Chiefs Top Swooning Redskins For First Win Of Season

By Ross Everett

The offensively struggling Kansas City Chiefs have finally found a way to win-play a team with a more stagnant offense than their own. The Chiefs gave Todd Haley his first win as a NFL head coach on Sunday with a---6 win over the Washington Redskins. Kansas City won despite not scoring a touchdown, compiling their-- points via 4 Ryan Succop field goals and a game ending safety.

To successfully bet on NFL football you occasionally have to put aside W/L records and look at the underlying statistics. Those who did that found reason to take Kansas City as +6' road underdogs and were rewarded with the outright victory. Kansas City is now 2-4 against the NFL pointspread and has covered two straight while Washington is a dismal 1-5 versus the money.

After the contest, Haley sounded more relieved than excited about finally putting a "W" on the board:

"We made it pretty difficult, right down to the end. We've pushed through a very difficult period. We needed to get some positive reinforcement with a win."

Kansas City QB Matt Cassel also won for the first time since coming over from New England in the off season. His postgame comments were more upbeat:

"There's been a lot of change, but this has definitely been special. We rose to the occasion. We made some big plays. We put ourselves in a position to score points."

Embattled Redskins' coach Jim Zorn was stripped of his offensive play calling duties by team management after the contest. In one of his last decisions in that role, he pulled starter Jason Campbell at halftime and went with Todd Collins. He explained his move as follows:

"I felt the need to create a spark on our football team offensively and went with Todd. I think the guys responded well. We kept our spark, at times, and then we refizzled."

The Redskins have managed to win only two of their first six games despite being the only team in NFL history to play their first six games of the season against winless opponents. They'll get another chance to silence their doubters next Monday night as they host the Philadelphia Eagles. They'll have a bye the next week and return to action on November 8th against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Kansas City will try to string together back to back wins as they host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. - 42635

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer and noted authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

The MMA Legacy Of Helio Gracie

By Ross Everett

Gracie family patriarch and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu pioneer Helio Gracie died in early 2009 in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 95. Its impossible to overestimate his influence on martial arts, and particularly his pathbreaking role in what is now the sport of mixed martial arts. The Gracie family name will forever be synonymous with Brazilian sports, jiu-jitsu, MMA and the UFC--not only due to Helios own accomplishments but the legacy he created both by training others and through his family.

Helio Gracie began training in judo early in life, and by the age of 16 had already begun to teach others in his native Brazil. He was bothered by judo's reliance on 'brute strength', however, and along with his brother Carlos began to adapt many of its forms to a new fighting system more reliant on leverage than strength. This prompted the creation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), frequently called Gracie Jiu Jitsu in his honor.

Gracie also had a professional fighting career of his own, taking on champions from other fighting disciplines in an early version of modern MMA. These bouts were grueling, unregulated affairs with rules that were often made up as they went along and time limits that seem barbaric by todays standards. By his own recollection, he had 15 fights against the top fighters of his day. These included pro wrestlers, boxers and other martial arts specialists.

Gracie's most famous opponent was against legendary Japanese judoka Masahiko Kimura. Gracie fought bravely in a losing cause, and ironically may have enhanced his reputation in defeat. He refused to submit to a reverse arm bar (the move that is now known as a 'kimura' in honor of its inventor), and the fight ended after his brother Carlos threw in the towel after Helio's arm had been broken.

Helio Gracie's impact on fight sports and mixed martial arts would continue through his offspring. Married twice, he had seven sons (Rickson, Royler, Rolker, Royce, Relson, Robin and Rorion) and two daughters (Rerika and Ricci), many of whom went on to make their own mark on the fight sport world. Royce Gracie is well known as the first UFC superstar, while sons Rickson Royler, Renzo have also achieved considerable fame in professional MMA.

