Saturday, December 10, 2011
Big 5 Sporting Products
Monday, October 17, 2011
Callaway X Junior Golf Sets
The ultimate set of clubs for junior golfers looking to jump-start their love of the game. The X Junior Set of golf clubs is small in size only. Every club comes with the same technological and innovative advancements Callaway Golf has put into its X Series for adult golfers. The XJ Series provides the perfect combination of performance and forgiveness so kids can play confidently and aggressively.
Callaway X Junior Golf Sets feature:
4 Models: Boys (Ages 5-8) • Boys (Ages 9-12) • Girls (Ages 5-8) • Girls (Ages 9-12)
Ages 5-8 (41"-50" Height): 18° Driver • Fairway Wood: 27° • #5 Hybrid: 36° • 9-Iron: 46° • SW: 56° • Putter • Stand Bag
Ages 9-12 (51"-59" Height): 16° Driver • Fairway Wood: 24° • 5-Iron: 32° • 7-Iron: 38° • 9-Iron: 46° • SW: 56° • Putter • Stand Bag
Available in right and left-hand
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Balenciaga Sportswear
Ghesquière loves a trim silhouette, so everything was belted to the body (some belts had an almost corsetlike grip); though unleashed, a pair of mackintoshes with leather revers had an appealing volume. More modernist than futurist were the wind parkas and sleeveless jackets, gray, white, and black being the favored shades, with startling accents of yellow and orange. Given the proclaimed technical nature of the collection, it was interesting that some of the strongest pieces were good old-fashioned leather, albeit in the form of an orange jean jacket or a two-tone motocross/safari hybrid. The mix of alien and familiar was, in fact, the real strength here, graphically illustrated by denim that had been folded, waxed, and then unfolded to produce a zebralike pattern.
Friday, August 26, 2011
US Open Tennis 2011
Two-time defending women's champ Kim Clijsters will miss the tournament with an abdominal injury, leaving the women's draw wide open.
The US Open is the only major played on outdoor hard courts. The Australian Open is played on Plexicushion, the French Open is played on clay and the Wimbledon Championships are played on grass.
This year's US Open will have shared coverage between ESPN, the Tennis Channel and CBS. The event will be broadcast on Eurosport in Europe and WOWOW in Japan.
According to the US Open's official website, ESPN will broadcast more than 100 hours of live coverage in the United States, while the Tennis Channel will broadcast approximately 72 hours of coverage. CBS Sports will only broadcast approximately 37 hours of coverage, but they do own the exclusive rights to the women's singles final on Saturday, September 10 and the men's singles final on Sunday, September 11.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
NSD Powerball
An inbuilt speed meter makes it impossible to put down because you'll always want to beat your own high score or those of your friends, making NSD Powerball a seriously entertaining & fiendishly addictive way to exercise and get stronger!
The unique sphere successfully blurs the line between exercise & fun and is suitable for both male and female, young or old. NSD Powerball generates between 1 - 40lbs of resistance depending on rotor speed and will tone the arms & wrists, build muscle or gently rehabilitate damaged limbs with its smooth non impact action. Inexpensive to buy, this is one of world's most popular gift ideas and will instantly satisfy 4 very specific requirements for you as:
The definitive instrument for athletes and enthusiasts of many different kinds of sports, hobbies and pastimes (especially Musicians!)
A highly addictive and fun to use "gadget" for competitive males & females (could you secure a place on the Top 100 scoreboard??)
A revolutionary new fitness product to help tone the arms and shoulders for women or build substantial power and muscle in the arms, wrists, hands and shoulders for men
The perfect instrument to gently rehabilitate lower forearm and wrist joints affected by carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain injury RSI, arthritis or previous breakage
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Big 5 sports Camping
These deluxe base-camp tents offer spacious comfort, three-season versatility and hassle-free convenience for car campers and hunters alike. The seam-sealed tent body combines airflow-increasing polyester mesh and rugged polyester ripstop with a 1500mm polyurethane coating for waterproof durability. Both the tear-resistant tent floor and weatherproof tent fly are made of polyester ripstop with a 1500mm waterproof polyurethane coating. The zippered entrance converts to a screen door, and it features a built-in welcome mat that’s perfect for muddy boots. Lightweight, anodized TH72M aluminum DAC poles offers extreme-conditions durability and corrosion resistance, and they feature Pressfit™ connectors that eliminate weak joints. Color-coded webbing and buckles make assembly simple, even for beginners. The tent body attaches to the pole frame with a system of sleeves and plastic clips for fast setup. Reflective guy lines for nighttime visibility and safety. The interior has 12 mesh gear pockets around its base. Briefcase-style carry bag with organization pockets and long shoulder straps provides easy carrying. Includes 14 aluminum stakes. Gear loft loops included (loft sold separately). Imported.
Available: 4 person, 6 person.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wembley (1923 & 2007), London, England Sports Stadium
The original Wembley, built in 1923 famed for its iconic twin towers, and for being home to the English National team, hosting FA Cup Finals and The 1966 World Cup. Replaced in 2007 with a new stadium, sporting a similarly iconic 134 metre Wembley Arch. Wembley is the second largest capacity stadium in Europe at 90,000 and is also the most expensive ever built.
Rungnado May Day Stadium, Pyongyang, North Korea Sports Stadium
The flower shaped stadium has a capacity of 150,000, making it the largest non-auto racing stadium in the world. Whilst usually used for sporting events, the stadium may be most famous for hosting massive choreographed performances and shows celebrating Kim Il-sung and the North Korean nation where participants exceed 100,000 people
Yankee Stadium (1923), New York City, USA Sports Stadium
Located in the Bronx, constructed in 1923, the Yankee Stadium was home to the New York Yankees before it played its final game in 2008 and moved across the road to a new stadium. The stadium was known as “The House That Ruth Built”, after being home to the legendary baseball player Babe Ruth.
Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Sports Stadium
Named after the neighbourhood in Rio, the Maracana opened in 1950 for the World Cup of that year, hosting the final where the attendance was an incredible 199,854. Today the seated capacity is 82,238; the largest in South America, the capacity will grow further to 90,000 for the 2014 world cup where it will become only the second stadium to host two world cup finals.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Big 5 Sports Boccia
The basics
The object of the game is to propel a ball so that it lands as close as possible to the white target ball, known as the ‘jack’. Each player, pair or team gets six balls on each end. At the close of each end, the athlete, pair or team whose ball is closest to the jack scores one point, and receives an additional point for every ball that sits closer to the jack than the opposition’s closest ball. Individual and pairs matches consist of four ends, while team events are held over six ends.
Boccia is played by wheelchair athletes with cerebral palsy and related locomotor conditions, with players required to be in a seated position within a throwing box at one end of the playing court. The classification system ensures an even playing field for athletes to compete against others with similar disabilities.
Boccia, past and present
Boccia was introduced to the Paralympic programme at the New York and Stoke Mandeville 1984 Games. Today, there are seven medal events on the programme, all of which are open to athletes of either gender. The sport is currently played competitively in more than 50 countries worldwide.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Big 5 Sports - Wheelchair Tennis
The basics
The sport follows similar rules to Tennis, with one key exception: the ball is allowed to bounce twice, and only the first bounce must be within the boundaries of the court. All matches are played over the best of three sets.
At London 2012, the Wheelchair Tennis competition will consist of six medal events: men’s and women’s Singles; men’s and women’s Doubles; and quad Singles and Doubles, which are for players with a disability in three or more limbs. All events are played according to a knockout format.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Take Care of the Golf Balls First
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the two pints of beer.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly, and the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed again that it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the rest of the space. He asked once more if the jar was full, and his students responded with a unanimous “yes.”
The professor then produced two pint glasses of beer from under the table and poured the contents of both into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the grains of sand. The students laughed.
“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – your family, children, health, friends and your favourite passions; things that, if everything else was lost and only they remained, would still make your life full.”
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else – the small stuff.
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “There is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.”
“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children, take time to get medical checkups, take your partner out to dinner and play another 18 holes. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the leaky tap. Take care of the golf balls first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities, because the rest is just sand.”
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.
The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem to be, that there’s always room for a couple of beers with a friend.”
Youth Golf Network 100 Holes of Golf Charity Golf Marathon
Youth Golf Network, Inc. (YGN) is planning its first annual charity 100 Holes of Golf Marathon in support of their Pass the Torch Scholarship Program.
Previously, Anne Arundel Women’s Golf Organization, Youth Golf Network, Inc. reorganized under a new name and is hosting a Golf-A-Thon in Anne Arundel County on September 16, 2011 at Bay Hills Golf Club in Arnold, MD. The event is designed to raise money for youth summer golf programs and scholarship programs.
