Archive for February, 2009
Holidays in the Usa – a Sports Extravaganza
Andy Adams asked:
They say that they do everything bigger over in the good old United States of America; buildings, technology and even food (leading to bigger waistlines too). This fact can be attributed to their sports too. American sports are popular all over the world not just for the average Joe American.
Major sports such as American Football, Baseball and Basketball games are syndicated all round the world for fans to watch on TV. But nothing quite beats being there in person, cheering with the crowd, taking in the electric atmosphere. Many British holidaymakers are timing their holidays with sporting events in the States so that they can add a bit of variety to their holidays.
There’s plenty of regular season games for all the big four (Basketball, Baseball, Football and Hockey) and tickets are rather easy to get hold of, with many arenas and clubs using online booking systems such as Ticketmaster so you can get your tickets sorted early.
In other cases most hotels’ concierge services have connections to the stadiums and may be able to pull a few strings for visitors looking to make the most of their holidays.
One point to be careful of is ticket touts, yes these vultures exist stateside too, and prey upon impressionable tourists, my advice is to stay clear, it isn’t uncommon for tickets to be fakes or getting a child’s ticket instead of an adult’s one. After all you didn’t come thousands of miles to get swindled.
The main attraction of American sports is how much effort and style goes into their big events, the Football has Superbowl, a national treasure in itself. American football is as popular (possibly even more) than football, sorry, I mean soccer, is in the UK.
This is the ultimate in sporting entertainment with fireworks a plenty, pulse pounding action and the halftime shows. The halftime shows are like an arena concert unto themselves, with past performers such as Prince, Paul McCartney and the infamous Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake incident! This year Superbowl XLII is going to be taking place in Phoenix, Arizona and is in March.
The NBA basketball goes above and beyond Superbowl with not only an All-Star game but an entire weekend devoted to the festivities. Apart form the game itself showcasing the cream of it’s NBA basketball players there are other events such as a celebrity game (last year including names like The Green Mile’s Michael Clarke-Duncan and Oscar winner Jamie Foxx) and the high-flying Slam Dunk contest. Basketball is a growing sport over here in the UK and what better way to see the pros than getting to New Orleans for February the 17th.
These are just two stand out spectacles on offer, people that have gone on holidays to America and seen sporting events like these have had a great time, especially families. One activity I have done myself is visit the historic Madison Square Garden arena in New York which was due to host a boxing match between Lennox Lewis and Michael Grant in 2000, and whilst we were unlucky in trying to get tickets we were still able to get a great guided tour of the arena including trophy rooms, locker rooms and the Theatre upstairs that has hosted awards shows and events such as VH1’s Divas Live. Many arenas in the United States offer these tours normally during the day even whilst they’re setting up for events like the boxing match previously mentioned.
In general if you can get tickets good and early then you could easily add some interest and value to your holidays this year!
They say that they do everything bigger over in the good old United States of America; buildings, technology and even food (leading to bigger waistlines too). This fact can be attributed to their sports too. American sports are popular all over the world not just for the average Joe American.
Major sports such as American Football, Baseball and Basketball games are syndicated all round the world for fans to watch on TV. But nothing quite beats being there in person, cheering with the crowd, taking in the electric atmosphere. Many British holidaymakers are timing their holidays with sporting events in the States so that they can add a bit of variety to their holidays.
There’s plenty of regular season games for all the big four (Basketball, Baseball, Football and Hockey) and tickets are rather easy to get hold of, with many arenas and clubs using online booking systems such as Ticketmaster so you can get your tickets sorted early.
In other cases most hotels’ concierge services have connections to the stadiums and may be able to pull a few strings for visitors looking to make the most of their holidays.
One point to be careful of is ticket touts, yes these vultures exist stateside too, and prey upon impressionable tourists, my advice is to stay clear, it isn’t uncommon for tickets to be fakes or getting a child’s ticket instead of an adult’s one. After all you didn’t come thousands of miles to get swindled.
The main attraction of American sports is how much effort and style goes into their big events, the Football has Superbowl, a national treasure in itself. American football is as popular (possibly even more) than football, sorry, I mean soccer, is in the UK.
This is the ultimate in sporting entertainment with fireworks a plenty, pulse pounding action and the halftime shows. The halftime shows are like an arena concert unto themselves, with past performers such as Prince, Paul McCartney and the infamous Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake incident! This year Superbowl XLII is going to be taking place in Phoenix, Arizona and is in March.
