2007 February - Sports News and Articles

Sports Betting 101- How to Bet on Horse Racing

Biggio Set For 3000 HitsHouston Atros has signed Craig Biggio, the second baseman, for a one year contract worth $5.15 million. This contract has paved way for Biggio to reach the 3000 landmark. Biggio needs only 70 hits to become the first Astro to reach 3,000 hits. He will become the 27th player in history when he reaches the milestone hits.

MLB: Gammons to Receive Baseball America AwardJournalist Peter Gammons is expected to receive on Tuesday the Baseball America’s Lifetime Achievement Award during the annual banquet of the network held at baseball’s winter meetings.

Little League Controversy? Get Over It!Recently, a controversy has arisen over a Little League championship game in Utah. The father of one of the players has taken exception to the fact that the best hitter on his son’s team was intentionally walked by the coach of the other team in order to get to his son, who is a cancer survivor.

Free Hockey EquipmentGetting top of the line hockey gear and equipment will cost you a fortune. If you want the best, then you have to pay the price. Buying the best hockey stick will cost around $100 minimum. Though there are people who are fortunate enough to buy the best hockey sticks and skates, you still have a chance of getting these products for free.

06/07 NHL Season - A Fans PerspectiveAfter last years wildly unpredictable NHL season, how will the 06/07 NHL season play out for the fans this year. How will the rule changes and salary cap effect the fortunes of this years cup hopefuls

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Drew Brees: 2001 Draft Day Picks

Drew Brees was born on January 15, 1979 in Austin, Texas. Although Brees is not the biggest or most athletic quarterback in the NFL, he is surely one of the best. Since his early days he has been forced to prove that hard work and determination can outshine things such as athleticism and size. And one thing is for sure; Brees has been doing this successfully for quite some time.

Brees played his high school ball in Austin, Texas at Westlake High School. During his senior season Brees led his team to a 5A Division II State Championship. They finished the season undefeated; the only time that the school has ever accomplished this feat.

Although he was recruited heavily out of high school, Brees decided to play his college ball at Purdue University. When everything was said and done he had set many records at both Purdue, as well as the Big Ten Conference. These records include most passing yards in a career with 11,792, completions with 1,026, and touchdowns with 90. And those are just the major records. Brees also won many awards during his time at Purdue, and led the team to several bowl games including the Rose Bowl in 2001.

In the 2001 NFL Draft Brees was not chosen until the 32nd overall pick by the San Diego Chargers. Teams were worried that he may be a bit small to play quarterback in the league as he is only 6 foot tall.

Brees did not have the chance to play much his rookie season, but this changed in year two. During this season he passed for more than 3,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. In 2003 his numbers fell off quite a bit, but ever since then they have been back on the rise. He posted his best season ever in 2006 with the New Orleans Saints. During this year Brees ended with 4,418 yards on 554 completions. This was in addition to 26 touchdowns with only 11 interceptions.

Bob writes for AllProZone.com and DraftDayPicks.com Where you can purchase a Drew Brees Jersey or All Pro Zone

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Johnson

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What Most Pros Know and Amateurs Don’t: Golf Swing Speed

What’s the big difference between a pro and amateur golf player? No it’s not more expensive equipment. All it is sometimes is the technique and power behind the golf club. Also known as golf swing speed or club head speed, this is where the power comes from to launch your drives towards the green. It’s the first thing a beginner player should learn after they have a grasp on basic technique. Learn how to swing better, not harder, but with a higher club speed. It’s the club head speed that makes the difference between a half decent amateur player and a pro. Well actually that a probably a few hundred thousand dollars in winnings.

Achieve Good Golf Swing Speed

The speed the ball travels with after it’s hit doesn’t correspond with how hard you swing the club. Strength and the angle at which the ball strikes the club face actually have very little to do with a proper swing, how ever they have a lot to do with folly’s that can occur such as slices and hooks. It takes some time for a beginner to grasp this concept but once they do they can begin to concentrate on golf swing speed and improve their game. One of the easiest ways of improving your club head speed is by changing your stance as you address the ball.

The correct posture in the game of golf isn’t a simple to thing to achieve since the majority of the movements and positions are some what against our natural body movement and positions. Once you get the right technique it’s reasonably easy to progress from that point. A good trainer is ideal to get the basic of swing techniques down. Golf is a tough sport to be self learned, unlike learning to play an instrument there are some movements you just can learn on your own.

