Babe Ruth is a player who needs little if any introduction. People the world over know his name and the near-legendary achievements of this man, one of the best known players ever to pick up a bat or glove. You don't need to have been around when Babe was on the Yankees to be familiar with his name and the House That Ruth Built. Even his superstitions are followed to this day. Ruth once said "Whenever I hit a home run, I always make sure that I touch all four bases". Larger than life both in terms of his performance on the diamond as well as in his private life, Babe Ruth is still very much a part of the American psyche. There may never be another player like the Great Bambino in any sport.
George Herman Ruth Jr. was born in 1895 in Baltimore, MD, the son of George H. Ruth Sr. and Kate Schamberger-Ruth. One of two surviving children of eight (the other was his sister Mamie), Babe Ruth has a tough childhood, often being left to care for himself. At the tender age of seven, he was sent to the St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, which he recalls more as a reformatory than a school. Deprived of parental guidance except on occasions, Ruth quickly earned a reputation among the nuns at the school as an incorrigible.
The Babe never like rules, especially regimented rules and was not good at adapting to what was correct-he had his own way, a uniqueness that would follow him to baseball. Perhaps the biggest thing Ruth learned to love at St. Mary's would be his fondness for children; as an adult, he was charitably involved with them as much as he could be. George Jr. shined with talent at a young age and played numerous positions at St. Mary's, often, however, he excelled in catching and pitching. When Babe reached nineteen, Jack Dunn, the manager and owner of the then Baltimore Orioles which was a Boston Red Sox minor league team, was awed at Babe's talent and signed him right away. Once Jack signed him, he was dubbed by his teammates as "Jack's newest babe." From then on, he would be forever known as simply "Babe."
After only five months, Ruth was signed to the Red Sox, where he spent six years playing the outfield and as a catcher. He rapidly gained popularity with fans for his performance on the field as well as his colorful nightlife off the diamond. Ruth played his first of many World Series games in 1916, where he set a record of fourteen innings pitching; a record which remains unbroken to this day. In World Series games alone, he achieved a record of 29 2/3 innings with no score as a pitcher - this record would stand for 43 years. He was traded to the New York Yankees in 1919; it wasn't until 2004 that the Red Sox won the World Series again, a phenomena which became known as the "Curse of the Bambino".
With Ruth on the team, the Yankees would win 4 World Series and 7 American League Pennants. Ruth hit an amazing 54 home runs in 1920 alone. Babe Ruth proved to be just as popular with the fans in New York as he had been in Boston and became a celebrity. The Yankees stadium, built in 1923 soon came to be known as "The House That Ruth Built". Fittingly enough, Ruth hit three home runs on opening day and later that year, the World Series title. Ruth would separate from his wife of 11 years, Helen Woodford in 1925, with whom he had adopted a daughter, Dorothy. It was not until Helen dies in 1929 that he would marry his companion, the model Claire Hodgson. His first at bat that year, he hit a home run out of the park, which he dedicated to Hodgson.
Ruth's 60 home runs in 1927 are another long standing record the player set - it would stand until Roger Maris' 61 home runs in 1961. Many fans debate the vailidity of Maris' record, being that it took Maris 182 games against Ruth's 154. However, no one will debate Ruth's .690 batting average, which has no equal to date. It wasn't for nothing, after all that he is remembered as The Sultan Of Swat.
Babe's famous moment in baseball came in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series where the Yankees played the Chicago Cubs. In the 5th inning, after he already had one home run, Babe came to bat and was at a count of two balls and two strikes. Before the next pitch came his way, Babe pointed to the center of the field bleachers and slammed that puppy right where he pointed and some believe it is the longest home run ever hit out of Wrigley Field.
