Baltimore Orioles: Are They For Real?

So, I am writing about the Baltimore Orioles (the basement of the American League East Division). Why would I write about a team that is thirty plus games under .500 on the season, thirty games back of the Yankees in the East, and has finished dead last in its division for the past two years? In my opinion, the Baltimore Orioles, as of recent, have been the hottest team in baseball. Are they for real?

They have won eight of their last ten games including an impressive win last night against the highly-praised Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays are a team that used to see plenty of basement action in the East like the Orioles before the Rays improved their pitching, hitting, and fielding to make a World Series appearance a couple of years ago. Now, the Rays are competing at the top of their division with the best of the best, the New York Yankees. Is the Orioles turn around a fluke, or is it a sign of better things to come for the organization and the desperate baseball city of Baltimore? I think the Orioles' spark on the field in the past couple of weeks means more of the latter than the former.

Ever since the Orioles hired Buck Showalter as the new manager at the beginning of August, the Baltimore baseball team has seen better days, better pitching, improved hitting, and flawless fielding. Is Showalter the prime reason for the wins in Baltimore? Is Brian Robert's veteran leadership finally paying off for the Orioles' plethora of young talent? I do not who the credit goes to. Does it go to the organization for all its firings over the years? I do know most of the credit should go to Buck Showalter. In my opinion, there is a new and improved American League East. The Baltimore Orioles have just made their division even tougher. In fact, the AL East is the toughest division in baseball. The Orioles are far away from postseason contention this year, but if they can use the rest of this season to build momentum for 2011, the Rays, Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays better watch out. Is this a bold prediction on my part? Sure, it absolutely is, but the Baltimore Orioles are for real now. They were not satisfied with the way they played in the past, and they were not at all happy sitting at the bottom with the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Mariners in the American League.

I have heard Camden Yards is a beautiful ball park. It is going to be even sweeter when the Orioles start contending for the playoffs again in the near future. The days of Cal Ripken Jr. in Baltimore are long gone, but the Orioles organization have young, healthy ball players like Felix Pie, Adam Jones, and Matt Wieters to build the ball club around for the future. Are the Baltimore Orioles for real? To conclude, yes, the Baltimore Orioles are for real.

Book Review: "Coming Back Stronger" By Drew Brees

Every one remembers the dramatic, exciting Super Bowl win this year for the 2010 Champion New Orleans Saints as they beat Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in a superb fashion. It was a great achievement for the fans and residents of New Orleans after the horrific catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina back in 2005. After the hurricane, homes were submerged underwater, buildings were demolished, and it was one of the deadliest hurricanes in United States history. Some New Orleans' residents packed up their belonging and moved to other parts of the country before the storm hit to be with family members in safe places. Others were less fortunate, and either took refuge inside the Superdome (Home of the Saints), they had to be rescued days later, or died.

I give my total respect to the Colts and their fabulous 16 win season. I think Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. However, the Super Bowl win for the city of New Orleans was destiny. I am not totally positive, but I believe the win was a part of God's plan to show that he was not done with the state of Louisiana, specifically the city of New Orleans. There was still work to be done in New Orleans. The championship gave the people of New Orleans hope for a better future in their rebuilding city.

The journey of how the Saints organization went from paper bags to the top of the football mountain is an amazing story. Saints football was the one thing that brought the people closer together to produce hope for better days, to rebuild, to restructure, and to win a championship. The Saints' success story is God's happening, but it would not be at all possible without the leadership, determination, and Christ-like attitude of Drew Brees.

Drew Brees originally played the quarterback position at Purdue University in Indiana. Then, Drew was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played for San Diego from 2001-2005. Then, Brees became a free agent, and he decided to take his talents and services to New Orleans where he signed in March of 2006. Remember, Katrina took place in 2005 right before Brees' signing, so Drew made a real difficult decision, but a choice led by God in hopes of resurrecting and reviving the Saints franchise, the devastated city, and its people. Drew Brees is truly a man of God. He has been a saint on and off the football field. The Saints' story is an inspiring one. It shows that anything is possible through God if you have faith and trust in him. God can do miraculous things if you obey and follow his words and ways. Like Drew Brees said in his book, "See adversity as an opportunity." The hard parts of life can be opportunities if you have the positive mind-set, the right attitude, and the vision of Jesus Christ.

Read Drew's book, "Coming Back Stronger." If you think you are not the type of person who can be motivated by a book or a speaker, think again because this book will have you jumping out of your bed each morning equipped for a good day, ready with a positive attitude, and seeing God's wonderful purpose for you. Besides the Bible, this book is my new favorite. It has something for everybody. The book has a positive message, it is easy to understand, everyone can relate to at least one of Drew's experiences, and there are multiple things to learn from each chapter. I highly recommend reading this phenomenal piece of work.

