The Sports Archives – 50 Olympic Events You Won’t See At London 2012!

Posted on June 18, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Has it really been four years since Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps shook the world in Beijing? If London 2012 is even half as exciting as the last Olympic Games we’re going to be in for quite a treat.

But as good as the games are they have become a little bit predictable. I mean the programme hasn’t really changed very much for 60 years. Sure a few new sports have been added, like BMX riding, but the core structure remains unaltered.

You might be surprised to learn that it hasn’t always been like this. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) used to love tinkering with the line-up and were constantly adding new sports and dropping others.

The golden age for experimentation was without doubt the years that led up to the Second World War. It was a time when medals could be won on the croquet lawn, or on a bicycle made for two! This is what we all want to see at Rio 2016, right?

This infographic has been created by Find Me A Gift, where the gifts on offer are every bit as exciting as the Olympic Games.

2012 London Summer Olympics

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The Sports Archives – Your Guide To The London 2012 Olympic Games!

Posted on June 16, 2012 by thesportsarchives

RAF Puma HC1 Helicopter Over the Olympic Stadium, LondonWith just under two months to go until the opening ceremony on the 27th July, the London 2012 Olympic Games are set to be a spectacular sporting event. The Olympics are being hosted in London for the first time since 1948, and has been the subject of constant preparation, financial wrangles and tension since London won the bid for the Games in 2005. Many of these problems have now been resolved and London is finally looking forward to the Games opening. The main part of the Games will run from Friday 27th July to Sunday 12th August, with the Paralympics then being held from the 9th August to September 2012.

Over 10,000 athletes and 26 sports will play and be represented at the London Olympics. As ever, some of the most anticipated events will be the athletics and running, which will include Usain Bolt taking on the 100m, as well as Britain competing in the relay and 400m. Moreover, attention will be focused on swimming and diving, as well as Britain’s traditional strengths in horse riding, polo, and cycling. Other major team sports to be represented at the Games include football, which will see the rare sight of a Great Britain team competing.

Pre Games

While preparations reach their final stages across London, and at the Olympic Park in Stratford, other events have been gradually progressing. The most notable of these events has been the Torch Relay, which sees different Olympic torches be carried around the UK and Northern Ireland by celebrity and ordinary torch runners. The Torch relay can be watched online, and has already taken in the South West of England and parts of the Midlands and Wales. The opening ceremony will take place on the 27th July.

Where Events Will be Held

Most events at the Games will be held at the purpose-built Olympic Park in Stratford in East London. The Olympic Village will also be housed in the same area. Most track and other sports will take place here, while others will be held in different parts of London, as well as around the country. Horse Guard’s Parade will have volleyball, while the Isle of Portland in Dorset will host part of the sailing competition. Other events, such as the football, will take in other stadiums around the UK, while the Olympic marathon will cross London.

London Olympic Stadium

Event Availability

Although most of the main events have now sold out, tickets continue to be allocated online for many other events, which can range from football matches through to more specialist sports. Details of these events can be checked online.

Transport and Safety

London has invested significant amounts of money into ensuring that an infrastructure is in place to support the extra people who will be visiting the capital for the Games. 4,000 additional trains will be put on around the city, while London will also feature extra police, Wi-Fi hot spots, and other infrastructural changes during July and August. Those traveling to London for the Games should still, however, take appropriate caution, and should consider commuting into the city to avoid high accommodation charges near the Olympic Park.

Citations:

Brought to you by the bloggers from RunBreeze, offering a range of high quality running clothes & running gear.

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The Sports Archives – Why You Should Watch the British Open

Posted on June 15, 2012 by thesportsarchives

There are so many reasons why any golf fan should watch the British Open every year. To be honest, any person who considers himself to be a golf fan should be ashamed if he does not watch at least the final round of the Open Championship each and every July.

The one thing that the Open has going for it, more than almost any other golf tournament in the world, is the drama that it creates. It is that drama that entices people who are not golfing fans to get up in the morning and watch the Open on television from countries all over the world.

Desperation and Prestige

What causes that drama that draws people who do not care about golf to turn on the television and watch the Open Championship? It is the prestige that the event carries and the desperation that the players display when trying to win the tournament.

To an American golfer and golfing fan, the British Open is one of four major tournaments that the best golfers in the world compete for every year. But to golfers in almost every other country in the world, the British Open is the only championship that matters.