In 1935, Ruth left the Yankees, disappointed at their refusal to make him manager of the team. He went to the Boston Braves, where he was a player and first base coach. Though he had been promised the manager's job at the Braves starting the next year, Ruth saw that the team would renege on this promise and decided to retire; however, he went out in his inimitable style, hitting three home runs in one of his very last games for a total of 714 in his career. The Great Bambino will be a legend as long as baseball is still played - for his World Series wins, his 2,211 RBIs, his 2.28 career ERA as a pitcher and his colorful personality.
George Foreman
George Foreman is a household name with a long and storied career. He not only has the distinction of being pegged as one of the top 25 boxers of all time, he was also the oldest boxer to win a heavyweight title. A man of diverse talents, hes also an ordained Christian pastor with his own church, and an accomplished businessman in his own right.
He achieved an astounding record of 27-0 in his amateur career before turning professional in 1969. In his first year as a professional boxer, he won 12 fights, 11 of which were by knockout. He continued his quest for an undisputed heavyweight title in 1970 after winning all twelve of his fights that year. Just like the prior year, 11 of those victories were by knockout. During 1971, George Foreman earned seven more victories and had attained an astonishing 32-0 record. The WBC and WBA both considered him the number one challenger. Foreman continued his winning streak with an additional five victories in 1972. All of these victories were won in three rounds.
Foreman retained his heavyweight title until 1974 when he defended his title against Mohamed Ali, the former champion. This bout was known as "The Rumble in the Jungle" and was fought in Zaire. This was Foremans first defeat in his professional boxing career. After this defeat, Foreman remained inactive throughout 1975.
Foreman kept his heavyweight title until 1974, when he was pitted against the former heavyweight champion, Mohamed Ali. This bout, dubbed The Rumble in the Jungle was fought in Zaire. This match marked Foremans first defeat in his entire professional boxing career. Foreman disappeared from the boxing scene for the rest of 1975 in the face of this crushing defeat.
In 1976, Foreman made his comeback. He continued fighting until he experienced what he describes as a near death experience in Puerto Rico in 1977. Foreman described becoming suddenly and deathly ill in his dressing room after losing a match to Jimmy Young in a 12 round decision. He was terrified by this sudden illness, and turned to God for help. Foreman recounts that God asked him to change his ways, and Foreman became a devout, born again Christian. Foreman jokes that Jimmy Young literally knocked the devil out of him.
Though he never did formally retire from boxing, he did leave the boxing scene. He became a church pastor, with great devotion to his family and his church members. A youth center was opened in his name, and he continues to speak about his powerful conversion experience.
After ten years out of the ring, he made a second comeback. In 1988, he announced that he would return to boxing at the age of 38. He wanted to show people that age should not be considered a barrier in regards to achieving goals. During 1988, he won eight fights, although none of his challengers was a rated contender. Foreman continued with a string of victories as well as some notable defeats.
Surprisingly, Foreman made another boxing comeback after 10 years out of the ring. At the mature age of 38, Foreman announced in 1988 that he would be returning to boxing. His aim was to show people that age did have to prevent anyone from achieving their goals. Foreman won eight fights that year, though none of his opponents were rated contenders. Foreman gained many victories, and some memorable defeats as well.
In 2003, Foreman was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame and was named as the ninth greatest puncher of all time.
George Foreman was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. He was ranked as the ninth greatest fighter of all time.
Other notable business ventures include commercial appearances for Meineke Mufflers, and promoting his ubiquitous George Foreman Grill. In 2004, he added his own line of Big and Tall clothes through Casual Male.
In 1993, he starred in his own sit-com. He was also a judge on the reality series American Inventor. In July of 2008, a reality show called Family Foreman debuted featuring George and his family.
Foreman has published four books, all of which talk about his life experiences. Given the storied life Foreman has lived so far, these books are sure to be interesting reading.
Grip, Footwork, and Strokes and Tennis Lessons Online Made Easy.
Great footwork is essentially about weight control and tennis for beginners reveals that clearly. It is getting the most effective body position for each stroke, and from there pretty much all shots will develop. In presenting the distinctive sorts of hits and footwork I am writing as a right-hand athlete. The left-hander should simply reverse the feet.
