Knowing the Market

Bond together the two of men’s greatest pursuits and what you’ve got is something known as a Web sportsbook. And seriously: what could feasibly be more original. Visualize a bunch of sports admirers cheering any given favored local players, and incessantly stakes are sure to be set along with the din. Hoping to catch a bit of the excitement, on-lookers frequently venture to speculate who will make it in the imminent match. In the end, this all eventually evolves into a nice little match termed Web sportsbook. Feliz, Phils finalize 2-year, $8.5M deal

True, it may sound uncontrollable nevertheless sportsbook wagers is really just an amusement and of tying up with one’s fellow sports admirers. Here, you can bet a any trivial sum of greenbacks and nonetheless have an amazing time. Below, you’ll find some basic guidelines and details to get going sportsbook wagers.

If you want to place that bet, you’ll want to surf to a Web sportsbook, i.e. a place which tenders Web sportsbook. In the U.S., there’s no less than four states where to go for sportsbook wagers in a legitimate manner, but illegally you can try it anyplace provided you discover a bookie and happen to be legally an adult. Included in the sports you’ll have a choice of wagering on are pro right along with college class basketball + college football, pro baseball and hockey, right along with betting on. You’ll have a choice of wagering on the comprehensive results of a competition, in what round a given opponent will go under, and even whether a coin toss in a competition will come down either heads or tails.

The betting outfit bank on statistical methods be of assistance to you arrive at a decision which players you may feel will make it. To start with, we have the spread, or leverage allocated to a weaker competitor that is anticipated to go under by a given number points. Of Course, this comprises the bookie’s fashion of organizing level antes for a Sports Book. By way of an example we will have the option of betting on a club that is anticipated to go under and and nonetheless win the bet provided the competitor actually loses by a given number of points.

You’ll find a lot of varied sorts of stakes- straight, teasers, which are equivalent to to parlays differing in that you will subtract or add points from the spread to improve your wagers’ odds,parlay stakes and, moreover, over/under wagers, the straight bets being the general favorite in sportsbook wagers. Why not just try it out and enjoy the fun at one fell swoop. Just safeguard you won’t get overpowered and deplete your complete pension plan on a boutade! If not, you’ll be sure to end up remorseful for the rest of your life!

A typical Formula One course generally features a portion of straight tarmac on which the starting grid is to be found. The pit lane, where the F1 drivers enter for petrol and new tyres during the motor race, and where the F1 teams operate on the Formula One cars prior to the F1 grand prix, is normally sited in parallel to the starting marks. The arrangement of the rest of the race course changes immensely, even if in the majority of examples the race course is built in a clockwise way. Those few race courses that run anticlockwise (and so have on the whole left-handed bends) could cause Formula 1 drivers neck pains because of the huge amount of sideways forces made by Formula 1 engines dragging their body in the reverse direction to normal. For info about Formula 1 Grand Prixs, go to F1Tribute.com now.

A numerous number of the tracks presently in use are specially constructed for racing contests. The modern street courses are the Circuit of Monte Carlo and Melbourne, Australia although circuits in other urban locations come & go (For Example, Las Vegas and Detroit) & proposals for such grand prixs are frequently talked about ? recently London and Beirut. Quite a lot of other circuits are also completely or partially laid out on normal public roads, like that of Spa-Francorchamps. The beauty & history of the Monte Carlo Formula 1 race are the chief reasons why the track is still in use at the moment, since it’s considered not to meet the strict safety requirements compulsory on other circuits. Three-time Formula 1 World champion Nelson Piquet famously explained driving in Monte Carlo as “like riding a bicycle around your living room”.

One of the “absolutes” in golf - and what is taught - is a straight left arm. First let’s define WHAT a straight left arm is AND isn’t.

For the majority of people a left arm that hangs downward has an elbow joint. This joint has between 3 & 5 degrees of BEND in it. This is WHAT a straight left arm is.

Stretching - hyper extending - and LOCKING the elbow is NOT a straight left arm! All the golfer has done successfully is to INCREASE the radius from the left shoulder to the ground. This is a MAJOR cause of “fat shots!”

