The Sports Archives – Could this be Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals Year?

Posted on April 28, 2016 by thesportsarchives

The 2015-16 Washington Capitals have won the NHL President’s Trophy but still have a tough path to the treasured Stanley Cup.  They have never won the ultimate prize, but if Alexander Ovechkin has his way, there may be a celebration in Washington DC that will rival that of the Independence Day fireworks display.

The Caps will have to oust Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins first if they are to move on in their quest.  Let’s not forget the rivalry between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin over the years as they were both welcomed into the league as 1st round draft picks, Ovechkin in 2004 and Crosby in 2005, both captains of the same team that acquired them and both winning a myriad of awards throughout their careers.

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However, there is one difference and not so subtle: “Sid the Kid” Crosby has helped to bring a Stanley Cup to Pittsburgh in 2008-09 after more than a decade since the two back-to-back ones that Mario Lemieux helped to achieve in the 1990s.  The Washington Capitals have never won the Stanley Cup.  In fact, Washington has had only one appearance in the Stanley Cup finals, not winning a single game after having being swept by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1997-98 season.  Pittsburgh has been around for only seven more years than the Capitals, and have a 3-0 advantage in the number of Stanley Cups won.  Who can forget the New York Islanders who joined the league just two years prior to Washington and have won the Cup four times, amazingly just seven years after induction?

But this Washington Capitals team has a leader in Ovechkin.  Last year he promised the fans a victory in game 7 of the Conference Semifinals after the New York Rangers had come back from a 3-1 deficit.  The Ranger’s Derek Stepan broke that promise when he scored the game 7 winner in overtime.  Now is the time for Alex Ovechkin to redeem himself, make good on that promise and bring the Stanley Cup home to Washington.  But, Sid the Kid has other ideas!  Having the title at the moment of youngest captain to ever win the Stanley Cup, Crosby hopes to bring some his doggedness experience that is required to endure through the NHL’s second and toughest season, the playoffs!

History has shown that winning the President’s Trophy certainly has no influence on whether your team will win Stanley Cup nor is it an automatic invitation into the Stanley Cup finals.  Here is a list of former President’s Trophy winners that have went on to win the Stanley Cup in the same year, and as you can see, there were only 8 times, two by Detroit.

1. Edmonton Oilers (1986-87)

Wayne Gretzky, need I say more?

2. Calgary Flames (1988-89)

Calgary did it, maybe they knew that it was now or never!

3. New York Rangers (1993-94)

See comment under number 2 above.

4. Dallas Stars (1998-99)

Brett Hull leads the list of stars for Dallas.

5. Colorado Avalanche (2000-01)

Not just a football town!

6. Detroit Red Wings (2001-02)

Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille prove that you are never too old.

7. Detroit Red Wings (2007-08)

Henrik Zetterberg leads Detroit to its fourth cup in 11 years.

8. Chicago Blackhawks (2012-13)

The second of three since 2009-10.

 

 

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The Sports Archives – Horse Racing You Can Bet On

Posted on April 9, 2016 by thesportsarchives

Del Mar Horse Racing

The sport of Horse Racing goes back many centuries.  Soon after man learned to domesticate the horse, it was realized that horses can be used as vehicles for racing competitions.  Shortly thereafter, man would put up whatever was considered valuable at the time, as a means of compensation for choosing the losing horse.

Throughout the centuries, people have attended some form of competition that involved horses, from chariot racing to jumping tournaments; equestrian performance sports was becoming a huge market.   The worth of horse racing across the globe has grown to be estimated at over $110 billion dollars.  It is the gambling nature of horse racing that has spawned different types of racing and different methods of wagering.

There are four popular types of racing:

Maiden Races

This race is the entry point for horses that want to make the big-times.  The maiden race is for horses who have not won a race, hence the term “maiden”.  It is usually, but not necessarily the race where a horse takes home its first purse.   If a horse does not win a maiden race, the horse will most likely head for retirement.  One of the most famous maiden horses in history was Zippy Chippy which earned over $30,000 in prizes, but never won a race in 100 starts.

