Rangers Unusually Quiet This Offseason

Coming off a disappointing finish to the 2012 season, fans with Texas Rangers tickets were clamoring to see the team make some big moves this offseason. However, while the Rangers have been involved with several of the big names this winter, GM Jon Daniels has not been able to land those targets. In fact, the biggest news for Texas this offseason was former MVP Josh Hamilton signing with the AL West rival Angels, who gave the slugger a five-year, $125 million contract to lure him away from the Rangers. Texas also could not outbid the Dodgers for pitcher Zach Greinke, leaving the team still searching for starting pitching options. The Rangers have also been heavily linked with Arizona OF Justin Upton in trade talks, but so far the two teams have not been able to work out a deal centered around the 25-year old slugger. With both the trade and free agent market drying up, Texas’ options for the rest of the offseason are pretty limited.

However, the Rangers have made several minor moves this offseason that should help them going forward. In desperate need for catching after Mike Napoli left for Boston, Texas reached a one-year deal with former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who is coming off the best season of his career. While the 36-year old probably does not have too many years left, he should be a solid short-term solution for the Rangers, especially because he gives the club another left-handed bat with some power. The Rangers other important move this offseason was signing former Royals closer Joakim Soria to add more depth to the bullpen. Soria, who did not play in 2012 after having Tommy John surgery, should be fully recovered sometime in the first half of the season, and he should form an impressive duo with closer Joe Nathan late in games. There is still plenty of time left before the season starts to make additional moves, and Daniels always seems to have a few tricks up his sleeve. It just has not been the big offseason that Rangers fans were expecting just weeks ago.

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Feed The Soul House Of Blues Style While In Vegas

Las Vegas is a prime vacation and weekend getaway location. Packed full of gambling fun, bright lights and an atmosphere for adult fun, this hotspot gets its fair share of visitors every year. One of the hottest attractions in this city is the House of Blues Las Vegas, a visit to this hip attraction is a definite must do while in Vegas.

Open from 8 am till 11:00 pm during weekdays and till midnight during the weekends, the House of Blues serves up an exquisite dining opportunity whether seeking breakfast, lunch or dinner. The food is absolutely pleasing to the palette, served hot and fresh, a meal here is definitely unforgettable. The menu is created by none other than the celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez, who is renowned for creating delectable meals that please even the pickiest of palettes.

The Paramount Theatre History In A Nutshell

Paramount Pictures has been making movies since the early 20th century. As showcases for their work in motion pictures, many movie theaters started to pop up around the United States, notably the ParamountTheatre in Illinois.

Alabama DC Smart Lives Up to Name

Alabama head coach Nick Saban is generally regarded as the architect of the ferocious defense that has led the Crimson Tide back to the BCS Championship Game. However, defensive coordinator Kirby Smart’s influence on the unit is just as important. The soon-to-be 37 year old Smart is one of the brightest defensive minds in the college ranks, and has the Tide poised to capture their third national title in the last four seasons. The Crimson Tide defense has been a machine since Smart took over DC duties in 2008. Since that season, Alabama has finished in the top five nationally in total defense every year, an incredibly difficult task with the constant turnover the team has faced year after year.

Information About Merriweather Post Pavilion

Do you like to going to music concerts?  If so and if you live in on the east coast, one of the most popular venues to go to for a great concert is the MerriweatherPost Pavilion. 

The Merriweather Post Pavilion was designed by Frank Gehry and opened in 1967.  It is considered one of the most celebrated amphitheaters on the east coast.  It was voted as one of the best venues in the United States by Billboard magazine in 2010 and considered to be one of the best venues of all time because of its rich music legend history.

Alabama’s Jones Excels with Smarts, Toughness

Alabama has had numerous players step up and play key roles in the team’s drive back to the BCS, but few have been as crucial to their success this season as center Barrett Jones. The heart and soul of the offensive line, Jones was recently awarded the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is commonly referred to as the “Academic Heisman”. The award is given to a player based on his academic achievements, community service and contributions on the field, which speaks volumes about Jones ability as not only a football player, but as a student and leader as well. He is one of the most decorated student athletes in the history of not only Alabama, but the entire Southeastern Conference. He is the first four-time Academic All-American in the history of Alabama football, has already earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting, and will soon complete his masters in accountancy as well. While he certainly has a long career in the NFL ahead of him, he would be very successful even if he was not one of the best offensive linemen in the country.

His intelligence has also helped him become one of the most versatile offensive linemen in the history of college football. After starting at right guard for two seasons, earning some All-America recognition during that time, Jones moved to the all-important left tackle position for his junior year. He went on to win the Jacobs Trophy as the top offensive lineman in the SEC, and also won the Outland Trophy as the top interior lineman in the country. With the loss of center Williams Vlachos this past season, Jones was asked to move to center in order to make room for ultra-talented Cyrus Kouandjio at left tackle. Jones responded with another All-America season, helping pave the way for the Crimson Tide’s devastating running game. Jones’ value to the team is immense, and one of the biggest reasons why the Crimson Tide will play for their third national title in four years on January 7th.

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Facts About The San Manuel Amphitheater

The San Manuel Amphitheater has undergone various name changes since its creation. It was formerly known as the Blockbuster Pavilion, the Glen Helen Pavilion and the Hyundai Pavilion. What has not changed over the years, however, is its ability to provide individuals, couples, music fans, families and friends, with memorable concert experiences, fun festivals, and world-class music.

