5 Fascinating Stories About Past Washington Redskins Players

Whatever happened to your favorite NFL football player, after he retired from the gridiron? Particular teams, such as the Washington Redskins, have had a history of success in the NFL. That includes five Super Bowl appearances, three Super Bowl victories, and 10 Division Championships. In fact, the pro football Hall of Fame includes 22 former Washington Redskins players. Have you ever wondered what happened to past players? What did they do after they hung up their helmets and football cleats? Here is where some Hall of Fame Washington Redskins of yesteryear have been, up until today:

1. Darrel Green (Cornerback): 1983-2002
During his illustrious career with the Redskins, Green grabbed 64 interceptions, ran 621 interception yards, and scored six touchdowns. Green founded the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation, a religious charity, in 1988. He has also been involved with:

Nfl 2012

• Baltimore-Washington 2012 Summer Olympics board
• NFL September 11th Relief Fund
• Presidential Council on Service and Civic Participation
• Wolf Trap Foundation boards

2. Christian "Sonny" Jurgensen (Quarterback): 1964-1974
Sonny Jurgensen racked up an incredible 32,224 passing yards and 255 touchdowns, during his career with the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles. Since retiring from football, Jurgensen has served as a color commentator with CBS television. Along with Sam Huff, another Hall of Fame Redskins player, Jurgensen continues to cover Washington Redskins games, on the radio.

3. Art Monk (Wide Receiver): 1980-1993
Monk was certainly one of the greatest Wide Receivers of all time, set an NFL record for the most consecutive games with a catch (183). Today, Monk has been helping people off the field, as much as he helped his team on the field. Along with three teammates, Monk founded the Good Samaritan Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that provides people with job training. Also, a football camp for youngsters bears his name.

4. John Riggins (Running Back): (1976-1979, 1981-1985)
Nicknamed "The Diesel," Riggins rushed for over 11,300 yards during his career, with an average carry of 3.9 yards. Since retiring, Riggins has appeared in "Guiding Light" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" on TV, as well as some "off-off Broadway" productions. Riggins also served as a commentator of "The John Riggins Show," which ESPN Radio aired in the Washington D.C. area.

5. Charley Taylor (Wide Receiver): 1964-1975, 1977
During his career with the Redskins, Taylor pulled in 649 catches, earned 9,110 receiving yards, and crossed the endzone 79 times. After retiring from the NFL as a player, Taylor served as a scout for the Washington Redskins, and then as a receiver coach for the team, from 1981-1994. Since then, Taylor has served as a consultant to the Washington Redskins, has given formal speeches, and has even sold vehicles and boats.

We often wonder what happened to our favorite music, television, and sports stars, after they retired. For instance, many former Washington Redskins players have donated their time and money, to give back to society. Remember those players as you use your NFL merchandise to cheer on your favorite team!

5 Fascinating Stories About Past Washington Redskins Players

Rick Grantham is an avid NFL fan. Most of Rick's articles focus on Washington Redskins Merchandise [http://www.booyahvillage.com/nfl-washington-redskins.html]. Many articles are related to NFL fan gear [http://www.booyahvillage.com/nfl.html] and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village

Oakland Raiders Draft Analysis

The Oakland Raiders have been the butt of many jokes the past few seasons particularly after their last draft in 2009 and after a decade of incompetence on the football field. Known for taking too many risks in the draft and for drafting players merely based on their potential the Raiders changed course this year and probably had their best draft in ages by actually drafting players based on need and not potential. Raider fans have a lot to be excited about based on the Raiders 2010 draft which was their best in years if not decades!

The Oakland Raiders ended the 2009 season as football team that had all kinds of problems stopping the run as well as running the ball themselves. According to head coach Tom Cable the Raiders were to address the line of scrimmage from both sides of the ball. The plan, according to Cable, was to pick players that had years of experience starting in major college football programs as well as to fill positions of need along the line of scrimmage...

Nfl 2012

The Raiders began the draft by picking inside linebacker Rolando McClain out of Alabama. McClain is a run stuffer and started for Alabama for 3 years as well as called an NFL style defense while at Alabama under Nick Saban. McClain was the best middle linebacker coming out of college and is a great pick for the Raiders because he will help them stop the run which was a major weakness for the team last year.

With their second pick in the draft in the second round, the Raiders selected defensive tackle Lamarr Houston out of Texas. Like McClain, Houston started at Texas for 3 years and played against the best college football players in the country. Both players also played in the BCS National Championship game. Houston is known as an extremely quick run stopper with excellent pursuit along the line of scrimmage. For the second straight pick in the draft the Raiders drafted somebody that should help them against the run and somebody that should be able to step in and start immediately something that the Raiders desperately needed on the defensive side of the ball...

With their two first picks addressing the defense many Raider fans began to wonder if all the other weak areas of the team, particularly the offensive line, would be addressed and the Raiders responded admirably.

With their first pick in the third round the Raiders picked Jared Veldheer a mamoth 6'8", 312 lb. tackle from little known, division 2 college Hillsdale. According to coach Tom Cable, Veldheer should compete for the left tackle spot this year so it should be interesting to see how Veldheer makes the jump from a small college to the NFL.

With their first pick in the fourth round the Raiders picked Bruce Campbell, 6'6" 315 lbs, out of Maryland. A lot of experts saw Bruce Campbell as the first round pick for the Raiders because of his impressive physique and his performance at the NFL combine and because of their propensity in past years to pick players based purely on raw talent. For the Raiders to draft this guy in the fourth round was huge because he could potentially start for them at right guard along the offensive line this season.

Also in the fourth round the Raiders drafted a speedster out of Syracuse by the name of Jacoby Ford. Ford is a little guy but the Raiders plan to use him for returning kicks and punts next season which was another huge area of need for the Raiders - a decent return game on special teams.

But the biggest change the Raiders made on the NFL draft weekend was the trade for recently benched Washington Redskins QB Jason Campbell. For the past few seasons the Raiders have started their number one pick in the 2007 draft JaMarcus Russell who has been nothing short of a huge bust - probably the biggest bust ever in the NFL.

Trading for an NFL caliber starting QB in Jason Campbell and giving up only a fourth round draft pick in the 2012 draft capped off a huge weekend for the Raiders and will surely be remembered by Raiders fans as the weekend the Oakland Raiders officially came back!

Oakland Raiders Draft Analysis

To read all of my posts about the Oakland Raiders and for Raiders gear please visit my website at: Raiders Apparel [http://raidersfootballtalk.com/]

Miami Marlins New Stadium, Desired Effect? Let's Hope So!

In the professional sports world there are multiple options considered when trying to "jumpstart" a franchise. This could consist of a new franchise that is trying to build roots. Or a franchise that has been established for years and is looking to boost interest locally. The methods used to attempt a push by these teams and management is numerous. One of the most recent examples of a struggling franchise working towards a revival is the new and improved Miami Marlins. Will their attempt work to their advantage?

The Miami Marlins started out in 1993 as the Florida Marlins. They have had this name since their beginning until 2011. They have had quite a history for a "young" franchise. Merely 19 years old. This is a young baseball franchise considering some of the historic franchises in baseball. (Boston Red Sox, 1901; Chicago Cubs, 1902) They have shared a bit of success as the World Series Champions in 1997 and 2003. They were the wild card team in each of these seasons, but held off the Cleveland Indians in 1997, and the New York Yankees in 2003 to win titles.

Super Bowl 2012

In 2011, the Marlins took on a new face. They will be playing in a new stadium. Their own. They will no longer have to share a stadium with the Miami Dolphins as they have the past 18 years. Dolphins stadium, or Sun Life Stadium, was sometimes considered to be unfriendly to the game of baseball. Their new stadium is a thing of beauty. It will be featured on Opening Day as the Marlins play the St. Louis Cardinals for Opening Night Baseball. It is one of only 6 retractable roof stadiums in Major League Baseball. It is estimated that up to 70 of the 81 scheduled home games will be played under the roof. The stadium will only seat 37,000 people. This is the 3rd smallest venue in MLB in seating capacity.

In addition to a new stadium the whole look has changed. The Marlins are no longer the Florida Marlins, but the Miami Marlins. Their logo has changed and is now more colorful to represent the cultural aspect Miami has to offer. See their new logo here. They have changed their uniforms to include an Alternate Red top and hat for the 2012 season.

As though a new stadium, uniforms, and logo were not enough to attract new fans, the Miami Marlins added quite a bit of talent in the offseason. With the additions of Jose Reyes, Heath Bell, Mark Buehrle, and Carlos Zombrano they could be a huge force to be reckoned with. They plugged what were seen to be serious holes in their organization with these offseason additions. Coupled with that, Hanley Ramirez - coming off arguable his worst season, will be back with the team and hopefully once again contributing. On top of all this, the Marlins have added one of the most respected, controversial, and outspoken baseball managers in Major League Baseball. Ozzie Guillen. Former Chicago White Sox manager and the subject of many controversial calls, discussions, and tactics ever heard of from a baseball manager. With all this effort made to ensure success, the new-look Miami Marlins could have a season for the ages.

But will they...?

Take a few things into consideration before you make your decision. The market for sports teams in Miami has never really been there. They Miami Heat can be seen as one of the successful attempts to create a profitable sports franchise in Miami. Also, consider past attendance statistics. For 12 of the 19 years that the Marlins have been established they ranked in the bottom 3 teams for attendance numbers. Since their beginning, attendance numbers have ranged from 3+ million (1993) to just over 800,000 (2002).

Try to imagine a team where bringing in a ton of new talent always worked out well. Since we are talking about Miami, consider the Miami Heat and bringing together the "Big 3". Didn't work out so well for them that year. However, they are moving right along now. Consider the NY Jets, who many considered to be a Super Bowl favorite this past year. Tons of talent, but not quite fluid in their operation. Talent and money can only take you so far. There has to be the will to win and a little help on the way.

