Astounding Language

Conjoin people’s predominant interests and you’re certain to expose a vogue we generally call a sportsbook wagering web property. And what could possibly be more resourceful. If you fancy a party of enthusiasts cheering their preferred local team, and almost all the time bets will be reckoned adding to the turmoil. Because they want to catch more of the pleasure, on-lookers commonly attempt to divine who will win in the running race. All of this will develop into a friendly bantering race termed sportsbook wagering web property. Diamondbacks rout sleep-deprived Padres

Granted that it admittedly may sound addicting but in actual fact sportsbook wagers is really purely fun and of bonding with fellow sports devotees. Here, you’ll be able to risk a an insignificant quantity of filthy lucre and yet have a amazing time. Read on for several remarks to get you going sportsbook wagers.

To bet, we would advise you go to a sportsbook wagering web property, i.e. a setup which accepts sportsbook wagering web property. In the United States, we currently have four states to do sportsbook wagers absolutely legally, but beyond legality you may try it practically anywhere as long as you discover a bookie and you’re of age. On the list of track-and-field events you’ll be able to bet on are professional plus, beyond, college basketball plus football, professional hockey, professional hockey, plus, beyond, wagers on both horse and dog racing. Patrons will have the option of placing bets on the complete result of a contest or game, when exactly a given contestant will be defeated, and even whether a coin toss in a contest or game will come out heads or tails.

The sportsbook setup count on mere figures to aid you establish which team you may deem will win. First, we have the spread, which is a specific points advantage pertaining to the inferior side that is anticipated to lose by a specified number points. This describes the odds maker’s approach of organizing unbiased stakes for a sports book. By way of an example we might choose to bet on a competitor that is anticipated to lose and and yet profit from that bet as long as the side goes down by a specified number of points.

You’ll find plenty of multifarious sorts of stakes: straight, teasers and more, the straight being the most prevalent in sportsbook wagers. So, why don’t you just have a bash at it and relax while you’re at it. But safeguard you won’t get seized and deplete your total retirement pension on a boutade… After all, could be you will catch yourself feeling sorry about it till the end of your days…

Here’s a Ferringo’s-eye view of Week 3 in the National Football League:

New England at Pittsburgh (-3)
Once again, the Patriots are involved in the Game of the Week. They’re dogs entering the Steel City, and are going up against the best team in football right now. Ben Roethlisberger has a ridiculous 153.6 passer rating, which is nearly perfect. He’s also 16-1 as a starter, which is nearly perfect and is looking to avenge the only loss of his pro career - a 41-27 blowout at the hands of the Pats in the AFC Title Game last January.

Pittsburgh is once again the top running team in the league, bruising its way to 170.5 yards per game (without their two best runners) and 4.7 yards per carry. The Steelers also rank fourth on defense, but are just 17th against the run. The Patriots, on the other hand, are only averaging 2.4 yards per carry, and they are the 12th-ranked defense in the NFL. In two games, they’ve yielded 23.5 points a game.

Per usual, Tom Brady will be the key to any upset chance that New England has. Brady’s shoulder is officially listed as probable, and he’ll be looking to avenge his poor performance (69.3 rating) against Carolina last week. That rating was the 17th worst of his 73 starts (in which he is 58-15). However, he’s 10-4 in games following his previous 14 losses and has posted a passer rating close to 95 in those games.

Cincinnati (-3) at Chicago
The Pats and Steelers may be the Game of the Week, but I really think that this is the most intriguing matchup of Week 3. It pits two young, up-and-coming teams - one with a high-powered offense and one with a hard-hitting defense - each trying to make a name for itself among the top teams in their respective conferences.

In this corner, Cincinnati has been the “Best Team That Nobody is Talking About” thus far by demolishing Cleveland and Minnesota. The Bengals and their Big Three - Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson and Rudi Johnson - have led Cincy to the No. 1 offense in the league. They are averaging 462 yards per game, with 157 coming on the ground and 305 through the air. Palmer has been lights out (five TD’s and a 107.8 rating), and is being backed by a defense that has already forced a ridiculous 10 takeaways.

And in this corner, Chicago has been the “Best Team that Everyone Forgot Existed” until they posted a 32-point win last week over the Lions. The Bears have gone back to their roots - run the ball (114 ypg, 4.1 ypc) and playing good defense (7th overall). This is a big spot for a team that’s on the verge of having some confidence. If they can defend their turf they enter their bye week on a 2-1 roll with putrid Cleveland waiting on the other side.

