Pickup Basketball: A Guide to America\'s Favorite Game

The sports, comedy, documentary and "how-to" genres combine with hilarious illustrations to enlighten and entertain readers. If you are a basketball player or know one, this is a must-have!
Customer Review: Pickup Basketball, A Guide to America's Favorite Game
Hilarious writing and illustrations make up a book that any pickup player can relate to and find humor in. Great charactures of "player-types", or guys you inevitably run into while playing. Points out the annoying, but oh-so-true features of the game we love to play....you may even find yourself type-cast in the book! A great entertainment-value book that does'nt take hours to read and gives some funny tips on life outside the court for sport-guys

Many people who play basketball want to learn how to jump higher so that they can be the one in the game that is counted on to help the team win. Whether that is by getting hold of that rebound or making a slam dunk as the buzzer rings jumping high can truly help you in your game. But to jump high doesn't come naturally to some and so you have to work at it. If you are unsure of how to do that then let me be the one to help you out.

You see, the exercises that are needed to help you in learning how to jump higher are ones that don't generally require any kind of special equipment or gym fees. The exercises that I find to be helpful are the ones that you can do pretty much any time and anywhere. Whether while on the couch watching the game or when you are walking across the room, you can be doing things to tone your calves and other muscles. A very small change that you can make is to attach ankle weights for when you go for a jog or if you are simply cleaning out the garage. No need to add a lot of weight, if you can add two pounds or five pounds it doesn't matter so long as you are doing what is necessary to build up your leg strength.

There are of course other things that will help you learn how to jump higher. You are going to think it silly to say this but something that will really help to build up your calves and other leg muscles is skipping. Skipping will probably not be the first thing to come to mind when you start thinking of way to build up leg strength but it should be. To see what I am saying, imagine yourself skipping and think of the leg muscles that are involved to get you off the ground. Of course you can't just dally about and expect results, each time you spring from the ground use your toes to take you higher each and every time. Not only will it build up the necessary muscles but it will also help to work others as well.

Jogging is another way that can help you in your game. Of course you can't just go on a three mile sprint and expect to come back alive but if you start easy and work your way up to the distance your want you will see an overall change in yourself. Your lungs will hold more air, your legs will be stronger and your body will begin changing because of the different muscles that are used. It will be something that can help you as you learn how to jump higher as the muscles that will be worked will be ones to help you achieve your goal.

Raising yourself onto your toes and then back down will work an amazing amount of muscles, especially your calves. Working the quads is also something that is very important and that can be done by doing the squats that we all know and love.

What is important is realizing that anything done to an extreme can take all the fun out of it. But if you work in moderation you will allow your body to work change for the good in a way that it can tolerate.

Tired of being out rebounded, blocked, or dunked on? Steve Litt has been coaching young athletes for over 22 years and can help you out jump your competition. To learn more about how to jump higher, visit his website where he offers free workouts and tips on how to increase your vertical leap: http://www.thehighjumper.com

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Spurs Logo Art Big Kids Propsect Watch

The Anderson Youth Propsect Watch has a plastic watch case, bezel and lens with coordinating colorful strap made from polyurethane. Team logo in center of watch. The Prospect™ model features Miyota movement with hour, minute and second hands. Water resistant with a two-year limited warranty. Packaged in a bright silver tin.

Boston and Detroit are the two best teams in the Eastern Conference and for the most part they are evenly matched. So far, Boston has struggled in the NBA Playoffs having to go to a seventh game in both rounds. Detroit, on the other hand, has avoided going to a seventh game in either round and ended their series vs. Orlando in five even winning the last two games without Chauncey Billups.

Detroit is one of if not the most balanced teams in the NBA. Offensively, they are able to score inside and outside. Their bigs, Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess have the ability to score in the post with their back to the basket and can also face up. Tayshaun Prince is very versatile and has a high basketballIQ. Their starting backcourt of Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton is one of the best in the league. Billups has great size as a point guard and uses it to take smaller defenders in the post. Hamilton moves as well as anybody without the ball and is excellent at catching and shooting.

On the defensive end, Detroit has been near the top of the NBA the last few years. This season, they ranked 4th in defensive rating (points given up per 100 possessions). They have excellent individual defenders in Billups, Prince, McDyess, and Wallace. They don't give you anything easy and force you to execute. They rebound well and held teams to a FG% of .437.

Boston is loaded with star power. Offensively, they feature three offensive players who rank near the top at their respective positions. Kevin Garnett is one of the premier bigs in the game; he is a tough cover in the post and is an outstanding defender. Paul Pierce has great size for a small forward and can score in a variety of ways. Ray Allen has struggled this postseason, but he is more than capable of lighting you up from the perimeter.

Defensively, they are statistically the best in the NBA this season. They put good pressure on the ball and have excellent helpside defense. Garnett is one of the best bigs at defending the pick and roll and erases mistakes. They play well as a unit and play great transition defense.

This series in will come down to who can get more easy baskets. Both teams would prefer to play in the halfcourt. Whoever wins the battle on the glass and the turnover battle will in advance to the finals.

Jared Ziegler is an assistant basketball coach. To read more analysis and commentary about the x's and o's of basketball, please click here http://basketballanalyst.blogspot.com/

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adidas Little Kid/Big Kid Hoop Shot Basketball Shoe

Step up your game with these futuristic Hoopshot basketball sneakers by adidas. Smooth leather upper in a low-cut basketball shoe style with a round reinforced toe. Perforated pin punched side paneling and wrapped canvas striping with polished metal lacing logo bars add upscale sporty detail. Padded collar and logo tongue, fabric lining and cushioned logo insole. Flexible EVA cushioned midsole and a non-marking durable solid rubber indoor/outdoor traction outsole.

