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They’re not in the same category as a kids toys but airsoft pistols are an ideal hobby for any adult or young adult. Unlike paintball guns or normal airguns airsoft hanguns are designed to look just like the real thing. This has posed a problem for airsoft gun owners over the years due to airsoft pistols being used in “armed” robberies. Believe me when one of these is pointed in your face it looks just like the real thing. To combat this danger airsoft manufactures are now making many of their airguns in clear plastics and/or with an orange flash at the tip of the barrel to counteract this problem.

Your airsoft pistol is capable of firing a 6mm plastic bb at speeds of up to 300 feet per second which while not dangerous to exposed arms or legs could definitely cause damage to unprotected eyes. Always, always use safety glasses when firing an airsoft gun indoors or outdoors. A ricochet can happen quite easily and the results can be horrific. The actual power of your handgun will depend on the firing mechanism used. Your choices are spring, gas and electric. Spring and gas offer the highest power range but the newer AEG blowback handguns look pretty neat too.

Bear in mind too that a spring airsoft gun will need to be cocked for every single shot whereas the gas and AEG models offer fully automatic fire rates. The spring pistols will be cheaper but are a little bit more clumsy to use. The gas blowback models really mimic the real thing - especially when the topslide flies backwards after each shot.

One thing you won’t need to worry about when buying an airsoft handgun is finding your favourite weapon. The choice is truly staggering with all the popular brands making an appearance - Glock,Beretta and the Desert Eagle being amongst the most popular. For the true airsoft nut you can even get the Robocop M93R handgun - although these are getting tough to find nowadays.

Just like the real thing your airsoft handgun needs to be loaded before firing so you’ll need to fill the clip with bbs before you can start target practice. The bbs themselves are available in a variety of colors and styles - including paintball and glow-in-the-dark; so there’s a bb to suit everyones taste.

Indoor or outdoor airsoft handguns offer a fun and entertaining hobby that can be enjoyed safely by just about the entire family. As always these guns are not really toys and should not be used by children unattended.

Also please do check local laws in relation to owning an airsoft handgun - they are banned in some countries. Check your local, state and national laws to ensure that possessing an airsoft pistol isn’t against the law. There have been several cases of airosft guns being mistaken for real weapons by police forces worldwide - sometimes with tragic consequences.

This article was provided courtesy of Niall Roche at AirsoftDude.com where you can learn lots more about air soft pistols and other airsoft firearms.

“The Chinese weren’t allowing anybody on the mountain. They ended up commandeering it for themselves, even though the mountain is shared by two countries. Sherchan just 5 days away from his 77th birthday beat the age record set last year by 71-year-old Japanese teacher Katsusuke Yanagisawa.

Now that Bahadur Sherchan has successfully scaled the tallest mountain in the world, he is once again ready to focus on his family. More than 2964 people have climbed to the summit since it was first conquered in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary, who died in January, and Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay.

He was reported in good health as he began making his descent. They basically coerced the Nepali government to not allow any climbers past camp two on the Nepali side. As he planned for the climb, Sherchan told reporters he wanted to inspire fellow senior citizens. He also said many Nepalese have established records on Everest, so it was only fitting that the record for the oldest climber to reach the summit should also belong to a Nepali. They flexed their muscles this year all the in name of the Olympic spirit, but it was hardly spirited at all.”

The Chinese were flying their airplanes over the mountain and had Chinese officials in Kathmandu. This season mountaineer Anthony Loeff is reporting the scales for Chomolungma or Mount Everest after he reached the top of Kilimanjaro earlier this year.

With the Chinese preparing for the impending summer Olympic Games, Andrew Brash noted that the government’s actions hardly reflected the Olympic spirit. Min Bahadur Sherchan and four climbing guides reached the 29,035-foot (8,850-meters) summit of the world’s highest mountain early Sunday, said Ramesh Chretri, an official with Nepal’s ministry of tourism. Min Bahadur Sherchan returned this week from Nepal after successfully climbing to the summit of Chomolungma. Indeed, he was all too aware of the potential dangers the mountain could bring. Certain parts of the climb are more dangerous than others and it is important for climbers to remain focused The 77-year-old man from Nepal is now the oldest person to have reached the top of Mount Everest. “the Mount Everest this year became a political pawn,” he said with some frustration.