The NBA basketball goes above and beyond Superbowl with not only an All-Star game but an entire weekend devoted to the festivities. Apart form the game itself showcasing the cream of it’s NBA basketball players there are other events such as a celebrity game (last year including names like The Green Mile’s Michael Clarke-Duncan and Oscar winner Jamie Foxx) and the high-flying Slam Dunk contest. Basketball is a growing sport over here in the UK and what better way to see the pros than getting to New Orleans for February the 17th.
These are just two stand out spectacles on offer, people that have gone on holidays to America and seen sporting events like these have had a great time, especially families. One activity I have done myself is visit the historic Madison Square Garden arena in New York which was due to host a boxing match between Lennox Lewis and Michael Grant in 2000, and whilst we were unlucky in trying to get tickets we were still able to get a great guided tour of the arena including trophy rooms, locker rooms and the Theatre upstairs that has hosted awards shows and events such as VH1’s Divas Live. Many arenas in the United States offer these tours normally during the day even whilst they’re setting up for events like the boxing match previously mentioned.
In general if you can get tickets good and early then you could easily add some interest and value to your holidays this year!
Hilary Rhoda-Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2009
SIswimsuit asked:
Hilary Rhoda SI Swimsuit 2009. See Hilary in her first SI Swimsuit shoot ever in the Grenadines.
Anatomy of a One-day ‘rookie’ Sales Player Camp
L.T. Dravis asked:
It’s almost noon on a sunny, warm Monday in August and after four hours in the first rookie practice after the NFL draft, a bunch of rookies come off the football field at a community college on the coast of southern California, some sweating, some tired, some smiling, some not.
Jeff Corey, a 22-year old first round draft choice after a stunning four year run as a record-setting running back on an ivy league NCAA division I championship team, puts an arm around a new buddy, Tyron Jones, and tells him he’s got a good game, but he’s got to give it more. “The coaches want to see you ferocious,” Corey says. “They want to know you’ll give ‘em two hundred percent every time that ball is snapped. Give ‘em anything less and they’ll cut you loose without a second thought.”
Jones, 23, is a defensive tackle from a Division II state college in a small southern state. He’s a sixth round draft choice who needed five years to get a degree, and he doesn’t appear to hear Corey. Truth is, he doesn’t want to hear anything critical; he’s heard nothing but criticisms all his life from friends and family who’ve told him he’ll never have what it takes to play with the big boys. So, he hides behind trash talking, making fun of the one pass out of fifty plus Corey dropped that morning.
“Whatever, man,” Corey finally says as he gives up on Jones with a shrug. Corey’s too good to worry about what a guy like Jones has to say.
They head for the lunch room beneath east side bleachers where Corey and thirty-three new friends sit down to huge metal platters covered by mounds of mashed potatoes, piles of mixed vegetables, inch thick porterhouses and lettuce and tomato salads.
Corey finishes his meal in no time and downs two 16 ounce cups of diet Coke as he jokes with Jones and two other rookies seated at one of three dozen round red formica tables surrounded by fixed vinyl padded stools.
Corey’s in a great mood. He’s had a fantastic morning on the field with lots of ‘hoo-yas’ and ‘attaboys’ from the coaching staff pacing the sidelines as he strutted his stuff.
He’s on his game and he loves showing off the talent and skills that made him a first round pick. His sense of humor and ebullient attitude rubs off on the other rookies and everybody’s beginning feeling pretty good about their prospects to make the team.
An hour later, when stomachs are settled and bathrooms are empty, two of the team’s starting quarterbacks join 20 rookies on the field for a team 1 versus team 2 scrimmage.
With less than a minute to play in the fourth quarter, Corey has scored three touchdowns for team 1 but team 2 is winning, 24-28.
But all is not lost. Team 1 has the ball, the quarterback takes the hike, scrambles back about five yards, turns, and throws a fifty-some yard bullet to Corey.
Jeff runs like the wind, looks over his right shoulder, lines himself up with the ball, deftly sidesteps one defender, then another, and leaps to catch the ball.
Tyron Jones comes out of nowhere, all energy and enthusiasm, giving it his all, flying through football players right and left, pushes himself into the air, grabs Corey around the waist, and pulls him down.
Corey’s fingertips barely graze the ball so he stretches and arches his body at the last moment, trying with all his might to make the catch but the football gets away and he twists in the air and drops, along with Tyron, with a sickening thud to the grass, and the two rookies roll away.
The field goes silent as a bunch of football players and a whole lot of coaches on the sidelines stop dead in their tracks, wondering what’s next.
Corey limps off the field, shaking his head, completely dumbfounded, not believing what just happened.
