JUNE 2012
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2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette Chevrolet, founded by a racing pioneer 100 years ago, celebrates its performance heritage with the 2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette, which features a sleek black color scheme, unique design elements and Corvette’s trademark sports car technology. The 2012 Centennial Edition package will be available on all Corvette models – including Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1 – starting this summer.
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2012 Premier Players of College Football Charitable Awards Dinner featuring
The Lee Roy Selmon & Freddie Solomon Spirit Awards
Co-Hosted By News Channel 8 Morning Anchor Rod Carter& 10 News Sports Anchor Dave Wirth
5-8 p.m. Saturday, January 19th, 2013 Embassy Suites Tampa - USF, 3705 Spectrum Blvd., Tampa, Florida, 33612
For More Information Or To Purchase Tickets Call 813-833-3495
Features & Departments
PUBLISHING CEO & PUBLISHER Carnell Moore CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Steve Wright David Coble Carnell Moore Chris DeCegli CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Carnell Moore Clarisa Rosianu For advertising information e-mail: Advertise@premierplayers.com To submit editorials & ideas e-mail: editor@premierplayers.com or visit www.premierplayers.com Write to us at: P.O. Box 341064, Tampa, FL 33694-1064 Call us at: 800-470-0250 PHOTO CREDITS Associated Press
Content Disclaimer & Use The opinions expressed in Premier Players Magazine and on Premier Players Online do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publishers and or their agents. For use of any material used in Premier Players Magazine or on Premier Players Online, please contact the publisher at 813-833-3495.
San Antonio Spurs power forward Boris Diaw (33) of France, congratulates Tony Parker (9) after Parker scored against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 2 in their NBA basketball Western Conference finals playoff series. However, the Thunder rolled in Game 3 to give the Spurs their first lost since April. See story on page 24. (Eric Gay)
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Rangers Out For Revenge
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Jeter Creates A Foundation 2 Turn 2
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Michigan & Ohio State—It’s On!
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NBA Playoffs Full of Excitement
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Expert Gives Fitness Advice
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Player’s Ink PREMIER PLAYERS 5
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Game 1 Los Angeles Kings' Anze Kopitar (11), of Slovenia, shoots the puck past New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur (30) to win the game during the overtime period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals Wednesday, May 30, 2012 in Newark, N.J. (Julio Cortez)
World Series Predictions
Texas Gets Shot At Revenge & Title By Steve Wright We are just over half way through a quarter of the MLB season and the boys of summer are beginning to hit full swing. Gone are those frigid April games in Boston and Detroit, the games where players questioned their life choices while standing in the outfield for hours doing everything possible to keep warm. Instead, we look ahead to the blazing heat and lazy weekday afternoons as we analyse some of the teams who will be in the mix when game 162 of the season rolls around. AL East Anyone who had the Orioles leading and the Red Sox propping up the AL East nearing the end of May should probably go and buy themselves a lottery ticket right about now. Baltimore has been the best story in baseball through the first 45 games, and in most other divisions they would have out some distance between themselves and the other teams. Unfortunately for the O’s they play in one of the most competitive divisions in baseball, and the combined power and experience of the Yankees (even without star closer Mariano Rivera), Red Sox, and Rays will be breathing down their neck all summer long. Prediction: Yankees AL Central There are some really bad teams in the AL Central in 2012. The Royals (who have failed yet again to be relevant after May) and Twins are both likely to be in the battle to avoid the worst record in baseball. Slightly more surprising is the slow start by the Tigers, who are really doing nothing more than treading water in the .500 range. All this has resulted in the Cleveland Indians being the surprise early pace setters in the division, with the just as surprising White Sox being the club hot on their tail. As the season plays out expect the Tigers to come good and prove too strong in this weak field, but for now Indians and Sox fans, sit back and enjoy the ride. Prediction: Tigers
