The Bass Federation announced Tuesday its field for the 2008 National Guard Junior World Championship on Lake Monticello in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 15-16 in conjunction with the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol - the world’s most lucrative bass-fishing championship.

The National Guard Junior World Championship will feature youth anglers representing 39 TBF state federations fishing for $30,000 in scholarships plus $12,000 youth-program grants for their states. Each participating state will be represented by two junior anglers: one in the 11- to 14-year-old bracket and another in the 15- to 18-year-old bracket.

“These junior competitors are much more than great anglers,” said TBF President Robert Cartlidge. “They are positive examples for their peers, and they represent the future of our sport. Learning to fish through their state TBF clubs provides these children with an outlet for clean family fun. It’s a great activity that they will enjoy for a lifetime.”

The junior anglers will each be paired with an FLW Outdoors pro for competition on Lake Monticello. There will be three anglers to a boat: a junior angler from each age group plus an FLW Outdoors pro who will assist the junior anglers but will not fish. The two junior anglers will share control of the boat for the day but will compete in their respective age groups. The full field of junior anglers will compete Aug. 15 then be cut to the top angler in each age bracket from each of the TBF’s six geographic divisions. Weights will be zeroed Aug. 16 as six anglers in the 11- to 14-year-old bracket and six anglers in the 15- to 18-year-old bracket continue competition, with the winners determined by the heaviest catch from that day.

Takeoff will be held at Lake Monticello Park located at Hwy 99 Boat Ramp in Jenkinsville, S.C., beginning at 6:55 each morning and the weigh-ins will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 15 and 3:30 p.m. Aug. 16 on the main Forrest Wood Cup stage in the Colonial Center located at 801 Lincoln Street in Columbia. Lake Monticello will be off-limits to competitors Aug. 11-15.

Designed to highlight the best up-and-coming bass-fishing talent in the country, the National Guard Junior World Championship also provides national recognition for the positive activities pursued by America’s youth.

“We really want to thank the pro anglers who serve as mentors during the tournament,” said FLW/TBF Programs Manager David Simmons. “Of course, none of this would be possible without the hard work and support of TBF youth directors and parents nationwide as well.”

First-place finishers in each age bracket will receive a $5,000 scholarship. Second-place finishers will receive a $3,000 scholarship. Third- place finishers will receive a $2,500 scholarship. Fourth-place finishers will receive a $2,000 scholarship. Fifth-place finishers will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Sixth-place finishers will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Additionally, FLW Outdoors, on behalf of the National Guard, will award $1,000 to each of the state TBF chapters represented by the six finalists in each age bracket. This money, totaling $12,000, will benefit each chapter’s youth program.

Source: FLW Outdoors

“Sporting News essentially invented sports journalism when the magazine was launched in 1886,” said publisher Ed Baker. “With Sporting News Today, we’re doing it again 122 years later. We’re literally reinventing the way die-hard sports fans get their news.”

Sporting News Today will deliver coast-to-coast sports coverage from a newsroom of more than 200 sports reporters and contributors, making it the largest sports newsroom in the country.

“The goal of Sporting News Today is to provide timely and fresh sports content each morning and to deliver it directly to a subscriber’s digital mailbox,” said Editor-in-Chief Jeff D’Alessio. “This isn’t a sports web site, rather it’s more like reading the morning sports section of the world’s best newspaper, only with more comprehensive information and in an electronic format.”

In addition to the news of the day, Sporting News Today will feature:

• Custom diaries written by current Division 1 college football players, including Heisman Trophy hopeful Chase Daniel (University of Missouri). Daniel is part of a group of 22 college football players recruited specifically to write diary columns in-season for Sporting News Today. Topics will include game preparation, as well as what it’s like to be a student-athlete today.

• The debut of “My Profile” with Terry Francona, manager of the Boston Red Sox. Terry shares interesting factoids about his first job, superstitions that sometimes influence his approach towards the game, the kind of music he likes to listen to, and other on- and off-the-field insights.

