Arxman - Sports Blog

Woods plays the Old Master!

James Coolridge — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:06:03 +0000

Needless to say that Tiger Woods is synonymous with victory and even if this legend halts for a while in his winnings, he just knows how to make his way back to the centre of the golf stage. This Sunday witnessed his one of his another dramatic games

which had the hearts of millions pounding whether or not the Tiger will make it once again or not.

The master of 14 Championship titles proved it once again as after his absence from the grounds owing to his injury. The world no.1 needed to hole a 16-foot putt on the final green to edge out Sean O’Hair, his worthy opponent. And just like the Woods has always preferred, he needed no second invitation to make it clear that he is back and he is here to stay. The ball found it s place in the hole and caddie Steve Williams could resist embracing the master for it was the sixth time he had won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the third time he had done so by holing a long putt on the final green.

Victories have always been an elixir for Woods but, watching his eye balls widen as his ball flowed towards its intended target and watching him dance with child-like agility when it found the bull’s eye, it just made it very obvious how much this moment and this victory in particular meant to him.

Just as Woods has his army of slavish admirers, he also has a small coterie of people who were already abuzz with his stories of failure because of his not being able to make it in the first two events after returning to the sport at the World Matchplay in Tucson. He got knocked out in the second round in Tucson and finished inside the top 10 in the CA Championship at Doral. However, he has all the mouths shut now and has proved his worth by being nothing but the best once again. Let me not fail to say that is something he has loved to do by serving the speculators with answers only with action.

What stood out in this event was his grit to comeback and hitting some breathtaking shots only to let people know that he is not mellowed, that this Tiger will not buckle in the face of adversity and that he will keep holing crucial putts to prove that he still stands second to none.

Skiing for Beginners

James Coolridge — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:59:57 +0000

Skiing definitely is one of the most enjoyable winter sports, both for the young and old. is a sport that requires fitness and a sense of balance, though initially it looks a bit daunting, it is easily learnt and mastered.

Most ski resorts offer classes for beginners which is a great way to begin and more advisable than trying it yourself. Another way to learn would be from a friend or family member who is an expert skier (and would be a definite money saver too).It is a good idea to start learning skiing in the low seasons January and March,

as the slopes are mostly empty and you have plenty of time and space to work on your technique.

Be prepared to shell out money for the ski gear, which is an area you should never compromise in. Instead of buying the gear hiring it makes more sense and once again is easier on the pocket. But make sure the equipment is in good condition and you are comfortable in it. The ski boot is the most important piece of equipment, so make sure they fit comfortably. Begin with short skis and gradually lengthen them as you improve your control skills.

It is an absolute must to learn the basics of skiing on firm ground before descending down a mountain, remember in this sport slow and steady is the best way to go. Good balance is crucial in this sport, practice balancing on just one ski before trying the slopes.

For becoming a good skier you need to learn to shift your weight back and forth, kicking the skis out from side to side in the snow. It is best to ski with your feet further apart, (that is once you have managed to learn to balance of course) as it provides more room for the feet and legs to work. A fully open stance also allows you the highest edge when turning.

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Tags : Skiing, winter sports, Ski gear, ski equipment, ski boots, ski resorts

Lillee: the Firebrand Bowler

James Coolridge — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:00:48 +0000

Dennis Keith Lillee, the former bowling magician of Australian cricket team was born on 18 July, 1949 in Subiaco, Western Australia and was known for his fiery temperament, ‘never-say-die’ attitude and popularity with the fans. Lillee was an extremely quick bowler and by the time of his retirement from international cricket in 1984 he had become the then world record holder for most Test wickets showing 355 batsmen the way back to pavilion.

Lillee made his debut in the first-class cricket at the age of 20 in 1970 and impressed with his raw pace. His Test debut happened in the sixth Ashes Test at Adelaide. Lillee was selected as Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year for 1973.

In the England tour in 1975 at the inaugural World Cup he captured eight wickets in five matches, including 5/34 against Pakistan at Leeds. He along with Jeff Thomson maintained a powerful and fiery bowling pair that caused panic in the opposite side. Lillee took 37 wickets in six Tests against New Zealand in 1980-81 and was the leading bowler in the World Series Cup for the second successive season.

