London, U.K. — As Team GB climbs ever higher in the medal table, on the Beach the UK’s leading online travel agent, reveals the top sporting activities across some of Europe’s most loved destinations.

While soccer is the number one sport in the UK, a holiday in one of our best loved summer destinations can offer a variety of sporting experiences.

Croatia boasts an insatiable passion for one of the nations’ most loved sports; Tennis. With a beautiful climate throughout the summer, there is no better way to spend a holiday in Croatia, than taking part in a great game on court followed, by a refreshing ‘deuce’ at the poolside to cool off.

Bulgarians favour the highly disciplined sport of Boxing; perhaps not quite as relaxing as spending a day topping up the tan on Sunny Beach, it can be a great way to keep in shape whilst enjoying your holiday on the Black Sea coast.

The Portuguese prefer to take to the pedals, with cycling one of the nations’ favorite sport. With On the Beach witnessing a boost in bookings for self-catering holidays to the Algarve this summer, holidaymakers can follow suit and experience the true beauty of Portugal on the back of bike, which has the added bonus of catching even more rays.

To no surprise the gorgeous Greeks are keen volleyball enthusiasts, with plenty of picturesque beaches on offer to perfect their techniques. Cheap breaks to Crete and other Greek Islands will leave holidaymakers finding that the breathtaking Greek landscapes are not the only treat to the eyes while lapping up the sun.

Alistair Daly, Marketing Director at On the Beach commented “With many destinations around Europe offering cheap summer holidays, Brits should take advantage of the bargains and jet off to foreign shores; not only to sport a golden tan but to go for gold and enjoy the nations’ favorite sport too.”

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New York, U.S.A - The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation , a charitable organization that supports projects in the U.S. to improve the lives of youth through the power of sports, in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), the company and its dealers, is addressing the recent onslaught of New York’s after-school budget cuts with an innovative solution.
In 2012, the New York City initiative will train and place 120 coaches in 15 sports-based youth development projects in underserved neighborhoods in all five boroughs that will mentor approximately 10,000 city children. Laureus USA has selected Coach Across America as their delivery partner.

This regional initiative is part of a nationwide program that, with a $1.3 million national commitment from MBUSA to the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, focuses on training and placing 250 coaches through Coach Across America in sports-based youth development projects in underserved neighborhoods in five U.S. cities: Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and New Orleans.
This afternoon at 3:00 PM EDT, the city-wide initiative kicks off with dealer partners and employees from MBUSA along with Laureus World Sports Academy Member and nine-time Olympic Champion Mark Spitz, as well as elected officials, guests and staff, visiting Play Rugby USA - an innovative program that cleverly combines rugby with sports education, health, academic and community development programming to create a holistic and asset-based approach to youth development. Underlying the program’s success is the establishment of sustainable partnerships with urban schools and youth organizations, each creating a systematic opportunity for youth during or after school.

“Mercedes-Benz USA and our dealer partners have a long tradition of supporting and giving back to our communities. When you combine that with MBUSA’s extensive involvement in high-profile sports events, this is an undertaking that really makes sense for us and provides a real benefit to youth across the country,” said Steve Cannon, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.
“We believe in the transformational power of sport as a tool for social good. Today’s coaches go beyond the traditional sense of the term ‘coach,’” said Edwin Moses, who also serves as the chairman of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA. “They are mentors, community organizers and mediators. Investing in proper training and offering support for these coaches is vital to sports-based youth development, especially as youth violence and obesity escalate and school-based programs continue to be decimated by budget cuts. Initiatives like this are essential in America to fill the gap.”

Recent budget cuts to childcare and after-school programs are expected to impact up to 90,000 young people in New York. In the last two years alone, $3.5 billion has been cut from school sports budgets nationally, resulting in 16.5 million youth with little to no access to sports. With staggering childhood obesity statistics – an estimated 33 percent of American youth are overweight or obese by third grade and in New York City, one in five kindergarten children is obese. Solutions to combat these issues affecting youth are sorely needed.

Along with parents and teachers, coaches play a crucial role in developing character in today’s youth. But a recent GAO report confirmed that despite this important role, quality coaches are in short supply.Proper coaching increases the chance of  better grades, better behavior, healthier lives and longer life due to fitness activity.

Additionally, this initiative will provide employment opportunities, relevant experience and scholarships in the sport for development sector for young adults in this tough economy. Many of the coaches recruited by Coach Across America will be college graduates from the local community. The projects where they will be placed include: America Scores NY, American Youth Table Tennis, Asphalt Green, Beat the Streets, City Soccer in the Community, Harlem RBI, I Challenge Myself, New Heights Youth, Nike Camp Skate, Nike DYCD Community Centers, Play Rugby USA, Power Play NYC, Inc., Row New York, United Youth League, and Urban Dove.

“The positive influence coaches can have on today’s underserved youth is undeniable,” said James Kallusky, director of Coach Across America. “The generous support from both Mercedes-Benz USA and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA will allow Coach Across America to both broaden and deepen its impact by providing new coaches in New York.”

