The Sports Archives – Famous Sports Luminaries of the Bahamas!

Posted on January 17, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Flag of the BahamasThere are over 3000 Islands belonging to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The Islands are legendary for their beauty and their immense pull for tourism. These groups of Island are of course home to many Bahamians. Just how many of these famous Bahamians can most people recognize?

Tonique Williams- Darling

This lady was an Olympic champion back in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Tonique was born in 1976 in the Bahamas capital of Nassau. Tonique was a natural runner, and during the 1990s in the CARIFTA games, she managed an impressive eight silvers, most of them obtained in the 4×100 m relay. Her CARIFTA gold came in 1995 at George Town again in the 4x100m relay.

She became a national hero in Greece in 2004, by winning a stunning gold in the 400m. She beat her longtime Mexican rival Ana Guevara into second place. Tonique also won medals in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006, and gold in Helsinki in the World Games of 2005.

Rick Fox

Rick was a famous basketball player for the LA Lakers until 2004. Before that, he was a hugely successful player for the Boston Celtics. The Fox family was actually from Canada, but Rick and his family moved to the Bahamas when Rick was only three years old. It was not only basketball that made Rick famous as he became a star dancer on the U.S. show Dancing with the Stars. Nassau was also the site of his first marriage in 1999.

Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie

Debbie Ferguson-McKenzieYet another sprint athlete comes from the sunny Bahamas. Debbie and was born in 1976 in Jamaica and later moved to her new home of the Bahamas. Debbie became a leading name in athletics with immense medal winning power. The CARIFTA games gave her seven gold, nine silver and two bronze. Moving on to the Commonwealth Games of 2002 in Manchester, England. At these games, Debbie took three gold medals. Debbie has been quite successful in Olympics where she achieved gold in Sydney, silver in Atlanta and a bronze in the 2004 Athens games.

Other famous sportspeople from Bahamas include the NBA player Mychal Thompson who played the Portland Trail Blazers.  In the sport of tennis, there is champion Mark Knowles, and back on the track there is Cara Saunders.

Edner CherryIn the sport of boxing, there is Edner Cherry who now lives in Florida. His nickname is Cherry Bomb, and this bomb managed to achieve twenty seven wins out of thirty five fights. He also managed get knockout wins against fifteen people. Edner was born in July 1982 in the capital Nassau.

In the London 2012 Olympics, only one medal taken by the Bahamas, and that was the Men’s 4x400m relay. It may have been the only medal, but it was yet gold to take home.

Patty Hamma spent the summer of 2012 in England watching an incredible Olympics. Later that year she had her very first family vacation in the Bahamas. The vacation was such a success that her whole family is considering moving to the Bahamas.

Photo Credits: Wikipedia

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The Sports Archives – Gambling on a Legend!

Posted on January 16, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Horse Racing SoftwareBack in the 1980’s I was already hopelessly addicted to the Grand National and bet on the race every year. I had not, however, developed an interest in horse racing as a whole and knew little or nothing about the sport. This did not stop my interest being aroused by a new piece of software that claimed to be able to predict the winners of races.

The programme was available for the Atari ST which was then at the cutting edge of computer gaming and miraculously I owned one! The idea was too enticing and I invested in the software and launched on a new hobby gambling on the horses.

Hard Work

On first using my new miracle programme I discovered that it was actually very time consuming and quite hard work. It was necessary to invest in racing publications each week and enter the details of the horses that were running in forthcoming races. This included all of their past form, including race results, going, distances etc. Data also had to be entered on the records of the associated trainers and Jockeys.

The programme used the accumulated information to predict the outcome of the races, having the ability to weigh up the factors of the race more accurately than the human brain. At least that was the claim! The first week I used the software I diligently entered as much information as I could and was disappointed when the system then told me that most of the races I was considering for a gamble were not worth betting on either because they were too unpredictable or the odds on the best horse were poor.

