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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The Sports Archives – How Do Sailing Boats Work?

Posted on June 29, 2012 by thesportsarchives

What could be more exciting, relaxing, and rewarding than sailing the open seas. Every year thousands take to the seas, waterways and rivers to enjoy the beauty of sailing. The earliest historical account of sailing found contained a painted disc believed to be around the 5th century B.C. Sailing’s early roots were to engage in trade, transportation, exploration and act as a vessel for colonization and war. Today, these yachts and boats serve another purpose, to provide us with pleasure.

There is only one thing better than taking a trip on a yacht and that is to master and skipper the vessel. Anyone who tries navigating a yacht will experience a wonderful sense of accomplishment and freedom. A simple starting point is to learn the different parts of a yacht and their functions, which will allow you to become a more proficient sailor.

The basic parts of a sailboat include; the hull, the sail, the rudder, the keel, the mast. Each part acts in tandem to make the yacht work as a single unit. The sails come in two parts referred to as the main sail and the small headsail. The main sail provides a large proportion of the drive, while the headsail can be placed on different points of sail and can be adjusted according to the direction of the wind.

The Main Sail

The main sail can be found directly behind the main mast and can be adjusted to capture the most wind, in contrast the staysail remains stationary. The staysail is fore-and-aft sail, set on a stay, with the fixed position of the staysail fastened on the jib. Sometimes, depending on the size of the vessel, there could be more than one main sail and staysails.

The Hull

The main part of the vessel which is submerged by water is the hull. The hull comes in many shapes, which is determined by the purpose of the vessel. Boats designed for speed do better with a hull that comes to a point, while flat bottom boats are best in shallow water and slower speeds. Sailboats have three basic hull types. The one used most on boats is the monohull, which is used mainly for sailing and racing boats. Multi hulls have two or more hulls, a style used by most catamarans. Finally, the simplest hull type is flat, like a surfboard with a sail.

The Keel

The keel has several functions. First, and foremost it helps to stabilize the boat and keep it from turning over in a strong wind. It is a hydrodynamic element which helps to expedite the boat through water. There is the fin keel, which is both smaller and faster than a full keel.

The Rudder

The rudder is a piece of metal, fiberglass, or wood connected to the stern of the vessel. Its primary purpose is to steer the vessel by changing the direction of the water as it passes through the hull or the fuselage. The result is that whichever way the rudder turns that is the direction the boat goes.

The Mast

The mast is a pole that holds and supports the sails. It supports the running rigging, which is all of the wires ropes that keep the sails under control. Depending on the size of the ship, there may be more than one mast. The guy mast is a type of mast that receives support from guy lines which is a series of tension wires that stabilize the mast. Normally, the guy line is a simple rope, however if it is attached to a mast antenna, it is made of conductive materials.

Sailing a yacht can be an exciting and rewarding pleasure. It is advisable to take a day skipper course, with a RYA approved provider such as mustang sailing.

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The Sports Archives – The Jaguar E Type: The iconic Shape of British Motoring?

Posted on June 28, 2012 by thesportsarchives

When we think of motoring around the world and the icons they have produced, there are many stark examples that stand out above the rest that can be easily related to their country of inception. We look at North America and motoring icons such as the Ford GT40, the Corvette and the Mustang, and then we look at Italy and the icons that have been sculpted from the home of Ferrari, the 250 GTO, the 275 GTB/4 and Ferrari’s rivals Lamborghini with the Muira.

1964 Jaguar XKE E Type Coupe Side

1964 Jaguar XKE E Type Coupe Side

But when you think of Great Britain, there is only one car that springs to mind that has stood the test of time where British Motoring is concerned, and that is the Jaguar E type.

Upon its release in Series 1 form, the car produced a huge storm of interest which made even the biggest of Jaguar’s competitor’s fall to their knees in admiring the sheer beauty of the thing. In fact when the car was revealed to the world Enzo Ferrari himself stated it was “The most beautiful car ever made”. This was an era where Ferrari was producing cars such as the 275 GTB/4 and the 250 SWB, some of the best looking cars in motoring history.

