Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Lo Top Black Texas A&M University Logo White Canvas

This is a limited edition Converse CHUCK TAYLOR ALL STAR. All Logos are embroidered and applied with permission from the Licensing Resource Group representing the NCAA and your school. Last Pair Inc. accepts all responsibility for the quality of these ALL STARS. ON YOUR FEET and IN THEIR FACE.

Do you have a strategy for filling out the March Madness bracket? This is one of the most exciting times of the year for the college basketball bettor. It doesn't hurt to start thinking about how you can win that bracket contest.

Are you tired filling out your sheet every year only to be disappointed with your picks after only a couple of rounds? You might need to change your strategy this year. Here is a good method to use.

Just think for a moment about what makes this tournament different from the regular season. The first thing you should note is that each team will be facing other teams they have never faced before from different conferences. The second thing you will notice is that the teams from the stronger conferences tend to perform better than the teams from a weaker conference.

Here is what you should do. Write down the conferences and count the number of teams from each one. A conference with many teams in the tournament usually will indicate a stronger conference.

You must beware of a team with a good season record, but is the only team representing their conference. This will usually mean their good record came from the weak conference they were in.

What you will need to do is to weigh each teams record according to the strength of the conference they played in. This will give you a much better perspective about a teams chances to advance in the tournament.

It also doesn't hurt to do a little research on the teams in the tournament. It's hard to know everything about every team unless you do it for a living. There are many sources of information online that you can refer to when the teams are announced. Some examples are ESPN, The Sporting News, USA Today, etc. All of these sources have websites and previews for March Madness.

By now you should be able to fill out your bracket with a whole new perspective. There will always be some early round surprises, but you should have some good success using this strategy. Maybe this will be the year you will win your March Madness bracket pool.

Get ready for March Madness. Visit my blog at http://marchmadnessbracket.blogspot.com

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George Mikan Greatest Sports Legends DVD

George Mikan modernized basketball as the first true 'Big Man' in basketball. He won 4 NBA championships and, after averaging over 22 points per game during his 9 seasons, retired being the all-time league leader in points scored. The rules of professional basketball itself were altered by Mikan's dominance. During his career, the three-second rule and goaltending were introduced to try and level the playing field for his opponents. This video contains rare video footage of his days at Depaul University where he battled all comers. Then follow his career to include being voted 'The Greatest Athlete of the 1st Half Century'. Host Paul Hornung explores Mikan's memories and experiences in an exclusive, in-depth interview while they review highlights of this great athletes days on the hardwood.

Basketball is one team sport where players can achieve noticeable improvement working out by themselves or with just a handful of players.

When I was young, I used to spend hours upon hours shooting hoops, as my mother would describe it. Though I knew my limitations as a basketball player, if there was a particular shot or a spot on the court I wanted to perfect, I would spend hours practicing it. I worked endlessly on a hook shot, not only on my strong hand, but on my weak hand as well. My ability to make this shot probably reached its potential, and now 35 years later, I still use this same hook shot when playing in my driveway against my own kids.

There are an endless number of creative drills a young player can do by themselves to help increase their skill level. Another drill I call the Rock Drill or
Crazy Dribble drill is set up with a youth player putting down three or four rocks in a line about 10-15 feet from the basket. He then dribbles along the line of the rocks going toward the basket. The ball ultimately hits one of the rocks and bounces away from the player. This is simulating a game like situation just like a defender hitting the ball away. The player then moves quickly to recover the ball on a fly, squares up toward the basket, and takes a jump shot. Dont we see this happen in almost every game? If the youth player has a desire to make his school team, isnt it better for him when practicing alone to simulate these realistic situations that happen in a game?

Here is another drill that will help a players skills when practicing alone. Take a baseball cap. Staple or glue a glove to the edge of the bill so the majority of the glove is in the players face when he wears the cap. The player then does some regular outside shooting on the move, getting his rebound, dribbling, shooting etc. The glove, and I call this drill Hands In the Face, will give the effect of a defender obstructing the shooters vision. This helps the player practice shooting in a more realistic atmosphere.

Creativity knows no limits. Parents who are not even into sports can come up with numerous ideas using different techniques and props to make practice basketball in ones own driveway fun and a chance to improve ones skills.

http://www.BasketballCoachOne.com
http://www.VideosForCoaches.com

Marty Schupak has coached youth sports for 18 years and is the creator of the videos "Driveway Basketball Drills" and 48 Championship Basketball Drills. He is also creator of The 59 Minute Baseball Practice and Championship Soccer Drills videos and is author of the best selling book Youth Baseball. Drills. He is President of the Basketball Coach One and the Youth Sports Club, a group dedicated to making sports practices and games more creative and enjoyable for kids.

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Franklin Youth Series Batting Gloves - Large

Batting Glove

Basketball practice really is the time to work on more of the team concepts than individual concepts of the game. So it is necessary to do additional things to increase your individual skills. Let's look at what you will get out of attending basketball camps or working with a basketball trainer.

You will get additional workouts.

Doing extra is never a bad thing. If you interviewed a top basketball player, I would guarantee one of the main reasons they would say they play a level above other players is because of working extra. Kevin Durant said it perfectly, "Hard (extra) work beats talent, when talent fails to work hard."

You will learn from experts.

Surrounding yourself with an individual with expert knowledge of the game will have a tremendous impact on your game. I've heard the saying "You are the average of the people you hang around." Just think if you put yourself in position where you are learning the game of basketball from others consistently, how much more knowledgeable you will become.

You will gain an advantage.

The average player does not attend basketball camps nor receive basketball training. That is why they are average. I love this say, "Successful people are willing to do, what unsuccessful people are not." Or let's change it up a little. Top girls basketball players are willing to do, what average girls basketball players are not willing to do.

That just leaves one question - What type of player will you be?

Don't sit back and be an average basketball player.

My name is Patosha Jeffery. I've been involved in basketball as a player, coach and trainer since 1987. My skills were good enough to get me a full basketball scholarship to the University of Memphis. I've coached several young ladies that's earned basketball scholarships themselves to schools like the University of Colorado, University of Florida, Southern Mississippi, Ole Miss, Arkansas State and Florida A&M to name a few. I am a Certified Fitness Trainer and Specialist in Sports Conditioning.

My philosophies are" To Add Value to Others through Inspiration and Participation" and "To Mentor Young Ladies through the Process of Excelling in Basketball".

Visit http://www.girlsbasketballtrainer.com for articles, videos, motivational tips and training methods that deliver dangerous results, Guaranteed!

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Heat Original Ball Bag NBA Jersey Backpack

Support your favorite NBA team in one-of-a-kind style with this durable, jersey-style backpack, featuring removable name tag, side pen holder, side pocket and team name on front. 100% polyester mesh. Size: 14" x 12" x 4".

There is a troubling trend developing in the world of youth basketball in our country. Kids are being quickly rushed though the most important developmental stages of learning and thrown into game environments. How do kids play the whole game when their coaches have never taught them to learn the parts. Read about how the development of the sharp and our young basketball players are the same.

Sharks develop according to the amount of space they inhabit. The more room you give them, the more they grow. Some sharks in the ocean grow up to 12-16 feet in length. A much more interesting fact pertains to a baby shark that is confined to a limited area. In a small tank a baby shark will grow only to the size of his surroundings. The baby sharp stays a baby shark without room to roam and develop.

How does this apply to youth basketball?