Claiming Races

Claiming races are not for the easy-to-be-queasy types.  Programs list the sale prices of participating horses and claims to buy are made before post time.  In other words, you commit to buy BEFORE the race and you own the horse after the race, win or lose.  One of the most successful claimed horse was Furthest Land which was claimed by Ken Ramsey for $35,000 in October of 2008.   Furthest Land went on to win 7 of 11 races and became the second horse to win a World Championship after just having been claimed.

Allowance Races

Allowance races are for those horses with similar characteristics based on objective conditions.  Some of these conditions usually include the weight of the horse, gender, age and resulted running time over a given distance.  The jockey’s experience may also be a factor.  Horses that fall short of some of these conditions are allowed to carry less weight. These horses are not for sale as in the claims races.  Thoroughbred racehorse champion, Zenyatta, won a 1-1/16 mile allowance race by 3 and 1/2 lengths at Hollywood Park on December 15, 2007.

Stakes Races

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American Pharoah after winning the 2015 Preakness Stakes

Stakes races are for the top competitors in the horse racing industry.  High purses and instant fame are usually associated with the winners of stakes races.  The term “handicap” is often referenced with stakes races and is used to define weight allowances as determined by the track’s racing secretary whose goal is to even the odds in an attempt to make for tighter competition which usually leads to higher revenue for all involved.  Some of the most famous stakes horses are horses that have won the Triple Crown which consists of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.  Among the list of these famous horses are the most recent, American Pharoah in 2015, Affirmed in 1978, Seattle Slew in 1977 and of course, Secretariat in 1973.

For more knowledge and information about horse racing, please visit www.williamhill.us, a leading source for horse racing and wagering.

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The Sports Archives – The 10 Best Indoor Sports

Posted on April 2, 2016 by thesportsarchives

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Many of the best sports on the planet take place outdoors. We gather in huge stadiums to cheer on our favourite teams in football, baseball or athletics. But, what about the indoor games? What are the very best sports that take place in a warm, dry arena instead? Let’s take a look.

  1. Bowling – 10-pin bowling is more than just a fun game to play with your friends. It’s a fiercely competitive and expert game in the professional leagues. Players compete for trophies with bitter rivalries. If you think it’s all just luck, think again. Bowling requires a sharp eye and a perfect arm.
  1. Pool or snooker – Next up, it’s the classic pub game. That’s right, snooker or pool is usually played after two or three pints in your local bar. However, the professionals take it much more seriously. Expect fine suits and a cool head if you go to watch the experts play.
  1. Squash – Squash is often considered the fastest sport on the planet. The speed of the ball reaches much higher than tennis or badminton. In just a small cube, players must outsmart each other with precision shots and pure fitness.
  1. Chess – While it’s not technically a sport, it’s still one of the most competitive games in history. It’s also one of the oldest on this list. This game of strategy and logic is centuries old, with chest grandmasters stretching back through the decades.

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  1. Table tennis – This is another high-speed racket sport. Only, this time, the rackets are small paddles. It’s great for a friendly game against your friend. Or if you can even play solo against table tennis robots.
  1. Boxing – Perhaps the most brutal and fierce sport on the planet, boxing is not for the feint-hearted. Have you got what it takes to get in the ring?
  1. Badminton – Our third and final racket sport on this list, badminton is lightning fast. It certainly keeps you on your toes, and requires expert hand-high coordination. Grab your shuttlecock, and try it for yourself.
  1. Swimming – Swimming is one of the best all-round sports out there. It requires expert fitness and endurance as well as powerful core body strength. A few laps of the pool once a week should keep you fighting fit. Although, it’s best to leave the butterfly to the experts.
  1. Volleyball – While beach volleyball is arguably more fun, we don’t all have the coast on our doorstep. Instead, take your volleyball game indoors, and get two teams together. Trust us, this one gets highly competitive.
  1. Basketball – Basketball is one of America’s favourite past times. Alongside football and baseball it forms the trifecta of American sports. In fact, being a pro basketball player would definitely be one of the coolest jobs in the world. It’s also the easiest to get into. All you need is a basketball and a hoop. Head to the indoor gym with some friends and set up an impromptu game. Or, watch an NBA game if you want to see how it’s done properly.

Phew, that’s all of them! Have we missed out any awesome indoor sports?

