Born in May 1978, this Pasco, Washington native is now an NFL linebacker for the Chicago Bears. As a child, Brian Urlacher moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico with his mother. Following high school, Brian went on to attend college at the University of Mexico. It was here that he shined as a strong safety for the University football team. Upon graduation, he immediately began pursuing his goal to play professional football and was drafted by the NFL’s Chicago Bears. While most of his experience was as a safety position, he was assigned the position of middle linebacker for the Bears, which gave him the opportunity to showcase his tackling abilities, intelligence, speed and aggressive approach toward winning. An instant star, Urlacher was awarded the title of NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2000. Such recognition is not an easy feat, but everything seemed to fall in place for the youngster as he quickly rose to the top defensive rookie player during his inaugural season.
Throughout his career, Urlacher has participated in the Pro Bowl on five occasions and has upheld the Bear’s tradition of impressive linebackers. As a testimonial to his skills, Brian Urlacher was once again recognized in 2006. On January 6, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. An honor awarded by the Associated Press, Urlacher received well over 50% of the panel votes to determine him as the recipient. An impressive 34 panel votes, out of 50, were cast for Urlacher.
Among the many achievements that Brian Ulracher has accomplished include exceeding the Bear’s single season tackle record in 2002. Additionally, he served as the team’s leading tackle position for 3 consecutive years, including 2000, 2001 and 2002. Not only has Urlacher surpassed game records, but sales records as well. At times, his replica jersey has been an NFL bestseller. The collectibles and apparel industry is one of the largest revenue generators for any sport and football is no different. As fans desire to wear a replica jersey of their favorite players, it lends credence to a player’s skills and popularity as fans seek out the merchandise bearing their likeness.
The Chicago Bears have been long since known as a team that has powerful players with spirit to match. The windy city is in line to find great success with a breeze that seems to have brought Brian Urlacher all the way from New Mexico and into to the heart of Chicago and it’s NFL fans.
Born October 10, 1969, Brett Lorenzo Favre now has 14 years of National Football League experience. This Mississippi native was born in Gulport and grew up in Kiln, which was a very small town with less than 100 residents. This boy who grew up in a small town had nothing but big dreams that he would someday make come true. In his early years, the youngster grew up idolizing a pair of legendary quarterbacks by the name of Archie Manning and Roger Staubach. Having played football at Hancock North Central High School in Kiln, Favre began to get a taste of the game and he loved it. After attending college at the University of Southern Mississippi, he began making his way to the professional league.
One of the best known quarterbacks in NFL history, Favre began his rookie season in 1991 with the Atlanta Falcons. The following year, in 2002, he accepted a position with the Green Bay Packers where he remains today. Still retaining an active NFL contract after 15 years, Favre leaves little doubt that he is already a legend of the game.
Among the many recognitions that Brett Favre has received include being the NFL’s only three-time MVP (Most Valuable Player), which he achieved consecutively in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Additionally, he is ranked third on the all-time quarterback wins list, holds the fourth highest winning percentage and possesses a home record. He started 205 consecutive games, which set a quarterback record. One of the most interesting facts about Favre’s earliest plays is the fact that his first NFL completion was to himself in a September 1992 game against Tampa Bay. The event unfolded as Favre caught a deflection pass that he had just thrown before being tackled for a 7 yard loss.
Today, Brett Favre contributes to the NFL and also to the community. In 1996, The Brett Favre Fourward Foundation was established in order to provide aid to disadvantaged and disabled children in Wisconsin and Mississippi. Since it’s inception, the foundation had donated more than $1.5 million to charities with the help of an annual golf tournament, celebrity softball game and fundraising dinners.
Also in 1996, Favre married longtime love Deanna Tynes and the couple now has two daughters. During his free time, Brett is an avid golfer and is a fan of televised nature programs, crossword puzzles and fishing. In recognition of his great accomplishments in the NFL, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle proclaimed November 29, 2004 as “Brett Favre Day.”
Generally speaking, being in first place on Memorial Day is a good sign of things to come. Memorial Day typically marks the one-third mark for the Major League Baseball season, and by this point you have a pretty good idea of which teams are going to be in the running and which teams are dead and buried.
