The Sports Archives – Silver Haired Snowboarding Junkies!

Posted on October 25, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Snowboarding in Tannheim,_Austria

In recent years snowboarding has been gaining popularity among a very different age group than that normally associated with this highly active sport – the over-50s. So if your Mum or Dad have recently shown an interest in taking up snowboarding, they are not alone!

350% Increase in Over-50s Trying Snowboarding

Snowboarding is no longer just for the young, as many more mature snow-seekers are after challenges on the slopes. As such, a recent surge in snow sport popularity has been driven almost entirely by new ‘silver snowboarders’.

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The Sports Archives – How to Overcome the Mental Aspect of Golf!

Posted on October 23, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Golf Fustration

In golf, perhaps more so than in any other sport, it’s necessary to completely control and master your mind. If you can’t keep a calm mind while golfing, the chances are you won’t have a good round of golf or enjoy yourself. Here are some tips to help you clear your mind and focus on your game:

Take Good Practice Swings

Many amateur golfers don’t realize the importance of taking a good practice swing. It helps mentally prepare you for the shot, and it gives you time to practice your muscle memory. There are a lot of golfers, however, who lose their cool when they’re about to hit the ball. If you start to feel tense before you hit the ball, just remember that you’re golfing to have fun. There is no reason to be nervous, unless you’re in the running for a green jacket on the 18th at Augusta. When you step up to the ball, approach it like you’re taking a practice swing and the ball isn’t there. That will relax your mind and help you mentally prepare for the shot.

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The Sports Archives – How Popular Is Kickboxing In US?

Posted on October 22, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Kickboxing FactsForty years ago, kickboxing was a completely unknown sport in the United States. These days, NYC kickboxing and kickboxing in other cities have grown in popularity over the years. So how popular is kickboxing in the US? It is not as popular as mixed martial arts has become over the years, although kickboxing is a component of MMA. But kickboxing is more well-known than it used to be, when it was totally unknown in the U.S.

Granted, we have not seen professional kickboxers become famous the way that they have in other countries, and kickboxing will never surpass football, baseball, basketball, or even hockey or NASCAR in popularity in the U.S. That being said, NYC kickboxing and in other cities is growing in popularity on the fitness level. Here are some of the reasons why:

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The Sports Archives – The 2013 Premier League Title Race!

Posted on October 19, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Kop of Anfield LiverpoolAfter several seasons of rather irritating predictability the Premier League is throwing up a few surprises in the 2013/2014 campaign. I was practically yawning in anticipation of the new season wondering where the element of excitement was going to come from. It was hard to see beyond the same four teams finishing in the Champions League spots and the relegation candidates looked to be obvious but the footballing gods clearly hadn’t read the script. We are seven games into the season and there have already been more shocks than in the last three seasons combined.

Surprise Leaders

Arsenal were allegedly a club in crisis with Arsene Wenger out of favour, a chronic lack of new blood in the team and the prospect of yet another season without silverware looming. We were all supposed to be discussing Wenger’s tenuous grip on his job and shouting I told you so when the addition of just one new star player didn’t turn the team into world beaters but Arsenal are top of the league!

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The Sports Archives – The Trials And Tribulations Of A Non-league Football (Soccer) Supporter!

Posted on October 18, 2013 by thesportsarchives

football (soccer) kick

Imagine this; your football team is battling relegation from The Premier League. Your team has suffered consecutive losses against the country’s biggest clubs: Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United etc. If relegated, your club will have to face the prospect of travelling to not so big clubs such as Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Yeovil. How does this compare to dropping out of the football league entirely?

Facing the drop from League Two and falling into the realm of non-league football, where your team will be travelling to the likes of Salisbury and Braintree is a tough pill to swallow. For many teams, relegation into non-league football can be fatal. With so many ex-league clubs now fighting for position in The Conference, it is very easy to get stuck down there, and with the rise of investment in small village clubs, many ex-league sides that have fallen on hard times are struggling to climb back into the league.

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The Sports Archives – Facts You Never Knew About The Australian Open Tennis Grand Slam Tournament!

Posted on October 17, 2013 by thesportsarchives

The world’s best tennis players gather in Australia in January every year in order to play the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. The tournament is played in mid-summer in Australia and will certainly test the players to see how well their training has gone, as the last Grand Slam, the U.S. Open, will typically be played during the September beforehand. This post will introduce you to some facts about the Australian Open, covering the history, the conditions, the players and the all important statistics.

History

The tournament was first introduced in 1905, although it was originally known as the Australian Championships. It didn’t take on its new name, the Australian Open, until 1969.

The tournament is now played in Melbourne and has been since 1972, although previously it was played in a number of different Australian cities.

The Australian Open has the distinction of actually being played in a completely different country, as the 1906 and 1912 tournaments were played in New Zealand.

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The Sports Archives – The Ashes – A Whole Lotta’ History!

Posted on October 15, 2013 by thesportsarchives
Australia Kangaroos - 2008

Australia Kangaroos – 2008

Just like the cricket series of the same name The Ashes rugby league series was a best of three series of test matches played between the Great Britain and Australian rugby national league teams.

Despite its popularity, largely owing to the enormous rivalry between the two teams, The Ashes series only ran from 1908 until 2003. In this time a total of 39 contests for the title were held, with the hosting rights alternating between the two teams.

With recent talks of the series making a comeback on the international rugby league stage, many rugby fans are keen to know more about the history of one of the most important series of test matches in rugby league history.

Where it all began…

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The Sports Archives – Top 10 MMA Fighters Of All Time!

Posted on October 11, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Brock Lesnar Apr 201210.Brock Lesnar

It is hard to imagine that such a capable MMA fighter can come from a joke platform such as the WWE. I mean doing theater is one thing, but when a guy is beating the bejesus out of your cheek bones, one must be a true fighter in order to cut it. Undoubtedly, this hulk of an individual has made his mark and proven himself to be more than a capable fighter.

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The Sports Archives – How L.C. Greenwood impacted the NFL

Posted on October 9, 2013 by thesportsarchives

L.C. Greenwood in 2007The football community in Pittsburgh and across the nation paused to honor the passing of L.C. Greenwood on September 29. As the powerful and dominant member of the Steelers’ “Steel Curtain” defense, Greenwood succumbed to kidney failure at age 67. Greenwood was an integral member of the dominant defensive force of the 1970s Steelers, and played a central role in the 1975 Super Bowl, which was the first for the Steelers. During Greenwood’s tenure with the team, he would help the Steelers win a total of four Super Bowls in just six years.

Size, speed and power were the central facets of Greenwood’s game, and his relentless style helped inspire defensive players for generations to come. Greenwood used his athletic ability to turn into a veritable sacking machine, retaining the speed and agility he showcased in college even after bulking up to 245 pounds to play professionally.

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The Sports Archives – Horse Racing, A History And Introduction!

Posted on October 8, 2013 by thesportsarchives
Eclipse an undefeated British racehorse and outstanding sire.

Eclipse an undefeated British racehorse and outstanding sire.

Horse racing is a British establishment; it has been a pervasive part of our culture for hundreds of years.  Before it reached Britain, it, in its own way, made a huge mark on the rest of the world.

Originating in Ancient Greek and Roman times with Olympic chariot races, and other less well established competitive and entertainment based arenas.  But, as we all well know, it has grown to be far more, or less depending on your perspective, than its gilded chariot roots.

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