His first found him within 222 metres of the peak when his team stopped to help a fellow mountaineer who was left for dead. One year later, Bahadur Sherchan, a University of Calgary alumni, returned to Mt Everest to finish what he had started.

Min Bahadur Sherchan last attempt resulted in the rescue of Lincoln Hall, an Australian climber who was left by his team in the “death zone.”

Hall was frostbitten and severely disoriented due to altitude sickness. Andrew Brash returned a hero to Calgarians. Therefore, the decision to actualize a long-time personal goal left Min Bahadur Sherchan with some internal uncertainties, he cited the political actions of China and Nepal as providing the greatest adversity he faced on his journey.

When the pros have to lay up, they usually have a distance in mind for their next shot. They know exactly how far they hit all of their clubs, but especially their favorite wedge.

The average golfer is far different. Not only do they hit their favorite wedge a variety of distances with seemingly the same swing, but they seldom attempt to leave the ball a specific distance from the hole when laying up on par 5s.

For most, it’s just a matter of trying to get as close as possible to the green. Often this lead into trouble.

One of the leading amateur players in my city is also one of the shortest hitters. He rarely drives the ball more than 250 yards even with a tailwind. However, he has mastered the 100 yard shot and often gets up and down from that distance.

When it is time for him to lay up, his target is the 100 yard marker. So is mine. Adjust that for pin position, of course.

So if you want to really improve your scoring, learn and master the 100 yard shot. Rather than working on your driver, hit your favorite wedge shooting for 100 yards each time.

To get a real feel for what 100 yards is, drop a ball or two on the 100 yard marker next time you are out on the course just hitting it around.

When you are 275 yards out on a par 5, leave that three wood in the bag and hit your 175 yard club trying to leave the ball at that magic number.

The same is true on short par 4s. If you are playing a hole that is 310 yards you only need to hit the ball 210 yards to leave your magic number. Leave the driver in the bag and take your long iron or hybrid.

The more you are able to do this, the better you get at leaving the ball at 100 yards and the better you will get at hitting it from 100 yards.

You will also find yourself avoiding a lot of the trouble that you have been hitting into. Getting the ball as close to the green as possible is not always the best strategy.

Master the 100 yard shot, and laying up to that distance. Before you know it you will find yourself at the 100 yard marker on a lot of holes with a confidence in the shot you never felt with any other shot.

You will also notice something else…smaller numbers on your scorecard.

Darell Mckissick is the author of the revolutionary putting book Target Putting. The site also has a free golf ebook library with several books available for download. You can visit his site at http://www.targetputting.com.

“My son wrestled since he was in grade school. Now he is in high school and so burnt out that he didn’t even go out for the team.”

“My neighbor plays club basketball year round and is out indefinitely because of stress fractures in her lower legs…”

“All that I’ve ever played is soccer - now I’m not a starter so I’m going to quit. I think it is too late to start another sport now…”

Have you ever heard statements like these? I am sad to say that I hear them all too often. With the media screaming about the Tiger Woods and Venus and Serena Williams of the world, many people are making the mistake of starting one sport at a young - make that very young - age and specializing in it. The lure of college scholarships has also convinced these people that specialization is the only way to become good at a sport.

Before someone decides to specialize, they should consider the dangers involved in participating in only one sport. Here are 4 Dangers of Specialization:

1. Overuse injuries: stressing the body in the same way over and over again for all or a great part of the year can lead to overuse injuries. Stress fractures, compartment syndrome and other conditions often result from a lack of diversity in athlete’s activities. It is better to challenge your body in different ways throughout the year to develop as an athlete. Different sports will put different stressors on your body leading to better overall athletic performance. Pediatricians across the country have called for children to participate in a variety of physical activities.