It did, however, suggest a gamble on a horse I had never heard of in a race on the Saturday afternoon. It was no surprise that I had not heard of the horse as I hadn’t, in fact, heard of any horses who had not won the Grand National, the Kentucky Derby or reached near legendary status. I grabbed my courage in both hands and put a wager on the suggested horse fearing disaster but loving the suspense!

The Race

After placing my bet I was obliged to go out but on returning home rushed straight to my television to examine that relic of times past, the Teletext service. On accessing the horse racing results I was delighted to see the headline “Dessie does it again”. It seemed that my unknown horse had romped home winning me a tidy wedge and I felt instantly emotionally attached to my new friend who turned out to be called Desert Orchid!

Dessie

Desert Orchid

Desert Orchid

Desert Orchid or “Dessie” as he was known went on to enjoy a rather more stellar career than I did with the gambling software. The system turned out to work quite well but required such a huge amount of work to accumulate enough data for the programme to function that I could not use it regularly.

I returned to my annual gambits on the National whilst Desert Orchid ran his way to legendary status with me keeping a close eye on his achievements. This gorgeous grey horse was famous for his gutsy front running and never say die attitude and was working his way towards a starring appearance at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

I lost count of the amount of times I watched the highlights of Dessie cantering home, with the owner’s colours of navy and grey silks and grey hat cover being etched firmly into my memory. I was simply praying that he would achieve the crowning glory of winning the Gold Cup in 1989.

Sadly a victory did not look likely as there had been a great deal of both rain and snow at the course making the going heavy which did not favour the grey and the course was a left hander which he did not like.

The distance was also believed to be problematic as Dessie had been considered a 2 mile horse and the Gold Cup is run over 3 miles and 2 furlongs. In spite of the challenges it was decided that Dessie should run and an enormous crowd watched on as he fought against the mud lark Yahoo to take the race by one and half lengths in a dramatic finish.

I was at work at the time but having placed a small sentimental wager, was seen running around the building shouting with joy! During his career Dessie won almost everything including the Irish Grand National and the King George VI Chase no less than four times. He recently had the honour of being voted the 5th best steeplechaser in history.

Legend

Dessie is long gone now but his memory will always live on, especially with me. I can’t believe I didn’t know who he was when I placed that first bet but I certainly do now!

Featured images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source
  • Desert Orchid:          Wikipedia

Sally S has a life-long fascination with horses and still bets every year on the Grand National, although sadly the Atari ST has now died…

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The Sports Archives – Portable Ultrasound in Sports!

Posted on January 15, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Soccer InjuryPortable ultrasound machines in sports are new and have taken over much of the workload x-ray machines used to carry. Before x-ray machines doctors had two ways of examining an athlete’s body: by touch and how the athlete responded in pain. X-ray machines gave the doctor a view internally, but were limited to bones, for the most part. A football player on the gridiron for Notre Dame in 1934 who suffered a broken bone had the misfortune of having either their bone re-broken to be set properly, or had to go about in a cast without knowing the extent of the damage surrounding the bone, which could lead to greater complications immediately or later in life. Now, ultrasound machines have made their way into the offices of those who cater to amateur and professional athletes.

Even more, portable ultrasound has made their way down to the field, the court, the pool, or the track where athletes compete for an immediate view into their body to determine everything from bone damage to abdominal issues to heart problems and even as a therapeutic tool for treating muscle problems.

In the past an athlete had to be taken to a hospital to determine if there was indeed an injury and to what extent. Now, an athletic trainer can ascertain right at the location of the injury what the diagnosis is and make recommendations about their ability to either continue performing or to seek treatment.

Muscular Trauma and Athletes

Muscles are made up of an outer sheath that surrounds a muscle bundle made up of many fibers, which are in turn made of micro fibers that can only be seen by a microscope. The muscles contract, or shorten, or slides apart, causing them to lengthen. Our brains give orders to them that are passed through our central nervous system at blazing speed, and this allows us to swing a baseball bat, dunk a basketball, or swim the butterfly.

