attractions at some of this winter's NMMA shows.
* Scuba diving: At select boat shows, visitors can take a dip in a tropically warm pool set up specifically for scuba diving. All scuba suits and diving equipment are provided.
* Indoor lake: For the Toronto International Boat Show, the new Ricoh Coliseum will be flooded with more than 1 million gallons of water, creating the world's largest indoor "marina." Visitors can stroll the docks, board boats, relax, socialize and dine dockside. More than 50 boats will be moored on the lake, with live entertainment daily.
* Women at the helm: This exhibit at select shows is dedicated to supplying boating information to women, with the emphasis on boating as a family activity.
* Fishing seminars: From fly-fishing for trout to big-game fishing for marlin, many shows feature exhibits and seminars with angling tips, equipment and travel information.
U.S. boat and boating-related retail purchases totaled $30 billion in 2003 and this figure is growing quickly. Seventy-two million people participate in recreational boating, more than the combined total of those who play golf or tennis, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
Each year, the NMMA holds boat shows from coast to coast that are open to the public. At these shows, experienced boaters and newcomers alike find a friendly, relaxed atmosphere where experts are on hand to offer unbiased advice.
"Whether you're a seasoned sailor or someone who's never been on a boat, we want you to come in here and feel the excitement of boating," said Steve Tadd, director of NMMA's Discover Boating program. "Boating is something you can get into at any point in your life. So whether you're 8 or 80, we're here to show you how much fun you can have and how easy it can be."
Most NMMA boat and sports shows offer family-oriented entertainment; some even border on the spectacular - featuring aquatic animal touch-tanks, sea lion shows, remote-control boat races and a host of interactive activities. Kids are admitted free or at greatly reduced prices to most shows.
In addition, experts stop by many of the shows to offer fishing seminars, instructions on boat repair, one-on-one casting demos for beginning anglers and even scuba-diving lessons.
Here are some highlights of exhibits and attractions at some of this winter's NMMA shows.
* Scuba diving: At select boat shows, visitors can take a dip in a tropically warm pool set up specifically for scuba diving. All scuba suits and diving equipment are provided.
* Indoor lake: For the Toronto International Boat Show, the new Ricoh Coliseum will be flooded with more than 1 million gallons of water, creating the world's largest indoor "marina." Visitors can stroll the docks, board boats, relax, socialize and dine dockside. More than 50 boats will be moored on the lake, with live entertainment daily.
* Women at the helm: This exhibit at select shows is dedicated to supplying boating information to women, with the emphasis on boating as a family activity.
* Fishing seminars: From fly-fishing for trout to big-game fishing for marlin, many shows feature exhibits and seminars with angling tips, equipment and travel information.
Beach volleyball is a great impromptu game. Almost anywhere that there is sand and a net; groups of friends, acquaintances, and sometimes even strangers will gather for a few rounds of beach volleyball. A playful game of beach volleyball doesn’t have to be too strenuous, so it is easy to have teams with people of all different ages and with mixed levels of fitness. This makes beach volleyball an ideal family game for a lively summer afternoon.
Of course, beach volleyball can be also be a very strenuous game in a competitive setting. When serious athletes get together for a beach volleyball tournament, the ball flies through the air fast and viciously.
To play beach volleyball, you only need a minimum of two people per team for a total of four players. However, the less experienced and skilled the players are, the more people you will probably want to have on each team in order to keep the ball in the air. The more players that are involved, the less ground each player will be responsible for covering. A game with just a few participants is likely to be quite a workout as everybody scrambles across the sand to reach the ball; whereas in a game with a large team different players can concentrate on their own areas of the sand, enabling them to rest a bit when the ball is elsewhere. The fact that beach volleyball can be a fun, low-key game for a friendly crowd of casual players or a serious endeavor with a quartet of accomplished athletes makes it one of the most versatile sports.
The rules of beach volleyball are the same as the rules for any form of volleyball, but play on the sand tends to be a bit different than play on a court. It is much more difficult to move quickly on sand than it is on most surfaces, so play is generally slower than in court volleyball. To train for beach volleyball, athletes must spend a lot of time developing their lower body strength so they can move quickly and accurately across the ground despite the friction and resistance of the sand. While powerful legs are an important part of successful volleyball play, the ability to jump high and hard and land without injury are substantially more vital in beach volleyball than in court volleyball.
Even experienced court players often don’t anticipate how difficult it will be to run and jump on sand, so volleyball players who are new to the beach often sustain injuries because they misjudged how much resistance the sand would give them. Skinned knees and elbows are par for the course among players at all levels of the game, especially because a player often forgets to protect him or herself when diving for the ball in the heat of the game.
