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features & departments

26 features

12 Top 25 Teams 15 Fans Can Vote 16 Class of 2011 19 Heisman Hopefuls 30 The Games 32 Trapped

8

departments

10 Good Sport 11 Community 25 Best/Worst 28 Travel 34 Nutrition 38 On Deck

MIAMI HEAT

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZER

From left, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James acknowledge the cheers during a fan event at the American Airlines Arena in Miami Friday, July 9th, 2010. With 13,000 fans chanting “Yes We Did!” amid an atmosphere more suited to an awards show or rock concert than a basketball game, the Miami Heat welcomed the NBA’s newest trio of superstars Friday night for a celebration unlike just about any other in team history. James joins the Heat from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Bosh comes in from the Toronto Raptors.

CHICAGO BULLS

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

ORLANDO MAGIC

NBA S E V MO

Free agent Quentin Richardson attends a news conference after signing a contract with the Orlando Magic basketball team in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, July 13th, 2010.

PREMIER PLAYERS

Wesley Matthews holds up a Portland Trail Blazers jersey as he is introduced during a news conference in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, July 21st, 2010. The Blazers have reached an agreement with restricted free agent Matthews, a deal that was solidified when the Utah Jazz did not match Portland’s offer for the shooting guard.

Kyle Korver holds his jersey after Chicago Bulls general manager Gar Forman introduced him during a news conference Tuesday, July 13th, 2010, in Chicago. Korver follows fellow Utah Jazz free agent teammate Carlos Boozer in signing with the Bulls.

NEW YORK KNICKS

Former New Jersey Nets’ forward Yi Jianlian, of China, dunking during an NBA basketball game. The Washington Wizards acquired Jianlian via a trade.

Former Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer goes up with a shot during an NBA basketball game. After six seasons with the Jazz, the two-time All-Star forward recently signed with the Chicago Bulls.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

Amare Stoudemire is interviewed inside Madison Square Garden on Monday, July 5th, 2010, in New York. Stoudemire is headed to the New York Knicks, and both sides are hoping he’s not coming alone. The Knicks said Monday they intend to sign Stoudemire to a contract later this week when the free agent moratorium period ends. Stoudemire’s agent, Happy Walters, said the deal is for the maximum allowed, which would be nearly $100 million over five years.

Chicago Bulls center Brad Miller, right, drives to the basket past Washington Wizards center Brendan Haywood. Miller has agreed to a three-year, $15 million contract with the Houston Rockets.

DENVER NUGGETS

Boston Celtics forward Shelden Williams boxes out New Orleans Hornets center Darius Songaila to grab a rebound during a 2009 NBA basketball game in Boston. Williams, a free agent, was signed by the Denver Nuggets for 2010-11.

PREMIER PLAYERS

2010 WORLD CUP: A RECAP OF THE FESTIVAL OF FOOTBALL

By Patrick Lynch

H

osting the World Cup in South Africa caused controversy with many footballing federations claiming that it was a political move. However, the cavalcade of color and passion displayed by the host nation’s fans proved that it was the right choice.

The tournament was a huge boost for the nation which proved once again that it could handle a major sporting occasion after successfully hosting the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Thirtytwo nations entered full of expectation but in the end the pass masters of Spain would lift the Jules Rimet trophy.

North Korea looked stout defensively against Brazil but fell apart against Portugal as they were thrashed 7-0. One of the biggest surprises, however, was the fact that minnows New Zealand remained unbeaten throughout their group, drawing with Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia. Though they were eventually eliminated, it was nonetheless an extraordinary achievement by the All Whites.

Eventual champions Spain lost their first game to Switzerland in a major shock. The Swiss could be had at 13.00 to win that match yet their failure to beat Honduras was to cost

PREMIER PLAYERS

them dearly. For their part, Spain recovered by beating Honduras and Chile but did not look confident doing so.

In topping their group, Spain avoided Brazil but faced Iberian rivals Portugal. In a game full of tension, David Villa grabbed a second half goal to send Cristiano Ronaldo and company home. There was precious little in terms of upsets in the last 16 stage though Uruguay continued their unexpected march to the semi-final with a narrow win over South Korea after they had all but eliminated the host nation with a 3-0 win in the group stage.

Holland, Brazil and Argentina all cruised through with Germany surprising the world with a devastating display of attacking might to crush England 4-1, though Frank Lampard had a shot that crossed the line by a yard ruled out. Paraguay beat Japan on penalties in a close encounter with Ghana proudly representing the continent of Africa by eliminating the USA.

Spain had Iker Casillas to thank in the quarter final with a brilliant penalty save from Paraguay’s Oscar Cardozo. Xabi Alonso also missed a retaken spot kick but Villa once again came to the rescue with a late winner. Germany was brilliant yet

Spain team members celebrate with the World Cup trophy after the World Cup final soccer match between the Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, July 11th, 2010.

again as they demolished Argentina 4-0. Maradona’s propensity to play three in midfield backfired as Schweinsteiger, Muller and Ozil destroyed them.

Brazil was cruising against Holland before a terrible mistake from Julio Cesar gave the Dutch an equalizer.

Brazil then proceeded to implode under continued Dutch pressure with Wesley Sneijder heading a late winner.

The real drama came in the Ghana vs.

Uruguay match. The African side bombarded the tiring South American outfit until Luis Suarez deliberately handled the ball on the line in the last seconds of extra time. He was sent off but Asamoah Gyan unbelievably hit his spot kick against the bar. This ruined the African team’s confidence and they subsequently lost the penalty shootout.

In the semi-final, Uruguay’s wonderful run came to an end as tiredness and goalkeeping errors caught up to them, allowing Holland to reach their third final in a thrilling 3-2 win.

Spain was in their first semi-final, an amazing statistic considering that nation’s proud footballing heritage. They were brilliant against Germany, passing the ball like masters, stringing the German side all over the field. They created and missed many chances before Carles Puyol bulleted a header into the net for the Spaniard’s third consecutive 1-0 win.

The final saw two great football nations collide as Holland took on Spain. The European champions had started the tournament poorly but had improved with every passing match, culminating in a superb semi-final display against Germany.

Holland had a relatively easy run to the quarter finals but showed grit and determination to end the challenge of

Brazil. They were on a two-year unbeaten run and were full of confidence. Holland decided to tackle the Spanish players hard in a bid to throw them off their passing game. It worked to a degree as the final turned into a chess match.

