Tag-Archive for ◊ sports ◊

Author: Ross Everett
• Thursday, July 15th, 2010

The Atlanta Falcons are making a statement that they’ll be a factor in the NFC. The Falcons starters behind QB Matt Ryan were almost flawless, and left the reserves with a 14-0 lead before eventually beating the St. Louis Rams 20-13 at the Edward Jones Dome on Friday night.

Running back Michael Turner was unstoppable in his limited playing time, churning out 65 yards in the Falcons opening drive. After the game,he spoke of his team’s impressive offensive showing:

“We wanted to come out and execute. They were preaching that all week and we wanted to show that on game day. We’re way better than we were last year at this time.”

Tony Gonzalez caught QB Matt Ryans TD pass and after the game praised the young team leader:

“He’s a great quarterback. It’s obvious he’s figuring things out. He has a great arm, talent, and knows how to play with poise.”

It was a disappointing home debut for new Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, who tried to frame the loss as a learning experience:

“Just like I said to the team, we’d have liked to have started out a little better. You’ve got to come out and take it to them.”

Rams safety O.J. Atogwe sounded a similar tone:

“This was a fabulous game for us. That’s the reason you play the preseason. Going against a team like Atlanta, a top-caliber team, it allows us to reassess what we’ve been doing.”

Falcons coach Mike Smith, meanwhile, was more enthused about the improved play of his rushing defense than the offensive firepower:

“We were much improved against the run. It’s something we have to continue to get better at. We still had some missteps.”

The Falcons will continue NFL preseason play next Friday night as they host the San Diego Chargers at the Georgia Dome. The Rams will play the Bengals at Cincinnati next Thursday night.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and World Cup betting sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Author: Ross Everett
• Monday, July 12th, 2010

While NHL hockey players from the country formerly known as Czechoslovakia”as well as other Eastern European nations”are commonplace today, Chicago Blackhawks great Stan Mikita was something of a pioneer. Other players with a flashier game such as Bobby Hull became better known, but you can make a compelling case that Mikita was the best center iceman in professional hockey during the’60s. Mikita was born in Sokolce, in what is now known as Slovakia. He was sent by his family to the Toronto, Ontario area as a young boy to avoid the political strife in the area prior to World War II. An aunt and uncle adopted him, and he changed his name from his birth name of Stanislav Guoth adopting their last name of Mikita. Like most young Canadian boys, he started playing hockey and quickly proved to have an impressive aptitude for the national sport.

Mikita starred for the junior league St. Catherine Teepees as a teenager before making the jump to the NHL joining the Chicago Blackhawks. He quickly became an important part of the Chicago offense in his first and second full seasons as a pro. In’61, he led the team in playoff scoring as they won the Stanley Cup.

During the early and mid’60’s, Mikita’s Blackhawks were the most feared offensive team in the NHL. Mikita centered the Scooter Line with Ken Wharram on the right wing and Ab McDonald or Doug Mohns on the left wing, and earned a reputation as one of the most complete offensive players in the game.

Mikitas influence wasnt limited to offensive output”he was a feared defensive player and considered one of the best faceoff men in the game. He also brought about one of the most significant innovations in NHL history, being the first to play with a curved stick blade. This was a very radical modification at the time, but was quickly copied throughout the league to the point where today a player that *doesnt* play with a curved stick is considered something of an anachronism.

Early in his career, Mikita played a tough, rugged style of hockey that made him one of the most penalized players in the game. In the mid’60s, however, he began to play a much cleaner and more sportsmanlike style that would earn him the Lady Byng Trophy for most gentlemanly player twice. The story goes that he had a change of heart when his young daughter asked why he spent so much time sitting in the box on televised games.

Mikitas career accomplishments are among the most impressive in the history of the sport. He won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHLs leading scorer four times (1964,’65,’67,’68), the Hart Memorial Trophy for Most Valuable Player twice (1967 and’68) and the Lady Byng Trophy in’67 and’68. He remains the only player in NHL history to win the Ross, Hart and Byng trophies in the same season (1967).

Mikita suffered from back injuries in his last years as an active player, finally retiring in’80. He played his entire career for the Chicago Blackhawks, and was voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in’83. He became something of a trivia answer for a younger generation when a donut shop called ‘Stan Mikita’s Donuts’ was featured in the popular movie ‘Wayne’w World’.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Author: Ross Everett
• Monday, July 12th, 2010

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed to escape with a win at Jacksonville on Saturday night, but by the narrowest of margins. The Jags decided to go for a 2 point conversion and the win instead of the tie after a last minute touchdown. The attempt failed, and the Bucs survived to win by a 24-23 final score.

