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   Most folks like some kind of sport. Whether it be a very active sport like soccer, rugby or football or a mellower sport like badminton or golf. Hang with us as we build this blog into an informative site of articles and links to the best places on the web to go find supplies.

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Death on the Egyptian Soccer Field

     Talk about a horrible tragedy in the world of sports. There was a soccer game in Egypt that turned into a disaster on February 2, 2012. 74 people were killed and hundreds injured. Here is the news article from CBS about it:


(CBS/AP)  

CAIRO - Egyptian police fired tear gas Thursday at thousands of demonstrators outside the Interior Ministry protesting the security forces' failure to prevent a soccer riot that killed more than 70 people.

Anger has been building as the public and lawmakers blamed the country's military rulers for the bloodshed, the latest to signal rapidly deteriorating security in the country since Hosni Mubarak's fall nearly a year ago.

The protests started as a peaceful march by Egyptians angry over the police inaction from the headquarters of Al-Ahly, one of Egypt's most popular soccer clubs, to the area outside the ministry building near Tahrir Square, the epicenter of last year's popular uprising that ousted Mubarak.

Security forces guarding the area were separated from the more than 10,000 protesters by concrete blocs and barbed wire, but tensions rose as protesters advanced toward them, cursing and removing some of the barriers. They also raised their shoes in the air and hurled stones. Police responded with heavy tear gas, sending demonstrators running, with some passing out and falling to the ground.

Some tried to move big concrete blocs erected around the ministry since November, when clashes between the police and protesters then left more than 40 people dead.

In scenes reminiscent of those clashes, protesters set tires on fire, sending black smoke in the air. Motorcycle drivers ferried some of those wounded from the site as ambulances were unable to get through. Egyptian state TV said 100 people had passed out from the tear gas.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement the protesters had cut the barbed wire, and crossed over the concrete blocs to reach the roads leading to the headquarters. It urged the protesters "to listen to the sound of wisdom ... at these critical moments" to prevent the spread of chaos.

Egyptians football fans rush to the fiels during clashes that erupted after a football match between Egypt's Al-Ahly and Al-Masry teams in Port Said, 220 kms northeast of Cairo, on February 1, 2012. 

(Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

Wednesday's riot at the stadium in Port Said erupted when Al-Masry fans stormed the field following a rare 3-1 win against Al-Ahly, one of Egypt's most popular clubs, but the violence went beyond the deep sports rivalry between the teams.

A network of rabid soccer fans known as Ultras vowed vengeance, accusing the police of intentionally letting rivals attack them because they have been at the forefront of protests over the past year, first against Mubarak and now the military.

Many members of die-hard soccer fans who were among the protesters vowed to storm the ministry.

"Either they (police) will die or we will die," said Islam, a member of the Ultras, said. "We are willing to die for the blood of martyrs."

He declined to give his last name because of the volatility of the situation.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57370529/violent-protests-follow-egypt-soccer-deaths/?tag=stack

Compression Shorts

   Just what are compression shorts? Here is a little info about them from WiseGeek:

During many athletic activities, the muscles of the groin and thighs often rub together, causing the sciatic nerve along the outer thigh to become irritated and the surrounding skin to chafe. Separating and compressing the groin and thigh muscles seems to provide relief from these problems, however. Compression shorts are specially constructed from nylon and lycra to provide support for the waist, groin and thighs during physical activity.

Perhaps the most recognized use of compression shorts is among professional bicyclists. The tight-fitting biker's shorts which extend from the waist to mid-thigh provide separation of the groin and thigh muscles through compression. Compression shorts for other sports are based on this same principle. The nylon fabric provides a cool, comfortable fit while the lycra provides enough elasticity to compress and separate the muscles. Some compression shorts are also designed to wick away excess sweat, which should reduce chafing and overheating.

Some athletes believe that compression shorts provide a performance advantage, because the hamstrings and other thigh muscles used for power are held under uniform compression. This is preferable to energy lost through wasted motion and vibrations. If the groin muscles are kept separate from the thigh muscles, friction and other momentum-robbing factors are also reduced. There is little scientific proof of such advantages with compression shorts, but many professional athletes prefer to wear them during competition.

Compression shorts are often suggested to those who suffer from a form of back pain called sciatica. The sciatic nerve runs along the outer thigh and can be irritated during exercise. Many sufferers find relief from sciatic nerve pain while wearing compression shorts under their normal workout gear. Many non-athletes also find that compression shorts provide support to the groin area, reducing the chances of injury while biking or using training equipment.

Some compression shorts also include a protective cup for male athletes or additional groin support for females. There are also compression shirts for the support of the upper torso and back muscles. The fit should be snug but not overly constrictive. A good pair of compressionshorts should form a noticeable gap between the thighs and groin area. Some compression shorts also provide odor protection, so consult the label for a complete list of benefits.

Info from WiseGeek

     Soooo, if you think you would like to try a pair of compression shorts, you can check out some various places online for them. We have an auction going for a pair right now on Ebay - go here to check that out - McDavid Gold Compression Shorts. We also have quite a few other pairs of these available so feel free to contact us at kim@goodgoats.net

   You might also check out the Soccer Garage for some compression shorts - see below:

Choosing Baseball Bats

By: Kenrick Austin

We hope that you enjoy yourselves reading this information onbaseball bats. We sure enjoyed ourselves compiling this up.

From the time small children are old enough to hold a baseball bat many have longed to be part of the great American pastime. Baseball bats have been around ever since the game was created and there are baseball museums that have collections of baseball bats owned and used by famous players.

When kids first start to play the game of baseball they use a plastic bat. There are plastic baseball bats made today for the youngest of ballplayers and some even have baseball teams or players names on them.

As children get older and more serious about the game they find there are choices to be made about which bat to buy. Baseball bats come in many widths, lengths and materials. A heavier bat gives the ball more momentum but a heavier bat also means a less speedy swing. Bats that are made from graphite or aluminum hit balls farther than baseball bats made from wood.

Players endorse baseball bats and many have their names on them. Baseball team logos are also represented on baseball bats.

Writing about baseball bats is an interesting writing assignment. There is no end to it, as there is so much to write about it!

When aluminum bats were first introduced in the 1970's, batting averages rose 30 points and home run hits doubled. In the Major Leagues batters now use wooden bats instead of baseball bats made from lighter materials. They could change to the baseball bats made from aluminum or a lighter material but it would significantly change the home runs hit today and the traditional records and baseball legends would not seem as important.

If you are wanting to buy a baseball bat consider who will be using it. Age and which league you are playing in is also a deciding factor. Little League bats can't be more than 2 1/4 inches in diameter or more than 33 inches long for instance. Adult leagues have rules about baseball bats also.

Speed and control are the most crucial factors to consider when buying a baseball bat. Check the weight of the bat, if it's too heavy it won't work for you. When checking the grip, your fingertips should meet when closed around the handle.

Did you ever believe that there was so much to learn about baseball bats? Neither did we! Once we got to write this article, it seemed to be endless.

You can buy a small wooden baseball bat for $10-$20. An aluminum bat will cost between $20-$200 or more but it won't chip or peel and the balance and weight will remain constant.

There are thousands of baseball bats to choose from. Talk to an expert who can help you decide which is the perfect baseball bat for you.

Writing all this on can be considered an obligation to us. This is because we felt obligated on imparting all this knowledge we knew about baseball bats.
Author Bio
Ken Austin is the webmaster at World Sports Resource Guide.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content