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New Title For New Day
It was deeply distressing to watch the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit sink to that standard in April when it dismissed a civil case brought by four former Guantánamo detainees never charged with any offense. The court said former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and the senior military officers charged in the complaint could not be held responsible for violating the plaintiffs’ rights because at the time of their detention, between 2002 and 2004, it was not “clearly established” that torture was illegal.
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Cesc – Great Player. Great Captain?
The result against Manchester United will have hit the players particularly hard; for supporters, it did so and we often believe that we feel things more deeply than those on the pitch. That ought to be wrong. Professional pride will have been stung, mental wounds deep if the squad is serious about reaching the pinnacle of the game.
Without doubt, recent seasons has seen youth and experience talk a good game. With the absence of trophies since 2005, this has often been in adverse circumstances. At this moment, the players are being written off by sections of the support, the media and the footballing public at large. Title talk seems cheap in such times, words which are easy to find in good times have a hollow ring when the faces uttering them are bereft of belief.
Arsene and the coaching staff have a tough task ahead of them this week. The belief that clawed back the points deficit following the home defeat to Chelsea will have been brutally battered from the moment United went two up on Sunday. Individual errors will weigh heavy on minds and allow confidence to seep from souls.
Playing for Arsenal is no easy task; standards of ability and application are expected from those fortunate to have the confidence of the manager in their skills. When those standards are not delivered, mental anguish takes hold; only the uncaring can pick themselves up immediately after such performances.
Cesc Fabregas has long carried the torch of hope on the pitch. Like Henry before him, Fabregas is expected to produce the mercurial moments when the team is incapable of doing so. It is a heavy burden to bear, one which ought to have troubled Wenger is his decision-making process before handing the young Spaniard such responsibility. He had a tough baptism into the role of Arsenal captain, piecing together the Arsenal squad following the destructive tendencies of William Gallas’ words.
There are those who will argue that repairing the lost confidence is not down to the captain; that there ought to be leaders throughout the squad who can assist; that this is the job of Wenger. To an extent that is true. The manager has to hand out the orders to be followed. His coaching staff have to be the eyes and ears which pick up on, and rectify, weaknesses.
Yet when training is over and the players disperse, it is the captain who takes over the nurturing mantle. To ask that of Fabregas is a tall order. He will have felt the defeat as hard, if not harder than the others. His abilities have marked him out as one of the great players in the game at this moment in time. This week will be an indicator as to whether or not he is a great captain.
It is relatively straightforward captaining a winning side, the biggest enemies are arrogance and complacency. A tight-knit group will be to some extent self-policing. When exuberance oversteps the mark, plenty will step in to bring it back to the right side of the confidence line.
Defeat is a different matter, especially when the manner is appalling. Fabregas has to pick himself up immediately. Some will retreat into their shells, those bearing the brunt of criticism will be the major concerns. Talking them round, galvanising them into action is going to require all of the people skills that the captain can muster.
Facing Chelsea is on the one hand a daunting task for the players. Another defeat, particularly a heavy one, could be damaging to them in the long term, creating a psychological hurdle that will take time to heal. At this moment, time is not a friend. Equally, playing a match deemed to be straightforward could be tough; fail to achieve a convincing win and Arsenal would be further condemned. Win in either scenario and it is amazing how much of a boost will be received.
Cesc has long led this squad through his performances. Now he leads them through mental strength. He has a tough week ahead of him, requiring him to prove his mettle. If he can make sure that confidence conquers fear, anything is possible.
’til Tomorrow.
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Top Benefits of Yoga
1. Stress Relief
Yoga is helpful to reduce the level of stress in your body. In this the benefit of yoga is that it encourages relaxation and can lower the amount of cortisol in your body.
2. Better Breathing
It will help to increase your lung function and set off the body’’s relaxation response. This can be one of the most powerful benefits of yoga.
3.Increased Body Strengthen
The benefits of yoga and daily exercises will help you strengthen your muscles close to the bones, which increase the support of your skeletal system as well.
4. Weight Loss
With yoga you can also decrease your body weight. Because in yoga your entire body parts are working. Yoga can also helps to reduce the level of cortisol in your body. This aids in weight loss and fat burning.
