Why Ace Athletes Must Be Fathered

Having a coach to see and guide you through a competition is not enough to be an ace athlete.

Someone must coach you until you reach mastery. That someone ought to be a real athlete himself, coached or “fathered” through a long process by a qualified “father” in athletic training.

A “father” in training is a battle-hardened master armed with a wealth of experience in his chosen field. He is not only knowledgeable in it; he can be considered an epitome in the field. He has seen lots of actions and has been part of them, and he knows every nook and cranny of the arena.

He is so familiar with the “feeling” of being out there where the action is. He knows that real sports encounters are alive; meaning anything can happen out there, and no pattern or formula can compare to live, on-the-spot events.

It is only the accurate judgment and experience of the wise that can cope up with live events. He is also so sensitive to the right and wrong forms, including the executions of a technique, the timing, and the right effects. All these can only be available to a real “father” of sports training.

Some coaches are mere P.E. teachers, or at best, athletic players once upon a time. They can help some; but at times, they can be more of hindrances than wise guides for trainees.

They will tend to be bookish and stick to “what the book says,” or to what they have learned in school, or to what they have experienced in amateur contests. Without mastery (through real, professional sports encounters), they lack the sense to know that aside from mastering basic forms or moves, you have to be flexible and adaptable to unexpected things that are likely to happen out there in the actual arena. Only seasoned sports “fathers” will be able to divulge these details and wisdom to trainee-“sons.”

In his skills and experience, a “father” trainer patiently raises up “sons” to continue his calling, or pass down his mission to succeeding generations. He knows too well that champions come from a relay of skills and wisdom, or a technology transfer, and not from those who start out from scratch.

You cannot train yourself, or train alone, and come out champion. You cannot also have amateur coaches train you to be champion. You have to feed from the experiences of those who had been there before, saw real tough actions, and really made it to the top. They may be likened to a lighthouse that points out what is right and what is wrong, separating fact from myth.

An athletic player acquires knowledge and skill mostly from his own experiences. He may upgrade that by joining competitions and by wearing colorful uniforms, and subjecting himself periodically to coaches. He occasionally reads books about the game. He may even be awarded best player. However, he does not make a career out of it. Eventually, he drops out from the scene and the sport altogether. He will have good stories to tell about how he used to be this and that, but people may not be able to trace his stories because of his now bloated physique due to the absence of training.

An ace athlete, on the other hand, is a “son.” He has a “father” who raises him up, and this athlete is aware that he is not just being raised up to win an event or a couple of events; he is being raised up to be a father to raise up other sons someday. Unlike the athletic player who would point to rusted trophies and medals and photos of victories as his proof of being once in the sport, real athletes point to actual “fathers” who have trained them and from whom they have received “trade secrets” for success. They also point to actual athletes and champions they have personally trained and “fathered” to pass on the heritage for generations to come.

An ace athlete not only aims to be a champion, but lives to develop other champions as well.

Athletes Foot

Almost half the world-wide market for athletic shoes is right here in the US. Thanks to an aggressive marketing plan and succession of shrewd endorsements, it has been dominated by the Nike “swoosh”. In a business saturated with players, Nike’s 36% market share represents a substantial margin over the competition.

How much is 36% of the market? Only sales in the neighborhood of $7.2 billion, that’s all. Enough cash to buy every franchise in the NBA. Isn’t it just a little ironic a company that propelled it’s period of rapid growth on a product launch and endorsement campaign grounded on the NBA’s brightest star, could on a whim, buy the whole league?

Not everything is rosy for Nike in the athlete’s foot market. Of the 50 or so “other manufacturers”, number two Adidas has completed a move to present a major challenge.

Athletic footwear is divided into two sectors. Competitive which drives innovation to set the mainframe, and fashion which spins casual wear market entries off from the mainframe. Around the rest of the world, Adidas has long been the leader in competitive footwear. It was Adidas that really started it all, sneaking their 3 stripe trademark past stringent Olympic and World Cup sponsorship regulations of the 1950’s to give birth to a whole new industry

Adidas has acquired number 3 Reebok for $3.8 billion, giving them a 21 percent US market share. Most significant about this deal is Reebok holds a much firmer grip on the fashion market than Adidas ever has. Each brand will keep it’s identity, but expect to see some new forms cross brand marketing invented to capitalize on the strenghts of each. The Reebok brand blended into the Adidas mix means a savvy competitor for Nike to deal with across the full market range. Expect Nike to dig deep and find creative ways to fight them off.

The big business of whose sport shoe they put on their feet assures consumers a new round of innovative choices will be soon on the way.

Good training practices

To be a good athlete you must have good training practices. Training practices are more than just what you do on the track; they involve how you live your day to day life.

Coaching - Seeking out someone with more experience then you is always a good idea. There is no sense re-inventing the wheel when someone has already tested several methods and can save you a lot of time leading to greater effiency in your training.

Be Open - A huge part to becoming an experienced athlete is to keep your mind open, both to new ideas and to feedback. Request feedback. Recognize that you don’t know everything and that you can learn a lot from those who are more experienced.

Take it slow - Set reasonable goals. If you’re a twice a week runner, don’t expect to make the upcoming Olympics. Reasonable goals will keep you mentally fit and motivated to keep training. If you try to take things too quickly chances are you will get burnt out both mentally and physically.

Injury Prevention - I don’t know of any great athlete that hasn’t suffered a injury at one point in their career, and knows how devastating it can be. An injury can put an end to a season or an entire career. Be smart in your running training to best avoid injuries. This can be accomplished by using the right equipment. Why take the risk of training in year old running shoes when it’s recommended to buy new ones every 6 months? Proper warm up and cool downs, can greatly decrease your risk of injury. Not warming up is like driving a car really hard without giving it a tune up. Your playing with fireworks. This can involve jogging to warm your muscles up, stretching and other mobility drills to make sure you are ready to begin your training session.
If you take these things into consideration I have no doubt that you will have success in what ever it is you are training for.

An Introduction To Fantasy Football

Okay, let’s get one thing straight right off the bat, we are talking about American football here, you know the sport with the funny shaped ball! Anyway, let’s not waste time on semantics I have stuff to do.

The way fantasy football works is like this, every participant or owner as we are called in the Fantasy Sports World, drafts or buys through an auction a team of players. For the purposes of this introduction we are going to assume the fantasy football league is NFL, but it could also be based on college players. The way the actual completion plays out depends upon the individual fantasy football league you happen to belong to. In some fantasy football leagues the winner is determined by total points at the end of a season, while others actually play against each other weekly with the team having the best record at the end of the fantasy season being declared winner of that fantasy football league.

The internet has been responsible for taking fantasy football from a hobby played out in sports bars and individual homes to a multi-billion dollar industry now according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. According to the FSTA, nearly twenty million players participate in fantasy sports and the industry has a growth rate of around ten percent. Fantasy Football is the most popular of all the fantasy sports available and continues to grow even faster with the explosion of websites and software to help with the game as well as the proliferation of fantasy football magazines available today.

Most fantasy football leagues will be made up of around ten or twelve individual teams which will have their own mock drafts before the season starts. Because you are drafting real players and their performance really matters it pays to stay in touch with what is going on with them during the off season and pre-season. For example if you draft a Ricky Williams and he decides to go off and smoke dope, too bad, you are screwed out of a running back! In some fantasy football leagues each owner must draft a new team every year, while in others you may be allowed to keep a handful of players which will not be entered in the draft. Some leagues have even gone as far as to create so-called dynasty leagues where an owner may maintain his team from the previous season and only draft incoming rookies. This is very similar to how a real football league works.

Players that are not drafted are designated as “free agents” and may be chosen during the season by trading players that an owner may currently have and making them free agents. The rules that govern this practice vary from league to league.

9 Great Family Boating Activities

One of the most enjoyable outdoor activities that my family and I do during the summer is to go boating. Boating is a great way to bond with friends and family members. If you don’t own a boat you can easily rent one for day at one of your local marinas. There are several boats to choose from and many activities to participate in while on the water. Below are just a few of the great things you can spend your day doing while boating.

