How To Choose The Best Hybrid Bike For You

By: Mary Stackhouse
If you are considering the purchase of a hybrid bike then it is highly important to know and understand something of the build and about the bike features. Even more so if you are a first-time buyer.

The hybrid bike is a mix of road bike and mountain bike. They tend to be nicely sturdy and strong enough to be ridden both on road and off. To get a further understanding of the bike though, we should look more in detail at some of the main elements, which are the wheels, gears, the frame and handlebars.

They are sturdy bikes and are built to be light enough to be ridden on hard surface, while at the same time strong enough to handle some light off road work too. For more understanding its best to look further at some of the details of the main parts.

Chances are good that the frame will be made from a light weight aluminum or steel. This is because of the durability and strength of those metals.

The main frame will have been made from either a lightweight steel or aluminum, which will provide strength and durability.

Gears

Handlebars

Handlebars

Wheels

Wheels

The wheels are what could be regarded as a good mix between mountain and road bike. The width is like the mountain bike - quite bulky - giving extra durability and stability to the ride. The tire pressure however is more like the road bike - much higher than the mountain bike, thus offering more road speed.

The wheel rims and the spokes are like those of the road bike - lighter, so it's not really possible to do too much off-road riding in rough conditions.

The hybrid bike then is a great choice for those cyclists who wish to keep to pathways and roads - the ideal choice for anyone to use to go to work, to school or for general exercise in the outdoors.

Before making a purchase, always research the brand and bike that you are interested in and look out for reviews that you can easily find online, so you can get a better understanding of what is available.

If you are unsure about something, then do contact the retailer about this for further information before making any purchase and they will be more than happy to help you

Source: PopularArticles.com^TM / Sports / Cycling / http://www.PopularArticles.com/article165936.html

Trophies For Sports And Other Events

Sports and other extra curricular activities try to
invigorate the inner feeling and other desires in any individual quite
considerably. Every individual or a team that tries to win an award or a
massive prize in any of the competitions both within the country and abroad
tend to receive substantial amount of reward in terms of cash as well as
momentous trophies if they happen to win any competition. Trophies can be
acquired by any victorious individual or a team in any of the championships or
competitions. Custom engraving can
be done on the trophy as per the requirement and desire of the competition’s
organizer and manager. Precise and exclusive engraving on any trophy tends to
augment the overall beauty and effectiveness of the object quite significantly
by leaps and bounds. However, one aspect that must be considered while
engraving the trophy is that the planned engraving should not be over intricate
or jazzy. It tends to reduce the general effectiveness and decency of the
award.

Plaques awards can be given to any winning person or a team at any time of
the year. These types of awards can be obtained in diverse shapes, pattern and
colors as well. Trophies and several other plaques are presented to individuals
and teams for their massive achievement and significant glory that they managed
to accomplish in such an intense and tough competition. New York City
may be considered to be the hub of producing exclusive and extravagant trophies
and other awards as per the obligation and craving of the sports and extra
curricular organizers. The overall exposure towards sports and other
recreational activities is immense in this city and hence you will be able to
see various stunning trophies and prizes being produced for several minor and
major championships and competitions.

Trophies and
awards can be produced in breathe taking
patterns, designs and outlines that can truly captivate the imagination of any
individual immediately. Presenting trophies and other prizes to persons is a
sign of extreme affection, appreciation and love bestowed on them. This
positive feeling will only motivate the athletes, sportspersons and teams to
perform even better and may bring massive laurels for their country and city
both domestically and globally. The idea is to motivate and inspire the person
to excel in his future endeavors so that he may be able to carve a strong name
for himself internationally.

The general feeling and passion gets augmented on the
acquisition of any well deserved trophy and prize in any of the major and minor
competition. In order to obtain the finest, attractive and the most durable
trophy with the entire essential and artistic engravings one must select the
most efficient engraving company that
can offer the whole package with cost effective rates and assured guaranty. It
may be very easy to select the most productive and effective company that could
be dealing with trophies, prizes and engravings if you tend to follow the basic
guidelines and procedures diligently as per your own obligation and current
financial resources.

For
more information on Engraving visit Sports Trophies

Walking an Ultra Marathon

Looking back I wonder why I wanted to walk an ultra marathon (as for running I decided to literally learn to walk first rather than run). After all, what did I get out of it besides blisters, a few tears and legs that if they could, would have beaten the hell out of me and left me for dead because I certainly did torture them.

Well, why should you care? Why indeed. If the thought of walking the 46 mile long march has pricked your ears then read on. If the thought of walking 46 miles in under 20 hours brings you out in a cold sweat or causes expletives to burst from you that would terrify the old lady in the corner. Read on anyway.

The walk I did is basically a huge circle beginning from RAF Wyton. The terrain is typical of East Anglia. It’s extremely flat. So those who enjoy walking in mountains will find this walk very boring. There's a challenge in that I think! Still, if you get the right company on the walk, the lack of interesting terrain isn't a problem.

The key to this is somewhat obvious. Be prepared! Still, there are idiots out there who cannot get this right. I’m one of them. My training consisted of running 3 miles a few times a week at a heart rate of around 161. This did not in anyway prepare me for the extreme fatigue my legs were under by the end. To tell you the truth, I got lucky! Learn from my mistake!
You need to build leg strength for this because leg strength is key. My lungs didn't have a problem at all on the walk. My legs just got stiffer and heavier as the miles clocked up and my feet, well, hello blisters! You can do it by simply walking long distances and building up your strength until you are able to cover the 46 miles in one go or you can add supplementary exercises on top of this like squats, one legged squats and general leg exercises. If you find that supplementary exercises make you more fatigued and hinder recovery then don't bother with them. Just focus on building your walking distance.

You will of course carry water with you on training walks. On the pathfinder, there are checkpoints where you can refill, negating the need to carry loads of water! It goes without saying to stay hydrated, as this affects your performance directly. If you want to do an organised walk check the walk you want to do to see if they operate a check point system. They should do for safety reasons.

