Category Archive : Sports

This is a Sports bets fantasy What if Super Bowl XL were played again today, before the 2006 season begins, but after the off-season moves? Could the Steelers repeat their dominating defensive performance, as they did in their 21-10 victory last February? Or would the Seattle Seahawks show the world that they just had a bad game and got beaten on any given Sunday?

Let’s take a look at each team’s off-season personnel changes. For the Steelers, 3 starters were lost in free agency (Chris Hope, Kimo von Oelhoffen and Antwaan Randle El). Plus, Jerome “The Bus” Bettis made his last Super Bowl stop in his hometown of Detroit. Although Bettis didn’t make much of an impact on the field, Randle El threw a 43-yard touchdown pass on a reverse trick play to Hines Ward for the fourth-quarter knockout blow. Hope and von Oelhoffen were key components of a “bend but don’t break” defense that allowed nearly 400 yards in the game but held the Seahawks to 5-17 on third down. Replacing these deceased players this season will be first-round pick Santonio Holmes (WR for Randle El), Washington free agent Ryan Clark (FS for Hope) and 2005 backup Travis Kirschke (DE for von Oelhoffen). Overall, the players the Steelers lost were much better than the ones they were replaced with. Bettis’ emotional impact as team leader cannot be measured either.

The Seahawks lost three major players from the Super Bowl team: Steve Hutchinson (G), Andre Dyson (CB) and Marquand Manuel (FS). However, the players brought in to replace them aren’t a significant downgrade at every position. Seattle used their first-round draft pick at Univ of Miami CB, Kelly Jennings. Jennings will likely split his time with veteran Kelly Herndon. Veteran Erict Pruitt will duly replace Manuel and Floyd Womack should live up to the expectations placed on him several years ago by replacing Hutchinson. Perhaps the most significant offseason move could be the acquisition of Niners free-agent linebacker Julian Peterson. Once a dominant force who had to be reckoned with on every play, Peterson has been slowed by injuries and attitude issues. If Peterson can get back to his old form, he can practically give Seattle a ticket back to Super Bowl XLI.

So if they released it today, how would it come out? I like the moves the Seahawks made in the offseason to improve an already great team. In this era of free agency, a team can always expect to lose a couple of key players. However, at least on paper, it looks like the Steelers lost a bit more than the Seahawks. I also don’t think you can underestimate the impact of losing Bettis. I felt like the Steelers got a little lucky catching the Seahawks on a bad day in Super Bowl XL, and I don’t think it will happen twice. My prediction would be 31-14, with Seattle moving up and down the field with little difficulty.

Bulldozers are heavy duty tractor-like vehicles that are fastened with a wide blade system at the front and an optional ripper at the rear. They are mainly used for fine grading, ground leveling and pushing of large piles of earth or snow. Excavators are widely used in many industrial applications such as landfills, construction, quarrying, and mining.

The blade and the ripper are basically the main functional accessories of the excavators. The ripper is used to loosen soil and break up rocks embedded in the ground. However, a bulldozer blade uses three types of blades (S-blade, U-blade, and SU-blade) to accurately grade, carry, and push large piles of dirt.

When it comes to excavator vehicles, the Caterpillar Company is without a doubt one of the best manufacturers on the market. This company is highly respected for producing top-of-the-line bulldozers that feature great maneuverability, versatility, ergonomic designs, and powerful net horsepower. They have around 300 machines under their belt which includes their crawler loader, crawler wheel loader and crawler track loader. Until now, the Caterpillar d9 excavator remains its most famous model.

Have you ever heard of the Oswalt bulldozer? No, it is not another brand for an excavator. It’s actually the term used to refer to the Caterpillar D6N XL bulldozer Roy Oswalt received from the Houston Astros when his team beat the St. Louis Cardinals. As he promised, he received this $200,000 bulldozer as a victory prize from him.

Lo Chiamavano Bulldozer (They called it Bulldozer) does not involve any real bulldozer in the movie. It’s actually an Italian movie about a former soccer athlete who lost his job and ended up taking on the role of a coach for a group of street people to help them win against the local army base. With his big, muscular appearance, it’s no wonder he’s compared to a bulldozer.

