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National Basketball Association

2008-05-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

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National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the major league basketball in North America created in 1946 under the name BAA (Basketball Association of America). In 1949, following the merger with the NBL (National Basketball League), the league is renowned NBA.

The championship includes 30 franchises, divided into two conferences (East and West), including all three Divisions. After a regular season includes 82 games, 16 teams compete in playoffs (playoffs). The Finals confront the best team in the Eastern Conference against the best team in the West Conference. The team that reaches the first to win four games is named champion.

The NBA logo is the effigy of Jerry West, a great leader of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1960's.

The headquarters of the NBA is located in the Olympic Tower at 645, the 5eAvenue in New York.

Basketball Association of America
The Basketball Association of America (BAA) is founded on June 6, 1946 at the Commodore Hotel in New York by the owners of sports arenas North-East and Midwest of the USA. Maurice Podoloff is named president. It is not the first league basketball created the USA. Indeed, there is already the American Basketball League (ABL) and the National Basketball League (NBL). But BAA is the first league to play its teams in large rooms located in major cities. During the early years, the quality of the game of the BAA is not particularly better than other leagues, or club independent of Harlem Globetrotters. For example, Baltimore Bullets, a finalist for the ABL in 1947, are included in the BAA and won the title in 1948. In 1949, the NBL champions of 1948, the Minneapolis Lakers needed to BAA. The story holds that the first match played in BAA, the forerunner of the NBA, between 1 November 1946 the Toronto Huskies to the New York Knickerbockers.

National Basketball Association
On August 3, 1949, the BAA agrees to merge with the NBL, thus becoming the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 1949-1950 season may be seen as the first season in the history of the NBA as such. The league has 17 franchises then in a series of cities, large and small, some playing in large arenas, others in gyms. In 1950, the NBA decides to reduce the number of teams, bringing to 11. Continuing this process, the league in 1955 reached a record of only 8 franchises. It should be noted that these eight franchises are still members of the NBA today (Knickerbockers, Celtics, Warriors, Lakers, Royals / Kings, Hawks and Nationals/76ers). While the NBA reserre, franchises located in small towns settle in larger cities. The Hawks leave Tri Cities (now known as Quad Cities) and settled in Milwaukee, then in St. Louis. The Rochester Royals are in Cincinnati and Fort Wayne Pistons in Detroit.

Even if the Japanese-amércain Wataru Misaka is the first to break the color barrier NBA in 1947-1948 (time of the BAA), while he plays for the New York Knicks, 1950 is regarded as the year integration in the NBA, when Chuck Cooper joined the Boston Celtics, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton of the New York Knicks and Earl Lloyd the Washington Capitols. Today, more than fifty years later, the NBA sees mingle many ethnicities and cultures. The Afro-Americans are widely majority (80%).

The Minneapolis Lakers were the first to build a dynasty. Led by their pivot George Mikan, they won five titles champions in six years (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954).

To encourage a shooter and energize the game, the 24 second rule is introduced in 1954: if a team has not attempted to shoot when she has the ball for 24 seconds, the game is stopped and the ball travelled to the 'opponent.

In 1956, the linchpin rookie Bill Russell joined the Boston Celtics, who already behind Bob Cousy and coach Red Auerbach, and takes the team to the incredible performance of 11 titles in 13 seasons (1957, from 1959 to 1966, 1968 and 1969).

Wilt Chamberlain joined the NBA in 1959 and became the star archi-dominant 60 years, setting new records in points and rebounds. The rivalry between the east to legendary Bill Russell, considered one of the most intense in the history of team sports.

Meanwhile, franchises continue to move to bigger cities: Minneapolis Lakers leave and settled in Los Angeles, Philadelphia Warriors moved to San Francisco and the Syracuse Nationals in Philadelphia. New teams are integrated.

In 1967, the NBA faces a new adversary: the ABA (American Basketball Association). The two leagues will declare war talent. It is one that will count in its ranks the most talented players. The NBA takes the best university player of the moment, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known under the name of Lew Alcindor), who, with Oscar Robertson, enmènera the Milwaukee Bucks under since its second season, and later win five titles with the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, the best scorer of the NBA, Rick Barry, decides to go play in ABA, as the arbitrators are four veterans (Norm Drucker, Earl Strom, John Vanak and Joe Gushue).

The ABA also managed to attract some major stars such as Julius Erving, in part because the teams have the right to sign undergraduates (students).

THE NBA, during this period, grew rapidly, seeking to place its franchises in the largest cities. After the 1975-1976 season, the two leagues to agree: ABA disappears, but four of its franchises are included in the NBA championship: New York Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs . The account then 22 NBA franchises.

The league adopted in 1979 the three-point line, which was an innovation of the ABA, and its commissionneur George Mikan. That same year, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson arrived in the NBA, respectively, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. They begin a period where interest in the league the USA and the world is growing. Bird won three titles with Boston. Johnson, five with Los Angeles.

Michael Jordan arrived at the 1984 Chicago Bulls, giving fans more and more a star more popular than ever. The Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets integrate the NBA in 1988, joined in 1989 by the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves. The league has 27 teams then. During the 90 years, Jordan won 6 titles (1991 to 1993 and from 1996 to 1998).

The 1990 is also the scene of a grand opening of the NBA. The famous Dream Team Olympics 1992, the first to bring together the biggest stars of the NBA Dignitaries, including Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley and many others.

In 1995, the NBA knows its first expansion abroad, namely in Canada, with the creation of franchises of the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies. In 2001, the Grizzlies moved to Memphis, the Raptors became the only team in the league to be located outside the USA. The last franchise created is that of the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004, bringing the current number of teams in the NBA to 30.

More and more good players also come from abroad. At the outset, most of these players, as the 1994 MVP Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria), played first in NCAA for self-improvement. But foreign players are beginning to leave their club to enter directly in the NBA, as Rookie of the Year and MVP of the 2002 World Championship 2006 Pau Gasol (Spain) as the 1st choice of the 2002 draft Yao Ming (China) as MVP of the 2002 World Championship and Euro 2005 Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), or as the tournament MVP of the 2004 Olympics Manu Ginóbili (Argentina). Today, young players in the English-speaking world are trying to play NCAA will arise before the draft (the best examples are the 2005 and 2006 MVP Steve Nash (Canada) and 1 draft choice of 2006 Andrew Bogut (Australia) , While other foreign players arrive in the NBA directly from their club professional.

In 1996, the NBA created the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) and in 2001 a minor league, the National Basketball Development League, today called NBA Development League (see below).

In 1998, owners of the NBA start a strike that lasted 191 days, and ends on January 18, 1999. The 1998-1999 season is therefore reduced from 82 matches per team to 50, all played during the first months of 1999.

On 29 June 2006, a new official ball is presented for the 2006-2007 season. This is the first ball change in 35 years and only the second in 60 seasons. Designed by Spalding, the new ball offers a reworked design and is made of a synthetic material which, according to Spalding, allows a better grip and a better grip the ball back. However, players complain quickly, saying that the ball is dry adhesive, and that the wet slippery.

On 11 December 2006, David Stern announced the return to the old leather ball in from 1 January 2007. The commissionneur eventually give in to complaints from players who complain about cuts to the fingers due to the microfibers that make up the ball.

Today, brings together 30 NBA franchises and became one of the largest sports leagues in the world. The matches are broadcast in 212 countries and 42 languages.

Read also Basketball

wikipedia

Juventus Football Club

2008-05-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

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Juventus Football Club
The Juventus Football Club, commonly known as Juventus or Juventus of Turin in french, even Juve, is an Italian football club based in Turin founded in 1897 and now coached by Claudio Ranieri. It plays in Serie A (1st division) of the Italian football championship. The team and all its categories train on the grounds of the sports centre Juventus Center in Vinovo, commune of Piedmont 13 425 inhabitants located 14 km from Turin.

The name of the team (in Piedmont) comes from the latin name Iuventus (youth in french) and was chosen - as explained in the section on the history of Juventus - by the founders of the club, who were young Students Turin.

Juventus, the fourth Italian club's oldest, is the most titled team in Italy with a total of 51 official trophies won, trophies, including 40 national and 11 international trophies. For many European titles officially recognised by UEFA and FIFA won, Juventus is the second Italian team, the third European team and the fifth global team. Juventus is among the ten teams the most prestigious and titled in the history of world football.

Finally, Juventus, one of the most followed teams in the world, is the only club in the world to have won all competitions at international level and in 1985 she became the first team to win all three major European competitions. Only three other teams managed to match this performance: FC Barcelona and Ajax in 1992 and Bayern Munich in 1996.

Doxa According to a poll published in L'Espresso magazine in April 2002, the Old Lady of Italian team is the most supported in Italy: about 11 040 000 supporters, representing 31% of the total.

Despite this, Juventus is not the most supported team in his hometown, where his tifosi are a minority compared to supporters of Torino, considered to Turin as the team most representative of Piedmont.

History
The word means juventus youth in latin. The club was founded on 1 November 1897 under the name "Sport Club Juventus." The club is renamed as Juventus Football Club in 1899.

The first club colors are pink and black. As a result of a mistake Delivery Provider of English jersey, the club adopted the colors of Notts County FC in 1903. The equipment was indeed delivered a game jersey of the English club in place of the pink jersey ordered ...

La Juve was long headed by Umberto Agnelli. Its called Delle Alpi stadium (Des Italian Alps). Its capital is owned by the holding company IFI of the Agnelli family who runs the group FIAT.

Juventus is certainly the flagship club in Italy, most supported, is also the most liked in Turin.

Juventus was immediately shown a competitive series A, it won many titles before the war, 7 in total.

The FA Cup success in Europe will be won later. It will take effect in the arrival of the triumvirate Bettega, Boniperti and Trapattoni at the helm of the club to see him standing out on the European scene.

It loses 1st final in 1973 to face Johan Cruyff and the machine of Ajax. However, the club won the Uefa Cup in 1977. The team is solid with Dino Zoff in the purposes and other players such as Cabrini or Rossi.

In 1982 Michel Platini joined the club. In the space of five years, they will win a lot. They lose first, a second final Cup champions, face Hamburg SV (1983). They won the following year the title of champion, that ansi Cup cuts.

The team is unbeatable quickly. She finally wins its first Cup Champions (1 to 0 to face Liverpool FC), in the terrible nightmare of Heysel, where 39 Italian fans died, suffocated. It ended the year in style by winning also the Intercontinental Cup.

The departure of managers (Zoff, Rossi, Platini, Boniek) will sign the decline in the club (despite the cuts the UEFA 1990 and 1993), which would revert to the summit with the arrival of Luciano Moggi and Marcello Lippi. They make their titles of nobility to the Old Lady, including winning the Champions League, which also allows them to take revenge because the expense of Ajax Amsterdam.

Many talented players who follow the club: John Charles, Dino Zoff, Vialli, Boniek, Roberto Baggio, Alessandro Del Piero, Schillaci, Zinédine Zidane.

The Juventus Turin holds the record for victories football gold: Sivori (1961), Rossi (1982), Platini (1983-84-85), Baggio (1993), Zidane (1998), Nedvěd (2003).

In May 2006, Juventus (with AC Milan, Lazio, Fiorentina and Reggina) is at the centre of a major scandal concerning the designation of referees in the Italian championship. Luciano Moggi must resign from his post as CEO and was placed under investigation. The court recquiert a relegation to Serie C (third division) and a penalty of 6 points. In July, Juventus is finally demoted to Serie B with a penalty of 17points. His championship titles in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons are cancelled, the title of the season was finally awarded to Inter Milan. Didier Deschamps has been appointed coach of Juventus shortly before the decision.

Following the verdict by the Court arbitration Italian (Arbitrato Coni) on the night of October 27, 2006, Juventus saw its penalty of 17 points boil down to -9 points. The classification of the Italian Series B (like the serie A), is therefore renewed. The SS Lazio was penalized by 3 points, AC Fiorentina on 15 points, AC Milan 8 points for the championship Series A 2006-2007.

The Stadio delle Alpi, which will take the name of a sponsor is under renovation for a maximum period of two years. Juventus plays its championship matches at Stadio Olimpico in Turin. Then, when the reconstruction of the Stadio delle Alpi is completed, the Old Lady will join his new forum, which will then completely.

On 19 May 2007, outweighing the field of Arezzo (5 to 1), Juventus won the right to go back to Serie A, one year after revelations that déclenchèrent the Calciopoli scandal.

On 26 May 2007, Didier Deschamps démissione post of coach of Juventus. He is replaced on June 4, 2007 by Claudio Ranieri.

On 25 August 2007, on his return to Serie A, Juventus Livorno crushes on the score of 5-1 (Triple by David Trezeguet, Vincenzo Iaquinta doubled). During the 2007-2008 championship, the team will fight with the best. New talents like Antonio Nocerino hatch or Raffaele Palladino. The former remained a great team and is then built, capable of beating Inter Milan or AS Roma. Del Piero, emblem of the club becomes the player with the most contested match with Juventus.

Awards

* Champions League (C1) (2): 1985 (see Drama Heysel), 1996
o Finalist: 1973, 1983, 1997, 1998, 2003.
* Europe Cup Winners Cup (C2) (1): 1984
* UEFA Cup (C3) (3): 1977, 1990, 1993.
o Finalist: 1995, 1965, 1971
* The UEFA Supercup (2): 1984, 1997
* Intercontinental Cup (2): 1985, 1996
o Finalist: 1973.
* Intertoto Cup (1): 1999
* Mitropa Cup
o Semi-finals: 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935

* Italy Championship Series A (27): 1905, 1926, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1950, 1952, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1967, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981 1982, 1984, 1986, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005 [2], 2006 [3] (record).
* Italy Championship Series B (1): 2007
* Cup Italy (9): 1938, 1942, 1959, 1960, 1965, 1979, 1983, 1990, 1995 (record).
o Finalist: 1973, 1992, 2002, 2004
* Italian Super Cup (4): 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003.
o Finalist: 1990, 1998, 2005.

* Mundialito clubs (Coppa Super Clubs, or Championship clubs FIFA) (1): 1983 (San Siro)
* Joan Gamper Trophy (1): 2005
* Luigi Berlusconi Trophy (8): 1991, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004

Read also www.juventus.it

wikipedia

Arsenal Football Club

2008-05-08T14:19:00.000-07:00

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Arsenal Football Club
Arsenal (full name is Arsenal Football Club, also known as The Arsenal or The Gunners) is an English football club founded in 1886 and develops in the championship of England football. Arsenal won 13 championships, 10 cups in England, a Cup of Cups and one UEFA Cup, but there are still no success in the Champions League, despite a final in 2006, the first for a London club.

Established in 1913 in the Highbury stadium in north London, the club has installed in 2006 in a brand new enclosure 60 000 places: the Emirates Stadium at Ashburton Grove. There is a very old and deep rivalry with neighbours Tottenham, with whom they compete for the North London derby each year.

History
Arsenal was founded under the name of Dial Square FC in 1886 by workers of the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, and renamed the Royal Arsenal shortly afterwards. The club finally adopted the name Woolwich Arsenal after obtaining their professional status in 1891.

The Gunners began in the Football League Second Division, and were promoted to First Division Football League in 1904. However, the club experienced financial problems because of low affluences in matches, favoured by its geographical isolation. In 1913, shortly after their relegation to Second Division, the Gunners crossed the Thames to settle in a new stadium in Highbury, north London. At this change also came a new name: Arsenal FC. The club finished only 5th in 1919, but was elected back in the first division following the passage of the championship to 22 clubs, much to the chagrin of his rivals premises: Tottenham Hotspur. Since Arsenal is never dropped a lower division.

In 1925 the talented Herbert Chapman became the coach of Arsenal. He had already won the championship with Huddersfield Town Football Club in 1924 and 1925, and Arsenal owes its first period of major successes. His training methods and tactics described as revolutionary, as well as players such as Alex James and Cliff Bastin, are the source of domination by the club in English football in 1930. Between 1930 and 1938, Arsenal won the championship five times and twice cut. However Chapman died of pneumonia in 1934 and was unable to attend the coronation of his work. He was still time to rename the subway station Gillespie Road to Arsenal, the only stop in London bearing the name of a football club.