• A Q&A with University of Florida QB Tim Tebow.

• An up-close look at Team USA basketball camp from Las Vegas as it prepares for the Olympics.

• Reports on every NFL team as it starts training camp.

Sporting News Today will also feature search capabilities (including archival searches), live links, video & audio, reader/fan interaction and rich media for advertisers. To register for Sporting News Today visit www.sportingnewstoday.com.

“Die-hard sports fans are going to love Sporting News Today,” Baker said. “It marries our ‘See a Different Game’ insight and philosophy with outstanding, cutting-edge technology.”

About Sporting News:

Sporting News, a division of American City Business Journals, Inc., is a multi-media sports company catering to passionate sports fans. Its content is available through a weekly publication, Sporting News magazine; a daily digital newspaper, Sporting News Today; a national radio network, Sporting News Radio; and a leading community-based website, SportingNews.com. Sporting News also is a leading publisher of sports yearbooks, and is engaged in various wireless and iTV initiatives. Founded in 1886, Sporting News is the nation’s first weekly sports publication.

Source: Sporting News Today

Two-thirds of new jobs being created in today’s economy require higher education or advanced training. By 2012 Iowa will have between 150,000 and 200,000 more jobs than workers; and at least half of these occupations will require postsecondary education or training. However, only about half of Iowa students who enroll in 4-year colleges after high school manage to earn a bachelor’s degree within six years.

Strong American Schools is a nonpartisan public awareness and advocacy effort aimed at elevating discussion amongst America’s leaders about the need for education reform. The organization believes three common-sense solutions should be included in education reform: effective teachers in every classroom; increased time and support for student learning; and rigorous standards.

Members of the team will available at the festival and throughout the bike tour to discuss why Iowans should make education a top priority in the 2008 presidential election.

Date:
Tuesday, July 22nd 2008

Time:
10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location:
Strong American Schools booth & tent
Iowa State Center Parking Lot

Ames, Iowa

Members of the team and officials from Strong American Schools will be available throughout the day to discuss why education reform is crucial to securing the economic future of Iowa and America.

Source: ED in ‘08

100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc., presenters of the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic, announced today that tickets to its annual football game will be sold at reduced prices. The annual game, between rivals Tennessee State and Florida A&M universities, will take place September 27, 2008 at 4:00pm EDT in the Georgia Dome and tickets will start at just $10.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of “The Classic,” presented by the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. Under the new theme “History Happens Here. Play Your Part.” a full suite of events - from September 24-27 - promises to offer something for everyone, including a family-friendly parade celebrating Georgia’s academic scholars, job, college and health fairs, a step show and the famed Tennessee State and Florida A&M halftime show featuring the schools’ award-winning marching bands.

“We recognize that the state of the economy has everyone looking for fun and cost-efficient ways to entertain themselves and their families. That’s why we’ve worked with our sponsors to keep the ticket prices low - comparable to what you would pay for an evening at the movies,” stated the 100 Black Men of Atlanta Chief Executive Officer John Grant.

This traditional rivalry football game between two Division I historically black college and university (HBCU) teams, Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Tennessee State University (TSU), is on its way to becoming the most recognized event in black college football and the nation’s most anticipated and enjoyable HBCU classic game. Based on an intense opposition between two schools that goes as far back as 1944, this riveting game attracts tens of thousands of fans each year

Tickets are already being sold at all Ticketmaster outlets, at the participating schools, and through the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. As this will be the 20th Anniversary of the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic, the 100 Black Men of Atlanta expect the game to sell out in advance. The classic rivalry lives on, and on September 27, 2008 the games will begin.

