Information about Sports

Golf Putting - Get Your Speed Right

2009-07-31T03:05:00.000-07:00

For a scratch golfer, putting is 50% of the strokes on their scorecard. For bogey golfers the percentage is usually higher, and high handicappers, higher still. So, to go to the driving range and work on your driver shots, and iron shots, without attending the practice green and placing equal (if not greater) importance on your putting, is to ignore at least half your golf game!

There are two factors that dictate the success or failure of every putt:

The read of the green
The speed of the putt

But first, let's set the bar at the right point to determine if a putt is successful.

Once you have reached the green in regulation, your goal is to two putt. If you one putt, great! But your goal is to have the ball end up within two feet of the hole after the first putt, so that the second putt is almost a tap-in.

There are two skills required to achieve success on the first putt. You have to be able to read how much break there will be in the putt. This allows you to set the proper line that the ball will traverse on its way to the hole. The second skill involves striking the ball with the putter with the proper force to have the ball end up within two feet of the hole. I will address the set of skills needed to properly strike the ball with the putter so that it ends up within two feet of the hole. This is the most critical of the two skills. Here's why. If you can hit the ball with the correct force to place the ball within 2 feet of the hole (given that you have the proper line), then you can cut your three-putts in half on your next round even if your "read" of the green is somewhat off.

Example: Let's say you have placed the ball on the green 20 feet from the hole. Also, let's assume for this example that it is a straight putt with no break. You read the putt to break a little left or right. So, you aim 1 or 2 degrees left or right of the hole. If you have mastered the skills required to strike the ball properly, with the proper force to get it within 2 feet of the hole, your read throws you off, but how much difference does it make?

If you're off by 5 degrees, your ball will end up 1.74 ft left or right of the hole which means it would still be within that 2 foot circle around the hole. Even a misread of 10 degrees keeps you within 3.5 feet of the hole. So, mastering the speed of your putt will virtually assure you of a makeable 2nd putt!

To get your putting speed right, we need to talk about:

How your putter is made
The proper way to strike the ball with the putter face
The set-up to the putt
One proper swing among many

Have you ever looked at how your putter is made? The reason I say this is because I have suffered from some sort of optical illusion many times when putting. I wear prescription glasses at all times, so I naturally thought my bifocals were giving me a problem. Then I read somewhere that most putters are made with about 3 degrees of "loft". Here's why you need to know this...

You want to strike the golf ball with the center of the flat face of the putter. To do this properly, your hands will actually be slightly forward of the ball at address if you want to present the flat face of the putter to the ball. If the putter is tilted up at ball impact, you will tend to lift the ball off the green. If that happens, the ball bounces, loses speed, and tends to come up short of the hole. What you want is for the ball to immediately start a roll at impact, with no bouncing. And, you want a set-up that insures that will happen every time so that you begin to build consistency into your putting game.

The way to build consistency into your putting game is to use a pre-shot routine that sets you up in proper position to hit the ball properly starting down the line that you have chosen. Choosing the proper line is done by reading the slope of the green and deciding if the ball will turn during its roll to the hole, which way it will turn, and approximately by how much it will turn.

Once you have chosen the line for the putt, pick a point on the green a few feet down the line you intend the ball to travel. Find something to focus on along the line. It might be a slight discoloration from the surrounding green, or even a particular blade of grass that is different. That will be your point of focus during the final set-up prior to the putt.

The reason you pick the point along the line prior to the set-up is because the set-up to the putt will be at a 90 degree angle to the line you wish to hit. So, during your pre-shot routine, you have read the green, selected the line, (path you expect the ball to take to the hole) determined about how hard you need to strike the ball, and now you're ready to address the ball and make the putt.

To address the ball do this (for right-handers):

Holding the putter grip in your right hand, place the face of the putter behind the ball aimed along the line you expect to hit.
Next place your left foot exactly square with the intended line with the ball lined up just inside your left shoe sole.
Then step in with your right foot even with the left foot and square to the line you intend to hit. (Feet should be about shoulder width apart)
To insure correct ball striking, make sure your hands at address are slightly ahead of the ball. This means you are presenting a vertical, flush putter face to the ball.
Now pull the putter face toward you away from the ball to make your practice swing. Making a practice swing is the final practice on getting the distance for the putt correct.

You have a correct set-up for the putt, now you need to strike the putt with a proper swing and speed to send the ball to within 2 feet of the cup. Notice I said "a proper swing"-not "THE" proper swing. The difference being that there are several swings for the putter that will deliver the clubface back to the ball with the proper alignment.

Some people advocate a pendulum swing. That's where you take the putter equal distance on the back swing and forward swing. Some people prefer to vary the back swing depending on the distance to the cup. But here is what we want to focus on to get consistency into our putting. Focus on the following:

Swing as if the arms and shoulders are one piece
No wrist action in the putter stroke
Follow through on the stroke (Forward swing at least as long as the back swing)
Forward swing motion should accelerate into the ball

The arms and shoulders are the only moving body parts during your putting stroke. There are no wrist movements involved. If you get "wristy" with your putting stroke, you will lose consistency, and consistency is what we are trying to achieve at this point.

You should feel as if you are always accelerating into the ball on the forward swing of the putter. If you decelerate on your forward swing, you also lose consistency with your putting stroke.

When you complete the forward swing be sure to follow through the ball. The clubface should be forward along the intended line. As your eyes come up after striking the ball, you should be looking at the "point" you picked out on the green along your intended line. You should see the ball cross that point. If the ball is above or below that point, you have either misread the break of the green, or you pushed or pulled your shot. At this point you should be asking yourself how the club felt at impact with the ball. You can feel it when the putter face strikes the ball. Further, you should be able to feel it when you strike the ball toward the sole or toe of the putter face. The sole being the point of the putter face closest to your feet, the toe being the point furthest from your feet.

