Archive for February, 2010
Kyle Boller filled in for an injured Mark Bulger, and the St. Louis Rams improved to 2-1 on the NFL preseason with a 24-21 victory over the host Cincinnati Bengals. The Rams led 24-14 heading into the fourth quarter, but a Bengals TD early in the frame made for some drama down the stretch. The Bengals couldn’t close the deal, however, and lost their second game in NFL preseason play.
Boller did withstand a hard hit from linebacker Keith Rivers that knocked his helmet off his head. Rather than leave the game, he calmly picked up his helmet and finished the drive. For the game, the Rams #2 QB was 14 of 20 for 96 yards. After the game, he talked about the play:
“I could have slid a little earlier. It is what it is. My chin strap hit just above my eyes. It was a good scramble, but maybe if I can get down a little sooner, the coaches would like that.”
Rivers also commented on the play:
“I was just trying to get to the ball. It wasn’t anything intentional.”
Boller had struggled last week after starting QB Bulger was forced to leave the game with a broken pinkie finger but played well this week. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo gave him credit in his postgame media comments:
“He moved the team. He drove us down there after the bad start. When you score on a drive, the quarterback deserves the credit.”
Bengals second string QB J.T. O’Sullivan didnt have it quite so easy”he was sacked three times, lost a fumble and had two passes deflected by linemen. The lost fumble added to the Bengals NFL preseason turnover woes”theyve lost five fumbles and thrown three interceptions for eight turnovers in three games. He spoke of his performance and the need to minimize turnovers afterwards:
“We’ve just got to find a way to eliminate it. It puts you in such a disadvantage any time you turn the ball over. That’s one of the things that has to change immediately.”
Head coach Marvin Lewis agreed with this assessment:
“When you turn the football over, you have a difficult time winning, whether you’re playing in the regular season, the preseason, junior high, sixth grade, whatever it is.
The Bengals conclude their NFL preseason slate next Thursday as they host the Indianapolis Colts. The Rams play at home on the same night, welcoming the Kansas City Chiefs to the Edward Jones Dome.
Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer who covers travel, casino gambling and sports handicapping. He is a staff handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and scuba diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.
If you pay a visit to Thailand then you should not miss going to Bangkok. If you are after taking time shopping, relaxing and discovering wonderful tourist attractions, Bangkok is really the perfect place you’ll be able to achieve such treats.
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The Kentucky Derby takes place every year on the first Saturday in May, and its a race that many horse racing novices like to follow. Along with the Breeders’ Cup and the other ‘Triple Crown’ races, the Derby attracts the most mainstream attention. Understanding the intricacies of horse racing is a very involved study.
Despite the complexity of understanding horse racing, there are a few basic rules that can help the novice watch the Kentucky Derby with a greater degree of enjoyment. Until recently, the Derby was a race dominated by the favorite. In the 1970’s great horses like Secretariat and Seattle Slew blew away the field but since Spectacular Bid’s winning run in 1979 there have been only a couple of favorites to win the big race. While a serious horse player might not want to categorically dismiss the popular favorite, for the horse racing novice this is a helpful way to narrow down the field.
In all fairness, it should be noted that the favorite has been a historically strong proposition. In the 135 Kentucky Derby races the post time favorite has placed in the money at a 69% clip over the history of the race. So why have the favorites been on such a money losing run in the past two decades? My personal theory is that it is a function of the growing hype surrounding the race”in other words, you get a lot of amateur horse racing fans that distort the notion of the favorite being the most likely to win the race. The most hyped horse becomes the favorite, but this is not always the best horse. In any case, though it could be argued that the anti-favorite bias could be due for a turnaround, for the purpose of understanding this particular race Im going to forget about the post time favorite.
Don’t forget to pay attention to the starting position of the horses, known as ‘post position’ in racing slang. The historical data suggests that a Derby winner is most likely to come from positions 1 through 5, while the outer positions (11 through 20) have produced relatively few winners. This is something of an over simplification, but for the purpose of understanding a single race it won’t hurt to just rule out all horses starting in a bad position.