The Peoria Civic Center Is An Amazing Venue

The Peoria Civic Center is located in Central Illinois. It features many wonderful attractions, such as sports events, concerts, and plays. The Bradley University's men's basketball team and the Rivermen hockey team of Peoria call the Civic Center their home for their games. The theater that is part of the Civic Center is home to the Peoria Ballet and Peoria Symphony Orchestra. Other events that commonly are held there are weddings, banquets, meetings, and conventions.

Chesapeake Energy Arena Oklahoma City

The Chesapeake Energy Arena, originally known as the Ford Center, is a multipurpose sports and entertainment arena located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The indoor arena is currently home to the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, but also used to house the Central Hockey League's Oklahoman City Blazers as well as the Yard Dawgz arena football team. Additionally, following Hurricane Katrina's damaging effect on the City of New Orleans, LA, the New Orleans Hornets used the arena during their 2005-2006 basketball season.

The History Of The Smith Center

The Smith Center is a performing arts center in Las Vegas, Nevada, that was founded with the idea that Vegas should be able to take part in the international arts scene. The founders wanted to compete with the established centers in places like San Francisco and New York City. Performing arts of all types were considered, including singing, dancing, musical performances, and much more. The center's goal ever since has been to attract the very best in each of these arenas. 

The Smith Center has also acted as a hub for culture in the community. The large crowd that it draws is composed of people from the local neighborhoods and from the rest of the country and the world, but the local emphasis is very clear and strong. History has shown that the arts can make a community close and vibrant, and the center has provided these qualities. It only opened in 2012, but it has already been appreciated as a public building because it gives those who admire the arts a way to see the most talented acts without having to leave Las Vegas.

With acts like Doc Severinsen & The San Miguel Five and Bryan Adams on the schedule, the future of the Smith Center looks to be very bright indeed. It is a state-of-the-art facility, which enables it to attract high-class talent even though it does not have the years' of established history of other centers. It promises to be a culture landmark for decades to come.

To learn more about The Smith Center, and upcoming events, continue reading here!

Broncos Prep for Critical Two-Game Stretch

Nothing could make fans with Broncos tickets happier than witnessing Denver dismantle archrival Oakland at home in Week Four, and QB Peyton Manning introduced himself into the rivalry with his most successful game as a Bronco. The four time MVP passed for 338 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, and spread the ball around to eight different receivers on the day. The defense was also fantastic against the Raiders, limiting them to 237 total yards. With a 2-2 record through September, Denver is still primed to make a postseason run.

The Broncos now face the most difficult portion of their schedule, as they have to go on the road to face both the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers in consecutive weeks before their bye in Week Seven. The game in New England will mark the first time the two teams have met since the postseason last year, when the Pats dismantled the Broncos 45-10. It also marks the 13th meeting between Manning and Patriots’ QB Tom Brady, as the two have had a number of epic duels throughout their careers. Brady has gotten the best of Manning more often than not, but the Broncos are much improved from a season ago, while New England has had a number of struggles in 2012. This game could also be a preview of a playoff matchup in a couple months, so it is an important one for the Broncos to focus on. While the game in New England carries a lot of meaning, the game against the Chargers is even more crucial because it is a matchup of the best two teams in the AFC West. The Chargers have raced out to a 3-1 record through the first month of the season, including victories over divisional foes Oakland and Kansas City, and appear to be the team that the Broncos have to worry about in the division. A loss to the Chargers could leave the Broncos several games back in the standings, which would be more difficult to make up later in the season. Manning and Co. should be more than ready for their visit to San Diego, and expect the team to put their best effort into taking down the Chargers in Week Six.

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Pueblo And The Colorado State Fair Continue To Enrich The State

Pueblo, Colorado was once a humble trading post.  Its name is derived from a structure that a trapper and trader erected, known as El Pueblo.  El Pueblo's construction in 1842 seems to be a foreshadowing of an annual tradition that is more than 140 years strong and still going. The Colorado State Fair has brought trade, people, culture and entertainment to the city of Pueblo just as the town's historic structure and namesake did, 30 years prior to the Fair's start.

Starting the 3rd Thursday of September and running until the 1st Sunday in August since 1872 the Colorado State fair brings an added flavor to the city of Pueblo, Colorado's vibrant cultural prospects.  Just as many state fairs in the United States are deeply rooted in agriculture, so to Colorado's.  Rodeo and livestock shows are staples of the fair as well as other agricultural happening. Music, arts, and crafts are exhibited during the fairs run representing and displaying both local and world artists. The rides and smells of the midway only make the entertainment factor of the fair the more enjoyable.

The Fair's end every year does not mean the end of the venues viability. It just allows other uses of the venue.  Parties, trade shows, concerts, and sporting events can all be accommodated by the fairs many pavilions and its auditorium. The American Furniture Warehouse Amphitheatre offers an intimate venue for all types of fine arts productions. Boasting a seating capacity of nearly 8,000 the Southwest Motors Event Center and the Budweiser Rodeo Arena's capacity of nearly 11,000, the fair is able to offers a venue for nearly any event.

The Colorado State Fair has grown immensely since its conception. Just as the city has grown from a single structure to become one of the most populous cities in Colorado, so has the fair. The fair and Pueblo itself, complements the other in offering the state a number of diverse cultural and enriching opportunities.

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Chaifetz Arena Parallels the Greatness of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri is called the "Gateway to the West.  Bar B Q, the blues are among it s cultural legacies.  Saint Louis has been home to business and trade since its beginning. The river systems that fostered its early prominence as the west's business hub also provided the city's diversity of cultures and ideas. The Jesuits founded Saint Louis University in 1818 adding to the city's richness. The Chaifetz Arena brings still more diversity and culture to the Saint Louis area.