1. Relaxation – Many families will take an enjoyable stroll around the lake or river relaxing while spending time chatting with friends and family. Take a cooler and snacks and sit back and enjoy the peace that you can experience while floating on the water.

2. Fishing – Take your kids, grandkids friends and family out for a day of fishing. Not only will you have blast watching the young ones eyes light up when they catch a big one, but you will also be able to spend that quality time together that everyone deserves.

3. Swimming – You’ll find several boats that will dock at the sand bar or out in the middle of the lake. When you notice these boats sitting their you’ll see how much fun their having jumping off the side of the boat, or just floating in the water swimming. The kids seem to enjoy this more than anything else you can do on the boat.

4. Tubing – Here is my favorite activity on a boat. Take everyone out on the boat for a little tubing. This is a great activity for everyone. Watch the kids laugh and yell as they skim across the water on their favorite towable. There are many towables to choose from depending on your rider’s action level.

5. Water Skiing – It’s a great time to get out your skis and hit the water. Friend will love watching the experienced skiers as well as watching the beginners get up for the first time.

6. Kneeboarding – This ones a little easier than water skiing and kids will really enjoy the thrill of racing across the water. Watch out for those waves and be ready to splash in the water.

7. Fire Works – One of my favorite times of the summer is watching the fireworks over the lake while your sitting out on the boat. This can be one of the most spectacular views for watching fire works. Boating is a great way to enjoy the 4th of July weekend.

8. Wakeboarding – If you know how to water ski get ready for some wakeboarding action. You can have a blast trying out new stunts on a wakeboard. This is one of the most popular activities for young ones on the water.

9. Slalom Skiing – Kick away that other ski and use only one. This is for the more advanced skier, but friends and family will cheer you on as you make a big spray behind you while your slaloming.

This summer head to the water with your family and friends and enjoy your time together.

All About Pool Cue Tips

Do you think that your choice in tips is the right choice or simply politically correct? What I mean by politically correct is, is your choice in tips controlled by the opinion of your peers or some professional player that you know, or is it based on fact? By the end of this article you should be able to answer this question for youself.

What are the differences in pool cue tips?

As you probably already know, you have everything from very soft singlepiece animal skin tips from various types of animals (elk, cow, water buffalo and cape buffalo) to very hard single piece animal skins. There is also the laminated tips ranging anywhere from three to fifteen layers. The laminated tips also range from soft to extremely hard using various animal skins and tannages. The end result is a myriad of confusing choices. I would like to unmuddy the water for you somewhat. All of these variables can impact power, accuracy, and your sight picture.

First let's assume that you already know that the shape or radius of the tip is of utmost importance and must be maintained at all times during gameplay. That very important shape that I just mentioned is the radius of a dime (roughly) or a "0.375" radius. In other words, hold a dime edgewise up to your tip and look over the top... If it does not match the shape or radius of a dime on the top of your tip, you've already got a problem.

When the ball is struck by the tip, the portion of the tip that takes the force is no more than an eighth of an inch offcenter in all directions. This is true regardless of whether you've struck the cue ball a sixteenth off center, or a full tip off center. What this radius does is generate the force, regardless of where it is struck, to the center of the tip and down through the center of your cue. Soft tips create more distortion than harder tips. In otherwords, a larger area of the tip makes contact and wraps around the cue ball in the case of a soft tip. This may give you more tip confidence, particularily if you're a beginner, because you will miscue less, despite having a sloppy stroke; but, the price you will pay is less power and a whole lot more deflection of the cue ball, because you have moved all of the tip to one side of the cue ball with virtually no penetration. On the other hand, a hard tip will focus the energy in a much smaller area at impact and will give you a higher degree of penetration. When I speak of penetration, I mean the force being directed to the cue ball by virtue of the direction the cue is being swung or pointed and that force penetrates the cue ball in the direction that the shaft or cue is being driven. As an added bonus, a harder tip lasts longer.

What about miscueing with hard cue tips?

The simple fact of the matter is, that the small, glasslike particles of chalk, which cause the friction, are held higher up on the surface on a hard tip so that they will penetrate deeper into the surface of the cueball at impact. A soft tip allows more particles to come into contact because of it's increased tip surface at impact; however, though there be more particles in contact with the cue ball, it does not penetrate the cue ball as deeply and therefore creates less friction per particle. Bottomline: You have the choice of either more particles penetrating less or fewer particles penetrating more... The net total friction is about a trade-off. Whether the tip you choose is one single piece of hide or laminated multipe pieces of hide, the key issue is the more penetration means more accuracy, more power, and tremendously less cue ball deflection and negative effects on your sight picture. As a side note: You've probably noticed, if you've played much, that a tip plays its best just before it has to be changed. This is because it has been pounded enough through constant play to make the tip more dense (harder in all areas).

What does Meucci Originals do with this information?

After testing every tip on the market, and measuring it's resultant power and deflection variation, we have found that a hard tip with even harder outside edges around the circumference will perform the best. Harder outside edges so that the energy is directed into the cue will be focused more towards the center of the shaft, while at the same time keeping the outside walls of the tip from breaking down. There is only two ways to get this result: 1. A hard water buffalo tip. or 2. To compress the tip of your choice as hard as you can, then shape to a dime radius and then pound the outside edges to further harden the circumference and reshape that area to be once again a dime radius.

We take both the latter and former choice at Meucci Originals with the well-known Le Professional tips or hard water buffalo tips. I hope I haven't caused you even more confusion. I think the choice should now be simple: your choice should be made according to knowledge and experience instead of the fashion of the day.

Safety Tips for Archery

Archery like any sport has rules, most of the rules are best practice rules that are used to keep archers and spectators safe. In general it is good practice to observe these rules whether competing or just shooting for fun.

1. Aim
Always shoot arrows at the target. Arrows can be dangerous weapons and should never to be aimed at anything other than the target.

2. Inspect
Arrows must be carefully inspected before each shot to see that they have not been damaged. If the arrow shaft is damage it could cause the arrow to snap and injure the archer. A cracked arrow could also go off course and harm a spectator. The bottom line is damaged arrows are unpredictable and not safe to shoot.

Damaged nocks may result in arrow leaving bow unpredictably or result in a misdirected arrow. So always inspect arrows prior to shooting them.

3. Safety
Only when everyone has finished shooting should the signal be given, to move forward to collect the arrows. One person at a time should withdraw their arrows from the target. When withdrawing arrows from the target, make sure no-one is standing in front of the target or in the way of the withdrawn arrows.

4. Load
Never pull back and release a bow string without an arrow attached. This could damage the bow or injure the archer. Additionally, a bow should not be loaded with an arrow unless standing on the "Shooting Line" and the signal to start shooting has been given.

5. Placement
Targets should be set up to insure that no one can be accidentally hit by a stray arrow. All competitors must wait for the command to shoot and retrieve.

Archery is a fun sport, but one must not forget it can also be a dangerous sport. By following basic guidelines you are more apt to enjoy shooting.

The Fastest Nation

It’s quite usual for us to get to know that some American athlete wins another world or Olympic title in sprint event. Last time it was news from Helsinki World Championships, where the Americans had clear superiority over others in individual sprint disciplines. They won more titles than all other nations taken together. Of course, that’s not every time that it happens, but the advantage of American athletes which is due to their high level is obvious. While athletes from other countries come to sport elite and go away, Americans always stay in. Moreover, it’s impossible to imagine the sprint elite without Americans. They dominate short-distance running championships now. They have been dominating for all history of modern athletics since the first Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.

To prove this point of view I’m giving the so-called rating of all nations’ Olympic performance athletes of which ever took prices at the modern Olympic Games. A nation gets 3 points for every gold medal, silver is 2 points and bronze is 1 point. For example, at the 2004 Olympics the Americans won all medals in men’s 200 meters dash. In women’s 200 meters dash a Jamaican won gold, an American got silver and a Bahamian got bronze. Thus Americans get 8 points, Jamaicans - 2 point, Bahamians – 1 point. Summing up points for all years we get following statistics:

100 meters:
USA – 120
Germany – 22
Great Britain – 20
Canada – 14
Australia – 13
Other countries – 69

200 meters:
USA – 117
Germany – 18
Jamaica – 16
Australia – 14
Great Britain – 12
Other countries - 63

400 meters:
USA – 97
Germany – 22
Great Britain 20
Jamaica – 13
Australia – 12
Other countries – 52

In every event Americans are far ahead of others. However, even if we take into consideration such a huge advantage, it might be still wrong to say that other countries’ athletes are much worse trained. During the twentieth century there were stars among British, Canadian, Caribbean and other sprinters whose achievements have become part of sports history. Many of them are Olympic and world champions. There also world record holders among them. Now we talk about Asafa Powell, Veronica Campbell and Tonique Williams-Darling. We also remember Linford Christie, Donovan Bailey, Marita Koch and Marie-Jose Perec from the past.