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The Sports Archives – Croquet: Not Just Golf with Hammers

Posted on March 31, 2016 by aemery97

Baseball, cricket, hockey…there are certainly quite a few sports that involve striking a ball or other small object with an elongated stick/club. Perhaps one of the more unique examples of these is croquet! Croquet (properly pronounced “kroh-kay”, although syllable emphasis varies) is a sporting activity that can differ in rules and game function. However, the aspect of this sport which remains a staple across all variations is also the primary game mechanic – every player must methodically move a ball across a field of sorts utilizing a specially-shaped mallet.

Mechanics and Gameplay

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While it might be more equipment-intensive as a recreational sport, croquet is a flexible lawn sport that can be played in a more natural environment.

As previously stated, croquet can be played in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most recognized form of croquet is Association Croquet or “International Rules.” The game features 4 balls paired into 2 teams. To win the game, one team must pass its pair of balls through every hoop. There are a total of 6 hoops in this version of the game – 3 on either edge of the court. Association Croquet is made noteworthy by the employment of the “croquet shot” – a special kind of mallet stroke that can potentially prolong one team’s turn. If, on their stroke, a player manages to hit the team’s other ball with the ball that is struck, it is called a “roquet” and the player may continue the turn. A continuation stroke can be earned during a turn if a player manages to pass one of the team’s ball through a hoop. This prolongs the current team’s turn and can be of great advantage if used strategically. Another type of stroke that can be accumulated during a player’s turn is the “croquet stroke.” This is earned by striking the player’s ball against another ball during a swing. The player’s subsequent shot must involve aligning and striking the balls together in a single swing. Ultimately, the strategy of Association is to accumulate swings during one’s turn to maximize progress and minimize the opposing team’s advancement.

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Though it shares some notable similarities to golf, croquet is a unique, enjoyable sport.

Another of the more common forms of croquet is Golf Croquet. Unlike Association, this game mode involves players “winning” hoops by passing their ball through them in a set layout. Additional swings cannot be earned by any player, so every shot’s effectiveness must be maximized with strategy. The game is won by the player who accumulates the most hoops. Because of its simple rules and competitive nature, Golf Croquet is rapidly becoming popular.

            History

 

The modern sport of croquet can be dated back to the mid-19th century and is believed traceable to Ireland. However, it quickly spread across multiple English-speaking countries. There is a roaming theory that croquet was brought to Britain by France and known at the time by the name of “pall-mall.” This intriguing sport bears a striking semblance to croquet and is definitively considered to be an ancestor of the game. One thing about croquet that is absolutely certain is that its popularity surged across England, quickly becoming a renowned, enjoyable lawn game.

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“Heathers”, a 1988 teen comedy film, contributed to croquet’s popularity via arts and literary culture.

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The Sports Archives – Athlete’s Foot: Stigma of the Toes!

Posted on March 29, 2016 by aemery97

Have you recently noticed an itchy or burning rash developing on the bottom of your foot or around your toes? Watch out: you may have contracted a skin infection commonly known as athlete’s foot! Though generally mild in severity, athlete’s foot is incredibly common, particularly as a condition related to sporting activities, and has the potential to worsen or create complications if not addressed. How did this disease get its name? Why is it such a common ailment? How is it contracted, diagnosed, and treated?

            What exactly is Athlete’s Foot?

San Francisco Podiatrist picture of athlete's foot in a Bay Area triathlete.Known throughout the medical community by the name tinea pedis, athlete’s foot is a pathological infection caused by the accumulation of fungi. It is known by its street name due to its prevalence among athletes; fungi that can cause this disease survive and thrive in warm, damp environments, such as communal showers, locker rooms, swimming pools, and other similar locations. Areas that are prone to such environmental conditions and frequently experience heavy foot traffic can become breeding grounds for the pathogen which, once established, can be difficult to resolve. People who periodically walk barefoot along wet, populated floors, do not keep the skin of their feet dry and healthy, and who share socks and towels with infected persons are at high risk of contracting this common affliction.