A bunch of overweight coaches on the sidelines who couldn’t run fifty yards much less throw a ball fifty yards, watch their star rookie pass by and not one of those big mouthed fat men knows what to say.
It’s like when Frank Sinatra performed his final concert, forgot the words to “My Way”, and the audience went silent because no one knew what to say.
Then, without a word to anyone, Corey goes to the locker room, changes to his street clothes, and leaves the campus.
For Tyron Jones, the first day’s efforts have been both positive and negative. He’s a talented, strong, motivated player who’s plagued by an anti-authority attitude that creeps in to his psychic at the oddest times . . . like when he knows the coaches want to see more effort, he finds himself fighting strange forces within just to keep from holding back . . . it’s completely nutty, he knows, but that’s how he is.
That attitude got in the way through high school and college, but that morning, when a star player told him that he was about to throw away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he decided to drop the attitude and do what he needed to do to finally win.
As Jeff Corey turned on to the interstate and drove off to an uncertain future, Tyron Jones found himself surrounded by a bunch of smiling, glad-handing, back-slapping, coaches and rookies.
Thanks to Jeff Corey, the star player who couldn’t figure out for himself how to make the team, Tyron did.
Professional football teams run rookie camps for one simple, very good reason. They want to find out who’s got what it takes to win and who doesn’t.
And, as you undoubtedly know, the real winners in the sales game are the players who hang in, who take criticism for what it is, and transform weaknesses into strengths.
Just like real pros, just like Tyron Jones.
So, when you hire new sales professionals, put them through your own version of a rookie camp and find out who’s got what it takes and who doesn’t . . . before its too late.
Just as the NFL uses Rookie player camps to select the strongest players to build the strongest teams, a forward thinking sales organization should create a one-day camp to not only select the Sales Players with the talents and potential to win more sales, more profitably, more often.
Gather rookies and experienced Sales Players together in one room, close the door, tell everyone to shut off cell phones, make sure telephone operators hold all calls, and let everyone know you expect 100% focus on everything they’ll be doing that day.
In your opening remarks, talk about the products and services your company sells. Let rookies know your reasons for carrying each product and providing each service. Tell rookies about the theory behind the value you deliver to customers. Follow-up with specific examples of customers who’ve been able to build their businesses by virtue of using your products and services.
Use PowerPoint to introduce your selling process (Prospecting, Qualifying, Quoting, Decision to Buy, and Repeat Sales) and diagram how, when, and why players will work through each and every step of the process. Allow plenty of time to explain each step and open up this part of your presentation for questions and answers.
To encourage a more meaningful dialogue, divide your players into two groups of experienced sales professionals and rookies. Let them talk in relative privacy for about half an hour about the ins and outs of your selling process. Ask the experienced sales pros to explain your company’s ethics, work environment, mission statement, and earning potential.
Move on to role-playing demonstrations between yourself and experienced sales professionals to demonstrate precisely how the selling process should proceed under a variety of selling situations; easy, tough, and in-between.
The next step is to bring rookies into role-playing situations with experienced pros and then you can move on to rookie-on-rookie role-playing.
Make the point with everyone – experienced sales pro and rookie alike – that without proper execution even the best planned selling process won’t deliver sales. Stress the fact that each sales player needs to know how to read the competition so they can stay ahead of each competitive move.
Last but not least, ask for honest feedback about everything that has happened so far. Send this message, especially to rookies: No team functions unless every player is in the game. Make sure that every person in the room makes a contribution to the conversation.
In the last couple of hours of the day, take each participant aside and ask for an evaluation of their own performance, your performance, and the performance of other participants. Don’t let anyone ‘bad-mouth’ anyone else . . . you’re just looking for objective performance analyses here.
So go get ‘em.
Copyright © 2008 by l.t. Dravis. All rights reserved.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, Email me at LTDAssociates@msn.com (goes right to my desk) and since I personally answer every Email, I look forward to hearing from you soon.
It’s almost noon on a sunny, warm Monday in August and after four hours in the first rookie practice after the NFL draft, a bunch of rookies come off the football field at a community college on the coast of southern California, some sweating, some tired, some smiling, some not.
Jeff Corey, a 22-year old first round draft choice after a stunning four year run as a record-setting running back on an ivy league NCAA division I championship team, puts an arm around a new buddy, Tyron Jones, and tells him he’s got a good game, but he’s got to give it more. “The coaches want to see you ferocious,” Corey says. “They want to know you’ll give ‘em two hundred percent every time that ball is snapped. Give ‘em anything less and they’ll cut you loose without a second thought.”