June 4, 2004 stirs up an unpleasant memory for the people of Granby, Colorado. The Granby Colorado bulldozer, which is a Komatsu D335A, was used by Marvin John Heemeyer, who was angry over a zoning dispute, to destroy all the structures in Granby. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Clearly, a bulldozer can be a weapon of mass destruction when it falls into the wrong hands.

You may be wondering which is the largest excavator in the world. Most people consider the Komatsu D575A-3SD to be the largest excavator ever built. It measures 24 feet. wide, 41 feet long and 16 feet high. Its bulldozer blade, measuring around 90 cubic yards, is tremendously large and powerful enough to push through 480,000 pounds of dirt pile.

There are different ways to purchase an excavator for your business or even for personal use. You can buy a new or used unit, or you can also choose to rent. Before you buy one, it’s important to determine your company’s payment capabilities and find a reputable dealer. Before choosing any brand of excavator, make sure that parts and repair service are accessible.

Is your student body planning a prom, dance, or high school party? Need ideas for your themes? Well look no further, we can help you spark your creativity by going over several factors that determine a successful prom.

Coming home from high school

Most high school homecomings are organized by student council advisors. Now the main idea for a homecoming is to promote school spirit. Planning a homecoming dance or party isn’t as complicated as planning a high school prom. This doesn’t mean that decorations should be overlooked on your way home from school. We will discuss those ideas later.

high school graduation party

In most high schools, their proms are planned by the Junior Class Dance Committee. The prom is the farewell for the upper class students of the school. There may be two separate proms depending on the size of your junior and senior class. Some schools in different districts go so far as to combine proms due to smaller class sizes. Since the High School Prom is a formal event, it usually gets more attention and funding.

high school homecoming dance ideas

So you and your committee are looking for ideas for your homecoming, dance or party. His themes depend mainly on the traditions of his school. Try to match which is your school’s mascot. If your party or dance is a little more casual, then it may be predetermined. The basic ingredients for a successful homecoming dance are music, excitement, and energy. The company you hire for the Michigan DJ can make or break the ticket sales for the next dance depending on how the music was balanced. How your committee promotes the party will also determine the outcome. Don’t forget that the energy level at your school’s homecoming dance will be based on how much decorating your group does.

High School Dance Themes

The theme of the high school prom deserves more attention than the typical high school homecoming. This means spending more time selecting a reputable Michigan venue, caterer, photographer, and DJ company. Here is a list of High School Prom themes for you to choose from.

a dream for us
A kiss is just a kiss
Summer night Dream
A night at the Oscars
A night in the clouds
a night of mystery
A night on treasure island
A night to remember
a night with the stars
A red carpet affair
A walk down Broadway
A taste of California
A sample of international flavors
A walk on clouds
A matter to remember
An afternoon in (place)
an evening of stars
arabian nights
between your heart and mine
big band
Born to be Wild
box office happiness
Bright lights, big city
behind the scenes of broadway
I can not fight the moonlight
Captured in a dream
caribbean nights
carnival
carried away
White House
(School Name) Casino
precious moments
whatever happens
cupid ball
dare to dream
deep blue destiny
depths of love
fate awaits
fate awaits
enchantment under the sea
Get away
timeless elegance
Everything you want
Fire and Ice (Worlds Collide)
Take me to the moon
forever tonight
From this moment
enchantment garden
Glamor and Glitz or the 20’s
I have to believe in magic
greek paradise
Happy forever
heaven in your eyes
Heaven on earth
here is the night
Oscars Hollywood Night
hollywood nights
hollywood hours
enchantment time
I think
I could not ask for more
I promise you the stars
Even if it’s just for one night
Will always remember you
in the still of the night
in the still of the night
could be you
There’s a jungle out there
longer than life
Let the good times pass
magic under the stars
magical memories
Mardi Gras
masquerade
memories of tonight
Regards for the whole life
moonlight in paradise
Moonlight on the Nile
Meeting in the moonlight
Forward
mystical journey
mystical twilight
New York, New York
night in new orleans
night with the stars
Nightlife 200-
a sweet night
once upon a time
our precious night
Paint the town red
paradise awaits
Parisian Romance/Escape
Perfect picture
put on the glitter
Always remember me
retro romance
romance in the park
saturday night fever
Save the last dance for me
Saving forever for you
coasts of venice
teach me the meaning
just forever
Simply the best
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
space odyssey
spring in paris
stay by me
dazzled
Fairy tale in the light of the stars
being the one
serenade at sunset
the perfect prom
the way you love me
These are the times
this magical moment
And again
time of my life
tonight is the night
Dream of tonight… Memory of tomorrow
Tropical paradise
under the sea
underwater paradise
Unforgettable
Unforgettable
voices that care
waiting for tonight
waiting for tonight
Waltz under the blue moon
what dreams can come
When you think
with on a star
Written in the stars
You will be in my heart

