Net Gamblings

Table tennis can be a very competitive game. There are some people out there who are quite skilful and putting them away is not such an easy task. That’s why this first tip is one that you’re going to want to pay very close attention to.

This first tip is on closing points. Every once in a while you’re going to be involved in a point where your opponent just lays one right in there for you like a big juicy watermelon. You take one look at this big fat goose egg just waiting to be slammed into next Tuesday. You wind up, swing away and put the ball on the moon instead of on the table. What happened?

What happened, is what happens to many beginners. They see a real easy shot and get so excited about it that they don’t think about what they are doing and in their over excited state, send the ball sailing into orbit. It’s an easy thing to do, even for the more experienced player when in the middle of a big point. So the question is, what do you do to prevent this?

The answer is very simple. When you see a shot that is an easy point, take a breath and pick a spot on the table where you want to send the ball to. Not just an area, but a spot. Make that spot as small as possible and try as hard as you can to hit that spot. You will find two things happen. The first is this will force you to concentrate and slow down a bit. The second is that you will find your accuracy improve quite a bit. You may not hit the spot on the nose but with practice, you will come very close to it and in many cases you’ll put that point away instead of throwing it out the window. This will show your opponent that you can put away these shots and will end up commanding more respect from him.

This next tip is a simple one but one that will save your life more times than you know. When in the middle of a point where you are forced off the table with a defensive lob, try to add more topspin to your return and lob it back as deep as you can. This will do two things. First, it will give you more time to get back into position and back to the point and second, it will make it tough for your opponent to smash tough angles.

Finally, many beginners try to fake their opponents out on the serve. Experienced players don’t fake out easily. Instead, try to concentrate on putting as much spin on the ball as you can. Or if you don’t think you can put extra spin on the ball then just use your serve to set up the best shot for you based on your strengths. Simply try to keep your opponent off balance. As soon as you are finished serving, what is important is to get back in position so you’re ready for what’s coming at you.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Table Tennis

Upcoming Events in the World of NASCAR

Next week, the Nextel Cup teams will take on the longest track on the ciruit, Talladega Superspeeway. Every week is exciting in the world of NASCAR. However, restricter plate races usually give the fans the most exhilarating show. Watch 44 cars spaced apart by only a few inches traveling at speeds approaching 200mph and you’ll see what I mean. For the entire race, fans will clinch their seats and their beers as they watch for the inevitable “Big One”; the wreck that takes out half the field.

Of the current drivers, the odds on favorite to win is Dale Earnhardt Jr. In 12 starts at Talladega, Jr. has 5 wins.

Other drivers to watch:

Tony Stewart
Kurt Busch
Kevin Harvick
Jeff Gordon

Next Week’s Schedule:
(all times CST)

Nextel Cup: @ Talladega
4/28/06 – 03:05pm Aaron’s 499 Practice
4/29/06 – 10:40pm Aaron’s 499 Qualifying
4/30/06 – 1:10pm Aaron’s 499

Busch Series @ Talladega
4/27/06 – 04:45pm Aaron’s 312 Practice
4/28/06 – 04:05pm Aaron’s 312 Qualifying
4/29/06 – 2:10pm Aaron’s 312

Craftsman Truck Series @ Gateway International Raceway
4/29/06 – 09:00am Dodge Ram Tough 200 Practice
4/29/06 – 03:30pm Dodge Ram Tough 200 Qualifying
4/29/06 – 07:00pm Dodge Ram Tough 200

Who’s Hot?
With Kevin Harvick’s sweep of last weekend, he has put himself almost out of reach in the Busch Series Championship race, and has catapulted himself into the top 10 of the Nextel Cup Championship race. After dismal 2004 & 2005 seasons, many thought his future in Nextel Cup would be uncertain. Kevin’s contract with Richard Childress Racing is up at the end of 2006, and many thought Richard would look for a fresh face to bring success to his ships. However, while Richard was hopping through the jungles of Africa, Kevin was roaring his way to victory lane in Phoenix.

The next stop on the Nextel Cup schedule is Talladega. Expect Kevin to finish well there. In 10 starts, his average finish is 13th.

