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Carmello Anthony scored 41 points and the Denver Nuggets used a second half comeback to give the Portland Trailblazers a rare 97-94 loss at their Rose Garden Arena home venue on Thursday night. The Blazers held a 67-62 lead heading into the final quarter but for the second time in as many games had trouble putting their opponent away. Brandon Roy led Portland with 30 points, and Greg Oden was the high rebounder for the home team with 9 boards. Portland is now 1-1 on the young NBA season, while Denver improved to 2-0.

NBA pointspread players who took Denver as +8 road underdogs enjoyed their outright victory and the ensuing payday. The Nuggets have covered the number in both of their victories this season, while Portland evened their ATS mark at 1-1. The 191 combined points went UNDER the posted total of 200. Portland has gone UNDER in both games this season while Denver evened their NBA totals mark at 1-1.

After the game, Anthony was happier about the victory than his personal offensive outburst:

“We came out here and stole the win. It wasn’t just an important win. It was a battle.”

Anthony made 7 of 9 shots from the floor and 9 of 10 free throws in the decisive fourth quarter run:

“My shots were going in. I was trying to attack. I got to the rim and the foul line.”

Portland’s Greg Oden was taking the loss hard, as he missed a couple of late game free throws that could have given the Blazers a lead:

“This is a tough one. I definitely stepped up there with confidence thinking I was going to hit both and it didn’t go that way. I put this loss on me. I need to step up and make those.”

Team leader Brandon Roy said that he’d give the Blazers’ big man a pep talk, underscoring the fact that missed shots are just part of the game:

“The biggest thing is to let go. We all miss shots, you’ve got to forget about it.”

Roy also added that the choppy pace of the game with a lot of fouls called benefitted Denver playing in back-to-back games:

“I think it benefited them a bit more coming off a back-to-back. They were tired but anytime you slow the game down that much, it gives them a chance to recover.”

The Blazers will now head to Texas for a rematch against the Houston Rockets. Portland beat the Rockets to open their NBA season. They’ll play at Oklahoma City on Sunday before returning home for a game at The Rose Garden against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. Denver will head back to ‘The Mile High City’ for a game against Memphis on Sunday before an east coast road trip with stops in Indiana and New Jersey early next week.

Tags: Arts & Entertainment by Daniel Scott
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Quarterback Tony Romo had another solid game, and the Dallas Cowboys made short work of the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon in a 38-17 victory. Romo threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, and receiver Miles Austin caught a touchdown pass for the third straight game.

The Cowboys also got on the winning side of the NFL pointspread ledger with the win and cover as -10 home favorites. Dallas is now 4-3 against the spread for the season, while Seattle fell to 2-5 versus the number. The 55 combined points scored went OVER the posted total of 46′. Dallas has gone OVER in 5 of 7 games this season and four in a row. Seattle eclipsed the total for only the third time this season.

Romo has made greater patience in the pocket a priority this season, and it’s paying dividends. Sunday’s game was his third straight without an interception and he’s stayed interception free in five games this season-more than he did all of last year. Romo couldn’t resist a joke at his own expense:

“Shock! I’m seeing things. It’s as simple as that. I’m not throwing and hoping.”

Head coach Wade Phillips expressed his pleasure, but didn’t want his team to start believing their own press clippings:

“I feel good about the progress we’ve made, but we’ve still got a ways to go.”

Team owner Jerry Jones was happy with the performance and already looking ahead to next Sunday’s game at Philadelphia:

“I’m just glad to see as many people really do as well and play as well as they did today. Philadelphia is the kind of game that I think we’re ready for. … Plus, I think we all remember so much — I know I do and so many players on this team remember — how we left Philadelphia last year.”

Seattle quarterback Todd Hasselbeck played well, amassing 249 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions but didn’t get much help from a defense that couldn’t put the necessary pressure on Romo. He sounded frustrated in his postgame comments:

“We put two weeks into this game plan. I felt like we were ready. We just didn’t get it done. …. I feel physically drained, emotionally drained. I’m frustrated. We’re all searching for answers.”

