by Gregg Taliercio
Wrist supports are one of the most popular bowling accessories. Wrist supports come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials with each boasting different benefits. Most bowlers usually attest to the fact that it keeps their wrist stable throughout the shot and gives them more consistency, revs and power at the pins.
Why I Don't Recommend Them. With all these benefits it's surprising to most people that I rarely if ever recommend them to anyone. Allow me to explain. Bowling at the high level requires the bowler to be skilled enough to change the ball roll depending on the conditions on the lane. This is done by manipulating the wrist position not only up and down, but side to side as well. Keeping your wrist "locked in" to one position really limits the required versatility to perform on a vast array of conditions. While bowling on a typical house shot you might be successful, a more difficult sport condition with multiple lane transitions will leave you wondering what could have been.
Lessons from the pros. "But PBA member Mike Scroggin's is seen on television bowling with the latest and greatest wrist device. What do you have to say about that?" Yes I'd agree Scroggin's definitely uses a wrist aid, but looking at the big picture he is definitely the exception and not the rule. The vast majority of the modern greats do not wear wrist devices. Think Walter Ray Williams Jr., Norm Duke, Wes Mallott, Chris Barnes, Tommy Jones, Parker Bohn III, etc. None of them use wrist devices in competition. In fact going through the list of the 50 PBA all time greats I don't see any modern player that uses a wrist support.
Weak wrist? A lot of female bowlers as well as some male bowlers lack the strength in the wrist to get the reaction they want. If that is the case then there should be some serious considerations on starting a strength training program. Using a wrist support in this instance is akin to applying a band aid, rather than addressing the problem. In a matter of months a smart training program will give you all the strength you need to manipulate the ball roll, not to mention the added benefits of being fit and healthy.
Youth Considerations. When working with youth I really advocate holding off on using a wrist aid and allowing the athlete to develop the necessary strength over time. Once a youth bowler starts using a wrist device it's rare to see them ever stop. It becomes a crutch and prevents their wrist from developing the strength they'll need to take the device off.
Exceptions. While I said I rarely recommend wrist devices there still are times when they can be useful.
* Wrist Supports work great as a training aid. Getting your hands on an adjustable wrist support will allow you to practice the feel of different releases. A lot of the wrist devices only allow for one release, so make sure it is adjustable and see just how many different ball rolls you can do.
* Pain or an injury in the wrist or forearm can prevent someone from bowling all together. We see this a lot with senior players and even some younger players for a variety of reasons. If not wearing a wrist support would prevent someone from bowling then obviously go ahead and have at it.
* A recreational player that has no intentions of ever competing at a high level could certainly benefit from using one
If you are reading this and regretting the purchase of a stationary wrist aid don't fret. If it's leather wrapped they make excellent chew toys for your dog.
About the Author
Gregg Taliercio, better known as Coach 3G is a USBC Bronze Certified Bowling Coach in the Greater Salt Lake City Area. He serves as a Youth Committee member of the GSLBA. Visit his coaching site The Bowling Approach by visiting www.thebowlingapproach.com
www.goarticles.com
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The Wide Reaching Effects Of Soccer
by Art Gib
The Super Bowl, the World Series and the national championships of basketball and hockey cannot compare to the fan base or the fanaticism of professional soccer. The world cup is the culmination of a years best soccer teams from nearly every country in the world joining together to celebrate the sport of soccer.
International teams come together to play for the title of world champion. Unlike other sports competitions that claim to be worlds best, soccer is the only truly international sport. American football, baseball and basketball teams propose that they are world champions when they win competitions against rival teams from other cities and states within the US, but when compared with the reach and influence that professional mens soccer has on the world the typically US affiliated sports franchises pale in the number of fans and the number of players that can be found in the streets and fields of cities, towns and villages throughout the world.
