The world of sports memorabilia and the collection of sports equipment signed by your favorite athlete is a long growing institution all over the globe. What is valued more than the price and appraisal of the actual collectible, is the value of the smile on your youngster’s face after receiving a ball autographed by his or her favorite player or proudly wearing the jersey signed by their favorite football player (football as in both American football and soccer).
This is the reason why The Sports Archives and The Sports Blogs display a list of reputable sports memorabilia merchants on our websites as a means for our viewers to browse merchandise of their favorite athletes and teams while catching a video or reading a quote.
As with anything else, buyers need to beware of fraudulent sports memorabilia retailers and should take care to check authenticity of any merchandise before intent to purchase.
There may be no such thing as the perfectly maneuvered golf swing that works for everyone, but all swings contain some common fundamentals. The basics for a good golf swing all include posture, setup, grip, aim, and swing. Before you get frustrated about your golf game there are a variety of tips on perfecting your swing that you can use to significantly improve your golf swing.
Posture, posture, posture
How you hold your body is the first step in having a good golf swing, locking your knees or even stiffing your back can cause your swing to become untracked and lose their rhythm leading to unplanned golf ball landings or in frustrating times, a missed ball just lying there in front of you.
A good posture starts with your feet about shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, hips push back a bit while you are bent forward with a straight back and neck, holding your golf club with relaxed arms in a good grip. This way you can turn at the hips and slight move your knees effortlessly for power when you are following through your swing. Each person has their slight different stance, some may bend an inch or two more than others and some may keep their feet a bit more apart but as you practice, you can perfect your posture to fit your needs.
Use your body
Any regular golfer knows that they do not use their arms to propel the ball, as you swing your golf club, your turn your torso putting the power of your body behind the shot and getting your ball into the air where you want it on a regular basis. Practice this by swinging with taking a back swing first; if you have trouble getting the ball into the air then you know that you are trying to use your arms rather than your body to power your swing.
Hold your club properly
Anyone can just snatch up a club and hit at a golf ball, but if you want to control where your ball goes then you need to have control of your club. Keeps a natural hand position with your thumb pointing down; your other hand should be below your lead hand as a basic guide. Remember the lower your hands are on the club, the lower your ball will fly, this means your ball won’t fly high but will be easier to control.
Avoid the flips
An early release of your swing causing your golf club to lag is considered “flippiness“. This usually only occurs when your body gets to far ahead of the ball during your swing and your wrists try to come together to control the swing and make sure you hit the ball, but this causes your ball to fly in the wrong direction. Practicing your posture will help prevent flippiness, but if you need additional help, try using a stuffed impact bag as a target and practicing your swing keeping your wrist in the right positions the entire time.
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The Highlands at Dove mountain is one of southern Arizona’s premier golfing destinations. The Highlands was designed by Arthur Hills and features 18 holes for all levels of golfing enthusiasts. If you’re looking for a golf course in Tucson, then The Highlands is one to visit.
There are few things more intense than a spirited game of tennis. If you find yourself counting down to Grand Slam events such as the US Open or Wimbledon each year, then we’ve got good news for you. Thanks to social media you can now connect with your tennis heroes regularly via Twitter. Many of the top players in the world are active Twitter users, sharing their lives and exclusive photos that you may not see on more traditional media sources. Here are the top ten best women tennis players to follow on Twitter.
Caroline was the top women’s tennis player in the world for an astounding 67 weeks starting in 2010. Her prolific tennis career has earned her over 472,000 Twitter followers. Caroline uses her Twitter account to share personal photographs, fan pics, and expressions of her personality that you wouldn’t necessarily see on-screen.
Germany’s Julie Goerges, aka Gorgeous Goerges, has a Twitter following of over 42,000. She is a very active Twitter user, and spends her time on the social network interacting with fans and sharing personal pics and updates from her time on the road.
Victoria Azarenka is currently in the top two position for the World Tennis Association’s Singles Ranking. She’s world-renowned for her tennis skills, and has a following of over 188,000 on her Twitter account. Vika shares details about her professional and personal adventures with her fans.
Currently ranked number one in the World Tennis Association’s Singles Rankings, Serena is a tennis and Twitter powerhouse. She is one of the most popular athletes on Twitter, with a following of over 3.5 million people. Serena is one of the most engaged Twitter users out there, spending time interacting with her fans daily.
