A sport is like religion to fans- for e.g. cricket in India or football in Europe. No doubt, a strong mark of identity is quintessential to all sports logos. They can represent a team, a company managing the sport, it can depict a sports channel or it could also denote a manufacturer making sporting goods and gears.
Take a look at WWE sports logo. World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., (WWE) is an integrated media and sports entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling. Their logo is made up of two 'Ws' in white- the small one contained in the bigger one with a red stroke underlining this monogram. The Ws are rough, violent and forceful strokes well representing the game of wrestling. The red stroke brings to mind blood as well as entertainment, which are highlights of professional wrestling.
In contrast the Adidas symbol is different. The company deals in training and sports wears, eyewear, fitness goods and apparels for men and women. The 3 striped Adidas logo was created by Adi Dassler, the founder. It was first used officially in 1967. The shape of 3 stripes on the Adidas Logo represents mountain, pointing out towards the challenges that are seen ahead and goals that can be achieved.
All sports logos also communicate about the future plans of the team or company they represent. Since these logos appear on the jersey of the player, sponsors and other memorabilia they need to be designed with proper strategy. A good symbol carries positive vibes and helps to retain the winning abilities. They are like uniforms and should have a sense of discipline. The color schemes and fonts should reflect on the nature of the sport. The sports logo should also exude the fair competitive spirit.
A sports logo is like the mascot and drives the team to win with self confidence. Even the fans like to have the sports logos on their t-shirts. It gives them a sense of allegiance to the team. A logo should be well liked to be used even by the spectators. Most recognizable ones are those which are simple and have attractive colors. Trendy and fashionable are the key to success for most sports logos. They should be inspirational and can also have a strong sporty message.
So, go, wear the logo you will swear by and set on an adventure or cheer till your throat turn hoarse!
By Kilian Allen
Monday, July 13, 2009
Major Sport Events in 2009 By Imad Dietfried
Every year there are 1,000's of events that make the landscape each year. Year after year sporting events will transform the landscape for many. These top sporting events are only part that make each year so special.
The beginning of 2009 started off like every year with New Years. No New Years will ever start until the ball drops at Time Square in New York City. As the ball drops from the flagpole on top of Time's Square one million people gathered around to celebrate the year. It estimated that over a billion people across the globe watched this year as they celebrated the New Year.
The first major event of the year was the Super Bowl on February 1, 2009. The eyes of the world focused on Tampa Florida as the world's best that year squared off on the gridiron. This year those two teams were Arizona and Pittsburgh. Unlike most years this game went down to the final minutes. In the end Pittsburgh won on a play that will make all participants famous forever.
After the Super Bowl all eyes focused on the NCAA College Basketball season. The year of 2009 saw many teams trade of the number one ranking in the land. North Caroline was the early season favorite but fought with UConn, Louisville and others to keep the title of number one. The tournament took off this year with everyone filling out their brackets including President Obama. The NCAA Tournament might have not have had the thrillers in the past but a Cinderella was born. Michigan State dashed through the tournament heading home to Michigan for the Final Four. The nation got behind Michigan State and the struggling state of Michigan as they reached the Final Four. Ending up in the final North Carolina and Michigan State provided the buzz everyone expects each year. In the end Michigan State could not hold of the North Carolina onslaught providing the favorite to will it all this year.
The 2009 calendar has been eventful during the first quarter of the year. There is more to come from the sporting world this year. In April we will see Tiger's return to the Masters to keep us going. Augusta for most is the best place in the world for golf. This year with Tiger Wood's return to golf all eyes will even be more fixed on Augusta to see what happens.
Also in April will be the start of the NBA Playoffs and NHL Playoffs. Each provides drama like no other playoff tournament can. Both involve struggles of seven game series were stars become legends in each sport. Both sports have stars looking to take the next level. In the NBA can Lebron win a ring? Over in the NHL two great young starts are still looking for their first Stanley Cup. Will Sydney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin engrave their name on the Cup?
As summer comes upon us Europe and America's favorite sports come enter the spotlight. In the United States we see baseball starting. No other sport in America has as much tradition as baseball in the country. In Europe the start of summer brings in the end of the Union of European Football Association season. On May 20, 2009 we will see the final of the UEFA in Istanbul this year. Then on May 27, 2009 the season concludes with the Final Champions League in Rome.
In June the world will turn to Wimbledon to focus on Tennis. While other majors exist Wimbledon is the one that still captures the world's imagination.
In 2009 we wait and see the British Open and US Open to satisfy are golf taste. We will also be met by new NFL and college football seasons. With the World Series still out there after the conclusion of the World Baseball Classic we will have a new debate on the best baseball in the world. 2009 has many events past and to come that will be marked down forever.
By Imad Dietfried
The beginning of 2009 started off like every year with New Years. No New Years will ever start until the ball drops at Time Square in New York City. As the ball drops from the flagpole on top of Time's Square one million people gathered around to celebrate the year. It estimated that over a billion people across the globe watched this year as they celebrated the New Year.
The first major event of the year was the Super Bowl on February 1, 2009. The eyes of the world focused on Tampa Florida as the world's best that year squared off on the gridiron. This year those two teams were Arizona and Pittsburgh. Unlike most years this game went down to the final minutes. In the end Pittsburgh won on a play that will make all participants famous forever.
After the Super Bowl all eyes focused on the NCAA College Basketball season. The year of 2009 saw many teams trade of the number one ranking in the land. North Caroline was the early season favorite but fought with UConn, Louisville and others to keep the title of number one. The tournament took off this year with everyone filling out their brackets including President Obama. The NCAA Tournament might have not have had the thrillers in the past but a Cinderella was born. Michigan State dashed through the tournament heading home to Michigan for the Final Four. The nation got behind Michigan State and the struggling state of Michigan as they reached the Final Four. Ending up in the final North Carolina and Michigan State provided the buzz everyone expects each year. In the end Michigan State could not hold of the North Carolina onslaught providing the favorite to will it all this year.
The 2009 calendar has been eventful during the first quarter of the year. There is more to come from the sporting world this year. In April we will see Tiger's return to the Masters to keep us going. Augusta for most is the best place in the world for golf. This year with Tiger Wood's return to golf all eyes will even be more fixed on Augusta to see what happens.
Also in April will be the start of the NBA Playoffs and NHL Playoffs. Each provides drama like no other playoff tournament can. Both involve struggles of seven game series were stars become legends in each sport. Both sports have stars looking to take the next level. In the NBA can Lebron win a ring? Over in the NHL two great young starts are still looking for their first Stanley Cup. Will Sydney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin engrave their name on the Cup?
As summer comes upon us Europe and America's favorite sports come enter the spotlight. In the United States we see baseball starting. No other sport in America has as much tradition as baseball in the country. In Europe the start of summer brings in the end of the Union of European Football Association season. On May 20, 2009 we will see the final of the UEFA in Istanbul this year. Then on May 27, 2009 the season concludes with the Final Champions League in Rome.
In June the world will turn to Wimbledon to focus on Tennis. While other majors exist Wimbledon is the one that still captures the world's imagination.
In 2009 we wait and see the British Open and US Open to satisfy are golf taste. We will also be met by new NFL and college football seasons. With the World Series still out there after the conclusion of the World Baseball Classic we will have a new debate on the best baseball in the world. 2009 has many events past and to come that will be marked down forever.
By Imad Dietfried
Famous Athlete's Who Wore Goggles By Dale Doback
Somewhere along the lines, it became uncool to wear rec specs (goggles) in sports. Sometime in the mid to late 1990's people must have made an announcement that people who wore them were not with the hip crowd. Well I think that is complete mularkey. I mean, they chose that lifestyle. Wearing goggles is a lifestyle choice. This article pays tribute to the men who wore them proud and wore them night-in, night-out.
1. Eric Dickerson. This famous running back toted the football for the Colts and Rams like no other in his day. He would run through the line and burst with speed to the outside, evading would be tacklers all without a care in the world that someone just might try to gauge his eye. Eric will go down as one of the best running backs in NFL history, and the only one I can remember with awesome rec specs.
2. Chris Sabo. Played along with other great Reds in Cincinnati like Jose Rijo and Barry Larkin in the late 80's and early 90's. Sabo was a terror on the basepaths, known for his hustle more than anything. As Sabo stole bases, he never had to worry about loose dirt getting in his eyes as he sported the rec specs with authority.
3. Kurt Rambis. Another athlete who will never be questioned for his lack of hustle, Rambis ran the floor as hard as anyone the Lakers ever suited up. If a loose ball was on the floor, Rambis would hit the deck knowing that it was his ball to lose. Finishing his career just shy of 5,000 rebounds, Kurt never worried about a flailing elbow as he was protected with the best rec specs money could buy.
4. While we are talking about famous L.A. Lakers, who can forget James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? These two dominating players won several championships with the Lake Show while wearing rec specs as well. Both are NBA legends, but more known for their skill than their rec specs.
5. Horace Grant. A special player for the dynasty Chicago Bulls that featured the likes of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Horace was a tenacious defender and rec-spec wearing threat anywhere on the court. Along with the aforementioned Lakers, he holds multiple championship rings.
I go to sleep each night hoping that one creative youngster out there who dons rec specs sticks with the program instead of opting for a trendy lasik surgery or something else that would make him shed the goggles. Rec specs are a part of history and the players I have named are all famous for wearing them.
Long live the rec specs!
By Dale Doback
1. Eric Dickerson. This famous running back toted the football for the Colts and Rams like no other in his day. He would run through the line and burst with speed to the outside, evading would be tacklers all without a care in the world that someone just might try to gauge his eye. Eric will go down as one of the best running backs in NFL history, and the only one I can remember with awesome rec specs.
2. Chris Sabo. Played along with other great Reds in Cincinnati like Jose Rijo and Barry Larkin in the late 80's and early 90's. Sabo was a terror on the basepaths, known for his hustle more than anything. As Sabo stole bases, he never had to worry about loose dirt getting in his eyes as he sported the rec specs with authority.
3. Kurt Rambis. Another athlete who will never be questioned for his lack of hustle, Rambis ran the floor as hard as anyone the Lakers ever suited up. If a loose ball was on the floor, Rambis would hit the deck knowing that it was his ball to lose. Finishing his career just shy of 5,000 rebounds, Kurt never worried about a flailing elbow as he was protected with the best rec specs money could buy.
4. While we are talking about famous L.A. Lakers, who can forget James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? These two dominating players won several championships with the Lake Show while wearing rec specs as well. Both are NBA legends, but more known for their skill than their rec specs.
5. Horace Grant. A special player for the dynasty Chicago Bulls that featured the likes of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Horace was a tenacious defender and rec-spec wearing threat anywhere on the court. Along with the aforementioned Lakers, he holds multiple championship rings.
I go to sleep each night hoping that one creative youngster out there who dons rec specs sticks with the program instead of opting for a trendy lasik surgery or something else that would make him shed the goggles. Rec specs are a part of history and the players I have named are all famous for wearing them.
Long live the rec specs!
By Dale Doback
Calories Burned Playing Tennis - How Many Calories You Can Burn Playing Sports - Tennis Or Badminton By Anna Holman
The amount of calories burned while playing tennis is enormous. We can judge the amount of fat burning by observing the fitness level of a tennis player. They look amazingly well toned and healthy. This sport involves your whole body. There are various shots played during a tennis match such as forehand, backhand, volley and drop shot. Tennis player have to constantly run throughout the match for victory. It engenders lots of metabolism and consequently it stimulates lots of fat burning.
Shots like forehand and backhand mostly involve your upper body. They can easily shed those extra pounds from your body. We usually see tennis players constantly taking breaks during the match. It is always advisable to consume lots of water in order to maintain the body temperature. You should keep on taking moderate amount of liquids throughout the play.
How Many Calories You Can Burn By Playing Sports Viz Tennis or Badminton
. Playing tennis not only burns your calories but also helps in toning your muscles. The amount of calories burnt depends upon the frequency and the duration of the match. If the match becomes more exciting, the level of calorie burning also increases. You can easily burn up to 150-300 calories by playing a whole match.
. You can also shed those extra pounds by playing other sports such as badminton and squash. They help your body to sweat, which consequently removes your toxic substances easily.
. Tennis, badminton or squash playing prevents your body from various types of disorders such heart disease and diabetes. It also helps your body to relieve stress and anxiety. Playing tennis is usually considered to be the healthiest way to burn calories and lose those extra fats. It not only rejuvenates your body but also makes you an expert in game. You will be able to compete at various levels by practicing this game regularly.
Inefficiency of metabolism is the prime cause for weight gain. The next step is to increase the metabolic rate to burn fat naturally.
By Anna Holman
Shots like forehand and backhand mostly involve your upper body. They can easily shed those extra pounds from your body. We usually see tennis players constantly taking breaks during the match. It is always advisable to consume lots of water in order to maintain the body temperature. You should keep on taking moderate amount of liquids throughout the play.
How Many Calories You Can Burn By Playing Sports Viz Tennis or Badminton
. Playing tennis not only burns your calories but also helps in toning your muscles. The amount of calories burnt depends upon the frequency and the duration of the match. If the match becomes more exciting, the level of calorie burning also increases. You can easily burn up to 150-300 calories by playing a whole match.
. You can also shed those extra pounds by playing other sports such as badminton and squash. They help your body to sweat, which consequently removes your toxic substances easily.
. Tennis, badminton or squash playing prevents your body from various types of disorders such heart disease and diabetes. It also helps your body to relieve stress and anxiety. Playing tennis is usually considered to be the healthiest way to burn calories and lose those extra fats. It not only rejuvenates your body but also makes you an expert in game. You will be able to compete at various levels by practicing this game regularly.
Inefficiency of metabolism is the prime cause for weight gain. The next step is to increase the metabolic rate to burn fat naturally.