However, the point is that they are the only representatives of their nations. They come into sports, show outstanding performance and go away followed by no compatriots matching their level. But only the USA athletes show high-level performance constantly. It’s quite hard to find reasons for it taking into account that the level of training process is also high in many other countries. Actually it is not the training process itself that differs the States from other countries. It is rather sports system organization which selects, raises and motivates athletes.

Prevalent approach to athletics

There are two models of sports system organization in the world.

The first one is the system of state financing developed in most countries. State Sports Department exercises supervision over Sports Federations which provide athletes with good conditions for trainings, medicine care, opportunities for preparations and so on. The State takes care of athletes from the beginning of their career and they feel comfortable in such conditions.

Many of them come into athletics and train like for fun, considering running from this point of view: “I have an opportunity for training. First I will train for fun and will see if I am good in running. If I’m good, I will pay more attention to trainings. If I’m not, I will just enjoy the achieved level. My country will take care of me and will give me an opportunity to afford such “pleasure” trainings.” For some of them sprint is a hobby. Some of them achieve good results at the local level performing time of 10.4-10.2 seconds in 100-meters dash, and think that it is good enough. Those who are highly motivated progress further and sometimes take prizes at international level. But most of such sprinters don’t even reach a 10-second barrier let alone 9.8-9.7 second time which is necessary for major competitions.

So there are no good selection process and no high competing environment in such a system.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association

One more model is when business interferes with sports and government doesn’t take part in the process simply providing the athletes with conditions. Such model is developed in the USA. Besides professional sports, there is a unique system of university sports organization which gives birth to a huge amount of world-famous stars in athletics. The National Collegiate Athletic Association sports are fantastically popular and widely covered on television and in press. Even world-known bookmakers provide lines for bets on NCAA leagues. No country in the world can boast of such situation. College teams receive huge money from their team sponsors and are interested in achieving high results attracting well-trained athletes. It means that skilled athletes receive scholarships which cover expenses on study and living. For many of them such way is the only chance to enter a university. Thus athletes who competed for a university team are highly motivated in achieving good results. They don’t just train, they secure stability of their lives. Very often at NCAA championships college athletes achieve higher results than professional athletes of other countries.

There is one more positive aspect of the USA model. Several sport events are extremely popular in the United States. These are football, basketball, baseball, hockey, track and field and some others. Almost all universities have their own teams for participating in these sports. If an athlete at the beginning of his career chooses some event, and some time later it turns out that he is much better in some other event, he can simply change an event within the same university. There are many such examples among Olympic champions at sprint events. Marion Jones who was member of her university basketball team, later became the fastest woman in the world. Famous sprinter Ato Boldon started his career playing soccer. Jim Hines used to be a baseball player in his early years. Eddie Tolan won Michigan state football championships as a high school boy. Much more examples could be mentioned.

Such conditions give an opportunity to find out really talented athletes, and hard competition compels them to develop their skills very fast. Yesterday’s NCAA champions become top world athletes today. Now it is John Capel, Shawn Crawford, Justin Gatlin, Jeremy Wariner and Lauryn Williams. In future there will be new stars and the National Collegiate Athletic Association model will never fail.

It’s worth mentioning that Caribbean athletes are good too. But note that many of them studied in American universities.


One might ask why American athletes are not so good at long distance running as they are at sprint events. The answer is simple – they like action. It’s much more interesting for them to watch a 100-meter race during 10 seconds than wait for the end of a 10-kilometers race for a half of an hour. They are crazy about eye-catching shows. And what could be more eye-catching than short-distance running? It’s not just a part of running or athletics, it’s another kind of sport, where limits of human body performance come out. That’s why they just go and grab world and Olympic titles in sprint and left the rest of events for the others.

3 Best Ways To Improve Soccer Skills Individually

If you’re looking for ways to improve soccer skills individually, you’ve come to the right place. I know that soccer team practice sometimes just isn’t enough if you want to become great. Just take a look at most of the great soccer players in activity. They always say that they spend a lot of hours off-pitch improving their soccer skills, which makes them so good in matches. But simply training after hours isn’t enough, you need to train intelligently, after a rigorous program.

-Best Ways to Improve Soccer Skills – DVD Programs

There’s a lot of these babies around the Internet these days, so if you’re planning on buying a DVD program for individual soccer practice, make sure it’s a serious author that created it and it’s not some lame compilation of soccer highlights with subtitles saying “Do this and you’ll be great”.

A quality DVD program is a great way to improve soccer skills, because it allows a certain level of interactivity to your learning. It’s not like learning from a TV show, because with DVD’s you can go straight to the chapter that interests you, you can go back and review stuff over and over again until you get the picture.

-Best Ways to Improve Soccer Skills – Skill Focusing

If you notice that there’s a certain area in your game that isn’t on par with your other skills, focus on it to get it on level terms. Having an unbalanced skill set is extremely damaging to your game. For example, you could be very fast and strong, but if you don’t have good ball control, you won’t be able to use your physical skills for anything.

Same goes with players that are extremely technical but very weak on their feet, so improving your soccer skills in a balanced way is best. Also, you could focus on your best skill not your worst one. Are you a good long range shooter? Make that your trademark. Practice long shots over and over again and your teammates will soon know that they need to create space for your shots and you’ll be able to score more often. You could also make a trademark of your heading, your passing, your set pieces and so forth.

-Best Ways to Improve Soccer Skills – Variation

Never allow a particular exercise or drill become boring routine, or you risk entering a stalemate with your soccer skills. Whatever you’re practicing, go for alternative techniques. For example, if you’re practicing dribbling, don’t just focus on a single type of dribble, effective as it may be. You will need to have a varied repertoire of dribbles if you want to stand up to your different adversaries.

In conclusion, you will probably want to combine these three methods, not just use them separately. Use a DVD program to cover the theoretical aspects of your practice and use the other two as practical methods of getting your skills up. You should be gaining an edge in no time!

3 Little Known Tips Of Basketball Hoop Shopping

I've got a confession to make. I play basketball. I play it very poorly and can't make very many of the shots that I shoot at the basketball hoop. I have a feeling that I am not alone in the world at being a rather poor basketball player. However, one thing that I'm not bad at is comparison shopping. I've mastered the ancient art of comparing prices between merchants and can usually ferret out a fairly good deal with a little bit of leg work. Basketball hoops are no different than other items when it comes to shopping for them. There are some tips you should know before embarking on your journey to shop for a basketball hoop.

1)New or Used. You really might consider buying a used basketball hoop if you are interested in value. However, make sure you are buying one that hasn't been banged up too bad. Years of basketball practice can only make your rim bent and dirty. Ebay can be a great place to buy used equipment and basketball hoops are regularly for sale on Ebay.

2)Do your homework by comparing different merchant offers on different search engines and different websites. Just because something is advertised for sale on Google doesn't mean its also advertised for sale on Yahoo. Some merchants advertise their good strictly through the Amazon partners program and don't do any other advertising anywhere else. Price vary drastically and the only way you will know that you are getting a good deal is to examine what the different people are selling the same goods for on different websites. Basketball hoops are no exception.

3)Learn about the different types and styles of basketball hoops. Without the knowledge of what you are buying, points #1 and #2 are nearly worthless. Buy your hoop the right way and get a great deal on one by being an informed consumer. Learn how to buy a basketball hoop and you can guarantee that you got a better deal than everyone else.

Items to Bring to a Football Game

There is arguably nothing better than attending an NFL football game and experiencing all of the excitement surrounding this sporting event in person. For those who are unsure as to what to bring to the game, there are a few necessary items which all fans and spectators should not be without.

