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Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr.-an American professional basketball player

2023-07-05T10:41:47.067-04:00

Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. (born July 15, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats and earned third-team All-American honors in 2012. After being selected by Portland with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, Lillard was unanimously voted the NBA Rookie of the Year. Nicknamed Dame Time for his history of making big shots in the clutch, he has received seven NBA All-Star and six All-NBA Team selections, the only player in Trail Blazers franchise history to do so. In October 2021, Lillard was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. He also won a gold medal on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo. Using the stage name Dame D.O.L.L.A., Lillard has enjoyed moderate success as a rapper. His first studio album, The Letter O (2016), charted in the Billboard Top 200, while his second and third albums, Confirmed (2017) and Big D.O.L.L.A. (2019), placed on the indie charts. In 2021, he released a fourth album, Different On Levels The Lord Allowed. As a freshman at Weber State, Lillard averaged 11.5 points per game and was named the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Big Sky. In his sophomore year, he raised his scoring average to 19.9 points per game and led the Wildcats to the conference championship. At the end of the season, Lillard was named Big Sky Player of the Year as well as honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press. In 2010–11, Lillard led the Big Sky in scoring with 19.7 points per contest before suffering a foot injury ten games into the season that forced him to take a medical redshirt and sidelined him for the rest of the year. As a redshirt junior, Lillard averaged 24.5 points and led the nation in scoring throughout most of the year but ended up finishing second to Oakland University's Reggie Hamilton. On December 3, 2011, against San Jose State, Lillard scored a college career-high 41 points, including a game-clinching three-point play to give Weber State a 91–89 double-overtime win.[13] At the end of the year, he was named to his third first-team all-conference selection and won his second Big Sky Player of the Year award. Lillard was also a finalist for

african americans in sports

2006-11-27T21:48:06-05:00

African Americans have had a rough time trying to participate in major athletics in the past. Some sports, such as baseball took large aspirations for the athletic community to integrate black athletes into their major league sports. African Americans have made great strides in the world of sports in the United States. Sports in America show extremes in culture and it’s the passion to succeed that unites most of America. African American athletes have been able to participate in America’s several professional sports leagues since the inception of sports in America. But due to their race they have not always been given the chance. As sports grew into an American pastime they also grew on separate fields with race as a dividing line. Up until the 1940's most sports events were separated because of race. Only a few African Americans dared to follow their dreams and cross over the racial line in these times. For those few African Americas they became the prime symbol of their race. They had their whole race riding on their shoulders. If this wasn’t a large enough burden to start with, they also had to endure teasing, harassment, and belittlement just to play the sport they loved. Moses Fleetwood, Paul Robeson, Chuck Cooper, lastly William Tecumseh Sherman Jackson paved the way for future black athletes in their respective sports. All of these men were the first to break the white and black barrier. Moses Fleetwood for baseball, Paul Robeson for football, Chuck Chopper for basketball, and William Tecumseh Sherman Jackson for track and field. What these great athletes coped with is unimaginable but their achievements won’t be forgotten. Baseball is truly America’s pastime. The sport was played all the way back in colonial America, in the 1700's. As America was the melting pot of cultures, several cultures contributed to this game we call baseball. Baseball became such a popular sport that in 1869 the first Plourd 2 professional baseball team was organized. By 1876 eight-professional teams were made up and they formed the first baseball league. The two earliest African American baseball players to join all white teams were Bud Fowler and Moses Fleetwoods Walker. Bud Fowler played for the Keokuk in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He was the only African American player on the team. Fowler never gave up on his goal to play in the major leagues and

school sport should not be compulsory

2006-04-09T09:18:40-04:00

I strongly belive that sport at school should not be compulsory for the following reasons: The General assembly of United Nations and the beckration of human rights states: Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to thier children. Therefore schools can not make the decision whether students do physical education or not. If schools were to make physical education(p.e), a optional subject, schools would see better academic results and better sports results because people that want to do sport would be able to concentrate more on sports, and people that do not want to can focus more on academic studies. Also, when someone does not show an interest to sport they let the people in the team that do want to do sport down. Sometimes p.e can turn into an Elite activity. Elite sport: The decision to pursue an elite activity means allocating it a greater amount of time of time. Making it a priority ahead of other activities and eliminating other projects. One time in p.e our teacher had given our class a gymnastics assesment that we got one class period to practice but were told to use our own time to get together in our groups to practice in our own time. I am only 12 years of age and I love doing p.e. But now that I was told to do this debate, I think that I should have focused more on my academic studies instead of gymnastics because I need to pass my academic exams when I am older not p.e. If anyone has ever told you that 'if you do not do sport you will get fat' then it is absoloutely rubbish. You can still eat healthy, non fatty food and be slim. People often do not realise that you can also do sport out of school you do not have to do it in scnool. Sport has a broad meaning. Sport means all forms of physical activity that take's place through casual or organised participation. So walking to school is a casual sport. Think about basic things you do everyday and it will fall under casual sport. Many p.e teachers are in experienced and there is a lack of teachers. So what is the point of doing p.e with an un-experienced teacher? According to the education watchdog ofsted, one in five schools continue to lack even adequate sporting facilities, so what is the

