Posts Tagged ‘entertainment’
Buying A Pool Table – Information & Advice
Are you considering buying a pool table? Before making a final decision on which one to get there are several things that you need to take into account…
Size – The size of the table relative to the size of the area into which it will be installed is of the utmost concern. You may very well be able to afford any of the standard 7, 8 or 9 foot tables but if it is too large for the space into which it is to be installed it may not be a wise choice. Consideration must be given to the amount of playing space required around the table. Placing a table in a space that allows inadequate space for making shots with your pool cues will spoil the playing experience.
Slate vs. Non Slate – The choice of material used for the play surface beneath the billiard felt must be made. If money is no object, there is no decision to be made here, always opt for slate as it is the traditional, preferred and most durable material for the job. That being said, non-slate options have improved considerably with the addition of materials such as accuslate. While this is basically just a high density fiber board, the quality is such that it comes with a 7 year warranty.
Shipping – Is there any shipping and / or handling costs? This is especially important if you have to have the table imported or any of the materials imported. If you are shopping online, it never hurts to ask the manufacturer or retailer if they offer free shipping and handling since this can either make or break a deal, depending on your budget. And you also need to be careful because a lot of online retailers make their money not in the actual item that they are selling but through the shipping and handling fees. Online comparison shopping is smart, but you need to make sure that you are looking at all the factors, including shipping, to make sure you are getting the best price on your pool table.
Accessories – These are often forgotten about when people are working out how much they can afford to spend. How much fun can a great pool table be if the accessories are sub-standard? You will need quality pool cues, quality chalk and a great rack. You also want to make sure that you pool cues go with the look and feel of your pool table. And you can not forget the actual pool balls, the cue rack and any other accessories which will make you pool playing experience top notch.
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Boxing Flashback: Manny Pacquiao Vs. Oscar De La Hoya
Age sneaks up on professional prizefighters, at least in terms of their competitive abilities. There are exceptions–Archie Moore, George Foreman, James Toney–but they are rare. Typically, a high level boxer can go from legitimacy to retirement in a matter of minutes. The most recent victim of ‘Father Time’ was Mexican Superstar Oscar De La Hoya, who looked completely outclassed in what would be his last bout–an 8th round TKO loss to Panamanian sensation Manny Pacquiao.
There was much concern prior to the fight about Pacquiaos ability to handle the naturally larger De La Hoyas strength and power. That concern was completely ill founded, and the reigning pound for pound king began to overwhelm De La Hoya from the opening round. Pacquiaos seemingly nonstop flurries of strikes began to show their effect on De La Hoyas face as his elusiveness made it impossible for his opponent to retaliate with any offense of his own.
As the fight progressed, it became nothing less than a one sided beating. His only effective flurry came in the 5th round, when he scored with a few solid body punches. It did little more than prolong the inevitable finish. Between the 7th and 8th round, trainer Nacho Berenstein told his fighter that he wasn’t going to let him stay out there and take a beating if he wasnt throwing punches. After the 8th round, Berenstein stopped the fight and Oscar smartly didn’t object to what was clearly the right decision.
The judges scorecards at the time of the stoppage vividly reflect the one-sidedness of the contest: two of the three judges scored the fight 80-71, with Pacquaio winning all eight rounds (with a 10-8 margin in the 7th). One judge charitably gave De La Hoya the fifth round, which was certainly a stretch resulting in a 79-72 margin. De La Hoya displayed the class of a champion following the fight, as he deflected Larry Merchants pointed questions about his relatively low weight to keep the focus on Pacquiaos masterful performance. He stopped short of retiring in the ring, but certainly sounded as if he were leaning in that direction as he observed:
“At this stage when you face someone like Pacquiao, it’s going to be a hard fight. I worked hard and trained really hard to get ready for this fight, but it’s a lot different story when you’re training than when you are actually in the ring. I just felt flat, like I didn’t have it. My heart still wants to fight, but when you physically don’t respond, you have to be smart.”
De La Hoyas post fight behavior should be required viewing for all aspiring prizefighters to learn how a champion carries himself with class, dignity and respect for the sport even in defeat. De La Hoya is an international superstar with a nine figure ATM balance; if he can be humble and gracious in this setting other fighters have no excuse for not being able to emulate his gentlemanly manners.
The most touching moment came as De La Hoya prepared to leave the ring to allow Pacquiao to enjoy the glory he had earned. As De La Hoya gave a congratulatory hug, Pacquiao assured him that “You’re still my hero”.
To which the defeated De La Hoya responded: “No, now you’re my hero.
Ross Everett is a freelance writer and noted authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Falcons Hold Off Late Bears Rally
The Atlanta Falcons didn’t so much win their Sunday Night NFL Football game against the Chicago Bears as much as the Bears lost it. A series of costly mistakes and turnovers in the red zone negated an otherwise solid road effort for the Bears, as Atlanta held on to win 21-14 at the Georgia Dome. Chicago held a decisive edge in most of the statistical categories, but was undone by untimely turnovers. Atlanta improved to 4-1 with the victory while Chicago slipped to 3-2.
Chicago also disappointed fans who bet on NFL football by failing to cover the pointspread as +4 road underdogs. Both teams’ ATS records match their straight up records with the Falcons moving to 4-1 against the number while the Bears slumped to 3-2. The 35 combined points went UNDER the posted total of 46.
Winning Falcons’ QB Matt Ryan chose to credit his defense rather than point to Chicago mistakes as the determining factor in the outcome:
“Our defense, give them some credit. Our guys stepped up and made some plays when we needed them to.”
