Almost half the world-wide market for athletic shoes is right here in the US. Thanks to an aggressive marketing plan and succession of shrewd endorsements, it has been dominated by the Nike “swoosh”. In a business saturated with players, Nike’s 36% market share represents a substantial margin over the competition.

How much is 36% of the market? Only sales in the neighborhood of $7.2 billion, that’s all. Enough cash to buy every franchise in the NBA. Isn’t it just a little ironic a company that propelled it’s period of rapid growth on a product launch and endorsement campaign grounded on the NBA’s brightest star, could on a whim, buy the whole league?

Not everything is rosy for Nike in the athlete’s foot market. Of the 50 or so “other manufacturers”, number two Adidas has completed a move to present a major challenge.

Athletic footwear is divided into two sectors. Competitive which drives innovation to set the mainframe, and fashion which spins casual wear market entries off from the mainframe. Around the rest of the world, Adidas has long been the leader in competitive footwear. It was Adidas that really started it all, sneaking their 3 stripe trademark past stringent Olympic and World Cup sponsorship regulations of the 1950’s to give birth to a whole new industry

Adidas has acquired number 3 Reebok for $3.8 billion, giving them a 21 percent US market share. Most significant about this deal is Reebok holds a much firmer grip on the fashion market than Adidas ever has. Each brand will keep it’s identity, but expect to see some new forms cross brand marketing invented to capitalize on the strenghts of each. The Reebok brand blended into the Adidas mix means a savvy competitor for Nike to deal with across the full market range. Expect Nike to dig deep and find creative ways to fight them off.

The big business of whose sport shoe they put on their feet assures consumers a new round of innovative choices will be soon on the way.

Sports Picks and Sports Handicapping at Maddux Sports

It was learned on Wednesday that former Flyers star and current Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet could be in some hot water with both the NHL and the New Jersey State Police, after authorities busted a sports gambling ring he helped finance. According to authorities, “Operation Slap Shot” (real creative title there guys, I guess “Operation Icing” and “Operation Crosscheck” were both already taken) uncovered a sports betting system that processed more than 1,000 wagers with a total of about $1.7 million on professional and collegiate sporting events during a 40-day period. Tocchet has been identified as a partner and financier of the ring (along with a New Jersey state trooper), and State Police also say that “Police Academy 5″ star and wife of Wayne Gretzky, Janet Jones, placed bets for players on the Coyotes.

No one involved has been accused of betting on hockey games, by the way. All bets were made on sports other than the NHL. So, we’re not talking about NHL players placing bets on their own games, like Pete Rose did. Still, this could be a major scandal for the NHL. Perhaps even more shocking to me was the fact that I had no idea that Rick Tocchet was still in the NHL! Did you know he was a coach on the Coyotes? And did you know that he and Wayne Gretzky, the Coyotes head coach, were BFFs? It got me to thinking… with Tocchet turning to the gambling industry following his playing career (with a little coaching mixed in), what jobs do you think some ex-Flyers may be pursuing now that their playing career is finished, and what jobs do you think some current Flyers may pursue when they hang up the skates?

(Cue the dream sequence sound effects and graphics…)

Mike Bullard – Dentist (if anyone knows about dental work, it would be ‘ol “Gappy”)

Tim Kerr – Hunchback (years of back problems)

Dominic Roussel – Motivational Speaker (centering around teamwork)

Ron Hextall – Anger Management Coach (because he always kept a cool head)

Brian Propp – Anything but a radio color analyst (damn, too late)

Peter Zezel – Teen Magazine Editor (hell, he appeared in enough of those things anyway)

Eric Lindros – Mafia Hit Man (fuhgeddaboutit)

Billy Tibbets – Unemployed (it’s hard for a rapist to find a good job nowadays)

Kjell Samuelson – Lumberjack (obviously)

Keith Primeau – Let’s just have Keith be able to run on a treadmill for 10 minutes without falling over before we give the guy a job

Chris Gratton – Not sure exactly, but I do know that he’d get a promotion then crumble under the pressure of higher expectations

Chris Therien – First things first. Let’s just get the guy to retire first and then we can figure out a job for him. RETIRE CHRIS!

