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A typical fantasy football league consists of 12 teams nine starters (QB, two RBs, three WRs, TE, K, D) and anywhere from five to seven bench players. If you go with the latter bench allotment, you’re looking at 16 roster spots or 192 draft picks. By that definition, any sleeper should have an average draft position about 180 or lower.

Miami Dolphins WR Davone Bess sports an ADP of 241 according to Mock Draft Central. That would make him the first pick of the 21st round and somewhere around the 80th WR taken. That would make him a WR6 in 12-team leagues.

He had 76 catches for 758 yards and 2 TDs last year and 54 catches for 554 yards and a score as a rookie. I don’t expect him to suddenly break out as a third-year receiver like many have before him, but I think there is room for growth.

For starters, Chad Henne gained valuable experience last year, and will be more comfortable under center. They also added Brandon Marshall, who will command significant defensive attention.

With the focus on Marshall, the running game, and the Wildcat, Bess could go unattended. He has soft hands and a quick first step. The receptions could pile up. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him approach 90-100 receptions. The main drawback is he is an afterthought in the red zone. I don’t expect that to change. Still, he should be a solid WR4 or WR5 this year. He gets and added bump in PPR leagues.

Prediction:  90 catches, 900 yards, 3 TDs

What are your thoughts on Davone Bess?

Click here to enter the Best Fantasy Football Team Name Contest for a chance to win some fabulous prizes.

By Robert Wabash, Ranker.com

As the World Cup comes to an end, we listen to more and more Vuvuzelas and like most of the world we ask ourselves “Why, God, why?” So, now we take a look at all the weirdest sports rituals from around the world and how they’ve affected their respective games. Here are the most bizarre sports rituals from around the world.

#6 Drinking Cow Blood Before A Match
Popularized by boxers, drinking beef blood is a common ritual before matches, and throughout the season.

In his 1969 autobiography, way before True Blood AND Twilight, Robinson professed to drink raw beef blood supposedly for vitamin fortification.

Robinson also used the beef blood as way to psyche out his opponents before matches. In his autobiography, he talked about a situation when he ate at a luncheon near opponent Jake LaMotta, “The Bronx Bull” a few days before their match.

Sitting near LaMotta, Sugar asked the waiter if he could have a large glass of beef blood. Both the waiter and LaMotta were puzzled by the request. Sugar clarified that he wanted the actual beef blood, extracted “before the meat is cooked.”

The waiter then returned with a glassful of blood. After downing the blood in one long gulp, he explained to LaMotta that he had been drinking it regularly for 10 years already. He told the Bull that it was his secret weapon and gave him the strength to overcome bigger and stronger opponents. LaMotta told Sugar that he was out of his mind.

Perhaps being juiced on beef blood worked, because he endured a 25-year career, having fought a total of 202 bouts, of which 109 ended in knockout.

Click here to read the other six bizarre sports rituals.

Here is a pitcher that you can plug into your lineup today.

Gavin Floyd, Chicago White Sox
So he’s 2-7 with a 4.80 ERA.  He has a decent 1.37 WHIP and 80 Ks in 90 innings (8 K/9). He’s also given up just 3 runs in his last four starts (29 innings) for a 0.93 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP. He’s facing the Royals on the road where he has a 4.60 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and .250 BAA (compared to 4.98, 1.49, and .277 at home).
Result:  Win, 6-2/3 IP, 2 Earned Runs, 2 Ks

Yesterday’s Totals:  ND, 5 IP, 4 Runs, 7 Ks
Season Totals:  48-42, 746-1/3 IP, 334 Earned Runs (4.03 ERA), 504 Ks

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By Brent Jacobs

The New York state budget has had a hard time fighting off a deficit throughout all of the overall economic problems that have plagued the country. This has caused the state to consider any and all ways to save money and help balance the budget, including closing down state parks and creating food and drink taxes on everyday products like soda. Some of these choices have been met with disdain from people of the state so the Senate continues to look for additional ways to raise money. The hopeful news is that they may have just found the perfect option that gives something back to New Yorkers rather than taking it away.