Saint Louis University is one of the nation's premier research universities. The Chaifetz Arena is housed on its campus.  Research carried on by the University has served the community of Saint Louis and the world, the same can be said for the entertainers and events hosted by the arena.

Seating 10,600, the arena is venue that is more than capable of hosting either a sporting or cultural event. Originally designed to house the Saint Louis University's basketball and volleyball programs it is also used for corporate gathering, trade shows, and more intimate and personal events. The arena's total of 16 suites offers a number of options for either type of gatherings.  Lorenzini's Lounge offers all the luxuries of the suites plus a full service bar and catering, and 250 seating capacity, as well as other exclusive amenities.

The state of the art arena facility gets its name from a once struggling college student who became a renowned neuropsychologist, Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, a selfless benefactor of the arena. His intellectual and culturally generosity are only paralleled to that of Saint Louis, Missouri's own, making the Chaifetz Arena more than just an extraordinary venue.

For more information, updates, and details about upcoming events to be held at the Chaifetz Arena, visit www.BoxOfficeTicketSales.com today!

Top Auburn Football Players of the 2000s

As the AuburnTigers begin their football season, here is a look at the best players from 2000-2009 (Cam Newton only played for the Tigers in 2010, so he does not count). Fans with Tigers football tickets will remember these players fondly:

1.) Carnell Williams – Few running backs across the country over the past decade were as successful as “Cadillac”. A starter for the Tigers by the end of his true freshman season, Williams finished his career No. 2 in school history in rushing with 3,831 yards, trailing only 1885 Heisman trophy winner Bo Jackson, and also holds the school record for rushing touchdowns with 45. He did this despite splitting carries with fellow 2005 first round pick Ronnie Brown. Unfortunately, after earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2005, his promising pro career was derailed by several serious knee injuries, and he was never able to return to the form that made him the No. 5 overall pick.

2.) Karlos Dansby – There are few linebackers to ever play that game that are as versatile as the athletic Dansby, who make an impact in multiple aspects of the game on defense. A three-year starter at outside linebacker for the Tigers, Dansby racked up 219 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 15 pass deflections and eight picks, and was named an All-American as a senior in 2003. A two-time All-SEC pick, Dansby was a tremendous force on the defensive side of the ball. He went on to have great success in the NFL, starting for the Arizona Cardinals for six seasons before signing one of the largest contracts ever for a linebacker with the Miami Dolphins.

3.) Marcus McNeill – Offensive lineman rarely get the credit they are due, but McNeill was so dominant that he is impossible to leave off this list. A four-year starter for the Tigers, McNeill received both All-SEC and All-America first team honors in both 2004 and 2005, as he did not allow a sack in either season and paved the way for huge years from Williams, Brown and Kenny Irons. A mammoth presence on the line at 6-foot-7 and over 330 pounds, McNeill was one of the best college offensive lineman of the past decade, and enjoyed a brief but successful career with the San Diego Chargers before retiring due to recurring neck issues.

For more information on how to get Tigers football tickets, visit our website!

National League West Update (Breaking News!)

The National League West has been one of the most tightly contested divisions among the top 2 teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants, for much of the year.  The standings currently reflect both the Dodgers and Giants being tied with record of 64-53 with Diamondbacks in third at 58-58.  The San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies round up the bottom of the division with records of 52-66 & 43-71.  The Dodgers had been in control of the division for much of the 2012 season however for the better part of the last month San Francisco was leading the division due to their dominant pitching rotation, although with the breaking news today this could all change rapidly.  The Giants best and most consistent hitter this season was with no doubt Melky Cabrera who had thus far posted 11 home runs with 60 RBI’s and a .346 batting average in his first season with San Francisco.  However, Cabrera has no been suspended 50 games for violating the leagues substance abuse policy.

This is highly disappointing in a sport that has been ripe with controversies very similar to this for the past decade.  What is even more disheartening is the fact that it is usually the best players who get caught using performance enhancing drugs, like last years NL MVP Award winner Ryan Braun.  Cabrera will miss the last 45 games of the season and will serve the next 5 either at the beginning of next season or during the Giants potential post-season run.  Taking a bat like that out of the Giants order will most likely be incredibly detrimental to the Giants success and hopes of winning the NL crown as the Dodgers now have the far better offensive team.  Though the Giants have relied on their pitching for much of the season they will have to place an even greater emphasis on those 5 players even more now as their run production will surely decrease.

The Colorado Rockies have been a team in search of their identity, which without their two best players, has been difficult to say the least.  Both Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton have suffered serious injuries this year, which has put almost the entire offenses weight on the shoulder of outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.  Gonzalez has had a great season, but one man cannot carry a baseball team and with the high volume of runs being allowed by the Colorado pitching staff they may already be planning for the 2013 MLB season and draft. 

Ultimately, with this devastating news to the city by the bay do not be surprised to see Arizona make a run at the top spot in the NL West, while the LA Dodgers appear to be the clear favorites at this point.

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3 Greatest Ole Miss Football Players of All Time

With an all time record of 621-486-35 the Ole Miss Rebels are one of the gems in the SEC with 6 conference titles.  Furthermore, the Rebels have 3 claimed National Championships and are 21-12-0 in the postseason.  Here are 3 of their greatest football players of all time.