We’d be remiss not to include Venus Williams on this list. Like her sister, she is both a prolific tennis player and Twitter user. Serena’s big sister is quickly approaching the 1 million follower mark. Venus loves engaging with followers and promoting her new clothing line via her Twitter account.
Maria is a newcomer to the world of Twitter, but that doesn’t make her any less influential. She’s been active on the social networking site since January, and has garnered a following of over 147,000 fans. Maria’s account is chock full of personal photos, providing a unique glimpse into her life.
Sorana is both an active Twitter user and blogger, not to mention an incredible tennis player. Her highly relatable blog posts have increased her fan base and Twitter following by thousands. She enjoys sharing her posts, pictures, and videos via her Twitter profile.
Petra is currently ranked 7th among Singles Players by the World Tennis Association. You can follow Petra on Twitter for unique glimpses of her personality and plenty of personal photographs.
Angelique, ranked 6th in the World Tennis Association Singles Rankings, is a highly interactive Twitter user. Good news for fans who are hoping to connect with the tennis star on social media.
Having just turned 19 years old, Laura is early in her career and following her on Twitter gives you a sense of the triumphs and trials of a young elite athlete. Fans who follow her on Twitter will find her to be highly relatable; tweeting about things such as Harry Potter. Laura’s personality shines through on her Twitter page.
If you have always dreamed about interacting with some of the tennis greats, Twitter may be the way to make it happen. Many of the world’s top players are active Twitter users who spend their time sharing their photos and ideas, and talking with fans via their accounts. If you are a diehard tennis fan, check out their Twitter profiles today!
About the author: Earl Reidlen has written poignant articles for the sports world for many years. When he’s not busy writing or fishing with his son, you can find him reviewing companies like M. Putterman Athletics.
Where did the sport all begin and how did it get to where it is today?
Many people would be surprised to find that fencing dates back to the time of the Ancient Egyptians, which we know because the earliest evidence of the sport comes from a carving found in the country from around 1200 BC. The carving shows something similar to modern fencing, with two individuals engaged in a bout with protective masks, protected weapon tips and judges observing the scene.
Furthermore, evidence of the sport has been found in other ancient civilizations, particularly within the Roman and Greek societies. Most followers of history will know that both the ancient Greeks and Romans were sophisticated in terms of their standard of living, so it is unsurprising that they had a version of fencing that is recognisable to modern fencing practices. Historical sources show that instead of the light rapiers used today, the Greeks and Romans preferred to use a mixture of short swords and lightweight spears. Their ‘fencing’ was called ludi, which basically referred to the swordplay taught in schools and to warrior students.
Unfortunately, with the collapse of the Greek and Roman empires came the decline of a sport that we could see as being recognisable as fencing. Broadswords and heavy weapons became the norm during the Dark Ages and so were unsuited for the more barbarian style of living and fighting experienced during this time.
Camillo Agrippa
The sport came back into fashion in the 15th Century and it is during this time that the real beginnings of modern fencing began. The Spanish were mostly responsible for being at the heart of modern fencing and two manuals were published there during the 1400s. Nevertheless, it was really in Italy that more extensive use of the rapier weapon began and prolific fencing figures like Camillo Agrippa, Giacomo di Grassi and Vigiani invented some of the iconic moves. These included the lunge move as well as the four different stances commonly used within the sport. Fencing then progressed throughout the centuries, with dueling becoming something that noblemen engaged in. There were significant developments throughout the late 20th century, particularly in the realm of different fencing swords and rapiers. Another notable development was in 1780, when the iconic fencing mask was invented by La Boessiere, who was a French fencing master.
Today, fencing is practiced on an international scale, with the sport frequently featuring in the Olympic Games. It is also a hobby that is practiced across the country. Fencing clubs have become increasingly popular throughout Britain and there are also more exclusive places that offer the more traditional fencing experience, like the Lansdowne Club. This is a private members club in London that houses the London Fencing club.
What’s standing in between you and getting fit? Nothing really, unless it’s just your motivation. That in itself can be a very hard thing to get around. But what if getting fit was really enjoyable? Surely that would eliminate all barriers between you and the very best physical condition you could be in. Well, how on earth could getting fit be enjoyable, let alone fun? That’s easy, indoor soccer, or futsal!