5. Inner Peace
Yoga is so helpful to get inner peace in your mind and body. This is one of the most important benefits of yoga and is also one of the more easy ones to attain.
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Part II: The NFL Wedge Ban & Its Effect on Kick Returns (Super Bowl Hype Edition)
By Jonathan Adler
The NFL outlawed the wedge in 2009
Earlier this season, I examined whether the NFL wedge blocking ban had meaningfully effected kickoff returns through the first eight games. (View November’s post) Back then, at the season’s midway point, I found that the wedge ban had not caused a statistically significant change in kick return length. But a lot has changed since November. The Seahawks hired Pete Carroll, the Redskins fired Jim Zorn, and Al Davis spent New Year’s shooting bullets at Tom Cable’s feet screaming, “Dance, Cable! Dance!” The past few months have brought considerable changes to the league, but was the effect of the wedge ban one of them?
Intended to enhance player safety, the ban prohibits more than two players from blocking together. Before the ban’s first season, coaches, players, and the media wondered whether new blocking schemes would result in free-running kick returners or dominating coverage units. Now that the 2009 regular season has concluded, we can see the complete results.My methodology is the same as it was at midseason, so please reference my previous post for a quick refresher. Using individual team averages, I calculated an adjusted average kick return length. From 2006-2008, the three seasons immediately preceding the wedge ban, the adjusted average kick return was 22.67 yards. By the end of the 2009 season, the full season adjusted kick return average was 22.64 yards. So in a wedge-less season, the average kick return was shortened by only 0.03 yards (about an inch). This staggeringly small discrepancy between kickoff returns with and without wedge blocking is noticeably minuscule, and we can conclude (with the help of a t-test) that the wedge ban has not significantly altered kick returns.
Wedge Seasons, 2006-2008: 22.67 yards/KR (Standard Deviation: 1.719 yards)
Wedge-less Season, 2009: 22.64 yards/KR (Standard Deviation: 1.755 yards)
These results should be viewed favorably in the NFL’s Park Avenue office. The league succeeded in creating a rule that they believe enhanced player safety without seriously altering the game on the field. Proper study is required to determine whether players are, in fact, safer, but if they are, then these results suggest that we shouldn’t mourn the loss of the wedge. However, the ban’s effect may change in future seasons as creative special teams coaches explore different schemes that exploit the absence of the wedge. So it’s something to keep an eye on.
So please, don’t lie awake worrying about the wedge ban any longer. Enjoy the Super Bowl. And when watching the opening kick, don’t shed a tear for the wedge.
Another interesting note: In November, the 2009 season’s adjusted average stood at 23.31 yards. By the end of the season, it fell to 22.64 yards. Kick returns in the second half of the season were shorter. This trend appears in other seasons, as well. Why? Most likely because as a season progresses, inclement weather creates tougher kicking conditions. And shorter kicks, in general, mean shorter returns.
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NFL & Me on ‘Who Dat’
From the NFL Superbowl blog: NFL explains “Who Dat” position thusly:
Posted: February 1st, 2010 | NFL.com Staff | Tags: New Orleans Saints, Who Dat
The NFL cleared up a perceived controversy over the “Who Dat” trademark.
The league is challenging the sale of items that use “Who Dat” in connection with the Saints’ trademarks or logos. The league isn’t interested in chasing down merchandise that merely has “Who Dat” logos.
“‘Who Dat,’ we do not claim to own by itself,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the New Orleans Times Picayune. “It’s when ‘Who Dat’ is used in conjunction with Saints marks that it’s a problem.”
McCarthy said the league will only become involved when the “Who Dat” is advertised as official Saints or NFL gear.
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As a member of the WHO DAT NATION, I’d like to address a few points in the NFL’s statement.#1. “perceived controversy”?? If you believe the controversy is “perceived” then you have a big problem with perception. The Who Dat Nation’s been expressing it’s displeasure for over two weeks now. But, yeah, we get it. It takes a letter from a senator to get your attention – fans don’t count. FAIL!
#2. “The league is challenging the sale of items that use “Who Dat” in connection with the Saints’ trademarks or logos.”