Racquet grip is an imperative aspect of your stroke, because a mediocre hold will mess up the finest serve. A natural grip for a top forehand shot is essentially unsound for the backhand.
To acquire the forehand grip, hold the tennis racquet with the side of the frame toward the court and the face perpendicular, the handle toward the body, and "shake hands" the racquet, just as if you were greeting your friend. the grip settled easily and naturally into the hand, the general line of the hand, racquet and arm are one. The swing brings the racquet in a general line with the arm, and the full tennis racquet is basically an extension of the arm.
The backhand grip is a quarter circle roll of hand on the grip, bringing the hand above the grip and the knuckles straight up. the stroke moves through the wrist.
This is the recommended arrangement for your grip. I do not recommend copying this hold precisely, but model your natural style grip as closely as possible on these lines while not losing your own comfort or distinctiveness.
Having once mastered the tennis racquet in the hand, the next challenge is the stance of the body and plan of mastering strokes
All tennis strokes, need be achieved with the body at right angles to the net, with the shoulders parallel to the line of path of the ball. the body weight should at all times travel forward. it need pass from the rear foot all the way to the front foot the exact moment of hitting the ball. On no account permit the weight to be heading away from the shot. It is weight that regulates the "pace/pace" of a stroke swing that, regulates your "speed/momentum."
Allow me spell out the gist of "speed/pace" and also the "pace/rapidity." "Speed" is the actual rate with which a ball moves through the atmosphere. "Pace" is the velocity with which it springs up from the court. Pace is weight. It is the "sting" the tennis ball has when it comes from the ground, letting the inexperienced along with unsuspecting competitor a blast of power which the shot or swing never revealed.
A great many athletes carry both "speed" as well as the "pace." Different hits could hold both.
The general order of learning strokes should be:
1. The Drive. Fore and also the backhand. This is the starting place of all tennis, given that you simply won't build a net offensive until you occupy the ground hit to create the practice. Nor can you win a net charge effectively unless you in reality, can drive, plainly that is your only effective passing stroke.
2. Serving.
3. The Volley and also the Overhead Smash.
4. The Chop or Half Volley and other incidental and ornamental strokes.
Right now for most Americans money is getting a bit tight. We all still want to have those great family trips that we take every year, but we have to watch how much we spend. Well I just had a great time with my family in New York's Catskill Mountains that didn't put us all in the poor house.
I was in the Catskill area with Family for the Christmas Holidays. My younger Sister has three kids. Which makes me an Uncle and I always enjoy spending time with my two Nieces and Nephew, The Youngest is 6 years old and the oldest is 13 years old. Now when the age gap is that far apart it can make finding something they all want to do very difficult. Well We where also looking for something to do that not only the kids but us adults could enjoy as well.
It took some time but my younger Brother came up with the idea of Snow Tubing. It sounded good to me. The Kids loved the idea and so did my Sister, Her Husband and even my Mother. OK so then came the part where the money comes in. I called up Windham Mountain to get their Snow tubing times and rates (http://www.windhammountain.com/mountain/tubing) . When they told me their snow tubing rates I was surprised as they where not too bad $20 a person for two hours $25 for four hours and they had a Friday night special of only $15 dollars from 4pm to 9pm ! Only $15 for Five hours, I was sold as it just happened to be Friday.
So the group of Nine of us piled into two vehicles and we where off to do some tubing on Windham's 650 foot snow covered snow tubing slope. We where Lucky as the weather was warm for December in the Catskill Mountains. The Slope was perfect, there where about ten lanes to slide down and the Snow Tubing staff kept the line moving.
Let me see if I can explain how everything went. When we got up to the Slope we grabbed a large canvased covered Snow Tube then picked a lane. We could go down the lane in groups or by ourselves. I have to say my first trip down caught me by Surprise. It has been a few years since I have been sleigh riding but I know I never went that fast down the old hill. Now hearing me say how fast the slope is, may make you think you or your kids might be scared. Don't worry about that, I saw kids as young as three years old tubing down the Slope and they were loving it!
