Robbins Sports Blog

When playing organized basketball, teams do not like to come out wearing their uniforms. Rather, they come out in their warm-ups and they do just that – warm up and break a little sweat before the game. However, the style nowadays is to shed the cumbersome, heavy jump suits and opt for a lighter option – the shooter shirt. Shooter shirts give players just the right amount of layers to break a sweat before a game, but not tire themselves out.

Now, though, one question arises: What size is the right size? Often times we have customers call in and ask how to outfit their team. They have never bought shooter shirts before and do not know which sizes will fit their players. They ask, ’shouldn’t I get the shooter shirt one size up from the jersey so it will fit over the jersey?’ Well, this is a valid concern. Shooter shirts are supposed to fit loosely over the players jersey. Otherwise it would be to tight and limit the mobility of the player during pre-game, thus going against the point of pre-game.

Designers and manufactureres alike have taken into account the fact that shooter shirts have to go over jerseys and have adjusted the sizes accordingly. So, if your player has a large jersey, he or she should get a large shooter shirt, which will fit over the jerseys perfectly. When buying a shooter shirt, trust the knowledge and know-how of the manufacturers and get the same size shooter shirt as jersey.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales for Robbins Sports and Athletics, an online provider of Portable Scoreboards, Baseball Uniforms and Basketball Hoops.

Last week, former Senator George Mitchell revealed his long anticipated anti-steroid report. In it were the names of players past and present, superstarts and nobodies. In the 409-page report, 86 players were named as having used steroids. Included were 7 MVPs and 31 All-stars. The proverbial boat has been rocked leaving baseball fans in quite a predicament – is baseball credible anymore?

However, after the dust has settled somewhat, baseball critics around the country, myself included, are questioning whether or not this report will have any lasting effects. We have long since known that steroids are being used in baseball and have been for the past few decades. This report just confirmed that notion. But so what? Does this new report change anything? There have been instances in the past where players have been named as steroid users (The League of Shadows) and nothing has really been done about it. So, will Bud Selig really keep good on his promise and protect the integrity of the game? And if so, how? Will he continue to give out weak punishments as he has done thus far? Or will he develop a stronger anti-steroid policy like the Olympics (one and done)? All these are questions that Bud Selig is going to have to answer now that he has deemed Mitchell’s report a ‘call to action’.

But the fact of the matter is this. Bud Selig and the MLB have ignored the league’s steroid problem for far too long. It has gotten so out of hand that seemingly everyone, from the best players in the league to those who are looking to get a leg up on the competition so their coach will take notice of them, is using steroids. To start giving our serious punishments now would damage the league beyond repair. Imagine that the foremost economic minds in the country held a press conference to tell the American people that they made a mistake implementing capitalism as our economic foundation. It would set the country back years. The same thing would happen in baseball. If Selig were to punish the aforementioned MVPs and All-stars, the quality of baseball would suffer dramatically. If there are no A-rods or Miguel Tejadas to watch, who is going to be interested in baseball? By keeping his promise, Selig is putting the MLB’s credibility and appeal at risk, without which baseball may not survive.

In my opinion, the MLB should ban any player who has used steroids from ever playing baseball again. But, with so much invested in the league and so much riding on is decision, will Bud Selig really have the moral fortitude to actually live up to his promise? This is one baseball fan who hopes he does for the sake of the sport. However, only time will tell if Bud Selig is really the defender of baseball as he portrays himself.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales for Robbins Sports and Athletics, an online resource for Baseball Uniforms, Baseball Hats and Baseball Gloves.

If you are wondering why the past two blog entries have been discus related, the answer is simple. Track and Field is just around the corner and many of our customers here at Robbins Sports call in with questions about the proper track and field eqiupment. That is what drove me to write this entry.

Many high schoolers enter the track and field season pumped up and ready to go. They are so excited that sometimes they just jump right into it before knowing what it all entails. This goes for discus throwing as well. You may think that their is not much to discus – you pick up a round, metal object, twirl a couple of times and throw the thing as far as you can, right? Well, that is the jist of it. But to get the optimal distance it is important to choose the right sized discus. Below is a chart that indicates the right sizes for the right contestants.

Discus Selection Chart:

High School Girls:                                             High School Boys
Range:                            RIM Weight:               Range:                         RIM Weight:

100′ to 125′                     70% to 73%              100′ to 130′                  70% to 73%
120′ to 150′                     73% to 75%              125′ to 150′                  73% to 75%
140′ to 160′                     75% to 80%              145′ to 160′                  75% to 80%
150′ to 165′                     78% to 85%              155′ to 170′                  78% to 85%
160′ to 180′                     85% to 89%              165′ to 180′                  85% to 89%
175′ to 190′                     85% to 90%              190′ or more                 88% to 91%

Discus Competition Specifications:

High School Girls                           1 Kilogram
High School Boys                          1.6 Kilogram
So, the way this chart works is as follows. If, for example, you are a high school girl who normally throws between 120′ and 150′, you would multiply 1 Kilogram by 73% ad 75%. The resulting weight of your discus, then should be the result – between .73 and .75 kilograms.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales for Robbins Sports and Athletics, an online provider of Shot Puts, Starting Blocks and the ever popular Track and Field Discus.

It used to be that high school and college discus throwing were a lot different from each other. The rules were different, the equipment was different, etc… However, now the gap between the collegiate and high school levels is shrinking. The latest change has to do with the field allotment into which the contestants’ throws must land.