Bowling as a first-change, Lillee had an uneventful tour of New Zealand in March and April 1982 before suffering a serious knee injury in the first Ashes Test at the WACA Ground in November of the same year. This forced him to miss the rest of the series and Australia’s 2–1 victory, which reclaimed the Ashes. Returning to the team for the latter stages of the World Series Cup, Lillee was no longer an automatic choice to take the new ball. Nevertheless, his 11 wickets in six ODIs helped Australia win the tournament with a victory over New Zealand in the final.

Throughout his Australian career Lillee was also famous for his partnership with wicketkeeper Rod Marsh. The scorecard entry ‘c Marsh b Lillee’ appeared 95 times in Tests, a partnership record between wicketkeeper and bowler still unbroken.

MCG Has A History of 150 Years

James Coolridge — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:00:46 +0000

The Melbourne Cricket Ground, shortly and popularly known as MCG is one of the largest Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park in inner Melbourne. This is the home to the Melbourne Cricket Club and holds the world record for the highest light towers at any sporting venue. The MCG is located within walking distance of the city centre. The commutation to this stadium is very easy with the presence of Richmond and Jolimont train stations.

The MCG is remembered mainly

as the centrepiece stadium of the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The open-air stadium is also one of the world’s most famous cricket venues. The locals usually refer the MCG, often as “The G”, has also hosted other major events, including International Rules between the Australian Football League and Gaelic Athletic Association, international Rugby union, State of Origin rugby league, FIFA World Cup qualifiers and International Friendly matches. It is also famous in Victoria as the “Spiritual Home of Australian Sport”. The MCG also found berth in the 7 wonders of the sporting world.

The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) selected the current MCG site in 1853. The first grandstand at the MCG was built in 1854. More stands came up in the early 20th Century. Australia’s first full colour video scoreboard came up in MCG in 1982. The light towers were installed in 1985 making it perfect for night matches. Cricket match was played in this venue for the first time on 30 September 1854. The first Test cricket match took place in 1877. MCG also has a record of sensational events happening during the matches. One among them happened in 1954-55 England tour when big cracks appeared in the pitch during a very hot Saturday’s play. The first One Day International match was took place in this ground on 5 January 1971, between Australia and England in which Australia won the 40-over match by 5 wickets.

Border Captained Aussies to Excellent Wins Many Times

James Coolridge — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:00:45 +0000

Allan Robert Border the former Australian cricket captain who also once held the record of scoring maximum runs in test cricket was nicknamed as “A.B.”. He played 156 Test matches for Australian side, a record that was passed by fellow Australian Steve Waugh. This left hand batsman also achieved sporadic success as a part time left arm orthodox spinner and had amassed 11,174 Test runs including 27 centuries.

Born in Cremorne, a North Shore suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Border Border

became part of the under-age cricket teams and also played for Mosman Baseball Club, where he developed his fielding and horizontal bat shots. Border made hisTest debut by scoring 29 and was run out for a duck in the second innings while attempting a single.

His first Ashes tour was in 1981 where Border established his position in the squad. Sir Leonard Hutton called him the best left-handed batsman in the world and resulted in his selection as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1982.

Allan Border became the captain of the Australian team in 1984-85 season against West Indies in Adelaide, which Australia lost the match, which was followed by draw. The tide turned somewhat when draw, and then a win in the last two Tests.

The victory in the 1987 World Cup proved to be a turning point and heralded the start of more prosperous times for Border. In 1987–88, under his captaincy, Kangaroos defeated New Zealand for its first Test series victory in four years.

Border’s first Ashes win as captain came in 1989. Australia won 4–0, its first victory in a Test series abroad since 1977. Australia reinforced its superiority over England with a convincing 3–0 win in the 1990–91 Ashes series.Border finished his long lasting career by leading the first Australian team to play a Test series against South Africa after their return to international cricket.