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AL West It is difficult to say a division is wrapped up as we near the beginning of June, but barring a spate of injuries and loss of form, the Texas Rangers look like they are in cruise control in the AL West. The Rangers are currently the only team above .500 in the division, and are riding monster offensive numbers which see them lead the league in runs, batting average, and on base percentage. The Texas pitching staff has been just as dominant as their offensive counter parts and rank in the top three in ERA and batting average against. With Josh Hamilton lighting up the sky with bomb after bomb, and star Japanese import Yu Darvish living up to the billing, this is the team to beat in 2012. Prediction: Rangers NL East The NL East is the most balanced division in baseball through the first 45 games of the year. All five teams are above .500 in the win/loss column, and any team could ride a mid-season surge towards a division pennant. The Washington Nationals are looking to their dominant pitching staff to support an offense which has stuttered so far in 2012. The Nats rank first in a slew of pitching categories including ERA and batting average against. If they are to hold off the Mets, Marlins and hard hitting Braves, Steven Strasburg and crew will have to once again prove the old adage that pitching wins championships. I feel they will fall just short. Prediction: Braves NL Central Another central division and another slew of average to bad teams fighting it out for a division title. The Chicago Cubs have had a disastrous couple of weeks after starting out hot, and as of May 27th are riding an 11 game losing streak - the worst in the league! The Cubs join the Pirates and Brewers in a bottom half of a division which only its mother could truly love. As the season continues expect the Reds and Cardinals to continue to pull away from the mire which will be left
behind them, with Rafael Furcal and Carlos Beltran powering St. Louis into the playoffs to defend their 2011 World Series crown. Prediction: Cardinals NL West In the wild NL West race the Dodgers have jumped out to the biggest division lead in baseball through the first part of the season. The Dodgers though have relied heavily on their home form, and the fact they are only a .500 team on the road will worry manager Don Mattingly. With Colorado and San Diego looking abject on their best days, and the Diamondbacks not looking much better, the Dodgers biggest challengers
over the summer will be the San Francisco Giants. The Giants do nothing sensationally brilliant, but if they can turn around the form of ace Tim Lincecum and the rest of the pitching staff they have the arms to slowly cut into the Dodgers lead. Prediction: Giants. Overall, I see a repeat of the 2011 World Series in 2012, with the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals battling for the biggest prize in baseball. However, I do see a different outcome this year. Expect the Rangers to avenge their loss a year ago by taking the series in six.
Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton hits a ground-rule double to score Elvis Andrus in the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, May 22, 2012, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
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Hold Your Ground Missouri short stop Corrin Genovese collides with LSU catcher Morgan Russell while attempting to knock the ball loose Sunday May 27, 2012 in Columbia, Mo. LSU won the NCAA Columbia Super Regional two games to one and advanced to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Columbia Daily Tribune, Matthew Cavanah)
Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Roadster The technological highlights of the SLS AMG Roadster read like an A-B-C of modern sports car engineering: The combination of an aluminum spaceframe body, an AMG 6.3 -litre V8 front-mid engine with dry sump lubrication developing a peak output of 571 hp; a seven-speed dual clutch transmission in a transaxle arrangement; and a sports suspension with aluminum double wishbones is guaranteed to make the hearts of sports car enthusiasts beat faster.
Community
Kids Can Turn 2 Jeter For Help By Chris De Ceglie Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Derek Jeter is a supremely gifted athlete. He is an 11 time all-star player, has been the Yankees Player of the Year five times, and has won five Gold Glove Awards among countless other awards and honors. Suffice it to say, he can do things with a glove and baseball that you and I can only dream of doing. As if all of this athletic talent wasn’t enough, Jeter is truly a class act off the field as well. He started a charity organization called the Turn 2 Foundation back in 1996. The foundation is named after the double play in baseball where you would “turn two”, or get two outs, on one play. The mission of the Turn 2 Foundation is to help children and teenagers avoid alcohol addiction and drug use. The foundation motivates them with PREMIER PLAYERS 14
rewards for high academic achievements, leadership development and positive behavior. Jeter and Turn 2 are connected primarily to Tampa, New York City, and Western Michigan. Together, they have awarded more the $16 million in grants that have helped thousands of youths to stay clear of drugs and alcohol and live a healthy, more satisfying life. Now I know that for some of you, it can be difficult to support such a predominant Pinstriped player, but just leave those inhibitions aside for now. Because of Jeter’s foundation, thousands of young children’s lives have been changed for the better, and maybe one of those children will grow up to become the dominant player of your favorite team. To learn more about the Turn 2 Foundation and how you can help, visit www.turn2foundation.org.
Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer
By David Coble From 1969 to 1978 The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry was known as “The Ten Year War. Bo Schembechler was the coach at Michigan and the legendary Woody Hayes coached at Ohio State. The rivalry between the two Big Ten schools is always heated between the fans, but when the coaches get involve the rivalry goes to another level. Schembechler was an assistant of Hayes at Ohio State and Woody coached Bo at Miami University where he played tackle. Hayes would never say the “University of Michigan”, he would always say “The school up north” whenever he would refer to the Wolverines. Bo would always throw little jabs at PREMIER PLAYERS 16
Woody and the Buckeyes and the Michigan fans ate it up. Now, flash forward to the twenty-first century where the rivalry between the coaches is heating up again. Brady Hoke took over at Michigan after the 2010 season. The Wolverines struggled under head coach Rich Rodriguez and Hoke was brought in to restore the pride in the Michigan program. Hoke was an assistant at Michigan from 1995 to 2002 and he is what the Wolverines fans refer to a “Michigan Man.” Hoke led Michigan to an 11-2 season in 2011, a victory over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl and, most importantly, he led the Wolverines to a victory over the hated Ohio State Buckeyes. The last time Michigan
Michigan Coach Brady Hoke
beat Ohio State was 2003. Hoke restored Michigan to prominence by using the traditions of the Wolverines. A solid offense and aggressive defense were the keys to the resurgence. The 2011 season was a disappointment for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Before the season even started head coach Jim Tressel was let go after not reporting NCAA violations. Several key players were suspended for various lengths of the season. Interim head coach Luke Fickell was playing catch up the whole season. However, Ohio State showed flashes of brilliance but the inconsistent play that marked the 2011 season caught up to the Buckeyes and they finished with a 6-7 season.
with a 6-7 season. After last season the Buckeyes hired former University of Florida coach Urban Meyer. Meyer was an assistant at Ohio State during the 1986 and 87 seasons under Earle Bruce. Meyer has brought an aggressive approach to the Buckeyes. Before Meyer was hired at OSU, many recruiting experts stated Ohio State was heading to their worst recruiting class in many years. Meyer turned the tide in the recruiting wars. He added some of the best talent in the country to elevate the Buckeyes recruiting class to a top five finish according to many experts. Continue on next page PREMIER PLAYERS 17
Last week, Michigan recruit offensive tackle Logan Tuley-Tillman of Peoria, Ill., set fire to a letter from the Buckeyes and tweeted it for the world to see.
Meyer was too aggressive for some, especially other coaches in the Big Ten. For years there was a gentleman’s agreement that once a player committed to a Big Ten school, another Big Ten coach would honor the commitment to the other school. Meyer did not. He plucked several players off other Big Ten recruiting classes to add to his own. This left a bad taste in mouth of his fellow coaches and several voiced their displeasure. Last week, Michigan recruit offensive tackle Logan Tuley-Tillman of Peoria, Ill., set fire to a letter from the Buckeyes and tweeted it for the world to see. He is a 6-7, 321 pound, four-star prospect who is considered one of the top tackes in the nation. It was a prank among friends that quickly added sparks to this rivalry. Much like Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes, Brady Hoke and Urban Meyer have similar backgrounds. Both were born in Ohio. Both were assistant coaches at their present schools before becoming the head coach. They also were successful head coaches in the Mid-American Conference. Hoke coached at Ball State and Meyer at Bowling Green. PREMIER PLAYERS 18
So they are well versed at the history and importance of the rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan. What really sets this budding rivalry apart from Hayes and Schembechler is despite all of the barbs they threw at each other, there was a deep respect between them. Schembechler used a lot of the formulas Hayes preached to him as a player and an assistant. Hoke and Meyer do not have that bond. Hoke has referred to Ohio State as “Ohio” and Meyer has posted a picture comparing the majors of the players of both schools. The intention was to paint the Michigan players as inferior academically. This rivalry between the coaches is going to get white hot. Both are great recruiters, and the state of Ohio with its fertile talent base is going to become a fierce battleground between the coaches. Both have accumulated some top notch talent and rivalry, once in the favor of the Buckeyes, is going to be more balanced in the coming seasons. This is definitely the rivalry to watch between the coaches over the next several seasons and it has the potential to exceed the hostilities between Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler.