Garth Snow – Sofa Maker (hey, the guy likes padding)

Donald Brashear – Professional Swimmer (just like the NHL, he’d be the only black guy out there)

Those are just a few. And hey, let’s make this interactive. Make sure to click on the forums link, reply to this column and add a couple of your own! You can use any current or former Flyer. Maybe they’ll check in sometime if they’re low on ideas or worried about what they’re going to do when they decide to retire. In the end, they’ll thank us.

In the meantime, Tocchet is expected to be arraigned within the next 7-10 days and will most likely be suspended by the NHL for his role in the gambling ring. And Rick, if you do end up having to do a little time in the pokey, tell Billy Tibbets we all said hello.

Wondering about the secret that boat companies don’t want you to know? Imagine if you can transform just ONE boat into any boat you want, paddle boat, fishing boat, sailing boat, crusing boat, etc… Does it mean that boat companies will lose money as you will only need to buy ONE boat? Introdicung catamaran paddle ski, the ONE boat that is famous for its multipurpose function!

The outlook and size of the sea eagle catamaran paddle skis are just alike with normal canoes. However, sea eagle paddle ski are much more stable for its 2 large hulls. With the stability that 2 hulls provides, catamaran paddle skis are simply the best for leisure use.

Basically, there are 5 categories of activities associated with catamaran paddle skis, which are:-

Activity No.1: Paddling

Using the paddles which come with catamaran paddle skis, you can just enjoy the whole evening on the lake. Paddling around the lake, relishing on the serenity and tranquility that the lake water provides and perhaps you can do some secret exploring among bushes on the lake.

Activity No.2: Rowing

How do you think about sitting and chatting face to face with your beloved one while rowing a catamaran paddle ski on a quiet lake? Is it a perfect activity? Furthermore, that happens during sunset. The tender sunset ray cum with the soft breeze, blending with the quiet and serene lake, just stimulate the romance between you and your beloved one. It’s indeed the world of you both with rowing catamaran paddle skis.

Activity No.3: Sailing

A sail rig on a sea eagle paddle ski just provides you the pleasure of sailing. Sailing is indeed a relaxing activity. Do not worry if you never sail before as the simple lateen sail system allows you to learn sailing in minutes. Moving the catamarans with natural force – wind power, just save up our energy. Perhaps you can do some reading on a sailing catamaran.

Activity No.4: Cruising

With an electric trolling motor, catamaran paddle skis are now ready for an evening cruise. The quiet and pollution-free trolling motor just won’t spoil your mood for a windy journey, unlike those gas engines. Cruising with family members would be great. Together with your children or your parents, your weekends would just be more meaningful.

Activity No.5: Fishing

Last but not least, you could probably spend your day doing some fishing on catamaran paddle skis. The stability and large loading capacity just allow you to bring back more fishes. Usually, doing some hard thinking while fishing on catamarans is what people do. Enjoying the peaceful moment of being alone on a secluded corner, away from the hectic life just rejuvenate you from the tiring wok days.

It just can’t be enough with Sea Eagle catamarans paddle ski. If I were to buy a boat for leisure use, I will definitely choose Sea Eagle catamarans paddle ski for its all-in-one function. All activities combined in one inflatable boat. It just suits the free and easy me.

Daren Shawn is a fresh author and publisher of http://www.myinflatableboats.com providing information on inflatable boats, inflatable kayaks, catamarans, inflatable pontoon boats, and trolling motors.

For catamaran paddle ski, visit http://www.myinflatableboats.com/inflatablecatamarans/catamarans.htm

Maurice Clarett has been the victim of circumstances all too familiar to top college athletes. Upon entering Ohio State, he was treated like a golden boy – given cars, money, and all the “help” a young student could ever ask for, including easy classes and tutors who did much of his work for him. During 2002, his first (and only) season on the field, Clarett gained 1,237 yards, scored 16 touchdowns, and led Ohio State to a national championship. He is still waiting for another chance to prove himself.

Ironically, it may have been a break-in of one of his borrowed vehicles that caused his downfall. When NCAA investigators caught wind of the police report associated with the break-in, which listed over $10 thousand worth of property stolen, they came down hard on Clarett. They wanted to know where he got all that money and property (and where he got the vehicle to start with). But rather than giving up Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and the other players who were receiving the same benefits, Clarett kept his mouth shut. He assumed Tressel would take care of him. Instead, he was suspended from the team.