From the time that they are able to stand children everywhere around the globe are introduced to the sport of soccer. Athletes in the poorest regions of Africa can be found dribbling a soccer ball and playing a fast paced game of what is referred to outside the United States as football. Throughout south and central America and all across Europe and Asia children of all ages engage in the sport of soccer. Many young players dream of one day putting a pair of mens soccer cleats and walking on to a football pitch to play in a national game against the professionally ranked teams of the world for a shot at the championship of all championships the famous World Cup of soccer.
Gaining in popularity over the past decade or so, soccer has finally reached the shores of the United States and kids from every city enroll in soccer leagues for both boys and girls to play matches in. As the sport has grown and gained a following in the US a few cities have bravely adopted a professional mens soccer league that plays in matches against 12 professional teams. Although the sport is not yet as popular as the leagues that are found in the United Kingdom and Europe, American soccer is finding a home in the hearts of fans that enjoy watching the scrimmages of the players that lace up a pair of mens soccer cleats and emerge onto the field to play a game known the world over.
About the Author
Marca Personal, Inc. (http://marcapersonal.com) provides mens soccer cleats and soccer uniforms for leagues and teams. Also sells authentic professional soccer team jerseys and uniforms. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
www.goarticles.com
The Super Bowl, the World Series and the national championships of basketball and hockey cannot compare to the fan base or the fanaticism of professional soccer. The world cup is the culmination of a years best soccer teams from nearly every country in the world joining together to celebrate the sport of soccer.
International teams come together to play for the title of world champion. Unlike other sports competitions that claim to be worlds best, soccer is the only truly international sport. American football, baseball and basketball teams propose that they are world champions when they win competitions against rival teams from other cities and states within the US, but when compared with the reach and influence that professional mens soccer has on the world the typically US affiliated sports franchises pale in the number of fans and the number of players that can be found in the streets and fields of cities, towns and villages throughout the world.
From the time that they are able to stand children everywhere around the globe are introduced to the sport of soccer. Athletes in the poorest regions of Africa can be found dribbling a soccer ball and playing a fast paced game of what is referred to outside the United States as football. Throughout south and central America and all across Europe and Asia children of all ages engage in the sport of soccer. Many young players dream of one day putting a pair of mens soccer cleats and walking on to a football pitch to play in a national game against the professionally ranked teams of the world for a shot at the championship of all championships the famous World Cup of soccer.
Gaining in popularity over the past decade or so, soccer has finally reached the shores of the United States and kids from every city enroll in soccer leagues for both boys and girls to play matches in. As the sport has grown and gained a following in the US a few cities have bravely adopted a professional mens soccer league that plays in matches against 12 professional teams. Although the sport is not yet as popular as the leagues that are found in the United Kingdom and Europe, American soccer is finding a home in the hearts of fans that enjoy watching the scrimmages of the players that lace up a pair of mens soccer cleats and emerge onto the field to play a game known the world over.
About the Author
Marca Personal, Inc. (http://marcapersonal.com) provides mens soccer cleats and soccer uniforms for leagues and teams. Also sells authentic professional soccer team jerseys and uniforms. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
www.goarticles.com
Resistance Training for Running?
by Pace Rogers
It is commonly accepted that you should prepare for a resistance training based workout by starting with some cardiovascular activity; running is the most likely choice.
There has always been a huge debate however on whether or not you should do any resistance training when your primary goal is to become a better runner.
You can find respected, knowledgeable experts on both sides of the debate; all of them present valid arguments along with solid data gathered during serious studies on training for runners. Since so much has already been said on the subject, there is no point to yet again pick sides, but instead, let's look at if from a different angle.
More likely than not, you are not (yet) high-level professional marathon runners; otherwise, you would have coaches, trainers, facilities and resources at your disposal and wouldn't need to look for information on the Internet. As it happens, for most people, resistance training is beneficial; it is also a great complement to your usual training regardless of what physical activity you are training for.