The British Open started play in 1860. That makes it the oldest golf championship in the world. It has been played 29 times on the Royal St. Andrews Links Golf Course located in Scotland. Royal St. Andrews is one of the oldest golf courses in the world and it is widely regarded as the birthplace of the game. When you have that kind of history going on in a golf tournament, you will have desperate professionals doing anything to win it all.

The Landscape

If you have never seen a links golf course, then you need to watch the British Open. Golf fans all over the world are used to towering hills that contain thick forests that encapsulate a smooth fairway that leads to a picturesque green. To most golf fans, every golf course pretty much looks like the Augusta National Golf Club which hosts the Masters every year.

But links golf is not like that. Links golf does not have trees. Instead, links golf has eight-foot deep sand traps in the fairways and chest-high hay for rough. Links fairways are rolling messes that have no flat spots and can get a golfer lost if he does not know where he is going. It is almost impossible to tell the green from the fairway when you are on the course, and many links courses have holes that share the same green.

The Weather

The weather that occurs on any of the links courses that host the British Open is some of the most unpredictable weather ever seen in golf. The only way to understand it, is to watch it for yourself.

The opening round could be played wearing thick sweaters or even winter jackets with the wind whipping around the course and tee shots spraying into the audience. Then the second round could be played in a torrential downpour that doesn’t seem to affect the British golfers. By the time the final round comes around, it is 80 degrees and everyone is in a short-sleeved shirt.

The Fans

The British Open is the only golf tournament in the world where the golfer who is in the lead coming up the 18th fairway has to fear for his life. There are plenty of pictures and videos of golfers having to fight their way through the crowd that has poured on to the 18th fairway just to make the winning putt. So far, no golfers have been lost in the melee.

The British Open holds all of the character and intrigue that golf has to offer. It is the tournament that every professional golfer wants to win, and it is the tournament that every golf fan wants to attend.

When July rolls around, check your local television listings to see when the British Open will be on television. If you want to see something like you have never seen before, then spend a few hours taking in the experience that is simply known as the Open Championship.

Citations:

Guest post provided by Radical Golf Carts, a parts company who provides golf cart parts for Club Car, Yamaha and EZ-Go golf carts.

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The Sports Archives – Things You Never Knew about Horse Racing!

Posted on June 14, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the UK, with thousands of us flocking to race meetings which are as much of a social gathering as a sporting event. People who never attend a meeting or bet on horses at other times of the year have a flutter on the Grand National or the Derby, and these are some of the most watched television sporting events in the year. Horse racing is a tightly regulated sport and there are quite a few unusual facts about the sports.

Horse Racing

Naming

In the UK, there are strict regulations about how horses are named. The maximum number of characters, including spaces in a race horse’s name is 18, therefore race goers will often see horses named Numbersixvalverde at 17 characters rather than Number Six Valverde, which would be over the limit at 19. Horses are not allowed to be named after a person without their written consent, and it goes without saying that names which are considered vulgar or obscene are not allowed either. Duplication must also be avoided, to eliminate any possible confusion should two horses with the same name be entered at the same event. Many owners follow a pattern of naming and incorporate elements of the parent names into the name of the foal.

Speed and Distance

Racehorses are bred for speed, and the top speed ever recorded for a horse was a staggering 43.2 miles per hour, set by Big Racket. Horse racing has strict rules about the diet and medication which horses can be given to eliminate unscrupulous owners giving illegal equine performance supplements, so owners have to take great care over what their horses eat and drink. Given that the length of a horse race can be anything between half a mile and 2 miles, horses have to be in tip-top condition to compete. Owners use herbal or natural equine performance supplements to give their horse the best chance of winning.

Jump and Flat

The two main types of racing in the UK are flat racing and National Hunt racing, where the horses go over jumps. Some race courses in the UK stage both types of racing, whereas others hold one type of racing only. Racing takes place on every day of the week, with evening and weekend race meetings attracting larger crowds than some of the smaller week day meetings.

Popularity

Football is still the king of sports in the UK, but horse racing comes in a close second, both in terms of revenue generated and spectator numbers. The Grand National sees as many as 10 million people tuning in to watch the race on TV, and 6 million people annually visit a racecourse to see the racing live. Many celebrities and famous faces from the world of sport such as Wayne Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson have invested their earnings in race horses, and of course the sport is very closely associated with the Royal Family, especially the Queen and late Queen Mother.

Citations:

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The Sports Archives – Hawk Eye Technology In Sport!

