Category: Sports (Page 24 of 51)

Pro Athletes Love Florida — and Here’s Why

October 22, 2013 / Bullz-Eye Staff

Famous athletes from many different sports make their homes in central and southern Florida. Golf legend Tiger Woods, Miami Heat forward LeBron James, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson are a few athletes that call the “Sunshine State” home. From Orlando to Miami Beach and Jupiter, Floridians find themselves living next door to the country’s greatest sports heroes. Just as sportsbooks bonuses entice sports fans to ante up, Florida’s many bonuses draw professional athletes to bet on life near the state’s beaches and byways.

How the Pros’ Love Affair With Florida Began

Golf legend Arnold Palmer used to be followed around the course by groupies who called themselves “Arnie’s Army.” In 1976, instead of leading his fans toward the 18th hole, Palmer led a tide of athletes toward Florida. Arnie settled in Orlando after he and a group of investors leased Bay Hill with an option to buy it. Palmer fell in love with Orlando back in 1965, when he visited the state as part of Wake Forest’s golf team. By the mid-1990s, baseball legend Ken Griffey, Jr., had settled in Windermere. Griffey counted both Shaquille O’Neal and Miami Dolphins tight end Eric Green among his neighbors. Former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz built a house near Lake Nona.

According to Palmer, athletes saw him move to central Florida and thought he “must have had some sort of scoop.” The pro athlete invasion didn’t stop in Orlando. Alex Rodriguez, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh moved to Miami Beach. LeBron James moved to Coconut Grove, while Michael Jordan, Bill Parcells and Tiger Woods settled in Jupiter.

Florida’s Tax Advantages

Pro athletes pay taxes in nearly every city their teams play in. In fact, pro athletes often pay what accountants call “the jock tax” in 10 to 30 jurisdictions every year. In addition to the jock tax, players pay income taxes on their salaries in the cities where their teams are based in. To make things even more complicated, they pay taxes on income from dividends, interest, endorsements and personal appearances in the cities they live in.

Athletes who live in Florida pay no income tax on endorsements and personal appearances. In fact, when LeBron James chose to play for the Miami Heat in 2010, taxes may have factored into his decision. If he’d chosen the New York Knicks, then he would have lost 10 percent of his salary to taxes. By choosing Florida, LeBron got to keep all that he earned from his contract.

Attractive Real Estate Prices

Another draw for pro athletes is Florida’s affordable real estate market. After the 2008 recession, Tampa and Orlando both made Bloomberg Businessweek’s list of the Top 10 Cheapest U.S. Housing Markets. A mansion that would cost millions in California, for example, costs a few hundred thousand dollars in Florida. Cities that offer attractive real estate deals also absorb athlete income when the pros pay for furniture, vehicles, landscaping, housekeeping, entertainment and utilities.

Recreation

For many pro athletes, Florida is a good place to raise a family. Pros who live in Orlando live near Disney, Cape Canaveral, Pleasure Island and other kid-friendly attractions. In South Florida, families can enjoy year-round access to the beach. In many cases, towns like Orlando have just enough nightlife — but not too much — to make the area both fun and family-oriented.

Additionally, many pro athletes enjoy playing golf, and Florida has some of the country’s best courses. Many baseball players whose teams conduct spring training in Florida often book their tee times around their practice schedules. An athlete living in Jupiter, for example, has year-round access to The Bear’s Club and The Dye Preserve.

Last, but Not Least: Great Weather

Retired baseball pitcher Frank Viola, a longtime resident of Sweetwater, doesn’t dig out a snowblower in the winter. Instead, he digs out his golf clubs and heads to one of central Florida’s many golf courses. “Two or three cold snaps and that’s your winter,” he told The Orlando Sentinel. “Who wants to clean up your driveway and garage all the time?”

About the Author: Greg Perry is a freelance sports writer and avid sports bettor who lives in southern Florida.