Simmons Failed in Maintaining the Flow of Success

James Coolridge — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:00:43 +0000

Philip Veraint Simmons, popularly known as Phil Simmons was an important part of the West Indies cricket team for a long time. Born on April 18, 1963 in Trinidad, this skilled all-rounder played as an opening batsman a useful bowler and a talented slip fielder for the Carrebean side. He played cricket for a number of First-class sides in the West Indies and England as well as international cricket for the West Indian cricket team and was voted a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997.

Simmons had an outstanding career in First-class cricket with an average of 35.61 with the bat and 28.68 with the ball. In the 1996

season, he accumulated 1244 runs and took 56 wickets and 35 catches with Leicestershire, helping his side to win the County Championship of the year for only the second time in their history. But like many cricketers before him, Simmons found the transition to Test level difficult, even though he proved more adept to at the international one day game.

His international career failed to get off to the most auspicious start. Simmons in his debut match against Gloucestershire in 1988 was struck on the head by a fast ball from David Lawrence in bad light at Bristol. His heart stopped functioning and had to undergo emergency surgery at Frenchay hospital, from which he recovered fully.

Simmons retired from international cricket in 2002 but continued to be involved in the sport as a coach. His was appointed as the head coach to the Zimbabwe cricket team in 2004. But this was a hard job due to the mass dismissal of most of the senior players. He found himself having to defend the Test status of his country after an appalling losing streak, including a loss to Bangladesh who were widely seen as the worst Test side in the world. Simmons was sacked under farcical conditions in August 2005. Simmons succeeded Adrian Birrell as coach of the Ireland National Cricket Team after the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Paintball Safety Standards

Jenny Musto — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:37:42 +0000

Paintball is the third most popular game in the world which has thousands of players in the United States. Ten organizations sponsor events throughout the nation at different venues. The game has gained popularity from being invented just for fun.

Paintball is an extreme sport which demands higher safety measures. The safety measures start from the clothing to the types of weapons used in the game.

The protective gears used for this game include face mask, gloves and pads for the knees, elbows and chest. The player should wear all these protective gears

before entering the field. Paintball is usually played in rough terrain. Hence, the player should wear shoes with rubber soles.

The paintball guns used for paintball are thoroughly inspected before they are being used in the game. The guns are tested for velocity at which the paintballs travel. Ideally, the paintballs should not travel over 300 feet per second, anything more than this velocity can injure the players.

One of the safety measures for the paintball guns is the use of barrel plugs. This is to prevent any kind of misfiring. Barrel plugs are used for the safety of both the players and the people witnessing the event. Safety nets are also put around the area. The audience is asked to remain at a certain distance away from the playing field, as to avoid being hit by the paintballs.

Paintball is a game of extreme actions and fun. The game allows the players to shoot the opponents to eliminate them from the game, but doesn’t allow them to curse their opponents.

How to buy a snowboard

Dennis Hays — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:37:44 +0000

There is a wide variety of snowboards available in the market today of which freestyle snowboards, backcountry snowboards, park snowboards and free-ride snowboards are the popular choices. We are here to reduce your confusion in making a decision on what type of snowboard to buy.

The chief features that determine which snowboard is best for you are your height, weight, foot size and your riding style. These key features decide the suitable width, shape, stiffness and height of a snowboard. Your riding ability and riding style will largely help you in determining the type of snowboard you should buy.

The length of your snowboard is decided by the combination of your height and weight. If you have an average physique, your snowboard should stand between your chin and nose. If you are a bit heavier than average, your snowboard should be longer and less flexible to ensure flotation. If you are lighter than average, go for a snowboard that is more flexible.

Your boot size decides the width of your snowboard. If your feet are smaller, go for a narrower snowboard and a wider snowboard for larger feet is ideal.

Free-ride snowboard is the best choice for the beginners. Free-ride involves riding the whole mountain which includes half pipe, groomed slopes, powder and off-piste. Free-ride snowboards are longer with a soft flex. They have a directional shape which is very helpful for the beginner riders to choose the direction in which you stance you want to ride- either left foot forward or right foot forward.