At the bottom of the hill there are mats placed at the end of every lane to slow you down safely, Along with attendants ready to help you if you needed it( I didn't see anyone who needed any help). Now anyone who has gone Sleigh riding as a kid remembers the trip down the hill was always the fun part, It's the walk back up that is work. Well not at Windham's snow tube park. The canvases that cover the snow tubes have long straps that hook up to a conveyor so all you have to do is sit in your tube and then slowly slide back up the Slope! The Straps also make it perfect so the attendants can spin you (only if you ask nicely) as you are sliding down the slope.
After about three hours of snow tubing everyone but my brother and his girlfriend was getting tired. So we went into the large Ski lodge, which is only about ten feet from the snow tubing lanes. While inside the lodge we all enjoyed some nice hot Chocolate while sitting by the Fire place.
I am not a big fan of winter activities, But I have to say we all had a great time even if we didn't make it the full five hours. Life can often get a little crazy and too fast paced, Every once in a while we all need some affordable old fashion family fun, (With a few modern convinces of course)
I am LJ James AmericanBikerX.com Radio Show BikerLowdown.com
Are you interested in taking up the sport of golf but don't want to shell out the money for a professional golf trainer? Or maybe you're an amateur golf player who knows the basics but wants to hone your skills and learn some techniques to be able to hit the green with your friends. While there are a few "naturals" in golf just as with any sport but the majority of players are looking to improve their game. You can't learn golf entirely by books or video but there is a way to learn new techniques that won't cost you a bundle.
Computer software and online programs are available to help teach you the basics and well as more advanced golf tips. While it's hard to replace hands-on golf instruction, you might be surprised at how much expertise you can gather from these computer lessons.
They dissect techniques that are used by the pros to improve their game in a format that is easy to understand and replicate in your practice. The cost varies depending on how many features are offered and, many times, who endorses the product. In any case, learning golf techniques with the help of your computer can be possible with most budgets. It's much more affordable than taking golf holidays in Spain though probably not quite as much fun.
There are tried and true programs available that have more traditional instruction. But there are also new techniques that use new technology; these are definitely worth trying as well. Many computer programs offer software to track your progress. By tracking, you will be able to determine where you need to improve your golf game.
Before committing to a software package it's beneficial to find out the best one for you. Check out golfing websites for recommendations and look through golfing forums for opinions from non-biased players. There are many websites that offer free trial downloads so you can try out a program before purchasing it. Also check with your golf buddies or other golfers on the course for their recommendations. Give a program time to work for you. Don't get frustrated by a few bad golf swings. But at the same time, don't be afraid to try a different program if the one you have is not working.
So if you're trying to improve your game, no matter what skill level you're at, computer software may be the way to go. It's inexpensive and there is plenty of information and new techniques that is given to you in an easy to understand format.
As sad as it is, it's time to say goodbye to the old Shea Stadium after 44 years of sports memories for all of us. It hardly seems possible that the Mets were an expansion team all these years after their cross-town American League rivals first took the field. It's also hard to remember the stadium being called the Flushing Meadow Park Municipal Stadium, but that's what it called until a movement was launched to name it in honor of William Shea.
Over the years, Shea Stadium housed some of the greatness baseball players ever to walk on the field. Names like Duke Snider, Nolan Ryan, Warren Spahn, Tom Seaver, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, Richie Ashburn, and Gary Carter who all became Hall of Famers. Then we can't forget the entertaining players that just gritted it out everyday like Lenny "Nails" Dykstra and Gil Hodges.
There's been good times and bad, ugly and outrageous, but at the end of the day, they are all great memories intertwined with the stadium's history. We watched Dwight Gooden and Daryl Strawberry take the Mets to a World Series win over the Boston Red Sox in 1986. Unfortunately, the fame took its toll as both players spent the rest of their careers dealing with drug issues and other problems.
