The Sports Archives – A Beginners Guide to Horseback Riding!

Posted on October 17, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Horse TrainingHorse riding is often viewed as a hobby that can only be enjoyed by the rich, by those who are able to afford their own horse and all of the tack and clothing that goes along with it. While this is a common preconception horse riding is something that can be enjoyed by everyone, whether you can afford to buy your own horse or not, especially children. There are stables all over the country that offer riding lessons for children regardless of whether they will be investing in their own animal or not. So how do you go about learning to ride?

Stay in Control

Some people are scared of animals, and if you have never been up close to a horse before the sheer size of them can make you feel a little fearful, plus once you are in position in the saddle the ground can seem an awfully long way away. No matter what your gut response is you need to stay calm and maintain your composure. Just as a dog can sense fear, so can a horse. Not only can they feel your fear they can act upon it. No matter what you may be feeling inside you need to show the animal that you are confident, in control of your fear and in command of the beast itself. If you do find yourself having a fear reaction, take a moment to control your breathing and relax your body so that your fear reactions are not transmitted to the horse.

Climb Aboard

New and inexperienced riders are generally given a well trusted horse on which to take their first ride. You might not know what you are supposed to be doing but the house will. Despite everything you have seen in the cowboy films you don’t just jump up, kick your heels in and gallop off into the sunset. There is a skill to riding and leading your horse that you need to develop which uses pressure applied by your legs to the horse’s flanks to stimulate movement and use of the reigns to allow you to steer the animal where you want it to go. Until you are confident in controlling the animal you should not be left to ride alone.

Health and Safety

Before you take to the saddle ensure that you have the appropriate safety equipment, your horse has been well saddled and is calm. The majority of accidents that occur in this sport are directly related to the riders experience, with almost 90% of horse related falls and accidents occurring with inexperienced and novice riders. Check out the health and safety record of the local stables in your area, look at the kinds of lessons that they provide, pay a visit to the stables and voice any concerns you have before committing to riding lessons. Also, you should ensure that you are aware of any regulations that the stables may have in place regarding the provision of lessons such as acceptable age range.

Looking to learn horse riding in France? Visit Dordogne Riding now.

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The Sports Archives – Eleven Essential Zlatan Ibrahimovic Facts!

Posted on October 16, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Zlatan IbrahimovicZlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the most prolific strikers in European football at the moment.

Football has seen some top class talent of late and this striker is no exception. Here we take a look at the striker in more depth.

The 31-year-old is currently plying his trade in France as part of the big-money revolution at Paris Saint-Germain and has previously enjoyed spells in Holland, Italy, Spain and his native Sweden.

Ibrahimovic is rarely out of the spotlight – and here are 11 essential facts about the tall talisman.

  • Ibrahimovic got his PSG career off to flying start, scoring four times from just five shots on targets, highlighting just how deadly he is in front of goal.
  • The UEFA Champions League is a competition Ibrahimovic has flourished in. In fact, he is the only player to score in the Champions League with six different clubs, although he has yet to win it.
  • When Ibrahimovic moved to Paris back in July for £31million it saw him become the most expensive player in history based on combined transfer fees that total a staggering £150million.
  • Only three players, including Henrik Larsson, have scored more goals for Sweden than Ibrahimovic, who has netted 33 times in 82 caps for his country since making his debut in 2001.
  • The 250-goal barrier is fast approaching for Ibrahimovic during a senior career that started with Malmo in 1999.
  • Italy is where Ibrahimovic made a name for himself and he won the Serie A title with three different clubs – Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.
  • Ibrahimovic’s title-winning record is incredible as he has won domestic league titles at all but one team he has played for – Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan. Can he add the Ligue 1 title to his trophy collection with PSG? Carlo Ancelotti’s side are 2/9 with Ladbrokes sport to win the title.
  • Last season proved to be Ibrahimovic’s most prolific of his career as he netted 35 times in total for club and country with AC Milan and Sweden.

Ladbrokes offer odds on any sporting event.

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The Sports Archives – What’s in a Name? The History Behind Golf!

Posted on October 15, 2012 by thesportsarchives
Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Northern Ireland

Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Northern Ireland

With increasing “Did you know”-ability, the history behind golf’s origin has been growing in nostalgia. The older the term becomes, it seems, the more willing participants are to learn about it. However, one of the most common pearls of wisdom – that golf is actually an acronym for “gentlemen only, ladies forbidden” – may actually be, well, big bowl of malarkey. While the term dates back to the 1920s, there’s no actual history that backs it up. Certainly a popular chuckle-causing story by old timers, there are no facts to support their claims.