In early 2004, Clarett made an attempt at getting back on the field for OSU, but new demands, including the maintenance of a minimum 3.5 GPA with no help from tutors, was too great a task. Even after being suspended from the team, he remained quiet about the special treatment he had once received…until recently.

Ultimately, it was the desire to enter the NFL that forced his hand to come clean about the goings-on at Ohio State. Clarett’s reputation had been so seriously tarnished, he was looking at entering in a late round of the draft, if at all. Clarett’s character was openly called into question to NFL officials by Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger. Clarett has asked the Supreme Court to change its ruling denying him entry into the NFL. He will be eligible for the next draft regardless, so this appears to be a move intended to aid those in the future who wind up in the same position – abandoned by their school, with nowhere to go but the NFL. Some believe that the NFL’s policy of refusing to admit men who have been out of high school less than three years is simply a means for the league to maintain a training ground for players that doesn’t cost it anything (see www.draftclarett.org).

Clarett has a reputation as a troubled young man who struggles with the truth. But circumstances created Maurice Clarett. He arrived at Ohio State like a star, and then was stripped of everything, becoming the most villified college athlete in the country. He has received countless hate mail and a gun was even fired into his mother’s house. I suspect many of us would fold under that pressure. Give an 18 year old just out of high school money and cars and anything he wants, and he will likely take them – especially when the gifts are endorsed by his coach, the person who is supposed to have his best interests in mind. Clarett became the scapegoat, but he is just a small piece of a corrupt football factory (not at all to say that this only happens at Ohio State. Let’s be realistic – division 1 college football is big business, and big players get special treatment).

During his time away from the game, Clarett has engaged in an intense training regimen, and may yet get the last laugh over Ohio State, especially now that his allegations are being backed up by other former players. When Maryland running back Sammy Maldonado transferred away from Ohio State, only 17 of 40 possible credits were transferrable to his new school. He backs up Clarett’s claims. In a twist of fate, Clarett may yet go on to find success in the NFL while Ohio State suffers the consequences of an NCAA investigation. What comes around goes around.

Jerry Work is a web developer, musician, and sports fan based in Nashville, Tennessee. He runs a community-oriented sports/gambling portal called SportGamble.us, where he writes regularly about the lessons that can be learned from current sports issues.

Betting is a very widespread and regular phenomenon especially in United States. In the world of sports betting has not left any game untouched. Be it cricket, horse racing, football, basketball… betting has laid its hands over all of them. Though almost half of the country’s population is consciously infected by the betting syndrome, yet there are no thoughts by the government to legalize it in any form or the other. The only place where it has been made legal is the state of Nevada. The state has made collegiate gambling, which is one of the most execrable forms of betting. Betting on sports in colleges not just deteriorates the healthy atmosphere an spirit with which the game is played but also ruins the trustworthy sportsmanship of the players. The college players themselves wager and try to play the game in accordance to win their wager. They are not motivated by the team or game spirit but by the money they might receive on winning the bet. NCAA has revealed that most often it is the college athletes more inclined to betting and point shaving as compared to professional sportsmen. Point shaving refers to the poor and awful performance that players make on the field in order to have a particular point spread.

There are various types of bets and betting terminologies. Some of the most frequent types of bets are- Point Spread, Money Lines, Parlays and Pari- mutual etc. These bets vary from game to game, in their terms and conditions and the style of betting. It is better to learn the different techniques and rules for these bets before you wager. Nowadays betting can also be done online. The government has put up limitations here too in the form of the ‘Wire Act’. This act limited online gambling within the walls of a state. In other words, the Wire Act made it illicit to cross a state line for the purpose of gambling. However this act even like several others stands in effective in detaining gamblers from gambling in the manner they desire to do. The gamblers can do anything to prevent their gambling industry from fading in the hands of government. They do anything and everything to find favors from the government. Most often this is done by time and again stuffing the pockets of the party members with huge amount of money.