Wheras in high school the throwers used to be confined to either a 40 or 60 degree area, collegiate track and field athletes had a slimmer 34.92 degree angle. Now though, high school athletes are being held to the same standards as their older counterparts. They too must keep their throws within a 34.92 degree area.

This change has resulted in a lot of anxious high school track and field coaches. However, this anxiety is not due their inability to teach their athletes enough discipline and technique to stay within the rules. The nervousness is due to the fact that many high school programs have purchased discus rings and structures that are manufactured specifically for the wider angle of high school discus throwing. Many are fearful that they will have to purchase new, expensive structures to keep their programs afloat.

However, there is a solution. Here at Robbins Sports we deal with one of the most prominent manufacturers of track and field equipment in the country – Stackhouse Athletic Equipment. While Stackhouse has begun to manufacture discus rings solely for the new regulations, it also offers a modification kit that will turn any previously sold Stackhouse discus ring into a new, rule-abiding ring. All that is required is two additional sleeves to be added to the already existing structure. So, coaches be not afraid. Stackhouse can help you.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales for Robbins Sports, an online resource for top of the line track and field equipment including Starting Blocks, Shot Puts and the ever popular Track and Field Discus.

Upon looking down the entire NBA roster, I realized one thing; gone are the days when a few players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul Jabaar ruled the league with little or no viable competition to speak of. Nowadays though, there are so many quality players in the NBA that any one of 20-30 players could win the MVP this coming year. While some may say that the Kobe Bryants, Tim Duncans and Steve Nashes are the definite front runners, many young up and comers are just as valuable to their respective teams as the aforementioned superstars. The following is a list of 5 players who are not at the top of the pecking order for the MVP, but whose teams would suffer tremendously without them.

1. Chris Paul – This thrid-year point guard is extremely valuable to his team. The 2008 season has been the Hornets best start in a very, very long time. And much of their success is due to Chris Paul’s performances thus far. While averaging almost 20 points and 10 assists a game, Chris Paul has led the Hornest to a 12-7 record. And that is in the West where wins are very difficult to come by. To take the Chirs Paul for MVP argument even further, just take a look at the Hornets’ record when Chris Paul is not in the lineup. It is pretty pathetic.

2. Shawn Marion – When you play on the same team as Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash, the spotlight will very rarely, if ever, be shined on you. That’s why the Matrix never gets the respect he deserves. But, Shawn Marion is a more rounded player than both Nash and Stoudemire. He can score points, get blocks and rebounds and his defense is absolutely tireless day in and day out. Simply put, he does it all. And without his well-rounded game, the Suns would not be as good as they are. They definitely would not be in the hunt for the NBA title.

2. Deron Williams – When John Stockton left the Jazz hard on the heels of Karl Malone, Utah’s basketball fans were in a state of mourning. But, then came the Deron Williams/Carlos Boozer era. They are not as good as Karl Malone and John Stockton yet, but they are getting there. In my opinion, they are the best point guard/power forward duo in the NBA right now. Deron Williams showed great poise last year in the playoffs where the Jazz fell to the eventual champs, the Spurs. This year Williams is averaging 20 points and 9 assists per game. But aside from his numbers, it is his attitude and swagger that make Williams such an important asset. Now, even though they are relatively young, the Utah Jazz feel they can play with anyone. And they are proving that this year.

Marcus Camby – If you were to play with Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony every night, you would think that your job is relatively easy, right? Wrong! Though Melo and AI are amazing scorers, they have a rather large aversion to playing defense and doing the grunt work. That is why Marcus Camby, a perennial defensive player of the year candidate is so influential for the Nuggets. Without him they would still score over a hundred a night, but they would give up double that. I know that is a bit hyperbolic, but you get my point. Camby is underrated and absolutely intregal to Denver’s success.

5. Last but not least – Stephen Jackson. Now, I know a lot of people write Jackson off as a hoodlum who only fights with fans and shoots at fellow strip joint patrons, but seriously, Stephen Jackson is a great asset. This year, the Warriors started the season 0-6. Then, when Stephen Jackson’s suspension was up, the Warriors started to look like the team that surprised everyone last year by beating the Mavs. They were explosive, talented and strong on both ends of the floor. And while the obvious team leader is Baron Davis, Jackson provides the little things that gets his team over the hump. Like all of the other Warriors, he can score. But besides that he is a great defensive player. He can guard the point, the 2 spot and even small forwards. Name one other player in the NBA who can do that. Who? Kobe? Lebron? Bruce Bowen? That is some pretty good company to be in. The ability to score and defend are both great qualities to have. But the best thing about Stephen Jackson is his energy. Teams that play with emotion and energy can often beat teams with a lot more talent. Stephen Jackson is definitely the reason for the Warriors’ change of luck as of late.

I doubt that any of these players have a shot at the MVP this year. But the voters should definitely focus on players who are well-rounded and invaluable to their teams. If so, these five wold be in the running.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales for Robbins Sports and Athletics, an online resource for Basketball Hoops, Stopwatches and Punching Bags.

Most athletic directors don’t look forward to having to replace worn-out equipment.  A good track should last ten years or more before showing signs of aging.  Sometimes, though, from accidents that happen or from excessive use on particular parts of the track, a repair job is needed.  Customers of Robbins Sports have had good success using a track repair kit to fix problem areas of their tracks.  These track repair kits come in red or black.  The kits include easy instructions for applying the rubber granules and polymer resin binder.  The repair kits can be used for about 25 square feet of track.