Indoor soccer is a variation of football (soccer) played inside on floors made of wood or some artificial material. Indoor soccer has been around for years and was played in the early 1900’s mostly in Brazil and Uruguay, where outdoor fields where not always available. Presently, there are many amateur, collegiate and professional leagues in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In Brazil, indoor football is known as showbol. Other variants of the sport, such as futsal and five-a-side football, are popular in South America, Australia and Portugal. The rules and penalties of indoor football vary across the different flavors of the sport, however, most variants do not enforce the off-sides rule.
Playing indoor soccer once or twice a week will increase your cardiovascular fitness a lot, it will also give you a muscular work out and burn calories. It’s a very physical game, so you won’t have any choice to jump around and move your body. It’s so much fun as well! It’s competitive, quick, and engaging. By the time you’re halfway through a game, you’ll suddenly realise that you’ve been doing a really strenuous work out without even noticing.
Join a league and play a full season, so that you play continuously. Futsal is indoors, so it can be played all year round and you don’t have to be dormant for part of the year. There are many indoor soccer and futsal venues around the place, like Aussie indoor sports for instance. Aerobic endurance is so important to your all-round fitness, and can so easily be neglected. Don’t let your physical condition slump from inattention, try to do something aerobic every day, no matter what it is. It will pay off in the long run.
The sport of motocross is an adrenaline rush for racers and spectators alike. Originating in the U.S. in the 1960s, motocross has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Now the sport is enjoyed around the world, as fans have fallen in love with the high speeds and amazing aerial maneuvers displayed by professional motocross riders. Though the U.S. is still the epicenter of the sport and draws the best riders from around the world, it is now a global sport with events held almost everywhere. Here is a rundown of the biggest motocross events of the 2013 season.
Supercross is the most popular of all motocross racing. Every year, the world’s best riders meet at stadiums across the U.S. to tackle the most challenging racing courses the world has to offer. Thousands of spectators fill baseball and football stadiums to watch their favorite riders fly through the air and compete in bar-to-bar motorcycle action.
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series starts out West in California each and every year. Though Anaheim hosts three Monster Energy Supercross Series races each year, the most famous Supercross race takes place at the famous Daytona Speedway. As the only Supercross race to not take place in a traditional stadium, the Daytona Supercross is held in the infield of the gigantic Daytona oval. The additional seating provided by the Daytona Speedway comes in handy, as thousands of Bike Week tourists flock to the grandstands to catch a glimpse of the exciting action.
The AMA (American Motorcycle Association) National Motocross Series is the pinnacle of motocross racing. The racing series starts almost immediately after the AMA Supercross Series wraps up in the beginning of May. Similar to Supercross, the AMA Nationals start out West with the California tracks and makes its way east every weekend. With the world’s best motocross racers participating in every race, no one race is more significant than the other. However, since southern California is the birthplace of the sport, the California races draw the most diehard fans of the sport.
Since the very beginnings of the sport, the Motocross des Nations has been the most significant motocross race each year. Unlike other motocross events, the Motocross des Nations is a team event where the best racers from countries around the world compete against each other in each motocross class for national pride. From the inception of the sport, the U.S. has consistently produced the best riders. However, Belgium and France have given the U.S. riders a run for their money on more than one occasion.
Ricky Carmichael, May 2007
It is not yet clear who will participate in the 2013 Motocross des Nations or where exactly it will be held. Taking place in the fall, after the completion of the 2013 racing season, everyone must wait until the racing season wraps up before determining who this year’s racers will be. U.S. fans of the sport are clamoring for the opportunity to cheer on their favorite riders on U.S. soil, but time will tell how this year’s event will unfold.
Motocross is without a doubt the most exciting sport on the planet. Professional motocross events take place around the globe, but the U.S. is home to the world’s best riders and hosts the biggest races in the industry. This year’s motocross events are shaping up to be more exciting than ever before, so check your calendars and get ready for some exhilarating motocross action.
