|
Training for Book Authors
|
|
|
Other Resources for Book Authors & Publishers
|
|
|
Please Support Our Advertisers
|
|
|
|
|
|
The NBA's Western Conference at the Start of '09
Copyright (c) 2009-2023 Ryan Hogan
At the beginning of 2009, the Western Conference has it all: a very dominant team, parity and a lot of NBA Lottery contestants.
The defending conference champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, have a five game lead. Teams #2 through #9 are separated by only two-and-a-half games.
The remaining six teams are at least 12 games under .500.
As the season creeps towards the mid-way point, the Lakers hope to stay consistent and healthy, while the contenders hope to position themselves for a post All-Star-break run into the playoffs.
The Pacific Division
At 25-5, the Lakers are off to their best start since 1999-2000, a year they won the NBA Title.
The lone downside to their start, with the exception of New Orleans (28), is that no Western Conference team has played fewer games than the Lakers. Meaning L.A. will have more opportunities than others clubs to lose.
Of course, it won't be easier for the Lakers to rack up a lot of losses, not the way they can score.
The Lakers lead the league in scoring, averaging 107.3 points a game. Kobe Byrant is third in the NBA in scoring with just over 26 points per game. He's also shooting an impressive 47.3 percent from the field.
The Lakers are deep and talented. And they have a great mix of youth (Andrew Bynum, Trevor Ariza) and veterans (Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom).
Looking up at the Lakers is the rapidly aging, and increasingly surly, Phoenix Suns.
New head coach Terry Porter has been given the unenviable task of bringing an identity to a team that has both Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal-two great players with radically different playing styles.
After a shaky start to the season, Shaq has been playing better. Over his last eight games, O'Neal is averaging 23.3 points.
The Suns' schedule has been brutal, so an 18-12 record isn't all that bad.
A team with Nash, Shaq, Richardson, Stoudemire and veteran Grant Hill should make the playoffs.
But age, health and Stoudemire's anger management issues will probably prohibit the Suns from seriously challenging for the title.
While the Warriors' problems stem from personnel, the Clippers have some good players.
Point guard Baron Davis, shooting guard Eric Gordon, small forward Al Thornton, power forward Zach Randolph and center Marcus Camby are a formidable starting five (when they are healthy).
The Clippers' problem is they can't shoot. Both Davis and Thornton are in major shooting slumps and the team is closing in on the franchise record for worst field-goal shooting percentage in a season.
Not surprisingly, the Clippers are 28th in points per game, next-to-last in three-point field-goal percentage and 26th in free-throw percentage.
The Clippers run a predictable offense that relies heavily on isolation plays. Players seldom cut without the ball and they are also one of the worst screening teams in the West.
To salvage this season, Davis needs to reenergize his game and Randolph, out a couple of weeks with a dislocated shoulder, needs to return to help the Clippers get easy/open looks on pick and rolls, and pick and pops.
Even if all that happens, look for the Clippers to be nothing more than spoilers for teams trying to make the playoffs.
The Sacramento Kings' best player, Kevin Martin, has already missed 22 games this season due to injury. Entering January, he finally seems healthy and ready to play.
They are one of the league's worst defensive team, allowing over 105 points a game and the Kings are the worst team in point differential, with nearly a minus 10-point difference between their score and their opponents'.
Amazingly, the Kings have eight wins, but don't look for that number to get much larger. This is a team preparing for the draft lottery.
The Northwest Division
Earlier this season, the Denver Nuggets made headlines when they traded Allen Iverson to the Detroit Pistons for point guard, and Denver native, Chauncey Billups.
Since Billups joined the club, the Nuggets have gone 20-9. The Nuggets are also good at home, they've started the season 11-4 in Colorado.
The Nuggets play an ugly style basketball except for Carmello Anthony. Mello may be the most complete offensive player in the game today.
Denver's bench isn't very good, but their starting five (including center Nene, who is having the best year of his career) should be enough to win this division-especially with the Blazers experiencing growing pains and the Jazz just experiencing pains.
The Portland Trailblazers have just everything you need in a team.
They have a superstar and clutch shooter in Brandon Roy and they have another big-time scorer in LaMarcus Aldridge.
They have size and strength in centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla.
And they have depth with Rudy Fernandez and Travis Outlaw coming off the bench.