The ultimate dance for your students

Selecting a theme and going over ideas will help ensure a fun and memorable event. This is a key component to producing an unforgettable prom or homecoming dance. First, think about the type of prom you want to have, whether you want it to be romantic, fun, or mysterious. Most schools develop themes that generally set the tone for prom colors and decorations. Some schools have gotten more creative by revolving the entire dance party around the theme and ideas. This goes all the way down to the student’s costume attracting decorations. Whatever topic your committee chooses, make sure it fits the personality and customs of your student body.

Arguably, the amount of video game use we see in today’s society is inescapable. Mobile games like; Candy Crush, Game of War, or Clash of Clans, record daily revenues in the millions, and someone will surely recognize one, if not all, of these game names. This exposure to gaming in the light of everyday seems to be ushering in a new, unseen era in gaming, where gaming could be seen as a sport.

Ever since the first two people started “Pong” on the Atari 2600, gaming has been competitive. When you think about it, playing a soccer game and playing a video game are not that different. The goal is always to win the game, but the level of competition and the players in the game may vary. Growing up, I played Call of Duty on a pretty competitive level, but I had no idea how big the competitive gaming industry would become. The growth of this industry can be attributed to a number of factors. The financial growth in the gaming industry has been incredible. The recent stance that “nerd culture” has taken in popular media through outlets like The Big Bang Theory. The push from people who genuinely enjoy gaming culture and want to see it get a spot in the spotlight has brought gaming into the daily lives of the general public.

So what is causing video games to become a source of entertainment that people would watch from home like football or soccer? The answers may surprise you. In July 2014, teams from around the world played “Defense of the Ancients” or DOTA for a total prize pool raised by the community totaling $10,923,980 US dollars. Teams of five would play against each other and eliminate the competition as they progressed to the grand finale and the ultimate first place prize. While this was the fourth such tournament hosted by the playmakers, it was the first time it had been televised on ESPN 3. ESPN was so pleased with the results of the coverage that they agreed to continue next year. It’s crazy to think that in the next few years we could see video game coverage on Sports Center. Unlike ESPN, which only shows you content about competitive games during big tournaments, the broadcast is available all the time. Twitch TV is the main website that comes to mind. Streaming sites allow content creators to show what’s happening live on their computers to audiences who can join the conversation with a group chat feature while watching their favorite steamers/players play live. The potential for growth through a pathway like this is enormous. Just think, you could watch a TV show and chat with other fans of the show from around the world with great ease, all while being able to communicate with content creators.

We know what’s bringing games to the esports arena, but what’s keeping them out? Well, it’s not the time for electronic sports (E-Sports) to become a household name, at least not in the United States. South Korea may be an example of what is to come in terms of E-Sports in the United States. Say the name “Star Craft” and nine times out of ten, a Korean will know what you mean. The Star Craft game is practically a national pastime of South Korea. The game is featured on cable TV and is even featured in some apps offered by Microsoft’s Xbox, which is a direct competitor to the PC gaming market that Star Craft belongs to. Players in Korea are treated like celebrities, signing autographs, taking photos with fans, and appearing on talk shows from time to time. Now if I were to say this to the average American, chances are the response would be along the lines of “Are you serious?” Is it that big there?” Yes, esports in Korea and, to a lesser degree, China and Japan are already booming industries. So why hasn’t gaming become a big industry in the United States where the most of these Americans like different games than Asians Americans like fast-paced shooter games like Call of Duty or Counter Strike while Asian gamers like strategy games like Star Craft or DOTA .is that there is less strategy involved.Think of the two genres as one approach to a football game.While both genres have a well-defined goal, like in football, strategic games present ways to counter the moves of other players or your choice of how to move towards your goal through tech choices or character choices. In soccer, if the defense sends a barrage, try to counter that barrage by passing the ball to a receiver who is wide open, or running the ball in the opposite direction of the blitz. There is no one right way to approach defense strategy, and the offense can still make decisions about how to approach the situation. The same cannot be said for shooting games, there just isn’t enough depth in the game to give viewers new ideas on how they can apply the techniques used by the pros in their own game.

