The Sports Archives – Has The Curse of Vince Russo Been Lifted From TNA Wrestling?

Posted on July 10, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Have you detected a change in the creative philosophy since the appointment of Bruce Pritchard as TNA’s head of creative?

Vince Russo

Vince Russo Replaced

In October 2011, it was announced that Vince Russo had been replaced by Bruce Pritchard  as head of TNA creative. Russo, who eventually left the company entirely in February, has long been known for his controversial  “crash TV” style of booking – something that was strongly embraced by Vince McMahon during the painfully fledgling days of the WWE in the early nineties, thus spawning the infamous WWE Attitude Era. Years  later, when Russo decided to jump ship to WCW, the style not only crashed ‘n burned, but it has been labeled by many as one of the key elements in the death of WCW, as well as the stagnant growth in TNA, thus leading many to wonder how much of a creative genius Vince Russo really was.

Once Pritchard replaced him, many observers expected an immediate change in the atmosphere and creative direction of TNA programming. While no one expected to change overnight, it was well over six months after Pritchard and taken his position and literally nothing had changed.

Others pointed to the stability of Bobby Roode’s title reign  as a sign that the signature Russo rapid-fire title changes direction had come to an end, and that the world title match ups are getting more of a traditional buildup than under the Russo regime.

But ever since TNA made the decision to broadcast Impact Wrestling earlier and live on Thursday nights, there has not only been a noticeable change in the creative product, but in the morale of the company and the response from the fans. The new approach lives by its motto – “wrestling matters”. Even during WWE Raw broadcasts, TNA wrestling’s marketing team has placed promotional commercials that subtly hint to its viewers and demographic that you are currently watching an inconsistent circus, and that by choosing Impact Wrestling, you are getting a product that is changing the way you see the industry, bringing traditional emphasis into a modern age, and getting as close as possible to taking a pre-determined show and turning it into a realistic sport.

I was once a fan of what Vince Russo brought to the WWE table. There was even a time where I thought he was the only reason the WWE survived the attack from Eric Bischoff’s WCW. But what I didn’t bother to ask was, who else was at the table? Because on his own, Vince Russo has proven that he is a failure when it comes to creatively writing for pro wrestling. It shames me to think that he is even a fan and it baffles me that he ever was.

I go on the records in saying that TNA Wrestling is worth watching, and not only is a suitable alternative to the WWE product, but I dare to say it is BETTER than the WWE product. WWE’s product has been so bad since Wrestlemania, I’m starting to think they may have re-hired Russo.

Keith Jenkins has covered the pro wrestling industry for over two decades, and currently does promotional work for Sea Cliff Real Estate in New York City.

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The Sports Archives – A Look Ahead to the 2012/13 Season of the English Premier League

Posted on July 9, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Last year’s Premiership season went to practically the last kick as Manchester City became only the fifth club to win the trophy in an astonishing injury-time turnaround against QPR. With such fine margins between the top two, an invigorated Chelsea and Spurs and Arsenal with money in the bank, this looks to be one of the most competitive seasons in recent years.

Arsenal

After a late burst got the Gunners to a distant third place and a berth in the Champion’s League, things were looking up for Arsene Wenger’s side, while the off-season acquisitions of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud looked to give the North London side some much-needed bite up front. Recent news, however, that club captain and the man who carried the team on his back last season, Robin Van Persie, would not be signing a new contract has left a dark cloud over the Emirates Stadium. Wenger will be hoping that the return from injury of Aaron Ramsey, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshire and Theo Walcott will give the Gunners the strength in depth that they lacked at key moments last time round.

Chelsea

After a dramatic and unexpected win against Barcelona in the Champion’s League final, Roberto Di Matteo cemented himself in the manager’s spot after a fairly disastrous spell with Andre Villas Boas at the helm. Di Matteo has yet to make any big moves in the transfer market, and speculation will be abroad whether aging stars John Terry and Frank Lampard, who each looked creaky at times in 2011/12 will have the legs for another term. Blues faithful will look to Fernando Torres to finally deliver on his promise after a couple of quality outings at Euro 2012, and hope that existing staff will play to their full potential after a disappointing sixth place finish domestically.