Posted on June 13, 2012 by thesportsarchives

The Wimbledon Championships are fast approaching and along with Pimms and strawberries and cream, Hawk Eye Technology will be used to ensure there is no margin of error on-line calls.

No More “You Can Not Be Serious”

Gone are the days of players (no names mentioned) arguing with the umpire over whether a ball was in, on the line or out. When the position of a ball can mean the difference between winning a coveted trophy or not, tempers are sure to run high.

Although umpires do an excellent job, the human eye is not a machine and Hawk Eye ball-tracking technology has been used for over six years to officiate matches. As well as Wimbledon, it features at over 60 events in the tennis calendar and has passed the key International Tennis Federation testing.


Was That Ball In Or Out?

Wimbledon fans, whether they are lucky enough to be watching live or on television, now enjoy the accurate results of a close call.  Before the graphic representation comes up on-screen, people often debate between themselves where the ball actually was, and then wait for the Hawk Eye to confirm or deny their opinions.

A Coaching Tool

As well as avoiding on court temper tantrums from highly strung tennis players, Hawk Eye technology is also used as a key coaching tool in tennis, as well as cricket, football and other sports.

Tennis coaches and players were questioned as to what was needed in a technical coaching system and the result was the Hawk-Eye Tennis Coaching System which enables players to view a stringent analysis of their game, focusing on the way strokes are played, what happens in a rally and match and how to improve a service. Once a player has seen how they perform they can then discuss with the coach means of improving their game, seeing why shots are played a certain way and what is necessary to change.

Players have long been able to see video footage of their game to analyze their play, but Hawk-Eye Technology tracks the ball, so players can see how it moves through the air, how it reacts to different strokes, resulting in a much greater depth of game analysis.
You may not watch sport on television very often, but even so, you probably expect to see Hawk-Eye ball tracking in action when you are watching a Premier League Game, a cricket test match or of course Wimbledon.

Charlotte loves to keep up with the latest technology for Direct Sight, a leader in online eye wear.

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The Sports Archives – Vladimir Guerrero: Should You Pick Him Up?

Posted on June 12, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Vladimir GuerreroVladimir Guerrero was without a team in 2012 until the Toronto Blue Jays finally offered him a minor league contract in May. While Guerrero is no longer in his prime, where he used to hit 30+ homers a year, drive in over 100 runs, and steal bases in the double digits, he can still hit for average – last year, he batted .290 for the Baltimore Orioles. In his career, he generally has hit over or close to .300 each year.  He also hit for 13 homers last year.

Faced long time to get signed

Given that, and given his age – he is still only 37 – it was a little surprising that nobody picked up Guerrero this year until now, especially given that even Manny Ramirez, who has to serve a 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, was signed this spring by the Oakland Athletics to a major league contract, and other aging sluggers like Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon were able to find major league jobs. In addition, Guerrero’s $1.2 million minor league contract with the Blue Jays is not guaranteed. So if he does not work out for Toronto, they can simply release him with minimal expense.

Is Vlad worth picking up?

Now Guerrero is back in Canada, where he started his major league career with the now-defunct Montreal Expos. It will take the designated hitter a few weeks to get ready for the big leagues,  but is he somebody worth picking up? After all, nobody in Major League Baseball signed him until May.  You cannot or should not pick him up now, obviously, as his debut in the majors will not be towards until the end of May at the earliest, but is Guerrero worth picking up? He could very well be, especially if you are in an AL-only league, or you need somebody in the DH/utility spot in an ML league.

Guerrero hit the second-best at designated hitter in 2011 for average after David Ortiz, so he can still hit. In addition, he is expected to get some good playing time if he is successful with Toronto.

Remember that he is not in the big leagues just yet

Should you pick up Guerrero? He may very well be worth a shot at DH, but don’t pick him up until he is ready to go. Also, keep in mind that he does not steal bases like he used to, and the free swinger never walks a lot, but you should get some potential value when it comes to batting average, hits and home runs.

Lisa Swan is a weekly contributor to fantasy sports blogs, like DraftStreet.

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The Sports Archives – Mark Teixeira: When Will He Start Hitting Again?

Posted on June 11, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Mark TeixeiraWhen the New York Yankees signed Mark Teixeira, they expected him to be a superstar for years to come. After all, he was 28, in the prime of his career, and the team was paying him a lot of money — $180 million over eight years. In 2009, his first season with the Yankees, he led the American League in home runs and RBIs and finished second in the AL Most Valuable Player award to Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins.  While he didn’t have a great postseason, with the exception of a walk off homer in the playoffs, the Yankees did win the World Series that year, and he was one of the reasons they got there.