The big game for the Cowboys that Jerry Jones alluded to is next Sunday night as they travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles. The Cowboys have been installed as +3 underdogs with the total set at 47′. They’ll head to Green Bay to take on the Packers the following Sunday. Seattle will host the lowly Detroit Lions next Sunday, with the Seahawks a -10 home favorite and the total set at 43. They’ll hit the road for their next two games, facing the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings.

Tags: Arts & Entertainment by Daniel Scott
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The Dallas Cowboys are settling into their new $1.15 billion dollar home stadium, but much of the talk in the NFL preseason has been about the massive video screen hanging directly over the field of play. There’s been a bit of a controversy about the height of the video screen, with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones rebuffing suggestions that the board was hung too low.

On Friday, the NFL Rules Committee sided with Cowboys owner Jones, indicating that the board was of adequate height. It also clarified the procedure for kicks that hit the board during play.

Jones has maintained that much of the concern is due to the sheer size of the board, which was hung 90 feet off the field of play”5 feet higher than NFL mandated guidelines. Hes also suggested that Tennessee punters were intentionally trying to hit the board, requiring an effort to kick the ball almost straight up.

The NFL has ruled that if a ball hit the display during play, the clock will be reset and down will be replayed. The replay official will have the authority to review plays to determine if the board came into play during the last two minutes of a half, and the coaches will be able to challenge a play involving the video screen at other times during the game by throwing the red flag.

In a statement announcing the rules interpretation, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell commented on the situation:

“We will continue to address the particular circumstances in Dallas, giving full consideration to the competitive, safety and fan experience issues involved. The Cowboys have been fully cooperative as we have addressed this subject, and we will continue to work closely with the club on a longer term resolution.”

Cowboys owner Jones then voiced his opinion on the NFLs ruling:

“I don’t see it as ultimately an issue. You can anticipate the ball hitting the board from time to time. There’s no reason why this can’t be something for punters to deal with very similar to the way you’d deal with the wind in your face or with elements; rain, sleet or snow.”

Jones is hesitant to move the screen for, among other reasons, the huge cost of the engineering project”estimates suggest that it could cost as much as $40 million dollars to raise the screen. Former Cowboys coach Jimmie Johnson has also made his opinion known, and he’s a big fan of the massive video screen:

“If there’s anything wrong, it’s that people are going to watch the video board and not the game. It is so dominating, but I think it’s so cool. I think it’s great.”

The Cowboys play their final preseason game at the new stadium this Saturday as they host the San Francisco 49ers.

Tags: Arts & Entertainment by Daniel Scott
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Redshirt freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels threw for three touchdowns and the South Florida Bulls used a tenacious defensive effort to upset visiting West Virginia 30-19 on Friday night. Daniels threw for 232 yards and rushed for 104, compiling more yardage individually than West Virginia amassed as a team. The Bulls have had the Mountaineers’ number in recent years, and this was the third victory in four seasons for the Big East Conference upstarts. Both teams are now 6-2 on the season.

College football betting aficionados who took the Bulls as +3 home underdogs cashed their tickets with the outright victory. Despite their 6-2 record, West Virginia dropped to 2-5 against the spread in their lined games this season while South Florida evened their college football pointspread record at 3-3 in their lined contests. The 49 combined points barely managed to go OVER the posted total of 47′. Both teams have trended toward the OVER this season, with South Florida going OVER in 4 of 6 lined games and West Virginia OVER in 5 of 7.

Daniels had this rebuke for his team’s doubters after the victory:

“I guess a lot of people doubted us and thought we were going to go down the same patch we did the last two years. That was a lot of garbage that our team didn’t listen to.”

The Bulls’ defense limited West Virginia running back Noel Devine to just 42 yards-well under his 130 per game average. South Florida coach Jim Leavitt talked about his team’s priority of stopping Devine:

“We talked a lot about him. We didn’t want to let him get outside — we wanted to keep him hemmed up inside. … He’s such a great back. If he gets out, he’s gone.”

West Virginia coach Bill Stewart didn’t fault his team’s effort in the loss:

“There’s some young hurting guys in there, both physically and mentally. And they should be. That was a hard-fought game. I cannot fault our effort.”