“At Youth Group Network, Inc. we want to empower our youth through the game of golf,” said Jeannette Ortegon, president of YGN. “We also want to help disadvantaged youth through the sport.”
YGN currently is looking for golfers who are willing to save the date and commit to bringing a team to play 100 holes of golf in 12 hours. Participating golfers will get pledges from family and friends to support YGN’s youth programs. Non-golfers can pledge $1, $2 or $3 per hole. Visit, www.youthgolfnetwork.org for more information on participating or pledging.
In addition to youth programs, the organization raises money to support cancer research through golf events in the fall. The group is starting a scholarship fund that will allow a deserving high school graduate to attend college in 2012.
2011 Melwood Open Tees Off Next Week
The Melwood Prince George’s County Open presented by Under Armour returns to the University of Maryland Golf Course next week.
Festivities abound in this week-long (May 30 – June 5, 2011) community event featuring a high school tournament and junior clinic, multiple Pro-Am events, a Military Honorary Observer program, Community Leader Award presentation, and various social events.
Last year’s event, held at the newly renovated University of Maryland Golf Course, drew universal praise from Nationwide Tour officials, players and an estimated 20,000 spectators, while generating a significant amount of news and media coverage. One-hundred and fifty-six professional golfers will be competing for their share of the $600,000 purse this year.
This is a great event for golf fans of all ages. And ticket prices are very reasonable.
Daily Tickets: $10
Provides entrance for one individual to the tournament grounds and University of Maryland Clubhouse on any single day, Thursday, June 2 through Sunday, June 5, 2011
Weekly Tickets: $25
Provides entrance for one individual to the tournament grounds and University of Maryland Clubhouse on any single day, Thursday, June 2 through Sunday, June 5, 2011
Special military/kids offer: Anyone with a valid military ID (active-duty, retired, or reserve) will be admitted into the event for free. Additionally, children ages 12 and under can also enter at no charge when accompanied by an adult.
For the full schedule of all the events visit the Melwood Prince George’s County Open website.
Tagged as: Melwood Open2011 Melwood Open Tidbits
Here are a few tidbits about this week’s (May 30 – June 5, 2011) Melwood Prince George’s County Open presented by Under Armour at the University of Maryland Golf Course.
COACH GARY WILLIAMS RETURNS AS TOURNAMENT HOST
Gary Williams, who recently resigned as the U. of Maryland’s head basketball coach, returns as host of the Melwood Prince George’s County Open presented by Under Armour for the second year. In addition to his support of the tournament and the Nationwide Tour, Coach Williams brings a host of celebrities who will play in Tuesday afternoon’s Gary Williams Celebrity Pro-Am. This includes UM baseball coach Erik Bakich, UM football coach Randy Edsall, Washington Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau, former Washington Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan, Under Armour CEO and UM grad Kevin Plank, former Baltimore Orioles’ star B.J. Surhoff and Nationwide Tour president and former UM All-American Bill Calfee, among others.
2010 CHAMPION GAINEY MADE LASTING IMPRESSION
Tommy Gainey’s win last year in the Melwood Prince George’s County Open catapulted him to the PGA TOUR this year where he has enjoyed great success over the first half of the season. The Melwood win moved the South Carolinian from 18th on the money list to 2nd. He added one more win a few weeks later (Chiquita Classic near Cincinnati) and finished the year fourth. Currently 30th on the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup points list, Gainey is eligible for the season-ending TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. The popular “Two Gloves” generated a lot of fans at the UM Golf Course last year.
IT’S A HOME GAME FOR BILLY HURLEY
2004 Naval Academy graduate Billy Hurley has received a sponsor exemption. The 28-year-old was born in Leesburg, Va. (turns 29 on June 9th) and attended high school there. He currently resides in Annapolis where the Academy is located. Hurley, who won seven college titles and was the sixth-ranked amateur in the world in 2004, spent last year serving on a Navy destroyer in the Persian Gulf. He returned to competitive golf late last year, earning conditional status on the Nationwide Tour based on his finish in December’s PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament.
SAGE VALLEY JUNIOR WINNER NICHOLAS REACH GETS INVITE
One of the perks of winning the recent inaugural Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club in South Carolina was a spot in the Melwood Prince George’s County Open. Nicholas Reach of Moscow, Pa. was a runaway winner by eight shots. The 18-year-old, who is headed to the U. of Georgia in the fall to play golf, shot a course record-tying 62 in the second round. He was presented the “Sage Valley Gold” jacket by PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. The field included 54 young men from 18 countries and 20 states in the U.S. Reach is familiar with the Nationwide Tour having played on sponsor exemptions in the 2008 and 2009 Northeast Pennsylvania Classic in the Scranton area where he grew up.
Pick a day or two and come out to see up close and personal 156 of the best golfers in the world. Get all the details at the Melwood Prince George’s County Open website.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Big 5 Sports - Sitting Volleyball
The basics
Sitting Volleyball is played by two teams of six on a 10m x 6m indoor court divided by a net (1.15m high for men, 1.05m for women). The object of the game is to land the ball in the opposition’s half of the court, with each team allowed three touches of the ball (in addition to a legal block) before it must cross over the net. Matches are the best of five sets, with the first four sets played as the first to 25 points; if a fifth set is necessary, it is won by the first team to reach 15 points. In all sets, a margin of at least two points is required for victory.
At London 2012, both the men’s and women’s events will begin with a round-robin group stage: the 10 men’s teams will be divided into two groups of five teams, with the eight women’s teams divided into groups of four. In the men’s competition, the top four teams in each group will qualify for the quarter-finals, from which point the competition will be conducted to a knockout format. For the women’s event, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, with the winning semi-finalists then facing off for the gold.
Sitting Volleyball at the Paralympics, past and present
Sitting Volleyball made its debut as a Paralympic medal sport at the Arnhem 1980 Games. A women’s event was added to the Paralympic programme in 2004.
At London 2012, the Sitting Volleyball competition will be held at ExCeL, a multi-purpose events venue that will also host a number of other Paralympic and Olympic sports.
Big 5 Sports - Goalball
Since it was developed as a rehabilitation activity for injured soldiers returning from World War II, Goalball has spread around the world. Played by visually impaired athletes using a ball with bells inside, it is among the most exciting team sports on the Paralympic programme.
The basics
Goalball is played by two teams of three visually impaired athletes on an indoor court, with goals (9m wide x 1.3m high) at either end. The aim is to score by rolling the ball into the opposition’s goal, while the opposition attempts to block the ball with their bodies. All athletes are visually impaired, and wear eyeshades to allow athletes with varying degrees of vision to compete together. The Goalball arena is silent during play so that players can hear the ball, but spectators are free to cheer when a goal is scored.
Both the men’s and women’s tournaments begin with a round-robin group stage. The 12 men’s teams are divided into two groups of six teams, while the 10 women’s teams are divided into groups of five. The top four teams in each group qualify for the quarter-finals, from which point the tournaments are played in a knockout format.
Goalball, past and present
Introduced to the Games as a demonstration event at the Toronto 1976 Games, Goalball was added to the Paralympic programme as a full medal sport four years later in Arnhem. The women’s tournament first featured at the New York and Stoke Mandeville 1984 Games.
For London 2012, the Goalball competition will take place at the brand new Handball Arena in the Olympic Park, purpose-built for the Games
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Big 5 Sports - Triathlon
The basics
Triathlon races combine swimming, cycling and running, in that order. Events are conducted over a variety of distances: for the Olympic Games, the men’s and women’s Triathlons will consist of a 1,500m swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run. There are no heats: both the men’s and women’s events consist of a single race.
Big 5 Sports - Diving
The basics
The eight Olympic diving events – four for men, four for women – feature either a springboard, 3m above the pool, or a fixed platform, set at a height of 10m. Springboards must be at least 4.8m long and 50cm wide, while platforms should be at least 6m long and 3m wide.
Judges award a score out of 10 for each dive, which is adjusted to take into account the dive’s degree of difficulty. In the Synchronised Diving events, pairs of athletes dive in tandem and are also assessed for their level of synchronisation.
Olympic Diving, past and present
Diving made its Olympic debut in 1904, where medals were awarded for men in the 10m Platform and the Plunge for Distance (a Diving long jump event, which never again appeared on the Olympic programme). Synchronised Diving made its first Olympic appearance at Sydney in 2000.
Big 5 Sports - Archery
The basics
The object of the sport is simple: to shoot arrows as close to the centre of a target as possible. Olympic Archery targets are 122 centimetres in diameter, with the gold ring at the centre (worth a maximum 10 points) measuring just 12.2cm. Archers shoot at the target from a distance of 70 metres.
