季后赛脸谱：成败在于选择

很多时候,正确的选择比肯于努力更重要。选择是一次针对自己未来的一次定位,只有知道自己在什么位置,想要什么东西,才会努力,而定位的准确会直接影响到自己的未来和命运。一个人的选择会决定他将来成为什么样的人,一支球队的选择会决定他们未来五年甚至十年成为什么样的球队。如果1984年的波特兰不拘泥于形式而选择乔丹,那么芝加哥王朝岂会拔地而起？24年之后,波特兰人再次犯下了错误,看着频频受伤的奥登和成为最年轻得分王的杜兰特,不知道现在的波特兰人作何感想。选择一条属于自己的路是非常重要的,甚至直接会决定一个人一生的走势,而在NBA不管是球队还是球员,都经不起太长的等待,做出正确的选择会成就一支球队,也会成就自己。当浮华世俗的风暴不断摧残我们的未来时,我们惟一的幸福和不幸依然握在自己手中。     

姚明：一切即将改变

一个掉“菜鸟”称谓的大个子，一个隐藏起笑容的大男孩，一个签下巨额合同的年轻人。     

姚明面对面

“蓝球这东西，技术并不是光练的，还是要自己去思考”这是姚明回国后给自己NBA新秀赛季的做的一段总结。     

中国攻略

随着王治郅、巴特尔、姚明先后加盟NBA、NBA热在中国不断升温，成为其拓展亚洲市场的绝佳时机，而早在几年前，NBA已开始动员其庞大的运动商业王国的力量，向亚洲尤其是中国市场发起了攻势。     

邪视NBA

我们原本以为是凡有关宗派味道的、并带着某份教徒式狂热膜拜“情结”的调调，其实就是一小撮时代愤青们玩弄自我个性的把戏，却从没想过它会和NBA这块篮球圣殿搭上什么边际。但敢问一句，谁有听过“Cult NBA”这个“新奇”的词汇呢？估计这个很够“小资”情绪的问询绝对痛快了一大群精力过     

我的季后赛

对于季后赛来说,之前的1230场常规赛更像是表演时间,就像马刺可以在常规赛两次大比分输给黄蜂一样,而在季后赛马刺绝对不会犯同样的错误。虽然在季后赛会有很多不确定的因素,比如诞生黑马或者黑猫之类。但实力的比拼最终还是站在强者一方。因为那些为季后赛而生的球员和为季后赛而生的球队都清楚地知道,常规赛的表演时刻已经结束,真正的比赛才刚刚开始。     

Physical characteristics that predict involvement with the ball in recreational youth soccer

This study examined the relative contribution of age, stage of puberty, anthropometric characteristics, health-related fitness, soccer-specific tests and match-related technical performance to variance in involvements with the ball during recreational 5-a-side small-sided (32 × 15 m) soccer matches. Using a cross-sectional design, 80 healthy male students (14.6 ± 0.5 years of age; range 13.6–15.4) who played soccer recreationally were randomly divided into 10 teams and played against each other. Measurements included height, body mass, pubertal status, health-related fitness (12-min walk/run test, standing long jump, 15-m sprint and sit-ups in 30 s), soccer-specific tests (kicking for speed, passing for accuracy and agility run with and without a ball), match-related technical performance (kicks, passes and dribbles) and involvements with the ball during matches. Forward multiple regression analysis revealed that cardiorespiratory fitness (12-min walk/run test) accounted for 36% of the variance in involvements with the ball. When agility with the ball (zigzag running) and power (standing long jump) were included among the predictors, the total explained variance increased to 62%. In conclusion, recreational adolescent players, regardless of their soccer-specific skills, may increase participation in soccer matches most through physical activities that promote improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle power and agility.     

Fundamental aerodynamics of the soccer ball

When the boundary layer of a sports ball undergoes the transition from laminar to turbulent flow, a drag crisis occurs whereby the drag coefficient (C _d) rapidly decreases. However, the aerodynamic properties and boundary-layer dynamics of a soccer ball are not yet well understood. In this study we showed that the critical Reynolds number (Re _crit) of soccer balls ranged from 2.2 × 10⁵ to 3.0 × 10⁵. Wind-tunnel testing, along with visualisation of the dynamics of the boundary layer and the trailing vortex of a ball in flight, demonstrated that both non-spinning and spinning (curved) balls had lowC _d values in the super-critical region. In addition, theRe _crit values of the soccer balls were lower than those of smooth spheres, ranging from ∼ 3.5 × 10⁵ to 4.0 × 10⁵, due to the effects of their panels. This indicated that the aerodynamic properties of a soccer ball were intermediate between those of a smooth ball and a golf ball. In a flow visualisation experiment, the separation point retreated and theC _d decreased in a super-critical regime compared with those in a sub-critical regime, suggesting a phenomenon similar to that observed in other sports balls. With some non-spinning and spinning soccer balls, the wake varied over time. In general, the high-frequency component of an eddy dissipated, while the low-frequency component increased as the downstream vortex increased. The causes of the large-scale fluctuations in the vortex observed in the present study were unclear; however, it is possible that a ‘knuckle-ball effect’ of the non-rotating ball played a role in this phenomenon.     