About the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic

A week-long celebration of excellence in Atlanta that culminates in a sold-out college football game, The Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic is the largest of 100 Black Men of Atlanta’s fundraising activities. The Classic pits longtime rivals, Tennessee State University and Florida A&M University against one another in a classic gridiron match and includes a Friday-night step show as well as a full, half-time Battle of the Bands. Additional programs include a Town Hall Meeting on African-American Health Issues, a Collegiate 100 Symposium, a health fair, a job fair, a college fair and a Parade of Excellence right down Peachtree Street. As the second largest recurring college sporting event in Georgia, The Classic now has a permanent exhibit located in the Georgia Dome commemorating its success. Aetna, Allstate, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Life Financial Group, Coors, Delta, Ford, Georgia Power, MARTA, McDonald’s, Russell Corp, Tyson Foods, and UPS join title sponsor Bank of America to make this event possible. These events have raised more than $2.6M for Project Success and almost $7M in contributions for the participating universities. The Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic is available on the World Wide Web at www.atlantafootballclassic.com.

About 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc.

The mission of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. is to provide support and improve the quality of life for African Americans, particularly African-American youth, in the Atlanta community. The 100 is one of the city’s strongest, most self reliant African-American volunteer organizations focused on education, enrichment and empowerment. The organization’s primary programs are Project Success, a mentoring and academic support initiative; and the Family and Youth Empowerment Program, a homeownership program for parents of students participating in Project Success.

Source: 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc.

The 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, scheduled to take place July 25-29 in Omaha, Neb., will attract more than 500 veterans with disabilities. It has become the largest annual wheelchair sports competition in the world. Veterans from conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq will again join their fellow veterans in 17 competitive events.

“We are proud to present this outstanding rehabilitation event, a therapeutic extension of the superior heath care veterans receive in our medical centers each day,” said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “Rehabilitation is crucial to living a full life following an injury. I applaud all of the veterans participating as they strive to achieve their goals during this week of athletic competition.”

The National Veterans Wheelchair Games, co-presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Paralyzed Veterans of America, are open to all U.S. military veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal cord injuries, certain neurological conditions, amputations or other mobility impairments.

The VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System in Omaha and the Paralyzed Veterans Great Plains Chapter are the local hosts for the 2008 Games. Veterans competing in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games come from nearly every state, as well as Puerto Rico and Great Britain.

“Like serving our nation, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games are not really about the medals. Instead, they’re a mix of camaraderie, competition and courage. And they’re rehabilitation at its best for our paralyzed veterans,” said Randy L. Pleva, Sr., National President of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. “If you are in the Omaha area, please join us this July. You’ll be inspired.”

At the Games, veterans will compete in swimming, basketball, track, weight lifting, softball, air guns, quad rugby, nine-ball, field events, bowling, table tennis, archery, handcycling, wheelchair slalom, trapshooting, a motorized wheelchair relay and power soccer. An exhibition event in sled hockey will also take place this year. For the second year, several stand-up events will be held for athletes with amputations who choose to compete using prosthetic devices instead of competing in their wheelchairs.

The 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games begin July 25 with a kick-off wheelchair basketball demonstration at the Qwest Center Omaha, and the 2008 Disabled Sports, Recreation and Fitness Expo. Kids Day at the Games will take place on July 27 at Northwest High School, where local children with disabilities will meet the athletes and learn about wheelchair sports.

Opening and closing ceremonies will also be held at the Qwest Center Omaha, along with many of the week’s competitive events. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman is expected to attend, along with senior VA leaders and the president of Paralyzed Veterans of America. Some of the sports events will be held at the Henry Doorly Zoo, the University of Nebraska, Mockingbird and Thunderbowl Lanes, Tranquility Ice Plex and other area venues. Admission is free to the public and the community is encouraged to attend.

Sports are important in the therapy used to treat many disabilities. VA is a recognized leader in rehabilitation, with therapeutic programs available at VA health care facilities across the nation. For many injured veterans, the Wheelchair Games provide their first exposure to wheelchair athletics.

For more information about the National Veterans Wheelchair Games or to volunteer during the week, visit the Games Web site at www.wheelchairgames.va.gov.

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Ten influential fishing products created over the past 75 years -. from rods to reels to electronics -. have helped make fishing the great sport it is today, according to a new survey from the American Sportfishing Association (ASA).