With 150 mph performance it wasn’t all just all show and no go too, this came as a huge surprise to the public as speeds over 150 mph in the 60’s were always reserved for the Supercar elite of Ferrari and Maserati. But one factor dwarfed all others when it came to wanting an E Type and that was the astonishing price.

During the early 60’s The Jaguar E Type was up to 4 times cheaper than the nearest rivals from Ferrari, Aston Martin and Maserati. For the price and performance coupled with the stunning beauty it became the bargain of the decade. Through its 13 year lifespan the car sold over 70,000 examples and was updated twice which led the car to have Series 1, 2 and 3 (the latter featuring the gorgeous 5.3L V12 engine that purred rather growled compared with the earlier series straight 6’s).

Recently celebrating its 50th birthday, the E –Type looks no better on the road than it did during the 1960’s, the car’s beauty seemingly growing as it has got older – something that most classic cars cannot claim. This pays testament to the design which has seen it placed at the top of most beauty contests in the world of Motoring, including first in the 100 Most Beautiful cars ever to be made and first in the most desirable car list in the 60’s.

It is no secret many car enthusiasts around the world would look at placing an E Type in their dream car garage. The car is simply flawless in every way, the sculptured arches wrap around the tires while the narrow mouth at the front gives it an aggressive stance. The engine is what makes the car however, the 4.2 L Straight 6 from the Series 2 delivers one of the most desirable sounds imaginable with a lion-like growl as it climbs the rev range.

The E Type Jag has an unshakable reputation that ranks it as one of the most iconic cars of all time. It was the culmination of everything that is great about British engineering and the car was able to show the world what Britain was really capable of when creating a fantastic sports car.

It leaves us with a final question – Can the E Type ever be bettered? I for one do not think so.

James Parker Is Business Developments Manager of Official Merchandise and also permanent blogger and writer.

Most of his work can be found on the Official Merchandise Blog which he manages full-time.

With a huge interest for Automotive/Motorsport and a Formula 1 fan, his passion is in the writing of the industry and sport he has loved for over 14 years now.

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The Sports Archives – The English Game: An Eternally Tasteless Affair?

Posted on June 27, 2012 by thesportsarchives

The English Game: An Eternally Tasteless Affair?

Premier League Trophy

English Premier League – Too Ostentatious?

Modern football isn’t really associated with taste and reserve. A lot is made out of the fact that footballers earn obscene amounts of cash – far more than seems in any way tasteful even taking into account the fact that the game is worth so much in terms of entertainment. The fact that the latest Premier League rights deal broke the £3billion barrier is evidence to the lucrative nature of the sport, but that’s no excuse for it being sheer ostentatious.

The Premier League

Premier League footballers are particularly given to the ostentatious. They rarely demonstrate a sense of taste and style when shopping for homes, second homes, third homes, cars, engagement rings, holidays or anything else that gives them the opportunity to make use of their wealth. When money is no object, there isn’t necessarily anything to temper a natural proclivity towards bling and that’s partly to blame for the lack of class and sophistication in the current sporting set.

However, the ostentatious streak is actually something that is evident in so many parts of the game above and beyond its stars. The Premier League trophy has to be one of the most unsightly and tasteless cups in history. Admittedly, the La Liga trophy isn’t much better so the lack of taste is not limited to England, but you’d have to say the SPL trophy is much more original and sophisticated, and tellingly the SPL is hardly renowned for its financial clout.

Cheap, cheap, cheap

The pomp and ceremony surrounding British sporting events often runs massively over budget and ends up looking tacky and tasteless and football reporting has become a swathe of column inches devoted to speculation, downright invention and shallow journalism that has more in common with the gossip pages of the glossies than with serious and considered comment. It makes you wonder – how can something worth so much money give the impression of being so incredibly cheap?

It would be nice to think that English football could turn a new leaf – one based on the sport and the integrity of competition rather than on big business and cheap spectacle. It would be nice to think we could see a collection of talented and admirable individuals competing for a stylish and tasteful trophy in a sophisticated environment delivered as entertainment in a refined and engaging manner.

