Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Top 10 Dumbest Things Pro Athletes Do
By: Jason OConnor
There seems to be an endless stream of idiotic things professional athletes do. I guess if you put a bunch of young men together, give them a boat-load of money and lots of free time, what can you expect? When beautiful women, the media and the luxuries of life are thrown at them, their cockiness and stupidity are only amplified. Here are my top ten, but of course there are lots more. However, we must always remember, they are only human too. 1. Me Make Good Play!Ever see NFL players beat their chest like a gorilla after they just made a good play? I guess it's a Tarzan thing or something, but they look kinda ridiculous. Maybe if I was out there on the field and I was a 170-pound kicker watching a defensive lineman beating his chest after a sack, I may be a little intimidated, but overall, they look really silly doing it. (I attended a professional all-women's football game this year and saw a 350-pound woman do this, which was particularly scary.)2. The God Factor, Part II hate it when players point up to Heaven and thank God after a good play too. Bear in mind however, that I am not criticizing religion or anyone for having faith in God. But this just looks lame. It happens a lot in MLB for some reason. A strikeout will cause Pedro Martinez to do the chest-touch and double-index-finger-point to God as if he and God were chatting earlier about possible pitching strategies in the locker room, and the strategy they chose together worked, so he had to personally thank God using his direct line. 3. The God Factor, Part IILocker rooms, sidelines, dugouts, bullpens, and court sides are often full of praying men. One question: "If you are praying to win, and your opponent is praying to win, who does God choose?4. Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You?Why do pro jocks get arrested for drug and/or gun possession so much? Of course, lots of people do this one unfortunately, we just happen to hear about the famous athletes who do. C'mon guys, keep the drugs at home, stop driving while high, and for crying out loud, stop packin'! You don't need a gun. Who's going to harm you? You're six six and weigh 275 pounds!5. It Wasn't Me!Telling Congress you don't do steroids, then getting caught doing steroids is pretty dumb. I loved watching the clips where Rafael Palmero sat pointing a finger at the Congressional hearing stating with disgust and confidence, "I do not take steroids." And then the next clip showing him apologizing profusely for taking steroids. 6. I Love You To DeathMurdering ex-lovers doesn't happen very often fortunately, but my list wouldn't be complete without at least mentioning O.J.7. RabbitsIt seems that there are a lot of NBA players out there who use the phrase, "My baby's mom" a little too often. And there's too many pro athletes' offspring introducing their buddies as "My brother from another mother." Ever hear of a condom?8. How Much Bling Bling Do You Need!?It's fascinating to watch professional athletes blow through all their millions in their first year or two and then have nothing left at retirement, which is usually only a few years later. How many fifty-year-olds are still playing pro sports? Not many (minus golfers of course, who will drag their canes and oxygen tanks with them on the fairway). So why don't pro athletes save a couple of bucks? 9. Love My HogIt's not too smart to get injured off the job when you're a pro athlete. Cleveland Browns Kellen Winslow Jr. crashed his motorcycle recently and will now miss the 2005 NFL season. Jay Williams, a number one draft pick of the Chicago Bulls, also got into a motorcycle accident and has not played since. What's with motorcycles anyhow? Talk about killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.10. "When You Come To a Fork in the Road, Take It" - Yogi BerraSaying really dumb things in the media seems to be a particularly easy thing to do if you're a professional athlete. I looked in a lot of places online to come up with a good list here. My problem was that there were so many good ones, I wasn't sure which ones to pick. But here are a few gems:a. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: "I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father."b. Baseball player Tito Fuentes, after getting hit by a pitch: "They shouldn't throw at me. I'm the father of five or six kids."c. Football coach Ray Malavasi: "I don't care what the tape says. I didn't say it."d. Baseball player Dizzy Dean, after a 1-0 game: "The game was closer than the score indicated."e. Boxing Analyst: "Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious."f. Soccer commentator: "Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've got eleven Dicks on the field."g. Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh Steelers coach: "We're not attempting to circumcise rules."h. Jim Wohford: "Ninety percent of the game is half mental."i. Joe Theismann: "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."j. Charles Shackleford of the NCSU basketball team: "Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious."k. Shaquille O'Neal, on his lack of championships: "I've won at every level, except college and pro."As I already asked before, what can we expect from professional athletes? They often reflect society as a whole. Too much time, money and fame at a really young age can augment stupidity, simple as that. We all say and do dumb things, but thankfully, we don't have microphones and video cameras pointed at us all the time. As Norman Einstein used to say, "Really smart athletes stay away from problems because they can predict the future with their ESPN."
