Mike Sciossa is the 2008-2009 MLB manager of the year. Really? I’m not saying he shouldn’t have been considered, but the New York Yankees Joe Girardi was far more deserving, for several reasons. First of all, he won the World Series in only his second year managing the team. In New York, where the goal each year is to win the World Series, he was under much more pressure than Sciossa, and he came through. But looking at the regular season, the Yankees were the only team to break 100 wins, and the only team with a 600 or better winning percentage. They had a better home record, a better road record, scored more runs and gave up fewer runs than the Angels. Girardi was able to do something that Joe Torre was never able to do, and that is beat the Angels in the playoffs.

In 2002, when the Angeles won the World Series, Mike Sciossa won manager of the year that year as well. But again judging by regular season statistics, they were only a wild card team, while the Yankees had the best record during the regular season. So if voting is based on the regular season alone, Torre should have easily beta out Sciossa that year, just as girardi had much better regular season numbers this year. The voting is too subjective. Perhaps like with the BCS, a formula should be used to determine the winners. Number of wins, losses, runs scored, sacrifice plays, blown saves, and things like that could be used to help determine who is more deserving to win. Mike will tell you he would rather trade in his award for the World Series ring, and that may well be true, and Girardi is I’m sure much happier with a ring than a Manager of the Year award, but it still would’ve been nice for Joe to win it simply because he was so much more deserving. Another thing that would make voting easier is if there was some criteria. What makes a person the MVP of the league, or the manager of the league. Is it stats alone, leadership, guiding the team to the playoffs? Is it a person who most helps his team win, or is the best player in the league? There needs to be better guidelines, and less human judgment involved.

Also, look at the turn around both teams had. The yankees went from making the playoffs 13 years in a row to not making them the first year Girard took over, to not only making them his second year, but winning the whole thing. The Angels went from a 100 win team to a 97 win team, having a worse home and away record than the previous year and giving up 64 more runs than the previous year. In an interview on a local Los Angeles sports radio show, the Angel’s GM was heard saying the the manager of the year award is in a way a team award that has to do with the GM and owners and other personal. And so if that is the case, what owner is more committed to winning than Steinbrenner. What Gm is more interested than keeping his job based mostly on World Series success than Cashman. If it is indeed a ream award, the 2009 Yankees far and away were much better than any other team in baseball from ownership to management to players. Sure, they had the highest payroll, but that shows just how much Steinbrenner is committed to winning.

Not only did the Yankees go farther than the Angels in the post season, but they beat the very Angels in 6 games in the post season. Girardi out managed in the reguar season, and head to head in the playoffs. They pretty much dominated against every team as far as having a winning record during the Torre years, but they did not have a winning record against the Angels. This year, Girardi not only ousted them in the playoffs, but had a better regular season record against them as well.

The Angels did have the unfortunate, untimely death of Nick Adenhart to deal with. It was a tragic accident that could have easily been avoided, but the argument could have been made that the Angels would have even more motivation to play for a cause. Sciossa and the Angels handled the situation well and with class, but as they said themselves, they still had to move on because they had a job to do, and they just didn’t do it this year. They had a good year, but Girardi had a better year.

Over all, in my mind, it is not even close that Joe Girardi is the 2008-2009 Al, and MLB manager of the year based on pure numbers, and based on pressure from expectations, and on previous Yankee failure with the Angels to this year’s dominance of them, so Congratulations Joe on the ring, I know you’d much rather have that than the award anyway, and I’m sure yours will be coming soon.

By: Buddy Foxx

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Breakdance is a style of dancing that has evolved as a part of the hip hop scene. Break dancing is a very animated form of dance and to the average person you may be asking yourself how you can learn how to break dance. The first thing to understand is that break dancing isnt something that will come naturally to everyone, it requires certain fitness levels and flexibility to pull off some of the more spectacular moves.

Break dance does have defined moves, however often the dance is improvised and unstructured. This allows the dancer to incorporate anything he or she wants into the routine and the routine can change in a split second as the music changes.

There are two forms of break dance, toprock and downrock. Although two separately identified versions of break dance, the two are usually linked together in a routine.