All About the Ashes Series

2009-07-28T02:46:00.000-07:00

There is history behind the name of one of cricket's most famous test series, arising from the first time that England lost to Australia on home soil. This defeat took place on 29 August 1882 and the next day the Sporting Times newspaper published a mock obituary to English cricket which made reference to the ashes being taken to Australia.

The ashes concept was popular with cricket and sports fans and a few weeks later the English team set off to tour Australia, with the captain vowing to return with "the ashes". The message prompted a group of Australian women to present the England captain with an urn the following winter. Depending on which sporting legend you believe, the urn is said to contain the ashes of an item of cricket equipment, a ball, a bail or a stump.

Since that 1882-1883 tour, tests between England and Australia have always been regarded as the Ashes series. The name had stuck and is still used to this day with most people being aware of the link between the term "the ashes" and the cricket world.

The urn has survived the years too and can now be found in the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) museum at Lord's cricket grounds and is viewed by tens of thousands of visitors every year. In recent years a replica of the urn has been presented to the winning captain so the legacy can continue.

The Ashes test series is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. A series of "the Ashes" comprises five Test matches.

Ownership of the Ashes is given to whichever side gains an outright victory and if a draw occurs then the country already holding the Ashes retains the title.

During the early years of the Ashes it was England who held the winning streak, conquering all but one of the twelve series played between 1883 and 1896.

The turn of the 20th century brought about change and throughout this period, which was interrupted by World War One, England lost several games to Australia.

The Ashes victory returned to England in 2005 after sixteen years in Australia's possession though the jubilation was short lived as Australia scored a 5-0 triumph in the 2006-07 series so everything is at stake for the 2009 Ashes Test series.

The sense of sporting rivalry is as strong as ever for the next series. Cricket fans worldwide are getting ready to witness some more cricketing history unfold before their eyes during the 2009 npower Ashes Test series.

Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.

Is the Popularity of Test Cricket on the Wane?

2009-07-19T01:57:00.000-07:00

It must be remembered that there are several types of cricket currently being played at many different levels even internationally. These include test cricket, one-day cricket and most recently, Twenty-twenty cricket has ceased the imagination of even those who do not traditionally follow cricket. It has been suggested that it would be much better to have fewer international matches, a smaller ICC with less money at stake and that this would rekindle the interest in test cricket to make it a truly special event.

To examine the reason for the seismic shift in cricket is to those outside the traditional cricket world, consider for a moment how Cricket is played.

Two teams of eleven players each, which take turns to bowl a hard-leather ball. It follows a complicated system of 42 rules difficult to the outsider to understand. Traditionally test cricket is played in white clothes and with red balls. In the limited over form of the game more drama is brought to the spectacle by the wearing of brightly colored team kits. Test cricket seems inordinately long, up to six hours a day with breaks for refreshment whereas the shorter versions of the game can be all over within a day and sometimes within hours. Little surprise therefore that these limited over games are marching onwards.

Test cricket is the highest regarded form of the game despite the inroads being made by the new forms but it has to be conceded that one-day international cricket is now more popular amongst the wider sporting world. The sport of cricket has been played around the world in one form or another for 800 years. It has emerged as the universal common language of South Asia an ambassador if you like to a world beyond cricket.
Cricket has to be prepared to embrace change in order to appeal to a broader audience it already spans the generations, with a little more flexibility it can ensure that the traditional battles like the 2009 Ashes Test series continues to flourish for many decades to come

For more news, views and reviews about the Ashes Test 2009 then visit http://www.ashestest2009.com and ensure that you are never more than a click away from the action.

Top 3 Basketball Hoop Accessories For Summer Fun

2009-07-19T01:54:00.000-07:00

Extending your basketball playing hobby or passion from indoor gym time to outdoor summer fun is a no-brainer.

Shooting baskets with the guys, playing horse with the kids or spending time at a sports camp are all great ways that different types of people enjoy the game in their own ways. Whatever way you decide to play this season, invest some thought into what aspects of your summer game you enjoy the most. That way, you'll know that the basketball hoop accessories you buy will pay you back in enjoyment and added skills for a long time to come.

In choosing the top 3 items for this list I had a couple of different criteria. They all needed to be items that are reasonably priced. They need to last long enough for the investment to be worth it. Finally, each one needs to add to either to your skills or your enjoyment of the game. With those in mind, here is the master list.
Summer Lights for Summer Nights
One great accessory for basketball enthusiasts is additional lighting for your court or play area. Of course, there are large sized lights designed to illuminate the full court. These are great so that you don't have to stop game play when the sun goes down. Of course, you may not have a full sized court in your back yard! Even if you have a portable basketball hoop or a single net attached to your garage, you can play into the night with a simple flood light or a net that lights up. Playing by the light of the moon and your net is simply a great way to enjoy the magic of a summer night.

Wisden - The Bible of Cricket

2009-07-19T01:49:00.000-07:00

Ever since the game of cricket has been played, detailed facts and records have been kept. Facts for the first test matches have been kept since 1877. By the very nature of the game, cricket has created vast amounts of statistical records and a superbly rich list collection of cricketing stories, the 2009 Ashes series Test between England and Australia will be no different. So where do you go to get information on all things to do with cricket?

Simply the first port of call for all things cricket must be Wisden, this Cricket Almanac is THE reference guide for cricket, and was first produced in 1864 by the English cricketer John Wisden and has been published annually every year since. Although it generally weighs in with around 1500 pages of facts and figures, the first edition only ran to 112 pages and was padded out with several items unrelated to cricket such as dates of battle in the English Civil War, the winners of The Oaks.

The Almanac first appeared in a salmon pink colour but today's easily recognizable yellow cover first appeared on the 75th edition in 1938 as did the woodcut image of two Victorian gentlemen playing cricket in top hats and tight trousers. The first 'real' person to appear on the cover was Michael Vaughan in 2003.
The Wisden Almanac is indestructible! Even though the Wisden factory at Mortlake wad destroyed in 1944 after being hit by a German bomb destroying all the records it really didn't suffer any loss in production as all the information was contained within the existing Almanac and the company managed to continue production without losing any vital information.