school sport should not be compulsory

2006-04-09T09:17:11-04:00

I strongly belive that sport at school should not be compulsory for the following reasons: The General assembly of United Nations and the beckration of human rights states: Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to thier children. Therefore schools can not make the decision whether students do physical education or not. If schools were to make physical education(p.e), a optional subject, schools would see better academic results and better sports results because people that want to do sport would be able to concentrate more on sports, and people that do not want to can focus more on accademic studies. Also, when someone does not show an interest to sport they let the people in the team that do want to do sport down. Sometimes p.e can turn into an Elite activity. Elite sport: The decision to pursue an elite activity means allocating it a greater amount of time of time. Making it a priority ahead of other activities and eliminating other projects. One time in p.e our teacher had given our class a gymnastics assesment that we got one class period to practice but were told to use our own time to get together in our groups to practice in our own time. I am only 12 years of age and I love doing p.e. But now that I was told to do this debate, I think that I should have focused more on my accademic studies instead of gymnastics because I need to pass my accademic exams when I am older not p.e. If anyone has ever told you that 'if you do not do sport you will get fat' then it is absoloutly rubbish. You can still eat healthy, non fatty food and be slim. People often do not realise that you can also do sport out of school you do not have to do it in scnool. Sport has a broad meaning. Sport means all forms of physical activity that take's place through casual or organised participation. So walking to school is a casual sport. Think about basic things you do everyday and it will fall under casual sport. Many p.e teachers are in experienced and there is a lack of teachers. So what is the point of doing p.e with an un-experienced teacher? According to the education watchdog ofsted, one in five schools continue to lack even adequate sporting facilittes, so what is the

cricket-a game of passion

2005-07-12T17:11:55-04:00

The Modern Pentathalon

2005-01-19T21:40:43-05:00

The Modern Pentathlon The Pentathlon is a contest of 5 sports- jumping, running, wrestling, throwing the discus and hurling the spear or javelin that occurred between the same contestants on the same day. The contestant who won three events was considered the victor; but that was in the Ancient Greek times, now the modern day Pentathlon is very different. The sports The sports that make up the modern Pentathlon became part of the Olympic Games in 1912 at Stockholm, Sweden. The modern contest includes pistol shooting, fencing, swimming, show jumping and cross-country running. Only the equestrian event (the show jumping) has changed significantly since the 1912 Olympic Games. It has changed from a 5000 metre cross-country course to a 600 metre stadium-jumping event. In the modern Pentathlon points are awarded for each individual performance and the contestant with the highest point total is declared the winner. Modern Pentathlon competitions were open exclusively to men until 1977, when the women’s modern Pentathlon was officially introduced at the World Championships is San Antonia, Texas. The Modern Pentathlon is not just for the Olympics; competitions are held regularly the lowest age group is under 14’s and you cannot compete in the Olympic modern Pentathlon until you are eighteen or above. Shooting Air pistols are used in this part of the modern Pentathlon. Competitors must stand at a distance of 10 m away from the target and fire 20 shots on command at the target they have 40 seconds to aim and fire at the target before they have to shoot again. Scoring Shooting targets vary in size but most are marked out concentric rings to give scoring zones ranging from 1 point on the outside ring to 10 points on the 2 inner rings (show target and describe it). The targets have 2 different background colours white on the outside and black in the middle. If a shot hits between 2 lines it scores the higher point. Fencing Competitors use épée swords; they have a stiff, triangular, fluted blade, which have a maximum length of 110mm and they are wired at the point for scoring. Athletes face every other competitor in the competition and the first person to score a point within the time limit wins the fight. The Piste Fights take place on a piste a mat that covers an area of floor of 1.8m wide and 14m long. Along side the mat is an electronic scoring kit. All this makes up the

Triple Jump

2004-10-08T10:54:46-04:00

To those unfamiliar with Triple Jump, the sport seems to be a very abnormal activity at a first glance. It seems to be very unnatural and extremely punishing to the body. But once one gains familiarity with the event it becomes evident that the Triple Jump is just a sophisticated

Football and Rugby - Compare and Contrast

2002-10-24T14:00:00-04:00

When someone mentions physical sports, the most physical that come to mind are football and rugby. Each sport would be called physical because there are big hits and both require physical and mental toughness. Though football and rugby are similar, they are different along the lines of equipment use, rules and players. Equipment use amongst football and rugby players are different. Football players use a helmet, hip pads, thigh pads, a tail pad, shoulder pads, and knee pads to protect players who have a size disadvantage. Also the use of pads and helmet enables a football player to take big hits and not be as damaged if they didn't have a helmet at all. Rugby, however, uses no pads at all when hit there is nothing to absorb the shock making it harder to recover. The rules in football and rugby are more different than similar. In football after being tackled the offence has 45 seconds to pick a play, hike the ball, and attempt to score a touchdown. In football's point system a touchdown is worth six points, a field goal is worth three points, a safety is worth two points, which tackling the offence behind the defense's goal line, or two point conversion and one point for an extra point otherwise known as P.A.T., point after touchdown. After being tackled a rugby player has several options: running with the ball until downed or until there is another chance to pass the ball, kicking the ball down field, or immediately passing the ball to teammates. If the scrum half chooses to pass the ball, the teammates attempt to advance the ball forward and across the opponents' goal line. In rugby when some team scores it is called a try, which is worth five points. After scoring a try, a team is entitled to attempt a conversion similar to that in American football. In rugby the conversion kick is taken from anywhere on a line perpendicular to the goal line at the point that the ball was touched down. If the kicked ball passes over the crossbar and between the uprights, the team is awarded two additional points for the conversion. The players in football and rugby are also different. In football the players a lot more size variation because players are designed to do specific jobs such block throw catch and run. There are no players that do all three.

