Posts Tagged ‘recreation’

« Older Entries

The Chicago Bears 2010 Season

March 11th, 2010

The Chicago Bears, beloved NFL franchise since 1919, have had many glorious years, with many more to come. This is one of those old-time teams that has a place in the hearts of thousands; a team full of passion and fight, a team that does what it takes to get to the end. Two short years after they were founded, the Bears began their rivalry with the Green Bay Packers, one thing fans can count on year in and year out. One year after this rivalry began, the Bears took their current colors, and have kept them ever since. That is one of the great things about this team, besides their talent, the fact that they are stable and are not going anywhere anytime soon.

Wrigley Field, another popular field to Chicagoans, was used as the Bears’ stomping grounds in the old days, mostly for scrimmage games. The team, obviously, needed a stadium they could call home, which they had not too long after they were a team, a stadium we all know as Soldier Field. Over the years the stadium has taken a lot of abuse, and required quite a bit of remodeling. The entire stadium was pretty much tore down and rebuilt by 2003, leaving only one wall from the original stadium. The new stadium was so different and new, in fact, that it was even renamed the Soldier Field II.

The Chicago Bears have always made record sales for home games, and even games on the road. Ticket sales, for the Chicago bears, are well within the top 20 highest sales across the entire league. In fact, they are within the top 10 most profitable teams in the NFL, and its history, with a cash flow of 1.1 billion dollars. The combination of their solid history, the 2009 roster changes, and summer training, the 2009 season was just as eventful as every other season the Bears have given their fans. Jay Cutler, a Pro Bowl quarterback from the Broncos, joined the Bears in the spring of 2009, which added some great talent to their offensive line.

After 90 years on the league, the Bears have retired 13 numbers. Players like Walter Payton, Harold Grange, Sid Luckman, George Halas, George McAfee, and Bill George — some old and some more recent. Other retired jerseys belong to Willie Galimore, Dick Butkus, Bill Hewitt, Clyde Turner, Gayle Sayers, Brian Piccolo, and Bronko Naqurski. Their history runs deep and will for many years to come. Bears fans are just as dedicated to their team, as the team is to the field and their fans.

There is nothing quite like being at a football game and hearing the players throw each other around the field. The sweat, grunting, play calls, and yelling are enough to get anyone excited about the game. Many say you don’t really experience football until you see the Chicago Bears play, especially live. This will be another astonishing year for the team. Don’t miss you chance to see them play, live, at Soldier Field II.

Written by Matt Ryan, sponsored by StubPass.com. StubPass.com sells Chicago Bears Tickets, NFL Tickets, Sports Tickets and many more tickets to your favorite events around the world.

No comments »

Posted in football

Tags:

Will The Ravens Make It To The Big Game?

March 10th, 2010

The Baltimore Ravens are, what many sports enthusiasts would call, infants in the NFL. The originated in Cleveland, and after much debate, Art Modell finally got his wish of moving them to Baltimore. They did not have their own stadium, at first, so they plated in Memorial Stadium, home of the Colts. It only took two years for their stadium to be ready; although, the name of the stadium changed numerous times over the next ten years (it took some time for the team to settle in).

After they moved to their new stadium, the Ravens did not overly improve their game, not even with coach Marchibroda. Their first season ended at a 6-10 record, nothing overly impressive. After only two years, in their new stadium, the head coached was replaced with Billick. Billick’s first season, with the Ravens proved to be a difficult one. Once the team got over the hump of having a new coach, and a few rough years behind them, they ended their ‘99 season with a 8-8 record; the best they’d seen yet.

Not even ten years later, the 2008 season, the Baltimore Ravens nearly made it to the Super Bowl. In a fight on home turf against the Jaguars, they won their spot in the AFC playoffs placement. An unfortunate turn of events allowed them to slip out of the running for the Super Bowl, but they made it farther than they ever had.

After a phenomenal season in 2008, the team has a new saying — “Play like a Raven”. This saying is spreading quickly, especially around home. Those who witnessed play during training of the 2009 summer will vouch for the fact that the team busted their humps. So not only was the team pumped to play, but they also had 26th pick in the draft, which helped them a lot. Michael Oher was predicted to see some good field time in the ‘09 season with the Ravens.

The Ravens are a new team as they are just starting their 12th season on the NFL. Regardless, after some hard work, they have made their way to some big games and attention. Everyone is excited about the 2010 season. The tickets will sell quick so be sure get your tickets as soon as they go on-sale!