However, the Blazers need to be more consistent on defense. This young team can score, but they allow too many open looks and too many easy buckets.
If, or when, Portland realizes they need to play championship caliber defense all-the-time, the West will be there's for the taking.
Before the season started, the Utah Jazz were the obvious pick to win the Pacific division-after all, they've won the last two Northwest Division titles.
A third title in-a-row seems nearly impossible now that the Jazz have been ravaged by injuries.
Guard C.J. Miles is the only Jazz player to have logged minutes in every game this season.
Despite the injuries, the Jazz have battled to a 19-14 record. Jerry Sloan has done a tremendous job keeping his team competitive and the Jazz have the good fortunate of having the league's 6th easiest schedule.
Even if the Jazz get healthy, landing that 8th playoff spot will be difficult. They are an awful road team, currently 7-10 away from Salt Lake City, and the hard part of the schedule is still to come.
While the Blazers and the Nuggets are catchable, the Jazz maybe the good Western Conference team that doesn't make the playoffs.
It will be a long year for the T-Wolves and unless they show significant improvement, it will also be McHale's last season as their employee.
As bad as it is for the T-Wolves at least they're not in last place. That distinction falls to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In the month of December, Kevin Durant averaged 25.6 points and 7.5 boards. He shot a respectable 48 percent from the field and 45 percent from behind the arc.
His performance was good enough to lead his team to a 1-12 record for the month.
In total, you can count all the Thunder's wins on one hand (4) and still have a digit left over to show your feelings towards owner Clay Bennett.
Chances are the Thunder won't win enough games to fill up two hands. In fact, they may make more trades than wins.
The Southwest Division
This year Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets hope to improve on last year's team that finished 56-26 and lost to the Spurs in the conference semi-finals.
Last season, the Hornets started 18-10. This year they started 19-9. That's good, but what's cause for concern is the Hornets are 7-6 against teams that made the playoffs last season.
The first month of 2009 will play a large part in whether or not the Hornets can surpass their 2007-2008 results. The Hornets play 16 games in the month of January (nine of those on the road) including four sets of back-to-back games.
If the Hornets can escape January with 10 or more wins, look for them to repeat as Southwest Division champs.
Even the name San Antonio Spurs sounds old.
Age has definitely made the Spurs more vulnerable than they've ever been under Gregg Popovich, but it's only January.
Is this team even out of hibernation?
Spurs don't even start caring about basketball until March.
Despite suffering injuries (at various points of the season) to Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the Spurs have still managed to post a 20-11 mark.
The Spurs lost Brent Barry and Robert Horry from last year's squad, but newcomer Roger Mason and rookie George Hill have been productive and nice additions to the team.
The stars are still shining, Parker is averaging 22 points and 6 assists a game, while Tim Duncan is averaging a double-double a game-20.7 points and 10.3 rebound.
Like you would expect from a veteran team, the Spurs know how to win close ball games. San Antonio is 10-3 in games decided by six points or less, or games decided in overtime-they've already won their three double-overtime games.
Staying in Texas, the Houston Rockets are reminiscent of another team from the Lone Star state that plays a different sport. The Rockets, like those "Boys" of winter, can win some games but when it comes down to crunch time, they scare no one.
Yes, the addition of Ron Artest is a good one. But even if he's Mother Teresa off the court, he's not going to lead the Rockets to the second round of the playoffs by himself-you know after Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady go down with injuries.
McGrady, after a meeting with head coach Rick Adelman and general manager Daryl Morey, said he won't be playing in the second of back-to-back games.
Seriously?
T-Mac isn't even 30-years old and he's already taking games off?
Sure, the Rockets will win some games, make the playoffs and show a few signs of being a legitimate contender, but eventually they will wilt.
You don't have to be a Dallas Mavericks fan to be sick of hearing about how they shouldn't have traded Devin Harris to the New Jersey Nets for Jason Kidd.
We get it!
Harris is tearing it up in Jersey and Kidd is playing out the twilight of his career before going to hall of the fame.
As you might imagine, Dirk Nowitzki is a large part of why the Mavs are now headed in the right direction, but some credit should go to reserve guard Jason Terry. He's the leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year and is averaging over 21 points per game.
Forward Josh Howard is finally healthy-a sprained left wrist followed by sprained left ankle cost him 11 games.
