Posts Tagged ‘sports’

Japan\’s Judo Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii Looks For A \’Home\’ In MMA

No Comments »

It may be a bit of a stretch to call Satoshi Ishii the Michael Phelps of Japan, but not by much. His victory in the heavyweight judo competition at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was easily the defining moment of the games for his countrymen and was considered by most media outlets the #1 highlight of the year in all of sports. Though Japan does well at the Olympics for a country of its size and has won gold medals in a number of sports, its important to keep in mind that until the late\’70s judo was the countrys most popular sport.

Ishii himself is also a marketing dream. Hes especially big by Japanese standards with 240 pounds packed on his bulky 511 frame. Not surprisingly, hes tough as nails and a terror on the mat but away from the gym he comes off like an awkwardly cheerful overgrown boy. He definitely seems younger than his 22 years, but gives off the vibe of a nice neighbor boy who youd gladly pay to mow your lawn. Unlike his telegenic American gold medalist counterpart Phelps, who acts as if he spent as much time working on media relations as his backstroke heading up to the Olympic games, Ishiis demeanor is of an athlete who literally spent the bulk of his life in a gym only to emerge and find himself a national hero.

With the ability to offer him the most money and exposure, it seemed almost a fait accompli that Ishii would sign with DREAM and K-1 parent group FEG. Obviously its a good idea to keep your options open in negotiations, so he also reportedly talked to Sengoku parent World Victory Road and Antonio Inokis Inoki Genome Federation pro wrestling group. As expected, however, FEG reportedly presented Ishii with the most lucrative offer: 500 million yen (roughly $5.5 million US) to fight on DREAM and K-1 cards, with incentive bonuses based on his drawing power and performance. He would very likely become the highest paid mixed martial artist in the world before hed even stepped into the ring for the first time.

Ishii then shocked the Japanese fight sport world by categorically rejecting FEGs offer, saying that it was his lifelong dream to fight in the UFC. While this rationale might sound plausible to a US based fan, its akin to a top college baseball player from a SEC school turning down a big offer from the Atlanta Braves saying that its his lifelong dream to play for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan Central League. It frequently comes a shock to US MMA fans when immersed in Japans culture for the first time just how low the UFC ranks in the countrys fight sport pantheon. In MMA, their profile is lower than DREAM and Sengoku, but even smaller groups like Shooto and DEEP. Overall, the interest in and prestige of the UFC is well below not only boxing but even Japanese pro wrestling (puroresu). The UFC is making some progress, and big fights like GSP/Penn and Lesnar/Couture now get higher profile coverage (Lesnar/Couture owed most of its interest in the Japanese press to Brocks run as IWGP pro wrestling champ) but by no means is the #1 US MMA promotion considered on par with any of the major Japanese fighting groups.

Ishii then travelled to Las Vegas for UFC 92, with the Japanese media in tow covering his every move. Upon his return to Japan, he appeared at the Sengoku card in January addressing the audience from the ring and wearing his ubiquitous UFC shirt; his message was that he was going to fight in America for awhile but would eventually return to Japan.

At age 22, Ishiis got plenty of time to develop as a fighter. His biggest downside risk from signing with Zuffa is financial since hed be lucky to get a fraction of what FEG is willing to pay him. The competitive logic of learning his craft slowly notwithstanding, theres a huge risk in automatically assuming that he can fight for the UFC for a few years and then cash a big check when he returns to Japan as the potential of injury and changing market conditions could seriously impact his market value. On the other hand, it could be a risk hes willing to take given that hes got his celebrity both with the mainstream public and in the judo community to fall back on.

Theres another very realistic scenario that it was all a negotiating ploy by Ishii. The UFC was likely willing to play along, figuring that their investment of a few plane tickets and hotel suites would be worth the resulting PR surge in Japan. Ishii and the UFC develop a cordial relationship which could be to the benefit of both parties down the road.

With the recent revelation that Ishii has broken off UFC negotiations to entertain offers from other parties thats starting to look like the plausible explanation for the once hot and heavy courtship between Ishii and Zuffa. Ultimately, the Ishii/UFC affair could simply prove to be a fling that accrued small benefits to each party, but both realized that there was no long term future for the pairing.

As a postscript to the Ishiis relationship with the UFC, it apparently opened the doors for his move to the US for training. That alone is a positive for his future development as a fighter, as hell be training with a whos who of professional fighting. That alone is a career move thats difficult to second guess.