There have only been 16 editors of Wisden in its 146 years - the shorted serving just one year and the longest 34 years.

Wisden's Cricketer of The Year dates back to 1899 and is one of the oldest sporting honours. Since 1927 there have been five chosen in each edition (excepting the war years (1941-1946) when none were chosen - although the almanac was still produced. The 2006 Edition saw the 300th Wisden Cricketer Of The Year since the Second World War and in 2009 England's Claire Taylor became the first woman to be chosen. Once you have received this accolade you are not eligible to be nominated a second time.

Although records of test matches have been kept since 1877 the very first Test Match between England and Australia that took place that year was not covered in Wisden for 100 years. The scorecard was printed to celebrate the centenary of the test in 1977 and bizarrely, the result was the same in both cases - Australia won by 45 runs.

Wisden now boasts an associated website Cricinfo and the book is now more an additional reference to this site.

As one would expect of anything Wisden, it is probably the most comprehensive online cricket information site in the world, containing a huge archive of cricket records and statistics. Use the Cricinfo Stats guru to find out any cricket you may possibly want to know, be it countries, players, grounds or officials. It has such a wealth of information that you really can make it your 'one stop shop' for all things cricket.

Watch and listen carefully for new statistics, facts and stories as England and Australia return to their age old rivalry at the 2009 Ashes Test series this summer. Only one team can return with the famous Urn. Urn - what Urn I hear you say .... Ah that's another story!

For more news, views and reviews about the Ashes Test 2009 then visit http://www.ashestest2009.com and ensure that you are never more than a click away from the action.

How Basketball Goals Make You Happy

2009-07-19T01:43:00.000-07:00

I consider myself a pretty simple guy and it doesn't take too much to make me happy. Good friends, time with my family, and a healthy dose of fun on a regular basis do the trick for me. I've found that having one or two items that really work towards that aim is ideal. To that end, I want to explain how basketball goals can make you happy.

Movement is Magic
There is truly a lot of wisdom to the strong body, strong mind philosophy. Being physically fit is proven to help alleviate anxiety and depression. Regular physical daily activities, like those on a basketball court, can lower your blood pressure and stress level. Of course, exercise also increases your metabolism and helps with weight loss.

The thing about going outside to shoot a few hoops, as opposed to trudging to the gym on a daily basis is that, for most of us, shooting baskets is a lot more fun. I'd rather chat with my friend on the court than count repetitions on a weight bench any day. In fact, experts say it just makes sense to get your physical fitness by doing the things you love the most.

Movement is truly magical. Kids who spend after school hours shooting baskets instead of playing video games or watching television have longer attention spans, better fitness levels and better overall health. Families who go outside to hike, throw a ball or engage in any outdoor activity tend to eat healthier foods and form closer bonds than those whose main together time involves watching American Idol.
Court Time Builds Relationships

Getting out on the court with a sullen teenager is a great way to get past the angst and pressures of daily life. Suddenly tension turns into fun and both parent and child can remember why they like each other. Friendships form over a game of hoops. Total strangers can find common ground on the basketball court. After a day of hard work at the office, a little distressing time on the court feels great! Families can use basketball games as a way to find that elusive together time.

It's no surprise that high school and college coaches often make a long lasting impression on team members. Any team that works towards a common goal has the opportunity to bond. Whether you play in a formal team, or just for fun, time spent on the court is a fun way to build, cement and keep relationships strong.

I carry a basketball around in the trunk of my car no matter where I go. Whether you have a net in your driveway, you head to a local playground or school, or you play at a gym or community center, you can find a court nearby. The health benefits of this game along with the great opportunities to play with the people you really want to spend time with is why games played with basketball goals can really make you happy.

Author Trey Carter is the creative writer for Top Hoops, an online retailer that specializes in basketball hoops. From outdoor inground goals to portable basketball hoop systems, they have hoops for every court.

recent cricket

2009-07-17T01:49:00.000-07:00

Watch cricket highlights: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2nd Test Day 3 from Colombo played on July 14, 2009.

Scoreline: Pakistan 320 all out (2nd Inn) – Rangana Herath 5 wickets, Kulasekara 4 wickets
SL overhaul the target of 171 in 31.5 overs for 3 – Warnapura 54, Sangakkara 46, Mahela 37 no

So after wresting control of the test on Day 2, Pakistan go and do it all over again. Harakiri at its artistic highest.

285/1 to 320 all out. 6 LBWs of which only the Misbah one looked a really poor one. As Younus pointed out post-match, a technical inability to come to terms with the deviation of the ball, whether it was Kulasekara or Herath.

When you first take a look at Kulasekara, you don’t particularly rate him. He just doesn’t seem to have that look about him. And yet, consistently he’s troubled batsmen all around with a disciplined line and length and the ability to seam the ball, sometimes prodigiously.

Younus Khan was fantastic as usual post-match and has a new phrase – It was dodgy

Duration and tie-breaking methods

2009-07-13T03:22:00.000-07:00

A standard adult football match consists of two periods of 45 minutes each, known as halves. Each half runs continuously, meaning that the clock is not stopped when the ball is out of play. There is usually a 15-minute half-time break between halves. The end of the match is known as full-time.