I truly believe the only hope for Miami is that they believe this is their time to rebuild. They can utilize the draw of a new and beautiful stadium, the acquisition of great talent, a new manager, and the "hope" that this new and improved team will have success. Am I saying they will flop, No! Am I saying they will be an immediate success and contender for the World Series, No! But I am saying that they are taking a step in the right direction. This is a team and a franchise who is looking forward and not in the past. The future in Miami is bright for baseball. So Miami, will you help them succeed? Or will you become a future "Toronto Blue Jays"? It's up to you and your city. You decide! Choose well...

Miami Marlins New Stadium, Desired Effect? Let's Hope So!

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2012 Baltimore Ravens Offseason Needs

The Baltimore Ravens was playing well enough last season to be in striking distance of the Super Bowl, but a dropped Lee Evans touchdown and a 32-yard missed field goal allowed the New England Patriots to sneak in and win the AFC Championship Game. Now the Ravens' fans have to wonder if Ray Lewis and the defense still have what it takes to make another run at a ring in 2012. With a 12-4 record last year, Baltimore took home the No. 2 seed in the AFC and won the AFC North, but all of that is irrelevant now. What the Ravens need to focus on is putting together a team that can contend in 2012. Here are some of the Ravens' big additions and subtractions so far in the offseason, plus a breakdown of their biggest needs heading into the NFL Draft.

Additions:

Super Bowl 2012

S Sean Considine

CB Corey Graham

Subtractions:

DE/OLB Jarret Johnson

G Ben Grubbs

DE/DT Cory Redding

SS Tom Zbikowski

WR Lee Evans

CB Domonique Foxworth

CB Chris Carr

NT Brandon McKinney

Top 5 Needs:

1. Wide Receiver

The Ravens expected too much from Lee Evans last season and he was a major disappointment. As a result, Evans and the team parted ways this offseason. Torrey Smith emerged as legitimate deep threat but, sadly, he isn't versatile enough for anything else. Veteran Anquan Boldin still has some juice left in his game, but his skills are on the decline. Baltimore needs to really shore up the offense by adding some wide outs. Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill and South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery should really be in consideration in the draft's first round.

2. Guard/Center

Although the Ravens were able to bring back center Matt Birk for 2012, they were unable to do the same with left guard Ben Grubbs, as he left for the New Orleans Saints in free agency. Birk could very well retire at season's end, so while the team needs to prioritize a replacement for Grubbs at guard, it also needs to look into adding someone who will be ready to take over at center.

3. Offensive Tackle

Bryant McKinnie is one of the older veterans of the team, as he will turn 33 in September, and his game is now on quite a decline. Right tackle Michael Oher looks to slide back into McKinnie's left tackle spot when the time comes for the Ravens to find a replacement, but the team is in dire need of added depth.

4. Outside Linebacker

When Jarrett Johnson chose to sign with the San Diego Chargers this offseason, the Ravens' need to find an outside linebacker who can put pressure on the quarterback became ultimately more pressing. Terrell Suggs can still be relied upon to do his part, but he needs some help. Sergio Kindle was drafted in the second round of the 2010 with the hopes that he could be the guy, but a freak injury derailed his entire rookie season and he was barely used last year.

5. Inside Linebacker

The Ravens can no longer avoid the inevitable any longer. Although Ray Lewis has played at a ridiculously high level despite coming up in age, the team needs to find a replacement for him at middle linebacker. He missed time due to injuries last year, and he might just miss time again this year if his usage doesn't drop. The Ravens were able to re-sign Jameel McClain, but he isn't the long-term solution. Arizona State's Vontaze Burflict could be the answer that the Ravens need if they are able to pick him in the first round.

2012 Baltimore Ravens Offseason Needs

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NFL Teams to Watch for 2011-2012

Hello my friends..

Those that read my previous article on NFL coaching changes for 2011 also got to bone up on my thoughts on two teams to watch out for that might very well surprise during the upcoming season when it comes to projected regular season wins, the Cleveland Browns and the Denver Broncos. Below you will find my overall final list of teams that I expect to either surpass or fall short of the posted Vegas regular season win totals.

Super Bowl 2012

CLEVELAND: I won't get too detailed with the Brownies in this article as I have already wrote an in-depth piece on them in my previous article, however, with that being said I will indeed lay out a few reasons WHY I fully expect the Brownies to surpass 6.5 wins. First of all, a glance at the final SOS (strength of schedule) from last season reveals that Cleveland actually faced the NFLs third toughest slate of games as evidenced by the fact that the Browns sixteen opponents from last year combined to finish with a winning percentage of .564.

Against last years opponents Cleveland managed to post a record of 5-11 straight up and 5-10-1 ATS, a closer look-see reveals that five of the Brownies eleven straight up losses were by six or less points and lets not forget that Cleveland went into New Orleans and whipped the Saints 30-17, defeated the Patriots 34-14, and gave the Jets all they wanted before losing 20-26.

This year the Brownies are tied with three other teams (Oakland, Giants, Atlanta) for the 19th toughest schedule, in other words, Cleveland is going from playing the 3rd toughest schedule last year to having the 19th toughest schedule this year, is asking Cleveland to win two additional games this year versus last year all that much? I don't think so and especially when considering that Cleveland will get to face the weak NFC West this season in road games at San Francisco and Arizona and will also have fairly easy home dates against the likes of Tenny, Miami, Seattle, St Louis, and Jacksonville.....OVER 6.5 regular season wins.

DENVER: The Broncos are the other team that I have already profiled in my previous article, like Cleveland, I fully expect Denver to surpass the projected regular season win total of 6 that Vegas has set for them. However, unlike the Brownies who have an easier schedule this year versus last year, these Broncos actually have a tougher slate of games this year versus last year.

Denver finished last year with an overall mark of 4-12 straight up and were 5-10-1 ATS, the Broncos faced the NFLs 23rd toughest schedule last year (.488) as computed by league final win/loss results. This year the Broncos are tied with five other teams (Indy, Jags, KC, SD, and Det) for the right to have the leagues 3rd toughest slate of games. So if the Broncos only won four games last year with the 23rd rated schedule, what is it that makes me think they will equal or surpass 6 wins this year with a tougher schedule?

Without getting too in-depth here (read my other article) with regard to the changes that have taken place in Denver, let it suffice to say that having a new sheriff in town (John Fox) will make all the difference as Denver lost four games last year by seven or less points due to fielding a defense that gave up a monster 471 points on the season, which needless to say was the most points allowed by any team. Look for defensive-minded skipper John Fox to have the cure for what ailed last seasons 32nd ranked defense.

In the big picture Vegas isn't stupid, the odds maker knows Denver faces a tougher slate of games this year versus last year, he knows that Denver only won four games last year but yet he sets Denvers regular season win total this year at 5.5 only to have the sharps almost immediately take the number up to 6. New Skipper John Fox likes to play a more conservative game by running the ball more and playing strong defense, this approach by itself will surely help the Broncos turnover margin from last season (- 9) and could mean the difference in a couple of close games.....OVER 6 regular season wins.

MINNESOTA: The Vikings are one of eight teams this season to have a new skipper directing traffic, however, new HC Leslie Frazier with Minny, along with new HC Jason Garrett for Dallas, are the only two new guys that were actually interim HC hold-overs from last season when Minnesota and Dallas both fired their headmen prior to the conclusion of the regular season. This means that both Frazier and Garrett will have a leg up on the other new skippers and especially when it comes to player relations and scheme implementation.

What I pointed out above really doesn't have diddly to do with how each team will actually perform within their own division because no other team within the Vikings or Cowboys division had a head coaching change. The time and place to take advantage of head coaching changes should be based on what spread Vegas places on events that involve teams with new skippers. Never lose sight of the fact that its all about public PERCEPTION.

Joe Public sees a Viking team that finished last year with an overall mark of 6-10 straight up and 5-10-1 ATS, ole Joe views the Vikings as a team influx with regard to last years very distracting Favre saga and the eventual goodbye to HC Brad Childress prior to the seasons end. Ole Joe sees this year the Vikings will have no Favre, no QB Tarvaris Jackson, no WR Sidney Rice, and no DT Pat Williams. Ole Joe is drinking the media koolaid and hearing all the hoopla of how the Vikings divisional rivals will be sooooooo good this year with regard to Green Bay probably going to win back to back Super Bowls, of how both the Bears and Lions are teams to look out for.

Yada yada yada...I also see a Viking team that was in turmoil last year, however, I also see a Viking team that won 13 games the season prior and was a Favre interception away in OT from going to the Super Bowl. I see a pretty good veteran QB in Donovan McNabb donning purple who has something in Minny that he did not have in either Philly or Washington and that is a bonafide upper tier running back to hand the ball off to which will make the opposing team respect the play action passing game even more.

Last season the Vikings faced the leagues eighth toughest schedule and this year are tied with Miami and Houston for having the NFLs tenth toughest schedule based on opponents wins/losses from last year. With all the turmoil going on last year Minny still managed to post a record of 6-10 with three of their losses by five or less points and what I like most is the fact that Minny managed to overcome everything, with regard to the Favre issue and the ouster of HC Childress, to go 3-3 straight up coming down the stretch which is something to build on.

The Vikings three seasonal win tallies prior to last season were 13, 10, and 8 games which is an average of 10.3 wins per year, if we include last years result in a four year average we see that Minny still averaged over 9 wins a year in a four year span and was a playoff team in 2008 and 2009. There is way too much talent and pride on this Viking team to not want to rebound from last year, look for new QB McNabb to protect the ball better and improve on Minnys -11 turnover ratio from last year.....OVER 7 regular season wins.

NEW ENGLAND: The Patriots had a darn good season last year in finishing with an overall mark of 14-3 straight up and 10-6-1 ATS, however, if the truth be told a lot of New Englands success last season was built on simply having the right bounces at the right time going their way with regard to finishing the season with an almost unheard of mega +28 turnover margin.

I wanted to see how teams historically have performed the next season following a season like New England had with regard to finishing with +18 or more in turnover margin and found some startling results. For example, since 1990 there have been a total of 19 NFL teams to finish with a turnover margin of +18 or more, 14 of those 19 teams went on to win less games the following season, meanwhile, three teams had a better record and two teams had the same record as the previous year.

