While for the outfielder the choices are numerous, they are not nearly as complex as they are when it comes to infielders gloves. With glove manufacturers increasingly emphasizing “position specific” model, things can get even trickier when selecting a glove for infield play. With a growing number of manufacturers and models available, buying a new gamer can be a complicated process. In this column, as in the outfield version, I hope to simplify the process with by offering some position specific perspective on available glove models paying particular attention to the essential features that every infielder needs to consider in buying a new glove: size, Web style, back style, and pocket. The most efficient way for us to do this is simply to go position by position.
Let’s Take it From the Middle
We will begin our journey in the middle of the infield at second base. For the middle infielder the top priority is to field the ball cleanly and make a fast transfer from the glove hand to the throwing hand. This usually calls for a smaller glove with a relatively shallow pocket designed to assist the infielder with a speedy transfer from the glove to the throwing hand by making the ball easy to get out of the glove. Middle Infielders also tend to prefer an open backed glove for increased flexibility and comfort.
Second base is where you will generally find the smallest gloves on the diamond, as the chief concern here is a speedy transfer for turning the double play. Generally speaking second base gloves run from 11 to 11 Р… inches in size. When it comes to the webbing second sackers tend to prefer either an old school single patch web, basket web, or, the currently popular I-web. There are a number of really good options available in this category.
Wilson offers a couple of different models from their A2000 line ($159-$189): the X2TB 11inch with a single patch web, and the very popular 1786 TB at 11 Р… inches with an I –web (although Wilson calls it an h-web).The Wilson models feature sturdy and pliable pro-stock leather that with just a little work will break in very nicely and last well. If you are inclined to kick it up a notch and go for a little luxury, Wilson’s new A2K ($279) line offers two models that fit well here: the A2K 1788 at 11 С? inches with an I-web and the A2K 1786 which is the 11 Р… inch version. These gloves are clearly the cream of the Wilson crop, and may be the most comfortable gloves currently being made.
Mizuno offers the second sacker a number of excellent options in its Classic Pro line ($169) as well: the 11 inch GCP 40 which features a single patch web is compact glove that features wonderfully soft and pliable leather. For those that prefer the I-web, there is the GCP46 also at 11 inches. For a slightly larger model (11.25) there is the GCP 47 which comes with the I-web and a notch- back (an open back with a smaller opening) for a touch more control. There is also an 11.25 inch T-web (basically a single post) model available (GCP60). These gloves break in very easily and mold nicely to the shape of your hand.
As with Wilson, Mizuno offers a luxury Pro limited line at approximately $299. For the second baseman, this line offers an 11.25 inch model (GMP5) which is a finely crafted piece of Japanese Deguchi leather with a single patch web and a relatively shallow pocket designed for speedy scooping and transferring on the double play. There is no disputing that this glove is a great piece of leather, however, along with the extra cash, it will require a substantial break in period.
Of course, Rawlings offers a variety of relevant models. In their oil tanned steer hide, “Heart of the Hide” line ($159) there is the Pro217NB. In the more luxurious, kip-leather Pro-Preferred line ($239) there is the Pros12IC. If you are looking for a glove that might also be a collector’s item as well, then perhaps you might want to try the Pro-Preferred 50th anniversary edition’s ProsNP2-50 ($299). Finally Rawlings also has an offering in their new Primo line ($399); The PRM1125. As I mentioned in the outfield article, The Primo glove is made of fabulous Italian hand crafted and sewn leather that is firm but relatively easy to break in, in my opinion. The comfortable fit and brilliant hand stitched welting seem great, however it really is too early to tell whether the softer Italian leather will be truly durable. All four of these gloves measure at 11.25 inches and feature a flat pattern with a shallow pocket that is designed for the two handed scoping and rapid transfer that are the bread and butter of the second sacker’s life.
If you are looking for something just a little bigger in a Rawlings glove, then I recommend that you consider the Pro-Preferred Pros15SCB. At 11.5 inches with an I-web, it is perfectly suited for second base play, while offering just a bit more range than the smaller models.
If you are feeling adventurous this season, however, you might want to consider Akadema’s AXX-105 11.5 inch model. This glove made of soft, light, kip leather features their trademark “Reptilian” design. This is a fingerless (though completely legal) design that, having no break points in the glove creates a pocket that really does function like a scoop, and is perfect for second base play. Note: These gloves will take some getting used to. They are notoriously snug, but once you get them on and work them a bit, they really are like an extension of your hand. While there are many attempts at introducing technological innovation into glove making, the AXX-105 is one that actually succeeds in offering something both unique and effective. In addition, the price is right for a kip leather glove at $149!
