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	<title>Europa-cup.com &#187; hobbies</title>
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		<title>People Can Have Fun With Bumper Cars And Simulators</title>
		<link>http://www.europa-cup.com/people-can-have-fun-with-bumper-cars-and-simulators.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.europa-cup.com/people-can-have-fun-with-bumper-cars-and-simulators.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:57:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adriana Noton</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[arcades]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[attractions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[birthdays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[event planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[funny things]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hobbies]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Finding something to do indoors in Canada isn't that difficult. Just head to one of Canada's indoor game facilities to have fun with bumper cars and simulators.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Finding something to do indoors in Canada isn&#8217;t that difficult. Just head to one of Canada&#8217;s indoor game facilities to have fun with bumper cars and simulators.</p>
<p>Friends and family can spend the entire day at any of Canada&#8217;s indoor game facilities. For the best fun look for an indoor game center in Canada that offers bumper rides and simulators. Bumper cars and simulators offer hours upon hours of fun entertainment.</p>
<p>Bumper car rides have always been a top-choice for having fun. Bumper cars have been around since the early 1920&#8217;s. Bumper cars operate completely on electricity. After drivers are properly seated with seat belts in their bumper cars, the operator engages a switch and off go all the bumper cars. Although the bumper cars glide on their own on an enclosed track, they are controlled by each driver.</p>
<p>Bumpers are designed to withstand bumps. That&#8217;s what makes bumper cars so much fun because bumper cars bounce off each other and then go on to bump another bumper car. Although each driver can control his or her bumper car with a steering wheel, the continuous bumping makes it hard to do, but that&#8217;s what makes bumper cards so much fun. No one wants to be in complete control in a bumper car. The purpose of a bumper car is to have spontaneous fun.</p>
<p><span id="more-858"></span></p>
<p>The spontaneity of bumper cars is what makes this an exhilarating choice of entertainment. While people can drive their own bumper cars, drivers really aren&#8217;t in control of what is going to happen next. People like not knowing what is going to happen next.</p>
<p>Many indoor game facilities in Canada offer bumper rides and simulators. People who are looking for something to do should head straight to the nearest indoor entertainment facility in Canada for some bumper car fun and action. Be sure to invite your friends and family.</p>
<p>Another favorite ride are simulator rides. Many indoor entertainment venues in Canada offer simulator rides. Simulator rides give people the feeling as thought they are some place than where they really area. There are many different options when it comes to simulator rides. Some simulator rides give the feel as though you are actually flying a plane. Others give the feel as though you are traveling hundreds of miles an hour around a race car track. There are others that give you the feel that you are in a spaceship fighting to save the world.</p>
<p>What makes simulators so realists is that the cockpit of a simulator is completely blacked and closed off from the rest of the world. People are forced to contend with what&#8217;s in front of them on a large screen. Things so realistic that people forget where they are for a while. If you are floating in the air, you will feel as though you are flying. Simulators are designed to move with each maneuver, so it is the action combined with what the participant is viewing on the screen that makes people believe they are actually experiencing what they are seeing.</p>
<p>If you are looking for something to do in Canada, you should definitely head to an indoor entertainment center. You and your friends and family will have a great time. For the most fun, find a place that offers bumper cars and simulator rides.</p>
<p>Canadian company offering a large group of family entertainment <a href="http://www.playdium.com/">Things to do in Toronto</a>. Visit our indoor playgrounds GTA, bowling alleys, go karting, <a href="http://www.playdium.com/">Arcades in Mississauga</a> and ask us for birthday party ideas.</p>
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		<title>How to Make a Torchlight When Camping</title>
		<link>http://www.europa-cup.com/how-to-make-a-torchlight-when-camping.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.europa-cup.com/how-to-make-a-torchlight-when-camping.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 08:16:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Drew Lannom</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[butane lighters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[camping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cigar lighters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hobbies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lighters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[torch lighters]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Camping can be great fun and it can offer you the chance to do projects that let you reap instant benefit.  