One beneficiary of Coach Across America is Ktrice McNeill, who turned to a basketball court to avoid gang violence and drugs. Ktrice used his basketball skills to earn a scholarship to attend Southern Connecticut State University. After receiving his college degree, Ktrice returned to New York and joined Coach Across America to coach in the same community center he turned to as his sanctuary. ”When I started coaching, I had kids ask me to be their dad or brother,” he said. “I told them ‘I can’t be your dad, but I can be your role model.’ On my cell phone I have numbers for 100 kids that can call me any time they need me.”

Image Courtesy of  muzsy / Shutterstock.com

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Mountain View, U.S.A. - Luminate, Inc., the worldwide leader in making images interactive, and FOXSports.com recently announced a unique image app that provides consumers with instant access to player-related statistics and information by simply mousing over an image. This custom app will be deployed across FOXSports.com including NBA, MLB and NFL galleries.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with FOXSports.com on the next generation of digital sports fan applications,” said Chas Edwards, Luminate CRO and Head of Publisher Development. “Consumers demand greater depth-of-experience from today’s imagesphere, and publishers like FOXSports.com are answering that demand. With more than 3 trillion images online and millions more uploaded each day, developing an image strategy is becoming a top priority for publishers who want to participate in an increasingly visual culture.”

FOXSports.com visitors gain immediate benefit from a scrolling player stats app at the bottom of an image that is directly related to the player within the image. Those who want more information simply mouse over the image to expand a player card of detailed stats and the player’s performance relative to others in the league. All of this takes place directly from an online image.

By adding interactive image apps to previously one-dimensional static images, FOXSports.com’s viewers engage with content that improves their user experience and increases time spent on their site. Additionally, Luminate’s image app brings new life to all of FOXSports.com’s photos regardless of when they were taken because relevant, up-to-date information is embedded in each picture.

“Merging stats with our wide array of sports photos gives fans a wealth of information at their fingertips without having to leave the page,” said Ed Bunnell, FOXSports.com SVP, Programming & Content. “Whether it’s stats from last night’s game or a current player’s historical career performance, photos now come to life and allow fans to interact in a way they’ve never been able to before.”

This new application was co-developed by Luminate and FOXSports.com through Luminate’s custom image app program. Luminate works closely with publishers to enhance their content offerings by developing creative image capabilities that appeal to the needs of specific audiences while also aligning with a publisher’s broader content strategy. The app will be added to the 15 plus other Luminate applications available from Luminate’s Image App store.

To learn more about how to create a custom image app, deploy existing images apps, or develop a comprehensive image strategy, please visit.

To view the Internet’s first image app for sports stats, please visit.

Image Courtesy of  Mat Hayward / Shutterstock.com

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London, UK – London & Partners launches new SMG Insight / YouGov research which shows London fever has spread around the world.

London is set to inspire the world over the next 4 months in the run up to London 2012 according to new research launched by London & Partners which shows the extent of international excitement about the Olympics and the host city, London.

In central London, outside the Olympic Park, a celebration of cultures will be hitting the streets, with National Olympic Committees creating a festival atmosphere by offering opportunities for fans from around the world to show their support for their athletes. Over 40 nations will be represented through official NOC Houses situated around London. The NOC houses will offer fans an opportunity to experience the national entertainment and culture, watch sports on big screens and join in celebrations during athlete appearances.

London 2012 is also creating a lasting global sporting legacy with over one-in-four people from sampled nations inspired to take up swimming and one-in-five considering taking up cycling this year. To capitalise on this interest plans are already in place to launch a new world-class cycling event in the city following the Games – cycling’s equivalent of the London Marathon.

Such is the excitement about the Games in China that two-thirds of the Chinese population, the hosts of the 2008 Olympics, are inspired to participate in Badminton during 2012 and over half intend to take up table tennis.

Music, culture and outdoor spaces are also important for international visitors to London. London’s river, squares and parks are an important attraction for visitors with almost 6-in-10 stating that they intend to visit London’s famous outdoor spaces. In these spaces, BT will be hosting BT London Live sites where medal events will be shown on the big screen and a daily schedule of cultural and arts showcases from around the world will be shown.

Retail will also experience a significant boost with over 40% of visitors planning to go to world famous shopping locations such as Harrods, Selfridges and Oxford Street.

Iain Edmondson, Head of the Major Events team at London & Partners, said: “During the Games, there will be a festival atmosphere filling the streets of London with numerous opportunities for the public to experience the spirit of the Games even if they don’t have tickets. After 2012 people will be able to turn the inspiration of the Games into participation, by entering London’s world-class mass-participation events such as the London Marathon, London Triathlon and new road cycling event.”

Key results from the London Sport Global Inspiration Survey show that:

•   28% of adults are inspired to take up swimming during 2012. 20% inspired to take up cycling.
•   Both modern and historic sporting locations are the most inspiring Olympic venues. 23% want to see the Olympic Stadium, 18% Olympic Aquatic Centre and 18% Wimbledon
•  23% of those surveyed favour watching Rafael Nadal and Michael Phelps. Rising stars such as basketball player Jeremy Lin (20%) and cyclist Mark Cavendish (13%) also feature as inspirational figures around the world. Usain Bolt is the most popular athletes for UK residents, with 28% stating that they are inspired to watch him.
• 69% of the Chinese population are inspired to watch basketball during 2012. Nearly a third (30%) of the international survey is inspired to watch athletics/running.
• Half of visitors to London are inspired to visit a museum or historic building. Slightly more (53%) will visit a tourist attraction such as Madame Tussauds and 57% will visit a park, river or public space.