Manchester City

Mega-funded City have a squad that is the envy of clubs the world over, and finally turned their spending into silverware on the last day of the season, after rehabilitating the discontented Carlos Tevez into a frontline that already counted Edin Dzeko, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli. With a midfield that includes David Silva, Samir Nasri and Yaya Touré, you might be forgiven for resting on your laurels in the transfer market, but Roberto Mancini currently leads the suitors for Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie, which could spell an exit for Dzeko or the disruptive Balotelli. Given the world class City can boast at every position, they look like the team to beat this year.

Manchester United

Despite the narrow margin by which United missed out on a fifth title in six years, the team’s performances fell far short of their gold standard, and Ferguson’s reliance on Paul Scholes’ return from retirement spoke volumes about their weakness in the centre of midfield, where Darren Fletcher’s ongoing illness has threatened to end his career. However, the purchase of Shinji Kagawa and the return of Tom Cleverley should go a long way to patching that problem, and with Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck performing at the top level alongside Wayne Rooney, the Reds should be confident about producing up front. This is still very much a United side in construction, however, and Ferguson’s side will be hesitant about their chances this time round.

Tottenham Hotspur

After an outstanding run midway through last season, Spurs fell apart in the final furlong as Fabio Capello’s departure unsettled then-manager Harry Redknapp, who has since been replaced by Andre Villas Boas. AVB has been greeted with some equivocation by Spurs fans after his truncated spell at Chelsea, but with an injection of £70m plus whatever is recouped from the sale of unsettled midfielders Luka Modric and Rafael Van der Vaart, there is reason for quiet optimism. The signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson is a big step in the right direction, and should Spurs win the race to sign Joao Moutinho ahead of Manchester United, their midfield will once again be one to fear, particularly after the massive coup of Gareth Bale signing a new four-year deal. The Spurs forward line still looks patchy, however, and Villas Boas will hope that the stalled deal with Ajax for classy defender Jan Vertonghen will make their defence a force to be reckoned with.

So this year’s championship is heating up already, with the runners and riders taking their places. Will the trophy come back to London or pick up a permanent room in the Manchester Airport hotels? The season kicks off on August 18th, make sure you don’t miss a single touch.

Catherine Halsey is based in Edinburgh and writes for a digital marketing agency. This article links back to Premier Inn.

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The Sports Archives – Top Five Female Wrestling Personalities That Should Be Inducted Into The Hall of Fame

Posted on July 7, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Tammy "Sunny" SytchA lot of people have said that they were shocked when Tammy “Sunny” Sytch got her nod into the WWE Hall of Fame. I challenged those people by saying, “how do you think all the current WWE Divas got their job if it weren’t for Sunny?” They quickly retorted, “Well there are so many other females that came before her that aren’t in the Hall of Fame yet. They should be in there before her!”

So it got me thinking…

Outside of Sunny, who without a doubt rightfully deserves her recognition into the Hall, who were the top five women who should be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame? Here are my picks:

Sable – Like Sunny, she was a total package, but she also raised the bar by transitioning herself as the first cross over female wrestler. Sure, she wasn’t that good at it, but she proved that you can make a competitor out of eye-candy. Sable was also the first WWE personality to bare it all for the pages and cover of Playboy magazine. Had she not been granted the opportunity, a handful of WWE divas never would have been able to follow in their birthday suits, and we males would have to leave many graphic details in our fantasies to our imagination. When Brock Lesnar returned to the WWE this year, I figured she would be shoe-in for the next round of inductees, being that she is his wife and it may have been a perk to get him to sign. But with all the heat he’s had on himself lately, it may have cost her the chance.

Medusa– One of the best original female performers of the 90’s, who like Sherri Martel was able to remain an effective ingredient to the roster even when there was no female division to compete in. Her run as Alundra Blaze in the WWE during the early 90’s saw some decent matches with Bull Nakano, but once she jumped ship back to WCW during the Monday Night Wars and infamously trashed the WWE Women’s Title, it may be safe to say that she’s been blackballed forever.