But a gambler fails to realize that the government is not at loss. It is he himself who loses and suffers the most. Betting is nothing else but gambling with one’s money. It is devastating addiction. A pathological gambler cannot resist from gambling whatsoever his economic condition may be. He can stoop to any extent to obtain money for betting. He can lie, steal and even murder anyone for it. The idea of once winning a large bet is always playing on his mind. The entire family and friends of a pathological gambler face repercussions of the adverse situations so created by him.

The lust for money is never ending, it is better to be satisfied with the little that you have than to pine for more and lose even that!

What could be the best possible gift for your child this Christmas? What could be the best possible replacement of his old car with which he does vroom-vroom all the day? Well the answer is simple. Present him with an RTR Remote Control Car.

An RTR Car implies a ready-to-run car. It is a remote control car which comes assembled from the company. All you have to do is put the batteries in the car and it’s ready to use.
The functioning of the car is controlled by a remote, provided along. The remote is easy-to-operate and contains all the buttons which control the featured movements of the car. These RTR Remote Control Cars are also used for racing purposes. You might find your child racing with his friend’s remote control car.

The RTR Remote Control Racing is fast emerging as a recreational hobby which is not merely confined to children. Adults and aged people are also finding these RTR remote control cars racing as a real fun.

As the craze for RTR Remote Control Cars is growing among the kids, toy manufacturers have started manufacturing various types of it. Today you can choose from different types of RTR Remote Control Cars.

You can find lots and lots of RTR Remote Control Cars in the market today. One of the best ways to find and buy RTR cars is internet. On the internet you can find several websites providing numerous types, styles and shapes of RTR Remote Control Cars.

Some of the RTR remoter control car manufacturers design the exact models of some of the famous cars in the world. Among the famous brands on which these RTR cars are based include- Mitsubishi, Ferrari, Mercedes, Porsche and much more.

If you plan to buy RTR remote control cars on the internet by searching for the car which you think would be the best for your child. You can search RTR Remote Control Cars by the famous manufacturers. You can narrow down your search by pre-determining what kind of an RTR model you are looking for.

If you want an RTR remote control car for yourself, you should probably search for gasoline cars. These RTR cars provide you with ultimate remote control car experience as they employ the use of nitro boosters in them. As soon as you would throttle your car, the flames from the exhaust of your car would definitely add to your confidence.

However if you are a starter you can opt for electric RTR remote control cars. These cars run on battery and there is no such thing as flame exhaust in them. Though the performance of these cars is less than the nitro cars, they are easy-to-handle and operate. As a beginner your child can enjoy with the car and learn how to control remote cars.

Buying and playing with RTR remote control cars can be a real fun for you and your child. You can even buy two cars and watch your child compete with you. This way you can play and enjoy with your child.

Matt Garrett, www.nitrorccars.org www.nitro-rc-trucks.com

Here is the best sourced help relating to fishing tips.
Often when you are looking for the best information on fishing tips, you’ll find it easier said than done sorting out the best information from poorly sourced fishing tips suggestions and support so it is important to know how to qualify the advice you are presented with.

Find fishing tips
Your relevant result is a click away!

Here’s several guidelines that we believe you should consider using when you are searching for information about fishing tips. Hold in mind the help we present is only applicable to internet advice about fishing tips. We are unable to offer any direction or assistance for researching in ‘real world’ situations.

Look for fishing tips
Find fishing tips at one of the best sites the Internet has to offer!

A good hint to track when offered information and suggestions on a fishing tips site would be to confirm the sites ownership. This may show you who owns the site fishing tips identifications The easiest way to reveal who owns the fishing tips website is to look on the ‘contact’ page or ‘about this site’ information.

All reputable sites providing information about fishing tips, will nearly always have a ‘contact’, or an ‘about’, page which will record the site owner’s contact details. The details should divulge some key points concerning the owner’s requisite knowledge. This permits you to make an informed assessment about the site owner’s knowledge and skill, to give recommendations about fishing tips.