Fleurty Girl’s #whodat tee does not portray a Saints logo nor the “official” Saints/NFL fleur de lis yet she was served a “cease and desist” letter unless she preferred to pay a 10% royalty to the NFL. Perhaps the rep who drafted the letter needs a lesson on the finer points of distinguishing between the official NFL fleur de lis and its’ many, many variations. It ain’t just a flower. FAIL!#3. “The league isn’t interested in chasing down merchandise that merely has “Who Dat” logos.”
See #2. DOUBLE FAIL!
#4. “It’s when ‘Who Dat’ is used in conjunction with Saints marks that it’s a problem.”
“Who Dat” has been the rallying cry of Saints fans since the early ’80’s and will always be the rallying cry of Saint’s fans. Do you have a jail big enough? Oh wait, you can use the Superdome since that is where you have SEEN ‘WHO DAT’ SIGNS WEEK AFTER WEEK AT EVERY SAINTS GAME since the early ’80’s. FAIL!#5. “…the league will only become involved when the “Who Dat” is advertised as official Saints or NFL gear.”
Is is just me or does this remark contradict the remark in #3? Also, see #2. Again. DOUBLE #WHODAT FAIL!Just be big boys. Admit you screwed up and apologize to the Who Dat Nation. Mmmm-kay?
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Rooney Is Exceptional
Liverpool hero Mark Lawrenson claims that although Wayne Rooney is right up there with some of Manchester United’s greatest ever players like George Best, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo, he believes Rooney is only likely to get better and better.
“Manchester United have had some brilliant players down the years. George Best, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo. Three players who were unquestionably the best in the world on their day. But even by those incredibly high standards, Wayne Rooney is exceptional, he is different and yet Sir Alex Ferguson would probably pick him above anyone else at the moment.”
“Rooney has this incredible work ethic. He is an amazing talent and, for all of his brilliance, he has an astonishing work rate. None of those great players – Ronaldo, Best or Cantona – worked as hard as Rooney. That’s why Rooney is out there on his own. Who else has had his incredible ability and yet still covers every blade of grass, from corner flag to corner flag, like Rooney? No-one.”
“His team ethic is amazing too. Whether it be in a five-a-side in training or against Barcelona in the Champions League, it is always the same. Rooney is desperate to win.”
“There can be no doubt that Fabio Capello has had a positive influence, telling Rooney to stay in the box and danger zone more. Rooney has become more prolific. But Sir Alex Ferguson has been the biggest influence of all, without doubt.”
“This season, Ronaldo has gone and Rooney has taken on the mantle of being star player and enjoyed the licence to roam.”
He also suggests that Wayne Rooney is one of the three best players in the world alongside Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
“Without question, Rooney is already in the top three in the world with Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But he will only get better because he’s still so young.”
“In the past, Ronaldo got all the plaudits and headlines. Now Rooney has stepped up a level and his performances against Manchester City in both semi final ties were incredible. Absolutely incredible.”
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Some Early Press…
From original URL: http://www.prlog.org/10514596-world-cup-unofficial-england-world-cup-song-rereleased.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
World Cup: Unofficial England World Cup Song Re-released
London — With the latest round of football madness almost upon us, and the FA announcing that they’re going to focus on football this year and not release an official World Cup 2010 England song, it’s time once more for the supporters to go wild. Every year to commemorate the start of the World Cup an array of hopeful talent produces some interesting anthems, chants, and ditties to cheer along the hopeful England fans.
An “almost made it” from the last World Cup back in 2006 has decided to contend for the title of “England’s best unofficial World Cup 2010 song”. The London-based band, The Laddz, is hoping their Bangles spoof, “Chant Like An English Fan!” will have even more success than it had four years ago.
Co-writer, Anthony Donnelly said, “A lot has happened in four years. Back in 2006 we really didn’t have a clue what we were doing, and were really surprised by the results we got.” For an unknown band, they were fortunate enough to get a fair bit of media and airplay on local and national radio. They also barely missed getting signed to a lable, which astounded them all.
“Just like football, the music business is a funny old game,” states Richard Eyre, the other half of the writing duo. “It was only after the World Cup was over that we really started to get some praise for what we managed to achieve.”
