You’ve all heard the saying “The squeaky wheel takes the oil”. In reference to shooting free throws in basketball, the best coach is the ‘miss shot’. When we feel bad or get sick, the first and immediate response is “what is the origin of the pain”. There is an immediate thought process that focuses on the area closest to the pain and the accompanying action is to take a pain reliever, rest or, depending on the severity, seek medical attention. The worse you feel, the more motivated you are to ‘feel good’ or attend to your daily duties without any conscious thought about physical discomfort.
This is the exact same process we should use to deal with a missed free kick. (I use a hyphen because it joins the word ‘free kick’). The main reason this topic needs some expansion is that, through my own scientific observations, I have estimated that about 75-80% of shots are not “dead center” in the center of the rim. This is a huge margin of error and the main problem in the world of basketball is that you never hear any instruction or training on how to shoot the ball ‘straight’. The next time you watch a ball game on TV, make a note of how many shots taken are the correct distance but are ‘off line’ or lopsided. It is a surprising phenomenon and can be corrected with some scientific understanding and the application of relevant principles.

A major part of the problem with shooting a crooked shot starts with the grip, or the way the hand is lined up on the ball. If the hand is not placed on the ball in a scientifically correct way, it will have further repercussions on the “follow-through”, which is the most important part of any shot. The ‘follow up’ is the computer processor that schedules the shot for success.

Just watch when you use the keyboard and type words on a page, how easy it is to hit a rong key or even miss something (oops, I left out the ‘w’, looks weird doesn’t it?) and if it doesn’t mark what you typed you will have grammatical errors. There is good and there is evil. If you’re writing a resume or official document, you definitely don’t want to have any mistakes. We are judged by our application. There is no difference when shooting a basketball. A small miscalculation or an inch of lateral movement anywhere in the fingers, arm, or elbow will cause a shot to miss. Missed baskets lose games, cause loss of confidence, and a plethora of other concerns.

Since shooters are made, not born, the pressure is on players and coaches to get this process right. Perfection at the free throw line is attainable and maintainable, but it requires constant and total mental control of the physical capacity of the body. A great shot isn’t just pushing the ball in the direction of the rim. The other day I went to see a local high school girls basketball game. Naturally I watched the shooting mechanics of the participants, as I always do. I can no longer be critical because the great shooting mechanics are simply absent at the large-scale high school level. The average free throw shooting percentage in high school is about 65% from the free throw line. I’d say that’s a failing grade and nothing to brag about and I bet these guys shoot with their eyes OPEN.

Let’s put this process in some perspective as it is very important. The free throw is the fundamental shot in basketball. All other shots have a connection to the free throw and a similarity in the application of the shot. (More on this in another article)

First of all, if you’ve ever shot a rifle, shotgun, or BB gun, you’ll have noticed that you naturally brought the butt of the gun up to your shoulder and aimed the barrel at the line of sight in line with your dominant eye and you would have your trigger finger on the trigger ready to fire when you are ‘ready’. Note also that he doesn’t pull the trigger until he has the target, the peep sight at the end of the barrel, and his eye in the ‘line of fire’. I also call this the correct “shooting pocket” when preparing to shoot.

Compare this process to the free throw attempt. You pick up the ball (usually with your dribbling hand to associate with your lead hand), then place the ball on its ‘shot pocket’ of the comfort zone, which may or may not be scientifically correct. Let’s compare.
When you pick up a rifle and are ready to shoot, don’t hold the barrel of the gun near your hips or above your head or in front of your stomach. Squeeze the stock with your shoulder and align all other parameters (sight, barrel, eye and target) before firing.

Many players today have an incorrect grip on the ball (index finger in the center of the ball with fingers spread as wide as possible so the pads only touch the ball and not the palm) starting in a ‘shot pocket’ wrong and consequently have faulty tracking. through. The ideal “shooting pocket” is to have the ball about 2-3 inches above the center of your forehead where your eyes can see the center of the rim, the inside of your shooting wrist, which is the peephole aligned with the center The rim and the firing arm when extended over the shot form the barrel of the rifle. This method allows complete vision and control. But this is not for everyone because it takes strength and practice to shoot from this position. Players who are weak will have ‘shot pockets’ which generally start from the face and work their way down, due to lack of strength.