If you are looking for a great project for the whole family, making your own torchlights can be a great option.  To do this, all you need to have is some sections of 3 ft. PVC pipe, a long strand of wick, some torch oil, a clean and empty soup can, and a clean and empty tuna fish can, as well as a bag to bring home the soot covered materials after the trip is over.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Camping can be great fun and it can offer you the chance to do projects that let you reap instant benefit.  If you are looking for a great project for the whole family, making your own torchlights can be a great option.  To do this, all you need to have is some sections of 3 ft. PVC pipe, a long strand of wick, some torch oil, a clean and empty soup can, and a clean and empty tuna fish can, as well as a bag to bring home the soot covered materials after the trip is over.</p>
<p>With all of your materials gathered, you will want to start by using a screwdriver to punch a hole in the bottom of the tuna fish can. If you have children who will be making their own torches, it is highly recommended that you complete this step for them before allowing them to take on the project so that you can decrease the chances that they will be injured.  The remainder of the project should be safe for children as long as they are well supervised and an adult is in charge of actually lighting the torches upon completion.</p>
<p>Start by threading your strand of wick through the hole in the tuna fish can.  When this is done, securely fasten the soup can, in the upright position, to the piece of PVC pipe.  This will create the body of the torch, and when it is securely attached, bury the bottom of the pipe in an area free of leaves and other flammable debris as well as away from tents and sleeping bags.  Now fill the soup can with torch fluid and put the tuna can on top of it in the upside down position with the wick soaking in the fluid.</p>
<p><span id="more-842"></span></p>
<p>Allow the wick to soak up the torch fluid in the soup can for at least thirty minutes before igniting it with your lighter.  You should always pack extra torch fluid as well as extra wicks in case they are needed during the night or throughout the trip.  </p>
<p>Remember to bring along extra fluid and wicks in case they are needed throughout your trip.  When the camping trip is over, you will find that you can easily dismantle your torches so that you can bring the parts back.  Because these materials are not biodegradable, you will want to take them home and dispose of them properly.  These torches are incredibly simple and affordable to make and can provide a great sense of roughing it during your next camping trip.  When you want an enjoyable project that teaches new skills and offers benefit, this is certainly a fantastic one to take on.</p>
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		<title>Thierry Henry Comes To The MLS</title>
		<link>http://www.europa-cup.com/thierry-henry-comes-to-the-mls.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.europa-cup.com/thierry-henry-comes-to-the-mls.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Jan 2011 08:12:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richie Glickman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[fitness]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Soccer has been a growing sport in America over the past ten years and this is mainly due to the effort put in by the MLS. They've had many different marketing tactics throughout the years; some have worked, some failed. However, they've come up with a new tactic of bringing in some of the biggest names in soccer, like Theirry Henry and David Beckham. Will this help to grow the sport and the league in the USA?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Soccer has been a growing sport in America over the past ten years and this is mainly due to the effort put in by the MLS. They&#8217;ve had many different marketing tactics throughout the years; some have worked, some failed. However, they&#8217;ve come up with a new tactic of bringing in some of the biggest names in soccer, like Theirry Henry and David Beckham. Will this help to grow the sport and the league in the USA?</p>
<p>Can bringing these big name soccer players over the MLS really help bring the league to the next level? There&#8217;s no arguing that these guys have had incredible careers and are still talented players. The idea of bringing these guys over is based on the past. They&#8217;ve reinvented the wheel in many ways, but this idea is going back to what works. And this idea worked when Pele and other great players came to the USA to play.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m a pretty big soccer fan, although I&#8217;ve only been to a couple MLS games since its inception. However, I&#8217;m honestly curious to see Henry play. I can see this getting me out to a game, but not sure it will make me want to go all the time. I&#8217;d personally rather watch the England Premier League on TV. But, there&#8217;s a chance!</p>
<p><span id="more-830"></span></p>
<p>The good news for the MLS is that there are many other soccer fans out there like myself. But the MLS wants and needs more than this. There are also fans out there that protest this move based on the fact they think Henry and Beckham don&#8217;t care anymore. How can they really care after playing for Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Barcelona? Well, they&#8217;re athletes and any real athlete doesn&#8217;t know any other way but to go hard! At least I hope this is their mentality or it really won&#8217;t work.</p>