Navigation may or may not be required depending on where you’re doing it and your level of support. If it is required then simply practice on the training walks or find someone to do the walk with you who can navigate. Mind you, this person must finish the walk. It's amusing but still annoying to find you don't know where you are or where you’re going! Your best bet is to get someone to teach you because you can get hands on experience rather than just reading and practicing. If this isn't possible then the book or internet is the way to go. A favourite of mine is Map and compass: The art of navigation by Pete Hawkins.

You should definitely vary where you train because not only is walking the same route over and over extremely boring; it's of no use navigationally. You need to challenge yourself by navigating in new terrain.

So far then, you know you should begin by building leg strength through long distance walking and possibly using supplementary exercises. You also need to practice navigation on your training walks.

Building up your distance depends entirely upon you. That is how you cope with the training. Some people are like machines, feel no pain and are rarely sore. Others find they can hardly walk the next morning, me included. If you begin by walking say 10 miles and find this is too much. Cut the distance to say 5 miles. If that’s comfortable try 7 next time you go and build up slowly. For example you might go 10, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12,13,14,12,16 and so on. If you can make bigger jumps in distance by all means do so. You may well be able to build up more than if you were running because walking has much less impact upon the body. If you can only train on weekends you could do a really challenging walk each Saturday or split two hard walks between Saturday and Sunday. You can also make changes to your lifestyle. Don't use elevators, don't use remotes e.t.c. Perhaps get yourself a bike and cycle to work. Everything counts.

So, when I do this walk (46 miles) again my training will look something like this: I will start at 10 because I can handle this well. Obviously you should start at a good level for you.

Week Sat Sun Total
1 10 10 20
2 12 12 24
3 15 15 30
4 18 18 36
5 15 15 30
6 20 20 40
7 23 20 43
8 24 20 44
9 27 20 47
10 20 15 35
11 30 15 45
12 33 15 47
13 36 15 51
14 39 15 54
15 20 15 35
16 42 15 57
17 46 (the walk)

Boots are very important. If you want you can do the walk in trainers that’s entirely up to you. Though if you come across a water logged field and can't go around, like we did, you'll regret it. Wet feet also mean more blisters! Which boots you buy depends on which are comfortable for you. Try a wide variety at the shops. I'm not inclined to buy from the internet because I don’t know how they feel. Once you've got a comfortable pair you need to break them in. A variety of tricks are prophesised about breaking in boots so have a look on the internet, try them and see if they work. Obviously the one way that does work is simple. Walk in them! That’s what I did. Of course you’re going to get blisters. When I first brought my boots I couldn't run in them the blisters were so bad! Overtime though this isn't as much of a problem. I got more blisters when I first got my boots going for 6 miles than I did walking 46 now. So persist and you will see results.

Make sure your boots fit properly of course. Get you feet measured in the shop or anywhere you can before you buy. If you don't you will suffer from black toenails and they will fall off. Another mistake I made and therefore lost allot of toenails, not fun! (They do grow back so don't worry, just keep them clean if this happens to you).

As for clothing, don't wear jeans, you can do the walk naked but never wear jeans! Their useless to walk in. Check the weather and dress accordingly. I did the walk in summer so I took lightweight trousers, a light shirt, a jumper and waterproofs which where a godsend because the weather was not nice! Watch out for stinging nettles and the like if you’re wearing shorts!

If you get the opportunity on the walk you should check you feet regularly. Prevention is better than cure so if you feel like you may be getting a blister, get it sorted immediately. A blister beginning at 20 miles is a nightmare at 25! A method of preventing blisters I use is to strap my feet. In doing this I got no blisters on my ankles at all. Only on the soles at the front where I didn't strap. Simply take some tape, I used zinc oxide tape, and put it over where you think you will or where you do get blisters and this should help. I also wore bandages over my feet, which made quite a difference! I wore the bandages you would use as a knee support, not something I usually do but then I don't usually walk 46 miles in one go!

Mental strength is extremely important. There are moments when you want to quit; it’s inevitable when you’re tired. How you train for this I don't know. I think the trick is to maintain a positive outlook when your doing the walk as often as you can, laugh allot, joke at anything even if it's not really that funny. Just don't let that sinking or miserable feeling get the best of you. Accomplishing the walk is a great feat and the pain is temporary, that’s what I kept in mind when I did it. How you motivate yourself of course may be entirely different but no matter who you are, as long as you can put on foot in front of the other, you can keep going and each step is one step closer to the end!

Don't try this if you’re injured! I’ve done myself in a few times because of too much pride! If you get an injury during the walk, how you react depends upon the injury and where you are. If you’re right near the end e.g. a mile or so and the injury isn't bad, crack on, go for it. If you get injured near the start, pull out. You have no idea how much worse its going to get and you can seriously injure yourself. Any serious injury warrants pulling out immediately for obvious reasons. Of course how you react is down to your judgments.

What you eat on the walk and in training is very important. The pathfinder provided energy bars and drinks on the walk. Take advantage as long as they don't upset you! I ate boil in a bag rations cold because cooking wasted time and they are light to carry. Not brilliant but I’m not fussy about warm food. I’m not a nutritionist; I can't give you a ratio of carbs to protein or anything like that. I just ate food that wasn't bad for me, no cheeseburgers! My aim was to get loads of calories down my neck to keep the energy up. I also took nuts and seeds as well for essential fats as energy also come from these. I did avoid foods that are likely to give you that sugar high and then the low, not good when you’re already tired! By all means take boiled sweets or chewing gum if you really want something sweet. Trail mix is also good.

The walk then can be broke down as follows: You should begin by building leg strength through long distance walking and possibly using supplementary exercises. You also need to practice navigation on your training walks. Build your distance slowly but challenge yourself now and again. Get the right size boots by getting you feet measured and looking at a wide variety of boot to get the most comfortable. Strap up you feet and wear a bandage to prevent blisters. Wear your boots in! Maintain a positive outlook, eat well and don't do it injured.

