Advice, information, news, and reviews on the latest sporting goods and gear for parents and players!
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Hello Friends,
Just a quick note to follow us @sportsunlimited on Twitter!
We give away gift certificates every week just for following and retweeting.
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By Isaac Clark
Isaac is blowin’ up Twitter at SportsUnlimited.com |
To those who watch the sport and those who do not, this is my humble plea for you to sit down and watch one, singular game or set or match and witness one of, if not the, greatest tennis players of all-time, at his best stage, Wimbledon, because Federer deserves the awe he inspires.
Rooting for Roger Federer over the past ten years has been, well, nice. Because the man is just that, nice. There is so little to dislike about him from his philanthropic endeavors to his adorable family to his flopping hair behind the headband. Roger Federer is about as epitomic of an idol as one can find in the world of media driven sports these days with never-ceasing access to players’ lives.
This Wimbledon, we should all take a moment to consider how lucky we are to have been able to witness the era of Roger Federer and the brilliance of Rafa Nadal, the rise of Novak Djokovic and the ‘for-queen-and-country’ Andy Murray. While all four players are truly great at the game of tennis, I find it hard not to pull for Federer with the smoothest of backhands that with one-handed ease makes fools of some of the best athletes in the world.
To those who watch the sport and those who do not, this is my humble plea for you to sit down and watch one, singular game or set or match and witness one of, if not the, greatest tennis players of all-time, at his best stage, Wimbledon, because Federer deserves the awe he inspires.
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By Isaac Clark
Isaac is a Roger Admirer at SportsUnlimited.com |
This Sunday, we will recognize one of the biggest supporters in our lives: our fathers. As a family owned company, we at Sports Unlimited value the relationships we have with our families and on this day especially, we are grateful for everything our fathers have done for us.
The smallest things can make all the difference, so why not make this Father’s Day a memorable one? Whether it’s a simple “I love you, dad” or a hand-written card, it will forever be cherished in his heart. Try to think back to your favorite memory you shared with your dad. Maybe it was your first fishing trip, or when he was the coach of your sports team, or more importantly, when he walked you down the aisle on one of the most remarkable days of your life. Whatever it may be, remind him of how special that memory is to you. Spending the time to acknowledge the impact he has made on your life is better than any gift that money could buy.
But, let’s face it; men love their sports and tools. If you are looking to splurge for this Father’s Day, purchasing a small gift for Dad isn’t the worst thing in the world. Maybe you could even buy him something that relates to your cherished memory or perhaps you could try to find something that will be used during your time spent together that day. It could be a day filled with golfing, barbecuing, hiking, etc. However you wish to express your gratitude to dad, remember that the sincerest gift comes from the heart. As one of our Founding Father’s once said, “happiness depends more on the inward disposition than on outward circumstance.” –Benjamin Franklin
Sports Unlimited wishes all families a Happy Father’s Day that is filled with love and memories.
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By Alexa Shumate
Alexa is an Advertising Ninja at Sports Unlimited. |
Nike vs Under Armour. Technological sounding names dominate the athletic apparel war between Nike and Under Armour, but what do they mean? Comparing Nike’s Dri-Fit and Under Armour’s HeatGear, we are going to review what these technologies do and which one is better for you!
Technological sounding names dominate the athletic apparel war between Nike and Under Armour, but what do they mean? Comparing Nike’s Dri-Fit and Under Armour’s HeatGear, we are going to review what these technologies do and which one is better for you! Finding the right performance shirt, compression pants, running shorts, and compression socks for the summer can be tough, but when you discover the right ones for you, you may never go back to wearing regular clothes while working out.
Under Armour built its company with a foundation in performance apparel and turned into something much more significant. In 1996 the founder of Under Armour created the first t-shirt made of moisture-wicking synthetic fabric, effectively inventing the industry of ‘Performance Apparel’. To this day, the company continues to produce and improve upon their signature HeatGear.
Let’s get into the nitty gritty about these sportswear rivals.
HeatGear uses super lightweight fabrics to keep you cool and dry in warm and hot conditions whether you’re out for a walk, training hard, or dominating the football field. Its exceptional moisture transport systems wick sweat away from your body, while maintaining ventilation. Sounds like any ‘performance apparel’ I’ve ever heard of, so let’s dive a little deeper to get a greater understanding.
Moisture Transport Systems: Hydrophobic fabrics wick the moisture from your body and pull it through the material so that it evaporates quickly, keeping your clothes light and your body cool and dry.
Odor Control – Anti-microbial technology resists the growth and spread of bacterial odors within the fabric. The evaporation of sweat quickly and efficiently combined with the anti-microbial technology reduces odors better than any other system.