Lifting weights is always preferable to machines, especially for runners. Machines always target muscles in a very isolated fashion with a controlled, often unnatural plane of motion. Free weights on the contrary allow for a more natural workout that relates to running in a much better way, while at the same time help to strengthening your core. Ask any sport professional: countless studies have demonstrated that resistance training is beneficial to increase bone density, metabolism and strength of connective tissue. These are all great in reducing the risk of ankle or knee injury often associated with running.
Decreasing body fat and increasing muscle density is also a result of resistance training which is great for running as you will have less "useless weight" to carry around. A lot of runners are concerned about the extra weight they will put on from muscle gain. Don't worry! It is unlikely that you will become much bigger since you probably already burn all your calories with your running routine; lifting weights will only result in an increase in muscle density and strength, not mass.
It seems obvious that runners should target muscles in the lower body if they opt for resistance training; abs and lower back muscles should not be forgotten as they are heavily used while running. However, upper body muscles also play an important role in the symmetrical movements and balance involved while running.
It is true that most studies done on runners around resistance training did not involve long running efforts, such as marathons. It is also true that very high-level marathon runners do not lift weights; rather, their resistance training consists in running up and down hills. Both supporters and detractors of free weights for runners also agree on the fact that resistance training should be kept at a minimum in the couple of weeks preceding a race, as it will induce muscle fatigue.
Again, in the end, if you're not a high-level competitive athlete, resistance training can only be beneficial for you as a complement to your running routine.
Each runner is different, and so his or her workout should be too. It will vary depending on which type of runner you are, want to be, and will become. Diversity among runners is one of the greatest things you come to understand and appreciate when you've been running in San Francisco for a while!
About the Author
Pace Rogers has been practicing and teaching martial arts for over 20 years. He also worked as a personal trainer for a few years and is part of the team operating www.runninginsanfrancisco.com
www.goarticles.com
It is commonly accepted that you should prepare for a resistance training based workout by starting with some cardiovascular activity; running is the most likely choice.
There has always been a huge debate however on whether or not you should do any resistance training when your primary goal is to become a better runner.
You can find respected, knowledgeable experts on both sides of the debate; all of them present valid arguments along with solid data gathered during serious studies on training for runners. Since so much has already been said on the subject, there is no point to yet again pick sides, but instead, let's look at if from a different angle.
More likely than not, you are not (yet) high-level professional marathon runners; otherwise, you would have coaches, trainers, facilities and resources at your disposal and wouldn't need to look for information on the Internet. As it happens, for most people, resistance training is beneficial; it is also a great complement to your usual training regardless of what physical activity you are training for.
Lifting weights is always preferable to machines, especially for runners. Machines always target muscles in a very isolated fashion with a controlled, often unnatural plane of motion. Free weights on the contrary allow for a more natural workout that relates to running in a much better way, while at the same time help to strengthening your core. Ask any sport professional: countless studies have demonstrated that resistance training is beneficial to increase bone density, metabolism and strength of connective tissue. These are all great in reducing the risk of ankle or knee injury often associated with running.
Decreasing body fat and increasing muscle density is also a result of resistance training which is great for running as you will have less "useless weight" to carry around. A lot of runners are concerned about the extra weight they will put on from muscle gain. Don't worry! It is unlikely that you will become much bigger since you probably already burn all your calories with your running routine; lifting weights will only result in an increase in muscle density and strength, not mass.
It seems obvious that runners should target muscles in the lower body if they opt for resistance training; abs and lower back muscles should not be forgotten as they are heavily used while running. However, upper body muscles also play an important role in the symmetrical movements and balance involved while running.
It is true that most studies done on runners around resistance training did not involve long running efforts, such as marathons. It is also true that very high-level marathon runners do not lift weights; rather, their resistance training consists in running up and down hills. Both supporters and detractors of free weights for runners also agree on the fact that resistance training should be kept at a minimum in the couple of weeks preceding a race, as it will induce muscle fatigue.
