Sunday, October 31, 2010

It's Football Gift Basket Time of the Year

We're reaching the NFL's "run for the playoffs" time of year. Between mid December and the Super Bowl, the best games of the season are on TV Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Whether you gather at your home or a friend's, a true football fan provides his guests snacks and treats. So grab a basket and let's fill it with a selection any fan would love.

First, let's start with your favorite team and find some logo items. Being a Bears fan I usually start with a chip and dip snack bowl. I'll compliment that with cooler cups in my team's colors; blue and orange. I'm a nervous fan when the "home team" plays so I always include a nerf football or two, to squeeze away my anxiety or to throw the deep post pattern to my speedy wide receiver in the comfort of the family room.

Okay, now to the important items in my gift basket, the snacks. I have a weakness for chips and dip so I include potato chips and onion dip as well as tortilla chips and hot salsa. Peanuts (not in the shell I've learned) are a must as is popcorn. Last but not least, summer sausage, very cheddar cheese and my favorite wheat crackers are included to provide us sustenance during our three and half hour gridiron spectacle.

A fan works up a mighty thirst during a long NFL game so a few cold drinks need to go in the basket as well. A few beers, a bottle of wine and a couple bottles of cream soda top the gift basket off. That's a selection that should appeal to any fan with a fine palette.

So you've created the perfect gift basket for watching a football game with your family and friends. So get comfortable in front of the fireplace, and munch and sip your favorite team to victory. You've scored a touchdown with this gift before the kick off with a unique and customized gift idea.




Larry Flynn owns Ardent Partners Inc., a professional internet marketing firm in Mesquite, NV. The firms first website, 1 Great Gift Basket, offers a wide selection of unique, handmade gift baskets for all occasions and ages. With the changing demographics in today's society, the gift basket is ideally suited to the internet and can be delivered anywhere in the United States.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Style Options For Women's Golf Shoes

In the past, the choices one had to decide between for golf shoes, particularly women's golf shoes, were not that plentiful. There were one or two styles, just slightly different from one another, and size. Metal spikes were fairly standard (although flat bottom, smooth shoes are also available). But the appearance did not give much to be excited about.

Now, though, the shoe industry has finally caught up with demand, and there are a LOT of choices between shoe style, both visually and in terms of construction. One of the first choices is whether you want spikes or not. If you do, chances are you will be going with rubber or plastic spikes, since the traditional metal spikes have generally fallen out of fashion (and are banned from many golf courses both in the U.S. and Europe).

Next you will want to decide what design you are going for. Many women's golf shoes take the traditional styles and adapt them with a slightly more feminine, but still delightfully classic (and classy) appearance. Saddle shoe style golf shoes are a great example of this, boasting the timeless black and white (or brown and white or even more colors) in a way that still has modern appeal.

Or you can go with wing-tip golf shoes. This is sophisticated and elegant, while still plenty capable. There are modern wing-tip styles as well as more traditional, old-fashioned inspired types. Whatever style you are looking for is probably an option.

However, there are plenty of women's golf shoes that are even more modern than just an updated saddle shoe. With a wealth of natural and synthetic materials to choose from, these shoes have really come a long way.

For example, you can easily get shoes that look more athletic or casual yet still provide the essential features you want in a golfing shoe. Canvas or leather (suede or otherwise) are great options, and these often include the rubber spikes that make golfing easier, without sacrificing modern and independent style choices.

However, as important as style is, it's also good to note that many golf courses outlaw athletic or 'street' shoes. This may make you want to choose women's golfing shoes that maintain some of the traditional appearances (such as saddle shoes, mentioned above). Just because your shoes have golf spikes and are worn only for golf, this does not mean that others may not doubt them based on appearance. This is a hassle that is simply not worth it.

And finally, don't forget comfort. Style isn't everything. You deserve women's golf shoes that are comfortable and supportive. They should fit snugly but not too tight, and should not rub or irritate your skin. It's important to look good and feel good on the course, but you won't feel good if you're sporting blisters.




Kate Marsala writes articles about women golf shoe on the website Womens Golf Shoes Central.

Friday, October 29, 2010

NFL Merchandise Makes the Perfect Gift

If you have a sports fan in your life, NFL merchandise or MLB merchandise makes for the perfect gift. And, if you're a football or baseball fan, there's always room to add to your collection. Whether your favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Dallas Cowboys, or the Boston Red Sox, you can find everything you need at an authorized NFL store or MLB store.

If you're not a collector, you may not realize the variety of officially licensed NFL merchandise or MLB merchandise available with team logos. Using the Pittsburgh Steelers as an example, here's just a sprinkling of what's available:

Auto Accessories: Color auto emblem with a chrome finish and screened team logo; silver auto emblem with a metallic finish; car flag with a 20-inch pole; helmet car magnet; logo car magnet; 12-disc CD visor; 48-disc CD logo; die cut decal; fuzzy dice; laser cut license plates; black chrome license plate frame; splash guards; steering wheel covers; tire covers; trailer hitch covers; and rear window film.

Golf and Tools: Golf gift box set; mesh golf barrel head cover set; pro-grip hammer; and hardhat.

Kitchen and Bar: Crystal Pilsner glasses; crystal freezer mug; glow mug; dinner plate set; children's dinner set; placemats; and tumbler set.

Tailgating and Grilling: Jersey bottle holder; neoprene bottle holder; can holder; cooler bag; grill cover; BBQ apron; BBQ utensil set; 5-quart pail; plastic dinnerware set; and snack helmet.

Clocks and Home Accessories: wall clocks; doormat; and waste basket.

Blankets and Robes: Woven baby throw blanket; plush throw blanket; tapestry throw blanket; and bath robe.

Bedding: Bed set; comforter; sham; bed skirt; sheet set; pillow; bed rest; drapes; and valance.

Logo Merchandise: A wide variety of flags banners, and pennants; footballs; helmets

Collectibles: Bobble heads featuring Tommy Maddox, Antwaan Randle El, Joey Porter, and others; and collectible bears.

If you're a Boston Red Sox fan, you can find an equally wide variety of officially licensed MLB merchandise. In addition to auto accessories, blankets and robes, clocks, kitchen and bar items, and tailgating and grilling accessories, you can also find:

Game Logo Items: Official bases; home plates; and embroidered baseballs.

Gift Items: Jack-in-the-box that plays, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" with the likeness of Curt Schilling popping out of the box; embroidered leather checkbook cover; embroidered leather wallet; mouse pad; and die cast car, truck, and tractor-trailer collectibles.

Holiday Collectibles: Santa hat; snowman stocking; team wreath; and animated lawn figure.

Helmets and Stadium Gear: Left flap official batting helmet; right flap official batting helmet; mini batting helmet; hard hat; and classic baseball bracelet.

Flags, Banners, and Pennants: Nylon banner that hangs from a pole; wool dynasty wall banner; garden flag; windsock; wool pennant; metal sign; and framed wool embroidered banner of Fenway Park.

Sports fans live and die by how their favorite teams are faring in the current season. NFL merchandise and MLB merchandise is always the perfect gift for the avid sports fan.




Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about NFL Merchandise: Great Gift Ideas or Majon's Sports directory.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Teach Your Football Wide Receivers to Get Open and Score Points In Bunches

Your passing game starts with the ability of your football wide receivers to get separation from their defenders. It doesn't matter if you have the greatest quarterback in the world if his receivers can't give him a window to throw to.

The first step is to teach your wide receivers how to get off the line. If the defenders are pressing and bumping at the line, the receiver must know how to beat the pressure. Begin by teaching fakes. The most basic is the "head bob". This is where the football wide receiver moves his head to one side while getting his body moving straight or to the other side. A good shoulder fake can spice this move up.

Since defensive backs will eventually pick up on a repeated fake, teach your receivers to mix things up with double-fakes (fake one way, then the other, then move beyond the defensive back).

Football wide receivers must also be taught how to use their hands to gain separation. Teach the "rip" and "swim" techniques. If cutting left, teach them to use the right arm to "rip" up through the cornerback's arms. For the "swim"
technique, teach your wide receivers to bring the inside arm up and over the corner's arms to knock the arms downward.

Once off the line, good route running is obviously an important skill to develop. One way to help your football wide receivers get open is to have them run hard to a specific spot, get control (possibly use a fake here) and make the cut. Plant the foot away from the direction of the cut, make the cut and then
accelerate into the cut. Teach your players the importance of getting the defensive back moving backwards and then cutting away from them.

Besides the straight line charge, you can also have your football receivers use an S-shape weave to get open. Have them run quickly at the defensive back to get close, then "curve" around him to gain separation.

Against man-to-man coverage, learning the art of good cuts and making those cuts at the right time will be extremely important to the success of your wide receivers. Against zone coverage, it's a bit different. Since the defensive backs are defending an area, the football receivers won't need to use their fakes quite as much since they just need to find the holes in the zone.

One often over-looked area where you can give your players an advantage is in your scouting of the opposition. Don't underestimate the importance of exploiting how your players match up to the other guys. Figure out how you can game-plan how to get your best or fastest receiver matched up against the opposition's weakest or slowest defensive back.

Teach your football wide receivers the correct fundamentals for getting open, game-plan your match ups effectively, then sit back and feel the satisfaction of watching a beautifully executed big play win the game for your players.