<p>Can this work for someone who&#8217;s more of a casual fan, but doesn&#8217;t know much about Thierry Henry and other big players? My answer is probably not! If they&#8217;re just casual American fans, they probably never even heard of Thierry Henry! So why in the World would they want to go see him?</p>
<p>These same casual fans have it in them to become hardcore fans. They probably played soccer as kids, but they don&#8217;t see the entire game. They don&#8217;t see what the game consists of off the ball. But they can still go watch the game and have a good time. The problem is that these fans would probably rather spend their money on a basketball or baseball game.</p>
<p>Other countries don&#8217;t really have to deal with this. In all of Europe, soccer comes first. England has cricket, Spain has basketball but nothing comes before soccer. Unfortunately, it&#8217;s very hard for the MLS to compete with all these major leagues.</p>
<p>The MLS has been faced with many challenges and they&#8217;ve come very far since they&#8217;ve started. From the time they&#8217;ve started to know, there&#8217;s been a major expansion and growth of the sport. The players have also improved. Soccer is the most popular sport played amongst kids, so I believe it starts there. Keeping their interest is crucial and by providing role models like Beckham, Landon Donovan and Henry can really help keep kids going.</p>
<p>Enjoy more of this writer&#8217;s writing about items including the <a href="http://denimbag.org">denim messenger bag</a> and <a href="http://denimbag.org/denim-shoes">denim sneaker</a>.</p>
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		<title>Top Snowmobile Gift Ideas For Your Family Or Friends</title>
		<link>http://www.europa-cup.com/top-snowmobile-gift-ideas-for-your-family-or-friends.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.europa-cup.com/top-snowmobile-gift-ideas-for-your-family-or-friends.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:12:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tank Vosotros</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hobbies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[outdoors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[snowmobiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[winter sports]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Every snowmobiler needs the proper gear to make riding more convenient and enjoyable. Below are some excellent snowmobile gift ideas that will surely please even the pickiest snowmobiler:]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every snowmobiler needs the proper gear to make riding more convenient and enjoyable. Below are some excellent snowmobile gift ideas that will surely please even the pickiest snowmobiler:</p>
<p>The Parts Unlimited Windshield Bag combines value and quality for less than 45 dollars. This waterproof bag features a urethane coating and polyester thread stitching. The sewn-in piping gives it a structured look. The Parts Unlimited Tunnel bag is also available at around 65 dollars. It features 2 mesh pockets and a zippered internal pouch for ample storage.</p>
<p>For those who are willing to spend more, the Universal Tunnel Rack Pak allows functionality with its durable and water-resistant finish. Its reflective strap makes it ideal for traveling at night. It is the perfect companion at any weather condition. This bag sells for 100 dollars and is meant to fit the Skinz Universal Tunnel Rack.</p>
<p>For the person who takes a lot of stuff along while sledding, get the Snobunje Handlebar Bag. It features quick clips and elastic straps, and a clear top pocket for storing maps and documents. It provides ample storage space with over 270 cubic inches of easy-to-access compartments. At less than 50 dollars, this durable sled bag is the ultimate choice for practical gift-givers.</p>
<p><span id="more-825"></span></p>
<p>Lubes and grease may be unusual to give out as presents, but are practical and useful nonetheless. Owners of high-performance sleds would love to receive the AMSOIL Interceptor 2-Cycle Oil, which reduces carbon residue with its high-quality blend of fine synthetic oils. The brand also produces the Synthetic Water Resistant Grease, which is ideal for cold weather and wet conditions.</p>
<p>Cover-ups and battery chargers are quick options for last minute shoppers. The CTEK Battery Charger would please any snowmobiler, with its shock and water-resistant features. This high-quality charger also boasts of being environment-friendly. The DOWCO Guardian Trailerable Cover makes a nice gift for someone who owns an older snowmobile, since this durable cover fits most old models. When all else fails, get the SOL Thermal Bivvy or Adventure Medical Kits pocket survival kit. These goodies make great stocking stuffers.</p>
<p>Ensure you visit the <a href="http://www.snowmobilesforsaletoday.com/">used snowmobiles</a> shop for free of charge information, reviews and a fantastic selection of products. A lot of good articles on <a href="http://www.snowmobilesforsaletoday.com/snowmobile-sales/arctic-cat-snowmobile/">ski doo snowmobile for sale</a> . Visit http://www.snowmobilesforsaletoday.com/ today.</p>
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		<title>1997 Bally Cirqus Voltaire: Underrated Classic Of Modern Pinball</title>