The historic moments are numerous. In 1969 we witnessed their first Championship when they became known as the Miracle Mets at a time when no one had ever heard of the young Nolan Ryan who would go down in baseball history for striking out 5,714 batters. In fact there are so many historic moments in the story of Shea Stadium that it's hard to summarize them in an article; we could literally write a book about it. The stadium may be gone as a new chapter begins but the memories will live on for eternity in the hearts of recreation and sports fans all over the world.
After the tragic and shocking events of 9/11, Shea Stadium became the central hub for supplies, food and a place of refuge for many 9/11 victims. On September 21, the Mets helped New Yorkers to heal by providing the first sporting event to be held after that tragic day. New Yorkers will tell you it was one of the most stirring nights ever in baseball history. With tens of thousands of fans packing the stadium to watch the Mets take on the Braves, the team honored New York's finest, those brave men and women who worked tirelessly to help the 9/11 victims, and then went on to play a great game. Shea Stadium is truly a place like no other. It will always be remembered with fondness and with the eager anticipation of another 50 years of baseball history.
An experienced golf player will tell you that your most useful (and therefore most valuable) golf club is the seven iron. Many refer to the seven iron as "the perfect club". If you've seen the movie "Tin Cup", you'll know why this is so. Kevin Costner's character uses it for several shots, including putting. Here are some ways you can use this club and why it is called the perfect club.
It's possible to make par on most golf courses with nothing more than a seven iron and a putter. Depending on your strength, you can use the seven iron to shoot your ball anywhere between 170 and 225 yards. For distances upwards of that the seven iron is not recommended but some golf courses don't have distances further than 200 yards.
Here is how to shoot par using the seven iron on long holes. As long as your shot is less than 200 yards use the seven iron for the drive. Now use the same club for your approach shot. You'll either want to take a full swing or cut your swing depending on the distance to the hole. Also depending on the distance needed, you'll want to place your ball in front of your stance or behind. In front for shorter distances that require more control and behind for shots that require loft.
If your ball isn't already on the green at this point, you can use the seven iron to chip the ball and get it onto the green. To chip the ball with this club, close the stance and hit the ball in the back of your stance. Make sure you cut your swing so you don't overshoot the green. After your ball is on the green the seven iron's job is done. This club is rarely used as a putter even though Kevin Costner did it with Hollywood's help.
On shorter, par three holes golf courses, the "perfect" seven iron can be used. Again use your stance to put more power behind your swing. If loft and shorter distance is required then stand in front of the ball (which may seem awkward) and cut your swing. Again, once your ball is on the green use a putter to finish your hole.
Now you can see why the seven iron is so useful and referred to as the perfect club. With the right stance and golf swing you can use it almost anywhere and on any course. Try it out on the driving range and see for yourself.
Fishing bait from fishing shops can really make going carp fishing an expensive passion! Many anglers are now so conditioned to using readymade baits that they have never seriously considered the huge advantages of making very unique baits for themselves, but they will catch as many if not higher numbers of fish than commercial baits. The fact that homemade bait will cost you a fraction of the cost of readymade baits and over the days and weeks shocking savings can be achieved with no less fish (in fact quite the opposite!)
Having a unique bait is one of the greatest competitive advantages in fishing. This is very often the factor which tips fish over from the state of just testing a bait, to actually taking it into its mouth along with your hook, and giving a very desirable run. There is no doubt in my mind after over 3 decades of making homemade fishing baits, that they can compete against commercial readymade baits on any water or venue.
Of course it takes the usual fishing skills and application in order to catch any fish especially those bigger ones which are far less easily caught, but your unique bait is a distinct factor in producing for you consistent big fish catches. One of the most incredible highs is to land new personal best fish on bait you have made from your own recipe and knowing you are the one angler who is ever going to exploit your secret bait. You never have to compete with hundreds of other fishermen on the same bait as you!
