Dontrelle Willis is a pretty professional baseball player; she has appeared in the World Series, pitched in an All-Star game and almost won a Cy Young Award in her brief but brilliant career. But, he has never played for his country yet, but that comes to an end when the Marlins pitcher will play for Team USA. He will take the field against Mexico in a first round game of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in Phoenix.

Playing for your country means much more than just playing. You have to play hard; you have to make people proud, that’s why patriotism takes up this World Baseball Classic event. Miguel Cabrera is another example of an MLB player who will be experiencing some of these feelings playing for his country of Venezuela in his WBC debut this afternoon wondering what it would be like to lead his home.

Yet for all that patriotism, Cuba is one of the teams that is committed to putting on a good show. Their record of three Olympic championships and 25 World Cup wins clearly makes them the top amateur team, but they’ve never played a top pro team aside from a couple of showings against the Baltimore Orioles seven years ago.

Do you have any idea what single-seater racing is? If you’ve seen the Indy 500 car race, you’ve seen open car racing, a thrilling type of racing action where drivers reach speeds in excess of 230 mph. Kart racing is similar to open wheel motor sports, using a fast racing kart. Kart racing is often used as a stepping stone to faster and more expensive auto racing, where a large number of professional drivers got their start.

When most people visualize go-karts, the idea that comes to mind is usually the slow go-karts seen at family amusement parks. Top speeds achieved on almost all amusement center tracks are on the order of 15 miles per hour, but various other forms of go-karts can reach top speeds in excess of 160 mph.

Kart racing is a regulated motor sport and allows anyone aged 8 and over to drive. As young children grow in talent in a regulated environment, they can progress to faster kart racing as they become more skilled.

In addition to the various kart racing leagues, Kid Karts karting courses are offered for children ages 8 and sometimes younger. These programs are continuous until the age of 16, where the youngsters will reach senior position. This is a great approach for young children to get involved in go-kart racing in a safe and fun environment.

You can find a large number of different varieties of kart racing, including sprint, sprint, and endurance, often called enduro racing. Speed ​​races take place on small race tracks that require both left and right turns. Race tracks typically range in size from a quarter mile to a mile. A normal speed kart race that includes preliminary kart races, also called heats, that are only a few spans in length. The top drivers in each qualifying race will advance to the championship race where the ultimate winner will emerge.

Speedway races are similar to some Indy Car races, occurring on oval tracks with only left turns. The basic variation is the size of the race track, with kart racing tracks being much smaller, usually between 1/6 and 1/4 of a mile. The tracks are typically asphalt or clay and have two straights and 4 left turns.

Some race tracks will not be oval, but may have a triangular design or some other outline. Occasionally the race course may consist of dirt, allowing for extremely fun racing. A unique go kart chassis has been produced for use on these left turn race tracks that improve the handling of the kart. Despite this, the use of these “dirt track” go kart frames will not be the best if used in other types of racing such as drag racing.

As with speed races, speedway races will typically use heats to find out which drivers compete in the main event. The qualifying heats will normally last 4 or 5 laps and the final race will last a full twenty laps. Endurance races, also known as Enduro races, have a set duration, usually from half an hour to 24 hours or more. For shorter kart races, all that is needed is a single driver for a racing kart. On the other hand, for longer Enduro races, there is usually more than one driver for each kart, and they will take turns driving, allowing for a periodic break.

Most of us are too young to remember the good old days of Joe Namath and John Madden, two of the most influential people ever associated with the American Football League. Beginning September 16, Showtime will air a five-part documentary titled Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League. Broadcast every Wednesday at 8:00 pm ET, the programming provides insight into the unique brand of soccer and originality of AFL member clubs. AFL footage courtesy of NFL Films, which chronicled and documented the league from 1960 to 1969.

What most people don’t realize is that the AFL helped change the way all sports are played. You see before Michael Jordan stuck out his tongue as he glided through the air, before Tiger Woods raised his fist as he hit the game-winning putt, before all the touchdown dances you see in every football game today. There was no celebration after a great moment, it was considered disrespectful to your opponent because sports were considered a gentleman’s game.

