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Mental Discipline

Mental Discipline

We have all heard the adage "practice makes perfect." This applies to mental skills training too. But the unique thing about training the mind is that, over a period of time the mind gets conditioned to think along particular lines, and mental preparation comes to you almost by rote, automatically without having to consciously put yourself in a mental practice mode. However, for your mind to reach a conditioned state, a significant amount of regular mental preparation and use of mind techniques is essential. In other words you can reach a level where mental skills become a part of your life, if you employ mental skills training regularly. If you resort to mental preparation just before a match, and not follow up regularly, its effect on you will be temporary in nature and also incomplete. Consistency is the key here.

You can bring focus to your game through the following aspects of mental discipline:

• make good use of practice sessions to develop both technique and mental skills

• follow the principles in mental skills training consistently

• improve memory retrieval to efficiently apply the mental skills techniques

Making Good Use of Training Sessions

1. Prior to starting your practice, spend a few minutes thinking about what you would like to do, learn, and improve. Clearly outline issues that you want to deal with, like styles, moves, concentration, intensity, alertness, and so on.

2. During the session try to be aware of what exactly is happening-How do you feel? What's going on in your mind? What thought processes were effective? What thoughts or distractions drove down your performance? Were you able to give yourself the right cues at the right moment? Were you alert enough to execute perfect timing?-and so on. Being aware of all these finer points makes for a sharp focus that can add to your learning and bring about breakthroughs while practicing tough styles. The finer points also include details, such as the rush of adrenaline and surge in aggression, the rush of blood into your muscles, the process of calming down to get out of a hold, precise shifts and turns, etc.

3. Employ persistence and patience in learning difficult moves - persist until you perfect the technique.

4. For young athletes who are just embarking on their grappling or combat athletics careers, there will be a lot to learn and an extensive list of styles and moves to practice. Break down your learning objectives into manageable sections and spread out the training over a realistic period of time. Attempting too much, too soon may reduce the effectiveness of your training. Ensure that you've learned one set of techniques thoroughly before moving onto another. Your performance quality can be maintained at high levels when you're learning progress at a realistic pace.

5. Display proactiveness and drive during training and treat it like a real game.

6. Exercise control over your thought processes during training in much the same way that you would have to do in a match.

7. After the practice session, spend a few minutes reflecting on what you learned and what you can follow up on in your spare time.

Enter your practice with an open mind and walk out with a commitment to rehearse your learning using mental skills.

Here's an interesting look at grappler Daniel lgali's practice and training regimen and the reason for his success today (based on an article published in Reader's Digest):

"In 1994, at age 20, Daniel came to Canada from Nigeria. In 1995 Daniel started practicing with the Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club. Coach Dave McKay found Daniel to be lightning fast and powerful, but lacking in stamina and consistency. Grapplers had to train four hours each day six days a week, but because of his night job Daniel often missed practice. During matches, Daniel was easily fatigued and his expression gave away his tiredness to his opponent. Coach McKay felt Daniel had to master his emotions as well as his game.

Daniel's embarrassing defeat to Steiner in 1996 changed his attitude completely. Daniel started regularly attended practice sessions and worked hard and spent long hours in practice. He saved for a video camera and then studied his bouts thoroughly. Over two years, he also lifted weights and ran. Coach McKay, constantly pushed Daniel one step further until his confidence and determination grew."

Daniel made his mark in 1988 when he was placed second at the World Cup. In 2000, he won the gold for Canada at the Sydney Olympics. Consistency in training and hard work certainly pays off, and Daniel's case is testimony that grapplers and combat athletes benefit from a regular and consistent training regimen.

A Performance Monitor is a kind of diary or record to regularly track your training program and your skill improvement. You can either use a paper-based diary or record on audiocassettes. This performance monitor must be used after every training session to record different aspects of the session.

• What did you learn? - Styles, techniques, moves, submission, defense strategies, and so

• Your mental framework during the session - Rate yourself-poor, average, good, excellent – on each of the following factors.

Your ability to handle distractionsØ
Your calmness: Were you relaxed or not?Ø
Your confidenceØ
Your alertnessØ
Your attentivenessØ

• What mistakes or slip ups did you make?

• What do you want to learn in your next session? Make a list of learning objectives and a list of mistakes that you want to avoid

As your training progresses, the aim should be to minimize your slip-ups and advance your rating on mental skills issues to either good or excellent.

The performance monitor is a simple daily assessment method that has the dual advantage of taking into account your training on grappling or combat athletics techniques as well as mental skills preparation. You will be assessing yourself, and must be as objective and as tough on yourself as you possibly can to benefit the exercise.

Advantage of maintaining a performance monitor:

You always have on record a benchmark of your previous session onØ which to build and improve in a new training session.
You start out with a set of objectives for each new session, whichØ makes the training sessions a lot more useful.
Mistakes don’t get swept under the rug. You address them in your nextØ session.
You can monitor your progress over a period especially when you rateØ yourself on mental skills.

Betting on Sports – 6 Winning Rules

Betting on Sports – 6 Winning Rules

People all over the world love to bet on sports. Since you’re reading this, you’re probably part of that majority. While some do it just for recreation or to make watching a TV game more exciting, there are others who will always wager on their favorite team or player, period. However, there is an elite third group out there who bet sports with one and only one purpose in mind…to make money. Whichever group you fall into, sports wagering must be treated the same as any other financial investment. To be done properly (and profitably), here are some very crucial rules one must follow.

Rule #1 – Use Proper Money Management – This rule is the one that is most neglected and explains why Vegas keeps on building all of those multi-billion dollar casinos. Never wager more than you can afford to lose, so be honest with yourself on what you can comfortably set aside for recreation or otherwise. Secondly, never wager more than 2% of your total bankroll on any single wager. If you set aside $1,000 for gambling, your individual bets should be in the $20 range and no more. If you’re winning, the 2% per wager automatically increases as your bankroll increases. Conversely, if you’re on a losing streak and the bankroll goes down, the size of your bets will decrease accordingly. Unexplainably, wins and losses often times run in streaks, so slowly increase your bets on a hot streak and back off on cold streaks. Stick with 2% and never double up and chase lost money.