West Virginia safety Robert Sands suggested that no one that the team had faced this season prepared them for the fast and athletic Daniels:

“We haven’t seen a guy like that this year, but at the same time that’s no excuse for our defense. We’ve still got to go out there and make plays. He broke contain too many times, and he burned us.”

South Florida will now have a bye week before playing at Rutgers on Thursday, November 12. They’ll return home to host Louisville and Miami the following two Saturdays. West Virginia will host Louisville next Saturday before playing at Cincinnati the following Friday.

Tags: Arts & Entertainment by Daniel Scott
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Making the most of their best opportunity to end their NFL worst 17 game losing streak, the St. Louis Rams took full advantage of their game against the equally dismal Detroit Lions. The Rams outplayed their host in every phase of the game and used a late fourth quarter touchdown from Steven Jackson to post a 17-10 victory.

St. Louis also got the money for NFL pointspread players, cashing tickets with the outright win as +3 road underdogs. The Rams are now 3-5 ATS on the season, while the Lions slipped to 2-5 against the number. The 27 combined points went UNDER the posted total of 43′.

Jackson said after the game that he’s learned that there’s no such thing as an ‘ugly’ win in the NFL:

“As a rookie I said, ‘That was an ugly win,’ and I got chewed out. I understand in the National Football League, there’s no such thing as an ugly win.”

It was the first NFL coaching victory for Rams’ head coach Steve Spagnuolo:

“It’s special and I know I’ll remember it for a long time.”

Rams’ kicker Josh Brown even got in on the act, throwing a 36 yard touchdown pass off a fake field goal late in the first half:

“We had watched tape and they came every single time when they were set up that way. It was ours for the taking.”

Lions’ coach Jim Schwartz was unapologetic about how his team played the field goal attempt:

“We expected them to kick. If we force a miss, we’ve got good field position to do something of our own.”

The mood of the Lions’ home fans turned ugly after the game, and Detroit center Dominic Raiola got into a shouting match with fans hurling insults at quarterback Matthew Stafford:

“I understand their frustration, I’ve been here 8 1/2 years, and I know what they’ve been through. But if you say something to one of my teammates, I’m going to stand up for him. This isn’t all on him.”

The Detroit fans can be forgiven for their surly mood-in addition to becoming the first team to go 0-16 in a NFL season, the Lions have only won 2 of their last 31 games. Since 2001, the Lions are 32-103 and their .237 winning percentage is the lowest by an NFL team during a nine-season span since the mid 1940s.

The Rams will play their next three games at home, starting next Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints play on Monday Night Football this week, and the game is currently off the board. The Lions will play at Seattle on Sunday, with Detroit a +10 road favorite and the total set at 43. They’ll head to Minnesota the following week before returning home for a November 22 game against the Cleveland Browns.

Tags: Arts & Entertainment by Daniel Scott
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Mascots have become a fixture at sporting events around the world. Many of the mascots associated with professional sports teams have even earned their own fan bases. They are as well known for their often outlandish costumes as they are for their antics. In fact the role of the mascot has evolved from a source of good luck to entertainment for sports fans.

It might seem like all fun and games to the onlooker, but it is actually hard word. A mascot spends hours moving around in a heavy costume, often with little ventilation. Naturally, mascots of sports teams have the luxury of costumes made from better quality material, which promotes better mobility. It is easy to forget that there is a person inside that perpetually smiling bear or other character. Their comfort is an important consideration when the mascot costume is being designed.

Tools for Making a Mascot Costume

Just as the role of mascots has evolved, so has the way in which the costumes are made. The majority of the changes revolve around making the mascot costume more comfortable. There are some basic tools that will be need that include:

- Pencils and paper for sketching – Heavy duty scissors – A sewing machine – Industrial strength glue – Foam and poly-fill – Needles and thread – Velcro – Sponge or fleece to use as a liner (often both are used) – A small exhaust fan to keep the costume wearer cool

This list may vary depending on the design and purpose of the mascot. Originally fiberglass was used to make the head of the mascot. No foam is the material of choice because it is cooler and lighter, and therefore makes for a much more comfortable mascot costume.

How to Make the Mascot Costume Comfortable

Two main things are done to a mascot costume to help keep the employee wearing it comfortable. These are some sort of ventilation system and cooling vests. These are especially important during the hot summer months. The ventilation system can be as simple as a small battery operated fan.