By Anna Holman
Sports Trivia - Some Non-Immortals Hold Immortal Records By Charles Jay
Talk about your forgotten record-holders! Has anyone ever heard of Jim Benton? The split end for the Cleveland Rams (that's no typographical error, kids) was the first NFL player to gain 300 yards receiving in a single game. Benton snared ten passes for an astonishing 303 yards in a 28-21 victory over the Detroit Lions on November 22, 1945. But he's completely forgotten now.
Many people are aware that Wilt Chamberlain never fouled out of an NBA game, but at the other end of the spectrum is the obscure figure of Don Otten, who, while playing for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in a November 24, 1949 game against the Sheboygan Redskins, committed EIGHT personal fouls, setting an NBA record for hackery that will never be approached as long as the six-foul disqualification rule remains in effect.
Eleven years, to the day, later - November 24, 1960 - Chamberlain set one of his many records by pulling down an astonishing fifty-five rebounds in a game against the Boston Celtics. Does anyone out there think that record will ever be broken?
One of the most amazing records in all of major league baseball history belongs to Owen "Chief" Wilson, who while playing for the 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates banged out 36 triples, a record which on the surface may seem breakable, but which has stood the test of time - 88 years, to be exact. The truth is, no one since Wilson has ever come even remotely close to that total for three-baggers. In fact, the last time a player even had as many 25 in a season was in 1925, when Hall-of-Famer Kiki Cuyler registered 26 triples, once again for the Pirates. But not only is Wilson virtually forgotten by all but the most avid baseball historians, the record is rarely even mentioned, possibly because unlike most other long-standing marks, it's never seriously threatened!
By Charles Jay
Many people are aware that Wilt Chamberlain never fouled out of an NBA game, but at the other end of the spectrum is the obscure figure of Don Otten, who, while playing for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in a November 24, 1949 game against the Sheboygan Redskins, committed EIGHT personal fouls, setting an NBA record for hackery that will never be approached as long as the six-foul disqualification rule remains in effect.
Eleven years, to the day, later - November 24, 1960 - Chamberlain set one of his many records by pulling down an astonishing fifty-five rebounds in a game against the Boston Celtics. Does anyone out there think that record will ever be broken?
One of the most amazing records in all of major league baseball history belongs to Owen "Chief" Wilson, who while playing for the 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates banged out 36 triples, a record which on the surface may seem breakable, but which has stood the test of time - 88 years, to be exact. The truth is, no one since Wilson has ever come even remotely close to that total for three-baggers. In fact, the last time a player even had as many 25 in a season was in 1925, when Hall-of-Famer Kiki Cuyler registered 26 triples, once again for the Pirates. But not only is Wilson virtually forgotten by all but the most avid baseball historians, the record is rarely even mentioned, possibly because unlike most other long-standing marks, it's never seriously threatened!
By Charles Jay
FIFA World Cup 2010 on You PC - Time to Start Preparing By Enstine Muki
If you are not like me, you must be a football lover. Let me use the words "soccer" and "football" to mean the same thing whether you are from Europe or America. This time around, all attention is focused to South Africa. It's an historic event in the history of this country and Africa as a whole. Looking at the official Match Schedule as released and published on FIFA's website and the number of the ticket applications received during the first sales phase that ended at midnight on 31 March with a total of 1,635,136 applications, one can begin to imagine the scramble.
The matches will be played in the following towns/areas:
Cape Town,
Durban,
Johannesburg,
Mangaung/Bloemfontein,
Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth,
Nelspruit,
Polokwane,
Rustenburg,
Tshwane/Pretoria.
One sure thing is that the whole world will not be at the pitches, not even all the South Africans. However, everyone that stays back is not necessarily not a lover of football. A good number of reasons account for this. You can start naming from lack of time because of other priorities, finance, and many others. If you are NOT packing your bags, there are other ways to be part of the tournament.
Don't ask me how because I know you certainly have a TV set with foreign channels. If your TV set can't follow you to the office or beach, I think the Internet can do. There are lots and lots of sites out there that will stream live images during the time. Also check the Net for some desktop applications that will bring the event closer to you.
Worldcup 2010 Online on your PC.
By Enstine Muki
The matches will be played in the following towns/areas:
Cape Town,
Durban,
Johannesburg,
Mangaung/Bloemfontein,
Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth,
Nelspruit,
Polokwane,
Rustenburg,
Tshwane/Pretoria.
One sure thing is that the whole world will not be at the pitches, not even all the South Africans. However, everyone that stays back is not necessarily not a lover of football. A good number of reasons account for this. You can start naming from lack of time because of other priorities, finance, and many others. If you are NOT packing your bags, there are other ways to be part of the tournament.
Don't ask me how because I know you certainly have a TV set with foreign channels. If your TV set can't follow you to the office or beach, I think the Internet can do. There are lots and lots of sites out there that will stream live images during the time. Also check the Net for some desktop applications that will bring the event closer to you.
Worldcup 2010 Online on your PC.
By Enstine Muki
How to Balance Soccer-Specific Strength and Fitness Training - Fartlek and Strength Training By John Zajaros
Conditioning is absolutely crucial for overall fitness, as well as speed of play and final half effectiveness. Fartlek is one strategy proven to be extremely effective for soccer athletes, male and female. Soccer, football as it is commonly known elsewhere in the world, is one of the oldest team based sports on the planet. It requires a person to run a bit more than the length of an American football field (approximately 110 yards) consistently for approximately 90 minutes. It also requires dexterity, suppleness, and a presence of mind to concentrate on using feet and legs as hands and arms. It is no surprise that soccer is the most popular game in the world, and it is also no surprise that strength training and conditioning for soccer is probably more focused than other sports.
Soccer-specific strength and fitness training is crucial for success at the sports highest levels, youth or adult. Soccer players require a combination of aerobic and anaerobic fitness due to the nature of the game and the fact that there is continuous movement with lots of short bursts of more intense activity.
Aerobic fitness is tied to oxygen use and anaerobic fitness is tied to work, power and strength. Soccer fitness is a combination of aerobic and anaerobic fitness with further specialization for each person's age and position. Conditioning for soccer is not one size or one program fits all sort of endeavor. It is often necessary to concentrate on mental training and motor skills when dealing with younger soccer athletes because conditioning and speed training is not easily connected or does not have an impact on those younger than the beginning teen years, except with a very small and select group of "premier" level athletes. After puberty, strength and conditioning training can and should have a major effect, however sessions should be focused and controlled, based on the age and sex of the soccer athlete. Also remember that strength and conditioning sessions develop a better player but are not a replacement for individual foot skill, vision, and teamwork. However, when training is done consistently, over a period of months, amazing results are possible.
One form of aerobic fitness training for soccer is called Fartlek, which means "speed play" in Swedish. Fartlek is a form of conditioning that puts stress on the aerobic energy system by keeping the athlete moving, without stopping for long periods of time. How this differs from a regular continuous running and/or circuit training is in the variation of speeds involved, variation that taxes the body and causing the individual to adapt to the strain. Fartlek sessions last approximately 45 minutes and use everything from walking to sprints. Fartlek deals with one of the most important things in soccer: speed of play. Soccer athletes are required to accelerate quickly, have a high maximum speed, react quickly, be able to change direction, and be able to sustain their speed. Fartlek and plyometrics (exercises that allow muscles to reach maximum force quickly) round out a aerobic workout and great amazing results during a relatively short training schedule.
Anaerobic training for soccer athletes is focused more on maintaining a lean physique that is not over muscled and inflexible. Soccer athletes are required to have high-speed and endurance, as well as be able to take the physical pain and punishment that often comes with contact. Push-ups and squats have made up much of the old-school approach to soccer strength training. Push-ups develop shoulders and the core muscles, and create a more well-rounded player. Squats develop power and speed for legs. However, while great exercises, alone they are woefully inadequate for overall development of top-caliber players.
Conditioning for soccer has varied mainly by age, rather than gender. This is incorrect and does not deal with the very specific requirements, and differences, between men and women, boys and girls. The older the soccer athlete is, the more he or she will see the benefits of strength and fitness training. However, when properly administered, sex-specific and soccer-specific strength and fitness training can have a dramatic impact on the physique and the play of youth soccer athletes. The proper conditioning program, combined with strength and fitness training will keep a player strong yet lean, increase the their oxygen intake, and increase their speed of play. The proper balance of training, aerobic, such as fartlek, and strength an fitness, such as circuit training, will also provide for greater body control and reduce the risk of injury. Sex-specific, sport-specific strength and fitness training, combined with aerobic training will enhance a player's strength, endurance, confidence, speed of play, and quality of play. Today's top athletes, amateur or professional, must find and use a balanced program of fitness to play at peak levels.
The various programs offering training for sex-specific and soccer-specific vary from comprehensive and very good, to woefully inadequate and years behind the times. The need for an overall, focused, and individually designed program of strength an fitness training cannot be overstated. I have been training athletes since the early 1980s and the difference between athletes who train properly and with weights and resistance machines, and those who do not is pronounced. If it is your desire to play at the highest levels or you know someone who has that as their goal, they must commence the proper strength and fitness program immediately!
For a complete resource, and a contact for soccer related strength and fitness training, as well as other related products.
By John Zajaros
Soccer-specific strength and fitness training is crucial for success at the sports highest levels, youth or adult. Soccer players require a combination of aerobic and anaerobic fitness due to the nature of the game and the fact that there is continuous movement with lots of short bursts of more intense activity.
Aerobic fitness is tied to oxygen use and anaerobic fitness is tied to work, power and strength. Soccer fitness is a combination of aerobic and anaerobic fitness with further specialization for each person's age and position. Conditioning for soccer is not one size or one program fits all sort of endeavor. It is often necessary to concentrate on mental training and motor skills when dealing with younger soccer athletes because conditioning and speed training is not easily connected or does not have an impact on those younger than the beginning teen years, except with a very small and select group of "premier" level athletes. After puberty, strength and conditioning training can and should have a major effect, however sessions should be focused and controlled, based on the age and sex of the soccer athlete. Also remember that strength and conditioning sessions develop a better player but are not a replacement for individual foot skill, vision, and teamwork. However, when training is done consistently, over a period of months, amazing results are possible.
One form of aerobic fitness training for soccer is called Fartlek, which means "speed play" in Swedish. Fartlek is a form of conditioning that puts stress on the aerobic energy system by keeping the athlete moving, without stopping for long periods of time. How this differs from a regular continuous running and/or circuit training is in the variation of speeds involved, variation that taxes the body and causing the individual to adapt to the strain. Fartlek sessions last approximately 45 minutes and use everything from walking to sprints. Fartlek deals with one of the most important things in soccer: speed of play. Soccer athletes are required to accelerate quickly, have a high maximum speed, react quickly, be able to change direction, and be able to sustain their speed. Fartlek and plyometrics (exercises that allow muscles to reach maximum force quickly) round out a aerobic workout and great amazing results during a relatively short training schedule.
Anaerobic training for soccer athletes is focused more on maintaining a lean physique that is not over muscled and inflexible. Soccer athletes are required to have high-speed and endurance, as well as be able to take the physical pain and punishment that often comes with contact. Push-ups and squats have made up much of the old-school approach to soccer strength training. Push-ups develop shoulders and the core muscles, and create a more well-rounded player. Squats develop power and speed for legs. However, while great exercises, alone they are woefully inadequate for overall development of top-caliber players.
Conditioning for soccer has varied mainly by age, rather than gender. This is incorrect and does not deal with the very specific requirements, and differences, between men and women, boys and girls. The older the soccer athlete is, the more he or she will see the benefits of strength and fitness training. However, when properly administered, sex-specific and soccer-specific strength and fitness training can have a dramatic impact on the physique and the play of youth soccer athletes. The proper conditioning program, combined with strength and fitness training will keep a player strong yet lean, increase the their oxygen intake, and increase their speed of play. The proper balance of training, aerobic, such as fartlek, and strength an fitness, such as circuit training, will also provide for greater body control and reduce the risk of injury. Sex-specific, sport-specific strength and fitness training, combined with aerobic training will enhance a player's strength, endurance, confidence, speed of play, and quality of play. Today's top athletes, amateur or professional, must find and use a balanced program of fitness to play at peak levels.
The various programs offering training for sex-specific and soccer-specific vary from comprehensive and very good, to woefully inadequate and years behind the times. The need for an overall, focused, and individually designed program of strength an fitness training cannot be overstated. I have been training athletes since the early 1980s and the difference between athletes who train properly and with weights and resistance machines, and those who do not is pronounced. If it is your desire to play at the highest levels or you know someone who has that as their goal, they must commence the proper strength and fitness program immediately!
For a complete resource, and a contact for soccer related strength and fitness training, as well as other related products.
By John Zajaros
Transfer News From Barcelona By Goran Maric
Unlike their bitter rivals, FC Barcelona entered the summer months quietly. Barca coach, Josep Guardiola, pinpointed the following players:
Franck Ribery
Ever since January, the French winger was considered as priority number 1 for the Catalan club but up until few weeks there weren't any formal offers. In March, Bayern Munich's winger went public and expressed his desire for a change of scenery and his statements were considered as a certain sign of player leaving. Things changed significantly once Perez took power in Madrid and appointed Zinedine Zidane as his advisor. The latter is seen as key figure in bringing Ribery closer to Madrid and away from Barcelona.
Javier Mascherano
Argentinian international is the 2nd choice of Pep Guardiola for strengthening the midfield. Reportedly, hard working Liverpool's player hasn't settled well in England and would welcome a move to Spain. Main reason for signing Mascherano is seen in African Cup of Nations that takes place this winter and during which Barcelona will have to cope without 2 of their important players: Keita and Yaya Toure.
David Villa
28 year old striker is considered as direct replacement for Samuel Eto. The Cameroonian is set to leave Camp Nou following the differences with FC Barcelona manager. The technical staff sees Villa as the best man to fit the Barca system as he proved to click well with Barcelona's internationals who also play for Spain: Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol and Pique.