Muscles in athletes are typically strained when they are overused or over-stretched or contracted too quickly. Awkward motion of the muscle can also cause strains. Tears of the muscle result in the muscle being stretched beyond their ability. Think of when you may have pulled a muscle running or leaping over something and the pull you felt. Was it a momentary strain or was the pain ongoing requiring treatment or rest? There are three levels of strains, Grades 1, 2, and 3, with one being least severe and 3 being most.

  • Grade 1 Strain – usually requires 2-3 weeks of rest.
  • Grade 2 Strain – More extensive damage requiring rest between 3-6 weeks.
  • Grade 3 Strain – This is usually when a muscle tears and may require surgery for the athlete. Rehabilitation is around 3 months.

Portable ultrasound technology can quickly identify how serious the strain or tear might be. This allows the medical trainer or team physician to diagnose and make a judgment call on what needs to happen to heal the player and get them competing again as quickly as possible.

Musculoskeletal Injuries and Ultrasound

Athletes know better than most just how important their bones and ligaments are for their daily work. If a tendon is torn, a bone is broken, an ACL has ruptured, or an ankle has OCD lesions, a portable ultrasound machine at the moment and location of the injury will be able to quickly ascertain the gravity of the injury and what treatment needs to occur. Knees, shoulders, femurs, elbows, and skulls are areas where injuries commonly happen to the athlete. In the past, they would have to be carted off to the hospital and wait to be seen by an attending nurse or physician before being diagnosed. I recall one night after breaking a bone in my hand while playing basketball that from the time I was injured until the time diagnoses and treatment occurred took 3 hours. Diagnosis alone took 1 ½ all the while I held on to my dangling finger. While it was not a serious injury in terms of my life, my finger was never the same afterwards. Had diagnostic ultrasound been used and the assessment been much more quickly, the athletic trainer could have set it properly and possibly prevented further damage.

Thermotherapy for Athletes and Ultrasound

In addition to being used as a diagnostic tool on the field of play, ultrasound is now also being used as a thermotherapy tool for muscles. New uses for portable ultrasound around the wounded muscles include using the heat the sound waves create to stimulate the wounded area to get healing blood flowing back through the area. However, because heat causes increased swelling, it is a best practice not to use heat immediately after an injury, but instead use cool products and ice to reduce the swelling. Once the swelling subsides, the area may be ready for portable ultrasound heat treatment.

Physiological effects of using thermotherapy heat from an ultrasound machine include:

  • Increased circulation to remove debris and waste from the wound
  • Reduce muscle spasms
  • Increase the level of oxygen and nutrients to the area
  • Deliver an analgesic affect
  • Increase cellular metabolism and capillary permeability
  • Deep tissue therapy to help muscles stretch

Conclusion

Portable ultrasound allows for medical personnel to immediately gauge the depth of an athlete’s injury and make judgment on whether they can continue playing or seek further treatment. New uses for portable ultrasound systems in sports medicine appear all the time.

From the writers at RevenFlo

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The Sports Archives – 5 Top Quarterbacks With Proven Leadership!

Posted on January 14, 2013 by thesportsarchives
Tom Brady 2011

Will Tom Brady lead the Patriots to another Super Bowl victory?

Quarterbacks are to football what pitchers are to baseball.  A Wide Receiver or a Second-Baseman can have a bad day.   If the pitcher or the quarterback has a bad day, the team is most likely going to lose.  They control play,  change game momentum,  and can either excite or anger fans on one single play or pitch.  When they are on their game, your team usually has a chance to win right to the end if they haven’t already secured victory.  In summary, the best quarterbacks and pitchers are also good leaders on and off the field.

 

 

Before reading about some of the top quarterbacks in history, check out how the current quarterbacks are doing at the Sportsbook Review for the latest NFL action.