About the author:

Barry Wise is the webmaster for http://www.fishing-tips-hints.info

At first glance, and well maybe even at second glance fly tying hook sizes can be confusing. They have not only the size number attached to them but then they have all those x numbers following them. So they come out reading size 12, 1x short, 1x fine. Or size 8, 2x long 2x heavy. To the beginner it is hard to discern what hook should be used for what style fly. Or further how to obtain a decent hook inventory without buying fifty different hook styles.
I tied flies commercially for years, and worked into a basic hook inventory that consisted of dry fly hooks, nymph hooks, scud hooks, streamer hooks, and a few specialty hooks. For each style I kept various sizes of each style. For the hobbyist, one needs to write down the flies one would like to tie. And the sizes you like, and then proceed from there as your budget allows.
To help you distinguish the style of fly hooks, most if not all fly hook manufacturers label their hooks as to the basic style. For example dry fly hooks. A Mustad 94840, is a basic dry fly hook, likewise a Tiemco 100, as is a Daiichi 1180. They also have a basic size 10,12,14,16, etc. It seems perhaps a bit misleading that the lower number denotes a larger size, but that is how the system goes. The size also only measures the gape, between the hook point the hook shank, it actually means nothing for the hook length, which is where many fly tyers and fly fisherman get confused.
While most dry fly hooks are what is called ’standard length’. Nymph hooks can be standard or 1x long, 2x long and on up, or even 1x short, 2x short on down. What the number before the ‘x’ means, is they are actually 1 hooks size longer or shorter shank than standard. For example a size 14 1x long nymph hook, is actually the same hook length as a standard size 12. Every tier and fly supplier has their own preferences, so a size 14 Hare’s Ear, might actually be tied on a 1x long hook or a 2x long hooks, thereby appearing like a larger fly to the fly angler. To repeat the size actually only refers to the gape of the hook, between the hook point and the hook shank and has nothing to do with the size of the fly.
There is help however, almost all standard dry flies are tied on standard hooks. The exceptions being Stimulator or Salmonfly type flies, Hoppers, Damsels, and other long bodied flies. These would come under the specialty hooks mentioned earlier. Long curved shank hooks actually are used for both dry flies and nymphs although their wire is a little thin for my liking for nymphs.
The second x is the wire gauge. Hook manufacturers naturally use larger wire diameter for larger hooks. But this can be modified and is. If a hook is size 12 2x heavy. That means the hook is 2 times the thickness that normally would be used for size 12. These hooks are helpful when going after very large trout or steelhead, or other large game fish, or if one likes to use unusually large tippet. In short if your fish is going to be on the hook for a long time, there is a chance the hook will straighten out, then one might like extra strong hooks.
One other word about wire gauge is dry fly hooks are made of lighter gauge wire, to aid in floatation. Nymph hooks are made of heavier gauge, as they tumble into rocks, sticks etc. and ability to float is not a factor.
A couple of other notes about hooks. Scud hooks are curved and short, for tying of course, scuds, but also caddis pupa, midges, sow bugs, and even egg style patterns. Streamer hooks are extra long, at least 4x and up to 6x, for buggers, muddlers, and the whole rich library of streamer patterns, used for all types of game fish. Saltwater hooks are coated in stainless, so they don’t rust in the ocean. And there are a bunch of other specialty hooks for very specific uses.
The controversy of using chemically sharpened hooks or not has been brewing for quite sometime now. If you not familiar with this, you will soon be. Mustad hooks have caught more fish than all other hook manufacturers combined, and they are not chemically sharpened. If you do not know how to hand hone a hook, you should learn. For even if you buy chemically sharpened hooks, they become dull, just as Mustad hooks do, from snags, fish, tree limbs, etc. If you do buy Mustad hooks, before use, run a file a couple of times on them to give them a refined point. The chemically sharpened bunch has now even raised the bar, with an extra fine point, that costs an exorbitant amount to buy. I just wonder when the madness will end, and how all those fish got caught in the previous two hundred years of fly fishing. But the chemically sharpened crowd has many respected fly designers and fisherman that won’t use anything else, and some don’t even have a financial stake in their success.
So there you have it a hopefully simplified explanation of the fly tying hook world and it nuances. There are many fine hook charts online, that can aid in selecting the right hooks. But it is also nice to know what want one is reading when looking at the hook labels. And to this extent I hope this article has helped.

About the Author

Cameron Larsen is a retired commericial fly tier and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company. http://www.bigyflyco.com/flyfishinghome.html He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com. This article will appear in the Big Y Fly Fishing E-Zine at Http://www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html

What type of camping cookware is best for you? Camp cooking and clean-up can be easy or a hassle, it all starts with great camping equipment.

