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Nadal Makes a Stand Against Taxation on Tennis Players

On 11.03.11, In Sports, By Stevie Wonder

Known as the “king of clay” it might not seem that surprising that Nadal won’t be attending the 2012 AEGON Championships held at the Queen’s Club in London. Grass is certainly not the Spaniards favorite surface, even though he does have a magnificent duo of Wimbledon titles. Clay suits his defensive game much better and it’s true that the Queen’s club tournament follows right on the heels of his most successful event, Roland Garros. Perhaps if it were for any of these reasons then, it would not be so surprising. Instead, Nadal has openly admitted that his decision for skipping the tournament didn’t involve the surface or the scheduling

Nadal’s appearance at the 2011 AEGON Championships was far from successful considering his normal standards. He lost in the quarterfinals to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The match was somewhat one sided and Nadal simply looked like he was out of gas. Players have been letting tournament directors know that they don’t appreciate the tight schedule that the ATP is enforcing. Especially for top players like Nadal, who make the finals in nearly every event they play, there is just not enough time to rest in between events. The Queen’s Club tournament immediately follows the French Open, where Nadal has only failed once to win the title in seven tries.

Despite all of these things, Nadal has been clear that his main motivation to skip the event is the outrageous tax laws in the United Kingdom. It is the only place that takes a generous cut from every part of a player’s income, including the money they receive from their sponsors. When all of these different costs are added up Nadal has done some simple math. His appearance at Halle will get him 750,000, a figure that is probably eclipsed by what he could gross at the Queen’s Club. Once taxes on his appearance, winnings, and sponsors are factored in though, the 750,000 starts to look a lot better. Taking a cut from what Nike provides is likely to be a big blow. The best tennis shoes don’t cost hundreds of thousand, but Nadal’s contract with Nike is undoubtedly a tremendous part of his income. Players in Nadal’s position may even feel ripped off, which is just one more incentive to take their business elsewhere.

Over taxation of athletes is an ongoing problem in the United Kingdom. Nadal isn’t the first player to pass up an event because of the taxes, and he won’t be the last. What the United Kingdom should be worried about is pushing away players like Nadal. If other tennis stars follow the example that Nadal has set, they will soon find that they are losing tremendous talent and potential sales at their smaller events. They still have Wimbledon of course, which no one is going to boycott, but other smaller events might begin to see problems in top player attendance.

With almost half a year before the next Wimbledon tournament it is possible we will see more players pulling out of the AEGON tournament. Nadal has set an example for famous tennis players everywhere. Large appearance fees can be obtained from other big tournaments as well, not just the main ones held in the United Kingdom.

Can an Olympic athlete be paid?

On 09.27.11, In Sports, By Stevie Wonder

When the Olympic Games are in season, the whole world has its eyes glued on the TV. The Olympics attract different athletes from many countries and continents. The Olympics are held every two years and this means that the Olympic athletes train for two years in preparation for the Olympic Games. These athletes train on an average of 8 hours per day and for 7 days a week. This is even more than the time spent by someone in a full-time job. These athletes then put themselves in the field despite the state of the weather just to ensure that their countries make an impact in the world of sports. The hard work and determination portrayed by these athletes lead me to wonder if they are paid for the job they do. I wonder how they earn money to pay for their daily expenses and the coaches.

The Olympic Games are non-paying. The athletes earn nothing from these games. The athlete is therefore left with the hope that his country will pay him for representing it or he depends on sponsors. Sponsorship is a popular means of survival for the Olympic athletes. The sponsor caters for the athletes’ daily expenses and also pays for the coach. Before 1970, professional athletes did not participate in the Olympic Games as they were seen to have an advantage over the amateur athletes. Professional athletes also had to be paid for the time taken out of work during the training and games season. The amateur athletes sought sponsorship from rich fans and family members in order to survive and enrich their hobby.

After 1971, the Olympic committee incorporated professional athletes into the competition. These were allowed to get sponsorship from big national companies and compensation was introduced. This was not the case for US athletes. They were not allowed to have professional athletes until 1978.

The sponsorship deal between Olympic athletes and the sponsors was and is a win-win situation. The athlete gets to get money and cater for his needs while the sponsor company gets good publicity. However, the athletes have to strive to get an endorsement deal as with such a deal the athlete will become the face of the company. This will enable the athlete earn more.

Different countries have a different way of rewarding Olympic athletes. In the US, the athletes never earn a salary from participating in Olympic Games. These athletes fully rely on sponsors and endorsement deals. If the athlete is under 18 years of age, it is the parents who cater for training and coach expenses. University students are advantaged as they get training in the school for free. They however compete for scholarship and the winner gets the best coaches and also sponsorship to complete university education.

