SPORTS HUBS

Anabolic steroids use is illegal and void in most countries, in other words the use of such substance is prohibited in almost all sport events worldwide. Lately, Manny Pacquiao cried foul as he filed a lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather, for accusing him of steroids use, the megafight between them which is touted to earn an enormous amount of income was canceled. Mayweather Junior’s allegations was baseless and has no evidence to support his claims.
Here’s the dagger. How can one be benefited with the use of such performance enhancing drugs. In football, it will certainly add bulk and strength to a player. In bodybuilding it will allow to grow lean muscles. In boxing, nevertheless, it will enhance boxer to train even harder and in more extended time. The boxer’s muscle will tire out after a tremendous workout, but with steroids use it may help recover faster and can further help a boxer train even longer. Additionally, when combined with strength training, steroids may aid the growth of lean muscles that could help add fiery punching power.

(more…)

Michael Jordan whose desire to acquire an NBA team, finally become a reality. Charlotte Bobcats owner Bob Johnson announced that he and Jordan come to terms that will likely sell the majority interest of the ball club to legendary NBA superstar Jordan a five time NBA MVP winner and the owner of the MJ Basketball Holdings, LLC.

The deal however is still subject to the approval of the NBA.

Jordan become part of the Bobcats ownership in June 2006 and was the team’s managing member of basketball operations. Jordan hold the position with the Washington but parted ways after three and a half years. Jordan’s applauded move so far is bringing in fellow Hall of Famer and much sought after coach Larry Brown to coach the Bobcats at the beginning of the 2008-09 NBA season.

The Bobcats still hasn’t made it to the playoffs on its franchise history, but in the thick of things this season as they trail the Miami heat by just half a game with a win-loss slate of 28-29 for the eight and last spot in the Western Conference.

Regarded to be one of the greatest golfers all time if not the best, Tiger Woods suffered another major setback, this time losing a corporate sponsor in Gatorade. The sports drink maker which is a subsidiary of Pepsi Cola called its marketing deals with Woods quits, and became the newest member of the list of sponsors that abandoned the golf superstar that was in a sex fiasco a month ago. Jennifer Schmit, Gatorade’s spokeswoman said, “We no longer see a role for Tiger in our marketing efforts and have ended our relationship… We wish him all the best.” His image deteriotated and hit a snag since a scandal involving him surface last November 27, 2009. His stature as a premier athlete was terribly hurt even as woman came out in the open saying they have had an affair with Woods. The list of sponsors that relinquished their ties with Woods includes Accenture and AT&T. Procter and Gamble’s Gillette and Tag Heuer have maintained their dealings with Woods but he is not shown in their recent advertisements.

Vancouver, British Columbia – Canada leaned on its offensive and defensive game as well as a lift from a boisterous and raucous fans in upending the United States 2-0 to weave their continuous dominance of the sport. The crowd was in pandemonium as the home fans wave their flags, ring their cowbells and cheered loudly for the Canadian team. The one-two punch of Marie-Philip Poulin provided another gritty display of offensive skills as she come up with another sterling performance, while  Shannon Szabados foiled enemy field goal at will. Providing the scoring threats in the game, the fiery Poulin scored the only two goals of the game, and teamed up with her defensive sentinel teammate Shannon Szabados who intercepted 28 United States field goal attempts. The Canadians were seen upbeat and fired up for the game thanks to their ever-supportive fans that gave them the boost and wild cheers they need.

Szbados said, “I looked in the stands and saw a sign that said, ‘Proud to be a Canadian,’ and that’s what I am today.”

The Canadian team was unbeaten in women’s ice hockey since 1998, a streak that stretches to 15 wins, including an 18-0 drubbing of Slovakia in the  opener of the Winter Olympics.

In earlier battle for the bronze medal, Finland pulled out a tough 3-2 win over Nordic neighbor Sweden in overtime. The triumph posted by the Finnish team is their first medal in ice hockey since winning the last medal at the 1998 Nagano Women’s Olympic.

Like Manny Pacquiao who is a World Champion in multiple division, the four division world champion James  “The Lights Out” Toney, says many Pacquiao will win against Floyd Mayweather, if the two squares off in the ring.

Toney who won four different world titles (middle weight, super middleweight, cruiserweight and heavy weight), give Mayweather a shot in the arm as the March 13 Mega fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather didn’t push through over the Mayweather’s demand for random Olympic Style blood testing procedure which is not really required in professional boxing.