There are numerous training aids and DVD’s which can also teach you exercises, techniques and help guide you along the correct path. You’ll know once you’ve hit on something good as you’ll see the improvement in your game. Changing just a few portions of your swing technique and slowing down your swing can actually improve your score overnight, and increase your golf club swing speed.

Until you get the correct exercises down and begin to practice the correct things you’ll find it difficult to break through from a beginner to advanced or intermediate golfer. This is why it’s important to either have the correct training aids or videos, or hire a professional trainer to help you learn technique right the first time through. Remember it’s not about strength or how quick you can swing that golf club, it’s about technique, consistency, and a smooth transition through your swing to generate high golf swing speed.

To get a free report on how to swing better and golf swing speed visit our website at Online Golf Tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Henman

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The Auvergne: Windsurfing - Horse-Riding - Volcanos - Hot Springs And Medieval Jousting

The Auvergne comprises the départements of Allier (03), Cantal (15), Haute-Loire (43) and Puy-de-Dôme (63) at the heart of the aptly named Massif Central area of central France. The region is made up of many different types of landscape, with breathtaking scenery - mountains, precipitous gorges, tumbling streams, many lakes and extensive wild forests … and many extinct volcanoes, up to heights of 1,885m (6,180ft) around Clermont-Ferrand, the capital city of the region.

Vulcania

The Vulcania theme park celebrates the many volcanos of the Auvergne with a guided tour which descends towards the centre of the earth within an extinct volcano crater. With simulations of volcanic eruptions, and lava flows, the origins of our solar system and science of the earth and of the univers are explored.

Les chemins St Jacques de Compostelle

The most well-known and impressive of the volcanic cones (”puys”) is the Puy de Dôme close to Clermont-Ferrand, one of the departure points for pilgims joining the Chemin St Jacques “Via Podiensis” route to the shrine of St James at Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain.

The pilgrim route passes through the the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne, visiting several shrines of the enigmatic Black Madonnas en route - at Besse en Chandesse, Orcival, Murat, Mauriac, Aurillac for example.

Jousting and Troubadours

The history of the Auvergne is rich in legends of medieval times. In the towns of Besse en Chandesse and Salers as we walk through the narrow cobbled streets we seem far from the 21st century. At the breathtaking chateau de Murol medieval re-enactments take place several times a week from March to October.

Cheese Tasting

Auvergne cheeses such as Cantal, St Nectaire, Tôme d’Auvergne and Bleu d’Auvergne are renowned worldwide, with the well-signposted “route des fromages d’Auvergne” offering the possibility of comparing the produce of different producers throughout the region.

Festivals and Fêtes Throughout the season from Easter to November it is difficult to make choices between the many fêtes and festivals, as each town and village celebrates it’s local specialities and culture.

Many villages host a “marché de pays” one evening each weekend through the summer months (July/August). Here local producers set up stalls selling their produce, prepared ready to eat: aligot, truffade, charcuterie, meat dishes, cheeses, deserts, wines… so that all may compose a meal of their choice and dine in convivial company with neighbours, friends and visitors at trestle tables set up for the occasion in and around the village hall.

Larger festivals not-to-be-missed include the “Hautes Terres” (High Lands) traditional music Festival at St Flour in early July and the Festival du Theatre de Rue (Street Theatre) at St Flour in mid September.

Thermal spas Patients from all parts of Europe are referred by their physicians to take the cure at the thermal spas. La Bourboule and Mont Dore are at the foot of the Puy de Sancy, famed for it’s ski resorts. At Chaudes Aigues, further south in the haute Auvergne, the water flows at 82°C, and is also used for heating and hot water by the inhabitants of the town. The favoured season for taking the “cure” is from February until October, the climate of the winter months being considered too damp.

Water Sports

Water is an important element in the region - the mighty Dordogne river rises at le Mont Dore, to feed many lakes as it winds it’s way seaward, forming the boundary between the departments of Correze and Cantal, and the regions of Limousin and Auvergne. At Bort les Orgues the barrage which was built in the 1940s created an immense reservoir, overlooked by the fairytale Chateau de Val. Here it is possible to take a boat trip or practise any number of water sports, including water skiing and windsurfing.

The Lac de la Crégut lake is the largest natural glacial lake of the Massif Central, close to the lac de Lastioulles where the Centre Nautique also offers wind surfing as well as sailing, canoes, kayaks, surf bikes and swimming.