Wanting to refine the results a little further I went back and checked on how teams fared the following season after finishing with +20 or more turnovers in a season, I found that over the same span since 1990 there have only been 8 NFL teams to finish with a +20 or more turnover ratio. All eight teams that finished with a +20 ratio lost more games the next season and 4 of the 8 teams finished with a record of 8-8 the next season and here's the kicker...no team since 1990 that had a +20 turnover ratio or more has gone on to win more than 10 games the next season.

New England won a total of 14 games last season, however, four of their fourteen wins were by four or less points. The Patriots will find the going a little tougher this season with out of division road games at improved Oakland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Denver as well as home dates against San Diego, Dallas, Giants, and Colts. New England usually fields one of the best offensive lines in the NFL and this year will be no different, however, that doesn't change the fact that this is a unit that is getting a little long in the tooth.

To add some depth along the offensive line as well as to start transitioning to new members, the Patriots drafted OT Nate Solder out of Colorado in the first round with the 17th overall pick and then snagged former TCU Horned Frog OG Marcus Cannon with the 138th overall pick. If for some reason Patriot QB Tom Brady goes down and misses any game time the Patriots will be forced to go with third year undrafted free agent back up Brian Hoyer which would not be a good combination with a New England defense that finished last season ranked a shoddy 25th overall and 30th against the pass..translation is that New England needs to score to protect their defense and if Brady goes down I don't think Hoyer has Tom Bradys skill set.....UNDER 11.5 regular season wins.

ATLANTA: The Falcons won the NFC South last season after finishing 13-3 during the regular season, Atlanta also earned a first round bye and homefield advantage for last years playoff round, however, that didn't help them one iota as Green Bay came to Atlanta and exposed the Falcons in a 48-21 drubbing that wasn't even as close as the score might indicate as Green Bay had more first downs 28 to 15, more total yards 442 to 194, and won the TOP (time of possession) battle by a whopping 38:19 to 21:41 difference.

Atlanta was an enigma last year as they somehow managed to finish 13-3 with the NFLs 14th ranked toughest slate of games, however, a closer look-see reveals that these Falcons must have had lady luck shining on them all season long with regard to winning six games by 6 or less points and doing so with a middle of the pack offense and a middle of the pack defense that both finished with a middle of the pack 16th overall ranking. Final regular season statistics show that the Falcon offense averaged 341.19 total yards per game while the Falcon defense allowed on average 332.44 total yards per outing.

How does a team win 13 games during the regular season when their offense only gains 8.75 more yards per game on average than their defense allows? By getting the bounces, thats how. Atlanta finished the regular season with a +14 turnover ratio which allowed them to win games they probably should have lost. During their opening playoff game last year against Green Bay these Falcons didn't get the bounces as they lost the T/O battle 4 to 1 and got smoked 48-21.

Divisional rival New Orleans should re-take this division this season, the Tampa Bay Bucs are on the rise after posting a 10-6 record last year, however, Tampa Bay was another team that had lady luck shining on them with regard to having exactly half their wins (five wins) coming by 3 or less points and finishing with a +9 in T/O ratio. Carolina has to improve on a 2-14 season as they have nowhere to go but up. The Falcons have tough out of division road games at Chicago, at Detroit, at Indy, and at Houston along with tough out of division games when they host Philly, Green Bay, and Minnesota. I really can't see these Falcons winning any more than nine games this season.....UNDER 10.5 regular season wins.

Take care and be well my friend.

Jim

NFL Teams to Watch for 2011-2012

Jim Campbell runs http://www.FootballForecastor.com which has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, you will be hard pressed to find another handicapper that has had the kind of success Jim has had, over the past twelve years he has maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.

The Road to Expansion in the MLS

In March 2009, Major League Soccer (MLS) commissioner, Don Garber, announced the addition of two new expansion teams to the MLS soccer program. Vancouver, Canada and Portland, Oregon were the latest additions. The expansion of MLS in the Northwest was met with both excitement and dismay. While seven cities vied for the two 2010 expansion slots, the decision came down to two teams in the same region, the PAC-NW. Some critics felt that the addition of both teams in the Western division creates an unfair advantage for the Western division with 10 teams on their roster vs. the 8 in the Eastern division. Others feel that the addition of these two teams is a way to create rivals, thus increasing competition and fan base. Both expansion teams would have rivals with Seattle and Toronto already in the league. Regardless of the supporters and critics of the expansion, it is clear that the MLS is pushing ahead with expansion.

Major League Soccer, the top level soccer in the US and Canada, was established in 1993 with ten teams. America had hopes of hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup but lacked one requirement, a professional first division league. Since the collapse of the North American Soccer League in 1985 due to over expansion and lack of revenue, the US had been without a professional league. The MLS initial ten teams were chosen carefully and in cities believed to have an already strong soccer market in place according to little league soccer rosters, support of soccer secondary and post-secondary institutions, and sales of soccer equipment and gear. The goal of the MLS was that the ten teams would create a strong core for the league with the ten teams serving as the backbone of the league. Expansion into other cities could be considered after the initial ten teams had a chance to create solid foundations for the MLS. The teams chosen included the Columbus Crew, DC United, NY/NJ Metro Stars, Tampa Bay Mutiny, New England Revolution, Colorado Rapids, Dallas Burn, Kansas City Wiz, Los Angeles Galaxy and the San Jose Clash. By using American Football Leagues stadiums, the league officially began play in April 1996.

Nfl 2012

In 1998 the MLS expanded from ten teams to twelve, adding Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion to the league. After what appeared to be a great start to the league, the MLS experienced problems with fan base, revenue, and floundering attendance. It was also felt that the small number of owners of the twelve teams prevented further expansion. The league responded by replacing MLS Commissioner Doug Logan with Don Garber. Garber came after 16 successful years with the NFL. His first concern was that the MLS needed stadiums of their own. In 1998 not one of the soccer clubs had their own stadiums. He placed an emphasis on the construction of soccer-specific stadiums (SSS) for existing and future teams. In fact, the ability to create an SSS became a requirement for any teams considered for expansion in the following years. Within ten years nearly all MLS teams had a stadium of their own with additional stadiums in the works.

Unfortunately, the financial strain on some of the clubs was too great and in 2002 both Florida teams, the Miami Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny withdrew from the MLS, taking the MLS from twelve teams back to ten. In 2002, the US national team surprised fans with their successful showing at the 2002 World Cup. They reached the semi-quarter finals and played well against soccer giants from around the world. This sparked a renewed interest in soccer at a national level and the MLS saw a spike in game attendance. Cities began showing interest in hosting their own MLS teams and the MLS began its goal of expansion once more.

In 2004 the team announced the addition of two new teams for the 2005 season. Los Angeles became the first city to host two teams with the addition of Chivas USA. This team hoped to gain the support of the Hispanic community and had close ties to the Mexican soccer powerhouse club in Guadalajara, Club Deportivo Guadalajara. The addition of Chivas USA also introduced the first cross-town rivalry, allowing for a local derby game held at the Home Depot Center between the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA. Support for the local derby game was phenomenal and the MLS found a gold mine in rival play. Salt Lake Real was the second expansion team added to the 2005 season. The Real was owned by Dave Checketts, a sports businessman who had helped the Utah Jazz and the New York Knicks make a name in the NBA. He was also the president of Madison Square Gardens.

In 2005 the San Jose Earthquakes were suspended due to lack of an SSS. The MLS relocated them to Houston, Texas where they became the Houston Dynamo. The franchise adamantly declared their resolve to return to San Jose and did so in 2008. The Houston Dynamo was disbanded after the 2006 season and The San Jose earthquakes were reformed in 2007 and played the 2008 season.

In 2007 the MLS expanded into Canada with the Toronto FC. It was initially feared the UEFA, the governing European soccer board, might block this jump across national borders. The UEFA had no objections and the Toronto FC became the first Canadian team in the MLS. Expansion continued and in 2009 the Seattle Sounders were added and in 2010 the Philadelphia Union.

With the addition of the new 2011 teams, the MLS will have eighteen teams. They have also announced their long-term goal of having 20 teams by 2012. Atlanta, Birmingham, Detroit, Miami, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, and St Louis are all teams hoping for one of the two spots in the 2012 expansion. St Louis, Ottawa, and Montreal are the most likely contenders for the slots; however, St Louis has presented some concern over financial backing. New York is a close contender as well, looking on and hoping for one of the slots. Some feel that adding two new teams so close on the heels of the 2011 expansion may be bad for the MLS, adding a financial burden to the league. MLS star player David Beckham, as part of his contract with the MLS, would have the option of owning the 20th team.

Regardless of expansion wars and bids, it is clear that the MLS has found a home in the United States and a fan base to match their enthusiastic goal.

The Road to Expansion in the MLS

Nicole Wardell writes for Gregg Sports in her spare time from being a mother of four. Gregg Sports includes sports gear and apparel for Baseball, Basketball, Soccer and Volleyball.

The Best Draft Picks by the Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are one of the more storied franchises within the NFL. The Colts were founded in 1953 as the Baltimore Colts and moved to Indianapolis in 1983. While in Baltimore the franchise won four NFL Championships and since relocating to Indianapolis the team won Super Bowl XLI in Miami in 2007. There have been a number of great players drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. The best players drafted by the Indianapolis Colts are Marvin Harrison, Raymond Berry and Peyton Manning.

No. 3: Marvin Harrison, WR, (1996 - 2008)

Nfl 2012

Marvin Harrison spent his entire career with the Colts, having been drafted in 1996 with the 19th selection of the first round. The player is described as one of the best catchers of the football and an extremely productive wide receiver. He broke the single-season reception record in 2002 with 143, and is one of four players to record over 1,000 career receptions. He ended up with over 1,000 yards in eight consecutive seasons and he and quarterback Peyton Manning became one of if not the most lethal WR-QB combinations. During his career he was named to eight Pro Bowls and was a six-time first team All-Pro selection. He amassed 14,580 yards receiving, with 1,102 receptions and 128 touchdowns.