2. Burn out: Playing one sports day after day, week after week, year after year can lead to burn out at a fairly early age. Children are starting organized sports at younger and younger ages. Someone playing hockey starting at the age of four may become tired and bored with the sport by the time they reach middle or high school. Non - specialization provides breaks and other experiences to keep a primary sport interesting, challenging and fun.

3. The College scholarship illusion: As much as parents want their children to receive athletic scholarships, the truth is that a very small percentage of athletes actually attain this goal. A scholarship in itself should not be the driving force behind choosing to participate in only one sport. A person should not bank their health, happiness and future on the small chance of a “full ride.” The majority of athletes will benefit more from a variety of athletic experiences even if no scholarship offer ever comes. Besides, most college recruiters are looking for the best all-around athletes. One of their first questions is often: “What else did you do besides playing (insert primary sport here)?” There is evidence to support this. For example, over 75% of the 2004 football recruiting class for the Wisconsin Badgers is listed as playing multiple sports in high school. Also, look at the draft picks each year in the NFL. The majority of those players did not specialize in one sport during their high school careers. How often have you heard this on draft day: “We are going to draft the best overall athlete that is available…” Playing more than one sport is the best way to develop into that overall athlete.

4. Not achieving your full athletic potential: While focusing on one sport will help you develop the necessary sport-specific skills, you will not develop other athletic skills that would transfer to your primary activity. Speed, balance, mental focus, jumping, twisting are all stressed differently in different sports. Everything you do to become a better athlete will also make you a better (insert sport here) player.

More and more research is showing that early specialization does not ensure athletic success. We hear about the few who do blossom from early specialization but what about the vast majority who don’t “make it big” in their chosen sport? How many athletes can you think of that have become successful by not specializing? How about Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson, Jim Thorpe, Babe Didrickson, John Elway, and Marion Jones to name just a few.

Sports should be encouraged from a young age. But, it is better to encourage participation in a variety of athletic activities to develop athletic skills that transfer across all sports. This will lessen the dangers mentioned in this article, lead to young athletes reaching their full athletic potential and, who knows, maybe bring that coveted college scholarship.

Copyright, Tim Kauppinen, 2005

This article is protected by copyright, 2005, Tim Kauppinen. All rights reserved.

Tim Alan Kauppinen, or Coach K, has over 20 years experience as an athlete and coach. He has worked with athletes of all ages and abiltities in track and field, football, speed training and strength and conditioning. This has given him the privilege and the opportunity to coach athletes who have become conference champions, state champions and Division I college players. Coach K publishes a free daily fitness email with current tips on getting stronger, faster and in the best shape of your life. To sign up for this no cost service, visit Coach K’s website at http://www.makesyoufast.com/contact.html

Why is it that women/wives etc intend not to take much interest
in their spouse’s past time of playing golf. How many ladies
have sat back and denied themselves a game due to the fact that
they feel that this game is not for them?

Don’t knock it till you try it there are great many women who
enjoy swinging a golf stick on the green but sadly the female
species consider retirement age is the best time to take up this
sport. How wrong they are.

This is a game that provides the young and old with a mixture of
emotions, happiness/contentment/peace/tranquillity and at the
same time a guaranteed feeling of satisfaction. Men and women
who love the game to an extent where they reach a certain level
love the fact that they are now in a position to qualify and
play in tournaments.

Having confidence on the green is a great start for any novice.
Learners can become paranoid where they experience a bout of
nerves believing other golfers are there to poke fun. Believe me
other avid enthusiasts on the golf course are to busy setting
there sights on a hole in one and can not afford to be
distracted by the next up and coming Tiger Woods or Mrs Woods

Women starting out will benefit by visiting the local driving
range to brush up hitting the ball. Why you ask? Simple, it is
not as easy as it looks therefore adding more fun to the game
for beginners. This Sport is enjoyed by millions worldwide so
why not add you’re self to the list. The next time your
husband/partner invites you to join him in a game/round of golf
go for it.

Ladies ever felt something is missing in your life, do you have
regrets of never snatching opportunities that passed you by.
Ever had the feeling what your life was all about. Well let me
tell you life is about fulfilment and achievement. Depending on
the individual the answer to your wish list of finding happiness
may well just lie on a golf course.