For instance, it’s fairly common knowledge on May 29 that the Royals aren’t going to be challenging for the AL Central crown at 11-37, 22 1/2 games behind the 35-16 Tigers. Of course, we probably knew that the Royals wouldn’t be contenders entering the season anyway, but now we’re certain of it.
At the same time, there aren’t many people outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth region who expected the Rangers to be in first place come Memorial Day, and I’d be willing to bet that even some of the more loyal Rangers fans would have to be honest with themselves before claiming that they saw it coming.
How good of an indicator of future success is being in first place on Memorial Day? Since 1990 (excluding the strike year of 1994), the 82 division leaders on the last Monday in May have gone on to hold their leads and win their divisions 47 times. That’s a 57% rate.
In 2005, the Marlins, Cardinals, Padres, Orioles, White Sox and Rangers were leading their divisions on Memorial Day. At the end of the year, the Cards, Padres and White Sox held on. while the Braves, Red Sox and Angels rallied up to win theirs.
Three of the six teams leading on Memorial Day in 2004 ended up carrying their divisions at the end of the year as well. Only once since 1990 have all six teams ahead on Memorial Day won their division; that was in 1998, when the Braves, Astros, Padres, Yankees, Indians and Rangers pulled it off. The fewest teams to manage the feat since realignment in 1995 was two, occurring in 1995 and in 2001.
So while a Memorial Day lead is a fairly good indicator, it’s far from a guarantee. Just ask the 2005 Baltimore Orioles, the 2004 Cincinnati Reds or the 2001 Philadelphia Phillies (three teams to suffer huge dropoffs from Memorial Day through the end of their respective seasons).
As of May 29th this season, the Red Sox, Tigers, Rangers, Mets, Cardinals and Diamondbacks are leading the way. According to the trends of the past 15 full seasons, about half of those teams will end up holding on to win their divisions.
Best Bets
I expect the Tigers, Cardinals and Diamondbacks to hold on their leads.
Though the Tigers only have a two-game lead in the AL Central on the defending World Series champion White Sox, their team is built to hold onto that lead. Detroit's pitching has been superlative, and the Tigers may have a rotation that’s more solid up and down than the White Sox. The Tigers lead MLB with a 3.36 ERA, with the White Sox a distant sixth at 4.13. The Detroit rotation has compiled a 3.39 ERA thus far, led by Justin Verlander’s 2.55 ERA and 7-3 record. Nate Robertson is enjoying a breakout year with a 5-2 mark and a 3.02 ERA. Former 20-game loser Mike Maroth is faring much better in 2006 with a 5-2 record and a 3.56 ERA. Kenny Rogers is 7-3 with a 3.76 ERA. Jeremy Bonderman rounds out the young rotation (other than Rogers), going 5-4 thus far with a 4.61 ERA. In the bullpen, Todd Jones has shown he remains the solid closer he proved to be in Florida last season, saving 16 games with a 3.12 ERA. Joel Zumaya is proving to be the closer of the future, putting up a 3.22 ERA and averaging 10.88 strikeouts per nine innings. It’s safe to assume, based on track record, that the Tigers may be pitching over their heads. The league average for team ERA is hovering around 4.50, meaning that Detroit has pitched a run better than the rest of the league. That’s a historically dominating team pitching performance.
While it’s safe to assume that the pitching will drop off slightly, it’s also reasonable to assume that Detroit's hitting should pick up. The Tigers are currently 12th in baseball in runs scored, seventh in team batting average and eighth in team OPS. Not shabby by any means, but the team is getting next to nothing out of injured Dmitri Young, a .217 batting average from Brandon Inge, a .254 average from Craig Monroe and just three homers from Ivan Rodriguez. Chris Shelton has cooled off slightly, but that has coincided with the resurgence of Magglio Ordonez. Thus the potential is there for the lineup to be even better.