The full report can be viewed and downloaded from here:

http://vlstatic.com/l-and-p/assets/events/london-sport-global-inspiration-survey-report.pdf 

For the full list of NOC houses available to the public and what’s going on in London throughout 2012 go to http://www.visitlondon.com/2012 

Image Courtesy of   Pete Niesen / Shutterstock.com

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The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) awarded more than $845,000 in new research to advance the science of sports medicine related to concussion and head injury, and approved second year funding for existing concussion research grants in the amount of $1,000,00 for research grants recommended  by the Scientific Advisory Committee.

NOCSAE is an independent and nonprofit standard-setting body with the sole mission to enhance athletic safety through scientific research and the creation of performance standards for protective equipment.

“Investment in research provides the foundation of our mission to protect athletes,” said Mike Oliver, NOCSAE executive director. “With these grants and our continued commitment, we are driving the science of sports medicine so athletes of all ages can know their equipment is certified to standards based on the best available information.”

NOCSAE is the leading nongovernmental source for research funding in all sports medicine related to concussion. Since 1995, NOCSAE has devoted more than $5 million toward research by the foremost experts in sports medicine and science to develop and advance athlete safety. During the winter board meeting, NOCSAE approved new research grants to study:

• “Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on acute treatment of sport-related traumatic brain injury,” led by Jason P. Mihalik, Ph.D., at the Department of Exercise and Sport Science’s Matthew A. Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center at the University of North Carolina
• “Head accelerations from various stick checks in girls lacrosse,” led by Joseph “Trey” Crisco, Ph.D., professor of orthopedics at Brown University
• “Influence of concussion education on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among youth athletes, coaches and parents,” led by Johna K. Register-Mihalik, Ph.D., of the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science, and Curriculum in Human Movement Science at the University of North Carolina
• “Concussion assessment in high school athletes – learning disability, history, GPA,” led byTamerah N. Hunt, Ph.D., ATC, Assistant Professor of Clinical Allied Medical Professions, The Ohio State University
• “Assessment of structural and metabolic brain changes in concussion,” led by Daniel Osherson, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Princeton University

More information on the 2012 grant recipients can be found on the NOCSAE website in the coming weeks. Formed in 1969, NOCSAE is a leading force in the effort to improve athletic equipment and, as a result, reduce injuries.

NOCSAE efforts include the development of performance and test standards for football helmets and facemasks, baseball and softball batters and catchers helmets, baseballs and softballs, ice hockey helmets, soccer shin guards, lacrosse helmets and facemasks and polo helmets.

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Now that Wisconsin and Oregon have won berths in the 2012 Rose Bowl Game, what are they going to do next? They are going to Disneyland!

The Number 10 BCS-ranked Wisconsin Badgers, champions of the Big Ten Conference, and Number 5 BCS- ranked Oregon Ducks, champions of the Pac-12 Conference, will make their first official appearances of the Rose Bowl Game week at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 27, in a ceremony at the holiday-themed Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle at Disneyland.

Wisconsin Head Coach, Bret Bielema, Oregon Head Coach, Chip Kelly, and members of both teams are scheduled to appear in the Castle ceremony with Disneyland Resort Vice President Jon Storbeck, Mickey Mouse, and the Disneyland Band. Among the Wisconsin players will be running back (and 2011 Heisman Trophy Finalist) Montee Ball, quarterback Russell Wilson, running back Bradie Ewing, free safety Aaron Henry, and defensive tackle Patrick Butrym.

Featured Oregon players in the ceremony will be tight end David Paulson, linebacker Josh Kaddu, defensive end Dion Jordan, and offensive linemen Mark Asper and Darrion Weems. Following the ceremony, coaches and key players will be available for media interviews in front of the Castle, and then will experience popular Disneyland attractions, such as the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

Disneyland has been associated with the Tournament of Roses since 1959 and has had the honor of playing host to many teams during that time. The 98th Rose Bowl Game, played in Pasadena on Monday, January 2, 2012, will mark the second consecutive and eighth appearance all-time in the Rose Bowl Game for the Badgers (11-2).

The Ducks (also 11-2) will be making their sixth appearance in the Rose Bowl Game. January 2 will mark the fifth meeting all time between Wisconsin and Oregon; it will be the first time the two meet in a Rose Bowl Game.

dashingstock / Shutterstock.com

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It is Christmas, and that means the NBA starts! This is the beginning of an NBA season that we never thought was going to happen and that means power rankings. To start off this year, the defending champion Mavericks are atop the list as they look to repeat again this year. Right behind them are the Heat with their big three who should benefit from the shortened season. The Knicks and Clippers made splashes with offseason moves and should improve their standings, along with the Bulls who added Richard Hamilton to solidify an already solid team.

