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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Tebows thoughts

“Obviously, I’m someone who is very outspoken about my faith and I’ve never been ashamed of it,” Tebow said. “And always, any time I get the opportunity I always thank my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. But I don’t think all the attention I get is just because of my faith.
And as for the recent phenomenon that has come to be known as Tebowing?
“As far as ‘Tebowing’ goes, I’ve been doing that same routine for the last seven years, since my senior year in high school,” Tebow admitted. “It’s funny because all of a sudden it became a big story. We’re at a press conference for a football team, so it’s not exactly the kind of platform to get up here and share what you believe. For me, it’s about having a relationship with Christ, and that’s pretty much the basis of what I believe. It’s exciting for me to get opportunities to share it, but at the same time this is a press conference for the New York Jets football team.”

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The History of Spring training

Spring training almost started at the same time as baseball itself. The first record spring training event occurred in 1870 when the Cincinnati Red Stockings and the Chicago White Stockings held camps in New Orleans. However, some believe the first spring training wasn't until the Washington Capitals had a four-day training camp in Jacksonville in 1888.
Either way in 1900 spring training was established as a ritual in baseball. During this time, most American and National League teams go out of town for players to train and mangers to evaluate the players. There are three distinct eras for spring training.

The first of these eras is the early years between 1901 and 1942. Before spring training was started many teams either trained locally or while they were on the road. This was because in the early years many baseball players had to work other jobs to support their family and could not travel out of town to train. In 1910 when spring training became an institution, most teams went east of the Mississippi River. This is when the Grapefruit League was founded.

A second era is the war years between 1943 and 1945. When World War II broke out many starting scaling back their use of various items. Therefore, baseball became a luxury. Baseball was allowed to continue because President Roosevelt felt it was important to homeland morale. However, travel to training camps became difficult. This is when the MLB commissioner developed a boundary that called for teams to train close to their home. Therefore, the Yankees held spring training in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

The third and final era runs from 1946 to our present time. Prior to World War II, many teams had spring training in California and Arizona. However, it wasn't until 1947 when the New York Giants and Cleveland Indians started spring training in Phoenix and Tucson that the Cactus League was formed. It was at this time spring training became a moneymaking institution that has grown into the large popularity we see today.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Pittsburgh Steelers Rivals of All Times

The Pittsburgh Steelers is an NFL franchise who found themselves having three primary rivals with all three playing in the same division as theirs. The team's rivals are the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Baltimore Ravens. Further, the team also have other rivals in the post season games namely the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, and the Dallas Cowboys. An intrastate rivalry between the Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles also arose but they play against each other only once every four years as per scheduling regulations.

The rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and the Steelers started way back 1950 when they first played against each other. At the start of the rivalry, the Browns had the advantage over the Steelers who had a 9-31 record at that time. The Steelers continued to lose for 16 straight years. It was only recently that the Steelers took over the rivalry for the first time ever with a 17-3 record. It was during this time that the team won ten straight games. To intensify the rivalry, former head coach of the Steelers had actually coached the Browns earlier in his career.

On the other hand, the Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens have a really bitten division rivalry evidenced by countless memorable match-ups between the two teams. Both teams caused each other's first loss in the home fields. The Pittsburgh Steelers won their first game at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and three years later, the Ravens crushed the Steelers in a game at the Heinz field. The rivalry between the Ravens and the Steelers is like a seesaw winning and losing against each other and serve as a great complement by showing their fans how they can field really strong defenses against each other.

The Cincinnati Bengals dates the rivalry with the Steelers from the 1970 season when the merger was completed. The most memorable game of their rivalry happened in the 2005 AFC Wildcard playoff game when the Steelers made a come from behind win over the Bengals to compete for a Super Bowl title. This particular win was partly due to the knee injury the Bengal's quarterback experienced and thus was forced to leave the game.

Rivalry between the Steelers and the New England Patriots started when the latter upset the Steelers in 2001 at the Heinz Field. Later, in 2008, the Patriots were accused of videotaping hand signals of the opposing team's coaches which added to more controversy. The rivalry between the Oakland Raiders and Steelers was most heated during the 1970's. While that of the Cowboys started with the team's first game as a franchise in the 1960's.

As a team, the Pittsburgh Steelers will still have a lot to challenges to face, not just with their current rivals but with the new and upcoming teams of the NFL. Although the team have made their mark as one of the most competitive teams in the NFL, they still have to perform at their best to balance out every competitor they play against

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Basketball - A Sport For Every Age

Even if you've never been a sports fan, you've probably still played a little basketball. It's a perfect sport, really, as basketball can be played by people of every age, in any part of the world, with just a couple of people or a whole group. You can even enjoy basketball by yourself if you want to. Obviously, you need quite a few people gathered together in teams to play an "official" game of basketball. But basketball can be enjoyed outside the b-ball court, as well, and can be a great way to simply get some exercise while honing basic motor skills and hand-eye coordination. These aspects make basketball a great sport to get your kids started in when they are very young. Don't limit them to waiting to try out for the school basketball team-you can get your kids started learning the skills imparted by basketball from the time they can walk; possibly even before that.


Backyard Basketball


The beauty of basketball is that you don't have to have access to a fancy court or expensive equipment, as you do with some other popular sports. All you need to enjoy a little basketball is a ball and a hoop. It doesn't even have to be a regulation hoop, unless you plan to use it for "serious" basketball games, as well. You can install a partial basketball court in your own backyard, or even simply install a hoop alongside your driveway. Don't have a way to install a permanent basketball hoop? No problem. Get a portable one. These come in a wide variety of styles and sizes. They're pretty budget friendly, too!


Once you've got your basketball hoop and surface established, simply enjoy it. You can shoot some hoops by yourself, with your kids, or even play a partial game with your pals. Casual basketball is so flexible that you can have fun with it in a variety of ways.


Start 'Em Young


Even little kids can play basketball, and they probably benefit the most from the skills utilized in the game. Start your kids out young by getting them a small, portable basketball hoop and practice simple skills with them like dribbling, passing and shooting. These basketball hoops are designed to grow with your child up to a point, so as your kids grow, the hoop can be gradually raised until they are ready to play basketball with full size equipment.


You can get your children started learning some of the important skills taught by basketball even before you get them a hoop. Motor skills and hand-eye coordination are developed by simply learning to handle a basketball.


Practice Anywhere


One of the greatest things about basketball is how versatile the game can be. Shooting skills can be practiced anywhere-even in the house. You can install small basketball hoops on the back of doors, etc. for casual shooting practice anytime!


The game of basketball has been around for more than 100 years. It can be played virtually anywhere, by just about anyone. So, get out there and shoot some hoops!


 


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