Of course, beach volleyball can be also be a very strenuous game in a competitive setting. When serious athletes get together for a beach volleyball tournament, the ball flies through the air fast and viciously.
To play beach volleyball, you only need a minimum of two people per team for a total of four players. However, the less experienced and skilled the players are, the more people you will probably want to have on each team in order to keep the ball in the air. The more players that are involved, the less ground each player will be responsible for covering. A game with just a few participants is likely to be quite a workout as everybody scrambles across the sand to reach the ball; whereas in a game with a large team different players can concentrate on their own areas of the sand, enabling them to rest a bit when the ball is elsewhere. The fact that beach volleyball can be a fun, low-key game for a friendly crowd of casual players or a serious endeavor with a quartet of accomplished athletes makes it one of the most versatile sports.
The rules of beach volleyball are the same as the rules for any form of volleyball, but play on the sand tends to be a bit different than play on a court. It is much more difficult to move quickly on sand than it is on most surfaces, so play is generally slower than in court volleyball. To train for beach volleyball, athletes must spend a lot of time developing their lower body strength so they can move quickly and accurately across the ground despite the friction and resistance of the sand. While powerful legs are an important part of successful volleyball play, the ability to jump high and hard and land without injury are substantially more vital in beach volleyball than in court volleyball.
Even experienced court players often don’t anticipate how difficult it will be to run and jump on sand, so volleyball players who are new to the beach often sustain injuries because they misjudged how much resistance the sand would give them. Skinned knees and elbows are par for the course among players at all levels of the game, especially because a player often forgets to protect him or herself when diving for the ball in the heat of the game.
Beach shorts are a special kind of shorts that are designed to get wet. They are not swimming shorts, but they are not normal shorts either – they are a special kind of shorts designed to look like normal shorts, but at the same time designed to get wet with seawater and dry quickly with no ill effects.
They are generally made of materials like lycra, flannel or nylon, which are chosen to be quick-drying but not too warm. They’re a good alternative to trunks, and are often considered both more fashionable, especially among young men, as well as more modest in that they don’t reveal so much. However, some shorts still come with a trunks-like structure on the inside, to offer the support of trunks while still giving the look of shorts.
Although most people only wear beach shorts when they’re going to the beach, it is common for people who live in beach towns to wear beach clothes all the time, in case they happen to feel like going to the beach one day. This is quite easy to spot when you walk around one of these towns, and can make you wonder whether everyone is on their way to the beach!
Beach shorts aren’t just for standing around in the sea, though – they’re also just fine for wearing on the beach itself, and surfers often use them as well. Surfers have to make sure to use good shorts, however, as cheap ones are prone to coming off when you hit the water hard.
One word, though: Hawaii-style beach shorts aren’t fashionable, and hopefully never will be again, so just don’t. Stay away from the big, unsightly patterns in your beach shorts, and go for plain colours instead. Trust me, you won’t regret it. It’s also worth mentioning that you should probably go for dark colours rather than light ones, as light colours can become see through when they get very wet, and chlorine from swimming pools you use them in can make colours fade.
They are generally made of materials like lycra, flannel or nylon, which are chosen to be quick-drying but not too warm. They’re a good alternative to trunks, and are often considered both more fashionable, especially among young men, as well as more modest in that they don’t reveal so much. However, some shorts still come with a trunks-like structure on the inside, to offer the support of trunks while still giving the look of shorts.
Although most people only wear beach shorts when they’re going to the beach, it is common for people who live in beach towns to wear beach clothes all the time, in case they happen to feel like going to the beach one day. This is quite easy to spot when you walk around one of these towns, and can make you wonder whether everyone is on their way to the beach!
Beach shorts aren’t just for standing around in the sea, though – they’re also just fine for wearing on the beach itself, and surfers often use them as well. Surfers have to make sure to use good shorts, however, as cheap ones are prone to coming off when you hit the water hard.
One word, though: Hawaii-style beach shorts aren’t fashionable, and hopefully never will be again, so just don’t. Stay away from the big, unsightly patterns in your beach shorts, and go for plain colours instead. Trust me, you won’t regret it. It’s also worth mentioning that you should probably go for dark colours rather than light ones, as light colours can become see through when they get very wet, and chlorine from swimming pools you use them in can make colours fade.
In every sport, there is a winner, and every winner comes with a great shirt that he should say "thank you" for because every shirt that the player puts on is a factor in his or her performance.
That is why in a particular sport such as bowling, every player knows that he has to put on the best shirt that he could find in order to win the game. Why? This is because bowling shirts are specifically made to fit the individual needs of the bowler.
Basically, a bowling shirt is a special kind of clothing characterized by the typical "box-cut" style with short sleeves and a "button-up pocket" in the front. But its special features are focused on the unique, plain, two-colored chunk designs whose features tend to create the 50's look.