On June 16^th, the New York State Senate passed a bill to legalize mix martial arts in the state of the New York. It still needs to be approved by the State Assembly in order to be a law, but passing the State Senate is a big deal for both the Empire State and Mixed Martial Arts. MMA, while being legal in many other states around the country, has been banned in New York since the mid-nineties which meant that prime venues like Madison Square Garden in New York City and the 50,000 seat Carrier Dome in Syracuse were off limits for holding MMA events. This would no longer be the case if the assembly passes the bill. Dozens of great venues in the state would be open to new events that would help grow the already popular sport of MMA even further while helping the state make money.

It’s hard to imagine that New York state education and other programs would be a direct beneficiary of MMA, but that would be the exact case if the bill passes. Mixed Martial Arts is one of the most popular sports in the country and its popularity grows with every passing day. This would mean that the dozens of sold out shows that MMA has every year would finally bring revenue to New York.

To put the financial benefits of legalizing MMA into perspective, just look at the numbers of the sport according to Fannation.com:

• $340. That was the average ticket price of UFC 81 at the MGM Grand. While this may seem like a lot, people are paying it to see their favorite matches.  One could imagine the amount of tax money that would go to directly financing state programs and projects. Also a factor to consider is the amount of revenue brought in by people coming from all across the country for the events that would be spending money on food and accommodations.

• 170 countries broadcast UFC and other MMA events, which brings in huge promotion for some not as well known New York state cities that may hold an event.

• MMA industries like UFC have gone from million dollar companies to billion dollar companies in less than a decade showing just how popular this sport really can be.

These numbers don’t even account for New York based MMA gyms that will see new revenue to help train local fighters in a sport that was once outlawed in their home state.  This will directly correlate with an increase in local sales of MMA gear, like MMA gloves.   Hundreds of retailers will benefit from this boost.  The increase in local fan-base will have a direct impact on the sale of MMA t-shirts that display their favorite fighter or industry brand. They have become a hot commodity as the sport has increased in popularity. There is no doubt that the reach of the bill, if passed, is not just huge for New York but is greatly important to its many citizens that are struggling because of the bad economy.

The state and Governor David Paterson have estimated that allowing the sport to be legalized would bring in an extra $2 million after two years for the state’s $8 billion deficit and studies have shown that holding an event in Madison Square Garden would generate $11.3 million in economic activity. This may not seem like a lot but it’s a step in the right direction for the state. This bill is something that New York has been trying to do for over the last two years but has failed in doing so. Even if the bill doesn’t pass the assembly, Governor Paterson has stated he will include it in his emergency extender bill giving it another way to be legalized. Yet, right now is the time for the passing of this bill because now MMA is closer than it’s ever been to being a popular and helpful force in the Empire State.

A friend of mine has a fabulous pop culture podcast over at Just My Show. He never ceases to amaze me with the guests he gets. One time it will be Isaac from the Love Boat. Another time it will be the dad from Wonder Years. Occasionally he will interview a virtual unknown that had a profound effect on pop culture. The current episode is one of those occasions.

Being a sports site, I assume that most of my readers have played the game of Wiffle Ball one, two, or a couple of thousand times. As the father of a five-year old I have been playing Wiffle Ball just about every day this spring/summer. If you enjoy the game, you may want to take a listen to the podcast. Eric interviews the kid who helped his dad invent the game. You’ll be amazed at how non-assuming he is considering the success he’s experienced.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

By Tom Lester, MonsterRaxx.com

Millions of hunters enter the woods and farmlands each year in hopes of harvesting a trophy whitetail deer. From the last day of the hunting season until the opening of a new season, hunters dream of that huge buck of a lifetime. Hunters read different hunting magazines and whitetail books looking for information and tips to improve their odds of success. They also watch numerous hunting shows on television and DVDs to learn new hunting methods and feed their obsession for giant whitetails.

