In 1999, after creating Broadcast.com to show live games and events over the internet for avid sports fans like himself (he was still following his alma mater), he sold the site to Yahoo! for $5.7 billion. Having completed this deal, Cuban made the decision to delve into basketball, one of his first loves, and purchased the Dallas Mavericks for $285 million from Ross Perot Jr. and company. The sale was finalized in February of 2000.

Since, he’s been a very controversial figure in basketball, having paid over one million dollars in fines for opening his mouth and allowing unnecessarily negative words to fly, especially directed at game officials. In 2005, Cuban announced an interest in purchasing the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues and Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates. He is also the owner of HDNet, the first high-definition satellite network (2003).

In 2004, he worked with ABC to produce a reality television series called The Benefactor, with 16 contestants playing games and participating in contests to compete for $1 million. However, the six-episode series was cancelled prior to all the episodes airing. Another claim to fame is Cuban’s listing in the Guinness Book of World Records - he is credited with the largest e-commerce transaction, having paid $40 million for his Gulfstream V jet in October of 1999.

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Chess is a very old game that pits two simulated “armies”, evenly matched, across a simple terrain. Each game is a fierce combat fought by foot soldiers, knights, kings, and queens. Although Chess does not deal with numbers and equations, it is like math in many ways. Playing chess has always involved problem-solving skills, which are imperative when working out math equations that have many steps. However, unlike math, the ultimate aim in a Chess game is to vanquish the opponent by “killing” the opposing King. Chess is one of the most popular board games in the world, and possibly the most time-consuming. Truly, life’s too short for chess, and because players spend hours staring at the Chess Board, it is small wonder they are willing to invest large sums of money for purchasing intricately carved, stylish wood chess sets.

Chess can be easily played anywhere. For just a few extra dollars, you can purchase beautiful wood chess sets that enhance your gaming experience. Many varieties of wood are used to make wood chess sets. The traditional or commonly used woods are Golden Rosewood and Boxwood. Some of the more exotic woods include Ebony, Red Sandalwood, and Rosewood. The riches of wood chess sets seem to be inexhaustible. Many chess aficionados prefer wood chess sets because of the elegant feel and natural look of the units. It is indeed astonishing that even after centuries of analysis, Chess poses us with ever new and ever more profound questions.

Although Chess is the fairest of games, the rules of chess do not keep score of accumulated interim results. A player can build up a sizeable advantage over his opponent and keep it during most stages of the contest. But a few seconds lack of attention can squander all his hard work. In chess no one counts advantages, only the ultimate result matters. There is a well-known saying among chess players: “You learn more from the games that you lose than from the games you win.” Of course, to learn from your lost games you must have the strength to face up to them rather than trying to forget that they ever happened.

Chess is so popular that there are actual chess tournements that happen all around the world. These tournements challenge even the best chess players. There is usually a monetary award given to the winners. These awards range from small financial rewards and go as high asa you can imagine.

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Staying Power - The Mystery Uncovered

With the start of the summer boating season about to kickoff, now is a good time to check your marine batteries. When planning a day on the water with friends and family the last thing you need is a dead battery. Let’s start by taking a little of the mystery out of your marine batteries. I will explain the different types of batteries available today and describe why some batteries will outperform others with respect to cranking power, reserve capacity, and service life.

There are three basic types of 12 volt batteries used today for marine applications. They are the flooded battery, the gel battery, and most recently the AGM battery, (which stands for absorbed glass mat). All of these batteries are constructed of lead and acid and measure a full charge at 12.85 volts, they can be divided into starting and deep-cycle, but the similarities end there. While we’re on the subject of “marine” batteries, keep in mind that the term marine is used as a marketing tool and has no technical merit.

Batteries stop working primarily because of internal failure. Corrosion on the positive grid, connecting straps, and lead plates within the battery cause them to die. Batteries also fail from improper maintenance, shock and vibration, and letting them run down to 100% depth of discharge, where many batteries cannot recover.

Almost all batteries are constructed with recycled lead and hardeners such as antimony or calcium in the manufacturing process. Using recycled lead, which contain impurities, and calcium or antimony is very cost effective for manufacturers, but this significantly contributes to internal corrosion and rapid battery failure. A battery built with pure lead and no impurities will significantly outlast one that uses recycled lead or adds calcium.