Again, in the end, if you're not a high-level competitive athlete, resistance training can only be beneficial for you as a complement to your running routine.
Each runner is different, and so his or her workout should be too. It will vary depending on which type of runner you are, want to be, and will become. Diversity among runners is one of the greatest things you come to understand and appreciate when you've been running in San Francisco for a while!
About the Author
Pace Rogers has been practicing and teaching martial arts for over 20 years. He also worked as a personal trainer for a few years and is part of the team operating www.runninginsanfrancisco.com
www.goarticles.com
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tennis: Roots and Influences
by Marian Aldana
From all high school graduates not every one of them are able to continue their education to the college level. Earning a college degree can be difficult. Location, available courses need to be carefully considered, as well as the cost of enrollment. Many students therefore apply for financial aid; if they are talented in sports, they look into sports scholarships and internships, which could also serve as a stepping stone for a career in professional sports. Each year, many high school tennis athletes, for instance, are hoping to get noticed during college tennis recruiting and obtain a college sports scholarship.
A college sports scholarship is a form of in which schools admit applicants based on their athletic abilities. The applicants are expected to perform well on the school team, and at the same time maintain a fair academic standing. These scholarships are quite common in the United States. They are largely regulated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The NCAA sets the guidelines by which the students are expected to perform, on what particular basis they can be admitted as well as the standards by which schools can grant a college sports scholarship.
The roots and influences of tennis can be traced as far back as the ancient Greek sport called sphairistike. Similar games are referred to in literature as far back as the Middle Ages, such as in The Second Shepherds' Play, where shepherds gave a tennis ball to the newborn Christ. Sir Gawain plays tennis with a group of giants in a scene in The Turke and Gowin.
The vast financial burdens involved in pursuing a college degree can prove daunting, especially with the current economic crisis. Thus many high school tennis athletes are hoping to get noticed during college tennis recruiting. The Internet has proven to be a useful venue for both student tennis athletes and coaches involved in the process of college tennis recruiting. There are many websites and online forums wherein students and scouts can come together and interact. D1Athletes is an online community wherein high school tennis athletes and coaches alike can share and exchange information they need during college tennis recruiting. D1Athletes offers them a place to build an online presence and gain important public exposure. To learn more, visit D1Athletes.com.
About the Author
To learn more, visit D1Athletes.
www.goarticles.com
From all high school graduates not every one of them are able to continue their education to the college level. Earning a college degree can be difficult. Location, available courses need to be carefully considered, as well as the cost of enrollment. Many students therefore apply for financial aid; if they are talented in sports, they look into sports scholarships and internships, which could also serve as a stepping stone for a career in professional sports. Each year, many high school tennis athletes, for instance, are hoping to get noticed during college tennis recruiting and obtain a college sports scholarship.
A college sports scholarship is a form of in which schools admit applicants based on their athletic abilities. The applicants are expected to perform well on the school team, and at the same time maintain a fair academic standing. These scholarships are quite common in the United States. They are largely regulated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The NCAA sets the guidelines by which the students are expected to perform, on what particular basis they can be admitted as well as the standards by which schools can grant a college sports scholarship.
The roots and influences of tennis can be traced as far back as the ancient Greek sport called sphairistike. Similar games are referred to in literature as far back as the Middle Ages, such as in The Second Shepherds' Play, where shepherds gave a tennis ball to the newborn Christ. Sir Gawain plays tennis with a group of giants in a scene in The Turke and Gowin.
The vast financial burdens involved in pursuing a college degree can prove daunting, especially with the current economic crisis. Thus many high school tennis athletes are hoping to get noticed during college tennis recruiting. The Internet has proven to be a useful venue for both student tennis athletes and coaches involved in the process of college tennis recruiting. There are many websites and online forums wherein students and scouts can come together and interact. D1Athletes is an online community wherein high school tennis athletes and coaches alike can share and exchange information they need during college tennis recruiting. D1Athletes offers them a place to build an online presence and gain important public exposure. To learn more, visit D1Athletes.com.