Guard Jason Terry has been critical of his defense this season (when was the last time you heard a NBA player say that). His tenacious D was part of the reason the Mavs were able to come back and defeat the Timberwolves after falling behind 62-40 at halftime.
Jason Kidd may not be averaging 23 points like Devin Harris, but he still knows how to ball. Kidd is averaging 8.6 assists, 2.6 steals and 6.5 rebounds a game, while turning over the rock less than two-and-half times a game. That's solid production.
The Mavs are a good team and they are much better than their 19-12 record indicates.
Can someone please put the Memphis Grizzles on television? I want to see O.J. Mayo play.
Can't TNT broadcast one of his games or do they have to air the dozen Tyler Perry sitcoms?
The rookie guard from USC is averaging 20 points a game. He leads his team in scoring and turnovers. He's second in steals and third in assists.
Speaking of assists, the Grizzlies are the only team in the league that doesn't record assists on at least half of their field goals.
This type of selfish play is started to wear on head coach Marc Iavaroni. If it continues, it may cost Iavaroni his job.
Recently, Iavaroni received the kiss of death from his owner, Michael Heisley, who publically stated he's solidly behind his head coach.
That's never a good sign for a coach.
If the Grizz can keep Mayo, Marc Gasol, Darrell Arthur and Rudy Gay together, they may have a future.
Conclusion
The Los Angeles Lakers should win this conference and return to the NBA Finals. If they somehow fail to play defense at a championship-level, a slew of teams are ready to pounce and make a move.
The Spurs are probably saving their energy for one last championship run; remember they know how to win.
The Hornets are hungry and in their prime; when it's all said and done, Chris Paul will be listed as one of the all-time greats.
The Mavs may sneak up and surprise a lot of teams; too many basketball fans are talking about the Kidd-Harris trade and not their solid play.
Denver, Portland, Phoenix and Utah are long shots to catch the Lakers, but they are more than capable of winning a serious or two in the postseason.
To highlight the depth of the Western Conference, one of the following teams will be in the NBA lottery: New Orleans, San Antonio, Denver, Portland, Dallas, Phoenix and Utah.
The Western Conference is tough.
VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >>
0 -
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5
<< Excellent Article
Tell our authors what you think about their article.
|
Top-Level Category: Sports and Recreation Articles
10 Most Recent Articles Written by Ryan Hogan
Things to Do With Your Kids in Toronto
Written by: Ryan Hogan |
Distributed: 2010-07-30 |
Word Count: 1342 |
Page Views: 5390
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 1.33
There are a couple of things to keep in mind about Toronto.
One is the weather. While Toronto has a pretty mild climate
for a Canadian city, and it does experience four distinct
seasons, its winters can be a bit harsh. You can expect
snowfall from November through mid-April. Second, Toronto is
expensive. It's often rated as the most expensive city in
Canada in which to live. So while there's plenty for your
family to do in Toronto, you'll need to pay attention to
the weather and to your budget.
Music and Humor
Written by: Ryan Hogan |
Distributed: 2010-07-29 |
Word Count: 914 |
Page Views: 5997
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.60
Music and humor can intersect in one of three ways. The
first way is when serious artists get clever. This would be
The Who's "Squeeze Box," The Ramones "I Want to be
Sedated," or Aerosmith's "Dude Looks Like a Lady."
'Dukes of September Rhythm Revue' Tour
Written by: Ryan Hogan |
Distributed: 2010-07-28 |
Word Count: 548 |
Page Views: 7300
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 0.33
The Dukes of September play jazz-rock and blue-eyed soul
while covering artists like Little Anthony, David Ruffin and
Curtis Mayfield. The Dukes of Stratosphear were the alter
egos of the British rock band XTC. And they are on tour this
year...
Six Broadway Shows You Must See
Written by: Ryan Hogan |
Distributed: 2010-04-29 |
Word Count: 643 |
Page Views: 5637
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 1.00
Even those living in a cave know that Wicked, The Lion King
and Chicago are Broadway's hottest tickets. But they're
not the only entertainment on the Great White Way. Below,
BSTLV looks at eight other Broadway shows you should
definitely check out. These eight productions range from
timeless revivals to brand new dramatic works that are
destined to become Broadway classics.