Cindy Lauper – The 80’s pop star? The “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” chick? yep, that one. Had it not been for Lauper, the Rock and Wrestling Connection never would have materialized and opened the door for an audience on MTV thus leading to the massive promotion for the first Wrestlemania. Had it not been for Lauper’s dedication and influence, this business may not even exist today. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since she ran wild with Hulk Hogan and Mr. T, but who would have thought 30 years ago that we’d be here today with a multi-billion dollar conglomerate. It was nice seeing her on a recent edition of Monday Night Raw, and we can only hope that it was setting up her induction in the very near future.

Trish Stratus – There is no denying that Trish is perhaps the most popular female Trish Stratuspro wrestler of modern time. She dominated the business in the 2000’s and was perhaps the most decorated female wrestler for a decade. Then again, it’s not hard to achieve that when you have no other competing organizations or places to work for that matter). Not taking away from Trish’s body of work, but she was a homegrown WWE talent. She never worked the indies or Japan, and her only competition was that of the WWE divas, which was mostly compiled of other models turned wrestlers. Again, not taking a big wet shit on her work, but it would have been nice to see Trish against some real competition. I guess that’s why there was such a heated rivalry with Lita. But to Trish’s credit, she achieved the impossible and proved the nay-sayers wrong…and she actually made female wrestling look good when most had written it off as a “popcorn match”.

Miss Elizabeth – If you’re an old school wrestling fan and you talk about the first lady of pro wrestling, the only person that comes to mind is the influential valet of the “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Miss Elizabeth. Her presence drew a female audience, not because she wrestled and not because she oozed sex appeal – but because her character connected with the female audience. They understood her dilemmas, and they appreciated her sophisticated and elegant appearance. Her character was based on pure emotion, yet it never crossed the boundaries of fiction. It was simplicity at its best. Miss Elizabeth is arguably the most iconic female persona in pro wrestling history.

What pro wrestling female personalities do you think belong in the WWE Hall of Fame?

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DieHard Derek has been actively involved in the pro wrestling industry since 1992. You can read his controversial and outspoken opinions on his pro wrestling blog.

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The Sports Archives – Time to Take Another Look at A.J. Burnett

Posted on July 6, 2012 by thesportsarchives

A. J. BurnettThe Yankees were so eager to get rid of A.J. Burnett after last season that they picked up $20 million of the $33 million remaining on his contract so Pittsburgh would take him off their hands.  Burnett’s Pirate career began inauspicious when he fouled a ball off his face early in spring training and fractured an orbital bone. Burnett missed several weeks and did not make his Pirate debut until April 21. In his third start, Burnett gave up 12 earned runs in 2 and 2/3 innings.  Despite all that, it’s time to start thinking about picking up Burnett.

Turmoil in the Bronx

Burnett arrived in Pittsburgh with an enormous amount of baggage from his time with the Yankees. After a decent first season in pinstripes in 2009 (13-9, 4.04 ERA, 195 strikeouts, plus a win in the World Series), Burnett was awful in 2010 (5.26 ERA, 1.51 WHIP) and 2011 (5.15 ERA, 1.43 WHIP). And it was not because he was pitching in Yankee Stadium – in both years, his road ERA was over a run higher than his home ERA).  Burnett injured his hand punching a glass door during one game and showed up with a mysterious black eye in another.  The Yankees were only too happy to pay millions to send Burnett, now 35, packing.

Some thought that Burnett might do better away from the pressure of pitching for the Yankees. Burnett had enjoyed success previously with the Marlins and Blue Jays.  When Burnett shut out the defending world champion Cardinals over seven innings in his first start for the Pirates, allowing just three hits and striking out seven, fantasy owners took notice. In his second start, Burnett allowed two runs in six innings against Atlanta, striking out eight, he began to be looked at as a potential sleeper.

12 earned runs

Then came that disastrous third start. This time, the Cardinals were ready. 12 earned runs. 12 hits. 2 2/3 innings. An  ERA of 1.38 going into the game. After the game, an ERA of 8.04.