Proper Attire

First and foremost, one who attends an NFL football game should wear the appropriate attire to ensure that their experience is a pleasurable one. Fans should wear comfortable clothing that is in keeping with the climate and weather. For example, if one is going to an NFL football game in the North, they should wear warm clothing and make it waterproof if snow or rain is a factor and the stadium is outdoors. On the other hand, one who goes to a Miami Dolphins game should dress comfortably in clothing which they will stay cool wearing.

Tailgating Items

Tailgating is a great pastime to take advantage of when going to an NFL game. This entails gathering in the stadium parking lot, chatting with other fans and eating some great tailgating food. One who is going to tailgate prior to the game should bring a cooler, food, beverages and any items necessary to cook their food. Many stadiums allow individuals to use portable grills in the parking lots which makes tailgating that much better.

Cash for Souvenirs and Food Inside the Stadium

Lastly, an individual who is going to an NFL game should make sure that they have enough cash on hand to buy certain items during the game. Items such as food, drinks and souvenirs are available for purchase inside football stadiums and fans should be sure to have cash handy to buy these items as many concessions do not take credit cards.

Tee Off With Disc Golf at the Top of the Rockies

Disc Golf, also known as Frisbee Golf, is a simple sport that almost anyone can enjoy. Disc Golf has taken off in popularity in the last few years, since it requires relatively inexpensive equipment and most everyone has experience throwing a Frisbee. Combine that with fact that most courses are free and have beautiful surroundings, and you have an inexpensive outdoor sport that can provide hours of entertainment for the whole family.

Courses can be found just about everywhere these days and generally consist of 9, 18 or 24 holes. The “holes” are actually baskets with hanging chains to slow & secure an incoming disc. On an average course these holes can be anywhere from 150 to 500 feet apart, and have water hazards to make things interesting. A bad throw could result in a lost disc unless you are prepared to do a little swimming.

Discs can cost between $8-$20, so they are easy to replace, and come in three basic types. The driver is normally a harder disc that you can rocket off the tee. But be careful, because a misfire can result in a long walk. The putter is a softer disc made to grab the chains of the basket from a shorter distance. In between these two you have your midrange discs that can vary in weight and flight style.

At Winter Park Resort you can find an 18-hole course that is located at the top of Winter Park Mountain. At nearly 11,000 feet you have spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, and can enjoy a nice lunch on the wraparound deck of the Sunspot. Discs can be rented at the base of the mountain and you must ride the scenic chair lift to the top, unless you are up for a little hike.

Course Information:
Holes: 18
Tee Type: Dirt
Course Length: 9655
Average Length: 536.39
Holes Under 300’: 3
Holes Between 300’ to 400’: 4
Holes Over 400’: 11
Holes Over 900’: 3
Highest Point: 10,925 ft.
Lowest Point: 10.425 ft.

Stay just a five minute walk from the base of Winter Park Resort. Slope View Bed and Breakfast offers views of the Continental Divide, unique amenities and a knowledgeable staff.

Think About The Right Boat Before Bying It

The first thing you should know when choosing a boat is that no single boat will do everything. If your looking for a boat that inspires confidence, don't expect it to shine in light air. Boats that are exciting to sail on the weekends aren't the ideal boats for a passage through the ocean.

You shouldn't expect to find quick acceleration and load carrying capacity together with the same boat. You can buy a boat now to race or fish, then sail around later - as you can only do one or the other with a specific type of boat.

The logic to choosing the right boat is determining how you plan to use the boat. Think about why you want to own a boat, what you plan to do with it, and how you plan on using it.

For some, beauty is the first consideration. For sail boats beauty is very important, as you'll spend a majority of time floating and sailing around, with many people looking at your sail boat. With people looking at your vessel, you want to make sure that it looks nothing short of amazing.

If you are planning to race instead of cruise, then speed is your primary consideration. There are many cruising sailors out there who simply can't be happy unless their boats are moving very fast. The ideal boat for speed demons are those that can cut through the water, creating plenty of waves.

Fishermen on the other hand, want to look towards fishing boats. Trackers and other boats that are designed for fishing are ideal here. Fishing is one of the most popular boat activities, meaning that you'll have plenty of boats to select from.

When it comes down to it, selecting the right boat is up to you and what you plan to do with it. Take your time, weigh your options, and you'll have the right boat before you know it.

A Guide to Discount Pool Tables

Discount pool tables are commonly available. Check your local classified listings for liquidation closeout sales, auctions for seized items from bankrupted businesses, and so on. There you might be able to nab a brand new pool table for a fraction of its book value.

Discount pool tables are discounted for a number of reasons. Sometimes a model will no longer be manufactured; sometimes a table will be overstocked because it is an unpopular style, or a dealer may bee trying to make money faster by slashing prices. You can buy these discounted tables from manufacturers or from third-party detailers.

Another great place to buy discount pool tables is www.overstock.com. Go to that website and enter “pool tables” into the search field. Browse through the options. The “new” prices will appear crossed out, and below that, the offering price will appear. Sometimes this lower price will be half as much as the higher price. Shipping prices can be as little as a few dollars. For example, you can buy a solid ash 8-footer by BCA, featuring a mahogany finish, 3-piece slate bed, and ability to be taken apart and stored. The new price on this model is about five grand. The overstock price is about two grand: a $3000 savings, or 60% off the regular price. Shipping is a ridiculously low $2.95.

No matter where you buy your cheap pool table, first decide what you are looking for. What size do you need: 7, 8, or 9 feet? It depends on how much space you have. Do you want the table to come in one solid piece (sturdier), or in multiple pieces (easier storage)? What kind of look are you going for: wood, vinyl, metal?

One last thing word of advice: always ask what the warranty entails. Just because it is less expensive than full price, that doesn’t mean you should go throwing away hundreds or thousands of dollars on a cheap table.

3 Health Benefits of Bowling: Tone Those Muscles and Make a Strike!

Among the many sports that man has ever played, perhaps, bowling is the most popular among all. With over 50 million players in the United States alone, bowling is definitely one sport that is a cut above the rest.

Among the many reasons this particular sport has remained at top of is the fact that it is a highly flexible sport. It promotes easy adjustment methods that are why many children and adults alike can take part in this remarkable game.

About 95% of bowlers consider bowling as a sport that can be exploited as a recreation, a form of relaxation, a societal factor, and a competitive nature as far as sportsmanship is concerned.

The simplicity of the game contributes to its adaptability. Because its rules are easier to understand, more and more people are engaging in this sport, not because of competition but basically because they want to enjoy the time with their friends or family.

With all these advantages, many people are still not aware of the health benefits that bowling can provide. They just thought that the activity could promote physical vigor and it stopped there. What they do not know is that the health benefits of bowling is more than just building stamina and releasing energy.

So for those who are not yet aware of these benefits, here is a list that you should know:

1. Promotes good muscle exercises

Merely walking along the lane, while attempting to make a strike or a spare, is enough to exercise the muscles in your legs. It resembles that of the "walking exercise" that most health buffs do; the only difference is that there is more weight involved. This is because in bowling, your hands are holding the bowling ball.

Consequently, as you swing around to hit the pins, the flexing and stretching provides adequate exercise for your tendons, joints, ligaments, and muscles in the arms.

2. Fat burning

As your muscles flex, turn, and twist in every swinging motion that you make while playing bowling, these moves can actually promote the burning of some accumulated body fat.

3. Builds friendships

One of the health benefits that can be derived in bowling is based on the kind of relationship that is being built with your friends or family. As some psychologists contend, building social relationships can actually promote better performance of the heart muscles. Emotional stress can shorten the lifespan of an average person.

Indeed, there can be no better or enjoyable way to live a healthy life than bowling can.

6 Types of Baseball or Softball Pitching Machines You Can Consider

Are you getting a baseball or softball pitching machine but fretting over the different brands and options available? Well, it's inevitable isn't it? After all, there are at least 6 different types of pitching machines and countless different brands and models out in the market today!