Harry Vardon WON the British Open six times playing with a “bent” left arm.

Calvin Peete won the Players Championship AND is the most accurate driver of the golf ball EVER! In 26 plus years of playing professional golf he hit ONE ball out of bounds! Calvin’s left arm was severly bent as a result of an accident as a young child which shattered his left elbow. Surgeons repaired the elbow, but it remained permanently fused so that Calvin could never fully straighten his arm.

Calvin won 11 times on Tour in a five year span - 12 events total -plus his Players Championship victory. He led the Tour in driving accuracy for 10 STRAIGHT years AND led the Tour in “greens in regulation” three times.

Another player that had huge success on the PGA Tour is Curtis Strange. Curtis won 17 times on Tour including winning the US Open back to back in 1988 and 1989.

Swing “Gurus” referred to Curtis’ left arm as “soft.”

Think of it this way, if you were to swing a piece of rope is it “locked” and taunt in the backstroke? Of course not! But what happens when you swing it to the ball…it BECOMES a straight line!

Now I’m not advocating that you intentionally bend your left arm BUT I am saying NOT to lock it thinking that is what straight is. The arms MUST feel like dangling ropes - loose. This will give you MORE power with LESS effort.

Remember, whatever angle your left arm hangs - loosely - just maintain it during the backstroke and let it come out by itself in the downstroke.

Chuck Evans is one of only 31 Teachers in the world to hold the designation of “Doctorate in Golf Stroke Engineering”, he is one of the most highly sought after instructors in the world not only by players but other teachers as well and is known as the Teacher of Teachers! Chuck has appeared on numerous golf talk shows, written and published instructional articles in local, regional, and national golf publications. His DVD, “60 Days To Game Improvement” has sold in excess of 10,000 copies and his new eBook, “How To Build YOUR Golf Swing” is in the library of amateurs and Teaching Professional alike. He has also appeared as the featured instructor for education classes regarding the golf swing at various PGA Sections and Chapters around the country and is recognized by Golf Magazine as one of America’s Top Teachers. In addition Chuck has held the positions of Director of Schools for the PGA Tour Golf Academy and is currently The Executive Director of Instruction for the Medicus Golf Institute. http://www.chuckevansgolf.com

Extreme adventures and travel adventures are becoming more popular all the time. Some of us, however, want to have the excitement, without so much risk of injury, without getting shot at or kidnapped like Robert Pelton, and without spending a fortune. With that in mind, here are some ideas for less extreme adventure travel.

- Summit the highest peak in your state. It might be less-than-adventurous in some states, but it will at least be an excuse to get outside and get some exercise.

- Canoe down a river you’ve never been on. There could be an interesting one an hour away from you. If you don’t have one, you can rent the canoe, and bring a picnic.

- Treasure hunting at the beach. You can rent or buy a metal detector and spend a relaxing but interesting weekend finding coins, jewelry and who-knows-what in the sand.

- Vagabonding. Just pack for several days and start driving, with no destination in mind. See where you end up, and discover what you can.

- Surfing lessons in Montanita, Ecuador. You might want to bring your Bob Marley CD to this hippy/reggae/tourist area. The beaches are beautiful and the lessons are cheap.

- Make a raft. Find the nearest river that is large enough and has some public forest, then build a raft from dead trees and float downstream for a day.

- Cliff-diving. Try the small ones, like those on Lake Superior, near Marquette, Michigan. You’ll jump fifteen feet into crystal-clear water.

- Climbing lessons on Mount Ranier in Washington. It’s sure to be more exciting than my trip up a local sledding hill with my ice-axe and crampons.

- Travel monastery to monastery. You can make it a spiritual adventure or just relax. They usually have reasonably priced accommodations, and they are in beautiful places.

- Take a hot springs tour. Drive around for a few days with a guide to hot springs or directions copied off the internet. Bring suits, towels and a cooler full of refreshments. For added adventure, seek out the ones that you have to hike into the wilderness to find.

- Take a waterfall tour. If you live near an area of waterfalls, drive around for a few days to find all the ones you haven’t seen. try to find ones that you can go swimming in.