Not to give anything away, let me share some interesting quotes from the book. "It is not where you start in life, but rather how you finish." "Any situation, no matter how bad, can ultimately make you stronger." "If God leads you to it, he will lead you through it." There are many more inspirational messages and sayings inside of the book. I have now seen the perspectives of two Christian NFL quarterbacks, Kurt Warner and Drew Brees. I absolutely love reading about Christian professional athletes and the work that they do because these athletes share their stories, and it has inspired me to follow God more intimately and closely in order to fulfill his purpose for me.

I hope when you read a book like the one by Drew Brees, you might feel the same way as I do. It is amazing how God can use people's life stories through books and writing to touch the lives of others. This book is not a football book. You do not have to know anything about football in order to read it. "Coming back Stronger" is a memoir that can be easily understandable for anyone who feels inspired or led to read this autobiography. I suggest you read this book, but I also suggest you read the one by Kurt Warner and his wife, Brenda, "First Things First." Enjoy the reading!

Should the MLB All-Star game decide home-field advantage in World Series?

Without a doubt, the MLB all-star game is the best all-star game in professional sports because it means something. In the NBA, the all-star game is always high scoring, but there is always a lack of defense, hustle, and determination to win the game since a win does not mean much. In the NFL, the all-star game is pretty much pointless. Except for last year, the pro bowl has taken place after the entire season was over (a week after the Super Bowl). The players show very little motivation because they do not want to risk injury going into the off season. The only inspiration NFL superstars have is a little more extra money when they win. The MLS Soccer All-Star game is at least somewhat exciting this year as the MLS players take on the very talented Manchester United club. Also, NASCAR has an all-star event, but does anybody even watch it or know about it? The same thing goes for the National Hockey League, a game which is usually only on cable.

Since 2003, the winner of the all-star game has decided which league gets home-field advantage in the World Series in October. This decision was made by the MLB commissioner because in 2002, there was a tie in the all-star game. Bud Selig wants this game to count, be worthwhile for the players to participate in, and be worthwhile for the fans around the world to watch. A mid season exhibition game decides the fate of a champion. Is this the right move for sports? I think it is. The MLB midsummer classic has meaning. The fielders hustle for ground balls, the outfielders dive for sinking line drives, and pitchers show off their best stuff in order to win the ball game. The two managers from the previous World Series coach and manage the players just like it is a meaningful game because they know how important home-field advantage is to their respective leagues.

The American League has owned the National League since 1996. This year (2010) was the first time the NL beat the AL. Honestly, this year was somewhat boring. Only four runs crossed the plate. The AL scored on an unearned run, and it was Brian McCann's late hit that put the NL up 3-1, which was the final score. There was very little offense. No home runs were hit. However, the defense was exciting to watch. Corey Hart made a spectacular diving catch in left field. In the ninth, the right fielder for the NL made a nice throw to get David Ortiz out at second in a game-saving situation.

So, home-field advantage determined by a mid season game does make professional baseball more intriguing. It seems to make intuitive sense, but has it really influenced who would actually win the World Series? From 1996-2009, the American League has won the all-star game. Since 2002, the American League has won the World Series five times, and the National League has won three times. So, there is a slight advantage to winning the all-star game, but there is not much because the World Series is a way bigger game than the all-star game. The players' emotions are running high. There is less room for error. The World Series is all or nothing. While the all-star game just determines how many games a team will have at their home ballpark in front of their fans come October.

Overall, I hope other professional leagues will follow Major League Baseball's example and make the mid season exhibition game meaningful to take part in and watch. This was a great idea for America, America's game, and sports history.

Twins get 1st Walk-Off Victory at Target Field; take three of four from Chicago and gain ground in AL Central

The Twins struggled right before the all-star break as they fell to third in the division behind the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers. Entering into the second half, the White Sox had been the hottest team in baseball, and Detroit has a potential triple crown winner in Miguel Cabrera. The AL Central is heating up. The White Sox won their first game out of the break by beating the Twins 8-7 because of a bad pitching performance by Kevin Slowey.

However, the Twins took the next three games because of great pitching performances by Francisco Liriano and Carl Pavano. On Saturday, Carl Pavano pitched a complete game 3-2 victory over the Sox. This was Pavano's fourth complete game of the season,and it was his eleventh win. Pavano's pitching opponent, Mark Buerhle, also pitched a complete game, but Pavano was just a little bit better. Saturday's game lasted just one hour and fifty-two minutes. It had been the middle of the lineup for the Twins in the White Sox series that did most of the damage offensively including Mauer, Cuddyer, Kubel, and Thome, but the entire lineup contributed to help the Twins to three straight wins.