The professional game is on its way to becoming a real sport in the United States. With the broadcast times on ESPN and the popularization of gaming in everyday life five or ten years from now, we may see a large number of people walking around in E-sport team jerseys. Due to gaming trends in the US, radical changes to the game will likely be required to keep viewers watching and get more audiences interested, but it’s doable. It will take the work of dedicated sports fans to make gaming even more visible to the public, but from what we’ve seen over the past few years, it’s clear gaming will be considered a sport for the foreseeable future.

Just as Seattle’s Mike Holmgren is entering his final year as head coach, his Seahawks are now stumbling and stumbling through what appears to be a Larry, Mo and Curly comedy routine.

After dusting off the Minnesota Vikings 34-17 in their 2008 preseason opener on the road in Minneapolis, the Seahawks narrowly escaped loss in their preseason opener at home against the Chicago Bears, winning 29-26 at a display of error-prone ineptitude. For the Seahawks faithful, it was no laughing matter.

There are high hopes in Seattle this year, especially as Holmgren is entering his senior year after winning an AFC Western Division title, an NFC Wild Card berth, 4 straight NFC Western Division championships (2004 to 2007), an NFC championship and win over the Seahawks. to their first Super Bowl appearance in 2005, which they promptly lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-10.

Against Minnesota, the Seahawks became ballhawks, forcing 5 fumbles, recovering 4 and intercepting an interception. Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace completed 15 of 20 passes with 3 touchdown passes after starter Matt Hasselbeck looked solid on the game’s first two drives.

Against Chicago, the Seahawks were on two sides of another planet.

On the bright side, his seventh-round draft pick out of Georgia, placekicker Brandon Coutu, went 5-for-5, including the game-winning 36-yard field goal in overtime to win. Seattle’s other seventh-round draft pick from California, the 5-foot-8 Justin Forsett, had 261 general-purpose yards, excluding a 50-plus-yard return canceled for retention, and with the 136 rushing yards when juice. In the second half.

Coutu is a backup to Olindo Mare, a former Pro-Bowl, 12-year veteran with the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. Forsett is fourth on the running back depth chart behind Maurice Morris, Julius Jones and TJ Duckett. Jones (of the Dallas Cowboys) and Duckett (of the Detroit Lions) are new additions this year to replace the firing of former All Pro and 2005 NFL MVP Shaun Alexander.

In 2005, he became the first player in NFL history to score 19 rushing or receiving touchdowns in just 10 games. That mark eventually helped him break the NFL single-season touchdown mark with 27. Alexander, hampered by injuries the past two seasons, was Seattle’s all-time leading rusher with 7,817 rushing yards and 89 rushing touchdowns. in 5 seasons.

On the downside, the Seahawks had to overcome 2 blocked punts and an interception return for a touchdown to finally win at home. Backline quarterback Charlie Fry completed 20 of 35 passes but was intercepted 3 times. Seattle only won because the Bears’ Pro Bowl placekicker missed a potential game-winning shot from 47 yards out as regulation time expired.

Seattle remains excited about new second-round pick John Carlson from Notre Dame. Holmgren’s West Coast offense was in dire need of a tight end who could play effectively.

The addition of veteran guard and former Pro Bowler Mike Wahle from the Carolina Panthers should shore up an offensive line that was excellent in 2005 and became much less so with the departure of guard Steve Hutchinson to the Minnesota Vikings. Hutchinson was unstoppable alongside Walter Jones, the Seahawks’ first tackle who is an 8-time Pro Browler and 6-time All Pro.

Unfortunately, the Seahawks underestimated the positive locker room presence of Hutchinson, who created a leadership role that hasn’t been fulfilled.

While Seattle seems stable in its coaching transition (Jim Mora, current assistant head coach and defensive backs coach, will replace Holmgren next year), there is a lot of turnover among coaches.

The Seahawks have added Mike Solari from the Kansas City Chiefs (new offensive line coach), Bill Lazor from the Washington Redskins (new quarterbacks coach), Kasey Dunn from the University of Maryland (new running backs coach) and Mike DeBord of the University of Michigan (new offensive assistant coach).