Football - Running Back

2002-10-24T14:00:00-04:00

A good running back is an essential for a good football team, but a great running back is essential for a championship football team. A great running back consists of one with speed and agility, strength and power, and the last and most important component is heart and determination. These are the necessities for a great running back. Speed and agility are needed to get to the line of scrimmage as fast as possible in order to gain as much yardage as possible when opportunities, or big holes, are created by the linemen. Speed and agility are also necessary in order to gain separation from the opposition when one has passed the line of scrimmage. Once the running back has passed the defensive linemen, he can depend on his quickness and ability to accelerate, decelerate, and shift his body weight to out maneuver the initial running defenders. After the running back has gotten past the initial running defenders, the defensive linemen and line backers, it will be his speed that will determine if he scores a touchdown because in order to score he must past the fastest men on the field- the corner backs and safeties. Power and strength are needed to establish ones physical presence on the field. A strong and powerful runner gives hits better than he takes hits. If the running back can give good hits to all who attempt to hit or tackle him, it will enable him to instill fear into the hearts of his opposition. By instilling fear it will make the opposing team miss tackles. Another reason power and strength are necessary is because each one makes it hard for the running back to get tackled. For example, having a powerful lower body enables running backs to push piles, drag would-be tacklers, and gain critical yards in short yardage situations. The last and most important component is heart and determination. Having heart and determination defines a great running back. A running back's willingness to play through pain, the ability to dig deep within himself and strive for the extra yard, and ability to take excruciating hits, no matter how much it may hurt, and dust himself off while jogging back to the huddle with the ball handed to him right after the hit, is what defines heart and determination. There are running backs that lack one of the physical components mentioned, but heart and determination can

Negro Leagues - Black BaseBall Life

2002-07-07T14:00:00-04:00

The Color Barrier

Due to the color of their skin and their past history, blacks were unfairly denied the privilege to play Major League Baseball; it has remained a period of shame for baseball. Not only did the white players not accept Blacks as equals, on or off the field, the public did not either. Because of the determination and strong perseverance, the blacks were able to overcome what many thought was not achievable. The events that took place during the early 1900s changed the history of baseball forever. Americans started playing baseball on relaxed teams, using local rules, in the early 1800s. By the 1860s baseball jumped in popularity, some people said it was America's "national pastime." In 1869 the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first paid team and are considered the first professional team. In 1871 the first professional baseball league, the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, was started. Then in 1876 the first major league, the National League, was formed. African Americans played baseball during the 1800s. By 1860s some popular black amateur teams were Colored Union Club in Brooklyn, New York, and the Pythian Club, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. All the black professional teams started in the 1880s. Some of the teams were the St. Louis Black Stockings and the Cuban Giants (of New York). This really showed how the public felt; amateur and professional baseball were mainly segregated. One of the few black players on an integrated professional league team was Moses Fleetwood "Fleet" Walker, a catcher for the minor league Toledo Blue Stockings. In 1883, the Chicago White Stockings did not take the field against the Blue Stockings because of Walker being on the team. The Blue Stockings manager said that the game be played, and Anson gave in. When the Blue Stockings joined the American Association in 1884, Walker became the first African-American major leaguer. In July 1887, the International League banned future contracts with black players, even though it allowed black players already under contract to stay on its teams. These are two of the events that helped form the color line, which segregated baseball until the 1940s. During the 1890s, most professional black players were only allowed to play in exhibition games on colored teams on the barnstorming circuit. Players on major league teams also barnstormed in cities and towns after the regular season was over. In some places black teams and white teams played

Football and Business

2002-05-10T14:00:00-04:00

Decisions are a part of everyday life. While some can affect lives for a day, others affect a lifetime. There comes a time in one’s life when he will need to select a career or a certain field to concentrate in, in order to make a living. A career that is most suited for a person’s desires can be chosen after making a conscious effort to review the positive and negative sides of both options. The fields of football and business are difficult to have careers in. There are many obstacles and steps involved in getting into either field. Most business managers will not hire an unmotivated, unskilled, unreliable worker, they want, “intelligence, passion… enthusiasm, ability to cope with turbulent environments, and marketing experience.”(Martin) These traits only come to those who wish to achieve. For football however, there are two ways of getting in. Some people are just born with a knack for football. The parents are 5’11” and 5’10’ and their kid will grow to be 6’5”, with speed like a cheetah and hands that seem to have glue on them. The other possibility on how to get into the NFL is hard work. Getting down to the nitty-gritty and pushing your mind and body to its limits are the attributes useful in achieving success. As well as personal characteristics, there are some physical characteristics that go with both fields. According to lawyer Norman Katnik, an associate of Katnik & Katnik Law, “Anyone can be a business man, short, fat, tall, skinny, white, black, anyone, but not everyone can play football. Typically linemen are 6’4” 280 pounds, running backs are usually 200 pounds and quarterbacks are usually 6’2”.” Another way to get in to either field is by a persons performance, such as degree in Business Administration or, for the athletes, finishing four to five years of college. The accomplishments will allow business officers and general managers to recognize those that have achieved the things that will distinguish them in their specific fields. There are requirements needed in order to start a business. “Sometimes times are rough, you’ll need ‘stick-to-itiveness’ and you’ll need to put blinders on and focus or you will lose track of what you were trying to achieve,” said Katnik. “I was even forced to work sixteen-hour days, which amounted to over seventeen hours a week. It seemed as though my family had become second to