Toprock

Toprock refers to any string of steps performed from a standing position. It is usually the first and foremost opening display of style, and it serves as a warm-up for transitions into more acrobatic maneuvers.

Downrock

Downrock includes all footwork performed on the floor as in the 6-step. Downrock is normally performed with the hands and feet on the floor. In downrock, the breakdancer displays his or her proficiency with foot speed and control by performing footwork combinations. These combinations usually transition into more athletic moves known as power moves.

Power moves

Power moves are the moves that require the most power and co-ordination, these are the moves that we all love to see, more acrobatic than the standard footwork moves. Power moves include windmill, swipe, and flare. Many power moves would be at home in the world of athletics than the dance floor.

A break dance routine is a string of pre-practiced moves that are strung together to try and out do a competitor or impress a crowd. Freezes and suicides are two moves that will look familiar to most people thanks to 1980′s movies and popular culture. A freeze is when a dancer freezes his or her dance in the middle of the routine in trying position. A common freeze is when the dancer freezes upside down balancing on one hand, this stance requires physical strength and balance to pull it off but it looks very impressive. A suicide is an ending to a routine where the dancer will land as if they have made a mistake and land on their stomach or back and lie still. The more painful the landing looks the better the suicide has been done.

Break dancing competitions are held all over the world and are referred to as battles. A points system is in place and they will be awarded by people in a position that is respected by the competitors.

The music

Break dancing is always accompanied by music. The music of choice depends very much on the dancer but their is always breaks in the music usually with a constant beat to it.

Break dancing takes physical strength and lots of practice. Dedication and a love of the music usually accompany the best dancers.

By: Zebedee Kay


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Golf has become a universal game. Most of the people all over the world play this game regardless of their race and culture. In general, many golfers are looking for effective methods to advance well in the game. If you are a beginner to this game, then golf swing instruction guide will help you to play well and advance in your game.

Being a beginner, it might be crucial for you to have the ideal mindset. Positive attitude is one of the crucial factors while playing golf. One of the common blunders that golfers used to commit is slicing the golf ball. Therefore it is necessary to avoid this at the start.

If you wish to get a complete golf swing instruction, then you can watch some golf swing videos and hence visualize various movements. Just watch the type of technique golfers implement while playing the game. If you master yourself with these techniques, then you can learn things faster than you imagine.

Physical fitness is another important factor to be considered in golf swing. Though this game is kind of relaxing, it requires unnatural moves. Fitness is very crucial if you wish to hit the ball to the right target with maximum distance.

Another aspect you should consider is the physical fitness. Keep your body “in shape” if you want to start your golfing. It is a complex game with unnatural moves. You need to be fit if you want to hit the ball straight with maximum distance.

This way you can prepare yourself prior to starting the game. Keep reviewing the golf swing instruction lesson in order to master yourself with the tactics for a successful swing.

By: Janani Jaan

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I have often been asked what I think the most important part of the setup is when you’re getting ready to drive a golf ball. I dont know if there is one answer to that question.

The way I answer it is based on what Ive observed over the past 30 years of teaching.

After youve addressed the golf ball, and this is not an easy thing to see, you might have to have someone watch. Or, Ill tell you how to check for yourself.

After youve addressed the golf ball and you’re all ready to hit, I would say that 90% of the people that struggle with the driver have their shoulders aimed way off to the left.

Now, why? Its pretty simple. Oh, I dont know, 80% of the golfing public has a driver golf slice. So, if you slice the golf ball, you’re going to try to aim off to the side, so when it recovers and comes back around its in play.

Now, unfortunately, for those of you that have a driver golf slice, simply by squaring your shoulders up, that isnt going to take away the slice. But its going to encourage the golf club to swing more from inside than from outside, and it will help it a lot.

You may need a grip change. But theres no question about it, the most important part of the setup for the driver has to be the shoulders.

Make sure they’re aimed parallel to your feet, knees and hips going left of the target.

Now, if you’re driving the golf ball poorly and not very consistent, let me give you these two golf swing instruction pearls. They go hand in hand.

And I promise you this will help you find out if your problem with your driver is in the backswing.

For you to become a really good driver of the golf ball and consistent, the shoulders have to turn. The only way they can turn in the backswing is if you have your chin up and not down.

