This helpful guide from Soccer Store is invaluable for anyone looking to set up a youth football game.

The pair square off in a replay of last year’s final, when O’Sullivan emerged 18-11 victor, and this weekend’s clash promises to be a close and skilful encounter that pits the modern-day master of the sport against snooker’s nearly man.

O’Sullivan, who is the current favorite in the World Snooker Championships odds, delighted fans this month when he confirmed that he would play Sheffield’s historic Crucible theater once again; he is now primed to win his fifth WSC crown.

The 37-year-old regained his taste for the sport with his WSC triumph last year and the fact that he faces Carter in such an early round this season makes the spectacle even more interesting.

O’Sullivan has won 24 ranking titles in his 20-year career. Carter, meanwhile, has won three of six major finals since his burst onto the scene in 2008, yet has fallen to O’Sullivan twice at the WSC last hurdle.

German Masters

This weekend, the German Masters champion is out for revenge and, after a convincing 10-4 victory over Ben Woollaston got his tournament underway, he should prove a threat. O’Sullivan, equally, took his first match 10-4 over Marcus Campbell and the number one seed is unlikely to let slip this momentum.

Fans of the World Snooker Championships betting should expect a close game and don’t be surprised if Carter takes an early lead on Saturday afternoon, only for O’Sullivan to rein in the frames.

We’ve a best-of-25 showdown on our hands this weekend and it could go to the wire. There may be seven other matches also playing out but no one will be looking anywhere but here.

Each of these great hockey cities not only represents a great hockey culture but also offer great attractions outside the hockey arena.

Montreal: Where the Most Stanley Cup Trophies Call Home

Image via Flickr by Kristina_Servant

The Canadiens are one of the Original Six hockey teams and their 23 Stanley Cups are by far the most of any team. Visitors can explore Montreal on the Saint Laurent River by boat and also visit the historic French section of the city.

Toronto: Home to Hockey’s Most Valuable Team

Image via Flickr by OliverN5

The Maple Leafs are considered the NHL’s most valuable franchise at $1 billion and are winner of the second most Stanley Cups at 13. Must-see attractions in Toronto are the Niagara Falls and the Casa Loma, an estate designed after a medieval castle.

Boston: Home-Brewed Beer and Great Sports Culture

Image via Flickr by Werner Kunz

The Bruins recently snapped an almost 30-year championship drought from the days of Bobby Orr, considered one of the greatest players in NHL history. To experience a skating adventure of your own, go ice skating on the Boston Common Frog Pond. Other attractions include the Sam Adams brewery and Fenway Park.

Pittsburgh: Where Super Mario and Sid the Kid Skate

Image via Flickr by pointnshoot

Pittsburgh Penguins tickets are a hot commodity for a franchise home to two of the most iconic hockey players of the last quarter century in Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. Visitors to the city can also experience the Duquesne Incline, a pair of uphill trolleys that has been carting visitors up Mount Washington for almost 150 years, and the Andy Warhol Museum.

Detroit: City Where the Cups and Hits Keep Coming

Image via Flickr by Patricia Drury

The Red Wings hold the most Stanley Cups of the NHL’s American teams with 11. Detroit is also home to the Detroit Institute of Arts, which is considered to have one of the best art collections in the U.S., and the Motown Historical Museum, which highlights the classic years of Motown Records.

New York: Where Hockey Tradition is Only Bested by the City Itself

Image via Flickr by Håkan Dahlström

Mark Messier led the Rangers to their first title in 54 years in 1994, backing up his guarantee to win game six of the Eastern Conference Finals with a hat trick and scoring the winning goal in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. New York is also home to the Islanders, winners of four straight Stanley Cup titles in the early 80s. New York is home to many iconic attractions, including Times Square.

When experiencing a taste of the hockey culture around North America make sure to check out these and other great hockey cities. Can you think of any other cities that are deserving of being on this list?

Sources

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2012/11/28/nhl-team-values-2012-maple-leafs-first-hockey-team-worth-1-billion/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/951809-10-best-hockey-cities-in-north-america

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1034846-50-best-hockey-cities-in-north-america/

http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2008/05/26/the_top_10_cities_for_hockey_fans.php

http://proicehockey.about.com/od/stanleycupbunker/a/stanley-cup-wins-team.htm

http://www.hockeysiteincanada.com/BostonBruins.php?id=6

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/fun-things-montreal-canada-14903.html

http://www.citypass.com/toronto/things-to-do-toronto

http://wanderlust.hubpages.com/hub/Things-To-Do-In-Boston-MA

http://travel.usnews.com/Pittsburgh_PA/Things_To_Do/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g43323-Activities-Minneapolis_Minnesota.html

There are still several clubs who could conceivably occupy the three relegation places at the end of the season, but which ones are odds on?

QPR

Well there is no question that QPR are one of the hot favourites to be relegated – as the arrival of Harry Redknapp has not brought about the meaningful upturn in form needed to survive – while January signing Loic Remy has spent most of his time injured. QPR are rated 1/5 odds on favourites for the drop and, although they have stopped conceding so many goals, they just don’t win matches. Reading are still rated 4/7 to go down, despite an improvement in form, while Wigan have odds of 4/6, but it should be borne in mind that the Latics traditionally go into this stage of the season in deep trouble, before producing a run of form that lifts them out of the danger zone. With the likes of Aston Villa and Southampton still far from safe, the only really sure bet seems to be QPR.

Loftus Road

This will make fans of the Loftus Road club feel even worse, during what has been a wretched season, but they may find Soccer Safari at least some consolation. This slot game, found at most online casino sites and their mobile equivalents, such as the one found at www.iPadcasino.com.au, features animals like lions, cheetahs, buffalo and warthogs playing each other in a jungle World Cup.

There is an elephant commentator, resembling Gary Lineker (possibly to distract from how much the warthogs look like Harry Redknapp) and the chance of winning a maximum cash jackpot of $2000. Throw in the free spins feature and a bonus game involving taking shots at the goal, adding to your winnings each time you score, and Soccer Safari is one of the best sports slots around – even if QPR fans might be wishing they could swap the players for some of those in their squad!

One of the most technically challenging competitive sports that seldom gets the recognition it deserves is figure skating. This sport requires not only agility and flexibility but also a great amount of technical skill. There is a lot that can be said about the art and sport of figure skating.

This article focuses mainly on the subtle differences between skates used for each skill level in figure skating. All skates are made up of key components. They are outers, inner lining and of course the blade. These vary based on the cost, which invariably coincides with your level of skill. If you are just starting out, there is little point investing in an expensive variety.

As you progress, you may have to fork out more dollars to get the level of support and versatility in your skates that you require.

Below are tips on skill levels and the relevant skates you should get.