But a win is far from given. Kyle Orton played well for Chicago last weekend (translation: no turnovers) and will again have to protect the ball against the Bengals.

Atlanta at Buffalo (2.5)
There are certainly quarterback issues for both of these teams. Mike Vick is listed as questionable this weekend with a sore hamstring, and J.P. Losman is unofficially questionable after getting benched last week for one drive against Tampa Bay. I would put Vick at about 85 percent to play. Also, Losman will again seize the reigns for Buffalo, and don’t be surprised to see Mike Mularkey dig into his bag-of-tricks and pull out some gimmicks this weekend.

This game will be a slugfest. Atlanta is fifth in the league in rushing (157 ypg, 4.6 ypc) and Buffalo is 15th (100 ypg, 3.8 ypc). The Bills are second in the league in total defense, but are just 30th in rushing after getting rolled by Tampa Bay (191 rush yards) last Sunday. Atlanta, on the other hand, will most likely be without cornerback/kick returner Allen Rossum and defensive end Brady Smith, who are two key cogs. Rossum is particularly important because the Falcons are already without corner Kevin Mathis - leaving the secondary very vulnerable.

New York Giants at San Diego (-5.5)
I hope Eli brings his ear plugs. This will be Manning’s first appearance in San Diego, the city that drafted him first overall in 2004 even though he said he wanted nothing to do with that organization. Also, Manning and the 2-0 G-Men will be rolling into the den of a team that, at 0-2, is desperate for a win.

Yes, the Giants are 2-0. But they are the fraudulent kind of undefeated. They tooled on the Cardinals (who doesn’t?) and then topped an emotionally spent Saints club in a “road” game in Jersey. They have scored 69 points so far. Pretty impressive, right? But they’re 26th in total offense and have run the second fewest plays (104) in the league. They’ve mostly been the beneficiary of special teams flukes and turnovers. Defensively, they’re allowed 370 yards per contest.

San Diego, on the other hand, is playing well until it matters. Drew Brees and Co. were on their way to a crucial road win over Denver last weekend until Drew Brees threw a horrible INT that Champ Bailey returned for a touchdown. The week before, they had benched Antonio Gates and decided to give LaDainian Tomlinson only two touches in the fourth quarter of a four-point loss to Dallas. It’s tough to have must-win games in September, but this is pretty close for the Bolts.

FREE PICK (YTD 0-1): This week I like Indianapolis to cover the 13.5 against the Browns. In 2004 the Colts had one of the Greatest Offenses Football Has Ever Seen. But over their last three games - dating back to the playoff loss in Foxboro - they’ve managed just 12 points per contest. I’m looking for them to break out in a big way at home against a Cleveland team that’s 30th in the NFL against the pass. Also, I think the Brownies are due for a letdown after a tough road win in Lambeau last Sunday.

1) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) - It’s really tough to be picky about a team that’s looked so good, but they are allowing the opposition to convert 48 percent of their third downs.
2) Indianapolis Colts (2-0) - This team has the purposeful look of a group on a Mission. It hasn’t been smoke and mirrors, but good ol’ fashioned toughness. Let’s see if they can sustain it.
3) New England Patriots (1-1) - This game at Pittsburgh is part of their Murderer’s Row schedule that has them hosting San Diego, at Atlanta, at Denver, bye, hosting Buffalo and hosting Indianapolis. But hey, according to every guffawing columnist across the country they’re the Best Team Ever so it shouldn’t matter, right?
4) Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) - The Bengals made one of the largest jumps from last week’s Power Rankings (up eight slots from 12). But memo to Chad Johnson: don’t call out Mike Brown (just ask Marcus Pollard). I hope my Bears knocks these guys back into the Dave Shula Days.
5) Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) - Despite their off-field issues, they already have a division road win and are averaging 161.5 yards per game on the ground. However, they are just 1-4 ATS in Denver, where they play on Monday.
6) Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) - McNabb and Owens share the cover on this week’s Sports Illustrated. I don’t buy the love fest. It’s easy to get along when you’re up 42-3 at home, but let’s see what happens when they’re in a tough spot.
7) Carolina Panthers (1-1) - Peter King said that Brees’ interception against the Broncos last week was one of the worst he’s ever seen. My vote goes to Jake Delhomme’s toss to New England’s Mike Vrabel, who returned it for a TD.
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) - Losing safety Donovin Darius for the year is a huge blow. Also, Byron Leftwich is on his way to becoming the next Steve McNair - doesn’t practice due to injury then steps up and plays/leads his team on Sunday.
9) Atlanta Falcons (1-1) - Backup QB Matt Schaub has been an All-World Preseason player the last two years, and there are actually some rednecks in Georgia that would love to see him get his own shot. Those same folks have an IQ lower than Vick’s passer rating of 73.4. Atlanta is 2-11 in games that Vick hasn’t started in the last three years.
10) Washington Redskins (2-0) - I really didn’t think Mark Brunell could still throw it that far. I guess Roy Williams didn’t think so either.
11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) - They’ve only faced 32 rushing attempts in two games, but the Bucs defense is giving up only 40 yards per game on the ground and 2.5 yards per carry.
12) Dallas Cowboys (1-1) - Blame that loss on whichever linebacker that was that got juked by a 57-year-old Brunell on that 3rd-and-27 scramble.
13) Buffalo Bills (1-1) - Bills fans, this is what you get with a first-year QB. Trust me, I know. I’d be more worried about Willis McGahee dancing in the holes.
14) Seattle Seahawks (1-1) - Seattle is that quiet, shifty guy in the corner booth of the bar. He seems unassuming, but you keep looking over your shoulder because you don’t know if he’s going to snap and kill everyone or just get blasted and stumble home.
15) Chicago Bears (1-1) - Brian Urlacher has 15 solo tackles and three sacks in two games. Now where are all those ass-clowns that said he was overrated? Also, linebacker Lance Briggs has just been wrecking people.
16) Denver Broncos (1-1) - Remember how everyone ripped on them for picking up the Browns front four (worst in the league against the run in ‘04)? Well, Denver is currently 22nd against the rush (115 ypg) with K.C. rolling into town.
17) New York Giants (2-0) - If they go on the road and beat San Diego I still won’t jump on the bandwagon - but I’ll be very, very impressed.
18) New Orleans Saints (1-1) - After what they’ve been through and where they’ve been through over the last month (Oakland to Texas to Carolina to New York and now to Minnesota) Jim Haslett has a right to vent. That team just looked worn out in the fourth quarter of that MNF game.
19) New York Jets (1-1) - The good news is that Curtis Martin didn’t tear any knee ligaments (MRI was negative). The bad news is that safety Erik Coleman just had thumb surgery and may not be available.

20) Detroit Lions (1-1) - Monday, Steve Mariucci says that the team has no interest in ex-Buc Shaun King. Tuesday, King and Jeff George worked out for the Lions. Tick-tock, Joey Harrington. Tick-tock.
21) San Diego Chargers (0-2) - This isn’t a bad team at all. However they’ve absolutely given away two games already. Ah, Marty Ball.

22) St. Louis Rams (1-1) - I still don’t think they’re running the ball enough. However, they are third in the league in offensive time of possession (34:07 per game).
23) Oakland Raiders (0-2) - Despite playing two of the best rushing teams in the NFL, the Raiders D is giving up a paltry 3.0 yards per carry. However, they need to start pressuring quarterbacks. Their two sacks are tied for worst in the league.
24) Tennessee Titans (1-1) - Their win over Baltimore last week wasn’t a fluke from the standpoint that while they don’t have the depth to compete this season, they certainly have the talent to jump up and bite an unsuspecting team.
23) Baltimore Ravens (0-2) - Right now their run-pass ratio is almost 3-to-1, but not the way you’d expect. So far they’ve thrown 95 passes to go with only 34 rushes. Unreal.
26) Miami (1-1) - People are already calling Ronnie Brown (34 attempts, 94 yards, 0 TD’s) a bust because he’s not putting up the numbers that Cadillac Williams (54-276-2) is. I think it’s way too early to be making those claims.
27) Minnesota Vikings (0-2) - Just a thought, but maybe it’s not Randy Moss that they miss the most. Maybe it’s former offensive coordinator Scott Linehan (now in Miami).
28) Cleveland Browns (1-1) - As bad as the Packers were, any time you go into Green Bay and get a win it’s an accomplishment.
29) San Francisco 49ers (1-1) - They lost by 39 points, but I had to move them up one slot this week because the teams behind them looked that awful.
30) Arizona Cardinals (0-2) - Kurt Warner got sacked five times last week and was hit six others. If they can’t get the running game going - Marcel Shipp will start this weekend - then they’re going to get Warner killed. Their run-pass ratio is 37 rushes to 98 passes. Not good.
31) Green Bay Packers (0-2) - Wow. This team is a total mess, on all fronts, and shows no signs of improving. They just don’t have the talent on either side of the ball.
32) Houston Texans (0-2) - Jason Babin and Philip Buchanon - a tandem whom the Texans traded a combined five first-day draft picks for the rights to - have both been benched.