Airsoft Guns, Tactical Maneuvers, And War Games

No Comments »

Airsoft guns are becoming a much more popular choice over the traditional paintball gun for several basic reasons. From a distance many people consider them a bit safer than the traditional paintball gun. You have more trigger options when it comes to the Airsoft gun. These choices can increase your war game play quality by firing the gun that is easiest for you. It\’s really that simple.

Some of these guns are incredibly realistic which can make a difference to some players. A discharged shell casing, a safe projectile, and the basic feel of a real rifle make the airsoft gun a prime choice for those who want to fire at targets with realism. These guns, when used properly are not likely to cause pain the way a paintball gun can.

It\’s important to keep in mind that these are in fact toy guns. They have been intentionally designed to be safer and better than the traditional air pump BB gun and cause fewer injuries than the paintball gun. Making the transition to the airsoft guns has given new life to war games and increased tactical planning skills.

Your typical target practice spring loaded shot gun is one of the many options that you can choose from. If you prefer target practice to war games then you will probably be quite satisfied with your choice. However, be prepared to become a quicker than lightening reload expert when it comes to taking it out in the field. You can get away with it, but you\’ll be facing a significant disadvantage.

Gas powered guns deliver a high degree of power and simple component use that makes them the prime gun for the serious weekend warrior. Usually filled with an environmentally friendly gas element, there is a charge time needed to power up the gun before the beginning of the game.

Airsoft guns that deliver the long life charge and fire rapidly have their good points, bad points, and points you just get used to. Gas charged guns are temperature sensitive but they are also great for rapid fire. Electrically charged guns have a reasonable battery life and can handle sniper action in the cold.

You can have a lot of fun playing war games and practicing your tactical skills over the weekend, but remember that these guns look like replicas of the real version. Simply using some common sense will keep all of us out in the woods keeping the war games alive and well. Those who ignore common sense courtesies as well as laws risk the fun for all of us.

Pay attention to the laws that apply to these guns once you buy one. You would be surprised how many people are trying to get these airsoft guns banned, despite the fact that they are safer than a standard BB gun. Never whip it out in public. These are realistic enough that you do not want to face the consequences of public brandishing. Make sure you follow visibility laws, which include a measured strip of orange pain all the way around the barrel.


Tips On Buying Airsoft Guns

No Comments »

If you are looking to buy the right sort of airsoft guns for your use, then this article give you a few tips on how to get started regardless of how familiar, or unfamiliar you are with airsoft guns. With a great abundance of different products on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right sort of thing.

However, it is very important that you take time to choose the right sort of airsoft gun. It is not really one of those things that you simply go and buy on impulse buying. This will only give you something that is pretty useless are not suitable for the sort of circumstances that you would want to use it in.

If you are a new user, it is a good idea just to go for a cheap model which is easy to use. By something that is easy to practice with and of course, once you perfect your skills over a shortish period of time, you can then upgraded by something better. It is much better than instantly going for something expensive and complicated.

If you really are serious about getting into airsoft guns, you may want to get some training. There are many great hobbies associated with this sort of thing, but if you want a perfect your skills, getting the services of an instructor or just teaching yourself by using various guides can be a great way to go.

There are many aspects that you need to pay attention to such as the type of ammunition that he users, and of course the speed of the gun. This is especially true if the speed of reloading. Reloading speed is very important if you are going to be using them in any competitive games for example.

Gas airsoft guns are some of the most popular and the use an internal gas proven mechanism. This is especially suitable in warmer climates simply because the amount of ambient heat helps to keep the gas lively unusable for longer. However, in cooler climates, it can be a problem for a number of reasons.

Of course with everything reliability is important, so you need to choose something which is appropriate for your circumstances. Electric guns give no problems regardless of the sort of climate they are in. Any other problems are completely separate are not relevant to the climate.

Electric airsoft gowns are typically the choice for many people because they stimulate a real gun firing much better. There are more accurate, more reliable and most circumstances and of course more realistic. Of course this does depend on specific models that you go in for buying.

When it comes to choosing the perfect airsoft gun, also take your degree of skill and experience into account. For your very first gun, something that is cheap and easy to use is possibly the best idea. This will be easy to practice with and over a short period of time, you can build up your skills and eventually upgrade to something a lot more advanced and better.


An Introduction To CFL Canadian Football For The NFL Fan

No Comments »

In the United States, summertime is when teams get prepared to play football. NFL teams start training camp, and college teams start practice. North of the border in Canada, however, summertime is when their professional football season begins in the form of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Most Americans dont realize that the CFL has a lengthy and storied history. The league itself has been around since’30, and the Canadian Football championship–known as the Grey Cup–has been contended since’09. More recently, American fans are aware that a number of NFL stars got their start in the CFL including Doug Flutie, Jim Kelly, and Jeff Garcia.