After the suspension of the championship during the World War II, Arsenal won the League in 1948 and 1953 and the FA Cup in 1950. Despite these successes, the club could not find players of the quality of those who made up its workforce in the years 1930, and won trophies few years before 1960. Even the former team captain of England football, Billy Wright, has never enjoyed success as manager of Arsenal.

The second golden era began in 1966 with the arrival of physiotherapist Bertie Mee as manager. After two League Cup finals lost, they won the cup Cities Exhibition, their first European trophy in 1970. This victory was followed by their first league-cup double in England in 1971. Despite these successes, the 1970 decade was characterized by a large number of missed appointments. They finished second championship in 1973, lost three cup finals in England (1972, 1978 and 1980) and were defeated in the finals of the Cup Winners' Europe cuts in 1980 as a result of the test firing the goal. The only major success of the club at that time was a victory in the FA Cup in 1979 gained at the last minute of the final between Manchester United.

The return of former player George Graham as manager in 1986 brought a third period of glory. Arsenal won the League Cup in 1987, from his first season at the club. The 1989 championship was ripped through a victory on a goal included in the last minute in the last match of the season played on the ground of their challenger Liverpool. The boring Arsenal (Boring Arsenal) was once sacred in 1991, not conceding a single defeat, and successfully doubled the FA Cup and League Cup in 1993. Finally Arsenal won thanks to Graham a second European trophy in 1994, the Europe Cup Winners' Cups. However, the reputation of George Graham was tarnished when it was revealed that the agent Rune Hauge had paid commissions on signing some players. He was dismissed in 1995 and suspended for one year by the English federation.

The success of the club from the late 1990 owe much to recruit the coach french Arsène Wenger in 1996. It brought a new tactical approach, a new training regimen and several foreign players (including players french) complétèrent the actual departure. Arsenal managed two new cutting-lined championship in 1998 and 2002, the club also won the FA Cup in 2003 and 2005. In 2004 Arsenal was crowned champion by not losing any match, and ported the record of invincibility in Premier League to 49 games in a row. With this performance, the club is nicknamed the invincible Arsenal. Under the leadership of the club Arsène Wenger has always finished in one of the first two places in the English championship, with the exception of the 1996-1997 season finished in third place and 2005-2006 ended in fourth place. Arsenal is regarded as one of three English clubs largest with Manchester United and Liverpool. However, the club has not experienced the same success on the European stage, despite two titles (1970 UEFA Cup and Cup of Cups in 1994), and though it has reached the final of the League of Champions in 2006.

Awards
* Champions League:
o Finalist: 2006

* Europe Cup Winners' Cup:
o Winner: 1994.
o Finalist: 1980 and 1995.

* UEFA Cup:
o Winner: 1970.
o Finalist: 2000.

* The UEFA Supercup:
o Finalist: 1995

* England Championship:
o Champion (13): 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1938, 1948, 1953, 1971, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2002, 2004.
o Vice-champion (8): 1926, 1932, 1973, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005.

* Championship in England from D2
o Vice-champion: 1904.

* Cup England:
o Winner (10): 1930, 1936, 1950, 1971, 1979, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005.
o Finalist (7): 1927, 1932, 1952, 1972, 1978, 1980, 2001.

* Cup League:
o Winner: 1987 and 1993.
o Finalist: 1968, 1969, 1988 and 2007.

* Community Shield:
o Winner (12): 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1948, 1953, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004.

* Emirates Cup:
o Winner: 2007

* Tournament Amsterdam:
o Winner: 2005, 2007

With 13 titles Champion of England, Arsenal is the third most successful club in the Kingdom, after Liverpool and Manchester United. And with 10 FA Cups, is the second most titled club in this competition, after Manchester United. Arsenal has also managed to achieve 3 "Doubles" (win the Premierleague and the FA Cup the same year: in 1971, 1998 and 2002), a record shared with Manchester United. Arsenal managed to be the first English team to win the FA Cup and League Cup during the same year (1993) and is also the only club in London have managed to reach a final Champion's League in 2006.

News

The off-2007 was marked by the departure of Thierry Henry at FC Barcelona. The Gunners supporters thought that the club would collapse without its top scorer in the history of the club. As a result players this season have been more motivated than ever and wanted to prove that they did not need "Titi" to succeed. So the players Arsenal have a wonderful early season with a Cecs Fàbregas a state of grace who wakes up in the eyes of Europe. There was also a certain liberation in attack Adebayor who also makes a superb early season by placing a superb goal against Tottenham, Arsenal enemy. Other players have done a very good season start as Hleb, van Persie, Gallas, Eboué, or Sagna to name but a few. After 25 days of the tournament, The Gunners are top with 60 points. In the Champions League Gunners are equally exceptional including a 7-0 inflicted on Slavia Prague, including two doubles signed Cecs Fàbregas and Walcott.

Colors
Historically, Arsenal trees, home, a bright red shirt-sleeved white shorts with white, but it was not always the case. The choice of red comes in recognition of a charitable donation from Nottingham Forest, shortly after the founding of the club in 1886. Two of the founding members of Dial Square, Fred Beardsley and Morris Bates, who were players from Nottingham Forest, had moved to Woolwich to work. As was the first time a team was based in the area no kit could not be reached, Beardsley and Bates wrote to their former team to receive equipment and a balloon. The jersey was darker than the colors of the modern club, which draws closer to purple.

In 1933, Herbert Chapman, wanted his players to be more distinctively dressed, thus improving the holding by adding white stripes and changed the color red to dark red clearer.

In 1964, a completely red jersey was tried but before the negative reactions of supporters, white sleeves made their return as soon as next season. Recently, for the last season at Highbury Arsenal, the colors of the team returned to purple beginnings. The club will recover its colours at the end of the 2005-2006 season.

The colours of Arsenal have also inspired at least two other clubs. In 1909, Sparta Prague adopted a holding identical to that of Arsenal and in 1930, Hibernian adopted the design of the jersey of Arsenal but chose the color green or red. Both teams still wear those colors today.

The exterior colours of the club are traditionally yellow and blue but sometimes they were green and navy in particular in the years 1980. Since 1990 and the arrival of merchandising football jerseys, exterior colours change virtually all seasons. For the 2007-2008 season, the club has introduced an external white jersey in tribute to Herbert Chapman and a third jersey resembling the colours of FC Barcelona.

Arsenal is sponsored since 1982. The first agreement was signed with JVC and it does not end until 1999. Since then, the London club a wooded names SEGA Dreamcast (1999-2002) and then O ² (2002-2006). Since the summer of 2006 and until 2014, Arsenal is sponsored by Emirates. Regarding equipment, Nike is providing the club since 1994. Before them, Umbro (1978-1986) and Adidas (1986-1994) were responsible jerseys.

Read also Liverpool

wikipedia

Liverpool Football Club

2008-05-06T15:44:00.000-07:00

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Liverpool Football Club
Liverpool Football Club is a football club based in Liverpool and operating in the championship of England football. The club of the Mersey is chaired by David Moores until 2007, when the club assignment of American billionaires Tom Hicks and George Gillett. It is led by Rafael Benítez since 2004. Since 1965, You'll never walk alone is the anthem and motto of the club.

The club
The Liverpool Football Club was founded on March 15, 1892 after a financial disagreement between the management of the club Everton and the landowner to Anfield used previously by the club. Everton left Anfield to Goodison Park, while Liverpool FC and replaces it makes its debut in the championship Lancashire. Liverpool FC is admitted to the championship in England by the League in 1893, adopts a holding red and white, and won her first title in 1901.

The greatness of Liverpool FC merges with the arrival of his manager Bill Shankly in 1959, deciding that players will be dressed all in red (shirt, shorts and socks) to impress the opponent. With Shankly, the club found the 1st division and won many national titles. Liverpool began to make a name in Europe and finally won its first UEFA Cup in 1973.

Under the direction of Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan Liverpool will forge a track legend, including four winning success Clubs Champions Cup between 1977 and 1984. During the 1985 finals contested by Liverpool and Juventus Michel Platini takes place on the tragedy of Heysel, leading to the death of thirty-nine supporters. The folly of hooligans will make the English clubs banned from Europe for five years. The Liverpool FC should be deviated from European competitions for a decade, the penalty was later reduced to six years.

As a manager, Kenny Dalglish gives the club its last major success on the national scene, but Liverpool is once again struck by tragedy in 1989, this time at Hillsborough, where 96 fans died (see tragedy at Hillsborough). His successor Graeme Souness and Roy Evans can not compete with Manchester United, which distinguishes itself in England and Europe.

Backed for a short period by Roy Evans, Gérard Houllier was then appointed manager of the club and under his direction the Reds have an incredible grand slam in 2001 by winning five trophies. To crown it all, Michael Owen wins the Golden Ball. But Liverpool still can not compete with Manchester and Arsenal in the league. Victim of a heart on October 13, 2001 during a match against Leeds United, Gérard Houllier must undergo a serious operation to open heart and put in brackets his duties at Liverpool. It makes a triumphant return to Anfield a few months later, while the Reds complete their championship to a conclusive second place. But despite a new victory in the League Cup in 2003, the love story between Houllier and Liverpool began to come to an end. Leaders and supporters accuse him increasingly erratic performance of the team, and after the 2003-2004 season, Houllier's contract was not renewed. He is replaced in 2004 by former Valencia coach Rafael Benítez, and after the 2004-2005 season Liverpool won its fifth Champions League in shots on goal to face AC Milan, after being led 3 to 0 to half-time.

In October 2006, after a countdown-to-five months, a vote attended by 110 000 people, means Kenny Dalglish as the player with the most marked the Kop, before Steven Gerrard, Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and John Barnes .

On 6 February 2007, George N. Gillett Jr is acquiring club in the company of billionaire Tom Hicks.

On 1 May 2007, Liverpool qualifies for the finals of the Champions League by beating Chelsea in shots on goal. In this final Champions League Liverpool bows on the score 2 goals to 1, facing his rival, AC Milan.

So far, Liverpool FC remains the most successful club in England.

Awards
* FIFA Club World Cup
o Finalist: 2005.
* Intercontinental Cup:
o Finalist: 1981, 1983 and 2005.
* The UEFA Supercup (3):
o Winner: 1977, 2001 and 2005.
o Finalist: 1978.
* Champions League (5):
o Winner: 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005.
o Finalist: 1985, 2007.
* Cup of Cups:
o Finalist: 1966.
* UEFA Cup (3):
o Winner: 1973, 1976 and 2001.
* Championship in England (18):
o Champion: 1901, 1906, 1922, 1923, 1947, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1990.
o Vice-champion: 1899, 1910, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991 and 2002.
* Championship in England from D2 (4):
o Champion: 1894, 1896, 1905 and 1962.
* Cup England (7):
o Winner: 1965, 1974, 1986, 1989, 1992, 2001 and 2006.
o Finalist: 1914, 1950, 1971, 1977, 1988 and 1996.
* League Cup (7):
o Winner: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2001 and 2003.
o Finalist: 1978, 1987 and 2005.
* Community Shield (15):
o Winner: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2001 and 2006.

Players emblematic
In the first half of the twentieth century, some players perform most of their career as a Liverpool player Ephraim Longworth first club to have been captain of the England team in 1921, which remained from 1910 to 1928 or guardian Elisha Scott, who spent two decades at the club, a record. On the side of the attack, we can see the record of 17 triplets directed by Gordon Hodgson in the years 1920 and 1930.

In the years 1960, Bill Shankly transformed the club into a European giant, with its "colossal" Ron Yeats and Roger Hunt's club top scorer in the league with 245 achievements and winner of the World Cup in 1966.

The transfers made by Bob Paisley in the 1970 and 1980 have played a key role in the success of the club. Thus, two Scots recruited in 1977 had a significant impact: Alan Hansen, winner of three European titles and Kenny Dalglish, Kenny King nicknamed by supporters, which becomes coach of Liverpool after his playing career. In 1980 Paisley recruits young Ian Rush who is still the best scorer in the history of the club.

More recently other players have made themselves known to Liverpool. In early 1990, Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher and the current captain Steven Gerrard leaving the training centre of the club.

Read also Manchester United

wikipedia

Chelsea Football Club

2008-05-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

(Bast)

Chelsea Football Club
Chelsea Football Club is a football club in London, finding themselves more precisely Fulham founded in 1905 currently operating in Premier League Championship in England football.

History
The beginnings: the birth of Chelsea FC is linked to the construction stage of Stamford Bridge. Following the refusal of Fulham to use this new forum in London, proponents of the stadium were forced to create their own club. They managed to convince the League to accept the candidacy of the club barely born, which conducted its debut in D2 championship on September 2, 1905 in Stockport. Stamford Bridge is cordially inaugurated two days later at a friendly match to face Liverpool. The rush is disappointing (4 000) as that recorded a week later for the debut of Blues at home in the league (6 000). However the good results helping, Chelsea has managed to build very quickly a very important basis of supporters. Since its third season of existence, Chelsea was the club record best affluences of the country.

The taste of the international
Chelsea has long been a club practicing the recruitment of foreign players. Indeed, when Gianluca Vialli was the coach, the club did not less than 13 different nationalities in its workforce, so that drives the heart of London should be done in Italian! Chelsea was the first English team to bring a starting eleven composed entirely of non-Britons, during the day championship on December 26, 1999.

Chelsea is also the second contingent french in England behind Arsenal FC since have succeeded Marcel Desailly, Franck Lebœuf, Emmanuel Petit, Didier Deschamps, William Gallas, Claude Makélélé, Bernard Lambourde, Lassana Diarra, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka.

The money power
In 2003, the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club then losing to Ken Bates for about 200 million euros. There then injected nearly 700 million euros. He gets the best players on the planet, and after the departure of Italian coach Claudio Ranieri, he brought the sulphur but talented coach of FC Porto (just winning the Champions League), José Mourinho who will start on 19 September 2007 evening after an early season poussif (officially because relations between José Mourinho and Roman Abramovich were at a standstill, the latter having hoped for a faux pas of his team to dismiss the Portuguese coach). Chelsea is now among the six clubs the richest in the world, with FC Barcelona, Juventus Turin, Real Madrid, Manchester United and AC Milan.

The birth of a great club
In 90 years, Chelsea stands out as a decidedly international team, practicing a game spectacular, but the club is also marked by its irregularity and remains an outsider. Great names of Football on the twilight of their career or players ready to bounce came to Chelsea (Gianfranco Zola, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Marcel Desailly). At that time, Chelsea is regarded as a team of mercenaries. Upon the arrival of Ranieri, Chelsea tries to buying big names in football to form a team, the bet will be won because almost complete seconds behind Arsenal FC. Yet Ranieri is thanked and arrive José Mourinho and Peter Kenyon to establish a true long-term plan to become a great club. Since 2005, therefore, Peter Kenyon to Chelsea can become a club of rich and powerful and especially dependent little by little the money Roman Abramovich. Thus in 2005, Samsung became the official sponsor of the club and in 2006 became the Adidas equipment. Chelsea have also built a full team under the auspices of José Mourinho. Recruitment is dispersed on two axes, great players and great hopes of football. Thus Claude Makélélé or more recently Florent Malouda, Michael Ballack, Andrei Shevchenko, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka were among the big names in football to join Chelsea. And Arjen Robben, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard are among the very high expectations to the ranks of Blues. It reinforces their position as best club of English football by providing 2 championship titles in England in 2005 and 2006, plus 2 League Cup in 2005 and 2007 and a Cup in 2007.

Another proof that Chelsea is a big club: the record of invincibility (63 games) at home in the league who was beaten at the 1st day of the 2007-2008 season and a victory over Birmingham City. The number is now at 80 matches without defeat at home to the championship.

During the 2008 season, Chelsea was hoisted for the first time in its history in the finals of the Champions League by UEFA.

