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September 30, 2009

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Hawaii (2-1) at Louisiana Tech (1-2) 9-30-09

September 30, 2009

Hawaii (2-1) at Louisiana Tech (1-2)

DATE & TIME: Wednesday, September 30, 8:05 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Joe Aillet Stadium (30,600) — Ruston, Louisiana. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Hawaii 1-0, LaTech 1-0. Away Record: Hawaii 1-1, LaTech 0-2. Neutral Record: Hawaii 0-0, LaTech 0-0. Conference Record: Hawaii 0-0, LaTech 0-0. Series Record: Hawaii leads, 6-1.

GAME NOTES: With the spotlight all to themselves on Wednesday night, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and the Hawaii Warriors begin their respective Western Athletic Conference schedules as they meet at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston.

This marks the third straight game on the mainland for the Warriors, the first since losing to UNLV by a single point back on September 19th in a 34-33 decision. Prior to that Hawaii, which is the senior member of the WAC now in its 31st season in the conference, dealt Washington State a 38-20 setback up in the Pacific Northwest and also opened 2009 with a 25-20 victory versus Central Arkansas at home in Honolulu.

As for the Bulldogs, they were stumped by both Auburn and Navy on the road to begin the season, losing by a combined 69-27, but the team bounced back on September 19th with a resounding 48-13 triumph against Nicholls State in Ruston. Nine days from now, LaTech will be back in action against another WAC foe in the form of the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno.

The Warriors lead the all-time series with the Bulldogs by a count of 6-1, thanks to a 24-14 win in last year’s contest.

Quarterback Greg Alexander has become another in a long line of quick-fire gunslingers for the Warriors after he threw for a personal-best 477 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to UNLV the last time out. Alexander appeared on his way to even greater totals after he threw for a stunning 341 yards in the first half alone, but it was impossible to keep up the pace, especially on the road in front of a hostile crowd in Sin City. The Warriors had three different receivers top the 100-yard mark in the game as Kealoha Pilares caught 13 balls for 146 yards, Rodney Bradley posted eight catches for 189 yards and a score and Greg Salas added six grabs for 104 yards and two TDs. Salas, who went over the 100-yard mark just once all of last season and finished 2008 with 57 receptions for 831 yards and a mere three touchdowns, currently leads the nation in receiving with a stunning 159.7 ypg. Not that far behind is Bradley with 127 ypg (fifth) and Pilares who has piled up another 85.7 ypg to rank 35th nationally. In order to generate those sorts of numbers Alexander has been given free reign to pass at will, just as QBs before him in the UH program. Needless to say, Alexander ranks first in the nation in pass efficiency with a rating of 178.76 and is first in total offense with 446.0 ypg. As is usually the case, the running game is a distant after-thought for this team and is 109th in the country with just 92 ypg.

While the Hawaii offense was stomping up and down the field against UNLV, it just so happens that the Rebels were doing almost the same amount of damage to the Warrior defenders, generating 340 yards through the air and 460 yards of offense altogether. What ended up being a huge factor in the contest was the amount of time that the Hawaii defense spent on the field in the second half, particularly in the third quarter when the Rebels controlled the ball for just under 13 minutes. Put it together and UNLV controlled the action for more than 20 minutes after the break, wearing down the Warriors and giving the home team plenty of opportunity to record the game-winning score. The scoring defense for the team could certainly stand some improvement, seeing as how it has surrendered 24.7 ppg (72nd nationally) and it only figures to get worse with opponents like Fresno State, Boise State, Navy and Wisconsin still waiting to take the field against the island dwellers. Blaze Soares and R.J. Kiesel- Kauhane currently lead the program in tackles with 25 and 24 stops, respectively, but perhaps the most influential hitter for the squad is Corey Paredes who has two of the team’s six sacks and already has three forced fumbles, the latter matching the total for the rest of the team combined.