At shortstop, there is more emphasis on ball snagging ability, especially on those frequent trips deep into the hole to snag a grounder, and, as a result, gloves tend to run a little larger, running from about 11 Р… to 12 inches. Here again there are entries available from the usual suspects
Rawlings of course offers the ever popular Prodj from their “Heart of the Hide” line ($159). This is a classic 11.5 inch model with a woven basket web made popular by Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter. It is constructed of oil tanned steer hide, which in my opinion, while speeding up the break-in process, is a step backward by Rawlings when it comes to durability. It is however a popular, and by all accounts very good glove. Also in this line is the pros200-4JBT. At 11.5 inches this glove features the modified trap web popular among numerous major league shortstops such as: Edgar Rentaria of Atlanta, Khalil Greene, of San Diego, and JJ Hardy of Milwaukee. There is also a version of this glove available in the “Pro Preferred” line as well (Pros15TCB). Rawlings also offers 11.75 inch model (Pros17IC) and a 12 inch model (Pros 20CHB (which can also be used at third base) in the “Pro Preferred” line.
Wilson also offers a couple of different models from their A2000 line ($159-$189): the 1787BT 11.75inch with an I-web, and the very popular 1786 TB (also mentioned in the second base section) at 11 Ѕ inches with an I –web (Note again that Wilson calls the I-web an h-web) Again the A2K line offers a 1787 I –web model also at 11.75 inches.
Finally, Mizuno offers the GCP61 and GCP 67, from the “Classic Pro” line as well as the GMP6 from the “Mizuno Pro” line. The GCP61 is an 11.5 model with a modified trap web. The GCP 67 (which as the model used by Miguel Tejada only comes in orange and black) and the GMP% both feature Mizuno’s T-web, which is simply their own version of the old school single post web.
Life on the Hot Corner
They don’t call third base the hot corner for nothing. For the third sacker the top priority is: glove the ball! Accordingly Third Basemen tend to prefer a mid-sized glove generally 11.75 to 12 inches with a deeper pocket than the shortstop or second baseman, and a sturdy web for snagging those hot smashes down the line. For the most part, third sackers seem to prefer an open back glove, and either a Dual –post H web, or I-web.
Fortunately there are some excellent choices available with two models really standing out. One is the Mizuno GMP5 from their Pro limited line ($299). While I know that it is costly, and as I have mentioned before, requires a serious break in period, the leather on this glove is really sturdy and molds nicely to the hand. The notch back style, which offers a blend of the control of the fast back style with a slightly larger opening, serves to both increase control and protect the glove hand. Finally, it certainly, doesn’t hurt that this is the glove of choice for two of the best third basemen in baseball: Scott Rolen of St. Louis, and Oakland’s Eric Chavez. Note: Mizuno also offers a model very much like this in their Classic Pro line, the GCP-50, which is considerably less expensive, and a really fine glove with similar features.
My second top pick in this category is the Wilson A2K DW5. This is a 12 inch honey, with a dual post H- web, made of the best of Wilson’s pro-stock leather. At the risk of being redundant, let me say again, these gloves are incredibly comfortable from the moment you put one on. In addition, this glove is flexible and pliable while maintaining its shape; and can be game ready in relatively short order. This feature alone might give it the edge over the Mizuno GMP5, depending on your needs and patience level. Finally, if you play both infield and outfield, this glove may very well suffice for both positions quite nicely.
A Word about Web Styles
While the choice of a web style is largely about personal preference there is some logic behind the designs that I thought I’d pass along
Single Patch Webs: These webs, because they are solid pieces of leather attached to the pocket by double X lacing, aid the infielder in getting the ball out of the glove fast and eliminate the possibility of the fingers getting stuck in the webbing on the transfer. These are generally used by middle infielders.
Basket webs: Have the same advantages as Single patch webs plus the stability of being more securely attached to the glove (some would argue that this inhibits pocket development), and the basket weave offers flexibility.
Trap and Modified trap webs: These webs, being a single piece of leather attached to the body of the glove with abundant lacing offer flexibility and are great for snagging or trapping the ball.
I-webs: These webs offer greater flexibility allowing the infielder to snag the ball more securely and get it out of the pocket quickly. They also stop the spin of the ball when it hits the glove.
H-Webs: These webs are sturdy and flexible. They also allow for improved sight line on pop ups in the infield and fly balls in the outfield. These are often found on the left side of the infield and in the outfield.
T-Webs/Single Post webs: These webs, constructed of a single horizontal and a single vertical bar offer flexibility and helpful sight lines, similar to the H-webs.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Tigers' Guillen put on 15-day DL
Detroit Tigers left fielder Carlos Guillen strained his left hamstring while running the bases Thursday night against the Los Angeles Angels.
Following their 5-4 victory, the Tigers said they will place Guillen on the 15-day disabled list and call up outfielder Brennan Boesch from Triple-A Toledo. Detroit manager Jim Leyland said Boesch will play Friday night in the opener of a four-game series at Texas.
The Tigers were leading 5-3 when Guillen tried to score from second on Scott Sizemore's fifth-inning single. Guillen pulled up midway between third and home and was gently tagged out by catcher Mike Napoli to end the inning.