Jones, 23, is a defensive tackle from a Division II state college in a small southern state. He’s a sixth round draft choice who needed five years to get a degree, and he doesn’t appear to hear Corey. Truth is, he doesn’t want to hear anything critical; he’s heard nothing but criticisms all his life from friends and family who’ve told him he’ll never have what it takes to play with the big boys. So, he hides behind trash talking, making fun of the one pass out of fifty plus Corey dropped that morning.
“Whatever, man,” Corey finally says as he gives up on Jones with a shrug. Corey’s too good to worry about what a guy like Jones has to say.
They head for the lunch room beneath east side bleachers where Corey and thirty-three new friends sit down to huge metal platters covered by mounds of mashed potatoes, piles of mixed vegetables, inch thick porterhouses and lettuce and tomato salads.
Corey finishes his meal in no time and downs two 16 ounce cups of diet Coke as he jokes with Jones and two other rookies seated at one of three dozen round red formica tables surrounded by fixed vinyl padded stools.
Corey’s in a great mood. He’s had a fantastic morning on the field with lots of ‘hoo-yas’ and ‘attaboys’ from the coaching staff pacing the sidelines as he strutted his stuff.
He’s on his game and he loves showing off the talent and skills that made him a first round pick. His sense of humor and ebullient attitude rubs off on the other rookies and everybody’s beginning feeling pretty good about their prospects to make the team.
An hour later, when stomachs are settled and bathrooms are empty, two of the team’s starting quarterbacks join 20 rookies on the field for a team 1 versus team 2 scrimmage.
With less than a minute to play in the fourth quarter, Corey has scored three touchdowns for team 1 but team 2 is winning, 24-28.
But all is not lost. Team 1 has the ball, the quarterback takes the hike, scrambles back about five yards, turns, and throws a fifty-some yard bullet to Corey.
Jeff runs like the wind, looks over his right shoulder, lines himself up with the ball, deftly sidesteps one defender, then another, and leaps to catch the ball.
Tyron Jones comes out of nowhere, all energy and enthusiasm, giving it his all, flying through football players right and left, pushes himself into the air, grabs Corey around the waist, and pulls him down.
Corey’s fingertips barely graze the ball so he stretches and arches his body at the last moment, trying with all his might to make the catch but the football gets away and he twists in the air and drops, along with Tyron, with a sickening thud to the grass, and the two rookies roll away.
The field goes silent as a bunch of football players and a whole lot of coaches on the sidelines stop dead in their tracks, wondering what’s next.
Corey limps off the field, shaking his head, completely dumbfounded, not believing what just happened.
A bunch of overweight coaches on the sidelines who couldn’t run fifty yards much less throw a ball fifty yards, watch their star rookie pass by and not one of those big mouthed fat men knows what to say.
It’s like when Frank Sinatra performed his final concert, forgot the words to “My Way”, and the audience went silent because no one knew what to say.
Then, without a word to anyone, Corey goes to the locker room, changes to his street clothes, and leaves the campus.
For Tyron Jones, the first day’s efforts have been both positive and negative. He’s a talented, strong, motivated player who’s plagued by an anti-authority attitude that creeps in to his psychic at the oddest times . . . like when he knows the coaches want to see more effort, he finds himself fighting strange forces within just to keep from holding back . . . it’s completely nutty, he knows, but that’s how he is.
That attitude got in the way through high school and college, but that morning, when a star player told him that he was about to throw away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he decided to drop the attitude and do what he needed to do to finally win.
As Jeff Corey turned on to the interstate and drove off to an uncertain future, Tyron Jones found himself surrounded by a bunch of smiling, glad-handing, back-slapping, coaches and rookies.
Thanks to Jeff Corey, the star player who couldn’t figure out for himself how to make the team, Tyron did.
Professional football teams run rookie camps for one simple, very good reason. They want to find out who’s got what it takes to win and who doesn’t.
And, as you undoubtedly know, the real winners in the sales game are the players who hang in, who take criticism for what it is, and transform weaknesses into strengths.
Just like real pros, just like Tyron Jones.
So, when you hire new sales professionals, put them through your own version of a rookie camp and find out who’s got what it takes and who doesn’t . . . before its too late.
Just as the NFL uses Rookie player camps to select the strongest players to build the strongest teams, a forward thinking sales organization should create a one-day camp to not only select the Sales Players with the talents and potential to win more sales, more profitably, more often.