Rounding out the bottom is the Pistons, Kings, and Cavaliers. The Pistons made some questionable signings, which will probably hurt them in the long run. The Kings, while improving, still have a long way to go, and the Cavaliers got worse after losing Baron Davis to the Knicks. All in all, it should be an interesting season with the compressed schedule, and the power rankings will be here every week to let you know how your team stands against the rest.

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It has been a few days, but fans, players, and executives alike still cannot believe what took place Thursday night. Chris Paul was finally dealt by New Orleans, and the Commissioner simply blocked the trade for what he referred to as “basketball reasons.” Let’s be honest – this move was absolutely mind-blowing and completely unfair to all three teams involved.

The majority of the outrage comes from Laker fans who thought for just a few hours that they were receiving possibly the best point guard the league has to offer. Along with the aid of the Rockets, Los Angeles gave up the necessary quality pieces in order to obtain a superstar like Paul.

Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol are two of the most versatile big men in the game today. At seven feet, Gasol is extremely athletic in the low post with the ability to shoot from the outside. Meanwhile, Odom is capable of much of the same at six foot ten, but can also take opponents off the dribble from anywhere on the floor and consistently knocks down three pointers.

The Rockets threw in some nice talent as well. Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, and Goran Dragic are viewed as players with good experience who still have room to grow into even better players. Houston was also prepared to give New Orleans a first-round pick in this trade, which is something that every team would love to have. Yet somehow David Stern did not believe this deal benefited the Hornets enough.

That notion is beyond comprehension. The teams have now modified the deal and resubmitted it for approval, according to ESPN. If this is successful, it will not be due to the fact that it is now substantial to the Hornets’ needs, however. On the contrary, it will have resulted from Stern’s inability to handle even more pressure and heat that most of the observing parties will put upon him.

The small market owners who originally complained to him after this deal was initially reported will still be upset regardless. That has to be what all of this really boils down to in the end. The idea of all-stars joining forces to create ‘super teams’ is exciting for fans in those cities, but saddening for the rest of the league when the competition realistically includes just a handful of franchises.

Stern understands that, but it should not give him the right to cancel a trade that general managers worked vigorously to complete in a just manner, even if the league does own the team like they do the Hornets. There is a certain amount of control that the league has over players, but when negotiations are executed in a proper fashion they should not prohibit them from walking. Paul has done nothing wrong and does not deserve to be punished by being forced to stay with a team that he clearly wants to leave.

What Stern does not realize is that Paul is actually making the morally correct decision in this situation. He has openly admitted that he will opt out of his contract this summer and sign elsewhere. The popular belief is that, if this were to happen, he would then sign with the Knicks. By doing this, he at least gives the Hornets the opportunity to trade him in his contract year and get something for him.

The biggest risk that Stern takes in blocking this trade is held in the hands of the Lakers and Knicks. These are the only two teams that Paul states he would sign extensions with if traded. What happens if the Lakers suddenly get a better deal with the Magic in exchange for Dwight Howard and decide that Paul is not worth it or realize they do not have enough for him?

The Knicks do not have the necessary assets, unlike the Lakers, and this could lead to a nightmare scenario where Paul does not get traded at all this year. That would then allow him the option to sign with either team over the off-season, leaving the Hornets with nothing in return.

Unfortunately, Stern made the assumption that something like this could never occur. However, one of the only things we know in life is that we can never be too sure. To put it bluntly, he made an atrociously risky decision with false reasoning as support. This is inexcusable, even if the new deal is approved.

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens: Ravens QB Joe Flacco, including the playoffs, has a record of 2-6 against the Steelers and both of those wins came without Ben Roethlisberger out. It will be a “knock ‘em down, drag ‘em out”-kind of game which comes as no surprise. Steelers 17-13

Atlanta Falcons vs. Chicago Bears: Both teams lost to the Packers last year in the playoffs. After an ugly beating by the Packers, Atlanta bounced back with a good offseason. They drafted the outstanding 6’3 wideout out of Alabama Julio Jones and signed Free Agent DE Ray Edwards. Meanwhile, Bears have OL problems after losing C Olin Kreutz. Atlanta 27-21

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns: Rookie Andy Dalton plus Rookie A.J. Green equals a promising future. Right now, this isn’t the future. Now the Bengals start on the road in the “Dawg Pound”. The Browns beat up New England at home last year and almost came up with a win against the Jets. Browns 24-10

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans: With Peyton Manning declared out for week one and maybe longer, it’s time for the Texans to win the division and finally get into the playoffs. Houston has an injury concern of their own. Last year’s rushing leader, Arian Foster, didn’t practice Friday (hamstring) and his status is up in the air for Sunday. Even if he’s out, Houston still has enough to beat a Manning-less Colts. Houston 28-17

Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Chris Johnson gets his 4 year $53 million deal with $30 million of it guaranteed. Jaguars cut QB David Garrard only days before the season opener. That’s too quick of a turnaround for the team to overcome. Titans 21-17

Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Buffalo might be a better defensive team than people expect coming into the year. And understandably so after being a horrible run defense. They took Marcell Darius with the third overall pick and have a healthy pass rusher in Shawne Merriman. Chiefs may have been exposed after the blowout home loss to the Ravens in the playoffs. Upset alert. Bills 20-16

Philadelphia Eagles vs. St. Louis Rams: The “Dream Team” Philadelphia Eagles finally get to see how good they really are. They will be tested on the road against an upstart Rams team. One free agent the Eagles didn’t sign was WR Mike Sims-Walker who went to the Rams. Rams hope he can help stretch the field in the passing game. Eagles should pass their first test. Eagles 35-21

Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This game could mean a lot to both these teams by the season’s end. The winner gets an advantage in the head to head battle as both teams most likely will be battling for a wildcard playoff spot. Stafford is healthy –for now. Raheem Morris will have his guys ready. Toss up. Lions 28-27

Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals: Panthers rookie Cam Newton starts week one after winning the preseason QB battle. New team, new offense, new weapons for Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb.  A home start against the league’s worst team last year should be enough for Kolb to get his first win for Arizona. Cardinals 24-17

Minnesota Vikings vs. San Diego Chargers: Everybody is healthy for the Chargers and Phillip Rivers and company are looking for a fast start to the season. Did McNabb get enough time to learn the offense with the shortened offseason? Chargers 30-20

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers: Is the marquee matchup in this game really between the coaches? The same coaches who last played against each other when they were coaching for USC and Stanford? Jim Harbaugh won last time so we will take him again. 49ers 19-10

NY Giants vs. Washington Redskins: These two division rivals battle in remembrance of 9/11. Giants seem to always get hit with the injury bug. Osi Umenyiora may be out. With that said, they always compete and that defense is good enough to shut down Rex Grossman. Giants 24-20

Dallas Cowboys vs. NY Jets: Tony Romo is back but CB Terrance Newman is out for the Cowboys. A banged up secondary could open the door for Sanchez, Burress and the Jets. Rex looks to take this battle of the Ryan’s’. Jets 26-17

New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins: The Patriots usually have their trouble when they come down to Miami. Dolphins get to show off their free agent signed RB Reggie Bush and rookie Daniel Thomas. Pats defense seems to be improved. Patriots 31-14

Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos: The last two teams to play week one in the Monday night double header. All the talk in the offseason was about Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow and you guessed it, Tim TebowKyle Orton is the starting QB. Along with John Fox, Brandon Llyod and what maybe an improved defense with Elvis Dumervil leading the way, watch out. Surprise team? Broncos 23-20

 
Alexey Stiop / Shutterstock.com

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Located in the northeast section of Pennsylvania, the Pocono Mountain region is a favorite summer destination for nature lovers. With an area covering 2,400 square miles, the Poconos has lush forests and scenic lakes, making it a great travel spot for anyone wanting to experience the outdoors.

The beautiful mountain backdrops create stunning views for visitors.Its proximity to major cities, including New York City and Philadelphia, has made it one of the top vacation destinations in the Northeast part of the United States.

An abundance of outdoor activities are readily available, including hiking, camping, fishing, boating and sports. Spending a relaxing vacation in the outdoors is a way for many to unplug from their daily lives and truly be one with nature.

The Pocono Mountains’ vast terrain is divided into different sections, each easily accessible and containing a numerous amount of activities. The different areas of the Poconos are the Lake Region, Upper Delaware River Region,, Delaware River Region, Lehigh River Gorge Region and Mountain Region.

With breathtaking scenery including mountain views and pristine lakefront spots, the Pocono Mountains provides a tranquil setting for quiet vacations.

Located in the Lake Region is Lake Wallenpaupack, an expansive manmade lake. Stretching around for 52 miles, Lake Wallenpaupack is an ideal place for families to swim in calm waters and picnic along its shoreline. Built in 1927, the lake has been a key ingredient in summer activities, including boating and fishing.

Aside from the prevalent water activities in the Lake Region, visitors can enjoy hiking through the forest land that surrounds the lake as well.

The Upper Delaware River Region is an area near the border of Pennsylvania and New York. For those with an adventurous side, the Upper Delaware River Region provides great opportunities for white water rafting, a popular sport for people who want an adrenaline rush.

This area has both Class I and Class II rapids, which gives visitors the chance to experience white water rafting on various levels. With a rich history as a main transportation hub for coal, this region of the Poconos has a wire cable suspension bridge, the first one ever created in the U.S.

The Delaware River Region is an area that hosts a diverse group of outdoor activities. Water sports, including swimming, rafting, canoeing and fishing are popular activities.

Hikers are able to follow trails that wind throughout the forest region, while animal lovers can easily spot deer eating in between the trees. Bird watchers can enjoy the often unspoiled elements of this region, catching glimpses of local eagles. Those with a love for horseback riding can saddle up and go for a ride in the Delaware River Region as well.

Staying in the Pocono Mountains has never been easier. The family-friendly destination has a variety of lodging options that range from truly experiencing the outdoors in tents, to luxurious spa retreats.

For those who prefer roughing it in the wild, there are more than 20 campground sites available, stretching across the whole landscape of the Pocono regions. The Chestnut Lake Campground, Cranberry Run Campground and Mount Pocono Campground are just a few camping options.