The switch-hitting Guillen is batting .311 with a home run and eight RBIs in 61 at-bats. The three-time All-Star spent almost three months on the disabled list last season because of inflammation in his right shoulder. He hit .242 with 11 homers and 41 RBIs in 81 games.
Following their 5-4 victory, the Tigers said they will place Guillen on the 15-day disabled list and call up outfielder Brennan Boesch from Triple-A Toledo. Detroit manager Jim Leyland said Boesch will play Friday night in the opener of a four-game series at Texas.
The Tigers were leading 5-3 when Guillen tried to score from second on Scott Sizemore's fifth-inning single. Guillen pulled up midway between third and home and was gently tagged out by catcher Mike Napoli to end the inning.
The switch-hitting Guillen is batting .311 with a home run and eight RBIs in 61 at-bats. The three-time All-Star spent almost three months on the disabled list last season because of inflammation in his right shoulder. He hit .242 with 11 homers and 41 RBIs in 81 games.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Wings Steal Road Win to Even Series
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Henrik Zetterberg wasn't celebrating his first hat trick in the playoffs after helping the Detroit Red Wings even their first-round Western Conference series with the Phoenix Coyotes at a game apiece.
Instead, his focus was squarely on the rest of the series.
Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Coyotes finished a dream regular season after a nightmare summer, but face the scorching-hot Red Wings in the opening round. Will the dream continue or will the Wings march towards a third-straight Cup finals appearance? Follow the matchup from day one on ESPN.com. Series page
• 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs • SportsNation: Who will win?
"It's only two games in and you got to keep going and play good for a longer period of time," Zetterberg said after Detroit's 7-4 victory Friday night. "Nothing is done yet. We stole one game. That's what we wanted to do."
Zetterberg scored the winner with 6:06 left.
Linemate Valtteri Filppula scored twice for Detroit, which won its 50th consecutive postseason game in which it has scored at least four goals.
"Those guys were good here tonight," coach Mike Babcock said. "You need your best players to be good, but you need everyone to be good.
"I thought it was a step tonight for our team because it looked like we've now engaged in the playoffs. Until you do that, you have a hard time winning."
Justin Abdelkader and Pavel Datsyuk also scored for the Red Wings.
Shane Doan, Matthew Lombardi, Wojtek Wolski and Keith Yandle scored for Phoenix.
Game 3 is Sunday in Detroit.
Zetterberg gave Detroit a 5-4 lead when he gathered a rebound off a shot by Todd Bertuzzi and fed it into an open net. He completed the scoring with an empty-net goal with 47 seconds left.
Filppula's second goal came on the power play with 2:06 to go and put the game away. Detroit outscored Phoenix 4-1 in the third period to avoid an 0-2 playoff hole for the first time since 2003.
"We made an error to give them the lead, then we got back in it, and the errors continues after that," Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said.
Doan scored on a 2-on-1 rush with Vernon Fiddler to tie it at 4 with 10:36 to play.
Abdelkader stripped the puck from Wolski near the blue line then beat Ilya Bryzgalov high 1-on-1 for Detroit's first lead, 4-3, 2:32 into the third.
Abdelkader spent much of the season in the minors and hadn't played for the Red Wings since Jan. 27. He had three goals in 50 games and hadn't scored since coming up with two goals on Nov. 11 at Columbus.
"He's going to be a real good player in this league," said Babcock, who added the physical 6-foot-1, 212 pound forward to his lineup after Detroit got outhit 43-20 in Game 1. "He's going to be a guy who can wear out other people and abuse defensemen, stand up for his teammates. But he's in the growth process. To chip in as a fourth-line center, it was positive."
The game was tied at 3 after a frenetic second period in which the teams combined for five goals a 3:58 span, the third-fastest five goals in playoff history.
"That's not our game, and we know that and we have to play a simpler game," Doan said. "We played into their hands for the most part. Half way through the second [period] we started thinking that we could trade [goals] with them, and we were doing OK. But when we make that many mistakes they're going to beat us."
Zetterberg ended three-plus periods of scoreless play for the Red Wings when he tipped in a pass from Filppula on Detroit's second power play at 6:27 of the second, tying it at 1.
Wolski answered 38 seconds later with his second goal of the postseason. After Howard made a glove save, he put the puck back in play and Wolski got to it first, beating the rookie stick side.
Yandle put home a rebound after around skating around Bertuzzi and beating Zetterberg to the puck to give the Coyotes a 1-0 advantage at 10:23 of the first. It was his second goal of the series.
Fiddler was shaken up with 3:42 to play and left for the locker room. He is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Instead, his focus was squarely on the rest of the series.
Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Coyotes finished a dream regular season after a nightmare summer, but face the scorching-hot Red Wings in the opening round. Will the dream continue or will the Wings march towards a third-straight Cup finals appearance? Follow the matchup from day one on ESPN.com. Series page
• 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs • SportsNation: Who will win?