No goals came though Arjen Robben missing two glorious chances in the match. In extra time, John Heitinga was sent off with minutes remaiing. Spain pushed for the winner and it came in the form of the brilliant Andres Iniesta who finished beautifully from Cesc Fabregas’ through ball with just four minutes remaining. Spain held on and Iker Casillas deservedly held aloft the Jules Rimet trophy as the European champions became world champions.

The extraordinary appeal of the beautiful game was again in evidence as there was a viewership of approximately 400 million people per match with 700 million watching the final.

That 25 million Americans watched the final speaks volumes for the continuing popularity of the sport in the United States.

Spain won the tournament by playing their way: beautiful passing football and never panicking even when things looked to be going against them.

Germany surpassed expectations by producing some wonderful football with Thomas Muller winning the golden boot by virtue of having the most assists to go with his five goals. Diego Forlan showed once more that he is a world class footballer and was deservedly named player of the tournament as he led Uruguay to their best World Cup performance since 1970. The game will continue to thrive as millions more tune in for the drama and excitement that only a game of football can bring.

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good sport

how has sports helped you?

Marquette’s Joseph Fulce, left, fights for the rebound against Presbyterian’s Steven Yien Gatkuoth, right, of Sudan, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Dec. 28th, 2008, in Milwaukee.

M

y name is Steven Yien Tut Gatkuoth and I am from Southern Sudan. The sport of basketball has helped me in many ways to cope with tragedy as well as reach my dreams.

Since 1983, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Sudanese Government have been at war in southern Sudan. The conflict has already claimed more than 500,000 lives and displaced huge numbers of people from their homes.

Among those displaced were at least 20,000 children and I was one of them. We were mostly boys, between 7 and 17 years of age, who were separated from their families to avoid the conflict and even death.

We became known as the ‘Lost Boys’ of the Sudan who trekked enormous distances over a vast unforgiving wilderness, seeking refuge from the fighting. Hungry, frightened and weakened by sleeplessness and disease, we crossed from the Sudan into Ethiopia and back, with many dying along the way. Many of the survivors are now in camps in Kenya, the Sudan and Uganda.

I was only 8 years old when all this happened. My dad was killed and I had to leave the village with some of the other

“

kids whose parents were killed as well. We walked every day hoping the trek would last only a few days to reach safety, but the harrowing journey to Ethiopia took almost six weeks.

Continually under threat, we fled for our lives many times along the journey, sometimes losing our way in the wilderness. We often lost everything en route - blankets, sheets, shoes, clothes and pots - to soldiers, swindlers or bandits.

I saw many kids lose their life to killer diseases. Some of them were so weakened by hunger and lack of sleep that they could go no further and sat down by the roadside as prey for lions and other animals. The survivors who reached the camps in Ethiopia started to lead a relatively peaceful life. Some of us united with friends or relatives, those who didn’t, had to continue life on their own.

At eight, I started playing soccer. I was very good at it but then my body started to grow too much for that sport. Villagers saw this and started teaching me about basketball when I was 14 years old. There were a few kids that were offered basketball scholarships by American colleges.

I came to the United States in 2006 on a basketball scholarship to attend Presbyterian College in South Carolina. The transition was very tough and I transferred to Palm Beach State College in Florida. Cliff Baptiste, a basketball coach with the Gulf Coast Recruiting Services, found a good place for me to live while going to college. l appreciate what he has done for me and many others from my country. His guidance has given us the opportunity live a better life using sports as our foundation.

I am now 7’0” and 220 lbs. I am in the United States to work hard and be thankful to God and the people who have been helping me out. Right now I am in talks with a few colleges to continue playing basketball and earn my degree.

After college, I want to go home and help those who are struggling to live. Just how others have helped me, I want to give kids the opportunity to go to school and have better lives by sharing my experience and knowledge.

Just how others have helped me, I want to give kids the opportunity to go to school . . .

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”

community

Clayton Scores By Giving Back

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Michael Clayton, left, signs autographs for the fans.

Michael Clayton (80) celebrates with teammate Derrick Ward, left, after catching a touchdown pass against the New Orleans Saints last season.

By Dontae Davis

O

ff the field, he strives to connect with the community and he’s scored time and again since joining the Bucs in 2004.

Clayton completed his second year partnering with All Sports Community Service’s Quest For Real and True Life Program. In the program, students from Bible Truth Ministries and Middleton High School attend workshops on character development, etiquette classes and exposure trips. The students also volunteer at the Joshua House and the Hope Children Home.

Since 2008, Mike and his wife Tina provided Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets to families at the HOPE Center and toys for 70 kids at the Hope Children Home. Clayton is doing this all while he is trying to get himself ready for a grueling training camp in the midst of the unforgiving Tampa heat.

Clayton also has The Michael Clayton Generation Next Foundation which is a non-profit organization that helps young kids acquire significant skills they will need to become future

leaders in their respective communities. This program provides vital skills of survival, and also provides scholarships to less fortunate kids in Tampa and Baton Rouge, La., his hometown.

In 2005, Clayton returned to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to donate $20,000 dollars to a Louisiana State University foundation that was set up to help students impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In 2007 Clayton played in a golf tournament hosted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to raise money for the All Children’s Hospital, and also sang at a karaoke event to also raise more money for the All Children’s Hospital. In addition to raising money he has also gone into his own pocket and provided more than 300 families with Thanksgiving dinners in 2008.

Although some Buc fans may be disappointed with Clayton’s on-field production, his impact on the community proves statistics hardly capture the true value of a professional athlete’s contributions.

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11

TOP 1. Boise State: The Broncos only have two tough games all year, the opener against Virginia Tech and a September 25th matchup against TCU. This should provide for an interesting title brawl against a one-loss opponent. Our pick . . . The Broncos.

2. Florida: Yes, we all know that Quarterback John Brantley has some big shoes to fill, but the offense is strong enough to get them into a title run. Brantley’s pure QB ability will take Florida deep into the season.

3. Texas: Soft schedule has us placing Texas up amongst this year’s top-teams. Nebraska may be the only matchup that we foresee giving the Longhorns any sort of difficulty.

4. Alabama: We know the Tide returns their entire offense, and that running back Mark Ingram is a preseason frontrunner for the Heisman, but they also lost the majority of their defense and in a schedule saturated with ranked teams, they have better put a lot of points on the board which we think they can.

5. West Virginia: We waivered at placing WVU a little bit higher on this board. Quite frankly, the Mountaineers can run the table with only two games that might give them fits. WVU Running back Noel Devine may end the year as the nation’s top rusher.

