Above And Beyond Promotion

Posts Tagged ‘team’

Ben Wallace NBA Career

Word Count:
485

Summary:
Born on September 10, 1974, Ben Wallace attended college at Virginia Union, where he studied criminal justice, and currently plays for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. He stands 6’9″ tall and weighs 240 lbs and is the 10th of 11 children.

Keywords:
Ben, Wallace, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, NBA, basketball, biography, pictures

Article Body:
Born on September 10, 1974, Ben Wallace attended college at Virginia Union, where he studied criminal justice, and currently plays for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. He stands 6’9″ tall and weighs 240 lbs and is the 10th of 11 children. In his free time away from the court, Ben Wallace enjoys swimming, hunting, fishing and video games. During the off-season, Ben and his wife Chanda reside in Virginia. During his collegiate years, Wallace led his team to the Division II Final Four and an impressive 28-3 record.

The 1996-1997 season marked the rookie year for Ben Wallace, during which he saw only limited action as a reserve player for the Bullets. Having appeared in 34 competitions during the season, he averaged 1.1 point per game. During the 1997-1998 season, Wallace experienced his first NBA career start, during which he grabbed 12 rebounds, against the Indiana Pacers on January 27, 1998. The following seasons gave Ben Wallace additional court time, which allowed him to continue bettering his game. The 2002-2003 season found Ben Wallace missing a handful of games due to injuries, but he still managed to play and start in 73 regular season games.

The 2003-2004 season marked the second consecutive season for which Ben Wallace earned All-NBA Second Team honors and the third consecutive season that he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, he wrapped up the season as being the only NBA athlete to be ranked in the Top-10 in rebounds, blocks and steals.

During the 2004-2005 season, Wallace appeared and started in 74 games. He averaged a career-high of 9.7 points per game and finished the season as being the only NBA Player to be ranked in the Top-5 in blocks and Top-25 in steals. In November, Ben Wallace missed six regular season games due to an NBA suspension. As the 2005-2006 season statistics were calculated, Ben Wallace averaged 7.3 points per game, 11.30 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Standing 6’9″ and weighing in at 240 lbs., Ben Wallace stands poised to help make the Pistons one of the frontrunners of the 2006-2007 season.

Fans who would like to request a signed photo or simply send Ben Wallace their best wishes are urged to do so in care of his NBA franchise team. If you are requesting an autograph, be sure to include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) along with your request. Some of the most popular items to have signed include a blank index card, trading card or photo. Fans are not advised to send an item that has special sentimental value, is a limited edition or prized possession. As with all autograph requests, there is never a guarantee of a response. For reasons of both time and commitments, some athletes are prevented from answering all fan mail. For this reason, many fans prefer to simply request that the athlete send a signed photo rather than providing their own to be autographed. Letters and requests should be mailed to:

Ben Wallace
Detroit Pistons
The Palace of Auburn Hills
4 Championship Dr.
Auburn Hills, MI 48326

Think Outside The Box With Promotional Cooler Bags

Word Count:
504

Summary:
A constant challenge for many companies is coming up with innovative ways to keep their name at the forefront of their customers’ minds. Finding a unique way to promote your company will keep your customers talking about you for years to come. If your company features a team of people that spend a great deal of time in the field with your customer base, why not think about imprinted cooler bags, created by MyLogoImprinted.com?

Keywords:
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Article Body:
A constant challenge for many companies is coming up with innovative ways to keep their name at the forefront of their customers’ minds. Finding a unique way to promote your company will keep your customers talking about you for years to come. If your company features a team of people that spend a great deal of time in the field with your customer base, why not think about imprinted cooler bags, created by MyLogoImprinted.com? These custom cooler bags can serve a wide number of purposes, from being an important tool for some and a convenient promotional gift for others. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples of how embroidered lunch bags can help keep your name at the top of your customers’ go-to list.

For many companies, the outside sales team is the life force that keeps the company running. They must be dynamic and creative as well as knowledgeable about their industry in order to keep their working relationships in good order. Our insulated cooler bags can work as an effective tool to promote your company, and if the members of your outside sales staff are creative enough, they can think of fun and unique ways to present these cooler bags that will keep their customers talking for a long time. Why not offer to deliver lunch for your customers and present it in a couple of our 12pk insulated cooler bags? Drop off a morning snack in one of our 6pk insulated cooler bags. Our larger cooler bags with wheels are perfect for having refreshments available at trade shows and make an impressive door prize.