If we allow young players to experience the entire game of basketball they will grow and develop along with these experiences. Free play is a big part of this development when they are in elementary school. As they are old enough to play team ball in 4-5-6th grade, the team dynamic kicks in. Young players will continue to grow physically but they will NOT grow developmentally at all. In essence, their skills and understanding of the game is caged in a small tank with no room to grow!

The question is then: Are we helping young players grow into mighty sharks or stunted little sharks?

What contributes to this stunting? How do we limit our young players and stunt their growth and development?

1. By speeding up the fundamental teaching of the activity, we are leaving kids behind. Teaching dribbling, passing, shooting, and the basics of the game are the only thing that needs to be taught. When do you move by these fundamentals as a coach? When the player masters the skill according to his age level. The key is maintaining a flexible approach when coaching because of the variance in developmental growth.

Advice-Slow down and teach the basics, over and over and over. You can never spend enough time on the fundamentals.

2. Playing too many games before kids are ready. Games are a natural progression once fundamentals are mastered followed by small group competition.

3. Failing to bridge the gap between practice and 5-on-5 games. The important learning opportunities come with 2-on-2, 3-on-3, and 4-on-4 play. These small group setting allow for all players to be involved and teaches them how to play with teammates as a unit. A 3-on-3 game gives young players plenty of room to play versus the congestion 5-on-5 games create. The more congested, the less is learned by players.

4. Lack of "teaching games." This is another important bridge that can help players transfer from practice to real 5-on-5 games. A teaching game is controlled by coaches who ref games while they stop and teach during the game. There are some stops and starts during the game, but the teaching opportunity is invaluable. This is a big mistake made by many youth coaches. To expect kids to go out and start playing 5-on-5 games cold is not realistic or appropriate.

5. Defining positions too early. Positions are dangerous to the development of players because they box an individual into a spot on the floor and an assumed set of skills. Both factors, specific spots on the floor and skill groupings for that position, are limiting to young players.

The challenge is to teach slow, practice slow, and repeat skills over and over.

The progression in teaching youth basketball is as follows: CRAWL, WALK, JOG, AND RUN. As coaches, lets deal with one level at a time. If you have to CRAWL with your team, then CRAWL. Do not begin to WALK when you are not quite ready. If you do, you will fall flat on your face because you are not ready!

Remember, this experience is FOR THE KIDS, NOT THE COACHES. You have a huge responsibility as a coach and can either enhance or damage the enjoyment and learning curve of your players. Treat with care!

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA appearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.

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Headbands - Dozen

Headband Features: - 80% Cotton/10% Rubber/10% Elastic, - Individual Poly Bagged, - Super Absorbent, - One Size fits all, - Packed in a dozen.,

In case you didn't know - Chris Paul, the 5'11" point guard of the New Orleans Hornets has a 38-inch vertical! But maybe you did, maybe you also have seen his monster dunk over the 6'11" center Dwight Howard. In case you didn't, simply look it up on youtube.

For those who ask themselves how Paul improved his vertical that much - cause he isn't a natural jumper like so many - simply take a look at his summer weight program - but dont forget that this workout is designed for a professional basketball player and you should consult your physician first.

I had to work real hard on my vertical. Its important to work on your whole body, not only the legs. Chris Paul

The 4 days a week, one hour a day workout consists of:

Lat Raise: 3 sets, 10 reps, 20 lbs.

Pec Deck: 3 sets, 10 reps, 80 lbs.

Tricep Press: 3 sets, 10 reps, 80 lbs.

Lat Pull: 3 sets, 10 reps, 130 lbs.

Seated Row: 3 sets, 10 reps, 120 lbs.

Bent Fly: 3 sets, 10 reps, 40 lbs.

Curls: 3 sets, 10 reps, 20 lbs.

Leg Curl: 3 sets, 10 reps, 100 lbs.

Hack Squat: 3 sets, 10 reps, 300 lbs.

Calf Raises: 3 sets, 10 reps, 100 lbs.

Bench Press: 3 sets, 10 reps, 130 lbs.

Use less weight and more repetitions to avoid getting too bulky. If you want to get bigger, then go on heavier weights, lower reps.

Here is one example for the vertical leap exercises, its called plate squats.

Starting Position: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, hips back. Hold a weight plate with both hands at chest level, elbows bent.

Movement: Lower yourself until knees and hips are fully bent.

Be certain to keep the knees directly over the toes. Extend knees and hips until legs are straight. Return and repeat. Also, be sure to keep your head forward, back straight and feet flat on the floor, do not raise your heels. As you extend up, think of driving your heels into the floor.

And of course, you have to use the jumping rope - it not only gives you explosiveness and calf strength but is also a great way to build stamina, and work on your overall leg strength. Do 200 jumps 3 times a week.

If you are really interested in improving your vertical and are searching for a good vertical program, I definitely can recommend Go Up Strong, it gives you all the stuff you need to improve your vertical.

http://www.howtodunk.org

Personal Trainer

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adidas Kids' SS2G Pro Basketball Shoe,White/New Navy,6.5 M Big Kid

One of my ongoing projects puts me in front of the latest basketball DVD's. My job is to review each presentation and write an ad for the product that highlights the key elements of the DVD. What a job for a hoop junkie, huh?

Today I'm watching a bunch of new, upcoming products. DVD's by Ben Braun, Billy Gillespie, John Brady, Seth Greenberg, Steve Smith, and Lorenzo Romar sit on my desk. These will soon be available for purchase through Championship Productions, the world leader in sports instructional books, video and DVD's.

This is worthy of mention for this reason. I'm constantly amazed at how consistently I hear these great coaches say, "This is an easy game that coaches tend to make complicated."
The game of basketball has an endless supply of philosophy, drills, schemes, and plays. Like music where no two songs are ever the same, the game can be presented in a million different ways. This is what makes it a great game!

I challenge you to look at your system and ask yourself these questions:

--Do I teach a simple game or a complicated game, from a coaching standpoint?

--Do I teach a simple game or a complicated game, from my players standpoint?

--Is my philosophy written down in detail, down to the last reverse pivot? If not, why not?

--How many drills do I teach and do I teach too many or not enough?

--Can I teach a skill with two drills instead of 11 different ones?

--Can you explain the game of basketball so simply that a foreigner, having never seen a game, could clearly understand?

--Could your assistant coaches verbally mirror your philosophy, terminology and X and O catalog?
--Is it really a simple game or not?

--Are you organized in terms of basketball information? In other words, could you find those great baseline out of bounds plays you wrote down at a clinic four years ago? (More on this later.....I'm a huge believer in being an "organized coach.")

--Do you have a mentor or someone who will directly challange your thinking in terms of the game and your lifestyle? If the answer is no, how do you spot your weaknesses, insecurities, and flawed thinking?

That is a lot to think about, but each question represents key components to you becoming the best coach you can be.

If you would like to answer some of these questions and send them to me, I would love it. I promise that I will read each one and return my feedback to you. If you can honestly answer each of these questions, you are on your way to becoming a GREAT coach.

The ultimate goal is to present a solid philosophy in a way that young players can "see it"and "understand it". More importantly, by understanding what you are teaching, they will be able to "execute it" in practice and later in the game! That's what coaching is all about!

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA apprearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.

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Los Angeles Clippers Gear Shorts

Perfect for a pick-up game at the gym or kickin' back at a barbeque, these Los Angeles Clippers Gear Shorts from Adidas will show your team loyalty and fashion flair. Feature embroidered team logo on left side, NBA logo at left front, and Adidas logo on right front.