Boise State’s Quarterback Kellen Moore (11) will lead the Broncos’ hunt for a national championship title.

12

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6. Miami: The Hurricanes are back after a couple of long years of rebuilding. Jacory Harris commands a group of talented players and will have the crazed fans of Miami back into ruckus form.

7. Oklahoma: Some rankings have the Sooners at number 1, but we just don’t see it happening. Too many tough games and an unproven squad have us dropping them back into the latter portion of the Top 10.

8. Virginia Tech: The Hokies have a very tough road ahead of them, but as usual, a very stalwart defense. It’s their depth and strength of schedule that had us bounce FSU right out of the Top 25.

9. Oregon: Had the Ducks not lost QB Jeremiah Masoli, they would be up in the Top 5. However, they should still win the Pac-10 and may raise a few eyebrows this season.

10. Ohio State: The Buckeyes and QB Terrelle Pryor will suffer a few losses. Look for an early loss to Miami and back-to-back losses against Penn State and Iowa.

11. TCU: The Horned Frogs had a great season last year which earned them a BCS bid. A light schedule promises more of the same from talented QB Andy Dalton. This team may be a dark horse candidate late into the season.

Will Coach Meyers score another national championship title with another good quarterback? He places John Brantley in control of a talented Gators team.

Texas Coach Mack Brown is already saying he expects Garrett Gilbert, pictured, to be “really good.”

12. Wisconsin: Somehow every season, Wisconsin smash-mouth football and bruising running game get them right back in the thick of things. Lead by RB John Clay, the Badgers will face tough games against Ohio State and Michigan.

13. Auburn: “War Eagle” could run the table -- This may be the surprise team of the year! The Tigers look favorable up and down the schedule until they hit the finale against Alabama. Mark your calendars for that one!

14. LSU: The Tigers are riddled with talent on both sides of the ball. QB Jordan Jefferson returns as the starter and defenses will have to play to his big arm as well as quick feet.

15. Iowa: This is another one of those teams to watch.

T5he Hawkeyes have a pretty tough schedule, but get Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin all at home. Kirk Ferentz is a coach who knows winning, and this shouldn’t be any different.

16. Utah: If the Utes were in the Pac-10 this season, they would make a huge commotion atop of the polls.

However, too many tough games this season against out of conference teams will push them back.

17. Arkansas: Sold on Ryan Mallett as a top-rated QB, but not sold on the fact that the Razorbacks can overcome some serious powerhouse teams in Alabama, Auburn, and LSU this season. They just aren’t solid enough to get through that schedule without losses.

18. Stanford: “Luck”y for Stanford they have star QB Andrew Luck. Sure they lost stud running back Toby Gerhart, but scouts are already drooling over Luck’s potential in leading the Cardinals and so are we.

19. Georgia Tech: No losses on defense and a wellprepared team with fundamentals. Pair this with an ACC schedule and the Yellow Jackets are back in the Top 25!

20. South Florida: We know, we know, we know. . . a lot of people are going to see this as our homer pick, but with strength of schedule and some surprising talent on the roster, look for the Bulls to shock the polls again.

21. Nebraska: Very tough road schedule ahead and loss of a superstar on defense makes it difficult for the Huskers to get back into the form they are accustomed to. This is a rebuilding year albeit a good one.

22. Penn State: Losing your QB and the majority of your starting defense is not the way to start a season, but the Nittany Lions know how to win.

However, they must battle on the road against the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide.

23. Pittsburgh: Two words, one man. . . Dion Lewis.

If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have ranked the Panthers at all. We project losses to WVU, Miami, and Utah, but Dion’s superstar talent will have the Panthers running into the mix.

24. North Carolina: We absolutely love this team’s will to fight. As usual, they have a brutal schedule but could pull out some upsets.

25. Notre Dame: Very easy schedule and the Fighting Irish are deservedly ranked on the bubble this time. They finally have their coaching in order, and Head Coach Brian Kelly will seek to make a statement early in the season to push his team up the polls.

Alabama’s Mark Ingram (22), running away from South Carolina defenders, will help the Crimson Tide defend their national championship title.

West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart talks to Noel Devine, the team’s leading rusher, and Jock Sanders, the team’s leading receiver, who were the Mountaineers’ cooffensive players of the year last season.

PREMIER PLAYERS

13

sound off

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2 4 5

1. Virginia Tech football fans at a game against Boston College.

2. Clemson fans celebrate a win against South Carolina.

3. Florida State fans Josh White, in gold, and Kevin Fulmer, in garnet.

4. Louisiana State University fans in tiger body paint.

5. Hawaii fans cheer at an NCAA College football.

Fans can vote for The 2010 Premier Player of college football College football, or any sport for that matter, would not bring excitement to millions of people each year if it wasn’t for the fans. Yet, when it comes to determining the best college football player in the nation, the fans are mostly left out of the selection process - until now.

Premier Players has released a poll listing 15 of the best college football players for fans to decide which athlete will receive its 2010 Premier Player of College Football award. Fans from around the world have up until December 5th to cast their votes. The athlete with the most votes will be announced December 18th.

“Fans are such a big part of the games, so we wanted to come up with an award that they can be a big part of too,” said Carnell Moore, CEO of Premier Players.

“All the athletes on the list are Premier Players, but we will let the fans decide who gets the award in December because that is a tough decision.”

Premier Players is a new sports information company connecting people from around the world to sports around the world. Whether a fan or an athlete, you can build a real or fantasy sports profile and share your love of sports via live chat rooms, connection requests or story submissions to its monthly magazine: Premier Players.

To cast your vote for the 2010 Premier Player of College Football, go to www.premierplayers.com and click on the Polls & Results tab.

The Class of the Class of

2011

By Steve Wright

W

James Wilder, Jr.

16

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atching Jadeveon Clowney on film is an eye opening experience. The defensive end out of South Pointe High in South Carolina and consensus number one recruit in the country explodes off the line play after play almost mocking the offensive tackle he is playing against with the ease at which he blows past him. The 6’6”, 240 pounder possesses “a defensive end’s body with wide receiver speed,” according to Mike Farrell of Rivals.com. As a junior Clowney totaled 24 sacks, but quarterbacks beware, he wants more as a senior.

