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"Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records."—William Arthur Ward
Discussion and news about the most current headlines all across the sporting world. In-depth analysis and opinions on upcoming games, and a break down of some of the biggest events and topics in the arena of sport.
Mobile GPS Apps For Biking
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Thieves Use GPS Tracking Apps For Crime
Smart phone apps designed for fitness applications have exploded in popularity. These mobile tracking apps do everything from helping runners determine the proper speed they should be running, golfers find out the yardage to the green, mountain bike riders find local trails and so much more. These mobile GPS apps are helpful, intuitive and many times free for download, creating a very positive user experience. Unfortunately, mobile GPS apps can also share personal GPS data that can help thieves be more efficient in stealing property, as Staffordshire Police learned after investigating over 350 cases of reported bike theft.
According to Staffordshire police investigators, an abnormal number of what would be classified as "high value" bicycles were being reported stolen. These bicycles were somewhat protected in sheds, garages and outbuildings, leading investigators to hypothesize that the thieves knew where the bikes were and specifically targeted them. After interviewing the victims the investigators discovered that they all used some form of mobile GPS app that logged routes traveled and other activity on a real-time website. This GPS tracking system data was shared online where other cyclists could access the routing and locational data. Although the platform was designed to be a positive thing, essentially a social network for cyclists, it also provided bike thieves the opportunity to pinpoint exactly where the valuable bikes were located at all times.
Although an investigator stated that the mobile GPS apps and accompanied website offer privacy settings, most users shared routes and posted locational data on other social networking websites such as Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus. Making matters worse, many of the shared routes and maps from the mobile GPS tracking apps identified with precision accuracy specific addresses, making it easy for the bike thieves to locate expensive bicycles. Many times the thieves do not even need to hack into the personal account information of users because the users simply share their personal GPS locational data with the community.
The Staffordshire Police Department have reported that over $200,000 worth of bicycle property has been reported stolen in just the last three months in 2012, showing the increased prevalence of cycle theft. Law enforcement investigators recommend that people using mobile GPS tracking apps utilize security and privacy settings as much as possible, and only share personal data with close friends or family members.
Lakers Tribute To Team Owner
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Buss Honored Before Game Against Rival
Jerry Buss was the architect behind the Los Angeles Lakers. The moment he purchased the team his only goal was to make the Lakers synonymous with both the city of angels and winning of championships. His vision was to make the purple and gold the NBA version of the iconic New York Yankees pinstripes. He not only accomplished those hefty goals but also gained the respect and love of people throughout Southern California and the entire NBA world. Sadly, the man who accomplished so much died Sunday after a lengthy battle with health problems, and last night his team and Lakers fans paid tribute to the man behind the Lake Show.
Before the Lakers game tip-off against their hated rivals the Boston Celtics, Kobe Bryant addressed the team, coaches and fans gathered at Staples Center. After a moving video tribute to Buss, Kobe spoke about how Buss was an intelligent man of vision that spoiled fans because of the way he put winning above everything else. The speech concluded with a moment of silence followed by a spotlight illuminating the seat in the owner's suite where Buss would watch his beloved Lakers play. After the tribute the Lakers paid respects in a way Buss truly would have admired, a blowout win over long-time and hated rival Boston.
Buss changed the culture of basketball and was instrumental in taking the game to new commercial heights. If he wasn't the smartest guy in the room he would find out who was and get their input on decisions. This is why the team was able to find so much success for decades. Jerry West, Phil Jackson and a storm of other intelligent decision makers helped bring in and shape the best talent the league had to offer. However, that trickle down effect all started from the very top from Buss. He was the main reason the Lakers had championship aspirations every single season.
Buss was a basketball enthusiast who also happened to be the team owner, and that is why he was willing to make the big move or deal. He influenced every big decision even the controversial ones such as trading away Shaq to Miami or bringing in Dwight Howard on a one-year lease. Not every decision Buss made was correct, but no one can argue that he was right more times than wrong. He signed Magic to a historic $25 million dollar deal for 25 years, traded for Kobe Bryant and made the moves necessary for the Lakers to win many, many championships.