Also, the ideal follow-through should be one arm extended and locked, fingers spread apart and parallel to the floor with only two joints bent: the wrist and the elbow. Take special care that there is no lateral movement during or after the ball is released and especially in the fingers. At the end of the shot, the index finger should line up with the center of the rim, down the inside of the shooting arm, and the right eye on a right-handed shooter should line up.

Now you have some tips to concentrate while you practice shooting. Of course, there is much more involved in terms of finger pressure and finger responsibility on the ball and which finger has which role in the shooting process. But at least this gives a bit of “perception” (pun intended) in the line of fire.

Also understand that when I refer to free throws I mean the same process happens with every shot, especially 3-point shots. The downside of shooting further is that a small error in the tracking mechanics increases the chance of missing the basket.

What’s better to relax in your favorite stadium during baseball season? How about enjoying some spring training games? Many people think of Florida when they think of baseball teams that work out in the spring to train for the rigors of summer ball. However, Arizona’s spring training baseball, known as the “Cactus League,” offers some of the best teams in America, and you can see them up close in smaller, more intimate stadiums.

Does your favorite team play in the Cactus League? Well, here is a list of the teams that play spring training baseball in Arizona:

or Arizona Diamondbacks
chicago cubs
o Chicago White Sox
o Colorado Rockies
Kansas City Royals
or Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
or Los Angeles Dodgers
o Milwaukee Brewers
o Oakland Athletics
o San Diego Padres
o San Francisco Giants
Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers

Teams play throughout the month of March, in seven different cities in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Arizona’s spring training baseball usually takes place every day, so if you’re planning a trip, you’re almost guaranteed to attend a game or two, even if it’s not between your favorite teams. Sometimes they play a couple of dates in late February and early April as well.

A history of the minor leagues

The Cactus League was first formed in 1946, when the Cleveland Indians went to Tucson and the New York Giants to Phoenix to work out for a month before the baseball season began. This first spring training baseball, Arizona was diverted from Florida because the Indians signed Larry Doby, the first black player in the American League and Cleveland owner Bill Veeck thought Arizona would be more open to a black team. mixed. The Chicago Cubs arrived in 1951, and since then the spring training roster has grown to 13 teams that play every day for the entire month of March.

Smaller stadiums with smaller prices

The weather in Phoenix and Tucson in March is warm and perfect for early spring baseball, and teams play close enough to one another that it’s easy to get from one stadium to another. Best of all, these are small, intimate ballparks; where fans can get much closer to all the baseball action, and that’s why so many people head to spring training baseball in Arizona. Tickets are also cheaper, and you can still see the big players hit one outside the stadium; you’re just more apt to catch that home run in one of these smaller ballparks.

Arizona spring training baseball is all about seeing up-and-coming rookies make their mark, too. If you attend the Cactus League games, you might see the next A-Rod or Ken Griffey, Jr. right there, warming up in the circle on deck right in front of his seats.

The stadiums are located in the Tempe, Mesa, Peoria, Scottsdale, Glendale and Surprise areas of Phoenix, and in Tucson, less than 2 hours south of Phoenix. Tickets are available through local Arizona spring training ballparks and through individual team websites. Enjoy the Cactus League in Arizona and enjoy some of the best baseball you’ve ever seen in March!

Nowadays there is a lot of talk about the benefit of volleyball, as a team sport, for individuals. This benefit is said to be even greater than that of other more popular sports. Perhaps the most popular of the team sports is soccer, but there are also others, such as volleyball, that have the same important effects on the participants.

Volleyball, unfortunately, is a neglected sport. It has not been promoted as it should, nor is it one of the most popular among young people. However, it has positive consequences on the people who like to participate.

First of all, it helps people stay healthy and fit, just like other sports. At the same time, it is a way for young people to release tension without resorting to dangerous outlets such as violence and crime.

Another benefit of volleyball is its contribution to the development of solidarity and cooperation among team members. The common effort brings the individuals involved in a volleyball game together, while this game gives them the opportunity to cooperate to obtain the best possible result.

From all the benefits described here, anyone can understand that this sport does not fall short compared to other sports. But despite its advantages few people participate in it. The main reason for this is that volleyball is not promoted by the media, at the same time that families and schools do not encourage young people to participate, because they think that soccer, athletics and basketball are the best forms of exercise.