A quarterback battle may be brewing in Tampa, as starter Byron Leftwich was outplayed by backup Luke McCown. Leftwich moved the team into Jacksonville territory on three occasions, but came away with only a field goal. He finished with 63 yards on 6 of 12 passing and gave his thoughts on his performance after the game:

“We did some good things. I didn’t play great, but I played OK. We wanted to look better. We wanted to understand situations better.”

McCown was 6 of 9 for 51 yards, but cashed in two touchdown passes. Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris indicated that he’d look to name a starter later this week:

“Everything plays a big part of this decision — OTAs, mini-camp, the games. These games count for a little bit more. We’ll evaluate the leadership and everything about the QB play. I can’t ask for a better competition and can’t ask for a better group and can’t ask for better results. Got to make the decision now.”

A bright spot for the Jaguars was the play of wide receiver Troy Williamson. Williamson was a disappointment after he was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings out of the University of South Carolina, but has given the Jags a much needed deep threat. Williamson caught two deep passes from QB David Gararrd and finished with 147 yards. He caught four passes for 74 yards in Jacksonvilles opening game of the preseason. After the game, he said that hes just trying to work hard:

“I am just out there working I’m doing more and more stuff to get my confidence back up. I feel good and comfortable with the offense.”

The Jaguars will kick off the NFL regular season on Sunday, September 13th as they play the Colts in Indianapolis. The Bucs will start off their campaign hosting the Dallas Cowboys.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Category: Crafts and Hobbies  | Tags: , , , ,  | Comments off
Author: Ross Everett
• Friday, July 09th, 2010

The University of North Carolina used a 21 yard field goal on the final play of the game to pull a big college football upset over #13 Virginia Tech on Thursday night, winning by a final score of 20-17. The Tar Heels’ #8 ranked defense proved as tenacious as their high national status would suggest, and gave the Hokies fits throughout. North Carolina led for most of the game, but withstood a late game Virginia Tech comeback bid to take the win. It was North Carolina’s first ACC Conference win of the season.

College football betting enthusiasts who took North Carolina as +16′ road underdogs were never in serious doubt about the eventual payday they’d receive as the Tar Heels never trailed by more than three points. The Tar Heels improved to 3-4 against the college football pointspread, while the Hokies dropped to 3-5 versus the money.

Tar Heels’ QB T.J. Yates was in a state of disbelief after the narrow road victory:

“I’ve never really had this feeling before. Kicking it at the last second? It just sends chills down your spine.”

Running back Shaun Draughn spoke of the team’s priority to bounce back quickly after they blew a big lead in a loss to Florida State last week:

“We knew we had to get back to the drawing board. To come back and play the way we did definitely speaks volumes about our team.”

In the Hokies’ locker room, linebacker Cody Grimm spoke of his team’s need to regain their focus:

“I think the motivation is to come out here so you don’t feel like this again. Ten wins is one thing, but I don’t want to feel like this any more and the only way to do that is to win.”

Running back Ryan Williams felt doubly bad about the loss, as his late game fumble cemented the victory for North Carolina:

“As of right now, there probably isn’t really anything they can say to lift me up because regardless of what anybody says, personally I feel like I kind of took the game away from us today. It was on the line, it was in my hands and I fumbled.”

The Hokies will play against next Thursday night, heading to Greenville, NC to face the Skip Holtz coached East Carolina Pirates. They’ll play at Maryland on Saturday, November 15 before returning home a week later to host North Carolina State. North Carolina plays their next two at home, starting a week from Saturday against Duke.

Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Author: Beth Shaw
• Thursday, July 08th, 2010

What exactly is Power Yoga fit ? Power Yoga provides a complete body workout that improves strength, aerobic condition, balance and flexibility. It additionally enhances one’s body consciousness, increases physical control and facilitates body competence. Since it requires a very thorough and incorporated approach, yoga produces a longer, leaner and more graceful body – also presently in vogue. Power Yoga also helps lessen stress, tension and exhaustion through its mindfulness, often rapid movements and yoga breathing concentration. Power Yoga is different from conventional yoga in that the postures link in a flowing heat developing technique. We rest only if totally needed. We heat up the body completely with large body movements before engaging in any complicated or flexibility focused posture. We include health and fitness movements like sit-ups as well as push-ups, lunges and also holds. We make a cardio workout by repeating a number of postures rapidly once we’re hot. We transition from pose to pose having a complete body workout focus, all body parts are worked equally. This is not your own mother’s yoga !!!

Group Fitness instructors can embark by initialing integrating yoga exercise postures straight into their already established classes; step, spin, kick box as well as aerobic exercise. This provides an opportunity to get comfortable with a few fundamental poses.