Gather rookies and experienced Sales Players together in one room, close the door, tell everyone to shut off cell phones, make sure telephone operators hold all calls, and let everyone know you expect 100% focus on everything they’ll be doing that day.
In your opening remarks, talk about the products and services your company sells. Let rookies know your reasons for carrying each product and providing each service. Tell rookies about the theory behind the value you deliver to customers. Follow-up with specific examples of customers who’ve been able to build their businesses by virtue of using your products and services.
Use PowerPoint to introduce your selling process (Prospecting, Qualifying, Quoting, Decision to Buy, and Repeat Sales) and diagram how, when, and why players will work through each and every step of the process. Allow plenty of time to explain each step and open up this part of your presentation for questions and answers.
To encourage a more meaningful dialogue, divide your players into two groups of experienced sales professionals and rookies. Let them talk in relative privacy for about half an hour about the ins and outs of your selling process. Ask the experienced sales pros to explain your company’s ethics, work environment, mission statement, and earning potential.
Move on to role-playing demonstrations between yourself and experienced sales professionals to demonstrate precisely how the selling process should proceed under a variety of selling situations; easy, tough, and in-between.
The next step is to bring rookies into role-playing situations with experienced pros and then you can move on to rookie-on-rookie role-playing.
Make the point with everyone – experienced sales pro and rookie alike – that without proper execution even the best planned selling process won’t deliver sales. Stress the fact that each sales player needs to know how to read the competition so they can stay ahead of each competitive move.
Last but not least, ask for honest feedback about everything that has happened so far. Send this message, especially to rookies: No team functions unless every player is in the game. Make sure that every person in the room makes a contribution to the conversation.
In the last couple of hours of the day, take each participant aside and ask for an evaluation of their own performance, your performance, and the performance of other participants. Don’t let anyone ‘bad-mouth’ anyone else . . . you’re just looking for objective performance analyses here.
So go get ‘em.
Copyright © 2008 by l.t. Dravis. All rights reserved.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, Email me at LTDAssociates@msn.com (goes right to my desk) and since I personally answer every Email, I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sports Memorabilia Products Used As Unique Gifts
Linda Polansky asked:
There are many entertainment events that have collectibles pieces attached to them. These items can be from baseball, football, boxing events, or they could be for specific sporting events where championships were won. People love to give sports memorabilia as unique gifts for their family and friends at Christmas and other holidays throughout the year.
Some people choose sports memorabilia as unique gifts because their loved one is a great fan of equestrian jockey, Steve Cauthen. They go in search of items in sports memorabilia, and might find a Steve Cauthen Hand Signed 8 x 10 photographs that shows Affirmed winning the Preakness Stakes. To that particular horse racing fan this would be an excellent choice of sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts.
Some other sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts can be found for rare concert photographs for bands that have ended their careers. One of the nicer sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts can be found in a Tommy Thayer Autographed KISS concert photo that is custom framed and contains the KISS nameplate on the bottom of the frame.
For truly unique and out of the ordinary sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts, a gift giver might choose to present their best friend, who is an avid White Sox fan with a champagne cork that came from the White Sox 2005 World Series locker room celebrations. Your friend will use this item no doubt as a great conversation piece when friends gather to watch the World Series year after year.
Some rare moments in the lives of many sports idols are presented as sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts. An avid boxing fan could truly appreciate receiving a Hand Signed Olympic Program from the greatest boxer that ever was, Mohammad Ali.
Other rare moments might be reflected in the actual gear that was worn by several celebrities during their career. Any sports memorabilia collector would love to receive a hand signed Everlast boxing shoe worn by Joe Frazier, or perhaps a autographed Official game softball that was used by Jennie Finch.
Some of the most memorabilia and rare sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts are actually pieces of historic structures that have long since been remodeled into a more efficient sports events areas. Perhaps Jim McMahon’s signature on a Soldier Field seatback, or Magic Johnson’s autographed in several sizes that are taken from the Los Angeles Forum floor would be exciting items that a collector would not mind at all adding to their collections.
Some people use sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts that they give themselves, to display in their home throughout the year. There are definitely collectible thoughts that went into the Miami Dolphins 1972 Perfect Season Team Coffee Table Book that was signed by the entire team.
Fans really treasure sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts because they are afforded the chance to finally own limited edition copies such as the Michael Jordan Autographed Chicago Bulls painting by Jolene Jessie that is attractively presented in a 12 x 12 shadow box. All friend and family members that get to view these types of treasures know that they would definitely enjoy getting any sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts.