At the Olympic Games, the two individual Archery competitions (one for men, one for women) will be played in a knockout format. Matches will be played over the best of five sets, with each set consisting of three arrows per archer.
The winners of each match will qualify for the next round, until the last two archers go head to head in the gold medal match. A knockout format will also be used for the men’s and women’s team competitions, which features teams of three archers competing against each other in a best-of-24-arrows format.
Olympic Archery, past and present
Archery made its Olympic debut at Paris 1900, was dropped from the programme after the 1908 Games, and then returned for a single appearance in 1920. After a 52-year gap, the sport was reintroduced at Munich 1972 and has remained on the Olympic programme ever since.
Big 5 Sports - Hunting Sports
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Big 5 Sports - Baseball
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Big 5 Sports - Badminton Shoes
Li-Ning China Gold National Team Shoes
You may not be able to jump up 6 ft into the air like Lin Dan or the rest of the Chinese National Team...but these shoes are certainly light enough and supportive enough to help if you wish to try !
Just watch these shoes flying about the place at the All-Englands 2010.
Anti-slip insoles
Breathable upper and sole units.
Technologies: Carbon Fibre plate, ProBarLoc, CushioN, BouncSe
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Big 5 Sports - Boxing
In 1867 the rules boxers now fight under were formed, and have ever since been known as the Marquess of Queensberry rules.
Now fighters wear gloves, to protect both their hands and the person they are trying to hit, and fight people who weigh a similar amount to themselves.
Each fight - or bout - lasts a series of rounds.
In professional boxing rounds last three minutes. In amateur boxing rounds normally last two minutes.
During a fight, boxers score points depending on how well they make contact with their opponent. The boxer with the most points at the end of a fight wins.
A boxer can end a fight early if they either knock their opponent unconscious or the referee thinks it is too dangerous for one fighter to continue.
There are eight different weight classes, with the lightest flyweight and the heaviest called heavyweight.
Boxing News - The best Fighter In The World
Mosley, one of America's greatest fighters, had the unfortunate task of facing Pacquiao. They squared off in front of 16,412 at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mosley is 39. He has been a professional fighter for eighteen years and he is a future Hall of Famer, but he seemed to forget how to throw punches. Was he past his prime? Yes. But he has always been considered "a warrior," boxing parlance for someone who will risk bodily harm to win and Pacquiao trained harder than for any previous fight with the expectation that Mosley would attack him with everything in his aresenal. The arsenal was empty. His jab was so timid that it looked like a father caressing his child's cheek. He landed 82 paltry punches to Pacquiao's 182. He blamed his performance to Pacquiao's speed and power, which he couldn't handle. Strangely, he also blamed a foot blister, which didn't seem to hamper his frantic backpedaling from the Filipino.
There was a single moment of excitement In Round 3 when Pacquiao hit Mosley with a sobering left and Sugar crashed to the canvas. The crowd buzzed with jittery excitement, as they always do when it experiences a knockdown. Mosley looked like a kid in a supermarket who couldn't find his mother. But before the Pacman, as his fans call him, could finish him, Pacquiao's left calf muscle became so cramped that between rounds he implored his cornermen to massage it. Leg cramps have been an issue throughout his training runs in the Hollywood Hills and it was feared that it might flare up again. It did and Pacquiao couldn't pivot and pursue Mayweather as relentlessly as he wanted to. It was an opening for Mosley but his heart wasn't committed to capitalizing on it.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Stiga STS 510 Ping Pong Table
This outstanding Competition Table is made for the pros but priced for reg"ular folks. Features a 1" blue top, a 2" steel support apron, 5" silver mag ball-bearing wheels, an extra heavy-duty Euro-Design chassis, and stylized corner pads. Folds for playback and storage positions. Built to satisfy top tournament-level players as well as institutions demanding excellent durability. Measures 74" x 60" x 28" in folded position.
1" blue competition grade top.
2" steel support apron.
2" square steel self-opening legs.
5" silver mag ball-bearing wheels.
Extra heavy duty Euro-design chassis.
Includes tournament grade net and posts.
Stylized corner pads.
Playback position.
Size when folded for storage: 28" W x 60" D x 74" H.
Weight: 311
Big 5 Sports Cycling - BMX
The men's and women's events at London 2012 will both start with a seeding phase: each rider runs the track once to determine the seedings, which ensures that the fastest riders don’t meet before the final. The men’s event continues with the quarter-finals, which are held over five races with groups of eight riders.
Points are awarded according to places, and the top two riders from the first three races in each quarter-final qualify for the semi-finals. The groups (now six riders in each) race twice more, and the top two riders from each group of six transfer to the semi-finals. From here, the semi-finals in both the men’s and women’s events follow a three-run format: the top four riders from each semi-final advance to the final run, when the medals are decided.
Olympic BMX Cycling, past and present
Having made its debut at the Beijing 2008 Games, BMX Cycling is the most recent discipline to have been added to the Olympic programme. The first Olympic BMX gold medals were claimed by Latvia’s Maris Strombergs and France’s Anne-Caroline Chausson.
The BMX competition at London 2012 will be held at a specially constructed track next to the Velodrome in the Olympic Park, which will have capacity for 6,000 spectators.
Big 5 Sports Wrestling
The basics
Wrestling is a body-to-body combat sport, with key variations between the styles.
Greco-Roman Wrestling featured at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. The organisers hoped it would give a flavour of the Ancient Greek Olympic Games, where the sport had been very popular. In Greco-Roman Wrestling, athletes are only allowed to use their arms and upper bodies to attack their opponents’ upper bodies.
Freestyle Wrestling was introduced at the St Louis 1904 Games. In Freestyle Wrestling, competitors may use all parts of their body to attempt moves and holds on all parts of their opponents’ bodies. Wrestlers aim to pin their opponent to the ground, or to score points by throwing their opponent or taking them down.
The rules in women’s Wrestling, which made its first Olympic appearance in 2004, are similar to those used in men’s Freestyle Wrestling, but with some key variations – for example, double head-locks are forbidden.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Big 5 Sports Polo Match
A polo match lasts about one and one-half hours and is divided into timed periods called chukkers. Each chukker is seven minutes long.
The object of the game is to move the polo ball down-field, hitting the ball through the goal posts for a score. Polo teams then change direction after each goal in order to compensate for field and wind conditions. A team is made up of four polo players.
Play begins with a throw-in of the ball by the umpire at the opening of each chukker and after each goal.
Players must change horses after each chukker due to the extreme demands placed on the polo pony.
During half time, spectators go onto the field to participate in a tradition called "divot stomping" to help replace the divots created by the horse's hooves.
Polo players are ranked yearly by their peers and the USPA on a scale of -2 to 10 goals. Team play is handicapped on the basis of ability.
Most of the rules of polo are for the safety of the polo players and their ponies. The basic concept is the line of the ball, a right-of-way established by the path of a traveling ball.
Two mounted Umpires do most of the officiating, with a Referee at midfield having the final say in any dispute between the umpires.
Penalty shots are given depending on the severity of the foul.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Adam Scott ready for Texas showdown after Augusta assault
US Masters runner-up Adam Scott is confident of defending his Valero Texas Open crown this week, which starts at the TPC San Antonio on Thursday (April 14th). Scott was tied second with fellow Australian Jason Day at Augusta, just two shots behind South African Charl Schwartzel who birdied his last four holes to win the famous green jacket.
Last year, Scott won the Texas crown with a final round four under par, which left him to finish on 14 under, one shot clear of Fredrik Jacobson and two clear of Aaron Baddeley, Ernie Els and Jimmy Walker.
After a roaring success with his Titleist 910D3 driver in Augusta, the Australian will be hoping for a similar performance when he tees off as the second ranked golfer in Texas.
“I feel like my game is in great shape. It was great to make a run (at the US Masters)," he said.
Another man who is looking for silverware this week is Anthony Kim, and he is hoping that his Nike Victory Red Full Cavity Irons will be able to better his debut Valero Texas Open appearance where he finished second.
"I know for myself personally that the sky is the limit if I just keep grinding away and have a good attitude. A couple of things have gotten in my way, and I've made some mistakes as well, but I'm growing through that, and it sometimes gets hard in making mistakes in front of people," he said recently.
Jhonattan Vegas, who is among the favourites in Texas, was full of praise for Kim, telling MySanAntonio.com that he looks up to players like him and tries to learn from what they do out on the course.