3. Patrick Willis

Without a doubt the most decorated defensive player in the history of the school, Patrick Willis is now considered the best linebacker in football as he currently anchors the defense for the San Francisco 49ers.  He was a 2-time All-American in 2005 and 2006 while also being named the SEC Defensive Player of the year in ’06 along with winning the Butkus and Jack Lambert Awards.  He as well won the Lombardi award in 2006 and all of these accolades led him to be the 11^th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

2. Eli Manning

The youngest man from football royalty, Eli Manning is perhaps the most successful NFL player of any Rebel to ever come through the program.  He is a 2-time Super Bowl champion as well as 2-time Super Bowl MVP.  He also holds several NFL records including most 4^th quarter touchdown passes in a regular season (15) most road playoff wins by a quarterback (5) and most passing yards in a single postseason (1,219 yards) as well as sharing many others.  While playing for the Rebels Eli had a career 138.1 passer rating with 10,286 total passing yards and threw 84 touchdowns to only 36 interceptions.  He also earned several collegiate awards including both the Cotton and Independence Bowl(s) MVP’s, the SEC MVP and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, among many others.

1. Archie Manning

Despite not being quite as successful in the NFL as his two sons, Archie Manning is without a doubt one of the most successful quarterbacks in SEC history.  He held the records for most career passing yards and touchdowns, which stood until being eclipsed by his son, Eli, almost 30 years later.  In the first national broadcast of a college football game, Archie threw for a ridiculous 436 yards while also rushing for 104 and tossing 3 touchdowns in a 33-32 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide.  The 540 yard performance is still tied for the SEC all-time single game yards record and is one of many examples of why Archie Manning is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

For more information, updates and unbeatable deals on Ole Miss Football tickets, visit www.BigWillTickets.com today!

A Giant Trade

Currently tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West division after being swept by them in a 3-game series this past weekend, the San Francisco Giants improved their roster today by acquiring the Phillies outfielder Hunter Pence, who in only 5 MLB seasons has totaled 471 RBI’s, 943 hits and a batting average of .290.  Last season Pence finished 4^th in the MLB in batting average (.314) and eighth in RBI’s with 97.  Furthermore, he is a spectacular fielder with blazing speed and great knowledge of the position and field.  The Giants sent 2 prospects and outfielder Nate Schierholtz to Philadelphia in exchange for Pence, which on paper appears to work out far better for San Francisco.

This season, Pence is hitting .271 with 17 home runs and 59 RBI’s for the struggling Phillies and will give a much-needed boost to an inconsistent Giant offense.  San Francisco is currently tied with the Dodgers for 11^th in the MLB in runs scored at 408 and it is fairly safe to presume that whoever totals more in that category will likely end up winning the division as well.  It appears as if Pence will bat 5^th and fill in the injured Pablo Sandoval’s spot and will likely display his versatility as he was leading Philadelphia in runs, hits, home runs, RBI’s and walks.  This move is also beneficial as the Dodgers have been busy acquiring new assets for a potential World Series run that include Hanley Ramirez and Shane Victorino.

Ultimately, the Giants got a much needed confidence boost after being swept by the Dodgers at home this past weekend including being shut out the final 2 games.  With a little over 60 games remaining in the 2012 MLB season the National League West division race will undoubtedly be one of the most exciting in recent memory.

For more information, updates and amazing deals on San Francisco Giants tickets, visit www.AllArenaSeats.com today!

Rangers Land Ryan Dempster

After 2 weeks of much speculation as to where the Cubs ace Ryan Dempster would be traded to the, 35 year old was sent to the Texas Rangers right at the deadline.  Ironically, the Rangers drafted him back in 1995, though his MLB debut was 3 years later for the Florida Marlins.  He has been shuffled around throughout the bullpen during his 15-year career and has accumulated 87 saves during his tenure in Chicago, though he is now a full-time starter.  Over 16 starts this season Dempster has compiled a 5-5 record and an NL leading 2.25 ERA.  Equally impressive is his strikeout to walk ratio, which is currently 83-27.  The Rangers add an immense amount of depth to their pitching staff with this new acquisition and furthermore match their division rival the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim who recently traded for Zack Greinke.  The Angels have been on fire as of late as they close in on Texas’ division lead so look for Dempster to make an immediate impact for the Rangers.

The trade came as a surprise to many as the Los Angeles Dodgers had seemed to be the clear favorites to win the Dempster sweepstakes, however they apparently pulled out of the discussions at the last minute opening up the door for Texas.  Many baseball experts felt if Dempster did not land in LA he would end up being a New York Yankee due to their history of making big-time moves at the trade deadline, which would have been incredibly detrimental to Texas’ hopes of winning the AL pennant.  With a devastating splitter, slider and fastball Ryan Dempster will vastly improve the Texas Rangers hopes of getting to a third straight fall classic, and hopefully walk away with the title of world champions this time.

For more information, updates and great deals on Texas Rangers tickets, visit www.AmazonTicketsAndEvent.com today!

A Complete Meat Grinder of Events



In the NCAA basketball tournament there is just a complete meat grinder of events whether it is the opening rounds or the national championship itself. All of the events and March Madness are great things but they pale in comparison to the Final Four. There is nothing that captures our imagination like predicting the Final Four. To be at the Final Four would invoke the jealousy of your friends that could drive them to tears. To have Final Four tickets would have your friends willing to wash your clothes for a year to get you to take them.

The Final Four is just a spectacle to behold. The Final Four is the deciding series of events to see what teams will be the last gladiators standing after the grind that is known as the NCAA basketball tournament. The Final Four has the teams that have managed to wade through the opening rounds to the sweet sixteen and the elite eight and now they can taste greatness at their fingertips. There is a bloodlust for victory that drives them to compete at a level that is often never seen or reached unless you have gotten as far as the teams in the Final Four.

