Robbins Sports Blog

In today’s society, health and fitness are the craze everyone seems to be riding. From starting a pick-up game with friends to kayaking in the ocean, people are doing everything under the sun to get in shape. While pondering the topic of exercise, I began wondering what differentiates hobbies and sports. Why are certain activities considered sports and other are mere hobbies? The following is a checklist that must be fully addressed before a hobby can be considered a sport.

1. You must break a sweat.

A hobby is something that is done to relax. A sport is something you do in order to increase physical fitness. Thus, in order to qualify as a sport, the activity must be something that requires participants to break a sweat.

2. No relaxing, leisurely activities

If you wake up one weekend and think to yourself, “How can I have fun today?”, chances are you are not participating in a sport. A sport requires rigorous physical activity. It cannot be something that fills the need for rest and relaxation. A perfect example of this is golf. Walking around a grassy nook for five hours – if you, in fact, choose to decline the standard golf cart approach – is not a sport. When people schedule their vacations around an activity, it cannot be considered a sport.

3. Risk

If there is no chance that you might get hurt, it is not a sport. As mentioned before, sports are rigorous and physical. In addition, the people against whom you compete are generally physical as well. So, in sports there is definitely a risk factor associated with it.

4. Training

Engaging in something that does not require extensive training is not a sport. Do you think that Michael Jordan or Derek Jeter simply woke up one morning and thought, I think I will play a professional sport today? No. In their particular cases, they have spent year preparing themselves for the hardships of their respective sports. If you are “playing” something that does not require training, it is not a sport.

5. Ball, Race or Competition

If there is no ball, race or some other type of competition involved, it is not a sport.

6. National or International Competitions

Activities that do not have national or international competitions or ranking systems in any way, shape or form are not sports. Much like the Olympics or the World Cup, national and international competitions are set up for sports. Furthermore, when dealing with these types of competitions, participants and viewers alike can learn who is the best.

7. Organization

A sport must be affiliated with some sort of organization. If a group simply goes out to the backyard and makes up a physical activity with their own self-implemented rules, that is not a sport. A perfect example of this is Four Square. Four Square is a hobby people, not a sport!

A plethora of physical activities exist for physical fitness and amusement alike. However, just because something contains an element of physicality does not mean it is necessarily a sport. Keep in mind that the list above is not all-inclusive, but if your “sport” does not live up these criteria, it is not a sport.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales at Robbins Sports and Athletics, an online provider of Portable Scoreboards, Gym Bags and other forms of Athletic Apparel and Equipment

When looking to get artwork done on baseball or basketball uniforms (ie: a team name and logo), there are basically two options. The first is called Tackle Twill. You might think of this as the 3-D option, as another layer or two is sewn on to the uniforms, depending on the team name or logo. The second option is called Screen Printing. For this option, essentially, the manufacturer uses ink specifically produced for jerseys and prints it onto the blank jerseys in whichever format the customer wants.

So, what is the difference between Tackle Twill and Screen Printing? It can be expressed in one word – Quality. When you watch professionals on television, especially in baseball, they are sporting jerseys decked out with tackle twill. Have you ever been watching a game and said to yourself “man, those jerseys are nice?” Chances are the jerseys that you complimented were made with tackle twill. Now, I am not saying that Screen Printing is not aesthetically pleasing or of poor quality. On the contrary! Screen Printing is very nice. However, the difference between Tackle Twill and Screen Printing is much like the difference between the majors and the minors. One is of the highest quality and one is a step down. In addition, much like major league players get higher salaries than minor league players, Tackle Twill is more costly than Screen Printing because of the labor and materials that go into making it.

Essentially, the moral of the story is as follows. If you want really nice jerseys, get the Tackle Twill. But, be prepared to pay a little more for it. If you want really nice jerseys, which may be a step down from top of the line, get Screen Printing.

Robbins Sports is an online provider of Gym Bags, Uniforms, and other various Athletic Apparel and Equipment

I love volleyball and I love to get together with friends and play.  Often, when we get together, we have a few people who have either never played before or haven’t played very much.  The nice thing about volleyball is it can be a lot of fun and you don’t need a whole lot of skill or playing time to just have fun.  Here are just a few helpful hints to give you a nice start if you are not very familiar with the sport:

1) When you are bumping the ball, do not interlock your fingers.  That can really hurt yourself and the ball won’t go in the direction you want it to.  Instead, make one hand into a fist and place your other hand around it where both of your thumbs are side-by-side on top facing out in front of you.  I also see a lot of people trying to slap the ball with their hands flat.  That is not usually very effective unless you are spiking it over the net or blocking.