Middle finger and ball movements around ball release during baseball fastball pitching

The objectives of this study were to investigate middle finger movements and dynamics of ball movements around the instant of ball release during baseball pitching. Baseball pitching from an indoor mound among 14 semi-professional pitchers was captured using a motion capture system with 16 high-speed cameras (1,000 Hz). Kinematics of middle finger joints, ball rotation, and force applied to the ball were calculated. The proximal and distal interphalangeal joints continued to extend until the instant of ball release, then abruptly flexed. The abrupt flexion lasted for only several milliseconds, followed by a short extension phase. The finger made a quick double cycle of extension-flexion movement, suggesting that it attained high stiffness resulting from co-contraction. The ball began to roll up to the tip of the finger 8 ± 1 ms before ball release owing to the start of extension or the increased angular velocity of extension for the proximal interphalangeal joint. A mean force of 195 ± 27 N was applied in the proximal direction of the hand at the same time as the beginning of ball rolling, and a mean force of 109 ± 22 N was applied to the throwing direction just before ball release.     

Determinants of possession of the ball in soccer

Abstract

In research on the importance of the possession of the ball in soccer, little attention has been paid to its determinants. Using data from 170 matches of the 2003 – 2004 Spanish Soccer League, we explain why differences in the possession of the ball among teams are so great. In particular, four variables are examined: evolving match status (i.e. whether the team is winning, losing or drawing), venue (i.e. playing at home or away), and the identities of the team and the opponent in each match. Results of linear regression analysis show that these four variables are statistically significant and together explain most of the variance in possession. In short, home teams have more possession than away teams, teams have more possession when they are losing matches than when winning or drawing, and the identity of the opponent matters – the worse the opponent, the greater the possession of the ball. Combinations of these variables could be used to develop a model that predicts possession in soccer.     

论木球与高尔夫

从术球与高尔夫的起源、技术特征、运动特点、心理特点等方面进行比较分析,旨在为术球在国内乃至世界各地进一步推广和发辰提供参考。     

On the acoustic signature of golf ball impact

In this paper, we present results on the measurement and analysis of the sound that is produced by the sharp impact loading of a golf ball by a flat massive object (e.g. the face of a golf club). We discuss: (a) the motivation for such a study; (b) some necessary background information on how golf balls vibrate; (c) the techniques used to acquire and analyse the data; and (d) an analysis of the sound made by dropping balls on a smooth, massive concrete target surface. These results establish a simple method for rapid and non-destructive measurement of the effective high-frequency elastic shear moduli of balls and ball cores.     

Determinants of possession of the ball in soccer

In research on the importance of the possession of the ball in soccer, little attention has been paid to its determinants. Using data from 170 matches of the 2003 - 2004 Spanish Soccer League, we explain why differences in the possession of the ball among teams are so great. In particular, four variables are examined: evolving match status (i.e. whether the team is winning, losing or drawing), venue (i.e. playing at home or away), and the identities of the team and the opponent in each match. Results of linear regression analysis show that these four variables are statistically significant and together explain most of the variance in possession. In short, home teams have more possession than away teams, teams have more possession when they are losing matches than when winning or drawing, and the identity of the opponent matters - the worse the opponent, the greater the possession of the ball. Combinations of these variables could be used to develop a model that predicts possession in soccer.     

On the acoustic signature of golf ball impact

In this paper, we present results on the measurement and analysis of the sound that is produced by the sharp impact loading of a golf ball by a flat massive object (e.g. the face of a golf club). We discuss: (a) the motivation for such a study; (b) some necessary background information on how golf balls vibrate; (c) the techniques used to acquire and analyse the data; and (d) an analysis of the sound made by dropping balls on a smooth, massive concrete target surface. These results establish a simple method for rapid and non-destructive measurement of the effective high-frequency elastic shear moduli of balls and ball cores.     

Pass me the ball: narcissism in performance settings

The performance arena provides a multitude of opportunities for lionizing the self. Narcissistic individuals crave admiration and glory, and thus the performance domain constitutes an ideal medium for researchers to explore narcissistic behavior. However, despite its potential relevance and substantial research history within mainstream psychology, narcissism is only now starting to receive interest from researchers in the sport and performance domain. In this article, we aim to raise the relevance of narcissism (and more generally personality) within performance settings and provide a platform for future research in the area. We review research on the relation between narcissism and performance and conclude that narcissists’ performance is contingent upon perceived opportunities for glory. We also offer suggestions for explanatory mechanisms. Further, we examine factors that may influence narcissistic behavior in environments that vary in their opportunity for glory. In addition, as leadership positions present opportunities for glory, we ask whether narcissists make effective leaders. We propose theoretical extensions of the narcissism literature to the performance domain, and we close with a call for greater consideration of the role of personality in performance contexts.