Identification and Treatment

Athlete’s foot can be identified on the feet as a scaly, rash-like irritation. Some of the side-effects of this affliction are cracked skin, swelling, roughness and blistering. It may be difficult to differentiate between athlete’s foot and another type of dermatitis (milder, more common skin irritation). However, if the condition persists and/or worsens in a few days, a visit to the dermatologist is likely the best course of action.

conditions_17Depending on the severity or likelihood of athlete’s foot being the cause of the skin irritation, a professional diagnosis could be skipped. Treatments for athlete’s foot are generally accessible either over the counter from a local pharmacy or by doctor’s prescription. These treatments typically consist of antifungal topical creams or oral tablets. Though minor cases of athlete’s foot tend to resolve without external treatment, moderate-to-severe developments may require medical attention. Complications can lead to more serious developments in the disease, so it should not be ignored.

            Future Prevention

 

 

Illustration of how you get athlete's foot and tinea pedis and tips to prevent athlete's foot

Just as with musicians’ instruments, the human body is an important component of athletics. Take care of your body!

The best way to prevent athlete’s foot from resurfacing is by keeping vulnerable body locations free of dampness. Appropriate exercise footwear is generally enough to prevent athlete’s foot from becoming a serious recurrence. Not everyone is equally vulnerable to contracting this disease, but it has the potential to throw a wrench into any athlete’s exercise regiment!

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The Sports Archives – When Sports Stars Use Drugs

Posted on March 26, 2016 by thesportsarchives

Sports stars are usually associated with peak physical fitness, and for that to happen, one usually has to steer clear of vices such as cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. But not all sports stars follow these rules, or, indeed, are not capable of following them. Drug addiction can affect people from all backgrounds, from the everyday worker to even some of the world’s most famous sports superstars! Let’s take a look at some of the household names who battled their problems with drugs alongside their battles on the field or court – as well as a look at how this may be an even bigger problem in the future.

Young Sports Stars

Drug use in sports sometimes has a happy ending, and sometimes has a sad ending. In some cases, however, drugs mean the stories of promising sports stars never get to be told. Publications such as Sports Illustrated have noted how blossoming sports careers are being cut down, all because of one injury. Following minor surgeries, people are often given painkillers as they continue their recovery at home. The only problem is, they then get addicted to the opioid painkillers and, without any consensus on how to treat this problem in the medical community, turn to harder, illegal drugs to get their fix. Pretty soon, the career they once may have had is no more. This goes to show just how easy it is for people involved in sports to turn to drugs – no matter how old or talented they are.

Andre Agassi

Andre Agassi Indian Wells 2006Perhaps the most famous revelation in recent years was Agassi admitting that he was using crystal meth while he was a tennis professional. When he failed a drug test in 1997, Agassi blamed it on a spiked drink – and got away with it. However, in his 2009 autobiography, Open, he came clean with the truth: he had, in fact, been smoking crystal meth at the time and just blamed a spiked drink for his failed drug test to see if it worked. 1997 wasn’t the best time for Agassi’s tennis career. Suffering with niggling injuries that kept his tennis matches to a minimum, he turned to the drug after being given it by a friend. Reaction was, as you might expect, pretty heated – while the public were stunned, fellow professionals such as Roger Federer expressed disappointment and Marat Safin even went as far to say Agassi should lose his prize money and titles.

Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona at 2012 GCC Champions League finalBeing one of, if not the greatest player of all time comes with plenty of benefits, but there’s also an immense pressure too. And if you have the personality of Diego Maradona, that pressure can sometimes take you down some dark paths. Maradona was addicted to cocaine from the early eighties until 2004, which covers a large part of his footballing career. He first used the drug when he was at Barcelona in 1983, just prior to his then world-record fee move to Napoli. In 1991, he was banned for 15 months after failing a drug test for cocaine. Then, after scoring a goal in the 1994 world cup, a hyperactive goal celebration suggested he was under the influence of things other than the euphoria of scoring a goal. He was found to have used illicit substances and banned from the tournament.

