‘Pro Sports’ Articles
Written by Peter Suciu on 25 June 2010
adidas World Cup Jabulani Ball
This week the California Institute of Technology gave new meaning to the concept of “air ball” as aerospace engineers at the prestigious school put the controversial new “Jabulani” football (that’s soccer to most of us Americans) to the test in a wind tunnel. The ball, which was developed by adidas, is currently being used in the World Cup, where players, coaches and fans have blamed it for missed shots. So much for blaming bad play?
According to reports two balls were put into the Lucas Wind Tunnel and exposed to wind speeds of about 10 meters per second, which is actually slower than a typical kicked ball. To determine the movement of air around said balls, a smoke machine was called in. This helped the engineers visualize the air movement. The findings actually matched some complaints from teams in the World Cup. The ball reportedly had some “bizarre trajectories.”
Developed by the adidas Innovation Team (a.i.t.), the ball has been tested as new “match ball” for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. This mean tests under the toughest laboratory conditions, but it isn’t clear if this is in fact the first time the ball went into a wind tunnel. At this point it doesn’t look as if the ball will pulled, but with more studies coming dare we say that the wind of change is blowing through.
Adiddas World Cup Jabulani Ball at Amazon.com
[Via Reuters: Geeks give new Cup ball a wind tunnel workout]
Tags: 2010 FIFA World Cup, Adidas, adidas Innovation Team, ball, Cal Tech, California Institute of Technology, FIFA, football, Jabulani, Lucas Wind Tunnel, Soccer, South Africa, World Cup
Posted in Pro Sports, Research | 1 Comment »
Written by Peter Suciu on 22 June 2010
After winning the Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara came under the spotlight. Not for doping, but rather for using a motor hidden within the bicycle frame. Cancellara has since laughed off the allegations, but apparently not everyone is laughing.
Cycling has taken some bad hits as many high profile riders have been accused of using – and unfortunately even caught using – performance enhancing drugs. But this latest twist is probably one no one saw coming. This week the International Cycling Union, the sports governing body, announced that “a scanner will be used from the time of the Tour de France.” Such a scanner would further bolster “measures that have already been put in place, in particular the visual inspection of bicycles.”
The UCI it has been reported has been in contact with former racers, including Davide Cassani and Chris Boardman. The formers claims that a bike equipped with a concealed motor could help a ride cheat, and that if he were using such a device at 49-years old he’d be able to finish a classic or a Giro stage. We are a bit dubious to say the least. The latter even wrote an editorial for The Telegraph, explaining how the technology could work.
While there have been endless technological upgrades to bicycles in the 100+ years since the founding of the UCI, the idea of a hidden motor to aid a racer seems to be more trouble than it would be worth. Such a motor would need a large power source – one that would add weight to the bike, although Boardman says it is a moot point since bikes come in under weight anyway – and it would need to be reliable. Boardman again offers the opinion that the energy source would be enough to power a motor that in turn could help provide riders with a way to “take a break.” But is this really enough? Riders are pretty much on camera from beginning to end, and sitting on a bike and “faking” the pedaling is a lot of work.
The proper gearing, drafting from other riders and various riding techniques are what already give riders that little bit of edge. Would a mini-motor – something else that could break down – really be worth it? That’s not to say that we encourage anyone to try, so let’s hope that the sport stays clean. And that is with both the riders and the bikes.
Tags: Chris Boardman, Classic, Cycling, Davide Cassani, Fabian Cancellara, Giro, International Cycling Union, Paris-Roubaix, stage racing, Tour de France, Tour of Flanders, UCI
Posted in Cycling, Equipment, Pro Sports | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 18 June 2010
- UFC Trainer will arrive for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii in January
There is no denying that anyone entering the cage to compete in mixed martial arts is ripped and probably works out a lot. And we mean a lot. Video games on the hand tend to work out a little and play games a lot. So what if you could somehow marry the two in a way? THQ is on it with a UFC-inspired fitness game for Microsoft Xbox Live Kinect, Sony PlayStation Move and the Nintendo Wii.
And in an interesting twist, unlike many other fitness games this one is actually going to be targeted primarily at men. UFC Trainer won’t actually make it in time for the holidays however, so gamers will have to find some other way to stay in shape this summer and fall, so we suggest turning off the console for a bit.
But from the official line from THQ’s executive VP of core gaming, it should be worth the wait. “We want this thing tuned to perfection without lag. And I’m not going to ship it until it’s the coolest fighting thing in the world.”
THQ website
Tags: Microsoft, mixed martial arts, Nintendo, PlayStation 3, Sony, THQ, UFC, UFC Trainer, Video Games, Wii, Xbox 360
Posted in E3, Exercise, Pro Sports, Video Games | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 17 June 2010
This week LIVESTRONG.COM and RadioShack have announced the official release of the Team RadioShack free mobile app for the iPhone. This could be the next best thing to heading to France for the Tour next month, as it offers users exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage of Lance Armstrong and the rest of the team as they take part in the greatest race in cycling.
The free app offers instant, on-the-go updates and news, exclusive content and photos, behind-the-scenes Tour de France coverage, and video blogs from Lance himself, as well as expert commentary from the entire team. The updates can be accessed with a tap of an app, and easily shared via Facebook and Twitter.
The Team RadioShack iPhone app is available fro free download from the Apple App Store and from the LIVESTRONG.COM website.
Tags: App, Cycling, iPhone, Lance Armstrong, Mobile Phones, Racing, Team RadioShack, Tour de France
Posted in Cycling, Pro Sports | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 09 June 2010
- Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel uses actual exercise to hone his gaming skills
Leave it to the Brits to come up with a study that compares top athletes to gamers. According to British academics, including University of Essex professor Dr. Dominic Micklewright, gamers share many characteristics with those engaging in sports. His findings were part of a BBC Radio 4 documentary, where he noted that games like sports, involve high degree of skill, and both are governed by strict rules.
However, as PC Pro reported, professional gamers tended to be less – well to put to bluntly – “physically able” than true athletes, and gamers often had health problems that athletes don’t have. This is notable as gamers can be a bit more sedentary and at times unhealthy life, as professional gamers can spend as much as 10 hours a day in front of the screen practicing.
What is also notable is that Dr. Micklewright further suggested that gamers actually get REAL exercise, which could in part help improve gaming performance. It was mentioned that top US player Johnathan Wendel (better known as “Fatal1ty”) regularly uses exercise as a type of “cross training” which makes him more physically fit, and possibly keeps him at the top of his game.
Via PC Pro: What gamers have in common with top athletes
Tags: British, Dr. Dominic Micklewright, Fatal1ty, games, Johnathan Wendel, PC Pro, Professional gamers, sports, University of Essex
Posted in Exercise, Pro Sports, Video Games | No Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 04 June 2010
These players are kicking on a hybrid natural grass and artificial turf.
Field caretakers at this year’s World Cup may get a break from patching grass at this tournament. The fields are sewn with reinforced natural grass produced by Belgian-based company Desso Sports Systems. An article appearing in USAToday details “a surface with 20 million threads of synthetic grass fibers woven in between and beneath the natural grass.” The surface is far from Astroturf of yesterday. Natural grass composes most of the playing field, but is reinforced with artificial threads driven eight inches into the surface and intertwined with the roots of the real grass to keep the field intact for the long series of soccer games to be played.
The enhanced surface is already installed in a number of fields worldwide. For soccer, or football as the rest of the world calls it, Arsenal and Liverpool in the U.K. and the training grounds of Real Madrid. For American football, the Denver Broncos and the Philadelphia Eagles already use the reinforced natural grass.
Desso Sports Systems and its English language site ArtificialGrass.info.
Tags: artificial turf, enhanced grass, football, Soccer, World Cup
Posted in Pro Sports | 3 Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 01 June 2010
Trek Speed Concept 9 Series
If you blinked you might have missed it, but Trek Bicycles introduced its highly anticipated line of new Triathlon and Time Trial specific bikes at last week’s Tour of California. The Speed Concept line of bicycles was used in last Saturday’s Stage 7 Time Trial is Los Angeles, and the aerodynamic profile was sure to turn heads. The KVF tube shape makes for a sleek cycle to reduce drag, and get you to the finish line in style. If weren’t in the City of Angeles, or didn’t catch the race on TV, you’ll soon get to see the bikes, which should be riding into stores soon.
You also won’t need to be a sponsored rider either, as Trek will offer the Speed Concept in three unique platforms for 2010, with a total of 12 models – to fit most price ranges, and with five unique sizes and six different stems, this concept will fit the frame of the rider like a glove.
The high-end Speed Concept 9 Series models utilize OCLV2 Carbon and can be fully customizable through Trek’s custom bike program, Project One. For those with a more modest budget, or just looking to get a solid ride off the shelf, the company offers the Speed Concept 7 Series, which is comprised of five models. These bikes, with prices ranging from $2899 to $3799, offer the same revolutionary aerodynamic advantages of the 9 Series but are constructed of Trek’s TCT carbon. These bikes will have you looking good on the road, and looking sharp at the finish line.
Trek Speed Concept website
Tags: 7 Series, 9 Series, Bikes, Time Trial, Tour of California, Trek, Triathalon
Posted in Cycling, Pro Sports | 2 Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 26 May 2010
The heart rate monitor and GPS device is no longer personal for world football players. Australia’s World Cup players are picking up data via satellite for each player’s workout. Teams get competitive data on their own performance, and their competitors, according to “Socceroos go high-tech to gain an edge over rest of the world,” an article published in The Sydney Morning Herald.
Players down under were able to compare their training to that of their Russian counterparts. Team coaches also use the data to provide support for their players. “We’re analyzing the players’ volumes of sweat and composition so we can accurately predict how much fluid they’ll lose during a game and at training,” Australia’s strength and conditioning coach Darren Burgess told the paper. “We want to have a rehydration strategy for each player.”
It will be interesting to see what other teams and leagues pick up this method of training. Will it lead to real-time data access to personal workouts instead of uploading details upon return from a run?
Tags: football, GPS, heart rate monitor, Soccer, World Cup Soccer
Posted in Pro Sports, Research | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 14 May 2010
Franco Pellizotti
Discovery News is reporting that a new “biological passport” has been developed to keep pace (or is it pace line) with performance-enhancing drugs and those who use them. This new technology measures blood and body chemistry over time, and thus can help authorities monitor professional cyclists more closely.
Sadly, one rider Franco Pellizotti – who was a favorite for this year’s Giro d’Italia – has already been caught using performance-enhancing drugs from this new technology. The Italian rider was banned for irregular blood levels, which suggested he doped. Let’s hope this new biological passport will end doping and make professional cycling pure again.
[Via Discovery News: Biological Passport Nabs Cheating Cyclists]
Tags: Anti-Doping, Cycling, Doping, Franco Pellizotti, Giro d'Italia, Performance-Enhancing
Posted in Cycling, Pro Sports | No Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 12 May 2010
A month until the Tour de France begins another picturesque race pedals down the state of California. Tour of California, an eight stage race from May 16 to 23, starts in Nevada City and ends on day eight in Thousand Oaks. Top teams include Columbia-HTC, Garmin-Slipstream and Team RadioShack. Lance Armstrong is among those favored to place.
We’ll be watching Versus Sunday to Sunday next week as the race goes on, and following some of the new cycling technologies used by the racers as well as the officials to time and judge the race.
The San Jose Mercury News has a handy fact sheet on the Tour.
Amgen Tour of California
Tags: Cycling, Tour of California
Posted in Cycling, Pro Sports | 2 Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 27 April 2010
When you sign up for a contact sport such as football, boxing, ice hockey, and wrestling you know you need a mouth guard, but do you realize how important it is? Not just to protect your pearly whites. “Ninety percent of concussions resulting in unconsciousness are caused by impact to the lower jaw,” says Joe Manzo, president of Brain-Pad, a company that offers a new mouth guard with more absorption power.
Bite on this mouth guard, the Brain-Pad 3XS
Brain-Pad’s new piece, the 3XS professional model (available at Wal-Mart and other retailers for $34.95) uses a patented technology and dual-protection system that offers 40 percent more absorption power than comparable models. The 3XS is a dual arch, bi-molar mouth guard that stabilizes the jaw in a neutral position, creating a safety space at the base of the skull that reduces the risk of jaw impact concussions and TMJ injuries. Traditionally mouth guards just protected the upper or lower teeth, but not both. The 3XS also opens the airway in the throat 100 percent, which allows you to breathe better, which is crucial to any sport.
Brain-Pad
Tags: Brain-Pad 3XS, contact sports, football, ice hockey, mouth guard, wrestling
Posted in Equipment, Pro Sports | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 22 April 2010
Time to take down the stripper pole – 
if you actually jumped on that strange bandwagon – because the fad is over. The next big thing in faddy fitness could be “Cage Fitness,” as in the type of training down for Mixed Martial Arts. And even if you’re not about to climb into the ring and/or cage to pummel your opponent, this type of workout probably has more benefits than the pole dancing craze that swept the nation.
For one thing, would you rather be toned and fit like an “ultimate fighter” or able to swing on a pole? But in all seriousness the Cage Fitness workout, such as the one being endorsed and tested by nine-time welterweight champion Matt Hughes, replicates the actual routines that the MMA competitors regularly go through. This includes a full body, muscle toning and cardio workout, and according to those promoting this workout, can be done in about 30 minutes.
While we’ve heard that hype before, this one does work endurance, strength, power and core, and is done through five rounds that are broken into warm-up, upper body, lower body, combo round and core/cool down. The catch is that you can’t really do this at home, so look for Cage Fitness facilities to pop up, and for MMA classes to be taught at the gym soon.
But if you want to give it a test on your own, Men’s Fitness offers a routine that you can test out.
Tags: Cage Fitness, Matt Huges, Mixed Martial Art
Posted in Gym, Pro Sports | 3 Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 19 April 2010
Women's rugby player Christy Ringgenberg passes the ball.
Women are flocking to join rugby teams now that it is an Olympic sport. The United States will play this August in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. A recent New York Times article talks about college and youth teams, and how women are migrating from sports such as basketball, volleyball, and softball to the contact sport of Rugby.
Coaches have to get their teams in competitive form to play in these competitions. One men’s team in the U.K., Mike Ford, uses his laptop to view video clips and select the highlights to go over with the team rather than have players sit through playback of full games or even full plays from numerous videos. This maximizes training time giving players a chance to see the moves that work, and the ones that don’t. It also gives them more time on the field to get into condition.
Tags: Olympics, sports video replay, women's rugby
Posted in Pro Sports | No Comments »
