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<CENTER> <font color=”RED”size=4>BASEBALL:

<font color=”BLACK”size=4>Bonds vs. Wells <font color=”SCARLET”size=3>”The Tale of the Tape”.

<font color=”BLACK”size=2>by Best Bet Sports Handicapper Jim Sneeringer @ www.daysbestbet.com

<font color=”BLUE”size=3>As Different as Night and Day.

<font color=”DARKBLUE”size=2>It takes a man to stand up and go against the grain, and David “Boomer” Wells ~ is that man.

Wells praised Bonds’ baseball skills but said he should “be a man and come out and say that he did it” if he used steroids.

“If you’re guilty and you got caught, come clean. I think you can get a lot more respect from people than (by) lying,” Wells said.

David Wells, with all of his off the field , Ruth like behavior, doesn’t care what the union wants, doesn’t care that he can be fined by baseball’s “lame duck” commissioner, you see, David Wells is a ball player, and a dam good one, and he respects this game we call baseball that has been good to him.

And David Wells has been good for baseball.

Boomer can pull a “all nighter”, then show up at the ball park and pitch a perfect game. Pitching in post season, few hurlers can match the success this left-hander has displayed thru out his career.

A 5-2 record in divisional series,

4-1 in league championship series,

10-4 record in post season with a sparkling 3.15 earn run average!

Thats what I call in my profession ~ “a MONEY” player.

Baroid Bonds on the other hand, after “juicing up” for severals years, still coudn’t perform at Wells post season level .

The numbers speak loudly….

Bonds vs the Mets in the 2000 post season managed to go 3-17 .

And that my friends, is after juicing up to the extreme, by injecting himself with cattle steroids !

Ruth and Maris are somewhere up their in that big ball park in the sky laughing their baseball caps off.

In Tampa, Joe Torre said allegations of steroid use have given baseball “a black eye.”

“I think the one thing that baseball has always tried to maintain was the integrity because our game more than any other game statistics are so important,” the New York Yankees manager said. “I think that right now that is called into question, and it’s a shame in Barry’s case. He’s such a good player … long, long ago before there was any doubt on what made him good.”

Torre is concerned about the long-term impact on fans.

“It’s certainly a black eye that we all have to be aware of,” he said. “It can turn to anger if you try to circumvent and get around trying to help us clean up. Trying to cut corners or trying a different way to keep doing what you’re doing, that I think is wrong and knowingly wrong.”

We need more “men” like David Wells and Joe Torre to speak up, and I think the time has come for others in the game to follow their lead. It’s bad enough that Bud Selig has permitted these ripoffs of the game to survive as long as they have. But the time has come, and we, as American sports fans, will not tolerate the sham that this commissioner has orchestrated.

Bud Selig is no Judge kenesaw Mountain Landis,

and Baroid Bonds is certainly,

no Babe Ruth.

End of Story~ </CENTER>

About the Author

http://www.daysbestbet.com/about_us_contact http://www.daysbestbet.com/baseball_betting

All you need to do to make your hubby or son puff up with pride is to give either of them a baseball jacket. Or even both of them, why not? Make certain you pick a baseball jacket that carries the insignia of the baseball team he is cheering for.

Because to the owner of a baseball jacket, possessing a baseball jacket is much more meaningful than just making a macho fashion statement. Wearing that special baseball jackets says beyond a doubt that he loves this sport and supports all the good sports values it symbolizes.

For the owner of a baseball jacket, its not so much about the protection it offers him.. It may just be coincidental that the baseball jacket is made of durable materials, be it leather or wool. It may just be coincidental that baseball jacket which has thick lining, will keep him warm as he sits watching the game. He believes in the sport and keeping it alive.

There are different baseball jackets for the avid baseball fan. But to be sure, to pick a baseball jacket that will stand the test of time and the elements, here are some tips in selecting.