Matt & Dave run http://www.football-plays-and-drills.com/get-open and enjoy teaching football players and coaches more about the football plays, drills, fundamentals and tips that result in individual and team success. For our free report, "5 Keys to Discovering the Successful Coach Inside You", plus an additional free report, send a blank email to mailto:footballtips@aweber.com.

We give full permission for you to use this article in your newsletter or on your site as long as you include our Resource Box with our website link and email link included.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

NFL Football - Facts and Fun

Regardless of what team you follow in the NFL, all fans have one thing in common - the love of the sport. American Football and the NFL in particular is known and loved throughout America, and the world. With the love of NFL football comes the pleasure of having your team and fellow fans unite to enjoy the sport, the atmosphere and the feeling of being a part of a massive following.

We all support our teams in various ways, and we all enjoy NFL football to differing levels, but regardless of this we all still love to show our support for our team and announcing it to friends and family. We get the opportunity to do this in an endless list of ways from hanging a flag over our bed, drinking from our team's mug and donning our team's jersey. Despite how you follow your team and to what degree you love NFL football every fan feels at home when surrounded by the game, and the apparel of the sport.
 
From the Arizona Cardinals to the Washington Redskins we have access to an endless list of gifts and items to show our love of NFL football and our teams. With more NFL fans worldwide than can be counted the sport is loved by all, and is growing everyday. It is difficult to know whether football, or the NFL has more followers, but it is known that in every corner of the globe lays and NFL football fan.
 
Facts of NFL Football - The NFL Football league started in 1920 with eleven teams, and since has nearly trebled in size with currently 32 teams competing each season. Despite baseball being known as the American national pastime, American Football and the NFL is the most popular sport in the United States.

The highlight of the NFL Football season is the Super Bowl which is made up each year of the divisional champions from the AFC (American Football Conference) and the NFC (National Football Conference) - they meet at a neutral venue to decide the Super Bowl champion, the dream of every NFL fan.

NFL football has been known to exceed baseball in regards to fans and spectators by double according to records of 2008, and auto racing by treble. These figures alone show the incredible phenomenon that NFL Football has become and every fan wants to be a part of it on various levels.




This is becoming an increasingly easy task with the growing number of online stores such as QuarterbackFan - selling gifts, apparel and memorabilia from all aspects of NFL Football.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The NFL Throwback Jersey Makes a Big Difference

You may be wondering what's the difference between a NFL throwback jersey versus an average football jersey? Well for one, the NFL throwback jersey is actually a "throwback", so to speak, in the olden glorious days of football. As the name implies, it is a throwback or a representation of the football days when it was just starting out and when named such as the Bus and the Fridge were used to identify some of the greatest names in the face of NFL sports.

If you claim yourself to be a football fan, you should definitely get yourself one of these great NFL throwback jerseys. In the older days of football, the NFL was known to be more than just a commercial sport. Critics who used to pour their love over football are now saying the NFL has become more entertaining than it should be. In the olden days, football involved hard hitting action from all players and teams are formed based from the fact that they mean game business and not literal business on field. Nowadays, some say that the NFL has been run over by big shot corporations. Players, critics say, are now playing for themselves more than for the team.

The NFL throwback jersey is also a reminder of the days when names such as John Elway and Aikman have graced the fields of American football. Real football fans can really say that they are fans if they have this NFL throwback jersey on. Apart from bringing back the glory days, these football jerseys are also known for being replicas of the old team logos. So more than just being proud of having symbolized the great years of American football, its also a great way of commemorating the old teams which have been associated with the football game.

Even though they may represent the past of football, you will discover that finding a NFL throwback jersey is pretty easy to find. Prices may also vary according to the authenticity of the jersey in terms of being actually worn by the players themselves. The internet is one of the best venues for finding authentic throwback jerseys. Some online websites even host bids for those who wanted to purchase a jersey and if it's a limited edition, you would really have to invest some time in it. On the other hand, you can also find websites making replicas of NFL throwback jerseys. You can afford them at lesser costs. Furthermore, some would also allow you to personalize the throwback jersey with additional fees as it fits.

However, you should remember being detailed when it comes to sizes and shipping details. If you are going to purchase a NFL throwback jersey online make sure that the size fits you well and that the shipping procedure is fair enough for you. Shipping fees may or may not be inclusive of the jersey's price so you have to ask about it before purchasing any item or else you might end up surprised with the additional fees you have to pay for.




Article NFL Throwback Jersey [http://www.skyfireproducts.com/servlet/the-NFL-Football/Categories] is written by Cassaundra Flores, owner of skyfireproducts.com

Monday, October 25, 2010

Zoom Kobe 5 (V) Chaos Edition

The Kobe 5 Chaos: Shoes for Both the Court and the Club

Your feet will be bursting with cool colors when you wear the Zoom Kobe 5 - Chaos Edition. The Chaos edition is a variant of the Zoom Kobe 5 that was released on December 26, 2009. This is part of the signature line of the Black Mamba that's great not only for a round of hoops, but also for going and out and partying.

The Zoom Kobe 5 - Chaos Edition is a great pair for both athletic and leisurely activities. The shoe is designed with a low-cut ankle, which is a signature feature of Kobe shoes. This shoe is the first release of Nike for the Zoom Kobe line after Bryant and his team won the 2009 NBA Championships, and the celebration is evident in the aesthetic of the shoes.

The shoes are designed with a mix of different colors inspired by an electric-metallic palette. The base color of the exterior is basic white, with patches of metallic chameleon. The midsoles are also white, but speckled with bright red-orange highlights. The shoelaces are of a deep dark plum color, also hinted with bright red-orange speckles. The sole of the shoes is predominantly lime green. Of course, as always, it bears Nike's signature checkmark or the Swoosh (in lime green as well) and the signature Kobe logo in both the heel and the tongue of the shoes.

The Zoom Kobe 5 - Chaos Edition is very lightweight, so it's great for both sports and practical use. Male celebrities like Kanye West have made this pair part of their impressive and fashionable shoe collections. The Kobe 5 Chaos is a guaranteed head-turner. Inspired by Kobe and worn by Kanyeâ"EUR why wouldn't you want it?




Learn More About Kobe Chaos Edition

Visit our Website: http://www.kobebryantshoes.us

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Top Ten Offenses in the NFL

Here is my description of the top ten offenses in the NFL. This list is based on offensive statistics. This was written after week seven so things may change from now to later in the season.

10. Philadelphia Eagles: While they may be struggling to win games, that doesn't make their offense any less potent. Donovan McNabb is practically throwing over 200 yards a game. Rookie wide receiver Desean Jackson usually leads the way in stats for the wide out core. Their key divisional losses to Dallas and Washington were both less than a touchdown.

9. Atlanta Falcons: In his last game against Chicago, Matt Ryan threw for over 300 yards passing. He is impressing a lot of people with his skills as a rookie quarterback. Definitely a candidate for rookie of the year on offense. Atlanta has a good offensive line that gives Ryan plenty of time to make good decisions. Michael Turner has given excellent production at running back with three games over 100 yards rushing.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tied for first with Carolina in their division, Matt Gruden has yet again created a high powered offense with his Bucs. Now that they've finally found their quarterback in Jeff Garcia they can start winning more games. They could still use help in the receiving department, but it is enough to get by with for now.

7. Washington Redskins: Thanks to Clinton Portis the Redskins are third in rushing yards per game with about 158 per game. Also, Jason Campbell has really come to fruition as a quarterback and can hang with the big boys now.

6. Arizona Cardinals: They have the most points per game in the league with a 29.5 average. They are also second in the league for passing yards per game. Kurt Warner is starting to throw like he;s back in his glory days with the St.Louis Rams. Having Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin as receivers (before Boldin got hurt) really helps too. Warner's stats may go down without Boldin.

5. Houston Texans: Matt Shaub and Andre Johnson are putting up great numbers this year. They're just not good enough to win more games than they lose. Yes, the defense is to blame. Steve Slaton has also been a surprise, performing exceedingly well at running back.

4. Denver Broncos: They are atop of the AFC west division right now. Jay Cutler has been solid this year at quarterback and Brandon Marshall has been awesome at wide receiver. Although they got shutdown by the Patriots in their last game, they should bounce back fairly quickly.

3. Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys have the third highest passing yards per game average. They are unstoppable when Tony Romo and Terrell Owens are on a hot streak. Now they picked up Roy Williams from Detroit to compliment their receiving corps. Once Romo is back from his injury they should be picking teams apart with their passing game. The question is will their defense hold up so they can win games?

2. N.Y. Giants: The Superbowl champs are still looking like winners. They have the most rushing yards and points per game average in the league. Eli Manning is playing great this year, for the first few games was playing better than his brother Peyton. Brandon Jacobs is paving the way through the ground attack. The Giants are on top of their division and will have to fight the other contenders till the end of the season. There could be three teams in the playoffs from the NFC East.

1. New Orleans Saints: With about 310 passing yards per game the Saints are a fun team to watch. Now that Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey are coming back, watch out! They could use improvement in their running game. Reggie Bush is a big threat as he has returned two punt returns for touchdowns in one game!