So, what shortens the service life? One commonality is that batteries that utilize impurities in the manufacturing process such as recycled lead will not last as long as batteries using pure lead with no impurities. A typical battery sold today lasts about two years. As I mentioned, batteries are designed for starting or deep cycling, few do both. If a starting battery is used for deep cycle applications, it will not be able to recover from those deep discharges, and will fail in a short period of time. Many deep cycle batteries cannot produce the amperage required for starting or do not have internal connecting straps that are capable of handling this high current generated during starting, and will also fail prematurely.

A flooded battery not maintained, filled using tap water, or just left with low water will fail relatively quickly. These “wet” batteries vent and leaks acid causing corrosion on the terminals which will lead to electrical issues on and around the battery with respect to wires and connections. This can cause electrical problems, but more importantly may produce explosive concentrations of hydrogen gas.

Gel batteries are maintenance free, but still vent gasses at one to two psi. and cause corrosion on the terminals and surrounding areas. A Gel battery requires the greatest care when recharghing. If charged at over 14.3 volts, the silica actually separates out of the gel, settles to the bottom of the battery and leads to failure. Also, if deeply discharged, care must be given to the amount of current (amperage) used in charging the gel type battery to prevent explosion hazards. Furthermore, if mounted in any position other than vertical, a gel battery will expose lead plates and perform at less than a 100% from day one. For these reasons they are becoming a less popular choice for the marine industry.

AGM batteries are becoming more and more popular. They excel because most are better equipped to handle shock and vibration, and will typically give you several years of maintenance free service. Unfortunately, most AGM batteries vent at 1-2 PSI causing them to corrode surrounding electronics similar to the Gel batteries. Almost all AGM’s today use recycled lead shortening their service life. They are typically more sensitive to charging than a flooded batteries, however they are less sensitive than a gel. There are many AGM’s on the market but don’t just go out and buy an AGM battery and think you have the best. You may have been better off saving that additional money you just spent and bought that 100 year old technology found in a new flooded battery.

The Odyssey Battery however is an AGM battery that is very unique and technologically advanced. It was designed to meet the demanding needs of the US Military with respect to heat, cold, shock and vibration, and to last much longer than other batteries. It is currently used in tanks, fighter jets, battle ships, and many other military applications. On top of this it delivers higher cranking power while also being the best deep cycle battery available (two to three times the cranking amperage of other similar sized batteries and the ability to be drawn down to 100% over 400 times). Other attributes include the ability to sit dormant for up to two years and still hold enough charge to start the motor it was intended for. This is very important because we often don’t get to use our boats as much as we would like during the season. The Odyssey battery actually lasts up to 6-10 years which is attributed to it being manufactured with 99.9% pure virgin lead. The US Coast Guard has 500 batteries in 50 Bollinger 87 foot protector class cutters since 1998 without a single failure to date. On top of all this, it is maintenance free and will not vent during normal operation due to its patented technology to reuse its internal gasses. It is also the only battery to claim an explosion proof design.

Charging the Odyssey battery is similar to a flooded battery. It is not sensitive to charging like other AGM’s and the Gel batteries. In fact, the Odyssey battery has no restrictions on the inrush of current and will recharge in one third the time of a conventional battery. This allows the battery to be utilized with traditional flooded chargers and typically does not require replacing your current charger in many applications. Most marine three stage chargers available today work very well for charging the AGM batteries.

The time to replace your batteries is when the capacity is degraded to a noticeable point. If your battery seems to not hold a charge as long, or if it does not support your needs fully, it is probably time to replace them. The rule of thumb when replacing batteries is to replace all batteries in the bank at the same time and to use batteries of the same type.

With the demands placed on batteries today by the marine community, I believe the best available product today for marine applications is the Odyssey battery. It lasts three times longer than other batteries, delivers significantly more cranking amperage, has rapid charging features, and can deep cycle better than any other product on the market. Of course, it is maintenance free, does not vent, was designed for extreme shock and vibration, (like in a boat), and can sit for extended periods maintaining a charge. Finally, the spill proof design of the Odyssey battery allows it to be installed on its sides at any
angle without sacrificing performance attributes. There is also no fear of any acid spillage as Odyssey recycles the internal gas during operation or charging.