Rule #2 – Never Gamble Under the Influence – To coin a phrase, “Speak when you’re drunk and you’ll probably make the biggest speech you’ll ever live to regret.” The same sensible theory applies to betting on sports. Drugs (legal or otherwise) and alcohol can cloud your judgment and will lead you into making decisions that you normally wouldn't make. To be successful at anything, your mind needs to be 100% clear and functional. If you’re on medication, drugs, or alcohol, or if you’re just in an upset or disturbed mood, be smart and don’t play until you’re back to 100%.

Rule #3 – Spend Some Time Shopping – This can be compared to shopping for a new car or even for groceries. Always look for the best prices or the best numbers. The payoff odds and point spreads are not carved in stone throughout the industry, and on any given day, they can vary greatly between different shops. Research several sports books thoroughly and compare the numbers. After checking several well-established and solid options, decide on 2 or 3 of them, and then divide and deposit your initial bankroll equally amongst each one. Then, before making your wager(s), check each book and always take the best number on your particular event. Over the course of a year, that ½, 1, or even 2 point difference will come into play many times, and trust me…it will add up to a lot of money.

Rule #4 – DO NOT Play Parlays or Teasers – Parlays, teasers, and other exotic wagers are offered for a reason. Yes, you can bet a 3-team parlay, and if you win, it normally pays in the vicinity of 6 to 1 in football and basketball. If it were really possible for anyone to consistently pick 3 out of 3, parlays (and teasers) wouldn’t be offered by the sports books. Stick to straight action only. If you bet 3 teams straight action and only win 2 of the 3, you’ve just made money. Hook them all together in a parlay and you must win all 3, or you’re sunk. It’s a proposition for losers only, so don’t do it.

Rule #5 – Perform Due Diligence - As a bettor, you normally have the opportunity to do research well in advance of having to make that final decision on a wager. That gives you an automatic advantage over the bookie, so use it to the fullest extent. One of the best ways to win at sports wagering is to maybe find your own special niche and then follow it closely. For example, if you live in California and become an expert on the PAC 10, you can increase your chances of winning by focusing on just your niche.

Rule #6 – Seek a Professional - There is a wealth of valuable information available on the Internet but you have to take the time to do proper and thorough research. Most people just don't have the time to properly study things like past statistics, line moves, trends, angles, valuable lines, inflated numbers, and much, much more. Watching ESPN and/or reading opinionated articles by sports writers on the Internet is not the proper way to do your homework. If betting on sports is more than just a recreational pastime, or if you just don’t have the time or resources for Rule #5, seriously consider employing the services of a professional sports handicapper. If you’re sick, you go see a doctor. If you’re serious about winning more bets than you lose, you should listen to a professional.

Whether you’re a recreational player or actually doing it solely for a profit, may you always have more winners than losers, and always remember to have a lot of fun along the way, but stick to the rules.

Marine Epoxy - Maintaining Your Boat

Marine Epoxy - Maintaining Your Boat

Epoxy is a very useful substance that is a liquid or paste until mixed with a hardener. Once the liquid is mixed with hardener it will start to harden and go off. Epoxy has a number of uses, including on circuit boards, repairs around the home, and on boats. Epoxy is a very important material for use around water because of its waterproof properties. Many projects require epoxy to waterproof and strengthen. Marine Epoxy is ideal for boat repairing procedures.

West System manufacturers a wide range of different epoxy substances for different purposes, including marine epoxy resin and boat epoxy. While they are separate they are liquids, when a certain proportion of epoxy resin and hardener are mixed together this cures to form a very hard substance at room temperature. The resulting material is water resistant and will stick to virtually anything. This makes epoxy the material of choice for applications requiring waterproof and resistance to chemicals. The strong bond is also beneficial for boats because it will withstand all the elements of nature. West System produces a number of different hardeners which will make it possible to create the perfect mixture for your requirements. West System epoxy resin can bond very well with wood, fibreglass and many other composite materials.

Although there are plenty of other epoxy products available on the market the ones offered by West System are seen as being superior for marine uses. They have been created specifically for use in the marine industry, and have been sold all over the world for longer than 33 years now. Thousands of boats have benefited from products made by West System, and will last much longer as a result of this. West System Epoxy is available in Europe, Asia, and America.

West System is made by ATL Composites and they put a lot of time and effort into continuing to develop this exciting technology. The epoxy is used for many applications and although it was designed specifically for the marine industry it’s also in use for the civil engineering, industrial, transport and automotive industries. Epoxy resin is extremely useful for many applications because of the ease of transportation, the hardness and the durability of the substance when it is cured. Epoxy is also very light weight which makes it perfect for the automotive and marine industry.

Ever since 1977 ATL has had the licence to manufacture West System Epoxy products in Australia and New Zealand. These products are very popular in both Australia and New Zealand and there are dealers all over the country. This means that the products are easily available to anyone who might want them, and there is also local help and support should anyone run into troubles.

Over the last 27 years ATL Composites, the owner of the West System licence has expanded significantly. Now they have entered Asia and their products are becoming a hit there too. It’s possible to buy epoxy from West System in China, Malaysia and Thailand.

Watch Juan Diaz Vs. Paul Malignaggi Free Live Online Stream

Watch Juan Diaz Vs. Paul Malignaggi Free Live Online Stream


Truly one of boxing's young superstars, former world lightweight champion Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz has thrilled fight fans for years with his aggressive style and willingness to take on all comers.

Although just 25 years old, Diaz is a 35 fight veteran, having made his professional debut at the age of 17 after a stellar amateur career that saw him win 105 of 110 fights. He apparently capped off his amateur stint by earning a spot on the 2000 Mexican Olympic team, but he was later informed that he was too young to compete, forcing him to look to the pro ranks instead of waiting four more years for the next Olympic Games.