2) As you make contact with the ball when you are bumping it, don’t swing your arms.  To get the ball to go forward instead of backward or straight up, you simply move your arms slightly in the direction you want it to go.  You really don’t even need to move your arms if you are still having trouble with this.  What you don’t want to be doing is swinging your arms.

3)  A good underhand serve should not be too difficult.  Hold the ball in your left hand (assuming you are right-handed).  With your right, turn your arm so your wrist is facing up.  Make a small fist but pull it back so your wrist is what hits the ball.  Then with a gentle, but firm motion, pull your arm back and then forward, hitting the ball out of your hand.  Your right hand should not hit the left hand holding the ball.  It does not work too well to pop the ball up with your left hand and then try hitting it with your right.

Find Volleyballs and Practice Equipment at RobbinsSports.com

I don’t know if you saw the final game in the Eastern Conference Finals, but if you did, wasn’t that the most annoying thing in the entire world? How is it possible that an entire technical support team could not get the scoreboard and shot clock working? The game was delayed for about an hour. And then, when they finally got the game started again, the announcers had to tell the players when time was almost up. In my opinion, this was the single greatest debacle in the modern era of NBA basketball. All of the air and excitement were taken out the game. Incidents of this nature kind of make you take your focus off of the superstar sports figures and be more appreciative of the so-called “nerds” who spend countless hours devising life-changing inventions. As a society, we should really give credit to these little geniuses. Our lives would be so different than what they are today. Think of what your everyday life would be comprised of without the following inventions.

1. The Portable Shot Clock and Scoreboard.

Now, you may not be a sports fan, but still, without shot clocks and scoreboards, basketball is not only hard to play for the participants, but is also hard for the viewers to follow.

2. Instant Replay.

Over the past few years, we have come to the understanding that the officials are not always right. In fact, sometimes they make flat out stupid mistakes. In the past, games have hinged on whether or not the officials have gotten the call right. And, when they get them wrong, it is an outrage. But now that officials have the luxury of turning to replays, they make the right calls. Some say replays taint the spirit of the game. However, I say fair is fair, and the replays don’t lie.

3. Cell Phones

To illustrate how accustomed we have come to having wireless phoning capabilities at the touch of our fingers, I will tell a story about my grandma. While visiting her, we had a discussion about the latest technological wave. She doesn’t see the need for cell phones and Ipods and things of that nature. But when I asked her, how her friends knew where she was or how to get in touch with her, she said “What do you mean, how did they know where I was? I was at home.” Wow, without cell phones, we would have to sit at home, waiting for people to call us. Now, we can go wherever we want and still get in touch with whomever we need to.

4. The Internet

Remember when the internet didn’t exist? No? Yeah, me neither. Currently, I work for Robbins Sports and Athletics, which is an online provider of sports apparel and equipment. Without the internet, I would be out of a job. But, it goes further than that. Ask yourself when the last time was you went a whole day without using the internet. From checking you email to running a business online, the internet is used so much, so often. I remember a time when to do light research on a certain topic, I had to go to the library. What a waste of time. Now, just hop online and surf the web to find everything about any topic that suits your interest.

5. The Automobile

This past spring, I went down to Arizona to watch the San Francisco Giants during spring training. Currently I reside in Utah, so the trip took us 10 hours to get there and 10 hours to get back. It seemed as if we were driving forever. Then, I realized how long it would have taken us before the advent of the automobile. Imagine riding a horse across an entire state. It would take over a week. The automobile was such an amazing invention

6. The Telephone

Now, you may be thinking that the telephone and the cell phone are pretty much one and the same, but they are not. Before the cell phone you could still call people in hopes that they would be there. But, before the telephone, you had to write letters. Correspondence used to take forever. First you would write to someone. Then, a horseman or ship would deliver the letter. After which, the recipient would write back and the letter would again be delivered by horse or ship. Imagine how long that would take. The telephone definitely revolutionized our way of living.

7. The Oven

Fire was a monumental discovery by early man. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that we want to use it to cook our meals day in and day out. Roasting dinner on an open flame was good enough for cavemen, but we are a little more advanced than that. We need to appreciate that we no longer have to use a spit to prepare meals.