Questions or comments for Robert? e-mail robert@docsports.com.

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When you are hoping to grow your tennis attributes therefore a superior make of product should be almost certainly one of the products near the top of your shopping basket Nevertheless, just ahead of purchasing a tennis racquet there are a great number of reasons that must be included. These contain: the tennis rackets mass, balance, head dimension & more than a few additional aspects. With identifying what benefits the different kind of racquets may supply will help assist you to consider an easier conclusion for the duration of the procurement action. VTennis.co.uk has a selection of Tennis Racket Reviews for you to read.

Power Level:

The force exerted by today’s tennis racquet diverges very considerably & each & every level supplies terrific good points dependent on your approach. The 3 variety of energy levels in a tennis racket are; ?Power Rackets?, ?Tweener Racquets’ & ?Control Rackets?,

Power rackets achieves a large quantity of power and is meant at tennis people to take shorter & relaxed swings. Tweener rackets are for tennis individuals that are longing for a balance between power and control and are hence designed for people which have an intermediate to long tennis racquet swing speeds, and also take an average to long cuts at the ball. These are great for teenagers who are moving to full length tennis rackets.

Last, although not least, control racquets are meant to be for tennis individuals that require extensive & rapid racquet swings when they play. The foremost basis for this is that control rackets need the tennis player to fashion the power. This type of tennis racquet is recommended to be stayed away from by kids unless they have the talent to cope with the extra weight.

As a modern weight lifter or body builder, I want you to picture something. Picture yourself as an extremely musucular person with very little body fat. Now picture yourself walking down the beach and everyone is staring at you. You think they are staring at your body because it looks like its etched in stone, but the real reason is your extreme lack of leg development, otherwise known as chicken legs.

I would estimate that close to 75% of trainers do not work their legs, greatly reducing their bodies potential to grow. Working your legs has many benefits. The first and most obvious, is that if you would like to have a well rounded physique, you obviously are going to want a symetrical body, which can never exist without some mamoth tree trunks to support you. Another major benefit to working your legs is the extra growth hormone your body will produce. Why will your body produce more growth hormone? Because your legs consist of some of the biggest muscles in your body; your body will need to excrete more growth hormone in order to recover, helping other body parts grow as well. The third reason working your legs is very important, is for people who are looking to stay lean. Working your legs will use significantly more calories than other body parts due to there size and the time it takes to recover. Since your legs take longer to recover, your metabolism will be raised for a longer period of time. Finally, your body is a very intelligent machine, it does like to have imbalances. If you start to develop a lot of lean body mass on your upper body while your legs maintain the 12 year old girl look, your body is going to recognize this. To prevent your body from developing muscular imbalances your body can and will prevent you from retaining any more lean body mass until your imbalance has been corrected.

Hopefully after reading this article, you will be a little more driven to head to the dreaded leg room and get under that squat bar. Its for your own good!

About The Author

Ryan Mckenzie

http://www.amazing-weight-loss.com - Ryans Weight loss articles

1962 Hosts for the 1962 edition were Chile despite recently having suffered a devastating earthquake. Brazil were favorites to retain the trophy but Chile thought they had a world-beating plan of action. Before they played Italy they ate spaghetti and won. Before they played Switzerland they ate Swiss cheese and won. Before they played Russia they drank vodka and won (must have been an interesting game). So when they came up against Brazil in the semi finals, what did they do? Did they eat Brazil nuts? No, they drank coffee and promptly lost 4-2. Brazil once again claimed the trophy by beating Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final.

Statistics Host Country: Chile

Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, England, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay, USSR, West Germany, Yugoslavia

Final: Brazil 3, Czechoslovakia 1

Top goal scorer: Drazen Jerkovic, Yugoslavia (5)

1966 In 1966 the World Cup came back to where the modern game of football began in 1863, England and the trophy was destined to stay there for four years. It might have stayed there permanently because when it was put on show at the Westminster Central Hall in London four months before the tournament was to start it was stolen. Seven days of acute embarrassment ensued while authorities tried to find the missing cup without any result. Eventually a black and white dog called “Pickles” found it underneath a hedge wrapped in newspaper whilst doing what dogs do under hedges. Pickles shot to stardom and the English Football Association had a replica of the trophy made - “just in case”. The replica can still be seen at the English National Football Museum.