However, in recent years there is a trend to teach volleyball more often in gym classes. It is important that this trend continues. The teaching of volleyball in schools should become more systematic, and at the same time, young people should be encouraged to participate in volleyball games, especially if this is in accordance with their personal inclinations.

At the same time, the media should promote the sport through the broadcast of volleyball matches or television programs that provide information about the sport. In this way people will discover volleyball and the new dimensions that the sport offers.

In conclusion, volleyball, like any sport, has positive results for people, so it is necessary for more people to realize the benefits of these results and make the effort to learn and enjoy the game.

A sales funnel is like cloning your best salesperson and letting them close sales for you 24/7.

The best seller to sell your product… is you.!!

Your the best sales person on planet earth to sell your product.

There is no one who believes in it more than you.

There is no one who can sell it better than you.

Guess what?

You are the one selling it.

All day every day.

Because you’re obsessed with it, you love it.

That is the key.

Instead of having 60 full-time salespeople in one office,

replace them with ONE sales funnel.

You will need a…

Landing Page/Offer

a thank you page

an upsell page

and a Downsell page.

Then you can make your pitch.

You have to make sure your speech is perfect.

You can try it.

You can teak.

and then afterwards you have it perfect and it works.

After

Don’t touch it again.

The good thing about it.

When your funnel works,

when the sales process is in place,

if you wake up in a bad mood, it doesn’t matter.

It still closes exactly the same percentage rate.

If you are tired that day,

if you are sick,

if you want to go on vacation,

if you want to take a gap year,

no matter.

Your sales funnel keeps closing every day.

So how can people see the best salesman in the world?

Record a video on your smartphone.

You are probably asking…

What do I say…?

as I say it..?

Right

This is the script.

-Who

-What

-Why

-How

Most of my videos today are made on my iPhone.

I have a pop socket on the back of my phone so I can use it with one hand.

Then I turn on the camera.

And I know I can sell it all by answering those four questions.

Number 1… Who are you…?

Number 2… What do you have for your person who is watching this video…?

Number 3… Why do they need it…?

Number 4… How can they get it…?

The easiest script in the world and it’s magical.

It works very well.

So let’s say you have a book you want to sell.

So pull out your phone, hit record, and say…

“Hello my Name Is [YOUR NAME]”.

“I’m here today in [PLACE]”.

“I’m very, very excited!!”

“I have a really cool book that I want everyone to buy, it’s called [NAME OF BOOK]”.

“You need this book because if you want [GIVE REASON 1, REASON 2, REASON 3]you need this book.

“Fill out the form on the side, now let me know where to send your book, enter your credit card and we’ll send you one.”

BOOM… that’s it.

That’s the video.

Now you can do this with as many affiliate products as you like.

This is how we make our videos.

Using who, what, why, how.

I don’t care what you sell

this is the script you can use over and over again in all of your funnels.

This script will earn you incredible amounts of money.

It’s fast, it’s simple, and it doesn’t have to be highly produced.

Now after you have the videos for your Offer, Thank you videos, Upsell, Downsell to sell the product in your funnel,

now simply connect them to your funnel.

In the past, what I used to do was take these assets and then have a meeting with my team.

We would have designers, programmers, webmasters and analysts,

and all that stuff and that was a huge pain in the butt.

I would tell them all these things, I would give them the videos,

and they would go and spend the next two or three months building a sales funnel.

That was business for me.

It took forever.

But today I have a new way, a better way, through a tool that my team and I use every day.

So… Now that you have great videos connected to an amazing sales funnel…

How exactly do you get the same customers that are currently going into your competitors’ funnels?

So they start coming to your fun instead!

This is the last step.

How do we get traffic and leads and people now to come to you and go through your funnels?

Now, this is where it all gets really, really fun.

Imagine, if you could call your competitor and ask where they get all their traffic from.

What would happen?

It’ll probably hang you fine.

Now, sadly, your competitor won’t tell you that information…

but internet…

hehehehe…

There are websites that will.

They will tell you every single thing about what everyone is doing, there is no way to hide it online.

One of my favorite sites is similarweb.com

This is a really cool website that will really show you where people are getting their traffic from.