According to the official PGA Tour website, Scott is the favourite to claim victory this week, however, challenges could come from the likes of Angel Cabrera, Geoff Ogilvy and Marin Laird, who recently played the final round at August alongside Tiger Woods.
"Yes, he'll be drained after the Masters. But he'll also be motivated after finishing tied for second. And what better place for Scott to get back on track than at a course where he's had success before," commented one of the website's experts Helen Ross on Scott's Texas chances.
Elsewhere, on the European Tour Charl Schwartzel is the headline act when he appears at the Maybank Malaysian Open, which takes place at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
The South African is now top of the Race to Dubai rankings ahead of Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer after his US Masters win.
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Big 5 Sports Hockey
Hockey has several regular international tournaments for both men and women. These include the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, the quadrennial Hockey World Cups, the annual Champions Trophies and World Cups for juniors.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is the global governing body. It organizes events such as the Hockey World Cup and Women’s Hockey World Cup. The Hockey Rules Board under FIH produces rules for the sport.
Many countries have extensive club competitions for junior and senior players. Despite the large number of participants—hockey is thought to be the field team sport with the third largest number of participants worldwide (the first being association football and second being Cricket)—club hockey is not a large spectator sport and few players play as full-time professionals. Hockey is a sport played internationally by both males and females however in some countries, such as the United States, is predominantly played by females.
In countries where winter prevents play outdoors, hockey is played indoors during the off-season. This variant, indoor field hockey, differs in a number of respects. For example, it is 6-a-side rather than 11, the field is reduced to approximately 40 m x 20 m; the shooting circles are 9m; players may not raise the ball outside the circle nor hit it. The sidelines are replaced with barriers to rebound the ball.
Traditional grass pitches are far less common in modern hockey with most hockey being played on synthetic surfaces. Since the 1970s, sand-based pitches were favoured as they dramatically speed up the pace of the game. However, in recent years there has been a massive increase in the number of “water-based” artificial turfs. Water-based synthetic turfs enable the ball to be transferred more quickly than on the original sand-based surfaces and it is this characteristic that has made them the surface of choice for international and national league competitions.
The game is played between two teams of up to sixteen players, eleven of whom are permitted to be on the pitch at any one time. The remaining five players, the substitutes, may be substituted in any combination, from one to five, an unlimited number of times in the course of a game. Substitutions are permitted at any point in the game, apart from between the award and end of a penalty corner; the only exception to this rule is for injury or suspension of the defending goalkeeper.
Players are permitted to play the ball with the flat of the ‘face side’ and with the edges of the head and handle of the hockey stick with the exception that, for reasons of safety, the ball may not be struck ‘hard’ with a forehand edge stroke, because of the difficulty of controlling the height and direction of the ball from that stroke.
The flat side is always on the “natural” side for a right-handed person swinging the stick at the ball from right to left. Left-handed sticks are rare, but available; however they are pointless as the rules forbid their use in a game. To make a strike at the ball with a left to right swing the player must present the flat of the ‘face’ of the stick to the ball by ‘reversing’ the stick head, i.e. by turning the handle through approximately 180°(while a reverse edge hit would turn the stick head through approximately 90° from the position of an upright forehand stoke with the ‘face’ of the stick head.
The match is officiated by two field umpires. Traditionally each umpire generally controls half of the field, divided roughly diagonally. These umpires are often assisted by a technical bench including a timekeeper and record keeper. Field players may not play the ball with their feet, but if the ball accidentally hits the feet, and the player gains no benefit from the contact, then the contact is not penalised. Although there has been a change in the wording of this rule from 1 January 2007, the current FIH umpires’ briefing instructs umpires not to change the way they interpret this rule.
The teams’ object is to play the ball into their attacking circle and, from there, hit, push or flick the ball into the goal, scoring a goal. The team with more goals after two 35-minute halves wins the game. The playing time may be shortened, particularly when younger players are involved, or for some tournament play.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Big 5 Sports Baseball
Some people find the sport quite boring as it takes a bit long to play, and it is not as exciting a sport for some people as, let us say, basketball. A baseball team will only get the opportunity to score when their team is the one batting. Their players move counter-clockwise past four consecutive markers at the corners of the "diamond" in the baseball field. These markers are called "bases" and are usually coloured black or white. The team's players may advance through hits, but after three outs recorded against the team, they lose the opportunity to score and their half-inning ends. Innings are similar to "quarters" in basketball, and these are the periods wherein each team are given half of the whole inning time to bat and score runs. There are, all in all, nine innings in a baseball game. Baseball is especially popular in the United States and many baseball leagues are done there.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Schwartzel wins the Masters 2011
The roars came from everywhere, for everyone, and never stopped.
Schwartzel emerged from all this madness with a magical touch of his own. He became the first Masters champion in its 75-year history to finish with four straight birdies, giving him a 6-under 66 for the best final round by a winner in 22 years.
Schwartzel Wins Shootout at Masters 2011
Schwartzel shot 6-under-par 66 for a 274 total, 14-under. It was two shots better than Day (68) and Scott (67), just when it looked like one of the Australians might end their country's drought.
Schwartzel wouldn't let it happen.
"I've not been around when it's been that tight," Schwartzel said. "If it wasn't for Rory (McIlroy) that was leading by four, you look at the leader board, there was a whole bunch of guys that could have won. It was always going to come down to the back nine, who made the birdies coming in."
Schwartzel made a torrid birdie-par-eagle start, ran off 10-straight pars and, when it was time, he delivered in a big way.
"There were so many roars that go on around Augusta, especially the back nine," Schwartzel said. "It echoes through those trees … there's always a roar. Every single hole you walk down, someone has done something, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking at the leader board. But sometimes I would look at it and not register what I was looking at, and that sort of helped.
"I just knew it was now or never. You have to start hitting some good shots and converting them."
Schwartzel's birdie putts on the final four holes were from 8, 15, 12 and 15 feet.
Day tipped his cap to Schwartzel's effort.
Mickelson Fails to Meet High Hopes
But after he closed with a 74 to finish at 1-under-par 287, 13 shots behind the winner, Charl Schwartzel, Mickelson acknowledged that it just wasn't his round, his day or his Tournament. He had missed his chance, he said. Mickelson stated that the course was ripe for scoring; he just couldn't take advantage.
"Greens receptive, pins in spots you can get to, not much wind," the three-time Masters champion said. "But I struggled with the blade again and it was a frustrating week, really. I love these greens, I usually putt them very well, but I struggled this week."
Mickelson came into the week with high expectations -- his own and others'-- after a commanding victory the Sunday before at the Shell Houston Open. He had followed his tradition of playing a PGA Tour even the week prior to the Masters, and the strategy seemed to pay off.
But Mickelson's game wasn't nearly as sharp at Augusta National as it had been in Houston. He needed 122 putts for the week and made just 13 birdies. Despite staying within reasonable distance of the leaders through two rounds, Mickelson failed to make a crucial charge on Saturday to put himself into contention.
Although he said he did not feel fatigued, Mickelson said he would take the next three weeks off. He plans to make his next appearance at Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow the first full weekend of May.
On Saturday, Mickelson put his struggles into perspective by saying how pleased he was to have his wife, Amy, who been battling breast cancer, with him this week and healthy enough to walk the hilly course two days in a row.
Regardless of starting the final round nine shots behind McIlroy, Mickelson never considered his position hopeless.
"I never feel like you're out of it here," he said. "I felt like if I could shoot something in the low 60s -- 63 or 64 -- you just never know what might happen. I really felt good; I just didn't put it together."
Scott, Cabrera, Schwartzel on the move at Masters 2011
The Australian made up some serious ground on the Masters leaderboard Saturday after matching Angel Cabrera and Bubba Watson for low round of the day. Tied for sixth at 7-under, Scott is five shots behind leader Rory McIlroy.
"I felt like I played OK the first two days, just a little bit off," Scott said. "But today, everything kind of fell into place. It was nice to get a bit of momentum going and keep it going for most of the round."
Cabrera, Watson, Charl Schwartzel and Bo Van Pelt also made big moves. Cabrera, the 2009 Masters champion, and Schwartzel are tied for second at 8-under with K.J. Choi and Jason Day, while Van Pelt is in eighth place behind Scott and Luke Donald.
Going low is one way to climb the leaderboard. But Scott and Co. got a big assist from the guys who'd been ahead of them, too. The last five groups Saturday were a cumulative 11 over, with only McIlroy and Choi shooting below par.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
McIlroy builds four-shot lead at Masters 2011
The cheer was so clamorous that Woods, who had settled over his shot in the 18th fairway, had to back away. After all these years of crushing the hopes of so many others, the four-time Masters champ finally felt what it was like on the other end.