In Canada, Olympic athletes are treated differently. These athletes are given cash rewards for winning at the Olympic Games. The medalists are well paid for a job well done. The Soviet Union government also fully supports its Olympic athletes. This spearheaded the athletes to win gold, silver and bronze medals at the games.

In Britain and India, these athletes are paid but the money is not enough therefore some look for alternative part-time jobs in order to meet up their expenses.

Instantly Get More Power on Your Tennis Shot

On 09.22.11, In Sports, By Stevie Wonder

If you aren’t familiar with the game of tennis check out some basic tips and information about how to play at TennisShoeView.

Adding power to your tennis stroke isn’t always difficult. Players make a lot of common mistakes that can actually result in using more effort to achieve a less powerful shot. If you use your body correctly you don’t need to be a body builder to blow your opponent off the court.

Hit the Ball on the Rise

This is something professional player Andre Agassi was famous for. If you take the ball early in its bounce you can prevent it from getting high up into your shoulders where you have to hit a very awkward shot. This is especially important in today’s game because players are hitting with so much topspin that any hesitation is going to put you on the defensive for good.

Position yourself well and try to strike the ball as soon as you can when it comes back up off the court. This takes a tremendous amount of timing and preparation to do correctly, but with some practice you can start hitting the ball more cleanly and get a better rotation into the ball.

Use an Open Stance Tennis Stroke

Modern tennis players have all learned the power of hitting with an open stance. If you haven’t incorporated it into your game yet you’re missing out. Open stance means you step with your outside foot and the stroke comes all the way across your body. The benefit of open stance is that you get more rotation across your body. Also you can really set your weight on the outside foot and explode into the ball when you push off. This generates a lot of power and allows you to push off with the outside foot to move back to the center of the court and prepare for the next shot.

Strike the Ball Cleanly in the Center of the Strings

This may seem obvious, but plenty of players get so carried away trying to bludgeon the ball that they forget about accuracy. You can swing the racquet like a baseball bat as hard as you want, but if you don’t hit the sweet spot in the center of the strings you are wasting effort. Make sure you can control where you make contact with the ball or you will just be giving away free power.

Focus Variado Road Bikes

On 06.14.11, In Cycling, By Stevie Wonder

If you have recently got into competitive cycling or are thinking of doing so, whether you prefer straight cycling or the multi-event sports like triathlon and duathlon, one of the biggest expenses to grapple with is your bike. It is fine to buy a hybrid bike or a tourer if you only do recreational riding or the daily commute to work and back. But try competing in a triathlon with a bike as heavy as these and you will more than likely come unstuck.

What you will need is a road racing bike which combines the three elements of light weight, strength and aerodynamics. The main problem, especially for novices, is that you will not necessarily know from day one how good you are going to be, and therefore how long you will carry on in the sport. This can leave you with a dilemma. Buy a cheap and nasty bike which ends up being too heavy to compete at your best; or spend a fortune (which you can do easily with bikes these days!) and find you don’t really want to continue after all, in which case you are left severely out of pocket.

The ideal solution is to pick a middle range bike, such as one of the Focus Variado models, which offer excellent features for road racing, while also being a little kinder on the bank balance than some of the more famous names, such as Cervelo.

Focus Variado Tria – this bike is a specialized time trial and triathlon racing bike, with an aggressive set up designed for raw speed. It has an aerodynamic wind-cheating frame which is made from light yet very strong aluminum alloy, and features aero handlebars and aerobars, to enable you to get into a low and aerodynamic riding position. If your sport is triathlon or duathlon, this is an excellent entry level machine, available for less than $1500.

Focus Variado Expert – if you prefer road cycling in a more conventional sense but require high performance, and a more comfortable position for very long distance and hill racing, then the Focus Variado Expert is a wise choice. In essence, it is fairly similar to the Variado Tria, but loses the aerodynamic features, such as the aerobars – it has the usual drop handlebars instead. The frame is still strong, lightweight aluminum alloy, but the tubing is less aggressive in its profile. Otherwise, another great bike for specialty road racing.

Focus Variado bike – this plain Variado model is the baseline of the series and costs substantially less than the other two as its components are of a lower specification. For example it sports a Shimano Tiagra gearset rather than the Shimano 105 installed on the Tria and the Expert. This is still a very good, lightweight racing bike, and well worth a go for a few seasons as a novice rider.