Diaz went 6-0 with 5 KOs in 2000, and he added seven wins to his ledger in 2001.

12 dominant rounds later, there was a new WBA world lightweight champion, and his name was Juan Diaz.

What made his reign even more incredible is that he was juggling a full load of college courses at the University of Houston at the same time.

Less than six months later, Diaz won a third 135-pound title, halting Julio Diaz in nine rounds.

"I've gained a lot of experience over the last couple of years, in and out of the ring, and I can't wait to prove to boxing fans that I'm the best lightweight in the world."

President of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar de la Hoya, continued, "I don't think there's a more exciting young fighter out there than Juan Diaz, and I'm glad we're finally working together. We've got big plans for Juan and we can't wait to start putting him into the mega fights he deserves to be in."

Outside the ring, Diaz is currently studying to get his undergraduate degree at the University of Houston and upon graduation will then start law school at the University of Houston.

Malignaggi Biography

Brooklyn-native Paul "The Magic Man" Malignaggi is a proud Italian-American who plans on continuing a strong boxing tradition established by Willie Pep and carried on by Rocky Marciano, Jake LaMotta, Rocky Graziano, Carmen Basilio and Vinny Paz.

Paulie, as he is affectionately known, was born in Brooklyn, December 23, 1980, but moved to Siracusa, Sicily, when he was a few months old. When his family moved back to America, Malignaggi only spoke Italian, but picked up the English language quickly.

"I still remember my first day there. He was teaching me a jab and right hand in front of the mirror, but throwing them really slowly to get the form down correctly. I started with a good foundation.

The "Magic Man" made his professional debut at age 20 on July 7, 2001, and scored a first-round knockout over Thadeus Parker in Brooklyn. He won four more professional fights before his rookie campaign came to an end, including two by knockout. In 2002, Malignaggi went seven-for-seven in the ring, including a second-round TKO over Anthony Simpkins on Aug.

I have a tendency sometimes to use my legs a little too much.

He finished 2002 by defeating Paul Delgado across eight rounds on Nov 23 in Atlantic City. Despite tearing the ligaments in his right hand during the fight, Malignaggi won the split decision 78-74, 79-73 and 75-77.

Malignaggi did not fight for nearly seven months. Malignaggi sent Howard to the canvas in the third round and won by the scores 60-52 (twice), 60-53.

Less than two months later on Aug 1, 2003, Malignaggi entered the ring against Kevin Watts in Red Sox country waving a New York Yankees flag with a Yankees emblem sewn on his trunks. After scoring two knockdowns in the sixth round, the referee stopped the contest. Malignaggi put Watts flat on his back for the initial time with a series of right hands. The decisive knockdown came as Watts stuck his tongue out at Malignaggi. The Yankees fan promptly landed two right hands that had Watts flat on his face. "I knew I was going to be hated. Watts' fans were booing me.

Malignaggi completed a third consecutive perfect campaign on Dec 6, 2003, with an eight-round unanimous decision over Delgado on the Vitali Klitschko-Kirk Johnson undercard at Madison Square Garden in New York. Despite injuring his right hand again, Malignaggi won by the scores 80-72, 79-73 (twice). "With the first right hand I threw in the eighth, I hurt my hand and basically just danced with Delgado for the remainder of the round," Malignaggi said.

The up-and-coming New Yorker easily won the first and second rounds with a crisp, quick jab and decent combinations to the body. Martinez' nose began to bleed in the seventh, and worsened in the eighth. Malignaggi took the last two rounds en route to nearly shutting out Martinez. The judges scored the bout 99-91 (twice) and 98-92.

Malignaggi, with his first loss, took it well. He was asked if there was to be a rematch with Cotto, and he stated that he would fight him again after he had had a few more matches if Cotto didn't go up in the weight.

HBO Sports hosts three sizzling showdowns in the Texas heat when HBO Boxing After Dark: Juan Diaz vs. Paulie Malignaggi, Malcolm Klassen vs. Robert Guerrero and Danny Jacobs vs. Ishe Smith is presented on Saturday, Aug.

HBO2 playdates: Aug.

In the main event, Houston hometown hero and former lightweight champion Juan Diaz (34-2, 17 KOs) takes on Brooklyn native and former junior welterweight champ Paulie "Magic Man" Malignaggi (26-2, 5 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round junior welterweight bout. Impressively, he did all this while attending the University of Houston downtown campus, and received his degree earlier this year.

Malignaggi, 28, is no stranger to championship competition, having dethroned junior welterweight champ Lovemore N'dou to win a title in 2007.

The co-main event is a 12-round bout that features current super featherweight titleholder Malcolm Klassen (24-4-2, 15 KOs) of South Africa defending his belt against west coast native Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero (24-1-1, 17 KOs), who's looking to add a second weight class to his championship repertoire. Challenging Klassen is two-time featherweight champ Robert Guerrero. The 26-year-old Guerrero, from Gilroy, Cal., seeks to maintain his high percentage of KO triumphs.

The opening bout showcases another New Yorker, as Brooklyn's Danny Jacobs (17-0, 15 KOs) takes on the more-experienced Ishe Smith (21-3, 9 KOs) in a ten-round middleweight bout. A rising prospect in the middleweight division, the 22-year-old Jacobs is making waves in the boxing community with his exceptional knockout power, having scored nine of his 15 KOs in the first round. Hailing from Las Vegas, Smith, 31, appeared on the boxing reality series "The Contender" and now hopes to hand Jacobs the first loss of his promising career.