The referee is the official timekeeper for the match, and may make an allowance for time lost through substitutions, injured players requiring attention, or other stoppages. This added time is commonly referred to as stoppage time or injury time, and is at the sole discretion of the referee. The referee alone signals the end of the match. In matches where a fourth official is appointed, toward the end of the half the referee signals how many minutes of stoppage time he intends to add. The fourth official then informs the players and spectators by holding up a board showing this number. The signalled stoppage time may be further extended by the referee.[32]

Added time was introduced because of an incident which happened in 1891 during a match between Stoke and Aston Villa. Trailing 1–0 and with just two minutes remaining, Stoke were awarded a penalty. Villa's goalkeeper kicked the ball out of the ground, and by the time the ball had been recovered, the 90 minutes had elapsed and the game was over.[33]

In league competitions, games may end in a draw, but in some knockout competitions if a game is tied at the end of regulation time it may go into extra time, which consists of two further 15-minute periods. If the score is still tied after extra time, some competitions allow the use of penalty shootouts (known officially in the Laws of the Game as "kicks from the penalty mark") to determine which team will progress to the next stage of the tournament. Goals scored during extra time periods count toward the final score of the game, but kicks from the penalty mark are only used to decide the team that progresses to the next part of the tournament (with goals scored in a penalty shootout not making up part of the final score).
In competitions using two-legged matches, each team competes at home once, with an aggregate score from the two matches deciding which team progresses. Where aggregates are equal, the away goals rule may be used to determine the winners, in which case the winner is the team that scored the most goals in the leg played away from home. If the result is still equal, kicks from the penalty mark are usually required, though some competitions may require a tied game to be replayed.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the IFAB experimented with ways of creating a winner without requiring a penalty shootout, which was often seen as an undesirable way to end a match. These involved rules ending a game in extra time early, either when the first goal in extra time was scored (golden goal), or if one team held a lead at the end of the first period of extra time (silver goal).

Golden goal was used at the World Cup in 1998 and 2002. The first World Cup game decided by a golden goal was France's victory over Paraguay in 1998.

Germany was the first nation to score a golden goal in a major competition, beating Czech Republic in the final of Euro 1996.

Silver goal was used in Euro 2004. Both these experiments have been discontinued by IFAB.

2009-07-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

FIFA World Cup™ appearances
13 (1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006)
Continental titles

WinnerCONCACAF Championship (1965, 1971), CONCACAF Gold Cup (1993 USA/Mexico, 1996 USA, 1998 USA, 2003 USA/Mexico)
Runners-UpCONCACAF Championship (1967), Copa America (1993, 2001), CONCACAF Gold Cup (2007 USA)
Best Results
WinnerFIFA Confederations Cup (1999), FIFA U-17 World Cup Final (2005)
Runners-UpFIFA U-20 World Cup Final (1977), FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Final (2007)
ThirdFIFA Confederations Cup (1995), FIFA Club World Cup (2000)
FourthOlympic Football Tournament Final (1968), FIFA Confederations Cup (2005), FIFA Club World Cup (2006, 2008

Paddy Sheelan (ACC) Cup

2009-07-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

Sheelan ACC Cup Group A:
Dundalk Gaels 3-11:1-10 Naomh Malachi (15/03/09)
A tough task for the Mals men seen them face up to the Dundalk team who were seeking a win to be in with a chance of making the latter stages of the ACC Cup Competition. On a bright spring morning the Mals men got off to a good start with the impressive Colin Rooney to the fore. Though the classic 'goals wins games' statement was even more evident as the Gaels took their chances when presented to them and went into the interval with a 3-03:1-06 lead. However the border side showed their resilient streak and though the elusive goal never came in the second half the chances were presented to them which augurs well for the season ahead. Scorers: Colin Rooney 1-03, Mark Meegan 0-04, Sean Smith 0-01, Brian Rogers 0-01, Ronan Lynch 0-01.

St Patricks 0-13:0-11 Naomh Malachi (08/03/09)
A hard fought battle in Lordship materialised on Sunday morning, March 8th as the Mals faced up to St. Patricks in the fourth game of the ACC Cup. Playing against a strong breeze in the first half the border club done well to stay in touch with the Pats and with a bit more luck they could have taken one of the goal chances that were within their grasp. However the experience of the Lordship side told as their slender one pint lead going into the latter stages of the opening period soon transpired into a five point deficit for the border club.A spirited fightback was on the cards for the Mals and fine points from Colin Rooney and Gerard Hamill sent them on their way to closing the game to two points with time running out. However the all-important goal never materialised as some stout defending by the Pats men kept the Mals at bay and an elusive goal was not within our reach. Scorers: Jason Clarke 0-02, Mark Meegan 0-02, Colin Rooney 0-02, Colin Murtagh 0-02, Gerard Hamill 0-01, Ruairi Daly 0-01, Micheal Murtagh 0-01.

Naomh Malachi 2-08:1-07 Hunterstown Rovers (01/03/09)
The Mals picked up their second win of the 2009 campaign with a hard fought win over Hunterstown Rovers in a game played on Sunday morning, March 1st at 11:30am in Courtbane. Playing into a strong win in the first half the Mals got off to the perfect start with a well taken goal by Ronan McElroy giving them an early boost. Further points were added by Gerard Hamill and the impressive Brian Rogers but the lads let their lead slip and a spirited fightback by Rovers seen them more than claw their way back into the game and take a one-point half-time lead. On the resumption of the game the Mals began to stamp their authority on the game and with Pierce Caherty beginning to control midfield the scores began to flow for the border club. They overturned the half-time deficit and raced into a 6 point lead in the early stages of the second half thanks to well-taken points from Colin Murtagh, Mark Meegan, Rogers and McElroy. Hunterstown responded with fine scores from the impressive Matthews and Carrie though the elusive goal that would have turned the game on its head never materialised. Scorers: Brian Rogers 0-05, Ronan McElroy 1-00, Gerard Hamill 1-00, Colin Murtagh, Mark Meegan and Micheal Murtagh 0-01 each.