Perhaps most tellingly is the way that the word is stylized. As an acronym, golf would be seen as GOLF, clearly outlining that each letter stood for something else all together. Or, at the very least, G.O.L.F., to help separate it from an improper noun. Other factors are cited in language origins, as well as how long the game has actually been played – modern historians date the game (in its current form) back to the 1550s. Before this time, similar sports shared the same name, although spellings ranged greatly, including gowlf, goff, and golph. Whether or not ladies and/or lassies were allowed to play these alternate versions is unclear.

Another inconsistency behind golf’s name is its ancestry. Many have sourced it back to Scottish origins as a variation on “kolf,” a word for mallet or club. However, golf was not played in Scotland at this time, but rather countries away. Finally, unless the term was coined in an English-speaking country after Middle English (which ended around 1700), as the language took a huge turn during the Modern English period, the “gentlemen only” theory remains moot.

Whether or not golfers believe in the history behind their sport’s name, there are plenty of stories to be told. From country of origin, to changes in the sport, golf is one past time that has an extensive biography – one that may never be fully pinned down. Until that happens, however, golfers everywhere will continue to exchange their tidbits and guesses that search for the truth.

Guest post by Bethaney Wallace, a freelance writer for DiscountGolfShoes.com.

Click here to learn about Golf and the Olympics!

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The Sports Archives – Top 4 Greatest Moments in Sports History!

Posted on October 13, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Perhaps nothing else in the world unites people quite like sports.  The unifying power of sports is most evident once every four years, when athletes and fans from every corner of the world come together to celebrate the Olympic Games.  But you don’t have to wait for the Olympics to witness sports bringing people together.  Every season, in every sport, incredible moments happen.  These moments become iconic in sports history and are remembered and revered by fans, whether or not they follow the sport or player involved.

Miracle on Ice

Miracle On IceMore than forty years after the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, the US Hockey team is still famous for achieving an unexpected feat.  This group of collegiate and amateur players bested the Soviet powerhouse team, who had gone largely undefeated since the 1950s.  As the final seconds wound down, sportscaster Al Michaels uttered the now famous phrase, “Do you believe in miracles?  Yes!”  The team went on to defeat Finland for the gold medal, but it was this victory that will live on in sports history.

The Catch

The Dallas Cowboys went into the 1982 NFC Championship game with confidence.  They were football royalty, one of the best teams in the sport’s history, and expected to be the San Francisco 49ers.  But the 49ers proved to be a formidable opponent, and the Cowboys were unable to maintain a consistent lead throughout the game.  With less than a minute left, Joe Montana’s final pass was caught in the end zone by Dwight Clark, propelling the 49ers ahead, 28-27.  The Cowboys could not recover, and the 49ers went on to become one of the most dominant teams of the next two decades.

Celebrating a New Record

Cal Ripken Jr.As Cal Ripken, Jr. took the field for the Baltimore Orioles on September 6, 1995, his mere presence was a historic sports moment.  Ripken was doing more than just playing the game; he was breaking a 56-year-old record for consecutive games played, held until that day by Lou Gehrig.  Not only did Ripken play in his 2131st game, he also hit a home run in the fourth inning; Orioles fans and Angels fans alike erupted into a 22-minute standing ovation that was broadcast in its entirety, commercial-free, by ESPN.

USA!  USA!

The 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup final was the most watched women’s sporting Mia Hammevent in history.  The US team, coming off an Olympic gold medal and World Cup win in 1996, hosted the 1996 silver medal team from China.  After regular play and extra time still left the game scoreless, the United States overcame China in a penalty shootout, 5-4.  The exuberant players celebrated their victory on home soil, and fans across the country rejoiced.  The game was a turning point, both for this team and for the popularity of soccer in the US.

ItsAlreadySigned4U has sports memorabilia from all the greats available for purchase, here.

Posted in Baseball, Football, Hockey, Olympics, Soccer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Sports Archives – The Best Motocross Crashes – Ever!

Posted on October 11, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Motocross, or MX, is a fast paced, exciting and incredibly competitive sport.  Riders don safety gear and whizz around bumpy, tight and treacherous courses, struggling to stay on their bikes while they battle for position.

To the average spectator, Motocross riders must look crazy, nudging each other out-of-the-way one moment, and pulling tricks or show-boating to wow the fans a few seconds later.  They do it out of a love of the sport; and for the adrenaline rush.