So much for Burnett the sleeper. You can’t have a guy on your team who might give up 12 runs, can you?

But in six starts since that debacle, Burnett has only given up a total of nine earned runs. As of June 5, his ERA is down to 3.76 and his WHIP is 1.29. Burnett has 50 strikeouts in 55 innings and only 18 walks.

If you take away that one awful start, Burnett’s numbers in his other eight starts are a 1.89 ERA and 1.11 WHIP.

Of course, you can’t pretend that 12-run start didn’t happen, but with Burnett’s performance since then, it’s time to at least think about giving him another chance.

Ben Hargrove is a fantasy baseball expert for sites like DraftStreet, a popular fantasy sports website.

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The Sports Archives – Red Sox-Yankee Rivalry Rears Its Head!

Posted on July 5, 2012 by thesportsarchives

There are many famous rivalries in professional sports, but one of the fiercest is between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. The Yankees are the team that everybody loves to hate, but the Red Sox fans hate them more than most baseball fans. They love to come down to Fenway Park to “boo” the Yankees loudly. This year The Yankees and Red Sox will be competing again in July; any true fans of either team wouldn’t dare miss the chance to outshine the other.

The two teams have maintained their rivalry since the early 1900s. The reasons for the rivalry are pretty obvious.

• The two cities are not far apart.
• They play in the American League East Division.
• Both teams claim to be the best franchise in Major League Baseball.

The Curse of the Bambino

It all started in 1920 when The Yankee’s acquired the most popular athlete in sports from the Red Sox; the infamous Babe Ruth. Ruth donned the famous Yankee uniform on January 5, 1920 and left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Red Sox and their fans. This trade was considered a serious loss for the team and would end their era of success for the time being. Both teams had always been competitive; however, the Ruth sale added fuel to the fire and initiated a deep-seated resentment that still lingers to this day, and for good reasons too. Before dealing Ruth to the Yanks, the Red Sox had won five World Series titles. After the sale, they went without a World Series championship for 86 years. During that same period, the Yankees had won 26 World Series titles.

The Curse is Broken, but the Rivalry Continues

The Red Sox finally overcame the curse by defeating the Yankees in the most amazing way during the 2004 American League Championship Series. The Sox rallied from a three-game deficit to beat the Yanks 4-3. Then, they swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first World Series in nearly nine decades. The defeat infuriated the Yankees and initiated a long term battle of the fittest. Baseball fans near and wide rally to witness the intense match-ups whenever The Yankees come to Fenway Park. These games are so highly anticipated that fans purchase their Red Sox tickets months ahead of time to ensure their attendance.

The Rivalry Continues

Yankees - Red Sox RivalryThe Red Sox and Yankees have already battled twice this season. The Yankees won both of the exciting, competitive games. The next series between the two teams is scheduled for the first week in July. The Red Sox want to dominate their division and completely bury the Curse of The Bambino. The Yankees want to prove that they’re the best team in baseball by beating the Sox and winning the World Series again. Whatever the outcome, the New York/Boston rivalry will continue to heat up the stadium whenever these two teams play.

Mercedes Potter is a part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs and news sites. Follow her @CedesPotter.

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The Sports Archives – Has The Modern Football Boot Increased The Number Of Injuries To Star Players?

Posted on July 3, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Football BootsThere is an argument that the modern football boot has increased the chance of injury for star players. These arguments are based in the belief that lighter boots, while fashionable, are not suitable for the pace and the strength of the modern game, and offer little protection from tackles. At the same time, evidence shows that players that do wear these lighter weight boots are more prone to injury. Figures from within football have also spoken out against the trend for wearing lighter boots, and have particularly criticized the poor matching of blades, rather than studs to grass. However, there are some counter arguments most notably that injuries result more from poor training regimes, and from the general pace of the modern game.

1 – Metatarsal Injuries

Lighter boots became a key part of Nike and Adidas brands in the 1990s and 2000s, with the boot moving from a purely practical role to becoming an advertisement for player endorsements, However, the lighter covering of the boot, while more aerodynamic, particularly exposes the ankles of players to damage. Players that have suffered metatarsal injuries to their ankles include David Beckham and Wayne Rooney.

