Bankers handling the sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers received multiple bids in excess of $1 billion on Monday, people familiar with the matter said.

Among those submitting bids were media investor Leo Hindery and financier Marc Utay, and a separate joint bid by developer Rick Caruso and former Dodgers manager Joe Torre, and one that includes former baseball executive Stan Kasten and former Los Angeles Laker Magic Johnson. The Los Angeles Times reported that Mark Cuban also was among the bidders.

Initial bids for the team were due Monday, but people involved with the sale said during this preliminary stage bankers and team officials would not exclude any qualified bidders who emerged later so long as they could pass muster with Major League Baseball.

Bankers did not require the bids to be binding or ask for bidders to submit a deposit with their offers. Bidders also did not have to provide firm promises of financing. As a result, several bidders said, there was little reason for them to not submit high offers with hopes of surviving to a second round.

More than 20 individuals, who make up more than a dozen bidding groups, signed non-disclosure agreements with Blackstone Group, which is handling the sale for Dodgers owner Frank McCourt.

McCourt is looking for as much as $2 billion for the bankrupt franchise, whose next owner will be able to negotiate a new television broadcast agreement later this year.

Going to a volleyball match, whether it be a high school or college match, it usually is unavoidable to hear this: How come that player has a different color shirt on? It is interesting for two reasons:

1. The libero position has been around for quite a while now

2. People, even now, don’t understand the game of volleyball

The second reason is my favorite because I like to think that volleyball remains to be in its infancy (in some ways) in the united states. Not one match goes by that I don’t hear someone in the stands asking about the rules of volleyball, and in particular the question regarding the libero.

I often think about my high school playing days, that was now several years ago. 10 years ago nobody really new about club volleyball. I was on a club team, but there were not many other teams to play. You might play tournaments in all different areas but would constantly see the same teams.

So the libero is…

Essentially a defensive specialist that can come in and out for any player on the court without the need for an official substitution. The libero ought to be and usually is the best, and smartest defensive player on your team. They must be able to pass, dig, and read the court better than other people on your team.

Where did this rule come from?

The libero position was added to the game in 1999. Incorporating the libero did a few things: it sped up the sport. Now play didn’t have to stop when middles needed to be subbed out (I’ve not seen many clubs that keep there middles in all game). Also, incorporating the libero position to the game really made defense, offense, and rallies far more exciting.

What exactly can a libero do?

A few rules regarding the libero include: A libero may enter the game at any time for any player on the court. Play must be dead for the libero to enter the court, and must be dead again for the libero to leave the court. The libero may serve for one person on the team. These are are few of the many regulations of the libero position.

Believe it or not there are still many purists that think that the libero position shouldn’t have been included (there is also debate on how to pronounce it: Italian way or American way). In my opinion though, adding this position has without a doubt made the game considerably more engaging to watch as well as coach.

And finally, if you are interested in more volleyball rules explained, please check out Your Volleyball Rules Resource at http://www.evolleyballrules.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Oneil

http://EzineArticles.com/?What-the-Heck-Is-a-Libero?&id=6628715

A marathon negotiating session, another so-called deadline. But this time, a breakthrough: NBA owners and players have reached a tentative agreement to end the lockout.

Even though the players association disbanded Nov. 14 after rejecting what Commissioner David Stern had called the league’s last offer before a drastic reset proposal, the main principals from the two sides were at it again Friday in a New York hotel room. And just after 2 a.m. (Chicago time) Saturday came word that a deal had been reached.

Stern and union leader Billy Hunter announced at a joint news conference that a tentative accord had been reached. The league is planning to open the 2011-12 season on Christmas Day with regularly scheduled games that include the Chicago Bulls playing the Los Angeles Lakers.

“We’ve reached a tentative understanding that is subject to a variety of approvals and very complex machinations, but we’re optimistic that will all come to pass and that the NBA season will begin Dec. 25,” Stern said.

Plans call for a 66-game season, with training camps opening Dec. 9. The deal must be voted on and accepted by the majority of players and at least 15 of 29 owners (the league owns the New Orleans Hornets).

“We thought it was in both of our interest to try to reach a resolution and save the game and to be able to provide the kind of superb entertainment the NBA historically has provided,” Hunter said.

News of the breakthrough was first reported by Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.

“All I feel right now is ‘finally,”‘ the Miami Heat‘s Dwyane Wade told The Associated Press.