Clowney may be the headline act, but the Class of 2011 is loaded with talent. James Wilder Jr. is the star athlete of the class, but his position at the college level is still a mystery. At 6’2, 219 lbs., the Plant High standout in Tampa, FL, won Linebacker MVP at the Tuscaloosa Nike Camp and experts predict he would be an All-American at that position. Wilder, however, is also a talented running back, and could be a difference maker at that position at the college level, too.

Another player who has the ability to play multiple positions is University of Southern California commit De’Anthony Thomas. Thomas is the only player in Rivals history who has been graded as a legitimate 5 star prospect at four different positions (RB, wide receiver, cornerback and safety), and the only thing stopping him from being in the conversation for number one overall prospect is his size of 5’9, 185 lbs. Thomas has legitimate 4.4 speed and is one of the fastest sprinters in the country over 200m. This is no track star playing football, though, as Thomas uses his acceleration to lay the wood on opposing players. His career may be longer as a defensive back, but he is too explosive for the Trojans not to use him on offense, too.

James Wilder Jr. won linebacker MVP at a Nike Camp and is predicted to be an All-American at that position.

He is also a talented running back.

The best pure running back in the class is Malcolm Brown of Byron M. Steele High in Cibolo, TX. Brown is a 6’1”, 210 lb power runner with a thick frame who will run over defenders and has an explosive first cut. A late bloomer who didn’t even get into football until high school, Brown earned district MVP honors after rushing for over 2,000 yards and 33 touchdowns last fall. In the right offense, Brown will be a fantastic 25 carry-a-game grinding running back.

High school seniors that are 6’7” and weigh over 320 lbs. don’t exactly grow on trees. When you add quick feet, high football IQ, and a self professed mean streak it is easy to see why Cyrus Kouandijo has scholarship offers from coast to coast. Kouandijo is a monster of an athlete and colleges are salivating at the prospect of him locking down a tackle spot from the moment he steps on campus. The senior at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD, may choose to follow his brother Arie to the University of Alabama, but at this point he is keeping his options wide open.

While schools vie for the commitment of Kouandijo, Louisiana State University can sit back knowing they have already signed an offensive tackle with comparable talents. La’El Collins is a 6’5”, 285 lb. beast who plays at Redemptorist High School in Baton Rouge. Collins has the ability to play tackle or guard in college, but his size and footwork would make him a perfect fit to protect the QB’s blindside at left tackle.

The West Coast is home to George Farmer, the best wide receiver prospect in the nation. The Junipero Serra High School star boasts a 33” vertical and 4.4 speed in a 6’2”, 192 lb frame. Farmer led the school, located in Gardena, CA, to state championships in both football and basketball as a junior and uses his quick feet and imposing frame to

dominate smaller defenders. Farmer caught 12 TDs as a junior and will want to improve on that number in his final high school campaign.

Tony Steward is one of those prospects that you cannot believe is still in high school. The 6’2”, 225 lb. inside linebacker has a body builder’s torso and lower body that screams athleticism. The Pedro Mendez High (St. Augustine, FL) standout is a true impact player with the combination of size, speed, and strength to both get in the backfield and pressure the QB, or cover players downfield. He earned the linebacker MVP at the Nike camp in Gainesville, FL, and will be a situational starter from the minute he steps on campus.

Linebackers Curtis Grant, of Hermatige High School in Richmond, VA, and Stephone Anthony, of Anson Senior High School in Wadesboro, NC, are also top-level players in the Class of 2011. Grant is a pure inside linebacker and at 6’3”, 222 lbs., he has the size to start from day one in college. With 4.5 speed, he is quick to the point of attack and is a truly vicious hitter who doesn’t know the meaning of the word pain. In 2009, he totaled a staggering 154 tackles for the Panthers. Anthony is an outside linebacker who has recorded 191 tackles and 11 interceptions over the last two seasons. At 6’3”, 220 lbs., he is a game changer who makes big plays at the biggest moments. Colleges love players that are ball hawks, and Anthony seems to have a sixth sense for where to be and when to be there.

So there you are, the Class of the Class of 2011. Oddly enough, there are no quarterbacks in this list, but these 10 players all look set to make an impact on the college landscape from the fall of 2011 onwards. Get to know them now and you will be sure to have the upper hand in sports conversations in the years ahead.

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2011 Ford Shelby GT500

An optional SVT Performance Package highlights the new 2011 Ford Shelby GT500; available on both coupe and convertible models; making it racetrack ready.

One of These Men Will Win The Heisman

By Chris Hodge This is more than just a top 10 list of possible Heisman winners (both in 2010 and possibly in 2011). This is about as close as anyone can get to knowing the future of a sport itself. The following young men are titanic athletes, and on any given day they could all win the Heisman without any serious questions. Let’s break down why these fellows are winners: John Brantley – Florida Gators This svelt, 6’3” junior quarterback is definitely hungry enough to wear the mantle of his team. Simply put, any athlete who can double not only his completions (36 last year compared to 18 as a freshman), not only his number of touchdowns (going from 3 to 7), but to almost double his yardage in addition to the above… he’s taking a major bite out of the game. While his stats are not overly impressive in themselves, keep in mind that he spent 2009 playing behind Tim Tebow. Brantley’s shot at the Heisman lies in his ability to step out from the shadows and show off his full potential.

One of These Men Will Win The Heisman

Dion Lewis – Pittsburgh Panthers This sophomore running back may not be a tall man, but Lewis is so fast you don’t really have time to tell him that.

Having gotten almost 1,800 rushing yards his freshman year, winning both Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year (which hasn’t been done since Michael Vick did it in ‘99), he is probably just about out of space on his mantle. There’s a very good chance he’ll have to squeeze in the 2010 Heisman, too – poor guy.

Kellen Moore – Boise State Broncos Moore is the kind of quarterback you need to watch out for. Any man who can throw 211 yards at the Fiesta Bowl and lead his team to victory without personally scoring a touchdown is more than just a player – he’s a field general. The Heisman is about more than just what the individual can do – it’s also about how much he can inspire others. And he’s

By Chris Hodge only a junior – he has two more seasons to show his stuff!

Ryan Mallett – Arkansas Razorbacks Thisand is more than just top 10 list Considering that his 3,425 passing yards (as of 2009) put him in the top 10 in the country, his yards per aattempt possible Heisman (both put him in 2nd place, Mallett is starting to get people murmuring things like “best pureof quarterback.”

