An Underdog Makes Good

We all love a story of the underdog who works their butt off and then makes it big. We like to learn of the obstacles they have overcome or the struggles they have endured on the road to success. We want to know how they did it. What was their secret? And, how we can benefit from their experience?

A truly remarkable young man with an amazing story is Tim Duncan. You know him as a superstar basketball player for Wake Forest from 1993 to 1997. But did you know that he never even played basketball until he was 14 year old? And, three years later at the age of 17, he walked onto the Wake Forest Campus for the first time.

Tim was born in 1976 in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. His family was hard working and better off than most. Tim was a bright precocious child who learned quickly and excelled in school. He was advanced a grade in grade school because he surpassed his classmates. So, he would always be younger than his classmates in the future. Long and lean like his 2 sisters, Tim was a great swimmer. He had his eyes on the Olympics early on. His specialty, the 400 meter freestyle. At age 12 and 13 he broke many records and was tops in his bracket.

Fast forward to September 17, 1989 and Hurricane Hugo. The storm devastated the island; including the swim team's pool. Just prior to the hurricane, Tim's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. In the spring of 1990, she died, and Tim never swam competitively after that.

A year earlier, his sister now married and living in Columbus Ohio shipped a basketball goal, hoop and post to him for a gift. This began his interest in the game. His dad helped by anchoring it and pouring cement for the base. When his sister and her husband moved back to St. Croix there was nonstop play on that hoop. His brother in law, Ricky, who had played for Capital University in Columbus, was his practice partner.

Tim played in high school, grew nine inches and excelled as the top player on the island. Crazy stories filtered back to the US and curiosity about this guy developed. Several colleges flew scouts down for a look, and to offer athletic scholarships. But Dave Odom, head coach at Wake Forest, went there personally to look at Tim. Odom liked what he saw and in 1993, Tim arrived on the Wake Forest campus as a 17 year old college freshman. Tim became the 'mystery man' that first season and it took a few months for him to adjust. He was a bit timid but half way through the season everything clicked. He became a force to be reckoned with and Odom was a hero.

As he moved through each year at Wake Forest there was talk about him being the #1 draft pick in 1995; if he would leave school early for the pros. Tim was adamant that he would not be leaving college before graduation, no matter the offer. He was intent on receiving his degree... to honor his mother.

Why Steel Tip Darts?

The game of darts first appeared in England during the middle Ages. Soldiers would compete against each other by throwing steel arrows at a point marked on an overturned barrel. It is now a professional sport played the world over. While some players prefer the ease and general safety of soft tip darts, steel tip darts are preferred in both amateur and professional tournaments for their speed and accuracy.

About Steel Tip Darts

Steel tip darts are comprised of a sharp, steel point fixed to the end of a barrel and can weigh up to 50 grams. The best steel tip darts will typically weigh between 20 and 25 grams. Tungsten darts are preferred for their lightweight durability. Considered to be the best steel tip darts available, tungsten darts have a low density that allows for a closer grouping. This maximizes a player's scoring potential. A board comprised of tightly compacted bristle is used when playing with steel tip darts.

Board and Dart Rules

The Darts Regulation Authority governs the rules of steel tip dart play. Although different versions of the game are played worldwide, basic rules apply to all professional tournament play. The dartboard, measured from the floor to the bull's-eye, is to be installed at 5 feet 8 inches, and the throwing line should be marked 7 feet 9 ¼ inches from the board. Darts can weigh no more than 50 grams and could use either a fixed or movable point.

501 Rules

501 is the preferred dart game, played by both amateurs and professionals. The first player to reduce his score from 501 to zero is the winner. Players throw three darts each, and then subtract the total points scored. Darts that bounce off or miss the board do not score and are not re-thrown. Players must remove their darts from the board and tally their scores before the next opponent can throw. The game is won when a player reaches exactly zero by throwing a double. 501 is typically played in sets of three or five with a "best of" overall winner.