Who’s Not?
Greg Biffle’s 2006 season is taking baby steps. After starting the season horribly, he has slowly begun to inch his way up the points standings. He currently sits in 21st position and 163 points out of the 10th place qualifying position for the Nextel Cup Championship race. Compare this to last year’s season where Greg Biffle finsihed the season in 2nd place, and I would say he’s thoroughly disgusted.

However, with the abundance of 1 1/2 mile tracks still to race at on the Nextel Cup circuit, don’t count Biffle out! The Roush Racing drivers all excel at the fast-tracks and if any of the drivers ahead of Biffle stumble, expect him to pounce!

Last Week’s Headlines
Recap of the 2006 Subway Fresh 500 at

It takes fuel to run at Phoenix!! Just ask Greg Biffle, Mark Martin, and Kevin Harvick. Fuel, or lack of, doomed Kevin Harvick last year as he was set to finish with a top 5 spot. This year, Greg Biffle and Mark Martin both ran out of the liquid gold on the final lap of the Subway Fresh 500.

This article is provided to you by Everything Sports, Inc. http://www.everythingstockcar.com/ is owned and operated by Everything Sports, Inc.

Total fitness is an ideal we all aspire to reach. But how do we define it? How do we know if we are going in the right direction? To be fit means being able to do what you need to do and to do it well. A swimmer may not be fit to run a marathon; a squash player could struggle to at the 100m hurdles. They are fit for their own sport because that is what they train for.

If you want to be fit, ask yourself fit for what?

Fitness is relative. Relative to the demands you place on your body. The ultimate goal, in my view, is the ability to meet the challenges that life throws at you. Not just your sport, but your career, your family and your leisure pursuits. If you can successfully handle life and not let your health suffer then this is approaching the ideal.

We hear about the 3s’, that is, strength, stamina and suppleness as attributes that determine your level of fitness, I would like to add two more, the first is synchronisation (coordination as we know it but it does begin with S). You may have strength but if the appropriate muscles are not firing at the right time, their strength will work against you. This may be resistance to a movement adding to the effort required, or worse still injury.

The other is judgement (okay I know this one doesn’t begin with S!). Your 4s’ are not worth much if you cannot make the right decision at the appropriate time. This may be during the course of play or about when you train or what sort of training you do.

Injuries can occur when wrong decisions are made. What if you decide to train too soon after a big event? You may have chosen a fitness program that is unsuitable for your sport. You may judge a shot to be possible but injury yourself if you have misjudged the distance. From a performance view, you may miss your chance to take the lead if you choose the wrong moment to up your pace. Can your read the game and make appropriate decisions? Are these qualities people consider when training for total fitness?

So your fitness to perform in your sport and away from it relies heavily on your ability to assess a situation and to act upon what you see. Your actions will be based upon your previous experiences, but are these reliable?

One obstacle you will have to face is habit. Habit is the hidden element in your pursuit of total fitness. It determines the way you move, what you feel and how you react. Are you aware of how much habit influences your performance?

You may be surprised at how habits may be limiting your performance. Your reliance on habit will also affect your judgement because you will react without allowing yourself to think – some call it a knee jerk reaction. So in addition to training your 4s’(your sport will dictate the requirements), you also need to practice your ability to stop and think. Athletes refer to this as being in the moment or the here and now. You will not usually find techniques to train this ability in most fitness programs.

The Alexander Technique is not a method that many sports people consider when looking to enhance performance, yet this radical movement system can add a whole new dimension to your thinking and training. Learning the technique will help to develop focus and awareness skills that are crucial to peak performance. If you keep doing the same things you will get the same results, so why not try something different, learn to use The Alexander Technique and challenge yourself in an entirely new way on your road to total fitness.

Hotel Rio is a 3 star hotel in Athens, located in 13, Odysseos str. – Karaiskaki sq.

Hotel Rio Athens, is located in the center of Athens, on the quiet pedestrian street of the Karaiskaki square, next the subway station METAXOURGHIO and quite near the international railway station. It is 1 Km away from the Syntagma sq, a 25 minutes drive from the Athens international airport and 15 minutes from the port of PIREAUS by subway.