What is adventure? Any activity you engage in that is somewhat new to you and doesn’t have a predictable outcome. It doesn’t have to be too dangerous to be interesting and fun. It could even include a trip to the nearest large city for a weekend tour of the bars. Of course, depending on the bars you choose, this could be one of the more extreme adventures.

Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. For travel stories, tips and a free e-book, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com

The field of tennis psychology is not just common advice and tactical or mental tips. It is based on general and sports psychology and then applied to tennis specifically.

There are many common elements in the psychology of tennis which can be found in other sports too. An athlete that wants to perform at his peak needs to learn:

1. How to refocus

Many players start the match with good concentration but they drop their level of concentration because of disturbing outside events, pressure situations, emotional reactions to various events and so on. A player needs to learn how to quickly and effectively refocus to be able to play his best tennis.

2. How to control his arousal - to manage his intensity and body energy

A player’s arousal can be too high or too low and in both cases he is not able to play his best tennis. Arousal affects his body and mind abilities - a player may have too much muscle tension and his decisions are usually not tactically intelligent.

Learning to find the ideal state is the key in controlling one’s arousal and one of the most important aspects of tennis psychology.

3. What elements of the tennis game can a player control

A player may get upset (and it happens often) about an event that he cannot control or even influence. For example - the noise of the planes flying over the court, windy conditions, court conditions, his opponent’s luck and so on.

By being focused on these events he wastes his energy which could be used on elements that he can control - his attitude and effort, how he intends to play, …

4. How to control his thinking

Negative thinking affects players much more than they are aware of. It affects body abilities in two ways - being aware of them (feeling tension) and being unaware (the pendulum experiment); moreover it evokes negative feelings - emotions that cloud the player’s judgment and affect his body abilities - again.

By being more and more aware of what he is thinking a player can then change his thoughts to a more positive and solution based thinking. The awareness of our thoughts is quite a challenge in the psychological approach to tennis.

5. How to use imagery

Imagery or visualization is extremely useful in almost all aspects of the tennis game. A player can improve technique, strategy, physical abilities and his mental preparation of certain events. Another use of imagery is when a player misses a shot and then quickly sees in his mind how he hit the ball correctly.

Using imagery is an incredibly efficient technique, not only in the psychology of tennis but in everyday life too.

6. How to build confidence

Confidence is one of those elements where tennis psychology can help really quickly and with very simple tools. A player who is not confident will hesitate in his decisions, will be afraid to take risks and his shots will usually miss by just a little. Doubt can be seen in reality as small misses that happen regularly.

When a player builds his confidence he is able to play at his best and doesn’t lose his hope when a big challenge appears.

7. How to find and get rid of limiting beliefs

Limiting beliefs are one of the most limiting and troublesome aspects of human’s psyche. They are mostly deep in the subconsciousness and are sometimes hard to find. A limiting belief for example is when a player believes that he is not good in tie-breaks and he will then self-sabotage himself in those crucial moments to prove himself right.

Having no limiting beliefs means that the player is in total acceptance of everything that happens. Outside events are just events with no meaning. The player accepts them and deals with them.

8. How to empty the mind - Inner Game principles to enter the zone

There are three main principles of the Inner Game - quieting the mind, non-judgment and trusting the body. The player must first learn to apply them in training. And when he experiences these effects in training he knows what to look for in the match. He then plays the inner game - how to perform at his peak.

These are the fundamentals of tennis psychology and by understanding these principles and applying them daily a player develops mental toughness. He knows how to apply the tools and as a very positive side effect gains a lot of self confidence.

He now knows that he has ways of dealing with his own mind and that most of his competitors do not. He is aware that he has the edge in the most stressful situations in the match and that gives him inner strength and belief that he can persevere through tough matches.