UPF – Ultra-Violet Protection Factor – UPF protects you from the sun, plain and simple. Extra protection from UV rays is always a good thing for your skin, body, and overall health and Under Armour has added this screen to their impressive arsenal.
Some Under Armour gear is equipped with additional features. Check the tags for the following!
Strategic Ventilation + Armour Stretch
Modular Protection Zones + 360 Degree Reflectivity
Wind Resistance + Armour Grip
Those features are the foundation of HeatGear, but HeatGear is separated into different fabrics to help you differentiate what gear you need for what situation. Here is a run-down of Under Armour’s lineup.
Under Armour Tech –This is the classic, super-soft, natural feeling material that mimics cotton, but provides the performance benefits of synthetic material. Traditional UA look and feel and is generally the most affordable option.
Charged Cotton –It’s cotton, but better. With Charged Cotton, you get the feel, weight, and comfort of cotton with the impressive moisture transport system that wicks 5% faster. This cotton dries 5x faster than standard cotton. Perfect for athletic activities or just relaxing, it’s a soft garment with performance tech built in.
Under Armour Catalyst –Surprisingly made entirely of recycled plastic bottles, Catalyst is super soft and smooth. Incredibly light with body temperature regulating tech, the best feature of this fabric is how light and smooth it is.
Under Armour coldblack –It shocks me how noticeably coldblack affects the temperature of the garment and in turn, your body. The technology makes dark fabrics act more like light fabrics in the sun, retaining less heat during performance. Oh, and it makes light colors act like nothing at all. Providing the best moisture-wicking tech and all other HeatGear benefits with the temperature regulation technology makes athletes flock to coldblack.
HeatGear Flyweight –Ultra-light and smooth fabric with strategically positioned mesh panels to help regulate heat and allow sweat to evaporate faster. Raglan sleeve design and smooth Flatlock Seams do not restrict range of motion. This is lightweight, lightweight, lightweight.
All of these different fabrics are available in multiple fits: Compression, Fitted, Semi-Fitted, and Loose.
HeatGear Sonic –The newest innovation from Under Armour, Sonic is a compression material that increases muscle power through ultra-tight fit. They call it a “second skin” because it provides the benefits of compression technology without sacrificing comfort so that you can wear it all day. Shirts, tanks, pants, shorts, they have it all.
Shop Men’s and Women’s HeatGear
This isn’t all about Under Armour. It’s Under Armour vs Nike, so let’s get to Nike!
Dri-Fit uses microfiber, polyester fabric to wick moisture from your body to the outer surface of the fabric so that it can evaporate quickly to keep you cool for a… dry fit. This sounds mighty similar to Under Armour’s signature moisture transport system.
Moisture Wicking – It does that whole ‘wick moisture from your body’ thing. This allows sweat to evaporate to keep you light and dry.
Dri-Fit UV – Provides minimum of 30 SPF to protect you from ultraviolet rays. This is only in certain Dri-Fit products so make sure you look for it on the label or tags!
Nike Pro Dri-Fit –Mesh panels and flat seams are featured in the Nike Pro Combat line to fit smoothly to the body for a close and comfortable fit. Different Pro products can be made of different materials so be sure to take closer looks at these.
Nike Legend Dri-Fit –Crew neck and inside taping bring comfort through mesh design. Made of 100% recycled polyester and is constructed with flat-seam to reduce chafing.
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Nike Miler Dri-Fit –Basically the same as the Legend, but with added panels in the side improve mobility. 100% recycled polyester.
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Nike Tailwind Dri-Fit –This line features a mesh fabric panel and three eyelets in the underarm to provide air flow and reduce chafing. Nike designs this with flat seams to improve range of motion as well. Body is made of Dri-FIT 85% polyester/15% cotton. Side panel constructed of Dri-FIT 86% polyester/14% cotton. Also this line has a cool zip pocket at the waist/back for easily securing valuables when running.
Nike Knit Dri-Fit –56% polyester and 44% nylon, the knit line is a soft touch Dri-FIT moisture-wicking fabric. Knit fabric is designed with mesh panels for lightweight ventilation.
We can breathe easy, the information dump is over.
The major benefit that these workout clothes provide is their moisture wicking/transportation systems. If you have never tried these products before, it is amazing how different a run, a game, or a workout can feel when wearing clothes that are specifically designed to improve your performance rather than simply not get in the way.
Both brands of performance apparel are great choices for your athletic activities, but there are so many fabrics and so many lines just within the HeatGear and Dri-FIT names. In my years of using these fabrics and diving deeper into their technology and construction, it seems as though any of the Nike products would work for me and feel great, but I can find the proper sportswear specific to my needs through the fabrics and fits that Under Armour provides.