RIO is a beautiful neoclassical building entirely restored, blending every modern convenience with the classical aesthetic.
The hotel rooms are welcoming and fitted out with air-conditioning, personal bath or shower, satellite TV, mini bar, hairdryer, direct dial phone with the aim of your complete comfort.

The Bar-Restaurant, at the ground floor, is the ideal place to relax enjoying drinks, food and pleasant music. It serves many kinds of drinks and Greek specialities until well after midnight.
“Hotel Rio Athens” is recommended in many international tourist guide books around the world not only for holidays stays, but also for business trips.
During all the year, everything is at your disposal, for a reasonable price, with a quality of service in a friendly environment.

Hotel RIO is also offering quality travel services for Athens or any other place in Greece. We can arrange your visit to Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros or other Greek islands at reasonable prices!

Other than AccommodationZ.com, our network also includes Reserver.it (where we list more than 2500 Hotels in Italy with secure online reservation) and Siteseeings.com, where you can make reservations for sightseeings in Italy, tours in Rome and also in the Amalfi Coast.

One of the cardinal rules of sports betting is don’t let your heart rule your head.

Sometimes, that’s easier said than done.

Ask Boston native Robert Jaynes, the Stratosphere Tower’s race and sports director.

He’s standing pat with the Pats, winners of the last two Super Bowls.

Then there’s Jay Kornegay, race and sports director at the Las Vegas Hilton and a graduate of Colorado State University.

Guess who he’ll be pulling for in the NFL Playoffs this weekend?

And what are the Denver Broncos, 3 1/2-point favorites over New England in a Saturday AFC game, going to do to the Pats?

“They’re going to kick booty,” said Kornegay, whose office is adorned with orange and navy Broncos memorabilia.

“They’re better than a lot of people thought they’d be. To come out of the regular season 13-3 is pretty good.

“The Super Bowl? I think it’ll be difficult. I think they’ll lose to Indy.”

Jaynes obviously doesn’t believe Denver will get that far.

“The Pats are a long shot,” Jaynes conceded, “but they’re peaking at the right time. They started the season kind of shaky, but the (regular) season is 16 games long and they’re still standing.

“People have the impression that if you don’t start off the season with a bunch of wins, you’re out of the picture, but the Pats had some injuries to deal with earlier.

“We opened Pittsbugh (versus Indy) plus 9 and it’s currently 9 1/2,” Jaynes continued

“The NFC is tough … any one of them, I’d say.

“We got a lot of futures and early money on the Bears, but we always get money on Chicago, Los Angeles and San Diego teams, so that’s nothing unusual.

“We have the most (futures) money on Seattle, but we’ve seen late money on the Redskins.

“Carolina has an outside chance — they’re peaking at the right time — but we don’t have as much money on the Panthers as the others.”

The Hilton has seen minimal action on this weekend’s games and what has come in has been against the SuperBook’s opening numbers.

“We opened Seattle minus 10 and it’s now 9 1/2,” said Jeff Sherman, one of Kornegay’s top aides.

“We’re seeing Panthers and Redskin money. The Bears are now minus $1.35 on the money line.

“We opened New England plus 4 and it’s now plus 3 1/2 minus $1.20.”

Kornegay says it’s kind of a Catch 22 for him when it comes to the Broncos.

“I don’t bet on these games, but when I pick against the Broncos nobody takes it serously and when I pick them, they say, “Oh, you’re just a Broncos fan.

“I can’t win.”

When browsing for a good offer on fridges and freezers looking on-line will be a lovely way to conserve time and money. Do not choose to spend your time looking around scores of high-street retail shops in a quest for the best bargains – simply get to your laptop and log on and a brand new exciting planet of fridges is waiting for you online.

Even so, with innumerous online stores how do you know which retailer could not waste your hard earned cash on fridges whilst nonetheless guaranteeing you get a high quality fridge. As a rule of thumb should you acquire your new fridge from a shop on your high street then you shouldn’t realistically have any major concerns about buying your fridge from their web-site, and as you should all realise that you will probably typically get significantly lower price tags on the internet.