The use of whitetail attractants to improve trophy whitetail success has become increasingly popular. This simple process has proven to attract more whitetail deer. There are many different attractants on the market to choose from. Liquid, gels and powders are a few of the forms that attractants come in. With a little research, picking the attractant that suits your needs is easy to do.

The use of liquid attractants is by far the most popular method used by hunters today. The two most common are deer urine and food-flavored liquids. Deer urine comes in a couple different types, doe, estrous doe, buck and dominant buck. Make sure you are using the right type of urine for the time of year you will be hunting. For example, you do not want to use estrous doe urine before the pre-rut. Using this early will put deer on alert that something is not right.

I prefer to use liquids that smell like the food that deer crave. This type of attractant can be used any time of the year. You can pour it over corn, grain, protein pellets, minerals, stumps, near food plots, or even on scent wicks to attract more whitetail deer. During the winter and spring I like to put out corn and protein pellets to help the deer survive the cold winter, and gain some of their weight back in the spring. I pour a fruit or acorn flavored attractant on top to help insure whitetails will find it and keep coming back.

My favorite time to use food-flavored attractants is during the summer and into the fall. I have increased the number of pictures I get on my scouting cameras immensely. Suddenly, I am getting pictures of bucks that I have never seen before. With more bucks coming into your area, the chances of seeing a trophy buck increases. The best part is the ease of this method. I simply put out corn and pour the attractant over it and set up my scouting cameras. With the pictures I can figure travel patterns and decide which mature whitetail bucks I will attempt to harvest during the upcoming season.

During the hunting season I still use the food-flavored attractants. I put them on scent wicks or pour them over stumps near my blinds or tree stands. Both bucks and does will still come to them during the early part of the season. As the season progresses and the rut comes around, the bucks main concern will turn from food to impregnating as many does as possible. I use this to my advantage by putting out food-flavored attractants to draw in as many does as I can, knowing that a trophy buck could wander by in search of does at any time.

As the season comes to an end and winter is near, mature bucks are feeding as much as possible to put some of the weight they lost during the rut back on. Once again a food-flavored attractant will help entice a trophy buck and increase your odds for success. I believe a food-flavored attractant is the most versatile and helpful attractant a hunter can use to accomplish their goal of harvesting a trophy whitetail deer.

Before using whitetail attractant’s become familiar with your states rules and regulations.

Click here to see the Whitetail Magnet video.

Tom Lester
President, Monster Raxx LLC
tom@monsterraxx.com
www.monsterraxx.com

MonsterRaxx also runs a trail camera contest and a harvest photo contest. Each month the person with the winning photo for each contest receives two free bags of Monster Raxx Trophy Minerals and a bottle of Monster Raxx Whitetail Magnet with a grand prize at the end of the year of a free DLC Covert II assassin scouting camera.

The Chiefs were 25th in total offense, but finished just outside the top ten in rushing offense thanks to Jamaal Charles’ Chris Johnson impersonation from Week 10 on. Of course, they muddied his fantasy waters by bringing in Thomas Jones. I don’t expect the team to be much better, but there will be some viable fantasy options once again.

Fantasy Playoffs Schedule:   Moderate
They have a couple of tough games against San Diego at home in Week 14 and in Tennessee in Week 16. Between that they get to take on the Rams in St. Louis.

Five Star Fantasy Options
None

Four Star Fantasy Options
Jamaal Charles – The way  he finished the season averaging 143.1 total yards (121 rushing) and a TD over the last eight games was fantasy gold last year. I would have had higher expectations for Charles if Thomas Jones wasn’t brought int.

Three Star Fantasy Options
Thomas Jones – He’s not the primary ball carrier, but Charles has just 257 career carries. There is no proof that he can carry the load for a full season. If he goes down, Jones’ becomes a legit RB2. He has value in flex leagues because he’ll likely get the ball in the red zone.

Dwayne Bowe – Bowe was a major disappointment last year as he quickly became entrenched in Todd Haley’s doghouse. He has the potential to breakout, but do temper your expectations until he proves he’s taking the right mental approach.