St. Brides 0-06:1-06 Naomh Malachi (25/02/09)
Brides gave up home advantage and game was played in Darver on Wed 25th Feb. After a lacklustre first half performace the Malachis started quickly and scored a goal in the first 5 mins through Colin Rooney. Further points from Rooney & Colin Murtagh left the half time score 1-03 to 0-03. With the strong presence of Mickey Kane in full back, the Malachis took control and with the live wire Rooney upfront, they continued to dominate and went on to win the game on a scoreline of 1-06 to 0-06. Rooneys performance over the hour had a big influence on the final scoreScorers: Colin Rooney 1-03, Colin Murtagh 0-02, Ruairi Daly 0-01

Naomh Malachi 0:07-0:15 Oliver Plunketts (22/02/09)
Naomh Malachi opened the 2009 season with a home match against Oliver Plunketts on Sun 22nd Feb. Malachis playing with a strong breeze opened their scoring with a Mark Meegan point. Plunketts dominated the opening exchanges and led 0:04 to 0:03 at half time. The resumption in the second half the scores were locked at 0:07pts each with the Mals scores coming from points by Gerard Hamill, Pete McShane & 3 pts from Colin Murtagh. However the Mals seemed to relax in the last quarter and failed to raise the white flag, letting the Plunketts score 8pts without reply from the boys in red & white. Final score was 0-15 to 0-7.Scorers: Colin Murtagh 0-04, Mark Meegan 0-01, Pete McShane 0-01, Gerard Hamill 0-01
Last Updated on Friday, 20 March 2009 22:28

tour de france

2009-07-07T00:47:00.000-07:00

LA GRANDE MOTTE, France -- Lance Armstrong's sideburns may have grayed a bit during his temporary retirement, but he showed no signs of racing senility on a day when many top riders were caught flat-footed.

Team Columbia-HTC -- irritated with the peloton's lack of cooperation in chasing down a breakaway, and anticipating the crosswinds that were about to buffet the course as it veered right through the Camargue marshland that fronts the Mediterranean coast -- made a sudden, risky surge forward late in Stage 3 of the Tour de France. The move split the group and threw a grenade into what had been a predictable amble toward a sprint finish.

Columbia formed the angled pace line called an echelon with the kind of power and choreography that would have made aerospace engineers proud, throttling up to chase down the four men down the road and set up the finale for their star, Mark Cavendish. Another 20 riders who were in the front of the peloton jumped with them, including Armstrong and current overall leader Fabian Cancellara of the Saxo Bank team.

Cavendish won with a flourish, holding his hand to his ear in a tribute to the team's new co-sponsor, a wireless phone company. The other beneficiary of the day was Armstrong, who vaulted to third overall, 40 seconds behind Cancellara and seven seconds shy of Columbia's young German star Tony Martin, neither of whom is a threat for the overall. More significantly and symbolically, Armstrong is 19 seconds ahead of his Astana teammate Alberto Contador, who was unable to maintain the stepped-up tempo.

That shake-up will dump kerosene onto the speculation that a full-tilt leadership struggle is about to erupt on Astana. Armstrong didn't exactly add to the bonfire, but he was clearly exhilarated by the day's events. You snooze, you lose time in a bike race. It just doesn't generally happen the way it did Monday, on a flat stage in torrid heat headed toward an almost certain bunch sprint finish.

"When you know what the wind is doing and you see a turn coming up, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that you have to ride in the front," said Armstrong, who said he decided to come forward just before Columbia accelerated and attributed his performance to "good positioning, experience, a little bit of luck. … I was just trying to stay up front and stay out of trouble, and it happened."

A reporter in the scrum around Armstrong at the finish asked whether his longtime friend and former teammate George Hincapie tipped him to Columbia's move.
"No, they were in the front," Armstrong said. "It wasn't an attack. They were pulling back the break. They turned, they saw the wind and they just accelerated. It wasn't like it was an ambush."

But many riders in the peloton apparently weren't ready to respond to the sudden change in tempo after a leisurely day in the heat when many teams were looking to conserve energy before Tuesday's difficult team time trial.

Contador probably won't be consoled by this, but he was in good company. Other contenders who got caught in the back included Cadel Evans of Silence-Lotto, Christian Vande Velde of Garmin-Slipstream, Andy Schleck of Saxo Bank, Carlos Sastre of Cervelo and Denis Menchov of Rabobank. (Menchov is most distant from Armstrong at 1 minutes, 39 seconds behind the Texan.)

According to Francaise des Jeux rider Christophe Le Mevel, who was on Contador's wheel when the peloton fractured, the Spaniard was the last man who tried to go with the strung-out front group after Columbia's acceleration. He could not keep up and fell away. He and the rest of the shell-shocked peloton tried to recoup but never narrowed the gap to less than 18 seconds.

The 2007 Tour winner said he found himself in "no-man's-land" when the split occurred. Contador would not comment on team tactics except to say that with three riders in the break, Astana's workload in the rear group was reduced. "Everyone can [come to] his own conclusions," he told reporters. "Anyway, the Tour is not going to be decided with what has happened today."
Armstrong basically agreed with that, but it's worth recalling that the past two Tours have been won by less than a minute and a half combined.

Cavendish, who embraced Armstrong after the stage, clearly had no sympathy for riders who lost time because of the unusual maneuver. "The riders with the teams who wanted to ride like juniors got results like juniors," he said dismissively.

Hincapie said the team bolted out of frustration. "It wasn't really a plan," he told VeloNews.com. "We were a bit peeved that nobody would help us. … We were just asking guys to give us a little bit of a hand. Nobody would. So we decided if we saw a moment, were going to go full gas and do some damage.
"We were killing two of our own guys; tomorrow's a really hard day, so we decided that if we were going to kill two guys, might as well kill the whole team and the rest of the peloton and get some time and win the stage. It was a great day."

Astana director Johan Bruyneel said that once the break was established and he knew that two more of his riders, Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovych and Haimar Zubeldia of Spain, were with Armstrong, he decided it was best to let the group stay away even though Contador, Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloeden -- three previous Tour podium finishers -- were caught in the group behind. Declining to join in the chase made it "hard on the other teams, since we didn't have to do anything in the back," he said.