So I go to similarweb and type in the URL of the competitor I’m targeting.

I click the search button and BOOM!

It shows me all the data about what is happening on the website.

If you scroll down a bit, you’ll see a report that says… Top Referring Websites.

Who is referring all the traffic to them.

If you scroll down a bit more, you’ll see a report that says… Display Advertising.

Click the big button that says “Show Ads”

I call it the “Show me the money” button.

Guess what it shows you?

All the ads that are running.

If you upgrade to the paid version, you can see how long the ads have been running.

The short-lived ads…didn’t work.

The long-running ads that are still active… are running right now.

So… Now you know…

1.) Exactly where they are advertised

2.) Exactly what they are saying

for people to click on the ad to enter the funnel.

Now…

Design your own advertisement that is similar (NOT COPIED) and buy advertising on the same websites.

Now, how to design your banners?

Go to 20dollarBanners.com or design them for free at canva.com

Hope this helps your business…

There aren’t many better feelings than getting hits for baseball players. Actually, there is? Getting hit in the clutch is an even better feeling. Of all the great memories I have of playing baseball, the ones that are most memorable are the clutch hits I had. Many people think of clutch hits as the ones that drive in runs or win games, but sometimes just as important are the hits players get to start a play, break up a no-hitter, or put a good pitcher out of the game. One of my fondest memories of a decisive at-bat involved not a hit but a sacrifice fly I hit in the 17th inning that drove in the game-winning run against the New York Yankees. This was as memorable as a hit because, being an underpowered player, hitting a ball deep enough into the outfield was no easy task for me.

Developing young players to be good key hitters is one of my goals as hitting coach. Of course, the best clutch hitters are generally the hitters who are fundamentally the most solid with their hitting mechanics. Having good fundamentals always gives players the best chance of success. However, just having good fundamentals does not guarantee a great clutch hitter and all hitters can be taught to be better in the clutch. I’ve known plenty of players who have the ability to go 1-for-4 in games for a .250 batting average, but that hit always seemed like a big hit for the team. Some players just have a sense of the moment and an inner confidence that they are the right person for the situation. Good clutch hitters can focus on the moment. They do this by focusing on the things they can control, which is simply swinging well on a pitch. These clutch batters don’t over-rotate, strain too hard, or “squeeze” too hard to work.

With this in mind, the following are coaching tips to help players become good clutch hitters:

1. Explain to the players what was mentioned above, that “clutch hit” involves more than just an RBI hit or a game-winning hit. For example, simply getting on base with a walk or single can be very “clutching.”

2. Practice players in familiar difficult situations as much as possible. “Two out, bases loaded, game in play and here’s the pitch” is a good batting practice idea. When players find themselves in difficult situations often enough, they will develop a sense of “having been there before”, which can increase their confidence and give them calming feelings.

3. Explain to the players that no one will remember for long if they make an out, but everyone will remember for a long time if they make a big hit. This way, players will start to feel like they don’t have much to lose, which should ease the pressure. This also serves to make players wait for the opportunity.

4. Good coaches don’t overtrain by making more of a situation than it is. This can be done by staying calm and simply telling hitters to “throw a good pitch to hit.” Coaches must be careful not to change their behavior or overload players with distracting instructional advice, especially during intense game situations.

5. Ask the players in practice who wants to be ready to bat with the game on the line. Most, if not all, will say they want to be, even if they aren’t sure. This “mental preparation” will help the players to prepare for the situation before they find themselves in the real situation.

6. Telling different players from time to time that you want them to be the player ready to hit with the game on the line shows your confidence in the player, which should help player confidence.

7. Coaches must not show disappointment in front of the players when they do not reach the decisive moment, so that the players are not ashamed of wanting to be up in the same key situation the next time. The parents of the players must also be sure and follow this point, because the children definitely do not want to disappoint their parents.

Ultimately, one thing I did as a player was start preparing for late game situations. When a game was close to scoring, I would start around the sixth or seventh inning to visualize being up in the last inning with the game on the line. This was great preparation for the eventual situation where I got to hit with the game balanced.

Just as all the organs and limbs make up your body, and your body, your life, you, is a complete unit built by parts, Destiny is a complete unit built by the parts that are the Seven Powers that also control our life. Unhealthy lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, anger, envy, pride.