About the Author
To learn more, visit D1Athletes.
www.goarticles.com
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Indulging the Outdoor Adventurer in Me With Altrec.com Online Deals
by David Stack
I love the outdoors. Every month or so I meticulously plan an adventure that I haven't yet gone on: white water rafting, a quiet hike by myself, mountain climbing, multi-day marathon and long-distance running, snowboarding, kayaking. Last month I camped for several days in the Amazonian wilderness, away from civilization. I haven't made a decision yet on what I am going to do this month, but I will certainly indulge the outdoor adventurer in me, what with terrific online deals from Altrec.com.
The terrific thing about Altrec is that their team is made up of outdoor enthusiasts like me, explorers and adventurers who know how to have a good time and what they need for it. They also supply what I think is the best outdoor clothing and equipment today. So if there's anything I might need for an adventure, I know that I don't have to look anywhere else.
Should I go camping and hiking? If I wanted to plan for that, I need only to look up the Altrec website to help me with my requirements. They carry a wide selection of the top and most trusted brands, such as The North Face, Osprey, Arcteryx, MSR, and Mountain Hardware. The store also has plenty of options for hiking boots, hats, backpacks, sleeping bags and sleeping pads, head lamps, stoves, water filters, camping tents, electronics (like GPS and satellite messengers), and jackets to weather any potentially mischievous weather.
Or ought I take a trip to the beach? Altrec has an extensive selection of clothing products and accessories to make me look good on the shores or in the water. With sandals, sunglasses, casual shoes, shorts, rash guards, hats, swim suits, bags, and other such accessories from brand like Hurley, Billabong, Roxy, Oakley, and Water Girl (for when I have a lady with me), I am sure that I won't run out of choices for good beach trip online deals.
Or maybe I should go mountain climbing. The satisfaction of reaching the peak is worth the challenge. Only, I have to be fully and appropriately equipped, for climbing requires specialized gear that are essential for any adventurer. Luckily, Altrec has climbing harnesses from brands like Black Diamond and Mammut; climbing helmets from Petzl; climbing ropes that focus on mountaineering, alpine, ice, traditional climbing, and sport climbing; footwear from Sportiva, Nepal, Trango, Five.Ten, and Boreal; as well as climbing protection that include products such as quickdraws, hexes, stoppers, and first aid kits.
Of course, Altrec also has an offering of products and accessories if I decided to go on another snowboarding adventure. In that case, I would need innovations from top brands such as Burton, Ride, Salomon, and many more. Whether it's for jackets, goggles, gloves and mittens, snowboard boots, pants, hats, and impact shorts, I can easily take a look at the selection of online deals from the store for most of my snowboarding-related purchases. And I know that whatever path I choose, Altrec will be there to help me along the way.
About the Author
David Stack is a coupon code aficionado and loves to search for promo deals in the Web. He runs a website where you can see a list of thousands of promo codes and coupons from different online stores, such as Buy.com promotion codes.
www.goarticles.com
I love the outdoors. Every month or so I meticulously plan an adventure that I haven't yet gone on: white water rafting, a quiet hike by myself, mountain climbing, multi-day marathon and long-distance running, snowboarding, kayaking. Last month I camped for several days in the Amazonian wilderness, away from civilization. I haven't made a decision yet on what I am going to do this month, but I will certainly indulge the outdoor adventurer in me, what with terrific online deals from Altrec.com.
The terrific thing about Altrec is that their team is made up of outdoor enthusiasts like me, explorers and adventurers who know how to have a good time and what they need for it. They also supply what I think is the best outdoor clothing and equipment today. So if there's anything I might need for an adventure, I know that I don't have to look anywhere else.