		<link>http://www.europa-cup.com/1997-bally-cirqus-voltaire-underrated-classic-of-modern-pinball.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.europa-cup.com/1997-bally-cirqus-voltaire-underrated-classic-of-modern-pinball.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:27:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ross Everett</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[pinball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recreation]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The video game is now a ubiquitous part of American pop culture but pinball still holds a cachet of cool. Pinball went through a few lean years during the early years of the video boom, when designers tried to cram as much stuff onto the playfield as possible, perhaps feeling the clutter was needed to replicate the video game experience. In recent years, however, designers appear to have concluded--and rightly so--that pinball cannot be a video game, nor should it want to be.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The video game is now a ubiquitous part of American pop culture but pinball still holds a cachet of cool. Pinball went through a few lean years during the early years of the video boom, when designers tried to cram as much stuff onto the playfield as possible, perhaps feeling the clutter was needed to replicate the video game experience. In recent years, however, designers appear to have concluded&#8211;and rightly so&#8211;that pinball cannot be a video game, nor should it want to be.</p>
<p>A great game of recent vintage is the 1997 Bally release &#8220;Cirqus Voltaire&#8221;. The theme is sort of a &#8216;Cirque du Soleil&#8221; on acid, and the iconography of the circus that they cram into the design and play of the game is amazing. The ultimate object of the game is to &#8220;join the cirqus&#8221;, which, of course, is a classical American archetype of freedom and escape. Yet this &#8220;Cirqus&#8221; is not a Norman Rockwell vision of juvenile fun&#8211;there are a lot of sinister undertones as well, including evil ringmasters and an almost palpable feeling of sleaze. The clowns here have more in common with the Simpsons&#8217; &#8216;Krusty the Clown&#8217; than with Emmett Kelly.</p>
<p>The game play offers a lot of what we&#8217;ve come to expect from Williams/Bally, with sweeping ramp shots, clever uses of time-worn features (like the disappearing pop bumper, reincarnated here as a balloon. As is very common with pinball games today, the game&#8217;s ultimate object is to work your way through a variety of &#8216;modes&#8217;. Sometimes this is a confusing endeavor, but here is very easy to understand&#8211;yet still very challenging to the player.</p>
<p><span id="more-814"></span></p>
<p>At its nadir, pinball companies were cranking out games featuring themes and subjects that offered little, if any, synergy with game play. The low point might have been some of the celebrity tie-in games of the early eighties (which gave the world debacles like a Dolly Parton and Roy Clark tie-in). &#8220;Cirqus Voltaire&#8221; may represent a high point of thematic unity between game subjects, aesthetic design and play experience. It offers an otherworldly interpretation on a circus, with subtext, nuance and detail.</p>
<p>The really great thing about the game is the multiple levels of contextual awareness it offers. A slack jawed yokel can play it and just think its a nice game about the circus. To a cleverer player, it alternately provides a celebration and condemnation of the circus and, deeper still, of the popular culture that spawns and embraces them. This is not a new notion for a pinball machine to offer different levels of interpretation of seemingly innocuous events (it dates back to the pioneering artist Roy Parker, if not before) but in recent years it may not have been done more deftly than in Cirqus Voltaire.</p>
<p>Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer and respected authority on <a href="http://www.oddsbay.com/">NFL football betting</a>. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and <a href="http://www.oddsbay.com/">sportsbook directory</a> sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.</p>
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		<title>Is Pinball Down For The Count?</title>
		<link>http://www.europa-cup.com/is-pinball-down-for-the-count.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.europa-cup.com/is-pinball-down-for-the-count.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:15:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ross Everett</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[For most of the 20th century it seemed that pinball was sort of the 'cockroach' of the amusement industry--just too tough and/or too adaptable to kill. It survived wars, economic downturn, moral outrage and most recently video games. Despite the changing cultural climate, it was still a shock when WMS Industries, the dominant player in the industry for the past decade and the maker of Williams and Bally machines, announced that it was getting out of the business several years ago. WMS wasn't in any sort of financial peril, but rather they wanted to focus on their more lucrative slot machine and video poker business.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For most of the 20th century it seemed that pinball was sort of the &#8216;cockroach&#8217; of the amusement industry&#8211;just too tough and/or too adaptable to kill. It survived wars, economic downturn, moral outrage and most recently video games. Despite the changing cultural climate, it was still a shock when WMS Industries, the dominant player in the industry for the past decade and the maker of Williams and Bally machines, announced that it was getting out of the business several years ago. WMS wasn&#8217;t in any sort of financial peril, but rather they wanted to focus on their more lucrative slot machine and video poker business.</p>