A horse’s lineage and breeding is also an important factor in the race. While this may be the most complex and demanding area of horse racing, there is a simple rule of thumb that can help a novice for this race. Most high level race horses are born in Kentucky. Well over 80% of Derby winners have also been born in the Bluegrass State. So just eliminate all horses that weren’t born in Kentucky. Then consider a horse’s gender and eliminate any horse that isn’t an intact male (geldings and fillies). Over 90% of all Derby winners have been intact males, though a gelding did win the race in 2003 (Funny Cide). For the horse racing novice, however,this is another good way to pare down the field.
Also, take a look at dosage index numbers. For the novice, there’s no real reason to worry about what they mean or how they’re figured but the general rule of thumb is to look for a horse with a dosage index of 4.00 or less. Since 1984, over half of all Derby winners have fit this criteria.
These are just a few steps that will serve you well if you dont know much about horses. Again, if you want to take a more serious approach to understanding horse racing you should look into the many books dedicated to the subject. For a recreational horse race enthusiast, however, these basic rules are helpful in trying to predict the Derby winner.
Ross Everett is a widely published freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.
categories: horse racing,gambling,sports,entertainment,recreation,hobbies,travel,leisure,animals,reference
Livening up your homes entrance is an easy and quick step in making the curb appeal of your house even greater. The front door and entryway are the first things that people notice when the pull up to your house. A nice entry, along with a nice looking approach to the front door can make a big difference in the look of your home.
One of the simplest things that you can do, that will make a large difference in your entryway appearance, is repaint the front door. Maybe it needs a fresh coat of the same color. Maybe it needs a bolder color to stand out more. Whichever you decide you want to stick with neutral and coordinating colors. Do not go with oranges or greens, unless this is the color of your home. There are many other ways to add color to your entryway without painting it on your door.
Some potted plants or flowers by your front door can make a wonderful difference if you are looking to add color to your entryway. There are many wonderful plants that you can place by your front entrance, whether you choose a hanging basket or a plated plant. Plants are also great since they are usually changed out when the seasons turn, therefore every few months your entryway will have a new look. Once you have decorated with plants you can then move onto the door hardware. A new, high quality door knob set will not only provide you with better protection, it can also add a classy look to your entryway.
When you go shopping for your door hardware you want to make sure that you do not skimp on the price. This hardware is going to protect your from intruders and you want to make sure it is the best you can afford. A good rule of thumb to follow is the old saying, “You get what you pay for.” Along with the door hardware you should also consider upgrading your entryway lighting.
Many homes have an outside light on one or both sides of their door. You can decide to keep this look and just purchase new fixtures, or you can purchase new fixtures and add a hanging light if the entryway allows for one. It is not a simply task to remove a light from the side of your doors completely so in most cases your best option is to just replace what you have. Before doing any electrical work, please make sure that the electricity going to the wires has been shut off. Otherwise the money you have saved on creating a beautiful entryway will be spent in hospital bills.
When you decide that it is time to change your home dcor one of the best websites to log onto is www.schots.com.au. Whether you are searching for a new bathroom vanity or a lovely fireplace, we have it all!
Change is always a little scary. When it comes to jobs and careers, it can be even scarier because your financial security will depend on the changes that are taking place. Take the time to learn how to deal with change one step at a time and it might be a little more tolerable.
The workplace is constantly changing and growing. Taking on these changes even in the most ideal conditions can prove to be stressful. However, when those changes become negative and include things like layoffs, downsizing, and struggling to keep the company afloat, even the most peaceful person can easily become overwhelmed and stressed out. In these tumultuous times, the last thing that you need is more stress, which is why you need to learn how to take career changes in stride, no matter how big or small they may be. Focus on getting through today, and then worry about tomorrow when it comes.
When you work for a company where you constantly see people getting laid off and let go because of the economy, it’s hard not to question your own job security. However, trust in the fact that you are still there, and start preparing yourself for the loss in case it does happen. You don’t need to panic. Really, that is the last thing that you want to do. Just try to remain calm, go home and prepare your resume and start gathering your resources for job hunting, and just carry on with your daily tasks at work as best you can. Don’t think that it can’t happen to you, but don’t let yourself become overwhelmed with worry because it might.