Spring is here, and for many of us that only means one thing: the Masters. And with the PGA tour heating up long before the weather, we are sure to be in for a real treat come April. Betting has already started, and the latest odds from Vegas are coming in, but they all point to the same three men. Tiger Woods seems to have finally arrived back at the top-level following a difficult couple of years, both professionally and personally. Whereas Rory McIlroy had the best year of his career in 2012, but has had a rough start to 2013. Phil Mickelson is a tour legend who should never be counted out. However, there has been a late emergence of a golfer who could shake things up at Augusta. Brandt Snedeker has recently made himself a contender in a tournament which tends to favor US golfers (six of the last 10 winners have been American). Let’s take a look at each golfer in a little greater depth.
A few years ago, Tiger Woods had one of the biggest falls from grace that a professional athlete has ever experienced. Although it was a personal issue, it affected his game in ways that no one could have predicted. But a new swing and recent convincing wins at Torrey Pines and Doral have put him back in the familiar position of favorite for this year’s Masters Tournament. It will take a special performance to beat Tiger, and a brave move to bet against him.
If there is one man who can beat the mighty Tiger Woods, it is the 2012 USPGA winner Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman had a storming 2012, but the start of this year has left much to be desired. However, his recent play in Doral at the WGC-Cadillac Championship saw his first under par round of 2013, which could offer a glimpse of a return to form just in time for the Masters – a major that has so far eluded him. McIlroy is still looking for consistency this year however, and barely a week before Doral, we saw him walk off the course in frustration at the Honda Classic
Phil Mickelson is a player who has often struggled to find consistency throughout his golf career, but if there is one tournament in which he can always come up trumps, it is the Masters. In the last eight years, Mickelson has won three Green Jackets, and only finished outside of the top 10 three times in those eight years. Last year saw him tied for third, and he is placed third in the odds for this year at 10/1.
An outside candidate of sorts, Snedeker wins a place among the list of favorites courtesy of an excellent few months in which he has won his fifth PGA tour win, and received the February PGA tour player of the month award. A continuation of form could see Snedeker win his first major as a 16/1 outsider.
Phil Oscarson is an avid golfer/golf enthusiast. If you’re like Phil, and absolutely can’t wait for the Masters to start, you can try to pass the time by finding a golf course near you at americangolf.com.
Sometimes it seems like Tiger Woods was born holding a golf club in his hands. This is not too far of a stretch. Ever since he was a child, Woods played golf with his father. And by the time he was eight years old, he was showing remarkable talent and skill for the sport. This is evident by his young appearance on the television show “Good Morning America.” His father was Woods’ mentor and really helped him reach his potential as a golfer. In addition, Woods is an extremely competitive person. He once said that if he were to play basketball, he would want to be that person with the ball in his hands, taking the last-minute shot to win the game.
Impressive Track Record
Tiger Woods has a long list of successes as a professional golfer. In 1997, Woods became the first African-American, and the youngest man, to ever win the U.S. Masters. His career did not stop after such an impressive display of athleticism. From 2001 to 2012, Woods was able to “rake in the dough” with fourteen Majors, only second to Jack Nicklaus. During this time, Woods was referred to as the highest paid professional athlete. Woods has more career earnings than any PGA player ever. This is due to the fact that he has won 76 official PGA Tour events. This is the second highest amount of wins in golf history.
In the 1997 Masters Tournament, Woods won with a nine-shot lead. In 1999, he won the PGA Championship with one stroke. The very next year, he won the U.S. Open by 15 strokes. Within that same year, Woods won the Open Championship and the PGA Championship, making a very impressive stand by taking three championships in a single year. From 2001 to 2008, he has won two more PGA Championships, two Open Championships, three Masters Tournaments, and two U.S. Opens. Overall, Woods has a pretty impressive record.
Personal Issues
Tiger Woods has had his own share of “ups and downs.” When his father died in 2006, Woods struggled with playing his best. However, he still won a few championships. In 2010, Woods made his return to golf after a year off due to personal reasons. His abilities were not up to “par” with his regular performance standard.
On a more personal note, Tiger Woods has been known to associate with Michael Jordan. Jordan is actually a pretty good golfer, but he says that he must play a perfect game just to keep up with Woods. This is due to the amazing drive that Woods has. He typically shoots forty to eighty yards past the average professional golfer. Jordan, strong as he is, has a hard time keeping up with Woods’ drive.