So for those who so not know how to select a bowling shirt, here are some tips:
1. Choose the standard design
A plain white shirt with a different front section is the typical design of a bowling shirt. A typical black-white combination would be nice especially if the player wants to have it imprinted. Experts say that a white shirt usually gives a better background for any imprinted design.
The classic bowling shirt is perfect for imprinted designs of any color. Imprinting is cheaper on the black and white shirts than on shirts of other colors.
2. Cotton snug
One of the best things about bowling shirts is that they are usually made of cotton or a combination of polyester and cotton materials. This fabric is very comfortable and gives a more relaxed feeling while playing the game.
3. Size matters
It is important to always consider the size of the shirt because the shirt is too loose or too tight it will affect the performance of the bowler.
What matters most is that the player can move, swing, and shift positions easily and comfortably when delivering the ball. Selecting a bowling shirt is not difficult just remember it must be comfortable as well as appealing and neat.
That is why in a particular sport such as bowling, every player knows that he has to put on the best shirt that he could find in order to win the game. Why? This is because bowling shirts are specifically made to fit the individual needs of the bowler.
Basically, a bowling shirt is a special kind of clothing characterized by the typical "box-cut" style with short sleeves and a "button-up pocket" in the front. But its special features are focused on the unique, plain, two-colored chunk designs whose features tend to create the 50's look.
So for those who so not know how to select a bowling shirt, here are some tips:
1. Choose the standard design
A plain white shirt with a different front section is the typical design of a bowling shirt. A typical black-white combination would be nice especially if the player wants to have it imprinted. Experts say that a white shirt usually gives a better background for any imprinted design.
The classic bowling shirt is perfect for imprinted designs of any color. Imprinting is cheaper on the black and white shirts than on shirts of other colors.
2. Cotton snug
One of the best things about bowling shirts is that they are usually made of cotton or a combination of polyester and cotton materials. This fabric is very comfortable and gives a more relaxed feeling while playing the game.
3. Size matters
It is important to always consider the size of the shirt because the shirt is too loose or too tight it will affect the performance of the bowler.
What matters most is that the player can move, swing, and shift positions easily and comfortably when delivering the ball. Selecting a bowling shirt is not difficult just remember it must be comfortable as well as appealing and neat.
Be Prepared For Your Kayaking Adventure With the Corrrect Paddles
Posted on
Rabu, 07 Juli 2010 |
0
komentar
The paddle is probably the most important part of kayaking. Harmony paddles are the best for both new and experienced kayakers.
Professional and sporting kayakers know how important paddles are to their kayaking abilities. Harmony kayak paddles are top-of-the-line kayak paddles. They are definitely what you want. In kayaking, paddles are the last item that you want to cut corners on. Most of the time, they are more significant than the kayak itself.
Harmony paddles are made in three different styles:
1. Recreational
2. White Water
3. Touring
You must choose one in the same way that you chose your kayak. How will you want to use your kayak? You will want to buy the best paddles for your interests in the sport. Harmony paddles are available almost everywhere that sells kayaks! You can easily find paddles of various sizes and lengths. You want to buy paddles that are compatible with the length of your kayak.
Some people don't believe that buying the right paddles can involve so much research and thought. The paddles you buy make a big difference in your kayaking. You will find that Harmony paddles are made with various materials in many widths, lengths and textures. There is a large variety to select from and can easily find the best set of paddles for you and your kayak.
Don't forget that the paddles have to be bought before the kayak. Harmony paddles will be your first purchase related to your kayak. The more advanced your kayaking experience is going to be the more advanced your paddles must be. If you are a beginner, you do not have to worry because the average recreational paddle is all you will need.
Begin your kayaking adventure with the best paddles. The better the paddles, the better your kayaking experience will be. Test them for yourself, and you will experience the difference immediately!
Following this advice will ensure you start this exciting sport with the best possible preparation.
Professional and sporting kayakers know how important paddles are to their kayaking abilities. Harmony kayak paddles are top-of-the-line kayak paddles. They are definitely what you want. In kayaking, paddles are the last item that you want to cut corners on. Most of the time, they are more significant than the kayak itself.
Harmony paddles are made in three different styles:
1. Recreational
2. White Water
3. Touring
You must choose one in the same way that you chose your kayak. How will you want to use your kayak? You will want to buy the best paddles for your interests in the sport. Harmony paddles are available almost everywhere that sells kayaks! You can easily find paddles of various sizes and lengths. You want to buy paddles that are compatible with the length of your kayak.
Some people don't believe that buying the right paddles can involve so much research and thought. The paddles you buy make a big difference in your kayaking. You will find that Harmony paddles are made with various materials in many widths, lengths and textures. There is a large variety to select from and can easily find the best set of paddles for you and your kayak.