Tomaz Mencinger is a sports consultant and a tennis coach. He teaches tennis players how to apply tennis psychology to make their mind their best ally. More resources on mental tennis game at his website http://www.tennismindgame.com

Are you looking for a cheap and easy way to impress your date and to have a good time? Then get a croquet set and teach them to play. I recently taught a girl to play croquet. At first I thought that she thought I was nerd and that I was ridiculous for playing such games. I am also a cheapskate for taking her to play this cheap game or free activity rather than spending money on her, which I did not have anyway. The whole time we were playing, I thought that she thought I was dumb.
I easily won our first game, the one where I taught her to play. The second game was a little different, however, after she knew what she was doing and understood the game a little more. I still could have easily beaten her, but being the gentleman that I am, I played bad on purpose and intentionally hit my ball poorly or in the wrong direction to give her a chance. I played poorly to the very end and purposely missed the last two wickets, overshooting them so that I would have to hit my ball in the reverse direction and get another shot at them. This gave her the opportunity to catch up with me and hit her ball through for the win. I just thought it would be a little more fun for her if she was not trailing me by so much and even had a chance to win it. I think in the end she did not think I was so dumb after that, and actually had a good attitude about the game. She still went out with me again, so it must have been good. We did go out to eat and watch a movie afterward, and she specifically thanked me for that, but not for playing croquet.

I still think that she thought I was a nerd at the time, but later she said that she liked it just to be nice. I think that she is too nice to tell me what she really thinks. I kept prying her later, trying to get her to be honest with me and tell me that she did not like it, but she always reassured me that it was fun. The second time we played she actually wanted to play and suggested it when a family member and friend were with us and we were thinking of something to do. I had to teach her family member and friend how to play also.

Now that I look back, I have decided that I was very cultured and proper to take her to play croquet and teach her how. After all, croquet is a game that cultured people play. It was played by the upper classes in the British Empire, which is how it spread throughout the world to be the popular sport that it is today. I probably came across as intelligent and gentlemanly also, the way taught her how to play and let her win. In the end we were able to play a fun game outdoors for a while, which made me look good, and it was cheap.

So, if you are looking for something cheap, yet entertaining and impressive to do, then get a croquet set and learn to play. You can then impress anyone, anytime with your intelligence, poise, depth of culture, and being a gentleman or ladylike. It may seem silly now, and you may feel a little dumb or awkward at first, like I did, but I guarantee that in the end it will be OK. You can think of croquet as an End or a Means to an end.

About the Author

Peter Jay is a Vice President with Yard Game Central and a manager and web administrator with PlayCroquet.com. For more information about croquet sets, visit PlayCroquet.com.

When you think of kayaks you most likely picture a kayak
constructed from plastic or a composite of fiberglass and
Kevlar. However, kayaks have been available in inflatable form
for several decades. These kayaks are not like the simple
inflatable water toys in your swimming pool. Inflatable kayaks
provide durability and stay afloat easily. Plus, inflatable
kayaks have superior tracking abilities compared to inflatable
boats. These are just a snippet of the countless features that
bring confidence and interest to many kayakers.

Inflatable kayaks have several advantages. They weigh less then
their plastic and composite counter parts. They are easily
mobile and can be carried by one person versus the need for
several people to move a hard-hull kayak. Inflatable kayaks can
be used on day tours, camping trips, and sea kayaking. If you
have little storage space available, then an inflatable kayak
will suit your needs. It can be quickly stored in a compact area.

Experienced kayakers may doubt the durability of inflatable
kayaks, especially with regards to sea kayaking. Inflatable
kayaks bode quite well on the sea. In fact, inflatable kayaks
are puncture resistant. If a puncture does occur, then it can be
patched up quickly. A puncture will not lead to a sinking kayak
because of the structure of the inflatable kayak.

What type of inflatable kayak will best suit your kayaking
needs? There are several brands and models of inflatable kayaks
to choose from. Do you want speed or stability in your kayak? If
you desire speed then a long, slender kayak will be a good
option. If stability weighs on your decision then a short, wide
kayak will be an effective match. There are more detailed
factors to consider such as payload capacity. Consult an
inflatable kayak specialist before purchasing your kayak.

Do kayaking techniques differ for inflatable kayaks? Since
inflatable kayaks are lightweight they can fall prey to windy
conditions and rough waters. One way to remedy this situation is
to sit forward and paddle close to the kayak. Additional
equipment can also alleviate adverse side effects of rough
waters. Confer with a kayaking professional before using an
inflatable kayak. They can tailor their advice to your kayaking
experience level.