2009 College Football Preview

2009 College Football Preview

After an utterly unbelievable 2008 season, which was in by no manner short on thrills, the 2009 college football season is nearly upon us. Training camps are into high gear, and the season is roughly a month away. Recently the Preseason Coach’s Polls were released, with the top of the rankings looking very familiar to their predecessor. Defending National Champion Florida is sitting at number one, with Texas and Oklahoma sitting squarely behind at two and three, with USC and Alabama filling out the remainder of the Top-10. All five of these teams are loaded, and it is a very real possibility that one of these five teams will be the BCS National Champion of 2009. So with that said, let’s take a look at each of the Top-25 teams, and see what 2009 may have in store for them.

1.) Florida Gators

After winning their second BCS Championship in the last three years, Urban Meyer, Tim Tebow, and the Florida Gators look to add another one to the trophy case. Doing so will arguably make them team of the decade, which most would hardly argue with. Florida has 20 returning starters, and one of the finest recruiting classes in the country, which make for another run for a title very, very possible. Their schedule isn’t near ly as difficult as it was the previous year, with the only real challenge coming when they travel to Death Valley to meet LSU. Seriously though, we could be witnessing history when it’s all said and done. Tebow could win his second Heisman, and the Gators could win their third BCS Championship in four years. So, 2009 could very well feel like it’s predecessor, because the Gators are once again the team to watch, and the team that probably won’t get beat.

2.) Texas Longhorns

After defeating Oklahoma last year, the Texas Longhorns were denied a spot in the National Championship Game. As a consolation prize, they had to settle for besting Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, which isn’t bad either. However, that is the past, and Mack Brown and Colt McCoy are shooting for the moon, as they look to be playing in Pasadena come January. McCoy was outstanding last year, and is now protected by a bigger, more experienced line, which should open holes for a better running game. At times last year, McCoy had to run the ball too often, but that shouldn’t be the case this year. Defensively, there will be changeover as the Longhorns lose a number of defensive linemen from a unit that accumulated a nation-best 47 sacks. With all that said though it’s going to come down to the game in Dallas where their rivalry with Oklahoma will reconvene. The winner of that game will almost guaranteed a spot in the BCS Championship Game.

3.) Oklahoma Sooners

Despite coming up short in the BCS Championship Game, the Oklahoma Sooners are poised to make another run at that crown. Bob Stoops has reigning-Heisman winner Sam Bradford behind center once again, and deep backfield, the best tight end in the country, and a number of blazers at the receiver positions. The defense is back intact too, with better depth, and more experience from a unit that was the team’s weakness a season ago. They allowed too many big plays in 2008, and need to be better in 2009 if they wish to get to Pasadena this January. The most important thing for stoops to attend to is the offensive line, which returns just one starter from last years group, which was scary-good. Bradford was rarely touched last year, but he might have to get his jersey dirty this season.

4.) USC Trojans

It was business as usual for Pete Carroll and the Trojans in 2008, as they won their fourth consecutive Rose Bowl, and finished in the AP Top-4 for the seventh straight season. This was tempered a bit by their loss at Oregon State, which ultimately kept them from competing for a BCS Championship. The unexpected loss of quarterback Mark Sanchez would seem like an issue, but for a program that is as loaded like USC, there are a number of very capable passers just waiting to step up. They have a very experienced, deep offensive line, and the best skill position players in the nation, so whoever is behind center should fair very well. The defense, which was historically great last season, lost a number of playmakers, particularly the linebackers, but has more than enough talent in waiting to plug the holes. The Trojans will challenge for another National Championship, but they will probably end up in their fifth consecutive Rose Bowl, which really isn’t all that bad.

5.) Alabama Crimson Tide

In just his second season as the headman in Tuscaloosa, Nick Saban kept the Crimson Tide atop the BCS standings for the majority of the season. However their last two games weren’t that savory. Alabama fell to eventual National Champion Florida in the SEC Championship Game, and was then embarrassed by Utah in the Sugar Bowl. What Saban doesn’t have this year is an experienced quarterback, but he’s got just about everything else covered. The defense will be a monster, and the skill positions, and special teams are dynamic. It shouldn’t be overlooked that the Tide lost three starters on the offensive line, which was arguably the best in the nation last year. Alabama doesn’t face Florida in the regular season, and another Top-10 finish is very likely for the highest-paid coach in college football.

6.) Ohio State Buckeyes

Last year was a bit of a transition for the Buckeyes, who handed the reigns over to super-frosh Terrelle Pryor early in the season. Pryor had his ups and downs, but the dual-threat quarterback is the firm starter in 2009, and it’s a matter of time before we start to see the consistency he lacked last season. When this happens, look out. What could hold him back is inexperience at the skill positions. Both leading receivers are gone, and punishing back Beanie Wells is too. The offensive line needs tinkering with as well, especially at left tackle. Think replacing all of that is bad, then take a look at the defense, which won’t be as polished or as deep as it was last season. Let’s not forget about the looming matchup with USC in the Horseshoe, for the Trojans annihilated the Buckeye’s a season ago. There are also road games at Penn State and Michigan and this could be a challenging season for Ohio State. But you know what? I got a feeling that Jim Tressel and Pryor are up to the task.

7.) Virginia Tech Hokies

Could it be that Virginia Tech once again looks to be the class of the ACC? Even after a supposed rebuilding season, the Hokies were able to muster another appearance in the Orange Bowl, where they thumped Big East Champion Cincinnati. Sophomore Tyrod Tyler is the unquestioned starter at quarterback, while Frank Beamer will benefit form having 17 starters return from last year’s unit. Taylor’s ability to break down a defense with his feet makes us reminisce to the day’s of another Hokies passer, while a deep staple of running backs should give Beamer the luxury of being able to run the ball on just about anyone. The offensive line is arguably the ACC’s best as well. The only real issue for Virginia Tech is the inexperience of the defense. With that said though, they are still oozing with talent. We’ll see just how good these Hokies are early because they’ll open their season against Alabama in Atlanta, which is no easy task.