No. 2: Raymond Berry, WR, (1956 - 1967)

Berry was selected in the 1956 draft in the 20th round and is what you would consider a sleeper of the draft because he turned out to be a tremendous asset for the Colts and a consistent target for quarterback Johnny Unitas. Berry won two championships with the Colts, becoming a regular starter in his second season. In his career, he led the league in receptions on three occasions. He practiced with Unitas on a constant basis, and preparation and toughness were characteristics for which he was noted. Berry went to six Pro Bowls and retired in 1967 with a then-career reception record of 631. The Hall of Famer will be remembered for the Championship game of 1958, catching 12 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown.

No. 1: Peyton Manning, QB, (1998 - 2011)

Some will consider Peyton Manning in the running for the title of the best quarterback in NFL history despite the current doubt surrounding the future of his playing career. Peyton Manning was drafted first overall by the Colts in the 1998 draft, and the Colts drafted their franchise quarterback of the future with that selection. The former Tennessee player is the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and brother of fellow current NFL quarterback Eli Manning. Peyton Manning holds numerous records for the Colts franchise. These records include career passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass attempts, career wins and pass completions. This great player is the holder of four MVP Awards and 4,000-plus passing yards in consecutive seasons. Peyton Manning's passer rating is ranked in the top four all-time of any NFL quarterback, and he made the second-most consecutive starts in the NFL. He defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, bringing the first championship to the city of Indianapolis. A player selected to 10 Pro Bowls and five All-Pro first teams, he currently has more than 52,000 passing yards, more than 350 touchdowns, a career completion percentage of 64.9% and an impressive passer rating of more than 90.0.

Peyton Manning basically created who the Indianapolis Colts are today and the whole team has flowed through him ever since. He will be moving on after missing the 2011 season due to injury and being released by the Colts, who will hold the first pick in the 2012 draft and are seeking their next franchise quarterback. Peyton Manning is the best player drafted by the Indianapolis Colts.

The Best Draft Picks by the Indianapolis Colts

Beat the NFL odds this year when you sign up for the NFL picks offered by handicapper Jack Jones.

The 2011 National Football League Season Is Underway

Now that the first quarter of the National Football League's season is over, it is time to find out what to look for as the season goes until the Super Bowl takes place in February 2012.

What to look for:

Nfl 2012

1. Indianapolis Colts

For Colts fans, this was the year that Indy is supposed to contend for another Super Bowl, instead this campaign might be a total wash with 4-time MVP Peyton Manning on the sidelines after undergoing neck surgery a few weeks ago. He is supposed to miss 2-3 months, so in the meantime, The Colts signed veteran QB Kerry Collins. But the results so far has not been good because the Colts are 0-3. They have Curtis Painter as the backup quarterback, but they might as well sign another veteran QB such as Carson Palmer (see below) or David Gerrard (see below.) Then again, Indy could say "forget it" about this season and wait in April 2012 for the Andrew Luck sweepstakes in the NFL Draft.

2. Cincinnati Bengals

This is going to be interesting to see how the Cincinnati Bengals are going to do this season. The team has made some major changes on its roster:The Triplets are gone. Earlier this year, the team decided not to renew the contract of Wide Receiver Terrell Owens, making him a free agent; In July, the team traded All-Pro Wide Receiver Chad Ochocinco to the New England Patriots; and starting quarterback Carson Palmer have requested that he wanted to get traded from the Bengals (the team refused the request) because they are not committed to winning (since appearing in the AFC Championship Game vs. Pittsburgh, the team has been going downhill), plus he said that he would rather retire than play for the Bengals this season. Their number one pick in the NFL Draft Andy Dalton has taken over the quarterback duties this season. Despite the ongoing drama, Coach Marvin Lewis was able to keep his job and actually signed a new contract during the off-season.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

Right before the season began, the Jags have decided to release David Gerrard, their starting quarterback for the last 4 years, in favor of Luke McCown. Ironically, the Jaguars did the same thing in 2006, where the team dumped starting quarterback Byron Leftwich for Gerrard. Currently, the Jaguars are 1-2 but they have changed quarterbacks: McCown is out and the team first round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft Blaine Gabbert is in. We will see how the change at quarterback will pan out this season.

4. Denver Broncos

During training camp, the Broncos had a quarterback controversy on its hands. The incumbent QB Kyle Orton was competing for the starting job against 2nd year backup Tim Tebow and third-stringer Brady Quinn. For a while, the buzz was that Tebow was the odds on favor to take over the job, however there were reported that the team wanted to trade Tebow or even turn him into a wide receiver. New coach John Fox decided to stick with Orton, but the team right now is 1-2. We have to see if this controversy spills over into the regular season.

Teams to look for this season

1. Detroit Lions

After finishing the 2008 season with a 0-16 record, the Lions began to make smarter picks in the NFL Draft and right now it is pay off. The team is 3-0 with both the offense and defense playing great. Now, it would be great that the Lions can make it to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl, but that all depends on keep Matthew Stafford injury free. The last two season, Stafford lost significant playing time due to shoulder injuries. The Lions resurgence coincide with the Tigers winning the American League Central and the possible odds on favorite to win the pennant in the American League in this year's baseball postseason is showing that the city of Detroit is coming back. Side Note: the story would be even better once jobs come back to the Motor city.

2. St. Louis Rams

The Rams lost in the NFC West Division Championship game in January against Seattle and the thinking was that St. Louis has quarterback Sam Bradford, Running Back Stephen Jackson and an improving defense that the team can get better despite the 7-9 record. Well, right now it doesn't look good with a 0-3 record. Look for the team to change course and start winning again.

3. Atlanta Falcons

Despite being taken apart at home by the eventual Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers, the Falcons are a team that people should pay attention to right now. It has been a slow build, but ever year since 2007, the team has turn itself into a title contender. Currently, Atlanta is 1-2, but it's like the old saying in football "No one wins the championship in September," so we will see if the team can turn it around by December.

Head Coaches on the Hot Seat

1. Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins

In 2007, the Dolphins made it the NFL Playoffs and even though they lost the game against Baltimore, the feeling was they the had both the offense and defense to become an up and coming team they no wanted to play. Since then, the team went 7-9 the last two seasons. So far the Dolphins are 0-3 and there is talk that the team might replace Sparano sometime during the season. Hopefully he can turn it around or another coach will take his talents to South Beach and revive the Dolphin franchise.

2. Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars

Once a upon of time, the Jaguars were a playoff contending team, now they have gone backwards and missed the playoff three seasons in a row. This year, the jags have a new starting quarterback and drafted another one last April. It hasn't worked out yet because the team is 1-2 so far. The Jaguars has to turn in around this year or else Coach Del Rio might be out of a job.

3. Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans

From their inception in 2002 until 2008, the Texans were an easy win for any team that played against them. Since then, Houston has built a strong defense led by Mario Williams and a really good offense with quarterback Matt Schuab, running back Arian Foster and wide receiver Andre Williams. The problem the team has is that Coach Kubiak has led Houston to an 8-8 record for two years in a row and a 9-7 mark last season but no playoff appearances. The Texans has crossed one hurdle last year and finally beat Indianapolis in Houston two years in a row and the team could possibly beat the Colts in Indy (there's a really good chance that can happen) when the two teams meet again later on this year. In order for Kubiak to keep his job, Houston must make the playoffs or else someone will take over as head coach and make the Texans a serious contender in the NFL.

Who is going to win the Super Bowl?

Your guess is good as mine. No one saw the Arizona Cardinals, a perennial losing team make it to the NFL Championship game in February 2009 versus Pittsburgh, or the New Orleans Saints, a team known as the "Aints" for its 1-15 season in 1980, won in all in February 2010, nearly years after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the city and the Gulf Coast. The title is up for grabs and anyone can win it on any given Super Bowl Sunday.

The 2011 National Football League Season Is Underway

Promotional Stress Balls - Promote Your Business With Sports Shaped Logo Printed Stress Balls

With the London Olympics quickly approaching and of course all of the other professional sporting events regularly scheduled, have you ever considered promoting your company with sports shaped stress balls? There are stress balls manufactured in the shapes of almost every type of sports ball. From stress tennis balls to basket balls and soccer balls to bowling balls they are all available. There are also many other sports related shapes such as referees, sumos , and smiley football players. 

It is fun to base promotions around popular sporting events. If you have customers that you know follow sports, they will really enjoy receiving your promotional stressball in the shape of their favourite sports ball or sports figures.  In order to get the most out of your budget, you will need to plan ahead. Stressballs can often be express pad printed but for the best results, you will want to find a company that can supply transfer printed stressballs. This can take up to four weeks but the print is second to none. Even full colour logos can be printed and look spectacular.

Nfl 2012

Listed below are the dates of some of the most popular upcoming sporting events and the stress shapes that go with them. All of these products can be manufactured in the colours of your choice. That's right, you can order stressball footballs in your company colours! It is hoped that this list will help you plan ahead so that you can have the most successful of promotions!

The 2010 Super Bowl: The Super Bowl will be played in early February 2010.  The obvious choice is an American football shape. Also available are NFL helmets and referees.  If you want to ensure delivery of American football stress balls in time to build a promotion around the Super Bowl, allow yourself four weeks for delivery.

The 2010 South Africa World Cup: The South Africa World Cup starts on June 11,  2010. In the UK, large quantities of soccer ball stress balls will be held in stock so express lead-times will be possible. For best results, however, allow four weeks for your balls to arrive so that they can be transfer printed.

Wembledon 2010: Played annually at the beginning of July. Tennis ball shapes are kept in large stocks but bespoke colours and/or transfer printing is possible if you give yourself four weeks for delivery.

The 2010 Ryder Cup: Scheduled between the 29th of September and October 3rd 2010. It will be played near Cardiff. Popular golf stress balls include a golf ball stress ball, a golf bag with clubs shape and a golf trophy shape. The golf ball shape will be the most popular and will be held in stock. The other shapes will take at least four weeks to delivery.  As with the other shapes, each of these can be manufactured in your company colours.

The 2012 London Olympics: Scheduled between the 27th of July to the 12th of August.  There are so many different shapes to choose from for almost every sport played at the Olympics.  Plan early and place your order as the most popular shapes will sell out and lead-times will be longer.