2013 SRT Viper
The wait is finally over. Dodge... excuse us, SRT has officially pulled the wraps off the 2013 Viper, and it's everything we were hoping it would be. With 640 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque from a front/ mid-mounted 8.4-liter V10, it’s the best power-to-weight ratio of any Viper ever built. In fact, the 2013 SRT Viper's 4.9 pounds per horsepower puts it just behind the Bugatti Veyron and Ferrari F12 and ahead of such performance stalwarts as the Lamborghini Aventador and Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
Sound Off
Clockwise from top: A Chicago Bulls fan expresses her love for the team; an Indiana Pacers fan taunts the Miami Heat during their playoff series; Dallas Mavericks fans wear wigs in support of forward Dirk Nowitzki; Oklahoma City Thunder fans make some noise for their team; and Heat fans hold up cutout heads of teammates Udonis Haslem, left, and Dwayne Wade, rear. On right page, Celtics dancers bring cheers to the fans.
THE NBA PLAYOFFS Great Teams Provide Thriller Games? By Steve Wright It has not been a good few days for basketball fans in the City of Angels. With both the Lakers and Clippers crashing out in fairly uncompetitive Western Conference Semi-Final matchups, this lockout shortened season ended with something of a whimper in the Pacific Time Zone. For the rest of the country, however, the NBA has brought back a level of excitement and dynamism which the league will look to ride into the offseason, no matter which team lifts the Finals trophy. The first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs saw the usual mixture of blowouts and competitive series as 16 teams embarked on their Finals quest. In the East the 8th seeded 76ers became only the fifth such seed in NBA history to take down a number 1 seed as they dispatched the Chicago Bulls. This upset, however, comes with a huge asterisk as the Bulls lost all-world point guard Derrick Rose to a torn ACL in the first game of the series. The other matchups in the East went to seed with the Heat, Pacers, and Celtics proving too strong for the Knicks, Magic (without Dwight Howard), and Hawks, respectively. The Western Conference saw its top two seeds progress with little difficulty as the top seeded Spurs blasted the Jazz and the second seeded Thunder blew past the defending champion Dallas Mavericks. Both series ended as 4-0 sweeps. The 3-6 and 4-5 match ups were much more competitive, with both series going to a game seven. The feisty and often controversial series between the Lakers and the Nuggets was taken by the third seeded Lakers who held Denver to 7 of 27 shooting in the 4th quarter of the decider. Meanwhile, the crosstown rival Clippers were able to ride their highlight machine Blake Griffin to an upset of the fourth seeded Memphis Grizzlies in a low scoring slate of games. The Eastern Semi Finals have been ultra competitive with nothing separating the Heat and Pacers or the Celtics and 76ers. Though Miami had all the star power, the Pacers played a brand of unselfish and team oriented basketball which gave the Boshless Heat fits. It took an all time playoff performance from PREMIER PLAYERS 24
Lebron James in Game 4, one in which he put up video game numbers (40 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists), to even the series with the nameless Indiana squad. Miami got their swagger back and went on to close out the series 4-2. In Boston, the veteran Celtics has finally got the upper hand on an upstart Sixers squad which is full of confidence after their elimination of the top seeded Bulls. Boston has been carefully managing the minutes of its aging stars through this fast-paced season, and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals would give the Garnett, Pierce, Allen group one last shot at another ring. Speaking of aging teams who are firing at the right time, the San Antonio Spurs were the only team in the Conference Semi’s to sweep their series as they eliminated the Clippers. Though the Spurs have an average age similar to most bingo groups, they are living proof that experience counts for a lot during playoff season. Would anyone be shocked if Tim Duncan and Tony Parker added to their jewelry collection at the end of this season? To win it all the Spurs will have to go through the Oklahoma City Thunder in a battle which is being dubbed the Old West vs. the New West. The Thunder are arguably the most exciting group in the league, and the whole club has developed an ethos and work ethic which is drawn from the city in which the team resides. This Thunder team has one of the best scorers in the league (Kevin Durant), one of the best passers in the league (Russell Westbrook), and one of the best beards in the league (James Harden). Whichever team wins the west will likely be favored to win the NBA crown. I think the Thunder will win the West while Miami will do enough to prove the class of the East. Therefore, my Finals prediction is Thunder over Heat in 6.