Don't forget that the paddles have to be bought before the kayak. Harmony paddles will be your first purchase related to your kayak. The more advanced your kayaking experience is going to be the more advanced your paddles must be. If you are a beginner, you do not have to worry because the average recreational paddle is all you will need.
Begin your kayaking adventure with the best paddles. The better the paddles, the better your kayaking experience will be. Test them for yourself, and you will experience the difference immediately!
Following this advice will ensure you start this exciting sport with the best possible preparation.
The British Broadcasting Corporation also known as the BBC is a public broadcasting corporation. Therefore, it allows itself to ban materials that deviate from certain standards of civility. During the years, many singles that were seen as too explicit, distasteful or bear the potential for offending the British public were banned from BBC airplay. Here you can read about some of them.
In 1977, when England was celebrating the Queens Jubilee, the Sex Pistols had released their second single titled God Save the Queen. The single includes controversial lyrics that rhyme the national anthem title with fascist regime. Moreover, the record cover displayed a picture of the Queen with a safety pin stuck in her nose.
The single was found to offensive to be air played by the BBC, but it did not stop it from reaching number two on the BBC official singles chart. According to the myth, God Save the Queen was the top selling single in the UK at the time, but it was held back of number one to avoid controversies.
Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin scandalous duet Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus, translated: I love you... me neither, was the first ever number one hit to be banned by the BBC. Although at the time of its release, in 1969, the sexual revolution was celebrated, the British radio still was not able to cope with such explicit lyrics, not to mention Birkins moans and groans.
The BBC ban and The Vatican denounce, did not stop Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus from being a top selling single in the UK and worldwide. In October 7, 1969, the single reached number one in the BBC official singles chart. At the same time, it had reached number 69 at the US singles chart.
Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus was a major influence on another BBC banned single, Donna Summers disco pioneer from 1976 titled Love to Love You Baby. After counting 23 faked orgasms performed by Summer in Love to Love You Baby, the British Broadcasting Corporation banned the song. However, it did not stop it from becoming a massive hit. Love to Love You Baby reached number four on the UK single charts but peaked to number two on the Billboard pop chart.
Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is one of the most controversial singles as well as commercially successful singles in history. The BBC did not only ban the song it also did not stop BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read to publicly express his feelings of disgust from the single's explicit lyrics. In 1984, Relax stayed in the UK singles charts for 42 weeks. In five of them, it stayed in number one. By the end of 1984, embarrassed Auntie Beeb removed the ban. Relax is still very popular worldwide and it is one of the most recognized symbols of the era. The arguments on whether it gained such a huge success despite the BBC ban or the BBC ban helped promoting it have not been settled yet.
Paul McCartney and the Wings response to the 1972 Bloody Sunday events titled Give Ireland Back to the Irish, was banned by every media resource in the UK. It was forbidden from being broadcast by the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. In addition, the song title was not allowed to be pronounced on the air, so when it arrived to the BBC Radio 1 chart show it was presented as a record by the group Wings. However, Give Ireland Back to the Irish hit the top of the Irish singles charts.
In 1977, when England was celebrating the Queens Jubilee, the Sex Pistols had released their second single titled God Save the Queen. The single includes controversial lyrics that rhyme the national anthem title with fascist regime. Moreover, the record cover displayed a picture of the Queen with a safety pin stuck in her nose.
The single was found to offensive to be air played by the BBC, but it did not stop it from reaching number two on the BBC official singles chart. According to the myth, God Save the Queen was the top selling single in the UK at the time, but it was held back of number one to avoid controversies.
Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin scandalous duet Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus, translated: I love you... me neither, was the first ever number one hit to be banned by the BBC. Although at the time of its release, in 1969, the sexual revolution was celebrated, the British radio still was not able to cope with such explicit lyrics, not to mention Birkins moans and groans.
The BBC ban and The Vatican denounce, did not stop Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus from being a top selling single in the UK and worldwide. In October 7, 1969, the single reached number one in the BBC official singles chart. At the same time, it had reached number 69 at the US singles chart.
Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus was a major influence on another BBC banned single, Donna Summers disco pioneer from 1976 titled Love to Love You Baby. After counting 23 faked orgasms performed by Summer in Love to Love You Baby, the British Broadcasting Corporation banned the song. However, it did not stop it from becoming a massive hit. Love to Love You Baby reached number four on the UK single charts but peaked to number two on the Billboard pop chart.
Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is one of the most controversial singles as well as commercially successful singles in history. The BBC did not only ban the song it also did not stop BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read to publicly express his feelings of disgust from the single's explicit lyrics. In 1984, Relax stayed in the UK singles charts for 42 weeks. In five of them, it stayed in number one. By the end of 1984, embarrassed Auntie Beeb removed the ban. Relax is still very popular worldwide and it is one of the most recognized symbols of the era. The arguments on whether it gained such a huge success despite the BBC ban or the BBC ban helped promoting it have not been settled yet.