Written by Matt Ryan, sponsored by StubPass.com. StubPass.com sells Baltimore Ravens Tickets, NFL Tickets, Sports Tickets and many more tickets to just about any event in the world.

No comments »

Posted in football

Tags:

Do Fantasy Leagues Do More Bad Than Advantages?

March 6th, 2010

One of my hobbies is playing fantasy sports leagues. I’ve playing for a while now and have fantasy teams in baseball, basketball and football. I’ve also tried other basic, sports based games.

I find this a very enjoyable hobby, and get a real buzz from managing my virtual team. Buying, selling, and being the boss gives me a lot of pleasure. I’ve always wanted to own a sports team and now I have 3, even if they aren’t real!

A word of warning though, this is very addictive. I’m constantly checking results and stats and seeing how the competition is doing. I find I’m doing this on a daily basis at least, and pressing refresh an awful lot!

Are the addictive qualities of these games bad for you? Well I personally don’t think s, but then I wouldn’t, would I? It does take up a huge amount of my time and If there are no new stats I find myself watching games I have no interest in, and checking other results to see of my team is affected.

I mentioned a lot of positives about playing these leagues earlier, and here’s another big one; it incites our competitive spirit, which is what playing sports is all about. We follow our teams in reality, so what is wrong with following these ones?

I will admit to certain periods of obsession over how my players are performing and whether or not they have the best interests of the team at heart. This has often taken precedence over the actual results.

Like many of us, I have favorite teams in real life that I have been a fan of since childhood. Why now, for the first time ever, is my allegiance being tested by teams that don’t even exist? If fixtures clash I’m in the horrible situation of having to choose between them.

Do I have a problem? Well if I do there are millions of us. This is a topic for hot debate by many sports enthusiasts.

See more of this author’s work about topics like the used wood splitter and skid steer log splitter.

No comments »

Posted in football

Tags:

Stamps Beat Bombers In Crucial CFL Tilt

March 3rd, 2010

The Calgary Stampeders used a solid all around game from running back Joffrey Reynolds to beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 31-23 at McMahon Stadium in weekend CFL action. The victory evened the Stamps record at 3-3 on the season. The Blue Bombers dropped to 2-4 with the setback. Winnipeg will need to dramatically improve on that lackluster record if they’re to have any hope of advancing to the Canadian Football League postseason.

Reynolds ran for one touchdown and caught another to pace the Stampeders offensive attack. After the game, he received praise from veteran CFL QB Henry Burris:

“Joffrey, he’s been an animal. He’s a proven professional. To me, he’s the best running back in the league and he shows it game in and game out.”

Reynolds displayed impressive humility as he accepted Burris compliment:

“Any time that you can be mentioned with great players in this franchise and in this league, you’ve got to be happy about that. I’m just trying to play good football and just help us win games.”

Winnipeg running back Fred Reid rushed for a pair of touchdowns, but realizes that his team needs to compete for 60 minutes if they want to win games in the CFL:

“We have to play four quarters. The slow start hurt us. We played hard and came back in the second half. I wish we could have pulled it out. We have to keep fighting.”

Calgary safety Wes Lysack praised the competitive toughness of the Blue Bombers:

“Give credit to them. They gave us a heck of a fight, but we found a way to get a win. Wins are hard to come by in the CFL.”

The Stampeders travel to Edmonton for a Thursday night game against the Eskimos. Winnipeg will return home on Saturday to face the CFLs best team, the Montreal Alouettes.

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance sports writer and noted authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

No comments »

Posted in football

Tags:

Colts Slip Past Jags In NFL Opener

February 28th, 2010

The Indianapolis Colts, finding their offense shut down by a relentless Jacksonville Jaguars attack, fought back in kind. The often maligned Indy stop unit matched the ferocity of their Jaguars counterparts play for play, and one touchdown pass from Peyton Manning proved to be enough to earn victory by a 14-12 margin in the NFL season opener for both teams. The victory was Manning’s 118th in a Colts uniform, tying the legendary Johnny Unitas for the franchise lead.

NFL sports betting enthusiasts who took the Jaguars as +6 road underdogs were rewarded with the pointspread cover. Indianapolis dropped to 11-16 ATS over the past three years when favored. The 26 combined points went well UNDER the posted total of 45. Despite their reputation as an offensive juggernaut, the Colts have actually trended to the UNDER over the past three seasons, with 19 UNDERs in their past 35 lined games.

After the contest, Manning displayed his characteristic humility when asked about tying the franchise mark for wins and particularly comparisons to the iconic Unitas:

“I’ve never felt comfortable with comparisons with him. I think he’s kind of in his own category. But I am proud of those wins.”