Nike has proven that people love their comfortable, performance fabric, but it seems as though Under Armour, the originator of performance apparel, may have a multitude of additional benefits and defined options.
Making informed decisions is the best way to choose between Nike and Under Armour, but sometimes it takes trying both to truly understand!
What do you think?
It is tiring and difficult to exude appreciation on a consistent basis, but our mothers deserve no less. As a family owned company, we at Sports Unlimited feel pretty darned strongly about our families and the special relationship everyone has with his or her mother. This weekend is not the time for us to sell, but for us to celebrate!
Showering our mother or grandmother or the mother of our children with gifts is lovely, but common. The right gift can be truly heartfelt, but the one perfect way to convey our sincere appreciation is simply to spend time with her. Make the phone call, drive down the street or go for a walk with her. When we can’t necessarily say precisely how we feel, a mother knows that a squeeze of the hand, an honest glare, or the words ‘Thank You’ from her son or daughter is the recognition of a lifetime of compassion and giving. At 5:30AM on Sunday, I’ll be awake and groggily readying myself for the Susan G. Komen 5K in Philadelphia, but whether you are racing or not, being active and supportive to your mother in any endeavor is important.
Spending time and acknowledging her value as a mother is what Mother’s Day is about, but that isn’t to say that moms don’t like gifts! I would however suggest that you buy her something that represents the person she is and wants to be. We won’t stop you from running, or relaxing, or climbing a mountain, but maybe this weekend, bring your mom along.
Happy Mother’s Day everybody.
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By Isaac Clark
Isaac is a writer at Sports Unlimited. |
What is wrong with the USGA Rulebook and how the nonsense revolving around it ‘almost’ ruined The Masters in 2013.
It’s 2013 and the first Australian golfer has just won The Masters in Augusta on a raining Sunday night in a playoff that featured near-misses and a putt for the win. Angel Cabrera’s putt on the 2nd hole of the playoff looked on target until it stopped an inch away from forcing Adam Scott into a make-or-lose 12-footer on the water-soaked 10th hole green. But Cabrera’s putt missed, giving Scott a putt for the win
. He putted for the green jacket yet again, having made a 20-foot putt to birdie himself into the lead on the 18th hole before the playoff. He had one more putt to win the biggest tournament of his life. One putt as the water dripped from his new-age long putter to send Australia into euphoria. “Come on Aussies!” he yelled when he holed that 20-footer with excitement earlier on the 18th, but when the ball rolled those 12 feet toward Australia’s first green jacket and dropped in with ease, Adam Scott’s expression was that of awe. It was hard to discern the tears from the droplets of rain, but it looked a perfect moment for Adam Scott and Australia’s golfing pride to win in such dramatic fashion. With so much heart and happiness and magic in the 2013 Masters, it is infinitely frustrating that we may very well remember all of this for the USGA’s uncanny ability to use their rulebook to steal headlines. Tiger Woods’ ‘illegal’ drop and two-stroke penalty that was assessed Saturday morning took headlines, all of them.
We have Greg Norman and David Duval, both former World #1 players, taking to Twitter, calling for Woods to withdraw from the tournament, to effectively disqualify himself for a drop that he did not know was illegal, and which no tournament official even brought to his attention until a TV viewer called in. Yes, that is correct. A TV viewer reported the ‘illegal’ drop that pulled Tiger’s score going into the weekend from 3-under to 1-under. The eventual winner, Adam Scott, went into the weekend with a score of, you guessed it, 3-under. The rule itself seems ambiguous and nonsensical to begin with:
Rule 26-1.
“If a ball is found in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke:
a. Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or
b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or
c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.”
I wouldn’t be surprised if you skipped that esoteric jargon.
Rule 20-2-b.
“Where to Drop
When a ball is to be dropped as near as possible to a specific spot, it must be dropped not nearer the hole than the specific spot which, if it is not precisely known to the player, must be estimated.”
What if Tiger had dropped the ball six inches from where he estimated the original shot was taken, is that ‘as nearly as possible’ to the spot? I guess that determination can be made by a TV viewer who witnesses both shots from different camera positions. It seems as though we have unreasonable rules with the addition of audience objections and interruptions. What this has brought us is headlines; headlines that replace Adam Scott, Angel Cabrera, and Guan Tianlang’s inspiring play and accomplishments. Nope, we get couch-side whistle-blowers that suffocate the excitement and superb golfers on the sideline demanding self-disqualification for an ‘illegal’ drop that somehow gave Woods an unfair advantage by moving the ball backwards. Nonsense. Players’ generally do not gain advantage by moving the ball away from the hole, rather, they gain advantage by moving the ball closer to the hole, which did not happen. I want to talk about the rain falling and Angel Cabrera’s shot to the green on 18. I want to talk about the two years in a row that we have had emotional victories in sudden death playoffs. I want to once again be a TV viewer who cheers on the father-son duo of Angel Cabrera and his caddy Angel Cabrera Jr., the three Australians who aim to be the first from their nation to be victorious at Augusta, or the man in his red and black Sunday attire. But no, the USGA rulebook needs so much attention that it yanks headlines away from a 14-year-old boy.
Yell at Tiger all you want for not withdrawing, but first take a look at these two photographs from the same camera position for both his original shot and the ‘illegal’ dropped shot. How far from the original spot is the dropped ball, six inches?
[polldaddy poll=7039241]
| By Isaac Clark.
Isaac is a writer at Sports Unlimited. |
Ten reasons why we should love shortened seasons in sports.
Once we get through the disappointment of the season not starting at its customary time of year, we have to admit that there are a few aspects of a shortened season that are intriguing and exciting. Here are our top ten reasons to love shortened seasons in professional sports…
10. So much to watch, so little time! The frequency of the games has to be one of the greatest aspects of a shortened season. Although there are fewer games than a full season, leagues pack in the games so that when the season does start, there is always something to watch.
9. Fire, fire! With fewer games on the schedule, those games naturally turn into fiery, spirited contests because every game is that much more important in the fight for playoff spots. The fans can feel it, the players can feel it. There always seems to be an intensity rare to regular season games that shows up consistently in a shortened season.
8. It’s all leveled out. The playing field is leveled in a shortened season. This allows small stretches of good play to carry any team into the playoffs, even last year’s losers. Great teams are not safe with every game being so important; lost points here and there can cost even the best teams a coveted playoff spot. Conversely, more teams have a chance to surprise and don’t have to stay hot for as long as they would in a standard length season.
7. In it until the end! Opposed to a long season in which usually only a few teams are left in the fight for un-clinched playoff spots late, short seasons provide great drama with many teams remaining in the playoff hunt until the very end. Most playoff teams will not know who they are destined to play in the first round of playoffs because nothing is settled until the frantic finish.
6. Hostile territories. With short seasons, every game against ‘that other team’ not only has the usual ferocity of a rivalry, but gains even more significance because every loss you can give to your opponent, and every win your team earns counts all the more. When neither team can afford to lose the game, rivalries are intensified, and this desperation can easily generate new rivalries too!
5. The Gauntlet. Watching players in the ‘gauntlet’, testing their athleticism, durability, and mental toughness is something that can bring fans closer to the players. To see the determination and character of your favorite team in a shortened season brings new perspective and respect for professional athletes that dedicate themselves to the sport.
4. BFF’s. No matter the sport, shortened seasons with games squeezed into a smaller timeframe force teammates to become close. As teams play more often and go on the road together, we can see the evidence on the playing surface. Have you ever noticed the camaraderie that shortened seasons bring?
3. Cold Hard Cash Money. Fewer games means money saved on tickets not bought. Although we all love getting to the arena, spending less on tickets and getting to see more intense games when we do is definitely an oft forgotten benefit of short seasons. Also, TV and streaming subscription services cost less than their standard prices in shortened seasons, putting money right back in your pocket.
2. Running on empty? Having played fewer games all year, the players have a lot left in the tank come playoff-time. You want your team playing its best and most energetic games in the playoffs and not having to push through a grueling regular season can help teams accomplish just that. Energy is abundant in the playoffs, which makes your glorious, anxiety-inducing run to the championship that much more exciting.
1. Silver Lining. Short seasons are a whole lot better than not having a season at all! Blame who you want for issues preventing a full season on a particular year, but don’t we all sigh in relief once the announcement comes that there will at least be a shortened season?
As fans, we view the successes and failures of our teams emotionally and shortened seasons have the ability to heighten the intensity we feel during those successes and failures. In the disappointment of a good team missing the mark or the shock of a mediocre team making a run, we might yell a little bit louder during a shortened season because of the reasons we love sports in the first place.
| By Isaac Clark.
Isaac is a writer at Sports Unlimited. |
Life is good plans to donate 10% of their net profits in 2013 to help kids in need! Shop Life is good today, and help kids everywhere.
With the lofty goal of spreading optimism globally, the apparel company with a heart, Life is good, has pledged to donate 10% of their net profits for 2013 to help kids in need.