The cause of Gracies death was officially given as natural causes. He had been having stomach problems for several days prior to his passing, and was admitted to a Rio hospital for this reason. His seriously epic last words will go down as a fitting envoi to a man who gave so much of himself to fighting:

"I created a flag from the sports dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection and nerves of blood. - 42635

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Celtics Advance As LeBron's Cavs Head Home

By Ross Everett

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished the NBA's regular season with the league's best record, and LeBron James won the Most Valuable Player award in the process. Despite this success, the Cavs will be watching the rest of the NBA playoffs on TV. Cleveland was eliminated by the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, losing game six by a final score of 94-85. Boston will now face the Orlando Magic for the right to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.

The Cavs had won two of the first three games before the Celtics rebounded to win the last three en route to the series victory. In game six, Boston was priced as a -1' point NBA betting favorite and easily covered the pointspread. The 179 combined points scored went well UNDER the posted total of 194. Heading into Game 6, Cleveland had taken the money in 8 of the last 12 games held at Boston's TD BankNorth Garden.

LeBron James didn't go down without a fight, however, as he put up a 'triple double' consisting of 27 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists. Mo Williams added 22 points, but the Cavs received little production from the rest of the roster. For the game, the Celtics' bench outscored their Cleveland counterparts 24-13.

Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with 22 points and 12 rebounds, and afterward credited his team's experience:

"Winning is gratifying. You're playing the best team in basketball; the challenge is there; you don't have to dress it up. One thing we don't lack is confidence. We're a veteran team and we understand when it's time to lock in as a group. I think we did just that. I think the experience is taking over."

LeBron, meanwhile, was in a state of disbelief:

"The fact that it's over right now is definitely a surprise to me. A friend of mine told me, 'I guess you've got to go through a lot of nightmares before you realize your dream.' That's what's going on for me individually right now."

LeBron is eligible to opt out of his contract this summer and there's no shortage of teams that would love to have him. For now, he's keeping his cards close to the vest:

"I want to win. That's my only thing, my only concern. I've always prided myself -- it's all about winning for me and I think the Cavs are committed to doing that. But at the same time, I've given myself options to this point. Me and my team, we have a game plan that we'll execute and we'll see where we're at."

The Celtics will now face the Orlando Magic, who have rampaged through the first two rounds of the playoffs. Orlando's conference semifinal sweep of the Atlanta Hawks was the most dominating 4 game series victory in NBA history, with an average per game margin of victory of 25.2 points. - 42635

About the Author:

Ross Everett is considered among the world's foremost experts on several topics, including wombat racing, sports betting, and figure skating. He is a consulting handicapper for Oddsbay and in charge of setting daily soccer betting odds . He lives in Las Vegas with several retired circus animals.

Key Qualities That Make A Good Corporate Photographer

By Nadine Phillips

Corporate photography has become an essential service for firms of all kinds and sizes, but selecting a good person for this task is not simple. Other forms of photography may not require the same skills and techniques that are needed in corporate photography; hence a general professional photographer may not actually be a good corporate photographer.

Companies planning to hire a corporate photographer should look for some key qualities and verify the experience of the candidate to ensure that he can deliver good output.

Versatility is an important quality that a corporate photographer must possess, so that he can handle multiple types of tasks and responsibilities like events coverage, ad photography, or taking attractive pictures of the company's products. A good corporate photographer should always be prepared to manage and do a good job at all these varied tasks.

Corporate events are hit-or-miss affairs that don't allow the photographer to plan his angles or to shoot retakes, and so he cannot afford loss of his alertness. A corporate event does not always happen by a fixed pattern and a relaxed approach on part of the photographer will reflect poorly on his work. Therefore, a corporate photographer must have a good presence of mind and must always be conscious of the happenings around him.

It is also quite important for a corporate photographer to be able to extract the most of the resources provided to him. For instance, he may have to work in a packed venue with dim light, especially when the corporate event is an indoor one. Even in such challenging circumstances, he must be capable of taking good quality pictures.