If he winners continues in 2010 2011). on This to rack up the stats and push toward being the best, this redshirt junior quarterback should beand ablepossibly to carryinhimself

is about as close as anyone can get to knowing the future of a sport itself. The following young men are titanic athletes, and on any given day they could all win the Heisman without any serious questions.

Let’s break down why these fellows are winners:

Dion Lewis will lead the running attack from Pitt.

continue pg 22

A.J. Green #8 WR Hometown Summerville, SC Height 6’4” Weight 207 lbs.

Class Sophomore

DeAndre Brown #5 WR Hometown Ocean Springs, MS Height 6”6’ Weight 231 lbs.

Class Sophomore

Mark Ingram #22 RB Hometown Flint, MI Height 5’10” Weight 212 lbs.

Class Sophomore

Dion Lewis #28 RB Hometown Albany, NY Height 5’8” Weight 195 lbs.

Class Freshman

Jake Locker #10 QB Hometown Ferndale, WA Height 6’3” Weight 226 lbs.

Class Junior

w w w. p re m i e r

Kellen Moore #11 QB

Mark Herzlich #94 LB

Hometown Prosser, WA Height 6’0” Weight 187 lbs.

Class Sophomore

Hometown Wayne, PA Height 6’4” Weight 238 lbs.

Class Senior

Jacquizz Rodgers #1 RB Hometown Richmond, TX Height 5’7” Weight 191 lbs.

Class Sophomore

John Brantley #12 QB Hometown Ocala,FL Height 6’3” Weight 217 lbs.

Class Sophomore

Ryan Mallett #15 QB Hometown Texarkana, TX Height 6’7” Weight 238 lbs.

Class Sophomore

players.com

John Brantley – Florida Gators This svelt, 6’3” junior quarterback is definitely hungry enough to wear the mantle of his team. Simply put, any athlete who can double not only his completions (36 last year compared to 18 as a freshman), not only his number of touchdowns (going from 3 to 7), but to almost double his yardage in addition to the above… he’s taking a major bite out of the game. While his stats are not overly impressive in themselves, keep in mind that he spent 2009 playing behind Tim Tebow. Brantley’s shot at the Heisman lies in his ability to step out from the shadows and show off his full potential.

Dion Lewis – Pittsburgh Panthers This sophomore running back may not be a tall man, but Lewis is so fast you don’t really have time to tell him that.

Having gotten almost 1,800 rushing yards his freshman year, winning both Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year (which hasn’t been done since Michael Vick did it in ‘99), he is probably just about out of space on his mantle. There’s a very good chance he’ll have to squeeze in the 2010 Heisman, too – poor guy.

Kellen Moore – Boise State Broncos Moore is the kind of quarterback you need to watch out for. Any man who can throw 211 yards at the Fiesta Bowl and lead his team to victory without personally scoring a touchdown is more than just a player – he’s a field general. The Heisman is about more than just what the individual can do – it’s also about how much he can inspire others. And he’s only a junior – he has two more seasons to show his stuff!

Jake Locker – Washington Huskies This junior quarterback is just downright versatile. In 2009 he rocked 2,800 passing yards and completed 21 touchdowns. It doesn’t really matter what the other team is doing – Locker has the situation covered.

Mark Herzlich – Boston Eagles Herzlich had to sit out 2009 because of cancer, but he’s still a great football player. And the fact that his 2008 season saw him perform 89 solo tackles, a pair of sacks and 6 interceptions (2 of which coming back as touchdowns) can’t be disputed. This linebacker is tough against cancer, and he’s tough on the football field – definite Heisman bait.

Jacquizz Rodgers – Oregon Beavers One of the biggest things about the Heisman is how it rewards the athlete who constantly steps up his game. In 2008, this sophomore running back averaged 4.8 yards per carry, but kicked it up to 5.4 yards in 2009. With that, Rodgers’s 20 touchdowns and 1,377 yards last year, and how he caught and ran the ball 500 yards, he’s the kind of all around threat that the Heisman was made for.

A.J. Green – Georgia Bulldogs While this might seem like an excuse, part of why Green’s stats suffered in 2009 was because he didn’t have the best quarterback throwing him the ball. With that, plus missing three games, no amount of talent can compensate. But this sophomore wide receiver is looking like he’s about ready to make personal records with his stats, as he did in high school. If he can prove that he has what it takes to push beyond his rather paltry set of 808 yards (from his 2009 Ryan Mallett – Arkansas Razorbacks season), and score more than 6 touchdowns (as in, a lot Considering that his 3,425 passing yards (as of 2009) put him more), he’ll be a solid contender for the award. in the top 10 in the country, and his yards per attempt put him in 2nd place, Mallett is starting to get people murmuring DeAndre Brown – Southern Miss Golden Eagles things like “best pure quarterback.” If he continues to rack Most people thought it was odd that Brown stayed in up the stats and push toward being the best, this redshirt Mississippi to play at a smaller school. But he’s made a junior quarterback should be able to carry himself on his crafty tactical move, as he’s working to jack up his stats. In rocket arm straight to New York.

2009 alone, this sophomore wide receiver racked up 785 receiving yards and nine touchdowns – with a broken leg.

Mark Ingram – Alabama Crimson Tide He has a very good shot of being invited to New York or being Ingram is the kind of person who is probably a little annoyed drafted - kind of a no-lose situation. that he only got to 4th place on rushing yards – making this junior one of the best running backs in college football In short, every man on this list has worked diligently to today. But there should be some added weight to that, given improve his game – and the results are coming to fruition. that Ingram was running against some of the most hardcore While the bottom could fall out for any (or all) of them, their defenses in the country; 113 yards against Florida, 150 yards previous seasons have shown that they all have what it against Virginia Tech and 246 yards against South Carolina takes to win the Heisman. Just like on the field, the Heisman kind of speak for themselves. Ingram is the kind of guy who contest is going to be a slug fest. gets things done.

22

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2011 Ford Shelby GT500

On the SVT Performance Package option, a unique rear spoiler Gurney Flap was developed for increased rear downforce and improves handling balance in high-speed corners.