Manning was more concerned about the welfare of receiver Anthony Gonzalez who left late in the first quarter with an injury:

“I askedRashean Matthis what happened and he said, ‘I didn’t even touch him . He has worked so hard in the offseason, I just hope it’s not a season-ending injury.”

Colts coach Jim Caldwell won his first game at the helm of an NFL team, and was pleased with the effort of the defense:

“Obviously, the defense played well and came up big at the end. We thought it would be a grind, and it was. I think our team certainly played tough, played hard, played with a lot of energy.”

Jacksonville wasnt overly discouraged after the contest either, pleased with the intensity and their effectiveness in shutting down one of the NFLs best offenses. Maurice Jones-Drew praised the tenacious Indy defense after the game:

“They just did a great job in the red zone stifling our offense. My hat’s off to them. But we have to learn how to finish.”

Quarterback David Garrard also gave credit to the tenacity of the Indy pass rush:

“I thought, ‘Here we go again, we have a great chance. You love to be in that situation. We were trying to get the ball to Maurice, but you’ve got to slow those pass rushers down. We did what we could do.”

The Jaguars will open their 2009 NFL home slate on Sunday as they host the Arizona Cardinals. The Colts will head to south Florida for a game against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. Theyll return to Indy for a date with the Arizona Cardinals on the following Sunday.

Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer who covers travel, casino gambling and college football handicapping. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and scuba diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.

No comments »

Posted in football

Tags:

Colts’ Manning Versus Brees Destine To Turn Out To Be Everything We Hope For

February 25th, 2010

Many will tell you that the key to a football team’s success is its quarterback. After all, someone who can successfully find receivers is bound to put points on the scoreboard for his team. Still, others will tell you that it’s defense that wins championships. This year, though, was the year of the quarterback.

Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are believed by many to be the best two quarterbacks in football. Typically drafted before any others in fantasy leagues, the two of them are reliably consistent year in and year out, giving their teams the best offensive units in football. When they go head to head at this year’s Super Bowl, we’re going to see a battle of quarterbacks above all else.

Neither of these teams lost a game until December, and it’s very rarely the case where one team, let alone two, goes unbeaten for such a long time. Due to the dominance of each team, experts labeled both of these the best in the AFC and NFC throughout the year.

Now, they have a chance to showcase their abilities once more in a game that is sure to result in a very high final score. This will be an offensive battle at its finest in Miami.

While both of them lost a few games during the last few weeks of the season, many would attribute this to the fact that they no longer needed to win more games in order to secure home field advantage.

This is different from the last few Super Bowl meetings we’ve seen. If you look at the previous two winners in the Steelers and Giants, both teams won the game on the heels of a strong defense.

This year, it looks like offense is the name of the game. While each team has an efficient defense that is largely responsible for the team’s success, it really comes to down to each quarterback’s poise, precision, and hunger on the field.

This may very well be one of the highest scoring Super Bowls we’ve seen in recent years. As great as defensive battles can be, this will be an extremely refreshing change from the usual.

In addition to sports, the writer additionally frequently writes on solar pool panels and solar panels best price.

No comments »

Posted in football

Tags:

Everything You Need To Know About 2010 World Cup Packages In South Africa

February 20th, 2010

Though the event is due to be broadcast live in 3D for the first time, there is nothing like being up close and personal with the world’s greatest football show. As such, it could well be time to take advantage of one of the 2010 World Cup packages that are available.

The Soccer World Cup hits the African for the first time this year of course, and it makes for something that is going to be truly spectacular. Fans from the world over will be joining the party and, as such, there are tailor made packages to follow the merits of every country taking part and enjoy the amazing country to the full.

Though there are a host of different types available, all packages follow much the same basic routine. They will obviously guarantee entry to the match of choice, but will also include international flights, transfers where needed, and accommodation will also be taken care of for the duration of the stay.

This is for the most basic of packages of course, for just the one match at the group stage. There are more 2010 World Cup packages available of course; going right from the start to the final, but the cost will obviously rise considerably.

There are also likely to be certain restrictions in some cases and, whilst many of these are imposed across the board by FIFA, there will also be local restrictions that need to be checked. It is important to note that some matches may not be available because of this.

Many of the top packages available also include fantastic excursions in areas of interest local to the stadia where the match is due to play. One of the most popular types are those that include safaris in the amazing parks. However, for a real treat, seeing the morning migration of wildebeest from a hot air balloon is something not to be missed.