ASA, the sportfishing industry’s trade association, today released the country’s first top ten list of the items that have changed the way people fish, as determined by a survey of the nation’s most avid anglers. The Anglers’ Legacy Innovations Awards were unveiled at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), the world’s largest annual sportfishing trade show. More than 7,000 members of the sportfishing community are gathered in Las Vegas to see the latest innovations in gear and accessories.

“We’re thrilled to be commemorating the way that fishing has endured as one of America’s favorite pastimes,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “The sport has touched the lives of so many people, thanks to the number of great inventions that have revolutionized angling over the past seven and a half decades.”

ASA partnered with the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation to survey the foundation’s thousands of Anglers’ Legacy Ambassadors, the country’s most avid anglers, who voted for the products they feel have been most instrumental in shaping the sport over the past seven and a half decades.

The final top ten list spans six categories, including accessories, electronics, lines, lures, reels and rods:

• Original Floater Minnow (1936) remains one of the most successful and widely copied hard lures in sportfishing’s history. Original and current manufacturer: Rapala

• Spring loaded Bobber (1947) made suspending a baited hook at a desired depth simpler and easier. Even today this item is virtually in every angler’s tackle box. Original manufacturer: Nibble Nabber; Current: Various companies

• Mitchell 300 (1949) was the first commercially successful spinning reel, and is still one of the most common reels used today. Original manufacturer: Mitchell;Current manufacturer: Pure Fishing

• Creme Plastic Worm (1949) changed the sport forever as the first — and still famous — long-lasting artificial worm that both looked and felt real. Original and current manufacturer: Creme Lure Company

• Closed Face Spincast Reel (1949) made fishing easy and affordable to everyone regardless of age, size, gender and expertise. Original manufacturer: Zero Hour Bomb Company; Current Manufacturer: ZEBCO Brands

• Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor (1957), the “Little Green Box” introduced anglers to the use of sonar in locating individual fish. Original Manufacturer: Lowrance Electronics; Current: Lowrance/Navico

• Monofilament Line (1958) improved the durability, affordability and casting ability of fishing line while reducing its visibility to fish. Original manufacturer: DuPont Stren; Current manufacturer: Pure Fishing

• Minn Kota Trolling Motor (1958) was the first electric gear-driven trolling motor gave anglers the ability to quietly maneuver and position their boats. Original manufacturer: Minn Kota; Current manufacturer: Johnson Outdoors

• Fenwick High Modulus Graphite Rod (1972), with its super-sensitive carbon (graphite) fibers, revolutionized the method of making fishing rods and how anglers fished. Original Manufacturer: Fenwick;Current Manufacturer: Pure Fishing

• Shakespeare Ugly Stick (1976), with its special construction, created an affordable, unbreakable and dynamic fishing rod still in use today. Original and current manufacturer: Shakespeare

“We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate a milestone anniversary than to pay tribute to the landmark innovations that have helped shape fishing,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “What makes this list so great is the fact that it was determined by anglers themselves.”

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also represents the interests of America’s 40 million anglers who generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one million people. (http://www.asafishing.org/)

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to growing participation in fishing, boating and aquatic stewardship. In 1998, the U.S. Congress passed the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act requiring the Secretary of the Interior to implement a national outreach and communication plan to address participation issues associated with recreational fishing and boating, while ensuring public support for aquatic resource conservation. Through the efforts of the Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Council (SFBPC), the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) was created as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to implement the plan. Funding for RBFF is provided through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. (http://www.rbff.org/)

Source: American Sportfishing Association

Whenever Shellee (shuh-lee) Holyoak Kuykendall brought up fantasy fishing among her friends, they laughed and thought it was silly to play. Now, Kuykendall is laughing all the way to bank, because she won $100,000 playing, of all things, FLW Fantasy Fishing, which features the highest payout of all fantasy sports, worldwide.