How much does an inflatable kayak cost? You may have local
brick-and-mortar kayaking and hiking stores in your town where
you can buy a kayak. However, the Internet offers a bevy of
choices. Many inflatable kayak manufacturers have company
websites where you can order your kayak. You can also do
comparison price research by going to such websites as
http://www.nexttag.com. Prices can range from twenty dollars to
several hundred dollars. With a little research you can find an
inflatable kayak that has the features you want at a price you
can afford.

Every now and then something happens in our lives that make’s us feel very unique within ourselves, in my case this was watching a football match. This was a very important game for me to watch as it was the team that I have supported for so long! In fact all my life I have been a Liverpool FC supporter, I have seen some great times and not so great times especially in the last few years. Yes! We won three trophies in one particular season and that was great but even then there was still something missing. With the history of this great football club Liverpool FC has the best record when it comes to winning the English League. They have won the European Cup more times than any other British Football team and on this day May 25th 2005 they would find themselves with another golden opportunity of clinching this wonderful Cup with the big ears, now called the Champions League trophy.

So there I was anticipating this match which had the elements of being a classic football spectacular. In one corner you had the mighty team from Italy, AC MILAN. With a star studied team of great soccer professionals from Paolo Maldini, Andriy Shevchenko and the talented new Brazilian play maker Kaka. In the other corner you had my team Liverpool, who somehow with an awful Premiership league campaign behind them where they could only finish fifth behind their city rivals Everton and miss out on an Automatic Champions League place for the following season but Inspired by two scousers, club captain Steven Gerrard and the irrepressible Jamie Carragher through out the season, found themselves in the most lucrative football match in world football. It was a dream not only for the players but for all the Liverpool fans all around the world to see this great football club back where it belonged, at the top of the ladder in world football. So on this night two great teams steeped in history battled for a place in history.

Going back to my day I rang a very good friend of mine and asked her if she wanted to watch the game with me at a local bar…she said, yes! It was to be her first time watching a game like this and she was very excited by it all because everyone was talking about it…so we met up the and walked down to the bar. As we entered we could see that the place was streaming with Liverpool fans but you did have the odd Milan fan or two hiding and keeping a low profile in the corner of the bar.

So we found a nice spot to get a good view of the game and ordered some beers. You could feel the
Anticipation of it all by the look of the Liverpool fans in the bar, some where very cheerful!

Others looked just happy to be there. I was calm from the outside but on the inside I was a mess.
The big screens on the walls which seemed bigger than they actually were had everyone’s attention, even some of the bar staff would have a little peak at the screens, the place was buzzing.

My friend took out her cigarettes and lit up one, she was lucky to have that comfort, all I wanted at that moment was my beer to arrive and the game to start. Then as we watched the Players came out, there was a loud cheer from the bar crowd and one set of lads starting to sing ‘You’ll never walk alone’. I started to feel a little better and starting to sing along with them but only in my head. Then the game started and all I was thinking was that we must try to put as much pressure on the Milan players from the get go. Then we gave away an early free-kick but at that moment our beers arrived and the girl who brought it to us took my attention for a second or two and in that moment Milan had scored a goal…There was a hush of silence now from the bar and as I looked around I could see people in total shock at what had just happened. Me I was thinking that stupid left back of ours Djimi Traore is an awful player and not fit to wear the Liverpool shirt but he would later prove me and everyone wrong. My friend tried to give me some moral support by smiling and saying, don’t worry I still think Liverpool will win…I just looked sternly towards the screen with distain.

The game was all Milan’s; they were winning all the tackles, getting free-kicks in dangerous places. The Liverpool players look tired, unsure and beaten almost, it was not a pretty sight; they were chasing shadows it seemed. I just kept looking around the bar trying to ignore just what was happening and then it got worst. What looked like a penalty to Liverpool was denied and within seconds Milan broke away and scored. Then just before the half time break Milan broke away once more and scored a third, by now everyone in the bar was silent and stunned but the odd Milan fans I mentioned earlier were singing away happily in the corner. I was gutted! I look at my friend and said, lets go… She looked at me and said, Ok! And as we walked out I looked back and glanced at my fellow supporters and hoped that Liverpool would not be embarrassed and come out in the second half and show some heart. As we walked home to my house I told my friend that I would cook for her and that we could watch the rest of the game at my place.