As your fitness improves, you might find you outgrow the plain Variado model, and need something a bit more cutting edge, in which case the obvious next step is the jump to Variado Expert. This series of bikes really does offer something to every new and aspiring cycle racer.

How to pass a guard position

On 04.12.11, In Martial Arts, By Stevie Wonder

Attacker has Defender locked in his dosed guard. Defender does not want to stay here since he can be attacked with many different submission holds. Defender begins by sitting up straight and placing his hands upon Attacker’s biceps. By immobilizing Attacker’s arms, Defender can make it difficult for Attacker to attack with chokes, locks, and strikes. Defender maintains good posture. His back is straight, head up.

Defender posts his left leg out wide and turns his hips a little toward the left. He keeps his head up and back straight. By turning his hips a little, Defender opens up a narrow space between his left inner thigh and Attacker’s right inner thigh.

Defender passes his left hand through this small gap and pushes his left arm through so that it is deep under Attacker’s right leg. Defender is sure to sink his level down as he passes his left hand through the gap. By lowering his hips he keeps his base strong. It would be difficult for Attacker to sweep him over. Note that while in this position Defender is somewhat vulnerable to being struck in the face by Attacker’s right hand. This is the first limitation of this guard-passing method, a limitation that makes it less appropriate for a no-rules fight.

Sometimes you are confronted by an opponent with immensely strong legs. II can be very difficult to break his feet apart. Rather than struggle and strain against his strength, grab your left shin close to the ankle with your left hand and shuffle your left foot away from yourself. Do not step with your left foot as this will destroy your balance. Simply shuffle it out; your foot never leaves the floor. This will break apart the feet of even the strongest opponent.

Defender has shuffled his left foot out wide, breaking Attacker’s feet apart and putting him in great position to pass the guard. The key detail to note here is that Defender has put himself in a position where his left shoulder is under Attacker’s right thigh. This is very important. It is not enough to merely get your bicep under the thigh and lift with the strength of your arm. You must get down low and hoist your opponent’s thigh up onto your shoulder. This will give you tremendous power to drive forward and pass. lifting with the arm alone is tiring and ineffective, as it allows a skilled opponent 10 scoot his hips out to the side and attack you.

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The Best Dive Equipment

On 10.11.10, In Sports, By Stevie Wonder

Many people enjoy swimming out in the open water on a daily basis. There are also those who love to dive into the depths of the ocean. That’s when diving equipment comes in handy, of coarse not just any diving equipment, the best dive equipment you can get. It is very important to have the best diving equipment that you can buy because of a variety of different reasons.

The most important reason would be for your health and safety, your health and safety is always number one when it comes down to equipment features. One of the best masks you can get is the Liquid Image Scuba Series HD Camera Mask. This mask is specially tailored to fit comfortably on you and is very great for underwater photography thanks to it’s built-in camera lens. As for the tanks, there is a whole variety of tanks to choose from but which is the best?

The best tanks to offer someone at an affordable price would have to be the Blue Steel FX117 Steel Scuba Tank 3442 PSI. Blue Steel tanks are surely the best one could offer, they are able to hold more cubic feet of air in a smaller tank therefor increasing the overall dive time. It is also vitally important to invest in a diving suit too, there is not suit with a better performance standard than the EVO 3mm Mens Elite Scuba Wetsuit. The Evo Men’s suits are highly flexible and durable, making the suit long lasting and comfortable all in one.

If you like to explore and dig into things under water you should really consider some diving gloves as well. There are none better than the EVO 3mm Kevlar Dive Gloves, these gloves introduce a whole new evolution in the way gloves are made. These specially made gloves are carefully designed to ensure that you have sensitive touch and grip as well as a comfortable fit. There really is no better deal than the evo gloves out there. the gloves are also assembled with an adjustable loop made for different sized individuals, this is to ensure that you have a comfortable fit.

Tagged with: best dive equipment • best diving equipment

What Does It Take To Learn How To Play Pool For Beginners?

On 09.27.10, In Sports, By Stevie Wonder

Many amateur pool players struggle with learning how to play pool for beginners. There is so much information to assimilate, and so many mechanical fundamentals to become comfortable with, that it is easy to get overwhelmed. Instead of working on one improvement at a time, they wind up dabbling with many things at once, wind up getting confused and not actually improving anything. So what does it take to nail down improvements?

Well there’s a saying “Perfect results require perfect practice”. What this means is that your results suffer whenever you cannot focus 100% on the practice-tasks at hand. So getting all scattered with too many pool-related things on your mind can only hurt. Amateur players should really begin with their mechanics. If you can establish strong, consistent fundamental mechanics, you will have a foundation with which all your other learning can be built upon. Mechanics include stance, stroke, and bridge-hand. If you find you have trouble with consistent accuracy and cue ball control, it is probably due to poor and inconsistent mechanics. So lets take a look at what is needed.