Must-See 2010 Summer Music Festivals
Written by: Ryan Hogan |
Distributed: 2010-04-28 |
Word Count: 885 |
Page Views: 5236
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.60
One of the best things about summer, at least for music
fans, is the plethora of music festivals held all across the
country and all though out the season. These festivals bring
together dozens of great bands usually for more than one day
and usually on more than one stage.
Top Ten 'Mistakes' Made by Parents America
Written by: Ryan Hogan |
Distributed: 2010-04-27 |
Word Count: 970 |
Page Views: 5646
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.67
On one hand the word "mistake" may be too harsh. Every
child is different and only you really know if your
offspring is happy and flourishing. Therefore, who is to say
what a parenting mistake is and is not? On the other hand,
"mistake" may not be harsh enough.
The Top 10 Amusement Parks in America
Written by: Ryan Hogan |
Distributed: 2010-04-21 |
Word Count: 1163 |
Page Views: 7360
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 0.83
The deciding factor in selecting the top ten amusement parks
in America was the answer to the following question: is the
park worth a trip across country? If the park is in Florida
is it worth the trip from the West Coast? If the park is in
California is it worth the journey from Boston or Baltimore?
If the answer was yes, the park qualified for inclusion.
Springtime in Boston
Written by: Ryan Hogan |
Distributed: 2010-04-20 |
Word Count: 696 |
Page Views: 4554
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.80
Spring is always a welcomed time of year especially after a
long, cold winter. In Boston, springtime is a chance to
forget all about the snow and ice and instead embrace the
numerous outdoor activities the city has to offer.
The Best Things You Can Do To Fight Childhood Obesity
Written by: Ryan Hogan |
Distributed: 2010-03-16 |
Word Count: 780 |
Page Views: 5308
| Votes: 2 |
Rating: 0.50
Sadly, America's blubber-welcoming lifestyle is affecting
our nation's children. Childhood obesity rates are on the
rise and so are the diseases associated with them. Now more
than ever, parents must actively watch their children's
weight.
Jimmy Buffett and His 'Under the Big Top' Tour
Written by: Ryan Hogan |
Distributed: 2010-03-15 |
Word Count: 500 |
Page Views: 5992
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 0.33
This is Buffett's umpteenth tour of North America and it's
supporting his latest release, "Buffet Hotel." That's not
a misspelling. "Buffet Hotel" is the name of a hotel in
the landlocked nation of Mali. Buffett discovered the hotel
on a recent trip to West Africa.
All of Author's Articles on this site: Ryan Hogan Articles
Most Recent "Sports And Recreation" Articles
Improve Your Golf Swing In 30 Minutes With Six Simple Golf Swing Tips
Written by: Sam White |
Distributed: 2011-12-07 |
Word Count: 1230 |
Page Views: 5516
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.40
In-depth article explaining how to perfect your golf swing
in six steps covering everything from the pivot to the
mental game.
Learn How To Overcome Your Subconscious Mind To Improve Your Golf Game And Handicap
Written by: Winchel Blanc |
Distributed: 2010-02-03 |
Word Count: 1465 |
Page Views: 5492
| Votes: 2 |
Rating: 0.50
Obviously, the goal in golf is to get the ball into the
hole, in as few strokes as possible. More important than
learning a specific technique, to enable the possibility, is
to understand the learning process in the game of golf. If
you learn to hit the ball fast and straight the first time,
then you will naturally lower your handicap. So, for those
who are truly interested in improving their golf game, one
should strive to make the first stroke hit its mark. This
article will guide you through a different way of thinking
about how to improve your golf game.
Pitching Hot Stuff Derek Lowe
Written by: Lynda Belcher |
Distributed: 2009-07-08 |
Word Count: 568 |
Page Views: 3948
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 2.92
As a bonafide Atlanta Braves fan, let me just say that I don't
easily excite over specific players. The whole game is so diluted
with the comings and goings of various players, it's hard
sometimes to keep up with who is on what team this season. I
mean, you know the drill...
Fantasy Baseball - Fool Proof Strategies To Win
Written by: Skyler Ace |
Distributed: 2009-04-23 |
Word Count: 693 |
Page Views: 4875
| Votes: 10 |
Rating: 1.20
Fantasy Baseball is a popular game. The players involved in this
game work towards managing imagining team of baseball. This is
totally based on the baseball players' real life performance.