Chelsea and its supporters
In the pure English tradition, Chelsea is supported by a Kop important in England. But Chelsea is still serve poor child compared to other big clubs in England. The craze for Chelsea is far from that doomed for clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool FC, FC Arsenal or Newcastle United. Chelsea has the fifth influx of English football, and regularly attracts more than 40000 supporters a Stamford Brigde. The historical basis of supporters of Chelsea comes from the working classes of west London, Hammersmith or Battersea, or classes more affluent neighborhoods of Chelsea and Kensington. In recent years, Chelsea as Lyon found a new lease of life at the popularity, players and results caregiver. In the 70 and 80 years, Chelsea supporters were involved in hooliganism, and were known for their violence, like the supporters of West Ham United or Milwall. Some groups of supporters were close to the Nationalist Party English (British National Party). In France, the image of Chelsea is somewhat controversial. Few players french came to Chelsea as Arsenal. Chelsea is still not registered in the European charts as Liverpool and Manchester United. The number of supporters of Blues in France is low and scattered. Yet, every day their numbers are growing. In July 2006, like similar structures exist to supporters of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester, an association called "Chelsea Supporters France" is born. This is the first part of Chelsea supporters in France, which is on the verge of being recognized by the club.

Awards
* The UEFA Supercup (1):
o Winner: 1998.
* Europe Cup Winners' Cup (2):
o Winner: 1971 and 1998.
* Championship in England (3):
o Champion: 1955, 2005 and 2006.
o Vice-champion: 2004, 2007.
* Cup in England (4):
o Winner: 1970, 1997, 2000 and 2007.
o Finalist: 1915, 1967, 1994 and 2002.
* League Cup (4):
o Winner: 1965, 1998, 2005 and 2007.
o Finalist: 1972 and 2008.
* Championship in England from D2 (2):
o Champion: 1984 and 1989
o Vice-champion: 1907, 1912, 1930, 1963 and 1977.
* Charity Shield (3)
o Winner: 1955, 2000, 2005.

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wikipedia

Manchester United Football Club

2008-05-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

(Best)

Manchester United Football Club
Manchester United Football Club is an English football club founded in 1878 currently operating in Premier League.

It is one of the most popular clubs in the world and won the championship in England to sixteen times (which is less than Liverpool FC who won 18 times). The club has also won England eleven Cups, two League Cups English, two Champions Leagues, a Cup of Cups, an Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Supercup.

His coach is Sir Alex Ferguson since 1986 and team captain Ryan Giggs is now.

The beginnings (1878-1945)
Under the name "Newton Heath LYR F.C. ". It is a corporate team of the railway Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.

The club made a name locally and wants to climb league. It will be accepted until the third request in 1892 but learning is difficult with a raid in 1898 to the second division while Manchester City won his first title.

After some difficult years, the club finally gaining financial power through a brewer, John Henry Davies, to move forward with new players and a new direction. The decision to change one's name is then taken: Manchester Central is proposed as well as Manchester Celtic, the two proposals were rejected for the name to become famous around the world in 1902, Newton Heath officially became Manchester United Football Club. In addition, it abandons the green and gold Newton Heath for red and white.

J. Ernest Mangnall leads the team at that time which was part Turnbull, Bannister, Burgess and Charlie Roberts. Since 1908, MU received his first Championship title and win the FA Cup in 1909, beating Bristol City 1-0. It was a good period for the supporters who were entitled to a new stage. The club moved to Old Trafford (today known as the Theatre of Dreams).

The years 1920 and 1930 were years of difficult decades for MU. The club falls D2 in 1922, is struggling to maintain it has stayed stable in the soft belly of this championship D2. In 1927, is a mini-crisis, the fans threaten to boycott the club. To cope with the crisis, the possibility of selling the stadium is even under consideration, and the same year, the arrival of a businessman James Gibson sponge debt of £ 2 000 and takes control of the club.

But the sporting miracle does not occur despite hiring a new coach, Scott Duncan and in 1934 plunged the club into the D3. Dos the wall, MU faces Millwall FC on May 5 while on the other side, Manchester City, the club rival still qualifies for the finals of the FA Cup thanks to a certain Matt Busby.

MU is the lift and eventually back to First Division in 1939, when the war begins. During the war, Old Trafford was bombed and lies in ruins.

The years of Busby (1945-1969)

In 1945, Matt Busby arrive. He was innovative in its strategy by deciding the recruitment of new players and manager training and s'entoura an assistant: Jimmy Murphy. The first years of Busby are a success in reaching the position of vice-champion and the FA Cup victory in 1948, thanks to players of the coin: Stan Pearson, Jack Rowley and Charlie Mitten and Allenby Chilton.

Charlie Mitten share in Colombia, but his former teammates win the championship in 1952. However, Busby understands that the team needs more experience and he opts for youth. The policy takes time to produce positive results, but they return to the championship in 1956 with a team where the average age is 22 years, scoring 103 goals, a record Manchester United. The success of young people is symbolized by Duncan Edwards, which made its debut in 16 years. The following season, 1956-57, the club win the championship again, but lost in the finals of the Cup against England Aston Villa. Manchester United also became the first English club to participate in the Europe Cup club champions, against the will of the federation of England and lost against Real Madrid in the semi-finals. Previously, MU achieves its broadest score by beating European champions of Belgium RSC Anderlecht 10-0 at Maine Road.

The following year, the club has one of the greatest tragedies in its history. On 6 February 1958, eight players were killed in the Munich air crash: Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Liam "Billy" Whelan - and fifteen others wounded: Walter Crickmer, Bert Whalley and Tom Curry, coaches, are among them. The goalkeeper Harry Gregg save Bobby Charlton and Dennis Viollet by dragging them to the door of the plane, Johnny Berry also survived the accident, but he will be retiring sports because of his injuries and Matt Busby spend two months hospital.

The same year, plays Manchester United in Cup final in England, but lost against Bolton Wanderers. UEFA gives Manchester United the chance to play the European Cup the following season, but the french federation refuses. MU vice-champion finished the season with a team decimated by the disaster of Munich.

Busby rebuilt his team during the years 1960, recruitment of new players like Denis Law and Pat Crerand, and trusting a new youth whose most famous is George Best. MU won the Cup in England in 1963, but finished nineteenth championship. However, in 1964 the club found the top ranking by reaching the second place and won in 1965 and 1967. MU won the Cup in Europe club champions in 1968, flying the SL Benfica of Eusebio 4-1 in the finals after extension, becoming the first English club to win this competition. The team contains three winners of the golden ball: Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best. Matt Busby retired in 1969 and Wilf McGuinness replaces.

The years without a championship (1969-1986)
MU is then rebuilt after the departure of Matt Busby and with Wilf McGuinness in 1969-70, finishing eighth in the league, and after a poor start in 1970-71, McGuinness landed east of the first team and attends the reserve Busby and returned for a freelance six months. The result is improving under Busby, but he left during the summer of 1971. Hence, MU loses some of its best players, like Nobby Stiles and Pat Crerand.

Jock Stein, who led Celtic to victory in Europe Cup, accepted the job of coach in Manchester, but it will be returned and Frank O'Farrell replaces. However, as McGuinness, O'Farrell stayed 18 months, the only difference between the two is the reaction of O'Farrell by purchasing new players, like Martin Buchan Aberdeen pay £ 125000. In 1972, Tommy Docherty (nicknamed "the Doc") and saves becomes coach of the MU relegation this season but was not able to escape in 1974 after the departures of Best, Law and Charlton. Denis Law moved to Manchester City in summer 1973, and marks a goal that will result from his former club réléguer MU. Players like Lou Macari, Stuart Houston and Brian Greenhoff try to replace Best, Law and Charlton without success.

The team immediately began with the young Steve Coppell is happening at Tranmere Rovers and with him the club reached the FA Cup Final England in 1976 (lost against Southampton FC). The club reached the finals again in 1977 and beating Liverpool FC. Despite this success and its popularity with fans, Docherty is returned immediately after the finals because of an affair with the wife of physiothérapiste.

Dave Sexton replaces Docherty in 1977 and sets up a defensive play, unpopular because of past club advocating Docherty and Busby in a game offensive. The transfers are major Joe Jordan, Gordon McQueen, Gary Bailey and Ray Wilkins, but MU still in the soft belly of the championship and Sexton is returned in 1981, although it wins its last seven games.

Ron Atkinson arrived at the club and immediately beats the British transfer record by buying Bryan Robson, who is supposed to be the best environment since Duncan Edwards. The team also contains Atkinson Jesper Olsen, Paul McGrath and Gordon Strachan and the players trained at the club Norman Whiteside and Mark Hughes. MU won the Cup in England in 1985, after having lost in the finals in 1983, and it becomes favorite to win the championship in 1986 after ten victories during the first ten matches, MU does eventually the fourth. After a bad start next year, Atkinson is returned before the end of the season.

The era of Alex Ferguson, pre-tripled (1986-1998)
Alex Ferguson arrived from Aberdeen FC to replace Atkinson and leads the club at the eleventh place. The following season in 1988, eventually MU vice-champion, with Brian McClair who becomes the first player since George Best to score 20 goals in a championship season.

However, MU is the penalty the following two seasons. Alex Ferguson is about to be returned in 1990 but will be saved by a goal by Mark Robins giving MU a victory in the third round of the FA Cup England against Nottingham Forest. The team continues to win and won the Cup against Crystal Palace.

MU won the Europe Cup Winners Cup in 1991, beating the champions of Spain's FC Barcelona in the final. In lack of form next season, the club finish in second place in the championship behind Leeds United. In 1991, the club goes for a scholarship worth £ 47 million.

The arrival of Éric Cantona in November 1992 gives hope to the club, and the experience of Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin and Paul Ince and youth trained at the club as Ryan Giggs. Manchester United won the championship in 1993 for the first time since 1967, and directed the doubled-cutting championship for the first time the following season, helped by its new player Roy Keane, a middle determined come to Nottingham Forest and will become the master. However, the same year, the club plunged into depression after the death of its legendary coach and president Matt Busby, who died on January 20, 1994.

In 1995, Cantona was banned land for eight months after a kick on a Crystal Palace supporter Matthew Simmons, who had sent Cantona racial insults during a match at Selhurst Park. MU lost FA Cup Final against England Everton FC. Ferguson created a controversy by selling its key players and replacing them with young people, like David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes, but these new surprising many experts and MU achieves twice in 1996. This was the first time an English club achieves doubled twice.
The club won the championship in 1997 and Éric Cantona announces its withdrawal of football in 30 years. In 1998, MU finished second behind Arsenal FC.

The tripled (1998-1999)
The 1998-1999 season from Manchester United is the most successful in the history of English football since he became the first club to win both the league, FA Cup and England the Champions League. The club won the championship at the last day by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1, while qu'Arsenal despite its 1-0 victory at Aston Villa face terminates at a point. In FA Cup Final England, MU beat Newcastle United 2-0 thanks to goals from Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes. Finally, in the finals of the Champions League, mancuniens beat Bayern Munich having been carried out from 1-0 before the 6th minute to equalize and take the advantage in the judgments game of the second period. On 30 November 1999, they also won the Intercontinental Cup by beating the SE Palmeiras 1-0 in Tokyo.

After tripled (1999)
Manchester United easily win the championship in 2000 and 2001, with 18 points and 10 points ahead of Arsenal but failed twice in the quarter fnale of the Champions League. In 2000 founded the Manchester G 14 with thirteen other major European clubs . Ferguson takes a more defensive tactics in 2002 to win the Champions League, but it jeopardizes the chances of the team at the national level who finishes in third place. After another victory in the championship in 2003, David Beckham is transferred to Real Madrid after an argument in the locker room with Alex Ferguson. In 2004, Rio Ferdinand was suspended eight months for having avoided a doping control . The mancuniens yet win the cup in England by beating Millwall 3-0 in the final.

In 2005, Manchester United brand fewer goals than the previous seasons and not won any trophy, losing in particular the FA Cup Final England to fire the goals to face Arsenal. Outside the field, the club was bought by the owner of Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Malcolm Glazer. MU started the season poorly in 2006, the emblematic middle Roy Keane left the club after publicly criticized some young players. The club does not qualify for the second round of the Champions League for the first time in a decade. However, a return to traditional tactics (4-4-2) by Manchester United saw the club finish the season well and win the League Cup by beating French Wigan 4-0. At the end of the season, striker Ruud van Nistelrooy after a hand blurs with Alex Ferguson. In 2007, Manchester won the championship thanks to an offensive football scoring 20 goals more than Chelsea FC who finished second. Hopes of a new tripled are destroyed when AC Milan eliminated in the semi-finals of the Champions League before Chelsea won the FA Cup by beating England 1-0 United.

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Volleyball

2008-05-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

(Bast)

Volleyball
The volleyball is a team sport involving two teams of six players separated by a net, which clash with a ball on a rectangular field. With 260 million followers, it is one of the most popular sports in the world.

Origins
Volleyball was invented on February 9, 1895 the USA by a physical education teacher from a YMCA in Holyoke in Massachusetts, William G. Morgan (1870-1942) to occupy the athletes during the winter. It is based on both the basketball and tennis also was born the "mintonette" on December 2, 1895. Another sports hall, basketball was invented just ten miles (sixteen kilometers) farther in the city of Springfield (Massachusetts), only four years ago. The mintonette had to be a sports hall less violent than basketball, for the older members of the YMCA, while still requiring a minimum of physical effort.

The first rules, written by William G. Morgan, together constituted a net 1.98 m high, a field of 7, 6 by 15.2 m, and an unlimited number of players. A match was composed of nine rounds with three for each team in each round, with a number of contacts with the ball unlimited for each team before its return to the opponent. In case of a service error, a second trial was allowed. The fact hitting the ball in the net was considered a mistake (with the loss of point or a time-killing) unless it happens at the first attempt of service [ref. necessary].

After watching this sport, Alfred Halstead, noticed the nature of "stolen" in the game's first exhibition match in 1896. Performed at the International YMCA Training School (now known as Springfield College), the game was soon known as volleyball (it was originally spelled as two words: "volley ball"). The rules of volleyball were slightly altered by the YMCA International Training School and the spread of the game in the YMCA different.

Raffinements and development last
The first official ball used in volleyball is contested, several sources say that Spalding has created the first official ball in 1896. The rules have evolved over time. In 1916, address and the power of the game and the attack is introduced, and four years later, the rule of the three keys is introduced. In 1917, set from 21 to 15 points. In 1919, approximately 16 000 balls volleyball are distributed by the American Expeditionary Forces to their troops and their allies, raising the growth of volleyball in new countries.

The first country outside the United States to adopt volleyball is Canada in 1900. An international federation, the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), was founded in 1947, and the first world championship is dyed in 1949 for men and 1952 for women. The sport has become popular in Brazil, Europe (teams Italy, the Netherlands and the countries of Eastern Europe are leading teams since the late 1980), Russia , And other countries including China and the rest of Asia, as well as the United States.

The beach volleyball, a variation of the game played on sand with only two players per team, includes the FIVB in 1987 and became an Olympic sport in the games of 1996.

Volleyball at Olympics
The history of volleyball at the Olympic Games back to the Summer Olympics 1924 in Paris, where volleyball is played under a demonstration event in American sports [9]. After the founding of the FIVB and some continental confederations, he began to be considered for inclusion official. In 1957, a special tournament is being held at the 53rd session of the IOC in Sofia (Bulgaria), to support such a request. The competition is a success and the sport is officially included in the programme for the Summer Olympics 1964. The tournament volleyball Olympic was originally a simple competition, whose format is parrallèle that always used in the World Cup: all teams play one against the other team and then classified by victories, the average set, and the average point. A disadvantage of this system of round-robin is that medal winners could be determined before the end of games, producing a loss of hearing for the outcome of matches remaining. To change this situation, the competition consisted of two phases with the addition of a "final round", an elimination tournament consisting of the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and finals in 1972. The number of teams involved in the Olympic tournament has grown steadily since 1964. Since 1996, events for men and women are twelve nations participating. Each of the five confederations volleyball Continental has at least one national federation affiliated involved in the Olympic Games.

