Watch Out For Michigan State

English: LANSING, Mich. (Oct. 25, 2011) Tom Izzo, head coach of the Michigan State University Spartans, prepares his team for a game against the University of North Carolina in the inaugural Quicken Loans Carrier Classic basketball game. The game will be played aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) on Veteran's Day, Nov. 11. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Danals/Released) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is hoping that the Spartans are on form. Michigan State are on the verge of playing their second top-five match-up of the Ohio State basketball season. 

Tom Izzo is hoping that this match will be a great game. But he is fully aware that Michigan State have a lot to learn and plenty of challenging games ahead of them.

The Spartans are ranked fifth in the Ohio State basketball league, but the winners of the next game go into first place by just half a game ahead of the top ten teams like Wisconsin, who are ranked fourth at present. But Michigan State still have plenty of games to play.

Two months ago Michigan State was a second ranking team playing in the Ohio State basketball league. They forged ahead after beating Kentucky, who were the number one team at the time. The Spartans have won six games in a row after losing to North Carolina.

Ohio State basketball is off to a great start. The team have defended well and their defense tactics have paid off. Izzo hopes that Keith Appling,the well-known Michigan State player, doesn't try to outdo Aaron Craft.

The Ohio State basketball league is full of talented players and Appling and Keith play the game very differently. Michigan State have all to play for in the forthcoming game. Craft was named as the player of the week when he averaged seven assists, three steals and five rebounds without turning the ball. 

Michigan State is hoping that Appling will play well on both sides of the paint. The Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta felt that they need to disrupt Appling's rhythm wherever possible. Matta has a lot of respect for Tom Izzo, he feels that Izzo has done great things for Michigan State and he has gone about it in the right way.

Sports Carnival Ecstasy - February 23, 2012

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Welcome to the February 23, 2012 edition of Sports Carnival Ecstasy.In this edition we have an article by Eva Ardenav on the 25 Most Memorable Moments in Pro Sports History. Lisa Hood takes a look at 10 Reasons Non-Sports Fans Should Care About Jeremy Lin. We continue with our Linsanity with an post on 5 Ways to be Linspired by Linsanity by Charles Chua C K. And finally Bill Smith interviews David Perkins who Fell in Love with Ohio State during the high school recruiting process. Hope you enjoy the material, bookmark, share, tweet, like on Facebook, and come back next time.

Eva Ardenav presents 25 Most Memorable Moments in Pro Sports History : Ninth Inning Blog posted at Masters in Sports Management.

Lisa Hood presents 10 Reasons Non-Sports Fans Should Care About Jeremy Lin posted at ZenCollegeLife, saying, "The 23-year-old phenom is breaking records and providing a fresh face, and much needed positive press, to the NBA."

basketball

wizard presents Training Your Tendons: The Best Way For an Athlete to Prevent Injuries posted at Wizard Corpse.

Evan Hoon presents The Sports World Through a Teenager's Eyes posted at The Sports World Through a Teenager's Eyes.

Joe Issid presents Top 10 Athlete Names for the Pun Hungry posted at Joe Issid.

Joe Issid presents What’s in a Name? The Perfect Jeremy Lin Storm posted at Joe Issid.

Charles Chua C K presents 5 Ways to be Linspired by Linsanity posted at All About Living with Life.

football

Bill Smith presents 2012 Linebacker Camren Williams Switch from Penn State to Ohio State posted at BrutusReport, saying, "Recruiting analysts heard about a mid December visit of 2012 Catholic Memorial linebacker Camren Williams as he was arriving in Columbus with his family on December 12th."

Bill Smith presents Joey O’Connor Completes the 2012 Ohio State Offensive Line Class posted at BrutusReport, saying, "Ohio State Buckeye recruiting has picked up with the approaching 2012 National Letter of Intent Signing Day right around the corner in early February."

Bill Smith presents Defensive Highlights of 2012 CB Armani Reeves posted at eScoutRoom, saying, "In this highlight film of 2012 DB Armani Reeves, we get to see the Ohio State commit’s skills playing cornerback, kick return defensive and kick return."

Bill Smith presents Camren Williams Catholic Memorial HS West Roxbury MA posted at eScoutRoom, saying, "This Camren Williams highlight film from 247SportsStudio is pretty much the same video material from BlueCarolina.com but shows how Williams can clog up space in the middle not allowing running backs any room to get up field."