Promotional Stress Balls - Promote Your Business With Sports Shaped Logo Printed Stress Balls

Dan Toombs is the Managing Director of CompuGift Limited, the UK's first internet based promotional gift supplier. The company was established in 1997 and is a leading supplier of promotional gifts to businesses in the UK and Europe.

CompuGift's popular promotional stress balls website features hundreds of popular stress ball shapes that can be printed with your logo and details.

Madden 13 Cover Vote: Cam Newton Vs Calvin Johnson Break Down

In a competition that truly gauges sheer fan interest in players, Cam Newton and Calvin Johnson have made the finals of the Madden 13 cover vote.

A host of football fans are Madden gamers, myself included, and it's usually a big deal to see who the person on the cover is.

Nfl 2012

Long gone are the days of EA Sports' walled-off selection process for the Madden cover athlete. Now, fans can cast their votes on ESPN's SportsNation for the face of the game and truly have a say in who appears on the next cover.

In Madden, Cam Newton and Calvin Johnson are two game-changing players who will have their huge moments and carry teams to victory.

Newton's ability to run with the football gives him a huge boost in the 'fun to play with' category, but questions about his accuracy are evident in the game. While the Auburn product can air it out, Newton has trouble locating the ball on short and medium throws.

While it's enjoyable to play with Newton, he's not nearly the best quarterback in the game and the former Heisman trophy winner is just not ready to match his off-field hype with his on-field numbers.

For all the records that Newton set, the signal caller had an alarming 21-17 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Unable to make the right reads, "Superman" cost his team a number of key possessions and wasn't able to lead his squad past a 6-10 season.

This is not to say that Newton is a bad player. In fact, one could make an argument that this former college standout will be playoff bound in 2012.

I just don't know if it's good for the game to have another quarterback rest on a great rookie season and then grace the Madden cover without much experience (see Young, Vince).

This is all, of course, in comparison to Lions talent Calvin Johnson. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket has all the tools to succeed in the NFL and that's exactly what he's been doing since 2007. Succeeding.

In 2011, Johnson went off for 1,681 yards with 16 touchdowns, pacing the league in both categories (for wide receivers).

Standing tall at 6'5" with remarkable physical tools, this Detroit pass catcher is a lethal weapon in Madden. Pairing him with soon-to-be All-Pro quarterback Matthew Stafford makes the Lions a dangerous team to play with in Madden 13.

With the ability to go up for a rocket catch and take the top off of the defense, Johnson's ability to make an impact in a Madden game is second to few (if used correctly). Simply send this physical freak on a fade pattern and he'll make a huge play for your team.

Johnson could capture a victory here in the Cover vote.

For all of Newton's popularity, last year's vote came down to a small-market hero (Peyton Hillis) and a hype-laden rushing quarterback (Michael Vick). Whatever fans Vick lost from his dogfighting incident, you can argue he gained back from his history in the Madden game.

Whatever the result, Newton and Johnson represent an exciting future to an expanding NFL. Luckily enough for Detroit and Carolina, two new NFL epicenters, both of these players are signed for the long-term and will make waves in their respective cities for years to come.

Look for the vote to come down to the end, but I'm predicting a slight edge to Calvin Johnson.

Would I mind seeing Cam Newton on the cover, though? No.

Madden 13 Cover Vote: Cam Newton Vs Calvin Johnson Break Down

I'm Eli Nachmany, a writer for the up-and-coming NFL articles blog Nachmany Football. We can be found at http://www.nachmanyfootball.com or you can find me on Twitter @EliNachmany

Eulogy of the "Dream Team"

(The following is a Eulogy for the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles with quotes from Julius Caesar spattered throughout....not very coherently but Shakespearian none the less.)

Friends, Philadelphians, Eagles Fans.....
Friends, Philadelphians, Eagles fans, lend me your ears; I come to bury the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles, not to praise them. As the seconds ticked off the clock in Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday, it became perfectly clear that this team is dead. Sure, there are 11 games left and this still remains a talented team; but for all intents and purposes, this season is over. The so called "Dream Team" played more like a nightmare through the first 5 games of this season. There have been 100 teams that have started 1-4 since 1990 (a fact that fans were reminded of repeatedly during the broadcast). Of those 100 teams only 5 have made the playoffs. 5 out of 100. Not even the most degenerate gambler would take those odds. So here we sit having just buried our "can't lose" baseball team, mourning the loss of our overhyped football team. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.

Nfl 2012

Hey guys, remember me?
The "Dream Team". Sure it was a quote said in jest by a backup quarterback that may or may not have been taken out of context. We all bought into the hype. We thought we had a Super Bowl contender. Are we just as much to blame for the pain we feel? We are here with heavy hearts but why? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! O you hard hearts, you cruel fans of Philadelphia, knew you not Rich Kotite?

I'm in over my head
How did this happen? What went wrong? We could go back and forth but there's one thing for sure; it starts with the coaching staff. Let's start with defense. Could Juan Castillo be out of his element? Is it possible he is just a figure head? Defensive line coach Jim Washburn likes to run the now infamous "wide 9". Is this truly Castillo's defense? Or is Washburn pulling the strings behind the scenes. In theory the Wide 9 is not a bad defense. In Philly it hasn't worked due to the Eagles ineptitude at linebacker. The front office put their faith in Casey Mathews who is very undersized for a linebacker. He has proven that it takes more than a famous bloodline to be successful in the NFL. The other linebackers shall remain nameless basically because they are just that; nameless. The Eagles defense has been run over by Cadillac Williams, Steven Jackson, Michael Turner, Frank Gore and Fred Jackson like Bo Jackson would run over people in Tecmo Bowl. The wide 9 has been a big bust, but for my own part, it was Greek to me. (and apparently to the Eagles defense as well).

The secondary was supposed to be the strength on this defense. With all the hype behind signing Nnamdi Asomugha and trading for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie along with Pro Bowler Asante Samuel, why not? Well 3 interceptions, missed tackles too numerous to count, and an NFC leading 11 passing touchdowns given up is hardly "dream team" worthy. Andy Reid and the defensive coaching staff have outthought themselves. Yond, Andy Reid used to have a lean and hungry look; such men are dangerous. Now, he just looks befuddled....and hungry; those men are not.

Time for a divorce?
Speaking of Andy, he's still up to his same old shenanigans. When is he finally going to "do a better job of getting his players ready"? It's been 13 years and it's still the same old song. After every game it's the same thing. It's time to end this 13 year marriage. Someone's head needs to roll and it has to be Andy's. Who else has a say in the play calling, personnel decisions, game management, and getting the player's prepared for game day? Yep, Andy Reid. Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Andy, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings. You've had your chance. The time to move on is now. Time's yours.....

Finally, the offensive "stars" are not without fault here either. The Eagles defense is not the only part of the team doing their best Tecmo Bowl impersonation. The offensive line at times has looked like when you call the right play on defense in Tecmo Bowl and the entire defense is in the backfield. There is no excuse to allow the defense in the backfield before the quarterback can hand the ball off. Michael Vick is taking a ton of hits. Not all of them are the fault of the Swiss cheese offensive line. There have been times that Vick has simply held on to the ball too long. Is it because he can't read the defense? Is it that the receivers are not getting open? Who knows but something is wrong. Shady McCoy has done well running the ball but is it because he's running for his life? This was the noblest Eagle of them all.

Finally our playmakers are not making the plays. Perhaps they are trying too hard. There is no excuse for a -10 turnover ratio on a "Dream Team". Whether it's fumbles, tipped balls that lead to interceptions, interceptions or dropped balls; the playmakers are not making the plays. Even the sure handed Jason Avant is turning the ball over despite having a career year. Et tu, Jason! So my fellow Eagles fans I stand before you today to say goodbye. Goodbye to the hopes of winning Super Bowl 46.

Thanks to all of our loyal readers. Remember Twitter @Obs_Views_Blog and Facebook. Also find me on LinkedIn (Jim Montgomery). Until next time this is Jimbo saying; Bear with me; my heart is in the coffin there with the Eagles season, and I must pause till it come back to me. 2012 is another year...

Eulogy of the "Dream Team"

Obstructed Views http://www.montyobv.blogspot.com
Twitter @Obs_Views_Blog
Facebook Obstructed Views
LinkedIn Jim Montgomery(Philadelphia)

Economy Locks Out Employees - Sides Said To Be Far Apart

On Sunday, July 3, the Economy voted to lockout its Employees, barring them from access to jobs, income and millions of adoring fans. The long-expected lockout puts 2012 and beyond in jeopardy and comes as the NFL and NBA are trying to end their own work stoppages that began in March and June respectively.

"We're just not profitable anymore," said the Economy. "Something had to give."

Nfl 2012

Despite a three-hour meeting Saturday -- the sides could not close the enormous gulf between their positions.

"The Economy is digging in," one Employee said. "They made it clear to everyone that they will not budge. I don't think we're closer; in fact it worries me that we're not closer. We have a huge philosophical divide."

According to experts, the Economy has been in a downward spiral since early 2008, despite a cheesy marketing campaign called "Bail Out" that was supposed to reinvigorate consumer confidence and jump-start all the markets.

"Thankfully, I was planning on this lockout happening and saved up a few hundred bucks in my savings account. I think I'll be okay," Employee Earl Wilson said, "But I know a lot of other Employees won't be. I've always got those 'Buying Gold TODAY' endorsement deals on the side of the road to fall back on."

Despite outpouring of anger and frustration from Employees, the Economy sees things differently. "We had a great year in terms of the appreciation of consumers for our work. It just wasn't a profitable one for the Economy, and it wasn't one that many of the smaller cities particularly enjoyed," the Economy said. "The goal here has been to make the our entire market profitable and to have a thriving atmosphere again where beer flows like wine."

In 2010, the Gross National Product of the United States was estimated at .66 trillion, a figure the Economy says just isn't cutting it anymore.

"The problem is that there's such a gap in terms of the numbers, where they are and where we are, and we just can't find any way to bridge that gap," Wilson said. "Hopefully I'll get a food coma on the 4th of July and not wake up until this shit is over."

Wilson said the Employees made a "moderate" new financial proposal, but it wasn't enough to keep the two sides at the bargaining table.