The players in Fantasy Baseball compete against one another using
those players' statistics in order score points.
Is Your Favorite Team in the AL East? Then Read This
Written by: Ryan Hogan |
Distributed: 2009-02-24 |
Word Count: 979 |
Page Views: 3763
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 2.50
The American League East is arguably the toughest division in
Major League Baseball today. The New York Yankees and the Boston
Red Sox alone are enough to earn that reputation, but now you can
add the pennant winning Tampa Bay Rays to the A.L. East's
competitive teams.
Playing Golf - Pain or Pleasure?
Written by: Claus Jensen |
Distributed: 2009-01-21 |
Word Count: 709 |
Page Views: 3614
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.67
I turned to golf when my knees had had enough of soccer and all
its unpredictable injuries. So here I am, an amateur golfer with
a handicap of 22, and stuck at that level for quite some time
now. That explains the title of this article! I have learned that
there are three key elements to help one perform well on the golf
course. Read on as I discuss each one.
2008 NFL Season Outlook
Written by: Mark Anderson |
Distributed: 2008-10-29 |
Word Count: 1233 |
Page Views: 4007
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 2.17
The 2008 NFL season is upon us and as always, there is plenty of
excitement in almost every NFL city across the country. Every fan
is hopeful about their team at the start of the season, but when
it comes down to it, the best teams will always end up at the top
of the heap. Only 12 teams can make it the playoffs out of 32, so
the odds aren't always on your side. But as the Giants showed
the world last year: once you're in the playoffs, anything can
happen and anybody can win the whole thing and go home as Super
Bowl Champion.
The Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Olympics
Written by: Jennifer Adams |
Distributed: 2008-09-02 |
Word Count: 750 |
Page Views: 4885
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 1.82
When I watched the Opening Ceremony, I was entranced. It began
with giant footprints in the sky made of fireworks, leading the
way to the stadium. The stadium was built specifically for the
Olympics in the shape of a bird's nest, which is considered a
lucky symbol in China. It was amazing.
The Wild Wild NFC West
Written by: Kurt Schumacher |
Distributed: 2008-07-15 |
Word Count: 1645 |
Page Views: 3688
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.78
It will be a tight division race, coming down to St. Louis or
Arizona. The value play is on St. Louis, at 6.50 to 1 odds, to
win the division (the pre-season number on Arizona is 3.25 to 1
odds to win the division). The better play here is St. Louis to
win OVER 6.5 games. Our scorecasting models have the 2008 Rams
winning 9 games; a deviation of 2.5 games from the Vegas total -
which correlates to a strong betting line play.
Fly Fishing 101: Learn Everything You Need to Know to Get Started on a Fly Fishing Adventure
Written by: Christine Beals |
Distributed: 2008-04-23 |
Word Count: 1043 |
Page Views: 3916
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 2.36
Fly fishing is an ancient angling method in which artificial
flies are tied onto a hook to imitate naturally occurring food.
These artificial flies are made out of materials such as fur and
feather. Rods are generally light while the lines are heavy in
weight, providing the proper weight and momentum for casting.
Because of the ease of learning, fly fishing has become an
enjoyable past time for many people of all ages.
Most Viewed "Sports And Recreation" Articles
Fish Southern Alberta: Lakes, Streams, Rivers and More
Written by: Travel Alberta |
Distributed: 2007-01-10 |
Word Count: 987 |
Page Views: 10231
| Votes: 28 |
Rating: 2.43
Angling in southern Alberta involves casting for trophy fish amid
a vast and spectacular landscape of lakes, streams, reservoirs
and one of the world's best fly-fishing rivers.
Banff Hiking Trails
Written by: Travel Alberta |
Distributed: 2006-12-11 |
Word Count: 984 |
Page Views: 8141
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 1.58
From trekking into classic teahouses and charming backcountry
lodges to around-town strolls, Banff's hiking trails are one of
the most extensive hiking networks on earth.
A Stingray Tale
Written by: Vincent Bossley |
Distributed: 2007-04-19 |
Word Count: 2442 |
Page Views: 7544
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 2.63
The head of Queen Charlotte Sounds are tidal. The tide range is
not huge, but the water being as shallow as it is, low tide
reveals a great expanse of brownness. Ringed by lush native bush
to the waterline, this little corner of Marlborough is paradise
to a small boy.