The first thing you’ll need to do is visualize an infinite straight line running through the center of the cue ball and the center of the location the cue ball needs to get to in order to complete a shot. Now extend an imaginary plane of glass up and down along this line, so that you are imagining an infinite wall running off in both directions. Always use this imagery as you approach each shot. You’ll need to use this “plane-of-action” to help you get into proper alignment.

The next step is line up your shot while still standing behind it. Sight your cue stick along the path you want the cue ball to take, which will bring it within the plane-of-action. Be sure to get your eyes right over the stick as you aim, which brings them, also, within the plane. Plant your back foot within the plane as you settle into your stance, with your front foot stepping out and to the side just about shoulder width apart for good balance. Now, if you’ve settled down properly, you can look around and see that your bridge hand, cue stick, back-hand and arm and shoulder, head/eyes, and back foot are all resting with that plane-of-motion you’ve been visualizing.

As you execute your shot, all those pieces of your stance need to remain inside that plane as the move through the stroke. You do not want to see things outside of the plane, or worse, wobbling side-to-side erratically. You see, when things are not moving properly before even hitting the cue ball, you cannot guarantee that your shot will be accurate. When you are in your stance, you want to be comfortable and balanced. You want your shooting arm hanging straight up and down beneath your shoulder and within the plane-of-motion. Work very hard to move the cue stick back and forth in a straight line when you make your shot.

Do this even if you think you are going to miss by doing so, because sometimes if you have a hitch in your stroke it is because you’re whole line-of-aim is wrong and your brain is trying to subconsciously make corrections. If you are positive of your aim, and you still have a hitch in your stroke, it is something you need to correct in order to shoot accurately. Striking the cue ball with a hitch in your stroke directs the cue along a different path than you intended (and often adds unwanted spin to the ball as well) which usually will make you miss.

The best way to remedy all of these problems is to stand up and step back, and then re-approach your shot from square one. Once you have a balanced and comfortable stance that gets all the necessary mechanical parts moving along the same plane-of-action, you have given yourself the best possible chance of making your shot accurately. It takes a long time to get your body to learn this and be comfortable with it. But don’t get frustrated. Don’t move on, trying to learn other parts of the game of pool before you have ingrained the physical fundamentals into your habits and muscle-memory. This skill is just as necessary for consistent performance whether you are playing in an upscale billiards parlor on a Mizerak pool table, or at local bar on a beat up 7 footer. To leave your development incomplete will only result in inconsistencies and aggravation as you struggle through every game.

Tagged with: how to play pool better • how to play pool for beginners • Mizerak pool table • play better pool

Things to Consider As An Advanced Or Beginner Wakeboarder

On 09.14.10, In Sports, By Stevie Wonder

The ability to perform tricks while wakeboarding is one of the biggest reasons the sport is getting so popular. More and more people are trying wakeboarding and also trying to do tricks while out on the water once they have figured out the basics first. The incredible rush that takes over your body when you’re outside the wake, and cutting in to hit one side of the wake and use it to jump over the entire middle section of the wake is a feeling like none other. Of course you’re just getting started at that point. Eventually a simple wake jump may get a little boring and as always, we need something more intense…

Wakeboard handles, wakeboards, bindings, wet suits, life vests, etc. There are many different pieces of gear that are important to choose carefully when participating in wakeboarding.Of course if you aren’t quite ready to buy everything in the shop and melt your credit card in the process you can rent most thing, or even borrow stuff from friends.

Consider your experience level to help determine what you should be using. If you are just getting started, you may not have to be as specific when selecting your wet suits, life vests or your wakeboard handle. Although it still may be a good idea to ask somebody more experienced with the sport just to help yourself out a bit. As for your board, bindings and wakeboard handle, you may want to put a little more effort into making sure they are the right fit for you. Make sure your wakeboard rope and handle isn’t the same one you use for water skiing because those ones are too stretchy and will just throw off your balance. For your board, make sure you’re using a performance board if you are into tricks, or a beginners board if you are just getting started.

Classes that teach the fundamentals of wakeboarding are generally available in most cities that are nearby a body of water that can be used for the sport. So that is always an option if you feel you’d like to have somebody teach you. However if you have family or friends who have a boat and wakeboard themselves, my recommendation would be to save your money and just have a family member or friend teach you. It is not a difficult sport to learn and usually within the first 1 to 3 tries you’ll be up and out of the water, skimming across it on your board.