Paul McCartney and the Wings response to the 1972 Bloody Sunday events titled Give Ireland Back to the Irish, was banned by every media resource in the UK. It was forbidden from being broadcast by the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. In addition, the song title was not allowed to be pronounced on the air, so when it arrived to the BBC Radio 1 chart show it was presented as a record by the group Wings. However, Give Ireland Back to the Irish hit the top of the Irish singles charts.
If constant practice and sheer dedication aren't enough to improve your game, then you might as well consider acquiring some effective basketball training aids.
Shooting
Oversized basketball - is usually 3 inches larger in diameter than your regular basketball. This is designed to improve your accuracy in shooting.
Board-less hoop - is designed to improve your shooting accuracy by making shoots without depending on the board.
Rebounding device - helps you to practice your shooting without rebounding the ball after every shot.
Shooting straps - is attached to your shooting hand to assist you in maintaining the right form while taking a shot, make the right follow through, and improve your one-handed release.
Dribbling
Dribbling aid - is designed to help you use your fingertips in dribbling (and not your palm). It also helps improving your passing and shooting skills.
Basketball goggles - are designed to keep your head up while dribbling your ball. The goggles block your lower vision so that you practice on not looking at the ball.
Speed
Speed parachute - uses the principle of a parachute that provides resistance during sprint. This is used when you are running which helps you improve your speed as you are being held back by the parachute. Speed parachutes are also used by sprinters and football players.
Agility ladders - helps you develop eye-foot coordination, foot quickness, and versatility. You can use your regular ladder to achieve the same result.
Vertical jump
Jump boxes - help you improve your jumping ability and overall strength. These boxes vary in height which you can use to strengthen your leg muscles.
Weight belt - increases your strength, at the same time, improves your vertical jump - helpful during rebounding and taking perimeter shots. Also available are weights worn on the ankles.
Jump soles - are training aids that are attached to your own shoes during practice and training which helps you improve your leg strength and jumping ability.
Stamina
Jump ropes - are the most basic and probably the cheapest basketball training aids you can have. And they are effective too. Jump ropes improve your heart. Jump ropes also improve your calf and leg muscles. For better workout results, try weighted jump ropes.
Take note that these are only aids to improve your game. They aren't designed to automatically make you a better player. Use them correctly combined with your dedication, hard work, and love for the game to get the best results.
Shooting
Oversized basketball - is usually 3 inches larger in diameter than your regular basketball. This is designed to improve your accuracy in shooting.
Board-less hoop - is designed to improve your shooting accuracy by making shoots without depending on the board.
Rebounding device - helps you to practice your shooting without rebounding the ball after every shot.
Shooting straps - is attached to your shooting hand to assist you in maintaining the right form while taking a shot, make the right follow through, and improve your one-handed release.
Dribbling
Dribbling aid - is designed to help you use your fingertips in dribbling (and not your palm). It also helps improving your passing and shooting skills.
Basketball goggles - are designed to keep your head up while dribbling your ball. The goggles block your lower vision so that you practice on not looking at the ball.
Speed
Speed parachute - uses the principle of a parachute that provides resistance during sprint. This is used when you are running which helps you improve your speed as you are being held back by the parachute. Speed parachutes are also used by sprinters and football players.
Agility ladders - helps you develop eye-foot coordination, foot quickness, and versatility. You can use your regular ladder to achieve the same result.
Vertical jump
Jump boxes - help you improve your jumping ability and overall strength. These boxes vary in height which you can use to strengthen your leg muscles.
Weight belt - increases your strength, at the same time, improves your vertical jump - helpful during rebounding and taking perimeter shots. Also available are weights worn on the ankles.
Jump soles - are training aids that are attached to your own shoes during practice and training which helps you improve your leg strength and jumping ability.
Stamina
Jump ropes - are the most basic and probably the cheapest basketball training aids you can have. And they are effective too. Jump ropes improve your heart. Jump ropes also improve your calf and leg muscles. For better workout results, try weighted jump ropes.
Take note that these are only aids to improve your game. They aren't designed to automatically make you a better player. Use them correctly combined with your dedication, hard work, and love for the game to get the best results.
As the head of a basketball team, or as a member; there are certain extra pieces of putting together a team that are important to remember. The game of basketball is more than preparing for a game or going to shoot some extra hoops. There are also several other approaches that can be used in order to help build the team and allow them to play their best.
