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Maryland's Move To Big Ten Will Have Impact

I’m not sure that geography matters one bit when it comes to the world of college conference expansion. I guess I am just being a relic by questioning about whether Maryland truly feels like a Big Ten school. I guess I am being an old fogy and not moving forward with the times by saying that schools that claim to be in the Big Ten should be a part of the Midwest.

I am also worried about the fact that the sport of basketball is being treated poorly during this whole conference expansion process, the truth of the matter is that all of these moves are in fact football related. Football is the cash cow at most schools so thus the football programs get to call the shots. This may not be true at some schools like Duke, North Carolina and Kansas, but in most situations it is the reality.

The whole question of geography has been a head-scratcher in the past. I don’t completely agree with the idea of having a school like South Florida in the Big East, given the travel schedule and it does not really make sense to have St. Louis as a part of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The geography question is not something that most people think or probably even care about though unless you are a traveling secretary or a part of a coaching staff that has to juggle an extremely tough schedule. A tough schedule is something that a like USF’s Stan Heath does have to deal with as the head basketball coach there.

There is a lot of people there who speculate that the ACC would have one day tried to woo Penn State to leave the Big Ten before the Joe Paterno scandal, some Big Ten fans would not have liked the idea of the ACC moving in on a Big Ten school, but because of the scandal surrounding Joe Paterno the ACC I would not expect many conferences to be pushing each other over in order to have a stronger relationship with Penn State.

The work that Bill O’Brien has done at the school could go a long way to heal such wounds, but some of that damage will never be reversed. I also expect Penn State’s men’s basketball team to struggle quite a bit overall and that squad would be absolutely demolished within the ACC. The ACC may have started the most recent era of expansion with their moves to acquire Boston College and Miami (FL) and now the ACC is one of those conferences that may be struggling the most when it comes to potential players trying to poach their teams.

Jim Rome's Showtime Program

Jim Rome will have a new show airing on Showtime. Rome has had a controversial relationship with many relevant sports stars from around the globe. David Stern, the longtime Commissioner of the NBA had one of the funniest interviews I have heard when he was effectively stone walling Jim Rome about the NBA’s past ownership of the New Orleans Hornets. Rome was always trying to criticize people like Stern over the Chris Paul trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Rome’s new show on Showtime is going to revolve around things other than sports. Jim Rome will work extremely hard to try to bait stars and probably political figures into controversial situation on his new show. Jim Rome has had controversial interviews with Vince McMahon, the owner of the WWE about many of the trials and tribulations that the wrestling or sports entertainment has been through.

Rome is from the state of California and he does have a big following out there, I would presume that when his new show does air that he could take a fair amount of shots at a political figure like Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi is a very polarizing figure in the eyes of many people, Rome would probably bash people like Pelosi in order to avoid accusations of a liberal bias.

Maybe Rome will take on a more in-depth look at some of the scandals surrounding college sports for example, the work that he did on both FOX and certainly ESPN was extremely scripted. Can Jim Rome still have the same bite to some of his questions when he isn’t in such a controlled environment? That question may be something that we never get an answer to.

The changes that are coming with the game of football are going to be something that Jim Rome may want to discuss. Some people out there are pushing for kids to not start playing any form of football until they hit at least fourteen years of age. Jim Rome and other people would probably have very strong viewpoints on this, it may be a topic that he is willing to expand upon with his Showtime program.

Rome can be a very popular host, there is no doubt that his radio show is still highly rated. The people who hate Jim Rome the most are some of his most loyal listeners. People love to criticize the people who get the opportunity to go out on a national stage and talk sports.

Alex Smith Should Take A Page From Randy Moss: Ignore The Media

Randy Moss never lost his love for the game of football. Moss said in an interview with ESPN that he simply needed to get his personal life in order, he readily admits that he did not give a one percent effort during his time with the Tennessee Titans or Oakland Raiders.

People also have to understand that just because you are a football player, not everything that you think about or are interested in revolves around the game of football. Football is something that many people around the league knew Randy Moss could still play. The people who worked with Moss in Oakland that said he had lost his step were just coming up with a lot of excuses for their own failings. The Raiders roster was truly lacking during the time that Moss was with the Raiders as well, there is no denying that.
I would be very interested to hear Randy Moss’s honest opinion about the quarterback controversy in San Francisco with the 49ers. Does Randy Moss have a preference between Colin Kapernick and Alex Smith? Does another elite pass catching option like Vernon Davis have a preference between the two?