Sports

Arnold Palmer Florida Florida athletes Florida taxes Florida weather LeBron James

Talking Knicks basketball, Nets basketball and Chinese films with Carmelo Anthony

October 20, 2013 / Matt Byrd

The NBA is, and always has been, a league full of stars. Sure, every sport has stars, but the NBA is one of the few leagues where an individual player can perform in a way that allows them to steal the show night after night and become international icons. Every now and then, they even appear to resemble Babe Ruth’s description by the kids in “The Sandlot.” Less than a god, but more than a man.

Of those current stars, few have been as great as Carmelo Anthony. Considered a rare “can’t miss” prospect when he entered the NBA draft coming off of a national title win at Syracuse, Melo has been nothing short of phenomenal ever since. In 11 NBA seasons, he has made 10 playoff appearances, garnered six All-Star selections, been a perennial MVP contender, set team and franchise records on both the Nuggets and the Knicks, and even helped snag a couple of gold medals for USA basketball, just to name a few accomplishments. Simply put, in a league that houses the absolute best basketball talent in the world, Carmelo Anthony’s position as a top five player has never been an argument.

Recently, he teamed up with Degree to host a one day basketball clinic at the Chelsea Pier Sports Center in NYC as part of their “Do More” campaign where, with help from his trainer, Melo ran participants through a series of basketball drills and exercises. After going through the clinic myself thanks to an invite from Degree, and verifying beyond a doubt that my dream of being an NBA player is likely not going to come true, I got a few minutes to speak with Melo himself.

So, tell me a little about what you’re doing here with Degree?

Well, today with Degree is part of a campaign for the motion sense technology that’s in the newest line of deodorant, and is also a part of the “Do More” campaign that tries to inspire people to actually do more and be more active in their day to day life and just…kind of just push people and give them more incentive. It’s an inspirational program that Degree and myself came up with and want to expand.

Interviews, Lifestyle, Sports

Amazing Carmelo Anthony Degree Degree Do More Degree Motion Sense New York Knicks New York Nets

Bullz-Eye tackles Tough Mudder Lake Tahoe Degree DO:MORE Style!

October 10, 2013 / Paul Eide

There is no feeling on earth like sliding into the $125 robe in your room at the Ritz Carlton after spending six hours on the most difficult obstacle course in the world. Wait a minute, did someone say “Carlton”? I thought they did.

This robe is the kind of robe Carlton would’ve rocked when he was on “Silver Spoons” with Ricky Schroeder. God, how I yearned to ride on that sweet in-house train, even just to go get the mail. Imagine me and the robe and the train. We’d run a train on the train; me, Carlton, the robe, Ricky… good times.

Sure, I thought about stealing the robe. Who wouldn’t? But the minute I stepped foot off the premises, the magic would’ve been gone, like when a young Moonlight Graham steps over the foul line in “Field of Dreams” to be irrevocable transformed into Doc, the kindly doctor who removes a piece of hot dog from Kevin Costner’s daughter’s airway to save her life.

Anyway, I left the robe, and about a pound of ball skin, on the mountain that day, and lived to tell the tale.

Keeping it REAL klassy on the mountain…

But you know what I didn’t leave on the mountain that day, friends? Sweat, or a stench of any kind. That’s because Degree had my back, not unlike the way Chuck Norris had Jonathan Brandis’ back in the movie “Sidekicks.”

Degree allows you to DO: MORE with three levels of protection.

Grooming, Humor, Lifestyle, Sports, Stuff to Buy

Arctic Enema Berlin Walls Breaking Bad Breaking Bad The Cousins Cage Crawl Carlton Banks Chuck Norris Corey Feldman Degree Degree Clinical Series Degree DO:MORE Degree Men Adrenaline Series Degree Men Dry Protection Electric Eel Field of Dreams Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Jonathan Brandis Kevin Costner Liss Of Mud Meatballs 4 Men's Deodorant men's grooming Moonligh Graham Northstar Mountain Rambo III Ricky Schroeder Ritz Carlton Sidekicks Chuck Norris Silver Spoons Sylvester Stallone Tough Mudder Tough Mudder Lake Tahoe 2013 Train From Silver Spoons

2014 MLB Draft

October 3, 2013 / Bullz-Eye Staff

The draft plays a vital role in baseball. It gives clubs the chance to bolster their rosters with the best collegiate players available. Below is a breakdown of some of the most exciting players eligible for the 2014 draft.