All that changed with the birth of the AFL. The AFL began when the league’s founder, Lamar Hunt, was turned down by the NFL when he tried to buy an NFL team. Distracted by not being able to buy a kit while he was flying on a plane, he came up with the idea. Through a lot of hard work, he put together an eight-team league and set out to prove that he could build a league to rival the mighty NFL. The eight teams were the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Dallas Texans, Boston Patriots, New York Titans, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Oilers.

While the league started out with hardly anyone attending the games, it soon gained momentum as people began to see the flamboyant style of play. The guys were high-fiving each other on the field, New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath was drawn to the fur coats on the sidelines, it was fun and seats started to fill up fast.

While the league was fun to watch because of all the enthusiasm the players exhibited, it wasn’t just a spectacular league. The AFL had many talented players who went on to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, legends like Fred Biletnikoff, Willie Brown, Bob Griese, Larry Little, OJ Simpson, Gene Upshaw and Art Shell. Even my nine- and four-year-olds know the name John Madden, not because they’ve seen him coach the Oakland Raiders, but because of the video game they love to play. The AFL not only revolutionized professional football, it made buying merchandise from your favorite team more common then and even now.

The AFL eventually merged with the NFL in 1970 and helped shape the league we know today. While some teams are still in the same location from their inaugural AFL season, some have changed names or locations. The Dallas Texans are now the Kansas City Chiefs, the Boston Patriots adopted a region and play today as the New England Patriots, the New York Titans changed their name to the New York Jets, their home Shea Stadium, very close to the busy airports . New York and the Houston Oilers moved to the Northeast to become the Tennessee Titans.

During the course of the 2009-10 NFL season, the eight original AFL teams will wear their old throwback uniforms when playing each other in honor of the AFL’s 50th anniversary. While some of the uniforms are probably the worst seen since Batman and Robin with Adam West in the 1960s, it shows how far football has come.

It was October 1925 when the New York Football Giants first played another football team, the Frankford Yellow Jackets. Their debut was not that successful as they lost to the other team with a devastating score of 14-0. Unknown to them then, this would be the icebreaker of a series of big plays that fans would definitely love.

The team’s good fortune began when Tim Mara (bookmaker, businessman, and promoter) bought the team for just $500. Back then, football was not as famous as boxing and baseball. Professional football started kicking to the ground as soon as the Giants started jumping.
 
The first decade was a time of financial scarcity for the team, but that’s when they won their first title in the third season. During the 1930s, the stock market was at its lowest point and the depression was reaching everyone, but this good news lifted the spirits of those who began to love the game of football.
 
the known sneaker set, a game where the New York Giants battled the Chicago Bears, turned out to be a victorious battle. World War II took most of the football players and many teams succumbed to the ravages of war and folded. The New York Giants were one of the few teams to survive this phase of struggle in the 1940s.
 
The 1950s proved to be fruitful years for the Giants as more and more of their team became household names. Names like Eddie Price, Rosie Brown, Kyle Rote, Frank Gifford, Tom Landry and Sam Huff have captured the hearts of soccer lovers and ushered in a new era for professional soccer leagues. 1961-1963 were very successful years for the Giants, but these years also produced retiring players. With most of its key players gone, the team fell into mediocrity.
 
The 1970s and 1980s were seen years for the Giants and it was only in 1990 that they won their second Super Bowl when they played the Buffalo Bills. With an additional owner in the person of successful Preston businessman Robert Tisch, the team had a brighter future. In 1997, the team finished as the only undefeated team in the NFC East Division. In 2000, the New York Giants won the NFC East title. For 2002, the Giants have won their last four regular season football games.
 
For this day, giant tickets remain as the best sellers in the NFL. There are websites that offer sold-out and hard-to-get Giants tickets. [http://www.big-ticketdeals.com/ResultsEvent.aspx?event=New+York+Giants] (Fans can buy or sell tickets on these sites.) Hurry up and get one soon, before tickets sell out.

Major League Baseball (MLB) is one of the most watched sports in the United States. Aside from the game and the players, one of the things that the crowd looks forward to is seeing the team uniforms, especially at the start of the MLB season.

For some, uniforms are just what they are: something to identify a person or team. But for many others, especially players, baseball jerseys are more than identification. They define a person and a team. They increase the confidence and morale of a team.