Here are a few top quarterbacks who were also top leaders:

Johnny Unitas

Johnny U was with the Baltimore Colts from 1955 to 1973.  You might say that later quarterbacks would try to imitate his style of leading a great passing game.  He had a flair for the media and was popular on and off the field.

Unitas held the NFL record for throwing touchdown passes in 47 consecutive games from 1956 to 1960 until Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints eclipsed the record this year. “The Golden Arm” led the Colts to victory in Super Bowl V and also to NFL World Championships in 1958 and 1959.

Roger Staubach

Roger Staubach’s career with the Dallas Cowboys spanned a decade from 1969 to 1979.  During that time, he led the Cowboys to victories in Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII and was named to the Pro Bowl 6 times.  He was named MVP of Super Bowl VI and is one of only a few players to with both the Super Bowl MVP and the Heisman Trophy.  Roger is famous for a ‘Hail Mary’ pass thrown against the Minnesota Vikings during the 1975 playoffs.

Not only was Staubach (aka Captain America) a leader on the field, but he took his game off the field as well.  He built a multi-billion dollar real estate company in which he recently stepped down from CEO position back in 2007 after spending 30 years of service.

Joe Montana

“Comeback Joe” was responsible for leading his San Francisco 49ers to 31 come-back wins when behind in the 4th quarter.  Also known as “Joe Cool”, he spent 14 seasons with the 49ers leading them to 4 Super Bowls and earning himself a spot in the Hall of Fame.  He is also an 8-time Pro Bowler who executed “The Catch“, a famous play at the end of one of the championship games.  “Golden Joe” now owns horses and wineries.

John Elway

John Elway is another good example of a leader on and off the field.  His career spanned 16 seasons with the Denver Broncos leading them to 6 AFC Championships and 5 Super Bowls, notching victories in his last 2 and earning MVP in the final one.  Elway executed many clutch plays usually with under 2 minutes left in the game.  One particular play, called “The Drive“, had Elway leading the Broncos 98 yards down field in a clutch series of plays to come back and tie the Cleveland Browns in an AFC Championship Game.

Elway was inducted into the Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility in 2004.  He took his leadership off the field into business and is now executive vice president of operations for the Denver Broncos.

Tom Brady

With Tom Brady in control, the New England Patriots always have a chance to win the Super Bowl.   Brady has already led his team to 5 Super Bowl appearances having won 3 of them and was named MVP in 2 of them. He did all this in only 10 seasons and his looking to add to his accomplishments.  In 2007, Brady set a record for most touchdown passes in a season with 50 and led the Patriots to an undefeated regular season.

Brady grew up in San Mateo, California and was said to be a big fan of Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.  Now, they are presently the only two quarterbacks to share the honor of winning NFL and Super Bowl MVP titles multiple times.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The Storied History of Denver Bronco’s Quarterbacks!
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The Sports Archives – Top Sporting Moments of 2012!

Posted on January 12, 2013 by thesportsarchives

2012 London Olympics LogoThe year 2012 will undoubtedly go into history books as one that saw victories, losses, excitement, drama and inspiration in the sporting arena. There were athletes who showed patriotism in the London Olympics, there were those who expressed the depth and strength of the human spirit to beat all odds and rise to stardom, while others fell into sheer disappointment and whose faces we may never see again!

1. Michael Phelps Makes History

American swimmer Michael Phelps overcame the challenges to become the most decorated Olympian of all time at the 2012 London Olympics. He won a total of 22 medals at the London finals, 18 of which were gold. He is considered the best Olympian ever having attained the record for most Olympics medals in a career.

2. David Rudisha Wins Olympic 800m

Kenya’s David Rudisha, 800m world record holder, broke his own record to clinch the gold medal at the London Olympics. He set the time at 1:40:91 to prove that he is still the master of the 800m, and not even Botwana’s 18-year-old Nijel Amos could match him.

3. Didier Drogba‘s Classic Exit

There is no better way for Drogba to have ended his stay at Chelsea than with the 89th minute equalizer against Bayern, and later on giving the Blues victory with his penalty shootout in the Champions League.