Winter Gold 2002

2002-03-15T13:00:00-04:00

The life of an international athlete is hectic and can be very stressful. Just the training itself can be taxing on anyone. For instance; and

Creatine

2002-01-16T13:00:00-05:00

Creatine should be allowed for use by teenagers because it is a natural substance in the body. Research has shown no side affects in taking creatine. Creatine may improve your performance in athletics. In the paragraphs that follow I will try to show you why I believe creatine is a safe substance to take. What is Creatine? Creatine is a simple amino acid molecule we all have in our body. “Creatine is made up of the three amino acids: arginine, glycine, and methionine. Our body produces creatine (it is made in the liver) and we also can get creatine from our diet. At any given time the average person has about 120 grams of creatine stored in their body.”(creatine-only.com) “Our body makes one gram each day from protein. We also eat about one gram of creatine each day from meats such as beef, chicken, or fish.”(Nucare) So by taking a creatine supplement you can put more creatine in your body that you can use as energy. So what does creatine do for you? This is only in theory because we know little about what actually goes on inside the body. 1) Creatine provides additional energy for your muscles: In your body you have a compound called ATP. Think of ATP as an energy containing compound. The body can very quickly get energy from an ATP containing compound. The body has other sources of energy but they take longer to convert into a useable energy source. When you are doing an intense quick burst activity, your muscles need a quick source of energy. That immediate energy comes from ATP. Unfortunately, we do not have an endless supply of ATP. In fact, our muscles only contain enough ATP to last about 10-15 seconds of maximum exertion. When ATP is used, it becomes ADP a useless product. Where creatine comes in is that the majority of creatine that is stored in the muscles bonds with abundant phosphorus stores in the muscles and is converted into Creatine Phosphate. The CP is able to react with the ADP in your body and turn “useless” ADP back into the “super useful” energy source - ATP. More ATP in your body means more fuel for your muscles. 2) Volumization of your muscles: It is the process of pulling fluid into the muscle cells and thus increasing the volume of the muscles. Creatine has shown to pull water into your muscle cells,

Are people who excel in sports more likely to be given a break?

2001-12-06T13:00:00-05:00

When looking at a topic such as this one. You need to ask yourself the following questions: Are athletes given special privileges? Do those with more power than the players affect the outcome of an athlete? Over time, athletes have been helped but there also has been people that were not helped, chosen to take the fall. Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden are two men that seem to be given every chance in the world. They repeatedly have been suspended by MLB. And they repeatedly get let back in to play again. They are two examples of stars being allowed to play after serious offenses. Shoeless Joe Jackson was supposedly involved in the Black Sox’s scandle of 1919. They said that he took a bribe to throw the series, but he played his heart out in that series. Joe hit the only home run and batted .375 to lead all players. But he was still black listed by the Major Leagues and stricken from the record books. Joe wasn’t involved in the throwing of the series, but found guilty mostly to save Mr. Comiskey’s good name. Pete Rose bet on baseball that is known. But he still swears that he never bet on his own team. When he was caught he was banned from baseball. It was a serious offense but it seems minor in all that athletes get away with today. He bet on baseball, he should be punished, but not to allow one of the best baseball players of all-time into the Hall of Fame seems stupid. These two players are two examples of athletes not getting special treatment. Ray Carruth was sentenced to 19-24 years, convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and shooting to harm an unborn child. This was a case that could go both ways. Did Ray get punished more by the jury because he was an athlete or did he get of easy by not getting murder 1 because he was an athlete. There were many athletes that testified on his behalf. This might have swayed the jurors. Even on a broader sense other famous people are given second and third chances. Robert Downey Jr. has been arrested countless times, but he keeps on doing T.V. and movies. But is it the athletes in control or is it the people that pay their salaries. The owners and the boards really decide on how a