"It's only two games in and you got to keep going and play good for a longer period of time," Zetterberg said after Detroit's 7-4 victory Friday night. "Nothing is done yet. We stole one game. That's what we wanted to do."
Zetterberg scored the winner with 6:06 left.
Linemate Valtteri Filppula scored twice for Detroit, which won its 50th consecutive postseason game in which it has scored at least four goals.
"Those guys were good here tonight," coach Mike Babcock said. "You need your best players to be good, but you need everyone to be good.
"I thought it was a step tonight for our team because it looked like we've now engaged in the playoffs. Until you do that, you have a hard time winning."
Justin Abdelkader and Pavel Datsyuk also scored for the Red Wings.
Shane Doan, Matthew Lombardi, Wojtek Wolski and Keith Yandle scored for Phoenix.
Game 3 is Sunday in Detroit.
Zetterberg gave Detroit a 5-4 lead when he gathered a rebound off a shot by Todd Bertuzzi and fed it into an open net. He completed the scoring with an empty-net goal with 47 seconds left.
Filppula's second goal came on the power play with 2:06 to go and put the game away. Detroit outscored Phoenix 4-1 in the third period to avoid an 0-2 playoff hole for the first time since 2003.
"We made an error to give them the lead, then we got back in it, and the errors continues after that," Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said.
Doan scored on a 2-on-1 rush with Vernon Fiddler to tie it at 4 with 10:36 to play.
Abdelkader stripped the puck from Wolski near the blue line then beat Ilya Bryzgalov high 1-on-1 for Detroit's first lead, 4-3, 2:32 into the third.
Abdelkader spent much of the season in the minors and hadn't played for the Red Wings since Jan. 27. He had three goals in 50 games and hadn't scored since coming up with two goals on Nov. 11 at Columbus.
"He's going to be a real good player in this league," said Babcock, who added the physical 6-foot-1, 212 pound forward to his lineup after Detroit got outhit 43-20 in Game 1. "He's going to be a guy who can wear out other people and abuse defensemen, stand up for his teammates. But he's in the growth process. To chip in as a fourth-line center, it was positive."
The game was tied at 3 after a frenetic second period in which the teams combined for five goals a 3:58 span, the third-fastest five goals in playoff history.
"That's not our game, and we know that and we have to play a simpler game," Doan said. "We played into their hands for the most part. Half way through the second [period] we started thinking that we could trade [goals] with them, and we were doing OK. But when we make that many mistakes they're going to beat us."
Zetterberg ended three-plus periods of scoreless play for the Red Wings when he tipped in a pass from Filppula on Detroit's second power play at 6:27 of the second, tying it at 1.
Wolski answered 38 seconds later with his second goal of the postseason. After Howard made a glove save, he put the puck back in play and Wolski got to it first, beating the rookie stick side.
Yandle put home a rebound after around skating around Bertuzzi and beating Zetterberg to the puck to give the Coyotes a 1-0 advantage at 10:23 of the first. It was his second goal of the series.
Fiddler was shaken up with 3:42 to play and left for the locker room. He is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Durant becomes youngest ever to win Scoring Title
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kevin Durant earned himself a place in NBA history. Without a trip to the playoffs, too, it would be nearly as special.
Durant scored 31 points to finish the season as the youngest NBA scoring champion, and the Oklahoma City Thunder survived a sloppy second half to head into the postseason with a 114-105 win Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.
"It's something I really wasn't coming into the year saying I wanted to get but it feels good to be a part of history and something I'm going to always remember," Durant said. "It feels even better to get 50 wins."
Durant had the scoring title all but locked up after a late-season surge that included three 40-point games in April. It became a certainty when Cleveland decided to rest reigning MVP LeBron James, the only player with even an outside shot at catching Durant.
The 21-year-old finished with an average of 30.1 points, 0.4 ahead of James, and supplanted 22-year-old Max Zaslofsky of the 1947-48 Chicago Stags as the youngest scoring champ in NBA history.
"I love Kevin Durant. I love what he's about," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "The guy is pretty amazing, that he's able to handle himself at such a young age.
"This is the only time I will say that he's young. He's 21 years old but he handles himself with such class and respect for the game, and he's a great teammate."
Oklahoma City strayed from the league-wide trend of resting stars, even with nothing to gain but the momentum lost while dropping four of their previous five games. James, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, Miami's Dwyane Wade and Boston's "Big Three" of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce all took to the bench to finish the season. Even San Antonio -- which had room to gain in the West standings -- played without Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
Durant joined three other Oklahoma City starters in playing all 82 games this season, and he eclipsed 30 points for the 47th time this season.
"Thirty points is a monster game. My career-high was only 23 and that was two games combined," said Brooks, who actually once scored 23 in a single game.
"That's the beauty of his game. He makes it look easy, and I think all the great scorers do that. Kevin's not just focused on scoring. ... He does the little things that helped us get the wins that we've gotten this year."