One pointer for you though is that it may be easier to hold your sideways stance while being pulled behind the boat if you just hold onto the wakeboard handle with one hand. That one hand should be your forward facing hand matching the same side of your body that your forward facing foot is on. Of course you can use both hands to get pulled up and out of the water just cause you’ll need some core strength that way, but once your up, it may be easier to let go with your back hand. Later as you improve with your skill, you’ll likely be able to ride with either hand on the handle as well as either foot forward. Just remember that as with anything, it can take some practice to get really good.

Tagged with: credit card • sports • Wakeboard handles • wakeboarding • water sports

Tips to Avoid Bike Crashes

On 09.06.10, In Cycling, By Stevie Wonder

Riding a bike can be a lot of fun, great exercise, and help the environment. Bike riding can be dangerous also, if you aren’t careful. Bike crashes can cause you a lot of physical damage if you aren’t properly protected. With a little preparation and caution, however, you can prevent most bike crashes while you are riding.

Bike crashes don’t just happen:

Crashing on a bike is something that doesn’t just happen. There are many causes for bike accidents, from fault on the rider’s part, to fault of another biker or a driver, to completely outside influences. Not paying attention to the environment around you is the number one cause of bike crashes today. Automobiles and other vehicles on the road are much bigger than you, so won’t always see you coming. Influences that you can’t always control include dogs chasing you while riding, spots of ice on the road, or even oil spills that you didn’t see.

Don’t fret, you can lower your risks:

There are several ways to minimize the risks of accidents while riding. Knowing the route you are riding can help you prepare for potential trouble spots, such as knowing what houses have dogs that chase or predicting likely spots for ice to form. Remember that cars can’t always see you, ensure that you know where all automobiles are around you, and where they are likely to turn. Paying close attention to everything around you at all times will go a long way toward preventing accidents.

Preparing for the unavoidable:

In the likely event that you do have an accident while riding, you can protect yourself by wearing protective gear. Always wearing a bike helmet, knee and elbow pads, and even sturdy clothing will save you from many cuts and scrapes or worse. When looking for gear, try to find gear that is safe and reliable. Remember that this is your body you are trying to protect, so shop around and get the best equipment you can. Bell is one of the best brands of helmets available on the market for the biking enthusiast. In the elbow and knee pad category, Asterisk and Aegix are some of the top makers of pads today. Wearing protective gear from these manufacturers will go a long way to keeping your skin and bones in one piece.

By definition, accidents are unavoidable. However, with some simple steps, you can reduce the risk of accidents, and with the right gear, you can be protected when all else fails.

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Ball Machines – An Excellent Way To Improve Your Game Level

On 08.17.10, In Sports, By Stevie Wonder

Ball machines are becoming increasingly popular; indeed there is a well known saying: “Practice makes perfect”, which certainly has a lot of truth to it. But one of the problems budding sports stars have is how to get sufficient practice to attain the high level of skills they need in their chosen sport. Ball machines are an excellent and proven way of assisting them to do this. Indeed for many top Cricket, Tennis, or Ping Pong players, ball machines have become a central part of their training regime.

The range of machines now available is bewildering, and they have become increasing sophisticated. A new machine that has recently come on the market, which is highly rated, and has certainly caused a bit of a stir, is by one of the biggest name suppliers; Silent Partners, they specialize in ball machines for tennis and their products have a fine reputation.

It used to be the case that Tennis ball machines provided no variety on their speeds and angles of delivery. This is no longer the case; the velocity of the ball can now be easily altered by adjusting the power rating settings on a machine.

The range of speeds offered is huge, from a sedate 10 mph to a rapid 95mph, which is testing enough for the most talented of ball players. A good ball machine is capable of varying the spin imparted on to the ball, including top spin and side spin, to make it even more challenging. There is also a rapid fire mode, which is useful for sharpening up players’ reflexes and improving their footwork. As well as improving a player’s hand-eye coordination and is the foundation of a good sports player.

$699 is the average price one should expect to pay for one of these machines but some of the more advanced models can cost more. For someone on a tight budget a used machine is an option, and many can be found on the internet. In fact, buying online can be a good move because you can quickly locate and compare competing offers.

It’s true that some of the higher end models, can cost up to $1200, but there are still bargains to be had, and a cheaper model may well do just as good a job, as a top of the line model. It is just a question of finding the right ball machine to suit your budget.

Tagged with: ball machines • ball machines for tennis • cricket ball machine • ping pong ball machine

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