Two Star Fantasy Options
Matt Cassel –  With Charlie Weiss on board, I expect more out of Cassel. That depends on the protection his line gives him. He has two RBs that can catch the ball out of the backfield, as well as Bowe and Chris Chambers, who re-emerged last year. He has the potential to be a solid QB2 this year.

Chris Chambers – Almost as improbable as Jamaal Charles’ finish was Chambers. He had nine catches for 122 yards and a score in seven games with San Diego. He took off with the Chiefs catching 36 passes for 608 yards and 4 TDs in nine games.  His upside is limited, but he gives you good depth at WR.

One Star Fantasy Option
Dexter McCluster – He could be this year’s version of Percy Harvin. He’s super athletic and can do a variety of things on offense. Consistency will likely be an issue.

Chiefs Defense/Special Teams – The Chiefs have some nice games on their schedule such as Browns in Week 2, the Bills in Week 8, the Raiders in Week 9, the Seahawks in Week 12, and the Rams in Week 15. They had just 22 sacks and 15 INTs last year so they should probably go undrafted. You can pick them up for a spot start if they show improvement.

Click here for additional 2010 NFL Team Previews.

I’m going to take a little break from the norm at LestersLegends.com and speak to any deer hunters that may visit my site. My father and brother have started their own company selling deer minerals, deer attractants, trail cameras, and some pretty cool t-shirts at MonsterRaxx.com. You may have noticed the logo on the right side of my page.

I’m not into hunting, but I do respect their passion. I know it is shared by millions of hunters worldwide. If hunting is your thing, here are some tips they have provided to improve the quality of the deer you harvest.

When it comes to whitetail deer, bigger is better! Millions of hunters spend billions of dollars each year to increase their chances of harvesting a trophy whitetail deer. Increasingly deer hunters are trying to improve their deer herd to accomplish this goal. There are many methods that can be used to obtain the desired results. Hunters can plant food plots, build better bedding areas, dig in ponds, set up whitetail sanctuaries, and have a supplemental feeding program of corn and protein pellets.

These are all very good methods to improve a deer herd, but there is another way that is as equally important as it is effective, and the beauty of this method is that it does not require a lot of time or effort. Virtually any hunter can set up a mineral supplement program to improve the health of their whitetail deer herd. Out of all the previously mentioned ways to improve your deer herd, setting up mineral sites is the least expensive and easiest to do.

I recommend the use of a quality mineral supplement that contains both minerals and vitamins for best results. Giving the whitetail deer the minerals and vitamins that they are lacking will help maximize the bucks’ potential by ensuring that the deer get everything they need for optimal growth. If you provide mineral supplements year round, you will notice an increase in both body size and antler development. Mineral supplements are also very beneficial for lactating does, replacing the minerals and vitamins that they lose while feeding their fawns.

As I mentioned, setting up a mineral site is very easy to do. First, pick a location for your mineral site. Look for heavily used trails that come together, scrape and rub lines and also locations near water when possible. Locations where you already hang a tree stand or set up a ground blind work perfectly. Remember to set your mineral sites in a spot that favors the prevailing wind for your stand and blind locations.

Once an ideal spot has been selected, you want to clear an area five feet in diameter. Remove all leaves and vegetation for the minerals to work properly. Once the area is clear, use a rake and loosen the soil then add your mineral supplement.

You may want to consider installing a trail camera when possible so that you can monitor how frequently the deer are visiting your site. This will give you a better understanding of the herd’s tendencies. Plus you can watch the transformation as the deer improve in size with help from the mineral supplements.

It is recommended that you replenish your minerals every two months. The trail cameras will help because if you see the traffic decrease, you will need to replenish it sooner. Heaviest consumption will occur from early spring through the fall as deer bulk up for winter. Do not overlook the winter months though, as providing minerals year round will maximize the health of the deer herd. At this time of year whitetails have fewer options to consume the minerals and vitamins that their bodies need than at any other time of year. This will also help the deer endure the long, cold winter, which helps them come back bigger and stronger each year.

Before using minerals supplements become familiar with your states rules and regulations.