This year, with four more years of experience, even though the duo now live at opposite ends of the world (Richard in Thailand and Anthony in the US) they are way ahead of the curve this time around. Hoping that the same online marketing that President Obama used to win the election in America will work for their football chant, the partnership are taking no chances.
“We’re pulling out all the stops this year,” said Donnelly. “We’re using everything we can to improve our chances of success.” They certainly are, and it appears to be working. Traffic to their myspace site (http://myspace.com/theladdz) is already up 30%, their traffic on twitter (@theladdz) is climbing, and their blog (http://chantlikeanenglishfan.wordpress.com) already has an avid following.
Currently they are looking for DJs interested in mixing a dance version of their song, and any people around the world interested in helping to proactively assist in promoting the song. With so much activity, and the England squad focussing on football, will we see a repeat of 1966 – the last time there wasn’t an official song? That result is anybody’s guess. -
Sometimes it’s hard to watch football
I’ve been following the story of concussions in football since 2007, when scientists discovered that the brain of Andre Waters, the former Eagles safety who killed himself in 2006, was in the physical condition of an 85-year-old in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Later that year, retired NFL players started their campaign for better treatment from the league, and in September 07, Kevin Everett of the Buffalo Bills suffered a severe injury to his spine while covering a kickoff.
I didn’t watch a single game in 2007.
But it’s so hard to stay away. I’m a huge sports fan. The first NFL game I remember watching was the 1979 NFC Championship game- LA Rams 9, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0. Anyone who follows me on Twitter (@freedomsfriend) or is friends with me on Facebook knows that I’m constantly commenting on what’s going on, especially with the Eagles.
This week Time magazine’s cover story, The Problem with Football, continues the conversation on how science is discovering the dangers of playing football.
The human brain, although encased by a heavy-duty cranium, isn’t designed for football. Helmets do a nice job of protecting the exterior of the head and preventing deadly skull fractures. But concussions occur within the cranium, when the brain bangs against the skull. When helmets clash, the head decelerates instantly, yet the brain can lurch forward, like a driver who jams the brakes on. The bruising and stretching of tissue can result in something as minimal as “seeing stars” and a momentary separation from consciousness.
Repeated blows to the head, which are routine in football, can have lifelong repercussions.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Time story is that one of the spokesmen for better treatment for players is Kyle Turley, the former Saints, Rams, and Chiefs offensive lineman. Turley was famous for being a tough guy. He doesn’t buy the tough guy act anymore.Bravery. Bravado. Machismo. These qualities create superior football players. But they can be poisonous. “You’ve got to change the culture, change the mentality,” says Turley. “This whole archaic notion that football is everything, all these stupid things coaches go around saying, comparing football to the military … It’s not.”
I couldn’t stay away from football, but I find myself cringing a lot more than I ever did before. Maybe someday I will put it down altogether, but I’m certainly not about to predict that.
When we watch a movie like Gladiator, it’s hard to believe that people watched the gladiators for entertainment. But maybe we have our own version- football. Perhaps we should ask ourselves why we’re asking young men to destroy themselves for our entertainment.
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Foo’bawhl, part deux
The last time I wrote about football, I started off the discussion with an exposé on sacrifice. I’d like to do the same this time around.
Sacrifice is no new concept to the world of team sports. There’s no way that a team, a group of individuals, is going to succeed in any form without sacrifice by at least a portion of the group. Usually, especially in team sports, there is one group of individuals who give more, who sacrifice more, than the rest of the group.
Concerning football, there are three positions that give the most (not to say that the other positions don’t give–these are just the positions that, in my mind, give the most). These are; lineman (specifically offensive), linebackers, and running backs. Yes, receivers get punished, corners make tackles BUT based on what I’ve seen and felt (dear God, have I felt it), the aforementioned positions take the heaviest beatings.
LINEMAN.
I estimate that the average amateur lineman weighs between 240 and 300 pounds. For the majority of these hogs, there’s no doubt that the majority of their weight comes from fat–it’s a rare man that can carry 260 pounds of solid muscle. That’s not to say that lineman aren’t strong–one simply cannot avoid developing some kind of strength after carrying that amount of weight around for any given period of time.