Crashes are pretty common in MX, but the safety gear that the riders wear usually keeps them from getting hurt.  Here’s a look at some of the craziest crashes that the riders walked away from.

Chad Reed – Millville 2011

Chad Reed is an Australian MX and supercross racer.  He won his first title in the Junior division in 1997, and is still winning races, and titles, today.

In July 2011, Reed lost control of his bike on the Millville circuit while he had a comfortable lead.  He flew through the air for around 50 feet, came off the bike, and landed awkwardly.  Fortunately, he was unhurt, and after a few seconds to compose himself he got back on the bike and finished the circuit.  He came in 34th place (out of 35 riders).

James Stewart,  Thunder Valley National

One of Chad Reed’s greatest rivals is James Stewart.  The two riders have had some epic battles.  Stewart is an aggressive rider that has had some spectacular crashes over his career.  This recent crash is more of a skid or a fall than an epic scene of destruction, but it’s worth watching anyway; notice how, as Steward composes himself, collects his bike, and prepares to ride away, the racers simply navigate around him.  That takes skill!

Craig Anderson, MotoX

Sometimes, the best crashes to see are the ones captured by the fans at race-side.  In this MotoX event in Perth, MX rider Craig Anderson came up short taking a series of jumps.   The landing looks pretty nasty, and Anderson took a minute or two to recover, but he was OK in the end.

The AMA Supercross Season

If you want to see more spectacular crashes, including more of James Stewart, then check out this compilation of crashes from the 2012 AMA Supercross season. There’s no denying it, these guys are tough, and crazy!

FMX, A Recipe For Disaster

Freestyle Motocross, or FMX, is a branch of Motocross that involves racing on slightly smoother, gentler tracks.  The emphasis is shifted from navigating the tracks to doing tricks to impress judges.  These tricks take skill to pull off, and don’t always work out.

Nick Dunne is a successful FMX rider from Redding, California.  He is part of the Metal Mulisha team, and has an amazing catalogue of tricks up his sleeve.  Like everyone, though, sometimes he gets things wrong, even with relatively “simple” tricks such as the backflip:

Motocross is a great sport, but after seeing the above crashes, it should be pretty obvious why they say “don’t try this at home”!

This article was written by Crispin Jones on behalf of Ride Direct, retailers of MX boots. Visit their site to see their range of MX boots and the other products available.

Photo: austinMulhern

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The Sports Archives – Learning the Kentucky Derby Lingo!

Posted on October 10, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Horse RacingWhile fashion does not always mesh well with sports, the Kentucky Derby is one event wherein attendees are encouraged to be in their most glamorous outfits. But above and beyond the elegant long dresses and flamboyant hats, the Kentucky Derby is actually a century old celebration of the best thoroughbreds in the entire country. Organized in 1875 by Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr, the derby was started with the idea of raising money to be used in building state-of-the-art racing facilities outside of Louisville, Kentucky. Churchill Downs, named for the individuals who donated the land where the racetrack is now located, was incorporated in 1937.

If you ever think about stopping by the Kentucky Derby, which is held during every first Saturday of the month of May, you first need to be acquainted with a few terms that are used exclusively during the race:

Mint Julep

If an ice-cold bottle of beer is the standard drink for just about any kind of ball game, Mint Julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. A sip of this drink allows attendees to stay true to the derby tradition since Mint Julep was the very same drink that was served to the 10,000 attendees of the inaugural race back in 1875. This cool drink is made from a combination of bourbon, mint and syrup.

Burgoo

If the Mint Julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, then there has to be an official meal and this is the burgoo which is a rich, meaty stew that has become a local favorite and specialty dish of Kentucky. While every local cook has his or her own variation of the original Burgoo, every batch contains a hearty serving of chicken, beef tips, bacon and butter beans among other ingredients.

Triple Crown

While the Kentucky Derby is definitely the most popular of the horse races in the country, there are actually two more races that thoroughbred horses can participate in throughout the year. Aside from the Kentucky Derby, the two other races which consist the Triple Crown include the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.

Kentucky Derby Festival

The festival actually ends with the Kentucky Derby. This two-week festival is held in Louisville which starts with Thunder Over Louisville, a fireworks show that features 28 minutes of vibrantly lit skies, to be followed by the Thunder Air Show. The air show is participated by over a hundred planes that do gut wrenching dives and acrobatic stunts.

Joseph Sanderson has been a horse racing enthusiast for 15 years. He shares the best insights about Kentucky Derby. Learn more and visit, http://derbybox.com/Kentucky-Derby-Packages.htm

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The Sports Archives – A Brief Guide to the World’s Most Dangerous Sports!