Another crucial aspect that must be looked into is the working style and personality of the photographer. It is important for a corporate photographer to be sensitive towards the company's preferences and requirements. A good photographer should be able to build a good rapport with the employees, as they have to be comfortable when the pictures are being taken at official or casual events in the company. In addition, the photographer has to be pleasant and friendly, and must be a nice person to communicate and work with.

It is advisable to go through the photographer's portfolio and see some samples, and not allow yourself to be prejudiced by his standing in the market alone. It is also important to engage all the prospective candidates in one to one interviews in order to evaluate how suitable their personalities are and make sure that they will suit your particular needs to perfection. - 42635

About the Author:

Find out more about the best food photographers who are also top in their field for bridal photography.

Simple Ideas For Office Renovations

By Syd Jacobs

Office renovations can be stressful and disruptive to work. Some renovations are quick and painless, but some are not. If your office is being redecorated, or you are considering doing it yourself, there are a few things you should expect.

The first step in any redecoration project is to determine why you are doing the project. People renovate for many different reasons, and your decorating choices be taken in consideration with your needs. For instance, are you buying a space that was previously used for another type of industry, such as a boutique, but you intend to turn it into a tanning salon? Do you want to create space or divide space? Is the office just old or boring looking? Updating an office space can be a great way to improve employee morale and attract more customers and clients.

Painting is a fantastic way to spice up an office. Most office spaces are barren and white, so adding a splash of color can completely change the aura of the room. Painting is laborious but simple, which makes it the perfect starting point. Plus, there are several stylistic techniques if you want to do more than just a solid color. Rooms may be painted with vertical or horizontal stripes to add some dimension.

When you are satisfied with the color of your walls, the next step is hang art. Even a freshly painted wall could look empty, especially if the wall is long or narrow. Paintings come in every size and style, so it is easy to customize an office through art. Other ways to add to your walls are to install decorative sconces and shelving. Shelves can hold books, statuettes, or any thing else you can think of.

Depending on the function of your office, you might try adding some more stylish furniture. This technique is great for offices that have a waiting room area. An overstuffed chair in a corner can really bring a room to light, and is easy combined with coffee tables or end tables for a fuller look. Buying new furniture does not have to be expensive, there are hundreds of consignment companies and second hand stores carrying quality pieces for reasonable prices.

Take advantage of the chaos by having the employee areas touched up if possible. Installing senor toilets and facets and adding a hand drier to the bathroom are great ways to cut down on overhead expenses and can help the environment as well. If you bought a new refrigerator for the break room, you should discuss disposal of the old one with your contractor. You may need to pay a disposal fee, or you could attempt to sell the refrigerator. Contractors frequently do this with the appliance they remove from your space, so why not sell it yourself?

Adding or tearing down walls can drastically change a room, and it can be messy during construction. If you are changing a room you might need to discuss the electrical needs of the room, such as the number of electrical outlets needed, the type of lighting you are going to have, and if you want a ceiling fan installed. If you do not share this information prior to the start of construction, you probably will not end up with the correct wiring for your needs. Some machinery requires larger breakers, so be sure to bring it up.

The final tip to think about when renovating an office is the flooring. Floors are generally tile, wood, concrete or carpet, but within each category there are infinite options. For example, wood floors can be made out of real or fake wood, and are offered in a variety of colors. Concrete floors can be stained, sealed, or painted. You can switch from one flooring type to another to divide a large space or stick to one type through your entire office. There is no limit to what can be done during a renovation period, so be sure you view many options before you make your decisions. - 42635

About the Author:

What would an office be without office desks? In our office, we have three desks. Office interiors are important as they help keep you focused on your work.

Reasons That A Daybed Toronto Is Great For Any Child

By Adriana Noton

There are many things that you are going to have to think about if you are a parent and having a comfortable bedroom for your child is one of them. The thing to remember when you are choosing a bed is that many children love to have friends sleep over and a daybed Toronto is a great way to make that happen. Plus you are going to be able to have a room that your child is attracted to and happy in as well.

