Sport News And Update

Archive for October, 2009

Built according to the stringent requirements of the FIA, the Dubai Autodrome is not just your average motor racing track. As the first FIA-approved circuit to integrate wide asphalt run-off regions, the 5.39km track is also one of the most technically difficult, high-speed race venues in the world. Complete with six diverse configurations that permit three circuits to function entirely independently at the same time, other highlights include a two floor ultra modern grandstand facing complex, a timekeeping room, pit complex, media centre, race/safety control room and of course VIP suites. The digital surveillance network in the Dubai Autodrome is also impressive for its all encompassing view of the track while the CCTV system connected to the race/safety control room record every minute detail of the action taking place on the track.

Perhaps the most popular attraction at the Dubai Autodrome is its first of its kind VIP suites that affords spectators an unparalleled view of the action from literally metres away from the track. The venue’s Media Centre also encompasses sophisticated computer and fax capabilities and individual ISDN lines and other amenities that meet the standards of local and international press personalities.  The Pit Complex is also worth the visit as it houses 30 team garages as well as a comfortable traditional racing paddock which serves as a hospitality point for staffers and team members. The karting track at Kartdrome is another preferred location among seasoned guests who tour this mega sporting arena which also doubles as a concert hall and a popular venue for motor exhibitions, conferences business events and workshops.

Visitors must also drop by the Autodrome’s Race and Driving School which offers budding drivers, amateurs and interested parties with the technical know-how on reaching the finish line as professionals do. The programs conducted by the institution encompasses practical and theoretical knowledge of motor sports while students also get to clock in real time at the circuit that played host to the 2004 Formula Renault V6 Euro cup season final round.

Those looking for a conveniently located Dubai luxury hotels need not look any further than the elegant Grand Millennium Dubai. Less than 40 minutes from the airport, the hotel is also within easy reach of the city’s finest attractions including famed Emirates Towers and Ski Dubai.

Rugby has always had a strong core of support in the UK, but the success of England in the World Cup and Wales in the Six Nations has elevated the sport to even higher levels, making household names of many of its stars.

Talking of household names, how many people will struggle to find a suitable and original present for their dads this Father’s Day? GettingPersonal.co.uk, the web-based gift shop, might have the answer for rugby loving dads.

Some dads fantasise about being behind that amazing last-minute drop kick that brings home the cup for their nation or club. Since it’s a fantasy that’s unlikely ever to come to fruition, he can at least have his dreams propped up with a little digital imagination. GettingPersonal.co.uk have launched a rugby-lover’s calendar just in time for Father’s Day.

What makes this calendar special is that the dad’s name or a short message can be made to look like part of a spectacular rugby event with new levels of realism and seamlessness.

So come Father’s Day, dads will be able to see stands and stadiums named after them, themselves as team sponsors, their name in the sports headlines or they could even have their name spelt out in finest Twickenham mud next to a battle-worn pair of boots. And as the calendar starts on Father’s Day, it’s got a whole 12 months till full time.

The Personalised Rugby Calendar is available in either a desk or a wall hanging version and is only £14.95.

Brand new from GettingPersonal.co.uk – the calendar also has a front cover message of up to 150 characters so it’s even more personal!

Go on, make him smile with one of GettingPersonal.co.uk’s fantastic personalised Fathers Day Gifts…

Aside from good sales of automotive Mazda parts, the car company had multiple professional series this past weekend at the Grand Prix of Cleveland.

At Cleveland Car Course, 4 series were held: Cooper Tires presented The Champ Car Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda; Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear; BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda; and the SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup.

Champ Car Atlantic Championship Series points-leader Raphael Matos expanded his championship lead by earning the provisional and final pole positions and a flag-to-flag win. From the standing start into Turn 1, Matos led the field and was never headed. With four wins in 2007, he now surpassed his Sierra Sierra teammate James Hinchcliffe by 30 points.

Round 7 of the series will be at Mont Tremblant (Canada) on July 1.

In the Star Mazda Championship, Jonathan Goring of Norfolk, Conn. bagged his first series win. The 2006 Skip Barber National Series champion, he qualified on the outside of the front row and struggled for most of the 45-minute race with pole-sitter leader Dane Cameron of Sonoma, Calif.

