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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

NFL football betting devotees who invested in the Falcons as -6 home favorites were rewarded with the pointspread cover. The Falcons have won and covered both games this season for a 2-0 record both straight up and against the spread. The Panthers, meanwhile, have dropped both of their 2009 contests straight up and to the number.

In his first two games in a Falcons uniform the future Hall of Famer tight end Gonzalez has 12 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Gonzalez wanted out of Kansas City to play for a contender, and hes found himself on a talented young Falcons team with a QB that already appears destined for superstardom.

Gonzalez admitted that he was happy with how things have transpired thus far:

“Not a bad start at all. It’s just great to be part of a team like this.”

Gonzalezs biggest fan may be the guy charged with getting him the ball on Sundays. Quarterback Ryan was full of praise for his tight end in his postgame comments:

“He’s one of the greatest tight ends of all time. That was a huge pickup for us. He makes big plays for us in different situations when we need him. I’ve enjoyed playing with him thus far.”

Despite the loss, Carolinas Jake Delhomme was relieved to put the horrible performance of the opening week behind him. Delhomme threw four interceptions and lost a fumble in the Panthers loss to Philadelphia, but this week only gave up one interception during a late game rally attempt:

“It couldn’t be any worse than last week. I felt good out there today. Last week, I put too much pressure on myself. This week, I got back to being just plain Jake.”

The Panthers will head to Dallas for a game against the Cowboys next Monday night. Carolina is a +9 road underdog in that contest with the total set at 46. Atlanta has a pair of tough road games on the docket, beginning this weekend against the New England Patriots at Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Falcons have been installed as +4 road underdogs with the total set at 44.

Texas Stadium seated nearly 65,000, its replacement around 73,000 for regular games with the ability to accommodate more than 100,000 for the Super Bowl (coming in 2011) and other special events.

Owners now demand column-free spaces and as many luxury suites as the place can hold to pay for all those oxymoronically named “free agents.” (Cowboys Stadium has 300 at $100,000 to $500,000 per year.) These requirements combine to push upper decks higher and farther away from the field so that in many stadiums the game becomes only a rumor.

To aid Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones in paying the construction costs of the new stadium, Arlington voters approved the increase of the city’s sales tax by one-half of a percent, the hotel occupancy tax by 2 percent, and car rental tax by 5 percent.

The City of Arlington provided $325 million in funding, and Jones covered any cost overruns. Also, the NFL provided the Cowboys with an additional $150 million, as per their policy for giving teams a certain lump sum of money for stadium financing.

Fortunately, architect Bryan Trubey has been able to translate this over-the-top program, in which excess threatens to trump excess at every turn, into a fluid contemporary design that belongs to its own time. No retro camouflage like Rangers Ballpark in Arlington or American Airlines Center. No cheap nostalgia.

The stadium is easily the best of the current crop: more open and accessible than the Arizona Cardinals’ home in Phoenix, more rational than the hapless renovation of Soldier Field in Chicago and more immediately engaging than Trubey’s new stadium for the Indianapolis Colts, which has some of the dour industrial qualities of the oil company it’s named for.

At the same time, one of the major successes of the stadium is its transparency. Fans have clear, unobstructed views up, down and across the seating bowl to the not-so-scenic parking lots beyond.

His ego is big, and he’s used to being the center of attention. He’ll likely be third or fourth fiddle in LA, and we’ll have to see how well he’ll adapt to the shift. With this in mind, the Lakers should have another winning season that leaves them at or near the to of the conference.

San Antonio Spurs: This will be a hit or miss team. They have added some good pieces to an injury, aging team. The additions of Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess will carry this team at least to the 2nd or 3rd spot in the West if the Lakers take care of business as they should. They have Duncan, Mason, Parker, and Ginobili who all know how to run the offense. Jefferson will take a lot of pressure off Parker by adding key offensive above the rim plays and McDyess will help Duncan grab a rebound and fight down the middle for an easy score against the weak front lines of the Western Conference. The liability with this team will be INJURIES. Ginobili, Parker, and Jefferson are all injury prone, whether being an ankle, wrist, or just sore torso to play in all 82 games. If the backups of can really step up and reduce the starters minutes by 3-6 minutes per game then the Spurs have a good chance of coming out of the west. Someone should really focus on becoming a lock down defender because the premiere SGs of the league will put this team in serious foul trouble. Sorry Mason, you andJefferson will not be the answer to this problem.

Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks are at the brink of being ripped apart like the Incredible Hulk’s clothes but this will be the final year for them to make something happen. Mark Cuban is frustrated (clearly because he is making very dumb public actions ie: K-Mart comments, SEC charges) and will not wait long before pulling the plug and withthe best players all becoming free agents in2010 he will not hesitate to spend money. Dirk will be Dirk and Kidd will continue to make assists and be a spotty shooter. The keys here are Terry, Marion, Howard, and Barea. Terry needs to be the most improved sixth man if he wants to stay in Dallas next year. His production is no where near what it was in 2006 when they made it to the finals and lost to the Heat. He can score but he must be consistent and play defense. If Marion brings that fast game he had in Phoenix to Dallas he will be just fine. Howard will need to simply play 70 games and continue to bring his 18PPG. It wouldn’t hurt him to grab 5 RPG either. Barea is like Speedy Gonzales. When he is in the game albeit 2 minutes or 20 minutes he plays at a high level. If he continues to spark the bench and give Kidd a rest while being productive, this team can compete for the 2nd or 3rdspots (probably slipping down as far as 5th) and avoid the Lakers in the first and second rounds of the playoffs giving them a chance to make the finals.

Boston Celtics: You are good. You have potential to be great. You probably will lose in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals again. But remember you are a very good team. You have all 5 starters returning and healthy which should help to start off at least8-2 or even10-0 if you can beat Cleveland on opening night and beat Atlanta, which is something you struggle with. The Boston 3 party willneed to invite Rondo and Rasheed inside and become aFab 5 in order to reducewear and tear on the agingbodies anddecrease the chances for injuries. KG will probably stay healthy but will not be the KG he was in Minnesota.RayAllen was pestered by JJ Reddick so teams may havefound a way to slow him down. Pierce will still be as dominate, ugly as it was. Rondo will be a key factor. Which Rondo will show up night in and night out. The almost Mr Triple Double in the playoffs Rondo or the You wanted to trade me / I cant beat Kirk Hinrichfoul playing Rondo. He is youngand still learning to handle pressure. He needs to be grown this year and mature to be as productive as he was in the playoffs. Rasheed will need to understand he is not a sharp shooter anymore and his old legs are not equipped to post up every player. His turn around jumper on the base line and interior defense will make him the asset Boston needs. Big Baby just needs to control his emotions and quit crying. They will finish somewhere in a 1-3 spot depending on the last 15 games of the regular season.

Cleveland Cavaliers – When you have LeBron on your team at this stage of his career, you’ll always be a contender. Mo Williams and Delonte West are great complements to the superstar’s game, and Shaq’s presence in the middle will give the team something it’s sorely lacked for quite a few years now.

There’s not much of a bench in Cleveland at all, but I’m not so sure as to how much they really need one. Bench players may see 15 minutes or less per game, and the starters should jump this team out to some big leads that the bench really only needs to worry about preserving. Cleveland could definitely go all the way in 2010.

Orlando Magic – Why does no one respect this team? They have Cleveland’s number, much of it due to Dwight Howard’s dominance in the post. Now, they have Vince Carter, Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes, and Ryan Anderson. Thius should more than offset the loss of Hedo Turkoglu and Courtney Lee, and the Magic enter the season right where they left off – as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.