North Korea Develops their Own Odd Game of Basketball

basketball-electronic-scoreboard

North Korea is a mystery to most of the world. Their exclusionist attitude, the brain washing of the people, and their lack of association with anything that the rest of the world is involved with, has kept most people scratching their heads as to who they really are. The rather strange visit of Dennis Rodman to North Korea, along with his own bizarre behavior, has had an effect on North Korea when it comes to the topic of basketball. It appears, that the ‘dear leader’ (Kim Jong-Il) also loves basketball, but in his typical methodology, has created his own rules for the game.
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When Sports Cheerleading Goes Wrong

cheerleading basketballThe topic of sports injuries has been escalating over the last number of years, specifically due to the long term major head injury problems that football players experience. It is odd that a focus was never placed on sports injuries in the past, when we had lower technology sports protection gear. Cheerleading doesn’t have protective sports equipment, so when there is an injury, it can be pretty severe.

1982-1983 introduced a study by the NCCSIR (The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research), covering both collegiate and high school sports injuries. Strangely, cheerleading was not included in that study, until there were two severe head injuries suffered by cheerleaders that just so happened in the same year as the study.
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The Longest Sports Games in America’s History

basketball-history

Americans are fascinated with anything sports, and this carries over into those teams, games, and players that accomplish anything on an outrageous scale. From players that dress and act strangely to an extended duration of a game, Americans soak this up, like a dry sponge, and add them as topics to talk about with their fellow fans. Sports games that extend beyond the normal bounds typically mean a game that will be a hot topic. So what are some of the longest sports games in America’s history?

A sports game that goes beyond the norm in duration is eagerly watched, with all eyes on the electronic scoreboard for points and the winning team. A record was set in tennis when Nicolas Mahut and John Isner had a match that lasted over eleven hours, covering three days.
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Some of the Best of NBA Finals History

basketball-scoreboards

Any time you ask anyone about their favorite or best moments in NBA finals history, you get a flurry of responses. Everyone has their favorite player, team or moment, and always wants to show off. Thanks to today’s technologies and mass internet, we can see the replays from the electronic scoreboards on the internet as many times as we want, and even share them in a friendly competition. Here are some of the most popular.

In 1992 Michael Jordan was unstoppable. In Game 1 of the finals, he hit six 3-pointers, just in the first half. Suddenly, he stopped, turned to the announcers and made his now famous ‘shrug’ stating he didn’t understand why he was on fire.
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Cheerleading is just ONE of the Things that is Considered Odd by the Rest of the World

cheerleading basketballAmerican was founded by people that considered themselves individual thinkers. It is therefore not surprising that this culture continued as we developed as a nation. The U.S. takes great pride in establishing unique traditions that are completely alien to other countries. Our attitude towards our sports games is often a lot more obsessive than the rest of the world and this includes the concept of cheerleading. But cheerleaders and sports fans are not the only things that differentiate Americans from other countries, there are many things that we do that, frankly, the rest of the world considers bizarre.

We have to understand the other countries are not quite as expansive as the U.S. The logistics of the sheer size of America allows us the opportunity to hop in the car and drive long distances, without even thinking about it. Other countries find our fascination with driving everywhere, rather odd.
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Cheerleading: European View on Another Odd American Tradition

cheerleading basketballAs Americans, we don’t think twice about cheerleading. This is part of our culture and we are introduced to the tradition at a very young age in school. In the U.S., a certain stigma has developed on the topic of cheerleaders, as they fight the generalized concept of ‘dumb blondes’ that usually date the jocks. The idea of ‘cheerleading’ is not one that is shared or even a consideration in other countries. Europeans are completely alienated on the topic and, it is often a topic of both amusement and irritation.