That moment - and right now, this Masters - belongs to McIlroy.
Friday, April 8, 2011
McIlroy Takes Masters Control
McIlroy went out in 33 on Friday to reach 10-under-par. After a par on the par-4 11th hole, he had gone 29 holes without a bogey in this year's Masters. But, on the par-3 12th hole he hit his approach shot in the front bunker and failed to get up and down. McIlroy followed the bogey with a birdie on the par-5 13th hole when he hit his second shot to 12 feet and just missed his eagle try. He then went on to par Nos. 14 and 15 to hold steady.
In Thursday's first round, McIlroy became the youngest 18-hole leader in Tournament history. Seve Ballesteros was age 23 years and 1 day when he held the first-round lead on the way to the 1980 Masters title. Ballesteros shot 66 in the first round that year.
McIlroy has spent the last three weeks relaxing in preparation for his third Masters start. He went home to Northern Ireland the week after the PGA Tour event at Doral and then returned to Florida last week to work some with his coach. While in Augusta, he and some friends have visited the mall, played football in the street and watched the 1986 Masters where Jack Nicklaus rallied to win.
Woods Makes Statement While Phil Hangs Quietly Mid-Pack
Woods is tied for third with K.J. Choi at 7-under 137, just three shots behind 36-hole leader Rory McIlroy and one shot behind Jason Day.
And he finished with a splash, rolling in a 12-foot birdie putt from the right side of the hole at the 18th.
"It was nice to get it going," Woods said. "I'm three back so I played myself back into the championship. We've got 36 holes left, so there's a long way to go."
If Woods' round was eventful, Phil Mickelson's turned out to be routine. The defending champion shot an even-par 72 and is 2-under, tied for 20th. He did not have a birdie after the 10th hole and finished with seven straight pars.
"I left too many shots out there," Mickelson said. "But that's all in the past and we've got the weekend to look forward to. Fortunately I'm not in that bad a spot where if I can go out and shoot a good round, I can get right back in it.
"These next two days are my favorite two days of the year, the weekend of the Masters . . . I'm going to have to make a good run tomorrow."
Woods ran off birdies in bunches - the 8th, 9th and 10th, and also the 13th, 14th and 15th. He hit a 3-wood and 3-iron to 10 feet at the 13th, a 3-wood and a full wedge to 18 inches at the 14th, and then a driver and a 5-iron to the 15th that led to a two-putt birdie from 35 feet.
Woods established himself as a contender for a fifth Masters title with a nine-birdie day, offsetting his three bogeys that included a three-putt at the 7th. But Woods was able to answer each of his bogeys with a birdie. He credited his patience.
Big 5 Sports - Golf
The golf balls are one of the most important among the golf equipments. They are made up of special materials, which are used in order to help the ball’s playing characteristics. The ball usually has a diameter of 42.67 mm and is covered by around 300 to 450 dimples. This is to help in the aerodynamics of the ball. The golf balls are divided on the basis of their construction, into three types, namely two-, three-, or the four- piece covers. The four- piece cover golf balls are the most expensive.
Among other golf equipments a player also carries several different types of clubs, which help him to play the game better. There are basically three major types of golf clubs, known as the woods, irons and the putters. The club wood is used to play long shots, either from the tee or the fairway; irons are used for precision shots either from the fairway or from the rough; putters are mostly used when playing on the greens, but can also be used when playing from the bunkers or also for some approach shots.
Other golf equipments can be the golf bags, which can be nylon or leather and are cylindrically constructed; ball markers, which help in marking the place of a ball; and also the golf carts, which help in the transport of the other golf equipments like the clubs and also the players across the greens. Also the golfers use gloves, towels, shoes, and clothes which keep the player comfortable while playing the sport, which can also be included as golf equipments.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Matt Kuchar Ties Career-Low Masters Round with 68
At 32, he's risen to No. 10 in the world rankings, one of four Americans battling six Europeans for golf supremacy. Indeed, he conquered the PGA Tour last season as leading money winner with nearly $5 million and continued his run into this year with six top 10s in eight events.
Kuchar delivered again Thursday, matching his Masters career-low of 68 and weaving his way through a traffic jam of International players.
His 4-under-par round included six birdies and two bogeys. Kuchar especially gained ground on Augusta National's par 5s -- making birdies at Nos. 2, 8 and 15 -- and trailed first-round leader Rory McIlroy by three strokes.
"I felt solid out there," Kuchar said. "I didn't feel like I was doing a whole lot of grinding. It felt like a log of good opportunities."
Kuchar made his Masters debut in 1998, an invitation earned as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. He made the cut and finished as low amateur, becoming a patron favorite with his infectious smile, Georgia Tech ties and father carrying his golf bag. Kuchar also made the cut and was low amateur at the U.S. Open that year.
In four previous Masters, he's missed one cut. His best finish, a tie for 21st, came in his first appearance. So did his 68.
Mickelson, Woods First Round in 2011 Masters Tournament
Defending champion Phil Mickelson bogeyed No. 18 to shoot a 2-under-par 70 that placed him in a tie for 14th, five strokes off the lead. Tiger Woods stood six back after posting a 71 and joining a logjam in 24th place.
Mickelson, teeing off in the next-to-last group of the day, posted seven consecutive pars to start his round. He birdied the par-5 No. 8 and parred the ninth to make the turn at 1-under.
He displayed some of his typical dramatics on the par-5 13th hole, which Wednesday he described as his favorite hole on the course. Mickelson sliced his drive into the azaleas left of the fairway, but he pitched out safely and saved par. Playing with two drivers in his bag, he hit just four of 14 fairways, although he managed to hit 12 of 18 greens. Birdies at Nos. 14 and 15 vaulted him to 3 under before a pulled drive on the final hole forced him to play away from the flag. He just missed the green to the left and failed to salvage a par.
"I missed it in spots where I could get up and down, in spots that I knew the chip, I had a good angle," Mickelson said. "And that's why I was disappointed on 18. I tried to miss it left, I'm shooting right up the pin, and it was a pretty shot, and I didn't get it up and down."
Woods' round featured relatively few highlights. Going off early in the day in the morning chill, he missed makeable birdie putts on the first and second holes. Overall, he took 30 putts on the day, continuing his inconsistency on the greens.
"I hit a lot of beautiful putts," Woods said after the round. "A lot of beautiful putts. And they were just skirting the edge. So hopefully they will start going in."
The four-time Masters champion, now ranked No. 7 in the world, showed flashes of his old self. After slicing his drive into the pines on No. 3 and running his punch-out over the green, he saved par with a towering flop shot that landed like a pillow and stopped inches from the hole. He made another impressive par save at the par-3 12th, getting up and down from a difficult lie and reversing the negative momentum from bogeys at 10 and 11. Woods birdied the par-4 No. 14 with a long putt into the back of the hole and parred in from there.
Woods' score was only three strokes higher than his career-low first round at the Masters. In his four victories at Augusta National, he opened with a 70 three times (1997, 2001 and 2002) and a 74 once (2005).
McIlroy and Alvaro Quiros claimed the first-round lead at the Masters 2011
McIlroy is relying on his growing database of knowledge in golf's major championships, and in Thursday's opening round of the Masters, he dialed the right number again and again.
The conditions at Augusta National Golf Club were superb, and the play of McIlroy and Quiros matched the pristine setting. In a flawless performance that brought to mind his first-round 63 in last year's British Open, McIlroy made seven birdies and no bogeys to shoot a 7-under-par 65. Quiros, playing in the final group of the day, birdied the 17th and 18th holes in fading light to join McIlroy atop the leader board. It was Quiros' best round at the Masters by 10 shots.
"I'll take 65 all day long," McIlroy said.
Rory McIlroy at 2011 Masters Tournament
Thursday was obviously a good day to be Rory McIlroy, the 21-year-old from Holywood -- Northern Ireland -- and the first-round co-leader with Alvaro Quiros after a scintillating 7-under 65 at Augusta National Golf Club.
2011 Masters Tournament
Defending champion Phil Mickelson bogeyed No. 18 to shoot a 2-under-par 70 that placed him in a tie for 14th, five strokes off the lead. Tiger Woods stood six back after posting a 71 and joining a logjam in 24th place.
Mickelson, teeing off in the next-to-last group of the day, posted seven consecutive pars to start his round. He birdied the par-5 No. 8 and parred the ninth to make the turn at 1-under.