Many people who had the mentality that they could not be replaced are now learning very differently. In fact, it is usually not that they can be replaced but that there is no room for their jobs in the current economy. They are laid off from companies that they probably thought they’d spend their lives working for, and left to move on with their lives outside of that company. When it comes to changing jobs because of the economic situation, you probably aren’t going to be looking for your dream career. More likely is the situation where you’ll be looking for any job that can help you get by and pay the bills until something better comes along.
Whether the changes that you’re going through are related to company changes or losing your job, you need to be prepared. That is the only way to be able to take things in stride and avoid going into panic mode unnecessarily. Panic does you no good, so you should try to avoid it when you can. Instead, focus on the positive and figure out what you can do to improve your own situation and move on to the next thing in life, whether that’s a new job or a new role within your company. Six Sigma Online is a leading online resource for information on careers and employment. Learn more today at http://www.sixsigmaonline.org.
If you are in need of some increaing your business skills, consider learning more about six sigma training. Sixsigmaonline.org provides different levels of training, such as green belt six sigma.
Deck is a terrace or a paved region adjoining your house. For most of the people a patio is a location to relax and unwind after a difficult day’s work. Patio home furniture has to be cozy, comfortable, durable too as stylish. Deck home furniture doesn’t necessarily have to be boring and staid, there is available a wide range of trendy and contemporary patio home furniture with extremely stylish and functional designs. This article will cover all the essential elements that you need to keep in mind if you are planning to deck up your patio with some beautiful deck furniture.
Most individuals love to have a dining set complete with a dining table and chairs in their patio. You can choose a dining set based on the kind of patio region you have – the space, the amount of exposure to sunlight or other extreme weather conditions. Preferably choose a dining set with a minimum seating capacity of 4-6 people. Favor sturdy yet stylish material of the choice for the chairs as well as the table. It is possible to even have the bistro sets that are quite in vogue these days.
In situation you’re searching for some thing more informal and relaxed, you can get some lounge furniture, which can include a low seated, cozy couch with cushions and might be a trendy center table to go with the couch. In case your deck region is not located around your garden greens, then it is possible to contain some potted plants around your patio home furniture to give a more refreshing appearance to the deck. In case you want to experiment you can have oriental low seating arrangement in your deck region as well.
You can create fascinating themes to your patio, and build the entire area close to that particular theme. For example if you choose a tropical theme, then believe of vibrant tropical colors for your home furniture. Olive green, lemon yellow, strawberry pink are some of the suggested colors, but it is possible to even go for tropical prints to your furniture. A cool sun bathing chair and a bistro set might be ideal for your tropical theme. Make certain you plant some exotic tropical plants around your furniture. To make the theme really come alive, a small pond or even a swimming pool might just be the cherry on the icing.
Similarly you can think of numerous themes and color schemes to deck up your patio. For people who are looking for something really unconventional, a jungle theme, or even a sports theme having a pool table or even slot machines can make your deck a truly fun and fascinating location to become in. In case you’re doing an Arabic, theme then comfy seating with velvet or satin drapes will be ideal. Add a hookah to your Arabic patio furniture to make it seem more authentic.
Taking care of your patio furniture ought to also be convenient and easy, and hence you should consider this while purchasing your patio furniture. Make certain you pick material that’s easy to clean doesn’t stain effortlessly and can sustain extreme weather conditions as well. Intense weather problems like excessive and harsh sunlight, or torrid rains can cause severe damages to your deck home furniture. Also since patio furniture is extensively exposed to outside atmosphere, there are greater chances of dust and dirt settling on its surfaces and hence you must pick patio home furniture that is simple to clean.
Looking to find the best deal on castelle patio furniture, then visit www.bistrotablesandchairs.com to find the best advice on covers for patio furniture for you.
On July 15th, former WWE superstar turned MMA fighter Bobby Lashley announced that he had signed a deal to return to full time professional wrestling competition with the US #2 promotion TNA. Lashley’s last in-ring pro wrestling appearance came in Mexico on a show for Lucha Libre promotion AAA.