Should I go camping and hiking? If I wanted to plan for that, I need only to look up the Altrec website to help me with my requirements. They carry a wide selection of the top and most trusted brands, such as The North Face, Osprey, Arcteryx, MSR, and Mountain Hardware. The store also has plenty of options for hiking boots, hats, backpacks, sleeping bags and sleeping pads, head lamps, stoves, water filters, camping tents, electronics (like GPS and satellite messengers), and jackets to weather any potentially mischievous weather.
Or ought I take a trip to the beach? Altrec has an extensive selection of clothing products and accessories to make me look good on the shores or in the water. With sandals, sunglasses, casual shoes, shorts, rash guards, hats, swim suits, bags, and other such accessories from brand like Hurley, Billabong, Roxy, Oakley, and Water Girl (for when I have a lady with me), I am sure that I won't run out of choices for good beach trip online deals.
Or maybe I should go mountain climbing. The satisfaction of reaching the peak is worth the challenge. Only, I have to be fully and appropriately equipped, for climbing requires specialized gear that are essential for any adventurer. Luckily, Altrec has climbing harnesses from brands like Black Diamond and Mammut; climbing helmets from Petzl; climbing ropes that focus on mountaineering, alpine, ice, traditional climbing, and sport climbing; footwear from Sportiva, Nepal, Trango, Five.Ten, and Boreal; as well as climbing protection that include products such as quickdraws, hexes, stoppers, and first aid kits.
Of course, Altrec also has an offering of products and accessories if I decided to go on another snowboarding adventure. In that case, I would need innovations from top brands such as Burton, Ride, Salomon, and many more. Whether it's for jackets, goggles, gloves and mittens, snowboard boots, pants, hats, and impact shorts, I can easily take a look at the selection of online deals from the store for most of my snowboarding-related purchases. And I know that whatever path I choose, Altrec will be there to help me along the way.
About the Author
David Stack is a coupon code aficionado and loves to search for promo deals in the Web. He runs a website where you can see a list of thousands of promo codes and coupons from different online stores, such as Buy.com promotion codes.
www.goarticles.com
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Why We Watch Sports - (And It's Not What You Think)
Whether you want to believe it or not, we like to watch sports for very different reasons than you may think. In fact, the real things that cause us to like sports are in every person, whether we like sports or not. What things can we learn about human nature by simply looking at our fascination with competition? The answers may surprise you. Not only are the answers interesting in themselves, but they may just help you in other ways too.
There are some fairly straightforward and obvious explanations for why we like sports to be sure. Sports teach us about loyalty, perseverance and honor. It gives us a way to bond, it's cathartic, and we identify with teams and players. We live vicariously through the players we watch. We have our favorite players, and there are teams we've grown up rooting for because our brother or dad used to love them, and now we still root for them today. Or we may follow a sport now that we used to play as a child.
But there are some deeper, more powerful and fascinating reasons too.
We're All Just Big Children
Whether you want to believe it or not, all adults are just big children. We're all just big kids. We just hide our true feelings and thoughts with highly developed skills (or at least most of us do). We still want to belong or be accepted by our peers, we all still want to be loved, we still feel emotional pain, and we still find ourselves giving in to immediate gratification when we know better. And yes, some of us still lie and cheat in our normal day to day lives.
We certainly hide things better and often successfully ‘act' as if we don't care about belonging, or love, or pain, or whatever. Deep down inside we are a little more mature and wise, but basically still just children. We may not say it out loud anymore, but we still think to ourselves sometimes, "That's not fair!" We would rather play than work. Some may argue, depending on whether they pee standing up or sitting down, that this is especially true for men. Maybe that's why there are more men sports fans than women.
You see, watching sports gives us a perfect, safe and secure, black and white, little microcosm of life. Following a player, team or game allows us to experience ups and downs and a whole array of emotions, just like in real life, but we aren't actually affected.