We arrived at my home just as the second half was about to start, I turned on the TV and then took out a bottle of red wine, opened it and poured two large glasses and gave one to my friend.

She sat down and suddenly said, you know what Mark, ‘It’s never over until the fat lady sings’.

I think Liverpool can still make a come back and win she added. I just looked at her again thinking this girl knows nothing about football because if she did she would know that Milan would never give away three goals to a team that they have just outplayed for 45 minutes and with their defensive nature it would be totally impossible for Liverpool to make a comeback. So I smiled at her and told her to drink her wine while I prepared the dinner. As I was cutting vegetables in my kitchen, I could hear her shouting at the TV, which was strange because she did not do this in the Bar. So I took a little peak for myself and noticed that Liverpool had made some changes, The German midfielder Dietmar Hamann was now on the pitch and this gave me some hope that Liverpool could keep the score decent at least. But what it also did as well was make Steven Gerrard free to roam and move forward.
Then there was another scream from my living room, my friend was jumping around I came in quietly and Liverpool had scored. It was Steven Gerrard, the change in tactic had worked, Liverpool seemed more up for this game now and the players looked different somehow but Milan remained confident then two minutes later the game turned on its head, the ball was played to Vladimir Smicer and he drilled the ball home from 20 yards and Liverpool where back in the game, I came running into the room screaming with joy at what had just happen. The air was electric once more, I could not leave the living room and all of a sudden the game changed again. The Milan players looked shell shocked because within a few minutes Liverpool was on level terms. Gerrard dashed into the Milan’s penalty box and was fouled. It was a certain penalty, at this point I was on my knees yelling at the ceiling. I am sure my neighbours could hear everything. Even my friend was jumping for joy shouting, I told you, I told you!!!

She was right! She proved one thing to me and that was all the Soccer Pundits and I knew nothing about Football! Could they do it, could they actually win this match? No team had ever come back from three goals down to win a Champions League Final. I had to stop cooking at that point and told her that dinner will just have to wait and so we drank more wine and watched the rest of the match with our hearts in our mouths. It seemed that both of us had turns in screaming at the TV and this would continue right up until that now famous Jerzy Dudek ‘Hand of God’ save which denied Shevchenko the winner for Milan in the dying seconds of extra time. We were both quiet and I had my head in my hands at that moment…The referee blew for full time and the game was over. At that point I had to get up and walk around the house, nervous like hell! I walked back into the living room, listening to the commentator remarking about how Liverpool had won on a penalty shoot out against Roma in 1984 and our goalkeeper at the time Bruce Grobballar saved two penalties by putting off the Roma players as much as he could and now it had almost seemed like deja vous.

Who would be the villain and who would be the hero, it was now a lottery!
I needed more wine so I opened up another bottle, my friend could not drink no more she was just adamant that Liverpool would win. She remarked, look at the Milan Players they don’t look happy!

I had a look and noticed the same thing! They seem beaten before the first spot kick.

She was right, our goalkeeper did everything he could to put off Milan’s first spot kick taker Serginho and it worked! He missed, blazing the ball high over the bar. It was our turn next and I was not worried because it was our Germany International Dietmar Hamann and as predicted he scored. I was calm but still nervous, it was their turn once more, surely they would score but once again Jerzy Dudek’s antics on the goal line did the job and he saved very easily. We would be now 2-0 up if French International Striker Djibril Cisse would score and after suffering a broken Leg and missing most of the season he shows his class and calmly placed the ball to the right of Milan’s Goalkeeper Dida’s goal giving him no chance. It was in our hands now, just two more spots kicks and we would be Champions of Europe. Kaka would score from his spot kick…then our hearts were in our mouths when our left mid-fielder John Arne Riise missed his spot kick, it was now 2-1 but still in our favour and before we knew it, Danish international Jon Dahl Tomasson made it 2-2.