Posted on October 9, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Let’s face it, most sports can and do lead to injury. Physical activity doesn’t come without some amount of risk. It’s not just extreme sports like BASE jumping or sky diving that can end with broken bones or other injuries – in fact, football is one of the most dangerous sports in terms of the likelihood of injury. But whilst injuries are ridiculously common in popular sports like football and tennis, they are rarely life-threatening…

MotorSports

Motorsports

Add an engine into the equation, however, and the danger-factor multiplies; Motorsports are a high-risk game, and motorcycle sports are the most dangerous of all. Just consider the fact there have been over 200 deaths at the Isle of Man TT race over the last 100 years. Adding an extra pair of wheels doesn’t guarantee safety by any means, though; there have been 117 fatalities at Le Mans to date, plus 74 at Monza, 63 at the Nurburgring and many more at other famous racing circuits.

Horse-Riding

Horse-riding may seem somewhat more gentile, but it also comes with serious risks.  Horses are by nature unpredictable animals, and given their size and the speeds they can reach (the fastest horses can reach 55 mph!), the potential for injury is very real. In 2009, the Medical Journal of Australia published a study claiming that the dangers faced by jockeys are worse than those faced by boxers. In a 4 year period in Australia, 861 jockeys were seriously injured, and 5 were killed.

Skateboarding

Figures suggest that skateboarding has one of the highest injury-rates of any sport, with around 2% of participants ending up in hospital. Professional competitions tend to be run pretty safely, but a quick visit to YouTube will confirm there’s never a shortage of fearless amateurs attempting ridiculous jumps and tricks that all too often end with a romantic encounter with some concrete.

Is Avoiding Danger The Way Forward?

Frankly, if you’re not keen on danger, you should probably also make a point of avoiding skiing, snowboarding, cycling, climbing, caving and cricket. In fact, if you don’t think you could cope with a black eye, a pulled muscle, a snapped limb, or gory flesh wound, you might be better of without sport altogether. Then again, the risks of not leading an active lifestyle are pretty serious too – heart disease really isn’t much fun. And the people who live to take risks would argue that you’re not really living unless you stare into the void every once in a while.

We’ll let you make up your own mind.

Many thanks to CK Claims for providing this article on dangerous sports.

Posted in Boxing, Cricket, Horse Racing, Motorsports, Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Sports Archives – Golf and The Olympics: A History!

Posted on October 6, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Despite national recognition, and being one of the oldest sports around, golf has also failed to receive the national recognition it deserves – at least that’s what enthusiasts have been saying for decades. And despite being a popular pastime across the globe, the sport has been absent from the Olympic games for the past 108 years. This upcoming summer games, however, golf will once again be introduced into the tradition that comes around only once every four years.

Golf in 2016 Olympics

While their relationship may be old news and short-lived, golf is no stranger to the Olympics. Having made its debut in 1900 in Paris, France, golf was played only twice in Olympic competition, seeing its last enclosure in 1904 in St. Louis, Missouri. Now after years of pleading and consideration, the sport will once again be competed in an Olympic setting, when athletes from all over will join in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016. After a lengthy 112-year absence, golf enthusiasts are more than thrilled to hear that their sport will soon be awarded by way of gold, silver, and bronze metals, respectively.

The Decision

While not much has been said as to why the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to re-include the sport, it’s safe to say the addition was long overdue. However, many records show that the sport was removed due to minimal country activity. In 1900, only athletes from France, Great Britain, Greece, and United States competed for a total of 22 golfers, while just Canada and the United States entered in 1904. Further, the tournaments were considered highly unorganized, with many participants being unaware that they were even competing in an Olympic event.

Upcoming showings should have no such issues, though. In fact, Brazilian officials are already working on the upcoming course design, which will be built in the borough of Barra da Tijuca. Players will have to qualify by earning a top 15 spot, before golfing a 72-hole course, and abiding by standard golfing rules created by the USGA.

While it’s still four years away, it’s safe to say that the excitement to see Olympic golf competitions is higher than ever.

Be on the lookout for IOC announcements on upcoming course designs and qualifications.

Guest post by Bethaney Wallace, a freelance writer for SpecialtyGolfBalls.com.

Posted in Golf, Olympics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Sports Archives – Josh Beckett and Jon Lester: Fried Chicken, Beer, and Bad Pitching!