Reading over a good shoppers guide is consistently the optimal place to start when you’re surveying the market place for fridges – buyers guides are commonly crammed with a wealth of information and also raise points you might often not have thought through on your own. These issues can include; power consumption, further features and total capacity amongst further things.

Do not regularly go with the ‘cheapest price’ – too regularly ofttimes the first price you notice on a site could not include value added tax or home delivery charges furthermore, when you reach the card payment point in the process you conceivably might well be paying a great deal more than you first thought.

What date do you need it by? Not all on-line options offer high-speed home delivery and if your original appliance has just stopped working you might often not desire to wait three weeks for your brand new one. So be sure to constantly find out what the estimated home delivery date will be.

Check the returns policy – fridges are a difficult item to purchase; sometimes they seem fantastic in the showroom or on a website but when you get it to your home you come to the realisation it doesn’t match your home at all. Therefore, you should always be careful. Looking on untrustworthy websites for cheap fridges is a waste of your time.

Things to Know About Fishing Charter

Recreation is an essential factor in the life of every human being. The anglers or the fishermen represent the largest single group of recreational seekers, and have a decided advantage over the other groups who utilize nature’s creatures and elements for recreation or food.

The popularity of fishing in many areas has been largely based upon the angling pressure, which is far beyond the normal capacity of the streams and lakes. There are species of fish for every type of angler and each one may choose the species of fish or the method of fishing that has the greatest personal appeal or attraction.

It is for this reason that many people are enticed to spend their vacation in a fishing activity. But, for people who would like to have planned fishing activities, they opt for fishing charters.

Fishing charter is one way of enjoying fishing even if an individual does not have the means or the equipment as far as fishing is concerned. It aims to provide the necessary services in a fishing activity.

However, not all fishing charters are created equal. Hence, it is important to know the factors required to be taken into account before jumping into conclusions.

Here is a list of some mportant factors that need to be considered:

1. The cost of the trip

Like any financial decision, people who would like to use fishing charter should know the required charges of the trip.

It is best to know the necessary requirements like deposits or contract agreements before committing to a fishing charter.

Best of all, people should be aware of the items they are paying for. They should know what the kinds of services included on the package are.

2. The length of time required in each charter trip.

Most captains are enticed to do a little fishing before going back to the dock. This will not pose a problem at all but if it will cost the person, who requested the service, additional charges for extra minutes or hours spent beyond the agreed number of hours, then, that is a problem.

Hence, it is important for the individual to know what time the charter will start and end.

3. The captain

It is important for a person who wants to engage in a fishing charter to know the competency and the skills of the captain. Hence, in order to have a successful fishing activity, it is best to get the experienced captain.

A fishing charter is one way of enjoying fishing at its best.

After just 30 games, the head coach for last year’s Northwest division winner has been fired. Bob Weis went 13-17 in his short-lived tenure as Sonics coach. His exit doesn’t sit well with superstar Ray Allen which should be concerning for Sonics management.


The reason this move is so surprising is that Ray Allen practically handpicked Bob Weis to coach the team after Nate McMillan left. It’s dubious that Allen would’ve stayed aboard the Sonics franchise had he known a coach not of his choosing would be managing him. We last saw this bait and switch maneuver in Indiana, where Donnie Walsh kept Isaiah Thomas just long enough to get Jermaine O’Neal to sign a 6-yr contract, only to oust Thomas a few weeks later.


For Weis to be fired this early in the season leads me to suspect that team President Wally Walker didn’t want him to coach the squad to begin with. Sure 13-17 isn’t the best record to have, but they aren’t that far out of the division lead. Truthfully it’s partially Walker’s fault the team isn’t as good as last year.


With Danny Fortson injured and Antonio Daniels and Jerome James gone, the team has absolutely no defensive intensity. To this point they allow over 100 a game and are dead last in the NBA in rebounding; that’s not getting it done in the Western Conference.


It’s understandable why Weis was fired. Yet, it seems that chemistry problems that could occur weren’t anticipated in the decision. Ray Allen is the one guy you want to stay happy. Seattle may not be the cream of the crop, but they’re a lottery team without Allen. We saw from the Gary Payton/Ray Allen trade that the Sonics don’t mind trading franchise players because of chemistry issues. With players like Flip Murray and Reggie Evans probably out the door within the next year, conflicts could from the decision.


