Events | Mascot Approved

Geting Ready for Baseball Season

Opening day for baseball season 2011 is just around the corner. Spring training is in full swing in warmer areas of the country. Opening day, March 31 this year, will be here before you know it.

Many people are checking out the stats for their favorite teams and favorite players. Some are following what is happening during spring training. Who’s doing well, who’s not. Some are catching up on off season trades, hoping their team choose well. Almost everyone is checking out the predictions for 2011. And likely every fan will be glued to their direct.tv sports channels again soon.

Some guys and gals are so in love with this All-American game that they are gearing up to play themselves. These are the true lovers of the game. Those who can’t just watch, but have to participate. These people are actually getting in shape now so they can put in a good season with a local league.

Others are checking over the drafts of fantasy baseball. These are the ones who can’t get enough of the REAL thing and need a little virtual entertainment.

Fans all over America are making their plans for that special game that they are planning on attending. Buying tickets and making plans to ensure they make memories that will last a lifetime. Many are turning to on-line ticket sellers looking for a deal.

Then we have those traditionalists who are waiting for that very first game. These are the ones who break out their team jersey and cap to sit around a large screen television with a bunch of their best friends and cheer their team on. Maybe they can not be “AT” the game, but they will be available to cheer them and get the team off to a good start.

Rogers Hornsby, The Rajah, played 23 seasons. I think his sentiment can be echoed by all true baseball lovers. Hornsby said, ” People ask me what I do in the winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for Spring.” So echos the thoughts of every baseball lover.

Filed Under: Events, Sports Tagged With: Baseball, Opening Day, Season (sports)

Becoming an amateur boxer

Image by Aberdeen Proving Ground via Flickr

The life of a boxer is tough. A boxer has to be inherently tough as nails, and be ready to take the highs and lows of the profession. Many of us love the boxing profession. We would have imagined getting in the ring, and coming face to face with our opponent. The love for boxing and becoming a boxer are different.

Boxers become boxers due to various factors. Firstly, they are deeply passionate of the sport. Secondly, they find it a medium of self expression. And thirdly, they are willing to go to any length to achieve their dreams.If you want to get started off as an amateur boxer, you need to get membership of a boxing club. You will train for a year at the club. You will understand the techniques involved in boxing as you train under the expert guidance of professional boxing trainers.

Boxing is a sport. It does require aggression and physical strength. You have to learn boxing if you love it as a sport, and not as something that you can do it for violence. Learning boxing does not guarantee that you can beat up anyone. Boxing is restricted only to using hands. Therefore it is really not a type of combat sport like mixed martial arts. It’s just a sport, that’s it.

After a year of training as an amateur boxer, you will be pitted against similar boxers of your weight and level. Over here you will learn how to compete. The more you compete, the better you become. Boxing requires technique, concentration, and a strong heart. You should back yourself with regular practice.

Filed Under: Events, Sports Tagged With: Amateur boxing, Boxing, Sport

Getting Your Children Involved in After School Activities

Image by Mimi_K via Flickr

Are you thinking about ways to get your children to be more active? Perhaps you are worried they are not socializing enough with other kids their own age. Getting your kids involved in after school activities is an excellent way for them to learn new skills and to make new friends in the process.

Sports are probably the most popular after school activity for children. There are many options available in this area, ranging from individual sports to team sports. Popular individual sports include track and field. Popular team sports include football and softball. There may be teams at your child’s school he or she can join. If not, there are thousands of sports clubs and junior leagues around the nation. There will surely be something in your neighborhood that your child may want to get involved in.

If your child is not sports-minded, then a creative activity may be more suited to them. Theater is a fun and confidence-boosting activity that will allow your kids the chance to dress up in fun childrens costumes

. Other creative activities include learning a musical instrument, such as the piano or guitar, and taking singing or dancing lessons. Dancing lessons are a great way for your child to meet new friends whilst getting some physical exercise.
Getting your child involved in an after school activity is a great way to boost confidence and to encourage team building skills. Whether it be on a sports field or on a theater stage, you will be able to watch your child grow and fulfill his or her potential right before your eyes

Filed Under: Events, Sports Tagged With: After-school activity, Child, Sport

Free Weights: Basic Equipment Necessary for Weight Training

A complete weight training workout can be perf...