Against Nicholls State in the most recent outing, nearly everything went right for the Bulldogs as quarterback Ross Jenkins completed 21-of-30 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns and the rushing attack added another three scores on the ground. Running back Tyrone Duplessis posted a game-high 71 yards rushing on eight attempts, while D.J. Morrow, Daniel Porter and Colby Cameron all made their way into the end zone. Last season, Porter was one of the most productive backs in the WAC with his 1,164 yards rushing and nine touchdowns, but this season he has stumbled out of the block for head coach Derek Dooley with a mere 134 yards and two scores in three games. In 2008, Porter easily averaged better than five yards per carry, but right now that average is closer to three yards per touch. Because of the drop-off by Porter, the Bulldogs are seventh in the conference and 103rd in the country right now with just 97.3 ypg on the ground. Having Phillip Livas on the field, both on offense and special teams, is always an exciting proposition for the team because he is capable of breaking a big play every time he touches the ball, which is why the Bulldogs would be wise to include him in more schemes on offense.

The Bulldogs made all the right moves against Nicholls State, but a closer look at the numbers shows that LaTech shouldn’t get too high on itself. After four games this season Nicholls State, which plays in the Southland Conference in the FCS, ranks second-to-last in the country in passing with a mere 73.3 ypg and has the second-worst pass efficiency rating (68.37) among the programs at that level. The scoring defense for the program has been atrocious, allowing 46.8 ppg and close to 490 ypg in total offense to opponents such as LaTech. The Bulldogs managed to force four turnovers in the meeting, but again, before Tech fans can get too excited about such a positive stat, they have to recognize that Nicholls State is among the worst teams in the FCS in that particular area. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs used the opportunity to move into first place in the WAC and 16th in the nation in pass defense with just 156 ypg allowed. Certainly a strong number for the Bulldogs, but how does that mesh for a program that is last in the WAC in sacks with just 0.67 per game and is 110th nationally with a mere four tackles for loss per outing?

Even though the stats say LaTech has a strong pass defense, one has to take into consideration a Navy team that rarely throws the ball to begin with and an inept Nicholls State squad that was overmatched the last time out. The Bulldogs should get a better sense of where they stand in terms of defending the pass when they try to shut down Alexander and Salas this week, something that is easier said than done.

FREE PICK: Hawaii +6

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Minnesota Twins (82-75) at Detroit Tigers (84-73) 9-30-09

September 30, 2009

Minnesota Twins (82-75) at Detroit Tigers (84-73), 7:05 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Minnesota – Carl Pavano (13-11, 4.86) Detroit – Eddie Bonine (0-1, 4.60)

After failing to gain any ground in the race for the American League Central title on Tuesday, the Minnesota Twins will try once more to close the gap on the front-running Detroit Tigers when the two divisional foes resume a critical four-game series tonight at Comerica Park.

Detroit was able to maintain its two-game edge on Minnesota for first place after splitting a doubleheader with the Twins yesterday. The Tigers were edged by a 3-2 count in 10 innings in the opener, but rebounded for a 6-5 victory behind ace Justin Verlander in game two.

The Tigers currently have a magic number of four to clinch the division. Both teams have five games remaining in the regular season.

Verlander came through in a big way in the nightcap, as the All-Star hurler worked eight innings and allowed four runs while striking out eight batters to collect his 18th win of 2009. Fernando Rodney was touched for a run in the ninth, but got Denard Span to fly out with the tying man on second to finish things out.

Detroit built a 5-0 lead after five innings, with Magglio Ordonez coming through with a two-run double and Brandon Inge contributing a two-RBI single. Miguel Cabrera started the scoring with a solo homer in the second, his 33rd round-tripper of the year.

“It was a very important game after losing the first one,” said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. “I thought Verlander was the horse that he is and showed that [Tuesday night]. With a couple of big hits we got the win.”