Staying in hotels and resorts are also an option when visiting the Poconos. Located on Lake Wallenpaupack, the Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Resort provides easy access to the famous lake, while also having charming hotel features including a fireplace and front porch for certain rooms.

Quaint bed and breakfasts are popular ways to stay in the Poconos. The Angel of the Morning Bed & Breakfast, along with the Cherry Valley Manor B&B is an option for those who want the feeling of home while on vacation.

Aside from the abundance of outdoor activities, the Pocono Mountains also have ample shopping centers and culinary options waiting to be experienced. For a large retail selection at cheaper prices, the expansive Crossings Premium Outlets offer famous brand clothing stores at discounted prices.

Dotting the different regions of the Poconos are also small businesses and shops selling antiques, crafts, and art. There are many options while dining in the Poconos, whether visitors decide to cook their own food while camping or head into a local restaurant for a meal.

A visit to the Pocono Mountains is an opportunity for families and nature enthusiasts to spend time in the great outdoors. With a diverse group of sport activities and leisurely recreation, there’s something fun for everyone to enjoy in the Poconos, this makes Poconos a perfect getaway.

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Now it’s no secret at all that the US dominates 4 of the major sports. When it comes to football, basketball, and baseball we are the cream of the crop. We have the best leagues and the best talent of any other country where these sports are played.

In hockey I would give the edge slightly to Canada, but the US is a very close second. Then you get to the sport of soccer. Not only are we not number 1 or number 2, we aren’t in the top 10 or the top 25 for that matter.

The most recent FIFA world rankings have the USA ranked 30th and this past MLS all-star game made this ranking even more painfully apparent. What we saw was a team comprised of the best the MLS has to offer, and even with the help of once successful European players Thierry Henry and David Beckham we saw a squad that was out played and out matched.

Aside from a few early chances by the All-Stars, the Red Devils had no problem pouring it on the clearly weaker MLS squad. Rooney and Berbatov were able to set up a trailing Anderson for the first goal of the match 20 minutes in.

Seconds before halftime Park was able to beat Sean Franklin in the box and place a shot past goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón. Not even substitutions could help the MLS squad turn there luck around in the second half. Seven minutes in Berbatov off of a nice feed from Rooney was able to knock home his own attempt which struck the crossbar to put Man U. up 3-0. Second-half sub Welback sealed the deal when a shot from just outside the box was deflected by a defender on its way into the net.

Now I understand that the MLS doesn’t have just US players and that many of USA’s better players play elsewhere, but that right there points to the problem. Our best players go to play where the better game and talent is, Europe.

The players from overseas that come here do so in the twilight of their careers and are still some of the best players in our league. Take Beckham out of this game and we probably don’t have half as many decent scoring opportunities as we did. If we as US soccer fans are to take anything from this match it’s that we are still vastly far behind the upper echelon of the soccer world. Still don’t believe me when I say that we are out of our league then think about this.

The best of the best of our entire league couldn’t even scratch a goal against a club team from theirs. We are still many years away from reaching the top tier and every year we are reminded just how far away we are when our MLS All-Stars suit up against some of the best in the world and every year they get manhandled.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/60278244@N00/5988841058/

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The question now is do we coddle our female athletes? Very simply, the answer is yes; but don’t take this as necessarily a bad thing- after all, all athletes are not created equal.

This notion that in order for females to be taken seriously in a particular sport means that we should treat them like we treat men is ridiculous.  The idea of women’s sports is a relatively new idea and the acceptance of women in sports doing what we do as men is still in the ground stages, so it doesn’t make sense to react or overreact to individual games or failures.

This topic has been highly debated as of late due to the treatment of women’s soccer players upon their return state side. There has been a lot of criticism but those critiques have taken a backseat to the amount of fanfare they have received; in a sense, celebrating a second place finish. Yes it is entirely up to you if you want to approach it that way, but it is a mistake if you compare that to the reaction given to the men upon their return after numerous loses.  Women’s soccer is winning in America which is the most important thing; that is what is being celebrated- not losing.

The criticism is legitimate in terms of the way in which they lost the game and there has been ample criticism about that; but we must celebrate what is being accomplished.  Most importantly, we must remember the lack of interest that lies on the men’s side of things in terms of soccer in America; there is a lot more good will for the women’s soccer team while the patience is wearing thin for the men who have way more to prove at this point.

The women have won, the men haven’t…we must remember that.

As evident from media today, the sports world as a whole is dominated by men.  With men setting the agenda, it only makes sense that the focus is placed on the physical aspect or the aesthetics involved in attracting viewers (men). It is nothing new that men love to watch beautiful women and the US team is loaded with beautiful women. Why should that not be discussed or why shouldn’t they be seen throughout the media networks doing interviews?  In the long run, the sport will only benefit, not suffer.

There is nothing sexist about stating the facts and in this case, the facts are helping the bottom line of the sport as a whole.

As long as the skills of the players aren’t lost in the overall appreciation of the sport, the focus of the sports world should remain on them; they deserve that.