Businesses that deliver or make house calls can also find innovative ways to use our softside cooler bags as both tools and promotional gifts. Medical practitioners will find our insulated cooler bags to be a very convenient way to travel with medications that must stay in a cool, dry space, which can be difficult in the middle of summer. If your company relies on door to door sales, custom cooler bags can be an impressive way to present your company to new customers. Even restaurants that offer home delivery can make great use of our cooler bags as promotional items. Plus, because of the low price, even smaller, local businesses can afford to use these insulated cooler bags to give their company the promotional boost they need.

Thanks to the wide variety of customer cooler bags available at MyLogoImprinted.com, every business should be able to find the right cooler bag to suit their promotional needs. From our traditional Six Pack Compack Cooler with a front pocket and top grab handle to the latest contemporary designs that feature wheels, dual compartments, and even speaker capabilities that will surely impress your customer base. Thanks to the one color, one location imprint that is included in the price and the large number of colors available, it’s easy to promote your business in this unique way that your customers will remember for years to come.

Vince Carter NBA Rookie

Word Count:
520

Summary:
Born on January 26, 1977, Vince Carter graduated from college in North Carolina and now plays the guard position for the New Jersey Nets. One of the most exciting players in the NBA, Carter was chosen in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. After suffering injuries, Vince Carter regained his momentum with the Nets as one of the leading players in the NBA.

Keywords:
Vince, Carter, fan, site, nba, star, basketball

Article Body:
Born on January 26, 1977, Vince Carter graduated from college in North Carolina and now plays the guard position for the New Jersey Nets. One of the most exciting players in the NBA, Carter was chosen in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. After suffering injuries, Vince Carter regained his momentum with the Nets as one of the leading players in the NBA.

Even before entering the NBA, Carter showed promise as an up-and-coming basketball star. While playing as part of the North Carolina Tar Heel team, he averaged 12.3 points per game. During his junior year, Vince Carter was named First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference, Second Team All-America and became a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award, which is presented to the nation’s best player.

As he entered the NBA, Vince Carter amazed both teammates and opponents with his acrobatic moves on the court. That same year, he received the Schick Rookie of the Year recognition and became the first Toronto Raptors players to be recognized as an NBA Player of the Week. During the 1999-2000 season, Carter was named to the All-NBA Third Team and was again named the NBA Player of the Week. By 2000-2001, Vince Carter was becoming very popular with fans and was also becoming a well-known name in the NBA rankings. That season, he ranked among the NBA leaders in seven different categories.

When the 2001-2002 season rolled around, Carter was thriving. On March 22, however, he announced plans to undergo surgery on an injured left knee. This misfortune caused him to miss the final 14 games of the season. In the 2002-2003 season, Vince Carter averaged 20.6 points during his 43 games. It was this year that he missed a career-high 39 games due to several appearances on the injured list. The following season found Vince Carter receiving the most votes in the NBA All-Star balloting program for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game.

Vince Carter made his mark on the 2004-2005 NBA season, during which he averaged 24.5 points per game and ranked 1st on the team in points. In addition, he was awarded the Eastern Conference Player of the Week and Month and was voted as a starter for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game. Vince Carter has managed to find great success both on an off the court. This married father of one was named on of ‘Sporting News 2004 Good Guys’ in professional sports for his activities away from the court. In July 2003, Carter unveiled a professional-sized basketball court, which was funded by his foundation, in Toronto’s Dixon Park. The court is valued at $130,000 and officially opened with Carter sending the first ball through the hoop. In September 2002, he donated $2.5 million for financing the construction of a new gym at his former high school in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Fans who would like to request a signed photo or simply send Vince Carter their best wishes are urged to do so in care of his NBA franchise team. If you are requesting an autograph, be sure to include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) along with your request. Letters and requests should be mailed to:

Vince Carter
New Jersey Nets
390 Murray Hill Pkwy.
East Rutherford, NJ 07073

MARCH MADNESS-You Can Bet on It

Word Count:
1739

Summary:
Important upcoming dates on your calendar should include March 15th, 17th and April 1st. March 15th, the Ides of March, marks the day that Julius Caesar met his demise, and it’s also the day after March Madness tips-off. March 17th is, of course, the day when everyone is Irish, and it’s also the mid-point between the NCAA Tournament’s first and second rounds (March 16-19, 2006).

Keywords:
march madness; basketball; NCAA; betting; wager; wagering

Article Body:
You’re a fool if you don’t know that April 1st is when the Final Four contests commence, with the NCAA National Championship being determined on April 3rd.

It is a crazy time of year all-around and college basketball embraces this insanity whole-heartedly. If you’re planning on wagering on March Madness-the biggest sporting event of the month and one of the most heavily bet events each year-you may want to consider a few important facts when choosing your brackets or making a team-on-team wager.