Terms used in a game of golf relate to the names of our
feathered friends Like Birdie an Eagle. Well let us kill two
birds with one stone. Number one you get to play golf and
secondly the most important is the quality time you get to spend
with your spouse/partner.

And fingers crossed that the husband can keep his concentration
on the birds that give him points not the chick he would most
love to score with.

There are almost as many theories about the golf swing as there are instructors. And one of the least understood aspects of the swing is the rotation of the hips to an “open” position just before impact.

Most contemporary golf instructors believe it is necessary to “clear your hips just before the point of impact” in order to get your hips out of the way of your hands. According to this theory, if you don’t “clear your hips” your hands and arms will be impeded and will not be able to attack the ball with power.

This is sometimes used as an explanation for why an overly “vertical” stance is not a good thing. According to this line of thinking, when you stand too close to the ball your hands will not be able to make a clean pass in front of your body because on the way down your hips will get in the way.

But while hip rotation is very important to the effectiveness of the golf swing, it is not because the hips are in the way of anything. In fact I can’t see that this idea of “clearing the hips” makes much sense. Your hips are not in the way of your hands. In fact, rotating your hips towards the target pushes your backside out further towards your hands and puts your hips more in the way than if you did not rotate them.

Most of us — whether we rotate a lot or not — are not in the habit of hitting our hips with our hands when we swing our golf clubs. The reason is simple: our hips do not get in the way of our swing, and to suggest this as an explanation of the importance of hip rotation is just plain misleading.

In my own research, on the course and in my basement “lab”, I have found that hip rotation does indeed put the club on a more powerful, more direct path to the ball coming into the point of impact. But as far as I can tell, this has very little to do with getting your hips out of the way of your hands.

What happens when you rotate your hips is that this allows you to get your shoulders and arms in the optimal power position. This happens because your upper body and lower body move in a synchronized way. In the golf swing, as in most other movements involving the human body, your upper body, including your shoulders and arms, moves in harmony with and in response to the movement of your lower body — your hips and legs.

Think of a power hitter in baseball. Those classic photographs of Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson or Barry Bonds making contact with the ball always tell the same story. Their arms are fully extended, hips are rotated to an open position, head is back, and they are perfectly balanced with most of their weight now centered over their front leg and hip. In fact they have used their front leg and hip as a pivot around which their upper body has rotated. Take that pivot away — swing with just your shoulders and arms — and you’re left with a much less fluid, much less coordinated, and much less powerful swing.

In the golf swing this connection of upper and lower body is less obvious because the golf swing is a combination of vertical and horizontal. But the principle is the same. The rotation of the hips pulls your upper torso around and gets your lead shoulder into the correct position (the left shoulder in the case of a right hander) at the point of impact. Ben Hogan described this hip movement as a matter of throwing your lead hip around and back against the wall — one of the most useful images in all of golf instruction.

Try it in slow motion. Place your club head along the swing path about 18″-24″ behind the ball (on the inside/out arc). Make sure your lead hand and arm are straightened as they should be in the impact position. Now rotate your hips so the club head moves towards the ball (keeping your hands and arms locked in the previous position).

Notice that when your club head reaches the ball, your hips will be “cleared”, and your lead shoulder will be rotated as well. Your lead arm will be in the correct “power position” with the arm and club shaft forming a more or less straight line down to the ball.

Now pick your club up and swing it more horizontally like a baseball bat. If you have had any baseball training at all, your hips will just naturally lead the swing and your shoulders, arms and “bat” will follow.

In fact trying to make an “all-arms” swing without hip rotation will feel awkward and unsynchronized. Your arms will not be able to follow the momentum that wants to carry them around to a natural finish. This is why golfers who do not “finish” their swing by rotating their lower body will often snap the club back to the starting position.

The basic principle here is one taught by golf teachers since teachers first started analyzing the swing: upper body follows lower body. Coming to a better appreciation of this principle can only have a positive impact on your golf swing.