Although it's still a long way before the transfer window closes, the clubs are looking to complete their squads before the beginning of pre-season matches.
If you are interested in rest of the news you can visit FC Barcelona news for more detailed information about Barca players and the staff.
By Goran Maric
Franck Ribery
Ever since January, the French winger was considered as priority number 1 for the Catalan club but up until few weeks there weren't any formal offers. In March, Bayern Munich's winger went public and expressed his desire for a change of scenery and his statements were considered as a certain sign of player leaving. Things changed significantly once Perez took power in Madrid and appointed Zinedine Zidane as his advisor. The latter is seen as key figure in bringing Ribery closer to Madrid and away from Barcelona.
Javier Mascherano
Argentinian international is the 2nd choice of Pep Guardiola for strengthening the midfield. Reportedly, hard working Liverpool's player hasn't settled well in England and would welcome a move to Spain. Main reason for signing Mascherano is seen in African Cup of Nations that takes place this winter and during which Barcelona will have to cope without 2 of their important players: Keita and Yaya Toure.
David Villa
28 year old striker is considered as direct replacement for Samuel Eto. The Cameroonian is set to leave Camp Nou following the differences with FC Barcelona manager. The technical staff sees Villa as the best man to fit the Barca system as he proved to click well with Barcelona's internationals who also play for Spain: Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol and Pique.
Although it's still a long way before the transfer window closes, the clubs are looking to complete their squads before the beginning of pre-season matches.
If you are interested in rest of the news you can visit FC Barcelona news for more detailed information about Barca players and the staff.
By Goran Maric
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Can Aston Villa Break the Big Four? By Steve Yates
Many people outside of Birmingham might struggle to come up with a full list of names of English clubs that have won the European Cup (or Champions League as it has ironically been called since they started allowing non-champion teams in it). People will always come up with Manchester United and Liverpool and then remember Brian Clough's double titles with Nottingham Forest.
Aston Villa, though, is the name that might well catch many people out. And yet, they're forever up there with the great names of European football. It's not as if the Villa won the trophy when the competition was in its infancy or anything like that - 1982, it was. And the Birmingham team defeated the German giants Bayern Munich, thanks to a goal from that archetypal English centre forward, Peter Withe; giving him permanent legendary status.
Apart from a couple of League Cup victories in the 1990s and an InterToto Cup in 2001, that was the last time Aston Villa were one of Europe's finest teams. However, for a large part of last season, 2008/09, it looked as if the team, now managed by the experienced Martin O'Neill, might make that elite group again.
English football followers spend a long time as each season approaches contemplating about who could, given the requisite amount of luck with injuries and new signings, break into the so-called 'Big Four' of the Premier League. Every year, Everton and Tottenham supporters always claim that, this time, their club will prove that they deserve to be thought of in the same bracket as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. And each year they fall short. But last year it really did look, for long periods of time, as if the claret and blue shirted 'Villans' might make that breakthrough.
In the end, of course, we now know that they 'failed'. A combination of an overlong season - Aston Villa started way before most teams because of their European qualifying matches - and a comparatively small squad of players meant that the high energy football seen at the beginning of the season simply ran out of steam in the last few weeks.
So, the big question is can the team that came so close last year go just that little bit further this coming season? Well, it will be difficult, that's for sure. Manchester City's millions are sure to see them improving; Everton are only a few players away from having a squad ready to challenge and Tottenham, as usual, believe that this year will surely be the time for them to achieve their rightful position.
Undoubtedly, though, Villa have the potential. With some exciting young attacking players - Young, Milner, Agbonlahor - coupled with a great work ethic, it would be great fun for neutrals to see this vibrant Villa outfit putting the league's 'Establishment' to even more discomfort. As long as Martin O'Neill's American paymaster resists the temptation to cash in on his young talent and the much-admired manager can invest his transfer budget wisely, it's easy to see Villa being able to improve on their high standards of last season.
Villa Park is always a good ground to watch football in; it has a lively atmosphere and spectators still feel close to the action. The Villa supporters have got themselves a side that shows signs of perhaps being the nearest that they've had since 1982 to rekindle that magic night in Rotterdam.
It would be really good to see that Top Four clique messed up a little. Come on, the Villa.
By Steve Yates
Aston Villa, though, is the name that might well catch many people out. And yet, they're forever up there with the great names of European football. It's not as if the Villa won the trophy when the competition was in its infancy or anything like that - 1982, it was. And the Birmingham team defeated the German giants Bayern Munich, thanks to a goal from that archetypal English centre forward, Peter Withe; giving him permanent legendary status.
Apart from a couple of League Cup victories in the 1990s and an InterToto Cup in 2001, that was the last time Aston Villa were one of Europe's finest teams. However, for a large part of last season, 2008/09, it looked as if the team, now managed by the experienced Martin O'Neill, might make that elite group again.
English football followers spend a long time as each season approaches contemplating about who could, given the requisite amount of luck with injuries and new signings, break into the so-called 'Big Four' of the Premier League. Every year, Everton and Tottenham supporters always claim that, this time, their club will prove that they deserve to be thought of in the same bracket as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. And each year they fall short. But last year it really did look, for long periods of time, as if the claret and blue shirted 'Villans' might make that breakthrough.
In the end, of course, we now know that they 'failed'. A combination of an overlong season - Aston Villa started way before most teams because of their European qualifying matches - and a comparatively small squad of players meant that the high energy football seen at the beginning of the season simply ran out of steam in the last few weeks.
So, the big question is can the team that came so close last year go just that little bit further this coming season? Well, it will be difficult, that's for sure. Manchester City's millions are sure to see them improving; Everton are only a few players away from having a squad ready to challenge and Tottenham, as usual, believe that this year will surely be the time for them to achieve their rightful position.
Undoubtedly, though, Villa have the potential. With some exciting young attacking players - Young, Milner, Agbonlahor - coupled with a great work ethic, it would be great fun for neutrals to see this vibrant Villa outfit putting the league's 'Establishment' to even more discomfort. As long as Martin O'Neill's American paymaster resists the temptation to cash in on his young talent and the much-admired manager can invest his transfer budget wisely, it's easy to see Villa being able to improve on their high standards of last season.
Villa Park is always a good ground to watch football in; it has a lively atmosphere and spectators still feel close to the action. The Villa supporters have got themselves a side that shows signs of perhaps being the nearest that they've had since 1982 to rekindle that magic night in Rotterdam.
It would be really good to see that Top Four clique messed up a little. Come on, the Villa.
By Steve Yates
How Are Premier League TV Rights Assigned? By Martin Caparrotta
With Setanta Sports seemingly fighting a losing battle against the economic downturn, what does it all mean for the distribution of the Premier League's live UK television rights in the coming seasons?
At present, live Barclays Premier League TV rights are split into six packages, each consisting of 23 live matches. Therefore a total of 138 games from the league will be screened live on UK TV every season.
For the forthcoming 2009-10 season, BSkyB owns the rights for four of the six packages available, meaning that the British broadcaster will show 92 live matches next season.
The distribution of Live Premier League TV Rights:
2009-10 season - BSkyB will show 92 live EPL matches - New ESPN channel will show 46 live games
From 2010-11 season until 2013 - BSkyB will show 115 live EPL matches - New ESPN channel will show the remaining 23 live games
The remaining two packages of 46 games, that Setanta was forced to surrender after failing to come up with the cash, were snapped up this week by Disney-owned American broadcaster, ESPN.
ESPN, who currently broadcast two channels on UK satellite television, are expected to announce the launch of a new channel to screen the newly-acquired live matches, that consumers will be able to purchase on top of their current Sky TV subscription.
The American media company is also expected to look to broadcast their new channel on other TV platforms such as Virgin Media.
But after the conclusion of the 2009-10 season, Sky will tighten its grip on the live games after it emerged that the company has already won an auction for another 23 match package, bringing the total number of live games on Sky to a hefty 115. Meanwhile, ESPN will show the remaining 23 games on its newly branded channel from 2010-11.
Finally, whilst one might assume that Setanta's demise is in Sky's favour, it could in fact be bad news for Rupert Murdoch's company. Industry regulators demand that there must be a direct competitor to Sky as no single broadcaster are able to own all six packages.
This deal was agreed in 2005 with the European Commission, when it was ruled that Premier League television rights must be split between more than one broadcaster.
At present, live Barclays Premier League TV rights are split into six packages, each consisting of 23 live matches. Therefore a total of 138 games from the league will be screened live on UK TV every season.
For the forthcoming 2009-10 season, BSkyB owns the rights for four of the six packages available, meaning that the British broadcaster will show 92 live matches next season.
The distribution of Live Premier League TV Rights:
2009-10 season - BSkyB will show 92 live EPL matches - New ESPN channel will show 46 live games
From 2010-11 season until 2013 - BSkyB will show 115 live EPL matches - New ESPN channel will show the remaining 23 live games
The remaining two packages of 46 games, that Setanta was forced to surrender after failing to come up with the cash, were snapped up this week by Disney-owned American broadcaster, ESPN.
ESPN, who currently broadcast two channels on UK satellite television, are expected to announce the launch of a new channel to screen the newly-acquired live matches, that consumers will be able to purchase on top of their current Sky TV subscription.
The American media company is also expected to look to broadcast their new channel on other TV platforms such as Virgin Media.
But after the conclusion of the 2009-10 season, Sky will tighten its grip on the live games after it emerged that the company has already won an auction for another 23 match package, bringing the total number of live games on Sky to a hefty 115. Meanwhile, ESPN will show the remaining 23 games on its newly branded channel from 2010-11.
Finally, whilst one might assume that Setanta's demise is in Sky's favour, it could in fact be bad news for Rupert Murdoch's company. Industry regulators demand that there must be a direct competitor to Sky as no single broadcaster are able to own all six packages.
This deal was agreed in 2005 with the European Commission, when it was ruled that Premier League television rights must be split between more than one broadcaster.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Profile of American Athlete - Mary Lou Retton By Tisha Kulak Tolar
Mary Lou Retton also known as "Americas Sweetheart" is a well know American athlete. She has been retired from competitive women's gymnastics since 1986 yet still holds a special place in the hearts of Americans and the history of the sport. Here we will learn more about the child, the athlete and the woman she is today.
Background and Childhood.
Born on January 24, 1968 in Fairmont, WV Mary Lou Retton is one of five children. Mary Lou Retton began dance classes when she was four years old and then began gymnastic classes with her older sister. She trained in West Virginia until the age of 14 when she moved to Houston to begin studying under Bela Karolyi. While living in Houston she lived with a fellow student's family and continued her education while training via correspondence courses. She almost missed the 1984 Olympics due to a knee injury which required surgery just six weeks before the Olympics. She recovered from surgery in just three weeks and the rest as they say "is history".
Athletic Accomplishments.
She became a famous household name during the 1984 Olympics when she became the first American woman to ever win a gold medal in gymnastics. That year she won the All Around Gold Metal plus two silver and bronze metals in other events; the most won by a single athlete in that Olympics. Her record still stands as the only American to have won the Olympic All Around Title.
Of course she didn't get to that level of athletic competition without other accomplishments under her belt. Between 1983 and 1985 she won several times at the American Cup, American Classic, US Nationals. She was the first American to win the prestigious Japanese Chunichi Cup.
Where Is She Now?
Mary Lou Retton and her husband Shannon Kelly reside in Houston, TX where they raise their four daughters. She continues to have a positive impact on the lives of others today as a motivational speaker. Understanding the importance of regular exercise and proper nutrition, Mary Lou Retton is often considered a fitness ambassador. She routinely travels around the world speaking on the importance of parents encouraging their children to get active by setting the example themselves. She reminds parents and children that physical activity comes in many forms and you don't have to be involved in sports or compete on an Olympic level to incorporate daily exercise and other healthy habits in your life. As a result of her hard work, dedication and ultimate success in her sport she remains a role model to aspiring gymnasts and other athletes to this day.
By Tisha Kulak Tolar .
Background and Childhood.
Born on January 24, 1968 in Fairmont, WV Mary Lou Retton is one of five children. Mary Lou Retton began dance classes when she was four years old and then began gymnastic classes with her older sister. She trained in West Virginia until the age of 14 when she moved to Houston to begin studying under Bela Karolyi. While living in Houston she lived with a fellow student's family and continued her education while training via correspondence courses. She almost missed the 1984 Olympics due to a knee injury which required surgery just six weeks before the Olympics. She recovered from surgery in just three weeks and the rest as they say "is history".
Athletic Accomplishments.
She became a famous household name during the 1984 Olympics when she became the first American woman to ever win a gold medal in gymnastics. That year she won the All Around Gold Metal plus two silver and bronze metals in other events; the most won by a single athlete in that Olympics. Her record still stands as the only American to have won the Olympic All Around Title.
Of course she didn't get to that level of athletic competition without other accomplishments under her belt. Between 1983 and 1985 she won several times at the American Cup, American Classic, US Nationals. She was the first American to win the prestigious Japanese Chunichi Cup.
Where Is She Now?
Mary Lou Retton and her husband Shannon Kelly reside in Houston, TX where they raise their four daughters. She continues to have a positive impact on the lives of others today as a motivational speaker. Understanding the importance of regular exercise and proper nutrition, Mary Lou Retton is often considered a fitness ambassador. She routinely travels around the world speaking on the importance of parents encouraging their children to get active by setting the example themselves. She reminds parents and children that physical activity comes in many forms and you don't have to be involved in sports or compete on an Olympic level to incorporate daily exercise and other healthy habits in your life. As a result of her hard work, dedication and ultimate success in her sport she remains a role model to aspiring gymnasts and other athletes to this day.
By Tisha Kulak Tolar .