8.) Penn State Nittany Lions

2008 nearly became Joe Paterno’s ride into the sunset, as the Nittany Lions’ flirted with the number one ranking in the country all the way into late November, before they fell on the road at Iowa. Despite that shortcoming they managed to win their second Big Ten Championship in the last four years. Leadership is something that Penn State has returning this year, which is a very good thing. Dynamic quarterback Daryll Clark is back for one more season, while linebacker Sean Lee leads an always-imposing defense. The problem for Paterno could lie with the departure of three big time receivers, as well as two of his top offensive lineman. That considered, it would be unrealistic for the Lions to put up the staggering amount of points that they did a season ago. They do however have a very easy non-conference schedule, and get Ohio State at home this season as well. Look for Penn State to challenge for another Big Ten crown, with another ten-win season in the cards.

9.) LSU Tigers

Despite a season that saw them get thumped by both Georgia and Florida in ridiculous fashion, the LSU Tigers closed out their title defense with a very impressive demolition of Georgia Tech in their bowl game. From that game came the emergence of sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who will be expected to take the Tigers back to the top of the BCS ladder. His improvement could give LSU what they need to vault past Alabama in the SEC West. Les miles has the conference’s best group of running backs and receivers at his disposal so expect this unit to fly. The only things that could slow the Tigers down for an eventual meeting with the gators in Atlanta is the fact that they lack experience on the defensive front, and that their chief competition in the conference, Alabama and Mississippi, don’t have to play Florida.

10.) Mississippi Rebels

Before Houston Nutt took the Job in Mississippi, the Rebels were winless in the SEC. In his first season, the reverend drove his team to five SEC wins, one of which came against Florida in the Swamp. They then finished up a six-game winning streak with a beat down of Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. So what will Nutt do for an encore? During that winning streak, quarterback Jevan Snead threw 16 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions. Big things are expected out of the young passer, for he is probably the best pro prospect in the nation. Snead is surrounded by a fine collection of receivers and backs, one of which is Dexter McCluster. There are also 16 returning starters for the Rebels, which might just be enough to put them in their first-ever SEC Championship Game. But then again, that just might be a year away.

11.) Oklahoma State Cowboys

Look anywhere throughout this Top-25 Poll, and you’ll be hard pressed to find another team that has the firepower on offense that the Oklahoma State Cowboys have. Between quarterback Zac Robinson, running back Kendall Hunter, and wide receiver Dez Bryant, the Cowboys have arguably the best player at their respective position in the country. The problem though for Oklahoma State is that they are perennially one of the biggest risk/reward teams in the country. Yes they put up a lot of points and a massive amount of yards, but they don’t play much defense, which is the primary reason they haven’t overtaken Texas or Oklahoma in the Big 12 South. For example they scored 41 points against the Sooners, and still lost by three touchdowns. In fact, the Cowboys haven’t finished better than 74th in the nation in total defense since 2001. With that said, don’t expect them to overtake the giants of the conference until they find a way to stop their opposition.

12.) California Golden Bears

California has proven to be one of the most consistent programs I the nation since Jeff Tedford took over the job in 2002. If not for USC, they very well might have ended their lengthy 51-year Rose Bowl draught by now. With USC reloading, this may be the year for the golden Bears…or maybe not. California was hit hard by the draft losing six starters to the NFL, and needs to find a quarterback. There are 15 starters coming back from a nine-win season, so there is quality depth for the Bears. Tedford has been a wizard when it has come to developing quarterbacks in the past, but Kevin Riley has yet to take the proper steps towards making Cal one of the nation’s elite. He doesn’t have much help in the passing game both as the receiving corps hasn’t matured and lacks experience. What Tedford does have though, is arguably the most explosive running back in the country, in the form of Jahvid Best. Best averaged 8.8 yards per carry a season ago, despite dealing with injuries late in the season. He was so explosive, that he had seven rushes of at least 60 yards in 2008. If Cal does in fact overtake USC this season, best will be the catalyst. However if Riley can’t take the next step forward, neither will Cal.

13.) Georgia Bulldogs

This time last season the Georgia Bulldogs were a lot higher on this list. In fact, they were the Preseason Number One in 2008. Well, that was not to be as Mark Richt’s unit finished at a very respectable 10-3. Now Mathew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno are gone, leaving a number of talented players to fill the roles of the former stars. Richt has recruited well, and the offensive line is a much more experienced group than they were a year ago. The Bulldog’s fortunes could rest on the arm of quarterback Joe Cox, who has had experience in the past as the starting quarterback. The defense should be strong once more, with defensive tackle Jeff Owens returning from a knee injury which sidelined him all of 2008. The Dawgs will open up the season at Oklahoma State, and will eventually have to endure the rigors of the SEC, which is no walk in the park. Still, Georgia has yet to finish outside of the Top-25 under Richt’s watch; so nine wins shouldn’t be a stretch for the Bulldogs.

14.) Oregon Ducks

Changeover is the theme in Oregon, as Mike Bellotti is no longer roaming the sideline in Eugene. Former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was elevated to the position, as the Ducks look to capitalize on USC going through a change in passers (for what that’s worth). Kelly’s “read-option” offense has the pote ntial to be explosive, and with Jeremiah Masoli running the show, a third consecutive Top-10 finish in total offense is very possible. Masoli, who won the job amidst multiple injuries, rushed for 718 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008, and looks to take the Ducks back to the top of the polls. What could hinder them from doing so is the fact that there are only 10 returning starters on this year’s team, which is the lowest in the conference. Oregon also gets a tough test to open the season, as they travel to Boise, Idaho, to take on the 16th ranked Broncos on the blue turf. However when it comes to conference play, the Ducks will host both USC and Cal this season. Ten wins and a Rose Bowl bid could be very probable for the Ducks in 2009.