8. The Printing Press

Johann Gutenberg was definitely ahead of his time. Apart from instigating the Reformation, allowing people to read religious works for themselves, he totally revamped the way people think. Before the printing press, the layman was forced to rely on priests and monks to do their thinking for them. Nowadays, we have unlimited resources at the click of a mouse. Just think, would you want to expand your knowledge level if you had to go talk to some old guy in a dress every time you were looking for some information? I doubt. That is why the printing press was so great. It gives you the freedom to think for yourself.

9. Electricity.

Almost everything we do in this day and age uses electricity. Whether you are reading a book by a lamp or working on an international business deal, electricity is used in every situation. God bless Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison for allowing us to stay up past sunset and still have light see.

10. Indoor Plumbing/ The Toilet

This one is pretty much self-explanatory. Who would want to use out-houses for the rest of their life? Or, I guess if you are not into using out-houses, you could just go into the wild and do your business. Hygiene has definitely progressed over the years, and indoor plumbing has to be regarded as one of the best concepts ever.

To sum up, our lives would be very different from what they are today if there weren’t people in this world willing to take the time to think about how to improve upon what we already have. Lebron James and their shot clock/scoreboard travsty reminded me of the appreciation and gratitude we should show to the innovators of the world.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales for RobbinsSports.com, an online resource for Portable Scoreboards and Team Sports Equipment

Muary Thai (sometimes called just Thai) boxing is different from typical western style boxing in that fighters are allowed to use their legs to kick or knee the opponent.  They are also allowed to use their elbows.  To accomodate training for the sport, Muay Thai bags are longer than standard boxing punching bags.  This allows Thai boxers to train using their legs in addition to punching.

Muay Thai punching bags are also normally thinner in diameter than punching bags used for boxing.  Although a standard six-foot bag can be beneficially used for boxers training for Muay Thai, the longer, thinner shape of Thai bags is a better accomodation for the types of attack moves involved in Muay Thai’s eight point (2 hands, 2 elbows, 2 knees, and 2 shins) philosophy.

Once upon a time, the two-handed chest pass and the sky hook were enviable skills among basketball players. Similarly, in baseball, most players used to be contact hitters who prided themselves on being an all-around player who could not only hit, but also field and run. In previous years, they really did believe in the age-old adage “practice makes perfect.” However, in our day and age, we see things very differently. Now, I am not saying that we have thrown out practice drills altogether, rather, in sports today practicing hard and developing skills are pretty much a given. Furthermore, children on the playgrounds are not exactly lining up to practice hook shots or bunting. Instead, they try to perfect the homerun ball and the monster dunk. And why? Because they know that skill is only a fraction of what is needed to be successful in sports.

For example, in 1966 Pat Riley, the legendary NBA head coach led his team to the college title game. In those days, he stood a mere 6’3”. Yet, he started at the center position. Nowadays, a 6’3” player is considered a small guard and would be exploited as a week link. However, he and his fellow wildcats were very adept regarding precision passing and shooting with the right form.

As another, more recent, example, take a look at Doug Flutie. He was an amazing college quarterback who brought his team back from a fourth quarter deficit to win the game on what may very well be the greatest Hail Mary of all time. Flutie was able to accomplish so much because of his football intelligence and his will to win. However, once making it to the NFL, he struggled to say the least.

The point I am trying to get at is the fact that skill is no longer what differentiates between the good and the great. Now, everyone and their dog have skill. Skill can only take you so far. So, one question arises – If skill is not the main determinant as to whether or not a player can make it all the way to the top, what is? The answer – Breeding. Take Lebron James for instance. Do you really think that he could be one of the NBA’s best on skill alone? To answer that question, let me pose another question – Could miniscule Steve Nash posterize Tim Duncan with a monstrous dunk the way Lebron did? No way. The reason Lebron is so good is because he is a freak of nature. He is simply bigger, stronger and faster than anyone else. In fact, there are several players in the NBA who are much more skillful than him. But they are not, nor ever will be, King James. Another example is Vince Young. His throwing arm is not that good. His football IQ is not that high. But, have you seen the guy play? No one can catch him. And if someone by sheer luck does finally catch him, they can’t tackle him. Like Lebron, he is too big and too fast to handle. And how did these young men get to be that way? Breeding.