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When beginning a weight training program, knowing what types of equipment to purchase is important. This will depend on several things, including your budget and the amount of room you have to work out in and store the equipment. Safe equipment with a good reputation is also something that a beginner should look into. You will also need to know whether you will prefer to use free weights or a weight machine, which can be more costly and takes up more space.

In order to stick to a budget, it is best to research all types of the kind of the equipment you are planning to use. By reading reviews from customers that have already purchased the same style, you can learn a great deal about how the equipment works and whether or not most customers were satisfied with its performance. If sticking to a tight budget, research only the items you need to have as a beginner. Extra and more advanced pieces can always be purchased at a later date.

Free weights are the type most normally bought and used by beginners. These weights come in sets or can be purchased singly, and are normally the least expensive. Even professional weight lifters usually start out using free weights. Expensive equipment doesn’t always mean better equipment, especially for someone that is a beginner. Free weights offer the user the chance to truly see what their body can do, as they don’t have the extra options that include pulleys. By using free weights, you will need to be able to support the weights with nothing but your own natural body strength.

Filed Under: Events, Sports Tagged With: Gym, Weight machine, Weight training

Will There be Football in 2011?

The NFL and the players union are at the negotiating tables, working on hammering out a deal to make every one happy. Revenue sharing is at the heart of the latest dispute. It would seem that the owners do not want to give up any more money than they already do. At stake is $9 billion in revenue and no one can agree on how to split that between the owners and players. Talks are being extended week by week as no one wants to see a shutdown of the season, but things are balancing delicately on a knife’s edge.

The numbers involved in this are amazingly outrageous. In the current agreement that is about to expire, owners put aside $1 billion to cover operating costs. After that amount is taken out, the rest is used to calculate players salaries. When thinking about it, is the game of football earning more than it should? Has the game gotten so astronomical that it takes every last dollar to feed egos of both owners and players? And when it comes down to it, the people who suffer are the fans.

No football in 2011 would have a major economic impact all around, that is a given. Cities would lose the revenue that fans bring with them. Television would lose advertising monies. Merchandisers lose money because no one is buying team jerseys. Having no football creates a major ripple effect for those who depend on it for a living. One thing is for sure. The players and owners will only suffer from not having to play a season. Certainly their bills will have to be paid, but they are in their own economic microcosm and will weather the problems just fine.

Putting football onto such a pedestal places it in an economic stratosphere that is akin to a major manufacturing company like GM. But what value, apart from entertainment, does football really deliver? Maybe it is time to let the pigskin deflate.

Filed Under: Events, Sports Tagged With: Football, National Football League, NFL

Geno’s World

In a small corner of the United States is a small state called Connecticut. Within that small state is a small town called Storrs. In that small town is a small part of the University of Connecticut, but within that small part is a Big East team that has made a BIG name for itself. All under the leadership of one Geno Auriemma, coach of the UCONN women, the Lady Huskies.

Geno Auriemma has been head coach for the Lady Huskies at the University of Connecticut for 21 years. Under his leadership and discipline the program at UCONN has completely changed. The Lady Huskies went from a one win record to a record that includes 27 Big East titles and five national championships. Today, Geno’s team has become the standard to be measured by. The UCONN Huskies ARE the ones to beat and it is not easy. As of this point in time, they have only lost one game this season.

Many people have asked how it is possible for anyone to lead a team for so long and have so many wins. Some have wondered if drugs were involve, others, that there must be something in the water. Those who know Geno know though that it is just hard work and discipline. He works himself hard and expects nothing less from his players. Some girls have left his team, going elsewhere, because they could not handle his work ethic.

Many individual players have achieved greatness under his tutelage, Great names that still ring through the halls of Women’s basket ball such as: Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Rebecca Lobe, Svetlana Abrosimova, just to name a few.