Americans take our sports very seriously; but with that, comes an idea of fun and competition. We associate sports with smiling, laughter, fans, stadiums, players, and of course, cheerleading. This is not always the case in other countries. Some cultures do not express emotions, such as smiling in public, as they feel it makes them look stupid or, in a kind of ‘Vulcan’ concept, makes them appear weak.
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The Best and: ‘What were They Thinking’ in College Basketball Cheerleading Uniforms

basketball-cheerleadingAny fan will tell you that there are many nuances involved in a college basketball game. Beyond the game itself, are the players (and the favorites), the build-up on the electronic scoreboard, and of course the continued excitement generated by the cheerleaders and dancers. The latter can take a game that could be ho-hum, and pull it up to a reveled area of frenzy. While fans are focused on the people, there is a subliminal view of the uniforms and outfits. These can make or break a cheerleading team, and therefore there is a lot of competition when it comes to design, look and color. Some of the college basketball cheerleading uniforms are winners and some are rather questionable.
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Strange NBA Facts: the Fun, the Unusual and the Odd

NBA

The fascination, obsession and passion of basketball in the U.S. has increased exponentially over the last number of years. We, as a society, cannot seem to get enough information about our favorite NBA teams and players. The internet and social media has catapulted the speed of accessing this data into an immediate gratification situation. We no longer have to wait for the evening news, but instead, get updates on everything we need. There are, however, some unusual NBA facts that few are aware of!
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Asia’s Love Affair with Basketball: Proving Might Outweighs Height

basketball-scoreboards

The competitive nature of the Asian communities is exemplified in their intense love and attitude for sports. Basketball, is by far, one of the top four favorite sports in Asian culture and there have been some controversies as to how and why it became so popular.

Many Americans seem to believe that the excellent playing of China’s top player, Yao Ming, in the 2,000’s, catapulted basketball to the front of the fray for Asian sports. While there is no doubt that Yao’s fame is top notch in China, he is not followed in the rest of the Asian countries as a main reason for their love of basketball. If you look at the number of basketball jerseys worn by fans, you will by far see more of LeBrons, Jordan and Kobe shirts, than anything else.
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How Have Field Goals Changed to 3-point Expectations for a Game?

field-goal-basketball

It seems that every season brings out a new basketball star or hot team and the bar is getting set higher and higher for the demands. In the past, a team that had an excellent percentage rating in field goals while winning the games was all that mattered. Today’s basketball has become a lot more complicated as fans seem to need better, higher and more 3-point shots.

A field goal measures the overall team effectiveness from a field standpoint. The standard points-scored-per-possession has always been the main theme of the game and author Dean Oliver, in his book “Basketball on Paper” details basketball’s four points: 40% Shooting, 25% Turnovers, 20% Rebounds, 15% Free Throws. The formula that is used was a gauge for a standard game, but the concept of ‘standard’ has made some rather drastic changes in the last few years.
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Miami Heat: Favorite for Field Goals and Everything Basketball

field-goal

NBA fans usually have their favorites when it comes to their home team, but there is a quickly rising star that is swaying even the most loyal fans to their side. Miami Heat has not only surprised and astounded with their incredible field goal averages (around 55.2%), but they are shooting at an average of 55.1% as a team!

No one ever thought that the record set in 1984-1985 by the Los Angeles Lakers could really be beaten. That season presented one of the most stellar performances by the team, with a 54.5% field goal record. The Lakers were the darlings of the NBA and the fans. While the Lakers tipped the field goal scales, there didn’t seem to be that many attempts at 3-point shots. The 1994-1995 Utah Jazz team appeared to change that trend when they doubled the number of 3-point shots and came incredibly close to matching the Lakers’ record.
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Electro-Mech Offers: Easy Basketball Team Countdown Widget for Your Website

basketball-countdown-widget

Looking for the best basketball countdown widget for your favorite team? Electro-Mech brings you an easy to use and incredible way to make sure everyone gets the latest countdown info, and it can be easily placed and found on your website. No need to spend hours trying to design your own or download an intricate software that gives you what they say is an easy way to create a widget. In less than five minutes, you can create your own basketball countdown widget design for your favorite team and look like a pro (without all of the time and effort).

Electro-Mech has designed a very easy click and add widget, available right on our website. This is not to be confused with a ‘gadget’ which can only be added to specific and proprietary websites. Our basketball countdown widget allows you the ability to decide which type of view you want, add your favorite basketball team and get a code to add to your website.
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College Recruiting for Basketball

College Recruiting for Basketball

College basketball recruiting is one of the hottest topics around. Each school is on a rapid up lane, fast paced move to catch the biggest and brightest starts. Basketball sells, and nothing sells better than a winner school team. College basketball fans are some of the most loyal and passionate in existence and the world of college basketball recruiting means success to those that pick the best. College recruiting has therefore become a pinnacle showcase, with both schools and recruiters doing everything from previewing prospective stars and their talents on the internet to going into the trenches, on-site to view the players.
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Charleston, West Virginia: A Natural Resource and Home to Great Basketball