It would be nice to think that football didn’t have to be subject to a gimcrack front in order to keep us interested. Perhaps you disagree and you love the ostentation or interpret it as something totally different – some sort of prestige or standing. In any case, we’d love to know what you think.

Gary Fellowes writes articles on behalf of Millennium Awards Ltd

Millennium Awards Ltd
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The Sports Archives – 5 National Sports You Didn’t Know Existed!

Posted on June 26, 2012 by thesportsarchives

5 National Sports You Didn’t Know Existed

With The Summer Olympics coming up from London, a lot of focus is being put on sports from around the world. What about the sports that don’t get international attention? These 5 sports are the national sport of their home countries, but you may not even know that they exist.

Tejo (Columbia) – A foreign spectator might mistake Tejo for a game of horseshoes with a lot more firepower. In Tejo players toss metal disks down an approximately 60 foot track in an effort to make contact with another disk that is covered in gunpowder. There are a few different ways to score, including getting the gunpowder to explode. Traditionally the game is played while intoxicated, and most teams and tournaments are sponsored by beer companies. Despite the use of alcohol and explosives, most players claim the actual risk of injury is very small. (Source: Lonely Planet)

CapoeiraCapoeira (Brazil) – While most of us would assume that Soccer orJujitsu is the national sport of Brazil, in reality the traditional dance/martial art Capoeira holds the title. Developed by slaves brought over to Brazil by the Portuguese, Capoeira is real-life dance fighting, and not the kind of dance fighting that takes place in movies like, “You Got Served.” Legend has it that slaves designed Capoeira as a way to practice martial arts without their owners taking notice. Capoeira has recently grown in popularity thanks in part to the success of Brazilian born mixed martial artists competing in the UFC. (Source: Capoeira NYC)

Kabaddi (Bangladesh) – Kabaddi is, by some accounts, the most violent game in the kabaddiworld. A mix of wrestling and rugby, an attacking player runs onto the court and attempts to touch as many of the defending team’s players as possible without taking a breath. If the player breaths before returning to his home base he is out. The defending team does everything they can to block, tackle and wrestle the attacking player away from their base. (Source: kabaddi.org)

PatoPato (Argentina) – Pato is a traditional Argentine game that looks like a mix between polo, basketball and Quidditch. Teams compete on horseback to throw a ball wrapped in leather through an opponents’ hoop. The game has been banned in Argentina on several occasions due to the barbaric early versions of the game which included the use of a live duck (un pato) in place of the ball. The game was reinstated once and for all in 1938 and is now played across South America, North America and Europe. (Source: Argentina.ar)

Cirit (Turkey) – The origins of Cirit go back more than 1000 years and it is one of many equestrian sports practiced in Turkey. Two teams line up on opposite sides of the field and the first player, usually the youngest on the team, rides towards the opposing team verbally calling out one of their players. The player who has been called then attempts to chase down the first player and hit them with a (thrown) javelin. If the thrower misses, a second player from the first team comes out and begins to chase him back to his side of the field, and so on. While Cirit is traditionally a very violent game, it has recently become less dangerous with players choosing to throw light weight sticks instead of the traditional javelin.  (Source: allaboutturkey.com)

Kenny Soto is a writer for the blog at MyMove.com. For more information about sports and other traditions from around the world, including how to buy the perfect housewarming gift visit My Move today.

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The Sports Archives – Top 10 Best Golf Courses in the World

Posted on June 25, 2012 by thesportsarchives
Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Northern Ireland

Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Northern Ireland

With approximately 32,000 golf courses worldwide how could we possibly pick 10 of the best? Well the unfortunate news is we don’t have time (or the money) to play all thirty-two thousand so we have had done some research of our own. Here is our run down of the top 10 golf courses in the world.

Cade Kidnappers, New Zealand

Situated on a cliff edge this is certainly a dramatic location for a course where a miss hit ball can take up to 10 seconds to reach the water. It doesn’t have any sandy dunes but certainly has the landscape and undulation to make it interesting.