Novice Skater

As a beginner figure skater, you need skates that focus on safety. The outers should be made either from genuine leather or synthetic material .The sole is mostly made of PVC. That is, right PVC is not only found in your plumbing, but also in your skates. They make them sturdy. The blade should also be of simple variety and is almost always made of carbon steel. These skates are not the best for performing intricate stunts, but to help you gain your footing and learn the basics of ice skating. Once you have mastered the art of balance, you may move on to the next skill level, and next pair of skates.

Intermediate skater

At this stage, you may go for a skate whose outer is made up of all leather. Make sure that it is genuine leather as the alternative is not as sturdy. The price of your skates will probably increase with your skill level as there are certain things you need your skates to do. More expensive skates have the option to adjust your blades with time so that you may replace them when necessary.

Expert skater

As an expert skater, two things are of great importance when it comes to your skates. The first one is support. You will be maneuvering more than before and therefore your ankles must be supported to prevent twisting, spraining and fracturing of the same. The second item of importance is the blade. It must be evenly hardened and tempered. Make sure that the blades are also adjustable.

No matter your skill level, you must take proper care of your skates so that they may last. They are bound to frequently get wet due to the ice on the rink. This decreases the ability of the skate to bear your weight while supporting your ankles.  Make sure they are completely dried after each use. Your blades will require sharpening from time to time to keep them in good working condition. Finally, make sure that the blade and heel are still firmly attached to the boot. Remember, you will be on a slippery surface and must be stable.

Luckily, slideboards have been making more and more appearances in gyms and training facilities, bringing with it the unique workouts that come with their range of motion, absent from most training equipment.

The results: you get a great, intense workout that works parts of your body in ways never done before.

Slideboards

What they are: Slideboards are flat pieces of aluminum, about 5-6 feet wide, with bumpers on both sides, designed, originally, for side-to-side lateral movement the likes of which you’d use in ice-skating, skiing or tennis.  (Of course, since its inception, the slideboard has been utilized for different sports and re-imagined into many new exercises and targeting new muscle groups). The ability to train laterally is likely very new to your body; this means you’re going to get a bigger, deeper workout in your legs, knees, hips and core, working the fine muscles and connective tissues responsible for making so much of the movements we use in sports and in our daily lives as well.

As so much of the movement in weight training is linear back and forth, up and down or push and pull, very little has been done for side to side training.  Just like working out a new, or stale, muscle group, the first couple slideboard workouts are going to be murderous and will likely leave you sore for the next day or so.  This is a good thing, however, as it means you’re directly working the muscles in your body that were ancillary in so many of your other exercises and movements, which means, strengthening the tissues responsible for so much of your muscular and skeletal support.

For athletes, this can be an invaluable strength as it will give you more strength and agility to perform better maneuverability on the ice, on the field or on the court, from sports as wide ranging as hockey to football to tennis.  Perhaps more importantly, strengthening these muscle groups also means added protection and less susceptibility to damage and injury while performing.  “Goodbye torn ACL and meniscus.  So long pulled groin and sprained Achilles.  Hello, Heisman.” Of course, you don’t have to be an athlete just to take advantage of the benefits of the slideboard.

Benefits

The benefits described above (added strength, agility and protection) are there for anyone using the slideboard: from the body builder to the fitness fiend to those recovering from physical therapy to simply people who want a good workout.  And the workouts extend beyond simple “skaters.” Lunges, reverse lunges and squats can all be performed with the slideboard, each one adding a little bit of individuality from their dumbbell or rack equivalents.  The slippers surface of the slideboard means it uses a different kind of resistance, one that requires additional muscular control to achieve.

That control is where you’re going to see a lot of the benefits of slideboards, resulting from the fine muscle coordination that has to take place in order to execute each movement without falling.  You can also perform chest and shoulder exercises out of press variations; your core, specifically your abs and obliques, will get a great workout from just about any of the exercises, but there are also ones specific to the slideboard that can get you an extra bit of muscle confusion to bring your workout to the next level.

Good workouts are all about muscle confusion, not allowing your muscles to set in a groove or know what’s coming next.  Slideboards are great for muscle confusion, primarily because you’re working an area of your body never worked before, secondarily because of the unique range of motion slideboards allow.  Slideboards bring an intensity all of their own to the workout; but of course, once you’re comfortable with the movement, you can always bring the intensity up.

While you might be focused on increasing your mileage, improving your speed or losing weight, there is one goal every runner should always have in mind: preventing injury. To get some simple, practical tips on doing so, read my quick guide.

Before you run

OK, let’s start by looking at what you can do before you run. Here are my top tips:

Make sure you have the right shoes:

As any keen runner will already know, not all shoes are created equal. If you haven’t already, get yourself over to a good sports shop and have your gait analysed. This takes mere minutes and will help you choose trainers with the right support for you – a key part of keeping yourself injury-free. You should also remember to replace your shoes every 500 miles you’ve run.

Have a varied training programme

A mistake many runners make is to constantly push themselves harder and harder. Instead, to promote muscle recovery – and to train different muscles – vary your runs. For instance, have one workout a week that is slower than your usual pace, as well as an interval training session to improve your speed. This kind of variety can help keep overuse injuries at bay.

During your run

During your run, you need to do two key things: be aware of your form, and listen to your body. Let’s start with the first point.

By being aware of your form, I mean that you should consider things like posture and how/where your feet are landing. Improving your form can lower the risk of injury, because you won’t put excessive pressure in the wrong place.

For example, when your foot makes contact with the ground, you shouldn’t land heel-first (known as heel-striking). Instead, aim to land with your mid-foot and roll through to the toes. By avoiding heel-striking, you will reduce the level of shock going up to your knees.

Turning to the second point, you should aim to be aware of how your body feels when it runs. Any persistent sharp pains (i.e. those that last more than ten minutes) are likely to be the sign of an injury in the making, so be ready to cut your run short and reduce your mileage/run intensity accordingly over the coming weeks to give the affected area time to recover.

After you run

Your run might be finished, but your workout shouldn’t be over yet – not until you’ve stretched. Post-run stretches are absolutely vital in the battle against injury, since they restore flexibility to your muscles and reduce stiffness. If you skip stretching after runs, over time you will find your muscles have a reduced range of movement, which can result in an injury.

Each stretch should be held for 20 to 30 seconds. If you know you have any problematic areas, make sure you spend plenty of time focusing on these, but don’t ignore the other major muscle groups, particularly in the lower body.

Another way you can help promote muscle recovery is by investing in a product like OXYfit. These oxygen canisters allow you to inhale oxygen-enriched air, which can have the dual benefit of encouraging your body to recover faster, and improving future performance.