Charleston West Virginia

Charleston, West Virginia is one of those little hidden secrets that we refer to as a ‘golden nugget’ of discovery. The most well-known individual from the area, Daniel Boone, was aware of the beauty and charm that Charleston brings to its residents. Home to many colleges and universities, there is an array of sports for fans to choose from, but there seems to be a major focus on the area’s love of basketball. The Charleston Civic Center hosts an array of games including local and national basketball teams and the basketball scoreboards are always lit with every team’s colors. The team spirit in sports is a basis for the philosophy of the town. Beyond just the industrial resources of salt and natural gas, this community brings a strength of character that reaches back into its history.
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Columbia, South Carolina: A Rich Tradition of Southern Charm and Basketball

Columbia,-South-Carolina

Columbia is the capital of South Carolina, and located at the edge of the Appalachian Mountains. There is an incredible list of colleges, universities and private schools in Columbia offering the highest level of education as well as an intense love of their sports teams. The area supports their teams with the multitude of stadiums. Basketball scoreboards are lit with the team colors and any visitor will soon join in with the excitement. If you see Columbia today, it’s hard to believe that it started out with many hurtles to overcome as a city.
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Bowling Green, Kentucky: Location, Basketball and Baseball

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Bowling Green is home to a variety of sports, mainly due to the location of Western Kentucky University, home of the Hilltoppers. The stadiums include football, basketball and hockey games and are some of the most attended games in the state. Both baseball and basketball scoreboards at the highlight of every game as points are made and crowds cheer on.

The history of Bowling Green, Kentucky is varied and reaches back to the late 1700’s when the first settlements were established. Originally a quiet rural town that relied heavily on agriculture; everything changed when the railroad came through.
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Wilt Chamberlain: The icon of basketball

Wilt Chamberlain: The icon of basketball

Philadelphia has produced a lot of great sports heroes. By far, one of the best and most well-known is Wilt Chamberlain. During his reign in basketball, “the Big Dipper’ became a name synonymous with excellence.

Wilt Chamberlain was born in 1936 and by the time he reached high school he was already a towering six feet, eleven inches. Chamberlain grew up in a racially mixed neighborhood, enjoying a relatively good childhood. His performance in basketball was supreme. He played for three years, scoring over 2,200 points at Philadelphia’s Overbrook High School. Wilt, however, had not stopped growing. He finally topped out at seven feet, one inch and everyone called him ‘the Big Dipper’ because he had to dip down to get through the doorways.
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Michael Jordan: More than just a basketball hero

Michael Jordan: More than just a basketball hero

The name of Michael Jordan conjures images of the broad smile, the friendly voice and the sports hero for kids around the world. Jordan’s image and integrity has been maintained throughout his playing and post basketball performances. He has set himself apart as one of the greatest sports icons in history.

Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1963. His family relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina to raise their kids. Early on, Michael fell in love with sports, but his choice was baseball rather than basketball. Although good at baseball, his older brother was his personal hero and played basketball; so Michael wanted to follow in his footsteps.
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Nancy Lieberman: Showing that women can get the hoops

Nancy Lieberman: Showing that women can get the hoops

If you were a basketball aficionado in 1986, you couldn’t blink without seeing Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan or Larry Bird in every publication and media channel. But 1986 was also a banner year for women and changed the face of basketball forever. This was the year the first woman joined an all male basketball team, The USBL (The United States Basketball League). This was the year for Nancy Lieberman.
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Seattle’s Best: The Kingdome

Seattle's Best: The Kingdome

The King County Multipurpose Domed Stadium might not be a name that you are familiar with, but you will know simply The Kingdome. This multipurpose stadium in Seattle Washington was home of some of Seattle’s best teams, covering the sports of baseball, football and basketball: Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders, Seattle Mariners, Seattle SuperSonics.

Opening in 1976, the Kingdome was actually visualized as far back as 1959. The existing stadiums in Seattle were simply not large enough to support any of the major leagues. The citizens of King County finally voted in approval for the Kingdome in 1968 and previewed around 100 different sites in the King County and Seattle areas for the project. Without a confirmed major league franchise, the stadium broke ground on King Street. It wasn’t until 1974 when the new stadium was awarded the NFL franchise of what would eventually be the Seattle Seahawks.
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