"We're going to stand up for what we have to do, no matter how long it's going to take," the Economy told The Associated Press. "No matter how long the lockout's going to take, we're going to stand up when it suits us."

The situation appeared headed toward this route from the start of negotiations. The Economy said it lost billions every year since 2005. Despite frequent meetings this month, the sides just didn't make much progress.

The Economy wants to reduce Employee pay and wasn't moved by the Employees' offer to drop it 10% just so they could keep their jobs. Minimum wage in the United States is set at .75.

"LeBron was right. We have to return to our miserable lives every day anyway. But now without jobs there isn't even a reason to get out of bed," said Wilson. "I'll probably just play a lot of FarmVille and eat Ramen Noodles."

Some experts predict the lockout could extend far into December 2012, at which point the two sides may experience a "Come to Jesus" moment during the approaching apocalypse. Despite this, Employees remain optimistic.

"We'll just continue to ask our fans to stick with us and remain patient with us. As Employees we want to work. That's who we are; we're workers," former accountant and Employee spokesman Chris Karney said. "Right now we're faced with dealing with the business aspect of our lives. We're going to do it the same way we clock in. We're going to work hard. We're going to be focused. We're going to be dedicated to getting the results that we want."

Economy Locks Out Employees - Sides Said To Be Far Apart

Baseball And The African American Decline

It's not a secret that the number of black baseball players on Major League rosters has been in decline for years. USA Today is reporting that only 8% of players on 2012 Opening Day Rosters are African Americans despite the fact that baseball is perhaps as popular as it has been in a long time.

Baseball, at one time, was a big part of the African American community.

Nfl 2012

I am African American, and when I was a kid one of my dreams was to be a ballplayer, as well as a TV Weather guy and maybe a Pilot. It's what a lot of my neighborhood buddies wanted to be too. We spent almost every Summer morning playing baseball in the street using anything we could for bats, balls, and bases. We played from morning until the relentless Texas heat made us quit at which point we would rest until the evening when was time to go play real baseball in Little League or Pony League games at "the city park". I also was thrilled to hear my grandfather tell me stories of his baseball days back when entire communities of African Americans would turn out to watch the local semi pro team play after church on Sunday's.

A few years ago when my son was old enough to play Little League I was amazed to see that he was only only black kid on his team and I counted just 2 others in the entire league. We live in Dallas and there were plenty of young black kids eligible to play. But they were not. Yet, if you drive around playgrounds you see lots of black kids playing basketball or throwing footballs. This should send red flags to Major League Baseball.

The game of baseball has not changed since my grandfather played it. It's still 9 innings and three outs. Clearly what has changed is that the game stopped promoting itself while the NBA and NFL were very clever in letting everyone know who it's top stars were and why.

They also notice how, during Barry Bonds' controversial run at Hank Aaron's record, so much attention was paid to passing Ruth-to the point of referring to it as "Ruth's record." Frank Robinson noticed a few years ago.

"You always hear about 714, Babe Ruth, and then, 'Oh, Hank Aaron. He had the most, 755,' " he told The Baltimore Sun, angrily, before a 2008 game while he was managing Washington. "He's not the home run king in people's minds."

I'm not here with any answers to why there are not more blacks playing baseball. I do think that baseball has done an admirable job of hiring black managers and coaches. But it needs to find away to back into the grass roots level of the black community and help young kids realize what a great game it is to play whether it be in the streets with a pillow for bases or a Major League Stadium with 40,00 fans.

Baseball And The African American Decline

The SavageDome
http://www.savagedome.com

Crowd Sourcing

How Social Media Is Changing The Superbowl

The 2011 NFL Season is coming to a close and thoughts the New Year and of Superbowl 46 abound

Nfl 2012

Remember the discussions around the water cooler on the Monday following the game, comparing which commercial was the funniest and kicking yourself if you missed one? It was almost more about catching the commercials than it was about watching the game.

Over the last several years companies have begun to realize that while the Superbowl reaches a huge audience (over 111 million viewers last year) the million cost for 30 seconds of exposure doesn't make good financial sense if 30 seconds is all they get. It's there, and then it's gone. Enter the Internet...

Companies such and Pepsi and General Motors will continue to be seen during the Superbowl, but the exposure leading up to and after and how they go about it has changed. It's called crowd sourcing, using social media to create a buzz before and after the main event. Companies are using video and social media contests and discussions with the ultimate winners contributing to what the companies ultimately present to those 111 million viewers and the exposure that occurs is much greater than 30 seconds.

By using web video, companies are able to be online indefinitely, continually bringing attention to their brand or product. Companies like Web Rocket Video based in Wheaton Illinois and their staff of Emmy award winning, producers, editors, and videographers are able to create targeted web based video messages that are easily discussed and shared through social media channels such as Facebook, YouTube, twitter, and linked in. Twitter and Facebook have instant reach and Facebook and YouTube have tools that allow activity to be measured and tracked. In the case of General Motors, user generated content is part of the contest with the winning entry being shown during the 2012 Superbowl. It is the users themselves that create the content, discuss that content, and vote on that content creating activity that was not possible ten years ago. More and more Fortune 1000 companies are beginning to understand the value of social media in their branding efforts. They are realizing that people are social by nature and that traditional advertising is rapidly losing it's ability to influence buyers and that through video and social media they can utilize buyers to influence buyers while growing their brand.

Crowd Sourcing

Glenn Bingham
Bingham Internet Marketing Group

Payton's Suspension And The Value Of Players

The National Football League has slammed the New Orleans Saints with a major punishment for 'bounty' violations, including suspending head coach Sean Payton for the entire duration of the 2012 season. Former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who the St Louis Rams hired this season, has also been suspended, for an indefinite time period. Joe Vitt, the Saints assistant head coach, has been given a suspension for the first six games of the next season, without pay, and general manager Mickey Loomis has received an eight games suspension.

Payton's suspension kicks off on 1st April, and this is the one that is likely to have the largest impact on fantasy football. Many owners may now also be worrying as to whether or not the Saints will be able to generate the same level of explosive influence sans Payton's influence.

Nfl 2012

Drew Brees is, of course, coming off the back of what has to be one of the greatest statistical performances ever, having broken the record set by Dan Marino for passing yards in a single season and also having scored an absurd total of 47 touchdowns. If Payton is out, however, does that mean it is time to drop Brees down on rank lists?

Experts believe otherwise, saying that Brees could run the offense with his eyes closed because he knows it so well, and that Brees still belongs on the same level as Tom Brady and Aaron Rogers, even without Payton. This brings into question the overall value of certain players.

Value

Once free agency starts in the NFL, it is often regarded as a good time to kick off your fantasy football leagues for the next season. Many players can see their value skyrocket, while others find themselves going from a 'top notch' ranking to a 'questionable' one at a bewildering speed.

This is precisely what is happening this year, with two players who have gone from being ranked in the top 10 or 12 positions with fantasy running backs to watching their value dip already in the first round and possibly even further.

Jamaal Charles is one of those players. Currently in rehab as a result of a torn ACL injury which occurred in Week One of the 2011 season, Charles could well be ready for action by the time training camp begins; however, Charles' owners have been hurt as a result of the Chiefs signing former Browns player Peyton Hillis, as he is an instant upgrade at the backup spot over the likes of both Jackie Battle and Thomas Jones and could end up taking a fair amount of the carries.

Matt Forte had the Bears tag placed on him this offseason after he clocked up almost 1,500 all-purpose yards last season, but now that former Raiders RB Michael Bush has been signed to a million, four-year contract, it muddies up Forte's future as a Bear once the next season is completed and also gives the Bears a lot more leverage in contract negotiations

Payton's Suspension And The Value Of Players

Ellie has worked in PR for the past 15 years and currently runs her own PR company. She writes on behalf of Fan Duel, who specialise in fantasy football.

Jacksonville Jaguars Tear Into a New Season

Are the best years of the Jacksonville Jaguars behind us? The Jaguars were the talk of the NFL in the late 90s but in recent years these cats have fallen on hard times. When new coach Jack Del Rio came aboard however, things started to change slowly but surely. In 2006, the Jaguars finished with a record of 8-8, and one year later they peaked with an 11-5 season record and a trip to the playoffs. Could 2008 be the year that the Jacksonville Jaguars finally commands respect and makes a serious play for the championship?

There have been some notable transactions in the office thus far, including the trading of wide receiver Troy Williamson to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 6th round draft pick. The team also lost Ernest Wilford, Marcus Stroud, Bobby McCray and Sammy Knight. The team did receive a few extra draft picks as well as acquisitions like wide receiver in Jerry Porter of the Oakland Raiders, cornerback Drayton Florence of the San Diego Chargers and quarterback Cleo Lemon of the Miami Dolphins. However, Jacksonville fans were far more interested in the team's draft selection for 2008.

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Some of the notable draft picks include defensive end Derrick Harvey, defensive end Quentin Groves, linebacker Thomas Williams, defensive back Trae Williams and running back Chauncey Washington. Harvey's draft pick was met with some hesitant response due to his size though his pass rushing ability is unquestioned. Groves recently had heart surgery but has been cleared to return at 100%, while Washington received some negative attention for his blocking abilities.

It's obvious to see that the Jaguars are beefing up their defense, which concerns some experts but actually strengthens the confidence of Jacksonville fans who remember that the Jaguar's offense in 2007 was exceptional. Fans and management credit Del Rio with the Jaguars' dramatic turn around-in fact he has already been extended to 2012! The Jaguars may be clawing their way to the Super Bowl soon enough and in 2008 they are surely one of the most important teams to watch.

David Garrard has definitely stepped into his roll as starting quarter back with the confidence of a seasoned veteran. With a tag-team duo of running backs in Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew tearing down the field, their is plenty of hope for a post season. Although the Jacksonville receiving core lacks the luster of some of the established air shows, they are all talented enough to move the chains 10 yards at a time. There is no question that this team revolves around the strength of the running game. If their running duet can stay healthy, they will unleash a ground and pound attraction that will explode on the highlight reel week after week.