Royal County Down, Northern Ireland

Keeping with the coastal theme this is widely regarded as one of the best in the world which lines the coast and is heavily bunkered, so make sure you can hit straight.

Pebble Beach, USA

This course differentiates itself by being open to anyone who will pay the green fee and Jack Nicklaus said this is where he would play his last ever round.

Leopard Creek, South Africa

If you fancy a safari and like moving hazards while you play golf then this is a course for you, with two 600 yard holes and fantastic weather; it’s a must.

Green Monkey, Barbados

Get to the ninth hole here and you play your game amongst the very unique backdrop and area of a quarry – that might pull you away from the beach for a few hours.

Turnberry, Scotland

Redesigned after it was flattened for use as an air field during World War II it has recently played venue to the Open championship and is well worth a round.

Domaine de Sperone, Corsica

This course gives you two environments in one. The first nine are played on a green course and the second nine played amongst rocks and ravines.

Canouan, The Grenadines

Played on an extinct Volcano this course is truly unique, and tricky. It’s a very green course but this contrasts nicely with its white sand and large cliffs.

Doonbeg, Ireland

Perhaps one of the youngest classic golf courses at 6 years old this course just flows over its landscape paralleling golden sandy beaches and requiring true precision on its table top greens.

Royal Melbourne, Australia

Finally we have Royal Melbourne, regarded as many as one of the best courses in the Southern Hemisphere. It has fast greens and awkwardly places bunkers to ensure you need to hit the most accurately weighted of shots.

PGA Swing Guru is a golf app designed to help improve your golf swing!

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The Sports Archives – Warm up for Summer with Wimbledon 2012!

Posted on June 23, 2012 by thesportsarchives

With the Queen’s Club Championship well underway, the road to Wimbledon is drawing to a close, and the tournament is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic in recent years.

History

For those not in the know, the All England Lawn Tennis Championships – Wimbledon to friends – has been running annually since 1877, the same year the original code of laws for the game of tennis were drawn up. The only event staged that year was the men’s singles, won by one Spencer Gore in a final watched by two hundred spectators who each paid a shilling for entry.

In 1922 the original club moved to its current site in Church Road, where it now boasts a 15,000-seater Centre Court, now complete with retractable roof in case of the inevitable summer showers, the 11,400-seater No.1 Court, and Nos. 2 and 3 with 4,000 and 2,000 respectively. The winners of both the men’s and women’s singles titles will take away £1.1m, with £650k for the runner-up.

Men’s Tournament

The men’s tournament is expected to be a continuation of the battle for supremacy between current ATP Tour no.1 Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, the second seed and most recent winner in their duel in the final of the French Open. Between them they have contested the finals of all four of the most recent slams, and at least one of them has appeared in the last nine, dating back to Roger Federer’s win over Andy Murray at the 2010 Australian Open.

Women’s Tournament

The bookmakers have not ruled either Murray or Federer out of the running just yet, though allowing for slightly shortened odds because of his status as a home favourite, Murray’s 8/1 rating does not bode well. Slightly more adventurous gamblers might fancy a flutter on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who came so close to upsetting Djokovic at the French, or Juan Martin Del Potro, who as one of an elite group of current pros with a slam under their belt shouldn’t be quickly dismissed.

Over on the women’s side of the tournament, things are absolutely wide open; some commentators complain about the being of a lack of elite talent in the women’s draw, but whether or not that’s the case the winner is always difficult to pick. Serena Williams’ early defeat in Paris is clear proof that there are very few sure things in women’s tennis, and considering there have been six different winners at the last six slam tournaments, this year’s British Open should be no different.

Despite her recent exit, Serena Williams still has her name on two of the last three Wimbledon trophies, and along with Maria Sharapova, who took the French Open and reached the finals of both the Australian and last year’s Wimbledon, will be the ones to beat this time around. That said, neither are clear favorites, and last year’s winner Petra Kvitová and current US Open champ Sam Stosur are both firmly in the running, perhaps in spite of Stosur’s notorious poor showings on grass. Outside shots include Li Na and Italy’s Sara Errani, who has had an explosive year in the slams, reaching the Australian quarters and the French final, all while picking up the doubles’ runner up medal in Melbourne and her first doubles’ slam at Roland Garros.