Bill Smith presents David Perkins Fell in Love with Ohio State posted at eScoutRoom, saying, "Ohio State had a major recruiting weekend in the middle of January which focused on a position of need for 2012, linebackers."

wizard presents easy training and growing muscle | Wizard Corpse posted at wizard corpse, saying, "Muscle development aids in Athleticperformance, lern how to improve yours"

Sameer Thakur presents webloggged: David Beckham : The dumbest man ever born. posted at webloggged.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of sports carnival ecstasy using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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• Sports Carnival Ecstasy - December 8, 2011 (escoutroom.com)
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9 Ways to Improve the NBA

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The NBA has a lot it could do to improve. Everyone knows this. Even the players. Even the owners. So why don't they do something about it? You guessed it. Money. That little detail aside, here are nine things the NBA could do to improve itself...easily.

#1 Make the regular season a lot shorter. We all know the lockout-induced season this year is only going to be 66 games. This is probably a little bit too short. But 82 games, a normal season these days, is way too long. Players get hurt, they don't play defense, and they struggle to make it to the end of the season. For many fans, watching the playoffs is the extent of their fanaticism. This is sad. Watching players slog through a too-long season is also so. Somewhere around 70 games would be perfect. College baseball players double the amount of games they play in the pros, and football players play around 50% more. Basketball players play three times as many. Time to change that.

#2 Change the referee system. First of all, hire more referees so that players and referees don't develop relationships, bad or good. This can only lead to bias in calling the game. Also, show us stats on referees. And please hire more athletic refs while you're at it, possibly even some ex-NBA players. The ones you have now can't keep up.

#3 Slash players’ salaries. This doesn't even need an explanation. Players make too much, which leads to ridiculous ticket prices, and ridiculous prices for concessions. I do not need to pay nine bucks for a 12 ounce beer. Owners, coaches and admin don't need to make as much, either.

#4 Cut back on the number of playoff teams. Teams with 39 wins don't need to participate in the playoffs. It's not competitive, and it's not good for ratings. I know this issue is once again about money, but come on! We don't need to see playoff sweep after playoff sweep in the first round. It's not fun for us to watch, or for the low seeded team to play, when we pretty much know the outcome.

#5 Bring fairness to NBA scheduling. Teams do not need to play on back-to-back days. This would only be fair if all teams got an equal number of these disasters, but they don't. So, in the spirit of fair play, let's try to eliminate these from teams’ schedules. There are often scheduling conflicts at certain stadiums that make this difficult, but if it isn't possible, at least try to make it equal.

#6 No more minimum age rule. One-and-done should go the way of the Dodo. Players who know they're going pro after a year of college barely complete a semester of school. One semester of college? And then you can go pro? Who thought of this rule? These kids are getting nothing out of college, and the schools are doing everything they can to get around this rule, including borderline cheating. Get rid of it and set up some sort of more sophisticated developmental league.

#7 Guaranteed money? No more. Guaranteed salaries in the NBA have caused more problems than they have solved. Signing bonuses, or less years guaranteed would probably work out better. Or guarantees that only come into effect based on performance. We don't need to see any more players slacking in their later years because they have a huge guaranteed salary. No more faking injuries, or taking too long to get surgery and waiting until the regular season begins, please.

#8 Make the trade rules more lenient. With the recent trade issues, it's obvious that the rules need to be changed. I understand not wanting one team to be a dynasty, but come on. Let the trades happen. GMs are not stupid people; usually they have the ability to figure out what's best for their team. There should still be a "that's a ridiculous trade" clause in the rules where it's obvious there's a fire-sale going on, but let the trades happen.

#9 Finally, make the luxury tax fair. I understand the concept behind the tax, but it keeps the small market teams down and the larger market teams on top. It needs to be changed to be based on revenue and the size of that teams market for it to work. Minnesota and Chicago are way different in terms of size, so why doesn't this matter when it comes to the luxury tax. The penalties are the same for both teams, which really makes it hard for the Timberwolves to field a competitive team. Change the luxury tax now. Tax the wealthy.

All of these changes would make the NBA not only a better product for fans to watch, but a better place for the players to play. Change is not always a bad thing.

Rich Spaulding is CEO of Gold Star Games, a tailgate gear and cornhole bags supplier.