The 1966 World Cup was memorable for several reasons. It was the first World Cup to have a mascot - “World Cup Willie”, a lion dressed in the English strip. It was a World Cup marred by vicious tactics on the field and by poor refereeing that saw Brazil literally kicked off the pitch in the first round. The final against West Germany was also memorable due to one of the most controversial goals in Cup history. In extra time Geoff Hurst of England launched a shot that hit the underside of the goal crossbar and bounced down. The referee ruled that it had landed behind the goal-line and was therefore a goal. The West Germans protested that it did not go behind the line but the linesman upheld the referee and the goal stood. Hurst put the matter beyond doubt in the last minute by scoring.

Statistics Host Country: England

Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, England, France, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, North Korea, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay, USSR, West Germany

Final: England 4, West Germany 2 (after extra time)

Top goal scorer: Eusebio, Portugal (9)

1970 Mexico 1970 was Brazil’s and Pele’s World Cup. After 1966 when Brazil were knocked out in the first round, Pele had vowed never to play in the World Cup again. Fortunately he was persuaded to make a final appearance in 1970. Hopes were high in England for a repeat of the 1966 success but matters were not helped when the England captain was jailed for four days on manufactured charges of stealing a bracelet in Guadalajara a couple of weeks before the opening game. Those, the humid playing conditions and Gerd Muller in devastating form, were enough to see West Germany take their revenge in the quarter final for the defeat in the previous competition’s final. But Brazil seemed unstoppable thanks to their magnificent attackers but their defense was questionable. Could the Italian front line turn this to their advantage? At half time it seemed that they could with the score line at 1-1 and the Brazilians obviously demoralized. But after half time Pele took charge laying on passes that led to two Brazilian goals and finding the net himself. Brazil had won the World Cup for the third time and therefore was allowed to keep the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently. Some year later it was stolen and never recovered. It is presumed it was melted down.

Statistics Host Country: Mexico

Countries: Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, El Salvador, England, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Romania, Sweden, Uruguay, USSR, West Germany

Final: Brazil 4, Italy 1 (after extra time)

Top goal scorer: Gerd Muller, West Germany (10)

1974 In 1974, West Germany played hosts for the competition for the new trophy, the FIFA World Cup. West Germany had a tremendously strong side but then so did Holland with its brand of “total football” and Poland. Holland beat Brazil 2-0 to face West Germany in the final in Berlin but the German ultra efficient football machine held out against the inspirational Dutch to grab a late winner.

Statistics Host Country: West Germany

Countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, East Germany, Haiti, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Scotland, Sweden, Uruguay, West Germany, Yugoslavia, Zaire

Final: West Germany 2, Netherlands 1

Top goal scorer: Grzegorz Lato, Poland (7)

1978 1978 saw the FIFA World Cup being held in Argentina and it was one of the most controversial with very strange refereeing and organizational decisions seeming to favour the home country. In a second-round match Argentina needed to score at least four goals against Peru. It scored six and Peru were heavily criticized for giving the game away. In the final Argentina seemed to have an extra man in referee Sergio Gonella. His decisions were so blatantly pro Argentina that there were calls (particularly by the Dutch) for the match to be re-played in a neutral country - calls that fell on deaf ears.

Statistics Host Country: Argentina

Countries: Austria, Argentina, Brazil, France, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, West Germany

Final: Argentina 3, Netherlands 1 (after extra time)

Top goal scorer: Mario Kempes, Argentina (6)

1982 An expanded World Cup was launched in 1982 in Spain. Eight more teams participated bringing the total to 24. The idea was to allow the lesser footballing countries to enter the tournament. The idea was vindicated by impressive displays by Algeria and Cameroon. Italy proved to be unstoppable that year and defeated the strong West German side 3-1 in the final even after Antonio Cabrini of Italy became the first player to miss a penalty in a World Cup final.