P.E.Contemporary - Nash's functional/dysfunctional model

2001-11-21T13:00:00-05:00

To analyse performance with regard to Nash’s functional/dysfunctional model we must first look at what this model represents. Nash’s functional/dysfunctional model represents the idea that each performer behaves differently whilst playing their sport, due to their personality. It ranges between +3 and -2 but the average player will be around a 0 and +2. However, a person may have an experience or have a reaction which could be classified as a -2 reaction even if they are normally a type 0 or type +1. At the highest (most functional) end of Nash’s scale, is the type +3 person. These people play their sport in the true spirit of the game and so respects the rules and appropriate codes of conduct and shows great sportsmanship. In other words they are honest enough to not need a referee. They also often show creative flair, as their sport is their passion and they are good captain material, being inventive and helping to coach their fellow team mates. The best sporting example of a type +3 is Gary Lineker when he played professional football. He rarely lost his temper and was a superb character, who played because he loved football. As we move down the scale we have a range between +2 and 0. This is where the majority of sports performers will be placed. These people are usually those who have a certain amount of gamesmanship, they will obey the rules set but will push them to their limit in order to gain an advantage. They may even show reluctance to observe the referee’s ruling. Some are in the game purely for entertainment values, to relieve boredom or to play the clown. At the dysfunctional end of the scale, we have the people who fall into either a -1 or a -2 type. Those in the -1 category often argue with the referee and are devious in order to get their own way. They often push themselves so far in order to win (either fairly or unfairly) that they injure themselves and consequently become even more agitated and frustrated at themselves. They are unable to cope with the stress of sport. Indeed, some say the whole idea behind sport is to test oneself to the absolute limit. They are also often associated with excesses. both in and outside their sporting careers, such as drink and drugs. An example of this sort of person may be Robbie Fowler

Are Poeple who excel in sports more likely to be given a break?

2001-10-21T14:00:00-04:00

History of Basketball

2001-09-20T14:00:00-04:00

The game of basketball has evolved a great deal throughout the years. Basketball was invented on December 21, 1891. The inventor of the game was a Canadian clergyman, James Naismith (Joseph Morse, 1973). The game of basketball was fashioned from fragments of other games, seeking to eliminate flaws of indoor rugby, soccer and lacrosse. Naismith also borrowed aspects from the children’s game “Duck-on-a-Rock,” in which children tried to knock off a rock from a boulder by tossing smaller rocks from about 20 feet away (Lauren S. Bahr, 1995). There has been no question that basketball was first played in the United States. In fact, the first game was played at the International Young Men’s Christian Association Training School, now called Springfield College. (Joseph Morse, 1973) Naismith invented basketball as an alternative to the calisthenics and marching his students practiced to keep fit in the winters (Lauren S. Bahr, 1995). Basketball was a simple game, which consists of a ball and a basket. The very first ball that was used was a soccer ball until 1894 when an actual “basketball” was invented. The basketball was slightly smaller, about 30 inches in diameter (William D.Halsey, 1975). While, the first baskets that were used were two peach baskets that were hung from the balcony of the gymnasium (Frank G. Menke, 1970). By 1906, the peach baskets were replaced by metal baskets with holes in the bottom. These holes were placed in the basket so a long pole could be used to poke the basketball out of the basket. This was better then in the early days, when a ladder was used to climb and fetch the ball out of the basket. Finally, in 1913 a hoop with a net was invented so the basketball could fall freely to the ground (Lauren S. Bahr, 1995). In my opinion, the invention of the hoop and net was a major step in the game of basketball. Due to the free falling ball the game’s tempo increased which allowed the game of basketball to develop even more. In 1893, due to the overzealous spectators interfering with the basketball, the backboard was invented. The first backboard was constructed out of wire mesh, then wood and now it is made out of glass so the backboard does not interfere with the viewing of the game (Lauren S. Bahr, 1995). Around this time, there was no name for this game. Students wanted to call the

Basketball Then and Now

2001-07-13T14:00:00-04:00

"Hello everyone and welcome to the NBA Finals game one! We will be right back to cover the tip off on NBA on NBC!" This is what you would hear nowadays when TV as completely changed the game in the NBA. Before, it used to be real hard working people who had talent and entertained us by playing the game of basketball. It was a time of great skill and amazing shots. Until Television came along... Now, the game has gotten more popular at the expense of having over-paid players playing for the fame, not enjoyment. They act aggressive and make mean faces to the cameras after a spectacular dunk. These type of players have completely changed our view of the NBA. It gets more serious on the rucker parks in New York. It's all about showing off there and there is virtually NO good sportsmanship in the game. That's why I believe that we, the next generation should do something about this attitude crisis that we have here. We should try our best to have good sportsmanship WHERE EVER WE GO. Please look at what the human society has come to. But, don't

Performing a Full Golf Swing

2001-06-25T14:00:00-04:00

To begin executing the proper golf swing, your feet must be shoulder width apart. When gripping the club, place the club in the joints of your left fingers with the thumb pointing down the center or slightly to the right of the shaft. (This is written for the right-handed golfer, all left-handers must reverse everything). Place the pinky of the right hand in between the index and middle fingers of your left. Do not grip the club any tighter than you would a baby bird. The next step is the placement of the ball with respect to your stance. Firstly, with mid range irons the ball should be placed in the center. With high irons and wedges, the ball should be toward your right foot. With low irons and woods, the ball should be towards your left foot or the front of your stance. Secondly, the ball must be placed at the correct distance with respect to how far it is from your body. Your knees should be slightly bent and your arms should be pointing nearly strait down. The club should be at an angle in which the head is flat on the ground. The back swing is the part of the swing that many golfers struggle with. First, keep your right elbow close to your right side the entire time. Second, your left arm should be practically straight. This rule is not that strict, some bending is acceptable. Next, the turning of your body can best be done by imagining a rod down your spine from your pelvis to the back of your head. You must rotate your body around this imaginary rod. When rotating, start with your shoulder, not waist. Your waist will move slightly following your shoulders. During this process, your head should move very little. It should certainly not move up and down. Fourth, the path that the club follows in your back swing is called the swing arc. This swing arc should be about 45° with respect to the vertical. The fifth step is at the top. Here you must “cock” your wrists and point the club at the target. This isn’t as important as the “cocking” of the wrists. Many golfers do not execute a full golf swing and the club does not point at the target. This is acceptable. A final check is to look at what your legs are doing. Both knees should