Each event in your life can be treated in different ways, ways that you can choose; run away or stay, cower or stand firm, steal or be honest, defend or attack, lie or tell the truth, every moment of your life when you have to make a decision, destiny is right there, to determine the course it will take your life from that moment on based on your decision and action.

Destiny is not fixed, it is as fluid as the weather, it changes at any time, and you are the master of your destiny, you just don’t know it.

In fact, you don’t want to know that you are the master, because the responsibility is too great, the challenge too difficult.

With every choice you have to make, even if you think you have no choice, if you reflect on your past, you will see that you had a choice, you probably just didn’t like the choice that you knew was the right one.

Gravity is a power of this planet and the universe. Keeps everything on the ground. It also keeps the moon in orbit around the earth and the planets in orbit around the sun. It is always drawing everything to the lowest point.

In the same way, the powers draw your life and thoughts to their lowest point. Because the powers are our weaknesses, which are imposed on us to keep us in the often messy human condition, the weaknesses, the self-centeredness and the evil nature that is part of being human.

The energy that we are, which some people call the soul, but I call ‘my conscience’, or ‘better judgement’ or commonly referred to as ‘common sense’, a rare commodity in the human race, is the very nature of what we are .

The battle is between the powers that are our negative qualities, that keep us at our lowest level, which is the human ego, and our essential energy, which is light. Not light only in the sense of brightness, but weight, light and weightless, not subject to gravity.

When an event occurs and you make your decision, Destiny reassesses if you made an unpredictable decision and redetermines your future.

If you made a poor financial decision, greed and anger will grow with regret. If you made a good choice and won a lot of money, Pride takes over, which can lead to more Envy from others. As your taste for success drives you to recognition, you may feel jealous and envious of other people who gain recognition as your desire for more grows, having tasted it.

With every decision you make, good or bad, one or more of the powers will increase or decrease in you, and with that, Destiny will turn your life in another direction.

By being attentive to the Seven Powers that control us, as the events of the day unfold, being aware of the emotions and feelings that arise in your mind and choosing to act in a positive, more humble or honest, caring way, you can change your destination in a different direction.

You have the power to control your destiny in this way. The immediate result may not be what you want, it may not be good in the sense of your financial or love life, but Destiny is a plan for the rest of your life, until you change it again, so the immediate events are practically irrelevant. .

This is what you must keep in mind with every word and action, especially with the big things going wrong, seeing what direction they are taking you in, the seven powers or the light and overcoming their negative manipulations.

Everyone knows that you don’t take any material possessions when you die, but you take your character. At your funeral, the number of people who will mourn your death will be proportional to your character, not your wealth if that was acquired by an asshole character. Instead of burying him with his gold and property, they will simply write him a check to take to his grave.

Always remember that in the face of disaster, Destiny will make a new plan for your life based on your reaction. Bitter regrets and a desire for revenge or becoming depressed and losing hope will make a plan, but accepting your life situation as it is at that moment, as if you were just born on that day without a past, facing it with courage and strength, will force Destiny to give you new ideas and creativity, new opportunities to rebuild, start over and become a better person.

You own your Fate whether you like it or not, believe it or not. You can test the truth of this statement by simply remembering the big past events in his life, how he reacted and how it affected him in the days or months that followed, and how that reaction determined his next actions. Did you push people away with negativity and anger, or did you inspire people with your courage and ability to dust yourself off and start over?

Just think about your past, and learn about people who have failed or succeeded, and learn from their reactions, was it strength of character or did you build a huge ego?

Now you can decide, you are going to control your destiny from today and defy gravity, let your essence rise, or let gravity pull you down emotionally, with your life like a leaf blowing in the wind, letting the wind of destiny take you where he and the seven powers want you to go.

As a spiritual person with a strong bond with the Universal Spirit, he leads and guides me throughout my life. What quickly destroys that bond is entertainment, particularly fiction. Whether people realize it or not, the stories that come out of people’s heads are lies and don’t work in the presence of God. Fictional stories are the basis of religions and do not serve the Spirit.

The world is full of contrasts and evil while it is locked in black darkness. However, the entertainment industry is responsible for most of it due to movies; concepts; games; social networks; toys; and other stuff, which is downright junk to look at or use and junk food for the brain.