There seems to be an endless stream of idiotic things professional athletes do. I guess if you put a bunch of young men together, give them a boat-load of money and lots of free time, what can you expect? When beautiful women, the media and the luxuries of life are thrown at them, their cockiness and stupidity are only amplified. Here are my top ten, but of course there are lots more. However, we must always remember, they are only human too. 1. Me Make Good Play!Ever see NFL players beat their chest like a gorilla after they just made a good play? I guess it's a Tarzan thing or something, but they look kinda ridiculous. Maybe if I was out there on the field and I was a 170-pound kicker watching a defensive lineman beating his chest after a sack, I may be a little intimidated, but overall, they look really silly doing it. (I attended a professional all-women's football game this year and saw a 350-pound woman do this, which was particularly scary.)2. The God Factor, Part II hate it when players point up to Heaven and thank God after a good play too. Bear in mind however, that I am not criticizing religion or anyone for having faith in God. But this just looks lame. It happens a lot in MLB for some reason. A strikeout will cause Pedro Martinez to do the chest-touch and double-index-finger-point to God as if he and God were chatting earlier about possible pitching strategies in the locker room, and the strategy they chose together worked, so he had to personally thank God using his direct line. 3. The God Factor, Part IILocker rooms, sidelines, dugouts, bullpens, and court sides are often full of praying men. One question: "If you are praying to win, and your opponent is praying to win, who does God choose?4. Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You?Why do pro jocks get arrested for drug and/or gun possession so much? Of course, lots of people do this one unfortunately, we just happen to hear about the famous athletes who do. C'mon guys, keep the drugs at home, stop driving while high, and for crying out loud, stop packin'! You don't need a gun. Who's going to harm you? You're six six and weigh 275 pounds!5. It Wasn't Me!Telling Congress you don't do steroids, then getting caught doing steroids is pretty dumb. I loved watching the clips where Rafael Palmero sat pointing a finger at the Congressional hearing stating with disgust and confidence, "I do not take steroids." And then the next clip showing him apologizing profusely for taking steroids. 6. I Love You To DeathMurdering ex-lovers doesn't happen very often fortunately, but my list wouldn't be complete without at least mentioning O.J.7. RabbitsIt seems that there are a lot of NBA players out there who use the phrase, "My baby's mom" a little too often. And there's too many pro athletes' offspring introducing their buddies as "My brother from another mother." Ever hear of a condom?8. How Much Bling Bling Do You Need!?It's fascinating to watch professional athletes blow through all their millions in their first year or two and then have nothing left at retirement, which is usually only a few years later. How many fifty-year-olds are still playing pro sports? Not many (minus golfers of course, who will drag their canes and oxygen tanks with them on the fairway). So why don't pro athletes save a couple of bucks? 9. Love My HogIt's not too smart to get injured off the job when you're a pro athlete. Cleveland Browns Kellen Winslow Jr. crashed his motorcycle recently and will now miss the 2005 NFL season. Jay Williams, a number one draft pick of the Chicago Bulls, also got into a motorcycle accident and has not played since. What's with motorcycles anyhow? Talk about killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.10. "When You Come To a Fork in the Road, Take It" - Yogi BerraSaying really dumb things in the media seems to be a particularly easy thing to do if you're a professional athlete. I looked in a lot of places online to come up with a good list here. My problem was that there were so many good ones, I wasn't sure which ones to pick. But here are a few gems:a. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: "I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father."b. Baseball player Tito Fuentes, after getting hit by a pitch: "They shouldn't throw at me. I'm the father of five or six kids."c. Football coach Ray Malavasi: "I don't care what the tape says. I didn't say it."d. Baseball player Dizzy Dean, after a 1-0 game: "The game was closer than the score indicated."e. Boxing Analyst: "Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious."f. Soccer commentator: "Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've got eleven Dicks on the field."g. Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh Steelers coach: "We're not attempting to circumcise rules."h. Jim Wohford: "Ninety percent of the game is half mental."i. Joe Theismann: "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."j. Charles Shackleford of the NCSU basketball team: "Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious."k. Shaquille O'Neal, on his lack of championships: "I've won at every level, except college and pro."As I already asked before, what can we expect from professional athletes? They often reflect society as a whole. Too much time, money and fame at a really young age can augment stupidity, simple as that. We all say and do dumb things, but thankfully, we don't have microphones and video cameras pointed at us all the time. As Norman Einstein used to say, "Really smart athletes stay away from problems because they can predict the future with their ESPN."