How To Get Better At Basketball

2001-06-23T14:00:00-04:00

Hey all you amateur basketball players out there. Read this to find out how to improve your game! Tip 1: To be a great basketball player, you first must know your strengths and weaknesses. Big tall people don't need to shoot threes and short people shouldn't be in the middle struggling to get rebounds. Very physically able players should use that to there advantage to jump higher, run faster, and play better than their opponents. Not very strong or fast players should use fakes and their brains to score points. Tip 2: Team mates hate ball hogs, especially ball hogs who don't have any skills. Team mates respect passers who can penetrate and pass. Tip 3: If you're on a fast break and there aren't any defenders, then you don't need the whole team running down the floor, duh. Some people should stay back on defense. Move 1: The Drop Step This is a move to help you get to the basket. While your powering off the dribble and about to take a lay-up, instead of the two steps, you can land of your two feet at the same time, pump fake, and then get in the air again and shoot the ball. This helps your self from tripping over legs because you can easily jump over them. Move 2: The Jumper While your putting the moves on the defender but you're not getting anywhere, bounce the ball "behind" your back, not "around" your back (there is a difference), then jump backwards, catch the ball in your hands and shoot it. This move shakes off your defender for enough time to give you space for a good shot. Move 3: The Spinning Crossover Start with dribbling the ball with either hand, then cross over to the other hand but while its still in the other hand, spin around that way to bring it back to your right. For example, let's say you start with your right hand, once you take the ball to your left hand the defender might move to the left thinking you will go that way. Instead the bring the ball back around to the right again giving you enough space to burn past your defender and "take him to school." Work on these moves until your comfortable doing them during the game because playing during practice is very different from playing during the game. There is pressure during the game and you might stop doing good moves and revert

Cricket in Australia in the 1920's

2001-05-29T14:00:00-04:00

Cricket is a game now played all over the world. Back in the 1920s there were two main teams, Australia and England. The Ashes are a series of cricket test matches between Australia and England. The first Ashes test ever played was on March 15th 1877 in Australia. Since then Ashes tests between Australia and England have flourished numbering a series approximately every three years. The overall Ashes results are in favor of Australia, while since 1989 the Ashes series have all been won by Australia. The 1920’s Ashes saw a more even event with England winning two series, Australia three. Although Australia won 13 tests to England’s six with six draws all in England. The first Ashes series in Australia was in 1920-21. This series was dominated by Australia winning all five tests. This was the first English team to tour Australia since the war, but it was delayed by an outbreak of typhus on the passenger ship carrying the English team. Australia placed seven test debutants under the captaincy of Warwick Armstrong, and yet they seemed too experienced and too good for England. The team was; W. Armstrong, W. Bardsley, H. Collins, J Gregory, C. Kelleway, A. Mailey, G. McDonald, W. Oldfield, C. Pellew, J. Ryder and J. Taylor. The first test in Sydney never from the outlook looked like a two teamed race, rather a spectacle to see how much Australia could win by. Armstrong won his first of many tosses and decided to bat first, Australia making 267 on a pitch favoring the bowlers. England, on the second day crumbled being spun out for a feeble 190 and in reply Australia made 581, with centuries to Collins the opener and Armstrong the captain. This meant England needed 658 on the last two days. Australia’s superior bowling attack dismissed England for 281, 377 short. The second test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was no closer. Australia batted first and made 499 with centuries to Pellew and Gregory. Australia then bowled England out for 251 with inspirational Gregory taking 7/69. Enforcing the follow on, Australia’s bowlers took advantage of the mental state of England and bundled them out for 157 winning by an innings and 91 runs. The third test in Adelaide beginning on January 14 was by far the closest test. Australia winning the toss decided to bat for the third time in a row. On a ‘road like’ pitch