Most mistakes that Ive seen with amateur golfers in their difficulties of driving the golf ball is their posture.

Their head is too far down. The only thing your shoulders can do is go up in the air. You wont have the ability to swing the golf club around you. You wont have the chance of your shoulders turning.

So, the best golf swing instruction I can give you is, the next time out, after youve addressed the golf ball, gone through your routine and you’re almost ready to swing the golf club back, simply lift your chin up in the air an inch or two. And dont forget that your shoulder should turn in the backswing.

If you have your chin up, the shoulder can turn around it. From there, you can really let it fly in the downswing.

Again, chin up, not down, promotes the shoulders turning in the backswing.

Try that the next time out and I promise you itll help you.

Thanks.

Copyright 2006 David Nevogt

By: David Nevogt

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You were told that your golf swing needs improving? Well, it could need a complete makeover and change your game! But how about improving alignment and the short game? This could be the answer. This article will give some useful pointers on improving golf swing but at the same time revolutionizing your game dramatically by ,let us say, shaving seven strokes off your score in a few weeks !

Learning golf is done gradually rather than all at once and that is why it is not as easy as any other sport. With the essence of the game being to use a club to send a ball to a target, the essence of learning golf is to learn how the club must swing to the target if the ball is to go to the target.

Your Swing


Your swing is natural and everything will depend on using the spine as an axis to keep you on the correct swing plane so alignment is crucial. How about concentrating on alignment? What about the importance of understanding ball flight to understand your swing. ?. Some golf gurus point out how swings can differ markedly in their mechanical aspects; the only thing important is that the club contacts the ball the way you want it to. And what about the short game maybe we should be giving more attention to that. Golf tips are nothing more than the thought you hold in your head as you swing your golf club. Your golf swing is like your signature, it is unique. The reason finding the right golf club is so hard is because there are so many types, designs, and features you have to consider in correlation to your skill, swing and needs.

Your Golf Handicap


Handicap statistics compiled by the National Golf Foundation and United States Golf Association show that most golfers establish their level of competency after a few years. Well, which category are you in ? High handicap golfer : Someone who has played a while, knows his or her way about the golf course, but can’t seem to break 100 consistently. Mid to low handicap golfer: reserved for small percentage of people who shoot below 100 consistently, and want to get even better.

Whatever your handicap, you can improve it by following the advice of famous golfer who will tell you how to improve your swing but give you loads of great advice in getting your score down and reducing your golf handicap.

By: Robert William Locke


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France is still the world’s most popular tourist destination – Paris, charming countryside inns, campsites in Brittany, the chateaux of the Loire…There are many reasons. Yet, despite this success, the fairways of the 510+ courses in France are often empty. But once a golfer takes a French Golf Holidays, they’re smitten – here’s eight reasons why:

Easy Access

Just 100 miles from London you’ve got three of France’s great courses: Le Touquet La Mer, Hardelot Les Pins and Belle Dunes. Drive for another hour and you’ve got another batch of world-beaters…And it goes on. Whether driving, taking the train or taking a very short flight, you can arrive and play on the same day. As we say “So close, yet so different!”

The Value

Let’s be honest, France used to be ridiculously cheap. It’s no longer that but it still offers brilliant value-for-money. You can play 36 holes with a buggy at the Jack Nicklaus gem of Paris International (just two hours from Calais) for about 60 and you can play at Deauville for just 19. Compared to courses of the same quality, France offers far superior value. Where else can you play one of the world’s great courses all day (Fontainebleau) and have a three-course lunch and free use of a trolley and the practice range for less than the price of a round at an average course in England? For accommodation, France has updated its offering and working in a hotel has always been a respected profession. Generally speaking, you get four-star quality for a three-star price.

The Food

Need I say more? The French live for food…Children study food as part of the national curriculum from the age of seven and nearly everyone is a connoisseur. The produce is fresh, expertly prepared and served with style. Every region has its influence – the seaside, the rivers, the fields. You could tour non-stop and try a different dish every day for years.

It’s no coincidence that France has the greatest restaurants in the world and thousands of wonderful brasseries serving delicious dishes all day long. I often wonder how the menus are offered at such a low price (it’s probably got more to do with the UK over-charging!) Whilst we Brits concentrate on money, the French talk most about their food.