Clarke Baldwin is a journalist who has worked for Dallas Morning News and other publications. You can find his site at International News Blog and a related story at Tom Brady Five Touchdowns [http://www.internationalnewsblog.com/sports/tom-brady-five-touchdowns-2nd-quarter-nfl-record].

NCAA Gear to Show School Spirit

At its heart, school spirit is a way to honor your institution and identify with your class mates and alumni. Participation in events which are school spirit based is a group bonding experience. There are many ways to become a part of showing your support for your school. One of the most common methods is to attend team events. NCAA stands for the National Collegiate Athletic Association and it is a consortium of the nation's colleges and universities govern their athletics programs. Joining the NCAA is a great way to not only help the organization thrive; you are by extension supporting student athletes and the programs in which they participate.

You can show your school spirit each day by sporting the team colors with clothing and accessories that are emblazoned with the insignia. Branded items are readily available on the web for easy shipment to your door. A good example is the offerings for Illini Fans. Available is the University of Illinois Backpack. The backpack is blue with the easily identifiable orange I with Illinois printed in white. This backpack is lightweight and a generous 18" x 12" x 10" in size, fully capable of carrying a number of books or gear on a short hike. It is also a great visual for promoting U of Illinois. Illini fans can also choose the scrub top. This is a 100% cotton garment that is great for showing your support.

Every square inch of the top is covered with the U of I logo. Georgia Tech fans also have much to choose from. The apparel and accessory choices are endless. There is a great set of Georgia Tech boxers that are perfect for wearing to the health club or around town. These 100% cotton boxers are comfortable and very appealing. And people will know that you are a Georgia Tech fan whether you are coming or going as every bit of the shorts sport the very distinctive Georgia Tech logo. The Florida State Seminoles logo is distinctive and dramatic. Fans of the Seminoles have some striking merchandise to select from. One of the coolest items is the earmuff pack. It is a heavy cotton blend with a waterproof skin that will keep your ears dry and warm when inclement weather hits. Wearing it readily identifies your allegiance to the Florida State Seminoles.

NCAA sportswear is colorful, fun to wear and it not only reflects your school spirit, and it supports student athletes. A multitude of items can be found online for easy shipment to your door. NCAA sportswear is also excellent for gift giving and makes for a great solution when you don't know what to get that special someone.




Written by Steve Jacobs of the cool party store

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Throwback Jersey - NFL

The Throwback Jersey was first introduced in the NFL in the 1994 75th anniversary season and continue to be popular with both fans and teams. A wide variety of throwback designs have been worn in the NFL, with varying degrees of accuracy. Most obvious is the lack of leather helmets in the 50s uniforms. The best the league could do was wear their hard versions sans logos. More historical license is the displaying of player names on the throwback jersey. Player names on the uniform was first introduced to the NFL with the AFC merger in 1970. But the NFL requires names on all throwbacks per contemporary rules.

Some teams having had success in their old time uniforms, continue to wear them for the remainder of the season. In fact the San Francisco 49ers wore their their lucky retro uni's all the way into the 1994/1995 season playoffs. Steve Young and crew even wore that 1955 version in their 49-26 Super Bowl XXIX victory over the the San Diego Chargers. The Niners will go back to the successful retro look for the 2009 season as well.

Autographed retros are also quite popular among the sports collectible crowd. An authentic signature can take a $125 jersey and multiply it's value by 400% or more. The mother of all collectible throwbacks is the game worn autographed jersey. These gems go for $800 or more. When buying a collectible, buy from reputable sellers and get A Certificate of Authenticity. You can also find throwbacks that are officially licensed by the National Football League and come with individually numbered; tamper evident holograms. There are many fraudulent products for sale, so buyer beware.

Throwback jerseys make a return for the 2009 NFL season. This is the to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of the AFL, the American Football League. Sixteen AFL Legacy Games will be played featuring the eight original members of the AFL. The list includes the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs (played as Dallas Texans), New England Patriots (played as the Boston Patriots), New York Jets (played as the Titans of New York), Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers and Tennessee Titans (played as the Houston Oilers).

With a throwback jersey you can keep alive those NFL memories of old. Relive that Superbowl win every time you don your team's colors. In a word, REPRESENT.

Here are some of the perennial best selling Throwback Jerseys:


  • Walter Payton- Chicago Bears

  • Ray Nitschke- Green Bay Packers

  • Joe Namath- Ney York Jets

  • Joe Montana- San Francisco 49ers

  • Ken Stabler- Oakland Raiders

  • Troy Aikman- Dallas Cowboys

  • Mark Bavaro- New York Giants

  • Johnny Unitas- Baltimore Colts

  • Marion Barber- Dallas Cowboys

  • Steve Young- San Francisco 49ers

Is your favorite throwback jersey on the list?




Bob Czenwonski is is a connoisseur and collector of fine throwback jerseys as well as webmaster of the popular ThrowbackJersey.org.

Check out Bob's NFL Throwback Jersey selection and find your favorite team and player to represent.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Air in Nike

Have you ever heard of Nike air max shoes or Nike Air Force 1? Those are Nike shoes applied with a special technology- Nike air.

What would it feel with air in your shoes? In the following paragraph we will make it known to you all.

The principle

Knowing the principle will make it easier for you to understand what on earth this technology is.
The air technology is a special gas encapsulated strongly into tough synthetic rubber of air cushion. The key factors lead to the successful of this technology lies in the air cushion. The inserted special gas volume is greater than the slight gap of synthetic rubber that the gas have no chance to leak out. And the air absorbing external vibration and pressure, then quickly restoring back to original appearance, at the same time prepared for the next shock, what`s more, it will not wear out as the life cycle of shoe goes.

The invention
It is Frank Rudy who first put forward the principle-to use iNFLatable air cushion to enhance the shock of athletic shoes, and one year later, Nike air came out and brought about a revolution in sports shoes. And it was the first air technology developed at Nike; it remains the standard in impact protection more than 20 years after its debut.

The advantages
Durable: it will not wear out as the life cycle of shoe goes.
Versatile: it is famous of its comfortable could be used in varies kinds of sports shoes.
Stability: provide users with better stability and control while moving around.




Felicia Z aims at finding the best and most economical Nike Shoes / Nike Air Max from the unlimited online resources for the sports shoes fans and the public.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

5 Alternative Uses For NFL Football Helmets

It's a generally accepted rule that NFL football helmets should be worn only when playing the sport. What's wrong with wearing them off of the field? People wear baseball caps & golf visors all the time, and a bicycle helmet is a modified version of the ones hockey players use.

Well seeing how NFL helmets can be used in many neat ways, maybe it's time to change public perception and start wearing them in public... it's a win-win situation, as you also get to support your favorite team.

5 Cool Alternative Ways To Use Your NFL Football Helmet:

  1. Protection- Going to a road game? It can be tough for an NFL fan that dares to flaunt his team's logo in the opponent's home field. An authentic NFL helmet provides ample protection against food & beverage throwing cretins.
  2. Intimidate your enemies- Gain a psychological advantage when dealing with shiftless landlords, car salesmen, and ex's. Don't shave for a few days, apply some lamp-black under your eyes, don a helmet, & scowl. Your adversary will be too rattled to ask why you're wearing all that "ridiculous" stuff. For added intimidation, wear shoulder pads.
  3. Greet like a man- Is there any manlier greeting than head-butting your buddy? It's even better when wearing helmets as the sound they make upon impact is way cool.
  4. Stand no more- Do you live in an urban area and commute via subway? Do you always stand because you're not forceful enough to get a seat? Wear a helmet and simply head butt into oblivion anyone who gets in your way. Once you've claimed your seat, relax and take a nap (see below).
  5. Nap gear- Do you like to nap in public? An NFL football helmet will provide padding, privacy, and reduce noise while you lean back & snooze as well as protect you against head lice and loose-bowelled birds.

What kind of fan are you?

Unless you have a tattoo of your team's logo, nothing says "superfan" more than owning an NFL team helmet. The average NFL fan is not a player and will buy helmets strictly for display and/or as a hobby, but... collecting authentic NFL helmets can cost upwards of $200, and the autographed models can easily go for two or three times as much.

What's good to know is that all of this doesn't have to be that expensive - there are much more affordable alternatives to buying costly authentic football helmets...




Hi... my name is James and I'm the creator/author of http://www.nfl-football-on-the-cheap.com as well as this article. The following list,"5 Cool Alternative Ways To Use Your NFL Football Helmet" should not be taken 100% seriously (maybe 50 or 60%, but not 100). It's a slightly humorous view on owning a genuine NFL helmet and is intended to lighten up (not that NFL helmets are a dark matter) most people's take on buying helmets, which is that there's no reason to get one unless you or someone you know actually plays football when in fact...

NFL football helmets make great gifts. Collecting them is an extremely popular hobby. They look great displayed in your den

So if you're a real NFL fan and have ever considered buying an NFL helmet, or if you're stuck for a gift idea for someone else who is, you may want to read the pages related to this article at: http://www.nfl-football-on-the-cheap.com/nfl-football-helmets.html

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

The Dish: Terrell Owens Is The Most Important Person On Earth

Terrell Owens is in your breakfast cereal.