As for what I got out of this. Yes it was painful, I got blisters and I did shed some tears over the last few miles but I also got one hell of a sense of achievement. I look back on it and feel quite proud that I pushed through the pain barrier and didn't give in. Knowing I can do that is pretty good in other aspects of my life.

Hopefully I haven't missed anything and this has helped you to get more enjoyment out of walking an Ultra Marathon trouble free. Good luck! And may you get the same feeling of achievement I did!

Visit http://www.obtainfitness.com/ for info on getting fit and equipment for sports and allsorts with lots of sales and discounts available.

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About the Author

Living in England. Enjoys keeping fit and is currently training for an Ironman triathlon

Womens College Basketball League - History

The history of women's college basketball started in Smith College for girls in 1893. But the first official basketball match played by women was between Stanford and Berkley in April 1896, which was played behind locked doors, for women eyes' only.

The first rules for women basketball were drawn up in 1901. These included rules that we would find peculiar today like having the basket sewn, where the umpire had to retrieve the ball after each score, and even playing on grass courts!

In 1975, the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics was formed and the first national basketball tournament for women was held. In the same year, the first All-American women basketball team was selected.

Only recently in 1996, the American Basketball League (ABL) was founded and WNBA a year later.

College basketball is supervised by the NCAAA. According to the NCAAA, there shall be 3 divisions for basketball to filter out the players. Division I is the most prominent and popular league that is participated by colleges that sponsor seven sports for women players. This is followed by Division 2, participated by colleges that hold four sports for women players while Division 3 is played by colleges that organize five sports and have two participating teams.

The winners of 31 matches will qualify for the annual basketball championship. Another 34 teams will be chosen by a selection committee. These teams are categorized into four pools and given seedings. The championship will be played on the 3rd Thursday of March every year between teams and the losers eliminated until a grand champion emerges.

It is without question that the governing body of women's basketball is important to ensure smooth running of championships and to preserve the standards of this game.

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About the Author

Find more about Basketball at http://fantasy-basketball.info

Create Your Own Horse Racing System: In Ten Simple Steps

Most people think that you need to be an expert to produce a successful and profitable horse racing system which produces winner after winner.

However creating your own winning system is not difficult if you follow these 10 simple steps.

Let's consider a hypothetical horse called 'Old Nag' and see if conforms to these 10 steps!

All the relevant information on 'Old Nag' can be found in the offline or free online version of the 'Racing Post' which is the industries leading newspaper.

* The number of runners in a race will obviously affect the chances of 'Old Nag' winning. A big field means more competition. It follows that it would be difficult to pick a winner in a race of more than 12 runners.

* The type of ground a horse is running on is one of the most important factors in the outcome of a race. The 'going' should be good or good to firm. If the going is soft or heavy then the outcome of the race could well only depend only on the size of 'Old Nag's' feet!

* When a horse ran its last race is also important. If 'Old Nag' has not run for a while it would be difficult to judge its present form. Its last race should have been run in the present season, and no longer than 28 days ago. The shorter the period from its last race the better.

* Of course it would not be a good bet if the horse ran a few days ago only to come in last! It follows that its form or where it was placed in the last few races is important.
Ideally you would want 'Old Nag' to have come in first or second in the last 3 races.

* The distance the race has to be run is also important. If the race is too short 'Old Nag' may not have enough time to show its true form. On the other hand if the race is too long anything could happen - the apocalypse might come, or the jockey might fall asleep! A safe distance would be between 5 furlongs and less than 3 miles.

* The 'Racing Post' is the countries leading newspaper on all things to do with horse racing. Only the top tipsters appear in this paper. Their forecast for the winner of each race appears in a part of the Racing Post called 'The Selection Box'. If 60 to 80% of them tip 'Old Nag' as the potential winner then its time to sit up and take note.

* The letters C and D sometimes appear in the horses form. The C means the horse has been a winner over this particular course at sometime in the past. The D means he has been a winner over the distance the present race is being run. If C or D (or preferably both) appear then this is a strong indication that the horse should be considered.

* Handicap races are notoriously difficult to predict as theoretically all horses should pass the finishing line at the same time. So choosing non handicap races means even Old Nag' might have a chance.

* Favourites win around 33% of the time. So look out for favourites especially if they are 3/1 or lower in the betting.

* You could now allocate say 1 point for each of the 9 steps. If you have say 6 or over then you have a bet.

There is a way ,however to profit from EVERY bet!

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About the Author

Ian Paton is a professional scientist living in the UK. Find out how to make a PROFIT on EVERY bet at http://www.ianpaton.co.uk

The Art of Attracting a Woman

Understanding what a woman is looking for in a man is the first secret to attracting a woman. For many men, the concept of how to attract a woman is simply a mystery. It’s understandable, though. Men and women differ in so many ways that it’s difficult for many of us to really grasp how to get inside the mind of the opposite sex.

The true key to attracting a woman isn’t a mere laundry list to check off, step by step. It’s more a guidebook on the path you must follow to completely seduce a woman, mind, body and soul. And believe it or not, what really gets a woman going is much simpler than you may have ever imagined.

Understanding the differences between the sexes will help give you a better foundation on which to build your knowledge of women. Once you can get inside her mind, it’s all downhill from there.

Communication is ultimately the most important aspect in seducing a woman. Like so many other aspects of our lives, effective communication is the key to success. You want to take the time to really get to know her and what she’s looking for. This will benefit you greatly when it comes to pleasing her, so don’t think that getting to know your woman is a pointless, grueling task of learning a bunch of useless information.

Patience when attracting your woman is equally important, too. Being in a hurry will only prove to damage any good you could’ve done by learning anything at all about your woman. When it comes to attracting a woman, take it slow. We want a man to take his time, not just rush in for the brass ring. A woman wants to know that you aren’t just playing her for sex. And the best way to prove yourself is to take your time.

All in all, women want to feel special. Being romantic makes us feel special. So if you want to seduce your woman you have to be romantic. It proves that you care, that you want to please her and that you know how to treat a woman right. Romance will take you a long way in seducing a woman.