If you have improved your skills in the sport and want to try out the tricks, jumps, spins and rail slides, go for free style snowboard. These snowboards are shorter and lighter. The nose and tail shape of free style snowboard are identical. Free style snowboard is a versatile board to ride the whole mountain.

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Camping Basics

Brad Adams — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:37:37 +0000

When it comes to camping, the experienced campers will tell you that you will come closer to the glory of mountains, deserts and ocean areas only when you pitch your tent there and actually live in it! If you are a beginner or have only limited experience in camping, here is guidance for you.

There are a lot of things to learn about camping. This includes the designated campgrounds, hiking routes to the campgrounds, campfire safety measures, knowledge about topographical maps, weather safety and making your campsite bear-proof. Let us go one by one.

First of all, you require the camping equipments. Go to a store or browse the web to find out your camping gears. Remember, not all camping gears are created equal. So, get the best quality and the safest camping gears that you can afford.

The choice of camping gears largely depends on the campsite location. Generally, these include a backboard to pack all your camping gear, weather and water proof tent along with a plastic floor-liner, kerosene lanterns, flashlights, bear bag, fire-starting material, light-weight cooking apparatus and some water purifying tablets. Not to forget the basic requirements of camping like sleeping bags, soap, toilet paper, food preparation materials, clothing, hiking boots, walking stick, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellant.

You may come across hungry bears, night scavengers who may be a menace for your trip. To keep them away from you, hand the bear bag from a tree. This will keep your food supplies safely, away from the naughty bears. Bears can smell and hear you from a distance. So, it is better to attach bear bells to your backboard or your walking stick. This way, the bears will keep themselves away from you.

You should also know how to defend yourself during sudden and aggressive encounter with a bear. The golden rule in the camping world is to never have a stare down with any animal, let it be a charging bear, or a wolf otherwise you will get seriously hurt.

Follow the simple rules and have an adventurous camping experience!

How to choose a bat

James Coolridge — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:13:49 +0000

For a cricket fan the most important part of wood on the earth would be his ‘willow’. He can go to severe lengths to keep his bats in major condition and guard it against any possible damage. That is why selecting a first-class bat that you will have pleasure playing with is very essential

The Willow-For producing an actually good bat an English willow, called Salix Alba Cearulea, is used. There should be around 12- 14% moisture in the best type of willow. Any less makes the wood too fragile and crack due to the strain caused by the solid ball. The fiber stretches and does not crack with the help of moisture.

To make sure whether your bat is perfectly pressed it’s desirable to do some striking with an old soft ball a few times. After checking it the thing to look for would be the seam marks on the face of the bat. ‘Bravo’, you got yourself a keeper, as far as willow goes, if the marks are slightly visible. If they are too deep and appear like cracking the wood, then it’s a sign of the bat being too soft and the face is engrossing too much shock. If on the other hand excessive vibration is felt in the hands while playing a shot and there are no marks on the face of the bat then it might be a bit too hard. Use some linseed oil on to the face of the bat and give a few days to absorb it, to cure the hardening of the bat.

The Grain width-The next manufacturing feature to be kept in mind is the quantity of grains the bat has. The perfect number of grains in a bat can be somewhere from 6 to 12 across the face of the bat. At times, it is said that a bat with narrow grain is a fine bat but that is not completely factual. This kind of bat will play good in the beginning, but don’t expect it to last long. These kinds of bats might get you a century or double century in an innings but be prepared to play the next inning with a different bat. They split very early. If you want a long term relationship with your bat, a grain width of 6 to 12 grains is perfect in a bat once you start to run it in.

Balance & Feel-Even though importance is given to the excellence of manufacturing in a cricket bat, the eventual necessity in a good bat is the feel it has in your hand. What matters the least is if the bat is made with the best piece of willow by the best craftsman unless it gives a good feeling to your hands. The first thing that a cricketer should look for in a bat is certainly the balance and its pickup. The center of gravity of the bat is described by the pickup of the bat.

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Arxman - Sports Blog

Woods plays the Old Master!

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Lillee: the Firebrand Bowler

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MCG Has A History of 150 Years

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How to buy a snowboard

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Camping Basics

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How to choose a bat

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