World Cup 2006 Group Stage Review - Phase Three - Part Two

All 32 teams have completed the group stage and 16 are preparing for the knockout phase. This is a short round-up of Groups E to H, of the results as they stand after three matches. Did your country qualify or fall at the first hurdle?

Group E
1. Italy 7pts, 2. Ghana 6pts, 3. Czech Republic 3pts, 4. USA 1pt

Italy finished top of the “Group of Death” by beating the Czech Republic 2-0 in their final match. Marco Materazzi broke the deadlock after 25 minutes and Filippo Inzaghi ensured victory four minutes from time for the 6/5 Italians.

Ghana also qualified for the knockout stage by beating the USA and thus ending the Czech Republic’s involvement in the tournament. Haminu Dramani opened the scoring for Ghana after 21 minutes but Clint Dempsey levelled for the USA on 42. Stephen Appiah converted a penalty on the stroke of half time to see the 2/1 Ghanaians progress.

Group F
1. Brazil 9pts, 2. Australia 4pts, 3. Croatia 2pts, 4. Japan 1pt

Brazil made it a clean sweep and finished comfortably at the summit of Group F after a comprehensive 4-1 defeat of Japan. Outsiders Japan, who finished bottom of the group, had the audacity to take the lead through Keiji Tamada on 33 minutes but Ronaldo netted his first of the tournament on the stroke of half time to draw the sides level. Juninho put 1/4 Brazil in front after 52 minutes, Gilberto netted a third on 58 and Ronaldo scored his second with 10 minutes left.

Australia were unlikely qualifiers after the earned the draw they needed against Croatia. Darijo Srna fired in a free kick to give Croatia a second minute lead but Craig Moore levelled from the penalty spot on 38. Niko Kovac put Croatia ahead again nine minutes into the second half but Harry Kewell ensured the match ended all square at 11/5 odds 12 minutes before the end.

Group G
1. Switzerland 7pts, 2. France 5pts, 3. South Korea 4pts, 4. Togo 0pts

Switzerland finished top of the group with a 2-0 defeat of South Korea, ending the semi finalists of four years ago interest in the competition. Phillipe Senderos scored the first after 22 minutes and Alexander Frei sealed victory for the 10/11 Swiss on 76.

Unconvincing France, 1/3 to win the match before kick-off, snatched second spot and second round qualification with a 2-0 victory against bottom of the group.

Group H
1. Spain 9pts, 2. Ukraine 6pts, 3. Tunisia 1pt, 4. Saudi Arabia 1pt

An under strength Spain beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 to ensure three wins out of three during the group stage. Real Betis defender Juanito netted the winner 10 minutes before the break for the 1/4 Spaniards.

Ukraine appeared to exorcise the demons of their opening match hammering by Spain to take runners up spot in the group. Andriy Shevchenko, a £31 million summer signing by Chelsea, converted a penalty after 70 minutes to earn 4/5 backers a winning bet.

College Football

College football is getting to be as popular as professional football. In some areas of the country, college football is a lot more popular than NFL football. In Nebraska for example, Memorial stadium in Lincoln becomes the state’s third largest city on home football game days. The stadium becomes a sea of red as fans dress in the team colors in support of the Cornhuskers.

Almost as popular as discussing the games themselves is discussing the ranking systems. The BCS ranking system is used to determine which two teams will play for the National Championship each year. Data that is fed into several computers along with the USA Today poll (also called the Coaches poll) and the Harris poll are used to determine the BCS ratings each week. The first BCS poll each year is published around mid-October even though college football season starts in either late August or early September.

The AP poll and the USA Today polls are the most common polls used by the general public. There are several other polls. ESPN has a Power Sixteen poll. Sports Illustrated publishes a poll and so do CBS’s Sportsline and Athlon to name a few others.

The BCS ranking system has come under a lot of criticism. Almost every college football fan has an opinion about it, usually a strong opinion. Many people do not like the BCS ranking system because they think there should be a playoff to decide which teams will play for the National Championship instead of computers deciding who will play.

Although the majority of college football fans are in favor of a playoff, the majority of University presidents are against it because they feel it would make the football season too long and would affect academics.

College football has been around a long time. The first intercollegiate college football game was played on November 6, 1869. The game was between Princeton and Rutgers University. The score of the game was 6-4. Rutgers won.

The game played that day was much different than college football as we know it today. During that first game each team had 25 players. The rules of the game were more similar to rugby than to modern day football. The rules for that day’s game were adopted from the rules of the London Football Association. Every time one of the teams scored that day it counted as a game. The contest ended after there were ten “games” or ten scores. Whoever scored the most times won the match. That is why there is the odd-looking score of 6-4 for that first game.

The game of football evolved over time. In 1875 the round ball that had been used the first six years of play was replaced with an egg-shaped ball. In 1876 a crossbar was added to the goal posts. The height of that crossbar was 10 feet - the same height it is today. In 1876 the large playing field was changed also. It was made smaller - a size that is close to the size of today’s playing field.