The teams with a rich history such as Kentucky, Kansas, and Duke seem to get there or just a win away but there is always the cinderella team that seems to capture our imagination with the possibility that anything is possible. Who will be the giant killer and make it to the Final Four like some of the unknowns out there that are just lurking to take down a big dog. Going to Final Four is an experience that most people out there merely fantasize about because of the improbability of getting tickets but to get tickets you will be in a class of your own amongst your friends you will be envied by all, that is a promise.

For more information, updates, blog reports and great deals on NCAA Mens Final Four tickets, visit www.BestFinalFourTickets.com today!

The Greatest Indiana Pacers of All Time

5. Rik Smits: (1988-2000)

The second overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft, Rik Smits otherwise known as “The Dunkin’ Dutchman” was a 7 foot 4 monster for 13 seasons in Indiana.  Smits made an immediate impact for the Pacers in his rookie season, starting 71 games and averaging 11 points to go along with 6 rebounds.  His best statistical season came in 1995-96 when he averaged 18.5 points per game.  Smits helped anchor the Pacers to the 2000 NBA Finals, which they lost, as he competed against one of the all time great centers; Shaquille O’Neal.

4. Mark Jackson: (1994-1996, 1997-2000)

Mark Jackson is regarded as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history.  Playing for the Pacers on two different occasions throughout his career, Jackson was initially traded to Denver and then traded back to Indiana during the 1996-1997 season.  He helped lead Indiana to the Finals in 2000 and is third on the NBA’s all-time assists list, accumulating 10,323 for his career.  Jackson went on to be a color commentator and is currently the coach of the Golden State Warriors.

3. Mel Daniels:  (1968-1974)

Perhaps the most successful Pacer of all time, Mel Daniels played for Indiana during the ABA years and was a flat out stud.  Daniels helped the Pacers win 3 ABA championships as well as twice being named MVP of the league.  He was an imposing forward/center tallying a career double double average with 18.4 points and 14.9 rebounds per game.  Daniels had a highly esteemed career and went on to coach Indiana for the 1988 NBA season.  He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year.

2. George McGinnis: (1971-1975, 1980-1982)

George McGinnis is an Indiana legend, playing his college basketball as a Hoosier and is one of four Pacers to have his number retired.  He won 2 ABA Championships and an ABA scoring title as well as being named co-MVP of the league with Julius Erving in 1975.  Furthermore, he is a member of the ABA’s All-Time Team.  McGinnis went on to play with Dr. J in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers after the league merger and competed in the 1977 NBA Finals.  At 6 foot 8, George McGinnis was unstoppable, posting career averages of 20.2 points to go along with 11 rebounds per game.

1. Reginald “Reggie” Miller: (1987-2005)

Upon retiring in 2005, Reggie Miller held the NBA record for career 3-pointers made (he is now second on that list, behind Ray Allen) and was one of the most clutch playoff performers the likes of which have seldom been seen.  The 11^th overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft out of UCLA, Miller went on to play his entire career with Indiana scoring 25,279 points.  He was known for his flamboyant taunting of opponents as well as his prowess as one of the NBA’s premiere “trash-talkers”.  Though he never won an NBA championship, Reggie won a gold medal with the United States men’s basketball team in the 1996 Summer Olympics.  A 5-time NBA All-Star, Reggie Miller is the greatest Indiana Pacer player of all time.

For more information, updates and amazing deals on Indiana Pacers tickets, visit www.AllArenaSeats.com today!

LSU: Defensive Back Factory?

There are few schools in the country that produce quality defensive backs like LSU does. The Tigers have had a cornerback drafted in the top 10 of the NFL Draft for two consecutive seasons (Patrick Peterson, 2011, and Morris Claiborne, 2012), and a third who was a Heisman finalist as a sophomore. Although the Tigers have to replace starters Claiborne and strong safety Brandon Taylor, as well as reserve cornerback Ron Brooks, many people view the secondary as a team strength heading into 2012 as well.

The star of the secondary is cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, who won the Bednarik Award for defensive player of the year a season ago, garnering First Team All-American honors from multiple media outlets. The junior tied for the team lead with 76 tackles, and also collected six tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, two interceptions, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. Perhaps most impressively, he scored four touchdowns on the year, twice on fumble recoveries and twice on punt returns. Mathieu always seemed to be around the ball, and was said to play much bigger than his modest size (5-foot-9, 175 pounds). This is one of the reasons he earned the nickname “Honey Badger”, for his fearless play and attitude. The Tigers’ other returning starter is free safety Eric Reid, a Second Team All-SEC defender from a season ago. The 6-2, 208-pound junior tied with Mathieu for the team lead in tackles, and chipped in two interceptions of his own. In fact, the interception he wrestled away from Alabama tight end Michael Williams at the goal line of the two team’s first meeting was one of the most impressive plays of the year. Both Mathieu and Reid will probably be high on the NFL’s radar after the season, even though both of them will only be juniors in 2012.

The two players most likely to take over the remaining starting jobs are cornerback Tharold Simon and strong safety Craig Loston. Simon actually started three contests a season ago, and played extensively throughout the season, collecting 42 tackles, 10 pass breakups and a pair of picks. The 6-3, 187-pound junior has great length for a cornerback, which usually makes him good at matching up with the taller receivers the Tigers face. Loston does not have as much playing experience as Simon, only contributing 14 tackles in 2011. But Loston is a former star recruit, and the junior should be effective now that the starting job appears to be his. It is not a given that both will be able to produce as well as the starters did a year ago, but there appears to be a great chance that each will have immediate success.

Head coach Les Miles has done a good job recruiting defensive backs in recent years, and seems to have another high-quality group heading into the 2012 season. There are not many schools across the country that could lose a first-, third-, and fourth-round draft pick to the NFL from their secondaries, but LSU seems to be one of them.

