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Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in 1963 on the 17th of February and retired from the basketball scene from which he exploded and along with others were beginning to make names for themselves.

Throughout his prolific career from the Eighties to the Nineties he has been a truly outstanding basketball player and coach.

Jordan has been considered a remarkable asset at both ends of the spectrum in relation to how the sport is played and how it is viewed. He was elementally instrumental in making the sport a worldwide forum for fans of all generations and nationalities.

Jordan ended a fifteen-season career with a regular-season average score of over thirty points per game, won six championships with the Chicago Bulls, and currently owns a part in the Charlotte Bobcats. Jordan is considered by most to be the greatest basketball player of all time, with numerous awards and much acclamation for his abilities. Popular, he has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated a record of forty-nine times since 1983. He was named Sportsman of the Year by the magazine in 1991. In 1999, Michael Jordan was named the greatest athlete of the twentieth century by the ESPN sports network.

He was listed as being second only to Babe Ruth in the Associated Press’ list of the top athletes of the 20th century. His leaping ability has been vividly proven by his feats of dunking a basketball from the foul line, earning him nicknames like Air Jordan.

As a young child in school, Jordan was remarkable athlete that came to skill in three sports at once, and eventually singled this down to basketball but had to endure a few seasons of being refused from the varsity basketball team. Jordan then earned an athletic scholarship to the University of North Carolina. While there, became a better player over the time spent working with the team-oriented system.

After winning a player of the year award in 1984, he left to join the NBA Draft, and was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the first round as the third pick overall. Jordan played thirteen seasons for the Bulls and two with the Washington Wizards. He was generally used as a shooting guard, and was just as versatile a threat at point guard and small forward.

Throughout his career, Michael Jordan, a gifted, has proved himself worthy of all the attention and praise garnered through his skills and talents, and has since lent his valuable knowledge to coaching.

Bill Wallmuller aka Mr. Merokee is the founder of Merokee Enterprises and author of the Celebrity Information Website: http://www.celebrity information.info

The Spurs is the only major professional sports team that calls the city of San Antonio their home. For this special honor, the residents of San Antonio shower their “boys” with praise and attention. In return, the Spurs team delivers an entertaining season and also gives back to the community. This is quite evident through the efforts and endeavors associated with influential personalities, such as David Robinson (Carver Academy) and George Gervin (Youth Center).

It is believed that the impressive community involvement from players greatly contributes to creating one of the most loyal fan bases within the NBA. This fact is also obvious through the attendance records that the team set when they called the Astrodome their home court. They also broke records for having one of the biggest crowds in history during the 1999 NBA Finals. Now, they play in the AT&T Center and continue to regularly sell out seats.

Another unique bond that the city and team have with one another showcases one of the most important forms of respect. When celebrating championship runs or significant milestones within the sporting world, the residents of San Antonio march up and down the streets, honking horns and spreading pride with little disruption. When it comes to rejoicing after a Spurs-title win, a major riot has yet to take place.

Throughout the years, San Antonio has had a lot to be happy about. They have sent three players to the Basketball Hall of Fame: George Gervin, Moses Malone, and Dominique Wilkins. The first of these basketball greats inducted into the Hall of Fame was George Gervin, who was nicknamed the “Iceman” during his career. In 1996, his outstanding run with the Spurs left him retiring with the second-most blocks of any guard in the NBA.

In 2001, Moses Malone was inducted into the Hall of Fame. By the end of his career, his longevity in the game sent him playing with two members of the Berry family (Rick in Houston; 1979 and 1980) and his son (Jon in Milwaukee; 1992 and 1993). The last of the current Hall of Famers is Dominique Wilkins, who in 2006 was inducted after leading an NBA career filled with major scoring and dunking accolades.

The San Antonio Spurs have rewarded an assortment of players for their service on the team by retiring their number into the rafters, which is an attractive accomplishment for any basketball player. Out of former Spurs players, Johnny Moore, who played in the 80s, had his # 00 retired. Moore played the position of guard and was known for overcoming Valley fever, which at the time was thought to have the capability to put an end to his career. Luckily, Moore was able to make a full recovery and wound up playing 520 games with San Antonio.

Guard James Silas (#13) may seem like an unlucky number, but for this Spurs player, it turned out to be quit lucky when his jersey was retired. Nicknamed “Captain Late” and “The Snake,” he was thought as being his basketball best when games were late into play.

Sean Elliott, a forward for San Antonio played from 1989 to 1993, as well as from 1994 to 2001 had his #32 jersey sent high into the rafters of the AT&T Center in 2005. While he accomplished many achievements during his time on the team, he might be best known for the role he played in 1999, when the Spurs gained the NBA championship title. In Game 2, he walked a thin line down the sideline and set off a three-pointer to inch the Spurs to a win the Portland Trail Blazers during the Western Conference Finals.