So, to sum up, skill used to be the most important attribute in previous generations. But as previously state, nowadays skill can only take you so far. Let’s face it. Some people were born to be great athletes and some were born to be rocket scientists. The fact that I am 5’10”, 175 pounds does not lend to becoming the all-time great in any sport under the sun. Even if I were to practice every day, acquiring absolutely brilliant skill, I would be no match for the top players in today’s sports world. Honestly, it is a bit surprising that we didn’t realize this sooner, what with all the father and son tandems through the years. Do you think that Barry Bonds or Ken Griffey Junior would have been such powerhouse hitters if they didn’t have athletic fathers? What about the Manning family or Rick Barry and his sons? There is absolutely no way that they would have ever achieved their respective levels of success without superior breeding. Again, skill can only take you so far.

Robbins Sports and Athletics provides the latest and greatest in Gym Bags and Athletic Apparel.

Attending a Basketball game and having to worry about the wires trailing across the gym floor to the scoreboard is not only a potential hazard waiting to happen, but plain annoying.  Setting it up each time and messing with the wires and then worrying about it is too much.  I think portable scoreboards make it easier and are worry-free.  You can move it around with ease, hang it up on the wall, take it outside for an event, set it on the ground or a table, and you can store it easily.

For more on portable scoreboards, visit RobbinsSports.com

Michael Jordan is touted as one of the best players, if not the best, in NBA history. After playing a few years in North Carolina, where his Tar Heels were victorious over Patrick Ewing’s Georgetwon Hoyas in the NCAA Tournament Final Game, Jordan decided to make the jump into the NBA – the operative word being jump. During his first few years, as other young players struggled, Jordan quickly proved he was a force to be reckoned with. With his insane ahtleticism and poised demeanor under pressure, he built a name for himself – Superman

Fast forward 20 years to the present. Now, it is Lebron’s turn. Instead of playing college ball, Lebron James went straight from high school into the NBA. However, for the past 4 years, he has electrified every basketball fan, on every stage, in every city. He is the complete package. He can shoot, he can get to the basket, he can pass and he can play defense. In short, he can flat out play.

But, you may be asking yourself, ‘Can Lebron really be compared to Michael Jordan just because he is also a good player?’

The answer is yes. The following is a list of similarities between the two that should convince you why.

(1) They both are number 23. Now, this may a simple coincidence, but honestly, it’s very interesting that the player with the most skill and future potential who has entered the league since Jordan’s departure just happens to wear the same number.

(2) They both have been given names that connote having abilities which place them on a higher plateau than the rest of the field. Michael Jordan was named Superman, Lebron, King James. Now, why has only Lebron been bestowed with such a title? Other good players such as Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Tim Duncan have entered the league, torching the competition. But they lack the esteem that has been given to Lebron James. Makes you wonder a little.

(3) Both Lebron James and Michael Jordan have the uncanny ability to take over a game at will. Much like Jordan did during the 90’s, Lebron scored 29 out the last 30 Cavaliers’ points against one of the stingiests defenses in the league. There is no way that can be a fluke. Aside from that, Lebron James and Michael Jordan also make the players around them better. Unlike some of the other premier players in the league (ahem, Kobe Bryant, ahem), when players play with Lebron, for some reason or other, they have career years. You may be thinking that Steve Nash also does this so he is like Jordan. While it is true that Nash makes everyone around him better, he cannot take over the game with consistency like Lebron and Jordan. Lebron is the only player in the game right now who can be a ball hog and play maker on the same night, day in and day out.

(4) Lastly, do you remember Jordan’s ascent into the NBA’s top eschelon? He made the playoffs early in his career, but it took him awhile to actually win the championship. Similarly, Lebron has led his team to the playoffs almost every year of his career, only to be thwarted by opposition. And who has that opposition been year after year? The Pistons. Wait, who did Jordan have trouble with early in his playoff career? Oh, yeah, the Pistons. And who did Jordan and Lebron finally beat to get to the championship? The Pistons. Pretty similar, don’t you think?

Now, does this mean that Lebron James is going to mirror Jordan’s career and become one of the best payers in history. Maybe, maybe not. But their early careers are so similar that I would not be surprised if Lebron does, in fact, go on to do great things like Jordan.

Nishan Wilde is the VP of Sales at Robbins Sports and Athletics, an online provider of Basketball Uniforms and Gym Bags