The Fun of Fantasy Football
By: Philip Nicosia
Fifteen to eighteen million people play fantasy football every year-and the numbers are growing rapidly.In fantasy football, you "draft" or auction an imaginary team composed of real-life football players (this can include NFL professionals or college players). They then score points based on their actual performance in real games.Your fantasy tournament progresses in much the same way as the real football games. You go head-to-head, competing against another opponent each week. If your team scores the most points by the end of the season, and has the best win-loss record, you win.Fantasy football was invented by Danny Dulac, one of the organizers of the Raiders. He thought of it during a road trip to the east coast, and by the time he got back, he had fleshed out many of the rules and was "ready for kick off". Today, there are thousands of websites, magazines and software that are dedicated to fantasy sports.This is how it works. You have a fantasy league with 8 to 12 teams, with players drafted at the start of the season. Depending on the league you join, you start with a clean slate every season or have a permanent partial roster (these players can't be included in the annual draft). Some leagues will have you keep the entire team and just draft rookies. At any time during the season owners can change their team by firing some players (that's life) and hiring free agents who were not drafted. You can also trade with other teams. The scores are based on how the players do in their weekly NFL games. For example, a player gets 1 point for making 25 passing yards, 10 rushing yards, or 10 receiving yards. He gets a whopping 6 points for a touchdown (unless it's a passing touchdown, where he just gets 4). Errors can also affect your score. For example, every interception that is thrown subtracts two points. This also applies to fumbles.Defensive scores are a little harder to compute, so some leagues opt to compute the scores primarily on yards. (They say it is more realistic and mimics the way an actual game works.) Defensive statistics such as sacks and fumble recoveries are then subtracted. To get the number of touchdowns, the total score is divided by a particular number (sometimes 80 or 100). Then any field goals made by placekickers are added to that score. It's a very exciting game and adds a new dimension to the already popular game of football.
Fifteen to eighteen million people play fantasy football every year-and the numbers are growing rapidly.In fantasy football, you "draft" or auction an imaginary team composed of real-life football players (this can include NFL professionals or college players). They then score points based on their actual performance in real games.Your fantasy tournament progresses in much the same way as the real football games. You go head-to-head, competing against another opponent each week. If your team scores the most points by the end of the season, and has the best win-loss record, you win.Fantasy football was invented by Danny Dulac, one of the organizers of the Raiders. He thought of it during a road trip to the east coast, and by the time he got back, he had fleshed out many of the rules and was "ready for kick off". Today, there are thousands of websites, magazines and software that are dedicated to fantasy sports.This is how it works. You have a fantasy league with 8 to 12 teams, with players drafted at the start of the season. Depending on the league you join, you start with a clean slate every season or have a permanent partial roster (these players can't be included in the annual draft). Some leagues will have you keep the entire team and just draft rookies. At any time during the season owners can change their team by firing some players (that's life) and hiring free agents who were not drafted. You can also trade with other teams. The scores are based on how the players do in their weekly NFL games. For example, a player gets 1 point for making 25 passing yards, 10 rushing yards, or 10 receiving yards. He gets a whopping 6 points for a touchdown (unless it's a passing touchdown, where he just gets 4). Errors can also affect your score. For example, every interception that is thrown subtracts two points. This also applies to fumbles.Defensive scores are a little harder to compute, so some leagues opt to compute the scores primarily on yards. (They say it is more realistic and mimics the way an actual game works.) Defensive statistics such as sacks and fumble recoveries are then subtracted. To get the number of touchdowns, the total score is divided by a particular number (sometimes 80 or 100). Then any field goals made by placekickers are added to that score. It's a very exciting game and adds a new dimension to the already popular game of football.