<p>At one point, pinball dominated the arcade. During the mid to late 1970s and on the heels of the movie version of the Who pinball themed rock opera Tommy arcades nationwide featured row upon row of gleaming new machines from one of over a half dozen US manufacturers (with many others made worldwide). The first salvo of the video game industry was fairly innocuous&#8221;Pong didnt do much to dent pinballs popularity since it didnt exactly offer the same immersive challenge. Besides, it took two to tango when it came to Pong, so that game and its progeny had more of an impact at the home level (and paved the way for what would become a huge industry). The first challenge to the popularity of the pinball machine in the arcade began with Midways Space Invaders and Ataris Asteroids. These games could be played alone, and offered the same sort of escapism that pinball provided. For the arcade owner, these games took up less space, required less maintenance, and offered a higher customer turnover.</p>
<p>Pinball hung in there, however, and through the early eighties continued to make some solid games. The ones that come immediately to mind are games like Firepower (which helped launched the now ubiquitous multi-ball feature), Black Knight (offering an early version of the looping ramps found on many modern machines) and a couple of fun machines from Bally Paragon and Flash Gordon. Several games were spun off from video games, including a couple of good ones&#8221;Spy Hunter and Space Invaders and a number of not so good ones based on the Pac Man video games. Bally even made a game called Baby Pac Man that was a video/pinball hybrid. For awhile, the choice between pinball and video games was similar to the choice between Pepsi and Coke: both were equally pervasive and it was simply a matter of personal preference.</p>
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<p>It was the late 1980s&#8221;when video games became more technologically advanced and began to offer superior play experiences&#8221;that pinball lost its way. Depending on the manufacturer, they did it in different ways. Gottlieb and others made simple, traditional games that just couldnt compete with their video counterparts. Bally and other manufacturers went the opposite route&#8221;by cramming so much onto a playfield that the game hardly resembled traditional pinball. Some of Ballys late 1980s games&#8221;with so much playfield gimmickry going on&#8221;were nearly unplayable. By this point&#8221;and in large part due to the paucity of compelling pinball machines turned out during this era&#8221;video had taken over the arcade. Some larger arcades continued to offer a few pinball machines to placate hardcores, while some eliminated pinball altogether.</p>
<p>In the 1990&#8217;s, pinball began to experience a bit of a comeback driven by well designed, enjoyable games that finally got the balance between traditional gameplay and modern technology right. Williams was at the forefront of the return to excellent design and gameplay, and its hard to think of a Williams game from this period that wasnt a fun game to play, if not a borderline classic. The mainstream media began to notice the renaissance, and noted that the average pinball machine received much more repeat business than the average video game and about the devotion of the pinball player.</p>
<p>With the century drawing to a close, it seemed that the Williams/Bally outfit had found a niche and would be able to grind out pinball machines for the aficionados forever. The final nail in the coffin, however, was a lot of societal changes beyond their control. For one, video games and video arcades became less profitable as companies like Sony and Nintendo were able to transform a lot of the high end gameplay to the home platform. Meanwhile, trends like new urbanism,which saw a return to downtown storefronts and the growth of online shopping combined to hurt traditional shopping malls. Fewer people were going to malls, and they werent staying as long when they did. Mega-malls like the Mall of America and the Forum Shops at Caesar&#8217;s were the exception to this, but there just werent enough to these to sustain demand. As the century ended, the WMS corporate braintrust decided to pull the plug on pinball and concentrate on their highly profitable gambling machine business. From a business standpoint, it probably made sense but that didnt make it any easier for lifelong pinball enthusiasts to reconcile with.</p>
<p>Pinball still soldiers on, with something of a hipster revival of the games in cities like Seattle and Portland where lovingly restored machines sit alongside new offerings by Stern Pinball, the only remaining manufacturer in the world. At this point, it appears that the only hope for pinball players is that some effort will be made to preserve the machines that already exist.</p>
<p>Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on <a href="http://www.oddsbay.com/">NFL football betting</a>. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and <a href="http://www.oddsbay.com/">sportsbook directory</a> sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.</p>
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		<title>MMA Pioneer Helio Gracie Remembered</title>