Top 20 Songs

by Athletes 1. Football Rap -1994 Miami Hurricanes 7th Floor Crew (Greg Olsen, Jon Beason, Darnell Jenkins) 2. Run to Me - Oscar De La Hoya 3. (I Know I Got) Skillz- Shaquille O’Neal 4. Break It Up - Carl Lewis 5. Slide – Arroyo Bronson 6. Freestyle – Juan Pierre & Dontrelle Willis Shaquille O’Neal

7. Must Be the Money – Deion Sanders 8. K.O.B.E. – Kobe Bryant 9. Ya’ll Must’ve Forgot – Roy Jones, Jr. 10. 2 Much Drama – Chris Webber 11. Sometimes When We Touch – Manny Pacquiao 12. 40 Bars – Allen Iverson 13. Balance-toi – Tony Parker 14. Autograph – Bob and Mike Bryan 15. Fever – Ron Artest 16. Super Bowl Shuffle – Chicago Bears 17. Where The Drinks At – Brandon Lloyd 18. Hugs Not Drugs – Atlanta Hawks 19. Get Metmerized – 86 Mets

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20. Seminole Rap – 88 FSU Seminoles

best/worst

t s Top e B

5

1. Rudy – Based on the true story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, this is an inspiring tale of over achievement and persistence. Pre-“Swingers” roles from Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn.

2. We Are Marshall – Following a 1970 plane crash in which almost almost every player on Marshall’s Thundering Herd football team died, the community and new coaching staff band together to rebuild the team. Stars Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox.

3. The Program – “Lattimer” is the sole reason to watch this movie! James Caan lends his usual performance as head coach of an unruly football team.

4. The Junction Boys – This film focuses on legendary Coach Bear Bryant’s football camp, where he subjected his players to insane training conditions which shows the old school side of football that true fans love.

5. Knute Rockne, All-American – Ronald Reagan stars as Notre Dame Coach Gipp, as in “Win just one for the Gipper” fame. This film chronicles the Knute Rockne lore.

t s r Wo Bottom 1. Necessary Roughness

5

– Scott Bakula, Sinbad, Kathy Ireland, and Jason Bateman. That

cast alone should dictate how bad this movie is. I wish I could Quantum Leap back and choke out the casting director.

2. Johnny Be Good

– Full 80’s fashion in effect. Anthony Michael Hall lending his hand at

perpetual geekdom, this time as a top recruit college QB? Yes, you read correctly! At least is has Uma Thurman before she was tainted.

3. The Waterboy

– Okay, okay….I know the Adam Sandler movies are halfway decent,

however listening to his bayou slang throughout this film is enough to make you bury your head in a boiling pot of crawfish etouffee.

4. The Comebacks

– Andy Dick and Carl Weathers….enough said.

– This is tough putting this in the bottom 5, however it was pretty much a slight to football overall and the Tide program putting Forrest on the team…although humorous.

5. Forrest Gump

PREMIER PLAYERS

25

Can John Brantley lead The Gators back to Arizona?

By Lee Yost

Some say that great moments are born from great opportunity, and the Gators’ new 6’3”, 220 lbs. redshirt junior quarterback certainly has to be chomping his jaws at the opportunity to finally take the field as the Gators starting QB.

If you map the distance from Gainesville, FL, to Glendale, AZ, site of the 2010 Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game, the distance is approximately 2,050 miles. A good portion of that map will take you toward Tallahassee, passing through Alabama, Mississippi and into Louisiana toward Baton Rouge. If you look at the schedule John Brantley will have to lead the Gators through this year, it looks quite similar.

With home games against in-state rival University of South Florida and Southeastern Conference rival Louisiana State University, and road games against the defending national champion Alabama, Tennessee and archrival Florida State, Brantley and the Gators have one of the toughest schedules in all of college football. Oh, by the way, if they can make it through that schedule they will more than likely get the task of having to play Alabama or LSU again in the SEC Championship Game.

However, even with the difficult journey that lies ahead, the Gators

26

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should feel extremely confident with Brantley behind center. He is certainly no stranger to success.

In high school, Brantley was touted as one of the best quarterback prospects in the country. He was selected to the U.S. Army All-America Team and was also voted the 2006 Gatorade National Player of the Year. Brantley compiled a 27-1 record as the starting QB for Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala, FL, and set a state record for career touchdown passes with 99. Who’s record did Brantley break? The former QB of the Gators, Tim Tebow, who previously shared the record of 98 TD passes.

Although this will officially be Brantley’s first year as the starting QB of the Gators, one had to figure he has been groomed for this opportunity his whole life. As a child, he must have heard thousands of stories about what it means to run out of that tunnel with 90,000 screaming fans ready to explode for their beloved Gators. His dad, John Brantley III, was a QB for the Gators from 1975-1979 and his uncle, Scot Brantley, was a linebacker for the Gators from 1976-1979. As if that wasn’t enough to prepare him, Brantley had a front row seat to watch and learn from arguably the greatest college football player of all time, Tim Tebow.

RB Chris Rainey offers Brantley a lot of speed out of the backfield.

When asked about the playmakers on this team during the SEC media days, Coach Urban Meyer said,

The Gators take a team photo after winning the BCS national championship football game in Glendale, Ariz., in 2007.

“

During his first few years with the Gators, Brantley has seen plenty of game action thanks to the ferociousness with which his predecessor played. He already has 10 TD passes to his credit and has completed 54 of 76 passing attempts. This experience, along with an entire offseason to prepare as the starter, should have the new Gators QB well equipped to lead the Gators back to the desert in search for another national title.

Head Coach Urban Meyer has always had an element of surprise to his offense and he should be able to add a few new wrinkles with Brantley.

Gone are the days of #15 up the middle on 3rd down and 2 or 4th down and 1.

Now the Gators opponents will have to guess which playmaker Brantley will distribute the ball to.

When asked about the playmakers on this team during the SEC media days, Coach Urban Meyer said, “That’s going to be my deal during training camp. Usually I have a handle. I have no handle right now. I have an idea, but I couldn’t list you the top seven in order.”

That element of surprise and unpredictability should give Brantley and the Gators a decided advantage on offense. Couple Brantley’s rocket arm along with the break neck speed of Chris Rainey, Jeffery Demps, Andre Debose and

Come rain or sunshine, Brantley will have the Gator Nation cheering for him.

”

. . . I have an idea, but I couldn’t list you the top seven in order.

Deonte Thompson and the Gators should be scary good offensively.

With all of that being said, you can’t help but believe that the Gators would play with the preverbal chip on their shoulders this year. After tasting the very medicine that they had given Alabama the previous year, the Gators and their fans were humbled in last years SEC Championship Game. However, you would also have to believe that most Gators fans are very excited about what the future holds for John Brantley and “The Mighty Gators”. Heck, I bet even the Ole’ Ball coach would like to draw up a few “ball plays” for this group.