In the 1880’s the game started to resemble football as we know it today. The rules that were similar to rugby rules were changed. Instead of 25 players for each team being allowed on the field at one time, it was changed to 11 players. More rules were changed and added over time, many of those because of serious injuries and deaths of players. By the late 1800’s some safety equipment was part of the player’s uniforms.

Early football was a vicious game. By the late 1800’s the public started to speak out strongly against the game. In the early 1900’s Columbia, which had been one of the early teams to join the sport, decided to ban football because it was too dangerous. Even President Theodore Roosevelt spoke out to say that changes needed to be made to the game.

More changes in rules and safety equipment were implemented. In 1910, an association was formed to govern collegiate football. That body is known today as the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). The NCAA is responsible for the rules and regulations of college football and is also charged with making sure the member teams of the NCAA follow those rules and regulations.

Changes in the rules, how the game was scored, and in the ball itself in the 1930’s helped the game gain popularity.

Today, over 135 years after the first intercollegiate college football game was played, there are over 600 collegiate football teams in the United States. And, yearly attendance at those games is in the tens of millions.

Dorrie Ruplinger is the publisher of http://www.ireallylovefootball.com which provides information and resources about college football.

‘The Simple thngs in Life’

‘The Simple Things in Life’ By Mark J Stevens©

Every now and then something happens in our lives that make’s us
feel very unique within ourselves, in my case this was watching
a football match. This was a very important game for me to watch
as it was the team that I have supported for so long! In fact
all my life I have been a Liverpool FC supporter, I have seen
some great times and not so great times especially in the last
few years. Yes! We won three trophies in one particular season
and that was great but even then there was still something
missing. With the history of this great football club Liverpool
FC has the best record when it comes to winning the English
League. They have won the European Cup more times than any other
British Football team and on this day May 25th 2005 they found
themselves with another golden opportunity of clinching this
wonderful Cup with the big ears, now called the Champions League
trophy. So there I was anticipating this match which had the
elements of being a classic football spectacular. In one corner
you had the mighty team from Italy, AC MILAN. With a star
studied team of great soccer professionals from Paolo Maldini,
Andriy Shevchenko and the talented new Brazilian play maker
Kaka. In the other corner you had my team Liverpool, who somehow
with an awful Premiership league campaign behind them where they
could only finish fifth behind their city rivals Everton and
miss out on an Automatic Champions League place for the
following season but Inspired by two scousers, club captain
Steven Gerrard and the irrepressible Jamie Carragher through out
the season, found themselves in the most lucrative football
match in world football. It was a dream not only for the players
but for all the Liverpool fans all around the world to see this
great football club back where it belonged, at the top of the
ladder in world football. So on this night two great teams
steeped in history battled for a place in history. Going back to
my day I rang a very good friend of mine and asked her if she
wanted to watch the game with me at a local bar…she said, yes!
It was to be her first time watching a game like this and she
was very excited by it all because everyone was talking about
it…so we met up the and walked down to the bar. As we entered we
could see that the place was streaming with Liverpool fans but
you did have the odd Milan fan or two hiding and keeping a low
profile in the corner of the bar. So we found a nice spot to get
a good view of the game and ordered some beers. You could feel
the Anticipation of it all by the look of the Liverpool fans in
the bar, some where very cheerful! Others looked just happy to
be there. I was calm from the outside but on the inside I was a
mess. The big screens on the walls which seemed bigger than they
actually were had everyone’s attention, even some of the bar
staff would have a little peak at the screens, the place was
buzzing. My friend took out her cigarettes and lit up one, she
was lucky to have that comfort, all I wanted at that moment was
my beer to arrive and the game to start. Then as we watched the
Players came out, there was a loud cheer from the bar crowd and
one set of lads starting to sing ‘You’ll never walk alone’. I
started to feel a little better and starting to sing along with
them but only in my head. Then the game started and all I was
thinking was that we must try to put as much pressure on the
Milan players from the get go. Then we gave away an early
free-kick but at that moment our beers arrived and the girl who
brought it to us took my attention for a second or two and in
that moment Milan had scored a goal…There was a hush of silence
now from the bar and as I looked around I could see people in
total shock at what had just happened. Me I was thinking that
stupid left back of ours Djimi Traore is an awful player and not
fit to wear the Liverpool shirt. My friend tried to give me some
moral support by smiling and saying, don’t worry I still think
Liverpool will win…I just looked sternly towards the screen with
distain. The game was all Milan’s; they were winning all the
tackles, getting free-kicks in dangerous places. The Liverpool
players look tired, unsure and beaten almost, it was not a
pretty sight; they were chasing shadows it seemed. I just kept
looking around the bar trying to ignore just what was happening
and then it got worst. What looked like a penalty to Liverpool
was denied and within seconds Milan broke away and scored. Then
just before the half time break Milan broke away once more and
scored a third, by now everyone in the bar was silent and
stunned but the odd Milan fans I mentioned earlier were singing
away happily in the corner. I was gutted! I look at my friend
and said, lets go… She looked at me and said, Ok! And as we
walked out I looked back and glanced at my fellow supporters and
hoped that Liverpool would not be embarrassed and come out in
the second half and show some heart. As we walked home to my
house I told my friend that I would cook for her and that we
could watch the rest of the game at my place. We arrived at my
home just as the second half was about to start, I turned on the