The Caribbean cruise is great and even better when you are cruising with a top class ship. The Navigator of the Seas is really the top class cruiser. Once you get on it you will wish to never step your feet on ground again. It really has everything that you need and everything you do not need. A ship made for pleasure. Some of his highlights are:

• Ice-skating rink

• Rock-climbing wall

• In-line skating

• Royal Promenade (open 24 hours)

• Ben & Jerry's ice cream

• Latt-tudes,SM a specialty coffee house featuring Seattle's Best Coffee

• Johnny Rockets '50s-style restaurant

• Portofino Italian Restaurant

• Chops Grille

• Vintages wine bar

• Boleros Latin-themed lounge

• 9-hole miniature golf course

• Golf simulators

• Themed bars and lounges

• Adventure Ocean youth facilities, including teen-only areas, Fuel and Living Room

• ShipShape Day Spa and Fitness Center

• Casino RoyaleSM

• Full-size basketball court

After reading these highlights you want to ask yourself is this a cruise ship or a work of art? Once on board, I think you'll agree this cruise ship is a revolutionary masterpiece if ever there was one. Not only does it sail effortlessly through the waters of the Caribbean, it contains some of the cruise industry's most amazing features - a rock-climbing wall, a basketball court, an ice-skating rink and an in-line skating track. Dare we say there's more? What about a five-story theater, a casino, a miniature golf course and a spectacular three-story dining room? This 138,000-ton nautical wonder has it all.

Of course not everyone can afford this kind of cruise but, for all of you who don't have that kind of money there is always a way to get on it for free.

If you would like a free Caribbean cruise with the Navigator of the Seas cruiser try this free contest on a http://www.xvsy.net and win it.

Drazen Prastalo

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San Antonio Spurs 2008 Signature Court

The Highland Mint presents the NBA Signature Court Collection.The Home Court of the San Antonio Spurs presented in a 12 x 20 wood frame, this unique collectible features the facsimile signatures of the top players from the Spurs spread out on a glossy image of their home court. This is officially licensed by the NBA, is limited to an edition of 2,008 and each piece is individually numbered.

Unlike other hobbies that people take to interest, collecting sports cards can be something that is left after one look. When a collector finds a card that he or she really likes, they may look at it several times but after that, it becomes boring because there is no fun in looking at a piece of cardboard. For other hobbies this cannot be said, as you can play sports and play chess everyday and it doesnt get boring. This is something that many sport card collectors face but any hobby can be interactive if enough creative and effort is placed forth.

In order to make collecting cards engaging, you must:

Make routine sweeps: Every other month, you can spend one hour at least to look at the cards that you have in your past collection and any other cards that you may have as of now. You can look at the various card sets, inserts, special cards and player cards. By making routine sweeps of your card collection, you understand yourself as a collector a little better each time.

Separate: When you amass a collection of cards, half the fun can come from organizing your cards in the way that you feel is best. You can organize your cards according to sets, types and more. A fun way to look at every card in your collection is to look for cards that mean something to you, such as player cards of your favorite players and teams. By doing this, you will have a chance to look at each card, at times read the bios of players that may interest you at the moment. In order to find every card of a particular thing, you must look carefully, something that would not be normally done, just to look at your card collection.

Learn daily: You can keep your hobby new and fresh everyday by following what is happening at the moment. You can go to numerous card sites, such as beckett.com, naxcom, topps which will give you the current news about upcoming player cards, and sets. If you revisit everyday, you can understand what is really means to be a collector, you can see a wide variety of cards and learn about common card questions.

Make it more: In order to really make cards engaging, you have to look at it as a passion. Even if you do not devote your life to collecting cards and making money off of it. you can still be a collector in your own field. You may be a small time collector who buys once a month, but it can fuel your juices, to find something nice and that is worth the money. On the other hand, if it is something really important, such as a job, it will be much more engaging.

Invent: When looking at your cards, something that you can do is to try something interactive. You can try to request for autographs of your dream players, you can buy products that you do not normally collect. You can also make your own cards, destroy cards that you think have no redeeming value. There is always something to do with your cards that you may not be able to think of.

Exchange: When collecting cards, you can find people like you, who have the same hobbies, who like the same teams, this will make it that much more fun.

Inspiration: You can find inspiration in seeing how these players have succeeded, in your own career.

Collecting cards is something that is easily turned dull because of the lack of uses that it has. However, with a little creativity and effort, it can be enough of a real hobby.

NBA fan and card collector

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New Balance Little Kid/Big Kid KNF70 Basketball Shoe,White/Navy,10.5 M

Womens college basketball coaches rely on recruiting or scouting reports as another tool to find girls to recruit. These reports are developed either by an individual or an organization. So if college coaches use this report to find players, how do you get your name on a report?

There are local, regional and national recruiting reports available to coaches. Some of the reports include:

Blue Star Report

For over 25 years Blue Star has been one of the most influential organizations in selecting and advising such publications rankings and listings as found in The Sporting News, USA Today, Gatorade Circle of Champions, and McDonalds All American Team just to name a few. These rankings and evaluations are part of our national Blue Star Report available to media & colleges across the country.

All-Star Girls Report

The All-Star Girls Report (ASGR) will look at the nation's top players in each class that impact 500 collegiate programs on a yearly basis. The top prospects in each region of the country will be identified after extensive, year round scouting and featured in the ASGR rankings.

Collegiate Girls Basketball Report

The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report rates nearly 1,500 players in each class as well as 1,000 junior college prospects. Prospects in each region of the country are identified after extensive, year-round scouting, including quiet and dead period events!

Southeastern Hoops Report

The Southeastern Hoops Report is the southeast's fastest growing grassroots scouting and recruiting source for girls basketball. The Southeastern Hoops Report features write-ups on the best and most talented prospects attending Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee high schools have to offer.

There is one simple way to get listed on a girls basketball recruiting report and that is to play at an event that is either hosted by or attended by the recruiting individual or organization.

Visit http://www.patoshajeffery.com/basketballrecruiting.htm for the Top 12 Women's College Basketball Recruiting Web Sites.

My name is Patosha Jeffery. I've been involved in basketball as a player, coach and trainer since 1987. My skills were good enough to get me a full basketball scholarship to the University of Memphis. I've coached several young ladies that's earned basketball scholarships themselves to schools like the University of Colorado, University of Florida, Southern Mississippi, Ole Miss, Arkansas State and Florida A&M to name a few. I am a Certified Fitness Trainer and Specialist in Sports Conditioning.

My philosophies are" To Add Value to Others through Inspiration and Participation" and "To Mentor Young Ladies through the Process of Excelling in Basketball".

Visit http://www.girlsbasketballtrainer.com for articles, videos, motivational tips and training methods that deliver dangerous results, Guaranteed!!!

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Mega Land

3 years & up. Enter into a magic land of tunnels, huts and balls! Children can connect the pieces anyway they want. They can create their very own maze with this 5-piece play set featuring a basketball hoop, 1 hut, 2 cubes, 2 tunnels, 50 balls and a carrying case. EZ Twist Technology provides for easy set up. This product is made of polyester with nylon bindings and has a mesh and polyethylene floor. The individual units measure Hut: 33"L x 33"W x 48"H, Large Cube: 28"L x 28"W x 33"H, Small Cube: 28"L x 28"W x 28"H, Tunnel: 18" Diameter x 20"L.

The Chicago Bulls will have many decisions to make after the NBA season, a disappointing one even if they make it to the NBA Playoffs. A big one is at shooting guard, where Ben Gordon and Larry Hughes both demand starting money.