For MLB fans, baseball jerseys are like a fashion statement. They are buttoned shirts with unique designs. In other words, they can be used outside of the game. You can wear them on a normal day and manage to look fashionable.

To give you an idea of ​​which baseball jersey you should have in your closet, we’ve decided to rank the top FIVE based on design, logo, color, and impact on the crowd.

The most impressive uniforms in the MLB

Of the 30 teams, here are the top five with the most impressive uniforms:

New York Yankees

Part of the reason the Yankees uniform tops the list is familiarity. No matter where you are in the world, you will always find people wearing the Yankees cap. And then of course the pinstripes. Blue pinstripes are a kind of trademark. It is something that has made it easy for some people to identify baseball, especially those who are not yet very familiar with the teams and the game. And mind you, Yankees pinstripes look good. They add to the “cool” factor. Imagine Derek Jeter walking right in front of you in his pinstripe suit!

The Yankees logo also stands out. It has become a symbol of the city. It is easy to recognize and looks really clean and neat, pleasing to the eye.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals uniform is a classic. His white home jersey, showing the red birds perched on the yellow bat, truly represents the team. The Cardinals recently introduced a throwback off-white uniform. The birds are still on the top of the bat, but instead of “St. Louis Cardinals” printed on the front, it’s just “St. Louis.” The birds and the bat look better too. Fans love the throwback, but many say white is still their favorite.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The simple script and logo on the Dodgers uniform is what defines the team. His style is attractive. It has a growing effect on you. The blue and white colors also make the uniform look refreshing. Player numbers (on the front) are in red, but do not break the effect. The numbers stand out but aren’t dazzling.

Boston Red Sox

The biggest and most obvious reason to choose the Red Sox uniform is its simplicity. It hasn’t gone through many changes over the years, but Red Sox players can still stand out in a crowd of thousands. The combination of white, red and blue must have something to do with it.

Oakland Athletics

Not many may agree with this choice, but the A’s uniform made it to this list for a reason: its colors are distinctive. The team’s signature colors (California Gold, Hunter Green and White) feature prominently in the evolution of their jerseys. Your color schemes are yours and yours alone; nobody thought to use them. And the team used them well.

The style of the Oakland Athletics jersey is like a mix of classic and modern. Perfect for baseball.

You may have your own definition of an awesome baseball uniform, but this list can help give you an idea of ​​which ones to look at first. Whichever team uniform you decide is the best, you should buy one and start wearing it with pride!

In light of the assassination of the man who would likely become the next president of the United States, the man in the Oval Office declared a national day of mourning on June 9. Out of sadness and to share their respect for the slain senator, a group of gamers decided to boycott their games scheduled for that day.

Although such a situation sounds like something that could be happening in today’s sports world, when protests are often in the headlines, this case happened exactly fifty years ago. Robert Kennedy, the leading candidate to vote for the next president in the upcoming election, was assassinated on June 9, 1968.

When Johnson announced a national day or mourning, members of the Cincinnati Reds urged baseball officials to postpone the doubleheader scheduled for that day. Because his words fell on deaf ears, the players decided that they were going to boycott the games.

The protest was led by a multiracial tandem, white pitcher Milt Pappas and African-American All-Star outfielder Vada Pinson. The two managed to get enough votes from their teammates to approve their idea of ​​staying in the clubhouse instead of going to the ballpark, as a statement about the assassination of the leading Democratic presidential candidate.

Like front offices in the sports world today, executives in Cincinnati expressed anger at players’ refusal to participate in games. General manager Bob Howsam was especially upset and asked captain Dave Bristol to find nine volunteers to play.

Future hitting king Pete Rose soon left the clubhouse glove in hand, along with Rookie of the Year Tommy Helms and starting pitcher Jim Maloney. Not long after that, the rest of the team showed up on the field and the games were played.

As hesitant as those players may have been, the Reds jumped out to an eight-nil lead in the fourth inning. St. Louis rallied in the fifth, compiling ten runs of their own to win the first game 10-8.

The Cardinals built on that momentum until Game 2, leading 6-1. Cincinnati, like the Cardinals in Game 1, rallied in Game 5 to tie the game.

In a deadlock for the next six frames, the score finally turned in a twelfth inning involving three future Hall of Famers. Left-hander Steve Carlton, in his third inning as a reliever for the Cardinals, gave up a leadoff single to Cincinnati first baseman Lee May.