David Robinson (#50) has always been known as one-half of the Twin Towers duo. The center played for the Spurs from 1989 to 2003 and also had his number retired. He is often referred to as one of the best centers to ever play in professional basketball. Playing from 1974 to 1985, George Gervin also earned the respect to have his #44 join the ranks of retired numbers associated with the San Antonio organization. To date, there have only been five who have been able to accomplish such a feat.

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Mention the phrase vertical jump and many athletes worldwide pose many questions wanting to know the ultimate quick fix to increase and improve vertical jump. This article will discuss some of the most frequently asked questions about how to increase and improve vertical jump.

FAQ 1: Why is a vertical jump increase so important?

An increase to vertical jump is now considered so vital to athletes of all different sports, not just basketball, worldwide because it is now one of the main measurements that is used to measure an athlete’s athletic capabilities. In fact the vertical jump is now considered so critical that it is the only measurement at the initial NBL assessment.

FAQ 2: Is it hard to see an increase in a short period of time?

No it’s actually very easy. Of course there is persistence and a little hard work involved but once you know the right exercises to incorporate into your workout program, what part of the body to focus your reps on, and are following the right nutritional advice including what supplements you should be taking you can actually see an increase in a week or so.

FAQ 3: Do I need to do a workout every day to see a signficant increase?

Absolutely not. In fact, I recommend that you don’t do a vertical jump workout every day for two very important reasons: One, your muscles need to rest. If you overdo your workout and do it every single day you are doing too much and are diminishing the chance of a jump increase. In fact, by doing it every day you could reduce your increase significantly.

Two, if you do a workout every day you run the risk of injury. If you get injured (as many professional athletes have been by overdoing things) then you can guarantee no jump increase while you and your body are in recovery.

FAQ 4: How Do I Measure Vertical Jump?

It’s very easy to measure. Firstly, stand with your side against a wall and extend your arm high above your head and take a measurement, or have someone else do it for you either with chalk, sticky tape, or even saliva. That is your first measurement.

Then take a measurement with you doing a vertical jump as high as you can from a standing position, standing against the wall again. Take the second measurement away from the first and you have your jump measurement.

FAQ 5: How Do I Choose The Best Program For Me?

That’s a great question. There are so many jump programs promising outstanding super quick results that it becomes really confusing trying to choose the best program for you. There are some very important factors that must be included in the best program for you: One, it can be customized to whatever level of fitness you are at and what age you are.

Every athlete is different and for this reason it’s essential that the program can be catered perfectly to your needs. Two, the best program would focus on more than just exercises. Diet, nutrition and supplements are an important factor in your workout program and must be included. Further, the best program wouldn’t just focus on stretching, plyometrics or weight training. The best program would include all of these exercise models.

Additionally, the best program must be able to be customized to improvements in your jump. If you do the same reps etc all the way along you won’t see as significant jump increase than if you were altering your program as your fitness and vertical increase progressed.

FAQ 6: Where Can I Find A Jump Program?

There are a number of free programs available online. However, as with many things in life you do get what you pay for. It’s important to look at programs that have a proven track record that are recommended by people whose opinions you value.

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The March Madness brings along the online betting fever. Right from college students to office goers, almost everybody gets onto the net and places a bet. The FBI estimates that over $2.5 billion is wagered on the NCAA tournament with only $80 million betting done legally. That goes to show the amount being gambled illegally!

The FBI estimate may just be the tip of the iceberg. Independent observers believe that the amount being wagered on basketball is much higher. They may be right because in 2003, 1.6 million bets were placed on the NCAA tourney through wagering outlets. The value of this bets was $96 million.

Most of the betting today is being done online, and the average size of the best is $50. This is quite large by any standards. This is because it is much easier to place a bet on an online site. The individual does not have to wait for a bookie to pick up the phone, and identify him. He can simply go online, and place a wager. There is no one to ask him uncomfortable questions.

On an average, the March Madness fans spend around 1.5 hours every week on the net, seeking information about basketball games or placing bets. A Google search for words like bet, NCAA and basketball threw up as many as 342,000 different betting-related sites. Clearly, basketball betting has gone through the roof.

Most of these sites lure potential betters by promising inside information. The stakes are very high, and sometimes-even teams agree to perform poorly because they have been offered a good amount to lose the match. This turns the fun sport into a spoiled sport.

The NCAA has strict rules regarding leakage of inside information by basketball officials. But the lure of easy money is too high. This can be seen from a university of Michigan study done in 2000. The study, which quizzed basketball and football, sports officials found:

We will start with just one example that most really like.