TV and then took out a bottle of red wine, opened it and poured
two large glasses and gave one to my friend. She sat down and
suddenly said, you know what Mark, ‘It’s never over until the
fat lady sings’. I think Liverpool can still make a come back
and win she added. I just looked at her again thinking this girl
knows nothing about football because if she did she would know
that Milan would never give away three goals to a team that they
have just outplayed for 45 minutes and with their defensive
nature it would be totally impossible for Liverpool to make a
comeback. So I smiled at her and told her to drink her wine
while I prepared the dinner. As I was cutting vegetables in my
kitchen, I could hear her shouting at the TV, which was strange
because she did not do this in the Bar. So I took a little peak
for myself and noticed that Liverpool had made some changes, The
German midfielder Dietmar Hamann was now on the pitch and this
gave me some hope that Liverpool could keep the score decent at
least. But what it also did as well was make Steven Gerrard free
to roam and move forward. Then there was another scream from my
living room, my friend was jumping around I came in quietly and
Liverpool had scored. It was Steven Gerrard, the change in
tactic had worked, Liverpool seemed more up for this game now
and the players looked different somehow but Milan remained
confident then two minutes later the game turned on its head,
the ball was played to Vladimir Smicer and he drilled the ball
home from 20 yards and Liverpool where back in the game, I came
running into the room screaming with joy at what had just
happen. The air was electric once more, I could not leave the
living room and all of a sudden the game changed again. The
Milan players looked shell shocked because within a few minutes
Liverpool was on level terms. Gerrard dashed into the Milan’s
penalty box and was fouled. It was a certain penalty, at this
point I was on my knees yelling at the ceiling. I am sure my
neighbours could hear everything. Even my friend was jumping for
joy shouting, I told you, I told you!!! She was right! She
proved one thing to me and that was all the Soccer Pundits and I
knew nothing about Football! Could they do it, could they
actually win this match? No team had ever come back from three
goals down to win a Champions League Final. I had to stop
cooking at that point and told her that dinner will just have to
wait and so we drank more wine and watched the rest of the match
with our hearts in our mouths. It seemed that both of us had
turns in screaming at the TV and this would continue right up
until that now famous Jerzy Dudek ‘Hand of God’ save which
denied Shevchenko the winner for Milan in the dying seconds of
extra time. We were both quiet and I had my head in my hands at
that moment…The referee blew for full time and the game was
over. At that point I had to get up and walk around the house,
nervous like hell! I walked back into the living room, listening
to the commentator remarking about how Liverpool had won on a
penalty shoot out against Roma in 1984 and our goalkeeper at the
time Bruce Grobballar saved two penalties by putting off the
Roma players as much as he could and now it had almost seemed
like deja vous. Who would be the villain and who would be the
hero, it was now a lottery! I needed more wine so I opened up
another bottle, my friend could not drink no more she was just
adamant that Liverpool would win. She remarked, look at the
Milan Players they don’t look happy! I had a look and noticed
the same thing!They seem beaten before the first spot kick. She
was right, our goalkeeper did everything he could to put off
Milan’s first spot kick taker Serginho and it worked! He missed,
blazing the ball high over the bar. It was our turn next and I
was not worried because it was our Germany International Dietmar
Hamann and as predicted he scored. I was calm but still nervous,
it was their turn once more, surely they would score but once
again Jerzy Dudek’s antics on the goal line did the job and he
saved very easily. We would be now 2-0 up if French
International Striker Djibril Cisse would score and after
suffering a broken Leg and missing most of the season he shows
his class and calmly placed the ball to the right of Milan’s
Goalkeeper Dida’s goal giving him no chance. It was in our hands
now, just two more spots kicks and we would be Champions of
Europe. Kaka would score from his spot kick…then our hearts
were in our mouths when our left mid-fielder John Arne Riise
missed his spot kick, it was now 2-1 but still in our favour and
before we knew it, Danish international Jon Dahl Tomasson made
it 2-2. So up stepped the Czech Striker Vladimir Smicer, playing
probably his last game for Liverpool FC and his best game ever
in my mind for the team, he calmly slotted the ball past the
goalkeeper to make it 3-2 to us…My friend and I was so tense,
the room was silent apart from the TV. Then Milan’s leading goal
scorer stepped up to the plate, Andriy Shevchenko, the man who
was denied the winner before the end of extra time. As he
approached Dudek threw him the ball, he look anxious and nervous
and did not look confident. Somehow I knew he would miss and he
did…For a split second my heart had stopped and I sanked to my
knees and just started to scream with ecstasy, my dream had come
true, the Players dreams were for filled! My football team had
won. Life could not be any better…I was emotionally drained by
it all and was sure all the people in the stadium, the viewers
and all the millions of people around the world were too. My
friend and I were just hugging each other and kissing. I kept
saying, that its time to get drunk and forgetting that I was
suppose to be cooking dinner for the both of us! So we continued
to watch the rest of the coverage on the box and as Steven
Gerrard lifted the trophy and the commentator shouted out
‘Liverpool Are Kings of Europe’ a tear came to my eyes. In that
moment I was in wonderland just like those players. As far as I
was concerned they were Legends now no matter what they did for
the rest of their lives, from this moment on they would always
remember and treasure. I started to also think about all those
who had lost their lives going to see Liverpool play, all the
disasters that had occurred during football matches. My heart
went out to them…its moments like this that makes it possible to
see just why football is so important to the man and woman on
the street. We relate to it in so many ways. We support our
teams because we choose to and win, lose or draw all the
emotions that this sport and all the other sports may muster are
worth it for moments like these. So when it was all over and as
I tried to figure out what had just happened, one thing dawned
on me and that was it’s the Simple things in Life that I cherish
the most and watching my team play is one of them.