		<link>http://www.europa-cup.com/mma-pioneer-helio-gracie-remembered.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.europa-cup.com/mma-pioneer-helio-gracie-remembered.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Dec 2010 08:18:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ross Everett</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hobbies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mixed martial arts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MMA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recreation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.europa-cup.com/mma-pioneer-helio-gracie-remembered.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The founding father of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and patriarch of the Gracie family, Helio Gracie, died in early 2009 at the age of 95. His influence in martial arts as well as the sport of mixed martial arts is mind boggling. The Gracie family name will forever be synonymous with Brazilian sports, jiu-jitsu, MMA and the UFC--not only due to Helios own accomplishments but the legacy he created both by training others and through his family.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The founding father of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and patriarch of the Gracie family, Helio Gracie, died in early 2009 at the age of 95. His influence in martial arts as well as the sport of mixed martial arts is mind boggling. The Gracie family name will forever be synonymous with Brazilian sports, jiu-jitsu, MMA and the UFC&#8211;not only due to Helios own accomplishments but the legacy he created both by training others and through his family.</p>
<p>Helio Gracie began his training in mixed martial arts early, and by his teenage years was already teaching judo. While he had no problem mastering the theoretical aspects of judo, he found that many of its techniques were less effective for a practitioner with a smaller build. Along with his brother Carlos, Gracie began to work out his own fighting system by adapting many of judo&#8217;s techniques and making them more a product of leverage rather than brute strength. This led to the creation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), frequently called Gracie Jiu Jitsu in his honor.</p>
<p>Gracie also had a professional fighting career of his own, taking on champions from other fighting disciplines in an early version of modern MMA. These bouts were arduous, unregulated affairs with arbitrary rules and no time limits. By his own recollection, Gracie fought 15 times against the top opponents of his time. He began his career in&#8217;32 by submitting professional boxer Antonio Portugal in just 32 seconds. Later that year, he fought American catch wrestler Frank Ebert to a draw after the ringside doctor ordered the bout stopped after an ungodly fourteen ten minute rounds.</p>
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<p>His most famous battle was against Japanese judo legend Masahiko Kimura, resulting in a rare loss for Gracie. Despite the setback, he fought bravely and may have actually enhanced his legend after refusing to submit to a reverse arm bar (the same move that now bears Kimuras name). Only after his arm was broken did his brother Carlos throw in the towel.</p>
<p>Gracie&#8217;s greatest impact, however, may have been through his progeny which is an important part of Brazilian sports and mixed martial arts even today. Royce Gracie is well known as the first UFC superstar, while sons Rickson Royler, Renzo have also achieved considerable fame in professional MMA. At the time of his death, Helio Gracie was a 6th Dan Judo black belt and the only living 10th degree master of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.</p>
<p>Gracie died at age 95, after suffering stomach problems though the cause of his death was officially listed as &#8216;natural causes&#8217;. His last words are classic and highly fitting for a man who gave so much to martial arts and fighting sports:</p>
<p>Gracie&#8217;s last words are as follows:&#8221;I created a flag from the sports dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection and nerves of blood.</p>
<p>Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting <a href="http://www.oddsbay.com/">odds comparison</a>. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and <a href="http://www.oddsbay.com/">sportsbook directory</a> sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.</p>
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		<title>What To Look For In Paintball Pod Packs</title>
		<link>http://www.europa-cup.com/what-to-look-for-in-paintball-pod-packs.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.europa-cup.com/what-to-look-for-in-paintball-pod-packs.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:21:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Baxter Wells</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hobbies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paintball]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.europa-cup.com/what-to-look-for-in-paintball-pod-packs.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Looking for certain items to enhance your paintball game experience is going to be a great thing to do. However, one item that you might want to consider knowing what all features it comes with is going to be your paintball pod packs. When you know the features to look for though you can select the best one available for the amount of money that you want to spend on this item.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Looking for certain items to enhance your paintball game experience is going to be a great thing to do. However, one item that you might want to consider knowing what all features it comes with is going to be your paintball pod packs. When you know the features to look for though you can select the best one available for the amount of money that you want to spend on this item.</p>
<p>One thing to look at is how comfortable the pack is going to be. The comfort of the pack is going to be something that should be taken into consideration since you need to wear it for long periods of time without tiring from wearing it. So you need to ensure that it is going to be comfortable enough for you to wear.</p>