Skating

2000-05-22T14:00:00-04:00

Imagine that you've just turned 16 and your parents bought you a brand new Mustang. You're cruising on the street at approximately 25 miles per hour. So maybe you're not breaking the speed limit, but everyone's staring. You feel the light breeze through your hair. Then you're in the air, 12 feet high. Finally, you land on your back and come this (gesture 6 in.) close to cracking your skull. What happened? You were skating. As Aaron Spohn, a well respected ramp builder for the National Inline Skate Series, Extreme Games, and many pro inline skaters, said, When you tell someone you are an in-line skater, you automatically assume they envision you sporting a tangerine body suit, waist pack and a pair of wraparound neon sunglasses.S1 Or maybe you see me as one of those with $35.00 generic skates, moving my arms more than my legs and rolling down the street at a rate of 1 mile per day. This is not the type of skating I am talking about. I'm talking about aggressive inline skating. Maybe this aforementioned misconception is due to the many aspects of inline skating, and the amount of people involved. About 12.3 million kids are currently inline skaters.2 There is a 57.2% rise in participation in inline skating from last year, compared to basketball, which dropped 4.9%, and football, which rose only 5.8%.3 This is obviously a growing sport, and it's one that you're probably already doing. Whether or not you want to do inline aggressive skating, it is one of the best all around sports because it provides benefits to three core areas: physical, social, and mental. I believe I started inline skating in about seventh grade, and I would have to say I had no life before then. But I guess now, I still don't have a life because all I do has to do with inline skating and its representation as a sport, which is why I am giving this speech. In the summer I skate every day for 4 or more hours. I have been acquainted with the manager of Team Paradise, a nationally recognized mail order store. I have also helped in the production of CDS Detroit products, made locally in Grosse Pointe. Today I would like to talk to you, using my personal experience along with knowledge gained from magazines and other sources, about the physical, social and mental

Exercise

2000-03-22T13:00:00-04:00

What is exercise? The actual definition of exercise is; to use repeatedly in order to strengthen or develop, but to make it simpler, exercise is doing programs and workouts to keep fit, for example, running, hiking, bicycling, and any active sport. Most Americans do little or no exercise during work or rest hours. Today there aren’t many jobs requiring intense physical activity. Instead of walking, people use automobiles or public transportation. Instead of being physically active, people usually watch TV in their free time. Some sports such as bowling, golf, and tennis (doubles) provide some exercise, but do not provide as much exercise as other more vigorous sports. Exercise is very important and is beneficial both physically and mentally. When you exercise, you feel better about yourself because you are fit or your getting fit and you feel that you have accomplished something that was hard to strive for. The benefits of physical activity is it gives you more energy, it helps you in coping with stress, it improves self-image, and it increases resistance of tiredness. Exercise does not only keep you fit, it also reduces your chance of heart attack. Various studies have shown that the chance of heart attack is two times more likely to happen to an inactive person than a more active person. It really all adds up because with exercising, you burn off calories, which keeps you at your desirable weight, which lowers your risk of heart disease. There are risks in exercising though. The major risk in exercising is injury to the muscle or joints. This happens when a person exercises too hard for too long, this mostly happens to people that have been inactive for a while. In some situations, people have died while exercising. In these situations, most of the deaths have been by overexertion in people who have had heart problems. For people who are under the age of thirty, these heart conditions are usually from heart defect present at birth. For the people that are over the age of 40, the heart condition is usually coronary artery, which is the buildup of deposits of fats in the heart's blood vessels. A lot of these deaths have followed by warning signs such as chest pain, lightheartedness, fainting, and extreme breathlessness. These are symptoms that should not be ignored and medical attention should be advised immediately. Exercising too hard is not good for anyone, however, and

Soccer

2000-02-26T13:00:00-05:00

Soccer is a popular sport played all over the world. Even though it has only been popular in the United States for the past 30 years, soccer has been a long time favorite most everywhere else. The sport dates back to the Egyptians, who played games involving the kicking of a ball. Now, the sport has grown to a global pastime, including men’s and women’s teams, and the World Cup (which is played every four years). Soccer originated with kicking games played by people in ancient civilizations. The modern version came about in the early nineteenth century, in England. It started as a game involving kicking and handing, but later this branched off into two separate sports: rugby and football (which is what the English call soccer). Around the late nineteenth century, English soccer began spreading over Europe. Other countries also caught on, but the United States was one of the most reluctant, and one of the last to implement soccer as a national sport. The North American Soccer League (NASL) was formed in 1968. But it didn’t gain popularity until the 1970’s. The modern game of soccer has a simple goal: kick or head the ball in to the goal of your opponent’s team. Basically, there is also one simple rule: No one except the goalkeeper may use they’re hands to play the ball. Soccer is a simplistic sport. Eleven members of each team defend their side of the field to prevent the ball from being forced into their goal, which results in a point scored by the team kicking the ball. There are only three officials involved during play: The referee, and two linesmen. The equipment used in soccer is also very simple. In addition to the field itself, all that is needed for a game is two goals (eight feet high and eight yards apart) and a ball. Each player wears hard plastic or padded shingaurd, covered by long socks, for protection during play. Cleats are also worn for traction on the field. A goalie may also wear a special padded shirt, and gloves to protect his or her hands. A standard field, as regulated by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (or FIFA), has a length between 100 and 130 yards, and a width of between 50 and 100 yards. The rules of play for soccer have deliberately been kept simple. The referee makes most of