For more information, updates and great deals on LSU Tigers tickets, visit www.BigWillTickets.com today!

Do the Rangers Need to Make Any Deals before the Deadline?

The Texas Rangers have been one of the best teams in baseball in the first half of the season, and they should be a strong contender for the American League’s spot in the World Series. Manager Ron Washington has his squad playing well in 2012, and they are looking to finally win it all after coming up just short the past two seasons. The question remains, do the Rangers need to consider trading for any other players before the July 31 trade deadline to give themselves the best shot at securing the franchise’s first championship? It would appear that the Rangers’ lineup is set for the rest of the season, and the bullpen is also doing a great job. Though Josh Hamilton cooled off in June after an incredible start to the season, he’s still one of the most dangerous hitters in the AL, and the rest of the lineup has done a good job picking up the slack when needed. The bullpen has been called upon more than Washington would probably prefer, but they have pitched well over the first half of the season. Closer Joe Nathan has been a great addition to the team, and Mike Adams is generally considered one of the best set-up men in the game.

However, injuries to the pitching staff have hurt the Rangers over the last month, as four starters have been placed on the DL since May 25. Left-hander Matt Harrison and right-hander Yu Darvish have done a great job holding down the fort, and the Rangers should be getting Derek Holland, Alexi Ogando, Colby Lewis and Neftali Felix back after the All-Star break. But Texas may want to protect themselves from further injuries to the starting rotation by bringing in another high-caliber pitcher. One pitcher the Rangers may be paying close attention to until the deadline is Milwaukee’s Zach Greinke, the AL Cy Young award winner in 2009 with the Kansas City Royals. Greinke is set to become a free agent after the season, and the Brewers are not sure they will be able to afford to keep him past this season. The Rangers have shown they are not afraid to trade for potential rental players, as they did with Cliff Lee in 2010, so they may feel the same way about Greinke this season. The right-hander is having a great season with Milwaukee, and could come into Texas and further solidify their rotation. A Rangers’ rotation with Greinke at the top could potentially be pretty formidable, especially in the postseason. Other starting pitchers that could potentially be on the trading block include the Cub’s Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster, and Philly’s Cole Hamels.

The trade deadline is still about a month away, and this will give Washington time to evaluate whether his pitchers are going to be able to successfully return from their injuries. If they are not, it should not be a surprise to see Rangers’ management make a move before the end of July in order to give them the best shot at winning in October.

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2012 MLB All-Star Game Rosters Released

With the 2012 MLB All-Star game only 8 days away the complete roster for each team has been made official.  As previously predicted, Josh Hamilton smashed the record for most All-Star votes which was previously 7,454,753 as Hamilton accumulated 11,073,744 votes.  This is a remarkable amount of votes as it was nearly 4 million higher than the previous record and the National League’s highest vote getter, Buster Posey, who earned 7,621,370 votes.  Both of these players topped previously held vote records by their predecessors in their respective league which is a good indication by the active involvement of the fans and should translate to great ratings.  The National League could have a tough time finding their power this year as they lost sluggers Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols to American League teams this past offseason.  However, with upcoming stars like Joey Votto, Melky Cabrera and Matt Kemp the NL may not miss a beat.  Quite possibly the most intriguing question entering the game is who will be the starting pitcher for the National League as there seems to be two very worthy candidates.  The Giants Matt Cain has been dominant the past 3 seasons and it has continued into this year as he threw the first perfect game in franchise history this season coupled with his 9-3 record and 2.53 ERA to back up his consistency.  Though, the Mets have an ace of their own that has accumulated a MLB best 12-1 record with a 2.15 ERA and 116 strikeouts.  However, it is the way in which Dickey has dominated that is so profound as his number one pitch is the unconventional knuckle ball. 

Before losing in 2010, the American League was on a 13-game All-Star winning streak which was due in large part to their power hitters.  There shouldn’t be a shortage of power hitters as the American League is once again fielding the far better slugging team.  Led by Josh Hamilton and Prince Fielder, the starters also include last year’s State Farm Home Run Derby champion Robinson Cano at 2B as well as last years home run leader Jose Bautista in the outfield and the always consistent “Big Papi” David Ortiz in the DH spot.  This phenomenal collection of players should give the entire National League rotation all they can handle.  The 2012 MLB All-Star game is intriguing in that it faces the superior pitching league against the superior hitting league. 

There is further incentive for players who play for teams like the Dodgers, Giants, Rangers and other league leaders as they want to win the game and earn home field advantage for their league in the 2012 World Series.  You can bet Josh Hamilton, along with Texas Ranger teammates Mike Napoli, Adrian Beltre, Matt Harrison, Joe Nathan, Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler who currently have the best record in baseball will put out a full effort considering they lost in the World Series at the St. Louis Cardinals in game 7.

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Los Angeles Clippers Offseason

After having a bittersweet 2011-2012 season the Los Angeles Clippers are no longer satisfied just making the playoffs.  Though they accomplished much last season including winning a playoff series and winning game 7 on the road of that series only to be swept in the next round by the freight train that was the San Antonio Spurs.  They have been busy this off-season trying to improve their roster which suffered several key injuries last season.  They have actively pursued re-signing guard Chris Paul and have yet to be effective although forward Blake Griffin is set to sign his extension of an estimated 5-years 95 million dollars on the July 11^th deadline.  It has been rumored that Paul will wait until next season in order to sign a max deal worth approximately 108 million dollars.