After a 27-win improvement that's one of the biggest in NBA history, Oklahoma City will meet the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.
Rudy Gay scored 25 points and Zach Randolph had 21 points and 11 rebounds for his 57th double-double of the season as the Grizzlies lost for the ninth time in their final 11 games. Memphis had the second-biggest turnaround in the league -- increasing its win total by 16 -- but fell just shy of .500 at 40-42.
The teams started the season as the two youngest in the NBA.
"Every team in the West won 50 games to make the playoffs. We won 40," coach Lionel Hollins said. "So we've got some games to go to get up there to where we need to be in order to be in the playoffs. But I'm happy with our growth, I'm happy with the individual growth and it's over now and we move forward to next year."
With Durant and the rest of the healthy starters in the lineup, the Thunder seemed to be putting on a show in front of their 28th sellout crowd of the season at the Ford Center -- at least for a half.
Then Oklahoma City had to finish strong after letting a 27-point lead dwindle to 97-91 in the final 7 minutes. Brooks finally pulled his starters with under 2 minutes left after an 8-2 run sealed the victory.
The players walked onto the court and waved to the crowd in appreciation after the final horn sounded.
"At this time, we were ready to go home last year and enjoy our summers. It feels good to come here and be a winning program," Durant said. "It was a huge turnaround for us, especially since we kept everybody and just gained a couple rookies. We didn't make a big trade, we didn't get two All-Stars or whatever.
"We kept everybody and we just continued to work."
Durant scored 31 points to finish the season as the youngest NBA scoring champion, and the Oklahoma City Thunder survived a sloppy second half to head into the postseason with a 114-105 win Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.
"It's something I really wasn't coming into the year saying I wanted to get but it feels good to be a part of history and something I'm going to always remember," Durant said. "It feels even better to get 50 wins."
Durant had the scoring title all but locked up after a late-season surge that included three 40-point games in April. It became a certainty when Cleveland decided to rest reigning MVP LeBron James, the only player with even an outside shot at catching Durant.
The 21-year-old finished with an average of 30.1 points, 0.4 ahead of James, and supplanted 22-year-old Max Zaslofsky of the 1947-48 Chicago Stags as the youngest scoring champ in NBA history.
"I love Kevin Durant. I love what he's about," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "The guy is pretty amazing, that he's able to handle himself at such a young age.
"This is the only time I will say that he's young. He's 21 years old but he handles himself with such class and respect for the game, and he's a great teammate."
Oklahoma City strayed from the league-wide trend of resting stars, even with nothing to gain but the momentum lost while dropping four of their previous five games. James, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, Miami's Dwyane Wade and Boston's "Big Three" of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce all took to the bench to finish the season. Even San Antonio -- which had room to gain in the West standings -- played without Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
Durant joined three other Oklahoma City starters in playing all 82 games this season, and he eclipsed 30 points for the 47th time this season.
"Thirty points is a monster game. My career-high was only 23 and that was two games combined," said Brooks, who actually once scored 23 in a single game.
"That's the beauty of his game. He makes it look easy, and I think all the great scorers do that. Kevin's not just focused on scoring. ... He does the little things that helped us get the wins that we've gotten this year."
After a 27-win improvement that's one of the biggest in NBA history, Oklahoma City will meet the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.
Rudy Gay scored 25 points and Zach Randolph had 21 points and 11 rebounds for his 57th double-double of the season as the Grizzlies lost for the ninth time in their final 11 games. Memphis had the second-biggest turnaround in the league -- increasing its win total by 16 -- but fell just shy of .500 at 40-42.
The teams started the season as the two youngest in the NBA.
"Every team in the West won 50 games to make the playoffs. We won 40," coach Lionel Hollins said. "So we've got some games to go to get up there to where we need to be in order to be in the playoffs. But I'm happy with our growth, I'm happy with the individual growth and it's over now and we move forward to next year."
With Durant and the rest of the healthy starters in the lineup, the Thunder seemed to be putting on a show in front of their 28th sellout crowd of the season at the Ford Center -- at least for a half.
Then Oklahoma City had to finish strong after letting a 27-point lead dwindle to 97-91 in the final 7 minutes. Brooks finally pulled his starters with under 2 minutes left after an 8-2 run sealed the victory.
The players walked onto the court and waved to the crowd in appreciation after the final horn sounded.
"At this time, we were ready to go home last year and enjoy our summers. It feels good to come here and be a winning program," Durant said. "It was a huge turnaround for us, especially since we kept everybody and just gained a couple rookies. We didn't make a big trade, we didn't get two All-Stars or whatever.
"We kept everybody and we just continued to work."
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Elin to divorce Tiger
Tiger Woods' marriage to Elin Nordegren is over, according to Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier.
"It was believed by going to sex rehab that Tiger had done just enough to keep his family together," Frazier reports. "But sources have told me that the marriage is indeed over."