Booking of the 2010 World Cup Packages can be done quite easily, with many operators. However, such are the restrictions; the process can take a little time. There is a crackdown on ticket touting in this year’s completion, so identities will need to be verified.

Prices are quite high of course, but do vary from package to package of course. However, they do offer what will for most be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and a chance to really soak up the atmosphere of one of the best sporting events the world hosts.

When looking online, though it will be tempting to look for the cheapest available, caution should certainly be exercised. Though tighter rules exist over ticket allocation, there are no guarantees that they will stop all confidence tricksters of course. As such, it is wise to go with a name you know, or have certainly heard about.

Booking your 2010 World Cup Packages with a reputable operator, that is accredited and protected within your own country will not just make for a safe and pleasant trip; but allow you to enjoy all the action without worry.

The packages are not cheap of course but, considering what is on offer, this is perfectly understandable. For many, it will be the trip of a lifetime of course and, as such, many have been saving for some years. However, such will be the sheer scale and entertainment on offer, the value for money is beyond compare.

However, there are some cheaper packages available but, these do need to be approached with caution. Despite the restrictions and so forth, there are still going to be scam artists out there. Mindful of this, it is worth checking the reputability of the operator before booking.

Booking with a reliable provider of sporting hospitality for you 2010 World Cup packages will be the best option. Knowing that you can just enjoy what you are there for; to support your team the best you can, will just add to the whole affair.

Book your 2010 World Cup packages from the industry leader in sports travel. Providing 2010 World Cup packages for soccer tickets, hotels, preferred seating and more. Also offering 2012 summer Olympics packages.

No comments »

Posted in football

Tags:

Favre Leads Vikings To Comeback Win Over Niners

February 19th, 2010

In a victory for the highlight reels, Brett Favre completed a 32 yard touchdown pass to Greg Lewis with 2 seconds remaining in the game to lift the Minnesota Vikings to a dramatic 27-24 come from behind victory over the San Francisco 49ers. The rapidly improving 49ers dropped their first game of the year in heartbreaking fashion, while the Vikings remained undefeated at 3-0.

While the Vikings may have won the game on the scoreboard, the Niners took the decision where it really matters. San Francisco rewarded NFL betting devotees with their third pointspread cover in three games this season, cashing tickets as +6 road underdogs. It was the Vikings first setback to the spread against two victories this season.

Favre talked about the win after the game:

“It’s hard to even recall all of ‘em. This one was pretty special.

The game winning touchdown pass into the back corner of the endzone was upheld by video review. Niners cornerback Nate Clemens said this was a hard setback to take:

“I’ve had some hard losses. This is just another one for the list. We just have to keep chopping away.”

Greg Lewis, who caught Favres game winning pass, said that the entire offense was fired up on the final drive:

“The offensive line was fired up. Adrian was fired up, and the receivers were fired up. And Brett fell right in. He was fired up, too, like: ‘We’re going to get this done And that’s the attitude that we took out there on the field.”

In his postgame comments, Vikings coach Greg Childress praised the poise of his veteran quarterback:

“He’s been in many, many, many, many situations like that so it never hurts you to have a veteran like him going down the field.”

In the Niners locker room, an animated coach Mike Singletary could be heard giving his team a tough love pep talk:

“You have nothing to be looking at the floor for! You didn’t steal anything! You didn’t do anything wrong! OK? We’re going to get better! We’re going to get there! We will see them again in the playoffs, all right? You hold your head up!”

The 49ers will return home to host the St. Louis Rams next Sunday. That game is currently off the board due to the questionable status of Niners running back Frank Gore who left the game with an ankle injury. Theyll host the Atlanta Falcons the following week before a bye week. Minnesota will host the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football next week. The Vikings are a -3 home favorite in that contest. Theyll play at St. Louis the following weekend before returning home to host the Baltimore Ravens on 10/18.

Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer who covers travel, poker and sports handicapping. He is a staff handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, falconry and deep sea diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.

No comments »

Posted in football

Tags:

New Orleans Wins First Superbowl In Franchise History

February 19th, 2010

The New Orleans Saints used a 14 point fourth quarter to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 on Sunday to win their first Superbowl in franchise history. Drew Brees broke open a tight game midway through the final quarter with his touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey, and Tracy Porter scored on a 74 yard interception return as the Colts were driving on the next series to secure the victory. Brees was named Superbowl MVP on the basis of his 288 yard, 2 touchdown, 0 interception performance.