In the NL Central, no team is on the same level as the Cardinals (unless Houston gets Roger Clemens back). The Cards are second in baseball and tops in the NL with a 3.81 team ERA. The Reds, who trail the Cardinals by four games, are way back in 12th in team ERA at 4.44. St. Louis also is tops in the NL Central in runs scored, batting average and team OPS. Oh, and some guy named Pujols is destroying nearly every baseball thrown to him. The Reds are close, but they can’t make up that gap with the pitching being so inferior compared to the Cardinals’ rotation. Chris Carpenter is on the DL, which hurts, but the Cardinals’ rotation is one of the deepest around with Mark Mulder, Jeff Suppan, Sidney Ponson and Jason Marquis. In the bullpen, St. Louis is led by Jason Isringhausen and his 16 saves. Adam Wainwright, Josh Hancock, Brad Thompson, Randy Flores and Braden Looper round out a pen that hasn’t skipped a beat despite returning just one pitcher from 2005 (Isringhausen). The Reds may wind up holding on to second place in the NL Central, but they’re not going to unseat the Cards.
The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, are a better team than given credit for, and they have the fortune of playing in a weak NL West. The division has played better this season than in 2005, when the 82-80 Padres made the playoffs. This season, all five teams were sporting records at least at .500 entering Memorial Day. That won’t last, as Colorado will surely finish below .500, as will either San Diego or San Francisco. The team best able to give Arizona a run for its money is the Dodgers, and they’re a shaky bet with the injury risks that dot their lineup.
Arizona is a surprisingly balanced team, sitting in seventh place overall with a team ERA of 4.15 and eighth overall with 262 runs scored. The starters have posted a 4.35 ERA, led by Brandon Webb and his 8-0 record and 2.18 ERA. Webb is one of the better pitchers in baseball thus far, and his control so far has been remarkable (walking nine batters in 82.2 innings). Miguel Batista is 4-2 with a 4.60 ERA and has also been pitching well. Claudio Vargas, Juan Cruz and Russ Ortiz round out the rotation and may be question marks, but Arizona has enough minor league depth to swing a trade for a Barry Zito or a Dontrelle Willis to augment a playoff run (unfortunately for them, the Dodgers have that ability as well). The Diamondbacks' 3.79 bullpen ERA has been a pleasant surprise, though they need more consistency from appointed closer Jose Valverde. He has saved 14 games thus far, but his 5.03 ERA isn’t going to get it done down the stretch.
At the plate, the Diamondbacks aren’t going to kill you with the long ball, but they have a solid lineup. Chad Tracy is building on his superb 2005 with eight homers, a .292 average and a .849 OPS so far. Eric Byrnes may wind up the 2006 comeback player of the year and appears to have found a home in the desert. Byrnes went from Oakland to Colorado to Baltimore in 2005, but in 2006 he’s not going anywhere while hitting .322 with six homers and a .938 OPS. Top prospect Conor Jackson is proving that he can live up to the expectations as he’s hitting .297 with five homers and a .861 OPS. Shawn Green and Luis Gonzalez are having their usually solid seasons as well. Arizona also plays solid defense. However, it's not going to be easy for the Snakes to hold off the Dodgers (who are outhitting and outpitching them right now), but Arizona has the potential to get better. Keeping that in mind, as well as the fact that Nomar Garciaparra and J.D. Drew will likely spend significant time on the disabled list this season for L.A., and the Diamondbacks should continue to lead the division throughout.
Worst Bets
The Red Sox, Rangers and Mets are the three teams poised to fall out of their present frontrunning spots.
Boston's lineup was the premier one in baseball the past two seasons. This season, the Red Sox are seventh in baseball with 265 runs scored. They’re trailing AL East contenders Toronto and New York in that department. The Red Sox currently are 13th in team ERA at 4.47, five spots below the Yankees. Boston's rotation isn’t that good (4.78 ERA), and Jonathan Papelbon is about the only saving grace in the bullpen. Manny Ramirez has finally broken out of his early-season slump, but there are still significant weak spots in the lineup. Jason Varitek is only hitting .232, and Alex Gonzalez is hitting .227 (with a staggering .295 OBP). David Ortiz is hitting homers, but not for the same average or OPS as he has in seasons past (he’s at .270 and .915, respectively, in 2006). Coco Crisp was supposed to be the answer in center field, but he’s played just six games thus far. The Sox have been pleasantly surprised by Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell and Mark Loretta, and they should wind up closer to the top of the league in runs scored before everything’s said and done.