Bruyneel also said it plays into Astana's hands to have Cancellara retain the yellow jersey after the team time trial, a strong possibility now given the size of his margin. That would give Saxo Bank the unenviable duty of controlling the peloton in the two long, hot and mostly flat stages that remain before the race's first mountaintop finish on Friday.
"Sometimes things like this happen," Bruyneel said. "It was really a surprise moment, because it's not normal that all the favorites are surprised."
Except one.

Bonnie D. Ford covers tennis and Olympic sports for ESPN.com. She can be reached at bonniedford@aol.com.

Company Info

2009-07-04T02:29:00.000-07:00

Tianjin South China Leesheng Sporting Goods Co., Ltd. is a large sports ball manufacturer in Northern China, specializing in footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, rugby balls, boxing balls and handballs. Our brand "Leesheng" is famous both at home and abroad. Balls are produced with a variety of materials, including leather and PU, either by hand-sewn or laminated. We have

many years' experience in the manufacture and supply of quality sports balls. We also offer O. E. M. products. Our quality balls are sold all over the world, directly to end buyers or through agents.

Shark eyes sixth Open crown

2009-06-28T21:06:00.000-07:00

Former world No.1 Greg Norman is confident he still possesses the game to clinch a sixth Stonehaven Cup, after signing on to contest the next three Australian Opens.
Australia's most famous sporting export confirmed his commitment to the tournament at a packed media conference overlooking Sydney Harbour on Monday morning.
The 54-year-old, who last contested his national championship in 2006, expressed a desire to return the sport he loves to the 'halcyon days' of the 1980s.
He will work in partnership with Golf Australia and Events NSW to promote Sydney and Australia as a premier golfing destination for overseas visitors.
But while he plans to embrace his role as an ambassador for the tournament, 'The Shark' warned rivals not to take him lightly when he returns to NSW Golf Club - a course he happens to be a member of - later this year.
"I think so," he said when asked if he is capable of reclaiming the trophy he last won in 1996.
"Any time you come to a golf course, just take last year for example at the British Open, I love Royal Birkdale (it's) one of my favourite golf courses of all time."
"You go there, you feel comfortable, you feel relaxed and you go out there with an attitude and approach toward the game that you can still compete."
"That's the beauty of the game of golf at my age ... fortunately I can still compete because if you keep yourself fit and strong and mentally stable about the game yes, I think I have the ability to compete."
Meanwhile, Norman challenged the game's leading lights to do more to promote the game across the globe.
"I'm saddened on a global basis, not just here in Australia, that there's been a bit of a neutralisation for the growth of the game of golf," he said.
"It's important and it's incumbent on all the name players and iconic players to try and promote the game of golf on a global basis."
And the two-time major champion, who recalled the days when the Australian Open was considered among the game's top-five events, is confident the famous tournament can be restored to its former glory over time.
"The Australian Open's been around for a very long period of time. The history of the tournament and the names on the cup are all the players who won major championships," he said.
"And that is a shining example of where the stature of this event stands in all the players' minds. When you know Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer came down here and supported this event for a long time, it tells you the importance."

Asked if his decision to play in the Sydney-based tournament from December 3-6 is a bigger coup than Tiger Woods' upcoming appearance at the Australian Masters to be held in Melbourne this November, Norman declared both signatures a 'victory for Australia'.
"I think it's testament to what Australia does have," he enthused.

"The ability that we can bring two players - obviously Tiger Woods for his domination of the game over the last 15 years has been phenomenal - and for the Australian people to be able to see him first hand outside of a Presidents Cup ... it's a great opportunity."

"I don't think it's a PR battle, I think it's just a battle where one hand is talking to the other hand and put two hands together and Australia is the benefactor."

"And NSW and Victoria will be the benefactor of those two events - no question about it."

About AIS Boxing

2009-06-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

The AIS Boxing program was an Olympic Athlete Program (OAP) initiative. International coach Bodo Andreass was appointed national head coach in 1997, based at the AIS in Canberra. Initially he worked around the country with Australia's leading amateur boxers and coaches and conducted national team camps at the AIS.
Today scholarships are offered to high performance boxers considered by Boxing Australia to achieve success at the international level. The AIS Boxing program is residential program with the athletes based in Canberra. There are two squads within the program: current national squad members; and National Talent Identification and Development (NTID) Indigenous athletes.

The primary aim of the senior program is to prepare boxers to represent Australia in international competition with a particular focus on ensuring boxers perform at a high level in the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. The AIS NTID program has the same aim as the senior program, but it takes a longer term view. These athletes are targetting the 2010

Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games, while the senior athletes have Beijing in their sights.
The facilities for boxing at the AIS include two Olympic-standard boxing rings, punching bags plus strength and conditioning facilities that supplemnt those that are provided in the AIS's gymnasium. The program accesses a range of sports science services and equipment, including a boxing-specific punch integrator.

Sports Psychology

2009-06-28T20:57:00.000-07:00

The increased stress of competitions can cause athletes to react both physically and mentally in a manner that can negatively affect their performance abilities. They may become tense, their

heart rates race, they break into a cold sweat, they worry about the outcome of the competition, they find it hard to concentrate on the task in hand. This has led coaches & athletes to take an increasing interest in the field of sport psychology and in particular in the area of competitive anxiety.

That interest has focused on techniques that athletes can use in the competitive situation to maintain control and optimise their performance. So what are these techniques?

A world of sport infolmation

2009-06-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

The summer months are full of unpredictable weather conditions, with everything from lightning to extreme heat. Partner the extreme weather conditions with poor air quality and you are

facing months of potentially dangerous situations not only for your health but in some cases your life. Taking the correct safety precautions including observing the 30-30 Rule, keeping hydrated and exercising at the right time of day, will allow you to stay active and safe all summer long!