Jacksonville Jaguars Tear Into a New Season

If you want to catch the Jacksonville Jaguars in action then contact Direct TV, the satellite television provider. They offer Jacksonville Jaguars coverage through a variety of channels and special features. For instance, the Direct TV NFL Sunday Ticket and channels like the NFL Network, NFL Sunday Snap or Highlights on Demand give you %100 complete coverage. You can watch over 200 games in a season, with 14 games outside your local area every Sunday. You can watch special enhanced games that provide detailed scoreboards as well as a Player Tracker that gives you all the latest statistics on teams and players.

Direct TV Deals like SuperFan gives you the luxury of watching NFL videos or live games in High Definition, the Red Zone Channel, which delivers all the highlights and best plays from various games happening, the Game Mix Feature which lets you watch several games at once on a split screen, along with PC streaming and cellular phone replays. If you want to root for the Jacksonville Jaguars this season then order Direct TV to get the best seat in the house.

The Demise of ESPN

With the NFL Network broadcasting its first game this Thursday, it will only be a matter of time before every professional and major college team has its own channel to broadcast their games. This will leave ESPN with nothing but the WNBA game of the week and 23 hours a day of Around the Horn. How will this effect the lives of those made into household names by the Worldwide Leader?

Let's take a look into the future...

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Kenny Mayne and Suzy Kolber - Turn their successful careers in commercials into hosting a 30 minute infomercial on the amazing ab and bun machine that also acts as a marinator and silver cleaner.

Mark May - In November 2009, Lou Holtz tries to punch May on live TV after he suggests that a 4-8 Notre Dame team should not be included in the BCS title game. ESPN had just bid 20 billion dollars to broadcast Notre Dame football and after pressure from Digger Phelps, Mike Brey, Bob Davie, Gerry Faust and new play by play man Regis Philbin, May takes the fall. Eventually writes a tell-all book with Harold Reynolds about the inner workings of the Bristol studios.

Dan Patrick - Horrible Onstar Hotline accident involving Keith Olberman ended his career in early 2006. What, you mean he is still on the air?

Michael Irvin - Dallas County Inmate #139876P25.

Chris Berman - Never returns from forced leave of absence after attempting to kiss Brett Favre at Favre's retirement news conference in February, 2011. A tearful Berman appears with Joe Namath on The View six months later to begin the healing process.

Bill Simmons - Popular website columnist is arrested after Colts win 2012 Super Bowl (their 3rd in 5 years) for sending threatening letters to Peyton Manning. Simmons had been released from his contract for failing to produce his required number of columns after ESPN decided he could no longer use Tom Brady is better than Peyton Manning as a topic. The only 3 original columns (all mailbags) he posts in 2011 will still be available to ESPN Insiders. In an ironic turn of events, he ends up cellmates with former Knicks coach Isaiah Thomas, serving a life sentence for taking out a contract on Simmon's life. Luckily for Simmons, just like with everything else Thomas tried, he failed.

Joe Theismann - Tragic story. After ESPN fires Tony Kornheiser from the Monday Night booth for talking about his Fantasy team too much, they bring in Dick Vitale. In an effort to be heard over Vitale, Theismann screams so loud his vocal cord literally breaks in two and his career ends. Mike Tirico says it sounded like a twig snapping. Lawrence Taylor was unavailable for comment.

Dick Vitale - After the Theismann incident, ESPN goes with announcer less booth and sets ratings records. He ends up fighting Billy Packer on one of Fox's celebrity boxing shows. Fight ends in a draw as both were wearing I Love Coach K shirts and as a result it was difficult to tell who was punching who.

Woody Paige - Solved the question if a news columnist who's opinion no one cares about screams in the woods, can anyone hear it? The answer sadly was no, but we can only guess he is still screaming.

Sean Salisbury and John Clayton - Moved to Vermont where their life partnership continues in relative anonymity.

It looks like we should enjoy these characters while we can. Enjoy the game on Thursday!!

(Originally published 2007.)

The Demise of ESPN

SportsDataSource.com [http://www.sportsdatasource.com] - Free online handicapping tools for information you need.... plus other amusing sports-related stuff.

GOP Power Rankings: Week 28

1. Mitt Romney
-He never really fell out of the top spot, did he? Romney leads in early endorsements, money raised, and campaign apparatus. The New England Patriot looked like he was in for an upset, but so far has maintained his top spot. Clearly a Super Bowl contender, he will have to stave off his opponents in the coming weeks.

2. Rick Perry
-Despite talks that the "early bird gets the trophy" in the preseason of the campaign, Perry came on strong as a late entrant. He has shown flashes of greatness throughout the campaign, but has been unable to capture a convincing lead. He still has potential to upset the front-runner, but will have to step it up a notch in his debating and selling himself to the voters.

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3. Michele Bachmann
-Curious that Bachmann would find herself in the number 3 spot after being written off by most analysts. It would be tempting to put Ron Paul as #3, but Bachmann still has game in spite of her recent losing streak. Her broad public support might be limited, but she still has potential to win in Iowa. However, one win does not make a champion. A tough early schedule makes a win in game one possible, but odds do not look favorable that she'll capitalize and carry her support to New Hampshire and other early-voting states.

4. Ron Paul
-Ron Paul has a consistent level of support and could challenge Bachmann for the number 3. Given his apparent ceiling of support though, the perennial contender looks like he will go home empty-handed once again. His fans are among the most devoted in the league, and his mark on the playoffs should not go without notice.

5. Rick Santorum
-Santorum has been a real surprise in recent weeks. He started off as Mr. Irrelevant and has become, well, Mr. Less Irrelevant. He capitalized on turnovers by Perry and Bachmann, and has reestablished himself after a grueling loss in the Senate in 2006. He does have a future in the GOP, but it'd take a real "Hail Mary" for him to seize the nomination.

6. Gary Johnson
-A man who barely captures one percent in the polls is in 6th place? Most have not heard of the former New Mexico governor, but some of those who have see him as the next Ron Paul. After finally getting the opportunity to participate in a debate, he may be able to set himself up as a libertarian leader. The presidential campaign was no waste for him; he made a (small) name for himself, and is somehow beating Jon Huntsman in a few polls. He is not the ultra-fringe candidate many make him out to be (he was a well-liked governor), and has potential in certain markets.

7. Newt Gingrich
-Newt Gingrich, the Randy Moss of politics. He has proven himself to be a great political player in years past, but has begun taking plays off when he's not feeling it. He has a book to sell, an image to maintain, and can't be bogged down with things like running an effective campaign. Some thought he might bring back the Newt dynasty of the 90's, but he has turned his campaign over to owners who put ticket sales over a championship-quality team. He still has enough left in him to debate, but a few blunders have already cost him the season.

8. Herman Cain
-What to do with Herman Cain? Like Gingrich, he has an image to maintain. He may be setting himself up for a position in the GOP Party apparatus - just not as a candidate. Did we really expect him to be President after the elections next November? He has run a good race, picked up some worthwhile supporters (fair-weather fans?), and would fit in well as a fund-raiser and executive within the Party.

9. Jon Huntsman
-Poor Jon Huntsman. A few short years ago he appeared to be the ultimate GOP general election candidate. Turns out he would be the 2008 Detroit Lions: undefeated in the preseason and endlessly defeated in the regular season. He just didn't live up to the hype. He has the background of a good candidate; he might be able to come back in upcoming years. He could do a lot of good for the GOP, but he needs to be taken seriously first.

10. Buddy Roemer
-At least the Lions won in the preseason. Buddy just couldn't get it going for himself. Fortunately he didn't have any expectations. He is on the edge between credible and fringe candidate, but we'll give him the fact that he was elected as a governor. And ten is a much nicer number than nine.

Once again the race is Mitt Romney's to lose. He has seen his image as the overall leader wax and wane, but is still the candidate to beat. He's got a strong opponent just waiting for an electoral show-off, and needs to do more than sit on the sidelines as before. The playoffs are still a long ways away, and just as in football, a lot can happen in a few weeks in politics. Every week counts. Every player counts. Every play counts. What will happen in the weeks to come? Stay tuned and find out!

GOP Power Rankings: Week 28

Andre P. Audette is author of the blog No Politics As Usual - Challenging partisanship, calling out corruption, and confronting "politics as usual." Read it online at http://www.andrepierreaudette.com/

Be Social, But Don't Neglect Your Website

I've written numerous articles in past about the importance of both Social Media and Mobile Website Optimization as a means to better engage customers. Many have taken note and launched successful campaigns. However, I cannot stress enough - your website is your number one online priority when marketing your product/service to your customers.

Social Networks are amazing tools for online marketing efforts and they can be fun to maintain. Yet, sometimes businesses get so caught up in their Social Media agenda that their time is spread thin, leaving the "bread and butter", their website, on the sidelines.

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In this article I address the methods, as they apply to Social Media campaigns, of making sure that your website comes first:

1. Website Content is the Foundation

Excuse the obvious statement, but in order to post something on your Social Media accounts, you have to have content to post in the first place. If you're just sharing content from others, or creating content only for use on Social Networks, you're not optimizing your marketing efforts. Create all content - articles, news, photos, and videos - for your website first. All content must be rooted from your website, and branch out accordingly.

2. Relate to Your Website

If your website was "done right", then it represents your product/service offering perfectly. All content that you create for your website and for subsequent off-site use (Social Networks, Bookmarks, etc...) should directly relate to encouraging people to "buy" your product/service from your website. Again, it's easy to get sidetracked by developing your brand's Social Media persona too well, by engaging in content sharing activities that don't directly related to your product/service. Sure, it's fun to share info about the latest football news with fans/followers, but for every casual communication, ten should relate to your website, not NFL trade rumors (unless of course you are a sports agent).

3. Link Back to Your Website

This is an absolute statement - everything you post about your product/service on your Social Networks should directly link back to your website. Otherwise, it's just information blowing in the wind, serving little purpose in bringing actual customers to your website - the place where purchases are made. For example, don't post (on networks) complete articles, instead, simply "tease" the audience with an eye catching image, title, or content summary that makes it too irresistible not to click the link.