Get Your Kids Gymnastics Equipment For a Healthier Life Ahead By Paul Kramer
Everyone loves his kids and never wants to see them unwell and sick. But what we forget is that the biggest root cause of all ailments is obesity which has very strongly gripped our entire younger generation in its iron claws.
Country like USA is spending 30% of their annual health budget on restoring lives of those who are obese. If you see with a clear mind you will realize that it is the love and over protectiveness of parents who actually lead their kids to that state.
It is just a matter of realization that to make our kids life happier and healthier we have to establish a routine from the very start which should have a better set of rules for our kids, like playing some physical game which involves events which would improve his or her muscle coordination and develop locomotors like balancing his weight and rolling over. This may be difficult for you to learn now but it is very easy for a young child to learn and that to very quickly.
All these activities that I have mentioned are part of a gymnastics routine. Just for your information, kids as young as two years can very easily learn it and it helps them to grow up in a much healthier individual who has muscles developing in the correct direction.
All that you will need for this is a bit of kid's gymnastics equipment which consists of a few mats to keep your kid safe from the hard floor, a balancing beam and a bar to hang according to your kid's height. These few things will quickly change your kid's outlook towards life from a future couch to a healthy agile youth. Who is slim and active and all because of learning gymnastics in early childhood.
By Paul Kramer
Country like USA is spending 30% of their annual health budget on restoring lives of those who are obese. If you see with a clear mind you will realize that it is the love and over protectiveness of parents who actually lead their kids to that state.
It is just a matter of realization that to make our kids life happier and healthier we have to establish a routine from the very start which should have a better set of rules for our kids, like playing some physical game which involves events which would improve his or her muscle coordination and develop locomotors like balancing his weight and rolling over. This may be difficult for you to learn now but it is very easy for a young child to learn and that to very quickly.
All these activities that I have mentioned are part of a gymnastics routine. Just for your information, kids as young as two years can very easily learn it and it helps them to grow up in a much healthier individual who has muscles developing in the correct direction.
All that you will need for this is a bit of kid's gymnastics equipment which consists of a few mats to keep your kid safe from the hard floor, a balancing beam and a bar to hang according to your kid's height. These few things will quickly change your kid's outlook towards life from a future couch to a healthy agile youth. Who is slim and active and all because of learning gymnastics in early childhood.
By Paul Kramer
Is Aerobic Base Training For Mountain Biking Dead?
A couple of years ago I proposed some radical ideas on cardio training for mountain bikers. Ever since then I've had a lot of people doubt my sanity. Aerobic base training has been a staple of training programs for decades and many an off season program for mountain bikers has included an extended period of time reeling off boring miles on a trainer. While some people embraced my concepts (and proceeded to achieve better "aerobic endurance" despite doing little to no aerobic training) many others have questioned why this concept is so different that the "scientific" one. Let me explain why this is - people in the strength training trenches figure out what works in the real world (which is MUCH different than a controlled lab setting) and then implement it. Sometimes what we do flies in the face of the traditional "science" of training. Sports scientists pick up on what we are doing, study it and then tell us why it works. This process usually takes about 5-10 years or more to go from the cutting edge in the trenches to being taught in the classroom. So, this meant that there was not a ton of scientific studies to confirm what I knew - aerobic base training simply does not work on a consistent basis in the real world. But, now there are two landmark studies that suggest that anaerobic interval training is vastly superior to the out dated models still being promoted by the mainstream fitness media. The main reason that mountain bikers felt compelled to include aerobic base training in their program was to increase their aerobic capacity. The scientifically accepted method to determine aerobic capacity is VO2Max (Maximum Volume of Oxygen Consumed), which is an indicator of how well your body can utilize oxygen. Aerobic training had been shown to increase your VO2Max, so therefore was considered necessary for overall cardiovascular development. However, strength coaches on the cutting edge realize that the best way to raise your VO2Max, and therefore your aerobic capacity, is through interval training, not aerobic training! While this may not make a lot of sense, it is true. Several recent studies on anaerobic intervals produced some of the largest increases in VO2Max ever seen, including studies done on aerobic training. One study in particular was done on what is popularly known as the Tabata Protocol. This method calls for 20 seconds of sprinting followed by 10 seconds rest and these mini-intervals are repeated 6-8 times per round. A workout may involve 1-3 rounds (complete recovery is allowed between rounds). Researchers found massive increases in the subjects VO2Max in addition to the anticipated increases in anaerobic endurance markers. The increases in VO2Max were some of the largest ever seen in a study and showed that aerobic training is not the only (nor the best) way to increase aerobic capacity. Another landmark study that came out in the September 2006 Journal of Physiology studied the effects of 20 minutes of interval training (30 second sprints followed by 4 minutes of rest) vs. 90-120 minutes of traditional aerobic heart rate zone training. They found that the interval group which did only 1 hour of exercise per week had the same improvements in aerobic capacity as the aerobic group. Did I mention the aerobic group spent 4-6 hours per week exercising? 4 to 6 times as much exercise to get the same results in aerobic capacity? This isn't even taking into account that the interval group improved their anaerobic capacity, something the aerobic group did not. This finding is astounding and shows just how much time you can waste with aerobic training. I've mentioned this before and here is the proof - anaerobic intervals will increase your aerobic capacity as well as your anaerobic capacity but aerobic training does not increase your anaerobic capacity. All of this means that if you have limited training time (and who doesn't) you may be wasting your time with aerobic training. Anaerobic intervals are the only way to maximize the effectiveness of limited training time. Also, there is no evidence at all that you will burn out or get injured by training with intervals year round. This is simply a myth that has been told so many times that it has been taken as the truth. I challenge anyone to find me a single study that backs this claim. What has been found is that going straight into hard training (either strength or intervals or aerobic) without a preparatory period will increase the likelihood of injury. So, like everything else, you must work into full blown hard core intervals and cycle their intensity and duration but there is no reason you can not do intervals year round. Now, just to balance this out, there are 2 times when aerobic training has a place in your program. First, if you are so out of shape you can not tolerate even the easiest intervals then you should spend some time doing aerobic training to build your work capacity up a bit. But once you can do intervals you should make the switch. Second, aerobic exercise is great for active recovery (something I have also mentioned before). Going out for a light 20 minute jog or ride will help to flush blood into the muscles and help you recover from your strength training and interval sessions faster. Outside of these 2 things, though, aerobic base training may be dead. My mission in life is to bring our sport into the 21st century. You can get better results in aerobic capacity in less time while also increasing anaerobic capacity. This should be something that mountain bikers everywhere rejoice at because aerobic training is some of the most tedious and boring stuff around.The MTB Strength Training System is the world's only strength and conditioning program for the unique demands of mountain biking. Riders from around the world have discovered how they can climb faster, descend with more confidence and have more fun by upgrading the engine that drives their bike - their own body!
Patience Pays Off For Ana Ivanovic By Martin Caparrotta
A war-ravaged Serbia didn't exactly provide ideal conditions for nurturing young tennis talent in the 1990s, but that didn't prevent Ana Ivanovic from making it to the pinnacle of women's tennis - a long journey fuelled by her unconditional love for the game.Due to a lack of better facilities in her hometown of Belgrade, a young Ivanovic practiced her strokes in an empty Olympic swimming pool where the walls were only 18 inches from the sidelines."The pool was very expensive to keep it warm during the winter, and there was not many people using it," Ivanovic said."So they emptied the swimming pool, and they put carpet inside, and they placed two tennis courts, and that's where I grew up practising."She was given a tennis racquet for her fifth birthday and immediately fell in love with the game. But growing up in a country at war didn't make life easy for her. In 1999 she was forced train in the mornings to avoid the NATO bombings."It was tough times. The nineties were not the best years. In 1999, we had a bombing. It was hard. That was just when I started practicing much more and for first time I got a better coach so that was exciting times."And the 21-year-old's passion for success in the sport came from watching the achievements of Serbian former World number one, Monica Seles."I started playing tennis because of Monica Seles - she was the woman I always looked up to, and I always wanted to achieve what she did."She made her professional debut aged 15, and at her first tournament, Ivanovic spent four hours crying in a locker room after a defeat, thinking that her agent, Dan Holzmann - who had come to watch her for the first time - was going to drop her. He didn't - and is still her agent today.2008 was a phenomenal year for the 21-year-old. She won her first Grand Slam, beating Dinara Safina at the French Open, and if the title itself wasn't enough, she also rose to number one in the world rankings.Since her success in Paris, early defeats at both Wimbledon and the US Open made the second half of 2008 less memorable for young starlet, but she is feeling more positive of late."The losses I had were very disappointing. They were hard lessons - but now I realise all I needed was a little bit more patience with myself to work my back into the game .
By Martin Caparrotta
By Martin Caparrotta
Spiuk Cycling Apparel is Popular With Bikers of All Age By Adam Peters
For all individuals who ride over rough mountain terrain on a bike there are a few things of mountain bike equipment they need to carry with them. The kind of company and equipment is generally a subjective preference, depending on their financial capabilities. Determined by the bike being a fully rigid model or equipped with full suspension will be helpful in deciding what mountain bike equipment they want to take along as spare pieces.A helmet and gloves are other objects mountain bikers gather to safeguard their hands and head from the inescapable falls and mishaps on the tracks, and if they are committed players, they would also include knee and elbow pads as protective gear. With the right safety equipment they can end the race with as good a physically intact body with which they began the race. More gear may be needed determined by the kind of trail and time of day.There are many courses that provide night time races, so a mountain bike gear may also consist of headlights not only to make the trail ahead visible but also as signal to other racers as to when he or she is moving, stopping or approaching. Many of them are operated by battery with a re-charger to keep the light functional.If someone is going on a fully rigid mountain bike gear may be few but they would like doubly ply rims to stop them from getting bent when plying extreme surfaces or doing stunts. Because the majority of the riders will be equipped with soft, knobby tires for added traction, more tires in the unit can help make a race come to an end neatly. A kick stand can be included only if you wish and almost all bikers lay them off on rugged surface to stop mishaps from an irregular stand.A growing number of bikers are preferring to use end pieces on their handlebars to block the potential puncture of the hollow bar when an occasional spill occurs. Generally used on a little bit bent or straight handlebars, they are not good for racing or curved handlebars.When a rider is certain that he or she has all the gear one needs and all of them in top condition, then its time for them to head off to a mountain bike resort. Organized like ski resorts, they provide lifts suiting the nature of bikes to carry them uphill and then can whoosh downhill as and when they feel like doing it!
By Adam Peters.
By Adam Peters.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Is Nadal in Real Danger? By Paul Gold
So Rafa Nadal finally lost at Roland Garros after 4 years.
Just when he was in sight and everybody thought he would beat the record set by Bjorn Borg who also won the French Open 4 years in a row he lost to Swede Robin Soderling in 4 unbelievable sets.
I just wonder whether Soderling had been primed and sent by Borg with the mission of taking out Nadal like some kind of terminator.
Having said that you have to say he played a great match.
Although people have to see that Nadal has not been at his best, I still think he would have beaten most players and it was really down to the fact that Soderling was so good that the upset was caused.
He basically did to Nadal what several other players (Murray, Djokovic), have threatened to do in the past few months with the one big exception - He Won!
Not since Tsonga took the game big time to Nadal a couple of years ago at the Australian Open and won, has anyone threatened him with play like we saw today and been victorious (even Federer)?
Well maybe not, but I think that the "how to play and beat Rafa" code is becoming clearer by the day and I now think that more people will start to employ it.
It is now available for all to see and use, if you have the game to be able to execute it (if you don't - you better get it).
Angels and Demons?
Watching the match today with interest, I found it very very difficult to decide who was the crowd favourite.
The angels and demons analogy stuck in my mind throughout the match as I was deciding who the very knowledgeable French Open public had singled out as the good guy (angel) and who was the bad guy (demon).
In fact (in my mind at least), the public's support swayed from Soderling at the very beginning of the match - when they thought he was obviously going to lose, to Nadal, when they began to realise the trouble their great champion was in!
It's strange how the crowd was almost happy for Nadal to have some stiff resistance as long as he came through and won in the end.
This obviously didn't happen as a strangely ineffective Nadal was bullied and out-muscled by the tall Swede Soderling in the same way that Nadal normally bullies and out muscles his opponents.
So, where does that leave the balance of play in the Men's game?
Has this result changed anything?
Is Federer now seen to be right when he said he is waiting to see how Nadal reacts to being the hunted instead of the hunter?
Or was it just fatigue and injury that caused Rafa to be under par?
We know now that Nadal has pulled out of the Queen club event where he is the reigning champion in a bid to be fit for Wimbledon with more knee trouble and this is obviously a worrying sign for him.
He constantly struggles with his knees especially on the hard courts and the clay and grass court seasons normally give him a bit of a break.
But if he is struggling to get through those now it really could be a massive problem.
Unlike Federer, Nadal's style of play does put a tremendous amount of stress on his body (especially his legs and knees) and it would be difficult to see how he could change that.
I did comment a year or so ago that he should consider making changes to his game and his training to stop this sort of thing happening.
And in fact I think he has developed, but extreme ball retrieval is a massive part of his game and I fear that there will always be problems "around the corner" for him.
Mind you, champions are made from strong stuff and the ability to overcome hurdles.
So if we are to look back at Rafa in twenty years time as a significant player in the history of the game he will need to find a way past these problems that is lurking ahead of him.
I hope he can do it, I really do!
Just when he was in sight and everybody thought he would beat the record set by Bjorn Borg who also won the French Open 4 years in a row he lost to Swede Robin Soderling in 4 unbelievable sets.
I just wonder whether Soderling had been primed and sent by Borg with the mission of taking out Nadal like some kind of terminator.
Having said that you have to say he played a great match.
Although people have to see that Nadal has not been at his best, I still think he would have beaten most players and it was really down to the fact that Soderling was so good that the upset was caused.
He basically did to Nadal what several other players (Murray, Djokovic), have threatened to do in the past few months with the one big exception - He Won!