The Chicago Bulls offered Ben Gordon $10 million per year earlier in the season to remain a Bull, and Gordon turned them down, as did Luol Deng. Gordon figured a good season would propel his market value above the Bulls offer. Whether that comes to fruition or not remains to be seen, but NBA teams will surely give Gordon a good look.

The Bulls guard will draw some NBA suitors, but the bigger question is, which shooting guard the Bulls will want to keep for their roster? The addition from the Cleveland Cavaliers of Larry Hughes gives the Bulls some room to maneuver. Both have their upside and downside, but for me, I like Hughes' game better than Gordon's.

Larry Hughes, when he wants to, can be a stifling NBA defender, and is taller than the postable Gordon. Although Gordon can be electric offensively, he is often inconsistent, whereas with Hughes, you can pencil him in for 15 points a night, with hopefully a much better defensive effort than Gordon.

Many other questions still need to be answered concerning the Bulls roster, but with Larry Hughes penciled into the 2-spot for the next few years, at least the team is covered on both sides of the court, and the issue of the small backcourt is handled.

http://www.fastbreakblog.com

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2002-03 Topps Jersey Edition JEDAS Damon Stoudamire H (Basketball Cards) (Piece of Authentic NBA Uniform)

There is no doubt that 10 seconds can change the memories and opportunities that the players take from even a regular season high school game. Those rewards increase dramatically when there is a championship of any kind on the line.

In my opinion, every coach should have a written plan on how s/he is going to handle every late game situation that can be thought of before the season starts. Going over those situations must be a part of the every day practice plan. Making an unplanned and unpracticed decision as the game unfolds is not the best way to handle it. No one is thinking or communicating clearly under the pressure of the end of a big game. The time for coaches to think clearly is in the off season and the time for players to learn and practice those situations is every day of the season.

If your team executes your plan under pressure at the end of the game, that is all you can ask.

Here are some opinions I would like to offer to at least consider when formulating a plan to handle the end of game situation as to whether or not to foul to protect a three point lead. My message is not to use my plan, but to think for yourself and decide how you are going to handle these situations.

Once the clock gets to seven seconds (so the clock will stop at 6 on a foul) and the ball is in the front court, you have to take the ball from the dribbler. A foul is probably going to be called, but if you teach your players to take the ball, then you will either have stolen the ball (not likely to be let go by the official) or you will have fouled and kept the opponent from shooting a potentially game tying three point shot. If you are not in the bonus yet, that is even better, you keep taking the ball when the opponent inbounds until they get to go to the free throw line. You must foul the dribbler at least 10 feet away from the three point arc.

There used to be some debate as to this strategy when the offense could put four rebounders on the free throw line, but now that the offense is only allowed two rebounders, the odds for an offensive rebound have dropped significantly.

Personal experience tells me that in the thousands of games I have watched, many more late three point shots go in and send games into overtime than I have seen the sequence of: making the first free throw, missing the second on purpose, getting the offensive rebound of the missed free throw, and then making a shot to tie (or win the game if the shot is a three point shot).

To me, the following statistical argument is even more convincing.

A player like Mario Chalmers, or a three point shooter with similar abilities relative to the competition, can hit 33% on a shot like he made, even being guarded. Today, the players have incredible range and take more shots from several steps behind the arc, so there is also a bigger area to defend, not just the sector right on the arc.

Your opponent has to have five things happen successfully to tie the game under extreme pressure if you choose to foul:

#1 They have to make the first free throw. Let's just assume you foul an 80% ft shooter.

#2 They have to miss the second free throw on purpose without accidentally making it or missing the rim entirely. Most players do not practice missing free throws. You can't just shoot it to the right or the left, that would give a huge rebounding advantage to the defense because the ball will not come off the rim very hard. You have to shoot it hard to get a longer than normal rebound. I would say 90% success on not making the shot accidentally and not violating and missing the rim completely. That is not even taking into account the pressure factor of doing something you rarely if ever practice during the most pressure packed time of the game.

#3 The shooting team must get the offensive rebound. I would say that 40% of the time without fouling would be great success on that.

#4 The offensive rebounder has to score without traveling or committing an offensive foul. If he/she throws the rebound to a teammate, they cannot turn it over or make a pass that makes the receiver reach for the ball and throw off shooting rhythm and balance. That is tough to do under pressure. I would say 95% of the time that would happen without a turnover. That percentage is probably high, but I am estimating high to give the benefit to the offense to drive home the point that you have to foul.

#5 The player shooting has to hit the shot--let's say 50% success on a 2 point shot to tie, 33% on a three to win (since we assume that the first free throw was made)

If you calculate the probability that all five of those things succeed on the same play (80% x 90% x 40% x 95% x 50%) it comes to a maximum of 14% of the time you would be tied by a missed free throw, an offensive rebound, and a 2 point shot. That is also with high estimates for each of the 5 parts to happen independently, so I believe that the true probability is actually less than 14%. Either way it is not close to the estimate of 33% of making a three to tie the game. Even if you believe the odds of your opponent making the three point shot to tie are as low as 1 in 6, the percentages say that you are still better off fouling the dribbler out by the 10 second line.

When a good team (and when you are playing for any championship, your opponent is usually at least a good team) is faced with a three point deficit and 10 seconds, they are going to tie you once in a while. I would just rather make it tougher on them to tie by fouling and not letting them take a shot they will make at least one out of three times.

To hit a 3 point shot after making a free throw to win the game (again, if my percentages assumptions are correct--I think they are high) would be 80% x 90% x 40% x 95% x 33% = 9% I would add two thoughts that I believe dramatically lower that percentage. If you are throwing the ball out beyond the arc for a shot with tougher defense on the pass out and under extreme scoreboard and clock pressure, the chance of making a safe pass would diminish. Point number two, the rebounder is more than likely not going to look to throw out for a three, but is going to focus on scoring. Depending on how much time is left, there might not be time for a pass out and a three point shot. I believe the offense will go for the highest percentage shot they can get, which is a two not a three. My estimate is that throwing out for the winning three after making the first free throw and missing the second is less than 4%.

Even if you don't agree with my percentage estimates, put in your own percentages and do the math to make a judgment that is reason based. The main thing is to formulate a plan, practice it over and over in your practice sessions, and stick to it in the heat of the game. If your players execute the plan, win or lose, you have been a success!

The Coaching Toolbox http://www.coachingtoolbox.net is a resource site for basketball coaches and players of all levels. Brian Williams is a former Indiana High School coach with over 20 years of experience at various levels.

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Do you have a strategy for filling out the March Madness bracket? This is one of the most exciting times of the year for the college basketball bettor. It doesn't hurt to start thinking about how you can win that bracket contest.

Are you tired filling out your sheet every year only to be disappointed with your picks after only a couple of rounds? You might need to change your strategy this year. Here is a good method to use.

Just think for a moment about what makes this tournament different from the regular season. The first thing you should note is that each team will be facing other teams they have never faced before from different conferences. The second thing you will notice is that the teams from the stronger conferences tend to perform better than the teams from a weaker conference.

Here is what you should do. Write down the conferences and count the number of teams from each one. A conference with many teams in the tournament usually will indicate a stronger conference.

You must beware of a team with a good season record, but is the only team representing their conference. This will usually mean their good record came from the weak conference they were in.

What you will need to do is to weigh each teams record according to the strength of the conference they played in. This will give you a much better perspective about a teams chances to advance in the tournament.

It also doesn't hurt to do a little research on the teams in the tournament. It's hard to know everything about every team unless you do it for a living. There are many sources of information online that you can refer to when the teams are announced. Some examples are ESPN, The Sporting News, USA Today, etc. All of these sources have websites and previews for March Madness.