Third baseman Tony Pérez reached on fielder’s choice but had to wait to advance because Carlton struck out catcher Johnny Bench. Pérez made it to second, and all the way to the plate, after shortstop Leo Cardenas doubled him with the game-winning run.

Although the Reds managed to split up, Pete Rose might have wanted to stay in the clubhouse that day. The perennial .300 hitter managed just one hit in times at the plate.

Vada Pinson, on the other hand, was probably glad to have noticed her boycott. He went a combined four for ten with a home run and five RBIs during the twin bill.

If you are an experienced sports bettor, you know the old adage, that if you chase your losses, you will lose your shirt and surely blow your account. Time to throw all that nonsense out the window and learn for the first time that chasing your losses is the best possible scenario. In order to make money using a chase betting system, you need three elements at your disposal:

1. One hundred funds (or account balance)
2. plan
3. A strong stomach to carry out the plan

The old adage says that: he who chases his losses will burn his funds. This is true only if you don’t have a real plan, a strong stomach and a decent bankroll. Let me explain. The old adage comes from the player who bets $100 on Team 1 to win today. Team 1 loses, so tomorrow the player bets $200 on team 2 to win (he thinks he can’t lose twice in a row and more team 2 is a sure thing). Team 2 loses, then on day 3 bets their remaining funds on team 3, loses, and within three days their funds go bust. The old adage is true, for this player… not for you.

You will see that a chase system uses simple math to ensure that you never lose money. However, you have to make sure that you are betting the right amount and you have to have the guts to go through with this program. The system is easy to follow regardless of the sport you are betting on and whether you are chasing a specific team or a sport in general. In 2007, the AFSB completed a study of the NHL’s prosecution system focusing on the Montreal Canadians. The system worked like this: on day 1, you bet $25.00 on Montreal, if Montreal lost, the next time Montreal played you bet $50.00 on Montreal, if Montreal lost again, and on the next game you bet $100, 00 to Montreal, if Montreal lost that game, then $200.00 was wagered on Montreal and so on until Montreal either wins or runs out of money. Once Montreal wins the system resets and the next time Montreal won $25 Montreal was bet on their next game, if they lost then Montreal was bet $50 on the next game, however if they won then on the next game $25 was wagered. bet on Montreal.

This simple system won us $1,210.00 in the NBA Playoffs in 2007 (see our article on absolutely free sports betting regarding the NBA dog chase system). We used this system again in the 2008 MLB playoffs and got $1,373.00.

In the 2010 NCAA basketball season we are using this system in a more generic way. We are playing a Dog-Chase and a Favorite-Chase which is not team specific. Click on our Free Picks link to see the details of the 2010 NCAA Basketball Chase System hard at work.

To ensure your account doesn’t get busted, we recommend that you only wager 1/4 of the normal amount you play per game. For example, if you wager $100 per game, then under a chase system you only need to wager $25.00 per game. This is why:

The chase system is based on the premise that you shouldn’t be able to wrongly handicap a game for seven days straight. If you are betting $100.00 per event in a chase system and you are wrong 7 times in a row, then you will be betting $6,400.00 on the seventh game ($100, $200, $400, $800, $1,600, $3,200, $6,400). To protect yourself, you must bet 1/4 of the normal amount; in our examples, we assume that 1/4 would be $25.00 per event ($25, $50, $100, $200, $400, $800, and $1,600).

Let’s examine the power of the Chase system. Let’s examine a player who bets on 14 games (1 per day, over a 14 day period) and this player doesn’t do so well, wins 6 and loses 8. Example 1 below shows if you simply bet $100.00 per game on a normal price. -110 per game. Example 2 shows the same player with the same results, however he bets $25.00 on a Chase system.

Example 1 – Sports bettor who wins 6 bets and loses 8
betting $100.00 per game, one game per day
Game 1: Winner, $91.00
Game 2: Winner, $91.00
Game 3: Loss -$100.00
Game 4: Loss -$100.00
Game 5: Loss -$100.00
Game 6: Winner $91.00
Game 7: Loss -$100.00
Game 8: Loss -$100.00
Game 9: Winner $91.00
Game 10: Loss -$100.00
Game 11: Winner $91.00
Game 12: Loss -$100.00
Game 13: Loss -$100.00
Game 14: Winner $91.00

This player is 6-8 and lost $254.00 over a two week period.