Minnesota temporarily cut its deficit to a single game in a well-pitched opener, with Orlando Cabrera’s RBI single in the top of the 10th snapping a 1-1 tie. Cabrera later scored an insurance run on Delmon Young’s sacrifice fly.

Joe Nathan gave up a leadoff solo homer to Curtis Granderson in the bottom of the 10th that pulled Detroit within 3-2, but the standout closer set down the next three hitters to notch his 45th save.

Both starting pitchers excelled despite not factoring in the final outcome. The Twins’ Nick Blackburn yielded only one run on six hits over the first seven frames, while the Tigers’ Rick Porcello held Minnesota to just a single run in 6 1/3 innings of work.

With their backs close to the wall, the Twins will call upon Carl Pavano to try to tame the Tigers once again. The midseason acquisition has given Detroit plenty of fits over the course of this season, having amassed a 4-0 record along with a impressive 1.69 earned run average over five starts against tonight’s opponent.

Pavano fired seven shutout innings to top Detroit at Comerica Park back on August 8, his first outing with the Twins since being acquired from Cleveland via trade. The right-hander got a no-decision in his most recent encounter with the Tigers, but surrendered just two runs through seven frames in a September 19 game at the Metrodome.

The 33-year-old followed up by permitting four runs through six innings in Minnesota’s 9-4 triumph at Kansas City this past Friday, which upped his record to 4-3 with a 3.84 ERA in 10 starts as a Twin.

Eddie Bonine gets the assignment for Detroit this evening and is coming off a tough-luck defeat in Chicago on Friday. The rookie right-hander was touched for a pair of runs, both of which were unearned, on only two hits over a season-high 6 2/3 innings in the Tigers’ 2-0 setback to the White Sox.

Bonine has spent the majority of this season pitching for Detroit’s Triple-A affiliate in Toledo, but has performed well since being called up to the majors in September. In two starts and a pair of relief appearances this month, the 28-year-old has posted a 2.35 ERA and allowed just 10 hits over 15 1/3 innings.

His only career start against the Twins came in July of last season and wasn’t a sharp effort. Bonine lasted only 2 2/3 innings in that game and was tagged for five runs (2 earned) on seven hits to receive the loss.

The Twins have won 10 of their 16 previous meetings with Detroit this season, but are just 3-4 at Comerica Park and 37-42 overall on the road this year.

FREE PICK:  TWINS

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New Sports Festival

September 30, 2009

For those people who live and breath extreme sports the White Air Festival is for you! The event is on (18th and 19th of September) and is showcasing some of the countries hottest bands! For the past four years or so the event has been showcased in a neighbouring city called, Bognor but now the festival has been permanently moved over to Brighton which is roughly 60 miles down the road.

Loads of sports are on offer for you to learn such as surfing, wind surfing and kitesurfing for example. The festival is all kitted out with the latest sports equipment and safety equipment so you can be sure that you won’t hurt yourself. It is also a great chance to get in there and buy some of the latest and coolest merchandise such as DC Shoes, Rip Curl tshirts and Fox Hoodies. Many brands from across the board will have their gear on sale at great prices considering they will be competing with loads of other stools and brands. Great chance to get some discount stuff!

Other than the showcase of extreme sports the popular festival has loads of bands playing too including Biffo Clyro and The Cribs. On the whole it is a great event for people to enjoy extreme sports and watch new and exciting bands. Tickets are £35 plus the initial booking fee set up, you also have the option to buy weekend tickets which cost £65 plus booking fee. All in all it is a great investment and it will be an awesome day and evening! Loads of celebrities in the sports world will be there and there will also be loads of bands and good stuff to see. It will be a great event and the best thing is that it is suitable for all ages!

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A Quick & Easy Hot Tub Alternative

September 30, 2009

Lots of people like the benefits of sitting in a comfortable hot tub…but don’t like the construction hassles of putting one together.  One of the principal alternatives is the inflatable hot tub, which can be had for a fraction of the cost of a permanent spa. 