Statistics Host Country: Spain

Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Czechoslovakia, El Salvador, England, France, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Kuwait, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Peru, Poland, Scotland, Spain, USSR, West Germany, Yugoslavia

Final: Italy 3, West Germany 1

Top goal scorer: Paolo Rossi, Italy (6)

1986 Colombia had been chosen to host the 1986 World Cup but was unable to due to economic considerations so the venue was switched to Mexico despite strong efforts by Holland and the United States to have the competition on home soil. Brazil, the favorites were knocked out in the quarter finals by France on penalties. Another quarter final saw Argentina’s Diego Maradona famous “hand of God” goal against England. Several billion TV viewers saw him use his hand to punch the ball into the back of the English goal but the referee did not. It was a blatant cheat that still rankles with English fans today as it saw their team go home. In the final against West Germany he showed that he didn’t need to cheat to win as he brilliantly led his country to a hard fought win by 3 goals to 2.

Statistics Host Country: Mexico

Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Hungary, Iraq, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Uruguay, USSR, West Germany

Final: Argentina 3, Germany 2

Top goal scorer: Gary Lineker, England (6)

1990 The 14th World Cup was without doubt the most boring so far. Every team was so scared of losing that games became low-scoring brutal chess matches. Both semi finals went into extra time and then went on to be decided by penalty kicks. The final contested by West Germany appearing in its last World cup before unification and Argentina. In a dour and dirty struggle with two sendings off. West Germany won 1-0 by way of a penalty.

Statistics Host Country: Italy

Countries: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, England, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, United States, USSR, West Germany, Yugoslavia

Final: West Germany 1, Argentina 0

Top goal scorer: Salvatore “Toto” Schillaci, Italy (6)

1994 FIFA saw the United States as an untapped market as far as football (or soccer as the Americans call it) was concerned and so decided to award the 1994 tournament to them. Italy were on song with their play-maker Roberto Baggio playing some sublime football. Argentina were hopeful that a newly re-called Maradona could steer them to success but the hope evaporated when he proved positive for a banned substance and was sent home in disgrace. The U.S. on home ground had a better than expected tournament finally going out to Brazil. Earlier they had beaten Colombia thanks to an own goal by Colombian Andres Escobar who was shot dead when he arrived back home. The final between Brazil and Italy was an absorbing game of Brazil’s irresistible attacking force meeting Italy’s immovable defensive force. Predictably the match ended 0-0 after extra time so it went to the penalties and sudden death. Roberto Baggio of Italy sent his kick high over the cross-bar and Brazil were the winners.

Statistics Host Country: United States

Countries: Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Colombia, Germany, Greece, South Korea, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, USA, Sweden, Switzerland

Final: Brazil 1, Italy 0 (3-2 on penalty kicks)

Top goal scorer (Joint): Oleg Salenko, Russia and Hristo Stoitchkov, Bulgaria (6) 1998 France, played host to an expanded World Cup with the number of participants brought up to 32. Nobody thought that France had a chance of winning and everyone was very surprised when the made it to the final. Amazement took the place of surprise when the managed to destroy Brazil 3-0 in the final. To this day nobody who isn’t French can explain how they did it. Serious hooliganism reared its ugly head during the early stages of the tournament when English fans rampaged through Marseille and German fans attacked a police officer with an iron bar and left him permanently brain damaged.

Statistics

Host Country: France

Countries: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Tunisia, United States, Yugoslavia

Final: France 3, Brazil 0

Top goal scorer: Davor Suker, Croatia (6)

2002 For the first time the World Cup had co-hosts in Japan and South Korea. It was also the first to be held on the continent of Asia. Fears of major rioting due to hooligans proved unfounded due to the superb preparations by the co-hosts and the whole tournament had a party atmosphere. It was also a tournament of upsets. In 1998 the United States had finished last but in 2002 they sailed into the quarter finals before being knocked out by Germany. France, the holders were eliminated in the first round without scoring a single goal and Italy left the tournament early after some poor refereeing. In the end it was Brazil and Germany who contested the final with Brazil winning by two goals.

Statistics

Host Countries: Japan, South Korea

Countries: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Uruguay

Final: Brazil 2, Germany 0

Top goal scorer: Ronaldo, Brazil (8)

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Football

All good skiers, especially those who go off piste skiing, are like pilots or sailors, and have a healthy respect for the medium they are moving in. Whether in the air, on the sea or in the mountains, they all know the dangers. The more knowledge they have about their surroundings, the better they will be able to achieve their goals.

For a skier to understand snowcraft and snow - the stuff of his dreams and occasionally his nightmares - there is no better way to do this than to talk about avalanches.