He displayed some of his typical dramatics on the par-5 13th hole, which Wednesday he described as his favorite hole on the course. Mickelson sliced his drive into the azaleas left of the fairway, but he pitched out safely and saved par. Playing with two drivers in his bag, he hit just four of 14 fairways, although he managed to hit 12 of 18 greens. Birdies at Nos. 14 and 15 vaulted him to 3 under before a pulled drive on the final hole forced him to play away from the flag. He just missed the green to the left and failed to salvage a par.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Badminton is the sport of Fun
A good badminton set will have all the basic equipments required for a thrilling game of badminton. The foremost requirement is a badminton racquet. A standard set usually comes with 4 badminton racquets. Apart from this, there is another essential equipment, the shuttlecock. Most badminton sets contain two shuttlecocks.
The badminton set also comes with an official sized net and stakes. Any of these pieces missing in the set would be a great hindrance in playing the game. Some people also include special badminton shoes without which the game could not be played with such ease. Any of these things missing would not really mean playing badminton.
The game of badminton is generally for those who are craving for absolute fitness in their lives and are always in the quest for improved skills. There are some people however, who play this skillful game just for fun. The badminton set for these category of people definitely differs from the set of the professionals.
For these fun loving individuals, the compact sets are usually avoidable. It is suggested that they should assemble their own set by buying stuff that would suit their individual needs. They can buy many shuttle packs and racquets that cost anywhere between $40 to $100. They can keep their equipment in a professional looking bag and this would complete their desired set.
The trend of playing badminton has definitely changed over the years. Initially, racquets and shuttlecocks were the only requirements in a set. In fact, a casual game of badminton for the sake of amusement did not require wearing of shoe at all. However, with changing times, the requirements changed. Badminton sets today are much more sophisticated, advanced and expensive too.
It is to be remembered that a set that suits your need is the best for you. It is not always the price that counts. For example, a badminton racquet that suits your style is the best for you. Similarly the choice of shuttlecocks lies with the player. The feathered cocks are preferred over the plastic ones in spite of the fact that the plastic ones last longer. Most badminton sets include feathered cocks.
Big 5 - Badminton Grip Benefits and Key Information
How you hold you're badminton racquet is the key to a strong performance. When deciding on a badminton grip for your racquet, there are a few different things you need to consider, such as, how will it improve my grip on the badminton racquet and what can I do to improve my methods. It may seem like a pretty straight forward part of the sport, but increasing your edge by utilising your badminton grip will improve your game significantly. There are many benefits to improving your badminton methods, and also a few things you might want to consider when purchasing a new or replacement for your racquet.
By brushing up on your method of gripping your badminton racquet, you're going to produce much better strokes throughout your game. Knowing what type of badminton method to use for each situation in a game, is crucial to creating those perfectly placed strokes, or powerful smash shots. There are a number of different ways to grip your badminton racquet whilst playing, and by using a variation of badminton grips, you'll find your play improving. Having the perfect badminton will allow for a greater range of direction for your shots, and will also help better defend against those hard to reach defensive body shots. By using the correct badminton, your going to be able to produce much stronger power smashes and improved net shots and serves. Knowing which badminton grip to use is going to allow you much more flexible range in the type of shots you can make, and will also allow you to disguise the direction of your shots.
With improved method, should come improved equipment and there are a few features which you may want to look out for when choosing what kind of badminton to use on your racquet. When choosing your badminton grip, ensure that it is flexible. Having a flexible grip on your racquet allows the muscles used to work more effectively. You should ensure the length of the grip section of your racquet is long or short enough for you to have the correct grip and finger placement. When choosing a grip, or replacement grip for your racquet, take a look at the features it offers, such as perforation, dryness and comfort. These types of features may seem small, but they will ultimately increase your performance by adding to the benefits of a good badminton grip.
Knowing how to grip your badminton racquet is crucial, as such, so is the type of grip attached to your racquet. Improving your badminton grip plays an important role in advancing your skills, so take the time to brush up on your grip methods, and look at the different types of badminton grips available for your racquet.
Badminton Net: Various Net Plays You Can Learn To Improve Your Game
In the big 5 sport of badminton, badminton net play is an essential area that demands both power and finesse from the player for flawless execution. With just a flick of the wrist, a player can send his opponent scrambling back. With a quick change in the racket face's angle, you can send your adversary falling to the ground. Being able to defeat your opponent not due to smashing deliveries but through delicate shots gives a more satisfying victory.
Basically, there three different types of net play:
1. Net kill - this is played when your adversary has played a loose shot over the net making an opportunity for you to strike down the shuttle from the net area. For this play, you must hold the racket head high enough to take the shuttle above the level of the net. To deliver this seamlessly, you have to be quick to the net. There is a risk of you hitting the net so when you play this, use only your wrist with minimal to no racket arm movement. Make your racket rebound back as soon as you make contact with the shuttle to secure against a follow through.
2. Net shot - this is played from around the net area back to your adversary's net area. This play intends to force your adversary hit shots that could not clear the net or hit a weak lift. When played well, this shot is really hard to return by any standards. This badminton net play can be played on the backhand and forehand sides, straight or cross court.
3. Net lift - this is an underarm clear played from around the net area which is usually used when you have to create more time for yourself or perhaps to move your adversary to the back court. Depending on your adversary's position, you can hit it higher or flatter and it can be played cross court or straight down the line. With this badminton net play, you can deceive your opponent by moving forward and delivering a shot similar to a net shot. However, before striking the shuttle, loosen your wrist and send the shuttle through to your adversary's back court. Disguise it well and your adversary will surely have a hard time recovering.
Net plays are an essential area in badminton that requires time for one to gain expertise on it. Master these shots and you'll be able to deceive your adversaries and win effortlessly.
Badminton Net: Buying a Badminton Set
Playing badminton in your lawn on a warm, sunny afternoon instead of doing chores like mowing the lawn is what many can consider recreation. With an activity like badminton which the whole family can enjoy, you can turn warm days into memories to treasure for life. Badminton is a sport that is not limited to a court; it can be played anywhere there is a badminton net set up.
To ensure that you have great afternoons spent with the family playing this sport, first, get a good, reliable net. You can purchase one at an affordable price without much hassle especially these days that many retailers provide badminton sets that come with all the things you need for an inexpensive price. Your average badminton set contains the following: rackets, birdies, the net, ropes and stakes to hold the net tight and a manual with the rules of the sport. You can buy some string and spray paint along with the set to have something to mark off boundary lines on the grass.
It will also be a good idea to buy a few extra birdies as these tend to tear easily and the ones that are included in the set you've bought might get worn out easy especially if you take to the sport and play it a lot. As for the badminton net, this will endure many games as this does not really see any abuse or contact when the big 5 sport is being played. The rackets may not be as lucky though and more care will be needed to preserve their longevity. Rackets may usually see wear on the handle area but this can be repaired using some hand grip replacement wrap or some athletic tape. Overall, depending on the amount of time spent playing the sport, the equipments can last many years so your family and friends can enjoy hours and hours of friendly competition and inexpensive entertainment.
Consider painting lines on the ground so everyone can easily distinguish the boundaries of the court. Lines are important in this game as they do not only provide a boundary for the game at hand, they also prevent any disagreements between players or teams when it comes to counting a point or not. It will also be a good idea to read the rules and regulations included in the set.
With a simple badminton net, you can enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful warm weather which can be healthy in many ways. Engaging in any sport can provide a fun exercise to increase your health and also to strengthen relationships.
Advantages Of Playing big 5 Sports
Some of the preferred big 5 sports are badminton, crush and tennis. These are the popular ones that folks select from when it comes to racquet sports. There must be something special about these sports which have contributed to their recognition among the masses. Let's take a look at advantages of these sports which makes them better and different from other sports.
Racquet sports are largely games of skill. Not everyone can learn how to master the game. These games always offer you something to learn. Hence you are continually upgrading yourself.
While most sports focus on the exercise, racquet games target cerebral aspects too. In such games, a good playing strategy frequently scores over physical strength. Actually a smarter player can have a better likelihood of winning the game than a competitor who's physically fitter. These games can be especially constructive for those making an attempt to stop smoking. They help distract your intelligence and deviate your attention from the pull of nicotine.
There are numerous health benefits of playing racquet sports. These sports not only look into your health and fitness, they improve your immunological system too. They make you stronger by strengthening your muscles. Therefore all the back stiffness sufferers must go for these sports to avoid back pain.
However, such sports are not just about physical or mental wellbeing. They also help you get that much needed adrenalin rush. Moreover, you are sure to enjoy yourself while playing racquet games with your youngsters and friends. And, even if you have to slow down a bit while playing badminton with your children, you will be adding a good deal to your general skill base nevertheless.