The basics of making sure that basketball works for the entire team are to make sure that the right training is done. Most coaches will require that conditioning is done every day in order to keep the team in shape for the game. Because of the high level of physical intensity on the court, it is best that the team knows how to move properly. This includes practicing running on the court, to conditioning the team to shoot, dribble and work as a team both offensively and defensively.
Of course, while conditioning and while one is in a game, injuries are likely to occur. It is not uncommon for one to fall while they are moving or to be pushed over by an opponent. You will want to make sure to remember who has had an injury, check on how well it is healing and to not push or strain the injury during practice or on the court. Taking care of the players is an integral part of playing the game properly.
Basketball isn't just about the physical needs that need to be met for every game. It is also about having a mental attitude that is dignified when playing the game. When one is playing a game, or practicing, there need to be certain behaviors that are enforced. Respect for other players and the coach, dignity about the rules, and other types of attitudes may not win the game but will help the players to walk away with an understanding of what it takes to feel good after every game.
If you want to make sure that your team is playing the game of basketball properly, you don't want to stop on giving them the basics of how the game is played. Basketball is a game that calls for action by team members that can work together and understand how to win effectively. If you are coaching a team, you want to make sure that all of the needs of the team are met so they can walk onto the court with the right mindset.
The basics of making sure that basketball works for the entire team are to make sure that the right training is done. Most coaches will require that conditioning is done every day in order to keep the team in shape for the game. Because of the high level of physical intensity on the court, it is best that the team knows how to move properly. This includes practicing running on the court, to conditioning the team to shoot, dribble and work as a team both offensively and defensively.
Of course, while conditioning and while one is in a game, injuries are likely to occur. It is not uncommon for one to fall while they are moving or to be pushed over by an opponent. You will want to make sure to remember who has had an injury, check on how well it is healing and to not push or strain the injury during practice or on the court. Taking care of the players is an integral part of playing the game properly.
Basketball isn't just about the physical needs that need to be met for every game. It is also about having a mental attitude that is dignified when playing the game. When one is playing a game, or practicing, there need to be certain behaviors that are enforced. Respect for other players and the coach, dignity about the rules, and other types of attitudes may not win the game but will help the players to walk away with an understanding of what it takes to feel good after every game.
If you want to make sure that your team is playing the game of basketball properly, you don't want to stop on giving them the basics of how the game is played. Basketball is a game that calls for action by team members that can work together and understand how to win effectively. If you are coaching a team, you want to make sure that all of the needs of the team are met so they can walk onto the court with the right mindset.
The autistic basketball player Jason McElwain is a current student at Greece High School located in Rochester, New York. He recently became a basketball star when his coach Jim Johnson allowed him to play in the team’s last game of the year.
McElwain took his chance and scored 20 points during four minutes, he missed two shots on the first minute, but it seems it made him stronger as Jason hit six straight 3-pointers and another baske, in the remaining 3 minutes.
Coach Johnson has been the manager of the varsity basketball team at Greece Athena High School. Johnson said he has coached a lot of wonderful kids during his career, but he had never seen such an amazing performance.
More than a star, McElwain showed all youngsters there is no impediment to reach any dream or goal. He literally felt at the top of the world doing what he wanted and enjoying every single second of the game.
In today’s world, there are too many disabled people that practice a specific sport and they even have different tournaments or contests at which they can compete and develop themselves as amazing athletes. These athletes now have a lot of opportunities and the most important thing is the satisfaction they feel while reaching a dream and the happiness of being part of the sport world.
McElwain took his chance and scored 20 points during four minutes, he missed two shots on the first minute, but it seems it made him stronger as Jason hit six straight 3-pointers and another baske, in the remaining 3 minutes.
Coach Johnson has been the manager of the varsity basketball team at Greece Athena High School. Johnson said he has coached a lot of wonderful kids during his career, but he had never seen such an amazing performance.
More than a star, McElwain showed all youngsters there is no impediment to reach any dream or goal. He literally felt at the top of the world doing what he wanted and enjoying every single second of the game.
In today’s world, there are too many disabled people that practice a specific sport and they even have different tournaments or contests at which they can compete and develop themselves as amazing athletes. These athletes now have a lot of opportunities and the most important thing is the satisfaction they feel while reaching a dream and the happiness of being part of the sport world.
The lay-up is the most basic shot in basketball. Unfortunately, it does not get a lot of attention when people work on improving their overall game. In a time now where fundamentals are slowly being forgotten and replaced with fancy show-boating moves, players need to remind themselves of the basic techniques of shooting lay-ups to make themselves better scorers. In this article we will discuss just a few things associated with lay-ups that will help improve your overall game.