Throwing Techniques

Feet should be shoulder length apart with your body at a 50 to 90 degree angle with the board. Your front foot should be the same foot as your throwing hand with the majority of your weight resting on the front foot. The back foot is used for balance and neither foot should leave the ground during a throw. When throwing a dart, the elbow should remain in a fixed position until the arm begins moving. To achieve the perfect curve, your elbow should rise slightly when your arm is in forward motion. Your throwing shoulder should remain in a fixed position throughout the throw. Your focus should remain on the target from the beginning of the throw to the end. Bring the dart back a comfortable distance and do not accelerate too fast. The entire throw should be one fluid motion.

The Growing Outdoor Gym Trend

It's no longer just kids who can find healthy outdoor entertainment in parks. Outdoor gyms or adult playgrounds have been cropping up in cities around the world. The borough of Camden in London was one of the pioneers of the genius new idea and is now home to a whopping nine outdoor gyms.

The unfortunate coincidence of increasing numbers of overweight people, and rising gym fees has left many in despair. Thanks to the invention of outdoor gyms that are free to use for everyone, this trend could be combated. People who previously had no access to a gym are now being given the chance to improve their fitness levels in a relaxed environment engulfed in fresh air.

The adult playgrounds are strategically placed in areas where they are hard to miss, and attract a lot of attention. Some of the London gyms are adjacent to children's playgrounds so parents can exercise while their kids are playing.

Children and teens are encouraged to try the equipment under adult supervision. Recently, a new council-funded project in Riga, Latvia saw an outdoor gym set up at a city centre school to encourage pupils to do more exercise and spend more time in the fresh air.

Outdoor gym equipment is similar to what you'd find in most fitness centres throughout the world. The difference is it's not dependent on electricity so no luxuries like a TV screen built into your machine... This makes it a lot easier to focus on what you've actually gone there for - exercise. Choose between high bars, cross trainers, exercise bikes and other devices to help you lose weight and build up some healthy muscle matter.

Warmer summer months are likely to see a surge in the number of users. Even those with a paid gym membership have been known to choose the outdoor equivalent when the sun's up. It makes a nice change from the usual sweaty gym atmosphere with loud music pumping on the stereo. And you're just as likely to meet a future partner at an outdoor gym as you are at an indoor fitness club.

Set Up Your Own Outdoor Gym

If you're not yet fortunate enough to have an outdoor gym in the vicinity but are the proud owner of a garden, terrace or balcony, you can set up your very own outdoor gym.

Purchasing your own equipment is a good investment that will pay off as you no longer have to fork out on expensive gym fees. Consult a professional equipment provider to make sure you've got enough machines to target all muscle groups.

Alternatively, if you already own indoor gym equipment, you can use it outdoors too. This allows you to create a temporary outdoor gym if you live in a country where the weather won't permit you to exercise outdoors all year round. In this case look into diesel generator rental to power your gear, and set up a marquee to protect you and your equipment from the elements. Or place your gym in a veranda or shed with the doors wide open to let the fresh air in.

Don't Forget the Metal Detector

No matter where you are going or what kind of metal detecting you are going to be doing, you should have a check list of what to take along. If you're like me, I invariably get to my spot and I've forgotten something. That's so frustrating. Even if I can continue my hunting without the forgotten item(s), in some cases, I have to turn around and go back home to get whatever it is I forgot because it's something I can not do without - like my metal detector (duh). Don't ask my husband about that story. He loves to tell that one... all the time.

Here is a list I've come up with of things that you should probably have on all your metal detecting hunts. You may or may not think of other things that you personally want to take along, and this list is by no means set in stone, but all in all these things are good to have with you.

Metal Detector- Duh! I say this because sometimes - more often than I'd like to admit, I get so carried away in packing all my stuff that I forget to take the most obvious. Has that ever happened to you? Come on, admit it. Like going to a concert and forgetting the tickets... just saying.

Headphones - If you use headphones, and I think most detectorist's do. Make sure you have them packed. Headphone really help our hear the distinct tones your metal detector makes.