One cannot live on junk food for long before the body reacts to it. The loss of vitamins, enzymes, flavonoids, and essential nutrients soon turns it upside down. The brain is no different. Feeding it the garbage of man’s inventions, especially when it comes to entertainment, does the same thing to the body.

The darkness of not feeding him properly plays into every cell within him. Toxins build up, free radicals attach to cells to turn them into things like cancer or other diseases, and depression sets in. That’s when people look to medications to help them get back on their feet. Some drugs work, but hard drugs hook people into addictions.

Gambling is another form of entertainment that destroys. Few would be unaware how people steal to support their habit, and many lost their homes and families because of it.

While the world is concerned about the pollution of the environment and the accumulation of toxins in the air, they pay little attention to the things they use for entertainment. They are just as deadly and are working to destroy the earth through lack of care and knowledge that people overlook in order to get to the next place of entertainment.

Without their spiritual bond, they are lost in a frenzy of worry and struggle that has no solution. The entire world is rapidly approaching the point of no return. Many would rather laugh, however, than do anything about it. As long as they can forget their problems for a while, they can be happy again.

The modern era of University of Iowa football helmets began with a yellow helmet, gray facemask, black vertical stripe, and black numbers on the side. This design was used until 1964 and was brought back once in 2010 in a game against Ball State to commemorate the 1959 Rose Bowl champion Hawkeye team. The first major change occurred in 1965 when the numbers on the side were replaced with a Black “I” with a white circle and thin black outline in place of the logo. However, this logo did not last long. For 1966 the “I” was dropped and the helmet was just solid yellow with black and white vertical stripes.

A logo returned in 1971 with a large soaring eagle on a black background. The eagle had a lot of shading. Since the background was now black, the vertical stripes changed to a single yellow vertical stripe. This was the second time a logo had only lasted one year. In 1972, the logo was changed and all shading was removed. The eagle was solid yellow in color and its talons were similar but slightly altered and thicker. In 1974, Iowa decided to return to the solid design and reverted to the solid yellow hull; this time it just has a black stripe without the white stripe outline like they did in the late sixties.

The year 1977 marked another change. As was popular at the time, the italicized Iowa name was applied to the yellow hull with black stripe. The Iowa decal was black but outlined in black. As different colored masks became available, the Iowa uniform designers decided that a black mask would fit perfectly with this design. The overall design looked pretty sharp as black and yellow are some of the easiest colors to read and see from afar (the billboard industry knows this and uses this scheme often when trying to get your attention) .

The current Iowa football helmet has been in use for over 30 years, believe it or not. The black helmet with a yellow stripe and graphic Hawkeye head came into use in 1979. This is one of the most memorable logos in college sports and immediately commands attention with the beak, eye, head, and part of the head. which extends from the eye towards the body. . High schools and other teams have used this popular logo. There have been a few occasions since 1979 when Hawkeye’s football team used a different helmet. At least twice they have worn an all-black helmet to mourn the victims of the campus shooting or the parents of a player. They also wore a gold helmet once in 2004 to celebrate Kinnick Stadium’s 50th anniversary.

One last interesting element of the Iowa Hawkeyes football helmet has been the “ANF” lettering which was placed on a small decal on the back of the helmet. This was used in the mid to late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Many people wonder what those letters mean when they look at historical photos of Hawkeye’s gear. “America Needs Farmers” is what ANF stood for and was meant to support struggling farmers. Even in 2011, they continue to have special America Needs Farmers days where farmers are invited and honored. It makes sense when you think of Iowa as the corn and soybean growing capital of the United States.

On my last trip to Palm Springs I had the opportunity to participate in the annual Childhelp Celebrity Golf Invitational at Porcupine Creek and the Indian Wells Golf Resort held each January in the California desert.

Being an avid golfer, my friends and I put together a foursome including actor, producer, and soccer star Fred “the Hammer” Williamson for two days of fantastic golf action.

On day one, our group was picked up at the Hyatt Grand Champions in Indian Wells, where we were taken to the private estate of Oracle founder and billionaire Larry Ellison. Known as Porcupine Creek, this private golf course and estate is nestled in Rancho Mirage against the mountain. It is surrounded by the most beautiful grounds I have ever seen. In addition to a 35,000-foot private residence, the grounds contain four guest houses, the smallest of which is 4,000 feet. Needless to say, our day of golf at this unique property was like spending a day in the Garden of Eden.