However, Boston's pitching figures to continue to struggle. Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling have been good thus far, with Beckett putting up a 7-1 record and a 3.80 ERA, while Schilling has managed an 8-2 record and a 3.93 ERA. The rest of the rotation has been unstable. The Red Sox have five guys in the bullpen that they have been relying on, and only two of them are sure things. The Yankees aren’t much better in the pen, but they are pitching and hitting better so far. The Yankees will likely catch up to Boston and overtake their rival.
The Rangers have a surprising three-game lead over the A’s, but they’re only 26-24, and the other three teams in their division should make up ground. The pitching in Texas isn’t very good, as the Rangers are 18th in baseball with a 4.81 ERA. Both the Mariners and A’s are pitching better than Texas. The Rangers are leading the AL West because they’re outhitting the A’s, Mariners and Angels by a significant margin.
Texas is 9th in the league in runs scored with 258. On the other hand, Seattle is 20th with 234 runs, Oakland is 23rd (223) and the Angels are 25th (221). What’s surprising is that Texas isn’t hitting home runs at its typical pace. Kevin Mench leads the team with 10. Mark Teixeira only has five and is hitting just .284. Michael Young is hitting .311, but can improve on that. Phil Nevin has nine homers, as does Brad Wilkerson. Neither of them are hitting that well (.220 and .262, respectively). The lineup is going to be better, but it’s reasonable to assume the pitching will fall off.
The Texas rotation is running basically four deep at this point. Kevin Millwood is supposed to be the ace, but he’s putting up a 4.88 ERA with a 5-3 record. Vicente Padilla, Kameron Loe and John Koronka are all posting remarkably similar numbers. Every starter is in the mid 4.00 ERA range, all are in the 1.35 WHIP range, and all have about 65 innings pitched under their belts. Akinori Otsuka has taken the closer’s job with his 2.31 ERA and eight saves from Francisco Cordero. The Texas pitching isn’t at the level of Oakland's or even Seattle's. Though the Rangers will outhit both of those teams and the Angels easily, the pitching and the bullpen will come back to bite them. The A’s will likely turn it on around midseason and blow past the Rangers en route to a division title.
The Mets are one of the more talented teams in baseball and have a four-game lead over the Braves in the NL East. They’re even outpitching the Braves by a comfortable margin. The Mets are third in baseball with a 3.89 ERA, while the Braves are 10th with a 4.36 ERA. What’s surprising that the Braves are outhitting the potent Mets, scoring 267 runs compared to the Mets’ 246. But considering how much better the pitching has been, it bodes well for the Mets. So why are they in this category? Because the Braves are the Braves. They were trailing the Marlins at Memorial Day in the previous two seasons and came back to take the division. The Mets have gotten superb production out of the middle of the lineup, but the rest of the squad leaves something to be desired. Carlos Delgado has 15 homers and a .263 average, while David Wright is hitting .333 with eight homers. Carlos Beltran is hitting .277 but has an impressive 14 homers. Even Xavier Nady has gotten into the act with nine homers while batting .270. Cliff Floyd has been a disappointment with his .219 average, as has Jose Reyes with his .322 OBP and Kazuo Matsui with his .250 OBP. The fringe guys need to pick up the production for the Mets to maintain first place.
What the Mets won’t have to worry about is the front of their rotation. Tom Glavine is having a fantastic season with his 8-2 record and his 2.59 ERA. So is Pedro Martinez, 5-1 with a 2.79 ERA and 80 Ks. Behind Glavine and Martinez, things get shaky. Steve Trachsel has compiled his usual 4.99 ERA. Victor Zambrano may never pitch again, so the Mets went out and traded for Orlando Hernandez. Jose Lima and Jeremi Gonzalez shouldn’t be in a big-league rotation, but both have made three disastrous starts. Brian Bannister pitched well in his five starts, but he’s not a guy that the Mets can depend on yet. The bullpen has been solid, with Aaron Heilman and Duaner Sanchez making names for themselves with ERAs below 2.40. Billy Wagner has saved 11 games, but has been shaky of late. He should settle down. Regardless, the Mets need to find starters and a quality leadoff hitter to hold off the Braves. If not, it seems like it will be another year that the Braves beat a more talented team for the NL East crown.