Please visit Pickup artist for more advice


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Please visit Pickup artist for more advice

American Football vs European Football

American football is usually confused with European football. The difference between the two is greatly, but the same use of title can confuse others. The difference between American and European football is simple by definition. Football is used mostly with the hands to control the ball, and the European football is what most people call Soccer. In soccer, you kick the ball and they not allowed using their hands at all. By definition, football is when 11 players on a rectangular field 100 yards long. Teams try to steal/keep possession of the ball and move across the field to the other teams goal line by running a series of plays. European football or soccer is a game played with a round ball (not diamond shaped like American football).

Again, two teams of eleven players user their body to control the ball to pass the opponents goal line. Soccer is played dominantly with the feet, but can be controlled by other parts of the body like knees, chest, and head. They can use any part of their body by their arms and hands. If they do use the hands, a foul is called the other team gets control of the situation. They only people who are allowed to use their hands are the goalkeepers.

Many soccer games are played on football fields. They are set up the same way except instead of having a huge goal post, they use two goal nets (much like hockey). The games are in quarters that are times. There are four quarters per game and a half time. Usually there are only a minute or two pauses between quarters and the half time is much longer. Soccer games usually do not take as much time as soccer, because there are fewer rules to soccer.

Football is a complicated sport that has flags and penalties for, what seems everything. In soccer, penalties are called but mostly for being offsides or out of bounds. Sportsmanship is a problem in both sports. The two sports are very competitive and can be frustrating to the players. Even though you are not allowed to tackle a player purposely in soccer, some players do tend to collide and when they do, they hit hard.

Soccer and football are much alike in some aspects, but are completely different in others. Either way you look at it, the two sports are just as aggressive and competitive and can be very enjoyable to watch and play.

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About the Author

George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including http://www.cyclingexpert.com and http://www.ellipticaltrainerszone.com. If you want to read more about football, click over to George site at http://www.footballcompass.com.

Some Facts about Football Video Highlights

Author: Football Reaction

Football, or soccer for any Americans out there, has been around for well over two thousand years in some form or other. Modern football as we know it, however, is often accredited to the British, who also hold claim to the oldest football league. Rather straight to the point, it is known as The Football League, and was founded in 1888. The Football League served as the top level league in England until 1992, at which time the top 22 teams in the league split away and formed the well known Premier League. There are now several other leagues, including the Italian Serie A and the German Bundesliga, and football has grown to become one of the most popular sports in the world – with some of the most dedicated fans.
Football isn't just about the match and who wins it, though. Granted, our team winning is the most important aspect to any football fan, but another important factor is how the match is won. Who scores, when they do so, the tactics used that lead up to the goal and finally seeing the ball hit the back of the net like meteor. There's nothing quite like seeing your team outwit their opponents and score an unexpected or technically difficult goal, and any decent TV editor will have the wits to show these football highlights several times before moving on.
Those of you who were around before the days of the Internet will probably have in your possession several football videos (VHS tapes) filled with the best parts of a season or cup, as that used to be the only way to watch the football highlights again at your own leisure. Luckily the internet has now made it possible to watch all the latest football highlights, as well as old football videos, whenever you so desire.
This also opens up the possibility to watch highlights from leagues that you may not otherwise watch, whether it is because you are not a fan of any particular team in that league or because you simply can't spare the time to watch all of them. The Internet is fantastic in that you can find all the best bits of every single match played, whether it be in the English Premier League or Spanish la Liga or any other league,  you will be able to find both old and new football videos of all the highlights whenever you so wish.
Initially, most football websites would be dedicated to a specific team or league and would only provide videos and highlights from their particular football interest. For anyone who enjoys football not only for the sake of supporting a team, but for the sheer beauty of the game, that would mean that you had to browse several different sites to get all of your updates. Luckily that is not the case anymore, thanks to dedicated football websites such as Football Reaction.com where you can watch all the latest football highlights and football video clips whenever you want, without spending a single dime.
The author of this article manages the FootballReaction site, bringing you with all the latest football highlights, football videos, and football news.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/football-articles/some-facts-about-football-video-highlights-2752584.html

About the Author :The author of this article manages the Football Reaction site, bringing you with all the latest football highlights, football videos, and football news.