March Madness features 65 teams from some of the best known and also from some of the lesser-known college hoop conferences. Certainly you’ll see teams from the prestigious Atlantic Coast, Big East, PAC-10, SEC, Big 12 and Big 10, and you’ll also find various other conferences represented, such as the Metro Atlantic, Big Sky, Big South and America East. Most fans will have heard of and know something about the teams from the more competitive conferences, however the schools from conferences that are not closely followed during the year are often difficult for even experts to analyze.

In the first round, bottom seeds contend against top seeds with the results usually being predictable-the top seeds more often than not win. However, as far as covering goes, that’s a different story. When you look at underdog teams from lower ranked conferences they rarely win, but about half of the time they beat the spread, which spells “upset” for the bettor.

Whether you’re considering the first round or focused on the Sweet Sixteen, which is when making your picks gets extremely difficult, here are a few guidelines to help you make productive wagers.

Ranked Number 1? Big Deal:

In the last 20 years, the team nationally ranked number one going into the tournament has won it only three times. Since 1966 the top three NCAA teams have all battled it out in the Final Four only once. Let’s face it, most teams competing in March Madness are pretty good and when you come down to it, what’s the difference between the seventh and first ranked team? Not a whole lot. This is especially true in a sport where during the regular season there have been virtually no head-to-head match-ups between initial tournament participants. An additional fly in this year’s ointment are the numerous conference changes that various teams have initiated, with more than a half-dozen perennial March Madness contenders switching leagues.

The bottom line is-do your homework. Read up on the teams and find one or two experts who have crunched the numbers for you and really analyzed each club according to how they’ve performed in various situations.

Some Things Won’t Change (Probably):

Teams that play well on the road tend to do well in the March Madness frenzy, where almost every team, except for the top seeds, play away from comfortable, familiar surroundings. So, if a team has been a road warrior all season, they will probably continue to be that same animal in March and possibly into April.

During March Madness teams usually step it up, performing at an extremely high level. If throughout the regular season a team has played and consistently beat good teams, chances are they will continue to do so from March 14th to April 3rd. It is a tough, grueling tournament, and you want to back teams that can step up to the challenge every time. Who are they? They tend to be the clubs that have been stepping up all season.

More experience and less talent will more often than not beat more talent and less experience. Why? It’s the nature of March Madness. Teams are under a lot of pressure, playing in unknown arenas and in the national spotlight against teams they’ve never seen. There’s a lot of travel and little rest between games, which translates into an advantage for a team that’s been there before with a coach who has experience in the March Madness pressure cooker.

Numbers That Don’t Lie (Well, Usually They Don’t):

There are no guarantees when it comes to any sporting contest. With that in mind, here are a few basic statistical observations to consider. When it comes to championships and March Madness, 13 of the last 15 teams have either been a number one or two seed. In the past 26 years (since 1979), the final two teams vying for the championship have been there before. (Limits the field a little bit, doesn’t it?) Finally, in the last 24 years there has always been a number one seed in the Final Four. Do long shots win it all? In this contest, hardly ever and certainly not in the last quarter century.

Conferences are important. If a team plays in an elite conference, has faced the type of competition that a tough conference offers, and has done well in their conference, they are definitely a contender. If they play consistently well, that means more than the occasional blowout victory amongst various games they’ve blown in the final minute. Look for teams that play well under pressure.

With those tips in mind, you’ll want to consider that in the past seven NCAA Tournaments, two teams in the Final Four came from the same conference and in the last five of six tournaments three teams in the Elite Eight came from the same conference. In eight of the last 11 Sweet Sixteen rounds, one conference has contributed four teams and last year nine of the sixteen came from three conferences-the Big East, Big Ten, and ACC.

You’ll want to look closely at top seeded teams from powerful conferences. Although it’s called “March Madness,” remember that wagering on teams that are presently strong and have been strong contenders in the past may be conservative but it makes sense. Look for a conference that has at least four teams in the tournament and stick with them. Odds are that you’ll have someone in the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, and Final Four.

Also, consider a well-conditioned 10 or 12 seed for one of your picks. Why? Since 1997 each Sweet Sixteen round has had at least one 10 seed and in five of the last seven Sweet Sixteen’s a 12 seed has been there. How do seven, eight, and nine seeds do? They don’t even come close to performing the way 10′s and 12′s do. However, more often than not a three to eight seed makes it to the final four. Do your homework and pick one from this group to become a member of that heralded quartet.