Kuykendall, 35, a resident of Cabot, Ark., a suburb of Little Rock, is the second person from Arkansas to win $100,000 this summer playing FLW Fantasy Fishing. About two months ago, a 56-year-old grandfather from Rogers, Ark., Joe Collins, won $100,000 when he came in first place in FLW Fantasy Fishing’s fourth tournament. Another Arkansas resident, Suzanne Mclean, Crossett, Ark., won a $2,500 U.S. Savings Bond for coming in third place in the same tournament as Kuykendall.

“I’m stunned. I can’t believe it. This is all so crazy,” said Kuykendall. “Our friends and family won’t believe it. They know what fantasy football is, but they think fantasy fishing is silly. I think it’s going to catch on now.”

A professional artist who currently is taking some time off to raise her two sons, Kamden, 5, and Konlin, 1, Kuykendall was drawn into playing FLW Fantasy Fishing by her husband Kurtis, a director with the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, who is an avid angler and has played other fantasy sports in the past. The couple had just moved to Little Rock last October from the Salt Lake City area to allow Kurtis to take his job with the hospital.

Kuykendall, her husband and a group of friends formed a league called “Utahrkansas” in mid-February when Kurtis learned about the start of the FLW Fantasy Fishing season while listening to a local radio program. Though she had entered all six tournaments, this was the first time that she, or her husband, had won any prize playing FLW Fantasy Fishing. Like fantasy football, but with fish, Kuykendall picked 10 professional bass anglers who participated in last weekend’s Chevy Open, a premiere stop on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour that took place on the Detroit River in Detroit, Mich.

Kuykendall is now in 1,678th place overall with 14,887 points in the FLW Fantasy Fishing tournament, and is in the running for a $1 million grand prize, which will be awarded to the fantasy fishing player who accumulates the most points over the seven tournament event season, which concludes in mid-August.

While she loves fishing for trout in Utah, Kuykendall confessed that she had never caught a bass before.

“I hope that doesn’t disqualify me,” said Kuykendall, who plans to use some of her winnings to pay down the couple’s mortgage and to buy some art supplies so can continue her passion for painting landscapes and portraits.

Using a laptop computer rather than a rod and reel, Kuykendall entered the fantasy fishing game at www.fantasyfishing.com, selecting 10 pro bass anglers from among the 200 pro anglers who participate in the Wal-Mart(TM) FLW(R) Tour. Kuykendall earned points based on the real, on-the-water performance of the pro bass anglers who fished the tour’s sixth, four-day tournament, the Chevy Open, which was conducted last weekend on the Detroit River in Detroit, Mich. The Chevy Open was won by Kellogg’s bass pro Alvin Shaw, a resident of State Road, N.C. Shaw won the tournament with a total catch of 39 pounds, 11 ounces, in the final two days of the competition to win a cash prize of $200,000.

Kuykendall not only picked Shaw for her fantasy fishing team, she picked him to win the tournament, an exacta, which earned Kuykendall bonus points. Based on the performance of her fantasy fishing team over the four-day tournament, Kuykendall accumulated 8,548 points. Kuykendall’s fantasy fishing team included the following bass pros:

1. Alvin Shaw
2. Andy Morgan
3. David Walker
4. Kim Stricker
5. Gary Yamamoto
6. Tom Monsoor
7. Sam Newby
8. Kyle Mabrey
9. Jason McKinnie
10. Scott Canterbury

Coming in second-place, with 8,094 points, was Jerry Taylor, a Sparta, Tenn., resident who won a $5,000 Wal-Mart gift card. Taylor is an avid bass angler, and learned about FLW Fantasy Fishing by watching FLW Outdoors, a weekly program on FOX Sports Net (FSN).

“We have a new baby, so that $5,000 gift card will go a long way toward diapers and other things for our new daughter, Mabry Ashtyn,” Taylor said. “I also might pick up a few things for bass fishing, too, the next time I’m at Wal-Mart.”