Reebok Classics - CL BB Jam SE
Look good on and off the court in these retro basketball sneakers. Classic lines with full-grain leather uppers. Durable rubber outsole for great traction while breakin’ ankles.

Reebok basketball shoes, which have been developed in conjunction with NBA, are available all over the world. These shoes are specially designed for those players who need a solid and comfortable fit, better traction and firm support for the ankle.

The Reebok basketball footwear is not limited to professional basketball players, but is available for all age groups. Reebok even offers children the option to customize their sneakers by placing the team logos on the sides. Reebok also has Little Kids ATR Flush and Reebok Insane Hoops Basketball Shoe for pre school children. Interestingly, an assorted collection in team colors and logos is available for infants!

Two popular Reebok brands are Rebook NBA Downtime Mid Basketball Men’s Shoe and Reebok NBA Downtime Low Basketball Men’s Shoe. These shoes that carry the NBA logo are made from full-grain leather that offers great comfort. The outsole is made of high-abrasion rubber that is quite durable. It also has the old lacing system for a tighter and adjustable fit.

Another popular shoe is the Reebok NBA Enigma II. This shoe is made with the DMX technology that reduces heel impact and costs $86. It is made of leather and has a mid-cut design for extra stability.

Reebok BB4600 Ultra Hi Leather Basketball Shoes come in 7 to 13 sizes. They are quite comfortable and durable, thanks to the Die-Cut EVA midsole. For those who love to wear black shoes, Reebok ATR Black Reload Basketball Shoe could be the right choice. This made-in-China product features the X-beam technology and PU sockliner. Speed lacing system gives the user total convenience.

Another popular Reebok shoe is the Men’s ATR Too Easy Basketball Shoe. It comes with spandex lining that helps the foot to stay cool. It also has a Polyurethane Cushion Insole that adds to comfort. The Reebok Men’s Answer VII Low is another durable basketball shoe. It has a Duracourt rubber outsole and is available in two colors - white and silver.

Another choice that a basketball payer or fan has is the Men’s ATR Pump Basketball shoe. This shoe comes with an adjustable ankle strap that gives a perfect fit. The pull-up laces are removable.

William Smith lives in Florida with his wife and three cats. Download a 100% FREE $89 value SEO eBook and discover all the joys and secrets of Basketball at http://www.basketballholygrail.com

Nike does it again with their Shox line of footwear. Nike Shox shoes, sneaker, and clogs defy the laws of physics by giving you an unnatural amount of bounce in your step. Yet at the same time, they help absorb all the pressure when you come down. Ideally designed for athletes seeking that ultimate edge over their competition. They have over 60 different types of Nike Shox shoes for men, women, and kids.

The Nike Shox 2:45 offers the best of both worlds: a fusion of Nike Shox

The next major landmark was the introduction of the five-player format. This happened on January 18, 1896 during an intercollegiate game in Iowa City. By the early 1900s, the game had spread to 90 colleges, most of them located in the East and Midwest. This number continued to swell and by 1914 as many as 360 colleges had introduced the game.

In 1915 the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, the NCAA, and the YMCA joined hands to streamline the game, and set up a committee to frame rules. This period also saw the formation of a number of regional conferences.

The first NCAA Men’s College Basketball Championship tournament was held in Evanston in 1939, and was cheered by 5,500 basketball fans. It was organized by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and was won by University of Oregon. After this, the NCAA took over the national basketball championship tournament.

The year 1940 witnessed the first college basketball game to be aired on television. This game was played between Pittsburgh and Fordham at Madison Square Garden, and ever since then basketball became a national obsession, drawing huge crowds. But there is nothing that beats March Madness, when almost 350 American colleges compete for the NCAA basketball crown. It is the most watched event in the US.

Till 1950, the NCAA tourney had eight teams competing against each other. These teams represented each of the eight NCAA districts. The number of teams was increased to 16 in 1951. In this format, 10 conference champions qualified automatically while the remaining six teams were chosen on the basis of their performance. In 1954, the number of teams went up to 24, and in 1975, a 32-team bracket was adopted. This was increased to 48 in 1980 and to 64 in 1985.

Over the years, college basketball has gone through a remarkable change. There are a number of players who showcase their talent in college basketball, and rise to become stars. There is huge fan following for this game, and most of the NBA stars trace their origins to college basketball.

College basketball is a very exciting game for the entire family. It can be a rallying
point for most any family or friends plus a great night out. The slam dunks are extra exciting and you might even hear “holy crap did you see that, I can’t believe my eyes”.

What ever you do go to at least one game and than make your decision.

William Smith lives in Florida with his wife and three cats. Download a 100% FREE $89 value SEO eBook and discover all the joys and secrets of Basketball at http://www.basketballholygrail.com