Despite all the things done to a mascot costume to keep the employee comfortable, it is also necessary to give them frequent breaks. Ideally every 30 minutes, the mascot should have a break form the expected antics. This gives the mascot a chance to cool down as well as to rest.

Another important factor in making the mascot costume comfortable is the input of the intended wearer. Aside from taking the initial measurements, the head of the costume should be tried out for comfort and ease of movement. Having the wearer present or getting exact measurements beforehand will go a long way towards ensuring an energetic mascot.

Mascots are the life of any event, but it takes work to keep people enthusiastic and excited. A comfortable mascot costume for the employee is the best way to keep the spectators entertained. It is easy to obtain tips and ideas for tailoring a custom mascots just right so you will be proud and comfortable with the end result.

Tags: Games by Chris Kiriapolous
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Executed by many users and some of the best also, Joana’s Horde Leveling Guide. Yes, it’s only for Hordes. Alliance lovers, there are other guides for you. Even newbies have an edge over some claim to be pro players just because they played for a ridiculously long time. Playing for a number of times don’t mean you’ve learned everything, it can mean you wasted a lot of time leveling up the wrong hard way too.

Joana’s horde leveling guide is no joke. Many agree that this guide is the best for all horde players. It can group together more than 1 quests to fulfill at once. Different characters will face different level of easiness.

Alliances, there’s other leveling guides for you. This is specifically made for the best of Hordes only. Leveling 1-80 is not easy if you plan to do it all by yourself, even if you had a partner it still would take you at least 3 months of hardcore playing time. In the guide, you’d be able to group up quests that make the questing goes by so much faster.

These guides are in-game mods and easy to install. It’s 100% safe with Blizzard so don’t worry about your account being banned. The guide shows tips and directions to follow throughout the leveling process. You just can’t go wrong with this.

Don’t spend your time grinding everywhere and anywhere. This guide is supposed to help you through the hardest parts and zoom through the easiest part even faster. No matter what, you have nothing to lose when using it.

Questing sometimes just mean you are completing quests. No grinding for those that hates it, a lot of people hates it but don’t know any way around it just because they want to save money, not time. Farming at low level is the worst thing you can do as it wastes time because at higher levels you get more gold for less the time trying.

Tags: Arts & Entertainment by Brian Millie
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After losing the services of starting goalie Roberto Luongo for the indefinite future with a broken rib, the Canucks may have breathed a sigh of relief too soon after backup goalie Andrew Raycroft’s performance in his first game in relief. After an excellent effort in an overtime victory over Los Angeles, Raycroft was torched for four goals in two periods before being pulled from the game. Corey Schneider, recently recalled from Manitoba of the AHL, played the third period in net giving up three more goals as Anaheim cruised to a 7-2 victory.

Anaheim has struggled to a 4-6-1 record this season, but rewarded their backers who chose to lay the -164 price as home favorites with the Ducks. The Canucks evened their record on the season at 7-7 with the loss. The 9 combined goals put on the board sailed OVER the posted total of 6.

The Ducks snapped a four game losing streak with the offensive outburst. Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan each tallied two goals and an assist in the lopsided victory. Mike Brown had the eventual game winning goal in the second period with his first career shorthanded marker, and even enforcer George Parros got in on the act with his first goal of the year. Jonas Hiller was sharp in goal for Anaheim, stopping 36 of 38 shots in the victory.

Vancouver’s problem this season has been not getting enough shots on goal and giving up too many. In the shootout victory over Los Angeles on Thursday, they were outshot 29-12 in regulation. They’d been kept in a number of games they should have lost due to the goaltending virtuosity of Luongo, and this game didn’t bode well for his absence. This was only the second time in eight games Vancouver has allowed more than two goals, a testimony to the ungodly skill of Luongo more than their defensive tenacity. They actually held a 38-34 shots on goal advantage despite the one sided tally on the big scoreboard.