So up stepped the Czech Striker Vladimir Smicer, playing probably his last game for Liverpool FC and his best game ever in my mind for the team, he calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 3-2 to us…My friend and I was so tense, the room was silent apart from the TV. Then Milan’s leading goal scorer stepped up to the plate, Andriy Shevchenko, the man who was denied the winner before the end of extra time. As he approached Dudek threw him the ball, he look anxious and nervous and did not look confident. Somehow I knew he would miss and he did…For a split second my heart had stopped and I sanked to my knees and just started to scream with ecstasy, my dream had come true, the Players dreams were for filled! My football team had won. Life could not be any better…I was emotionally drained by it all and was sure all the people in the stadium, the viewers and all the millions of people around the world were too. My friend and I were just hugging each other and kissing. I kept saying, that its time to get drunk and forgetting that I was suppose to be cooking dinner for the both of us! So we continued to watch the rest of the coverage on the box and as Steven Gerrard lifted the trophy and the commentator shouted out ‘Liverpool Are Kings of Europe’ a tear came to my eyes. In that moment I was in wonderland just like those players. As far as I was concerned they were Legends now no matter what they did for the rest of their lives, from this moment on they would always remember and treasure.

I started to also think about all those who had lost their lives going to see Liverpool play, all the disasters that had occurred during football matches. My heart went out to them…its moments like this that makes it possible to see just why football is so important to the man and woman on the street. We relate to it in so many ways. We support our teams because we choose to and win, lose or draw all the emotions that this sport and all the other sports may muster are worth it for moments like these. So when it was all over and as I tried to figure out what had just happened, one thing dawned on me and that was it’s the Simple things in Life that I cherish the most and watching my team play is one of them.

2005-06-04
By Mark J Stevens©

28 years old Singer/Songwriter Mark.J.Stevens is slowly making a name for himself as one of the best new music talents coming out of the UK! Mark is currently putting the final touches to his debut recording Album. But in his spare time he writes articles and is also currently writing a play. Mark says, ‘Writing is a great way to release your emotions, sitting down at my PC and writing is one of my favourite things I like to do’. Watch out for this New Music Artist, we think he has a great future as a writer.

Over the last couple of years I have taken a number of layoffs, for a variety of different reasons. Many times I wonder why I lift at all. The prevailing belief is that lifting must be one’s top priority if one is to be the best at it. That may be true and that is one of the biggest problems I have had. Lifting is not my top priority, it is more like fourth after God, family, and work. Actually work is only ahead of lifting because I need it to support my family, otherwise it would be further down the list. So given the fact that lifting is not everything to me, why do I do it?

I guess what makes this a complicating situation is that I love lifting. I love competing against myself and others in everything. That’s why I have done so many different kinds of competitions. I have done 3 strongman contests, 2 highland games, and numerous powerlifting contests.

A perfect illustration of this competitive nature of mine was the exhibition that Bill Kazmaier put on in Spokane, Washington in July 2001. I hadn’t been lifting for a couple of months and didn’t plan on doing it anytime soon. But I heard about Kazmaier doing a show in the park and I thought it would be cool to watch him. When I got there, I met him and he invited me to do some dumbbell presses with him. When my turn came, I pressed the 100’s 14 times overhead. I had done more than that in the past, and so instead of being thrilled about lifting with Kazmaier, I was mad at myself for not preparing better (even though I had not planned on being there). I also felt that I could do much better and I was just chomping at the bit to try something else and redeem myself.

A little bit later Bill brought out an 11/16″ steel bar and asked if anyone wanted to try to bend it. I jumped at it and did it without a problem. When Kazmaier brought out a ” bar and said that nobody had bent that size of bar before, I wanted to try it. Not because nobody had bent it before, or because so many people were watching, but because my adrenalin was pumping and I felt like I could do anything at that moment. I didn’t care if I failed. I would have tried it alone in my garage. That is what I am talking about. It wasn’t about winning an award or having a place in history. It was about being the best on that day and conquering the challenge before me. By the way, I did bend the bar.