Pick a leather baseball jacket. It is durable and lasts a long time. Most baseball jackets are fashionable. Some are even works of arts, so pick one that is pleasant as well as durable. Pick one that has Polyfil and has satin lining. Ensure that his baseball jacket has inner pockets. Two is a good minimum for a baseball jacket. Lastly pick a baseball jacket that has his favorite teams insignia on it! You can be sure he will love the gesture you made in finding just the right baseball jacket for him to wear.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

How about an MVP commemorative baseball gift for a keepsake? Or a Stay Cool Sports Towel? What about a Louisville Tpx Youth Equipment Bag? Or for the enthusiastic amateur consider an instructional video such as A Parent’s Guide to Baseball? There are also instructional baseball videos for the fan who hopes to hit like a baseball pro, the instructional video: Hit like a Pro.

What is the one common element that ties all these desirable objects together? They can be thoughtful and fun baseball gifts to give to the people in your life who love baseball.

How does one pick what baseball gifts to award the men in your life? For there will be many occasions from birthdays to just simple I miss you tokens, where baseball gifts can show you care.

First, you will have to watch at least one baseball game with your beloved. I know, he would be flattered that you are taking time to find out what sports he enjoys. So aside from building even more trust and love, it would be a sacrifice. But doing this would provide you a most valuable insight into what baseball gift would make him crow.

Take note of the baseball team he is cheering the loudest for and you will be able to find team insignia to give as a baseball gift.

Watch the baseball commercials attentively for clues. You will see possibilities as to the baseball gift best suited for your baseball fanatic.

You could gift him the team insignia towel as the baseball gift or a pair of sunglasses to wear during the baseball games in the stadium. Your thoughtfully planned baseball gift tells your man that you do think about him. Your baseball gift tells him you know he is special and it shows!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Baseball, the greatest pastime of America. It’s such a part of many Americans’ lives: little children pitch and bat in the Little League while their parents proudly look on. The same intensity can be felt by baseball players in the Big Leagues. They feel pressure not only from public scrutiny, but also from making sure that they take every step possible to avoid injury or sickness, because time away from the field means less money and more chances of being replaced by someone younger and stronger. Baseball sunglasses are part of a player’s arsenal of protective bodywear and accessories for staying in the game.

Many baseball games are played at night, but about just as many are played outdoors in broad daylight, too. This is when baseball sunglasses are indispensable. Without such sports sunglasses, trying to catch a ball - especially one that is hit up high - is very difficult indeed. Staring straight up into the sun while trying to ascertain the ball’s location and speed of descent can strain the eyes and increase the chance that the ball will be missed. It is partly for this reason that baseball players wear sunglasses - to enhance their playing performance. Many baseball sunglasses come with lenses that are optimized to eliminate glare and enhance vision, especially on sunny days. Baseball players prefer wearing so-called amber sunglasses on such days, even though the lenses aren’t really amber. More often than not, they are either brown or gray.

There are also baseball sunglasses that are suitable for games played at night, but the tint of the lenses need to be considered very carefully. It is best to use clear lenses that have an anti-reflective coating to offset or absorb the glare of bright stadium lights. Baseball players sometimes use sunglasses with yellow lenses for indoor games, but experts warn that such colored lenses can compromise visual discernment and can affect reaction times.

Another aspect of the importance of sports eyewear is their ability to shield players from serious injury. In fact, figures from the National Society to Prevent Blindness show that thousands of injuries were caused directly or indirectly by playing baseball. Many of the injuries were inflicted on players’ eyes when the ball would hit them there. A baseball that has been pitched or batted can travel at very fast speeds, and the injuries they can cause have the potential to be very serious indeed. For this reason, it is recommended that baseball players choose sports sunglasses with polycarbonate lenses, which are able to withstand the impact of a baseball and are virtually shatterproof. Having a lightweight but durable frame is just as important. Polycarbon frames are likewise resistant to breaking and are suitable for baseball players. Some baseball sunglasses have a shield design where the entire front of the frame is a polycarbon lens while the temples are another material. What’s good about this type of design is that the lens can be changed to suit the daylight condition of a particular game.

Players who need prescription sports sunglasses or goggles need not worry. Many brands now offer customized eyewear to fit any prescription. There are even models where the user can change the lenses to fit lighting conditions while maintaining lens prescription. Rudy Project is one such brand that offers prescription sunglasses.