Now, I haven’t weighed myself in a long time, but based on my last weigh-in, which was around 215, and how I look/feel now, I’d say I probably tip the scales at around 220. So that means that even the lightest of OL have at least 20 pounds on me. I’ve discovered one thing during my tenure as a lineman (a position into which I was unexpectedly slotted)–moving dudes that size is hard work. Especially when defensive lineman can grab, hold, throw, etcetera, whislt OL are limited to grasping only the frontplate of the DL’s pads…in other words, it’s a lot harder to be on the OL then on the DL. As of right now, the amount of straight up, brutal impact that I’ve experienced as Left Tackle is pretty low, but, I can only imagine what it’s going to be like once there’s someone across the line from me. Because I weigh only 220 or so, I’m going to have to work probably twice as hard as the guy next to me to keep my man from sacking my QB. Fortunately I’ve got athleticism on my side, and I’m pretty strong, but what happens when I match up against someone whose bigger, faster, and stronger than me? Playing OL is tough based mostly upon how much effort I have to exert in order to be effective.
My hands hurt, which is always a surprising feeling. My hands, more specifically the muscles, rarely hurt anymore. Having done labor all my life has helped me develop a pretty solid grip, so I’m always blown away when my hands end up hurting.
LINEBACKER.
If I wrote a letter to God about being a linebacker, it would have this as the opening line: “Dear God, please stop sending running backs my direction. They’re fast, hit hard, and make my shoulders hurt.”
Our defensive coordinator explained to us the other day that linebackers are the “headhunters of the field” and as such, we needed to know how to hit. This meant we spent the better part of a 4-hour practice smashing into each other again, and again, and again.
Linebackers get to fill the gaps created on the line–it’s our job to step up and minimize the yardage gained by a rushing running back. It’s the running back’s job to either a) juke us out of our shoes, or b) run into us full speed in hopes of bowling us over. On our team, we have a running back that likes to do both. The kid can hit, and he can move, too, which makes him tough to bring down.
I wouldn’t mind the hitting so much if we didn’t do it for over an hour on end. I understand the importance of learning how to hit and tackle, as well as developing toughness, both mental and physical, but c’mon Coach, we need a break here! No one is going to have the motivation to come to practice if all we do is hit all day.
Once games start happening I’m sure my mindset will change. Right now it’s hard to lay a hit on a teammate–we have limited numbers as it is and don’t want to get anyone hurt. But once the season starts and it’s mano a mano on the gridiron, big hits are welcome and expected.
Right now however, the only thing I can think about is how jacked-up both of my shoulders feel. Lateral/front raises? Pfft. Military/push press? I think not. Bench? Maybe barely. Squat? Yes, but ouch (my right knee is swollen, too). Deadlift? Always.
Running Back.
Like I have any idea what this feels like. I can imagine it’s the same thing as playing linebacker, expect opposite. For some reason, it seems like it’s a lot easier to try to run through a guy rather than try to stop him.
Physics or sump’in…I ‘unno.
But back to sacrifice.
If we’re all a team, then why the hell don’t some guys give as much as others? On my team there are at least three, four, maybe even five dudes who half-ass it on the field. They show up late, they chicken-shit their way through the conditioning, they bitch about having to do things.
Just shut the hell up.
By showing up late, not dedicating yourself to the team in the same way I am, you’re basically telling me that you don’t care all that much about the team. How the hell am I supposed to want to protect some asshole QB who doesn’t show up to practice all the time? Why should I care if he gets crushed behind the line? Would he do the same for me? Would he put himself between me and an oncoming linebacker?
Maybe, maybe not. Right now I’m inclined to think that he wouldn’t.
If you’re a dick to your own teammates, why the hell would you expect them to back you up? I mean, I’m going to do my job, because that’s who, how, and what I am as a person and as an athlete.
But sacrifice, like virginity, is one of those things that should not be given lightly. Sacrifice hurts, day in and day out, and is difficult to maintain on a consistent basis. Sacrifice must be rewarded, for the efforts of a few can, and do, determine the success or failure of many.
Give me a reason, a cause, and the motivation to carry on, and I’ll go to the ends of the world with and/or for you. But misuse me, and by God I’ll step out of the way and let your smug QB ass get crushed.