The CFL is very high level professional football, but there are some significant differences between it and the NFL game:

At the most basic level, the football itself is bigger than the NFL ball. It is longer and fatter than the NFL ball. The CFL goal posts are on the goal line, while the NFLs are on the end line at the back of the endzone. The CFL field is also longer (110 yards) and wider (65 yards vs. the NFLs 53.5 yards), and the CFL end zones are 20 yards deep as opposed to 10 yards in the NFL.

CFL teams are allowed an extra offensive player (a wide receiver), and on defense they’re allowed an extra defensive back. This means that 12 players can be on the field at one time as opposed to 11 in the NFL. CFL football also differs in that teams only have three downs to gain ten yards, as opposed to four in US football. The phrase “two and out” is as commonplace in CFL football as is “three and out” in the US game.

There are also differences in the scoring of the game. The first time I saw a CFL score tied 1-1 at the end of the first quarter I thought I was hallucinating. A major rule difference between the CFL and NFL is the fact that teams can score a single point, which those clever Canadians call a single. Basically, a team is awarded a single point for a missed field goal or a punt that lands in the end zone.

The rule differences don’t end there–CFL teams are required to maintain a certain percentage of Canadian born players on their roster. The idea is that this will protect the unique identity of the game, as well as prevent it from becoming little more than a farm system for the NFL. Currently’ of the 40 players on a CFL roster must be Canadian natives.

Despite the rule differences that suggest a higher scoring, more wide open style of play than in the NFL it really doesn’t work out that way. Most games end up with a final score in the 40′s and have a similar pace to their NFL counterparts. There may be a few individual rule differences, but a strong rushing game and defense are tickets to success in the CFL as in the NFL.

The requirement of native born players making up 50% of a CFL roster also results in a much more even distribution of talent across the league. Certainly there are good teams and bad teams, but the end result is greater parity than is found in the NFL.

Considering the 21 non- Canadians on the team, its also important to remember that the CFL doesnt get the pick of the litter of American football talent. Certainly those who have the ability are in the NFL, or on an NFL practice or developmental squad. While some players are uniquely suited for the CFL game–former Clemson University QB Nealon Greene, for example, who couldnt make the NFL but has had a lengthy career in Canada–most of the Americans in the CFL are players whose ability just isnt up to NFL levels. Remember Vince McMahon’s failed XFL experiment? That gives a good indication of the type of American player that ends up in Canada.

The bottom line is that despite the rule differences and personal quotas the CFL game is still football and can be enjoyed the same way. Once you understand the unique attributes of the Canadian game youll start to enjoy it almost as much as the NFL.

You wont see CFL news on ESPN, since theyre more interested in featuring spelling bees and lumberjack competitions and letting their personalities like Stuart Scott show how clever they are than covering sports. The good news is that the CFL receives extensive coverage in the Canadian press and all you need to do is visit a couple of websites to stay up to date. Each CFL city has their own sports media, and most have pretty good websites. The best one stop shopping can be found at the leagues own and Slam! Sports, which is roughly the Canadian equivalent of ESPNs website and has extensive CFL news, opinions and statistics.


Airsoft Guns Are Great For Hunting And Fun

1 Comment »

Airsoft guns can be utilized for a plethora of different activities. People primarily utilize the guns for hunting or for mere enjoyment. There are a wide array of different guns that you can choose from, and many people find that obtaining the right gun for their particular task can be a little complex.

The first thing that you need to do is analyze what the gun will be used for. If you are interested in obtaining the gun to shoot at man made targets, then you need a gun that has superb aim in order to accomplish this task. The best gun that you can use for aiming at targets and things of that nature are target guns.

Some people hate the fact that they have to consistently re-cock their guns before they can take a shot. To solve this ailment you may be interested in obtaining a pre-charged airsoft gun. These pre-charged guns shoot at a faster rate and you don’t have to pause in between shooting to consistently have to re-cock the gun so you can reload pellets into the barrel.

On the subject of pellets, you also need to be able to pick out the right pellets to utilize for the job that you are wishing to perform with your gun as well. If you are interested in obtaining a pellet that will move quickly through the air without ailments, then you should definitely take heed of the pellets size.

Pellets that are larger in stature move slower through the air because they can not build up enough wind resistance. You can evaluate what pellets will be best for you to use simply by looking at the pellets size and simply asking a professional what each particular pellet is meant to be used for.