Camping cookware, like any camping equipment, should be versatile and tough. A lot of campers have a set of cookware just for camping because they don’t want to risk damaging their good kitchen set and/or it’s easier to keep all your camping gear organized and ready-to-go in big plastic bin(s). Kitchen cookware usually won’t last long in the field anyway. Camp cooking outdoors can be a lot more demanding than what most kitchen utensils are made for.

Heavy duty camping cookware is not only a good idea, it’s almost a necessity. If you’re camp cooking and your only pan cracks or burns through making it unusable, you’re either going to have to find a way to use tin foil creatively or eat cold sandwiches the rest of your camping trip.

Remember to get camping cookware with tight-fitting lids to help heat food on your camping stove more quickly and to help save fuel, this is especially important to hikers that carry everything. I’d stay away from non-stick coatings as it only takes over-heating them once and the surface is junk. Also once the surface is scorched the chemical make-up is permanently changed and I’m not sure how healthy it would be for you. Non-stick surfaces can also scratch, it’s hard enough keeping them in good shape at home let alone camping or hiking.

Some pots/pans come in sets that mate together or “nest” for storage and even allow you to tuck a canister of fuel inside them. This comes in handy when you’re looking to save room while camping.

Look for camping cookware with rounded corners/edges to help reduce hot-spots and for ease of cleaning.

Remember that most camping cookware handles can get hot so bring something you can use to protect your hands. For quicker boiling and heating look for camping cookware with black colored bottoms because it will absorb heat better and save you some fuel.

Backpackers: One liter pots are a good size for two people who don’t eat much, if you and you’re buddy have a normal appetite you’ll want to use a 1.5 liter pot. A two liter should supply about three hikers with a bigger appetite each with a good-size meal. If you’re in a bigger group you’ll want to bump up the size.

There are several different types of camping cookware and they have different advantages and disadvantages…

Aluminum pans and cookware: Advantages: Lightweight, heat quickly, and cheap. Disadvantages: Possible link to Alzheimer’s, food has a tendency to stick, hot spot heating can easily burn food so you’ll want to stir it, hard to clean, can taste bad, pans can get bent/dinged easily, and aluminum has a tendency to react with foods. I’ve seen tomato sauce eat through…

If you’d like more information on camping cookware please click here for the whole article. You may also want to take a look at this related article on how to pick the best camping stove for your use.

About the Author

Marc learned about quality gear when his tent flooded forcing him to sleep in his tiny 2-seat Honda CRX. His hiking equipment & camping gear guides & reviews save you time & money. Subscribe to his camping & hiking newsletter & get the most usable info. FREE! © Marc Wiltse. Reprint permission if author, copyright, links & this notice are intact.

Listen Can You Hear the Crack of the Bat?

The other day, as I watched my daughter take batting practice from her new batting coach, my eyes shifted to another batter that was being coached by another teacher. Her swings were slow, the ball was glancing off her bat and trickling into the batting screen. Her hips were not rotating and there was no power being generated from her swings.

The coach then took some time with her to show her some techniques that would help her in her quest to be a better hitter. They spoke for about 10 minutes. Or should I say the coach spoke for 10 minutes and the girl listened.

As I gazed back and forth between my daughter and this other girl I realized that after about 20 more minutes of hitting and talking with her coach that this girl ( we will call her this girl ) was smacking the ball. Projectiles were streaming off her bat. That loud crack from her bat was reverberating in the facility.

It dawned on me. That this is why I love this game so much. I loved that crack of the bat. I loved hitting that ball so right. I loved it when the ball whistled in the air. Enjoying the other aspects of the game like base running, fielding, and throwing were great. But, I was deeply passionate about hitting. The supreme challenge was why I started playing this game and why I continue to enjoy watching it today.

As I continued to watch my daughter, Manteee, and this other girl hit better and better I could not help but feel an enormous amount pleasure. They were transforming in front of me. Whatever those coaches told them and whatever those two girls absorbed from their coaches was generating solid hit after solid hit.

I could not believe how happy I was for my daughter and the girl I did not know. There is something wonderful about learning and that willingness to be taught. Even though I only watched them I felt as if I was part of what was evolving in front of me.