A History of Golf
By: Doris Rush
If there were sticks and objects that could be hurtled along, then there was 'golf.' No one knows for certain who started golf. But everybody knows who plays it now - everyone does.The origin of the name 'golf' is believed to be the Dutch word of 'colf,' which means 'club.' In the medieval ages, golf was also known as "spel metten colve,' which literally meant 'game with clubs.'Nearly every area around the world has some claim to the origination of golf. Scotland, of course, has its claim. But so do China, Rome, England, France, Holland, Belgium, even Laos. Every country has a game consisting of sticks and balls, and every country is correct in its assumption that it invented the game. But there is no one country where 'golf' actually began.Still, Scotland is widely considered to be birthplace of golf. And it began haphazardly, a way of hitting a pebble or other roundish object into a hole by means of a stick or club.Edinburgh, Scotland, claimed the first golfing society. The Gentlemen Golfers - later known as the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and today in residence at Muirfield - claim their club was already under way in 1744.The first inter-Scotland club matches were played in 1857. The world would wait until 1860 for the first British Open to be played.The British Open was being played 35 years before the U.S. Open. It has been called "The World Open." Players from around the globe participate, as they have for a century or more. The British Open is all-inclusive. The U.S. Open has been moving in that direction for the last decade. But the British Open has been accepting a cast from around the world since the turn of the century.It is not known for certain when golf came to America - only that when it got a toehold in the 20th century, America became the world leader in great players. By 1900, the explosion of the game in America was complete. Proof was that, at the turn of the century, there were more golf clubs in the United States than there were in Britain.Tiger Woods came upon the scene in 1996. He won eight times in 1999, nine times in 2000, and won the four major championships in succession in 2000-2001, starting with the U.S. Open in 2000. Should his career be as successful in his 30s and 40s as it has been in his 20s, he will assume the mantle of "best player ever."Women have played a very large part in the history of golf, even before the last half of the 20th century when they finally achieved equality with men. Records of ladies playing golf exist all the way back to the time of Mary Queen of Scots.
If there were sticks and objects that could be hurtled along, then there was 'golf.' No one knows for certain who started golf. But everybody knows who plays it now - everyone does.The origin of the name 'golf' is believed to be the Dutch word of 'colf,' which means 'club.' In the medieval ages, golf was also known as "spel metten colve,' which literally meant 'game with clubs.'Nearly every area around the world has some claim to the origination of golf. Scotland, of course, has its claim. But so do China, Rome, England, France, Holland, Belgium, even Laos. Every country has a game consisting of sticks and balls, and every country is correct in its assumption that it invented the game. But there is no one country where 'golf' actually began.Still, Scotland is widely considered to be birthplace of golf. And it began haphazardly, a way of hitting a pebble or other roundish object into a hole by means of a stick or club.Edinburgh, Scotland, claimed the first golfing society. The Gentlemen Golfers - later known as the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and today in residence at Muirfield - claim their club was already under way in 1744.The first inter-Scotland club matches were played in 1857. The world would wait until 1860 for the first British Open to be played.The British Open was being played 35 years before the U.S. Open. It has been called "The World Open." Players from around the globe participate, as they have for a century or more. The British Open is all-inclusive. The U.S. Open has been moving in that direction for the last decade. But the British Open has been accepting a cast from around the world since the turn of the century.It is not known for certain when golf came to America - only that when it got a toehold in the 20th century, America became the world leader in great players. By 1900, the explosion of the game in America was complete. Proof was that, at the turn of the century, there were more golf clubs in the United States than there were in Britain.Tiger Woods came upon the scene in 1996. He won eight times in 1999, nine times in 2000, and won the four major championships in succession in 2000-2001, starting with the U.S. Open in 2000. Should his career be as successful in his 30s and 40s as it has been in his 20s, he will assume the mantle of "best player ever."Women have played a very large part in the history of golf, even before the last half of the 20th century when they finally achieved equality with men. Records of ladies playing golf exist all the way back to the time of Mary Queen of Scots.