Hearing a player like Hope Solo talk about her role in this equation shows me that she views and understands the bigger picture. Yes maybe men will be drawn in by what they see, but they will stay and bring their daughters and mothers will bring their daughters as well exposing a new generation of girls to the sport. After they come to watch, only then will they fall in love with skill involved and sport as a hole; or maybe inspiring young girls to want involvement in sports altogether which could have an even greater impact in the world of sports.

Women’s sports can’t sustain themselves at this point; that is evident in the lack of money they are making. But as I’ve stated many times before, Americans love events.  We are an event driven society, so every chance or event they get to market Women will likely be welcomed and celebrated.

It is not coddling to celebrate effort and the development of a great sport in American society.  There are many things wrong with the way we approach the sports that both women and men play; looking forward though, we should definitely stop comparing men and women in world of sports—it’s simply not productive nor does it advance the conversation in a way that is fair or balance.

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Twitter is causing controversy among athletes with every passing day. In a time where two major American sporting leagues are in Lockouts, the teams really have no authority over the players and what they can say on the web.

In fact, thanks to the first amendment to the United States Constitution, they really have no right to monitor what players want to say at all and yet we see hefty fines given all the time. Are these penalties fair? Should teams have control over what their players can and can not say on their own time? We may see a change in how these situations are approached in the near future.

Twitter is a great way for athletes to connect with their fans on a personal basis, which is something many generations of sports lovers were unable to achieve until now.

Unfortunately, these sports stars are not held to the same social standards as the everyday tweeter. It seems to be the price to pay that if you want to be famous, you also have to accept the fact that you will be scrutinized in every public aspect of your life. The keyword there is public.

Some athletes don’t seem to understand where to draw the line between public and private thoughts, and thus some of their more infamous tweets have landed them in hot water.

Let’s take it back to the beginning. Charlie Villanueva was one of the first NBA stars to join twitter. It soon spiraled into an obsession. During halftime of a Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics game, the famous “@CV31” tweeted, “In da locker room, snuck to post my twitt. We’re playing the Celtics, tie ball game at da half. Coach wants more toughness. I gotta step up.”

Players tweeting during games is going way too far. Unfortunately, as I said, this was only the beginning.

Later that year, Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith was questioned for having association with the famous Bloods street gang for using some controversial language in his tweets.

In May, while much of the world was debating over the death of Osama Bin Laden, some athletes decided it would be wise for them to chime in. Not the best idea.

Without throwing these guys under the bus (although their twitter names are easy enough to find) guys like Rashard Mendenhall and Chris Douglas-Roberts decided to speak out on the matter, leading to a ton of flac from the sports community.

Mendenhall lost a multi-million dollar endorsement deal with Champion thanks to his brutal honesty.

I do respect the fact that everybody has their own opinion. I also respect the fact that everyone should have the same right to speak in a public forum such as the internet. If this were not true, it would violate everything the United States stands for. I almost feel bad for these athletes that take so much heat for saying how they feel.

Now that I got my disclaimer out of the way, I have to be completely honest. People, athletes specifically, but people in general, should probable realize when certain words will get them into trouble. Maybe every popular athlete in this day and age needs a publicist. Maybe they just shouldn’t be on twitter at all, but it’s a bit late for that. In all honesty, if they would just read over every tweet before they send it out and ask themselves “what is everybody going to think about this?” they probably wouldn’t be feeling such repercussions.

Lately, rumors have been that teams will soon put some kind of general rules into place regarding social media. This would probably be a wise idea if not for the fact that the leagues will be walking a fine line between saving their organization from embarrassment, and taking away the constitutional rights of their players.

In the end, I just have a few sentences to say to the troubled tweeters.

Dear athletes,

I understand that you want to connect with us. You want to be able to show who you really are as opposed to those twenty second media clips we see after games. You want to be able to reach out to the people that come out and watch you play and cheer you on. I get that, and I couldn’t support you more.

I just please ask you to do one thing and one thing only before you reach out to us:

PROOFREAD.

Sincerely,

The fans, the media, journalists, kids, parents, your endorsers, your team officials…well you get the point.

Annette Shaff / Shutterstock.com

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American soccer fans should remember these great moments of dominance and perceived divine right.  In fact, enjoy and relish in Sundays game and marvel at what was done because it won’t last forever; it is not sustainable for many reasons.

Hearing people talk (myself included) after this past Sunday, after the game against Brazil, you would think that God lives and routs for American sports teams and its athletes alone…of course there are many things wrong with that idea but that is the mentality.  Added with the idea that we are better because of some divine right- then again we shouldn’t be surprise; that is ingrained in American culture.

It works to the benefit of America of course in these great moments where you think they have no hope and our teams manage to pull out improbable victories, it is because American athletes (the good ones) believe in the idea of some kind of close relationship with god and also the arrogance that goes along with believing this.  I’m not saying they believe they can fly or walk on water, they just believe that god is somehow on their side and there is no way they can lose; a great mentality in sports but dangerous off the field of play.

All I’m hearing is this idea in sports and maybe that is something built in every athlete around the world but I think it speak s to American Arrogance in sports all together. It’s funny but when the U.S is bad at a sport, we simply say the sport sucks or ridicule those who are considered great… especially the media.