The big headlines surrounding the Clippers have been in the acquisition of Lamar Odom from the Dallas Mavericks as well as re-signing Chauncey Billups and signing free agent Jamal Crawford.  The most intriguing of these players could be Odom who was originally drafted by the Clippers before moving around to championship contenders until having the worst statistical season of his entire career for Dallas last season.  Odom is one of the biggest question marks in the entire NBA due to his lack of consistency.  At 6 foot 10 he can hit long range shots and handle the ball making him at times virtually unguardable although he is prone to having lapses of judgment in his playing ability.  Odom tends to respond better when playing in a sixth man position which will be convenient as Blake Griffin is undoubtedly the starter.  Billups proved to be a solid contributor starting for the Clippers last season until suffering a season-ending injury as he switched from his normal point guard position to a shooting guard spot.  He and Crawford will likely split time as both are proven scorers with Crawford getting the edge in that department.

With the Los Angeles Lakers recently acquiring veteran point guard Steve Nash they have catapulted themselves once again into the championship conversation.  However, the Clippers still have arguably the best point guard in the NBA with Chris Paul and are not threatened by the newest Laker.  On paper the Clips have one of the best starting 5’s in the entire NBA and can virtually match-up with every championship contender.  High hopes have returned to the city of angels for the Clippers as they are now nicknamed “lob city” due to the high volume of alley-oop passes from Paul to big men Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan.  Jordan was one of the bigger mysteries in this years playoffs as he was recently signed to a lucrative contract although he was on the bench for many of the Clippers playoff games.  They need a more consistent performance from the 7 foot 1 Jordan who has the potential to be one of the elite big men in the NBA.

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Top 4 NFL Players from Alabama

Top Four NFL Players from the University of Alabama

The University of Alabama’s football program (more commonly known as the Alabama Crimson Tide) has been in existence since 1892, and since that time has remained one of the most popular college football teams in the nation.  The Crimson Tide have an all-time record of 814-320-43, making them one of the most successful teams as well, with a total of 14 national titles and 26 conference titles in their history. 

In 2011 the Alabama Crimson tide capped off a fantastic season by winning the national championship over Louisiana State University convincingly by the score of 21-0, making Nick Saban the only active coach in college football with three national titles under his belt (2 with Alabama and 1 with LSU).  With that said, there have certainly been many great football players who have translated their games to the NFL level since the program’s existence.  What follows are the top four NFL players in the league today who are from the University of Alabama

Julio Jones

The Atlanta Falcons made a bold move in the 2011 NFL Draft to jump up and get wide receiver Julio Jones, and so far it has paid off for both him and the Falcons tremendously.  In his first season with the Falcons last year, Julio Jones played in 13 games and head nearly 1,000 receiving yards to go with eight touchdowns on the year.  Jones played an integral role in helping the Falcons reach a 10-6 record and make it into the playoffs once again in 2011, and will look to further improve next year with the team.

Roman Harper

Unlike Julio Jones, Roman Harper has been in the league for a while longer, being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft as a strong safety.  After missing much of his first season with the team due to a knee injury, Harper came back with a vengeance in 2007, with 75 tackles and three interceptions on the year.  He has continually improved year after year with the Saints, making it to the Pro Bowl in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons. 

DeMeco Ryans

DeMeco Ryans was also drafted in 2006 in the second round, going to the Houston Texans as a linebacker.  He made a name for himself right at the get go for the Texans, winning the defensive rookie of the year award in 2006 after getting an amazing 125 tackles on the year to go along with 3.5 sacks.  Ryans played with the Texans until 2011, when he was traded in the offseason to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mark Ingram

Last but not least there is Mark Ingram, who won the Heisman Trophy as a running back during his days with the Crimson Tide.  He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and had a very good year as a backup runner to Darren Sproles, rushing for 474 yards in 10 total games to go along with five touchdowns as well.  Ingram will look to continue being a rushing threat for the Saints moving forward.

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Top 3 Spurs Players of All Time

Top 3 Spurs Players of All Time

The San Antonio Spurs have been one of the more successful franchises in NBA since it first joined the league in 1976, with 18 division titles and four championships under the Gregg Popovich era.  Many great players have come and gone in the franchise’s history, but who will forever remain as the greatest to have played on the team?  What follows are the top five Spurs players of all time.

Tim Duncan

Any discussion of the greatest Spurs players of all time has to start with Tim Duncan, or as Shaquille O’Neal famously referred to as “Mr. Fundamental.”  With 15 years in the NBA under his belt, Duncan has continued to play with the Spurs throughout his entire career to this point, and what a career it has been for him.  Tim will go down as one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history when all is said and done, with his list of accomplishments being tremendous to say the least.  Not only did he win three Finals MVP awards in his four championships with the Spurs, but is also a 13 time NBA All Star along with making the NBA First Team 9 times and the Second Team 3 times.  He is known not only for his great scoring but also for his defense, being selected to the NBA Defensive First Team 8 times and the Second Team another 5 times.  Duncan has one of the best-rounded games as a forward in the NBA today, and will easily be a first ballot Hall of Famer when his career is over with.

George Gervin

George Gervin wasn’t able to win an NBA title in his time with the San Antonio Spurs, but that should take away from the stellar career that he had with the team.  Gervin spent much of his career with the Spurs as they transitioned from the ABA to the NBA, and had some of his best seasons with the team throughout the 1970s and 1980s.  George was one of the purest shooting guards for his time, averaging over 25 points per game over the course of his career with a field goal percentage over 50%, and was the NBA scoring champion on four separate occasions.  He was selected to a total of 12 All-Star games with the ABA and NBA combined, along with making the NBA First Team 5 times.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame and currently has his #44 retired by the Spurs.