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Sports Carnival ecstasy - November 15, 2011

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Welcome to the November 15, 2011 edition of Sports Carnival Ecstasy.We start this edition with an article on the top 10 athletes who beat cancer by Tanya Yoworski. Juliet Jones has another list, this time its the top 8 sport agents that have changed the game. SteveR has an article on the OK Thunder for those missing the NBA season. Yimzoo feels Peyton Manning should win the NFL MVP even if he doesn't play at all this year. And finally Jean Rumsey takes a look at three different NHL games. Hope you enjoy the sports articles, bookmark, share, tweet, like on Facebook and come back soon.

Stacey Laird presents The Top 10 Most Ticketed Vehicles posted at CarInsurance.org, saying, "Some cars are chick magnets, and others just attract tickets."

Tanya Yoworski presents 10 Famous Athletes Who Managed to Beat Cancer posted at Medical Billing and Coding Certification, saying, "Tanya.Yoworski@gmail.com"

Lucas Liam presents 25 Q&A Sites on Becoming a Sports Agent : Ninth Inning Blog posted at Masters in Sports Management, saying, "Working in sports can be a very exciting career, but it can also be a difficult field to get started in. If you are interested in becoming a sports agent, there are probably many questions you may have about the job itself. These helpful Q&A sites will help answer many of the questions you have come across during your education and career. There is even a section where sports agents answer questions themselves."

Juliet Jones presents 8 Sports Agents Who Changed the Field posted at Business Insurance, saying, "As Albert Pujols attempted to bring St. Louis its second World Series title in six seasons, his agent, Dan Lozano, was preparing for one of the most-high profile negotiations in sports history."

Lisa Hood presents The 10 Most Spectacular Sports Stadiums in the World posted at ZenCollegeLife, saying, "Sports are a huge part of our daily lives."

Anthony Dominick presents 25 Great Sites to Learn About Professional Sports Scouting posted at Masters in Sports Administration, saying, "Sports administration is a competitive field, and becoming a professional sports scout can take many years of experience. One of the best ways to get into and maintain a career in this field is to stay informed. These incredible sites offer the best information available about sports scouting and can help give you insider information to learn more about the field."

basketball

SteveR presents The Oklahoma City Thunder: A Young Team on the Rise posted at FryingPan Sports, saying, "A few years back hurricane Katrina barreled through New Orleans leaving buildings crushed and families without homes."

SteveR presents Top NBA Dunk Contest Winners of All-Time posted at FryingPan Sports, saying, "Back in the 80s, the NBA’s yearly slam dunk contest gave the league popularity that it could only dream of."

SteveR presents Celtics versus Lakers Rivalry Stands the Test of time posted at FryingPan Sports, saying, "Last summer, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers added yet another stunning chapter to the greatest rivalry in National Basketball Association history, as they wrapped up another epic war at the 2010 NBA Finals."

football

SteveR presents Ohio State vs Wisconsin: Russell Wilson Creates Defensive Challenge posted at BrutusReport, saying, "The coaching staff at Ohio State is hoping their team can put together a performance that redeems their season tonight in Ohio Stadium in front of a national audience."

SteveR presents No 2 Demetrious Cox- Jeannette posted at eFilmRoom, saying, "Demetrious Cox out of Jeannette, the same school that produced Terrelle Pryor and Ohio State running back Jordan Hall, is a 2012 recruit that is drawing a lot of attention nationally"

SteveR presents Michael Thomas Taft High Football Highlights 2010-11 posted at eFilmRoom, saying, "Michael Thomas was a top receiver out of the 2011 recruiting class nationally but made a decision to spend a semester at Fork Union Military Academy prior to starting college."

SteveR presents Why Stanford QB Luck will not be a Colt in 2012 posted at FryingPan Sports, saying, "There is a lot of talk in the sports world about which NFL team will by Luck(y). Most people believe that the winner (by losing) will be either the Rams, the Dolphins or the Colts. None of those teams have won a game so far."

Curtis Choy presents Occupy New York (Jets) posted at The High Motor Guy, saying, "update on NY Jets backup QB Mark Brunell"

Yimzzo presents
Yimzzo - Peyton for MVP posted at Yimzzo, saying, "Peyton For MVP, even if he sits out the entire year"

Yimzzo presents Giants will lose 5 in a row! | Yimzzo posted at Yimzzo, saying, "Giants will drop the next 5 in a row"

SteveR presents Ohio State vs Indiana, Jordan Hall Unlikely posted at BrutusReport, saying, "With a ankle sprain suffered last weekend against Wisconsin, running back and kick returner Jordan Hall is unlikely to play this coming weekend against Indiana."