Our second day of golf was played at the Indian Wells Golf Resort on the Celebrity Course. Known for its well-maintained greens and serene atmosphere, this course is adjacent to the very luxurious IW Club. The Club and course were closed for the event, but I understand that it is normally open to the public.

Along with the two days of golf came the three nights of parties held at the Hyatt Grand Champions Ballroom. Our wives joined us for these festivities and the food and entertainment were top notch.

Baseball great Johnny Bench was the biggest celebrity winner over the course of the two-day event and I got a chance to speak with Johnny, who played with his son. In addition, another twenty celebrities participated in the event, each of them paired with a different team throughout the two days of golf. Among some of the other daily celebrities I saw were baseball Hall of Famer Steve Garvey, football player and actor Ed Marinaro, lead guitarist Tommy Thayer of KISS, Dancing with the Stars personality Tony Dovolina , All My Children actor John Callahan and rock group Loverboy’s lead singer Mike Reno. In addition to the golf awards, there were other honors given to those who had been great supporters of ChildHelp.

On the first night, donors such as Ron and Sherrie Auen of the Berger Foundation and “Wild Bill” Bill Laughlin were among those congratulated for their tireless work and generosity. There were also silent and live auctions that raised many dollars to help the charity. The highlight of that event was when “Wild Bill” donated $100,000 to help build an outdoor recreation center. It was amazing when mouths dropped open and breaths gasped at the generosity that spread.

As the evening drew to a close, we were entertained by the soothing sounds of singer Jon Secada along with a variety of bands that played the final night, allowing guests the opportunity to show off their dance moves.

Overall my group had a great time and you can be sure this event is on my calendar for next season.

You have to love the NFL, the regular season or the preseason! The Dolphins outscored the Panthers last night by 323 yards to 145, gaining 20 FDs to Carolina’s nine (the Panthers were only 2-for-14). However, the final score was Carolina 19-10, a win and a ‘cover’ for the Panthers!

My bye game for Friday is Oak A’s over Tex Rangers at 8:35 ET. It’s a Las Vegas Insider Friday as I look to extend my current streak of 7-1 (87.5%) in MLB (since August 5) and look to post three straight Las Vegas Insider wins in NFLX (won with the Cardinals in the Week 1 and 30-3 with the Pats in week 2) with my LONE Las Vegas Insider in week 3 of the NFLX. Plus, check back for more MLB.

How did the Panthers win? First, the Dolphins had a 32-yard TD pass nullified by a penalty and then, on that same drive, they saw Ronnie Brown stopped on a fourth-and-one play at the goal line. An excellent outfield tackle ended another Miami drive deep into Carolina territory, forcing a 23-yard Mare FG. Then, on the ensuing kickoff, Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams returned it for a 98-yard TD! Soccer is back!

Week 3 continues with five more games tonight, highlighted by the Giants and Jets at the Meadowlands (8:00 ET) and the Steelers visiting the Eagles in Philadelphia at 8:00 ET on ESPN. Carolina’s win last night brings the team’s record to 3-0 (2-1 ATS), joining the Oakland Raiders (who played in the HOF game) as the only 3-0 teams in the NFL this preseason (Raiders also are 3-0 ATS).

Four other teams, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston and the NY Giants join Carolina and Oakland as teams still undefeated this preseason. These six teams have combined to go 14-0 SU and 13-1 ATS. ATS’ only loss came in Week 1 when the Panthers beat the Bills 14-13 as three-point favorites.

The Giants and Cowboys share five-game preseason winning streaks (both are also 5-0 ATS), the longest active preseason winning streak among NFL teams. The Giants play the Jets tonight and are favored by 4 1/2 points with a total of 36. The Cowboys host the 49ers on Saturday night at 8:00 ET and are favored by seven points with a total of 36.

Six teams remain winless in preseason this year, all 0-2. The list includes Buffalo, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and Washington. The six teams are a combined 0-12 SU and not much better ATS, going 2-10.