Just look down, and you'll see little "ESPN" logos floating around in the milk, and then every so often you'll see T.O.'s mug pop to the surface for air and say, "My contract is slave wages!" and then re-submerge.

Owens is also in your coffee cup. The moment you drain the last drop of Maxwell House, you'll see T.O.'s simpering face demanding a trade.

He's in your shower for sure. Be careful when you open the curtain. If you find him in a bad mood, he'll jump out and start screaming at you for bad play-calling.

He and Jeremy Schaap are dancing a rallentando on your car roof. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is skiing in your hair gel. T.O. is in the crawl space under your house, between your dog's toenails, and up your wife's left nostril. ESPN's John Clayton, Chris Mortensen, Sean Salisbury, Mark Schlereth and Chris Berman are breathlessly running alongside you on the highway, informing you of another impending T.O. armageddon.

Your eyes have turned Eagle-green. Your lips have reformed in the shape of the team's wing helmet logo. You've put on 300 pounds because Andy Reid is your new Siamese twin.

You can't escape the massive scale of this story. Don't even try.

Well, that Virginia Tech drama lasted for all of 10 minutes. Do you see any way that the BCS title game doesn't come down to USC against Texas? Who has an early lead in your mind on the winner of that game?

Bob Aggarwal, Pro Handicappers League: I don't see anyone beating Texas or USC the rest of the way. Those two teams are head and shoulders above everyone else. The early nod has to go to USC with their experience and team leadership. Not by much, maybe a field goal. I could even see that line possibly opening at 4.

Greg Jorssen, BoDog: Unless UCLA can knock USC from the undefeated rank during the last week of the season, you will be seeing USC play Texas in the Rose Bowl. The Hokies were the only reason all season long that they held off on printing the Trojan vs. Longhorn Rose Bowl tickets. Now that Texas is the clear #2, the two teams just need to concentrate on winning their remaining games to guarantee this epic match-up, as one little slip-up will have the Tide rush in and take their spot in the national spotlight on January 4th. If and when Texas and USC meet in the Rose Bowl, you would have to give the slight edge to USC, due to the game being played on their home turf, somewhat. Updated Power Rankings have USC at 104 and Texasat 103, thus slight edge to the Trojans on a neutral field. With the game being played in their backyard, you would have to open the line in the neighborhood of USC -4 or -5. And besides, can you come up with any reasons at all to doubt Pete Caroll, Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart in a pressure game?

The Colts clearly proved New England is too banged-up to be a threat this season. So my question to you now: are the Colts for real? Do they have what it takes (especially on defense) to be a Super Bowl champ?

GJ, BoDog: At the midway point of the season, clear to see that the Colts are the class of the NFL. It was a surprising stat to read today that Monday's performance by Peyton Manning was his first 300+ yard game of the season; however that just shows the shift in the team's focus this year. They possess the league's #4 defense (compared to last year's 29th place ranking) to go along with the league's fourth-best offense. That said, are they for real? I cannot really answer
that until they actually have played someone. Patriots were too beaten up to give the Colts a fair test. The previous seven opponents are a combined 19-38, thus the true test will be November 20th in Cincinnati and then at home to face the Steelers the following week. If the Colts' defense can remain as dominant against these top caliber teams, then, and only then, can I say that they have what it takes to hoist the Lomabardi Trophy in February.

BA, Pro Handicappers League: The Colts showed Monday night they are certainly legit. We all knew in the past that they had the capability to light up almost anyone offensively. That has not changed. It's the defense that has made the difference this year. They are currently ranked 4th in the league overall in team defense allowing just 278.8 yards per game. Last year's weakness, their run-stopping capability, has gone by the wayside as the Colts are allowing less than 100 yards a game. Overall they are allowing just 12.2 points per game as well, good for second-best in the league. Indy has finally put it all together, the stellar offensive capabilities of a Peyton Manning led team and the defense
that Tony Dungy has been working on for the past four years.

Do the Eagles have a chance in the world without Terrell Owens?

BA, Pro Handicappers League: Everyone forgets this club went to three straight NFC title games without TO. This franchise was great before him and they will be great after him. As long as Andy Reid is head coach, the Eagles will always be contenders.

GJ, BoDog: The Eagles would have struggled making the playoffs with or without Terrell Owens due to the division they are in and the injuries they have incurred; however they did what they had to do for the future success of this team. I have managed many an employee that had incredible talent, but had poisonous and destructive attitudes on the work floor. The decision to let that person go, thus hurting my company in the process in the short term, was very difficult yet necessary in ensuring a workforce that was working together as a team. The Eagles were a circus show with Owens on the sidelines. Now, hopefully, Coach Reid can get this issue behind him and focus his team out of the spotlight and onto the task at hand, which is back into the spotlight for a Monday Night game against the Cowboys. Reid has his work cut out for him.

The first NCAA Hoops poll is out. How much stake do you put in it? Is Duke really going to be that much better than everyone else?

GJ, BoDog: I don't put too much weight into pre-season polls; however when a team receives 61 out of a possible 72 first-place votes, you tend to give the pre-season poll a little more notice. Duke is definitely the team to beat this year, with J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams, both AP All-Americans, returning for their senior year. Last time Duke had two All-Americans in their lineup was back in 1992 when Bobby Hurley (remember him?) and Grant Hill were teammates. Redick's stats are quite impressive: he averaged just under 22 points in his junior year, and shot over 40% from the three-point line. Williams is an offensive and defensive force, averaging 15.5 points per game and averaging over 11 rebounds per game. Throw in the fact that the Blue Devils have the best freshman class in the nation, and it's clear to see that they will be the team that cuts down the nets in early April and that we could quite possibly be seeing the start of what could be a Duke dynasty for the next few years. Texas, on the other hand, hopes to rebound from a disappointing first-round defeat by returning four double-digit scorers. The Longhorns possess possibly the most talented point guard in the nation in Daniel Gibson, who is one year older and smarter thus will be dominant all season if he stays healthy and if Texas can develop a back-up point guard to give Gibson some rest. Mark December 10th on your calendar, as Texas and Duke battle for what could be the #1 ranking in the nation.

BA, Pro Handicappers League: I put almost no stake at all in preseason polls. Remember two years ago when Alabama was ranked number #3 preseason and didn't even make the NCAA tournament? The polls are there for exposure and for people to chat about by the water cooler. After that, they mean absolutely nothing. The Blue Devils will certainly be solid, especially in a year when the ACC is a bit down. With that said, they still have just two experienced seniors and several questions at the point. Duke won't runaway with anything, neither will any college club this year for that matter. Its wide open this season with six or seven teams capable of winning it all.




Christopher Harris is a featured writer for the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com

Monday, October 18, 2010

Golf Custom Clothing

Golf has a long history of interesting knickers and pants. Thinking about golf in generations past reminds us of bright golf caps with big fuzzy balls on top, pastel plaid pants and argyle polo shirts all being worn at the same time. These styles make a bold statement and are a bit crazy for some, but the vintage style golf clothing has made its way back into the mainstream.

Golfers, like everyone else, want to look good while they play. They want to have style, class and something unique about their wardrobe that sets them apart from others while subtly demonstrating that they are, in fact, part of the club. Even if they are not playing, they want to dress appropriately for the club that they are in or the crowd that they want to be a part of.

The vintage style knickers worn with bright knee-high socks is a good way to make a very bold statement, but this particular style can be a bit much for your run of the mill golfer. So, how do you stand out in the sea of polo shirts and khaki pants? The answer is uniqueness and quality.

You can design your own custom clothing that fits in with the crowd while standing out as something special. You can get in good with the club owners by designing an attractive logo for the course and having it embroidered on a name brand golf shirt. You can start friendly rivalries with your golfing buddies or different golfing groups. Make team shirts with custom clothing designs that identify each team.

Custom designed polo or golf shirts also make great merchandise for golf pro shops. They are commonly used for fundraising or charity events. You can charge top dollar when you use a custom logo, high quality embroidery and name brand shirts. Recognizable, respected and elite golf polo brands are best if you want to sell your shirts to serious golfers. These brands include names like Nike Golf Tiger Woods Collection, Adidas, Ping, Tattoo, Reebok and Tommy Hilfiger. Upgrades like pique designs or climate control fabrics make your custom clothing even more desirable, marketable and valuable.

Using top brands with top quality embroidery can make a big difference. Remember that what you sell, as well as what you wear, reflects on you and your organization. Use custom clothing to help you stand out among the crowd. Make a bold statement with your custom embroidery and style without having to bring out the pastel knickers.




Justin Hoehn is a Managing Partner of LEADApparel. LEADApparel offers first class Screen Printing & Embroidery services, custom clothing including printers t-shirt. Companies purchase t-shirt print services from LEADApparel at heavily discounted prices. For more information, visit http://www.leadapparel.com

Sidi Sportbike Motorcycle Boots - Good Choice Of Foot Gear

The Sidi company name has been around since the year 1960, but it was not until the year 1970 that they began finding ways to manufacture motorcycle boots. Since that time, Sidi has been finding ways to create the newest innovations in motorcycle boot design. It is their quality and craftsmanship that makes them one of the leading producers of motorcycle boots in the world.