By now you should be able to fill out your bracket with a whole new perspective. There will always be some early round surprises, but you should have some good success using this strategy. Maybe this will be the year you will win your March Madness bracket pool.

Get ready for March Madness. Visit my blog at http://marchmadnessbracket.blogspot.com

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It might not get you drafted, but fake it 'til you make it in the adidas NBA Swingman Road Jersey. Mesh body with two-inch drop tail and many features which duplicate the on-court jersey. Any logos featured on the on-court jersey are also included on the Swingman. Feel like a pro with screenprinted tackle twill front workmark, player name and front and back numbers and all those cool little details: embroidered NBA and adidas logos, side tab with NBA logo and adidas/NBA Swingman jocktag with alpha sizing on lower left. 100% polyester mesh (5.3 oz.)/100% polyester flat knit rib (10 oz.)/100% polyester braid. Imported. Plenty of details, plenty of ways to feel like a player. Just don't let it go to your head.

The NBA and its players represent a game of extraordinary skill, athleticism and grace, and, for good or bad, set an example for the entire basketball world, on the court and off of it. Like everything there must be balance between the positive side of things and the negative and it is even better if the positive side outweighs the negative.

On the NBA we have on the positive side, the players passion for the game, their commitment to the fans and respect for the history and tradition of the game. In regards to the negative, while the NBA has worked meticulously to eliminate fighting from the game, incidents such as that Saturday night at Madison Square Garden between the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks show the public there is still much more to be done, or maybe tell us that the solutions are not being the ideal ones.

As a result NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony was suspended for 15 games and six other players were penalized as commissioner David Stern came down hard on both teams after the Nuggets and Knicks brawled at Madison Square Garden.

It is a shame for the fun of the game but the NBA is in its obligation to take the strongest possible measures to avoid such spectacles in the future and to make a statement to all who follow the game of basketball that they understand their obligations and take them seriously.

The main concern should be for the safety of the players and the fans, because when things such as these get out of hand you cannot predict or project where they're going to go.

Ally White is a top senior copy writer on sportsbook action for http://www.instantactionsports.com Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

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Of course, Deron Williams' physique looks more round than swift. But if you've ever seen a Jazz fast break, you know the 23-year old point guard is anything but slow.

Though rather a below-the-rim player, Deron packs a diverse offensive game that can net him two points with a floater or three with a near-bench bomb. He has a quick first step and speed that seems to increase past mid-court. When a defender sees Deron gunning toward 'em with that high yet controlled dribble - almost like the rock is a handball (a la D's all-time favorite player, Jason Kidd) - they don't know whether to defend the trey, the drive or the pass.

"Being deceptive works to my advantage because guys think they can press me a little more and then I blow by them. I like to push the ball. It's a big strength of my game." - Deron Williams

Actually, Deron Williams was the big surprise of the Chicago pre-draft camp in 2005. The Illinois point guard finished 10th out of 80 players, ahead of top prospects like Chris Paul (16th) and Raymond Felton (18th). In case you wonder what the pre-draft camp is about - there's a combine that measures four key areas:

1) strength (bench press repetitions of 185 pounds),
2) vertical jump
3) lane agility (how fast a player moves laterally around the key)
4) speed (court sprint)

In the forefront of the camp there have been major questions about Deron Williams' lateral quickness, but he actually tested quicker than Paul (!) in the lane agility drill and finished .03 seconds behind Paul in the sprint. Williams has lost about 15 pounds and is down to 7 % percent body fat, which obviously has helped his athleticism. Here are the complete results for the 3 point guards:

(Name, Bench press,Vertical jump, Lane Agility,Court Sprint,Overall Rank)

Deron Williams, 15, 35", 10.83, 3.25, 10

Chris Paul, 10, 38", 11.09, 3.22, 16

Raymond Felton, 6, 33", 10.50, 3.06, 18

As you can see, Deron Williams has a 35-inch vertical - Lo and behold!

But what can YOU do to improve your vertical?

Well, the combination of weight and jump training may be the most effective ever:

If you are already fit enough, your legs are already quite strong, you can do these weight exercises 2 times a week (i.e. Mondays and Thursdays):

1. Squats - 3 sets x 10
2. Calf Raises - 3 sets x 10
3. Leg Presses - 3 sets x 10
4. Leg Extensions - 2 sets x 20
5. Lunges - 3 sets x 10

In addition you can try these jump exercises (also 2 times a week, i.e. Tuesdays and Fridays):

1. Squat Jumps - 2 sets x 75
2. Chair Jumps - 2 sets x 30
3. Depth Jumps - 2 sets x 15
4. Box Jumps - 2 sets x 20

For more exercises and crucial things to know about vertical jump (f.e. why often what you "don't" do is more important then what you "do" do) please take a look at this page I strongly recommend:

http://www.howtodunk.org

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Worn Out on Traditional Volleyball Warm-Ups

Keeping volleyball practices fun and exciting is a challenge that plagues most coaches as the season progresses. Whereas players are full of energy and zeal at the beginning of the year they often run out of steam as the season dwindles on, especially once games begin overtaking practices as your weekly meetings. Follow these few simple coaching tips for volleyball to keep your players involved and having so much fun they barely even notice theyre improving their skills at the same time.

The first of my coaching tips for volleyball involves making warm-ups more engaging. One of the biggest complaints that I always heard from my players following volleyball practice was that warm-ups were dull and boring. While we all know that warming up is a crucial element of exercise, it doesnt mean it has to be all running laps and stretching. So I listened to my players and we brainstormed a list of alternate means of warming up, both before practice and games. As a result we replaced the traditional warm-up with a 10-minute version of some of my teams favorite playground games, freeze tag and dodgeball.

I got you and now youre frozen!

For freeze tag, designate one person as it whose job it is to run around and tag everyone. Once tagged, a player becomes frozen to the spot where they were tagged and they are to stand with their legs wide apart. In order to unfreeze someone, you must dive between their legs. If the player who is it can successfully tag and freeze everyone, then they are declared victorious. Sometime I name two its so that they have a better chance of tagging everyone and neither one gets too exhausted. This game is also great because it gets players working on their dives when unfreezing others.

Dodge This!

Another game that gets the blood flowing is Dodgeball. Start by dividing your team into 2 groups who stand on opposite sides of the playing area. We use a basketball court, with the center line as the dividing line between the teams. Each team is given a ball with the goal of hitting as many members of the opposing team as they can.

The catch is that once you are hit or your throw is caught by the other team, you are sent to the jail which lines the back of the opposite teams playing area. However, you can free yourself from jail by getting a ball and hitting someone on the opponents team. This game is a great way to emphasize accuracy in throwing and teamwork.

Volleyball Goals for the Future

Finally, I offer the notion of goal-setting as the next on my list of coaching tips for volleyball. This can be done in a variety of ways, including both individual and team goals. At the beginning of the season, have each player write down a list of 3 things they want to improve about the way they play and come up with ways to achieve these goals.

Work with each player individually to achieve their goals, and also take 5 minutes at the end of each practice to come up with a team goal, and reinforce how that will happen. By coming up with specific things to work on instead of just a lets win the next game attitude, your team will learn to focus on where they need improvement as well as earn a self-esteem booster every time a goal is achieved.

Larry Reid has been coaching volleyball for well over a decade. You can get instant access to his championship volleyball practice plans by visiting his website:

http://www.volleyballpracticeplans.com/

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I come up against this all the time, coaches saying they dont want their players messing with their shots once the season starts. So whats the truth?