Records are meant to be broken, but I do not think that Moss is still in the game in order to break different records. It would have been interesting to see Moss play well with the Tennessee Titans, but that team is still in a transition where they are trying to figure out who their proven quarterback with be on a weekly basis. The Titans are also in what most people perceive to be a very uneven division when it comes to talent levels, the Houston Texans are at the top of the class within the AFC South.
Moss does only have sixteen catches in ten games with the 49ers, but many people out there may think that Moss is simply embracing the idea of becoming a mentor to a lot of the younger players on the 49ers roster? Alex Smith should take a page out of Moss’s playbook and simply not worry about what the media thinks, Moss has had a great career despite having an icy relationship with many members of the media.

Smith should try his best at ignoring the media when they say that Colin Kapernick is a better quarterback when you compare Kapernick to Smith. Kapernick may have a more exciting style, but you really can’t dispute the fact that Alex Smith has won a ton of games over the last two seasons.

World's Top Cheerleader Squads In Sports

Where would sport be without its supporters and also, where would sport be without its cheerleaders. Both parties draw enormous crowds to sporting venues worldwide. Cheerleading began at a college football game in the USA in the 1800s. To date, cheerleading has grown enormously and cheerleaders have to participate in training fitness camps and be extremely athletic. Their job is to energise the crowd and contribute to the overall high energy that is necessary to spur on a boisterous gathering of supporters.

Denver Broncos NFL

The Broncos cheerleaders bring in enormous revenue. They actually sell cheerleader packages. Sponsors include a tanning and spa service. They also have a large range of merchandise to purchase and fully support a junior cheerleader squad. They do event appearances and have produced a 2013 calendar. They also support a wide range of charities, including the children’s hospital and at-risk youth. Tours have included military bases in the Middle East, Cuba and Japan to show support for the troops and thank them for their service.

Oakland Raiders NFL

These cheerleaders have the most sponsors in the NFL. Among their sponsors are MAC makeup and Betsey Johnson swimwear. They can charge up to $400 per cheerleader for event appearance fees. They also run a Junior Raiderette Program. Fitness Boot Camps are held throughout the year to keep the cheerleaders in peak physical condition. 300 ladies often turn up when the Raiderettes hold auditions.

Atlanta Hawks NBA

Known as the A-Town Dancers, the cheerleading squad for the Hawks, is essentially a dance team who have no trouble keeping the fans pumped. Sponsors include Azure Swimwear and Purminerals. They also participate in fundraising events where donations go towards the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. They also support charities such as the Home Depot and Habitat for Humanity.

Miami Heat Dancers NBA

These talented dancers have appeared on numerous television shows such as ESPN, USA Today and MTV Hits. Having journeyed to China, France and Germany, they have brought with them global appeal. Several past cheerleaders have gone on to become television presenters and reporters.

Redline Lady Panthers NHL

This cheerleading squad also has talented and adept skaters in its group. They are supporters of Pinktober and are sponsored by Bronze Goddess, Redline and other corporations. They produce a yearly calendar and have a great range of merchandise available, including personalised t-shirts. They also have a junior Lady Panther Program where the cheerleaders mentor the younger ones.

One hundred international sports federations currently use cheerleaders. Cheerleading coaches put their squads through intense difficult training. The physical demands placed on these girls are enormous and sometimes serious injuries can result from the arduous routines they perform. Throughout the world, cheerleading clinics and international events are held on a regular basis. Cheerleading brings with it major opportunities for media exposure at charity and corporate events. It also gives girls a chance to travel to many overseas destinations giving support to charities, their team and often making visits to military bases.

Written by Tara Blair

Tara used to be in the cheerleader squad in college for the basketball team. Being an expert in DIY art and craft, she used to make personalised t-shirts for all her teamates.  When Tara is not writing you will most probably find her at her local yoga studio coaching fellow yogis.

5 Great Snowboarding Videos

The season to be jolly is fast approaching and that can only mean one thing. No, not that a big fat man with a red suite and a big white beard is going to come flying down your chimney, but that it is time to pull your board down from the loft in preparation for hitting the slopes.

While you get all everything organised and wait for all of your new gear to be delivered, here is a selection of some of the best snowboarding videos to whet your appetite.

Apocalypse Snow by Didier LaFont:

Everybody is obsessed with the newest this and the latest that but if you want a real schooling in snowboarding then you have to start here. The was the first film to feature snowboarding and was made all the way back when in 1983! This film also showcased other winter sports which were coming to the fore and includes some amazing footage from Les Arcs local  Régis Rolland  performing some high-speed powder runs, backcountry airs and gap jumps. A classic!