Joining Kuykendall and Taylor, more than 580 other participants won prizes in FLW Fantasy Fishing’s sixth tournament for a total of 3,480 prizes awarded so far in 2008. More than 4,000 prizes totaling as much as $7.3 million will be awarded during the course of the FLW Fantasy Fishing seven-tournament season. In addition to millions in cash, other prizes such as Ranger(R) boats; a Chevy Silverado; Yamaha and BRP ATVs and personal watercrafts; hundreds of thousands of dollars in Wal-Mart gift cards; tens of thousands of dollars of free BP gasoline and more will be awarded to the players with the highest point totals earned, based on the placement of their team of 10 professional anglers for each tournament.

Other top 10 winners included:

3rd place: Suzanne Mclean, Crossett, Ark., 7,538 points
4th place: Benny Miller, Hartland, Mich., 7,506 points
5th place: J. Hoppe, 7,471 points
6th place: Paul Sacks, Waterford, Mich., 7,420 points
7th place: John Cologero, West Fargo, N.D., 7,359 points
8th place: Eulen Brazier, Palmer, Tex., 7,303 points
9th place: Dave Chaney, Reed, Ky., 7,288 points
10th place: Shawn Calusinski, Aurora, Ill., 7,242 points

Fantasy Fishing Excitement Continues to Build

There’s still more excitement to come as the FLW Fantasy Fishing tournament series moves on to its final tournament, the Forrest Wood Cup, scheduled to take place in Columbia, S.C. In this last tournament, FLW Fantasy Fishing is offering triple bonus points, creating a climatic finale for the seven-tournament season. Based on the results of the Forrest Wood Cup, not only will another player win $100,000 for winning the seventh tournament, one player will be awarded a guaranteed $1 million for accumulating the most points over the entire FLW Fantasy Fishing season.

“Anyone can be a winner regardless of when you start playing FLW Fantasy Fishing,” said Irwin Jacobs, chairman of FLW Outdoors(R) and creator of FLW Fantasy Fishing, “but you need to enter to win.”

“There are hundreds of prizes awarded for each tournament,” Jacobs added. “It’s just like fishing - you never know if your next cast will be the big one.”

Fantasy Fishing - How It Works

FLW Fantasy Fishing is free to play and is open to adults, ages 18 and up, throughout the world, wherever it is legal to play. Participants log onto www.fantasyfishing.com and register to enter the game. Players can sign up any time during the season, up until Aug. 13, 2008, the day before the Forrest Wood Cup championship tournament.

Prior to each Wal-Mart FLW Tour tournament, FLW Fantasy Fishing participants select a fantasy team of 10 FLW pro bass anglers. Participants earn points for each tournament, based on the performance (placement in the designated tournament) of their fantasy team pro anglers. Participants can win prizes for an individual tournament as well as accumulate points over seven designated tournaments to be eligible for a $1 million cash prize, which will be awarded to the participant with the highest overall points for the season. Seven $100,000 first-place prizes go to the participants who earn the most points for each tournament. A $5 million bonus will be paid to the first player to correctly rank the top seven finishers in a tournament. Participants can subscribe to Player’s Advantage to get the edge when selecting their team by accessing expert advice, inside information and cutting-edge statistical tools.

The Wal-Mart FLW Tour consists of seven tournaments, including:

• Lake Toho (Kissimmee, Fla.): Feb. 28 - March 2, 2008

• Lewis Smith Lake (Jasper, Ala.): April 3 - 6, 2008

• National Guard Open - Lake Norman (Charlotte, N.C.): April 24 - 27, 2008

• Wal-Mart Open - Beaver Lake (Rogers, Ark.): May 15 - 18, 2008

• Fort Loudoun-Tellico Lakes (Knoxville, Tenn.): June 19 - 22, 2008

• Chevy Open - Detroit River (Detroit, Mich.): July 10 - 13, 2008

• Forrest Wood Cup - Lake Murray (Columbia, S.C.): Aug. 14 - 17, 2008

About FLW Outdoors

FLW Outdoors(R) is named after the legendary founder of Ranger(R) Boats, Forrest L. Wood, and it conducts the following tournament circuits:

• Wal-Mart(TM) FLW Tour(R)
• Wal-Mart(TM) FLW(R) Series
• Stren(TM) Series
• Wal-Mart(TM) Bass Fishing League
• Wal-Mart(TM) FLW(R) Walleye Tour
• Wal-Mart(TM) FLW(R) Walleye League
• Wal-Mart(TM) FLW(R) Kingfish Tour
• Wal-Mart(TM) FLW(R) Kingfish Series
• Wal-Mart(TM) FLW(R) Redfish Series
• Wal-Mart(TM) FLW(R) Striper Series

These circuits offer combined purses of more than $40 million through 230 events in 2008.

Wal-Mart and many of America’s largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world’s leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit www.Walmart.com. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, browse www.FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.

FLW(R) is a registered trademark of FLW Outdoors, Inc. Note: For a complete list of rules for the FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit http://www.fantasyfishing.com/ .

Source: FLW Outdoors

USA Basketball and AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced a new agreement that makes the global communications company an Official Partner of the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team.

This wide-reaching agreement will provide AT&T and its customers with exclusive USA Basketball team online and Video on Demand content. Along with exclusive wireless and online content, AT&T will also feature its products and services through special USA Basketball-themed marketing materials.

Fans can connect to exclusive USA Basketball content today through AT&T blue room (http://www.attblueroom.com/TEAMUSA) and soon through AT&T CV on AT&T 3G wireless handsets, and on AT&T U-verse(SM) TV via AT&T Team USA On Demand. Fans will enjoy access to exclusive behind-the-scenes footage including selection of the team, USA Basketball Training Camp, exhibition game highlights, USA Basketball video segments, interviews with athletes and coaches and other vignettes. AT&T blue room and AT&T Team USA On Demand will keep fans connected to the U.S. Olympic Team with webcasts and footage of events, plus exclusive interviews with Team USA hopefuls.

In addition to content, AT&T will launch a “USA Basketball Communicator,” an AT&T-developed branded downloadable widget for users to view USA Basketball news, information, and schedules. Fans can go online and download the “USA Basketball Communicator” from the AT&T blue room or http://www.usabasketball.com/.

“The dedication, teamwork, and commitment of our USA Basketball Senior National Team exemplifies the Olympic spirit,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball executive director. “We are pleased to partner with AT&T to offer fans exclusive content, connecting them to this extremely committed and hardworking team and the excitement of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.”

“As a proud sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team, we’re thrilled to add another great sport to our roster,” said Jason Simpson, AT&T director of Olympic integration. “We’re excited to offer fans across the country unique USA Basketball content, consistent with our goal to connect consumers to the athletes through as many venues as possible.”

AT&T is an official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team and provides significant financial support, products and services to the U.S. Olympic Committee. AT&T will also serve as the official telecommunications services partner of the U.S. Olympic Team for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In addition to supporting USA Basketball, the company serves as an official partner for several National Governing Bodies, including USA Diving, USA Track & Field, USA Gymnastics and USA Swimming.

Source: AT&T Inc.

Genevieve Mather, the track’s owner says, “You can talk all day about how fantastic the track is, but unless you see the jumps and the harrowing turns, it’s all a bit flat. We’re looking for the one video that best captures the excitement of Foxhill.”

Circuit Manager Jamie Bouloux continued, “We have some exciting prizes for the winning video.”

1. The winning entrant will win two lifetime passes to every Foxhill Motocross event for 120 years. Yes, you may leave the tickets to your future generations. (This does not include access to any restricted areas.)

2. The winning video will be on the www.foxhillmotocross.com homepage for one year.

3. A press release will be sent to the European market announcing the winning video around September 1st.

Here’s how the contest works …

• Purchase a ticket for the Foxhill Motocross race either online or at the gate.

• Spend the day with your video camera capturing the sights and sounds that make Foxhill the number one track in the world.