SteveR presents Braxton Miller Named Big 10 Freshman of the Week posted at BrutusReport, saying, "The Ohio State Buckeyes took on the Wisconsin Badgers this past Saturday Night in Ohio Stadium and thanks to some fourth quarter heroics by freshman quarterback Braxton Miller, they were able to pull off the upset 33-29."

SteveR presents #2 Demetrious Cox- Jeannette posted at eFilmRoom, saying, "In this highlight film from FinestPrep.com, Jeannette PA safety prospect Demetrious Cox is shown hitting receivers hard as they make receptions or try to gain yards after a catch."

SteveR presents Joe Paterno Fired By Penn State After Sex Scandal Exposed posted at BrutusReport, saying, "Joe Paterno, the winningest coach in college football, should have retired years ago and finally made the decision to retire at the end of this season in the face of a media storm brought on by the arrest of his former defensive coach Jerry Sandusky."

hockey

Jean Rumsey presents Phoenix Coyotes November 10 2011 Phoenix Coyotes vs. Montreal Canadiens posted at Sports Tickets Schedule, saying, "Are you a fan of the Phoenix Coyotes? The team is playing on Thursday, November 10 2011at the well-known stadium in Arizona."

Jean Rumsey presents Anaheim Ducks vs. Los Angeles Kings at Arrowhead Pond Of Anaheim ? November 17 posted at Sports Tickets Schedule, saying, "The Anaheim Mighty Ducks are back in action on 11-17-2011 at the Arrowhead Pond Of Anaheim."

Jean Rumsey presents 11-23-2011 Detroit Red Wings vs. Calgary Flames at Joe Louis Arena Detroit,Michigan posted at Sports Tickets Schedule, saying, "Detroit Red Wings Fans: You don’t want to miss the approaching Detroit Red Wings vs. Calgary Flames game on November 23 2011 at 07:00 PM. This will definitely be a game to remember at the Joe Louis Arena."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of sports carnival ecstasy using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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• Sports Carnival Ecstasy - September 29, 2011 (brutusreport.blogspot.com)
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The Champ of Champs: Which Championship Game is the Best?

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Each of the major North American sporting leagues (football, hockey, baseball, and basketball) does its best to promote its championship as the most exciting, entertaining, enjoyable sports experience that any viewer could hope to experience. However, they obviously can’t all be right, can they?

From a purely marketing perspective, the SuperBowl is the clear winner. Based on the single-game nature of the SuperBowl, everything surrounding the event has become almost as important as the championship game itself. The NFL has convinced millions of non-sports fans to watch a major sporting event purely for the commercials. This has allowed them to charge whatever prices they want for advertising time. It is also impossible to argue with the raw number of people who view the SuperBowl every year.

However, if people spend more time the next day talking about the commercials than the actually game itself, can it be considered the best, or most successful? Also, while the single game nature of the NFL championship is extremely exciting, one game prevents a great deal of the drama and evolving storylines that makes many of the other leagues championships so amazing.

From a purely historical standpoint, Major League Baseball seems to have the strongest claim when it comes to championship games. Unfortunately, age and adherence to the past have left baseball a slow, boring game in the eyes of many sports fans. Unless a major city is involved in the October competition, attendance and television ratings are the lowest of any of the major sports.

The NBA recently enjoyed one its most successful post seasons ever in terms of ticket sales and television ratings. This culminated in near record numbers for the NBA finals. The seven game, alternating location format of the championship series allows for levels of strategic complication and planning unavailable in the NFL with its single game championship. Star power and player accessibility is allowing the NBA to challenge the NFL when it comes to superiority in the hearts and televisions of many Americans.

Sadly, the NHL is not currently in a position where it can challenge any of the other major sports leagues in terms of financial success or popularity, at least not south of the Canadian border. Only a few years removed from a lockout, and with numerous teams struggling to fill arenas, the Stanley Cup Finals may be an exciting event for diehard fans, but it is doomed to ratings obscurity.

From a strict numbers perspective, the SuperBowl is the clear winner among North American championship games, breaking U.S. television records in 2011 with an average of 111 million viewers. Though even adding the total number of viewers over the six games of the NBA finals together only yields a total viewership of just under 103 million people, the NBA numbers have been steadily rising over the last several years, leading to a potential succession in the coming years. Sadly, baseball and hockey both lag far behind.

Amber Tate is a sports fanatic but loves saving money more. Her Kanetix life insurance policy provides all of the benefits necessary for her family.

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