Dock Ellis

Dock EllisDrugs will normally make a sports professional play worse than normal, but that’s not always the case. On June 12, 1970, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter (for non baseball fans, think: had probably the best game of his career) while reportedly under the influence of psychedelic drug LSD. While the batters saw Ellis throwing strike after strike, Ellis claims he was having a pretty wild trip: he thought he was pitching to Jimi Hendrix, who was using a guitar as a bat. He says he never played a game of baseball without the use of drugs. Eventually, he did give up drugs after he finished playing, and even went on to become a drugs counsellor.

…and the rest

Many sports stars never reveal their drug use, fearing that they will be reproached in some way by the sport’s governing body. But there are plenty of tales out there. Which sports star surprised you with their drug use?

This is an article by Helen Cairns.

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The Sports Archives – Chewing Tobacco: Has Been a Part of Baseball for a long Time, or Will It?

Posted on March 22, 2016 by thesportsarchives

Baseball players have been chewing tobacco for such a long time that we are accustomed to seeing them dipping without giving it a second thought. However, the list of cities trying to ban the use of smokeless tobacco in baseball is rising, which means that Major League Baseball and the players union will have a discussion about banning the use during their next collective bargaining agreement. Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have already banned the use of smokeless tobacco at stadiums, and online MLB sportsbook odds have Chicago as the next city to do so.

Chewing Tobacco

Despite Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn dying from cancer due to his use of smokeless tobacco, MLB has been reluctant to banning its use by players and team staff. Instead of waiting on the league and players union to work out a deal banning smokeless tobacco from clubhouses, the Chicago City Council is trying to get involved in the process.

On Wednesday, the Chicago City Council will vote on a proposal that would ban smokeless tobacco from baseball games as well as other events held at stadiums in the city. According to reports, City Council is doing it to prevent kids from picking up the habit because their favorite players dip.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin sent out a tweet that said kids are more likely to start using smokeless tobacco when they see their baseball heroes using it while playing. Durbin used an analogy of a T-ball player that can’t hit a fastball wearing eye paint like professionals do because he sees them wearing the paint during games.

Despite the claims that children will start using smokeless tobacco because their baseball idols use it, research shows that isn’t the case.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5.5 percent of high school students use smokeless tobacco, which is significantly lower than the 9.2 percent that smoke cigarettes, the 13.4 that use electronic cigarettes, and the 9.4 percent that use hookahs.

While those numbers are unacceptable, it shows that baseball players using smokeless tobacco doesn’t have as much of an effect as the Chicago City Council and Senator Durbin think they do. In fact, kids watching baseball games are more likely to try beer before they are 21 because it is heavily advertised during games and visible in the stands.

Federal law requires tobacco manufacturers to put one of four warnings on every pack of smokeless tobacco that they sell.

One of the signs warns that smokeless tobacco can lead to mouth cancer. Another warning says using smokeless tobacco can lead to gum disease and tooth loss. The third warning says smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes, and the fourth warns that smokeless tobacco is very addictive.

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The current laws in Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco ban the use of smokeless tobacco by players, team staff, umpires, and fans. The law being proposed in Chicago will be similar to the laws in the cities mentioned.

As a deterrent, first time violators of the proposed law will be fined $100-$250. The people who own or operate the sports venue could also receive fines if the law is violated. A third violation in a year can lead to a $2,500 fine and a 60-day suspension of their license or permit to hold sporting events.

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The Sports Archives – College Sports: the 3 Largest U.S. Universities

Posted on March 22, 2016 by aemery97

There is truly no end to the coverage, action and excitement among professional sporting leagues across America, and college sports, arguably the secondary tier of sports entertainment, do not trail too far behind! Still, as much as enthusiastic spectators enjoy watching athletes compete at numerous competitive levels, significantly less is known about student athletes themselves. In college sports, it may surprise some to hear that different schools have their own private policies and benefits regarding sports programs and players. This article aims to explore some of these inquiries by examining the sports programs of the 3 largest collegiate universities in the United States: Arizona State University, the University of Central Florida, and Ohio State University.

  1. Arizona State University (est. 1885)
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The Sun Devils consist of 22 varsity teams and have accumulated numerous achievements under the NCAA. Even ASU’s mascot, “Sparky,” is a source of pride, having been created in 1946 by Bert Anthony, a former Disney illustrator!