2 – Injury Patterns

Studies into football injuries frequently identify how players that tend to wear lighter boots have been some of the most injured in the past few years. Frequent injury sufferers like Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen might, in some respects, link their ankle and metatarsal problems to their choice of sponsor boots.

3 – Selecting the Wrong Boot

One major argument against the modern football boot is that they are not suitable for the heavier pitches and longer grass that Premiership football players experience during the course of a longer season. In particular, boots that use blades over studs can become caught in long grass, leading players moving at high speeds to be caught up. Lighter boots with thinner studs can also lead to vulnerability from sliding tackles and balance for players.

4 – Internal Criticisms within the Game

Some notable figures from within the game have criticized the use of lighter boots and blades over studs. Manager Steve Bruce has particularly called out the problems caused by using blades on grass, and has pointed to the long-term injury of player Frazier Campbell while he was at Sunderland as an example. Campbell suffered a serious knee injury after his blades became caught in grass. Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia suffered a similar injury in 2010.

5 – Levels of Caution

Some caution can, however, be made over the responsibility of lighter boots andSoccer Cleats blades for injuries. Other factors that need to be taken into consideration include the intensity of preseason training, and how unfit players can suffer injuries on hard pitches. Moreover, the sheer pace of the game and the amount of fixtures and training sessions that players have to put their bodies through during the year raises the chance of injury by sheer number of games and repetitive strain. Players entering into the European Championships this year will surely have to deal with these problems, regardless of the boots they wear.

Citations:

Brought to you by the bloggers from livesport.co.uk. Get the latest TV listings for everything, from euro 2012 fixtures to cricket fixtures.

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The Sports Archives – What Does The Future Hold For Women’s Tennis?

Posted on July 2, 2012 by thesportsarchives

What Does The Future Hold For Women’s Tennis?

There’s a lot of conjecture at the moment surrounding the state of women’s tennis. A lot of people seem to be of the opinion that the sudden rise of players outside the top ten to the finals of major tournaments is an indication that the real big hitters are taking turns of underachievement.

Sara Errani

Will Sara Errani lead Women’s Tennis?

The recent French Open saw both evidence of this and evidence of the contrary. While Sara Errani defied all expectations and reached the French Open final, the Italian was joined there by Maria Sharapova who came out on top and thereby secured a career Grand Slam.

Sharapova’s achievement is a clear example of one of women’s tennis’s biggest stars consolidating her position as a true legend of the sport. However, Errani’s achievement is perhaps an example of the continued trend for the women’s top ten to change frequently and for the top players to fail to get a stranglehold in the manner of the top men in the game.

The element of surprise

The men’s top four has included the same four players in various arrangements for a number of years now and this stability at the top is seen as a major source of excitement by most fans of the men’s game. The best players are consistently competing against one another for the major honours in finals.

The women’s game is much less predictable. We’ve seen the likes of Schiavona, Kvitova, Li and Stosur win Grand Slam competitions in recent years without building on those successes in order to cement their positions at the top of the game. Sharapova returned from a period of exile to dominate once again while the Williams sisters have disappointed of late.

In the past, the Williams sisters and others have slightly skewed the rankings by taking part in very few tournaments but performing extremely well in them, leading to a strange distribution of talent in the top ten that does not necessarily see the best at the summit, and that as result arranges the draws for majors in a manner that doesn’t see the best of the best compete with one another in the finals of the majors.

The nature of entertainment

It is hard to say what makes for the more exciting tournaments: those that always culminate in finals contested by the same set of leaders, as in the men’s game with the likes of Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Murray; or those that more often than not spring a few surprises, as in the current women’s game.

What’s more important: consistent quality and lasting rivalries, or unpredictability and storytelling? Feel free to get involved in the debate.

Isabel Adams has an interest in women’s tennis, writing articles on behalf of Neill Newport.

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The Sports Archives – The Two Most Famous Runners to Have Won Gold at the Olympic Games!