The tournament runs for thirteen action-packed days, and with only a couple of weeks left until the first ball is served the time to look at some London hotels in SW19 and catch the best grass court tennis has to offer.

Catherine Halsey is based in Edinburgh and writes for a digital marketing company. This article links back to PremierInn.

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The Sports Archives – Cars that England’s Football Stars Drive!

Posted on June 22, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Are you following the European Football Championship?  One of the most controversial teams in the line-up is England. They often attract attention for their flashy lifestyle and also for their entourage – the bolshie fans that follow them around the world. Another thing that the England squad is popular for is the expensive cars they’re driving. Their weekly wage is more than what an average worker will earn in 5 years but you cannot say they’re spending their money wisely – at least some of them are known to have a bad taste when it comes to buying bling and cars.

As you can see from this infographic, the garages of these football stars are very predictable. You can hardly call a Range Rover Sport or a mainstream Mercedes a creative approach in choosing a car.  Nevertheless, to prevent some people going green with envy, we included an interesting factoid showing how meager a footballer’s income is in comparison with people who are making proper money!

This infographic was provided by Creditplus.

Cars that England's Football Stars Drive

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The Sports Archives – Is It Time to Give Up on Adam Lind?

Posted on June 21, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Adam LindIn 2009, his first full year in the majors, Toronto’s Adam Lind hit .305 with 35 homers and 114 RBI.  But Lind has not approached those numbers since. This season, after hitting just .186 with 3 homers and 11 RBI in his first 34 games, Lind, now 28, was sent to the minors. At first it was reported that Lind was designated for assignment, but that turned out not to be the case.  Still, after the ten-day minimum, Lind remained in the minors, with no timetable for his return.

Lind has been a starter for the Blue Jays since his breakout 2009. He started every game he appeared in last season and 31 of his 34 games in 2012 before he was sent down. But Lind’s troubles started as far back as 2010. His 23 HR and 72 RBI were well off his 2009 pace, but still usable. But Lind’s batting average was just .237.

Struggles against left-handed pitchers

Most striking was Lind’s lefty-righty split. The left-handed Lind actually did fairly well against righties, hitting .275 with 21 HR and 62 RBI. His OPS was .829.

Against lefties, however, Lind hit just .117 with only 2 HR and 10 RBI in 137 at bats. His OPS was a grisly .341.

Lind appeared to regain his form in the first half of 2011, hitting .300 with 16 HR and 52 RBI. But his average sank to .197 in the second half. Still, Lind finished 2011 with a .251 BA, 26 HR and 87 RBI. His left/right OPS split improved to .771/.639.

In 2012, however, Lind’s problems against left-hander returned, with a .129 BA and .382 OPS. Only now his numbers against right-handers were lousy as well – .207 BA and .655 OPS. Lind was hitting just .140 with a .492 OPS in 43 AB against all pitchers in May when the Blue Jays sent him to the minors.

The Jays are exploring possibilities for a life without Lind. They signed designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero to a minor-league contract and gave current DH Edwin Encarnacion some starts at first base, Lind’s position.

Lind’s contract

The Jays probably wouldn’t mind trading Lind, but that isn’t likely to happen. In fact, it’s more likely that Lind will eventually return to Toronto. The reason is that Lind will make $5 million this season. And he will make $5 million in 2013 as well.  So Toronto would probably have to pick up most of Lind’s salary if they were trade him. And if they don’t trade him, that’s a lot of money to pay someone to play in the minors, especially when he doesn’t turn 29 until July and was a very productive player as recently as the first half of 2011.

But first, Lind has to make it back to the majors. Then he has to regain his form, at least against right-handers. Until then, it’s not clear why Lind remains on 23% of Yahoo! rosters at this writing.

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

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