When Practicing Lay-ups Take It Serious
In an actual game you will rarely have the opportunity to lazily run to the basket and shoot an uncontested lay-up. Most lay-ups are shot while you are fast breaking with a defender on your hip harassing you all the way to the basket. If you practice lay-ups nonchalantly then in a game type situation you are more likely to miss the lay-up because you might jump off the wrong foot, or shoot the lay-up too hard because your timing is off. It's not logical at all for you to make even the simplest of shots in a game if you are not practicing the shots the same way you would shoot them in a game. Make sure you are using correct technique and that you are moving at game speed when you shoot lay-ups during your warm-ups.
Be Able To Use Both Hand
You should be able to shoot lay-ups effectively with both the right and left hand. If you are driving to the basket on the left hand side of the floor and shoot a lay-up using your right hand you are likely to get the shot blocked. Make sure that whatever side of the basket you are driving towards you use that hand to shoot the lay-up. This will ensure that your body will be in between you and your defender and it's likely that you will draw a foul if your defender tries to block your shot.
Be Selective
If you try to shoot the same type of lay-up in every situation you will lack the advantage. It's important that you are use to shooting different types of lay-ups so that you will be harder to defend in certain situations. For example a defender may be over aggressively challenging every shot you take, as you get to the basket you may want to head fake and shoot what is referred to as a power lay-up where you go off two feet and try to draw a foul or shoot over your defender as you time it perfect. Or sometimes on a break you would want to actually shoot a lay-up with the opposite hand of the side of the basket you are driving towards. Sometimes when you are pressured to get a shot off you can get the ball to the basket quicker if you were to use the right hand when going up on the left hand side of the basket or vice versa. The bottom line is that you need to have a selection of lay-ups that you feel comfortable shooting so that during games you can use every advantage you possibly can.
When Practicing Lay-ups Take It Serious
In an actual game you will rarely have the opportunity to lazily run to the basket and shoot an uncontested lay-up. Most lay-ups are shot while you are fast breaking with a defender on your hip harassing you all the way to the basket. If you practice lay-ups nonchalantly then in a game type situation you are more likely to miss the lay-up because you might jump off the wrong foot, or shoot the lay-up too hard because your timing is off. It's not logical at all for you to make even the simplest of shots in a game if you are not practicing the shots the same way you would shoot them in a game. Make sure you are using correct technique and that you are moving at game speed when you shoot lay-ups during your warm-ups.
Be Able To Use Both Hand
You should be able to shoot lay-ups effectively with both the right and left hand. If you are driving to the basket on the left hand side of the floor and shoot a lay-up using your right hand you are likely to get the shot blocked. Make sure that whatever side of the basket you are driving towards you use that hand to shoot the lay-up. This will ensure that your body will be in between you and your defender and it's likely that you will draw a foul if your defender tries to block your shot.
Be Selective
If you try to shoot the same type of lay-up in every situation you will lack the advantage. It's important that you are use to shooting different types of lay-ups so that you will be harder to defend in certain situations. For example a defender may be over aggressively challenging every shot you take, as you get to the basket you may want to head fake and shoot what is referred to as a power lay-up where you go off two feet and try to draw a foul or shoot over your defender as you time it perfect. Or sometimes on a break you would want to actually shoot a lay-up with the opposite hand of the side of the basket you are driving towards. Sometimes when you are pressured to get a shot off you can get the ball to the basket quicker if you were to use the right hand when going up on the left hand side of the basket or vice versa. The bottom line is that you need to have a selection of lay-ups that you feel comfortable shooting so that during games you can use every advantage you possibly can.
Basketball is indeed one of the most popular sports in the world. Through the years, the sport has created superstars and icons out of basketball players. No wonder, many kids nowadays aspire to become professional or star basketball players.
Basketball is a very physical game. There is so mush movement. To be able to make a good play, each basketball player is required to possess great physical stamina and agility to be able to perform and meet the requirements of the aggressive physical tactics in the game.
This sport has its own lingo. There are plays and specific tactics that have their own terms. Looking at the mechanics of the game will also introduce you to many more special vocabulary terms, tactics and game technicalities.
Rebounding is one of those terms. The word actually refers to the act of gaining hold of the basketball after a free throw or a field goal. When the basketball is shot to the basket, of course, it will fall back to the ground. That is when the two teams struggle to take possession of the basketball.
Rebounding is a very significant part of the game of basketball. That is because this activity defines and rolls the game throughout the entire duration. A good player must be able to know the basics and some special techniques to be able to make good rebounding moves.
Rebounds can either be offensive or defensive. Observers and experts say that most rebounding tends to be on the defensive because usually, the defense team is in a better position or is often closer to the basket.
Thus, whenever there are missed shots, the defensive team can easily recover the basketball and try to shoot the ball again. If the ball goes to the offensive team, then the defense will struggle to block the opposing player or recover the ball.