Lockout rules remain in place, meaning team officials can’t comment on the deal or talk to players until a collective bargaining agreement is signed. Several Bulls players, including Carlos Boozer, voiced support for the deal on Twitter.

Read More > Tentative deal reached to end NBA lockout.

In 2000, the late Myles Brand made the controversial decision to oust revered Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight. Brand, then Indiana University’s president, drew the scorn of students and alumni but the admiration of his peers, who named him NCAA president two years later.

If college athletics held its proper place in the greater landscape of higher education, there would have been no reason to congratulate or criticize Brand. In other walks of life, it’s not considered courageous when the head of a business dismisses one of his subordinates for inappropriate behavior. The Brand-Knight incident was only jarring because for the previous 30 years, the power dynamic between Indiana’s president and basketball coach had been reversed.

Nothing about college coaches’ skewed importance has changed since then. If anything, it’s gotten worse. Head football and basketball coaches now make as much as five times more than they did just a decade ago, and the media coverage surrounding them has amplified accordingly.

But if there were ever a time for fans, media members and college administrators alike to get a collective wake-up call, it’s following Joe Paterno’s dismissal. No football coach has ever lorded over an entire university the way Paterno did during his 45 years in State College. And no university has suffered a more gruesome football-related episode than the ongoing Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal.

The mess at Penn State has illustrated the danger of putting successful coaches on pedestals. Four wins or 400, coaches are still people, and people aren’t perfect. That’s why our government employs a system of checks and balances, and why businesses nationwide mimic that distribution of power.

At Penn State, Paterno had all the power. President Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley were technically his bosses, but they held as much sway over him as the guys selling hot dogs at Beaver Stadium on Saturdays. We know this most vividly because in 2004, Spanier and Curley tried to push out the struggling 77-year-old coach, and Paterno told them … no.

NBA Lockout – Check Out What Is Next For NBA’s Highest Paid Players
By Anita Fowler

The Employment Outlook today is tough for many people. According to The United States Labor Department, the average medium yearly salary is anywhere from $40,00 to $65,000. Depending on where you live, and your occupation. With two adults working, it’s just enough to pay the rent, cars, insurance etc. But what if you earned a multi-million dollar salary, like many of our professional athletes. The NBA Teams are in a battle, a game of tug of war. This battle is between The Owners, and The Players. There are no real rules, and neither side is budging, as the season is slowly slipping by. With pre-season games canceled, and no agreement, Commissioner Stern now has kept his promise to cancel the first two weeks of regular season play. All NBA games, now canceled until November 14. Los Angeles Lakers, Derek Fisher is the Players Union President, and has been quoted saying that, “the players are not playing basketball because we are on strike, we are not playing because, The Owners have locked us out.” The 1998-1999 NBA season was reduced to only 50 games. This was a strike. An agreement was not reached until January 1999. This Lockout could be as long. Some are saying there may not be a season at all.

While most NBA players make million dollar salaries, not all can afford to go an entire year without a paycheck. Rashard Lewis, Kobe Bryant, Paul Gasol, are some of the highest paid players. Lewis has a contract that pays him $118 million over six years. While there are plenty of players that are close to the minimum salary of $473,000. With that said, NBA Players are still in a far better position than the thousands of hourly workers that depend on the NBA’s 6-month season. They are the workers that are employed at the arenas. Security, ushers, parking lot attendants, and restaurant employees. Most arenas are surrounded by hotels and restaurants that depend upon the basketball patrons. Orlando Florida, may be home to Disney World, and a hot vacation spot, but Orlando will feel the pinch as well. Last minute details are stalled for the NBA’s 2012 All Star Games. The Games, are set to be hosted by Orlando Magic in their new Amway Arena. The All Star Games cover an entire week of games and events mainly held at Amway. Final decisions may be on hold.

So what are some of the players doing? Le Bron James was spotted playing football at his old High School in Akron, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s. James had been reported talking to The NFL. This is not true. Kobe Bryant has been linked to rumors that he may sign a contract in Italy. Many Fans really do not have much sympathy for the Players or Owners. Together they provide a great and exciting basketball season, but to be unable to come to an agreement may be a matter of greed. Many people are asking, How did the salaries of professional athletes get so out of hand?

The NBA players are employees of their respective teams, and owners. So why, you may ask, do they want 53% of all ticket revenues? A 50/50 split is not good enough. They want to make more than their bosses. Overpaid players cut into franchise profits, and hurt the basketball business as a whole. Wizard Rashard Lewis was quoted as saying that. ” I’m willing to sacrifice my salary to get a fair deal”. In summary, both parties do agree on one fact. Nobody will be making any money, if nobody is playing basketball. It will be interesting to see the final results, and if we will learn anything from this.