Prior to Educating- Respond to these crucial concerns: 1.Are you conscious of the AFAA as well as ACE Safety Guidelines of Contraindications ? 2.Are you aware of exactly how these connect with Yoga? 3.Have you already been through a formal Yoga Teacher Training 4.Are you comfortable PERFORMING the poses ? 5.Are you secure COACHING the poses ? 6.Have you got a consistent yoga exercise ? For those who have answered yes to ALL of the above then its time to begin.

Making the space: Many teachers training in fitness establishments don’t have the luxury of independent illumination and heating controls. Power Yoga is an excellent option for the fitness environment for this very reason. If at all possible dim the particular lights, switch off the Air-Con and choose audio for energetic yoga exercises like the Yoga Disc.

Making the room: Most teachers training in fitness facilities do not have the extravagance of free lighting and heating system controls. Power Yoga is an excellent option for the health and fitness environment because of this very reason. If at all possible dim the particular lighting, turn off the Air Conditioning and select audio for active yoga exercises like the Power Yoga CD.

Class Format : Regardless of whether you choose to incorporate poses straight into your existing class or develop a Power Yoga Class, a warm up period is vital. Just as we don’t stretch before exercise, we do not want to get into complicated yoga postures just before our own bodies are hot and ready to be presently there. Every class must start using at least three minutes of deep breathing. This helps to clear the brain and prepare the body. The breath is the single most important part of our own yoga practice. By breathing out and in of the nose we maintain the heat in the body while focusing the mind. Deep rhythmic breathing is the firm foundation on which we develop our Power YogaFit Practice. We all constantly return to our breathing concentration and need to constantly remind our students to do the same. Rest and recuperation are an important section of the Power Yoga Workout, we rest not less than five minutes at the conclusion of class to refresh, restore and bring back your body.

Yogafit is the very best resource for everything that involves yoga. YogaFit also has great advice relating to all features of yoga exercise poses, training, and fitness programs. YogaFit also has a variety of yoga conference meetings various times per year led by world renown yoga guru Bethy Shaw.

Author: Beth Shaw
• Wednesday, July 07th, 2010

SENIOR CITIZENS, Age range fifty five plus are the fastest developing new members to physical fitness clubs. Over 10,000 folks per day turn 55. Senior YogaFit includes all the benefits of difficult task and Self-pacing for all phases and age groups of seniors.

The National Institute on Aging recommends seniors be engaged in programs That contains exercise for stamina, power, flexibility and balance. YogaFit ! These kinds of components improve stamina, hold off or avoid diabetes and colon cancer, Heart disease and stroke; improve metabolic process for management of weight and regulate glucose levels; avert osteoporosis; stretch out and balance work will prevent and help in recovery from injuries and stop falls which usually lead to some other Ailments and loss of independence. Scientific study has also discovered that

SENIORS that engage in regular physical exercise possess a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s or some other types of dementia.

A recent research report from WebMD provides proof for the benefits of physical exercise for seniors. The National Institute on Aging describes numerous positive exercising results from raises in endurance and energy, to decreasing dangers of sickness, to decreasing the chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Satisfy the needs of Senior citizens regarding flexibility, Strength and balance.

Senior YogaFit was also created to provide training for current health and fitness trainers to learn brand new methods to meet the requirements of the now largest age bracket in our history. SENIORS who’ve been lively through their particular lives are seeking programs that continue to challenge them, yet respect their aging bodies. SENIORS who have been inactive are finding the call to exercise as they grow older and desire continued comfort and ability. Senior YogaFit provides a variety of possibilities for the plethora of senior citizens in the communities. Senior citizens may also start to offer this method of exercise in their communities, knowing it meets all industry specifications. YogaFit Seniors Training is the complete treatment for health and wellbeing of America’s SENIORS.

Yogafit is the greatest resource for anything that has to do with yoga. YogaFit also has an abundance of advice relating to all features of yoga training, exercise poses, and yoga programs. YogaFit also has a multitude of yoga conference meet ups various times per year led by world renown yoga guru Bethy Shaw.

Author: Ross Everett
• Thursday, July 01st, 2010

Mitsuharu Misawa died in Hiroshima, Japan earlier this year less than a week before his 47th birthday. He was in a tag team match for his Pro Wrestling NOAH promotion with Go Shiozaki against Bison Smith and Akitoshi Saito. Saito hit a back suplex on Misawa, which appeared to knock him unconscious. Medical staff attempted to revive him in the ring, but when CPR failed he was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Initial reports in the Japanese media suggest that he was pronounced dead at the hospital, but a number of eyewitness accounts have speculated that he may have died in the ring.