ASU is ranked in 1st place with the largest student body of any university in the U.S., boasting over 83,000 enrolled students in 2014! This university is a collective comprised of multiple campuses, none more important than the others. For athletics, ASU’s Division-I conference of teams (the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s most significant tier of college sports) is the Arizona State Sun Devils. Unlike in, for example, the NFL, where a single team features a unique name, college sport teams commonly encompass multiple different types of sporting activities. In the case of ASU, any athlete is known as an honorary “Sun Devil.” Among the sports featured prominently by ASU are baseball, football, archery, badminton, swimming, and a variety of others. Some sports are mixed, while others are broken up into men’s and women’s divisions, respectively. ASU’s athletic record with the NCAA is nothing short of respectable, boasting 23 national championships and 12 title wins specifically for Division-I.

  1. University of Central Florida (est. 1963)
UCF_Knights

Despite the school’s renowned legacy, the 2015 UCF football team actually suffered a devastating 0-12 season. Talk about bad luck!

UCF is the second-largest public college in the United States and 1st place in undergraduate enrollment. Its main campus is established east of Orlando and features a circular layout. For such a large school, UCF is relatively newer compared to most of its university competitors. UCF’s collegiate sports teams are all known as the “UCF Knights” and compete in a wide variety of sports, including baseball, basketball, soccer, football, and tennis. While UCF’s varsity athletics were “upgraded” to Division-I only just in 1984, the height of the university’s expansion into sports is 2007-2008 season, when the main campus received a number of major expansions and a new era began for the Knights. Among the newer additions to the school’s athletics department are the CFE Arena and the Bright House Networks Stadium, each with a maximum capacity that registers in the tens-of-thousands.

  1. Ohio State University (est. 1870)
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Did you know that Ohio State has been responsible for over 200 Olympic athletes? What a legacy!

The oldest established university of these 3, OSU was established in the late-19th Century with a focus on agriculture and technical studies, but it quickly grew into a full-fledged university with the help of Rutherford B. Hayes (at the time, Governor of Ohio and future 19th president of the United States). OSU’s athletics program is the Ohio State Buckeyes – the term “buckeye” is a nickname for Ohioans – and boasts NCAA national championship wins for a multitude of sports. Perhaps one of OSU’s most renowned achievements in pro-sports is 7 national championship wins in college football. OSU has also made a big name for itself in various sports among the “Big Ten” conference – the oldest Division I college-tier conference in the United States.

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The Sports Archives – Holding Court: ATP’s Top 5 Pros March 2016

Posted on March 17, 2016 by thesportsarchives
Andy Murray - Under Pressure?

Andy Murray – Under Pressure?

Tennis has deep roots as a sport of elites, and today some of the world’s finest athletes make up the top competitors in the sport. Perennial winners are categorized on the game’s most esteemed list of players, the Association of Tennis Professionals rankings. These 5 players are recognized as the very best members of this prestigious club, making them safe choices for a wager, and you can learn if betting on tennis is legal here as the tournament season heats up.

Novak Djokovik

Novak_Djokovic_(19528970049)The number 1-ranked player in the world, the right-handed Serbian native has made an indelible impact on the sport during his highly successful 13 year professional career. In fact, the 28-year-old has already won over 700 games, and he appears to have put his single loss of 2015 behind him, advancing to the third round of the high-profile ATP & WTA BNP Paribas Open Tournament at Indian Wells.

Andy Murray

Representing the United Kingdom from his hometown in Glasgow, Scotland, Andy Murray is currently recognized as the number two tennis player on the planet by ATP rankings. After winning 4 singles titles in 2015, Murray was upset in the  at Indian Wells, suffering a surprising defeat at the hands of ATP Top 100 competitor Federico Delbonis.

Roger Federer

A true generational legend in the sport, Roger Federer took up residence in the upper tier of ATP rankings relatively early in his career and has typically retained his high-ranking ever since. The pride of Basel, Switzerland, Federer is currently inactive after being ousted in the semifinals of the Australian Open, but with 88 singles titles to his credit during his storied career, the 34-year-old has little left to prove.

Stan Wawrinka

A fellow native of Switzerland, Stan Wawrinka is another competitor consistently featured near the top of ATP rankings. After capturing 2 singles titles in the early part of 2016, he looks to continue his run of success at Indian Wells in his 3rd round match against #55 competitor Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia.