Hes not planning to give up his MMA career. Lashley trains in Florida with the prestigious American Top Team, and ran his record to 4-0 with his victory over Sapp in late June. A press release issued by TNA this morning further validated his suggestions that he planned to do both sports. Lashey himself is quoted as saying:
I want to do both because I can. TNA is giving me the opportunity to compete in both sports which I have a passion for. I will bring MMA fans to wrestling and wrestling fans to MMA
TNA President Dixie Carter also praised Lashley in announcing the signing:
This is a great opportunity for Bobby to do something that has never been done before. He is the perfect ambassador for both sports. We are excited to have him join TNA, he is a true star that brings so much to the table as a member of our roster.
Despite TNAs claims that Lashley is the first active MMA fighter to compete full time in pro wrestling, that’s not the case. Its very common in Japan, where fighters frequently compete in shoot fights like MMA while simultaneously appearing in worked (eg: pre-determined) pro wrestling contests. In fact, Josh Barnett, originally slated to face Fedor Emelianenko at the ill fated Affliction: Trilogy event still makes several appearances a year for Antonio Inokis Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) promotion. Following his positive drug test in California, he may spend ore time in pro wrestling. Lashley isn’t even the first to pull the feat in the US, though hes definitely the highest profile fighter/wrester to turn the trick since MMAs overwhelming boom in popularity. Dan The Beast Severn at one point simultaneously held the UFC heavyweight title and the NWA heavyweight title in pro wrestling.
Lashley left the WWE in early 2008 under some degree of mystery and a hint of controversy. He indicated at the time that his departure was not of his own volition but due to circumstances beyond his control. Making this assertion more curious was the fact that Lashley had been used in high profile storylines by the WWE and was very popular among fans. The plot thickened when it was reported that unlike most wrestlers leaving the promotion Lashley wasnt subject to a standard non-compete agreement. Speculation at this point suggested that he may have left in response to a racial incident, a theory given more validity when WWE writer (and former member of the Fabulous Freebirds tag team) Michael Hayes was suspended for a racial slur. Neither Lashley nor the WWE has ever confirmed the reason for his departure.
At the time he was released from the WWE, Lashley began training for MMA building on an extensive background of amateur wrestling from both college and the military. The UFC took a pass on Lashley due to the perception that they couldnt market him successfully so soon after Brock Lesnars debut.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
No one feels the impact of a downward economy more then the business owner of a small business. While you as an owner of one of these small business want to try and make an impact with marketing, your limited budget by make it difficult to put your ideas into reality.
Many companies struggle between finding the balance between their advertising, the need for it and the extra money that it costs them. And while it may seem futile to advertise in this tightened economy, it is ever more necessary to advertise for your business and get people shopping again. It is not only necessary for your business but for the economy as a whole.
There are some great advertising methods that will assist with building your business and keeping you in the minds of the consumers within your community. Utilizing these methods, no matter how small, will have a great impact on your business and you will eventually see an upward spiral in consumers and sales.
Smaller businesses often find it difficult to keep up with the discounts and prices that larger retail chains can provide the consumer. This should not deter you, however, as long as you take the proper advertising methods you will find that consumers will come into your store opposed to the larger chain retailers available. This is why one of the most important things you can do is get your name and logo recognized in the community. You can accomplish this with promotional magnets, business cards, hanging fliers and the use of promotional products.
Advertising your business utilizing one of these methods will give consumers a familiarity with your business name and logo. This familiarity will have consumers, both new and old, flocking to your store and there will be a sense of comfort with doing business with you. This is what will give your business a heads up over the larger retail chains.
During these hard economic times corporate gifts are a great way to let your major clients know how much you appreciate their business. To shop from a large variety of business gifts check out www.prodpromo.com.
After a month long free agency soap opera, both Lamar Odom and the Los Angeles Lakers got what they really wanted all along. The Lakers retained the services of their valuable sixth man, and Odom will return to the team after an intense recruiting pitch from the Miami Heat. On Friday, Odom officially signed his new contract with the NBA Champions thus insuring that the nucleus of the roster will remain intact.
Terms of the deal were similar to the contract offer that was pulled in early July, starting the entire drama. After negotiations broke down due to some miscommunication between Odom’s agent and Lakers’ owner Dr. Jerry Buss it looked for awhile like Odom was headed elsewhere. While Odom worked to mend fences”including several personal phone calls to Dr. Buss”his agent was receiving interest from Miami, Portland and Dallas.