Inflatable hot tubs have the benefit being easily transported.  Since they don’t need to be installed in a permanent fixed installation, or under a gazebo, an inflatable hot tub is something you can take on a long camping trip if you’re suitably prepared and have a compressor to inflate it with.  Even better, if you’re a renter, an inflatable hot tub is something that can move with you.

The cost aside, the inflatable hot tub can offer you the same luxuries as a permanent hot tub, without any of the hassles.  You simply have to inflate the hot tub wherever you happen to be, fill it and enjoy a hydro massage no matter where you are.  The inflatable hot tub can be used for camping, in the backyard, for parties and even if you have a summer getaway.  It is ideal because you do not have to worry about maintaining the hot tub when you are not using it. 

You can get a filter for the inflatable hot tub that will keep the water purified and also get massaging jets that can move the water around so that you get the heated jet action against your body.  This is an ideal way to get the massage therapy that you need without having to spend a fortune installing a hot tub in your home. 

There are several different sizes and styles of inflatable hot tubs on the market.  You should have an electric pump when you purchase an inflatable hot tub so that you can inflate it easily and in a matter of minutes.  You can usually purchase accessories for the inflatable hot tub wherever you purchase the tub itself. 

The big names in making inflatable hot tubs are Jacuzzi and Whirlpool.  They’re the industry leaders, and moved into this technology early as soon as it became affordable.  Most of the ones that you see online are made by Jacuzzi and Whirlpool. 

There are lots of places you can buy an inflatable hot tub online.  Take the time to do a good comparison of brands and features, especially paying attention to durability and craftsmanship.  While an inflatable hot tub can be a great cost savings over a permanent installation, it does pay to read the fine print for warranty information and how easy they are to patch.

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The History of Natural Vision Improvement

September 30, 2009

perfect vision

Maintaining good vision is very important, as much as 80% of the information you obtain from the world around you is received through your eyesight! The history of natural eye correction dates back to Dr. William Bated who was born in 1860 and died in 1931. He was a distinguished eye surgeon who was not happy with the fact that glasses were used as a standard for curing visual impairment.

Over the millennia our eyes have changed in keeping with the way we live our lives. Hunter, gatherers of the past used their eyes for both long distance and close examination at all times, for example looking into the distance in search of food or enemies, and in the next breath closely examining a berry filled bush. This kept the eye muscles agile which in turn allows for keen vision.

Times changed, particularly with the industrial revolution, and today people spend many hours immobile with their eyes fixed on a specific task. The eye muscles no longer receive the type of exercise they require to keep agile and many unnecessary eye problems occur.

Dr. Bates spent many years researching vision, he concluded that strain in the eyes was caused by mental strain or stress and poor lifestyle. This led to ocular dysfunction such as double vision, blurriness, sensitivity to light and other problems. He also spent time studying people with perfect sight and noted that the function of the eyes was different.

The outcome of his studies led him to treat his patients by teaching them to relax and also vision training. The outcome of this was that the visual brain and eyes were often restored to maximum potential.

His techniques have spread and are still used world-wide, many people have improved and regularly perfected their vision by means of his methods. He wrote a book for this purpose called "Better Eyesight without Glasses" which is published by Grafton Press.

Maybe natural vision improvement can help to improve the health of the eye. It is a holistic approach which includes simple exercises and habits which are key to maintaining and improving good eyesight. The majority of your vision occurs in the brain, these exercises help the brain to make more meaning of the visual world.

Author:  William B.B.

*Disclaimer: Please be advised that this article is for information and entertainment purposes only. It does not intend to advise on, treat, or diagnose any health condition including, but not limited to, vision problems. If you have or think you might have a vision problem, please visit your doctor for advice, diagnosis and treatment.

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7 Key Aspects Of Soccer

September 30, 2009

 

Although Soccer is seen as a fun and easy sport to learn, the foundations of soccer can vary significantly. Soccer also known as football is a sport split into 2 halves of forty-five minutes. Each team defends its goals while trying to penetrate the opposing goal. The basics of the game are easy, two goals, a round object and legs that bend at the knees. Is there a better way to have fun.