Odyssey batteries are now becoming popular with many boat manufactures as standard original equipment. Companies installing Odyssey products today are Sea Vee, Donzi Yachts by Roscioli, Lake and Bay Boats, and Trinity Yachts to name a few. Two other local South Florida companies that make their living towing and assisting vessels use Odyssey products as well. Tow Boat U.S. and Cape Ann Towing have begun installing Odyssey batteries in their fleets. With the commercial demands of towing vessels and changing sea conditions, “Odyssey batteries present the best return on investment for us,” said Captain John “Barney” Hauf of Tow Boat U.S.

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There is a beautiful archery range nestled in a small canyon inside San Diego’s
Balboa Park. I have enjoyed shooting my bow there on a regular basis for several
years now, and I have had a chance to observe many archers of various styles of
shooting as they prepare themselves physically for a round. Typically, this
preparation involves a few windmills with their arms, maybe a couple of stretches,
and then they begin firing away at the practice bales. Sometimes there is no warm-
up whatsoever. Many archers simply draw their bow a few times. To be honest, it’s
hard for me to watch. It hurts my elbows and shoulders just thinking about drawing
my bow without a proper warm-up. An adequate warm-up is critically important in
the prevention of injuries, and it may even be a factor in your success as an accurate
shooter.

Before every round I spend a few minutes performing a series of simple movements
in order to be properly warm and ready to effectively shoot my bow. Occasionally I’ll
get a few funny glances, and sometimes people politely ask me questions like: How
long does your warm-up take? Or, does it help you to shoot better? I answer these
questions by saying that it only takes me five or six minutes to warm-up and yes, I
think that a proper warm-up helps me to perform better, especially at the beginning
of my round or practice session. Occasionally, during conversations with other
archers, I hear about the injuries many of them are struggling withmost of which
involve the shoulder and elbow joints. It is my experience that most of these minor
injuries can be traced back to an improper or insufficient warm-up.

The central purpose of warming up your body before shooting your bow is to speed
up your heart rate, raise your core body temperature, increase suppleness of the
muscles and joints, and stimulate blood flow throughout your body. This in turn will
help prevent injuries and may even boost performance. It also signals to your body
that it is time to perform. This will help focus your mind on the task in front of you.
During your warm-up period is the perfect time to be thinking about your shot
routine as well as your goals for the round. I am a strong believer in goal setting
and am convinced of its power to drive superior performance. A proper warm-up
routine, where you’re preparing both your body and your mind, will help you
perform at your best. Furthermore, you can be sure that you will be prepared to
place your first arrow on target.

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Being a coach is easy. But being a good coach is another matter entirely. This job requires showing a lot of certain psychological characteristics. If a coach is to succeed, he simply has to show the following traits:

1.Knows the discipline he’s coaching
It’s trivial, but the coach has to know ins and outs of the discipline - the rules, the history, the tactics etc. Without it they won’t be able to do their job properly and will probably quickly lose face when they start making mistakes.

2. Motivates the players
This is probably the single most important trait of a good coach. Without proper motivation, everything comes apart. Remember that a coach will need to lead a team of individuals, everyone with different personal goals. The coach’s job is give the players enough motivation to make them start doing things as good as they are able to, and turn their attention from their private matters to the pitch.

3. Talks only when it gets results
A good coach will never speak without a good cause. If they talk too much, they will never actually be listened, so a coach is a person who should talk only when necessary - this will give their words an extra weigh.

4. Is able to listen
Being calmer than usual means also that a coach should be a good listener. If they are to become a good coach, they need to become a surrogate father or mother for their team and listening is the single most important trait that can make it possible.

5. Knows their team
Another important matter is knowing one’s team. And it is not only about matching their numbers with the names. A good coach knows everything - both about professional and private life of their players.

6. Treats everyone individually
While (or because) a good coach should know everybody and do their best to hold the place together, it is necessary to treat every player individually. Yelling works only on some of them, the same story is with talking seriously. Using the same method to get everyone do what you say will surely end in breaking some of your players to pieces.

7. Leads by example
The last, but not least: a good coach do themselves everything he will ask others to do. They always set an example - they are first on the trainings and perform every single exercise they order other to do.

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