There are many other baseball sunglasses brands in the marketplace, the vast majority of which offer the high quality and stylistic design that athletes want and need. Some brands use their own proprietary technology in their sports sunglasses. For instance, Oakley incorporates its Polaric Ellipsoid technology in its lenses to ensure purity of vision, one that is not hampered by distortions. Akadema is another popular brand whose shades offer 100% ultraviolet radiation protection and shatter-proof frames and lenses. Kaenon, Nike, Bolle - these and many more grace the faces of baseball players and other athletes, both in the professional and non-professional leagues.

Baseball sunglasses are part of the whole package that contributes to how a pitcher pitches, a batter bats, or a catcher catches. They can enhance playing performance and play a major role in protecting players from eye injuries caused by either sunlight or an errant ball. On top of all that, they can make a player look cool, too! This proves that baseball sunglasses are not only useful and functional, but that they are attractive pieces of sports eyewear as well.

About the Author

Sunglassology.com provides you with information on baseball sunglasses, where to buy, which are crap and which are slick. From prescription sunglasses to baseball sunglasses. http://www.sunglassology.com/

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Superior equipment - No one said you shouldn’t use quality equipment like swinging nets, pitching machines and just plan old getting outside and throwing the ball about. At times, the best thing for a player is getting to know his team.

The skills for the pastime are met and honed as never before with the gear accessible to make it happen for your team, whether minor league or pro.

Baseball training nets are an outstanding way to ensure your team has the equipment handy to make practice productive, when most of the team is in a scrimmage, you’ve got the rest of the players at the nets, and practicing with one another. No down time, no time lost. Along with appropriate rest and proper eating habits, the best teams carry on with the kind of gear they need to get the job done, and done right.

Baseball training nets are accommodating all kind of needs on the practice field. They include baseball batting practice nets, baseball pitching nets, softball pitching nets and other nets that may work for your team. For instance, if you have a little league team that could make shift with another type of practice net, then double the use and perhaps save money by using another assortment of the nets.

Just as significant as having the proper hydration on the field for players, that means good water supplies and supplemental types of sport drinks to keep the players strong, a ball club can benefit by the investment of quality baseball training nets.

While the price is a bit high for the better baseball training nets, up to $350, it will help the team by investing in the types of training nets that are weather resistant, that have wheels for easy mobility, which is another time saving component, and that will ensure the investment is maximized by affording extended wear and tear. A little more money on a higher quality baseball training net is going to be a better value in the long run plus the safety issue of quality nets can’t be measured in dollars.

Training for baseball doesn’t stop after the season is over. The best time to get prepared for the next season is during the off-season, not training camps, and not a few weeks before the opening game. It takes time to build muscle strength, coordination and skillfulness. Many of these things can be done at home and even indoors.

About the Author

William Smith lives in Florida with his wife and three cats. William writes frequently on many subjects that may be of interest to all. Discover all the joys and secrets of baseball at Baseball’s Holy Grail

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With the popularity of sports and recreational attire at an all time high, the available styles of mens baseball caps has grown tremendously. Never before have you been able to find so many different colors, styles, and logos for each team. And it’s not just with sporting hats either, as specialty headwear has encountered similar growth. You can walk into just about any clothing store and locate the perfect style for your tastes.

Here’s a list of some of the more popular hats that are available today:

1 - There is the officially licensed sport hat that mirrors what the players are wearing. This is probably the most popular style, since the professional athletes are wearing them. People feel more in touch with their heroes by donning these. Even some of the less traditional sports like golf and nascar have come out with their own lines.

2 - There are also certain ’signature’ hats, that are specific to one athlete. Many fans enjoy sporting their favorite players’ likeness on their attire, caps included.

3 - You can also purchase what is called a ‘throwback’ hat. This type of headwear represents a historical team in sports history, complete with their colors and logo from way back when. It’s a nice way to pay tribute to some of the more important franchises in each respective sport’s history.

4 - When shopping for a new ballcap, you have the option of getting a fitted one. These hats tend to feel more comfortable initially, almost like putting on an old pair of jeans. They are made to fit perfectly on your head for additional comfort.