WHY IS BASKETBALL ANY DIFFERENT?

The first question that comes to mind is why should basketball be any different from other sports? The great PGA golfers are working on their swings, short game and putting all the time. They probably dont try to adjust anything right before a round, but afterward they get with their coaches and work on such things as tempo, swing plane, club face at contact, ball flight, this and that. Baseball players have hitting and pitching coaches to work with them throughout the season. Tennis players work with their coaches all the time. If they could talk to them during a round, they surely would. (Its kind of unfair that golfers can have caddies [who can be coaches and teaching professionals] and talk to them throughout a round, but tennis players cant even talk or signal their coaches in the stands during matches.)

Basketball is no different! In fact basketball shooting is a much more forgiving skill than hitting a 90 mile an hour fast ball, or controlling a golf clubhead traveling at 120-140 miles/hour. The basketball rim is about twice the size of a basketball. Free throws are taken only 13 feet nine inches from the center of the rim. Jump and Set Shots are taken from just a few feet away up to 20 feet or more, not huge challenges.

NOT MAJOR CHANGES!

By working on your shot, I dont mean you should make major changes to your shot during a season (usually), because it takes time for the body to adjust to and trust a very different shot action. But minor things can be worked on and tweaked all throughout the season. And if your stroke is really suspect (a nice way of saying poor), what is the risk in a major change? If youre losing playing time or games due to poor shooting, why not address it, both individually and as a team, whatever it takes?

AWARENESS IS HOW TO DO IT

The way to do this most gently is through awareness rather than telling someone (or yourself) how to do things. Awareness is how our marvelous body/brain/nervous systems work (lets call it the body). Awareness gives the body the feedback it needs to know what is happening, and then it can make the, usually, subtle changes it needs to learn and perform better. Patience is important, too, as the body cannot be rushed. If you are always short, for example, yelling at yourself or a player isnt of much help. In fact it would hinder growth. But simple awareness and then observation of how such-and-such feels, and what the results are, will lead to solid, lasting learning.

EXAMPLES OF AWARENESS COACHING/LEARNING

Lets say a player shoots everything flat and has a low shooting percentage. The awareness questions to ask are How high are you shooting now? and What might you do to shoot higher? Once the player has some knowledge of the height of her/his shots, then invite him/her to play with the answers to the second question. The player could aim higher with the arm action, one possibility, or the player could jump more strongly to shoot. Also you could notice when in the jumping motion (or down-up for a Free Throw) you are shooting. Is it early, middle of the jump, or at the top? With experimentation, the player will learn that shooting quicker is a simple and powerful way to increase the height of shots. Then play with this instruction -- Shooting quicker -- and the player will LEARN about height and how to get it. The major part of the work on improving height can be done by the player, just noticing things, giving precise feedback, and then getting out of his/her own way. Letting the learning happen!!!

(A note about Letting Go! It means to stop interfering and give your magical body the freedom to perform what it knows to do. You might ask, then, How can I do perform with excellence if I dont yet own the skill, dont know how to do it? One of my mentors put it this way: If you know what to do, then LET IT HAPPEN! If you dont know what to do, LET IT LEARN! The magic is in the LETTING...)

YOUNG KIDS ESPECIALLY

Kids should be coached and encouraged to work on their own on their shots all year long. These are the developmental years, so allow them to try new things throughout the season. Teach them to be responsible (able to respond) for their own learning! Thats whats so powerful about the Swish videos, THEY TEACH KIDS TO COACH THEMSELVES! Its in the practice that theyre going to develop themselves more than in the few and far-between coaching sessions. Coaching can get them started beautifully, but its in the follow up (and repetition with awareness) that theyll learn the most. And, coaches, dont worry about losing games! Skill development for your players is much more important at the younger ages.

--------------- ---------------
I asked a few coach friends to give me their comments on this subject, and their input is included below.

Like you, Tom, I believe there is no time like the present to work on and improve a player's shot. The old chestnut that you don't want to play around with a player's stroke during season should have gone out with the two-handed set shot!

Golfers continually work and refine their swings; there is no reason why shooters should "wait" until the off-season to maintain and refine form and technique.

The great players always want information and look for ways to get the slightest edge. Coaches need to have the courage to provide this information and not be worried about the chance it might cost a game along the way.

The other poignant point in this discussion/debate is when is it a good time to make change and work on technique? In Australia, the basketball "season" never seems to end, and in the US, the advent of endless AAU tournaments leave little time to wait until there is a spare 3 months period in the coaching calender.

It is a similar argument to not changing a player's shot once they have reached a certain age. This is such an important skill, why would any coach not want to provide players of any age or experience with information and knowledge to improve in this area?

- - Peter Lonergan, NITCP Head Coach, Basketball New South Wales, Australia

-------------------------------

Tom, I believe every year we could benefit from going back and getting brushed up on the raw basic fundamentals of shooting to help keep our shooting in top form and keep accurate and, hopefully, improve. I have found from my own experience in life, that sometimes when I have done something so long, I do tend to neglect certain "small" things that can add up to a big difference. If I stay on top of those "small" things, I can be more successful. I would recommend that sometime during the year, players go back to the elementary basics and start from scratch and work their way back to where they are at to keep from ignoring something that may make a big difference in their shot.

- - Tommy Huneycutt (Tommys Playbook website:

-------------------------------

Just a quick thought here ... I think the age and experience of the players is a big factor. Assuming the player is advanced and needs only refinement, then, yes, you work on the shot, but don't overhaul it, because winning in the short term is too important (like on a college team).

However, taking that mentality to anything under HS varsity does a great disservice to the kids. Can you imagine a high school C team coach, for instance, not wanting to change a player's shooting form just to protect his W/L record? First, the whole point of youth sports is to prepare players for higher level play. The sooner the better for fixing shooting form. If your subject player doesn't change ASAP, he may never be ready for varsity play. If his performance in the C team level hurts his team (by missing a few shots, I guess), then that is a very small price to pay.

Second, the longer you wait to change form, the harder it is to train new habits. Even when you can prove to a high school player that a form change is beneficial, when the pressure is on, he will resort to old habits. Only the exceptional students of the game will willingly change their fundamental habits when they are older.

- Steve Jordan, Coaches Notebook

-------------------------------

My thoughts on how kids are training are very similar to what Bob Bigelow (bobbigelow.com) has been saying (Ed. note: Steve, Bob and I met this fall in Massachusetts; Bob is an expert in Youth Sports and how they could more effectively be coached). So much time is devoted to game preparation and conditioning ... and so little time is being spent on developing players skills. Kids are playing too many games and not enough time is being spent on just shooting a basketball. How many kids today go outside and shoot for an hour everyday?

I recently did a clinic for a youth basketball team, and after I was finished my with my skills segment, the coach had them go right into a game. Just running up and down the court throwing shots from everywhere. Shooting is a skill, an art, and a science which needs to be worked on everyday. There's nothing more satisfying than shooting at the park or in your driveway and swishing shot after shot.

I sympathize with youth coaches today. The youth sports system puts so much emphasis on winning games that it doesn't allow for coaches to spend the needed time on fundamentals such as shooting. Our kids can run 4-5 offensive plays and zone trap, but they can't hit a free throw.

Some suggest blowing up the system ... but that's probably not realistic. I suggest working to improve the system. Traditionally town travel teams practice a couple times a week and play games on the weekend. Parents should consider basketball skill and shooting coaches to supplement their kids practice schedule. Working with a coach will focus them more on developing their skills than on winning basketball games.

And for the kids who might have been cut from an AAU or travel team, they can now gain an advantage by working with a coach who helps them develop their skills.