The USSR won two gold medals in the men's competition in 1964 and 1968. After winning the bronze in 1964 and silver in 1968, Japan finally wins gold for boys in 1972. Among women, gold has returned to Japan in 1964, which reproduces the same performance in 1976. The same year, the introduction of a new offensive address, allowed Poland to win the men's competition on the Soviets in a very tight match five sets. Since the strongest teams in the volleyball men at that time belonged to the East, the U.S. boycott had no effect on these large events it had on the women's competition. The USSR won their second case Olympic title in men beating Bulgaria in the final 3 sets to 1 (same result for the women's team who won their third title). With the boycott of the USSR to the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, the United States swept Brazil in the finals for the gold medal of men. The Italy won its first medal (bronze in boys) in 1984.

In games of 1988, Karch Kiraly and Steve Timmons lead usa a second Olympic title in a row after that of 1984. In 1992, Brazil thwarts the Netherlands and Italy in the men's competition to win their first gold medal. Second, the Netherlands, medaillé money men in 1992, returning to being taken by their leaders, Ron Zwerver and Olof van der Meulen games of 1996 for a five-sets match when he beat Italy and won the tournament. Médaliste bronze male in 1996, Serbia and Montenegro (playing in 1996 and 2000 as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) beat Russia in the finals in 2000, winning their first gold medal. In 2004, Brazil won a second Olympic title when he beat male Italy in the final.

Hardware
The necessary equipment consists of the following:

* 2 posts;
* 1 fillet;
* 2 mires;
* 1 ball;
* 1 field.

Terrain
The volleyball is practiced mostly in the conference room. The field has a rectangular shape of 18 meters long and 9 meters wide. The lines of demarcation are inside the ground. A central line spans the net over the entire width of the field and separates the two camps. A line of attack is painted on the ground in each half field, 3 metres of the net, it is commonly called "line of 3 metres."

The dimensions of volleyball vary depending on the category of players.

Ballon
The ball volleyball is more flexible and lighter than that of football. It must have a circumference between 65 and 67 cm, a mass of between 260 and 280 g and a pressure between 0.30 and 0325 kg ∙ cm-2. Since 1978, to reduce the playing time, three balls are used at national and international meetings. No more wasted time to retrieve the service, since four collectors balls are placed around the ground. This system has resulted in a decrease of approximately 20% of the time on Thursday.

Rules of the game
Points are scored by either dropped the ball on the ground of the opposing team, either when the opponent commits a foul. The first team to reach 25 points wins the set and the first team to win three sets wins the match. Each team can hit the ball up three times before the ball does retraverse the net, and consecutive contacts must be made by different players. The ball is usually played with the hands or arms, but the players have the right to touch the ball with any other body part.

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Renault F1 Team

2008-04-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

(Bast)

Renault F1 Team

The Renault F1 Team (officially ING Renault F1 Team named after the title sponsor of the team) is a Formula 1 racing team, owned by the french carmaker Renault. The team began in Formula 1 in 1977, before withdrawing from the world championship at the end of 1985, Renault preferring to stick to a simple role of engine. Renault has made his return as a chassis builder in 2002 following the acquisition of the Benetton Formula team reached two years earlier. This return has been marked by two world titles manufacturers in 2005 and 2006 and by the two titles of World Champion drivers Fernando Alonso.

The start
Renault is present in automobile competition for over a century. This is a Renault who won the first Grand Prix history, in 1906 (Grand Prix de l'ACF). Before that date, it will signal victory for Louis Renault in a Renault in 1899 on the Paris-Ostend. In 1900, Louis Renault wins Paris-Toulouse-Paris. In 1901, three Renault finish the first three places of the Paris-Bordeaux race.

Louis Renault stops the competition in 1903 following the death of his brother Marcel Renault in the race Paris-Madrid, stopped in Bordeaux because of the number of fatal accidents. The Renault cars line up, however, the first Grand Prix de France triumph in 1906 when the French Hungarian-born Ferenc Szisz. In 1907, Szisz must be content with second place behind Fiat de Felice Nazzaro. However disappointing results at the Grand Prix de France 1908: Szisz abandoned on broken wheel, Serguey Dimitriewich finish eighth and fifteenth Gustave Caillois. After this failure, Renault withdrew from the competition cars.

The debut in Formula 1
Renault expects 1977 to join the Formula 1. Vehicles of the diamond mark made their appearance in mid-season at the GP of Great Britain are revolutionary: they are equipped with a turbo, under an equivalency limiting the engine capacity to french 1 500 cc (against 3 000 cc to competition). The development of the engine turbo inevitably cause some setbacks in the first Grand Prix, with the number of dropouts who are taunting the competition. The Renault east and affublée by the British from the unflattering sobriquet of Yellow Tea Pot (the teapot yellow) in reference to his tendency to complete its courses in a cloud of smoke. Jean-Pierre Jabouille is the pilot of the single yellow car on the grid in 1977 and 1978. During this second season, the turbo engine's reliability is improving and stable harvest its first points.

Starting from 1979, Renault now aligns two cars in Grand Prix and Rene Arnoux joined Jean-Pierre Jabouille. After signing a pole position in South Africa, Jabouille won the Grand Prix de France in Dijon after both Renault had monopolized the first row of the starting grid. Arnoux finished third after an epic duel with Gilles Villeneuve. The triumph on his land east total for Renault who won his gamble on the turbo. Gradually, all the other stables s'équiperont engine turbo until the ban on the technology end of 1988.

In 1980, Arnoux won the Grand Prix of Brazil and South Africa while Jabouille has problems with repetition. Alain Prost replaces Jabouille in 1981. The future quadruple world champion abducts three Grand Prix during his first season with Renault, helping the team to hang a third place ranking manufacturers. In 1982, Renault recorded four successful Grand Prix: two for Prost, two for Arnoux, allowing the team to consolidate its third place ranking manufacturers. The disappointment is deep yet for Renault, who seemed able to win world titles, but after a fine early season was plagued by recurring problems of reliability and errors of its pilots. At the end of 1982, in conflict with Prost, Arnoux left the team to join Ferrari. He is replaced by the young American Eddie Cheever. Favourite for the world title, Alain Prost won four Grand Prix victories, and seems sovereign championship. But the back end of season Nelson Piquet deprives him of the title and he must be content with second place in World Championship drivers. Cheever between six times in the points and Renault earns a place in the ranking of manufacturers, second behind Ferrari. The difficult end of season Renault have caused serious tensions within the French team, Prost is released from his contract to take over the official terminology.

After the departure of Alain Prost, Renault loop two seasons with Patrick Tambay and Derek Warwick, but the team slid to the classification of manufacturers in fifth position (1984) and then in seventh position (1985). Renault decided to close its Formula 1 racing team, preferring merely to be engine for other teams during the 1986 season, a role filled since 1983 with Team Lotus (fruitful association, marked by brilliant performances d ' Elio de Angelis then Ayrton Senna in particular), then with Ligier and Tyrrell.

The return to F1 as an engine manufacturer
After two years out of the F1 (but during which a cell technology watch is maintained), Renault makes his return to Formula 1 in 1989, but only as an engine manufacturer, for the Williams team (1989 to 1997) and Benetton (1995 to 1997). This policy is pay-as Renault itself in the years 1990 as the best engine of the plateau, with many titles of World Champion the key. We note in this regard that there is no official title of World Champion engine, and that when one speaks of securities Renault, it is more accurate to talk about his association with world titles pilots and equipped stables by brand lozenge.

In 1997, Renault will officially retire after his sixth consecutive championship title manufacturers. In total, these are eleven titles that Renault won with Benetton and Williams teams (6 titles manufacturer and 5 titles pilot). Renault, however, continues to be present in F1, through its subcontractor Mecachrome (1998) and society Supertec (1999 to 2000), providing customers engines (ie pay) Williams, Benetton, but also BAR and Arrows.

The return to F1 as stable
Having bought the Benetton team at the beginning of the 2000 season, Renault officially back in Formula 1 as the engine manufacturer in 2001 and as a stable under his own name in 2002. The director general is a figure from the world of Formula 1: Flavio Briatore (formerly Benetton). The team in full reconstruction, which has embarked on a bold path technical returning to F1 with a V10 engine angle extra-large (we refer to 110 or 111 °) penalty logically to sign its first results: she finished 7th in the constructor championship in 2001 and 4th in 2002. In 2003, the slow but steady progress is achieved through Renault its first victory since her return to Grand Prix at the Grand Prix of Hungary 2003, won by Fernando Alonso. Renault concluded 4th this year. In 2004, while Renault has returned to a more traditional engine the team also won the prestigious Grand Prix of Monaco 2004 with Jarno Trulli and finish in third place in the constructors championship. The rise of Renault, however, is thwarted by a late-season very difficult, which allows the BAR-Honda team to blow the 2nd place in the overall rankings. At Renault, said then that final coasting by the desire to focus sooner than the competition on the development of the car the following year, a tactic that will bear fruit.

In 2005, the Renault F1 Team Grand Prix aligns a brand new car, "R25". Its engine contains 98% of fresh evidence in relation to the 2004 model. The work of winter itself from the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia. Giancarlo Fisichella won the pole and won the race, while Fernando Alonso sign third place and the best time in the race. The team continues its momentum in Malaysia, Bahrain, the Grand Prix of San Marino, the Grand Prix of Europe, the Grand Prix of France and Germany Grand Prix with six victories of Fernando Alonso. Dominatrice early season, the R25 seems the heart of the summer to have stalled in pure performance compared to the McLaren-Mercedes, its main rival. But its strong advance the driver and constructor championships, Renault has mostly managed the evolution of his car so as not to jeopardize its reliability, Achilles' heel of his opponents. At the GP of Brazil, penultimate race of the season, Fernando Alonso won the drivers title. Then, during the GP of China, the last leg of the championship, a new victory Alonso allows the team to ensure the title of World Champion manufacturers. Renault at this time becomes the first automotive manufacturer to win the general world crown in Formula 1.

Despite a troubled winter, marked by the announcement of the departure of Alonso future, as well as alarmist rumours about the future of Renault in F1 (rumours which have been lifted until the spring of 2006, Renault announced its commitment to long-term F1), the French team began its 2006 campaign with 7 victories in Bahrain, Sepang, Melbourne, Barcelona, Monaco, Silverstone and Montreal, including 6 for Alonso. It marks not face the Ferrari during the summer. Playing between bad luck and bad choices, the team will see its lead over Ferrari melt like snow in the sun. The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile will even surprising decisions (or even issue for some as a stunning penalty for Alonso in Italy) which will cause harm to Renault and its pilots, including the abolition of Mass Dumper. But the French team overcomes well affronts. Alonso will win even the GP of Japan after a break of Schumacher. In closing 2nd in the GP of Brazil, behind Felipe Massa, Spanish driver wins the title and offers the title manufacturer Renault. That concludes a superb partnership between the diamond stable and Spanish.

The separation between Renault and Alonso, McLaren Mercedes at the party, is the harbinger of a difficult 2007 season for the team. In addition, a difficult adaptation of the new R27 tires supplied by Bridgestone, now the only manufacturer in F1 after the departure of Michelin. And indeed, from the opening race in Australia, the fall is tough. Giancarlo Fisichella, whose contract was extended from summer 2006, finished 5th place in a rather opportunistic while his new teammate, newcomer Heikki Kovalainen finished outside the points after an introduction of more brouillonnes. He is better at the next GP at the same time that the single yellow and orange now gaining competitiveness. However, after 4 GP, the Renault team has only 11 points, forty lower than the same stage of the 2006 season. And yet, they managed his first podium of the season during a race chamboulesque, the Grand Prix of Japan's Mount Fuji. It's Heikki Kovalainen who appropriates the 2nd place the nose of Kimi Raïkkonen on Ferrari. In China, no mark no Renaults points for the first time this season. Worse, at Interlagos, none completes the grand prize. Despite having finished in 3rd place in the championship following the exclusion of McLaren, the team is disappointed by its results and the car.

Nevertheless, in 2008, the team will take to dream again. In disgrace at McLaren Mercedes, Fernando Alonso returns to the French team, exchanging its place with Heikki Kovalainen. He is accompanied by Nelson Piquet Jr. who replaces Giancarlo Fisichella Force party in India. If the pilot does not interfere with the dévellopement of the R28, its qualities maker of the point and attacking it can wrest the 4th place in Australia. Piquet Jr. makes a grand prix disastrous. In Malaysia yet, only Alonso scores. In Bahrain, Renault back into the forefront, its two pilots not mark any points, and the team fails to 6th place, doing less well in 2007 at the same time. In Spain, is the deception. Despite good places grid due to technical improvements, leaving the two pilots. Nevertheless, the team seems to be returned to a better level, a sign confirmed by the second place grid Fernando Alonso.

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Taekwondo

2008-04-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

(Bast)

Taekwondo
Taekwondo (including Tae-Kwon-Do or Taekwon-Do) is a Korean martial arts and stands for foot (Tae), Faust (Kwon) and track (Thu, here is the way of mind meant). Although taekwondo amateur observer for the great similarities with other Asian martial arts species, it differs in some essential points of these. Thus, the taekwondo technology much on speed and dynamics designed, not least by the competition reasons. In taekwondo dominate foot techniques clearly than in comparable martial arts.

Concept and content
The term first appeared taekwondo in 1955 and was approved by General Choi Hong-hi (ITF). Worldwide, there are two styles of taekwondo (ITF and WTF), mainly in the form of exercise and sports struggle. Taekwondo has developed during the Japanese occupation of Korea and was supported by the Japanese Karate with affected. Of course there were long before the introduction of the waffenlose Karate martial arts in a more or less systematic in Korea. Your causal influence on the subsequent Kampfart taekwondo but must certainly be excluded. Only later, when various sub-styles taekwondo herauszukristallisieren began, some elements were added in retrospect, such as the Taekgyeon in accordance with existing prohibition of the Olympic competition system, with the fist to the head. The word taekwondo is composed of the following three sinokoreanischen syllables:
Tae = "If" (stands for all foot techniques),
Kwon = "Faust" (stands for all the hand and Armtechniken) and
Do = "path" (as in German as a method or target quest to understand the Chinese concept closely linked TAO).

Taekwondo as a modern sport is divided today in the individual disciplines:

1st Run of form (Teul, Hyeong, Pumsae (Taegeuk / Palgue)): techniques are defined in a set order.
2nd Self-defence (Hosinsul): self-defence against one or more armed or unarmed opponents.
3rd Einschrittkampf (Hanbon Kirugi, Matsoki-Ilbo, Ilbo-Taeryeon): A review battle with established technology en sequence against an opponent. In addition to the Einschrittkampf there are also the two-and three-step Combat (Ibo and Sambo-Matsoki, Ibo and Sambo-Taeryeon), the rather minor importance.
4th Breakthrough Test (Gyeokpa): destruction of wooden boards, bricks or other materials using Taekwondo techniques.
5th Free Combat (Daeryeon, Matsoki or Gyeorugi): agreements on free or struggle in various combinations.
6th Race (Chayu Matsoki): light, semi-or full-contact fight against an opponent.
7th Elementary school (Gibon Yeonseup), gymnastics (Dosoo Dallyon) and theory (Ilon) should also be continuous training components.