What happens after a snowfall in the mountains? Cold fresh snow consists of beautiful little crystals with sharp edges and points that act as hooks. After these pretty little things have touched down they get cosy with each other (but not immediately), and start to interlock under the influence of gravity - unlike humans, who rely on mulled wine and a friendly smile.

So this tempting carpet of powder snow is lying there, all joined up, waiting to be vandalised by the likes of us. Here’s an example: sixty centimetres has fallen during a cold night on to older well settled snow that is similar in texture to the new fall. The slope gradient averages 25 degrees with a large bump at the top, dropping away quite quickly, and then gradually sloping up towards the bottom. It looks great. The weather is cold and sunny, and the snow all fluffy when you kick it. Do you go? You bet you do. But will you die? Well, you should be all right.

A second example that explodes into life and only brings death, could be sixty centimetres of snow during another cold night, but this time the new fall has dropped onto old snow that has been blown by the wind into a smooth crust. The slope is the same, and looks as good, but do you go? Not likely! And why not? Because if you do, you may not be around to finish this skiing article…

In each example the fresh snow looks exactly the same, but why is the second one so dangerous? In the first case all the snowflakes nestle into each other, and into the older snow beneath, but in the second example the new snow does not lock into the old. Also, in both cases, there is a point on top of the bump where the snow is under tension. The convex shape of the bump tends to stretch the crystals apart.

Lower down as the gradient slopes upwards, the snow is not under tension, and this concave shape tends to prevent the crystals from separating. In the first case a skier can cut the snow under tension, and some of it may come away, but because it’s tied into the old snow underneath, it may hold.

In the second example, however, there is no interlocking with the old snow, so when skis cut a swathe through the new stuff, especially where it is under tension on the bump - CRUMPH -
the lot goes, thundering down on the slippery base. As it comes to a stop near the bottom it builds up enormous pressure, and anyone unfortunate enough to be carried down and buried underneath it can be locked solid, unable to move even a finger.

This kind of avalanche may not necessarily go just when or where it has been cut. It may wait until you are half way down and having a breather. Even noise and vibration can set it off. And it doesn’t need to be sixty centimetres. Sixty centimetres is about twenty inches; even four inches can be lethal.

Both stable and unstable snow conditions depend on many factors, including weather, altitude, temperature, surface structure, gradient, and depth of snowfall. Wherever you ski, you can think about these things and take a look around you. Check the gradient, look closely at the snow. See where it alters composition in and out of the sun. All this will advance your snowcraft, and at the same time help you to avoid avalanches. As a final piece of advice, avalanches are like mushrooms so if you’re not sure, don’t touch them…

Simon Dewhurst has taught downhill skiing in North America, Scandinavia and the European Alps for 35 years. His book “Secrets of Better Skiing” can be found at http://www.ski-jungle.com. If you have any comments about the above article, he will be happy to answer them.

Fit for golf is a term you should have heard by now. It’s all
over the television and now becoming mainstream with amateur
golfers wanting to reach their full potential. Golfers are now
realizing there is a fitness component to golf, and are
seriously considering getting fit for golf.

It may sound like an oxymoron, but tell me if you’ve ever hurt
yourself playing golf. How about a strained lower back? Or, a
sore shoulder after playing? The list of injuries from swinging
a golf club is a mile long.

This would defend the point that getting fit for golf is NOT an
oxymoron, but in fact a necessity, if you want to end the
frustration, and play like you know you are capable of.

Golf is a ‘physical’ game that puts a tremendous amount of
stress on the body. Muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints pay
the price if your golf muscles are not strong enough to
withstand the forces from swing at up to 100 mph.

Think about that!

You swing a 3 foot implement at up to 100 mph, while maintaining
a very dynamic body position. That’s physically impossible
unless you’ve got the muscular strength and flexibility to
achieve these swing mechanics.

Look at putting! How often have you practiced for only 5-10
minutes and your lower back was killing you? You know what the
culprit was? Tight hamstrings and a weak lower back. Golfers who
are fit for golf don’t experience this. They can practice
putting for an hour and not feel it.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

How about hitting out of deep rough? How many times did you
leave the ball right where it was when you started? Or if you
did advance it, your wrist was killing you after that?

This would not happen if your were fit for golf!

You’ve got to take a look at the facts! Golf is ‘physical’. Golf
takes a tremendous amount of strength and flexibility. Golf
causes injuries to body’s that are out of shape. Golf is
frustrating when you are the shortest hitter in your foursome.
Golf can make you crazy!

Stop the insanity…and Get Fit For Golf!