Top Ten Reasons Why I Love Baseball
By: Aron Wallad
1. The Ultimate ChallengeHitting a round ball with a round bat. The feeling I would get when I hit the ball. Just think of a baby that is crying for food. When that baby gets her bottle the first thing you hear is that ahhhhh sound. Oh that ah. When I hit a ball perfectly I would have that ahhhhh. 2. I call it Contentment at a high level.I played all the time when I was a kid. Some of my favorite memories were from the diamond. When I hit two home runs in one game off the star pitcher form our High School team. I rounded the bases in full view of our High School coach. I was glowing. When I hit a game ending home run off Jay Klein. He thought I could only hit singles. Rounding the bases of redemption was a another special moment for me. When I broke up two no hitters from the star, city league pitcher. I felt like I had made the grade, and that was awesome. 3. Easy watchingI can sit in my favorite chair and root for Derek Jeter to hit one up the gap. Holding my breath with every pitch delivered to him. Or, I can sit and read the paper and view the events of the game through the corner of my eye. Either way is ok with me.4. I am amazed by what Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig accomplished in their careers.I look at old film footage, or read about either The Babe or Larripin Lou and always feel awed by the big numbers they both put on the board. From home runs to RBIs to batting average to runs scored, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig achieved over and over again.5. Double my pleasure.I could play baseball and get a tan at the same time.6. My sons played and my daughter still plays.I have had the pleasure of sharing joyous moments with my children. Times that I will not forget. Like when my daughter got the game winning hit against Fair Lawn High School last year. We won 1-0. I was jumping up and down. I was so excited. I was so happy she delivered.7. I love all of the statistics.Did you ever see so many stats? Runs, RBIs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, stolen bases etc..... Comparing eras, or comparing players. Duos like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig - how do they stack up against other twosomes. Who had the highest batting average in a three or four or five year stint? So many statistics to choose form. It is endless.8. A place to excelI loved taking a hit away from the batter. I felt great stealing a base. Why is it that stealing is bad except in baseball? My satisfaction was heightened by a solid hit. This was the best. Ahhhh. I especially felt great rounding the bases after hitting a homer. I think I know how Babe Ruth felt when he whacked one. 9. My favorite team is the Yankees.Of all the teams I root for in all the professional sports I watch the Yankees are the only team that wins on a fairly regular basis. All my other teams usually lose. It feels good when my team wins.10 I love the stories.Like the story Mickey Mantle tells of the time when he first joined the Yankees. He was not hitting well. His confidence was dwindling. After days of desperation he called his father when he was playing near Oklahoma. Mickey Mantle was hoping his father would give him a pep talk. But when Muck Mantle got to the hotel room where Mickey and the New York Yankees were staying. Muck did not give his son a pep talk. He did the opposite. Mickey's father told Mickey that he was there to pick up his son and bring him home. Mickey's father said that he did not know he raised a quitter. Mickey Mantle got the message. He started to hit after his father left. He attributes that meeting with his father as a turning point in his career. I have heard Mickey Mantle tell that story a few times on tape or live. Whenever I hear him tell it I am moved by Mickey's love for his father. 11. It is just the greatest game.Feel Free to pass this article on to anyone you think would enjoy reading it.