On days when you are not running, you might find ‘active recovery’ is useful. This just involves doing 20 to 30 minutes of low-impact exercise, like walking or gentle cycling. This increases blood flow to the muscles without placing them under too much stress, which can mean they recover more quickly.

As you look down the fairway, you can’t help but notice the lush grass and the impeccable green beyond.  This is what you expect of a golf course, only this one is different.  Unlike your typical course that uses chemicals extensively to maintain perfection, this course uses organic means to achieve the same results.

What!  Where are the dandelions, where is the clover and brown spots?  Many will wonder, ‘how can golf courses without chemicals look good?’

Unfortunately, the myth that lush fairways and swift beautiful greens don’t exist without the abundant use of fertilizers is alive and well.  It’s a long held belief in golfing circles that to keep courses up to the standards golfers expect you have to liberally use pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, along with enough water to drain a river.  But that isn’t so, as more and more course superintendents are slowly coming to realize.

Monitor the Health of the Course

Take for example, one course owner in British Columbia.  Recently he shared his secrets to taking his golf course green.  What are they?  First and foremost, he monitors the health of his course constantly.  This ensures that when a problem does arise, he’s on top of it.  In place of chemical fertilizers, he uses composted turkey manure on his fairways. For his greens, he combines an array of natural based products into a compost tea.  This tea includes bone meal, blood meal, humate and kelp.

To fight disease on his greens, he uses a solution of garlic extract.  For grub worms, he applies rock glacial dust.  According to him, it is abrasive to the worms and they choke on it.

The tradeoff to going green involves constantly monitoring weed control and water usage.  For example, weeds, which are a major concern on any course, are often handpicked.   Water usage must also be closely monitored to maintain a healthy balance in the soil.  One superintendent in Colorado hand waters his greens daily.  Although labor intensive, this ensures the green’s roots grow deep and prevents the compaction that would occur if the greens were over watered and then exposed to hundreds of rounds of golf each day.

Maintain Healthy pH Level

Ultimately, the secret to a beautiful golf course without the use of chemicals comes down to maintaining a healthy pH level in the soil.  Successful superintendents strive to monitor and keep healthy, well-balanced soil conditions.  They all agree, if the soil is balanced, the grass will thrive.

As I’ve mentioned, managing a golf course utilizing green techniques is more labor intensive than traditional methods.  Greens and fairways need intensive monitoring.  When problems arise, they must be dealt with swiftly, before the problem has a chance to get out of control.  Maintaining a course is taken to a whole new level.

But the big question is this.  Is going green feasible?  Will all the labor intensive monitoring drive the price of a round of golf out of the reach of most people?  In a word, no.   A number of courses that have gone green report their budgets are in line with other courses using traditional methods.

So what will it take to get golf courses off their chemical addiction?  Time and education, and a little help from the ‘grass root’ level, that is, the typical golfer.   Think back on the illustration I used to begin this article. Instead of being chemical free, imagine this course uses conventional means of fertilization and pest control. If that were you, how would you feel if just before your first tee shot, you watched a course employee ride by dressed in a full chemical suit, spraying some unknown substance along in front of you?  It should make you wonder if that pristine round of golf was worth it.

With the NBA Finals currently taking center state, we wanted to have some fun and compare basketball’s marquee players against the most famous MBAs in the world. While a team with Kevin Durant or LeBron James will always win out on the court, how do they stack up against business titans like Phil Knight and Tim Cook? How about the Heat and the Thunder against Harvard and Stanford business schools? – How to MBA

Well, let’s take a at this awesome infographic and see how each one, side by side, stack up. Enjoy!

Via HowToMBA and Earn MBA

More and more people take up cycling every year. Not only is cycling a fun way to explore the outdoors, but it provides a healthy and convenient method for getting in a good cardiovascular workout.

While the current cycling craze is underway, there are several things that riding enthusiasts can do to encourage a love of cycling.

1. Plan a cycling tour while on holiday or during a weekend at home.
2. Join a cycling group to meet other cycling enthusiasts.
3. Ride with children and instill a love of cycling in them.
4. If possible, cycle to work instead of driving a car or taking public transportation.
   

   Cycling (Photo credit: tejvanphotos)

5. Ride around neighborhood parks and forest preserves.
6. To witness professional cycling up close, buy tickets to the Tour de France in July.
7. Buy a cycling helmet to prevent head injuries while riding.
8. Purchase breathable clothing that will wick away moisture and make riding more comfortable.
9. Wear gloves to reduce shock on hands and arms while improving grip.
10. Prepare for riding season by practicing on an exercise bike at the local gym.
11. Install an exercise bike in the home for convenient health and fitness throughout the year.
12. Practice squats, lunges, and other leg-related exercises to improve strength and endurance for riding.
13. Map a cycling route in a new and unfamiliar area.
14. Take photographs during the ride to capture special scenery and moments that may be found while cycling.
15. Book a romantic getaway with a loved one that features cycling.
16. Ride to a park, field, or wooded area and set up a picnic with family, friends, or partner.
17. Watch the Tour de France on television with friends and family who enjoy cycling.
18. Read books on cycling.
19. Buy a Bikesnbits land rover bike and train to ride rugged terrain instead of worn trails and paved paths.
20. Purchase books on the history of the Tour de France.
21. In order to enjoy the Tour de France more thoroughly, become acquainted with the rules and regulations that govern the Tour.
22. Learn who will be riding in the Tour de France.
23. Buy a tandem bike to ride with a partner, child, or friend.
24. Purchase a bike as a gift for someone who has expressed interest in cycling or who is an avid rider.
    

    Cycling Bike at Night (Photo credit: epSos.de)

25. Wear knee-pads during rides for protection in the event of an accident or fall.
26. To ensure greater longevity, protect bikes by storing them properly and keeping them well-oiled.
27. Shop regularly at neighborhood cycling stores such as bikesnbits and support local business.
28. Read blogs and websites related to cycling for tips and other useful information on riding (like this one!).

Cycling is a sport that appeals to people of all ages and walks of life. By following the tips above, riders everywhere will find that they are able to enjoy cycling as much as possible. These 28 steps can help anyone become a master rider.

Related articles

• Cyclists’ Guide to the Tour de France (eurotunnel.com)
• Tackle Your Own Tour de France (duvine.com)

Via NYDailyNews | Harbus for News

He started his career being passed over for his boyhood friend Joe Garagiola, who went to the Cardinals. But Yogi got the last laugh. He would go to the Yankees and history would be on Berra’s side. Yogi lead the Yankees in RBIs several times and hit over 20 home runs for 10 consecutive seasons.

His former teammate, Hector Lopez would say of Yogi Berra “Yogi had the fastest bat I ever saw. He could hit a ball late, that was already past him, and take it out of the park. The pitchers were afraid of him because he’d hit anything, so they didn’t know what to throw.