2005-06-04

The Fish Tank

The Fish Tank of Miami, the premiere Aqua Marine organization in the NFL has gone AWOL. They are choosing the wrong types of players for their team. Last year it was Ricky “The Hemp Williams” who left the Dolphins in 2004 to pursue a life of marijuana smoking.

Williams later had a change of heart and asked to return to the Dolphins. The Dolphins agreed. Shame on the Dolphins. Why would they take a chance with a proven pot head?

Williams allegedly tested positive for a drug other then marijuana recently according league sources (ESPN.com).
Well that wasn’t a huge shock.

Now the Fish Tank traded for another damaged good. Yes folks, his name is Dante “Captain of the Seas” Culpepper. Dante started the 2005 season in terrible fashion. He played terribly and made rookie like mistakes.
Then the “Captain” took part in the infamous Cruisegate scandal. If that wasn’t enough he tore his knee in four places and had to sit out the remainder of the 2005 season.

The Vikings actually started winning without the “Captain” Why would the Dolphins take a chance on a mediocre quarterback who is coming off a severe knee injury?
The only thing I can come up with is that the Fish Tank loves degenerates. I guess they feel that he would be a good compliment for the “Hemp”.

Ricky Williams can provide the weed and Culpepper can provide the lap dances. That will surely put a smile on all the Dolphins faces. This organization is looking more like the Betty Ford Clinic then an NFL franchise.

I think the only thing missing from their lineup is Terrell “Terribly Obnoxious” Owens.
Terrell has a poor work ethic, hates authority and believes that the world owes him something. T.O. would find a happy home in Miami and have at least two more degenerates to hang out with.

The Fish Tank used to be a respected organization. Remember the days of Dan Marino and Don Shula? Those were the days. Now the Dolphins have become the brokers of unwanted laundry type players that other NFL teams have given up on.

The Dolphins have become a joke in my opinion. They lack class and dignity and I’m questioning if they even have self respect. It’s never too late for an organization to change. We’ll have to see if the Dolphins have the desire to be a respectful NFL organization again.

Anthony B. is the founder and owner of ItsTheRightWay.com a news, political and sports commentary website.

Anthony has over 7 years of experience as a business professional.

http://www.ItsTheRightWay.com

Top 3 College Football Picks for the Weekend

Top Play: NC State -10 over UNC

I really have to question the mindset of the Tar Heels coming into this one 0-2 and sputtering on offense. Their QB Baker took a major pounding against Wisconsin last weekend and will continue to do so unless UNC finds some sort of running game.

This Wolfpack team is so much more athletic than UNC and faster than what they’ve seen so far in the losses to Wiscy and G Tech. No excuse for NC State not getting the job done against V Tech, as they held Vick in check and outgained them at almost a 2 to 1 clip.

These rivalry games are usually close, but the Wolfpack are looking to avenge a contreversial loss to the Heels last year, are in front of the home crowd, and are facing an opponent that is really struggling to move the football.

NC State QB Davis looks more comfortable leading the offense this year and it could be a long day for the UNC D if their offense keeps putting their backs against the wall.

Wolfback rolls in this one!!!

NC State -10

Regular play: Michigan -2 1/2 over Wisconsin

Had Wiscy last weekend against UNC, and wasn’t real enthused by what I saw outside of the running game. Looks like the gameplan for the Badgers is back to the old ways, run the ball don’t take any chances in the passing game. I think Stocco could be a decent passer, but it’s obvious the coaching staff has little faith in him.

On D, they over powered a weak team, but still gave up some passing plays. I’ll credit UNC’s ineptness as much as Wiscy’s stop unit for the lack of points put up by the Heels.