Sidi boots are designed to not only be stylish, but are most importantly designed to be comfortable. This company employs only the best designers and engineers to come up with the best and state of the art materials to create their boots. These creations are designed to hold up to the high expectations that motorcycle riders have come to expect.

On the racing boots, you can find adjusters that allow you to increase or decrease the size of the opening for your leg. There is also a way to tighten/loosen the front of the boot to provide an even more custom fit. In doing this, you are able to design a custom fit that is not too tight, but not too loose all at the same time. This provides a comfortable fit for the rider.

Sidi Sportbike Motorcycle Boots also come with a standard air intake in the sole of the boot. This means that there is a way for the boots to continue to ventilate, circulating air into and out of the boot. This ensures that the rider's foot will not get too hot.

The toe design is fiberglass with an air intake and reinforced with an insert made of alloy. This patented design allows the rider to drag his or her foot without fear of creating hole in the toe of the boot. This makes the boots more durable and safer for all levels of riders.

The final piece to talk about when it comes to the Sidi boots is that they come equipped with ankle supports. These supports are created with fiberglass and allow the ankle to have some flexion without being able to pronate or supinate your ankle. This is another one of the safety features provided by these sport boots to help protect the rider.

Overall, the boots that are created by the Sidi Company are designed to be durable. They are made to be used. Wearing Sidi Sportbike Motorcycle Boots cannot improve your riding, but they can improve the way you look while riding.




Are you looking to buy sportbike motorcycle jackets? Find the best helmets, boots, and other riding gears on this site: sportbike motorcycle helmets

Sunday, October 17, 2010

What is the Volcom Stone?

The Volcom stone is the logo of the Volcom clothing brand. Created using a $5000 loan in 1991 by two snowboarders Richard Woolcott and Tucker Hall the first years sales amounted to a paltry $2600. From these humble beginnings and despite retaining the rebellious slogan "Youth against the establishment" Volcom is now a global brand worth over $450,000,000.

Volcom has successfully managed to walk the fine line between corporate success and credibility within the notoriously fickle world of action sports market. Whilst other brands have suffered from over exposure or have been perceived to sell out in an attempt to grow, Volcom has carefully avoided its products making their way into the discount retailers.

Volcom backs up its premium status with premium product quality. Volcom's choice of materials and manufacture remain excellent and prove more than able to cope with the lifestyles of the most hardcore action sports athlete.

Today it heavily utilises art and colour to create a range that sets it apart from the surrounding run of the mill collections. In 1995 they introduced the featured artist collection to create unique designs that would come to characterise the brand. These days artists such as Todd Bratrud contribute designs for everything from caps and beanies to sock puppets and have helped create a Volcom look that is instantly recognisable.

Volcoms marketing is spearheaded by pro teams covering the core actions sports namely surf, snow, skate and motocross. Famous team riders include Bruce Irons, Ozzie Wright, Rune Glifberg and Mark Appleyard.

As with many actions sports fashion brands Volcom has over time grown beyond simply clothing. Volcom Entertainment, a subsidiary of Volcom has acquired a roster of bands including Pepper, Valient Thorr, Riverboat Gamblers and Year Long Disaster. They hosted the "Volcom Stage" on the Vans Warped Tour and in now have their own international tour simply named "The Volcom Tour". Maintaining the Volcom tradition for doing things slightly differently the Volcom Entertainment Vinyl Club or VEVC delivers subscribers collectible vinyl singles all over the world bi-monthly.

Volcom's media presence is heavily infused with the artistic iNFLuences that differentiate the Volcom brand. Currently Volcom's marketing is characterised by creative use of black and white collage in combination with digital photography. Sci fi iNFLuenced largely black and white comic book imagery mix with action sports shots, to create a humorous, hand made and truly distinct Volcom style.

Volcom's story is truly inspirational. Started on a shoestring to finance time on the slopes for a couple of snowboarders Volcom is now a truly global corporation with a turnover in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Despite this Volcom has succeeded where many other brands fail and retained the small time, niche feel that so appeals to its target demographic.

So to Volcom's distinctive logo the Volcom stone. A good choice? Well for Richard Woolcott an Tucker Hall there's little doubt that the Volcom stone certainly is a diamond.




Volcom beanies and caps at the web's number one head wear retailer BeanieHut

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Equip Your Sports Teams With Personalised Hoodies

Every sports team should have a sense of uniformity both on and off the field or court. They should feel like a family and group no matter what the environment or situation, because acting like a team is part of being a team. One way to help your sports team really feel a sense of unity is to get them personalised hoodies. Even when they're not wearing their uniforms for a game, they will still be representing the team and their sportsmanship.

Whether it is a school team or not, chances are that your teammates will see each other and interact outside of practice and games. If they each have a personalised hoodie that they are wearing, it will make them feel like they are connected to the team no matter where they are.

It is also a good way to represent and advertise your team outside of the field. If members of the team are wearing hoodies or clothing with the team's logo on it where ever they go, people will see it. They may get inquiries from both friends and strangers about the sports team that they are on and how they can come and see a game.

Personalising the hoodies also gives members of the team a sense of individuality instead of feeling like they were just given some generic piece of clothing that they were expected to wear. This hoodie is theirs, and rightfully so. They will have earned the right to put their name on the hoodie, and will be able to proudly show their place on the team, not that they are just a fan or have someone else's hoodie.

There are many options to choose from when creating personalised hoodies for you team. There are different types of hoodies that you can choose from, including the typical hoodie, a zip up hoodie, a women's fitted hoodie, and more. Once you choose the style you will want to choose the base color for your hoodie. Whatever the main color of your sports team is will probably be the color that you end up going with. You will also need to specify how many you need and what sizes they will be, so it may be a good idea to get this information from your team before ordering.

The next step is to select your personalisation. You can choose to put on the name of the team on either the front or the back of the hoodie, along with a logo. You can also add the team member's name somewhere on the hoodie. This is usually either on the front over the left breast, or in large letters across the back. All you need to do after that is complete your order and your hoodies will be on their way!




Find out more about personlised hoodies

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Collecting Sports Memorabilia Football Gear Apparel Is The Way to Show Your True Passion As a Fan

Collecting sports memorabilia football gear and apparel is a growing hobby among football enthusiasts in the United States and around the world. After all football is king in this country. Whether you love professional football (the NFL) or college football, it doesn't matter. It wasn't long ago that the NBA dominated the sports world in the 80's and 90's and Major League Baseball before that in the 70's and really for the past century before that. But now it's all about football- it rules the sports world.

Football is king is terms of viewership, passionate fans, attendance, and of course sports memorabilia football collectibles, as in merchandise sales. Football fans are extremely passionate, way more than any other sport, and they want to show their commitment and loyalty to their team by displaying their gear. Whether it's wearing jerseys, t-shirts, hats, etc, or having a man-cave at home with all your favorite collectibles like fat-heads, mugs, decorations, etc, fans like to show off their team spirit with their memorabilia and apparel.

Let's take a look at some of the top collected memorabilia

1. Jerseys and Jersey T-shirts- Football jerseys are a huge seller. Look around at any football game whether you are attending a college game or an NFL game or even watching one of these games on TV, and you will see jerseys worn by fans by the thousands. They are everywhere. This is the number one way to show your fan loyalty at the games or even watching the game on your couch at home.

2. Hats are another great way to express your fandom. These can be your traditional baseball caps with your favorite NFL or college team logo on them, or it can be snow hats (beanies), or helmets, or if you are in Green Bay - the cheese head hat. Hats are relatively inexpensive so they are easy collect and most fans have an assortment of hats. Plus they keep your head warm during the cold games during the fall season.

3. Collecting Sports memorabilia football apparell isn't the only way to express your passion as a fan. If you're like me, you are more interested in collectible items like mugs, wall decorations, furniture with your team logo on it, little trinkets to put on your shelf, autographed balls, photo's, and cards, bumper stickers, toys, picture frames, foam fingers, game programs, ticket stubs, or really just anything that has your team logo on it.

This kind of stuff is fun to display in your home, in or on your car or truck, or in your office at work. This lets everyone know around you who you root for and there is no double about it. It also makes for interesting conversation when someone asks "where did you find that...." especially for those rare little items that are hard to find and get.

Memorabilia autographs are another hot topic for true sports memorabilia football collectors. These are rare items and often carry monetary value associated with them. They are often obtained by either lucky fans who were in the right place at the right time, someone who knows the athlete and got the autographed item, or by an individual who was willing to pay a hefty price to get these memorabilia autographs from someone in one of those first two categories.

Whether you have a few things or a huge collection of sport memorabilia football gear or apparel, it doesn't really matter. It doesn't define you passion as a true fan. But it is just fun to collect these items and show off who you root for.




Chris McCann is the founder of http://www.sports-memorabilia-football.net He is an avid collector of football memorabilia and enjoys sharing his knowledge and passion for football with others.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Showing Off Your Youth NFL Football Jerseys

With the popularity of football still high, you should take this opportunity to buy more football related stuff. Whether it is to show your loyalty or if you just want to look your best, apparel geared for football fans is so diverse. There are a lot of things out there to choose from.