Ransack Rebellion by The Think Tank Crew:

This film brings you right back to the moment now with this in your face production from snowboarding’s bad boys. These guys show you have it is possible to get value out of any surface and this video is non-stop exhibition of pure snowboardning mayhem. In many ways this is a film that gives the middle finger to the status quo and is a rebellious response to those who they see as having become boring and complacent within the world.

Technical Difficulties:

A lot of people place this at the top of best of lists thanks to its amazing soundtrack and the unrelenting quality of the riders that it features, including JP Walker, Peter Line, and Devun Walsh. If you weren’t quite feeling the itch to get back out there just yet, you will be after watching this.

Absinthe Twe12ve:

The 2011 season went down in the record books as one of the craziest ever. There was record snowfall, endless draughts, tidal waves, floods, and for many, a season that simply would not end. At a time when it feels like the world just might be going finally crazy these guys spent their season on all the ranges at the sharp end of the chaos. What you have here is twelve amazing riders redefining what is possible. An amazing film!

Better Daze by K2:

In the search of better and more extreme conditions the Canadian K2 team riders went out into the unkown in the hope of getting some better shots and this is what they came up with. The scenery is stunning, as you would expect, and the action provided by the likes of Matt Belzile, Steve Cartwright, and Nate Laverty is not too shoddy either!

So there you have your inspiration. Now get those tickets booked, put on your fancy new gear, and you’ll be on that Charmonix transfer before you know it…

 

Guest Post by Peak Transfer – Geneva and Charmonix transfers

Hawkeyes & Wildcats Struggle Against "Lesser" Teams?

The University of Iowa football team has had a rough season as their record stands at 4-6. A person who lives in my part of the state of Iowa is not really allowed to criticize the play of the current quarterback of the Iowa Hawkeyes, so let’s just leave that one where it is.
The fact that Ken O’Keefe decided to leave the Hawkeyes staff in order to go work for Joe Philbin and the Miami Dolphins has had a major impact on the overall ability of the offense to be productive. The offense is not going to be effective if the quarterback is having a hard time making the necessary reads within the new offense.
Greg Davis was hired as the new offensive coordinator for the Hawkeyes. Many people out there were still confident when the season began that the Hawkeyes would end up going to an extremely relevant bowl game before the season began.
Losses to Central Michigan, Indiana and Purdue really do have to get to Hawkeye fans out there, people have generally looked at their schedule and almost always considered a game against Indiana to be a definitely win for most teams. A loss against Indiana may be a sign of a truly inexperienced team in many ways. The loss against Central Michigan could have been prevented if the Iowa special teams unit had recovered an onside kick near the end of the football game.
The people who see the Hawkeyes on a regular basis have seen them struggle against the Northern Iowa Panthers in the past. The in state rivalries are a part of the extra juice that give an underdog the confidence that they would need to win against a “better” team.
There are other teams like the University of Kentucky Wildcats who have also been struggling against teams that they are supposed to at least be competitive against if not defeat on a fairly easy basis.

A large number of Kentucky Wildcats fans are upset about these tough losses against teams like Vanderbilt and they have come to expect better. The Kentucky fans certainly do expect a better because of the success that Rich Brooks had in his later years as the head coach of Kentucky. Brooks had Joker Phillips as his offensive coordinator during a fair amount of time in Lexington. Joker Phillips was named the head coach after Brooks retired, but the truth is that Phillips may have proven that he is meant to stay an offensive coordinator in the future.

All About Airsoft as an Extreme Sport

If you have never heard about Airsoft before, it is something of a cross between paintballing and actually going outside with a real gun and shooting people. Unlike paintball, Airsoft is an outdoor sport, but although it is different it still has its similarities. Of course no real bullets are fired, in actual fact the missiles that are fired from these weapons are shot with less power than a real airgun provides, but that’s not to say that when you are hit it won’t sting! As with paintball, protective equipment it is highly recommended to limit any injury, especially to the eyes and exposed areas of skin.

Defend Your Ground

Basically the premise of the game is that you and your team are charged with defending your hut which is more than likely in the middle of a field. Anyone looking on at what was happening would probably be alarmed if they didn’t know what was going on, as the guns that are involved in airsoft play are practically identical to real guns, even down to the weight. Though airsoft guns are packed and transported with an orange jacket placed on the end of the barrel, once that tip is removed they look for all intents and purposes like the real thing. Walking in on a group of men armed in combat gear, masks and carrying what looks like real guns is enough to send anyone off running for help.