Well-Rounded
Along with his ability to drive, Woods has set some impressive records. He has been the PGA “Player of the Year” ten times, along with the PGA Tour “Player of the Year.” He has also been the PGA Tour Money Leader an astounding nine times. In addition, he has received the Vardon trophy eight times and the Byron Nelson Award nine times.
Overall, Woods has stood out as one of the best golfers the PGA has ever seen. He still holds some of the top positions in PGA history and sets the standard for other players to achieve.
About the Author: Phil Oscarson is an avid golfer/golf analyst. He currently resides in the southern California region so he’s able to golf year round. When Phil isn’t golfing or writing, he is usually consulting for GolfZing.
I can remember the time when attending a football match involved being treated like cattle, finding yourself locked in a pen, being in danger of violence from other fans and suffering the worst imaginable facilities at the grounds. The whole day seemed like a feat of endurance in which you were constantly dodging the bullets of attacks by rival fans, ill-treatment by the police and food poisoning from the catering. Then another much worse issue reared its ugly head when 96 Liverpool fans were killed at Hillsborough in 1989.
Aftermath
The Hillsborough disaster saw the start of the many changes which transformed the experience of attending a football match forever. The incident served to highlight the appalling conditions fans were forced to endure, the unsafe nature of the stadia and the unacceptable attitudes of the police. The subsequent Taylor Enquiry and report led to stadia becoming all seated with the redevelopments of the grounds to accommodate this also seeing an improvement in other facilities. It was at this point that the seminal moment arrived in the shape of Sky Television. Up until this point football on television had been confined to highlights of two or three matches each week with live coverage available only for cup finals. Football was decidedly the world of the hardened fan and received little exposure in the media. All that changed with the arrival of Sky who broadcast live matches and carried highlights of every top flight game. New money poured into football and new, better stadia were built. Football was receiving a great deal more exposure and the new fans who may have shunned the old grounds and overall experience were enjoying the sport in the new more benign surroundings. All seated stadia were comfortable and were easier to police especially with new surveillance technology and so the violence associated with the game began to subside.
New Fans
Prior to 1989 attending football was such a harsh experience and the sport so poorly publicised that one particular section of society were distinctly absent from the games – women. The absence of women did not help the generally hostile atmosphere and the facilities provided for them were disgraceful. I know this because I was one of the few who did attend matches. New money, new stadia, new attitudes made football a friendlier place and now women became attracted to the sport in large numbers increasing revenue for the game even further. The situation snowballed with football being transformed into a glittering and often luxurious affair with live matches on our screens seemingly every day.
Improvement?
You would think that all of this would be cause for celebration but for many who remember the old days it really isn’t. Obviously comfortable and safe stadia are very welcome and increased television coverage a distinct bonus but the evolution of football has brought with it other changes which I believe are ruining the game. Firstly there is the issue of who is actually attending the matches. Sadly many fans have simply been priced out of the market and large portions of the grounds are given over to corporate boxes. These factors, combined with the absence of standing areas, have killed the atmosphere at many matches. The riches in the game have also made the big clubs stronger and the minnows weaker, leading to the same small group of clubs dominating affairs every season. The game is simply too predictable now. Sure there are always shock results but we all know who is going to win out in the end. I miss the days when you genuinely did not know who would win the league and who their chief rivals would be. Now everything is about premiership survival to save the finances. I also miss the days when players were loyal to their clubs rather than their wallets.
Structure
The other changes which are destroying the game are the new competition structures. The European and UEFA Cups were thrilling knockout competitions which rose to a crescendo as they progressed. The Champions League and Europa Cup are turgid affairs with far too many games which only become interesting in the latter stages and, like the Premier League, generally produce predictable winners. What chance is there these days of Red Star Belgrade winning the Champions League or Notting Forest getting promoted to the Premier League and winning it at the first attempt? The answer is none but both these events did happen in the past. Sport lacks much of its thrill when the outcome is predictable.
Modern Era
Football has certainly cleaned up its act and the fans who attend matches can do so in safety and without the threat of violence. They have a fighting chance of finding edible food and clean toilets and may even be treated with respect by the police. Sadly, though, many genuine fans can no longer afford to buy a ticket and are forced to watch the matches on the very television service which is largely responsible for their exclusion. Today’s fans are more likely to be sporting a sharp suit and Hugo Boss Watch than jeans and a Timex and the experience of attending a match is all the poorer for it.