The Golf

FACTS: 22 courses in Europe’s Top 100. Links, parkland, target golf, woodland layouts.

Designed by the likes of Tom Simpson, Harry Colt, Robert von Hagge, Henry Cotton, Trent Jones, Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus. 517 courses. Very few members. Chateau clubhouses.

It’s Better for the Planet

Air fares are climbing – charges for clubs, luggage, four types of tax etc. You can get to Northern France, Normandy, Champagne, Brittany, Paris and even the south-west of France within one to three hours of getting off Eurotunnel or your ferry, and no need to add to your carbon footprint in the process!

The Weather

As a general rule, the weather is warmer and more consistent that the UK. The South virtually guarantees sunshine – particularly the Languedoc Rousillon region. I find that the Loire River is the cut off point from being a few degrees warmer than “Old Blighty” to offering truly lovely weather.

The Fine Wine

Despite all the advances of New World wines, France is still considered to offer the best wines in the world. For red wines, Medoc; for white wines, Burgundy. Then there’s Champagne, the lovely light whites of the Loire, the fruity rose of Provence. Surprise, surprise, all those regions also offer stunning golf courses. There’s nothing nicer than playing a round of golf in the morning, lunch at the clubhouse or a nearby brasserie and stopping off at a chateau for a tasting and opportunity to buy great wines at very low prices. A very productive day!

The Culture

Culture plays a hugely important role in French society. From fashion to paintings, from architecture to history, you only need look at the attention and public grief at the recent passing of Yves Saint Laurent to realise what culture means to the French. There are museums everywhere and they make a great holiday for culture-vultures.

I could go on, but I’d be repeating the main points again and again: for great courses, fine dining, high culture and terrific weather, you can’t beat a luxury golf holiday in France.

By: Morgan Clarke

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Lets spend a couple of minutes talking about one of the three most abused and misunderstood golf swing fundamentals, timing. Its an important term but its misused a lot. So, let me explain to you what timing is, and then itll draw you a lot closer to understanding when you’re struggling.

Timing is your ability to swing your arms and hands back to the golf ball as your hip turns out of the way. And the reason it has to turn out of the way is so the arms and hands can pass your body and wrap around you. Thats the definition, no more, no less.

Now, I have gone to the golf course many days where Ive hit the ball beautifully, solid, straight right. So, my timing was off a bit because my body was turning out in front of my golf club and that was sending it off to the right.

Now, the correction would be to slow the bottom half down and speed up the top part. There have been days where my timing has been off because the arms and hands were quicker than the bottom.

How do you correct that? Speed up the bottom and itll catch up with the arms and hands, and that will help that.

Now, how do you fix your timing? Thats probably the most difficult question in the game of golf. How do you get your timing back? I believe that if you cant hit your pitching wedge, you probably arent hitting your 5 iron and your 5 wood and your driver.

So, I love to send people out to the practice facility to hit thousands of pitching wedges and work on their golf swing fundamentals. That, to me, is the easiest way to find your timing.

Now, lets say that your favorite club in your golf bag is your driver and you’re driving the ball beautifully. Then go hit a thousand drivers. Or maybe its a 5 wood or a 5 iron. Whatever club you’re struggling with, stay way away from that one.

Go to the club that you’re doing well with. And if you’re not doing well with any of them, then go to a pitching wedge.

Now, the next question most difficult after that: How do you know when your timings off? I believe that your timing is off when your miss/hit pattern is not consistent. Ones fat, ones thin, ones top, ones good, ones to the left, ones to the right. Thats a great indication that your timings off.

Find your favorite club and go to the practice tee and hit ten thousand of them and remember when you hit the golf ball to think of the golf swing fundamentals.

Thanks and have a great day.

Copyright 2006 David Nevogt

By: David Nevogt

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Most golfers who are constantly trying to improve their game will work on their swing through golf swing instructions. The golf swing is a complicated biomechanical process that is the most essential part of anyone’s golf game. If you want to work on your swing, instructions can be found in a number of places.