Round 7 will be at Toronto (Canada) on July. A drive in the 2008 Champ Car Atlantic Series will be awarded to the 2007 Star Mazda Champion.

Meanwhile, the two winners in the previous race weekend of the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National series did it again. Josef Newgarden of Henderson, Tenn. took starting positions for both Cleveland races, converting the first pole into a victory. And for his second win of the year, another VIR winner, Joel Miller of Hesperia, Calif. took the lead in the second race. Miller is now leading the points-championship.

In this series was the debut of 13-year-old Colombian Gabby Chaves who qualified third and made a great start to lead the first lap before being passed by Newgarden, and finished where he began.

Rounds 7 and 8 will be at Road America on August 2-5. A drive in the 2008 Star Mazda Championship Series will be awarded to the 2007 Skip Barber National Champion.

The Friday race of the SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup is an impressively successful event as the record books held eight official lead changes at the start-finish line, but overlook the dozens of passes and repasses around the track. Scoring a come-from-behind win after being bumped-off at turn one on the opening lap was Cleveland-area native Jason Saini. Ara Malkhassian and Andrew Caddell were following him across the line. Saini again earned the same success in the second race after another great battle that saw four different leaders (Saini, Caddell, Matt Cross, & Elivan Goulart) and two lead changes on the final lap. Both races were green flag all the way.

Round 7 will be at Trois-Rivieres (Canada) on August 18 to 19. A drive in a MAZDA6 for the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship will be awarded to the 2007 SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio MX-5 Cup Champion.

The event will last a total of 12 weeks, that is, from March 14 to May 30, 2009.  The event will kick off with a match between Charlotte and Potomac Athletic Club on the Blue side and between Chicago Lions and Belmont on the Red side.  As indicated by the results every year and specially by the rugby results 08, this is going to be as exciting a tournament as ever.

The Rugby Super League was developed in 1996 so that the game of Rugby could be taken to new heights and be given professional status throughout America. The 13 teams that compete in 2 groups of Red and Blue Conference represent 13 main markets all through the United States and have helped in a  major way in the exposure of the game to the world and in generating an interest in it.

The competition is held in spring every year since its beginning in 1996.  Weekly matches are held that lead towards a playoff and quarterfinals, semifinals and the final championship match deciding the champion of the year is played in May-June.  Last year New York Athletic Club won the championship match against Belmont Shore.  They scored 31-28 in a thrilling, nail biting match that had everyone sitting on the edge of their seats.

The last championship final played in Infinity Park, Glendale, CO on May 31 was one befitting the most popular event in American Rugby.  It went into two overtimes and had to be decided through penalty kicks at the end.  NYAC finally put an end to the game by winning a sudden death round.   NYAC’s Luke Milton kicked in the match winning goal.

NYAC had made it into the finals by beating No. 5 Denver Barbarians at their home turf on Travers Island.  The Belmont Shore team, who also played host at the semi-final, beat rivals No. 8 Chicago Lions 34-15.

This was the second time that New York Athletic Club had won the title.  The first time had been back in 2005.  That time too they had played the final against Belmont Shore in Hartford, CT beating them by a very narrow margin.

Personally, I believe, it is going to be an exciting season as always.    Fans from all over the United States have been waiting in anticipation for the Rugby Super League season to start this year.  All major TV networks will be broadcasting the matches live.  But in case you are also one of those unfortunate ones like myself who is living abroad and can not watch the matches live, you can do what I always do; log on to an online site that gives live results of the game.

As a fan of ScoresPro i recommend it to all of you for keeping yourself up to date with rugby Rugby Super League Livescore.

If you are in the market to buy a new tennis racquet, it is no longer as simple as choosing a brand name and a look you like. You need to understand the type of racquet you need, the technology that will best improve your game and you should have a comprehensive understanding of the parts of a tennis racquet and what they mean to overall performance on the tennis court. For instance, you should understand features like:

· Racquet Weight

· Balance

· Head size

· String Pattern

In this article, we will discuss these features and others that impact you tennis racquet selection. We’ll also talk about a few types of tennis rackets including Control Racquets, “Tweener” Racquets and Power Racquets and which are appropriate for what level of player.