Nordegren made plans to be on a flight to Arizona during the final round of the Masters, the report says.
Just a few more details have to be worked out before the couple signs the divorce decree, Frazier adds.
People magazine reports that Nordegren was "violently angry" over the Nike ad that aired during the Masters that featured the voice of Woods' late father, Earl. Producers of the ad apparently spliced audio from a 2004 interview in which Earl was talking about his wife, Kultida, not about Tiger.
Related Links
* TSB: Tiger is America's favorite punching bag
* Woods files U.S. Open paperwork
"[Elin] wouldn't have gone near the Masters under any condition, but that just made her madder," a friend of Nordegren told the magazine. "She is over Tiger. I wouldn't be surprised if she files for divorce sometime soon."
"It was believed by going to sex rehab that Tiger had done just enough to keep his family together," Frazier reports. "But sources have told me that the marriage is indeed over."
Nordegren made plans to be on a flight to Arizona during the final round of the Masters, the report says.
Just a few more details have to be worked out before the couple signs the divorce decree, Frazier adds.
People magazine reports that Nordegren was "violently angry" over the Nike ad that aired during the Masters that featured the voice of Woods' late father, Earl. Producers of the ad apparently spliced audio from a 2004 interview in which Earl was talking about his wife, Kultida, not about Tiger.
Related Links
* TSB: Tiger is America's favorite punching bag
* Woods files U.S. Open paperwork
"[Elin] wouldn't have gone near the Masters under any condition, but that just made her madder," a friend of Nordegren told the magazine. "She is over Tiger. I wouldn't be surprised if she files for divorce sometime soon."
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Google Adsense MONEY
Google AdSense is an advertising program that was launched in the middle of 2003 by Google, the popular search engine. Google acts as an intermediary between a vast number of advertisers and an equally impressive number of website owners.
Advertisers sign up with Google and create text ads that they would like to be displayed. Google displays these ads on the results pages of searches that people conduct from Google.com. The Google AdSense program allows these advertisements to show up on pages all over the internet. To see some of the ads themselves, take a look at the sidebar on this page. The webmaster simply places a special code in their page and Google AdSense takes care of the rest. Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the system is that robots (specialized computer programs that scan internet pages) analyzes pages that ads will be placed on to determine which ads are most relevant to the page's content.
The relevancy of ads placed by AdSense varies on all sorts of criteria, but most ads are usually very relevant to the page on which the ad is displayed. For example, the ads on this page should be related to the internet, advertising, and/or the Google AdSense program itself.
Advertisers pay Google a certain amount for each time one of their ads are clicked. Google keeps a portion of this payment and passes on the rest to the owner of the website itself. Page views of the advertisements are irrelevant in terms of generating revenue in the program - commissions are only generated when internet users actually click on the ads themselves.
Google AdSense checks are sent out on a monthly basis. Many webmasters wait in anticipation of their checks since AdSense provides them a simple way to recoup some of the losses associated with posting websites on the internet. In some cases, webmasters can even make a profit using Google AdSense.
Outside of a Google AdSense Check:
Advertisers sign up with Google and create text ads that they would like to be displayed. Google displays these ads on the results pages of searches that people conduct from Google.com. The Google AdSense program allows these advertisements to show up on pages all over the internet. To see some of the ads themselves, take a look at the sidebar on this page. The webmaster simply places a special code in their page and Google AdSense takes care of the rest. Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the system is that robots (specialized computer programs that scan internet pages) analyzes pages that ads will be placed on to determine which ads are most relevant to the page's content.
The relevancy of ads placed by AdSense varies on all sorts of criteria, but most ads are usually very relevant to the page on which the ad is displayed. For example, the ads on this page should be related to the internet, advertising, and/or the Google AdSense program itself.
Advertisers pay Google a certain amount for each time one of their ads are clicked. Google keeps a portion of this payment and passes on the rest to the owner of the website itself. Page views of the advertisements are irrelevant in terms of generating revenue in the program - commissions are only generated when internet users actually click on the ads themselves.
Google AdSense checks are sent out on a monthly basis. Many webmasters wait in anticipation of their checks since AdSense provides them a simple way to recoup some of the losses associated with posting websites on the internet. In some cases, webmasters can even make a profit using Google AdSense.
Outside of a Google AdSense Check:
How to tie a tie (Windsor Knot)
Step-by-Step Windsor Knot Instructions
To tie the Windsor Knot, select a necktie of your choice and stand in front of a mirror. Then simply follow the steps below:
1) Start with the wide end ("W") of your necktie on the right, extending about 12 inches below the narrow end ("N") on the left.
2) Then cross the wide end over the narrow end.
3) Bring the wide end up through the loop between the collar and your tie.
4) Then bring the wide end back down.
5) Pull the wide end underneath the narrow end and to the right, back through the loop and to the right again so that the wide end is inside out.
6) Bring the wide end across the front from right to left.