4. Manny Pacquiao Defeated

In June, World Boxing Champion Manny Pacquiao suffered his first loss since 2005. The Filipino was defeated by American Timothy Bradley. Again, he got a knockout in the 6th round in a bout pitting him against his arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez that left him unconscious. This defeat saw him drop in rankings and later on talks of his retirement.

5. Chipolopolo Crowned Africa Cup of Nations Champs

19 years ago, Zambia lost its entire national team to a plane crash in Gabon. The national team has since been viewed as an underdog. However, they proved the continent and the whole world wrong when they held the Ivorians to a draw in a tense-filled 120 minutes. The penalty shootout bore fruits when the Zambians beat the Ivorians to clinch Africa’s most coveted trophy.

6. Stephen Kiprotich Wins Uganda’s First Medal

Nobody expected Kenyan-turned-Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich to win the men’s marathon at the London Olympics. He beat Kenya’s great names at the event to cross the line and win Uganda’s first medal in forty years.

7.  LeBron James Wins First NBA Title

NBA superstar LeBron James led his team Miami Heat to clinch the 2012 NBA Championships. This becomes his first title. He put up a starling performance scoring 26 points, giving out 13 assists and hauling down 11 rebounds. This saw him become the first player since Magic Johnson to record a triple-double twice in a Finals series.

8. Jerry Sandusky Goes to Jail

In October, former Pennsylvania State American football coach Jerry Sandusky was sentenced between 30 and 60 years in jail. He was found guilty of 45 counts of child molestation. His victims, 10 in number, suffered in his hands for a period of 15 years. The coach who is said to have mentored one of the country’s most illustrious football teams is serving his term and has not given any apologies. Sources say he could be spending the rest of his life behind bars.

 

Kev Is the Owner of BothTeamstoScore.org, offering free Football Tips in the UK.

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The Sports Archives – Extreme Motocross – Three Challenges You Must Conquer!

Posted on January 11, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Motocross is something you can dabble in, or something you can pour everything you’ve got into.  I started dabbling at the advanced age of 30-something.  I had a fantastic instructor, good equipment, the will, and the guts to learn.  I had already done a lot of off-road trail riding on my own.   I didn’t see anything standing in my way.

Motocross BikesAt the time, my husband and I were Captain and First Mate aboard a yacht in Cozumel, Mexico.  The owners rarely used the boat so while we had to work hard to maintain it, we also made time to water ski, scuba dive, freedive, and ride motorcycles.  There was a small, rough, supercross style track on the island, and we helped organize a group of riders into a club so we could groom the track.  We bought truckloads of what passes for dirt on an island built of coral reef, rented a bobcat to rebuild the jumps, and spent hours with picks and shovels removing pointy rocks, bits of rebar, and other junk that could injure us.  We joined the Mexican Motorcycle Federation so we could compete in sanctioned races.  It was fun, crazy, dangerous, and a great way to stay in shape.  We talked a lot about taking time off from yachting and going back to the States to compete for real in the Veteran’s Series, but the one challenge we could never conquer was giving up our terrific source of income so we’d have the time to dedicate to getting serious about the sport.

Money

Unlike soccer, this sport requires a sizable upfront investment.  First, you need a motorcycle.  A new one will run between $5,000 and $8,500 depending on the brand and model.  The personal safety gear can add another $1000.  You need a trailer or at least a pickup truck to get to the track for practice and races.  Amateur riders may be eligible for sponsorship, and this can cover some of their expenses, but count on spending a lot of money, especially if you are going to travel to compete in a series of races.  I remember, years ago, reading about the top female motocrosser, a teenager, whose parents spent roughly $30,000 that year so she could make it to all the races to earn her title.