Walking, Hiking and Skiing Several ski resorts, including those at Super Besse and Super Lioran cater for all kinds of skiing. Cross-country skiing is particularly good. Most snow falls between January and March.

The many footpaths for walking and mountain biking (”VTT” in french), and long-distance routes for horse-riding through the mountains and forests are well way-marked, some including accomodation. Puy Mary is a favourite with walkers hikers alike, being easily accessible for all abilities, and also with stunning views of the Auvergne and Limousin.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JS_Selfe

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What Is A Youth Sports League?

Young sports fans love being part of a sports league, but others who are not quite as into sports or those who never really thought about it may not know what it means to actually belong to a youth sports league. Youth Sports leagues exist on all skill levels, from peewee local/neighborhood sports leagues to all-stars sports leagues, but they exist for solely one purpose, and that is to compete.

Belonging to a youth sports league provides the member with a more structured form of competition with others who are of a similar talent level as they are. Leagues are usually well organized with rules and even teams. There are advantages for young athletes to belong to a league. Many times it can be hard to get enough parent participation together for a semi-structured game and belonging to a league provides a young athlete with constant competition.

Even though youth sports is a good way for kids to learn competition and fair play, it is important for coaches of these said leagues to remember these are just kids out there and the main goal should also be to have fun! When you discriminate against players that are not at the same level as some of the “better” players, you can give some poor kid a serious inferiority complex. All for what? The sake of winning? Come on! Where is the fairness that you are trying to teach in “fair play” Is that really fair to the less “sports-inclined” child? No! I think not! Instead take the extra time to teach that kid how to play. Maybe he comes from a single mom household and has never had no one to show him the “ropes” You may make all the difference in the world to that child in his self-esteem later. You never know!

Youth sports leagues may often play against each other to compete for a certain title or championships of sorts. Champions are usually awarded a plaque or trophy and competing teams are always on the move to “steal” the trophy from each other. A little friendly competition never hurt anyone. Individuals among teams are usually awarded a participation certificate or little “trophies” as part of their reward. Depending upon the age of the teams, discretion should be used as to how to award players. For example, pee-wee teams should all be given the same thing, so as not to dash little feelings. As team players get older, then a little friendly competition amongst each other should not hurt team morale. Just make sure you don’t encourage a “hot-dogger” and instill in him/her that it is all about the team and not the individual.

On occasion, leagues may be ranked in a sort of hierarchical order. This is called a league system, and some youth sports leagues follow this type of league system; this type of league system is most popular in European countries and not so much in the United States; it is just another way of ranking players and skill levels that is used.

Youth sports leagues are a more structured, organized way of playing the sport you love. Look into joining, or even starting, a league of your own.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=La_Shon_Poitier

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A New And Innovative Kit Hovercraft Is Now For Sale By FSP

A new kit hovercraft is now available from Father Son Projects, LLC. Hovercrafts have been around since the 1950s, but kit builders have been plagued with three major problems that have kept hovercrafts mostly out of sight for the past half century. Father Son Projects (FSP) has tackled these problems and is now selling their easy-to-build kit at www.fsplimited.com.

Hovercrafts are famous for being virtually friction free. They accomplish this feat by riding on a pressurized cushion of air that lifts the craft just off the ground. It’s like a giant air hockey puck that you can ride on! To contain this pressurized air cushion and release it evenly, a hovercraft uses a rubbery skirt that wraps around the craft. Traditionally, kit hovercrafts had a skirt that acted like a single tube which was inflated by the craft’s lift engine or air blower. This kind of skirt was difficult to install; requiring hundreds of special screws to attach it, plus mixing of chemicals to glue it on. If the skirt was damaged, it had to be completely removed and redone. This wasn’t just difficult, it was expensive. This design would also deflate if the lift engine died, reducing the hovercraft’s buoyancy on water. Some hovercrafts would even sink in this situation!

FSP’s hovercraft uses a “dual tube” design that is not only incredibly easy to install (just glue it on), but also easy to repair and replace. If a tube gets a hole you just pull it off and replace it. The tubes are always inflated as well, making the hovercraft more suitable for fishing or as a swimming platform (although it is pretty tipsy and much slower on water). This design has also been found to be extremely durable. The skirt was undamaged after testing the hovercraft on pavement at speeds over 30MPH. It truly is friction free.

