Friday, January 11, 2008
There is no denying that the sports business these days is awash in bright lights ...
Quite often, though, the same can't be said for the people or practices involved.
The passage of time, the fading of origins and the constant superseding of slang can combine to cause some curious contemporary contexts.
To start, have you ever really thought about how pedantic the word 'quarterback' is? When the innovators who metamorphosed rugby into gridiron football were telling players where to stand, it was only logical to have someone placed all the way behind the line called a 'fullback.' By then, soccer already had two defending positions which used that term, so they surely provided the acceptable sporting frame of reference. For the gridiron game's founding fathers to next place another player halfway between the fullback and the linemen and call him a 'halfback' made sense, too. But, perhaps they overdid this theme by sticking a third player halfway between the halfback and the linemen and arriving at the unfortunately obvious titling conclusion.
It only figures that such a mathematically correct --- but verbally clumsy --- location of a player would turn out to describe the most important position in the game. Any sports fan has heard that word a thousand times and surely doesn't think twice anymore about what it means or how silly it sounds. The rest of the salient world, though, is left to wonder what minds like those had named their kids.
On the other hand, the venerable game of cricket doesn't even think the word 'silly' sounds silly. Players' positions in that game are also defined by their location, and they actually have a series of spots called 'silly point,' 'silly mid-off' and 'silly mid-on.' In this case, it's truth in advertising. That's because they're placed so close to the batsman that solid contact from a full swing could result in serious bodily harm from a scorching line drive, which means that someone would have to be absolutely foolhardy to play there. Or, maybe just silly. (Just so you're aware that all cricketers aren't that crazy, the 'silly' locations are only occupied when the fielding team believes the batsman will only take defensive swings to protect his wicket.)
Certain topics just weren't discussed in public a century ago. So, a gridiron position like 'tight end' or a rugby position like 'hooker' never gave anyone a second thought. That was then. I'm assuming those athletes frame their conversations with non-fans more carefully now.
There are times when even the sports media should think deeper about their choice of words. Sports fans often have to do a double-take at headlines being thrust before them. Here's a recent offering from ESPN.com:
"Panel to Look at Claims Against Skeleton Coach."
While it might have been tempting to muse if the story was about some incident after a play was 'long dead,' only a hardcore Winter Olympics maven would recognize that a coach for the headfirst sledding events is in some sort of trouble. The sleighs involved in that discipline acquired the name 'skeleton' by a logic that was similar to that of the resultant term for putting a player a quarter of the way between the fullback and the center: the sled involved is literally a bare-bones equivalent of a bobsleigh or a luge, and the engineers must have gotten to it before the marketers did. Of course, if you've ever seen this sport in action, you could easily believe that its moniker was derived from what was left of an athlete if he ever lost control of his sled at 70mph.
Given the apparent discord between sports terminology and the perception of those same words and phrases by the rest of the world, it's not surprising that sometimes, ordinary words can be a cause of confusion to those who have spent their lives in the sporting arena.
In the late 1960s, two former gridiron football stars-turned-broadcasters --- New York Giants great, Pat Summerall, and Philadelphia Eagles receiver, Tom Brookshier --- were covering a game involving the Washington Redskins. At the time, those two were better known for socializing before the game than for preparing themselves for the broadcast. Brookshier, especially, seemed to depend on the depth charts and player profiles laid before them in the booth, rather than doing his own research.
During the course of the game, a kickoff came to a relatively unknown Redskin named Herb Mul-Key. He got a couple of key initial blocks, found a seam and scampered for a substantial return. It definitely warranted a comment from the analyst, which was Brookshier's role.
However, he clearly didn't know anything about Herb Mul-Key. All he could do was look for something of note on the player-bio card, and he thought he found something.
"I see," he announced, "that Mul-Key went to No-Knee College. I've never heard of that school."
Summerall's pause was extended. Finally, with subtle exasperation, he finally made the correction.
"I believe the word is 'None,' Tom."
Brookshire was truly a man trapped in sports. I guess that meant, to him, the cue card had something in common with the term for another rugby position:
It was a tight head prop.
Hunting Wild Turkey: More Than Just a Wild Goose Chase
Turkey hunting is one of the most enjoyable and the fastest growing forms of hunting today. The most successful turkey hunters use different techniques just to locate a bird. Many techniques are applied and each turkey hunter would swear by their methods.
There are certain truths though that most hunters will agree upon. Some of them are obvious enough, like, being in a camouflage helps hunters stay hidden within gun range. Or movement is the supreme enemy of the turkey hunters. Much more than this, practicing makes your skills as a turkey hunter better. And the excitement of the turkey hunt will hone the hunter's alertness.
Like any sport, there are certain rules and regulations one must follow, here are some rules you need to remember:
• You will need a turkey hunting permit and a small game hunting license - it is required when hunting wild turkeys. You can only buy one turkey permit each year. If you have filled your limit, you may call for another turkey hunter but you can never bring any fire arm or even a bow.
• Using rifles and hand guns are not allowed. You can only hunt using your bow and arrow, shot guns with shot sizes no larger than number two or smaller than number eight. These are the only weapons for catching wild turkeys.