We’ll begin with tennis racquet head size. There are three main options in Head Size which include:

· Mid-Size Head: 90-95 square inches

· Mid-Plus Head : 95-105 square inches

· Oversize Head : 105 square inches and up

The head size is a very noticeable characteristic of a website and has a huge impact on tennis racquet behavior. The head size has a huge impact because the larger the surface area, the more power you can get from your racquet. Many people feel this is analogous to a trampoline where the smaller trampoline is firmer and offers minor bounce and the larger trampoline, with the same force applied will propel you much further. Therefore, the larger the head size, the more strings can yield and bend and the more power you can get from the frame.

The next aspect of a tennis racquet would be the length. Tennis Racquets offer a variety of lengths including:

· Standard length tennis racquet- 27 inches

· Extended length tennis racquet – 27.25 inches

· Extended length tennis racquet – 27.5 inches

· Extended length tennis racquet – 27.5 + inches

The length of a tennis racquet also has a profound effect on its power. While the standard tennis racquet length offers good control and power, the longer racquet will allow more force and a longer reach.

You also need to consider the weight of your racquet. Standard unstrung* tennis racquet weights include:

· Light Weight- < 9 ounces

· Medium Light Weight – 9.1 to 9.6 ounces

· Medium Weight- 9.7 to 10.3 ounces

· Medium Heavy Weight – 10.4 to 10.8 ounces

· Heavy Weight – 10.9 ounces and above

*Strung vs. Unstrung weight is something to consider when reviewing racquet weight.

The weight of your tennis racquet is obviously going to play a critical role in your game play. The heavier the racquet, the more potential momentum you can build up with your swing but if you get a tennis racquet that is too heavy, you may impede your game play rather than augmenting it. Generally, it is accepted that the heavier the racquet frame the more control and stability the tennis racquet will offer but in turn the lighter the frame, the more that same power and maneuverability that can be utilized.

Balance:

The balance of the racquet related to the overall weight distribution. For instance, in some racquets, the weight may be more in the head of the racquet while in others it may rest in the frame. In many cases, lighter head weight racquets are easier to maneuver and position while those heavier in the head can provide additional stability and power. Everything is a trade-off on some level, so you need to assess your own strengths as a player and purchase accordingly.

String Pattern:

The string pattern of a racquet related to the number of horizontal* and vertical* strings a racquet uses.

· Dense String Pattern (Closed) : 18 vertical strings x 20 horizontal strings

· In The Middle (Medium): 16 vertical strings x 19 horizontal strings

· Less Dense String Pattern (Open): 16 vertical strings x 18 horizontal strings

*Vertical strings are also sometimes called mains while horizontal strings are sometimes called crosses.

Generally, a more dense string pattern will yield a firmer more controlled response from your tennis racquet, while a more open string pattern will give you more power. The more give and bend offered by the string pattern, the more power you get.

Getting a good “spin” on the ball is also affected by the string pattern. A more open string pattern offers more opportunity for the strings to catch on the ball and create desirable spin on a return shot.

Finally, its important to understand how all of these factors can come together to create the perfect tennis racquet for you. We’ll talk about just a few main categories of tennis racquets here.

Tennis Racquet Categories:

Power Racquets Characteristics:

· Lighter in weight (8 to 9.5 ounces)

· Larger head size (105 sq inches and above)

· Open (less dense) string pattern

· Wider frame width

This tennis racquet is made for power. This is for the player who does not use a fast or full length swing but instead one who takes more limited and relaxed swings and wants the racquet to yield the power boost they need.

“Tweener” Racquets Characteristics:

· Medium in weight (9.6 to 11 ounces)

· Medium in head size (100 to 105 sq. inches)

· String pattern varies

· Medium frame width

“Tweener” racquets are for people who want something “in between” power and control – or rather some of both characteristics. These racquets are great for tennis players with medium to long swing speeds and who tend to take medium to long cuts at the ball. Many players who are making the transition from junior to full length tennis racquet have success with this category.

Control Racquets Characteristics:

· Heavier in weight (11.1 ounces and above)

· Smaller in head size (90 to 98 sq. inches)

· String pattern varies

· Thinner frame width

The control racquet category is really meant for players who like to take long and fast swings at the ball – they don’t need the power from the racquet since they generate that on their own – they need control to ensure their power places the ball correctly.