Yogi had them psyched out and he wasn’t even trying to psyche them out, According to rival manager Paul Richards.” He could hit pitches in any location which made him a feared clutch hitter”. Richards once said he was “the toughest man in the league in the last three innings.” Of course how would Berra respond to this? You guessed it, another famous quote “If I can hit it, it’s a good pitch.”

What A Career!

Berra won the MVP award 3 times and made the American League All-Stars 14 times during his playing career. But Berra is known for his World Series play and holds records for doubles (10), singles (49), hits (71), and catcher putouts (457). He played in 14 World Series and won 10 of them which is also a major league record.

Overall as a player, coach, and manager, Berra appeared in 21 World Series and was elected into the baseball hall of fame in 1972. We will always remember Yogi Berra for his play and the younger generations will always have the famous or infamous quotes to live by.

To celebrate Yogi’s life I must rattle off, just a couple more; “When you come to a fork in the road, take it”, and one of my favorites “It’s like deja-vu all over again”, and just one more “baseball is 90 percent mental the other half is physical”. Yogi Berra is truly a man ahead of his time.

Women have proved time and again that they can remain at the top of their game both on the field and in motherhood. In earlier days, motherhood was considered to be the end of an athletic career. But moms have broken this myth and proved to be some of the best athletes in the world winning Olympic medals and breaking world records.

Kim Clijsters

Kim Clijsters is one of the most known and powerful women athletes in this world. She entered professional tennis in 1999 but she retired in 2007 to get married and become a mother. After giving birth to her daughter, she returned to tennis in 2009 and went on to win US open that year.

She won US Open title in 2010 again and she became the second mother to win three grand slams. She was the number one player in WTA ranking of February 2011.

Stacey Nuveman

Stacey Nuveman is an Olympic Gold Medalist in Softball and she won Olympic Gold in 2000 and 2004. She played an important role in winning national Team Championship for US in 2006 and won silver medal in 2008 Olympic. She is also working as an assistant coach in San Diego State University and according to her it has been really hard to maintain balance in her professional as well as family life.

Candace Parker

Candace Parker is the only basketball player who dunks in professional games. She was the part of team in Beijing Olympics while playing for University of Tennessee and then she later played for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks. She was awarded with the most valuable player of 2008 and best rookie.

She gave birth to her daughter in 2009 and returned to the National Team in both 2010 and 2011. It is really surprising how these working mothers balance their life and achieve such high goals in their life.

Women have played outstanding game while managing their sports career and family life altogether. They have maintained their responsibilities and duties in every possible aspect. That is why they are called the BEST players of World.

Other times, they are simply accidents which probably couldn’t have been avoided but then again, perhaps a bit more care would have saved the day.

Coaches love to talk about two well-known ‘accidents’ which kept pro players off the field for a good bit of time.

Beware of Salad Cream?

One story they love to use when teaching youths to protect their young bodies at all costs is the time when goalkeeper Dave Beasant dropped a bottle of salad cream. It wouldn’t have been bad except for the fact that it landed on his foot and kept him out of his game for eight full weeks whilst his wounds healed.

Beware of Golf Clubs?

Another mishap which could have been avoided was when American soccer player, Kasey Kelly, tried pulling his golf clubs out of his car. Unfortunately, he must have not been wearing a mouth guard or a goalkeeper mask because he pulled just a bit too hard and knocked his front teeth out.

David Batty, one-time Leeds United defensive midfielder, is also not new to off-the-field injuries as is evidenced by the fact that he ‘re-injured’ his Achilles tendon when his toddler ran over his foot on a tricycle.

These are just some of the stories coaches like to mention when teaching young athletes to be as cautious off the field as on because there may come a day when that body is ready for the pros. It’s a bit of a stretch to think that it is possible to go through life wearing a goalkeeper mask to protect your teeth from wayward golf clubs, but it is good to know about Achilles straps if you accidentally get run over by a speeding tricycle.

Check out Physio Room

Physio Room is a globally renowned website that provides a host of information on sports injuries in their extensive knowledgebase. Their online store offers affordable sports injury treatments and preventative products that are most recommended by physiotherapists and doctors. For more information, visit the website.

Three out of the last four Masters Tournaments have been won by international players, which means that outside of Phil Mickelson winning his third Green Jacket in 2011, American golf fans have not had a whole lot to cheer for on the greens of Augusta. Will 2012 see another international star dominate Augusta, or will the U.S. take back control of tournament? At least five top American golfers intend to have something to do with the answer.

Zach Johnson

Zach Johnson did not have a good 2011, nor did he have a particularly good 2010. Nonetheless, Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, does have a tendency to show up for big events. Although he will not be considered an odds-on favorite for the tournament, he may surprise a lot of people by being there on Sunday.

OVERALL OUTLOOK: Although he may be in the mix during the weekend, Johnson has not won a tournament in two years, meaning that another Masters Title probably will not be in the cards.

Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley came out of nowhere to win the 2011 PGA Championship tournament. In doing so, he became just the third PGA rookie to win his Majors debut, after Ben Curtis and Francis Ouimet. This will be Bradley’s first Masters Tournament, which typically means a lot of nerves and a high score; but then, playing at the PGA for the first time did not seem to faze him.

OVERALL OUTLOOK: Bradley is a dark horse to keep an eye out for on the weekend. If he has a good showing on Thursday, he could easily become a surprise contender.

Kyle Stanley

Unless you are a major golf fan, you probably do not know who Kyle Stanley is. However, you may want to note his name now; he is coming into his first Masters Tournament riding a solid 2012 so far with a victory in Phoenix and a playoff loss in San Diego.

OVERALL OUTLOOK: Stanley is another newcomer that could potentially make a splash early in the week.

Phil Mickelson

Some golf stars just seem to play better than usual in certain events. For Phil Mickelson, the one tournament that he always seems to shine in is the Masters. In 2010, Mickelson was able to beat the field for his third green jacket, despite that fact that he did not win a title the rest of the year. The last two seasons have been rather lean for “Lefty,” but you can expect him to put his best on display at Augusta.

OVERALL OUTLOOK: If an American hoists the trophy this year, it is certainly possible that it could be Mickelson; he has beaten the odds before. With that said, most golf analysts do not expect the trophy to go to an American.

Tiger Woods

What, you thought Tiger Woods would be left off the list? Yes, he is hurt, and yes, the evidence has mounted that he is a former shell of himself. But even so, when Tiger Woods plays the Masters, anything can happen. He has shown flashes of his former brilliance on the course over the last few months, and he always plays well at Augusta — just look at 2011. You can make a completely logical case that Woods should not make the cut at Augusta; you can also make a completely logical case that he could win the whole thing.