“I love Floyd and I’m glad he is doing what he’s doing. But if you claim to be the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound fight! Don’t make excuses. According to Toney amid the accusations thrown by Mayweather’s camp which is deemed unfair and unfounded by the majority of boxing fans and writers. He said Pacquiao is one of those elite boxers, who are capable of amassing titles at different titles at different weight divisions.

“Pacquiao’s opting to knock Floyd out, Floyd’s my man, Floyd’s know it but I’m going to call it like I see it,” Toney said whilst added, “The things is this, do you know what a rabbit does when it gets backed in the corner? It faints and that’s what Floyd’s doing.”

The young guns in chess have their guns a blazing as their cusp for greatness come to fore as they dominated the ninth edition of Aerofloat Open in Moscow, Russia which is one of the strongest chess tournament in the world.

Teenager Viet bet in GM Le Quang Liem bested a field that boasts of 73 Grandmasters and 7 International Masters by scoring 7 points in nine rounds to become this year’s champion. The 19-year old Quang Liem  also won the the trophy in similarly tough Moscow Open.  Another young stalwart in chess, Anton Korobov checked in at a decent third place with 6.5 points, folowed by Nguyen Ngoc Troung Son (Vietnam), Zhou Jianchao (China) and Russians Alexander Motylev and Boris Grachiev.

Filipino chess sensation won the trophy as the best junior in the tournament.

The 19 year old Qua

Another talented recruit is set to bolster the Smart Gilas Philippine Basketball Team. Chris Lutz, the promising Filipino American guard from US NCAA Division I school Marshall University will join the team in May this year.

After the NCAA tournament, the 6 foot 3 Lutz will fly to the Philippines. Lutz is currently playing for the also-run Thundering Herd, which has piled up a 20-7 win loss slate and in contention for a berth in the US NCAA Tournament proper.

Smart Gilas manager Frankie Lim said, “Smart Gilas is wishing for him but he’ll only join the team on April or right after the US NCAA.”

Now on his fourth year in Marshall University, Lutz is averaging 8.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and an assist and a steal in 27 games. Lutz is also known to be threat in the three-point area. Smart Gilas is set to train in Sydney, Canberra and Perth in Australia this March 12, then to Serbia from March 26 to the first few weeks of April. Lutz will join the team and finally given to display his feisty basketball skills in April 22 to 30 when the team travels to Las Vegas.

The Canadian pair of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir pulled out stunning reversal by upending their favored Russian to bag the Olympic Gold medal in ice dance. The bitter loss for the Russians marks only the third time that a Russian duet failed to win the ice dance since this sport was included as an Olympic sports in 1976.

“I’ll probably wear it in the shower,” the elated Moir said and added, “I’m not going to take it off all week.”

The reigning world champion’s tandem of Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabelin, could only finish third as Americans finish ahead of them at second place. The American pair of Merly Davis and Charlie White took the silver medal, to help the United States’ hike its overall medal output to 25, which already matched its record harvest in 2006 for medals won at a Winter Olympics away from home turf. The Americans are cinched to break that since its women’s team is assured of at least a silver finish in women’s hockey.

Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks squeaked past rookie yet a tough nut to crack De Mar De Rozan to become the first three-time winner of NBA Slam Dunk Contest, by ruling this year’s weekend Slam Dunk Contest. Robinson won by a hairline edge over his foe as he captured 51% of the fan vote in the contest.

De Rozan made it to the final round by virtue of a perfect score of 50 on his second dunk of the first round.

Robinson provided the Coup ‘d Grace by throwing the ball on the backboard grabbing and turning it in mid air to slam down a two-handed backward dunk.

Robinson celebrates his sweet triumph by taking pair of silver and pompoms from a cheerleader from the Dallas Cowboys that joined him on court for his last dunk.

The first gold medal up for grab in the Vancouver Winter Olympics, was annexed by Swiss Simon Annana, who captured the normal hill ski jump over Poland’s Adan Malysz and Austria’s Gregor Schierenzaver. In 5,000 men’s speed skating, Sven Kramer of the Netherland’s took the title in 6 minutes 14.60 seconds, to set a new Olympic record and ahead of Lee Seung–Hoon of South Korea (second) and Ivan Skobrev (third). Other gold medallist includes South Korea’s Lee Jung-Su who won the 1,500 meter short track speed skating, and Slovakia’s Anastasiya Kuzmina who pulled off surprising win in the backbreaking 7.5 km. Biathlon event. Luge Training resumes despite the tragic death of Georgia’s Nadar Kumaritashvili, with the mood somber, where improvements were made to the track to avoid another tragedy