- - Steve Smith (basketball coach at Forekicks, a Golf and Indoor Sports Complex in Norfolk, Massachusetts)

Tom Nordland is a shooting expert and coach from California via Minnesota. His videos, coaching and writings are inspiring a Renaissance (a rebirth, a revival) in shooting around the world as players and coaches are taught the things that really matter in shooting. A great shooter as a youth, Tom was given a gift of seeing shooting like few have ever seen it. He sees the essence of great shooting and how to get there. The good news is that its very simple. The few great shooters of today and yesterday mastered simple things, not complicated motions. Improved shooting is now possible for everybody in the game, and mastery is available to those who sincerely dedicate themselves to it. Visit Toms website (http://www.swish22.com/) to read of his background and his articles and newsletters, and to view the remarkable endorsements and amazing testimonials for this approach to shooting.

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Sculpture has been used for centuries to enhance a garden's natural beauty. Every garden would have a little spot which could be better highlighted using an unusual sculpture, a bird bath or water feature rather than just another plant.

Careful positioning of these sorts of things has traditionally been used in garden feng shui to bring all the elements into the garden. Any size garden can be enhanced with sculpture as it draws the eye to a focal point as you walk around the garden.

Metal sculpture is often chosen due to its durability to withstand the variances of weather and the uniqueness that the artist can create. It is often heavier and more stable with the ability to be pegged to the ground which is important in strong winds. With the correct coating outdoor sculpture should last for years in the garden.

One sculptor who is creating uniquely Australian garden sculpture is Peter Kozina of Brisbane's bayside. Peter's works are made completely from recycled steel hence he goes by the business name "Recycled Treasures". He is often inspired in his work by what he sees in a discarded piece of scrap metal whether it be a piece from an old plough, a brush hook or railway spike from days gone by. He immediately sees an emu, eagle or perhaps a person's stance in a shape he discovers buried in the scrap heaps of Queensland.

Recycling has long been a passion of Peter's and he likes nothing better than making something worthwhile out of supposed "junk". He was featured in a segment on Channel Nine's Brisbane Extra last year which highlighted the benefits of recycling in the Brisbane area.

Peter also makes a series of garden ornaments which feature terracotta pots which can be planted up as an added feature in the home garden. Old pushbike wheels have been transformed into penny farthings which look really colourful when the 3 pots are planted with your favourite annuals.

He turns a rusty wheelbarrow into a real talking point complete with a huge central terracotta bowl and 4 smaller pots surrounding it enhanced with scrollwork. Another popular item is his unique birdbaths. No two are the same as he builds the stand out of an old car or truck spring which leads up to the bath encased in a discarded basketball hoop with 2 feeders on either side.

Water features are popular in modern garden design. Peter makes his uniquely Australian by using farm posts with an old brass tap attached. It flows into a bucket so for the water saving folk it uses only a small amount of water to get that soothing sound of running water.

Peter is aware of the difficulty metal features have in being able to withstand the weather. All his garden ornaments have been coated with a high quality etch primer followed by an enamel exterior paint. His individual sculptures have been specially treated with a formula he has created to allow the natural look of rusted metal to be maintained without rusting any further.

All the purchaser has to do is spray it occasionally with clear lacquer if it is in direct sunlight and the sculpture once again has that wonderful lustre. Peter's motto has always been: "Bringing the past to life in sculpture".

Peter Kozina specialises in Brisbanegarden ornaments and is a Brisbanesteel and metal sculptor.

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There are several ways to increase vertical jump. At your training you will have to look for two things, to strengthen your legs and strengthen their fast-twitch muscle fibers which are essential for vertical jump and that will add few centimeters to your vertical jump. Increasing vertical leap will help you at sports like basketball (for better rebounding), volleyball (at hitting and blocking), soccer (being able to score with your head), handball, American football, rugby and others.

Power is one of the most important thing when jumping high. Physics say that power equals A/t, A being the work and t time but in sports power is better described as strength multiplied by speed and that is why training fast-twitch muscle is very important.

Every workout should be started with warming up and extensive leg stretches which is very important when building muscle fibers and will prevent injuries. The best way to continue is with jump rope which will higher your pulse which will help you with the final results. As I said before speed is important that is why you should go out and make few sprints and than continue with stairs. I recommend you the local stadion which usually has a lot of stars. Important thing is to run the stars with your toes than walk down and repeat the exercise on every second stair. The thing you should do next are the jumps. Start with jumping from the box and immediately back on to the box. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions. Continue with jumps where your legs are bent (3/4) and try to jump as high as possible land and repeat... Do 3 sets of ten repetitions and continue with jumping fast and not as high as before. Jump as soon as your toes hit the ground. The best thing is to find a target backboard or rim on the basketball court is a great target try to touch it 10times in a row and repeat it 3 times.

After you are done run for a mile and than stretch again. Complete the program every 3rd day and results will be seen in weeks.

For more info on vertical leap exercises visit Improve Vertical

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Anyone who has a passion for basketball knows that the NBA and the professional basketball players associated with it symbolize a game that needs extraordinary skills, grace and athleticism. Besides this, the NBA and its players also set example from the way they behave and react on the court and off. Players should realize that there has to be a proper balance between the good and the bad and that the good should take precedence over the bad influence.

The NBA has worked very hard to ensure that it eliminates fighting from this wonderful game of basketball. However, there are still incidents that cast show over this game. NBA knows that there is still a lot of work to be done if it wants its image to improve in the eyes of the fans and the basketball world in general. On one hand we have the players who are passionate about the game and give it all they have and on the other a tiny incident can spark off a big row. Then, there are the players antics which always pop up at the most unexpected place. Players have to realize that they are looked upon as role models by the younger generation and getting into trouble off the court does not do them or their fans any good.

Basketball is a highly entertaining and fun game to watch. NBA and its players have an obligation to the fans and spectators who spend money to cheer them. NBA has clearly mentioned that it would take measures to avoid fighting incidents on courts and we know that they are serious about them. But who will tell the players about their off court behavior? Should not the players be held responsible for their behavior both on and off the court?

About the writer: Nigel Kerry is an American free lance writer born in Los Angeles, California. Kerry writes Sportsbook reviews, sport book articles and articles with respect to Sports Betting.

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Now thats a bold title, isnt it? So, what ARE the rules of this Game called Life? Clearly we can expect a better outcome when we understand and apply the appropriate rules to the particular game were playing. What if the Seattle Mariners baseball team were invited by the Los Angeles Lakers to play basketball? No matter how well trained Seattle is, no matter how hard they try, they dont have a chance. Their bats and balls are ineffective on a basketball court. Their rules dont match the game. Its the same with Life. To play and win and enjoy the game, its essential to understand the rules. The number one, most important rule to understand is the Law of Attraction.

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world." -- Buddha

Law of Attraction. According to this Universal Law, we magnetize and attract to ourselves whatever we focus on -- whether we want it or not. For example, if you think about and imagine yourself feeling exuberantly healthy all the time, you are attracting vibrant good health. If you worry about some dreaded illness and read scary statistics about the vast numbers of people who are afflicted with it, you are attracting illness.

When you focus on the object of your desire, it doesnt matter if you wish upon a star, offer prayers, or practice meditation, you are applying the magic of the Law of Attraction. This magic is not the exclusive province of any particular religion or philosophy. This magic is inherent in Life.

Thought-Feelings. I like to view Thought-Feelings as one hyphenated word because these two guys -- thoughts and feelings -- are the dynamic duo. Thoughts produce feelings. Choose a Thought -- Get a Feeling.