5 - The brim on the hat can also be pre-curved for you, or straight depending on your tastes. Some fans enjoy curving their brims themselves, while others like it to be done for them. A curved hat gives the appearance of being ‘worn in’, and more comfortable to wear.

6 - A hat can be embroidered with just about any logo or saying you can think of. Some of the more popular ones are specific sports logos, beer logos, and funny sayings.

7 - You can find leather mens baseball caps as well, in a variety of colors and styles. These can come either blank, or decorated with a sports logo and are probably the most comfortable hat you can buy.

These are just a small sampling of some of the available kinds of hats you can find, either online or at your favorite store. It illustrates just how popular hats have become over the last several years, as you can locate just about anything you can think of. You would be hard-pressed to find someone you know who doesn’t have at least one baseball cap in their wardrobe. Most people you know (including yourself) have several.

About the Author

James McDonald writes for Custom Baseball Caps, which is a resource for customizing your hats.

THE PASSION OF BASEBALL

What is something you are passionate about? Passion is contagious and feed off this positive energy. Have you ever seen two people who truly love the game of baseball talk about baseball?

I had a friends wife tell me once that we can remember every play in a game we watched or played in but why is it that we can not remember a simple grocery list that is given to us. Some of us can recite stats for their teams 50 years ago. We can tell who played in what World Series and who the winning pitcher was and who hit the game winning homerun, off of whom and what pitch. Why is that?

A lot of my childhood memories are tied to baseball. I remember spending hours hitting a rock in front of my house pretending to be my idol Rod Carew. I used to mimic his stance and his loose wrists. I wanted to be just like him. I made myself into a switch hitter because of him. As I grew older the demise of my professional career was that I could not hit the breaking ball. I could sit on that fastball and hit it out of the park but as soon as they took something off or put a break on it I could not hit it. So there went my dream of a professional career but not my passion for the game.

I have been playing softball for the past 10 years.

We have been part of the same league for over 10 years. Another team in the same league played for the same amount of time. I remember saying to myself that wouldnt it be cool if all of us can be playing together like this other team when we are 40 something. We were all in our 30s and this team was in their 40s. Well I catch myself thinking now wouldnt it be cool to be playing ball in our 50s like these guys are.

Every year this team beat us. We never beat them. It had almost become an obsession for me to beat them. This year we finally did. After the game I was talking to their captain and kidded him that now I can die in peace. He replied by saying that it has been true joy playing us these past years because he can tell we loved the game and played like it.

Why do a bunch of old people continue to play the game of softball? I truly believe that we can not give up the love of baseball and the passion we have for it. It is part of us and it has shaped who we are. If you looked at each one of us in our profession or home life, the way we live our lives are similar to how we play the game. Getting back to the earlier question on why is it that some people can recite stats or remember every play in a game? Its the love we have for the game of baseball. The passion and the love for the game helps define who some of us are. Find your passion and share it with the world and make each one of us that much better for knowing you.

This article was written by Isaac Kama - A True Baseball Lover

Aron Wallad has been a baseball lover for over 45 years. His passions have included; playing, watching, reading, evaluating, and coaching the game he adores. Check out his baseball ezine. Do you love inspiring quotes, unusual statistics and most of all, heartwarming baseball stories? If you love baseball you will love his baseball ezine.

Go here right now http://www.baseballsprideandjoy.com/index.php?tag=emporium
Contact Aron - aron@baseballsprideandjoy.com

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Training for baseball doesn’t stop after the season is over. The best time to get ready for the next season is during the off season, not training camps, and not a few weeks before the opening game. It takes time to build muscle strength, coordination and skill. Many of these things can be done at home and even indoors. Here are 5 tips for what you should be doing during your baseball off season this year.

Tips To Start Your Off-Season

* Strength Training - The key to being able to hit a home run comes not only from coordination and skill but from the right muscle build. While it is important to keep in shape it is also important to weight train. Get in a cardio workout but also getting in some toning of the arms, shoulders, legs, and back. While you don’t need to look like a professional wrestler, building some muscle tone can really do well to improve your overall game.