Like most NFL teams, the ‘Hawks have plenty of coaches to go with Holmgren — 19 of them, in fact. In some cases, they work harder than the players they coach.

Seattle, and the NFL in general, has a lot of players who are overpaid and underperforming. Two of them are defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs, a big guy who could block the middle if he wasn’t hurt every 10 minutes of his career, and offensive tackle Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack, who the Seahawks like because he can play more than one. position on the line.

Womack, like Tubbs, is more hurt than healthy. Seattle, thankfully, released Tubbs earlier in preseason camp. However, they gave up on Womack, a dubious move at best. It’s like the Seahawks can’t find another decent, healthy backup tackle on the face of the Earth.

To their credit, Seattle has recruited replacements; To the disgrace of the drafted players, none of them have proven capable of doing the job, so Womack returns for one more season, that is, until he is injured again.

So who else is hurt? Thought you’d never ask. Pro-Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has enough back problems to make an orthopedic surgeon rich, new wide receiver Bobby Engram has a broken shoulder and will be out for a while, and tall wide receiver Price Deion Branch is recovering from knee surgery.

A lot of other players complain about normal bumps and bruises. Big deal, this is football, not little winks.

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

We spend a fortune on tints, highlights, and touch-ups. Then in a few weeks that color starts to fade. However, that hair color doesn’t have to fade too quickly. Here are 15 tips to pull off that hair color and keep it looking fabulous.

1. Stay away from hot showers

Time to lower the temperature. Hot showers are not only a recipe for dry, rough skin, they also slaughter your tone. Hot water opens the cuticle to remove the dye. Shampoo and rinse your hair with room temperature water. Towel dry, condition and rinse with cool water to seal cuticle. That keeps your locks looking nice, hydrated and eliminates split ends.

2. Do not wash frequently

Shampoo your hair every day and also remove hair color and natural oils. Opt for a dry shampoo to absorb oil, sweat, and also add volume.

3. Avoid Sulfate-Based Shampoo on Color-Treated Hair

When you wash, opt for gentle, sulfate-free shampoos to keep your highlights looking fabulous for longer. Sulfates contain salts that strip moisture and color from hair. Moisture loss is the main cause of hair color loss.

4. Add a shower filter

Hard water removes dyes and natural oils very quickly. Filters remove mineral deposits from the water, the spoilers that turn brown strands brassy and fade your red hue. Filters remove soap buildup and heavy metals that spoil your hair color.

5. Use deep conditioners for colored hair

For color-treated hair, deep conditioning with a conditioner designed specifically for color-treated hair is essential. The deep conditioner hydrates and nourishes your hair, leaving it soft and shiny. Deep color conditioners prevent color fading. Apply conditioner for color-treated hair to the roots of your hair for maximum benefits.

6. Go slow with deep conditioners

Rinsing a hair conditioner removes the color from the hair. Opt for weekly deep conditioning to prevent your hair from fading. Allow the deep conditioner to rest on your hair for about 10 minutes to receive the full benefits. Putting on a shower cap to build up heat allows the conditioner to penetrate better. Protein deep conditioning can also be done on hair that needs deep conditioning.

7. Use jojoba oil
Jojoba oil resembles the natural oils produced by hair. Add jojoba oil to your shampoo or apply it to dry hair. The oil serves to moisturize dry and damp hair, thus preserving color.

8. Reduce the use of heat tools

Heat is often harsh on hair color. Regular blow drying, hot tool styling, blow dryers, and flat irons do a number on your shade.

9. Use thermal protectors

When heat styling your hair, use a heat protectant to protect your hair from dryness, breakage, and color fading. Thermal protectors coat your hair, protecting it from the drying effect of styling tools.

10. Too much sun ruins your tone.

Too many UV rays are dangerous for your hair color. Choose conditioners that have built-in UV protection. Hair sunscreen softens and protects hair without making it greasy. Wear hats if you spend a lot of time in the sun.

11. Consider adding a top coat

To maintain color and enhance shine, it is recommended to schedule a shine treatment with your stylist. A top coat works to add brilliant color and lock in color for a fabulous long-wear look. Neutralizes any copper in addition to sealing the cuticles.

12. Prepare your hair

Prepare before coloring. Chelating shampoos and deep conditioning masks help you lock in color molecules for longer.