Sport organizations/clubs are encouraged to read the article regarding Lightning and the Law:

Lessons from a Soccer Game since it describes a situation last summer involving a coach, referee and U11 girls soccer team in Toronto. We are fortunate to have the legal counsel involved in the case share their story with us and highlight the lightning rule the Toronto Soccer Association has included to encourage the safety of its participants.

resource center

2009-06-25T00:24:00.000-07:00

The summer months are full of unpredictable weather conditions, with everything from lightning to extreme heat. Partner the extreme weather conditions with poor air quality and you are facing months of potentially dangerous situations not only for your health but in some cases your life. Taking the correct safety precautions including observing the 30-30 Rule, keeping hydrated and exercising at the right time of day, will allow you to stay active and safe all summer long!
Sport organizations/clubs are encouraged to read the article regarding Lightning and the Law: Lessons from a Soccer Game since it describes a situation last summer involving a coach, referee and U11 girls soccer team in Toronto. We are fortunate to have the legal counsel involved in the case share their story with us and highlight the lightning rule the Toronto Soccer Association has included to encourage the safety of its participants.

Women Sports in Pakistan

2009-06-25T00:17:00.000-07:00

Pakistan sports board was established in 1962 which was built to promote uniform standards of competition in sports in Pakistan. These were to be compared on the international platform of sports. The other objective was to control Sports on the national level. Pakistan sports board was established under the ministry of Education through the sports ordinance 1962.Over the recent years there has been an increase in the sporting activity in Pakistan. With Pakistani sportsmen, women are participating at many national and international events.

Well the going has never been easy for Pakistani women who play sports but yet they are sweating out and making a lot of efforts. To dissuade a women some negligible budgets, stringent dress codes and few monetary benefits are enough from donning sports gear. Anmaar Habib was the first women skier to represent Pakistan at an international level and she is now training for 2010 winter Olympics. The women hockey qualified to play for Doha Asian Games but were not allowed to play due the reason that they might embarrass the country with poor performance. But their being qualified was the proof that they are fit enough to play. The lack of quotas In school is also a hindrance in women taking up the opportunity. Pakistan women football team has played against Afghanistan and Jordan and are planning to visit Maldives and Norway this year.

Nilofer Bakhtiar the former tourism minister quit after all newspapers splashed pictures of her hugging a male instructor after a parajump in France last year says that women sports has never been a priority in Pakistan. They are always short of funds when women are in focus. The sports budget is so limited that it is mostly consumed for males and nothing is left after wards. That is why women are discouraged and most of them who have talent and want to take a step are stopped after this reality is disclosed. Pakistan's first cricket team was founded in 1997 a full 21 years after India. This early appearance was characterized by heavy losses against Australia where an humiliating record of 27 all out was made. Today restrictions have eased and genuine attempts at expanding the game through school leagues are being made. But there are problems like there is no female player older than 24 years due to the reason they get married and its obvious that the husbands wont allow them to go back in the field. Some education commitments. Now due to this reason if a player is 2 to 3 years in the team and becomes a senior has to leave due to obligations mentioned above.

But now Musharaf's reform agenda of enlightened moderation, authorities have started taking keen interests in activities related to women encouragement in sports. The legendary Imtiaz Ahmed is taken as the chief advisor and selector of women teams. Well in country still fighting for women's rights, a level playing field for Pakistan's women sportsmen remains a distant prospect.

The Sports Bra as Part of Women's Apparel

2009-06-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

Studies show that 75 to 80% of women in the United States do not use the right bra when working out. This is because these people believe that the same thing worn in the office can also be used in a physical activity.

This just means that it is not enough to buy a top and shorts when women decide to workout. This is because adequate support must also be given to the breasts since a lot of females feel very uncomfortable when the person has to jump, run or lift weights. In order to prevent injuries in the breasts, the sports bra was invented.

Sports bras are not that hard to find. There are different brands that can be found in the department store and the only thing the individual should do is find the right one ideal for the body.

Getting the right sports bra also depends on the level of intensity that the person is engaged in. These are classified into three namely low, medium and high impact exercises.
Low impact includes cycling, hiking and yoga. Medium could be brisk walking, jogging or skating while high may be aerobics, running or tae bo.

So what kind of sports bra is ideal for the individual? This really depends on the size of the woman’s breasts. For example, women who are flat or small chested should consider wearing a halter-top. Those whose breasts are large should buy something that has separately molded cups so that it isn’t too tight when the person wears it.

If the customer has never worn one before, it is best to try a few on in order to find that ideal sports bra that is snug and will not give the person a hard time breathing. The individual should even jump or walk around to see how flexible it is.

The sports bra should also be able to absorb sweat. Some manufacturers use dri-fit technology making it easy to dry after an exercise.

There is also another bra that prevents serious injury should something hit the person in the chest. This is called a shock absorber bra. It has different levels of protection ranging from 1 to 4 that works by having a double inner layer sewn into the fabric.

This type of bra also has a breathable mesh that absorbs sweat. This is fastened in the back unlike the conventional sports bra that has to be put on like wearing a shirt.

Low Jeremy maintains http://sports-apparel.articlesforreprint.com This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Low_Jeremy

Sports Facts - Women's Volleyball

2009-06-25T00:07:00.000-07:00

Did you know...

London will host the 2012 Olympic Volleyball Tournament. A maximum of 12 teams will participate in the event. The United Kingdom and Brazil -2008 Olympic gold medal- have qualified for the 2012 London Summer Olympics. Curiously, Great Britain has never competed in the Pre-Olympics, World Cups, World Championships and Olympic Games. Great Britain did not qualify for the European Championships in 2007.

The People's Republic of China, Brazil and Russia are the favorites for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games. China won the gold medal at the Girls' Under- 18 World Volleyball Championships in Mexico in 2007.

The United States hopes to win its first world title in 2009. With Lang Ping as coach -a former Chinese volleyball player who had taken part in the 1982 World Cup and 1984 Olympics- the U.S. women's volleyball team trains very hard for the 2009 World Cup in Tokyo (Japan).

From 1962 to 1967, Japan dominated the international tournaments and players from that Asian country won two World Championships.