Let’s face it, everyone loves seeing a newly painted, expensive tennis racquet go head to head with the ground in a battle of strength. In fact chances are the only reason you like a certain player is because you know at any given moment they’re potentially just three bad points away from turning their graphite racquet into a reconstructed fly swatter.
Today we’re going to pay tribute to some of the best racquet smashes the game of tennis has ever seen. We tip our hats to those players who aren’t scared of a point penalty, who carry a bagful of racquets not knowing how many will survive and who don’t mind letting their racquet manufacturer know what they really think of that piece of graphite in their hands.
So let’s begin! Here’s a top 10 countdown of the best tennis racquet smashes of all time:
There’s no better player to start off with than Marat. In fact he could be seen as the Russian God Father of smashing his tennis racquet. Whoever can completely smash a racquet after one strike on clay leaves no doubt to their ability to smash racquets at will.
He even finishes it off with great use of the net post and the back of the player’s seat to complete the job.
Fernando Gonzalez show’s his credibility when it comes to earning a spot on the top 10 list, by his efforts to leave no stone unturned when breaking his racquet. His use of his knee to finish the job goes where not many players have gone before when it comes to breaking a racquet.
And to show the true gentlemen that he is, he completes the job by placing it in the bin. Our hat goes off to you Fernando!
What better way to break your racquet then to put 3 massive dents into the centre court of Wimbledon. Maybe he was looking to dig himself a hole, who knows? He deserves to feature in this list, just for the pure aggressive outburst, but to do it in front of the world on the main stage, adds lengths to his credibility.
Who would have thought that sweet old Roger would make the list, but yes in 2009 in one of the few displays of emotion, Roger decided to do exactly what he does always on the tennis court, deliver perfection. And in this case when it came to smashing his racquet, it took just one perfect throw of the racquet to turn it into a piece of cut up fence wire.
This clip needs to be watched in its entirety. In what could only be described as an utter hissyfit, McEnroe demonstrates that he’s the undisputed king when it comes to old school racquet smashing. McEnroe, goes on a two point tirade against the umpire, throwing his racquet on two separate occasions.
5. Marat Safin in Monte Carlo 2009
In what seems his natural habitat for smashing racquets Marat makes another appearance at Monte Carlo this time in 2009. This video is worth the wait, as Marat throws the racquet with such precision and strength that it breaks into two pieces.
Hats off to Marat for the quick use of improvisation in using the bench to his advantage.
In the only female to make the list, Vera shows the women how it’s done. Complete with multiple bangs to the ground, long-distance throws, and a final kick to the racquet, Vera’s effort is nothing short of brilliant. Vera shows yet again, if you’re going to do something, at least do it well.
3. Fernando Gonzalez
Fernando makes the list yet again, this time taking it to a whole new level. Fernando’s use of the crowd in the racquet smashing affair certainly earns him his spot at number 3 on the list. If a one-throw effort wasn’t enough, he turns the tennis racquet into shattered remains by the time it reaches his bag. Perhaps he should have headed over to Tennis Drills HQ before his match for some drills to fix that second serve of his?
It wouldn’t be a top 10 list without having Andy Roddick appear somewhere. In this case he’s made it to number 2, not just because of the racquet smashing, but because he asks the umpire if he’s received his warning, and then continues to break his racquet after receiving the green light.
There was no doubting who the champion would be in this top 10 list. Marcos Baghdatis in the 2010 Australian Open shows even the most championed racquet smashes just how it’s done. If just one tennis racquet wasn’t enough, Marcos goes all out and decides to destroy four of them.
Marcos gained worldwide news headlines and created a new soft spot in the heart of every diehard tennis fan. Well done Marcos!
So there you have it, there’s 10 of the best you’ll ever see. Is there a tennis racquet smashing moment that you believe should be on the list? Please leave a comment and let us know who your favourite is!
Richard Green is a contributing author of Tennis Drills HQ, the web’s largest resource for free tennis drills for both coaches and players. He has over 30 years experience in mastering the art of throwing his racquet.
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