The other major hurdle FSP has overcome is reducing the complexity of building a duct for the propeller that drives the craft. Ducts keep the air from slipping off of the propeller tips as it spins, which causes a loss of thrust. However, ducts become detrimental at high speeds and actually produce more drag than thrust. That is why airplanes don’t have them. So instead of having their customers form a perfectly round duct that is within 1/8th inch of a propeller spinning at over 3000 RPM, FSP designed their easy-to-build propeller guard. It keeps the spinning propeller out of reach, and adding a 389cc engine devoted solely to thrust provides the operator with plenty of acceleration (and adrenaline).

Traditional hovercraft kits required their builders to finish and balance their own propeller. This was generally considered to be the most difficult task in building the kit and discouraged many people from ever trying. Purchasing a finished propeller was either not an option or cost extra money. Builders were left to settle with a nonprofessional prop and a frustrating experience. But FSP has partnered with a professional propeller manufacturer that has been making props since 1961. The beautiful 38″ hardwood prop is laminated with a Class 1 waterproof resin and coated with a polyurethane coating designed to withstand the harsh environments of aviation. Just receiving this beautiful propeller in the mail is exciting!

While FSP has made some large jumps in kit hovercraft technology, one of their best achievements is their focus on education and family fun. The kit is designed to be an exciting, relationship-building experience for fathers and sons, not a frustrating task that will likely not get finished for many years. FSP has also put together a free science guide with the hovercraft to facilitate an understanding of the principals behind the craft. It explores the workings of the 4-stroke engine, Bernoulli’s Principal, Newton’s third law of motion, and aerodynamic stability. It is FSP’s hope that their kit will find its way into high school science classes and home school curriculums.

So if you’re looking to make a memory, draw a crowd, or do some 360’s, check out FSP’s hovercraft at www.fsplimited.com. Plans can be purchased for only $10, or you can purchase the “Major Component’s Bundle” for $1300 which includes a 13HP thrust engine, a 5HP impeller based air blower, a 38″ professionally built propeller, and the plans. If you’re not interested in making your own parts these too can be purchased from FSP.

PS. They’re also working on a jet propulsion kit….

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Crume

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Correct Batting Practice Methods For Little League Baseball Teams

A Baseball Party for Opening DayBaseball, hot dogs, and apple pie are often referred to as the core of American culture. Baseball fits into this equation because it is traditionally a family sport and one of the favorite past times of people in the U.S. Get a few people together on a Sunday afternoon and you can easily have a fun baseball game. It is also a sport in which many children participate for exercise and to learn about teamwork. While girls generally play softball, baseball is a gender-free sport. A great time for a baseball party is Opening Day of the Major League. This typically takes place in April around the start of spring. The Cincinnati Reds baseball team hosted Opening Day for more than a century. The arrival of spring and the anticipation of what a new season of baseball will bring makes a baseball party a perfect spring event.

Baseballs Great NamesThe great game of baseball has so many nicknames, Did you ever stop and think about some of these names? It’s endless.Here are some names. They all have their own story to tell.

Stat of the WeekJohan Santana is already one of the best pitchers ever

Enjoy Skiing And Snowboarding In AlaskaSkiing and snowboarding in the vast terrains of Alaska can be a huge experience. Learn a little about the recommended skiing and snowboarding resorts in Alaska.

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Running for Success

Running ShoesFrom running barefoot to running in shoes that cost a small fortune… running sure has come a long way. Today there is such a wide range of shoes available, it takes mental gymnastics to decide which shoe would be right for you!

In Great DemandYou’ll see people wearing a variety of these shoes from Michael Jordan sneakers, to Vans sneakers, and of course, to many people’s favorite running shoe name New Balance.

Making Homemade Fishing Baits — Your Best ‘Secret Weapon’Do you ever dream of catching fish as easy as an expert seems to do it? What is the main secret that holds you back? This article will show you the most important of all!…

2007 NFL Draft Player Reviews - WR Ted Ginn, JrTed Ginn, the 6′1, 185 pound junior WR from THE Ohio St. University may be the most electrifying player in college football…he is the best return person that’s for sure.

Early Super Bowl Lines Are Available - And BeatableJust because we aren’t even past the conference playoffs in the NFL yet doesn’t mean that you can’t be looking towards the Super Bowl. There are only four teams left, so there are only four different possible Super Bowl match-ups to consider and handicap. All of the sportsbooks are offering a wide range of bets for you to make for the big game.

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