After enthusiasts had come in early on the favored Colts, a good deal of buyback on the Saints had pushed the line to -4′ and the New Orleans backers were enriched by their team’s outright victory. The underdog has now covered three straight Superbowls and taken the money in five of the last seven games. The 48 points scored stayed well under the posted total of 57.

In his postgame interview, Brees gave much of the credit to the city of New Orleans:

“We play for so much more than ourselves. We played for our city. We played for the entire Gulf Coast region. We played for the entire Who Dat nation that has been behind us every step of the way. It means everything. We’re here because of their strength and everything they fought through here the last few years. They’ve given us so much support, so we owe it all to our fans.”

“Just to think of the road we’ve all traveled, the adversity we’ve all faced. It’s unbelievable. I mean, are you kidding me? Four years ago, whoever thought this would be happening? Eighty-five percent of the city was under water. Most people left not knowing if New Orleans would ever come back, or if the organization would ever come back. We just all looked at one another and said, ‘We’re going to rebuild together. We are going to lean on each other.’ That’s what we’ve done the last four years and this is the culmination in all that belief.”

Peyton Manning had little to say after the game particularly about the interception return that sealed the victory for New Orleans:

“Made a great play. Made a great play. Corner made a heck of a play. Certainly disappointing, very disappointing. Disappointing.”

Saints’ coach Sean Payton made a bold call at the beginning of the second half when he called for an onside kick. New Orleans recovered and linebacker Jonathan Casalis suggested it was a game changing play:

“We were really excited when he made the call. That changed everything.”

Payton explained the unorthodox decision:

“We’re going to be aggressive. We’d seen the onside kick all week and guys executed it well. It turned out to be a big change of possession.”

The city of New Orleans will celebrate their team’s victory with a parade. With Mardi Gras celebrations already scheduled to begin shortly thereafter, it could be quite some time before New Orleans returns to business as usual.

Ross Everett is a consulting sports handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is in charge of providing daily free sports picks to Internet websites and broadcast media outlets. He is a widely published freelance writer specializing in sports handicapping, auto racing, wombat breeding and falconry. He lives in Las Vegas with three dogs and a wombat.

No comments »

Posted in football

Tags:

Boise State Stomps Bowling Green

February 18th, 2010

Bowling Green played Boise State tough on their home field this weekend”at least for one quarter. Things looked good for the host Falcons at the end of the first quarter, as they’d held the #6 ranked Broncos scoreless and were right in the thick of things in a scoreless game. It was all downhill from that point for Bowling Green, as Boise State exploded for 29 unanswered second quarter points. The Broncos would eventually win 49-14, improving to 4-0 on the season. Bowling Green dropped to 1-3 as Boise improved their record against the MAC to 6-2 all time.

The Broncos easily covered as -16 road favorites. The 63 combined points went OVER the posted total of 51. Boise State needed four plays or less on their first six scoring drives, and amassed a season high 529 yards of total offense. Their defense also forced the Falcons into three costly turnovers. The only statistical category the Falcons held an edge in was time of possession–and that was because Boise State scored so quickly.

Boise State coach Chris Petersen had insisted on more quick strike scoring drives in the week before the Bowling Green game. They most definitely delivered, and the coach commented to their performance after the contest:

“On offense, that’s always the name of the game. It makes it a lot easier when you don’t have those 15- and 17-play drives.”

Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore threw 17 completions in 21 pass attempts for a total of 247 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. 195 of his total yards came during the 2nd quarter onslaught, where he completed 8 consecutive passes during one stretch. After the game, Moore indicated that his team wasnt resting on their impressive season to date performance:

“There’s a lot of football to go and a lot of things to work on.

Coach Petersen concurred with his quarterbacks comment:

“These guys are a fairly mature bunch and if not, we have a staff of mature coaches to keep them focused.

Bowling Green head coach Dave Clawson sounded somewhat in awe of the Broncos ability to score so quickly:

“That’s what they do. When they have 500 yards of offense, it will always be 10 to 12 plays where half their offense came from.”

The Broncos, who are enjoying their highest regular season ranking in school history, looked sharp all around on offense despite the absence of second leading rusher DJ Harper. Harper is likely out for the year after a knee injury.

Bowling Green will take a step down in class of opposition next weekend as they host the Ohio Bobcats. Boise will return home for a game against FCS opponent UC Davis next Saturday. Theyll play on the road at Tulsa the following weekend, before enjoying a bye week. Theyll be back in action on October 25 as they make the long trip to play the University of Hawaii.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

No comments »

Posted in football

Tags: