Shane Mosley
Shane “Sugar” Mosley, born in September 7, 1971, holds several world titles in three weight divisions. Holding a fighting record of 46 wins, 5 losses with 1 no contest and 39 knockouts; Mosley has never been knocked out or stopped in his boxing fights. A native boxer of Pomona, California, “Sugar” is currently the WBA Welterweight Super champion. During the early part of his career, he personally trained himself from 1992-2004. He also sought Joe Goossen to become his trainer in 2004. He worked with John David Jackson in 2005. This year, he is currently trained by Nazim Richardson, which is best known for his work with Bernard Hopkins.
Every success story is not without struggle. Sugar Shame Mosley scaled and climbed every mountain to become a great boxer. He managed to fight his way towards winning world championship titles at lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight divisions. His fighting achievements made him known as one of the best fighters of this boxing era. His alias, “Sugar”, became a household name to many boxing enthusiasts; “Sugar” as in being owned in the league of other known “Sugars” such as Robinson and Leonard. He had overcome the odds of turning into a boxing pro. Through his years of dominating the boxing arena, Shane Mosley came up the hard way; winning fights and fighting the best competitions which eventually won him three world titles with the 1998 Fighter of the Year award.
Even as an amateur fighter, success was expected from Shane Mosley. He has won most of the titles in the amateur boxing division. During the period of years, from 1989 to 1992, he became the United States Amateur Champion at lightweight (1989), World junior Championships (1989), United States Amateur Champion at lightweight (1990), bronze medalist of the Goodwill Games in Seattle, USA (1992) and the United States Champion at welterweight division (1992). All in all, he compiled an amateur record of 250+ wins. The critics have said that Mosley’s stepping up to boxing pro is destined for stardom.
Shane Mosley’s February 11, 1993 fight against the former California state champion Greg Puente marked his debut in professional boxing. In this five-round blowout, he defeated Puente. However, due to promotional difficulties, Mosley was only noticed in the boxing scene until he brought a 23-0 record with 22 knockouts when he defeated the IBF lightweight champion Phillip Holiday. His display of brilliance in speed, power and ring savvy trashed Holiday at a twelve-round fight, walking away with a new world title. This was followed by yet another achievement. In his following fight, Sugar defeated Manuel Gomez by knockout at round eleven.
Throughout his career as a pro boxer, Shane Mosley has achieved much, defeating many of the best known names in the boxing world. He is famous for having been an undefeated lightweight champion, defending his 34-0 record nine times before moving up two divisions and facing Oscar de la Hoya, whom he defeated in 2000 to take the welterweight title. Today, Shane Mosley remains a big name in the sport, with his matches being followed enthusiastically by fans.
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus, well known as “The Golden Bear,” was born on January 21, 1940 and may well be, as his fans will tell you, among the greatest pro golfers ever. Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, a pharmacist’s son, he was a student in Upper Arlington High School and beat a mild case of polio as a youth. Turning to golf at ten years old and shooting an amazing 51 for nine holes, he broke 70 at age 13 on eighteen holes.
As a junior player he won the Ohio Open in 1956 at sixteen years of age, the US Amateur twice (1959 and 1961), and an NCAA Championship in 1961. When Nicklaus played in the 1960 US Open he had a 282 and finished second behind golf great Arnold Palmer. He was also a part of and won the US Eisenhower Trophy with his team in 1960 with a four-round score of 269-this record still stands today.
By the close of 1961, Jack turned pro and in 1962, he played and won in one of his first major championship-The US Open. Beating Arnold Palmer, an achievement in itself, gave Nicklaus notice by fans and in 1966, he won the Masters Tournament for two consecutive years. He won the Open Championship as well in 1966, however, failed to win another until the Open Championship title again in 1970. During the years 1971-1980, he won nine major titles and overtook Bobby Jones’s record of thirteen titles. At 46 years of age, Jack won his 18th major championship, which was also his last, at the 1986 Masters Tournament-he was the oldest winner of this event.
He joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1990, where he racked up 10 wins by 1996 – eight of which were major tournament wins. His made his last Senior PGA tournament appearances in 2005. However, he has stayed active in the sport, writing on the subject, designing courses and even holding his own PGA tournament, the Memorial tournament. Hi runs one of the world’s leading golf course design firms and has written autobiographical titles as well as instructional works on playing the Nicklaus way.
Perhaps Nicklaus’ popularity came with golf’s popularity when he beat Arnold Palmer in 1962 at Oakmont in the US Open. With the emergence of television, Jack’s charisma, good looks, and true rivalry with Palmer attracted many viewers to golf-something they hadn’t seen before on TV. He won an unheard of prize money of $60,000 in 1962 and reached third place on the tour’s money list, and named Rookie of the Year. In 1963, one of his best years, he won the Masters and the PGA Championship.
In 1964, he won the British Open at St. Andrews and established a new record for lowest score in the last thirty-six holes-66-68. His Masters win in 1965 set a tourney record of 271-which stood until Tiger Woods shot 270 in 1997. In the 1968, The Golden Bear let his physical condition slip, which most felt affected his playing skills, but Jack improved in the fall of 1969 where he returned to top form. Sadly, he lost one of his biggest supporters and mentors, his father, Charlie Nicklaus in 1970.
Interviewed in 1970 after the death of his father, Nicklaus said: “I was playing good golf, but it really wasn’t that big a deal to me one way or the other. And then my father passed away and I sort of realized he had certainly lived his life through my golf game. I really hadn’t probably given him the best of that. So I sort of got myself back to work. So 1970 was an emotional one for me from that standpoint-it was a big boost.” Whatever the reason Nicklaus was certainly a record setter – he was the first player to win all four major tournaments twice in the course of his career.
In 1974, the PGA Player of the Year was given to Nicklaus for the third time and he was among the first to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. In 1975, he won his fifth Masters and his fourth PGA Championship. ABC named him Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year. Again, at the top of the money list in 1976, he played what he liked to call, “hang-back-and-hope golf.” In 1986, he won his sixth Masters-again and unbelievably was still going strong. His 1978 British Open win gave him a place in golf history where he won each major championship three times-a record finally tied by Tiger Woods in 2008. His Senior Tour wins include The Tradition (four times), the Senior Players Championship, and the US Senior Open. Along with his 100th career win (The Tradition) in 1996, he and his four sons and son-in-law had 299 courses open in 2005, an impressive 1% of all the courses in the world. Jack Nicklaus is The Golden Bear for record breaking, his playing style, and his off-the-course achievements and will remain one of golf’s greatest players of all time.
Biking Vacations and Hot Spots in the Central USA
In an attempt to offer some insight into the many awesome biking trails this country has to offer, I’ve narrowed down my 5 favorites in the Central areas of the USA. While there are so many to choose from, I’m hoping my humble opinions below will help you get the most out of your ride.
Waldo Canyon, CO. With literal breathtaking views , especially from the top, this trail doesn’t disappoint. At the apex of the ride you will be above the tree line, which is especially unique. There are few rides in this country where you get the feeling that you could touch Heaven itself. The downward ride is memorable and fun as well.
Palmer Park, Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado Springs is a personal favorite so I may be a bit biased about the trails here. Palmer Park offers many trails from beginner to expert. There is an added adventure element as well. There is no discernible way to navigate the park because the maps are incomplete, so you could get lost for a little while, but it is totally worth it. The rock formations impress every time.
Wyoming, Jackson. The Cache Creek to Game Creek Loop is a little southeast of Jackson. At the start it will seem a bit elementary and common. About 2 miles in you will start to realize how special this trail is. This varied plants, vegetation and wildlife that inhabit this trail make each ride through it a new discovery. As far as skill level goes, this trail will work for everybody but it a little more challenging if you do it backwards. For one of the most beautiful rides in the world, check out this trail.
MOAB brand trails, Moab UT. The MOAB brand trails are 4 tracks all named for letters in the name MOAB. M is the easiest and B is the most difficult. There is something for everyone and the trails offer everything from fun and rocky to slick rock with hairpin turns. Moab is a beautiful area to begin with and it definitely has the sense that it was designed with biking in mind.
Barton Creek Greenbelt, Austin TX. Few biking enthusiasts will argue that this trail is the best Texas has to offer. Austin is a great city with its live music scene, great food and atmosphere. If you want a little more nature and a little less urban, Barton Creek is the ride for you. This ride is inconsistent to say the least, even experienced bikers may find themselves walking in places. There is a single track on either side of Barton Creek, but there are stretches where there is no track at all. Despite its inconsistencies the ride is worth it.
Above are five excellent places to begin your exploration of Central US bike trails. Admittedly these trails kind of hug the edges of the Central US. I do like to have some elevation change in my bike trails and the bread basket doesn’t really provide you with that. These trails will keep you busy though, and happy with your bike riding if you dare to try to take them on.
Wetsuits For Beginners
First let me explain what exactly a wetsuit is. A wetsuit is a rubbery piece of clothing used for protection against cold in different water sports. If you swim, surf, kitesurf, scuba dive, windsurf etc in cold weather and cold water then you need a wetsuit to keep you warm. A wetsuit does that by catching a thin layer of water between your body and the suit. This water is then warmed by your body heat and you feel warm.
An explanation on how wetsuit works
When a stratum of water is forced to remain trapped by the skin and the wetsuit, this water gets warmed by the users body temperature. The water acts as an insulating later that offers a considerable degree of protection from hypothermia.
Wetsuits are less effective in deep water; this is one of the reasons that dives use thicker wetsuits.
What materials are used in wetsuits?
Wetsuits are made out of neoprene. Neoprene is a rubbery material that contains lots of air bubbles and has great insulating capabilities. Neoprene comes in large neoprene sheets which are then cut into smaller panels and sewn together to form a wetsuit.
Wetsuits come in different thicknesses. The degree of warmth offered by a particular wetsuit depends on the thickness of the neoprene used in its construction. Neoprene thickness varies between 2 mm and 6 mm. Wetsuits can be made of other materials, too, and additional fabrics such as wool and titanium are added for even greater warmth and body heat retention.
Wetsuits are sewn together or sealed in several ways ” the garment could be held together by blind stitching, taping, gluing, flatlocking or heat sealing processes, to name just a few methods.
As far as the structure of a wetsuit goes, wetsuits usually come with zippers. These are often located at the back of the suit, and sometimes on the chest or shoulders of the garment. There are some wetsuits that have come into the market recently ” these are so stretchable that the user can put it on using only the neck opening.
In some wetsuits, the sleeves and leg portions can be removed from the main body, so the user can customize the suit to his or her requirements. Wetsuits also usually have a nylon lining, or a backing made of stretchable materials such as spandex and lycra, which simplifies putting on and removing the suit.
Wetsuit Types
There is a wide range of wetsuits available ” shorty, spring suit, full wetsuit, steamer, winter wetsuit etc… The most important thing to bear in mind is that the better a wetsuit fits, the more effective it will be in protecting the wearer from heat loss in situations where the body is constantly losing heat to the water or cold air surrounding it.
Neck, wrists and ankles should also be tight so water can not come in. Just make sure that the wetsuit doesnt obstruct your breathing and that you can move comfortably. If you get the right wetsuit you will be amazed in how low temperatures you can enjoy your water sport.
Payton
Walter Payton, who passed away on November 1, 1999, was the essence of what an NFL player should be. His Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Bears still rings in the ears of Bear’s fans and to this day, sports announcers, still compare rookies to Payton’s running style.
Payton was born in Columbia, MS in 1954 and came to the game relatively late in life for an NFL player. It was not until high school that he discovered his talent for and love of the game. He continued to play in college at Jackson State in Mississippi.
Fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, Walter was also the fourth pick in the 1975 NFL draft going to Chicago. With his rookie season starting slow with only 679 total yards and 7 touchdowns, his final rookie game against New Orleans was a vision of what was to come when he ran for 134 yards-a site unseen in Chicago since the Gale Sayers days.
His second year as a Bear saw him with 13 touchdowns and 1,000 yards, a performance which won him the NFL’s 1977 MVP title. The Bears went to the playoffs this year and Payton ran an impressive 274 yards in a single game, a record which stood for 23 years.
With 16,726 total career-rushing yards, 110 touchdowns, and seventy-seven 100-yard rushing games throughout his 13 years in the NFL, Walter was fondly given the nickname “Sweetness,” early in his career.
Payton made it look easy, with 1,000 yards dashed in each season between 1976 and 1981. Payton played in every Pro Bowl from 1979 until his retirement. His rushing record has been broken since, but is record may still stand today were it not for NFL strikes which cut short the 1975 and 197 seasons.
Things got even better for Chicago once Coach Mike Ditka came on board. Ditka aggressively recruited new players to support Payton. In 1984, the Bears led their division and Payton broke Jim Brown’s running record. The day he broke the record, he dedicated his feat to those athletes whose careers were tragically cut short by injuries and illnesses.
Everyone remembers the “Super Bowl Shuffle” of 1986, still heard from time to time in Chicago. This was the year that the Bears made their very first appearance in the Super Bowl and they did not disappoint the fans, despite Payton’s failure to make a touchdown in the game. The Bears triumphed over the New England Patriots 46-10.
Payton would retire the following year, seeing a hero’s send off at Chicago’s Soldier Field. He stayed active after his retirement, serving on the Chicago Bears board of directors, starting a racing team and in 1996, opening Walter Payton’s Roadhouse, a restaurant and brewpub. In 1996, Payton was elevated to the NFL Hall of Fame, taking his rightful place among the other legends of the gridiron.
Payton stunned the world in 1999 with his announcement that he had been diagnosed with the rare autoimmune disease Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. Payton was placed on an organ transplant waiting list (it wasn’t his style to use his fame to receive treatment before those even sicker than himself). Tragically, he would pass away in November of that year.
There are many stories fun, exciting, and charming about old number 34 of the Chicago Bear, but perhaps Walter’s biggest legacy is the outreach of people signing up for organ donation after his death in Illinois. We still today, miss the man, the shuffle-yeah, we still miss “Sweetness.