Danny Valencia has filled in nicely at third base where he has not made an error yet. J.J. Hardy has fully recovered from his wrist injury, and his offensive and defensive presence is being felt. With Justin Morneau out with concussion-like symptoms, Michael Cuddyer is taking over first. This means Jason Kubel can play right field, and Thome can swing the bat as the designated hitter on a daily basis.

Ozzie Guillen must be thrilled to be leaving Minnesota and the dangerous piranhas. Chicago now has lost three straight games, and they only lead the central by 1.5 games over the slumping Tigers and the resurgent Twins. This weekend Detroit got swept by the last place Indians in Cleveland in a four-game series, and the Indians will come to Target Field starting tomorrow for a three-game division matchup.

On Sunday, the Twins captured their first walk-off victory at Target Field. Nick Blackburn pitched five okay innings by keeping the ball low in the strike zone, but he gave his team a chance to win the ball game. The walk-off could not have come at a better time. In the ninth, Bobby Jenks walked Orlando Hudson and Joe Mauer to start the inning. Then, he gave up singles to both Kubel and Cuddyer before being pulled. The next Sox pitcher, Sergio Santos, walked Jason Repko. After five batters, there was still nobody out in the inning. Delmon Young stepped up to the plate. Young was the one who hit the two-run home run in the bottom of the second to give the Twins a 2-0 lead.

Delmon Young softly hit the ball into right-center, which allowed Kubel to score, and Cuddyer was able to cross the plate as the go-ahead run because of a wild throw by center fielder, Alex Rios. The Twins fought back to score four runs in the ninth, and they did not give up. On Sunday, the Twins won by a final score of 7-6. Three of the four games were decided by one run. Minnesota, like every other team, will go through ups and downs, but they must go out and play to win each and every game of the season.

After a good start to the second half of the season, the Twins now look forward to taking on Cleveland, Baltimore, and Kansas City in their next three series. All three of these teams have sub .500 records. Baltimore has the worst record in baseball. What a weekend for the Minnesota Twins.

How to be the next NBA Superstar....Sports Science: Accuracy in Shooting a Basketball

The main goal for a basketball player is to shoot and score. Where is the best place to shoot or which areas on a basketball court have a high percentage shot? Does distance and angles from the basket have to do anything with shooting accurately? The objective of the offense in basketball is accuracy of each attempted shot and most players recognize this; but, only the better shooters learn how to practice correctly and work at improvement year round.

When shooting from anywhere on the court, there is a mental and physical aspect involved. At not time is psychological conditioning more critical than when shooting the basketball in a game. Shooters need to learn to develop concentration when shooting, so they know that the ball will score. Shooters need confidence and the ability to relax. It is not a good idea to shoot when in doubt. Do not take a low percentage shot except in desperate circumstances. If a person does not have confidence in their shot, the player should not take the shot because they are more likely to miss than to make. A person may have had their confidence shaken by a string of misses, or they may be overly tense, tired, or may have a lapse in concentration.

There is also a physical aspect of shooting the ball. Shooting a ball and connecting with the target involves several factors. One factor is sighting or locating the target. In sighting, the eyes are used merely to locate the target in space, and the computing of an intercept trajectory is left for the brain. When a shooter concentrates on an object such as the basket, their eyes will get quite wide. The eyes are like a computer. They continuously are updating a three-dimensional fix on whatever is being held focus. Another physical aspect of shooting the basketball is body balance. when properly balanced, a shooter can coordinate the efforts of each muscle to produce a force in the direction of the basket. There is also the factor of timing and rhythm to consider. The timing of a shot begins with getting the correct foot down for takeoff and ends with the follow through and recovery.

Which spot on the basketball court is the best place to shoot from? There really is not a best spot the way most people shoot. In order to make a shot, a person needs to have accuracy in their shooting. The accuracy is affected by the way a person aims the ball and their effort in shooting the ball. The ball will have a chance to go in the net if the center of mass of the ball is inside an imaginary cylinder extending upwards over the hoop, and if the ball is coming in too flat, the target zone disappears and its unlikely the ball will go in except by "a lucky shooter's bounce" off the rim. So, there is not one true good spot on the basketball court to shoot from because a person needs to aim and put effort in the shot.

Shooting from a closer spot allows the shooter more error in aim. A hard shot will bounce off the rim much harder than a soft shot. So, if a person hits the rim, they are better off hitting it softly because the change in direction of the ball is going to be less and may keep the ball in the target zone. It is more difficult to shoot a ball softly and make the shot. Basically, what the shooter is trying to do is to have the peak of the ball's flight path as close to the hoop as possible, and the downward flight of the ball will still be in the target zone

When learning how to become a consistent shooter, it takes time. It takes time because a person needs to practice, follow, and listen to important basketball tips. Having a good shot makes a person a threat on the floor, especially if the person can drive well to the hoop. In order to shoot, a person needs to know the fundamentals. For shooting a basketball, a person must have their entire body in the right position to ensure that they have the greatest chance of making the shot. That means a person's stronger arm should be up and bent at 90 degrees. When a person shoots the ball, they should flick their wrists and push their arm to propel the ball. In order to shoot well, your body needs to be positioned right. A person's feet should be shoulder-width apart and parallel to each other, and a person's weight should be equally distributed on each foot.