Sticking to on the field though, I want to make it clear of course; no mentality no matter what the belief, means anything without the skill and financial backing to become good at what you do.

For example, the American women’s team is great and they will be good for a while but we must look into why that is and let’s leave divinity aside for now.  Let’s take a team like Brazil and how good they have become with little to no support back home.  America spends so much money on developing its athletes and it’s a year round thing.  We also reward these athletes with equipment, fields and money but a place like Brazil has only recently come to accept the idea of women playing the same sports that men play and the fact that they can play it very well.

We’ve come to expect great things in all our athletes but not all countries we compete with make these kind of investments; why do you think a great player like Marta comes to play in the U.S during the season…the financial backing and development is there in women’s sports in the US in a way that is not present in other countries.

So the bottom line is, at this point in the development of Women’s sports, we should be far ahead of every other country given how much money we spend and invest in these sports.  The dominance we see or the improbable comebacks and the great wins won’t be there in 10 to 15 years because the rest of the world will have caught up.

The same way other countries have caught up with us in basketball is the same thing we will see in Women’s soccer.  That arrogance will have to turn to respect in order to stay on top; the same way American basketball players have learned to respect their European counterparts.

Like everyone one else, I was in awe at the performance from the Women’s team against Brazil. But after hearing people talk, I caught myself saying things like, there’s something about American athletes; that is the wrong way to look at this victory.  We should look at this victory in the realm of the idea of what sports are.  There can only be one winner and the American team wanted it more than Brazil did and they had the talent to get it done; that’s it, nothing more nothing less.

Sports are about making history as did the Japanese team the day before on Saturday or any other team that has done great things in sports around the world.  The Brazilian men’s team has won many tournaments because they have the talent and support that the women’s team lack at this point, the American men’s team doesn’t win for the same reasons; sports are simple,  so let’s examine sports the right way and leave out the unnecessary.

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Although free agency has been a bit lost in all of the lockout talk, at this point in a normal season, it would be the main topic of discussion. Teams are not currently allowed to have any contact with players whatsoever, including signing free agents. This means that those who are not currently signed to a contract are stuck in limbo, and given no choice but to wait it out. Depending upon the specifics of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement which is currently being negotiated, some rules regarding free agency may change, but one thing is for sure, these guys are not being forgotten:

Nnamdi Asomugha (CB):

Everyone better learn to say this guys name. The former raiders’ defensive back is the gem of this years free agent class. Asomugha is unquestionably one of the best defensive players in all of football, and often referred to as one of the few true “shut-down” corners in the NFL. He has the ability to blanket all of the top receivers in the league, and though he doesn’t put up incredible interception numbers, it is mostly because teams refuse to throw to his side of the field altogether. Owners better be ready to open their wallets for him, but are sure to get a star-player out of the deal.

DeAngelo Williams (RB):

If Asomugha wasn’t a free agent, the buzz would be much bigger for this former Pro-Bowl running back from Carolina. Though slowed by injuries in 2010, his 20 touchdown 2008 season showed what kind of talent he really has. His incredible speed and agility make him not only an exciting player to watch, but a big-play threat every time he touches the ball. He is yet to get the chance to play on a true contender, and at only 28 years old, many teams will be drooling over the opportunity to add some explosion to their offense for years to come.

Santonio Holmes (WR):

Super Bowl XLIII MVP, enough said. Great hands, great speed, and a thrill for the dramatic make him a highly coveted target for any quarterback to have. Last year Jets fans saw him make countless key receptions at key times, scoring six touchdowns in just 12 games to lead them all the way to the AFC Championship. Rumor has it the Jets will try to re-sign him, but with Braylon Edwards being a high-priced free agent as well, money may become a key factor. If the Jets can’t work out a deal, look for Holmes to make a big splash with a new club.

Johnathan Joseph (CB):

Most people don’t know enough about this young corner out of the University of South Carolina. He’s been far and away the best defensive player on the perennially mediocre Bengals defense, and has shown real promise in his five seasons in Cincinnati. A much better tackler than Asomugha, with much higher interception totals, teams will throw toward Joseph much less in the future. If he goes to a new team, look for him to make a big name for himself as one of the top defensive backs in the league.

Ahmad Bradshaw (RB):

Some might question his appearance on this list, but Bradshaw could be a key contributor to a team lacking in the running department. Coming into his own in 2010, racking up 1,235 yards and 8 touchdowns, Bradshaw showed signs of things to come in the future. Standing at just 5-foot-9, he’s not just the everyday speed back that every team seems to have these days, he’s a bruiser. Countless times Giants fans saw him run not just around, but through defenders on his way to big plays. If he can fix his fumbling problem, Bradshaw will be the sleeper of the 2011 free agent class.

The entire 2011 NFL season to date is one giant question mark. Will the season start on time? Will there be a season at all? What will the new Collective Bargaining Agreement mean for the players and the owners? Nobody knows the answers to these questions just yet. What we do know is that football fans around the world are patiently waiting for everything to get back to normal and see their favorite teams vie for the top unsigned players around the league.

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