Rick Hendershot publishes InternetGolfReview.com | Chess Boards, Chess Sets, Chess Pieces | World of Warcraft Gold - Buy world of warcraft gold

Paul Robinson was born in Hull, England and graduated from the Leeds United soccer academy. Having proven himself to be a very confident and agile shot stopper, 27-year-old Paul Robinson has since matured into one of Europe’s leading keepers. He worked hard to edge David James as the number one goalkeeper in England a few years ago. He played a key role in England’s World Cup qualification and will be donning the Number 1 jersey when his team begin their challenge next month.

The goalkeeper has always been a vital aspect in determining a team’s success or failure and this is also expected to be the case in the World Cup as the best teams in the planet battle it out for soccer supremacy.
England will be stepping into the pitch with what has been termed the “best English squad since 1970″ and Robinson will also have to rise to the occasion and live up to his reputation as the “best goalkeeper England have had”.

Robinson made his England debut as a second-half substitute against Australia in 2003 while still with Leeds United and after a successful first season with Tottenham, he overtook David James as England’s first choice goalkeeper in September 2004.

Popularly known as “Robbo”, he hails from Beverly in East Yorkshire, England and played for Leeds from 1997 - 2004 before he transferred to Tottenham in May 2004 for a fee of £1,500,000. He set a new record for being the highest paid goalkeeper in England a couple of years back.
“The World Cup is the biggest stage for any footballer and it is their dream to play in the final … I am no different. I have worked very hard to get here with England and at this point, it is even more important that I work even harder to stay here. Things can change in a blink of an eye in football and no one knows that more than me,” Robinson said in a recent interview.

During the world cup qualification matches, Robinson played in 9 matches and displayed excellent form. He did not let in a single goal in 6 of those matches. With such impression form, Robinson will no doubt be a stabilizing force for England between the posts.

In such a high-profile spectator sport like the World Cup, the expectations of the fans and England football officials are very high. There is immense pressure from all sides to do well. Under such circumstances, mental training becomes increasingly important in order for players to stay calm and keep cool despite the pressure.

“You have to be very mentally strong to be a keeper at this level. We are there to be shot at and that’s the part of things we have to accept. You just have to try and make sure mistakes don’t happen”, said Robinson

A pond without plants is like cake without icing. Pond plants fight algae, give fish a hiding place against predators, and beautify our own little slice of paradise to plunk down in at the end of a tiring day.

Don’t smother your pond with plants, however. Start with half the surface area, and don’t let them cover more than two-thirds to three-quarters at their growing peak. Overcrowding stresses them out, and hey - it just looks bad!

Don’t let the terms “hardy” and “tropical” throw you when choosing plants for your pond. Just remember that these terms refer to the environment in which the plant has originally been adapted - and not to whether it can be thrown across the room or how well it looks in a fancy mixed drink.

Hardy pond plants, as a rule, can handle cold temperatures and frost. Of course, this is relative to your USDA agricultural zone, found here: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html. Ask your plant professional or check the plant’s label before taking home that plant that does great in Hawaii, but not so great in Maine.

Tropicals, on the other hand, pretty much hold true to what they’re called: They will take a nosedive if temperatures get much below 70 degrees, turning into a messy mush if it freezes.

But, ah, Grasshopper, there are ways to save even those hardy plants that aren’t quite up to a northern blizzard, as well as those tender-toed tropicals with which you’ve fallen madly in love.

Bury hardy pond plants, pot and all, into a south-facing part of your yard and cover with a thick, warm blanket of mulch. Or put them into a garage or basement, making sure they’re kept wet and have good air circulation.

Tropicals, on the other hand, need light and moisture year ’round. If you don’t have a greenhouse, place tropicals in your sunniest window and keep misted, several times a day if possible, to provide the humidity they crave in order to flourish. “Grow lights” do a fabulous fake of the sun, however, and many tropical pond plants thrive under them.

Marginal pond plants - those that grow around the edges, or margins, of a pond - can be either hardy or tropical. Some hardy marginals are cattail, plantain, and rush. Tropical marginals include taro, spider lily, and water hibiscus. Of course there are legions more to lust after in both hardy and tropical marginals. Place marginals with their pot tops one to six inches under water. Very tall plants, like cattail, can be moved as deep as a foot beneath the surface one they’ve gotten full-sized.