The Steelers play tonight in Philadelphia and it will be interesting if Big Ben finally sees some action as he has only attempted eight passes so far. The Eagles have played three games and McNabb has looked good. Philadelphia is favored by three points (34 1/2).

The Chiefs and Colts are winless and both have eight-game losing streaks in preseason in their games this week. The Colts are in Jackson, Mississippi on Saturday night (7:00 ET) to play the Saints, while the Chiefs host the Rams at 8:30 ET on Saturday. The Colts, who are 2-6 ATS during their streak, are favored by 3 1/2 points with a total of 42, while the Chiefs, who are 0-8 ATS during their eight-game losing streak, are favored by 3 1/ 2 points with a total of 39 1/2.

MLB ratings

Thursday night’s 6-2 win over the Cardinals gave the Mets seven straight wins overall and 11 straight at Shea Stadium, their longest home winning streak since September 1995. The Mets (78- 48) went to 30 games over .500 for the first time since 1999 and lead Philadelphia by 14 1/2 games in the NL East.

New York’s seven-game winning streak is the longest active in MLB, with the four-game winning streaks of the Marlins and Padres (both had days off yesterday) as the second-best. The Rockies are riding a six-game losing streak entering play on Friday, the longest active losing streak in MLB.

Highlights of Thursday’s play included the White Sox’s win over the Tigers, 10-0. Detroit had beaten Chicago in the first two games of this four-game series, but Chicago won the last two games, leaving them 5 1/2 games behind the Tigers in the AL Central and keeping them a half game ahead of the Tigers. Twins in the wild card race.

Jon Garland pitched a complete game and has now won each of his last 10 road starts. In the last 10 years, only two other pitchers have had such long streaks, David Wells (he won 13 consecutive road starts, between 1999 and 2000) and Chris Carpenter (10 in a row in 2005).

Carlos Zambrano continued his season-long role as the Cubs’ stopper, pitching seven innings and earning the win against Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon. It was his 10th win this season immediately following a Cubs loss, the most such wins in the majors. It was the fifth time this year that Zambrano won a game to snap Chicago’s streak of at least three losses. The Cubs are 18-10 (.643) in games started by Zambrano and just 36-63 (.364) in games he doesn’t!

The weekend kicks off with a full 15-game schedule, and two American League series provide the most compelling stories. The Minnesota Twins look to seize sole possession of the AL wild-card lead on Friday night when they begin a critical three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field (8:35 ET).

Minnesota (74-52) started slowly for the first two months of the season before turning it around. The Twins, who are 49-19 since June 8 after opening the season 25-33, matched the White Sox (75-52). ) after sweeping a three-game series at Chicago from July 24-26, but was never able to take the lead.

Radke (12-9, 4.35 ERA) starts for the Twins and is 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA in four starts against the White Sox this year, while Javier Vazquez (11-8, 5.13) will face Minnesota for the second time. consecutive output. . He was the underdog on Sunday, when he allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings of a 7-3 loss. The right-hander dropped to 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts against the Twins this year.

The Angels host the Yankees tonight in Anaheim (10:05 ET) in the opener of a three-game series. The Angels (67-61) are 4-3 against the Yankees (76-50) this season and look to capture the season series for the third straight year. They are 53-51 against New York since the start of the 1996 season, the only team with a winning record against the Yankees during manager Joe Torre’s tenure. Los Angeles also knocked New York out of the playoffs twice in four years, including a five-game victory in the division series last season.

Jaret Wright (9-7, 4.63) returns to the rotation when he takes the mound for New York. Wright hasn’t started since August. 17, though he has made a couple of appearances out of the bullpen since that outing. He is 4-1 with a 3.78 ERA in 10 road starts this year, but just 2-2 with a 7.60 ERA in seven career starts against the Angels.

John Lackey (10-9, 3.92 ERA) has struggled in his career against the Yankees, going 3-6 with a 5.74 ERA in nine regular-season starts. He lost in New York on August 2. 14 after allowing three runs and 11 hits in seven innings in a 7-2 loss. He is 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA in his last four starts and opponents are hitting .332 against him in his last eight starts after hitting .195 in his first 18. Lackey is 5-4 with a 4.28 ERA. in 14 starts at home (team is 8-6).

Ness Notes is available Monday through Friday at 1:00 ET.