15.) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Paul Johnson’s first year at the helm at Georgia Tech was truly an impressive one. He brought his famed “triple option” offense to the ACC with fantastic results. The Yellow Jackets put up ten wins in 2008, and 17 starters back on both sides of the ball, including ACC Offensive Player of the Year Jonathan Dwyer and dual-threat quarterback Josh Nesbitt. Nesbitt suffered a balky shoulder towards the end of the previous season but has looked great thus far in camp. Besides he’s just as dangerous a threat on the ground as any of the other four running backs that Johnson has in his arsenal. One thing that Johnson must address however is the defensive line, which lost all four starters from a very stellar unit. If they can fill the holes left on that defensive front, we could be looking at a team that is primed to join the ranks of the nation’s elite.

16.) Boise State Broncos

If not for a 17-16 loss at the hands of TCU, the Boise State Broncos would have been joined Utah as the only undefeated team in the nation. With that performance aside, the broncos averaged 49 points per game, and did so with a freshman quarterback and 11 different starting combinations on the offensive line. The experience gained by Kellen Moore coupled with continuity up front should make Boise once again one of the most prominent offenses in the country. What could stifle them though is the fact that they only have one returning starter on defense to start the season. That shouldn’t be too big of a concern, for the Broncos usually just outscore all their opponents anyway. With that said, we’ll know where they stand after their season-opening matchup with the 14th ranked Oregon Ducks on the blue turf in Boise.

17.) TCU Horned Frogs

Does anyone find it odd that there are there are three Mountain West Conference teams ranked in the Preseason Top-25? The winner of this conference has finished 16th or higher in the polls in each of the last 5 years, two of which they finished 2nd and 4th. Well it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the first of these teams, TCU is occupying this spot. The Horned Frogs have been no stranger to the polls over the last 5 years, and look poised to be there once more. There is experience and efficiency at quarterback with Andy Dalton, and perennially one of the nastiest defenses in the nation. The Horned frogs haven’t allowed more than 18.7 points and 330 yards per game in each of the last four seasons. What could hinder them though is that they only have 4 returning starters on that side of the ball, but one of them is defensive end Jerry Hughes who posted 15 sacks and 6 forced fumbles in 2008. They also get two solid no conference games to start the season, opening up at Virginia before facing Clemson in Week 3. Look for TCU to win their first MWC Championship since 2005.

18.) Utah Utes

After finishing the season as the only undefeated team in the nation, it was understandable as to why the Utah Utes had such a gripe with the BCS. They finished ranked 2nd in the nation, after overwhelming the powerful Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl. However with great success apparently comes great departures, as Utah must replace both coordinators, their best offensive player (quarterback Brian Johnson), best defensive player (defensive end Paul Kruger), and the best combo kicker in the nation (Louie Sakoda). While they may not be BCS-caliber, they still have the potential of making headway, as they have three tough road games at Oregon, TCU, and BYU, which will go a long way in determining where they will be at the end of the season.

19.) Florida State Seminoles

With a cheating scandal hanging over their heads which could possibly cost Bobby Bowden to vacate a number of wins from a few seasons ago, their was one good thing to come out of 2008 for the Seminoles; they found a quarterback. Ponder proved to be an outstanding athlete that took to playing the position well last season, but Florida State will now need him to take the next step if they want to get back to the days of dominance in the 90’s. Bowden wants to run the ball, and it looks like this season he just may have the offensive line to do it. The defense looks to be up to the school’s lofty standards again, but the special teams unit leaves a lot to be desired. The Seminoles open the season up against Miami at home, and have tough road games against both North Carolina and Florida to close out the season. With all that said, 2009 is all about Ponder, and whether or not he can take this team to the next level, because if he can’t, we could be looking at the end of an era in Tallahassee.

20.) North Carolina Tar Heels

With the ACC throne figuratively vacant at the moment, the North Carolina Tar Heels could be the team that vacates that position. Butch Davis has quietly built a monster, which very well could explode this season. The defense returns 9 starters, four of which comprise a defensive line that has the potential to be dominant. The Tar Heels are solid at quarterback with T.J. Yates, but must find a way to replace arguably the most explosive receiving corps in the conference, which featured first round pick Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate. The backfield could be explosive though. The only other real possible obstacle for North Carolina is ironically the health of Yates, who missed time last season with a broken ankle, and even suffered a thumb injury catching a Frisbee in the spring. Look for the Tar Heels to improve on their previous 8-5 campaign, but don’t be surprised if Davis and company are still just one year away.

21.) Iowa Hawkeyes

After being a surprise contender in the Big Ten last season, Kirk Ferentz and his Hawkeye’s must find a way to replace all the things that made them great last year. They must find a replacement for rugged running back Shonn Greene, who rushed for 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns to lead the conference. They must also find replacements for both the interiors of the offensive and defensive lines. The defense does return 8 starters, and if they can muster the type of performance they did a season before where they held the opposition to just 13.0 points per game, then Ferentz could really have something brewing. What he absolutely needs more than anything is for quarterback Ricky Stanzi to take the next step forward, after the first-time starter had an impressive first season at the helm. Stanzi was key in Iowa’s upset of undefeated Penn State as he engineered the game-winning drive. How he handles more of the load this season will go a long way in determining Iowa’s success in 2009.

22.) Nebraska Cornhuskers

The rebuilding process that second-year Head Coach Bo Pelini is amidst in Nebraska is proving to be a tedious one, but after an 8-4 regular season, the Huskers pulled a nice upset of Clemson in the Gator Bowl to build some momentum going into 2009. The talks of a revival should simmer down a bit, or at least until Nebraska makes it out of the first month of the season, which features games at 7th ranked Virginia Tech and Missouri. Winning the Big 12 North however is very possible for the Huskers; especially with Missouri likely taking a step back this season. Pelini will have to coax steady play out of junior quarterback Zac Lee, who is taking over for the productive Joe Ganz. Remember, Nebraska has played in only one Big 12 Championship Game in the last 10 years.