Swiming Health Report

1999-08-22T14:00:00-04:00

HISTORY OF SWIMMING Swimming was invented before recorded history. Humans discovered how to swim by accident. A person probably fell into the water and struggled to shore using a dog-paddle stroke. There was an Egyptian hieroglyph for swimming dating from 2500 BC. The ancient Greeks and Romans made swimming an important part of their military training programs. There have been known swimming contests that were organized in Japan as early as the 1st century BC. During the Middle Ages in Europe, swimming declined in popularity. People felt that the water was contaminated and a source of disease. Not everyone feared the water, however, Louis XI reportedly swam daily in the Seine. During the early 19th century, swimming enjoyed a revival, especially in England, Lord Byron swam the Dardanelles river, to prove that the mythological hero Leander could have done it. Organized competitive swimming began in England in the 1840s. In 1844 the British were surprised when two American Indians demonstrated the efficiency of a method of swimming similar to the modern crawl. The British still swam with the head above the water, a holdover from the days when people believed that the water was contaminated. An overhand stroke was introduced into England in 1873 by J. Arthur Trudgen, who had seen South American Indians using this method to swim really fast. When the flutter kick was introduced, the modern "Australian crawl" was born, and this stroke has since become the most common and most important swimming stroke. FITNESS COMPONENTS To swim well u need to know how to coordinate your arms and legs to get you through the water. At first you will probably need to have lessons. Also to swim u need agility and just gravity. Swimming also requires balance and quickness in some cases. Not much is needed to know if you want to swim. Swimming improves heart and lung efficiency, enhances muscle strength and endurance, improves flexibility, and reduces stress. It's easy on the joints, and uses more muscles than most other forms of exercise. Although swimming burns a great deal of calories, recreational swimmers tend to lose less weight than would be expected from other types of aerobic activity. Scientists say that cold water removes heat from the body, stimulating appetite to keep the body warm. Exposure to cold water may encourage the body to maintain fat stores for insulation. To lose weight by swimming, its necessary to cut down on the calories you

Soccer

1999-06-07T14:00:00-04:00

Introduction Soccer is the world's most popular sport. It is the national sport of most European and Latin-American countries, and of many other nations. Millions of people in more than 140 countries play soccer. The World Cup is held every four years. Soccer is one of the most famous international sports. Soccer is known world wide and is played in the Olympics. In a soccer game there are two teams of 11 players who try to score a point by kicking a ball into the opponents net. Soccer is played on a rectangular field with a net on each short side of the field. All players must hit the ball with their feet or body and only the goalie is allowed to touch the ball with his/her hands. There are many things you can do to condition yourself to play. Soccer the way we play it came from England in the 1800's. Soccer was not that popular until the mid-1900s. Today soccer is very popular and it is one of the nations fastest-growing sports. There are many exercises and drills you can do to improve how you play soccer. There is also many physical conditioning that players can do. Soccer can help you stay fit and healthy. Many people can play soccer and benefit from it. Soccer is very fun and a great recreational sport. History of the Activity Games similar to soccer were played in China as early as 400 BC. In about 200 AD the Romans played a game in which two teams tried to score by advancing a ball across a line on the field. The Romans passed the ball to one another but they never kicked it. London children in about 1100 played a form of soccer in the streets. During the 1800's the people of England played a game similar to soccer. Many rules changed and each person interpreted the rules differently. In 1848 a group of school representatives met at Trinity College in Cambridge and drew up the first of soccer rules. In 1863 English soccer clubs founded the Football Association. By the late 1800's soccer began to spread to the rest of the world. The Canadian Soccer Association was established in 1912 while the United States Soccer Federation was set up in 1913. The first World Cup Championship was in Montevideo, Uruguay. Since then it has been played every four years except during WWII. During the 1970's

Baseball and American Popular Culture

1999-01-22T13:00:00-05:00

Baseball is an integral part of American pop culture. Many Americans grow up with baseball, playing it before they can even count all the bases. It is glorified, taught, and fed to us. When we play baseball, we find a respect for the game. The respect we gain from playing it has turned the game into a tradition of American culture. It has formed itself into the business of professional baseball, namely major league baseball. Professional players have become recognized all over the world. They are sought out and admired by fans. Because of their popularity, these players have written books, endorsed commercial products, and found successful and rewarding careers by playing a game. According to Wallup, author of Baseball: An Informal History, baseball has been apart of our culture since the mid to late nineteenth century(Wallup, p16). Our great grandparents, grandparents, and parents have been brought up with it and our parents teach the sport to us. When the notion of baseball comes to mind, a feeling of nostalgia and tradition come to me. Many of my feelings and memories originate from my childhood. I remember a beautiful summer day. My dad and I arrived at the baseball stadium to watch the game. We walked up the concrete walkway inside the stadium. The concrete walls and floors made my surroundings drab and grey. Finally, we made it to entrance into the stadium. I came out of the dark tunnels into the bright sunlight. The first thing to catch my eye was the vivid rush of color. Underneath the fluffy white clouds and their deep blue canvas, I could look down and see players in vibrant red and blue uniforms warming up for the game. The well-watered grass on the field was a brighter green than any other grass I had seen. The outfield seemed to be so perfect. It appeared that each blade had been cut by hand. The edge of the infield, where the dark, watered-down dirt met the intensely green grass was a precise and well-defined contrast. We sat down and I took in my surroundings. There were men walking up and down the stairs selling various concessions. They had peanuts, beer, soda, ice cream, popcorn, and many other tempting treats. The players soon finished their warm-ups and the crowd became frenzied with excitement. The game was about to start. Baseball has its own traditions in America