Probe- If you do not have a probe yet, I suggest you invest in a good one. A probe will help to pin point your treasure so you can dig it out without harming it. It's a very good and useful tool to have along.

Digging Tool- Trowel or shovel - Keep your digging tool clean and sharp. There is nothing worse than a dull shovel. Many sites have special digging tools and/or sifters; a great investment, however, a simple garden trowel and shovel does the job also.

Pouch/Bag/baggies - You can't forget to take along something to put your treasures in. I like to take small baggies to keep things separate if I want to. Some sort of collecting bag is essential.

Spare Batteries- Always, always, always have spare batteries with you when you're on your metal detecting excursion. There is nothing more frustrating than having your battery go dead right in the middle of a 'sweet' spot.

Magnifying Glass- I like to take a magnifying glass with me. Sometimes I'll find a relic or coin that I want to investigate closer. With a magnifying glass you can possibly see the date of the coin or item or any small engraving.

Gloves- Gloves save the hands from dirt, cuts, mud, etc. or you can go naked and hope for the best. I like to have gloves. It sucks to ruin a nice manicure.

First Aid Kit- Just in case. Better to take care of a boo-boo right away instead of waiting to get home.

Water/Food- I take a small cooler, and I put in several bottles of drinking water, maybe a soda or other beverage of my choice. I also like to take a gallon jug of water for rinsing, etc. should the need arise. Then I always like to take along snacks. No treasure hunting expedition is complete without snacks... or not. Up to you.

Towels/rags - Always good to have with you. Saves you from wiping the dirt and grime on you pants or jacket sleeves.

There you have it. Just a few items that I think are necessary. Depending on where you're going to be hunting there would be other items needed also.

Sports Injuries and Their Complications

I have decided to write this article to highlight the importance of understanding the complications that can result from misdiagnosis and untreated injuries.

My story began back in 2001 when doing some free sparring at the gym I used to attend in Manchester, UK. Unfortunately the flooring was uneven and when I went to turn my opponent from a clinch position my right foot became lodged in part of the uneven floor and my body turned 180 agrees. I heard a pop and immediately my knee gave way. Thinking it was just a sprained muscle I just rubbed some Thai oil on it and tried to contain with the sparring session. However the knee went again and I decided to get changed and go home.

Upon returning home I felt like there was something stuck in my knee joint, which was causing this problem. I got my mother to pull my leg out straight in the hope that "something" would pop back into place. However it didn't do the trick and I thought I would just give it some rest. Over the next few months I continued to have problems with my knee going, but I still contained to train because I was actively fighting at that time and didn't want appear to be "soft" to my instructor.

I did visit the doctors a few more times after that. However they kept telling me it was just a pull muscle. The injury really came to a head one morning when my knee locked. That was one of the most painful things I have ever experienced in my life. We called an ambulance and I was taken to the local hospital where they were absolutely no help at all. Later that afternoon I discharged myself still unable to walk properly. Fortunately my knee unlocked itself later that day.

After the above happened I decided that I would go to a knee specialist to see exactly what was happening with my knee. We were well into 2002 now. After a 15 minute consultation at a cost of 150 I was diagnosed with a torn / snapped anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which would need reconstruction surgery. However the cost of the surgery was over 5000 and I didn't have medical insurance to cover it, so I would have to go on the National Health Service (NHS).

After a few months I got to see a knee specialist on the NHS and underwent a MRI scan to see the extent of the damage. The results of the MRI scan were not good. I had actually snapped the ACL and had done a lot of cartilage damage. This could have been avoided if the doctors I initially saw didn't tell me it was a pulled muscle, which made me play down the injury and keep training on it.

I was informed that they would be able to do the surgery to repair the ACL in 6 - 12 months. Having just finished my degree I decided that I would go travelling in south east asia. I brought an ACL brace which was damm expensive and off I went. 3 months later I returned to the UK and another 3 months passed and I was finally in hospital for the surgery. It was now 2003 by this time!