 

Rafael_Nadal_8,_Aegon_Championships,_London,_UK_-_Diliff

By Diliff – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41040792

Rafael Nadal

Representing another fixture near the top of ATP standings since his pro debut in 2001 is the #5 ranked Rafael Nadal, a Spanish-born player with nearly 70 major tournament victories in his career. Like many of the other top competitors, he looks to improve his position in the rankings with a strong showing at Indian Wells after making short work of Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller at Indian Wells.

The ATP rankings are the preeminent merit-based record used for determining entry and seeding in major tournaments, and so they can have a significant effect on a player’s prospects for winning as well as on their suitability for a wager. These rankings are calculated every week, and keeping a close eye on them is a reliable way of determining the best betting opportunities.

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The Sports Archives – “How to Move”? All about Running

Posted on March 13, 2016 by aemery97

Before planes, trains, and automobiles, people had to rely on themselves to go places. Sure, other modes of transportation have existed throughout human history, but the most readily available method of getting around was (and still is) on foot – walking and running. You are probably reading this and thinking, “What about running could be so essential/difficult to understand? If anything, it’s as simple and as easy as instinct!” However, the reality is that, although running can be incredibly easy to learn and do, most people miss out on the benefits that come from knowing the finer details about it! Is there a consistently ‘better’ way to run? How is running represented throughout sports, and can it stand alone as a sport?

Mechanics of Running

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Running is nothing, if not a diverse activity.

Running is unique for every individual, but recognizing common patterns and strategies helps in the process of improving. Perhaps the most critical component of running is the element of physical conditioning. Since running involves the whole body, no muscle can afford to be any weaker or work any less actively than the others. This is also the reason that running is among the most effective healthy exercise activities for anyone. Training a body to become more conditioned is a gradual process, and it is important not to push too hard, especially when starting out. Once patterns have been established and the body starts to become more accustomed to the physical demands of hyper-movement, new limits can be pushed. Running 2-3 times a week and pushing towards 30 straight minutes at a reasonable pace is an excellent starting goal for aspiring joggers!

Another element of running is function – if you plan on running to better your health and fitness, what kind of running is important to you? If the goal is general improvement of personal wellbeing, you’ll want to look at long-distance running. This particular style highlights good pacing, stamina, and steady performance across great distances. Long distance running can be a challenge for the less experienced athlete and requires a significant commitment for improvement. However, the benefits of LDR are fantastic; the heart becomes a more effective blood pump, the muscles of the body adapt to running on rationed oxygen, and the mental fortitude needed for such an intense type of running can even improve one’s psychological health!

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Different types of running have different motifs — sprinting is all about speed, long-distance focuses on endurance and stamina, etc…

Another common form of running is sprinting. In contrast to LDR, sprinting entails a brief, surging energy output to cross a short area as quickly and energetically as possible. While sprinting can be a form of physical conditioning, it is easy for inexperienced runners to overestimate their abilities and push themselves too hard. In addition, the health benefits of sprinting may not apply so generally in everyday living, as it is practiced in a way that the body functions better only in heavy-exercise situations.

There is a middle ground between the two types of functional running above. This is often referred to as middle-distance running, and strikes a distance medium between sprinting and long-distance running.

 

 

Running as a Sport

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Running can be recreational…

Running is represented in a variety of mainstream sports, but it is featured directly in some of its own sports, as well. Running for sport is commonly organized into an event. While forms of running described above are classified via distance in the realms of training and competition, sporting events can also be specified by type. The most common of these types are cross-country running, track running, and road running.

While not entirely accurate by name, cross country typically involves running across open terrain. The environment of the run is often non-artificial and it is often participatory by its nature.

The main difference between cross country and road running is in the name; road running is a set distance placed on a road or artificial path of sorts. The range of distance can vary, and events types include participatory, recreational, and competitive race.

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…or very competitive!

Track running is common in school and some gymnasium environments. It involves running along a lane-divided racetrack, usually accumulating multiple laps. Track running can be comprised of competitive racing events, but the track is also a great place to practice in the absence of other athletes!

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