Characteristics of a good rebound player
When playing basketball, it is advised that the player be physically fit. The agility, strength, speed and overall endurance of the body are required for a player to be able to meet the physical challenges of the game, particularly in rebounding.
But did you know that most basketball aficionados would say that aside from those attributes, the player must have good natural gifts and characteristics to be able to play good rebounds? Yes, the above-mentioned characteristics can be acquired through enduring and patient training and workouts.
But rebounding will require physical attributes like height. Though, many would argue against the notion that height would make a player more efficient in rebounding, observers would surely reach a consensus in agreement. If you are 6'11" in height, you have a great advantage over opponents that stand mush less than your height.
Aside from those physical attributes, there are also other factors that could help a player put up awesome rebounds. Cite a good rebound to the player's determination, aggressiveness and positioning.
If a player is determined to gain possession of the ball, he will do his best to reach that goal and focus while the game is at play. Aggressiveness is needed to be physically assertive and to be able to take movement in gaining the basketball before opponents.
Lastly, positioning should be ideal. To be able to reach a good aim at rebounding, the player must move close to the basket. By doing so, the player will have greater chances of getting the basketball once it falls back to the ground after being thrown to the basket by another player.
Other tips to good rebounding
Here are some other guidelines that would steer you towards great rebounds.
Acquire good jumping ability. When players are in commotion to struggle to gain possession of the ball, usually, the one who jumps higher than the rest will take hold of the coveted ball. Train to flex and strengthen further the muscles of the legs and thighs. Take a good and ideal position. Estimate the projectile of the ball. A strong position also entails good rebounding. Avoid abruptly dribbling the ball after you have successfully grabbed the basketball. Instead, go back and rebound and resume a position wherein you have a strong position relative to the basket.
Play your game well. Rebound and make things happen. Good luck and win the game!
Basketball is a very physical game. There is so mush movement. To be able to make a good play, each basketball player is required to possess great physical stamina and agility to be able to perform and meet the requirements of the aggressive physical tactics in the game.
This sport has its own lingo. There are plays and specific tactics that have their own terms. Looking at the mechanics of the game will also introduce you to many more special vocabulary terms, tactics and game technicalities.
Rebounding is one of those terms. The word actually refers to the act of gaining hold of the basketball after a free throw or a field goal. When the basketball is shot to the basket, of course, it will fall back to the ground. That is when the two teams struggle to take possession of the basketball.
Rebounding is a very significant part of the game of basketball. That is because this activity defines and rolls the game throughout the entire duration. A good player must be able to know the basics and some special techniques to be able to make good rebounding moves.
Rebounds can either be offensive or defensive. Observers and experts say that most rebounding tends to be on the defensive because usually, the defense team is in a better position or is often closer to the basket.
Thus, whenever there are missed shots, the defensive team can easily recover the basketball and try to shoot the ball again. If the ball goes to the offensive team, then the defense will struggle to block the opposing player or recover the ball.
Characteristics of a good rebound player
When playing basketball, it is advised that the player be physically fit. The agility, strength, speed and overall endurance of the body are required for a player to be able to meet the physical challenges of the game, particularly in rebounding.
But did you know that most basketball aficionados would say that aside from those attributes, the player must have good natural gifts and characteristics to be able to play good rebounds? Yes, the above-mentioned characteristics can be acquired through enduring and patient training and workouts.
But rebounding will require physical attributes like height. Though, many would argue against the notion that height would make a player more efficient in rebounding, observers would surely reach a consensus in agreement. If you are 6'11" in height, you have a great advantage over opponents that stand mush less than your height.
Aside from those physical attributes, there are also other factors that could help a player put up awesome rebounds. Cite a good rebound to the player's determination, aggressiveness and positioning.
If a player is determined to gain possession of the ball, he will do his best to reach that goal and focus while the game is at play. Aggressiveness is needed to be physically assertive and to be able to take movement in gaining the basketball before opponents.
Lastly, positioning should be ideal. To be able to reach a good aim at rebounding, the player must move close to the basket. By doing so, the player will have greater chances of getting the basketball once it falls back to the ground after being thrown to the basket by another player.
Other tips to good rebounding
Here are some other guidelines that would steer you towards great rebounds.
Acquire good jumping ability. When players are in commotion to struggle to gain possession of the ball, usually, the one who jumps higher than the rest will take hold of the coveted ball. Train to flex and strengthen further the muscles of the legs and thighs. Take a good and ideal position. Estimate the projectile of the ball. A strong position also entails good rebounding. Avoid abruptly dribbling the ball after you have successfully grabbed the basketball. Instead, go back and rebound and resume a position wherein you have a strong position relative to the basket.
Play your game well. Rebound and make things happen. Good luck and win the game!
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