From jerseys alone, you have a choice of buying authentic jerseys or replica jerseys. There are also throwback jerseys and even youth NFL football jerseys. Whether old or young, male or female, a youth NFL football jersey is available in different sizes and colors. Now before anything else, you should be aware that the official license to make jerseys with the National Football League logo is usually awarded to big apparel companies like Reebok®. Don't worry too much though about the price in buying these jerseys. Remember, you can choose from either an authentic jersey or a replica jersey. In the case of Reebok®, they also have what is called the premier jersey.

But if you're not into jerseys, there is also a selection that includes pajamas, yes pajamas, hats and sweatshirts. You could wear tank tops so you won't have trouble waving your arms and cheering. Or if you think the weather is going to be cold, then prepare for it and buy a jacket. Think it's going to be sunny? Buy a hat. Whatever it is you decide to buy, just be sure to buy it before the season starts.

There's nothing like wearing your favorite youth NFL football jerseys in a game to show your love as well as loyalty to your team. If going to the stadium is not for you, there's nothing wrong with wearing your favorite youth NFL football jerseys at a barbecue picnic. Whether it at your own backyard or at a friend's, you could eat and watch with style.

So have you decided what to buy yet? Don't worry about it too much. There are many stores where you can buy youth NFL football jerseys. Aside from jerseys, some stores even sell jackets, hats, and other apparels. Some stores also offer jerseys of different sizes. Thus you can buy one for your wife and even for your son or daughter. The key is to look at different shops. When buying, don't just stop at one store. Try to browse through different ones. That way, you can compare the prices and know which one to buy based on your budget. Also try to look for stores that offer discounts when you buy in bulk. This way, you get to save money and buy everyone in your family football jerseys.

Still not sure what to buy? Suppose a game is going to be held where you live. You've either misplaced your football gear or worse, lost them. You go to the store but they're sold out. Would be willing to just wear a shirt to the game? You probably wouldn't. So to avoid situations like these from happening, it is better to buy early.

So always keep in mind that whether you want to be classy or not, nothing beats watching the game and showing your support to your team through youth NFL football jerseys.




Article NFL Football Jerseys [http://www.skyfireproducts.com/servlet/the-NFL-Football/Categories] is written by Cassaundra Flores, owner of skyfireproducts.com

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Great Reasons to Shop at Academy Sports and Outdoors

For sport enthusiasts and occasional sport lovers out there, there are quite a few chain sporting good stores to choose from in order to get what one needs to engage in their favorite pastime. One such chain store is the Academy Sports and Outdoors store and there are many great reasons to shop at this particular store for all of one's sporting needs.

One reason to visit Academy Sports and Outdoors in person or online is due to the large array of sporting good items which they sell. No matter what one may be interested in with regard to sports, Academy Sports and Outdoors is sure to carry items relating to that particular sport. From golf to basketball and everything in between, individuals looking for sporting goods and apparel are sure to find exactly what they want at Academy Sports and Outdoors.

Another reason to do all of one's sport-related shopping at Academy Sports and Outdoors is for the great sales which go on almost on a continual basis. This store advertises sales for many different items throughout the year. No matter if one is looking for clothing, shoes or sporting equipment, they are sure to find a sale item relating to their desired topic.

Lastly, shopping at an Academy Sports and Outdoors store will provide many options for the sport lovers to consider when shopping with a particular sport in mind. This store offers many different brands of clothing, footwear and equipment within each category of sport. For example, one may find a number of basketball shoes available at Academy Sports and Outdoors such as Nike, Addidas and New Balance, to name a few.

If one is looking to purchase sporting goods items for themselves or to purchase as a gift for others, visiting an Academy Sports and Outdoors store either in person or online might just be the best way to go.




For more sports merchandise information, please visit: My Sports Stuff a blog that specializes in sports merchandise.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Ballet Dance Wear

Most can agree that ballet is a beautiful variety of dance, but it is also a delicate art form. The performers are often times telling a story with their movement, and the costumes, or clothing they wear play an integral part in the unfolding of the story. During practice, the ballet dance wear is usually less delicate and more practical, however, during recitals, and performances, dancers can go on stage in anything from an all black body suit, to very complicated skirts, tops, and leggings! The type of dance known as En Pointe, is unique to ballet and has very specific shoes that resemble classic ballet slippers until you see the toe. There it is flattened and very sturdy so that a dancer can stand literally on their tip toes. Dance wear has certainly come a long way and there are several varieties offered to fit any needs.

Rehearsal or practice for ballet doesn't usually require full on costuming unless it is a dress rehearsal. Common attire for dancers in class is for girls; a leotard, tights, and your slippers. For guys it can be the same with the addition of shorts as well. Leotards are a one piece body suit that can resemble a bathing suit with or without sleeves. Students attending standard or beginner ballet class will also wear their ballet slippers to dance in. However, En Pointe classes require a dancer to own and wear point shoes. It takes a lot of practice and breaking in to get used to point shoes. Performers often will go through a period of time where their toes are extremely blistered and sore from learning to dance on point.

When it comes to recitals and performances the possibilities are endless and it truly depends on the story being told. It's common to see a flowing or exaggerated skirt on women because it helps to signify their feminine qualities, and can often give the illusion of flying. Costuming is important because ballet is a very movement oriented dance, and the clothing has to be conducive to running, jumping, and it just needs to be flexible.

The vast array of ballet dance wear is available all over the world and on the internet. Whether it's for a performance, practice, or class, there is no doubt when it comes to the shoes that they need to be of quality. Ballet shoes are one of the single most important elements to one's wardrobe. If the shoes are poor quality, then there is a good chance for the dancer to injure themselves or someone else.




Marco Cello is the owner of [http://www.hotballet.com/]

Visit us if you want to learn more Information on Ballet Dance Wear [http://www.hotballet.com/]

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Most Popular Authentic NFL Jerseys From the 2009-2010 Playoffs

The NFL playoffs is always the time when stars emerge, and as a result, their authentic NFL jerseys become extremely popular. The bright lights are on, and everybody is watching the nationally televised games. The big stars have a chance to play great and become even more popular. The young and emerging players have a chance to shine for a first time and become widely known.

With all of that said, which players have the most popular authentic NFL jerseys from the 2009 playoffs? There have been a lot of truly great performances by really special players, but here are some of the players who really made a name for themselves. Whoever you root for, it's likely that you'll need to stock up on some new discount NFL team merchandise with these young play makers.

Ray Rice: Ray Rice is the running back for the Baltimore Ravens. He was criticized as being undersized, but since he has been in the league he is really emerging as a force. He's strong, fast and smart, and he was one of the best running backs in the league in 2009. On the first play of the game against the Patriots, he ran for an 80 yard touchdown and cemented his status.

Sidney Rice: Don't be mistaken, these two players have no relation besides the same last name on the back of their authentic NFL jerseys. Sidney Rice is the crazy athletic wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, and he has been Brett Favre's favorite target all season long. He grabbed 3 touchdowns against the Cowboys to officially let fans of the Vikings know that they needed to pick up some NFL team merchandise with his name on it.

Darrelle Revis: Revis had a season at the cornerback position for the New York Jets that is simply hard to describe. He went up against a slew of Pro Bowl caliber players and even Hall of Fame players, and he completely shut them all down. In the playoffs, he continued his excellent play, shutting out the likes of Chad Ochocinco and Antonio Gates while grabbing interceptions to lead the Jets to their victories.

These are just a few of the most popular authentic NFL jerseys from the 2009-2010 playoffs. These players all took the stage and earned their place, and if you're a fan of their teams then you enjoyed a great ride. Root for your team in pride and support the young, emerging stars in the NFL with discount NFL team merchandise.




At the online store Discount Football Merchandise, you can find all of these discount authentic NFL jerseys and much more. Browse a huge selection of cheap NFL team merchandise, and find all of the players, stars and teams that you're looking for.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Tennis Shoes: A Buyer's Guide

While the term "tennis shoes" is commonly used in reference to athletic shoes of any type, you should not wear running shoes, walking shoes, or cross-trainers when playing tennis. These types of shoes do not provide the correct support and can increase the risk of foot and ankle injuries. In addition, such shoes can also damage the tennis court surface.

There are several criteria tennis players should consider when selecting tennis shoes. First, the court surface you primarily play on will dictate the type of tennis shoe you need. Second, the characteristics of your feet and body will determine what type of tennis shoe is most comfortable and effective. Finally, as with any type of shoe, different people value certain shoe attributes and qualities more than others.

Tennis players that play on hard court surfaces should choose tennis shoes that are durable and resistant to wear. Repeated play on hard (i.e. concrete) courts will wear the tread off the soles of tennis shoes. Loss of tread leads to loss of traction and increased slipping. In addition, the part of the tennis shoe that covers the big toes should have extra protection on the outside. Tennis players often drag their toe while executing shots, especially the serve. It is crucial for right-handed players that the inside toe area of their right tennis shoe have extra protection to prevent premature wear. This area of the tennis shoe is particularly vulnerable because most right-handed players drag their right foot when serving, and often when executing forehand groundstrokes.

Tennis players that play primarily on soft court surfaces (i.e. clay) should select tennis shoes that are comfortable and provide good traction. Durability is less of a concern. It is also vital that the tennis shoe have a smooth, flat sole. The knobs and bumps found on the soles of running shoes and cross-trainers can damage clay court surfaces. In fact, most clay court facilities do not allow players to wear such shoes, instead requiring appropriate tennis shoes.