Posted on October 5, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Josh BeckettRemember back when the Boston Red Sox used to have great starting pitching? They won two World Series in four years thanks in no small part due to the arms of pitchers like Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez, Josh Beckett, and Jon Lester. Well, Beckett, who was a star for the Red Sox in the 2007 season, leading the American League in wins, just is not the same pitcher he once was. Neither is Lester, who once pitched a no-hitter and seemed to be a rising star.

The two of them were part of the Red Sox’s infamous “Fried Chicken and Beer” brigade, a scandal which broke after Boston completely collapsed in the last month of the season. Both of them pitched horribly down the stretch and arguably caught their team a spot on the playoffs. Then it was discovered by the press that the two of them, along with fellow pitchers Clay Buchholz and John Lackey, spent time eating fried chicken and sipping cold beers during games. While there is nothing shocking about grown men drinking after the workday concludes, even if the workday is on the pitcher’s mound, there is something shocking about doing it during a game.

Since then, the players involved have had varying degrees of contrition, from what seemed like a sincere apology from Lester, to an angry, pointed response from Beckett. But the media and the fans would move on if the two went back to doing what they used to do – pitching well. However, that has been far from the case. All it would have taken for the Sox to have made the playoffs last year is that just one of the two win one game that they lost. Neither could do the job.

Beckett was 5-11, with a 5.23 ERA as a Red Sox, and Lester was 9-13, with a 4.96 ERA at press time. What a gruesome twosome. However, the Red Sox no longer have to deal with Beckett reportedly being a bad influence on his teammates like Lester. Beckett was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, along with Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, at the end of August.

Since then, Beckett has picked up his ERA – it is 3.45 as a Dodger, but he is still 1-2. And Lester has had three quality starts since Beckett was traded, but he also has three losses.

Neither of these players are ones who want to hold onto in fantasy baseball keeper leagues. It remains to be seen if they will ever live up to their promise. Buyer beware.

Lisa Swan writes for a variety of fantasy sports sites, including DraftStreet.com.

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The Sports Archives – Britain’s Rugby Stadiums: A Brief History

Posted on October 4, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Come November, British rugby fans will flock to their respective fortresses to cheer on home nations as they do battle against a host of overseas touring sides in the autumn internationals. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about each of the rugby union stadiums around the UK.

Twickenham

 

England’s home stadium held its first international on January 15th 1910 when less than 12,000 spectators watched the hosts beat Wales 11-6. It has since undergone many redevelopments and currently seats 82,000, along with a hotel and world rugby museum. England’s record victory at Twickenham came in 2001 when they ran in twenty tries to beat Romania 134-0. A better contested though less auspicious occasion came when the hosts were beaten 6-12 by Australia in the final of the 1991 World Cup.

Murrayfield

Scotland’s home ground is Murrayfield, a 67,200 capacity stadium in Edinburgh which opened in 1925. The Scots play all their home Six Nations game there and it also hosts large-scale pop concerts and select football games, such as important Heart of Midlothian fixtures. Murrayfield holds the official British rugby attendance record, when 104,000 people watched Scotland play Wales in 1975. The home side have claimed impressive scalps over South Africa and Australia in recent years but, their opponents in November, New Zealand, have registered three victories at Murrayfield since 2008, with a combined points tally of 121 to 9.

Lansdowne Road/ Aviva Stadium

The oldest major rugby union location in the British Isles is Lansdowne Road in Dublin, Ireland. Opened in 1872, the original 48,000-capacity home of Irish rugby and football was demolished in 2007 to make way for the Aviva Stadium, an ultra-modern £350 million 51,000-seater complex, three years later. The old ground was removed due to both ends being standing terraces which limited its ability to host top flight contests under official safety rules. While Ireland lost only five of their last 31 games at Lansdowne Road, since arriving at the Aviva the men in green have only won five matches, and lost six. Perhaps the home advantage of having two packed terraces roaring them on has been diluted since spectators have been forced to sit down.

Cardiff Arms Park/ Millennium Stadium

Wales have gone through a much similar transition to Ireland in terms of the genesis of their home stadium. Originally, Cardiff Arms Park became the nearby National Stadium, which was then demolished due to capacity restrictions based on all-seater regulations. In its place came the Millennium Stadium, an iconic 74,500 capacity venue opened in 1999, which has hosted many events since its inception, particularly deputising for Wembley when English football was redeveloping its home. The stadium is unique in British rugby in that it has a retractable roof, making it a popular venue for music concerts.

Leading rugby events and Twickenham tickets provider Keith Prowse produced this article.

IMAGE ATTRIBUTION

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