Fantasy Football Faceoffs

Author: Bill Riley

As seen on http://www.ecouchcoach.com

With Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals just hours away, it seems like the perfect time to write a fantasy football article with a hockey title. Oh, who am I fooling?  Hockey sucks (unless it’s live, then it’s awesome).  Hockey is for guys named Sergei and dentists.  But, since hockey is better than Nicholas Cage, I’ll let the hockeyites think this is hockey-themed. Organized Team Activities are heating up, and the fight for carries, pass attempts, receptions—and fantasy points—is on. What battles are the most intriguing?  Glad you asked, Couch Cushions.  Oh, and despite Mighty Ducks being an awesome movie, no “Oreo Line.” Scoring lineMark Sanchez vs. Kellen Clemens The marquee faceoff of the summer.  This one’s like Gretsky facing off against Messier, only if Messier was Messier and Lemieux put together. Okay, so maybe not quite, but it’s an intriguing battle. Let’s not fool ourselves: Kellen Clemens is probably bad at sports, and only a little better at throwing footballs.  There’s a small sample size issue here—Clemens has only been in the league three years and started a run of games last in 2007—but Clemens has never been surrounded with a ton of hype.  The man is 26 and was just referred to in a wire article as “career backup Kellen Clemens.”  Not good for a young man.  Plus, Clemens threw ten interceptions, was sacked 27 times, and threw only five touchdowns in the eight games he started in 2007.  For a second-round quarterback, that might be the only chance he gets. Mark Sanchez has had similar success in the NFL as Kellen Clemens, which is to say, “none.”  Sanchez never really set the world on fire at USC, and hasn’t taken a professional snap not in Jets gym shorts.  But—and this is why I think Sanchez will start the season for the Jets—he’s getting paid $28 million dollars guaranteed for the next five years, with $50 million attainable.  Just like no one puts Baby in a corner, no one pays Sanchez $28 million to model headsets. John Madden once said “Brett Favre is Brett Favre.”  Is either Sanchez or Clemens worthy of being called “Brett Favre,” just like…um…Brett Favre?  No, but there can only be 30 starting quarterbacks in this league, and whoever starts for the Jets has a chance to be ranked in the high 20s for quarterbacks.  Jerricho Cotchery and Chansi Stuckey are decent receivers, and there will be plenty of running in new coach Rex Ryan’s game plan. The pick and prediction: Mark Sanchez, 13 GS, 2,800 yards passing, 16 TD, #23 best fantasy quarterback   Checking lineJoseph Addai vs. Donald BrownEnough of these quarterback pretty boys.  This is hockey Sparta! fantasy football.  It’s all about those point-producing “checkers,” running backs. Addai flew onto the fantasy football scene in his 2006 rookie year, posting a thousand-yard season.  Fantasy owners loved his high reception totals (40) and eight touchdowns wasn’t bad for Dominic Rhodes’ platoon mate.  Plus, the Colts won the Super Bowl that year, which Drew Brees’ fantasy owners will tell you makes the impact of a piss in the ocean. 2007 was Addai’s banner year, with Kenton “Never trust a man with two first names (to  be the second leading rusher)” Keith stealing only 121 mop-time carries.  Again, a thou for Addai and an almost doubled touchdown count.  Enter 2008.  Injuries.  A so-badd-I’m-spelling-it-with-two-ds-BADD running offensive line in the Circle City.  Addai gets labeled as a guy who can’t hit the hole fast, and can’t break a tackle in the backfield.  Dominic Rhodes steals half of Addai’s carries, Addai’s yardage gets cut in half and Go-Go-Joe runs for only five touchdowns. And so Bill Polian, that guy who is better than you at drafting, picks up Donald Brown out of Connecticut.  Donald Brown is moderately fast (ran 4.51 in the 40).  Donald Brown is a moderately good blocker.  Donald Brown will probably be a little better than Addai in goalline situations. Moderately. Which, in fantasy, means “stay away.” Joseph Addai has been “da man” for only one season in his post-high school life: 2007.  The year after that was his worst as a professional.  Addai was never top dog in Baton Rouge, and while a good football player, is probably not a 300-carry back. Donald Brown led the nation in rushing last year, but isn’t flashy in any certain part of the game.  So it’s not like the Colts are going to use Addai and Brown in certain situations to maximize their output.  This will be a strict job-share.  The pick and prediction: Do you feel lucky?  Well, do you, punk?  Addai has been held out of practice after a summer knee scope.  Brown’s getting the practice reps.  Make Addai your 19th overall running back (comparison is Derrick Ward, Marshawn Lynch, Ryan Grant, Kevin Smith) and Donald Brown your 25th overall (Felix Jones, Jamal Lewis, Willie Parker).

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/football-articles/fantasy-football-faceoffs-969274.html
About the AuthorColumist for eCouchCoach.com
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Softball: Olympic Sport No Longer?

Softball has been around since a man named George Hancock first invented the game in 1887 in Chicago. It took over 100 years, but women's fast pitch softball became an Olympic event in 1996.

Fast pitch is different from the looping, relaxed pitch often used in recreational softball leagues. Fast pitch players must hit a ball traveling at about 70mph. This is slower than baseball, but certainly much faster than the meandering slow pitch game. However, since the pitcher's mound and the home plate are much closer than in baseball, (40 feet versus 60 feet) the player must react to the pitch just as quickly.

The first softball, a spur of the moment creation in that long-ago first game, was a boxing glove tied into the shape of a ball. Today's softball is 12" in diameter, significantly bigger than the standard base ball at 9", and all white. Softball is actually a misnomer, as the ball used in the game is no softer than a baseball, just larger.

The playing diamond is much smaller than baseball's, with only 60 feet between bases. Baseball diamonds have 90 feet between each base. This makes for a faster, more active game than baseball, a fact that many softball enthusiasts cite as one of the reasons they enjoy the game so much.

Softball games are also two innings shorter than baseball games. However, like baseball, softball seems to inspire devoted fans and players. Many truly love their softball and pursue the game with an almost fanatic passion.

In 1996, women's fast pitch softball made its first appearance at the Atlanta Olympic Games. The United States team took the first gold medal in the sport, beating China in the gold medal game 3-1. An orthopedic surgeon from Florida, Dot Richardson, hit the first Olympic softball home run ever to win the game for the United States, an achievement she calls her most memorable.

After being an Olympic sport for the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic games, softball was recently dropped from the 2012 London Olympics by a tied vote of 52-52 with one member abstaining. Only a simple majority of 53 votes were needed to keep softball in the Olympics, and softball supporters are trying to get the vote reconsidered.

Unfortunately, the Olympic committee doesn't seem very interested in recasting this important ballot. Although the softball federation will certainly have something to say about this, the situation doesn't look hopeful for girls fostering an Olympic fast pitch softball dream.

Perhaps confusion on the part of the Olympic committee caused them to drop women's fast-pitch softball from the London games. There has been speculation that the committee members thought that women's softball was just a female version of baseball, and not popular enough to matter. Whatever their motivations, we hope that the committee will reconsider and reinstate women's fast pitch softball.