• And you must fill out the tag which only comes with your permit and attach it to the turkey you shoot straight away.
• Do not disturb hen turkeys or their nests.
• Searching with a dog during spring is not permitted. But you may hunt with it during the fall season.
• You must not use any intensifying device to locate or hunt turkeys during open seasons.
Here are also some tips for a successful and safe turkey hunting season:
• If you will leave your gear and your turkey with another person, make sure to leave the following information for emergency purposes.
1. your name
2. your phone number
3. your address
4. your license hunting number
5. your turkey permit number
6. the 3rd party's name
7. the 3rd party's address
8. if necessary, your veterinarian's name too
9. his or her contact number
• Look for signs of recent wild turkey activities. Locate appropriate calling locations. These signs includes tracks and droppings. Droppings offer positive data that wild turkeys are located in that area. It also indicates the bird's sex. For gobblers, they have j-shaped, elongated droppings and hair-like feathers known as the beard extended from the breast. The beard is normally three to ten inches long. Most of them have spurs on the lower legs. Beard and spur length tend to increase with age. Some hens also have the beard but only 10 percent of their population contain it. Their head in general are dull gray-blue color, with pink and red coloration. Their breast feathers have a buff or white tip giving the hen it's attractive and eye catching color.
• Turkeys possess a strong sense of hearing and sharp vision. You should remain unmoving while calling them. A camouflage outfit is also recommended in this kind of hunting hobby. Even hunters wrap their shotguns in camouflage to prevent gun barrel from being detected through their shiny metal.
Niall Barco has been learning about turkey hunting for five years. Turkey-Hunting.info offers news, information, tips and views about turkey hunting equipment.
Copyright http://Turkey-Hunting.info All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links back to Turkey-Hunting.info are included intact.
Bell Witch - True Ghost Story
Copyright 2006 DeWayne Strickland
The Bell Witch is based on true events that will send a cold chill down your spine and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. When you try to sleep tonight, just remember that I warned you about the Bell Witch.
Just like in the movie "The Ring", once you look into the darkness, it looks back at you. Your life will never be the same once you know about the Bell Witch and your thirst to know more is never quenched. Are you ready for a "True Ghost Story"?
According to the Legend, John Bell was the only person recognized by any state to have been killed by a spirit. The Legend dates back to the time of General Andrew Jackson, in the early 1800s. The story has a special interest for me, because I live in Tennessee. Nice to know the Bell Witch is not too far away!
How would you like to visit the Bell Witch location in Tennessee? Bring your camera, because you never know what you will see. You can even visit the hidden Bell Witch cave, which lies on the property of the ill-fated Bell family.
Imagine being home alone at night and the lights have been dimmed. Your relaxing and all of a sudden you hear a rapping noise. Next, you hear knocks and scratching sounds, and no one is there. Have you ever heard unusual noises while you where sleeping? Maybe some breathing in the corner of your room and no one was there?
You look into the darkness and see what you think is a human figure, or is it? It gets very cold and you feel this dark forceful presence upon you. You know your not alone; You begin to think your mind is playing tricks on you. Is it all in your head?
You see a shadow out of the corner of your eye, and you know not to be so curious. It realizes you are afraid and it can smell your fear. You want to run, but there is no where to run. You want to scream, but it is too late.
The Bell family knew what terror was and even Mr. Bell tried to keep it a secret. It was to be exposed by the Bell Witch! She had to make her voice heard and physically attacked a family to make her point!
According to the Bell Witch Legend, The spirit of Kate Batts terrorized the Bell family. Sticking the daughter with pins and pulling her hair. There were physical manifestations and bed sheets flying off the beds. Again, whats makes this chilling, is that it is not some fictional story or one of Stephen Kings best sellers, it is a "True Ghost Story".
The Bell Witch legend is a part of history and if you are as curious as I am, you will seek more answers to this "True Ghost Story". Perhaps a visit to Adams, Tennessee, why not see if you can touch the presence of the Bell Witch's eerie past, and if fate allows maybe more.
The new owners have reported strange ghostly shapes and have heard unexplained sounds. Imagine taking a tour and hearing eerie sounds coming from the hidden corners of the cave. Picture yourself with a camera taking pictures and you just happen to capture a shadowy figure on your camera.
Just think, you could experience the past of this "True Ghost Story". Imagine the look on your friends' faces, when you tell this story around a camp fire.
There is a road sign about the hauntings located on Highway 41. This scary tale has tours and a Bellwood cemetery, all of it located in Adams, Tennessee. Call ahead for tour times at (615) 696-3055.
"Will you visit Adams, Tennessee. Or are you too scared!"
This amazing story continues to grow stronger then ever. Are you fascinated by scary fiction(Stephen King)? A "True Ghost Story", will keep your interest and compels you to know more! The Bell Witch is waiting. Will you be next?
------
DeWayne H. Strickland has been a Film Freak since the time he could walk. He is a webdesigner and is the crazy movie review critic at: http://www.moviedownloadmatrix.com
|