Not since Tsonga took the game big time to Nadal a couple of years ago at the Australian Open and won, has anyone threatened him with play like we saw today and been victorious (even Federer)?
Well maybe not, but I think that the "how to play and beat Rafa" code is becoming clearer by the day and I now think that more people will start to employ it.
It is now available for all to see and use, if you have the game to be able to execute it (if you don't - you better get it).
Angels and Demons?
Watching the match today with interest, I found it very very difficult to decide who was the crowd favourite.
The angels and demons analogy stuck in my mind throughout the match as I was deciding who the very knowledgeable French Open public had singled out as the good guy (angel) and who was the bad guy (demon).
In fact (in my mind at least), the public's support swayed from Soderling at the very beginning of the match - when they thought he was obviously going to lose, to Nadal, when they began to realise the trouble their great champion was in!
It's strange how the crowd was almost happy for Nadal to have some stiff resistance as long as he came through and won in the end.
This obviously didn't happen as a strangely ineffective Nadal was bullied and out-muscled by the tall Swede Soderling in the same way that Nadal normally bullies and out muscles his opponents.
So, where does that leave the balance of play in the Men's game?
Has this result changed anything?
Is Federer now seen to be right when he said he is waiting to see how Nadal reacts to being the hunted instead of the hunter?
Or was it just fatigue and injury that caused Rafa to be under par?
We know now that Nadal has pulled out of the Queen club event where he is the reigning champion in a bid to be fit for Wimbledon with more knee trouble and this is obviously a worrying sign for him.
He constantly struggles with his knees especially on the hard courts and the clay and grass court seasons normally give him a bit of a break.
But if he is struggling to get through those now it really could be a massive problem.
Unlike Federer, Nadal's style of play does put a tremendous amount of stress on his body (especially his legs and knees) and it would be difficult to see how he could change that.
I did comment a year or so ago that he should consider making changes to his game and his training to stop this sort of thing happening.
And in fact I think he has developed, but extreme ball retrieval is a massive part of his game and I fear that there will always be problems "around the corner" for him.
Mind you, champions are made from strong stuff and the ability to overcome hurdles.
So if we are to look back at Rafa in twenty years time as a significant player in the history of the game he will need to find a way past these problems that is lurking ahead of him.
I hope he can do it, I really do!
Soccer-Specific, Sex-Specific Strength & Fitness Training Program - Diet & Nutrition Part II
The key to an effective soccer-specific, sex-specific strength and fitness program is planning. A well constructed training regimen will yield greater results in a shorter period of time. Additionally, a well planned and well-thought out program will make it easier to track progress throughout the season. As noted in the previous article on this topic, soccer-specific strength and fitness training is quite a bit different from training programs for other sports and/or activities. It is widely known that the average soccer athlete may run several miles during the course of a match; and, goalkeepers being the exception, of course. Therefore, it is assumed that running and running alone is the secret to effective training. It is not unusual for other training methods and considerations, even diet and nutritional requirements particular to soccer athletes, male and female, to be totally ignored for this reason. In fact, one only has to watch top level amateur or professional soccer match to get a sense for just how physical, and physically demanding, "The Beautiful Game" can be.
For this reason, and for a myriad of others, a complete, soccer-specific, sex-specific strength and fitness program must be followed. The proper training routine will be one that takes into account diet and nutrition, stretching and flexibility, and strength and overall fitness. It is true, much of soccer training, particularly in-season training, should be done "on the ball;" and, this is not at issue. Yet, even in-season a suitable strength and fitness program should be adhered to, not only to maintain strength levels, but for flexibility and tone, as well.
The initial focus and primary stages of any off-season program, as noted above, should cover three factors: nutrition and diet: stretching and flexibility: and, the third stage is aerobic conditioning. This article will cover the first of the three stages, diet and nutrition in some detail. Nutrition and diet play a central role in any fitness program, particularly during periods of peak, strenuous training; and, for that reason, we will address nutrition and diet first. Diet, dietary habits, and nutrition are inextricably linked. Dietary habits, particularly when the athlete is involved in a strenuous strength and fitness training program, will make or break your results, determining the success or failure of your overall program. For a number of reasons, including how your body is able to break down and metabolize nutrients, meals should be taken in every two and one half to three hours, give or take a few minutes. The old days of steak and eggs before football and basketball games, and huge amounts of pasta the night before soccer matches and endurance events have made way for balanced, well-thought-out meals, planned at regular intervals. While carbohydrate loading is still used and may still have valid applications, that strategy is not applicable for our purposes.
Carbohydrates are extremely important as they provide immediate and intermediate range fuel for the body. Carbohydrates are made up of simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are generally made up of sugars and starches; and, they break down into glucose molecules as they are metabolized by the body. If the body does not have a need for immediate energy, glucose is converted to glycogen and stored in the liver and muscles for future energy needs.
The average athlete who weighs between 155 and 165 pounds, which may be a little, needs approximately 2400 calories, carbohydrate calories, to fully supply his glycogen tanks. To take in 2400 to 2500 carbohydrate calories requires 600 grams of carbohydrates. It should be obvious to anyone reading this that the body cannot take in and metabolize that sort of volume in one, two or even three sittings. It generally takes a day and one-half to three days to consume that many carbohydrate calories (approximately 40 pieces of whole wheat bread!). For that reason, and for others, carbohydrate loading is not only ill-advised, it is impractical. When the body uses up most of its store of glycogen, it will begin to burn fat for fuel. While fat may be a good fuel source, it is not optimal for our purposes and should be avoided at all costs. Ultimately, if the body depletes both glycogen and fat stores it will begin converting and consuming amino acids from proteins into fuel. This can be particularly problematic if dietary protein is not readily available because the body will begin to cannibalize itself, using muscle for fuel. Additionally, if the body must use amino acids, taken from ingested protein, this may weaken your immune system and inhibit muscular development.
Carbohydrates, particularly complex carbohydrates, are the best source of fuel for your muscles, as well as for the brain which is a voracious carbohydrate consumer. Keeping in mind that a strenuous, soccer-specific strength and fitness training program will deplete glycogen stores, as well as fluids from the body, lost as sweat, it may take between one and two days for the body to fully recover. It may take longer if you're not eating a high quality diet made up of complex carbohydrates, plenty of fluids, and easily digested, high-quality proteins. You should be able to see why, if you do not adhere to the proper dietary and nutritional guidelines, you may go into nutrient debt, and stay, there in a relatively short period of time.
I am assuming, for the course of his program, that the reader is not a vegetarian. The vegetarian dietary requirements are very complex and may not be conducive to this sort of a training regimen. While I am not making a value judgment, a vegetarian diet and optimal soccer performance may not coincide, unless of course an incredible amount of forethought and planning, particularly as it relates to combining the necessary proteins in the proper ratios to make available all of the necessary amino acids for easy assimilation and metabolism.
Protein intake, like carbohydrate intake, is central to a good overall program. The average male, at 5' 10" and an ideal body weight of 165 to 175 pounds, depending on musculature, must take in between 50 and 60 grams of protein per day. Protein, in large quantities and in one sitting, is very difficult for the body to completely digest, meaning much of it may go to waste. However, if the protein is broken up into five, even six smaller meals, the body will have little or no trouble using most, if not all of the protein taken in. There are approximately 28 grams in an ounce, and since there is not a precise one to one ratio of ounces to protein, even in the leanest meat, it will usually take between two and 4 ounces of lean meat per day for the average person, twice that if you are involved in a strenuous training program. For a female, 5'6" tall, protein intake should be between 40 and 50 g per day, with the same sort of meal schedule.
Fats are also very important, not only for nutrition but for nervous system health; and, for other reasons beyond the scope of this article. Suffice it to say, and diet high in quality carbohydrates, a moderate level of high quality proteins, and low to moderate fat content will keep the body fueled and the athlete engaged in a strenuous, soccer-specific strength and fitness training program fueled and lean. The proper balance will ensure the development of the musculature and endurance for optimal performance by the time the season rolls around.
For all of the above reasons and many more, it is extremely important to eat smaller meals, at regular intervals, and as well balanced as possible. In addition to the above carbohydrate, protein, and fat considerations, hydration must play a central role. Carbohydrates are crucial for holding water in the body until needed. Water consumption also plays a vital role in dietary role when it comes to nutrient intake and digestion. While sports drinks have been shown to have some use, water is the training beverage of choice, period! Vitamins should also be considered, particularly if life events and/or work or school prohibit you from taking in all of the proper nutrients. Ultimately, a well thought out, daily and weekly plan for nutrient consumption, including what you are going to eat and when, is as important to the overall success of your program.
Nutrition is as important to the success of the program as any exercise or group of exercises you may do. If you do not provide your body with the necessary fuel, it will soon revolt, and you will go into a state known as overtraining, something we will cover in an upcoming article. Overtraining is a condition no athlete can long endure and still perform at peak levels. In the next article we will discuss stretching and flexibility, followed by an article on the aerobic foundation. Do you think you are flexible and aerobically fit? We will see soon enough! For now know this, a soccer-specific, sex-specific strength and fitness training program, properly design and fueled by the proper dietary habits and nutritional guidelines, will make you into a different athlete, a formidable presence on the pitch by the next season.
Oh yeah, one last thing! Cut out the junk food. That's right, cut it out! How bad do you want it? Do you think your competition for the spot you envision yourself playing next season is pigging out on Big Macs and fries? Or buttered popcorn and nachos? Carbonated beverages and Kool-aid? If you are going to be a top-level athlete, start acting like one, training like one, and eating like one! If you want garbage? Give yourself a cheat day one day every couple of weeks, as a reward. You will find you enjoy the reward more and, after a while you will crave the junk less and less. But again, it's up to you, you will get out of this what you put in. Garbage in, garbage out...just like a computer!
I have been training athletes for more than 3 decades. In that time I've trained amateur and professional athletes, a ten year old soccer player lifting weights for the first time in his life to a seasoned professional football player nearing the end of his career, and virtually everything in between. The athletes I have trained have gone on to win national championships, win all-state and All-American honors, and full scholarships to the colleges and universities of their choice. My methods are at times unconventional, and usually controversial, but they always work. They work, provided the athlete, male or female, young or old, football or soccer, bowling (yes, bowling) or basketball do what I tell them to do.
If you follow this program, you too will have amazing results. Will they be as good as if I worked with you myself? Probably not! But you will be transformed, a better athlete than you are today. So, if you would like to continue, read on and tomorrow there will be another article and another piece of the puzzle. Put all the pieces together and do as they instruct, and you will be ready for anything, or at least for the upcoming season. Good luck and stop at Coach Z's Ultimate Soccer Training blog .
For this reason, and for a myriad of others, a complete, soccer-specific, sex-specific strength and fitness program must be followed. The proper training routine will be one that takes into account diet and nutrition, stretching and flexibility, and strength and overall fitness. It is true, much of soccer training, particularly in-season training, should be done "on the ball;" and, this is not at issue. Yet, even in-season a suitable strength and fitness program should be adhered to, not only to maintain strength levels, but for flexibility and tone, as well.
The initial focus and primary stages of any off-season program, as noted above, should cover three factors: nutrition and diet: stretching and flexibility: and, the third stage is aerobic conditioning. This article will cover the first of the three stages, diet and nutrition in some detail. Nutrition and diet play a central role in any fitness program, particularly during periods of peak, strenuous training; and, for that reason, we will address nutrition and diet first. Diet, dietary habits, and nutrition are inextricably linked. Dietary habits, particularly when the athlete is involved in a strenuous strength and fitness training program, will make or break your results, determining the success or failure of your overall program. For a number of reasons, including how your body is able to break down and metabolize nutrients, meals should be taken in every two and one half to three hours, give or take a few minutes. The old days of steak and eggs before football and basketball games, and huge amounts of pasta the night before soccer matches and endurance events have made way for balanced, well-thought-out meals, planned at regular intervals. While carbohydrate loading is still used and may still have valid applications, that strategy is not applicable for our purposes.
Carbohydrates are extremely important as they provide immediate and intermediate range fuel for the body. Carbohydrates are made up of simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are generally made up of sugars and starches; and, they break down into glucose molecules as they are metabolized by the body. If the body does not have a need for immediate energy, glucose is converted to glycogen and stored in the liver and muscles for future energy needs.
The average athlete who weighs between 155 and 165 pounds, which may be a little, needs approximately 2400 calories, carbohydrate calories, to fully supply his glycogen tanks. To take in 2400 to 2500 carbohydrate calories requires 600 grams of carbohydrates. It should be obvious to anyone reading this that the body cannot take in and metabolize that sort of volume in one, two or even three sittings. It generally takes a day and one-half to three days to consume that many carbohydrate calories (approximately 40 pieces of whole wheat bread!). For that reason, and for others, carbohydrate loading is not only ill-advised, it is impractical. When the body uses up most of its store of glycogen, it will begin to burn fat for fuel. While fat may be a good fuel source, it is not optimal for our purposes and should be avoided at all costs. Ultimately, if the body depletes both glycogen and fat stores it will begin converting and consuming amino acids from proteins into fuel. This can be particularly problematic if dietary protein is not readily available because the body will begin to cannibalize itself, using muscle for fuel. Additionally, if the body must use amino acids, taken from ingested protein, this may weaken your immune system and inhibit muscular development.
Carbohydrates, particularly complex carbohydrates, are the best source of fuel for your muscles, as well as for the brain which is a voracious carbohydrate consumer. Keeping in mind that a strenuous, soccer-specific strength and fitness training program will deplete glycogen stores, as well as fluids from the body, lost as sweat, it may take between one and two days for the body to fully recover. It may take longer if you're not eating a high quality diet made up of complex carbohydrates, plenty of fluids, and easily digested, high-quality proteins. You should be able to see why, if you do not adhere to the proper dietary and nutritional guidelines, you may go into nutrient debt, and stay, there in a relatively short period of time.