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About the Author

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.softballcenter.info a website specialized on Softball, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Softball. For more info on Softball visit: http://www.softballcenter.info

Four Simple Cardio Programs to Burn Fat Super Fast

By: Scott White | Posted: Oct 18, 2006

Jumping Rope
Jumping rope provides a number of health benefits: not only is it a great cardiovascular exercise that burns calories and fat, but it also develops good coordination between the hands and feet, as well as rhythm (muscle coordination). The greatest thing about jumping rope is that it is very inexpensive and you can do it almost anywhere.
Jumping rope has been proven to be a very effective method for burning fat. It has been shown to burn as many as 1,000 calories per hour. Wow, that is some serious caloric expenditure! Some of the best and leanest athletes swear by it. Movies often depict professional boxers skipping rope because it develops great cardiovascular endurance and stamina. It's no wonder that boxers are some of the best-conditioned athletes.
Grab a jump rope and try it yourself!
Stand erect, but relaxed, when you jump.
Keep your knees slightly bent.
Look straight ahead, not at your feet.
Land on the balls of your feet, not on your heels.
Keep your arms fairly still, do not flail.
Start by jumping slowly, building up your speed so you can jump rope more quickly over time. See how many times you can jump without missing. Try to do 100 skips before you have to stop – then, beat that record the next time. Do 50 super fast jumps, followed by 50 slower jumps.
Jumping rope is great for the whole family. Have even more fun by getting some friends to play Double-Dutch. Jump rope for 30 minutes, five times a week, and watch your waistline shrink. Go invest in a jump rope today, and quickly get the body you want.
Jumping on a Trampoline
Jumping on a trampoline – yes, I said jumping on a trampoline – is a great workout. It not only develops excellent proprioception (body awareness), but it also burns a ton of fat and calories. And did you know that the rhythmic bouncing has a powerful effect on the lymphatic system, which builds a stronger immune system?
A trampoline provides exercise that are easy on the joints, very low in stress, and great for the body.
It's easy to start a trampoline regimen. Buy a mini-trampoline for your living room and jump while watching your favorite TV show, or bounce to a trampoline workout video. For tons of family fun, buy a large trampoline for the backyard. Start jumping on your trampoline for 30 minutes a day and bounce away your pounds.
Outdoor Sprints
A Great workout: go outside and sprint as hard and fast as you possibly can. Once you feel like you're going to collapse, stop; walk until you're no longer huffing and puffing; then, sprint again. You might call this the 'Forrest Gump' Workout. Repeat as many times as you can, or until you complete a full 30 minutes of sprints and rest/walking.
This is a very intense workout, so you need a good level of fitness and conditioning before trying it. Sprint your butt off, walk until you catch your breath, then do it again. The harder you push yourself, combined with the faster and longer distance you run, the sooner you will get in shape and the more fat you will lose.
Outdoor sprints offer fat loss and a great body at no cost, so push harder than you ever have pushed before. If this sounds too difficult, consider the payoff. Any successful athlete will tell you they have put their bodies through this type of workout challenge.
If you are in good physical health, a sprint workout is extremely safe – so remember, just because you might feel like quitting doesn't mean you have to. In other words, keep pushing and get your butt in shape, no whining, no complaining; just results, and a happy, more confident you.
Stadium Stairs
Running up stairs is a great no-cost, outdoor workout available at your local high school or college stadium. Sprint to the top of the stadium, then walk down the stairs. Remember, safety first! As soon as you get to the bottom, sprint back up to the top, and repeat.
This extremely high-intensity cardio program will burn fat quickly and send your heart rate through the roof. Sprinting stairs is a common exercise for all levels of athletes, and who among us doesn't want the lean, muscular shape of an athlete? So stop complaining about not being able to afford the fancy equipment. Go to the stairs and run your butt off! You'll get a tight, firm rear because you'll lose that fat from your behind, and everywhere else, as you burn up the calories running up those stairs.

About the Author
Scott White is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist located in Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information about nutrition and fitness, reach Scott at Personal Trainer | Personal Training.

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To Get Great Exercise and Relaxation,Look to Mountain Biking

My family likes to spend a lot of time outdoors. Some of the most memorable and fun times as a family have been spent mountain bike riding. Unlike regular street bikes which are only good on a smooth surface, Mountain bikes are bikes that are designed to go anywhere. There are lots of different types of bikes to choose from but they generally have wider tires with a knobby tread and some type of suspension system.

In order to choose the right bike, you must consider what kind of riding you plan on doing and what kind of budget you intend to spend. Prices range about $150 to many hundreds of dollars. The lower priced ones are generally the type of quality you would expect to get at a chain discount store and are suitable for a beginner. Expect to find lots of colors and models on display as well as professional and beginner quality to choose from.

You may have to do a lot shopping to find the bike that best fits you. There are lots of different models to choose from, make sure you try them out to find the one that feels best to YOU. Many people are drawn to the colors of certain model bikes and that can be a mistake. Unfortunately not all bikes are available in the same colors so the color you love may be the wrong length bike for your body or riding style. Every rider is different and one bike size or style is not intended to fit all riders, so try them out before buying.

If you're thinking, "oh I don't know bike riding doesn't sound like all that much fun"...Mountain biking will change your mind really quick. Unlike the street bike that you had as a kid or your old ten speed locked in your shed, mountain bikes can go just about anywhere. My kids have fun making their own paths when we are out on a bike trail and I have fun trying to keep up!

If get or staying in shape is on your agenda, mountain bike riding is a great choice of exercise. Not only will you be burning up calories, you'll be taking in lots of fresh air and I'll bet you'll even get to enjoy some great sites. Whether you go out for a short ride with the kids or a day long trek, your body will repay you with improved strength and muscle tone.

Going through the daily stresses of life can certainly take its toll out on body and mind. Grabbing your bike and hitting the trails is a wonderful way to get rid of the every day stress. The more you pedal the more you will feel the stress leaving your body. I guess that why bike clubs are becoming so popular. Check your local classifieds to see if there is a group in your area or maybe you can ask co workers if they would like to form a mountain bike group.

So now that you're ready to try mountain biking, where do you go to buy a bike? You can start in department stores but you'll quickly see that the quality is fitting with the prices of these bikes. Sporting goods stores will usually be a grade above department store but for the Mecca of bike shoppers, check out your area bike specialty store. These stores have salespeople that are riders and will do a fantastic job of helping you pick out the right bike for your needs. Wherever you decide to buy one don't let it just sit in your garage. You can't have fun mountain bike riding if you don't get out there and use it!