Through continuous training and conscious exercise of these disciplines, the Taekwondoins, all taekwondo Betreibenden, train their minds. General Choi Hong-hi, the founder of the original Taekwondos, has five goals to be achieved, which as "principles of Taekwondo" are:

1st Ye-Ui, courtesy
2nd Yom-Chi, the integrity
3rd In-Nae, the tenacity of
4th - Guk Gi, the self-discipline
5th Beakjul-bool-gul, the Unbezwingbarkeit

To achieve these goals, presented Choi Hong-hi an oath to which all taekwondo students should feel obliged to:

* I commit myself to the principles of taekwondo observed
* I commit myself, my coaches and to respect all Höhergestellten
* I commit myself, never to abuse Taekwondo
* I promise me for freedom and justice should
* I commit myself, in creating a more peaceful world with you

To cope with a taekwondo technology necessary power and the associated strong effect, uses the Taekwondoin certain physical laws. Knowledge of these laws of physics called Choi Hong-hi "theory of power". It consists of:

* Concentration: The entire force precisely at the moment of shock on a possible impact on small area. Large area = small power effect, small area = large force effect.
* Reaction force: Gegnerische force plus own strength = force, which acts on the opponent.
* Balance: The attack is effective and defense becomes more stable, when the body is in balance.
* Respiratory control: My shock effect and protection of its own body will increase by tense the abdominal muscles (exhaling and pressing) at the moment of shock.
* Speed: The higher the speed, the greater is the effective power. In physical terms formulas: force = mass x acceleration, speed and acceleration = change per time interval.
* Mass: The greater the mass involved at the turnpike (hip and whole body, not only the beating / lieu body part), the more effective force. Force = mass x acceleration.

History and Development
As in many countries, from which emerged martial arts, there are also in Korea, a centuries-old tradition of martial arts. There is no direct causal impact of them on the origin and initial development of what later Taekwondo should be noted.

The occasionally encountered allegation propagated one of the forerunner of the taekwondo already come from the legendary founder States Dangun, taekwondo is thus ultimately more than 4000 years old and the oldest martial arts in East Asia, lacks any historical basis. It may rather as an expression of a Unterlegenheitsgefühls patriotic struggle of Korean artists in particular China and Japan to be understood that all too often encountered. There is no reason, however, because Korea has a about a half millennia old independent martial arts tradition look back, behind those of other East Asian nations do not need to hide. It is this tradition of Honesty not artificially with the development of taekwondo mix.

Traditional Korean martial arts
At the time of the dawn of martial arts in East Asia, Korea was made up of three kingdoms: Goguryeo in the north, the western Baekje Kingdom and the smallest range in the southeast, Silla. A large part Goguryeos, the largest of the three kingdoms, the time was in the area of today's Chinese Manchuria. These areas were lost after the small Silla, with the support of Tang China, the other two kingdoms subject. At that time there was Silla in the Order of Hwarang, such as "boys flowers that have a special cultural, social and religious training and learned at least temporarily also trained in martial arts. Probably was including Soobak. What Soobak represented at this time, however, is completely unknown. From this (written in Chinese) Soobak probably eventually developed the (written in Hangeul) Tak-gyeon (sic), until the time of the Japanese annexation of Korea, especially in ordinary people, including at Gaunern and robbers, was popular. Taekgyeon is generally regarded as genuine Korean martial art whose typical movement patterns in any other Kampfart East Asian countries. Due to the during the 35-year occupation period existing ban on Koreans, martial arts exercise, died this traditional Korean martial art almost. Some of the founding fathers of the later taekwondo as Choi Hong-hi and Hwang Ki claimed that they had in their youth Taekgyeon learned, but there is no record, nor can the typical Taekgyeon elements such as dance Movement rocker or Breathing rhythm in their original style discover.

Another traditional Korean martial art is Ssireum, a wrestling style, which is about since the Joseon Dynasty. There is still a popular spectator sport. In contrast to the Japanese sumo, it is not the goal, the opponent from the ring or on the ground to come, but, like the Swiss swings, the opponent by pulling and digging in the balance. A causal impact of this traditional Korean combat sport taekwondo later on can safely be excluded.

Excavation of Japanese archaeologists in 1935 in the territory of present-day North Korea appealed wall paintings in Goguryeo tombs free, which according to the interpretation or dancers Duel lists in Poznan melee displayed. What type of style, this could be, is no longer to clarify for other than this picture are no written records have been found. The often on official taekwondo pages to find assertion that this is a precursor of taekwondo been, is pure speculation and is taken from the realm of fantasy, not the facts.

In addition, often the Keumgang-guard statues in Sukkuram as evidence of a centuries-old tradition taekwondo used. These are two guards who fight prominent positions in the entrance area of a Buddhist temple guard. But this document turns out to be wrong, because such figures can be found everywhere in China and India (where the older characters weapons in the hands), taekwondo and therefore should ultimately come from India.

A final Kampfart, in Korea before the Japanese occupation period was probably encountered, Kwon-beop. But this is definitely not a traditional Korean martial art, but only the Korean spelling of the Chinese or Japanese Kempo Quanfa, means something like "Faust". In fact, this Kampfart its origin in China and came on the Manchuria to Korea. It was attended by some soldiers since the end of the Japanese invasion of 1598 than last (waffenloses) resources on the battlefield trained as a relatively small area under the wide range of armed combat techniques. The Kwon-beop movements are in the military training workshop Muye Tongji Dobo, "illustrated manual of martial arts" of 1790,. There is a visual table with many far ausholenden Armschwüngen by individual, deep kicks relaxed. A causal influence on the subsequent Taekwondo can alone for the reason of the diversity of techniques should be excluded.

The exercise of martial arts learned in the history of Korea's two major absorbers. The first was the transition from Buddhism to Confucianism as a social order at the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty. Everything with the military nature or the nature of war had to do was in favour of other cultural achievements socially devalued. Ssireum, Soobak later Taekgyeon and military Kwon-beop have been and continue to learn in some circles downright popularity. Taekgyeon-around games was happily out on some festivals, especially of children. The second, much larger incision followed the occupation of Korea by Japan. The exercise of martial arts was Koreans generally prohibited only in rare cases, this seems to be done. The taekwondo founders have all Japanese martial arts abroad.

Formation and development of taekwondo in the 20th Century
After the Joseon Dynasty, Korea was annexed by Japan 1910. Everything culture and history of Korea identified, was systematically suppressed and banned. That was also true of traditional Korean struggle species such as Taekgyeon and Ssireum. The Japanese occupiers brought in species such as the fight Jujutsu, kendo, judo, karate or Sumo from home, but it was Koreans are officially banned, to learn. There were exceptions, for example, Koreans, in Japan or studying in the Japanese Army.

The five original styles
After the ban was 1943, martial arts exercise, and even more so after the independence of Korea in 1945 returned a handful of Koreans, abroad, in Japan and Manchuria, especially Japanese had learned karate. They opened the 5 original martial art schools from which the later Taekwondo, which should:

* Lee Won-Kuk had Shotokan Karate at Gichin Funakoshi learned and began 1944, in Tang Soo Do his school, the Cheongdo-Kwan ( "Hall of the true path") in Seoul, to teach. 1953 Lee fled for political reasons and emigrated to Japan in 1976 in the United States.
* Hwang Ki learned from 1936 in the Japanese-occupied Manchuria also probably karate, even if it is later than the style of a Chinese notes. 1945 in Seoul, he founded the Moo Duk Kwan (such as "Hall of the fight virtues"). His style, he also Tangsudo first, and later, in Korea, Subakdo. At the international level, he retained the name of Tang Soo Do (written "Tang Soo Do", abbreviated TSD), under which his style, especially in the United States still operates.
* Chun Sang-Sup, judo and karate while he was studying in Japan learned 1946 and joined the Yeonmu-Kwan, the biggest Seoul Judo School, where he also next Gongsudo taught judo. Chun is considered during the Korean War missing. His students then changed the school in Jido-Kwan ( "path of wisdom").
* Yoon Byung-in came as a senior Korean Karateka from Japan, where he Kanken Toyama (Shudokan style founder) 5 Dan in Shudokan Karate had reached. He is also in Manchuria Kwon Bop (Chinese Quanfa / Kung fu) have learned.

Also 1946, he founded the Changmu-Kwan in Seoul YMCA and called his style (presumably for political, which means anti-Japanese reasons) Kwon-Bop ( "Faust" method). Yoon was probably during the Korean War dragged to North Korea.

* Ro Byung-Jik, together with Lee Won-Kuk Shotokan Karate at Gichin Funakoshi learned and carried on his return 1 Dan. His first school he founded before independence in Kaesong in what is now North Korea, but withdrew due to lack of success for Seoul 1946 and opened there Seongmu-Kwan (derived from "Seong Kwan Do, the Korean pronunciation of the Japanese Shotokan).

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Football

2008-04-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

(Bast)

Football

Football is a ball sport, in which two teams with eleven players (one goalkeeper and ten field players) against each other. The aim is to the ball into the opponent's goal to bring. Soccer is mainly played with the foot, but may field players also other parts of the body except their hands and arms. The goalkeeper is the only player of the team, the ball by hand must play, and even within its own penalty.

Introduction
Football is of two teams with eleven players on a rectangular playing field. The goal of the game is more often the ball into the opponent's goal to promote, as it creates the opponent. A gate counts only if the ball is fully behind the goal line. Football is both the name of the sport as well as for the gaming device itself.

The gates are now in the middle of the two short sides of the arena. Guarded they are of a particular player of the team, the goalkeeper, within the penalty the ball with the hands to play. The goalkeeper has a special clothing and equipment (goalkeeper gloves), which it visually from the other players is different. The other ten players from each team will field players mentioned and are divided into defense, midfield and attack players.

The winner is the team that achieved the most goals. With a tie the game ends a draw. The exceptions are games in so-called K.-or-Laps: As in this case a winner must be determined, the game to end the official season in the extension, is it will still undecided, the winner through a penalty shoot - . This mode is used for World and European championships, international Cup finals games, and in some countries, such as Germany, also in the national cup competition. Tournament rules, different arrangements. So even for an extension and immediately surrendered a penalty shootout. Another possibility is to extend only to the "Golden Goal" to play the first gate, then immediately the decision. It can also be used in accordance with the rules of the recent "Silver Goals" are played. This is a weakening of the "Golden Goals", in which a team wins if it at half-time break or at the end of the extension has achieved more goals. The boards of the major tournaments, however, meanwhile, after the European Championship in 2004, the "Silver Goal" was the last to re-establish the "normal" extension twice with 15 minutes played.

Spread
Football is one of the most popular and most widely distributed sports world. According to the International Football Federation FIFA played in 2006 of 265 million people in over 200 countries football. Of these, over 38 million in more than 325,000 associations. 207 countries and autonomous regions are members of FIFA. Above all, the basic rules and the small equipment for the exercise of this sport need to do the game, the world has the same rules, so popular and promoted its spread. The people follow football not only as a spectator, he is also used by many amateur in the field played. In Germany alone, six million people in over 27,000 football clubs active. In addition, there are about four million people, the so-called amateur football in their leisure time in hobby, operating or counter teams regularly play football. The Nobel Prize winner Albert Camus once said: What I finally safest of morality and responsibility know I owe football.

It is not only all over the world played football, but also millions of people regularly in football stadiums to watch the game. Especially in Europe and South America dominated the football in the sports reporting. Far more have the games in all countries of the world via television. The fan culture is predominantly male dominated and has, among other things, elements of hooliganism and homophobia (see below) must, but also opposing appearances. Women's football is in the public eye because of this male-style much less present, but he takes in some countries like the United States, an important role.

The increasing popularity of this sport also increased the number of football injuries, including due to the increased interest and the resulting increase in medienträchtigen competitions. Approximately 40 to 60 percent of sports injuries and from 3.5 to 10 percent of stays in hospital, as a result of these sports injuries are in Europe football.

Rules
Playing on open field in general is subject to the following rules: Played on a rectangular open field. In professional football serves as a grass flooring, is rare on a hard court (floor space), but increasingly played on artificial turf.

The length of the short sides (goal line) is 45 to 90 meters, the long sides (side line) from 90 to 120 meters (normal is 68 to 105 meters, these dimensions have been mandatory in 2008 national games required. The playing field is by white lines (usually lime). All lines must not exceed twelve centimeters wide. This also mark the centre line, the impetus circle, the penalty area and the goal, and the four Eckkreise.

In the middle of the short sides is ever a goal. It consists of two "pillars", by a "crossbar" are connected. The distance between the inner edges of the posts is 7.32 metres. The lower edge of the crossbar is 2.44 meters from the ground. The gates are equipped with networks which to catch the ball and a goal. Football should be about and of a suitable material such as leather.

Player of field equipment and the players are goalkeeper jersey, columns, shinguard, soccer shoes and shorts. The rules stipulate that a player no jewelry (chain, ring, earring, etc.) in play, can bear. Also glasses are prohibited unless it is medically necessary (for example, when Edgar Davids). The reason lies in the increased risk of injury if jewelry or glasses worn. The ball is allowed to play the entire body, except with arms and hands. Of except for the goalkeeper. It is as such by clothes that are significantly from the jerseys of the field players and the referee is different. It may be only during the game the ball with hands and arms touching, but only within its own penalty and only if the ball does not intentionally own players, with the foot or the knee back to him (back-pass rule). The head must be the ball back, however. Outside this zone, he behaves like a normal field player. In each team a player assumes the role of the goalkeeper, whose job normally is, as the last defensive measure to prevent enemy gates. A game can not be angepfiffen if no player is marked as a goalkeeper. Players may also exceptionally field the ball with his hands to play and the throw-in to football again in the game, after giving the side line crosses. Any other intentional touching the ball with your hand is prohibited. "Intentionally" is a hand-held game always to evaluate if a player is given a motion with the hand or arm to the ball out. If a hand wounded in a natural position, there is no intentional hand game.

The season is in the adult area 90 minutes, divided into two halves, each playing 45 minutes with a half-time break of more than 15 minutes. The actual playing time, however, is usually a few minutes longer, because the referee on the basis of the playing time interruptions to a "game time" extend.

A team consists of ten field players and a goalkeeper. Due to space references ( "Red Card" or "yellow-red card"), the number of players reduced. Overall, in the competition playing a maximum of three substitutes when needed eingewechselt, to weary or injured players to exchange or tactical changes. Already a replacement player must not again eingewechselt. If a team against one of these rules, the game 3:0 after strafverifiziert for your opponent if the opponent is not greater than 3:0 won. Can a team only less than seven aufbieten players, the referee the game at the request of the game leader of the depleted team to abort if they are at this stage in residue. In this case, the game also strafverifiziert.

Compliance with the rules of a football referee on the pitch monitored. He will play in höherklassigen two assistant referees (line judge) to the sides of the playing field. For many international games (World Cup, European Championship, European Cup, UEFA Women's Cup) and also in the Bundesliga is also another assistant, the so-called "Fourth Official". His task is to understand the behavior of the trainers, coaches and substitute players to monitor imports and substitutions and pass the injury time. Since the Football World Cup 2006, there is also a fifth officials, as the reserve for the other two assistant referees nominated.

If a player breaks the rules, the referee decides to foul. The game is interrupted, and the team, that player does not belong, receives a free kick, or if the foul was committed in the penalty area, a penalty kick. Because of the distance from the goal line to Strafstoßpunkt (eleven meters) called the penalty kick in the use of language and penalties. If the game break one for the injured crew advantageous would interrupt game situation, it is at the discretion of the referee to "advantage" to recognize and to continue the game. On direct free kick or penalty decided by the referee when the game because of a deliberate hand game or because of a foul (with body contact) was interrupted. In all other cases decided by the arbitrator at the indirect free kick. From a direct free kick a goal can be achieved. After an indirect free kick, the ball in play only if a second player (no matter which team) has touched the ball. It can therefore only a goal be achieved if a player's own or the opposing team the ball on the way into the goal untouched.

Furthermore, the football referee a warning against the players were foulenden. This shows it by the "Yellow Card". In the event of serious rule violations (such as in a serious foul) the player he can also refer to the place where it with the "red card". For reference, a place even if a player is the second yellow card in a game gets this then draws an automatic red card for sure why they are "yellow-red card". In particular, fouls or hand-held game with a field reference (red card) be punished if it Torchance a clear opponent is prevented.

The most complicated rule in football, the offside rule. The offside rule is a provision that certain field positions attacking players against the defenders of the opposing team as irregular and thus declared the attack on the opponent's goal server.