23.) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Irish were 7-6 a season ago, and won their first bowl game in what seems like ages. Things are definitely looking up for Notre Dame in 2009, and their ranking in this very poll is evidence of that. They may not be contenders for the BCS Title, but the Fighting Irish definitely look like they can win ten games this season. First and foremost Jimmy Clausen and the offense look like they finally have experience to put up huge numbers. Charlie Weis has the kind of depth at receiver and running back that he hasn’t had since his first season with the Irish. The defense has been making strides too, as they could field possibly one of the best secondaries in the nation. However, there are question marks across both the offensive and defensive lines, where experience is sorely lacking. The kicking games are suspect as well. The overriding factor though may be the schedule; for the Irish face all of their tough opponents at home, and with the exception of USC, they’re all very beatable.

24.) BYU Cougars

Last season, BYU reached as high as 10th in the polls before falling to the bottom of the Top-25 after losses to both TCU and Utah. For all the boasting that they were a Top-25 caliber team, they were a combined 49 points worse than their two superior conference counterparts. Fortunately, they have just about all of their explosive offense back intact; quarterback Max Hall, tight end Dennis Pitta, and running back Harvey Unga, who will be responsible for lighting up score boards this fall. This year they get both Utah and TCU at home, as well as Florida State, which could cement the Cougars into the Top-25 this season, and possibly give them a different destination come bowl season aside from the Las Vegas Bowl. They will however, get a test of epic proportions to start the season as they take on 3rd ranked Oklahoma on a neutral field in Arlington, Texas.

25.) Oregon State Beavers

After pulling the upset of season in knocking off number-one ranked USC, the Oregon State Beavers fell one game short of their first Pac Ten Title since 2000. In 2009 for the Beavers to contend, they will have to rely on their offense, and the game-breaking talents of twin brothers Jaquizz and James Rodgers. These two tailbacks are electrifying, and are the prime reason why they were able to upset the Trojans last year. There is however a bit of a quarterback controversy brewing in Corvallis as Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao battle it out. The offensive line will be revamped, but the real questions are on defense, where there are only three returning starters. Rebuilding a defense tends to lead to trouble, and the Beavers must replace their entire secondary. There will also be three new defensive lineman on the front as well, so the defense could be a major detriment for the beavers in 2009.

Salmon Fishing River Tips on the Most Favorite Fishing Destinations

Salmon Fishing River Tips on the Most Favorite Fishing Destinations

In fact that Alaska boasts the best salmon fishing in the world and Alaska at Kenai River caught world record salmon fishing at 97.4 pounds under Mr. Les Anderson named at 1985, while the only rival was record on 1949 at 126 pounds at Petersburg by far was the heaviest thought many were skeptical judging due to absence of visual proofs.

With 3000 rivers at Alaska, you can easily choose place to fish for salmon which offer the opportunities beyond your dream. The Alaskan river is practically full of salmon and also home to five species of pacific salmons.

For those salmon fishing enthusiasts, who always have time to pleasure in one of many fishing destination and want to experience an extreme of salmon fishing than choosing the right place to fish is the key for your success.

And for those who has no experience but curious to know fishing, there are so many guides around, and Alaska charter fishing will help you. The Alaska sport fishing lodge will provide you with fishing guide, gears, bait, lures, license, souvenirs and lot more. You’ll learn more than fishing itself from the techniques of catching fish, where to fund fish, tips and more from experienced Alaska guided fishing.

Here are some lists of Salmon River Fishing in Alaska:

1.) Talkeetna River – Talkeetna River has one of the strongest runs of all five species of salmon and also famous for trophy rainbows, dollies and arctic grayling.

2.) Togiak River flows 60 miles from Togiak Lake to Togiak Bay and along its entire length were filled with exceptional fishing, for pacific salmon, resident rainbow trout, arctic char and grayling all while you are surrounded by breathtaking scenery.

3.) The mighty Nushagak River which is draining into Bristol Bay remains Alaska's crown jewel King Salmon fishing destination. 20 to 50 Nushagak River King Salmon hook-ups a day, during the peak season at deep in the lush Togiak National Forest.

4.) The Kuskokwim which has the largest return of King Salmon in Alaska and Aniak rivers are truly unique, with the widest variety of game fish Alaska offers.

5.) Kenai River – Upper Kenai River, middle Kenai River, and lower Kenai River is no doubt for salmon records.

6.) Kanektok River- Both the Deshka River and Talkeetna River are tributaries of the Big Susitna River which hosts the second largest run of migrating fish in the world!

7.) Little Susitna River, Deshka River, Rivers in the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Valley and more.

Wherever you are going to fish in Alaska River, there are some fishing trips Alaska for salmon you may consider and you should learn about the dislikes as well as likes of the salmons and here’s some:

* Make your bait or lure appear attractive by varying the movement which can draw the awareness of salmon. At once they seem to love herring, anchovies, or squid and when you are presenting you bait make sure if they will look injured to get the salmon’s attention.

* Chinook are not worries with boats, even sometime the have and if this happen and hard to catch one, simply adjust your bait between 50 to 60 feet away from the boat and 20 to 25 feet downward and choppy water is their favorite place.

* Salmon don’t like warm water; generally they come to warm water for feed. Cloudy water with many plankton or the things that may conceal them from predator is the salmon most like. They also want bulky baits with right size around 5-7 inches. By maintain your hook sharpness will determine the success of your fishing trip.

At the end of advice is don’t forget to visit to one of the most favorite fishing destinations in Alaska.

Halibut Fishing in Alaska: Tips & Guide to Homer Best Fishing

Halibut Fishing in Alaska: Tips & Guide to Homer Best Fishing

Halibut fishing in Alaska, exactly in homer, is could be the most consistent fishery and one of the best success rates around. The average sport caught halibut is 25-35 pounds, while over 100 pound halibut are fairly common. Halibut are caught from shallow (20-30 ft) to deep (over 400 ft) of water. The charter will typically be fishing in 120 to 180 feet of water.