The surgery went smoothly. They took some hamstring tendons and strapped them across my knee and put a few screws in there to hold everything in place. Now it was time for the real hard work. 18 months of physiotherapy to build up the muscles! This was bloody hard work and I found in the winter months I would get a dull aching pain in my knee, which whilst not painful it was very uncomfortable.

I was told after the surgery that I would never train Muay Thai again. However a year after surgery and physiotherapy I did go back to train and teach, but I have never taken place in competitions since. It's just not worth the risk.

You might be thinking what is the point of this story! Well what I would like people to take away from this is that when you get an injury don't down play it. If you feel it's not improving then get specialist advice. You know your body better than most people and you know when something is seriously wrong. This is something I didn't take notice of and was brain washed by people that I was just been "soft", which was compounded by misdiagnosis by general practitioners.

They took x-ray after x-ray and because they couldn't see anything broke then they just assumed it was a pulled muscle. A MRI scan is the only way that I am aware of that will show tendon and ligament damage. However they are reluctant to do this on the NHS, because it costs them a lot of money.

In any sport you are at risk of injuries. However knowing how to treat and look after them could make the difference between recovery and surgery. In my case I would have needed surgery regardless. However I could have saved some of the cartilage in my knee and a lot of pain if I was diagnosis correctly and didn't ignore what my body was telling me.

Croquet: Adapting the Game for Your Back Garden

The problem that most of us have is that our back gardens do not exactly conform to the size and shape required for the traditional set-up required for the prescribed croquet game rules! Well, why not create your own version!

A croquet set will normally consist of the following: mallets, six hoops, different coloured balls, a peg with various different coloured rings on it and some clips. The better sets will have boundary pegs and corner flags included. All very well when you have the 25 by 38 yards rectangular, manicured piece of lawn as required in competition croquet; not so perfect if you have a long and thin, round, odd-shaped or garden full of other garden game equipment cluttering the lawn area. To complete the setting, grandpa insisted on planting your birthday rose right in the centre! Fear not, croquet game rules can be adapted to suit whoever is in control.

Instead of using yard lines and chalk lines forming the perfect rectangular croquet court, why not use the flower beds as the out-of-bounds lines? Instead of following the normal set pattern for the hoops and peg, why not set out your own obstacle course, where participants can get snookered behind the sandpit, or the supports of the climbing frame? We have created very interesting courses that are in all sort of shapes and lines, causing frustration and hilarity at the same time, entertaining players and spectators alike, for extended periods of time. Whether the circuit is completed once or more than once, who cares!

As long as the rules are laid down before the start of the game, everyone is in the same boat. Providing the croquet equipment used is the same for all participants, all you need is a sense of fun, a will to win and a mean streak, ensuring your opponent's ball is in an uncompromising position after croquet was taken. An uneven piece of lawn will ensure that every shot has more than the usual dimensions to it and make planning shots ahead even more challenging. Just visualise how the contours and the lay of the land, influence the game of golf in shot selection and putting! We would not suggest that bunkers come into play in the game of croquet, but obstacles like trees, flower beds, garden furniture and other play equipment, bring challenges to the game that a flat, beautifully manicured lawn could not even dream to provide.

Croquet as a garden game can be enjoyed whether you are a nobleman with the appropriate lawns to enjoy, or the person with a postage stamp for a back garden. Croquet sets come in various sizes and prices; imagination we all have built-in at no cost already. Go outside, have a look at the croquet equipment and type of space you have to your disposal, grab a pen and paper and design the ideal course for you and your family and friends. Be mean but fair and set up your own set of croquet game rules and get stuck in for a fun time for all involved.

Henri J Botha is a keen supporter of putting as much fun into garden games as possible, providing affordable enjoyment for family and friends in the home and garden environment. He is part of a team that runs a website http://www.BestGardenGames.com where they sell lots of garden games like croquet and other sports sets, as well as wooden climbing frames and play equipment. Why not visit the website today and check out the quality products at affordable prices they offer, and while you are there, subscribe to receive the latest special deals on great products!