OVERALL OUTLOOK: You will know by the end of Thursday whether Woods will be a serious threat. He always plays his best golf here on Saturday and Sunday so if he is in play after the cut, take notice.

See the ball, hit the ball  -  Pete Rose

The guys over at Phoenix Bats have released one of the most interesting sports related infographics we’ve seen in a long time. For all you baseball fans, you’re gonna really love this.

Via: Phoenix Bats: Wood Bats

Most of us find it hard to comprehend that somebody can make millions and still be underpaid. Yet, that is the case with some NBA players who, for one reason or another, arguably deserve to have a few extra zeros on their paycheck.

The average NBA salary ranges from $500,000 a season to more than $25 million per season, currently earned by Lakers’ star Kobe Bryant. Here’s are five NBA players who, based on certain factors, deserve a little more green for their skill on the court.

Serge Ibaka

Current Salary (per season): $1.2 million

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Ibaka has proven to be a great offensive player, up there with James Harden and Kevin Durant. Unfortunately, Ibaka is rarely called upon to score. Yet, Ibaka has been a part of most of the major court action for the Thunder. The 2008 first-round draft pick has proven himself adept at defensive work as well. It is rare to find a relative newcomer with this much natural talent. Why he is not given more a chance to shine is anybody’s guess.

Ibaka had his best performance to date in 2011 when he scored 22 points with 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a single game.

Stephen Curry

Current Salary: $3.1 million

Team: Golden State Warriors

Curry has proven himself to be a valuable point guard for the Warriors with two seasons of outstanding efforts. Curry is often a key player in many game changing plays. A foot injury sidelined Curry this season, but he has still racked up enough impressive stats to earn a boost in salary. Curry has a career average of 17.9 points with about six assists per game. Additionally, Curry led the league with a free-throw percentage of 93 percent. Five teammates earn more than Curry, including David Lee and Dorell Wright.

Blake Griffin

Current Salary: $5.7 million

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

An argument can be made that Griffin should be earning more than every player on the Clippers, except for Chris Paul. Griffin has kept up the excitement on the court with impressive averages and achievements, including being named an NBA All-Star player when he was still in his rookie season. In 2011, Griffin was named NBA Rookie of the Year by Sports Illustrated. On top of that, he ranked in the top 20 on a list of the Greatest Rookies of All Time.

Kevin Love

Current Salary: $4.6 million

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

Love had 53 consecutive double-doubles and averaged more than 20 points and 15 rebounds per game, becoming the first NBA player to do so since 1983. Love continues to shine this season. In 2010, Love was a part of the U.S. men’s national basketball team, helping them to earn a gold medal. Recently, Love scored 30 points in three consecutive games, a career-best achievement. He started this season with 13 straight double-doubles, a feat not accomplished in nearly 20 years.

Derrick Rose

Current Salary: $6.9 million

Team: Chicago Bulls

Rose is definitely one point guard with a need for speed. He led the Bulls into the playoffs twice, nearly ushering the team to another NBA championship. Rose has earned both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors since joining the Bulls in 2008. Rose recently signed a five-year extension. He is proving to be worth every penny and maybe deserves just a little bit more, even with his recent toe injury keeping him off the court. Rose averages 27.1 points per game.

Some other NBA players who deserve a little salary adjustment:

• Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, Westbrook averages 17 points and seven assists per game.
• Paul Millsap (Utah Jazz) – Earning early entry into the draft, Millsap has racked up impressive stats with a strong work ethic on the court and excellent rebounding skills. During his college career, Millsap became the first player in NCAA history to lead in rebounding for three consecutive seasons.
• Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets) – Averaging 17 points and seven rebounds per game, the former McDonald’s All American continues to impress on the court. Recently, Lopez said he was “uncertain” about his future with the Nets. Any team that acquires Lopez will not be disappointed.
• Roy Hibbert (Indiana Pacers) – Named the Big East pre-season player of the year in 2007, Hibbert’s averages have steadily improved with each game. Hibbert currently averages 14.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

There may be two races left in the 2011 season, but the championship result has not been in doubt for a number of months now due to the dominance of Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel.

Teams and drivers have therefore already turned their attention to 2012 which is set to be far more competitive thanks to the reinvigorated Ferrari and Mercedes teams and the potential return of a former World Champion.

We therefore take a look at the 2012 reshuffles; both on the driver and the technical front.

Red Bull Renault

The unbeatable force of 2011 is set to remain unchanged next year, with Sebastian Vettel having committed himself to stay at the team until 2014 and Mark Webber having signed yet another one year extension. However, Webber has got some work to do if he is going to close the gap to his team-mate after a very underwhelming 2011.

Could 2012 be his swansong year?

The technical group is also set to remain the same, with legendary design Adrian Newey continuing to lead the team. This could once again give them the edge on the aerodynamic front, with technical regulations being changed next year in order to outlaw the blown diffusers which rivals believe has been one of the keys to Red Bull’s performances this year.

You would have to be a brave man to bet against Sebastian Vettel becoming only the third man in history to win three successive titles next year with the young German undoubtedly being the class of the field at the moment.

McLaren

Hamilton and Button will remain at the team for a third consecutive season; but this is going to be the final year in Hamilton’s deal with the team. He has made headlines for all of the wrong reasons this year and has been well and truly beaten by Jenson Button who is without doubt driving better than ever before.

This is perhaps going to be the most interesting story of 2012 with Hamilton attempting to get himself back on the right track and reclaim the title of being the fastest man of his generation. 2012 is really going to be win or bust for the former World Champion.

The brains behind the design of next years MP4-27 will remain the same; let’s just hope that they don’t repeat the mistakes of the past three seasons by producing a car which simply isn’t fast enough at the start of the year. However, the recruitment of former Williams technical director Sam Michael to work on trackside operations should help them extract more potential from their package. McLaren should be stronger in 2012; the only question is will they be strong enough?

Ferrari

Ferrari looked a match for Red Bull in winter testing this year only to lose touch at the season opener as their final pre-season updates failed to deliver the expected benefits. Blame for this was assigned on a lack of correlation between track performance and the wind-tunnel; an issue which when rectified allowed the team to once again challenge for wins at the mid point of the season.

However, the team has been well behind Red Bull in terms of aerodynamic performance all season; with former technical director Aldo Costa ultimately being held responsible. He was replaced by former McLaren man Pat Fry. Fry has been tasked with being far more adventurous in the design of next year’s chassis in order to claw back the gap to Red Bull. This along with the ban on blown diffusers could ensure that Ferrari returns to championship challenging form next year.