I am assuming, for the course of his program, that the reader is not a vegetarian. The vegetarian dietary requirements are very complex and may not be conducive to this sort of a training regimen. While I am not making a value judgment, a vegetarian diet and optimal soccer performance may not coincide, unless of course an incredible amount of forethought and planning, particularly as it relates to combining the necessary proteins in the proper ratios to make available all of the necessary amino acids for easy assimilation and metabolism.
Protein intake, like carbohydrate intake, is central to a good overall program. The average male, at 5' 10" and an ideal body weight of 165 to 175 pounds, depending on musculature, must take in between 50 and 60 grams of protein per day. Protein, in large quantities and in one sitting, is very difficult for the body to completely digest, meaning much of it may go to waste. However, if the protein is broken up into five, even six smaller meals, the body will have little or no trouble using most, if not all of the protein taken in. There are approximately 28 grams in an ounce, and since there is not a precise one to one ratio of ounces to protein, even in the leanest meat, it will usually take between two and 4 ounces of lean meat per day for the average person, twice that if you are involved in a strenuous training program. For a female, 5'6" tall, protein intake should be between 40 and 50 g per day, with the same sort of meal schedule.
Fats are also very important, not only for nutrition but for nervous system health; and, for other reasons beyond the scope of this article. Suffice it to say, and diet high in quality carbohydrates, a moderate level of high quality proteins, and low to moderate fat content will keep the body fueled and the athlete engaged in a strenuous, soccer-specific strength and fitness training program fueled and lean. The proper balance will ensure the development of the musculature and endurance for optimal performance by the time the season rolls around.
For all of the above reasons and many more, it is extremely important to eat smaller meals, at regular intervals, and as well balanced as possible. In addition to the above carbohydrate, protein, and fat considerations, hydration must play a central role. Carbohydrates are crucial for holding water in the body until needed. Water consumption also plays a vital role in dietary role when it comes to nutrient intake and digestion. While sports drinks have been shown to have some use, water is the training beverage of choice, period! Vitamins should also be considered, particularly if life events and/or work or school prohibit you from taking in all of the proper nutrients. Ultimately, a well thought out, daily and weekly plan for nutrient consumption, including what you are going to eat and when, is as important to the overall success of your program.
Nutrition is as important to the success of the program as any exercise or group of exercises you may do. If you do not provide your body with the necessary fuel, it will soon revolt, and you will go into a state known as overtraining, something we will cover in an upcoming article. Overtraining is a condition no athlete can long endure and still perform at peak levels. In the next article we will discuss stretching and flexibility, followed by an article on the aerobic foundation. Do you think you are flexible and aerobically fit? We will see soon enough! For now know this, a soccer-specific, sex-specific strength and fitness training program, properly design and fueled by the proper dietary habits and nutritional guidelines, will make you into a different athlete, a formidable presence on the pitch by the next season.
Oh yeah, one last thing! Cut out the junk food. That's right, cut it out! How bad do you want it? Do you think your competition for the spot you envision yourself playing next season is pigging out on Big Macs and fries? Or buttered popcorn and nachos? Carbonated beverages and Kool-aid? If you are going to be a top-level athlete, start acting like one, training like one, and eating like one! If you want garbage? Give yourself a cheat day one day every couple of weeks, as a reward. You will find you enjoy the reward more and, after a while you will crave the junk less and less. But again, it's up to you, you will get out of this what you put in. Garbage in, garbage out...just like a computer!
I have been training athletes for more than 3 decades. In that time I've trained amateur and professional athletes, a ten year old soccer player lifting weights for the first time in his life to a seasoned professional football player nearing the end of his career, and virtually everything in between. The athletes I have trained have gone on to win national championships, win all-state and All-American honors, and full scholarships to the colleges and universities of their choice. My methods are at times unconventional, and usually controversial, but they always work. They work, provided the athlete, male or female, young or old, football or soccer, bowling (yes, bowling) or basketball do what I tell them to do.
If you follow this program, you too will have amazing results. Will they be as good as if I worked with you myself? Probably not! But you will be transformed, a better athlete than you are today. So, if you would like to continue, read on and tomorrow there will be another article and another piece of the puzzle. Put all the pieces together and do as they instruct, and you will be ready for anything, or at least for the upcoming season. Good luck and stop at Coach Z's Ultimate Soccer Training blog .
A long stay at Bethpage? By David Barrett
The rain, rain won't go away, so we could end up coming to Bethpage for an extra daySurprisingly, only two U.S. Opens have ever gone an extra day to complete the regulation 72 holes. The fourth round of the 1983 U.S. Open was suspended with five holes remaining due to a thunderstorm, with Larry Nelson winning on Monday morning at Oakmont, and the final 18 holes were held on Sunday in 1959 instead of the scheduled 36 holes on Saturday, with Billy Casper taking the title at Winged Foot. We could be in for a third.
Play was suspended at 10:16 a.m. on Monday, with the last threesome of the morning wave having completed only two holes and the afternoon half of the field more than two hours from teeing off. More than an inch of rain had fallen by 2 o’clock.
The weather was supposed to be better on Friday, but USGA official Jim Hyler delivered the news that their meteorologists were saying that Saturday could be “sort of like today.” Ouch. Hyler continued, “And then there’s a possibility of more rain, not like this, but more rain on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of next week.” Double ouch.
It looks like umbrellas will be necessary equipment for spectators for the duration at Bethpage. The hope is to complete the first round and start the second round tomorrow. Then maybe complete the second round despite the iffy weather on Saturday and play 36 holes on Sunday. But if the sky keeps spitting, we could be at Bethpage for a long time. They won’t shorten the national championship to 54 holes, so the USGA will stay for as long as it takes. Let’s hope everybody packed some extra clothes.
Heaven forbid we go into a playoff, which, of course, means 18 holes at the U.S. Open. That’s what happened at the 1987 U.S. Women’s Open at Plainfield Country Club in New Jersey, where the final round was played on Monday and Laura Davies won a playoff on Tuesday.
Or, how’s this scenario? The final round bleeds into Monday morning, it ends in a tie, and they hold the playoff Monday afternoon. Beats a Tuesday finish.
We almost had a Monday finish at Bethpage in 2002, but that was because the USGA scheduled a late-Sunday finish for television and had little margin for error when a rainstorm hit in the afternoon. Fortunately, it blew over quickly, play was resumed after about a half-hour delay, and Tiger Woods won in near darkness on the 18th green.
Speaking a little after 2 p.m., USGA senior director of competitions Mike Davis said, “If there is a glimmer of hope it is that the course, believe it or not, as much rain as this course has taken, it drains beautifully, with really the exception of that area down in 18 fairway. . . If this was a course on heavier soil on clay, I think we’d be real worried right now, not that we’re not worried. But I think it’s nice to be on this type of course [sand-based] when you get this kind of weather.”
On the other hand, it’s now 4 o’clock and the predicted breaks in the weather have not occurred. The rain has been steady and the course just keeps getting wetter and wetter. Any glimmers of hope are looking fainter and fainter.
Play was suspended at 10:16 a.m. on Monday, with the last threesome of the morning wave having completed only two holes and the afternoon half of the field more than two hours from teeing off. More than an inch of rain had fallen by 2 o’clock.
The weather was supposed to be better on Friday, but USGA official Jim Hyler delivered the news that their meteorologists were saying that Saturday could be “sort of like today.” Ouch. Hyler continued, “And then there’s a possibility of more rain, not like this, but more rain on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of next week.” Double ouch.
It looks like umbrellas will be necessary equipment for spectators for the duration at Bethpage. The hope is to complete the first round and start the second round tomorrow. Then maybe complete the second round despite the iffy weather on Saturday and play 36 holes on Sunday. But if the sky keeps spitting, we could be at Bethpage for a long time. They won’t shorten the national championship to 54 holes, so the USGA will stay for as long as it takes. Let’s hope everybody packed some extra clothes.
Heaven forbid we go into a playoff, which, of course, means 18 holes at the U.S. Open. That’s what happened at the 1987 U.S. Women’s Open at Plainfield Country Club in New Jersey, where the final round was played on Monday and Laura Davies won a playoff on Tuesday.
Or, how’s this scenario? The final round bleeds into Monday morning, it ends in a tie, and they hold the playoff Monday afternoon. Beats a Tuesday finish.
We almost had a Monday finish at Bethpage in 2002, but that was because the USGA scheduled a late-Sunday finish for television and had little margin for error when a rainstorm hit in the afternoon. Fortunately, it blew over quickly, play was resumed after about a half-hour delay, and Tiger Woods won in near darkness on the 18th green.
Speaking a little after 2 p.m., USGA senior director of competitions Mike Davis said, “If there is a glimmer of hope it is that the course, believe it or not, as much rain as this course has taken, it drains beautifully, with really the exception of that area down in 18 fairway. . . If this was a course on heavier soil on clay, I think we’d be real worried right now, not that we’re not worried. But I think it’s nice to be on this type of course [sand-based] when you get this kind of weather.”
On the other hand, it’s now 4 o’clock and the predicted breaks in the weather have not occurred. The rain has been steady and the course just keeps getting wetter and wetter. Any glimmers of hope are looking fainter and fainter.
Frustrating finish By David Barrett
Tiger Woods was even par with four holes to go, but finished at 4-overTiger Woods birdied 11 and 14 to get back to even par, and it looked like he would be in good position after the first round. Then he proceeded to double bogey the 15th (his second double of the round) and bogey 16 and 18 for a 4-over 74, five strokes behind the best score of the first half of the field.
He now will have to wait until at least Saturday for the start of his second round. Asked if he would rather have the rest of the day off or get right back out there, as the second half of the field will do after their rounds, he said, "As of the way I feel right now, no, I don't want to go back out there right now. Probably would be a few clubs light."
He was fairly expansive in his answers to the media, so his mood wasn't too bad.
On the 15th hole, Woods drove in the rough, hit his second into the grass face of a bunker, pitched poorly, and three-putted. On 16, he got a mud ball and missed the green with his approach, and on 18 his bogey was set up by a tee shot into a bunker.
"I wasn't playing poorly," he said. "I was even par with four to go, and I was right there where I needed to be, and two bad shots and a mud ball later, here we go and I'm at 4-over par. Just continue to do what I'm doing and just hopefully clean up the round a little bit."
Regarding the mud the balls are picking up in the fairways, Woods wondered whether it might be a good idea to hit low tee shots. "The problem is, the fairways are so soft, it's not going to go anywhere. If you take the chance of carrying the ball out there, you might also have a chance of picking up mud on the ball, too."
He now will have to wait until at least Saturday for the start of his second round. Asked if he would rather have the rest of the day off or get right back out there, as the second half of the field will do after their rounds, he said, "As of the way I feel right now, no, I don't want to go back out there right now. Probably would be a few clubs light."
He was fairly expansive in his answers to the media, so his mood wasn't too bad.
On the 15th hole, Woods drove in the rough, hit his second into the grass face of a bunker, pitched poorly, and three-putted. On 16, he got a mud ball and missed the green with his approach, and on 18 his bogey was set up by a tee shot into a bunker.
"I wasn't playing poorly," he said. "I was even par with four to go, and I was right there where I needed to be, and two bad shots and a mud ball later, here we go and I'm at 4-over par. Just continue to do what I'm doing and just hopefully clean up the round a little bit."
Regarding the mud the balls are picking up in the fairways, Woods wondered whether it might be a good idea to hit low tee shots. "The problem is, the fairways are so soft, it's not going to go anywhere. If you take the chance of carrying the ball out there, you might also have a chance of picking up mud on the ball, too."
History of the FIFA Confederations Cup By Robert John Wilson
With the FIFA Confederations Cup only a short seventy five days away, it is interesting to look at how the tournament has evolved in recent years. This is an Association Football tournament which is held every four years, eligible contestants being the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships: CAF, CONMEBOL, UEFA, AFC, OFC and CONCAFCAF. To bring the number of countries competing up to eight, the FIFA World Cup winner and the host country are included.
The Mundialito or Copa D'Oro was the forerunner to the Confederations Cup. The Artemio Franchi Trophy, contested between 1985 and 1993 between the winners of the European Football Championships and the Copa America is thought of as a precursor to the Confederations Cup and was effectively replaced by the tournament in the same way that the Intercontinental Cup club tournament preceded the FIFA Club World Cup.
If the World Champion is also the winner of its confederation championship, then the World Cup runner-up also plays in the Confederations Cup, making up the eight teams. To illustrate, Brazil, the World Champion in 1995, with World Cup runner-up, Germany had qualified. Brazil then won the Copa America and vacant eighth spot was given to Argentina, runner-up in the Copa America.
On three occasions teams have declined to participate in the tournament. UEFA Euro 1996 winner, Germany, did not play in the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup and was replaced by the Czech Republic, the runner up in that tournament. France, 1998 FIFA World Cup winner, declined to participate in the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup and was replaced by Brazil, the 1998 World Cup runner-up and 1997 Cop America champion. Germany, the FIFA 2002 World Cup runner-up, declined to take part in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup and was replaced by Turkey, who won third place in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament was originally called the Intercontinental Championship or King Fahd Cup and was held in Saudi Arabia. It was played in 1992 and 1995 between the Saudi national team and certain continental champions. In 1997 FIFA became the organisers of the renamed FIFA Confederations Sup, which took place every two years. After 2005 the Confederations Cup will be held every four years, one year prior to the FIFA World Cup in the host country of the forthcoming World Cup. It is seen as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup and makes use of about half of the stadia which will be used in the following year.
This year's Confederation Cup will give host country, South Africa, a vital taste of international competitive football which takes place during the friendly matches before the actual Cup.