David Robinson

Throughout the late 1980s and into the early 2000s, both Tim Duncan and David Robinson were together on the Spurs and were known as the “Twin Towers.”  While much has been said about Duncan, Robinson was a great player in his own right in his 14 years spent with the team.  He averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds for his career, with his best season coming in 1993-94 when he averaged 30 points and 11 rebounds on the year.  David made the All Star team 10 times, and was a great defensive player as well, racking up four NBA Defensive First Teams and 4 Second Teams as well.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009 and his #50 has been retired by the Spurs.

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2012 Masters Tournament Recap

Every year the best golfers in the world come to Augusta, Georgia to compete at the Masters, one of golf’s four major tournaments.  The Masters has a tradition unlike any other, with a course designed by the legendary Bobby Jones and a list of champions that mark the who’s who of golf over the past few decades.  With that said, though, the Masters of 2012 was certainly one of the better events in the event’s history, with a finish that would leave everyone on edge.

After the third round was completed Peter Hanson found himself in the lead by one stroke over Phil Mickelson and two over Louis Oosthuizen.  Mickelson had stormed back after shooting a first round score of 74 with two straight rounds in the 60s to give himself a chance for his fourth career Masters victory.  Back in fourth place after round three was Bubba Watson, one of the longer hitters on the PGA Tour who almost never hits the golf ball straight during a round. 

When it came to Sunday Peter Hanson got off to a slow start with a bogey on the first hole, and never really seemed comfortable out on the golf course all day, ending with a round of 73 to finish in a tie for third place overall.  Phil Mickelson looked to be in the driver’s seat heading into Sunday as he had the experience of having won the tournament multiple times before and was coming off of two great rounds earlier in the week.  However, things took a turn for the worse for Mickelson when he came up on the par 3 fourth hole.  Mickelson hit his tee shot far left of the green, hitting the grandstands and bouncing even further left into the woods.  He was able to find the ball, but when all was said and done with the hole Phil ended up with a triple bogey and was never able to recover, shooting a round of 72 to also finish in a tie for third place.

The man who came out on fire early was Louis Oosthuizen, who hit one of the greatest shots in Masters Tournament history on the par 5 second hole.  Oosthuizen hit a good tee shot into the fairway and was about 260 yards away from the green.  Louis decided to hit a high iron and hoped the ball would run up somewhere on the green, but it did much more than that.  As the ball rolled up to the green it kept rolling right towards the hole, and after about 20 seconds later the ball ended up dropping into the hole for an amazing double eagle.  After that he was able to maintain the lead for most of the round until Watson decided to join the party.

Bubba Watson was four shots out of the lead after bogeying the 12^th hole, and it looked as though Oosthuizen would run away with the tournament.  However, Watson went on an incredible streak of four consecutive birdies to end up in a tie with Louis after his round was completed.  Both of the players made par on the first playoff hole, with Bubba being able to prevail after a great iron shot on the second playoff hole to capture his first career major victory.  It was an event that masters ticket holders will not soon forget, and should go down as one of the best finishes in the event’s history.

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Atlanta Braves look for success in 2012

The Atlanta Braves had one of the biggest collapses in Major League Baseball history in 2011, finishing the year with a record of 9-18 to miss the playoff by one game to the St. Louis Cardinals.  Going into the month of September the Atlanta Braves had one of the best records in all of baseball at 80-55, and had a nearly 10 game lead over the Cardinals for the final playoff spot.  The Braves actually had a chance to get into the playoffs if they had won the final game of the regular season against the Philadelphia Phillies, but lost the game in 13 innings as Craig Kimbrel blew the save in the ninth inning.

After such a terrible end to the season, one would have thought the Braves would have made a lot of changes to reinforce the lineup or pitching rotation, but General Manager Frank Wren decided against that, keeping most of the team in-tact while making some minor moves such as trading Derek Lowe to the Cleveland Indians and signing Livan Hernandez and Juan Francisco as role players for the ball club.  With Tim Hudson coming off of back surgery in the offseason along with the trade of Derek Lowe, the starting rotation was wide open for some of Atlanta’s talented starting pitchers in the farm system such as Julio Teheran, Randall Delgado, and Mike Minor, along with other players such as Brandon Beachy and Kris Medlen.  At the start of the season the Braves made the decision to go with Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, Brandon Beachy, Mike Minor, and Randall Delgado, with Hudson coming back before the All-Star break. 

For some reason or another the Braves got off to a horrible start to the 2012 season, getting swept by the New York Mets and losing the first game of their series against the Houston Astros to start the year at 0-4.  However, after that the Atlanta Braves caught fire with their offense, winning 10 of their next 11 games to bring their record to 10-5 on the year.  Since that time Atlanta has had spurts of success mixed in with poor performances, with a record of 18-12 heading into a series against the Chicago Cubs.

Two players that have stood out for the team to this point are Brandon Beachy and Freddie Freeman.  Beachy has been the anchor for the starting rotation to this point in the year, going 3-1 in six games started with an ERA of 1.62.  Freddie Freeman has been the catalyst for the team’s offense, making Atlanta Braves tickets a hot commodity over recent weeks with a .291 average, six home runs, and 26 RBIs.

On the other hand, two players that have underperformed for the Atlanta Braves this season are Jair Jurrjens and Brian McCann.  Jurrjens has had a lack of command in every start he was in as far as 2012, not giving up less than three runs in any of his starts.  After giving up five earned runs in three innings against the Dodgers on April 23 he was demoted to AAA.  After a great year in 2011, Brian McCann has had a sluggish start to 2012, only batting .237 with five home runs and 17 RBIs.  

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