Time

The difference between a dabbler and someone who is extreme about motocross is the amount of time the rider, and their support team, can put into the sport.  A teenager obviously has more free time than an adult with a job, but the teen rider needs to have the support of their parents, and they in turn need to be able to take the time off to drive to races.

Fear

If you, as a rider, have overcome the fear of high-speed cornering and jumping, you’ve won the battle.  As a minor, winning the war means helping your parents overcome the fear of seeing you crash and being airlifted to a hospital.  I’ve witnessed several friends breaking bones, and have had my share of concussions.  Now that I have a daughter of my own, I’m constantly apologizing to my mother for all I put her through.

Lizzie E loves adventure, travel and the outdoors. Her global experiences are colorful and full of thrills.

Photo Credit:  http://speedracercarsandmore.blogspot.com

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The Sports Archives – 10 of the Most Frustrating Things in Golf!

Posted on January 10, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Golf FustrationGolf consistently makes the list as one of the most frustrating sports out there. So many things go into golf that make it so challenging, and for most of us it’s a love-hate that we can never seem to shed. From the cost of the game, the wind, or the first tee jitters we all seem to get, golf can be a very frustrating experience. Here’s a look at some of the most frustrating aspects of this beloved pastime.

#1 – Slow Play

Getting stuck behind slow players is one of the most frustrating things for just about any golfer. If you get stuck behind a slow group there is always the chance you might be able to skip ahead by asking, and if the slow player is within your group, you could always try to be tactful and suggest that the group as a whole speed up play. If that doesn’t work, beer helps.

#2 – Divots

There’s not much that is more frustrating than hitting a perfect drive or Fairway shot right into a divot. Sure there are ways to approach a divot shot,  but why should we. If everybody just followed some simple golf etiquette and replaced / fixed their divots we wouldn’t have such problems. Carry a divot tool and fix them as you make them.

#3 – Cheaters

Cheating happens all the time, people out there making subtle ball adjustments or even big changes to improve their chance of a good shot. Dealing with cheaters is a sticky situation. You can either turn a blind eye, or you can call them on every shot. What to do, what to do. If you’re playing for money then every shot counts, simple as that.

#4 – Phones

For most, listening to others yammer away on their cell phones during their round equals the most annoying thing in golf. Luckily most people text now so we don’t have to hear it, but if you must text please be discreet about it. If you’re checking your fantasy football scores please wait until the round is over. That said, lots of golfers use their smartphones now as tools to improve their game, so it’s becoming more commonplace to see phones openly wielded on the course.

#5 – Gambling

Lots of people like to gamble on golf and that’s fine. The problem comes when people are invited into a round of golf with people who are planning on gambling and were not expecting to gamble. It is common courtesy if you invite someone into a group of gamblers, let them know upfront so they can either bring money or opt out.

#6 – Pushy jerks

Sometimes slow play cannot be avoided. When the course is clearly backed up and some jerk wants to push through because they think you’re going to slowly, that is not okay. Sometimes we just need to keep a relaxed head and understand that things aren’t running as smoothly as they ought to be.

#7 – Dodging balls

There’s nothing quite as annoying as when you find the group behind you firing shots at your head while you’re trying to chip and putt. Sit back, relax, and be realistic in how fast you expect the group ahead of you to play.

#8 – Marshals

A large percentage of the marshals I’ve encountered are competent and good at their job, but when you find the ones who aren’t they make a very lasting negative impression. The ones who take their job way too seriously by hovering over you like your local traffic eyes in the sky can be as frustrating as anything. You can always try to be tactful and ask them to please back off and let you enjoy the game without their watchful eye, but they probably won’t listen.

#9 – Excessive practice swings

I call this one silent but annoying. You know, that person in your group who decides to take 10 practice swings prior to each shot? More than two practice swings is excessive. A few practice swings before you grip and rip is understandable, so leave it at that, if you add 8 more you will not be getting a better shot.

#10 – Golfers

The most frustrating thing about golf is probably…golfers. Unfortunately, golfers can be a bunch of elitists who think much too highly of themselves. We need to stop taking things so seriously and cut the beginners some slack.