Example 2 – Sports bettor who wins 6 bets and loses 8
wagering $25.00 per game (with chase rules), one game per day
Game 1: Bet 25 and win $23.00, so on the next game:
Game 2: You bet 25 and win $23.00, so on the next game:
Game 3: Bet 25 and lose -$25.00, so on the next game:
Game 4: 50 is bet and loss -$50.00, so on the next game:
Game 5: Bet $100 and lose -$100.00, so in the next game:
Game 6: Bet $200 and win +$182.00, so on the next game:
Game 7: Bet $25 and lose -$25.00, so in the following game:
Game 8: Bet $50 and lose -$50.00, so in the next game:
Game 9: You bet $100 and win $91.00, so in the following game:
Game 10: Bet $25 and lose -$25.00, so on the next game:
Game 11: You bet $50 and win $45.00, so on the next game:
Game 12: Bet $25 and lose -$25.00, so in the next game:
Game 13: Bet $50 and lose -$50.00, so in the next game:
Game 14: Bet $100 and win $91.00

This player is 6-8 and WON $105.00 over a two week period with a losing record.

Obviously you can use this system in any way you want, here are some possibilities:

(1) Equipment specific. In 2007 in the NHL we only used this system betting on Montreal. If Montreal lost we doubled up in the next game, if they won then in the next game we went back to where we started.

(2) Specific position: In 2010, we play a dog and a favorite every day in NCAA basketball, if the dog loses, then we fold a different dog the next day, if the dog wins, the next day we go back to our starting point. (The same is true for our favorite system)

(3) Specific position within a series: In the 2007 NBA playoffs, we played the dog during a series, so the dog could be Team 1 in game one vs. Team 2, but then Team 2 could be the dog in game 2. We play the dog no matter who we played in the previous game.

You have to be careful, there will be a point where you find yourself betting more than you have ever wagered before on a game, however when that game skyrockets your winnings skyrocket. Please don’t bet your normal unit, bet 1/4 or less.

If you’re skeptical, check out our 2007 NBA Dog-Chase article, check out our 2008 MLB Playoffs results, or just click the Free Picks link on our website and see how the system works in 2010. Once you see how well it works, you’ll be addicted.

Disc golf is a sport that has been growing in popularity since the sport’s invention in the late 1960s. The sport has grown to more than 3,000 races in the US and another 3,000 worldwide. This underground sport that many people have never heard of is a fun game that many people are starting to play.

Disc golf is a game that is played much like regular golf, however instead of using a ball, you use discs. The objective is the same as regular golf in that you tee off a tee and aim for a hole. However, instead of using a hole as in normal golf, the hole is a basket. The basket consists of hanging chains with a basket at the bottom. Your goal is to hit the chains and make the puck land in the basket. Just like in ball golf, you keep track of your scores and try to record the lowest score possible.

Just like in ball golf, you have different clubs or discs for different situations. The three most frequent discs you throw are your driver, the midrange which is like a 7-iron in ball golf, and your putter. Each disc, just like in golf, is easier to control and more accurate, with the putter being the easiest disc to use in golf.

The great thing about disc golf is that most of the courses are free. You simply have to bring your own discs. This makes it a very affordable and fun game for the average individual, while ball golf is much more restrictive with its high green fees. Some courses are placed on personal property and these courses generally charge a nominal fee that is much less than any ball golf course.

If you are just starting out with disc golf, it is recommended that you simply purchase a mid-range disc. These discs are much easier to launch and control than drivers. Also, mid-range discs are much easier to work on your technique than a controller. This is due to the stability and size of the disk rim. Some disc suggestions to consider are Millennium Element, Innova Roc or Innova Shark. These are great beginner discs and can be used for drives and puts in the same way.

In ball golf, the associated professional association is the PGA; in disc golf, the association is the PDGA. The PDGA oversees the sport in the US and governs the community. In fact, they help coordinate the World Disc Golf Championship and the United States Disc Golf Championship. Both events are premier events similar to a “Masters” tournament in ball golf. If you’re wondering who the Tiger Woods of sports is, look no further than David Feldberg. The Jack Nicklaus of sports would be Ken Climo. Both players are considered to be at the top of the game and have made many DVDs teaching the game.