And unlike life, sports and games are generally fair! There are rules and a crystal clear framework, or paradigm that all the participants and spectators know about. There are never any monkey wrenches thrown into a sports game, like the rules changing mid-game for instance. If rules are broken, the offender is penalized. They don't frustratingly get away sometimes like in real life.
At the end, there is an unambiguous winner and loser. We get to pretend that the game we're watching is life, where everything is perfectly fair, everyone plays by the rules and everything makes sense.
Children tend to think of things in much more black and white terms. It is only through living and maturing that we realize that all of life is a series of grays. But we all still long for a simpler and easier life. When things are only seen in black or white, things indeed seem simpler and easier, but life isn't so clear-cut.
This helps explain why politicians who break their platform down into simple sound bites and into terms devoid of complexity often do better than politicians who talk about life like it really is, a complex, interrelated world of nuances.
Watching sports allows us a temporarily safe and socially acceptable way to be more like our true nature, and our true nature is frighteningly childlike. So the next time you deal with a difficult person, remember that they are just a large child, like you and everyone else, and maybe that knowledge will help you deal with them a little more easily.
What do watching a horror movie and sports have in common?
Ever wonder why so many people, including maybe you, enjoy watching horror movies so much? They provide a safe way for people to experience high levels of suspension without actually being in any real danger. Sports can be the same way. Again, watching sports allows us to enter a perfect world where the suspenseful outcome has no bearing on our real lives (unless you have a nasty sports gambling problem of course).
People love drama, suspension, and resolution, which are all elements inherent in sports. In fact, the closer the game, the more suspension there is. If we identify with a player and he wins, we are vicariously happy for the success. However, if the player's team loses, we feel the defeat a little as well. But our lives are unaffected. And sports announcers usually only add to the drama and suspension.
A sports game is a sort of story. There is a beginning and an end. There is a protagonist (your team) and an antagonist (the other team). There is a scene and setting, the stadium at noon, and there is a plot, which is the action. Only after the games ends, and depending on if your team won or not, is it decided to be called a fairy tale ending or a tragedy.
Reptilian Brain and War
Whether you want to believe it or not, humans are a lot closer to nature and the animal world than most people like to think. We're not just close to nature; we're a part of it! Evolutionarily speaking, we are much closer in time to our unintelligent animal ancestors than we are to a transcended sentient species apart from nature. Our behavior is guided much more by our ‘primitive brain' than our more recently developed neocortex, which is the seat of our intelligence. The primitive brain, or lower brain function, deals with fight or flight behavior, hunger, fear, and sex, among other things.
A common, yet erroneous concept is that the human brain is the result of billions of years of evolution. Our primitive or reptilian part of the brain is that old, but our brain's extra large neocortex, the thing that separates us from other mammals, came about only a couple million years ago, a mere drop in the evolutionary bucket. The neocortex has not had much time to develop, and so our primitive brain plays a significant role in our lives.
Our basic flight or fight mentality is manifested in sports. We can relate, on some deeper and unconscious level, with the guy running with the football towards the end zone and being chased by a pack of angry men. We can understand what it feels like to check another player in hockey and slam him into the boards. Or we can sympathize with the NASCAR driver who gets passed by a competitor, but throws it into a higher gear and chases after him.
Our primitive desire for dominance is represented in sports. When our team wins, we experience a sort of dominance over the opposing team and their fans.
Our predatory nature is lit up when we see a linebacker following a running back through a mass of football players, waiting for the perfect moment to strike his prey with a tackle. Watching someone chase the man with the ball in basketball, soccer, or baseball affects us in similar ways.
Our tribal instincts are fulfilled by sports. We all want to belong to something; it's a basic human need since we are such social animals. We identify with a team like our ancestors would identify with their tribe. This is especially true for the Western world's modern man, where community has taken a back seat to independence.