Anita is a Professional Exercise Consultant, and Life Coach. A Certified Fitness Trainer, and a Former National Bodybuilding Champion, who has been in the Fitness Industry for over 20 years. She uses her expertise to conduct fitness clinics and seminars to assist others to work towards their healthy lifestyle goals.

http://www.afitgirlblog.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anita_Fowler

http://EzineArticles.com/?NBA-Lockout—Check-Out-What-Is-Next-For-NBAs-Highest-Paid-Players&id=6619626

Locker Room Interviews Gone Bad
By Stephan Talbot

Take it from someone who spent 28 years as a TV sportscaster seeking truth, originality and excitement, you are not likely to find it in a sports locker room interview. If you have designs on being the next Bob Costas or Jim McKay, time to man (or woman) up on the realities. You will probably be too awestruck or afraid to ask the question that really needs to be asked. Or you will weasel out of it with the hackneyed, kiss up of all kiss ups…”How did it feel?”

First of all, since “it” is not a person, there will be no feelings. Back to English 101 for a refresher course. Next, if ever an athlete had a ready answer for a question, it is definitely that one. “You know, man, it felt like great.” Again, here we have “it” personified with the non-essential, verb turned adjective, “like,” all in one sentence. Yes, that is one answer all America will be salivating to hear.

It is really easy to spot neophyte reporters in the locker room. They will be the ones in a sequestered mob scene in front of the star player’s locker, waiting to hear the Gospel according to Fred, even if Fred sat out the game with an ingrown toe nail. Generally, it is because they have not done enough homework to know scat about the rest of the players on the team – including strengths, tendencies and ability to utter sentences that are articulate and make sense. Many times, I have found that the lesser known player can be a jewel waiting to be uncovered with untapped stories to tell and experiences to reveal.

If you want to hit a “homerun” (cliche) in the locker room (an unlikely expectation, even if a parallel universe existed), you have to make a checklist of what to do and what not to do. It will be much like a Christmas list, only you may get rewarded if your questions are “naughty” instead of “nice.”

Let us begin with the one question that is an immediate give away that the interviewer has never had any public speaking training. That is the one that seeks a detailed response from a “Yes” or “No” question. You know the question, “Uh, Fred, did you know there were 10 seconds left on the clock, when you threw that pass?” Answer: “Yes.” If you do not get the opportunity for a follow-up question (which is very likely in a post game locker room), your whole investment in covering the game boils down to a one word answer. And, if you do get the opportunity, what is your follow-up, “You sure it wasn’t nine seconds?”

Be bold and remember two words – “Why” and “What.” If you took any journalism classes, these words may trigger memories of the “inverted triangle.” Remember? Yes, the five “Ws” of writing a story or news release – “who,” “what,” “where,” “when” and “why.” During a locker room interview, only two of those Ws – why and what – will consistently elicit answers that require a cerebral moment to take place for the jock you are interviewing. No longer will a yes or no answer be the result. Cleverly constructed why and what questions can uncover unexpected jewels that can be both insightful and emotional – the kind of stuff on which great features are built and reputations made.

How will you know if you are doing well in asking the right questions? It will be obvious. The other reporters will start following you to a player’s locker. They will be pushing their mics into the void as you ask the questions. Print reporters will be writing furiously to get the answers the athletes are giving you. Your name will start popping up in column’s about the game with the reporter writing, “Krozowski told XYZ’s Steve Talbot (supply your own name) that he would rather risk his career, playing with a partially torn Achilles, than let his team miss out on a chance to be in the playoffs.”

There are plenty of other things to learn about locker room reporting, and stories about the athletes I have interviewed coming up in future columns.

Steve Talbot is the owner/talent for Finding An Announcer, a professional voice over business that helps organizations and individuals by providing award-winning talent and special effects for projects requiring strong and effective audio. It can be found on the Web at http://www.findinganannouncer.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephan_Talbot

http://EzineArticles.com/?Locker-Room-Interviews-Gone-Bad&id=6527851

The Greatest Shoe Ever Made
By Scott S Oberholser

It has been called the greatest shoe ever made. Man! That is a lot of hype to live up to for a shoe! But, a strong argument can be made that the Nike Air Force One is the greatest shoe ever made. Produced in over 2,000 colorways and counting, the Air Force One was the first sneaker to use the Nike “Air” technology. The sneaker was named after the Air Force One airplane that is used by the President of the United States. It is virtually impossible to track how many versions of the shoe exist. It has been rapped about by more than one famous R&B artist. Hype be gone!