The Bears did a good job shutting down Falcons’ star running back Michael Turner holding the NFL’s second leading rusher to only 30 yards. He came through with the game on the line, however, rushing for the winning touchdown with just over three minutes remaining in the game. Ryan praised his running back’s effort:
“Our offensive line did a great job just giving me just enough time to get the ball off, and then Michael Turner did what he does. The offensive line provided a great push and just paved his way.”
The Falcons are now 4-1 for only the fifth time in team history, the last coming in 2004. Despite their solid start, they’re still trying to keep pace with the red hot New Orleans Saints who improved to 5-0 with their win over the New York Giants earlier in the day. On this occasion, the Falcons’ Ryan was outplayed by the Bears Jay Cutler between the twenties but the Atlanta signal caller made all of the right moves in scoring range.
Atlanta can improve to 5-1 and break the mark for best start in franchise history with a win on the road at Dallas next Sunday. That’ll be followed by an even bigger road game, on Monday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints-a contest full of all sorts of implications for the eventual divisional championship in the NFC South. The Bears will be back on the road next weekend to take on the Cincinnati Bengals before returning home for games the following two Sundays against the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals.
Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer experienced in travel, casino gambling and sports handicapping. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, flower arranging and deep sea diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.
Where Can You Find The Best Instrumental Blues Online?
If you want to set a melancholy tone in your home or office, get yourself some good ole fashion blues instrumental music. Unwind, relax, and sit and reminisce on good times. The low bass, hypnotic piano, and bluesy sound is great for getting away from it all. Blues is known all over the world for its ability to shake the senses and bring out emotions.
Blues instrumental music has its roots in the Deep South, when African Americans began to create a style of music centered on the songs they sang in their work fields and churches during the end of the 19th century. Throughout the years, the original blues sounds have evolved to include other popular sounds, such as rock and roll.
Blues music has a brother, instrumental blues. Instrumental blues is strip of lyrics, the artists woe and depressed view. It is a great way to get the rhythm, to get the canvas, to paint your own woes, your own chaos, into the beat of the music. Instrumental blues music is for people who do not care for the artists problems. They do not care their baby left them, took the car, the dog, the house. They have real problems that need nurturing. Instrumental blues can do this for them.
Blues instrumental music is great for a bunch of different things. In the office, in the classroom, and public places it is great background choice. In the office it keeps workers motivated. Its a way to help pass time and stay focused. At school it helps stir creativity, inspire thought, and keep students moving forward towards their goals. In public places, it calms nerves, keeps customers cool, and gives folks a place to relax.
Blues instrumental music is great for a bunch of different things. In the office, in the classroom, and public places it is great background choice. In the office it keeps workers motivated. Its a way to help pass time and stay focused. At school it helps stir creativity, inspire thought, and keep students moving forward towards their goals. In public places, it calms nerves, keeps customers cool, and gives folks a place to relax.
Looking for instrumental rap beat? Find the best instrumental beats at InstrumentalMusicHQ.com!
Kimbo Slice To Appear On Season 10 Of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’
The UFC has been maligned in the past year or two for their heavyweight division and to be sure there’s many top heavyweights fighting elsewhere. The most significant of these competitors is the undisputed best heavyweight MMA fighter on the planet, Fedor Emelianenko and the man considered by most to be #2, Josh Barnett. While the UFC might not have the best heavyweight fighter in the sport, they may soon have the most famous. Dana White announced recently that Kimbo Slice will be a contestant on season 10 of the UFCs MMA reality show The Ultimate Fighter. A good performance there could see him get a shot at fighting for the promotion.
In the past, Dana White has dismissed Slice and suggested that the only way hed ever fight in the UFC is by winning The Ultimate Fighter. Kimbo will get the opportunity to do just that, and combined with the recently announced coaches Rashad Evans and the always entertaining Quinton Rampage Jackson could be the highest rated season in series history. For Kimbo (real name Kevin Ferguson) it is yet another strange twist in his bizarre career as a professional fighter.
Kimbo quickly became an online cult hero before he officially turned pro as a fighter. He began to train under MMA legend Bas Rutten and made his debut in an exhibition against former heavyweight boxing champ Ray Mercer. Kimbo won a dominating victory, and his meteoric rise to superstardom was underway. Not long after, he signed with EliteXC and they quickly made Kimbo the centerpiece of their promotion. While building a MMA promotion around a fighter with almost no experience likely led to their downfall, at the time Kimbo became a media sensation and Elite XC parlayed his popularity into a prime time network TV deal with CBS.
Kimbo’s career was moving along nicely, until a fateful fight on an Elite XC nationally televised CBS card. Kimbos fourth fight was originally scheduled to be against former UFC mainstay Ken Shamrock, but due to a last minute injury he eventually faced substitute Seth Petruzelli. Petruzelli caught Kimbo with a perfectly placed counter right hook and knocked him out. That was the beginning of the end for Elite XC, and the promotion was out of business in a matter of weeks.
Following the demise of Elite XC Kimbo kept a fairly low profile. He made a few appearances in a promotional capacity for the K-1 kickboxing organization in Japan while considering his next career move. About this time, he parted with trainer Bas Rutten who intimated that Kimbo had let his newfound celebrity go to his head. UFC president Dana White would occasionally be asked if hed ever have an interested in Kimbo, which hed dismiss with the offhanded suggestion that the only way hed fight in the UFC was to compete in The Ultimate Fighter reality show.
While its unclear when that off-handed dismissal by White became a viable reality, but regardless of how the deal came together Kimbo will be a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter. Its really a no-lose proposition for the UFC”if Kimbo doesnt do well, they were right all along and if he *does* do well they can make some money with him. In any case, the media coverage and ratings for their MMA reality show will likely be at an all time high.
Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer and noted authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and World Cup betting sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.