1. The Ultimate ChallengeHitting a round ball with a round bat. The feeling I would get when I hit the ball. Just think of a baby that is crying for food. When that baby gets her bottle the first thing you hear is that ahhhhh sound. Oh that ah. When I hit a ball perfectly I would have that ahhhhh. 2. I call it Contentment at a high level.I played all the time when I was a kid. Some of my favorite memories were from the diamond. When I hit two home runs in one game off the star pitcher form our High School team. I rounded the bases in full view of our High School coach. I was glowing. When I hit a game ending home run off Jay Klein. He thought I could only hit singles. Rounding the bases of redemption was a another special moment for me. When I broke up two no hitters from the star, city league pitcher. I felt like I had made the grade, and that was awesome. 3. Easy watchingI can sit in my favorite chair and root for Derek Jeter to hit one up the gap. Holding my breath with every pitch delivered to him. Or, I can sit and read the paper and view the events of the game through the corner of my eye. Either way is ok with me.4. I am amazed by what Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig accomplished in their careers.I look at old film footage, or read about either The Babe or Larripin Lou and always feel awed by the big numbers they both put on the board. From home runs to RBIs to batting average to runs scored, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig achieved over and over again.5. Double my pleasure.I could play baseball and get a tan at the same time.6. My sons played and my daughter still plays.I have had the pleasure of sharing joyous moments with my children. Times that I will not forget. Like when my daughter got the game winning hit against Fair Lawn High School last year. We won 1-0. I was jumping up and down. I was so excited. I was so happy she delivered.7. I love all of the statistics.Did you ever see so many stats? Runs, RBIs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, stolen bases etc..... Comparing eras, or comparing players. Duos like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig - how do they stack up against other twosomes. Who had the highest batting average in a three or four or five year stint? So many statistics to choose form. It is endless.8. A place to excelI loved taking a hit away from the batter. I felt great stealing a base. Why is it that stealing is bad except in baseball? My satisfaction was heightened by a solid hit. This was the best. Ahhhh. I especially felt great rounding the bases after hitting a homer. I think I know how Babe Ruth felt when he whacked one. 9. My favorite team is the Yankees.Of all the teams I root for in all the professional sports I watch the Yankees are the only team that wins on a fairly regular basis. All my other teams usually lose. It feels good when my team wins.10 I love the stories.Like the story Mickey Mantle tells of the time when he first joined the Yankees. He was not hitting well. His confidence was dwindling. After days of desperation he called his father when he was playing near Oklahoma. Mickey Mantle was hoping his father would give him a pep talk. But when Muck Mantle got to the hotel room where Mickey and the New York Yankees were staying. Muck did not give his son a pep talk. He did the opposite. Mickey's father told Mickey that he was there to pick up his son and bring him home. Mickey's father said that he did not know he raised a quitter. Mickey Mantle got the message. He started to hit after his father left. He attributes that meeting with his father as a turning point in his career. I have heard Mickey Mantle tell that story a few times on tape or live. Whenever I hear him tell it I am moved by Mickey's love for his father. 11. It is just the greatest game.Feel Free to pass this article on to anyone you think would enjoy reading it.
Choosing Baseball Bats
By: Kenrick Austin
We hope that you enjoy yourselves reading this information onbaseball bats. We sure enjoyed ourselves compiling this up.From the time small children are old enough to hold a baseball bat many have longed to be part of the great American pastime. Baseball bats have been around ever since the game was created and there are baseball museums that have collections of baseball bats owned and used by famous players.When kids first start to play the game of baseball they use a plastic bat. There are plastic baseball bats made today for the youngest of ballplayers and some even have baseball teams or players names on them.As children get older and more serious about the game they find there are choices to be made about which bat to buy. Baseball bats come in many widths, lengths and materials. A heavier bat gives the ball more momentum but a heavier bat also means a less speedy swing. Bats that are made from graphite or aluminum hit balls farther than baseball bats made from wood.Players endorse baseball bats and many have their names on them. Baseball team logos are also represented on baseball bats.Writing about baseball bats is an interesting writing assignment. There is no end to it, as there is so much to write about it!When aluminum bats were first introduced in the 1970's, batting averages rose 30 points and home run hits doubled. In the Major Leagues batters now use wooden bats instead of baseball bats made from lighter materials. They could change to the baseball bats made from aluminum or a lighter material but it would significantly change the home runs hit today and the traditional records and baseball legends would not seem as important.If you are wanting to buy a baseball bat consider who will be using it. Age and which league you are playing in is also a deciding factor. Little League bats can't be more than 2 1/4 inches in diameter or more than 33 inches long for instance. Adult leagues have rules about baseball bats also.Speed and control are the most crucial factors to consider when buying a baseball bat. Check the weight of the bat, if it's too heavy it won't work for you. When checking the grip, your fingertips should meet when closed around the handle.Did you ever believe that there was so much to learn about baseball bats? Neither did we! Once we got to write this article, it seemed to be endless.You can buy a small wooden baseball bat for $10-$20. An aluminum bat will cost between $20-$200 or more but it won't chip or peel and the balance and weight will remain constant.There are thousands of baseball bats to choose from. Talk to an expert who can help you decide which is the perfect baseball bat for you.Writing all this on can be considered an obligation to us. This is because we felt obligated on imparting all this knowledge we knew about baseball bats.