An arbitrator ball is given if a football game, without a player on the field against the game rules. For example, if a player without involving an injured opponent, the referee interrupt the game. After this, it will referee with the ball at the point where they left off, continued.

If the place due to negligence or bad weather unbespielbar so that the players run the risk to get hurt and a proper implementation of the game is not possible, the referee can cancel the game or after kick-off interrupt. Even if the floodlights at night fails, the game is interrupted. If after a certain time (usually 30 minutes) of error is not resolved, the game is cancelled. When snow must be accompanied by a red, clearly visible ball game, with eight auxiliary Strafräume flags must be labelled. The flags on the playing field at the edge Eckfahnen are mandatory. When fog is a game cancelled if the enemy gate of the opposite goal line no longer seen.

Where, in a football match teams with only women under 16-year-old players or over 35 years old or disabled players involved, the rules may be modified. The size of the playing field, the size, weight and material of the ball, the size of the gates, the duration of the game and the number of substitutions can be customized.

Rule changes are supported by the International Football Association Board discussed and decided.

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Tennis

2008-04-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

(Bast)

Tennis

Tennis is a ball game, which of two or four players played. The variant with two players, as a single, the variant with four players than double. A special case of the double is mixed, in which one male and one female player per team against each other.

Opponents are on a network through a separate playing field opposite and try the tennis ball with the help of Tennisschlägers so in the opponent's field to play, that the enemy is no longer in a position to him on a regular way in the field zurückzuspielen.

History
The French forerunner of today's game, Jeu de Paume (with the palm of the hand) was in the monastery courtyards, and later in the ball game houses on a rectangular playing field. The players made their indication on the side, by the ball over the net against a wall suggested that ran along the field. The spectators sat on the wall. Lines divided the field into four fifteen inches (nearly forty centimeters) wide, parallel stripes on both sides network.

The English Major Walter Clopton Wingfield 1874 was his kind of tennis that he "Sphairistike" (Greek word for ball games) was called, patented and introduced rules. The usual tennis until today emerged with new rules, with the first championships at Wimbledon (London) in July 1877.

At the beginning of the 1930s, the professional tennis. This had the consequence that not all tennis players in the big tournaments were allowed to participate. That changed after 1968, when the open tournaments were introduced. At that time, the present D-tennis tournaments like the US Open or the French Open.

The name "tennis" goes to the Middle English term tenes or tenetz back, a similar ball game called. The origin of this name itself has been on the imperative of plural French tenir (hold) back. The exclamation "Tenez!" -- In the sense of "Take, keep (the ball)!" -- Aufschlagenden a player was originally presumably as a warning for the players thought.

Game Objective
The target for a tennis game is to make the necessary number of records to win. This is achieved by placing the ball into the regular field of the opponent plays that the ball no longer reach him or not back, or the opponent the ball into the net suggests. It is important to note that the ball after it more than once on the ground, as with tennis rackets to be beaten, that he is inside the opponent's field (also the boundary lines are part of the field) during lightning storms. At the beginning of a ball change is the so-called surcharge, in a special, smaller field, the surcharge box to be played. If a surcharge was irregularly executed, the server a second chance. If this return is not as usual, is the point at the rear flippers, which is called a double fault. If a surcharge rule otherwise the ball touches the network edge, the surcharge must be repeated.

Counting
The whole game (also known as Match), will be tennis in rates, which in turn made up of several games (even with the English word games referred to the ambiguity of the German word "game" to avoid). A set is won when a player six or seven games won, but there are several scenarios are:

* Six games are set to profit if the opponents of a maximum of four games won.
* Does it 6:5, and the leadership is in player wins the next game, it decides that the rate of 7:5 for themselves.
* Does it 6:6, it must be a special game, the tie-break, to decide the sentence. The winner of the tie-breaks can record with 7:6 for themselves.
* A special arrangement occurs in the Grand Slam tournaments (except for the US Open) and the Davis Cup in force, in which the crucial sentence (for the men in the 5th, with the ladies in the 3rd) no tie-break is played , but two games ahead must be obtained. (The advantage rule was before the introduction of tie-breaks in each set.)

In a normal game has one of the counterparties the surcharge law. The counting within a game is 0, 15, 30, 40 Gewonnen is a game where a player with 40 points, one more point.

One exception is the game 40:40, also debut ( "deuce"). A game must start with two points won. The player, who after the debut next point wins, has advantage ( "advantage"). At follows advantage at winning the next ball change the end of the game, again adjusted for loss. In general, upon reaching the state game 40:40 debut immediately announced. An exception is the French Open, in which the arbitrator in reaching 40 for two (all) this is so ansagt ( "quarante-à"). If the running game is re-debut, "égalité" announced.

The impact of the lost game ends is called Break (the surcharge benefit was "broken"). The break comes at the Tennis special significance: The player who has the ball exchange with the surcharge starts, has an advantage over the players returnierenden because it involved a powerful impact pressure on the opponents can exert. In professional tennis is a game derived supplement rather the rule, a lost service game the exception, which often decides the sentence. Can a player by the next rally to achieve a break, we speak of a break ball.

A tennis match is usually more than two sentences out profit. For larger tournaments or in the finals of such men will be attending the three winning records played. For seniors can instead of a decisive third set also a tie-break played. The rally, the game can profit will match ball.

History of the counting
There are two versions. The most common version is believed that the counting of money bets and betting game in the 14th Century in France is declining. So we sat for example, a large denier, which is in turn a value of 15 denier. In one sentence, which was often consisted of four games, were also 4 times 15 "denial": 15 - 30 - 45 - 60 In the 16th Century was probably louder from the convenience and shorter debate because of "45" through "40".

The altfranzösische Sol (later Sou) served as currency. The Sol was in the Middle Ages, the unit of account for twelve penny (usually: denier). 1266 was the first such unit in the form of a silver coin, the "gros tournois denier", the great penny of Tours. This money was left in the 14th Several nachgeprägt century - the value was respectively 15 deniers tournois, 15 pfennigs from Tours.

The second version refers to the lines on the playing field. Each time a player when jeu de paume made a point, he moved to a strip on and gradually came to the middle of the field closer. The game began at the 0-inch line. Won a player one point, he moved to the 15-inch line, then the 30-inch line, and finally to the 45-inch line. Only then, he had won the game. Because we found that this line is too close to the network, was the latest indication on a 40-inch line back.

"0" is used for tennis with the English word "Love". The origin of this expression is probably in the phrase "to do something for love", which means "doing something for nothing". A game in which the opponent has zero points, it means therefore Love game. Also circulation of the expression "neither for love nor money for its origin. This expression gives the same sense: You get "neither love nor money", ie nothing. Other sources say, "Love" comes from the French "l'œuf" (the egg) and to describe the appearance of zero on the scoreboard.

Rule changes
Because tennis at no time limit, it may be a very long time until a winner is established. Therefore, always rule change proposals in circulation, the game more attractive and the duration shorter. It was in the 1970s already the tie-break, especially so long sentences can be avoided. There is also the no-ad-rule (No. Advantage), in a game booth at 40:40 of the next point on the game decides. This rule, however, was only officially been Doppelkonkurrenzen used.

A counter-movement is mainly at the hard court tennis to recognize. Since then the rally relatively short time, there are some considerations, the ball changing attractive, and thus the game time again to renew. Some tournaments are already larger balls used, the speed decrease. Also on increasing the network edge, or the abolition of the second markup has been discussed, so that the impact velocity is reduced. However, such proposals so far without result.

Another change is the so-called champions tie-break. It will be like a normal tie-break played, but only ends at 10 instead of 7 points. Originally introduced to the older players often tiring third set to save (instead, the third sentence by the Champions Tie-Break replaced), it is now even with the assets in regulation play and tournaments.

Read also Lawn Tennis

Nicky Hayden

2008-04-19T15:19:00.000-07:00

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Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden, real name Nicholas Patrick Hayden (* 30 July 1981 in Owensboro, Kentucky), is an American motor cyclists.

The 1.73 m wide Hayden starts with the number 69 in the MotoGP class and won there as a driver of the Repsol Honda team in 2006 FIM World Championship. His nickname is "Kentucky Kid".

Biography
In his youth, went along with Hayden already twice as old rivals in the Central Motorcycle Road Racing Association (CMRA). They started it by the end of the field starter with the help of a family member or team, which held his motorcycle upright, as he ground his low age was too small to deal with the feet on the ground.

At the age of 17 years, he began to launch Honda RC45 Superbikes. In 2002, he won Honda on the American Superbike Championship and the Daytona 200th In his first MotoGP 2003, he was directly fifth in the overall standings and the "Rookie of the year". In the 2004 season, he was eight, 2005 Third Season. His first MotoGP victory he won on 10 In July 2005 at his home Grand Prix at the Laguna Seca Raceway. On 29 October 2006 Hayden won the MotoGP World Championship title in the last race season with 252 points, just ahead of Valentino Rossi, who reached 247 points.

* Hayden has two brothers, Tommy and Roger Lee, are both professional racers in the AMA, and two sisters named Jenny and Kathleen.
* Hayden called Bubba Shobert, Will Davis, and Lance Armstrong as his biggest idols
* His start number, 69, is the same, which his father used. His father joked that the number that is why he has chosen because they are standing on their heads that can be read also when the motorcycle turns over.

Racing History

MotoGP

* Team (s): Repsol-Honda, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC)
* Motorcycles: Honda RC211V, Honda RC212V
* First MotoGP race: 6 April 2003, Suzuka, 7 Square
* First MotoGP victory: 10 July 2005, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
* First MotoGP podium: 5 October 2003, Motegi, 3 Square
* Number of MotoGP wins: 3
* Number of MotoGP podiums: 17 (victories)
* The highest championship placing: First (2006)

AMA Superbike

* Team (s): American Honda, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC)
* Motorrräder: Honda RC51, Honda VFR750 (RC45)
* First Superbike Race: 18 April 1999, Willow Springs International Raceway, 12 Square
* First Superbike victory: 11 June 2000, Road America
* First Superbike podium: 19 September 1999, Pikes Peak International Raceway, 3 Square
* Number of Superbike victories: 17
* Number of Superbike podiums: 13 (without a victory)
* Highest AMA Superbike placing: First (2002)

AMA Supersport

* Team (s): American Honda, Erion Honda, Suzuki Hyper Cycle
* Motorcycles: Honda CBR600F3, Suzuki GSX-R600
* First Supersport victory: 26 April 1998, Willow Springs International Raceway
* Number of super sports victories: 6
* Highest AMA Supersport placing: First (1999)

AMA Superstock

* Team (s): Hyper Cycle Suzuki
* Motorcycles: Suzuki GSX-R 750
* First Supersport victory: 19 April 1998, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
* Number of super sports victories: 5
* Highest AMA Superstock placement: Fourth (1998)

AMA Formula Extreme

* Team (s): Erion Honda
* Motorcycle: Honda CBR900RR
* First Formula Extreme victory: 17 April 1998, Willow Springs International Raceway
* Number of Formula Extreme victories: 7
* Highest AMA Formula Extreme Placement: Second (1999)

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wikipedia

MotoGP

2008-04-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

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MotoGP

With Motorcycle World Championship is generally by the FIM World Federation in 1949 advertised first world championship for road motorcycles meant. The world championship titles in several classes, which by capacity, number of cylinders, operation and weight can be defined. Compared with the Formula 1 races are usually aktionsreicher, overtaking are on the agenda, but also falls.

In addition, there are world championships for motocross, Speedway, etc.

History
For many years, the displacement classes 50 cc, 125 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc and 500 cc for solo machines and 500 cc in the sidecar out. In the'50s dominated English and Italian brands with a four-stroke engines. Also, the southern German mark NSU could win a World Cup title.

At the beginning of the'70s sparked a two-stroke engines mostly of Japanese origin also in the king's class up to 500 cm ³ the hitherto dominant four-stroke engines from Europe. So moved Giacomo Agostini 1974 after several World Cup titles in a row at the 350ern and 500ern by the Italian brand MV Agusta to Yamaha and thus won the first 500 titles for the two-stroke machines, in the following four decades, the crowd completely. Despite the 15-times world champion Giacomo Agostini in 1976, a victory on the four-stroke MV Agusta, on the northern fahrerisch demanding 'of the Nurburgring.

In 1984, the 50 "brandy glass" class by 80 cc class replaced the 350s class since 1983 has been completely deleted. This leaves the German Toni Mang from Inning am Ammersee, who also won several titles 250s, perpetual world champion in that class. The classic start with pushing the motorcycles at the end of the 1980s by a standing start with engines running.

1990, the'80s and even the 1997 sidecar racing machines from the World Cup programme taken up so that in year 2001 the world championship only in the displacement classes 125 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc out. The manufacturers, it was increasingly a thorn in the flesh that for the World Cup race of the development on environmental grounds more contemporary two-stroke engines was necessary, while large motorcycles on the road long with only four-stroke engines were equipped.

Since 1988, in parallel with the Superbike World Championship established, where a series motorcycles with 750 cc (four-cylinder) and 1000 cm ³ (two cylinders) almost as soon as there was with the lighter and more powerful 500 GP machines. For the 2002 season was under pressure from the Japanese manufacturers, notably Honda, the 500 class in MotoGP renamed, and a new regulatory framework and urged now allowed four engines with 990 ccm. This scheme was introduced on 2007 season again adjusted, making the maximum allowable capacity to 800 cc limited. Similar to the Formula 1 must MotoGP machines specially designed for racing prototypes, and may be due to the demarcation of the superbikes not derived series machines. The first four years of MotoGP dominated the Italian Valentino Rossi.

Curiosity

* John Surtees is still the only driver, the World Championship title in the classes to 350 cc to 500 cc of motorcycle championship and the Formula 1 won (1964). Only three other Motorcycle World Champion drove in Formula 1: Nello Pagani, Mike Hailwood and Johnny Cecotto.

* Valentino Rossi is the only motorcycle racers, the World Championship title in four different classes won (125 cc, 250 cc, 500 cc and MotoGP)

* Loris Capirossi is the only motorcycle racers, the world champion title in his first season, won in 1990.

* Emilio Alzamora is the first motorcycle racers, the world champion title in the 125-cc class was able to win without a single race in the season (1999) to win. Manuel Herreros 1989 reached the last 80-cc title also without Grand Prix victories. George O'Dell was 1977 sidecar world champion, but could never be in a Grand Prix win.

* Hollaus Rupert is the only one so far posthumuous world champion. 1954 accident at NSU as it is already established world champion of the 125-cc class in training for the Nations Grand Prix at Monza deadly.

Women in Sport GP

* Inge Stoll (Germany) is the first woman in the GP-Sports points won. From 1952 to 1957 she took as Beifahrerin Norton in a carriage on the side-car motorcycle race in the World Cup. They reached the following places: 1952:5; 1953:3; 1954:7; 1955:4; 1956:11; 1957:9; 24 August 1958 fatal accident them in a race in Brno.
* Gina Bovaird is the only motorcycle racing driver, in the 500 cc class started. This was at the French Grand Prix in 1982.

* Katja Poensgen (Germany) is the only motorcycle racing driver, in the 250 cc class points import. They started in the 2001 and 2003 seasons and was 2001 at the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello Fourteenth.

* Taru Rinne (Finland) collected a total of 25 points in the 125 cc class (1988 and 1989). She was second fastest in training for the 1989 Grand Prix of Germany.

* Tomoko Igata (Japan) collected a total of 30 points in the 125 cc class (1994 and 1995).

Read also MotoGP

wikipedia

Basketball

2008-04-17T15:14:00.000-07:00

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Basketball
Is a mostly in the hall operated ball sport in which two teams try to play the ball in the two at a height of 3.05 meters at the opposite edges of the playing field to throw baskets attached. A team consists of five field players and up to seven Auswechselspielern. Each hit in the basket of the game one out depending on the distance two or three points. A free throw counts taken a point. The winner is the team with the higher number of points.

Basketball was established in 1891 by Canadian James Naismith coach as indoor sports invented. Today, the basketball sports world, especially in the United States, a high priority. Every four years, in a different country Basketball World Championship held by the World Association of Basketball Federation Internationale de Basketball will be held.