Click here to see a YouTube video demonstrating how to set up a mineral site.

Tom Lester
President, Monster Raxx LLC
MonsterRaxx.com
tom@monsterraxx.com

My Dad with his trophy buck!

MonsterRaxx also runs a trail camera contest and a harvest photo contest. Each month the person with the winning photo for each contest receives two free bags of Monster Raxx Trophy Minerals and a bottle of Monster Raxx Whitetail Magnet with a grand prize at the end of the year of a free DLC Covert II assassin scouting camera.

By: Alexia Krause

Teens growing up in troubled neighborhoods often find themselves drawn into seedy situations against their will. Whether it is peer pressure, or a feeling of despair for the future, many of today’s youth fall prey to the allures of gangs, violence, and drugs. One of the most effective ways to circumvent this calamity is by making sure these kids stay active in after-school programs.

One of the best activities for children and teens to participate in are the fitness programs held in their schools or local gyms. There are neighborhood fitness centers like these all across the nation. Their success stories never cease to inspire. Whether it is boxing, basketball, or badminton, studies have shown that after-school activities dramatically lower incidence rates of violence and crime amongst teens.

Programs like ones organized by Horace Bryant at the Fourth Street Youth Boxing Gym in Minnesota are perfect examples of the preventative power of these clubs. Bryant saw the trouble that teens in his neighborhood were getting in to, and wanted to make a difference. That’s why he coordinated his youth outreach program with the owners of his local gym.

Take a look at the case of a young man named Chris Watson. Chris was involved in trouble with the law ever since he was 14 years old. He had been arrested multiple times, dropped out of school in 2007, and was even charged with a felony. Watson stated that he would have likely continued down the bleak path he was on if it weren’t for his local boxing program.

“I just had nothing to do back in the day; I wasn’t working,” Watson said. “I had so many friends I didn’t know what to do with and they were always doing something illegal or something fun. Ever since I met Horace, going to the gym is what I look forward to everyday. I can’t wait to get off work and go boxing.” Bryant not only helped Watson with his training, but also helped him get a job. Chris is now studying to complete his GED, and hopes to someday inspire kids the way that Bryant inspired him and saved him from the streets.

Gyms and stories like this exist all over the nation. It is incredibly important to support programs like these. These organizations improve the lives of the children enrolled in it, while at the same time decreasing rates of crime and violence in their surrounding neighborhoods. Unfortunately, due to the recent recession, much of the funding to these programs via state and federal grants has been slashed. Often times these gyms depend on donations to purchase MMA Training Equipment to help them prepare for matches. That is why it is so vital to recognize how crucial these programs are to our communities around the nation, and the world.

Alexia has a true enthusiasm for writing articles related to mixed martial arts and fitness. As a result, she joined up with MMA Industries- retailers of highly popular MMA clothing and MMA T-shirts. Alexia has been blogging about the latest trends in MMA equipment for the past few years, and continues to provide you with the latest news in the MMA universe.

In the wake of the Virginia lacrosse tragedy I wanted to take a quick break from sports and voice my opinion on what seems to be happening more and more. Instead of drowning your sorrows with sappy music, movies, or a pile of Natty Lights people are turning more violent. It doesn’t have to be that way.

In the case of George Huguely, he’s 22. He had a full life ahead of him. Things didn’t work out with Yeardley Love. It’s hard to know what he was thinking or the circumstances surrounding her recent death. What I do know is that it did not have to happen.

If he simply walked away it probably would have hurt. It could have hurt really bad. However, in time that pain would have went away. He probably would find another girl to make him forget about Love. How many people spend the rest of their life with someone they were dating when they were 22?

Well, after the actions Huguely allegedly took, not only will he not be with Love anymore, but he will spend a good deal of his life in jail. He selfishly took Love from her family, but he also took himself away from his.

Thankfully there weren’t any children in this case. You see that all too often. You rob your children of both parents when one is brutally murdered while the other one goes to jail. Why? I mean really, why? Just walk away.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Yeardley Love’s family and friends in this senseless crime.