Thought-Feelings are vibrational Energy which we are constantly transmitting to the Universe. This vibrational Energy attaches, like a magnet or a sticky note, to universal Energy that matches our transmission. Thats why its true that what goes around comes around. What You Think + What You Feel = What You Attract.

When you give your attention to something, you are focusing Energy toward it and connecting vibrationally with it, and the physical manifestation will follow. The caveat -- Be careful what you ask for -- is apt since the Law of Attraction works equally well for creating what you want as for creating what you do not want.

Well-Being is Your Natural State. Joy is your natural state. Vibrant good health is your natural state. Thriving is your natural state. Prosperity is your natural state. Your natural state is high frequency pure Life Force Energy. Because the fundamental essence of the Universe is joy, when you feel joy, you are vibrating in concert with the current of Source Energy. When you are connected to this continuous inexhaustible flow of creative life force, you are literally Full of Life.

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal." -- Hannah Moore

The Cosmic Caf. The menu at the Cosmic Caf is absolutely unlimited and you can have all the scrumptious items you desire. You place your order via your Thought-Feelings and the Cosmic chefs prepare it for you, fulfilling your request without judgment. The Cosmic Caf does not distinguish between what you want and what you dont want. It simply responds to your vibrational Energy Coming right up! Then, unless you resist it with limiting beliefs, your order will be placed before you. The Law of Attraction explains how to order and receive whatever you desire.

If you are joyous and Life is a thrilling adventure for you, the Cosmic Caf will serve you endless delicacies to enjoy. If you think Life is a series of obstacles, the Cosmic Caf will serve you difficulties day after day. In the Cosmic Caf, you get what you vibrate.

Kate Corbin is a Law of Attraction Life Coach and the founder of Gold Star Coaching. Both her coaching practice and her e-book, Dining at the Cosmic Caf: How to Be and Do and Have Whatever You Desire are designed to help people move from where they are to where they want to be and truly live the life of their dreams. To contact Coach Kate, learn more about the Law of Attraction, and to check out her e-book, visit http://www.goldstarcoaching.com/.

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Culturists need to celebrate greatness in Western civilization. But this does not just mean celebrating "high culture." America has geniuses in other forums as well. Yesterday, in the first game of the Western finals, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers merited his second appearance on this blog. Kobe is simply the greatest virtuoso playing basketball in a very long time. Half way through the third quarter the Lakers were down by 20. They won by 4. What happened? Kobe displayed his genius.

This was no accident. Kobe only took about three shots in the first half. This is the basketball equivalent of letting two strikes go by because you only need one pitch to hit it out of the park. Kobe's game said, "I only need a quarter and a half to beat you." It is the equivalent of the rope-a-dope. Kobe stood up against the ropes and said, "Go ahead and hit my for 11 rounds. I won't hit you. Let's see what you've got." Kobe is in a class with Ali.

The close score was not a coincidence. Kobe has been at this so long that he can time comebacks. And the timing in this one was amazing. First lead coming with some 2:42 left to go in the fourth. Amazing. It was the ultimate in cool. But, it really is a science.

A beautiful attribute that comes from Kobe's ingenious control and calm is his ball sharing. A few years ago, down the stretch Kobe might have tried to take over and not passed the ball. Now down the stretch Kobe is distributing just enough to take the defense off of him. He can let Sasha miss a distant three or let Turiaf fumble a pass. He knows how much we're going to win by and that dishing out the ball keeps players honest. Kobe controls the entire other team with his distributing.

Never before in the history of basketball, that I know of, has a player so obviously and blatantly shaved it just right. In Hollywood he is the King of Drama and the King of Cool. You think that his not shooting in the first half was a coincidence? You think the final score being so close was a coincidence? THINK AGAIN.

Kobe Bean Bryant is a genius. Beyond MVP, he is at a whole other level than everyone else in the league! For those of you not watching, Kobe Bean Bryant's current play is easily at the same level of greatness of Ali. He plays with the grace and assuredness of the greatest artists of all times. When Kobe plays we witness great moments in American sports history, a role model of greatness for all of us. We should take culturist pride in his achievements. But, beyond that, to watch him is to enjoy seeing genius in action.

John Press is the author of Culturism: A Word, A Value, Our Future. He is a an adjunct professor and doctoral student at New York University. http://www.culturism.us has more information about culturism.

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Okafor of Charlotte Bobcats Back to Being Lean

Last season Emeka Okafor tried to get bulky but realized that the experiment was futile. This season Okafor is 18 pounds lighter and is back to being the Charlotte Bobcats rebounder and is the top shot blocker in the NBA after the first three games this season.

Coach Bernie Bickerstaff feels that Okafer is quicker now. Last year with all the weight Okafor had put on, he was not at all quick.

Okafor is now 255 pounds and has returned from an ankle injury which had in the sidelines for 56 games last season. Okafor says that after the weight loss he is not getting tired as fast as he used to and his joints are taking the weight easier. Last year Okafor gained weight with the hopes of handling the pounding of NBA better. However, Okafor spent last season either being too slow because of the weight gain or sitting at the sidelines because of his ankle injury. During this time the Bobcats gave up 101 points a game and allowed teams to shoot 48% from the floor.

Okafor was drafted two seasons ago for his rebounding, shot blocking and defense ability. He was part of the 2004 draft and was declared the NBA Rookie of the Year that season.

Now with Okafor back to his lean trim self, Bobcats lead the league in field goal percentage defense after three games. Though they lost the first two, they went on to beat the Clevelands to register their first win of the new season.

About the writer: Nigel Kerry is an American free lance writer born in Los Angeles, California. Kerry writes among others for Sportus.com - Sportsbook reviews, UsBookies.com - Sports Betting Online and Get-best-mortgage-loan.com - Mortgage lenders, get the best mortgage loan

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Paul Pierce the Rise of a Champion

Paul Pierce has proven to be the spirit and energy behind the Boston Celtic's sensational 2008 season. Although his game injuries appear to just give Boston more momentum, his injuries are sure working in the teams benefit. Paul is one of those do-everything players who can handle the ball, shoot, score, rebound and even defend, he moves ticket sales all by him self. With his intensity Pierce converts the Celtic's into a championship team.

Born October 13, 1977 in Oakland California nicknamed The Truth. Paul Pierce has earned All American First Team honors in his junior years at Kansas. In 1998 Paul was the 10th overall draft pick by the Celtic's. Since then he has been a starter and a six time all star for the Boston Celtic's. Pierce has often played his best games against the best individual competition, such as LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, and Kobe Bryant. For instance, Pierce scored a career high 50 points in a loss against the Cleveland Cavalier's on February 15, 2006. After the game, James stated that he feels that Pierce is the top at the position in the Eastern Conference.

In 2000 Pierce suffered a set back when he was stabbed 11 times in the face, the neck and back at a Boston night club. He had to undergo lung surgery to repair the wounds and since then has fully recovered from his injuries. With his intensity and stamina, Pierce has finally taken his team to the finals. Along with Garnett, Allen and Pose the Boston Celtic's have finally reached the level in which a championship is inevitable. The 2008 team is most comparable to the the 85-86 Celtic's championship team when Larry Bird let the team to the championship. It's time for history to be repeated for the Boston Celtic's and the 2008 season will be the beginning of a new era of champions for Boston.

About the Author: Eddie Delgado is the owner and writer for http://www.VintageSportsCardMemorabilia.com
VSCM is the ultimate NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL sports card and memorabilia site for serious collectors.

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