There are many entertainment events that have collectibles pieces attached to them. These items can be from baseball, football, boxing events, or they could be for specific sporting events where championships were won. People love to give sports memorabilia as unique gifts for their family and friends at Christmas and other holidays throughout the year.
Some people choose sports memorabilia as unique gifts because their loved one is a great fan of equestrian jockey, Steve Cauthen. They go in search of items in sports memorabilia, and might find a Steve Cauthen Hand Signed 8 x 10 photographs that shows Affirmed winning the Preakness Stakes. To that particular horse racing fan this would be an excellent choice of sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts.
Some other sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts can be found for rare concert photographs for bands that have ended their careers. One of the nicer sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts can be found in a Tommy Thayer Autographed KISS concert photo that is custom framed and contains the KISS nameplate on the bottom of the frame.
For truly unique and out of the ordinary sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts, a gift giver might choose to present their best friend, who is an avid White Sox fan with a champagne cork that came from the White Sox 2005 World Series locker room celebrations. Your friend will use this item no doubt as a great conversation piece when friends gather to watch the World Series year after year.
Some rare moments in the lives of many sports idols are presented as sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts. An avid boxing fan could truly appreciate receiving a Hand Signed Olympic Program from the greatest boxer that ever was, Mohammad Ali.
Other rare moments might be reflected in the actual gear that was worn by several celebrities during their career. Any sports memorabilia collector would love to receive a hand signed Everlast boxing shoe worn by Joe Frazier, or perhaps a autographed Official game softball that was used by Jennie Finch.
Some of the most memorabilia and rare sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts are actually pieces of historic structures that have long since been remodeled into a more efficient sports events areas. Perhaps Jim McMahon’s signature on a Soldier Field seatback, or Magic Johnson’s autographed in several sizes that are taken from the Los Angeles Forum floor would be exciting items that a collector would not mind at all adding to their collections.
Some people use sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts that they give themselves, to display in their home throughout the year. There are definitely collectible thoughts that went into the Miami Dolphins 1972 Perfect Season Team Coffee Table Book that was signed by the entire team.
Fans really treasure sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts because they are afforded the chance to finally own limited edition copies such as the Michael Jordan Autographed Chicago Bulls painting by Jolene Jessie that is attractively presented in a 12 x 12 shadow box. All friend and family members that get to view these types of treasures know that they would definitely enjoy getting any sports memorabilia products used as unique gifts.
Top 10 best sports fight between teammates[Repost]
maywest86 asked:
Due to the removal of the original video by MLB Advanced Media, I had to cut the #7 and #5 clip, which included baseball footage. They were replaced by stills of the scene.
Anyway, here is a second take of the best sports fight between teammates.
Discovering Your Favorite Course
R. Martin asked:
What you consider your favorite golf course, other people might not. As we know, the world is filled with all sorts of people who have different opinions on just about every subject. But there are some traits that make that certain golf courses stand apart from the competition. But even with that assumption, it’s still a matter of personal choice!
Why are some courses great? Examine these critical factors:
1) Course Conditions- A poorly conditioned golf course will not be any fun to play on. And it could actually make your game suffer. This is why course conditions are so important. Is the ground nice and spongy? Do the greens appear beautiful & well maintained? Look for divots and dirt patches & try to avoid courses that have them. Course conditions are probably one of the most critical aspects to your game (besides the uncontrollable ones like wind & rain).
2) Course Design – You might not know this, but famous golf legends like Arnold Palmer are sometimes used as consultants when a course is designed. This is because golfers know what other golfers like. And who better than a pro to give their input on how to design a course correctly? Golfers like great scenery, plenty of bunkers, nice greens, and a little bit of a challenge. Keeping the course entertaining is the key. The best golf courses in the world have all of these elements. A course’s design is critical how popular and challenging it is. In fact, some of the hardest courses in the world are some of the most popular. It’s kind of like the Everest phenomenon. After people conquer it, they love to brag on how hard it was to overcome, but their fantastic skills got them through with ease.
3) Great Service – Good service is key to an amazing golf course. The best golf courses in the world have water coolers scattered around the greens or a beverage service of some sort. They also have access to golf carts, locker rooms, and a nice club house. A high-quality restaurant and bar is a nice touch too- a good meal or drink after a day on the course can be really refreshing. And the best courses have helpful golf pros to assist you in your game & help you with anything you need to work on.
4) Comfort Settings- Ask: “Am I comfortable playing this course? Do I ever want to come back here? Repeatedly?” The whole point of golf is to have fun and therefore you need to determine your comfort level with the course. This is, again, a personal opinion.