The ban on blown diffusers should also go in the Italian teams favor; lets not forget that the only race where blown diffusers were temporarily outlawed this year was won by Alonso.

On the driver front, Alonso will once again be teamed up with the struggling Massa who must surely be approaching the end of his tenure at the sports most prestigious team.

Mercedes Benz

Mercedes is perhaps the most exciting team of 2012. The team has grabbed headlines this year for the recruitment of well qualified technical personnel from other teams; with former Red Bull man Geoff Willis and Ferrari’s Aldo Costa joining former Renault design Bob Bell at the team. This will undoubtedly move them forward, but it could take a couple of seasons for the team to be in a position to lead the way in design once again.

Despite Nico Rosberg more often than not continuing to deliver the maximum potential of the car, it has been his team-mate Michael Schumacher who has continued to draw attention this year.

The seven times champion’s performances have actually been much improved; his robust defence against Hamilton in Monza and scintillating form in the wet at Canada have proven that the German may well be on the verge of getting back to race winning form. Would you really bet against Michael Schumacher being a championship challenger given the right car?

Williams

2011 has been Williams’ worst ever season; with them currently lying 9^th in the constructors championship having scored only five points. Critics felt that this was the beginning of the end for the once great outfit like Tyrrell and Lotus before them.

One man who never thought this was a possibility was perennial team owner Frank Williams who has set about putting the team back on track for victories. This started with the recruitment of a new technical team lead by former McLaren man Mike Coughlan and featuring highly qualified aerodynamics Jason Sommerville and Mark Gillan. The team has also rekindled its relationship with Renault, a partnership which won four drivers championships and five constructors’ titles during the 1990s.

On the driver front, despite scoring four of the team’s five points this year; Rubens Barrichello has more often than not been outperformed by his rookie team-mate Pastor Maldonado who bring substantial sponsorship from his home country Venezuela. 2011 is therefore likely to mark the end of the longest driving career in F1 history, with Williams believed to be looking for a replacement.

One man who has visited the Williams factory in order to discuss the seat is the 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen who is believed to be keen on a return to the sport.

The return of Williams-Renault and former champion Kimi Raikkonen could well be the magic formula which the team requires in order to halt its decline and return to the podium in 2012. However, don’t expect too much from the team next year because the road to recover is going to be a long one.

Lotus Renault

The Alonso championship winning years of 2005 and 2006 must seem like centuries ago for this team which was sold by Renault to investment firm Genii Capital in 2010. It has subsequently gained investment from the Lotus Car Company; with it expected that the team will be renamed ‘Lotus’ next year.

Even the rebirth of the once dominant Lotus name is unlikely to get the team back into the winners circle, with on track performances having being gradually declining over the course of 2011 despite a podium finishing start in Australia and Malaysia. Rumors of off-track internal ructions and financial problems will have done nothing to help the team address this issue.

The team’s driver situation is perhaps even more complicated, with Robert Kubica’s ability to race again after his Rally Accident in February still in doubt. The Polish driver had been expected to step back into an F1 car for a test in October, but this date has subsequently been pushed back.

With Petrov already signed up to drive the second car, the identity of the teams lead driver therefore depends on Kubica’s condition. Temporary replacements Nick Heidfeld and Bruno Senna have not set the world alight, which leaves GP2 champion Roman Grosjean as the most likely man to fill the seat should Kubica tragically be unable to grace the circuit once more.

The others

With the line-ups at Team Lotus (rumored to be renamed Catherham in 2012) and Sauber remaining unchanged, it is Force India and Toro Rosso who have perhaps the best seats up for grabs.

With Force India set to retain impressive Scottish rookie Paul Di Resta for another year, it is Adrian Sutil who is set to be scarified in order to make way for the teams test driver Nico Hulkenberg. Sutil’s future in the sport is unclear at the moment, despite being linked to the vacant seats at both Lotus (Renault) and Williams.

Toro Rosso meanwhile has been preparing to give a chance to yet another Red Bull development driver in the form of Daniel Ricciardo who has contested the second half of 2011 for HRT. This means getting rid of either Jamie Alguersuari or Sebastian Buemi. With new sponsorship from Spanish oil company Cespa and his improved performances of late despite a shaky start to the year; it is expected that Spaniard Alguersuari is the man most likely to be retained leaving Buemi out in the cold.

Over at the other ‘new’ teams; Murussia Virgin Racing has resigned highly rated lead driver Timo Glock until 2014 and is expected to replace Jerome D’Ambrosio with Frenchman Charles Pic who comes with sponsorship from Total. On the technical front the team will be much improved next year after a disastrous 2011, with designer Nick Wirth being dropped and the team signing a technical support deal with McLaren similar to the one which has helped Force India move up the order in recent years.

HRT meanwhile, despite having new owners, is continuing to muddle along despite uncertainty continuing to surround their long term future due to their failure to establish new facilities in either England or Spain as planned and the loss of technical director Geoff Willis to Mercedes. His role is being assumed by former Honda man Jacky Eeckelaert, but their ability to get a car ready in time for the New Year is just as uncertain as it was 12 months ago.

Kobe Bryant Career Stats & Highlights

Kobe’s nickname is black mamba, an extremely lethal & deadly poisonous snake. Kind of like Kobe on the basketball court against his opponents – deadly, lethal, and quick.

Kobe a 13 year veteran in the NBA, has been proven a man amongst boys on the basketball court. As a scorer he averages 25.2 points per game, which is even more incredible considering that average is over a 13 year career span in the NBA. He scored 81 points in a single game (2006-2007 season) which is second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s highest point scoring game record.

A five-time NBA world champion. Currently in his 2010-2011 season going for his sixth championship, which would tie him with Michael Jordan. He’s been finals MVP twice, league MVP once, all NBA defensive 9 times and all NBA 8 times. He admits, all he cares about now is leaving his mark as one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) basketball player ever to touch a ball.

But despite his truly impressive record, is he really a better baller than Michael Jordan? Since Michael Jordan’s retirement basketball fans of both players have argued all of the finer points. Let’s take a look at Jordan’s career stats & highlights and see for ourselves.

Michael Jordan Career Stats & Highlights

Michael Jordan, nicknamed Air Jordan because he appeared to glide through the air in his signature dunking moves. Considered, for years, to be the absolute paragon of basketball virtue – THE ideal basketball player – scoring, rebounds, assists, team play and overall sportsmanship. For years aspiring youth everywhere wanted to “Be Like Mike”. His endorsements were on every station, bus bench, billboard and magazine. His arial silhouette adorned the shirts and sneakers on courts across the world. How does this 90′s icon measure up in stats?