As September 4th nears, I can’t help but hear the Fighting Gator Marching Band playing Orange and Blue on the field; see the Gator swimming through the SWAMP on the giant video boards as you hear, “The SWAMP, only Gators get out alive”; feel the goose bumps as AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” blasts across the stadium; and another year of Gator football is underway. For Gator fans, is there anywhere else you’d rather be?

Maybe the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ, on January 10, 2011, but that’s about it.

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27

travel

a d i r o l F , e l l Gainesvi TOP ATTRACTIONS Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art

4700 Southwest 58th Drive Gainesville, FL 32608 www.kanapaha.org

SW 34th Street Gainesville, FL 32611 www.harn.ufl.edu

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

The Swamp Restaurant

100 Savannah Boulevard Micanopy, FL 32667 www.floridastateparks.org/paynesprairie

1642 West University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32603 www.swaprestaurant.com

Hippodrome State Theatre

Ballyhoos Restaurant

25 Southeast Second Place Gainesville, FL 32601 www.thehipp.org

3700 West University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32603

Florida Museum of Natural History

Alachua County Public

SW 34th Street and Hull Road PO Box 112710 Gainesville, FL 32611 www.flmnh.ufl.edu

Santa Fe College

13800 NW 152nd Place Alachua, FL 32615-4433

3000 Northwest 83rd Street Gainesville, FL 32606 www.sfcollege.edu

Ballyhoos Restaurant Florida Museum of Natural History Hippodrome State Theatre Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

ho

of e m

Th e Swa m

University of Florida West University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601 www.ufl.edu

p

When are ‘the Games’? Are you going to ‘the Games’? What are you doing at ‘the Games’?

By Tammy Campbell of Team Alabama

T

he Games are the U.S. Transplant Games. An Olympic-style competition for anyone in the United States who has had a solid organ transplant or bone marrow transplant.

The Transplant Games are sponsored nationally by the National Kidney Foundation and the pharmaceutical company Novartis. They are held every two years in the U.S. and the world games are in the off year. Approximately 2,000 people attend The Games. Of those, about 1,200 are transplant recipient attending as athletes. It is a wonderful way for recipients to show donor families what a difference organ donation has made in their lives.

For 2010, there are 43 states competing against each other in Madison, WI. The competitors are divided into age groups within the categories of children and adults. The events include singles and

team golf, singles and doubles bowling and tennis, table tennis, racquetball, badminton, 12 swimming events and 16 track and field events. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are awarded in each event.

A new exhibition event for the 2010 Transplant Games is ballroom dancing.

It will be a competitive event for the 2012 games. You must be 12 years or older and one person dancing must be a transplant recipient.

There is a 5K walk to start The Games. The walk is to raise awareness of the need for organ and tissue donors.

Anyone attending may participate in the walk. Medals are awarded, by age bracket, to the top three to finish in the categories of recipient, living donor, and general participant.

In the same regard as the Olympics, the Transplant Games has Opening and Closing Ceremonies. At the Opening Ceremonies, each team is announced

individually, in alphabetical order, beginning with Team Alabama. The team’s managers, captains, number of athletes, donor family members and living donors are announced. Each team presents its state’s flag.

After all teams are introduced and seated the donor families are presented.

Many of the donor family members are attending without knowing the recipients to whom their donation was made.

The standing ovation they receive is overwhelming. It is very difficult for a transplant recipient to thank any donor family enough for giving them the gift of life!

The Master of Ceremonies is Larry Hagman (of I Dreamed of Jeanie or ‘Who Shot J.R.?’ fame). He received a liver transplant. Sean Elliot, the pro basketball player, is usually in attendance giving the youth some basketball tips. He received a kidney from his brother. If you look

Opening ceremony for teams from the Carolinas, Conne

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Larry Hagman, star of television’s “Dallas”, is a liver transplant recipient. Here he shows off his organ t-shirt at an opening ceremony for The Games.

Former San Antonio Spurs basketball star Sean Elliot, who has a kidney transplanted from his brother, Noel, was the first professional athlete to return to a sport after receiving an organ transplant. Sean has assisted kids at the Transplant Games through basketball clinics.

Snowboard racer Chris Klug won an Olympic bronze medal only months after a successful liver transplant surgery. He has participated in the opening ceremonies for The Games.

around the track at race time, you might find Carl Lewis giving tips on getting off the starting blocks. He is a big supporter of Organ Donation. And Chris Klug will be hanging around. He didn’t win a medal at the Olympics this year, but he sure won that Bronze in snowboarding after he had his liver transplant.

During the four days of competition, the donor families have workshops on giving, grieving, and growing. There are separate workshops for parents, teens, and children who have lost family members.

There are also workshops for living donors. Both donor families and living donors have donor recognition events.

The fiercest of all of the competition is the 3-on-3 basketball. It is played on a half court and there are 4 types of teams; youth for ages up to 13, co-ed on which there has to be a woman on the court at all times, men’s recreational, and men’s competitive. Each team is only allowed

6 people on the roster. These games are played at night and are the most attended events.

The second most attended sporting event is swimming because there are so many teams competing. I am a member of Team Alabama. Eleven years ago, on April 7th, 1999, I received a double lung transplant at the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham, AL

My donor was an 11 year-old boy from Louisiana. I’ve never met his family, but I have adopted our team’s donor families. I waited 13 ½ months for my transplant which I needed for a disease called Scleroderma which hardened my lungs.

The best thing to do if you want to be an organ donor is to let your family know. They will be the ones to make the decision if something happens to you.

Team Alabama did very well this year and the following members brought home medals:

• Joseph Lackey won Silver in the 50m run and Gold in the 25yd free style swim.

• Brooke Miley won Gold in the long jump, 1500m race/walk and 10yd. backstroke events and Silver in the 50yd backstroke.

• Carter Lloyd won Gold in shot put and long jump events and a Silver in 5K race.

• Jason Van Horn won Bronze in softball throw.

• David Miller and James Quick won Bronze in team bowling.

• Quick also won Bronze in 1500m race/walk.

• Regina Hagood won Gold in 50yd backstroke.

• Vivian Herren won Gold in discus.

For more information about the U.S. Transplant Games go to www.transplantgames.org.

cticut, Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Southern California

PREMIER PLAYERS

31

fitness

TRAPPED

Proper way to train your traps

By Ron Mckeefery

I

n the weight room, on the field, or walking down the street, the trapezius muscle grabs a lot of attention. However, most people have a limited view of the traps. From an anatomical standpoint, there are three areas of insertion: the base of the skull, the spine of the scapula (shoulder blade), and the lower thoracic vertebrae. Thus, there are three different fibers for the upper, mid, and lower traps, all of which allow for different functions.