* Knowledge Is Power - This old saying is true here in baseball training too. If you are a pitcher, learn how to hold the ball. If you are a catcher, learn the necessary calls and know them well. Develop a new understanding of the game. What plays will improve the team? What skills, then, do you need to have to do just that? Learn through DVD’s as well as through just watching successful pitchers, batters and outfielders play.

* Work On Your Stance And Swing - The ball is coming at you. Do you hold your shoulders right? Do you swing at the right angle? Do you follow through as you should? If you don’t, now is the time. Learn how to do this through coaching videos or through working with a trainer. But, learn.

* Eat Right - You know that your diet is important. Instead of trying to lose twenty winter pounds in the spring, just don’t put them on. Overall your body will be in better shape and you’ll be able to work most effectively on those muscles.

* Excellent equipment - No one said you shouldn’t use quality equipment like swinging nets, pitching machines and just plan old getting outside and throwing the ball around. Sometimes, the best thing for a player is getting to know his team.

About the Author

On http://www.1-stop-baseball.com/ you will find more about softball fastpitch gloves & baseball team uniforms.

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Dontrelle Willis is quite a professional baseball player; he has participated in the World Series, pitched in an All-Star Game and nearly won a Cy Young Award in his brief but brilliant career. But, he has still never played for his country, but that comes to an end when the Marlins pitcher will play with Team USA take the field against Mexico in a first-round game of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in Phoenix.

Playing for your country means a lot more than just playing. You have to play hard; you have to make the people feel proud that is why patriotism takes up on this World Baseball Classic event. Miguel Cabrera is another example of an MLB player who will be experiencing some of these feelings playing for his country, Venezuela, in its WBC debut this afternoon wondering what it would be to lead his home.

For all that patriotism, though, Cuba is one of the teams that is compromised to make a good show. Their history of three-time Olympic championships and 25-time World Cup wins clearly makes them the best amateur team, but they have never played a team of top professionals aside from a pair of exhibitions against the Baltimore Orioles seven years ago.

About the Author

Cathy Jones writes on sports betting and gambling one of the fastest growing online industries and she is one of the top senior article writers for http://www.envivosports.com Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

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With the popularity of sports and recreational attire at an all time high, the available styles of mens baseball caps has grown tremendously. Never before have you been able to find so many different colors, styles, and logos for each team. And it’s not just with sporting hats either, as specialty headwear has encountered similar growth. You can walk into just about any clothing store and locate the perfect style for your tastes.

Here’s a list of some of the more popular hats that are available today:

1 - There is the officially licensed sport hat that mirrors what the players are wearing. This is probably the most popular style, since the professional athletes are wearing them. People feel more in touch with their heroes by donning these. Even some of the less traditional sports like golf and nascar have come out with their own lines.

2 - There are also certain ’signature’ hats, that are specific to one athlete. Many fans enjoy sporting their favorite players’ likeness on their attire, caps included.

3 - You can also purchase what is called a ‘throwback’ hat. This type of headwear represents a historical team in sports history, complete with their colors and logo from way back when. It’s a nice way to pay tribute to some of the more important franchises in each respective sport’s history.

4 - When shopping for a new ballcap, you have the option of getting a fitted one. These hats tend to feel more comfortable initially, almost like putting on an old pair of jeans. They are made to fit perfectly on your head for additional comfort.

5 - The brim on the hat can also be pre-curved for you, or straight depending on your tastes. Some fans enjoy curving their brims themselves, while others like it to be done for them. A curved hat gives the appearance of being ‘worn in’, and more comfortable to wear.

6 - A hat can be embroidered with just about any logo or saying you can think of. Some of the more popular ones are specific sports logos, beer logos, and funny sayings.

7 - You can find leather mens baseball caps as well, in a variety of colors and styles. These can come either blank, or decorated with a sports logo and are probably the most comfortable hat you can buy.

These are just a small sampling of some of the available kinds of hats you can find, either online or at your favorite store. It illustrates just how popular hats have become over the last several years, as you can locate just about anything you can think of. You would be hard-pressed to find someone you know who doesn’t have at least one baseball cap in their wardrobe. Most people you know (including yourself) have several.

About the Author

James McDonald writes for Custom Baseball Caps, which is a resource for customizing your hats.