Our primitive warring nature is satisfied by sports. There seems to be an innate desire for war, even in so-called ‘modern' man. Indeed, look at the world today and how many current wars are going on, and you'll see how far we are to real peace. Pathetically, that last statement holds true for almost any time in history, regardless of when you're reading this. Again, this goes back to the fact that we are ruled more by our ‘primitive', survival-driven, fight or flight brain than our reasonable and intelligent ‘modern' brain.
Every sports game is like a tiny war between tribes, with an end and a declared victor. But there's one important distinction; unlike war, no one has to die in sports.
One of the reasons going to a game is more exciting than watching it on TV is that there is a kind of energy created when so many people get together and root for one cause. You might even liken it to a mob mentality. We don't have to look farther than our own stadiums where pandemonium has broken out in protest to a call or in celebration of a win. Sports strongly appeals to the gaming and struggle instincts of humans.
And since our modern lives no longer contain any real physical danger and all our basic needs are immediately taken care of, we now have a void that needs to be filled somehow, our primitive brain expects it. Sports fit the bill. It gives us the illusion of reality where there are no consequences. It gives us the illusion of battle, war, victory and defeat, without the consequences. And it gives us the illusion of being a child again, even if it's all temporary.
You may not like sports at all, but we are all a quite childlike inside. We all yearn for some level of drama in our lives. And we are all constantly affected by our primitive brain. Watching sports is one excellent way for people to reconcile these inescapable facts.
Author by Jason Oconnor
Jason OConnor has a BA in Psychology and Philosophy and runs NFL, MLB, NHL, & NBA Tickets
http://www.articlesbase.com
Who Would Like to Receive Sport Gifts From Me or My Organization?
Sport gifts are basically memorabilia that an individual or organization may have custom-made to commemorate a sports-related event like a winning championship match. And the people most likely to appreciate sport gifts are those people who truly enjoy sports either as an occupation, as a spectator, or as a weekend warrior. In short, sports fans are your best recipients for sport gifts.
Sport gifts can be used to mark a particularly thrilling championship series in popular sports like the National Basketball Association (NBA) of the US, or the National Football League (NFL) also of the US. And just as sport gifts can vary greatly depending on the type of sport they are celebrating, the types of sport gifts available nowadays can also be of a great variety. This is good news for sports fans everywhere who really like receiving sport gifts or who would like to give them away to friends, relatives and colleagues.
Sport gifts may be customized especially for those you consider very important people like executives of your organization. Some popular choices for sport gifts of executives are golf balls (which may have the name of your organization or you emblazoned on them), golf club head covers, large golf umbrellas, golf clubs and putters, and even leather golf gloves. It may depend too as to what sport is popular among executives of your organization. What if they like more gentlemanly types of sports, like chess? Then maybe you can select unique designs for chess pieces of customized chess sets as a very special type of sport gifts. Remember, the more unique your sport gifts, the more likely the recipient will remember you.
If you cannot seem to come up with any brilliant ideas for good sport gifts, why not try to choose some safe types of sport gifts instead for now? For instance, sport watches are a nifty idea for sport gifts because everyone will probably need a good sports watch at some time. The bigger your budget for sport gifts as giveaways, the higher will be the quality of your choice of sport gifts. But this does not automatically mean that higher cost will translate to more appreciation from your intended recipients. The level of appreciation will depend a lot on the tastes of your recipients. And that is where choosing appropriate sport gifts tends to become nerve wracking.
For instance, why choose very expensive designer watches as sport gifts when your people would be satisfied just receiving practical sport umbrellas with your logo emblazoned on them? Sometimes, choosing expensive sport gifts can send the wrong message to people – your expensive sport gifts might be perceived as corporate greed rather than wholehearted advocacy of values of the organization. Thus, the giver of sport gifts has to have a hand on the pulse of the organization so that he knows if his choice of sport gifts will be perceived the same way he himself perceives them – or not, as the case may be.
Author by Ron Edwards
Ron Edwards invites you to visit his website for Custom Bobblehead, Unique Wedding Gifts and more. For more details visit the website http://www.custombobble.com
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