We hope that you enjoy yourselves reading this information onbaseball bats. We sure enjoyed ourselves compiling this up.From the time small children are old enough to hold a baseball bat many have longed to be part of the great American pastime. Baseball bats have been around ever since the game was created and there are baseball museums that have collections of baseball bats owned and used by famous players.When kids first start to play the game of baseball they use a plastic bat. There are plastic baseball bats made today for the youngest of ballplayers and some even have baseball teams or players names on them.As children get older and more serious about the game they find there are choices to be made about which bat to buy. Baseball bats come in many widths, lengths and materials. A heavier bat gives the ball more momentum but a heavier bat also means a less speedy swing. Bats that are made from graphite or aluminum hit balls farther than baseball bats made from wood.Players endorse baseball bats and many have their names on them. Baseball team logos are also represented on baseball bats.Writing about baseball bats is an interesting writing assignment. There is no end to it, as there is so much to write about it!When aluminum bats were first introduced in the 1970's, batting averages rose 30 points and home run hits doubled. In the Major Leagues batters now use wooden bats instead of baseball bats made from lighter materials. They could change to the baseball bats made from aluminum or a lighter material but it would significantly change the home runs hit today and the traditional records and baseball legends would not seem as important.If you are wanting to buy a baseball bat consider who will be using it. Age and which league you are playing in is also a deciding factor. Little League bats can't be more than 2 1/4 inches in diameter or more than 33 inches long for instance. Adult leagues have rules about baseball bats also.Speed and control are the most crucial factors to consider when buying a baseball bat. Check the weight of the bat, if it's too heavy it won't work for you. When checking the grip, your fingertips should meet when closed around the handle.Did you ever believe that there was so much to learn about baseball bats? Neither did we! Once we got to write this article, it seemed to be endless.You can buy a small wooden baseball bat for $10-$20. An aluminum bat will cost between $20-$200 or more but it won't chip or peel and the balance and weight will remain constant.There are thousands of baseball bats to choose from. Talk to an expert who can help you decide which is the perfect baseball bat for you.Writing all this on can be considered an obligation to us. This is because we felt obligated on imparting all this knowledge we knew about baseball bats.