Here are the 6 major types :

(1) Real Ball Pitching Machines

As the name suggests, “Real Ball” pitching machines throws out real balls or those machine pitch dimpled balls you see at the commercial batting cages. Both types of baseballs weigh about 5oz.

Such equipment usually comes in 2 major categories which comprises of the Arm Styled Wheel Machines or the Compressed Air Machines. Although there may be exceptions, all require a batting cage. Invest in an auto feeder and remote control if you're opting for a one player mode and you're good to go.

(2) Wheel Style Pitching Machines

Ever seen those pitching machines used in leagues, high schools, colleges, pro ball or simply off someone else's backyard? Yes, these are the ones. One of the most popular choices, wheel style pitching machines can be used just for baseball, softball or in a combination package for both sports.

Through the support of a rubber wheel(s), a motor propelling the wheels' movements, dynamic parts with speed and directional adjustment knobs and a metal frame attached to a tripod, wheel styled pitching machines run on 110v power. If you're using them on fields without electricity supply, you'll need a power generator.

(3) Single Wheel Machines

These are entry level machines used to throw a straight pitch in a speed ranging from 25-70 mph. The price is usually set above $900. Currently, there are only a few single wheel machines out in the market which has the added feature of churning out curveball throws. Coaches may prefer the curveball option since they're more versatile when it comes to throwing the breaking ball from either of the “hand”. But be prepared to pay as they can cost $1,200 or more.

Overall, single wheel machines are still slightly cheaper than the real ball machine and is lightweight enough to be carried from your car boot to the ballpark. However, if you prefer higher speeds or a greater variety of pitch throws, you may want to consider the 2 wheeled machines instead.

(4) Two Wheel Machines

These machines can simulate almost every pitch regardless of the angle, hand (be it left or right) or speed you're talking about. Naturally because of the additional capabilities, they're also much more expensive than other types of pitching machines.

Their ability to throw all the different types of pitches and the added advantage of using them for ground balls, fly balls and even catchers pop-ups increases the thrill and fun practising with such machines. They are relatively portable too.

Some people dislike the fact that they can't see the movement of the “pitcher's arm” with such machines. But after a bit of getting used to, it's not really a major disadvantage. More importantly, however is that the consistency of their pitches drops with either wet, waterlogged balls or swollen balls. Like all wheel type machines So, if you're living in a region that's consistently dealing with rainy or wet weather, you may want to consider other options.

(5) Arm Style Pitching Machines

Yes, these are often the ones you see at the commercial batting cages. You know, those junky heap of steel affixed with the red lightbulbs alerting the batter on the impending pitch?

Equally suitable for both baseball or softball, these machines have been around for more than 50 years and can throw a straight and accurate ball at speeds that varies between 25 to 85 mph. Because of their bulk, instead of shoving them into your garage, the smarter move is to just cover them up and leave them where they are after the season. Otherwise, they're pretty durable.

(6) Rack Fed or Hopper Fed Pitching Machines

Such machines are pre-fed with baseballs or softballs so that no auto feeder are required. There are mainly 2 types. One is rack fed and can contain 38 baseballs or 28 softballs at one time. The other is hopper fed and can hold as much as 600 baseballs or 400 softballs.

These are professional base ball training equipment and are incredibly durable. Maintenance is often just a routine application of lubricating oils to a couple of the joints and even if you do need to replace a few of faulty parts, they're relatively inexpensive and easy to fix.

One advantage with these machines is that player can often see the pitcher wind up so that he can position himself for the swing in a more realistic timing. However, because of their bulk, they're not really as portable as the other types mentioned earlier.

Sports For Kids

For kids, the sports of water are adventurous and recreation filled. But safety must be granted the first priority. All the kids should obligatorily carry jackets of life, even if the kids can swim. All the boats and rafts should also carry the additional jackets of life, whistle and of the lifebuoys. The sports of water must be accompanies by an adult who must know to swim, preferable accompanied by an attentive swimming teacher. He should also know what to make during periods of the urgency and a Cs of B to grant first aid. Sports of water should always be carried out, when the climate is pleasant. If the climate is shone upon, apply the cream of screen of the sun to protect itself from radiations.

There are various kinds of sports of water for children, some are for the pleasure and the others are very adventurous and enthralling. Let'S start with a simple sport of water like the canoeing, which is much pleasant. In the majority of the kids and camps of young people you'll find canoeing and canoeing. Put'T forget to carry your jackets of life while you enter the boat. Always you must follow what your instructor or guides known as. Navigation is adventurous when the wind is good. Once that you have enough practice, you can start to take part in your local contests of navigation! If you want a sport adventurous of water, then navigation must be your first choice! The majority of the affectionate kids of nature will choose the diving of diving-suit, where the kids will be able to learn that more about the world fascinating animals and from him the assistance also to develop the empathy towards animals. If you want to swim with fish, to explore the corals and to admire the color of blue, then the diving of diving-suit is the best. The diving of diving-suit is also an excellent exercise.

Surfer is an excellent exercise and a superb sport of family. Surfer is also a great sport in the open air during one day sunny or summers. Swimming is the sport more preferred for many children and as well as for adults, it matter'of the doesn T if you swim in a lake, ocean, river, swimming pool or with competing swimmers or friends; swimming is always pleasant. But you ensure that water is clean. If you are initial or a student, then remain far the depth. Carry the glasses, the catches of ear and a hat of bath while to swim and you must avoid swimming after heavy food. Independently of these sports of water, you can even play the basketball and the volley ball of the water which is much more recreation and excite.

The Greatest Sport On The Planet - Fastpitch Softball!

Welcome to the greatest sport on the planet - fastpitch softball.

Fastpitch softball now ranks near the top of team participation sports played in the U.S.. There is special appeal in fastpitch softball that has allowed it to steadily grow in popularity through the years. Once a person chooses to become involved in fastpitch softball, the sport seems to dominate their lives. I know it did mine, I pitched this game for 35 years, over half of my life was devoted to this sport! I pitched this game for 35 years, over half of my life was devoted to this sport! Starting from never having picked up a softball, to Regional most valuable pitcher, to our team finishing 7th in the nation.

I would rather watch a good exciting fastpitch softball game anyday, than a world series baseball game. Fastpitch softball games move faster, have more action, and you'll soon see how hard it is to hit that big old ball. The windmill motion of a fastpitch softball pitcher can send the ball to the batter at speeds equal to major league baseball pitchers. Now its pretty clear why it is hard to hit a fastball or a fastpitch softball: the batter doesnt have much time to decide!

Fastpitch softball is often characterized by a minimal numbers of runs, desperation drag bunts and delayed steals, just to score that winning run!

Due to the fact that fastpitch pitchers were so hard to find, another form of softball quickly emerged, slow pitch. Slowpitch softball, which does not require the dedication, or travel, or skill of fastpitch, became hugely popular and remains so even today. Most of the differences between fastpitch softball and slowpitch softball are designed to give the batters more dominance, and make fielding more important.

There is a vast difference between when I first started playing fast pitch softball, and todays players. When I started, back in 1958, we didn't have training videos, dvd's and cd's to show exactly how to pitch. We had to learn by trial and error, and hope we could talk someone into slipping us a few secrets of how they threw their rise ball or drop ball, or whichever pitch we wanted to learn. This is another reason for the shortage of decent fastpitch pitchers over the years, which led to slow pitch leagues being formed.

Today there is a video or dvd available that will teach you every phase of pitching, batting, coaching, and almost everything else you would want to know about playing this fantastic sport. How to be a power pitcher, how to throw a rise ball, how to throw a drop ball, how to throw a change up, how to throw a curve ball, and much more. Now anyone with the determination and desire, can quickly grasp the how to information and cut the learning curve down drastically!

For many new players just wanting to get into fastpitch softball, the place to start is getting involved in a local fastpitch softball league. Most major cities have fastpitch softball leagues, some even have both, mens and womens. Many local teams are looking for new players who have above average skills and some knowlege of the game of Fastpitch Softball. Right here you need to decide whether you want to just play for the fun and exercise, or whether you are up to the challenge of serious competition in fastpitch softball. You will find both types of teams usually in your local leagues. It's a fun and competitive way to particpate in fastpitch softball.