If your on the brink of obtaining a target airsoft gun, then chances are you want to ensure that when you shoot the gun that its overall accuracy is on par. You can ensure that the guns accuracy meets your expectations by evaluating the barrel lip as well as the crown that is on the gun. These two prime parts are what is going to assure that when you make a shot your pellets won’t wobble in the wrong direction.

You should also try to ensure that nothing is off balanced when you are aiming your weapon. However, high winds can often be a disturbing thing when you are utilizing one of the airsoft guns. So, before you decide to go hunting with your gun you should try a few practice shots at a target to assure that the wind variation is not enough to set your pellet off course.

The airsoft guns that you decide to obtain are all based off of what you plan on using them for. If you require a gun that has superb aim and balance for activities such as hunting or target practice, then chances are you may need to obtain two different guns in order to be satisfied with your shot.

You should always be open for recommendations from a professional when it comes to obtaining a proper airsoft gun. A lot of the airsoft guns serve a primary purpose, however some are better shots on other animals.


Clemson Stuns Miami With Overtime Touchdown

No Comments »

The Clemson Tigers used a touchdown pass on their first possession of overtime to upset the Miami Hurricanes 40-37 on Saturday night to cap a back and forth game. Miami kicked a field goal on their first possession of overtime to take the lead, but Clemson responded with a seldom used play on third and 11 to get the victory as quarterback Kyle Parker completed a 27 yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Ford.

College football betting devotees who backed Clemson as +4 road underdogs eventually cashed their tickets, but they definitely earned their money in a game that saw twelve lead changes and two ties. Clemson improved to 5-2 against the spread with the cover, while Miami dropped to 4-3 against the money.

After the game, Jacoby Ford explained the logic for the surprise play:

“We knew this game was going to come down to who made more plays. And we did.”

Miami has a history of winning when their offense is clicking-this loss was only the second in 115 games when the Hurricanes score 37 or more points dating back to’85.

For his part, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is glad this one is over:

“I have a birthday next month and I think I’m going to turn 50 instead of 40. We had to put on Superman capes. We made plenty of mistakes that could have lost us the game, but they played with poise and confidence. We just kept battling.”

CJ Spiller was also a big factor for the Tigers as he set a school record with 310 all purpose yards including a 90 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He also added 81 yards rushing and 104 yards receiving with a 56 yard touchdown catch.

Clemson QB Parker suggested that last week’s win over Wake Forrest was a turning point for his team:

“I think last week we realized that we could be really good and this week we acted on it. I thought we really got some explosive plays and we played well.”

Miami’s quarterback Jason Harris sounded a markedly different tone in his postgame comments:

“This has to be my toughest loss here. We fought so hard throughout the game as a team and didn’t come out with the victory. We let Clemson outwork us, we turned the ball over too much — little things that made us get to this point.”

Clemson will host FCS foe Coastal Carolina next Saturday before resuming ACC play the following week at home against Florida State. They’ll travel to North Carolina State on November–. Miami plays two of their next three on the road, starting next weekend at Wake Forest.


Sports Betting Systems Review

No Comments »

This article is going to be about the idea of using sports betting to make a profit. Sports betting systems are all over the internet and they all claim to be the best and do so much to help you win money but a lot of them are lying.

I wish that sports betting were as easy as some of the sales pages that I’ve seen make out but it isn’t, it is very difficult. The first thing that you need to do if you are going to bet on sports is to pick a sport which you have knowledge about.

Your chance of winning will obviously increase if you know details about who/what you are betting on. Also, if you have knowledge of the game you are betting on, you will also have better chances, as you will know how the individuals/teams are doing at the moment.

The next thing you need to do is to work out your odds properly. A lot of betting systems are based around betting on different outcomes of games with different amounts to increase your odds.

It is very important to ensure that you manage your money well too. Often, a betting system means that you have to increase your bet after each loss. This type of system is known as the Martingale and can give you a good outcome if you use it right.

However, lots of people have been bankrupted using this system because they simply couldn’t stop it. It is incredibly addictive and it just gets worse as you lose more. I would advise taking care when using the Martingale.

Sports betting champ is a really good sports betting system. Logical methods like stats and maths are included in the course and it tells you exactly what to bet on.

There are other sports betting strategies that I have used but sports betting champ is the best. It is more expensive than most of its rivals at $197 but you get what you pay for and all of the correct principals that you will need to follow to make money from sports betting are covered in the guide.