Basketball is often described as "körperloser" sport, but this is misleading, because in essence only in the moment of the throw touching the opposite player is not allowed.

The invention of basketball
Basketball is one of the few sports that of a single person invented. The Canadian physician and teacher James Naismith developed the ball game in the year 1891 in Springfield (Massachusetts) as a sports hall for its students. James Naismith had recognized that the Kampfbetontheit in other ball sports it is that the entire game takes place in the same level (such as in American football). He was looking for a less combative sport with a low risk of injury to the 18 students in the class in the winter off. Therefore, he shifted the baskets (Sheet baskets) to a different level than the players. The janitor pop Stabbins then peach baskets attached to the 10 foot high balconies (loft) the YMCA Training School in Springfield. The coincidence was more certain Aufhängehöhe equals 3.05 metres and is still valid internationally.

To prevent viewers from the gallery basket discards can influence, was behind the basket a board mounted. The Naismith Schulsekretärin Lyons helped in the preparation of the 13 basic rules, which until now has remained almost unchanged. The first official basketball game was held on 20 January 1892 in Springfield. Within the two halves of play, with a half-time break of five minutes, was usually only one hit. Despite this low hit rate continued by James Naismith developed ball game in the USA.

In the following year, women's basketball at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Senda Berenson Abbott has the women's basketball at that time very influenced by the James Naismith developed basic rules changed and adapted to women. On 22 March 1893 was the first basketball game of the women at Smith College. Senda Berenson subsequently published in a women's basketball specialized magazine.

College Basketball
Soon after the invention of basketball in 1891 was the sport in colleges and universities in the United States to enforce. The first basketball game between two college teams was held on 8 April 1893 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. The Geneva College was on that day against the New Brighton YMCA. The first basketball games were first with seven or nine players per team place. On 18 January 1896 was the first game with the current game system of only five players in Iowa City, the University of Chicago won the game with 15:12 points against the University of Iowa.

In the next few years, college basketball within the United States always popular. The renowned universities (such as the Columbia University) and colleges had their teams sponsored and supported. Due to the large number of college teams was in 1906 the Volunteer Association National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA kurz.) in Chicago. The first NCAA basketball championship for men was before 5500 spectators in 1939 in Evanston (Illinois) out. The University of Oregon, the opposing team from Ohio State University with 46:33 in the final defeat.

Also, the women's basketball has to colleges and universities developed. In 1926, the Amateur Athletic Union, the first basketball championship for women. Since listed annually NAIA championships for women. In the 1930s were also increasingly basketball tournaments between women and men organized. These were, however, always for the men's basketball rules prescribed.

The college basketball has, over the years 1948 to 1951 to lose credibility and popularity. This was mainly due to the numerous scandals manipulation (so-called match fixing), the professional teams were involved.

Emergence of the first teams
In the following years, first with panel balls, the balls resembled today's volleyball, played. Since then the rule was that the outside of the playing field gelandeter ball in the possession of that team arrives, the first reached him, the players jumped often without regard for the audience in the ranks. So that the ball did not go abroad was, it was also on the basketball field with a cage of chicken wire to fence. This "basketball cages" gave the sport its nickname "cage game" (GV cage game). How uncomfortable playing in the cages was described Barney Sedran, a player the New York Whirlwinds: "Most of us had ever cut wounds, and the court was covered with blood."

At the beginning of the 20th Century formed two famous teams in the following years in the Basketball Hall of Fame. The Buffalo Germans were among the strongest teams at the YMCA. In the year 1904, the Germans at the III. Olympic Games in St. Louis demonstrated, as basketball is not officially recognized at the IOC. Besides the Germans were the Original Celtics one of the most influential teams. In the 1920s, the Germans and the Celtics by other teams such as the New York Renaissance, or the Cleveland Rosenblums replaced. In 1925, the American Basketball League (short: ABL), which in some areas of the basketball game changed. The chicken wire or metal was abolished and replaced by ropes. In addition, the backbone Brett (Engl. back-board) behind the baskets officially introduced.

The emergence of the NBA
On 6 May 1946, the Basketball Association of America (BAA kurz.). Walter Brown, the former president of the Boston Bruins, and Edward Gottlieb are among the founding members of this league. The Philadelphia Warriors (later Golden State Warriors) won the first finals series in the league with 4:1 victories against the Chicago Stags. In the year 1949, this division in the National Basketball Association (NBA briefly) renamed. The best-known players of the 1940s were Bob Davies and George Mikan.

The American entrepreneur Fred Zollner was the owner of the Fort Wayne Pistons (later Detroit Pistons) many changes in the basketball field. Since the year 1952, his team with a team plane to the basketball games transported. He helped the BAA in the NBA and was financially important to rule changes (eg Wurfuhr). On 1 October 1999, he became a supporter in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Basketball today
A major advance in the world, the perception of basketball in 1992, when at the Olympic Games in Barcelona the first time professionals were allowed in the American national team (also called "Dream Team"), her legendary triumph replayability. In subsequent years, the presence of basketball in the media more and more. Renowned basketball players like Michael Jordan represented the sport in known advertising campaigns or on the front pages of various magazines.

The sport is basketball, in many countries of the world. Most European countries have their own basketball league, and in many countries more and more training camps instead of the regular players the basic principle and the manner of teaching. In addition to the games and championships, there are also many events (such as the "And1 Mixtape" tour), which are sponsored by companies and the entertainment.

Basketball International
At the beginning of the 20th Century has been basketball in various countries around the world. The year 1902 was the first by James Naismith write rules in the English language. Four years later, basketball in Italy. In 1913, the sport in Puerto Rico received friendly and celebrated. In the following years, basketball in many other countries presented (including 1916 in Bulgaria and Albania in 1917 and in Greece).

In 1923 the Soviet Union took place in the first national championship for men. By the end of the 1920s enjoyed basketball rising popularity. The year 1930 was held from 6 To 14 December, the first continental championship for men in South America, in which Uruguay was able to prevail against Argentina. The first step for the international acceptance of this sport was laid in 1930, when the International Olympic Committee (short: IOC) Basketball named to the Olympic sport. In 1932, the World Basketball Association "FIBA" founded in Geneva (see associations and leagues). The World Basketball Association, the international rules and improved the presence of the basketball world.

In the early 1930s, developed the basketball in Germany steadily. The teacher Hermann Niebuhr presented his experience, he on a trip to Istanbul had gathered, the students in some universities in India. In the next few years, formed the first basketball department at the "Vfl 1848 Bad Kreuznach", which reinforces for the dissemination of basketball in Germany initiated. After the end of the Second World War, the game resumed operation in Germany. During this period was the first German Basketball Association, the Hamburg Basketball Association eV On 1 Finally, in October 1949, the German Basketball Confederation (DBO) in Dusseldorf. This national association has been the focus of the German Basketball Championship. With the founding of the Basketball League (BBL briefly) in the year 1966 was the first time a professional basketball league in Germany.

Basketball was in 1936 when the Summer Olympics in 1936 in Berlin officially played. The game was divided into two halves, each playing 20 minutes and on the tennis courts Reich practiced sports field. The finale was the American national team against Canada with 19:8 enforce. The year 1950 was the first official FIBA World Championship Men "in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Argentine basketball team was in the final against the United States to enforce.

Three years later took place in Santiago de Chile, the first official "Basketball World Championship for women". In the year 1976, women's basketball officially by the IOC at the Olympic sports.

The basketball sports today in many European countries (for example, in Spain or Greece), and South American countries (such as in Brazil or Argentina) a high priority. The FIBA World Championship 2006 in Japan, the men won the Spanish basketball team with 70:47 against the team from Greece. In the previous FIBA World Championships were countries such as Serbia and Montenegro, Yugoslavia and Russia very successful.

Read also Basketball

wikipedia

Tiger Woods

2008-04-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

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Tiger Woods

Eldrick "Tiger" Woods (* 30 December 1975 in Cypress, California) is an American professional golfer and already in the early stages of his career one of the most successful golfers in the history of sport. He is currently the bestverdienende athletes worldwide with an annual income of about 100 million US dollars.

Origin and Life
Woods' father, Earl Woods, was a Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Army and 50% of African, Indian, and 25% to 25% of Chinese descent. He was also until his death on 3 May 2006-Chairman of the charitable Tiger Woods Foundation. His mother cult Ilda Woods is half Thailänderin and Dutch mother and Chinese origin. He is also fourth Thai, a quarter Chinese and a quarter of African and one-eighth American Indian and Dutch origin. Because of this background is attributed to him, especially in the non-white and young Americans sympathy and interest for golf to awaken. Tiger Woods is a practicing Buddhist.

He was in Cypress, California, was born and grew up in the area of Los Angeles. The Tigers nickname he got at the birth of Vuong Dang Phong, a friend of his father's, with the war fought in Vietnam. Today is Eldrick Woods practically only under this nickname known, certainly, because in golf a particularly good player of Tiger always been called. His high school was Western High in Anaheim. He studied two years at the Stanford University business administration, before he was a professional golfer.

Since the 5th October 2004, Tiger Woods with the former model Elin Nordegren married. On 18 June 2007 was her daughter Alexis Sam Woods to the world.

Woods has two half-brothers (Earl Jr., and Kevin * 1955, * 1957), and a half-sister (Royce, * 1958) from the 18-year marriage of Earl Woods with his first wife, Barbara Woods Gary.

Amateur career
Already in kindergarten age was Tiger Woods golf lessons. Three years later, he finished a 9-hole round with 48 strokes, at the age of 11 years, he played a round of golf under par (68).

At the age of eight years, he won his first major amateur tournament, namely the Junior World Golf Championship of the 9-10 year old, in 1984 was the youngest age group. As a result, he won this tournament six times, including four times in a row between 1988 and 1991. The U.S. Junior Amateur title he won 1991, 1992 and 1993, so he is still the youngest and the only multiple winner. Over the next three years he won the U.S. Amateur title of the men in front of him was still not succeeded. Here he is the youngest winner to date. From 1994, he played two years for its University, Stanford University, and then won the NCAA title. Thereafter, he was professional.

Professional career
In August 1996, he began his career as a professional and won the same year for two tournaments on the PGA Tour. As a result, he was arrested in the United States for athletes of the year.

In April 1997 he won his first major tournament, the US Masters, with a record distance of 12 shots. On 15 June of that year, he was the first time as the number 1 in the world rankings. In the second half had its shape, however, and in the following year he won not only one tournament. During this time, he worked with the well-known coach Butch Harmon intensively on his swing.

His first comeback in 1999, he laid out in June when he was with winning the Memorial Tournament a unique series of victories in the Gulf started. He won 17 tournaments on the PGA Tour in the next two years, 32 in the next five, was 264 weeks in a row number 1 in the world rankings and won seven of eleven major tournaments. His winning the Masters in 2001 marked the only time in the history of the modern Grand Slam, that a player at the same time all four major titles holds.

In the years 2003 and 2004, his career got a new kink, but he is still one of the most successful golfers in the world, but lost its former dominance. Among other things, he won not a single major and had a leading position in the world rankings to Vijay Singh meanwhile abgeben. Explain trials of journalists ranged between inferior equipment (as he moved one of the last players on the tour and graphite Großkopf Driver), and changes in his private life through the relationship with Elin Nordegren. In fact, he worked initially in secret, again in his swing, this time with the coach Hank Haney. His new swing is also the left knee, which already operates once had to be a better life.

From 2005 it was the second comeback of Tiger Woods. He won the Masters and the Open Championship two other major tournaments and captured the lead in the world rankings and money-rankings of the PGA Tour. His golfing colleagues chose him for the seventh time in nine years to the "Player of the Year" on the PGA Tour.

He 2006 after the death of his father a long break. On his return he failed the first time at the US Open, and thus for the second time ever in a major tournament, at the Cut. Yet he dominated, as usual, and won the two major tournaments Open Championship and PGA Championship. In addition, he is the 50th Victory on the US PGA Tour. Egalisierte early October with the sixth PGA Tour victory in a row his personal record from the year 1999-2000. Such a series presented in a season since Ben Hogan 1948 no more golfers. With the US Ryder Cup team, he had previously in 2004 but, as a high defeat against Europe cope. At the end of October he decided the season due to lack of mental and physical fitness to end prematurely. This was also the first time he is not at the D-The Tour Championship. At the HSBC Champions in Shanghai to the Europe-PGA Tour 2007, but he took part in the tournament and finished at 2 Square. In early November, he gave the founding of his company, "Tiger Woods design," the new golf course designs, known. In November 2006, he won for the seventh time on the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Moreover, he was by the American news agency AP for the fourth time to athlete of the year.

At its first launch in 2007, he won the 7th US PGA tournament in a row - a personal record, only by Byron Nelson's 11 consequential victory in the year 1945 will be surpassed. The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship Series tore through a defeat in the quarter-final, finally. At The Masters, he shared the second place. At The PLAYERS Championship he was not on the 37th Rank also. Even with the US Open, he had despite a strong third round with a blow with the residue shared second place satisfied. This placement through the 70Mio. US $ - mark career prize money.

In July, the first time joined Woods as organizer of a golf tournament, the AT & T National. Here, he shared the sixth place.

At The Open Championship, he shared the 12nd Rank.

The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, he won with eight shots advantage. At the same time, it was the fourteenth victory in a tournament of the World Golf Championships, which in importance with the major tournaments are comparable. Of the first 26 WGC tournaments Tiger Woods has more than half won. The Edit the ninth WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, he won for the sixth time

He won at the 2007 PGA Championship. In the second round, he missed by a Lip-Roller (ball rolling on the hole edge and jumps out) on the last hole a major new lap record barely conceivable. However, with a round of 63 shots (7 under par), setting a new personal record in Major egalisierte rounds, and both the space and Major-lap record.

After the first playoff tournament of the FedEx Cup omitted, he reached the second tournament, the Deutsche Bank Championship, behind Phil Mickelson to the second rank.

He won at the semi-finals, the BMW Championship, where he Course Record materialise, and also before the finals of the FedEx Cup took the lead. This was also his 60th Victory on the US PGA Tour.

Even the finale, THE TOUR Championship, Woods decided (with eight shots ahead). At the same time, he undersold the place to record incredible six shots and played the third tournament in the history of THE TOUR Championship. That he won points with an enormous advantage to Our first FedEx Cup and thus the record prize money in the amount of 10 million US dollars. This amount, however, until the age of 45 or in a premature end to his career, and it paid off until then in a fund.

The USA team won the team against the sovereign International Presidents Cup 2007.

For family reasons, he renounced participation on the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, to him victory at the PGA Championship would be entitled.

He missed the prize money record of Vijay Singh from the 2004 season only about $ 38.000US. To mention is that Woods played only 17 tournaments, while Singh for the record 29 tournaments required.

After elfwöchiger tournament break, the longest of his career, he returned in December 2007 at the Target World Challenge, presented both a new lap record and the tournament record, and won the tournament by seven strokes ahead.

At his first tournament start 2008 he won directly at the Buick Invitational. This has been since 1999, his sixth victory in this tournament and also his 62nd Total on the US PGA Tour, which he gleichzog with Arnold Palmer. A week later, when he won the PGA European Tour counted Dubai Desert Classic.

Even with his second tournament start 2008 on the US PGA Tour when he won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Thus, he has 15 of the past 28 has won WGC tournaments.

For his third start on the US PGA Tour he won with a birdie on the last hole at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. With the seventh victory in a row - the ninth victory in the last ten tournaments played (a split second rank) - he also won with 64 titles on the US PGA Tour with Ben Hogan same. For the next WGC-CA Championship, he reached the fifth rank and broke through the 80Mio. US $ - mark career prize money.

At The 2008 Masters as he reached last year to the second place. That he failed to indirectly goal, the Grand Slam to reach directly at the first major tournament of the year.