For those that want to pursue a career in soccer will definitely need to master other aspects of the game. The game itself never changes but there are plenty of obstacles that will stop you from reaching your potential.

Can you tell what the foundations of soccer are?

Motivation - No one can train for you, can they? So pull up your sleeves and burn that elbow grease. Motivation is an important aspect of soccer and one that gets mentioned the least.

Training - In order to improve, you need to practice and train. You need to improve your levels of fitness and improve your physical strength.

Nutrition - You need to eat a healthy and well balanced diet that will allow your body to train at high intensities. You also need the right nutrients to aid in your recovery.

Soccer Drills - The best way to improve your passing, shooting and dribbling is through repetition. Soccer drills are ideal for practicing a technique through repetition and allow you to master certain aspects of the game. Remember to practice, practice, and practice.

Weight Training - In order to compete at your maximum for 90 minutes, you will need to condition your muscles for 90 minutes of sprinting, jogging, walking, changing directions and even running backwards. Lifting weights will definitely give you an advantage in the last 10 minutes of a game when your opponents start to tire.

Psychology - “Team Spirit” is probably the most underrated aspect of the game. Your soccer coach and team should always make you feel like a winner, not a loser, irrespective of the score line.

Your thoughts and what you talk about around your team mates affects your performance and plays a significant role in the levels of confidence you have. Remember to always feed yourself positive thoughts to maintain confidence and increase your levels of enjoyment.

Enjoyment & Fun - If you enjoy soccer and are having fun, chances are you’ll remain in the game. You have to participate and play the game in order to improve and development. This will inevitably give you every chance to play the game professionally

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Dr Bates and Vision Improvement – The Natural Way

September 30, 2009

natural vision

Dr Bates championed vision improvement and devised many different techniques which he claimed improved a patient’s eyesight. He claimed that strain on the eyes to see was infinite, and he devised a method of relieving the strain to improve vision.

He particularly explained that a set approach would not work for everyone, and so Dr. Bates became a well known alternative therapist. This is still widely practiced today.

He used techniques designed to dissociate strain and then achieve central seeing; which is the central point of vision omitting staring. He claimed that all errors of refraction and disturbances of function disappear when the eyes see by central fixation; and if there were any other associated conditions they too would be relieved. He also stated that exposing the eyes to sunlight would improve vision.

Medical associates have criticized Dr. Bates methodology and have stated what negative consequences could occur if patients followed the protocol; especially if their eyes are over exposed to sunlight. They also stated that it would be negligent to not wear corrective lenses while driving and would worsen or even cause serious implications to the eyes.

One of his techniques to vision improvement was closing the eyes which would help relax them; the patient would cover their eyes with their palms applying no pressure at all to the eyeballs. The theory behind this method was to eliminate light creating total relaxation of the eyes. Although some patients stated that they have illusions of light and colour; Bates claimed these would totally disappear when the eyes were relaxed.

The Bates Association for Vision Education are qualified professionals that teach the Bates method for vision improvement. The teachers mostly work with children, but offer individual lessons to adults.

Workshops and lectures centered around perfect vision. Training is offered on an ongoing basis. Pupils are taught how to improve their eyesight without having corrective surgery; as well as teaching how to increase the chances of eliminating degenerative eye disease. Black lettering is used as well as the swing method to help correct vision.

It is debatable as to whether these eye therapy methods really work; or maybe it is mind over matter and those that claim that there is improvement could be purely from "autosuggestion". Dr. Bates and vision improvement has no solid evidence of proof that this therapy actually works. However, many individuals claim that it does.

William B.B.

*Disclaimer: Please be advised that this article is for information and entertainment purposes only. It does not intend to advise on, treat, or diagnose any health condition including, but not limited to, vision problems. If you have or think you might have a vision problem, please visit your doctor for advice, diagnosis and treatment.