Posted on June 30, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Running is a sport that takes athleticism and power.  There is a need for consistent self-reliance and a stamina that is almost unworldly.  The sport is recreational for some while for others it is a passion and career.  There is no better place for athletes in running than can be seen in the Olympics.  Several great athletes have become world known and famous because of their Olympic performances and the actions that they took while performing on the largest running stage.  The following discusses two of the most famous runners to have won gold at the Olympic Games.  From two different countries and with two different stories, the following two men have become synonymous with running and staples of inspiration in the running world.  Read their stories and see if you are inspired by their incredible journeys to the top of the medal podium.

A Hero Abroad Who Was Hated At Home

Jessie OwensThe story of runner Jesse Owens is one of the most aspiring stories to come from Olympic runners.  His running career begins early, but he really burst onto the scenes at the contentious and historic 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.  With Hitler and the Nazis gaining in power throughout Germany, these games were intended to be a chance for Germany to showcase their superior talents and the overall German strength.  Hitler became disgusted and utterly dumbfounded by the fact that America would include anyone but white individuals of Arian descent in their athletic team.  And then, he had to face them on the field of competition.

The U.S. won an impressive eleven gold medals, the majority of which were won by black athletes.  It was Jesse Owens, however, that was the most impressive and iconic athlete of the games.  Jesse Owens won four gold medals, three in individual race competitions and one in a team relay.  His performance frustrated Hitler to the point that rumours flew that he had stormed from the stadium.  This alone gained him status as one of the most famous runners and Olympic gold medallists of all times.  Furthering this was the fact that when Jesse Owens returned home to America, he received a chilly welcome.  He had been the hero of America overseas and came home to segregation and disrespect.  He simultaneously became known as the American hero and the representation of American racial hypocrisy.

Running With Religion

Eric LiddellIn 1924, Paris hosted the summer Olympics and a Christian runner made his name on the running scene.  Eric Liddell was born to missionary parents who worked to spread the word of Christ in China.  The Scottish gentleman grew up learning a love of God and a love of athletics as well.  Though rugby was his sport of choice, it was running that gained Eric Liddell his most notable international athletic accomplishment.  While at the 1924 games in Paris, the runner was put on centre stage for his country.  So much was he admired that Scottish bands played outside of the stadium hours before his race.  During his gold medal winning race of the four-hundred meters, Eric Liddell proved that he could do anything in the sport, including beat out the highly favoured Americans for a victory in gold while breaking world records.

It is not just this stellar performance, however, that the athlete was known for.  It was for his stance for what he believed.  Eric Liddell, as a devout Christian, believed that the Sabbath was to be observed in completion, even if the Olympics were occurring.  For this reason, he sat out races that were important both to him personally and to his team out of respect for the religion he so thoroughly believed.  His stance was seen around the world, with debate over his choice but widespread respect for his belief adherence.  He has become known in many circles as the missionary runner, and his reputation has lived on.

The two athletes above are clearly an inspiration to all.  If you want to exceed your own expectations, pick up some running clothing and give athletics a try.  You may just surprise yourself.

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The Sports Archives – Five of the Most Popular Marathons in the World

Posted on June 30, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Popularity in marathons derives itself from several different factors.  First, there is the size and toughness of the crowd of participants.  Sheer numbers alone do not make the marathon popular but the respect it earns.  The most popular marathons in the world also have a reputation for tremendous crowd support and unique sights along the way.  The following list explains more about the five most popular marathons in the world that a runner can race in.

New York Marathon

The New York Marathon is truly an experience, and often tops the lists of the best marathon runs that are out there.  The field of competitors is overwhelming and can even be star-studded, too.  Huge crowds gather to support the runners, standing over five deep on the marathon sides.  The crowd is made of many international runners who come to the streets of New York City to prove that they are the best runner in the world.  It has been said that this race has inspired many of the larger marathon races around the world, and seeing the event once can tell you just why this is the case.