World Cup a huge success in S. Africa; Can Brazil overcome challenges as it prepares for 2014?

After a successful World Cup in South Africa, players, coaches, fans, and journalists head back to their homes. Many feel disappointed in their teams' efforts. Other countries like the Netherlands and Spain have a lot to be proud of. This World Cup has globalized the game of soccer all around the world, especially in the United States where soccer's popularity is considerably lower than in other countries.

The country of South Africa had a lot to prepare for, but they managed to pull off an incredible soccer environment as they hosted Africa's first World Cup. With the hard work of so many South Africans, there is no doubt that another country in Africa will be a host soon.

However, Brazil will face many of the same challenges South Africa went through as Brazil starts preparations for the tournament in 2014. Just like South Africa, Brazil has huge crime problems, a large income gap, cities that are spread out, and has very little infrastructure like stadiums and airports. Brazil is falling behind pace in order to be ready in four years. This country cannot afford to fall behind anymore because they also host the Confederations Cup in 2013 and the Olympics in 2016.

Brazilian soccer federation president Ricardo Teixeira and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva say that there is nothing to worry about because everything will be ready in time. Fifa is not happy with Brazil's progress so far. They still need to build new stadiums, airports, set up roads, and construct a communication system. Brazil plans to handle air travel by investing money in sixteen airports across the country. They also expect to build twelve new stadiums including one in Sao Paulo, the continent's largest city.

There are plenty of financial issues because not every country can handle a venue as big as the World Cup. It will cost Brazil an estimated $18 billion in construction, but the government says that this is a wonderful opportunity because preparation will bring in around 700,000 jobs and over 600,000 fans are estimated to come from outside of the country during the tournament.

Brazil has a huge task at hand as the last time they were the host nation was 1950. The World Cup can either bring a country into financial disaster, or it can bring huge economic success like it did in South Africa.

Soccer is a world's game. Players are training with professional teams. Coaches are preparing with players and studying film for how to perform better. Construction workers are doing all they can to get stadiums built, polished, and fields ready to play on. Do not forget about the youth. They are the future of soccer. There are soccer camps across the globe like the ones the Minnesota Thunder Academy and the University of Minnesota have that kids participate in to eventually be professional, World Cup athletes. One of the biggest soccer events for youth is the Schwan's USA Cup where youth from many countries play soccer and some of them go on to play the game in professional leagues and for national teams. The 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa has localized the global and globalized the local.

Spain wins first World Cup; defeat Netherlands 1-0 in extra time

On July 11, 2010, Netherlands and Spain played for the final World Cup trophy in Johannesburg, South Africa. After a long month of watching 32 teams compete in exciting matches, two clubs that had never won a World Cup took the field Sunday.

Netherlands came into the match by winning all six of its matches including an impressive victory over number two ranked Brazil in the quarterfinals. Entering the tournament, the Netherlands' world ranking was fourth compared to Spain who was ranked second. The Spanish entered the competition by winning the European Championship in 2008, losing a group play match to Switzerland, and winning every game since that defeat.

On Sunday, Netherlands started the match as the underdog, and Spain was the favorite. The game sure started off that way. Fernando Torres of Spain did not start, but the Spanish players controlled most of the first half with ball possession, scoring chances, and passing percentage. However, it was an intense game from both sides as the two teams played with a do-or-die attitude. The winner was taking a plane ride home with a trophy, and the runner-up would be filled with disappointment.

After scoring just seven goals in the tournament, could Spain win another game by the score of 1-0? Spain has one of the toughest defenses in the world anchored by a phenomenal goalkeeper in Iker Casillas. Casillas kept the Spaniards in the match with some incredible saves including a lucky one off his foot.

Netherlands played their heart out, but Spain had the final say with Andres Iniesta's goal in the 116th minute (extra time). With four minutes left before penalty kicks, Torres crossed the ball right in front of the goal for Iniesta. All Iniesta had to do was to put the ball right past the keeper.

The match was rough. By the end of the first half, the referee had administered more yellow cards than there were shots on goal by either team. Each team played with purpose and gave an effort that this entire world will not forget.

Netherlands took home the silver. Spain, for the first time, took the gold, and the players will go home to their country proud with tears of happiness. If you thought this World Cup was exciting, just wait until 2014 when it comes to Brazil.

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