Written by admin · Filed Under Sports 

Simple Eye Exercises – Easy Tips to Keeping Your Eyes Healthy

September 30, 2009

eye exercise

We are sure you know just how important it is to keep your body fit. We do this by jogging, swimming, biking and going to the gym. However, do you know how important it is to exercise your eyes for better vision as well? What? Did you just say that you never heard of eye exercises before? Honestly, there are simple eye exercises you can do that might help out. What do eye exercises do? Well, they may help to minimize eyestrain, improve eyesight and help to keep your eyes healthy. If you like the idea of keeping your eyes healthy, then continue reading the rest of this article to learn some simple exercises.

First of all, find a comfortable seat to engage in vision therapy. Rub your hands together until you have generated some warmth. Close your eyes and cover them with your palms. You should not put any pressure on your eyes. Make sure no light is entering the eyes. Imagine a deep area of blackness and concentrate on that blackness. Evenly and slowly start to take deep breaths as you are thinking of something happy. Begin to visualize a distant scene. When your eyes do not see anything but blackness, move your hands away from your eyes and repeat this.

For anywhere from three to five seconds, you should close your eyes tightly, then open them for another three to five seconds. Do this for about seven to eight times.

As you are sitting in a comfortable chair, roll your eyes clockwise, then roll them counter-clockwise. Do this five times and blink in between those times.

Sit in front of a window, put a mark on the window. This could be a small sticker that is either red or black. Look through that mark and then focus on something that is far around for about fifteen seconds. The,focus on that mark again. As you see, there are many simple eye exercises that you can do.

William B. B. is a pen name created to explore the world of natural vision improvement.

*Disclaimer: Please be advised that this article is for information and entertainment purposes only. It does not intend to advise on, treat, or diagnose any health condition including, but not limited to, vision problems. If you have or think you might have a vision problem, please visit your doctor for advice, diagnosis and treatment.

Written by admin · Filed Under Sports 

3 Easy Steps to Increased Hockey Development

September 30, 2009

Hockey development for young athletes is a vast and complex topic. You can’t blame coaches for feeling slightly intimidated by the process of hockey development, especially when you consider all the many areas that need attention if a player is to acheive his or her highest potential? It can be extremely difficult to provide your team with the right combination of coaching instruction, on-ice drills, and conditioning training!

Here are a 3 simple tips that might help you get started:

  1. Start simple. Try starting your season with a few “fundamental” practices so you can get a good idea of your players’ abilities with respect to basic skills such as forward and backward skating, pivots, stops and starts, passing, stickhandling, shooting, etc. It’s amazing how much you can learn about your team by doing this. Its surprising to see that even at high levels of hockey, many players can’t perform important fundamental skills such as pivoting both ways or making an effective backhand pass. Use your findings here as you map out your plan for the season
  2. Perfect skill sets before moving on. Resist the temptation to move on to more complex drills and skills if the players aren’t performing well on the concepts they are currently working on. Slow down and get things right before introducing more complicated variations of drills.
  3. Understand the development needs of players at specific ages. This should be a “no-brainer,” but you’d be surprised at how many coaches forget this concept when pressure to win crops up. Skill Development and general athleticism should be the main focus for younger players. Although some positional play can be introduced, it should never be at the expense of skill development. As players progress and get older, more attention can be given to systems and strategy.

Obviously, the topic of hockey development is much broader and deeper than what we’ve discussed here, but these simple tips should at least get you pointed in the right direction. Hockey is such a dynamic game that development becomes extremely multifaceted. On-ice skills development, cognitive development (thinking the game better), and physical strength development are three main areas of concern for good coaches. So, not only do today’s coaches need to actively engage players in each of these hockey development areas, but they must also tailor their drills and instruction to fit the age, skill-level, and maturity levels (both physical and mental) of their team.

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