Records
Among other things, he managed 142 consecutive cuts and spiraled in the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach since 1862 by Old Tom Morris held record of the largest lead in a major tournament on 15 shots. At the Open Championship the same year at St. Andrews, he reached 19 under par with the lowest score of all the major tournaments. In addition, he holds the scoring record (sometimes together) for all four major tournaments.

On 29 In July 2005, he played in the Buick Open in the second round, the best round of his career. With a 61er round on a par 72 course egalisierte he also with 11 strokes under par the PGA Tour record. A whole series of tournaments he has won more often than any other.

With 67.79 strokes per round, he holds the record for the lowest average number of strokes. He reached this value even in two seasons, 2000 and 2007.

He is the first coloured player, who won the US Open. In the statistics of the major victories he is with 13 titles at position two behind Jack Nicklaus (18 major titles), with the victories on the US PGA Tour with 64 titles, together with Ben Hogan at 3 position behind Jack Nicklaus (73) and Sam Snead (82).

At the age of 30 years and 7 months, he was by far the youngest golfer of the 50th Tournament victory on the US PGA Tour celebrated. The same goes for his 60th Victory.

He is the only player in US PGA Tour history, the ever at the same tournament (WGC-Bridgestone Invitational 1999-2001, 2005-2007) twice hattrick (three victories in a row) did.

As the only player he held the titles of the three WGC tournaments simultaneously (WGC-CA Championship 2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational 2007, WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship 2008).

As the first golfer of the US Tour, he has in three seasons in a row at least eight tournaments won.

As the only player he has in four seasons 7 or more tournaments won.

As the only player he has four different tournaments won at least five times.

He is the only player, which is more than once succeeded, five events of the US PGA Tour in a row to win. He made it three times already

He was nine to the US PGA Tour player of the year - more than any other golfer in history (Jack Nicklaus is on second place with eight awards).

With the victory, THE TOUR Championship and the FedEx Cup 2007, he received a total of 11.26 million US dollars is the highest ever in the sport paid premium.

wikipedia

Golf (Sports)

2008-04-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

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Golf (Sports)
Golf is a sport that has a long tradition. It is given to a ball with as few strokes in a hole to play, with several golf clubs used. A round of golf consists of 18 fairways, which in turn on a golf course. Long time was developed in Scotland as a golf predominantly elitist and expensive pastime viewed, in the meantime, however, it has developed in many countries, a popular sport. The number of players worldwide is estimated at 50 million.

History
Generally, the Scots as the inventor of the Gulf, but there are also a number of other theories, the originating in continental Europe. Frequently mentioned in the Netherlands (1297: Colf in Loenan ann de Vecht), France (Chole to 1200, a figure on a hole in puttenden Golfers Hours of Adelaïde of Savoy around 1450) and Brussels (1360: Prohibition of Colven). In the Cathedral of Gloucester there is a glass window of 1340, which show a golfer. [1] But even in ancient Egypt, ancient Rome (paganica) in early Japan, Korea (tagu, from 1400) and China (chuiwan , from about 1000 [2]) found evidence of a game with a ball and clubs.

It is controversial, to what we still must expect predecessors (which would then hockey, Croquet, baseball or billiards developed), and when in fact spoken of golf can be. Ultimately, it depends on the criteria that are seen as indispensable for golf. For example, it has only been Pieter van Afferdens Latin textbook from 1545 vouches doubt that the execution of the Gulf shock of the players not to be disturbed by the opponents. The earliest Scottish documents could therefore even a sport, which is "golf" meant, but by her character more of an interactive game fight.

In contrast, however, the fact that of all the morning or the pre-game only to the Scottish variant today. All other forms disappeared or eventually evolved in a different direction - for example Colf was from the indoor game Kolf or Kolven. Today's golf game was normal in all countries, not only British in the 19th Or 20th Century introduced or re-imported.

15th Century

The first written testimony of the Gulf in today's spelling dates from the year 1457, when the Scottish Parliament, with King James II as a driving force "fut ye ye golf ball and are prohibited on the grounds that it draw from the practice of archery. The spell by the Kings James III. (1471) and James IV (1491) once again reaffirmed. He covered the 1502 peace treaty between Scotland and England to the victims of the paramilitary exercises of the population no longer seem appropriate. Soon after it became known that James IV himself playing golf as an invoice prepared for him golf clubs in the official budget of the Court appeared.

16th Century

Because of the royal support of King Charles I is spreading in the 16th Gulf Century Britain. The first Civil golfer finds mention 1527, a certain Sir Robert Maule be on the Barry links in the vicinity of the modern played Carnoustie. The first reference to golf in St Andrews is from 1552, the following year the Archbishop adopt a decree by the local population the game on the links. As a result, Mary Stuart leads the sport in France. She is from the year 1567 said that they immediately after the assassination of her husband plays golf, which they generally criticized.

17th Century

The first golf club maker is documented in 1603, when William Mayne of King James VI to the Royal Club Maker is appointed. The "Featherie", a leather stuffed with feathers ball, 1618 comes into play. The first mention of golf in America is a ban of the game in the streets of Albany, New York, from the year 1659. The first international match held in Leith 1682, when Scotland (represented by the Duke of York and John Paterson) ungenanntes English duo defeated. In this context is also the first known caddie, Andrew Dickson wore the racket of the Duke of York.

18th Century

1735 with the Royal Burgess Golf Society, the first golf club founded, with the source material here is controversial. The first exports of golf clubs to America is survived by 1743. In 1744 Leith found that the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith, which is also the first formal rules of golf any more. Later that they are still existing Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. As the eldest Golf Club, which continuously existed at the same location, founded in 1754, the Society of St. Andrews Golfers, later renamed the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. The Zählspiel, 1759 in St Andrews, first mentioned before, there were only the shape of the hole playing game. Royal Blackheath, near London, 1766, the first golf club outside of Scotland in 1768 is the first in Leith clubhouse.

19th Century

The first documented women's tournament will be 1810 in Musselburgh (10 miles east of Edinburgh) held, 1867 constituted the first Ladies Golf Club at St Andrews. Outside the British main island, it is 1820 to the first club was founded in Bangalore, Continental will start 1856 in Pau. The hickory shaft is from 1826 against other wood species, 1891, the steel shaft on the market. From 1848, the Featherie by the continued flying and cheaper manufactured gutta-percha ball replaced, in turn, the same reasons the 1898 Haskell ball, a rubber core wrapped hard, soft. The Open Championship, the oldest, still played tournament, is celebrating its premiere in 1860 at Prestwick. Young Tom Morris succeeds in 1867 the first traditional Hole in One. 1892 constituted with the Darmstadt Golf Club, the first club in Germany; British patients already played in the park since 1889 Bad Homburg, a group of German youths to Philipp Heineken from 1890 in the Neckar River floodplain in Cannstatt [3]. The founding of the USGA falls to the year 1894, after the counting is Stableford 1898 invented and patented Holztee 1899.

20th Century

Golf is at the Games 1900 and 1904 Olympic sport. 1902 grooves appear on the blade, 1905 Dimples on the golf ball, to be the 1910 center-shafted putter and 1911, the Stahlschäfte R & A out of the game. The German Golf Association adopted its 1907 shops. With the PGA of America is constituted, 1916, the first representation of the interests of professional golfers. Stahlschäfte are anywhere from 1929 to oust now approved and the final-hickory shafts. The ceiling of 14 per player flippers and the first round is 1938. R & A and USGA 1951 to agree a common set of rules, while Stymies abolished and center-shafted putter again. In 1963 the rubber grip experience (before leather) and cast iron (previously forged) her debut, 1969 following the graphite and cavity-back irons. Hitherto, only two golf shots on the moon, astronauts will be Alan Shepard in 1971. The first driver heads made of metal coming out in 1979 to oust the wood from Persimmon. Titanium is used as material for wood in the year 1994 in the American market and is in the follow-through.

Rules
The first written rules date from the year 1744 by the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith. The modern rules of golf, however, have their origin in the 1754 founded Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R & A). Today they will jointly by the R & A and USGA and are published in the current version by the end of 2007. A special feature in the Gulf is the huge and largely course of imposing playing field (the so-called golf course), so that the rules of a variety of possible situations. That's why the rules extensive than that of most other sports, and even experienced players are sometimes unsure what rule in a particular case.

Each national Golf Association (in Germany DGV) holds for this purpose a commission of experts to rule the disputed questions answered, if the facts clearly for keeps. If this is not the case, it is ultimately the R & A and USGA to the so-called "Decision" asked an official rule also interpretation. As the golf rules themselves are also published Decisions (more than 800 pages), but they have a relatively limited practical relevance, since they mainly deal with special cases.

The goal of the game
It is a ball (at least 42.67 mm in diameter, weighing no more than 45.93 grams) with as few strokes of golf as a designated tee area, in accordance with the rules of golf into a 10.8 cm durchmessendes and usually several hundred metres away , circular hole to play. The playing field, the so-called golf course, generally encompasses 18 fairways, which total about 7,000 meters long.

Can the ball is not played the rules (for example, because he is no longer find in a pond or absorbed), as are the rules of golf certain possibilities of resumption before, but usually under allocation of Strafschlägen. The sum of the beatings until Einlochen of the ball (golf shots Strafschläge +), Score, and on a pre-results slip, called Score Card, noted.

Par
For each game Railway (also known as "hole") is a so-called Par. This value represents the number of strokes, a very good player (Scratch golfers) needs to secure the ball from the tee into the hole to play. The calculation of par for a golf course is always assumed that two Putts Green on the run. This is then a certain number of shots for the game from the tee to the green. This number varies with the length of the hole, not with his difficulty with the additional bunkers, hills, water, etc. is a separate course and slope rating is specified.

If the ball is a player with "Par minus 2" strokes on the green, then one speaks of a "green in regulation." An 18-hole course frequently has four par-3 holes, ten par 4 and four par 5. Thus, usually a par of 72 for the entire round. For 9-hole courses halve these figures accordingly, with just below the 9-hole short courses many places, mainly from the Par-3 holes.

Forms, Zählweisen, Handicap

There are two basic forms for games, namely Zählspiel and hole game, each several variations exist. Zählspiel When it comes to the score achieved in comparison to the rest of the participants field. Since there is no direct opponent, it is here too often, playing against the course. Anders hole at the game, in this case a specific opponent to beat by winning more holes (ie each hole with a lower score finishes) than this.

For both forms, there are two Zählweisen turn, namely gross (the score is actually played a major) and net (played the score will be adjusted to compensate for the difference in skill level of participants to create). Thus, it follows from the gross tableau of the absolutely best golfers and the Nettozählweise identified the relatively best player, who is in comparison to his personal strength was most successful.

A widespread in Germany Zählspiels variant of the Zählspiel after Stableford. With this game will also form the handicaps of the German Golf Association (DGV) organised golfer. The handicap is the factor by which the actual score played by a net adjusted scoring and is also an exciting contest between adversaries different skill level. In other countries, the handicaps of the local golf associations in part by other methods, in so far is sometimes only a very rough comparability. Everywhere in the world, but a bogey-golfer "an advanced amateur understood that on average a one-stroke over par einlocht, while the" scratch golfer "to play around par, and at least by the strength of her game as a professional. A golf beginners is commonly known as "Rabbit" (rabbit).

wikipedia

Chess

2008-04-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

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Chess
The chess game between two players confronted on a plateau called chessboard, consisting of sixty-four squares alternating light and dark, which operate eight coins and eight pawns clear (called "White") as well as eight coins and eight pions dark ( "blacks"). The goal is to create a situation which would lead to the taking imparablement king's opponents (known situation of failure and mat).

This game has a particular prestige in many cultures. It is known in France "king of games" or "the noble game.

In terms of game theory, it is a strategy game combinatorial pure abstract thinking, eventually, cycle and without complete information.

The world of chess has two very independent domains:

* The area of the game, which is the chess itself, and in which the mat final result of the clash between two players;
* The field of the problem, which is an area of artistic creation in which there is no confrontation and that the final mat is only a result of the will of the composer made in a position which has no necessary relationship with a position of real part.

The myth of Brahmin Sissa
The most famous legend about the origin of chess tells the story of King Belkib (India, 3000 BC), who tried at all costs to deceive his boredom. He therefore promised a reward exceptional who would propose a distraction that the meet. When the wise Sissa, son of Brahmine Dahir, presented him chess, the king, enthusiastic, Sissa asked what he wanted in exchange for this extraordinary gift. Humblement, Sissa asked the prince to file a grain of wheat on the first case, two on the second, four on the third, and so on to fill the board by doubling the amount of grain for each case. The prince immediately granted this award seemingly modest, but his adviser told him that he had to sign death in the kingdom since the harvest of the year would be insufficient to pay the price of the game Indeed, on the last box of the board should submit 263 seeds, or more than nine billion billion grains (9223372036854775808 precisely grains), and add the total grains deposited in the boxes earlier, making a total of 18446744073709551615 grains (the formula is then 264-1)!

Variations exist of this legend, one suggesting that the king accepted provided that the account sage seeds itself, another stating that the head Sissa was settled for such effrontery. Some versions say that Sissa not asked anything in return but insisting that the king, Sissa would then decided to make fun of the king and asking for a reward he could give.

Legend Greek
Another legend places the invention of the game during the War of Troy. Palamedes, a Greek hero, allegedly invented the game to raise the morale of the troops during the siege of the city in 1240 BC. AD That will bring the original creators of the first review to appoint Chess The Palamedes. Other characters in the Greek world were awarded the invention of failures. These include pyrrhic.

The historical research
The origins of chess remains a controversial subject. Indeed, as written by Richard Eales CHESS in his book, The history of a game, the research of the origins of chess is similar to the search for the "missing link" in human evolution.

It is generally agreed that his ancestor known the oldest is a game of India, chaturanga. His oldest traces to identify between the fifth and seventh centuries. Two passages in Sanskrit texts mention the existence of the game without giving other information. This is Vasavadatta, written in 600 by Subandhu which evokes chess players, especially Harshascharita, written by 625 to Bana. The Aashtapada He described a scene of 64 cases, which makes it possible to learn Chaturanga, the Sanskrit name failures.

These books, followed by two other books written in 850 by Ratnakara and Rudrata at the end of the ninth century, to make knowledge of the parts of the game which are those of an army: infantrymen, cavalrymen, tanks and elephants.

The origin of these two writers in the north-west of the kingdom of Kashmir suggests possible transmission of the Ganges basin central to Iran (Persia).

Beyond that time, some assume that the game has evolved from Indian gaming journey, other lends him an ancestor outside China and Central Asia. A game very similar is also known in Chinese civilization, xiangqi, whose earliest traces occurred in 569 (there is a controversy on this subject); its existence is evidenced in 800.

Diffusion
The game is spreading Persia until around the year 600, where he became the chatrang. When the Arabs invaded Persia, they adopt it under the name of shatranj. Failures know when a remarkable development. It was during the ninth and tenth centuries that there early champions and the first treaties. The pieces are stylized because of the prohibition to depict animated beings. We can now:

* King (Shah, it was he who gave his name to the game) moves one step.
* Councillor (Firzan or Vizier) whose movement is limited to one box diagonally.
* Elephant (Al-wire) with a displacement corresponding to a jump two spaces diagonally.
* The horse (Faras), which is identical to modern knight.
* (Rukh), similar to the present tower.
* The soldier (Baidaq), the equivalent of pawn, but not without the initial double.

(Rukh was sometimes portrayed as a chariot of war. Arabs they saw a general commanding the army. But its literal meaning remains obscure. It appears that for the Arabs, the word had no other meaning than designate this piece at Shatranj, a bit like the word rook for English speakers today).

A seductive theory gives the origin of the mode of travel pieces by different routes elementary possible from the center of an area of five cases in five cases. It gives a good explanation of the curious moving jumper (F = Faras), the only one that remained "jumper" and short-range. It leaves the king (S = Shah) traveling more limited (four cases), which corresponds to the displacement of his Chinese counterpart ( "General"). It also suggests that the float (R = Rukh) was to be originally a play 'short' and the other was moving by jumping two boxes as column or row.

chess