Disc golf has been featured on a few televisions and movies and will only increase in popularity as the years go on. Grab a puck and find your nearest course to see exactly what you’re missing!

Not all children are able to continue their education to the university level. Earning a college degree can be difficult. The location, available courses should be carefully considered, as well as the cost of enrollment. Therefore, many students apply for financial aid; if they are talented in sports, they look for sports scholarships, which could also serve as a springboard for a career in professional sports. They test your probability of availing such scholarships during the recruitment period. Students who have a talent for basketball, for example, try out for college basketball recruiting.

Basketball is a sport made up of two teams, which in turn have five players each. The objective is to score by throwing a ball through a hoop, elevated on a pole 10 feet above the ground. Over the years, players have developed skills and styles in throwing the ball that combine both athleticism and artistry. One of them is the slam dunk.

In the early days of the NBA, dunks were outlawed. In those days, shots were taken from near the basket, with players’ feet barely off the ground. There was no three-point line at the time, and “small” players dominated the floor. It wasn’t until the late ’60s that the dunk officially came into play. And in 1971, a certain player named Julius “the Doctor” Erving entered the scene. Dr. J, as he was later called, could drive the ball through the hoop like no one before him. He could make a windmill, swing the ball, go behind his back, head and other things that no human could do with a basketball. Erving’s abilities did not go unnoticed in the NBA, many teams including the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, New Orleans Jazz, and Boston Celtics tried to move Erving away from the ABA, but it did not work. The NBA began copying the famous dunks of Dr. J.

In 1976 the ABA held an all-star game, in Denver Colorado, as was customary. That year, however, they introduced a new concept that would revolutionize the game. That year, the ABA launched the dunk contest. The competition included many of the ABA’s stars, including Erving, who would go on to win the contest. He did it by doing what no player has ever done: jump from the free throw line to dunk the ball. Later that year, the ABA merged with the NBA and Julius Erving was sold to the Philadelphia 76ers. In the 1980s, fans in the United States were talking and trying to dunk.

Students who are serious about applying for athletic scholarships need a lot of help if they want to reach their goal. Information is a key factor in increasing the likelihood of getting noticed in college basketball recruiting. The Internet has proven to be a useful place for both student athletes and coaches involved in the college recruiting process. Students can learn how to be successful in college basketball recruiting. There are many websites and online forums where students and explorers can meet and interact.

It was an early Tuesday morning and I was making a bagel with cream cheese and jelly for my youngest daughter, Marissa, so she could take it to school since we were running late. My oldest daughter, Clarissa, who was twelve at the time, walked into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and poured herself a glass of orange juice. I asked him if he wanted a bagel too and he was quick to reply, “Oh god no! Do you have any idea how many calories are in that stuff, Dad? I didn’t think much of it at the time, but I was alarmed enough to share this.” with her mom. Later that night we sat down and had a chat with her and she went on about how fat she was. This coming from a 12-year-old girl who, at the time, weighed only 90 pounds. We stressed to her the importance of eat well and that all the images I saw on television and in magazines were not real, I looked my daughter straight in the eye and told her that in many parts of the world there were children who as of 3 in the afternoon still had not eating breakfast, let alone worrying about her weight. I mentioned needing to be thankful for what we had, our daily bread as I called it. I really hoped to God that it all went down. Fortunately, we never really had any more problems with her or with my other two children open that topic. Turns out our family has been lucky. There now appears to be a growing epidemic of eating disorders in the US among ‘Tweens’ (children between the ages of 9 and 12 in the childhood and adolescence stage).

I do not want to eat anything!

Now fast forward to a few years later. One day I was watching television and was suddenly very alarmed by a news report. The program talked about Tweenorexia; a new problem facing children today. The reporter began to say that more than 80% of 10-year-olds were afraid of getting fat. You read that right, 80% of TEN year olds! My youngest son is now 11, so I sat there and watched the show intently. They were interviewing a girl from Chattanooga, Tennessee named Shae. She was the typical normal ten year old girl. Shae has been on the gymnastics team since she was four years old. So one day she decided to leave the team to concentrate on her social life and her studies. A month after leaving her mother, Michele Walker, she began to notice the changes in her daughter. Michele sometimes listened to the comments Shae made while she was looking at herself in the mirror. She heard her exclaim one day “Look how fat I am!