Preparing a racquet game is reasonably straightforward and you customarily need only one other partner to start. Unlike team games, these double player games are both entertaining and convenient.
Another benefit of racquet sports is the pricetag factor involved in the game. These games are not too expensive. It just takes purchasing a racquet, ball, shuttlecock and the sports shoes which aren't really expensive. Therefore, your budget wouldn't get imbalanced due to the expenses of these sports.
These are just some of the benefits that you get to enjoy when you are into racquet sports. So, you would be acting plain mad, if you still do not pick up the racquet and select one of these games. Get started right away and enjoy better physical fitness, mental strength and some delight too.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Shooting Sport Big 5
Shooting developed as a hunting sport. The earliest shooting clubs were recorded in central Europe in the 15th century. The rules and competition structure of modern shooting were developed in Europe and the USA, spreading worldwide in the late 19th century.
Today, top marksmen and women come from a wide range of countries – every continent is represented at the Olympic Games.
Shooting at the Games
Shooting was one of the sports on the programme of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens 1896.
The worldwide development of the sport has seen it grow from three events at those Games to 15 today.
Women first took part in Shooting at Mexico City 1968. They used to compete alongside men, but separate men’s and women’s events have been held since 1996.
How to play
Shooting is made up of Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun competitions.
In Pistol and Rifle events, competitors fire bullets at a target from a set distance.
They score points according to the accuracy of their shots. The targets consist of 10 rings, with a ‘bullseye’ at the centre that counts for 10.9 points in Olympic finals.
Pistol targets are either fixed at 50m and 10m, or turn to set time sequences at 25m.
In the Shotgun event, competitors fire lead pellets (‘shot’) at moving clay targets. These are launched from different directions, and in sequences originally designed to look like birds in flight.
Weightlifting Sport
Competitors in Weightlifting are divided into 15 weight categories, eight for men and seven for women. The strongest competitors may lift more than three times their body weight.
Each event features two types of lift. In the snatch, the bar is lifted from the floor to above the head in one movement. By contrast, the clean and jerk is a two-stage action – the bar is first brought up to the shoulders before being jerked over the head.
Each lifter is allowed three attempts at the snatch and three attempts at the clean and jerk, and their best lift in each discipline counts towards their total. When a tie occurs, the athlete with the lower bodyweight is declared the winner. If two athletes lift the same total weight and have the same bodyweight, the winner is the athlete who lifted the total weight first.
Wrestling Sport
Wrestling can be traced as far back as human records go. There is evidence of its early existence in ancient Egyptian wall paintings.
In ancient Greece, 2,000 years later, it was among the most popular events at the original Olympic Games.
The sport has taken many forms over its long history. Different versions have flourished in different areas of the world.
Wrestling at the Games
Greco-Roman Wrestling was an event at the first modern Games in Athens 1896. The organisers hoped it would give a flavour of the ancient Greek Olympic Games, where the sport had been very popular.
Freestyle was introduced by public demand at the St Louis 1904 Games. Women had to wait another 100 years to compete in Wrestling in the Olympic Games, at Athens 2004.
How to play – and win
Wrestling is a body-to-body combat sport. The aim is to force the back of the opponent’s shoulders on to the ground. Bouts take place on a mat, and can last for a maximum of three periods of two minutes, with a 30-second break in between. A contest can finish early if a wrestler wins the first two periods or pins his opponent.
There are two styles of Wrestling at the Games: Greco-Roman and Freestyle. Women compete only in the Freestyle event. In Freestyle, competitors can use all parts of their body to attempt moves and holds. In Greco-Roman, use of the legs to make contact and use of the arms below the waist of the opponent are forbidden.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Big Ben Comes Up Small in Super Bowl
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Ben Roethlisberger was supposed to be the unflappable quarterback. The born winner who always made the big play in the big spot. A win Sunday would have meant a third Super Bowl title, and only four members of his profession have ever done that. Plans were being made to carve him right into that Mount Rushmore alongside Bradshaw, Montana, Aikman and Brady, and some were even putting forth the preposterous notion that a victory in Sunday night's football game might somehow offer Roethlisberger some form of "redemption" for the reprehensible offseason behavior that almost got him drummed out of Pittsburgh and the NFL last year.
And then he went out and played a rotten game, throwing two interceptions and badly mismanaging the two-minute drill at the end when he still had a chance to march down the field, win the game and put a sweet coat of varnish on his Hall of Fame resume.
So what do we do with Ben Roethlisberger now?
"Personally, I feel like I let a lot of people down," Roethlisberger said when it was all over. "You can't turn the ball over, and I did."
And in somewhat spectacular fashion. His first interception, courtesy of Nick Collins, was run back 37 yards for a touchdown and gave the Packers a lead larger than any that has ever been overcome in a Super Bowl. His second interception led, four plays later, to the touchdown that put the Packers up 21-3 in the second quarter. Those accounted for 14 of the 21 points the Packers would score off turnovers in this game. And while it looked for much of the second half -- right up until his fourth-down pass to Mike Wallace fell incomplete in the final minute -- as if Roethlisberger was going to bring the Steelers back against a shredded Green Bay secondary, he didn't.
"I feel like I let a lot of people down today that stood up to fight. People like Doug Legursky, Antwaan Randle El, Trai Essex and Ramon Foster. Those guys gave everything they had, and I let them down."
--Ben Roethlisberger "I don't put blame on anybody but myself," he said. "I feel like I let the city of Pittsburgh down -- my teammates, my coaches, the fans, everybody. And it's not a good feeling."
If we're going to canonize the quarterback who wins the big games, we also have to hammer the guy when he comes up small in the winnable ones. It's often pointed out that Roethlisberger played poorly in his first Super Bowl-winning effort, but part of his legend is that he's the guy who gets it done when it counts, even if it's not pretty along the way.
This one was just the opposite. Roethlisberger was set up to add Sunday to his winner's resume. Charles Woodson was out. Sam Shields was banged up. For the final few minutes of the first half, there was a parade of Packers defensive backs to the locker room with injuries, and not all of them came back. If ever a team were to come back from 18 points down to win a Super Bowl, it was this one, and the reason was to have been Roethlisberger.
But in the end, he simply had a lousy game at the worst possible time. He seemed as if he couldn't (or wouldn't) make the right decision when he rolled out to throw, as he so often does. He showed no urgency when he got the ball back down six with 1:59 left on the clock, as if the idiotic personal foul penalty by Keyaron Fox that forced him to start on his own 13 had somehow rattled him. He got excellent performances from a host of injury-replacement guys he didn't hesitate to name as he offered his postgame mea culpa.
"I feel like I let a lot of people down today that stood up to fight," he said. "People like Doug Legursky, Antwaan Randle El, Trai Essex and Ramon Foster. Those guys gave everything they had, and I let them down."
He wasn't alone in deserving blame. Rashard Mendenhall's second-half fumble was as crushing and inexplicable a turnover as either of Roethlisberger's. There were penalties and miscommunications that cost them chances to score. It was a jarringly poor performance by a team that should have been the composed one.
"I really thought we were mentally prepared to be on top of our game," Steelers receiver Hines Ward said. "And then to come out and execute the way we did, it's totally uncharacteristic."
But in case you haven't heard yet, it's Big Ben who feels like he let some people down. And he should. Such is the life of the quarterback. This crummy Super Bowl game he just played goes into his ledger along with the two wins. And yes, it scuffs it up a little bit. After all, the whole point of Roethlisberger has been that he gets it done, that he's a winner, that he makes the play when he has to make it. The Steelers like to keep it simple when they talk about what makes their quarterback great, and so it was fitting that they kept it simple Sunday when explaining why he wasn't. Asked how he would describe Roethlisberger's performance, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin couldn't have put it any more simply.
"Just like mine," Tomlin said. "A losing one."
Jordy Nelson: From Unsung College Walk-On to Super Bowl Hero
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jordy Nelson walked an unlikely path from Kansas farm boy to Super Bowl hero.
Nelson walked on as a safety at Kansas State in 2003. He became a starting receiver as a redshirt sophomore but when he reached the NFL with Green Bay in 2008, Nelson returned to semi-afterthought status with just six touchdown catches during his first three seasons. Speedy Greg Jennings, veteran Donald Driver and streaky James Jones are all ahead of Nelson on the Packers' depth chart.
But on Sunday night, the baby-faced kid with the crew cut on a team chock full of long-haired stars was the game's No. 1 receiver. Nelson opened the scoring with a 29-yard touchdown grab from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and went on to catch nine passes for 140 yards as the Packers held off the AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium.
"This is unbelievable," Nelson said. "You always dream big. I guarantee you there's kids all over the country playing in their backyard emulating somebody making the game-winning catch in the Super Bowl. It's such a long shot, I can't believe it.