Its a city on the water, and accordingly a city of beaches. From every vantage point within the city, you can see water and the wonders that await you there. The beaches on the Puget Sound are accordingly different than the fine sand and big surf of resort towns though. In Seattle you have real beaches, beaches of open grassy areas and drift wood, seaweed and seagulls. But of course with so many beaches throughout a city surrounded by water, which are better to visit than the rest. Here are a list of must visit beaches in the Seattle area.

1. Golden Gardens Nestled at the bottom of a winding, wondrous drive in Ballard, over the train tracks and down some stairs, Golden Gardens is an ideal spot to spend an afternoon in the summer, just walking and enjoying the cool Puget Sound air. There are a dozen or more picnic benches, an indoor events hall, a wide open grass area for sporting, and various spots throughout to have bonfires when the sun goes down. Just hidden enough to find a good spot and enjoy the view. If its warm enough and youre feeling in a swimming mood, this is one of the few places where you can freely jump into the ocean without fear of stepping on a giant rock or driftwood.

2. Matthews Beach The site of Seattles annual Polar Bear event on January 1, Matthews Beach is an open, park surrounded swimming venue a wonderful place to take kids for a quick dip without worrying about the tides and runs of the ocean. If you have a mind to have a picnic theres space for that too, and its open year round for those of you who dont necessarily need to go into the water.

3. Myrtle Edwards At the north end of Seattles piers is Myrtle Edwards Beach, an ideal spot to watch one of Seattles many fireworks displays ever year. Directly behind the Seattle PI Building, youll find its not full of amenities, but when the sun starts to set and the ocean lights up, its one of the most beautiful places in the city to be. The beach itself is sparse, and littered with rocks, but the area above is clear and perfect for laying down blankets and lounging in the sun for a day.

4. Alki Beach Alki is one of the places youre most likely to think of when you picture a beautiful sunny day on the water in Seattle. Stretching from Alki Point to Duwamish Head on Elliott Bay, the 2.5 mile stretch of beach is perfect for a long walk or a jog any day of the year. The widened path through the area is perfect for rollerblading, dog walking, or just appreciating the spectacular view of the Puget Sound and the Olympic mountains.

5. Green Lake Its not a beach on the ocean, but its the most popular water front destination in the city. Any day of the year, rain or shine youll see people doing their daily laps around the lakes spacious paths. Walking dogs, jogging, roller blading, or just talking with a friend, the paths around Green Lake are a perfect stop for anyone in need of a good exercise. You can rent and take out on the lake paddle boats or stop by and play volleyball in the sanded out beach area on the Eastern shore. Theres a community center with a swimming pool and a basketball court, as well as an outdoor court almost always swarming with opponents for you and your friends. If youre feeling hungry, you can simply cross the street and visit any of a number of enticing restaurant choices in the Green Lake area. Surrounded with the beautiful towering evergreens, the park is by far one the must visit locales in Seattle.

I'm a self avowed unemployed writer, working on semi-constant basis to try and overcome the need to go and work a real job. I've written more than 200 articles and reviews and am constantly scouring the internet for any and all excuses and methods to make myself less dependent on corporate pay days. Visit my website at TheChatfield.com

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Lakers - adidas Men's NBA 2008 MVP Tee - Bryant, Kobe

adidas commends the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 NBA season — the Lakers' Kobe Bryant — with this NBA MVP '08 t-shirt. Bryant, who entered the season as the league's two-time defending scoring champion, led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. Made of 100% cotton and featuring screenprinted graphics. Imported.

In this article I am going to explain strength training exercises to increase your vertical jump. Strength training is an important aspect of vertical leap development because your raw strength is the foundation for many important qualities you need to excel in to jump high. Strength is the backbone for your reactive ability, speed, power, endurance, agility, etc. Since it effects so many vital components of vertical jumping, it is paramount that you develop it as best you can.

Strength Training Exercises:

Squats, lunges, leg extensions, leg curls, and calf raises are great exercises to help increase your body's overall strength. Of these, squats do wonders when they are performed properly. They really tear up the muscles that are involved in vertical jumping such as your quadriceps, glutes, hamstring, and calves.

Important Points to Note:

Your "maximum strength" (the amount of force your muscles can exert independent of time) is what strength training will develop. Vertical jumping directly deals with "functional strength" (the amount of force your muscles can exert in short bursts of time). To effectively increase your vertical, you must improve your maximum strength while blending that into functional training.

Plyometrics are such exercises that develop your functional strength. Therefore your vertical jump regiment should include both strength training and plyometrics. The catch here is that everyone has different body compositions that require different levels of training with strength and plyometrics. Some people need more training and less plyometrics, others need the opposite - it all depends on your body type. I see people all the time training with the wrong mix of the two and wonder why they aren't seeing the results they hoped for. You need to have a program that will tailor your exercises to your unique body composition.

What is your body type and what kind of exercises will you benefit the most from? Many vertical jump programs out today have tests to determine your body type and will tailor a program to that. Click here to find out the 2 main categories of body types and to read our unbiased reviews of the top vertical jump program out today.

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