When you have to pick out a bed for your child you might find that you actually have a hard time. One reason for this is that there are just so many different types of beds like the futon Toronto and the bunk bed Toronto. A day bed can save space but still be comfortable and look nice in any style of room.

With so many daybed styles out there one is going to be perfect for your child and it only takes a little thought to find the right one. There are even those with a second bed in the form of a trundle which you can hide when not in used under the daybed. Then you might find one that is more sofa like during the day which provides the perfect place to hang out and enjoy their room.

Having two beds that can convert into one is a great thing for parents who have two children that must share a room. When you can tuck a bed away you will have more space in your room. Saving space is a great way to make a smaller room seem bigger.

One of the top advantages is that the bed is comfortable and will be a great place for any child to sleep. Plus it is a convenient way to be able to have more sleeping space. Even if you only have one child you can use the extra bed when you have guests or when they have friends sleep over.

Bunk beds might be something else that you would consider but the daybed is going to be safer which can be a sigh of relief. There is no chance of falling from high places and less fears since no one is above or below them. So you are going to be able to ease a lot of worries that your child and you might have.

If you want to have the perfect room for your child you are not going to have to worry about finding the perfect daybed. Daybeds can come in any style and be made from any material. So you are going to be able to find one for a traditionally decorated room just as easily as one that is more modern.

Keep in mind that when you redecorate a room for your child that a daybed Toronto or a Futon Toronto can be the best choice. There is not a reason that you are going to have to look at special mattresses Toronto. So since you can choose any mattress Toronto that is comfortable for your child there are less additional expenses. - 42635

About the Author:

Buying a Daybed Toronto will be one of the best self-investments you will ever make. Visit our unusually large showroom to find your good nights sleep.

Swedish Heavyweight Champ Ingemar Johansson In Profile

By Ross Everett

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Ingemar Johannson died at a nursing home in his native Kungsbacka, Sweden at the age of 76 early in 2009. No official cause of death was given, but Johansson recently returned to the nursing home after a difficult bout with pneumonia. Johansson had moved to the nursing home on the Swedish coast from Stockholm over ten years ago after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia.

Johannson became a worldwide fistic superstar when he knocked out Floyd Patterson in the third round of their June'59 fight to become heavyweight champion of the world. At the time, he was only the 5th champ to be born outside of the United States. He wasn't given much of a chance going into the fight due to his lax training and frequent partying during the weeks before the bout.

While his training methods may not have been particularly disciplined, his performance in the Yankee Stadium fight made up for it. After a tentative first two rounds, Johannson floored Patterson with a quick right hand early in the third. As there was no 'three knockdown' rule in effect, Johannson would eventually knock Patterson down a total of seven times before referee Ruby Goldstein stopped the fight and awarded him the victory.

Patterson would regain the title just under a year later, becoming the first man to ever regain the heavyweight championship. Patterson was on top of Johannson from the opening bell, and eventually knocked his opponent out cold in the fifth round with a devastating left hook. After the fight was stopped Patterson was more concerned with Johannson's well being and cradled his vanquished foe's head while medical staff attended to him.

The two men would fight again later in the year, with an exciting slugfest transpiring before the superior conditioning of Patterson took over. Patterson would put his opponent away for good in the 6th round. After that, Johannson fought only four more times against nameless opponents in his native country before retiring in'63.

Patterson and Johannson remained lifelong friends, and would travel to visit each other yearly until Patterson's death in 2006. Johannson made a number of film appearances in Sweden, and spent time in Miami every year. He enjoyed good health well into his 60's, until a variety of physical ailments took their toll.

Johannson was married and divorced twice, and is survived by five children. Ingemar Johannson enjoyed rock star like status in Sweden during his title reign, and will be remembered by the international fight community for his role in helping fuel the worldwide interest in the sweet science. - 42635

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer and highly respected authority on NFL football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.