Restrictions and Limitations

There are some places where airsoft guns are banned, so you would need to check the legislation in the area where you live to see if you could get your hands on one, but in theory, if you live somewhere where air rifles are easily obtained you should be able to lay your hands on an airsoft gun too. This is a sport that originated in Japan and has started spreading steadily westwards.  In the early days the guns were expensive to buy as they had to be imported, but now as the popularity of the sport has increased they are much easier to locate and don’t cost anywhere near as much as an import, meaning the sport is now accessible for all.

Required Equipment

As with other shooting based sports eye protection is required. An average bullet shot from a real 9mm gun is discharged with around 400 joules of energy, a projectile fired from an airsoft gun has 1.8 joules. It may not sound like much but it can still cause a lot of damage especially in the facial area. Because of the damage that can be caused a full face mask is an essential piece of kit. If you are hit on the body you can bet it’s going to sting, but in the midst of battle with the adrenaline flowing you are hardly likely to worry about it for long. One other area that requires protection is the hands. As you are holding, aiming and firing your gun your hands, especially your knuckles are exposed and a hit there can be incredibly painful, so make sure that you also have some paintball gloves as part of your essential kit. You may also find a tactical vest of benefit to you and a good set of boots as remember you will be outdoors, fighting over real terrain.

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Manning & Urlacher Too Friendly During NFL Game

 

The fact that Danieal Manning had such a great game against the Chicago Bears as a member of the Houston Texans may have highlighted a problem that I have found in sports. Manning had an interception against the Bears and as Manning was running off of the field Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher gave him a five. Manning and Urlacher were teammates in Chicago, this does not mean that they shouldn’t take the process of playing against each other seriously.
The Commissioner of the NFL has been worried that not enough people are actually going to the games because of the success of HDTV making the games look so good on TV. There are a lot of people who may question whether or not football players are being truly competitive these days. I also caught a number of the Detroit Lions laughing quite a bit as they were down by two touchdowns on Sunday versus the Minnesota Vikings.
I am not saying that some people are not allowed to have fun and have a laugh during a football game, it just brings your commitment into question when you are down by several scores and just yucking it up with your teammates. People can make decisions based upon how much they care about the game of football, I simply could not understand why players on the Saints would potentially have to make extra money on the side as a part of some sort of bounty scandal. The bounty scandal may be more proof that players need more incentive to play the game of football with a higher level of commitment.

People should always try to remain positive when it comes to assuming that their favorite team is giving the best effort they can, but that is not necessarily true. There are a large number of people out there who can diagnose the exact time period when a team quit, but the hope is that the entire organization and the large paycheck that many players get would be enough for players to stay motivated.

People should not give a lot of quitters in the NFL a second chance. Albert Haynesworth was a football player that people gave second chances to despite many people really questioned his level of effort. Haynesworth was someone who was given a ton of money by Daniel Snyder and the Washington Redskins and yet he wasn’t able to ignore his philosophical differences with Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan. I guess it is true that money doesn’t actually buy success.

Mike Brown Fired As Lakers Coach Who Can Do Better?

The firing of Mike Brown as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers is something that probably could have happened at the end of the last season. Mike Brown never was a big enough name for the L.A. crowd who do not realize how difficult it is to be a successful coach in the NBA. Kobe Bryant may or may not think Mike Brown is a capable coach, the truth is that it is really hard to tell.

A motivated player like Kobe can be very hard on any coach, some players get so confident when it comes to their own ability that they may not think that they even need a head coach.People are going to jump all over the fact that Mike Brown brought in Eddie Jordan in order to run the Princeton offense, people can criticize the Princeton offense all they want, but at least the offense is something different.

I know most stars would prefer the iso-game where they end up just shooting things from the elbow. A lot of people are going to look at Mike D’Antoni as the best possible long term replacement for Mike Brown, but I still believe that defense wins championships. D’Antoni can not change stripes this late in his career, he’s going to try to outscore people and that will just lead to another playoff exit, the kind that they would have seen under Mike Brown.
The Lakers are a storied franchise and Kobe Bryant has played a large role in their story. You have to make a note of how Phil Jackson is the only coach that has been able to assist Kobe in winning a NBA Championship. Bryant is going to be annoyed by the fact that his lack of a championship without Jackson keeps getting mentioned, but at the same time Jordan never won one without Phil Jackson either. The Michael Jordan couldn’t do it either card is a pretty effective one when it comes to the game of basketball. Brian Shaw may be the person that Kobe wants to replace Mike Brown with.

 

The NBA is a league that needs superstars and they would like to have those superstars playing well when it is possible. The NBA wants Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in the playoffs for sure. The NBA is not going to fix games for them, don’t get me wrong. A Miami Heat versus Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals is exactly what many people would want if they want the NBA to have high rations.