Through their non-profit Life is good Kids Foundation, the money will directly fund the Life is good Playmakers Program, which provides training and support to childcare professional all around the world. Giving these professional tools and training, the Playmakers Program helps to ensure children everywhere get to grow up healthy and cared for, feeling safe and loved.
To date co-founders Bert and John Jacobs have already raised more than $9.5 million for the foundation and kids in need. In the past, 100% of the funds have come from money raised through the annual Life is good Festival (a two-day celebration of music and joy), community fundraising, special Life is good products, and all profits from John and Bert’s speaking engagements.
Now, by adding 10% of its net profits to their already huge fund raising ventures, Life is good has reinforced their commitment to children and upped the ante on how a brand can drive social change!
Aiming to raise a combined $2 million for kids in 2013, the company hopes to use their business as a source of positive purpose in this world. With this new pledge, it’s simpler than ever to help, says co-founder Bert Jacobs. “When you do business with Life is good, you help kids in need.”
“Our community, including each of you, who choose to focus on what is right with the world even when it’s not perfect, will always drive our brand,” said Jacobs. “This beautiful road trip has only just begun.”
Know the latest NCAA lacrosse rules for stringing your lax head in 2013.
In September of 2012, the NCAA announced plans to update and change a number of lacrosse regulations, all of which go into effect at the start of the 2013 season. For some, this might be old news, but I’ve found that many parents and players are still unaware of, or confused by the changes.
So here’s what you need to know;
Basically, this rule attempts to prevent really low shooters, and makes any V or U shooting strings illegal, restricting players to two basic two cross shooting strings. This ruling may seem frustrating, since most players are used to stringing their lacrosse heads with a V or U shooting string, but the NCAA’s aim was to prevent unfair pocket hold, and not directly outlaw V stringing.
This rule keeps additional strings off the sidewalls, reducing excess hold on the ball.
When any pocket is stick-checked, in addition to tipping the crosse forward and backward, referees must also ensure that the ball can come out of any pocket, when placed in the back of the pocket, and pushed in to create a reverse pocket.
Refs will hold the lacrosse shaft parallel to the ground, face down, and then push the pocket through to create a reverse of the pocket. With the ball in the deepest part of the reverse pocket, the ball must come out when turned 180 degrees.
If any lacrosse stick fails a random stick check, the team gets a 1 minute foul, and the stick is kept at the scorer’s table until the game is over. This is different than previous rulings, which allowed a player to fix his pocket, to meet regulations, and then return the stick to play.
It’s important to note though, that while the new rules may not directly apply to all high school lacrosse players, many clubs and colleges across the country are now encouraging younger players to re-string their heads to meet these NCAA rules, to prepare them for upper levels of play.
In all, these new lacrosse rules make it easier, or at least more reasonable, to knock the ball out of the pocket, with the aim of maintaining fair play, retaining the merit of the game, and keeping players safe.
The NCAA and other officials noticed that attackers and middies were continuously running through traffic without ever losing the ball, despite significant pressure from the defense. It quickly became obvious that ball handling lacrosse skills were not solely to blame for this, and that some modern stringing methods were basically making it nearly impossible to dislodge the ball from the pocket.
What these new 2013 NCAA lacrosse rules attempt to accomplish is a game that focuses more on moving the ball than moving with the ball, while at the same time, trying to prevent escalation as defenders learn to check harder to get the ball out of deep pockets.
As with most rule changes in sports, there are people on both sides of the argument. Some players and coaches find the changes erroneous and arbitrary, and believe they will do little besides slow down the game and confuse players and parents. Others see this as a step forward to making the game fairer, and faster with more ball movement.
However, there are still others who have almost no opinion at all, and have simply changed and moved on, understanding that rules change and players adapt. Most believe, that at some point, master stringers and kids will find news ways of stringing their heads within the new rules, to develop the same solid hold they could get from low shooters and multiple side wall strings. For them, it’s only a matter of time.
But how about you? What do you think of these new lacrosse rules, and what do they do for the game as whole?
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By Brandon Porter.Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited. |
A big merry Christmas, and a happy and healthy New Year to everyone, from all of us here at Sports Unlimited!
From everyone here at Sports Unlimited, have a merry Christmas, and a happy and a healthy new year! Thanks for stopping by, sharing your thoughts, and making us the place to get all of your favorite sports gear and apparel this year. We hope to see you again in 2013…and I promise you, we have plenty of surprises, incredible new products, and great articles coming your way in the new year! See you then!
-Brandon, and everyone here at the Sports Unlimited family.
| By Brandon Porter.
Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited. |