Boxing Notebook: Corrales-Castillo III Should Be Mucho Macho!
Posted on
Sabtu, 26 November 2011 |
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Code Red! Code Red!
Saturday is the final clash between Diego “Chico” Corrales (40-3, 33 KOs) and Jose Luis Castillo (54-7-1, 47 KOs) for the lightweight championship of the world. Though 70 pounds south, they’re true heavyweights. Sportsbook odds are Castillo -220, Corrales +180 - based on what?
Tale of the tape: Corrales, 28, is a lightweight freak, 5-11 with a half-inch fist, forearm and thigh advantage over the 5-8, 32-year-old Castillo – plus a one inch bigger expanded chest, reach, bicep and calf. Castillo needs a ladder to reach him (on paper).
Corrales has had great success against smaller, aggressive guys. Castillo is strong enough mentally and big enough physically (He demonstrated that last time with Chico) to mete out plenty of pain of his own.
But the physical discrepancies don’t apply here. “Chico” doesn’t fight tall. He likes to walk in and unload hooks and rights – bang on the inside, fight short. He likes it physical.
Reviewing their first bout, I was amazed at Corrales’ success when he made space. When he pushed off on Castillo and attacked from the outside, he was effective dropping right hands and short hooks. He used the jab to control the pace - Castillo had no answers. So, why doesn‘t he stick with it? He’s like the guy that threw himself on cactus and when asked why said: “It seemed like a good idea at the time."
Think back to Corrales-Casamayor II. Stick and move. Outbox the guy. Corrales' trainer, Joe Goossen, should put it in letters of fire on a ringside billboard. Also, Castillo is prone to cuts. Spear him with the jab; open the scar tissue. Double-jab – right over the top, keep moving. Do that all night, and Corrales gets the W. But, it isn’t a safe bet.
Chin Check: Corrales is no stranger to the canvas.
Floyd Mayweather dropped him five times one night. Castillo and Joel Casamayor scored five knockdowns and one knockout against him. You can develop muscles, strengthen your mind, but you can’t train a chin. Plus, Castillo has found something with that short left hook.
In a recent FHM interview, Corrales analyzed the punch:
“I got a left hook in that second fight and that was purely my mistake. I caught him with my right hand, and he was ready for it. I felt him pulling himself down and really losing some steam. I need to make sure my hand is at home and never cocked.”
You can read the full interview here: http://www.fhmus.com/articles-1267.asp?cnl_id=5&stn_id=46&idx_id=1267
These guys bristle with macho. Expect the first few rounds to be more controlled: Corrales moving and setting the pace. Once Castillo breaks through, it’s “MACHO TIME”. I’ll agree with the sportsbook odds - if Corrales’ chin holds up, he’ll land enough punches to eke out a split decision.
Jhonny Gonzalez-Fernando Montiel: Is it over yet?
Who made this fight? Was this a Barrera concoction? Maybe law school has him out of touch. Being Guatemalan, I can relate to the poor souls who were expecting a slugfest and got a snoozefest.
Look, when you match Mexicans, you don’t expect Leonard vs. Benitez. To Latinos boxing equals fighting. Hit and get hit. We don’t want a ballet. After a 12-hour shift, getting a crap paycheck, my wife yelling at me and my car breaking down … all I want to do Fridays is hang with the boys, suck down some Coronas and watch two guys trying to kill each other cause they're pissed.
How about an “I’m sorry bout?” Daniel Ponce De Leon was on the same card, and he scored another KO. Doesn’t a guy with a 90 percent KO ratio deserve to be on TV?
Joe Rein describes De Leon’s style: "He’s a clenched fist, sparring - an impatient 5-5 southpaw – he brings it! -with little give in his legs – over-wide stance - and constant I-want-to-kill-you lead lefts, making his handlers cringe. But he shrinks from no exchange - head down, squared-up, furiously winging to knock down a building. None of it by design, more a random act of violence.
Many of his free swings are blocked or parried, but when his sparmate steps back, thinking he’s out of range, Ponce brings new meaning to "reach out and touch someone" with a wingspan just shy of Marciano’s. The shudder when he lands makes it clear why he’s dangerous.