The upper traps function primarily to elevate the shoulders, the lower traps depress the shoulders, and the mid traps act to retract the shoulders. The traps are involved in everything from maintaining posture, stabilizing the shoulder, and producing powerful movements in sports. When a lineman goes to block, he’s not going to let his shoulders round 32

PREMIER PLAYERS

forward and collapse. Instead, he is going to use his traps to bring his shoulders down and back so he is in a better position to block. Furthermore, injury prevention is one of the most important reasons for building strong traps for football players. In a sport where contact forces can exceed 1600 lbs, protecting the neck and spinal cord is essential.

The various functions of the traps make it necessary to train using a variety of movements through various set and rep schemes. For optimal development, the traps should be trained using a combination of both large, compound movements and isolation exercises.

However, when considering the best way to train the traps, one must realize that the traps are indirectly involved in many movements synergistically. Thus, they should not be trained directly

more than once or twice weekly to avoid overtraining. The optimal frequency to train the traps is every 48-72 hours, with higher frequencies resulting in overtraining and lower frequencies potentially leading to muscular atrophy.

1

With that in mind, here are some exercises that are guaranteed to produce large, strong traps:

The dead lift and power clean are two excellent compound movements for the entire trapezius muscle. They are multi-joint movements that involve lifting large loads off the floor. Both of these movements are extremely taxing and are best done for low reps (1-5) across multiple sets (5-10).

To add some variety these movements can be taken outside with tire flips.

2

Pulling movements are another excellent example of a multiple-joint movement.

Similar to dead lifts and power cleans, pulling hits all three components of the traps and helps maintain posture and shoulder stability.

Pulling movements are most effectively done for moderate reps (8-12) and sets (34). Don’t have dumbbells or a barbell? No problem. Grab two ropes and attach them to a trailer hitch at the end of your truck.

Now squat down and row, each time you move back. Remember, car in neutral!

3

The shrug and its variations serve as a single joint exercise to target the traps. It serves as a viable option for isolating the upper traps and is best done for higher reps (12-15) across fewer sets (2-3). Although there are many ways to perform a shrug (barbells, dumbbells, different grips, etc…), doing more than one variation in a single workout is unnecessary.

Increase ability to produce power, prevent injuries, and add the benefit of having an intimidating appearance: Why wouldn’t you want to train your traps?

Contributing Writers & Picture Demonstrations Skyler Farley and Jennifer Pertrosino

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33

nutrition

&

Yoga, Athletes, Nutritional Supplements

I

n our June issue, I shared why yoga should be incorporated in an athlete’s workout regiment. Yoga increases strength, flexibility, reduces the risk of injury, reduces stress, increases proper alignment, and many other benefits that ensure overall health, wellness, and performance. In addition to exercise, a proper diet is necessary to reach your optimal level of performance.

You will not experience the full spectrum of health and wellness with exercise alone. A healthy diet is required for any program of optimal performance. In order to avoid suffering nutritional deficiencies, nutritional supplements should be included in your diet.

We can recall learning about the food pyramid in school; this model showed us how to obtain a full balanced diet. Due to our busy lifestyles most of us do not apply this model to our daily routine. Nutritional supplements complement our diets by ensuring proper nutrients, vitamins and minerals. This is necessary when our goal is to reach our desired level of competitive performance.

Athletes understand the importance of strength, stamina and mental toughness required to compete. They also understand the physical and mental requirements needed when enduring two-a-day workouts, lifting, conditioning and long meetings. Discipline is required to accomplish this daily routine; this is why an athlete trains with such intensity always striving to be the best.

The same discipline applies to what we feed our bodies. A proper diet is crucial to an athlete’s quest for success.

Supplements can fill the void of nutritional deficiencies in our daily diet. Nutritional 34

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By Monique Davis Dotson

supplements boost our immune system and rid the body of harmful free radicals. A lack of vitamins and minerals may suppress your immune system and increase the risk of infections and disease.

Supplements help you achieve optimum health and minimize the risk of disease. According to The Center for Disease Control, many illnesses and deaths associated with chronic disease is avoidable through known prevention measures.

There are a wide variety of nutritional supplements in the market today.

The key is to find the supplements needed to aid your dietary regiment.

Do your research to find out what supplement is required to satisfy

your nutritional needs and always consult your physician.

All natural supplements are the best choice when you are looking to add them to your diet.

If you do not know where to start; I have found great success

using Ardyss International’s all natural supplements. Multi-Plus liquid multi-vitamin has vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, aloe vera, ginseng and other key nutrients.

The all-natural antioxidant supplement called LeVive has 5 of the world’s most powerful super fruits: noni, acai, goji berry, pomegranate and mangosteen. LeVive testimonials consist of increased energy, lowering high blood pressure, lowering high cholesterol, improved immune systems due to antioxidants fighting the free radicals in our bodies, and many other additional benefits.

Antioxidants protect against oxidative stress and prevent damage to the cells. This is why antioxidants are crucial to our diets. A favorite supplement of athletes is called Power Boost. Power Boost contains high amounts of L-Argine (which increases the HGH production naturally) vitamin A, C, E and additional vitamins to assist an athlete’s top performance level. A list of nutritional supplements can

be found at my website with Ardyss at www. ardysslife.com/mdotson.

Exercise and dietary choices allow us to reach our optimal level of performance.

Essential nutrients are needed in order to maintain proper body function. When our diets lack proper nutritional requirements, supplementation is necessary.

It is evident that a good workout regiment alone will not allow an athlete to reach their desired level of optimal performance. The key for optimal performance is optimal nutrition, which is the foundation of importance when achieving optimal health.

Ellery Hollingsworth Ellery grew up in Darien, CT, and learned to ride under the tutelage of her two big brothers.

Known for her smooth, skate-influenced style on the slopes she consistently pushes the envelope, spinning and going bigger than the competition.

At such a young age, few women dominate the halfpipe, slopestyle and quarterpipe like Ellery.

On Deck

Check out our next issue 38

PREMIER PLAYERS

as we follow NFL teams through training camps and give you our predictions for the NFL season. Along with coverage of high school and college football stars, you can catch our regular features such as Bloodlines, Rivalries, Where Are They Now and Player’s Ink.

You won’t want to miss it!

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