Feet and body characteristics are an important consideration when selecting tennis shoes. People who are prone to blisters must wear tennis shoes that fit properly and are well cushioned. Advances in tennis shoe technology have created cushioning systems that are lighter, more comfortable, and better at removing moisture. Body type is also an important consideration in tennis shoe selection. For example, larger and heavier players may prefer heavier shoes that provide extra support.

Finally, as with all types of shoes, personal preference and taste often determines what type of tennis shoe a person purchases. Many players desire a tennis shoe with a certain look or color scheme. On a more functional level, some players may select lightweight tennis shoes in an effort to enhance foot speed and agility.

After you determine the type of tennis shoe is right for you, it is important to select a shoe that fits properly. Because tennis involves a lot of sprinting, cutting, stopping, and starting, you should select a tennis shoe that fits snugly across the width of the foot. You should, however, make sure that your tennis shoes have at least a half-inch of space between the toes and the end of the tennis shoe.




For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best tennis shoes.

Friday, October 8, 2010

The History of Riddell Football Helmets - Protecting Your Noggin Since 1939

Back in 1929, John Tate Riddell started his company armed with a vision of providing better sporting equipment to athletes. And such idea has proven to be very beneficial, not only for J.T. Riddell but for the players as well, for from this concept of his came forth the country's foremost manufacturer of football headgear.

Removable cleat--- the history of Riddell football helmets all began with a removable cleat. Said design was prepared by Riddell back when he was still the Athletic Director and at the same time head of the football coaching staff for a certain high school located in Evanston, Illinois. The year was 1922 when head coach saw the need for developing the current leather-fitted footwear for his team. With the arrival of the rainy season, such condition dictates the necessity of changing cleats and installing a longer mud cleat to adapt with said variable. This process is time consuming, not to mention that the cobbler in-charged of doing such task was also hired by a university ergo not being able to finish all footgear by game time. The invention of removable cleats was openly welcomed and such flamed a string of innovations that led to the groundwork for the history of Riddell football helmets.

Ten years after the formation of the company, Riddell pioneered the fist plastic suspension headgear. This breakthrough caught the attention of the government for it will certainly be to the advantage of the brave men in WW II. This is one of the finest points in the history of Riddell football helmets.

With protection as the main goal, it is hard to believe that helmets, rather than pads, were the last to be accepted in pro football. The former is not even mandatory in football---that is until 1939 when NFL ordered that players wear such protective headgear. Before the dawn of plastic helmets, there was leather. The players may be protected against concussions but not the heat---air can barely circulate inside.

Evolution is inevitable; same applies in the history of Riddell football helmets. RT-2 was the first helmet engineered by the company and sold to the public. Said helmet model was manufactured in 1946, a year after J.T. Riddell's death. RT-2 was a three-pieced shell using Tenite II with cotton web suspension for the head and neck. Said suspension presents a pocket of air in between the head and the shell of the helmet. Though Riddell wasn't able to actually see the evolution and expansion of his company, he'll always live in every noggin he has protected, whether it's attached to an amateur or professional football player.

Following RT-2 was RK-4. The latter resembles the shape of RT-2, though it's shell material differs. RK-4 was manufactured utilizing a chemical called Acrilonitrile Butadiene Styrene concocted by US Rubber. The cotton webbing that was present in the RT-2 was substituted by a combo of cotton and nylon. Both models showcased the 3-loop and 6-point regular suspension.

The history of Riddell football helmets includes the models TK-5 and PAC-44. The two shared the same shell composition as that of the RK-4. The difference rests on the interior cushion. TK-5 was originally cushioned with cotton. However, it was altered to that of the interior of RK-4, which was made of cotton and nylon. As for the PAC-44, same was tagged and aimed for the youth. It featured an interior air cushion crafted out of vinyl.

From these forerunners, the company has progressed along with the game. With its 'firsts' like the web suspension, air cushion interior and self-contained iNFLation head gear to name a few, it's really hard to picture the sports equipment scene without Riddell.

This is the history of Riddell football helmets...so far. With ingenious minds continuously formulating new ideas, it is easy to say that another touchdown is within reach.




Article Riddell Football Helmets [http://www.skyfireproducts.com/servlet/the-NFL-Football/Categories] is written by Cassaundra Flores, owner of skyfireproducts.com

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Top 4 Sellers - Buying NFL Jerseys

NFL has gained a popular following in Australia, and more and more fans are in the market for their own NFL jersey. Here were the top selling NFL jerseys for the 2009 season.

#1 Brett Favre - Minnesota Vikings

He may be knocking on the door of his 20th NFL season, but veteran Brett Favre still topped the jersey sales figures for the 2009 season according to nfl.com. Favre's first season as a Viking may not have ended in Super Bowl glory, but it still showed that a 40-year old could still compete with the best of them.

#2 Troy Polamalu - Pittsburgh Steelers

A Californian native, the hard-hitting Polamalu ranked second in NFL jersey sales for the 2009 season, with his Steelers #43 jersey flying off the shelves. This is not Polamalu's only success off the field, as this highly marketable player has featured in numerous television commercials, as well as being on the cover of EA Sports Madden '10.

#3 Peyton Manning - Indianapolis Colts

Another veteran Quarterback, Manning led the Indianapolis Colts all the way to Super Bowl XLIV only to falter at the last hurdle. Despite this, Manning was still the 3rd most popular jersey sold. He is arguably the NFL's most marketable players having appeared in numerous advertisements and promotions for the NFL's biggest sponsors.

#4 Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints

Super Bowl XLIV-winning Quarterback Drew Brees comes in at the number 4 spot in the top selling NFL jerseys of 2009. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Brees lead the Saints to an upset win over Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts to win their first ever Super Bowl. Brees won the Super Bowl's MVP award in the process.




So there you have it. If you're an Australian NFL fan and want to jump on the bandwagon here is the top 4 selling jerseys of the 09 season. We're big American sports fans, and you can read about our love for all things sports and fan gear in these articles.

In addition, here is where you can buy these top selling jerseys.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Fulham FC Shirts - Celebrate the Success

With Fulham FC's recent success in the Europa League many new sites and shirts have popped up in order to celebrate the success of the club. Football shirts are always a great way to remind you of the clubs success, however many people simply use them as "every day clothes" meaning they wear out and are replaced, or simply thrown away.

In this article we are going to look at a few Fulham FC Retro shirts that I feel are classics, Fulham the English Football team currently playing in the English Premiership were founded way back in 1879 and in 2004 celebrated their 125 anniversary. In 2010 Fulham against all odds made it to the Europa league final giving their fans a great deal of joy and excitement, however this is not the first or only success of Fulham FC.

The first shirt we look at is the 1950's Fulham retro shirt, this shirt was worn by the likes of Johhny Haynes in 55, Haynes one of the all time greats was one of the first £100 players in the country, he was also an England star of his day. He had 56 caps, and 18 goals (including a hatrick) for England before a car crash put pay to his England career. Haynes continued at club level and continued to be one of the great forces in Fulham FC in the 50's. The 50's Fulham classic shirt is in no doubt partly a tribute to the likes of Haynes, and the rest of the Fulham squad from that era.

1975 gave Fulham some success, it was in this year Fulham FC reached the Cup final, sadly on this occasion they were beaten 2-0 by West-Ham. The team in1975 consisted of famous players such as Bobby Moore and Alan Mullery. The squad by some was said to be a "tired squad" however the team of that era still put on a great display for their fans and gave them a final to be proud of.

Another retro shirt considered a "must have" by Fulham fans is the 1930's Cottage football shirt, the 30's Fulham team was made up of players such as Bert Barrett, the game that makes this shirt famous in the fans eyes is from the Club playing against FC Austria back in the 30's and the match between the two clubs was held at the "Cottage". This shirt like many is a long sleeve shirt comprising only the Fulham FC Logo.




You can buy any of the shirts mentioned along with a whole host of other Fulham shirts by visiting Fulham Football Shirts With the new season getting ever closer and the world cup just around the corner we have put together a range of new shirts for you to take a look at visit us now at New Football Shirts.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Embroidered Baseball Caps For Every Occasion

Contrary to the traditional symbol of keeping warm, hats are now being applied as a kind of modern apparel in our daily life.

Times change, the hats are now regarded as modern and unique apparel. The hats with fashionable designs are the target of the new generation.

The charm of beauty is not only on modern apparel and make ups, but also the most practical way of wearing hats/caps. A fashionable hat will make you distinguished from the simple outfits.

A hat with a unique design is now the target by everybody. You will discover a huge population with their hats in various charming fashions along the street which creates yet another scene of our modern world.

Baseball caps are a popular item. There is a baseball cap for every occasion, team, and style. Caps come in many designs and styles- simple baseball caps, embroidered caps, beanie caps, fitted caps and custom caps just to name a few. No matter that style or color embroidered baseball caps remain a favorite. These custom caps add an element of style to any event. They also provide an clean, neat and professional appearance to team members or employees.

Embroidered caps allow you to customize your cap with endless possibilities. You can add names, numbers or various designs for a truly custom cap. With embroidery you will get a cleaner and crisper image than you would if you used another decorating option. Embroidered baseball caps give your team a polished professional look.