Read more about De Leon here: http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/3849/are-you-making-any-money/ . Next time a fight sucks, HBO should sneak in a bonus bout. Who cares which, as long as it’s brutal.
Last Round
Chad Dawson should look awesome against Eric Harding in his first light heavyweight go. Harding’s not lacking confidence:
“I am willing to fight for winner-takes-all,’’ he said. “Dawson has made a big mistake. This is like a man against a young kid. He better be ready. Every fight is a must-win for me.”
Harding outpointed Antonio Tarver in a WBC eliminator on June 23, 2000. He also fought ex-world champs Montell Griffin and Glen Johnson. Harding, the WBC No. 10/IBF No. 9 contender won USBA and NABF 175-pound crowns in his past two starts, 12-round decisions over David Telesco and Daniel Judah.
Dawson, the WBC No. 7/WBA No. 15 contender, said, “I am looking forward to this. It is a great fight for ‘ShoBox.’ I am a still an improving, young fighter who is stepping up in competition. Harding is a great fighter. He has a good resume, but I definitely think I am the stronger fighter. I am in great shape. The world will know my name when I walk out of the ring with a victory.”
Dawson knows how to deal with awkward fighters. I was at Dawson’s bout against Ian Gardner in New Haven, Conn. with TN promoter Jake Donovan, who commented about the fight:
“The first few rounds were typical of a Gardner fight, even if the southpaw wasn’t in complete control. Dawson carried the action, but Gardner’s awkward style caused him to miss nearly everything. Action was so dismal, that many in press row were more interested in the war of words between the two camps at ringside. By round five, Dawson took over for good. Gardner offered an occasional straight left, but seemed more concerned with a shot that caught him above the bridge of his nose. By round’s end, Gardner was slow to walk back to his corner, grabbing his head, as if something was amiss.“
Chad Dawson was “amiss.” The guy’s the goods.
You can read the full story here: http://fightbeat.com/badchadfinal.php
10 seconds
WBA welterweight champion Ricky Hatton will sit ringside in Las Vegas on Saturday for Castillo-Corrales III, intending to challenge the victor of this epic trilogy, says his dad, manager Ray Hatton.
"He'd like to fight the winner, although we have heard rumors that Castillo will jump right up to welter afterwards and possibly fight Miguel Cotto."
I’m skeptical of a Cotto-Castillo bout coming off. On June 10, Paul Malignaggi has his own plans.
Boxing has been a very popular sport for a very long time. But, it’s not only the athlete’s ability that is important, but also the equipment that he/she uses that matter. Boxing gloves are perhaps the most important thing a boxer needs to have before stepping into the ring. Choosing the right pair is a must to ensure the best performance possible.
If you plan to step into the boxing ring anytime soon, you know that you must first have the proper pair of boxing gloves for you. Before you buy your first pair of the familiar, red gloves, there are some things that you should know.
Leather gloves are usually the most recommended. Sure, they may cost a little more than boxing gloves made out of other materials, but they will definitely last longer as well as offer better support. If you want to use boxing gloves strictly for a fitness class, the material may not matter, but if you want to train it is definitely important.
The next thing to consider is how the gloves close. Boxing gloves of the classic style, usually seen in prize fights, are often tied onto the boxer’s hands with laces. As with your shoes, a pair of gloves with laces can ensure a very snug fit.
But, Velcro enclosures are another choice. The advantage to using boxing gloves that have Velcro straps is that they can easily be put on or removed by yourself and without the help of anyone else. In fact, for anyone who has tried to lace gloves up themselves and without anyone else’s help, it is just about impossible. If you are just an average person who wants to use the gloves for general training purposes, then Velcro straps are ok for you to use.
The size of the boxing gloves that you choose is of great importance. The come in small, medium, and large, and also for men and women. Any average man will usually need a size large, while the average size boxing glove for a woman is a medium. The size can vary with different manufacturers, but it is usually standard.
Boxing gloves can weigh anywhere from 10 to 20 ounces, but those used in a professional boxing match are usually 10 ounces. If you plan to use the gloves for training, then the standard sizes are 12 ounce, 14 ounce, and 16 ounce. If you are looking for more protection, then a heavier glove is for you. If you are a beginner, then 14 or 16 ounce gloves are usually recommended. But if you plan to use them for sparring, 16 ounce gloves are the norm.