"I just take it year by year, doing what the coaches ask. I owe a lot of things to a lot of people. Hopefully, I'll see a bunch of (these) highlights someday down the road and realize it's me."
Nelson's huge game against the Steelers' top-rated defense gave him 21 catches, 286 yards and two touchdowns in the four-game run through the playoffs after he had caught a respectable but hardly awe-inspiring 45 passes for 582 yards and two scores during the season.
"I can't say enough about young Jordy Nelson," said Jennings, who had two touchdown catches of his own from MVP Rodgers against the Steelers. "He's been making plays for us all year. We tell him he's going to be that guy because he's going to be underrated, (defenders) are going to look at him and think that they can take advantage of him.
"He was able to take advantage of the matchups that we saw that he would be able to expose for us. (Steelers cornerback Bryant) McFadden is kinda slow out of his breaks. With Ike (Taylor) following myself, whoever was the No. 3 receiver was gonna have McFadden. We were pretty much gonna exploit that matchup and it just happened to be Jordy."The Packers -- who lost Driver late in the first half with a high ankle sprain -- owe a big piece of their first Lombardi Trophy in 14 years to the 25-year-old Nelson, who held his postgame interview session with year-old son Royal on his lap, feeling pretty regal.
"Jordy stepped up when probably no one expected him to do it to fill my shoes," Driver said. "He's a playmaker and when you're a playmaker and you get your opportunity, you've got to make the best of it."
On his touchdown, Nelson evaded a bump from linebacker James Farrior at the line and then beat nickel cornerback William Gay on the right side of the end zone.
"I should have been on the guy; I should have been on him the whole way," Farrior lamented.
"Pittsburgh's a great defense," said Nelson, whose parents' sports bar in Manhattan, Kan., was surely rocking during and after the game. "Their front seven's hard to do anything on.
"We felt our best matchups were on the outside. It's all about opportunities. When we get four or five of us out there, we feel confident. ... We feel there's hardly any DBs can match up with us one-on-one, let alone four-on-four or five-on-five. That's just how defenses are made. That's a mismatch all the way around the board."
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Family atmosphere the key to Steelers’ success
FORT WORTH, Texas — Here's one of the cool things about playing for the Steelers. Team owner Dan Rooney is just a phone call away.
“We call the owner ‘Papa Rooney,’ ” safety Troy Polamalu said. “People have his cell phone (number). He’s got a really unique view on how a successful franchise should be run, and how the team should be run, and how the atmosphere in the locker room and within the building should be. I think other owners could learn from that.”
The Steelers success isn't hard to figure out, Clifton Brown says. Look no further than owner Dan Rooney, who promotes a family atmosphere in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have won six Super Bowls, the most of any franchise, and go for their seventh Sunday. People often discuss the keys to the Steelers’ sustained success. Here is one—the way the Rooney family has run the franchise for decades. It started with team founder Art Rooney. It has continued with his son, Dan, the chairman emeritus and current United States ambassador to Ireland, and Dan’s son, Art Rooney II, the team’s current president.
This is not to suggest that the Steelers are the only classy organization in the NFL. But the Rooney family has created an atmosphere where coaches and players feel like extended family. That has to be an advantage, particularly in a sport where teamwork is so vital.
Players and coaches have talked all week about “The Steeler Way.” Listen to offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.
“I’ve been a lot of places, about 14 different cities and colleges, and there’s nothing like the Rooneys,” Arians said. “But Mr. (Dan) Rooney is special. Our players love him. He’s walking through the locker room at all times. Our offices are all on one level. It is special. I don’t know if anybody else can replicate it because he got it from his father, and they’re passing it down through the family.”
Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward found another reason to admire Dan Rooney recently, after he spoke out in opposition to a potential 18-game regular season.
“He’s just speaking what we really feel,” Ward said. “He doesn’t care about that extra half-million or whatever money they make for those two extra games. He worries more about his players and their safety.”
Players who leave the Steelers often find out how different other organizations can be. Wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, linebacker Larry Foote and backup quarterback Byron Leftwich all left the Steelers at one point in their careers but have returned. None has regretted coming back. Guess the cliché, "You can’t go home again,” does not apply to the Steelers.
“This is the best organization in sports,” Leftwich said. “People see those six championships and wonder how they do it. The environment they put you in allows you to be successful.”
That environment was seriously tested this season. Ben Roethlisberger had his well-documented off-field issues, which led to a four-game suspension to start the season. Not only did the situation jeopardize Roethlisberger’s career, but it could have jeopardized the Steelers’ season. It was an uncomfortable and embarrassing offseason for the Steelers, with the future of their franchise quarterback in doubt.
Yet, another February finds the Steelers back in the Super Bowl, with a chance to win their third championship in six seasons. Mike Tomlin, who has made the Rooneys look wise for hiring him as their head coach four years ago, said working for the Steelers helps him set the proper tone.
“It’s passed down from generation of Steelers to generation of Steelers, through stories and actions,” Tomlin said. “The young guys who are brought in are taught how we do business. It’s something great to be a part of. It comes from the Rooney family.”
Maybe the Packers will prevent the Steelers from winning their seventh Super Bowl. Maybe the Packers, who have been rolling since Week 16, will culminate their late-season run with a championship.
However, history suggests that the Steelers will be tough to beat. The Steelers like to think of themselves as family.
And their favorite family heirloom is the Lombardi Trophy.
Old warriors endure painful irony of NFL’s greed game
DALLAS — Somewhere, someone has to see the irony in all of this. Maybe it just takes a fresh set of eyes.
Or a swift slap in the face.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the media Friday, and most of the talk centered on the labor strife. (AP Photo) NFL commissioner Roger Goodell gave his state of the league address Friday, and this is what we learned: The owners and players each think the other is too greedy, and it could cost us the 2011 season.
Meanwhile, the Super Bowl—the largest, most extravagant, decadent sports day/marketing bonanza of the year—will be played in a palace of a stadium that cost $1.3 billion to build.
“I know people at home think this is billionaires against millionaires,” Steelers safety Ryan Clark said, “but it’s more than that.”
At least it should be.
The world wants to hear about Maurkice Pouncey, and whether the Steelers’ rookie center will be ready to play Sunday in Super Bowl XLV. I want to hear more about Mike Webster, a Steelers Hall of Fame center who died from complications of numerous concussions he sustained while playing.
The world wants to talk about Troy Polamalu, the Steelers’ star safety and the league’s best defensive player. I want to talk more about Dick “Night Train” Lane, the greatest defensive back to ever play the game—and whose family barely had enough money to bury him.
While current owners and players haggle over millions, while they publicly complain that one of the most successful and healthy businesses on the planet is in danger of economic crisis, the sweat and steel of players who built the foundation of the game is long forgotten.
“Jerry Jones may have paid for that new stadium in Dallas,” NFL Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure said, “but he didn’t build it.”
It’s almost fitting that we’re here in Dallas, and the collective bargaining agreement has become the biggest story of the week. This is where America’s Team was born, where the game was nurtured and developed and blossomed long before petty and petulant owners like Jones and Danny Snyder came along.
That billion-dollar stadium may as well be an architectural graveyard; the blood and bones and ligaments and tendons of players gone by buried deep in its soul. Players that have long been ignored by the NFL once their careers were complete.
DeLamielleure played 13 seasons in the NFL and is one of the best linemen in the history of the game. Yet his NFL pension is a measly $1,200 a month.
“And my pension,” DeLamielleure says, “is a lot better than most.”
The NFL recently signed a $2 billion television contract with ESPN, a mere percentage of the league’s annual income from television (FOX, CBS and NBC also pay billions), apparel ($1 billion deal with Nike) and stadium revenues.
Player salaries and benefits have never been better. There are mega-signing bonuses for college players who have never played a down and marketing deals and image rights fees.
Meanwhile those who built the game can’t get out of bed without help from their wives or prescription medication or both. The pain still rips through DeLamielleure’s right elbow when he leans on it the wrong way. His knees hurt, he has headaches—and he’s one of the lucky ones.
Some can’t walk, some are homeless. Some have dementia and memory loss from head injuries. All of them need help.
It’s shameful, really, that it has come to this. Pensions for the men who built the league were bartered decades ago, and the current CBA is all about current players and owners getting theirs — and protecting theirs.
“When you’re wealthy,” DeLamielleure says, “you have no clue unless you walk in another man’s shoes.”
Billionaires vs. millionaires. There are no winners in this greedy game of chicken.
Only the bones of the game’s greats underneath the rubble.