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What Makes A Sport An Extreme Sport?

Obviously extreme sports get your attention. The have garnered the attention of the U.S. military who has recognized that anyone involved in extreme sports would be good candidates to recruit for their hard to fill special operations positions like the Army Rangers and Navy Seals.

So what is it that makes a sport extreme? Let?s take a look at some of the most popular ones

One of the main factors that make a sport extreme is the element of risk of injury or even death. In nearly every sport that is classified in this way you will usually find speed, heights, danger, and stunts. I believe the thing that causes people to become addicted to participating in these sports is the adrenaline rush associated with them. Adrenaline is much like morphine when released in the brain and I see people who just can?t seem to get enough no matter how many times they are hurt.

The first of the extreme sports was probably skateboarding. Introduced in the 1960?s as a way to stay in shape when the surf wasn?t up, skateboarding became a sport of its own and soon competitions were formed with riders jumping over cars and doing tricks in half pipes where they would be floating thirty feet or more above the bottom of the platform. There has been a lot of negative press directed at skateboarders but lately skateboarding is gaining mainstream recognition and is being appreciated worldwide.

Snowboarding is another extreme sport with its own radical characters and is essentially skateboarding on snow. Snowboarders perform many tricks that are the same or similar to those in skateboarding and like skateboarding, the sport has caught on internationally. Today, on any ski slope in America, you will find snowboarders.

Sport climbing is a variation of rock climbing that has become very popular over the years and is enjoyed by those who care more about displaying and testing their strength and athletic ability than adventure.

Skydiving is an extreme sport that is much less competitive but highly dangerous. It is the initial jump that is the biggest thrill with skydiving. There are more competitions being formed now in skydiving with groups forming shapes and creating chains for records before opening their shoots.

The attraction to watching sports where the outcome is unpredictable is growing larger, especially with younger children. No doubt as more people begin to participate in these sports they will seem less and less extreme.

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About the Author

Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find sports collectibles and sports memorabilia at http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com

Buying a Tennis Racket for a Young Adult

The guideline for age of a person and the racket size that is used is very important. You should make sure that the racket is appropriate for the person. You want to make sure that the person is comfortable with the racket that they choose. You need to consider the physical strength and height of the person before you choose one for their game.

The rackets for younger people are generally much lighter that the tennis rackets for adults. You should also consider experience when determining the right racket for a young adult. When you visit any sporting goods store, the professional sales team there will help you in the consideration for the racket that is best for any young adult that wants to play this fun and fascinating sport.

A young adult is not big enough for an adult racket. They are probably better off with a standard twenty-seven inch racket rather than a larger one. The person should be able to use the racket and have a comfortable swing. The extra long rackets will tend to be heavier than those of a shorter handle.

Adult rackets come as light as 10 ounces but rackets that are lighter than 10 ounces are sometimes too small for the weight of the ball. You will want to be able to hit the ball and get it too move in the speed and direction that you intend it to. A beginner in tennis will not have to walk through the strokes of the game in order to make an informed decision based on an adult court.

When you are just not sure what tennis racket to buy for a beginning young adult or child, you can have them hold the racket behind him so that the tip touches their lower back and his elbow is the highest part of the arm. Then you should have them raise the racket over their head as if they were getting ready to serve the ball, however with a slower swing. If the racket is going to be too heavy for the young adult, this is when they are going to feel the burn.

One thing to remember is that the adult is going to grow out of the tennis racket, as they get older. Junior tennis rackets tend to be inexpensive. The nicer ones that you find at a pro tennis shop will run from twenty to forty dollars. When you are looking for a cheaper racket, they can be just as good as the more expensive ones. You should avoid the rackets that are lighter and more flexible than the others in the bottom of the price range.

Getting the young person to adjust to their racket will not be a hard thing to do. Have them play as often as they can and get the feel of their racket. It will also be good practice for the game of tennis as well.

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About the Author

Copyright 2006 - Ivar Rudi. Ivar suggests you find great market for less by shopping online today. For more information and resources about this subject check out: http://www.tennis-racket.info/

The Sport of Airsoft vs. The Sport of Paintball Part 2

In the previous article of The Sport of Airsoft vs. The Sport of Paintball, we established one of the major differences between the two sports is the actual guns, and not necessarily the cost. I would now like to turn to the conditions of each sport and what they entail.

I have recently seen more and more professional Paintball games being played and broadcasted on Television. I watch the teams compete and the strategy they import to the playing fields. With no offense towards these Paintball teams, I have to say I don't see much strategy used, especially in "SpeedBall."

It always seems to come down to the same thing and same strategy for every team. Get your sprinters to get in close, making sure the first line is spread out while the back field players shoot as much and as fast as they can. Now, I know that most people think that this is strategy, but in my experience any Joe Blow who can move their index and middle finger fast enough can get into the sport.

When I first started participating in Paintball games I had a rental gun that wasn't so accurate or effective from a long distance. I remember that a guy on the other team had a great gun with a double tap trigger and stood in the very back of the field shooting tons of paint towards our team. I understand that he was using the only strategy that he knew to work, but to me that contradicts the game.

In that specific case there is no sport involved, it has everything to do with equipment. I could only imagine if they had five other people standing back there doing the same thing. How much fun would that be?

So is strategy involved in Airsoft, or a better strategy that involves more than just equipment? I want to make a note that better equipment will definitely optimize your sport experience, but I don't think a sport should solely rely on having the best equipment. It takes the fun out of the game and sooner or later it takes the strategy out as well.

Personally, I would much rather be holding a sniper rifle with a long range scope, backing my team up from an elevated level several hundred feet behind them and making sure that their every move is safe. Or posted on the flank while skirmishing through a thick set of woods holding an M16 fully-automatic machine gun, backed up with a 9milimeeter strapped to my ankle incase I needed it for some close combat.

Gaming can take place in an open field with no barriers or a 100-yard field full of trees, brush, and bushes. This all happens while talking on the radio, knowing every location my team is in. This makes for some extreme planning and strategy, not to mention some extreme fun.