Most people think they must buy a glove that fits their hand, but this isn’t the case. If possible, put 180’ inch wraps on your hand when trying a glove on. By doing this, you can see how the feel will change with the handwrap and if a bigger size is needed.
When shopping for boxing gloves, also look for a great feature called a thumb attachment, or a thumb-lock. Most gloves made nowadays have this feature, which helps to prevent thumb injuries or any accidental eye gouges than can occur during a match.
Bowling Tutorials Teach a Person How to Deliver a Bowling Ball
Posted on
Kamis, 24 November 2011 |
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A person must knock down the pins to score points in bowling. Some people find it difficult to roll the bowling ball and hit the pins. Many times if the balls are “railed”, they get frustrated and eventually lose a game. It is important to learn the basics of bowling from the footwork to the release of the ball.
Tutorials may help a person be more precise and exact with striking the pins. The delivery of the ball is important in this game. If a person is able to execute the ball as he did to achieve the previous strike then the following deliveries will result in similar strikes. Consistency must be practiced in this sport - that is why they call bowling a game of repetition.
There are lessons to teach intermediate bowling techniques that will help a person learn how to strike consistently and leave no pins standing. Here are steps on learning the basics:
1. A player may pick up the ball and walk straight towards the foul line. This will be his starting position; or he may turn with his back to the pins before turning to face the pins.
2. It is not advisable to position the ball in the center of the body; it is better if the ball is held at his side so that it will be easier for him to execute a straight arm swing.
3. Before he turns to face the pins and aiming before the delivery, he must relax and take a deep breath to take away the tension and pressure in the body that affects the way a player will deliver the ball.
4. If the person is right handed, he must use his right foot as his first step position and left handed bowler would use his left foot. These positions are to favor the strong side of the body so that he can deliver the ball comfortably.
5. He must hold the ball away from his body, make a consistent out, and down movement with the ball. When the ball is positioned for the back swing he may take his third step, and then swing the ball for the release as his final step.
Movements and executions are important in the delivery of the ball. The way he releases the ball and knows the basic movements will allow a player to make strikes on the pins. He must remember to keep the motion smooth and precise for a better performance when bowling.
Bowling Tournaments: Where Fun and Money Come Together
Posted on
Rabu, 23 November 2011 |
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What is so impressive about bowling?
For starters, it is a game that almost anybody can engage in. It is a relatively easier sport to play than others that involve more skills and techniques. It is also less expensive to play than many other sports and is all fun, with no trouble getting the ball to start rolling down the lane.
No wonder nearly 100 million people are now "hooked on" bowling.
Not all of them are really serious about the game but there are many who desire to join leagues and play in tournaments. In fact, in the United States, out of the 50 million people that play bowling, only 6 million belong to a league or play in tournaments.
What are bowling tournaments?
Competitive people who really want to succeed in the world of bowling are the ones that play in tournaments. The gratifications that every bowler obtains in competition are not just personal advancements as far as bowling is concerned, but also can produce monetary satisfaction.
However, it is not that easy to win in a tournament. It takes much practice and many skills to win the game. Here is a list of some tips that will make bowling tournament playing more gratifying.
1. Have enough time to randomly check all your equipments before leaving your residence or place of work. It will be very hard for you to go back once you have arrived at the tournament's venue.
2. Be professional.
Do not just arrive on time but ahead of time. This will give you enough time to condition yourself for the game and will make you more relaxed and comfortable about the place, the people around you, and the other players.
3. Take advantage of "pre-game" exercises.
Do not think that it is just a practice game so you do not have to give it your best shot. Keep in mind that this the time that you want to make a good impression. As the experts say, "pre-game" exercises can make or break your progression.
4. Keep focused.
While in the game, always make it a point to keep your head upright. Maintain a good level of concentration. If the pins are not going your way, cool it! Bad temper will only get you into more trouble.
Bowling in a tournament can really make a big difference in a bowler's career but things is still the same - you are trying to make a strike or to win the game, whether for fun or for the tournament.
In sports, what matters most is that you have played the game well.
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