Team and Tournament Specifics:

If you’re serious about wagering, you’ll want to read at least one or more of the many in-depth reports available through various media-magazines, newspapers, and the Web. A good report will include an analysis of the team, especially the point guard and the interior players, road and home record, recent performance, playing style, turnover ratio, penchant for committing fouls, injuries, tournament history, bench, and coaching.

As an example, consider these few key elements as they relate to the tournament.

Point Guard and Interior Players:

Point guards are often the playmakers on the court-controlling the tempo, keeping the team on the same page; and leading by example. A sound, dynamic point guard can be the difference between long-term survival and immediate elimination. As the stakes get higher, the position becomes even more important.

Strong, solid interior players who can bang inside and control the boards are essential. Teams in the top conferences work hard to secure guys who will wear down and dominate other teams inside. The Big East, ACC, Big 12, Big 10 and PAC-10 are noted for tough, interior play. In this brutal tournament these types of players can be the difference in the second half of any and every game.

Fouls:

A team with key players who get into foul trouble can be in big trouble in the tournament. The best of the best referees will be officiating and they won’t hesitate to make a call no matter how close the game is or how little time is left. During crunch time, when mistakes tend to happen, is also when cool-headed experience can pay off for a team.

The Bench:

It’s a long road from the March 14th tip-off to the April 3rd final game showdown. A deep, mature bench offers a huge advantage to any team. There’s no way around it, every player is important during this three-week period.

Turnover Ratio:

If teams are making mistakes during the regular season, they will continue to do so in the post season. Turnovers will kill any team’s chances of advancing to the next round. Again, think-point guard and the bench.

Toughness:

How do you evaluate toughness? First look at the coach and his staff. Consider how disciplined the team is. Find a time when the team lost a tough one or got blown out and look at how they responded. Don’t just consider the next game but the next series of contests. Did they meet that opponent again?

How durable are the starters and how driven are they to play? Is this a team that has players sitting all the time due to injury?

Is there one guy, a true team leader, who may not be the most talented player on the court but is savvy, dedicated, and focused on one thing-winning? Does he push the other players to excel through example, team play, and determined grit?

Another part of toughness relates to a team’s legs or ability to play up-tempo ball. If a team can control the tempo and run with the best of them, they’re not going to give up, and they will usually not be intimidated. If pushed, they’ll push back. They’ll counter the energy of the other team every time.

These are just a few ways to assess a team’s toughness, which translates into durability and resiliency. Both are needed to go deep into the NCAA Tournament.

A Final Thought on the Final Four:

Often people make gut choices rather than analyzing a team’s performance, reading some expert analysis, and considering match-ups and trends. If you really want to go deep into the tournament, then do your homework. It can payoff, taking you to the National Championship by insuring that you make sane picks without bending to the pressures of March Madness.

Being an effective winning team takes more than teaching the basics, especially from the coach. You have a duty to the children or youth that are playing to guide them by finding whatever they need and enhancing it. The job description that you aren’t given when you decide to become a coach is what gaps you will have to fill in order to make sure that everyone is playing at their best all of the time.

The number one rule that any coach needs to keep in mind is that one of their main goals is to get the team to understand what the goals are. This begins by teaching the fundamentals of any game. From here, you will be able to see what everyone needs in order to support their individual abilities to play. By seeing the techniques that are there, and adding on your own, you can create a well rounded team.

If you are coaching a team through a practice or a game, you want to make sure that you see what they need beyond the basic techniques. This is one of the most important aspects of coaching any team. If you see that the team is losing and is starting to get down on energy because of it, you will need to step in and make sure that they become motivated. You will need to find ways to uplift spirits, help push through the rest of the game, and encourage their abilities.

This same type of attitude should be kept in other situations as well, but may mean taking a different angle in what you are telling your players. For example, if you see a player falling behind in a practice, you might not want to invoke extra encouragement in them. They may need to hear something that is more compassionate and effective in a different way. The goal that you want to reach with every individual player is to make sure that they hear what they need to in order to inspire them to the end.

Of course, there is always the danger of over coaching during a game or practice. Even though you want to offer insights to all of your players, doing too much can discourage them. There is a thin line of being able to coach players and deciding when to let them go into the game without the guidance. If you coach too much, it may cause discouragement, extra pressure and inability to perform to the best of capacity by the players.

If you are beginning a coaching job, you will quickly find that one of your important roles is to fill in what the players don’t see. Sometimes this comes as teaching basic physical practices, while other times it may mean reaching the players on different mental levels. No matter what you see in every situation, it is your job to step up and make sure that everyone else has the same vision.