Water lilies, however, like their water deep - between 18 and 30 inches - after starting the season in the 6″-12″ shallower end. This gives them a nice, springtime shot of sunshine to get going again. And when the plant pro recommends those funny-looking pots with all the little holes in them, go for it. Pond plants poke their toes (roots) through them to develop tiny, nutrient-extracting feeder roots. Meshing with one another, these roots provide stability and protection against wind, kids, pets, and adults that have a tendency to stumble into them.

Fertilize pond plants when they need them. “Ha!” you say. “And when is that?” Well, go back to your plant pro, the Internet, or the plant label you so wisely saved. Each plant may have different requirements, but one rule of thumb: Plants need much more fertilizer in warm-weather months than when it’s cool outside.

About The Author

Brett Fogle is the owner of several pond-related websites like http://www.MacArthurWatergardens.com and two others including http://www.Pond-Filters-Online.com and http://4-pond-pumps.com. He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000. Sign up for the FREE newsletter and receive our complimentary New Pond Owners Guide!

brett@macarthurwatergardens.com

Top play: Rams/Cardinals OVER 44 One way or another,whether by
trailing early or just plain stubborness, Mike Martz ALWAYS
seems to abandon the run. No reson for to believe he’ll
consistantly hand the ball to Jackson and Faulk and let them
pound away.

The Cards running game has been just awful since preseason, so
they’ll once again try to take advantage of their top notch
receivers Boldin and Fitzgerald and the arm of Warner.

As seen before, both these qb’s Bulger and Warner love to put it
in the air and we could see quite a shootout in the desert
between the former MVP and the guy who replaced him in STL.

Neither one of these secondaries impress me, as Tim Rattay and
Eli Manning both made plays against them. No reason to think
they’ll fare much better this week.

Considering that both of these teams special teams don’t stop
anyone on returns, we could see some entertaining plays here.
Both QB’s can be turnover prone, so we may see a defensive score
or two also.

Noreason this game can’t turn into a 35-31 shootout, where the
team who has the ball last may have the advantage.

Top play of the week: Rams/Cards OVER 44

Regular play: NY Jets -6 over Miami Okay, anyone believe the
Dolphins are that good, or the Jets are that bad based on last
weeks results?? Not me.

I like how this one sets up, Miami off a big home victory
against what I see as a poor Broncos team, and the Jets go into
one of the toughest places to play, KC, and laying an egg.

If these teams played up to (or down to) their talent level,
this spread would look more like the 49ers/Eagles spread. I’ll
lay these 6 points with glee.

The Jets still have a great linebacking corps, and add to that
the addition of cb Ty Law, and this could be a rude awaking for
qb Frerotte and coach Saban. Don’t think rookie rb Brown will be
able to shoulder this huge of a load, and Frerotte will be
running for his life this week, making bad decisions.

The Jets were killed on the ground last week by RB’s Johnson and
Holmes. This Dolphins O-Line is nowhere near the class of the
Chiefs blockers.

Now, I give Miami credit for having a nice, but again defense.
But, I’ve watched a lot of Dolphins football the last few years,
and they are less imposing when they go on the road.

And as bad as people say Pennington looked, he still put up some
numbers when he wasn’t getting bad snaps in the shotgun. I’m
sure coach Edwards has began to fix that snafu, and the Dolphins
secondary looks a little weak without the guys who had good
games vs the Jets last week, CB Surtain and S Knight.

The Jets won’t get behind early, so RB Martin will be a bigger
factor in the gameplan.

This is a regular play, but a “strong” regular play, imo

Regular play: Jets -6

Regular play: Detroit -1 over Da Bears

Ok, Lions, you want to be a contender, you have to win these
type of games against teams like the Bears.

I believe the Lions can take advantage of the Bears secondary
and their short defensive backs. The line must block well for
Harrington, and even though his numbers weren’t the most
impressive last week vs. GB, I did like that he spread the ball
around to the receivers and tight end.