Funding a "First-class" fastpitch softball program can be very costly. If you already have a fastpitch softball team, and looking for a good sponsor, you might want to consider car dealerships or companies involved in mining and exploration, as I have found both to be very receptive for sponsorships.

One last tip, for a new pitcher wanting to become an outstanding fastpitch softball pitcher is... Team up with an outstanding catcher, who knows the game, That will make you many times more effective!

Where fastpitch really shines, is at the college level... where womens fastpitch is a very competitive sport. You may have caught some of the games broadcast by ESPN showing tournament action.

Some people find the transition from recreational softball to fastpitch to be too intimidating, but don't let that happen to you!

You will be missing out on the thrill of a lifetime.

Super Foods For Super Health

We all hear about the many wonderful foods that are good to eat, and good for us. We always hear about eating fruits, and vegetables, and nuts. But that’s a big list to sort through, and wouldn’t it be simpler to have a few super foods that you can always turn to? To help you in your endeavors to lead a healthy lifestyle and a healthy life you can use the list compiled below as quick reference list of 9 super foods. These super foods and 14 others can be found in SuperFoods Health-Style, by Steven G. Pratt M.D.

Apples

Apples are a great food for many reasons including the ability to reduce the risk or heart disease, certain cancers, high blood pressure, and type-2 diabetes. They also benefit the respiratory system by preventing lung cancer and asthma.

By consuming apples your body gets fiber, potassium and antioxidants, such as Vitamin C and polyphenols. Studies show that the real benefit comes from the synergistic interaction between these ingredients.

To take best advantage of apples for your health, eat a wide variety and make sure that you eat the peel, which contains several times more antioxidants than the inside. As they say, eat an apple a day.

Avocados

When you want to help you body absorb more nutrients from the foods you eat, have an avocado too. Fat soluble phytonutrients, like beta-carotene, are more easily absorbed by the body because of the monounsaturated fat in the avocado.

Avocados also help you keep your weight down because they help you feel full, which triggers your body to stop eating. They are calorie rich at 48 calories per ounce, so for best results eat one-third to one-half an avocado two to three times a week.

Dark Chocolate

When you want a little indulgence with your health food, try dark chocolate. It contains lots of polyphenols which lower blood pressure and is a natural anti-inflammatory. You should keep in mind that blood pressure lowering qualities are only in dark chocolate, but not in its cousin, milk chocolate.

In 2000 a study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that the affect on blood flow from high flavonol cocoa was similar to taking a low-dose aspirin. These means that dark chocolate could possibly be used to treat ailments like minor pains or headaches.

For the best results use Newman’s Own Sweet Dart Chocolate, as Dr Pratt has found it has more polyphenols than any other dark chocolate he has found. Like avocado, chocolate is high in calories, so shoot for no more than 100 calories a day.

Olive Oil

There has been much discussion lately about the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. Well olive oil is one of the main components of that diet and its benefits are outstanding. It is a great substitute for other oils and fats and has been shown to reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer, lower blood pressure, and improve the health of your cardiovascular system.

For best results take a tablespoon a day of extra virgin olive oil that is cold pressed and greenish in color. This green color helps you spot high levels of polyphenols.

Garlic

Another component of the Mediterranean diet, Garlic is great for your cardiovascular system. By eating garlic regularly you can reduce your blood pressure, triglyceride levels and your LDL(bad) cholesterol. Garlic also has anti inflammatory agents and antibiotic properties.

To grab all the health benefits of garlic eat one clove several times a week. Raw garlic is best, but cooked is good too. Keep in mind that dried garlic and garlic supplements don’t have the same benefits as fresh garlic.

Honey

Honey is not often seen on many lists of healthy foods, but don’t let that fool you. Eating honey daily increases the amounts of antioxidant in the blood, helps to prevent constipation, and reduces cholesterol and blood pressure.

If you are running low on energy, reach for the honey, not sugar. Honey does a better job of maintaining blood sugar and energy than other sweeteners. And choose dark honeys over light ones, because they are higher in antioxidants and flavor. One to two teaspoons several times a week should do the trick.

Kiwis

If you want extreme quantities of Vitamin C and E that can reduce risk of asthma, osteoarthritis, and colon cancer, and boost your immune system, then grab a kiwi or two. An interesting point to keep in mind is that dietary vitamin E appears to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s, and by consuming kiwis, you get vitamin E without the calories that most other vitamin e rich foods contain, like nuts and oils.

Another stellar ingredient is lutein, which lowers the risk cataracts and macular degeneration. To get all the above benefits and reduce the risk of blood clots, then consume one kiwi, two to three times a week.

Onions

For the benefits of onions, you can just reread the benefits of garlic, because they are pretty much the same.

Try to eat dishes containing onions at least three times a week, and make sure that you let the onion sit for 5 to 10 minutes after you cut it open. If you apply heat too soon you will deactivate the thiopropanal sulfoxide, which is the substance in the onion that gives us the most heart benefits. And remember the more pungent the onion, the better it is for you.
Pomegranates

Pomegranates are packed with tons of phytochemicals like potassium, which is great for lowering your blood pressure. Studies also suggest that pomegranates can slow the progression of prostate cancer and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.

Instead of fighting with the little pulpy seeds to get your dose of pomegranate, try four to eight ounces of 100% juice several times a week. Be sure to stay away from juices with added sugar.

The Exciting Sport Of Volleyball

Imagine a struck ball thus hard it come towards you at a speed of 110 miles per hour! The ball moves so fast you can hardly see it. Your work must obtain under this flash of white and pass it exactly to the suitable team-member. It, alternatively, then passes the ball until a spiker which jumps high in the sky and smashe this mobile with enormous speed above the net and in your adversaries ' court.

It is volley ball as played by some of the largest athletes in the world today. The game is played every year in more than sixty countries and by more than fifty million people. In the countries such as France, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Russia, Japan, Mexico, and Brazil, the matches of championship draws to compete crowd and much of time exceeding those with the matches of tennis shoe of football and the United States.

If popular makes become volley ball that it is arranged thirdly in the world like sport récréationnel of team. In at least twenty-five countries it is evaluated like principal competing sport. Perhaps the greatest advance occurred in 1957 when the international Olympic Committee identified volley ball like official Olympic sport.

Volley ball was played in the 1955 plays Pan-Americans in Mexico City and in the 1959 plays Chicago Pan-Americans. The 1958 Asian plays held in Tokyo comprised the exceptional volley ball, which attracted large crowd. Championships 1956 of volley ball of the world in Paris drew from the teams of twenty-seven of the countries and filled OF Sportes de Palais on several occasions of crowd of twenty-five thousand people. The championship of the others world occurred in Rio de Janeiro in 1960.

In the United States volley ball is played relatively little like sport interscholastic and inter-university. However, the sport develops, and the sporting directors in the schools and the universities seek manners of adding volley ball to their competing programs. Championships of college of state of catch of Wisconsin, of New York, of Florida, of Texas , and Pennsylvania.

The colleges of Los Angeles held their first championships of city for boys and girls in 1959. The catholic organizations of youth finance great programmes of volley ball in Pennsylvania and southernmost California. The official guide of volley ball 7959 enumerates the universities and the universities of eighty-nine, which have teams of varsity or representative. * The play is one of the intramural sports strongest in the universities and the universities. Volley ball was always an important activity among * J Edmund Welch, ED, guide of volley ball of 1959 civils servant (Bern, Ind: Printer of USVBA), p. 141.

YMCAs, where the play was invented and consolidated; Jewish social centers; city and departments of industrial recreation; and American Turners.

The forces armed with the United States are one of the large instigators of this sport. The army and the Air Force invited the exceptional trainers to lead private clinics in the whole world. Their ordering and championships of All-World are tournaments run with the greatest attention with the color, the ceremony, the adapted process, and the spectacular call.

The indicative one of interest that the armed forces have in volley ball is the following report/ratio submitted by commander Gen. Herbert B Powell with championships 1957 of All-Army.

Volley ball is an integral part of the sporting program of army, and is strongly effective by establishing the team work required in our military efforts to gain success in the combat. This activity develops the keenness eye, of muscular coordination, and physical capacities necessary for the alert and aggressive soldier of today. By gaining the line to represent your order in this competition, one showed it that you reached the attributes above, and I offer my congratulations to you.