So what sport is emerging and what sport is becoming the 'equipment war' rather than a sport? When it comes to The Sport of Airsoft versus The Sport of Paintball I would have to choose Airsoft, and not just because of the costs or the clean up, but simply because of the realistic features and adventures involved. From the guns to the gaming it makes more sense to have fun in a realistic game of warfare without the death part.

In any case, when it comes to sport, I would have to say crawling on the ground under brush or posting yourself 35 feet in the air decked out in camouflage sniping people from an elevated position is more sport than standing in the back of a field loading and shooting, loading and shooting as fast as you can. In other words I think it is evident which sport is actually emerging and unfortunately which equipment race is on its way out.

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About the Author

PJ Ace is a writer and administrator for Flynt Airsoft & Paintball a site that specializes in Airsoft and Paintball. For more information on the latest product or news concerning Airsoft and Paintball visit us at http://www.flyntairsoftpaintball.com

The Sport of Airsoft vs. The Sport of Paintball Part I

As the Sport of Airsoft grows in popularity today, many enthusiasts of both the Sport of Airsoft and the Sport of Paintball have debated over the differences and similarities, in the comparisons of both sports. Questions eventually come to the following: Which sport is better? What sport is more cost effective? What is the difference between Airsoft guns and Paintball guns? Finally, which sport is geared toward a larger demographic of people? I will briefly examine both sides of the Airsoft and Paintball argument and hopefully come to an opinion on which sport is emerging and which sport is fading out.

The initial argument between the Sport of Airsoft and the Sport of Paintball has been the cost differences between each sport. However, if you take a closer look at the costs for each sport you will find that both sports have an initial investment. For both sports, if you want to get completely decked out in every form of equipment available you are looking to spend up into the hundreds of dollars and sometimes into the thousands. There are variations in the pricing, but let's say you use tons of ammo in Airsoft and not so much (which I think is unlikely) in Paintball then you will spend more on ammo for Airsoft (again this is very unlikely). This money can be spent over a period of time if you are not seriously trying to compete in the sports.

Most people continue to talk about the costs and how one sport is cheaper than the other but it depends on what you want and what you are looking for in each sport that will actually determine what you will spend. This includes everything from the gun, equipment and ammo, to the upgrades. In other words, either sport can be relatively cheap or relatively expensive, it all depends on you.

So if the money is not so important (well it's important to most, and trust me I am all about getting the best for my money) what are the differences between the sports that one can draw a clear contrast about? What makes one sport different from the other? One of the major differences are the guns for each sport.

All Paintball guns, also known as "Markers," have a similar style and look, only varying in specifications rather than in styles. There's not much more to the variations except the quality and effectiveness of the Paintball guns. There is hardly any diversity or character when it comes to each gun simply because they are made to specifications.

Airsoft guns have 1:1 scale replicas. This means they actually look like the real thing, so much so that all the guns come with a federally mandated orange tip. It is interesting to note that these guns also come with metal components making even the weight of the replica guns very similar to the actual gun. Plus, you can find many of the guns that you would have some interest in using, like an M16, Sniper Rifle, or an AK47. Some would say this is scary, but others (including the Airsoft enthusiast) would consider this a great way to own an arsenal that is not lethal, nor illegal for that matter.

I know the reader might be saying that as far as cost's are concerned, "one cannot draw a conclusion on which sport out does the other," but as we have looked into the matter deeper we have found that realistic attributes can make a big difference in what you would want to participate in. In fact it makes all the difference for me!

In this part one of The Sport of Airsoft vs. The Sport of Paintball we have concluded that that money or cost has no bearing on whether the Sport of Airsoft is better than the Sport of Paintball.

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About the Author

PJ Ace is a writer and administrator for Flynt Airsoft & Paintball a site that specializes in Airsoft and Paintball. For more information on the latest product or news concerning Airsoft and Paintball visit us at http://www.flyntairsoftpaintball.com

How Do You Decide That A Particular Sport Is An Extreme Sport?

What are the determining factors in naming a sport extreme? There are many sports considered to be extreme sports today but how did they become to be known as such? Some came from seemingly benign beginnings and have evolved to more dangerous sports. The addiction to these sports it seems comes from the associated adrenaline rush that comes from the participation in them. Let's look at some examples of extreme sports.

Skateboarding is considered the best known of extreme sports and was actually started in the sixties by bored surfers looking for a way to get exercise and cross train when the surf wasn't up. The sport took on a life of its own and soon national competitions were being held bringing the cult sport into mainstream America. From its humble beginnings the sport has now garnered worldwide attention.

The cold weather sister to skateboarding is snow boarding which takes the same movements and more onto the snow. This extreme sport has really caught fire today and in the last winter Olympics the snowboarding events were among the most popular. As its popularity has grown many resorts have added specialized snowboard trails and trick spots.

The sport that takes biking to the extreme is BMX biking. There are a couple of different versions of this sport with one being like traditional racing with dirt jumps and obstacles. Freestyle BMX is more closely related to skateboarding as they use the same courses as the skateboarders use and perform tricks on their bikes.

Have you seen the skiers that do all the crazy tricks and flips coming off of ramps on the slopes? This is freestyle skiing and is one of the most popular of the winter extreme sports. Like snowboarding, this sport has its own tricks and its own language.

An extreme sport mainly for the more mature of participants has recently evolved to be called sport climbing. With sport climbing there are preset handgrips and a designated course to climb with the goal to prove one's strength and athletic ability.

Ever felt the urge to jump out of an airplane? Most people don't, but still this has become a very popular sport that gives an enormous adrenaline rush from the initial jump. Parachuting teams work together to form shapes and perform choreographed aerial maneuvers while freefalling.

There is no doubt that as our culture seeks new ways to create excitement there will be new extreme sports introduced that may prove to be just as popular as the ones we see now.

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About the Author

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Performance Underwear at http://www.performanceunderwearplus.com