Homer Best Spots

A good deal Halibut fishing in Homer Alaska occurs around Kachemak Bay and around the water of the Cook Inlet and at this area also known for the largest and tastiest halibut in the world. To find the best fishing spots, a numerous fishing guides are available to help. Fishing license is requires for fish this halibut.

Homer Halibut Fishing Term

The limit for halibut is two per day, four in possession. Each person are requires hook their own two fish by state law and once the fish are processed they are off of your possession limit. Before you decide to keep two halibut you catch, it’s possible to catch and release the fish but once you brought into the boat, it goes onto your limit.

Its strongly recommend to keep the only halibut you can realistically eat. And for big spawning halibut, if you are not going to eat them, better release, they will produce more halibut and getting bigger and bigger. Halibut dress out at 60%+, a 35 pound fish will yield 17-22 lbs. of boneless fillets, which is a lot of fish.

Alaska Halibut fishing Charter

Due to constantly changing current, tides and annual fishing migrations makes one day become a great halibut fishing and other are a good day. Having knowledge and experience of these rhythms fishing guide can meaning the different between a productive halibut fishing trip and a waste your valuable time. You will need specific fishing equipment because the sheer size of these fish or if you don’t have then the Alaska charter will provide you with quality tackles.

The average rate for Halibut fishing in Alaska is around $200 and for halibut salmon combos $280 and halibut ling-cod combos $300

Fishing Lodges in Alaska

The homer lodging has variety of small hotels, campgrounds, bed and breakfasts. Whether you are looking for a rustic and athletic lodging experience or a romantic honeymoon vacation, homer has it all.

Weather in Homer

The weather in Homer is mild and comfortable compared to other fishing locations in Alaska. Other than coastal areas, precipitation in homer Alaska is much less with only 25 inches of rain annually. Temperatures in winter generally have highs in the teens and lows in the mid 30’s and in summer fall between the upper 40’s and the high 50’s.

Alaskan Salmon Fishing: The Most Memorable Alaska Salmon Fishing Trip Opportunities You Ever Have!

Alaskan Salmon Fishing: The Most Memorable Alaska Salmon Fishing Trip Opportunities You Ever Have!

The reason why Alaska Fishing becomes angler’s most to dream is because Alaska’s oceans, rivers, and lakes are teeming with huge runs of record breaking Salmon, Rainbow Trout, beautiful Arctic Char, barn door Halibut and many other challenging sport fish.

The weather conditions in May and June can be great for salmon fishing because of straight sunshine for more than thirty days. Apart from fishing in Alaska you can also dig clams, search for octopus, collect mussels and investigate for jellyfish, sea urchins, starfish, jumping jacks, periwinkles and much more during low tide.

Alaska Salmon Fishing Trip

Alaska salmon fishing trip is one of the more favorite trips in Alaska. There are different types of salmons – king salmon, red salmon, silver salmon, and pink salmon. The king salmon usually weighs between 20 and 40 pounds, but they can sometimes weigh over 100 pounds. You can fish them all year round in either freshwater or saltwater with or without fishing boat.

There are many methods to catch king salmon, silver salmon and pink salmon. Sometimes the techniques still depend upon the time of day, water, tidal conditions, and position on the river. You can catch them with back-bouncing hooks (baited with king salmon eggs), back-trolling Spin-n-Glow (propeller is connected to a hook baited with king Salmon eggs) and back-trolling banana shaped plugs (baited with herring or even without).

Fly-fishing is also possible for catching a salmon, but it is perfect to have clear water for this choice. While using flies is the best way to catch red salmon.

Alaska Salmon Fishing Lodges

As a world-fishing destination, Alaska salmon fishing lodge offers unspoiled beauty, quality accommodations, fine dining, the comfort, incredible fishing, best equipped and the best guides, and some of fishing lodges offer fishing in as many remote streams.

If you are planning a fishing vacation in Alaska, make sure that you plan it well in advance. There are plenty of guide services that will be able to help you but some of them tend to fill up rather quickly whenever the salmon are running. Make sure that you hire a reputable guide service to get you out on the water and catching fish in the shortest amount of time possible.

In the cold winter months, you should dress extremely warmly. In other seasons, dress in layers so that the sudden shifts in temperature can be accommodated as you fish all day or over the course of a week or weekend. Alaskan salmon fishing is going to provide you with some of the most memorable fishing opportunities that you will ever have in your lifetime.

How to Choose Women Running Wear

How to Choose Women Running Wear

Running is a pleasurable activity and a great exercise only when done comfortably. Comfort depends on using a suitable running wear. In case of women, the appearance of running wear also does matters along with the comfort. Thus, it is crucial for women to select their running wear, which complies with both the looks and the comfort. However, it is not a complicated task considering few factors when selecting women running wear.

Cut

The term ‘cut’ - in women running wear includes features like pockets, aeration, exposure, and zips. Security pockets in women running wear helps them to hold some important things like keys, I-Pod, etc while running. Women running wear these days come under many brands and styles, each with a different cut. A running wear with proper cut will not only enhance the comfort levels of women but also make them look elegant in it.

Comfort

Comfortable running wear for women helps to keep up their confidence while running. A comfortable running wear is the one which fits with the body perfectly enabling the runner to move freely. Another important feature of a comfortable women running wear is that it helps their body to breathe freely within the outfit and deal with the excess sweat released during running.

Color

The color of the running wear should be chosen according to the weather. Running wear in light colors can make running in hotter temperatures a bit comfortable. However, during cold weather darker clothes helps women to regulate body temperature. Women running wear in appropriate colors can also augment a charming look to women in it. Importance for comfort, color, and appearance should be balanced while selecting women running wear. Make sure to check whether your selection comply with the above mentioned factors.

Cost

Quality should be given major priority in choosing women running wear rather than cost. Giving superfluous preference to cost may end up in selecting irrelevant or poor-quality running wear.

Choosing a suitable running wear helps women to maintain pleasure, comfort and confidence while running. At the same time it is crucial to check whether they enable them with a stylish and perfect look, and are bought at viable prices