In high school he didn’t make the cut for the varsity team, in fact he was cut from the team entirely. Perseverance was perhaps his greatest asset, and he diin’t let that stop him from loving the game. He channeled it into motivation that powered his rise to greatness – practice, improve, practice, improve – through high school, college ball, and finally the NBA. His work ethic was out of this world. He played hurt, sick no matter what – he played.

He went on to play in the NBA for 15 incredible seasons, winning Six NBA championships, in two 3-peats. His career scoring average is 30.1 points per game, which one of the highest career average ever. Jordan won MVP three times, all NBA team defense nine times, all NBA first team ten times. The list of accomplishments and accolades goes on and on.

So is his legacy so for far ahead of everyone else that no one will ever supersede his accomplishments?

So then who really IS the Greatest Basketball Player of all Time?

Unless we could reverse the hands of time placing Kobe and Michael head to head in the prime of their careers we will never truly know who is a better player? We all have different perspectives and ideas about each player whether good or bad.

Chances are, if you grew up in the 90’s watching Michael dominate the courts then you will probably be in the Michael Jordan camp. On the other hand if you grew up in the 2000’s you will more likely be rooting for Kobe Bryant. So who knows, perhaps this is an argument with-out a simple and definite solution.

What about you? What’s your point of view?

It feels great to get out and grind the pavement on a cool summer morning; throw caution to the wind; feel like you can do anything; create some overly ambitious plan for the day in your mind; rekindle those old dreams you had 15 years ago…and generally feel like a superhero.

Sports can be an addiction and a balm for the stressed soul, all at the same time. However, what about the diabetic sports enthusiast? By educating yourself and taking control of your diabetes, you can get out there with the best of them.

Primarily, you just have to keep in mind that every time you head out to participate in an athletic activity, you will be lowering your blood sugar. Keeping blood glucose levels in the normal range is the key to being able to manage diabetes while participating in sports. “Manage” is the imperative word, here. To manage diabetes requires a commitment to yourself. If you are wiling to make that commitment, you will be able to relax and have fun while enjoying any sport.

Here is a list of nine tips to manage your blood glucose levels.

1. Before any sports activity, be sure to eat both protein and carbohydrates. Protein helps to sustain the blood level and the carbohydrates will provide the energy. Eating anything afterwards should be primarily proteins to help and repair muscle.
2. Skip the high fatty foods before any sports activity. Fat takes a while to digest. If you give yourself insulin before the game, you are probably going to go low because the insulin is absorbed faster than the fat.
3. At every sports activity make sure you have a sugary drink close by. After hard exercise, blood glucose levels will go low and your metabolism can take longer to slow down and level out. Your metabolism will continue driving your glucose levels lower. You may want to use the sugary drink to make up for the lower glucose levels.
4. Staying in control during any athletic activity requires being proactive by checking your blood levels. This means while you are actively engaged in the game or whatever activity you are doing. Letting your blood sugar fluctuate drastically means poor performance. Blurred vision, slow reaction speed and shaking hands indicate your blood glucose levels are too high or too low. Checking your blood during a game can prevent this.
5. You may be worried you are going to go low, but try to avoid giving less insulin for your pre-sports meal. You can always make adjustments as you go. You want to start the game at normal level as much as possible.
6. After the game, you may find you have dropped lower than normal and are starving. Take control at this point and eat only moderately. You do not want to overeat and cause your level to spike high. The up and down levels wreak havoc on your body.
7. Try to recognize what foods work best before and after exercise for keeping your blood sugar balanced. Then stick with those foods. Over time this can simplify process of keeping blood levels normal.
8. After checking your levels during an athletic activity, you may find that you have gone low. Take a break; drink something to bring the level up and rest for five to ten minutes. Taking time to rest allows the body to absorb glucose and normalize. Do not try to skip resting. You will probably just cause your blood level to drop again and it will take even longer to normalize.
9. Decide set times to check your blood. Whether it is a halftime break or a short break while running, it is essential to see how your body is maintaining your sugar levels. Because the stressors fluctuate, you may find your readings are inconsistent. Even more reason to stay on top of checking your levels periodically. Having to sit on the sidelines because you did not make the effort to track your levels can be frustrating.

Whatever sport is your passion, you have to stay ahead of diabetes. Monitoring food intake, checking blood levels, and simply planning ahead can make diabetes and sports not only possible, but a way to improve your health and well-being for years to come. Be sure to check out ACCU-CHEK, they offer some really neat and useful ways to manage diabetes and sports that will help you perform best!

LeBron James a longtime supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, is passionate about helping kids. Now he’s putting some of that celebrity weight behind a children’s program designed to help kids address some of the problems they face.

Introducing The LeBrons Webisodes

The LeBrons, a 10-part animated web series centered around four Lebron based personalities from Nike commercials, aims to teach kids simple but important ideas, like staying in school and respecting others.

“I look at it as like the modern day Fat Albert” Says LeBron “being able to give life lessons to kids, but at the same time have a little grit to it, have a little fun and bring things to life in a cartoon fashion”

The LeBrons episodes will be made available via YouTube on the dedicated youtube.com/thelebrons channel and may see syndication on some of the popular sports channels.

King James will be promoting the show to his extensive social media followers – including has more than 1.5 million followers on Twitter (@KingJames). Facebook where he currently has more than 4.8 million fans while he James has also dedicated a part of his website to showing the series.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

So is this just a commercial with a longer script?

The new show is sponsored by technology giants HP and Intel whose products (along with Nike) have obvious provenance in the initial promo video. Just how overt is the commercialism going to be? Are we looking at a unique effort to help young people discreetly sponsored by companies that care, or another commercial in sheep’s clothing?

Bill Masterson and Dan Goodman, co-founders of Believe Entertainment Group which helped develop & finance the show, assure us that it’s more than just a dolled up commercial.

Goodman explains “I think we just have to strike a balance. …I think that if you watch the content, the general takeaway is content and not brand marketing.”

Masterson adds “The number one thing is content, if consumers think it’s just one big commercial then that wouldn’t be effective [for the show]. The brands don’t want that either.”

This integration of brand and content is a growing trend that continues to take the products out of the gaps between shows, and brings them into the actual show or movie movie - often making it hilariously obvious. This sort of advertising isn’t new, and has been under attack for some time now by everyone from TV viewers to the FCC.

Thoughts on Celebrities as Role Models

Doubtless this will have some effect on the public’s perception of LeBron as a role model. What remains to be seen is will it help to paint LeBron as a sports start that cares and is passionate about helping kids, or as a villain greedily using kids to help fill his endorsement padded pockets.

The ‘celebrities as role models’ debate has been ablaze for decades, many rejecting the notion that fame comes with a measure of responsibility and others insisting celebrities should work to be a positive influence.