Opinion by Robert WilsonCEO, Magic Marketing.co.za & Travel in South Africa.netSpecialist Tour and Transport Operators, Johannesburg, South Africa
Robert has been in the Advertising and Marketing industry since 1882. He owned an advertising agency and then, for a new challenge, began a bus company in Johannesburg. He now consults and promotes tourism to South Africa. Robert has an MBA in Marketing from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Mundialito or Copa D'Oro was the forerunner to the Confederations Cup. The Artemio Franchi Trophy, contested between 1985 and 1993 between the winners of the European Football Championships and the Copa America is thought of as a precursor to the Confederations Cup and was effectively replaced by the tournament in the same way that the Intercontinental Cup club tournament preceded the FIFA Club World Cup.
If the World Champion is also the winner of its confederation championship, then the World Cup runner-up also plays in the Confederations Cup, making up the eight teams. To illustrate, Brazil, the World Champion in 1995, with World Cup runner-up, Germany had qualified. Brazil then won the Copa America and vacant eighth spot was given to Argentina, runner-up in the Copa America.
On three occasions teams have declined to participate in the tournament. UEFA Euro 1996 winner, Germany, did not play in the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup and was replaced by the Czech Republic, the runner up in that tournament. France, 1998 FIFA World Cup winner, declined to participate in the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup and was replaced by Brazil, the 1998 World Cup runner-up and 1997 Cop America champion. Germany, the FIFA 2002 World Cup runner-up, declined to take part in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup and was replaced by Turkey, who won third place in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament was originally called the Intercontinental Championship or King Fahd Cup and was held in Saudi Arabia. It was played in 1992 and 1995 between the Saudi national team and certain continental champions. In 1997 FIFA became the organisers of the renamed FIFA Confederations Sup, which took place every two years. After 2005 the Confederations Cup will be held every four years, one year prior to the FIFA World Cup in the host country of the forthcoming World Cup. It is seen as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup and makes use of about half of the stadia which will be used in the following year.
This year's Confederation Cup will give host country, South Africa, a vital taste of international competitive football which takes place during the friendly matches before the actual Cup.
Opinion by Robert WilsonCEO, Magic Marketing.co.za & Travel in South Africa.netSpecialist Tour and Transport Operators, Johannesburg, South Africa
Robert has been in the Advertising and Marketing industry since 1882. He owned an advertising agency and then, for a new challenge, began a bus company in Johannesburg. He now consults and promotes tourism to South Africa. Robert has an MBA in Marketing from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Interesting Facts About FC Barcelona By Paul Symonds
Futbol Club Barcelona, also known as FC Barcelona and Barça, is a football team based in the Catalonia region of Spain. Besides being a popular and successful team, Barça has become a symbol of Catalan nationalism, inspiring the motto "Més que un club", or "more than a club".
Joan Gamper, a football enthusiast from Switzerland, founded FC Barcelona on November 29, 1899. The successful team quickly amassed a dedicated Catalan fan base.
Fans of FC Barcelona are known as culés, the Catalan word for 'ass'. This nickname originated in the twenties from Barça fans who sat in the highest row of the stadium with their culers visible to passerbys.
Under Franco, the Catalan language and symbols were banned and the team was forced to change their name to Club de Fútbol Barcelona in 1939. The Catalan flag was also removed from the club shield. Despite this, the stadium remained one of the only places during Franco's regime where Catalan could be spoken and their flags could be displayed freely.
The two most successful Spanish football teams, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are also fierce competitors. The rivalry stems from Franco's dictatorship; Barça represented an opposition to Franco while Real Madrid was a symbol of nationalism and was favored by the regime and Franco.
With Franco in attendance, the club beat Real Madrid 1-0 at the Copa del Generalísmo final in 1968. The club's coach at the time, Salvador Artigas, was a Republican pilot during the Spanish Civil War.
Barça's stadium, Camp Nou, was built in 1957. With a capacity of 98,000, Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe and the third largest stadium in the world.
In 1974, the club changed their name back to Futbol Club Barcelona.
Since it was founded, Barça has refused to advertise corporate sponsors on their uniforms. However, on July 14th, 2006, the club announced an agreement with UNICEF that included, for the first time in Barça's history, the organization's logo on their shirts. As part of the five year agreement, the club donates €1.5 million a year to UNICEF.
Club president Joan Laporta, a self-proclaimed nationalist, requires all foreign Barça players to learn Catalan.
In 2007, Laporta dedicated a portion of the ticket sales from the FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid match to Federació Llull, an organization that promotes the spread of the Catalan language. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the Prime Minister of Spain since 2004, supports FC Barcelona.
Joan Gamper, a football enthusiast from Switzerland, founded FC Barcelona on November 29, 1899. The successful team quickly amassed a dedicated Catalan fan base.
Fans of FC Barcelona are known as culés, the Catalan word for 'ass'. This nickname originated in the twenties from Barça fans who sat in the highest row of the stadium with their culers visible to passerbys.
Under Franco, the Catalan language and symbols were banned and the team was forced to change their name to Club de Fútbol Barcelona in 1939. The Catalan flag was also removed from the club shield. Despite this, the stadium remained one of the only places during Franco's regime where Catalan could be spoken and their flags could be displayed freely.
The two most successful Spanish football teams, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are also fierce competitors. The rivalry stems from Franco's dictatorship; Barça represented an opposition to Franco while Real Madrid was a symbol of nationalism and was favored by the regime and Franco.
With Franco in attendance, the club beat Real Madrid 1-0 at the Copa del Generalísmo final in 1968. The club's coach at the time, Salvador Artigas, was a Republican pilot during the Spanish Civil War.
Barça's stadium, Camp Nou, was built in 1957. With a capacity of 98,000, Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe and the third largest stadium in the world.
In 1974, the club changed their name back to Futbol Club Barcelona.
Since it was founded, Barça has refused to advertise corporate sponsors on their uniforms. However, on July 14th, 2006, the club announced an agreement with UNICEF that included, for the first time in Barça's history, the organization's logo on their shirts. As part of the five year agreement, the club donates €1.5 million a year to UNICEF.
Club president Joan Laporta, a self-proclaimed nationalist, requires all foreign Barça players to learn Catalan.
In 2007, Laporta dedicated a portion of the ticket sales from the FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid match to Federació Llull, an organization that promotes the spread of the Catalan language. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the Prime Minister of Spain since 2004, supports FC Barcelona.
Understanding the Soccer Offsides Rule By Sarah Daniel
Your daughter just signed up for a youth soccer team, and the team needs a volunteer coach. You don't know if you have time, however when the email comes out with the ultimatum of finding a coach or not playing, you decided to step up. Coaching you daughter's team should be a rewarding experience, but you need to have a place to turn for preparation and resources. Many good books are on the market describing what and how to coach, and many more about the rules of soccer. One of the most basic rules, yet seemingly one of the hardest to understand for people new to soccer is the offsides rule.
The offsides rule is simply designed to prevent teams from keeping a player in an offensive position that would give them an unfair advantage. The rule basics are as follows:
· Offensive player must have one defender and the goalie between them and the goal
· Offensive player must be over the half line
· The offsides position is determined when the ball is kicked, not where the player is when they receive the ball
· The offensive player must be in front of the ball, if the ball is in front of the player, they cannot be offsides
· No offsides on a throw-in
That's it, fairly simple right?
The rule gets a little complicated for two reasons. The first is that timing determining whether a player is in an offside position is when the ball is kicked. In soccer, the ball can be kicked from 50 yards away or more. The time it takes for the ball to travel this distance allows time for a player to get into a position that looks to be very clearly an offside position. However, since the player was not in that position when the ball was kicked, the advantage goes to the offensive player, as they moved into that position after the ball was kicked. The new coach or parent is left to wonder what the point of the rule is in the first place since it appeared that the offensive player was ahead of the defender when they received the ball. The second is the defensive strategy to use the offsides trap. This can be a very effective, especially against aggressive offensive teams. The strategy involves constantly pushing the defense up before the forward pass is made, causing the offensive player to be in an offside position when the ball was kicked. Defensive coordination is key, and mistakes are often very costly, however the reward is the ability to shut down a superior offensive team allowing your team to stay in the game.
Coaching soccer can be a very rewarding experience. Understanding the rules and having resources for practice and games are essential for success. Keep your practices moving, fun, and reinforce the positive aspects of every players game, and your players will respond. The offside rule can be confusing, but understanding the basics: when was the ball kicked, and have a player and the goalie between you and the goal, will break the rule into simple and understandable pieces.
Sarah Daniel has created a youth soccer coaches resource center. In the resource center you will find articles, books, DVD's, coaching supplies, coaches gifts, and reviews of the top coaching resources on the market. The site was designed as a one stop shop, and will provide a better idea of the types of products available to make your coaching experience successful. If you are new to coaching or want to see some of the products that could take your coaching to the next level, please check out the youth coaches resource center.
The offsides rule is simply designed to prevent teams from keeping a player in an offensive position that would give them an unfair advantage. The rule basics are as follows:
· Offensive player must have one defender and the goalie between them and the goal
· Offensive player must be over the half line
· The offsides position is determined when the ball is kicked, not where the player is when they receive the ball
· The offensive player must be in front of the ball, if the ball is in front of the player, they cannot be offsides
· No offsides on a throw-in
That's it, fairly simple right?
The rule gets a little complicated for two reasons. The first is that timing determining whether a player is in an offside position is when the ball is kicked. In soccer, the ball can be kicked from 50 yards away or more. The time it takes for the ball to travel this distance allows time for a player to get into a position that looks to be very clearly an offside position. However, since the player was not in that position when the ball was kicked, the advantage goes to the offensive player, as they moved into that position after the ball was kicked. The new coach or parent is left to wonder what the point of the rule is in the first place since it appeared that the offensive player was ahead of the defender when they received the ball. The second is the defensive strategy to use the offsides trap. This can be a very effective, especially against aggressive offensive teams. The strategy involves constantly pushing the defense up before the forward pass is made, causing the offensive player to be in an offside position when the ball was kicked. Defensive coordination is key, and mistakes are often very costly, however the reward is the ability to shut down a superior offensive team allowing your team to stay in the game.
Coaching soccer can be a very rewarding experience. Understanding the rules and having resources for practice and games are essential for success. Keep your practices moving, fun, and reinforce the positive aspects of every players game, and your players will respond. The offside rule can be confusing, but understanding the basics: when was the ball kicked, and have a player and the goalie between you and the goal, will break the rule into simple and understandable pieces.
Sarah Daniel has created a youth soccer coaches resource center. In the resource center you will find articles, books, DVD's, coaching supplies, coaches gifts, and reviews of the top coaching resources on the market. The site was designed as a one stop shop, and will provide a better idea of the types of products available to make your coaching experience successful. If you are new to coaching or want to see some of the products that could take your coaching to the next level, please check out the youth coaches resource center.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Reaction - Hatton Vs Pacquiao By Luke W Calvert
It's official; my head is spinning. No, it's not because I was at a work colleague's stag night over the weekend (although that certainly hasn't helped!) but it's because I've just seen Manny Pacquiao destroy Ricky Hatton inside two rounds.
Although I was among the minority tipping Hatton to pull off the upset victory, that certainly doesn't mean I never gave Manny the chance to win, because I certainly did. So, the shocking part for me was not the victory itself but the manner of the victory. Ricky Hatton vanquished inside two rounds and left flat on his back in the centre of the ring. Unimaginable.
I didn't think that any fighter could do that Hatton so quickly. When Pacquiao's trainer, the renowned Freddie Roach, said Pacquiao would take Hatton out inside three rounds I dismissed his comments as the usual pre fight mind games and bravado. It turns out that Freddie knew precisely what he was talking about.
I honestly don't know where to start to talk about this fight but first of all, I must salute Manny Pacquiao. Even with Floyd Mayweather Jr. now official out of retirement, the Filipino is unquestionably the number one pound for pound fighter on the planet. Pacquiao used to be an aggressive whirlwind of a fighter but Roach has turned his man into a complete boxer puncher. Against Hatton, Pacquiao was more than happy to concede centre ring and to box on the outside, something he managed with aplomb.
Manny's hand speed is truly something special; when he sees an opening he manages to land four or five hurtful, vicious punches when ordinary fighters would look to land one or two punches. Pacquiao's dismissal of Hatton is possibly the best performance of his career and it's caused me to reconsider Pacquiao's win over Oscar De La Hoya again. Perhaps 'The Golden Boy' wasn't a shot fighter in his last contest but simply unable to cope with the amazing speed and ferocity of the Filipino fighters attacks.
Already we've heard many so called experts point to Hatton's lifestyle as contributing to his downfall and some even pointing to the fact Hatton has been a 10 stone fighter for too long and making the weight has caught up with him. Let's remember that this is the same lifestyle and weight that took Hatton to a superb victory against Paulie Malignaggi six months ago. Manny deserve all the credit for this victory rather than those who are instead trying to point to Hatton's failures.
So let's now turn and look at Ricky Hatton, quite possibly the most fanatically supported fighter in the world, with over 25,000 fans travelling all the way to Las Vegas from the United Kingdom. As we've alluded to earlier, this was as conclusive a defeat as is possible for Hatton to experience. Floored twice in round one, Hatton did manage to make some kind of recovery in the second, being more competitive and landing some decent shots. But one big left hand in the closing seconds of round two ended the contest emphatically; the everlasting image of the contest will be Hatton, flat on his back with the referee, Kenny Bayless, not even bothering to count.
So what went wrong for Hatton - was Pacquiao simply too good? Well, there is no doubt that Hatton's tactics could have been better, he was pretty straight up with his chin higher than I'd like and his hands were also on the low side. Ricky seemed to march forward like that with a distinct lack of head movement on the way in, which made him easy pickings for the phenomenal 'Pac-Man'. Hatton's footwork was also pretty poor and rather than trying to work the angles to create openings, he tried to bludgeon Pacquiao head on.