Embroidered baseball caps are also a great way to market your company. You can use these caps to bring in new customers or to thank those long time customers. You can find embroidered baseball caps at wholesale rates online. With a few clicks of the mouse you can find a custom cap that is the style and price you are looking for. Custom caps are a cost effective way to promote your company.

Think out of the box and get creative when designing you custom embroidered baseball cap. No matter what your needs there is a cap for you. Order your caps right away and you will realize their value to your company.

Modernized life is always the target people are chasing for. Choice of a fashionable and comfortable hat becomes a great concerned.

Different kinds of hats will bring you different feel. Superior quality will offer you a better and comfort touch. A good selection is the goal everybody targets for.




Lari Smith has been writing articles online for nearly 3 years now. Specialize in custom caps articles. If you need more about caps and custom hats choosing method, please reference http://www.customhatstore.com/Faq-0.html.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Using Your Mountain Bike For Exercise

Regular bikes compared to mountain bikes may have a smoother ride and are slower and heavier but are great for riding on the street. You can find information about mountain biking online or in magazines; they are geared toward beginners or professionals. Mountain biking is not really thought of as exercising but it is a great way to burn many calories.

If your interested are off-road you will need bike that can handle the terrain so you will need some big treads and a good suspension to handle the bumps and holes so get a good mountain bike, if you are just riding for fun then a regular bike will do. There are so many different styles of mountain bikes so when you are looking to purchase one make sure it fits the terrain you will be taking it on and make sure it fits your riding style. If you are going to be rough on your bike and plan on going through gravel, dirt and jumping off hills you definitely need a mountain bike.

The chassis on a mountain bike is sometimes referred to as the skeleton, this is a term that refers to the fork, frame and suspension and is looked at as one unit. Mountain bikes are equipped with knobby tires, large number of gears and handle bars that are wider; they also include shocks and a much stronger suspension. You can choose from many different suspensions on your bike, make sure the suspension you choose is going to fit the type of cycling you intend for it. These used to be the most common kind of mountain bike but they are rapidly being replaced by the more comfortable models which feature some sort of suspension system. They have had front suspension on bikes for a while now; the rear suspensions have just come into the market place, it took longer because of all of the design complexities.

Of course, there are many other things to consider when purchasing a mountain bike, but for the beginner, it's best to just narrow it down to how much you want to spend and what kind of suspension you're going to want.

If you want to ride your mountain bikes look for trails that are suited for mountain bikes. If you don't have any trails or jumps, you can build them.

When you first try the toe clip style of pedal you might want to spend some time getting use to it, it will take some practice. Getting a feel for your pedals while first sitting on your bike, keep one foot on the ground and practice moving your foot away from the pedal.

If you have clip less foot pedals or toe clips, you will want to practice this quite a bit. Turn your bike upside down, move the pedals and shift gears. The pedals can also use a regular application of lubricant.

The purchase of your helmet should be at least as important as buying your bike. About 90 percent of the people riding can reduce head trauma just by wearing a helmet. Cost shouldn't be a factor as a good helmet can be acquired for around $25-$45.




David Marc Fishman is the owner of auction site . Priceriot is a new online auction where all customers get the lowest prices on products. Get great advice [http://www.tipsquad.com] on products.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

2010 NFL Season Preview - NFC

Here's a breakdown of every NFC team, including prediction standings by division.

NFC East

Washington Redskins (5-11) The Mike Shanahan regime has seemingly injected new life into an ailing franchise, but a tough schedule and a shortage of playmakers will hurt Donovan McNabb's chances of reaching the playoffs with his former division rivals. One question remains unanswered: will the $100 million man finally prove his worth?

Philadelphia Eagles (8-8) Life without McNabb will be hard to swallow if Philly doesn't win right away. Kevin Kolb will be effective given the number of weapons he has, but the Eagles may suffer a letdown in their RB production from LeSean McCoy compared to pre-concussed Brian Westbrook.

New York Giants (10-6) The Giants are my NFC wildcard pick. They've bulked up with veteran leadership in key spots (i.e. Keith Bulluck, Shawn Andrews), and the receiving corps is looking better than ever. If Ahmad Bradshaw can fully embrace the starting RB role, they'll be tough to stop with Eli and his newly adjusted helmet.

Dallas Cowboys (10-6) Dallas has looked woeful this preseason, but then again.. it's preseason. They'll pick it up with their run-by-commitee ground attack, but ultimately it'll be their defense that gets them back to the playoffs.

NFC North

Detroit Lions (7-9) One of the league's brightest teams will look to give teams a run for their money. It will be crucial for Matthew Stafford to get into a rhythm with his O-line, his RBs (i.e. Jahvid Best), and his receiving corps, namely Calvin Johnson and newcomer Nate Burleson.

Chicago Bears (8-8) Hiring Mike Martz was definitely a step in the right direction for Jay Cutler's development. Brian Urlacher and the defense will look to bounce back, as will Matt Forte from his sophomore slump. A playoff berth could mean job security for Lovie Smith, so this could get interesting.

Minnesota Vikings (9-7) Surprise, surprise: training camp ends and Papa Favre shows up. But the dinosaur won't be able to recreate last year's magic without Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin in full-capacity. Inevitably, the weight falls on Adrian Peterson's shoulders.  

Green Bay Packers (11-5) Aaron Rodgers is quickly becoming the Peyton Manning of the NFC, and with Ryan Grant in the backfield and a top 5 defense, the sky is the limit for this group. Watch out for 3rd year TE Jermichael Finley to step it up a notch and become a redzone regular for Rodgers.

NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13) Every dark cloud has a silver Cadillac.

Carolina Panthers (6-10) Running and defense have always been John Fox staples. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart fill handle the running, but the defense could be suspect. Matt Moore has yet to prove himself, but how tough can it be to match Jake Delhomme's disgraceful performance.

Atlanta Falcons (10-6) Matt Ryan will return from his sophomore campaign with a newfound confidence. Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez will both have a hand in that, and a potent ground game should take the pressure off of him. The Falcons are my other NFC Wild Card pick.

New Orleans Saints (12-4) Not much has changed except that there's a huge X on New Orleans' back (as in XLIV). But if any coach is up for the challenge, it's Sean Payton and his gutsy playcalling. The defense was not as physical as other teams, but they'll have to be opportunistic with turnovers in order to get back to the Promised Land (a.k.a. The House That Jerry Jones Built).

NFC West

St. Louis Rams (4-12) With Steve Spagnuolo's defense more firmly intact, I'm giving last season's 1-win wonder 3 more wins in the NFL's weakest division.

Seattle Seahawks (6-10) Pete Carroll gets another crack at the pros with America's forgotten team. Leon Washington and Justin Forsett could put Seattle's running game back on the map, but the defense needs to find more ways to apply pressure.

Arizona Cardinals (7-9) With the ongoing QB crisis in effect, Ken Whisenhunt might have to seriously reevaluate his team's identity. This could mean more touches for Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells, opening up the passing game for the Cardinals. Now all they need is a QB.

San Francisco 49ers (10-6) This could be the first time San Fran wins the division since the T.O. administration. Aside from enjoying an easy schedule, the Niners are a complete team- Frank Gore owns the backfield, Alex Smith is coming into his own, and the defense is taking on the persona of the mad man that is Mike Singletary.




Asaf Winer is a sports journalist who freelances for sports predictions websites. He is considered a sports expert in football predictions and posts his free NFL predictions in many online forums. You can see his weekly NFL picks at http://www.Superpredictors.com, where last year he was ranked the top predictor for the 2009-2010 NFL season.

Baseball Cap Rack For the Sport Enthusiasts!

The baseball caps that are worn by the fans as well as the professional baseball players have created an industry of their own. Many people love to collect the baseball caps from events, either as an interesting hobby or for profit. If you are a sports enthusiast then this article is for you.

The serious baseball cap collectors mostly use the specialty boxes in order to store the items. However those who collect them as their hobby or the sports fans usually put them in some display to boast of their collection. There are many ways by which you can create your own niche based display at home. Making your own baseball cap rack can be real fun.

You can buy a set of cubbyholes for children. Paint the entire unit in a single uniform color. You can coordinate each cubby to the different team color. After the paint has dried, you can place one cap in one cubby. This is a wonderful way to display your collection of caps.

You can also create a wall baseball cap rack. Just twist screw hooks into the wall. Place them at least 12 inches away from each other. You can arrange them in almost any type of pattern that you like. Now, place each of the caps in each hook, with the bills facing down.

You can also use a hat rack to create a baseball cap rack. You can place the caps that you wear regularly on the hat rack. Ensure that the bills face downward. You can make sure that it covers each and every peg of the rack, with a single cap.

There are several vertical ball cap wall racks available that you can use to display them at home. There are several types of specialty cap rack kits available that you can purchase at an organizational store. Before mounting and fixing the rack, read the instructions carefully. Display the caps on the vertical rack by placing them in an overlapped manner, with the bills facing outward.

You can also buy the racks online. There are various stores and websites that sell the products. Choose from the wide variety of designs and patterns and place your order.




You can read more information before you buy baseball cap rack, and read exclusive reviews reversible basketball jerseys from my websites.