I am 6′3″ and my weight varies between 295 and 335, so it’s not surprising that I might do well at the activities listed above. Now get this. I like to play basketball and I like to play it well. I don’t post up or play underneath the basket like everyone expects me to. I won’t accept the idea that someone my size is slow and can’t jump. I like to drive to the hoop, taking people off the dribble. I like to shoot 3-pointers and pass the ball. Just like everything else, I want to excel all the time. When I play basketball I get frustrated with myself for allowing myself to get so heavy and out of shape. You see, playing basketball and lifting in the Super heavyweight class do not go hand in hand. Why don’t I give up one and work on the other? Because I love them both!

So to clarify myself to anyone who hasn’t yet figured out what I am talking about, I want to know why I can’t have it all. I don’t want to be limited by other people. Maybe I can’t be the strongest man in the world without becoming obsessed with that goal. But since when is obsession a good thing? Last year I took 10 weeks and worked out with a well-known lifter. I wanted to see how the best train, and what sets them apart from the rest of us. We lifted 3 days a week for 2+ hours per workout. This lifter was in constant pain and talked of the day when he could retire from competitive lifting. Needless to say, I was surprised. I did get stronger in those 10 weeks than I had ever been, but I quit after that. It wasn’t that the workouts were too hard for me. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed them and the opportunity they provided me to compete against a top lifter. What I didn’t like was missing time with my family. At first I was excited and thought about lifting all the time and what great heights I would reach. After a while I was tired of focusing on only one thing at the expense of everything else.

I am not writing this to point fingers at those whose priorities are different than mine, but rather to encourage those lifters who feel like I do. I know now that I do not want success in powerlifting at the expense of everything else, but I am not going to quit. I am going to lift the way that I want to lift. The way that will make me happy. I want to use the act of lifting weights to benefit me rather than becoming a slave to that act.

How many times have lifters been told that if you don’t do something, you won’t succeed? If you don’t use steroids, or buy this equipment, you won’t be the best. If you don’t do a certain exercise you will not be a truly strong person. If you don’t train like a madman you’ll never make it. Well, I know one thing for sure. I am going to do it my way from now on. I will weigh whatever I feel like weighing no matter how it affects my strength. I will not give up family activities or other important things in my life so I can win a contest or make it on the top 100 list.

Don’t get me wrong. I want to be strong and I love to win. But true happiness comes from a well-rounded life. Family, friends, success in all areas instead of one. This may not sound appealing to everyone, but to those who feel like I do, don’t let others limit the way you do things. You don’t have to sacrifice everything to lift. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

I hope that this benefits somebody, but either way, I know I will be happier lifting this way than I was before.

By Aaron Anderton

No Limits Physique

www.nlpbodybuilding.com

About the Author

Aaron Anderton has competed in both Powerlifting and Strongman, winning several titles in each. In 2001, Aaron won the Washington State Powerlifting Championships, and in 2004 he won the Washington’s Strongest Man contest. He placed 9th out of 43 at the National Strongman Championships in 2004 as well.

General Manager Kenny Williams wouldn’t stand pat with the hand that won the ‘05 World Series.

He tossed away a few cards, a popular center fielder here, and a sure, but mouthy, 1st ballot Hall of Famer there, picking up undervalued slugger, Jim Thome, in the meantime.

The pitching staff is intact, more or less.

And they say pitching is what wins games, day in and day out.

So, given these moves, can the Sox repeat in ‘06?

Without a doubt they can win again; at least that’s what we can infer, looking at the new and improved team, on paper.

But how will they do as a club, on the field? Will they have that same, gee-whiz energy the ‘05 champs had?

Is Konerko going to be more relaxed, now that he has a long term contract, or will he be just a little too laid back, warm and fuzzy, and secure? If he were with the Dodgers, still, that could be an issue, but not in the Windy City, where the work ethic brings out greatness in grunts, like Paulie.

Will Ozzie flake out, tell us he’s rich enough, and take a walk in mid-season? Not if he’s serious about winning the Presidency in his home country, some day.

The only thing that can hurt the Sox this year is if they believe they are a fluke, a one hit wonder, like so many of those exploding plastic spheres on the field at the infamous Disco Night, at Comiskey.

This is the year the Sox can show their grit, South Side pride, and Cub-crushing might.

Are they up to it?

You bet.

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of www.Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com