Blocking Urlacher will be the key to the success of the
offenmse, as with Schlesinger still hurt, his replacement FB
Smith must step up.

On the other side of the ball, I look for the Lions D-line to be
able to stuff the run early, and force Orton (who I am high on
for the future), to make plays. I like the Lions secondary
matchup against the bear receivers and believe they can generate
some Orton mistakes in only his secong career start.

The Lions got a taste of black and blue football last week, and
came out on top. They hit hard and played with emotion. Like I
stated at the beginning, if the Lions are to be contenders, they
must beat teams like the Bears.

Regular Play: Lions -1

On Thursday, April 21, 2005, we buried a true NFL
warrior who was an inspiration off the field and on
the field.

The man? Sam Mills, #51.

The Monday before, Sam lost a 2 year battle with intestinal cancer. Not only did he leave behind his
wife and 4 kids but he left, not 1, but 2 legacies.

1st legacy– Sam Mills was one of the hardest hitting linebackers in the USFL and the NFL. But he spent his career proving that his undersized 5-foot-9 frame wasn’t going to keep him from being one of pro football’s best.

Not only was Mills a 5-time Pro Bowl linbacker but he holds the distiction of being the only player in the Carolina Panthers Hall of Fame.

Add to that: A member of both the New Jersey and Louisiana Sports Halls of Fame, as well as, a statue of Mills outside the Bank of America Stadium with the inscription “Leader and Gentleman.”

**Sam Mills’ former coach, Dom Capers**

“Sam Mills was not only one of the finest football players that I have ever been around, but above and beyond that, he was one of the finest individuals.”

And, the 2nd legacy of Sam Mills?

Sam, along with fellow Carolina linebacker Mark Fields, who was likewise diagnosed with cancer in 2003, established the KEEP POUNDING fund.

The campaign raised more than $211,000 for local research at Blumenthal Cancer Center by selling $1 wristbands that bear Mills’ slogan “Keep Pounding.”

**From a fan and admirer of Sam Mills**

“I am Austin Wright and I am 10 years old. I began selling Keep Pounding bracelets in honor of my friend Jody Rodgers in the fall. I sold over 200 bracelets for the foundation, and I hope it helps with the research. I will continue to sell the bracelets in the memory of Sam Mills. I hope this will help others. I pray for you everyday.”

Sam battled the cancer hard. He once gave a news conference the day after a round of chemotherapy before the Super Bowl. As he balanced himself on the podium, he said, “You have your good days and your bad days. I am just glad I am having days, you know?”

**From someone who witnessed Sam Mills’ courage**

“I met Mr. Mills as we were both receiving chemotherapy last year at CHOA. I specifically remember him speaking to a young man who was also receiving chemo and was so impressed with his attitude toward the young man. I had no idea he wasn’t doing well. He was an extremely kind person and meeting him under horrific circumstances is definitely ‘bitter-sweet.’ “
Cindy Helder

Although his football nickname was “Field Mouse”,
Sam was a giant at heart. Everyone was someone to Sam Mills.

**From a friend of Sam Mills**

“Sam, you always called me by name. You told me I wasn’t just a fan but a friend that meant so much. Thanks for the friendship, the smiles, the encouragement. Because of you I will “Keep Pounding”. We miss you.”
Flight Attendant/Golf caddy
Jacque’ kendall

Personally, I came to know Sam Mills when I watched him, at least twice a year, play against my beloved San Francisco 49ers.

Even though he was on the ‘other team’, I marveled at his leadership and courage on the field. I admit—I secretly wished “we” had him on “our” team.

Rest in Peace #51

—
Keep Pounding Fund,
c/o Carolinas HealthCare Foundation,
P.O. Box 32861,
Charlotte, NC 28232.

On-line gifts can be made through the Web site at: http://www.givechf.org.

About the Author

—————————————————–
Ronnie Kimball is a co-publisher of REACH HIGHER,
The Good NewsLetter. To get the Good NewsLetter
and hear samples of Ronnie’s CD, REACH HIGHER,
go to: http://www.reachhigher.com

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