7) Then pull the wide end up through the loop again.
8) Bring the wide end down through the knot in front.
9) And -- using both hands -- tighten the knot carefully and draw it up to the collar.
Congratulations, you did it! You see, it is not rocket science after all. Simply keep practicing the Windsor Knot a few more times until you can tie this necktie knot within less than two minutes.
To tie the Windsor Knot, select a necktie of your choice and stand in front of a mirror. Then simply follow the steps below:
1) Start with the wide end ("W") of your necktie on the right, extending about 12 inches below the narrow end ("N") on the left.
2) Then cross the wide end over the narrow end.
3) Bring the wide end up through the loop between the collar and your tie.
4) Then bring the wide end back down.
5) Pull the wide end underneath the narrow end and to the right, back through the loop and to the right again so that the wide end is inside out.
6) Bring the wide end across the front from right to left.
7) Then pull the wide end up through the loop again.
8) Bring the wide end down through the knot in front.
9) And -- using both hands -- tighten the knot carefully and draw it up to the collar.
Congratulations, you did it! You see, it is not rocket science after all. Simply keep practicing the Windsor Knot a few more times until you can tie this necktie knot within less than two minutes.
Cabrera wins AL Player of the Week
When Miguel Cabrera talked in the offseason and in Spring Training about the changes he made in his life, he wasn't talking of this kind of impact. But a week into the season, he's in one of those grooves where everything he hits is seemingly hit hard.
Major League Baseball noticed, which is why Cabrera earned the first American League Player of the Week award of the 2010 season.
Cabera hit an AL-best .522 (12-for-23) over the Tigers' first six games, a stretch in which the Tigers' 5-1 record marked their best start since 2006. That included two game-changing home runs at Kansas City -- one of them a solo shot with two outs and two strikes in the ninth inning to tie the game April 7, the other a two-run homer to pull Detroit ahead a day later in the eighth inning.
Not since Hall of Famer Harry Heilmann in 1923 had a Tigers player posted eight hits and seven RBIs through the first three games of a season, but that's how Cabrera left Kansas City. He came home to Detroit to see the Indians hold him in check for two games before he reached base six times in Sunday's series finale. With three hits and three walks, Cabrera became the first Tigers player to reach base safely six times in a nine-inning game since Carlos Pena in 2004.
"The means the work you do in Spring Training, it was something good that you were doing," Cabrera said Monday. "Because when the season starts, you were ready."
Essentially, he has carried over the hitting tear he had when the Tigers left Spring Training. His feats in the final week of camp included two tape-measure homers against the Orioles in Sarasota, Fla.
He hit those homers so far that his teammates joked that he might've hit his own car in the parking lot. He didn't have that impact distance-wise in Kansas City, but he had that kind of impact on the games.
"I've said all along that when he masters not giving at-bats away, there's no telling what he can do," manager Jim Leyland said last Thursday.
Fittingly, that has been one of Cabrera's points going into the season.
"You don't want to throw away at-bats," Cabrera said. "You don't want to throw away games. You want to be right on track and swinging the bat really well. You have to focus every at-bat. That's what I hope I can continue."
If Cabrera wanted a way to put last year's end-of-season troubles behind him, that was it. He received a strong ovation from fans when he was introduced at the Tigers' home opener last Friday, and the cheers have continued.
If he can keep up this start, he'll be hard to ignore on a national spotlight.
Cabrera becomes the first member of the Tigers to win Player of the Week honors since 2008. Cabrera won the last of those, too, on July 21 of that year. Detroit's national honors last season were both monthly -- Justin Verlander, as the Pitcher of the Month, and Rick Porcello as the Rookie of the Month. Both came in May.
Major League Baseball noticed, which is why Cabrera earned the first American League Player of the Week award of the 2010 season.
Cabera hit an AL-best .522 (12-for-23) over the Tigers' first six games, a stretch in which the Tigers' 5-1 record marked their best start since 2006. That included two game-changing home runs at Kansas City -- one of them a solo shot with two outs and two strikes in the ninth inning to tie the game April 7, the other a two-run homer to pull Detroit ahead a day later in the eighth inning.
Not since Hall of Famer Harry Heilmann in 1923 had a Tigers player posted eight hits and seven RBIs through the first three games of a season, but that's how Cabrera left Kansas City. He came home to Detroit to see the Indians hold him in check for two games before he reached base six times in Sunday's series finale. With three hits and three walks, Cabrera became the first Tigers player to reach base safely six times in a nine-inning game since Carlos Pena in 2004.
"The means the work you do in Spring Training, it was something good that you were doing," Cabrera said Monday. "Because when the season starts, you were ready."
Essentially, he has carried over the hitting tear he had when the Tigers left Spring Training. His feats in the final week of camp included two tape-measure homers against the Orioles in Sarasota, Fla.
He hit those homers so far that his teammates joked that he might've hit his own car in the parking lot. He didn't have that impact distance-wise in Kansas City, but he had that kind of impact on the games.