13. Nothing Smarter

Always protect your hair from the bleaching effects of chlorine. Wear hair protectants with SPF when you swim to keep your hair color intact. Spray on a leave-in conditioner before swimming to hydrate. Use cool water to wet your hair before taking a dip. That way, it won’t absorb as much water from the pool or ocean.

14. Opt for quality conditioners

Use hair dyes, highlights, and conditioners that your hair can hold onto for a long time. Hair dyes fortified with natural oils help retain moisture in your color treatment, leaving it looking shiny and healthy. Consider using ammonia-free hair dyes.

15. Eat a balanced diet

Healthy diets fuel hair growth and shine. As such, eat balanced diets to keep your color fresh longer. Iron-rich diets generate healthy keratin Proteins improve texture, stimulate growth and strengthen hair. Vitamins also help keep color-treated hair shiny and healthy.

The 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee hockey card game marked the company’s first NHL production since 1940-41. This was the first time the 1967 NHL expansion teams were included in a set. Of course, Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins leads the way when it comes to value. The top four rookie cards are not far behind and feature some pretty impressive hockey players.

Bernie Parent-Philadelphia Flyers

Number 89 in the 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee ensemble features Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Bernie Parent of the Philadelphia Flyers. With a book value of $250, this is the highest value rookie card in the set. Interestingly, Parent played 39 of Boston’s 70 games in his rookie season, but Topps didn’t include him. He played another 18 with the Bruins in 1966-67 and 38 with the Flyers in 1967-68, making him almost a veteran when his rookie card finally came out.

Bernie retired after the 1978-79 National Hockey League season and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984. Along the way, he played for the Bruins, Flyers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Parent also spent a season in the WHA with the Philadelphia Blazers.

The Flyers might not have been a two-time Stanley Cup champion in the 1970s without Bernie Parent. The team won consecutively in 1973-74 and 1974-75. In each of those seasons, Parent received the Vezina Trophy during the regular season and the Conn Smythe Trophy in the playoffs.

Mickey Redmond – Montreal Canadians

Number 64 in the 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee set is Mickey Redmond’s rookie card and has a book value of $70. Redmond played in the NHL from 1967-68 to 1975-76 with the Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings. Mickey won a Stanley Cup championship with the Habs in 1968-69, but became an individual star in the league only after he was traded to the Red Wings. In 1972-73, Redmond scored 52 goals and the following year he scored 51.

Keith McCreary – Pittsburgh Penguins

Number 193 is Keith McCreary’s rookie card and has a book value of $40. However, the card has such a high value due to an error. There were some that were produced with the card number missing from the back. These cards are the ones with such a high value. If the card actually has the number 193 on the back, it is valued as a plain common card.

Keith’s NHL career began in earnest in 1961-62 when he played in a playoff game for the Montreal Canadiens. He played more games for Montreal in 1964-65. However, it was not until the NHL’s expansion in 1967 that McCreary became a regular in the National Hockey League. He played through the end of the 1974-75 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Atlanta Flames.

Garry Unger – Detroit Red Wings

Number 142 is Garry Unger’s rookie card and has a book value of $30. Unger is the No. 2 ironman in NHL history, holding the record for most consecutive games played until Doug Jarvis, the current ironman, broke it a few years later.

Garry played in the NHL from 1967-68 to 1982-83 with the Maple Leafs, Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Flames, Los Angeles Kings, and Edmonton Oilers. His first year was split between Toronto and Detroit and Unger is listed as a member of the Red Wings on his 1968-69 hockey card.

The National Football League playoff season is upon us and while the playoffs are among the most difficult games to predict, many fans, including some who don’t usually bet on sports, will be in on the action. Playoff betting introduces some new factors that don’t come up during the regular season. Some more important points:

– playoffs offer a limited schedule – not as many options for Teasers or Parlays

– Weather is a more pronounced factor – make sure you take extra care when playing on a hot weather road team going into a cold environment.

– The home effect

In his study of hometown dogs at the end of the season, Richard Borghesi of Texas State University found that there were a statistically significant number of wins by underdog hometown teams to justify a winning formula. Studying NFL games from 1981 to 2000, he found that house dogs at the end of the season (weeks 15 to 18) outscored the difference by an average of 4.46 points. He should note that there are not many games to choose from, so the sample size is relatively small, but there were enough samples to justify a statistical trend. In the playoffs, the home dog won by an average of 11.3 points (again small sample).