Raycroft is expected to be back between the pipes for Vancouver’s next game, a Sunday home date against the Colorado Avalanche. The Canucks will host the New York Rangers on Tuesday night before a road game against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. Anaheim will play at Phoenix on Saturday night before returning to the Honda Center for the next two games. They’ll host the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

Tags: Arts & Entertainment by Daniel Scott
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Executed by many users and some of the best also, Joana’s Horde Leveling Guide. Yes, it’s only for Hordes. Alliance lovers, there are other guides for you. Even newbies have an edge over some claim to be pro players just because they played for a ridiculously long time. Playing for a number of times don’t mean you’ve learned everything, it can mean you wasted a lot of time leveling up the wrong hard way too.

Joana’s horde leveling guide is no joke. Many agree that this guide is the best for all horde players. It can group together more than 1 quests to fulfill at once. Different characters will face different level of easiness.

It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the game or played since the beta stages. It will still help you no matter what. Joana’s guide features in-game mods that will direct you exactly to what you need to do and where to go throughout the whole leveling time.

These guides are in-game mods and easy to install. It’s 100% safe with Blizzard so don’t worry about your account being banned. The guide shows tips and directions to follow throughout the leveling process. You just can’t go wrong with this.

At all times, there will be an arrow pointing to the direction that you need to go. Like that? It’s basically automated to the point that you just can’t be slow at leveling up if you follow the directions given. Now, when you are level 80, be a good role model and give a few tips if ask. Even refer someone to the Joana’s Horde Leveling Guide.

Questing sometimes just mean you are completing quests. No grinding for those that hates it, a lot of people hates it but don’t know any way around it just because they want to save money, not time. Farming at low level is the worst thing you can do as it wastes time because at higher levels you get more gold for less the time trying.

Tags: Arts & Entertainment by Bob Adam
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Bobby Hull–nicknamed The Golden Jet for his blond hair and his style of play–was the most feared goal scorer of the 60s and 70s and along with teammate Stan Mikita made the Chicago Blackhawks one of the NHLs true offensive juggernauts. He and Mikita were the first NHL players to use curved stick blades, which made his already wicked slapshot even more difficult to stop.

Hull was born and raised on a dairy farm near Belleville, Ontario. By his teenage years it was apparent that he was on a fast track to NHL stardom, and he joined the Chicago Blackhawks not long after his 18th birthday. He would finish second in the leagues rookie of the year balloting in his first season and within a couple of years would become one of the NHLs marquee superstars. By the third year in the league, he was already a fixture at the top of the goal and point scoring charts and would lead the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup championship in 1961.

In 1966, Hull broke a hallowed NHL scoring mark by becoming the first player to net more than 50 goals in a season. His 51st goal broke the record of 50 goals held by Montreal Canadien greats Bernie Boom Boom Geoffrion and Maurice Rocket Richard. Hull would go on to score 54 goals in the 1966 and would surpass that mark by scoring 58 in 1968. These numbers aren’t surprising in light of his slapshots deadly speed and accuracy–Hull’s shot was once clocked at a mind boggling 118 MPH!

Hulls tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks ended in 1972, when he jumped to the upstart World Hockey Association (WHA). Initially, Hulls response that he would jump ship for a million bucks was an offhanded joke but when the WHA ownership agreed to contribute to that sum thinking that it would provide instant credibility for the league it became a reality.

In the WHA, Hull was quickly back to his old tricks. On a line with Swedish superstars Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg called The Hot Line, he led the Jets to two league championship AVCO Cup victories. In 1977, he set a new professional hockey record with 77 goals in a season which surpassed Phil Espositos 1970-71 mark of 76 by a single goal.

Injuries and chronic knee trouble would finally spell the end to Hull’s career in the WHA’s final season of 1979-80. He would briefly attempt a comeback with the New York Rangers in 1981, but when he proved ineffective in preseason eventually retired for good.

Modern fans may be more familiar with Hulls third son, Brett Hull, who earned NHL superstar status in his own right. Like his dad, Hull was a prolific goal scorer with a scary slapshot and will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.

Hull is still in good health and splits his time between Canada and Chicago, IL. He currently serves as a PR ambassador for the Blackhawks organization. He is expected to formally induct his son into the Hall of Fame at the ceremonies later this summer.

Tags: Arts & Entertainment by Daniel Scott
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