http://articles.merchandiseforsportsfans.com/rss.xml A blog about merchandiseforsportsfans.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.merchandiseforsportsfans.com/?a=35121 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Obviously extreme sports get your attention. The have garnered the attention of the U.S. military who has recognized that anyone involved in extreme sports would be good candidates to recruit for their hard to fill special operations positions like the Army Rangers and Navy Seals.<br /><br />So what is it that makes a sport extreme? Let&rsquo;s take a look at some of the most popular ones<br /><br />One of the main factors that make a sport extreme is the element of risk of injury or even death. In nearly every sport that is classified in this way you will usually find speed, heights, danger, and stunts. I believe the thing that causes people to become addicted to participating in these sports is the adrenaline rush associated with them. Adrenaline is much like morphine when released in the brain and I see people who just can&rsquo;t seem to get enough no matter how many times they are hurt.<br /><br />The first of the extreme sports was probably skateboarding. Introduced in the 1960&rsquo;s as a way to stay in shape when the surf wasn&rsquo;t up, skateboarding became a sport of its own and soon competitions were formed with riders jumping over cars and doing tricks in half pipes where they would be floating thirty feet or more above the bottom of the platform. There has been a lot of negative press directed at skateboarders but lately skateboarding is gaining mainstream recognition and is being appreciated worldwide.<br /><br />Snowboarding is another extreme sport with its own radical characters and is essentially skateboarding on snow. Snowboarders perform many tricks that are the same or similar to those in skateboarding and like skateboarding, the sport has caught on internationally. Today, on any ski slope in America, you will find snowboarders.<br /><br />Sport climbing is a variation of rock climbing that has become very popular over the years and is enjoyed by those who care more about displaying and testing their strength and athletic ability than adventure.<br /><br />Skydiving is an extreme sport that is much less competitive but highly dangerous. It is the initial jump that is the biggest thrill with skydiving. There are more competitions being formed now in skydiving with groups forming shapes and creating chains for records before opening their shoots.<br /><br />The attraction to watching sports where the outcome is unpredictable is growing larger, especially with younger children. No doubt as more people begin to participate in these sports they will seem less and less extreme.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find sports collectibles and <a href="http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com/">sports memorabilia</a> at http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com</p><p> </p> 2006-07-20T00:48-04:00 http://articles.merchandiseforsportsfans.com/?a=35120 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>I have been a fan of football as far back as I can remember, from before I started actually playing the game at the age of eight. It has always been enjoyable for me both to play and to watch, although now that I am over 40 I do mostly watching. Okay, I only watch!<br /><br />If you are a fan of college football you had to enjoy last season no matter which team was your favorite, the season played out right for a change with the top teams and as it turns out, and the top players battling each other. I don&rsquo;t think I will ever forget the final seconds of the National Championship game with Vince Young of the undefeated Texas Longhorns almost single-handedly beating USC. Vince Young is probably one of the greatest players to ever play the game as far as just pure raw talent goes. I can&rsquo;t wait to see him this season as he plays for the Tennessee Titans.<br /><br />Another young Quarterback I watched last year was actually I high school senior by the name of Tim Tebow, who was named 2005 quarterback of the year. I watched his state championship game where in one play he ran right up the middle of the field for 70 yards and carried a guy for the last ten on his back! He was recruited by the Florida Gators and in the spring game he actually through for more yards and had a higher passing completion percentage than the starter, Chris Leak. This will be an interesting situation to watch as well.<br /><br />Will Big Ben be back at full ability after his near death experience motor cycle accident? I guess we will have to watch and see. One thing is for sure this season looks to be a promising one for excitement with one of the best drafts in years as far as talent is concerned. I can&rsquo;t wait to see how it all plays out. Will Reggie Bush be able to show us something from New Orleans? How will Matt Leinart do in Arizona? Will Vernon Davis help to turn the 49ers around?<br /><br />There will be so many exciting players to watch it will be hard to choose which game I follow. One thing is for certain though when the Tennessee Titans and the Atlanta Falcons Play I want to see that. Those teams have advantages over every other team for practicing against Vince Young and Michael Vick in being able to practice with the real thing. It will be an interesting match up to say the least.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find sports collectibles and <a href="http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com/">sports memorabilia</a> at http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com</p> 2006-07-20T00:40-04:00 http://articles.merchandiseforsportsfans.com/?a=35119 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>I played football from the age of eight years old until age twenty and then continued in bodybuilding to this day at the age of 45. Even though I look younger than my age and younger guys approach me all the time to play rugby or sandlot football my knees and hips just can&rsquo;t take the abuse anymore. If you are like me and you still want to stay involved in sports a good way to do it is though sports collectibles and memorabilia.<br /><br />I never thought I would get into it but there is so much available that there is literally something for everyone no matter what sport you are interested in. Sports memorabilia collecting can help fill your time with an enjoyable hobby and give you a diversion from the hassles of life.<br /><br />Sports collecting can run from collecting football jerseys or collecting photographs for scrapbooks to collecting every possible item you can find about the particular sport, team, or player you are interested in. It is fun to put together display cases with jerseys, helmets, and game balls along with pictures from particular events. There are some accessories that you can buy to help you with displaying your sports collectibles as well.