The fleet tracking experts at GPS Tracker Shop would like to send condolences to the Buss family, and thank Lakers management for putting on a very classy and respectful tribute to that man that made show time.
Clippers Best Team In Los Angeles
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Blowout Win Shows Clippers Own Tinseltown
No matter what anybody says only one NBA team has been relevant in Southern California over the past 25 odd years and that team has been the Los Angeles Lakers. Winners of sixteen championship titles, the Lakers have never lacked star power and talent. West, Wilt, Magic, Kareem, Shaquille, Kobe and so many other all-time great basketball players have worn the purple and gold, leading their teams to championship glory. Then of course their are the Clippers. A team once described as the worst franchise in all of sports, the Clippers have been the antithesis of winning. They have embodied losing. They have been the Lakers chew toy. They have been the definition of failure. They have been the team in Los Angeles nobody cares about. Although their history has been ugly, sad and simply forgettable, the 2012-2013 Clippers are showing that they are not only the best team in Los Angeles but one of the best teams in all of basketball.
Clippers 3-0 Against Lakers This Season
As teams break for All-Star festivities the record shows the Clippers with a comfortable lead in the Pacific Division and near the top of the standings in the Western Conference. They have depth, athleticism and two of the most entertaining players to watch in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. This Clippers team is known as "Lob City" and in three match ups against the Los Angeles Lakers this season they have went 3-0, winning each game in dominating fashion. However, the televised game last night on TNT showed both how far the Clippers have come and how far the Lakers have fallen in the 125-101 home loss for the Lakers.
Green Bay San Francisco Playoff Prediction
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Cheese Heads Invade The Bay
When the 49ers played in Green Bay during week one of the NFL season the game was described as a possible future postseason match-up. Fast forward nearly 17 weeks later and the same two teams will in fact be squaring off in the divisional round of the playoffs later tonight, but this time the game will be played in San Francisco with the winner getting a ticket to the conference championship game.
In the first match-up between these two teams the San Francisco 49ers defense controlled the tempo of the game while the power running of Frank Gore punished the defensive line of the Packers. The 49ers would go on to win this game 30-22, but that was then and this is now. Since that week one meeting the 49ers have a made a switch at the quarterback position and have a number of banged up players on both sides of the football. The new look 49ers have resembled a really great team at times in wins against the Bears and Patriots, but have also shown glaring weakness in losses to to the Rams and Seahawks. That presents the question of what team will show up in this winner take-all showdown?
Green Bay Packers
The Packers have been hot over the past six weeks and appear to be healthier now than any other time this season. They dominated the Vikings in their first round playoff game by holding Adrian Peterson in check and will likely employ a similar defensive approach to slow Gore down. However, the two intangibles that favor Green Bay are experience and of course spite. Everybody is aware that McCarthy and Rodgers have championship experience and the mindset to win big games on the road, but the biggest advantage the team has is spite.
Fire AJ Smith
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Chargers Need New Leadership
The meat grinder that the National Football League is has zero sympathy for underperforming players, coaches or general managers. Potential gets a person fired in this what have you done for me lately league that puts accountability on everyone. That is what makes the fact Chargers general manager AJ Smith still has a job so perplexing. However, after yet another mid-season collapse the time has come for Chargers ownership to fire AJ Smith.
Over the past 10 years the Chargers were widely considered one of the most talented squads in the AFC. They would win games, make the playoffs, but often find themselves exiting in the early rounds of the playoffs. This resulted in numerous changes, many of which hurt the franchise and polarized fans. Here are just a few of the horrible moves orchestrated by AJ Smith that have hurt the Chargers:
Not Re-Signing Drew Bree's (Bree's went on to break numerous offensive records as well as win a Super Bowl with New Orleans)
Treating LaDainian Tomlinson with zero class after the face of the franchise began to decline in production (Tomlinson went to the Jets where he was a key part of an AFC championship game team)
Not signing Michael Turner long-term once Tomlinson was gone (Turner became one of the best backs in football in Atlanta)