Volley ball is an extremely desirable sport judged by almost any of these criteria used in activities of evaluation in a physical education or a program récréationnel. The game sufficiently vigorous, is so correctly played, to develop the organic power; it claims the development of a high degree of coordination neuromusculaire; while a spare activity of time it must be arranged close of the top in the list of plays, since it can in a satisfactory way be played surplus a so long period of the life of the one ; and, in conclusion, the play stresses the importance of the co-operative effort, of this fact helping to develop an important quality of the good citizen.

Fraudulent Sports Books

It’s one thing to have to beat the odds; it’s another to have to beat the book. Betting sports online is a fun and entertaining activity, but danger looms around the corner. Most sports bettors constantly seek out new sportsbooks to play at and to use for line comparisons. However, not all sportsbooks are legitimate—as you can imagine. How does one protect against being ripped off? That’s the focus of this article. You are about to learn some quick and important signs that will help you escape the potentially fraudulent sports book.

Online Sportsbook Bonuses

The sportsbook bonus is one of the most used tools for fraudulent sportsbooks. Many legitimate sportsbooks will offer deposit and re-load bonuses of 5-15% and usual cap the amount you can get. If you find a sports book, especially a newer one, offering insane bonuses of 30,40,50, or even 100%, it’s time to leave and visit another sports book. It’s also possible that a newer sports book is not looking to rip people off when offering bonuses like this—they are just inexperienced. In the end, they will realize their mistake and close down—you will be left out in the cold.

Who Are They?

In the real world, you can physically walk into a sports book and see who the people are. For example, when you walk into a Las Vegas sports book, you know who owns the place and can physically see them. In the online world, this just is not possible. Take the time to do your research before spending money with anyone. Do they have a phone number to call? Have you emailed them and received a timely response? Does the company have other business websites? These are all questions you need to find answers to before you even begin to think of playing at an unfamiliar sports book. Another tip is to visit the three major search engines (Google,Yahoo and MSN) and type in the property name to see what comes up. Do the same for the company name and so forth. You may find info from current or former players that shed light on the establishment.

The Big Deposit and Depositing Methods

One quick way to eliminate potentially bad sportsbooks is to look at how they take deposits. All solid sportsbooks take deposits from a wide range of methods. Stay away from any sports book that only takes deposits via cash, check, money order, bank wire and Western Union. This could be a sign of fraudulent activity. Also, if they are not organized (and large) enough to have many depositing methods, they don’t deserve your business.

Another tip is to avoid sportsbooks that force you to make a large initial deposit. Any sports book worth playing at will gladly take a small deposit. Bet on sports on your terms not theirs. If the sports book won’t take a small deposit (sub-$100), then they don’t deserve any business—even if you are a larger player. Fraudulent sportsbooks need larger scores, because their life cycle is very limited.

In the End

While there are fraudulent sportsbooks online, just like there are crooks in the real world, that should not stop you from enjoying the entertaining activity of sports betting. Follow these steps to help you weed out potentially harmful situations. The Internet is loaded with secure and honest sportsbooks that will gladly do business with you and earn your trust and respect. Good luck with your sports betting adventures.

How To Get Certified In Scuba Diving

The first two steps in getting certified in scuba diving is to make sure that you are a reasonably proficient swimmer and you get medical clearance from your doctor to take up the sport. As for the swimming, you don’t have to master every type of stroke. Scuba certification only requires that you are able to swim about 200 yards using any stroke you want and to be able to float or tread on water for about 10 minutes. If you are in good general health and are comfortable in the water, then you should be able to scuba dive without any problems.

There are about 1,900 professional scuba dive centers in North America alone and your local ones should definitely be checked out. Most will run basic certification programs on a regular basis. These centers or shops should be listed in the yellow pages and you can also check with websites of some of the major scuba diving certification agencies such as PADI or NAUI as they will also have listings. Sometimes scuba diving courses are offered at universities too.
Make sure that the course you are interested in taking as well as its instructor are certified with one of the major scuba diving training agencies. This will ensure that you get proper, safe training for both the technical background knowledge and practical skills required for certification as a scuba diver. You also want to end up with an internationally recognized certification card if you want to go scuba diving at various locations around the world.

Some vacation resorts offer ‘resort’ courses lasting a day or two which offer beginners some very basic training in order to try out scuba diving. These are not certification programs. Full certification programs involve classroom work, exams, practical skills sessions at a pool and usually about four open water dives in the sea (lake or ocean). The duration of the classroom work and pool sessions vary from a very intensive weekend (with advance reading) to once a week over several weeks. The open water dives will usually take two more days. Dive centers located in the tropics also offer basic certification programs that last several days to a week. Although the intensive weekend programs are quite feasible, many feel that basic scuba diving courses spread out over a few weeks will help beginners learn the skills better. Scuba diving does involve new skills and to learn them all during one full weekend may be too much for some people.

As for which scuba diving certification training agency is the best, there isn’t any one recognized organization that is better than another. PADI is the most popular in the world but not necessarily better than NAUI or SSI. NAUI course are often more technical in the classroom than those offered by PADI but both will adequately train you to be a scuba diver. The more important factor would be the individual instructor and your own effort during training/studying. In fact, many scuba diving instructors have certifications from several training agencies.

For people living in the more northern regions, there are a few possible routes to take in order to obtain certification. One can travel down south to the tropics and do the entire basic certification course down there in warm weather. However, this will take up a good portion of a vacation since reading, classroom, pool sessions and open water dives all must be done during that time period. A second option is to take the entire course including the open water dives back in home territory. This usually offers beginners the most time since courses can be spread out over a few weeks. However, the water up north is not as warm as in the tropics and the scuba diving could be seasonal.

A third option is to take all the classroom and pool sessions back home and then go down south to do the open water dives in warm waters. Many people have taken this route. Your instructor back home will give you a referral letter to bring down to an instructor located down south who will oversee your open water dives. This is a good combination of taking ample time back home to practice the skills in the pool plus getting the classroom work out of the way followed by having nice warm water to dive in for the open water dives.

One thing to be aware of if considering this option is to make sure that your travel to the tropics for your open water dives is not too delayed after finishing up with your pool sessions at home. If too much time has elapsed, one could easily forget the skills learned in the pool by the time a vacation comes along.

The underwater world has so much to offer and only a small percentage of the world’s population will ever have the privilege to see it in person rather than on television. Become one of these individuals who will have the honor of exploring the oceans by getting certified in scuba diving.

10 Things To Do Before Buying A Novel

OK, you don’t get much time to read novels anymore. You used to but that was another life. Before you could pick up something that appealed and because you read so much, you weren’t too disappointed if it didn’t grab you like you thought it would. Things have changed. Now when you pick up a novel to read it has to get you in quickly or it will collect dust on your bedside table. There are too many other things demanding your attention…like sleep!

And when you go to the bookshop sometimes its hard not to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of books on offer, especially with the big mega stores becoming the norm.
So what to do?
I’ve put together a checklist that with a little bit of preparation can help you wade through the sea of books and help you pick a surefire winner: a novel that will captivate YOU.

1. The best place to start is to look out in magazines, newspapers and online for book reviews – see what is being billed as the latest must read. Even if you don’t have time to read the whole review, jot down the title and author as one to look out for.

2. Ask friends for the best book they have read in the last few months or this year or the last few years if like you they really are struggling with the whole when-am-I-going-to-find-time-to-read-a-novel?-thing. Don’t just ask them what book was their favourite; ask them why they liked it. Was it an unusual story, was the pace so fast they needed a crash helmet, did it have edge of the seat suspense, did it remind them of growing up? You want to know what exactly made it a great read for them. This will help you to refine your search, especially if they say they liked the quirky twist in the ending and you don’t do quirky. Just because you’re close friends doesn’t automatically mean you like the same books.

3. Ask the people behind the counter at your favourite bookshop what they enjoyed reading and get them to take you to it or give you a specific reference number so you can find it easily yourself.

4. When you get the book in your hands look at the cover. Is it a catchy title? Does the cover appeal to you? Despite the old saying about not judging book covers, publishers put a lot of time and effort into creating a captivating cover and title. Does it work for you?