5) Am I having Fun? – No matter what the other factors you may consider- you play golf for fun, right? Of course! (pun intended) Is the course challenging without being too difficult? How do you feel at the eighth hole? Does the course allow or provide golf carts? Consider these questions when choosing your course.
Even golf pros have a hard time deciding which course was their favorite. Some of them have literally played every famous course in the world. I guess the real question is, if there are a ton of great courses out there, how can you figure out which one actually IS the best? That’s a question you’ll need to answer for yourself. Good luck!
What you consider your favorite golf course, other people might not. As we know, the world is filled with all sorts of people who have different opinions on just about every subject. But there are some traits that make that certain golf courses stand apart from the competition. But even with that assumption, it’s still a matter of personal choice!
Why are some courses great? Examine these critical factors:
1) Course Conditions- A poorly conditioned golf course will not be any fun to play on. And it could actually make your game suffer. This is why course conditions are so important. Is the ground nice and spongy? Do the greens appear beautiful & well maintained? Look for divots and dirt patches & try to avoid courses that have them. Course conditions are probably one of the most critical aspects to your game (besides the uncontrollable ones like wind & rain).
2) Course Design – You might not know this, but famous golf legends like Arnold Palmer are sometimes used as consultants when a course is designed. This is because golfers know what other golfers like. And who better than a pro to give their input on how to design a course correctly? Golfers like great scenery, plenty of bunkers, nice greens, and a little bit of a challenge. Keeping the course entertaining is the key. The best golf courses in the world have all of these elements. A course’s design is critical how popular and challenging it is. In fact, some of the hardest courses in the world are some of the most popular. It’s kind of like the Everest phenomenon. After people conquer it, they love to brag on how hard it was to overcome, but their fantastic skills got them through with ease.
3) Great Service – Good service is key to an amazing golf course. The best golf courses in the world have water coolers scattered around the greens or a beverage service of some sort. They also have access to golf carts, locker rooms, and a nice club house. A high-quality restaurant and bar is a nice touch too- a good meal or drink after a day on the course can be really refreshing. And the best courses have helpful golf pros to assist you in your game & help you with anything you need to work on.
4) Comfort Settings- Ask: “Am I comfortable playing this course? Do I ever want to come back here? Repeatedly?” The whole point of golf is to have fun and therefore you need to determine your comfort level with the course. This is, again, a personal opinion.
5) Am I having Fun? – No matter what the other factors you may consider- you play golf for fun, right? Of course! (pun intended) Is the course challenging without being too difficult? How do you feel at the eighth hole? Does the course allow or provide golf carts? Consider these questions when choosing your course.
Even golf pros have a hard time deciding which course was their favorite. Some of them have literally played every famous course in the world. I guess the real question is, if there are a ton of great courses out there, how can you figure out which one actually IS the best? That’s a question you’ll need to answer for yourself. Good luck!
Sports: Skateistan
TheNewYorkTimes asked:
Decades of war have left Afghan youth with very limited options for sports and recreation. An Australian man is trying to change that by starting a skateboarding school for children.
Steelers Win Super Bowl 43 As Predicted by **** Sports Talk Tv
SexySportsTalkTV asked:
Be sure to subscribe to the hottest Sports show on the internet to get the latest news and commentary on whats hot in sports.
With your Host/model Erika Nicole
http://www.innov8tivefx.com
Atlanta Braves and the History of Turner Field
Cristi asked:
Commonly referred to as the ‘Home of the Braves’ in honor of it’s tenants, Turner Field hosted it’s inaugural Atlanta Braves game in April 1997. With the capability to seat more than 50,000 fans, spectators regularly pack themselves into this facility featuring a combination of vintage baseball styling and modern amenities. Speaking of amenities, Turner Field offers constant game updates via the Atlanta BravesVision video board, the PlazaVision board and more than 500 television monitors throughout. Inside the ballpark, spectators are invited to do the tomahawk chop in conjunction the 27ft. neon tomahawk, which resides atop the video board.
The playing surface at Turner Field is created with the use of prescription athletic turf, which features a drainage system and hybrid Bermuda grass. The facility features three different seating levels, which includes the Field level, Lexus level and upper level. The Lexus level offers 58 private suites and Turner Field’s exclusive membership club known as the 755 Club. The upper level features a spectacular view of downtown Atlanta and the Field level gives spectators a close view of the action on the field.
