Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Each year, colleges and universities from all over the nation send their men's basketball teams to the "Last Frontier State" to the Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourney. The competition heats up the cold winter days and nights, as teams meet head on to battle for buckets. Colleges and universities get the opportunity to play against their top rivals and powerhouses of the game. These games draw in record crowds each year, as any basketball fan should not miss the chance to attend this fast paced pre season classic.
The main question on any sports fan's mind is, why Alaska? The reason is simple, former University of Alaska Anchorage head coach, Bob Rachal found a loophole in the NCAA rules determining pre season play. In an effort to draw more attention to the state, the University of Alaska Anchorage, and the Seawolves athletic program, Rachal became the mastermind of what began as the Sea Wolf Classic. The NCAA rules stated any games played outside the contagious 48 states did not count towards a program's pre determined allotment. For this reason, participants of the Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourney can get an early gauge of their teams prowess against national talent.
The first Sea Wolf Classic was held in 1978 for the '78-'79 basketball season and saw the Wolfpack of North Carolina State University crush the University of Louisville's Cardinals. The tournament ended in 1978, leaving many wondering if it would become an annual event. Much to everyone's relief, the Sea Wolf Classic became a Thanksgiving tradition in 1979, but under a new name.
Broadcaster Billy Packer is credited with changing the name from the Sea Wolf Classic to the Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourney back in 1979. In this stunning tournament, the title game came down to the University of Kentucky Wildcats and the Iona College Gaels. The Wildcats proved too powerful for the tiny New York school, and emerged victorious as the second champion of this fantastic new basketball challenge.
A list of past champions reads like a who's who of College basketball, including NC State, Louisville, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, and UCLA to name a few.
The attendance may have been meager in the early days, but soon the action caught on, and now college basketball fans of all ages flock to the state for the Thanksgiving weekend Great Alaska Shootout Basketball Tourney. What better way to celebrate our national day of thanks than by cheering on teams from all across the country? Many hotels, cruises, and lodges have special packages designed with the college basketball fan in mind.
If you find you cannot wait until December to enjoy hot hoops action, head to Anchorage and watch the action melt away the snow! Plan a trip for the family and bring budding sports fans to experience the thrilling display of skill and sportsmanship, or make it a raucous occasion for celebration with your best hoops loving buds. Whoever you bring, just make sure you bring yourself to this annual college basketball showdown!
About The Author:
A lifelong Alaskan, Ron Richards lives in the beautiful Matanuska Valley. Ron invites you to come and see Alaska. One excellent way to enjoy Alaska is by taking an affordable Alaska cruise.
Funk Motivates Shorter Hitters with Skins Game Victory
Fred Funk tames Tiger, Annika and the King of Skins Fred Couples at the Merrill Lynch skins game. Fitting it would seem that Fred Funk who after being out driven by Annika had to wear a skirt for one hole on Saturday.
Funk showed true grit and that at age of 49 he is still a world class player. Funk who is a fan favorite because of his easy demeanor has legions of fans.
Funk hit every fairway with precision, like an axe splitting a 2*4., right in the center. Out driven by 30, 40, 50 yards Funk patiently worked his way around the course in La Quinta. Not missing one fairway on Saturday or Sunday's play. Not only did he win, he won big, winning 15 of the holes up for grabs. A total purse of 925,000.
Funk won two holes on Sunday. Sinking a twelve foot putt on the par 4, 12thhole for 100,000.The second was for a five hole carry over worth 550,000 on the par 5,18th. This is a skins game record for the most money on one hole.. Fred was the only player to reach the par 5 18th hole in two. Left with a 30 foot eagle putt he easily made birdie. Tiger Woods could have forced a playoff, but he missed the putt just sliding off at the end.
This victory makes Fred funk the oldest player to win the Skins Game. The previous oldest winner was Gary Player at 48 who won the 1983 skins game.
Some interesting Quotes from the tournament.
After Tiger hit a remarkable shot out of the rough on the par 5-16th, he was left with an eagle putt to take the hole from Fred on Sunday.
"Don't do that, don't," Woods said before covering his face, watching the putt just come up short.
"Nice lag," Sorenstam said teasing Tiger.
"I've got a pretty pink skirt for you," Funk said to Woods, referring to the skirt he had to wear on No. 3 on Saturday after Sorenstam out drove him.
Said Woods: "I didn't hit the quality shots . He had a two-putt to force us to have to make birdie, and we didn't."
"Wow," Funk said. "I played good, but still, it's the timing," said Funk, "There just weren't that many putts made."
"I'm still in shock that I got asked to this thing "said Funk after his victory.
From Derrick Burton webmaster PlayInTheRain.com
Author of this article
With golf course manufacturers scratching there heads to keep up with technology and longer drives. Striving to keep costs in line to build bigger courses and longer holes Funk proved this year at the PGA championship and The Merrill Lynch skins game that the short hitter still can win golf tournaments. I challenge golf course designers to start building golf courses with narrower fairways, more hazards, short par 4's.Holes that make the golfer think and challenge shot making.
Top 3 Kitesurfing Relaunch Tips
Because it happens some times to have to relaunch the kite here are three methods to relaunch it.
Water relaunching Low Aspect Ratio inflatable kites
You can relaunch an inflatable kite by getting it to a vertical crescent moon position, this is done by sliding the kite to the edge of the wind window and then launching it, by pulling the top line. You can easily get an inflatable kite in a vertical moon crescent position by pulling on one line and then suddenly on the other one. This is best used with low aspect ratio kites.
Water relaunching High Aspect Ratio inflatable kites
High aspect ratio inflatables are likely to crash in a leading edge down position and because of the large leading edge they will refuse getting in the vertical crescent moon position needed for launching the inflatable kite. There is only one way to relaunch a high aspect ratio inflatable and that is to get it on it's back by swimming towards it. In strong wind this is useless because the pull of the kite easily absorbes the distance you swim towards it. If that's the case you'll need to pull on the middle leader line of the kite and after pulling around 2 meters of the middle leader line, in an instant release it while holding on to the control bar. Your kite will immediately get on to its back.
Relaunching closed cell foil kites
If a kite crashes, it's leading edge is frequently down on the water. For relaunching a closed cell foil kite, you'll have to fly the kite in reverse. This is done by pulling on both brake lines hard, that is if you are using handles. If using a three line bar set with the center leader line connected to the trailing edge of the kite, you have to pull hard on the center leader line. Release the brake lines and steer the kite upward once it's out of the water.
These tips should help you if your kite falls while kitesurfing.
For more great tips for your kitesurfing experience just visit our kitesurfing/ site. Also, don't forget to check out our kite surfing equipment/ page.
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