You may be wondering how this compares to weeks 1-14. On average, visitors win by 0.09 points when all games are taken into account (damn, those odds makers are good). However, in weeks 15 through 18, home teams win by an average of 2.06 points, and home teams in the playoffs win by an average of 2.86 points. Betting on late local underdogs was profitable in each of the 5-year increments studied between 1981 and 2000.

Borghesi also found some interesting trends in cold-weather gear and the effect of the weather on it. In August-September, cold weather teams lost to the spread by an average of 1.3 points. In October, they won by .84 points against the spread. For November, they were won by an average of 1.49 points and for December-January it was up to 1.93 points.

Just some interesting numbers to consider when the playoffs begin.

In recent years, skilled Fantasy Football players have used the first two rounds of their draft to land running backs who will rack up points for their fantasy teams. Last year, however, eight of the top 10 fantasy point scorers were quarterbacks. Is this a trend that will continue in the coming seasons? I think there are some factors that will help continue this trend.

The first factor is that most teams now employ a two-runner attack. Last season, fewer than half of the teams had a 1,000-yard rusher. Even the Denver Broncos, who led the league in rushing as a team with more than 2,600 yards, were led by a running back who had less than 1,200 yards. (Their second leading rusher was their quarterback) Using a two-back attack also keeps a running back fresh in the game, providing more pressure on the defense. This is a trend that most teams are moving toward and not moving away from. Even the selection of running backs in the first round of the NFL draft has dwindled. Only 3 were selected last year and two of them were chosen in the final two first round selections.

The second factor is that most teams launch themselves into the air to move the ball. Last season, 20 quarterbacks threw for more than 3,000 yards, while in 2006 only 14 quarterbacks threw for that many. In fact, a residual effect of the passing assault is that 4 receivers were in the top 21 in fantasy points last season.

The final factor is the rule changes that the National Football League has made in recent years. They have increased the definition of defenseless players to include receivers who have caught the ball but haven’t had a chance to protect themselves. This takes the hit that defensive players used to use to separate the ball from the receiver. Also the rules that have been put in place to protect the quarterback in the pocket have helped them feel more comfortable throwing the ball.

All of these factors lead to the conclusion that you should seriously consider drafting a quarterback in the first round of your fantasy draft. When selecting your players, keep in mind their team status, their age, and their skill set. Also take a serious look at the quarterbacks in the first and second rounds.

Age discrimination in organizations is a significant problem and needs to be addressed effectively to ensure it is not an ongoing problem. Age discrimination unfairly discriminates against people based on their age and does not take into account other qualities, skills and experience that a person can bring to an organization. This discrimination may be against younger people, but it is actually more prevalent among older people, usually with people over, say, 50 years old. Age discrimination is rooted in stereotypical behaviors in which assumptions are made about people of a certain age.

It is often in the workplace that older people encounter age discrimination, in job interviews and in terms of job loss. Developed countries tend to have legislation to eradicate age discrimination in organizations, and this clearly provides support to people who are discriminated against. However, it is notoriously difficult to change people’s attitudes, habits and prejudices. Unfortunately, those who hold discriminatory views often don’t realize the harm they can do to discriminated people. If a person feels that she is suffering due to age discrimination, she will often lose her sense of self-worth and, at times, may become clinically depressed. Even if the effects are less dramatic than that, there will still be a serious detrimental impact on the health and well-being of the individual.

It is surprising to realize that research has shown how even people as young as 35 can experience age discrimination in organizations. Furthermore, overcoming these problems, particularly in the workplace, is easier said than done. At least the ongoing investigation shows us the facts, and revealing the depth of the problem can be a starting point to eradicate the problems. Fortunately, there are a number of organizations that are actively campaigning against ageism and several of them can be found online. Such bodies will normally highlight the positive aspects of employing older or more mature staff. These would often include qualities such as dependability, stability, good time and attendance management, great experience, and the right attitude towards work.

Dealing with age discrimination in organizations is certainly not easy because the negative attitudes that people hold are often deeply ingrained and difficult to overcome. However, progress is being made and many organizations are realizing the value of employing more mature staff. The vast majority of older people simply need a chance to prove themselves. Once given that opportunity, they invariably tend to win over skeptics and become valuable assets to the organizations they work for.