Henne will put up some big numbers in this game. Michigan WR’s Avant and Breaston have a huge advantage against these corners, and Henne will test them all day. Also, don’t think the Badgers will be able to push around the Wolverines O-Line like they did UNC. If Michigan can run the ball well, it’ll open up everything.

Michigan on D will stack the line and force Stocco to make plays. I like Alverez, but he is so stubborn. If Michigan jumps on Wiscy early, he will still run the ball. By doing this, he could put Stocco in a bad position later on in the game when they have to throw.

Not a huge Lloyd Carr fan like most, but he will whip this D into shape, and I saw marked improvement in the ND game. They have had trouble with athletic QB’s who can run or pass, the type Stocco is not.

Always tough to go to Wiscy and win, but this edition of the Badgers are simply not as strong as those of seasons past.

Regular play: Michigan -2 1/2

Small play: Penn State/Northwestern OVER 50 1/2

I started off looking at this one favoring NW getting 7 1/2 at home, and that still looks decent. Just don’t trust the Wildcats defense to make stops, and add the fact that unlike past years, Penn State has some guys with big play ability on offense.

Now, the last 2 yrs, these teams played a couple low scoring games, but I see a reversal in this trend on Saturday. Lot of talk about how great the Nittany Lions D is, but this is their first test and I believe this spread offense of NW will give them fits. Even though they didn’t score a whole lot vs. PSU in the last 2 meetings, they did rack up some yardage (AVG. 425 in those 2 games).

Also, NW can’t seem to stop anyone, and you should see PSU break some big runs, and QB Robinson should have a nice day through the air. I haven’t been a huge Paterno fan and not a fan of their offensive playcalling, but NW’s opponents realize you must put points on the board, because they can score as quick as they give them up. NW reminds me of some of the MAC teams like BG, Mia Oh, N Ill, ect…that’s their style of play.

Looks like a 35-31 type game from my standpoint.

NW/PSU OVER 50 1/2

John Onan (aka Ego74) invites you to visit http://www.bestdamngamblingforum.com/forum for great handicapping info, sports discussion, and free money contests.

Come on over and posts your plays and talk sports

How to Choose a GPS

You’ve heard that new sport, geocaching, is fun. Or, you’re tired of getting lost on your travels. Welcome to the 21st century. Global Postioning System (GPS) has been around long enough that prices are reasonable and the technology is user-friendly. With myriad brands and models, how to choose?

If you want a GPS for both hiking and driving use, then a handheld unit would be the way to go. Some handhelds even have accessories to allow them to be installed in an automobile. But don’t rule out a PDA. More on that in a moment. For driving only, there are GPS receivers made just for vehicle use.

Handheld GPS receivers are either mapping or non–mapping. A basic, non–mapping unit can often cost less than $100 US and usually has/displays the following:

• Location
• Compass heading
• Elevation above sea level
• Accurate time
• Satellite location and signal strength
• The ability to calculate distance traveled
• The ability to record your path as a set of waypoints
• The ability to navigate routes
• The ability to retrace your steps

Handheld mapping receivers do all the above plus have the ability to display maps. The maps are either pre–loaded or uploaded from your PC. Prices are reasonable for mapping units, starting at around $150 US.

Paper maps are strongly recommended whether you’re using a mapping receiver or not. Paper maps do not require batteries and probably won’t go defective. Also, a paper map gives you a “big picture” view of your situation — something lacking on the small screen of a GPS.

I mentioned earlier your considering a PDA with GPS capability. A PDA is bulkier and the battery life is usually shorter, but if you’re using a PDA anyway, then there are several ways to turn a PDA into a GPS. Some PDAs accept a GPS “sleeve.” That is a device that the PDA nestles into. Another choice is one of Garmin’s PDAs. Garmin is probably the most popular GPS maker and they have one PDA/GPS that is Palm–based and one that is Pocket PC–based.

Prices for automotive GPS start at around $250 US. These provide turn–by–turn guidance. Spend a little more than that and you get voice guidance. These are larger than handhelds in order to accommodate a screen large enough to be seen while driving. They are powered by the car’s electrical system and because of this, they can only be used in a vehicle.

Many automobile manufacturers now offer built-in GPS receivers as an option. Because they are built-in, the big advantages are security and aesthetics. They are quite a bit more expensive than add-on units and often have fewer options. I’ve also heard some stories of people having a hard time getting map updates.

A PDA/GPS is a good alternative for automotive use. Its screen is about the size of an automotive unit, so seeing the display is not a problem. They can also be powered by the car, eliminating battery worries. The Garmin PDAs mentioned above both come with the hardware and software for automotive use.

If you’re hiking, a basic handheld unit (without maps) will be fine since you’ll always have paper maps with you anyway (you will, won’t you?). An advantage to a handheld mapping unit is that they usually have more advanced features than the basic units. For driving, you have the choice of a handheld, in–car dedicated, or PDA. The handheld does have limited usefulness in a car, as it does not provide turn–by–turn guidance. For a more detailed look at how to choose a GPS, click here.