Miami Heat's LeBron James (pictured right) during Game 4 of their NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, May 20th, in Indianapolis. Miami won the series 4-2. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Above, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu stretches during NFL football practice. Bottom right, Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III perform stretching exercises with teammate Devon Brown. (Keith Srakocic)
Expert advice on how to & how not to stretch By Michael Esco, PhD, HFS, CSCS*D Here are seven suggestions to keep in mind when you start a stretching routine: 1. There is a difference between flexibility and stretching. Flexibility refers to the range of motion for a given joint. The degree of flexibility that a person has is influenced by muscles and connective tissues, like ligaments and tendons. Stretching is a form of exercise that can lead to an increase in flexibility. 2. The optimal amount of flexibility is different for everyone. Unless a joint is hurt, limited range of motion may be due to tight or stiff muscles. This is linked to injuries, chronic pain, and poor posture. If your muscles are too tight, then you might need to stretch. However, being too flexible may not be good, either. Muscles that are too loose may be weak. This could cause joint instability and dislocation. If you are overly flexible, then you may need to strengthen your muscles and joints with resistance training. The appropriate amount of flexibility that you need is PREMIER PLAYERS 26
specific to the primary movements of your daily life or sport. 3. Perform static stretching at the right time. Static stretching involves slowly stretching a muscle to its end position and holding it for a short period of time, usually 10-30 seconds. This is the most common form of stretching and is most often done to warm up for exercise -- but that is a big mistake. Don't bend down and touch your toes to stretch your legs before running. Don't hold your hands together behind the back to stretch the chest before you bench press. Static stretching is not recommended for warming up. It can actually hurt your performance and make injury more likely if you do it right before exercise. Why? Think of it this way: Rubber bands and muscles are similar in that they both have elastic properties. A rubber band that's too stretchy cannot be pulled back quickly enough to provide a strong "pop." Likewise, an overly elastic muscle has to work harder to generate the appropriate level of power.
Most of the recent research suggests that static stretching right before playing a sport or exercising can impair performance, such as reducing jumping height, lowering muscular strength and power, and slowing sprint time. Static stretching is not bad. As a matter of fact, it can be the safest and most effective form of stretching. It just simply should not be done as a warm-up. That's why I (and many other experts) suggest that you save static stretching for a cool-down activity, after you're done exercising, or as the main point of your workout (after you have warmed up). During this time, the muscles are warm, more elastic, and less likely to become injured. Never statically stretch a cold muscle. Cold muscles are more likely to tear when stretched improperly. Be sure to warm-up with active, dynamic movement -- next, I'll tell you how. 4. Use dynamic movement as a warm-up for exercise. The best way to warm up for exercise is to perform low-intensity, dynamic movement that is similar to the main type of activity that you will perform. Here are three examples: A. You're going to jog three miles. First, do some dynamic movement to warm up: slowly walk, gradually speeding up for about five minutes. B. You're about to do a set of bench presses. First, bench press a much lighter load -- one that is about 50% to 70% lighter than what you're planning to lift later. Do 2-3 sets of those light bench presses (10-15 repetitions per set).
the point of pain, because it could do serious damage: tearing a muscle, spraining a ligament, or dislocating a joint. Only stretch a muscle to a comfortable point and hold for about 15 seconds or so. 6. Don't bounce. This is a common mistake that I see beginners make with stretching. A ballistic stretch uses vigorous momentum, such as rocking a body part back and forth to create a "bouncing" motion. This may make it harder to control the force and range of motion -- a recipe for disaster. Ballistic, or bouncing-style stretching is not recommended for most people, especially if you are a beginner or recovering from an injury. 7. Fact-check your technique. Follow research-supported recommendations or seek help from a qualified professional for your routine. A general stretching program should follow the guidelines set forth by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The ACSM recommends at least two to three days per week of stretching activities. After properly warming up with dynamic activity (e.g., walking), static stretches should be held for 10 to 30 seconds per repetition with approximately four repetitions per muscle group. Do multiple stretches of your major muscle groups. Remember, everyone is different, and so are their flexibility and stretching needs. So don't compare yourself to anyone else.
C. You're going to stretch your leg muscles. First, do some high knee marches and walking lunges to warm up those muscles. Movements such as arm circles, jumping jacks, and rope skipping are other good dynamic choices for warming up. Low-intensity activity will gradually raise your heart rate and increase blood flow to the muscles. It will also slowly warm up your body's temperature, so you may even break a little sweat. 5. Don't overstretch. It is true that you must stretch and hold a muscle beyond its normal length to improve flexibility. However, you should not stretch to PREMIER PLAYERS 27
Player’s Ink
The tattoo on Michael Beasley's leg, pictured during a charity basketball invitational game in Oklahoma City, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, reads "Born 2 Lose Built 2 Win". The game was the latest in a series of exhibition games across the country as NBA players stay in the spotlight while locked out by the league. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) PREMIER PLAYERS 42
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