Teixeira not as great as expected

However, after Teixeira had such a remarkable first season with the Yankees, his numbers have deteriorated each year; he no longer hits for average. Some have even derisively compared him to a better-fielding Jason Giambi, his predecessor at first base with the Yanks, whose batting average declined after becoming a Yankee.

One of the reasons Teixeira’s numbers have deteriorated is the so-called “Teixeira shift,” in which defensive players on the opposing team change their defense for him. As for the 2012 season, Teixeira, a notoriously slow starter, not only got off to a horrendous April and May, but he was battling a bronchial infection for most of the season. His not hitting well has contributed to the Yankees getting off to a slow start in 2012.

Should you dump Teixeira?

So, if you have Teixeira on your fantasy baseball team, you may be wondering whether to keep him or dump him. Don’t drop him just yet. Keep in mind that in the first half of MLB season, he has a .268 average for his career.  However, as previously noted, his overall numbers have gone down since 2009. Since 2011, he has been hitting just .240 when the ball is in play, and he is now currently ranked among the middle of the pack of first baseman instead of being among the best.

Perhaps, after taking some time off to get healthy, he may be getting his groove back. That being said, it is understandable why people who have Teixeira on their fantasy baseball team may be getting frustrated at this point, the way Yankees fans are. Unfortunately, the thing that he has been most consistent on – his Gold Glove caliber defense – is not something that matters for most fantasy leagues.

His future is unclear

Whether he will recover his career is a bit of a mystery – he is still only 32 years old, but even professional sportswriters are wondering if his career is in permanent decline. We will know better by the All-Star Break if Teixeira has turned it around. At any rate, he is one of the players you should not cut from your fantasy team, but you may want to bench him now until he improves.

Lisa Swan is a blog writer for sites like DraftStreet, a prominent fantasy sports website.

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The Sports Archives – The Best White Water Locations in the USA!

Posted on June 8, 2012 by thesportsarchives

White Water RaftingWhite water rafting is not for the faint of heart. There is something about this extreme sport that gets adrenaline rushing and provides a death defying experience. Whipping down the fierce rapids at great speeds and getting splashed with waves is the best way to spend the day. There are many locations that are known for their great water and aggressive rapids. There is a lot of selection, but some places are by far better than others. Here are the top 5 white water spots in the United States:

1. Monongahela River, West Virginia

This state is full of rivers that offer optimal spots for riding the rapids. From the Monongahela River to the Cheat and various other rivers, this state means business. Most people would not think that West Virginia would have such a fierce drawing for the rapids. Perhaps, because this state is surrounded by nature it provides the best rapids some say in the world. There are many rivers that have different degrees of rapids. It is important to check the rivers status before heading out. Some rivers should only be attempted by the expert and it could be disastrous for a beginner. Running wave classes from I to V, there is something for everyone.

2. Glenwood Springs, CO

Most people head to the Aspen are for the snow-capped mountains and skiing, but others head for a different adventure. The Glenwood springs area has been famous for white water sports for over 38 years. What could be more picturesque than while watering through the Rock Mountains? The rapids here range from III-IV in class. There are many opportunists for family trips, calm scenic rides or the aggressive heart pumping ones. Definitely a place that one should raft in just once in their lives, the background and water is unforgettable.

3. Glacier Run, AK

When mentioning the state of Alaska, snow, ice and nature come to mind. Few people realize that there are a great deal of areas that are known for the spectacular rapids they provide. Near Anchorage is a place called Glacier Run. This has been a great spot for rafters to enjoy for decades. Matanuska Glacier, is one of the most fascinating sites in the state of Alaska. Not only can rafters ride the waves, but they can also climb the glacier and see the spectacular wildlife that inhabits the area. Though it starts off as a climactic ride, it ends with a peaceful journey down to a calm part in the river. It is definitely an adventure that is a once in a lifetime experience.

4. Pigeon River, TN

Going to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area is an adventure of itself, but when added with a white water adventure; it proves to be a stimulating day. Some of the greatest white water thrills lie in the heart of the Smokey Mountains. Some have reported seeing bears and other spectacular wildlife while going down the treacherous terrain. While this area is known for being a country capitol and tourist attraction, sometimes the best adventures are the ones that are normally off the beaten path.