4. Link to the Relevant Page

Finally, link content posted on Social Networks to the page on your website directly corresponding to the content. Too many marketers post eye-catching content summaries encouraging fans/followers to click through, only to have them land on the website's home page where the item doesn't exist. Many do this thinking that it will increase page views (assuming visitors will look for the content on other pages) but all it gets them is a high "bounce rate" - visitors coming to your page, and leaving immediately if they don't find what they were looking for within a few split seconds.

Conclusion

Remember the balance of website marketing and you'll do just fine. Your website is the foundation of all online efforts and Social Media, Mobile Optimization, Bookmarking, and Link Building is the proverbial icing on the cake.

Be Social, But Don't Neglect Your Website

Marcus Maraih, Content Developer, http://www.StandardMarketing.ca

Things To Do In Poole - Including Bonus 5 Free Activities

Things To Do In Poole - Top 5 Activities

1. Take a trip out to Brownsea Island

Super Bowl 2012

The Brownsea Island Scout camp is recognised as being the world's first Scout camp, the event being regarded as the real origin of the worldwide Scout movement.

Described by presenter, Bill Oddie as "the best place for seeing wildlife in Dorset". You can see Sika deer, wading birds and the elusive red squirrel. There is lots for the kids with 'wildlife tracker packs', trails, and a range of exciting events and activities. Find out more on the National Trust Brownsea Island webpage

Escape the hustle and bustle of Poole & Bournemouth, wandering through the woodland, heathland, wetland and shoreline of Brownsea Island. Many special events are on offer throughout the year including the popular Open Air Theatre, activity weekends and guided walks.

Boat Services are available from Poole Quay and Sandbanks Jetty, boat trips also run from Bournemouth Pier. The Island is open daily to the public from 24th March - 4th November 2012.

2. Find something for everyone at the Tower Park Complex

For those days where the whole family just needs a bit of entertainment, Tower Parkhas it all. Attractions include a 10 screen multiplex cinema to bingo, bowling and a water park with 12 of the UK's craziest indoor and outdoor rides.

3. Stroll through Compton Acres - the South's Finest Privately Owned Historic Gardens

Built in 1924, Compton Acres is a wonderful example of a historic garden in the UK. It is of late Victorian Mixed Style design with seven distinct gardens to wander around and enjoy, including the famous Italian and Japanese Gardens. Having undergone extensive refurbishment over the past 8 years, Compton Acres is now highly regarded as one of the most important historic gardens in England.

As well as its beautiful ten acres of gardens, there are two cafes, shops and a specialist Plant Centre. Special events such as pony rides and an Easter egg hunt are also held throughout the year.

Incorporate some or all of the following free Poole tourist activities and you can justify one or two of the great paid for experiences, such as windsurfing lessons at the Poole Windsurfing School.

4. Take Windsurfing Lessons at UK's No1 Spot with the Poole Windsurfing School

When looking for activities, holiday makers and locals often forget that they can take windsurfing lessons at the UK's No1 spot, Poole Harbour. It is just around the corner from the popular tourist destination of Bournemouth and being the second largest natural harbour in the world, with a designated area for watersports, it really is the UK's No1 Spot to take windsurfing lessons.

5. Hire a traditional beach hut

Take to the beach in style by hiring a beach hut in Poole and be a part of a great British tradition. You can't get a more traditional seaside activity!

The latest news is that Poole Borough Council have recently built 22 brand new beach huts at Branksome Chine. They have stunning views across Poole's award winning beaches and are available to hire on a weekly basis between April and September.

Top 5 Free Things To Do In Poole

1. Walk around the famous Sandbanks Peninsular

Walk around Poole Harbour and the world famous Sandbanks peninsular, taking in both the natural scenery and a sneaky peak at the 4th most expensive property in the world. Many of the rich and famous have houses on the Sandbanks peninsular and a leisurely walk is the best way to get a glimpse of how the other half live!

You can stop off at Sandbanks beach for on-route refreshments and a dip in the sea to cool your feet.

2. Spend a day or an evening at Poole Quay

Spending some time at Poole Quay is a great free activity to do during your visit to Poole. You can sit in one of the many restaurants or bars and watch the yachts come and go in the marina and Poole Harbour. Poole Quay is also home to the most famous super yacht manufacturer in the world, Sunseeker. You can see the latest luxury and performance super yachts been fitted out and prepared for delivery around the world!

Every Thursday in July on Poole Quay from 7pm check out the 'Summer Breeze with Fireworks on the Quay' where you can enjoy live music, street entertainment, family activities, special themed nights and a fantastic fireworks finale at 10 pm. In August Summer Breeze on the Beach then takes place at Shore Road Beach, Sandbanks every Thursday. If you are visiting Poole between the months of May and August, Friday evenings herald the return of "Quay for my Car" on Poole Quay, kicking off at 6pm. There are shows for everything from VW Beetles to Porsches. The Poole View website has a list of 'Quay for my Car' dates and the type of carsthat will be shown.

3. Cycle the famous 7 mile stretch of Poole & Bournemouth beaches

If you want to see the famous 7 miles of golden sand beaches then taking to 2 wheels is a smart way to get around. Cruise along the promenade towards the famous Sandbanks beach and if you are feeling adventurous, over the chain ferry and into the Purbecks. In the other direction you can go all the way to Hengistbury Head and even take a land train from there to Christchurch Harbour.

4. Browse Poole's Weekly Farmers Market and Street Market

Every Thursday between 9am and 2pm Poole's Farmers Market is held in Falkland Square. You will find the best local and free range products brought to you by the Farmers, Nurserymen, Bakers and Pie Makers who breed, grow and make their own produce. The Farmers Market is held in Falkland Square, outside the Dolphin Centre.

There is also Poole's Weekly Street Market every Thursday & Saturday between approximately 9am and 5pm along Poole High Street from Lagland Street/North Street to Old Orchard. The market offers something for everyone at great prices!

5. Swim in the Sea at Sandbanks

Make the most of Poole's natural wonderland by enjoying a relaxing swim at one of the five gently sheltered beaches, including Sandbanks - winner of more Blue Flags than any UK resort - with soft golden sands, raked and cleaned all year round.

"Under a blazing sun, Sandbanks, on it's gradually sloping peninsula, felt more like Miami's South Beach" Daily Express

Enjoy your stay - you certainly won't run out of things to do in Poole!

Things To Do In Poole - Including Bonus 5 Free Activities

Terril Winters runs Poole Windsurfing, a product of 15 years teaching experience. He posts regularly to the FREE Top Windsurfing Tips & News where you can find all you need to know about windsurfing. Claim your special offers for windsurfing lessons, windsurfing hire and other hot deals on their Special Offers Page.

10 Types of Politicians

Where to begin...?

Those of you who follow my writing know that I am a bit sassy and unconventional. With that said, think about what it takes to be a politician in 2012. Quite a daunting task, huh? Not every citizen would want the job. Not every citizen would want their dirty laundry aired in the public forum. Many of us would rather DIE than have our past scrutinized. Oh. I meant, many of YOU. Oops.

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1. The "Holier Than Thou" politicians have radiant halos above their heads powered by a string of lights. You pray to hear a bell because you are certain these angels are about to get their wings. Maybe the church has tainted me, but I have a hard time when politicians and athletes thank the Good Lord for their election victory or touchdown. I don't know which God they may be referring to, but I'm confident that my God probably has more to do than perform miracles for the NFL on Sundays.

2. The "Pied Piper" politicians play the flute and hope all the voters will follow. They believe that images of leadership and new horizons are positive symbols of change. Therefore, it doesn't matter which topics they support (and you never really get a straight answer) but they can lead us to utopia. "Follow me and I will lead the way. Taxes? What? Da-da-da-da-da."

3. The "Flower Child" politicians just want everyone to get along and achieve world peace. "Can't We All Just Get Along." "Make Love, Not War." Communal living is key to our nation's future and survival. "What? Education? Hmmm. Let's legalize marijuana and just... feel... good. Our children will learn naturally."

4. The "Bizarro World" politicians are characters who are completely opposite of their relative counterparts. These folks paint a pretty picture of family life, happy marriages, well-rounded children, all while avoiding the lure of corruption. Then, whammo, you discover they are opposite in every way. "Suckers."

5. The "American Dream" politicians have a dismal history of poverty and despair. They didn't let society stand in their way. They conquered obstacles and charged the mountain in order to become the successes they are today. "What? Issues? Health care? I don't know, but I know I can do it because I AM the AMERICAN DREAM. Who wants apple pie?"

6. The "Oops, My Bad" politicians cannot slink away after their true characters are revealed. Many wish they could crawl in a hole somewhere, but instead, they still have a job to do. Instead of "coming clean" six months ago about a controversial issue, they are forced to appear sullen and remorseful as they apologize... for getting caught. Oops, I meant lying. My bad.

7. The "Familiar Face" politicians ride on the coat tails of past lives. With their recognizable faces and public personas, they decide to try politics. They are actors/actresses, tv spokesmen/women, and... uh-hem... professional wrestlers and bodybuilders. "What? Party platform? Duh, I know what that is. I'm standing on it."

8. The "Octogenarian" politicians are, quite frankly, um, well, older than dirt. I'm a teacher and in the 20 years that I have been knee-deep in education, the whole world of education has changed. Therefore, I believe I can infer that 80 and 90 year-old politicians are probably not "in tune" with today's changes. "What? Computers, Schlumputers. Just a fad."

9. The "Superhero" politicians will save the world. They will rid the country of poverty, pollution, and politics in a single bound. "Tabula rosa" and start over. We will redistrict the regions, claim power over all, appoint our friends to high positions, and rid the nation of silly rules and laws. "Don't fret, average citizens. Superhero is here. I have no experience, education, or comprehension of foreign affairs, but I will save the day."

10. The "No Way, Not Me" politicians will never run for office. They are brilliant, inspiring, and revolutionary thinkers. They are not bound to one party. They are not bound by money matters. They are not puppets on strings. They are independent thinkers that make decisions from the heart. They do what is right. They are empathetic leaders with level-headed ideals for all citizens. Unfortunately, folks, they don't want anything to do with politics. Too bad for us.

10 Types of Politicians

Authored by Robyn Carey Ryser