About the Author

J. Chartwell has developed Maps GPS Info.com, which provides practical information on GPS and maps that everyone can use. The website includes product

The History of Steeplechase Horse Racing

The sport of Steeplechase racing dates back to 1752 in Ireland when two, half-crocked, friends settled the argument over who owned the best horse by racing to the nearest Church steeple after returning from Fox hunting. The winner actually rode right through the church where the vicar was holding a solemn funeral. Soon steeplechase racing spread to England, where in 1792, the first recorded race was held. This sport then crossed over from the Atlantic to the US, where it has became very popular.

In the early 19th century nine prominent men from New York - August Belmont, H. DeCourcy Forbes, Samuel S. Howland, James O. Green, Frederick Gebhard, A.J. Cassatt, Foxhall P. Keene, John G. Follansbee and Frederick H. Prince founded the National Association for Steeplechase. When it was first founded, its mission was to make the sport popular in the US and help it grow across the Atlantic. For membership details and other small tidbits about the Association, you can visit their website at http://www.nsfdn.org/membership.html

Steeplechase races are held at 12 states across the country and the cumulative purses for these events are $5 million annually. The horse races are a place to see and be seen at. It’s seen across the country by millions of fans and admirers and is a major sponsored event where corporate sponsors vie with each other for sponsorship of the events. It attracts the best talent for horses, horse owners, and riders and also raises millions of dollars in charities. Thus it also attracts the most powerful and the influential men and women. If you have seen Pretty Woman, you pretty much have got the idea.

Some of the oldest and the most prestigious steeplechase horse racing events are Montpelier Hunt Races, which was started on the estates of Former President James Madison since 1929. For more information you can visit their site http://www.montpelier.org/races.htm.

Others are The American Grand National that began in 1899 and the The National Hunt Cup in Radnor, Pa., which was started in 1909.

For more information on steeplechase racing across the country, you can visit http://www.steeplestakes.com/links.html, which lists all the races, their schedules and the prize monies.

In Virginia, you can visit the Virginia Steeplechase Association at http://www.vasteeplechase.com/.

The big races in Virginia are The Virginia Gold Cup, The FoxField Races at Charlottesville, Fairfax Hunt races at Great Falls, Middleburg Spring races at Middleburg, Montpelier Hunt Races at Montpelier Station, Morven Park Steeplechase Races at Leesburg and the Mountaineer Chest Track in Chester.

You can also visit these websites for further information on racing in Virginia:

http://www.ctownraces.com/

http://www.colonialdowns.com/

http://www.fairfaxhuntraces.org/

http://www.montpelier.org/

http://www.foxfieldraces.com/

http://www.vagoldcup.com/

http://www.middleburgspringraces.com/

Toby Beavers is best known as one of Virginia’s most interesting Horse Farm realtor’s. He writes frequently about Virginia horse farms, racing, Virginia history and Charlottesville area gardening. Toby resides in Charlottesville with his family on their 1753 farm, The Shadows.

Tips For Buying Your Next Scope

When it comes time to purchase a new scope for your rifle, there are a few tips to keep in mind. In the last few years alone it seems as though there have been an entire host of new scopes released on the market, with each one claiming to be better, more precise and more accurate than the last. Given the steep price tag of some of the most recently launched scopes, one would think that they were practically military grade. To avoid being taken for a scam; however, it is important to recognize that a high price tag does not a great scope make.

First, it is important to keep in mind that it can be extremely easy to be taken in by a slick ad copy, particularly when it comes to scopes. A good cover shot; however, won’t tell you how well a scope really performs under the best and worst of circumstances. You need to read the fine material in order to understand that. Make sure when you’re reading the tests that are often accompanied by most scope ad copy that accurate comparisons are made. Just like you can’t compare an apple to an orange and get an accurate comparison you can’t compare a 32mm objective lens scope with a 50mm variable power scope and get an accurate idea of whether one is necessarily better than the other. Look for scopes that are comparably compared based on price, objective size, intended use and power range.

When shopping around for scopes it is extremely important that you pay attention to the type of warranty that is offered with each scope. Many scopes, if not all of them today come with what is known as a limited lifetime warranty. That sounds all well and good in the beginning, until you run into a problem. Be sure to find out exactly what is covered in the warranty, how long it is covered and whether you need to be the original scope owner in order to take advantage of the warranty.

It is also important to give some consideration to the amount of internal adjustment range present on any scope you consider. Many people fail to think about this until after it’s too late and then they have a problem on their hands. Give some thought to the type of rifle that you intend to place the scope on because it can make a major difference in the amount of internal adjustment range available to you. For example, if your rifle is particularly hard to mount, you may find yourself in a situation in which you don’t have nearly the amount of range that you thought you did. When you’re not able to mount the scope straight on, you lose a lot of range. Look for scopes that provide a wealth of adjustment, preferably at least 60 inches or more, if you have this type or rifle.