Golf swing instructions can come straight from professionals. When taking lessons, the instructions you receive will be coming from a reliable source that is working directly with you. Receiving golf instructions from a professional that is able to watch your golf swing first hand is a great way to find golf game improvement. The instructor can than decide what part of your swing needs adjustment and work with you step by step to achieve your desired golf swing. Even just one lesson or a group lessons with a golf instructor can bring improvement to your swing and your game.

If you are like many other golfers, you may not have the time or money for golf lessons. There are other ways you can work on your golf swing based on your schedule that are less expensive. For example, many web sites offer golf swing instructions, where you can read tips or watch videos on how to improve your golf swing problems.

Another source is books, which are a great source for golf swing instructions.

You don’t even have to go to the library to get these, you can find them online. Magazines are another source where you can find the most current instructions and innovations from golf professionals as well as leading teachers in the field. I prefer books and magazines because they are great references for golf swing instructions where you can refer to them time and time again for helpful tips and diagrams.

Here are some basic golf swing instructions that will point you in the right path to improving your swing:

You will find that there are many factors that contribute to the success of a golf swing. You need to first examine your grip before you begin your golf swing. Make sure the top thumb is pointing up directly at you and grip the golf club comfortably. If you notice your hands hurting during your round of golf, you are probably gripping the club too tightly.

Make sure your club face is always square with the ball on impact in order to hit the ball straight and avoid hooks or slices. To help you with this, make sure to work on having an even golf swing plane.

Practice, practice, practice… Nothing will help you out more than that!

By: Brent Bonnett

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As women are getting older, they also are playing more and more golf. So its time to invest in some quality, customized golf gear for older women that will help you have an even better time on the golf course, whether you are looking to improve your game or simply spend several quality hours with some close friends.

Update your look with the latest styles in golf wear for older women. Trade in your long golf slacks for a pair of shorts in a classic cut. You dont have to be twenty to wear the newer, shorter styles of golf shorts, skirts and skorts. Also look for shorter sleeves and tops in fabrics that absorb moisture so you will feel even more comfortable and have less to worry about while you play.

If you are really looking to improve your game and maybe even break 100, invest in some great golf training aids, including videos, books and more. A golf ball retriever is a handy tool to tuck inside your golf bag; it will help reduce some of your back pain and keep you from bending down so often to pick up your golf ball. Also check out golf ball and golf club cleaning and repair kits, along with personalized accessories such as ball markers and score card holders.

Its also important to find golf clubs designed for women, especially for older women. The wrong golf clubs can cause a lot of unnecessary pain and discomfort, distracting from the enjoyment of your golf game. Look for custom fit golf clubs in lighter weight materials that still provide maximum performance.

By: Sarah Freeland

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The great thing about Internet is that it is literally a plethora of all sorts of information that any user all over the world would ever be interested in. The same thing goes for instructions on golf swing. If you are having trouble with your golf swing, then you might as well turn to the information superhighway to grab some online golf swing instructions that you can use. This way, you will not have a hard time finding the help that you very well need.

If you are practicing and executing your swing the wrong way, then it will not matter how many hours you exert each and every day. You will find that you golf swing will not become any better at all. Other times, when you go to the driving range and ask help from fellow golfers there, you just might receive the wrong instructions and tips. This means you will just be wasting your time and effort going to the golf course or driving range for these tips. You would really be better off just staying at home and browsing the web for quality online golf swing instructions.

One particular online golf swing instruction that just might come in handy pertains to head movement. A lot of people might tell you to keep your head down when you are executing your golf swing. This is not the correct way to do this at all. Rather, you should keep your eye on the ball, and you cannot effectively do this if you just keep your head down, right? Thus, keep you head held up and your eyes strictly focused on the ball and on your target area, to which you want to drive your ball to.

Another valuable piece of online golf swing instruction that you should pay attention to is to keep your body as relaxed as possible. Remember that you have to execute your golf swing in one fluid movement. How then can you do this with a rigid stance and a grip that is all too firm? Gripping your club too tightly, for instance, can even result to sliced shots so this should be one thing to look out for. Just keep your grip not too tight, yet not too loose as well. This way, you can direct your ball more accurately.

You should also pay attention to your back swing. As many online golf swing instructions would have, this is the part where you accumulate the needed power for your swing. Thus, this plays an important role as well.

By: Alex Hawk


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