<p>Another question to ask is how many of the cartridges is the pack going to hold for you. By knowing that you can determine how many reloads you have available in a hurry without having to reload the pods totally.</p>
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<p>Another feature is how easy can you get the ammo pods out of the pouches. If it is going to be hard to get them out then that might not be beneficial for you when you are in a paintball fight. However, if they come out super easy then that could lead to you losing your pods while you are running for cover or when you go to stand up.</p>
<p>The other question to consider is what color of the pack that you get. The color of the pack can be a key factor in keeping yourself hidden for other people. However, if you choose the wrong color it is going to be possible that people could spot you easily and you could be a target that sticks out like a sore thumb.</p>
<p>When you are gathering your equipment to get ready to head out to the paintball fields ask certain questions about the items your buying. Some of those questions are going to help you find the best paintball pod packs that you can afford.</p>
<p>Looking for a pack? Find one with the stuff you need here &#8211; <a href="http://paintballpodpacks.us/">Paintball Pod Packs</a>. If you just need the best cheap one available, then you should consider this <a href="http://paintballpodpacks.us/cheap-paintball-pod-packs/">cheap paintball pod pack</a>. It is phenominal, and only 15 bucks!</p>
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		<title>Blazers Pick Up Camby</title>
		<link>http://www.europa-cup.com/blazers-pick-up-camby.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.europa-cup.com/blazers-pick-up-camby.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 2010 08:28:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ross Everett</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Basketball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hobbies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NBA basketball]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.europa-cup.com/blazers-pick-up-camby.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Portland Trailblazers have needed a big inside presence ever since starting center Greg Oden and backup Joel Pryzbilla went down with season ending injuries. They finally found one on Tuesday as they acquired veteran Marcus Camby from the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers received forward Travis Outlaw and guard Steve Blake. Camby is expected to make his debut in a Blazers' uniform on Friday when Portland hosts the Boston Celtics.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Portland Trailblazers have needed a big inside presence ever since starting center Greg Oden and backup Joel Pryzbilla went down with season ending injuries. They finally found one on Tuesday as they acquired veteran Marcus Camby from the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers received forward Travis Outlaw and guard Steve Blake. Camby is expected to make his debut in a Blazers&#8217; uniform on Friday when Portland hosts the Boston Celtics.</p>
<p>The transaction also served to answer the nagging question about Portland&#8217;s point guard situation. Steve Blake and Andre Miller have shared time running the offense, but Blazers&#8217; management apparently felt that Miller was a better fit with superstar shooting guard Brandon Roy. Ironically, until Miller picked up a lot of the offense slack lately with Roy on the shelf with a hamstring injury the presumption was that he&#8217;d be the one heading elsewhere as the NBA trade deadline approached.</p>
<p>All three players involved are in the final year of their current contract, meaning that barring anything unforeseen Camby&#8217;s career in Portland will probably last only 23 games plus the playoffs. Outlaw and Blake may or may not fit into the Clippers longterm plans.</p>
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<p>Camby was introduced to the Rose Garden crowd during Portland&#8217;s rout of his old team, the LA Clippers receiving a standing ovation. Earlier, he&#8217;d indicated that he was excited to be going to the Blazers:</p>
<p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s a great situation for myself. It&#8217;s a first-class organization that really takes care of their own. I hope I can bring my knowledge of the game, and blend in these last 27 games. I&#8217;m really excited to be here.&#8221;</p>
<p>He talked about the strange situation of actually being in Portland when the trade went down:</p>
<p>&#8220;I only brought one change of clothes. It&#8217;s been a real rough, rough 24 hours for me, but real exciting at the same time.&#8221;</p>
<p>Camby also said that he&#8217;s interesting in staying in &#8216;Rip City&#8217; longterm:</p>
<p>&#8220;Hopefully things work out for myself and work out for the team. Hopefully they have plans for me in the long term.&#8221;</p>
<p>Portland GM Kevin Pritchard added:</p>
<p>&#8220;We are very excited to bring an experienced big man of Marcus&#8217; caliber to the team and we feel he&#8217;ll help us a great deal down the stretch run. He&#8217;s a fierce competitor and has been one of the league&#8217;s best defensive players for quite some time.&#8221;</p>
<p>The 35 year old Camby has long been considered one of the NBA&#8217;s best defensive big men. Despite playing on a LA Clippers team well off the playoff pace in the Western Conference, he&#8217;s second in the league in rebounds with 12.1 per game.</p>