Filed Under: Events, Sports Tagged With: Connecticut Huskies women's basketball, Geno Auriemma, United States

Fenway’s Facelift

Fenway Park has been going through some major changes this past decade. This year Red Sox fans are in for a few more surprises. In anticipation of Fenway’s 100th anniversary in 2012 Red Sox brass are excited to finish up and show off a new and improved Fenway Park.

Thankfully, the powers that be do not have the mind set of “out with the old, in with the new”. Larry Lucchino, CEO and President of the Red Sox’s said,”…We’re going to be here. No Thought has been- or is being given- to a new ballpark.” So we can expect the beloved Fenway to be around for many years.

Over 200 workers have been diligently working to finish all work before April 8. This is opening day for the Red Sox and appropriately they are facing off with their old nemesis the Yankees. The verdict is still out on who will take the game, but all New Engenders know the Sox will have it in the bag.

One of the new surprises in store is a high tech video scoreboard. This piece is BIG, 100 feet by 38 feet, but a huge asset for watching those replays and keeping track of what is going on.

The seats in the red boxare being replaced they have been there since the 1970′s. The new seats will be cushioned and have cup-holders for comfort and conveniencece. Although the old wooden seats are not being replaced they are being refurbished, hopefully to make them more comfortable.

Walkways are being repaved. New concession stands are being brought in. Many other new details are being done to the tune of $285 million dollars. Lucchino though says, “It is designed to make the ball-park better, bigger, more comfortable place for people to be, and to ensure that Fenway Park stays around for the next 20, 30, 40 years.” Let’s play ball!

Filed Under: Events, Sports Tagged With: Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park, Larry Lucchino

Carbo Loading can be an Effective Training Technique

Training for endurance sports can be challenging. One tried and true method is carbo loading. This is simply the process of taking in a high amount of carbohydrates in the diet before a competition. This process is not a substitute for strength and cardio work, in routine preparation. but many athletes feel that this procedure can give an extra boost that could be the difference between winning and losing.

Carbo loading is popular in running and sports where stamina is important for success, like soccer. Normal preparation for competition in these events is endurance training and cardio work. This is usually accomplished with a regimen of running or other cardio activity like working out on a treadmill or eliptical equipment. A diet during the long preparation for competition is usually a high protein diet that is low in carbs and fat. This can keep the body lean while providing the necessary nutrients for strong, lasting muscles.

The second step of carbo loading is generally completed twelve to sixteen hours before competition. Athletes will generally consume a meal dense with carbohydrates like pasta and rice. The idea is that the body will store these carbohydrates to provide and extra boost of energy during competition.

Filed Under: Events, Sports Tagged With: Carbohydrate, Carbohydrate loading, Training

Maya Moore-College Basketball

ST. LOUIS - APRIL 07: Maya Moore #23 of the C...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

If you watch woman’s basketball you must have heard of Maya Moore. Maya plays forward for the University of Connecticut (UCONN) Lady Huskies. She is a dynamo, giving 100% plus. Helping UCONN to win three Big East titles and two national titles since she has been with them.

All the hard work and perseverance has paid off for her. In 2008 she won the Big East Player of the Year award. In 2009 she was chosen as the winner of the John Wooden Award. Last year, in 2010, Maya took the ESPY Award for the Best Female College Athlete. This year’s, 2011, college season is almost over and most of us know she is on her way to being a winner again.

Maya plays so well that she tends to break many records, becoming a record setter herself. Maya was the very first freshman, man or woman, to be named the Big East Player of the Year in 2008. This year she is on her way to breaking and setting a new record. Angel McCoughtry has held the record for the most points in the Big East since 2009. Maya is expected to shatter that record at any time.

Watching Maya play is like watching art in motion. She knows what she wants and needs and she goes for it. Coach Phil Seymore from Providence likened her to Kobe Bryant.

Maya is expected to be the No. 1 pick this April for the WNBA draft this year. “Working hard and playing good team basketball, respecting the game and trying to bring it as much honor as we can is a beautiful thing,”says Maya Moore. That, my friends is what it is all about. Keep an eye on Maya Moore and expect to continue to hear great things for years to come.

Filed Under: Events, Sports Tagged With: Big East Conference, Maya Moore, University of Connecticut