But, what really stood out for me was Hatton's lack of punch resistance. Forced to hold on in the opening stanza before he had even hit the canvas for the first time, it was plain that Hatton simply couldn't handle the power of Pacquiao. It's something I am still confused about now, I mean Pacquiao made his career at 9st 4lbs yet here he was hurting the bona-fide 10st number one with every shot. I know Hatton has been hurt before, perhaps most surprisingly by Luis Collazo and most emphatically by Floyd Mayweather Jr. but he is certainly not a 'chinny' fighter.
Again though, perhaps instead of looking for shortfalls in Hatton we should instead be looking for positive's in Pacquiao - it is more than possible that Pacquiao's regime in developing his body into the 10st light welterweight category, under the tutelage of Freddie Roach and former world heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, has seen him increase his power, which combined with his sensational speed simply left Hatton unable to cope.
So, where does Hatton go now? There is no doubt Hatton has been a superb champion, whatever the detractors will say now - aren't we all wise after the event. Hatton has won multiple titles in two weight divisions and reached the pinnacle of the sport in boxing the pound for pound number one twice. Crucially though, he has fallen short on both occasions and whilst he is destined to be a British boxing great and future hall of famer, the mythical pound for pound title seems like it will always be one step too far for Manchester's 'Hitman'.
Retirement to me would seem the most sensible option, despite (or possibly because) the fact I am a huge Ricky Hatton fan. There are potentially a couple of huge domestic clashes not too far away, should Amir Khan defeat Andreas Kotelnik on June 27th (for the WBA light welterweight title) then a Hatton-Khan title fight would do huge business in England. But, it would also be a huge come down for Ricky. That is not meant to detract from Khan's ability but it is a case of two fighters being from different era's and for Hatton, I'm not sure he could get fired up to face Khan.
The other option, perhaps more intriguing, is that he faces his old nemesis Junior Witter, should he manage to defeat Devon Alexander for the vacant WBC light welterweight title. A Hatton-Witter clash has been mooted for years, before Hatton even won his first world title against Kostya Tszyu. It's a clash that could fill any football stadium in England and one that Hatton could certainly get motivated for - there is genuine dislike between these boxers with a lot of trash talk having taking place over the years about who avoided who. But again, it's a level below what Ricky has been operating at and for me, it does not offer Ricky a route back to the pinnacle of the sport.
So the fallout from this fight is huge. Hatton is staring retirement in the face, whilst Pacquiao's star is shining brighter than any figure in the sport has for the past ten years. Here we have a champion to be proud of, humble, talented and exciting. A Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Jr. match up, should it take place later this year, would undoubtedly be the biggest contest the sport has seen in the past 20 years
Although I was among the minority tipping Hatton to pull off the upset victory, that certainly doesn't mean I never gave Manny the chance to win, because I certainly did. So, the shocking part for me was not the victory itself but the manner of the victory. Ricky Hatton vanquished inside two rounds and left flat on his back in the centre of the ring. Unimaginable.
I didn't think that any fighter could do that Hatton so quickly. When Pacquiao's trainer, the renowned Freddie Roach, said Pacquiao would take Hatton out inside three rounds I dismissed his comments as the usual pre fight mind games and bravado. It turns out that Freddie knew precisely what he was talking about.
I honestly don't know where to start to talk about this fight but first of all, I must salute Manny Pacquiao. Even with Floyd Mayweather Jr. now official out of retirement, the Filipino is unquestionably the number one pound for pound fighter on the planet. Pacquiao used to be an aggressive whirlwind of a fighter but Roach has turned his man into a complete boxer puncher. Against Hatton, Pacquiao was more than happy to concede centre ring and to box on the outside, something he managed with aplomb.
Manny's hand speed is truly something special; when he sees an opening he manages to land four or five hurtful, vicious punches when ordinary fighters would look to land one or two punches. Pacquiao's dismissal of Hatton is possibly the best performance of his career and it's caused me to reconsider Pacquiao's win over Oscar De La Hoya again. Perhaps 'The Golden Boy' wasn't a shot fighter in his last contest but simply unable to cope with the amazing speed and ferocity of the Filipino fighters attacks.
Already we've heard many so called experts point to Hatton's lifestyle as contributing to his downfall and some even pointing to the fact Hatton has been a 10 stone fighter for too long and making the weight has caught up with him. Let's remember that this is the same lifestyle and weight that took Hatton to a superb victory against Paulie Malignaggi six months ago. Manny deserve all the credit for this victory rather than those who are instead trying to point to Hatton's failures.
So let's now turn and look at Ricky Hatton, quite possibly the most fanatically supported fighter in the world, with over 25,000 fans travelling all the way to Las Vegas from the United Kingdom. As we've alluded to earlier, this was as conclusive a defeat as is possible for Hatton to experience. Floored twice in round one, Hatton did manage to make some kind of recovery in the second, being more competitive and landing some decent shots. But one big left hand in the closing seconds of round two ended the contest emphatically; the everlasting image of the contest will be Hatton, flat on his back with the referee, Kenny Bayless, not even bothering to count.
So what went wrong for Hatton - was Pacquiao simply too good? Well, there is no doubt that Hatton's tactics could have been better, he was pretty straight up with his chin higher than I'd like and his hands were also on the low side. Ricky seemed to march forward like that with a distinct lack of head movement on the way in, which made him easy pickings for the phenomenal 'Pac-Man'. Hatton's footwork was also pretty poor and rather than trying to work the angles to create openings, he tried to bludgeon Pacquiao head on.
But, what really stood out for me was Hatton's lack of punch resistance. Forced to hold on in the opening stanza before he had even hit the canvas for the first time, it was plain that Hatton simply couldn't handle the power of Pacquiao. It's something I am still confused about now, I mean Pacquiao made his career at 9st 4lbs yet here he was hurting the bona-fide 10st number one with every shot. I know Hatton has been hurt before, perhaps most surprisingly by Luis Collazo and most emphatically by Floyd Mayweather Jr. but he is certainly not a 'chinny' fighter.
Again though, perhaps instead of looking for shortfalls in Hatton we should instead be looking for positive's in Pacquiao - it is more than possible that Pacquiao's regime in developing his body into the 10st light welterweight category, under the tutelage of Freddie Roach and former world heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, has seen him increase his power, which combined with his sensational speed simply left Hatton unable to cope.
So, where does Hatton go now? There is no doubt Hatton has been a superb champion, whatever the detractors will say now - aren't we all wise after the event. Hatton has won multiple titles in two weight divisions and reached the pinnacle of the sport in boxing the pound for pound number one twice. Crucially though, he has fallen short on both occasions and whilst he is destined to be a British boxing great and future hall of famer, the mythical pound for pound title seems like it will always be one step too far for Manchester's 'Hitman'.
Retirement to me would seem the most sensible option, despite (or possibly because) the fact I am a huge Ricky Hatton fan. There are potentially a couple of huge domestic clashes not too far away, should Amir Khan defeat Andreas Kotelnik on June 27th (for the WBA light welterweight title) then a Hatton-Khan title fight would do huge business in England. But, it would also be a huge come down for Ricky. That is not meant to detract from Khan's ability but it is a case of two fighters being from different era's and for Hatton, I'm not sure he could get fired up to face Khan.
The other option, perhaps more intriguing, is that he faces his old nemesis Junior Witter, should he manage to defeat Devon Alexander for the vacant WBC light welterweight title. A Hatton-Witter clash has been mooted for years, before Hatton even won his first world title against Kostya Tszyu. It's a clash that could fill any football stadium in England and one that Hatton could certainly get motivated for - there is genuine dislike between these boxers with a lot of trash talk having taking place over the years about who avoided who. But again, it's a level below what Ricky has been operating at and for me, it does not offer Ricky a route back to the pinnacle of the sport.
So the fallout from this fight is huge. Hatton is staring retirement in the face, whilst Pacquiao's star is shining brighter than any figure in the sport has for the past ten years. Here we have a champion to be proud of, humble, talented and exciting. A Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Jr. match up, should it take place later this year, would undoubtedly be the biggest contest the sport has seen in the past 20 years
David Haye-Maker Versus David Haye-Faker By Ja Dawson
In the mythical matchup between David Haye-Maker and David Haye-Faker, round one goes to the Faker. Seriously, when I heard the news that David Haye was pulling out of his heavyweight title fight with Wladimir Klitschko, I assumed that it was an Internet rumor. Unfortunately, it was not. After talking so much trash about what he was going to do to Klitschko, even donning a tee-shirt depicting him with both Klitschkos' heads in his hands, the last-minute fight cancellation is not a good look for Haye.
I am typically not one to question the validity of a fighter's health or injured status, but the timing of Haye's back injury announcement raises eyebrows, to say the least. Over the past few weeks, Haye was talking less and less, and even appeared less boisterous about his chances in their proposed June 20th showdown. Look, I do not think Haye is scared of Wladimir Klitschko. If he was, he would have never signed to fight him. But I do think he knows that he must be in peak physical condition in order to defeat him. I do not think Haye's peak will be enough to beat Klitschko anyway, but that is a topic for a future post.
Maybe Haye is legitimately hurt. Maybe he's faking. Or maybe I'm just upset because I wanted to see him fight Wladimir Klitschko so bad. What I do know for sure is that I do not care to see Klitschko face off against Ruslan Chagaev. And I know that I am not alone in that sentiment.
At some point, the real David Haye-maker will stand up and face one of the Klitschkos. Let's hope it's sooner than later, for the sake of the gloomy heavyweight division and boxing fans worldwide.
I am typically not one to question the validity of a fighter's health or injured status, but the timing of Haye's back injury announcement raises eyebrows, to say the least. Over the past few weeks, Haye was talking less and less, and even appeared less boisterous about his chances in their proposed June 20th showdown. Look, I do not think Haye is scared of Wladimir Klitschko. If he was, he would have never signed to fight him. But I do think he knows that he must be in peak physical condition in order to defeat him. I do not think Haye's peak will be enough to beat Klitschko anyway, but that is a topic for a future post.
Maybe Haye is legitimately hurt. Maybe he's faking. Or maybe I'm just upset because I wanted to see him fight Wladimir Klitschko so bad. What I do know for sure is that I do not care to see Klitschko face off against Ruslan Chagaev. And I know that I am not alone in that sentiment.
At some point, the real David Haye-maker will stand up and face one of the Klitschkos. Let's hope it's sooner than later, for the sake of the gloomy heavyweight division and boxing fans worldwide.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Sports Photography
I think probably the biggest tip I can offer you when it comes to sports photography is to take lots and lots of pictures. You are using a digital camera, right? Use the digital technology to your advantage. You are not shooting through rolls of film, so go ahead and take extra digital photos at a sporting event.
First off, it helps in that the more practice you have, theoretically the better you will get at taking future photos. Second, with the split-second nature of a sporting event, it is hard, if not impossible, to record every single moment perfectly. Taking more photos increases the chance of getting that one great photo you will want to show.
Get plenty of sleep the day before the event so you bring your A game to the venue. You do not want to be dozing off when your kid hits a home run. Also, get to know the layout of where you will be. You can pick out the best area to get the best pictures before you show up and save some valuable time!
Everyone wants to record the occurrence of a great play - the contact between bat and ball as it is hurled towards the outfield, the fine release of a basketball as it gracefully begins its arc towards the basket, or the forward motion of a quarterback tossing a football towards a wide receiver just as he is about to get blindsided by a defensive lineman.
While these photos are great, you should also look at capturing the emotion after a great play has occurred. Take snapshots of the jubilation, smiles, and high-fives, and do not forget the look of bewilderment on the other teams face after something special has occurred. Photos are supposed to tell a story, and capturing human reaction to an event may be more telling than capturing the event itself.
Zoom is absolutely necessary. A long telephoto zoom is practically essential at sporting events. Unless you are a professional and commissioned to take photos at an event, allowing you sideline or bleacher access, you probably will not be seated as close to the action as you would like.
A long 7+ or higher zoom can make the difference between a photograph looking like a bunch of dots moving around versus one telling a story with detailed players facial expressions.
You will also need a fast shutter speed. Set your digital cameras shutter speed as fast as possible to handle photographs with the available light. This reduces the chance of camera shake if you are unable to use a tripod.
Also, actions occur in the blink of an eye and you do not want your photograph to be so blurry that you cannot recognize the players or movement. Granted, selective blurring can result in intriguing photos, but you also want the ability to take fast, crisp, clean shots.
Study your digital camera manual for assistance in changing the shutter speed. Then at the event, practice a few shots before the game starts to ensure you have enough lighting to support faster shutter speeds.
You do not want your photographs looking all washed out. The more available light, the faster you should be able to shoot with your digital camera. And, of course, correct use of flash can also allow you to use faster shutter speeds.
Remember that there will still be shutter lag. When you press down on your digital cameras shutter, it may take a few milliseconds before it is pressed down firmly before a photo is recorded. You should practice taking photos with your digital camera before going to a sporting event to learn and be able to anticipate this shutter lag time.
Note that lag time also increases during the cameras auto focus process. You can decrease this added lag time by setting your camera to manual focus mode or by keeping the shutter button halfway down, already auto-focused on a particular area.
If your digital camera has a burst, or rapid shot mode, it may prove beneficial to your sports photography. During a fast-paced event, it is almost impossible to time every shot perfectly. Burst mode lets you set up your exposure, shutter speed, and other options as you anticipate a play, and, just as you expect a play is about to happen (such as a penalty kick), you can take several photographs in rapid succession.
When purchasing a digital camera that you plan on using for sports photography, see if it has burst mode. You should check to see how many photographs the camera can take in succession. How long will the burst mode work? Does it take 10 photos in 2 seconds, etc.
Also find out what resolutions are supported by the burst mode. Some digital cameras may support 8 megapixels at RAW quality for normal photos but only 5 megapixels at JPG quality in burst mode, for example. Find out, too, if the camera requires high-speed memory to take burst mode shots.
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