Boston Marathon

Rosie Ruiz

Rosie Ruiz faked winning Boston Marathon – full story…

It may not have the field size of the New York Marathon, but the Boston Marathon has history on its side.  It is the location of the oldest known marathon in the world.  It is a runner’s dream to enter into this marathon and gaining acceptance is a badge of honor.  This is because the standards to enter and register for the event are extremely stringent.  This exclusive nature makes it a goal of many runners and creates a field of participants that are among the top runners in the world. It is for this reason that the Boston Marathon is one of the top five marathons in the world.

London Marathon

The London Marathon is one of the most popular and well-respected marathons in the world.  Many runners, internationally, place this marathon at the top of their must do or favorite marathons to complete.  The event takes place every April and involves an extremely large field of participants.  The marathon is touted as one of the most elite races, partially because of the organizational prowess of the event staff and partially because of the course itself.  The London Marathon began in 1981, and involves a running path that is both visually stunning and challenging.  Beginning in South-Eastern London and ending in St. James’s Park, the sights and sounds of London will be seen by all runners on the course.  There are hills that make it challenging and narrow areas that make it difficult, but the beauty of running past the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace can be a truly invigorating path.  For this reason, and many more, it is a top race for any marathon runner.

Berlin Marathon

The crowds around the celebration of the Berlin Marathon are one of the highlights of this race.  The course is tough and interesting.  Runners will pass all different types of building in varying architectural patterns as they traverse the streets of Berlin.  It has been said that you can see the history of Germany as you pass these grand buildings and this may not be an overstatement.  It truly is a must for any history buff runner that is out there.

Chicago Marathon

The Chicago Marathon is another great American marathon that is ever-growing in respect and prowess.  Most recently it has become a contender for the awards of both biggest and best race in the country, and arguably the world.  It is a fast paced course that has been carefully developed by race organizers and event creators.  It is a one-loop running course that features the quintessential Chicago elements.  High-rise buildings that reach into the skies and highly diverse neighborhoods are all part of the course plan and it is for this reason that so many runners and tourists alike come out to be part of the event.

If you are thinking about participating in one of the above marathons buy yourself a pair of Brooks Running Shoes to ensure your feet are happy even on the 25th mile!

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The Sports Archives – Cole on Course for a Century!

Posted on June 29, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Ashley ColeAshley Cole is fast closing in on a phenomenal football record…and has just seen off another in the process.

The strong-arm of England’s defence this week became England’s most capped tournament player, having made his 21st appearance and overtaking David Beckham and Peter Shilton en route.

With 97 games for his country now under his belt, the Chelsea man is rapidly approaching a century…with only a handful of players standing in his way as the most capped player ever to have donned an England shirt.

Having made his debut in 2001 in a winning world cup qualifier against Albania, his first competition at international level came in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Re-writing the History Books

Now, having served under four different managers at six world cup and European championships, Cole is on course to re-write the history books completely with only five players ahead of him in having shown their allegiance to their country more times.

Beckham remains England’s most capped outfielder on 115 appearances, with goalkeeper Shilton holding the outright record on 125.

At the age of 31, Cole has the potential for plenty more international action.

He has played almost every minute of every England match since a 1-1 draw against Sweden when he was 21.

Player of the Year

Alongside his England caps, he has seven F.A cups, three league championships and a championship league title to his name. Football fans voted him England Player of the Year in 2010.

  • The quarter-final on Sunday will be his 98th appearance; if England made the semi final it would have been 99….and – against all the odds it would seem – if they g0t to the final he would have celebrated his ton!
  • One record he’ll never eclipse however is that of legend Bobby Charlton’s long-standing 49 goals for England…the outstanding left back has never found the net in an international competition.
  • Of his 97 games for his country, Cole has played on 60 winning sides, has drawn 24 times, and lost 13.
  • Steven Gerrard is hard on Cole’s heels…he has played for England 95 times. The injured Frank Lampard is currently on 90.

The current table of England centurions is:

Nicki Williams can’t wait for Sunday’s quarter final clash with Italy.

She writes for Gear-Zone, on-line stockists of outdoor clothing and sportswear, including football boots, Euro 2012 national strips, specialist goalkeeping equipment and Adidas, Mitre and Puma footballs.

 Picture source: Compfight

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