None of the competing offers were as compelling as returning to the NBA champion Lakers. At the official signing ceremony, he hinted that a dynasty could be in the making:
“I guess basketball-wise, I feel complete. I want to feel it again. It’s kind of an overwhelming feeling. I get goose bumps when I think about it, and as long as I continue to play professional basketball, I want to always feel that. The way I feel during the summer, I always want to feel that. If we can win six, seven, eight, nine, 10 championships in a row, I want to experience that.”
The only significant loss to last years NBA title winning team was Trevor Ariza, but the teams signing of Ron Artest is likely an upgrade. Artest brings not only his infamous swagger and intensity, but an element of toughness and versatility that Ariza lacked. Such was Odoms commitment to the Lakers is that even during his free agency, he helped recruit Artest to sign with the team:
“I spoke to Ron two days before he signed, and I told him how important I think it is for him to come here. Because I know how hard he works, he needs to experience basketball at its best, at the highest level, and he needs to become a Laker. Two days after that, he signed.”
Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak was understandably elated at Odom’s return:
“Three or four months ago, I didn’t think it could be possible that we could basically bring this team back in whole. Lamar had a wonderful season that ended on the best possible note you could have, and Lamar had a lot of options. … Here it is, July 31, and we have brought back everybody that we wanted to bring back.”
Odom noted that Los Angeles was home to his family, and he never really wanted to play elsewhere:
“I didn’t want my kids to have to change schools — just the little things. I’m comfortable here. I’ve been here since I was’ years old. I’m proud to be playing for what I think is the most popular brand in sports.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Mitsuharu Misawa died in Hiroshima, Japan earlier this year less than a week before his 47th birthday. He was in a tag team match for his Pro Wrestling NOAH promotion with Go Shiozaki against Bison Smith and Akitoshi Saito. Saito hit a back suplex on Misawa, which appeared to knock him unconscious. Medical staff attempted to revive him in the ring, but when CPR failed he was taken to a hospital by ambulance. He never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on arrival.
There’s at least a small bit of solace in the fact that he died in the ring doing what he loved, and what he did better than just about anyone on the planet. Misawa’s last moments were spent working the kind of brutally stiff, athletically realistic match that got a generation hooked on Japanese wrestling.
Misawa was a top level high school wrestler, and that got him noticed by All Japan Pro Wrestling majordomo Shohei Giant Baba. He made his professional debut in’81, and got his first big break in’84 when he was chosen as the second Tiger Mask replacing Satoru Sayama. In’90, he had his longtime tag team partner (and occasional rival) Toshiaki Kawada unmask him.
Misawa would wrestle as himself from then on, and become an even bigger star in the process. In June,’90 he became one of the top stars in All Japan Pro Wrestling when he defeated Jumbo Tsuruta. That match was his first main event appearance at the famous Nippon Budokan. He soon faced Triple Crown Champion Stan Hansen in an unsuccessful challenge for the title, and would become the biggest star in Japanese pro wrestling for the next decade.
Hed have legendary battles against Kawada, Hansen, Kenta Kobashi, Jun Akiyama and Steve Dr. Death Williams in singles competition. Hed also become a force on the tag team scene along with Kawada facing Williams and Terry Gordy along with Tsuruta and Akira Taue. Misawa would continue as a mainstay in AJPW until the early part of this decade. After the death of Giant Baba, he repeatedly bumped heads with his widow over the companys direction and in 2000 quit to establish Pro Wrestling NOAH. He would serve as the companys president while wrestling a full time schedule until his untimely death.
Japanese pro wrestling served as a gateway drug for many into shoot fight sports and MMA. Before the Internet, fans would trade videotapes to stay up on the latest matches from Japan and along with Jushin Thunder Liger and The Great Muta Keiji Mutoh it safe to say that Misawa is one of the wrestlers most responsible for getting a generation of American fans hooked on the product. For American fans at the time”and with the WWE at its creative low point”the All Japan and New Japan Pro Wrestling product was nothing short of a revelation.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.