What Is A Ticket Broker, and Can They Really Help Me Get Playoff Tickets?
Written by: Triston Nielder |
Distributed: 2007-06-18 |
Word Count: 799 |
Page Views: 5536
| Votes: 10 |
Rating: 2.70
If you've ever tried to get sports tickets, concert tickets or
theatre tickets, only to find them sold out five minutes after
they went on sale, then you may need to locate a ticket broker.
Improve Your Golf Swing In 30 Minutes With Six Simple Golf Swing Tips
Written by: Sam White |
Distributed: 2011-12-07 |
Word Count: 1230 |
Page Views: 5516
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.40
In-depth article explaining how to perfect your golf swing
in six steps covering everything from the pivot to the
mental game.
Learn How To Overcome Your Subconscious Mind To Improve Your Golf Game And Handicap
Written by: Winchel Blanc |
Distributed: 2010-02-03 |
Word Count: 1465 |
Page Views: 5492
| Votes: 2 |
Rating: 0.50
Obviously, the goal in golf is to get the ball into the
hole, in as few strokes as possible. More important than
learning a specific technique, to enable the possibility, is
to understand the learning process in the game of golf. If
you learn to hit the ball fast and straight the first time,
then you will naturally lower your handicap. So, for those
who are truly interested in improving their golf game, one
should strive to make the first stroke hit its mark. This
article will guide you through a different way of thinking
about how to improve your golf game.
Easily Access Alberta's Fly-In Fishing Lodges
Written by: Travel Alberta |
Distributed: 2007-01-08 |
Word Count: 888 |
Page Views: 5423
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 1.50
Northern Alberta's fly-in fishing lodges offer some of the best
fresh-water fishing in the world. They're remote, pristine and
professionally managed and run.
Understanding Which Horses Make The Best Barrel Racing Horses
Written by: Robb Fowler |
Distributed: 2008-02-26 |
Word Count: 725 |
Page Views: 5400
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 0.89
Contrary to what some people believe, not every horse is an ideal
candidate for barrel racing. Though there are fewer particulars
than there are when looking for a Thoroughbred that will be a
winner on the race track, there are a number of different
characteristics that will be found in great barrel horses.
NFL Training Camp - Is It Too Long?
Written by: Jay Nault |
Distributed: 2006-08-10 |
Word Count: 719 |
Page Views: 5397
| Votes: 20 |
Rating: 1.85
The demands on NFL teams have grown exponentially over the past
couple of decades. It wasn't too long ago that many NFL
players, even starters, felt the need to get or hold a
"regular" job during the offseason, and used the time spent in
training camp to get into playing shape for the regular season.
It also used to be that teams played up to six preseason games as
opposed to the current four or maybe five exhibitions.
Canada's Top Indoor Rodeo: Cowboys Ready for Action
Written by: Travel Alberta |
Distributed: 2006-12-13 |
Word Count: 1057 |
Page Views: 5298
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 1.69
Saddle Bronc rider Jess Martin will measure his first Canadian
Finals Rodeo by eight-second intervals as he struggles to stay on
a bucking horse bent on giving him the ride of his life in
Edmonton, Alberta. Eight seconds is all he needs on the leaping
and twisting animal to score during the country's biggest indoor
rodeo. Eight seconds in front of 16,000 cheering fans packing
Rexall Place as this Canadian gateway city goes hog wild from
Nov. 8–12.
Highest Ranked "Sports And Recreation" Articles
Red Sox Offense For 2007 Season Ready To Strike
Written by: Patrick Hickey Jr. |
Distributed: 2007-04-19 |
Word Count: 720 |
Page Views: 3763
| Votes: 10 |
Rating: 3.40
Despite winning 86 games last season, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein
knew that his team needed a bigger infusion of power and speed.
As much as the fans at Fenway respected the hard-working Alex
Gonzalez and loved long-time Red Sox outfielder Trot Nixon,
Epstein knew that in order for his team to get to the next level,
they needed more.
Pitching Hot Stuff Derek Lowe
Written by: Lynda Belcher |
Distributed: 2009-07-08 |
Word Count: 568 |
Page Views: 3948
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 2.92
As a bonafide Atlanta Braves fan, let me just say that I don't
easily excite over specific players. The whole game is so diluted
with the comings and goings of various players, it's hard
sometimes to keep up with who is on what team this season. I
mean, you know the drill...