Replacing Weis is a coach who for a while has been equally as removed from a head coaching spot: Bob Hill. You may remember Bob Hill as the Spurs coach in the mid-90’s who didn’t exactly tolerate Dennis Rodman. So while he didn’t manage the chemistry perfectly he did get San Antonio within a few games of the Finals. Personally I don’t think he’ll do much better than Weis but will at least keep his job until the end of the year.

Check out our website to get the latest live NBA Odds and more expert articles on sports.

There is a golf swing secret that can change everything for any golfer. There is no doubt that executing the perfect golf swing is a difficult feat and doing it consistently is even harder to accomplish.

This golf swing secret is so powerful that those who practice it start seeing massive improvements in their game almost immediately.

This golf swing secret is based on the fact that the golf swing is an awkward movement. Awkward to the human body. So what any golfer has to do is to train their muscles to feel natural when performing this unnatural and awkward motion of a golf swing. That is the golf swing secret that will make all the difference.

The first and most common excuse you will hear from the vast majority of golfers is that they do not have the time to get in any exercise. Many struggle just to get the time to play their golf in the first place.

Part of this golf swing secret is that you do not need to create any time to get away from the office or your work station. You can condition your muscles right in the office.

You cannot truthfully say that you can’t find 15 seconds at your computer, while still seated on your chair. That is enough time to get something done.

There are actually many different stretch exercises you can get done in your office, but I will give you just one here. I call it the seated twist. Sit upright in your chair with chest high and your back straight. Reach behind you with one arm, which will rotate your upper body. While staying erect, twist as far as you can go and hold. You can then twist the other way and repeat.

Go both sides 2 to 3 times, holding for 10 seconds. This is a very effective golf swing secret for eliminating or even reducing back pain and at the same time tremendously improving your backswing and follow through range of motions. The result will be a much better swing, higher club head speed and much more distance.

Try this approach and you will soon agree with me that this is truly an amazing golf swing secret.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is the featured expert for Golf Magazine’s GolfOnline.com site, one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at his golf swing trainer site – Perform Better Golf.

Many professional golf instructors refer to golf posture as “spine angle.” If you’ve taken lessons or have spent much time learning proper technique to improve your game, you have most likely heard the phrase many times. Good posture for the golf swing can greatly influence your ability to produce power. Without stability of your posture, a powerful and effective golf swing is very difficult and can result in injury and strains.

Good functional posture improves your swinging action and lets you transfer more force in your ball strike. Body structure and posture are unique traits, but an improper golf swing can cause certain muscle imbalances. These imbalances might not be obvious until they cause a disruptive physical problem.

The body slowly adapts to poor posture, and some body parts, like the neck, shoulder, back, and hip, may be overused to balance for loss of motion in other areas of the body. By performing a few simple exercises regularly, however, you can improve and maintain good posture and thus improve your swinging power.

The goal of exercise for posture is to improve both static and dynamic balance to develop functional stability during the swing. The postural muscles are located throughout the body. The primary role of these muscles is to hold the skeletal system and joint structures in proper alignment so the larger and stronger muscles can produce the desired body movements while keeping good balance.

Some common problems that are affected by posture are:
o Difficulty keeping your eye on the ball during your swing.
o Difficulty to transfer force from the lower body to the upper body.
o Compromised swing patterns.
o Poor club head speed and club control.

By performing a golf fitness routine on a regular basis, you will increase overall muscle strength, balance, and flexibility. All of these contribute to your ability to maintain an effective golf posture for a powerful golf swing no matter what the lie.

Commit yourself to proper preparation through strength and flexibility exercises designed to address current muscle imbalances and you’ll unleash a whole new level of play.

Susan Hill is a nationally recognized golf fitness trainer and Chek golf biomechanic. She is a writer for Golf Illustrated, Travel Golf, and Resort Golf among others. Her work has been featured in Self magazine and on ESPN. For more information on golf specific programs, visit www.fitnessforgolf.com.