Bait only really has a peak of effectiveness when fish feed confidently on it because they know they most likely will not get hooked and risk getting taken home for tea. Sure we put them back, but if you were hooked and dragged out of your safe air environment into a foreign one you would be wary of any bait that has led to you being hooked previously too! Making your own alternative secret bait recipes is such a great advantage over the masses who use readymades without a further thought to their never talked about disadvantages!
On the point about fish learning by association, you will also find with readymade baits that they frequently have to be changed to new ones because they get over-used and fish associate them with danger of hooking or capture. Whereas with homemade bait this rarely happens because you alone are fishing your bait so it cannot get over-used so intensively as readymades. This means your baits will remain effective very likely indefinitely which means you can focus on your fishing and have complete confidence that your bait is always working to best effect and has not blown! Some baits get based around flavor attraction on a carbohydrate ingredient base mix. Many others utilise to a greater extent a food bait approach using nutrition as the fish feeding triggering mechanism.
I could not believe how easy and simple it was for me to make baits that hooked big fish straight away literally while still hot, even using the most basic of ingredients. Homemade baits can be just amazingly instant and fill you will so much confidence. I do not even bother to make baits that have a round or barrel shape or an even skin at all and I most often do not even boil them to make them resilient boilies either. This is because your greatest edge with bait is their difference. Therefore if you bait feels different, has a different shape, colour, texture, buoyancy, density, firmness or softness or permeability or solubility for example, then it is far more likely to out-fish readymades with ease! That is why making homemade baits is so easy.
As I said, round baits are not needed. Things have changed drastically in the last 3 decades. There are many methods which introduce free baits well over 100 metres accurately, including ground bait slings, spods and PVA bags and nets etc. So you do not need to ever roll your baits. To make a starter effective bait you need only use one ingredient or a couple like soya flour and semolina, add enough eggs to bind them together, and make a dough to use as bait (and every bait can be different!) These might be used as paste or cut or divided into many different shaped and sized bits which you might scald with water or boil for a few seconds to harden them up to make them more resilient.
The easy way to make a paste or boilie bait base mix is to use about 6 hen eggs in a pot or bowl, whisked with about 5 millilitres of a cake flavor and 1 millilitre of intense sweetener. Then slowly add a fifty - fifty mixture of semolina powders and soya flour or maize meal or corn flour, until you have a workable dough, not too sticky and soft and not too firm to pull apart easily.
Now you can use the dough as fresh bait or opt to label some sealed plastic bags and store it in the fridge for a few days or to freeze it in advance of going fishing. You most likely will forget what you made your baits out of so it is best to write this somewhere so you can remake your winning baits repeatedly! It is possible to get a ball of dough weighing about a kilogram from a 6 egg mixture; this will obviously vary depending upon the various ingredients you choose to include and their levels. Some ingredients will hold water better than others while some might dissolve readily in water, and the practical advantages of each kind are easy to exploit depending if you want hard baits which break down slowly or ones which dissolve and spread their attraction very quickly.
I understand value like anyone else so making homemade bait for 3 pounds as opposed to buying it for 12 pounds makes great economic sense. This is startling especially when you think of the saving on 10 or 20 kilograms of homemade baits compared to commercially produced readymade ones. The saving can be in the region of 80 or 90 pounds for just 10 kilograms of bait. You will have been using many kilograms in a season so figure your savings on homemade bait, it could easily total you not hundreds but thousands of pounds so easily saved!
If having a different bait can produce such a difference in results you may as well have the goal of being as innovative as possible with yours as you create new versions for those big fish you dream of catching. The spooky thing about new baits on a water is that they very often produce the biggest most sought after fish within a short space of fishing time because they are fresh and new. Now this is as great a motive as anyone needs to take up bait making and is the icing on the cake. You can use simple forms of bait mentioned here, but you will discover that with successful baits comes the excitement of making more creative ones, and bait making can be extremely exciting, even an integral addictive part of your fishing, as you thirst for more information!
By Tim Richardson.
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