One of the most notable, and historical, events held at Turner Field include the 1996 Summer Olympics. The Atlanta Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, which is located on the grounds of Turner Field, offers additional information on the history of the facility and the ballclub. In addition, it showcases more than 500 Atlanta Braves artifacts dating back to 1871. Open yearround, the Atlanta Braves Museum and Hall of Fame is among the most popular stops for tourists and sports fans. For those who participate in the Turner Field tours, a visit to a luxury suite, the press box, broadcast booth, dugout, Scouts Alley, the clubhouse locker room and The Plaza are typically on the list of scheduled stops.
Tooner Field, which is a special children’s area of Turner Field, is presented by Cartoon Network and is a new $3.4 million project featuring cartoon-themed baseball decor. Measuring over 13,000 sq. ft., Tooner Field allows youngsters to challenge their skills in a fun way and while enjoying one of the newest additions to Turner Field.
From young and old to small and tall, Turner Field offers something for every fan. Although most come to enjoy an exciting game of baseball, touring the museum or watching the little ones enjoy an afternoon at Tooner Field is a terrific way to spend some time before the game starts. The great American game of baseball is no longer just an ordinary day at the ballpark. Today, it’s a host of activities leading up to the big event that is sure to be a fun-filled day for everyone.
Collectors who wish to request an autograph from any one of the players on the Atlanta Braves roster should send their letter and a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to:
Player’s Name
c/o Atlanta Braves
755 Hank Aaron Drive
Atlanta, GA 30315
Fans requesting an autograph should limit their request to two items per letter. Popular items to have signed include photos, index or trading cards, baseballs, etc. Patience is key when requesting autographs through the mail, but the best time to reach an athlete is often during the off-season.
Commonly referred to as the ‘Home of the Braves’ in honor of it’s tenants, Turner Field hosted it’s inaugural Atlanta Braves game in April 1997. With the capability to seat more than 50,000 fans, spectators regularly pack themselves into this facility featuring a combination of vintage baseball styling and modern amenities. Speaking of amenities, Turner Field offers constant game updates via the Atlanta BravesVision video board, the PlazaVision board and more than 500 television monitors throughout. Inside the ballpark, spectators are invited to do the tomahawk chop in conjunction the 27ft. neon tomahawk, which resides atop the video board.
The playing surface at Turner Field is created with the use of prescription athletic turf, which features a drainage system and hybrid Bermuda grass. The facility features three different seating levels, which includes the Field level, Lexus level and upper level. The Lexus level offers 58 private suites and Turner Field’s exclusive membership club known as the 755 Club. The upper level features a spectacular view of downtown Atlanta and the Field level gives spectators a close view of the action on the field.
One of the most notable, and historical, events held at Turner Field include the 1996 Summer Olympics. The Atlanta Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, which is located on the grounds of Turner Field, offers additional information on the history of the facility and the ballclub. In addition, it showcases more than 500 Atlanta Braves artifacts dating back to 1871. Open yearround, the Atlanta Braves Museum and Hall of Fame is among the most popular stops for tourists and sports fans. For those who participate in the Turner Field tours, a visit to a luxury suite, the press box, broadcast booth, dugout, Scouts Alley, the clubhouse locker room and The Plaza are typically on the list of scheduled stops.
Tooner Field, which is a special children’s area of Turner Field, is presented by Cartoon Network and is a new $3.4 million project featuring cartoon-themed baseball decor. Measuring over 13,000 sq. ft., Tooner Field allows youngsters to challenge their skills in a fun way and while enjoying one of the newest additions to Turner Field.
From young and old to small and tall, Turner Field offers something for every fan. Although most come to enjoy an exciting game of baseball, touring the museum or watching the little ones enjoy an afternoon at Tooner Field is a terrific way to spend some time before the game starts. The great American game of baseball is no longer just an ordinary day at the ballpark. Today, it’s a host of activities leading up to the big event that is sure to be a fun-filled day for everyone.
Collectors who wish to request an autograph from any one of the players on the Atlanta Braves roster should send their letter and a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to:
Player’s Name
c/o Atlanta Braves
755 Hank Aaron Drive
Atlanta, GA 30315
Fans requesting an autograph should limit their request to two items per letter. Popular items to have signed include photos, index or trading cards, baseballs, etc. Patience is key when requesting autographs through the mail, but the best time to reach an athlete is often during the off-season.
Funniest Sports Bloopers Ever!
Marcelm4 asked:
Here is my (Marcelm4) first compilation of the world’s funniest sports bloopers.
I hope you all like it,
Please rate and leave a comment
Edit: Ok, people keep telling me the drag racer died, that is NOT true.. everybody in this video survived