Banff Springs Eternal
Written by: Travel Alberta |
Distributed: 2006-12-13 |
Word Count: 590 |
Page Views: 3799
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 2.91
Designed in 1928 by Canada's most revered golf course architect,
Stanley Thompson, this incredibly scenic golf course was the
first golf course to cost $1-million. It was money well spent,
and today Sports Illustrated calls the Banff Springs (along with
the Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course) one of the two greatest
mountain golf courses ever built.
Making The Cut
Written by: Robert Middleton |
Distributed: 2007-06-20 |
Word Count: 552 |
Page Views: 3826
| Votes: 16 |
Rating: 2.88
One of the hardest working groups of Independent Professionals
out there are professional golfers. It may look like they have an
easy job just hitting a ball around while enjoying the outdoors,
but as Paul Harvey says, 'Here's the rest of the story...'
The Wild Wild NFC West
Written by: Kurt Schumacher |
Distributed: 2008-07-15 |
Word Count: 1645 |
Page Views: 3688
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.78
It will be a tight division race, coming down to St. Louis or
Arizona. The value play is on St. Louis, at 6.50 to 1 odds, to
win the division (the pre-season number on Arizona is 3.25 to 1
odds to win the division). The better play here is St. Louis to
win OVER 6.5 games. Our scorecasting models have the 2008 Rams
winning 9 games; a deviation of 2.5 games from the Vegas total -
which correlates to a strong betting line play.
What Is A Ticket Broker, and Can They Really Help Me Get Playoff Tickets?
Written by: Triston Nielder |
Distributed: 2007-06-18 |
Word Count: 799 |
Page Views: 5536
| Votes: 10 |
Rating: 2.70
If you've ever tried to get sports tickets, concert tickets or
theatre tickets, only to find them sold out five minutes after
they went on sale, then you may need to locate a ticket broker.
Divisional Outlook for June - AL Central
Written by: Jay Nault |
Distributed: 2006-09-26 |
Word Count: 597 |
Page Views: 3442
| Votes: 19 |
Rating: 2.68
The past month has been one of change atop the division
standings, and the World Champion White Sox have been issued a
challenge by the surging Detroit Tigers, who enjoyed an amazing
month. The rest of the division has been mostly status quo, but
each team has made the news for different reasons since the
beginning of May.
Playing Golf - Pain or Pleasure?
Written by: Claus Jensen |
Distributed: 2009-01-21 |
Word Count: 709 |
Page Views: 3614
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.67
I turned to golf when my knees had had enough of soccer and all
its unpredictable injuries. So here I am, an amateur golfer with
a handicap of 22, and stuck at that level for quite some time
now. That explains the title of this article! I have learned that
there are three key elements to help one perform well on the golf
course. Read on as I discuss each one.
Heroes Host Camps - Grrrl Power Ascends
Written by: Travel Alberta |
Distributed: 2006-11-10 |
Word Count: 920 |
Page Views: 3805
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 2.63
You can play with the big boys when you learn how to jib your
first rail or hit your first large jump or nail a cab 540 spin.
Better yet, if you're a girl, you can play with the big girls
and leave those boys on their own. And if you're a boy – hey,
you up for the competition? There are killer camps coming to
Alberta and full-on schools that will provide all ages and skill
levels (and genders!) an opportunity to get better. Here's a
look at what's available.
Big Ben Guides Young Bulls
Written by: Patrick Hickey Jr. |
Distributed: 2007-01-15 |
Word Count: 717 |
Page Views: 4100
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 2.63
Finishing the 2006 season with more than 40 wins for the second
year in a row, the Chicago Bulls knew they were still missing
that certain something to shoot themselves through the ranks of
NBA mediocrity. Something along the lines of the six foot nine,
240 pounds of grit, hustle, unshakable determination and power
the likes of Ben Wallace to be exact.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Article Reprint Rights
|
This work is
licensed under a
Creative Commons
License
You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
|
|
Article Statistics
|
Word Count: 2137
Total Views: 3876
Article Rating: 1.00 of 5
Votes Cast: 7
More Articles By Author:
Articles On This Website
Last Distribution Date:
2009-02-26 11:12:00
Internal ID: #6553
|
|
|
Home