<p>Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer who covers travel, casino gambling and <a href="http://www.anattasports.com">sports handicapping</a>. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily <a href="http://www.anattasports.com">free sports picks</a>. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, flower arranging and scuba diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.</p>
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		<title>The Legacy Of Mexican Boxing Great Carlos Palomino</title>
		<link>http://www.europa-cup.com/the-legacy-of-mexican-boxing-great-carlos-palomino-2.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.europa-cup.com/the-legacy-of-mexican-boxing-great-carlos-palomino-2.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Nov 2010 08:26:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ross Everett</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[boxing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.europa-cup.com/the-legacy-of-mexican-boxing-great-carlos-palomino-2.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Vince Lombardi once said "Winning isn't everything, its the only thing". For most of the mainstream sports media, that couldn't be more true. Countless hours on sports talk radio are spent deriding NBA players like Charles Barkley and NFL players like Dan Marino for never winning a championship. Simply stated, no one remembers the runner up and the mainstream sports media helps reinforce this 'frontrunner' mentality.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Vince Lombardi once said &#8220;Winning isn&#8217;t everything, its the only thing&#8221;. For most of the mainstream sports media, that couldn&#8217;t be more true. Countless hours on sports talk radio are spent deriding NBA players like Charles Barkley and NFL players like Dan Marino for never winning a championship. Simply stated, no one remembers the runner up and the mainstream sports media helps reinforce this &#8216;frontrunner&#8217; mentality.</p>
<p>The mainstream sports media also likes to depict boxing as a repository of sleaze, but the reality is that more so than other sports &#8216;the sweet science&#8217; cares about &#8216;how the game is played&#8217;. Boxing pundits place great emphasis on the competitive quality of a fight&#8211;great fights like the Morales-Barrera trilogy, Hagler-Hearns or Hagler-Leonard are considered such for the heart and resolve shown by the fighters, not because of who won. The 2004 fight between current &#8216;pound for pound&#8217; king Manny Pacquaio and Juan Manuel Marquez is a perfect example&#8211;despite breathtaking action from start to finish the fight was ultimately ruled a draw.</p>
<p>At a certain point in a fighters&#8217; career, they can even be criticized for having an undefeated record. While exceptions are made for the best of the best&#8211;Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Rocky Marciano come to mind&#8211;having a &#8216;zero&#8217; in the loss column often reflects poorly on a fighter&#8217;s willingness to fight high level competition. Even for the best fighters, an undefeated record alone does little to guarantee a place in boxing history. Certainly, that is of much less significance that the manner in which these victories were earned.</p>
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<p>Carlos Palomino was a fighter who earned the respect and admiration of fight fans both for his championship skills as well as how he played the game. A native of Sonora, Mexico, Palomino was the welterweight champion of the world for over two years during the mid to late 70s. During this time, he became the first world champion boxer to earn a college degree (from Long Beach State University in California).</p>
<p>Palomino immigrated from Mexico as a child and began to train in boxing as a teenager. He showed a lot of promise as an amateur, but delayed his professional debut until&#8217;72 in order to serve in the US Army. While enlisted, he became All Army Welterweight Champion and won the national AAU championship. After turning pro, he worked his way up the ranks steadily until he finally won the title in June&#8217;76. Palomino scored a TKO victory over Englishman John Stracey in London, England and would defend his belt seven times before dropping the title via split decision to another first rate champion in Wilfred Benitez. He lost his next fight to yet another great in Roberto Duran, and decided to retire from the ring. He posted a credible 4-1 record during a late&#8217;90&#8217;s comeback before deciding to retire for good.</p>
<p>After his boxing career ended, Palomino took on another challenge as an actor. He&#8217;s worked steadily both in movies and television, appearing in shows like &#8220;Taxi&#8221; and &#8220;Hill Street Blues&#8221; along with countless action films. He&#8217;s done a number of commercials, live theater work and has always devoted a lot of his time to charitable causes.</p>
<p>As a fighter, Palomino was much more technical and deliberate than the &#8216;blood and guts&#8217; stereotype of a Mexican fighter. He had deceptive power, and a left hook that could end a fight, but would more often break his opponent down over the course of a fight with a punishing body attack and relentless pace. While he might not fit the mold established by men like Julio Cesar Chavez and Erik Morales, Palomino no doubt rates among them as one of the greatest fighters in the proud history of Mexican boxing legends.</p>
<p>Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting <a href="http://www.oddsbay.com/">odds comparison</a>. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and <a href="http://www.oddsbay.com/">betting odds portal</a> sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.</p>
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