• Send your entry (no longer than 10 minutes) to peter@hooplegroup.com. All entries become the property of Foxhill Promotions. The contest closes on August 19th.

• We will select the top 10 videos and the world of motocross enthusiasts will vote for their favorite for 10 days on the www.foxhillmotocross.com website.

• The video with the most votes will be notified on September 1st.

Foxhill is located approximately two miles southeast of Wanborough at Junction 15 off the M4. Tickets are 20 pounds for adults and 5 pounds for those 8 - 15 years old. There will be a family ticket at 40 pounds for two adults and 2 children, under the age of 15. Visit www.foxhillmotocross.com to buy tickets.

With top British riders scheduled to compete, including teams such as Molson Kawasaki Racing, Relentless Suzuki MX, and Team KTM UK, Foxhill is ready to resume its role as one of the top tracks in the world.

To talk with a member of the Foxhill Promotions Team about the British Maxxis race on July 27, please contact Jamie Bouloux, Circuit Manager, at jamie@foxhillmotocross.com. Make sure to visit www.foxhillmotocross.com.

Source: Foxhill Motocross

Champagne corks were flying in Lake Tahoe as more than 30 celebrity participants took time to show off their celebratory champagne spraying skills this week during the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship. Fans watched as top sports stars stopped to highlight their locker-room celebratory skills during the first ever “Korbel Champagne Celebrity Spray-Off.”

Collectively, these championship athletes have overwhelming experience with locker-room celebrations so it was only fitting they showcased their talents in a friendly competition highlighting their expertise.

With a combination of style and technique, two-time Super Bowl Champion John Elway exhibited the best overall performance earning him top marks. Elway’s charismatic spray and great champagne distance outshined the other participating superstars.

And undeniably the crowd favorite and possibly the most legendary athlete in sports history, Michael Jordan, surrounded by hundreds of fans gave them something to cheer about with his stylish champagne spray.

Hockey stars seem to have an advantage as they showed they had some serious champagne-spraying know-how as it seemed their sprays had the most flair and style. Brett Hull and Mario Lemieux, both two-time Stanley Cup Champions, showed off their champion sprays. Jeremy Roenick, Joe Sakic, and Mike Eruzione also gave it their best shot with high-flying sprays.

Quarterbacks Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys and Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals have yet to win a Super Bowl, but they demonstrated they’ve got the right technique for when their day comes. Those with Super Bowl experience, Jim McMahon, two-time Super Bowl champion, and Super Bowl MVP, Mark Rypien have had plenty of chances to pop the cork on champagne to celebrate victories. It’s been many years since their last Super Bowl appearances, but they proved they still have what it takes to go the distance.

More of football’s greatest athletes stopped by to try to score points with the fans including Gale Sayers, Mark Rypien, Carson Palmer, Tony Romo, Sterling Sharpe, Aaron Rodgers, and Billy Joe Tolliver.

Lou Holz, former Notre Dame football coach along with Michael Shanahan, Denver Broncos head coach, Herman Edwards, Kansas City Chiefs head coach, and Steve Spurrier, University of Georgia head coach used their leadership and experience on the sidelines to show the players the right way to pop the top.

Former baseball greats, David Wells, Darryl Strawberry, Vince Coleman, and Mike Schmidt, participated in the competition, and all hit home runs with champagne spraying technique.

Some of the other celebrities participating in the tournament tried their hand at the spray-off competition, including entertainment stars Kevin Nealon, Maury Povich, Stone Phillips, and even former Vice-President, Dan Quayle. Although not an athlete, Quayle held his own while competing against super star athletes as his spraying technique made you wonder if he’s had experience popping the top as he certainly looked like a champagne spraying veteran.

“We are thrilled to be a part of such a great event as the American Century Golf Classic again,” said Gary Heck, owner and president of Korbel Champagne Cellars. “Korbel is the perfect celebratory beverage, and it was great to have a little fun with it during our first-ever “Spray-off” event.”

Celebrate responsibly.

Source: Korbel