5. Turn it over and read the back. Does it still appeal? Do you only like reading modern books and this is set in the 1800s? It’s important to be fairly ruthless at this stage. If the premise for the story doesn’t leave you wanting more, chances are the writing probably won’t either.

6. Look at the size of the book. I know this isn’t something for the purists but if you don’t get time to read many novels, don’t launch back in with a 700 page tome or it will probably take you all year and then you’ll be frustrated and annoyed at wasting time and money on something you haven’t enjoyed.

7. The next step is crucial. Read the opening – does it get you in straight off? Novels have a bit more time to seduce you than a short story but not much these days. A good opening is like someone placing a thread around your finger and gently tugging on it. They’ve got you but can they keep you?

8. Has the author mentioned 10 characters and 5 different place names in the first 3 paragraphs? You want to be captivated not confused, remember? If your main reading time is before you drop off to sleep, books that have lots of characters and places or even a family tree at the beginning are a warning that it gets complicated and you need to keep track of who is who and what they’re up to.

9. Are there lots of long sentences or are they short and sharp? Lots of short sentences usually mean action and pace. Something. Is happening. Right now. Usually it’s best to go for a story with a combination of both – one that suits your preferred action/background information mix.

10. If you still think the book in your hands is worthy, randomly flip open the book in 5 places and see whether it is densely packed with text. Is there dialogue at each page you stop? No dialogue usually means that a book is more descriptive rather than direct scenes. If you want a compelling read then go for something with a fair amount of dialogue; if you don’t mind a slower pace then bits of dialogue here and there is probably enough to keep you going.

If it all stacks up, buy it and enjoy. Just one more tip though. If it doesn’t captivate you in the first 100 pages and you find reading it a chore, give it up. Don’t keep persisting just because you don’t like leaving things unfinished. The book won’t feel hurt if you don’t finish it. And the author will never know.

A Practical Beginners Guide To Choosing A Bowling Ball

When you first start bowling, more often than not, you are never given any instructions on how to choose a bowling ball. It's not like playing a board game where all of the rules are nicely spelled out for you. When you first start bowling, knowing how to choose the right bowling ball can mean the difference between having a great experience and having a relatively frustrating experience.

If you have chosen a good bowling ball, you will concentrate less on how the ball feels in your hand and more on proper bowling technique. Technique, for a beginner, is more important, to a certain extent, than the ball you are using.
If you are new to bowling then you most likely do not have your own bowling ball. so, when you do bowl you will be stuck choosing your ball from those that are available at the bowling alley. Bowling balls provided by bowling alleys, known as house balls, do not have a reputation of being of the best quality.

Looking for a house ball that perfectly suits you is similar to looking for the perfect pool que at the local pub. The perfect house ball simply does not exist. You are more likely to get close to perfection if you know what to look for in a good house ball. There are three things you should concentrate on when choosing a house ball; the balls weight, the balls grip, and the balls coverstock.

Bowling balls range in weight from six pounds to sixteen pounds. The weight of the bowling ball that you choose for yourself should depend heavily on two factors; your strength and how well you can control the ball. Many beginners when choosing a bowling ball just pick it up and decide whether or not it is too heavy for them.
To help determine the proper weight ball you should take a few practice shots with the ball. During the practice shots if you are straining to pull the ball back in your arm swing then the ball is too heavy. If you strain to pull the ball back in a controlled manner you will lower your shoulder, your elbow will pop out to the side, and your back will arch to the side of your bowling arm. This is natural body mechanics. But, straining in this way will throw off your bowling technique and ruin your game.

By the same token, during your practice shots, if the ball feels if it has no weight to it then it is obviously too light. You would think that using a ball that is too light would not be a bad thing. But, using a ball that is too light becomes a control issue. Unless you are skilled and have a lot of physical control you will power through a bowling ball that is too light and overshoot the shot.
A balls weight is important. But, it is not the most important aspect to choosing a good house ball. In my opinion, the grip of a house bowling ball is the most important aspect of choosing a bowling ball. If the holes of the bowling ball are too loose or too tight they will affect how you release the ball. How you release the ball is single most important factor in how well you can throw a bowling ball. Releasing a bowling ball is the last facet of control you have over the ball itself. After the ball is released, when it meets the lane, you no longer have any control over it.
You will never find a perfectly drilled bowling ball.

That is unless it was drilled specifically for you. Here are a few rules of thumb for determining a good grip. You should not have to grip the ball tightly through your bowling swing. When you start your swing the ball should rest easily on your thumb. As you work through the swing inertia should distribute the weight of the ball easily between your fingers and thumb. If on the down swing you have to grip the ball to hold on to it, then the holes are too big. If the holes pull at all on release then they are too small. The weight of the ball should stay evenly distributed, between the finger and thumb, through the entire swing.

A final aspect you should keep in mind when choosing a bowling ball. Avoid balls with divots and nicks. Even if the are very small they will still affect the roll of the ball. Just like the bend of the pool que at the local pub. It can still be used but the outcome of the shot is unpredictable.
I hope this little practical guide has shed some light on the different things you should consider when choosing a bowling ball the next time you are at the bowling alley.

Advice for Hikers and Hunters

As brightly colored leaves dazzle the fall landscape, hikers and hunters nationwide will migrate to mountains, woods and fields, but many, unfortunately, are ill prepared for the beating their feet will take, warns the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS).

"Hikers, hunters and others who love the outdoors often don't realize how strenuous it can be to withstand constant, vigorous walking on uneven terrain," said Marco Vargas, DPM, AACFAS, a foot and ankle surgeon based in Sugar Land, TX. An avid outdoorsman himself, Vargas said lax physical conditioning and inappropriate footwear bring scores of outdoor enthusiasts into his office each fall for treatment of foot and ankle problems such as chronic heel pain, ankle sprains, Achilles tendonitis, fungal infections and severe blisters.

"Walking up and down steep hillsides and tramping through wet, slippery fields and wooded areas puts stress on the muscles and tendons in the feet and ankles, especially if you haven't conditioned properly before hitting the trail," said Vargas. "Also, many don't realize that cross-training athletic shoes aren't the best choice for extended hiking and hunting. Had some of my patients worn sturdy, well constructed hiking boots, they wouldn't have suffered sprained ankles or strained Achilles tendons."

Vargas advises hikers and hunters to make the investment in top-quality hiking boots. He said strong, well insulated and moisture-proof boots with steel or graphite shanks offer excellent ankle and foot support that helps lessen stress and muscle fatigue to reduce injury risk. "The supportive shank decreases strain on the arch by allowing the boot to distribute impact as the foot moves forward. So if a boot bends in the middle, don't buy it."

In wet and cold weather, wearing the right socks can help prevent blisters, fungal infections and frostbite. Vargas recommends synthetic socks as the first layer to keep the feet dry and reduce blister-causing friction. For the second layer, wool socks add warmth, absorb moisture away from the skin, and help make the hiking boot more comfortable. "Wool lets moisture evaporate more readily than cotton, so fewer blisters develop," added Vargas. What happens if your feet or ankles hurt during a hike or hunt? Vargas said pain usually occurs from overuse, even from just walking. "If you're not accustomed to walking on sloped or uneven ground, your legs and feet will get tired and cause muscles and tendons to ache," he explained. "To avoid a serious injury, such as a severe ankle sprain or an Achilles tendon rupture, rest for awhile if you start hurting."
According to the ACFAS consumer website, FootPhysicians.com, pain is a warning sign that something is wrong. "Serious injury risk escalates significantly if you continue hiking in pain," Vargas said. He likened hiking to skiing in that beginners should take on less difficult trails until they become better conditioned and more confident.

Vargas also recommends visiting a foot and ankle surgeon if there is persistent foot or ankle pain following a hiking or hunting outing. "I'm most concerned about ankle instability and strained Achilles tendons. Inattention to these problems at their early stages may lead to a serious injury that will keep you off the trails for a long time," Vargas said.

Hikers and hunters seeking further information about ankle sprains, Achilles tendon injuries and other foot and ankle problems, or looking for a local foot and ankle surgeon, can visit FootPhysicians.com.