Carlos Rodon

The 20-year-old North Carolina State Wolfpack pitcher is turning heads; had he been eligible in the 2013 draft, he would undoubtedly been a top-three pick. The youngster has dominated the college scene. During his freshman year (2012), he achieved 135 strikeouts and had an ERA of 1.57. With a fastball capable of reaching 97-98 mph, expect a whole host of teams competing for his signature.

Tyler Beede

Vying with Rodon for first pick, this Vanderbilt pitcher has it all. Although not as fast as Rodon, with a fastball reaching 94mph, his changeup play is fantastic and his slide ball is unplayable at times. Whether Houston Astros want a right or left handed pitcher will be the deciding factor in who gets picked first, Beede or Rodon.

Trea Turner

The shortstop is a teammate of Rodon at NC State. He has the ability to hit the entire field and is a dab hand at stealing bases. In 2012, the 20-year-old led the nation in stolen bases with 57 in all, while this season he has 27 stolen bases, as well as 41 RBIs and seven home runs. Many fans in the betfair forums are expecting him to be a top-five pick along with teammate, Rodon.

Kyle Schwarber

The outfielder is one of the driving forces in Indiana’s successful run in the College World Series; he was selected by Perfect Game as the best catcher in America. Schwarber’s ability to stay at the plate is the main reason for a projected move; the youngster has allowed 82.5% of runners to safely steal a base.

Alex Jackson

The best catching prospect in the draft, standing 6’2 he is noted by pundits on betfair.com for his impressive footwork and athleticism. Arguably, one of the most powerful players available during the draft, he would be a safe pick for most teams; he has the potential to become a brilliant all-rounder.

Sports

Alex Jackson baseball Carlos Rodon Kyle Schwarber MLB Draft Trea Turner Tyler Beede

A chat with UFC fighter Dan Hardy: Part One

September 24, 2013 / Mike Furci

Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy, who started martial arts as a kid, began training for competitive fighting in 2002 after 14 years of traditional marital arts. He joined the UFC in 2008 and made his debut at UFC 89, winning by split decision.

Dan hardy is a very hard working, outspoken person that personifies a great attitude. In part one of this interview, I had the opportunity to talk to Dan about his artistry, his experience training with the Shaolin monks, the GSP fight, the possibility of losing his contract with the UFC, being diagnosed with a heart condition WPW and the reaction by Dana White.

Mike Furci: First, I’d like to thank you for taking the time today to talk with me Dan.

Dan Hardy: No worries Mike, no worries.

MF: Fans of Bullz-Eye and MMA, today we’re talking with Dan Hardy, one of the most recognizable MMA fighters of today, a UFC welterweight crowd pleasure who fought Georges St-Pierre for the title in 2010. In that fight, he escaped two submission attempts that would have easily forced the vast majority of fighters to tap out, which I believe, Dan, is not only a testament to you, the fighter, but also Dan Hardy the person – as the audience will see as we proceed through this interview. And though you’re not currently fighting, you definitely have not been sidelined.

And before we get into what you’ve been doing recently, I’d like to take the Bullz-Eye readership back somewhat to get to know you a little better and discuss your career as a fighter, if you don’t mind.

DH: Sure.

MF: One thing I didn’t know myself as much as I follow MMA is that you’re an artist.

DH: Yeah, that always comes as a surprise to people.

MF: As most artists, I’m sure you discovered your talents when you were very young, and I understand you were also doing MMA at a very young age. What pulled you into the direction of MMA as a career?

DH: Really, just the drive at the time. I mean, I’ve always been an artist. As a kid, I always had a sketchbook in my hand, so even my parents thought I was going to follow that path. But when I was at university studying art, it occurred to me that this was my athletic peak and I needed to explore it right now. I could always return to art in the future.

Fitness, Interviews, Sports

Dan Hardy Dan Hardy interview MMA ufc