5. Colorado River, AZ

Probably the greatest white water adventure in American has got to be through the Grand Canyon. The Colorado River winds and turns through some of the most beautiful scenery in the entire country. This river journey is exhilarating to say the least. The Grand Canyon is beautiful just to behold, but there are parts of the canyon that are not able to be seen, except by boat. There are stunning waterfalls with rainbows cascading down the canyon and more sites to behold than one could imagine. The history is rich in this area. Some of the white water companies have journeys that span multiple days and allow for camping and horseback riding in the canyon. Being here and seeing all the natural wonders allows one to experience Mother Nature at her finest. The white water enthusiast has to make the journey to the Colorado River in Arizona at least once in their lives.

It is called American the beautiful for a reason; it certainly is. There are gorgeous mountain terrains, stunning cannons, chilling glaciers and breathtaking foliage. No wonder so many enthusiasts choose America as their white water destination. In a country that has something for everyone, it is clear to see why riding the rapids in scenic areas has become a favorite pastime. Not only is white water rafting about fighting the brutal waters, or the thrill of the escapade, but seeing all of what this country has to offer makes this sport spectacular.

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The Sports Archives – 2012 European Championship Infographic!

Posted on June 7, 2012 by thesportsarchives

The stage is set for the year’s most significant footballing event and Europe’s biggest football tournament: the UEFA Euro 2012! The Euro 2012 Infographic provides a selection of the most interesting data visualizations for the upcoming Euro 2012 as well as from previous tournaments in the form of statistics, facts and trivia.

Discover where in Poland and the Ukraine the 2012 European Championship stadiums are located, what their respective capacities are and how many matches each is hosting. An overview of the most significant numbers of this coming tournament is followed by info on record and cumulative stadium attendances from the history of the Euro’s as well as details on the fastest goals ever scored. Top goalscorers from the past two iterations of the tournament are compared and followed by a comprehensive series of goal scoring statistics from all Euro’s ever played. For those that fancy a bet on the beautiful game the infographic also presents a breakdown of how well 60 bookmakers managed to forecast match results with their odds during Euro 2004 & 2008 and what the degree of odds consensus was amongst them.

2012 UEFA Euro Cup Infographic

This infographic is provided by the Euro 2012 Tips portal.

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The Sports Archives – How Did Player’s Names on Football Jerseys Come About?

Posted on June 6, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Dingle and Berry Football PlayersHave you ever wondered how the idea of placing a player’s name on the back of a football jersey came about?  It is no stretch of the imagination to find out that television had something to do with it.

Evidently, in 1960 the Chicago White Sox‘s owner, Bill Veeck, was one of the first to suggest that player’s names be put on jerseys.  It allowed television fans to see the names of their favorite White Sox’s players even if people in the stadium could not. Having a player’s name on his jersey is a practice now standard by 25 of 30 clubs.

After this the American Football League picked up this idea and began putting player’s names on football jerseys.  The National Football League waited until 1970 to begin this practice.  College football trailed behind professional football leagues in placing names on the back of jerseys and some teams still don’t.

There is no NCAA regulation that requires college teams to have player’s names on the jerseys.  Some coaches believe it undermines the team’s spirit and cooperation.  Some want to keep the tradition of having no names on the jerseys alive for the sake of tradition; including Notre Dame, USC and Penn State.  There is also the financial aspect to consider if you are a small college on a tight budget.  If you are a small college that uses football uniforms year after year before replacement, you might not want to put names on the jerseys. Uniforms can be compromised after repeated adding and removing of names.

Football jerseys and team sportswear, have become a booming retail success story since the 1990s. At first people wore a jersey to show their passion for a particular NFL or college team.  Then young people, especially the Hip-Hop crowd, embraced the look.  Now people of all ages wear sport jerseys for casual and as a fashion statement.

Having favorite player’s names on football jerseys has become very popular with football fans.  Fans like to wear these jerseys to show their team pride.  Another new trend is putting your own name and number on a favorite football team jersey.  It fills that need of the individual who always dreamed of playing college or professional football.  Personalizing your football jersey with your name also gives you that one-of-a-kind, custom jersey.  There are many companies that provide personalized football jerseys for either professional or college teams.

About the author:  Jacklyn Owen is an avid writer on sports related topics.  Visit her website at http://recreationandsportsworld.com/

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