Venezuela qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics through the South American Pre-Olympic in Lima, Peru. For the first time, Venezuela defeated Peru 3-2 ( 22-25, 27-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12). Curiously, Venezuela has never participated in the World Championships or Olympic Games. In 1982, Venezuela finished 5th place at the Central American & Caribbean Games...

Russia has got seven world championships ( USSR ' 52, France ' 56, Brazil ' 60, Bulgaria ' 70, Uruguay ' 73, China ' 90, Japan ' 06 ) and four Olympic titles (Mexico ' 68, West Germany ' 72, USSR ' 80, South Korea ' 88).

In 1980, South Korea -one of the world's best volleyball teams- did not send a team to the Pre-Olympics in Bulgaria. Why ? Between 1948 and 1987, South Korea -an anti-Communist state in the 20th century- did not establish formal diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of Bulgaria. The tournament was part of the Olympic qualification system for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.

Algeria -which won the gold medal at the 2007 Pan African Games- is the first Arab team to participate in the Olympic Games (Beijing 2008).

From 1952 to 1973, China did not compete in the World Championships ( Moscow ' 52, Paris ' 56, Rio ' 60, Moscow ' 62, Tokyo ' 67, Sofia ' 70 ) and Asian Games ( Jakarta ' 62, Bangkok ' 66, Bangkok ' 70 ). Why ? Because the People's Republic of China was not member of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball ( FIVB ). In 1974, China became an official member of the FIVB. This nation made its international debut at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran (Iran). Three weeeks later, China competed in the World Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico. In the preliminary round, China lost two matches: Poland (3-1) and Japan (3-0/ 1972 Olympic champion).The People's Republic of China finished in 14th place -among 24 nations- at the 1974 FIVB World Championships. In the 1980s, China became the first country to win 5 of 8 major volleyball tournaments:

1980: China boycotted the Moscow Olympics

1981: Japan World Cup-1st place

1982: Peru World Championships-1st place

1984: Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games-1st place

1985: Japan World Cup-1st place

1986: Czechoslovakia World Championships-1st place

1988: South Korea Olympic Games-3rd place

1989: Japan World Cup- 3rd place

South Korea won the FIVB U-20 World Championship in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in 1977. Korea beat China for the gold medal. For the first time, three volleyball teams from Asia competed in the finals (Korea, China and Japan).

Massachusetts (United States) is the birthplace of volleyball...
The Romanian women's volleyball squad won the gold medal at the 1980 World Olympic Qualification in Varna (Bulgaria). Final standings:

1.Romania
2.Bulgaria
3.Brazil
4.North Korea
5.Hungary
6.Mexico

Like many former Soviet-bloc nations, Ukraine was one of the last members of the FIVB. Surprisingly, Ukraine won the silver medal at the 1993 World Youth Championships in South America.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea / North Korea -which won the Olympic bronze medal in Munich in 1972- did not want to compete in the World Championships in 1974. The team also did not participate in the Asian Cup in Melbourne (Australia) in 1975.
Mexico hosted the 2007 Girl's Youth World Championships. There were 16 teams: Mexico, Serbia, South Korea, Belarus, Brazil, Japan, Puerto Rico, Germany, Italy, Russia, Dominican Republic, Peru, China, USA, Tunisia and Turkey.

Nigeria became the first black African team to qualify for the FIVB World Cup in 1982. On September 14, Peru -1979 Pan American silver medalist- upset Nigeria -African champion- in the opener of the World Cup. The score was 15-0, 15-0,15-0.

Volleyball is one of the most popular Olympic sports in South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, North Korea and the People's Republic of China.
The United States won the gold medal at the 1981 NORCECA Tournament. The U.S. women's volleyball team won the international tournament after losing in the final three times in a row ( 1975, 1977, 1979 ).

In the 1980s, Maria Salgado Barroso (Brazilian volleyball player) played in the Japanese Volleyball League.

Minorka Marisela Mercado Carrero was one of the "most beautiful volleyball players" in the world. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she played for Venezuela. Minorka represented her country at the 1989 World Youth Cup in Lima, Peru. On September 3, 1993 she became the second sportswoman elected Miss Venezuela. Minorka was discovered by Osmel Sousa -Director of Miss Universe Venezuela. Under the direction of Osmel, she was second runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in 1994...

The German Democratic Republic / East Germany -Olympic silver medalist in 1980- did not compete at the FIVB Women's World Cup in Peru in 1982.

The first Women's Volleyball World Cup was in Moscow ( USSR / Russia) in 1952.
The U.S. women's volleyball team has not won the World Championships.

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: He is a freelance writer. Alejandro is of Italian, African and Peruvian ancestry. He has published more than seventy-five research paper in English, and more than twenty in Spanish, concerning the world issues, olympic sports, countries, and tourism. His next essay is called "The Dictator and Alicia Alonso". He is an expert on foreign affairs. Alejandro is the first author who has published a world-book encyclopedia in Latin America.

He admires Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), José Gamarra (former president of the Bolivian Olympic Committee ,1970- 1982), Hillary Clinton (ex-First Lady of the USA), and Jimmy Carter (former President of the USA). Alejandro said: "The person who I admire the most is José Gamarra . He devoted his professional and personal life to sport. José played an important role in the promotion of Olympism in Bolivia -it is one of the Third World`s poorest countries- and Latin America. His biography is interesting". The sportspeople he most admire is Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman. "This African-American sportswoman is my idol... "

Welcome to Women's Sports Information

2009-06-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

Women's Sports Information is a site dedicated to helping women athletes play their sport better. Use Women's Sports Information to find women-specific sports information. We love sports and want to share sports information as it pertains to women athletes.

Our pages are jam packed with resources and links to find equipment and sports tips for women, as researched by women. Use Women's Sports Information to be better informed and better equipped, find out where to play, and how to play your sport better. Because sport is life!