There’s at least a small bit of solace in the fact that he died in the ring doing what he loved, and what he did better than just about anyone on the planet. Misawa’s last moments were spent working the kind of brutally stiff, athletically realistic match that got a generation hooked on Japanese wrestling.

A top level amateur wrestler in high school, his skill gained the attention of All Japan Pro Wrestling president Shohei Giant Baba. He made his professional debut in’81, and got his first big break in’84 when he was chosen as the second Tiger Mask replacing Satoru Sayama. In’90, he had his longtime tag team partner (and occasional rival) Toshiaki Kawada unmask him.

Misawa would wrestle as himself from then on, and become an even bigger star in the process. In June,’90 he became one of the top stars in All Japan Pro Wrestling when he defeated Jumbo Tsuruta. That match was his first main event appearance at the famous Nippon Budokan. He soon faced Triple Crown Champion Stan Hansen in an unsuccessful challenge for the title, and would become the biggest star in Japanese pro wrestling for the next decade.

Hed have legendary battles against Kawada, Hansen, Kenta Kobashi, Jun Akiyama and Steve Dr. Death Williams in singles competition. Hed also become a force on the tag team scene along with Kawada facing Williams and Terry Gordy along with Tsuruta and Akira Taue. Misawa would continue as a mainstay in AJPW until the early part of this decade. After the death of Giant Baba, he repeatedly bumped heads with his widow over the companys direction and in 2000 quit to establish Pro Wrestling NOAH. He would serve as the companys president while wrestling a full time schedule until his untimely death.

Japanese pro wrestling served as a gateway drug for many into shoot fight sports and MMA. Before the Internet, fans would trade videotapes to stay up on the latest matches from Japan and along with Jushin Thunder Liger and The Great Muta Keiji Mutoh it safe to say that Misawa is one of the wrestlers most responsible for getting a generation of American fans hooked on the product. For American fans at the time”and with the WWE at its creative low point”the All Japan and New Japan Pro Wrestling product was nothing short of a revelation.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and highly respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Author: Ross Everett
• Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

BYU’s BCS hopes went down hard on Saturday, as the Cougars were no match for the superior team speed of Florida State. Looking nothing like the team that had struggled against FCS Jacksonville State the week before, the Seminoles used 23 second quarter points to blow open the game and went on to defeat BYU 54-28. The opportunistic Florida State defense forced BYU into committing 5 turnovers, and Seminoles QB Christian Ponder threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in the blowout victory on the Cougars home field.

College football betting devotees who backed the Seminoles as a +8 road underdog were counting their winnings by halftime, as BYU never led in the game. The Cougars dropped to 11-16 ATS over the past three years, while Florida State improved to 3-4 as an underdog in that same timeframe. The 82 combined points went well OVER the posted total of 54. Florida State has now gone OVER in 7 of their last 8 games as underdogs, while BYU evened their O/U mark at 11-11 when installed as a wagering favorite in the last three years.

After a sloppy victory over FCS Jacksonville State last weekend, the Seminoles looked like a completely different team in Orem, Utah on Saturday. FSU QB Ponder was elated that his team had finally played up to its considerable abilities:

“It shows us what we can do. It’s the first time in a while we played as a whole team. The defense played great. The offense played incredible.”

Seminoles offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher gave the credit to his quarterback:

“He can beat you with his arm, his legs and his mind. And then he can also beat you with how competitive and tough he is.”

Venerable FSU coach Bobby Bowden was nonplussed by the victory despite many considering it an upset:

“I’ve been through this thing so many times, I knew we had an advantage. We went out there and made some plays, which we hadn’t done lately, and we also forced some crucial turnovers.”

BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall gave credit to the Seminoles superior preparation and gameplan:

“I think Florida State was more prepared in general than we were tonight, really from beginning to end. I think their preparation exceeded ours and it showed — especially on third down.”

Cougars running back Harvey Unga displayed considerable class in defeat as FSU broke BYUs 18 game home winning streak:

“Any loss is devastating, regardless of if you’re ranked. Hats off to those guys. They came here ready to play.”

Florida State will return home to face South Florida next weekend. Theyll hit the road the following Saturday, heading to the northeast to take on Boston College. Theyll be back in Florida for a game against Georgia Tech on October 10th. BYU will try to get back on the winning track next weekend as they host Colorado State. Theyll play Utah State on their home field the following week on Friday night. The Friday night date is due to the Mormon Church General Conference scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, and the date against Utah State on the day before has become a BYU football tradition in recent years.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Author: Reed Manuel
• Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

If you’ve always wanted to try a paintball grenade or some other paintball device, you don’t have to buy it premade in order to have it. This article will tell you how you can find a way to make your own homemade paintball gear.