Finally, don’t forget to give ample consideration to the assembly of the scope body. Remember that your scope is most likely going to be subjected to a beating, particularly if you use it in rough terrain. Taking the time now to consider how well the body will hold up will serve you well later on.

ScopesGuide.com offers the shooting fan lots more information on riflescope comparisons and other hunting related information and accessories.

Hey, boxing fans

Chris Byrd (39-2-1) is defending his IBF title for the fifth time, in a rematch of a bout that took place almost six years ago. Byrd will be facing Wladimir Klitschko (45-3) of Germany in Germany on Saturday night in a fight that will be televised on HBO PPV.

Go ahead, and try to find an article about this attractive match in your local newspaper – ok, wait, don’t bother – I’ll save you the time and tell you that it won’t be there. Almost all of today’s boxing information is online, and it caters to that small niche of fight fans who live and breathe the sport.

I have been a huge fan of the squared circle for many years, and even I will admit that my interest in the sport has dropped dramatically. It is not all because of the scandals and weird occurrences that happen on a weekly basis; it is just a matter of the lack of good matchups that the sport has to offer. The lack of hype and mainstream media coverage also has hurt the casual fan, and causes many of us diehard fans to yearn for the days gone by of Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Sugar Ray Leonard, and even Prince Naseem.

Let’s just focus on the heavyweight division for now. We have the nearly 40 year-old James Toney, a guy whose best days occurred about 12 years ago, still in the mix for a shot at one of the four titles, and we have Oliver McCall, a man who left the ring crying several years ago after a loss to Lennox Lewis, currently rated third by the WBC.

In addition, there is Hasim Rahman as the WBC champion. Rahman is a nice gent who scored a lucky knockout of Lennox Lewis a few years back, only to get pummeled in the rematch, so having him as champ means we know that something fishy is going on in this division.

The other three heavyweight beltholders – quick, see if you name just one - are not recognized by the general public and probably could wander into the local Starbucks without getting acknowledged.

Have you heard of Nicolay Valuev? He is the WBA champion; how about the WBO champion, the well-known and famous Sergei Liakhovich? Chris Byrd, the IBF title holder, is, perhaps, known only for having zero power, and for out-dancing and out-jabbing his opponents in the ring. He does have flashes of power, but American fans are used to and want to see their heavyweight champions pound the leather and pound the other guy into submission.

There is still plenty of boxing on ESPN, and I recall a few fights in recent years on network television, but those have seemed to disappear fairly quickly. Boxing makes its money, and, in my opinion, rips folks off on those major Pay-Per-View cards. These events used to be times when my friends and I would gather, fire up the grill, have a few beers, and enjoy the action. There have not been many of those gatherings in recent years, and I’m ashamed to say that the last time the grill was fired up was during another Tyson fiasco.

The price for bouts on PPV - and we are not talking good boxing - starts at 30 bucks and works its way up to near $60 for the “Major” battles. There really hasn’t been a major battle since Lewis took on Klitscho’s brother – the now retired Vitali.

Plus, while we at it, let me get my two cents in on the undercard fights on these PPV cards. We used to have the cool factor with Butterbean and women fighters, and now we routinely get to watch Strawweight fighters, otherwise known as the Battle of the Poodles. Not my cup of tea. Boxing just isn’t an event that’s worth watching anymore or, more importantly, buying.

Hey, this column is almost finished, and I nearly forgot to talk more about that heavyweight title fight on Saturday. I guess my rants about boxing, which I truly do enjoy watching, have thrown me off track. It is really a sad state of affairs, but I digress.

Whenever Chris Byrd is fighting, and you have to pay money to watch, spend your fifty bucks elsewhere. With that being said, there is some interesting history here, but not enough to shell out the dough. Byrd defeated Vitali (when Vitali quit with a shoulder injury), and Vladimir avenged his brother’s defeat with a decision win back in 2000.

Even though Byrd is the champion and Vitali was left plastered on the ring by 39-year old Corrie Sanders a few years back, Vitali is an almost 4-1 favorite and has home-arena advantage. The prediction here is that this one ends up in a majority draw, with Byrd retaining his title, and thousands more suckers - oh I mean PPV buyers - leaving their couches to yell obscenities at the cold dark skies above.

www.wagerweb.com/sportsbook/betting-odds/boxing.html

You Don’t Have to Hurt Yourself to Snowboard

You Don’t Have to Hurt Yourself to Snowboard Snowboarding Gear
to Keep you Safe and Comfortable as you Learn and Ride

Are you thinking of trying snowboarding, but reluctant because
you’ve heard that you’ll be bruised after the painful
edge-catching falls of the first three days? Or have you tried
snowboarding but thrown in the towel because it hurts too much
when you fall?