Phil Oscarson is a freelance writer for golfzing.com. Besides illustrating the many faults that golf may have, he does do plenty of great analysis from time to time. You find tee times, and awesome places to golf through golfzing.

Photo Credit: www.sports-psychology-tips.com

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The Sports Archives – Jet Skiing For Absolute Beginners!

Posted on January 9, 2013 by thesportsarchives

There are so many types of water sports in the UK and a good example is jet skiing. This is one of the most popular and interesting water sports that you can ever take part in, whenever you visit the beach. If you are planning to participate in this sport for the first time, you may be going through tense moments due to anxiety and uncertainty. You may not know how to handle the Jet Ski, how to start skiing, how to increase your speed, how to stay safe in water and so on. However, you no longer have to worry because you are about to learn more about jet skiing tips for beginners.

Preparing the shut-off clip

Even before you start skiing, you will be required to ensure that the engine shut-off clip is attached to your waist. By so doing, it ensures that the engine is switched off automatically if you lose balance and fall in water. Though the chances of falling are very low, you should always be prepared for anything that might come your way as you familiarise yourself with this machine.

Starting the Jet Ski

The life jacket is one of the most crucial gears for any person involved in aquatic sports. Even the most experienced and professional swimmers normally wear these jackets just to ensure they are safe anytime they take part in jet skiing. Also, ensure that the life jacket is fastened properly and securely before you even start the engine.

Making the first move

Your hands should be placed firmly on the handles of this machine as you prepare to cover your first distance. At this stage, you should engage the throttle and when you are still near the shore, maintain your speed at lowest level. This should be around 10 mph or even less than that.

Learning to how to make a turn

Making a turn is one of the greatest challenges for most beginners and if you find it hard at the first stages, you should never be discouraged because it is normal. The best thing to do is to practise the turns while still maintaining the lowest speed possible. This process should be repeated several times until you are able to balance and take quick turns. As a safety measure, the turns should be practised near the shore to avoid bumping into other boats and jet skiers.

Practising your speed

The only way you will be able to practise your speed is by moving away from the shore. As you increase the speed of the Jet Ski, its nose will rise slightly above the water level. This marks the beginning of fun and adventure as you ride through the waves with some water splashing into your face.

Managing impact

Depending on the speed that you are cruising with, the Jet Ski might float in the air for a few seconds. When this happens, you just have to raise yourself some inches above your seat to reduce the level of impact when the machine settles back on the water surface. This is what makes jet skiing so enjoyable and adventurous to most people who love taking part in water sports.

Extra tips

As a beginner, you are advised to refrain from jet skiing in unfamiliar territories. This will prevent you from the high traffic of water vessels especially when you are still learning how to control your Jet Ski. These simple tips are all you need to make you a professional jet skier.

Featured images:

Tom Silsby is a keen water-sports enthusiast, who also enjoys yachting, sailing and blogging. He regular blogs for Mustang Sailing in Sussex and is proficient as both a yacht skipper and adventure yachtsman. Visit the mustang sailing site for more information on affordable RYA ocean courses and general sailing knowledge and guides.

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The Sports Archives – A Proposal for Expanding the NFL Playoffs!

Posted on January 8, 2013 by thesportsarchives

NFL Playoff Logo
Want more Football?

Vote for proposed playoff change in poll at bottom.

I think it is time to expand this NFL playoff field: from 12 to 14 teams (7 teams in each conference). 16 teams would be too many; the opening round would have to expand for 4 days (Friday to Monday with 2 games each day).

Current 2013 NFL Playoffs

Current  2013  NFL  Playoffs

The 14 team proposal would only last a few weeks in January-February.  The opening round would have the top team in the conference, having a 1st round bye. The other 6 teams (in each conference) would play on that opening round.

Before reading about the new  proposed playoff schedule, check this coming weekend’s NFL playoff odds at the Sportsbook Review for the latest action.