The Nike Air Force One was originally made for the basketball hardcourt. It was produced as a mid-top basketball shoe and subsequently as a low-top sneaker. Technology in footwear certainly has come a long way. Especially when it comes to performance footwear for basketball players. There are now Air Jordans and the Hyper series(i.e.Hyperdunks, Hyperfuses, etc.) that Nike offers as high performance basketball shoes. And, high performance they are. The Air Force One has not been seen near a basketball court since, well, the 80′s.

On the other hand, as a casual shoe there is no equal. The Air Force One has used denim, patent leather, and horse hair among many other as elements of their production. Some versions of the shoe are classy enough to be worn as a dress shoe. As a casual shoe, these are certainly are Nike shoes, basketball shoes they are not. And that’s alright.

The ultimate compliment that a shoe, any shoe, can be given is personalization. Not only can you personalize the greatest shoe ever made, but to do so, there is only one place that you can do it in the entire country. 21 Mercer in New York City. 21 Mercer is a one of a kind NikeiD Studio. Here, you have the opportunity to use a large variety of colors, styles, and materials to create your dream kicks. In addition, at this one of a kind sneaker shop you can take advantage of a program they call Bespoke. Bespoke offers 1 on 1 consultation with a Nike designer to create a one of a kind sneaker. And it is one of a kind, you are the only one you makes it and the only one who wears it. But be prepared to spend some money, a Bespoke Air Force One can cost you up to $1,000.

If the “greatest” is measured in both quantity and quality, the Nike Air Force One measures up. If calling the Air Force One the greatest is taking it too far, it would be more than fair to say this shoe is the best sneaker ever made.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_S_Oberholser

http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Greatest-Shoe-Ever-Made&id=6520563

NBA’s Top Performers
By Andrew Heisig

This article is going to discuss the best NBA players at each of the positions on the basketball court. There will be an award for point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards, and centers. I will base the award off of who has had the biggest impact on their team thus far. This award will take into account individual aspects such as points and rebounds, and also how well they get the rest of their basketball team involved. I will discuss each award that I hand out in detail in the rest of the article.

The point guard that will be receiving the award is going to be Deron Williams. He has outperformed every other point guard in scoring and he has averaged nearly 14 assists for his basketball team this year. He has propelled his team to victories over teams like the Miami Heat, the Orlando Magic, and the Atlanta Hawks. These basketball teams are huge names in the east and win a lot of games. The point guard position is very crucial to the flow of a basketball team, and that is why Deron Williams is getting the award at this position.

The shooting guard that receives this award is going to Monta Ellis. Right now, even though the Warriors have lost David Lee, they are still over.500. This is because Monta Ellis has scored a lot of points every game. He is leading the NBA in scoring at about 28 points per game thus far. Without their newly signed David Lee, the Warriors are still above.500 and it is because of Monta Ellis so he gets this award.

The award for the small forward position is going to go to Kevin Durant. He has come out this year scoring a ton of points as expected, so the award is a given. He is the leader of such a young basketball team and is helping them make a huge push at the west this year. In just his fourth NBA season, Durant has proven himself as a force on the basketball court. I think Durant will end up with his second straight scoring award this year, so he is my choice for the small forward award.

The award for the power forward position is going to go to Pau Gasol. Pau came off his best season last year and has picked up right where he left off. With Kobe Bryant still nursing a somewhat tender knee, Pau has led the basketball court up and down. He is scoring a ton of points and pulling down double digit rebounds in every game. Pau is in the prime of his NBA career and is showing it. Don’t be surprised if he leads the Lakers to a 3rd straight title. He is my choice for the power forward award.

Finally, we will award the center position. This award is going to go to the man in the middle on the Bulls, Joakim Noah. Noah is playing better than anyone ever had expected when he was drafted, and he is a major force for rebounds. This year he is averaging a double double and is right up top with the top rebounders in the league for rebounds per game. He is developing a small elbow jump shot for his repertoire, and he gets the award for the center position.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Heisig

http://EzineArticles.com/?NBAs-Top-Performers&id=5401797

The teaching of Volleyball Drills is more than just physical, it also teaches players and coaches to show respect for one another.