Of course, if he saw her, he’d wonder what she was talking about, since she weighed the normal 85 pounds for her height. Shae, speaking now in the interview, mentions how she would often pick at the fat on her stomach. Though it was just skin, in Shae’s mind they were signs of imperfection. She shortly after she refused to eat anything but salads. She then became obsessed with exercising. Shae began wearing baggy clothing to hide her shrinking body and weight from her family and friends. In three months, she dropped from her healthy 85 pounds to just 68. Her mother was so alarmed and concerned about her appearance that she took a photo of her in a bathing suit to show her how thin she is. I was. Now only 10 years old, Shae had become anorexic. Only ten years!

As I looked at this little girl, I couldn’t help but look at a photo of my three daughters hanging on the living room wall and shuddered. That could have been, still being one of my girls. I felt the pain of the mother and could only imagine what she would have done if she had been one of my children.

Dying to be thin; How far will the children go?

It wasn’t long before Shae had to end up hospitalized in an eating disorder clinic. For her, it had become a life or death situation. Shae had to be fed through a feeding tube to slowly regain her normal weight. Here was this girl who admits on camera that she had suicidal thoughts at age 10. Suicide at 10 years old? Life is hard enough for kids to deal with weight issues so early in life. After months of therapy at a camp for kids like her, Shae is back to eating healthy. Now, three years later, she reviews everything that happened to her with the experience of an adult. She says that she no longer has feelings of imperfection. Shae now accepts herself for who she is. This story is at once disturbing, worrying, and surprising. What have we become as a society that children so young have to go through this?

The truth is that all parents should be concerned because the numbers are terribly staggering. A recent study of elementary school teachers found that 60% of them say that eating disorders are a problem in their classroom. 16% of girls ages 8-11 are on a diet! The numbers for young children, although slightly lower, appear to be increasing.

The signs to look for; They could save your son!

Many times while my daughters were watching TV or flipping through magazines, they would talk to each other about how perfect and slim all the models or actresses looked. “Real life isn’t like that,” she often told them, hoping they would assimilate. Desperately trying to help you not feel inferior to the characters you saw on TV or saw in commercials, I brought this message home. However, this is why we as parents need to listen and be aware of not only what our children are seeing, but also what they are thinking and saying. What or who influences their decisions? Some of the first signs of an anorexic teenager are anxiety, depression, and an obsession with perfection. Signs that something may be wrong are a disruption in the child’s normal behavior, personality changes, and/or mood swings. Reserved behavior coupled with the child becoming withdrawn or overly anxious should be cause for alarm bells to go off. Of course, if he or she insists on taking a sudden shower after a meal, be aware that this may be a way of masking purging. Once your son or daughter starts talking about wanting to omit an entire group of foods from the menu, pay more attention to them. If he or she suddenly overexercises, this should immediately cause a lightbulb to go off in her head. At this point, you should talk to your children and perhaps see a doctor together who can emphasize the importance of eating from all food groups. Remember that anti-obesity messages in schools can sometimes backfire.

The perfect look. Are TV and magazine ads to blame?

What role do teen movie stars play?

You may be surprised at the HUGE influence a teen pop star or celebrity can have on the decisions your child may make. I write this article and shake my head to see how completely off track we have become as a society. When 8-11 year olds, normal by weight + height standards, feel the need to go on a diet, it’s sad and disturbing. But can we blame then when you see it everywhere? Billboards and TV, movies and video games, magazines and the Internet. Especially toys like barbie dolls, who always seem to have the perfect figure. How many exercise commercials do you see in a typical day? Every image that is thrown our way always shows the perfect body! The perfect face! Is the film industry to blame? How many teen movie stars do we see on TV looking dangerously thin? Some, as if they glorified anorexia. Sometimes their influence trumps any parenting advice we can give our children. I think we’ve become obsessed with perfection. No normal adult can compete and deal with that on a daily basis. How? And if we as mature adults can’t deal with it sometimes. How can we ask our children to do it?