Here is what the match-ups would look like:

                                             1st round seeding:

                  AFC                                                                     NFC

                   #2 vs. #7           #3 vs. #6              #4 vs. #5 

The division winners would host the games (#2, #3, #4), and the 3 wild card teams (#5, #6, #7) go on the road to play the division winners. This could be a weekend affair (Saturday and Sunday), with 3 games each. Then, after all 1st round action is completed; the lowest seed would play the top team in their conference. The other two winning teams would play each other after re-seeding the playoff format.

In round 2, the top 2 teams (left standing in the playoffs) would host the games. The top team and the next highest seed would play the lesser 2 teams. The winners would then play in the conference title games, and then on to the Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl would have to be played (according to calendar) before Valentine’s Day, so I might be presenting this playoff format to the league’s commissioner and office. Hope they consider it one day. Wish me luck on that matter, and on other sports takes.

Authored by:  Chris Wood

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The Sports Archives – Breaking Down Barriers – Arab Women in Sport!

Posted on January 7, 2013 by thesportsarchives
Muslim Woman rowing at 2012 Olympics.

Muslim Woman rowing at 2012 Olympics.

In the western world women don’t think twice about taking up sport and aiming to compete at the highest level. Indeed their exploits are celebrated and many female sports stars become icons and national heroines. In a world where obesity and heart disease are big issues we are all constantly encouraged to get fit and participate in sports but for women in some parts of the world, not only would this be frowned upon, it is actually illegal.

London 2012

The build-up to the London Olympics did see the historic announcement by Saudi Arabia that they would be allowing woman to compete in the games for the first time. This was a remarkable step forward for a nation where girls are banned from participating in sport at school and woman’s organised sport is illegal. Only two women were ultimately included in the team and both of these were forced to conduct their training outside of Saudi Arabia where traditionalists will not accept the participation of woman and condemn athletes as a disgrace to their culture. The Saudis are not alone as in 2008, Afghani track and field athlete Mehboba Ahdyar was forced to seek asylum prior to the Beijing Olympics as she was receiving death threats at home.

Moving Forward

Female athletes have been starting to emerge from Arab countries despite the challenges and resistance they face. London 2012 also saw female athletes from Qatar and Brunei compete for the first time and in Beijing the UAE and Oman made history by including woman in their teams. Some predominantly Muslim nations are now showing a good level of female representation in their international teams but these are North African nations like Egypt and Algeria.

Things remain tough for woman in the Middle Eastern Arab states where female sport is often not even shown on television and any sporting endeavours pursued by woman are behind closed doors. There is, therefore, little inspiration and no icons to drive women forward. Despite these obstacles some brave women do continue to train and involve themselves in sport for their personal benefit and to inspire others.

Determination

It is unlikely that conservative attitudes in Arabian countries will be able to stem the tide of female sport for much longer, especially as female stars from the region are starting to emerge onto the international stage. Take the case of Shaikha Latifa Al Maktoum. She may have had the advantage of being the niece of the monarch of Dubai but this star of international show jumping has worked hard and gained her success on merit.

Admittedly things are a little more relaxed in the UAE regarding female sport but the sight of a woman in a show jacket and jodhpurs may be a little too much for some conservatives at the moment, let alone the idea of scantily clad female athletes on the track. Things are slowly moving forward and the seeds were sown some years ago.

In the Barcelona Olympics of 1992, Hassiba Boulmerka of Algeria won Olympic gold in the 1500 metres and unlike the Saudi track athlete, Sarah Attar, at London 2012, she was not clothed from head to toe. Times are changing and in the future it is entirely possible that the Arab states will deliver a new generation of female athletes to the world stage.

Credit

When female sport does finally emerge fully in the Arab world it will be to the credit of the brave woman who been defying convention and criticism to pursue their dreams.

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Sally S writes for a number of blogs and websites on everything ranging from finance to music.

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