Respect has a lot of different meanings: on a realistic point it seems to include taking someone’s feeling, desires, opinions, thoughts, needs and preferences into consideration. On another point, we might say it means taking each and every one of these seriously and giving them meaning and importance.

Respect can be made known through performance and it can also be felt.

It is important to act in ways that do not reveal how we really feel, the feeling of respect is more important than the behavior without the feeling. As soon as the feeling is there, the behavior will physically follow.

As for coaching, you are going to come into contact with all sorts of situations: inconsistent personalities; troubles with attitude and work ethic; and the worst part of all, troubles with parents.

With that in mind you may be asking yourself how you deal with all of this and try to prepare a championship squad. It most definitely takes an exceptional breed of individuals to do it effectively. You have to have patience, strength and you need to gain the support and respect of your players.

Gaining respect from the players may be the most important thing to acquire, starting with the first day of volleyball drills.

Once you get hold of the respect nearly all of the other situations will become easier. If for some reason they don’t respect you it may be easier said than done to get them to notice your point of observation.

In order to gain the respect from all your players as a coach, you need to not only work on drills but you also need to do the following:

- Take care of all your players fairly and equally

- Don’t ever express yourself in anger to a player in front of the rest of the players

- Give encouraging words to players as soon as they make mistakes

- Construct don’t destruct. It is extremely more beneficial to try and build someone up to your disapproval than it is to simply begin telling them why they are not of good quality.

- Stand firm and have high expectations for the player. Make them aware of the expectations and have them make every effort to meet them.

- Be sincere with your players and they in return will respect you.

Gaining the respect from players makes it easier to motivate and to act as a go – between.

Coaching a squad requires some extraordinary skills other than just the understanding of how to play the game.

You also have a tough job of motivating, mediating and dealing with problem parents.

As a player myself for many years I have seen the results of players and coaches not showing respect on the court, that alone can cost them the game. When either the coach or player gets removed from court side a team loses morale.

Start gaining your respect here,

http://yourvolleyballdrills.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darrell_Heimer

http://EzineArticles.com/?Volleyball-Drills—And—Respect&id=4983675

Rules For Replenishing Fluids While Running
By Angie Spencer

Sweating is probably something athletes think about more than the average person. Sweating during exercise means that your body is an efficient cooler and fit people often produce more sweat but lose less sodium (which is retained in the bloodstream). Fit people can also cope with dehydration better than their non-exercising counterparts.

The Gatorade Sports Science Institution found that in 85 degree temperature with 4% humidity the average runner loses 2-4 pounds of sweat/hour. It is vital that we are knowledgeable and careful to replace body fluids as the temperature and humidity increase. When humidity rises, there is a decrease in sweat evaporation from the body resulting in less efficient cooling. The body can acclimate to heat and humidity, but it often takes up to six weeks for adaptation. That is why it is easier to run in the warmer weather at the end of the summer as opposed to the beginning.

With all this sweating that goes on while exercising, how can we make sure that we are replacing these fluids adequately?

1. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to replenish. Thirst isn’t always a good indicator of dehydration. By the time you feel thirsty, you may already be low on fluids. Signs of dehydration include thirst, increased heart rate, dark, golden colored urine, decreased body weight, and poor skin turgor. A way to check skin turgor is to pinch the back of your hand. When you let go the skin should bounce back into place within a couple of seconds. If it takes more than 3 seconds to return to normal or you see the indentation from your fingers, you are dehydrated.

2. The best bet to accomplish adequate hydration is to drink before, during, and after your run. Let the duration, intensity, and climate conditions guide the amount.

3. A problem that has been highlighted in recent years is over hydration (hyponatremia). In 2004 Runner’s World reported that 13% of runners in the Boston Marathon had hyponatremia. The body’s need for fluid is unique. If you get too little dehydration results, too much fluid and the blood salt level drops resulting in overhydration. Signs of this are clear, dilute urine, bloating, a sloshing feeling in your stomach, weight gain, and more seriously brain swelling and seizures.

To see how to calculate your body’s fluid need click on the link below.

Angie Spencer is an avid marathoner who ran over 800 miles in 2009. Get the free audio gift, “The Seven Pillars of Successful Marathon Training” to help you get started with your marathon training today by visiting http://marathontrainingacademy.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angie_Spencer

http://EzineArticles.com/?Rules-For-Replenishing-Fluids-While-Running&id=4663070