Snowboarding without Injuries– Snowboarding without injuries is
actually a possibility. If you wear protective snowboard gear
you will greatly reduce the odds of hurting yourself when you
snowboard. You will not have to worry as much about possible
pain and injury on the slopes, and you can relax and enjoy the
ride. If you are lucky enough to always ride on soft deep
powder, protection is not such a big issue. But hard snow
happens, especially in Eastern America.

Most Websites and Magazines Do Not Discuss Snowboard Safety–
and protection for the snowboarder. In some circles, it seems
there is something stoic and admirable about enduring pain. If
you disagree. and want to spend quality time on the slopes
instead of nursing bumps and bruises on the sidelines or
sustaining slow-healing injuries that can become chronic and
arthritic, read on.

Main Points of Impact with Snow and Ice– When you ride, the
main points of impact where your body will meet the snow or ice
are predictable: knees, hands and wrists, buttside or tailbone,
and head are the target zones. Protect these body parts and you
will hurt less and have a lot more fun.

Knee Protection for Snowboarders– Knee protection is one of the
most important pieces of snowboard protective gear. Your knees
are bony and vulnerable. And they are complex joints that are
painful and expensive to fix.

Wear in-line Skate Knee Pads beneath your snow pants. Make sure
they are soft and well-padded on the inside and hard plastic to
absorb shock and protect on the outside. Good pads will also
keep your knees warm and flexible, and you can relax so much
more knowing that a fall forward is not going to be painful and
damaging. Beginners fall on their knees often. Believe it or
not, good knee pads also help to protect your wrists. Read on.

Hand/Wrist Protection for Snowboarders– Falling forward with
your weight on your hands is a good way to break a wrist. Fists
should be balled up, with your thumb outside, as if you were
ready to punch someone. Try to relax and fall evenly on your
protected knees, and forearms. You should wear good protective
knee pads so you can distribute the weight on both your knees
and hands. Then you won’t have to try to catch yourself with
your hands.

Some experts argue that wearing skate wrist guards can increase
the severity of a fracture by sending the “shock” up the arm to
a larger bone. A new snowboard specific safety glove and wrist
guard is now on the US Market. It was designed by a French
Emergency Room physician who has worked on thousands of
snowboard fractures, and it is supposed to reduce snowboard
wrist injuries by up to 60%.

Butt/Tailbone Protection for Snowboarders–

People sometimes say “But I have plenty of natural padding on my
butt.” Forget it. You need padding that is not connected to your
central nervous system.

If you’re a beginner and if you don’t have anything else, you
can slide some bubble wrap down the back of your pants. Use
plenty! You’ll hear the bubbles pop when you fall and you’ll be
glad you wore them. And you will have saved a lot of jarring to
your spine as well as wear and tear on your buttocks and
tailbone.

Once you’re convinced of the need to save your posterior, invest
in some real padding designed for snowboarders. A hard plastic
shell outside with soft padding on the inside is great. It will
hardly be noticeable beneath your snow pants and it really
helps.

Helmets for Snowboarders– You might think (mistakenly) that
helmets are only for people who ride in the trees, or do big
tricks. But the first time you catch an edge and go CLUNK! and
the back of your head hits the hard hard ground, you’ll
reconsider. A helmet also adds the comfort of warmth and
dryness, as well as cushioning for your brain. With a helmet on,
you can ride in the rain comfortably, and have the slopes almost
to yourself.

You should buy a helmet in person at a shop. Correct fit is
mandatory and tricky. Get expert help at the snowboard shop to
be sure the helmet fits. And have your helmet checked for safety
and fit next season if you fell on it a lot or grew dreds or
shaved your head since you purchased it.

Hydration for Snowboarders– Snowboarding creates heat. That
means you are perspiring, even when it’s cold. Stay hydrated
with water, and you will be able to ride longer and better. To
replace the water lost perspiring and breathing the dry winter
air, use a hydration system. It is a backpack with a water
bladder, and a tube to deliver the water to your mouth. Simple
and efficient. Just grab the tube, bite the valve on the end,
and sip. You can easily do it while sitting on the lift. You can
wear it outside your coat, or even under it on freezing days.

You can do tricks and ride the pipe while wearing a small
hydration backpack, no problem. You can also throw an extra
clothing layer, energy bar, tool set, or whatever in the
hydration backpack. The backpacks come in many different sizes
and configurations.

Safety for Your Board– It’s just as important to protect your
trusty ride when you get off it. Hardcore riders never let their
boards out of their site. If you do, check yours at the lodge,
or lock it with a small cable lock that you carry in your
backpack. Also register it online at
http://www.SnowboardRegisty.com so if it does disappear, you at
least have a chance of getting it back. And be a good citizen of
the snowboard universe. Before you buy a used board, check its
serial number at http://www.SnowboardRegisty.com to make sure it
wasn’t reported stolen.

Ride Happily Many a Day– Unlike with skating and surfing, you
DON’T have to endure pain to learn and ride your snowboard.
Respect yourself. Dress for safety and comfort on the slopes,
and you’ll come back to ride happily many a day.