With some spare time on your hands, and a genuine interest in making your own paintball gear, it can be a pretty gratifying decision to make your own paintball grenades and paintball guns.

With all of the paintball plans available online, building a paintball gun is just the beginning. Here are the top three things you as a paintballer should make if you have this special talent.

There are a couple of paintball gun plans out there that you can use to make a paintball gun. Some of these plans are harder than others, but rest assured, there are easier plans for paintball guns you can make.

One of the easiest things you can make. Making this is both fun and rewarding because lets face it, nothing is cooler than throwing a grenade at enemies, even if its just full of paint. Make them for an upcoming scenario, or make them as backup tools for an important match, whatever you make them for is up to you.

Whether its a launcher that shoots grenades or a slew of paintballs, a ballistic weapon is handy and fun to shoot on the field. One thing is for sure, a paintball grenade launcher is a game changing weapon in the right hands.

If you are the tinkering type, then making these three paintball items can help you pass the time, and let you release some creativity. I certainly enjoyed making my own homemade paintball grenades, and know you will too.

Want 40 plus paintball plans for free? Head on over to the ultimate paint ball website and claim your own ebook filled with free paintball plans. It has all the very best links to the very best homemade paintball gear plans on the Internet. I spent weeks collecting the very best plans just so you wouldnt have to.

Author: Ross Everett
• Sunday, June 20th, 2010

BJ Penn entered his main event battle against welterweight kingpin Georges St. Pierre looking to become the first man in UFC history to simultaneously hold titles in two weight classes. GSP never gave him the chance to make history, as he stopped Penn after four increasingly dominant rounds to retain his belt with a TKO victory and make a compelling case for being the pound for pound best fighter in mixed martial arts.

During ring introductions, both men received enthusiastic cheers tempered with a few boos. After the opening horn sounded, however, the Penn backers had little to cheer about . The first round was fairly evenly contested, with St. Pierre trying to get a first hand feel for Penn’s often unorthodox takedown defense. GSP made several takedown attempts, but had them repeatedly stuffed.

Boxing guru Freddy Roach recently praised Penn as the best technical puncher in MMA, but he had no opportunity to bring this weapon to bear as he had trouble finding the range from the outset. St. Pierre was unable to complete any takedowns during the first round, but easily dictated the pace and style of the bout.

GSP began to assert his dominance in round two”with Penn starting to fatigue he was no longer able to fend off St. Pierres single leg takedown attempts by balancing on one leg. GSP got a takedown early in the frame and began to mount a ground and pound assault while moving around in Penns legendary guard almost at will moving from half guard to side control with frightening ease.

The eventual outcome was foretold between rounds two and three, as the obviously exhausted Penn required a pep talk from his entourage that his fatigue was all in his head. Across the cage, GSP calmly sipped water looking for all the world that he could go 12 rounds.

Round three was similar to the previous one, with GSP taking his opponent to the mat with a decreasing level of resistance and mauling him with punches and elbows once he got there. His complete control over the BJJ black belt Penn was incredible, but hardly surprising given the way that GSP dominated four time NCAA All American wrestler Josh Koscheck on the ground during their matchup.

The fourth round was a wall to wall rout for the welterweight champion, who started by effectively trading strikes with Penn before taking him down once again and resuming his highly successful ground based attack. At this point with GSP moving around at ease and Penn mounting little resistance it was apparent that the challenger was physically spent. St. Pierre almost ended the fight on the ground, as referee Herb Dean repeatedly reminding Penn that he needs to fight back. Penn survived the round on instinct alone, moving around just enough to keep the referee from stopping the proceedings. After the horn sounded to end the fourth round, however, it was evident that Penn had nothing physically or emotionally left and the fight was stopped by Dean on advice from the ringside physician.

Displaying his characteristic class, GSP delayed his celebration until he had crossed the cage and kneeled by his vanquished foe to honor his competitive spirit. After a quick celebration among GSP and his team, he faced his next challenger in the person of Thiago Alves.

Earlier in the evening, Lyoto Machida kept his undefeated professional MMA record intact with a first round TKO victory over Thiago Silva. Machida may be the best in the world at fighting while backing up, and Silva found his aggressive style working against him. Machida took his opponent down and knocked his opponent down twice”all counters as Silva was coming forward and Machida backing away. As the first round entered its final seconds, it appeared that Silva started to ease up in anticipation of the horn. Machida used this opportunity for another takedown, and then nailed his surprised opponent with a powerful punch that ended the fight.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.