Category: Sports

South Korea Grand Prix Is ON!

Posted by admin – October 13, 2010


The Formula 1 season is about to end, but it was not until yesterday that we actually got confirmation that the South Korea Grand Prix will go ahead as many have been anticipating. The Korean International Circuit announced on October 12 that the track has passed all necessary inspections and that this particular leg will actually happen. Enthusiasts will witness another historical moment in F1 on the 24th of October, when the Korean GP will be held.

The track is located at Jeollanam-do in South Korea’s Sampo District and is comprised of two courses. One is a 5.615 kilometer international race circuit which is actually partly a street circuit. The other is 3.045 kilometer track, which is permanent. The designer of the circuit is Hermann Tilke, who incorporated many traditional Korean design elements. This track can accommodate 130,000 people, with 60,000 fitting in the main grandstand.

This year’s Korean Grand Prix is going to be the first in the country and is definitely something to look forward to!

Singapore Grand Prix 2010

Posted by admin – September 27, 2010

Formula 1 racing has had a long and winding history, but the year 2008 marked one of the most important events, when the first ever night race was held in Singapore. The Singapore GP is held at the Marina Bay Circuit, which is actually the streets of Singapore. Fernando Alonso, then driving for Renault, won the first night race.

This year marks the third Singapore Grand Prix, and as usual, countless fans flocked to the city/country of Singapore to witness this one of a kind event. Sponsored mainly by SingTel, the nation’s primary mobile carrier, the race was an astounding success with the following drivers going up to the podium at the end of the race:

  1. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
  2. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
  3. Mark Webber (Red Bull)

Favorite Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) was taken out of the running when he crashed towards the latter part of the race.  There are four more legs left for this year’s F1 season, with the competition getting even tighter.

What Is a Sports Manager?

Posted by admin – June 9, 2010


Is a sports manager the same as a sports agent? Aside from the terminology, are there any differences? Actually, yes. A sports agent deals mostly with contracts while a sports manager has to take on a wider perspective. A sports manager works with a player, or a team of players, so that their overall career will flourish.

This entails many things. The duties of a sports manager include looking at the training options and programs. He also needs to keep close tabs on the players in the team, their performance, etc. You can think about a sports manager as having to deal with things directly related to the sport. As such, the sports manager is required to have excellent people skills as well as knowledge about the sport. More than that, the sports manager needs to make sure he is updated on the trends and developments in the specific field.

Is there a specific degree that you need to obtain in order to become a sports manager? Usually, a degree in Business Administration or Management is required.

Types of Sports Commentators

Posted by admin – May 5, 2010


Watching sporting events will not be the same without sports commentators. We may get irritated now and then with some sports commentators, but they do add something to the experience. Indeed, I have heard many an individual state that he wants to be a sports commentator.

There are two kinds of sports commentators. One is the play-by-play commentator, which is actually an announcer. What he does is basically report what is going on in the game. Important traits of a play-by-play commentator are articulateness and the ability to describe the events in a fast-changing game.

The other kind of sports commentator is the color commentator. A color commentator is different from a play-by-play commentator in that the former needs to be able to provide more than a report. A color commentator is expected to be able to give additional insight and analyze the goings on in the game.

If you are looking at being a sports commentator, you might want to take a closer look at these two types and decide on which one you want to focus on.

What Are the Roles of a Sports Coach?

Posted by admin – April 10, 2010


So you’ve just watched Any Given Sunday, and you are now feeling so inspired that you want to be a coach “when you grow up.” But do you know exactly what being a sports coach entails?

Being a coach, whether to a team or to an individual, will require a lot from you. You will play not one, but many roles. Here are some of the roles that you will need to play as a sports coach.

Adviser. You will need to advise your player/s on a wide variety of subjects. From different aspects of their game to picking out the right equipment, you will have to be ready to provide this service.

Assessor. As a coach, you will also have to assess your player/s on their performance. You have to be able to provide constructive criticism and offer tips for improvement.

Friend. Coaches are NOT the enemy. They can push their player/s but they also have to be there as a friend at times.

Motivator. As a coach and friend, you have to be able to motivate your player/s to do their best and even go beyond their limits.

Over and above all these roles, you will be a mentor to your player/s.

How to Become a Sports Agent

Posted by admin – December 10, 2009

So you want to be a real life Jerry Maguire? Well maybe you don’t want to go through the difficult parts of his life, but for sure, you were inspired by the good parts. How does one get started on being a sports agent anyway?

First, you must have a four-year degree. Most of the time, the nature of the degree is not specified, but something business-related is always a plus. In any case, any degree should work. You ought to know, though, that there are now educational institutions offering sports management courses. These are geared specifically to meet the needs of those who are planning on having a career in the area.

Second, you must have excellent networking and people skills. Remember that a sports agent must deal with others on behalf of his or her client. This requires being really good at handling people and closing deals.

Third, you need to have knowledge of accounting, tax filing, and the like. You do not have to be an expert at the outset, but you will certainly be using this knowledge as a sports agent.

What is a Sports Agent?

Posted by admin – October 4, 2009


Jerry Maguire made it to the top of our list of best sports movies ever and for good reason. It is also the movie that puts sports agents in the limelight, but do you know exactly what a sports agent does? Maybe you do, and you actually want to be one. Just to make things absolutely clear, let us take a look at what sports agents do for a living.

A sports agent basically acts in behalf of an athlete. He or she is responsible for acquiring and negotiating contracts for the athlete, so the sports agent deals with team managers and the like. He or she is also responsible for dealing with other business matters of the player, such as sponsorships, endorsements, and the like.

How much does a sports agent earn? It really depends on the agreement between the agent and the athlete, but the general rate goes anywhere from 4 to 10 per cent of the value of the contract or endorsement. For huge names, one can easily see how lucrative being a sports agent can be. In the next post, let’s take a look at how you can get started at being a sports agent.

Jai Alai: The Fastest Sport in the World

Posted by admin – July 14, 2009

Jai Alai will not make it to the top of the popular sports list, but it certainly is one of the longest enduring and interesting sports there is. It is sometimes referred to as Basque Pelota, although Jai Alai is technically a variation of the former.

The game is played by swinging a small (but hard) ball towards a wall using a basket held in one hand. The ball can go at really high speeds, up to 188 miles per hour. The Jai Alai court actually has three walls – front, back, and left. The game can be played by teams of two players or by individual players. Game play is usually round robin style, with the winner being the team that reaches 7 or 9 points (depending on the specific game rules) first wins.

Jai Alai has also gained the reputation of being a gambling sport, not only in the United States, but all over the world as well. In fact, in some places, even players can place bets on themselves.

Athlete in Focus: Roger Federer

Posted by admin – May 22, 2009


Tennis being the popular individual sport it is, there are a LOT of professional players that have caught the attention of fans all over the world. There wouldn’t be enough time or space to feature all of them, so I have decided on taking a look at one of my favorites: Roger Federer.

Born in August 8, 1981, this Swiss tennis player held the number one seed position for 237 consecutive weeks and 285 weeks in total – an amazing feat! Truth be told, this isn’t the best record (this is held by Pete Sampras), but Federer is only one week short of the best. Indeed, if you ask tennis experts, analysts, and critics, the majority of them will probably answer that Federer is the greatest tennis player of all time. He has also held other records such as winning 16 Grand Slam singles titles and reaching 1- consecutive Grand Slam finals.

As with many other sports figures, Roger Federer has been given many a nickname, some of which are Federer Express and the Swiss Maestro.

The World’s Most Popular Individual Sport: Tennis

Posted by admin – December 1, 2008

After looking at some of the world’s most popular team sports, let us now highlight the most popular individual sport in the world: tennis. Some people might argue this statement, but statistics will show that tennis is indeed at the top of the list.

Tennis began in the United Kingdom around the early 19th century, and back then, it was called lawn tennis. Back then, the court was typically like a lawn – covered with grass; hence the name. Since its inception, however, tennis has evolved and court surfaces now can be clay or even concrete.

In the old times, tennis used to be a game for the upper class. Today, just like any other sport, tennis can be played by anyone who wants to do so. All that you need is a racket and a ball, and of course, a court to play in.

There are many tournaments held around the world, some of the most popular are Wimbledon, Australian Open, and the Davis Cup.