Great Baseball Quotes
By: Aron Wallad
I love what prominent baseball people have to say about the great ballplayers. They seem to eloquently capture what we are thinking. "It was his solemn duty to catch a ball that wasn't in the stands." - Monte Irvin (Newark Eagles OF, May 6, 1981), on Willie Mays "Maybe they should see if his body is corked." - Howard 'Hojo' Johnson (NY Mets), on Bo Jackson, from Sports Illustrated, October 19, 1986 "When he took BP everybody would kind of stop what they were doing and watch." - Jim Kaat, former pitcher, on Mickey Mantle "I played with him for nine years and marveled at how hard he hit and how fast he ran. How can anyone ever forget the catch he made on Gil Hodges' line drive to save Don Larsen's perfect game?" - Tony Kubek, former shortstop, on Mickey Mantle "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." - Jackie Robinson "Having Willie Stargell on your ball club is like having a diamond ring on your finger." Chuck Tanner "Ted Williams was the greatest hitter I ever saw, but (Joe) DiMaggio was the greatest all around player." Bob Feller"No one hit home runs the way Babe (Ruth) did. They were something special. They were like homing pigeons. The ball would leave the bat, pause briefly, suddenly gain its bearings, then take off for the stands." Lefty Gomez"When Neil Armstong first set foot on the moon, he and all the space scientists were puzzled by an unidentifiable white object. I knew immediately what it was. That was a home run ball hit off me in 1933 by Jimmie Foxx." Lefty Gomez"Every time Johnny Bench throws, everybody in baseball drools." - Harry Dalton"He (Babe Ruth) hits a ball harder and further than any man I ever saw." - Bill Dickey"He (Lou Gehrig) just went out and did his job every day." Bill Dickey"He gets better every year, that's what's remarkable about him. Some guys are good and stay good. Some guys are good and get better. He reminds me of Kareem. Hubie Brown said that Kareem worked at the beginning of every season to improve some facet of his game. It's that way with the best, whatever the profession. That's the way this kid is." Ed Bradley on 60 Minutes - Talking about Derek Jeter"I think he was one of the greatest third basemen of all time. He had one of the sweetest swings I ever saw." - Teammate Johnny Logan - Referring to Eddie Mathews"How good was Stan Musial? He was good enough to take your breath away." - (1989)Vin Scully"When he (Maury Wills) runs, it's all downhill." Vin ScullySeeing what these writers, ballplayers and managers has to say about these players lights up the page for me. I can visualize these players on the field hitting home runs, running with arms outstretched to catch a ball or throwing out a would be base runner trying to steal a base.This is my baseball memorabilia.Feel Free to pass this article on to anyone you think would enjoy reading it.
I love what prominent baseball people have to say about the great ballplayers. They seem to eloquently capture what we are thinking. "It was his solemn duty to catch a ball that wasn't in the stands." - Monte Irvin (Newark Eagles OF, May 6, 1981), on Willie Mays "Maybe they should see if his body is corked." - Howard 'Hojo' Johnson (NY Mets), on Bo Jackson, from Sports Illustrated, October 19, 1986 "When he took BP everybody would kind of stop what they were doing and watch." - Jim Kaat, former pitcher, on Mickey Mantle "I played with him for nine years and marveled at how hard he hit and how fast he ran. How can anyone ever forget the catch he made on Gil Hodges' line drive to save Don Larsen's perfect game?" - Tony Kubek, former shortstop, on Mickey Mantle "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." - Jackie Robinson "Having Willie Stargell on your ball club is like having a diamond ring on your finger." Chuck Tanner "Ted Williams was the greatest hitter I ever saw, but (Joe) DiMaggio was the greatest all around player." Bob Feller"No one hit home runs the way Babe (Ruth) did. They were something special. They were like homing pigeons. The ball would leave the bat, pause briefly, suddenly gain its bearings, then take off for the stands." Lefty Gomez"When Neil Armstong first set foot on the moon, he and all the space scientists were puzzled by an unidentifiable white object. I knew immediately what it was. That was a home run ball hit off me in 1933 by Jimmie Foxx." Lefty Gomez"Every time Johnny Bench throws, everybody in baseball drools." - Harry Dalton"He (Babe Ruth) hits a ball harder and further than any man I ever saw." - Bill Dickey"He (Lou Gehrig) just went out and did his job every day." Bill Dickey"He gets better every year, that's what's remarkable about him. Some guys are good and stay good. Some guys are good and get better. He reminds me of Kareem. Hubie Brown said that Kareem worked at the beginning of every season to improve some facet of his game. It's that way with the best, whatever the profession. That's the way this kid is." Ed Bradley on 60 Minutes - Talking about Derek Jeter"I think he was one of the greatest third basemen of all time. He had one of the sweetest swings I ever saw." - Teammate Johnny Logan - Referring to Eddie Mathews"How good was Stan Musial? He was good enough to take your breath away." - (1989)Vin Scully"When he (Maury Wills) runs, it's all downhill." Vin ScullySeeing what these writers, ballplayers and managers has to say about these players lights up the page for me. I can visualize these players on the field hitting home runs, running with arms outstretched to catch a ball or throwing out a would be base runner trying to steal a base.This is my baseball memorabilia.Feel Free to pass this article on to anyone you think would enjoy reading it.
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