"I've said all along that when he masters not giving at-bats away, there's no telling what he can do," manager Jim Leyland said last Thursday.
Fittingly, that has been one of Cabrera's points going into the season.
"You don't want to throw away at-bats," Cabrera said. "You don't want to throw away games. You want to be right on track and swinging the bat really well. You have to focus every at-bat. That's what I hope I can continue."
If Cabrera wanted a way to put last year's end-of-season troubles behind him, that was it. He received a strong ovation from fans when he was introduced at the Tigers' home opener last Friday, and the cheers have continued.
If he can keep up this start, he'll be hard to ignore on a national spotlight.
Cabrera becomes the first member of the Tigers to win Player of the Week honors since 2008. Cabrera won the last of those, too, on July 21 of that year. Detroit's national honors last season were both monthly -- Justin Verlander, as the Pitcher of the Month, and Rick Porcello as the Rookie of the Month. Both came in May.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Why the Michigan State Spartans will take it in Indy
In a tournament filled with bracket busters and late game heroics, this year's NCAA tournament has done nothing but make us viewers believe any team could knock anyone else out of March's most cherished basketball event. Take the final four remaining teams in the nation and what do you have. Two number five squads "duking" it out and a one versus a two seed on the other side of the bracket. In the #5 Butler vs. #5 Michigan State game, there are two teams that are very similar in some ways, but equally different in other aspects.
Butler, who is gaining a lot of national attention due to the fact that the final four is in their backyard, is very much like the Michigan State Spartans of last year. Last year the Spartans were the ones with the home court advantage, making it to the Final Four in Detroit. Butler is a team that prides itself in its defense which is what carried the Spartans in last year's tournament run. Led by Travis Walton, the Spartans became known as one of the best defensive and rebounding teams in the Big Ten and country. Butler, like the Spartans of last are relying on this lock down defense to make a run of their own in this year's tourney. Don't get me wrong, this Spartan team can play defense with the best of them, but is unusual to see Butler's name near the top when looking some of the better defensive teams in the country.
On Saturdays game one of the differences will be whether or not hot-shooting Spartan guard Durrell Summers will still be shooting lights out. Summers is scoring over 20 points a game in this years tournament and has shown tremendous confidence. Summers, who has been streaky in the regular season, has shown no lack of confidence so far. He is knocking down the 3-ball with regularity and throwing down some tomahawk dunks as well. If Summers continues to play as he has been, the Spartans will prevail.
Another thing that should not be overlooked is the fact that the Spartans have Tom Izzo as a coach. Izzo, during this year's magical tourney run, is being proclaimed as one of the greatest tournament coaches of all time. Izzo prepares his teams like no other coach does in college basketball. No matter what seed his Spartan teams are, he always makes a run with them. Izzo has been in the Final Four in 6 of the last 12 years. That is absolutely phenomenal for a coach to do. He also has the best tournament record out of any coach since 1999.
Although Butler is playing down the street from their home campus, the Michigan State Spartans will make their presence known in downtown Indy. Izzo is probably the best college basketball tournament coach at this current time and he will have his team ready to knock out the hometown Bulldogs.
Butler, who is gaining a lot of national attention due to the fact that the final four is in their backyard, is very much like the Michigan State Spartans of last year. Last year the Spartans were the ones with the home court advantage, making it to the Final Four in Detroit. Butler is a team that prides itself in its defense which is what carried the Spartans in last year's tournament run. Led by Travis Walton, the Spartans became known as one of the best defensive and rebounding teams in the Big Ten and country. Butler, like the Spartans of last are relying on this lock down defense to make a run of their own in this year's tourney. Don't get me wrong, this Spartan team can play defense with the best of them, but is unusual to see Butler's name near the top when looking some of the better defensive teams in the country.
On Saturdays game one of the differences will be whether or not hot-shooting Spartan guard Durrell Summers will still be shooting lights out. Summers is scoring over 20 points a game in this years tournament and has shown tremendous confidence. Summers, who has been streaky in the regular season, has shown no lack of confidence so far. He is knocking down the 3-ball with regularity and throwing down some tomahawk dunks as well. If Summers continues to play as he has been, the Spartans will prevail.
Another thing that should not be overlooked is the fact that the Spartans have Tom Izzo as a coach. Izzo, during this year's magical tourney run, is being proclaimed as one of the greatest tournament coaches of all time. Izzo prepares his teams like no other coach does in college basketball. No matter what seed his Spartan teams are, he always makes a run with them. Izzo has been in the Final Four in 6 of the last 12 years. That is absolutely phenomenal for a coach to do. He also has the best tournament record out of any coach since 1999.
Although Butler is playing down the street from their home campus, the Michigan State Spartans will make their presence known in downtown Indy. Izzo is probably the best college basketball tournament coach at this current time and he will have his team ready to knock out the hometown Bulldogs.
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