"I am not a role model" - Charles Barkley

Many popular personalities have famously rejected the label of ‘role model’ including pop music star Miley Cyrus, model & talk show host Naomi Campbell and the rather infamous basketball great Charles Barkley.

While other celebrities acknowledge that fame comes with a certain level of responsibility including super hot award winning actress Scarlett Johansson, Vatican warlock assassin Charlie Sheen and famous for no reason Paris Hilton.

No matter which side of the argument you find yourself, I think it’s nice to see a sports celebrity getting media coverage for something besides juicing, not being a dog lover or chasing anything in a skirt.

What are your thoughts?

Personally I’m siding with optimism this round and hoping this is accepted as a strait forward attempt to help the community. Our kids need all of the positive influence they can get.

1) Baseball Swing Trainers

Baseball swing trainers promote a better swing and solid contact with the ball. Portable swing training stations function much like a mobile tetherball set, with a pole on a stable tripod that comes with easy setup, breakdown, and storage capabilities. The ball is attached at both the top and bottom of the pole, so with each swing the ball winds up and releases with enough force to keep the ball at home-run hitting level. Players can take advantage of repetition training that provides up to 500 swings per hour.

2) Baseball Training Bats

Baseball training bats improve hand-eye coordination, contact consistency, and accuracy.

• Speed training bats have a narrowed diameter and are either weighted or lightweight. Weighted bats improve strength, accuracy, and concentration. Lightweight bats develop speed and quick hands.
• Sweet-spot bats have an extra narrow neck with a bulkier main barrel, promoting consistency through optimal contact with the ball by hitting on the “sweet spot” with every pitch.
• Narrow diameter bats have a smaller diameter from neck to barrel and improve hand-eye coordination.

3) Baseball Practice Nets

Baseball practice nets have multiple functions, providing a way for players to practice solo hitting, pitching, and field work. A pop-up netinstantly “pops up” or breaks down and can be used for either batting or pitching practice. In fact, the 7-foot by 7-foot square net is so versatile, it makes a great piece of equipment for cross-training in golf, soccer, football, lacrosse, and field hockey. For baseball and softball pitchers, a pitching target can be added to act at the catcher and improve accuracy.

• Tight-tension nets are meant for throwing and field training rather than hitting and pitching, providing a way for players to play catch with themselves.
• A crazy catch net is a random bounce rebounder, promoting quickness and agility training. The crazy catch returns your throws randomly as pop flys and line drives with unpredictable height and direction, improving reflex and reaction time.
• A pitchback net has an adjustable angle that simulates either ground balls, line drives, or pop flys, depending on the angle it’s set at. Pitchbacks improve throwing, fielding, reflexes, and coordination.

Tip 1: Know the League

It is very important to have complete knowledge of the type of league you are entering into. Points determine winners so you should be familiar with the scoring mechanism of the particular league. While some leagues give more weight (points) to the running back, traditional leagues still consider the quarterbacks to have greater importance.

Tip 2: Pick two and wait

It is said that the first two rounds of drafting indicate your standing. The two players you select will be your stars and will do your scoring. It is common practice for folks to load up on running backs for the first two rounds and then pick a quarterback, receiver and a tight end in the following rounds. It is a tried and tested technique but you cannot simply go with it blind-folded.

Tip 3: Use cheat sheets for direction

There are a lot of sites on the internet where you can get cheat sheets for the draft and it is good practice to include yourself in forums and discussions around the draft, before the draft. While drafting know what your competing teams are made of. The player you pick should fare competitively among his position players in other teams.

Tip 4: Draft your backups carefully

If you draft a backup who has the same bye week as your main player, it would do you no good. Also, backups are, well, backups. They can be used at the time of injury and in bye weeks. So in case you have to let go of a quality backup for an effective starter, you should do it.

Tip 5: Sleepers are important too

If you have valid reason to think they will make it to the draft, grab them cheap, but don’t haste into the draft. Kickers are another position that you can wait and draft in the later rounds. A kicker will not turn the game on its head and there isn’t too much of a gap between the top kicker and an average one.

Tip 6: Know the teams your players will be playing against

If you draft a strong player who is slotted to play weaker teams during the playoffs, you stand to score higher. Track your players. If a certain player is injured or has a bye week, adjust your lineup accordingly. Losing points due to lesser players in the lineup is not smart.

Tip 7: Don’t Panic

If a particular player gets off to a slow start find out if there are any reasons for it. If you land up trading your stars, you may not only land up with the second bests, but may also see your traded stars excel in the later games.

In summary, it is a game that you should play on your own merit. Don’t kill the enthusiasm by drafting just as the owner does. Following your own well researched strategy will not only keep you involved, but may also turn out to be the winner at the end.

Or, if you’re not into fantasy football, try your hand in some fun party poker!

But as the number of websites grow, the quality flickers and it is easy for the beginner to get lost in the flood of mediocre websites thrown up by search engines. Here is a list of a few best fantasy football sites that walk the talk of being the best in Fantasy Football;

1) ESPN Fantasy Football

For a name synonymous with sports, it isn’t a surprise that ESPN features a fantasy football site. They have an efficient website which works great even when supporting high volumes of traffic during the time of the draft. There are public and private leagues that you can be part of and for the entrepreneurs there is the option of creating your very own league. Get the participants and play. Setting up a custom league can be fun on ESPN as you can have your own number of participants and scoring systems. The teams are set up just like the real world with eleven in the offensive lineup and eleven in the defensive. There is a paid version too, but ESPN’s analysis and player ranking is available for all to use.

2) NFL Fantasy Football

Hardly a surprise that the National Football League would have an online version as well; the user interface is easy to navigate and set up custom leagues if you choose to. The options of public, private and pay leagues are also available. The analysis and rankings are freely available like other sites listed here. You can review a team’s previous year’s picks with the players’ previous years’ performance. NFL.com

3) Yahoo Fantasy Football

A great free website which offers public and custom leagues. There are discussion forums along with player analysis and records to help you during the draft. While picking your defense lineup Yahoo only gives the option for linebackers, linemen, defensive backs. The site is loaded with latest news and expert advice from sports critics from around the world. There is an option to participate in paid leagues as well.

4) CBS Sports

Some fans say that the site is not very user friendly but the quality of content is par with the best. They offer a Power Projector feature which is basically a set of three projections given by experts on every player. You can download draft kits and analyze mock drafts from here. As reported by the New York Times, CBS was voted as the website with the ‘Most Accurate Rankings’ for all positions in 2009.

5) Fanball

Among the big boys, Fanball is a hot pick for those looking for high stakes. It is a typical contests’ site offering big cash prizes for various fantasy sports. There are paid and free leagues just like the other websites; they also offer a chance to winners of free leagues to participate in money leagues in the next season.