<br /><br />Another easy to start collectible hobby is by collecting pins. Almost all sports offer collectible pins of their teams and they are actually one of the most popular segments of the sports collectible market today. Other popular pins are those that commemorate specific events like the Olympics. Collecting antique sports equipment, such as vintage baseball gloves and bats is also a hot item. <br /><br />Collecting sports cards like baseball cards is still hot as ever of course and over the years these cards which started as a hobby for many when they were kids are now bringing in huge sums of money for the owners. Rare cards like those of Babe Ruth or Willie Mays bring in unbelievable prices.<br /><br />NASCAR is another area that is super hot right now. You can find replica race cars, leather jackets, helmets, etc. My dad is a huge Jeff Gordon fan and has just about everything in existence with his name or picture on it. If you are into NASCAR check into this area of sports memorabilia, you will find an item for whatever racer you like.<br /><br />Some other sports collectors keep items that relate to their individual recreational sport such as fishing or golf. There are categories that cater to everyone so you are sure to find your niche.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find sports collectibles and <a href="http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com/">sports memorabilia</a> at http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com</p> 2006-07-20T00:37-04:00 http://articles.merchandiseforsportsfans.com/?a=35118 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>As an athlete and sports buff most of my life I get sick of hearing people point out an outstanding athlete and say, &ldquo;He has genetics&rdquo; or &ldquo;He was born being able to play like that&rdquo;. Really, so O.J. Simpson who was suffered from being bowlegged due to vitamin deficiencies was born to be one of the best running backs in American football?<br /><br />The truth of the matter is that the single thing that makes every great athlete a great athlete is practice. Soccer is no different; the greats Pele, Ronaldo, and Beckham all have this in common. They practiced constantly to the point of exhaustion and beyond. It is practice that gives you both the skill and the confidence to be able to make the passes and the shots that make all the difference in a game. If you want to be a great soccer player then you must commit yourself to daily practice from now on.<br /><br />The aspect of being in excellent physical condition is another crucial part of soccer with aerobic conditioning being the forefront. If you become tired and cannot run at your peak for an entire game then you need better conditioning. Soccer practice focuses on developing your skill and technique. Your skill is identified as your ability to execute particular techniques which are taught such as a trap, throw, or kick. It is through consistent and regimented practicing that a player is able to develop the skill and confidence to play at a superior level.<br /><br />Always have a plan for the objectives that you want to meet before you begin your practice sessions. Having an exact format and plan for your time will keep you from wasting time and not knowing what to do next. Have goals that have to be attained, once you attain them set them higher. It is best to have a friend or someone who shares your zeal for the sport to practice with you, especially when you are trying to improve your kicking technique. If you are unable to get someone to practice with you focus kicking a specific area of the ball to make it go where you want. You can also kick the ball into a particular spot on a wall if you don&rsquo;t have a buddy to kick to.<br /><br />Another important aspect of soccer is ball control. One good way to practice ball control is to set up cones and zigzag your way through them dribbling the ball and try not to stop or even slow down. This drill will help you when it comes to having to dribble down a soccer field in an actual game where you have to dodge other players.<br /><br />As with any sport you can also learn quite a lot by watching other players closely. If you have a favorite position, watch a game and focus on that player and learn how he executes his technique. Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to becoming a great soccer player.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find sports collectibles and <a href="http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com/">sports memorabilia</a> at http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com</p> 2006-07-20T00:34-04:00 http://articles.merchandiseforsportsfans.com/?a=35117 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Of course, diehard fans of Manchester United will tell you that the modern version of football or soccer as it is called by many came into being in England, but others all over the world claim that the invention of the sports belongs to their country.<br /><br />According to the Chinese, they had a version of the game being played as far back as 7,000 years ago! Theie game was called Tsu Chu and the players would hit a fur stuffed leather ball into a hole. Similar to soccer today hands were not allowed to be used and being on the team was thought an honor.<br /><br />The Japanese called their idea of soccer Kemari and it is said that it originated about three thousand years ago. Their sport was very much like Tsu Chu of the Chinese and according to history it is said that they actually played a game between the two countries in 611A.D.<br /><br />The records from the Byzantine Empire show that a version of soccer being played there before the rise of the Roman Empire may be the truest version from ancient times. The Romans and the Greeks had many games that were close to soccer and the game called Harpastum is the game thought to be one soccer could have evolved from.<br /><br />Believe it or not the ancient Mayans in Pre-Columbia America also had a game similar to soccer. It was actually like a combination of soccer and basketball with small stone hoops placed about ten to twelve feet up and the players had to bounce a ball made of a hard rubber like substance through the hoop without using their hands. This version called Pok t&rsquo; Pok was also quite violent and the use of weapons was allowed at times. The losing team was beheaded, no worries of a losing streak.<br /><br />Finally from Britain we get the story of soccer beginning with the beheading of a Danish Prince. It is said that his head was used as a ball and that as he was hated so much that villagers passed around drawings depicting the event with a ball instead of his head and that is how it became a sport kicking the ball into a specified goal or net.<br /><br />The early sport was extremely violent but very popular all over the country. King Edward III thought it to be so violent that he wanted to ban common people from playing it but that never came to fruition.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find sports collectibles and <a href="http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com/">sports memorabilia</a> at http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com</p> 2006-07-20T00:31-04:00